Chapter 9: A Royal Takeover and Narrow Escape
There I was, smack dab in the middle of something I already knew. But I never realized that reality has a way of showing you that not everything is as it seems. It could sometimes make you see things a different way. In the end, it will drive you crazy as reality takes over your head.
I didn’t care if it was real or not, I knew what was going to happen and I knew what I had to do…
But first, I had to get out, I needed to escape. I can’t and I mustn’t fail again!
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June 20, 1897 9:43 p.m.
Anna could still hear the constant cruel laughter all around her. Her body felt like it was moving on it’s own and her legs became wobbly like jell-o as she continued to move in the path where her vision showed her darkness. It was a slow but painful tread and it felt like it would take forever as the laughter echoed in her head and it would never leave her…
Ding...came the unusual sound of a bell as the laughter ceased and her body felt like it was floating in a sea of darkness. But what became even unusual for her...Her head was hurting from that sound, but her body was numb along with her head.
Ding...came the sound again as she saw a star flicker in the darkness...and it began to grow brighter as it was coming towards her.
Ding...light engulfed her vision as she saw...fire? 
Trees were burning everywhere, she wondered what the hell was going on, but didn’t have time to find out as her vision flashed and changed as she saw some kind of...city? She didn’t know what kind of city it was, but it looked more like it came from Europe and the setting of it looked like it came straight out of a fantasy story. She couldn’t figure out what city it was, the main reason why was the earth was shaking as the buildings crumbled and above the sky, grey storm clouds formed and she could hear the thunder ringing in her ears.
“Help!” She heard a voice cry out as it sounded like a woman.
Huh? She thought as Anna didn’t know who was crying out for help.
“Help me!” 
W...What?
Her vision flashed and changed again as she was in some ruined room, an arm reaching out as she was being dragged by someone or...something? “Help me, my love!” She couldn’t tell who it was she was referring to as her vision was blurred, but she saw some blurry figure running towards her, he was dressed in some fancy uniform, but it was somehow damaged. The blurry figure came closer as she saw...Basil? But that couldn’t be him...could it? Basil reached out his hand towards hers, but light engulfed everything as she heard him cry out, “Nooo!”
Ding...light engulfed her vision again and like someone turning the tv off, it vanished as she was returned back to the black void.
Anna didn’t know what it was she saw, but she didn’t care, she was back to seeing nothing but darkness…
“Wake up!” Came another voice as light came back, but she felt her own eyes opening. She was seeing light everywhere and didn’t know who it was that spoke…
Until she saw Ratigan as he said to her, “I said, wake up you dainty creature!”
She felt her face get tapped on both sides as her eyes blinked and once again she heard the word “dainty” coming from Ratigan. Why did it sound so familiar? She put that out of her head for the moment as she was trying to get her bearings together. Did she fall asleep and if so how long was she out? She didn’t know as she tried to sit up, but couldn’t as she was strapped down. Looking down, she realized that she was tied down by thick ropes and could hear the sound of rising metal. Her eyes gaze forwards as she sees the thugs lift the snapping mechanism, realizing even further that she was on the mouse trap. She looks to the right and notices Basil right next to her, Dawson was also there as she already knew, was tied-up the same as well.
Seeing her awake and aware made Ratigan smile evilly as he said, “So good of you to be in the real world, little girl...for only a short-time.” He snickered slightly. “You don’t know what a delightful dilemma it was trying to decide on the most appropriate method for your demise.” He mused at all three of his victims.
Dawson was really worried while Basil’s face remained blank as he was staring at the ceiling. Fidget carefully set the trigger in place and he flinched when it jiggled, Dawson shut his eyes tight as he feared the snapping mechanism might go off any second, but the device stabled as he opened his eyes and Fidget scampered away after finishing the job.
“Oh, I had so many ingenious ideas I didn’t know which to choose.” Ratigan explained as he leaned in towards Basil and Anna with a wicked smirk. “So, I decided...to use them all.”
