Author's Note - Hey, Arika, no one's forcing to read my stories, so I'd recommend you quit it with the spamming and whining. I'm not gonna stop writing regardless.

Soldier's Honor

[The scene opens with a shot of Nia passing by Pine Station with a goods train. She suddenly dons a surprised expression at an uncharacteristically jolly Lieutenant/Warrant Officer Pug greeting the people as they come across the station. Tom and Jerry shuffle past the pug with uncertain expressions]

Pug: Merry Christmas! Haha, Merry Christmas to you! And good tidings to you as well, hohoho!

[Sir Handel and Peter Sam on the narrow gauge platform look at each other with disbelief. Cut to Barnyard Dawg and Foghorn Leghorn glancing at one another]

Foghorn: I say, boy, I say, is he alright?

BD: Nah, he's lost it.

[Pug hands over a set of gets to Jinks, Pamela, and Marvin, all of which glance at each other as the commanding officer had grown two heads]

Jinks: Like, uhhhhh, I dunno whether to feel flattered or terrified.

[Pongo and Perdita are shown standing on the platform with Colonel, Tibbs, and Captain]

Pongo: What on Earth happened to him?

Perdita: I have no idea and I'm scared to ask.

Captain: Would you believe me when I say he almost drowned and was reborn?

Pongo: Um…what?

Captain: BUR-HUR, it appears that Pug made a change in his attitude following an incident. Took him long enough.

Tibbs: It's a bit of a long story, and a rather amusing one I'll admit. You see, a while back, Pug was still on military probation and we'd been keeping a close eye on him. However, as the days went on, we…

[The scene transitions from Tibbs talking to several weeks in the past. It is a particularly snowy evening as Pug is making his way through the icy ground near the Amber Branchline]

Pug: Brrrrrrrrrr…of course I have to be the one marking the perimeter. Why can't Lieutenant Steel do this, he just sits on his desk most of the time anyway, the lazy bas-!

[In the distance, a faint whistle can be heard through the wind]

Pug: What on Earth is that…?

[The whistle continues to echo, almost as if it were a call for help. Pug slowly trudges through the snow and finally comes across the scene of an accident; Percy is shown lodged inside a snow bank, looking rather cold and miserable]

Percy: [stammering] S-S-So…c-c-cold…

[He tries to peer through the snow and to his relief, at least at the present time, spots Pug standing several yards away from him]

Percy: Oooooh, t-t-thank goodness! C-C-Can you help m-me out of this drift?

Pug: What? Me? Help you? I'm only one man, I can't clear all this snow!

Percy: T-Then could you s-s-send for help? M-My fire's gone out a-and my b-boiler's freezing…

Pug: You railway tycoons are out of my jurisdiction! After all the nonsense I've had to put up with you lot, I'm going back to Amber for a warm cup of tea! Good day to you, sir!

[With that, Pug turns away in a huff, leaving Percy with a look of shock on his face. It then turns to one of disgust]

Percy: T-T-That rotten f-fleabag…

[Coming down the road next to the railway is a small red postal van, driven by Postman Pat with his black cat Jess sitting on the passenger seat]

Pat: Well, Jess, it's been a good round today, but now we're off for home.

[Jess meows in agreement, but as Pat looks to his left, his smile turns to a frown at the sight of a large snowdrift on the tracks with Percy still trapped]

Pat: I say, what's happened here…?

[Pat stops the van on the side of the road and then goes out to survey the scene]

Pat: Goodness me, Percy, how did you end up like this?

Percy: I c-came down the line o-only to come f-face to face with t-this drift in my way…t-the rails were too icy and I g-g-got stuck…I've been stuck f-for a while now…brrrrrrrr…

Pat: Oh dear lord, and has no one come to dig you out?

Percy: W-W-Warrant Officer P-Pug just came a bit earlier, b-but he just blew m-me off…

Pat: Well, if that doesn't take the biscuit…don't you worry, Percy, I'm just off to Amber now, I'll get help as soon as I arrive.

Percy: Oooooh, t-thank you, Pat…you're a g-gem…

Pat: Hehe, nah, just lookin' after a fellow postman is all.

[Pat climbs back into his van and sets off towards the village of Amber]

Pat: Hooo, dear, just wait till Major Forbes hears about this.

