Author's note: Please tell me how you guys are feeling about this story. I want it to turn out well.
Iduna slowly woke up and did not see Agnarr since last night she told him she was Northuldra. But at least Dutch understood. Anna and Elsa were still asleep. Anna had her hat with her. Iduna got up and out of her tent. Her bare feet were getting wet from the morning dew on the grass. She decides to carry a sack of something from one of the far wagons to Pearson's wagon.
After finally managing to get it and another bag to Pearson, she walked past Dutch's tent. The flaps on one side were open, and Van Der Linde was in a mostly buttoned red night shirt, a cigar between his fingers. He didn't have his guns on him yet. "Hi Dutch." She said. "Good morning, Iduna." He replied. "Can you take me to town and buy me a schofield revolver?" She asked. "I might. Okay. I'll take you, but first you might wanna get some shoes on." Dutch said. Iduna's feet were now getting cold from the wet grass. She nods and walks back to her tent. After drying her feet off, she puts her usual shoes back on and walks toward the horses. A few minutes later, Dutch came out of his tent. He had his usual clothes on plus his hat, but he didn't have his jacket on.
"Let's go." He hopped up onto his horse, The Count. Iduna got on her own horse, which she named Max. They started riding for Valentine. A rainstorm had rolled through last night. So the place was covered in more puddles and extra muddy, but that didn't stop them. They make it to the gunsmith, hitch their horses on a post, and start trudging through the thicker mud. Before they made it to the stairs of the gunsmith, one of Idunas shoes gets caught in the mud and her bare foot ends up flying out when she tried to free it, and it lands ankle-deep in the mud. She felt the mud ooze between her toes, and she yelped a little as Dutch laughed at her. "Very funny." She said as she pulled her foot back out of the ground and wiggled her muddy toes and jerked her leg to try to get the mud off as much as she could. "We should also probably buy you new shoes." Dutch said as he picked up Iduna's shoe.
She groans in disgust. She had not run bare foot in mud since she saved Agnarr. So it was a bit disgusting to her. She and Dutch walked up the stairs as she ran her foot across the wood to get the mud off. It was working a little but didn't get fully between the toes or the top of her foot. "You coming in, or are you gonna get that mud off more?" Dutch asked. "I'm coming." Iduna said. Deciding to wait a bit to get the mud off. They enter and find the gunsmith behind a counter. "What can I do for you, fellers?" He asked. "My friend is looking for a new gun." Dutch said. "You're half barefoot, friend?" He asked. Dutch nodded. "Well, why don't you come see what you want." He said.
"I want a schofield revolver." Iduna said. The gunsmith grabbed a new schofield. "84.00$." He said. "And I want it to look like my friends gun." Iduna said. Dutch grabbed his schofield revolver and showed it to the clerk. "101 dollars. I guess." Dutch gives him the money he had. After a while of waiting, the clerk handed Iduna her new gun and gave Dutch his back. Iduna's revolver looked exactly like Dutch's. Only his was slightly worn. Her's was perfect. They thank the owner before leaving. Iduna puts the revolver in the rope that kept her jacket cloesd. Dutch led her over to the grocery store to get her new boots. Iduna followed and had to deal with more mud squishing between her toes as she didn't wanna get stuck constantly. So she decided not to wear the shoe. But then her left shoe got stuck, and her foot came out and landed in mud. Now it oozed between all 10 toes. She grunted in anger. Dutch was chuckling at her again.
She trudged through the street. Her feet slapped against mud. They made it to the store, and Dutch went in to collect her new boots. Iduna sat down and waited as she tried to clean her feet off. She lifted her right foot up and saw that she had managed to get some off but since the wood was also muddy it was harder. Hosea was right about Valentine. Her toes were as black as the mud. She continued scraping it off when Dutch came out with 2 boots. Her size. because he had the clerk examine her shoe size. You can head to the hotel and ask for a bath. With my tip." Dutch said as he gave her some money and the boots. They both walk across the street to the hotel and enter. "May I help you two?" The clerk asked. "I would like a bath." Iduna said. "0.25 cents, ma'am." The clerk said. She paid and he directed her to the bathroom and she took off her clotclosed. put her revolver with them too. She started bathing in the hot water. She takes this chance to clean the mud from her feet.
