Author's Note
This is my first time ever writing a story, but i welcome every critique
Chapter 1
Music
Beaten, clothes covered in mud, body in bruises, muscles straining, lungs aching and heaving for breath, despite the fatal injuries Arthur acquired still exerted himself to crawl to the ridge of the mountain knowing his demise catching up to him
The life of the outlaw he now know, he knew he wouldn’t live up to the top. Years and years he pursued scores, money and glory killing many over a dirty money not knowing his path leading him and his gangs downfall. Not once he ever been in his knees, even after being shot and tortured he got back up overtime in his time of outlaw, not once he ever thought he could be reduced to living carcass clinging to live
Tuberculosis, a goddamn disease is what got him but also changed his view of point
Made him aware of his limited life he had made an astute decision to forego his appalling perspective, instead helping stranger and fellers who inadvertently needed his aid
“You’re a good man Arthur”
“You ain’t bad man, it’s just- I wish there could have been more men like you”
“Are we too late to get back Arthur?”
“You’re my brother…”
Tears in his eyes, straining pains and declining of his lungs he wearily noticed the sun shining over the horizon
Well i… I did this time.
A stag could be seen in sunlight through the warm sunlight, lifting his great head and glancing back at him seeming to smile as if to comfort him, with a final breath his vision darkened
And he felt pain no more.
*****
In Equestria, a town called Blackberry not far from Apploosa but noticeably distant, people were restless, or creatures to be exact as the town’s ‘people’ were not exactly one species but myriad
The town activity was constantly a buzz locals going through their daily business or getting their daily dose of liquors in the saloon
But this time the town was much more silent than regular, in the corner of the town sat a small building and a line of people orderly waiting in their turn to enter the building to submit their complaints and requests
“Sheriff! How could ah ever get back to business? It’s all I ever had and it’s gone, that awfull rascals turned out of nowhere and stole my wagon!”
Jo’va a feline local town sheriff sat infront of his desk patiently scribbling another victim’s report
For the past nine years the town was periodically pilfered and robbed by the Mountain diamond dogs, and all Jo’va could do in response was write off a report to the Canterlot and pray for the best
With the town’s increasing theft and few murders Princess Celestia responded by permitting in her authority to town’s locals to at least arm themselves with firearms, but dubiously not reinforce the town with guards.
Some of the town folks knew how to operate the weapons but not adept in handling it as using the guns to take life was not only frowned on so practicing was the least of their favorite activity
“-an’t you do something? This very town’s being robbed and it’s people slaughtered and all you do is write and write to that so called princess sunshine of ol’ wisdom while our town folks getting their properties stolen” exclaimed the owner of the voice, said the owner was a minotaur town’s general store clerk
“You know what I do Cron so does everybody else in this town, it’s fruitless” said Jo’va wrapping up the parchment “And you know the moment I decides to go after them, the town’s defenseless besides but an old cat like me could do against many of em dogs” finished the senile sheriff before litting a tobacco
“I’m not asking you to go after them Sheriff… *sigh* can’t you get another one of you?” asked Cronos pointing at sheriff “atleast write to that stuck-up princess of yours for assistant or- or deputy! Yeah that’s it!” Cron hopefully spoke
“For the last time Cron they ain’t sending not a pony to this cursed town to assist in authority” mentioned Jo’va exhausting his tobacco before throwing the remains to the trash bin “Damn shame they think our town folks doing the robbery and not them mountain diamond dogs, that princess”
“For pete’s sake sheriff then what are we go-” before Cron could continue loud thumping on the office’s door interrupted them
“What are you doing pony! Get in line”
“Yeah! We’ve been waiting here forever!”
“Those damned ponies thinking so…”
A muffled shouts could be heard from the outside the building before loud thumping resumed hurriedly
“Who’s there?” inquired the sheriff agitated by the thumping
“It’s Tempest” feminine voice answered
With a raised brow sheriff stood up before addressing the minaotaur “Cron if you would?” gesturing to the door
Scoffing the bulky clerk owner “her again? That freelancer’s giving you no good but still you listen to her and not us” mumbling Cron opened the door
Stepped inside a unicorn with a buzzcut wearing a cloak with armor underneath
“You gotta do something about it Jo’va the whole town’s crumbling!” said store clerk said leaving the building
With Cron left the building the sheriff turned towards the unicorn
“You’re early, something happened?”
