Cinder-Marty

A Futurified Classic

By Flaming Trails

Chapter 1

Once Upon a Time. . . .

May 13th

Hill Valley

4:45 P.M.

Knock, knock. "Master Martin?"

Marty McFly paused mid-chord on his guitar. "Did someone say my name?"

"It's me, William. May I come in?"

"Oh, hey Will." Marty went over and opened the door of the conservatory. "Yeah, you can come in. What's up?"

William bowed. "It's nearing five o'clock, Master Martin. You will be expected home for dinner shortly. I thought you should know."

"Whoa, it's that late already?" Marty checked his pocket watch. "Jeez!" He looked over at his friend, shrugging apologetically. "Sorry, Crispin, I gotta go."

"It's all right, Marty," Crispin said, shrugging back. "I have to get ready for dinner myself. I'll see you later."

"Yeah, see you later." Marty packed up his guitar, then followed William to the front entrance. Lady Needles was waiting for them. "Do give my regards to your mother," she said as William fetched Marty's coat. "I imagine it's been very hard on her lately, what with your father being so ill."

Marty nodded. "It has been tough. But we're getting along okay."

"Hey, the big M! How's it hanging, McFly?"

Marty somehow suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. "Hey Needles," he said with a sigh as Lady Needles's elder son, Douglas, came up behind her. "I'm on my way out the door."

"Oh, too bad. I would have liked to beat you at another horse race."

Marty smirked. "The only reason you win at those is because you always take the fastest horses."

"Nah, it's because I'm just better than you."

"Douglas, enough," Lady Needles said, giving her son a look. "Go wash up for supper."

"Yes, Mom. See ya later, McFly."

"Bye," Marty said with a half wave. "Have a good evening, Lady Needles."

"Thank you, the same to you."

Marty grinned, then headed out the door. William was already waiting for him with the carriage. Marty got in as William took his place at the reins. "I hope you weren't too bored while you were waiting for me," Marty said as they set off.

"Oh, no, Master Martin. Arthur and I played a few games of cards."

"Who won?"

"In the end it was a tie. He beat me at poker, but I won our game of whist."

"Ahh. Well, break even's better than nothing."

"Indeed, sir."

They made their way through the cobbled streets of Hill Valley. It was a quiet evening, with only a few people on the streets. Everyone nodded respectfully as the carriage passed. Marty nodded back, smiling. It was good to be the son of the most powerful family in town. Even if most people couldn't pronounce their title. Marty rolled his eyes a bit. Why hadn't the royal family made them dukes or barons? Why did it have to be a marquis?

Well, it was a minor complaint, really. All that really mattered was that he had a loving family, the respect of the town, and money enough to keep him and his future kids well off for a long time. He sighed happily and leaned back against the padded seat. This is the life.

BANG!

Marty jolted back upright, looking left and right. "What the hell?" he gasped.

William chuckled. "Just Emmett Brown again, Master Martin," he said, pointing over to the local blacksmith's shop. "No doubt one of his inventions has exploded again."

"Oh." Marty looked over at the shop, breathing easier. He should have known. Brown was famous for his inventions in town. Most of them seemed to not work correctly or blow up after a while, but the man persevered. Marty was honestly not sure what to make of the guy. Word around town was that he was crazy, and some of the town children made a game out of pulling pranks on him. On the other hand, Seamus McFly had trusted him with the family horses throughout Marty's life. And Marty hadn't know his father to make a bad decision about a person yet.

He shook his head. Brown wasn't really a problem. Right now, all he cared about was getting home, having dinner, and checking up on his dad. Marty felt a brief stab of worry as he sank back into the cushions again. I hope he's gotten better and not worse. I mean, there's not much worse he can get. Unless – no, McFly. Don't think like that.

After a few more minutes, they arrived at the McFly family mansion. Marty hopped out of the carriage while the Bobs – Robert Zemeckis and Robert Gale, the family's head stablemen – came to collect the horses. "Hello, Master Martin!" Gale said with a grin. "Have a good afternoon?"

"Yeah, it was a blast. You guys?"

"We've been keeping busy," Zemeckis smiled.

Marty nodded and headed up to the house proper. The butler was waiting and opened the door for him. "Welcome home, Master Martin."

"Thanks, Neil." Marty handed Neil his coat and wiped his feet. "Where's Mom?"

"She should be in the kitchen with the cook, I believe."

"Thanks." Marty headed over to the kitchen. Sure enough, his mother was there, talking to the cook about dinner. "Hey, Mom."

Maggie McFly turned at her son's voice. "Oh, hello Marty," she said warmly, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Did you have a good time with Crispin?"

"Yeah, we worked on a couple of new songs together. How are you?"

"Fine. Spent most of the day reading."

Marty nodded, then frowned. "And – how's Dad?" he asked, voice quiet.

Maggie looked at the floor. "He's not doing so well," she admitted. "The doctors have tried just about everything, but-" She stopped and shook her head. "He's resting right now."

Marty grimaced. "Do – do you think-"

"We can talk more over supper," Maggie said, cutting him off. "Go and wash up."

"Yes, Mom." Marty left the kitchen, worry stabbing at his insides. His father had been sick for almost a month now. The doctors had determined it was some sort of wasting disease, but a cure seemed to be beyond them. If they'd really done all they could. . . . Marty blinked back tears. He didn't want his father to die. Seamus was one of the kindest, most patient men in Hill Valley, and Marty loved him very much. Please, Dad, hang on. . . .

