Years ago...
Big Red was in the Dodge Junction hospital, having just completed a physical with his doctor, Serge. He sat in the examination room, waiting for Serge to return with the results.
At the moment, he was feeling quite good about things. Shine was a strapping teenager, and Mist had just started school, and made many friends.
Big Red would've liked to take all the credit for how well they were turning out, but he knew it wasn't all down to him; Cherry had played a large part in helping him raise them. He was pretty sure he wouldn't have been able to handle things without her.
'Yer a real wonder, Cherry.' Big Red smiled. 'An' Ah'm gonna make sure ya know it. Ah'm finally gonna tell ya how Ah feel. Ah'm finally gonna ask ya out...'
Serge entered the room, having completed his work.
"So what's the good news, doc?" Big Red asked. "Do Ah have a clean bill a' health?"
"Well, you are quite fit for a stallion of your age." Serge admitted. "But..."
"'But'?" Big Red gulped. "What's up, doc?"
"Please understand, this is a fairly common occurrence." Serge declared. "It's nothing to feel embarrassed about..."
"What's nuthin' ta be embarrassed about?" Big Red asked, confused. "Come on, doc. Out with it."
"I'm afraid you're... infertile." Serge declared.
"Ah'm what?" Big Red frowned.
"In layman's terms, you cannot impregnate a mare." Serge told him.
"So... Ah can't have kids?" Big Red gasped, the enormity of the matter sinking in. "Ever?"
"I'm afraid not, Mr Barrel-Roll." Serge said solemnly. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this."
"That's okay, doc." Big Red put on a brave face. "Yer jest doin' yer job."
Big Red left the hospital in decidedly lower spirits then when he entered. He could never have children. That fact hung over him like his own personal rain cloud. But it wasn't something he was feeling bad for. It was Cherry.
'Ah can't ask Cherry out now.' He thought despondently. 'Not now Ah know Ah can never give her a family. She deserves better'n some barren stallion. Ah'll never have kids of mah own now...'
Big Red walked home dejectedly, all his plans for having been dashed by nature's design.
The present...
As Big Red expected, he received another message from Gregory shortly after his talk with the boys.
"Lunard has agreed to come." Gregory wrote. "He wants you all to meet him at the old mines outside of town."
"What?" Big Red wrote back. "Why there?"
"I don't know." Gregory replied. "But he's fairly insistent about it."
"Okay, fine." Big Red wrote. "Tell 'im we'll be there."
"Right away." Gregory replied. "Weather permitting, we should be there in an hour or so."
"The old mines?" Cherry frowned, having been reading from over Big Red's shoulder. "How odd..."
Upstairs, the boys were clearing up the guest room, wanting to leave it the way they found, for Big Red and Cherry's sake.
"I can't believe this is really happening." Globe sighed.
"I know." Huckleberry nodded. "I'm really gonna miss this place."
"So am I." Eclipse said dourly. "And to think, not too long ago, I wanted nothing more than to leave this house in the dust."
Once they'd finished cleaning, Big Red and Cherry entered.
"Ready to go?" She asked.
"As we'll ever be." Huckleberry shrugged.
"Can we... keep the bandannas?" Globe asked.
"Of course ya can." Big Red smiled. "It'll be sumthin' ta remember us by. Now come on. Yer pa'll be comin' soon."
"Yeah." Eclipse sighed. "Let's go."
Big Red, Cherry and the boys headed over to the old mines just outside of Dodge Junction.
"I wonder why your father wanted us to meet him in such a remote place?" Cherry wondered.
"Pa doesn't really like crowded places, remember?" Globe reminded her. "He likes to keep to himself."
"Except when it comes to the ladies." Huckleberry added. "Then he can't get enough of 'em."
They soon reached the mouth of the mine.
"Okay, fellers... this is it." Big Red declared. "If Ah'm not mistaken, yer Pa should be comin' in soon."
"...Yay." Globe said flatly.
"Can't wait." Huckleberry added sarcastically.
"Come on, guys... I know Pa is not the best... but I'm sure we might be able to resolve all our problems we have with him." Eclipse said charitably.
"You actually think Pa can be reasoned with?" Huckleberry snorted. "He practically bucked up a guy for giving him 'light' beer."
"I realize that... but we should at least try." Eclipse pressed on.
Big Red felt a pang of sadness, noting the uncertainty in Eclipse's eyes.
"Well, I hope that when you boys go, you'll take care of each other." Cherry smiled, trying to keep face.
"We will, Cherry." Eclipse nodded. "I promise."
"I'm gonna miss you." Globe nuzzled against Cherry.
"Same here..." Huckleberry sighed.
"Oh, boys..." Cherry started tearing up. "I will miss you both."
Cherry hugged both colts. Eclipse glanced at them sadly...
"Hey. Are you alright, Eclipse?" Big Red asked.
"...Yeah." Eclipse replied. "It's just... I don't know how to feel... happy that Pa is coming for us, angry that he left us in the first place, scared of what's to come..."
"Well, Ah'll have ya know... if this Pa a' yers tries ta do you or the boys harm, ya can always run back ta me and Cherry." Big Red declared. "Our door is always open."
Eclipse smiled deeply.
