Jacob, Skylar, Seamus and Co. In: The Citadel

AUTHORS PICK: Smoke Alarm Chirp

@Irishboxer4 Alright, who installed a dying smoke alarm in the citadel? *CHIRP*

As the gang was basking in their post-race bounces, an eerie sound cut through the air—a faint, high-pitched **chirp** that repeated at intervals. Jacob froze mid-bounce, instantly recognizing the sound. "**Is that...**?" Skylar started, but before she could finish, Jacob nodded knowingly."**Yep,**" he said, landing softly on his hopper. "**That's a smoke alarm chirping.**"The Proud Family, still lost in the excitement, hadn't noticed the noise at first. **Oscar Proud** bounced right past Jacob and Skylar, oblivious. "What's the hold-up?" he asked. "I was just getting into the groove!"**Penny** frowned, stopping her bounce. "Wait, I think I hear it too."Before long, everyone had paused to listen, and sure enough, the persistent chirp continued, faint but unmistakable.**Sugar Mama** was the last to join them, arriving a bit late through the portal and clearly having no idea what the fuss was about. "What y'all standin' around for?" she said with a grin. "Bet it's one of them **ceiling birds**!" Jacob couldn't help but chuckle. It was the second time he'd heard that theory, and it never got old. He exchanged an amused glance with **Skylar** and **Seamus**. Seamus scratched his head. "Remember that one time in **BounceOnline** when we spent **hours** tryin' to track down the exact same sound?"Skylar groaned. "Ugh, yes. And that 'ceiling bird' theory from Sugar Mama just won't die, will it?"But Jacob was determined. He hopped off his space hopper and gestured to the rest. "**Alright, gang. Time to find that smoke alarm.**"They set off on their bouncy search, bouncing around every nook and cranny of the **Secret Space Hopper Room**. Every so often, the faint *chirp* would echo, taunting them as they bounced from one corner to another. "**It's definitely somewhere in here,**" Jacob said after they had combed through most of the room. **Ruby** and **Christopher** bounced alongside him, their keen roo instincts honing in on the sound.**Penny** started checking the high shelves, while **Oscar** proudly volunteered to check the ceiling, stretching up on his hopper to get a better vantage point.The chirp sounded again."**Aha!**" Jacob yelled, pointing toward a darkened corner of the room near the ceiling. "**It's gotta be up there!**"Skylar bounced up beside him. "Let's do this," she said confidently.With a synchronized *boing*, the two of them leapt into the air, bouncing higher and higher toward the corner of the ceiling. Finally, Jacob spotted it—an old smoke alarm, its battery clearly dying."**Got it!**" Jacob exclaimed, grabbing the small device from its hiding place. He landed back on the bouncy floor with the faulty smoke alarm in hand, the chirping now silenced.**Seamus** let out a relieved sigh. "Good work, Jacob. That sound was driving me nuts."**Sugar Mama** still looked suspicious. "Hmm... I don't know, seems like that **ceiling bird** was makin' all that noise if you ask me."The Proud Family all exchanged knowing smiles, trying to stifle their laughter. Jacob, holding up the faulty alarm, grinned. "Looks like we've solved the mystery. But hey, maybe one day we'll find that **ceiling bird** after all."With the noise gone and the smoke alarm mystery solved, the gang resumed their bouncing, but now with a new inside joke about **ceiling birds** that would no doubt be retold countless times in the future.