The trio were surrounded by deadly weapons spread all over the room. An anvil was hanging over their heads, an axe held up to the left of them, a crossbow and arrow laid in front, and a pistol to their right aimed directly at them. Anna rolled her eyes and nodded with an unamused look as she thought, Really? This is just pathetic and I thought overkill was an understatement.
“Marvelous, isn’t it?” Ratigan chuckled heartily, showing off his ingenious plan in killing the trio. “But here, let me show you how it works.” He turned to make a shift picture frame with his hands, proceeding, “Picture this. First, a sprightly tune I’ve recorded especially for you.” At a human-sized record player, Fidget bowed in a polite manner as the professor continued, “As the song plays, the cord tightens…” Fidget moved the needle forward slightly, showing the rope that was tied to it and the other half tied to a mechanism that held a black ball, then his boss began explaining about the made up turning passage created for the ball, “And when the song ends, the metal ball is released, rolling along its merry way until…”
Dawson scowled at the professor while Anna still had an unamused look.
“SNAP!” Ratigan clapped his hands together displaying the result of the mousetrap. “BOOM!” He pointed to the pistol. “TWANG!” Gesturing to the crossbow and arrow. “THUNK!” Thrusting his arm down showing the axe. Finishing with the anvil hovering above them, “SPLAT!” 
Dawson flinched at the horrid thought of being crushed to death that would occur to them. 
Ratigan took his top hat off and placed it over his heart. “And so ends the short, undistinguished, career of Basil of Baker Street, and the short journey of the futuristic, but petty, thief.”
His words didn’t reach Basil as his face remained blank, but Anna’s eyes glared angrily as she was getting sick and tired of being called a thief.
“You’re...despicable!” Dawson spat angrily.
“Yes,” Ratigan snickered at his words. “Oh, before I forget,” he turned his attention towards Anna. “I want to thank you personally for giving me this watch, once I find out the secrets of its power...no one will be able to stop me. But it’s too bad though…” He starts pinching Anna’s cheek. “A lovely lady like yourself won’t be able to see it.”
Anna jerked her face away from his hand and spat on Ratigan’s face while yelling, “Go to hell!”
Ratigan was unfazed from Anna’s spit as he took his handkerchief and dabbed it off of his face while saying, “Now, now, watch the language young lady. You wouldn’t want to set a bad example for a child now, would you?” He motions his arm forward.
Anna had a confused look as she followed to where Ratigan motioned his arm...only for her eyes to widen and gasped as she saw none other than…“Hiram! Olivia!”
Hiram was tied-up and gagged as his voice was muffled, his eyes had an angry look as they were directed at Ratigan and he was held back by two thugs who wore the soldier uniforms. Olivia remained in her glass prison, her face was filled with worry for her friend Anna.
There was a cackle as Fidget returned, dressed in a fairly decorative red uniform. “Everything’s ready, Fidget?” Ratigan asked.
“All set, boss,” Fidget informed.
Pleased by the news, Ratigan smiled gleefully while he tiptoed excitedly over to a white package tied down with a pink ribbon and a bow on top, guarded by a few of his thugs. Opening the top of the present with a chuckle, he grins evilly. “Oh, this is wicked! So delightfully wicked!” He ushered the thugs to move the gift along. He then walked over to Hiram while saying, “Mr. Flaversham, let me congratulate you on a superb piece of craftsmanship.” He taps on the side of the bottle. “See what you can do with the proper motivation?” He cackles as he pinches Hiram’s cheek, but Hiram jerks his face away from his hand as he tries to speak through his gag. “You wish to say something?”
Ratigan pulls the gag down as Hiram yells angrily, “Professor, you lying scoundrel! You said you gave me your word that no harm will befall her!”
