Third person, desert plains:

3:30am…

“Gonna hang me in the morning…” Sang the smug voice of Deputy Jake. Black Mane groaned irritably as he rolled over to look at him. Jake pointed Celestia’s revolver at his head and squeezed the trigger, again it clicked harmlessly like it had so many times that night.

“I don’t suppose it would be too much to ask… for a little peace and quiet.” Mane groaned. Jake chuckled then let a smile spread across his face.

“Nuh uh… way I figure it is… if I didn’t have to escort you across Equestria… I’d be sleeping peacefully in my bed right now.” Jake sneered as he once again actioned the pistol, but again it clicked harmlessly.

“Or burning painfully… you know my gang’s gonna be looking for me.” Mane replied. Jake smiled then actioned the gun.

“Pfft… what, all five of them. Mr. Marshal will take care of your ‘gang’.” Jake laughed. “They’re gonna hang me in the mornin… before the night is done.” Jake sang. Mane groaned irritably as he rolled over and tried to plug his ears. “They’re gonna hang me in the morning, and I’ll never see the sun.” Jake sang smugly.

Town near El Paso, Texas…

“Alright, now he looks like…” the marshal groaned. Their ‘Black Mane’ dummy didn’t quite look like the real deal but anypony who glanced would think him real.

“Ah seriously hate this… yah know that right?” The deputy, dressed like Mane, replied. They had painted his fur and mane black, then dressed him in similar clothes to what Mane had been wearing.

The marshal nodded then sighed. “Yeah well, just deal with it. Everypony else, just act normal.” Marshal ordered. The two other deputies nodded then proceeded outside. The marshal looked back to the dressed up deputy then gave a nod before proceeding outside.

The marshal looked around then to his wrist watch. It was 5:30 in the morning and the sun was just rising. He sighed as he thought about his wife and two children. How they were probably still sleeping. How his wife was asleep peacefully in her bed. How when she woke she’d cook them both a fine breakfast.

The marshal smiled, “Eggs and toa…” He was cut off as a bullet traveled straight through his head and knocked his lifeless body to the ground. A gunshot echoed only moments after.

The two deputies looked in all different directions as they tried to figure out where the shot had come from. “WHAT THE FU…” Was all the first deputy managed before a bullet slammed into his chest and knocked him onto his back.

The second deputy didn’t think twice before leaping behind some barrels and taking cover. He unslung his Winchester rifle and held it close to his chest. His breathing was raspy and sharp. His senses were on full alert, then, he heard a high pitched whistle from behind him, like somepony was whistling to their horse.

He turned his head back to see a blond furred pony standing in the street. “GET OFF THE STREET! THERE’S A…” Was all he managed before the stallion whipped out a Model 3 Schofield and put a bullet right into the chest of the deputy.

Charlie gave a half assed frown. “I hate deputies.” He muttered.

Charlie took off his black Desperado hat and waved it in the air. Across town, Milo nodded and waved his Marexican cowpony hat, signalling that he got the message. Charlie gave another, lower pitched, whistle. Three gang members trotted out onto the street.

Charlie booted down the door of the police station. “Don’t worry boss, we’re here to…” Was all he managed before a bullet clipped his right shoulder, tuffing up fur but missing his skin.

Charlie staggered back as the dressed up deputy fidgeted with his single action revolver, trying painfully to cock back the hammer to get a second shot off. Charlie snapped his aim to the deputy’s shoulder and fired.

The bullet slammed into the deputy’s shoulder and spun him to the ground. Two of the fellow outlaws rushed into the office and prepared to kill off the final deputy. “WAIT!” Charlie screamed and the outlaws held their fire.

“Just wait.” Charlie calmly ordered then trotted over to the jail cell. He kicked away the revolver then motioned to one of the outlaws and whistled. “Cherry Bloom.” He called, the outlaw rushed over to him and Charlie nodded.

“Hey… hey what are yah doing?” The deputy asked frantically as Cherry Bloom began pouring liquid around the office.

“Where did they take him?” Charlie asked calmly.

