"Surprised aren't you? I knew you would love it!" Ratigan stared at the girl, who stood dirty and shocked and confused. Ratigan grinned "So? What do you think?"

Rae quirked a brow, Pausing multiple times "Um… I don't know what to say…"

He laughed "See boys? She is speechless! Ha!"

Rae shook her head "Yes, you could say I'm speechless, but… um…Welcome Home?" She looked around beginning to observe her surroundings in the barrel. She grabbed Fidget, squeezing his cheeks "Huh, wow my dreams are getting more and more real." She dropped him to the floor, making fidget's eyes spin from the force that she dropped him. Ratigan nodded "Of course! This is your true home! The true place that you belong!"

She chuckled, a little snort exited her nose "Really? My true home? Is this for real? That's what your going with?" she walked around, examining the fountain "Hmm.. is this real champagne?" she took a sip, holding her hands through the running liquid. Bringing it to her lips, she immediately spit it out "Yup. Champagne.." she said with a cough. Ratigan laughed "I can sense that you still believe this is a dream-"

"Yeah, I do…" she smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

"I can assure you this is not a figure of your imagination my dear, on the contrary, this is very real."

She turned around slowly, her brow raising in confusion "But I… this can't be.. I have to be dreaming.." she pinched herself "Wake up, Rae… wake up." She slapped her cheek "No… I can't wake up… I can't wake up?!" she looked around "Someone wake me up!"

"I got you toots!" Fidget stomped on her foot with his peg leg, enjoying every minute of it, feeling happy with his stomp.

Rae fell over, cringing, holding her left foot in pain "Ow!" She gasped "This is real, Oh my god… this is real." Meanwhile, Ratigan grabbed Fidget by the ear harshly, and whispered in his ear, causing the little bat to coil in his grasp "If you ruin this for me I will feed you to Felicia!" he threw the little bat outside of the barrel and returned to his gentle demeanor. He offered his hand to the woman on the floor "My dear, you have nothing to be afraid of! I will not harm you."

She began to offer her hand, and recoiled "How am I supposed to believe you? You're the bad guy.." she crossed her arms "I'm not stupid.."

"Of course you're not Rae.." he said with comfort in his voice "I assure you that I will not lay any harm to you…"

Rae scoffed "See, when you say it like that it makes me not want to trust you at all."

Ratigan thought for a moment, then quickly turned dramatically, his arm covering his eyes "You're right… I am despicable… forcing a young woman to trust the likes of me… I don't know where I went wrong." He began to sob "I apologize Rae, I guess I'll never have a friend or anyone who will ever trust me.. My endless crusades of evil have written my fate forever.. Now I don't have anyone.. ever.. to believe in me.. I wish someone could believe in me… but I'm sure you have other friends in your world.. that cheer you on and believe in everything that you set out to do.." he took a quick glance at Rae, who's eyes began to sadden, he snickered feeling his plan come to fruition.

"Well, you got me there.. I don't really have any friends."

He buried his eyes back into his cape, sobbing dramatically "Neither do I!" he said.

Rae fidgeted with her fingers, still sitting on the floor. She then brought her knees into her chest "Looks like I judged you too soon." She stifled a laugh "We're more alike than I thought."

Ratigan smiled evilly, his plan was working, Rae became the worm on the hook "Suppose we started anew." He wiped his 'tears' on a pink handkerchief in his chest pocket. He offered his hand once more "Can you trust me, please?" Rae looked up at the rat, hesitating for a moment, she then offered her hand and was quickly pulled up by his strength. He clasped his hands together "Perfect!" His demeanor had changed, he was happy and giddy. He then circled the girl, cringing "Oh dear… Tsk, tsk, tsk…"

"What is it?"

"You'll never stand out in these clothes.." he said, grimacing at her clothes and rugged appearance.

"Stand out? Don't you mean hide? I am a human after all.. won't that arise suspicions? I mean.." she could not find the words, still beyond belief of where she was "I don't know…"

"Oh pish posh! You deserve to stand out! Not like these dreary clothes" he said, he took an arm over her shoulder and led her down the steps of the barrel, they continued to walk down the dark halls "I can't believe I'm here.. I mean where is everyone? How was I even taken here? Where is Basil?-"

He immedietly stopped her "Ah here we are!" he opened the barrel to the left of his vast lair, and clapped his hands twice. The light illuminated at the top of the dark room. Rae gasped "Oh my god.."

The room was filled to the brim with dresses and gowns of all kinds. Different colors and textures, jewels and neutrals, pinks, yellows and purples. Rae began to walk in, slowly amazed "This is for me?" she walked in, touching the clothes tenderly, feeling the beading of one gown between her fingers "These are beautiful." She sighed, pulling a dress off the hangar "This can't be real."

