Chapters The dust storm was blowing hard and blasting dust into the air as ponies ran from the train to the station. Last off, a large red earth pony stepped from the train. “Dodge city.” He said quietly to himself. He bent his head back to his saddlebag and pulled out a pre-tied red and white checkered bandana and slid it over his muzzle to keep the dust from getting into his nose. He shook himself a bit, trying get rid of some of the dirt and grit that had already worked its way under his yoke. He glanced around and instead of making his way to the station; he made for the town.
He stood in the main street of the town and squinted through the dust. He was practically covered in dust and caked on dirt now. “I’m going to have to telegraph everyone and tell them what happened.” He thought, as the winds tossed tumbleweeds past him. He was almost to the end of the road when he noted the telegraph poles going to the brick and mortar Pegasus Post station. He made for the door.
The wind shut the door behind him. There were two windows at the counter opposite the door, but only one was open. Behind the counter sat an exhausted looking blue Pegasus, sliding a large pile of letter s to an awaiting unicorn. “Ya gotta start coming in every other day instead of once a week,” the Pegasus grumbled. There were a few ponies ahead of the red earth pony in line, a young tan foal Pegasus was standing close to his mom, ahead of them was a grey earth pony wearing a bowler hat, and at the front of the line a very young skinny green unicorn was collecting the rather large pile of mail and levitating it into his satchel.
The Second window slid open. A small sign reading Telegraph and Stagecoach only was set up, as elderly teal colored earth pony with large wire framed glasses settled into place behind it. The red earth pony paused a moment waiting to see if anyone was going to switch lines, then trotted over to the window.
“Excuse me,” he said. “I’m Big M...” The elderly pony cut him off. “I-IT’s YOU!” Trembling the elderly pony shrank away from the window. ”I-I…we don’t want any trouble Big Red. “
Everyone in line backed away from the red stallion. The green unicorn disappeared in a flash of magic. The bowler pony fainted. The Pegasus mare positioned herself as to protect her foal.
Suddenly the door slammed again LOUDLY causing everyone but the big red earth pony to jump. In the doorway stood a lean and taught, sandy colored earth pony. His leather hat sat perfectly atop his head, The Ace on the side of the brim matched perfectly to the Cutie Mark on his flank a leather duster parted slightly to reveal. A dark brown bandana covered his muzzle up so just his eyes shown.
“Mare and Gentlecolts, if you all could listen up.” The Ace cutie marked pony leveled his gun at the group. “This here’s a robbery. “
Wild Card sat up with a start…his head swam as his eyesight wavered at a small campfire. He lay back down. His head felt like somepony had run over it with a stage coach and then a dropped the luggage atop him as well. He looked up into the sky and let his eyes slowly focus on the clouds.
Clouds.
Not the wooden rafters of a jail cell.
His head still throbbed as he slowly sat up again. Dirt, cactus, and high cliffs were all around him. The sun had just crested behind the hills, leaving a wisp of ash orange as dusk was beginning to settle over landscape.
“The Badlands.” He thought.
Across from him on the other side of the fire the large red earth pony was dusting the caked on dirt from his flank. A large yoke, a saddle bag and Wild Card’s satchel, weapon and bandoleer, empty of ammo, sat next to him.
“So Big Red.” Wild Card eyed the red pony carefully. “How many did you have to kill?”
Some green began to show on the red pony’s flank ask he cleaned.
“None.” He said plainly, still dusting himself. “There was another way out.”
“Horse apples! There was only one way out, I know that building, and earth ponies can’t wink out like unicorns.” Wild Card pressed. “Trick shooting? Tell me the truth Red. Magic Amulet? Is that why I blacked out?”
The red earth pony stopped grooming and looked Wild Card directly in the eyes, “Did you want the foal to get hurt?”
Wild Card blinked and then looked away briefly into the fire. “What the hay does that have to…” he said, studying the flames for a moment.
