//------------------------------// // Leaving Home Behind // Story: Red Dead Revival // by Crimson_Moon //------------------------------// Fate's a fickle mistress, ain't she? It was a shock to me when I found out what that cursed tattoo on my ass actually meant; It was my destiny to be an outlaw. Nothing hurt me more than having to admit that. I thought I gave up that life! The last thing I wanted was to die an outlaw again! ...What's worse is my Cutie Mark also meant that I was unbelievably good at my job, if you can even call it that. I swore to never tie Bloom or my new family into this, but like I said, fate really knows how to hit you where it hurts. Even managed to screw up 6 other ponies' lives in the process... A rooster's crow roused Arthur from his sleep, the morning bell unusually silent. He couldn't really blame Applejack for not ringing it. After all, he was the one responsible for pulling away one of her friends and her brother for who knows how long. Stretching his limbs, he looked around the barn him and the rest of his gang slept in, all the other barn animals moved somewhere else. Looking at his packed saddlebags, he sighed and pulled out his journal. Sketching the barn in its pages, he wanted to make sure to never forget it on the road. It was, after all, his first home in Equestria. "Nngh, you awake already, Arthur?" Big Mac asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Been up all night. Got to thinkin' about my Cutie Mark." He mumbled, finishing the sketches before closing his journal and tucking it away in his modified duster. Rarity couldn't resist the chance to improve what she called "such ghastly attire". Unfortunately, all Arthur requested was that it be fitted for the contours of his body. One shrinking spell later, and it fit perfectly. Not one to stray from improving, she sewed in a couple side pockets to hold his journal in, among other things. Another "gift" was from Starlight, in the form of what she called runework added to his guns. Twilight came up with and implemented the idea, but seeing as how she was still...upset from the events that transpired, she asked the violet unicorn to make the modifications instead. Now Arthur didn't even need to manually reload anymore- the guns took care of it for him. He still needed to carry spare ammunition with him, however. "Been meanin' to ask ya Mac, why'd you agree when I asked you to join? Way I see it, I just kinda bullied you into following me all around town yesterday." The red stallion gave it some thought. "Let's just say I got tired of the farmin' life and leave it at that." "Fair enough, but know that this gang is gonna be like a second family so feel free to express concerns. Well," he stretched, grabbing his saddlebags and rope hat hanging on the stall nearby. "Time to get movin'. Care to do the honors?" He asked, throwing on his saddlebags and checking his gear. He nodded eagerly. "EVERYPONY UP. TIME T'SAY GOODBYE!" Mac shouted at the top of his lungs, jolting everypony else awake. Waiting for a minute or two to get moving, the red stallion motioned them to follow. Outside the barn, everypony's friends and family came to say farewell, many becoming emotional, hugging and kissing their loved ones goodbye. Carrot Cake hugged his twin foals goodbye, each barely a year old. "Y-you be b-brave for auntie Pinkie and mommy, alright?" He cried, kissing them each on their foreheads. Pound Cake booped him on the nose and giggled, making his dad chuckle. "Honey," he motioned for his wife, Cup Cake, to take the foals and gave her a loving kiss goodbye. "I'll think about you every day, I swear!" "Lyra, Bon-Bon." Octavia curstied, Vinyl silent but teary eyed next to her. Her trademark shades were resting over her horn. "It will be a bore with-" she choked, before gaining her composure. "Without-" "DON'T GOOOHOHOOOO, I'LL DO ANYTHIHIIING!" Vinyl suddenly bawled. Octavia joined in a few seconds later. "Hey, we'll be back before you know it, 'Tavs!" Lyra gave her a smile. "Hey, first round's on me, Vinyl!" Bon-Bon hugged the DJ. "Plus who knows? Maybe I'll have a few more candy ideas to make when I get back!" She winked. "Y-you find Applebloom darn it!" Granny Smith nudged Big Mac in his barrel. "Wouldn't forgive myself if I broke the promise I made to your ma and pa." "Find Bloom, whatever it takes." Applejack kissed Arthur on the cheek. "F-for good luck." She blushed. "D-don't think this changes nothin'! Cuz it don't!" She scrunched her nose, earning a chuckle from the outlaw. Finally, Fluttershy had to say goodbye to Angel Bunny. "I wish I could take you, my sweet little Angel, but I have a promise to keep." The white rabbit tried to