“Oh yes, about that…” Ratigan gave Hiram an evil smile as he placed the gag back on his muzzle. “I lied. The last thing I want is some petty thief trying to take one of my valuables.” Hiram had a confused look after what Ratigan said. Seeing that look made Ratigan giggle as he pinched the bridge of his nose while saying, “Oh, of course, how could I forget. You really don’t know, do you?” Hiram cocked an eyebrow. “Well, since you don’t know…” He poked Hiram’s nose. “You were harboring nothing more but a petty thief.”
Hiram’s eyes widened with shock. That couldn’t be true...could it? “Hiram!” Anna yelled as he turned his attention towards her. “Don’t listen to him, it’s not true!”
“If I were to wager a guess,” Ratigan says as Hiram turns his attention back at him. “You were helping her find a golden watch of the opposite value. Am I right?” 
Once again, Hiram was shocked. How did he know about that?
Seeing that look made Ratigan snicker as he got his answer. “Well then…” He took out his gold watch and flipped it open while showing it to Hiram. “You can search no more, Mr. Flaversham.”
When Hiram saw that watch, his eyes widened when he realized that it was almost identical to the silver watch that Anna had. However, this not only confused him, but he looked at both the watch and Anna. His voice became flabbergasted from his gag, none of this didn’t make any sense.
“Hiram!” Anna yelled again towards him. “You gotta believe me, I’m not a thief!”
Ratigan closes the watch and orders his thugs, “Take him to my ship and prepare for takeoff.” They dragged Hiram away as both Anna and Olivia watched helplessly. “Make sure that Mr. Flaversham is comfortable for the ride.”
The rest of Ratigan’s thugs had all climbed up onto Felicia’s back so she could give them a ride to their destination. 
“You all know the plan?” Ratigan reminded them.
“Right, Professor!” The thugs replied as they saluted.
With a meow, Felicia turned and left with her passengers.
Ratigan went back to the trio while saying, “It was my fond hope to stay and witness your final scene,” He stroked Basil’s chest up to his chin. “But you were fifteen minutes late.” He reopened his watch to show off the time before putting it back in his vest pocket. “And I do have an important engagement at…Buckingham Palace.”
Hearing this, Dawson gave off a puzzled look while Anna’s eyes widened and her jaw agape as she already knew what he meant from watching the movie.
“Now, you will remember to smile for the camera, won’t you?” Ratigan smiled, indicating an old fashioned camera nearby, aiming right at the trio. “Hmm? Say, ‘cheese’.” He snickered.
Basil only gave off a depressed sigh.
“You fiend!”
“Sorry, chubby,” Ratigan answered Dawson as he climbed up the ladder to the record player. “You should’ve chosen your friends more carefully.”
Right before he was about to set the record off, Anna yelled as he looked at her, “Ratigan! I’ll be back, this isn’t over, not by a long-shot!”
He gave her a wicked grin and snickered, “I highly doubt that.”
With that, he set the record off. Dawson’s eyes widened with fright as a mock-cheerful tune sung by Ratigan began to play. Out from an already opened barrel, a small dirigible came flying out, propelled by pedals at the back was the cyclist Fidget. A thug was steering the helm while the other thug was guarding Hiram and the package was tied to the back of the airship.
Goodbye so soon
And isn’t this a crime
We know by now that time knows how to fly
Ratigan grabbed a rope ladder that the thug threw down for him as the dirigible sailed by and waved farewell to them, “Adieu, alvederzane, arebadeuchi, farewell!” To add more of his wicked humor, he waves mockingly at Basil and the human, “Bye-bye, Basil and Miss...whoever-it-is-you-are.” He then took over the helm as he drove the dirigible up the chimney and continued their journey towards the palace.
So here’s goodbye so soon
You’ll find your separate way
With time so short I’ll say so long
And go
So soon
Goodbye
You followed me, I followed you
We were like each other’s shadows for a while
Now as you see, this game is through
So although it hurts…
Now that they were completely alone, surrounded by deadly weapons, Olivia peered through the glass bottle helplessly while Dawson was confused after what Ratigan said earlier. Turning his attention towards the depressed Basil, he asked, “Wh-Wh-Wh-What did he mean, an engagement at Buckingham Palace?”
