A/N: Hey everyone! The seventh chapter Of Flames and Fury is coming along! I know some of you are waiting for that story and thanks for your patience! Stuff has been busy around here but should hopefully slow down in the next couple of weeks.
While you are waiting, please check out my new collection of Romance 1-shots, PAWsome Love, and leave reviews there. I'd also entertain suggestions for upcoming parts of that one via PM.
Now, on to the story. The following is the second issue in my one-shot collection. I had this idea for a while, but it was very hard to write. It is filled with emotion, and I hope it is able to stir some emotions in a short story.
So, without further ado, here's Fallen Comrade
Church bells sounded as the entourage of black vehicles pulled away from the front entrance. Three cars lead the way as they slowly crawled through the streets of Adventure Bay. The majority of the town's residents gathered along the sidewalks to observe and condole the procession as it made its way to the cemetery outside of town. Police and fire engines cordoned off all the crossroads and saluted the procession as it drove by, lights blazing and sirens sounding to honor one of their own.
As the parade of vehicles approached the hallowed grounds, all but the first three cars stopped just outside the premises. The guard nodded his head as the final three cars drove slowly through the black iron gates. They crept to a resting site on the top of the hill overlooking the serene bay and the quaint tourist village below. The driver of the first car got out and opened the passenger doors, bowing his head as the riders hopped out. The second vehicle did the same, before the third vehicle turned around and reversed towards a solemn gravesite prepared earlier that day.
Five pups dressed in black suits and dresses approached the third vehicle and waited for the driver to open the back hatch. A sixth pup stood to the side, wearing dress blues and saluting the casket. Somber looks on all their faces, they gave their best efforts not to show any signs of the immense sadness flowing through their bodies. As the dark brown casket was carefully slid out from the hearse, each of the pups grabbed a corner and gingerly walked the casket to the freshly dug hole. They set the coffin on the rafters above the grave and nodded solemnly to one another, joining the rest of the group gathered for the final goodbye. The pup wearing the military uniform carefully draped an honored flag over the casket before joining the rest of the crowd.
In the crowd, a pair of adult dogs comforted each other, crying for the loss of their child. Their pup died in the line of duty and they still couldn't come to terms with their loss. This was their only child; one who had served the city of Adventure Bay with unwavering commitment before sacrificing life to serve their country. The father too wore his formal military uniform, and saluted the casket as the honored flag was laid.
The six younger dogs stood off to the other side; they hadn't seen each other in years after their vaunted team broke apart. Though they served together for so long, they all had their own dreams and aspirations. Each went on his or her own journey, undertaking new adventures without the help and support of their old teammates. They kept in touch for a little while, but time and distance only forced them to grow apart. Except for one pair of friends who were inseparable; a German Shepherd and Dalmatian who both joined the military, serving their country on the other side of the world. This was the first time they'd seen each other in person in years, and prayed to God it wouldn't be their last.
A young man stepped to the front of the tomb and faced the casket; he wiped a couple tears from his eyes as he knelt in front of the coffin holding one of his own dogs. He stood up and began to address the small crowd, sharing words of encouragement, sadness, remembrance, and thankfulness, before stepping aside and allowing each dog to approach the casket for one final goodbye.
The first two dogs were the parents, who each laid a paw on the casket. The father held his mate close as they both set a beautiful white rose on top, kissing it as they backed away, tears now flowing down both of their faces. The father saluted his son one last time before retreating back to the group.
The next dog placed a pink rose, kneeling and kissing the casket before she rejoined the group. Next, one by one the rest of the pups placed a rose on the casket, starting with a yellow, then orange, and then a green flower. The second to last dog approached and laid a turquoise flower on top of the casket and backed away, tears in her eyes as she said one final goodbye to an old friend.
The final member of the group slowly approached the casket as taps began to play in the background; he carried his flowers in his mouth, struggling to maintain his composure as he folded the flag and handed it to the parents. He approached the casket one final time, clutching his best friend's dog tags in his paws. He placed his right front paw on the casket over the location of the deceased's heart, bowing his head, before placing a red and a blue rose on the top of the coffin. He stood in silence for a few seconds, tears welling in the corners of his eyes as all of the memories flowed into his mind. After a minute, he patted the coffin three times before standing at attention and saluting his fallen comrade.
The rest of the crowd continued to sob, goosebumps forming on their arms as the military trumpeter completed the haunting final notes of Taps. The final dog returned to his spot in line and saluted one last time, as the casket was lowered into the ground with a 21-gun salute sounding in the background.
As the last gunshot echoed through the late afternoon sky, each dog approached the grave one last time, grabbing each other's paws and tossing a pawful of dirt into the hole. They embraced each other silently as the funeral crew filled in the rest of the hole before placing the beautifully carved headstone over the final resting place.
Slowly, the dogs each departed, once again going their separate ways. They vowed to each other to return to the gravesite every year to celebrate the life of their fallen teammate, as well as enjoy the company of their long-lost friendships.
As the sun set below the trees at the top of the hill, the one final dog embraced his best friend's parents. These two dogs were like his own family, as his own mom and dad died many years prior. He handed the father his pup's ID tag and shook his paw, before hugging his "mom" one final time. The two adult dogs vacated the gravesite, leaving one last dog to grieve.
He turned to the gravestone, admiring the beautifully carved star at the top. The two friends had big dreams after their military service: they'd join the police and fire divisions in the same town together. They would find mates and raise families, hoping their pups would have the same unbreakable friendship they shared from the beginning.
The young adult Dalmatian removed his hat and laid it on the ground in front of the tombstone. He placed his spotted paw on top of the monument and bowed his head somberly, finally allowing all of the emotions to escape his body. He sobbed for his dear friend. He sobbed for their dreams cut short. And he sobbed for the family he'd never get to meet.
"God Damnit, Chase. You promised we'd never leave each other's side," the Dalmatian thought to himself as he continued to cry. "I promise to carry on your legacy. One day, we will meet again." He allowed himself one smile; he knew his friend would not allow him to cry any more. "He's probably laughing at me right now…" Marshall thought to himself as he stood up. He grabbed his hat and saluted the gravestone, reading the words expertly carved to memorialize his best friend for eternity:
Chase Axel Fischer
September 16, 2011 – July 14th, 2017
Son. Friend. Dedicated Public Servant.
Many are brave, but few do so
with such a huge heart.
Marshall ended his salute, turning to leave the gravesite. He would come to visit Chase's grave as often as he could. As he left the cemetery, he was surprised to see the rest of the PAW Patrol waiting for him. They all exchanged glances before embracing each other once again. Without words, they all knew they needed each other and would help one another rise again. Silently, they turned and walked back to Adventure Bay, the memory of their fallen friend firmly entrenched in their hearts forever.
A/N: This one was tough to get through the entire story. I hope you enjoyed it!
