More To The Mission Part 2
At precisely nine o'clock that morning, the two jet airplanes landed in Japan.
Stanley transformed the Chans' silver jet back into the Chan van while Butch drove the Sundance Kids' car out of their jet's back hatch at the airport.
James was now riding with the Chan siblings while Wally & Elvis rode with the rest of the Sundance Kids in their car, Stephanie was relieved to have her big brother and their dog back.
Once at the Imperial Palace, Emperor Hikaru Yukimura (Yukimura Hikaru) and Empress Ayaka Yukimura (Yukimura Ayaka) were waiting for them.
"Sundance Kids, Butch Cassidy, and the Chan clan," Empress Ayaka said. "you made it, perfect timing."
"Why have you sent for us your..." Butch began, watching the emperor hugging Anne gladly.
"Oh, Hikari, my daughter," Empress Ayaka exclaimed. "I am so glad you're here!"
"What are you talking about, Lady," Flip asked Empress Ayaka. "do you need glasses or what?"
"Flip!" Henry scolded sharply.
"Sorry, Henry." Flip sighed.
"That's quite all right," Empress Ayaka said to Henry, then turning to Anne, she added. "now, who are you my dear girl?"
Anne looked at the emperor & empress.
"I am Anne Jodie Chan, a humble musician, and a detective's daughter." she answered the empress.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Miss Chan," Emperor Hikaru said. "our mistake, you look so much like our daughter that we thought you were her."
"I see." Anne said, she was a bit nervous.
"So," Stephanie asked curiously. "what is the rest of our assignment?"
"We had our imperial adviser turn Hikari's bedroom into a top of the line hideaway, but when we went in there to wake her for her imperial school day early this morning," Emperor Hikaru explained. "we soon discovered that Hikari was missing!"
Butch was curious, as curious as Wally & Stanley were afraid.
"What does that have to do with our assignment?" Butch asked the emperor & empress.
"We have summoned you, to investigate Hikari's disappearance." Empress Ayaka answered Butch.
"And since you do not know the way to the room where Hikari sleeps & studies," Emperor Hikaru said to the Chan clan & the Sundance Kids. "I will send for our imperial adviser, Yuki."
Once Yuki was summoned, he took the Sundance Kids and the Chan family to Princess Hikari's bedroom.
Once he entered the princess's bedroom, Henry found a very important lead.
"Hmmm," Henry wondered. "what is this?"
Stephanie came over to see what Henry had found on the floor, "Those look to me like... muddy shoe prints." she said to him.
"You're right, Stephie," Henry said. "and just look at them."
Stephanie looked at the footprints closely, "The princess didn't willingly walk out of this room." she deduced.
"She didn't?" Stanley asked Stephanie.
"Obviously not, Stanley," Stephanie answered feeling exasperated. "Princess Hikari was dragged off by someone!"
"So, the dame was kidnapped?" Flip asked Stephanie curiously.
"That's right, Flip," Suzie answered just before Stephanie even got her chance to speak. "we had better tell their imperial highnesses at once!"
As soon as the Sundance Kids & the Chan clan raced off to tell the emperor & empress what they had just found out, Yuki began to contact his employees.
"Those pesky kid detectives are on to us." Yuki said.
"Duh, what do you want us to do with her, Boss?" one of the employees asked.
"Oh, what I have to put up with," Yuki said to his employee. "use the robot on her!"
"Whatever you say, Boss." another employee said to Yuki.
A short while later, the two music groups found the emperor & empress in the central courtyard overseeing to the watering of their plants.
"Your majesties," Suzie panted breathlessly. "your majesties."
Emperor Hikaru turned his attention to Suzie, "What is it?" he asked her.
"Our suspicions were confirmed," Suzie said to the emperor. "your daughter was kidnapped!"
"Kidnapped? By who?" Empress Ayaka asked Suzie.
"We don't know that yet," Suzie answered Empress Ayaka. "but we're working on it."
Scooter decided to use his Chan com to give Mr. Socrates a ring.
"Chan clan leader number three calling Mr. Socrates," Scooter said. "come in, Mr. Socrates."
"This is Mr. Socrates," Mr. Socrates said. "what is it, Scooter?"
"Our suspicions were confirmed," Scooter said to Mr. Socrates. "the princess was kidnapped!"
"Good," Mr. Socrates said to Scooter. "now, you must find out who is doing the kidnapping and why they are doing it."
"Right." Scooter said.
Scooter signed off of his Chan com.
"Your majesty?" Tom asked Empress Ayaka curiously.
"Yes, Tom?" Empress Ayaka answered.
"What does the princess look like?" Tom asked Empress Ayaka.
The empress showed the Sundance Kids and the Chan clan a picture of a girl with short black hair in double buns, brown eyes, and wearing a sakura pink kimono, white tabi socks, and wooden zori sandals with black straps.
