Quest for Camelot (Nixcorr26's Rodent Style) Chapter 4: Ratigan

The message traveled from Camelot to the surrounding areas that Excalibur was stolen. From each village to the next, the guards at the stations blew their horns to alert the next village and all its denizens of the crisis. Workers would stop their activities in the fields just to listen.

"Excalibur! It's been stolen!" gasped Monterey Jack. For the other areas, too far away from the villages or Camelot itself, the neighboring people would alert those who didn't know. The news spread across the land like wildfire.

Upon hearing the news when she was out by the henhouse, Bianca dropped her basket and quickly ran towards her house. She practically flew up the steps and ran into her house. She hadn't realized how fast she was running until then. Her chance at becoming a knight was almost in her grasp, she thought.

"No. Absolutely not!" Minnie said firmly. She looked up from the hem she was stitching on a flowing white dress, which was held up by one of their two servants, a maid whose name was Miss Kitty Mouse. She had snow white fur similar to Miss Bianca's due to the fact that they were closely related. Except she had indigo eyelids and little pink lips; plus, she wore a blue tank top, a matching hair-bow on top of her head, a navy blue skirt, a fuchsia shawl with a decorative button, and blue pumps. Across from them, their other servant, a mouse with brown fur, blue eyes, a black nose, tan markings at his muzzle and upper face, white buckteeth, whiskers, and curvy, pink ears, wearing white opera gloves and a red/gold ringmaster's uniform and marching band hat, named Timothy Q. Mouse, dusted the mantel above the fireplace while humming a soft song.

"But Minnie," Bianca protested. "Excalibur is missing! I must go after it."

Kitty moved over to Bianca and began to measure various parts of her body for the dress. Bianca, however, refused to stay still, making this job a lot harder for Kitty. Bianca sauntered in a circle, causing the young maid to almost fall over while trying to measure the young girl's legs.

"That's a job for knights, not a young girl." Minnie said sternly.

"But I want to be a knight." Bianca argued, "We'll go on grand adventures, fighting evil, rescuing damsels in distress. What is a damsel, anyway?" Bianca asked, as Minnie threw the dress she'd been working on over Bianca's head.

"Now, Miss Bianca, stand still and try on your new dress." Minnie said, shoving the dress onto Bianca, who, in return, didn't stand still.

"Minnie, I don't want a new dress, I want to save Camelot! If you'd just let me, I know I could find Excalibur all on my own." Bianca said, moving her arms almost as if she could get out of the dress.

Minnie disapprovingly glared at her friend, while Kitty sighed and rolled up her tape measure.

"The knights will find the sword, and they'll do it by working together." said Minnie, as Bianca grabbed the shield Timothy was trying to hang on the mantle. It was her brother's shield and still had the dents to prove that.

"While I'm working here, doing the chores, fetching the eggs, taking care of the house. Boring! Where's the glory in that?" She handed the shield back to Timothy and pouted looking at Minnie.

"Bianca, one day you will learn what Camelot means. Till then, you'll stay here with me." Minnie said, pulling Bianca close and touching her face softly.

"Oh, alright!" Bianca said disappointedly, as she threw the dress off at her friend before running away.

Minnie sighed and picked up the dress. She looked at the tapestry on the wall of Mickey, Bianca, and herself. "What would you do?" she asked sadly while looking longingly at the tapestry. The three looked peaceful and like a family. Minnie would give anything to have that feeling again.

Bianca continued her chore of collecting eggs. Iago was flirting with two Jigglypuffs, which made Thundra angry and march right over. With one jab, the Thundra sent Iago flying through the air and into Bianca's arms when she went to see what was happening. "How am I ever gonna do great things when I'm stuck here?" she asked herself. "With these silly birds." she added, as she picked up one of the eggs.

Iago squawked in fear and made Bianca look out and drop the egg she was holding. The windows of the stone house were shattered by flaming arrows. And the front door was broken down and a group of thugs (consisting of mice and a lizard) barged in and surrounded the door hole.

Minnie and her friends were alarmed. Inside it was Ratigan, who was wearing a black top hat with a purple ribbon around the "dome." "Knock, knock." he said.

"Who-who are you?" Minnie demanded. Ratigan removed his hat. Minnie gasped. "Ratigan!"

"Minnie Mouse," Ratigan began, as he walked to the widow, "I was in the neighborhood, and thought I'd invade. How about a little kiss? I hear you're still single." he said as he touched Minnie's chin.

