Whoo! Took me awhile, but I managed to finish this chapter in time for the holidays. But thus far, this chapter was the longest I had to make.

Anyway, there's a big announcement at the end of the this chapter, and I don't own any of the characters from The Great Mouse Detective or Lilgrimmapple's character. However, there is a little surprise somewhere in this chapter and I hope you love it.

Well, let's begin the thirteenth chapter!

Chapter 13: The Face of Evil Returns

Everything was falling into place, but I never realized that the evil I thought was supposed to be dead. I was a fool, I should've noticed the signs.

Everything was coming together, but I never imagined I would play a part in a very sick game to become nothing more than a pawn. It was my fault for not seeing it beforehand.

Little did I realize that I would play an even bigger role and an unseen fate was about to happen to me…

But little did I also realize that I would also be the one to blame for the changes that were about to occur, which would turn everything upside down.

December 13, 2017 11:05 a.m.

Anna was still shocked as her heart continued to beat in her chest. Her body was shaking with absolute fear after seeing that. She just couldn't believe it, Ratigan was alive! On top of that, he was in her world and was Moriarty this whole time! How was this even possible?! How did he even get to her world? When Ratigan's evil smile remained, Anna flabbergasted, "B-But how...How are you…"

"How am I still alive, you ask?" Ratigan giggled. "Let's just say that fate changed for me."

"But I...I don't understand," Anna remained confused, none of this didn't make any sense. "I saw you fall off the clocktower."

"And indeed you did, but…" Ratigan held up a single finger. "Did you or anyone else find my body to know I was really dead or perhaps...you saw something during my fall?"

Now that Ratigan mentioned that, Anna did see something while watching Ratigan fall. But then...her eyes widened when she muttered, "That light." There were some kind of connection, but she realized one thing...the silver watch was connected to that light. However, looking at Ratigan she says, "But I don't get it, you didn't have the watch, Basil did."

"True, Basil did take my watch, but unfortunately...he never realized that sooner or later, his fate is sealed by my hand."

"W-What?" Anna clearly didn't understand what he meant by that.

"I'm sure you are already aware that there is more than one silver watch. However…" He shows Anna the silver watch. "I never created the watch."

Anna was shocked when she learned about that. If he didn't create the watch...then who did? Better yet, where did he get from and who was the one who made the silver watch?

"But despite not being the creator of the watch. There are, however...other ways."

"Other ways?" She repeated. None of this didn't even add up. "But I don't understand any of this. Why does this-"

"Why does this have to do with you?" Ratigan interrupted as he knew what she was going to ask. "Well, since you asked…" He smiles as he goes behind her and turns her chair around, then he walks to a chain while reaching up and grabbing it. "Allow me to shed some light on the subject."

With a pull, the lightbulb was turned on and the barely lit room was illuminated slightly with light. Anna gasped at what she was looking at…

Right in front of her was a billboard filled with drawings of plans and right in the center was the face of Basil. What became even more shocking was that she was seeing a photograph of herself and right below it written in red ink said: "The red-head". But right next to the photograph stuck with a tack was her driver's license. "Marvelous, isn't it?" Ratigan giggled while Anna looked at him. "A carefully constructed, but laid-out plan...and you my dear, had just played a part in that plan."

Anna thought about this carefully...then she said, "So then...the accusation of me stealing the watch. All of that was-"

"Yes, that was a part of my plan."

"But, it felt so real."

"That was the idea, it was all part of an act to make you think it was real, and it all worked really well."

Anna's thoughts were in a state of turmoil. If all of this was just an act, why does this still have to do with her? Ratigan still hadn't told her why and none of this still didn't even add up or make any sense.

Seeing that she was lost in thought, Ratigan says, "To put your mind at ease, let me tell you a bit about the first part of my plan."

An hour and ten minutes earlier…

"The first part, was replacing the security guards."

Four of the real security guards were knocked out unconscious as they were tied up and their mouths taped shut. They were stripped of their uniforms, leaving them only wearing their white shirts or tank tops and underwear.

"Wait a minute," Anna says. "So those security guards that I met, they were-"

"Yes, they were fake, the men you've seen are working for me...Well, more like working with the human Mr. Moriarty. They never knew who they truly worked for."

As the four men finished dressing in the stolen security uniforms, Mr. Moriarty...well, more like Ratigan in human disguise, was looking at the blacked haired man and saying, "You know what to do."

"Yes sir," he acknowledged his boss as he left the locker room.

He looks at another man who had light-brown hair and dark blue eyes as he nods at him. Getting the gist of what he has to do, he nods back at his boss and takes out a cell phone from out of his pocket and begins dailing.

At another part of the mall, a black man wearing a grey beanie, black jacket with grey sleeves, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes, was leaning his back against the wall. He feels vibration coming from the inside of his pocket as he takes out his cell phone and hit's the call button while placing it by his ear. "Yeah," he answered.

"Are you in position?" The light-brown haired man asked.

"Yeah," he answered as he looked at the bakery, waiting for the girl to come out from work. "She should be done in about several minutes."

"Good, do you still have it with you?"

"Of course," he pats the pocket of his jacket which contained the silver watch. "I'd make sure to take good care of it."

"Alright, but just be sure-"

"Yeah, yeah, man, I know the deal I'll I gotta do is just make sure the girl doesn't lose me while I lure her to one of the other guys."

"Alright, but just make sure you don't make any mistakes. The boss won't tolerate any mishaps."

"C'mon, man, the boss knows I haven't let him down at all, and besides, this'll be too easy."

He closes his cell phone and puts it back in his pocket as he walks away while continuing to wait for the girl.

"So then, the thief…" Anna says. "The real thief had the watch and he works for you as well."

"That is correct, my dear." Ratigan says. "He was a very valuable asset for me, but nevertheless, he was good at what he does best...and it was all a matter of just luring you towards my men."

The black haired man was waiting patiently while the crowd passed him by, waiting for the real thief to lure the girl straight towards him. "Help, somebody!" he heard a shout. Looking ahead, he notices the thief running from the crowd while the girl was chasing him and continued to shout, "Stop him, he's got my bag!" As the thief got closer, the blacked haired man charges and tackles him, making sure it looked real enough to fool the girl or else she would've gotten suspicious of what's going on.

The thief hissed in pain while whispering to him, "Damn man, that hurts!"

"Did you handle it while she was chasing you?" The black haired man asked while whispering.

"Yeah, it's already in the bag."

"Good, I'll take it from here, get going."

The thief nods while quickly getting up and starts running while the black haired man picks up the bag. As the girl was waving a fist and shouting, "Yeah, that's right you better run you asshole!" He managed to quietly zip the bag shut where the thief had already placed the silver watch inside it.

"But there's one thing I don't understand," Anna says. "Why did you even send me to the past, could you even steal your own watch?"

Ratigan chuckled as he answered, "Believe me, my dear, if I would I could've done so. But no, if I did manage to see myself, time itself would have reseted the day and I wouldn't be able to reach it. So I needed someone else to get the watch from myself."

"And that's where I came in."

Ratigan nods his head.

"But out of all of this, it was because of…" Anna's eyes widened when something clicked and she gazed at the picture of Basil. "Because of revenge, isn't it?"

"Hm?" Ratigan cocked an eyebrow.

"I don't know what your 'grand plan' is or why it still has to do about me, but somewhere around your plan you intend to harm Basil, then takeover Mousedom like you tried to do before. Right?"

Ratigan threw his head up and laughed while clapping his hands and saying, "Very good, my dear! You figured out a little bit of my grand plan!" He smiles as he looks at the picture of Basil. "But I'm going to do more than just harm him." He takes the picture off the billboard. "Everyday, my mind is plagued by an image of him with that smug grin of his. Everyday, in every waking moment, I hear him laughing at my humiliation. Everyday…" His teeth gritted in anger...then he viciously tears the picture apart. "I want to rip him apart until he's nothing more than tiny little pieces!" He roughly tosses the ripped pieces as they were scattered on the floor, then he clutches his hands while raising them. "Better yet, I want to wring his scrawny little neck until his eyes pops out!" He breathes heavily, then he composed himself while fixing his hair by brushing it back. "But I have a different plan in mind for him." He giggles slightly while giving a wicked smirk. "Oh, he'll be in for a surprise…" He reaches inside his suit coat and pulls out something...Anna gasped at what he just pulled. "...in what I'm about to do to him."

