"There we go! At last, completion!" Double-D neatly folded his seventh sock-hat into his luggage. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and let out a phew before he stood up and stared at what he was going to pack up for the trip to the Old Country. They were to meet Rolf at the oddly specific time of 9:37 PM.
Although Double-D's bedroom was pretty large, the nine bags and cases of assorted luggage took up much space. "You have really outdone yourself, Eddward!" Double-D congratulated to himself. He checked his digital watch to make sure he was on schedule. The pixelated number changed to 9:35.
Double-D picked up his huge checklist of supplies which was already rolled up. He let loose of the string that held it tight, and the paper was let loose like a red carpet in front of the Oriental Theatre during a movie. The paper did not seem to cease as it continued to roll all the way towards the door, down the stairs, into the living room, and somehow wound up in the sink.
Double-D followed the paper trail while holding a local map of the Old Country, given to him by Rolf. Apparently, the Old Country is so mysterious and unknown that no one can find it on the world map; not even a GPS or satellite imagery can find it, although it is known to be somewhere in Europe. Double-D was deeply troubled by this fact and even attempted to do some research of it himself, but to no avail.
Double-D accidentally slipped on the list and fell down. His unbalanced foot pulled the list upwards. The list floated down onto Double-D's head. "Ow... check."
Meanwhile at Ed's house, Ed stood in his basement, puzzled at what he was supposed to do. An imaginary lightbulb went off above his head, though it flickered and cracked. Ed ran over to his mattress and picked it up with ferocious might and then tossed it to the side. Immediately, a bunch of seagulls came flying out. "Penelope! Mister! Take good care of Dickens for me!" The birds did not listen, and instead, they flew to Ed's sofa and pecked at pieces of moldy bread.
Ed turned his attention back towards the underside of his bed. It wasn't just a television remote or some lint under his raggedy bed. It was the stuff of nightmares. There was a large hole in the floor with visible green fumes spewing out. Ed did not feel nauseous at the slightest. He of course reached his arm inside.
Ed picked up several random items, including a rusty battery, a meat grinder, and a ladle with gravy pudding. He tried to walk upstairs, but his arms were carrying a huge pile that probably weighed more than 50 pounds. Nonetheless, Ed marched up. The stairs creaked under the bearing weight. The pile in Ed's grasp was beginning to deplete as objects shook and tumbled off.
By the time he was out of the basement, there was only a tissue box of gravy in his right hand and a piece of buttered toast in his left. Of course, at that moment, Ed suddenly felt hungry again. His stomach rumbled. The food once in his hands were now in his mouth. Ed swallowed with a smile.
Ed walked out into his front lawn and was greeted by Double-D, who was panting and sweating. Next to Double-D was a cart of luggage. Double-D shot a confused look at the bare Ed.
"Ed," Double-D said, "are you sure that this all that you are bringing?"
Ed saluted and said, "Aye, sir!"
"Ed, I thought I reminded you to bring only your basic necessities! How could you possibly endure in such conditions without the most practical items such as a toothbrush?" Double-D said in a scolding tone.
Ed pulled out a gravy apple from his coat and started munching on it. Double-D sighed.
"Where's Eddy?" Double-D asked, looking around.
"Beats me!"
"He is probably already there. Come, shall we?"
Eventually, the two Eds made it to the meeting point at Rolf's shed. They opened the door only to find that no one was inside. "This cannot be! It is 9:37, correct? How is it that neither Eddy nor Rolf are present?" Ed just shrugged.
"I guess we may just have to wait for the others," said Double-D. He placed his luggage leaning against the back wall. Ed happily jumped into a pile of hay sitting in the corner. Double-D turned around and gasped in horror at the door still left open. Double-D pushed the door closed out of habit. The door burst open a second later, knocking the surprised sockhead back into the wall. Standing at the opening was Rolf with a large sack slung over his shoulder.
"Good greetings, Ed-boys! Rolf has collected the stubby three-haired one, yes?"
