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This is my second story other than Power Without Question, and the goal is a shorter, more structured story. I'll be writing it when I feel like writing something different, though that might change depending on the responses I get to it. This chapter is purely set up and introduction for the OC, the real proper story starts in chapter 2. Feel free to leave a review and let me know what you think.

Once Upon a Time in Hyboria

Chapter 1: Grave Digger

With the sun setting over the frontier town of Loma Parda, New Mexico, a lone blood bay coated Thoroughbred trotted across the desert. Its rider pulled down his Stetson to shield his face from the harsh glare as he steered his horse into town. Ignoring the stares of the townsfolk, Joshua Walker pressed down the dusty street towards the Sheriff's Office in the town to speak with Marshall Jackson about what visible on the saddle of Walker's horse. It was that recognizable hat and coat that was probably attracting so much attention.

That wasn't anything the man who had been a bounty hunter for the last six years of his life was unused to as he brought his trusty friend, Shelby, to a stop outside his destination. Smoothly dismounting the Thoroughbred, the 25-year-old turned and narrowed his blue eyes at the small crowd that had gathered to gawk, the action, and his reputation, caused them to turn away and shuffle off. Thankful that nothing had come of that, Walker moved his right hand away from the Schofield revolver on his right hip, covered by his grey duster, before he focused on hitching Shelby to the post outside the Sheriff's Office.

"Well, I'll be, didn't expect to see you again so soon Tombstone," greeted the grey-haired Marshall that ambled out of the office, one of his deputies remaining by the door. The former Union Officer came down to shake the Bounty Hunter's hand before nodding to the body on the back of Walker's mount, "Who am I going to have to get Father Madison to prepare a service for this time?"

Reaching into his pocket, Walker produced a wanted poster he had taken from a smaller town farther north and handed it to the Marshall. "Killin' Bill Oakley. Came across him as his gang was hijacking a stagecoach 'bout 25 miles east of here." The Bounty Hunter spoke in a low drawl as he removed the man's notoriously marked coat and hat. When Jackson took them in hand, he grunted as he looked them over. "The three men with him high tailed it south when the shooting started, I couldn't tell you who they were."

"I'd say that got off easy, considering your reputation," commented the Marshall as Walker's shoulders lifted maybe an inch, that being the only response the younger gunslinger was willing to give. "Lighten up son, you did good work," encouraged Jackson, who then sighed when it seemed that his words had fallen on deaf ears. "Paul, take these and put them with the rest of the 'collection', I'll see to it that Mr. Walker gets his bounty."

With the Deputy taking the items Walker had collected before heading off, Jackson turned back to Tombstone. "Come on inside son, it seems I owe you some money." Nodding, Walker followed the older Marshall into the office, thankful to be out of the elements for the first time in almost a week. "Now let me see son, Killin Bill was worth a thousand dollars dead or alive. The problem I have is that I don't have that in bills I'm sorry to say. Hope you don't mind taking some of this instead," offered the Marshall as he produced a small chest and opened it.

Walker looked inside the box to see an array of jewels, gold, and silver that the Marshall got from the tax of the mines that dotted the desert. Giving the offer a moment of thought, the Bounty Hunter eventually nodded, "You've always given me a fair shake Marshall. I'm heading down to Santa Fe at first light, and as long as you promise me that I can sell what you give me for $1000 then I'll take it."

The Marshall grinned, "Good man," complimented Jackson as he reached into the box and removed a selection of gold pieces, small silver ingots, and a few pieces of turquoise, putting them in a felt sack. "I reckon that if you skin a razor in Santa Fe you can get $1200 for all this, but that's a price I'm willing to pay since you put Killin' Bill six feet under." Walker nodded as Jackson tied up the sack and handed it to the Bounty Hunter, who got a feel for its weight. "You really do live up to your name, don't ya? How many dead bounties is that you've gotten from me now? Six?"

