Chapter Ten: So Silly It Just Might Work

It's been a week since the last time I saw Ratigan. I finally had my cast removed. I was able to meet Olivia's friend and cousins during that time. The next day, after that night, Basil took me to Flaversham's toy shop. It's such a small shop. Handmade dolls and toys were everywhere. In the back of the shop was a door that leads to a hallway of doors. There were three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen. The cousins had to sleep together in one bedroom. Talk about cramped. When Olivia answered the door, she greeted me with a smile. She had a pink bow in her hair. Moonlight, as I recall my cat, purred her way to Olivia's side.

"You brought her! Can I hold her?" Olivia asked.

"Sure. Just be gentle." She picked Moonlight up by the stomach. Obviously, Moonlight was about the same size as Olivia, so it was a bit difficult to carry her. But, it didn't bother her. She just rubbed her head on Olivia's cheek. She giggled.

"Come on in. I'll introduce to my cousins." She took me to the back to the hallway of doors. She opened the first door on the left. When I entered, there were three female mice that were of my age!

The first two cousins were twins. Both of their furs were white like Kitty's. One had a blue bow to the side like Olivia's, and was wearing a red shawl with a blue dress. The other was dressed in pink from head to toe. She had a hat with a golden yellow feather in it. You're able to tell them apart by their moles on their face. The hat one had it on her right side, vice versa to the bow one. The third cousin was a hybrid. One eye was blue and the other was brown. She had cream-colored fur and dark brown hair that actually grew down to her lower back. She wore a red dress with a slit that went to her thigh and a gold locket around her neck. They were a bit surprised to see me. Well, who wouldn't be?

"Miss Kiara, these are my cousins". Olivia pointed at them. All three came up to me and shook my hand.

"Please to meet you. My name's Katy. Olivia has told us so much about you since we came." The hybrid mouse said.

"My name's Christina." The bow one said. "This is my sister, Elaine."

"Wow, so you're really are human." The hat one said.

"Of course she is." Katy snapped. "What else would she be? A cat?"

"Meow." Moonlight mewed. All three cousins jumped when they saw her.

"Wha-what is that?" Elaine exclaimed.

"This is Moonlight, Miss Kiara's cat. Don't worry, she's friendly." Olivia explained. The cousins took a long look at Moonlight, and finally petted her. They were relieved she didn't bite them.

"So, where's your friend?" I asked Olivia.

"He'll be coming around shortly. Daddy's making breakfast. Would you like to join us?"

"I don't see why not."

Basil went back to Baker Street to search the answers to the whereabouts of AL. I sat down for breakfast Hiram, er, Mr. Flaversham fixed for us. We talked and laughed in our conversation. They begged me to tell stories about my place. An hour passed when the door knocked. In came a small mouse that was of Olivia's age. He had a beret on his head which seemed to be too big for him.

"Logan!" Olivia called out.

"'Ello, Ollie." The little boy spoke with an Australian accent. He greeted her with a hug. Then, he did a double take on me.

"Is she…?" Logan began.

"Yes. Logan, this is Miss Kiara."

"G'day, Miss." He tipped his hat and smiled. I smiled back.

"Good day to you. But, just call me Kiara. No miss. You too, Olivia." They smiled.

"Well, since breakfast is done, why don't you take Kiara for a little sightseeing? I bet she would love to look around." Mr. Flaversham spoke up. Oh boy would I! I've always loved to visit England, second to Japan.

"Yes, I would!" I grinned. Everyone laughed.

"Okay then, grab your coats." Basil let me borrowed his clothes that day. Ms. Judson had the day off, so she went shopping for me. Basil argued about letting me wear his clothes for today, but she ignored him.

"You rather see her go in blood-stained clothes?" She spoke.

I wore a white long-sleeved shirt with a brown vest and a blue tie. I even had brown pants and my white shoes. Ms. Judson patched up the hole that served for Basil's tail.

When I walked out of the bedroom, Dawson took a look at me and said, "Basil, who's this new lad?" I couldn't help but laugh. My hair is really short; you might even mistake me as a boy, as I said so before.

"That's Kiara." Basil had just slapped himself on the forehead. Dawson took out his glasses and his eyes widen.

