All characters, except those not mentioned in the movie, are the property of the Walt Disney Company. Even though I believe they deserve much better than what is given recently in today's modern society.

Chapter 1: Farewell to Home

This was it, the end had come. But there was nothing more for her to do. She had made a promise to leave after all, and she never went back on her promises. Maggie the show cow had quietly made her way to the front gates of Patch of Heaven while Grace, Buck, Lucky Jack, and Mrs. Calloway had been distracted with watching Sheriff Brown taking care of Alameda Slim, having the bell still stuck in his mouth. In this moment, she knew and had nearly forgotten about the deal that she and Mrs. Calloway had made back in the desert on that one rainy night, and she had agreed to it once Alameda Slim was captured. Now the deal had been fulfilled, and it was time for her to leave. Good or bad, a promise was a promise and Maggie vowed to stick by it. Sure she had enjoyed the moment when she and the other two had triumphed over the cattle rustler that had been stealing other cattle from farms and had taken her old home from her. That is until she had remembered the deal and her expression instantaneously turned from triumphant to a sad frown.

Just like her friends, everybody else was too busy watching a jail wagon now show up inside the farm that none of them ever noticed Maggie move outside of the gate entrance; and just before Slim was tied up and thrown into the wagon, she had now started marching away from the farm, and didn't bother to look back once she began her new journey out on her own. And once she had left, not only did she miss the jail wagon moving out of the farm, but her two friends later standing at the gate, wondering where she had left.

"It's not like your farm is ever going to feel like home to me anyway," Maggie whispered to herself sadly, remembering those same words she used before. And now she was using them in her head as a reminder to keep on walking and never look back, managing to believe that it was better and easier this way to keep her promise. "Besides, I don't belong there anyway." Those other words she added to herself is what also encouraged her to follow her own path. Part of her didn't want to leave, nor did she do this to hurt anybody. But a promise was a promise.

The first thing that Maggie realized when she was out in the prairie lands at least five miles from now, was that she left her bell behind at Patch of Heaven after throwing it in the air for Grace to kick right into Slim's mouth to stop him from yodeling. And of course there was no chance of going back to get it now. She didn't need it anyways. The next thing she realized a few hours later was that the sun was going down slowly, meaning it would be nighttime soon enough, for it had been nearly three or six hours since she left Patch of Heaven and the autumn days were less short than the winter days that were soon to arrive in two months. If this was what she was to encounter up ahead, Maggie knew she had to make the best of it on her own. First she needed to think of where she would take shelter for the night, and thought of her old home, the Dixon Ranch.

"I could stay the night there one last time," Maggie said to herself. "Even if it's deserted, no harm catching up on old times."

Maggie looked up at the sky in sadness when she thought of her old home. She stood there for quite some time, recalling the memory of how she, Grace, and Mrs. Calloway had passed by the place which caused a painful lump in her throat, thinking of those ribbons and trophies she won ever since her first days at the fair as a young calf. She had promised her mother and grandmother that she would make them proud of her, and they were of course, whether she came in first, second, or third. Maggie was taught that there were more important things than coming in first place every single time. And she never lost sight of what was important, such as her family. Family, where could they have been at this moment she wondered.

It was pretty bad once Maggie crossed a huge tree log to the other side above a river. By this hour it was growing darker every minute, meaning that soon other dangerous critters will be out once it is night such as coyotes and owls. If she wanted to get out of this prairie, she had to hurry before the last light of day. There had to be a road somewhere for her to follow. Due to the lack of sunlight, Maggie kept tripping over rocks or holes in the ground which belonged to prairie dogs and she had to apologize to them whenever this happened. She slid down steep banks and barked her legs against sharp rocks and twigs till she was cold and hurt all over. The silence and loneliness of this area soon became dreadful, having her wonder if she should just give up and go back to make amends with the others, until she spoke to herself after many hours of silence, "When I get back on the road, I should find out where Abner went and see if he'll want me back." And soon Maggie was back on her feet, determined to find the road, despite the lack of sunlight, thinking that her first family couldn't possibly be that far wherever they were. She had just settled in her mind what sort of life her mother and grandmother could be living while she was still walking. She wanted to believe that they were still alive, hoping and waiting for her to return to them and be a family again. When night had finally fallen, first the light was gone, then a small wind sprang up and the night turned slightly chilly for Maggie. The clouds moved away, revealing the full moon, making it easier for her to see where she was walking.

