Trying hard to keep her own sanity, Isabella cradled Bilee in her shaking
arms. The violent sounds of the battle outside rang in her ears. Thomas came to
her teetering mind. Only knowing him for a day or two and she had fallen in
love with him. But two years as a widow and raising a child without help was
pure misery. She actually feared for his safety after he was to tell her and
Brutus of his true purpose at Thorn Valley. She feared he would've had to be
executed. But how can one love one another so quickly? And why? She just had a
feeling about him.

Another explosion, louder this time, rocked the shelter. Its wooden frame
threatened to buckle as it creaked and groaned from the pressure. Several of
the maids and,wives and young children cried out in terror. A high-pitched
grating sounded above their heads.

"Someone's landed on the roof!" someone whispered. Another hissed
at the girl, urging her to be quiet. Every rat in the crowded shelter stiffened,
their ears perked and intent.

"Mommy?" Bilee tugged at her mother's sleeve.

"Hush!" Isabella put a hand over her mouth and continued to
listen.

There was nothing but the faint scratching for numerous tense moments,
periodically being drowned out by the clamor of the dying battle outside. What
was happening? Did they win?

A loud thunk snapped her out of her trance.. More creaking resounded,
intensifying to loud crackling, and finally a gigantic torrent of pale-gray
dust upon her and the other occupants as the roof caved in on them. Coughing
and spitting, Isabella reflexively looked up and found two pairs of frigid blue
eyes starring directly at her. The large bulk rat smiled in deadly
anticipation.

"Well! Well! Well!" Rotwood laughed, bringing his bow down to
eye-level with her. "My new master has told me a lot about you, and in a
slip second, too! And it says I must kill you because you turned his best agent
against it. So you will see whether or not there is a life after death!"

Rotwood pulled his bowstring back.... ... and out of nowhere, the dark blur
of a spear flashed past his head, slicing his pride and joy neatly in half. The
arrow arched into a nearby wall which son disintegrated.

"You've ruined my bow!" he roared, whirling to face the towering
Brutus and his former superior.

"Thornbranch!" he whispered vehemently., pulling his fighting
sword out of its,-scabbard. Thornbranch unlatched his riding helm and threw.,it
aside and raised his own blade. "I'm going to kill you, you traitorous
bastard!"

"Still the impetuous one, Rotwood, no matter what powers you are
given!" Thornbranch retorted calmly. "Now, as the humans say,
"put your money where your mouth is"."

"He's outnumbered!" Brutus smiled.

"I'll fix that! Garrik, attack!" Rotwood's bat surged forward,
baring his teeth at Brutus. The large rat picked up a discarded board and flung
it at Garrik's face.

"No!" Rotwood's snicker widened into a broad grin. "Come,
save your fair lady in distress!"

Thornbranch remained frozen, yet, he was ready. Rotwood, screaming a hoarse
battle cry, charged at him. Their flashing swords met with a powerful ring.
Rotwood's ferocious attacks drove him backwards and downhill.

"You see, Thornbranch," Rotwood taunted, his breath and blows
unwavering. "You can't stop me!"

"And I say again... you're still the impetuous one!" He ducked as
Rotwood swung his sword at neck-level and pushed his own sword tip into his
gut. Rotwood roared in pain, stumbling backwards, rolling further downhill.

"It's over, Rotwood. Jenner is no longer in control of his precious
Stone, and your forces are being pushed back. Surrender or retreat now!"

"Jenner is dead!" Rotwood snarled. "We are now more powerful
than ever! It is you who will surrender!"

The cold fire alight in his insanely wide eyes, Rotwood charged at
Thornbranch. Their swords met with a deafening clamor. The force of Rotwood's
unnatural blows pushed Thornbranch quickly back up the frosting ground and onto
the shaky remnants of the shelter's roof.

An elbow impacted with Thornbranch's cheek, blurring his vision. He yelped
as his legs tilted into the air. A sharp, painful sensation racked his back as
he fell to the floor. Several female rats cried out, startled, as Rotwood
leaped down in front of his fallen opponent. Thornbranch brought his arm up to
find his sword blade shattered to a small jagged point. Rotwood stepped up to
his and raised his weapon above his head.

