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The Prince and the Gunslinger

by Revenant Wings

Chapters

Chapter 4 - Applejack's News

The train’s smoke could be seen before anything else came into sight or before the whistles could be heard.  The residents of Ponyville treated this as normal; the mail train always came around on weekends from Canterlot and so the sight of smoke simply meant that either royal or distant mail was on its way.  Thus, the train went largely ignored as normal business went on.  As it came closer, whistles could be heard echoing around through the valley as the smoke became clearer and thicker, a large white plume billowing up and eventually dissipating into the clear blue sky.

A young, grey pegasus mailmare with a blonde mane left the Ponyville post office to go and collect the mail from the train.  She had just gained the job and was on her second mail train run.  She was told to expect the bag of mail to go flying out; Ponyville was small and usually only had one bag of mail so the mail was thrown out of the train while it sped through to places south.  The mare chosen was young but strong; her cock-eyed look had gotten a lot of laughs out of the others working with her; but she had caught the bag on her first time and hadn’t lost any mail.  Now she was the default for working the mail train.  The mare reached the platform at Ponyville station with at least a few minutes before the train arrived, the whistles getting louder and the puffs of smoke becoming more and more pronounced as the train approached.

Not long now, the mare thought.  She steeled herself and planted her hooves firmly on the platform, wings spreading out and flapping expectantly as she waited for the train to draw near.  The train started the first of three short whistles, the sign for the mail to be dropped, and the mare dropped down.  The second whistle came and the leg muscles tensed.  The third whistle came and the mare jumped into the air, flapping her wings until her chest was facing the oncoming train and her hooves were outstretched to accept the flying mail bag.

But the third whistle was not the normal short, sharp sound it usually was.  This time it was long and drawn out; the mare was caught off-guard by the noise and stopped flapping her wings, causing her to fall on her back on the platform.  She righted herself and noticed the train was coming slower; the whistle had been for a stop and not for a mail train.  The pegasus focused her lazy eye and looked out at the oncoming train; five solid boxcars were behind the engine like their usually was, but this time there was a sixth car just behind the tender: a passenger car.  It wasn’t usual for someone to arrive out this way, yet the train was slowing down to a stop all the same.  The train eventually stopped and two of the cars opened; the first boxcar and the door of the passenger car.  For the moment, the mailmare ignored the passenger car and went to the first boxcar where a unicorn was standing at the door holding a large grey and brown bag marked ‘PONYVILLE’ in black ink.

“You’re the postman that usually comes from Canterlot, aren’t you?” the mailmare asked as she approached.  “The mail train doesn’t usually stop around here.  I only saw it stop here once when I was a filly in school.”

“You must be Derpy Hooves,” the unicorn said in reply.  “Fantastic catch last time we came through here; your superior sent mail to us regarding that performance.  Anyways, sorry for throwing you off stopping here like this; we’ve had a passenger from Appleoosa getting off here.”  He levitated the bag to the pegasus, who jumped into it and adjusted it on her back.  “From now on, you’ll be catching the mail.”

“I’ll make sure to remember that,” Derpy said with a smile.  She waved to the unicorn, who closed the boxcar, then headed off down the platform to where someone was getting off the train.

Out from the passenger car came a young, lanky colt, tentatively stepping onto the mostly empty platform.  He had a gold coat with a short but wavy and silky gold and blonde mane and his green eyes were shaded by a Stetson hat that seemed a bit too large for his head and caused him to keep adjusting it so that it didn’t block his sight.  On his small flank was already a cutie mark: a large red apple.

The train attendant came out and went over to the first boxcar and knocked on it until the unicorn opened the door again, peeking out and seeing the young colt before going back in and popping out a second later with a small cart with a harness holding a few bags and a rather ornate wooden box.  The harness was attached to the colt and the boxcar closed once again; the attendant returned to the car and blew his whistle before stepping into the train.  The engine whistled loudly and the train slowly started to move.  It wasn’t long before the train gave a final whistle and sped off out of Ponyville, leaving Derpy alone on the platform with the colt.

Derpy would have left him there and continued on with her business, but the colt looked so confused that Derpy couldn’t help but wonder why he had arrived all on his own.  She walked up to the colt and tapped him on the shoulder.  “Hello, there,” she said as friendly as she could.  “What are you doing here on your own?”

The colt looked over to Derpy smiling at him and gulped.  “I’m looking for my grandmother’s house here in Ponyville,” he said, voice carrying a certain twang in it’s high pitch; he may have had his cutie mark but he was still quite young.  “My mom is back home in Dodge Junction but wanted me to come here to get away for a little while she took care of things back home.”

“Oh… um, I could help you.  Do you know your grandmother’s name?”

The colt nodded, looking a little brighter.  “Yes.  Her name’s Granny Smith.”

“Oh, I know her!” Derpy said.  “She lives at Sweet Apple Acres; I’ve been there a couple of times on my mail route.  Come with me; I can take you there real quick before heading back to my job.”

“You’d do that for me?” the colt said, now actually giving a little smile.  “Thank you very much, ma’am.”

“Please, call me Derpy,” the pegasus said as they started walking along out of the station.  “I’m the mailmare around here and everyone else knows me and I know everyone.  I’m pretty sure you’ll get to know everyone here, too.”

“I hope so,” the colt said as he walked alongside, the little cart with his bags rolling along behind him.  “Mom didn’t say how long it would be until she was finished and I could come back.  I might be going to school here next year.”

“Oh, it probably won’t take that long,” Derpy tried to say reassuringly.  “Besides, school just let out for the summer.  You’ll have all summer to get out there and make some friends, I’m sure of it.”

