the wanderer

I am about twenty three and I am going to head out and find that man who gave me that awful name, I started my journey in to the wide world all in search for that mangy dog that gave me my name, the first town I came to was a small town on the south western plains, the sign when you got to the town was worn from weather and dust storms I could barely make out the name on the wood. Welcome to Cedar City, "Well, when I find you I am going to kill you for giving me this awful name old man." I said to the picture I held in my magic, the wind blew across the road as i put the picture my mother gave me so many years ago back in the pocket of my vest. I slowly walked down the dirt street the sun shone down with a fierce dry heat, wiping the sweat form my brow with a hoof I walked down the street, throat dry and thirsty I looked for the local saloon.

Walking in the main hall got quiet as everypony looked up from their drinks, the air was thick with the smell of booze and smoke from cigars and cigarettes, walking up to the bar keep Sue sat down hearing the fall of poker chips on a table and coughs hear and there. "Give me your strongest bottle of booze." the patrons in the dusty bar went back to their devices, the clank of mugs and bottles with the fall of poker chips filled the air the bar keep set the bottle down in front of me and then a small glass, I tossed a few bits on the counter, he nodded and returned to cleaning a beer mug with an old rag. As I sat there drinking slowly from the glass I noticed there was a pony looking at me, "What ya doin' here stranger?" he said to me trying to have friendly conversation.

I didn't answer for a few seconds as I downed my glass, "I am passing through." I said lying to him

"You've picked the worst town to pass through stranger." The pony said as he was rolling a smoke in his magic, giving the paper a lick and placing it betwixed his lips, "got a light?" he said in a muffled voice while his cigarette moved up and down between his lips. I levitated my matchbook up and set it down on the counter, "You got another smoke on ya...." I said trailing off the last part not knowing his name, not really caring what it was anyway.

"Billy Joe." The pony said as he handed me a smoke. "So where you headed to stranger?" Billy Joe said as he looked at me as I lit my cigarette.

"I am going to Appleloosa trying to find work as a ranch hand so I can make money for my ma' back home in Gattlinsburg." I told him this time actually telling the truth... somewhat.

"So you're looking for work, there is a town just beyond this one its closer than Appleloosa, the town is called Dodge Junction, now they mostly deal with cherries there." Bill said as he lit his smoke, "now what's your name stranger, the only reason why I asked is because you know mine and I gave you a cigarette, so at least you could give me your name."

"Sue." I told Bill "before you laugh at me I will tell you the story behind my name." I told him as I saw him snicker under his hat.

"Now when I was about three, my daddy left my mamma and as he left that day he went and named me Sue. Ponies laugh at me for having a mare's name, but I would bust them over the head for laughin' at me, I've been hoppin from town to town tryin to hide my shame." I explained. "Now I am tryin to go find the mangy pony that gave me this name and kill him."

"Well what does he look like? Maybe I can help ya out." Bill said. I levitated the picture out of my pocket and showed him, "he has a scar on his cheek." I said.

"Nopony like that come through town, buck nopony comes through this town no more, except you just a few hours ago." Bill said as he took a drag on his smoke, "do you mind I get a drink from ya, I'm kinda dry here." I got the bar keep's attention and asked for one more glass, throwing some more bits on the counter in front of me, I filled up Bills glass. He nodded to me and took a big gulp and tossed two bits my way. "Keep you'r money Bill this one's on me buddy." I told him. He looked at me and thanked me for the drink.

Over an hour passed about 11:30ish now, when it was just getting dark we left the old bar tripping over our own hooves as we stumbled down the street leaning on one another for balance as we walked, there was a small hotel that we stayed at and guess what was there down stairs off of the main entry, another bar, so stumbling up to the desk to get our room keys for the night we fell up the stairs and got to the rooms. Now Sue was in his room about to fall on the bed and sleep when the door burst open and Bill walked in and said in a slurred speech "letsh go to the bar and shee if weeee can't pick up shome mareeees for theeee night." I looked at Bill as the room was spinning and slowly got to my wobbly feet and went with my drunken friend to the bar. Slowly walking down the stairs trying my best not to fall on my face, we got to the bar in the hotel and said to the barkeep, "Theeee shtrongggessssttttt buuuuckkkkiiiiiinnngggggg bottle of boosh you got shir."

later around about one in the morning still drinking away, Bill was cat calling the barmaid goin round the tables serving drinks and taking empty mugs and bottles, "heyyy there sheeeexyyy, I neeed anosher roundsh over here." he said loudly for all the bar to hear plus some unfortunate sleeping ponies in their rooms.

"Bill I shink *hick* yoush hash had enoush boozshe for the nisht *hick*" I said in my now very plastered slochy speech.

"I...I...*Hick* shick yoush should shut yoursh moush SUE!!!!!" He yelled at the top of his lungs so all the hotel could hear. 'Thanks Bill for yelling my name so the whole world could hear' I thought. "Bill I....*hick* I... shinck yoush got yoursh shelf a fisht." I said as I decked him cross the face in a drunken rage, the pony fell back in his chair and hit the floor with a loud thud and the sound of the chair breaking under the drunken pony's weight. He got up and drunkenly swung a hoof at my face, causing me to fall back and brake the chair as i fell to the ground.

Now everypony was looking at us as we punched each other. Tables, chairs, beer, and blood were flying around us as we rolled around on the floor beating each other. Bill bucked me in the gut as I got up to grab a chair to bust over his head, we got to our hooves we threw punches left and right till I dove at Bill and we crashed through a window out into the street, it had been raining and when we crashed through the window fighting, and rolling in the now muddy street trying to get to our hooves. A shot rang out, we looked over and saw the sheriff holding his pistol in the air with a hoof, "Now break it up, break it up!" The sheriff yelled at the both of us, "Damn drunks makin' a racket out here when ponies are trying to sleep. You two are comin' down to the jail with me tonight."
"Buck!!!!!" I shouted and got up slowly, looking over at bill who was laying in the street breathing heavy with blood running down his face, I bet I looked the same.

The next morning I got up out of the cot looking around not remembering most of the shit that happened that night. Bill was in the next cell over throwing up and mumbling something about not drinking ever again or something like that. "Ah ya'll are awake, finally." The sheriff said to me, "now what were ya'll fighin' bout?"

I looked at the sheriff and told him the somewhat humorous story. "I'ma keep you two in here for a while." He said when he sat at his desk.

A few hours later we were let out of the jail, I grabbed my things, guns, hat, belt, poncho, and empty cigar case. Stepping out I had to shield my eyes with a hoof as the sun shone down bright on my face, looking over at Bill beside me "well.... I must get moving on to the next town I reckon." I said in a calm voice, "ain't ya gonna' stay a bit longer?" Bill said to me in a strained voice.

"I've got to find my old man plus I am low on bits too, it's been nice to share a drink with ya even if it got us into a fight which got us into prison for the rest of the night. If I pass through this town again lets share a drink again, but next time don't shout my name for all of Equestria to hear okay." and with having said that I shook his hoof then headed down the dusty street. I put my hat on and pulled my poncho over to hide my guns across my chest.