Ratigan slowly walked into his room, annoyed with Drakken's insolence. "Doesn't anyone have the rights to keep their past private anymore?", he screamed to the stars, knowing he would receive no reply. He sighed. "Apparently not..." He sighed, his hand involuntarily brushing against his healed wound, and felt the dried blood that clumped in his fur. He let out a heavy sigh, and decided to take a bath.
Walking into the bathroom, he started running hot water into the tub. Slowly, he unclipped his cape, and removed the rest of his clothes, glancing at the spot where the tear created by the dagger had already started to self-repair itself. Turning off the water, he sank into the hot water, relieved for the break. Letting the water ebb through his fur, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
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Drakken walked down the hall towards Ratigan's room, hoping to apologize for intruding into Ratigan's privacy. Ratigan stepped out the room, wearing a new suit and fresh from the bath.
"Listen, I'm sorry", Drakken said plainly.
"Sorry?", Ratigan asked, curious. "For what?"
"For... well, everything. I never really intended for Shego to get pregnant, or for you to get involved." He sighed. "Sometimes I wish that prophet never made that prophecy."
"So do all that come to see such times", Ratigan said consolingly, "but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
Drakken nodded, unable to come up with anything else to say.
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About a month later, Ratigan was lying inert in bed, when he felt the first twinges of his wings forming. At first, he thought Shego had snuck into his room and was poking his back with her claws, but when he woke up, and found no one there, he realized what was going on. Something would have to be done...
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The next morning, Veeken walked into the dining room. Ratigan was sipping a tea, deep in conversation with Sr. The oddest thing was that Ratigan was in his normal rodent form, apparently ignorant of Jr's presence. "Um... dad?", she asked. "What are you dong here? In your rodential form? Where Jr could easily spot you and go into a horrible sneezing fit?"
Ratigan merely held up his hand, and held out a note. Veeken looked at it, and it read thus:
Father;
I have decided to take a trip across the six continents, at the suggestion of Ratigan, to try and find a music agent who might want to make my dream of pop stardom a reality. This will take the good part of the next six months, but I am sure that I will achieve my goal. Give my regards to Shego and Drakken when the baby (or babies) come.
Your son,
Junior
Veeken looked up, and gave a curt sigh. "Well", she said finally, "This is an interesting change of pace. What're we going to do while he's gone?"
Ratigan merely smiled enigmatically. "I already have a plan."
"So", Veeken said finally, walking through the halls with Ratigan and Sr, after the former had explained his plan, "You intend to train Drakken to fight so he can defend Dementor, just because of some prophecy?"
"Yes, that's the entire story", Ratigan said truthfully.
There was a moment of silence, then Veeken said "Well, it's a good idea, and it explains why Jr left at your suggestion."
"Precisely", Ratigan commented.
Suddenly, there came sounds of someone struggling in one of the rooms. From inside, a familiar voice whined "Basil, this isn't going to work!" Quickly, Ratigan activated his gloves, and Veeken stood, ready to fight.
"I'm certain it will, Dawson! Just think thin. That's the key!", another voice said inside the room.
Ratigan smacked the button to open the door. Inside... were Basil and Dawson, apparently trying to escape, and oblivious to the fact they were caught.
"Ah, hello?", Ratigan inquired.
Basil looked up, and his face fell at being caught. "Ah... hi, Ratigan..."
Veeken slapped her hand to her forehead. "Can this get any worse?!"
To Be Continued...