"Thank you, Red... for everything..." He announced.
Big Red wrapped a hoof around him.
"Yer welcome, son." He grinned, trying his best to keep a straight face.
Meanwhile, over in Dodge Junction, Marshall was once again performing his rounds, depression still gnawing at his mind. Suddenly, a pair of Griffons flew in across town. Marshall didn't recognize the first one, but the second sent a chill down his spine.
"What's he doing here?" Marshall gaped. "Well, for whatever reason, I'm not going to let him cause trouble anywhere near my town!"
Marshall charged, running in the direction of the rapidly diminishing specks.
Up at the mines, Big Red and the others were still waiting Suddenly, a large shadow flew past them, nearly knocking all but Eclipse off balance. Lunard landed in front of them, a smile on his beak. Big Red instantly recognized him by the crack on that same beak.
"...Pa." Eclipse remarked.
"Son." Lunard said quietly. He turned to Globe and Huckleberry. "Globe. Huck."
"Pa..." Globe and Huckleberry said together, a little nervous.
Gregory landed beside them.
"Okay, job done." He declared. "You folks enjoy yourselves. I have a wife, kid and eggs to get back to. Hope ya settle everything."
With a curt nod, Gregory took off again.
"I'm glad I found you guys." Lunard smiled. "I was wondering where you got off to."
"Where we-you had us wait at that rock for-" Huckleberry started.
"Huck, I'll handle this..." Eclipse turned to Lunard. "We kinda got into a bit of a situation, and we were left working on these two's ranch."
"Is that so?" Lunard turned to Red and Cherry. "I hope it wasn't something too serious." He then gave a mock bow. "By the way, my name is Lunard."
"...It's you." Big Red whispered.
"What?" Lunard frowned, rising from his bow.
"You." Big Red repeated. "The Griffon bully, all them years ago... yer Eclipse's father?"
Lunard stared at Big Red for a moment. Recognition flooded his features.
"Oh my Faust... you're that kid I beat up a while back." Lunard realized. "Whataya know?"
"You two knew each other?" Eclipse glanced at them both.
"Indeed we do." Big Red growled. "This guy tried ta mug me, back when Ah wuz a kid."
"He what?!" Huckleberry gaped.
"Pa, how could you?" Globe asked.
"Hey, relax." Lunard smirked. "That was years ago. I was young and reckless then. We're all that way when we're just kids. Besides, that pal of yours pretty much evened the score when he gave me this." He pointed out his cracked beak.
"Relax yerself." Big Red declared. "Ah ain't the type ta hold a grudge. What Ah wanna know is how good of a pa ya really are."
"Oh, I'm a great dad." Lunard smiled. "These boys love me. Right, boys?"
Eclipse, Huckleberry and Globe muttered halfhearted 'yes's.
"You see?" Lunard grinned.
"That may be." Cherry stepped forward. "But what kind of an environment can you provide for those boys?"
"Not that it's really any of your business, but I always give these boys the best." Lunard declared. "Always have, always will."
"Izzat so?" Big Red glared. "Ah couldn't help but notice some real nasty scars on Eclipse's back. Did you do that ta him?"
"Sometimes kids misbehave." Lunard shrugged. "They need a little... corporal punishment to help 'em stay in line."
"That don't look like a li'l ta me." Big Red declared.
"Is it my fault if Eclipse misbehaves a lot?" Lunard shrugged. "What do you care, anyway? You got what you wanted. I'm taking these kids off your hooves. You should be thanking me."
"Ah didn't bring ya here 'cuz Ah didn't want the kids around." Big Red glared. "Ah brought ya here cuz yer their pa, and they belong with ya. Ah just want to know if ya'll take good care of 'em and not leave 'em out in the desert ta be eaten by Faust knows what!"
"It was a lapse in judgment." Lunard scoffed.
"Well, from what Ah've heard, ya've been havin' lots of those." Big Red grunted.
"Hey, I did not come back here to have my parenting judged!" Lunard growled. "Honestly, where do you get off?"
"Ah just want what's best fer Eclipse and the boys." Big Red declared, as he gave a stern glare. "And Ah want ta be sure you do what is best. Ya hear me, Lunard?"
"Yeah, sure." Lunard rolled his eyes, as he turned to boys and gestured. "Come on, boys. Let's blow this joint."
Eclipse and Huckleberry reluctantly followed him. Globe however, stayed where he was.
"Hey, tubby, aren't ya coming?" Lunard called back to him.
"Come on, Globe." Eclipse urged. "We have to go-"
"I'm not going." Globe said firmly.
"What?" Lunard turned to face him.
"Globe?" Huckleberry turned around, surprised by his words.
"What are you doing?" Eclipse frowned.
"I want to stay with Red and m- I mean, Cherry." Globe confessed. "I don't want to go hungry again. Not ever."
"Globe..." Cherry gave a small smile.
"But Globe, we gotta go with-" Eclipse tried to explain, but Globe cut him off.
"No, I don't." Globe pouted. "I'm sorry, Eek, I really am. But... I love it here, and I love Big Red and Cherry. I'm staying, and that's that."
"Kid..." Big Red whispered, surprised, yet touched.
