Author's Note: Here it is, the chapter I've been looking forward to typing, "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind" number.
Thank you to Crimson Commander688 for the review, glad you enjoyed both chapters. Enjoy this new one.
Happy reading!
The Rescuers and The Great Mouse Detective don't belong to me, all rights go to their respective owners. I own nothing.
Chapter 5
There is cheering coming from inside of the barrel. The interior is decorated to be luxurious, quite like Buckingham Palace. There's a white fountain with a statue of an angel Ratigan, a red carpet, stolen jewels from Ratigan's previous heists, a large purple crown, chandeliers, red curtains and a champagne bottle, that's tied to the ceiling above the fountain.
Taking his seat at the throne with a gold "R" engraved above, Ratigan pulls out his cigarette holder and held it out.
Ratigan's henchmen hands out various lighters, lighting up the cigarette for him. Ratigan inhales the smoke and then exhales, blowing out a perfect smoke ring.
"My friends," He announced. "We are about to embark on the most odious, the evilest, the most diabolical scheme of my illustrious career."
Ratigan's thugs grinned; listening to the professor and hanging on to every word. Bartholomew, a heavy drinker and one of Ratigan's lackeys, started to drink from his mug. But alas, there's none. Only a little drop fell.
"A crime to top all crimes, a crime that will live in infamy!" Ratigan finished.
Everyone except for Bartholomew, cheered and applauded.
"Tomorrow evening, our beloved monarch celebrates her Diamond Jubilee." Ratigan continued, holding up a newspaper article about the queen.
"And with the enthusiastic help of our good friend, Mr. Flaversham."
The gang grins and chuckles, sharing looks with one another. Even Bill the Lizard elbows Bartholomew.
"It promises to be a night she will never forget."
With that, Ratigan burns the photo of the queen. Everyone, save for Bartholomew, gasps; knowing fully aware what their leader meant.
"Her last night, and my first…" Ratigan snarled, crumbling up the newspaper.
"As supreme ruler of all Mouse Dom!" He declared, shaking about. His hair even gets messy.
Cheers erupted. Ratigan adjusts his collar and straightens his hair with his fingertips.
Descending the steps, Ratigan walks about. The room goes dark and a spotlight shine on him. One lackey hands Ratigan his top hat, which he accepts and lets it roll along his shoulders. Putting on the hat, Ratigan chuckles and spins, as he goes into his own musical number; while pulling out a cane.
"From the brain that brought you the Big Ben Caper.
The head that made headlines in every newspaper.
And wondrous things like the Tower Bridge Job.
That cunning display that made London a sob."
Ratigan danced to and from, even climbing up on the jewels and slides down, looking at his reflection in a ruby.
"Now comes the real tour de force,
Tricky and wicked, of course." Ratigan continued, pulling the rope with his cane and let pink champagne pour into the fountain.
Delighted, Bartholomew rushed over, even dropping his mug. He laps up the drink like a dog.
"My earlier crimes were fine for their times
But now that I'm at it again," Ratigan spins and kicked Bartholomew into the fountain.
"And even a grimmer plot has been simmering
In my great criminal brain,"
"Even meaner?
You mean it?" Ratigan's henchmen joined in, standing alongside Ratigan.
"Worse than the widows and orphans you drowned?"
Bartholomew resurfaced, a glassy look in his eyes. He hiccups and watched the celebration.
"You're the best of the worst around,"
Everyone (minus Bartholomew) picks up Ratigan with all their might, spinning him about.
Bartholomew climbs out of the fountain and lands on the floor, drunkenly.
"Oh Ratigan,
Oh Ratigan,
The rest fall behind
To Ratigan,
To Ratigan,
The world's greatest criminal mind."
Ratigan is now beside a large, golden harp. The room turns blue as he played a more somber tune.
"Thank you, thank you," He said to his minions.
"But it hasn't all been champagne and caviar. I've had my share of adversity, thanks to that miserable second-rate detective, Basil of Baker Street!" The rodent growled, glaring at the little voodoo doll of Basil, with straight pins tucked into it.
The crowd boos at the mention of Ratigan's foe.
"For years, that insufferable pipsqueak has interfered with my plans!" Ratigan exclaimed, dramatically feigning despair.
"I haven't had a moment's peace of mind."
"Aww!" The crew expressed sympathy towards their boss.
Even Bartholomew agreed, he sniffled and wept.
