Disclaimer: I do not own Lenore, Ragamuffin, Roman Dirge, Nail Bunny, Jhonen Vasquez, Nny, or Squee
Claimer: I do own the minor characters aka, Crystal, Sarah Lee, Helena, Ivy, etc.
The Raven and the Bat
Chapter 3: Follow me
It was around ten o' clock in the morning and Nny was already dragging his friend around. You see, Nny tends to like to go in random directions, so make sure he's not dragging you!
Nny: Let's go this way! This way! That way!
Ragamuffin: Umm… Nny, we're really close to Raven territory… Nny? Hey! Where'd he go?! … JERK!!!
Somewhere off in the distance we see Nny on a mountain side looking down at Ragamuffin.
Nail Bunny: Nny? What're you doing here?
Nny: I don't know? I could have sworn I was right next to Ragamuffin… but I got bored, so I left!
Nail Bunny: Nny…Wait! You saw Ragamuffin?!
Nny: Yep! He was in the cave!
Nail Bunny: What cave?!
Nny: The cave on this poorly drawn map I made for you! I'll have you going around in circles for days!
Nail Bunny: … Just tell me where to find the cave!
Nny: It's on this map! FOLLOW IT! angrily waving paper in Nail Bunny's face
Nail Bunny: The cave?!
Nny: what cave?
Nail Bunny: You know which one!
Nny: Hmmmm… like that one? points in random direction
Nail Bunny: looks That's Raven territory Nny… Nny? Where'd he go?!
Near the forest we spot Nny.
Nny: Phew! That was a close one! For a second there I thought he was going to ask who ate the Lucky Charms.
Nny then disappeared into the shadows.
------------------------------------------------------------ (Back with Ragamuffin) -----------------
Ragamuffin kept looking around for Nny.
Ragamuffin: Still no sign of Nny… Oof!
Ragamuffin completely stopped in his tracks when he bumped into someone familiar.
Lenore: Oof! … Sorry abou… blush Oh! It's you… blush What are you doing around here?
Ragamuffin: I've been tricked.
Lenore: Tricked?
Helena: Lenore! There you ar… Bat! Bat! Ack! Help!
Ragamuffin!!! Come on!
Out of panic, Ragamuffin grabbed Lenore and flew off with her. Once close enough, he landed in his cave.
------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Helena) -----------------------
Helena: Oh dear! I have to tell the king!
Helena ran off back to the kingdom to tell the king in a hurry. But the king couldn't understand a word she seemed to be saying.
Roman: Slow down! I can't understand a word you're saying!
Helena: A bat kidnapped Lenore!
Roman: What?!
Helena: A bat flew off and took her with him! Oh! It's horrible! I should have done something!
Roman: Calm down! Get a hold of yourself! We'll get a search party to look for my daughter immediately! You'll have to go with them because you were the witness.
Helena: Yes sir!
In a few minutes the king had assembled at least 20 Raven soldiers. The king gave them the orders while a few of them separated into they're own groups, Helena was in the main group to follow where the bat could have taken Lenore. After awhile of the king talking, the search parties took off in search of Lenore and the Bat. They're mission was simple, or at least it sounded that way: Rescue Lenore and lock up the Bat. But first things first, find them.
------------------------------------------------------------- (Ragamuffin and Lenore) ------------
Ragamuffin: Just great! Now I've done it! I tried to avoid a war and now it looks like I m the one that's going to cause it!
Lenore: Calm down! I m sure if we explain to daddy Dirge, that he'll understand the situation.
Ragamuffin: Oooooh really! 'Cause the last time I checked, the 2 kingdoms were ready to destroy each other and they'd give any reason to do it!
Lenore: worried you need to calm down.
Ragamuffin: sigh maybe you're right.
Ragamuffin sat down next to Lenore.
Lenore: smile and I do have a name you know, It's Lenore.
Ragamuffin: Oh! Sorry blush … My name is Ragamuffin, and I m pretty sure the Ravens are out to get me now…
Ragamuffin looked outside the cave and noticed that it had started raining.