"Ohhh." Cherry cooed. "We love you too, Globe. But are you sure you want to leave your brothers?"
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life." Globe proclaimed.
"...Fine by me." Lunard just shrugged off. "That's a couple hundred pounds off our back." He then gestured to Eclipse and Huckleberry. "Come on, you two."
"Pa, wait!" Eclipse pleaded, as he glanced at Globe. "Globe, please don't do this. We have to stick together..." He turned to Huckleberry. "Help me out here, Huck."
"Actually..." Huckleberry sighed, as he joined Globe's side, much to Eclipse's shock and Lunard's bemusement. "I have to side with Globe on this one."
"W-what?" Eclipse murmured.
"Oh, you too, Huck?" Lunard gave a false pout.
"I'm sorry, Eek." Huckleberry sighed. "There's a lot more available mares around these parts. That, and Big Red and Cherry have always been good to us. I can't give that up."
"Thanks, Huck." Big Red smiled.
"You're both welcome to stay if you want." Cherry beamed. "It'll be our pleasure to have you."
"But, Huck... Globe..." Eclipse stammered. "Please..."
Lunard then grew bored of the conversation.
"Come on, Eclipse. Looks like it's just you and me." Lunard made to walk off.
"But, but..." Eclipse stuttered. "Pa, shouldn't we...?"
"Why bother?" Lunard snorted. "If they wanna stay, they can stay. Two less mouths to feed."
"But, pa..." Eclipse gasped, dismayed. "We have to stick together."
"Hey, we had a good run while it lasted." Lunard said indifferently, as he turned to face Eclipse. "But seriously, it'll be much easier not having to feed the walking garbage disposal and dealing with the wannabe Casanova."
"Pa!" Eclipse gaped in shock. "I thought... I thought we were a family!"
"Family?" Lunard let out a haughty laugh. "Eclipse, in case your naïve brain hadn't noticed, Globe's a fat conehead, and Huckleberry is a loser mud-pony. They've been dragging us down for the past ten years or so. Sure, keeping them around had its perks now and then, but they've long since outlived their usefulness."
"Say what?!" Huckleberry growled.
"That is highly uncalled for." Globe pouted, offended.
"How can you be so callous?" Cherry growled.
"But they're my brothers!" Eclipse snapped. "We were all they had!"
"Yeah, 'were'." Lunard scoffed. "They obviously want to stay with these mud-ponies, so who I am to stop them? Saves me a whole lot of trouble. I forgot why I even took them in in the first place..."
"Because I asked you to." Eclipse glared. "Pa, please, you can't-"
"Oh, are you really going to have a fit over this, Eclipse?" Lunard sighed in frustration. "How about we put a pin in this conversation for later and get the flap out of here while the gettin's good."
"You're not goin' anywhere, bub!"
Everypony lit up in shock as they turned to see Marshall coming in.
"Aw, flap." Lunard muttered.
"Hold it right there, Griffon!" Marshall barked.
"Marshall?" Big Red gaped.
"What are you doing here?" Cherry asked.
"I'm here in pursuit of a wanted criminal." Marshall declared. "One Lunard Cloudskipper." He pointed to Lunard. "Him."
"Say what?" Big Red gaped.
"Double flap." Lunard muttered even more.
"You heard me." Marshall declared. "He's wanted in many towns over yonder for robbery. I saw his 'Wanted' poster over in Saddleton. He's been going on sprees pretty much non-stop for months now. Just this past month or so, he robbed half a dozen towns blind."
"Wait." Eclipse gasped. "Past month..." He then glared at Lunard. "You said you were going to be robbing just one place, then coming back for us. Yet all this time, you left us all by ourselves on that rock?!"
"And what if I did?" Lunard growled.
"You said you'd be right back." Globe recalled. "You lied."
"I had to." Lunard shrugged. "You three would've been dead weight out there. Better for me to go solo."
"So you just left us to survive on our own?!" Huckleberry growled. "Holy crud, Pa! It was bad enough we never had a roof over our heads! Now ya mean to tell us ya been holding out on us?!"
"Wait, y'all never had a house of yer own?" Big Red asked incredulously.
"No, we didn't." Globe admitted. "We'd just go to place to place, sleeping in alleys, or on rocks. And we would wait around while Pa robbed places."
"And you never thought to tell us that?" Cherry asked.
"It's my fault." Eclipse sighed. "I made them promise to keep it a secret."
"Good thinking, son." Lunard smirked. "We don't need strangers sticking their noses in our business."
"I'm not surprised." Marshall sneered. "When your business is breaking the law, you don't want anypony finding out."
"Well put, lawstallion." Lunard smirked.
"This is a dad-gum outrage!" Big Red roared. "Screw what Ah thought wuz right!" He stepped forth towards Lunard. "If ya think Ah'm going to let yer bank-robbing, abusin' tail go off with Eclipse now, ya got another thing coming!"
"Excuse me?" Lunard glared. "In case you've forgotten, Eclipse is my son, therefore makin' him my property! Why don't you mind your own business? You ponies are nothing but inferiors to me! I'm your superior, in every way! I don't interfere with your paltry lives, so don't interfere with mine, ya... hay munchers!"
"That ain't how it works." Big Red glared.