desperately pull her away, chittering and crying, but all in vain. "Discord said he'll take care of feeding the other animals, but I need you to be the Bunny of the house while I'm gone, okay?" She smiled, nuzzling him one more time. With all their goodnyes said, the gang set all their things in the canvas wagon lent to them by the Apple family and set on their way, it being the only gift Arthur tolerated for the adventure. Twilight also gave them 8 medallions for whenever they found the missing foals and Cheerilee. One each for Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, Scootaloo, Button Mash, Rumble, Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara, and their teacher, he was instructed to have Lyra activate the medallions with her magic and place it around their neck. "Alright everypony!" Arthur shouted. "Get ready to make like a hurricane, we're wanted criminals now!" He nodded to Luna to give the signal. Lighting her horn, the Princess sent a flare high up over the town, giving the guards patrolling the signal that the outlaws had been found. "Let's ride, everypony! Don't get shot, don't get separated, and for God's sake, don't stop!" He galloped, leading the pack with Big Mac pulling the wagon close behind. Soon they heard shouts from the distance, making it all too real for everypony. "Alright, just like we practiced!" He unholstered his guns, getting ready for a fight. Nodding to Lyra, she cast a spell to throw up some smoke behind them. "They're using smoke!" a Pegasus from the air called, swooping near Arthur before he clipped his wing with a carefully placed bullet. "You're up next, Zecora!" He shouted behind him, where the zebra headed the rear. "Behind me vision is all but nigh, but what about those who fly?!" Reaching into her bags, the witch doctor threw up several pouches, each glowing and following the wagon. Strategically placed, it formed an electrical grid made of Zap Flies- a local pest of the Everfree. Essentially, it made a sort of camouflage, the grid lined in a way that the glow from the flies refracted light, making them invisible from the skies. Smiling, she nodded back to the brown stallion. "Alright everypony, that's it! We're home free once we get past the point of no return!" He pointed to Fluttershy's cottage in the distance when suddenly, they saw it: a checkpoint stationed near her house. "Shit!" Arthur exclaimed, turning the possee towards the Everfree. "Plan B, Arthur?!" Mac yelled, not sure the wagon can take handling off-roading well. "No choice!" He fired at another few pegasi getting too close, making them back off. Eventually the guards backed off, knowing what potentially lies in wait in the cursed forest. Galloping a good mile in, the stallion motioned for everypony to stop. "We made it!" Lyra exclaimed, gasping for breath. "That was close!" Carrot Cake continued, hopping out of the wagon. "Too close!" Bon-Bon managed to gasp out. "Mac, head count?" Arthur asked. Unhooking the wagon, Big Mac checked on everypony, including Fluttershy, who too scared to do anything, hid in with the supplies. "All accounted for, and no injuries." Sitting down, he finally caught his breath. Marching ahead a bit, the outlaw tried to find a good place to camp. Off in the distance not too far away was a clearing next to what looked like relatively fresh water and some berry bushes. "There's a clearing not too far from here." He yelled back to the group. "We'll set up camp for the night and get our bearings. First light we move out." "Don't ya think we need a day's rest, Arthur?" Asked Big Mac. "After that ordeal, we need to recover." Looking at the rest of the ponies, Arthur had to agree. "*sigh* 'suppose you're right. Still need to figure out how deep in the Everfree we are, anyways..." WANTED ARTHUR MORGAN Robbery,assault,reckless endangerment,various other charges Bounty: 1.5 million bits, alive or severely injured "Big Mac" MACINTOSH destruction of private property, theft and unlawful use of farm equipment, battery Bounty: 1 million bits, alive ZECORA "the Witch Doctor" Illegal possession of potions, poisons; illegal practice and use of Voodoo Magic, assault Bounty: 500,000 bits, alive but heavily restrained "The Carrot Cook"(Alias: unknown) Theft, unlawful use of cooking utensils Bounty: to be determined by local law enforcement, alive but heavily restrained LYRA "The Lyre" HEARTSTRINGS Defacement of public property, disturbing the peace Bounty: 500,000 bits, alive but magically restrained "Bonnie" Bon-Bon Possession of illegal sugary substance, illegal misuse of cooking utensils, bribery of law enforcement officials Bounty: 500,000 bits, alive and preferably isolated from "the Lyre"