The boys made several feeble assassination attempts throughout the next few days; hurling hornets into the garden, agitating the Princess' horses while she was riding, and even trying to flood her bedroom with bathwater. But try as they might, their heart just wasn't in it.

Not only that, but they always returned to Pete's lair covered in the backfiring of their sabotage; stings, trampling hoofmarks, or the sweet scent of lavender oils, to name a few. Now they were out to try again…

"Watch out!" Bonaparte shouted. The three beagles ducked as the chicken coop exploded and screaming birds were flung everywhere.

They slowly looked at each other, eggs splattered all over the ridiculous papier-mâché masks they were wearing.

Basil growled and popped it off angrily. "I told you twits these stupid Pete masks wouldn't work!"

"Nothin'! Absolutely nothin'! Are you mutts really so incompetent you can't take out a measly princess!?" Pete was twitching with rage, his face turned to a horrible shade of purple.

The boys exchanged glances nervously. He'd been mad last time they failed, but now… he wouldn't throw them in the pit, would he?

Suddenly something else caught Pete's eye. The poster for the opera "Pirates of Penzance" was plastered to the wall, and as he looked at it, a brilliant idea began to form in his mind. Yes, it was perfect!

He flung his attention back at the Beagle Boys. "Scratch everything I said before!" He ordered. "Now, I want your one and only priority to be to keep the princess safe!" And without another word, he stalked off, leaving the Beagles to ponder his meaning behind him.

Bertrand looked at the others, confused. "I…what is it we's doin' now?"

Bonaparte shrugged. "I think he said to drop a safe on the princess."

"Who's gonna tell the bloomin' boss the bad news!?" exclaimed Basil.

"I ain't saying nothin', you tell him!" Bertrand yelled back.

"Me!? I told him last time, you silly twit, and I don't believe in doing it twice!"

The boys sprinted down the stone steps, distraught after their last debacle. What terrible punishment would Pete have for them this time...?

But as the three reached the bottom of the stairs, Basil brightened and grinned. "Oi, here's an idea. Shorty! You tell 'im."

Bonaparte looked back at his cousin, puzzlement all over his face. "Tell him what?!" he asked, shrugging.

Bertrand's eyes shifted nervously and he put his hand to his mouth. "That we, you know…botched the job."

Bonaparte gulped loudly. "He's not going to like that."

The smallest Beagle Boy pushed open the heavy door and carefully walked inside. From across the room, he could see Pete in his throne, glaring at him.

"H-hello there?"

Pete abruptly got out of his seat and shambled towards him, eyes narrowed. "Don't look good when only one of you shows up, does it, small fry?" he jeered, shutting the door and circling around the Beagle like a vulture.

"Blimey. I can't hear nothin' but step, clop, step, clop." Basil had his ear to the door, trying his best to overhear the conversation inside. Bertrand came next to him and looked through the keyhole, chuckling.

"Have a gander at Monstro's better side."

But their joke was short-lived; Pete had heard their mumbling. He clawed through the door and flung them violently into the room.

Basil and Bertrand pointed at Bonaparte. "He's got something to tell you, boss!"

"Well, we did exactly as you said…and dropped a safe on the princess!" Bonaparte exclaimed.

"You WHAT?" Pete's grabbed Bonaparte by the collar furiously. "I didn't say drop a safe, I said KEEP HER SAFE, you dolt!"

"Well, that's good. 'Cause we missed her." offered Bertrand. Pete threw Bonaparte to the ground with rage.

"Now listen, you mutts, I've got a plan, and it ain't to kill the princess! It's to kidnap her!"

The three arched their brows in looks of complete bewilderment. "Whuh?"

"The opera. It's tomorrow night! The princess has gotta be gone by then, or I can't become king!" Pete couldn't believe he had to remind them, again.

"Ohhhhh!…." The boys smiled, trying to let this information sink in. It didn't.

"I…don't get it," Bonaparte said.

Pete facepalmed. "Lieutenant Clarabelle!"

Clarabelle sprang into the room, giving a salute. "Oui, oui, mon capitaine! You bellowed?"

"Throw these clowns into the pit!" Pete yelled.

Clarabelle jumped up and down with excitement. "Oui, oui! Le pit!"

"No! Not the pit!"

"Anything but le pit!" The trio begged to be spared.

Clarabelle smiled. "Bon voyage, losers." She pulled a lever and the floor beneath them fell away, and the trio tumbled down the shaft, screaming.

The pit really wasn't so bad.

For one thing, it was only a few feet deep. But on the other hand, they were under Clarabelle's constant watch.