"You broke the law, and now you have to pay the price." Marshall added.
"I don't have to deal with this!" Lunard scoffed as he spread his wings. "Come on, Eclipse, they can't catch us if they can't fly!"
Eclipse remained silent.
"Eclipse, didn't you hear me, we're outta-"
"No."
Lunard brought in his wings, as he glanced at Eclipse coldly.
"What did you say?" Lunard growled.
Eclipse glared at his father.
"You want to know something, 'Pa'?" Eclipse muttered. "I'm done... I'm done making excuses for you. I did everything I could to ignore the neglect, the beatings, the lack of fatherly love. I tried so hard to believe that there was a shred of decency within you. But it turns out I was wrong. You're a terrible father."
"Nopony's perfect." Lunard sneered.
"You're as far from perfect as you can get." Eclipse declared. "It took me a while to realize it, but Big Red and Cherry actually cared about us. We were nothing more than petty criminals, yet they took us in and treated us like their own... and now, I finally see you for what you are..."
"Oh?" Lunard frowned. "And what, pray tell, am I?"
"Do I really have to spell it out?" Eclipse snarled. "You beat me, you treated me like dirt, you always left me behind... and now, you are turning your back on my two brothers! Yes, I said brothers, because hoof or claw, they're all I had! Honestly, how heartless must you be to act this way to us, let alone me?!"
"Oh, quit whining, you hatchling." Lunard snarled in disgust.
"Whining?!" Eclipse narrowed his eyes. "What is wrong with you, pa? Why do you treat me this way? What did I ever do to you?!"
"Oh, you sound just like your mother right now." Lunard growled. "She was always going on at me about one thing or another. Nothing but yap, yap, yap, all day, every day. A complete and total gnat! Can ya imagine the Tartarus I went through with that hen?!"
"How would I know?!" Eclipse snarled. "She left you and me before I hatched!"
"Good thing too. Had I not broken that witch's pretty little neck before, I would've had to deal with both of you." However, he instantly realized what he just said, covering his beak. "Whoops."
Everypony was aghast.
"W-What?!" Eclipse gasped.
"What?!" The others cried.
"Aw, triple flap." Lunard cursed.
"You... killed her?" Eclipse spluttered, as he shook his head. "No... no, you're lying! You said she ran off and abandoned us when I was an egg!"
"Yeah, that one was a lie." Lunard shrugged.
"You monster..." Big Red growled.
"How could you?" Cherry gasped.
"Oh, geez..." Huckleberry grimaced.
"I don't believe it." Globe gasped.
"You're even worse than I heard." Marshall said in disgust.
"What, did you expect me to tell the kid I killed his mother?" Lunard said, affronted. "I didn't even want a kid in the first place."
"What did you say?" Big Red gaped.
"...What?" Eclipse murmured, his eyes growing misty, not believing the words coming from his father's beak.
"Ya heard me." Lunard glared at his son. "Your mother was nothing more than a two-bit wench I took for my own! However, as luck would have it, she wound up with your egg the following month. I didn't want her going to the cops on me, so I did the logical thing. I silenced her... and I would had done the same with you, had there not been a certain witness, who blackmailed me into being stuck with you!"
Eclipse was at loss for words, as tears beginning to strike his eyes. Everypony around them was shocked and stupefied.
"What? Are you going to cry, boy?" Lunard mocked. "That's exactly what your mother did. She tried so hard to keep me from you, only made things worse for her. And she screamed... oh, yes, she screamed... that mangy-feathered, fat ugly cow!"
"RAAARRGH!"
Eclipse charged at Lunard, full of anger and grief, tears falling from his beak, catching Lunard off guard and punching his chest.
"You monster! You demon!" Eclipse cried. "You killed my mom! I hate you! I hate you!"
Unfortunately, Lunard slapped him hard across the face, sending him to the ground. The young Griffon sniffed and trembled.
"Disrespectin' your pa, huh?" He looked down at his offspring, cold fury in his voice. "Looks like I'm gonna have to punish you some more."
"No!" Globe and Huckleberry gasped.
"Leave him alone, you monster!" Cherry yelled.
"Don't make me add 'child abuse' to your rap sheet!" Marshall threatened.
Eclipse lay on the ground, frozen, as Lunard swung his claw, fully splayed, downward. Suddenly, Big Red leapt over Eclipse's body, blocking the claw with a raised hoof.
"What the...?" Lunard gasped.
"That the best ya got?" Big Red growled, as he effortlessly chucked the raised claw off his hoof, without a single scratch on it.
"Get out of my way, brush face." Lunard snarled. "This doesn't concern you."
"Ah ain't lettin' ya lay another claw on that boy." Big Red said firmly, as he stepped forward. "Not now, not ever again!"
"What's this?" Lunard snickered. "You wanna fight me? You do remember what happened the last time, don't you?"
"Oh, Ah remember." Big Red cracked his neck. "And Ah can say in good conscience that ya have this comin'."
"Stand down, Red." Marshall stepped forward. "I'll take care of this! I'll make sure he gets the book thrown at him! This is a matter for the law!"
"Sorry, Marshall." Big Red clapped his hooves. "But Ah got me more important matters ta deal with: family matters."