Fizzlepop Berrytwist or better known as Tempest Shadow sat down infront of him
“Indeed” replied Tempest
Face scrunching in acknowledgement “another raid?” probed sheriff worried and unprepared for another assault from outsiders
“No” responded quickly glancing towards the window “Not a raid but something else Jo’va”
Raising his brow in question “Well cut to the chase people are lining up here” hastily went over
“North from here near the Mountain something fell” at the statement sheriff’s brow went higher
“And? You meant to tell me you came here all the way from Macintosh mountain just to inform me of a random object falling down from skies?” asked in incredulously “I thought I told you to brief me if someone comes from the north not a piece of doo-”
“That’s just it” cut him off Tempest “It’s poles apart from a ‘random object’ Jo’va it’s rather someone… I think”
Hands on his chin Sheriff pondered at the statement glancing sideways “Griffon?”
“No”
“No way in Tartarus Pegasus flying here!”
“Neither Jo’va it didn’t just fell from the skies, it bolted from the clouds to the soil as if it was a thunder!” declared Tempest
“You saw what it was?”
Narrowing her eyes in thought recalling
“Briefly, from a distance it wasn’t anything I’ve seen. Though the creature wore a heavy set of clothes it’s face flat and unshaven save for it’s subtle beard, I think”
“Huh… well that’s that then” opening a drawer from his desk he took out a new parchment
Peering at him “What are you doing?” she questioned
“Arrest warrant, it could part of them dogs or better yet! Their leader!” he muttered writing on paper
“You’re not really going up there?” asked Tempest disbelieving
“Of course not, you’re going there?” stated Sheriff wraping up the paper in scroll
Eyes widening in shock
“Jo’va?”
“I’ll compensate Tempest” shoving the paper into her cloak “Town suffered enough as it is, if what you say is true then we have atleast a fraction of hope in this tartarus hole we call home! Now go!”
“I did not say anything of sort, I only told you the thing fell from the sky not far from the Macintosh mountain not fell from the Mountain itself!” Voiced Tempest
“Fourty bits!”
“You’r-”
“Sixty!”
“Jo’-”
“Hundred!” heatedly yelled sheriff “Now just please git before folks stampede in here! They’ve been waiting since morning before you stormed in here Tempest” pleaded Jo’va gesturing with a thumb towards window
Heaving a sigh tempest nodded, muttering in distaste at her task to reclaim the creature
Stepping outside carefully sidestepping to avoid bumping into riled mob she rapidly marched towards route to Macintosh mountain wanting to get over it as soon as possible.
*****
Several hours later
Near the Mountain side a lone figure could be seen laying on a rough terrain of desert
Vultures and lizard alike standing not too far away from the hopeful corpse to devour, but not daring to come in near the unknown figure as it’s chest could be seen rising and falling indicating it’s still alive
“uhh” groaning raspily it’s hand moved up to it’s face before rubbing it’s eyes
“what the hell happened” croaked Arthur Morgan the outlaw
Blearily he opened his one eye
“Gah damnit, did I pass out again?”
His time in Valentine with Lenny and occasional drinking alone in random saloons got him stranded near town or sometimes elsewhere where he couldn’t remember coming there
Covering his eyes he tiredly stood up, feeling thirsty, hungry and overall exhausted
Eyes still covered with one hand he surveyed his whereabouts cussing and swearing for his drinking and passing out in god knows where habit
“where the hell am i?”
