7Disclaimer: Wouldn't it be entertaining to write a famous novel and write fan-fiction for your own novel? Then you can say "Hey! Actually... I do own them." Sadly, I don't. Disney owns them. Probably locked up in a vault somewhere or another. Basil, Justin... none of them are mine. However, Anna and the pigeon crew are. Plus random settings that I created out of my head.
Author's Note: I got such a good response to the first chapter that I would try my hand at a second chapter. Hopefully I'll manage to finish the entire story... maybe even a sequel if all goes well. Anyway, enough chatter. Enjoy!
Chapter II: A Journey Begins
Like most nights, the London air was thick with fog, dark and threatening of rain. A figure silently strolled across the garden, taking in the lush surroundings illuminated by broken beams of moonlight and lights from the palace. Stopping by a trellis, the figure smiled up at the moon, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Anna could never remember being so excited in her whole life. She was both nervous as hell, but eager to begin her journey. She leaned against the trellis, threading her fingers gently through the foliage, looking ahead and beyond the fence.
Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind and pulled into the shadow, a hand clamping across her mouth before she could scream, the other grabbing her around the waist. She instantly started to fight back and flail around, attempting to calculate where the closest source of help would be. She then heard her attacker whisper hoarsely in her ear.
"Reveal... thy... name..."
Anna stopped. She knew that voice. Making a muffled groan against the hand across her mouth, she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, tapping her foot impatiently into the soft grass.
"Dis is gedding owld," she said, muffled against the hand. Finally it lifted, both hands dropped from her, and she took a step forward to gain space. She turned to the shadows. "Do you enjoy watching women squirm, Captain?"
Justin stepped out of the shadows and smiled, shrugging playfully. "No, just you Anna Banana," he said.
Rolling her eyes again, she made her way across the garden, Justin following. "Where are you going? Do you know what time it is?"
Anna didn't turn around but continued on. "One. Yes, I do own a watch. And two, away from you."
"Whatever happened to 'buckle my shoe'?"
"It died."
"You killed Mother Goose?"
She smirked. "So arrest me already," she said over her shoulder.
"I wouldn't do that. But–," Justin jogged to catch up and cut her off, stepping in front of her. "Don't make me tell the Queen on you, out here in the dead of night wandering around... and seeming to be heading towards the coop," he added with increasing interest.
Anna gave him a sly smile. "You wouldn't."
He shrugged, his hands clasped behind his back. "I might."
Anna stepped towards him until they were almost touching. Suddenly, she tipped the brim of his hat down over his eyes. "She knows," she stated simply, turning and continuing on her way.
Anna smiled as she heard Justin fumble behind her, attempting at best to regain his composure. "She what?"
Anna turned but didn't stop walking, the grass soft with dew. "You didn't really think I'd leave without her knowing, did you? I had to say goodbye, didn't I?"
"Were you planning to say goodbye to me?"
Anna stopped. She gave a sympathetic sigh and smiled, turning to her childhood friend and trusted advisor. For a moment, she saw the shy, tepid rat he used to be. She felt slightly shamed. "But you're here now, so what does it matter?" She frowned, processing what she had just said. "Wait... what are you doing here?"
Justin motioned over her shoulder to the gate about a hundred yards away. "Heard there was a pigeon preparing for a trip."
Justin crossed his arms. The message he'd been interrupted with while in the ballroom with the Queen, Mishode, and Anna had been that one of their defense pigeons was preparing for an unscheduled flight. Beyond the gate lay a pigeon coop, housing pigeons that were used by the military mice at the palace. Justin was still nervous about the jubilee and demanded that all flights be recorded. One flight to take off in the dead of night had looked suspicious at first glance. Needless to say, it didn't anymore.
Anna shrugged. "You didn't think I'd leave on foot, did you?"
Justin shrugged. "I wouldn't know. You wouldn't have told me you were even leaving."
Anna gave him a heartfelt smile and came to stand before him. She sighed. "I'm sorry."
Justin didn't answer, locking his gaze to the gleaming grass, their moist strands reflecting the lights strewn throughout the garden. Anna placed a hand comfortingly on his arm, the other to cup the side of his face. "Justin."
He lifted his gaze to look at her. She smiled. "Answer me this: if I had told you... would you have tried to talk me out of it?"
Justin searched her eyes for a moment before realizing what she was getting at. Normally his response would have been chivalrous, saying that he'd only wanted to protect her from possible danger. But having known Anna for so long, he knew it went beyond that.
