Chapter Three: Memories

James 'Doc' Maddison was never a socialite. Quite the opposite actually. Where many people his age were going out, being stupid, making mistakes, and overall doing the normal "childhood" thing. He never was. It was from an early age that James would find his interests were different then that of his peers. It never was the new toy or the gossip of who dated whom. Rather for him it was stories. Wild tales of adventures in far off lands where heroes would save thousands by swinging the sword. Intriguing mysteries, where the reader was right along with the characters in wondering who had done it all. And while the introvert would never admit it. He always harbored a soft spot for romance. With all of these wonderful worlds unlocked for him at the age of six. He never felt any need to leave his families abode. For when he read those dusty pages, he was gone into a different place entirely.

But it goes without saying that this had a incredibly detrimental effect upon his social life. Because while others were outside at recess playing games and talking with each other. Doc was always tucked away in the library. Reading his tiny heart away. And he, was happy.

Now no one bullied the young maddison child for his odd ways. Out of sight out of mind as it were. At least. Until the impressionable kid picked a very specific book. One that held the tales of man that would become the kids idol. A role model that he would follow to the tee. This man was no other then Doc Holliday. For the child, the wanderers scathing quick wit was admirable. And it made it all the better that the gunslinger had the skills to back up his words. For James this book entitled "The Life and Times of Doc Holliday" would become a sort of sacred text. Words to follow and live by. But unfortunately for the young man. He would take this new found love of the old west to the extreme.

Needless to say. He faced extreme ridicule the next day when he showed up in his hat. He was sent home an hour after the day started red faced, and ashamed. The laughter of his classmates ringing in his ears all the while.

One would think that this would be the end of the new found obsession. For any normal child would give up one's interest at the showing of such intense peer pressure.

But James was no normal child. He had inherited his father's icy ironclad will. And his mother's fiery passion. This combination would prove to be the deciding factor in his life to come. For he emerged from his room with a face stained of tear tracks. However, his eyes held not sadness. But the green orbs held determination.

He wore the hat for the rest of the year, and every year after that.

This social suicide would lead to the now young man finding new hobbies. Afterall one needs something to do when they have no friends to spend time with. One thing led to another and eventually the man found his interest held by a particular online series. Introduced to him by an online acquaintance named "Lawbringer". This show sparked a new light in the young man. He fell in love with characters. At the edge of his seat every battle. Gasping at every twist and turn. Laughing at the jokes. For the first time in his life James felt like he had found Where he belonged. And the people on the screen meant more to him then what they were. They were his friends.

Now how could this possibly be of any importance to what was happening right now? How could any of this pointless exposition mean anything to young man that was fleeing for his life?! But it was for that very reason, That the man turned back to child was grinning like a loon.

Because it was in this show, this story. That the characters that Doc had come come to love and cherish fought a very specific enemy. They trained their whole lives to be able to combat a particular threat. And that threat was the creatures of grimm.

The very same type of monster that was chasing our protagonist through the woods right now.

And that was the reason the young exhausted man was smiling.

. . .

'Damn my lungs hurt'

This thought was accompanied by a rather loud crack of thunder.

The forest floor had been turned muddy and ruined in the blondes flight. And his metal tipped boots made great splashes of mud in there wake as they repeatedly met the ground met the ground. Staining his once pristine green duster in grime. All of the introverts thin clothes did little to shelter him from the freezing rain. And it showed in the great white plumes of air that escaped the mans mouth. To put it simply Doc was miserable/

Never before in his relatively short life had he ever been forced to go through such rough conditions. Not one time had Doc truly felt the slog of a frenzied retreat. But on the flipside. He had never felt more alive!

AHWOOOOOO

A joint howl from the chasing grimm sounded through the already loud night. And as though the gods were conspiring to make it more thematic. Lightning accompanied the noise. Unfortunately for Doc. All of this drama had this drama reminded him of his situation

"Oh yeah, I'm being chased through an unknown land by a pack of fictional monsters from my favorite show. Who could probably tear me in half with a pinkie." Doc paused his snarky comment as a flash of regret crossed his face. Turning his happy expression into a grimace.