Wild Card’s satchel FLOPPED next to him. His eyes went from the fire to the bag. The sound made his left ear twitch slightly. It was empty. “You save my life. “He spat out. “You get all the bits, because of it?” Wild Card’s eyes darted towards his weapon next to the red earth pony. His right front hoof slid down towards hind legs. They were gone! His knives were gone!
“It’s back at the Post office.” The red continued to work the dirt out of his fur.
Wild Card glared at that red earth pony. “What kind of fool idiot robs the stagecoach delivery then leaves the loot behind? I know you hid it somewhere out here! ” He waved his hooves at the cliffs around them.
“See…here’s the thing…I’m not Big Red.” The red pony kicked open his saddle bags to show Wild Card’s knives, and a few supplies, but no gold.
Wild Card rolled his eyes. “Yeah sure, and I’m Celestia’s favorite #1 student.” For some reason the red earth pony laughed at that. “Okay let’s say for a second that I buy that you’re not Big Red the most wanted outlaw in the Badlands and beyond. Who the hay ARE you?”
The final bits of caked on mud and dirt fell away from his side showing a bright green apple cutie mark. “Name’s Big Macintosh” the red pony answered. “But my friends call me Big Mac.”
“This Big Red is the most convincing liar I’ve ever met.” Thought Wild Card as night had finally descended.
Big “Macintosh” had spun a lame tall, but quite detailed, tale about being an apple farmer, with his sisters and grandmother. The red pony DID have a sturdy build, but that could have come from living in the Badlands as well. Supposedly he was on his way to Appleoosa and had fallen asleep and forgot to change trains. Then there was a mix-up at the post office. Big “Macintosh” explained how the dust storm had covered their escape, but didn’t explain how they’d gotten out of the building or what had caused Wild to pass out. Wild Card thought inwardly to himself what he would have to do to get his weapons back, and force “Macintosh” into telling him where he hid the money.
Big “Macintosh” said something to him, and he had missed it. “What?” Wild Card asked, looking back at him.
The red pony was smiling. “I said, do you want to see a picture of them?”
Wild Card played along. “Why not “Big Macintosh .” He added obvious sarcasm into saying the name.
Big “Macintosh” tossed over a small photo. Wild Card picked it up and looked at it. A small yellow earth pony foal with a red mane and a huge pink bow stared back at Wild. Just behind her to the left was a sexy orange mare with golden locks wearing a rancher’s hat grinning at something or someone. Next to the orange mare and elderly green nag was smiling at the camera. And behind them all, was…it was Big Macintosh. Wild Card stared at it for a moment, as Big Macintosh asked him something.
Wild Card heard and dropped the photo and eyed Big Macintosh very carefully. “Say that again.”
Big Macintosh repeated himself. “So who is Golden Bale?”
Wild Card narrowed his eyes at Big Macintosh “Why are you asking?”
“You kind of talked in your sleep.” The placid red pony replied. “From what I gathered you don’t like him much. Him and some Weaver fellah.”
Wild Card started laughing. “You really are just some hick apple farmer aren’t you?” His laughter echoed of the canyon walls. “Everypony knows who Golden Bale is in these parts. He’s as rich as Celestia herself. Although Canterlot Castle has way more stained glass windows than his homestead. We probably passed by it on our way here. And I don’t hate Golden Bale. It’s just he’s an insane rich pony who's helping keep my life a living nightmare.”
Big Macintosh didn’t reply, but remained quiet a looked expectantly at Wild Card.
Wild started to explain. “Ever hear of “The Weaver’s Tome?””
Wild Card explained how he and “some associates” had once taken something from the Canterlot Castle Vaults. They had assumed it was a book containing powerful written magic spells that would be worth quite a few bits to the right buyer. It turned out to be a book with one powerful spell tied to the spirit of a Griffon who called himself The Weaver. The Weaver’s spirit had revived and the griffon had explained that a new stories must begin.
