Cole made it out of the rubble to find the rats had gathered near Jenner. They all looked pretty devastated over Nicodemus' death, but Cole knew that somehow he had brought Nicodemus back to life.

"Friends, we cannot move the Brisby home.", Jenner said firmly.

Cole noticed Mr. Ages hobble out on his crutches and look Jenner's way concerned.

"We can't just leave it here, in the mud."

Jenner didn't look so moved.

"The equipment is in shambles.", he answered, "One day we shall journey to Thorn Valley, just as Nicodemus wanted."

Cole then faintly heard Mrs. Brisby's voice as Jenner continued.

"But not now."

"Justin!"

Cole and Mr. Ages suddenly heard Mrs. Brisby's voice only louder this time. She had gotten out and escaped as Cole had anticipated. He then got to the rats as Jenner spoke again.

"Come, let us return to the rosebush, where we belong."

Cole then saw Mrs. Brisby show up and she ran to Mr. Ages.

"Mr. Ages, what happened?", she asked as she saw the wreckage and then looked worried, "The children?"

"They're fine.", Cole answered calmly before thinking of a way to explain that Nicodemus was dead, but not.

Luckily for him, Mr. Ages spoke up.

"Nicodemus..is dead.", he said as tears began to form.

As Cole observe Mrs. Brisby and Mr. Ages share a hug, Jenner looked his way before Coel suddenly spoke up.

"Listen to me all of you, you're in great danger."

Mrs. Brisby suddenly looked alarmed and spoke alongside him.

"NIHM is coming."

Jenner clearly didn't like this as he addressed the other rats.

"Come, come. Let's return to the rosebush."

"Didn't you hear what we said?", Cole asked harshly, "NIHM is coming here!"

The other rats started to look fearful.

"NIHM?"

"In the morning.", Mrs. Brisby confirmed.

"NIHM?", the other rats asked again.

"Yes.", Cole said firmly, "You will all be discovered unless you leave tonight."

Jenner frowned.

"Lies.", he insisted.

Cole looked his way firmly.

"She speaks the truth Jenner.", he told the rat, "I heard it myself as well."

The other rats began talking among themselves.

"What if it's true?"

"We'll all be killed."

"Don't panic."

Jenner suddenly stepped forward.

"Don't listen, they're hysterical."

"Get out now!", Mrs. Brisby said.

/

Jenner harshly swatted Mrs. Brisby aside and Cole barely missed his hand as Jenner tried to hit him too. Unfortunately, Cole's pendant fell out and Jenner's eyes locked on it.

"You had it.", he said as he removed his cloak and reached for a sword on his belt, "I knew you did."

Cole felt fear grip his heart as he turned to Mrs. Brisby and got to her as Jenner drew his sword.

"Give me that stone.", he said firmly.

Mrs. Brisby came too and she and Cole scampered up as Cole could swear he heard Sullivan yelling something in the distance. They had gotten on top of the Brisby house with Jenner following just as Justin came out.

"Jenner, stop this."

Cole and Mrs. Brisby fell over and Jenner saw the other stone around Mrs. Brisby's neck and he looked more eager.

"Both in one place.", he stated before turning to Justin and shoving him aside, "Get out of my way."

Cole quickly got to his feet before noticing his pendant shimmering again.

"Now what?", he asked.

As if to answer him, a hilt of a sword materialized and the moment he gripped it, he pulled and a full sword came out and Cole took a moment to admire its blue-silver blade.

"Wow, talk about Anduril showing up to help." he commented.

He was brought out of his thoughts as Jenner chuckled darkly as he approached.

"I want those stones."

"Over my dead body.", Cole said trying to sound brave.

Justin saw Cole standing up to Jenner as the two began sword fighting. However, Jenner was a lot taller than Cole so he mostly avoided as Jenner's blade and his clashed. Cole had always imagined being in a sword fight, but this was nothing at all what he had in mind. Still, he held his own until Justin rushed forward to help, but before he could, Jenner managed to clash his blade with Cole's making the mouse loose his footing and hit his head on a rock making him dazed. Sullivan also came forward and drew his own sword.

"Justin, my sword!", he called out as he hurled it to Justin.