[Jess meows in agreement as the van sets off down the snowy road and towards the village]

[Transition to a shot of Harold hovering over the rescue operation as Toby and Terence have arrived with the tractor digging away at the snowbank and Toby having a chain attached to his coupling hook to pull Percy out, Henrietta is carrying the workers with shovels ready to help dig away the snow]

Toby: Now, don't you worry, Percy, we'll have you out of there in no time.

Percy: [sighs contentedly] Thank you, Toby…

[Transition to the next way back at Pine HQ where Commander Feral, Lieutenant Felina and Lieutenant Steel are overlooking the troops as they march in-sync to the left side of the screen, only to have the mood interrupted by the distant sound of grumbling]

Felina: Shh, do you hear that?

Steel: Is that what I think it is?

Feral: Much like the distant calls of battle cries far away, it's the familiar sound of…Warrant Officer Pug complaining…

[Sure enough, Pug comes onto the scene griping bitterly about whatever]

Pug: Uuuuuuuugh, it's simply not fair, I have to waste my evenings waddling around the bitter cold on menial tasks while you all stay on the base training the recruits! I should be on the front lines!

Steel: Oh, shut up, will you? No one cares about your plight.

Feral: May I remind you that you're still on probation? Personally, I'd rather you'd keep that putrid mouth of yours quiet unless you want to get in even more trouble.

Pug: Baaaah, of course you felines would be against me, you're all in this together, trying to make me lose my mind.

Felina: Nah, I'm pretty sure you've already lost it, I've seen you talking to yourself on occasion. Pure marks of insanity, I say.

Pug: Oh, you think you're so smart, don't you, with that mug of-

[Feral snarls at Pug]

Feral: Choose your next words carefully.

Pug: AHEM, I was just referring to the fact that your niece has a…[through gritted teeth]...lovely complexion about her…

Felina: Aww, why thank you.

[Pug mutters 'fuck off, fuck off, fuck off' as he storms past the officers while Lt. Steel gives him a dirty look]

Steel: Well, isn't that just amusing?

[However, Pug's troubles are far from over as Major Forbes arrives on the scene]

Forbes: Ah, good tidings, officers.

[Forbes tips his hat to the feline officers before donning a more stern tone addressing Pug]

Forbes: Warrant Officer Pug, what is the meaning of this?!

Pug: Uh, sir?

Forbes: I've heard that you neglected to offer a civilian your assistance last night.

Pug: A locomotive hardly classifies as a civilian, sir.

Forbes: Don't be funny with me, boy. We are meant to serve and protect the public by any means necessary.

Pug: [under his breath] Here we go-

Forbes: And even now, you still refuse to do good by your title, you're just lucky the General isn't here because I shudder to think what he'd do about you.

?: [off-screen] Ask and you shall receive.

[Both officers turn in surprise to see a stout man in a navy blue uniform and a tall broad man with an army helmet covering his eyes. These are General McLarty, simply known as "The General", and Lieutenant Montgomery, or simply "Lieutenant". Pug gulps as the General and Lieutenant approach him]

General: Warrant Officer Pug, I am most displeased with your record as of late! Your latest stunt has not helped my opinion, so, I am assigning you to a new position!

Pug: Uh…what would that be, sir?

General: For the time being, you will be stationed at Amber until further notice. You'll be performing community service to the village, so I'd better NOT hear any complaints from the staff or locals!

Pug: B-But! General, I can't-!

General: No Buts! You're already on thin ice, Pug, and if you mess this up again, you're AWOL!

Pug: …Yes, sir…understood, sir.

General: That's what I thought, come along, Lieutenant, we have work to do.

Lieutenant: Yes, sir, General, sir. At ease, Major.

Forbes: At ease, Lieutenant.

[Pug just stands there with a look of bewilderment and disappointment on his face. Lieutenant Steel, seeing his predicament, is only too eager to rub salt into the wound]

Steel: Hope you have a good time, Officer, don't worry, we'll send you a postcard of the annual Christmas party.

Pug: Oh shut up, you're never getting promoted!

[Pug fumes away while Steel just sneers at him]

Steel: PAH, what does he know, I'm more likely to lead the field command than him at any rate…

[The scene transitions to Pug being escorted to Amber via being pulled by Samson with Hannah in two as his mode of transport, and the officer is still grumbling dreadfully as ever]

Pug: Baaaaah, this is ridiculous, community service, what has the community ever done for me? Zilch, I tell you!