“Ah don’t know. They didn’t tell me.” The deputy replied. Charlie licked his lips then gave a half irritated look.

“Last chance.” Charlie replied.

“Ah swear on muh life, ah don’t know.” He replied again. Charlie nodded.

“Alright… I believe you. Cherry, this stallion’s no use to us.” He stated and Cherry Bloom nodded, lit a match and then dropped it. The flammable liquid quickly ignited and began to catch fire to the office. The deputy inside the locked cell instantly became wide-eyed.

“Please… please, mister, have mercy. Don’t do this.” The deputy pleaded. Charlie turned then wiped his nose before turning back to the deputy.

“Tell me where they’re taking him.” He said calmly, as the other outlaws left the now burning building.

“Ah-don’t-know.” The deputy said slowly, pleading for his life. Charlie sighed then holstered his revolver.

“Tell me where they’re bringing him… or you will burn.” Charlie stated calmly. The flames intensified and the deputy began to sweat profusely.

“PONYVILLE… They’re bringin him tah Ponyville, gonna put him on a train tah Canterlot prison!” The deputy cried out.
Charlie’s eyes went wide as he realized what they had planned.

He walked away, leaving the deputy helpless. “Hey… HEY ,MISTER… MISTER!” The deputy screamed as the flames began to engulf the entire building. Charlie stepped outside just as the deputy began to scream in agony.

Ponies looked from windows but didn’t dare step out onto the street where the outlaws now stood. They all watched in fear as the police station burned to the ground, the screaming deputy still trapped inside.

“They’re going to Ponyville… mount up.” Charlie told the others. Just as he was about to mount his own horse, one of the other outlaws stopped him.

“Charlie… Ponyville is over 100 miles north a here… we’ll kill our horses tryin to catch them.” The outlaw stated. Charlie just shrugged off the warning.

“Then we’ll get new ones.” He replied as he once again tried to mount his horse, but the outlaw held him down. Charlie turned to look at him.

“Charlie, it’s his own damn fault that he got caught. You remember what he did to Jack. Shot him cause he messed up. Well he messed up this time Charlie. We should just let him go.” The outlaw said.

Charlie raised an eyebrow. “You think you could lead this gang better than him?” Charlie asked. The outlaw shrugged. “Okay ‘new’ boss… you think we should just leave him?” He asked and the outlaw nodded.

Charlie’s eyes went wide in anger then narrowed as he whipped out his right Schofield in a flash of motion. The outlaw didn’t even have time to flinch, the draw was quicker than he could’ve expected.

The gunshot echoed through the town and the outlaw just gasped as he held his center chest, where a finely placed bullet hole now leaked blood. His body collapsed and Charlie turned back to the three other outlaws. “Maybe you all forgot what the boss has done for us… we’re going to Ponyville!” He announced then mounted onto his horse.

John’s perspective:

I awoke to the sound of gagging. I quickly sat up to see Black Mane overtop of Jake, the new deputy. He had the chain links around the deputy’s throat and was strangling him. “HEY!” I yelled, waking everypony else up.

I rushed over and ripped Mane off from atop Jake’s now dead body. Red looked to Jake then to Black Mane. “Nice… killed our watchpony.” Red commented. I then noticed it was early in the morning and the sun had already arisen.

“Shit… mount up. We gotta get moving.” I ordered everypony before grabbing the revolver Jake had been dicking with, and Mane’s custom revolver. Just holding it sent chills up my spine.

We quickly mounted on our horses and galloped off towards Ponyville. Billy spoke up. “Shouldn’t we have at least buried him?” He asked. I shook my head.

“If we had more time… already too late in the morning. His gang will be right behind us.” I replied.

About an hour later, we slowed our horses’ pace to allow them to rest somewhat. “Why… why would you do that?” Red asked, confused by his actions.

“Why did you stick along with this group?” Mane asked, changing the topic.

“Because I did.” Red replied. I had been wondering the same question, but I guess my answer wasn’t what I was hoping for.

“My answer is the same as yours.” Mane replied. Red raised an eyebrow.