Justin caught it, but Jenner swung his own blade leaving a gash across Sulivan's chest as the rat slid a ways off before going limp. Now armed, Justin intervened with Jenner as the two continued to fight. Mrs. Brisby got to Cole and tried to wake him up, but Cole didn't feel strong enough to get back up. By now Justin was beginning to realize something.

"It was you.", he said as he avoided Jenner's sword, "You did it. You killed Nicodemus. That was no accident."

Jenner frowned.

"Yes, I killed him."

The two continued fighting before Cole managed to get enough strength to lift his sword again and just in time to see Justin fall to some water below a ledge as Jenner descended towards him.

"He wanted to destroy everything.", Jenner sneered, "I've learned this much, take what you can when you can."

"Then you've learned nothing.", Justin accused.

/

Cole suddenly felt a surge and got to his feet before dashing over as Justin was about to be given a killing blow and intercepted Jenner. Just as he backed off, Justin stabbed his sword under Cole's arm and into Jenner's side making the rat pause and winch as he gripped his side in pain. The other rats observed as Jenner stumbled back and removed his hand to reveal blood and fell against a stone. Justin then turned to the other rats.

"Friends, tonight, we journey to Thorn Valley.", he said tossing Sulivan's sword aside, "We will leave no tracks. No evidence that the rats of NIHM ever existed."

Cole saw Jenner crawl up a ledge overlooking Justin and just as he was about to send his sword down.

"Justin, behind you!", he called out.

Justin turned and saw Jenner, but then the rat paused as if he had been stabbed in the back before he fell and landed on the ground limp and lifeless with a dagger in his back. Cole felt at ease and the sword in his hands dissolved as if it were a mirage.

"Wow, that was weird.", he muttered.

He then noticed Mrs. Brisby walking off and he caught up to her just as they heard the children's voices as they approached the house.

"Hello? Anybody up there?", they heard Martin call out.

Cole and Mrs. Brisby hurried to the block.

"Martin?", Mrs. Brisby called back.

"Mother, are we almost moved?", Teresa called out.

Mrs. Brisby paused for a moment.

"Soon now.", she stated.

As Mrs. Brisby took a moment, Cole put a hand on her shoulder, but before he spoke, the sound of bursting bubbles made him stop and look around. More bubbles formed and popped around him and Mrs. Brisby as they saw the house getting lower into the ground.

"It's sinking.", Mrs. Brisby said in shock, "It's sinking."

Cole quickly raised his voice.

"Justin, the block! It's sinking!"

Cole could barely hear what was being said, but he did hear Mr. Ages call out.

"There must be… there must be a cave in below."

Cole, Mrs. Brisby, and Justin got on top as Jutin handed over some ropes.

"Here, tie these lines together.", he instructed before taking a line himself, "I'll get a line around the stone."

He tossed a rope to a rat on top of the stone above them while still calling out.

"Brutus, quick, get some rope. Tie off those block lines. Hurry it up, come on! Move it!"

Cole hurried to help as he heard the children cry out from inside. Try as they did, the block just kept sinking as the ropes broke.

"We need another line.", Justin called out.

Cole and Mrs. Brisby were thrown some more line and they tried to tie it off, but the top rope suddenly broke and the whole block sank even deeper!

"Mrs. Brisby, we have to get out or we'll be dragged under!", Cole called out.

/

As the two were tossed in the swirling mud, Mrs. Brisby's amulet flew off her neck and into the muck as Justin suddenly appeared with a rope tied around his waist. Cole held Mrs. Brisby as Justin held them and the other rats pulled them to safety. Mrs. Brisby struggled as Coel tried to hold her before they reached solid ground, but the sight of the sinking block made his own heart sink.

"The children!", he gasped.

As soon as they were all on solid ground, the mud churned and the amulet suddenly rose out before it lit up, flew over til it was above Mrs. Brisby and shone brighter making her and Cole turn away for a moment.

"Courage of the heart is very rare."

Cole and Mrs. Brisby turned to see Nicodemus' reflection in the stone as the old rat continued to speak.

"The stone has a power, when it's there."

"The stone.", Mrs. Brisby said in awe.

