Okay, Father forgive my sins. I may not have told Twilight exactly what my little buddy was. Her reaction to a small imp shoved into a pocket watch was... loud. It took us about two minutes to calm her down. The imp tried to help, but couldn't stop laughing. I think he liked being a scary demon for a little bit and not just my countdown-slash-translator. I stared as Twilight righted herself. "You have a demon...." I nodded. "And you store it in a pocket watch to act as a timer." Another nod, I'm a master of conversation. "And you talk to it."

I finally picked up the pocket watch and looked at it. "She just called you an it little buddy." He huffed and blew out his cheeks. i turned him towards Twilight and he stuck out his tongue. I was so proud of him. Twilight made a face at him while I turned him back towards me. "So do you have something yet?" He nodded and pulled a piece of paper from a corner I couldn't see. He began writing a basic translation guide for me, and I copied it. I started talking to Twilight at the same time. "Though, I suppose I should call him something. He's kind of a new addition to my team."

I started thinking of different names as Twilight walked up. "Sorry, I guess. It's just that you seem to have a literal demon as a clock." She pointed at him. "Plus he can just casually read any language. That's hardly normal."

I shrugged. "Yeah, but this imp doesn't really read in the same way as mortals. I don't get it, but it's useful." I looked the imp in his eyes. "How's Crowley sound?" The imp nodded vehemently. I held Crowley up to Twilight. "Say hi to Crowley Twilight."

She stared at Crowley for a minute, before stammering. "H-hello Crowley." She looked disturbed by the imp in the watch, but he was a literal demon, but that wasn't my problem. I looked at my notes. I couldn't write a properly formatted letter, but I could probably stumble through anything non-technical. As long as it wasn't technical, or used proper grammar. yeah this is gonna be rough.

I looked at the bookshelf, and decoded the titles. "Seriously, all the books are on apples?"

Twilight stared. "Wait, your translation worked?" She rushed over and looked at the notes I had jotted down. She stared at them, before her scroll popped into existence. "This isn't the greatest translation, but I bet with this I could get a working guide." I swear her scroll was gonna set fire with how fast her quill was scratching across the paper. We sat for a minute, chilling out.

I'd missed being able to calmly hang out. We sat without talking for a while. Twilight scratching away notes while I sat watching. It was nice to have a quiet moment with someone. I smiled listening to her mutter about language and different syntax. I decided to do the only kind thing, and distract her. "So, anybody you trying to fuck?"

She turned an impressive shade of read. I didn't know it COULD show through fur that well. She sputtered. "I-We- Why?" She deflated as her quill and scroll fell to the floor.

I smiled. "Because you're adorable when you blush." Twilight looked like she was about to comment, but a knock on the door cut her off. I stood slowly and stretched. Before walking to the door. I glanced at the purple goddess in front of me. It was a minor surprise. I waved Luna in while looking behind her. "Hello there Luna, I was expecting your sister." I looked around for my guard, who was cowering behind Luna staring at me. Little brass coward.

Luna snorted as she walked in. "Tia hast had an unexpected issue thrust upon her. We are here to perform her so called trust exercise in her stead." She moved to Twilight and waved with a hoof. "Hello there Twilight. We are most pleased to see you."

Twilight was still struggling to keep her blush under control, and barely managed a "Got to go Princess!" Before bolting out of my open door. I chuckled as she left.

I turned to face Luna who was raising an eyebrow at Twilight's antics. The gesture looked very imperious on her. "Yeah." I said, moving to the couch. "She's a cute girl, flustered easily though."

Luna nodded. "Indeed. Now, we have foregone court tonight. We doubt anypony is coming tonight. They rarely do." Se sat on the floor beside the couch. "So, shall you select a memory, or should we suggest an idea."

I shrugged. "You're more fun than your sister. I'll take requests." I leaned back and Luna fell into silence. I started singing under my breath. I was halfway through a rousing muttering of Panic In The Pentagram before Luna seemed to reach a decision.

She stood up and spoke. "We would like to see a memory that scared you. One that you think may have changed you irrecoverably."