Big Macintosh continued to listen as he reached into his saddlebags and pulled out 2 corked bottles, He tossed one to Wild Card and pulled the stopper on his own and took a swig.
Wild Card did the same. “Apple cider. APPLE cider!?” Wild laughed again and put the bottle once more to his lips. “The Weaver disappeared deeper into the Badlands, and my gang and I have dealt with banshees, chupacabras, ghost mares.” Wild looked up at the moon. “I once even had my hat stolen by a pegasi masquerading as a wolf…or had it been the other way around?“
Big Macintosh asked, “What’s that have to do with Golden Bale?”
Wild looked thoughtfully at the bottle in his hooves. “Did you know that Zebras, Buffalo, and planes ponies have stories that pre-date most Equestrian history books?” He looked back at Big Macintosh. “Everypony's heard the legends of the Alicorn Amulet, and the Crystal Heart…But ask the buffalo and they’ll tell of other crystals, and other amulets that only Celestia and Luna’s parents may have been aware of. “He sighed. ”Amulets that when used with other spells and items, reverse curses.”
“I take it that Golden Bale is in ownership of one of these amulets.” Big Macintosh said unobtrusively.
“You’re pretty good at putting two and two together.” Wild Card smirked. “The thing is most pony’s don’t understand how the old magic works. The Zebra’s and Buffalo do, as do some of the planes Palominos . The ponies of old only used amulets when they need it. You don’t wear external magic all the time. Amulets are RAW Power … And that kind of power corrupts. Golden Bale’s amulet is twisting his mind.”
“Why do you say that?” Big Macintosh took another pull from his cider bottle.
“Because he used it to take something from me. I had even paid Golden Bale to let me examine the thing. The magic and greed had warped him; he wanted to make me forget that I had paid him, so he could charge me again.” Wild Card looked deep into the embers of the fire. “Instead he took my parents… he stole all my memories of them. Only thing I can remember now is a single store window. I can’t even remember their faces. I found out that if I can destroy it… maybe then…” Wild shook his head. “Tartarus’s Doors, why am I even telling you all this?” He glanced up at Big Macintosh and slid back quickly.
The red earth pony had Wild Card’s knives out.
“Well I guess that settles that…”Big Macintosh tossed the knives at Wild Card’s hooves.
“Settle’s what?” Wild Card slowly reached for the knives and looked at Big Macintosh suspiciously.
“You said we probably passed his place on the way here, right?” Big Macintosh slid on his yolk and began doing up his saddle bag. “We’re going to get that Amulet.”
“You’re not a criminal, you’re a farmer.” Wild card slowly began to slide his knives into place “This isn’t your fight.”
Anger flashed across Big Macintosh’s face for a moment. “No one should have their family taken from them.” His placid grin returned. He kicked Wild Card his weapon and empty bandoleer and smirked. “And in case you haven’t heard, I’m BIG RED, the most wanted outlaw in the Badlands and beyond.”
Starlight and moonbeams were all that lit the way as they made their way to Golden Bale’s homestead. They had come upon one lone watch pony, which Wild Card had dispatched quickly with the butt end of his gun. The big two story house at the far end of the field they crossed was quiet, almost all of the hired hands having gone into town to waste their well-earned bits on salt and sensations. They found the metal doors covering a storm cellar on the side of the house, which had been magically bolted, closed.
“I guess we’ll have to do this the old fashioned way,” Wild Card whispered, slipping a knife from its sheath and moving to one of the windows. With a deft skill, he had the window silently open and was making his way inside. Once inside, he turned back to the window and stifled a laugh. “Obviously you’re not getting in that way.” He mused. The window framed the big earth pony bulk almost comically.
“Meet me at the front door.” Wild Card turned and carefully made his way through the house. Wild card slowly opened the front door. There stood Big Macintosh, yet behind him in the dirt ditch of the main path, was the unconscious form of a unicorn.
