Chapter Eleven: The Threat to the Queen and Me

"Well, don't you look pretty?" Ms. Judson smiled. She had just gone shopping for clothes for me to wear, and upon meeting AL, she went out once more. Ms. Judson had bought me a white dress with a red sash around my waist, white gloves and boots, and a summer hat. It was beautiful. The fashion in the 1800s looked stunning than the ones I've seen in pictures. AL wore an all purple dress with a darker purple sash tied around her waist. She kept her little bell on her neck at all times. Unlike me, AL really hates dresses.

"I feel weird. Is there any pants I can wear?" AL hid behind a box. I giggled. Basil's mouth dropped open, as well did Dawson.

"Good lord, Ms. Judson!" Basil exclaimed. "What are earth did you do to them?"

"Oh, for goodness' sake, Mr. Basil. They're just dresses." Ms. Judson replied.

"Somebody get me outta of this thing!" AL shouted out.

"But, they look…stunning. They look older." I blushed.

"Don't tease me!" AL blushed, too.

"Why don't you take the girls to the park? The garden's in full bloom now." Ms. Judson suggested.

"But, I have to find a way to get Miss AL and Miss Kiara home." Basil complained. "Why can't you take them?"

"Because I've got to clean up the house that you made a mess into. The girls would be bored out of their minds."

"I could take them." Dawson butted in.

"I know, Doctor, but Mr. Basil needs to come along and get some fresh air once in a while. You can all go together."

"Fine." Basil scoffed. He got up from his chair and put on his deerstalker and hat. Ms. Judson snatched them away.

"You're going to the park as Basil Sherlockson, not Basil of Baker Street!"

"Alright, alright!" Basil whined. Well, there's something new. This is the first time I've heard Basil's last name. Sherlockson. Similar to Sherlock Holmes. How ironic.

Basil grabbed his small jacket and held the door for me and AL. Ms. Judson has given us each an umbrella to carry around. It was used to keep the sun's heat beating on us. Dawson took his black jacket and hat and closed the door. Basil held out his elbow. What's he doing that for? He cleared his throat.

"You can hold onto my arm, if you want to."

"Oh." I said. I wasn't expecting that, but I put my hand through and I walked with him. AL snickered as she walked beside me. I quickly whispered into her ear, "Whatever you're thinking, you've got it wrong."

"K.P., my hips don't lie…" She whispered in a singsong.

"Listen, I do not have a crush on him!!!" I blurted out, causing Basil to hear.

"Have a crush on whom?" He asked.

"Geh! Ah, never mind!!!" I tried to laugh it off, going back to glaring at AL, who giggled and pointed to her hips. Just for the record, I don't have a crush on Basil. Just the thought of it is too creepy! I only like him as a friend, and nothing more!

"Gus!"

I looked at his direction and there was a grey squirrel with an orange top, brown pants and a black cap.

"Mr. Basil! Pleasure to see you again!" The squirrel waved as he ran up to us.

"Indeed. What brings you out here?" Basil asked.

"Out on an early run. Just have to make a few deliveries to…" He stopped. He glanced at us and his eyes widen. Oops. Didn't see this coming. Basil caught his expression.

"I've guess you've heard about them. Word started spreading two days ago."

Gus nodded. "Y-Yeah. But, I thought it was a bunch of poppycock. I guess not." His surprised look faded as he smiled. "Please to meet you, misses. My name is Octavius. But, you can call me Gus." He tipped his hat and kissed my hand. He did the same to AL, but she quickly retracted. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable…"

"No, it's okay. She's just not used to it." I looked back at her, as she rubbed her hand on her dress. Oh, AL. Crazy, but I love her. I turned back to Gus. "You have gentlemanlike manners." He then blushed.

"Th-thanks. So, where are you all heading to?"

"We're going to see the garden in the park. It's been said it's in full bloom." Dawson replied.

"Really? I just passed it on my way here. It's gorgeous."

"Okay, let's go over there, and go back home." AL fidgeted her fingers.

"You'll love it. Well, best to be on my way. See you around, old chap." He patted Basil's shoulder and ran in the opposite direction.

"You too, Gus!" Basil called out. After a few minutes of walking, Basil spoke up.

"Gus was one of my early clients. He lost his parents in a fatal accident and the inheritance he was suppose to get had disappeared. I cracked the case and got it back for him."

"He looks young." I added on.

"He is. He's 18."

"Really?" AL said.

The park was not far from Baker Street. And according to Gus, it was indeed beautiful. Numerous kinds of flowers bloomed everywhere. Roses, lilies, violets, pansies, etc. A fountain was placed out in the middle of the park. To mouse size, everything here was twice as big. The buds were the size of my head.

"Goodness gracious!" I exclaimed. "Everything's so beautiful."

"I guess you never expected all of this bigger than your normal size." Basil laughed.

"You're right." I smiled back at him. AL weaved through every flower in the garden. It was hard to find her at points. Talk about change of mind. She was practically enjoying herself!