"Impertinent pig!" Minnie yelled, slapping Ratigan across the face.

Ratigan narrowed his eyes. "Is that a 'No'?"

"I demand you to leave immediately!" Minnie ordered.

"So rude!" Ratigan said sarcastically, as he walked to the fireplace, "And after I came all this way…" He leaned against the fireplace, "…just to see you."

"What do you want?" Minnie demanded.

Ratigan said the one word that was on his mind for years, "Camelot." The traitorous sewer rat began to sing.

Ratigan: Let's go back to war and violence I'm so bored with peace and...

Timothy, who was scared, dropped his goblet of wine, and it shattered to the floor.

Ratigan: SILENCE! Nights of evil, filled with fear Your worst dream, that's my idea of fun!

"You're mad!" Minnie said.

To Ratigan, it was a complement. "I'm so glad you noticed." he said, "I've been working at it for years." He began to sing again.

Ratigan: Let darkness find it's sad ways Let's go back to good old bad days No more foolish acts of kindness

Ratigan pounded the table and catapulted some flying eating utensils before taking the sword into his hands.

Ratigan: Conker and his kingdom will be mine!

He walked to the family tapestry and cut around Bianca's head, saying, "And pretty Minnie, you're going to help me."

The mouse would never assist the crook. "I would sooner die!" she said.

Ratigan ripped the cut-out tapestry piece and brought it at neck point. "I think you'll find… you won't be able to resist!" he said, as he slit the piece at the neck, revealing full vision of Bianca being dragged in by John (a short, fat mouse with tan fur, curvy pink ears, short whiskers, a brown nose, a round head, a white bucktooth, and brown eyes) and Max (the mouse thug in the striped shirt). "Minnie!" Bianca cried.

Minnie gasped in fear. Ratigan cackled evilly as Bianca was brought forward, and Bill the Lizard handed Ratigan his sword.

"Don't you dare harm her!" Minnie demanded.

Ratigan turned to her and said, "Follow my plan…" While his back was turned, Bianca drew out a mace from Peewee Pete (the little thug in blue who was standing next to Bill and John while the thugs were laughing at Basil) and attempted to hit Ratigan, who turned quickly and grabbed the spiked head, squeezing it as well. He brought his face close to Bianca's and said, "…and she won't be hurt."

Ratigan and his thugs dragged the prisoners outside, and the rat announced,

Ratigan: Years from now, no one will bother To recall your good King Conker Because all of this will be mine! This will all be mine!

Ratigan continued to sing.

Ratigan: I have a plan It includes you You, Minnie Mouse, will lead me to Camelot Where I will claim all this is mine In the back of your wagons, my men will all hide You'll sit up front as the gates open wide Now watch me create my robotic army with pride!

Old Blind Joe (the thug with the eye patch who sat up front on Felicia's back) knelt before Ratigan and presented him with a box, and Ratigam took out a bottle of glowing neon green liquid.

Ratigan: With this potion I bought from some witches

He grabbed Iago while he and Thundra were walking without Thundra noticing. Then he poured the neon green liquid on Iago and into a well. In his hand was an ax.

Ratigan: A drop on this parrot And watch as it switches into a weapon That I can use at will. Now this parrot can kill!

