Hello, everyone. True, I've got a lot on with other current story projects of mine, especially my big Narnia/'Merlin' crossover adventure 'The Chronicles of Camelot' and the still very much ongoing JJ/GotG crossover spinoff inclusion of a great friend's now officially completed series made up of the some best ever fics I've ever read on this site, but ever since I found and purchased on Amazon Video the 1982 Tom Selleck and Sam Elliot lead direct-to-TV Western movie 'The Shadow Riders' back in the spring, this idea has been in my head and mind since then, and I just can't resist at least starting it and seeing what time and mood present for me, as I will be getting even busier with my work job not too soon considering what time of the year is approaching for us all in the next few weeks, so however much I update depends on that.
So, the basics of this are that this will be an alternate universe Western, inspired by the movie, plot staying relatively and almost a hundred percent the same, as it's so perfect, but with, of course, my own personal differences regarding its characters and certain backgrounds to whoever made. And who'll be in it taking the places of the character cast from 'The Shadow Riders', well, I'm pleased to let ya'll know that it'll be a good number of our favourite boy and girl figures from the MCU franchise, both good guys and selected bad ones, as well as one or two references to and from the comics to be featured, but NOT ALL will make appearances, just to clear up anyone deciding to ask the question, I can only use so many for the plot, and there's also unnecessary overuse of too many faces to avoid as well.
Funnily enough, I did originally begin this as an Arrowverse version on Ao3, but thanks to that becoming far too unbearable and non-withstandable for me to go back to, I cancelled that altogether, and hence I've selected the next best option to go with aka our favourite superhero movie franchises. So in the meantime, sit back and prepare for an exciting and fun Marvel AU Western adventure, one involving love, home returns and a vital rescue mission, hope you all enjoy. And a warning to any Guest reviewers or vile animals who are nothing but trolls preying on those who don't want you around, myself very much included, you don't like what I'll be doing, move on, otherwise you'll be either blocked or removed instantly, so take heed, you've been warned once, don't make me very angry with constant harassment.
I do not own anything Marvel, characters included, the only things I own are OCs
"April 18th 1865.
Dear Joseph and Sarah, I hope this letter finds you well. I have some good news- word is, the war may be over soon. I tell ya if there's one thing I've learned, it's that the Barnes and Rogers ain't the only families split by this war of brother against brother. I just keep fearin' that one day, I might just look down my sight and find Steve across from me. I hear dear Sam signed up too, but no one's told me which side, though considering the Southerners ain't exactly very friendly towards black people I'll take a good guess and say that he joined the North side.
"Well kiss Nat and little James for me, and don't fret now, I'm fine. Right now, I'm somewhere in Georgia and since I voluntarily allowed myself a decommission back to Sergeant, the burdens of responsibility have been heavy. It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it.
Your lovin' adopted son figure, Bucky."
"You feeling good now, Barnes?" the woman, bearing a very beautiful bodily figure helped by her green eyes and brunette hair cut to base of neck length, asked, gently massaging Bucky's left foot as he lounged relaxingly on the bed in the bedroom of the building which currently served as the headquarters for he and his Union Army regiment.
Sergeant Bucky Barnes nodded with a smile. "Uh huh," he replied with as he took a sip of whiskey from the glass he held in his right hand. "Aaaahhh," he breathed out, "Makes it so much better knowin' that you're doin' it."
The woman smiled. "Well, after everything that me and Pietro went through together before this War after we were forced to flee Europe and come here to the States, and then signing up to join in the conflict of the last four years once it came upon us and end the monstrosity of slavery, then all that we and you endured together when we first crossed paths after Antietam, and especially when Pietro was lost at Gettysburg and you did so much to help me with my grief in the weeks that followed afterwards, I couldn't have asked for a more better man to be attending to," she said.
Bucky leaned forward and rested his free left hand on her face. "I may be a Union serving Southerner from Texas, but no other person, especially a woman, gets treated as the opposite by me, and certainly not one as lovely in the looks as you have borne nothing but since the day I first laid eyes on you, Wanda Maximoff," he told her in a soft reassuring voice.
At that, Wanda's smile visibly broadened some more, and then she gestured for Bucky to settle back down against the pillow which he obliged without argument. "So will we be staying around here for a while?" Wanda asked.
Bucky shook his head. "I'm afraid not," he said, "I'm gonna be pulling out soon. Gonna head back down south to the ranch, see the folks again."
"You wanna go home, huh?"
Bucky nodded. "I ain't seen the folks who adopted me at a young age, including my wonderful brother figure, for four years ever since he and I both left to fight in this damn conflict," he answered with.
"You think Steve will be there too when you get back?" Wanda asked, "I mean, from what you've shared of him with me, unlike you he's served on the opposite side."
Bucky shrugged, "Who knows. He might be. But no matter what side we both fought on, whether North or South, and unlike other families split apart by this war, I ain't got no grudge against Steve. He's too much of a brother to me to bear any ill will against. And anyway..." He grinned more slyly now, "If I know what his fierce redhead beauty of a fiancé would say, especially as she's the mother to their kid, he'd damn well be there even if he'd have to fight through all sorts of hell to do so."