"It's like a jungle in here! Let's see. Roses mean beauty." AL quoted. She tends to stop at a flower and tell the symbol. "Daffodils mean 'you're the only one'. Lilies mean majestic." She kept pointing on and on.

"She seems to be enjoying herself." Basil laughed.

"That's just AL. She even compares people to flowers." I spoke.

"How so?"

"Well, it depends on their personality. Like you, you complain a lot." Basil frowned. "But, you're kind, gentle and friendly." His frown disappeared.

"You think so?"

"I know so." I skimmed through the flowers and pointed to one. "You're like a Freesia. It represents kindness and friendship. That's what I think." Basil looked at the flower.

"You seem to know how to compare people, too."

I chuckled. "I learned it off from AL."

"Can I try?" He asked.

"Sure, go ahead."

Basil looked around. "There." He pointed to a white rose. I wasn't sure what that one meant.

"Why that one?" I asked. He turned to me and smiled.

"White roses mean innocence and purity. When you gain it, your true beauty exposes from within." I blushed. "You gain that beauty, Miss Kiara."

My face became redder. Never in my life have I heard such a thing coming from him. Something changed about him. What has he been doing for a year? My thoughts were interrupted when I heard someone call my name. It was Olivia, Logan, and the cousins.

"Hey, you guys! Whatcha doin'?" I asked them.

"We're playing Cricket. Wanna play?" Olivia said.

"I don't think that such a good idea." Basil protested.

"Oh come on," I complained. "What could possibly go wrong?" I just had to ask that.

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"Ms. Judson is going to be ticked." Dawson said on our way home. He's right. My dress was covered in dirt. My face was smudged with mud and grass. Of course, I wasn't the only one who volunteered to play. AL jumped in and now, she's covered in dirt, too.

"Well, at least I won a couple of times." I said. That was stupid to say.

"Oh, sure. And how will you explain that to her?" Basil exclaimed. He's a bit mad now. I couldn't blame him. It was afternoon time as we headed down to Baker Street. We didn't talk very much on the way. When we came to the house, there was something that led me to a surprise.

"Mary Ann! Kitty!" It was them! What brings them here?

"Kiara!" They both called out. I ran up to them and hugged them both. But, their hugs had a hint of sadness in them.

"What's wrong?" I asked them. Their faces were full of fear. Mary Ann pulled out a piece of paper.

"We got this from Chippendale. He says to git this to you." I took the paper out of her hand and read it carefully. Basil, AL, and Dawson looked over my shoulder as I read it aloud.

To Miss Phoenix:

If you do not turn yourself to Professor Ratigan by the time you get this, London will blame you for the murder of Her Majesty. I suggest you make it quick about it. Until then, my pistol will still be aiming at her head.

Theodore Chippendale

I had the same look on Mary Ann's and Kitty's faces. "This is absurd! Who will go this far to take hostage of a young girl?" Dawson exclaimed.

"Only one, Doctor. Ratigan." Basil sighed.

"The one with the chunky legs?!" AL looked worried. "Great. Now, what are we going to do?"

"What else?" I crumpled up the paper. "I'm fighting back."

All of them looked at me in shock.

"You're not serious, are you?" Kitty exploded.

"Chippendale is the meanest, nastiest criminal, second to the Big Man! You can't just walk up to him and ask for the queen back! He'll keel you for shure!" Mary Ann said.

"Well, if she's going, then I'm going, too! But, we gotta defend ourselves. Tall, dark, and ugly's got a gun, and he might use it…if he has the balls." AL spoke up. Basil rubbed his chin.

"There's got to be something we can do." Dawson said. Then, Basil snapped his fingers.

"This may be risky, but I believe you have the ability to do it." He turned to me and AL. "Ladies, have you handle a gun before?" AL immediately raised her hand.

Throughout my life, I promised myself to never learn how to handle dangerous weapons. Unfortunately, I had to break it. AL and I were given pistols and I was taught how to target. We did an excellent job. AL, however, did a better job than me.

"You learn quickly." Basil commented. "Now, let's not diddle-dawdle any more time. We're wasting it as we speak." Dawson gathered up his medical supplies in a bag. I changed into one of Basil's outfit because I move better in pants. AL changed into one of his pair of pants, too. I can tell she was happy to get out of the dress.

"We'll wait here upon your return." Kitty spoke to me. Mary Ann ruffled my hair.

"Go git 'im, gurl!" She said.

"Thanks." I smiled. I put the pistol in the back of my pants and headed out to catch up with the others. Basil whistled. From the steps of Sherlock Holmes's house, the door banged open and out came a basset hound puppy.

"Toby!" Basil called out. Toby made his way to us and he licked me upon his arrival. "Toby, we need to get to Buckingham Palace at once. Our queen's in mortal danger." Basil said to the dog.

