101 Dalmatians II

XII - Blast from the Past

That was brilliant, just bloody brilliant.

Patch continued to walk along the public sidewalk outside of Regent's Park. Even if it had only been a few minutes ago, the humiliation felt it had carried on for years and had festered up until now.

Not even when he had uttered that pathetic bark in front of his family on the moving van was the sting of embarrassment so great.

If it weren't bad enough, it had to be in front of...her.

Patch winced. Precious was right there. She saw and heard the whole thing.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.

Patch turned around to see if anyone was following him. Precious was nowhere in sight.

She had not followed after him.

Patch's heart sank like a stone.

That figures, my bark was so pitiful that even she won't have anything to do with me.

Patch turned back and continued on his sorrowful stride. He had his head down, therefore he was not watching where he was going.

Had he did, he would not have so carelessly crossed into an open street.

It wasn't until he heard the unmistakable sound of an incoming milk truck that he realized where he was.

The driver did not seem to notice him.

Patch's mind screamed at him to run but his legs didn't seem to listen.

As the truck closed in on him, Patch saw an unexplainable flash of light before his very eyes.

So your life really does flash before your eyes.

The day Patch got his first collar which had his name and address.

Watching Thunderbolt for the very first time and how much it had delighted him.

The talk he had with his father about his responsibility as the eldest sibling and how his brothers and sisters would look to him. He accepted the responsibility happily and nervously.

Since then, he had put up more of an effort to not only be brave but to show it.

Playing with his brothers and sisters. Making sure Cadpig and Lucky were never left out.

Watching the Thunderbolt Hour with his family on the night they were dognapped.

"That old Dirty Dawson, the yellow-livered old skunk. I'd like to tear his gizzard out."

His mother did not approve of that kind of talk at all.

Being put to bed after mother and father went for a walk in the park.

Hearing the sound of a commotion in the house. Hearing Nanny cry out in anger and distress. Patch was up in a flash. His brothers and sisters were awake as well.

Cadpig was whimpering in fear. She had barely fallen asleep due to a terrible feeling that something was going to happen.

Penny was standing by her, trying to calm her down.

Roly was hiding under the blankets.

Lucky was curled up by Patch, trembling. Before Patch could console him however, the curtain of their bed was pulled back and a portly, thuggish looking man started grabbing his siblings and shoving them into a black bag. Patch attempted to bite the hand that was about to grab Penny but he ended up getting grabbed instead.

All 15 puppies, including himself, were stuffed into that bag. There was barely enough room for all of them. Roly kept kicking Patch. Freckle's haunches were too close to his face. Cadpig was crying. Penny could only console her with words as she was stuck between Two-Tone and Dipstick.

The bag smelled of rotten fish and alcohol. The combination was enough to put the pups to sleep. Next thing Patch knew, they were still in the bag and moving in a way that was not unlike the way they felt when they went for a ride in Roger's car.

There were voices speaking and it was clear that there were two men in the vehicle there were riding in.

Jewel complained of how the bag and the smell was ruining her coat. Two-Tone groaned and remarked that they had more to worry about than her appearance. Those two were like night and day.

Dipstick wondered out loud of who would go through the trouble of sending two men to steal them away in the middle of the night.

Purdy was fearful that Nanny had been hurt by the two thugs.

Whizzer was squirming in the bag as though nature was about to call. Thunder and Pepper told him that if he didn't hold it in, they'd bite him.

It felt like hours later before they arrived at their destination. It was a massive house that looked like it could barely stand. Patch heard one of the blokes refer to it as Hell Hall.

"Charming name," Jewel had commented.

It had been several weeks since the 15 had been taken there. Apparently, there were other Dalmatian puppies who had been brought there. Quite a number. Including themselves, there were 99 altogether. What could those men want with so many puppies?

They were all quite scared, especially Patch but he did not show it. Remembering what his father had said, what Patch had promised, he did his very best to be as brave as possible for his siblings, assuring them that help would come, that their parents would find them.

Thankfully, there was a telly that would help keep them occupied.

Lucky was standing on it as he often did.

And that fat bloke Horace shoved him down, called him a runt.

Lucky flinched at that. That was the one word our parents urged us to never use as it was an ugly term to call one that was born small.

