Leland was about to give up all together, when he suddenly thought of something his grandfather was always telling him whenever he brought home bad grades.
"You give up too easily. You've got to try harder!"
"Try harder," Leland said to himself. "That's it!"
Leland figured if he couldn't push the crates off of him, maybe he could pull himself out of the crates. He held his arms straight out in front of him, and slammed his hands down on the ground. Then he began pulling himself out from underneath the avalanche of broken crates. Once he finally got himself out of there, he kneeled down, grabbed Montgomery's shoulders, and shook them to try to wake him up.
"Montgomery!" he shouted. "Montgomery, wake up!"
It was no use. Montgomery was still out cold. There was only one thing Leland could do. He had to get Montgomery outside, and that wasn't going to be easy. But he knew he had to try. He put the bag of coins in his pocket, grabbed Montgomery's shoulders, and pulled. It wasn't an easy task, considering Montgomery was bigger than Leland. But he inched his way towards the door, trying to avoid getting hit with falling debris, and avoid having Montgomery getting hit with the falling pieces of ceiling.
In the meantime, Officer Growler pulled his police wagon up to the warehouse district. They immediately spotted the warehouse ablaze, and fireworks coming out of it, exploding.
"What in tarnation is going on over there?" Grandpa Lizard shouted as he and the Gang climbed out of the car.
"Looks like the Fourth of July!" Zipper shouted.
"I'll radio for the fire department," Officer Growler said.
Before Officer Growler could do anything, the rats came running down the pathway. Zipper pulled on Officer Growler's sleeve.
"Those are the rats we told you about over there!" he shouted.
"Are you sure?" Officer Growler asked.
"We're positive," Dotty replied.
Officer Growler blew his whistle, and the rats skidded to a halt.
"Oh no!" Rocky shouted. "The cops!"
"Let's get outta here!" Riley shouted.
The four rats were about to take off again, but the Gang surrounded them. Grandpa Lizard and Officer Growler followed.
"All right, all of you are under arrest!" Officer Growler shouted.
The rats all groaned as Officer Growler led them to the police office. Portia looked around suddenly, and turned towards the other.
"Hey, where's Montgomery?" she asked.
"You guys don't think he's in the warehouse, do you?" Bingo asked.
"We didn't until now," Gosalyn said, glaring at Bingo.
"We've got to go in there and save him!" Zipper shouted. He was about to run right into the burning building when Grandpa Lizard caught his arm and stopped him.
"Hold on there, sonny!" he shouted. "You can't go in there! It's too dangerous!"
"But Montgomery . . . ." Zipper shouted.
Zipper didn't get a chance to finish. A cough cut him off. He and the others turned around, and they saw Leland coming out of the burning warehouse with Montgomery in tow. Once safely outside, Leland collapsed to the ground, flat on his back, breathless, and coughing. Montgomery began to regain his senses, and he began coughing as well.
"Montgomery, are you all right?" Dotty asked as she and the rest of the gang came over.
"I think so," Montgomery said, rubbing the back of his head. "What happened?"
"You got hit with a piece of the ceiling," Leland said, from his position on the ground. He was still trying to catch his breath. "It knocked you out, so I pulled myself out from under the crates, and then pulled you outside. It wasn't easy."
"You pulled Montgomery out of there?" Bingo asked. "Are you sure it wasn't the other way around?"
"Bingo, we all saw Leland pull Montgomery out," Zipper said.
Grandpa Lizard pushed his way past the gang, and pulled Leland in a sitting position. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and began wiping the soot off Leland's face.
"Look at you, boy! Just look at you! You're a mess!" he shouted. "You're gonna be the death of me yet! Good thing your folks are out of town! Your mother'd have a fit if she saw you like this! You'd better have a good explanation for getting yourself mixed up in this mess!"
"It's kind of a long story," Leland said, fiddling with the leather bag. "It started on Friday when I found the Krypton coin on the way to school. I was going to show it to you that afternoon, but after I found out it really worked, I decided to use it to become a superhero and . . . ."
"Use it? Boy, you've been reading too many comic books!"
"I knew you were gonna say that," Leland sighed.
"No, really, Mr. Lizard," Montgomery said. "The Krypton coin really does have special powers."