"Suit yourself, tubby." Lunard sneered. "Just remember: that psycho pal of yours isn't around to bail you out this time."
"Too bad fer you." Big Red glared. "Because what he did ta you will pale in comparison to what Ah'm about ta do!"
"Don't do this, Red." Eclipse begged, genuinely frightened. "He'll tear you apart!"
"We'll jest see about that." Big Red declared.
"Somepony has to stop this." Globe declared.
"Big Red knows what he's doing." Cherry told him.
"But he doesn't know what pa is capable of!" Huckleberry protested.
"Trust me kid, I'm not happy about this either." Marshall declared. "But I know Big Red. Once he sets his mind to something, he lets nothing get in his way."
With a bloodcurdling screech, Lunard leapt at Big Red, talons ready to tear into him. Big Red charged at him, headbutting him in the chest, and sending skidding across the dirt.
"You'll pay for that." Lunard spat out some dust.
"Bring it." Big Red glared.
They charged at each other, locking up in a grapple hold. Lunard's talons dug into Big Red's legs as they struggled. Lunard tried to peck one of Big Red's eyes out, but he missed and rewarded with another headbutt. Snarling, Lunard removed a talon from Big Red's leg and swung for his face, scratching the stallion's cheek. Big Red punched him with his free hoof, then threw him with a suplex. Lunard twisted in midair, landing on his feet.
Big Red charged Lunard again, but this time, the griffon was ready; He sidestepped him, scratching his side as he did.
"Gah!" Big Red groaned.
Taking advantage of the situation, Lunard charged into Big Red's wounded side, knocking him against one of the mine's wooden support beams.
"Ya like that!" Lunard growled, ramming Big Red again. "Huh?!"
"Pa, stop!" Eclipse rushed over to them. "Please!"
"You're defending him?" Lunard spat. "This piece of filth?!"
"He's not a piece of filth!" Eclipse defended Big Red. "He's the best stallion I know! He's been a better father to me these past few weeks than you've have my entire life!"
"Thatta boy..." Big Red smiled, despite the tremendous pain in his body.
"Well then, it will give me great joy to take away yet another one stupid enough to give two flaps about you!" Lunard yelled, ramming Big Red again.
"Gah!" Big Red groaned, as he slouched against the beam.
"Stupid mud-pony." Lunard spat as he then glared viciously at Eclipse, approaching him menacingly. "Now... as for you..."
Suddenly, there was a tremble. The support beam that Big Red was rammed against twice had cracked in two, and the mine began to collapse on them.
"No..." Eclipse gaped.
"Oh, flap." Lunard gasped.
"Red!" Cherry gasped.
"Eek!" Globe and Huckleberry said together.
"No!" Marshall rushed forward, managing to jump past the collapsing rocks before the mouth of the mine was completely sealed.
"No..." Cherry whispered in anguish.
Inside the mine, Marshall looked around, the tunnel dimly lit thanks to a vertical opening nearby. It didn't take long for him to find Big Red.
"Red, you okay?" Marshall asked.
"Marshall?" Big Red groaned, getting to his hooves. "What in Sam Hill do ya think yer doin'?"
"My duty." Marshall declared, straightening his hat. "Where's Lunard and Eclipse?"
"They've gotta be around here somewhere." Big Red declared.
"They can't have gotten fa-oof!" Marshall gasped.
In a flash, Marshall was knocked aside by Lunard, who was holding the squirming Eclipse in his grasp.
"Remember me?" Lunard smirked.
"Let the kid go, Lunard." Big Red glared.
"Oh, I will." Lunard nodded. "Just as soon as I'm done slicing you to ribbons."
Just as Lunard was about to swing his talon in the direction of Big Red's face, Eclipse bit him on the arm.
"AAH!" Lunard cawed out loud. "You stupid piece of sh-" He emphasized the last word by throwing Eclipse aside.
"Gah!" Eclipse groaned, hitting his wing against the wall, injuring it. Lunard continued his attack, but Big Red blocked it.
"Now, where were we?" Big Red growled.
Big Red punched Lunard in the beak. Lunard retaliated with a punch of his own. Big Red was knocked into another support, breaking it.
"Aw, yeah." Big Red nodded. "Thanks fer remindin' me."
The fight continued. Big Red and Lunard were almost even, landing blow after. During the course of their battle, more supports were broken, but they were too busy to notice.
"Look what you did to my son." Lunard snarled.
"What Ah did?" Big Red growled incredulously.
"You corrupted him." Lunard declared, throwing another punch. "Made him weak."
"No." Big Red caught the punch. "Ah helped open his eyes. Made 'im a better Griffon than ya'll ever be."
Big Red punched Lunard, staggering him.
"Why, you..." Lunard growled, his anger increasing.
"Take this!" Big Red charged at Lunard.
"No, you take this!" Lunard flapped his wings, kicking up a cloud of dust that blinded Big Red. He then kicked the stallion with both back legs, sending him flying into another support.
"You dirty..." Big Red groaned, rubbing the dust from his eyes.
"Time to end this." Lunard spread his talons.
"Gladly!"
Marshall charged Lunard from behind, knocking him into the wall. The Griffon crumpled to the ground, dazed.