Bonaparte, Basil, and Bertrand sat in the shallow cavity, doing what they could to amuse themselves in the long tedious hours. Bonaparte was scribbling in the dirt with a stick while Basil lay on his side, flipping through a TV guide, and Bertrand sat by the wall playing with a set of jacks.

The three had been down there for a few hours when Basil's patience finally began wearing thin. "Oi, ask when Pete's comin' back!" he grumped, tossing his magazine to the side. He had mostly been glancing through the pictures, because unlike Bertrand, he wasn't completely literate.

Bonaparte looked up to where Clarabelle was sitting, legs crossed and with a gossip column on her lap, seemingly doing a crossword.

"'Ellooo!" Shorty called to Clarabelle. "Do you know-?"

"No talking in the pit!" Clarabelle snapped, jangling her cowbell.

Bertrand looked up from his game of jacks and saw the tabloid she was holding. "Erm. I'm guessing you like celebrities." He smiled at his own pathetic joke.

Clarabelle groaned with annoyance and he felt a bead of sweat form on his brow under her hard gaze. He was just trying to be friendly, make conversation… "Er, what I mean is, how'd you come to work for a bloke like Pete yourself?"

Clarabelle regarded him for a moment, then crossed her arms. "None of your business."

Basil gritted his teeth and tagged his brother in the shoulder. "What're you doing?!" he hissed softly.

"Uh…I dunno. Thought maybe if she could trust us, she'd help us out?" It had made sense in his head, at least. He could feel his ears getting red as he looked up at Clarabelle. Unlike the other two, he was a little more self-conscious when it came to girls. Basil had a penchant for chatting up any beautiful woman he saw, bragging about his skills with the sword and the bow. Bonaparte was a regular Casanova, and he was perfectly at home being surrounded by pretty girls; he flirted and oozed charm like a pro.

Suddenly the sound of Pete's noxious singing voice filled the underground. Clarabelle jolted up and rushed out of the room to greet him, and moments later, he waddled into the room.

The trio tried to look busy.

"Hello boys." Pete's shadow fell upon them.

They looked up into his glowering face and immediately dropped what they were doing, standing up stiffly. Bonaparte scratched out his crude picture of Pete and gazed up with an innocent look.

Pete put on a fake smile. "Congratulations, boys. You passed the test!"

Basil, Bertrand, and Bonaparte looked at each other with bewilderment.

"I've been watching you three. And I'll tell ya what! You guys have got what it take to be musketeers!" Pete clapped his hands together and gave them a big toothy grin.

There was a an awkward silence. Pete's eye twitched.

"Musketeers?!" echoed Bonaparte. Bertrand and Basil couldn't believe what they'd just heard. It had to be a joke.

"Directly to the Princess," Pete nodded.

Clarabelle appeared behind Pete, a stunned expression on her face. "You can't really be saying you want to make them musketeers?" She looked down at the group with a frown.

Pete guffawed as he waved the boys to come out of the pit. "Well, I had some other schmucks lined up for the job, but then I realized these three couldn't be more perfect!" He slapped Bertrand and Basil hard on the shoulders as he laughed.

"But how does that help?" Bertrand asked. "We thought you wanted the princess kidnapped."

"And 'afore that, dead," added Basil tersely.

Pete gripped them tighter. "'Cause! As her loyal musketeers, I want you to grab her, find a remote tower somewhere, and lock her away forever…so no one can ever find her again!" The idea was clearly tickling him pink.

"So…we're not real musketeers." That was a bit of a relief to Bonaparte. To do something like that would be a complete flipside to how he'd lived his whole life.

Pete burst into laughter. "You three? Real musketeers? Oh, that's rich! Whooo!"

The remark hurt a little, but the Beagles said nothing. Pete withdrew three Musketeer uniforms from behind him. "Now, y'all get changed. We's got a meetin' with the Princess! You got me, dingbats?"

The boys saluted and took an outfit each. "Sure thing, boss!"

The outfits were unlike anything they'd worn before, and consisted of a handsome red tunic and blue and gold tabard marked with a fleur-de-lis. The ensemble was completed with a feathered cavalier hat. But best of all, they had been given brand new rapiers.

Bonaparte smiled and struck a pose in front of the mirror. Bertrand and Basil had to admire their reflections too. They almost didn't recognize themselves.

Clarabelle even peeked around the corner to get a second look at them. As annoying as these three were, she couldn't deny they were kind of… cute? The very idea made her shake her head in annoyance.

