You were on the delivery truck by sunrise. You and the rest of the group said your goodbyes to Quacker. The farewell was short, solemn, but held meaning. As the stars began to disappear, you jumped into the vehicle through an open door. The teen in charge carried cartons of eggs and gallons of milk to the truck's refrigerator, giving you and the other mice time to slip in unnoticed. The three of you hid underneath the seats, staying out of view when the hired hand entered his vehicle. The adolescent jammed his key into the ignition; the van coming alive with a roar. The music pounded in your sensitive ears, similar to before. Soon, you were on the road, kicking up gravel and dust at sixty miles per hour.

As time went on, the radio faded as background noise. Your thoughts focused on the picture in your hands. Two mice shared the limelight and a family bond. If anyone was going to help Jerry with his current condition, perhaps another family member was the way to go. You flipped the image over; "Hogan's Alley" etched on the back. The gruesome and dark street was known for multiple animal injuries and as the meeting ground for felons alike. However, Jerry had some family living in the Alley. Obviously, this meant that Muscles' couldn't possess a picket white fence or any front lawn flamingos. You just hoped he didn't decorate with crime scene tape.

Your body was a stiff stone while you focused on your thoughts. It was only when a large bump in the road lifted your small stature into the air and gravity pulled you back down onto the truck floor that you awoke from your trance. You looked up through the windows. Dormant street lamps loomed over the street while the echoes of car horn blared into your eardrums. You were back in the city. Though the country view was relaxing, you missed the steel streets and brick buildings. You loved the bustling streets and the pounding of human feet. The energy that resonated from the concrete sidewalks brought a beat into your breath.

Finally, the vehicle came to a stop at a large grocery store. The high school student pulled the key out of the ignition and opened his door. Jerry and Nibbles dashed over to the exit while carrying the leather glove over their heads. The teen slammed the car door shut, but not before the two mice slipped the fabric into place, preventing the door from closing all the way. This allowed the three of you to make your escape. You were the first one to exit the truck, hopping down onto the ground. Nibbles was next, jumping into your arms. Finally, Jerry took a large leap out of the van, landing right beside you. You scuttled under the vehicle to avoid being seen.

The teen's footsteps pounded from the back of the van to his car door again. When finding the glove stuck in the door, he muttered in a quiet but angry tone. You heard him slam the door again, but with much more aggression than last time. You watched him amble towards the grocery store's back entrance, and finally, he entered the building in a huff.

You and your companions left your refuge from under the van. The buildings cast dark, cold shadows overhead. It was still early in the morning; the sun had yet to rise completely from the horizon. Small chills were sent down your spine, tickling the fur on your skin. The sky illuminated in a bright orange, somewhat blinding to your retinas. However, it wouldn't be long until you were back in the dark shadows.

The three of you scuttled to the street. Only a few humans were walking down the street, but the rush hour was drawing near. Jerry lead you to an open storm drain, an opening large enough for all kinds of rodents to enter the pipelines. This was one of the fastest ways for animals to travel unnoticed. Some used the rushing water to venture out of the city for a new life. Others, such as you and your group, would use it to travel from one storm drain to the other, allowing quick access all over the city. All you would need to do is purchase a ride on one of the boats.

The brown mouse ducked in first, clutching onto a small rope that dangled from the drain. Nibbles followed after, though he seemed to slide down the rope more than climb. Finally, you entered. The rope burned your sensitive skin, making you hustle down into the dry catch basin. Thankfully, it hadn't rained for a while, leaving only a little moisture in the underground area to bother you.

You reached the ground of the basin, feeling the cold floor touch your feet. The entire room was dark, one of the reasons for the cold temperature. Jerry and Nibbles were waiting right before the pipe entrance, from there, you find the boat docks. The pipeline was silent and dark, only the sound of dripping water echoed in the steel. Nibbles clutched your hand, scared of the eerie path ahead.You held the small paw and gave him a squeeze for encouragement. However, your other hand was taken by Jerry, whom grabbed it quickly but gently and began leading the way in the dark. You smiled, thankful that the darkness covered your blushing cheeks.

Finally, you could hear the fun sound of chiming boat bells and water. Nibbles immediately grew excited and rushed forward. You and Jerry dashed after him, though you kept your hands connected as you ran. You reached the young mouse that the ticket booth, where a tall, grouchy-looking mole humphed in dismay. Obviously, he wasn't terribly thrilled to have such early morning customers.

"Welcome to the Rodent Rough Waterways," the man muttered in a monotone, bored manner. He wasn't very thrilled to be working, that was apparent. "Are ye ready for the ride of yer lives?"

"That's not a real pirate accent," Nibbles stated. This ticked the mole off even more.

The man hunched over the counter to look at the young mouse. "Listen, kid. I ain't speaking real pirate until I get a pay raise. So mind your own business, brat!"

"Maybe you'd get a pay raise if you were nicer," Nibbles muttered under his breath. However, the mole still heard the remark.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!"

Jerry quickly clasped a hand over his nephew's mouth. You intervened between the mole and mouse. "I'm sorry, sir!" You responded. "He's just a little tired, and in need of a good nap. How much are tickets?"

The mole receded back to his booth. "Free for children under ten. Any age above is twenty dollars each. Families get in for half-price." The mole gave you a slightly wicked grin. "That little twerp your kid?"

"What?! NO! He's--"

"YES!" Nibbles intervened, pulling Jerry's hand off of his lips. "They've been married for ten years!"

Your cheeks grew red once again, although, you weren't able to see Jerry doing the same.

Jerry placed the cash on the counter, receiving three tickets in exchange. You quickened your pace away from the laughing mole and made your way to the boats. Another mole stood at the wheel, waiting for you to board. Once the three of you were in your seats, the captain pulled a rope from a nearby post, and the boat moved away from the docks. Finally, you were on the wavering waters, heading to Hogan's Alley.

The trip was quick, as a majority of the city's water flow heads straight south towards your destination. Once you arrived, you quickly unboarded the boat, but not before Nibbles received a small, Junior Captain hat from the much kinder mole. The two saluted each other before Jerry gently grabbed his nephew's hand. The mole continued to move downstream, heading to a detour that would bring him back to his origin. The three of you walked over to a small ladder built for animals of your size. The rungs led upwards to another storm drain, which opened right in the middle of Hogan's Alley.

Jerry reached the top first and reached the surface. You allowed Nibbles to go ahead of you, making sure he didn't fall off the ladder as he climbed. Soon, you reached up to the surface. Jerry grabbed your hand, pulling you up from the underground. The sun, the glorious sun! It struck your face with warmth and glow, bringing a smile to your face. However, the smile didn't last long.

A sudden scream echoed in the alley walls. You turned, finding a cat being swung ahead in the air like a lasso before he was smashed into the gravelly ground. Dust was kicked up into the air, causing you and the others to cough and hack. Soon, the dust flew away, allowing you have a clear view of the scene.

A single mouse stood tall on a tabby cat's tail. His posture showed that of power and anger. He tipped his green bowler hat back into a more comfortable place on his head. He used his hands to pat away the dust on his yellow and black shirt. He stomped to the front of the feline, picking up his head by the whiskers.

"If I ever see yous around dez parts again. Yous will lose more than a few whiskers!" After his statement, the mouse pulled the whiskers in his grasp. The cat screamed in pain, only to receive a punch in the chin as compensation. the large predator was knocked unconscious, the brown mouse brushing his hands together.

At this moment, the mouse turned back to you and your group. Once his eyes locked on his identical cousin, the muscular mouse chuckled lowly. "Well, well, well, if it ain't my favorite cousin!"