Samson: Hannah?

Hannah: Ya?

Samson: Please bump me as hard as you can so we can get this done sooner.

Hannah: OOOOOOOH, I can do that, luv!

[On that command, the coach surges into the tank engine's buffer, sending them both accelerating down the line, Pug is thrown from his seat onto the floor]

Pug: WHA-GUH!

Hannah: HAHAHA! Faster, Samson! Faster!

Samson: Capital!

[Samson speeds down the tracks as he approaches the junction, Hannah whooping behind him. Toby passes by on the opposite track with Henrietta in two as Samson whooshes by]

Toby: Looks like Hannah's at it again.

Henrietta: Put two balls of chaos together and it'll lead to a disaster…

[The scene cuts to Pug trying to sit back down, but he once again ends up falling onto the floor as Samson screeches into Amber Station. Standing on the platform; Thomas, Duchess, Merida, Eddy, Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, Cat, and Dog wince or scowl at the tank engine's bold entrance]

Samson: Haha, and that's how it's done.

[Pug wearily makes his way out of the coach and sees the pedestrians looking at him]

Pug: What are you all staring at?!

Thomas: HUH, someone with a bad attitude apparently.

Pug: Oh, I'll give YOU bad att-

Samson: Pardon me, but YOU have work to do. Go on, chop chop!

[Pug mutters darkly under his breath as Samson leaves the station. The canine officer passes the crowd, ignoring any glances that come his way. As he tries to leave the station, he nearly slips on a patch of black ice]

Pug: GEH-UH…uh…right, AHEM…let's just…move on from that…

[Ronno, Gumball, and Darwin pass by the scene, the latter two glance at each other while the deer gives a sly smirk towards the officer]

Pug: Haaaaaaaaaugh, better see what kind of labor I'm meant to be doing here.

Tibbs: [off-screen] At ease, Warrant Officer.

Pug: OOOOOOF course you have to be here.

[Tibbs is shown leaning against a brown truck with logs in its tipper]

Tibbs: So, now that you're here, we'll be delivering logs to the villagers in need of warmth for winter.

Pug: LOGS?! Do I look like a lumberjack to you?!

Tibbs: Well, you've got the attitude of one who's doused twelve kegs of beer.

Pug: You watch your tongue, I'm STILL the higher command!
Tibbs: Actually, we're relatively at equal command ever since my promotion and your demotion.

Pug: [growls] Of all the officers I had to get stuck with…

Tibbs: C'mon, Pug, we've got a job to do, and the last thing you'd want is a report to HQ.

Pug: [sighs dramatically] Fine! But I'll be the one driving.

[In no mood for a fight, Tibbs relents and lets Pug take the wheel on the truck as the two set off into the village of Amber. By contrast to Maple, Amber resembles more of a town that you'd see nestled in the mountains, with quaint little shops and inns on either side of the street. Jack, Porky, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Samus, Katt, Secret Squirrel, Kyoko, Mami, Rocko, and Penny are shown walking up and down the sidewalks as the lorry comes along the road. Tibbs smiles at the twinkling lights on the lampposts and shops, but Pug couldn't care less as he gives an ugly sneer]

Pug: Bah, humbug…

Tibbs: Oh come on, you can't be a grinch all the time. Just look at the town, Christmas always makes it stand out more with all the decorations.

Pug: Christmas, it's all superficial, apart from the presents and new coats, it's really just cold, shallow, and pointless.

Tibbs: …Stop the truck.

Pug: What?

[Tibbs extends his foot over the seat to the brake pedal, causing the truck to screech to a stop in the middle of the road]

Pug: ACK! What the hell is wrong with y-?!

Tibbs: You. Shut your mouth unless you got something to say that isn't whining or bitching.

Pug: You can't tell me what to do, I'm your superior!

Tibbs: You're the superior of being a complete numbskull, I've half a mind to drag you out and leave you in the middle of nowhere!

Pug: I-!

Tibbs: Do you want another slash across the face?

[Pug retracts making another comment on that, so he settles for muttering under his breath]

Pug: This is all beneath me…

Tibbs: That's clearly not a high bar to accomplish.

Pug: SHUT UP!