Basil sighed and answered with a depressed voice, “Haven’t you figured it out yet, doctor? The queen’s in danger and the empire’s doomed.”
“The queen?!” Dawson grew alarmed as he now understood Ratigan’s true goal was to eliminate the queen and crown himself the next ruler.
However, what he didn’t realize was that Anna had already known about this long before the events transpired. She wanted to tell both him and Basil everything she knew, after they now know the truth that she’s from the future, but had to keep her mouth shut for the time being. So for now, she had to focus on getting free and then when the time comes, tell them the truth and apologize after that.
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At Buckingham Palace, humans were already inside celebrating their sovereign’s queen for her Diamond Jubilee. Streamers and banners with the British flag’s colors lined the fences and walls alongside balloons and ribbons for the festivities as the trumpets were playing Rule Britannia. However, what no human seemed to notice outside or below their very feet, a gathering of mice dressed in their finest clothing went towards a hole near the fence and then they proceeded straight towards the rose archway where the entrance was guarded by the Royal Guards.
At the royal bedroom, a female round figured mouse with white hair underneath her regal crown was humming happily to herself while powdering her face. Queen Mousetoria was the kind sovereign with light-brown fur, tan on her muzzle, and a pink nose. She wore her royal purple and lilac colored robe, and a pink dress.
Outside her chamber door, two silhouettes of her guards remained posted at her door. But then, while the queen hadn’t noticed as she continued to hum happily, the guards were ambushed as there was thumping and bodies hitting the ground, then they were replaced by Ratigan’s thugs in disguises.
One of the thugs ushered them to hurry while whispering, “Psst, over here. Come on, over here.”
As Queen Mousetoria was finishing up on preparing herself, a loud knock came as it made her slightly jumpy. Readjusting her crown, she announces with regality, “Come in.”
One of the phony guards opened the door while bowing and greeting, “Ah, begging Your Majesty’s pardon. A present has just arrived in honor of your jubilee.”
The fake guards pushed the large white and pink wrapped package inside with assistance from Fidget.
“A present? Oh, how wonderful!” The queen exclaimed with delight, then approached the giant gift while sighing, “Ah, I just adore jubilees.”
Fidget took the attached note off the present and handed it to Her Majesty. “Here you are, sweetheart.”
She takes out her spectacles, but right before she was about to read it, the queen eyed the fancy-dressed bat suspiciously. “Have you...been with us...long?” She asked, but then turned back to look at him with wide eyes as she saw the bruises on his face. The left was swollen shut while the other eye was slowly healing. “Good heavens!” She exclaimed. “What happened to your face?”
Fidget didn’t know the queen would probably notice the bruises that Anna gave him earlier today. But decided to give the queen a believable story as he says while pointing at his face, “Oh, this. Just some accidents, nothing to worry about.” He chuckled at the last part.
The queen cocked an eyebrow as her suspicion began to grow. She’ll probably have to ask him later about these so-called “accidents”. She reads the note aloud, “To our beloved queen this gift we send, as her sixty year reign…” Her expression and voice changed to puzzlement at the last line. “...comes to an end?”  
Fidget and the other thugs pulled the ribbons off and the package fell open to reveal an exact robotic replica of Queen Mousetoria.
The queen studied this strange gift with her spectacles. “How extraordinary!” She says with wonder in her voice. Still, she wondered though, who made such an amazing but strange gift?
Suddenly, the robotic queen came to life as it rattled and popped. It turned toward the queen while clicking as it reached out and attempted to grab her, but the queen made a run for it as the robot chased her around the bedroom. “Goodness gracious!” She cried as she finally managed to hide behind her guards, never knowing that they were actually thugs who work for Ratigan.