Double-D rubbed his head. "That's great, Rolf." But then he gasped. He ignored Rolf and stared around himself at his now-ruined luggage. His packed clothing (which were just sets of his hat, shirt, shorts, and jacket) were strewn about on the ground. He screamed, "NOOOOO!" In the midst of Double-D's screaming, Ed emerged from the hay. He greeted Rolf and said, "Hiya, Rolf!" Ed picked his ear and pulled out a piece of hay.
Rolf dropped the bag he was carrying. The contents of the bag spilled out, and it turned out that it was Eddy that Rolf was carrying. Eddy appeared to be sleeping. He was woken up by Ed bear-hugging him.
"No, mommy! I don't wanna apologise! Don't get the Chunky Puffs again! NO!" Eddy said, eyes still shut.
Eddy snapped out of his dream and opened his eyes. Everyone was staring at him, especially Ed, who happened to be breathing on him. Eddy slapped Ed and broke free of his grip.
"What the?! Where the heck am I!?" Eddy looked and saw the farming tools hung on the wall.
"Rolf! Let me outta here! You kidnapped me, didn't you?!" Eddy said.
"Nonsense, Ed-boy! This night is the night we shall depart!" Rolf replied.
Eddy ran and attempted to sidestep Rolf to get through, but he tripped on Wilfred, who was waiting outside. The pig squealed and stepped on Eddy's face, leaving a red hoof-shaped mark.
"You show enthusiasm, Ed-boy! Like Victor when he hungers for salted seaweed! Come, then. We must follow the path!"
"Wait!" cried Double-D, "I must still organize my scattered belongings!" He desperately tried to pick up his fallen wardrobe until Ed suddenly picked up Double-D by the foot and hung him in the air. "Ed! What do you think you're doi-" Ed shushed Double-D and said, "Nuh-uh, Eddward! Playtime is over!" He dragged him outside, leaving the heaps of baggage behind.
The four boys and Wilfred, led by Rolf, walked back to the sidewalk. Ed hopped up and down whereas Double-D and Eddy drifted behind, both in a bad mood for their own reasons. Eventually, they come across a large wooden cart parked on Rethink Avenue. It had various objects in the back, including a mysterious wooden chest.
"Rolf," Double-D said, "isn't this parking illegal? This wooden cart is clearly an unregulated method of transport! We don't want to be on the wrong side of the authorities, now do we?"
Rolf did not respond. Instead, he grabbed Double-D and threw him onto the cart. He also threw Eddy, despite his protests, onto the cart as well. Ed jumped onto it on his own.
Rolf climbed onto the back and took the wooden chest. He held it out to the Eds, who were lying in a pile on top of a bunch of objects. "Ed-boys. You must know what lies inside this wood!"
Eddy raised his head and said mockingly, "Yeah, Rolf. It would be so important to know what's inside."
Rolf did not detect the sarcasm. But he did slap Eddy for interrupting his talking. Rolf slowly opened the box to reveal a short, rusty sword embedded inside a velvet cushion (which was moldy and falling apart). The sword had a handle coloured deep green and designed to resemble a fish's scales. Some of the handle's "skin" was tearing apart. The blade was curved and carved on it were what appeared to be drawings, though they were too faded away to know what they depicted. The top of the blade was more rounded and had a hole in the center, while there was a slight gap on the edge. The blade was meant to resemble a fish.
Double-D Rose out of nowhere and gaped at the sword. "My knowledge of ancient weaponry may be rusty," Double-D said, "but that appears to be an antique langsax!"
"A long what?" Eddy asked.
"No, Eddy, a langsax."
Rolf cleared his throat and pointed at the difficultly-named sword. "This, Ed-boys," Rolf announced, "is the Langsax of the First Shepherd. Only the chosen can wield it!"
Rolf opened his mouth, prepared to speak some more, but stopped. He pulled out an hourglass from his pocket and watched the grains of sand fall. "We must go! Time is needed!" he yelled. Rolf jumped into the driver's seat and pulled the harness. "Hee-yah!" The cart, which was actually controlled by Wilfred, bolted forward.
Soon enough, the Gang was on the highway and on the way to Downtown Peach Creek and thus Peach Creek International Airport. Ed started to squirm.
"What is it, Ed?" asked Double-D.
"Guys, I need to use the bathroom!