John Mikkelsen wiped the sweat from his brow as he paused from working in his garden, the sun beating down on him. He shook his head, leaning against the rake he had been using. It looked like it would be a small crop again this year, just barely enough to keep him and his family alive...

"John!"

The sound of his wife calling him urgently caused John's head to whip up. Seeing the look of alarm on her face John dropped the tool and sprinted to the house where Fern stood with their son Caraway in the backdoor. Once he reached her John cupped her face in concern. "What is it, Fern? What's wrong?"

"I-It's the Sheriff…" Fern whispered, panic rising in her voice as she trembled.

John's heart raced as he glanced over her shoulder where he could see the Sheriff approaching down the road with a group of armed guards. He growled in frustration and then turned back to Fern. "Stay here," he instructed, but before he could take another step the front door burst open. John lowered his ears but didn't dare protest as the guards forced their way inside his home, knowing that any resistance would be seen as treason. He placed himself in front of his wife and child as the Sheriff himself entered, boots thumping against the floor.

"What the hell do you want Sheriff?" John asked, glaring at the red furred mouse. "Come out from that castle to prey on the poor people of Nottingham?"

"I've only come to collect what is due," the Sheriff answered, his hand coming to rest on the sword by his side. "I suggest you pay up without a fuss, and you can get back to your pitiful lives."

"Please, Sheriff Ray, sir," Fern spoke up, clinging to John's sleeve. "We're barely making it as it is. We can't even buy our own food, we have to grow it ourselves to keep from starving."

"I'm just doing my duty, madam," Ray answered, his ears lowering.

"Collecting taxes for that arrogant, greedy Prince Fane?!" John growled.

"I'm warning you, peasant," Ray glared as his guards fingered their weapons. "Another outburst like that and you'll be charged with high treason."

"You've already taken everything we have!" John retorted. "I have nothing left to give you."

"If you cannot pay, then I shall have to place you under arrest."

"Wh-What?!"

With a nod to the guards Ray gave the order to seize John. As the guards grabbed him John immediately put up a fight, thrashing about in their grip, but was soon beaten into submission. Fern watched horrified as John was forced on his knees and put into chains, panting in exhaustion after the small scuffle.

"Search the house," Ray ordered, keeping a tight grip on the chain around John's neck. The little family could only watch helplessly as their home was ransacked from the inside out. A few minutes later a guard presented a small bag with coins to Ray.

"Well, well; what have we got here?" Ray remarked as he pocketed the coins into a pouch by his side. "Looks like you were hiding something after all."

"You thieving bastards," John hissed, straining against the chains.

Before Fern could stop him Caraway squirmed out of her arms and ran across the room to John, his little hands clutching John's shirt as he clung on tightly. John lowered his head and nuzzled Caraway gently, unable to move because of his hands bound behind his back.

Ray looked away briefly from the scene, swallowing his guilt. When he looked back he was surprised to see Caraway glaring up at him while hugging his father. "Robin Hood will get you," the little boy announced confidently, causing Ray's eyes to widen.

"Robin Hood?" Ray repeated.

"Yeah. He always beats bad guys like you."

"Is that so?" Ray chuckled, kneeling down in front of Caraway. "Then where is your hero now?"

"H-He will come," Caraway insisted, though his voice wavered as he hugged John more tightly. Ray sighed in exasperation and grabbed Caraway's collar, making the little mouse give out a squeak of dismay as Ray pulled him away from John.

"Time to go," Ray instructed, pulling John up off the floor and pushing him toward the door with his sword prodding at his back.

"Wait!" Fern yelled, reaching a hand out. "You've got your money so let John go!"

"He was arrested for not having the money," Ray said over his shoulder, "and then for lying and hiding it."

"Then what can I do to earn his freedom?" Fern asked desperately. "When can I get him back?"

"After the extra tax is paid off."

"B-But he can't pay it if he's in prison! John is the provider of our family; how am I supposed to come up with that kind of money?!"

"You can always try another profession..." Fern gasped and looked away in disgust as Ray eyed her body. "Send your boy to one of the poorhouses to pay off the debt while you work the streets."

"Why you-!" John snarled, but was cut off and groaned as a guard punched him in the stomach to silence him.