He'd realized it when she'd placed her hand against his cheek. Her hand trembled gently, whether she noticed or not. She was scared. This was something she had to do... needed to do, but was terrified. And Justin knew that his attempts to talk her out of it wouldn't make it any easier. If anything, he'd manage to convince her to stay. The two of them were always sekking approval from each other, and he knew that if he was against it strong enough, she would drop the idea.
He couldn't do that to her. And she'd known better than to give him the chance.
So he simply stood there and looked at her, taking in her face, her eyes pleading, illuminated by the soft light of the garden. He smiled at her, but his heart saddened at the idea of her leaving. "God, I'm gonna miss you," he said softly.
Anna smiled brilliantly at him, accepting his words for a well-wished blessing. She dropped her hand from his face and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning into him, suddenly realizing how chilled she was compared to the warmth emanating from Justin's embrace. She smiled into him. "I'll miss you too."
He smiled, tilting his head and placing his cheek against the top of her head, one hand on her waist, the other comfortingly stroking her hair. "Where will you go?"
She shrugged. "A couple of weeks in London, then abroad... probably to Morocco... maybe Sweden."
"Where in London?"
She smiled and pulled back, looking at him. She placed her hands on her hips. "Nowhere horrible enough that you need to worry about me." She smiled at the surprised facial expression that reached his face. "I know you, Justin. Stop worrying. I'll be fine."
He shrugged. "I can't help it. It's genetic. My grandmother always worried, my mother always worried. My parents didn't have a daughter, which they worried about, and instead had me, who worries. You're asking me to go against two generations of worriers here, Anna."
She frowned. "How about the Jubilee? High levels of Justin-worry for that event?"
He smirked and shrugged. "Not so much so."
She poked him firmly in the chest. "Try again, Captain."
Justin smiled warmly. She knew him too well. Then again, so did he know her. "I'll tell you about the jubilee if you tell me about the trip."
She frowned for a moment. Then she grinned and rolled her eyes, accepting the terms. "I'm going to the northwest end. I've never really been there... you know, from the ground up. Gone to the market, stayed at an inn... just like... normal everyday citizens do."
Justin smirked. "Hate to tell you this, Anna Banana, but no matter where you go, you'll never be normal. You were born to stand out."
Anna nodded. "Thus the reason for my departure. I want to be able to experience life while I still have time. While I'm in the prime of my youth. I want to be one with the crowd, with the rest of the world. I want to see what it's like being on my own. Being like everyone else."
Justin laughed as the two began walking again towards the gate. "Well, I wish you the best of luck, my lady."
They'd reached the gate before Anna spoke. "So what about the jubilee? Any reason to be concerned?"
Justin sighed as they climbed the ramp to the bird house. "Nothing I can't handle."
"It's Ratigan, isn't it?"
"Like I said, nothing I can't handle."
Anna placed a motherly hand on his arm. "Promise me you'll be careful."
He grinned and patted her arm. "Promise me you'll come back."
"Deal."
"Double deal?"
She grinned at his childish expression, memories of their childhood coming back. She nodded. "Double deal."
"Who's a double dealing son of a what?" a voice suddenly asked.
Anna smiled as Justin opened the door to the coop. The birds were along both sides of a long corridor, two floors of open stalls. Behind the stalls ran platforms on both sides, so they could back out and walk down to the far end of the coop and out to the launch platform. As they entered, Anna looked to her left, to the bird who had been casually eavesdropping. "Nobody's a son of anything, Fray."
Fray, a fully grey pigeon built like a miniature tank, leaned against the stall gate that came to Anna's shoulders. "I hope not. Anybody hurts our Annabella and they is left unable to do much else ever again."
Justin frowned. "I think that's my job, you big lug."
Anna groaned and patted Fray's arm as she continued on. "Neither of you is doing anything. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
"Yea mates. Anybody 'hoo messes wit Anna's got more ta worry about than tha two of you," a speckled pigeon with blue eyes said, his head white. He was sitting on a stool, leaning back against the wall, his feet resting on his bed. "She could wop the lot of ya."
Anna smiled as she passed his stall. "You got that right, Carther."
He winked. "I know I do, luv."
"Anna? Did I heara de lady hasa returned?" a black and grey patched pigeon said, sitting up in his bunk. He rolled out of bed and leaned over the gate, looking down. Anna looked up at Carther's vertical neighbour.
