"We're almost there!" Helena clapped her hands "Everyone up!"

Prudence woke up and rubbed her eyes "OH thank goodness." She marched up to Helena "Miss Helen? I seem to have misjudged you, you have taken us through this forest and protected us far better than anyone else."

"Are you giving me a compliment?"

Prudence nodded "Perhaps you are not as bad as my mother says you are." She laid out a hand "Truce?" Helena grabbed her hand "Technically, we're step sisters... Let's start at friends." Prudence grinned a little as Charlie stretched, grabbing her bags. The whistle was stored in the small pocket of her bag. She quickly shut the pocket and sighed. She rubber her eyes as Cornwall tilted his head "You alright Charlie?"

She was daydreaming "Huh? I'm fine... Just a hard time sleeping." She walked ahead of them "Let's go!"

As usual, they trudged along the dirt and grass until they finally reached the palace. They walked towards the catacombs beneath. Many old tunnels carried water through all parts of the castle and they have been abandoned for decades. They hid underneath a small bridge as a group of guards walked over the bridge. Helena shushed them as she listened in "You all take the main entrance, me and the other guards will inspect the south side and the courtyard." One guard spoke up "When do we know they'll come?"

"The Queen didn't say. If I were you I'd keep quiet and do your job!" The guards were large hulking mice, guarding every possible entrance "It's like she knew we were coming."

Prudence quirked an eyebrow "Mother never put out these many guards… " her blonde curls bounced as they boarded a small boat through the underground river system. Helena steered the boat "I wish I remember where my father told me the tunnel was..."

Cornwall walked to the head of the small boat "Try left!"

Dimitrius moaned "Try? I'm positive it's right!"

Charlie quickly grabbed the book and flipped it open as they were arguing. She gasped "Um guys?"

Dimitri tried to grab the wheel "I say its right!"

"And I say left! Who's been here longer?!"

"Guys?" she flipped through the pages.

They all shouted "NOT NOW CHARLIE!" Helena sighed "What could possibly be wrong?"

"That." Prudence said, she pointed ahead of them. The boat was veering to a long waterfall. Helena shouted "Hold on!" the boat turned and cascaded down the long winding tunnel. They all held on tightly as Helena ordered. Prudence slipped and was about to fall off the edge of the boat. Charlie grabbed her hand "Hold on to me!" Prudence tugged on for dear life as the boat continued its wild ride down the catacombs. They all simply hung on until the boat came to a slow pace. Helena breathed in a heavy sigh "Charlie, What were you trying to tell us."

From her part of the boat, she answered "We were supposed to go through that tunnel."

They all laughed, taking in breaths of relief until the boat hit something solid. The boat jolted against stone and gravel. Helena jumped up "What the-"she took a torch off one of the walls and moved it against the walls "Guys... I think I found something!"

Jumping off the boat, they examined a solid wall with different markings etched in the center and on the sides. Her strawberry blonde hair flew as she turned to Charlie "Now what?" the little white mouse held the book close "No idea-" the book floated up out of her arms and onto the top of the large door. The etchings were written into the book and matched the same marks on the door. The book inserted itself into a special portal. The door opened wide as all of them stood speechless. Helena quickly walked in "We did it!" She ran into the room "I can't believe we did it!" she ran through. Dimitrius smiled "Helena wait for me!"

Charlie walked through and gasped. A large machine stood in the middle of the stone covered room. It had a large hulking shape, with a small green hatch in the middle. Helena fiddled with the many controls "Don't' worry Charlie, I'm gonna get you home..."

Inside the room was also many boxes of treasure, in which Prudence went through "This is beautiful!" Dimitrius went through many old scrolls "These are all my old inventions! What are they doing here?" he smiled and went through a small barrel of scrolls. Prudence walked to Charlie "Charlie you have to see all of this!"

"Why are you being so nice to me? Didn't you want me to go home?"