[Cut to later in the day as the officers have arrived at the logging camps upriver. There is a large sawmill with several huts used for different purposes, here, tugboats will come to pick up logs to be transferred to wherever they are needed. Meanwhile, the branchline engines will either deliver the logs to stops along the route or exchange goods with the mainline engines at the selected terminus]

[As the truck pulls into the timber mill, Pug slams the door roughly]

Pug: Right, what labor am I meant to be subjected to?

Tibbs: We need to pick up more logs for Cedar, they need the supplies for the renovation of Hemlock come spring.

Pug: Wait, they're restoring that old dump?

Tibbs: I don't know the full details, but apparently, it's to generate more traffic for the south.

Pug: So what are we doing anyway?

Tibbs: Go around the other side of the pile and we'll start loading.

[Pug grimaces at the pile of logs stacked next to each other. However, he notices that one log appears to be at an odd angle towards the bottom. He then spots a hand trolley in one of the sidings and this gives him an idea]

Pug: Uh, right…[under his breath]...I'm sure a little 'accident' wouldn't go amiss…

[In the background, Top Hat and Sunshine are approaching from the right side of the screen with barges full of logs in tow as the Sergeant Major and Warrant Officer head towards the pile. Pug, however, puts his right foot on the log closest to the water and attempts to dislodge it]

Tibbs: C'mon, Pug, I could use a hand back here!

Pug: Of course, just gimme a moment!

[While Tibbs and Pug start off with the log at the top, the latter manages to kick the loose one off the pile as it rolls into the water, much to the feline's shock as the entire lot falls straight into the river, much to the surprise of the tugboats]

Top Hat: Doh, I say!

Sunshine: 'Ey, watch out!

[The logs roll right into their path, causing the tugs to bump into a couple of them as they slosh around in the water]

Tibbs: Oh no!

Top Hat: What on Earth was all that about?

Tibbs: Oh, I'm so sorry, gents, the pile must have come loose…wait a minute…Pug?

[Tibbs suddenly blinks in surprise as Pug has made his way onto the trolley and is now pedaling away from the scene]

Sunshine: Oi! Where's he goin'?

Top Hat: Come back here, you charlatan!

Tibbs: PUG! Get your tail back here this instant!

Pug: Not on your life, Tibbs! I'm not taking orders for you, and I'm not staying anywhere near this camp!

Sunshine: Aye…he's gonna be in for a nasty shock, I can tell you.

Top Hat: HMPH, it can't come quickly enough.

Tibbs: Wait till I get my paws on him…

[Transition to Pug strolling down the track on his trolley as he continues to offer no assistance to anyone he passes by. One such example is Granny Webster struggling to hold all of her shopping as she approaches a level crossing]

Granny: Hoooo, dear…oh! Yoo-hoo! Young man, could you please help me with my bags?

Pug: Sorry, I'm busy!

[As Pug whooshes past, Granny looks on with shock before giving a look of indignation]

Granny: Why…of all the nerve!

[Cut to Snooper and Blabber attempting to dig their car out of a snowy ditch as the tracks run alongside the road]

Snooper: Keep shovelin', Blab!

Blabber: I am shovelin'! My whiskers' got snow on 'em!

Snooper: You think das bad, I've got icicles hangin' off mine!

Blabber: Look, Snoop! Someone's comin' this way.

Snooper: Wha? Oh yeah. Hey, buddy, mind givin' us a hand with our car here?

Pug: Not for a pair of second rate detectives!

[Blabber's mouth gaps while Snooper looks positively miffed as Pug passes by them]

Snooper: Least I'm no truant!

[Finally, Pug passes by one of the junctions as Thomas, along with Annie and Clarabel, is stuck at a set of frozen points]

Thomas: Excuse me, can you help free us from this siding?

Pug: That's your problem, not mine!

Thomas: Hey! You come back here!

Annie: I say, what a pompous man!

Clarabel: I concur, absolutely dreadful!

Thomas: The Fat Controller'll give him an earful when he hears.

[At that moment, Daisy meanders into view, looking rather cross]

Daisy: How dare he cut me off when I had the right of way!

[The railcar is so furious that she completely misses Thomas and the coaches in their predicament]

Thomas: Wait, Daisy, I aaaaaaaaand she's gone…drat.

[This eventually leads to HQ being flooded with complaints by Granny, Snooper, and Sir Topham Hatt as they all express themselves through a split-screen while Captain at the desk is trying to pacify them]

Captain: Cripes, how much damage can that lunatic do…?

