Cloud Cutter awoke to comforting warmth surrounding him. He blinked open his eyes, but the room he was in was only lit from the ambient light from the hallway. He knew he was not in the barracks, 'Where could I be?' He wondered. He pulled the covers off himself and rolled onto his stomach. His muscles ached in protest, causing him to groan.

"Cutter?" Mason's voice came out of the darkness, "Are you awake, son?"

At hearing the last word, Cutter felt emotions snap taut, "Oh so NOW I'm your son!?" He said, acid dripping from his words.

Mason's voice answered back in a hot tone, "You watch your attitude, young stallion!"

Cloud Cutter snorted, "Or what!? You going to drag me out into the street and beat me in public, again!?"

Visceral Slaughter's voice joined in, "That is no way to speak to your father!"

Cutter slammed his right forehoof against the soft surface of the bed, "Well how about he start acting like my father?"

"What are you talking about!?" Mason asked out of reflex.

Cloud Cutter was only too ready to respond, "Neither one of you gave me so much as a pat on the back or told me that you cared when I was brought on the train to come here! All I heard was 'don't screw up again' or 'keep him in line'! You don't send me a single letter the whole time! And then when Rose was nice enough to let me have a night with you, you completely ignore the soul-shattering self-discovery I made, which made me feel awful, not that you care, and then you two just drone on and on about your own problems! Instead of ANY sort of understanding, all I got was a 'well sucks to be you, and now you don't have an excuse if it happens again'. Are you kidding me!? The only time you even acted like my parents tonight was when I was so angry that I decided I would rather SPEND THE NIGHT ALONE IN A COLD BUNK THAN WITH MY OWN FAMILY!"

He panted from the shouting, but he took a breath and continued, "When I cut Artex, did I run away? I already knew most Ponies would probably not remember my description and I could have gotten away with it! Did I leave? NO! I SAW WHAT I HAD DONE AND I WENT AND BROUGHT DOCTORS AND NURSES! Did I leave then? I could have claimed that I just saw him on the street! No! I stayed to take responsibility for what I had done! I never resisted arrest! I never struggled, or lied about it! I already knew what I did was wrong! But NOOOOO! That wasn't enough for anybody! It wasn't enough to know I had all but MURDERED an innocent Human AND tried to help him AND stayed around to face the music! NOPE! All that mattered was spanking me like a foal, parading me around the WHOLE TOWN ALL DAY THEN I EVEN STAYED QUIET WHEN YOU OPENED THE KEGS THAT YOU PROMISED WERE JUST FOR US AND I SAID NOTHING BECAUSE I FELT SO BAD!" He stomped both his forehooves against the bed, "Then the following morning, KNOWING you wouldn't be seeing me for a while, NEITHER ONE OF YOU SAID SO MUCH AS A GOODBYE! THE ONLY ONE TO HUG ME WAS DUEY!!!!!"

He took a deep breath and continued, "I can stand officers Hord and Thorn being harsh with me, IT'S WHAT I KNOW I DESERVE! What I CAN'T take is exactly how fast EVERYPONY DISREGARDED ME WHEN I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT ALREADY!!!" he leaped off the bed and stumbled into the far wall as he tried to land in the darkness, "I knew the second I saw the blood! I KNEW I had messed up! I wasn't trying to look good when I got the nurses and doctors! I got them because Artex was hurt and he needed help! I ALREADY wanted to do better! But did that matter? NO! Everypony ignored me! Nopony asked if I was sorry I had done it! Nopony asked what I was feeling! You know why?" He took a deep breath and bellowed, "BECAUSE NONE OF YOU CARED!" He stomped toward the door, "I'm never going back to that house! Burn my stuff if you haven't already! Everypony was only too happy to see me gone and there is no way I could ever go back!"

Mason strode forward out of the darkness, "Cutter," he said in a warning tone, "You're coming home once all this is done..." he reached for Cloud Cutter, but the young stallion smacked the hoof away.