Prudence sighed, running a hand through her blonde locks "Well, after spending time with you and you saving my life and all... you're not all that bad. I'll miss you." Charlie quickly hugged her as Prudence returned the hug, not knowing the whistle made its way out of her pocket and landed next to Cornwall's foot. He picked it up slowly "Hmm." He said. Helena moved the last lever "Okay, Charlie we're going to get you home!" everyone cheered "That's weird..." she said. Dimitris stepped to her "What is it?"

She pulled the last lever "The portal won't work... it needs something." Charlie noticed the book land right back into her hands "Maybe the book, Helena." She whispered to the pages "Give us help... please." She kindly said. Charlie waited until the book started to shake and hum. The pages flipped until the very end and the margins split to emerge an oval shaped stone. It was a large sapphire stone that gleamed like a bright star.

Helena gasped "It's the stone of Bellemoor... This whole time."

"I only heard stories of it." Dimitrius said. The princess turned to Charlie "You really are the prophecy... I'm sorry Charlie, I didn't believe it until this moment. Charlie, Thank you." Charlie reached to touch it, right at the same time that Cornwall held the whistle "What's this?" he brought it to his lips. Charlie turned and shouted "CORNWALL NO!"

It was too late. The whistle blew and a large cloud of black smoke entered the hidden room. A cackle was heard as Nerissa appeared with her guards "Charlie! Good to see you!" Nerissa clapped as the guards quickly grabbed the others, except Prudence. She stood next to Helena, grabbing her cheeks "My dear sweet step-daughter!"

She cringed "You are no mother or queen of mine!"

Nerissa rolled her eyes "Whatever. And Derk!"

"Dimitrius, your royal haziness'" Dimitrius said.

"Whatever. Now Charlie I was beginning to get worried about our deal!" Charlie stood in front of her "I didn't blow it! The deal is off!" Nerissa laughed "Well someone did! Cornwall! You led me here so the deal is still here!"

Helena looked to her "Charlie… What deal?"

"She didn't tell you? She made a deal with me to lead us here! IT is so simple!"

The white mouse's eyes saddened "Charlie, we trusted you." She turned her head away "This whole time we did. Why did you lie to us?" Charlie stuttered "I-I didn't mean to..."

Nerissa smiled "Oh I love treachery… Well, now I return my part of the bargain and well, here is your pathetic parents."

"Let go of me!" Rosalie shouted. Charlie ran to them "Mom! Dad!" both of her parents were held by Areth who smiled "What should we do now?" Nerissa waved her hand to the stone… holding it in her claws "At last.." she placed the stone in her scepter and waved it, at that instant Ellie appeared in a cage. Prudence tugged on her mother's long cloak "Mother? Please let them go... they were nice to me!"

Nerissa looked down "Honey. Mommy is working. This is what they get for kidnapping my daughter." Prudence stomped her foot down "No! I escaped! I wasn't kidnapped! I wanted to send Charlie home! You were spending time with that baby more than me!"

Ratigan was held by the guards "You have what you want, just please let us and our daughters home!"

"I don't think I will." She saw them stand dumbfounded "I made a deal with dear little Charlie, I'd find her parents... which I did. I promised her that I would find you simple folk. I never said anything about releasing you." She moved to the baby, taking her out of the cage "Charlie is free to go... but this little one is staying with me."

Charlie ran to her, but was quickly caught by a guard "Why do you want her! Let my sister go!"

"You never wanted her in the first place! She will be a fine ruler... once I teach her all she knows about how. I've always wanted a child that enjoyed the same things as me...who enjoys torture.. she is a kindred spirit and who knows?... she might make a better queen than me." She laughed and waved her scepter "Now, it's about time I showed you how this stone works. You see, I wanted youth this whole time... Dimitrius decided to help me but backed out."

"I'd rather stay true to my kingdom than serve you." He said.

