*Hey guys, sorry but this is gonna be a 3 part story. This chapter ended up being kinda long, and I dont like posting chapters over 2k words. So ill get right on the last part, enjoy!*
Twinkle cackled as everyone stared in shock, maybe even a little horror. This 'AM' had an aura of him. If he wasn't a simple NPC...the group feared what kind of chaos he'd issue.
"I made him myself." Beamed the fox. "Caine gave me full creative liberty. As long as he was against you." AM looked confused, but shrugged it off.
"You lil sissys think you can take on us? Ha! You're just another couple a bugs for me to squish under my boots." AM chuckled, but stopped when Kinger tipped his hat.
"Now hold on a second partner." Kingers accent was- better than nothing.
"Whats going on?" Gangle whispered, slightly backing up behind Zooble.
"Those there jewels don't belong to yall, and I suggest you bring em on back." Kinger pulled out his own gun, it looked rather rubber thanks to the digital world.
"Oh? You threatin us boy?" AM's eyes narrowed, his teeth shifting to a toothy snarle.
"I ain't ya boy, and those ain't your jewels!" Kinger fired a shot, the two stations kicked and dodged. AM's stalion had a graze on its chest.
"Whoa whoa easy boy" AM calmed the creature before pulling its reigns, and the duo ran off.
"What the fu(beep) was that?!" Zooble called out, pointing to where the two just were.
"What? Oh- did i not do it right?" Kinger was- back to normal.
Pomni looked at the chess piece. She couldn't help but wonder if having one of his eyes covered; did that make him slightly sane again? She couldn't think to quickly about it.
"We need to catch them!" Kinger pointed dramatically up the hill.
"And how are we gonna do that genius?" Jax smirked, enjoying the little show.
Everyone looked around, when Ragatha gasped in delight.
"GUYS!" She practically sprinted away; toward a barn. Everyone turned, and saw a horse stable. Five beautiful, white stallions relaxed in the fencing.
"Great work Ragatha! These are perfect." Kinger patted the rag dolls head, earning a soft giggle.
"This is incredible, it's been so long since I've had a ride." Ragatha's voice trailed off, in a nostalgic way.
"Um- I don't know how- how to ride." Gangle looked nervously up at the large beasts.
"Hey, no worries. You can just ride with me. There's only five anyway." Zooble relaxed a red claw on Gangle, earning a smile from her crying mask.
"Now this is gonna be fun!" Jax quickly jumped the fence.
"Wait Jax no!" Ragatha called out.
"Oh please, what's gonna happen doll fa-" Jax was so rudely interrupted- by a hoof to the face. The stallion had kicked Jax threw the fence post.
"HAHAA!" Zooble cackled, supporting their weight on Gangle; who held back a giggle.
"Whoa- you ok Jax?" Pomni rushed over. Little cartoon birds flew in a circle around his head.
"I tried to warn you Jax." Ragatha shook her head, using the actual door to get in.
"Oh yea?" The rabbit said weakly, waving away the little birds. "Then show me how it's done rag doll."
Ragatha smirked, and gentle walked in. She looked around, before choosing a more rowdy looking stallion. She moved, making sure she was in its line of sight.
"Hey big guy. Wow, you're just beautiful aren't you?" She slowly stepped forward, stopping when it jerked its head. But she didn't quit. Two minutes later, and the horse had calmed down. He leaned into her gentle stroked.
"And that's how you do it." Ragatha beamed, everyone nodded in amazment- accept Jax, who rolled his eyes.
"Whatever man." Everyone followed Ragatha's example. It took some- Jax- longer than others, but eventually Everyone had a horse. Thanks to Ragatha, each horse had a saddle. She gave a quick lesson, and soon everyone was on a horse. Gangle nervously wrapped her ribbons around Gangle, who patted her in comfort.
"Kinger, you seem to know what you're doing. Why don't you lead us?" Pomni spoke up, earning a chuckle from him.
"Let's get back those jewels!" Kinger nudged the horse, and soon it was off. The other horses followed quickly behind their leader.
"Whoa!" Pomni yelled, hanging onto the reigns for dear life. Jax laughed out, waving around his hat. Ragatha laughed, a real good laugh.
In a small, dark room- Cain and Bubble watched the group through a little TV.
"Huh, this is pretty interesting to watch. Who knew Ragatha would take control like that." Cain watched closely.
"Great outfits Caine!" Bubble complimented.
"Why thank you Bubble."
"Really helps the fan service." Caine looked over confused at the bubble, who gave a thousand yard stare back.
"O-k?" Cain turned his attention back to the TV.