Wearily checking his pouch and his satchel for anything to drink before taking out a Kentucky Bourbon
Eyeing the devilish drink he took out the cork from the bottle and taking a swig from the drink
“phew” gritting his teeth he set out to walk towards the desertly landscape, but before he could set a foot to trek towards any civilization he heard a snickering sound come from his rear
“heh heh”
Turning around he swiftly took notice of deranged figures in the distance coming towards him with an odd armors and helmets on their heads, backs hunched and scurrying towards him with rapid pace only demented night folks could
“Goddamn hilbilies”
As the figures got close enough he took out his golden coated Cattleman revolver from his holster cocking the hammer he readied
“what the…”
Bewildered at the fact that approaching hunch backed silhouettes was in fact not night folks or skinner brothers or not even Murfree but a bunch of bipedal canines wearing an armor and wielding what seems to be antique swords and crossbows
In his inspection he forgot the incoming danger as one of the crossbow wielding dog aimed his weapon and fired a bolt
Said bolt barely missed his head, snapping out of his bafflement he briskly took aim and shot all three varmints in the head, not one bullet missing it’s target he put his revolver back in his holster
“Okay” he mumbled slowly taking out the whiskey he drank not a moments ago, assessing the drink if it’s been poisoned or laced with any drug
“I oughta stop this drinking in the middle of the day” he considered before taking another big swig of his whiskey “Tomorrow then” putting the cork back in his satchel
Taking a glimpse of the creatures he killed moments ago he inspected them
“So this is what you’ve been sprouting about Swanson” muttered Arthur as he took note of the unnatural sight
The three bipedal dogs seemed to possess what any dogs should not, arms and legs too long to be running in all four, and their face or rather snouts were strangely expressing shock before death than any normal hound should
In his attentive inspection of the dead bodies he failed to notice someone approaching from the distant
Turning fast on his heels Cattleman on hand he pointed the gun at the potential threat
“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me” muttered Arthur
What he was seeing was another strange bipedal cloaked shape of a woman if it’s hourglass figure was anything to go by, and in armor but all in it’s absurdness was it’s or her head with a broken horn sticking out of his forehead and a buzzcut mane
The stranger took note of his gun pointed at her, hands slowly raising to notify it’s submit
“Crazy walking dogs, a woman with a horse head then what? A town full of freaks?” asked Arthur perplexed
“I mean you no harm” Said horselady
“and she talks why not” chuckling arthur holstered his revolver, gestured for her to wait with index finger “one moment” quickly taking out the Bourbon, with all his might he threw the witched drink away from him
Dusting his hands he turned sharply towards her again
“You” he pointed
“I’m-”
“Where am i?”
“Beside Macintosh mountain”
“Where exactly!”
“Near Blackberry town” she answered with apprehension eyeing his holstered weapon
“I don’t ever heard a will nilly mountain or blackberry town! Be precise!”
With a sudden movement she tried unholstering her own gun from her belt to arrest him
Keyword being ‘tried’
It was fast. So fast for her she didn’t notice him taking out his gun shoot her weapon out of her grip
Walking towards her with guns twirling in his hands “so much for ‘no harm’ you’re lucky I need information” taking a lasso out of his satchel “or that shot could have went into your skull and came out from the other end, now turn around”
Without refusal she turned in advance he forcefully tied her hands
“right so you said bout a town not far from here”
“Yes”
“Start walking, might as well go and see what my imagination could fathom up to me before it goes back to normal” he sniggered
Puzzled at his remark she wordlessly started marching towards the town
She silently attested to herself for getting captured so easily as she could have easily took him out once he got close. Then again she hasn’t slept and eaten properly for the past few days, and his handling of his guns was not only horrifyingly fast she never saw anyone wield firearms like that
Atleast I’m bringing him to the town as promised…. Just not what I imagined it to be.
Music
In a dim building of the sheriff’s office Arthur looked at the feline with dubious look
“scuse me?”
He could only utter one sentence, back in the day when he was but a teenager he would be often teased by his fellow kids for being ‘imbecile’ granted he wasn’t the best when it came to simple maths and all, but even after all the involvements in doings of right and wrong he considered himself a quite streetwise if not educated.
But now he was… proposed by a talking cat to help a town full of talking animals from another walking talking animals with murderous intentions.
