"Thanks for coming over, Sandy." I said, letting Sandy inside my backyard. "It really means a lot."
"Well, if there's anything that needs to be experimented on," Sandy said as she placed her things on the patio table. "You know just who to call."
"So, you're the Nutty Professor, known for the world-renowned Animal Talker, huh?" presumed Buck.
"Well, I wouldn't go so far as being world-renowned," said Sandy. "But keep in mind that I'm anything but nutty."
Buck cleared his throat, saying. "Right. Sorry."
SpongeBob sighed with nostalgia at what he was seeing. "This really takes us back, doesn't it, Squidward?"
"Oh, how can I forget?" Squidward replied sarcastically. "That forced experience…was one of the WORST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE!"
As Squidward glared at SpongeBob, his hardened face softened when he saw me staring at me.
"But, thankfully," he added with a little smile. "There was a light near the end of that tunnel."
As I smiled back at him, Buck gave it some thought. If what Squidward said was true, could I be that same light near the end of his own tunnel?
"One side, please!" Maggie called as she, Mrs. Caloway and Grace made their way inside the backyard. "Aspiring detectives coming through!"
Mrs. Caloway let out a scoff. "Aspiring, indeed."
"Aww, what took you so long?" asked Buck.
"Sorry, we're late." apologized Grace. "We had to ask for directions."
"Either that…" added Mrs. Caloway. "…or Detective Maggie doesn't have a clue how to get here."
"Hey, I'm learning, all right?" Maggie said, then turned to…
"Grace, show them clue number one, please."
Grace placed the fake letter on Sandy's hand, explaining. "It's scented. So, you might wanna give it a sniff."
Sandy looked at her, then sniffed the letter. "Lilac?"
"Which is not the type of scent the Princess would use on her stationary." explained Maggie. "She would often use rose."
"Which also means that the only person who would use the former scent is none other than that unscrupulous Preminger." added Mrs. Caloway.
"Hence clue number two." Maggie said, turning towards me.
I nodded at her, then pulled out the little Golden Asteroid from my pocket.
"Julian brought this over just as I got out of class, saying that Preminger...and Mr. Maximilian...were stealing all of Audubon's gold, and those from outer space." I explained to Sandy, who said. "Well, it's a good thing I brought my Finger-Detecting Goggles. They can help scan for fingerprints of whoever touch that itty bitty piece of gold."
"But what would Preminger want with all of it?" asked a voice.
We all turned to see...
"Anneliese?" I asked.
Buck and the cows stared at each other, then at...
"The Princess?!"
...who set Serafina down so she can unzip her sweatshirt, which Anneliese took off and lowered her sleeve to reveal her birthmark, proving that she was, indeed, the real Princess.
My eyes widen upon seeing her in my backyard.
"But, how did you know where I..."
"I followed them here." Anneliese replied, motioning her head towards the cows.
"Well, now that the Princess is found," said Mrs. Caloway. "I think it's safe to declare this case closed."
"Oh, this is far from over, Caloway." said Maggie.
"Tarnation!" Sandy exclaimed, grabbing our attention. "It's a double print!"
"A double print?" I repeated.
"How can you tell?" asked Grace.
"Just look." Sandy said as she connected her Finger-Detecting Goggles to her computer, which she turned towards us, showing a scan of the little Golden Asteroid...with two fingerprints on it; one purple for Preminger, one red for Mr. Maximilian.
We all stared at the monitor, surprised and shocked.
"I don't understand." Anneliese said in disbelief. "Preminger is my mother's trusted advisor. Why would he do this?"
"Well, I think it's pretty obvious." said Maggie. "He probably wanted to make himself rich. So he swiped every piece of gold he could find from under your nose while his partner pitched in by bringing down the galaxy's own supply of gold, thus making themselves more rich than ever."
"Wow!" Patrick exclaimed, surprised with what he was hearing.
"Yeah, wow." agreed SpongeBob.
