The Elusive Treasure

Chapter Three

The Lopezes Get Into The Act

"Umm... Guys...exactly where are we running to?" Reggie asked.

"The forest! Duh!" Twister answered.

"I know, but which forest, and which part of that forest? And couldn't there be a faster way there?"

"You know she's got a point," Sam started, "Rod where were you exactly when you saw them?"

"Getting on a bus on the California Incline," he said as a bus pulled up besides them, stopping at the bus stop just on the corner. The five of them boarded the bus

The bus went up the California Incline and turned left on Lincoln Boulevard. Soon it was headed to the old Buena Vista forest, very near Roderick's home.

"Heh. I didn't think I'd be here before sunset!" - chuckled Rod when the bus passed outside the Vandenack Motor Works.

"Hum... If my calculations are correct... they might have gotten off near here, guys" - said Sam. "I think they exited the bus here, guys!" He pulled the bell and asked the driver to stop.

"Why? How can you be so sure, Sam??" - asked Otto, confused.

"Oh, just a hunch" - shrugged Sam as the kids crossed the street and entered the forest.

Later…

"Hey, how much longer until we get there?" Otto complained as the group continued throughout the forest.

"Yeah, getting footage of trees is boooooooring!" Twister concurred, putting his camera back down to his side.

"We'll get there when we get there!" sighed Reggie in exasperation, growing slightly annoyed of the two anxious boys.

"Hey, we're on an adventure, guys and the best part about an adventure is the journey to our destination," Roderick told the two earnestly with a smile. "Besides," he picked up his pace, "this is fun."

"Yo, Squid, are we there yet?" Otto shouted, not really taking in Roderick had just told him.

"Almost, O-man," Sam muttered.

'Thank goodness,' Reggie thought in relief.

Within a few moments, the small group had finally reached their destination. Sammy took out his GPS and his spyglass and compass. There was a definite pattern to these clues, and he'd just begun to notice it. Off some distance away, the gang could make out the sound of Lars Rodriguez screaming a foul oath. Otto quietly took up the scope, and watched the Lasers skulk off back to civilization, empty handed.

"The coast is clear, guys!" he whispered. "Let's get to work!"

Sammy took up the magnetometer and methodically scanned the ground. As he came around the side of a tree, the sensor went hot, then went psycho as it reported a large dense object close under the ground. Sammy motioned for Twister to hand him the shovel.

"This could be it, people!" he beamed as he dug into the dirt. The others likewise joined in.

Soon, Reggie's shovel hit something.

"Oh...mah...gawd!" she exclaimed, suddenly freezing up with awe.

Quickly, Roderick came along with a broom and swept at the exposed wood. There was ornate metalwork on the surface, and they hadn't nearly exposed the whole top of the thing yet.

"How big is this thing?" asked Twister.

"We'll soon find out," Roderick replied, as he kept sweeping away the dirt. Eventually the whole surface of the thing was exposed, about sixty by one hundred twenty centimeters.

Suddenly they heard an automobile approaching. It was actually a small truck, and in it were the fivesome's friends Scotty Sanchez and Louie Crumpacker, who had been down in the canyon exploring a cave.

"How ya doin' guys?" greeted the duo and the fivesome almost simultaneously.

"We've been on a quest... from history," Twister introduced, making a sweeping gesture with a hand on his tummy and another outstretched.

"It seems that fortune has put us on the trail of...el Cajón de la Esperanza," Otto explained.

"And something this substantial would seem to qualify," continued Sam. "This thing probably weighs well over a hundred kilos. I think it's gotta be the real McCoy because this ground was undisturbed when we got here."

"No problem at all to help," offered Lou as he and Scott exited the truck, shovels in hand."

All seven people had the box clear of its surrounding dirt within a few minutes. It turned out to be about ninety centimeters deep. A definite cajón.

"I think it'd be best to try to open it up here," suggested Scott. "Who knows what--or how much--stuff could be inside?"