I blew out a whistle. "You don't pull any punches, do you Princess."

Luna shook her head. "Nay, we have experience in that field, and it would allow us the best view into you. If you would like another memory, we will allow it easily."

I grumped back. "You'll allow whatever I decide, I don't take orders." I flopped my hands across my chest and chewed my lip. I sighed before speaking. "Fine, but additional rules with it. Nobody besides Celestia hears it, and I reserve the right to be silent for a bit afterwards. If you wanna stay until I'll talk then fine." I stood up, and sat back down in front of Luna. She nodded, and her midnight glow enveloped my face.

***

"Marks, you damn fool, what did you do?" I looked up at the vampire standing beside me. I was patching up a hole in the train drivers leg. It would have been easier if the train hadn't been moving.

Marks chuckled, while reloading his revolver. "I thought that was obvious White, I shot him."

I yelled at him while twisting a tourniquet on the drivers leg. "Well why? He was gonna stop the train." I moved a bandage from my bag onto the wound.

Marks spun the revolver shut, and reholstered it. "Well, there was a change of plans."

I looked at the patched leg, before jumping up and in Marks face. "And what change is that?"

Marks calmly took one step back. Then kicked the brakes lever off it's holder and nodded at it. "We're gonna crash this whole train to kill the senator, then loot the crash."

I stared. I had been running with this gang for a few months. While they killed, it was always a sort of Robin Hood thing, no useless murder. "BUT THERE'S INNOCENT PEOPLE HERE!"

Marks nodded. "But I doubt anyone will cry for the left over snacks we killed."

I threw a punch that knocked Marks onto his ass. "No, we are stopping this..." I stared at the broken brakes. "What have you done Marks."

He rubbed his cheek, and frowned for the first time since I met him. "Sorry White, but this is what Ghoulie said to do. I tried to tell him to cut you out, that you wouldn't want any part of it." He got up and stood calmly. "But he said you needed to see what an extreme response was."

I stared at him. I liked Marks, which was weird for a vampire. He made sure to keep his 'snacks' alive, and didn't infect people. He also was very attractive, which helped keep me from shooting him. Eye candy is a fair defense from bullet wounds in my world. It was a failing defense.

I resisted the urge to shoot him, and then looked at the tracks. A turn was coming up, and the train would hop the tracks soon. "get me off this thing, then I'll need to talk to ghoulie."

Marks wrapped me in a hug, which was nice. Then he jumped, with me in his arms. He landed smoothly and whispered in my ear. "Keep your eyes close White, you don't need to see this." I had seen worse, but I listened. Eyes shut, I heard the clang of a train jumping track, then the screams, then I heard the loud crashes. They continued for what felt like years. I was numb, letting the sounds roll into me like waves. After a lifetime they stopped, and Marks released me. "Okay White, go back home. I'll take care of this." I could tell a kindness when I saw it, and nodded while turning away. I refused to look behind me as I followed the tracks.

I made it back to our home within an hour. It wasn't special, just a prettied up cave really, but it was home. Emphasis on was, I had already decided to pack up and leave tonight. I wasn't sure how long I was stuck here, but I couldn't live another day with these murderers. I made it to my room and drew a curtain over the alcove. I turned to face my stuff. I sighed as Ghoulie was sitting in my chair. I sighed and moved to sit on my bed. "Not now boss, I need a minute."

Ghoulie let out a chuckle, which through his scarred vocal chords sounded more like a growl. "I would imagine so. I could hear the train crash from here."

I glared at him. "Yeah, I'm sure everyone else on that train was laughing at your little plan too."

Ghoulie kept his face neutral, which was easy since he didn't have much of a face. "It was a cruel plan, but a necessary one. The train was full of people like the senator, and those that weren't were an acceptable loss. You know what we are fighting against."

I stood up and stabbed a finger towards him, barely keeping my off hand steady. "We're fighting murderers and villains, not becoming them. There's a damn line boss, and we just crossed it."

Ghoulie stayed infuriatingly calm. "We did not just cross it, because if that is the line we crossed it long before you joined."

