Chapter 9

After Arthur’s rather…crazy experience with the whole doll fiasco, he and Twilight’s friends were quickly making their way back to the Golden Oak Library. The girls were all very worried about what Twilight had told them, that she would have to return to Canterlot and they would never see her again. Meanwhile, the gunslinger had other things to worry about. Like, who in the world was that mare with the fancy dress? Why did she look so majestic, that it made Arthur feel as though there was a lump in his throat he couldn’t swallow? Whoever she was, she did not look happy with Twilight’s little stunt and he needed to be there for his friend.

“She can’t send Twilight back to Canterlot, can she?” Rainbow said as she flew alongside the others.

“Ah certainly hope not, sugar cube.” Applejack sighed. “But she is the Princess, so Ah think she can do whatever she pleases.”

Again with callin’ her Princess, just who is this mare they’re on about? Arthur wondered.

“Well regardless, we simply must try to convince her not to take Twilight away.” Rarity argued. “She’s our friend! Our precious, wonderful friend! Wouldn’t you agree Arthur?”

“Hm? Oh uh, yeah sure.” Arthur murmured.

“Is everything okay Arthur?” Fluttershy wondered. “You look a little nervous.”

“Maybe he’s just nervous to meet the Princess for the first time!” Pinkie chirped as she hopped along. “Don’t worry, Arty, Princess Celestia is the kindest, most super duper friendliness pony in ALL of Equestria!”

“She sure didn’t look like it.” Arthur said unconvinced. “She looked more pissed off than friendly.”

“True she looked a tad…displeased, but rest assured she’s as benevolent as we say.” Rarity said.

“Here’s hopin’.” Arthur shrugged.

The group eventually made it to the Golden Oak Library. All of Twilight’s friends each had worried looks and all were determined to try and convince Princess Celestia to not take Twilight away from her new home. As they approached the door, Arthur was still trying to get a handle on how to properly greet the pony princess. If Arthur was honest with himself, this would be the first time he’d be meeting actual royalty. There were often times, back in his world, where he would meet individuals who’d claim to be royalty or have actuarial merit to their name. Of course, Arthur wouldn’t believe a word if they couldn’t back up their claims, however this mare seemed to be the real deal. The way her very presence made the gunslinger stiff with tension, how her literal shining radiance made his heart beat faster than normal, it was as if he was put under a spell and couldn’t break free. Whatever the case, tonight was the night he would have the privilege to meet someone as important as her.

The mares all leaned in on the door to listen in in the conversation inside and Arthur was standing close enough to also listen in.

“But i’m supposed to send you a letter about friendship every week.” They heard Twilight say. “I missed the deadline! I’m a bad student! I’m…tardy!”

Mmm, poor kid, she seems awful hard in herself. Arthur thought.

“You are a wonderful student, Twilight.” Princess Celestia said in a calmer tone, making Arthur’s ears perk up. “I don’t have to get a letter every week to know that.”

“Really?” Twilight said.

The door the mares were leaning on couldn’t bear the weight anymore as it gave way and Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie fell through on top of each other. Rarity stepped past them and Rainbow flew in and somersaulted in between Twilight and Celestia.

“Wait!” Rainbow said, holding her arms out.

“You can’t punish her!” Pinkie said.

“It wasn’t her fault!” Applejack said.

“I’m listening.” Celesita said patiently.

“Please, your highness, we all saw that Twilight was upset.” Fluttershy admitted.

“But we thought the thing that she was worrying about wasn’t worth worrying about.” Rainbow said as Pinkie hugged Twilight.

“So when she ran off, all worked up, not a single one of us tried to stop her.” Applejack said.

“As Twilight’s good friends, we should’ve taken her feelings seriously and been there for her.” Rarity said.

“Please don’t take her away from us just because we were too insensitive to help her.” Fluttershy pleaded as her ears drooped.

Arthur, who was still outside the library and listening in, took the opportunity to make his presence known. He adjusted his hat and stepped through the doorway and walked towards the sun monarch. The feeling from before, when he first saw the Princess, had returned but not as intense as before. Celestia’s gaze shifted from the mares and to the gunslinger and tilted her head at his presence. Not wanting to be rude, Arthur reached up and took off his hat and combed his mane back and smiled kindly to Princess Celestia.