“I’m mighty humbled sheriff, it sounds really fun and all but” Arthur exclaimed with raised brow pointing at himself with thumbs raised “I’m not from around this place, I’m not even sure if I’m in the same soil i was born, hell you had an arrest warrant in myself moments ago and I even ain’t sure if I’m in my own drunken hallucinations of my last bout of whiskey I had. But now you’re-”
He came across from another place where he was sought to be hanged for myriads of reasons of crime and not to mention his gang’s reputation… well former gang but nonetheless, as such he could only ramble with his rising troubled state
Before Arthur could continue Jo’va the sheriff looked at the Arthur with concerning eyes while frantically waving his hands, assessing for reasons to get a recourse from the rugged mercenary in question
“Listen, you did say you took out the mountain dogs” Jo’va went on motioning his frail hand around the room “well Tempest mentioned it but i need- we need your help” he finished
“And while it’s reasonable for you to be in doubt of me for asking a hand in need. And it’s not very polite to ask from someone who I had indeed permitted for arrest warrant but look”
In sudden vigor the old feline stood up from his worn stool despite his stage of life he advanced towards the window in hurried state. His eyes layers of darkened colors adorning, fatigued and haggard with dirt he still peered towards the town and it’s residence in deep speculation and concern
“I don’t exactly ask a stranger I came across or someone who fell from skies in your case, for help” stated Jo’va in dry chuckle eyes still towards the window
“Our town’s a little way off records from the authority Arthur, people here…” Jo’va continued finally breaking away from window looking at the outsider with hesitation, glancing at Tempest mere seconds before looking back at Arthur “are scared” he simply put before slowly tredging towards Arthur
“I wasn’t the only one you know” Jo’va quietly spoke “The town before you see is a but a parody of its former self Arthur”
Stopping infront of Arthur mere inches apart from his chest the feline slowly took out worn red cloth out of his pocket
“When I was around your age, the town was at its peak, oh I couldn’t imagine another town in equestria like ours. I was but deputy back then a little rascal out of his comfort in a town to help its people” says Jo’va stroking the worn now revealing to be bandana “Before then we had many residents in our town… and so was us”
Arthur wasn’t sure where the conversation was heading but he could only reckon one of those old man’s tale
“There were 4 of us, 3 deputy and our… Sheriff“ he muttered silently seeming to fade out in mention of his past sheriff “We were quite capable bunch, for years we went on in our service of protecting the people, we stopped thefts and some occasion we would get a raid from the self proclaimed gangs and what not, but there was not a day we couldn’t handle” He spoke directly making an eye contact with Arthur “Until those damn hounds came from the mountain” both hands clasping the bandana “All them years”
Arthur who was listening the whole time suddenly took a step back hearing those infamous words, he noticed how the sheriff’s eyes looked aghast and how his voice trembled with dread and distress, needless to say he now knew his tale wasn’t fabricated
“it took only one night” he continued eyes downcast “a decades of excellent service and they came out of the mountains like a rabid animals, all laughing like a maniacs and yelling for our death” taking a deep breath he put the bandana back in his pocket “what’s funny was that they were not only armed in an antique weapons as if to mock us, they also wore a goddamn armors. We were confidant we could stop the attack, we believed we could put those mutts out of their misery if not capture them but… they massacred us, they killed and robbed what or who they could find”
Another heavy breather and he walked back to his desk before he sat back in his chair presumably tired from recalling his worst day of his life. Arthur however wasn’t far from falling off too. He marched for several hours with his possibly the worst hangover without a minute to lay down for a rest, but it wasn’t his body that was importance for now however his mind was in turmoil
It never really bothered for him to assist a stranger from time to time as long as they hadn’t intention to harm him or somebody he cared, even after the doctor declared his impending death he never lost his morality, infact he gave more helping hand to the much needed people and gave everything to the people he thought deserving even his health was decreasing to the point of him being nearly dead
And then his death, he can now clearly remember
How he was cast aside from the very person he thought to be his father figure, instead how he started conceded the very ideas he instilled in him. How he preferred greed and conflict over survival and his family
But he could also reckon his final moments, how it felt and how he thought at last moments of his life. Up in the mountain
He saved and did every possible deeds he thought good and much more. He remembers after crawling up to get a better view in his final moments
A warm sun ascending as if to greet him, a soft wind caressing his skin. He was content to leave what’s behind
But now he was here, somehow very much alive minus the nailing hangover
“All them years” He repeated to the sheriff
The sheriff who was silent during his silent musing took out a pack of tobacco, pulling out two before offering one to Arthur “A decade of peaceful life and good service I thought we were capable Mr. Arthur and they swatted us like flies and did whatever they wanted to our town and left with a bloody trail” Arthur took the offered tobacco litting himself before inhaling the bitter smoke and exhaling through his nose closing his eyes nodding his head to ease himself up from the recent memory
“You want me to find them?” Arthur asked nonchalantly tobacco still in his fingers, he wasn’t sure of himself if he was committing himself to help the sheriff but knowing himself he was sure he was going to get himself involved one way or another
The sheriff who was surprised for a moment took another drag from his tobacco before replying in menacing tone
“Son, I want you to find them mountain dwellers and destroy them, I don’t care if you have to blow the entire Mountains to get the job done I just want you to get rid of them for us” he stated finishing his tobacco before pulling out a sheet of paper
“Across from me there’s a store” sheriff spoke scribbling in the paper “I’ll compensate for whatever you need for this bounty sir, just take whatever you need not whatever you want”
Arthur who now finished the tobacco looked at the sheriff with raised brow “you’re not giving me any money?”
