Double-D and Eddy took a casual stroll in the area around their departure gate, the shorter Ed still in a fussy mood. Eddy said to the sockhead: "This is all your fault, sockhead!" And Double-D to him: "My fault? Oh, come now, Eddy. I'm not the person who determines the flight course and the exact time-of-arrival for the aircraft."
Eddy poked Double-D's nose in an accusing manner and harshly replied, "Yeah, well, we got three stupid hours to kill! What the heck are we supposed to do till then!? Play cards? Read books? Learn about Rolf's country!?" "Why, yes, Eddy," Double-D answered in a squeaky voice. Eddy raised his eyebrow as Double-D gently pushed Eddy's finger from his face. "I've taken the liberty of researching the Old Country in great depth. Thanks to my work, we should be able to understand the culture, the history, and the arts!" said Double-D while rummaging through his backpack.
"Yawn," replied a bored Eddy. Double-D excitedly pulled from his bag a large book titled Life in the Old Country. "Behold!" he proudly exclaimed, "This encyclopedia covers all the basics concerning the lifestyle of those living in the foreign lands. Did you know that one of the main exports of the Old Country is the Capra aegagrus hircus?" Eddy was having none of it, as he ignored Double-D's ramblings and continued to walk in silence. "In the Neolithic Age, the humans inhabiting the lands we know today as the Old Country were one of the first in Europe to herd goats! Indeed, the goat is one of the national symbols of... Eddy! Are you even listening?" Eddy had halted suddenly in his tracks. Double-D waved his hand in front of him for attention, but instead, Eddy started in a fit of laughter.
"Hahahaha! Oh, man! Take a look at Lumpy over there!" Eddy grabbed Double-D's large chin and directed him to the cause of the humor. It was Ed, who was completely covered in toilet paper. "Raaaagh! I am a mummy! Give me your potato salad!" shouted the wrapped Ed. Double-D was less than amused. "Ed! This is not what I meant when I told you to use the restroom!" There was a brief silence, and Ed finally replied with a simple question: "Pickle?" Double-D stared at him in astonishment. "Way to go, Ed!" said Eddy, "C'mon, monobrow, I got an idea!" Eddy grabbed Ed and they both ran off. As their laughter trailed off, Double-D sighed and rested his face on his palm. "I'm surrounded by idiots."
"Faster, Ed, faster! Quick, before anyone sees!"
"Roger that, Eddy!"
Ed continued to pound his head on the vending machine like a battering ram. The two Eds were attempting to try their luck on a helpless soda machine. Eddy formed a shield around Ed, making sure that no one can witness their mischievous deed. Then, after one final push, a banging noise was heard within the machine. A soda can dispensed itself with a thud.
"Boy, am I parched!" said Ed, picking up the drink.
Just before Ed could open it, he was shoved away by Eddy. The soda can was launched from his hand and landed into Eddy's. "Not so fast, birdbrains! I called dibs, remember?"
Little did the two Eds know was that there was a pair of eyes secretly watching them. The mysterious figure was hidden behind a column, and on his trenchcoat, he wore a police badge. He pulled a radio from his pocket and whispered into it, "Suspects sighted, over."
Eddy has his back to Ed, gulping down his drink. Suddenly, Ed noticed someone approaching them. "Hiya, Rolf!" he said, unaware of the man's true identity. Eddy did not turn around when he said to "Rolf", "Just fixing up my thirst, Rolfy boy."
The man did not say a word. With just a flick of a wrist and a flash, Ed and Eddy were suddenly handcuffed and knocked out. He whispered into his radio again, "Suspects are down."
When Rolf returned to their departure gate, he saw not three, but only one Ed. Double-D sat on the end of a row of seats, looking worried and anxious. His eyes darted back-and-forth until they met Rolf.
"Rolf! Thank goodness you're here!" exclaimed Double-D.
"Greetings, head-in-sock Ed-boy. Rolf has returned... But where are the two other delinquents that make up your trio?"
"That's what I wished to tell you about! Ed and Eddy have been absent for quite a long time. Who knows where they could be right now? Oh, I can imagine the trouble they are in!" By this time, Double-D was standing up and grabbing Rolf's fur coat like a madman. But when he realised this, he quickly let go and sheepishly said, "Oh, um, my apologies."
"Do not worry yourself. Come, Rolf has brought back delectables."
Rolf beckoned him to sit back down. Rolf sat on the end of an adjacent row of seats. Between the two rows was a small table. Rolf set down on it a sack. It unfolded immediately to reveal its contents. Whole fish, dried and crispy.
"The half-witted Ed-boy and the lack-of-chin Ed-boy miss out on Nana's cooking. Eat, as it is good for the hunger." Rolf handed Double-D a fish, though the latter struggled to carry it. He sniffed it. He tried to hold back his gagging.
"Why, thank you, um, Rolf. But I... must wash my hands first. Therefore, I cannot eat right now!"
"Very well, though Rolf must remind you to refrain from your modern go-go standards when in Rolf's country," Rolf scolded.
Double-D gently set the fish down on the table. But still, he was worried about the safety and whereabouts of his two friends. The two sat in silence, though it was made awkward from the sound of the crunching of fish bones. It seemed like an eternity until Double-D finally broke the silence.
"Pardon me, Rolf," asked Double-D, "But could you please excuse me? I have to go check on Ed and Eddy."