“You just killed him because… you felt like it? Damn… I like this stallion.” Red stated. I groaned. ‘Great, now we’re traveling, not only with the notorious outlaw Black Mane, but also with a psychopathic gryphon.

Mane smiled. “Glad to hear it. I like you too.” Mane replied. The two began to chat about killing and the best ways to make ponies or zebras feel pain before they died. I could tell nopony else liked their conversations, but what could we really do?

The entire day went like that, those two idiots talking about stupid things. I pulled out the revolver that Jake had been dicking with then looked at it more thoroughly. It was a pristine pistol though it had a weird look to it. I could tell it was a LeMat, or was to resemble a LeMat.

“Celestia’s revolver.” Mane called to me. Daring, Elijah and I all looked over to him with curious looks. Mane simply chuckled. “Oh dear goddess, don’t tell me that you’re looking at a legendary artifact and you haven’t even heard the rumor about it.” Mane laughed.

“Celestia’s revolver is just a foal’s tale.” Elijah muttered and Mane laughed.

Mane looked over to Daring. “Ms. Do, if I were to tell you that revolver, in John’s hooves, is the legendary revolver that was owned by Celestia in the civil war, what would you say?” Mane asked and Daring was at a complete loss for words.

“Why doesn’t it work?” I asked, wondering why Jake couldn’t use it earlier. Mane looked to me and smiled.

“Oh, it works. It just doesn’t work for those that don’t have pure intentions… guess I’m not all bad… either that or Jake wasn’t all good.” Mane chuckled. Daring finally managed to talk.

“So… that’s… that’s Celestia’s gun. Jeeze, that belongs in a museum.” She commented. Mane nodded. A thought instantly came to mind.

“Why did you let us have the gold?” I asked and Mane simply raised an eyebrow.

“Let you? I hardly think I just ‘Let you’ have the gold. But in any case, those billons of gold belonged in a museum. I was just doing my part.” He commented. Both Daring and I exchanged glances then shrugged.

Mane looked back to Red. “You know… my gang is gonna come looking… and when they find you all… they’re gonna kill you.” He informed us… or maybe he was just talking to Red. “But… reckoning you let me go then I’ll tell them that you were just… escorting me out of town and away from those law stallions.” He offered.

Most of us immediately just scoffed at the offer. Red had a plain look on his face and he twitched as he considered it. Then, almost seconds after the offer, simply let out a small chuckle.

“Not happening.” I told him and Mane simply shrugged.

After a few more hours, we stopped our horses for the night. Elijah had quickly made a fire and we all sat down and ate supper, which Brixie had cooked up. Brixie handed Mane a plate of cooked Swiss chard and an apple.

Mane nodded in appreciation. “Thank you ma’am… mmm, smells delicious.” He thanked her in a very gentlecolty manner. He began to eat the Swiss chard then quickly switched over to the apple but couldn’t maneuver his hooves right, due to the hoof cuffs.

I sighed, stood up and then trotted over to him. He looked up to me and I began cutting the apple into eight slices. He gave me a genuine smile. “Why thank you John… you mind if I call you John?” He asked. I finished cutting the apple. “Ahh… would you mind cutting off the peeling? I don’t like the apple peel.” He asked.

I began cutting the apple peel off and Mane smiled. “Thank yah, John. I don’t really like the apple peels… oh and can yah cut the core… I don’t like it neither.” He said with a smug smile on his face. I gave him a blunt expression and nodded then cut the core out as well.

I sat back down beside Daring and sighed as I finished my meal. Red yawned as he lay back and looked to the stars. ‘Why was he still with us?’ I thought to myself as I looked to the blood thirsty gryphon. Bear lay away from the fire, to keep cool due to his dense fur. Elijah slept closer to the fire, Brixie and Billy cuddled closely.

I lay back and looked to the stars as Daring lay beside me. I leaned my head over to look at Black Mane. “Why did you kill him?” I asked.

“Why does anypony do anything?” He returned my question with another question. Smart ass motherfucker that he was.

“Because…” I trailed off as I tried to think of an answer, but ended up thinking about why he would kill for almost no reason.

