The Western Tale

Ch.2: Tragic Times

For a time, the stagecoach had been quiet. Sunset had dozed off; the travel having rocked her to sleep. AJ was sitting quietly, as was myself. I did not want to speak to her unless spoken to, lest it be a poor decision.

AJ turned to me. "How old are ya?"

"Seventeen" I responded. "Why?'

"I heard ya tell Limestone that you had to head to Red River for business. Where ya from?"

I responded, reaching under my scarf to scratch my chin. "Ponyville. Nice little community about thirty miles away. My parents met in the bar there one day and had me not long after. Mom did carriage rides on our property. Dad kept a good house. They were great."

"Great?" AJ asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah" I said quietly. "Fever took them both last winter. I went to Manehatten to settle their affairs last summer. The property is mine at this point- though I don't know what to do with it. I do like growing vegetables. I don't have the patience to be a carriage driver."

"I'm sorry about your parents" AJ said sympathetically. "Was it peaceful?"

I nodded. "They both went out with the tide, holding hands. My sister got there in time too. She lives in Canterlot. She's a lawyer."

AJ whistled. "That's a long way from Ponyville. Guess she didn't want the property?"

I shook my head no. "She never took to the rural life like I did. But we're still close. You got parents around?"

AJ Smiled. "Yup. They actually run the haberdashery where we're gonna be staying."

The conversation ceased for a few minutes, before AJ directed me to look at Sunset.

"I feel bad for her" she frowned. "She's gotta hang, but she really don't deserve it. She was sitting in the bar, cleaning a gun, and a bullet got loose. Hit a 10-year-old girl. Dead instantly."

"She actually came willingly. Said she felt bad about what she did. Not too much older than you, really. Twenty-three. You got a girl-or guy?"

I looked down at the stagecoach floor, removing my glasses and rubbing my eyes.

"No. I've been too shy to do anything. Promise you won't make fun of me?"

AJ nodded, looking me in the eyes as I sat back up. Sunset would awake at this point with a deep yawn.

"I have this new thing called Autism" I explained. "I'm terribly shy. Sure, I know what to do if romance gets to that point, but its no use. I don't pity myself, but it would be nice to find someone."

As Sunset went to respond, we heard a "whoa there!" from Limestone. The stagecoach ceased. AJ shook her head, preparing her gun.

It appeared someone else needed a ride.

AJ had her gun pointed out of the stagecoach window, her eyes squinting to see the lady. The lady wore a purple coat, along with heavy snowpants and black boots.

"I guess you caught me in one hell of a predicament" the lady said.

"Ah guess ah did" AJ said, her eyes unblinking. "Where are you heading to?"

"Red River" the lady explained. AJ allowed a chuckle to escape her lips.

"The other passenger that asked to climb on is too. What's your story?"

The lady explained that she had taken a position as a nurse at the hospital in Red River. She was due to start in a week.

AJ nodded, still not taking her eyes off of her for a second. "Got your acceptance papers?"

She nodded. "I do."

AJ allowed her to step forward and present the papers. AJ quickly looked them over and showed surprise when seeing the name. "Twilight Sparkle, huh? Isn't your brother a member of the Secret Service?"

"Damm straight" Twilight replied with a smile. "Who's the other passengers?"

"Ask them yourself" AJ said, allowing Twilight to climb aboard. As she sat down, she gazed at Sunset and I, doing a double take at my appearance. The stagecoach took off once more.

"Is he lover or something?"

"No" I smiled. "Just a young guy caught in a blizzard of bad circumstances. Sunset chuckled at the pun, as AJ rolled her eyes. "You ain't a Dad yet, as far as you tell me."

"I can still make them" I defended. "Anyways, its nice to meet you, Twilight. I love reading your fathers opinion columns in the paper when it comes. He is quite a writer. I have a story started myself, but I had to put it on hold when my parents moved on last winter."

Twilight smiled. "Kinda weird to see a boy like you out traveling, yet alone owning a property. At least, I assume you got the rights to your parents property? Sorry" she said with a blush. "I know times are changing. But a rural community letting a boy own property... it's cool, honestly."

AJ shook her head, thinking in her mind how cool it was. In her view, it was unfair that gender roles were ever a thing, outside of a very limited set of circumstances.

"You need a girl though" Sunset said suddenly. "Don't cry for me, though. I don't have much time left. And that is okay. I have made my peace. I raised no finger when AJ came to collect me."

"Well," Twilight smirked. "He does look handsome. We could kiss on him and stuff tonight."

AJ facepalmed. "Y'all forgetting the word consent? Not only that, he said to me that he's shy. But I think...well who knows? I can only hope this trip goes alright."

The three of us agreed, and soon enough, I dozed off, as did Sunset once more. AJ began to sense something in her. But she ignored it for now, only pondering how our stories would connect in time.

Her thoughts were interrupted, however, by the coach arriving.

Destiny had arrived.