The colt nodded but didn’t reply.  The two walked along in silence until they hit the main road, then turned as they went south towards the edge of town closest to the Everfree Forest.  Derpy always wondered why the farm had been built right at the edge of a dangerous forest, let alone the whole town, but the Apples who ran the place had done a decent job of it so far, so Derpy decided not to question it any further.

“You have a name?” Derpy asked the colt.

The colt nodded.  “It’s Braeburn.  Braeburn Apple.”

“Another Apple clan, huh?” Derpy said.  “I’m guessing Big Macintosh is your cousin, then.”

“Yeah.  I haven’t seen him much, but he’s probably gonna be there.”

“So, what exactly do your mom and dad do in Dodge Junction?”

“My mom was a cook,” Braeburn said excitedly.  “She used to make all kinds of good desserts with apples.  My favorites were the apple turnovers and the apple pies with a little cinnamon dusted over them,” Braeburn giggled and gave a little hop.  “She taught me how to make them when I first got my cutie mark.  My dad, Baldwin Apple, founded Dodge Junction when he was young and was a farmer.”

“Forgive me for asking, but what do you mean by ‘was’?  Isn’t he still?”

Braeburn’s face drooped and his paced slowed.  “My dad died of an illness a year ago.  Dodge Junction isn’t very big so we don’t get good medical treatment quickly out there.  So…”

Derpy recoiled a bit and waited for Braeburn to catch up before continuing.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to bring that up.”

“It’s okay,” Braeburn said.  “I’m mostly over it.”

It wasn’t long after Braeburn’s response that the two had reached the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres.  The early summer air was particularly sweet with the scent of freshly-budded apple blossoms from the hills of trees, a sort of lazy smell that made one want to lay in their shade and listen to the low buzzing of the bees.  Derpy pointed down the dirt road that trailed into the distance and down a small hill, beyond which Braeburn could see no more.

“If you keep going down that road,” the pegasus said, “you’ll eventually reach the Apple family homestead and barn.  Granny Smith’s getting old lately, so I would think she’d be inside the house at this hour.”

“Thank you very much, Miss Derpy,” Braeburn said.  “I’d better get going; Granny Smith will probably be writing a letter to mom sometime soon to let her know I’ve arrived safe.  Thank you again.”

Derpy waved at the colt then flew off to continue her route while Braeburn walked with the cart still rolling behind him down the dirt trail.  The colt trotted along at a slightly faster gait now, eager to be somewhere he could call home.  He took a large sniff of the sweet smell of the apple blossoms and remembered the days when his father would take him through the orchards while he applebucked and let Braeburn taste some of the initially sour then sweet apples that he was named for; he could almost still taste one on his tongue.

Once Braeburn came to the top of the small hill before the path turned downwards, he could see the Apple family home down below.  Two young fillies were running around in the open grassy area in front of the two-floor country house, with an older red stallion a few years older than Braeburn resting on the rustic wooden porch with a piece of straw in his mouth, while an older light green mare with a grey mane was sitting in a rocking chair, the old chair creaking as it shifted back and forth.  As Braeburn walked down the path, he could see the older stallion raise his head then look over to the older mare then back to Braeburn.  The fillies stopped their playing as the older mare got up from the rocking chair.

“Well, if it isn’t your cousin from Dodge Junction!” the older mare said as Braeburn approached.  “Now, don’t be shy, Applejack and Apple Bloom.  This here colt’s your cousin.  I wonder why he’s all alone, though.”

Braeburn approached the older mare, unhitching himself from the harness and running up to her as he threw his hooves gently around her in a hug.  “Granny Smith!” he said.  “I’m so glad to be here.  The train ride took forever.”

“Glad to see you around here safe, Braeburn.  And I see all your stuff is here, too.”  Granny Smith turned to the large red stallion.  “Big Macintosh, make sure the guest bedroom is good and ready for company.”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh said, then turned and went obediently into the house.

The orange filly with a blonde mane came up to Braeburn, a trio of apples as her cutie mark.  A smaller yellow filly with a red mane and bright orange eyes walked cautiously up next to her.  “Howdy!” the older filly said with a distinct twang.  “My name’s Applejack.  Granny Smith had been talking about a cousin from Dodge Junction for a while, but I ain’t ever seen you before.  What did you say your name was?”

“It’s Braeburn,” Braeburn responded, a slight smile on his face.  “Braeburn Apple.”

Applejack looked impressively at the large red apple adorning Braeburn’s flank.  “You already got your cutie mark, too?  How did you get it?”

“I was helping mom cook in the kitchen.  I was applebucking for a few months before I got it and was helping mom cook desserts for a little before that.”

“Cutie mark!” said the younger filly, pointing at the red apple.  “Cutie mark!”

“Forgive Apple Bloom,” Applejack said.  “She’s just learning to talk.”

“It’s alright,” Braeburn said.

“Come on inside, y’all,” Granny Smith said.  “It’s about time for lunch anyways.  Braeburn, you can head up and find Macintosh in the guest bedroom where you can put your things.”

Braeburn nodded and went back to his cart, pulling out the ornate wooden box in his mouth and gently carrying it over to Granny Smith.  “This is for you,” he said.  “Mom said it would be safer with you.”

Granny Smith raised an eyebrow out of curiosity, but took the box from Braeburn anyway and brought it into the house.  Applejack helped Braeburn take one of the bags while Braeburn took two more, and little Apple Bloom started running circles around the two young ponies as they headed up the stairs; Granny Smith took the wooden box to a room on the bottom floor.

Big Macintosh was found in a small room that had a twin bed, a nice-sized closet, and a decent-sized set of drawers.  Braeburn and Applejack set down the bags on the bed for Braeburn to sort through later, and the four ponies went down to the kitchen for lunch.