[With the disgraced lieutenant continually refusing to assist with any task given, a plan is set in motion by the Colonel as he calls Captain and Tibbs over to the village station]

Colonel: AHEM! UH, right men, it pains me to say this, but we're currently in a code red situation.

Captain: Let me guess, Pug's gone haywire?

Colonel: HMM, yes, quite. Reports say he's not gone off the perimeter, so all we need to do is keep him away from the mainline.

Tibbs: He'd be insane to attempt that a second time.

Captain: You say it like he already hasn't lost his marbles.

Tibbs: …Yeah, I suppose you're right there.

Captain: So, how are we going to bring him in?

Tibbs: Weeeeeeeell, I was thinking we could use arms…

Captain: Negatory, Sergeant Major, we'll only use that as a last resort. In the meantime, we need a mode of transport, it'll be quicker than on-foot.

?: AHEM! May I be of assistance, sirs?

[The officers turn and the camera pans out to reveal Percy sitting in the siding with a rather sly grin on his face]

[The scene cuts to Percy chuffing slowly along the line while the military trio have taken refuge in a red coach pulled by the tank engine. Pug is just a few yards ahead warming himself up by a makeshift bonfire]

Percy: CHHH! This is Officer to Colonel, I repeat, this is Officer to Colonel, do you read me, over?

Colonel: BR-HUH, we're not using radios, private, there's no need to mimic.

Percy: Oh…sorry, I just…got in the moment a little bit. [clears throat] I can see him…

Tibbs: Right, just approach him slowly and quietly as can be…stop here…

[Percy comes to a gentle stop and the trio silently disembark from the coach, they tip-toe to the pug as he appears oblivious of their presence…however, an acorn falls onto Percy's running board. Before he can say anything, a squirrel jumps down and tries to grab it. In the process, its bushy tail tickles Percy's nose and the little green engine struggles to hold in a sneeze]

Percy: Uh-oh…ah…aaaah…aaaaaaaah…AH-CHOO!

[Percy's sneeze startles the squirrel off him, along with the trio and Pug as he suddenly turns around]

Pug: What the?!
Captain: GRAB HIM!

[The sheepdog, tabby cat, and white stallion all attempt to jump the pug, but somehow miss the target as the stubby canine jumps out of the way and makes a break for his trolley]

Colonel: OH BLAST!

Tibbs: Pug, STOP! We have orders to bring you in!

Pug: You'll have to catch me first! BYE!

[Pug speeds off on his trolley as the trio rush back to the coach]

Captain: Quickly, after him!

Percy: Uh, yes, sirs, right away, sirs!

[With wheels slipping on the icy rails, Percy makes a dash for Pug as the scene cuts to him passing a signalbox, followed by the tank engine and his passengers. Tibbs opens the window to call out to the fellow officer]

Tibbs: PUG! Stop this at once! We just want you to see some sense!

Pug: After all I've been put through?! You'll be lucky!

[Colonel leans out of the window himself]

Colonel: Warrant Officer Pug, stand down or it's the brig for you!

Percy: I'll stop him, sir!

[Percy accelerates forward and gives Pug's trolley a hard BIFF. However, this causes the trolley to start wobbling on the track, till its side wheels come off the rails]

Pug: OOOOOOOOOOOH-AAAAAAAAAAAH!

[Unfortunately for Pug, he's approaching a stone bridge and Ten Cents is about to go under it. The trolley flies off the rails and onto the snowy ground as it careens for the river]

Pug: HELP!

[Pug shuts his eyes as the trolley falls into the water, taking the officer with it, much to Ten Cents' surprise]

Ten Cents: WHOA, look out there!

[Percy stops just before the bridge with a look of shock on his face]

Percy: Oh no! I didn't mean to drown him!

[A moment of silence passes, barring a few bubbles on the surface. Colonel, Tibbs, Captain, Percy, and Ten Cents all watch with bated breath]

Percy: Is he…?

[Just then, a burst of water comes out, followed by the heavy breathing of Pug as he tries to climb his way back to shore]

Percy: Oh, thank goodness!

Ten Cents: Cah, what a mess, ya' gonna need a crane.

Colonel: Pug, are you alright?!

Pug: F-F-F-F-F-F…

Colonel: HU-HUR, I'm sorry, could you repeat that?

