The only thing that separates the twin's bedroom from where Sir Lion P. Nickel is staying is one thin wall. Only six inches or so kept the boys from seeing what this magical man was doing, but they could hear everything that occurred on the other side.
It was Sunday morning, seven o'clock a.m. Cody was snuggled under his covers, pillows draped across his head. Zach didn't have any blankets on – they were all in a heap at the end of his mattress, but his pillow was rested gently underneath his head. All was quiet.
"Dang it all! It must be around here somewhere!" Sir Lion P. Nickel's voice filtered through the walls like water through a sponge. His squeaky voice hadn't woken the boys, yet, thank goodness.
"I know I left it around here somewhere. It was supposed to be in my pocket, so I reckoned maybe it'd be on my nightstand. I guess I was wrong. Hmmm. This is just plain pathetic!"
Pretty soon, Sir Lion P. Nickel's angriness awoke Cody's light sleeping. His eyes jolted open, as he thought that this unknown voice was coming from somewhere in his room. Sitting up quickly, he looked around, heart beating fast.
"WHERE IS IT!"
Cody heard the voice, but had no idea where it was coming from.
"Hey, Zach? You awake?" Cody asked.
"No." Zach mumbled from across the room.
"Did you hear that man yelling? It sounds like he's in our room, Zach! Where is he?" Cody whispered, looking around wildly.
"Yeah. It's just our new neighbor. Sir Brian L. Penny or something like that. He's too loud. Doesn't he know that he's way too noisy for only seven in the morning on a Sunday? Some of us actually sleep around here." Zach answered, stuffing his head under his pillow.
With a sigh of great relief, but feeling dumb at the same time, Cody rested back into his bed. For a minute, he thought somebody was actually in his bedroom.
What they didn't know was that Sir Lion P. Nickel was over in room 411 trying to find that precious magic stone that Zach had found the day before. The same rock that Zach had put in his pocket to keep. The same rock that was sitting in the hamper right now with all of the twin's other dirty jeans and t-shirts. Sir Lion P. Nickel was going to find that stone whether the boy's got hurt in the process or not. The magic Percy's Rock held was more powerful and dangerous than five armies put together. And if it weren't used with great respect and gentleness, it would cause much damage. Indescribable damage. And, so far, Percy's Rock was sitting in a hamper, full of moldy smelling, mud covered, soda stained clothes, not being treated with generosity at the least. If the boy's weren't more careful, their troubles would just be starting. If Sir Lion P. Nickel doesn't find Percy's Rock, magic would be invading the Tipton Hotel!
Later, at around one in the afternoon, Carry (the twin's mother) was taking all of their dirty clothing out of the hamper and putting it into the washing machine.
She tossed in some of Cody's new sweaters, flung in some of their brownish socks, threw all of the underwear in, and last but not least, she hurled in Zach's jeans that held Percy's Rock in the back pocket.
Carry switched on the machine, and it rumbled vigorously. Water surged through, making the clothing splash around in soapy suds. And there was Percy's Rock - flopping around crazily in the rapid waters. It was jostled, twisted, pushed, and shook up. There was no gentleness to the magical stone in this washing machine adventure.
Carry left the bathroom (where all this was happening) switching off the lights. But, even though she turned them off, it was still brighter than day in there! She walked away, not noticing the lime green light that was pouring from the small window of the washing machine.
Nobody knew it was happening. Nobody knew about the stone's magical and dangerous ways. Nobody knew but Sir Lion P. Nickel.
Sir Lion P. Nickel was sitting in a diner when all of this was occurring. He was munching on a delicious burger that was straight from the grill, reading The Daily Boston Report, and occasionally looking up at the football game to see what the scores were. It was all swell, until he had a strange feeling run through his spine and up to his skull. He dropped his burger, his paper, and took his eyes away from the football game. What was this strange feeling? It was sort of like a thought that was trying to get into his head. But the thought wouldn't come through straight. All he could get out of this odd feeling was that it involved…Percy's Rock! And those darn twin boys that lived next door in the hotel!
