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Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do own or claim to own characters in this story. I am
merely borrowing them for entertainment purposes.
Archive: comedy corral please
Author's Notes: Hi all, you may not know me, but I know all about the
M7 fans and writers' and thanks to a good friend of mine, I got up enough
courage to attempt a short fic. I just recently signed on and I hope you
all enjoy!
feedback welcome! phantom_menace_unknown@yahoo.com
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"Does the judge say when we're to expect them?" Vin Tanner sat casually at the table in the saloon and sipped at the beer Inez had sat in front of him minutes earlier. He and the others had been enjoying a quiet game of cards when the telegraph operator, Mr. Greely, brought them a message from Judge Orin Travis. And from the cold look in Chris Larabee's eyes, it wasn't good news.
"Says here we've got until sundown. Damn, I thought we'd be able to escape having to deal with this band of roughnecks." The gunslinger threw the wretched paper on the table and rubbed at the bridge of his nose in disgust.
"Well, I guess life is full of surprises." Buck Wilmington gulped some beer and smiled at the others.
"Shut up, Buck." Chris wasn't in the mood for his friend's robust attitude.
"Now come on, Chris. You know as well as I do you been itching for a fight. Its been so quiet around here, I was beginning to hear my own hair turning gray." The gunslinger shook his head slightly at the image of old age. "And I for one would rather die with a gun in my hand, instead of gumming my food."
"Your gonna be doing that a lot sooner if you don't shut your trap." All conversation stopped in the room as the sting of Larabee's words bounced off the rafters. One look in his face and you could see he wasn't kidding with his old friend. Something was bothering Larabee and it was almost to a boiling point.
"You alright, Chris?" Josiah was sitting to the right of the leader and could feel the anger radiating from him.
"Fine." The clipped response made the preacher jump slightly. He had never seen the gunslinger so wound up in the year they had known one another and from the puzzled frown adorning the tracker's face, he was just as bum-fuzzled.
"You want us to do anything to get ready for this gang?" JD, who, due to his innonence, was missing the underlying tension.
"Yeah. Go walk around town and make yourself visible so they'll know who to shoot at." Chris scraped his chair so hard against the floor as he stood that the others cringed in irritation.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Chris?" Buck jumped to his feet to face the man toe to toe.
"None of your damn business." Larabee shoved Wilmington away from him and almost toppled the man.
"Take it easy, Chris. This ain't like you." Tanner tried to insert himself between the two before they could swap blows.
"How would you know, Vin. You don't know me. So stop pretending like you do and get outta my face." The gunslinger pushed the tracker aside and stomped out of the saloon leaving blank stares in his wake.
"Might I inquire as to what has gotten into our illustrious leader?" Ezra Standish had been amusing himself at another table by extracting local patrons of their money, but at the first disturbance he immediately became alert.
"You can ask, Ezra. But that don't mean we can answer ya." Nathan Jackson leaned back in his chair and sighed heavily. He had noticed the slight change in Larabee the past few days but just associated it with the boredom they were all feeling.
"I'm gonna go talk to him." Vin attempted to pass Buck, but was stopped when the other man grabbed his upper arm.
"Leave him be, Vin. I've seen Chris in this kinda mood before and it ain't one we wanna be around. Trust me." The bounty hunter looked into the gunslinger's eyes and saw the sadness etched there.
"Alright. I'll leave him be for now." Tanner nodded and resumed his seat with the others wondering as they all were, what in the world was going on.
**************************
"Think they know we're coming by now." The brunette gunslinger was hunched over the campfire pouring coffee into another's outstrecthed cup.
"S'pose so. It ain't like its a secret or nothing. I'm sure the judge passed on the information in a quick and efficent manner as always." The voice sounded in a low sneer contrary to the peace of the night.
"I just hope they don't try nothing stupid. It'd be a pity to kill them all." A slightly built blond stood up from the tree and glanced at the others.
"Yeah. I do abhor unnecessary bloodshed." The gunslinger with a pinkish hue hair slapped at an invisible insect and turned toward the left to include the quiet gunman in the conversation. "You think this will be as easy as we think."