The robot ceases to a halt, and at that moment, Ratigan appears at the doorway with Hiram operating the controls against his wishes. “Amazing likeness, isn’t it, Your Majesty?” He says with a sneer.
“Professor Ratigan!” cried the queen, then she ordered, “Guards! Seize this despicable creature!”
Fidget snickered wickedly, because these guards will only obey the professor himself. 
Ratigan repeated the same command through the speaker of the robotic queen. “Guards, seize this despicable creature!” He laughs cruelly into the speaker.
His thugs caught hold of the queen. Believing that they were turning against her, she glares at both her guards and at Ratigan while saying furiously, “Oh, how dare you!”
“Take her away!” Ratigan ordered, holding out his little bell and rang for Felicia, signaling her that it was time to eat her special treat.
As she was being carried out the door with assistance from Fidget, the queen cried out, “Let go of me, you ruffians!”
“Move along, honey!” teased Fidget.
“You fiends!” the queen’s voice yelled throughout the hall. “Traitors!”
With a smug grin, Ratigan took out a handkerchief and wiped it on the robotic queen’s cheek.
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Meanwhile, back at Ratigan’s lair, the record continues to play. 
So although it hurts, I’ll try to smile
As I say
Basil remained in his depressed state as he made no attempt to free himself or the other two as he was resigned to his fate. As for Anna, she was grunting while wiggling and trying to sit up but couldn’t as her bounds kept her tight. Olivia was also struggling as she was pushing at the cork while grunting and trying to free herself so she could help them, but to no avail as she slid down.
Goodbye so soon
And isn’t this…
Loud grunts came from Anna while Dawson noticed the rope slowly stretching as it came closer to activating the mechanism and releasing the black ball. Anna tried using her legs so she could push herself upwards, but once again, her bounds kept her tight no matter how hard she struggled. Her grunting became erratic through each breath she took as she lifted her chin, trying to get out while hitting the back of her head. Seeing that Anna was starting to lose it made Dawson say, “Anna, calm down!”
“SHUT UP!” She snapped so loud, making Dawson wince as her behavior was starting to get worse.
She kept on hitting the back of her head hard while grunting as she was trying her very hardest to get out of her bounds. She wasn’t going to die here. There was no way in hell that she was going to die...in this stinking hole!
Dawson tried to reason with her by saying, “Anna please, we mustn’t lose our heads, we’ll think of something.”
Anna refused to listen to reason as her grunting grew louder and was banging her head hard, almost like she was acting that of a madwoman trying to get out of a straightjacket. “I’M NOT GONNA DIE HERE!” She shouted. “I’M NOT GONNA FAIL AGAIN!” She kept on banging her head through each of her words. “I...HAVE...TO MAKE...AMENDS...SINCE I FAILED...BEFORE!” After saying her last word and would probably be feeling a headache from the back of her head, she could no longer hold back the tears as she started to sob.
Dawson was confused from what Anna said. What did she mean by before? It couldn’t have been that she failed to protect Hiram and Olivia. No, the way she was acting was something else...and it was something very deep. He didn’t know what it was, but he began to worry for her mental health as she was starting to lose hope.
As Anna was now gazing at the anvil hovering above. Her heart began to beat hard with fear as reality finally sat in. So this is it. She thought. I really am gonna die. A part of her knew that someday she would die eventually, but she never knew she would die here in the world that she had always believed to be a movie. The other half of her tried to reason with her, telling her to at least hold on to what little hope she had, she still had a promise to fulfill with Olivia. Not to mention, she told Ratigan that she’ll be back. But what good is a promise if you end up dead! It felt like to her that matter what kind of promises she makes, they always get broken in the end. Her thoughts then turned to Basil as she looked at him while her tears kept pouring from her eyes, his face had already turned sideways as his eyes were staring at hers. She wasn’t sure if he was paying attention to her or not as Anna wanted to say these words, but instead her thoughts beat her to it, Basil, please...help me.