He took one last mouthful of his burger and then rushed down the streets of busy Boston, passing curious faces that were looking at his knotted, black hair and his long skirts. He didn't mind people's thoughts and facial expressions, though. What he cared about was getting to the Tipton Hotel to stop the madness that involved Percy's Rock. He had no idea what was happening, or where in the hotel he should go. All he knew was he had to be there, and he had to be there fast.
He burst into the Tipton Hotel, gasping for air. He wasn't used to so much physical activity in one day. He had just run about five blocks straight, and he could feel his chubby belly itching him. As he stood in the doorway, breathing heavily to catch his breath, he noticed Maddie looking at him with wide eyes behind her counter.
"Are you alright? Would you like some water or something?" Maddie asked, holding out a nice cold bottle filled with crystal clear water.
"I'm… I'm…fine. But…thanks anyway." Sir Lion P. Nickel said, taking deep breaths in between each word. Wow. He was out of shape.
He stumbled down the stairs, feeling floppy and useless after running so far, so fast. He waddled around the lobby, wiping his hand over his sweaty, hot forehead. He had to gain some life back before going to save the day from the dangerous Percy's Rock.
Then he felt that pain run up his spine again. Slowly the surge went up into his brain. OUCH! It stung. But…what was that? It was giving him…a vision. He pictured Percy's Rock, tumbling through a washing machine, shining lime green light throughout the bathroom. But, who's suite was that?
He started to the elevator, and when he got inside, he had to choose what floor to go to. Well, which suite did he mostly assume would have the stone in it? Zach and Cody's, of course. The two annoying brats that lived next to him, that listen in on other people's things. So, he punched in '4', so that the elevator would take him to that floor.
It took about five seconds to get to the fourth floor. Now, they were the twelfth room, so he started walking fast down the hallway, looking frantically at the signs plastered to the doors that told what room number they were. Twelve doors down, he found his destination.
Not caring about manners, he pulled out his wand (only used when truly needed) from his large pocket, and groaned out some chants. Instantly, red light poured out of the small wand and pushed open the door in a loud, smashing way.
This was too easy. He simply walked inside, to find Carry sitting shocked on the couch, reading The Housekeepers Guide to A Happy Household. Instantly, he shoved his wand back in his pocket. He didn't need the whole world to think he was magical.
"Excuse me? Who are you?" Carry asked, slamming her magazine down on the couch to get up. Nobody was going to walk into her house without permission.
"Sir Lion P. Nickel. Please don't mind me doing this. Show me to your bathroom, and fast!"
"Umm, I don't think so, big guy! Get out of my suite!" Carry yelled at him.
"No…please let me explain what I'm -"
"GET OUT! I'm warning you, P. Nickel! I have a broom and I know how to use it!" Carry shouted, cutting off his sentence.
Soon, Zach was walking into the living room, looking just as stunned as his mother to see this man standing there in his house.
"You!" Sir Lion P. Nickel said, pointing his finger at the boy. "Have you seen a glowing rock, lately?"
"What are you talking about!" Carry shouted. "Just leave us alone, you freak!" She rushed over to Zach and grabbed his arm.
"Yeah, I've seen one. Why?" Zach asked, looking at Sir Lion P. Nickel suspiciously.
"Do you have it?" Now he could be getting somewhere.
"I think so. I put it in my pocket yesterday night. Mom, did you do the wash yet?" Zach said, looking up into his mother's angry eyes.
"Yes, I did. Do you know his man?"
Ignoring his mother, he continued, "Well, it's probably in the wash right now. But, why? Is it yours or something?"
"Just let me see it! And, yeah, it's mine! Please, I need it back now!" Sir Lion P. Nickel squealed desperately.
Zach led him to the bathroom, with Carry right behind.
As the stepped in, the whole bathroom was glowing with that same, strange green light. This was bad. Real bad. And the worst part was, Sir Lion P. Nickel didn't even know what to do right now. His magical self was for once dumbfounded.