Then Ratigan threw Iago and the ax into the well where the potion was working in and made an explosion-like reaction. Bianca and Minnie in fear. And out came the same chao, but in blue armor and a spear head on his head. Scourge exclaimed, "Ta-dah! Behold! Um…Omochao! Stand right up and enter quickly; I'll transform the meek and sickly into iron men with hands of steel." He said as he shoved an old man into the potion with two flails. He was fused with the weapons as arms. He was metallic and black, and had green eyes. "Yes, into the water! Quickly! Now, go, you fools! Next stand up straight, now! Move it along!" Scourge ordered and a fat convict came up with a useless fork. "No, no, no, no, no, that's no good!" Scourge said and shoved the fat person into the potion with a crossbow. The traitor yelled out, "Prepare for the dawning of a new age: The Scourgian age! Year One! The guard that held Amy was so awe-struck; he foolishly released Amy and followed his crowd. The pink hedgehog stepped back a bit, then a large enchanted convict, unknown that Amy wasn't under security, grabbed Juliana's arm. "Go to Camelot. Warn Arthur." She whispered to Amy. "I won't leave you here!" the daughter rebelled. "Amy, Scourge will be in Camelot in three days. Take the main road; get there before us." Juliana instructed. "But mother…" "Go! While you have the chance! Go, Amy. You're our only hope. Amy did want to save Camelot, but she didn't want to leave her mother captive, but she had no choice. She slipped away through a crevice in the stone wall. "Be careful, dear." Juliana wished. Choral Chant and dance: (Bring on the darkness, bring on the gloom, We are the army of death and gloom) (Bring on the darkness, bring on the gloom, We are the army of death and gloom) Choral Chant continues: Only one will be revered, Worshipped, hated, loved, and feared! (Omochao begin to feel a rhythm in the dancing and I'd just like to say a few words: joins in, only laughing and dancing differently) I, me, mine! You were mistaken if you believed Scourge was someone who'd crumble and leave Now I am back, and I will be staying this time! End Choral Chant: I told you once I told you twice ! Everything you see before you Every last bit of it will... be... mine! "To the wagons!" Scourge ordered, "Next stop: Camelot!" Amy strolled below, and then she noticed something in the sky. It was the gray griffin coming below. Amy ran for cover under a stone platform and heard Scourge talking. "Ah Storm, my faithful pet, how was the flight? You've reached across the land." "Precisely." The griffin said. "My plan is perfect!" "Precisely!" "Without the sword, Arthur is vulnerable." "Precisely!" "And now Excalibur is mine!" Storm's blue eyes widened and turned away. "Here's where we enter a gray area." He said. Scourge turned to the griffin and grabbed it by the feathers. The griffin was brought face to face. "Excuse me?" He asked. "You lost Excalibur? How?" Amy climbed up the stone wall, but laid her head low so she won't be seen. "I was attacked by a flying dog." Storm explained. "What?" Questioned Scourge, "My magnificent beast outmatched by a puny little rat with wings?" "It was a rat." Storm said, "It was a flying dog with green wings." "Green wings? Ooh scary." Scourge mocked and then grabbed the griffin and brought it close to him, "You stupid animal! Where is the sword…now?" He asked. Storm manages to say, "In a place of untold danger: in the Forbidden Forest." Amy now knew where she had to go, so she stealthily went away to her steed. Scourge secretly let his anger go, and smiled at the griffin, still in his grasp. "Have I ever told you today…how magnificently and totally worth…" The green hedgehog raised his voice and jabbed Storm in the eye, "…Less you are!" the griffin screamed in such pain, "Excalibur is the one thing that can keep me from my conquest of Camelot!" Scourge look yonder and noticed an escapee on horseback. "Oh the-the the girl!" He exclaimed then turned to his enchanted minions, one with flail arms another that fires unlimited arrows, they both saluted, and Omochao, who was still dancing and abruptly stopped a he bumped into the arrow minion. "Get the girl and bring her back!" he ordered. He then turned to Storm and growled out, "And you are going to lead me to Excalibur. Amy on horseback exited through the gates and was off to Camelot. Meanwhile, Juliana, being dragged into a wagon, began to sing. I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go. And help us to be wise in times when we don't know Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace To a place where we'll be safe La luce che tu hai I pray we'll find your light nel cuore rester and hold it in our hearts. a ricordarci che When stars go out each night, eterna stella sei The light you have I pray we'll find your light will be in the heart and hold it in our hearts. to remember us that When stars go out each night, you are eternal star Nella mia preghiera Let this be our prayer quanta fede c' when shadows fill our day How much faith there's Let this be our prayer in my prayer when shadows fill our day Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace Give us faith so we'll be safe Sognamo un mondo senza pi violenza un mondo di giustizia e di speranza Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino Simbolo di pace, di fraternit We dream a world without violence a world of justice and faith. Everyone gives the hand to his neighbours Symbol of peace, of fraternity La forza che ci d We ask that life be kind il desiderio che and watch us from above ognuno trovi amor We hope each soul will find intorno e dentro s another soul to love The force his gives us We ask that life be kind is wish that and watch us from above everyone finds love We hope each soul will find around and inside another soul to love Let this be our prayer Let this be our prayer, just like every child Need to find a place, guide us with your grace Give us faith so we'll be safe Need to find a place, guide us with your grace Give us faith so we'll be safe E la fede che hai acceso in noi, sento che ci salver Amy continued to race away from the minions, but her horse came across a foggy forest. Its fierce darkness made the horse stand and make Amy fall off. Then her steed ran off and the minions were now in her view riding upon warthogs. She knew she couldn't just lie where she fell. She gazed into what was the Forbidden Forest. There were dark trees and streams of fog. The rose-colored hedgehog got up and entered the forest.