Mal had never been one to learn his lessons the easy way. Always having to do it the hardest way known to man.

'Ain't no easy way for you, son, is there?' That's what his Ma used to say.

When he was 8, he learned how to control a spooked horse by falling off one and breaking his arm.

When he was 12, the ranch foreman taught him about true mercy when he told Mal to put down that horse because it had broken a leg.

When he was 18 and a greenhorn recruit, 10 stitches in his ribcage taught him to never take on a guy with a knife if all you've got is a bare fist.

At age 22, he learned about real friendship when he held that guy in his arms as he bled his life out all over Mal's uniform.

In Serenity Valley, he learned that a hero is just a guy who's too tired, hungry and cold to give a hump.

And in his ripe old age, he learned that heroes don't automatically get the pretty girl just by being heroic.

Time for the old dog to learn some new tricks.