The year is 1886, and we are in the most populous immigrant destination of the times; America. Specifically, New York. A modern city with hundreds of tall buildings and countless people, either from America, or some other place entirely. Though it offers the people countless opportunities, there is also corruption, manipulation, and temptation every now and then. And it's not just people living in this great city, there is are also other organisations of living creatures that us humans aren't aware of. There are birds, dogs, and mice...
In the life of mice, there is not just litter, but also plenty space, lots of leftovers and food which are easy to find, and a good partnership with birds and other animals who don't treat mice as targets to hit... unlike the cats.
The cats have always been a threat to the mouse population. So much so that it ended up creating a life long rivalry between the two species. In order to survive their attacks, the mice would gather their food, run for cover, and wait for the terror to pass. But there are also times when the situation escalates to absolute war. This was particularly true to a settlement of mice in an alleyway system, which were continuously under attack by a group of vicious cats known as the Mott Street Maulers.
The settlement was led by Gussie Mausheimer, a German mouse lady, who was without a doubt the wise one in the colony, besides the fairly witty detective present in those dark times, Basil of Baker Street and his assistant, Dawson. There were, of course, not so witty folks, but rather experienced enough to train for battle against these ferocious predators. Bernard Mousekewitz, the Russian-born violin shopkeeper was by far the toughest out of the rest, and knew all the good moves and strikes to take down a feline. Honest John was secondary to Bernard's notorious career, but he was still one good teacher. A minor notorious group within the alley was a group of young mice who often helped around during the cat attacks, thus earning their upcoming coaching from Honest John. The group members included an Italian mouse, named Tony Toponi, Bridget, an Irish-born mousette, and Olivia Flaversham, the toughest, yet youngest mousette out of every other youngster in the alley. However, if there was one mouse in the colony that was always looked down upon, and often ignored, was the son of Bernard Mousekewitz, Fievel.
Fievel was a nameless little mouse, who had no honour, no reputation, and most of all, no strength. Frankly, the only one who believed in him was his older sister, Tanya. Their mother was long gone, after she was abducted by a cat, along with their unborn sister, and never seen again. He only got to spend his days in his father's violin shop and making weapons for everyone else. The only thing he was able to do was assist in escorting others to safety and then watch as the adults did the rest, with great admiration at Olivia. Despite everything, Fievel was determined to prove himself that he could be like every other mice in the settlement; smart, strong, and tough. One day, he got the chance to do just that.
The alley was in a rage, the Mott Street Maulers were closing in on the crowd. Fievel was running along with everyone with the felines reaching out and grasping thin air behind them, trying to scoop them up, and even using butterfly nets and nearby objects, such as jars and crates. But then, the crowd ran smack dab into the most feared cat of all of them, "The Great Orange Tabby". The tabby roared and began thrashing around as usual, only knocking down a few mice. Fortunately, reinforcements arrived just in time, and the tabby bounded off into another direction.
When the mice have reached shelter, Fievel quietly moved among the crowd, only to bump into Honest John.
"Woah, excuse me there, lad, I'm needed out there."
"Okay, take care."
"Oh, don't worry, I'll be alright, lad." And he dashed outside into the heat of battle. Once the coast was clear, Fievel moved deeper into the crowd swiftly and silently, and squeezed through a small crack. He then dashed around the building and ducked behind a cannon he set up quite some time earlier and waited. Although he was weak, he was quite resourceful in terms of building things, thanks to his experience in his father's violin shop. Fievel sat intently, waiting for any sign of felines. Finally, he heard loud bounding from across an entrance to the alley. He aimed... and fired.
The bolas flung out of the cannon and grappled up the limbs of the passing by feline... It was none other than the Great Orange Tabby. And what's more, Fievel had also shot a brick out of the cannon, which sent the orange feline tumbling into a nearby abandoned bakery. Fievel couldn't believe his eyes.
"I can't believe it... I did it... I shot down a cat! Did anyone see that...?" A burly cat in a bowler hat loomed down over him.
"I've seen it, and I loved it very much..."
"Uh oh..." Fievel bolted, the burly cat was right behind him, and it looked like he was about to catch him. Luckily, Tony Toponi was there to save his life and hide him underneath a stack of planks. Soon enough, Bernard arrived and quickly took care of the cat with his bare hands and a few flower pots. Unfortunately, Honest John and the other mice failed to bind the feline, as he broke free from the repressing forces trying to pin him down, and dashed off with the other cats.
"Fievel, how did you get out? What are you doing out here?"
"I shot down a cat." Fievel said happily.
"Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but that little stunt you pulled looked far from shooting down a cat to me."
"Tony, come on!"
"Sorry, Bridget. It's just that he doesn't really have any valid evidence that he shot that fat cat."
"No, it was another one. It was..."
"Fievel, I think it's time that you head back to the shop..." Bernard told him firmly. Tanya then took Fievel by the hand and led him away with Honest John following close behind. Fievel's ears drooped down sadly.
"Why can't I be like everyone else?" he asked himself sadly.
"You're just a bit young, that's all." Tanya tried to comfort him.
"That's nothing new, so is Olivia."
"Lad, you just need to stop trying to be something you're not."
"All I want to do is be like all of you. I try to do everything you people have ever done, and even if I shoot down a cat, it's still not enough for you."
"Listen, some people might be more than what meets the eye, but you're just average to moderate out of heart. Even if you step out of your shell, you're still the same little lad we always knew... But you know what? You're just fine that way."
"I wish everyone else could say I'm fine this way... But I'm just a joke to them." Tanya was on the verge of fearing over losing her brother.
"Fievel, joke is a strong word. You're just simple. But John and I believe in you. Just don't lose yourself, and please, don't leave me like that."
"Yeah... At least you two believe in me..." Fievel sighed.