After an hour, Iduna finally gets up. She dries herself off, puts on her clothes and new boots. She reaches for her gun. Dutch had evidently chosen the right size of boots for her. She stepped out and walked to where Dutch was waiting outside. "You took your time." He said. She ignored him and they walked to Max and The Count near the gunsmith. "Can you get me something to hold the gun?" Iduna asked. "I'll get you a gun belt and holster." Dutch said. They reenter the building. "Back again? Welcome." The clerk said. "Should've gotten them earlier. My friend needs a holster and gun belt." Dutch said. The clerk put what he had onto the counter. An upgraded holster and belt. Both were black and made of leather.
Dutch buys them for her and she puts them on and then puts her schofield revolver in the holster. "Those things come with a second holster too. I'll let you have a free gun of your choice. Yes, styles are free too." The clerk said, being friendly. Iduna chooses a second schofield and has it look exactly like Dutch's. She gets the offhand holster on. It is like Hosea and Micah's holster positions.
She puts her new schofield away, and they walked for the horses and took off for Horseshoe. Then Iduna noticed some deer grazing and remembers that she had not given anything to Pearson, except helping him with the bags this morning. She stops her horse and Dutch stops too. "May i?" She asked, motioning to the deer. "If you want." Dutch allowed. "But remember it's a bit harder to fire on a horse." He warned. Iduna took out her replica of Dutch's revolver, she cocked the hammer back, she aimed for the head. She releases all her breath and fires. The deer drops dead. Max gets skittish from the gunshot coming from on top of him.
Iduna dismounts and runs toward her kill, Max follows. She managed to lift the surprisingly lighter deer onto the horse. She mounts back up and her and Van Der Linde continue riding home. Once they arrive, Dutch starts talking, "Well, that was quite fun, Iduna. Other than you getting stuck in mud. It was a pleasant time." He said. "Well, I'm gonna take this to Pearson." Iduna started hauling her kill to the butcher. "Ah, I can definitely make something out of this." Pearson said. Iduna noticed Agnarr coming into camp. She takes a deep shaky breath and walks up to him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." He said. "I'm sorry. I should've told you this sooner." Iduna said.
They then hug each other. Then, let go of each other. "Did you get new guns?" Agnarr asked. "Yeah, Dutch showed me how to fire them last night in order to try to calm me down. Then this morning, we went to town and bought me a new schofield that is a replica of his." She grabbed her main revolver and showed it to Agnarr. He ran his thumb across the delicate engravings. Then gave it back. "Anything else happen?" He asked. "Before we were able to get to the gunsmith, my foot got stuck and I ended up ruining my shoe. So I had to trudge through the mud half barefoot. I didn't really enjoy the feeling of mud. After we bought the gun. Dutch took me to the general store to get me new boots that can't be lost so easily. Then in the street I lose my other shoe to the mud. So my feet were completely muddy when we finally got there. After he bought them. He took me to the hotel across the street so I could get cleaned up. Then we went back to the gunsmith and got a holster and gun belt and an offhand holster, so I could get 1 more gun for free." Iduna explained.
"Sounds like you had a better time." Agnarr said. "Where were you?" Iduna asked. "I camped near the river for the night." He said. Done with their stories they walked past Dutch's tent again. "Agnarr, Iduna." He said. "Yeah?" Iduna asked. "Well, it feels like we are finally getting back on our feet." Dutch said as he got up from the cot he was sharing with Molly and walked over to his friends. "Yeah, it really does." Agnarr agreed. The trio watched Elsa, Jack, and Anna run and play together. Arthur walked up to them after delivering Reverend Swanson to his tent after a crazy near death experience. "Hey." He said. "Arthur, come here, enjoy the time." Dutch said. "Yiu find a buyer for them bonds we stole?" Arthur asked. "Not yet. But Hosea's working on it." Dutch replied.