Surprised as well, but intrigued at the same time, Mrs. Caloway said to Maggie. "I suppose I underestimated you."
"How did you know exactly what you were going to say?" asked Grace.
"From the book, mostly." admitted Maggie. "But it's all elementary, my dear Grace."
While the cows spoke, Mr. Krabs asked. "Uh, you don't mind if I hold onto this little piece for safekeeping, do you?"
"Nice try, you crusty crab." Sandy said as she picked up the little Golden Asteroid and gave it back to me.
I stared at the little Golden Asteroid, then at Anneliese, to whom I said. "I think you should hold onto this."
"Me?" asked Anneliese.
"Look, Preminger took what you had," I explained. "But you deserve it back, and what was up in space."
Anneliese looked at me, then at the little Golden Asteroid, which she took from my hand and put inside her dress pocket, saying. "Thank you."
I smiled a little while ushering her towards the back door. "Let's get you inside. You look like you could use some rest."
Anneliese sighed with relief. "Yes, please."
"And nobody's charging anything!" I added loudly.
"That's telling him, kiddo!" Squidward called while looking at Mr. Krabs, who crossed his arms with a humph.
While heading upstairs, I told Anneliese that Erika was back at Audubon, pretending to be her.
"Imagine their surprise when I tell them that you were at my house." I said.
"Do you think you have some time before class tomorrow?" asked Anneliese.
"With the kind of speed Buck has, I think we can make it." I replied while opening the door to the guest room, where I turned on the light so Anneliese can see.
"It's so…quaint." she said while looking around.
"Well, it may not be as luxurious like yours back at Audubon, but you should be able to make yourself comfortable." I said. "Oh, do you know that this used to be my room before…"
I stopped myself on seeing Anneliese already asleep on top of the guest bed, with Serafina curled up beside her.
I placed the sweatshirt on top of Anneliese and quietly backed away, whispering. "Good night…Princess."
I turned the light off, then closed the door from outside, where Buck stood in front of me.
"What?" I asked.
"You like her, don't you?" Buck asked back.
"What? No!" I said. "Well…maybe. But…I'm too young for her."
"You're never too young to fall in love, kid." assured Buck.
I thought about what he said. But before I could say anything, Maggie called from inside my room. "Hey! Why didn't you tell us you have this?"
Seeing that she was holding my "Great Mouse Detective" video with her tail, I looked at Buck, then back to Maggie, replying. "You didn't ask."
"Hurry up, Patrick!" SpongeBob called as he and Patrick ran up the stairs to my parents' bedroom. "We don't want to miss the opening. I heard it's a really thriller."
"Thrillers scare me." said Patrick, whom SpongeBob gave a comforting pat in the back.
They went inside the room, just as Mark Elliott's* voice on the video announced. "And Now, Our Feature Presentation!"
While using the bathroom as a mini snack bar, Mr. Krabs placed five bowls of popcorn and a soda on a tray, asking. "Anyone care for some genuine, artificial, imitation, butter-flavor on their popcorn? It'll cost ya…"
"Don't start with that money talk, Krabs." Buck said, holding the tray with his teeth.
"That's telling him again, Bucko." said Squidward, whom Buck winked at while passing by SpongeBob and Patrick, who sat on my parents' bed, sharing some of the Gummy Krabby Patties.
"Mmm, gummylicious!" Patrick said as he ate more of them.
As soon as he sat down, Buck shoved the four bowls of popcorn towards me and the cows.
"Oh, thanks." Grace said, munching on her bowl.
I looked at those around me, then said. "It would've been much easier if we still had the playroom."
"But if we did..." reminded Sandy. "We'd be tight as a pack of bears during hibernation."
"She makes a good point, Nate." Maggie said to me.
"And quite a wordful, too." Mrs Caloway added as we all watched the Walt Disney Pictures logo appear on the screen, starting "The Great Mouse Detective."
Author's Note:
*Mark Elliot was an actor, whose legendary voice was heard numerously throughout many promos and trailer for Disney.