"You'll be sorry!" Caraway yelled. "You're nothing but the Prince's little guard dog!"

Ray spun around and stared wide-eyed at the boy, who stood up as straight as he could to look taller and brave. He was only acting as children do, repeating something he had heard his father say once. But that fact that he was only a child didn't register in Ray's mind as he reacted out of anger, lifting his hand to slap Caraway.

"Uh, sir?" one of the guards called, causing Ray to stop. "We've finished searching the house."

"Right..." Ray took a deep breath, then straightened back up and turned away from Fern and Caraway. "Let's go," he ordered, and the guards obeyed. Fern sank to her knees and cried as Caraway shook in fear from almost being hit, watching them drag John out the door.

"P-Please, don't do this!" Fern begged, standing in the door as they made ready to leave. "Please have mercy Sheriff, I beg you!"

Ray grabbed the reigns of his horse Dagmar, but paused before mounting him, his head swimming and feeling slightly dizzy as Fern's pleas rang in his ears. He had almost struck a child... Giving a small sigh Ray shook his head and jumped up on Dagmar. "Good day, Mrs. Mikkelsen," he replied before riding away with the others following close behind.

Ray rode in silence as he and his posse walked through town, staring blankly ahead as the scene back at the Mikkelsen's replayed over and over in his mind. Then the voice of one of his guards broke through his thoughts.

"Sheriff? What if Robin Hood really does come?"

"Simple," Ray answered. "We kill him."

"Like we haven't had that chance many times..." another guard muttered.

Ray glared when he heard John chuckle. "If he dares to cross my path again I'll prove that he bleeds just like everyone else," Ray snapped, causing the guards to fall into an awkward silence. They rode on through the town stopping at each house as they went. Ray went into the last house and collected the money as usual, going by himself this time and leaving the others outside to guard John. But when he came back out he was not prepared for the scene in front of him.

The few guards who were still conscious groaned, their bodies scattered around the area. Ray walked around in stupor, unable to believe his eyes. He grabbed one of the guards and screamed at them.

"What the hell happened?! Where is my prisoner?!" He looked around and grew more panicked. "And where is the money?!" The guard only moaned in response and Ray tossed him aside with a frustrated grunt. Then a familiar flash of red caught his eyes and Ray knelt down beside the guard again. Pinned to the guard's tunic was a brilliant red feather. With a trembling hand Ray picked up the feather and stared at it dumbfounded, feeling his heart pound. This was his calling card. He had been here... Throwing the feather away, Ray threw his head back with a yell, knowing exactly who the culprit was.

"ROBIN HOOD!"

Fern sighed sadly as she swept the cottage, trying to clean up the mess the guards had left in their wake. Poor John had worked so hard in that garden and they had even wrecked it as well...

"Mom?"

Fern quickly wiped away her tears as Caraway came up to her. "What is it, darling?"

"Do you think Robin Hood would help us rescue dad?"

"I'm sure he would," Fern smiled.

"How do we find him and ask him?" Caraway asked with big eyes.

"I'm not sure, dear. They say he lives somewhere in Sherwood Forest, but no one knows where for sure. He just somehow always shows up when he's most needed."

Caraway's ears folded back. "We needed him today."

"Oh, Caraway," Fern said, hugging him comfortingly as she felt her own heart breaking. She stroked his head gently, trying to comfort him and herself. "It'll be alright, you'll see. What would your dad say if he saw us crying like this?"

"He'd say stop being sad and get over here and give me a hug!"

Both mice looked up startled at the familiar voice. Fern's mouth fell open in shock, and Caraway smiled big as he ran to the mouse. "Dad!"

"John?" Fern whispered, still sitting in shock. John carried Caraway over to her and knelt down on the floor, taking them both in his arms. "John!" Fern cried, tears streaming down her face as he kissed her tenderly.

"Ew, stop it dad," Caraway protested, causing John to laugh and kiss her again.

"B-But how...?!" Fern asked in confusion.

"I had a little help," John replied, looking back toward the door with a smile. Fern and Caraway followed his gaze to see a mouse leaning casually against the doorway. Fern watched the cloaked stranger nervously, but Caraway's eyes grew wide and a smile spread on his face as he saw the bow and quiver of arrows across the mouse's back.