"What?" Grandpa Lizard asked. "How can it?"
"It's kind of hard to explain," Leland replied. "I got mixed up in this when I found out the coin was stolen. I wasn't sure what to do, so I went to Montgomery. We were on our way to give you the coin when the rats showed up."
"I see," Grandpa Lizard said. He didn't say much after that. He took the bag of coins from Leland, and went through it. Leland began to get a little nervous. Grandpa Lizard took the coins out one at a time, and inspected them, handing each one to Officer Growler to hold onto for the time being.
"Wait a minute," he said. "Where is it? Where's the Krypton coin, boy?"
"I . . . . I don't know," Leland said, nervously. "I thought it was in the bag at the time, but it must've fallen out when I hit that one rat with it."
Grandpa Lizard said nothing. He just put the coins back into the bag, and closed it. He remained silent. Leland knew this wasn't a good sign. He thought for sure his backside would get a good blistering the minute they got home for this one. A moment or so later, a news van rolled onto the scene. The crew climbed out of it, and began filming.
"We'll get some better shots up here," the anchorwoman said. She straightened her hair, and held up the microphone. "And we're rolling in five, four, three, two . . . . ."
The red light on the camera went off, and the anchorwoman started her report.
"This is Diane Dachshund here on the Waterfront with the breaking news story of a raging fire at an abandoned warehouse," she said. "We have some witnesses here of what happened."
Diane Dachshund walked over to Officer Growler, and held up her microphone.
"Pardon me, Officer, could you tell us what happened?" she asked.
"I'd like to, but I'm not exactly sure what happened," Officer Growler said.
"I know!" Portia shouted, tugging on Ms. Dachshund's sleeve. "Ask Montgomery! He knows what happened!"
"Yes, it looks like it," Ms. Dachshund said, getting a good look at the soot-covered Montgomery. "Looks like you got up close and personal to that fire, young man. Care to tell us what happened?"
"I could, but you wouldn't get the whole story," Montgomery said. "Leland can give you that."
"Me?" Leland asked, a little nervously. "Uhh, I don't know, I mean . . . ."
"What a time to get stage fright," Bingo teased.
"Well, go on, boy," Grandpa Lizard said, giving Leland a nudge. "Tell the story."
"Well, it's kind of a long story," Leland said. "But okay. See, it started out Friday morning when I was going to school . . . ."
While Leland was talking to Ms. Dachshund, Montgomery told the gang what he knew of the story. He wasn't able to give them most of the details from the beginning, but the gang was riveted when he got to the part about the warehouse.
"Did Leland really get you guys out of this?" Portia asked.
"I don't believe that," Bingo said.
"It's true," Montgomery said. "He came up with most of the ideas to get us out of there."
"Are you sure he still doesn't have that Krypton coin?" Gosalyn asked.
Montgomery shrugged. After Ms. Daschund was finished with her interviewing, the news crew left, and a puff of blue smoke came out of nowhere. Everyone turned to look at it.
"I am the terror that flaps in the night!" a voice shouted.
"What is that?" Woolma asked.
"I am the bar of soap that's cleaning up this town!" the voice shouted again, just as the smoke cleared, revealing a duck wearing a purple jacket, a teal turtleneck, a dark purple cape, and a gray hat. It was none other than St. Canard's resident hero, Darkwing Duck, making one of his usual entrances.
"I am . . . . ." he started.
"About five minutes too late, Da . . . . errr, Darkwing," Gosalyn said, catching herself before she called him "Dad" in front of everybody.
"What?" Darkwing asked.
"Who are you?" Officer Growler asked, coming up to Darkwing.
"Uhh, Darkwing Duck," Darkwing said.
"He's St. Canard's resident superhero," Gosalyn explained. "See, he's the one I called before we chased down the rats."
"You know a for real superhero?" Bingo asked. "Wow!"
"Took you long enough to get here," Gosalyn said. "Everything's been taken care of already."
"That's right, Mr. Duck," Montgomery said. "The crooks have been arrested, and we got the coins from the robbery back. Mostly thanks to Leland here."
"Alias Super Lizard," Gosalyn said.
"Oh, well . . . ." Darkwing said. "I, uhhh, I guess I'm not needed here after all, then."
"What took you so long, anyway, Dad?" Gosalyn whispered so the others wouldn't hear her.
"I had to look for my costume," Darkwing said. "Not to mention get all the moth balls out of it."
And with that, Darkwing Duck left, in a puff of blue smoke, like he came in.
"I've seen a lot of weirdos in my day," Grandpa Lizard said. "But I think that one beats 'em all!"
After the group got back to Green Meadow, Officer Growler deposited the rats in jail, and the Get Along Gang headed for Hoofnagel's for ice cream.
"Come on, Montgomery!" Dotty shouted. "Tell us again!"
"Guys, I've been telling what I know of the story since we left the Waterfront!" Montgomery shouted.
"Yeah, but it's the most exciting thing that's happened since I've been in town!" Gosalyn shouted.
Montgomery groaned. He did not want to tell the story again. He was getting tired of it. Luckily, he could pass the duties on to someone else. The door opened, and Leland, Grandpa Lizard, and Catchum came in. Leland was talking a mile a minute over what happened. Catchum looked disgusted.
"You of all people," he said. "I don't believe it."
"No, really, Catchum," Leland said. "I swear it all happened. Ask Montgomery!"
"Yeah, Catchum, it's true," Montgomery said. "I was there. I saw it."
"Unbelievable," Catchum grumbled. He pulled a chair out and sat down. "Just unbelievable."
"I know," Woolma agreed. "Who'd ever think that Leland Lizard would turn out to be a hero? I can't believe it."
"Yeah," Gosalyn said with a laugh. "I also can't believe you swooned over him!"
"What?" Woolma shouted. "I never swooned over him!"
"Huh!" Bingo shouted. "Wanna bet?"
"Oh Super Lizard! You're a real hero!" Bingo, Zipper, and Gosalyn shouted, mimicking Woolma's swooning. The rest of the gang began laughing.
"I never said that!" Woolma shouted, indignantly.
"Yes you did!" Dotty shouted. "We were all there, Woolma! We heard you!"
"You're kidding!" Catchum shouted. Then he began laughing hysterically.
"No, really, she did," Portia said.
"Oh disaster . . . . ." Woolma moaned. "If this gets out, I'll never live it down!"
"Oh boy!" Catchum shouted. "Just wait until everyone hears about this!"
"Catchum Crocodile, if you say one word about this to anybody. . . . ." Woolma threatened.
"All right, all right, that's enough out of you whippersnappers!" Grandpa Lizard shouted, trying to restore a little order. "Honestly, you younguns today. Don't know what the world's getting to. Kids didn't behave like this when I was your age. Why, back in my day . . . . ."
"Come on, Grandpa . . . . ." Leland groaned. "Not that again!"
"Oh all right," Grandpa Lizard sighed. Then he turned to Mr. Hoofnagel. "Turn on that TV over there. The news story is coming on."
Mr. Hoofnagel walked over to his small portable TV and turned it on. He had to fiddle around with the antennae to get the picture just right. Finally, the story came on.
"Here's the proof, Catchum," Montgomery said.
"I still think it's unbelievable," Catchum said. "Leland isn't smart enough to thwart crooks."
Leland didn't say anything. He just focused on the news story, as did the others. The story got to Ms. Dachshund's interview with Leland.
"I don't really know what happened," Leland said. "I didn't know what the coin was when I found it. I just picked it up to bring it home after school, because my grandfather works at the museum and he's in charge of the coin collection."
The story continued on with the interview. Montgomery had gotten into the interview a little while later as well. The entire gang cheered as Montgomery came onto the screen.
"Oh puh-leeze," Catchum grumbled.
"Shhhh!" Portia hissed, and then turned her attention to the TV.
"I don't know the whole story," Montgomery said. "All I do know is that Leland came up with the ideas to get us out of them."
"Yeah, they came from Super Croc comic books," Leland said. "Give or take an idea."
"I never pegged you as a comic book geek, Leland," Zipper commented.
"Yeah, I've got a huge Super Croc collection," Leland replied. "Issues one through a hundred and ten."
Zipper shook his head in amazement, and watched the rest of the interview.
"The warehouse went up in smoke when he smacked one of the rats with the coins," Montgomery continued. "And the big rat's cigarette fell out of his mouth and into the crate of fireworks."