“He got a bad song stuck in my head… that and he wouldn’t let me sleep.” He replied. I chuckled briefly as he began to sing a somewhat ironic song. “Gonna hang me… in the morning, I’m never gonna see the sun, gonna hang me in the morning… before the night is done.” He chuckled as he sang. Black Mane did have a very etiquette manner towards others in life… as long as you didn’t have something he wanted… or piss him off.

“Why did you kill her?” I asked. I could tell I had hit a nerve. His face saddened greatly, I swear, if I didn’t know him better, I’d say a tear came to his eye.

“I was… young… younger anyways…” He began with a chuckle. “I… was mad John… I don’t expect you to understand that… seeing as how you’re a righteous stallion. Yah always have been.” He said in a very fatherly way, but not quite answering the question.

“Just wondering was all… goodnight.” I said, regretting my last words. I could tell he smiled, I don’t know how I knew… but I knew.

Third person, hours later:

Black Mane awoke to a knife blade resting dangerously close to his throat. He simply smiled faintly and chuckled. “Wanted me awake before you killed me?” He asked, more rhetorically then curious.

“Nah… come with me.” Red hissed as he retracted the blade away from Mane’s throat.

“Why?” He asked, this time actually curious. Red silently slapped himself in the head.

“Do you want to get hanged? Or would you rather come with me?” He asked, starting to get irritated with the games Mane was playing. Mane silently sat up, letting Red pull him to his hooves.

The two snuck away from the camp without being noticed by the others. Red had been on watch so nopony else was up. As the trotted away from the camp, the fire’s warmth faded. “Ooh… I’m chilly.” Mane muttered then suddenly something snarled from beside them.

The duo looked over to see Bear snarling at them. He had stayed vigilant to make sure nothing went wrong.

Red snarled back at the dog. “Piss of Fido, we’re just going for a piss.” Red hissed. Bear however, kept growling. “Whatever, fuck you… stupid mutt.” Red commented then began to casually trot away with Mane.

Bear somehow knew what the two were up to and lashed out at Red. He snapped his sharp teeth into Red’s good arm and bit down hard. “GAHHHHHH YOU FUCK!” Red yelled, quickly waking the group.

Red flicked his left wrist, the blade coming out to its full length. Bear held on tight as Red tried to swing the dog off his forearm but Bear held on tight. Blood leaked from Red’s arm and into Bear’s mouth. In one sweep motion, Red drove the twelve inch blade right into Bear’s ribcage.

The dog yipped painfully as his bite loosened and his body was flung aside. “Hey! Hey what the fuck are you doing!?” Yelled John as he trotted over with the others, still unable to see what was going on. Red grabbed Mane and flew off into the night sky.

“What the fu… FUCK!” John yelled as he realized that Red had taken Mane up on his offer. They all however, were still unaware of Bear’s condition. He whined painfully and Elijah gasped as he rushed over to his mortally wounded friend.

“Bear… BEAR! Brixie, come quick!” Elijah screamed, tears now forming in his eyes. Brixie rushed over to his side. “Quick, help him!” Bear yelled. Brixie quickly flashed an illumination spell but only moments after her quick analysis of Bear, her head drooped in defeat.

“I… I can’t… his lungs… are punctured… I don’t know that kind of magic…” She said in absolute defeat. So defeated, that she referred to herself as ‘I’ rather than using third person like she always did.

Bear’s eyes went wide as he tears quickly flooded his vision. He squeezed his canine friend tightly. “No… no not like this… please goddess not like this… PLEASE!” Elijah cried. Bear whimpered sadly, like a dog does when it is emotionally sad and wants its owner’s attention. “Bear… Bear… I won’t leave you… please goddess… not him.” Elijah whispered a plead, but didn’t get a reply.

Elijah sobbed into Bear’s now bloodied fur as he hugged him gently. His best friend in the world, now dying in front of him, and there was nothing he could do.

Author's Notes:

Something about when animals die in stories... I don't know. When John 'Died' it was kind of a big deal but... (Sighs) animals dying in stories always make it that much more touchy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHgmfwUyhJw