The night had finally set itself upon Equestria and blanketed the world in darkness. I let out a shallow sigh as I looked out the window and to the stars. I smiled to myself as I remembered John telling me how he believed that the ones we love looked down at us from the stars… and how I told him that was ridiculous.

My eyes began to tear up and I began to let out quiet sobs. “I’m so sorry John… I missed.” I whispered to myself. I let out a sigh then laid down on the soft bedding and soon fell asleep but my dreams where haunted.

I grunted as I collapsed into the cold dirt of the forest. ‘Just a little further… just a little… further!’ I thought to myself before dragging my body up against a tree. I set my hoof against the back of my head and grunted in pain.

Luckily my skull wasn’t cracked but it still hurt like hell where I had hit my head. I leaned up against a tree trunk and let my eyes flutter shut… perhaps tomorrow would be different… perhaps.

I gasped as I sat up immediately, bringing myself into full consciousness almost too quickly. Sweat dampened my fur and bed sheets, making me body shiver in coldness. I looked over to the couch where John had slept during our first night here and my heart surged in emotional pain.

I laid back down in my cold bed sheets and slowed my breathing. What was the point of going on? I didn’t have anything to live for. All these years I just kept wandering, finding treasure, and for what? What was I really accomplishing? And just when I thought I may have found a stallion who loves me for who I am…

Tears came to my eyes again and I clenched them shut but tears trickled down my already damp cheeks. ‘Goddess dammit… why did you have to die John?’ I thought in my mind before rolling over and passing out again.

2 weeks later:

Those days seemed like just yesterday. I was still remorseful over John’s death and it still continued to haunt my dreams. Elijah had opted to travel with us, saying how he owed John his life but if John was no longer with us then he owed me his life, seeing as how I was the closest to John.

Brixie and Billy rode on Marry while I rode on Nostalgic with Elijah. Bear paced alongside the horses. We were finally at the border of Marexico and Equestria. In the far off distance I could see small rocky cliffs.

We passed over the border, wherever it was, and trotted along the dusty trails of Marexico. Elijah spoke to me for the first time in several hours. “So we get the treasure, then what?” He asked and I shrugged.

I still didn’t really have a reason to keep going on like this. Maybe I’d just settle down and live alone for the remainder of my life. Shut out the world. “I don’t know.” I told him. As our horses continued to trot along through the dusty trails, several gunshots went off nearby.

The horses neighed in fear but we ended up directing them towards the gunshots.

As we approached, we spotted a law-stallion who was limping while holding his gut. Another law-stallion, but he was a zebra, who had been shot in the back of his head, lay dead on the ground with a pool of blood around his body. “Please… help me.” Pleaded the Marexican pony.

We stopped our horses nearby and I dismounted. The purple pony rushed up to me. “Please stranger… I was transporting some really bad criminals to jail when one grabbed my partner’s pistol. He shot my friend in the back of the head and shot me before I could get him. They went that way… there’s two of them… try and get them alive so I can bring them to justice.” He pleaded. I looked to the others and they nodded.

I mounted up and we galloped off. As we reached the top of a slight hill we spotted two buffalos racing off, creating a small fume of dust behind them as they kicked up loose sand.

“Billy… aim for their legs.” I ordered as Billy unslung his scoped rifle and took aim. As he pulled the trigger the rifle shot out and the report sounded like a loud snap. One of the buffalos screamed and fell to the ground.

Billy quickly racked the bolt then took aim again. He fired again and the second buffalo fell to the ground. Billy racked the bolt on his rifle then nodded to me. We lightly spurred our horses and trotted down to them.

The buffalos crawled along the ground to try and escape us as we approached. “What are you doing!? Why would you help that crazy old pony?! We didn’t do anything!” Cried the one buffalo. Both looked rather young and spiteful.

Elijah grabbed one of the criminals while Billy grabbed the other and tied their forelegs around their backs. They placed them on the back of each horse before we continued back to the law-stallion who was still waiting for us.

We took the criminals off the horses then pushed them towards the law-stallion. He walked over to us and handed me a pouch of bits, probably ten or so judging by the weight.

“Thank you friend… you’re a true soul… you ain’t got no idea what these two have done.” He told us.

“He’s lying! We didn’t do anything!” Both of the buffalos cried out. The law-stallion pulled out his revolver from its holster and fired a round into each of the buffalos’ heads. We all stared in disbelief and the law-stallion gave us one final nod before trotting off.