Pete led the newly garbed trio into the palace for the first time. They marveled at the vastness of it all- every room bustling with the activity of castle staff, great halls with shining windows, and especially the exquisite works of art decorating the interior.

"This place would be a goldmine to rob!" Basil whispered to his brother, his eyes gleaming as he took it all in.

They stopped in front of a huge, ornate door that led to the throne room.

"Now remember, you're gonna act as her bodyguards. Then ya kidnap her, lock her up and throw away the key, what you boys do best!" Pete thumped his chest. "And I'll take over as King."

Bonaparte was thinking hard. "But doesn't the Princess herself have to appoint you?"

Pete pointed at him. "Got it. And I'm always two steps ahead. You boys are gonna get back to the opera house by tonight. I've got another stooge to take the stage!" He turned and pushed the door open a little.

"Now, just stay here whilst I go schmooze Princess What's-Her-Name!" Pete ordered, and he slammed the door behind him.

"Alright, blokes," Bertrand said, "I dunno what we's gonna be up against, so be prepared for anythin'!"

"Musketeerin' is just a buncha glorified prancin' about," dismissed Basil, admiring the décor.

"And girls drooling over your heels 'cause you got a feather in your hat!" added Bonaparte. He could deal with that.

"But this is Pete puttin' us on the job," Bertrand had to remind them. "We can't afford any hiccups."

But Basil had his eye on the golden suit of armor near the door, his eyes twinkling. "Oi, get a load of that axe."

Bertrand had to grin when he looked at it. "I'd like to see the damage that could do!"

"I'd like to see how much it's worth!" Bonaparte responded, taking an eager step towards to it…

"And so, it is without further ado..." Pete was finishing up, "That I present, for your safety and protection…your musketeers!" The door flung open, revealing the Beagle Boys on the floor in a pathetic heap beneath the heavy piece of armor. They certainly hadn't expected that to happen.

Princess Minnie raised an eyebrow as the three struggled. This was Pete's highly skilled group of gentlemen?

Suddenly her eyes widened.

The third figure, rather short in stature, emerged from underneath the wreckage. And their eyes met.

Just imagine! He'll stride into the room…light will glow from him. I'll hear music! He'll bring me flowers and sweep me off my feet. Eyes still locked, the musketeer came into the room, smiling at her. Minnie could feel her heart start beating faster as he approached. And I'll know he's the one when he makes me laugh!

"It's time to cut the cheese!" Daisy's voice popped her out of her daydream. She walked in with a platter, handling a butter knife, when suddenly-

"She's got a knife!" exclaimed Basil. The three beagles tackled her to the ground and Basil pinned down the blonde duck's arms. "You thought you could get the jump on us, eh?!"

Minnie stood up, furious, her hands clenching into fists. "Unhand her! She is my lady-in-waiting!"

The boys paused for a second, then quickly stood up and backed off, putting their hands behind their back. Pete snorted laughter.

"You'll have to forgive them, Your Highness. They're like a well-oiled machine…that's wound just a little too tight."

"Nous sommes désolés, Your Grace!" Bonaparte added. "We thought, she was a villain out to hurt you!" He gave her his most charming smile and she couldn't help give him one in return.

Basil smirked and tipped his hat to Daisy. Simple misunderstanding, of course.

Instead she crossed her arms and turned away, scoffing. "I don't think so." Basil scowled and stepped back.

"Oh, well then, I feel safer already!" Princess Minnie extended her hand out to Bonaparte and he gave it a quick kiss. Bertrand pulled him back, trying to be the levelheaded one of the situation.

"I'm Bertrand," he said, removing his hat respectfully. "This here's Bonaparte. And that's…."

"Basil." The younger brother walked up with his arms crossed, glaring up at the Princess.

Daisy turned to Princess Minnie. "Is it just me, or do these guys seem like trouble?" She whispered loudly.

Pete mopped up sweat. "Uh, I can guarantee these fellas are top of the musketeers academy, princess! The finest around!"

With all this bragging, Bertrand really hoped Pete wouldn't ask them to prove their musketeering skills. They were all pretty able with a sword, yeah…but what if there was more to it than that?

"Oh, are they really?" Daisy looked at the three suspiciously. "Because I believe this is my first time ever meeting a...monsieur Basil."

"Yeah, well I wouldn't remember you neither," Basil shot back, before Bertrand stomped on his foot.

"Oh, well I think they're wonderful! Thank you Pete." Princess Minnie nodded her approval.

Pete blew a huge sigh of relief. The first step in his plan was complete.