Thanks for reviewing, Gotham317. I hope Basil comes to his senses on non-mice, not all being evil.
Chapter 18: The Chase/Big Ben Fight
Olivia, Andrew, Clover, and Eve were taken from Ratigan and Fidget, but none of them were afraid of the villains. Thunder rolled as Ratigan drove his blimp and Fidget pedaled madly on the cyclist, which connected to the back of the gondola. They glared at the rat, who wheeled the hem.
"Just wait! Basil's smarter than you!" Olivia raged courageously at the rat and possibly to Fidget, but mostly Ratigan. "He's going to put you in jail!" Clover, Andrew, and Eve felt a gleam of satisfaction as she stood up to the Napoleon of crime and she tugged his tail, adding, "He's not afraid of a big, old, ugly rat like you!"
Ratigan gave the young girl a mad look.
"She's probably talking to you, too, Fidget," Eve hissed at her boyfriend.
"What?" Fidget asked.
"You heard me," Eve replied venomously.
Ratigan yanked his tail back from Olivia. "Would you kindly sit down, and SHUT UP!" he shouted rudely, loud enough for her to fall into a corner.
"Don't talk to her that way, you mean rat!" Andrew shouted, but was slapped, but caught by Eve.
"Leave my friends alone!" Eve shouted.
The rat snarled at her, fed up with her attitude. "I lost patience with you, my dear."
"Good."
"As for you, Clover, I could've given you everything you wanted if you just fell in love with me."
"NEVER! Even if I did marry you, you still wouldn't let me, my family, and friends go! I advise you to turn this thing around!"
"Why should I?" Ratigan demanded and turned his back to his captives.
Clover had an idea. She motioned Eve to follow her, so they could seize the controls, only to be smacked by the rat.
What blocked his path was the British flag floated in front of his airship, scaring both him and the bat.
Basil, Dawson, and Hiram were on their handmade aircraft made from an old matchbox, balloons, and flag. The hot air balloon they made was able to hold them.
Olivia, Eve, Andrew, and Clover were happy to see the trio rescue them.
Ratigan gritted his teeth and drove away from the rescue team.
"Let her go chaps!" Basil urged, who was in charge of the aircraft.
Hearing his order carried out, Hiram and Dawson detached a balloon knot. One balloon let out air, so the trio went fast. The airship made swift movements. At the front of it, Basil grinned with a determined gleam in his eye.
During the chase, the two flying aircrafts spun around the chimneys and counter clockwise around Lord Nelson.
Being chased by Basil increased Ratigan's frustrations, but the rat wasn't yet through. Ratigan rotated the hem towards the Tower Bridge. As soon as they passed the bridge, Fidget pedaled as fast as he could to lose his enemies.
The aircraft that Basil, Dawson, and Hiram built continued chasing Ratigan. Dawson became mortified when seeing the Tower Bridge, thinking they'd crash into it and die, while Basil still had that crazy grin on his face as they were going under the bridge to rescue Olivia, Andrew, Clover, and Eve. Dawson closed his eyes and covered his head, afraid of hitting the bridge.
Luckily, the aircraft missed the Tower Bridge, so there were no marks or balloons popping. Dawson opened his eyes and looked back to see the Tower Bridge, which was far in the distance.
Back in Ratigan's aircraft, Fidget resumed pedaling, but soon, he grew exhausted. He began to cough and pant, with his tongue hanging out of his mouth.
Ratigan's expression changed from cheerful to cross, finding the bat less useful.
Fidget sprang into the blimp. "We have to lighten...the load," Fidget said, gesturing towards Clover, Andrew, and Olivia. The only person who didn't know what Fidget was implying was Olivia, but the rest of the captives did. Andrew grabbed him by the scarf and the bat was surprised to see him strong for his age and the young boy dropped the bat. Eve and Clover decked Fidget in the face.
"Not on my watch," Clover said, defying Fidget.
"If you do that to my friends, I'm breaking up with you!" Eve threatened.
"Ooooh, you want to lighten the load?" Ratigan asked casually and mockingly.
Fidget laughed at Eve and her mouse friends. Clover held her younger siblings close and Eve wrapped her wings around them.
"That's it, we're breaking up, traitor!" Eve finally exploded at her boyfriend, finding he betrayed her trust in him.
"Excellent idea!" Ratigan said scornfully as he grabbed his ex-henchman by the ears and threw him overboard, instead.
"No! Not me!" Fidget cried desperately as he flapped his wings, but it was difficult with a broken wing. "I can't fly! I can't flyyyy!" Then, Eve tried to save her boyfriend or should she say ex-boyfriend from falling? But she was too late. Fidget landed in the Thames River, hard to tell if he drowned or survived.
"If he defied him, then he'd have every right to," Eve said and glared at the rat who threw her old friend overboard and slapped him across the face. "How could you do this to him, you callous sewer rat!"