"Goodness me! I'm terribly sorry, Miss." He exclaimed.

"Don't worry. I get that a lot." I laughed in between.

I went along sightseeing with everyone as they showed me Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the White Tower, and the famous Devonshire Street. I wish I brought a camera. The mouse world was truly amazing. We even hopped onto the railing of a horse cart that was big as the Sears Tower. Olivia mentioned how Basil was given thanks by the queen herself. I already knew that, but I pretended I didn't. The queen. I wonder if I'll ever see her majesty. Well, I don't see why trying. Maybe I could ask Basil. It was around noon time and the air was chilly. I never knew how cold it was in London. We made it back to the toy shop where we greeted Basil, waiting outside the front door. He had a serious look on him.

"I'm sorry about this, but I need to take Kiara home." He said.

"Alright then. Sorry you couldn't stay longer." Mr. Flaversham spoke to me.

"It's quite all right. I had so much fun. Thank you for taking me, Mr. Flaversham." I bowed.

"Call me Hiram." He smiled. I hugged Olivia and waved goodbye to Hiram, Katy, Christina, Elaine, and Logan. Moonlight sprung onto my shoulder as we walked along with Basil. I looked at him. He looked very concerned.

"You okay?" I asked. He only gripped my hand. Strange. What's wrong with him? As Basil closed the door, he motioned me to sit down.

"Kiara, I want you to listen closely. Do not ask any questions until I am done. Understand?" I nodded my head, but I'm confused. Is he okay?

"I found your friend." My eyes widen. AL? She's found? Where? I opened my mouth, but Basil held his hand up. "Your friend has been captured by one of Ratigan's old time best men." My relief went back to worry. Oh no! By who? I once again opened my mouth, but Basil stopped me. "He knew about Ratigan talking about a human. When he found her, he assumed she was you. He's willing to take her over there tonight."

I jumped out of my chair. I couldn't hold back. "Then, what are we waiting for!? She's in danger! We've got to stop him!"

"How, Kiara?" Basil interrupted. "This crook is no ordinary crook. He's one of the best. He leaves no tracks. He's a treacherous criminal." I sat back down. I tried to think. There's got to be a way. I'm not letting that…rat hurt her. Think, Kiara, think! You're good at making plans, start thinking of one!

"Confusion."

Basil gave me a look. "What?"

"We confuse him. He doesn't know what I look like, except I'm a human, correct?"

"Well, yes, but…"

"If I step out there with AL in his grasp, he'll get confused. He'll be too busy to think which the real Kiara is as we escaped. We'll throw a smoke bomb, and be gone."

Basil stood there silent. He paced around the room a couple times. He stopped. He looked at me.

"That is the silliest plan I've ever heard." I slouched. Was it really that bad? Then, he smiled at me. "So silly it just might work. I'll disguise as a thug to blend in while you distract him." My face beamed. He's actually going to go for it. "How did you come up with such a plan?"

I chuckled as I tapped my temple. "Elementary, my dear Basil." I spoke in a British accent. He laughed. About time.

Nightfall came. The stars were out and the moon shone bright. No crickets were playing that night. It was silent. So silent you can hear your own heart beating. It was time. The plan had to work. Basil wore his sailor outfit from the movie as I wore my slippers and robe. Knowing now, AL might be still in her pajamas, so I had to make it look like I didn't get involved in the world yet. I hid in the bushes as Basil hanged out with the other thugs. It's amazing how he disguises his voice. So gruff.

"Come on, you." I heard a voice. I peered through where the voice was coming from. A tall chipmunk with a cigar in his mouth and a dark shadow on his face was dragging someone by the arm. A girl of my age had black hair that was short like me, except it wasn't naturally curled. She had my eyes, and she was wearing a T-shirt and shorts. It's her! AL!

"I said move it!" The chipmunk jerked her arm.

"If you jerk me one more time, I swear I'll sock you!" She said. I cheered her on in my thoughts. That's my friend alright. The chipmunk only laughed.

"You're not like any other girls I've met, except you're a human brat. Very feisty."

AL glared, but smiled. "That's right! I'm crazy like that! CRAZY!!!"

The chipmunk scoffed. If you were to know AL, she knows just what to say. You can never bring her down. I looked at Basil and waited for the signal. The chipmunk jerked AL again.

