Daring’s perspective:

We stood by the port side of the ship and looked to the setting sun on the horizon that gave the world a beautiful lighting. John stood on his hindlegs and let his forelegs rest on the guard railing. I followed a similar fashion. For the last two hours we had been conversing about how we were going to deal with Black Mane.

“So John… how do you know Black Mane?” I asked, striking up a conversation. But John killed the conversation pretty quickly.

“It uhm… don’t worry about it. It’s not important.” He informed me. I raised an eyebrow.

“Of course it is. John if you knew Black Mane then maybe we can figure out a way to best him.” I explained and he just shook his head.

“Just… it’s not something to talk about. Just drop it okay.” He said in a shying tone. I let out a sigh. It was something that we really needed to talk about, not because it was personal but because it was actually important to finding Black Mane, if it wasn’t that way then I’d have just left him to his business.

“John… Black Mane shot me. I almost died. I would’ve died if it wasn’t for you. We need everything at our disposal to defeat him, and that means that you have to tell me what you know about him.” I told him and he gave me a stare. A cold stare. His brown eyes were like ice.

“He shot me… in the gut. With his revolver… His revolver, not the one he shot you with. It’s called ‘Curse.’ It’s an all-black Colt Peacemaker. It has a golden cross much like mine and shares semblance much like mine.” He informed me as he pulled out his black M1911 pistol. “They say that whoever touches ‘Curse’ is put under its curse. Only few have the willpower to hold it and its demonic power. Mine… its holy, blessed by the fathers of goddess and is enchanted as such.” He told me.

“See, was that hard?” I asked in a bubbly tone.

“Yes.” He replied and I laughed.

“What was so heart wrenching about that?” I asked and he sighed. Tears began to flow from his eyes and I leaned my head over the edge of the railing so I could see his face. He was really crying, legitimate tears.

“He… Daring it’s… not easy to say this but… he killed my parents… changed who I was.” He informed me and I gulped.

“I thought you were an orphan that grew up in an orphanage.” I told him and he half nodded.

“It was like an orphanage… I was too young to remember him shooting my parents but she… she took me in, told Black Mane not to stoop to that level. They took me into their gang when I was only a year old.” He informed me. My heart sank as my own painful memories flooded my mind.

“This… mare… she was… your mentor, wasn’t she?” I asked and he nodded.

“When I was only four I witnessed Black Mane ruthlessly killing rich ponies to feed poor ponies. Said it was the right thing to do. I didn’t understand the concept of death. She… she took me away to the forest. Ran with me until we found somewhere safe. Four the next eight years she trained me in how to use weapons, said I needed to be ready. When I was twelve years old Black Mane found us. He attacked with a huge group. She… she burst out of the shed with only her two Schofield revolvers. She didn’t even stand a chance. Mane shot her dead but when he saw me he shooed every-pony else away. He pointed the gun to me and said if I ever felt like he stole something from me that I should come find him… then he shot me.” He informed me as he lifted his shirt and showed me his scar.

“What was she like?” I asked and he sniffled.

“Young… so young and beautiful. She couldn’t have been older than… twenty four. Her name was Hearth… she was a… a zebra. I’ll never forget the last words… ‘I love you.’” He whispered. I tried to comfort him by placing a loving foreleg around him but it didn’t really do much.

“I’m sorry John… I… shouldn’t have asked you that. I never knew it went so deep.” I told him as my own emotions began to surface.

“She… we could’ve gotten away… a secret passageway underneath the shed that led out further away but… she said they would always find us.” He told me. I began to well up with tears and I choked on a sob. “Please don’t cry… it’s not your fault.” He told me and I nodded.

“I know… John… I don’t know you pains… I don’t think I ever will but…” I trailed off as I got choked up on another sob. “I never had parents either… mine died when I was young. My aunt said my mother died giving birth and my father began drinking. One night when he was drunk he got in a fight and was stabbed in the throat by a broken beer bottle… I grew up without parents.” I told him. I wasn’t exactly sure why I was telling him that. The only other pony that really knew was Ray, well and my aunt.

“I’m… sorry.” He apologized sympathetically, like it was his fault.

As my emotions continued to flow, for whatever reason which was beyond my thoughts, I revealed something to him that I had only partly revealed to Ray. No other pony knew about it but me.

“John.” I gasped, so quietly that even I could barely hear myself. He looked over to me, his eyes red from crying. “I… have you ever had a marefriend?” I asked and he shook his head. Figures as much. “I did… my first one… Lucky, his name was. We were both so young and so… foolish. I was only fifteen when we started… anyway, I decided to adventure through the old mines of Dodge even though Marshal Ray had told us never to go near that place. Lucky didn’t want to but I forced him along anyway telling him that nothing could go wrong. When we were down there we began to laugh and rough house like we were real time adventurers. Lucky… found a secret passageway that wasn’t on the map and as we were… as we were exploring it he… he must’ve… he must’ve triggered some sort of trap door… he fell... Down some sort of shaft way and into a subterranean room. He told me to run back and I did... I ran right to the Marshal’s office but he and the deputies weren’t there, they were off chasing bandits. When they got back I told them what had happened and we all rushed to save him but… I don’t know what happened. Ray brought a bunch of rope with him and lowered a deputy down. He said… he said… all he could find was… blood… John, Lucky was my only real coltfriend and… he died because of me. Because of my arrogance… because of my… stupidity. John I… I’ve never spoken this much about myself… I… don’t know how to feel. I vowed never to love but I kept falling for stallion after stallion, they were either in it for the fame or in it because I was eye candy. One day I finally I boxed myself up. I’m not going to fall for any-one else… I can’t.” I told him.

“Because of what happened to Lucky?” He asked and I nodded. “I… I know what it’s like to feel responsible but… you have to understand that some things are beyond your control. Some things are other pony’s fault but it directly ties back to you because… just because.” He stated. “While we’re being honest I might as well… tell you.” He told me.

“Tell me what?” I asked quietly. He raised his duster flaps away and lowered his trousers slightly to reveal a nasty burn scar where his cutie mark would be. He turned around to show me the other side where a similar scar was placed.

He gulped. “They were… signs of a true ranger. A golden six pointed deputy badge star with twin revolvers crossed behind them. When Hearth found out she hid the cutie marks but Black Mane eventually found out. He had my cutie marks branded off, saying that if my cutie marks really did foretell my special talent than I’d be better off dead.” He informed me. Both our emotions ran a tension through the air which could literally be seen. Why we were telling each other our deepest and most painful secrets I didn’t know but perhaps it was meant to be. I began to hug John tightly and he returned the hug.

“Thank you John… for telling me… for listening.”

Author's Notes:

Seems a bit rushed but... well, that's how it went down when I was imagining it. Not much one for wondering how things would practically work out.