“And who might you be?” Celesita asked.

“Pardon for the interruption, ma’am, my name’s Arthur Morgan.” Arthur said as he bowed his head slightly and held his hat over his heart.

“I see, I am Princess Celestia, a pleasure.” Celestia said as she walked past the mares and stood just in front of Arthur. To her and the other’s surprise, the gunslinger was just as tall as Celestia, if by only an inch or two taller. Celestia eyed the stallion curiously as Arthur just stood there waiting for a response.

“My dear student has told me about you through her letters, Mr. Morgan…” Celestia spoke with a gentle yet firm tone as her eyes studied the clothing and equipment he was carrying. Particularly the firearms on his belt buckle. “May I inquire as to what that is?” she asked politely and gestured to his pistol.

Arthur flinched at the question and was inclined to try and make something up to try and dodge the question. However the way Celestia looked at him in the eye, the way her eyes held a kindness to them but also were very cautious, his inner voice advised him that lying or deceiving would not be the best course of action.

“I’ll tell ya.” Arthur sighed. “Along with who I really am. But it ain’t a tale that’ll make you or anyone here smile. Ya still wanna hear it?”

Celestia arched a brow and looked back at the other mares in the room. All of them nodded. She then looked back at Arthur to reply. “Very well, continue please, Mr. Morgan.”

Arthur nodded back as he walked over to a chair and sat down after placing his hat on the table.

“I come off to ya’ll as a pony stallion.” Arthur began. “I’ve got fur, hooves, mane, and tail like everyone else around here. Some of ya’ll have noticed that I talk a little differently than most, right?”

“Now that you mention it.” Spike said as he came out of his hiding spot. “You do say stuff like someone and anyone instead of somepony and anypony.”

“I also have noticed that.” Twilight said. “How come you talk like this Arthur? Do all ponies talk like you do where you are from?”

“Well there’s more to it all than just the way my words sound.” Arthur said. “Ya see…when I said I wasn’t from around here, I mean that in more ways than one.”

“What’re ya sayin’?” Applejack questioned.

“I’m sayin’ I ain’t from this very world.” Arthur finally said, leaving the mares and Spike more confused. “I was once somethin’ called a human man, I was never a pony to begin with.”

Celestia hummed and thinned her lips as though in thought. “Can you please describe what humans look like, Mr Morgan?”

Arthur reached into his satchel and grabbed the photo he had shown Mayor Mare and held it up to Celestia. Celestia’s horn glowed and the photo levitated from Arthur’s hand and held it up in front of her. The mares and Spike all gathered around to see the photo and all gazed at it curiously.

“Who or what are these guys?” Rainbow wondered.

“They look a little like monkeys.” Fluttershy said.

“They’re frowning, are they sad about something?” Pinkie wondered.

“Why are their mane’s so short?” Rarity wondered.

“The feller on the right is me.” Arthur spoke up, making all turn to him. “The other two are Hosea Matthews, on the left, and Dutch van der Linde, in the middle.” The ponies looked back at the photo and then back to the gunslinger as if trying to see the resemblance.

“Well…I guess ya look like this feller.” Applejack said.

“But if this is you, why are you a pony?” Twilight asked.

“I couldn’t tell ya if I wanted to.” Arthur said. “I showed up in this world and in this here body after my life had ended due to my sickness and last stand.” That last comment caught the attention of the princess.

“Hold on, you died?” Twilight asked, shocked to hear as the photo was handed back to Arthur.

Celestia’s eyes softened. “Illness? You also mentioned last stand? Were you a soldier back in your previous life?” she asked Arthur. “I’m just amazed that anypony would permit another to fight when they are suffering from any ailment that is life threatening…”

“No…I wasn’t nothin’ like some soldier who fought for his country, far from it.” Arthur said as he reached into his satchel again to put the photo back and grabbed another piece of paper. “I was somethin’ worse.” Arthur pulled out a larger piece of paper and unfolded it. “I was somethin’ that most would call a disgrace to society.” He held the paper up and everyone gasped.