What Ratigan just pulled out...was a silver revolver! He digs through his pocket and pulls out a speed reloader while flicking the barrel open, then he puts the bullets in and says, "It's really impressive…" He spins the barrel and flicks it shut, then closes one eye while aiming through the sight. "How your world had evolved throughout the centuries and managed to create such powerful weapons." With a smile...he points the gun at Anna, making her gasp as she wanted to back away, but couldn't as she remained tied to the chair. As her heart was beating with fear while looking at the barrel of the gun, Ratigan said to her, "And with a pull of the hammer…" There was a click as the hammer was pulled. "And a single squeeze to the trigger could blow someone's head wide open." He giggles as he added, "Imagine what it would do to a mouse."

Anna could already imagine what he meant by that. Like Ratigan said, he wasn't just going to harm Basil. No, that went way beyond that…

He was going to kill him using that gun from her world! She could almost see Ratigan pointing that gun right at Basil and shooting him point blank right at his head. The sound of the gunshot that she imagined flashed as she saw the same young boy with dark hair stumbling towards her as he was already riddled with bullet wounds and collapsed on the floor dead. Seeing this made Anna gasp as she closes her eyes and the memory fades, she didn't want to see it again.

"But to answer your question," Ratigan says while putting the gun back inside his suit coat and Anna opening her eyes while slowly breathing to calm her racing heart. "If I was going to take over Mousedom?" He smiles as he gave her his answer. "The answer is no, that ship has long since sailed."

Anna was confused by what he said. "If you are not going to take over Mousedom...then what do you want?"

"Simple...everything."

"Everything? What do you mean by-"

"Why settle with one world, when I can have every world."

Anna was once again confused. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Seeing her confusion, Ratigan explains, "Tell me, my dear, have you ever seen an intellectual creature like myself?" Anna nodded her head no to him as he giggles while tapping the side of his head slightly with a single finger and saying, "Then think, my dear, do you even know if there's even a single intellectual creature or perhaps...seen an intellectual society in your world?"

When Ratigan mentioned that, she remembered Basil explaining to her that humans only see the mice or rats as vermin and they don't actually see them as intellectual creatures. When that thought once again crossed her mind...her eyes widened and she gasped at the most shocking revelation of all. She never knew that the answer was right there in front of her, yet she was so blind, it was completely oblivious to her. "No…" she muttered, then looked at Ratigan. "That can't be...that's impossible!"

"Oh, nothing is impossible, my dear."

Anna still couldn't believe it, but the answer became clear…

She didn't just warp through time...she was sent to another world! But it still was impossible! How could she even go to another world? Yes, she knows that she could go backwards in time, but it was impossible to go to another world and another time completely. None of this didn't make any sense!

Ratigan could sense her distress as he smiles at her while giggling and explains, "But to make it clear for you to understand. Yes, it is true that it is impossible to crossover to such worlds, but what became impossible, is now possible." Anna watches as Ratigan takes another picture off the billboard. "And it's all thanks to not just time and space...but this world."

Ratigan shows her a drawing, but this one stood above the rest. The picture showed her pathways here and there while showing her doors, and each of them within those pathways had clocks and watches. Looking at those clocks and watches closely they looked...modern, but to add to the strangeness, there were also antique clocks, many of them consisted of pocket watches or grandfather clocks while the modern clocks consisted of digital watches or clocks, or ordinary wristwatches. But she even noticed other clocks that were unfamiliar to her while right next to every single watch or clock was some kind of...hole? She couldn't tell what those were, but she did notice out in the center of the picture…

Was a giant clock face that had no numbers or a single roman numeral on it. It only possessed hands, nothing more. "What the hell is this?" Anna asked as she wanted to know what this odd drawing was.

"This, my dear, is a world where time and space resides. Where many worlds are connected to this world," he points at the picture before her. "Where many different realities and timelines coexist. I like to call this place...The Outskirts of Time Itself."

Anna was beyond shocked. A world where many different worlds other than her own and many different time periods exist in that world. Could this so called "Outskirts of Time Itself" bear many different universes while keeping the different timelines altogether? Could it show her the many different possible outcomes in her future and anyone else's? Could there be links to different dimensions in time? If so, could any of those worlds have another...her? The list of questions kept on piling as she couldn't even answer any of them.

"It was thanks to this world," Ratigan continued explaining. "That I have learned many different ways to use these powers to bend them to my will. Which is the reason why I was able to become human and blend in your world, but that was just the beginning of what I can do…" He gives her a wicked smirk. "I managed to find a way to link my world and yours while remaining trapped here in this world, and it took me thirty-one years to understand how."

Anna was surprised by that, it took Ratigan that long to understand the watches power and he was stuck in her world for thirty-one years. How come no one even noticed him? However, she managed to piece some parts as she says, "So that's how you were able to do it. Since you couldn't see yourself, you needed me to steal your watch from yourself. But there's one thing I don't get. What was the point in all of this?"

"Easy...it was all just a test."

Anna had a confused look. "A test? What the hell do you mean by that?"

"I wanted to experiment to see an alternate version of my world. Which is also the reason why I gave you that watch so you can understand its power while trying to steal my gold watch. Still, I was a bit surprised that you haven't been able to use it's power to blend in my world." He shrugs his shoulders. "But nevertheless, you've done well. Now...we have some alternate worlds."

What the hell did he mean by "alternate worlds"? Did Ratigan...experiment on her world? If so, then how come she hasn't noticed any unnatural changes to her world. However, there was something that crossed her mind. If she somehow created an alternate world in Basil's world...could it be…

Anna's eyes widened when she asked, "Ratigan, do you still have your own watch?"

Ratigan smiles, then answers, "Why of course, my dear," he rubs the side of his suit. "My real watch is right here where it belongs. While the other watch that you had to steal…" He pats the pocket on the right side of his black dress pants. "Is right here in my pocket."

Anna couldn't believe it. Not only does Ratigan have his own watch, but also had another gold watch that was...well his. This not only confused her, but she said to him, "But if you already have a gold watch. Why do you need another one?"

"Remember what I said that there are other ways?"

Anna nods at him.

"Well, I know you're still wondering who the other informant was that warned myself of your arrival. Let's just say I found another way, one that would be impossible for anyone to achieve...but I alone managed to achieve the impossible." He turns his attention away from Anna and looks at the door. "You can come in now, I know your listening and watching through my eyes."

Anna was confused by what he meant by the last part, but then...she hears a door opening behind her. She tries to look behind, but couldn't see who it was, instead she hears the sound of footsteps. When it got closer and got next to her...she gasps at what she was seeing…

There was another figure clad in a grey cloak that covered his entire big frame, but when he took his hood down...it was none other than Ratigan!

Her face darts at the two Ratigan's while saying, "Oh my God! There's...there's two of you! H-How is this even possible?!"

"Simple," The cloaked Ratigan answered her. "The power of time of space. Since I can't see myself, it would be impossible…"

"...however," The other Ratigan spoke. "If I can't see myself, I can bring myself to a different world entirely. Which also means...I can copy myself."

Things were starting to make some sense. "So then, the watch that I gave you...That was a copy as well."

"Ding, ding, ding," Ratigan made a knock-knock gesture, "you got one right."

"And the other informant who warned yourself…" Anna looks at the cloaked Ratigan. "Was you."

"Very good, Anna, you got the other one right!" Ratigan started giggling while pinching the bridge of his nose. "It was just so hilarious that I was able to fool myself…"

At the hideout, the cloaked Ratigan motioned the other Ratigan to come here…

"I told him the one thing which only I would know."

The other Ratigan turns his head as the cloaked Ratigan whispered, "I know you intend to replace the queen so you can become king."