I stared at him while the anger grew inside me. I counted to myself for a minute, then two. I finally got myself under control before gesturing to the door. "Out Ghoulie, I'm grabbing my stuff and leaving."

Ghoulie shook his head. "I'm sorry to say you aren't." I rested my hand on my revolver, but felt a cold touch of steel kiss my neck. Ghoulie gestured to me. "Put her in the hole for five days, give her enough water for two. She'll be more amiable afterwards."

I felt rough hands grab me, pulling me into a standing position, and then pushing me towards my curtain. I also felt a hand take my revolver out of it's holster on my thigh. I was shoved out of the cave, where it appeared everyone had left. They might not have been there on my way in, but it was the first time I had actually seen the cave empty. I was moved maybe a mile away from the cave, before being walked up to a deep hole. There was a large wood panel beside it, and it was maybe eight feet deep. I stared at it, before a voice behind me spoke. "Get in it."

I stared at the hole, and considered my options. I could just try to fight off my captors, but I'd probably get shot. Also Ghoulie said I would get enough water to stay alive, so living beat out possible living. I jumped in, and the wood panel was shut behind me, leaving me in darkness.

I spent the first bit of time in the hole singing. I couldn't remember words to songs that well, but I made them up. I sang and sang until my voice gave out. I also spent the time searching my pockets and bag for any light source, but found none. I could live with the darkness, but the cramped space was bad. I could barely sit down, and I bumped my shoulders or elbows on the walls every time I moved. I also looked for a way to tell time, but the only thing I had was a pocket watch, which did not light up. I thought of taking a pull from the canteen they left, but I needed to make the water last. I started scratching at the stone wall to pass the time.

I stopped scratching when I felt blood drip from my palm. I decided whatever time had passed meant I could take a drink, so I drank a single large sip of water. I stared at the darkness for an unknown amount of time. This sucked. Like, a lot. I moved to scratch my head, bumping the wall again. "Damn."

Time passed, but I couldn't tell how much. My two days of water were out, and I'd fallen asleep several times. I hadn't bothered counting. I had hit the walls every time I moved, and was beginning to get twitchy about it. I thought I'd made the water last, but I was delirious towards the end. At least, I'm pretty sure a smurf didn't talk to me, so I was probably a bit crazy then. I fell asleep again, I felt bad cutting off the polite knock I heard though.

I woke up and heard more knocking from the wall in front of me. I debated my options. I couldn't open a door, so the obvious answer was to knock back. Well it wasn't but I was hardly thinking right. I knocked back, and tried to back away as part of the wall collapsed. I hit the wall, and scrambled on it, trying to find purchase to get farther away from the collapsing wall. I found none, and hyperventilated as a man lit a small match from the new hole.

I relaxed as he lit a cigarette, and then brought out a small deck of cards. He began shuffling cards. I looked him over. He had gaunt features under a leather hat. A small hole was visible the forehead, as if it had been shot off his head, but seeing as he was shuffling cards I assumed it hadn't. We didn't speak for a few moments, with only the soft sounds of moving cards filling the hole. He broke the silence by speaking in a coarse voice. "Well then, do you have time for a quick game?"

I tried to shrug, then flinched as I hit the wall. "I guess." He passed me a card, which I held up to the smoke and saw it was a six of clubs.

He took another drag, lighting up the hole a little more. So, will you play your hand, or fold?"

I flipped the card in my hand, and felt the familiar weight of a revolver where a card used to be. I could barely see anything specific about it, but it was a tool. One I could use to escape. "I'll play."

The man nodded, and disappeared. I stared at the spot he was before waving at it. "Bye-bye." I held the pistol up and fired it at the hole where he stood. I know it was a horrible idea, since a bullet might have ricocheted into me, but it didn't even fire a round. Instead pure force exited the barrel, burrowing out a rough trench that let glorious moonlight fly into my hole. I dived through the hole, crawling to the surface. I took a deep breath as my head broke the surface. I moved out of the hole and looked around. Goody goody for me there was a river nearby, which I ran towards. After reaching it I dunked my head in and drank from the river. I drank until I threw up, then drank some more. After filling myself I fell onto my ass. I knew I needed food next, but that was a problem for later.I looked at the sky for the moon, which I found near the edge of the sky. After a quick internal argument I decided it was setting and decided to wait until dawn. Since I was out, it was time for some good old fashioned revenge.

