Marnie, with the Shoebox Zoo in tow, flies to Denver for the summer in order to search for The Book of Forbidden Knowledge. After being picked up by her grandparents, she meets up with her best friend Kyle Stone and plans to show the shoebox animals to him. However, a mysterious figure has stolen the bag in which they were contained, on top of seemingly following her around wherever she goes.

Kyle finds Marnie’s bag on his way to visit her for breakfast. With the proper bag now on hand, Marnie introduces Kyle to the shoebox animals and tells him about the Quest. Later, they’re taken a TV studio where they meet Aurora Dexter, a medium who aspires to become a TV star.

It’s Kyle’s 12th birthday, and so Marnie attends his birthday party. Toledo, now possessing Aurora’s body, spies on Marnie at the party and encourages her to find the book, attempting to allure her with the prospect of unlimited power.