"Seven," corrected Walker, "I had to gun down Mad Dog Mac when your deputy let him get loose last year." Jackson chuckled grimly at the memory of that incident, and Joshua even managed a ghost of a smile on his dried-out lips before bringing his hand to the brim of his hat, "Unless you have anything else for me, I'll be going. Good day Marshall."

"That'll be all son. Go ahead and leave your horse there, I'll see that nothing happens till you need him again. Good day to you Tombstone," returned Jackson before he closed up the chest and put it back.

Walker nodded and headed out of the office, giving Shelby a pat as he passed by, grabbing the guns that Oakley had with him before the Bounty Hunter made for the town gun store. Opening the door and seeing nobody there, Walker took a deep breath and called out, "Charlie? Where are you, you snapper?"

Soon enough, a rotund and bespectacled man emerged from a back room and looked over the dusty and grimy visage of the Bounty Hunter and burst out in laughter. "Joshua, when are you going to learn to respect your elders?" asked the shopkeeper. When Walker didn't reply except with a ghost of a smirk, Charlie shook his head and said, "What can I do you for?"

"Usual, trade these for some ammo," answered the gunfighter as he handed over the repeater and revolver his bounty had been carrying. It was an often practiced routine the two went through whenever Walker was rode through Loma Parda. "40 rounds of .44 Winchester and 40 rounds of 12 gauge. Half slugs and the other half double ought buck."

Charlie made a face as he scrutinized the gunslinger, "12 gauge?" he asked, getting a nod back from Walker. "Since when did you get a shotgun? Something happen to that '73 Winchester I sold you?"

"I still got it," assured the Bounty Hunter as Charlie catalogued the transaction and began digging out the requested ammunition. The lever action repeater was still latched onto Shelby down the road. "Came across a stagecoach robbery, the guard was pushing daisies when I rode up. Figured he didn't need his coach gun no more, so…." Giving a shrug as he trailed off, Tombstone waited for the shopkeeper to produce the ammunition for his pistols, rifle, and shotgun.

"Always good doing business with you Joshua," said Charlie as he pushed the boxes of ammo across the counter. Packing them away, Walker couldn't help but notice the forced smile on the man's face through his thick, scraggly beard. "Remember, you are my favorite customer."

Shaking his head, Walker tipped the brim of his hat in thanks before heading back out, heading back to his horse to put the boxes of ammo in his saddle bags. Once those rounds were stowed along with the 200 or so still with the horse, the Bounty Hunter crossed the street towards the town's general store and strode inside. The bell above the door chimed when he entered, causing the woman behind the counter to look up and smile when she saw Walker. "Good evening Mr. Walker," greeted the older lady brightly before her face took on a sterner expression. "I do hope you're staying out of trouble young man. You certainly seem to be faring better than the last time you came in this store."

"I try Mrs. Perkins," replied Tombstone, "Though trouble always happens to be finding me." The last time he came in it had been the morning after he had been approached by a rather unsavory fellow in the saloon and both had said some things they probably shouldn't. Walker wound up with a black eye and split lip while he left the other guy short a few teeth with a broken nose to boot. In the end, Joshua never did learn why the sumbitch had it out for him.

Shaking that memory from his mind, Walker turned back to Mrs. Perkins. "I'll take my usual order, if you have it all."

"The whole thing?" asked the woman, getting a slow nod back in reply, "Do you have another bounty? You bought two weeks worth of food just five days ago."

"Nah, it's not that. I'm headed down to Santa Fe and I'll be damned if I have to pay what that fat pig Grigson charges for provisions," grumbled Walker. The Gunslinger figured it best to stock up while he could get what he needed cheaply, he wasn't sure what work he would find in the larger city and where he might have to go, so having some extra food wouldn't be amiss.

Mrs. Perkins smiled knowingly and nodded in sympathy before she stepped through the door to get what he needed while Joshua pulled out a few bills to cover the cost. When the woman came back with a burlap sack and set it down on the counter, Joshua put the money next to it as both parties took what the other had offered and examined it. "Uh, Mrs. Perkins," began Walker, somewhat awkwardly, "I didn't ask for any peaches," he informed as he held up the tin of fruit.