Soon Maggie could hear the sound of insects and the owl hooting, hoping there would not come a coyote howling next. She now reached what she was certain might have been the road for her to walk on, and turned to follow it up. She noticed how this part of the valley was so familiar where it all opened out and had a clear view. And there on the other side of the prairie, quite close to her, she saw what must be the Dixon Ranch. Her old home was still in the same shape, even though it was empty like the night she lost it. As joyful as Maggie felt to see her old home again, even for the last time, she couldn't help but feel some sort of fear in approaching the place. She took steps back, not wanting her heart to be broken again by reliving that same horrid night in her life. Still she needed a place to sleep and then would be on her way again. It was too late to turn back the way she came.

She climbed over the fence and walked up to the house. Not the slightest sound stirred around her, except for the noise of her marching hooves. The silence did not bother her much, not even when she stopped walking to have a peek inside the house where her owner used to sleep in. The whole place inside was dark and empty, with not one piece of furniture left since it had all been sold at the auction. So why would anybody live here now? No furniture and no herd meant no owners.

I remember this house. Maggie thought dismally as she gazed some more at what used to be her owner's bedroom and the kitchen. That used to be where Abner would sleep every night, and there was where he used to cook his own meals morning and night. Maybe wherever he is at this moment, he is resting in his new bed, in a new house, and new life.

Maggie moved away from the house and down to where the barn stood and check out her old stall. She had to move carefully if she wanted to prevent any more slipping. Once she got there, Maggie looked inside the barn, and there she saw the same trophies, medals, and ribbons still there that it nearly made her heart sink, remembering how much effort and heart it took for her to win in those contests. Without the advice and support of her mother and grandmother, they wouldn't be here for her to see. Even if she might not be able to take them with her, at least she could sleep here for one night and be in her old stall like she used to.

"This place may be empty," Maggie said calmly, feeling another lump in her throat as she stared at the trophies and ribbons around her. "But it's either here or the desert, so I'll take my chances in this stall tonight."

Tired from the long walk, Maggie moved inside her old stall, noticing that there was not an ounce of hay anywhere, but she was feeling too sleepy to be hungry or thirsty. She lay down to sleep on the cold hard floor, struggling to get as comfortable as she could. Closing her eyes, she started to dream, listening to the owl hoots in the distance from outside. She had loved it.

Once Maggie fell asleep, her mind started flashing images of what appeared to be an old memory from her earlier years as a calf, which reminded her of when she spent her earlier days with her sweet and kindhearted grandmother, Delilah in learning what was right and wrong. The vision was faint and blurry, but Maggie could see a decent amount of it. It stayed there for as long as she could remember. In the background of the vision came the full moon. With its light shining down upon the valley, came the image of a stall where a mother cow seemed to be tending to her sleeping calf. Maggie couldn't see that well, but guessed that it was what had been there. There was so much sound and light going on that Maggie tried to remember what else she saw. Two hooves similar to her hers stretched out from underneath the brown blanket that covered her. Something else had gently touched her forehead. Then she saw her mother Margaret, tenderly licking her head. The sweet calf seemed tired, yet comforted by the love of her mother as if she had only been a day old. It wasn't too hard for Maggie to realize that the same calf she saw was her of course. This was indeed a very old memory that brought on comfort in this situation of hers, glad that she had not forgotten it.

The young Maggie yawned and opened her eyes slightly, in which the adult Maggie had never really thought of herself as that precious after she was born. The vision of the dream calmed her pleasantly; feeling safer and secure in the presence of her mother, caring less if this was only a dream. At least she did not lose her memories of this moment. She'd do anything just to see her mother again.