Pug: J-J-Just…take m-m-me someplace w-warm…p-p-please…

Tibbs: Oh, well, I suppose we can do…wait…did you just say…please?

[Pug doesn't respond, he's too cold to give an answer as he shivers terribly]

Captain: Why, I never thought I'd see the day!

[The trio slowly make their way down the embankment to pull Pug back up and escort him into the coach]

Percy: Haha, it's a Christmas miracle!

[Ten Cents shakes his wheelhouse in amusement]

Ten Cents: Just wait till I tell the others about this…

[The scene cuts to the village station where the other military personnel are waiting on the platform as Percy backs up to it]

Tibbs: Chaps! Pug said the magic word!

Feral: Whatever are you talking about?

Tibbs: He said "please."

Felina: Huh, maybe the guy does have manners underneath that tough skin.

Tibbs: QUICK! Maybe we can still break him into the spirit, haha!

Steel: Oh, I can break him in more ways than one, hmmhmmhmm…

Captain: Not that kind, Lieutenant.

Steel: Damn…

[Pug says nothing as he's escorted into the main building. Feral keeps a wary eye on the canine officer]

Feral: We'll see…I'm keeping my expectations low…

[For the rest of the day, nothing more is said on the matter as business continues as usual. Cut to dusk as everyone is preparing to board the charter service to Evergreen. By this point, the snow is coming down heavily and everyone is raring to get back home. Several people shown in the prior scenes are boarding Annie and Clarabel with the Magic Five; Homura, Madoka, Sayaka, Kyoko, and Mami, being among the last passengers to board the train. Pug is leaning against the wall as he watches everyone climb aboard, remaining silent throughout the scene]

Duchess: [sighs] Time for some tea when I get back…

[As the last door closes, the guard blows the whistle and Thomas, the tank engine, sets off from the platform with his own whistle. But no sooner does he clear the platform does the sound of rushing footsteps come onto the scene, followed by Baba Miao bursting through the door]

Baba: Stop, STOP! Hold that train! Hold the, ooooooooh, no…ooooh, it's gone, I missed it.

[Baba looks over at the schedule and his face falls further]

Baba: Hooooo, and that was the last train of the day. How am I going to get home now?

[Baba goes over to a bench and sits down with a dejected expression. Pug watches the scene, but instead of making a snarky comment, he says nothing at all…he thinks back to the earlier incident, his life seemed to flash before his eyes…coming back to reality, the officer looks down at his uniform…and then back at the Siamese cat]

Pug: …AHEM, sir, are you currently stranded?

Baba: Oh…well, I don't really have a means to get home at the moment, and there's no taxi services running either due to the snow.

Pug: WELL, I for one refuse to believe so, in fact, I have a truck outside in the lot, we could carry on in that.

Baba: Wha-really? You would do that?

Pug: BA-Well, of course, after all, I have a working set of four wheels, a license, and military qualification, why, it would be uncouth to leave a civilian stranded out here.

Baba: Oh…why, thank you, thank you ever so much.

Pug: What are we waiting for then? It's cold as the cat's whiskers…AHEM, if you'll pardon the expression.

Baba: I suppose I can let it slide if you're offering me transport.

[On that note, the two head to the parking lot where the truck that Pug and Tibbs had used earlier is sitting. It has been loaded with a fresh set of logs]

Pug: I've got a delivery to Cedar, so you might expect a few stops along the way.

Baba: Oh, it's no issue at all, my home isn't far from there anyway.

Pug: Right then, let's get a move on!

[The truck pulls out of the lot and heads out into the village. At first, the snow isn't as bad going through the open streets, but upon getting into the countryside, the wind is wisping the snow all around the lorry, not even the bright headlights can penetrate fully through the swirling whiteness]

Baba: My word, this weather is dreadful.

Pug: You're tellin' me, I can hardly see a thing through all this snow.

[Even so, Pug continues to battle through the blizzard, occasionally, the truck's wheels slip on the road and he struggles to get a grip by pressing on the gas and brake. However, up ahead, there appears to be a silhouette stuck on the side of the road]

Baba: I say, what's that?

Pug: Why, it looks like…a bus?

[As the truck slows down, we get a better look at the vehicle. It's Bertie, stuck in the snow and looking miserable. His passengers are stranded inside, consisting of Nature Cat, Hal, Bianca, Bernard, Hector, Wordsworth, Esmeraude, Kaolinite, Claude, and Jenny as they wait with either anxiety or impatience]

Bertie: Oh…hey! Stop! We need help!

