Author's Notes:
This story was actually the first fanfic I started to write for this site, but I suddenly became inspired to write my Sepia the Mouse story, then the others I posted. Since I am fighting writer's block with all of my other stories (and am working on a possible Batgirl of the Future sequel as well as a different story about the dog Ace of Batman Beyond fame), I figured I'd post this first chapter to help ease my mind a little bit about not putting anything up. Enjoy...
"Martin!" Tess called up the dormitory stairs. "It's time for breakfast!"
Martin the Second lifted his head from the soft pillow with a start. "Coming, Mother!" he called as he sprang out of bed. Martin grabbed his favorite blue habit, which was torn from climbing up and down trees, before darting out of the dormitory. Tess gave a gasp of shock as her son came darting down the stairs- -still in his white sleepwear. Martin smiled mischievously before leaping to the nearest high beam, tossing his habit into the air as he did so. He wrapped his tail around the beam and swung himself through his clothing. He bounced off of the stone wall as he touched it and went spinning past Basil Stag Hare, who was about to eat a strawberry scone from the trolley of food he was pushing, snatching the scone as he did.
Basil was awestruck at Martin's actions. "By gad!" he exclaimed.
"Unable to resist that growling stomach of yours before others are served are we, Basil?" Martin asked with mock severity.
Basil shook his head. "Not anymore, sonny boy!"
Tess rushed to where her son was standing. "Don't you ever do that again!" she said sternly. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"I'm sorry, Mother," Martin apologized as he placed the scone back on the trolley. "I didn't mean to scare you, it's just something that I do every day out in the woods."
"Out in the woods?!" the mousemaid exclaimed. "Is that what you have been doing every time you go out there?!"
"Hold hard, little miss," Basil interrupted. "It's nothing for you to get all whacked out about. It just so happens to be part of the military exercise we teach, wot. Sounds to me like little would-be warrior has been practicing like we have been telling him."
Tess glowered at Basil and Martin. "We'll discuss this after breakfast," she hissed. She turned on her heels and stormed down the hallway towards Great Hall.
Basil looked down at the young mouse, noticing that he was hurt by his mother's outburst. "Cheer up, Martin ol' boy," he said in his regular happy tone. "With moves like that you'll be a warrior in no time, wot wot! We had better get these scones to Great Hall before they turn cold as frostbitten polar bears."
Martin sighed downheartedly. "Thank you for stepping in, Basil, but I don't feel hungry anymore. You go ahead: I'll catch up sooner or later." The young mouse turned away from his friend and walked away.
The hare watched Martin leave. He shook his head despairingly. "I hope he'll feel right as rain soon," he murmured to himself. "I don't want him to miss out on these beautiful scones I made. Heaven knows I may not be able to contain myself, wot!"