The other Ratigan had his eyes widened as he gasped and backed away. "So it is true, you do know everything about me."

The cloaked Ratigan smirked as his plan to fool himself worked.

Everything was starting to come into place. She figured out that since Ratigan couldn't see himself, he used that cloak to disguise himself so he could warn...well his other self, that she was coming to steal his watch. However, there was something strange about this. So far, she knows that Ratigan used her for an experiment to create an alternate world. But still, what was more to it than just that?

So with that, she says to the other Ratigan, "What was your endgame behind this and why do you even need a copy of your gold watch."

The other Ratigan giggled as he answered her, "To answer your other question as to why I needed a copy of the gold watch." He takes out the copy of the gold watch from out of his pocket, then takes out the silver watch from out of his suit pocket. "Allow me to demonstrate more of the watches power."

He spreads his arms out...then slowly brings the two watches to each other. The silver and gold watches lids opened itself, their hands spinning so fast it became a blur. Their faces began to glow as sparks of electricity surged from the silver watch to the gold watch...then a flash of light came as Anna turned her head away and closed her eyes while the cloaked Ratigan giggles in delight.

When the light came to an end, she looked back at the other Ratigan...only to see that the watch had changed. As the hands continued to spin in a blur, it came to a stop as it showed 11:25, but the color of it was different. The watch itself was now platinum, the face of it remained crystal while the inside of it showed aurora lights that danced here and there, and the hands went from diamond-shaped arrows at the end, to pure crystal as little stars were trapped at the inside of the crystal arrows. It was hard to believe this, even for Anna. This was Ratigan's goal, to merge a copy of the gold watch with the silver watch to create this. But what was it for?

"Now then," The other Ratigan closes the platinum watch. "To answer your question as to what my endgame was. Remember what I said that I wanted to experiment on making an alternate world. Well, there's more to it than that. For you see, I already know that your kind created a movie called The Great Mouse Detective, but I decided that I wanted to change it a little bit. Think of this as a little play I like to call: The Thief and The Crime Lord, and you my dear..." he made a shift picture frame with his hands. "Are the star in my play, so picture this, you traverse through time and space to find a gold watch, but you needed help to find it so you seek Basil since you know that he can help you. But neither you nor Basil realize that you had to steal it from The Napoleon of Crime himself. After succeeding by defeating the enemy, you return back to your time to give the gold watch to Mr. Moriarty. However, there's a little twist to the ending. Do you know what happens in the end?"

Anna didn't answer him or nod, she just stared at him.

"The crime lord's arch-nemesis gets what's coming to him."

The cloaked Ratigan slid his throat with a finger while hissing to simplify Basil's death.

"Mr. Moriarty was actually the crime lord himself who actually had a silver watch as well as he traverses through time and space, but had already learned a few new tricks. And do you know what happens when he sees the girl?"

Anna leaned slightly away from the cloaked Ratigan as he puckered his lips and made smooching noises, making her cringe in disgust. However, seeing this odd outcome made her put two and two together as she looked at the other Ratigan who smiled at her. "Yes, the crime lord gives her an offering...his hand in marriage."

Anna was once again beyond shocked...He couldn't really be serious?!

Her look of shock changed to anger as she said, "First you tried to kill me in the past, and now you wanna ask my hand in marriage...Are you insane?!"

"Oh no, my dear," the other Ratigan chuckled. "It is just as I said. Just mad…"

"And wicked my dear!" The cloaked Ratigan says.

The two Ratigan's threw their heads up and laughed maniacally. "Well you can forget, asshole!" Anna yelled as the two Ratigan's stopped laughing. "There's no way in hell I'm marrying a mouse-pretending, freakface, scumbag of a rat like you!"

Anna yelped as the other Ratigan backhand her, knocking her chair down sideways. He was about to kick her in the chest if the cloaked Ratigan hadn't held him back while saying, "Easy, Ratigan! Easy! She already deserved that, but remember the plan! We can hurt her physically, but not damage our prize, remember!"

The other Ratigan took a few deep breaths to calm himself, then said as he relaxed, "Of course, the plan."

The cloaked Ratigan puts Anna's chair back up, her lip began bleeding slightly while he says to her, "Be grateful that I was here or else you would have suffered."

"And next time," the other Ratigan says while bending down at her. "I watch that tongue of yours."

Anna spits her own blood at him. "Screw you!"

The other Ratigan sighs unamused as he takes a handkerchief out and starts wiping the blood off his face while saying, "This is the reason why I dislike humans. They are such primitive, slow-minded fools who act so savagely without realizing the damage they are causing to others." He places his handkerchief back in his suit while the cloaked Ratigan nodded in agreement. "They are no better than animals that need to be kept on a leash. Which makes them so disgustingly dainty." He giggles slightly then adds, "But all that's going to change." He looks at the platinum watch. "With this new power, I'll be able to merge worlds and rewrite history in my own image."

Anna gasped at this. Could he actually do that with that watch?

The cloaked Ratigan could sense what she thought as he says, "Yes, when that happens, everything will change...and so will you my dear."

"Once I reign supreme," the other Ratigan says while chuckling. "You will soon be by my side and bowing to my every whim."

"Like hell I am!"

"Believe what you want, but just remember...it was you who gave me the watch so I can get this power."

Anna felt guilty, but at the same time...horrible by what he just said. It was true, she did give him the gold watch which made him create the platinum watch. Now that he has it, he'll be able to merge her world.

"But now that the first part of my grand plan is done, the next part of the plan will soon begin."

"Oh yes," the cloaked Ratigan says. "The next part will be some loose ends to tie-up."

"And once that ends," the other Ratigan says. "No one, not even Basil himself will stop me this time."

"Then after that, everything will be ours...but to put it more frankly, it will be mine. That's once our minds become one."

Anna had no idea what he meant by "minds become one".

The other Ratigan giggles slightly, then says, "And you, my dear, will play a part in my grand scheme, but now…" The cloaked Ratigan takes out a silver watch from the confines of his cloak. "You got a front row seat to see it begin." The cloaked Ratigan presses the middle button as light filled Anna's vision. When it came to an end, she was standing up, but her mouth was muffled by the arm of the other Ratigan. She wanted to elbow him, but couldn't as her hands were now tied behind her back. "You know what to do," he says to the cloaked Ratigan.

The cloaked Ratigan nodded, then said to Anna, "Farewell for now, my dear," he pulls his hood up, then winds the three buttons on the silver watch three times. "I hope you enjoy watching Basil's last moments while I not only help the third version of myself...but to deal with an interfering interloper who poses a threat to the plan."

Anna was confused by that last part...then something dawned on her. Could he be talking about him? Could it be...could it be that mysterious elderly person with that brown bowler hat that she saw in her vision?

The cloaked Ratigan presses the three buttons, then disappears in a flash of light.

The other Ratigan giggles as he reaches forward with his other hand and starts turning the middle button while saying, "Shall we depart, my dear." He pressed the middle button as fast ticking was heard. Anna notices a cane hanging on Ratigan's wrist. If she were able to pull herself free from his grip, she would've noticed that he was now cloaked in the same grey cloak as the other Ratigan did before he left, and had a top hat with a silver band on it.

Anna knew that she had to get out of his grip. Luckily for her, Ratigan's foot was just near hers. With that, she stomps on it, making him wince in pain. Then when his arm was away from her mouth, she lounges forward and clamps her teeth down on his wrist, making him howl in pain just as the loud sounds Tick-Tock-Tick was heard as she pulled away, but both her body and Ratigan's had already been encased in light...

With a flash of light, both of them had vanished.

In an alleyway, everything was quiet...until…

A flash of light came and a yelp came from Anna as she rolled and her back crashed onto something that made a sound of a ding. As she grunted while nodding her head to get the dizziness off from being thrown through time, her hands feel something cool and smooth as she opens her eyes...only to gaze at the familiar enormous world around. She had returned to Basil's world, but she looked around and hoped that Ratigan wasn't with her. But much to her surprise, he wasn't. What she didn't realize was that when she separated from him while they were encased in light then warped, they separated through two different directions in this time period.