"Much obliged, Marshall." Big Red smiled, having finally cleared his eyes.
Marshall nodded curtly. Just then, there was a rumbling noise, as the mine began to cave in.
"The supports." Marshall realized. "You broke too many of them during the fight. This whole mine is collapsing!"
"Time ta go, Ah think." Big Red declared.
"How?" Eclipse asked.
"Up there." Big Red pointed to the upward shaft. "Fly up an' get help, kid."
"I can't." Eclipse confessed. "I hurt my wing when I fell."
"There's still a way out, thought." Big Red declared. "Marshall, get on mah back."
Understanding what Big Red was getting at, Marshall climbed on his back.
"Your turn, Eclipse." He urged.
Eclipse scaled the two stallion totem pole. Standing atop Marshall's head, Eclipse was just able to grab onto to the edge of the shaft's top, pulling himself out.
"I'm out!" Eclipse smiled.
Suddenly, Lunard tackled Marshall, knocking him to the ground. As Big Red moved to help, the mine collapsed behind him, blocking access to the shaft.
"No!" Eclipse yelled.
"You shouldn't have gotten in my way." Lunard glared at Big Red and Marshall. "Both of you. Hope you put your affairs in order, because this mine is about to become your tomb!"
"We'll see about." Marshall declared. "Ready, Red?"
"Ready." Big Red nodded. "Let's take 'im!"
"Bring it." Lunard spat.
The two stallions charged at the Griffon, who fought with renewed vigor. Even though it was two against one, the savage criminal put up an excellent fight, clawing, pecking and kicking like there was no tomorrow.
Lunard shoulder-checked Big Red into the wall. Marshall grabbed Lunard from behind, and punched him in the ribs. Lunard reached behind him, grabbing Marshall's head, and flipping him. The sheriff twisted around, landed on his hooves. Lunard then clawed at Marshall's leg, bringing him down.
"Yeow!" Marshall grabbed his leg.
"Leave 'im alone!" Big Red rammed into Lunard.
"Fine." Lunard pushed back. "Your turn."
Lunard kicked Big Red's scratch wound, weakening him. He then brought both fists down on Big Red's head, causing him to collapse.
"Just like old times." Lunard sneered. "Only this time, there's no pal to save you."
"Wanna bet?!"
Marshall suddenly tackled Lunard from behind. As they struggled, Marshall caught Red's eye, and they made a silent agreement. Marshall wrapped his hooves around Lunard's midsection, lifted him up, and hurled him at Big Red. Big Red turned and bucked Lunard as hard as he could, sending him crashing into the wall.
"You mud-crawling grass munchers." Lunard groaned, as he got back to his feet. "I can't be beat. I am flappin' invincible!"
"Izzat so?" Big Red smirked as he and Marshall advanced on him.
"Dang straight!" Lunard roared as he charged at them.
Then the two stallions, in synchronization, uppercutted Lunard at the same time, knocking him out cold.
"Nighty-night." Big Red smirked. "Nice work, Marshall."
"Thanks." Marshall said breathing heavily. "But now what? We're stuck in here, forever!"
"Now Marshall, Ah'm sure there's a way out..." Big Red started. "Let's get lookin'."
They walked down the mine, Big Red carrying the unconscious Lunard (who was tied up in some rope).
"Red?" Marshall said quietly.
"Yeah?" Big Red asked.
"In case we don't make it out of here, I just want to say... I'm sorry." Marshall sighed. "For what I said and did a couple nights ago, and everything before that. I was just so jealous of you. You had it all, and I couldn't stand it. I let that same petty jealousy ruin our friendship."
"That's okay, pal." Big Red smiled. "Ah made a few mistakes mahself. Ah should've been more perceptive. Ah shoulda known you were feelin' that way, an' done sumthin' about it. Ah'm sorry, too."
"Thanks, Red." Marshall beamed. "I don't deserve a friend like you."
"Sure ya do." Big Red grinned, "It's like Black told me... Ah shouldn't let our friendship slip away..."
"When did Black say that?" Marshall asked.
"Oh... It was a while back." Big Red added quickly, his eyes shifting. "So... are we good now?"
"You really want to be my friend again?" Marshall asked. "After everything?"
"Sho'nuff." Big Red smiled.
"Then it's settled." Marshall patted him on the back.
"Welcome back, ol' pal." Big Red grinned.
"Good to be back." Marshall beamed.
As they reached a turn, they came across an old mining cart, turned on it's side.
"Look at that." Marshall declared. "An mining cart, just like the one we crashed into dad's office with the others."
"Yeah, good times." Big Red smiled.
A moment, later, they were struck by the same crazy idea.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Marshall asked.
"If'n yer thinkin' a' riding this cart outta here, than yeah!" Big Red smiled.
"Let's do it." Marshall nodded.
After righting the cart, they pushed it forward, climbing in (throwing in Lunard as well) once it picked up enough steam. Their speed increased as they dropped down a slope.
"WAA-HOOO!" Big Red whooped.
Going faster than ever, they neared a board-up exit.
"Brace yourself!" Marshall yelled.
The cart smashed through the boards. The impact caused it to jump the track.