"When we headin' west, Dutch?" Arthur asked. "Soon... I don't know." Van Der Linde said. "Feels like... things have changed. The whole world has changed. That they don't want folk like us no more. They hardly even want king's and queens now. We're being hunted." Arthur said. Dutch took a seat on his stool on front of the post, keeping his tent up. "We are all smarter than them. Only the feeblelest of men take jobs in the government." Dutch said. Arthur chuckled a little. "I hope so." He said. "Trust Dutch, fellas. You have to." Molly said.
"They got Micah!" Lenny yelled as he came in on his horse, looking exhausted. "Who's got him?" Agnarr asked. Lenny took a deep breath and started explaining what happened. "There's talk of hanging him." He finished. "Well here's hoping." Arthur said. "Arthur." Dutch said. "What? That fool brought this on himself. Yiu everyone's feelings about him, Dutch." Arthur said. "Yiu think I can't see past his bluster to the heart inside? He is a fine man." Dutch argued. "I'm not rescuing that fool." Arthur said. "I can't go. My face will be fully all over West Elizabeth. I am asking. He would do it for you." Dutch said. "I don't think he would, but... fine alright." Arthur reluctantly agreed. "Agnarr, Arthur, Iduna. You all take that kid to town. Valentine not Strawberry. Get him drunk. And fellas, no crazy business." Dutch said.
"We've given that up." Arthur said sarcastically. "And you get Micah out of that jail." Dutch finished. They all walked for their own horses and took off for Valentine. "I rode as quick as I could. Didn't stop for nothing." Lenny said. "Yeah, you look like crap right now." Iduna said. "I'm beat... we finally get off that mountain and then this. Micah's got a crazy side, fellas." Lenny said. "You're right about that." Agnarr agreed. "What were you boys doin'? You're supposed to be scouting ahead for us." Arthur said. "I kept asking him what we was doin', but he was, 'You worry too much, kid. Just some business to attend to, kid.' You know how he is." Lenny said. "Yes, i do." Arthur said.
"He was half-soaked before we even got there. Then we ran into some fellers, one of them Micah knew, drank some more... and this is supposed to be a dry town we're in, too." Lenny said. "And then he shoots one of them... I know how that goes." Arthur said. "Couldn't even tell ya quite how. It happened like the strike of a match. The law was on us fast, too... They was ready to string me up there and then but i got away, just about." Lenny said. "You're alright now. We'll take care of it." Arthur said. "So, you're all gonna go get him?" Lenny asked.
"May I come?" Iduna asked. Agnarr shot her a confused look. "What?" She asked. "You really want to go save that man?" He asked. "We both survived the day the Enchanted Forest fell." Iduna said. "Yeah. If you really want to go. It's up to Arthur, I won't stand in your way." Agnarr said. "Arthur?" Iduna asked. Arthur knew it was a reckless idea, but she looked like she was gonna start an argument, and that is not what they needed right now. "Fine." Arthur said. "But right now, let's just all have a drink. Forget about Micah. And no, Lenny." Arthur said. "You're lettin' her tag along." Lenny said. "Let's just go to the saloon and forget about him. We'll deal with him later." Arthur said. "Where were you all day, Mr. Morgan?" Agnarr asked.
