Disclaimer: I do not own Redwall, the nightmare Before Christmas, nor V for Vendetta...I never will.
Chapter 4: Claws and Fangs
It was morning. The sky was becoming a dull pink and orange as the Sun began to Rise. It was chilly outside, about 65 degrees Fahrenheit and there was a slight breeze. The sun now turned the Sandstone walls of Redwall abbey to a Pale rose color as it rose Higher, and all was peaceful inside the Abbey. Dew covered the ground outside and small Golden patches of Sunlight dappled the leaves on the trees in the Orchard, and on the Grass. A large badger was on the northern-most Rampart of the Abbey, An arrow the length of a Spear Notched onto an bow made of Oak. This badger's fur was Damp from the recent Fog, But he didn't seem to mind the Damp nor the Cold. This badger was an Odd looking one, The stripe that mot Badger's had was usually white, however this one was Blue instead. The only other Badger to have an oddly colored stripe was Sunflash the Mace. Well, it looked like that in the Sunlight, a Deep Navy blue color. But in the shade it looked a Dark Grey. He also had blood-red eyes. No, he wasn't on the Bloodwrath, but the Affliction of Badger lord's had tinged his eyes like that due to the Many times it came upon him During battle. The badger was also taller then most, and slimmer. He thought this Skinny-ness was a good thing, it made dodging Attack's easier.
The badger had the arrow Pulled all the way back and took Aim, then suddenly moved his Arrow the other Way and fired high into the Sky. It buzzed from it's post like an Angry wasp and there was a Slight Twang after the Arrow sped from the Bow. It arched upwards, then disappeared out of sight behind the trees. The badger with the blue stripe smiled as he Heard a small scream from somewhere, Hopefully it hit one of Belkin's beast's. Then he heard a voice coming from Behind "Stoneclaw, you stay up there long Enough and we'll have ourselves a ice statue!". The badger turned to see his friend, a skinny mouse with Hazelnut colored fur and wearing a blue tunic with a Blood-colored Sash. The sword of Martin was set at his Hip and he had an Air of authority about him. This was River, Warrior of Redwall and protector of Victoria Alderfur, he seemed to care about her a lot these days than when they were Dibbun's. There was another with him, a shorter, cream-furred mouse with a necklace made out of pearl and few shards of turquoise, all hanging around her neck by a cream colored thread that seemed to matc her fur, and wearing an Abbot's habit. She was right beside River, carrying what looked like a crutch and limping. Her left Footpaw was bandaged, but you couldn't really tell unless you looked close enough. This Mouse was Abbess March, the One and only Abbess of Redwall and Longtime friend of River's Father and mother. What she lacked in strength she made up for by her Sharp tongue when angry, mostly she was Calm and a very Kind mouse of peace. They both were carrying three bowls of Steaming Oatmeal, one looked like some sort of spice was Added to it. Stoneclaw liked his with Nutmeg, his Father's favorite spice. He helped Abbess March up onto the Rampart since her Left foot paw was sprained, She wouldn't tell anybeast what happened however.
