Author's Notes and Disclaimer: All right, folks! This is it; the end of the story itself. It's going to be a bit short, but I hope you like it. And don't forget; there's still the Cast List and other questions to look at after this.
Here's the disclaimer: I do not own the movie "The Secret of NIMH" (owned by MGM/UA Entertainment Co., Aurora Productions, and Don Bluth Productions) or the characters of "Loonatics Unleashed" (owned by Warner Bros).
Recap: Calamity and the Loonatics have returned home to Toontown and have relayed the story of their adventure to Zooky, Zia, Bugs Bunny, and Daffy Duck. However, it seems that the adventure has left some lasting effects on Acmetropolis' Finest, especially Tech and Ace. But it seems they're not alone…
Chapter 14: A Promise
There was another entity who couldn't get to dreamland right away; Duck huffed and groaned at not being able to sleep. This hadn't happened for a long time. But he couldn't stop thinking about his experience and how the motherly Mrs. Brisby had unknowingly given him a slight attitude adjustment. And then he had his experience with Angel, who had not been happy with who he had been and told him to behave himself.
After that, Duck definitely started analyzing his life's choices with a critical lens and found them wanting. He was not a perfect duck and the ego was pretty much a part of him, he admitted, but maybe he could have been a bit nicer towards his teammates, especially Lexi and Tech; he had seemed to pick on those two the most. And with Tech having told them about his younger brother, he really felt sorry for picking on the coyote in the past.
Duck got out of bed and trudged down the stairs to the kitchen for a warm glass of milk to help him get to sleep. He had just finished and was on his way to the staircase when he heard a thump from the direction of the bookcase in the living room.
"Hello?" Duck whispered, not wanting whatever had caused that to hear him.
Unfreezing himself, he tiptoed over to find a red glow shaped in the fashion of a very bright light coming from behind a closed door on the floor. The light was bright enough to see that it was coming from the book he and his friends had just exited: "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH".
Now what'sth causthing thisth? Duck questioned mentally.
He picked up the book, and something fell out and landed with a loud thump on the floor, making Duck tense up like a scared rabbit for a few seconds. Once he was certain that no-one had heard, he put the book back in its spot and picked up the object that had fallen. It felt like a paper package, but what caught his attention was the softly-glowing red circle inside.
Duck gingerly opened the paper (as his hands were still wrapped up)…and found the Stone tucked inside. The light from the jewel revealed that the wrapping was actually a letter wrapped around the amulet. The writing was scratchy printing, like someone who was just learning to write but trying to be as neat as possible had wrote it. Before he had even started reading, Duck knew immediately who it was from:
Dear Duck,
If you're reading this, I guess somehow this letter and the Stone found its way to your world. I can't thank you and your friends enough for all your help in keeping my family-our family, safe. I realize that now that my house is moved, you may all be going home soon. The kids and I will miss you all; I know Cynthia will miss Rev, Teresa will miss Ace, Lexi, Tech, and Calamity, and Martin will miss you and Slam. It's been quite an adventure with the seven of you; getting to know you all, learning a few things about you (even though I still don't quite understand everything you've told me. Oh well). But I have to say that out of all of you, I am honored to have known Daniel Denzel Duck; the good, the bad, the old, and the new (I'm sorry if I put you through a hard time, and I'm still sorry for slapping you).
I know that when I asked you all if there was anything I could do to help, you just asked for prayers. Well, I have decided to do something a bit more. I know you remember that Nicodemus said that the Stone has powers, so maybe if I send to you, it might help with your powers. And, I hope, it will serve to remind you of the family you have; in your world and in mine. So, Duck, whatever happens to you, promise me that you will never forget what you have gained here.
Good-bye, good luck, and all my love,
Mrs. Jonathan Elizabeth Brisby
It didn't matter if he was still alone or if someone had walked in behind him; Duck let the tears flow as he clutched the letter and the Stone to his chest. Mrs. Brisby hadn't given Justin the Stone after all, or maybe she did and he found a way to send it to Duck. Or maybe Mrs. B wished the Stone to follow Duck and, with its mystical properties, it complied. Who knows? Did it matter at the moment?