Patch felt his blood thunder in his veins. No one talks to his baby brother like that.

He barked at Horace which only made him angry.

And one night, she came.

Cruella de Vil, the devil woman their mother had warned them about and she was every bit as wicked as they had been told she was.

And then, out came the truth of why they were taken, why all of these puppies were there with them.

Cruella intended to make coats out of them.

It took all of the willpower they could muster not to panic. Cadpig nearly collapsed but Penny managed to hold her up. Lucky didn't seem to notice, too focused on the telly to realize what was going on.

They had to escape.

Before Patch could put any plan of escape into action, a certain tabby cat had beat him to it. Apparently this cat had come to Hell Hall before and caused quite the commotion when Jasper confused him for a bottle of gin. He and his colleagues had received a message from London regarding '15 spotted puppies stolen.'

Patch had almost cried.

Their mum and dad never stopped searching for them.

It took some time but all 99 managed to squirm through the hole by the door. The two blokes Horace and Jasper were too occupied by the television to notice them leaving.

Patch was just about to leap through the hole when an itching feeling at the back of his head that they had forgotten someone.

Patch turned and saw, to his horror and annoyance, Lucky still glued to the telly.

Before he could go collect him, the cat - Tibbs - shooed him away, assuring him that he would get him.

"You'd better," Patch had said.

Then they were running.

And soon enough, they were right back where they started.

The Baduns decided to do them in one at a time and they were cowardly enough to start with the smallest of them.

"There! The runt! He goes first!"

Lucky's cries of terror rang through the room.

Patch acted without thinking and he bit down hard on Jasper's hand, causing him to release Lucky.

Patch ran and that long-legged ruffian gave chase.

Eventually he was caught and that degenerate threw him straight into a wooden cabinet.

Splinters and broken glass went into Patch's back. And a heavy piece of wood struck him in the head.

Total darkness.

Then the comforting embrace of the Maker.

And then the feeling of life, faint and distant, flowing back into him.

The sound of weeping.

Warmth all around, much like that when his mother curled up by him when he was cold.

His eyes opened and there were his parents and siblings, all in tears, grieving for him.

And how soon that grief turned to joy.

Lucky nuzzled him like it would've been his last.

His mother showered him with kisses.

Penny did much the same.

Cadpig was crying hysterically as she got her turn to nuzzle her big brother.

Two-Tone, being the tomboy that she was allowed her front to drop as she gave Patch some tearful kisses of her own.

Jewel was too focused on nuzzling him to call her out on her break of character.

And then they escaped Hell Hall and Patch was left to be tended to by a certain Dr. Patricia, a medical greyhound, courtesy of the Colonel.

Patch's wounds were wrapped up and he'd make a solid recovery.

Cruella's return to Hell Hall.

Discovering her plans in shambles.

Burning down her home to cover up her crime.

Her mind breaking due to nearly burning to death.

Being found by Scotland Yard and the Radcliff's.

Returning home.

Being doted on by his family during his long recovery.

Moving to their new home in Devon.

Cadpig being attacked by Neville.

Listening in on Ryder and his dad.

The farm being attacked afterwards.

Biting Neville's nose when he threatened Penny.

Neville swearing revenge.

Going to a new farm for protection.

Waking up in a pickup truck filled with sheep's wool.

Falling into the Thames.

Being rescued by Precious.

Being awestruck when he first laid eyes on her.

The most beautiful creature on four legs he had ever seen.

Going to the circus with her and tasting circus food for the first time.

Who would've thought hot dogs would be so delectable.

The tickle fight.

Being chased by Neville.

Protecting Precious from Neville.

Being rescued by Ryder.

Running all the way to the Shakespeare Theatre.

Spending the night together at a dock house.

Going to the Thunderbolt auditions.

Precious attempting to give him some barking advice.

Uttering that pathetic squeak of a bark.

The crowd laughing.

Thunderbolt making a joke about it.

Walking away in shame.

Walking into the open street.

The milk truck.

Darkness.

All those memories, they just bring me back to the same place. Getting crushed to death by a truck carrying milk.

Patch shuts his eyes tight, awaiting the impact.

Next thing Patch knew, he was hoisted up by the scruff of the neck and was moved at a tremendous speed.

And the sound of the milk truck got further away and disappeared into the distance.