It had been a while since he had eaten so well, Braeburn thought.  There were daffodil and daisy sandwiches, a small side salad, hay fries, and plenty of apple fritters, not to mention a large pitcher of apple juice.  He had been served on the train, but the portions were small and noting like the large meals his mother cooked, so seeing the food nearly made him drool.  Granny Smith was already in the kitchen when they had arrived, pulling out extra plates and glasses for Braeburn to use.

“Come on over and take a seat, Braeburn,” Granny Smith said as she placed down a small bowl of applesauce at one of the settings.  “Just remember that Macintosh and Apple Bloom have to sit next to each other so Mac can get her to feed.”

Apple Bloom was lifted into a high chair by Big Macintosh and the bowl of applesauce set down in front of her with a spoon.  Apple Bloom paid no attention to the food; instead, she was holding her tiny hooves out at Braeburn.  “Bwaeburn!” she said excitedly.  “Bwaeburn sit!”

Braeburn climbed up into the chair next to Apple Bloom, who giggled happily.  She turned to Granny Smith with a hoof pointed at the colt’s flank.  “Cutie mark!” she said.

“You already got your cutie mark?” Granny Smith said as she settled down into her place and served the sandwiches.

Big Macintosh leaned around Apple Bloom’s high chair and looked at Braeburn’s flank.  “Eeyup,” he responded.  “One large red and gold apple.”

“Well you’re already so much more grown up than the last time I saw you,” Granny Smith said with a smile.  “I remember when you were Apple Bloom’s size and age at the last Apple Family Reunion, always runnin’ around underhoof.  How did you get it?”

“I was helping mom cook apple dishes,” Braeburn responded as he started eating.  “And I had been helping out with dad applebucking the previous season.”  He would have elaborated more, but the food was so good it was all he could do not to shovel it all in his mouth at once.

“How late did you get it?” Big Macintosh asked, slowly feeding Apple Bloom bites of the applesauce.

“I was the first in my class,” Braeburn responded between bites.

Apple Bloom turned to Big Macintosh and blew a raspberry at him.

“You heard from Granny, didn’t you?” Big Macintosh said to the filly, who was giggling at him.

“Big Macintosh was the last in his class to get his cutie mark,” Applejack told Braeburn.  “And I was, too.”

“Oh, don’t get too depressed about it,” Granny Smith said.  “That just means he’s a go-getter, knows what he wants, and might be a good leader of sorts.  Those who get their cutie marks early tend to be that way sometimes.”

Lunch continued on for a while longer before Granny Smith spoke up again.

“Inside the wooden box was the deed belonging to your father for Dodge Junction,” the older mare said.  “Along with a note from your mother sayin’ you would be stayin’ here over the summer.  She’s hopin’ things will be sorted out before the time you have to go back to school.”

“That’s what she was sayin’ earlier, too,” Braeburn responded.

“Do you know why?”

Braeburn shook his head.  “No.”

Granny Smith’s face went from a smile to confusion; it was as though her face was trying to register happiness but kept retreating back to a straight face.  It was only when lunch was over did Braeburn finally feel her gaze leave him and was glad when she went into a back room and closed the door with the excuse of needing to take an afternoon nap.

* * *

It wasn’t until that night when Granny Smith emerged from the room after dinner with the wooden box.  She took the box and an oil lantern and went outside into the darkness.  The four younger ponies watched from the window as the light went over to the barn then disappeared and the night became dark again, the light of the moon from overhead barely illuminating the orchards beyond.

“Where’s grandma goin’?” Apple Bloom said as she crawled onto Big Macintosh’s head to see; even at two she already had an accent similar to her older sister’s.

“What do you suppose was in that box?” Applejack asked Braeburn.

“I don’t know,” Braeburn replied.  “Mom never let me look inside it.  She said it was something of dad’s that I would only be allowed to have when I was old enough.”

“How old are you now?”

“Fourteen.”

“And that isn’t old enough to let you have it?  You said you were applebuckin’ at seven.”

“Yeah, but that isn’t the same.”

“Depends on what was in the box,” Big Macintosh said calmly as he placed a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder.

“Mackie old enough,” Apple Bloom said, tapping a hoof on Big Mac’s forehead.

“Probably,” Macintosh replied in a long, slow drawl, “but if it’s supposed to be for Braeburn, I ain’t gonna make a fuss about it.”

Granny Smith didn’t come back for nearly an hour.  Big Macintosh had gone and put Apple Bloom in her bed after she fell asleep lying on his back, while Applejack and Braeburn had been on the floor reading over some of Applejack’s book series called ‘Daring Do’.  Applejack had just received the first and second ones as a gift and a third was due to come out that year, so the two young ponies poured over the pages while they waited for the older mare to return.

Big Macintosh had come down from the upstairs when Granny Smith returned.  The three awake ponies gathered around the older mare, noticing dirt stains on her hooves and sweat on her brow.  She turned out the lantern and set it on a small table next to the door then turned around to face the three young ponies.

“Did you put Apple Bloom to bed?” Granny Smith asked.

“Eeyup,” Macintosh replied.

Granny Smith nodded.  “Is there something you wanted to ask me?”

“What was in the box, Granny Smith?” Braeburn spoke up.  “I never saw what was inside it.”

“It was a relic from your father,” Granny Smith replied.  “It came with a note from your mother saying to put it somewhere safe until you were old enough to understand how to use it wisely.”

“Ya ain’t gonna tell us what it was, exactly?” Applejack asked.

“All I’ll say is I’ve been here since the founding of Ponyville and we haven’t needed anything like that ever,” Granny Smith said.  She started waving a hoof.  “Now, Applejack and Braeburn, why don’t you two go on to bed?  It’s getting late.”

