as told by Mrs. Brisby
Elizabeth and the Holy Stone
Why?
It was the one word, among hundreds of others, that ran through my mind. The one that screamed out above the silence. Why? There was no purpose to going to the Treasury, nothing of interest to be found. But still I went, drawn by some mysterious call, or by morbid curiosity.
I entered through a small crack within the walls, barely large enough for a rat to enter, but just enough for a mouse. There were a few combs webs, a couple of small spiders, but the way was clear for the most part. Once in, I began to take in my surroundings. What I saw was an imperial-looking building with a flag consisting of a lion on it. Strangely enough, there weren’t any lions guarding the outside of the temple, to my relief. The last thing I needed was another cat hunting me down as Dragon did.
Things inside didn’t seem to be dangerous. Good. With caution, I slowly moved, making painstakingly sure not to attract too much attention. But before I could make my next move, I heard a voice speaking. I turned around the corner and saw three people all dressed in black. The same ones I saw that day in the Treasury. Taking a closer look at them, I realized they have a familiar object in their hands. The stone… I wonder what these cruel people are doing with it?
“So how are we going to lure these ‘Crests of Blood’ to us?” Asked the slender one with dreadlocks to the woman with the cat eyes..
“We can have a few of our powerful allies to draw them out.”
The man shook his head, as if he was unsure of the idea. “I’ll help a little. In fact, I’ve got someone that wraith told me to humiliate.” I didn’t know who they were talking about, but I didn’t like it one bit. I followed them for a little longer, lying low in the grass before taking cover behind a tree. He opened his mouth again, as if to continue on, with what seemed to be a worried tone in his voice. “But that Saiyan prince is going to be a major threat to us. How are we going to get him before his blasts could destroy us all?”
The woman gave pause to the question, as if it hit her. “Hmm.. Perhaps we could get Raditz back to draw him to us and distract him again… IF he got stronger from his training.”
Did this “prince” fight them before? If so, he could help me bring back the Stone of Nicodemus and defeat the monsters before he defeats them. I inched away from the tree, watching as they entered the temple within the House of Personal Appearance. I waited a little, hoping they hadn’t noticed. Thankfully there were a few deities out, wandering the night on their daily rounds. Sighing in relief, I advanced into the temple with caution. With very few human guards outside, it should have made things a little easier on me.
It didn’t.
My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest, my throat dry as the desert. I quickly hid behind the few artillery shells they had lying around to avoid detection. One of them shifted their eyes to where I hid.
“I must be seeing things…” He then looked to the sky. Rodents thankfully, don’t make a lot of noise outside. Before he could do something, I went around the place, where there was no one guarding the side, and hid behind a pile of rusted, broken bricks.
Whew. If I acted just a moment later, I’d be a goner. I slowly inched out of the area. I looked around the area and to my luck, I saw a small entrance in the form of a cracked wall. I looked both ways, checking if those guards came out. Here I go. Gathering up all the courage, I went inside through the cracked wall. I’ll have to admit, it was very risky. Refilling my lungs with air, I slowly took a few steps going further inside, carefully not making a sound. Come to think of it, which area in the temple was this? It’s really dark, but then, that is natural during nighttime; Treading cautiously, I bumped my nose into a wall. “There’s a turn here?” Placing my hand on it to recover, I turned left, where I saw a dim light. I ran toward there, hoping there would be a safe place for me to rest. As I entered the strange room, It was larger than I thought it would be. Glancing around the area, I noticed there were humans, strangely white-skinned, laying on the ground, piled up. The sight of it nearly made me barf. Are they ill or something? I quietly went into a corner and slept to re-energize myself. I leaned on a small piece of brick to use as a pillow for a short rest. How do I get the stone back from them? I asked. Too tired, I let out a large yawn, forgetting that there were abused humans inside the room, presumably out of fear for what those monsters could do with it. Contrary to my expectations, one of them rose up, revealing only one eye on the forehead. Looking around, it uttered the word ‘Master…’ Repeating the word a few times, the others, just like the first one, woke up emerging from their slumber. Having heard of the noise, I turned to see these human-like creatures and my eyes widened in fear. I began to make my leave and slowly walked into the small tunnel. As I did, one of these ‘humans’ had their eyes on me. Without warning, as it tried to assault me, I ran back to the tunnel as fast as I could, where they couldn’t catch me. I turned right, where I could see the outdoors. I rushed for the exit and ran into a wall. “This is more dangerous than I thought…” Regaining my breath, I went around the temple walls and found a fence. Good, now’s my chance. I rushed to the gate, crawled past it as fast as I could, then ran away from the temple to get some help.