"That depends," she said, "Did I just hear Mateyo?"
Mateyo chuckled. "Yah, ye betta ye did. Hey, wherea you going?"
She laughed. "Morocco."
"Morocco?" Mateyo's right side neighbour Danson poked his head around the corner. "Why not Sweden?"
"Sweden? Are you crazy, eh?" said Mateyo. "Whatsa matter with Italy, I asks ya? De best food in de world!"
Danson rolled his eyes. "You're biased. Best food is in France."
"Says you," said Fray. He looked at Anna. "Hey Annabella. Have a good trip, kiddo." She nodded and gave a sly curtsy. He nodded back and headed for bed.
Anna was about to apologize for waking up the entire coop (though she was sure they had all been up long before she got there), when suddenly a mouse came running down the platform towards Justin and Anna. "Captain! Captain, something's wrong with the bird on the pad."
Justin frowned and Anna felt his concern for the entire trip instantly building. "What's wrong?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Says the bags don't go."
Anna rolled her eyes as Danson laughed. "Anna! Ozzy ain't a pack mule!"
She shook her head. "I gotta talk to him." She sighed and stepped past the messenger to the opening that led to the pad. She was about to step up when she heard someone say her name. She glanced over to her left to see a pure white pigeon in the stall. He was smaller than the other pigeons, his gate only up to his stomach. He was the same height as Justin and was a little taller than Anna, but Anna knew he was the fastest pigeon there. He was The Messenger, whom the other birds nicknamed 'Moses'. Anna smiled at him as he hunched over slightly, his elbows resting on the gate. "I was wondering when you were gonna talk to me. I've missed our chats."
Anna smiled. "I have too. How are you, Brody?"
He grinned at her use of his real name, something she knew he appreciated. "Not too bad. Yourself?"
"I'm alright."
"Headed for a trip, I hear."
"Yes."
He cocked a feather. "Scared as hell too, I'll bet."
She grinned. "Yep."
He waved off her admittance. "Ah, you'll be fine. Tough mousette like you?" He grinned. "Where you headed, doll?"
"Morocco, eventually."
He nodded. "And before that?"
"London. Probably north side."
He frowned, his blue eyes inquisitive. "Like what, Oxford and Tottenham? That way?"
"Little more west than that. Edgeware and Gloucester. Or so I estimate anyway."
He chuckled. "Not taking the opportunity to go to Euston at all?"
Anna bit her bottom lip. Brody didn't exaggerate his suggestion, and for Anna he didn't need to. They both knew what was located in Euston: University College.
A very few number of members of the palace knew of Anna's attempts at an education beyond lessons of action like a lady, Brody being one, Justin being another. Many mice still saw an educated woman as a dangerous thing. Brody had been sent secretly to get books for her on more than one occasion. She'd been reading books in large amounts the last couple of years, attempting to teach herself. To say the idea of going to University College herself wasn't appealing would be a horrendous lie. Swinging by the campus may not be such a bad thing.
She smiled. "Maybe... if I have time."
Brody nodded and glanced over Anna's shoulder to Justin, who was occupied talking to his fellow soldier. "How goes the learning, by the way?"
She sighed and leaned against the fence, draping an arm over the side. "Edited."
He frowned. "How so?" he asked, bending over closer, sensing the secrecy.
She shrugged. "I've been doing some reading on alchemy, but unfortunately there are whole page sections written in Greek. Latin, I know. Greek, je n'etudie pas."
"You didn't study Greek?" he said, translating.
She shook her head. "Maybe I'll make some time for it in the future." She stretched and glanced out the large open doors to the pad. "But now, I've got a closer future to take care of."
He smiled and nudged her in the shoulder. "You can do this. No problem."
She gave him a weak smile back. "Here's hoping."
He held out a hand. "Good luck Bella."
She took it and smiled. "Thanks Brody."
"And if you ever need anything, let me know."
"I will," she said. She headed up the ramp to the pad and turned around upon reaching it. Hearing that most of the coop was awake anyway, she shouted. "Goodbye boys!"
There was a unanimous disappointment but well-wishing for her departure from all the stalls. Justin came up to her and the two headed out, Anna giving a final wave over her shoulder.
About twenty yards away on the pad was a black raven, his beak scratching in between the feathers under his wing. Anna smirked and approached. She noticed the two duffel bags, originally used for exploration equipment, one with a blue tag and one without. She grabbed the blue one and stepped towards him.
