Author's note. Out of all the Disney sequels, I think everyone can agree that the Rescuers Down Under is the best. Sadly, it's often easy to forget about it, especially considering the popular films that came out before and after it. This means there isn't that much fan fiction out there which is a real shame.

Anyway, this story was written by me and Mrs Bumblebee, hope you all like this. Suggestions are welcome.

Enjoy and please review.

The water frothed and bubbled beneath the falls as tons of water plunged into it. The water at the bottom then flowed at a fast pace away from the falls, dragging whatever debris had survived the plunge. Not a lot did, it was a long, steep drop which made survival highly unlikely. A little way down the river however, the water was a lot calmer and you could almost forget it was near a falls.

A little kangaroo crept forward towards the river, keeping an eye out for any predators. It was about to take a sip of water when a hand suddenly burst from the surface, causing the young kangaroo to shriek with fear and bound away. An arm followed this hand, and then a head, shoulders, another arm and finally a torso. McLeach somehow managed to drag himself half out the water and lay there panting heavily.

Deep in the woods a green scaled giant lizard was prowling through, tasting the air for any prey but instead of a scent of prey its tongue caught it caught a very familiar scent.

Joanna raiser her head up higher to look in the direction the scent was coming from before he headed in that direction to find it. After a long hunt for the source she came to the river that was fed by the waterfall and after a small look around she spotted a larger wet body that the scent was coming from.

She stared at it, was that her master? It certainly smelled like it but surely he was dead? And yet his scent didn't smell like dead meat but merely water logged. She crept closer; she had to know if he was still alive. He lay very still as she came up to him, he was lying on his chest making it difficult to determine if he was alive. She tasted the air again and found a wet but warm scent...he was alive!

Joanna hissed happily before she crawled over closer and stopped in front of his face before she leaned down and started it nuzzled and nudge him with her nose, trying to get him to wake up.

"Mmm...errmmm," came a hoarse murmur but Joanna was encouraged to continue.

Eventually, McLeach opened his eyes, growling and groaning.

"Struth," he muttered, trying to sit up but finding his limbs a bit too weak. "What the hell happened?"

Joanna hissed and gurgled as she watched her master try to move and remember what happen to him. She crawled a bit closer to him so he could see her. Once he spotted her she purred and flicked her tongue out.

"Joanna," he said, his voice was still pretty hoarse. "You found me, huh?"

She bobbed her head up and down before darting suddenly over to the river and grabbing something. She then came back to him and offered him his bedraggled hat which she'd just seen floating in the river. He took it ruefully and rang it out before placing it back on his head. He had a pounding headache and barely knew what had happened.

He looked around at his surrounds some before he looked at the river and then his surrounds more before he realized that he was down river of the water fall. And once he remembered the water fall everything came flooding back to him.

He actually jolted in shock; he had fallen off these damn falls but had survived. All thanks to that dratted brat and his little friends, not only had they taken his prize, they'd also almost caused his demise. He growled dangerously, he swore he would have his revenge, especially on that brat.

"Uh," he grunted as stabbing pains shot through him, he'd broken a few ribs. Well, revenge would have to wait for now, but once he had his strength back...that boy wouldn't know what hit him.

Joanna whined softly in worry for her master and crawled up closer to him and started rubbing her head against him to try and comfort him.

"Ah...I'll be alright," he grunted to his Goanna, rubbing her scaly skin. "Just give me a little time and I'll be fine."

Joanna purred as he strokes her body gently before she made herself comfortable next him and laid there with him as he recovered.

Eventually, he found the strength to drag himself further out of the water and even sit up properly. He felt like hell but he couldn't just lie here forever. He needed to get to his trunk and have a proper lie down. With a very heavy groan, he grabbed onto a gnarled old tree and pulled himself to his feet. He was incredibly unsteady on his feet and almost fell back down.

Joanna hissed in worry and run up and pusher her head into his back to help steady him, not wanting him to fall over and hurt himself more.

"Thanks," he muttered, fumbling for a nearby stick and grabbing it. Planting it firmly in the ground, he managed with Joanna's help to steady himself and slowly, painfully start forward.

It was hard going; he kept swaying and needing to stop for a rest. Thankfully, Joanna was there to guide and encourage him and somehow, he managed to make it back up the falls. Growling as he spotted the crocs lazing in the sun, he limped over to his truck with a groan of relief.

Joanna flicked her tongue around until she found the keys that had gone missing which were still in the lock of the cage on the truck. She pulled them out and brought them back to her master.

"That's my girl," he said with a small smile and she nuzzled him gently with a purr.

"When I'm better," he mumbled as he climbed into the cab of his truck. "I'm gonna get you some eggs."