Patch realized he was still alive.

In a flash, someone had grabbed him and saw him to the other side of the road, clear out of harm's way.

One moment he was in the air and the next, he was laid back down.

Patch opened his eyes and he looked up to see who it was that just rescued him from death.

The sunlight made it hard to see but he could make out the sharp, upright ears and the narrow snout.

"R-Ryder?"

There was a scoffing sound as though the question offended his rescuer. "You met that old dog huh?"

Patch rubbed his eyes and then his vision was much clearer.

"Thunderbolt?"

Whatever pride was oozing from the show dog's features seemed to have run dry as he had a most humbled and sorrowful look on his face.

Patch was almost at a loss for words. "You saves me."

"Well...I am a Wonder Dog aren't I?" He didn't sound very sure of himself. "Are you hurt?"

"No."

Thunderbolt sighed. "Good."

""What...what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back at the-?"

"I was looking for you kid."

"Why?"

Thunderbolt looked downward. "Because...your little lady friend demanded that I should...apologize for making fun of you back there…and your siblings basically told me to do the same."

Patch seemed to straighten up as he fixed his hero with a surprised look. "What did you say?"

"I said your lady friend-"

"No no, the last part!"

"I said your siblings told me to apologize too, and they were not gentle about it."

Patch was no longer looking at Thunderbolt. His eyes were huge and his mouth was hanging open.

"You alright kid?"

"How many were there?"

Thunderbolt gave Patch a funny look. "Six. Why? Weren't you expecting them?"

Only six?

"No, of course not! Where are they now?!"

"Easy kid," Thunderbolt said, trying to calm him. "They're at my trailer. I told them to wait there while I went to fetch you."

"Alright, let's go then."

"Hang on," Thunderbolt said. "It's Pooch right?"

The pup's eyes narrowed by a fraction. "Patch."

"Right right, of course. I…" The show dog's look became repentant. "I'm awfully sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have laughed, much less make a joke about your bark. It was...uncalled for."

Patch's face softened. "It's ok, it was a pretty pathetic bark wasn't it?"

"Trust me kiddo, I heard far worse, even from pups your age."

Patch brightens up a bit. "Really?"

Thunderbolt nodded sharply. "Yes, far more pathetic as you put it. As a matter of fact..." Thunderbolt swallowed as though he were about to divulge something that embarrassed him terribly. "...when I was about your age, my bark was rather...well it sounded like a mouse if you can believe it."

"Really?"

"Yes, but my father, bless his soul, he put me through all sorts of practice in order to find my bark, my inner hero if you will. I could give you some pointers if you want."

Patch managed a ghost of a smile. "Thank you. I'd like that very much."

"Don't mention it. Now I believe there are some brothers and sisters who want to see you."

Patch smiled and he followed his hero.

Precious popped out of a hedge of bushes. She barely managed to keep her bandana from latching on to any of the branches.

Dang it Patch, how could you just walk away like that?!

She was on the sidewalk now, just outside the park. She pressed her nose to the concrete and tried to find the scent she was looking for.

C'mon c'mon...there!

Precious raised her head and ran towards the source of the scent.

"I ought to smack him on the nose for leaving like that and by himself no less." Honestly, what if one of Nero's gang is nearby?

Precious' heart began to thump when the scent led him to a busy street.

What was that pup thinking?! Walking into an open street?!

Precious paused as she detected another smell, quite new, one she had not known until today.

How did Blunderbolt make it to him before I did?

Precious looked about the area. The street was rather busy. Cars were stopped at a red light. She looked down the sidewalk along the gate fencing Regent's Park.

She saw two shapes entering one of the park entrances: one was large and brown, the other small, black and white.

"There you are," Precious said under her breath.

"There you are."

That menacing voice nearly caused Precious to jump but she stood her ground and immediately and very subtlety inhaled the air. Her eyes opened a fraction when she recognized the scent.

Nero.

She had to run. She had to warn Patch. Get him away from here. She had to escape.

But before she could make her move, the Rottweiler made his.

In the twinkling of an eye, Nero planted a foreleg on the girl's head.

Hard.

And Precious knew no more.

Before she had lost consciousness, she made out one thing.

"Your boy will be joining you soon enough, and then I will have my revenge."

To be continued…