"Woo! Sweet freedom!" Big Red cheered.
"Um, Red?" Marshall glanced around. "How do we stop this thing?"
"...Aw, buck." Big Red went mute.
The cart careened out of control, rolling down towards Dodge Junction, the sheriff's office right in their path.
"Not agaaaaiiin!" Marshall yelped.
"This is gonna sting!" Big Red braced for impact.
Inside the office, Lone was talking to Wrangler.
"Where is Marshall?" He asked.
"I don't know, your honor." Wrangler shrugged. "It's not like him to just vanish like that."
"It really isn't." Lone frowned. "If something's happened to him, I'll-"
Then, in a sense of déjà vu, the wall in the sheriff's office (the same one from before) came crashing down, as the cart tipped forward, spilling out Big Red and Marshall and the still unconscious Lunard.
"Holy buck!" Wrangler yelped.
"What in the name of Celestia?!" Lone gasped.
"Are we alive?" Big Red groaned.
"Must be." Marshall winced. "I'm in too much pain to be dead."
"Marshall? Red?" Lone gaped. "What in Equestria is going on?"
Marshall and Big Red explained everything.
"...And then we busted through the wall." Marshall finished. "Figured we'd make a big entrance."
"Ugh..." Lunard groaned, trying to get up.
Big Red punched him hard causing another crack in his beak.
"That was fer Eclipse." He snarled. "An' his ma."
Just then, Cherry and the others entered the office. They had been on their way there to get help when they saw the cart rushing toward it.
"Red! Marshall!" Cherry beamed, hugging them both. "You're okay!"
"When the mine collapsed, I thought..." Eclipse smiled.
"We're fine, kiddo." Big Red smiled.
"Better than fine, actually." Marshall added. He suddenly winced as Cherry touched one of his bruises. "Maybe not physically..."
"You actually did it?" Globe gazed at Lunard's prone form. "You beat pa?"
"Nuthin' to it." Big Red grinned.
"Awesome!" Huckleberry cheered.
"Thanks for helping Red out there, Marshall." Cherry beamed.
"You know I had to." Marshall smiled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to show our guest to his room..."
Marshall dragged the unconscious Lunard into the cell.
"Let's get you all home." Cherry told Big Red and the boys. "It's been quite a day..."
"Ya can say that again." Big Red nodded.
The next day, after a night of patching up wounds and writing a few letters, a contingent of Royal Guards came to take custody of Lunard, with Marshall having him brought up on charges of robbery, murder, and (Marshall's personal favorite, although not technically official) being a 'bunghole'. Big Red, Cherry, the boys and Marshall, as well as his father were watching Lunard being put in shackles.
Leading the group of royal guards was the captain, although it was not Iron Hooves (having retired, but that was a story for another time). Instead, there was a peach-colored Earth Pony stallion with green eyes and a three-toned brown, dark brown and amber mane. He was clad in the usual royal guard armor.
"Well done, Sheriff." The captain declared. "We've been trying to bring this crook in for months now. We will be sure to let the princesses know of your heroic efforts."
The other guards applauded.
"Well, I can't take all the credit." Marshall said modestly. "Big Red did most of the work."
"Aw, he's jest bein' modest." Big Red chuckled. "We got us a bone-a-fie-day hero right here! Give it up fer 'im!"
The guards applauded even harder. Marshall gave Big Red a grateful look.
'Now yer a hero too, pardner.' Big Red thought gleefully.
"You've made me proud, son." Lone admitted.
"Really, dad?" Marshall smiled.
"You always did." Lone nodded. "I should've told you that before..."
"Better late than never." Marshall grinned.
"Well, we'd best be off. We have a comfy cell waiting from this piece of work back in Alfalfatraz." The captain gave a small smirk at Lunard, who had a scowl stuck on his beak.
"Thank ya, kindly, mister..." Big Red trailed off, not sure what to call him.
"Fletcher." The Earth Pony introduced himself. "Fletcher Ulysses."
"Nice ta meet ya. Have a good trip... and maybe say 'hi' ta Caboose back in Canterlot fer me." Big Red smirked. "He's a friend of the family."
"Oh yes..." Fletcher gave a knowing smile. "I know him. He's an... interesting fellow."
"He sure is." Big Red chuckled.
As the guard ponies made to load Lunard up in the carriage, Eclipse approached his father.
"I can't believe things ended up this way." Eclipse sighed, staring at his captive father. "I'm sorry... but you brought this upon yourself, Pa..."
"Save it, you little traitor." Lunard snarled. "You're dead to me, boy... Cloudskipper, no more."
As much as he had come to hate his father with a day, that remark cut Eclipse to the core.
Without another word, Lunard turn his now double-cracked beak away in disdain, as the guards towed him off to prison, leaving the young griffon on the brink of tears.
Big Red came over to his side, noting the tears in his eyes.
"You okay, kiddo?" Big Red asked.
"I don't know." Eclipse sniffed. "I really don't know..." A tear dropped from his face, "My father had wronged me so much... yet when he disowned me, it hurt... it really hurt... why does it hurt? Is there something wrong with me?"
"No, the exact opposite actually." Big Red soothed. "Shine thought the same thing when Black died. But despite all that he did, Shine couldn't help but still care and mourn fer him."
