-1Ch. 7: Unforgiven

What I've felt, what I've known
Turn the pages, turn the stone
Behind the door, should I open it for you...
What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there, 'cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven too?

-Metallica, Unforgiven II

Courage was walking back to the farmhouse, Eustace fainted when he saw the sight of his mother maimed, and he needed a good walk anyhow.

Just as he got into town someone walked in front of him…Katz did, he stood his ground and looked at Courage with his empty emotionless yellow eyes.

"So my dear boy, you got rid all three of them didn't you?"

Courage didn't move or speak, his entire body was numb.

"…they were useless anyhow, now that their dead…I can kill you myself."

Suddenly he regained his motor functions, and lunged after Katz, who stepped aside blocking his attack with ease.

"Now, now Courage…"

Saying his name made him feel like a coward, though his past as a coward has been shattered.

"…why?" was the only word he could say.

"Why Muriel, why her why ME, WHY DO YOU TORMENT ME!?"

Tears were rolling down his face as anger and sadness ran through his body…Katz stood unamused.

"Why my dear boy…for revenge." Courage's eyes shot open.

"REVENGE, what did I ever do to deserve this?"

Katz closed his eyes.

"Four years ago, when your mother was still pregnant with you, I was but a mere kitten, but my parents cared for me with all their heart, yours and my parents were the best of friends, I would visit everyday with my parents and think how one day you would become my friend, but is was one fateful day that changed everything."

Katz opened his eyes and starred at Courage.

"It was one day, we were in the park, your parents were with us, it was then that we were stopped by that madman Dr. Teenytodd."

Courage's heart skipped a beat, horrifying memories still haunted him.

"Yes, the very same Dr. who sent your parents to space…but he had a different experiment for cats.

Flashback

"Come on father hurry up."

A kitten said with anxiousness in his voice.

"Hold on son, we need to wait for Henry and Lily."

An older cat said who bore a striking resemblance to Katz.

"Alright father…hey mother?"

"Yes dear?"

"When the baby's born I can play with him right?"

"Of course you can honey."

The three cats and two dogs walked to the local park, once they got there they sat on a bench and watched young Katz sit and admired the flowers and birds, he was always a solitaire child, keeping to himself most of the time.

"He grows up so fast."

"Yep, hard to believe he's already eight."

Suddenly Lily held her stomach area, where the womb was.

"Ohh…the baby kicked."

"Really?"

Henry put his paw on Lily's stomach.

"One day, our baby will grow up to be something really special."

Then out of nowhere a certain Doctor walked in front of them, holding a net and an eerie toothy smile.

"…can we help you?" Henry said feeling a little awkward, the doctor then chuckled.

"Yes…yes you can."

He then grabbed his net and captured all of them, then he left in a hurry, their screaming caught young Katz's attention, and looked in horror.

"MOTHER, FATHER!"

The little kitten saw his parents being carried away, he ran and followed the doctor to the place called "Pets of tomorrow", and into his secret laboratory like room, but with cell rooms, he chained Henry and Lily to the wall with neck braces.

"Now you stay here while I check on those cats."

Henry grew worried. "Damn, this isn't good."

"What should we do?"

Then Henry squeezed out of his iron neck brace, while the doctor examined the cats.

"Well now, what fine specimens I caught, you will be tested on a newfound chemical I discovered, for any health hazards and what not."

He strapped the cats to a table chair, with a syringe filled with a illumines emerald liquid, then the doctor herd noises of rattling chains and scampering, he quickly left to the other room, just as he did Katz came out of hiding.

"Oh my gosh, mom, dad."

He desperately tried to break the straps but his efforts were in vain.

"Katz…my son, go now."

"But dad?" the kitten protested.

"Just go…NOW!"

The kitten reluctantly followed his father's orders and climbed into an air vent, just as the doctor came in…looking rather unsatisfied.

"…Cursed mutts, well…at least I have you two."

Then Katz wondered, if they got free they'll send for help…right? They wouldn't just leave them, then Katz watched the doctor inject the unknown liquid into his parents, wails of pain echoed as his parents screamed, then their body's began to violently shake in a seizure of anguish, blood began pouring out of every orifice then they limped over lifeless.

"Hmm, this chemical is obviously fatal when ingested."

Katz was stunned, he felt as his entire body weight collapsed on him, tears rolled down his face.

"…no….NNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!"

end flashback

Courage starred in astonishment.

"It was also then, that I found out you were born, everyday I see you playing with your mother and father, then I grew up envying you, worshiping you…and despising you."

Courage's face was still shocked.

"Then two years later, I found out that your parents were launched into space, then I grew happy…because I knew you would feel my pain, but that was crushed when Muriel found you…it wasn't fair, you had someone who cared for you, someone to care for, even more crushing was when I herd you launched the doctor into space, avenging our parents, knowing you did that just added another needle to my heart."

Then Courage finally spoke "…why did you kill Muriel?" then Katz raised his voice to the point of yelling.

"BECAUSE YOUR PARENTS COULD OF SAVED MINE, no one needed to die that day, but your parents left them to die."

"No, they would never…"

"But they did…tomorrow I'm going to kill you…and end this."

Katz walked off, leaving Courage behind.