Lou was on it, bringing a large pry-bar out of his truck. The ancient lock crumbled from the pressure. All present stepped down into the hole and grabbed a part of the lid. Rod flipped down the little part of the latch that was all that might hold the box closed. Then everybody gave a mighty shove. The box opened and the faces of all who beheld its contents were bathed in a magical golden light!

"Ooh!" Reggie was dumbstruck.

"Oh, my..." Otto was speechless.

"Are you sure what we're seeing is real?" Twister was beside himself with curious awe.

"I knew if it was real, it had to be somewhere..." Sammy was amazed.

"As real as the hair on my head, ...ehh, 's much as I got" replied Roderick

"That is one heck of a lot of wealth, guys!" exclaimed Lou.

"Holy moly!" exclaimed Scotty, absolutely amazed.

"This haul has gotta be easily worth seven--no, probably eight figures," Sam calculated.

Inside the top of the box was a note. Twister translated carefully the ancient calligraphy: "This needed to be found. But only when the time was right, and then by those whose hearts are true."

Lou tied a stout rope around the box, and carefully dragged it up out of the ground with his truck. Twister then took pictures of everyone as they posed with crowns or medallions. Carefully, and with great effort, the seven loaded the box into the back of the truck.

"Where would you guys like to go?" asked Scott. "The museum? The Times? Channel Three?"

"Well," Otto said, scratching his head, "the first place we should go with this is the Shore Shack."

So, off they went, Otto riding shotgun with Scotty and Lou, and the other four sitting in the back. It was a slow trip, because the box was very heavy. But, they arrived at the Shore Shack in good order, pulling in right under the portico during a slow period. Tito and Ray approached the entourage with great curiosity.

And so... The Ozone Street Irregulars lived happily with their riches. Rod, Scott, and Lou also basked in the glory of their catch. Meanwhile, Lars, his crew, and the Lopez Brothers came out of the whole ordeal with nothing.

The En...

Ohhhh... You like us to end it off, wouldn't you? But I'm sorry. I'm afraid our tale doesn't quite end there. For you see, things went slightly differently back in the forest.

In the forest, a golden glow did radiate from the rather large chest. However, its contents were quite different. The seven children gaped at the chest as the mystical light faded.

"I...I don't believe it..." Reggie said, dumbfounded.

"How can this be...?" Sam added, eyes wide in confusion.

"Ugh! This stinks on ice!!!" Otto roared.

"What's the deal!?!" Twister supplied.

"This is one strange treasure..." Rod added silently. Scott and Lou were silent as they watched the others ponder over their latest loss.

Otto's fists were clenched as he studied the objects lying within. He scrunched his eyes shut as he prepared to let it all out.

"I...I..." His cheeks flared in rage as he took a deep breath.

Meanwhile…

"Ugh... My legs are killing me..." Izzy groaned.

He and his brother were climbing up the California Incline. They were using their roller blades and skateboard to travel up the steep hill.

"No kidding." Iggy moaned, kicking the hill again and gaining another couple of inches.

"I'd give anything to have Shadow's speed right now..."

"Or maybe his skates..." Iggy sighed dreamily.

"Yeah..." The brothers said. They then blinked and looked up. "Yeah! How about it?!"

(Prince Izzy: Sorry boys. For once ya gotta be normal kids.)

"Aw come on!" Izzy moaned.

"Please Dad!" Iggy added.

(Prince Izzy: Uh-uh. Now continue! I don't wanna waste my turn arguing with you two!)

Izzy grumbled as he continued using his skates to climb up the hill followed by Iggy.

"Oh sure... He gives Sam and them air skates, but we're stuck with nothing!" The elder brother muttered.

"No kidding..." Iggy sighed, fighting the forces of gravity again. "Hey..." The younger brunet said suddenly. "Why on earth are we going up the Incline for, anyway?"

"Duh!" The older one shouted. "I saw that blond idiot and those other four get into that bus."