Joanna hissed happily again before she followed him into the truck and got into the passenger seat as he started up the big truck to head back home.

Being back behind the wheel did a lot to relax him, he felt back in control. When they arrived home, and found all the animals had mysteriously gotten out of their cages, he didn't allow himself to get mad. After all, he was alive and would only need a bit of rest to get to full strength; he could always catch more animals.

Carefully Joanna helped her master to his bed where he flopped down in it tiredly with a pained grunt.

He mumbled thanks; he was so tired he could barely form the words. Joanna grabbed his boots in her teeth and tugged them off, carefully playing them at the side of the bed before pulling a blanket over her master. He mumbled something about eggs before drifting off to sleep while his faithful goanna stood guard, no one would hurt her master now.

A couple days later after long hours of rest and recovering, Mcleach was finally up and walking around his home with Joanna close by to be sure to help him when he needed it. He walked to his favourite chair and sat down in with a sigh before he reached over and flicked on the radio.

"...and it looks like we've got another dust storm coming tomorrow folks, so be sure to batten down the hatches," the radio announcer cheerfully told them.

McLeach grunted, dust storms didn't bother him. But the next bit made him pay more attention.

"And now for local news, it looks like poaching might be a thing of the past thanks to a brave young boy."

Mcleach sat up to listen better.

"From what the rangers have said, young Cody had been kidnapped by the poacher McLeach but somehow was able to escape him and tricked the poacher into following him to the falls where McLeach had fallen in and was swept away down the falls. The rangers are still searching for the body but are soon starting to believe the body is no more for there being so many hungry animals," The announcer said.

"That's what you think," McLeach growled, his grip tightening on a nearby scrap of wood.

"Although the rangers would have liked to have taken the poacher in for questioning about his activities and then brought him to justice, I'd say this is pretty poetic."

McLeach growled again, so they all thought he was dead? Well, that would just make things a lot easier for him. McLeach raised his hand that held the wood and chunked it at the radio, skilfully hitting the off switch.

"I'll show them how wrong they really are. And it's all going to start with that brat," He sneered.

Joanna helpfully came over with his hat and he gratefully shoved it on his head.

"We've got business with that boy," he told Joanna grimly. "And maybe that dust storm's just the thing to help us."

Joanna grinned and hissed happily before she crawled over to the key rack and pulled down the truck keys and brought them to him.

He took them and after grabbing his coat, stomped out to his truck, Joanna following closely. He was planning to drive near where the kid lived but not too close as his truck was rather noisy and distinctive. But once he had that brat in his grasp, it would be no problem getting him back undetected to the truck.

"Let's go hunting, Joanna," he said grimly, starting up his truck.

Joanna hissed happily and jumped into the truck, eager for a hunt. McLeach started up the truck and soon they were on their way.

It took them quite a while as McLeach was carefully avoiding any of the main roads. Something he normally did but he was making doubly sure that no one spotted him this time. He had the element of surprise on his side and he was damn well going to use it. That brat would be his and this time, wouldn't get away.

It took him longer then he wanted but soon McLeach found where Cody lived and parked his truck.

"Go check it out Joanna, find out how many are in there." He ordered her.

Joanna nodded and with a small hiss, she exited the truck and slunk through the undergrowth. Soon, her master and the truck were out of sight but she would have no problem finding it again. It took her a little while but she finally reached the place where that nasty boy lived. She peeped from behind a rotten tree, watching the house for signs of life.

Joanna flicked her tongue out to taste the air around the house and was only able to catch two scents. The boys and a elder female. Curiously Joanna slithered closer and peeked in through a window.

"Cody, eat your greens dear," a grown female told the brat who was sitting at a kitchen table.

"Okay mom," the brat sighed before slowly shoving the green vegetables into his mouth.

Joanna saw with a flash of jealously that the brat was also eating some eggs, her favourite.

Cody grimly ate his greens as his mother had asked him before he reached out and picked up his glass of water to help wash it down. Once he was finished he smiled up at him mother.

"That was great mom," He praised happily.

"Thank you," she said smiling as she ruffled his hair. "It's so good to have you back, Cody."

"I know," Cody said softly, giving his mother a hug. "You don't have to worry, nothing else will happen to me."

Joanna hissed a chuckle to herself as the mother expressed her hope that was true. Carefully, she slunk away, she'd seen enough. She soon made it back to the truck and slipped in. She hissed to her master.

"So what we got Joanna?" He asked.

Joanna held up two claws to show how many.

"Any men?"

Joanna shook her head.

"Hmm," he hummed thoughtfully, it sounded good. "Is it the brat and his mother?"

Joanna nodded; her master had gotten it in one.