"I know dear, they're my gift. I think you'll enjoy them this time of year," replied the woman. Joshua looked unconvinced as he turned the tin over and looked at, clearly unconvinced. "Just take it Mr. Walker, and promise you'll eat them. If you don't then I'll hunt you down and feed them to you myself."

That caused the Gunslinger to chuckle a bit, "I have no doubt of that ma'am," he drawled lowly before placing them back in the cach and tying it up. "Thank you kindly. Have a nice day Mrs. Perkins," said Joshua before tipping his hat and heading back to his horse to stow the supplies in his saddlebags.

With his business in town finished up just as the sun set over the horizon, the Bounty Hunter had an opportunity to unwind before he had to ride to Santa Fe the following morning. Running his tongue over his drying lips, Walker felt the need for a drink and so, despite how his last time there went, the gunslinger turned and made for the local saloon. Pushing through the batwing doors at the entrance of the establishment, Walker subconsciously scanned the whole bar, taking in the sight of a mix of townsfolk and soldiers either drinking or playing cards at the various poker tables. A few looked up at Tombstone, only for a pair of sharp blue eyes to stare them down, causing the curious to go back to their cards or drinks.

The man on the piano played a jaunty tune that Walker recognized but couldn't name as he strode towards the bar. He was quickly spotted by the bartender, who quickly grabbed a glass and bottle of whiskey, pouring the liquor before making his way over to the gunslinger. "Here, you look like you need this Tombstone," said the barkeep with a grin as he offered Walker the glass. Without hesitation, Joshua threw the glass back and downed its contents in a single draught before setting the glass back down. "Another?"

"Yeah, thanks," grunted Walker as the bartender poured another glass of whiskey while Joshua looked over his shoulder at one of the Saloon Girls that was giving him a knowing, wicked smile. Reaching into his pocket, the gunslinger pulled out a few coins to cover his drinks and handed them over, saying, "That'll be all for me though."

With that, Tombstone took his glass and made his way to one of the dimly lit booths across the saloon and settled down inside. With his back against the wall, Walker looked out over the bar as he took a sip of his whiskey, using that to cover the ghost of a smile that worked it's was up to his lips at the sight of the woman sauntering his way. "Hello again Walker. Care for some company?"

"Not at all miss," replied Joshua as he gestured to the seat across from him, but it was a suggestion the woman promptly ignored as she sat down next to him and leaned against him.

"I thought I told you last time, you don't have to call me 'miss,' I'm Bonnie," reminded the woman flatly. Joshua didn't reply to the sultry brunette, instead swirling his whiskey until the woman asked, "You do remember my name, don't you?"

"I'm sorry miss, must've slipped my mind," replied Walker, prompting a thoroughly displeased sound from the woman. When Joshua turned to her, his eyes were drawn to the substantial amount of cleavage exposed by her bustier, but he kept his composure, even as the woman leaned forwards to expose even more. "I hope you'll accept my apologies."

Bonnie pursed her lips playfully, "I'm sure I could forgive a gentleman. But not for free, you have to answer my questions first." Giving it a moment of thought, Walker downed the last of his whiskery, thought what the hell, and gave a nod of assent to the woman. "Splendid," she replied as Walker put his empty glass down, "Did you really forget my name Joshua?"

There was a hint of genuine sadness in her words, but that didn't stop Walker from nodding, only turning to look at her after the fact. "How come?"

"Been busy," he answered evasively, "Other things."

"You…you find someone else?" pressed Bonnie, "Someone special?"

The Bounty Hunter snorted at that. "Too busy hunting down evil men to be looking for a good woman."

"That's saddening to hear," replied the Saloon Girl, prompting Walker to give her a sideways glance. "You'd make a lucky girl very happy Joshua. She might even make you happy."

For a moment, the gunslinger pondered the prospect before shaking it from his head. "I'm not so sure about that. Maybe one time I could'a, but now? Now I ain't so sure I could give it up…settle down." That had been hard to admit to himself about a year ago, but now it seemed like God's own truth to Tombstone. "I wouldn't be much good at it."

