Our story begins as we are given a view of a chestnut brown book resting upon a wooden table. On the cover of that book, is a picture of a bluish-gray cat chasing a brown mouse with a mallet under the title; The Adventures of Tom and Jerry. The book opened up the first two pages, revealing the first story; The Rescuers, and we hear a voice reading to us...

"Once upon a time, there was a cat and a mouse. For many years, these two rascals have been archenemies; for the cat would always chase the mouse. But unlike most mice, this particular mouse was very clever, as he would often beat the cat at his own games.

But, little did these two know that one day, the cat and mouse would have to set aside their differences and work together to help two young girls. Which would soon lead them to an everlasting friendship/rivalry.

While the two fought, there lived two girls named Mandy and Robyn Starling, and their wealthy widowed father, Michael Starling. His wife, Elizabeth, died shortly after Robyn was born, leaving Mandy to fulfill the role of their mother on taking care of Robyn. Such as teaching her how to behave, and stay safe.

As the years passed, Mandy, Robyn, and their father lived happily with each other. Michael had even build them a summer cabin; called Robyn's Nest. They would spend every summer up there, where Michael taught his daughters how to swim, sail, and fish. As for Mandy, well, she had a good taste in fashion. She developed her own sense of style.

Then, one day, Michael received word that he had to travel; for an expedition in Tibet. So, he invited Pristine Figg, a seemingly sweet plump woman, to look after his daughters and the house while he was away. Mandy and Robyn simply addressed her as "Aunt" Figg.

But, shortly after their father's departure for Tibet, the girls became upset when Aunt Figg's true nature was revealed to them. Selfish, cruel, greedy, and bitterly jealous of Mandy's charm and beauty, Aunt Figg feared it would one day surpass her own. So, she dressed Mandy in a plain boring dress, and forced her to work as a scullery-maid in her own home. Then, Aunt Figg moved both her and Robyn into the attic, giving Robyn's room to her dog, Ferdinand, and transforming Mandy's room into an office of her own. Aunt Figg had a great love for money, and nothing else. She was grimly determined to put herself in before her "nieces".

As days passed, the girls soon learned that an avalanche occurred in Tibet, and their father was seemingly killed in it. This broke both girls' hearts, and Aunt Figg was granted custody of both Mandy and Robyn; the poor girls were abused, humiliated, and even forced to become servants to their greedy and selfish aunt. Along with the help of her sleazy lawyer partner, Lickboot.

But yet, through it all, the sisters both held onto hope that one day, they would somehow escape their wicked aunt's environment and earn their freedom. Maybe even find some heroes to help them find their true places in life."

It was finally dusk, as the sun was slowly setting in the distance.

Mandy, dressed in her plain boring scullery-maid dress, scrubbed the entrance hallway floors humming to herself. She looked up, and sighed sadly. With her father gone, there was nothing she, or Robyn, could do but work under the orders of Aunt Figg.

She looked into the water-bucket she was using, to see there was hardly any water left. So she got up, and dumped the rest of the water all over the floor. Mandy knelt back down to dry it clean, and finally finish her chores for the day.

While she was doing so, Ferdinand came rolling into the room on a red skateboard. He was a very obese dachshund, who could only move around on his skateboard, since he couldn't do anything with his legs. Not even walk or run. Looking up at Mandy, he growled. Then, he noticed a nearby broomstick with a dustpan filled with dust that Mandy had swept, earlier. Grinning nastily, Ferdinand decided to torment her after all her hard work. With one paw, he took the dustpan by the handle, and tossed the dust all over the floor. Then, he rolled over the dust.

"Oh!" Mandy noticed, and looked up in shock. "Oh, Ferdinand!"

Ferdinand skated around the hallway, leaving his dust-covered wheel-prints all over the freshly-scrubbed floor. He grinned nastily and snickered, as Mandy looked around her now-ruined hard work before glaring at the dog.

"You mean old thing!" She threw her rag to the floor, and got up on her feet.

Ferdinand just continued to skate around, leaving the mess he made.

"I'm just going to have to teach you a lesson!" Mandy grabbed her broom, and started to chase after Ferdinand.

But as Ferdinand reached the door to the living room, it opened up.

Out came Aunt Figg.

Ferdinand immediately stopped skating as his owner entered the front hall.