Nerissa, rolled her eyes once more "I love staying young and youthful... and I needed this stone in order t help me. No other unknown power as great as this..." She held her staff "I've made some tweaks on it. And I think it's time for a demonstration-"she waved her staff at Rosalie and Ratigan. A yellow aura surrounded them and they started to cringe. Rosalie shouted in pain as Ratigan held her as good as he could.

Charlie struggled "No! Please! What are you doing to them?"

The two began to fall to the ground and quite literally their lives were being sucked out of them. Their hairs began to grey, and wrinkles began to appear on their faces within minutes. They reached out for Charlie until they couldn't move any longer. Nerissa sighed "Their youth is mine!" she waved the staff to the large machine, opening a large white portal "Now I'll be able to travel through different worlds big and small! Including yours!" she cackled as the staff moved quickly away from them "They're old… looks like I got more of their youth than expected. Oh well."

Tears ran down Charlies face as she broke the grip with the guard, she tackled Nerissa quite strongly to the ground "You monster!" they rolled along the floor as Dimitrius and Helena both broke free and fought. The entire room was in chaos. Nerissa rolled on the floor and reached for her staff, which was kicked out of the way. Charlie reached for it as well, until Nerissa flipped her over "You miserable little girl!" she brought her fingers to her lips and whistled "BELLEMOOR BEAST!" everyone froze in their tracks as a large rumbling sound shrieked through the air. A large beast with large horns and tusks twisting along them. He had large yellow eyes with green flicks in his pupils. The beast had scaly green skin, and tufts of white and grey fur around his face. He truly was a beast... in every fashion of the word. He had a short chain around his neck and purred when the queen rubbed him underneath his chin "Easy... This is my very special friend... he kills whatever I tell him to. With that being said." the beast's teeth were barred "Kill." The beast chased after Charlie, she quickly ran across the room, the beast's long eagle like talons reaching for her. Charlie panicked as she hid behind a wall. She then went behind another wall, but the beast heard her. His claws tapped on the floor, as he reached behind the wall, he didn't fit. His chain jingled as Charlie tried to rush past him, but the chain was ripped off in the process.

The monster strongly looked up and howled. The howl began to sound more…. Human. Everyone watched as the beast slowly became smaller and smaller until he became a small huddled body. The man rose up. He was an orange furred mouse, with a happy red beard and kind green eyes. The guards let go of their victims and bowed "King Laired!" someone said.

"It's the king!" another guard said.

King Laired looked at his new form and smiled "I'm free! You child…" he gestured to her and bowed "I have been trapped in this form for years... I thank you for freeing me."

"Father!" Helena shouted and jumped into his arms. The king smiled wide as he approached Helena "My little girl!" they hugged tightly as tears fell from both of their eyes.

"Your highness!" Dimitrius said "How are you-"

"Everything on the night of my disappearance was fine. The invention you had invented truly was a miracle to Bellemoor. Then I saw that the airship was punctured and I landed in the forest. I saw a bright light and then I woke up a hideous beast." His eyes saddened as he pointed his hand to the queen, who nervously stood before them "Nerissa had me turned into the Bellemoor beast… cursed to follow her whim. I was trapped in my own body." He turned to Charlie "Now I see that this young lady has saved my life... and the kingdoms as well." All of them smiled as they turned to Dimitrius "I have misjudged my own queen… and have blamed my best inventor. I am sorry." Dimitrius returned an apologetic smile as the King continued "Cornwall, I am sorry for your father…I am sure that he is looking after you. And I promise to set things right... Starting with you, Nerissa."

She nervously backed up "Oh… please... have mercy..." she waved her hand, reaching for the scepter. The king and Helena marched to her "Enough Nerissa." The scepter reached her hands as she rose in the air "Enough with me… HA... What a joke. I have the power here." She waved to the three and sent them to the floor "I will end the one who started it all…" she aimed her staff at Charlie "CHEERS TO CHARLIE!" she sent a burst of power at her, Charlie quickly ducked. She grabbed Ellie from the rubble and held her close. Nerissa's power began to go out of control, her bursts of light exploding and bouncing off the brick walls. Helena shouted "Charlie! Take Ellie and get out! Through the portal!"