But then, Ratigan grins darkly and the room turns red.
"But, all that's in the past. This time, nothing, not even Basil, can stand in my way!" He declared, expressing determination.
"All will bow before me!"
Everyone bows.
"Oh, Ratigan
Oh, Ratigan," The group resumes singing; filling their glasses with champagne and clinking them together.
Bartholomew continues to revel in the liquor, happily. He falls in backwards.
"You're tops and that's that."
"To Ratigan,
To Ratigan," Ratigan is surrounded by his loyal followers. They all raised their glasses and Ratigan takes a sip.
"To Ratigan, the world's greatest rat," Bartholomew piped up drunkenly. He hiccups.
Ratigan suddenly spits out his drink, wide-eyed and wheezing at the word "rat."
Everybody gasps in shock, knowing full well that Ratigan doesn't take kindly to anyone who calls him a rat.
"What was that?!" Ratigan snarled angrily, turning in Bartholomew's direction.
Bartholomew simply hiccupped.
"What did you call me?" Ratigan demanded, marching over to the drunken mouse.
"Oh, oh, he didn't mean it; Professor." Morris defended Bartholomew.
"It was just a slip of the tongue," Bill added.
"I am NOT A RAT!" Ratigan shouted, picking up Bartholomew by his red sweater collar.
"'Course you're not," Horace said. "You're a mouse!"
"Yeah, that's right. Right! A mouse." Morris agreed.
"Yeah, a big mouse!" Bill interjected.
"SILENCE!" Ratigan ordered. He tossed Bartholomew outside.
Bartholomew isn't affected, he just sits there with a dazed, faraway expression.
"Oh, my dear Bartholomew." Ratigan feigned concern. "I'm afraid that you've gone and upset me."
"You know what happens when someone upsets me." He pulls out the same bell he had, when speaking with Hiram.
Horace, Bill and Morris watched in terror as Ratigan rang the bell, summoning his pet cat, Felicia. The trio gasped.
A feline shadow appears. Felicia is an overweight, cat with sandy colored fur. She wore a light purple bow on top of her head. Felicia marched forward, ready for her meal.
"Oh, Ratigan,
Oh, Ratigan," Bartholomew sings in a drunken stupor, his back turned. He is unaware that Felicia is descending upon him.
Felicia eyes her snack, eagerly. She leans in.
"You're the tops and that's that." Bartholomew continues to sing and he hiccups.
"Oh, dear.
To Ratigan,
To Ratigan,
To Ratigan,
To Ratigan, the world's greatest…"
Without hesitation, Felicia picks up Bartholomew with her paws and held him up high, jaws wide open. Ratigan's henchmen looked on in horror, while Ratigan nonchalantly blows a smoke ring.
Felicia swallows Bartholomew whole, before he could finish. Felicia meows, satisfied with her snack. Morris and Bill took their hats off, while Horace shed a lone tear. They mourned the loss of their fellow comrade.
Ratigan pats Felicia's mouth with a handkerchief, making a tsk, tsk sound; while Felicia looks smug.
"Oh, Felicia; my precious, my baby." He cooed.
"Did Daddy's little honey bun enjoy her tasty treat?"
Felicia burps in response. Ratigan's grin falters.
"I trust there will be no further interruptions?" He asked, putting away his handkerchief and walking away back to his lair.
"And now, as you were singing?"
The thugs are silent fear until Ratigan held out his bell.
"Even louder,
We'll shout it!" The singing picks back up.
"No one can doubt what we know you can do,"
A few mice rushed over with a purple cape lined with black and white fur. Ratigan puts it on. A few others give him a scepter with a diamond on top.
"You're more evil than even you," Another lackey came running over with a gold crown resting on a baby blue pillow. He sits the crown on Ratigan's head.
"Oh, Ratigan,
Oh, Ratigan,
You're one of a kind
To Ratigan,
To Ratigan,
The world's greatest criminal mind!"
Ratigan pulls the rope down, causing some mice to fall into the fountain. Others who were balancing the loot fell and two chandeliers crashed together.
Everyone clinked their glasses, while Ratigan sat like a king, drinking his drink. He wears a smug expression.
A/N: And that concludes "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind" number. This was a long chapter, but I enjoyed typing it up.
Up next, we meet the group back at Basil's house. Fidget reappears; Dawson, Basil, Bernard and Bianca find a clue. Then the plan to find Olivia's father is set in motion.
Bye for now!