The two ponies started trotting up the stairs.  Braeburn turned to go into the guest bedroom when Applejack came up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

“We could see if Granny Smith will talk to Big Macintosh about it,” she said.

“Are you crazy?” Braeburn whispered back.  “What if she catches us?”

“Oh, please,” Applejack said.  “Big Macintosh has caught me a bunch of times listening in but hasn’t punished me for anything.”

Braeburn sighed and went over to the top of the stairs with Applejack, their faces hidden in the darkness of the upstairs corridor as they pressed their ears around the corner, listening to the sound of hoofsteps clip-clopping around the wood floors.  After a while, they stopped and Granny Smith released a sigh.

“Are you going to bed yet?” came Granny Smith’s voice.

There was a short pause.  “I want to know what was in the box, too,” Big Macintosh replied.

“You mean you wanted to know about it too?  Well, I suppose you’re old enough.  There were three things inside the box.  I went through and took two papers out and left the rest in there.  The first was your uncle Baldwin’s deed saying he owned the land of Dodge Junction, which Braeburn’s mother wanted me to keep safe.  The second was a letter saying that Braeburn would be staying with us at least a month and had a number where we could reach her.  I called the number this afternoon and apparently it’s a hospital in Canterlot.”

Applejack and Braeburn traded a look of worry amongst them before pressing their ears back to the upper stairs.

“The final thing was a gun: an old revolver by the makers Colt, Smith and Wesson.  It belonged to his father, who died of illness approximately one year ago, but he used to participate in competitions with the thing.”

There was a long silence.

“What did you do with the box?”

“I put it in a safe place, one which I’m sure neither you nor any of the young’uns will find it for as long as I live.”

“What of his mother?”

“She’s in the hospital with a bad case of the flu.  Never did have the best immune system, if I remember correctly.  She’s going through treatment and immunizations; the particular bout caught her off guard and she had little time to get Braeburn out before he got sick, as well.  She’s already been inducted into a hospital in Canterlot in critical condition.”

“Is there a chance she’ll recover?”

“Oh, entirely.  The doctors were saying one minute more and she wouldn’t have made it.  They’re focusing on stabilizing her for the time being, but as far as we know young Braeburn could be here with us for a long time.  We’ll need to treat him gently for the time being and not get him worked up over all this.  I have faith that she’ll recover.”

Braeburn sniffed quietly.  “Mom’s gotten sick again,” he whispered as he and Applejack retreated further into the hall.

“How bad was it last time?” Applejack asked.

“The first time she got a shot and was out in two days.  The second time they had to keep her for a week.  The last time they kept her for almost two weeks and have her on an IV for a few days because she was too weak to eat.”

Applejack hugged Braeburn.  “You can stay here as long as you need.”

Braeburn hugged her back but didn’t say anything.

The hug was broken by Apple Bloom’s voice coming from the next room.  “Mackie!” she called.  “Mackie!”  Apple Bloom’s calls were followed by a set of hoofsteps coming up the stairs, causing Applejack and Braeburn to each bolt for their rooms.  Braeburn settled himself down in the bed, leaving the door opened just a crack as he saw the light turn on in the hall and Macintosh walk by.

It wasn’t long before Macintosh walked by the open door again, this time with Apple Bloom wrapped in a blanket and lying in a sort of sling around his neck.  As he walked by, he stopped and looked through the crack at Braeburn, still awake and staring at him on the bed.  Macintosh gave a sort of sad smile as he looked at the younger colt.

“Welcome home, Braeburn,” he whispered, then closed the door.

Braeburn’s pillow was wet the following morning.

* * *

Over the next week, Braeburn became accustomed to living with the Apples of Ponyville.  Almost every day was the same, which helped to ease things along and helped the young colt to adjust to this new life.  Granny Smith always woke up the younger ponies with the sound of a small metal triangle, calling them all down to breakfast.  Breakfast itself was small; toast with apples and a glass of milk, sometimes an egg but not always.  Afterwards, Big Macintosh would go out and begin working on the orchards, lately going through and making sure that the trees were getting watered properly.  After the trees had been watered, the rest of the ponies came out to help weed, with Apple Bloom often getting distracted and running around looking at everything instead of helping.

After the weeding was finished and the sun was getting high in the sky, the entire group headed back to the farmhouse to rest in the front.  Braeburn started to join in Applejack’s and Apple Bloom’s little chase games, tag, and hide and seek in the orchard.  For her small size, Apple Bloom was surprisingly fast and an energetic little filly; despite his own speed, Braeburn never had to slow down, running at an even pace as Apple Bloom drew nearer to him then bolting forward when the filly almost got close enough to tap him.  Apple Bloom didn’t mind about the near-catches, instead she would often double-over giggling then resume the chase moments later.  Applejack wasn’t nearly as fast as Apple Bloom was and the little filly started teasing her much the same way Braeburn had, letting Applejack get close to her then dashing forward in a little yellow blur, often making a full run around the farmhouse before Applejack could realize where she’d gone.

Lunch was next, often sandwiches with some sort of apple side and either milk or apple juice for drink.  Afterwards it often was too hot outside to do much else, so the fans inside the house were turned on and Apple Bloom and Granny Smith both had their afternoon naps.  Macintosh either read the papers or went into his room to work on managing the family farm while Applejack and Braeburn were free to do as they pleased for the rest of the afternoon.  Often they would go around the orchards exploring new places or would go over to Applejack’s tree house in a small but shady elm tree with books and pencils and paper, the shade of the tree keeping the interior cool and sheltered from the sun.  Towards the end of the week, Macintosh took Braeburn and the two fillies to a nearby stream under the shade of a few large trees where they would play in the shallow waters; Apple Bloom always wanted to follow Braeburn out into the deeper parts that were above her head and either Macintosh or Applejack had to pull her back.