"Not again!" Isabella screamed and she plunged her head into
Rotwood's side. Shocked by the attack that came out of nowhere, he stumbled,
off balance and tripping sideways,over a piece of rotted wood. He fell squarely
onto a giant protruding nail. Crying out, he clutched the steel rod that
impaled his body.

"Damn you ... Thornbranch... !" Rotwood rasped from between
bloodied lips. Then, the cold light faded from his dying eyes.

"Thomas!" Isabella sobbed, throwing herself to him. "Are you
alright? I thought you were going to die!"

He sat up and mimicked her strong hug. "Never in a million years!"
he whispered into her shoulder.

"Hey!" They looked up to find Brutus standing above them outside.
"This rat's bat just fell dead. The rest of his troops are pulling back! I
think we've won!"

"Keep an eye on them!" Thornbranch ordered. "They might be trying
to regroup for another attack!"

"There's not very many of them left," Brutus informed. "I
think we really surprised them. Thanks to you."

Thornbranch only shrugged.

But the oppressive, bleak atmosphere exploded into a hundred cheers.
Thornbranch kissed his new love anyway as Bilee came rushing up to them. Thorn
Valley seemed to be safe. He would know in a few minutes anyway.

"Look out, Martin!" Timothy cried, pointing up as the batflyer
swooped down to fire of another fire arrow. Brad ended the attack with his own
electrical bow shot. The blast struck the stomach of the rider. With him dead
and his bat inert, they both fell headfirst into a nearby tree.

"That's it with the batflyers!" Brad stated.

"Yes, but not those lizard-riders!" Paul corrected matter
of-factly. The large rat bounded up to the bodies and grabbed the sword.

"Not to worry about two of them!" Justin breathed heavily as he
ran up to them."But five more are right behind me!"

"Everyone get ready!" Paul ordered. "Brad grab that rope on
one end and go to the bushes opposite of me! And have your crossbow
ready!"

The children and Justin ducked behind the foliage while Brad threw one end
of the rope to Paul. He grabbed the other end and they both crouched down and
waited.

The loud thumping grew in intensity as the lizard-riders came nearer. The
shimmering sets of eyes bounced into view.

"Now!" Paul shouted and he and Brad pulled line taut.

The snapping line caught Captain Lightfoot squarely in the chest, yanking
him off of his speeding mount.,Before he could get up, Brad rose and squeezed
an electrical round into his chest. With a grunt, Lightfoot fell before he
could even draw his weapon. Justin ran quickly onto the path and dragged the
dead rat into the bushes. Brad pushed the now petrified lizard off of the path
with one foot.

"Captain Lightfoot!" Bloodwart shouted, coming up over the hill.
His three subordinates hopped up behind his. All weapons were drawn. Their cold
eyes glowered suspiciously into the darkness. They slowed their lizards to a
crawling pace.

Paul met Justin's gaze in the undergrowth across from him. They both knew
what had to be done. It was now or never. Justin leapt from his protective
cover and threw a discarded dagger into the neck of the leftmost rider. As his
left flank became vulnerable, Bloodwart swung his mace at Justin's skull. He
ducked and pulled his arm back to throw a punch.

"No! This one is mine!" Paul growled and charged.

"I gladly accept your invitation to dance!" Bloodwart mussed,
veering toward Paul's attack. Justin switched his gaze to the rider just behind
the preoccupied Bloodwart. He picked up a sword and began his attack. The rider
parried his usually well-placed strikes with the skill that Justin had never
seen. The rider on Bloodwart's right moved in to join his comrade. Brad evened
the odds with a shot to the rider's back and out of nowhere, a small stone went
hurling at Justin's opponent. The stone ricochetted off of the'@rider's helm,
giving Justin the time he needed for a quick thrust to the rider's belly.