Then, Ratigan regained composure and took control of the cycling, where Fidget pedaled. Behind him, Basil and the others inched closer to Ratigan's blimp. Basil was prepared to jump into the blimp to rescue them.
"Steady!" Basil commanded and with perfect timing, he leapt off the aircraft. Then he clasped onto the ship's tail, slightly tearing it. He almost kicked Ratigan in the head, but Ratigan ducked and Basil glared at him, while Ratigan smiled spitefully.
In the front of the blimp, Olivia and the others let out a horrified scream on what was soon to be ahead.
Ratigan smiled nervously, but then saw what they were screaming about and he screamed along with them. They crashed into Big Ben and yellow glass broke.
Dawson and Hiram glanced down in concern to see if Basil, Olivia, and the others were still alive and well. Ratigan's gondola was hanging about on the shards of glass, where the hole was and the clock was ticking.
...
Basil was sprawled flat on the cog with closed eyes, but he got on one knee and rubbed his aching neck. He steadily opened his eyes and sprang onto his feet to see where he was. He was inside Big Ben, surrounded by the mechanism that made the tick-tock noise. His thoughts went back to his foe with the toymaker's daughters and adopted son, and bat friend, Eve.
The detective glanced at his enemy, covering their mouths, holding them captive. Olivia, Andrew, Eve, and Clover struggled to get free until they uncovered her mouths and Olivia warned, "Basil, look out!"
Hearing the little girl's warning, he peered at the three girls and the boy in surprise, only to be smacked by Ratigan. Luckily, to save himself from tumbling down, he grappled onto the ledge and was about to scramble up when Ratigan tried to hit again. Before he could, Olivia bit the monster's hand, making him shriek in pain.
"Yes!" Clover, Eve, and Andrew said.
Basil clambered back up the cog and caught Ratigan's cape in between the clockworks. Ratigan started to choke and released the girls and the boy. He kicked the poor little girl into a different gear, making her screech as she fell. She shook herself from confusion. The gear she was on had teeth that forged together, very much like the gear Ratigan's cape was caught on.
"Olivia!" cried Clover, Andrew, and Eve, seeing the little one in danger and Basil was just as startled as they were.
Basil sprang off the gear, unaware the girl bat behind him with Clover and Andrew on her back and took hold of a lever, which bolted near the gear Olivia fell on.
Olivia retreated to a wall, so she didn't get crushed. Basil's teeth gritted, hoping they'd get close to her as soon as they could. Clover and the others were concerned for their sister's/friend's safety. Olivia's face filled with fright as if this was almost the end of her.
Before the last minute, Basil seized Olivia by the hand and she was all in one piece. "You did it, Basil!" Clover, Eve, and Andrew shouted. Basil held Olivia, who smiled in his arms and he grinned back. They proceeded to ride on the chain to higher ground.
On the gear, Ratigan was still clanged to it as he looked up to see his enemies running from him. All his schemes to take over Mousedom were foiled because Basil ruined his life...his plan to rule the kingdom after killing the queen...his precious cat, Felicia's death...Eve's betrayal…and Clover's refusal to love him. A bolt of lightning illuminated the mouse trio's and bat's shadows on the walls. Ratigan lost sight of them and his body was sparked with fury until he finally broke free with his cape shredding in the process.
Basil, Olivia, Eve, Andrew, and Clover continued their escape, knowing Ratigan was on the hunt for them. Then they drew close to the edge of the clock and they gazed down for a second to see how high it was.
Still inside the clockworks, Ratigan, with a torn suit and cape scrambled from gear to gear on all fours. He became a wild monster, ready to slaughter just about anyone in sight.
Basil turned back to the clock tower, where Ratigan was still bound to get him. Olivia, seeing Hiram and Dawson, who pulled over to Olivia and the others, tugged onto Basil's deerstalker coat, catching his attention.
A feral monster continued his chase and was becoming closer to them by the minute. Lightning flashed to give his recent appearance a more horrifying look.
"Take Olivia to safety," said Clover as she picked up Andrew and the two elder siblings climbed on Eve's back to head to the aircraft.
Comprehending what she implied, Basil hoisted Olivia up towards her father, who opened his arms for her.
Dawson clutched onto Hiram's back apron tie with one hand, while also holding onto the flag's seams with the other hand.
"Closer, Dawson! Closer!" cried Basil.
Ratigan was reaching his destination as he hopped on a big bell hammer and sprang onto the ledge.
"Daddy! I can't reach!" Olivia shouted. "I can't reach!"
At the sound of Ratigan's horrifying growls, Basil, Eve, and Clover turned to see him, charging before them. Ratigan lunged at Basil, throwing Olivia in the air until Hiram grabbed onto her hand and safe in his arms. Eve, Clover, and Andrew reunited with the group, as well and Hiram and Dawson were overjoyed to see them again.
Basil and Ratigan glided down the slippery edge of Big Ben, which was wet from the rain, so they couldn't stop or slow down. Basil attempted to slow down with his fingers digging through the roof, but it was no use. The second before the two of them dropped, Ratigan tossed his arms around Basil until he lost him.