Reconstructive Efforts
A human woman, having blonde hair, with some of it covering her left eye, wearing blue military attire with a black fur-coat on top was standing next to the window, looking through it seeing a trail of ice in the air slightly to her left. An ice trail? She looked at it more closely, her eyes lighting up to a realization a moment later. Where is that blue-haired woman they informed me about? Is High Command an organization? Who is this woman she’s talking about? I have a bad feeling about all of this. Before she could inspect the outside of her temple further, the phone on her desk started ringing. She stood up from her chair and reached for it, placing it on her right ear. “Yes?”
“Olivier Armstrong. It’s been a few weeks since we last met.”
Knowing who it is, the blonde woman smiled in relief. “Satsuki Kiryuin. I was just thinking about you.” Is this Satsuki the woman Ms. Armstrong talked about earlier? Too early to assume that now. “Is this for a cup of tea? Because I’ll pass on that.”
“No.” Satsuki answered. “Bradley and his team have already begun their move.”
“It’s just as I expected…” She looked out of the window again. “That reminds me. Change the subject if this has been addressed already. After your attack against the Führer, I highly doubt you still have much trust from that Alliance of Evil the Homunculi are members of.”
“I thought for sure you’d be asking me about something a bit more constructive.” Satsuki remarked with a slight snideness in her tone, though not enough that she would seem hostile. “Like what do I know about the current attack or who’s trying to stop it, for instance.”
Olivier smiled. She got the message loud and clear. “Alright, then. Who’s on the case already?”
“Mustang just told me his group of colonels have headed out to assist another team. One that includes your brother and that Elric guy.” Satsuki revealed.
“The Majors.” Olivier realized aloud. “No doubt that blue-haired woman with the ice powers is involved in this somewhere.”
“What!? Esdeath!?” Satsuki exclaimed. “Are you sure about that?”
“A trail of ice just appeared outside my window.” Olivier recounted, looking at the ice still in the air. “If I recall correctly, that’s one of her powers.”
“Damn… if she’s involved, then we could be in serious trouble.”
“You and your Elite Four are in charge of security for everyone trying to repair the Toku base, is that right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Stay on that. If this goes too far it could threaten them as well. I’ve already assembled some help. They’ll be on the way as soon as I see fit.”
“We’ve got help on our end here if she or anyone else from Bradley’s team decides to attack.” Satsuki’s tone of voice became more serious. “Tell the people you’ve assembled to pick up the pace. With Major Kisaragi elsewhere, that blue-haired woman could kill them quickly if they don’t arrive in time.”
“I will. Update me if things change.” With that, the blonde woman hung up the phone and started calling someone else. “Chief Beifong? Do you hear me?”
The other woman answered with a mature voice for a female. “Very clear, Major General Armstrong. I’m on my way to help the Majors, and I’m not coming alone.”
“Good. I want you to move a little faster on your mobilization. That woman, Esdeath as they call her, has cornered them. Tell your allies to do the same as well.”
“So soon!? We’ll be there as fast as we can! Out.” Chief Beifong hung up on the Major General, who sat down on her chair. What kind of conflict have I gotten myself into?