"Don't touch me!" He snarled, "Earlier tonight, when I was already upset, I said I wanted to go and both of you just let me! Neither one of you tried to ask me to stay, because you wanted me gone! You just couuuuuldn't wait to get back to the foal that wasn't worthless! You gave me half-hearted goodbyes and might as well have shoved me out the door! YOU WANTED ME GONE LIKE A TICK!" Cutter stomped his right forehoof again, "Well, MESSAGE RECEIVED!"

Mason set his jaw and grabbed Cloud Cutter with both forehooves, "Now listen here..." he began.

Cutter was having none of it. He brought his forehooves together low on his chest, lifted them, then opened them, breaking Mason's hold. Mason tried to grab Cutter again and Cutter struggled to get free, "Get off me! GET OFF ME!" He struggled harder, but Mason held on gamely.

Visceral Slaughter tried to intervene, "Mason, stop! This isn't helping! Let him go! He needs time to cool down! You both..." she stopped speaking as Cutter reared back and threw his whole weight into a punch, which landed on the side of Mason's jaw. In shock, Mason let Cutter go. The young stallion darted for the door, but turned around when he was standing in the threshold, "Everypony turned against me!" He said, tears streaming down his face, "Well FINE! Criminal or not, this town accepted me! This is where I'm accepted and this is where I'll stay! I don't want to see you, or anypony else ever again! I'm not going to the wedding! I'm not going back to Trottingham! And I'm not part of your family anymore!" He slammed the door behind him as hard as he could and galloped down that stairs and out the front door before anybody could say anything. As soon as he cleared the front door, he took wing and flew off into the night.

Back in the house, Mason and Visceral Slaughter galloped down the stairs, calling for the young stallion. Artex was sitting in his overstuffed chair with his forehead resting in his right hand, "Well shit." He said bluntly. Rose and Darryl were both sitting at the kitchen table looking cross. Razor Wit was weeping as Oriana and Vaiawa tried to comfort her. Razor's parents looked lost as to what to do. They both sat down on their backsides, staring off into space while the icy wind blew into the house.

Artex waved his hand and the front door closed with a clunk. He slowly stood up out of his favorite chair and gradually walked over to Mason and Visceral Slaughter, "I know how he feels, to a lesser degree." He said crossing his arms and leaning against the wall looking at them darkly, "I'm the outcast from my family as well." His look changed to pity for the two Ponies. They both looked shocked and lost. The disfigured man knelt down and spoke to them both seriously, "Take it from somebody who used to dwell on those kinds of personal feelings, do NOT let this fester. He's upset and emotional right now. Give him time to mellow out then go talk to him. You have GOT to be calm about it though. He's going to 'amp' up every time he sees you until this is resolved. He's going to get emotional and he's going to yell. You need to talk to him calmly and explain every instance he mentioned. Right now what he needs the most is to know that he's loved. He feels like you abandoned him," Artex held up his hands as the two older Ponies opened their mouths, "Whether or not it's true, it seems true to HIM. He was apparently already tired and emotional from the day he had and he's apparently been carrying something around for the past couple of weeks. It won't do any good to let this sit, but at the same time he needs to cool off. Beyond all that, I can't help you." Artex placed a comforting hand on the shoulders of each of the two older Ponies. He gave them each a reassuring pat before he walked back into the den and sat back down on his chair.

None of the others knew what to do or say, so everybody just kept quiet. Only time would tell if the situation could be salvaged or not.

* * *

The snow was falling hard as Cutter flew through the darkness. Having run laps around the town for over a week allowed him to know where he was going. He landed outside the C.W.G. Headquarters and trotted inside, not bothering to wipe his runny nose. His eyes were red and puffy but he did not care. He trotted up to the receptionist desk, "I'm back for the night." He said in passing, heading toward his bunk.

He arrived at his bunk and almost laid down before he sniffed himself, "Egh! I smell awful." He turned and headed toward the showers, trying not to think about what had just happened. He managed it for less than a minute. Feeling abandoned and alone, he felt the tears stinging his eyes again. He angrily tried to wipe them away, but they just kept coming back. Shaking his head in frustration, he snorted and banged his muzzle into the wall of the shower. He had not yet realized he had arrived.

