The next morning, Ginger was dancing in honor of Le Jour D'Amour.
Children were excited to see the gypsy hen and they joined her dance.
During the show, Spike peeked behind the curtains and called out to her.
"Ginger! Ginger! I need your help!"
"Okay, just let me finish dancing."
She continued to dance and play her tambourine until the music stopped playing.
The crowd cheered and tossed coins to her.
After the show, Ginger went to her dressing room where Spike waited.
"Spike, what is it?" asked the hen.
"Something is terribly wrong" the rat answered. "I... I think I'm in love with her!"
"Cholena? What is she like?"
"Sweet as a cup of tea!"
Ginger could sense that Spike was filled with euphoria and was truly in love with Cholena.
"Did she say she's like those circus people?" she asked.
Spike shook his head.
"Then, you need to tell her how you feel. I don't know what she'll say, Spike, but you'll have to find out yourself."
Spike was touched by Ginger's advice and thanked her.
As soon as Spike left, Timmy bleated sorrowfully.
"Go ahead, Timmy" Ginger said, encouraging. "You can play in the cathedral."
Excited, the little lamb ran off after Spike.
Meanwhile, Cholena was on the tightrope, working on what Spike taught her last night.
"What are you doing now?" asked Tzekel Kan, who entered the tent.
"Practicing" said Cholena in a calm but firm voice, ignoring Tzekel Kan.
"Why strain yourself?"
But Cholena still ignored the human and continued to practice.
"Did you find out where the monster keeps his bell, trinket?" Tzekel Kan asked again.
"He is not a monster, and I am not your trinket" snapped Cholena.
Tzekel Kan was taken aback by the young Indian mouse's response, but he means to have that bell.
"I want nothing more to do with your thefts" Cholena continued.
"Oh, really?" Tzekel Kan laughed, "And how will you survive out there? On your looks?"
"You don't see it! Spike sees something you don't."
Just as Cholena was about to finish her practicing, Tzekel Kan snatched her from the tightrope and held her tight in his fist.
"Oh, does he?" he sneered. "What if he were to have an unfortunate accident?"
The human magician then threw Cholena to the ground.
"If I have to go up there with my men and do it the hard way, the little rat may get hurt."
"No, you can't!" Cholena cried.
"You... You wouldn't. Spike is a fighter. He can harm you in a heartbeat. He said so himself."
"That deformed animal does not know who he is dealing with."
He lifts a finger under Cholena's tiny chin.
"If you want him alive, then lure the bell-ringer away while I steal La Fidele" warned Tzekel Kan.
"Lead him out of harm's way."
Hearing this, Cholena was shocked to hear this but she bit Tzekel Kan's finger and ran away.
Enraged, Tzekel Kan yelled in anger and broke the tightrope from its post.
"Find her!" he bellowed.
Le Frog's loyal henchfrogs went after Cholena and into the streets of Paris.
Back at Ginger's dressing room, the hen was putting together a flower basket when Rocky entered.
"Spike was right" he said to Ginger. "That circus is responsible for a string of robberies."
"What?" gasped Ginger.
"Those people have been stealing jewelry and other things that you can't imagine."
"How can you lump people together like that?"
"But the gypsies weren't guilty of crimes like these circus people."
Spike was about to visit when he saw Rocky and hid in the shadows.
"But Spike told me that Cholena is different from the circus people" Ginger replied.
"Well, maybe..." Rocky said, thinking. "But maybe she's just using him to get something else."
"No! Spike is not dumb. He can fight!"
"But she's one of them!"
"You don't think she could be interested in him just for him?"
"Oh, of course she cou... Yes, anyone could, but look at the facts."
"Yes, I know. The circus people and theft happening but I believe based on what I hear and see."
"You're gonna believe them?!"
"No! If Spike says Cholena is different, then I believe him. He would never lie to us."
"He doesn't understand, Ginger. He has to look at the facts."
"Find some, and I will!" Spike snapped.
Rocky and Ginger turned to see Spike at the doorway, upset.
"Spike..." Ginger tried to say.
But Spike ran off, seething and twitching.
Ginger stood up in her seat and glared at Rocky, then walked away.
Rocky sighed in defeat.
"I don't believe it!" he said to himself. "Everybody is mad at me. How often does that happen?"
A loud bark was heard outside.
"Toby! Rhetorical!" Rocky shouted.
Spike sat on the edge of a large rock among the river with Ginger by his side.
"Don't worry, Spike" Ginger said. "We'll think of something."
Spike thought for a moment then...
Cholena ran past them, pursued by Le Frog's henchfrogs.
"Cholena?" Spike panicked.
He slid down the rock and went after them but Ginger held him back.
"You can't fight them all by yourself" she said sternly.
"But Cholena is in danger" Spike protested.
Ginger thought it over then let go of Spike's tail.
"I'm coming with you" said the hen.
Cholena was cornered into an alley by the henchfrogs. The Indian mouse panicked as the frogs advanced on her.
But then Spike and Ginger suddenly appeared, blocking Cholena from the frogs' view.
The henchfrogs slowly went into battle stance and leaped into the air.
Spike then pounced and tried take down the frogs but they were faster and stronger. Even their tongues were knocking the rat to the ground.
"Spike, no!" cried Cholena.
Thinking fast, Ginger knocked over a trash can, which held a single horsefly.
"Fly at twelve o'clock!" Ginger yelled.
The henchfrogs and Spike, being choked by them, looked up and saw the horsefly.
"Oh, bother" muttered the horsefly.
The henchfrogs unhanded Spike and went after the horsefly.
Ginger helped Spike up, then they approached Cholena.
"Are you okay?" asked Spike.
"Y-Y-Yes" Cholena squeaked.
Ginger smiled and extended her wing to the Indian mouse, leaving Cholena confused.
Chuckling softly, Ginger gently took Cholena's hand and shook it.
"I am pleased to meet you, Cholena" Ginger greeted warmly.
Cholena could tell that Ginger was harmless and is a good friend indeed.
But she knew she had to tell Spike sooner rather than later.
"Spike, everything I said was the truth" she said softly. "But I'm not the mouse you think I am. But I want to be, more than anything."
Ginger and Spike were confused, but the rat sighed aggressively.
"Cholena, tell me the truth" he said sternly.
Hearing this, Cholena knew that Spike would be mad if she did tell him but it has to be done.
To be continued...