Duck put the items down for a minute to wipe his teary eyes, a smile on his beak. He then carried the items back to his room, holding them close to himself so that he wouldn't accidentally wake up anyone with a seemingly-suspicious red glow from outside their doors. The letter he put away in the drawer of his bedside table, someplace quick and easy to reach if he needed something comforting to read before bed. Now for the Stone.
Duck looked around and saw the spot on the bureau where he kept Royal Tweetums' tiny Royal Scepter that the canary monarch had entrusted to him before the Loonatics went to the 21st century. The Royal Jewel that usually sat inside the round part at the top of the scepter was still missing; no-one had been able to figure out what had happened to it.
Before Duck could put the special amulet down, the red jewel began glowing slightly, making Duck squeeze his eyes shut for a brief moment. He soon found himself looking at the red jewel as several familiar faces appeared in it: Ace, Lexi, Slam, Tech, Calamity, Rev, Mrs. Brisby, the Brisby kids (all four), Auntie Shrew, Jeremy the crow, Mr. Ages, Justin, Nicodemus, and Jonathan Brisby. The last face to appear was Angel, who looked at Duck with a smile that said: "I'm proud of you; yep, yep, yep!" before blowing him a kiss and disappearing.
"I promisthe…" Duck whispered solemnly, holding the special amulet close to his heart. "With every breath I have…With every beat of my heart…Asth long asth I live…I promisthe: I will never, ever, ever forget."
Duck then gently set the Stone down next to the Royal Scepter and went to bed. As he gradually slipped into slumber, his promise echoed in his ears like his own heartbeat.
I promisthe…I promisthe…I will never, ever…ever forget…
On the bureau shelf, the Stone shone a bit. The Royal Scepter next to it seemed to give a glow in response, as if communicating with the magical object.
What could they be saying? Let's listen…
They have done well. (This was the Royal Scepter).
Indeed they have. (This was the Stone).
I can feel that their power has increased. You had something to do with it, I suppose?
Oh, I was only manifesting what they had inside all along; another way for them to channel their own inner power. Speaking of such, I sense there's a little more inside those six than what they tapped into when they used me. Your work?
I can't say at present, but I know this: This has only been one of many steps that the Loonatics must take if they are ever to release what they have within. With the Darkness coming closer than ever, they need to rise and fall many times before they are ready to fight with the Resistance of Light in the Final Battle. They certainly did that in their last adventure…that poor boy…such a diabolical circumstance to go through and bear. And now they're standing at the edge of a line they swore they'd never cross. I'm worried for them.
Have faith in them. Their hearts are strong. They will be ready when the time comes.
I hope you're right. For the sake of all the worlds in this existence, I hope you're right…
THE END
And…finito! We are done with the story, ladies and gentlemen!
So yeah, once again I reference my "Loonatics Unleashed"/"Captain Planet" crossover (thank you Author PerkyGoth14 for your story "Akito and the Loonatics" getting me curious about "Captain Planet"; I haven't seen it all the way through yet, but it's a neat series, even though it had some dark moments). Speaking of which, if you know "Captain Planet", I think you might be able to guess just what the Royal Scepter meant by "diabolical circumstance", but I bet you won't be able to guess the "poor boy" who went through it. I have to say that's probably one of the cruelest things I've ever thought up…if you are able to guess, I hope you won't hate me.
Anyway, since this was a relatively short chapter, there aren't a lot of questions this time, but here they are:
If you were with Duck when he found the Stone and the note from Mrs. Brisby, how would you react?
How do you think the Stone got there?
If you could join in on the conversation between the Royal Scepter and the Stone, what would you say?
And…what do YOU think happened to the Royal Jewel?
All right, we are done! Stand by for the Cast List and the additional questions. There's no rush in answering them, so please, take your time; I only ask that you read them carefully so that you don't misunderstand them.
Anyway, until then, please read and review. Thank you.