He headed to his bedroom to drop off his guitar, then to the washroom to get cleaned up for dinner. The meal turned out to be roast rabbit – Marty felt another pang as he looked at his plate. Rabbit was one of his father's favorites. They ate in silence, only occasionally asking each other for salt and pepper.

After they were done eating, Maggie took a plate to Seamus. Marty insisted on tagging along, eager to see how his father was doing. "It's not good," Maggie warned him as they reached the bedroom where Seamus was sequestered. "I don't want you upsetting him."

"I'll be good," Marty promised. "I – I just miss him, Mom. I haven't really gotten a chance to see him in forever, what with the doctors always around and hustling me out."

Maggie nodded, face softening. "I know, Marty." She cracked open the door and peered inside. "Seamus?"

"Oh, hello, Maggie. Just had a bit of a nap."

Maggie smiled, though her lips trembled a bit. "I brought you your supper. Marty's here to see you as well."

"Good, good! Come in."

Maggie opened the door the rest of the way. Marty couldn't quite hide his start as he saw his father. Seamus was lying propped up on the pillows, face sallow, flesh hanging off his absurdly skinny frame. He was a far cry from the man who had once enjoyed helping his men in the field with the crops and had hunted his own food.

Seamus gave him a weak grin. "I could stand to gain a little weight, aye?"

Marty managed to smile back. "You've looked better, yeah."

"Are you comfortable, dear?" Maggie asked, fussing with the pillows.

"Yes – the doctors and the servants have been very good at checking in on me." Seamus coughed. "Though my throat's a bit dry at the moment."

Maggie promptly handed him a cup of milk. Seamus took it with a shaking hand and took a few small sips. Marty felt a faint burning behind his eyes and quickly swallowed back the threatening lump in his throat. "They haven't been poking and prodding you too much, have they?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

Seamus laughed, a crackly sound. "They've done their fair share, to be certain." He looked Marty up and down as Maggie fed him bits of rabbit. "Your birthday's coming up soon, isn't it?"

"About a month, yeah," Marty confirmed. "I'm hoping that this growth spurt I've been hearing so much about makes it."

Both Seamus and Maggie chuckled at that. "Don't worry, dear," Maggie said, patting Marty's hand. "Even if it doesn't, there's no shame in being short."

"Tell that to the village boys," Marty grumbled.

Seamus frowned. "Are you being picked on, lad?"

"Not really," Marty said, looking a little embarrassed. "I mean, they tease me a little when they think they can get away with it. I think they're afraid of doing more because I'm the future Marquis. Not that I've been lording it over them or anything," he added hastily.

"Well, I don't want you to bully people with your position, but don't be ashamed of it either," Seamus said, between bites of rabbit. "We came by the title of Marquis honestly." He smiled warmly at his son. "I know you'll do it justice when you take over."

Marty smiled back, though the burning behind his eyes got hotter. Shit, Dad, don't talk about succession now! Not when you're – He stopped the thought right there, not wanting to break down. "Thanks, Dad."

There was a brief silence. "So, how are things going with Crispin and this band you're hoping to set up?" Seamus finally asked, finishing his meal.

Marty's eyes lit up. "Oh, great! Crispin's fantastic on his piano. We were working on some new songs today – I think we've got a great new sound. Still haven't come up with a name, though."

Maggie frowned a bit, pursing her lips. "I think you spend a little too much time with him and that guitar of yours. You need to focus on your studies."

"Leave him alone, Maggie," Seamus said, pausing to cough again. "It's good that he has something he loves. Besides, this town isn't that hard to run. If he wants to follow his music, let him."

Maggie looked dubious. "Whoever heard of a Marquis who was also a bard?"

"King Parker is said to love music. He might approve."

"I'm not saying I'd give up on running the town, Mom," Marty said. "I just – I really love to play. Maybe I could give concerts and stuff in my free time."

Seamus smiled. "Well, you won't have to worry about that for-"

He was interrupted by the worst coughing fit yet. The hair on the back of Marty's neck stood up. "Dad?"

"Seamus?" Maggie whispered, leaning over her husband with wide, fearful eyes.

Seamus finally caught his breath. "I – I'm afraid I might not be around for your birthday, Marty," he wheezed, pale.

"No! No, Dad, don't talk like that," Marty said, leaning forward and catching his father's hand. "You're gonna make it! I know you will!"

Seamus's breathing was weakening. "I'd love to, believe me. But you can't run away from the truth."

Marty felt his lower lip start to quiver and quickly bit down on it. No, no. . . . "Please, Dad – hang on for – for a little longer. Just a little while. Please?"

"I'll ring for the doctor," Maggie said, starting to get up.

"No," Seamus said, with startling strength. He gasped, the continued. "You know there's – there's nothing they can do."

Maggie reluctantly sat back down, her eyes growing watery. "Oh, Seamus. . . ."

Seamus managed an upward twitch of the lips, even has his breathing faded away. "It'll be all right, Maggie. You can handle Hill Valley – you always have. And Marty-" He weakly squeezed his son's hand. "I know you'll go far, do great things. You'll be a credit to the name McFly."

Marty couldn't hold back the tears anymore. "I love you, Dad," he whispered, voice cracking.

"I love you too."

Maggie kissed her husband, sniffling. "I love you, Seamus. Goodbye."

"I love you, Maggie. Goodbye. . . ."

Two minutes later, Seamus George McFly, Marquis of Hill Valley, was dead, leaving Maggie and Marty to cry in each other's arms.

AN: A quick note of explanation – George and Lorraine are appearing in this story, but under different circumstances. Hence the reason for Seamus and Maggie being Marty's parents.