The gunslinger stared quietly at the other for a moment and then just shrugged their shoulders in a noncommital motion.
"Don't make no never mind. If they wanna fight, we'll fight. But if their smart, they'll do whats needed to save their hides." A tall dark haired gunslinger emerged from the cover of the trees and with the gruff tone ceased any other thoughts of conversation in the camp.
***************************
JD hadn't thought what happened in the saloon earlier any big thing, but as he watched the faces around him, he noticed the worry, puzzlement, and anger they all were experiencing.
"I don't understand. Why would Chris suddenly turn on us?" The youth hadn't been talking to anyone in particular, except himself, but almost died of shock when someone answered him.
"The biggest mystery is what is hidden in a human mind." JD turned to look around the boardwalk, not sure of which direction the voice was coming. Finally, he gaze settled on the entrance to the alleyway near him.
"Who are you?" The boy stepped closer not sure how to deal with the situation.
"Lets just say I'm someone who knows how you feel." The person still hadn't stepped from the shadows and this was beginning to disturb JD.
"Look, mister. I don't know who you are, but I'd appreciate it if you would kindly stay out of my private conversation." The teen turned to stalk off but was caught off guard by a hand pulling him backward.
"Hey!" JD stumbled a few steps until he felt the impact of the alley wall at his back.
"If you don't want people to hear what you say, its better to keep it to yourself." The kid stared dumbfounded into the hazel eyes staring him down.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend. I've just got a lot on my mind right now." JD sighed heavily and pulled himself upright against the wall.
"Thats okay. I just get a little carried away sometimes. But maybe I can help you with your problem." The form still hid the majority of their body in the shadows, only the top portion of their face was showing.
"I don't know. Its not really something you can change." The boy blinked suddenly thinking he'd seen those eyes somewhere before.
"Well, in that case, maybe I can help by taking you away from all this." The stranger's voice had dropped an octave.
JD gulped suddenly as he realized he'd walked into a trap. "Your one of the Rowdy Bunch, aren't ya?" The teen glanced around him quickly hoping to find some sort of escape route.
"What ever gave you that idea? I'm just passing through and offering my help to a fellow human being." The words sounded sincere but the eyes were telling the boy a different story.
"Thanks, but I think I'll be going now." JD attempted to sidestep his way out of the alleyway, but before he could get two inches he felt a sharp pain to the back of his head.
"Sorry, JD. I'll make it up to ya later." The stranger laughed softly and then drug the unconscious form toward the back of the alley to a waiting horse.
***************************
Buck paced nervously in front of the jailhouse. JD was supposed to have met him for lunch a half hour ago and according to some locals, they hadn't seem him in a couple of hours. The gunslinger was really beginning to get worried.
"You alright, Buck?" Nathan had watched the incessant pacing for as long as he could stand.
"No, Nate, I ain't. Nobody's seen JD since this morning and I'm getting kinda worried." Wilmington stopped his strides long enough to face the healer.
"I'm sure the kid has a good reason."
"I don't know. I told him to stick close with the Rowdy Bunch headed this way." The gunslinger closed his eyes as horrible images of the boy lying hurt or dead somewhere entered his thoughts.
"Now, just take it easy Buck. We'll go get the others and do a quick sweep. I'm sure we'll find him." Jackson patted Wilmington and then headed toward the saloon to elicit the help of the others.
"I hope so. I sure hope so." Buck swung his gaze around town again in hopes of seeing the youngest walking toward him, but unfortunately was met with nothing.
*********************
"I found this near the alley." Vin held out a white piece of paper to Ezra. He was still learning the basics of reading, but wasn't good enough yet.
"It says that if we want to see JD alive again, we are to come to the Beggar's Canyon entrance by 3:00 pm. If we do not show, they will kill him." Standish cleared his throat as he finished the words, afraid his true emotions would be identified.
"What time is it now?" Buck tried to pull the pocket watch from his vest, but his hands were shaking so bad he only succeeded in tearing his pocket. "Damnit all to hell."
"Easy, Brother Buck. We still have an hour and a half." Josiah placed a comforting hand on the gunslinger's shoulder and felt the tremors underneath.