"Why were you up here so early, Stoneclaw?" The Abbess asked, blowing on her spoon of oatmeal while River munched away at his own, Despite it being hot, and listened intently on the conversation. The badger swallowed a mouthful of his oatmeal before replying "You know me, Abbess. I can't sleep knowing that Ferret is up and About.". Abbess March looked the Badger over, then shook her head. "You can't be up this early, Too little sleep can be bad for you. I understand how much you Hate Belkin and what he did, and I'm sure he Hates you for giving him that...Scar..." She shuddered when she said the word Scar, he heard the Badger talking about it. After a brief pause she continued "But you need to rest. After all, you remember what Verse said.." Verse was another Mouse, a Black one with red eyes but nothing else was known about him. He always wore a Black tunic, some sort of Cape and carried atleast six Dagger's, All of which he was skilled at and Skilled with a Sword or Rapier. This mouse is also skilled unarmed and at Paw-to-Paw combat, beating River in a duel one day. This mysterious mouse seems to Have a High tolerance to Pain. He also wears a White and black checkered cloth over his face Similar to Slagar the cruel and Never removes it, Never showing his Real face to anyone or revealing anything about himself and Explains that "My name is Verse, that is all you will need to know."Only his eyes are seen from his mask besides his fur (arms, legs) and ears which are not covered by anything, on occasion he wears a Black robe with a large hood and Red interior on some days. (I based his intelligence, and the character, off of V. Quotes that have come from the movie have an beside them.) He became a member of the Abbey and although he was out he wasn't necessarily a nice mouse at times, Mostly he was polite and considerate of those he called a Friend. But neither was he a Villain although he did kill a number of times. He always said something like "I have not come for what you hoped to do. I've come for what you did." when about to kill somebeast, or "Violence can be used for good. I commit to it, Seen as both Victim and Villain by either side. Violence can also be used for Evil, it can change thing's in Many ways.". He left the Abbey some time ago but had Befriended River, considering him as a worthy Opponent and a friend, and Writes to the Abbey every so often. Abbess March removed something from her habit sleeve and held it in her Paws, it was one of Verse's Dagger's. He had gotten another one but he gave it to her in order to Repay her for helping him after being attacked and seriously Wounded. She realized she Dazed off and continued to speak "Violence can be used for good, and for Evil, as is Vengeance.". She set her bowl of Oatmeal away and put the dagger back into her sleeve. River had finished his and was now listening to them Both, ears perked. The badger looked over at his Friend, then spoke again as he scratched the back of his neck. "I understand that, Abbess, but I Found out that if he Doesn't take over Redwall, then he'll go over to Salamandastron, and there's no Badger lord over there since my Father died a season ago. I must finish that Ferret once and For all before or During this war or who knows what might happen..". Abbess March looked as though she was in deep thought before nodding "I understand. We will fight with everything we've got and show That we're not just Peaceful beast's.". River spoke up, sitting up and ears perked "I agree, Abbess. That ferret won't take our Abbey from us, we won't let him.". This time the Badger nodded, raising his head as an Arrow zipped over the Walltop and dug itself into the earth.
River grabbed Abbess March and kept her head low as well as his own as more Arrows were fired. Stoneclaw stood up, notching another Arrow to his quiver and pulling back after the vermin below had stopped firing Arrows. He growled out to the Vermin below, taking aim "Leave our Abbey, Vermin! It will Never belong to you!". One of Belkin's beast's, a short ferret, Spoke up as he shook his spear at the Badger "Shurrup, stripedog! Th' white mouse is th' one we want to talk ter! Get your Abbess over there or we'll-argh!" The ferret dropped his spear as he let out a gurgle, Stoneclaw's arrow piercing the Ferret's chest dead center and pinning the Carcass to the ground. Within seconds another Arrow appeared, Notched and pulled back. Stoneclaw growled down "Anymore who wish to speak with our Abbess?". Those in protest were Slain, an Maroon feathered fletched Arrow snuffing them out. Next beside Belkin was Oogie, bandaged from his wounds, roped by his paws to a wooden pole and being gaurded by Crooktail. He was made to look like a mouse, and there were three other's with him looking like Mice but all three of them were really Rats. One in a Red tunic, one in a Dark purple cloak, and the Other one had a Deep blue tunic on. River now stood up and informed the Abbess to get onto the Grounds and warn the Other's, Before taking a stand beside the Badger and loading a sling coiled around his paw. He quickly loaded and swung, but didn't fire. There was a slight hum as the Sling whirled round and round in circles with the rock still inside, and he took aim. "Who are those three you got with you? Hand them over!" the Warrior shouted. Belkin smirked at the Mouse's foolishness. Oogie and those three he brought with him were going to be used to get inside the Abbey, all disguised as Mice, that is. After a while they'd give the signal that they have opened the Gates, and his horde would Ambush the place! Oogie looked over to the unconscious Lock, Shock and Barrel, thinking over and over why he brought them here.
Now I Remember, I was gonna use 'em to get into th' Abbey, then get 'em out with a hostage and bring Whoever it was back to Halloween town, use Whoever I got to Lure those two out of their world and Lock them someplace, then Use the Hostage to lure Jack over to this world after the Hostage got..Chummy with Jack! But now I'm Stuck with these brats until then..I'll think this over more..