Dawn had broken, and I was proven wrong in my guess. The group of people walking towards the hole showed that my five days was up. They stopped briefly at my tunneled escape route before I heard a voice on the wind. "I told you damn fools it was a bad idea. Ghoulie said he'd let her leave." I recognized that voice. That was Marks. He spoke again. "That girls got the devils fire in her, she'll be burning to even the score now."

The other voices were quieter, and I stayed even lower on the river bank, trying to keep myself hidden in the early morning light. The voices debated longer, until they split up to look in different areas. One began walking towards the river, leaving me to duck into the small bank and try to hear them approach. It didn't take long. I heard soft footsteps on the gravel, and an unfamiliar voice. "This is bullshit, she'd be half starved, and ain't nobody gonna take us in that state" I glanced up from my prone position and saw the toe of a boot. I heard a match strike and smirked. I reached up and pulled the leg down into the small ditch with me. Shock kept him quiet on the fall, my hand kept him quiet after. He began trying to struggle, but I forced an arm around his neck.

I began applying pressure. "Nap or snap asshole, your choice." The struggles slowed as he realized his predicament. I removed my hand as his body began to relax, the pulled hard back. I felt his neck pop out of joint, as he spasmed. I rolled him off me. I probably should have felt bad about snapping his neck after saying he'd live. But I didn't. I peeked out of my ditch. The flat desert land offered no cover, and I checked my gear. Which was only the revolver. I held the revolver in my hands. It was a scarred and ugly thing, but it was apparently enough of a beast to burrow through stone. In a surprising moment of lucid thought I realized I didn't know the range. I holstered it and looked at the body beside me. I began searching him for anything, and found a veritable gold mine. Sure there was a nice lever action and a few spare rounds, but that wasn't the greatest treasure. Two apples were in his bag, which I stared at reverently.

I devoured them like a starving hyena. I had to fight to keep them down, but I wasn't going to lose my first meal in days. The important work done, I inspected the rifle. No clue on the branding, but it had a seven round tube, and maybe two spare reloads. I popped the lever, finding a round in the chamber. I clapped it shut and peeked again. A few of the group had noticed their missing man, and were scanning the blank desert skyline. I heard a rough voice. "Damn fool must have fallen in the river, someone go grab him, or get his stuff if he drowned." I bared my teeth. That coarse, rocky voice could only belong to one person. Ghoulie.

I waited until I heard footsteps again, this time much softer. I recognized the foot falls. That was Marks when he was trying to be heard. He paused a few feet from the edge, and spoke. "White, I know your here. I can smell you."

I cursed, damn vampires. "Fuck. Yeah, and you have three seconds before I turn you into hamburger."

I heard a few steps as Marks empty hands came out from the edge of the ditch. Now I couldn't shoot him if I wanted, he basically surrendered. "Now, you're gonna shout out your gonna have to swim after his dumb ass and lay down beside me."

He did, and hid himself similarly. There was an awkward moment of silence as he stared at me. "So, you're probably gonna kill them, huh?"

I glared at him. "No shit, and I'm only debating killing you because your cute." I paused a moment. "And you tried to get me off the mission. Though the fact you were on it means I might still kill you."

Marks nodded. "Look, I can't make an argument against that if your mad, so I guess I'll just have to hope. I will throw out that since you're not in the hole Ghoulie said we're supposed to kill you on sight."

I looked at him. "You're inching towards staying alive." I thought for a moment. "Though since you're a vampire you could probably just kill me first."

Marks shrugged. "Maybe, but you fight like Old Scratch himself. I would like to avoid that fight." I nodded. I was also thinking of ways to kill him if I decided to. Not now of course, it would definitely make the others come over to me. Marks voice interrupted me. "See, now that face says your already thinking of how to kill me. That's what I'm trying to avoid."