Big Macintosh entered and looked about the main hall. Hallways went to the left and to the right on the 1st floor and on the left side of the hall was was a staircase leading to the 2nd floor. An ornate wooden banister ran besides staircase all the way to the top. This had another pair of hallways running parallel to the ones below. The hallways had kerosene lamps lining them. And lamps in the hallways upstairs were still lit but heavily trimmed giving the 2nd floor and warm glow. “How many bits did this pony have in the bank?” He thought.
“Now comes the hard part.” Whispered Wild Card. He turned and started making his way up the staircase.
“Let me guess. Safe?” Big Mac quietly followed.
“If only it were so easy. Golden Bale never keeps it more than a leg’s length away from him.” Wild Card tilted his head and listened. Heavy snoring came from one of the doors at the end of the hallway. He glanced back at Big Macintosh and grimaced. “We’re probably going to have to take it off him.”
They approached the door; Wild Card gently pushed it open. Big Macintosh and Wild Card tilted their heads to glance inside. A sleeping lemon colored earth pony with a shocking green mane was snoring loudly in a king sized bed. Twin kerosene lamps glowed softly on matching nightstands on either side of the bed. On the stand to the right was a glowing orb on a silver chain. Its colors twisted in a swirl of green, dark purple, and a crimson bloody red.
Wild Card signaled for Big Macintosh to wait and slowly crept into the room and over to the night stands and carefully slid the orb into his satchel. He turned back made his way towards Big Macintosh and grinned. “That was easy.” He mouthed. Then he saw the reflection in Big Mac’s Eyes. He dove rolled through the door as a kerosene lamp smashed behind him exploding the place where he had just been with flames. He completed his roll and was back on his hooves in the hallway. “Go!” he howled, breaking into run down the hallway.
A blur of lemon shot through the flames and smashed Big Macintosh into the wall. Plaster was crushed, pierce by twin holes where Big Macintosh’s yoke had ruptured the wall like cannon shot.
“Sweet Celestia.” Gasped Big Macintosh.
“Celestia Can’t Save you!” screamed Golden Bale. A much smaller earth pony had his front hooves digging in against Big Macintosh’s abdomen. Golden Bale’s eyes glowed an otherworldly hue. “Give it back to me now!”
“I don’t have it.” Big Macintosh answered.
“You lie!” Golden Bale turned glanced at one of the kerosene lamps, which flared bright orange and red. Big Macintosh stared, still locked into the wall by the smaller pony, as the lit lamp levitated behind Golden Bale. “Tell me the truth or I will refine the truth from you.”
“Wrong pony bright eyes!” Wild Card stood at the edge of the staircase hefting his satchel. “You took from me, this just about makes us even.”
Golden Bale turned and growled. The lantern fell and Big Macintosh managed to kick it back into the already burning bedroom with his hind hooves. With an unnatural speed Golden Bale sprang at Wild Card slamming into him hard.
The two broke through the banister and spun as they fell through the air. Golden Bale hit the 1st floor with a sickening crunch, with Wild Card descending atop him. The floor splinted, as they hit the cover to a previously hidden stairway into the basement. Down they tumbled into the blackness.
Wild Card got to his feet and dusted himself off in the dim light from the hole above him. He still had his satchel. He opened it to check the contents. Even after all he’d been through, the amulet was still intact.
“Wiiiild Card,” Came a voice in the darkness. “Giiive it back, and run awaaaay…Or your death will be very slow Wiiiild Card.” Wild Card turned in the direction of the voice. A pair of eyes glowed the blackness staring at Wild Card. “Or should I say L..”
Wild Card cut him off, “I just want my memories back.”
“We’ll alll diiiiiiiiie before I let you have them!” Golden Bale shrieked. Lamps in the basement burst into life and exploded in flames spreading burning kerosene in the four corners of the room.
Wild Card circled to his left, as Golden Bale spat and circled as well. “You want it Goldie?” He flipped open the satchel and pulled the amulet out with his teeth flipping it onto his neck, it burned his skin. He could feel the power filling his very being. “Come and Get it.”