As her eyes scanned the wanted poster, Celestia’s mind was racing a marathon. On one hand, this stallion was perhaps the most vile stallion she has ever come across since Sombra. Yet on the other hand, based on his actions, words, and emotions he was a genuine soul who suffered through life’s struggles. She turned her gaze at Arthur and saw his eyes were lowered. She noticed one thing present in them. Regret.

“Is…i-is this you?” Rarity muttered.

“This ain’t what Ah think it is, is it?” Applejack asked hesitantly.

“I’m afraid so.” Arthur said. “I…was an outlaw. A wanted man who committed many crimes for personal gain.”

“B-But that can’t be.” Fluttershy said. “You’re such a kind stallion.”

“Well I sure as hell wasn’t kind when I was still a man.” Arthur replied.

“Tell me, Mr. Morgan…What do you hope to accomplish by telling and showing us all of this? Do you think this alone will clear your sins?” Celestia wondered as Arthur set the poster aside.

“Not really, ma’am.” Arthur shook his head. “This here poster shows just what kind of feller I used to be. Thing is, I was part of a gang of criminals. We were made up of people who didn’t give two shits about following the law and livin’ ordinary lives. I can name plenty of times when I could’ve stopped and live like norma folk, but that life was somethin’ I was raised into by Dutch. You asked me what this thing on my belt is.” Arthur unholstered his pistol and held it up for all to see. “This is something called a pistol, a mighty powerful and dangerous weapon that most of us humans used against each other.”

“What did you use it for?” Celestia wondered.

“Takin’ lives…” Arthur said melancholy, causing all in the room to go dead silent.

Celestia used her magic to bring the pistol closer and analyzed it as carefully as she could. “So what you are saying, is that this is like a sword… meant to end lives?”

“GIVE IT HERE!” Arthur snapped as he snatched the pistol out of her magic, startling the group. “No one’s supposed to touch it! Not you! Not no one! And yes, there are plenty of weapons like this meant to take the lives of many. I’ve done so myself countless times! I killed, robbed, stole, and beat people just to get what I and my gang needed most: money.” Arthur holstered the gun back and sat down as he pinched the bridge of his muzzle. “I’m sorry for snappin’ like that, but you gotta understand. These weapons of mine are not for anyone to hold on their own. I ain’t even sure why they were brought with me in the first place. Point is, it was easier to get what I wanted with it.”

“If that’s true, then why aren’t you like how you were now?” Spike asked.

“Because…I didn’t even expect to still be alive in the first place. I was infected by a disease called tuberculosis, it was an ailment that sent me into coughing fits, made me spit up blood, and I barely breathe most of the time. I’d tell ya all the horrible things my gang and I did, which is a lot, but we were only trying to steal enough to escape the law and find a place for ourselves. That all didn’t last though, since Dutch had lost his mind and we was set up by one of our own. I ran for it with my good friend John Marston and were chased by Dutch and this detective agency who’d been hunting us called the Pinkertons. I managed to get John out so he could be with his family, but I was left alone after Dutch went and abandoned me. I still remember laying on that mountain top, watchin’ the sun rise as I barely was able to take my last breath. I fully expected to wake up in Hell and have the Devil show me to my punishment, yet instead I wound up here. Even though I did what I pleased and took what I wanted, I always did try to help whenever possible.” Arthur looked down at the badge pinned to his shirt and frowned. “I guess I’m somewhat of a hypocrite, wearing this badge, I’m a wanted outlaw and I feel like I don’t deserve it.”

Celestia inhaled and exhaled for a moment whilst she gazed into Arthur’s eyes. “Mr. Morgan, though your past life you may have done many horrendous things, the fact that you are able to see the error of your ways tells that there is more to you than meets the eyes.”

Before he could respond back, Celestia raised her hand to keep Arthur from speaking. “From what you have told me, the life that you lived was not of choice but of necessity and the fact that you helped others with their endeavours also speaks volumes to me. Especially this John Marston and his family, whom I can only assume are eternally grateful to you for your sacrifice.”