"Well, I reckon we can hang tight for a bit. That brat thinks he's safe so he'll come out to play soon enough. And then we grab him."

Joanna nodded in agreement before she looked back towards the house and hissed, flicking her tongue out towards the home.

"You keep a sharp watch," McLeach told her, patting her head. "No idea what direction he might come out of or where he'll go so we'll need to be ready. Just give me a signal if you spot him."

Joanna nodded again; her master could trust her senses. She's track down that brat if he even looked out of his house.

A couple hours later...

"I'm going out mom," Cody called from the door as he headed outside.

'Alright but please be back before dinner," His mother replied.

"I will," Cody assured her, as always grabbing his backpack and heading outside.

It was the normal dry, hot day for this time of year and Cody soaked it all up. With a grin, he raced for the forest, hoping to meet up with some of his animal friends. Little did he know the narrowed watching eyes as an goanna hissed and quickly slunk off to let her master know. McLeach was dozing in his truck, boredom and the heat lulling him.

Joanna slipped in through the window and then crawled up to him. She hissed softly and started to nudge him awake.

"Huh...huh, what is it?" he grumbled, he didn't like being woken.

Joanna nudged him harder and meaningfully pointed. McLeach frowned before realising what she was trying to tell him.

"Eh...he's out?"

She nodded and now he smiled, stretching his back as he did so.

He started up the truck.

"Alright girl, where did he go?" He asked her.

Joanna pointed to the forest with her nose and then looked back up at her master.

"You done good," he complimented. "You go after him and I'll follow. Make sure he doesn't know about us; use a distraction if yah need to."

She smirked in a lizard like way and scurried off after the little brat.

McLeach waited for a couple minutes for Joanna to get into the forest before he started to drive into forest with his truck, being sure to stay quiet.

He figured he knew the general direction the boy would head in so he didn't drive directly after the brat but took a more roundabout route. For this to succeed, the brat couldn't realise he was there until it was far too late. He was going to teach that brat good and proper want it meant to cross Percival C McLeach.

Cody was laughing and having a great time as he ran through the forest, being followed by a couple of his animal friends like the King fisher bird, Kangaroo, and Wombats.

"It's good to have you back, Cody," Kangaroo said warmly. "We all missed you."

"It's great to be back," Cody answered with a laugh. "Are there any animals in trouble today?"

"I don't think so," Kangaroo said, shaking her head. "And with that awful poacher gone, there'll be a lot less animals needing help."

"But there will always be some," the King Fisher bird squawked wisely.

"Yes there will be," Kangaroo agreed.

Cody smiled and nodded.

"And I'll always be here to help them," He stated proudly.

"How quaint," Joanna thought scornfully to herself as she watched. None of the animals had any idea she was there and it was going to stay that way.

At the moment, the boy was heading in the direction her master was but that could change at any minute.

"So has any one heard from those mice that had helped me?" Cody asked the Kangaroo.

"They've flown back to the US," she answered. "Since their getting married, I think they want to organise things as quickly as possible so they can continue with their work."

"I hope I can see them again," he said wistfully. "I can never thank them enough for what they did, if it wasn't for Bernard, I'd be Croc chow."

All the animals nodded in agreement, so relieved he had survived his encounter with such an evil and ruthless man. Cody then remembered something.

"Hey is...is Marahute's eggs hatched yet?" Cody asked.

"Yes and they have already learned to fly and had gone to a new nest, knowing the old one wasn't safe anymore," King Fisher bird answered.

"That's good," Cody said in relief as secretly, Joanna cursed. Now she'd never get to eat those delicious eggs and her master would have to continue searching for that eagle.

"I was worried another poacher might find her," Cody continued. "I hope someday I can see her and her babies, but I'll wait until she's ready."

"Very wise Cody." The bird replied as they continued on their walk.

Joanna scornfully spat, by the sound of it, that eagle was going to stay hidden for at least a while. Never mind, her master needed to recover and exact his revenge, they could go hunting for birds later. She continued after him, waiting for the perfect moment to grab him.

Soon Cody and his animal friends came up to a small creek where they all sat down to relax. Cody started skipping rocks across the water, the King Fisher was diving for minnows, the Kangaroo and Wombats were sunbathing.

Joanna smirked, this was perfect, they didn't look like they were going anywhere. Carefully, she slunk away and hurried back to her master who was parked a bit away. He smiled as she rushed up to him, indicating with her tail towards the creek.

"He stopped for a little rest, has he?" he asked and she nodded.

"Well, now, why don't we mosey on down and get acquainted," he suggested with an evil grin.

Joanna hissingly laughed and followed her master back to the creek where she had left her find.

