The Inventor and the Phoenix

More than Planned

A/n: fun fact, whenever a song comes on, I'd like to imagine it from the 2017 version. Now's a good time to try it. 

Enjoy this chapter!

~~~~~~~~~~

Ratchet pulled back a branch for him and Zach to see Rodney's house.

"Heh, heh. Rodney's gonna get the surprise of his life, huh, Ratchet?" Zach chuckled, turning back to Ratchet.

"Yep, this is his lucky day," Ratchet, who is dressed in a red suit, white shirt, pants, and boots, smiled. He stepped back and let the branch go, with the branch accidentally hitting Zach in the process.

It was all going according to plan. Ratchet knew that it was going to succeed well. The cake was all set up, the archway is ready, the guests are all here. It's going to be perfect.

Ratchet cleared his throat, catching his guests' attention. "I'd like to thank you all for coming to my wedding. But I better go in there, and...propose to the boy," he chuckled at his joke. Most of the guests laughed as well, while the three brides wailed.

"And you, Zach..." Ratchet then turned to the black-haired man. "When Rodney and I come out that door..."

"Oh, I know! I know! I strike up the band!" A band started playing at Zach's command, only to stop when Ratchet slammed a tuba on his head.

"Not yet!"

"Sorry," Zach apologized.

A few knocks on the door turned Rodney away from his reading. Wonderbot also perked up when it heard the knocks. Rodney set the book down on the table and approached the door. Looking through his telescope device, he groaned in annoyance when he saw Ratchet standing outside before opening the door with a fake grin. Wonderbot flew up behind Rodney and hid behind his body.

"Ratchet...what a pleasant surprise," Rodney said, feigning surprise.

"Isn't it, though? I'm just full of surprises," Ratchet smirked as he stepped towards the blue-haired lad. "Y'know, Rodney, there is not a boy in town who wouldn't love to be in your shoes. This is the day..." He stopped to check to see any imperfections on his face in the mirror before continuing. "This is the day your dreams come true."

"Wh-what do you know about my dreams?" Rodney asked, raising a confused eyebrow. Wonderbot growled at the unfamiliar man as it remained hidden behind him.

"Plenty. Here, picture this." Ratchet slammed his boots on his books, and Rodney tried, yet failed, to hold back his disgust at this.

"A rustic hunting lodge, my latest kill roasting on the fire..." Ratchet took off his boots in the process as Rodney gave a strained smile. "...and my lucky husband massaging my feet..."

Rodney cringed staring at his feet and covered his mouth as Ratchet continued. "...while the little ones play with the dogs. We'll have six or seven." Ratchet stood up from his chair, getting close to Rodney.

"Dogs?" Rodney asked.

"No, Rodney! Strapping boys like me," Ratchet chuckled.

Rodney scoffed and picked up his book before cleaning the mud off. "Yeah, imagine that..."

"Do you know who that little husband will be?" Ratchet asked, walking up to Rodney, who placed his book on the shelf.

"Let me think..." Rodney pretended to think, but he was coming up with a plan to get Ratchet out of here.

"You, Rodney!" Ratchet cornered Rodney, but he was able to duck underneath his arm and backed away towards the door.

"Ratchet, I'm...speechless," Rodney leaned back against the door, with Wonderbot hiding behind him, as Ratchet got closer to him. "But I really don't know what to say..."

"Say you'll marry me," Ratchet finally had Rodney cornered, his hands on both sides of him.

"I'm very sorry, Ratchet, but..." Rodney started. Wonderbot perked up when he saw the doorknob and started to turn it slowly. "But...I just don't deserve you," Rodney finished as Ratchet was leaning in to kiss him.

Rodney stepped to the side in time just as Wonderbot turned the doorknob completely. Ratchet yelped when he fell forward and into a mud pit. Rodney held back a chuckle while waving goodbye as Wonderbot laughed.

The band started playing at Zach's command, unknowing that Ratchet had fallen into the mud pit. Rodney tossed out his shoes before closing the door.

Zach noticed Ratchet's butt poking out in the air and halted the band. Ratchet, whose face changed to an angered frown, pushed himself up from the mud.

"So, how'd it go?" Zach asked nervously, only to yelp when Ratchet grabbed him by the front of his shirt.

"I'll have Rodney for my husband, make no mistake about that!" Ratchet growled and threw Zach in the mud pit before stomping away.

Zach humphed under his breath. "Touchy," he remarked to himself.

Ratchet stomped away back to the tavern and wiped some of the mud off his face, passing by Rodney's house. A few moments later, Rodney poked his head out, with Wonderbot following behind him.

"Is he gone?" He asked himself. After finding no Ratchet in sight, he sighed with relief and descended the stairs. "Can you imagine? He asked me to marry him! Me! The husband of that boorish, brainless..."

"Monsieur Ratchet. Can't you just see it?" Rodney picked up a rag from the stair rail and placed it over his head, mimicking a maiden, as Wonderbot hovered beside him "Monsieur Ratchet! His 'little wife'! Ugh!" He slammed the rag on the fence in frustration.

"No, sir! Not me! I guarantee it! I want much more than this provincial life!" Rodney then dashed towards the hills outside the village. Wonderbot didn't hesitate to follow behind him.

The hills overseeing the lakes and mountains was a magnificent place to see the whole village, but for Rodney, it gave him more than a view of the little town. It gave him a sight of the adventures he'd been dreaming of since he was younger.

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell," Rodney sang as he stood on the hill. Wonderbot flew up beside him and squeaked in amazement at the views ahead of it.

"And for once, it might be grand to have someone understand..." Rodney smiled at Wonderbot and patted it on the head. "I want so much more than they've got planned..."

The peaceful silence soon shattered when Wonderbot squeaked hastily. Rodney turned to where it was pointing at, only for his face to fall when Cappy's horse barged through the trees...his saddle empty.

"Hey! Hey, what are you doing here, buddy? Where's..." Rodney had managed to calm him down and desperately searched for Cappy. "Where's Cappy? What happened?"

Rodney knew he couldn't speak horse, but his heart was telling him that she's in trouble. He had promised her that if she isn't back in three days time, then he'll go looking for her. And he's going to make good on his promise.

"We've got to find her. You have to take me to her!" Rodney mounted on the horse and dashed off, with Wonderbot not too far behind him.