“You and me both, ma’am.” Arthur said with a sad smile as he stood up. He then stepped toward Celestia and held out his hands.

“Arthur, what are you doing?” Rarity wondered.

“Turnin’ myself in.” Arthur said.

“What?! But you can’t!” Rainbow said.

“Arty don’t go!” Pinkie cried.

“This is something I should’ve done back home anyway. It was fun while it lasted, wearin’ the badge these past couple of weeks, but I can’t change the things I’ve done. The only way I can think of to make up for it all is to serve whatever time is necessary behind bars. So here I am, Princess, I surrender myself to whatever restraints you have for me.” The gunslinger kept his hands held out, expecting to be cuffed and hauled away.

Celestia just stared at the gunslinger and eyed the badge that was pinned to his shirt. She approached Arthur and raised her hands, hearing a gasp from the other mares in the background with the motion she just actioned.

She hugged him.

“You’ve been through so much and sacrifice even more, Arthur…” She spoke to him soft and motherly, her words only audible to his ears.

Arthur stood there baffled and unable to process the situation. The Princess of Equestria was hugging the gunslinger and consoling him. Arthur stood frozen as he looked past her flowing mane to the mares. They were all shocked to see Celestia hugging Arthur, but were also happy to see that he wouldn’t be treated like a criminal and taken away.

“Princess…are ya sure you wanna be huggin’ me like this?” Arthur wondered. Celestia pulled back as she placed her hands on his shoulders. She smiled at the gunslinger and nodded as she cupped his cheek caringly.

Celestia smiled demurely at Arthur, her hand never leaving his cheek. “Everypony needs somepony to take comfort in…and also no matter the burdens we face, you don’t have to carry the load all by yourself.” She said as she remembered the events that separated her from her beloved sister for over a millenia.

Arthur listened intently at her words, it had been some time since he had heard such words of comfort. It reminded him of when he once spoke to the Sister from Brother Dorkins’ church. He remembered how he told her he had lived a bad life and she said that everyone lived bad lives. Her words seemed to echo in his mind.

“Life is full of pain…but there is also love and beauty.”

“What am I gonna do now?”

“Be grateful that for the first time…you see your life clearly.”

Arthur smiled as he brought his arms up and returned the embrace, to which Celestia hugged him again. “Have I been a terrible fool, Princess?” Arthur wondered as more of the Sister’s words played back in his mind.

“Perhaps you can help somebody? Helping makes you really happy.”

“But…I still don’t believe in nothin’.”

“Often neither do I...but then, I meet someone like you and everything makes sense.”

“I guess I…I’m afraid.”

“There is nothing to be afraid of, Mr. Morgan. Take a gamble that love exists, and do a loving act.”

“Everypony can make foolish choices in life, Mr. Morgan…but those who wish to set things right, are the ones who need the most support…” Celestia said and slowly removed her hand from Arthur. For what seemed like an eternity, her eyes were locked onto his. That was until she was interrupted by six figures rushing towards the stallion. All the mares embraced Arthur in a group hug, some with tears in their eyes, and held him close.

“Please don’t be sad Arthur!” Fluttershy said.

“We don’t care what ya did before, yer our friend too!” Applejack said.

“We wouldn’t have any other stallion as our sheriff!” Rarity said.

“There’s no way you’re going anywhere without getting past me, big guy!” Rainbow said.

“WE CARE ABOUT YOU NO MATTER WHAT, ARTY!” Pinkie cried.

“You have nothing to be ashamed of, Arthur, who you are now is what matters.” Twilight said. Arthur kept smiling as he wrapped his arms around the mares. For the first time in his second life, he felt welcomed and wanted.

“Thank you, thank you all from the bottom of my heart.” Arthur said as they broke the group hug.

“Looks like you all learned a valuable lesson today.” Celestia said with a smile. “Very well, I’ll forget Twilight’s punishment on one condition.” Celestia walked to the door and peered over her shoulder and turned around. “From this day forth, I would like you all to report your findings on the magic of friendship. When, and only when, you happen to discover them. That includes you, Mr. Morgan.”