"What the hell's going on?" Chris had come out of the hotel and noticed the five huddled near the jail.
"Somebody's kidnapped JD." Tanner grabbed the message from the gambler and handed it to Larabee.
"Damn, as if this day couldn't get any worse." The gunslinger read the note quickly and then turned toward the livery.
"Hey, wait for us." Buck had to practically run to catch up with the leader.
The six gathered their mounts swiftly and took off for the canyon, not knowing who the enemy was now, but knew who was to come.
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JD's world was spinning slowly as he tried to open his eyes. He remembered talking to the stranger in the alley...Wait, that wasn't a stranger. Penny! He'd been nabbed by the Rowdy Bunch and with those girls, it was no telling what was to happen.
"Good, your awake." Pen bent down and patted the boy on the cheek as she saw his eyes flutter open. "I'm sorry I hit you so hard. I'm still not comfortable with these pistols." The brunette pointed to the twin colts she had strapped to her waist.
"What are you girls' up to now. Isn't it enough to torture us, but now your threatening our town." The teen wasn't usually this gruff with a lady, his ma had taught him better.
"Take it easy, JD. We're not here to wreck havoc on Four Corners. We just needed some bait for our little scheme, and guess who it was?" Maggie stepped forward to stand next to Penny.
"Great. Whats next, Indians, coyotes, buffalo, a herd of stampeding cattle. Haven't you guys got tired yet?" JD turned his best puppy dog look on the dark-haired girl, but she wasn't buying it.
"Nice try. No, we're not tired and theres no lurking danger to be worried about. We just needed to get all you guys in one place at one time away from town." Maggs slapped the youth lightly on the head before returning to her bedroll.
It was just 30 minutes until the others were to arrive and everything had to be perfect.
"Everybody remember. Don't show yourselves until your sure you have them covered. Understand?" The black-clad woman was rewarded with six nods of agreement. "Good, lets get into place."
*********************
The six men rode in complete silence to their destination each noting the somber mood still gripping the leader.
Chris should have known they would pull some stupid stunt like this. *I'm really going to enjoy getting my hands on them.* Larabee shook his head from the vengeful thoughts and focused on the task at hand.
He pulled his horse to a stop and gave the entrance a quick once over. "Alright. Knowing this bunch they're not gonna play fair, so be prepared." The black-clad man glanced at Vin who had rode beside him.
"You alright, cowboy?" Tanner saw the anger still in the other's eyes.
"I won't be alright until we get these rowdies out of hair once and for all." The gunslinger turned forward again and started his mount at a trot. The confrontation was at hand.
********************
"Here they come, right on time." Judy B. moved into position behind the oak tree and waited.
Kim and Mog were perched behind some boulders on each side of the gateway with Penny hidden below them underneath a fallen log.
Diana had been given the duty to guard the now gagged JD in the middle of the clearing with Maggie and Cassie flanking her in the trees behind her.
The men surveyed the scene before them and knew this had been planned to the T.
"Thats far enough." Maggs stepped from behind the oak, slowly bringing her six-shooter to point at Larabee's heart.
"I should have known you were behind this." Chris slit his eyes into a deadly glare, but the woman only shrugged.
"Knowing something and doing something about it, are two different things." Cassie also walked out from her position but kept her pistol lowered.
"Alright, what do you want?" The leader sighed heavily and leaned back in his saddle.
"Oh, thats simple. We want you boys to join us in a little ritual we call a bonfire." Judy stayed near her tree but allowed her profile to show.
"Bonfire. What the hell we burnin'." Buck was relieved to find JD safe and sound, but he was confused as to what was really going on.
"Yeah, you see, we hate some of those clothes you wear, so we thought if we have a big fire and burn them, we'd feel better." Kim popped up from her boulder and grinned menacingly at the men.
"Besides, its not like we're gonna leave you naked or anything. Just a few parcels of clothing here and there." Penny also hopped up and smiled lovingly at JD.
The kid swallowed as he knew exactly which pieces of his clothes where going up in smoke.