Maggie suddenly found herself in the dream, standing before the young calf in the stall. She didn't understand why she was here or how she got inside. There was no logical explanation for that. Turning her head side to side, there was nobody else around but the darkness. Even the moonlight diminished seconds later. Worst of all, there was no vision of her mother. She had disappeared with the light, leaving her own calf behind with no one to watch over her. The child was still asleep, unaware that she was all alone. For some reason, Maggie was reminded of how she left the other farm without saying goodbye. Not every part of her departure, just going her own way and never even thinking about how it would affect her future. But this child didn't seem worried about anything, unless she woke up. Staring down at her, Maggie didn't understand why nothing around seemed to bother her or wake her in that peaceful sleep. But whatever the reason, Maggie entered the stall and sat beside the baby, not wanting to leave her alone.

"It's alright, I'm here for you," Maggie said softly, which was all she could think of. "You just stay asleep there. No one's going to hurt you tonight."

Whether or not the child knew someone was there beside her, nothing else mattered but being at peace. Yet the peaceful moment did not last much longer once Maggie felt a rise of anger from within, another part of her mind bringing hurtful visions just to torment her. She glared at the sleeping child.

"Look at you," Maggie choked up. "So young and innocent that you don't seem to know what will happen once you wake up in this empty place." The calf did not respond to her words as it continued sleeping, turning to the side. Maggie's anger came again, not at the calf, but at herself. Why couldn't things just be the way they were before?

"How could you do this to me?!" she screamed.

After her outburst, the vision faded in to smoke. Maggie hit the floor of the dream, not wanting to go anywhere. She shouldn't have felt pain, but she did. Her eyes opened as she rose up, trying to figure out what just happened. It's when she realized her mistake back in that stall. She never meant to get angry at all, she couldn't help feeling emotional that she had been robbed of her loved ones and only made a mistake to end up where she was now. She only wanted what that child had before, what was taken from her. Maggie realized now, sympathy and guilt for what had happened. That child was who she used to be, soon to grow up, become a show cow, only for her dreams to come to an end by the time she would reach her adulthood years. Thinking of it caused Maggie to breathe heavily as she looked around for any sign of life, only to find a dark void.

When Maggie could not take the dead silence any longer, she looked down at her hooves, her face mixed with fear and regret. This wasn't what she wanted. It was all wrong.

"I didn't ask for this," she said, glancing over her shoulder in hopes that the vision of her stall and of that child was still there. "Wherever you are, please don't go!" she yelled in the distant void. She ran forward only to find more darkness. "I didn't mean to lose my temper!" She yelled again, waiting for a response. There was none. She turned the other way. "I'm sorry, just don't leave me!" She yelled for the third time. Then she gave up. The comfort and protection she had felt from long ago was gone. Maggie couldn't believe what happened, but it did. Her face became overwhelmed with negative emotion that it was enough for her to collapse on the ground. She laid flat, her front hooves covering her face. Then without warning, it started. For the first time in her adult years, she began to cry.

"Mother, Grandmother, where could you have gone?" Maggie sniffled. "I promised myself that I would remain brave and strong after you were gone. I just didn't think I would ever cry again. You must be disappointed in me!" The tears kept on coming. In her blurry vision, she turned her head from side to side in search of her loved ones. There was no one around to offer her comfort or to tell her that it was okay to cry. She was alone. Then she yelled into the black sky. "MOTHER!"

Oh what was the point in screaming? It was not going to do her any good, and she knew it. Maggie had to accept the truth that she was alone, yet she didn't want to be. Still if she was to keep her promise, she was going to be on her own until she found what she was looking for; if she did find it. Her dreams only brought on hurt and confusion, leaving her nothing but old wounds. That was only the beginning. The visions were not the only thing that brought her harm. She could feel herself falling, deep into the black abyss where she could only hear her heavy breathing. She thought that she had lost all her energy once she had fallen. Little did Maggie know that this dream or nightmare was far from over. She was about to confront an unseen presence.

She could hear it, the sound of laughter in the air. It was wicked laughter.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

Maggie looked for the source of the sound, but it remained unseen. The laugh echoed in her head as it continued to mock her. She could hear it in every direction, not knowing how much more she could take.

Look at the show cow now! That stalking voice spoke, agitated. Did you really think that even if you caught the one responsible for all this, that everything would be alright? That you would live happily ever after? Well guess again! It mocked her. He may be in jail now, but you're still without a home, no family, not even a mother to tuck you in and night and say 'I love you' am I right? Where on earth could she have disappeared to?

"SHUT UP!" Maggie screamed angrily, her energy back. But the voice wasn't finished.