"That would be the mysterious Natasha and James you refer to there, huh?" Wanda asked.
Bucky nodded. "The very same," he confirmed. Then he remembered about the woman still gently massaging his foot, and proposed the offer, "Of course, if you wish to do so, you can follow me all the way there."
Wanda looked to him, her smile returning as she stopped her massaging and hopped onto both the bed and Bucky, Bucky's own smile not faltering in the slightest as he moved his free left arm around so that his hand was resting on the back of her head, Wanda moving hers to both sides of his face. "After everything we've done together these last three years since Antietam, and what you and me have become ever since we lost Pietro, how can I say no to you, my Bucky?" Wanda gave in simple response.
It was all Bucky needed as they leaned forwards towards each other, lips meeting in a long kiss, both enjoying the luxury and comfort of one other's presence. But then, there came the pounding of someone's fist against the bedroom door, a pause, then a second round. And now that the two of them were listening, they could now also hear the sound of cannon fire, and men cheering loudly outside. "Who is it?" Bucky called out, he and Wanda not turning their attention away from each other for a second.
"Sergeant Valor, sir," another man's voice called back.
"Go away," Bucky shouted, addressing the words to the knocker, but still looking and grinning at Wanda who did the same.
"It's important, sir," the other man called.
"Nothing that can't be important as you," Bucky muttered to Wanda, who shook her head, big grin still showing on her face. But then, as she moved in for another kiss, the next words stopped everything.
"Lee's surrendered, sir." At that, both of them looked towards the door, Bucky's eyes widening a little, he and Wanda both looking towards the door, Wanda scrambling off and allowing Bucky room to swing himself off the bed.
"Come in," Bucky called as he stood up and moved beside Wanda, glass still in his right hand while his left arm came up and wrapped around Wanda's shoulders, Wanda allowing him to pull her close as the door opened to reveal a younger blue uniformed Sergeant with short dark brown hair. Upon seeing his senior Sergeant and Wanda in the room though, he immediately closed the door again, but at Bucky saying "Sergeant" he opened it again. "What about the war?" Bucky asked.
"Excuse me, Serge, a courier just rode in, straight from General Grant," the Sergeant explained excitedly, his whole face shining with it, "The war's over."
Bucky's eyes now widened fully at this, and he looked back to Wanda, who sported an additional look of open mouthed shocked delighted surprise at this news.
"The men are anxious to celebrate, Serge," the younger man said, "And they're waitin' on ya."
Bucky nodded, giving the other Sergeant a nod and smile as he raised his glass. "Tell 'em I'll be right along," he confirmed, raising the glass and taking a sip of whiskey.
The squad of nine Union soldiers, eight Privates and a Corporal, marched their prisoner, a bearded blue eyed Confederate Captain with short brown hair, dressed in full uniform, hat and all, his hands bound in front of him with rope, out of their camp and into the field beyond, all nine carrying rifles with fixed bayonets in their right hands, where another soldier, an officer, waited on horseback.
"Squad, halt," the Union Corporal ordered and the other men halted. "Right turn," he commanded, the eight Privates turning as one to face the horse mounted officer. The Corporal went to lead their prisoner forwards, but the Confederate soldier shrugged his hands off and walked forward on his own accord. As he did so, the Corporal following, the eight Privates each shuffling sideways to the right so that they formed a firing squad, four in front, four behind and to the side of their companion in front.
The Union officer now walked his horse forward as the Corporal walked back to join his fellow soldiers, the Confederate Captain turning to face them at the same time as the officer stopped before him. "Would you like a blindfold?" he asked.
"I'd rather like to know why I'm being shot," Steve Rogers, which was the Confederate man's name, replied calmly.
"For blowing up an ammo depo, a train," the Union officer gave in answer.
Steve shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a soldier," he simply gave in answer.
"You've been found guilty," the officer proclaimed.
"I don't recall no trial," Steve said.
The Union officer pulled on his horse's reigns and walked his mount over to where the firing squad waited, stopping his mount on their left. "Squad, atten-TION," he barked, the eight Privates on foot snapping to full attention, Steve watching unfazed. "Ready," came the next order, the rifles with bayonets being lowered forward so that they pointed diagonally into the air. "Aim," the officer then ordered, the squad now aiming their weapons directly at their prisoner.
But then suddenly came the sound of the Rebel yell, and as Steve turned to look over his shoulder in the direction of where it was coming from, several other Confederate soldiers appeared over the brow of the slope behind him, charging forward on horseback, the man leading them clearly an officer, his right arm held up bearing a sword.
At once, the surprised Unionisits began firing their weapons towards the oncoming enemy, some of the squad standing where they were, others dropping to one knee as they did so, the Confederates returning it with their own fire as they reached Steve, forming a protective circle around him. The Union officer became the first casualty, shot from his panicked horse as he attempted to flee, the Confederate officer leading the rescue, a handsome but tough looking man with a stubbly beard, short black hair and hazel eyes, approaching Steve.
Steve shook his head. "I might've known. Rumlow," he greeted the leader of his rescuers.