"As much as I would love to oblige you ladies, I'm afraid I cannot stand by and allow you to incinerate my fine habedashery." Ezra tugged at his right sleeve making sure his remington was ready if needed.
"Oh don't worry, Mr. Standish. I, in no way was going to let something happen to that fine red coat." Mog sat up slowly and let a grin crease her face.
"Okay, okay. Can we get on with this? We don't have all day ya know. RL could call at anytime." Maggie stepped up to Diana and JD.
"Uh, Maggs." Diana looked at her friend and then back at the horizon.
"Whats wrong, Diana?" The dark-haired girl had noticed the stricken gaze and was a bit worried.
"Wheres that smoke coming from? We haven't even started the fire yet." The seven women looked quizzically at the billows of smoke coming from the direction of Four Corners.
"What the hell?" Chris turned also and a sinking sensation entered his stomach. "Vin, see if you can see anything with you glass."
The tracker grabbed the s pyglass and adjusted so he could see, but what assualted him made his breath catch.
"The town's on fire. Looks like at least two, maybe three buildings."
"This isn't suppose to be happening." Cass rushed to Maggie's side as they gave each other puzzled looks.
Six out of the seven men stared in horror at the growing clouds.
"Chris, whats going on?" Nathan noticed he was the only one not in shock.
"It seems the ally has turned enemy." Larabee looked at Maggie. "We need your help."
The dark haired girl pondered the thought for a moment, but knew there was only one reply. "Lead the way."
Diana quickly untied JD and they all sprinted for their horses a little terrified at what was awaiting them.
************************
The dust kicked up by the fourteen horses would have been a sight to worry about, but at that moment more important things were on the minds of the townspeople.
"How many do you think there are?" Buck pulled his mount to a stop with the others about 25 yards from the entrance of town.
"With as much damage as I can see, at least 30, maybe more." Vin pulled up sharply trying to keep his glass trained on the center of town.
"Damn, this isn't suppose to be happening." Larabee rubbed a hand over his five o'clock shadow.
"What are you talking about, Brother Chris?" Josiah turned a patient glance to the other and noticed all were watching.
"Well, I thought of a way to get back at the hurt/comfort gang here, but hiring someone to write a fanfic with them as the main characters."
"And?" Maggs added in a cold whisper.
"Looks like they've decided to take it a step farther." The gunslinger met the girl's cold gaze with one of his own.
"Well, we can't just wait here and I don't think we can write ourselves out of this, because we don't know who the penman is, do we?" Cassie looked hopefully at the black clad man but was met with a sad shake of the head. "Great."
"Alright, lets ride." Maggie turned her palomino toward town and took off at a run.
The others followed quickly and soon they entered the fray, but immediately regretted it.
The outlaws had been expecting them, so showed no mercy in their attack.
They seperated instantly, figuring it best to try the one on one tactic instead of full force.
The men were pinned down in the saloon and trying to cover the women, who hadn't been allowed to reach any shelter.
Diana was trapped behind a water trough and almost out of ammunition. She glanced around franticly for someway out and noticed the alley about 5 feet from her position.
"Its either now or never." She jumped up and was about to step into the shadows of the safe haven when she felt it. A sharp, piercing pain that caused her to double over with a shrill cry. As she lay there face down, she reached up with her left hand and found the gaping wound in the right side of her chest cavity. The blackness was quickly taking over, but before she succumbed she heard the call of her name.
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Penny had watched the horror unravel in front of her. She was pinned behind some barrels at the general store and had a perfect vantage point to see her friends'. She wanted to rush to Diana's aid but the bullets still imbedding themselves in the crates hindered her rescue.
Pen looked around trying to catch the eye of one of the others', but saw they were just as helpless. Not even the Magnificent Seven could help them.
She knew something had to be done and quick. So without any other thought she began firing and running like a mad woman to her fallen compatriot. She had almost made it when she heard the yell and then felt the impact of another body ram into her.
She landed on her back, but rolled suddenly trying to throw her attacker off balance. Unfortunately, he knew what was coming and so countered her manuver with a swift flick of his hand.
Penny was only slightly aware of the blade sinking into her left side, but the pain made it powerfully clear. The man got up and gazed at his handy work, but then trotted off to safety once more.