Cutter froze in place and took several deep breaths to calm himself down. The effort required more than a few minutes. Feeling more calm, Cutter blinked away the tears and stepped into the shower. Still not thinking entirely clearly, he reached up and turned on the water, only to gasp when he was hit with a frigid blast to his face, back, and neck.

Cutter went rigid in the icy water, but he held still as the temperature warmed up to a comfortable level. He turned his head and spotted the bottle of mane and tail shampoo that was restocked in the showers daily. He squeezed a reasonable amount into his hoof then reared back onto his haunches and began washing.

His shower finished, he toweled off then trotted back to his bunk. He laid down on his bunk and closed his eyes, his mind whirling in circles as angry thoughts and bitter feelings ran circuits in his brain. He felt himself tearing up again and rolled onto his side, facing the wall. He pulled up the covers and tried to relax, but sleep was slow in coming. His last thought of the night was, 'I hope they're happier with me gone... everybody would be...'

* * *

The following morning, Cutter was awake and ready when Darryl and Rose arrived at the Headquarters. The young stallion waited patiently while Darryl headed back to the lockers and got changed. Rose, not needing any clothes, stayed with Cutter, "I heard what happened last night." She stated bluntly, "Darryl carried you over when you passed out. He shoved everything off the table and set you down before he started shouting at your parents-"

"They're not my parents anymore." Cutter said, staring straight ahead.

Rose snorted, "Everybody was worried about you, Cutter-"

"I can think of two who weren't-" he began.

"Stop that," Rose ordered him in a firm but calm voice, "Everybody was worried about you." Rose said. Cutter snorted, but kept quiet so Rose continued, "Razor was up half the night crying because of what happened. Despite what you might think, there are a lot of folks who care about you." She paused to let her words sink in. Cutter took a slow breath and let it out, not uttering a word.

Rose continued, "You wish you didn't have your parents, huh?" Cutter blinked but did not reply, he kept staring straight ahead. Rose's eyes hardened, "I wish I was in your place, Cloud Cutter. I wish I had parents I could see." She waited to see if Cutter's curiosity was enough to goad him into inquiring, or if he was too focused on his own feelings, 'If he asks about what I said, that means we can still reach him.' Rose thought.

"What do you mean, officer Thorn?" Cutter asked.

Rose hid her joyful cheer under her professional demeanor, "My Lamine and Lamane are both dead." She spoke as casually as possible to emphasize how the event had affected her, "They died of a disease when I was younger and the family split up. The only one I still contact is my brother." Rose decided to throw in a weary, sad sigh, "It... changes you, you know?" She said evenly, "If they were still alive... I'd still have my family." She paused for emphasis on her next words, "But they're dead and it doesn't matter." She intentionally hardened her voice when she spoke, "It took a long time but... I found what I need within myself. After I found me, I found Artex and Razor and everybody else. They're my family now." She chose her next action and words carefully, "It almost killed me when I lost everypony." She spoke the last sentence as quietly as she could so Cutter would think she had not meant for him to hear.

After that, the two of them lapsed into silence waiting for Darryl. Rose was content to stay silent while Cutter let her words sink in further. The Marine came out of the back a few minutes later and began stretching next to the side of the reception desk, "Come on you two." He said using his drill instructor's voice, "Up and at 'em! It's another beautiful day in New Humansville!"

Rose and Cutter began going through their own stretches while Rose fell into her role of countering Darryl, "But the sun is covered by the clouds?" She falsely whined.

Darryl snorted, "Well then we won't be needing any extra shade!"

"But there's snow on the ground." She whined again, holding a smirk.

Darryl's own smirk matched hers, "We should be 'damn' grateful for that too! All that snow and cold air just means we won't overheat, like in the summer!" He finished his stretches and clapped his hands together loudly, "Mother Nature provides and we won't complain about it!" He began to jog in place and Cutter and Rose matched him. Darryl broke out into a big grin, "Besides," he said loudly, "She can be a real 'bitch' if you complain! Come on, let's get those stumpy, fat little legs pumping! Fall in and pucker up that sphincter! I'm feeling EXTRA energetic this morning!"