Golden Bale screeched and sprang at Wild Card, his hooves coming down hard for a haymaker. Wild Card watched it seemed in slow motion as the hooves came down towards his muzzle. At the same time he brought the amulet up with his hoof. Golden Bale’s hooves connected, smashing into Wild Cards’ head and shattering and splintering the amulet. Wild Card was sent flying backwards into one of the upper floor supports, splitting it in two. Wild Card had a flash of a memory of his mother’s eyes as part of the first floor fell on top of him.
Someone was yelling at him, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying. “Just let me rest a bit more” Wild Card thought in the darkness. “I want go to the store and look at the figures in the window.” He continued to drift in the black. “Well if you get up sleepy head, we can go to the store. “ A comforting feminine voice spoke just inside the darkness. “Mom?” he thought. “But wait..”
“WAKE UP!” roared the voice of Big Macintosh in his ears. Wild Card opened his eyes. Thick smoke was licking across the ceiling; he was pinned under the rubble of the fallen floor. The room was aflame. He craned his neck to see Golden Bale unconscious behind Big Macintosh, who was using part of a broken beam to pry up the rubble. Big Macintosh was on his knees slowly wedging himself under the lever, soot and ash covering his face and back.
“Don’t be a hero Big Mac, the stairs are about to go!” Shouted Wild Card as the fire roared and hissed all around them. “You’ve got a family to go home to. Friends who’ll miss you.”
Big Macintosh didn’t reply but slow rose to his hooves, the fallen beam slowly rising along with him. Wild Card felt the weight across his withers lighten a little, then a little more. He could almost get free.
*CRACK* Wild Card watched as the staircase at the far end of the room split in two and fell into the flames.
“Piece… of…Cake.” Big Macintosh grunted, and was on his feet.
Wild Card was able to slide free, he glared at Big Macintosh. “I told you to go. Now we’re all going to die in this cellar.”
“Not just yet.” Big Macintosh coughed from the smoke made his way over to the storm cellar doors they had seen from the outside.
“You may be strong Big Mac, but those doors are solid steel, and that lock is still magically encased.” Wild Card pointed out.
“Ever build a barn?” Big Macintosh grinned at bucked hard at hinges attached the wooden frame to which the storm doors were attached. He bucked again. The wood began to splinter. Wild Card saw what was going on and began to kick at the frame on the other side. The door frame creaked and the doors feel down with a crash, the wood no longer able to support the weight. Big Macintosh pushed Golden Bale up and out into the cold night air. Wild Card scrambled up after and the two caught their breath. The house behind them continued to go up in flames.
Something came whistling through the air. Wild Card , without thinking, sprang forward suddenly to Big Mac’s side. An arrow pierced his shoulder with such force it knocked him off his feet and into Big Macintosh. He sank to the ground. “That. hurt.” He coughed. “Can this night get any worse?”
“Move and the next one’s going through YOU Big Red!” A familiar voice said from across the field. Desert Willow the red and white earth pony Bounty Hunter and her partner Arrowspate, a tall grey and white unicorn stepped from the shadows. Arrowspate had his bow magically redrawn aimed at Big Macintosh. The bounty hunters crossed the field quickly closing the space between them and the three ponies by silhouetted by the burning house.
Wild Card, slowly rose and got to his feet. “You definitely should have Arrowspate shoot him Willow.” Wincing he forced a grin. “I wonder how many years in prison you’ll get for attacking a defenseless apple farmer.”
Desert Willow wasn’t buying it. “Defenseless my hoof.” She eyed Wild Card and Big Macintosh suspiciously. “The folks back in Dodge City are still trying to figure out what kind of magic explosives he used on the back wall of the post office. Blew it clean out without any burn marks. We didn’t even hear anything on the other side. “
“He just saved the life of Golden Bale here,” Wild Card contended. “Or did you get here too late to see that.”
“One good deed doesn’t negate a lifetime of evil Wild Card.” Desert Willow countered.