"And KA-BOOM!" Leland shouted, throwing his arms up for dramatic effect. "The fireworks exploded, and the warehouse caught on fire. But I had to go back and get the coins."
"Who in their right mind would go back in a burning building to get a bunch of coins?" Catchum asked. "Leland, you really are an idiot."
"Catchum, shut up," Gosalyn said, smacking Catchum in the arm. "I want to catch the end of the story."
Catchum gave Gosalyn a dirty look and glued his eyes to the TV. Grandpa Lizard had a part in the interview as well.
"Mr. Lizard, how do you feel about your grandson being the hero of the day?" Ms. Dachshund asked.
"Well, it just blew my mind," Grandpa Lizard said. "I'm often telling him that he'll never amount to anything, but I guess he proved me wrong. I'm also surprised that those consarn comic books he reads actually came in handy."
"Does this mean you won't get on my case anymore about my grades, Grandpa?" Leland asked.
"Heh, heh, don't count on it, boy," Grandpa Lizard said.
Everyone in the room laughed as Mr. Hoofnagel turned off the TV. Then he started to go behind the counter.
"Not every day we get heroes in here," he said. "Just for that, the ice cream's on me."
"All right!" Bingo shouted. "One perk of hanging out with a hero is the freebies!"
"Darn right," Gosalyn said. "So what was the Krypton coin, anyway, Leland?"
"Yeah, we want to see it," Zipper said.
"You can't," Leland said, shrugging. "I don't know how I lost it, but I lost it."
"Typical Leland," Catchum replied. "He'd lose his head if it wasn't attached to his neck!"
"The authorities searched the warehouse," Grandpa Lizard said. "Nobody could find it. The rarest coin in the collection, gone. Finished."
Leland sort of groaned. He could see where this was going. Grandpa Lizard didn't look at all happy about the Krypton coin being MIA. Since it was the rarest coin in the collection, that meant it was probably worth the most.
"At least it wasn't worth all that much," Grandpa Lizard said. "The rest of the coins were worth more than the Krypton coin, that's about all I can tell ya. Those rats probably heard the legend and assumed it was worth the most in the entire collection. Heh! There were ones worth ten times more than the Krypton coin that they didn't steal!"
"So I'm not grounded?" Leland asked.
"No, you're not grounded," Grandpa Lizard said. "You found the rest of 'em, didn't ya, boy? I swear, sometimes I wonder what goes on in that head of yours!"
"I've been wondering the same thing for years," Catchum replied.
Things hit a lull for a moment. Finally, Portia couldn't take it anymore. She bounced up and down in her chair and looked at Montgomery.
"Come on, Montgomery, tell us about it again!" she pleaded.
"Portia, you just saw it on TV!" Montgomery shouted, a little exasperated. "I'm tired of talking about it!"
"But it's exciting Montgomery!" Zipper shouted. "Come on, we want to hear it again!"
"I wish I had your problem, Montgomery," Catchum said. "I can't get Leland to shut up about the whole thing!"
"Good idea, Catchum," Montgomery said. "Leland, you tell them about it. They're driving me crazy!"
"Cut to the exciting part," Gosalyn said. "Start at the part where the warehouse blew up."
"Yeah, yeah," Bingo said. "When you hit the rat with the coins."
"Won't these kids ever stop talking about this?" Grandpa Lizard asked.
"Probably not for awhile," Mr. Hoofnagel said, as he filled the tray with ice cream sundaes. He brought them out to the table and was about to set it down when Leland was getting to the explosion part of the story.
"So the rats sort of knocked into each other," Leland said. "And the boss rat's cigarette flew out of his mouth and into the crate of fireworks, and then KA-BOOM!"
Leland flung his arms into the air for dramatic effect like he did during the interview. Unfortunately, his arm knocked the tray of sundaes before Mr. Hoofnagel had a chance to put them on the table. All the ice cream fell, and it landed right on Grandpa Lizard. Everyone was silent.
"Uh oh . . . ." Leland said, a little nervously.
"Well, I suppose you know what this means," Grandpa Lizard said, taking off his bifocals. "The ice cream's on me!"
And with that, everyone laughed.
The End