Todd sighed as he sat down to Chip tossing stones in the pond. "What was that all about?" He asked.
Chip tossed another stone without responding.
"Look I don't know what has come over you recently but you were happy for Dale and now you are not. Why is that?" Todd asked.
Chip once again ignored Todd as he continued tossing stones.
He grabbed Chip by the shoulders and turned him. "Damn it Chip, what has gotten into you?" Todd asked.
"Dale stole the love of my life and is now going to marry her. That is what the problem is." Chip replied.
"But you were so happy for him when he proposed. Why be mad now?" Todd asked.
"I changed my mind." Chip said.
"Do you not remember the promise you made to me?" Todd asked.
"To you? What promise?" Chip asked.
Todd snapped his fingers and his fur slightly greyed and his facial features slightly altered. "Chip, I am your Father." He said.
Chip's eyes widened then a frown emerged. He stood up in rage. "What is this, some type of sci-fi reference?" He stated.
Todd gripped both paws onto Chip's shoulders again. "No, it's not. I am your father and I'm Dale's father. Well...in a non-biological way, I guess. Anyways, my point is that I was given the chance to be your guardian angel, even though I was your father a long time ago." He explained.
Chip with a mist of tears in his eyes, wrapped both arms around his father's torso tightly as he hugged him with all his might "I missed you, dad." He said in a muffled voice.
Todd patted Chip on the back. "I know you do, I missed you too. Although, I'm still not impressed with your behaviour, Chipperson. I got to learn a little more about why Dale came to this city in the first place and how he ended up in our lives. Let's just say that you may think you're going through a tough time because Gadget chose him over you but you just don't really know how bad his life was before he came to live with us." He lectured.
"What do you mean? What was bad about his life before?" Chip asked.
"Why don't I let you see for yourself," Todd said, snapping his fingers.
Chip emerged alone in Pittsgrove Township, New Jersey, 1978. He walked around admiring the sights and then heard a familiar voice pleading for help from a nearby field. Chip rushed over to see a bunch of various young rodents picking on what looked like a younger Dale.
"How do you like this one, Dale?" One kid said, slapping the books out of Dale's paws.
Dale was shoved by another rodent that was almost twice the size of him.
"Please stop!" Dale pleaded as he fought to withhold tears.
"Oh look the baby's going to cry again." One boy said
As they continued snickering and picking on Dale, Chip stepped in to end the dispute.
"That's enough." Chip said.
The biggest of the group stepped forward to challenge Chip. "Oh, yeah, and what are going to do about it, grandpa?" He said.
"This." Chip said, sucker punching the boy in the nose.
They all ran off at the instance of witnessing this, including the one who was just sucker-punched.
Chip walked forward and kneeled. "Are you okay?" He asked in a gentle tone.
Dale nodded his head and wiped his eyes. "Yeah. Thank you for saving me." He said.
"Come on, I'll walk you home. No one is going to pick on you anymore." Chip said.
Chip took Dale's little paw into his own and both walked towards the treehouse with the little door at the bottom of it. As they emerged, Dale's mother had just opened the door. Dale had bolted forward at the sight of his mother. "Momma! Momma!" He exclaimed, leaping into her arms.
Both hugged briefly before she caught a glimpse of Dale's bruised eye. "What happened to your eye? She asked in a concerned tone
"It was those mean kids, Eric and Scott and their friends again. They were going to beat me up but it was him who saved me and he even punched Scott right in the nose!" Dale explained, mimicking Chip's punch.
She smiled. "Go on inside and get a cold patch on that eye of yours. I'll be there in a moment." She said.
"Okay, Momma. Thanks again, mister!" Dale said, waving to Chip as he ran off inside.
"Hi, I'm Violet." She said, offering her paw to Chip.
"Chip." He replied, shaking her paw.
"I want to thank you for sticking up for my boy earlier. Those kids have been picking on him ever since Dale lost his father." Violet explained.
"I understand, and it's no problem at all. Just glad I could help out." Chip explained.
"Well, say, I don't have much money but let me get you something for your troubles," Violet replied.
"Oh no, that's quite alright. I don't need anything." Chip said.
Violet smiled. "Well, if you won't take money, will you at least join us for dinner?" She asked.
Chip smirked. "Sure, why not." He said.
As Chip entered the little home he noticed that everything was packed up and inboxes. Only what remained in place was a few items of furniture like the dining room table and the living room sofa.
"I want to apologize for the shabby housekeeping. We're moving soon and I have to get everything packed." Violet said as she continued making dinner.
"Oh, that's quite alright. Look's better than Dal-I mean my place." Chip replied.
Violet set out the plates on the table. "Please, take a seat. Dinner will be out in just a moment."
As Chip sat down and looked around the room he caught a whiff of an old familiar smell. Pancakes with walnut halves and blueberry syrup. It was a smell he remembered from his youthful days with Dale, just before they formed the Rescue Rangers.
"Here you go. I hope you don't mind the pancakes. It's something my little one seems to like having for dinner for some reason." Violet said, setting a plate in front of Chip.
Dale came rushing over and sat down at the table. Violet placed a plate in front of him and then grabbed a plate of her own and sat down.
"Oh boy, my favourite!" He said.
"Halved walnut pancakes with blueberry syrup. At least I know where Dale got the idea" Chip muttered to himself.
Violet who only caught half of what Chip said seemed surprised. "You've had these before?" She asked.
"I've had a similar version of my own, yes. Of course, they're not as good as these." Chip replied, taking a mouthful of the pancakes.
In truth, the pancakes were nothing to what he could make. Dale always said he liked Chip's version of his beloved dish. However, deep down Chip knew it was his mother's version that he truly loved.
Dale began to read one of his comics before his mother stopped him. "Dale, no reading at the table while we have company over." She said.
"Oh, that's quite alright. What are you reading, Dale?" Chip asked.
Dale's smile grew larger at Chip's interest. "It's a Captain America comic. It's really great." He said excitedly.
"That is really cool. Do you have any more comics?" Chip asked.
"Yeah! You wanna come and see?" He asked.
Chip looked back at Violet who signalled him to follow Dale.
"Sure, let's go and see." Chip said.
"Come on, it's this way," Dale said running ahead.
Chip chuckled as he looked back at Violet. "I believe he's taking a liking to me." He said.
Violet laughed. "Yes, I guess so. You better not keep him waiting." She said.
As Chip went into Dale's bedroom Violet's smile faded as she sighed. "He's not the only one who has taken a liking to you." She muttered.
"This is my collection," Dale said.
"Wow, that is really fascinating Dale." Chip said.
The scene then faded away right before Chip's eyes as he reappeared on the fallen tree branch in front of Central Park's pond. Todd was seated next to him.
"What, what happened? Why did you take me away?" Chip asked.
"I had to. You were becoming emotionally attached. So was Violet. It is to prevent any severe changes occurring to the future." Todd explained.
"Wait Violet had feelings for me?" Chip asked.
"You see Chip, your life is not as bad as you think it to be. Dale's father had ran off abandoning him and Violet only four months before the day you just witnessed. Things had been rough for them. Those boxes were packed because they were moving to New York. You remember what happened the night they came to New York right?" Todd asked.
Chip winced at the thought of it. "Yes, I remember but I don't like to talk about it. And for goodness sakes don't say anything about it to Dale. It took me a month to bring him out of a depressed state the last time someone mentioned his mother." Chip said.
"You know I'd never do that," Todd said.
Well, Todd, or dad whichever you want to be called. I have to go make things right with Dale." He said.
"Alright, Chip. Good luck to you." Todd said as he faded away from existence.
"I wish I could do that." Chip remarked.