"That's it! That's the last straw! Put 'em up!" AL cocked her leg, getting ready to kick him in the shin.

"What are you planning to do, shorty? Step on my foot?" The chipmunk laughed. I just knew exactly what she was going to say next.

"Short? SHORT!? YOU CALLED ME SHORT?!!" I stifled my laugh. The chipmunk just stared. Without warning, she immediately kicked him right on his left shin. He started bouncing around, holding on to the pain.

"Ow!" He cried out, and when he regained his balance, he slapped the crap out of AL. "Little harlot!" Oh, no! He just not called her that! Now, I'm angry. I jumped out of the bushes, not waiting for the signal.

"TAKE THAT BACK, YOU BUCK-TOOTHED MONSTER!" I growled at him. At that moment, he had a confused look on his face.

"Two humans?" It's working. But, it had to be backfired. I completely forgot a small detail.

"K.P.!" AL cried.

Yep. That part. AL calls me K.P. for short. They're my initials.

"K.P.?" The chipmunk looked at me. "Kiara Phoenix? You're Kiara Lee Phoenix?" Shoot! How could I be so stupid? AL didn't know anything about the plan. And now, he's got a good look of me. "Well, what do you know? Please to meet you, Miss Phoenix. I am Theodore Chippendale." At that moment, AL and I looked at each other and burst out laughing. "What?!" Theodore looked at us still confused. If you know what's so funny, look at his last name and read it out loud slowly.

I settled down my laughing and went back to seriousness. Basil was in a bad situation, so he couldn't switch off the smoke bomb. This was bad.

"You know, you shouldn't judge my friend so quickly." I stated.

"How so?" Theodore asked.

"She's smart. She got you confused, didn't she?"

"Confused? I'm confused myself!" AL concluded. I giggled. She always makes me laugh.

"Shut up, you!" Theodore's voice boomed in her face. Then, he turned back to me. "Your little friend here…"

"…is a PSYCHO!!!!!" AL finished, screaming in Theodore's ear.

"Will you stop that?!" She giggled and smiled cutely at him. I couldn't help, but laugh. Reviewers, you have to agree that AL's quite the character.

"As I was saying, your friend…" He stopped. Then, he glared at AL. "You made me forget what I was about to say!"

"Well, it serves you right, tunky." AL just smiled.

"See? I told you shouldn't have judged her too quickly." I laughed in between. Theodore cocked a smile. Uh-oh. That doesn't look good.

"Well then, I won't make that mistake again." He pulled out his pistol and aimed it at AL's head. AL stood silent. "Since she's not you, then there's no point on keeping this little whore alive." He cocked his gun. He insulted her again.

"Take that back." I gritted my teeth. I clenched my fists. I'm really ticked off now. He only smirked.

"Why? She's not important. She's nothing but a lousy --." AL's eyes widen. He did not just say that! The word he exposed was the foulest insult to a woman.

"I SAID TAKE IT BACK!" I screamed. No one's going to insult my friend like that! I ran up and knocked the gun out of his hand and punched him. He lost his grip and released AL. She punched and kicked him in a combo move. I kicked him in the stomach, but he grabbed a hold of my foot and flipped me over. He hit AL in the face again and she fell to the ground. Theodore grabbed his pistol and aimed it again at AL.

"Say goodnight, bitch."

"NO!" I cried out. Then, a bang shot through the air. Smoke arises. Basil set off the smoke bomb. I coughed my way to reach AL.

"Let's get out of here!" I grabbed her hand and went to find Basil. Luckily, he found me. We raced all the way to Toby, the big basset hound puppy. I couldn't let AL stare at the dog in awe for a moment since we're escaping. We rode until we reached Baker Street. Basil took us in and Dawson patched us up. AL kept looking around her in confusion. I know what she was thinking. She had seen the movie before, and was not expecting all this to be real.

AL kept looking around. Before I was kidnapped, we watched the film. She hadn't seen it a long time, so it refreshed her memory. Now, she recognized Basil at once.

"Surprising, isn't it?" I said looking at her.

"Surprising ain't the word. What in the world happened?" She replied, still looking in awe at Basil, which made him step away from her because she was staring too much.

