Soldiers went all over the city. Some headed for the circus but most of it was gone.
"What happened to the circus?" One soldier asked.
"Halt!" Another soldier said to a hay wagon in another section of the city. "Okay, come on!"
More soldiers pushed forward a door to a huge wooden fence. Other entrances were also sealed off.
But what no one knew was that Robert, the strongmen, and his non-performing assistant were taking the catacombs out of the city.
"Won't be long now 'til we're home free." Robert gloated, sitting down and resting his feet on a lump of cloth...that oinked in protest.
Startled, he lifted the cloth to find Clymene and Waddles. Waddles tried to attack Robert but one of the strongmen grabbed him. Waddles squealed and struggled and finally managed to break free. He then made his escape, he knew he was outnumbered. Time to find Barnaby.
"You won't get away with this!" Clymene glared. "My dad's captain of the guard!"
"Captain of the guard eh? Really?" Robert smiled, glad she told him this.
Back at the Palace of Justice...
"Captain, the city is secured." One soldier said. "But there is no sign of Robert."
"We have to look further!" Barnaby ordered.
"Barnaby!" Mabel showed up with Dipper.
"Clymene's gone after Robert!" Dipper said.
"I've looked everywhere!" Mabel said.
"I've got men all over the city, we'll find her." Barnaby went to Mabel and put a hand on her shoulder comfortingly.
"You're looking in all the wrong places." Wendy, who was still imprisoned, said.
Barnaby had interrogated her earlier and found out that Robert forced her to work for him to make up for her having stolen coins from him back when she was six. She also said that she truly loved Dipper and only led him away to prevent him from getting hurt. Barnaby believed her, but kept her locked up since he was too busy trying to locate Robert to think of another place to put her. Wendy understood, and accepted her being locked up as punishment for having hurt Dipper.
"Robert has made a living from illusion but I can outthink him." Wendy continued. "It's the same as the disappearing elephant, there was always a tunnel under the stage. He's taken the bell underground."
"The catacombs." Mabel realized. "He could be using the catacombs."
"But there are miles of catacombs." Barnaby sighed. "There has to be a way to narrow it down... Wait, Mabel where's Waddles?"
"I don't know...I think he left-" Mabel got it. "Left with Clymene, of course! All we have to do is listen for his squeals and we'll find Clymene and Robert."
"Right." Barnaby went over to free Wendy. "You're coming with us, we may need your help."
"I'll do whatever I can." Wendy promised.
They all left for the catacombs. Neither of them admitted it, but they all felt pretty creeped out down there. Suddenly they heard squealing!
"Waddles!" Mabel cried happily. "Over here Waddles, come on boy!"
Waddles showed up.
"Waddles where's Clymene?" She asked.
Waddles oinked and squealed.
"Hurry Waddles, take us to her." She said.
Waddles led her, Dipper, Barnaby, and Wendy down the catacombs.
Meanwhile, Robert was looking at his reflection in a hand-held mirror.
"Which will go better with my eyes: diamonds or sapphires?" He asked.
"Robert!"
Startled, Robert looked up and saw Barnaby, Dipper, Mabel, Wendy, and a whole bunch of soldiers surrounding him. Fortunately for him, they couldn't easily reach him due to him being in the water and them being slightly high up on stone floors.
"Bonjour capitan!" Robert stood up.
"Surrender now!" Barnaby ordered before closing the gate on him. "You got no way out!"
"Oh really? I see things a bit differently." Robert used his smoke to reveal Clymene, who was dangling from his hand.
"Mommy! Daddy!" She screamed.
Dipper glared at Robert and advanced towards him a few feet.
"Let her go!" Barnaby growled as Mabel looked at Clymene worriedly.
"Let her go? I think not captain." Robert scoffed gloatingly. "She's my ticket out of here."
Wendy gasped to herself, realizing that Robert was never going to let Clymene go.
"You are not going anywhere Robert." Barnaby unsheathed his sword. "Now release my daughter!"
Other soldiers unsheathed their swords too.
"Let me pass safely and you may see your precious little girl again." Robert said.
"Dipper he means it, he'll hurt Clymene." Wendy whispered to Dipper. "But I know how we can save her. Please trust me."
"Why? So you can escape with Robert?" Dipper scoffed.
"Don't test me captain!" Robert said.
"Daddy!" Clymene screamed, really scared.
Barnaby cringed...and brought up the gate.
"Lovely." Robert chuckled to himself.
Dipper hung his head, afraid that he would never see his niece again.
"Dipper listen to me." Wendy tried again. "I know I hurt you, I'm sorry, but I am someone you can trust."
"How can I? I've already made that mistake." Dipper turned away with pain in his voice.
"Dipper there is more to me."
Dipper paused and turned around. He looked into Wendy's eyes and saw sadness and regret and...it couldn't be. But it was, it was...love. She loved him? His heart started to heal...
The gate now was fully up. Dipper realized he had no other choice so he reached out his hand. Wendy took it and led him away...
Robert started to leave.
"Well done mon capitan." He chuckled.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Clymene screamed, still scared.
Barnaby and Mabel hugged each other tightly, hoping that Clymene would be set free soon.
Dipper and Wendy were on a ledge ahead of Robert. Dipper tossed a lasso over and it looped around a rock. Dipper held the rope tightly and Wendy climbed on.
"You hold the rope, I'll do the rest." She said.
She started walking down, trying hard to keep her balance.
"A hush comes over the crowd, as Wendy performs her graceful trick." She whispered; she looked down and nearly lost her balance again, but caught herself. "I can do this, I can do this."
"I know you can." Dipper smiled.
Wendy smiled back, realizing that he had forgiven her, but it turned into an angry, determined look when she overheard Clymene struggling. She continued until she was over the waterway, and then quickly sat down and reached down. She grabbed Clymene, much to Robert's extreme shock, and brought her up to the rope. She then stood up and held Clymene close to her. Robert looked up and couldn't believe his eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Robert cried, still very shocked.
"Just standing here looking pretty." Wendy said coldly.
Dipper laughed.
Having overheard, Barnaby and Mabel looked passed the gate and saw what had happened. They both smiled with relief and Wendy smiled back at them. The soldiers stormed over to Robert to arrest him.
"No no not the face!" Robert pleaded. "Watch the face."
Wendy leaned down and gave Clymene to Mabel. Clymene, Mabel, and Barnaby hugged each other tightly.
Outside and aboveground, the soldiers dragged Robert and his strongmen and non-performing assistant into a wagon for prisoners.
"Fools this is Robert!" Robert protested. "This is not the ending I had in mind!"
"Get in there." A soldier grunted as he and the other soldier tossed him into the wagon.
"No prison can hold me!" Robert added. "Wait, we can work this out! Did I mention I can do birthday parties?"