"Reverend Swanson got himself into a mess so I had to go after him. We nearly got hit by a train cause he was drunk enough to wander onto the tracks and got his foot stuck." Arthur said. They arrive at Smithfield's saloon and dismount. They all walk inside and to the bar where there was enough space for 4 people. Arthur waited for his frien. "Just one or two... right, Arthur?" Lenny asked. "Course, just a drink. No big drama." Arthur sasaid. "Can we get some beers please?" Agnarr asked the bartender. "You, I don't want no trouble." He said, obviously remembering the barfight with Tommy. "You won't get any problems from us. We were defending ourselves." Agnarr countered. "Tommy, he's..." The bartender started. "He'll be fine." Agnarr said. "Here, have one for yourself." He gives the man some money to get some beer. "Thanks." He said
They all started drinking the alcohol. "Micah seemed to know a lot of people... that was the problem." Lenny started. "How you mean?" Arthur asked as he took a shot. "I mean, I done seen a lot of crazy, crazy stuff, but Micah..." Lenny said before a drunk patron rudely repeated after him. "I seen a lot of crazy, crazy stuff." He slurred. "Will you shut up?" Arthur asked. "Will you shut up?" He mocked. "Be quite, buddy." Arthur warned. "Oh, they're dullard's. My lord. You lot is dull." He insulted them. "Leave this fool alone." Lenny said. The patron continued to mock them. "Excuse me, buddy. Now, I like you. But as you can see, me and my friends are talkin' about something important. So could you please give us some space?" Arthur asked. "There ain't no pleasing some folk. I'm just trying to be funny." He stumbled out of the building. "Shall we?" Iduna asked. They all clink their bottles together and start guzzling the beer.
They kept buying more until they were fully drunk. "Haha. That's good." Arthur complimented the pianist. He turns around and notices that Agnarr, Iduna, and Lenny aren't there. "Fellas? Where are you?" He stumbles around the place until, "Arthur, we're up here." Agnarr called out while slurring a little. Morgan staggered up to them. "What you lot doin' up here?" He asked. "You know what? We don't know." Agnarr said before his glass slipped out of his grasp and fell downstairs. "Oops!" They all laugh and continue drinking. "Hey, why ain't you never married?" Lenny asked Arthur. "No one would have me." He said. "Oh, honey. Any woman would love to have you." Iduna slurred. Agnarr and Iduna took a seat for a second while Lenny pounded his chest a little as Arthur jumped like a hooligan.
"That's the thing you see. Because..." Arthur realized he was talking to air, not Lenny. "Le-Lenny?" He called out. "You seen where he went?" He asked Agnarr. He shook his head, and they drunkenly got up and heard ruckus coming from below. They stagger to the stairs and see Lenny being attacked. "Leave the kid alone! You Goddamn animals!" Arthur growled. "Who do you think you're talking to?" The attacker asked. "Nobody. We're talkin' to nobody." Arthur slurred as they stumbled down the stairs. "Yeah, you are a nothing!" Iduna said. "What did you just say?" The stranger asked. "What?" Arthur interrupted. "I said. What did you say?" He asked again. "Get lost, buddy!" Agnarr walks up and shoves him. "Shut up, mister!" A patron yelled. "Yeah... shut your mouth, mister." The attacker said.
Just when it seemed like there was gonna be another barfight, everyone suddenly started line-dancing while laughing like maniacs. Even the bartender joined, and he was also a bit drunk.
After having a ton more beer, Agnarr went outside to urinate. Once he was done, he walked through the backdoor. Then, he hallucinates everyone with Lenny's form. Some were Arthur and Iduna, too. "F-Fella's. Where are you hiding now?" He stumbled across the saloon. "There you are, Arthur." He said to a patron, sitting at a table. He blinked and realized it was a hallucination. "I'm Clive. You got the wrong feller." He said as Agnarr walked towards the bar. "Been looking all over for you, Lenny!" He slurred. "Lenny? Maybe you should stick to water, my friend." The bartender chuckled as he wiped a glass. He moved towards the stairs, and once he was on the second floor, he took the hallway to his right. There was a door next to him, he opened it hoping to find his friends. Instead, he sees two people he hallucinates as Lenny and Iduna. They were having sex. They all screamed in terror as Agnarr slammed the door closed. He grunts in fear and then continues looking for them. He walks down the stairs back onto the ground floor.