“Me? Why?” Arthur wondered.

Celestia smiled and giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. “Because this is a new beginning for you, Arthur…and with new beginnings comes new experiences. With those experiences, comes lessons.” She said sagely to the stallion.

“Hmm, well if you insist I guess I can try my best Princess.” Arthur shrugged.

“Please, Arthur, any friend of mine may call me Celestia.” She said with a playful wink. “I expect you to keep doing your solemn duty as sheriff and keep my little ponies safe.”

“You can count on me, Celestia.” Arthur nodded.

Celestia then exited the library out to the balcony and Twilight followed her to speak with her. Meanwhile, Arthur picked his hat up and left to leave the mares to themselves. As Arthur walked through the moonlit town of Ponyville back to his campsite, his smile had never faded since things turned out for the better. He was so very nervous that he would be rejected and cast out after revealing who and what he was to his friends and the princess. When in fact, they had accepted him and let him keep wearing the badge still pinned to his shirt. He could now wear it proudly and be the stallion they believed him to be.

“I’ll make them proud.” Arthur said as he tipped his hat to the moon. “I’ll be the best damn sheriff I can be.”

Celestia soon returned to the castle with a smile as she entered her chambers through her balcony. She stretched her wings and arms as she approached the dresser to slip into her nightgown.

“Sister?” Celestia turned to see a silhouette of a mare who gazed at her curiously. “Welcometh backeth, sist’r, how is thy student doing? Didst thee help h’r with h’r dram problem?”

“She will be alright, dear sister,” Celestia assured Luna. “By the way, you might want to visit Ponyville in a few days…you might make some new friends, particularly a stallion I just met.”

“What doth thee cullionly? Who is’t is this new stallion thee speaketh of?” Luna wondered. “And wherefore shouldst We wend out concluded, be it?”

“Because you and he are very similar, from one degree to the other.” Celestia replied and then let out a yawn. “Well, it’s time for me to retire for the evening. Good night, Luna.” She greeted her sister as she walked to her bedroom, with the latter left behind to ponder her words. Luna returned to her own chambers and scratched her chin.

“Hmm, who is’t couldst this new stallion beest? We supposeth We can indulge in h’r requesteth to wend outside. Tis Nightmare Night anon, a p’rfect chance to socialize with our subjects.”

Elsewhere

A stallion walked through the halls of a large mansion with a nervous expression on his face. He kept dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief as he approached a set of large double doors. He wiped his forehead one last time before reaching up to knock on the door.

“Come in…” A deep gruff voice called out, making him flinch.

The stallion gulped and pushed the doors open. The room was large and had an assortment of fancy furniture and paintings hanging on the walls. At the far end of the room was a desk and a chair behind it. The chair was facing away from the approaching stallion and a hand with rings on each finger held it up so he could halt.

“Speak.” The unknown individual said.

“S-Sir…” The young stallion spoke. “The um, associate of yours, Rocky Edge, has been arrested.”

“Who?”

“The…guard you had us pay off so you could keep tabs on that small town, Ponyville.”

“…Oh yeah, how did he get caught?”

“Well…apparently there’s a new sheriff in town. He exposed Rocky and is keeping watch over it.”

“Hmph, is he now? Guess Ricky didn’t get the chance, or forgot, to mention who really is in charge. Send a Collector there to see who this sheriff is. Have him remind those insignificant ponies who really runs Equestria besides that bitch Celestia.” The voice said in a cold tone.

“O-Of course sir.” The stallion said and turned to walk away.

“And while you’re at it, send a message to our guy in the big house. Tell him there’s a new rat in his house that needs to be taken care of, as to not risk any unwanted attention.”

“I…will get right on that.” The stallion then quickly walked out of the room, leaving his boss alone to his thoughts.

“A sheriff, eh?” The voice chuckled. “What a bucking joke.”

Author's Note

His past was shared, yet they still welcomed him with open arms. That is true friendship. Who could this ominous being be?
Also, special thanks to TheMyth for helping me write this and possibly future chapters!
Hope you enjoyed!

~WurkyWilk has left the building…