The Troubled Bunch

Do you remember the day you were born?

I don't, but the smell lingers like a bad itch that never goes away.

The smell of rot and old rusty pipes with a mixture of dirt as well as old decaying bodies.

That's the smell I learned to love.

I was born in West Hill. An old run-down prison where outlaws go to serve their time.

Some get out,

Others?

Let's just say rats are a dime in a dozen in that place.

My parents. Old farm workers forced into a life of crime due to high taxes and lack of resources were just one of plenty. A pair of good ponies willingly risked their lives and the lives of others just to put food on the table. They were hungry you see and their family needed to eat, no matter the cost.

When I was born things didn't exactly go well. Instead of sending me to an orphanage like normal the warden for whatever reason decided to keep me around. Maybe as a reminder that he managed to keep one of the most infamous pairs of outlaw ponies locked away for life.

Or maybe he genuinely believed that a prison would be a better option compared to a place that might sell you off for an extra bit or two.

Either way, the walls of West Hill became like home, and the prisoners extended family.

Or at least a good number of them did.

To be honest with you I wasn't with my parents long. Around the time I was barely able to speak they were sent away.

To where?

No pony, griffin, deer, Buffalo, diamond dog, or cat knew.

Either way, it's not like knowing would have changed the last. Especially since rumors of them getting killed and or excluded spread like wildfire across The Valley.

I yelled, screamed, cried, and slammed my hooves against the sold wall for days. The memory of their faces is the only thing I have to cling to, and even then it gets harder and harder to remember each day that passed.

I supposed that life would have been different for me if I was alone for much longer during those troubling times. Perhaps I would have made it. Perhaps not. Regardless I wasn't alone for you see I was far from the only one.

West Hill is a place of hell.

The food is terrible the lighting is poor and there is no such thing as clean drinking water or anything with the word clean added to it,

But for us?

For us, it was home.

Bang!

"Everybody get down!"

I yell over the sea of ponies sitting in their seats. Their faces are full of surprise and fear. I met some robbed others and for the ones I didn't meet I will burn my face into their mind.

For I am a legend you see,

And legends never, never die.

"Today you are getting robbed by the troubled bunch! And me their leader, the one called No Hope."

They thought I would simply fade away and become nothing but a ghost to a once great memory to those before.

Well, they're wrong, and I along with the rest intend to make sure they realize that.

"Get the boots?!"

Little Jam. A bright pony with a not-so-bright mind but her loyalty is absolute. Even if she is a bit of a klutz.

She also makes good tea.

Don't tell her I said that.

I snort. "Is the sky blue?"

In response, she looks up. Only to realize that she couldn't see the sky because we were currently inside a big fucking train.

Celestia help my soul.

"Yes Little and be sure to check their pocket this time okay?"

She smiles giving me her best salute.

"I told you to sit your flank down!"

The sound of metal connecting against the skull made me turn my head. Only to see a certain beige-colored unicorn standing before an unconscious griffin.

I sigh.

"Polly, are you serious?"

She looks at me. Her face is urgent and serious as she waves one hoof in an overly dramatic manner.

"What?! I told him not to move but he moved!"

That's Polly String. A mare who prefers to only say things once. Make her tell you a second time and well, you'll end up on the floor. Despite this, you can count on her to get things done. Even if she goes about it violently.

"Hey, boss!"

I turn for the second time today only to see a whitish-blue filly with a mini rifle slung across her shoulders.

"I found some diamonds!"

She opens her pounce and tada! Several little red diamonds were present. Their appearance made my mouth water with the future bits we were going to make off these things.

That's Ghost. An eager please gun slinging filly who loves action and the sound of gunfire.

In essence, she's a ball of fluff to us and a demon spawn of endless bullets to her enemy's

Ya, she got problems,

And we love her for it.

"Law!"

I turn to see Polly looking out the window. From her face alone I could tell it wasn't going to be pretty.

"It's a whole pack of them!"

I stand corrected.

Before I could even give out any orders the sound of glass breaking drew my attention. Only for me to witness Ghost with her mini rifle already letting off rounds at the deputies. Granted they were just for show and she didn't plan on hitting anyone

At least not yet.

"Time to go!"

Together I, Little, and Polly made a beeline toward the exit. As soon as we were off tbe train Little Jam was firing shots to cover Ghost's exit.

While that was happening we all jumped into the metal wagon and began to make our escape. Ghost and Jam were quick to regroup as it was our turn to provide cover.

"Go!"

Polly didn't need to tell me twice.

Off we went.

I bet you're here now, expecting me to tell you some sort of an epic escape filled with twists, turns, gunfire, and the occasional explosion.

Well unfortunately that didn't happen.

The truth?

We ran out of gas.

Yes, you read me correctly.

You see it was Little Jam's turn to fill the gas. However, you see a little butterfly pass by us the night before, and since we rarely see any Little Jam was immediately entrance. Now after staring at the bug on the ground for possibly several hours the mare then realized that it was dead.

Now after realizing this you would think she would finish her task.

Nope!

Instead, she held a darn funeral for the thing on the spot for the rest of the night until she fell asleep.

I should know I was there.

However, I was severely drunk at the time and only recently remembered what occurred.

So now we sit here sharing a cold shell while we wait for Law to ship us back home. Little Jam of course isn't taking her mistake well but things happen.

Granted it was a rather big mistake but hey we can always rob more trains in the future.

Plus remember those diamonds?

Let's just say Ghost hid them in a place Law would never look.

At least not unless they wanted to catch charges of their own.

The better news?

I already hatched an escape plan.