Stoneclaw nodded over at River, who nodded Back as he spotted something Black in the shade of a tree, somebeast with a Black and white checkered hood and carried knives..it was Verse! He came back! The mouse whispered to a hedgehog beside him to let the Mysterious one inside before turning to Belkin again. River then stopped twirling his sling and Shouted down to Belkin "We've come to a decision!" as more Redwaller's piled onto the Walltops, armed with anything they could get their paws one. Elder's and Young ones were to stay inside. Belkin's ears perked up, intrigued. "What is it, mouse?""We fight, one on one.". Belkin thought the dead over before nodding "agreed, Mouse, Are you going to Fight me, Warrior?" At the word Warrior he sounded like he was spitting out the word, He highly doubted River as a Warrior. River smirked and shook his head, hearing those behind him splitting and Verse coming right up behind him. "No, I am not." Belkin laughed and pointed to stoneclaw, and growled at him. "And are you going to send the Badger after me, then, if your too Scared to Fight Belkin Deadclaw and his horde?". "No..He is."
River stepped back and the Hooded mouse took his place with a Nod at his friend. Verse looked down at the horde, then spoke (He sound's like V, or in other words, Hugo weaving), his voice etched with slight Anger "My friend tells me you are trying to conquer this Abbey, correct?". Belkin's smile faded, then he felt the Fur on the back of his neck Rise higher in anger, recognizing Verse by the dagger's he carries. He faced this one Before. This mouse was one one of his Slaves, who escaped in his Younger days and was defeated, Verse constantly trying to Free himself and one time Striking Belkin across the chest with the same Whip he was going to use on a Younger squirrel. This mouse had caught the whip, pulled back until the Whip was out of the Ferret's grasp, then used it against him in order to stand up for the younger and weaker ones, This mouse swore to kill him one day. No matter what kind of Pain This mouse Suffered he showed no Emotion, execpt for Hate for Belkin, And now here he was, The slave that escaped him and the one he Constantly Fought, and got in trouble, with. He shouted out and pointed a claw at Verse.
"Correct, mouse. And I Suppose You are going to Fight me then? Hah! My poor slave, You were no better than those weakling's in those Long gone Season's, as you are still! Do you not know how much Hatred I have for you after what you have done in the Past?" He shouted, then he spoke in a normal tone of voice Up to him. " I don't understand, However. You tolerate Pain, Why won't you die!". Verse seemed untroubled by this, but it was Very hard to tell because of his Hood over his face. His response was quick, dripping with anger and hatred. "Ferret, it is You who does not Understand! Beneath this hood there is more than flesh. Beneath this Hood there is a Feeling, an..Idea if you will." He paused to look Over at Abbess March, who walked over and stood beside him. Verse nodded at his Long time friend, the one He befriended first while a Slave to Belkin's horde when they were younger. "Do You still Have it, March?" He mouse asked. Abbess March nodded, removing the Dagger that one belonged to him. " I never go anywhere without it, My friend." She told him and Put it into his paw, but he merely placed it back into her paw again. "Thank you, March. You are a wonderful friend to Have and an even Greater Abbess." Verse said before turning over to River. "Have everybeast here inside the Abbey but still armed to the teeth. I want yourself, the Badger and March to come with me onto the grounds. Go Now.". River nodded at his friend and did as He was told. Verse called down to Belkin "Beneath this Hood are Feelings and Idea's, Ferret." He paused again and took a step forwards, now standing where there was a place for Archers built into the Walltop so he was in full view. He removed one of his own Dagger's and pointed at Belkin, speaking in a low tone of Voice.