Lenore noticed that Ragamuffin had a lot of things on his mind, so she decided to make him forget about it a bit, so she changed the subject and asked a few questions.
Lenore: One question, why aren't you with or like the other bats?
Ragamuffin: Hmm? Oh! Because at the moment I m missing from the village. I ran away because I was just too different from everyone else! The only reason anyone was nice to me was because of my mom. The only real friend I have is Nny, though I question him sometimes. But mostly I just felt like getting away from it all, the up coming war and all…
Lenore: And what about Nny?
Ragamuffin: He's the prince. He may seem weird and not to bright, but that's only a trick to deceive you. He's super intelligent and he's the 2nd most dangerous Bat in the kingdom! The 1st being his father, Jhonen. He's not afraid to kill anyone too.
Lenore: Hmm…
Ragamuffin: Heh, you know what; I think the rains starting to clear…
Ragamuffin stood up, but when he did heard a few nearby voices. He worried and got into a protective pose.
Lenore thoughts: blush It's like he's trying to protect me:D
When about 5 Raven's appeared, Ragamuffin backed up a bit.
Helena: That's the Bat! And there's Lenore!
The other 4 Ravens grabbed Ragamuffin and knocked him unconscious. Helena grabbed Lenore and asked her if she was ok, but Lenore was too worried about Ragamuffin to actually listen to a word she had said.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the castle. The unconscious Ragamuffin was thrown to the ground and Lenore worried about him. Lenore tried to stay there but the king had ordered that she be taken away to her room.
Lenore was practically thrown into her room, but it was more of a push. The door locked behind her only making her feel worse and fear for Ragamuffin's life.
Lenore: This isn't fair! I have to save Ragamuffin! …but I don't know how… Knowing daddy Dirge, he's probably going to put him in one of the lower chamber to be killed! I can't let that happen! I won't let that happen! The thing is, I'll probably have wait until tomorrow to find out what my dad did with him, than I can help him!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Ragamuffin) -----------
The next day, Ragamuffin woke up chained and in a dark damp dungeon looking place.
Ragamuffin: where am I?
Raven Soldier: You're in one of the lower chambers and your going to be executed tomorrow. Ha Ha Ha! That's what you get for kidnapping the princess!
Ragamuffin: Kidnap?! Lenore didn't say anything about me not really kidnapping her. It's true what they say, you can't trust a Raven.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Lenore) -----------------
A few hours passed, and it was time for the guards to go tobreak. When all the guards had left their posts, Lenore snuck in and went over to Ragamuffin's cell. Since the cell door had a bared window, Lenore grabbed onto the bars and peaked her head up to see Ragamuffin all chained up and looking at the ground.
Lenore: Ragamuffin?
Ragamuffin didn't move.
Lenore: Are you Ok?
Ragamuffin only lifted his head, but still said nothing.
Lenore: I'll find a way to get you out of here…
Ragamuffin: … why? Why don't you just leave me alone! Haven't you done enough! Everyone now thinks I tried to kidnap you… now I m just going to die. So leave me be!
Lenore started crying at Ragamuffin's harsh words. Through choking tears, Lenore tried to speak.
Lenore: … No! I won't leave you! I'll find a way to get you out! I won't! I can't… leave you…
Ragamuffin was surprised at Lenore's sudden outburst, and finally looked over at Lenore. Finally believing her every word she had just said.
Ragamuffin: If you want to help me… just forget about me…
Lenore: No! Just get this through you! I won't leave you!
Ragamuffin: There's just too much at stake! If you tried to help me you would be blamed for all of this, so you're better off just forgetting about me… by tomorrow I'll be dead anyways… unless… naw, it wouldn't work…
Lenore: What?! Just tell me! I'll try anything right now!
Ragamuffin: It might be too dangerous, but if you're willing to try, then go find Nny. I don't know how though… you also might want to mention me first though (unless you want to be killed)
Lenore: Ok! I'll try to find him!