In the evening, Granny Smith would come out and start making dinner: some nights would have a large salad, other nights would be a large vegetable soup, and other nights still would have baked potatoes.  She would start making dinner early while the rest of the ponies were minding their own business and would call the others in just before the sun started to lower below the horizon.  The windows were opened and dinner was served before nightfall.  Afterwards, the ponies were left to their own devices until Apple Bloom went to bed.  The house would become quiet as the ponies one by one quieted down and eventually went to bed, with Big Macintosh staying up last and only until eleven at the latest.

It took a longer time for Braeburn to get used to the nights at the Apple’s house than it did to adjust to the days.  Macintosh offered to give Braeburn a small lamp he could turn on when he went to bed that hardly offered any light at all but enough of a glow to at least make it not pitch black, but Braeburn declined.  His problem wasn’t the dark but that nothing was familiar to him here.  He hoped his mother would be able to be released from the hospital soon.

At the end of a week Braeburn and the other Apples received good news from the hospital in Canterlot: Braeburn’s mother was on the mend and was in stable condition.  To celebrate, Granny Smith gave Braeburn ten bits for helping out with the orchards and Macintosh took the others to a summer festival taking place in the main part of Ponyville.

“We never had these sorts of festivals in Dodge Junction,” Braeburn said, looking around at the festive streamers, the large amount of stalls with games and food and artists selling their wares.  The smells of sweet treats and freshly-cooked soups mingled with the sounds of a band playing on a stage near the large brown and beige town hall and enticed him to look at almost every stall.

“Supposedly this year is the work of a pony a year younger than Applejack,” Big Macintosh said.  “She came from a rock farm on the other side of the hills and her special talent happens to be giving parties.”

“Party?” Apple Bloom asked, looking around from her spot on Big Mac’s head.  “Where?”

Applejack poked Apple Bloom gently.  “This is the party.  It’s the festival.”

The ponies eventually stopped at one place where there was corn on the cob, while Big Macintosh bought a small bowl of applesauce for Apple Bloom.  Braeburn couldn’t help but tap his hooves to the music as they ate, then they continued onwards.  Eventually, Big Macintosh stopped at a stall selling new farm equipment; Apple Bloom crawled over to Applejack’s head and Braeburn went with them to the next stall over selling special clothing.

The ponies were about to leave when Apple Bloom started whining and holding her hooves out at something.  It took a minute for the other two to realize that the filly was staring at a small pink bow that must have been at least as large as her head made of a soft pink material.

“Apple Bloom!” Applejack said sternly.  “You know you’ll get that thing dirty by tomorrow with how much you’re runnin’ around.”

“I want it…” Apple Bloom whined.  “It’s pretty.”

“Apple Bloom, I already told you no.”

Apple Bloom pouted and laid her head down on Applejack’s, sniffing.  Braeburn felt bad for her and pulled out his own bits, looking at the price on the bow and counting out eight bits to cover the cost.  He handed it over to the shopkeeper and bought the bow, coming back out of the stall to disapproving looks from Applejack and a rather bright-looking Applebloom.

“Oh, Braeburn,” Applejack said.  “It will get dirty by tomorrow.  You didn’t have to.”

“You gotta let her have something every once in a while,” Braeburn said, then gently set about tying the bow to Apple Bloom’s hair.  When he was done, the bow was neatly in place and left a little red ponytail with the rest of her mane.  Apple Bloom giggled happily and crawled over to Braeburn’s head and under his large Stetson, giving him a large hug around his neck before resting her head on his and clinging to his neck with her front legs, her face peeping out from under the wide brim.

“You know what?” Applejack said, her own face brightening a little.  “It does look pretty.”

“Not dirty,” Apple Bloom said proudly.

“Are you saying it won’t get dirty or that it’s not dirty yet?”

“Won’t,” the filly said firmly.

With Apple Bloom still on Braeburn’s head, the three went back over to Big Macintosh, who was finishing the purchase of a new plow.  He smiled both at Braeburn and at Apple Bloom when he saw the bow on the little filly’s head.  Soon afterwards they walked back to the farmhouse, with Braeburn considering it the perfect end to the week; things were looking up for the young colt.

* * *

With the next few weeks, Braeburn soon wished he could have the times of the festival and the first week back.  The next two months became a roller-coaster ride as far as his mother’s health; one week the doctors would say she was on the mend, the next they would say the illness had flared up again and she was relapsing but fighting.  The normalcy of the schedule was comforting in it always being the same, and Applejack and the rest were always there to help comfort Braeburn whenever he became worried about his mother.

Eventually, one day Granny Smith called the family together for a discussion after dinner.  The old mare sat in her rocking chair and had the other four sit in front of her in a half-circle.  The older mare sighed and didn’t speak for a long time, the four younger ponies staring at her expectantly.

“Braeburn,” she said slowly, “the doctors called me today with information on your mother.  I’m very sorry, but they say the illness had flared up to the point where they were simply prolonging the inevitable.  They called to say that she passed away this afternoon in her sleep and that a small sum of money that belonged to her will be given to you as compensation for the loss, as well as one more relic of your father’s that she said she didn’t want me to hide from you.”

Apple Bloom was the first to speak.  “What happened…?”

Granny Smith quickly turned to Big Macintosh.  “Take her up to bed.”

Macintosh nodded and let Apple Bloom crawl onto his head without fuss.  He quickly took Apple Bloom up and had gotten her up the stairs just as the first tears fell from Braeburn’s eyes.