Rolf was in the middle of drinking a large goblet of an unknown liquid. It took him a few seconds to gulp it all down, and when he did, he let out a breath and wiped his mouth. Once again, it took him a few seconds to respond.
"Hmm. For what reason do you choose to seek your companions?"
"I need to ensure that they are safe, Rolf! It's my role to prevent them from getting themselves in trouble!" said Double-D, slightly exasperated.
"Why must you constantly put yourself at stress, sockheaded Ed-boy? There is no trouble here. Only until the Old Country is reached shall we worry about dangers."
Double-D sighed. But much to his surprise, a startling announcement was made on the airport intercom.
"Attention please," blared the speakers on the ceiling and walls. Being the attentive and obedient person he is, Double-D turned towards a nearby speaker to listen intently. "The following passengers are requested to the Currency Exchange stall for a pickup: Eddward and Rolf." Upon hearing their names, Double-D and Rolf looked at each other in confusion.
"A pickup?" inquired Rolf, "What is this pickup they speak of?"
"Why, I don't know either, Rolf. Oh dear, we should go and check."
The two finally reached the Currency Exchange counter. It was empty, and a sign on it read "Closed". Rolf was not being very patient, however.
"Son of a gun, they have made a Merry Andrew of Rolf!"
"Now, now, Rolf. There is no need to use, um, violent force. Perhaps they could be in the back?"
Indeed, there was a back door that had another sign that read, "If u r Rolf or Edward, enter thru this door." It was a quite unprofessional work and appeared to be hastily scribbled, not to mention the spelling. Double-D cringed at his violated name, but nonetheless, they both went inside.
They were greeted by a large group of police and airport security.
"There they are!" shouted the police captain at the front of the group. Turning to the boys, he glared at them and said, "You two are surrounded!"
Double-D had never been more scared in his life. Sure, he was constantly put into life-threatening situations due to backfired scams, but being detained by the law was the lowest for him.
"What is the meaning of this?" asked a confused, yet alarmed Rolf.
The captain grunted and unsheathed a sword attached to his belt. He pointed it at Rolf in an accusing manner. Double-D was now more puzzled than fearful.
"A s-s-s-sword?" the sockhead asked.
"Firearms would have been inappropriate for a K+ rating," replied the captain, "Now. You two are under arrest for driving an unregistered vehicle, driving past the speed limit, vandalism, assault, and worst of all, bringing animals to places where they shouldn't be."
There was a pause, giving Rolf some time into his thoughts. He finally spoke up. "Rolf refuses to be apprehended by the town guard! You have disrespected Rolf's ancestors, for they were village buffoons who often wandered into trouble with the law! Rolf and the sockheaded Ed-boy shall fight you to the death!"
"Fight? Death?! Oh my..." murmured Double-D before fainting.
The police captain laughed maniacally while stroking his goatee. He did not feel at all threatened by Rolf's hostile tone. He said to him, "You want to fight us? I don't think so! 'Cause if you do, then you'll have to say goodbye to your little friends!"
The captain stepped to the side to reveal what was behind him: Ed and Eddy, both handcuffed and tied to a single chair. A policeman was next to them, holding a mallet used to break crab shells. They were still conscious, and upon making eye contact with Rolf, Eddy nudged Ed and whispered to Ed, "Looks like the cavalry arrived, Lumpy. You know the plan, right?" Ed shook his head yes until Eddy headbutted him because he drew attention.
Yet still, Rolf was unfazed at the sight of the kidnapped Ed-boys. Without saying a word, he pulled out a silver flute and started to play on it. Ed immediately rocked his head to the tune, earning another headbutt from Eddy.
The police slowly approached Rolf, swords and axes raised. The police captain stared at Rolf menacingly, adjusting his sunglasses so that they shine off the light. When Double-D finally came to, he woke up at the wrong moment. Upon seeing the police march towards them, he fainted once more. All the while, Rolf still played the flute.
Just as they were only a few feet from Rolf, Wilfred came in crashing through the ceiling and landed between them.
Rolf put the flute back in his pocket and grinned. He cracked his knuckles, and that signalled Wilfred to go into a frenzy. Wilfred stomped the ground and foamed from his mouth. Seeing a lone half-eaten chocolate bar in the police captain's pocket, Wilfred began his attack! "Oof! Ow! Geez! I shouldn'ta eaten bacon this morning!" yelled out the captain.
While the cops were distracted, Eddy shouted to Ed, "NOW!" The police were unaware of Ed's tremendous strength and Eddy's quick planning. Ed broke free of the rope that tied them to the chair along with his handcuffs. He hoisted Eddy onto his back and ran back to Double-D, knocking down many cops in his path. Ed picked up Double-D and proudly stated, "Reunited once more!" Rolf had already joined in the fighting with Wilfred.
Eddy, still anxious, told Ed, "What're ya waiting for, numbskull? Let's hightail it!"
"But Eddy! We can't leave Rolf behind!"
But a voice from behind interrupted them. "No need. Rolf is already here." Ed turned around to see Rolf, who was completely unscathed from the brawl. Behind him were the bodies of many unconscious cops. Wilfred was at his side, snacking on a doughnut.
"Come, Ed-boys! The flight is almost here!" said Rolf, pointing to a clock on the nearby wall.
They all sprinted back to their gate, which was already accepting tickets in a queue. The boys were the last in line, and thankfully, they made it in the nick of time. The flight attendant said no word about the preteen boys with torn clothing and bruises, along with the unconscious one being carried on one's back.