Ratigan raised a brow "You haven't even seen the best part!" he kicked one part of the wall that opened to reveal a drawer full of jewels: necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings.. every single piece of jewelry imaginable. Raes mouth flew open "What?"

"All of these just for you!"

"For me?!" she grabbed all kinds of dresses from their hangers and wandered to the jewelry spot "These are all for me! These are gorgeous!" Ratigan laughed "Oh no! You forgot these!" he slipped open the drawer above it, filled with sparkling tiaras. Rae gasped "WHAT?" she sped to the drawer, pulling out a sparkling purple jeweled tiara and about to place it on her head "This is beautiful-"

Ratigan snatched the tiara from her hands "You have exquisite taste my dear.. do you like it?"

Rae shook her head in disbelief "I can't believe what I'm seeing! It's wonderful… Wow… you're not as bad as you lead on are you?"

He chuckled, holding the crown in his hands, he sighed dramatically "You do like it here, don't you Raeven?"

She shrugged her shoulders "I never thought I'd ever be here… especially in your good graces.. but… yes.. I do like it.. all of this."

He admired the tiara in his hands "You could live like a queen my dear… no judgement… no worries… you can stay here with us.. we can laugh with you and enjoy your company. We can make you truly happy." He enticed her, almost hypnotizing her with the crown in his hands "Wouldn't you like that?"

"Yes I would.."

He grinned, his teeth glimmering like the crown "All you have to do is one thing for me… a test as you will.." he placed the crown back on the shelf and turned off the light "Come with me."

Back in the barrel, a small notebook was set up with a dark inkwell and feather. Rae stood, nervous as Ratigan faced the notebook. He grinned happily "You see this notebook? You like to write?"

"I love writing… it's my favorite thing to do." She said with a eager grin "What do I have to do?" she stepped forward. Ratigan grinned, his eyes beginning to narrow with a glint of something mysterious in them. Ratigan took her hand, and led her to the front of the notebook "Write.."

"Write?" she raised a brow "What do you mean?"

"Oh write, my dear write! To your hearts content!"

"But what do I write about?"

He pondered, bringing a finger to his chin "Hmm.. I suppose… anything will do.." his eyes began to light up "How about a crown! For me!" he smiled "Yes! A glittering crown to grace my brow."

Rae shrugged her shoulders, hesitant "Very well.." She took a slow grasp of the quill. Ratigan was squeezing his claws with anticipation. Rae dipped the feather into the quill, and watched the ink sink into the paper of the book. For a few minutes, he continued with the description of the crown, smiling, dipping her heart and soul into every word. She marked the end with a period, poking the paper with a dot. She proudly placed the feather back into the holder and wiped her hands clean. Rae looked up at Ratigan "Is that it?"

"Now read it."

She was taken aback "What?"

"I want you to read it.. aloud.." he said, his voice deepening.

Rae quirked a brow in suspicion "Why?"

"Just. Read. It." He said, his eyes not leaving her sight.

Rae nodded slowly and began to read, clearing her throat "Ratigan stood proudly in his lavish lair, decorated with the finest jewels and sculptures.." she took a breath and continued "Glancing over at his left was a tall white pillar.." suddenly, a humming noise emitted through the air, she felt a shaking coming from the book. Ratigan spoke through the humming "Keep reading!" he demanded. Rae went back to her words "The pillar shined and sparkled with fantastic light, almost arriving from nowhere.." The shaking continued more and more violently, a pillar like she had described emerged from the ground, her eyes widened.

Ratigan shouted "KEEP READING!"

She continued "And like magic a crown sat upon a satin purple pillow, gently placed. It was a magnificent crown, sparkling diamonds and a large purple jewel were set in the god like setting. The crown was a symbol of power and recognition… which Ratigan held in high reguard!" she slammed the book shut, seeing her creation before her. The pillar stood with the exact crown of her description. She was shaking still, her hands not reaching control. She could not stop staring at the pillar.

Ratigan jumped with glee "YES! This is what we've been waiting for!" he walked gently to the pillar, taking the crown in his palms. He rested it on his brow and smiled wildly "Oh this is wicked…" he strummed his fingers together "So delightfully wicked."

"What did I just do?" she muttered to herself in disbelief.

"Oh, you did exactly what was prophesied of you.." he prowled slowly to her "You have a gift my dear… look what simple thing you have done… and just think of what else you can make."

"I don't wanna." She said simply, her hands still shaking "Get someone else."

He chuckled darkly beginning to walk to her more "Oh I've tried that already.. and you're the only one that can do it.."

"What do you mean tried?" she backed away from him "Y-You mean there is more people?"

"Indeed.. but none like you." His eyes narrowed, like a tiger on his prey "Raeven I've been searching for the right person who can help me.. the right person who possess the power to bring words to life.. and you've done it." He adjusted his crown "And now, with you at my command.. I'm unstoppable."