The scene settled in an old saloon. The air thick with tension, danger and dust. It would have screamed danger and tension- if the saloon wasnt filled with a bunch of different colored manikins; all wearing the same cowboy hat. Twinke and AM sat in a curved corner of the saloon, each knocking back some kind of brown liquid.
"Ah~ nothin like some shots after a job. Huh partner?" Twinkle looked over at the NPC. He was zoning out, only looking at the fox when she tapped his shoulder.
"Ah, sorry lassy. Guess I dozed off huh?" He sipped the drink, looking back across the crowd.
"You really worried bout those bugs?" Twinkle smirked, happily mocking her group of friends. The window behind them casted a bright ray of light, making AM'S golden tooth shine, and Twinkle's swirls to glow.
"I don't know. There's somethin bout that sherif..I got a feelin they wont give up." Twinkle hid a smirk as the NPC spoke. Of course he had a feeling, it was a big part of the script. But in fear of another gummy goo situation, she didnt say anything. She had heard the glitches that came with realization, hurt like a bi(beep).
"I'm sure it's nothin, besides we got each other. No one's been able to stop us yet." Twinkle rose a glass for a toast, and with a chuckle, AM clicked his glass to hers.
Outside, the group rode down the dirt road.
"Hey look!" Jax pointed to the saloon.
"I say lets go get wasted!" His laugh made Zooble roll their eyes, but Ragatha pointed too.
"Wait look! It's two black stallions! I bet Twinkle and AM are in there."
"Yea, that sounds like a classic western film." Pomni agreed. Kinger steered the group toward the Saloon.
"Ok, we need to be quiet. Who knows the dangerous criminals that could be in there." Kinger narrowed his eyes, looking up at the rather smooth building. Ragatha made sure all the horses were secure, before rejoining the group.
"Anyone else kinda weirded out by Kinger? He's being- sensible." Jax shivered a bit at the thought of a sane Kinger.
No one succeeded in being quiet. Twinkle's ears twitched, and turned toward the door. Giggling, she reached into her tail. Pulling out three gold coins. She scanned the tables.
"You hear somethin?" AM looked around.
"We got some company outside~ Why not give them an energetic, and warm welcome~?" Twinkle locked on a glass, half full. She threw a coin- and it missed completely. Another shot, and the glass only shook a bit. Just as the group barged in, the last coin made contact. The hit knocked the glass over, spilling the drink into the lap of a rather drunk manikin.
"H-ey!" The manikin slurred, turning to the manikin next to him. With a single left hook, the whole bar broke into a fight. One manikin was thrown out the window behind the criminal duo. Twinkle howled with laughter, making the group turn their heads.
"There they are! Get em!" Kinkger pointed dramatically, diving into the fight. Pomni, Gangle, and Ragatha stayed back. Just staring at all the weird fighting. Zooble punched a few manikins who tried getting to close. While everyone was distracted, Jax took a bundle of rope that hung on the wall; darting out the door with it.
"Haha! Nice try rookies!" AM stood on the cushioned seat, his body half way out the broken window.
"Come on, you can try harder than that!" Twinkle called out, before following AM out the window.
"Ah f(beep)" Zooble glared at the broken window.
Outside the two fall to the sand, both chuckling as AM helped up Twinkle.
"Come on, horses are on the other side." AM started to lead around the saloon, when Twinkle let out a growled scream. Turning around, Twinkle was on the ground; grabbing at a rope around her neck. Jax chuckled, pulling on his lasso.
"Come on, I wanna get this adventure over with. So, give up the jewels and turn yourself in. I dont wanna hurt you, puppy" His mocking tone pissed off AM. In one motion, he pulled out a revolver and shot it. The bullet went directly into the rabbits shoulder.
"AH F(BEEP)" Jax immediately dropped the rope, holding his shoulder. It had been awhile since he felt almost real pain like it, it scared him more than anything.
AM quickly pulled Twinkle up into his arms, bridal style. Cutting away the rope with his teeth, the two ran off.
"Holy sh(beep)- y-you actually saved me?" Twinkle looked up at the pair of teeth, his eyes narrowed in on their horses.
"Course I did, your my partner ain't ya? I expect you'd do the same for me." Twinkle's eyes widened. She didn't give AM such empathetic or caring attributes, let alone trusting of her. It made her smile, and for a moment she cuddle up to the NPC.
"My horse is hurt. He'll be fine, but it's best to leave him. You'll ride with me." AM left no room for argument. Cutting off the rope holding the hurt creature, he hit it's back; sending him running. With a quick jump, AM and Twinkle were on her horse.
The moment the duo rode away from the saloon, all the NPC manikins disappeared from the fight.