"And how did Shine cope with it?" Eclipse sniffled. "How did you?"
"We just did." Big Red sighed, "But all ya have ta know is there's nuthin' wrong with ya... it's jest what makes ya a good Griffon. Never let anypony tell ya otherwise."
"Yeah." Eclipse sniffed. "I'll try..."
"Ya know... mah offer still stands." Big Red comforted him, patting his back. "If ya wanna stay at the house, yer welcome to. Fer as long as ya like."
"Really?" Eclipse smiled, tears still streaming.
"Really." Big Red grinned.
"As a matter of fact, Big Red and I were planning on adopting you before this mess started." Cherry revealed.
"You... adopt... us?" Huckleberry gasped, dumbstruck.
"Yep." Big red nodded. "That is, if'n it's okay with y'all."
"It's just fine with me!" Globe grinned, hugging Cherry.
"And me." Huckleberry nodded.
"What about you?" Big Red asked Eclipse. "Wanna be an official member of the family?"
"Yes." Eclipse tearfully hugged Big Red. "Yes, yes, yes!" However as he did, he felt another pang of sadness. "But..."
"But?" Big Red raised a brow.
"I don't know if I can bring myself to call you 'Pa', or 'Dad', or anything... it still..." Eclipse turned his beak away from him.
"No problem, young 'un." Big Red patted Eclipse on the head, rubbing his neck soothingly. "Stuff like this takes time. But Pa or not... Ah'll always watch over ya."
"Thanks, Red." Eclipse hugged. "That's all I ever really wanted."
"This calls for a celebration." Cherry smiled. "How about dinner at The Golden Haystack?"
"I'm in!" Globe smiled.
"Try an' stop me." Huckleberry chuckled.
"If they have fish, I'm in." Eclipse grinned.
"Oh, Ah think they can accommodate ya." Big Red chuckled.
"Have fun, folks." Marshall smiled. "Me, I have a ton of paperwork to get through..."
"And I have to see about getting the office's wall rebuilt... again." Lone joked.
"Well, Ah'll try ta come by an' fix it after we get done with our celebration, 'kay?" Big Red smiled.
"See ya then, Red." Marshall smirked.
"Don't be a stranger, Marshall." Cherry beamed.
"Never again." Marshall nodded.
And so they went off to dinner together, as a true, blue family. Meanwhile, Marshall turned to his father.
"Look dad, about what I said to you before..." Marshall started.
"It's okay." Lone admitted. "I had it coming. You were right about me never being that attentive. I'd like the chance to make up for it, though. Can you give an old fool another shot at being your father?"
"Of course I can." Marshall hugged his father.
"Thank you, son." Lone hugged him back.
Marshall hadn't felt so good in a long time. Not since he had first become sheriff had he felt so proud, so hopeful, so confident that everything would be okay... It was a good feeling.
Many years ago...
It was the eve of a very special day for Marshall. In the morning, he would take on the role of sheriff for the first time, something he had dreamed of for years. He and the rest of the Cherry Cavalry had gathered at Cherry's place, toasting Marshall's success with Big Red's (much improved) cherry wine. However, as the evening wore on, Marshall showed a distinct lack of enthusiasm.
"You finally did it, Marshall." White declared. "You're about to live your dream."
"Bet it feels pretty great, huh?" Black asked.
"Yeah, I guess..." Marshall sighed.
"What's up, Marsh?" Big Red asked.
"It's... silly." Marshall shook his head. "You'll laugh."
"Why would we laugh?" Cherry asked. "You can tell us, Marshall. What is it?"
"Well..." Marshall frowned, as he felt four pairs of expectant eyes trained on him. "I'm worried I won't be able to hack it as sheriff."
"...Seriously?" Black snorted. "You've been working at this for the past few years, and now you don't think you're ready?"
"It's like I never really considered what the job really means." Marshall sighed. "It'll be up to me to keep the peace, ensure order, protect the innocent, uphold the law... What if I can't do all those things?"
"Of course you can." White smiled. "You're the most lawful stallion we know. For all our escapades, you never once broke an actual law."
"And you're all about helpin' ponies." Big Red added. "Ya've helped me more time than Ah can count."
"And you're so annoyingly uptight about the rules, too." Black added jokingly.
"You're going to be a great sheriff, Marshall." Cherry said warmly. "We all know it."
"Aw, thanks, guys." Marshall blushed. "What did I ever do to deserve friends like you?"
"A very good question." Black teased, earning him an elbow from White.
"The point is, there ain't nopony in this whole town better qualified ta be the sheriff." Big Red declared. "We all believe that, but you've gotta believe it too."
"I will." Marshall nodded. "I'm going to be the best darn sheriff this town's ever seen."
"That's a cue for a toast if I ever heard one." White raised his glass. "To the latest and greatest sheriff of Dodge Junction! To Marshall!"
"To Marshall!" The Cherry Cavalry chorused, clinking their wine glasses together.
"Thanks, guys." Marshall smiled. "I'll make you all proud, you just wait and see."
The following morning, Marshall began his first rounds as sheriff with renewed confidence. He felt ready for whatever would come his way, and it was all thanks to his friends.