"I don't want to." She said, continuing to back away. She was meek and helpless like a small child "I want to go now. Please." She reached the wall of the barrel with an 'oof' Ratigan laughed at her innocence "Oh you sweet, sweet girl… I assume you still have the necklace?"

Her eyes widened "I—What? How did you know?" she glanced at her neck, feeling something "But the flashdrive was in the computer." She gasped, pulling on the gold pendant and the chain. "How did I-"

Ratigan pulled out his hand "Give it to me."

"Gladly." She said, feeling terrified. She attempted to pull off the necklace, feeling no kink in the chain. She attempted to pull the chain over her head to no avail. Even pulling the chain apart seemed like a struggle, she was trapped within the necklace and it was not letting her go. "It's not letting go… there is no clasp!"

"Enough joking my dear, give me the necklace."

"I-I can't! It's not letting me go!"

Ratigan rolled his eyes "If you want something, you'll have to get it yourself." He touched the necklace, but was instantly sent a shockwave through his hand. He was pushed back by the force of the pendant, sending him a few feet away from her. Rae gasped and shielded her eyes from the brightness. He winced back, holding his hand in pain. Rae's eyes widened "I didn't do that-" she stared at the pendant, that was pulsing with light and fire "I swear it wasn't me."

"You'll pay for that." He growled, blowing leftover smoke from his hand. His hand coiled, and the satin glove was burned to reveal his long menacing claws. "I am done with being polite." He marched to her, grabbing her by the collar of her long coat "I want to know what you think I'm going to do with you… because I plan on doing something worse.."

She pleaded, feeling his long black claws force itself on her neck, tightening his grip. She slapped her hand on the claw that was forcing the air out of her "P-Please, I didn't ask for this! Please let me go! I'll do whatever you say-"

"Yes you will!" his yellow eyes narrowed "You'll do exactly what I tell you…" he then chuckled darkly "And I won't kill you." He continued to squeeze her neck, her hazel eyes starting to close. Suddenly, a small ball rolled in between them. It was a metal ball, with a small smoke emerging from it. Ratigan and Rae both looked down, and right at the moment the ball exploded. Ratigan jumped back, releasing her from his vice like grip. Rae coughed for air through the smoke of the bomb, suddenly feeling a gentle touch. She made contact with a face, covered with a grey and green face mask. The voice spoke "Come with me if you don't want to die." They offered their hand and Rae helplessly took it. The rescuer pulled her up, taking her hand and leading her out of the barrel, before running out, Rae quickly grabbed the book and quill in her hands. Ratigan noticed this, and growled at her "NO! Not the book!"

The voice pulled her arm "Hurry up!"

Rae mumbled "Who are you?"

"What?" they took off their mask to reveal a young dark mouse with a long billowing braid. Rae gasped "Nelle?!"

"NELLE!" Ratigan shouted, leaning in the doorway of the barrel "I should have known!" he coughed loudly, smoke emerging from the barrel as he struggled. Nelle bowed gently, tipping her fedora "The one and only!"

"GAH!" he yelled, taking out his bell "FELICIA!" he rang it three times, the bell ringing in the air. The ground began to quake. Both Nelle and Rae looked at eachother. Rae gasped, seeing the cat emerge from the shadows. The large blonde cat growled and purred. Ratigan rang for her "My precious! Kill Nelle and bring me back the girl!"

Nelle rolled her eyes "Brilliant." She quickly turned to Rae "Kid, how fast are you at running." Rae didn't know what to say, just simply shaking her head. Nelle was suddenly picked up off the ground, Felicia's claws grabbed onto her belt. Nelle shouted "Use the bow and arrow!" the bow and arrow fell off her shoulder onto the floor at Rae's feet. Rae shook her head and did not hesitate to hold the bow and arrow into position. She aimed and hit Felicia's nose with a thud. The arrow fell. Felicia stared at the girl and licked her lips, dropping Nelle to the ground. Her claw headed straight to Rae. Rae gulped and froze, Nelle rose off the ground and grabbed Raes arm, prompting her to run. They both began to move, out of the way of Felicia.

Rae looked over at Nelle, she shouted "On three, land on your butt and slide! One-"

The cat growled, loud and prowlike. Her paws thunked on the ground, causing it to shake. Rae screamed and Nelle shouted "THREE!" both girls began to slide on their butt, headed right to a gate opening to the sewer. Nelle laughed, seeing Rae panic at the sudden danger.

Felicia reached her claw through the opening. She mewed sadly, knowing she did not retrieve her snack.

Ratigan growled and summoned his goons "BOYS!" the boys appeared at the opening of the barrel in shock at the scene. After the smoke cleared, Ratigan continued to cough "I…. WANT….. HER… BACK!"

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