"And my clothes are getting ruined by the egregious weather!"

The blonde chuckled at his own joke. Before His face quickly turned serious once again. And his delight addled mind was set back to the fear it should have, For the literal embodiment of night was quickly approaching him.

'What do i do, What do i do!'

A quick hop and he sailed over a log. A hard left and he slipped to and fro throughout the trees. Doing his very best to try and lose the dark wolves. But his panic stricken clumsy movements were for naught. After all, Doc wasn't the fastest man before his legs were shrunk two feet. And his fleeting energy could only take him so far. He heard the rustling of the grimm in the surrounding trees. Not once in his sprint had he seen them. The monsters instead running after him just out of sight. But even without vision he could tell they were growing closer. And if anything. It was the fact that Doc couldn't see the creatures that made them the most terrifying. Doc needed an escape. With his lungs burning so, it need to be soon.

Desperation filled the young man. Tears falling from his eyes as the recently lit light dimmed. He scream through the night. Angry now at his circumstances.

"This was my chance, to help them. To save them!" The saddened soul slowed to a jog. Limbs heavy with the dream that never left the ground.

"This was it!" The grimm were gaining even more ground now. Their red gazes peeking out from the surrounding brush.

"My only chance!" The grimm grew ever nearer, closer now to the end of the hunt. To there prize. Only seconds now.

All but crushed, the boy fell to his knees. His hats brim so laden with water that is dropped to cover his eyes. Completely exhausted now. The child did nothing as the beasts encircled him from the surrounding wood. Red eyes giving the scene an ominous tint. There were too many of them to count. And the child was too tired to look anyway.

Light suddenly filled the wood. For the rain had stopped, and through a small gap in the canopy above. The moon shined down. This caught the attention of the boy. Whos dull green gaze turned upward at the new found rays. Instead of some sort of peace however, the boys visage became even more mournful. Tears streaming from his eyes as his hat fell from his head. Because it was what the boy saw that dampered him so. It was the moon.

It was the shattered moon that filled the sky. Bringing awe with its luster. But more so than that, it confirmed something. If Doc had any doubt where he was before, there was now none.

"Yep. I'm in remnant alright." His gaze turned to look around him. Not at all affected by the numerous red gazes surrounding him. He was dead to the world if the tone of his voice was any indication.

"To bad i got put here with no way to do anything with it." He allowed himself to wallow in pity. For even with this once in a lifetime chance to something spectacular. To live out his dream and help the characters he had come to love. It had been oh so quickly snapped away from him.

He thought that was enough justification for a few tears.

. . .

The grimm were enjoying this.

They loved to feast upon the bad emotions of their prey. They felt every jolt of fear, every shiver of terror as they closed upon the kill. All of the mourning. The hate. The vengeance that others would feel afterwards sent shocks of pleasure though the grimms empty hearts. In the end. They were designed to feel no emotion. But the twisted origins of the beasts creation allowed them to feel all the bad they caused. This meant they liked to play with their food. To squeeze every bit of fear and pain before they ended it all.

And that's exactly what they were doing as they gazed at the young man from the shadows. He was pinned, nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. And they knew that. And the young man knew that. So they took their time. Enjoying the suffering that the young man was going through. They began there approach slowly. Appearing from the trees to the bowed man at a leisurely pace. Within a minute they were upon him. Looming over the boy with lupine grins etched upon their faces.

Only the slowness would be their downfall. For a very specific person had heard the child's anguished screams from the distance. And he was finally there on the scene.

The grimm would feel pain.

. . .

