Most players consider the "Help John on the Mountain" ending as the definitive canon because of the emotional sunrise. However, after analyzing the foreshadowing, character motivations, and even medical realism, i believe Returning for the money (High Honor) is actually the more consistent "Canon" ending for the franchise. Here is why:
* The "Pretty Good" Parallel:
If you cut Micah at the camp, he says: "You got me pretty good, Black Lung." In the Epilogue, his final words are: "You shot me... pretty good". This lingusitic mirror only exists if Arthur marks him first.
* Foreshadowing Micah´s Injury:
During Five Finger Fillet, Arthur tells Micah: "Forgive me if i slip and stab you in the face." In the camp ending, he delivers on that promise. Also, Arthur´s line "Just name the place" points to the heart of the gang´s downfall -Beaver Hollow- rather than a random mountain.
* The Revolver Logic:
Micah massacred all of Strawberry for his revolvers. It makes ZERO sense for him to leave his gun behind on the mountain (which he does in the High Honor mountain ending). He only leaves the scene in the camp ending because his greed for the Money is the only thing stronger than his obsession with his guns.
* How John Survives the Epilogue:
The blinded eye and scar Micah carries into the Epilogue ruin his depth perception. This explains why an expert marksman like Micah misses John at point-blank range during their final standoff. Arthur´s injury to Micah literally saved John´s life years later.
* Symbolism & Environment:
The Deer (High Honor) belongs in the lush woords of Beaver Hollow, while the Coyote (Low Honor) belongs in the barren rocks of the mountain which is seen in the background.
* The Charles Factor:
It is much more realistic for Charles to find Arthur´s body at the camp (where the fires were burning) than on a remote, random mountain peak.
* Medical Realism:
Arthur is dying of TB. The warmth of the burning camp would be a mercy for his failing lungs compared to the freezing, thin air on the mountain. He stays where he can breathe his last breaths in relative warmth.
* Dutch´s Pattern:
After the Blackwater trauma, Dutch would never leave the money behind a second time. This explains why he keeps the money in the cave and comes back to it.
The Mountain ending is a beatiful "movie moment", but the Camp ending fells like a masterpiece of logical writing that ties RDR2 and RDR1 together perfectly.
What do you guys think? Did Arthur actually secure John´s future by nerfing Micah´s aim?