Toby's expression changed and he growled with anger. It seems he's able to understand what's going on. He whipped out his ear and it formed a stairway. I've always wonder how he does that.

When I got up there, I said to Dawson, "Hang on to me so you won't fall." He knew what I was talking about. In the film, when Toby was running, Dawson ends up hanging on to the dog's tail for dear life. Basil held onto the collar, I hanged on to his waist, Dawson held mine, and AL held his. Toby dashed off quickly. The wind was blowing fiercely in my face, but I held onto Basil tightly. It was like a motorcycle ride. My dad had recently bought a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and he took me out for a spin. So, I'm pretty much use to the rapid winds.

It was a long trip to the palace, since we end up almost bumping to horse carts many times. We reached by the gate and Toby took us to a hole by it. We jumped off and went inside. It led us into the hallway that led to the queen's room. We were about to burst the door open, but I stopped everyone.

"I'm going in there alone." I whispered.

"Are you nuts?!" AL whisper shouted.

"I'll be fine. When you hear shooting, you come in." Basil placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Be careful." He said. I nodded. I slowly turned the knob and opened the door.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Miss Phoenix. We meet again. Decided to rescue the queen instead, huh?" Chippendale said as I closed the door.

"You're no surprise yourself, Theodore." I spat at him. A few thugs were scattered in the room. The queen was on the bed, tied up. Chippendale had his pistol in his left pocket.

"Now, now, Miss Phoenix. Can't you at least look presentable to Her Majesty?" He smirked.

"You're the one to talk! Putting a threat between me and the queen!"

"Why should you care? I've read about you in Boss's writings. A typical American teenager. You're not under her rule, so why bother?"

"Because her country needs her. Without her, England will turn to scum like you!" Chippendale just scoffed.

"Also," I looked at the queen. "She's a friend to me and an ally to my country. In the future, war will come our way. The United States of America and the United Kingdom will team up and defeat our enemies." I looked back at Chippendale. "And right now, you're the enemy that's standing between me and her."

He began to laugh. Few of the thugs snickered. The queen was becoming frightened.

"Then, I guess I have to break the chain." He reached for his pistol. I pulled out mine faster. The thugs were too busy looking at Chippendale.

"NOT A CHANCE!" I shouted and shot his leg. He cried out in pain and fell to the floor. Before the thugs could react, Basil, Dawson, and AL burst in with their guns.

"Unless you intend to live, drop your weapons!" I shouted to the thugs. They immediately did. The guards heard the commotion and came in.

"Freeze!" One of them said, holding his rifle up to me.

"It's alright, guard. I'm Basil of Baker Street. They're my companions." The guards took a look at Basil, and put the rifles down. I put the gun back and went to untie the queen.

"Oh, thank you so much." The queen said after I undo the muffle on her face.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" I asked.

"No, I'm perfectly fine." Basil stepped forward to the groaning chipmunk on the floor.

"Theodore Chippendale, you are hereby under arrest for trespassing the palace without permission, and opposing a threat to Her Majesty." And with that, he cuffed him.

"I don't still get it." Chippendale groaned and looked at me. "Why side with her? Our country didn't want you bitchy Americans to live your own life. Why?"

"Watch it, Chippy!" I snapped back. "What's done is done. We do not live upon the past, but live towards the future. So, don't you dare insult my country again!"

I blew a raspberry at him, even though it was childish thing to do, but if AL is able to do it, so can I! Chippendale's mouth dropped open as he was dragged outside, along with his workers.

"Don't call me that! It's Chippendale!" He shouted as he was carried away. The queen tapped my shoulder.

"What is your name, child?" She asked. I bowed to her in respect.

"Your Majesty, my name is Kiara Phoenix."

"And you?" She looked at AL. She bowed as well.

"AL Orsa, Majesty."

"And I'm familiar with you two." She looked at Basil and Dawson who were bowing.

"Ladies, Gentlemen, I expect you back here tomorrow at nine o' clock. I want to give my proper thanks to you." I looked up at her. Thank me? In Buckingham Palace? Tomorrow? I looked at AL who was also surprised.

"Do you think you can do that?" She said.

"Yes, Ma'am!" AL and I replied. She chuckled.

"Good. Then, I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you."

"No, thank you, Your Majesty." I said. The guards led us out to the gate. I was in so much shock; I didn't realize we were already home.

"Can you believe this? We're getting thanked by the queen herself!" I squealed with joy.

"This place is actually quite cool!" AL jumped with me. Mary Ann and Kitty hugged us both. Although Basil and Dawson were already thanked once, they shared our joy by giving us some fine grape juice. I later introduced AL to Mary Ann and Kitty. Kitty found out that I was a real human, but it didn't let it bother her.

"I wonder what I should wear." I spoke up.

"Not these." I heard Ms. Judson from behind. I turned around and in her hands were our dresses in dirt. Uh-oh. We didn't get much sleep that night because Ms. Judson ended up chasing me and AL around the house angrily.