The gunshot sounded like thunder across the still desert. The taintscorpion, easily twice as big as the pony that had just killed it, lay slumped on the ground, its many legs in a great tangle under its limp body. The pony walked on past it, simply ignoring the minor distraction it had been.
From a distance, it was impossible to identify any defining features of the pony. The rough leather barding he wore,which hid most of his coat and what was visible was on his hooves, had long since been stained red with blood and dirt. A great big black desperado hat hid most of his head and short blue mane. His face was further concealed behind a pair of reflective glasses. Most of his snout was hidden behind a face-wrap, giving the impression that the pony was far from friendly.
A revolver, held in mid-air by a sickly yellow glow, was placed in a holster on his side with well-practiced efficiency. With a crack of his neck he moved on, no real goal in mind.
A scream for help caught his attention. It wasn’t uncommon, but what the fact that the voice seemed to belong to somepony not calling for assistance in a gunfight, but somepony cornered and screaming because of some useless instinct. He trotted towards the sound, knowing full well that it could be a trap.
What he saw was something that he’d never thought he would see. There, at the bottom of a small ditch not far from where he was now, was a pegasus wearing a bright red jumpsuit. A rare sight, even after the fall of the Enclave. She (and it was definitely a mare) was being threatened by a sandy-coated raider with a plank of wood in his mouth. He couldn’t hear what the raider said to her, but he was sure that it was something far from pleasant.
The raider looked at his latest catch. Oh, he was going to have fun with her! Those fragile green wings were sure to make such a beautiful sound when he stomped on them, cracking every bone. And those wide, innocent eyes; she had obviously never even seen what a real stallion was! Oh he was going to -
“Get away from her.”
The raider turned, shocked out of his reverie by a voice like a body being dragged over gravel. “Why the fuck should I do that?” he asked savagely, spitting out his nail-board.
“Because I only ask once,” the newcomer responded.
The raider’s eyes narrowed as he reached with his neck for the small pistol attached to his barding. By the time he had drawn it and pointed it at the stranger, three bullets from three different revolvers were sailing towards him, each one striking true. One pierced his chest, another his throat, and the last sailed through his eye and into his brain, giving him a quick death.
The unicorn holstered his weapons and turned to the mare he had just saved. “You okay?” he asked calmly.
She simply stared at the corpse of her would-be assailant, not really comprehending. “You killed him!” she squeaked.
“It was me or him,” he replied in his gravelly voice. “I’ll ask again. Are you okay?”
“Y-yeah,” the mare replied, a little scared by how calm her saviour was. She stood up and winced. Before she knew it the stranger was by her side and unfurling her left wing.
“Well, you aren’t going to be flying far with a hole in your wing,” he stated. “I’m guessing he shot you down?” She nodded dumbly. “Hmm...” He went deep into thought, trying to think of the best way to deal with this situation.
“Um... Maybe I could travel with you?” she suggested.
Though she couldn’t see his eyes, it was easy to imagine him glaring at her. “I don’t have companions. It means another mouth to feed. Somepony to watch out for. Somepony who might stick a knife in your back.” The last part he spit out so acidly that she felt as though the words could actually etch metal.
“Just to the nearest town?” the mare pleaded, not completely undeterred.
The stallion sighed, knowing full well that she would follow anyway. “Fine,” he said bitterly. “But don’t think I won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your brain if you try anything.” Without waiting for an answer he trotted off, leaving her to follow.
