The Adventures of Hoss Wild the Cowpony: Beginning

The train came to a screeching halt as it pulled into Appleloosa junction. Hoss left the train in a hurry. Applejack called for him to slow down, but before they chased after him, Twilight called her friends over.

“Guys, I think Hoss is looking for vengeance, keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t do anything foolish.”

The ponies all nodded in agreement and left the train.

Braeburn came up to them and said, “Woo boy, that ride sure was long! We should stop by the saloon for a quick drink.”

Pinkie Pie was excited and exclaimed, “Oh boy, I love cider! Lets go and get some now!”

The group made their way to the Flim Flam saloon where they found a few ponies at the bar drinking cider, a table with four ponies playing poker, and a old pony playing on a player piano. A crimson rug barely covered the wooden floor. Every step was followed by the creaking of old floor boards, and the smell of oak, cider, and leather was in the air. Flim and Flam were singing along with the old western song.

Applejack walked over to the bar and said, “Howdy boys, I see you’re still selling your cider, are you making it the honest way?”

Flim spoke first, “Ah, dear Applejack, but of course we are! Our little competition taught us a valuable lesson about the hard work needed for our product.”

Flam interrupted, “Here, have a glass on the house for your whole group.”

Fluttershy spoke softly, “Oh my, thank you.”

Pinkie ordered 12 pints of cider, but Flim gave her only one on the house. Then he looked at Hoss.

“Mr….Mr. Wild!”

The piano came to a crashing halt and all the ponies looked at Hoss.

Hoss spoke loudly, “Howdy y’all.”

Flim snapped out of the daze and said, “Uh, all of your drinks are on the house, Mr. Wild.”

“No thank you, I’ll be fine with just one,” Hoss replied.

The piano went back to playing normally and the group sat at a large circular table.

“What was that all about?” Rarity asked.

Braeburn answered for Hoss, “The Wilds are… um, were, a well know family around here. Very wealthy, very kind folk, but a few months back the arsonist-”

“The GANG!” Hoss interrupted, “wanted protection money from my family. My father worked hard for that money he needed it for our family, so he told the gang no. Well that made them very angry, so they took me outside and threatened to hurt me. That’s when my father paid, but they didn’t care. They took the money, locked them inside the house, and lit the fire with… with my family still inside… my father, my mother, my two brothers… the last thing I remember was being hit in the head, they knocked me out. When I awoke, the house was a smoldering pile of ash and all the fields were on fire.”

The group was dead silent.

Rainbow Dash stood on up and said, “Alright, we gotta get these no good ponies before anyone else gets hurt.”

Twilight turned to Braeburn, “Why didn’t you call for the authorities, what are we supposed to do?”

“Every time they see a guard or sheriff they book out of town. Princess Celestia said you ponies were up to the task. She wants you to investigate for clues and find their hide out, then call in the guards to secure them and then let the courts decide their fates.”

“They deserve to be hung for what they did!” Hoss yelled.

Twilight breathed in and out and said, “No Hoss, you have to be the bigger pony and let the court system handle them.”

Hoss looked away in disagreement.

The group was silent until Pinkie Pie shouted, “Let’s have fun for tonight, then work tomorrow.”

The group agreed and went back up to the bar for another round of cider before breaking up into their own groups. Fluttershy went with Braeburn to check on the animals at the local barn, Rarity went shopping at the western outfitter store. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were competing with each other in who could drink the most cider. Twilight was watching them both shaking her head, and Applejack sang along with the piano. Hoss looked at his new friends and went outside.

The night was cool and the stars shined bright, Hoss gazed up at them while walking. The wind blew gently, but enough to push a few tumble weeds. The red rocks looked like large chimneys off in the distance of the dark plains. When he snapped out of his trance he realized where he was heading. He saw the scorched land and followed the blackness up the hill where he saw a few pieces of burned wood where his house once stood. His hazel eyes grew misty. He missed his family; he wished he could just go up the hill and hug both his mother and father one more time. He would bro hoof his older brother, and give his younger brother a noogie.

“Are you alright sugar cube?” Hoss looked behind him. It was Applejack.

Hoss snickered softly and said, “You must have seen me leave the saloon. I guess I wasn’t as sneaky as I had thought.”

Applejack moved next to Hoss, “Is this your homestead?”

Hoss nodded and said, “Yeah… these were the apple orchards, over there was the barn and, up on the hill, that was my house.”

Applejack spoke softly, “Hoss, I’m so sorry for everything. When you came to the farm, I thought you were a drifter trying to steal some of our stuff, but I had no idea it was this.”

Hoss shrugged, “It’s okay AJ, I just I didn’t know how to tell you guys I needed a place to stay, but when you came here to help Braeburn and the Natives I knew I could go to your ranch to get help.”

Applejack smiled, “I’m glad you were polite to Granny Smith, she told me after you left that we could trust you. Your eyes showed her all about who you are.”

Hoss smirked, “Is that how you knew I was telling the truth that I wasn’t the arsonist?”

Applejack smiled and nudged Hoss’ shoulder, “Nah, I just knew it was six versus one and we could have taken ya.”

They both laughed while a coyote howled in the distance.

AJ yawned, “It’s late, we better head back, we gotta start a ponyhunt bright and early tomorrow.” They both walked back to the saloon in the darkness, and for the first time in a month, Hoss didn’t feel alone.