The Great Mouse Detective
I ran to the House of Profession, exhausted from the running. Everything that had transpired was almost too much. Those people in the black dress, the creatures in white, the whole process of sneaking inside that temple only to be stopped. They had the Stone, but there wasn’t much I could do… except run.
After what seemed to be an eternity, I caught sight of an old can, and took shelter. My heart was in my throat, my breathing fast and close to exhaustion. They couldn’t have followed me this far, unless the black ones were watching. I looked around the corner of the can, making sure there was no one searching for me. None were in the area, much to my relief. With no one pursuing me, I moved forward, in a bid to look for someone I’ve known here for some time.
He couldn’t be too far from here.
For the next hour I kept to the shadows, travelling through corridors and passageways to avoid getting noticed or crushed by the humans walking around. Some of them knew who I was. “Goddess of Nice Mice”, they call me. They mean well when spoken but once the conversation is finished I merely sigh and shake my head. Goddess. The word remained on my mind. What does it mean to be a goddess? I’m just a mother looking to protect my family.
I slowly made my way to another area just as the rain began to pick up. Droplets falling from the sky in succession of each other. First a few, then a dozen, before the clouds released it all in a deluge. Most of the humans took cover from the rain, running into the buildings and temples lining the street. Some remained outside, pulling out umbrellas or using their coats to shield themselves. One woman, dressed in a blue garb, merely waved her arms, somehow preventing the rain from falling on her, a man in the same blue clothing as her, and a bald man in yellow and orange with a blue arrow tattoo on his head traveling in her company. Sometimes it’s enough to make me forget the world I had entered; a realm of gods, some called it. But these beings, strange as they may have been, were no true gods. Just people, trying to get by… like myself.
I had been paying too much attention to the water bender when I collided into something. Someone. “I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were…” My apologies came out almost instantly… but they stopped when I realized who I had bumped into. “Mr. Dawson?”
The plump mouse, with his grey jacket and cap, brushed himself off and gave a quaint smile. “Oh, no need to apologize, Mrs. Brisby. I was just out doing some errands. Terrible weather, I must admit.” His expression changed swiftly, shifting to one of concern. “You seemed to be in a bit of a rush. Is something troubling you, madam?”
More than you can imagine. The words were on the tip of my tongue, ready to slip out with one move. Instead, they were swallowed back. “I… I was hoping to find you… Is Basil around here? I… I need to speak to him about something.”
“Basil? Well… he has been busy these last few days. Then again he’s always been busy. No telling what he’s looking for next.” He stopped himself from trailing further off. “But I do know he’s in his temple right now. Follow me, good ma’am.” The plump mouse led me to the Investigations’ Sub-house, through alleyways straight out of the books Jonathan used to show me.
Jonathan…
The thought of my husband, long since departed, caught me off guard. As Dawson led me onward I glanced up to the sky, grey and melancholy, its tears shed upon a broken world. What would Jonathan have thought of this place? Would he have been in awe, or saddened? Someday, I will ask the Court of the Gods to grant him life, if for a brief moment; then he can make his answer. I stumbled into a sign, nearly bumping into it due to my mind trailing off. With my head out of the clouds, I followed Dawson, who stopped near a wooden door, the window at its top glowing from the light within.
“We are here, Mrs. Brisby.” Dawson noted as I caught up to him, the chubby mouse knocking on the door. We waited for a few moments until someone opened the door, revealing… an intimidating figure appeared before us. A mouse dressed in red oriental clothing, with white skin, wide eyes and long thin strands of black that was supposed to be a moustache. Admittedly, I was startled by the spectacle. Dawson, on the other hand, was unfazed by it.
“Who dares to enter my temple!?” The white mouse shouted at the top of his lungs. I really had nothing to say. His expression was wide and dead-eyed, his voice sounding… suspiciously familiar. Basil? I had heard rumours of his dramatic introductions, but…
Dawson simply chuckled in a slightly snide tone. “Ho Ho Ho! Here I come, you devious brute!” Mustering up the courage to deal with the creature, Dawson raised his fists, as if he’s getting into a fighting stance, which the imposing rodent did the same. But no strike was made.