“Us folks around here don’t usually have and use ‘money’. The princesses and the whole crown took out the bank and left us here to rot on our own miserable life, we don’t even know the current currency. As of now it’s been almost 5 years we’re basically living under a rock. But I promise you after you get the job done I’ll give you every possible things I could find from out little town for your next journey, now” Jo’va stated neatly folding the paper and handing it to Arthur
“I don’t understand how you folks living like this, what’s the point of having a store at all If not use currency” exclaimed Arthur taking the paper in his hand, glancing back at Tempest in question
Said Tempest only shrugged in return before walking up to stand beside him
“Faith, I guess” Sheriff replied silently “The store clerk usually trades with neighboring buffalo tribes for supply and sometimes from people who visits our town but his usual store supply has been hit by a gang yesterday, but I’m sure he’ll give you everything you need and lastly Tempest” he says looking at the freelancer finally “It would be best if you could accompany Mr. Arthur”
Tempest who stood silent for most of the time during the conversation tilted her head in question, before she could voice her opinion Arthur interrupted her
“I ain’t no child I can take care of myself around these place, believe me” Arthur said resting his right in his belt near his sidearm
“I do, but I think your work would be done hastily if you have at least one more pair of arms to help am I not wrong?” responded Jo’va gesturing towards Tempest
“I’ve done this before”
“I’m sure you’ve done the same wherever you come from but it’s not wherever you come from so-”
“Sure feels like you giving me a damn somebody to take care of”
“I know you took them out in second but be reasonable”
“Do I get to change her diaper too?”
Again Tempest stood silently hands tucked underneath her cloak, ignoring the unintentional or intentional jab at her competence for minutes before eventually her patience waned. She moved quickly, in split seconds she sidestepped and rotated herself halfway before throwing her cloak revealing her dark orchid armor, long dagger resting at her thigh and the revolver who Arthur gave her back prior entering the building
“I’ll come” she stated taking a brief look at Arthur with narrowed eyes
The latter looking back at her with for several seconds before giving up to interject in her proposal, nodding his head at her and straightening his jacket he started walking towards the door
“Yeah well I’ll catch you later then, Sheriff. How about you find me a place to rest for the night?” Arthur regarded Jo’va and asking the freelancer hands gesturing her to follow before going outside
Tempest who watched Arthur exit the building looked back at Sheriff with raised brow, pointing her finger at Sheriff
“There won’t be peace after this, Jo’va”
Sheriff who looked relieved for finally having somebody to help him and his town replied with hands behind his head
“It isn’t enough to talk about peace, one must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it, one must work at it, Tempest I’m sure you two could be partners”
Narrowing her eyes further she took a quick turn and stormed after the outsider
The sheriff now alone in the building finally let out a shuddering breath, taking the worn bandana out of his pocket second time looking at the worn cloth for a long minute and reckoning a quote from someone
“I’m not one to take revenge, I leave it to the universe to take care of them”
Putting the bandana back “Mhm… quite literal” he mused to himself
Author's Note
Almost died to Covid, stay safe and stay healthy people. Peace