Nicholas "Nick" Arc was on the way home from a mission. It was with a smile upon his face that he traveled the well beaten path through the Ader woods. His pack making dull taps against his breastplate with every long step. And his great blade 'patres Iram' on his shoulder. The light orange hew of the sword catching the light of the moon above. As the night grew older. And he grew closer and closer to home. He started thinking about his family. And the happiness that they brought to his life. Joan, his lovely wife. Mother of his children and love of his life. She had always been there after his long hunts. Waiting at home with a welcoming smile and open arms. She would always support him. And he would always for her. His thoughts then transferred over to his children. All eight of them. Violet and her passion, Sapphire and her endless kindness, Jade and her ever inquisitive gaze. The twins Rouge and Jasmine with their ferocity of lionesses. Jaune and his wife, optimistic eyes. And last young Ebon. And her childhood innocence. The journeying hunter loved his family very dearly. And would do anything to protect them.

So needless to say when he heard the high pitched scream of a child he quickly was of to aid them. Determination set in the man's eyes as he flashed with ungodly speeds towards where he heard the noise. Drawing his greatsword in the process, and Setting the orange blade on fire with the built in fire dust.

He was ready. No one will hurt that child!

. . .

Not ten seconds after hearing the sound of distress, Nick was on the scene. Appearing in the clearing with a sudden flash of light and wind. He the clearing alight with his presence. A brilliant orange aura emanated from his body. Catching not only the boy off guard. But the grimm as well.

Nick was a rather large man. Standing at just above seven feet tall, he towered over ordinary people. He was built as well, sporting a rather muscular body from an entire lifetime of combat and hunting. So as he stood at his full height in that clearing. Blue eyes flinty. Blonde hair and beard caching the light of the moon. With his sword held above his head with both hands in a battle stance. He looked magnificent. At least he did for the once distraught boy.

For the grimm, he looked death incarnate.

Seeing that the man was the much more serious threat. The grimm quickly took their numbers from surrounding the boy and to instead surrounding the man.

The huntsman did nothing as the beowolfs surrounded him. Rather deciding to bide his time.

It did not take but five minutes before the man was surrounded. And luckily the boy was on the outside looking in. And look he did. His eyes now filled with hope has he locked eyes with the man. The man who had been looking frantically around him caught sight of the kid. Realizing he was safe. The man sighed. He gave the kid a wink before turning to the grimm around him.

"So ya ugly bastards! Whos first?!" He chambered his sword arm, as though preparing to swing.

The grimm did not respond well the the taunt. And charged the man all at once. As the gap closed around the man. He tensed his muscles. And the light around him glowed.

SWISSHHHHH

In one fluid movement the man swung his weapon. Turning in a full circle with massive burning blade in his grasp. Within nary a moment the wall of black flesh and bone that had been charging him was reduced to ash. As the mans swing turned into an arc around him. Sending the night alight with glorious fire. With that, every single one of those grimm fell. And moments later they turned to smoke.

"I was expecting a bit more of a fight. But i do suppose they were just young beowolfs after all." With this said. The titan of a man sheathed his sword. And turned to the child.

"Are you ok kid?" He said as he approached.

But the 'kid' was most definitely not ok. Exhausted at the days ordeal. And with his brain overloaded with everything that had happened. Doc coughed up a storm before fainting. Blood covering his hand and dripping from his mouth.

Safe to say the large man was quite worried at this chain of event. Sliding to where the child lay on the muddy earth.

"Kid!" Nick shook the boy.

"Kid!" One more for good measure.

Nick muttered a curse has he swooped the kid into his arms. Quickly realizing that that the child need aid that he could not provide.

With flash he was off. Leaving the clearing behind with all the dead grimm. And a child in his arms.

He was once again on the way home. For better or for worse. And he had a child to save.

AN: Thanks for reading! For all who have followed and faved this crappy mess i thank you. It means alot to me. But i would also really appreciate Reviews. This is my first fic and im new to writing. So any advice and critiques would help me loads. So thank you once again! ~Doc