" We are told to remember the idea and Feeling, not the creator of the idea, because a Beast can fail. He can be caught. He can be killed and forgotten. But many season's later an idea can still change the country, change somebeast, It can change their entire way of looking at thing's." He paused again to remove another, similar knife from his Belt and held them both in one Paw, by their points. "I've witnessed firsthand the power of ideas, of these Feeling's. I've seen Otherbeasts kill in the name of them; and die defending them. But you cannot touch an idea, cannot hold it or.." He paused, then sighed somewhat regretting what he was about to say. "Or..kiss it. An idea does not bleed, it cannot feel pain, and it does not love. I see myself as that Idea, I see other's as their own. However, I see you, Belkin deadclaw, as one who is Neither Idea nor feeling. I see you only as a murderer, a Slaver in younger season's. You kill in your quest for Power, but There is a problem. Hate. You say you Hate me, and Stoneclaw. You see, at first, I though it was hate too. Hate was all I knew. It built my world, imprisoned me, taught me how to eat, how to drink, how to breathe. I thought I'd die with all the hate in my veins. But upon seeing you it was all I knew, Belkin. I hate you the same way you hate me. And if you had an Idea, or felt anything..." He stopped, looking over at Abbess March again, before looking over at Belkin, who was stunned at what this Mouse, or former slave, had Said. "You'd stop this charade and Fight meunless you are afraid of a Slave." He growled, as if spitting out something that tasted Bad. An immediate response came from Below. "You are nothing but a fool, Mouse and Badger! I know no fear nor Feeling's! I am void of them, I know nothing of these Feeling's such as Worry or grief. Only Hate! You, Badger, are the one who is afraid to Fight me! You send this...Slave to Fight your battle for You, You gave me this Scar, and I will give you the same before Killing you after I take over this Abbey! You are Afraid!" Suddenly Stoneclaw poked his head beside Verse and growled out "I am not Afraid! I am Defiant, Ferret! I know no fear nor Death! Vengeance is the only thing I know, And I will show my defiance to You through my Hate and Through my Claws!" He shouted, swiping is Strengthened Claws through the air. Verse suddenly brought a paw down over the Badger's mouth, bent low and hissed into the Badger's ear "Be still, Friend. I have volunteered to Fight this. You will wait. You will chase him out after this fight, nothing more. Promise me." He whispered. Though angry at Verse, the Badger nodded and Verse removed his paw from the Badger's mouth. Verse then spoke again. "Enough! You will Fight me, ferret. These gates will open, however you are to Bring those four over and nobeast else.""Agreed, mouse.".
Soon The Abbey was packed with Redwaller's, still armed. River, Abbess March, Verse and Stoneclaw were outside on the Grounds of the Abbey. Belkin was with them, along with the Tied up Oogie, Lock, Shock and Barrel. Those tied up four were against the Wall and the Gates were closed and locked. Verse nodded at Abbess March for her to go inside, and she did. Stoneclaw was still up on the Ramparts and aiming an Arrow at Belkin's back in case he tried anything. River was behind Verse, sword halfway drawn. Verse and Belkin faced eachother, Belkin with his own sword and Verse with one Stoneclaw gave him. Belkin smirked at River, saying "You just watch, Warrior. This Abbey will fall and become mine.". River responded with a growl, and Verse and Belkin circled eachother, focusing, copying eachother's movement's. Belkin spoke to the Mouse as he held his sword in front of himsef and knees bent in a kind of crouch "Take off your mask...". Belkin called the hood Verse was wearing a Mask because it was worn like one, it shielded his Identity.
Verse muttered "No.". Belkin chuckled as they continued to circle eachother "Defiant until the end, are you? You won't cry like those other slaves, will you? You're not afraid of death. You're like me.". Verse growled, hearing this "The only thing you and I have in common, Belkin, is that we are both about to die." he hissed. Belkin smirked at this and spoke " How do you imagine that'll happen? "
Verse paused, straightening his back. Belkin did the same. They both stopped as Verse said "With my Sword through your chest.", Swinging his blade upwards in preparation for the fight. Belkin copied this and growled, then charged forwards at him. The fight had begun.
Muahaha! Didn't think I'd let you read on and see if Verse lived or Died, now did I? I love Cliffhanger's!
Belkin: Well they don't.
River and Stoneheart: We do!
(V appears randomly, is Tackled by author of Fanfic)
V: Erm...You..You can let go now.
Author: No!
Verse: Yes!
Author: No!
River, Stoneclaw and Abbess March: Yes!
Verse: starts tugging at author, Is kicked in stomach and is sent flying into wall
(Huge fight ensues, V slips away leaving the Author alone. V Is busy hiding in closet with Jack skellington)
Jack: You too?
V: Yes, I'm afraid so...
Ha! by for now, Don't forget to R and R!!
