As the Star Cruiser flew past Paramount's Great America to Maximilian Enterprises, Buck took a look back at the park, then asked me. "Hey, uh, when was the last time you've been there?"
"July 9th, 2001*." I answered right away, much to Buck's surprise.
"Dang, you're good." he said, before hearing X-5 say. "If my calculations are proven to be correct, the Golden Asteroids should be on the top level of the building."
He turned on the monitor, showing us the inside of the building, then to the top level, where the Golden Asteroids were shown.
"Ha, ha! Jackpot!" exclaimed Sparky.
"Let's get the Asteroids onto the ship, then find Anneliese." said Betty.
While looking at the Golden Asteroids through the monitor, I looked down at the little piece I still have, then at the monitor again, realizing that Anneliese, her mother, and Audubon itself needed them the most.
"Betty, I..." I started to say before Buck cut me off, saying. "I see her! I see Anneliese!"
"What? Where?" I asked.
"Over there!" Buck said, pointing at the Rip-Roaring Rapids.
X-5 changed the monitor screen, showing Nick and Nack watching some of Maximus' guards tying Anneliese, Julian, Serafina, who was put in a small sack, and the Eds inside one of the rafts at the dock while at another part of the ride, one of them dropped a little pill into the water, which made it grow into a big black hole.
Realizing they were going to be sent hurdling down there, Betty said. "Sparky, X-5, you take care of the Golden Asteroids. We'll save the Princess."
"Go for it, chief!" Sparky said, giving Betty a thumbs-up.
"For your safety," Nack instructed as the raft was about to leave the dock. "We advised that you remained tied up at all times. Enjoy the ride."
"Yeah, 'cause it's your last!" Nick added as they started to leave themselves.
"What does he mean by that?" Ed asked just before the raft was casted off into the churning water.
At the same time, Betty, Buck and I flew into the park using the Portable Transmobilizers, one of which Buck struggled to steer with his hoofs.
Anneliese, Julian, Serafina, and the Eds got splashed as the raft made its way through the rapids.
"Oh, my." Double D said upon seeing the black hole, finally understanding what Nick meant.
"Ed, chomp us loose!" said Eddy.
"You got it, Eddy!" Ed said, then used his teeth to gnaw on their bounds, setting himself and the others free.
"Nathan! Buck!" Anneliese called when she saw us entering the ride through the restricted fence with Betty.
"Nack, look!" Nick said, pointing at the raft being pulled over by Buck's reins.
"What are they…" Nack started before realizing what was going on.
"Oi, you!" he called out.
On hearing him, Julian called. "All ashore who's going ashore!"
As he helped me and Betty get Anneliese, the Eds and Serafina out of the raft, Nick and Nack ran through the fence door and down the dock, where Nack asked. "What do ya think you're doing?"
"Don't you know you're supposed to stay on your seat while the ride is…" Nick added before water shot out through a hole in the dock, spraying him and Nack, making them lose balance and fall into the water towards the black hole.
The two miners tried to swim back to the dock when they heard Buck call. "Casting off!"
He released the raft that came ramming into Nick and Nack, sending them down into the shrinking black hole, where they, along with the raft, were never seen again.
As Betty led us out through the ride's entrance, she contacted her crew through her bracelet. "We got 'em! Beam us back up!"
"We're on our way." Sparky replied.
As soon as they hung up, we heard Maximus' guards charging at us from every direction.
"Come on. Come on, pick up." I called softly.
As the guards came closer, the teleporting beam appeared, transporting all of us back to the Star Cruiser, where Betty said. "Well, that's one way to mark the end of summer."
"Let's do it again!" Ed exclaimed, then laughed.
"Shut up, Ed!" we all shouted as the Star Cruiser flew away from Paramount's Great America.
Once they got back to Bowditch, the cows and Wolfie had told the rest of the farm animals everything they heard back at Audubon.
"I've heard a lot of tall tales in my time, even told a few myself," said Lucky Jack. "But this is ri-gosh-darn-diculous."
"But, Lucky Jack, it's the truth." said Grace.
"We heard and saw everything back there." added Mrs. Caloway.
"Hogwash!" Jeb called out. "Why would we believe a foolhardy story like that?"
Maggie looked at Mrs. Caloway, who gave her the nod.
She turned back to the farm animals, telling them. "Because from what I've read, Sherlock Holmes wouldn't just sit there if there's trouble or a damsel in distress. He'd answer the call, no matter how dangerous the case can be."
"Should we tell her about the book?" whispered one of the little piggies.
"Shh, not now!" the other piggy whispered back.
"Even as we speak," Maggie went on. "The same things are happening right now. Princess Anneliese is in trouble, and one of our suspects is about to marry the Queen so he can take over Audubon...unless we hit him with every stop sign we have. So, whether you're with us or not...we've got a school to save."
Author's Note:
*Up until this chapter, the day, July 9th, 2001, was actually the last time I've been inside Paramount's Great America, where I wouldn't return until June 14th, 2006, long before the park was renamed California's Great America.