There was a moment of silence between the two as Walker kept his eyes past her and spied an unsavory looking fellow come through the door, but he made for the bar so fast that Joshua thought nothing of it. "I'm not so sure of that," countered Bonnie, but Walker merely shrugged, ending that line of conversation. Finally, the brunette woman sighed, "How long are you in town for?"

"Just tonight," answered Walker, "I'm riding for Santa Fe at first light, so I best be turning in early."

"I see. We have rooms available here, if you're interested." The Bounty Hunter nodded after a moment, "And if you are only here for one night, I don't want you to spend it alone."

Joshua hated to admit it, but she was good. He didn't really feel up to spending the night alone either after their conversation, not after spending weeks roughing it on the desert frontier. While the offer wasn't free, the knowledge that he would probably more than make up the extra cost when he exchanged Oakley's bounty in Santa Fe ultimately swung his decision. "Then you can spend it with me."

She gave him a bright smile, far more genuine than one might have expected considering her profession. "I'd be glad to. Come with me," she beckoned as she stood and led him by the hand to the stairs that led to the rooms above the saloon. As he was pulled out, Joshua didn't fail to notice that unsavory fellow at the bar watching him go.

The rays of morning sun poked through the curtains over the window of the room above the saloon as Walker picked his gun belt up from the back of the chair it had been put on as he had hastily undressed the previous night. His pair of Schofield revolvers, with their shortened five inch barrels, nickel finish, and custom ivory grips, had seen him through his years as a bounty hunter on the frontier and he never went anywhere without them. As he strapped the guns back on, Walker looked back at the still sleeping form of Bonnie in the bed. Even though the naked woman looked alluring as she lay splayed across the mattress, she was a mere distraction, an enjoyable one, but he didn't want to settle down. He had to keep moving, had to keep going, stopping wasn't what he was good at.

And Bonnie, sweet as she might have been, wasn't the kind of girl that interested him. She was too innocent, even if she was a 'soiled dove,' the brunette hadn't seen the world like he had, the violence, the brutality, just how evil man could treat his fellow man. Bonnie had this idealized version of him in her head that just didn't exist, though Walker didn't have the heart to shatter her delusions.

So, just like every other time the two had spent a night together, Walker pulled on his coat and grabbed enough money from his pocket to cover the room and her services before setting the bills on the nightstand by the bed. Without so much as a single word or touch, Joshua donned his felt hat, tipped it towards her, and then quietly left the room. As soon as he closed the door and was sure he hadn't woken the sleeping woman, the Gunslinger made his way downstairs, through the closed saloon and out into the quickly warming morning. There were few townsfolk up at this early hour, but there were some signs of life, be it Mrs. Perkins preparing to open the General Store, a stagecoach was being hitched to a train of horses, and a trio of gruff looking men rode through town.

Joshua watched them pass, eyes narrowing as he tried to get a good look at one of the men, unable to shake the feeling he had seen him before. When nothing came to mind, Walker pushed the thought aside and headed for the Sheriff's Office and gave his trusty horse a pat on the flank. "You alright Shelby? Ready to get going?"

The Thoroughbred made a noise of agreement as the Bounty Hunter unhitched the horse and climbed into the saddle. "Let's go boy, nice and steady now." Faithfully, the animal responded, entering a slow trot as Walker guided the horse out of the town of Loma Parda and onto the desert trails south towards Santa Fe.

As the sun rose, the desert got hotter, beating down on the hat and duster of Tombstone as the Gunslinger rode south, taking care to keep his eyes out, scanning the rocky formations, scrutinizing the cacti, and snapping to the movement of each tumbleweed. Years spent working across west Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona had meant he had forgotten more about the desert than most would ever learn. He'd had to live in it, fight it, survive it, and kill in it, sometimes all at the same time.

And so when he saw small clouds of dust rising in the distance that got closer to him, even though the wind was at his back, he knew that something was wrong. "Woah up boy," urged Walker as he slowed Shelby right down and squinted at the approaching dust. "Looks like we got company, don't you agree?"