The agonized scream of the rider told Bloodwart that he was now alone. No
matter. He could easily crush these useless vermin by himself. Laughing, he
elbowed Justin away as if the strong lean rat were nothing but a gnat. With his
other arm, he swung his mace at Paul@'º face. The sweep caught the very tip of
his nose which began to bleed freely. Bloodwart's mount, Gavvoe, squealed as he
lashed out violently, trying frantically to bite and whip all of the aggressors
at once. Martin leapt out in front of him. Mrs. Brisby shouted for him to come
back.

Sneering, the child raised his slingshot and released a jagged pebble into
his forehead. His helm rang loudly with the impact. Panicked, Gavvoe reared
upward, throwing Bloodwart from his saddle. He landed squarely on his back and
never saw his mount's foot plunge into his face.

All heads suddenly turned away from the gory scene as Mrs. Brisby rushed out
of the bushes. She led Martin away, trying to keep her own eyes averted.

"Mommy?" Cynthia poked her head out. Timothy followed her cautious
action a little more slowly.

"It's all right, honey," she soothed uneasily. "Don't come
out on the path. You wouldn't want to see this!"

The rats followed her away from the petrified lizards and their dead riders.

"Are there anymore?" Timothy said softly.

"No, I don't think so. Brad answered, sighing with great relief.
"It look's like that's all of them."

came "Are you sure?" Auntie Shrew, who had been pleasantly
quiet, out from hiding, rubbing her aching head.

"of course!"

"Finally wake up from your faint?" Paul grinned at her.

"Keep your comments to yourself, scoundrel!" she spat, hissing.

Brad growled lowly to himself. Auntie began to walk haughtily away when
Justin dropped his sword and heaved his own sigh of relief. "I saw Jenner
fall," he said. "He must be dead. So I guess it's over!"

But the unnatural crackling of lightning and thunder from the dam put his
words to shame very quickly.

"you'll never catch me, you pitiful mortals!" the high-pitched
voice of Nicodemus' demon in Jenner's body screamed, reverberating rapidly
through.the enormous room of the dam's control center. Peter shook his head,
dazed. He gazed down at his sister, surprised. For someone who had just
survived a near-miss from,a lightning bolt, she was almost deathly calm as well
as unscathed.

"I was shielding us, my brother." She smiled knowingly at him, as
if she were reading his thoughts. He lifted himself up off of her. She might
have been reading his thoughts. With the Stone controlling her and all .... The
crashing of a coffee mug falling to the floor snapped him back to attention.

"Where is he?" he whispered, trying to peer through the clearing
smoke. The darkness in the room sure didn't help much either. Out of the
darkness, another searing lightning bolt flashed between them, narrowly missing
both of their heads.

"Up in front of us," she said, pointing. "Behind all of the
human controls."

"Thanks!" Peter grunted. Off in the shadowy distance, a glowing
blue bounced in mid-air.

"There he is!" Peter squinted, dimming the green luminescence of
his own eyes while Tereasa simply ambled out into the open, her glowing red
Stone completely exposed. He crept slowly out beside her, slowly pulling his
sword from its scabbard.

"Yes, that's it!" the demon taunted. "Come and get me,
children!"

Peter's blade silently burst into flame.

"Wha!" he exclaimed. He almost dropped it when Tereasa grabbed his
arm.

"Use it to fight him," she instructed. "But don't drop
it!" The flames illuminated a great deal of the massive room. Desks and
terminals towered all around them. Rising up as if they were meant to touch the
sky itself even though the mice knew that they were only a few feet tall by
human standards. A rapid series of thumping broke him out of his mesmerized state.

"Peter, look out!" He looked just in time to:'see the demon's
raging blue eyes and shimmering blade come straight for them.

"if you will not come to me, i will come to you!"

Smiling insanely, the demon slashed his sword at them. Peter dropped to one
knee and raised his sword arm. His hand ached as their blades met. The shock of
which nearly dropped him on his back. Tereasa moved to assist but the demon
slapped her up against a desk leg. Her head slammed into the hard wood.
Moaning, she sagged to the carpeted floor, the light in the Stone fading
somewhat.

