Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, but if Disney wants to get rid of Bernard or Jake, I'll take 'em. :0)

Back story: I recently watched "The Rescuers" and "The Rescuers Down Under" and I love them both, especially the latter. After viewing, I couldn't keep this idea out of my head. So basically, it goes like this---Cody is still in the Outback, and Jake has given up his airstrip to come live with him. Back in the US, Penny has been adopted and maintains a great friendship with Bernard and Bianca, who are no longer with Rescue Aide. When Cody and Penny begin exchanging letters, it will eventually lead to a meeting between two kindred spirits, and three old friends.

Pen Pals

The girl sat at the desk in her room. This was one of her favorite spots in the whole world to be. The mid-morning sun shone in through the open window and her cat, Rufus, lay sunning himself. She stared down at the blank piece of paper in front of her.

I've gotta think of something to write, she thought. This project, she decided, was a lot harder than it had first seemed. Then again, she'd never had a pen pal before. Gotta think of something, gotta think of something…

"What're you up to, Penny?" a small voice asked. She looked at the windowsill to see two small mice standing on it.

"Hi Bernard, hi Miss Bianca. I have to write a letter."

"To who?" Bernard asked.

"My new pen pal. Everyone in class at school has to write a letter to the pen pals we got. I got stuck with some kid from Australia named Cody."

"Oh, I remember going to Australia," breathed Bianca. "It was so beautiful there. And we met that one nice little mouse, remember him?" she asked her husband.

"So, what've you got so far, Penny?" Bernard questioned. Suddenly he froze. "W-wait a minute---did you say the boy's name was Cody?" She nodded.

"He's the little boy went to Australia for!" Bianca exclaimed, delighted by the irony in the whole thing.

"I'll be…he sure is," Bernard agreed. He turned to the girl. "Well…just tell him some things about yourself…he's a nice kid, he'll write back."

"Okay," Penny sighed. "I guess it's worth a try." After a few more minutes' thought, she put the pen to paper.

Dear Cody,

Hi, my name's Penny I'm eleven years old. I'm going to be your new pen pal. I live in America…that's a long way from where you live, I guess. Have you ever seen a kangaroo or a koala? Do you have any pets? I have a cat---his name is Rufus. My best friends are named Bernard and Bianca. They are two mice, but I'm not afraid of them. They are very nice mice. What are your friends like? Do you ever go on vacation? If you do, you should come here to America---I'd like to meet you. I used to live in an orphanage, but I've gotten adopted and my mom is gonna have another baby soon. I'm so excited! What's your family like? Well, I guess I'd better stop writing now…

Write back soon,

Penny

"See, darling," Bianca said, scanning the letter, "that wasn't so hard, was it?" Penny shook her head and gently stroked the rodent.

"No, I guess not." She put the letter in an envelope and sealed it up. "Do you think he'll get my letter?" she asked.

"We'll soon see," Bernard remarked, handing her the stamp. "We'll soon see."

---Well, there you have the official end of chapter one. Will there be a chapter two? That's completely up to you. :0) Hope you enjoyed it and please don't hesitate to tell me what you thought. The Addict.

A/N: One last thing---special thanks to Tristan Rogers...not only one of my favorite actors, but also one of the cutest mice I've ever seen...