The horse neighed in response as Joshua grunted and sat back in his saddle, pushing his duster aside to reveal the holster slung low on each leg. Keen blue eyes spotted eight riders crested the hill ahead of him, four of them came to a halt and dismounted while the others approached him, not at any great speed, but with poise in their path down the hill at him. Knowing they meant trouble, Joshua brought his horse to a halt and let the riders approach him while staying as far away as he could from the men on the hill ahead of him. The four men came to a halt ten yards ahead of the Bounty Hunter and eyed him intently, each had either a revolver on his hip or repeater in his hands. "Well look what we found boys!" called out one of the riders before he turned to Tombstone, "That's a nice horse there, Tombstone. Would you sell it? We'll give you a good price as long as you agree to come with us."

Walker recognized the man now, one of the one's in Killin' Bill Oakley's gang that had been robbing the stagecoach and run off after Tombstone had shown up. It seemed that he had mustered the rest of his group, and that included the man on his right, who had shown up at the Saloon last night and rode out of town this morning before Walker departed. Eyes looking past the four in front of him and up the hill, Joshua noted that the other four men were decidedly laxer than the closer group, with their weapons out of reach. Confident in the situation, Walker leaned to his right and spit onto the dusty trail before turning his attention back to the men ahead of him. "I'll offer you a better deal. You just keep riding on, don't stop, don't look back, don't follow…and I let you live."

The words were met with a chorus of grim chuckles from the four men who heard him as Joshua's hands curled around the smooth ivory grips of his Schofields and he smirked knowingly. "Talking tough to the end Tombstone?" asked the leader of the bunch as his own hand lowered, "Those going to be your last words then, boy?"

Joshua shook his head, "Yours, not mine."

There was a flash of recognition on the man's face as his eyes lowered just in time to see the sun glint off the nickel finish of Walker's right revolver as it was smoothly drawn from its holster and leveled. In a single set of refined, rehearsed motions, Joshua's thumb pulled the hammer back before his index finger pulled the trigger, the gun kicking back as it sent its .44 caliber bullet right between the man's eyes. The sudden noise startled the other horses as Shelby tensed, but held steady beneath Walker even as he drew his second pistol and took aim at the next man and put a round into him. Now thoroughly spooked, the other horses began to bolt, the two with dead riders took off in opposite directions, dragging the bodies of their dead riders through the sand while the other two tried frantically to make sense of the situation.

By the time Walker had pulled the hammers on both his pistols back again, the man to his left had finally begun to raise his rifle, but before he could take aim, Joshua fired both guns and put a pair of rounds into him. The man's rifle fell away as his horse went up on its hind legs and bucked off the man before bolting into the desert. Down to one, the last man finally gathered his wits long enough to reach for his pistol.

"Hiya!" barked the Bounty Hunter as he put his spurs to his steed and the horse shot forwards, galloping across the trail as he cocked his right gun again and leveled it. Tombstone fired a round at near point-blank range into the last man as he rode past and up towards the last four. Three of them rushed to grab their weapons from their horses as the Bounty Hunter bore down on them, grimacing as the first shots rang out and snapped past. Leaning forward right next to Shelby's neck as the Thoroughbred galloped forwards, Walker readied his revolvers as the distance closed and raised his left gun and placed the front post on one man who tried to track the fast moving Bounty Hunter before Tombstone's Schofield barked again, hitting the man in the leg as he fell to the ground. Grabbing the reigns with his right hand, Joshua brought his horse to a stop as he pulled the hammer back on his left gun and put a second round into the back of the man's head.

The next man broke and ran, prompting Walker to spin around and bring his guns to bear on the other two men and fired them one after the other. One man tried to pull a pistol and was met by Joshua putting a round from the right gun and then the left into him. The second managed to grab a shotgun from his horse before Walker leveled both his guns at the outlaw and fired them right then left, meaning his left gun was empty after it sent its .44 caliber slug into the miscreant's gut before the lead from the right pistol punched through the man's skull.