She watched the clouds move across the sky in slow motion wondering what it would be like to float away.
*********************
Kim had missed the happenings behind her, because she had become entangled with an outlaw near the well. They had been swapping licks back and forth with neither gaining any pertinent ground.
*I need to get him off-balance.* She thought franticly, as she let her eyes stray to her surroundings. She saw a few rocks but nothing...No wait, there. Near the opening of the well lay a hammer. *If I could only get it.*
Kim slowly drew the bandit closer to her intended position, praying with every step. As she got within arms reach, she suddenly felt air rushing around her. As she glanced away from the hammer, she saw the outlaw pushing her over the side of the well.
She looked in horror at the abyss below her and didn't even recognize the scream she heard as her own.
******************
The seven watched with a mixture of anger and horror as three of the seven women met with trajedy.
"This can't be real. Can it?" JD's soft voice trembled slightly as he sought out the still body of Penny.
"I'm afraid so, kid." Chris also looked for the prone forms and shook his head in grief. "I never wanted it to come to this."
"Its okay, pard. We'll fix it. I know there has to be a way." Buck closed his eyes briefly but quickly began returning bullets to the attackers.
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Judy and Mog had successfully concealed themselves inside Ms. Potter's store. They had held off the gunmen but were running out of ammo fast.
"Did you find anything?" Judy B. looked at her friend who was searching the shelves behind her.
"Nothing. Only flour and sugar." Mog closed her eyes as the scenes of three of their friends' fates played inside her head.
"Don't worry Mog, we'll get them for this." The girls' exchanged a quick nod of agreement before resuming their attack.
They were firing regularly but from the looks of things, to no avail. As Mog ran out of bullets, Judy fired off her last two rounds.
They had nothing else. Even though they had stop participating the bandits increased the onslaught, until they heard the yelps of pain associated with a hit mark.
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Cassie had been cut off from Maggie the minute they had hit the street. She found herself cowering behind a loaded wagon of feed. It provided wonderful shelter from the bullets, but left her inable to move.
She glanced around to try and find her friends, but the sight that greeted her made her stomach lurce.
"I guess this is how the guys feel." Cass could feel the tears threatening
her, but quickly swiped them away. "Keep it together,
Cassie."
The blond started firing once more but suddenly a creaking noise was alerted by her senses.
"What the.." Cass didn't have time to finish her sentence as the wagon came toppling over on top of her.
*****************
"Damn." Wilmington watched the young blond being crushed as if it were in slow motion. "No!" The whispered shot was met with only the sound of gunfire.
"How can we fix this atrocity?" Ezra bowed his head slightly as he reloaded his weapons.
"It will come to us in time, brother." Sanchez sounded anything but confident as he saw the outlaws grow in number before him.
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Maggie leaned against the stable door and felt her heart plummet to her toes. She had seen them all go down and hadn't been able to do anything about it.
"I'm sorry, guys." She let her gaze stroll to the prone form across the street from her. "I'm sorry, Cass." Maggs caught the catch in her voice, but didn't try and hide it. "I guess its true what they say. In the end, you get beaten by your own game."
The dark haired girl lowered her gaze momentarily to check her ammo stock. *Three bullets.* She looked up again and saw the majority of the bandits were keeping the seven pinned down, while the others methodically took out the women.
Maggie knew her only chance was to get to the guys. As she took a few steadying breaths and began to make a run for it, she heard it. A low hissing sound. She glanced into the livery and caught the sparkling glow and then the bag the fire was headed for. She didn't even have time to scream before the eruption bombarded all her senses.
*****************
The men jumped at the loud explosion and then sat stunned watching the embers engulfing what once was the stable.
"Thats all of them." Nathan sighed heavily as he covered his head with his hands.
"What are we gonna do now?" Vin usually hoarse voice was even more so as he continued to follow every flame lapping at the structure.
"Make sure this fella goes back to where he came from." Chris stopped letting his gaze meet each man's and then settle on the fire. "Hell!"
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Magnificent Seven-1 vs. Rowdy Bunch-0
TBC...The Hope