She didn't know where Ratigan was, but could care less. As long as he was far away from her that was all that mattered. However, now that she was back, she has to get out of her bonds, and luckily for her, she crashed into a broken glass bottle that had serrated edges. Standing up, she goes to a serrated edge and starts sawing her bounds off. It took a minute until the ropes came off with a snap, quickly tossing it away as she made a beeline out of the alleyway. But while she was running, she didn't notice a lot of the mice noticing her. Instead of those cold judging eyes, they gave off smiles or watched her with happy looks in their eyes. Since all of Mousedom now knows the truth about the rumor of her presence and bravely fighting against the most dangerous criminal in all of Mousedom with the help of the famous detective. She was a hero to the mice for helping to protect a queen while preventing a major disaster which would've changed all of Mousedom.

However, all were wondering why she wasn't at Buckingham Palace since the queen is probably expecting her. What no one realized was that they got that thought right, because Anna knew since watching the end of the movie, she saw a newspaper detailing Basil and Dawson getting honored by the queen herself, which she also knew he would be there.

So now it was a heartfelt race against time as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her…

But she hoped and prayed to God that she wasn't too late to warn Basil about Ratigan's return and that he was out to kill him.

(Basil's World)

June 21, 1897 11:58 a.m.

A minute after Anna's return…

Basil was pacing inside the royal dressing room while he and Dawson were currently waiting for the queen to summon them. He was currently back in his old inverness coat after it was repaired by the tailor shop owner, much to the owner's surprise that the man who frequently visits his shop was in fact the famous detective, and had already got a new deerstalker hat after losing his old one during his showdown with Ratigan at the clocktower. While Dawson was now dressed in a fine suit after getting rid of that awful disguise that he had to wear all night and had on his grey bowler hat, he was sitting down on a chair and was watching Basil.

Basil's mind was in a state of turmoil, there were so many missing pieces to the puzzle and so many unanswered questions he couldn't piece together or figure out was starting to drive him mad. Most of all, he still couldn't remember who this "Mr. Moriarty" was and Anna was the connection to some of those pieces. Speaking about Anna, he couldn't get his mind off her, it was starting to distract him on trying to figure out more to the puzzle and unanswered questions. He still couldn't figure out what became of Anna's life so maybe he could try to help her and…

Oh, blast it all! Why was he thinking about Anna's life when he should be trying to figure out Mr. Moriarty?! But on the other hand, Anna has been through a tough night and maybe he should be with her-What, why was he thinking about that! Him, with her! That's ridiculous! It's not like he has...like he has…

Could it be that he has...feelings for this woman? But that would be impossible, it wouldn't even work, they were two very different species from two different worlds. However, he couldn't deny that she was a lovely lady and he did kiss-Wait no, that was just an accident, it wasn't like he was doing it intentionally! But when he felt his lips on hers, it felt like his heart was beating so fast it would burst through his chest and he wanted to…

Basil grunted as he clutched his head, then slams both fists on the wall while laying his forehead there. This was starting to become difficult, he just couldn't Anna out of his head or forget those odd moments he had with her, but despite that, he knew that somehow that she was the key to some of those missing pieces. But now that she was...gone, so was his answer. A part of him felt a little guilty for not being sure that the door was closed, if Hiram hadn't listened to everything Anna had told him, maybe things would've been different. But unfortunately he couldn't change anything from the outcome and Anna had left him without saying goodbye, and he will never see her again. The thought of that made him sigh with sadness.

"Basil, are you alright?" Dawson asked with concern.

"Yes, everything is fine, Dawson," he lied. Basil didn't want to tell him, he knew that he had to try and stay strong, and hoped he would put it behind him. But part of him was telling him that she'll be back, Anna was after all...a hero, the same as him. However, something crossed his mind as he gave a questionable look, then looked at Dawson and said, "I have a question for you."

"That is," Dawson gave a confused look at the sudden change.

"Does 'Mr. Moriarty' mean anything to you?"

"Mr. Moriarty?" Dawson cocked an eyebrow. "You mean Mr. James Moriarty?"

"Mr. James...Moriarty?" The full name started to become a bit familiar to him...then the wheels in his head started to turn.

"Why yes," Dawson began explaining. "He was a famous criminal mastermind in the human world, but he died seven years ago after he was defeated by the human private investigator named: Sherlock Holmes. Everyone knows that story, even us mice."

When Dawson told Basil that...he finally remembered! It was true that there was a criminal mastermind in the human world and that he intended to bring all of London to his knees, but from what he learned in his youth, long before he became a private investigator, he was defeated by Sherlock Holmes during a fight at Reichenbach Falls, which resulted in both individuals falling. However, upon remembering from what he read in the newspaper seven years ago, Sherlock Holmes survived, but was barely alive and as for Mr. Moriarty...well, let's just say that they found his dead body floating in the water. Not only did this bring a big relieved sigh for the human world, but also Mousedom as well. Because if things would've been different, it would've been disastrous for them. Since whatever damage that causes in the human world, will affect their world as well.

Basil's eyes widened when something clicked in those wheels. Dawson noticed that look as he says, "Basil…"

"That's it!" Basil yelled while slamming a fist on his palm.

"W-What is?" Dawson asked confused.

Basil began pacing again while explaining, "How come there is another Moriarty when the Moriarty in our world is already dead. I highly doubt he had a silver watch which would've led him to escape his fate. So how come there is another Moriarty in Anna's time?"

"I...I don't understand what you're getting at, Basil."

Basil looks at Dawson and gives him a serious look. "Dawson, can you promise me you'll keep a secret?"

This was an unusual change. "Well of course I-"

"I mean it, Dawson," Basil says with a hard tone as if he wanted him to swear as if his life depended on it. "You have to swear that you will never tell anyone what I'm about to tell you that is the utmost importance."

"Uh, alright but-"

"Swear it!"

"Alright! Alright!" Dawson waved his hands to calm down Basil. "I swear, I won't say a word. But I have to know what's important that I can't tell anyone?"

"Because, first of all, no one will believe us not without crucial evidence, and I doubt anyone is ready for the truth. The second reason is that you are the only one I can trust." Dawson tilted his head slightly while giving a confused look. "Listen, what I'm about to tell you is exactly what Anna told me. It's going to sound a bit mad, but within this story there are connections. So you need to listen to me carefully, and I mean very carefully. Now listen…"

And so, Basil told Dawson exactly what Anna told him. He started off with Anna's accusation of petty thievery, which was actually the real thief placing the silver watch in her backpack, and her meeting Mr. Moriarty himself who sends her across time to their world to find a golden watch. Then, he began telling Dawson the most shocking thing which made his jaw drop…

She told Basil about a movie called: The Great Mouse Detective which featured him and everyone else. He detailed everything that was supposed to happen without Anna in it, then all the way to the showdown at the clocktower. Dawson couldn't deny what Basil said before he explained...It was maddening! But at the same time...it made sense, and it would explain how Anna knew certain things before they happened. However, there was one question that crossed his mind. "If Anna knew all this, why didn't she tell anyone?"

Basil sighed while having a downcasted look and answered, "I wish I knew."

Dawson thought that he had unintentionally made Basil sad. Deciding to change the subject, he says, "If Mr. Moriarty knew about Ratigan's gold watch, why would he send her?"

"I'm not sure what his intentions were," Basil admitted. "However, I think...that this other Moriarty isn't what he appears to be."

Dawson's eyes narrowed. "You mean to tell me that this Moriarty...is an imposter?"

"Yes, that is a possibility."

"But how could you know?" Dawson shrugged.

"Because, think about it, Mr. Moriarty doesn't have any children," Dawson places a finger under his chin while thinking. Then he nods as he understands that Mr. Moriarty doesn't have a next of kin. "And why would he know about Ratigan, much less know about our world?" He starts pacing again while explaining, "I think, for all we know, that he could be our mystery informant."

"Your saying that he could've been the one who warned Ratigan of Anna's coming?"