As the last of the fighters fell, Walker holstered his empty gun as he grabbed the reigns with his now free hand and wrenched Shelby around to go after the runner. Without missing a step, the Thoroughbred went from the trail to cross country, running down the man who had tried to ambush him in a matter of seconds while Walker reached for the lasso on his saddle.

When the fleeing outlaw looked back, he saw the rope twirling above the Bounty Hunter's head before it leapt from the Gunslingers hand and the hoop landed around him and was pulled tight as the Thoroughbred was brought to a halt.

Walker pulled the rope taught and dragged the man to the ground and made sure he was completely trapped as he urged Shelby forwards until he was looking down on the ensnared man from his saddle. "Is that all of you?" asked Walker slowly, watching the man shake and struggle against the rope, "It'd be best if you answer."

Finally, the man rolled onto his back and stared at him wide eyed, "Ye…yes, it was just us eight. Didn't reckon we'd need any more." Walker nodded as the man wiggled some more, but that was put to a stop by the sound of the hammer of the Schofield coming back. "What…what you going to do with me now? Take me to the law?"

The Bounty Hunter ran his tongue over his lips. "The Law is retribution for those who harm those who cannot protect themselves. I," he said before gesturing towards where the bodies of the other ambushers lay scattered across the desert, "Do not fall into that category. I prefer to administer my own retribution, ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. It's the real reason they call me Tombstone."

All he got back was a confused and terrified look from the ensnared man. "What?"

"Because if you come for me, you'd best bring a tombstone. Even if you don't need one for me, that means I'm going to need one for you," explained Walker.

Realization flashed across the man's face for the briefest of moments before Joshua fired his last loaded bullet, ensuring that realization remained etched on the man's features for all eternity when the round went through his head. With the body now flat and still on the desert floor, Joshua let out a deep sigh and unlatched the break action of his revolver, ejecting the spent casings before swinging one leg over his horse and dismounting next to the body. While going through the mechanical motion of reloading first his right gun and then holstering it before repeating the process with his left, Walker examined the body. The men had been traveling light, there were no large sacks or saddlebags on any of the horses that he had seen, which meant that their hideout was close by and the had ambushed him close to their home turf. If there were others, then there was a chance they had heard the shots and could be coming this way.

Even if one of the men he had just killed had a bounty on their head, which Walker wasn't certain of, it would take time he possibly didn't have to load him up and then return to Loma Parda. So with little to gain, the Bounty Hunter decided to get while the getting was good, so he gave his gun a spin before placing it back in its holster before loosening and then removing the lasso from the dead man. Wrapping it back up and placing it on his belt, Walker noticed something odd had fallen out of the man's clutched hands. Crouching down, he picked up the small stone statue and brushed the sand from it.

It was clearly meant to be a human head, albeit disproportioned, and it almost looked Indian if he were to guess, though he had never come across anything like it when he had fought Apache and Comanche before. At the same time, the way black stones were used as eyes, with the ornate gold ornamentation around the base, the quality of the craftsmanship, and how smooth the figurine was made him doubt that it was Indian at all.

But now was not the time to worry about such things, the stones and gold had some value, so the Bounty Hunter took the item with him, tucking it into his coat pocket when Walker found the ground around him darkened suddenly. Spinning around and looking to the sky, he could see ominous looking clouds that had somehow snuck up on him from the clear blue desert sky. Not wanting to get caught out by a sudden downpour, Joshua hastily remounted his horse as the clouds began to descend on him, black as ink and just as thick for a scant few seconds until they cleared, leaving nothing but hot desert and clear blue sky.

And just like those clouds, Tombstone was nowhere to be seen.

Closing Notes: Hopefully y'all enjoyed that, be sure to leave a review to comment, critique, or whatever your wish. I appreciate all feedback, though what varies is the extent to which I enjoy feedback. This is something a little different and me trying new things, so I'm curious as to the responses I'll get.

Stay Frosty, Misfit Delta out.