“For Celestia’s sake! Just look at his Cutie Mark!” Wild Card said, frustrated. He yanked the arrow out of his shoulder, and spat it on the ground. A thin trickle of blood ran down from his wound.
Desert Willow glanced over at the large earth pony and carefully took a step forward. The ground at her feet exploded in the sparks of a bullet blast. Arrospate swiveled his bow deftly in the direction the shot had come from.
“That’s far enough Miss Willow.” A voice said to their left said. “Wild Card and anyone running with him is my kill. Thanks for tracking him down for me.”
“When it rains it pours doesn’t it?” Wild Card shook his head in disbelief. “Black Bartlett. Are you still angry about that Bank? It’s not my fault you decided to rob it the day after. Hardly worth killing for.”
“Hardly worth Killing for?” Four pear colored earth ponies crested the hill and approached. One wore a big black Stetson hat and was carrying a shoulder mounted rifle, a Bartlett Pear surround by coins shown on his flank. Two beside him had the tell-tale walk of ponies wearing retractable knives attached to their front hooves, and the forth besides them also had a shoulder mounted rifle.
“I was shot in the RUMP because of you! “Black Bartlett spat. They stopped a short distance away. “I was caught and almost sent to the Canterlot crystal prison mines! And my brother still ended up there. This here is plain old revenge.”
“Hold On now, you expect me to believe that you’re just going to let us walk away, so you can kill Wild Card?” Desert Willow looked at one rifle pointed at Wild Card and the other pointed at her.
“I wanted Wild to know who was sending him to the hereafter, you bounty hunters are merely free bits.” Black Bartlett smiled wickedly. “I heard you made quite a small sum on your last capture.”
“So you plan on killing US as well.” She said quietly.
“Give the Mare the golden bridle.” Black Bartlett and the other cocked their rifles.
Wild Card’s legs gave out and he sank back to his knees as blood splashed on the ground. “Hope you enjoy prison.” A hidden throwing knife he’d been hiding fell the ground; more blood spurted from his shoulder. “You’re going to lose this one Bartlett.”
“No, you’re going to die Wild Card.” sneered Black Bartlett, tilting his rifle down at the fallen Wild Card. “Cause you brought a knife to a gunfight.”
“I was just keeping you distracted.” Wild Card grinned. An arrow flew out of the darkness, from where Arrowspate and Desert Willow had crossed field earlier, hitting the 2nd Rifle pony square in the flank. It Spun him as his rifle fired, hitting nothing. In the same moment Arrospate let his arrow go, which sped into the tilted mounting assembly of Black Bartlett’s rifle keeping it from firing.
Arrowspate was already notching another bolt to his bow, Big Macintosh Leaped forward in front of him, and spun, Bucking his hind legs into the left of the 2 center ponies . There was an audible crack as ribs gave way under a terrible force, wheezing the pony fell.
Wild Card rolled left as he kicked his hind leg out kicking the fallen knife towards Desert Willow. Desert Willow kicked it up into the air and with a practiced skill sent it flying into knee of the other center pony. Screaming he fell atop the other.
Wild Card gained his feet and leapt towards Black Bartlett’s legs from the left side, as Big Macintosh leapt towards Black Bartlett’s body from the other. Black Bartlett’s body lurched to the right and his mouth tasted dirt as he hit the ground.
Arrowspate swiveled as Desert Willow charged the fallen knife ponies. The one with the knife in his knee was trying to extend his retracted knife. Desert Will kicked down hard driving the thrown dagger deeper into pony flesh. With a yowl, he stopped struggling. Arrowspate let his next arrow bury itself in between the shoulder blades of the other rifle pony striking nerve endings and dropping him to the ground. He had already prepped another arrow, and was taking aim at Wild Card’s body on the ground.
Big Macintosh stood up slowly and spoke to Arrowspate. ”You don’t want to do that. It’ll end badly.”