"Robin Hood!" Caraway said happily, wriggling out of Fern's arms and running to him excitedly. "I knew you would come!"

"Did you now?" the mouse chuckled, kneeling down in front of the boy.

"I bet you beat up that mean old sheriff good," Caraway remarked, eyeing the big bow with awe.

"I'm afraid the Sheriff got away this time," Robin admitted with a mischievous smile. "The guards, not so much."

Caraway nodded, beaming happily. "Thanks for saving my dad," he added, fiddling with his tail sheepishly. "I want to be just like you when I grow up."

"I'm sure you'll be even better than me, someday," Robin smiled. Caraway stood up on his tiptoes, trying to see Robin's face, but under the hood of the cloak he could only see his eyes.

"Why do you hide your face?" Caraway asked innocently.

"Caraway..." John said, but Robin only chuckled.

"It's to hide my real identity, so the bad guys won't know who I am," Robin replied. "Anyone could be Robin Hood."

"Even me?" Caraway asked. He watched interested as he pulled a red feather from inside his coat and put it behind his ear.

"Even you," Robin nodded, making Caraway grin.

Caraway ran to his parents to show it to them. "Look what Robin Hood gave me!" he said excitedly, running around the room pretending to fight bad guys. He poked a sack of potatoes using a stick like it was a sword. "Take that, Sheriff Ray!"

Robin's ears lowered. "Don't be so hard on the Sheriff."

Caraway turned in surprise. "Why? He tried to take dad away!"

"I know, but you have to look deeper. Everyone has some good in them. So try not to be so angry with the sheriff, ok?"

Caraway seemed to give it some thought and then nodded solemnly before running off to keep playing. Robin smiled watching him.

"I owe you my life," John said, holding his arm around Fern's waist.

"How can we ever thank you?" Fern added gratefully.

"I only wish there was more I could do," Robin replied with a rueful smile. Fern and John gasped as he pulled out a bag of coins and placed it in their hands. "This should keep the Sheriff off your backs for a while," he added. Robin blushed when Fern hugged him suddenly.

"Thank you," John whispered in awe, bowing a little with Fern in respect and thankfulness. Robin's eyes widened. He'd never had anyone do that to him before...

"Just keep your heads up," Robin smiled, taking their hands and standing them up again. "Someday everything will be right in Nottingham again. I promise."

The little family watched as the cloaked figure left their home. Pausing at the edge of the forest, Robin turned and saw the trio waving goodbye. He smiled; he loved this feeling of happiness after helping those who needed him. But Robin Hood's work wasn't done yet. Giving a small salute, Robin disappeared into the shadows of the forest.
...


Author's Notes: This is based on an idea NightMagican had and we kind of ran away with it. Plus ever since "Blod and Gold" we always wanted to make a RayxAmber fic so here you go XD

Ray, John, and Caraway (c)NightMagican
Fern (c)CherlnIDA
"Robin" and Fane(c)Me (I use quotation marks because that's not his real name...)

Story written by me, Nightmagican, and CherlnIDA.

Please don't hate Ray in this... he still has a conscious and has reasons for why he has to do these things that will make sense later...

One other note because several have complained to me in some of my other stories... The cast of this fic is made up entirely of OCs. As of yet we have no plans for Basil or Ratigan or any of the canon GMD characters to show up in this. It's mainly based on the Robin Hood story, and the only reason I have it categorized as a GMD crossover is because these OCs are all GMD OCs. So it's sort of inspired by the GMD universe, only it's set in a medieval time period rather than Victorian. I just want to clarify because a few of my watchers here on have made it VERY clear to me that they DO NOT like OCs.

Also THERE WILL BE SLASH in this. Another thing that a reader complained to me about and said I should have given warning before they read 10 chapters of the fic and then a HINT of slash appeared in ch. 11 and they described a simple kiss as "GROSS." The main couple here in "Red Feather Mine" is malexfemale, but there will be one that is malexmale.

So if you don't like slash or OCS, this fic is not for you.

There will also be a few mature scenes (not too detailed but just in case), and also some violence and torture scenes. If you don't like, don't read. Sorry if I sound rude but I can't please everybody. And I write these fics for fun, so even though we've done research there will be some historical inaccuracies.

Now that that's out of the way, I'll try to keep future author's notes as short as possible ^^;