"Huh, guess they despawned or something." Zooble spoke as they walked around the now empty bar.
"Hey look, a note." Ragatha took the paper from the booth AM and Twinkle had sat at. "Kinger, it's for you." The doll handed the note over.
"Hm. 'Next town over, tomorrow, at noon. Be alone.'" Kinger read out the note. "Ah, a meet up huh? High noon? This is where it all goes down." Kinger sounded so serious, it made Gangle giggle. Leaving the saloon, the group looked over to the horses. Jax was petting one, his left sleeved stained in red.
"Whoa, what the hell happened?" Pomni looked at his shoulder.
"Hm? Oh, I tried to end the adventure early. Lassoed Twinkle, but that NPC shot me. It healed already." Pomni looked horrified.
"You- what?" Ragatha ran over.
"What? Calm down rag doll." Jax grinned at the girls. Pomni was about tk say something when a loud shot went off. The horse Jax was letting, suddenly fell over before exploding into confetti.
"Damn, I was aiming for the rabbit." AM scoffed as they rode past the group.
"Damn, guess ya gotta practice huh?" Twinkle laughed at the NPC, but looking back she was relieved. She didn't want anyone else to be hurt.
"No! Sugar!" Ragatha called out as she fell to her knees, tears filled her blue eye as she looked down at the ground.
"Oh Ragatha, I'm so sorry." Pomni kneeled down next to her. Zooble and Gangled joined her side too.
"That was close-" Jax dead panned in the direction of the duo, shocked.
"Wait a second, look!" Kinger ran to the side lines. The hurt stalion was running in their direction. Thanks to his detachable hands, Kinger took ahold of its reigns.
"Looks like they abandoned this one. He seems alright though." Kinger looked down at the crying Ragatha.
"Hey, he's a bit to wild for me. Think, you can try and take care of him?" Kinger gently tilted Ragatha's head toward the horse. She sniffled, and after a moment got up. Slowly, she approached the horse. With all the gun shots going off, he was on edge.
"H-ey big buy. Shhh, shh it's gonna be ok." Ragatha gently reached her hand toward him, and after a few tries, he let her pet him. He let out a breath, as if it was the first time he relaxed.
"Come on. Let's get started for the town. Then we can set up camp, looks like it's under the stars for us tonight." Kinger jumped up on his horse, explaining his plan. No one hated the idea, so they followed behind. Ragatha slowly warmed up to her new horse, and he seemed to enjoy the company.
The group rode for what felt like hours. There was nothing but open desert, when suddenly a small stall appeared. A quiet, normal manikin sat inside. On their counter was a small collection of wood, an old bow fire starter, a package of digital hot dogs, and a smore pack.
"Guess we'll have to use some sticks to cook these on." Zooble said, picking up the hot dog package. There was enough dogs and buns for everyone to have two. Gangle smiled as she picked up the smores kit.
"It's been so long since I've had a smore. This is the best adventure ever!" She giggled, twirling around with the snack.
"Yea, I actually like this too." Pomni spoke up, grabbing the fire starter.
Everyone got to work on a small chore. Gangle and Kinger collected sticks to cook on, and for extra lumber. Zooble and Pomni looked around for large rocks, making a barrier for the fire. That left Jax, to sit silently and watch everyone work.
"Don't you think you could out in any way?" Ragatha tried not to sound rude as she looked at Jax. She had just finished tieing down the horses to a post, making sure they couldn't run off.
"I'm saving our spot. Dont want this perfect camping area to be taken by another group right?" Jax's smile grew as Ragatha was clearing pissed off, but she walked away before anything else was said.
As the moon rose above the group, the crackling or the fire made for a relaxing ambiance. It was unclear if Caine was being nice, or simply didn't know how real deserts work. The temperature hadn't changed from how it was in the day.
Kinger sat with Pomni as the two looked up at the stars, while Zooble joined the other two girl's in making hot dogs. Jax was, all by himself. Slightly away from the light of the fire, he stared up at the sky. His eyes weren't focused on any star specifically..but that scream Twinkle let out, the way some of her fur had stayed on the rope when she left...the way the bullet felt entering his shoulder. It was all.. real. To real. He kept replaying it over and over...and over..
"Hey, you hungry?" Jax focused finally, and Pomni was standing over him. Hot dog in each hand.
"Huh? Grub already?" Jax sat up, taking the offered hot dog. Pomni wanted to ask what was wrong, he had been quiet for hours. But she knew, he wouldn't say a word. The two just sat there, eating their hot dogs.
Caine watched the group. He was so focused on how happy the group was. They were enjoying his adventure. It made him feel....