Desert Willow pulled out her own knife and pointed the tip at the red stallion, “Are you threatening us Big Red?”
“I’m trying to save the life of your friend here.” Big Macintosh nodded at Arrowspate. ”If he let’s that thing fly, he’s dead. Look for yourself.”
Desert Willow looked over all the fallen ponies and came to the cold realization. Wild Card was down, but had Black Bartlett’s rifle perfectly aimed at Arrowspate’s heart.
“You're no fun, Big Mac.” grumbled Wild Card looking up from the dust. “I wanted to see how this turned out.” Without taking his eyes off Arrowspate he asked. “What do you say Willow? Four wanted criminals instead of 1. And you and your partner BOTH get to see the next sunrise.” He playfully threatened, standing up.
Desert Willow grumbled and looked at her friend. “Let’s let them go this time Arrowspate. It’s going to be a long haul to get these 4 back to town.” Arrowspate’s bow slackened a little.
“And you should get Golden Bale to a doctor.” Prompted Big Macintosh as Wild Card motioned to him. The two began to edge away from the fallen ponies in the dirt.
“Just this once Wild Card.” Desert Willow said defiantly after them. “It won’t ever happen again. And We WILL catch you someday. You and Big Red.”
“And you’ll tie me with ropes and carry me away, I bet.” Wild Card kept the gun trained on Arrowspate as they backed over the hill into the dark. “‘I’ve had stranger dates.”
Desert Willow blushed.
Wild Card dropped the gun, and he and Big Macintosh turned and galloped away into the darkness.
As they scrambled through the darkness Wild Card spoke. “I think this is where we part ways, keep going and you’ll make it to the Buffalo lands, they’ll get you to Appleoosa.” He laughed.” But you know Big Mac, if you ever thought of being a desperado; the wild wild east wouldn’t know what hit it. But first tell me how did we escape the Post Office?”
Big Mac smiled. “Well…”
The piano player wrestled a tune out of the slightly shot up upright piano. Scarlet Aria, a dark peach Pegasus with a flowing brown mane, sang along perfectly, as she passed amongst the patrons lost in game or libations. The Music and singing filled the room as the nightly regulars went about their usual at Sweet Cream’s Saloon.
“That there’s a load of diamond dog feathers and you know it,” Boxcars flopped down his cards responding to the statement that had been made by the earth pony sitting in the shadows in the far corner of the saloon. “Big Red’s just a legend out of the Badlands. He’s just as real as the campfire stories about Tartarus’ Ghost ponies in the Sky.”
The stallion in the shadows titled his head up slightly and spun his shot glass slowly. “Oh he’s real all right.” He nodded his head towards the long wooden bar counter, “Just ask Miss Sweet Cream.”
“Don’t bring me into this hun,” the smart looking tan unicorn mare behind the counter laughed. “I’m not going to take sides when a couple of whiskey salted would be broncs start runnin’ their mouths off.”
The pony in the shadows titled his hat slightly and feigned a wounded tone. “I’m hurt Miss Cream.” His air brightened. “Ask the folks in Dodge City and the townships near the Badlands if they think Big Red is real.”
Boxcars took a quick swig of his salt n malt. “Pony’s will say anything to out of towners if they think it’ll make their town a few extra bits on the side.” He leveled his hoof at the still shadowed stallion. ”But what makes YOU so sure that he’s real?”
The shadowed pony drank his shot and flipped it expertly down on the table. Smoothly he replied, “Cause I know the pony who's ran with him.”
Abruptly…the piano player stopped playing.
The old teal pony looked from the dust covered red earth pony to the Ace flanked earth pony. “Wu-wu-w-Wild Card?!” his look was one of absolute terror now as he looked at the dangerous weapon pointed his way . “I-I was just giving your partner the money.”
Wild Card looked momentarily perplexed and raised an eyebrow at the old pony. “My Partner?”