“Mom…” he said.  His legs suddenly felt weak and he lowered himself to lying on the floor as he tried to hold back the tears.  “You said it would only be a few months… W-why can’t I go back home…”

“Aw, sweetie…” Granny Smith said. She got off the rocking chair and placing a hoof under Braeburn’s chin so that he looked at her.  “We’re still your family, and we’ll be here for you.  So long as you decide to stay with us, this is your home.”

But Braeburn wasn’t so easily consoled.  It wasn’t until late in the night after a long crying session from the young colt surrounded by Granny Smith, Applejack, and Big Macintosh all hugging him and trying to comfort him did he finally fall asleep and Big Macintosh carried him up to the room.  For two whole weeks, Braeburn didn’t leave the farmhouse and the Apples let him stay there, not expecting him to help out on the orchard but to grieve for his loss.

A few weeks later, school started and Braeburn was sent to school with Applejack.  At first he faltered and didn’t do very well, but eventually he found that the work kept his mind off the pain of losing his mother, not to mention Big Macintosh was an excellent tutor, and the young colt excelled.  When applebuck season came around, Braeburn worked with gusto, managing to balance his time between school work and applebucking.

Weeks turned into months turned into years.  For seven years, Braeburn worked on the Apple family farm and went to school, eventually going through a local community college with a degree in math and science.  For seven years Braeburn helped the ponies care for the orchard, from weeding to applebucking to planting to watering.  During the summer months when there was little work to do, Braeburn went into the town of Ponyville, where he charmed the residents with his polite manners and his country accent.  For a long time, it seemed as though he had gotten over the pain of his mother’s and father’s death, and nopony in Ponyville even knew the tragedy that had occurred around the young, handsome stallion in their midst.

But the memories of his mother and father were there.  One day after six years of hiding it away he confessed his feelings to Applejack as they sat under the shade of one of the apple trees.

“I’ve thought about striking out on my own for a while now,” he told Applejack.  “Maybe following the train tracks and heading up northwest and starting my own orchard.”

Applejack turned to where Braeburn was leaning on the tree, hooves behind his head.  “Wherever did that idea come from?  You’ve been so quiet these past few years I’d almost thought you had settled down.”

“I’ve been taking care of the farm long enough I could start one up from scratch with a few helping hooves.  I keep thinking about my mom and dad and how I shouldn’t be brooding over their deaths.  I should try and make them proud.”

“With how you’ve been working hard here at Sweet Apple Acres lately, I’d say you’re doing pretty well and would make them proud.”

“Yeah, but my dad started a town.  A whole town.  I want to be part of something like that.  I want to be involved in something big, like starting my own ranch out somewhere and watching it grow.  Come to think of it, Granny Smith and the rest of her clan did that with Ponyville, didn’t they?”

“Well, I suppose they did, but that’s no reason to come to that idea.”

“All the same… they’ve been looking for available ponies to go and start a new settlement close to Dodge Junction. It’ll be along the rail line next to a small river.  They need a few extra ponies to get things started.  I’m considering signing up for work as an apple rancher.”

“Braeburn, have you talked this over with Granny Smith and Big Macintosh?”

“They agreed to give me a few things of apples and seeds to help me get things started.  They’ll be ready before the next Summer Sun Celebration, in springtime.  That will give me enough time to get there, claim my land, and start up a farm before applebucking season starts in the fall.  It’ll be the chance I need to get out there and prove myself.”

“And if it doesn’t work?”

“I’ll have tried and said I did.  Maybe even with that, I’ll be happy.”

“Oh, Braeburn…”

“Applejack, trust me, I’ll be fine.”

“It’s not that.  I completely respect your decision.  I promise I’ll bring around a sapling or two when the town gets started to help add to the orchard.”

Braeburn looked over to Applejack, smiling at him, and managed to give a smile of his own back.  “Thank you, Applejack.”

A few months later, Braeburn was on the train for the new settlement with everything he owned.  Along with his belongings he carried five large packs of apple seeds, three large cases of apples, and a few sets of hardware.  As the train started off he waved goodbye to Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, Applejack, and Apple Bloom on the platform.  He waved until they were long out of sight, and kept watching the window until Ponyville had completely vanished.

Chapter 5 - Family Heirlooms

Braeburn sat at the window of the train, watching until the last houses in Ponyville had disappeared out of sight.  The steam engine was pounding away at the rails as the train sped across the grassy plains.  Soon even the mountains of Canterlot were hardly visible from the train.  It flew through the forests and past the towns of Whitewater Ridge and Trotsworth before emerging on a long grassy plain where the grass faded gently from green to amber.  The sun set below the horizon and Braeburn went off into the dining car with most of the other passengers.

Braeburn sat across from a beige pony with amber hair, along with a young, light green mare holding a foal and a tan-coated colt with a dark, two-toned brown mane.  It seemed like a young, weathered family, the bags under the stallion’s eyes and the wrinkles at the edges of the mare’s mouth making them older than they might have actually been.

“You heading for the new settlement?” the stallion asked Braeburn as sandwiches and salads were brought to the table for the five of them.

“Yes, sir,” Braeburn responded.  “Signed up for a plot of land along the river there back in Ponyville.  I plan on starting an orchard there.”

The stallion smiled.  “Good to see another young stallion with such work ethic and willingness to strike out on his own.”  The stallion motioned to the colt sitting next to the mare.  “My son Quick Draw is going to a shooting competition in Dodge Junction later this year, but he’s still got the muscle to work on a farm.”

“That so?” Braeburn said.  “I’ve been working on my grandmother’s farm since I was fourteen.  I’m used to the hard work.  So long as I can find a couple of extra hooves to get me started, I think I’ll do just fine in Appleoosa.”

The stallion took a swig of his drink, a small glass of an amber liquid with a few ice cubes, and sighed.  “Who’s your grandmother?  Romaine here’s got family in Ponyville; they may know her.”