Basil recovered from his fall and opened his eyes to a giant landing from above. He gasped.
"Basil! Over here!" Dawson shouted and waved to get so Basil could see them through the rain and wind. Hiram, Andrew, Clover, Eve, and Olivia stood close behind to Dawson.
Basil exhaled in ease, seeing the rescue team on their merry way to him and Basil stepped ahead.
Suddenly, Ratigan let out a piercing cry and clutched around Basil around his neck, giving him a headlock. The detective broke free and made a run to his friends, only to be blocked by Ratigan.
"There's no escape this time, Basil!" Ratigan snarled.
Lightning struck as Ratigan bared his razor-sharp claws and cut Basil with them over his coat. Then, Ratigan pounded Basil in the face, which made Basil land on a ledge.
The professor scratched the poor sleuth's face. Basil guarded his face before Ratigan decked him in the throat.
Basil struggled to get up, but the rat scraped his back, making him scream out in pain.
All of a sudden, someone bit the rat's tail. "Ouch!" Ratigan cried and Eve, with Clover on her back, grinned at Basil. Eve was the one who bit Ratigan.
"Eve! Clover!" Basil cheered.
Clover waved.
After another smack, Basil leaned on the edge like he had done before and slowly got up, eying him fearfully.
Eve and Clover pulled onto Ratigan's cape to prevent him from hurting Basil any further.
"Ratigan, this time you've gone too far!" Eve chided.
"Well, dear Eve," Ratigan sneered, "If you would've stayed with me, I wouldn't have thrown your boyfriend overboard."
"You still would, either way," Eve said, "You betrayed him. I did not betray you. I found out you were the one who ruined everyone's lives."
"And captured my brother and sister," Clover added.
"Now, I will ruin yours!" Ratigan snarled as he went to attack the girls, only to be punched by Eve and Clover. Then Eve and Clover returned to the dirigible.
Ratigan smacked Basil in the face, making him fall off the clock's hand, but Basil held on tight.
Basil glanced behind him with a smile, knowing that the girls made it and gaped at the clock, which was getting closer to ten. Clover and the others watched as lightning struck and Basil still held on for dear life to the clock hand.
With fierce breaths through his nostrils, Ratigan lifted his hand to beat the detective. Basil gasped and clenched his teeth, waiting for death to approach him.
Ratigan knocked the detective off the clock hand. Dawson, Olivia, Andrew, Eve, and Clover nearly caught Basil, but they missed him.
Ratigan scanned the scene to see his enemy was nowhere to be found and formed an evil smirk. "I've won!" he cried, jumped, and laughed as lightning and thunder struck in sync.
"On the contrary," a familiar voice shouted. Ratigan stopped laughing and gazed at the speaker, who sat on the cyclist of Ratigan's ruined blimp and held a bell.
"The game's not over yet!" Basil said confidently as he rang his rival's bell.
"Ha, ha, Ratigan!" Eve laughed inwardly.
Ratigan inspected his suit pocket, wondering how his nemesis snatched his bell. Before he could muddle any further, the clock struck ten.
BONG!
Inside the Big Ben tower, the hammer banged the bell, making everything shake. The rat shuddered and lost his balance as he grasped onto his enemy's legs to yank him along. However, Basil already clutched onto the propeller.
Back on the blimp, Dawson, Hiram, Olivia, Andrew, Eve, and Clover watched, mortified as Ratigan yelled in agony and Basil, who still held the propeller in his hands, vanished into the fog. The chimes continued to resound and Olivia wept in her father's arms, since Basil was nowhere in sight.
"We should've stayed with Basil," Clover said.
"We could've helped him," Eve added.
"But he would've wanted you girls safe with us," Dawson told them.
The sorrow was soon interrupted when they heard wheels squeaking. Clover, Eve, Andrew, and Olivia stared down to see what it was, emerging from the fog. Basil pedaled with all his strength to catch up to them and grinned at them.
"Hooray!" Dawson said cheerfully, raising his fist.
"Hooray! It's Basil!" Olivia cheered as she hopped into the doctor's arms.
"Good fellow! Oh jolly good!" Dawson shouted.
Basil pedaled until he guided it close to the blimp, so he could land securely.
"Oh, Basil!" Olivia cried out, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, and you all came for me," Basil said, "And I owe my thanks to Eve and Clover, as well."
"No problem, Basil," Eve replied.
"I'm so sorry for how I treated all of you," Basil apologized, "Especially for casting out non-mice. Now I realize that not all bats, rats, lizards, and other non-mice aren't as evil as I initially thought. Eve proved me wrong. I misjudged you, Eve. You've been a good person and I took you for granted."
Then his friends forgave him.
"Let's head back to Baker Street to patch him up," Dawson announced and the riders took off to Baker Street. When they headed to Baker Street, they dismounted where they could rest.
AN: Will Eve be reunited with her bat family?