Mandy came to a complete halt, and quickly turned her broom the right way.

Aunt Figg noticed the mess, and gasped in horror. "What in the name of Heaven's has happened in here?"

Mandy started to explain. "It's all Ferdy's fault, Aunt Figg. He-"

But Aunt Figg cut her off. "I ask you to get all of your work done, only for me to find this disastrous mess in here!" She glared at Mandy. "You should be ashamed of yourself, you despicable little girl!"

Mandy gaped. Ferdinand was the cause of the mess, and Aunt Figg was blaming her for it? "B-but-"

"I don't care whose fault it is, just get this place cleaned up!" Aunt Figg bellowed.

Ferdinand snickered.

"Come along, Ferdy," Aunt Figg gently told her dog. "Let's go get you a treat."

Mandy frowned as she watched Aunt Figg lead Ferdinand into the kitchen.

"I am not a little girl!" She called out, irritated.

That was another thing that bothered her. Now that she was thirteen-years-old, she considered herself not typically a little girl anymore. Practically a teenager.

Agitated, Mandy threw her broom down, and sank to the floor on her knees, feeling hopeless. With no other choice, she wiped the entire floor clean once more. But not before refilling her water-bucket.

After another long while cleaning the floor again, Mandy looked around to make sure there was not a speck of dust or anything on the floor. Then, Mandy quickly put her cleaning supplies away, and hurried up the stairs.

She slipped through the attic door, and leaned forward to catch her breath.

Her sister, Robyn, was sitting on their bed, looking at a photo of the girls with their father.

She looked up at Mandy. "Are you okay?" She asked.

"No," Mandy shook her head. "Ferdinand gave me extra work, and Aunt Figg blamed me for it." Sighing, she dusted herself off.

Looking back at the photo, Robyn sniffled. "Oh, Mandy, I really can't believe this. Daddy's really gone, and now we're stuck with Aunt Figg!" She began to cry.

Hearing her sister's words, Mandy also shedded a tear. She quickly wiped her face as she looked at her weeping little sister, and sat down next to her. "Robyn," she began to say, trying to hide her broken voice. "Even I can't stand to continue on with Aunt Figg. But as difficult as it sounds... we've got to be strong."

"I wish Daddy never had to leave," Robyn sobbed, burying her face into Mandy's shoulder. "I wish he were here with us, right now."

"Me too, Robyn," said Mandy. She wrapped her arm around Robyn to comfort her, pulling her closer. "Me too." She thought about Aunt Figg, again. Letting go of Robyn, Mandy stood back up, wanting to go back downstairs and confront Aunt Figg.

But, she stopped. It was no use. What good would a scullery-maid and little girl confronting their wicked guardian do, anyway?

"Home"

(Mandy)
"Yes, I made the choice,
For Papa, I will stay,
But I don't deserve to lose my freedom in this way,
You monster!

If you think that what you've done is right,
Well then,
You're a fool!
Think again..."

Mandy's frown went from agitated to solemn. She went over to look out the window.

(Mandy)
"Is this home?
Is this where I should learn to be happy?
Never dreamed,
That a home could be dark and cold,

I was told,
Every day in my childhood:
Even when we grow old,
"Home will be where the heart is",
Never were words so true,

My heart's far, far away,
Home is too,

Is this home?
Is this what I must learn to believe in?
Try to find,
Something good in this tragic place,

Just in case,
I should stay here forever,
Held in this empty space,
Oh, but that won't be easy,
I know the reason why,

My heart's far, far away,
Home's a lie,

What I'd give to return,
To the life that I knew lately,
But I know that I can't,
Solve my problems going back,

Is this home?
Am I here for a day or forever?
Shut away,
From the world until who knows when?
Oh, but then,
As my life has been altered once,
It can change again,

Build higher walls around me,
Change ev'ry lock and key,
Nothing lasts, nothing holds,
All of me,

My heart's far, far away,
Home and free."

Mandy sadly looked back at Robyn, who sniffled once more.

Just then, another thought came to Mandy. "Robyn?"

"Yeah?" Robyn looked up.

"I've finally decided, we need to get out of here," Mandy declared.

"But where will we go?" asked Robyn.

"There's only one place to go if we're ever in trouble," said Mandy.

The sisters nodded to one another when the answer hit them.

"Robyn's Nest," they both agreed.