“Look Wild Card.” The Pegasus cowering behind the counter of the other window started, “Everyone’s been around long enough to know not to mess with you…but who would be loco enough to mess with both Wild Card AND Big Red? I think..“
A shout came from the outside. Wild Card glanced quickly over his shoulder through the window, still keeping his gun trained on the group. Through the dust storm a sturdy but short earth pony sheriff stood with the young green unicorn speaking to him. “Big Red! If that’s you in there! Throw down your weapons and give yourself up! No one has to die today.” The green unicorn ran out of sight.
“Sorry Iron Star.” Wild Card shouted back. ”Not going to happen!”
“Wild Card! You low down thief! “Came a very distinct feminine voice just beyond the Sheriff. A rough and tumble looking red mare with white spots stepped into view. ”Must be my lucky day. You’re worth more alive than dead, but I hear your pal Big Red there has a bigger price tag attached if his hooves are cold.”
“There are mares and foals in here Desert Willow.” Wild Card gloated. ”Start firing and you might hit them.” The mare and her son pressed closer to the brick wall. “I can see you just fine tho. It would be a shame to end your day 6 feet under.”
“There’s no escape for you two.” The Desert Willow retorted. ”And only one way out, and I’m not the only one here, quite a few Bounty Hunters wanting to cash in on Big Red there. You open fire on me, and the sheriff won’t be able to stop the others from firing back. It’s going to be Prison for you and a Pine Box for your partner. Your choice if you want to join him. I’m giving to 10 seconds to decide.” Desert Willow grinned. “10…9…..8…”
Wild Card cursed and trotted over to the counter and pulled the bag of bits into his satchel.
“7..”
He turned towards the big red earth pony. “Get your weapons out Big Red. Looks like we’re going to have to shoot our way out of here.”
“6…”
“YOU! Get in the Corner!” Wild Card yelled at the mare and her son. He quickly spun back towards the door. The trembling mare and the saucer eyed foal at her side, scrunched into the corner of the building. “This wasn’t the plan Big Red, but maybe one of us can get out of here.”
Wild Card turned back and leveled his weapon at Desert Willow’s legs.
“5…”
Then everything went black.
“I still don’t buy a single word of it. Everypony knows that Desert Willow brought in Black Bartlett.” Boxcars slurred finishing off his salt . ”Are you saying your rode with Wild Card or His gang? How would you even know what happened?”
“Aw ya got me, “The pony in the shadows stood and tossed a few bits towards Sweet Cream who magically caught them and set them on the counter. “But, I bet you’d never heard that part of the legend before.” The pony, not quite stepping into the light, exited out the doors to the saloon and made his way around back.
“So how did we do tonight Scarlet?” the pony asked into the shadows.
The pony put the bits in his satchel and slid a card out and placed it in his hat.
“What? That Big Red was really an apple farmer?” Wild Card glanced at an imperceptible faded scar on his shoulder and grinned mischievously. “Yeah…Like any pony’s goanna believe that.”
The old griffon stretched, and looked down at the group of young foals listening intently at his feet. “It’s gotten a bit late, and I fear this story’s gotten a bit longer than I expected. I should probably stop here. You should all get home to your parents.”
“Awww,” came the chorus of young voices.
“But what happened to Desert Willow and her partner?” asked a brown and white spotted earth pony foal with a braided red ponytail.
“And Wild Card and his gang?” pled a wide eyed white foal with a toy bandoleer over his shoulder.
“And what about Miss Sweet Cream?” prompted a young tan unicorn. More young voices joined in.
The griffon raised a claw slowly and quieted them down. “Those,” he smiled at the young ones. “Are stories for another time.”
And with that… he closed the "Tome" he’d been reading from.
Author's Note
Thanks goes out to all the great OC Wild Wild EAST creators from Tumlbr.
SWEET CREAM SWEET CREAM'S SALOON
WILD CARD
DESERT WILLOW
SCARLET ARIA by PIPPA
And BIG MACINTOSH APPLE SPICE BIG MAC BIG RED MACINTOSH