Instead the white mouse laughed it off. “I didn’t think you’d take self-defense lessons, my dear Dawson.” The white mouse said, looking almost surprised; if one could be surprised with those bug eyes of his. He stopped and reached for his head, grabbing the top before… pulling it off? I blinked as the brute decapitated himself, revealing a second head beneath, smaller and covered in brown fur. I realized that it was just a disguise for a smaller mouse, which made me sigh in relief, knowing who it was under the disguise.
“I almost had a heart attack there.” I huffed and pouted at the mouse for such a prank. “Please do not do that again, Basil.” As I leaned next to a rail to regain my composure, Basil looked at me, surprised.
“What brings you here to my temple, Mrs. Brisby?” He asked with that eccentric smile of his still remaining. “Staying away from Tom?” I gave him a disapproving look at the irrelevant remark. Even more strangely, what made me pull back my restraint was gone when that whole buffoonery happened.
“Funny, but I… I came here to tell you that the stone has been stolen.” This was enough to make him stop with the endless chatter.
“Has Ratigan taken a hold of it?” A slight measure of panic was on his face.
“It’s worse than even him.” I told him and Dawson. “I lost it in the Treasury to these three… ‘humans’ in black dresses.” The two looked at each other before turning to me as I continued to explain. “I tried going in to follow them in this royal-looking temple, but I ended up in a room where these… white-skinned cyclops creatures were. They chased me out of there. I fear those people in black might use it for something far worse than whatever that rat’s wanting to do with it.” I nearly teared up over having it lost. “Please. Help me get it back.”
Dawson, meanwhile, looked at Basil, whose hand was on his chin. “What do you think about this Basil? Should we help the young lady?”
“Hmm… it is rather unusual for someone other than Ratigan to take the stone…” He turned to me. “But don’t worry, Mrs. Brisby dear. We will help you reclaim the Stone of Nicodemus! Right this way!” Basil led me and Dawson into his temple.
Presentation
The three humans from the treasury were walking down a dark alleyway, leading on to the House of Otherness, whispering about other affairs.
The woman had a curious look on her face. “It’s strange to see those mannequins misbehaving in Wrath’s temple.”
“Don’t think about it too much, Lust.” The lanky one with the dreadlocks told her, crossing his arms behind his head. “I’m sure his team has it under control.” He looked around, as if to check if anyone was spying on them
The female sneered at him, unappreciative of the unconcerned remark he made under her breath. “Carefree as usual, Envy?” Lust is the female and Envy’s the one whose hair is like palm-tree dreadlocks, so who’s the stubby one? He seems simple-minded compared to the other two. The three of them continued walking until they saw a lady with black hair in a bob-cut wearing a dark red dress and a white-haired man looking older than the lady, in a robe that matched the color of his hair. For some strange reason, Lust briefly looked at the red-dressed lady with scorn. Did something happen between them? The three creatures kneeled in a subservient manner. “Father… Lady Dante… We have returned.” The man in the white robes moved forward to greet them with a calm look on his face.
“Welcome back.” His lips became a small smile, showing a sense of warmth to them, who all. “I’m sure no one spotted you on your way back.” These
“We’ve made sure no one kept an eye on us.” They didn’t know I followed them; That’s great, but I doubt I’ll be so lucky next time I come back. He turned to Dante, who approached them.
“What did you three obtain?” Dante asked.
Clearing his throat, the man replied. “Yes. A present. I believe my daughter has something to show you.” He turned his head to the female in black. “Lust.” Reaching for her pocket for what is revealed to be my stone, the female in black walked up to Dante, and extended her arms to show it to the well-dressed lady, to her surprise.