“Granny Smith, back in Ponyville.”

The mare’s eyes went wide and she had to steady herself to keep from dropping her foal.  “You don’t mean you’re part of the Apple family from Ponyville, do you?” she asked.  “By Celestia, your family’s renowned in Dodge Junction.”

“I know,” Braeburn said.  “My father founded it.”

Now the colt’s eyes widened.  “You’re the son of the famous gunpony Baldwin Apple?”

“The very one.”

“You ever fire one of his revolvers before?”

“Nope,” Braeburn said.  “He never let me touch them.  Said I had to wait until I was older before I could start handling something so dangerous.  Well, he died about ten years ago, and since then I’ve been living with relatives in Ponyville.”

A large glass of water was brought to the table, at which the stallion took it and drank it all down in a few gulps.  “You got a name, son?”

“Braeburn.  Braeburn Apple.”

The stallion put a hoof across the table.  “Name’s Wheat Stalk.  This here mare’s my wife Romaine and the colt at the end there is my son Quick Draw.  We’re out to start a wheat farm at this new place.  I’ve heard they’ve got a few ponies camped there but no big construction’s supposed to start yet.  It’ll start when this train gets there with the supplies.”

“Ah.  Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you all.  Certainly are a lot of friendly folk on this train.  I just hope it doesn’t take too long.”

“Three days to get from Ponyville to the station at the river where the settlement is,” Romaine said.  “Starting tomorrow, we have two days of desert to go through before we make it to the oasis where the settlement camp is.  Nothing but sand and red rock cliffs as far as the eye can see.”

“Still thinking about planting that apple orchard?” Wheat Stalk said.

Braeburn’s face became firm and resolute.  “I’ll do it.  No matter what it takes.  I signed up because I wanted the challenge.  And with the spot along the edge of the river, I should be able to make it just fine.”

Wheat Stalk smiled.  “You need anything at all, you can come on over to our place and we’ll do the best we can to help you out.”

Braeburn smiled.

Dinner was finished shortly thereafter, followed by a greyish-brown pony with a black mane and a handlebar mustache coming into the car.  He wore a large Stetson hat similar to Braeburn’s, but was dressed in a deep blue shirt that covered his front hooves and boasted a silver star pinned onto his front.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” the pony announced in a gruff voice as he made his way to the head of the dining car.  “My name is Sheriff Silverstar.  I’d like to make the announcement that we should be reaching the settlement in about two days’ time and, if we keep this speed, should make it there by afternoon on the third day.  Once we arrive at the settlement, we’ll sort out claims to land that you signed up for and construction will begin.  There’s about five hundred ponies on this here train, and for the next three months we’ll have to work together.  After three months, we’ll give our settlement a name and be able to confirm it with the Records in Canterlot.”

There was a bit of excited talk before Sheriff Silverstar continued.  “I’m going to need our five big farmers – Wheat Stalk, Romaine, Celery Stalk, Corn Husk, and Braeburn Apple” – there suddenly started a large murmur in the dining car at the mention of Braeburn’s name – “to meet with me in the front car tomorrow to go over your plots of land, in addition to hiring help to get your farms up off the ground.  Your our food supplies, so if we can get you running, we might be able to get this town off the ground.  But I need your full cooperation with me and with one another.  Are you ready?”

There erupted a great cheer from the dining car, including from Braeburn himself.  Afterwards, there was a short dessert of a small pastry and tea.  When the tea was finished, Braeburn felt tired and excused himself back to his bunk to sort through his items.

There was one item he had not expected coming with him on the train.  It had been a package nearly as long as one of his front legs from shoulder to hoof but thin, along with a note from Granny Smith.  Braeburn opened the note and read it.

I know your father said you were too young for it, but now I think it’s time it got handed down.  I’ve got a hunch that, with you heading to Appleoosa, you might need this.

Braeburn set aside the note and opened up the package.  Inside was a sleek rifle with a bronze handle and a long black barrel with a tiny little point at the end.  Braeburn set the rifle on his shoulder and put his hoof up to it, finding himself just able to hold the rifle in place and even pull the trigger with one hoof.  It was unloaded and the safety turned on, but it came with five full cartridges, each containing six bullets for a total of thirty.

“I didn’t know you had a gun.”

Braeburn looked around for a minute before seeing Sheriff Silverstar standing in the aisle.  “I apologize, Sheriff,” he said hurriedly.  “It’s not loaded and it was simply in a package I received from my grandmother before heading off.”

Sheriff Silverstar smiled underneath the thick mustache.  “Actually, it might come in handy.  You see, we’ve been attacked by a clan of Diamond Dogs living in the hillsides around the new settlement.  We’ve been attacked once or twice by them thinking we’ve come to raid the lands.”

“Have you?”

“We didn’t even know about it until the Diamond Dogs attacked.  Anyways, I might need you on watch tomorrow night if you figure out how to handle that thing.”  Sheriff Silverstar started walking away, but turned around to look at Braeburn.  “You know, this whole thing was originally your father Baldwin’s idea, but he died before we could get it off the ground.  It’s nice to see he has someone still alive.”  Then he turned around and left the room.

Braeburn looked at the rifle uneasily.  He didn’t quite feel like using it at all.  While it was nice to have a piece of his father’s collection with him, as well as a way to defend himself, he still put it back into its package and back into the compartment above his head with the luggage just so he didn’t have to see it.

When he was sure everything was fine, Braeburn closed the sheet of his bunk and turned down his lantern until only a mild glow was left.  He laid down and looked out at the moon, letting the deep blue of the night sky and the gentle rocking of the train lull him to sleep.