"Yes, but that's just a theory, I'm not quite sure how he did it. For all we know, it could be possible that there may be more than one silver watch which is also another possibility that he gave Anna the other silver watch while keeping the other one. Now I'm not sure who are mystery man is that's posing as Mr. Moriarty or what his true intentions are for letting Anna gallivant here in our time and learning how to use the silver watch while fetching a golden watch for him without realizing that she has to steal it, but out of everything that's happened comes down to two simple connections." He brings out two fingers to simplify as he stopped pacing while keeping his back turned. "The first is the silver watch which allows someone to traverse through time, and the other...is Anna herself."

"Anna?" Dawson says confused from Basil's theory. "Why does she have to do with this and why would Mr. Moriarty want with her?"

"That's the part…" Basil nodded. "I don't know." He then shook a finger. "But mark my words, Dawson," he then turns to look at him with a serious look in his eyes. "Whoever he is and whatever the blazes is going on, I think that we-"

A knock came as it interrupted Basil, just as he was about to say "we were pawns in a much bigger plan that neither of us knows about." A real Royal Guard who wasn't a replacement for Ratigan's thugs, opens the door and says to them while Dawson stood up off his chair, "Begging your pardon gentlemen, but the majesty is ready to see you now."

They looked at one another while Basil says to Dawson, "Well discuss more later, but for now, look yourself presentable." He starts dusting Dawson's shoulders, then takes off his hat while dusting the top of his head, but puts his hat on the wrong way as it covered his eyes while making him cry "Oh!" Then he tightens his tie while straightening his back and holding his head high. "Heads held high and let's be on our way."

He starts walking out while Dawson takes his hat off to fix his noggin, then puts it back on while straightening his suit coat and clearing his throat as he follows Basil to see the queen at the audience chamber where she and all of Mousedom were ready to see the heroes.

Meanwhile, Anna continued to run like there was no tomorrow, pushing and shoving past her way from the crowd of mice as she tried her best to get to Buckingham Palace. However, she came across the end of the sidewalk which led to the cobblestone road. She places her hands on her knees as she tries to catch her breath, then she wipes the sweat off her brow with her arm. It was starting to become hopeless, she wouldn't make it to the palace in time and it was only a few miles from where she was, but only at this height, it felt so long for her. If only she was big again, it would've been easier.

However, she got lucky when she heard a familiar barking coming her way. Looking ahead, she sees Toby bounding his way towards her, stopping as his tail wagged excitedly while panting happily as he saw her again. What Anna didn't realize that after the basset hound had finished taking his master and Dawson to Buckingham Palace, he decided to roam the streets for a bit to kill some time. But then, his nose picked up a very familiar scent as it led him straight to Anna.

Seeing Toby made Anna sigh in relief as she says, "Oh, thank God, Toby I need your help. It's Basil, he's in danger!" Toby tilted his head with confusion. "It's Ratigan, he's back!" When he heard that name, Toby started growling. "Yes, I have to get to Buckingham Palace, and if I don't hurry, he's going to kill him! Do you understand?" Toby understood as he panted while nodding his head excitedly. He bends down as his stomach touches the ground, allowing Anna to easily walk on Toby's back and climb on top of his head. "Hurry Toby, there's no time to waste!"

Toby barks as he takes off back to Buckingham Palace, carrying his little friend with him as it was a race against time to save his master.

While Anna was riding Toby, her mind was in conflict with herself. A part of herself was telling her what the hell she was doing? You have already cut all ties with these mice, so why are you even here? She told herself that she couldn't stand there and let Ratigan shoot Basil, she wouldn't forgive herself. In fact...her heart wouldn't take it if she sees her friend die right before her very eyes. However, once all of this is over, she's going home and not looking back or saying goodbye to any of them. Better yet, she wasn't going to kiss…

Wait a minute, where the hell did that come from? Why was that in her head? She thought back on the moment back at Ratigan's lair where she got her first but chaste kiss from Basil. Anna put that thought out of her head as she shuts her eyes tight and nods, getting rid of that thought. She knew that it was an accident and it meant nothing to her now. Right now, she had to focus on getting to Basil before Ratigan does.

As Toby made another turn, he made it back to Buckingham Palace as he was at the fence and was close to getting to the rose archway where he left his master. But then…

He whimpers in pain as something cuts his paws, both his front and back feet, making him collapse suddenly as Anna yelps while being thrown off the basset hound and lands hard on the ground while rolling to a complete stop. She grunts while sitting up, then notices Toby continuing to whimper in pain while placing his front paws on his chest and rolling side to side. Quickly getting up, she says, "Toby, are you okay?" She goes to him...but then a light appeared, making her gasp as she slid too hard and landed on her rear. Ratigan had appeared.

He turns around and looks at her with an evil grin. "Hello, my dear," he takes out the platinum watch and opens the lid, looking at the time while Anna slowly crawls away from him. "You arrived just in time."

Anna wondered if he managed to arrive at the palace before she did or perhaps he had already arrived and was waiting for her. But whatever the reason is, he was here.

Toby's eyes narrowed at the rat and turned right-side up, he growled at him and started barking. Ratigan sighed and looked at him with an annoyed look. "Oh, shut it, mutt!" Anna took this distraction as a chance to quickly get up and run while Toby handles Ratigan. He looks ahead and smiles with delight while saying, "Go ahead and run my dear, run back to your precious Basil, but it will be the last you will see of him." Looking back at the basset hound, Toby tries to get up and go to him, hoping that he would clamp down his jaws at him and make that rat his chew toy, but the cuts were so bad, it made him whimper in pain as he collapsed on his stomach. Seeing this made him giggle slightly with amusement. "Hurts doesn't it?" he asked.

Toby gave him his answer by growling at him, but Ratigan smiles as he closes the lid of the platinum watch, then presses the middle button as he vanishes in a flash of light. The basset hound whimpers in pain while clutching his snout as he was cut there. Ratigan reappears with the same cane he brought to Anna's world before he left...but this cane was glinting with a sharp edge. This cane that Ratigan had was no ordinary cane...it was a sword cane. The sheath was already strapped on his belt, hidden within the confines of his cloak. "Don't think I don't know what you did to my precious Felicia." The basset hound's eyes widened. How did this rat know about what he did? "I think it's only fair that since I lost something precious, Basil will lose something precious as well. But don't worry, he'll be joining you soon enough."

He goes into a fence-like position, his finger ready to hit the middle again as he would stop time, charge straight at the basset hound and embed his sword cane on the hound's skull. The thought of that made him give out a toothy grin...but then his grin faded as it changed to anger. With a frustrated shout, he embeds his sword cane on the ground. "Curses!" he shouted. "Confound that insolent meddler!" Taking a few breaths, he places the platinum watch back inside his cloak while taking out the sheath, then he takes his sword cane off the ground and says to Toby, "Consider yourself lucky mutt," he sheathed his sword cane. "Because the next time I see you…" He slid his throat with a finger while hissing. He takes out the platinum watch again. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a party to attend to." He presses the middle button and vanishes in a flash of light.

Toby was confused by that gesture before Ratigan left. However, the oblivious basset hound didn't notice something. Something which made Ratigan stop him from doing the killing blow on Toby…

The cuts on his paws were shimmering, like light reflecting on water as the cuts were slowing starting to close and heal.

Meanwhile, Anna made it to the rose archway while mentaling praying to God that Toby would be alright and hopefully deal with Ratigan. At the entranceway, two of the Royal Guards saw her coming, but didn't see that it was Anna herself as she was panting like crazy and was almost out of breath as one of them shouted, "Halt! Who goes there?"

When she had gotten close, she stopped to catch her breath while bending down and clutching her knees. "Hey, it's her," one of the Royal Guards said. "If it isn't the heroic lass herself. The queen's expecting you."

"Basil...I have...he's going to…"

"Hey, easy there," the Royal Guard helped her stand up. "Take a deep breath and start over."

Anna took a deep breath, then said, "Where's Basil?"