“A philosopher’s stone…!?” Her eyes widened, amazed that such a thing was before her very eyes. “Where did you get this?”
“Gluttony had tracked its scent to the Treasury, and a little mouse was in possession of it.” So that’s the name of the fat one; Dante takes the stone from Lust and uses it on herself a moment later, her eyes widen in surprise to see it still intact. She turned to the old looking man.”
“What kind of stone is this?” She asked the others, who looked surprised. “Not once did it dissipate after I’ve used it on myself, which should have been gone by now, but I feel… better than normal.”
“Perhaps someone from a realm similar to ours knows of its secrets.” He turned to her, still holding the stone in her hand. “Keep it.” The woman raised her eyebrows, surprised at what he told her.
“You’re not using it for your immortality?”
“No. I have other plans.” If he’s not going to use the stone for his end, what is this man planning to do?
A Thrilling Case
The three of us sat in chairs, discussing what happened. “So how did those people in black steal the stone from you?”
I tried to remember the time I went into the Treasury and what happened there. “If I recall correctly… A female extended her fingers, almost as if they morphed into spears piercing the ground.”
Dawson was outraged to hear what had happened. “Those foul humans! They think they can take everything away from us. I’ll be sure to give them a piece of my mind when we take it back.” Me and Basil looked at him quietly. Angry as he was, he knew we wouldn’t get payback.
“I know you want to get back at the thieves for this, Dawson.” Basil got up and comforted him. “That’ll be for another time. Right now, we must focus on a way to take back the stone… Without getting exposed.” He went back to his own chair to sit back down on it.
“We need to set up a distraction for the guards. What should we do?” I asked them. Basil placed his chin, trying to come up with a plan.
“Hmm. Let’s see. Have Jerry lead the cat to cause havoc around their base?” Dawson suggested. “Jerry’s pretty good at evading Tom, so they cause the guards a little more trouble.”
Basil turned to his friend. His eyes like one of approval, but then he lowered his brows “That could work, Dawson, but those two are everywhere, and by the time we reach them it’ll be too late for us to stop their plans in time.” Tom and Jerry tend to wander around the Pantheon with their mayhem. If he sees us, then we’re food to him. Plain and simple. Think. What can distract the guards to let us enter undetected? We could get some fireworks to get them- No. They’d return back to us the moment it’s gone. How am I going to get over there when- Wait that’s it.
“Basil, how about we use the Invisibility Cloak you spoke about in the House of Magic?” The eyes of both Basil and Dawson lit up in surprise. “Our bodies will be invisible, which won’t allow the guards to see us.”
“That’s a safer idea.” Leaning back, Basil brought the air in his lungs to let it out. “I call for a cab to get us to the House of Magic, we get the invisibility cloaks, then infiltrate the home of those people in black Mrs. Brisby speaks of.” As Dawson and I both nodded in approval, Basil called in a cab while we drank our cup of tea, deciding to take it us along the way, knowing it will be a long walk over there. The three of us went outside, where there was no taxi waiting for us yet.
How would Jonathan feel when he learns that I’ve lost the stone to the humans? Will we be poor? I dread the thought of that happening. It’s the only thing I have left after my husband. I can’t let it be stolen in the hands of someone else, especially not after what happened last time. As my mind wandered, loud gas sound snapped me out of it, causing me to turn around to see a retro-looking burgundy automobile with a tiny rocket installed on the rear hood.
“Oh, our cab has arrived faster than expected.” I shook my head in disbelief as we walked to the vehicle. Basil went in first, with myself coming in second, followed by Dawson entering last. We had a small degree of trouble being seated due to Dawson’s big size for a mouse.
“Where to?” The Cab driver asked.
“The House of Magic.” The driver stepped on the gas, and pressed a button that activated the rockets to accelerate. I have a feeling that even with those cloaks from the Magic House, getting the Stone of Nicodemus is going to be more difficult than we thought.
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