The bird looked up and frowned at her, dropping his wing. "I already told the mouse Anna, I ain't takin' no two bags."
She smiled. "Who said anything about two?" She crouched and unzipped the bag, pulling out a large bag of seeds. The raven's eyes went wide.
"What... what is that?"
She smiled innocently. "This? This is what the doctor ordered. Fresh honey roasted seeds with butter and cinnamon."
The raven's jaw dropped. "Am I still taking you to Marlybone?"
She nodded. "Yep."
He squinted at her for a moment. "Are you sure you're not bribing me to take you somewhere else?"
"Like where?"
"Gee, for a whole bag of my favorite seeds from the palace chef? I don't know... Tokyo?"
She laughed and shook her head. "Honestly, this is for being such a good sport about all this Oz."
Oz shrugged. "You know, I'd do it for free. You really didn't have to do that Anna."
"It's the least I can do for getting you up in the middle of the night for a moonlit ride," she said, going back to grab the other bag. He sighed.
"Now I feel really bad for saying what I did. I didn't mean to– that is, I..." he stumbled.
Anna came up and patted his beak. "C'mon Oz, no worries. Besides, I'm going to have to be carrying my bags with me, remember. How much I bring has nothing to do with you."
Oz grinned. "Well in that case," he said, picking the bag up in his beak and placing it on his back, "Phinneas J. Osgood, at your service, m'lady. Ready to leave when you are."
She smiled. "Ready now." She turned to Justin as Oz crouched low enough so Anna could climb on. "Well, here I go."
He embraced her again for a moment. "Please be careful."
She gave him a light punch in the shoulder. "I will. Don't worry." Turning to Oz, she clambered onto his back between his shoulder blades, her bag on her lap, taking a tight grasp of the feathers in front of her. She smiled down at Justin. "Oh and Captain? Give my regards to Mishode, won't you? She might actually hear them if they come from you," she said, winking.
Justin rolled his eyes and waved her off. "You still here?"
She shook her head. "Not anymore," she said. Then, she gave a gentle tug to the feathers in her hands. "Ready to go, Oz?"
He nodded and looked out to the runway. Though he could simply jump up, it might shake Anna right off his back. So he'd glide his way up. "Here we go."
Anna gave Justin a final wave and received one back just as Oz took off down the runway. Justin watched as Oz slowly began to flap, aware and careful of the precious cargo he was carrying. He smiled as the raven lifted, carrying Anna into the moonlight. He stayed until they were nothing but a dot in the sky, then ceasing to be seen.
"Well Anna?" he said to himself, "Tomorrow is looking mighty dull already."
Little did he know, as he walked back through the coop and across the garden, how wrong he was.
Author's Note: Well, there's chapter two of the story. I know it's sort of slow going at the beginning, but I need to do it to properly set up the story. I promise we'll see some more of Basil in the next chapter. You have my word. And I had a bit of problems with the places in this, but I finally got a map of London, so I can see where the locations are that I'm dealing with and make it a little more authentic. Oh, and when Anna and the birds are talking about Marlybone and Oxford? Those are streets. Except Euston, where the school is located is in fact an area. Kind of like a county. And yes, University College does exist.
Anyway, as I do with my other fics, I like to thank my reviewers personally. Thanks so much for reading! Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
To my reviewers:
AlexTheHurricane- Thanks so much for the encouragement to continue! It may not seem like a lot, but it actually is. It means a lot when the readers actually enjoy what the author worked so hard on! So thanks so much for the review! I hope you enjoy the second chapter too!
lightening816- Thanks so much for telling me to keep going. I wasn't sure at first if I had enough of a story to be able to develop it into something good, but it looks like I will after all. Thanks for the review!
The Mouse Avenger- Thanks so much for all your kind words of encouragement, and for the e-mail regarding the GMD group! I will certainly join when I finally get organized enough to sit down and sign up. It's a great film and I'm glad there's people out there who appreciate it! Thanks for the review! Hope you liked chapter two!
kate- Thanks so much for the review! I have to agree with you about not having enough romance yet. As it stands now, there isn't much romance until about chapter four or five. But I promise you, since I've been writing excerpts of the 'good parts' (I'm a romantic comedy junkie myself) that there will be plenty of GMD romance to go around. But there will be lots to a point– I promise.