And without a word less, Lenore ran back up stairs and out of the castle, and her way to search for Nny.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lenore spent a few hours wandering around dangerously close to Bat territory in hopes of finding Nny.
Lenore: This is ridiculous! I don't even know what Nny looks like!
Nny: well, he has black hair, spiky to be precise. He has red eyes, and cool wings, and is a homicidal maniac!
Lenore jumped at the sound of a voice behind her.
Lenore: Who are you?!
Nny: No, the question is who are you? And why you're looking for me!
Nny took out one of his knifes and pointed it at Lenore's neck, making her only more nervous.
Lenore: Oh… Ragamuffin sent me!
Nny: Ragamuffin eh? How do I know you're not lying?
Lenore: Please! You have to trust me! Ragamuffin needs your help!
Nny: fine. I'll humor you. But if you're lying, let's just say you'll wish you were never born evil toothy smile so where is he?
Lenore: gulp Umm… he's in one of the lower chambers in the Raven castle!
Nny: Fine, I'll come around near sunset, though you'll have to look for me in the castle.
Lenore smiled and nodded.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Raven Castle) ---------
The sun was starting to set, so Lenore excused herself from the table and went in search for Nny. She first decided to stop by her room though.
Lenore opened the door to her room and was surprised to find Nny lying on her bed.
Lenore: What the crud are you doing in my bed?!
Nny: You were taking to long, so I just came here instead. Oh! And since you took so long, I went to the lower chambers myself. Hope you don't mind but I had to kill the three guards that got in my way, but don't worry, I hid their bodies good evil smile. I m sure no one will miss them.
Lenore: twitch … and what about Ragamuffin?!
Nny: I was getting to that! Well, I kicked the door down, I unchained him, I quickly got out, put the door back up and came here!
Lenore: twitch what about Ragamuffin?!
Nny: Ragamuffin? Oh! He's still back in the chamber, duh.
Lenore: pissed How long ago was that?!
Nny: Hmm… 'bout three minutes ago.
Lenore: Three Minutes!!! That didn't take much time at all!
Nny: not much time?! I usually kill about 60 people in less than a minute! That felt like forever!
Lenore: well, we better go get Ragamuffin.
Nny: you can go, I saw some cookies in someone's room and I m hungry! So, see ya!
Without a care, Nny walked into a shadowy part of the room and completely vanished.
Lenore, meanwhile, went to the lower chambers for Ragamuffin, only to bump into him on the on the stairs.
Ragamuffin: Where's Nny?
Lenore: He left.
Ragamuffin: That jerk…
Lenore: just come on! I need to get you out of here!
Lenore grabbed his arm and dragged him out; trying her best to avoid any other ravens. Then they got to Lenore's room and went in. Lenore locked the door just in case.
Lenore: You can escape from the balcony
Ragamuffin: So this is your room…
Lenore: blush did you even listen to me?
Ragamuffin: Yes, escape from the balconyyyyyyyyyy!!!
Ragamuffin was turning around when he tripped over a loose floor board, and grabbed on to Lenore, but only dragged her down with him.
When Ragamuffin opened his eyes, he wished he had kept them closed.
Lenore was on top of him, and worse, they were on the bed.
Nny: Hey guys I… ooooh, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt…
Nny went back into the shadows in a hurry.
Ragamuffin: blushing completely red It's not what it looks like!
But it was too late; Nny had already left the room.
Ragamuffin quickly got off the bed and headed towards the balcony and was about to fly off until Lenore spoke up.
Lenore: Wait! Tomorrow, can you come visit me at in the Raven garden, after lunch? blush
Ragamuffin: smile sure
With that, Ragamuffin flew off into the night sky.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Nny) ----------------
Nny: Ah ha! I found the cookies!
Crystal: Hey! Those are my cookies! Come back with them! chases after
Sarah Lee: Hey! And those aren't just any cookies! They're Sarah Lee cookies! I thought I told you not to make deserts that have my name on it! chases after