I laughed. Before sitting up slightly and cradling the rifle. "Making me laugh is a good step. So here's your road to redemption, help me kill all the goons. If you do that and leave Ghoulie to me I'll consider leaving you alive much more seriously.

Marks nodded, and reached for his rifle. I nodded, and he mirrored my position. He peeked out. "Counting Ghoulie we got four more folks with us. Their not really your type of people. I think the only one you really know is Jack." I smiled. I hated Jack. Marks continued. "So, are we shooting now, or you want me to call them over?"

I peeked over the ditch. One was semi-close. I peeked out and managed to pop a round through his head. I heard shouts before the body even hit the dirt. I ducked back low and smiled at Marks. "I don't think they'll listen." Marks groaned and peeked over the ditch. He heard a shout for his name and kept quiet. But he brought his rifle to bear and fired a round. I heard more shouts following the rifles report, and Marks ducked back down.

He flashed me a grin. "I think they know where we are."

I worked the lever of my rifle. "Damn." I said nonchalantly. "I was hoping for the element of surprise." I peeked again, and a few rounds dusted the ground around me. I quickly hit the deck and glared at the ridge. Then I softened. "You are a good ridge, you stop bullets." I thought of the situation. There had been five folks, now there were two. Ghoulie and one other. I looked over the ground before remembering my bag. I pulled out my pocket watch. The silver body shined mirror-bright. Exacty what I wanted. I peeked it over the ridge and saw an approaching figure. I couldn't hit him without catching a bullet, but I could stop him.

I held the rifle one-handed above the ditch and shot a round in his direction. He ducked low, and I took the opportunity to peek. As I did a boot impacted my head, knocking me on my back. It also knocked me into Marks, throwing us both off our game. The rifle clattered the floor. I saw Jacks ugly smiling mug, raising a pistol slowly. The cocky bastard opened his mouth to gloat. I didn't let him. I rolled to the side Drawing my new revolver. I fired it once. A blast of force erupted, throwing my hands skyward with the recoil. Jacks was knocked back, and red blood bloomed across my vision. The body flew off into the distance, and an evil grin split my face. "That's why you don't mess with White Justice you fuckin' prick!"

Marks stared from his prone position. I spun the revolver on one finger, before standing up and looking at the desert. I spotted Ghoulie standing dumbstruck at the ditch. I began walking towards him and his pistol dropped from his hand. I walked up, and smelled ammonia. I smiled. "Hey Ghoulie.... What was that whole thing about not being allowed to leave again?" He stuttered and tried to back away, falling on his ass instantly. I raised the pistol to him. "I'm White Justice damnit. That name ain't a name. Pure wild justice is who I am, and you gotta answer for a lot of innocent lives."

His head shook back and forth. "We had to, it was the only way. They hunted folks like me, folks like all of us. They even gave us that damn name."

I nodded, and spoke with fake care. "I know, they called you Dead Man's Hand. A gang of dead men, ones that fought for justice against people hunting you for things you can't control." I thumbed back the hammer. "But if it makes you feel better, I'm hunting you because you're a murderous bastard." I pulled the trigger, burying Ghoulie six feet deep into the dirt. Six feet deep... I thought it over in my head, before looking over the pistol. "Six deep, that's your name." The pistol didn't seem to care, so it fit.

A voice spoke up. "So, how are you?" Marks voice caused me to jump back. I lowered the pistol slightly, looking him over. He smiled and stretched out his arms a little. "What, still gonna kill me?"

I don't think he honestly expected the shot that blew off his legs, but it didn't matter. I looked him over cooly. I was justice, and he had killed innocents. I looked him over on the ground as he squirmed. "No, but I won't let you live either." I felt the pull on my legs. It was time for me to leave. As Marks began cursing me from the ground I saw a man in the distance. He held up his deck of cards and smiled at me. The last thing I saw as I dropped was him mouthing a single sentence. Play your hand. I felt the pull of a jump, and saw the white hole beneath me. I nodded to Marks, and fell from the world.

Author's Note

Quick note, the bag she has here isn't the infinite one she has in Equestria. Also comments are still loved you beautiful people.