Cole touched his own and it was glowing blue although faintly. Mrs. Brisby cautiously and then gripped the stone which erupted flames and shook making her drop it for a moment and the mud around it bubbled and sizzled like a hot frying pan in cool water. Mrs. Brisby picked it up again and this time she held on to it as a glow enveloped her whole body. Cole placed a hand on her shoulder and suddenly, they both gasped as light shone from their bodies. A feeling of enlightenment came upon Cole as he let go of Mrs. Brisby's shoulder and the amulet went back around Mrs. Brisby's neck. A rope still holding on to the submerged Brisby house floated near them. They both grabbed it and flowing red and blue light flowed down the rope and into the mud. At first nothing happened, but then the mud began churning and bubbling before the Brisby house levitated out of the mud which fell off it and while not moving, the house moved as if by invisible giant hands to where it would be safe from the plow and where it was supposed to go before Jenner sabotaged it. The moment the house was moved, the glow around Cole and Mrs. Brisby faded and a strong sense of fatigue came over Cole. He fell to the ground alongside Mrs. Brisby and was out like a light as the rats observed them both in awe. Nicodemus appeared around a side and observed while giving a nod.

"All is as it should be.", he said sagely.

He made his way to the rats who suddenly looked in awe. Especially Mr. Ages and Justin.

"Nicodemus?!", Justin asked, "How?"

Nicodemus walked up to Cole and touched his amulet.

"Cole had a noble spirit and a good heart.", he said sagely, "He will wake much later than Mrs. Brisby I fear."

Mr. Ages got over his awe quickly and nodded.

"Yes, we'll have to get them comfortable until they get well again."

Nicodemus nodded and the other rats quickly gathered Mrs. Brisby and Cole before heading towards the Brisby house.

"Mother?", Teresa called out.

The rats didn't answer as Nicodemus knocked on the door and after a bit, it opened to reveal Auntie Shrew looking a bit firm until she saw Mrs. Brisby and Cole.

/

Cole stirred and his eyes fluttered open to see that he was in bed. He yawned and got up before noticing that Timmy was up too although he still wasn't allowed to go outside by the way he was standing up to a window.

"Mama, I'm tired of bed.", he complained, "I wanna get up."

Cole got up and heard Mrs. Brisby outside.

"Well, you're not getting up."

Cole had just made it to the door when he thought he heard Jeremy laughing.

"Here it is. I brought the whole nest. There's plenty more where this came from, I have connections."

Cole got out just in time to see Jeremy overlooking a twig nearby before seeing that the house was moved.

"Hey, your house is moved.", he said before looking down, "Oh no, what am I going to do with all this string?"

"You'll think of something.", Cole told him.

Jeremy sighed as he started walking back to the string he had brought.

"What's the use? What's a guy like me gonna do with a love nest anyway?"

Before he walked in too far, a female crow flew in and crashed into Jeremy and they fell into the grass together.

"Look Mommy, another turkey.", Cynthia said.

After a bit, Jeremy exploded out and headed for Mrs. Brisby. Cole hid his pendant before he got over.

"Mrs. Bris, Mrs. Bris, let me have the sparkly. I gotta have the sparkly. Miss B, I gotta have it. Girls can't resist a sparkly. Please, please!"

"I gave it to Justin.", Mrs. Brisby said calmly.

"Justin, who the heck is Justin?", Jeremy asked.

"The leader of the rats.", she said, "Nicodemus made him that even though he's still with them."

Jeremy was about to complain, but Cole cut him off.

"Hey, a little advice here: girls can't resist a guy who's sensitive, honest and athletic."

Jeremy brightened up instantly.

"That's right, athletic.", he said before walking over to the grass again, "I'll just be a little…"

He was cut off cause he tripped over Cynthia and was in the weeds once more. The moment he was out of sight, Cole felt a familiar feeling come over him.

"Well, I guess it's time for me to head out.", he said.

"You're not going to stay?", Martin asked.

Cole looked to the Brisby children and back to Mrs. Brisby smiling.

"I'm afraid my work is done here.", he answered, "But I'll be around, in your heart. Okay?"

The children seemed to understand although a bit reluctant and Cole hugged each one before he went inside to hug Timmy since he couldn't come outside and finished with Mrs. Brisby.

"Thank you, Cole.", she said to him.

"Just happy to help Mrs. Brisby.", Cole told her before closing his eyes smiling.

(A/N: I'd like to thank Ashoriotrey for the suggestion used here though I altered it a little.)