"He should be at the audience chamber where you should be," the Royal Guard chuckled while looking at Anna's attire. "That's once we get you properly ready and inform the queen that your here and-"

Anna interrupted him by grabbing his arms and telling him, "Listen, you have to take me to him, he's-"

"Hey, calm down and take it easy," the Royal Guard gently moved her arms away from him. "What's all the hurry, your only going to be several minutes la-"

"Listen to me!" Anna interrupted again while shouting. "Basil is in danger! Ratigan is back and he's going to kill him!"

The other Royal Guard starts laughing at her while the Royal Guard who was talking to Anna was smirking and snorting with amusement. "Damn it, this isn't funny! I'm telling you the truth, he's coming this way!"

"That's preposterous!" the other Royal Guard says while wiping a tear from his eye. "There's no way he's coming here. Because he's dead!" A few chuckles escaped his lips while nodding his head. But when he looked ahead...his look turned to shock.

"He's right you know," the Royal Guard assured Anna. "I'm sure you're just imagining things."

"If she's imagining it...then maybe I am too."

The Royal Guard looks at his comrade with confusion while noticing that shocked look. "What are you talking about and what's wrong?"

He got his answer as the other Royal Guard points ahead...making both him and Anna gasp as they see Ratigan. Anna began to worry for Toby, since he couldn't stop him, she still hoped that Ratigan didn't do anything terrible to him while she made a run for it. "It can't be," the Royal Guard says with a shocked look of his own. "That's impossible!"

Ratigan giggled with an evil grin. "Oh, nothing is impossible." He takes out the platinum watch while opening the lid and checking the time. "It seems I arrived just in time for the party." He shuts the lid. "And where I will tie-up a loose end."

The other Royal Guard grew a fearful look. "Mousedom is done for."

"Not yet!" The Royal Guard assured his comrade while having a brave look. He looks at Anna and says to her, "Go straight ahead and take a left turn, then keep going straight until you reach the audience chamber. You need to warn everyone and ensemble the law enforcement and the rest of the Royal Guard. Go!" Anna didn't have to be told twice as she made a run for it. "Will handle him!"

The two Royal Guards point their rifles at him while the other Royal Guard takes shaky, but fearful breaths. His arms shake while trying to keep a steady aim, but looking at Ratigan who has returned was like looking at the devil himself had returned from hell and was ready to wreak havoc. "Steady ol'boy," his comrade assured him. "We can take him, he's just one man!"

"He's no man at all...He's a monster!"

Taking that compliment, Ratigan giggles evilly, then he slowly walks towards them while swinging the platinum watch by its chain. The two Royal Guards cock their rifles. "On my mark. Ready…"

Ratigan stops swinging the watch and brings it on his hand.

"Aim…"

He gives them a toothy grin while having his finger poised to press the middle button.

"Fi-"

He pressed the button...then one of the Royal Guards screamed.

At the audience chamber, every mouse of men, women, children, young, and old were there. Now joining the crowd was Scotland Yard who were proud to witness the greatest detective in all of Mousedom to be thanked and honored by the queen herself. However, all the crowd wondered what became of the human. So far they only know that the detective and his friend were here. But where was she? Surely she wouldn't want to miss an opportunity like this.

Their minds were put aside as the sound of trumpets and drums were heard. Queen Mousetoria herself sat upon her throne, waiting patiently for the two heroes to step forth. Right next to her was a Royal Guard who was carrying a pillow that had three medals. But since the human hadn't come, the queen will probably ask what became of her since she too should be honored to be apart of the glory.

As the blue curtained door parted and the two heroes stepped forth, the audience applauded. When Basil and Dawson were walking straight towards the queen, they could hear a familiar little girl shout out through the crowd, "Basil! Basil!"

Basil looks and sees Olivia, who was waving at him while being held up by her father Hiram. He knew that since this morning, Olivia asked where Anna was, and Hiram told her before Basil that she left for home. This not only saddened her since she didn't say goodbye to her, but she asked if she'll ever come back. Basil was against lying to a child, but he had told her that she'll come back one day, which he knew that'll never come to pass. But nevertheless, this'll cheer her up by watching him being congratulated by the queen herself. So with that, he smiles at her and waves back.

When they came before the queen, she raises a hand to silence the audience. "Today, is a momentous occasion," her voice echoes throughout the audience chamber for all to hear her speech. "Not only London is safe, but all of Mousedom can finally rest in peace. For the greatest evil in history has fallen and it is thanks to our great heroes!" The audience burst into applause. She raises a hand to silence them again while continuing, "To commemorate them of their greatest victory, I shall now give them their honors." She motions a hand to the two heroes, taking this as a command from their queen, they got down on one knee and bowed.

The queen takes her staff and gently taps their shoulders while saying, "As Queen of Mousedom, I dub thee, Sir Basil of Baker Street and Sir Major David Q. Dawson of my regiment." She then motions them to stand up, then she takes the two medals from the Royal Guard. "For your heroic efforts, I now give you the congressional medal of heroism." She hangs the medals on the necks of both Basil and Dawson. "May Mousedom forever remember you as the heroes of our history."

As the crowd once again burst into applause, the queen asked them, "By the way gentlemen. Whatever happened to that human?"

"I'm…" Basil sighed. "I'm afraid she's not coming. She's...she's well, uh-"

"She's gone home, Your Majesty," Dawson answered for him. "She's returned back to the human world where she belongs. So she won't be joining us today."

"Oh, I see," the queen nods in understanding. She knew that it was in her nature to return back to her own kind. But despite that, it was still hard to believe that a human got shrunk down to their size and was introduced to their world. The queen also understood one simple fact…

Humans were an odd, but strange bunch.

"Well, I'll make sure that her name and medal will be erected. So everyone will remember her as the first human to ever set foot in our world, and courageously fought against Professor Ratigan. But speaking of names, can either of you tell me what her name is?"

With a smile, Basil answered, "Her name is-"

"BASILLLLLLLLL!"

Basil, Dawson, and everyone else turned around to see who it was that shouted...It was none other than Anna herself! The crowd was happy to see their hero had finally appeared. Well...all except for Hiram. He was surprised that she came back after she told him that she was going home and never coming back, this didn't amuse him when she went back on her word and came back. But for Olivia, she grew a big smile and was overjoyed to see her friend had actually returned. As for Basil, his heart soared as he saw her again.

Anna took a few deep breaths and started running towards him while yelling, "Basil!"

"Anna," Basil muttered while smiling as he too ran for her.

Anna was about to collapse from exhaustion from running too hard and hoped she would be caught by Basil who would support her balance. However, when the two individuals were getting closer...BAM!

"Ah!" Basil shouted as a hole came...right at his heart. He collapsed face first on the floor as his hat came loose.

The entire audience gasped in shock at what just happened, even the queen and Dawson gasped. Hiram and Olivia grew fearful looks with the little girl muttering, "Basil…"

Anna stopped right in front of Basil's form, her legs shaking and ready to collapse. She took shaky breaths when she heard the gunshot behind her. Her eyes not leaving Basil's form as her shaking legs started to slowly back away from him. "No…" She nods her head, trying to deny what she was seeing. "No…" She clutches her head as her breathing becomes erratic, growing faster as her eyes shake. "No…" A part of herself didn't want to believe it, but here it was right in front of her very eyes…

Basil was dead and she failed to get to him in time.

Her legs collapsed as she screamed. Olivia ran to the seemingly dead detective while yelling, "Basil!" Hiram followed her daughter towards the dead detective while Dawson also said and went to Basil with the queen following him, "Oh my...Basil!"

As the four individuals went to the dead detective, Olivia collapsed and buried her face on Basil's back while sobbing. Hiram gently picks her up and hugged her as she continues to sob on her father's shoulder. Dawson turns him over, he presses two fingers on his neck while placing his ear on his chest, trying to make sure if Basil was truly dead. In fact, over the sound of a gunshot, he could've sworn he heard something else. But as a doctor, he had to check to see if there's a pulse before he could make any assumptions.