With another depressed sigh, Basil turned his attention away from her. 
Anna also turned her attention away from him while she gave off a shaky breath. A fresh batch of tears came from her eyes as she looked at Olivia. “I’m so sorry,” she muttered. “I tried...I tried so hard.”
With that, she turned her gaze towards the anvil, waiting patiently for death to arrive and turn her into a bloody paste with her two friends. Maybe death wasn’t so bad after all.
“Oh, how could I have been so blind?” Basil moaned.
“We all make mistakes,” Dawson consoled. “But we can’t let that stop us. We have to-”
“Ratigan’s proved he’s more clever than I.” Basil interrupted while continuing, “Heh, he would never have walked into such an obvious trap or allow himself to be used by a petty thief from the future.”
At those words, Anna sighed while looking at Basil with red eyes after shedding so many tears and gave him a look that said Really.
“Oh, pull yourself together!” Dawson snapped. “You can stop that villain! Why-”
Suddenly, Dawson and Anna both glanced at the record player as it was skipping while repeating, “So long...So long...So long.” Over and over again.
“Basil! The record!”
Basil continued on with his lament. “Oh, it’s finally happened! I’ve been outwitted!”
“Oh, Basil, please!” Dawson pleaded.
With another sigh from Anna and knowing that if she was going to die, she might as well try one last attempt to explain to Basil. “Basil, you gotta believe me-”
“Beaten! Duped!”
“I’m not a thief, I didn’t-”
“Made a fool of! Oh, ridiculed!”
Dawson started to get angry, he had just about enough of Basil’s depressed lamenting and Anna’s failed attempt to try and explain to him.
“For God's sake!” Anna’s tears started to come down again. “I’m sorry for not-”
“Belittled!”
“THAT’S ENOUGH!” Dawson shouted as his voice echoed throughout the lair. It was now Anna’s turn to wince as she already knew from watching the movie that Dawson would shout like that, but she never expected him to be this loud. At the sound of his voice, the record player jumped back into line and continued to play the rest of the song, yet even more closer to the end. Dawson cringed, but then turned his attention back to Basil as he told him off, “Dash it all, Basil! If Anna truly was a thief, she would’ve stolen something by now, but she hasn’t done anything of the sort. I understand that you're just as confused and shocked as I am that she is from the future and she may know something that neither of us don’t, but that doesn’t matter at the moment. The queen’s in danger, Anna needs our help, Olivia’s counting on us, we’re about to be horrible splattered, and all you can do is lie there feeling sorry for yourself. Well, I know you can save us, but if you’ve given up, then why don’t we just set it off now and be done with it.” After that, Dawson pouted.
We know by now that time knows how to fly
Then...Anna’s eyes widened as a small gasp escaped her mouth. She knew that there was a chance to get out, but despite the difference between fantasy and reality, she would rather take her chances by using her knowledge of the movie to escape. It was better than nothing and it was still a fifty-fifty percent chance that she may or may not die after this. She has to at least hold on to hope, even if it was very small. So with that, she scoots closer as she goes to Basil’s ear and whispers, “Set it off now.”
Basil chuckles weakly, feeling the breath from Anna as it tickled him, but nevertheless he repeated, “Set it off now.”
“Yes,” she continued to whisper. “Set the trap off now.”
Something clicked into Basil’s brain as he remembered Dawson saying “set it off now” and Anna whisperly repeating the words to him “set the trap off now”. With that, his eyes shot open as the wheels in his head started to turn like clockwork. “Set it...off...now.” He slowly repeated.
Anna scoots away from Basil, knowing that he’ll be back to his old self pretty soon, but she hoped it would be now and not sooner or later. Time was the utmost essence and pretty soon both hers and there time will be up.
Dawson looks at Basil as he notices him giggling slightly and smiling mischievously as he chuckles, “Yes! We...We’ll set the trap off now!” His voice echoes throughout the lair.