[Pug stops the truck and goes out to inspect, shivering slightly as the wind blows in his face]

Pug: …What's going on here?

Bertie: [groans] I slipped on the ice and came off the road. Please, can you get us out, my passengers can't go anywhere.

[The canine looks at the windows and seeing the people inside the bus waiting with bated breath]

Pug: Hold on…I think we might have a cable in the truck…

[Pug goes to the back of the vehicle, and, sure enough, there's a spare set of cable next to the logs, and a coupling on the bumper]

Pug: HAHA! Eureka!

[Quickly, Pug clips the cable onto the coupler and then attaches the hook to the back of Bertie's bumper. Then, hopping back into the truck, he slowly moves it forward till the slack in the cable begins to tighten. The vehicle's wheels spin on the road as it struggles to pull the bus out of the snow]

Pug: [groans] C'mon…you can do it…just need more…muscle!

[Pug slams his foot on the gas as the engine roars, tires screeching on the pavement until Bertie starts to slowly move out from the ditch]

Bertie: Ho…HO! That's it! Keep going!

[With much wheelslip, struggling, and straining, the truck finally manages to pull Bertie back onto the road, all four tires firmly back on solid pavement]

Bertie: He-hey! We're free!

[The passengers in the bus cheer at their freedom. Pug just gives a big sigh of relief as he finally relents on the gas]

Pug: PHEW! Thank God…

Baba: Well, that was a bit of a daring rescue, wasn't it? Quick initiation if I do say so.

Pug: That's…great…now lemme get this lot uncoupled, and we'll be on our way…

[As Pug gets out of the truck once more to arrange the cable, Bertie chips in]

Bertie: Thanks for the assistance, heh, I suppose this makes up for cuttin' me off.

Pug: All in a day's work, you just keep safe now.

[Pug places the cable back into the tipper and once he gets back in the driver's seat, he continues on his way to Cedar while Bertie goes on his own path]

[Transition to Cedar Station as the Miao Family are waiting for Baba, anxious expressions on Sagwa and Sheegwa, Dongwa tapping his foot in stress relief, and Mama with a paw to her mouth]

Sagwa: Ooooooh, where could he be? It's awfully late.

Dongwa: You don't think something happened to him.

Sheegwa: What if he got into an accident?

Mama: Now, children, let's not stress ourselves, I'm sure Baba will be just fine, at least I hope…oh, Wim Bao, where are you?

[Suddenly, pulling into the car park near the station, sitting in the passenger seat of the truck is Baba as he waves to his family. The kittens' face perk up immediately while Mama breathes a grateful sigh of relief]

Sagwa, Dongwa, and Sheegwa: Baba!

Mama: Oh, thank goodness.

[Baba steps out of the truck and extends his arms to hug his children]

Baba: Hoho, I take it you were all waiting for me?

Mama: What happened, we were getting worried.

Baba: Shao Fu, I apologize deeply, I missed the last train from Amber, and I thought I would be stranded. However…[looks back]...you could say a little help.

[The rest of the Miaos look over to see Pug in the driver's seat]

Sagwa: Wait, so you got help…from him?

Dongwa: I must be going crazy if that's the case.

Baba: Well, I suppose surprises can come when you least expect them.

[Sheegwa looks up to the sky, even if she can't actually see the stars, a thought pops into her head]

Sheegwa: Maybe it was…a miracle.

Mama: I believe this one deserves thanks for getting our dear Baba back safely.

[Pug feels a blush coming onto his face]

Pug: Uh…all in the line of duty, ma'am.

Mama: Either way, thank you very much for your generosity.

[As the Miaos leave for home, Pug watches them on for a bit]

Pug: Imagine that…me, helping out…cats…it feels…oddly warming

[With that, Pug heads to the loading area of the harbor to have his cargo taken off. However, no cranes are currently operational and the yard is empty, so the officer takes the painstaking task of unloading the logs himself. By the next morning, Pug is very tired and worn out as he rushes into HQ as the General is addressing the rest of the personnel]

General: Well men, and women, we've been receiving news of a vigilante from last night, now I want to know which officer was-

Pug: [exhausted] I'M HERE! Hooooooo, I'm not tardy, I nearly slept in because I had…[WHEEZE]...help someone last night…

General: Oh, so it was you, Pug? Well, quite a turnaround, I must say. I had an impressive report, taking a man home and assisting in a rescue operation. Not to mention delivering the goods for the harbor, now that's the sort of dedication I was expecting.