As Anna continued screaming while shouting, "OH MY GOD, NOOOO! PLEASE GOD NOOOO!" Her body slumps over as her head touches the floor while tears were pouring from her eyes. "Nooo…" She hits the floor slightly with a single fist two times. "This can't be happening," she muttered. "This can't be happening again."

Unfortunately for poor Anna...it did happen again. Once again, she lost someone right before her very eyes…

In her mind, she saw the same four graves and four tombstones...but an ethereal fifth grave and tombstone with Basil's name written on it appeared…

The sound of a crack came from her mental state as it almost came close to shattering.

Once again, a wound was cutting to her painful heart, leaving a new scar which would be forever imprinted for the rest of her life. The guilt of failing to save a friend was starting to become too unbearable for her to take. The guilt of letting this happen will never leave her. She knew that this was all her fault, if she hadn't given that watch to Ratigan, Basil would still be alive. The thought of that poured fresh new tears as she cried loudly for all to hear her mourning.

The crowd couldn't blame her pain. For today marked the end of the greatest detective in all of Mousedom, the hero who saved London and their beloved sovereign, shot dead in cold blood. Some of the crowd started shedding their own tears while their loved ones hugged them for comfort. Others took off their hats and placed it over their hearts while bowing their heads. For Scotland Yard, some of them turned their heads away from this while others grew angry looks and clenched their hands into tight fists. Many were wondering who shot Basil? It couldn't have been the human, because she wasn't armed when she went to Basil. So who was the fiend that shot him?

Well...they got their answer when a nearby lady mouse heard someone say, "So ends Basil of Baker Street...permanently."

The lady mouse turns...only to gasp.

Dawson's eyes widened as he was about to say something...but was interrupted when he heard a scream coming from the lady mouse.

Everyone turned...but they gasped as they saw Ratigan...alive!

Murmurs came from everywhere from the crowd, shocked looks came as they couldn't believe this. Hiram and Olivia grew fearful looks with the little girl turning her head away from the rat and saying to her father, "Daddy!"

"Don't worry, Olivia," Hiram assured his daughter. "I won't let him get you."

Anna also gasped while seeing Ratigan as he placed his top hat back on his head, after he had already shot Basil while silently blowing the smoke off his gun and took it off to place it over his heart. Putting the gun back inside his cloak, he takes out his cane and platinum watch, and starts to slowly stroll through. "Well, I have already missed out on the beginning of the party," he says while chuckling. "But I would never miss out...the end of it." Anna started crawling away from him while he said to her, "Come along my dear, you've seen Basil. Now it's time for you to witness history in the making...with your fate being by my side."

Anna didn't want to go through with this. There was no way she wanted to be near that rat, much less...be married to him! She didn't want to go through this fate, there was no way in hell!

"Guards! Stop him!" Queen Mousetoria shouted an order.

The Royal Guards didn't hesitate as they rushed forward while letting Anna pass them as she crawled her way to Basil. Scotland Yard joined the Royal Guards by their side, despite not being armed with their clubs or guns, but they could still take him. Ratigan was after all...just one man.

Ratigan chuckled as he stood before them. "Fools," he muttered. He was about to use the platinum watches power, then use his cane sword to cut down all of Scotland Yard and Royal Guard alike, just like how he did with the other two guards who stood in his way. Even with this many men, this was child's play for him. The thought of cutting down many of his enemies where he stood on top of the bodies, made him tempted to revel. However, as an extra bonus, he'll probably kill the queen herself, then the chubby one who was with Basil, then maybe the toymaker and his daughter...Nah, he wouldn't want to waste his time over trivial matters, but he does have other plans in store for them. Then after that, he was going to take Anna.

With a smile, he was about to press the button…

But out of the crowd, an elderly voice shouted, "MADMAN WITH A GUN!"

Gunshots were heard as the crowd came out of their fearful stupor and started screaming and running. Ratigan was nearly knocked over from the stampeding crowd of fearful mice, but managed to keep his balance while pushing some mice who came his way. As the gunshots continued to be fired by somebody, Scotland Yard broke away with the Royal Guards and started helping the fearful mice by leading them calmly out of the other exits before things started to go completely out of control.

When more gunshots were heard, one of the Royal Guards took the queen while saying, "Your Majesty, we must get you to safety, now!" The other Royal Guards surrounded their sovereign in a protective circle as they led her out to one of the exits.

When Ratigan heard those gunshots, he was looking around the crowd of running mice, trying to figure out who was shooting. Nobody else should be shooting, except him. But then...he sees an arm raised as three more shots came, Ratigan mentally counted about ten shots fired from that weapon. However, his eyes squint ahead as he looks at that weapon...only for them to widen when he realized that pistol was not from this time period. In fact, it looked similar to the silver revolver he had, except this one had more bullets and had the same silver coating.

The arm lowered while the crowd started to shorten, giving Ratigan the chance to see who that was…

Only to see a familiar brown bowler hat and blue eyes that narrowed at him.

"What!"

The figure vanished...then Ratigan was sent sailing towards a wall where his back crashed into it. He grunts as his hat came off while he slid to the floor. His eyes opened as he saw an elderly mouse coming towards him. The elderly mouse had light-brown fur and had a black nose, he wore a grey suit coat, brown vest with a white undershirt, grey trousers, and black shoes. In his gloved hand he had a cane with a gold ball on the top.

"You!"

The elderly mouse tipped his hat at Ratigan and greeted, "Good evening, how wonderful for you to join us today."

Ratigan grunts as he quickly gets back up and draws the blade.

"Go ahead, Ratigan, fight me if you wish," the elderly mouse smiles at him. "That is, of course, you want time getting ripped in the process? Do you want to take that risk?"

Ratigan's sword arm started to shake with hesitation. He wanted so desperately to cut this man down...but he knew he couldn't take that risk. At least not here. So with a grunt, he sheathed the blade and picked up his hat. "Understand this," he points at the elderly mouse. "You can't stop me, not even Basil anymore! And you can never...stop...fate!"

"You're right, I can't. Which is why I won't stop you. But we will settle this elsewhere."

"Indeed we will," Ratigan takes out the platinum watch. "Just know that the next time I see you, I will kill you and anyone who stands against me or tries to make a mess of my plan."

With a press of a button, Ratigan vanished.

"We shall see," the elderly mouse turns around and walks away. "And it is true, fate will never be stopped now that it is rewritten…" He grew a smug look. "But that doesn't mean I can alter its course to my advantage for the time being."

Anna continued to sob while clutching Basil's head and saying, "I'm so sorry, Basil. You shouldn't have to die because of me." She buries her face on his neck. "I'm the one who should be dead, not you," she muttered.

As her tears soaked his neck...she heard a weak chuckle. She looks at him...and sees his eyes open while saying, "That really tickles when you do that."

Anna gasped in shock...Basil was alive! "Oh my God!" She embraces him deeply.

Dawson, Hiram, and Olivia managed to regroup after the stampede of fearful mice came to an end.

"Mr. Flaversham, Olivia, are you two alright?"

"Yes, we're fine," Hiram answered.

"Guys!" Anna shouted as they looked to her...only for them to gasp. "It's Basil, he's alive!"

Hearing this made Olivia smile wide while yelling, "Basil!" She runs to the detective as he already sat up, thanks to Anna, and jumps on to him, nearly knocking him down if Anna hadn't kept him straight up. As she hugs Basil, a tear escaped her eye as she says to him, "I thought you were dead."

"Oh, don't worry," Basil assured the little girl while giggling. "This'll take more than a bullet to keep me down...Miss Flamerpickle."

Olivia was surprised at him, he never got her last name wrong after several hours. She shook her head at him while Anna chuckled and said, "Whatever."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, then did something which made Basil's ears redden and his eyes widened…

Her lips kissed his cheek.

Anna opened her eyes as they widened. She was shocked at herself as she thought, What...What the hell are you doing? A part of herself was telling her she shouldn't do that, she had already cut ties with anyone she held close in this world. Her mind was reminding herself what happened just now, if she starts renewing those old bonds, she'll only hurt others including herself. However, for her heart...that was something else. The pain in her heart subsided as it became numb, despite receiving a new wound that laid there, and it started beating fast, making her cheeks flushed red.

