Resurrection

Befor had beaten Markus and Justin, but he didn't beat Afte or Alicia. They had been released and were huddled around their mother with the doctor. Brisby's children had been let out as well, and they were with their mother as well. Befor grabbed the doctor's attention.

"How is she?" he demanded.

Frank looked at the two women. "Well, the good new is Brisby will be alright. As for Mary..."

"What?" A note of fear entered into Befor's voice now. His eyes were wide and his paws wouldn't allow him to smile.

Frank sighed. "She's bleeding internally. Nicolas' dagger cut deep. She doesn't have long..."

Frank was pushed aside as Befor ran straight to Mother Jones. He dropped down and grabbed her strong paw hard, wishing never to let go.

"nonononononono..." He kept muttering.

Mary looked up and smiled weakly. "Did...did y' get 'im?"

"He's gone..." There was no inkling of humour, cheerfulness of madness in his voice. 'Mary...I...I'm so sorry..."

"Don't go beaten' yerself up." Mary chuckled. She winced hard and Befor gulped again. Afte held his father's sentiments. "Wasn't yer...fault..."

"B-bu-but I haven't seen you in so long and now...now..."

"Oh, Hush!" Mary winced again, then sighed painfully. "Alicia, could you...could you be a doll and get Brisby o'er here?"

Alicia was hesitant, and then jumped up to get her over here.

Befor was at a loss for words for the first time in his life. "You CAN'T go! I haven't told you..."

"What makes y' think y' need t' tell me, Bef?" Jones winced again.

Mrs. Brisby was dragged by her hand by Alicia towards Mary Jones' lying form. Mary Jones smiled.

"Mary, are you..."

"Prob'ly not. Can I ask y' a favour?"

Brisby stammered briefly. "Um...sh-sh-sure, Mary, what do you need?"

"Can y' take care of my kids? Afte and Alicia?"

Befor broke down at this. The wise madman wept into Mary Jones' hand like a rainstorm.

The mice of Micoloni, feeling decidedly awkward and ashamed, respectfully inched away.

Brisby was stunned. "But Mary..."

"No buts. I took care of yer kids, 'member?" Mary groaned again. It wouldn't be long. "It's too bad I gotta go...now. Least me kids will be alright...and you, 'ventually."

Befor looked up at her, stunned and with tears in his wild eyes.

Mary Jones managed a painful laugh. "Everybody's gonna be alright now...glad I did it, I...guess, 'fore I had t' go..."

And with that, Mary Jones' eyes closed. Befor couldn't speak.

Brisby felt heat around her neck. She looked down at Nicodemus' amulet. It was glowing with a warm light. Maybe...

Afte and Alicia buried their faces in their mother's fur. "She can't be gone, she never did nothing bad, she can't be gone!" Alicia kept denying.

Brisby picked up the amulet. It was hot, not as hot as when her house was moved. She looked at Alicia.

"Who said she was gone for good?"

Alicia, Afte and Befor all looked at her, and then at the amulet that was glowing with an intense light. Even Befor was stunned.

Brisby acting without fully knowing what she was doing. It was as though she was being told what to do. The glow nearly blinding her, she placed the stone on Mary Jones' body.

The glow became even brighter, and everyone had to avert their eyes from it. Befor was a little unsure whether it was Brisby's or Mary's courage the stone was reacting to. Courage of the heart is very rare...the stone had a power when it's there...Was it possible...?

The glow subsided, and Brisby was sitting beside Mary Jones.

Mary Jones' deep wound was no longer there.

Mary made the quietest noise, but everyone heard her. She mumbled for a second, and then gingerly opened her eyes to see an absolutely elated Alicia.

"Mommy!" She cried as she jumped onto her very much alive mother.

"Alicia?" Mary was a little stunned. That pain was gone...was it possible? "I'm alright?"

"Sure looks like it!" Afte and Befor joined in the hug.

Mary woke up pretty quickly! "Woah! Easy, kids! Yer gonna crush me..."

"Hey! You should talk...you bent one of my ribs once!" Befor laughed. All his good humour had returned.

The initial shock of resurrection wore off and Mary Jones returned the hugs in front of the bewildered eyes of everyone else present. What just happened?

"How?" Mary finally asked.

"You should ask Mrs. Brisby. She -" Befor turned around to see Brisby lying on the ground.

"Brisby?"

Frank checked her. "It's alright, she just passed out. I'll get her to bed..."

Frank got so much volunteer help from the Brisby children that he couldn't help but wonder how she managed to get to bed without a scratch.

Brisby nearly woke up in her house on the farm. It took her a moment to remember that the farm wasn't there anymore, and that she had woken up in a large bed in the rat colony.

Justin and her children had been sitting at her bedside for some time now. They knew immediately that she had woken up. Cynthia hopped up and gave her a big hug.

Brisby gulped in surprise, and then returned the hug.

"It's good to see you're alright!" Justin quipped cheerfully as the other children gave Brisby a hearty group hug.

"It's great to BE alright!" Brisby smiled in response.

Befor barged in as if on cue. "She's awake! Great! Just in time."

Brisby blinked. "In time for what?"

"We're having a little party. Fancy sleeping in on a day like this! C'mon, you're the guest of honour!" Befor's perpetual smile seemed to be fitting more than ever today.

Brisby was practically dragged out into the celebration. Mice and rats alike were happy to see her, and Brisby was lifted onto the tall shoulders of Justin and Mary Jones. Drinks, food and friends were plentiful in this party.

Brisby laughed. For what she realized was the first time since she heard that farmer Fitzgibbon was leaving, she felt at home.