Steel: [under his breath] Not forgetting certain things…

Tibbs: Well, looks like you did some good after all, eh, Pug…Pug?

[Pug doesn't hear, he's fallen asleep on a crate next to some new cannons]

Felina: Huh, doing some good must have come as a shock to his body.

Feral: Hmmmmmm…he's at least capable of being somewhat competent, I'll give it time…

[As Pug continues to snooze, we transition back to the present as Tibbs finishes the story]

Tibbs: As you can see, he went on a bit of a shopping spree to give out all these gifts. So, that's how it all happened.

Pongo: Huh…and here I thought there wasn't a sane bone in that man's body, color be surprised.

Perdita: I suppose it's better than him being a grouch all the time, I could get used to this new Pug.

Captain: The question is; how will it last?

Perdita: I'd prefer not to jinx it, let's just have our peace while we can.

Colonel: Well, I say it was a mission well done, good work to you men.

Tibbs: Um, Colonel?

Colonel: UH-huh, yes, Tibbs?

Tibbs: Don't look now, but I think there's a new shipment of arms approaching.

Colonel: Huh, where?

[The sheepdog whirls around suddenly, only to feel a smooch placed on his left cheek by Tibbs. The canine's eye enlarge through his bushy head fur]

Colonel: BUH-OH, Sergeant Major, what was that for?

Tibbs: You're standing under the mistletoe.

[Colonel looks up and sure enough, hanging above on a lamppost is a piece of mistletoe dangling by a thread. The old sheepdog blushes]

Colonel: …W-Well, so I am, hehe, oh.

[Colonel and Tibbs look over to see Pug staring at them…the smaller canine takes a deep breath]

Pug: …You know what? Good for you! Tis a beautiful sight, anyway!

[Colonel and Tibbs give each other a smile as the feline leans affectionately against the taller male]

[If you ask the folks of Toon City what they had to say, well, they'll tell you that Lieutenant Pug's heart grew three sizes that day. It appears to be the dawn of a new man, heart to heart, and hand in hand]

Character Guide:

Lieutenant Pug, Sergeant Tibbbs, Colonel, Captain, Pongo, Perdita - 101 Dalmatians (1961)/The Series

Baba Miao, Mama Miao, Sagwa Miao, Dongwa Miao, Sheegwa - Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat

Commander Ulysses Feral, Lieutenant Felina Feral, Lieutenant Steel - SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron

Foghorn Leghorn, Granny Webster, Barnyard Dawg, Porky Pig, Marvin the Martian, Claude Cat - Looney Tunes

Duchess, Thomas O'Malley - The Aristocats (1970)

General McLarty, Lieutenant Montgomery - Courage the Cowardly Dog

Jinks - Pixie, Dixie, and Mr. Jinks

Postman Pat, Major Forbes - Postman Pat

Super Snooper, Blabber Mouse - Snooper and Blabber

Thomas, Percy, Toby, Samson, Daisy, Annie and Clarabel, Henrietta, Hannah, Bertie, Sir Topham Hatt, Nia, Sir Handel, Peter Sam, Harold, Terence - Thomas and Friends

Ten Cents, Top Hat, Sunshine - TUGS

Bernard, Bianca - The Rescuers (1977)

Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup - The Powerpuff Girls

Cat and Dog - CatDog

Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Eddy - Ed, Edd N' Eddy

Esmeraude, Kaolinite - Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

Gumball Watterson, Darwin Watterson - The Amazing World of Gumball

Hector, Wordsworth - The Catillac Cats

Homura Akemi, Madoka Kaname, Sayaka Miki, Kyoko Sakura, Mami Tomoe - Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Jack - Beastars

Jenny Wakeman - My Life as a Teenage Robot

Katt Monroe - Star Fox

Merida - Brave (2012)

Nature Cat, Hal - Nature Cat

Pamela Bondani - Patrol 03

Penny Proud - The Proud Family

Rocko - Rocko's Modern Life

Ronno - Bambi

Samus Aran - Metroid

Secret Squirrel - Secret Squirrel

Tom Cat, Jerry Mouse - Tom and Jerry