We stood there and looked at the bodies of the two buffalos. “Wow…” was all Elijah managed to mutter.

“I know they were outlaws but… that’s a little cold.” Billy commented and I nodded. We continued to just look at the bodies before disregarding it and mounting back up on our horses.

“Brixie cannot believe he just… shot them.” Brixie commented as we continued on towards the rocky cliffs. It would probably take us a day to get there but we could probably stop by one of the small towns on the way.

We continued on but soon spotted a prison wagon stopped with several zebras outside of it. There was about six buffalo lined up in chains just a few yards in front of them. One of the zebras looked to us as we trotted by. “Eh… don’t try anything stupid… but you are free to stay and watch if you wish.” He told us.

I grimaced as I realized this was an unlawful execution. I went to reach for my pistol to stop this travesty. The zebra stallion squinted his eyes as he reached for his own pistol. Elijah stopped me from reaching further for my pistol. “They are the law in this country.” He whispered and wrapped his hooves around my waist to make it look like he was giving me a loving hug.

The zebra took his hoof away from his gun and just as we began to trot away, the zebras opened fire on the chained up buffalo. They didn’t even stand a chance.

Once we were a little further I turned to Elijah. “Why did you stop me?!” I scowled and he sighed.

“As wrong as it is, there wasn’t much we could do… unless you wanted to become a wanted criminal for killing several law-stallions.” He replied. I grimaced, I knew he was right but still… we could have stopped it.

There was a fine looking town with a palace near the center of it. We decided that this would be a fine spot to stay for the night.

We haltered our horses near what looked to be a saloon and entered. Zebras in army fatigues looked over but then quickly looked away. There were five or six gryphons near the back of the saloon.

One of the gryphons looked over to me. He had a grisly face and blue eyes that seemed to reflect the light. He had a simple white t-shirt on though the sleeves were ripped off and holes were cut in the back to allow his wings movement. He had a pair of blue jeans on which was strange, considering that jeans weren’t that popular in Equestria… so why would he have them in Marexico, which was a struggling country?

I quickly turned my stare away from him but he had obviously noticed me looking at him because he gave me a wink. We quickly approached the front counter.

“Where’s a place we can have a night’s sleep?” I asked and the zebra from behind the desk smirked.

“You ain’t rebels… is yah?” He asked and we shook our heads. “Well I can offer yah all a room in next door for cheap… three bits, but it only has two beds.” He informed us. I reached into the pouch of bits we had received from the law-stallion and gave him three bits.

He nodded and we left. As we trotted out of the saloon I managed a more thorough look at the town. I then realized that it was only zebras in this town, plus the six gryphons in the saloon.

We opened the door to the room and looked inside. It wasn’t bad but at the same time it wasn’t really pleasant looking. It was a single room with two beds and that was it.

I looked to Billy and Brixie. “Don’t do anything tonight… I’m serious about that.” I said with a humorous tone and they both blushed. I looked to Elijah but found that he had already found a spot on the floor near his dog, Bear.

That left me with the last bed. I got onto the bed which creaked in retort from my weight. The springs must’ve been old because they were quite stiff and reluctant to adjust properly.

I quickly fell asleep and my dreams were not present. Instead it seemed as if sleep didn’t last long enough.

There was a knock at the door. Elijah was up before I was but I met him at the door. I wondered who really wanted to talk to us. Maybe it was the saloon owner from last night.

Elijah opened the door and we were greeted by the sight of that gryphon I saw last night in the bar. He spook in a rather southern accent but with a slightly grisly voice. “Well howdy… ain’t you a sight to see in the mornin.” He commented, obviously talking to me.

“Uhm… morning.” Elijah replied and the gryphon looked to him with a slightly irritated look. “Can we help you?” Elijah asked and the gryphon looked to him with a slightly gruff look.

“Yeah.” He stated and that’s when I realized her was missing his left arm, or well the forearm. About midway of his forearm it was cut off and in a metal brace. He noticed my gaze and smiled. “Like my arm? It’s my best friend.” He stated then gave his arm a little jolt forwards. A twelve inch bowie knife blade slid out from a sliding sheath and the blade glinted in the sun.

He smiled and looked back to Elijah who didn’t seem all that impressed. “Like I was saying… Presidente wants to meet with you.” He told us.

Author's Notes:

I want to play Red Dead Redemption, go to Mexico then meet a Mexican with his left arm cut off that has a knife blade in a metal clamp who is voiced by Michael Rooker... yeah, been playing to much Red Dead recently