"No. I mean, why are we using our gear to go up?" Iggy asked, having given up using the board and walking.

"Well..." Izzy started, rubbing the back of his head. "I forgot that the buses don't run after sunset. Those guys must've managed to grab the last one." He grumbled. "And if we waited for a taxi, there's no way we would've gotten to the treasure in time."

"Oy..." Iggy slapped his head as he watched his brother struggle to catch up. Wearing roller blades meant having to keep moving. Otherwise, you'd drop down the hill.

"Whew..." His sibling sighed as he caught up and resumed a normal pace again.

Nothing more was said between the pair of brunets as they continued their trek. They soon reached the top and walked/skated towards where the entrance to the forest.

"Huff... Iggy... Let's take...a...break..." Izzy panted, bending over.

"Why brother, I thought you wanted to get the treasure before them." Iggy said, giving him a smirk. Izzy looked up with a glare.

"If I wasn't...so tired...you'd get...such a...beating..." He breathed, wiping some sweat off his head.

Iggy only grinned in response.

"Ugh! I can't believe it!"

The brothers blinked and turned towards the forest entrance. Lars and his crew were coming out of it, looking hopping mad. The leader was the one who delivered that scream. The quartet was moving towards the brothers! Izzy automatically forgot his fatigue as he stood at attention.

"Iggy!" He started, turning the boy in question towards him. "We can't let 'em know that we're onto 'em!"

"I know!" The shorter boy said, nodding frightfully. "What'll we do?!"

"Just play it cool! Follow my lead." The older brother replied, clearing his throat. "Uhhh yeah Iggy! I told you that that's how you get that last magic whistle!"

"Wha?" Iggy said, raising an eyebrow. He cringed when Izzy shook his fist menacingly. He gulped and scrambled to think of something. "Oh yeah...! You mean break that rock in Desert Hill and beat the Boomerang Brother, right?"

"Right." He nodded as Lars and his crew came closer. He blinked as he realized something. "Boomerang Brother?! Ya idiot! You don't fight a Boomerang Brother for that whistle!"

"What!?" Iggy shouted back. "Of course ya do!"

"No ya don't, ya dunce!" Izzy snapped, forgetting about the group of punks. "Ya fight a Fire Brother!"

"Fire Brother? No way!" The younger sibling shouted, shaking his fist. "It's a Boomerang Brother!"

"Fire Brother!"

"Boomerang Brother!"

"Fire!" Izzy spat.

"Boomerang!" Iggy roared.

"Fire!"

"Boomerang!"

"Fire!"

"Boomerang!"

"You casual gamer, I've played Super Mario Bros. 3 since before you were born, and I say Fire!"

"Call me what ya what, ya twit! I say it's Boomerang!"

"That's it!!!" Izzy roared, lunging. Instantly, a dust cloud appeared as punches, kicks, and screams were heard.

Meanwhile, Lars and co. passed them, not even batting an eyelash at the siblings.

"Ugh! Whoever drew up that map is a major kook!" The brunet in the gray beanie shouted to his cronies. "There was absolutely nothing in there!"

The brothers instantly stopped their skirmish and listened in. Izzy was getting ready to pound Iggy's back while Iggy was getting ready to chomp on Izzy's leg. Their eyes followed the quartet as they disappeared down the hill.

"Come on, ya dorks! We gotta hurry up and get to the next place before Rocket Dork shows up!" Lars ordered.

The brothers fell on the ground after that.

"Ugh..." Izzy groaned as he struggled to stand. "You mean to tell me they STILL didn't find the treasure!?!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

The siblings blinked and turned towards the forest.

"...Seems that way..." Iggy answered.

"Hey, wasn't that... the guy in the sunglasses?" Izzy asked as his brother stood

"You mean that guy that looks kinda like Knuckles? Yeah, I think it was him."

"Come on! Let's go see what's up!" Izzy said, skating towards the woods, followed by Iggy, who was using his board again.