He led the way out the door and began a new cadence as they jogged down the street, "Well I don't know, but I've been told," he began to chant boisterously.

Rose and Cutter joined in, in unison, "Well I don't know, but I've been told,"

"Your nuts in the snow, get mighty cold," Darryl made it up as he went.

"Your nuts in the snow, get mighty cold," Cutter and Rose copied his words.

* * *

Three hours later, the three of them jogged back to the doors of the Headquarters with Darryl still making up verses for the cadence, "Treat the ladies with respect,"

"Treat the ladies with respect," Rose and Cutter parroted.

"Cause if you don't, you will get 'decked'," Darryl said, nearing the end of the run.

"Cause if you don't, you will get 'decked'," two voices echoed behind him.

"Manners are a Marine's creed," Darryl was almost done.

"Manners are a Marine's creed," Rose and Cutter sang together.

"Makes them more will-ing to breed," he finished as he held the door for them.

"Makes them more will-ing to breed." Rose and Cutter both chuckled at the nonsense. Every resident in the whole town knew how seriously Darryl took his respect for ladies of all species, so the statement was received in the manner it was meant: as a joke.

The three of them headed into the shower room to perform their cool down exercises and freshen up before their day began. As they were stretching to keep their muscles loose, Rose shot Darryl a meaningful look, telling him it was time to begin their plan. Darryl subtly nodded and finished his stretches, "Time to shower, then we go out on patrol." He stepped into the shower stall and stripped down, throwing his clothes over the curtain bar. He turned on the water and yelled as the icy torrent hit his flesh, "OOH YEEEEEAAAAH! Now THAT'S an alternative to coffee if I EVER had one! WOO!" Cutter and Rose took their own, individual shower stalls and began washing the sweat off themselves.

After a few moments Darryl spoke up, "Cutter!" He addressed sharply.

"Sir?" Cutter replied just as sharply. He knew that when Darryl addressed him in that way, he expected 'Marine' style responses.

"You're going to go to the Emissary's house tonight, and you are going to eat dinner with them. Am I understood?" Darryl barked.

"Sir, yes sir." Cutter replied, "However I wish to maintain my regimen of discipline, sir."

"You've been working hard, recruit. You need some time to rest." Darryl pushed.

"Sir, there is nothing there to relax me, sir." Cutter replied sharply.

"Answer me honestly, recruit. Why don't you want to see your family?" Darryl asked in as direct a manner as he could.

"Sir, they have made it abundantly clear that I am no longer viewed in such a light, sir. It was obvious even before I left Trottingham, sir." Cutter stated it as if it were fact, "I am a failure to them and they want nothing more to do with me, sir."

Darryl swept the shower curtain back with his hand and walked over to Cutter's stall. He whipped the curtain open and slapped the young stallion on the left haunch, eliciting a yelp from the young Pegasus, "We do NOT run away from our problems and mistakes, recruit!" Darryl said with a flint edge in his voice, "We face them head-on and without fear or reservation! If you face persecution, you do so while charging toward it! When you make a mistake, you own it and wear it with pride! Mistakes and the lessons we learn from them help to define us and make us BETTER!" He brushed his face right up against Cutter's, "You will face down your problems with the respect and dignity of a Marine! DO YOU GET ME!?"

Cutter straightened his stance, eyes forward, "Sir, yes sir."

"Whatever problems you have with your parents will be identified and dealt with tonight! You will be direct! You will be honest! You will not allow yourself to be beaten down by your issues! You will confront your problems and you will find a solution! You will think with your mind and not your emotions! You will figure yourself out tonight! Am I understood!?"

"Sir, yes sir." Cutter replied sternly.

Darryl nodded, "Good! I'm tired of standing here with my glory hanging out for the rest of the world to see." He called as he stepped back into his shower.

Cutter let out an unhappy sigh. He knew he would have to deal with his parents that night. He was not looking forward to it.

Author's Notes:

Another emotional chapter. Let me know if you spot any typos.