Ha, that's what you always say when you don't want to hear the truth. It replied.

"SHUT UP YOU!" Maggie screamed again, still looking for the voice.

You know that you are nothing without me. I will always be a part of your life.

Maggie looked above her to see the black sky was swirling into a vortex. She wanted to ignore it, knowing that bad dreams can't hurt her, no matter what anybody says in them. It was impossible.

"I didn't do anything wrong," she said. "I just wanted to get back at him before he caused any more pain like he did to me. It was the only way to stop him." There was a moment of silence. All she heard was the swirling vortex above, ready to suck her in.

Face the facts show cow! Everyone you've ever known, everyone you've ever loved is gone forever. And you'll never see them again!

"That's a lie!"

Still in denial I see. Maybe you need some convincing!

Suddenly, the dark ground shattered into a million pieces like a fallen mirror before the vortex sucked Maggie in along with the rest of the pieces of darkness.

Maggie's eyes soon darkened, but then bubbles of light started to appear. Her vision slowly came, seeing that she was somewhere else. She could see it now. Her hooves touched the ground of a prairie meadow. To her left was a fence. It was all she could see, for everything else was shattered like a piece of broken glass. She turned around, seeing several cattle minding their own business inside the fence, not recognizing any of them. Then she saw two familiar faces come out.

"Mother, Grandmother?" Maggie gasped. "I've come back!"

The two bovines did not respond or turn in her direction. They just continued on with their business as if it was just another ordinary day.

"Mother?"

They can't hear you show cow!

Maggie turned around, hearing that same voice again.

You wanted to see them again, didn't you? Well here they are, waiting for you to return to them. Only problem is that they don't seem to know that you're more than a hundred miles away from where you're at, out of state possibly. Still think finding them will be a piece of cake?

"I could still try if I wanted to," Maggie answered, still angry. "I don't care how far they might be. I'll find them and I don't need your advice."

You still carry the pain of loss within your heart. You fear that they're too far away for you to reach. If you ask me, I'd say that they're dead! Is that what you also fear?

"STOP IT!" She demanded, not wanting to listen to anymore. Maggie was silent, feeling her heart torn and slashed from everything this terrible voice uttered. But it didn't stop there. She saw the entire area morph again, first seeing nothing but darkness as she was still falling into emptiness. Then came the form of another cow, with light shining down upon it like the moon. Not wanting to see any more, Maggie turned her head away and closed her eyes.

Look down there you! That's how you'll end up if you don't face the facts of what lies ahead in your future. Strange how those that try so hard don't know when it's time to give up until it's too late. Soon every broken piece of yourself will fall and die!

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Maggie couldn't take it any longer.

"STOP!"

Maggie burst awake, her eyes scanning for where she was. She was back in her old stall with all the trophies, medals, and ribbons. No longer was she suffering from pain inside the dream. It did however leave her feeling like a broken mirror that could never be repaired. And there was nothing she could do.

Maggie was left so hurt and confused, that she couldn't decide what was more painful with what happened in her life. Everything the voice told her had to be a lie. She would never believe that her loved ones were gone for good. Far away possibly, but not dead.

Her shoulders started shuffling, which meant she was crying again. This time it was ok, even for someone like her to do so. She'd do anything to see her real family again, if only for a short time instead of in her dreams. Her mother and grandmother were the only things on her mind for tonight. How could that voice in her dreams torment her like that all of a sudden?

Did that voice not understand how it felt to be separated from those who love you? To have all that love from them taken away in the night, never to be seen again?

"I love you mom, and Grandma," Maggie wept, crying herself back to sleep.

AN: Finally, the first chapter of my what-if HOTR tale on what might have happened if Maggie left. The reason that this story is rated T is because of what will later happen future chapters, but for those easily uncomfortable by such themes like violence or so on, no further details on that will be revealed, meaning the description I give will only give readers an idea on what is already happening. That I will explain later, for now I wanted to show chapters of where Maggie goes soon after she has kept her promise, whether she wants to or not. I do not own any of the characters from "Home on the Range". All of them belong to Disney, although I wish that they were mine sometimes. I will also give most of the credit to my good friend Carlos for helping me with ideas and details on this story.