"What about my parents!" she looked over at Rosalie and Ratigan, who looked up at her with their lifeless grey eyes, they were fading faster and faster… Nerissa was using their lives.

Helena ducked from a bolt of light "Trust me! Now go!"

The building began to collapse as Charlie, worriedly held Ellie. Helena shouted "Charlie GO!" before Nerissa could close the gate with her power, Charlie and Ellie ran through the lit portal. Nerissa zapped at the gate, holding it shut. The portal was broken, and Charlie escaped.

"NO!" Charlie woke up in a cold sweat. She noticed her room, just how it was and the rain pouring outside. She breathed heavily and ran outside to the main part of the lair "Hello? is there anyone there?" she shouted "Hello?!"

Bill peeked in "Rosalie told me to check in on you… are you alright?" Charlie ran to Bill and grabbed his arm "We need to go to Bellemoor! It's in trouble! The king needs our help!"

"What are you talking about? What king? Where is bellemoor?"

Charlie huffed "It's a kingdom! The princess and Dimitrius need our help! And my mom and dad-"

Bill knelt down to her height "They are at the party! They are fine!" he quirked an eyebrow "Who are you talking about?"

"No they're not! They were taken! It was all my fault!" she started to cry "It was all my fault!" Bill held her "Wha- Charlie it's gonna be ok!"

"No it's not!" she cried. Suddenly her ears perked up at the sound of a voice "I can't believe that storm has ceased all available transportation! Rosalie my coat is stained!"

"James, you are being more over dramatic than me!" Rosalie pushed a piece of hair out of her face, soaked from the rain.

"Daddy? Mommy?" Charlie said simply. Ratigan stood, rubbing his coat of the rain on the silk. She shouted "DADDY!" ran to him and hugged him tightly, she then ran to Rosalie and hugged her tightly "I missed you so much."

"We've only been gone twenty minutes." Ratigan said simply.

She hugged her father again "It seems a lot longer to me." Ratigan and Rosalie both looked at each other, she motioned for him to make the first move "I thought you never wanted to see us again."

"You regret a lot when you're alone." She felt Ratigan pick her up and hold her close "I am sorry for what I said Charlie... and about Ellie.. if we were taking too much attention, we can-"

She stopped them "I love you guys too much, and I know you guys so much better to know you wouldn't stop loving me..."

Rosalie kissed her on the head "…I wouldn't trade you for anything..." Charlie saw the locket from before in her pocket and wrapped the gold pendant around her neck, she then started smiling at them.

She looked up at both of them "Me either." She hugged them close, Ratigan patting her head softly. Another voice filled the air "Mr. and Mrs. Ratigan?" Miss Wells in a soaking hat and her brown coat emerged from the large pipes "I don't mean to disturb... I believe this is private property... I do apologize."

"Helena?-" she quickly recovered "Miss Wells what are you doing here?"

She wiped off her glasses "I had heard about the trouble you had today at school and I deeply apologize... Headmistress Wormwood does not understand that Prudence had been trouble from the beginning. Of course there are two sides, but I have dealt with Mrs. Wormwood for a very long time... and I believe that her methods of teaching and raising her students are sup par to what could be offered to children as extraordinary like Charlie." Miss Wells shook both of their hands "Rosalie and James? I know we are nowhere on a first name basis but I hope you know that your Charlie is one of the brightest, charming and smart children I have ever met.. And this is not because I am in your home at this minute." She laughed with them. Charlie's head proudly rose at the kind words.

They proudly looked at her and then Ratigan looked back at Miss Wells with concern. He wrapped his arm around Rosalie and Charlie "Miss Wells, I do appreciate your sentiments but this still does not change the mind of the headmistress. Charlie is still expelled according to the school."

"That is why I am here." She smiled as she brought out a large folder "I was hoping to have a word with you. All of you if possible... Including Charlie."

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