"Remember that voice we heard?" I asked, recalling that night. She looked at me.

"The one that I said that was God?"

"No, the one after that spoke softly after I was knocked out."

"Oh, yeah. That crazy voice. What about it?"

"Well, Miss AL, tell us what happened that night after you heard the voice." Basil spoke. Though she's still surprised and confused, we had to know what happened when I blacked out.

"It was black…."

AL's Perspective

"Where are you!?" K.P. cried. Well, now this is interesting. I'm gonna say this as brief as possible, it was who, what, when, where, why! Nothing was there, nothing but K.P.'s hand on my shoulder. "K.P., stay near," I cried out, but then I heard a big "thunk". I felt K.P. drop. "K.P.!" I turn around and try to feel for her hand when suddenly; a strong ray of light hit my eyes, blinding me. "What the…!"

I try to shield my eyes, trying to see what's going on. A dark figure reaches out and grabs K.P. I try to yank your back. "I don't think so pal, she ain't interested in you!" I tried to pull her again, but whoever it was, kept pulling her back. This guy was too strong. "Dammit! Let her go!" He kept pulling. "I said let her go!" I lifted my leg and kicked him, but it wasn't good enough. He then tried to hit me back. Then, I feel something jump off my head. "Moonlight?!" In moments she ended up biting him, letting K.P. go. "Thanks, gurl!" I tried to reach for K.P., but then one more light hit me and…..Poof!

"A giant shoe?!" I was stunned at what was in front of me. "Eh?" I looked around. It wasn't K.P.'s room. I was lost. "WHERE AM I?!" A couple of mice stared at me "Eh?!" I ran, of course. Ran as far away as I could or as far as my little legs can take me till… "Ompf!" I bumped into tall, dark and ugly.

"What the hell-!!" He turned. "Watch where you're go…" Then, he looked down at me in shock. "Wha…a human? Wait a minute, you're a human, aren't you?!"

"What's it look like?! A chicken?!" Of course, I'm human! Is this guy stupid?

"Ha! I was wondering when you were gonna show up! Boss has told me all about you, though you look a little different from what he described. But, you do have the eyes."

"Ooooooooooookaaaaaaaaaaaaay………….I'm leaving now. Goodbye." I turned around, but he suddenly grabbed my arm.

"Oh, I don't think so, Toots. You're coming with me!"

"The hell I ain't!!"

"Really? Maybe this…will persuade you." He pulled out a pistol and aimed it at my forehead.

"You ain't got the balls…" I glared at him. He only smiled.

"Is that so? Well then, we'll have to test that." Before I could speak again, he jerked hard enough to make me follow him. I pulled back many times, but this guy was dragging me like I'm a rag doll! Before I knew it, we both entered a sewer pipe, and I was thrown in a barrel. The ugly chipmunk slammed the door and I heard it locked. I started banging on the door, ramming it a couples of times.

"DUMBASSES!!! LEMME OUT!!!" I screamed. The chipmunk laughed.

"Not a chance, sweetheart. You're a worthy prize to the Big Man himself. So, it's best you stay in there and behave like a good girl until it's time to take you." He walked off into the darkness. I rammed the door once more, but it didn't budged. I huffed and puffed, began thinking of K.P. K.P….where have you gone to?

End AL's Perspective

"You've been in there for a week?" I asked. "Did they feed you?"

"Hm." She responded, shrugging her shoulders.

"Well, you can relax now. You're in a safer place." Basil said.

"I'm hungry." AL pouted out of the blue. I giggled.

"Ms. Judson has something for us."

"Who?"

"Ms. Judson. You know. In the movie, when Basil shot the bullet in the pillows, a maid came out, spitting out feathers while getting angry at him." I explained.

"Oh, yeah."

"And he's not going to do that again." Ms. Judson came out with a tray of dinner.

"Yay! Food!" AL jumped with joy. Basil tapped me on the shoulder.

"Your friend's a bit weird." He whispered. AL obviously heard that.

"That's why she's my best friend." I smiled.

"Weird ain't the word." AL smiled as well. We talked and laughed as we sat down for dinner. I am still worried about finding a way home, but at least I'm not alone anymore.