*Chapter 17: Trapped*
While Ratigan is out there where Basil and Dawson were tied up in a mousetrap, Robyn and Zoe are in a room to get Robyn in a wedding gown. Robyn looks at herself in the mirror to see herself in a dress with a sad look. Zoe wrapped a dark cloak around Robyn to cover up a dress.
"Robyn, I cannot believe you've accepted the proposal." Zoe said. She held her friend's paws. "If only my mother were here-"
"This will put your mother in danger if she were here." Robyn said. "I don't want you or Gustave to be eaten, killed, or worse. I had to do it. What other choice do I have? I tried to tell Basil, but...I was so afraid of what he might think. Now he sees me as a traitor. I never meant it to be this way."
"Robyn, we have to come up with a plan." Zoe said. She turned to see Gustave's dagger Robyn had brought. "Oh, perfect! I will place this on your thigh and when the time is right-"
"Zoe, stop." Robyn told her. "It's over. Nothing could stop Ratigan now. Basil is broken. And it's all my fault..." Zoe stared at Robyn with a look. Robyn gave up. Zoe wanted her to get out of this, but Robyn won't even help make a plan. Zoe sighed and hid the dagger under her dress. Knocking was heard outside the door.
"Robyn, are you ready?" Ratigan called in a gentle tone in his voice. Robyn and Zoe open the door and walk out. Robyn puts on a hood and look up at the professor. "Thank you, Miss Ginny, for helping your friend get in the dress. You and the gypsy boy will be joining us." Ratigan said.
"Very well." Zoe said, not looking at him. Robyn walked over to see the deadly weapons in the room surrounding Basil and Dawson. Olivia is still in a green bottle as her father stood by, tied up. Gustave was kept in a blimp since he will be part of the plan. Robyn almost cried when she sees Basil. He was frozen in place, tied to a mousetrap.
"Basil." She whispered. Fidget appeared by Ratigan, dressed in a fancy red uniform and a black hat. The professor leaned over to the bat.
"Everything's ready, Fidget?"
"All set, boss." Fidget replied with a nod. Ratigan gleefully tiptoed over to a large box where two of his dressed henchmen stood by. The large box was covered in white wrapping paper and pink ribbons. Ratigan opened the box and peered in, and was filled with ecstasy. Robyn wondered what was inside the box that is important.
"Oh, this is wicked. So delightfully wicked!" Ratigan said with a malicious smile and giggled. After closing the lid, the henchmen pushed the box away as Ratigan walked over to Mr. Flaversham. Robyn came over to Basil and Dawson, kneeling down.
"Basil, Dawson-"
"Robyn, you don't need to do this." Dawson told her. "You have so much to live for!"
"Dawson, I had to do this. And I'm so sorry for all this to happen." Robyn said. "I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your company. You are a great friend." Dawson gave her a frown. His heart leaped when she said such kind words to him. Robyn turned her attention to Basil. "Basil, I'm sorry about this." She said. But the detective didn't even move or look at her. His eyes stare up at the ceiling. "I wanted to tell that...for some time we have been together on the adventure, I...I love-"
"Ahem." Ratigan cleared his throat as he appeared behind her. Robyn flinched at the sound. But she kept calm.
"I'm only saying goodbye, professor." She said, not facing him.
"I'm afraid your time is up, my angel. We have an engagement to plan." Ratigan said, taking out his pocket watch. "Your friends are waiting in our blimp. We must be going." Robyn couldn't argue. She got on her feet and was told to wait by the record player. Ratigan faced Basil once more with a evil grin. "It was my fond hope to stay and witness your final scene. But you were fifteen minutes late. And I do have an important engagement at...Buckingham Palace." He told the detective. "Now, you will remember to smile for the camera, won't you?" Ratigan asked as he gestured a human-sized camera. The camera was in front of the mousetrap. The professor giggled. "Say cheese."
"You fiend!" Dawson shouted.
"Sorry, chubby." Ratigan replied as he climbed up the record player where Robyn stood. "You should've chosen your friends more carefully." Dawson gaped at the response. Ratigan turned on the record player, and a mock-gleeful song, sung by himself started to play. Robyn blinked at the song as she hears it.
"Good-bye, so soon.
And isn't this a crime?
We know by now that time knows how to fly."
A blimp appears out of a barrel, Fidget is pedaling the blimp with a package hanging from the back. A rope ladder was hanging below, and the professor wrapped his arm around Robyn's waist, his free hand grabbed the ladder as it was lifted up in the air. Ratigan allowed Robyn to climb up the ladder and he turned back to wave at the heroes.
"Adieu, allvedarzane, arebadeuchi, farewell!" He says as he climbs up the ladder. Robyn is sitting on the stool with Zoe and Gustave by her. Gustave glared up at the professor who add more to his wicked humor. "Bye bye, Basil." Then Ratigan took control of the blimp and it flew out of the chimney and began to fly to the palace.
"So here's goodbye, so soon
You'll find your separate way
With time so short,
I'll say so long
And go, so soon
Goodbye."
Robyn looked at the view of London below her. But it didn't cheer her up. Gustave and Zoe quietly sat next to her as they fly across the buildings to get to the palace. Robyn sighed sadly.
"Forgive me, father..." She whispered.
XX
"You followed me,
I followed you,
We were like each other's shadows for a while.
Now as you see, this game is through,
So although it hurts,
I'll try to smile,
As I say goodbye so soon..."
Olivia peered through the bottle to see Basil and Dawson and helpless. She is separated from her father since he was forced to go to the palace with Ratigan and his goons.
"What did he mean, an engagement at Buckingham Palace?" Dawson stuttered at the gloomy detective. Basil sighed tiredly.
"Oh...haven't you figured it out yet, doctor? The queen's in danger and the empire is doomed." He said. Dawson's expressions turn to horror.
"The queen?!" It was the plan all along. Ratigan plans to kill the queen to steal her crown and the throne. So he could conquer and crown himself the ruler of Mousedom and have Robyn his queen to be by his side. Basil sighed sadly to himself.
"Robyn." He said. "Robyn."
"Basil, she really didn't mean to hide things such as this from you. She never knew about the trap." Dawson said. But Basil didn't hear him. The detective sings to himself sadly.
"I feel you,
Robyn.
I feel you.
Do they think that walls can hide you?
Even now I'm at your window.
I am in the dark beside you.
Buried sweetly in your brunette hair.
Robyn..."
Dawson stared at Basil with pity. Basil never had a chance to tell Robyn how he feels about her. There is no getting out of this now. Basil turned his head to the side, shutting his eyes, listening to the rest of the song Ratigan played for them.