Dawson was horrified about what Basil just said. He wasn’t serious was he?! Pulling off an escape attempt that’s just...downright suicidal! “Basil! Wait! I didn’t mean that we ought to-” He gasped as he looked at the record player, hearing that the song had finally reached its end and the grinding needle came off the record.
Dawson and Anna gasp as they look up and see that the contraption was let loose, the metal ball going down the pipe as it began its descent. “Oh God!” Anna said as her lower lip quivered and her heart began to beat fast with fear.
“Angle of the trajectory,” Basil began calculating. “Multiplied by the square root of an isosceles triangle…” He continues to calculate while mumbling. Dawson and Anna continue to helplessly watch as the metal ball comes out of the pipe and continues downwards to its descent. “Dividing Guttermeg’s principle of opposing forces in motion…” He continues to mumble as he finishes calculating. “And adjusting for the difference in equilibrium…” He looks back up at the anvil, then at Olivia.
Anna shuts her eyes tight as she mutters while repeatingly praying, “Please God don’t let me die, please God don’t let me die, please God don’t me die, please God don’t let me-”
She stops repeating as she feels Basil’s hand clasped onto hers while saying, “Anna, look at me!” She opens her eyes and looks at him. “It’s going to be alright. Do you understand?” She quickly nods her head. As the metal ball was moving closer towards the trio, Basil looks at Dawson and says to him, “Dawson, at the exact moment I tell you, we must release the triggering mechanism.”
“What?” Dawson had a frightened yet puzzled look as his eyes gazed at the trigger where Basil’s hand was along with his.
“Get ready, Dawson,” Basil announced with a serious look as he watched the metal ball coming downwards. “Steady…”
Dawson muffled in fear and his eyes were firmly shut as his hand trembled over the trigger. Olivia was pushing with all her might against the cork and Anna’s hand tightened onto Basil’s hand as he did the same with hers. The metal ball came close and then…
“NOW!”
Dawson screamed as he and Basil struck their hands on the trigger and the lever was released. Basil and Anna shut their eyes tight while cringing...But then, all three of them slowly opened their eyes as they saw the metal ball was caught in its tracks, making it shake from the force. As it did, the little hook on the side of the trap sprung off.
They watched as the hook shot towards the gun, and the gun fired a bullet into the air. The bullet shot onto the crossbow, making it fire its arrow in another direction and fly towards the axe, where it destroyed the wooden handle instantly. As the axe was twirling into the air, Dawson shut his eyes, but Anna’s eyes widened as her mind slowed down the axe. Seeing the axe’s blade glint with light, her life flashed before her eyes...ending it with a group hug from her mom and dad after her graduation in high school...then she screamed.
Whether by luck or maybe fate’s hand in making sure their lives are kept intact, the axe smashed the mousetrap in half, sending Dawson flying to one side as he landed while rolling on the ground, and sending Basil and Anna to the other side while rolling on the ground as well. But once again, they came into another embarrassing position when they stopped rolling. Anna was now at the bottom with Basil at the top as their noses were touching one another. Her face and Basil’s ears turned a tinge of red.
What became embarrassing, turned to a change in awkward as the anvil descended downward and crushed the axe, creating a loud crash as the ground cracked and the earth shook violently from the impact, making Basil lose balance in his arms as his mouth crashed onto Anna’s. Their eyes widened as Anna’s face turned beet red like a tomato and Basil’s ear’s practically glowed red. Anna’s heart was beating fast not by fear, but by getting a chaste kiss from Basil, her childhood hero and crush. She could feel his smooth mouth like how a human mouth should be, much to her surprise as her painful heart healed instantly, all the pain completely forgotten as it focused only on Basil.
While the earth continued to shake, the bottle that Olivia was in began to rattle, then the cork popped out and Olivia was freed, but was sent sailing through the air.