"You ugly bastard!" Peter screamed, charging madly toward the
demon. Laughing, the demon parried the fuming youngster's blows.

"this is quite fun, little one!" the demon snickered, falling back
just to humor the mouse. It swiped the sword away from his face and clutched
Peter's hair. With a strength that was unnatural for any animal this size to
possess, he tossed Peter up at the ceiling, yanking his hair painfully.
Instead, the mouse arced just beneath it, his weapon leaving a tall arch of
flame to mark his flight path. A hot flash of pain stabbed through the boy as
his skull cracked into the thick glass window in front of the large desk.
Ponderously and nauseated, he slid noisily down the window and onto the
desktop.

"hah! some warrior!" the demon chuckled. He gazed down at Tereasa.
She moaned softly as she regained consciousness. The Stone flickered to life in
response. "well, i think just to be fair, i shall take you up there to
watch me destroy him. right before i kill you!"

He grabbed her collar and launched into the air. They rose high over the
gigantic human furniture and machines. Through her hazy mind,Tereasa felt her
stomach lurch as her feet left the carpeted floor. She hung limply in his steel
grip as they hovered over to the office's front window, at the bottom of which
lay Peter's inert body. She let the Stone take control of her again and
concentrated on his life force.

She felt some of her tension slip away as she felt the warmth of Peter's soul,
which, thankfully, was still present in his body. The demon released his its
grip on her and she tumbled to the hard polished wood. The demon descended
deftly onto his feet, a moderate rush of whispering air billowed the giant cape
behind his back. It fell back across it like a specter trying desperately to
hang onto an elusive host body.

"Now, Peter Brisby, awaken so you can face your death and join your
accursed father!" It raised its sizzling white blade of energy.

"Stop!" Tereasa cried out and stretched out her palm. A bright
orange ball of energy streaked out from her hand and enveloped its hands and
solidified itself into a lead gauntlet that was too heavy for even the Stone
demon to hold up.

"Curse you, you filthy little pest!" it spat. Its glacial blue
eyes flashed at her furiously.

"You will fight the boy, Her tone remained steady. "but on equal
terms."

"That pitiful fool, Jenner, didn't know what force he was dealing with!
You think this boy will be able to defeat me?"

Peter sat up, moaning. A small trickle of blood dribbled down the side of
his head.

"I will destroy not only the humans but all life on this planet. I will
grow stronger as I drink in the suffering of others!"

Peter's eyes widened as he became acutely aware of what was going on. He sat
up and whirled on one knee and clutched his sword. But another lead ball formed
around his hands. He glared up at his half-sister, uncomprehending.

"It is all around us!" the demon smirked, continuing his taunt.
"Racism, ethnic hatred, crime, poverty, hunger, drugs, greed, and
delicious sadness. My creator had once thought of these things and because of
that, I exist. I am the strongest and quickest of all emotions: hate."

Tereasa, or the red Stone being, intensified her stern gaze on that of the
demon's. "I am love and courage. The hardest state of feeling to obtain
and keep; yet, I am the strongest and most rewarding. Hate has no power over
them."We shall see who will win, Hate. Peter give me your sword."

"What?" Peter's eyes widened into a look of fear. "But, sis,
I can beat him--"'

"Now!" She glared at him. "You must learn, Peter, to
fight hate with strength. Your mind and heart is still clouded by the tragedies
of your past. If you fight him with more hate, he will only grow
stronger."

"So what?" He returned her look of anger with one of his own.
"So my dad is dead because of a stupid farm cat! I'm sick of people
keeping me from actually making a difference just because I have an attitude
they don't like! So I'm angry! Big deal! Everybody is angry at some time or
another!"

Her gaze softened as she listened.

"You want me to do something good? You want me to show you that I am
responsible even though I have a short temper? Let me take this guy on so we
can save ourselves. Let me fight this hate with its own medicine'."