When her lips left his cheek, their eyes looked at one another. "Uhhh…" was the only thing Anna could say. Olivia looks at them both and giggles, seeing how adorable this was, despite it being slightly awkward.

Well, the awkwardness came to an end when Hiram said, "It's a miracle." Basil and Anna stood up while the detective handed the little girl to his father and said to him, "But I don't understand, I saw you got shot. How are you-"

"Maybe I should elaborate," Dawson said. "The moment when Basil got shot, I heard something else. It was faint, but I had to check first to see if he was alive."

"But how does it explain-"

"Allow me to show you to further explain why I'm still alive." Basil says.

Hiram, Olivia, and Anna watched as Basil reaches in from inside his inverness coat and pulls out something. Opening his palm, he shows...a lidless pocket watch. The glass face was cracked, and the face inside it was completely damaged, but showing it...was a smushed bullet, stopping it completely from ever reaching Basil.

"W-Where did you get that?" Hiram wondered.

Anna wondered too and was about to ask where he got it from, but an elderly voice spoke, "That would be me."

They looked and saw the elderly mouse as Basil says, "You!"

Anna looked at him and asked, "You know him?"

"Yes," Basil answered while looking at her. "Dawson and I met him before we left." Dawson nodded his head as it was true. He looks back at the elderly mouse. "What are you doing here?"

"Simple, I came here to see the party. Also, there's one last thing I have to do." He digs through his grey suit coat, then his eyes looked at the girl next to Basil and says, "Miss Anna Johnson."

Anna and the rest of the group were completely shocked. How did this man know her name? However, Anna saw something...inexplicably familiar about this man. She couldn't understand why, but deep within her consciousness, it was telling her to...trust this man? She had no idea why that was in her head, but her body was compelled to move in front...which is exactly what she did, then she asked, "Who are you?"

He didn't give her his name, but instead he smiled while pulling something out and said…"Catch."

He tosses something to her, which she managed to successfully catch with her two hands. Basil and the rest of the group gather around Anna to see what the man had given her. She opens her palms as they see...A bronze watch?

Something was different about this watch, but at the same time...looked familiar. It looked similar to that of the silver watch, long before Ratigan transformed it into the platinum watch. The entire watch was made out of bronze and had the same three buttons on the top.

But then...the lid opened itself suddenly as all the hands continued to spin in a blur.

"What the devil," Dawson says.

Light appeared on the face of the watch...then flashed, making Anna and Olivia yelp as the three mice were pushed from the force and landed on the floor...all except for Anna. Wind surrounded everywhere in the audience chamber, as if a hurricane had just somehow appeared inside. Anna wanted to let go of the watch, but her body was already encased in light as something was pulling her in...and her body was turning into light. This not only frightened her, but it made her scream.

Basil raises a hand to keep the light from hitting his eyes, then he gets up while seeing Anna's face looking at him and yelling, "Bas-" Her face was covered with light. He takes off in a run and shouts, "Anna!"

When he got to her, he tries to wrap his arms around her, but she fades into stardust. It then traveled inside the bronze watch while it was surrounded in light. When all of that was inside, the light fades as the lid shuts itself, then was sent sailing towards the elderly man who caught it. "There, that should alter fate's course for the time being."

As the elderly man puts the bronze watch back inside his coat, Basil grew an angry look and went towards him, then he grabs the man's coat while saying, "What have you done to her, where is she?!"

"Relax, Basil," the elderly man assured him while calmly taking his hands off of his coat. He straightens it as he continued, "I sent her to a time limbo where she will be safe. Oh...I would suggest bracing yourself."

Basil was confused. "Brace myself for-Whoa!"

An earthquake suddenly appeared, Olivia yelped again as she wrapped her arms around her father's neck. "What's happening?" Hiram asked Dawson.

"I don't know," he answered.

Outside of Buckingham Palace, chaos was happening everywhere around the streets. People were starting to become frightened by the mysterious earthquake, horses started to whine with fright, others were trying to grab onto something for balance until the earthquake passes. But then...something strange happened.

A paperboy was the only one who noticed it as he shouted while pointing, "Look! Big Ben's hands are going mad!"

When everyone close to the paperboy looked at the clocktower...the hands were truly going mad. The hands continued to spin as if an unknown force was compelling them too.

But unfortunately, that wasn't the only unknown force that came…

Grey storm clouds suddenly came as thunder roared across the sky and lightning danced here and there. Everyone, including the mice that hid from the earthquake, watched with curious eyes as everyone wondered what was going on.

At Buckingham Palace at the very roof, Ratigan had already turned and pressed both the middle and left button, which started the earthquake and making the storm clouds appear. He then turns the right button, then lifts his arm up towards the sky. With a chuckle, he says, "Now, everything will change."

With that, he presses the right button…

The sky opens up for all of London to see. Inside, it looked like they were seeing a galaxy of stars which started to slowly spiral.

Back inside the audience chamber, Basil says to the elderly man, "What's going on?"

"Everything is about to change pretty soon," he answered the detective. "But don't worry, I'll see you again, and you will see Anna again as well. Until then…" he tips his hat at him. "...cherio."

Back with Ratigan, wind surrounded him as his cloak bellowed from the wind, and with an evil smile while having his fingers poised to press the three buttons, he says, "And God said…'Let there be light'."

He presses the three buttons as the lid of the platinum watch opened itself and the hands had spun into a blur. The face glowed as a beam of light shot forward into the spiral...then the spiral glowed like a thousand suns as beams were shot here and there, but one beam hit's Big Ben, making its hands stop right at the top…

A loud bong came as all four faces of the clocktower flashed with light, then a dome of light surrounded all of London, making Ratigan revel with laughter as he was covered by the light. As for the other beams, they crashed on each part of the globe as more domes of light covered every part of the planet…

Until the entire planet itself was covered in light.

At Anna's world, a worldwide phenomenon happened everywhere across the world. Clocks everywhere were starting to spin fast, digital clocks were going on the fritz along with anything else like: wristwatches, cell phones, computers, and alarm clocks. No one knew what was going on…

Until when all the hands everywhere from around the world reached the top and every digital clock became four zeroes…

Domes of light appeared everywhere on earth. Until the entire planet itself was covered in light…

Then with a flash...everything was engulfed in white light.

Just when you all thought the story was over...Eh, wrong! The real story is just the beginning! But when one part of the story closes...the next half of the story begins. Join me next time for the second half of the story. But right now, I am taking a very huge break from writing and posting for this story. I need to focus on my other stories and do some projects I'm so desperately wanting to work with right now. But don't worry everybody, I'll be back for this story. However, to tell you ahead of time, once I return to this story and depending on the mood for both myself and the story itself...I'll be posting two or three chapters! But unfortunately, this'll be a lot longer to take. So I'm going to have to ask you for your patience.

Anyway, here's the big announcement...I've opened up a Deviantart account! Now I could spread my stories to that site as well, and I've just now posted the first chapter of the first half of the story! Not to mention, while I've begun posting there, this'll also give me a chance to fix, correct, and change some parts for all thirteen chapters! So I hope you enjoy rereading the first half of the story.

Now then, before I close the first half of the story. Many of you have been wondering about many things like:

How did Ratigan managed to get the watch? Better yet...who made it?

What's more to Ratigan's so-called "grand plan" and what does this have to do about Anna?

What's more to Anna's past that's left her emotionally scarred?

What is become of both Anna's and Basil's world now that the two worlds have merged?

Everything single question that many of you have thought, have left so many unanswered. A dot that has yet to be connected, but many of your answers will soon be connected and answered in the second half of the story.

Well, I hope you guys have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year next week. Now, time to answer some reviews:

Carlisle Fan 22: Oh, trust me, he will regret what he said. But I'm afraid he won't be apologizing anytime soon. That will be saved later in the second half.

Well, I'll see ya'll later for now!