"Lemmy, Iduma, Arturd? Where are you all?" He said and slurred even more. Then Lenny appears and spins him around. "Agnarr? Agnarr, what are you doin'?" He asked. Arthur and Iduna were with him, and they were all still drunk to hell. Then Agnarr slaps Lenny on the cheek. He chuckles, then returns the slap. The other patrons, including Arthur and Iduna, watched in anticipation as the boys continued slapping each other. Later, they were at the bar again. "You're all like f-f-friends to me, fellas." Lenny said. "Shut up." Arthur said. "Cheers!" They all raise even bugger glasses of beer. "Cheers." The same guy that mocked them earlier was back. "Not you again!" Arthur hauls him outside and dunks his head into a water pen for pigs. After teaching him a good lesson, Arthur tosses him to the side as Iduna, Lenny, and Agnarr come out of the saloon and start acting like lunatics. They were all in the street, chasing each other. Then Lenny threw up. They all threw up the contents in their stomachs.
"There he is! Get him and his friends!" The drunk that Arthur tortured had brought the law with him to them. They ran up to them and captured Iduna, Agnarr, and Lenny, while Arthur started running away. "NEEEEVVVVVEEEERRRR!!!!! YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIIIIIVE!!!!!" He screamed as he ran for it. Then, a lawman came up from the corner of the building to his left. Arthur turns and runs but runs right into a pole as the police grab him. "I've seen enough!" A deputy said, and he slammed his nightstick onto Arthur's head.
Later
"Arthur? Arthur, you alive?" Lenny asked, his voice was faint, but Arthur heard it. "Arthur, are you alive?" Agnarr asked, his voice was faint too. "Mr. Morgan? Are you okay?" Iduna asked, she was closer. "Shut up. I wanna die." Arthur groaned as he got up and opened his eyes. He saw that he was sharing a cell with Iduna. Agnarr and Lenny had their own cell across the room. "What did we do?" He asked. "I don't know." Lenny said. "I don't know either." Agnarr mumbled. "I can't remember a thing." Iduna said as she reached for her head. They all had a legendary hangover.
"You filthy bunch of degenerates." A deputy said. "There's a fine for drunken violence in this town. You lot are just lucky no one was killed." He said. "Hey, we didn't start a thing." Arthur said. "Sure, you did." The deputy said. "Well... I don't remember." Arthur said. "Any of ya got 20 dollars? 20 dollars, and ya'll are free to walk." The deputy said. "Here." Lenny grabs the money from his pocket and pays their debt. The deputy unlocks the cells and walks back to his desk and retrieves Iduna's schofield revolver's. "Now, i don't wanna see ya'll back here again." He warned. They all walked outside and Lenny threw up all his stomach currently had.
"That was a quiet drink?" He asked when he was finished. "First one was pretty quiet." Agnarr said. "I'm heading back to camp, fellas. You comin'?" Lenny asked. "Let's just stay here and feel sorry for ourselves." Iduna groaned as she sat down and held her stomach. "We agree to never speak of this again?" Arthur asked. "Agreed." Everyone said in unison. Lenny walked for his horse and took off for Horseshoe Overlook. Agnarr threw up again. "That's the last time I am touching beer for a while." He mumbles.
After a few minutes of feeling sorry for themselves, they slowly got up and went to their horses which were still hitched outside of the saloon. They mount up and head for home. They rode in silence to camp. "Who goes there?" Bill called out. "It's us! You dumbass!" Arthur yelled. "Well, welcome back fellas." Bill said.
They dismount their horses. "Agnarr, Iduna. Can you come here?" Dutch called out from his tent. He had Elsa with him. "What's going on, Dutch?" Agnarr asked. "Did you know you're daughter has ice magic?" Dutch asked. Agnarr could've sworn his heart stopped for a second. He obviously wasn't scared of his daughter's magic. But now he was worried if the Van Der Linde gang would see them all as threats. "She surprised us all at first, but i know she is a good girl. Let me tell you what happened while you were gone." Dutch said.
Author's note: One of the comments asked when Elsa's powers will come into play, so I am gonna tell it in the next chapter. I wish you all good luck.