"Hold your hands out, Rogers," Rumlow ordered, Steve obliging and allowing the other man to severe his bonds with a downwards chop of his sword. Then, as Rumlow galloped his horse away back the way they had come, his other Southern soldiers following after him, Steve allowed himself to be pulled up into the saddle of the last man to do so and be carried away, his would-be executioners firing after them until the Confederates were out of range and disappearing over the slope.
The group rode for one or two more minutes, until they came to a halt where two more mounted Confederate soldiers and a third riderless horse awaited them, Rumlow returning his sword to its sheath on his belt and dismounting as Steve slid from the saddle of the soldier he just been mounted behind.
"Thanks, Major," Steve said as he came forward.
Major Brock Rumlow, which was the Confederate officer's full name, nodded. "Couldn't let ya get shot, Rogers," he acknowledged, "Ya too good a fightin' man."
Steve looked round at the other mounted soldiers. "So, where's next in store for you boys?" he asked.
"We're crossin' the Mississippi," Scudder answered, "Licking our wounds, gather ourselves, tryin' to gain back some of that old swagger, and come back fightin'."
Steve nodded. "Sounds like you got it all laid out," he said.
"I'd like ya to ride with us, Rogers," Rumlow said offeringly.
Steve shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Major," he said, "I'm gonna be heading back south to Texas, see my fiancé and son again after so long, plus my folks and adoptive brother and our neighbourhood friends too. Gonna work the land, try and make somethin' out of it instead of blowin' it all to hell."
Rumlow nodded. "Well, at least you have a home to go back to," he said, gesturing to the other mounted soldiers with a movement of his head while putting his gloves on, "Most of these men don't." He looked to one of them, the same one who Steve had ridden behind after being rescued from the Union firing squad. "Lieutenant," he said.
"Sir," the soldier replied.
"Bring out that runaway for Captain Rogers," Rumlow ordered.
"Yes, sir," the Lieutenant nodded, Rumlow now coming forward and retrieving a Sharps rifle from one of the horses which he handed to Steve, before then moving to another horse and drawing a Colt revolver from a holster on the animal's saddle.
"Good luck, Captain," Rumlow said as he turned round to face Steve and saluted him. Steve however held out his free right hand.
"Thank you, Major," he said, Rumlow lowering his salute and taking it, "For everything."
Rumlow nodded. "I figure you'll be needing this too," he said and handed over the Colt revolver, grasping Steve's hand with both his own once more before returning to and re-mounting his horse.
"Boys," he said to his comrades, and with a wave of his right hand they all headed off at a gallop across the plain, Steve mounting his new steed and watching them go until they'd disappeared in a cloud of dust.
"So long, Rumlow," Steve said to himself, before heading off in the opposite direction, unaware as of yet that his own brother figure of sorts Sergeant Bucky Barnes, together with fellow soldier and lover of two years Wanda Maximoff, was also setting out on the same journey back to their home ranch in Texas.
And there you are, the start of this Marvel AU Western. A bit short, I know, but the next chapters will be longer, I promise, so hope it wasn't too bad for a starter, and like I said in my beginning notes this story is based on the plot of the 'The Shadow Riders' movie, the first few minutes of it being covered here, so the scenes to feature throughout this will be as close as possible to the film's, though obviously with my own differences to it all.
So, to help clear up the first lot of questions and anyone's curiosity, our Sebastian Stan Winter Soldier boy Bucky Barnes takes the place of Tom Selleck's character in it Mac Traven, the brother who fought on the Union side during the Civil War; THE great inspirational figure of the MCU Captain Steve Rogers, Chris Evans face and all, filling in for Sam Elliot played brother character Dal Traven, the one who was on the Confederate side; and for the main future bad guy it's our old Frank Grillo played friend from CA:TWS and 'Civil War' Brock Rumlow who replaces the movie's main villain Confederate Major Cooper Ashbury, played by the late Geoffrey Lewis, here, cos with him being the enemy to our Captain America boy Steve in the two Marvel movies mentioned and high ranking member of HYDRA, couldn't think of any other appropriate person for the job.
And yes, our Scarlet Witch gal figure Wanda Maximoff, still played very much by Elizabeth Olsen, is in this as well, and is with Bucky, as WinterWitch/Bucky and Wanda is a ship pairing choice I so love and prefer much more over WinterWidow/Bucky and Natasha, as Bucky and Wanda, in the real Marvel universe of course, share so much in common with each other thanks to unpleasant pasts influenced by HYDRA, which makes her and Bucky as a pair so much sense indeed. More background for her AU version's background here, and how she ended up as a soldier in the Civil War conflict, will be explained next chapter, and I assure everyone I've worked on it good and hard.
Romanogers/Steve and Natasha Romanoff aka my always at the top preferred at number one Marvel ship choice has been hinted of though, as well as James Rogers, Steve and Natasha's son in the comics, and it'll all show itself within the next chapter or two when the big main plot drama begins.
So, hope everyone's ready and excited for next chapter, and I'll see ya'll then, hopefully not too distantly, just depends on the time and mood I get or allow myself thanks to life. Until then, adios amigos, from Max/Flashraven