As Dawson leaned heavily against the anvil while clutching the side of his head with a single hand and catching his breath after going through a near-death experience, Basil pulls his mouth away from Anna while clearing his throat and quickly getting up, the glow from his ears completely leaving him as he quickly sheds his sailor disguise, revealing his brown inverness coat and stylishly puts on his deerstalker hat. Basil of Baker Street was back and his usual confidant ego had been fully restored.
Seeing that Olivia was falling made Anna quickly get up while joining Basil at his side, her face returning to normal color while having her arms out and a big smile was on her face. Basil places his arm around a baffled Dawson while saying, “Thank you, Dawson.” Then as Anna managed to catch Olivia in her arms while she too gave a big smile to Anna, they were about to embrace, but were interrupted as Basil placed his other arm onto Anna while saying with a grin, “Forgive me for doubting you and accusing you for something you haven't done, Anna.” After that, he brings them close while flashing a wide smile. “Smile everyone!”
There was a flash as the camera went off, capturing Basil’s brilliant smile, but also Dawson, Anna, and Olivia’s stunned and perplexed expressions.
When that came to an end, Anna and Olivia looked at one another...then once again gave a big smile to each other as Anna broke away from Basil and embraced Olivia while twirling around. Basil and Dawson watched while smiling as Anna was reunited with Olivia and they were giggling with happiness, she stopped twirling as Olivia nuzzled into Anna’s neck and said, “I knew you’d come.”
They look at each other while Anna says, “I’d never leave you, I still have a promise to keep. Remember?”
Olivia nods as they embrace once again. Basil clears his throat as they look at him and Dawson. Basil had his arms crossed while tapping his fingers on his arm and giving Anna a look like how a parent does to a child who’s in trouble. Anna sighed, she knew that she’ll have to both explain and apologize to Basil. Putting Olivia down, she goes towards him, then she says, “Basil, I just wanna-”
Basil brings out a hand to silence her. He gives her a serious look and says, “You and I are going to have a very serious talk.” He waves a finger at her while continuing, “And I want answers from you when this is over.” He puts his arm down while keeping that serious look. “But for now, you know something that Ratigan intends to do to the queen that not even I or Dawson know about. If so, then tell us what you know.”
Anna knew that there was no point in hiding her knowledge. So with her own serious look, she told Basil, “He intends to kill the queen by feeding her to his cat.”
Dawson gasped after what Anna just said. He already knew that Ratigan intended to eliminate the queen, and to hear this from Anna, he never knew that Ratigan intended to do that. To do something like that was not only evil, but was really gruesome for someone so despicably evil like Ratigan. Nobody should die a gruesome death like that. 
“Are you sure?” Basil questioned Anna with a serious but firm voice.
“Positive,” she assured Basil.
“Then we have no time to waste, quickly everyone!” Basil quickly starts to run with Dawson, Anna, and Olivia following him. “We must make haste! First we need to head to Scotland Yard, we need all the assistance we can get!”
“But Basil,” Dawson says. “Ratigan still has that silver watch. There’s no telling what might happen if he does manage to figure out the secrets of its power.”
It dawned on to Basil as his eyes widened and came to a stop, making Dawson cry “oof” as he bumps into Basil’s back and Anna and Olivia slid to a stop. “Great Scott!” Basil exclaimed while dramatically placing the back of his fist onto his head. He completely forgot that Ratigan took Anna’s silver watch and by now was trying to find out it’s secrets. “Your right! Then we’ve not a moment to lose!” He goes to Anna, grabs her hand, and runs while taking her with him, making her squeak in surprise as she tried not to trip while keeping up to Basil.
Dawson quickly grabs Olivia’s hand and runs with them to catch-up. While they were racing out of Ratigan’s lair, something dawned onto Anna. If Ratigan does manage to figure out the secrets of the silver watches' power, then there was no telling what he might do, but she mentally prayed to God that Ratigan wouldn’t unintentionally create another natural disaster, and if so...London and all of Mousedom would be in deep trouble.