She nodded and the lead spheres around their hands disappeared. Peter and
Hate rose. He held his flaming sword and inch away from the demon's jagged
electrical blade.

"Okay, pal! I'm sending you back where you belong! Straight back to
Hell!

Peter lashed out furiously, grunting and shouting as he went. Masses of
sparks showered around them as the two combatants clashed violently. The
demon's stance wavered and he fell back from the relentless onslaught, its own
weapon crackling. The room that was once dark was now illuminated by the
chaotic battle. The blue-eyed demon suddenly regained his confidence and dealt
some of his own vicious attacks.

Peter ducked just as the lightning sword swayed above his head. The hair on
his head and the fur on his neck rose as he felt the last tingles of
electricity in his body. The blade dug into the thick glass, piercing it all
the way through. With a blood-curdling scream, Hate continued to hack at the
glass. Long cracks and holes flowered over the once smooth surface until,
finally, the pane gave way and shattered.

Bits of jagged sharp glass of all sizes rained down their deadly points down
on the trio. Peter and Hate leapt over the window's edge. As he fell from the
deadly height, Peter used both hands and dug his sword deeply into the cement.
But the fire surrounding his blade melted it like butter. He continued to fall
slowly to the top of the dam. Hate had fallen straight down, landing headfirst
into the man-made ledge. Peter hoped that it was now over but his bowels
clenched when he saw it rise up, unhurt.

Tereasa, still in the control center, watched Peter pull his sword from the
building and dive straight for Hate. She ignored the last of the falling pieces
of glass that fell harmlessly against the protective energy done around her.

Hate sneered as he pushed Peter away. The mouse felt his heart stop for a
beat when he stopped his roll and found himself teetering over the edge of the
monstrous dam. His vision blurred as he stared down at the seemingly
nonexistent bottom. Who knew what was down there beneath the clouds of
low-drifting fog and spraying water. Shuddering, he rolled away from the edge,
narrowly avoiding the sword thrust by Hate. The cement 'ground' exploded as the
destructive energy sawed through the hard surface where Peter had just lain.
They brought their swords together just as Peter rose. He found his gaze locked
with Hate's own pale but malicious glower.

"I will destroy this city! Hundreds of humans, weak and stupid as they
are, will drown before the night is through!" He pressed the youngster
back, their swords crackling. The double glow of their powers produced wicked
shadows over what was once the face of Jenner. "I will watch with glee as
these humans use my powers to destroy one another! They will blame each other
for the disasters I create. They will feed me and I will use that power to burn
this planet dry."

Peter could feel the heat of Hate's foul breath on his face, his anger
rising to a height it had never known.

"You know something, Hate?" he tauntingly mimicked the demon smirk
and quickly backed away. "You talk too much!"

Hate, who had been using most of its strength to keep the youngster at bay,
found himself off balance. He pitched forward....

.... straight onto Peter's red-hot point. The sword bore straight through
the Stone, armor, tunic, flesh, and bone. Hate screamed as he felt his heart
being skewered by the searing hot steel.

With the Stone and heart destroyed there was no other outlet for it to escape
to or take control of. The boy had let go of the sword and backed away. But
Hate's feet would not budge. Flames consumed the body that had once been
Jenner's and Hate's at once. It writhed in agony as it was consumed by the
white-hot fire.

Peter watched in horror as the glowing flames ate the body away. Billows of
smoke plumed from the ears, eyes, and mouth. And after several tense moments,
the blazing skeletal remains tipped over the edge of the dam, bouncing over the
surface like a bouncing ball of rock, and plunged into the hazy waters. The
explosion of the body threw Peter back against the building as the evil
energies dispersed and disappeared.

"Well done, Peter." Tereasa smiled as she hovered down beside her
half-brother, "My job is now done."

"But the dynamite! Tereasa ... !"

She shook her head and pointed. "Look!"

Two massive flowers of fire lit the night sky, drowning out the presences of
the moon and stars. The destruction of the dynamite marked the joyous beginning
for the Rats and Mice of NIMH and the end of their dark origins.