He was out of his truck, no sense in giving them any warning. His joints complained slightly about the hunched way he was walking but he ignored it. He was this close to catching that brat, he'd gladly suffer a tiny bit of discomfort, it was all about the pay off. Soon, they were close and able to see the little group of friends.

"You distract them," he whispered to Joanna. "I'm gonna grab the boy."

Joanna nodded and then slipped away to do her job. She prowled up close to the group and started to eye the King Fisher bird as he caught another minnow and started to eat it. While it was distracted se crouched down and pounced, letting out a loud hiss.

"Ahh," he cried, falling backwards into the water as Joanna hissed, thrashed and generally provided a distraction.

"Wha?" Cody cried, slipping and falling into the water himself as his other friends went to the King Fisher's bird's aid.

"That's Joanna," he cried as he came up spluttering from the water.

"What she's doing here?' Cody questioned out loud before he was suddenly snatched up off his feet and carried back into the forest.

"Hey...what's happening," he cried, struggling madly as the grip holding him tightened.

"You shut your mouth boy," came the response and Cody gasped. "McLeach!"

"In the flesh." McLeach replied before he laughed and continued to pull Cody back to his truck.

"But...," Cody started to say before realising what was happening. "Hey...let me go...lemme go!"

"Not this time you brat," McLeach snarled as he hauled Cody to the truck and then threw him into the back truck where the cage was and locked him inside it.

"Joanna," He called.

She jumped off the kangaroo she'd been wrestling with and raced for the truck, leaving the other animals to gather their wits and recover.

"Come on, we're going home," he hollered as she rushed into the cab part of the truck and fired up the engine.

The truck let out a roar as it started up and turned and started tearing up the forest as McLeach drove it back to his home sweet home with their prize.

Cody saw his friends try to catch up but they were too slow and were soon left behind. He moaned in frustration, he couldn't believe that this was happening to him again. With a cry, he grabbed the bars of the cage and shook them but like before, it was no use. He miserably sat down, what was his mom going to think? She'd been so devastated before, when she thought he'd been killed by crocs, what was going to happen now?

They drove for a long time until they were driving through the lifeless, dusty, waste lands that surrounds McLeachs home. Mc Leach looked at Joanna.

"How's he holding up back there Joanna?" He asked her.

She peered through the glass screen and saw him miserably sitting against one wall of his cage. She chuckled nastily to herself before doing a miserable pose for her master. He chuckled and said.

"For a moment there I was worried he wasn't' enjoying the ride."

Joanna and McLeach both laughed evilly before McLeach picked up the hand piece for the mic.

"Cheer up kid, you're going to get out of this old big cage and be back in you nice small cage back at home," He taunted.

"Thanks a lot," Cody grumbled, folding his arms and looking away. He'd show that darn poacher, he'd gotten away once, he'd do so again.

McLeach drove into his build in garage and parked. He and Joanna then stepped out and walked around get Cody out of the cage.

"Alright kid out," McLeach snapped as he pulled Cody out.

"What do you want with me?" Cody demanded. "I don't know where Marahute or her eggs are so I can't take you to her nest."

"Well, it's just as well I don't want you for that," McLeach said as he started harshly dragging the boy to his home.

"Then what is it?" Cody growled and he continued to kick and struggle to get out of the poacher's grip.

"Revenge," McLeach said grimly as he gripped Cody harder. "You and your little friends sent me over Croc Falls and I don't like that. Now chances are, I won't ever get my hands on those damn mice and maybe not that bird but I'll happily settle for you."

Cody winced and started crying out in pain as McLeach started to hurt him from squeezing too hard.

"Ahh let go of me you're...you're hurting me," Cody whimpered.

"That's the idea," McLeach growled before saying. "But you're lucky; I'm too tired to do anything else right now, so you're going in your cage."

"Nooo," Cody yelled as he was dragged into the back room and then dragged over to that terrible cage that he was put in before.

"I won't wanna go in there," he cried, although he was relieved there were no animals locked up.

"Tough, get in," McLeach snapped, opening the cage and shoving Cody inside.

Cody cried out in pain against he was roughly handled and scrapped up his knees and hands from the fall before the door to the cage was slammed shut.

"Now you just relax and take it easy," McLeach said mockingly. "I'll be back for you later."

Cody sniffed as McLeach stomped off, tears threatening to fall. His feet and hands stung and he was in an even worse situation than before. What was going to happen to him?

McLeach slammed the door shut to the room and walked back to his living room to go relax and regain his energy. Joanna came over and settled by his side. He lightly stroked her head, murmuring.

"I think we done good today Joanna. We just gonna rest now."

Author's note. What happens to Cody, what are McLeach's plans for him? Find out next time, until then.