* * *

Next morning, Braeburn went back down to the dining car and again sat across from Wheat Stalk and Romaine with their colts and learned a little about them.  The two had married about twenty years ago outside the suburbs of Phillydelphia, where they each had successful and prosperous farms.  A few years later, they had Quick Draw, now fifteen, and for a long time things seemed to be going fine, including buying a revolver for Quick Draw, who had gained a pair as his cutie mark.

“Until some hoity-toity Canterlot folk said they wanted to build something with our land,” Wheat Stalk said.  “Now, some of them are good folk, don’t get me wrong; the one who sold us our land was a Canterlot fellow and he did so for cheap.  But this stinking official just came down and run us off our land.  We had to come in to Ponyville and stay with Romaine’s family for a few years, during which we had a second son.  When this new settlement started being talked about, we jumped on the opportunity because it meant a chance to start again.”

“Least you managed to stick together,” Braeburn said.  “I lived in Ponyville for a while after my father died, then my mother fell ill and went to the hospital where she died.  I came here because pa would have wanted me to go off and start my own farm.”

“Have you ever been back to Dodge Junction?”

“I don’t have family there anymore.  When mother died, the only relatives I had were in Ponyville.  Still, it was a nice place and I don’t regret my times living there with them.  Besides, they helped me learn how to raise an apple farm.  I’m ready for this.”

“You’re younger than most who would make that journey,” Romaine said.  “I don’t even think I thought about starting off on my own until I met Wheat Stalk, and we were probably a few years older then than you are now.  I just hope the pressure doesn’t come and wear you down before you hit your prime.”

“You don’t need to worry about him, honey,” Wheat Stalk said.  He turned to Braeburn.  “You’ve got a good build for a pony your age.  I think you’ll be strong enough to take care of yourself out there.”

Braeburn nodded and looked out the window at the sun climbing high in the sky.  “The Summer Sun Celebration is today, isn’t it?”

“Yep,” Wheat Stalk said.  “Picked a perfect time for it, too.  We have to stay up all night and worry about Diamond Dogs attacking the train.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Braeburn said.  “Heck, we’ve only got about twenty-four more hours to go until we hit the settlement camp station.  So long as everypony stays vigilant, I’m sure there won’t be any problems.”

“Yeah, but we’ve got a night spent going through Diamond Dog territory,” Wheat Stalk said.  “Buggers around Ponyville are bad, but around this new settlement they’re even worse.  Towering beats that can reach up to nine feet high when standing straight, I’ve heard.  And they’ve got a nasty mean streak.  Closest thing I’ve heard them being compared to is Timberwolves from the Everfree Forest, and those things are vicious.”

“Don’t scare the poor dear,” Romaine cut in before Wheat Stalk could continue.  “Even you have only heard things about the beasts.  Sure, someone’s seen them, but we don’t know much about them except for rumors.”

“Rumors don’t tear ponies to shreds,” Wheat Stalk said.  “Or cut off their limbs.”

“Still, it isn’t necessary to go on about it,” Braeburn said calmly.  “We just got to make sure we stick together.  It’s like Sheriff Silverstar said; we might be able to make it if we’re united.”

Breakfast was served before the ponies were called in to meet with Sheriff Silverstar.  “Don’t worry, honey,” Wheat Stalk said to Romaine.  “I’m sure he’ll understand you not making it on account of a foal.”

“We’re married,” Romaine replied.  “We’ll sort out the details of what gets more land later.”

Braeburn and Wheat Stalk left Romaine and her two foals to meet with the other two farmers and Sheriff Silverstar, who had an office in a car at the back of the train.  The other two were already there, and Braeburn and Wheat Stalk sat down to talk things over with the Sherriff.

The meeting went smoothly.  Sheriff Silverstar pointed out the areas of land available to the farmers and discussed that there would be help coming in from Dodge Junction after a few days to help get things started; Braeburn alone was to have a shipment of apple trees that Braeburn figured would cover nearly three hundred square acres of the eight hundred he was given next to the river.

“We’ve had a few teams scout the area before while your father was still alive,” Silverstar explained.  “We’ve found some unique weather occurrences in the area.  For example, during the winter season it rains heavily enough so that the basin completely floods over in a few inches of water, so the land there is fairly fertile.  We’ve found similar areas where this occurs, so that’s where we’ve put the farms at.”

Afterwards was the issue of hired help.  There would be the group from Dodge Junction coming in to help with planting, but afterwards Braeburn could hire as much help as he needed in order to keep the farm running smoothly each year, especially during planting and harvesting seasons.  When this was over, the farmers were dismissed.

Braeburn, however, hung back a little after Sheriff Silverstar stated a desire to talk with him.  It was lunchtime by then, so the two went into the dining car where they were served cold salads and sandwiches and tall glasses of water to keep down the oppressive heat.

“I’m going to need you to help out with the guard shift tonight,” Sheriff Silverstar said.  “We have one or two unicorns coming with us, but with these Diamond Dogs I’m afraid that won’t be enough.  I would rather appreciate it if you figured out how to use that gun and helped me out with patrol.”

“What will I have to do?” Braeburn asked him.

“Oh, your job will be very simple.  I will be scanning for Diamond Dogs.  If I see one coming, I’ll point him out.  When he gets close enough to the train to be considered a threat, you can go ahead and fire at him.  Doesn’t matter where; if you kill him it’s one less to deal with, but if you injure him he’ll think twice before attacking again anyhow.”

“You sure violence is the way to solve this?” Braeburn asked.  “I mean, they must be somewhat intelligent.  I’ve heard that Diamond Dogs in some areas can even speak our language.  There must be some way to talk them into either leaving us alone or convincing them we aren’t there for the gems.”

“I wish that was the case,” Sheriff Silverstar commented.  “We sent someone before, but he came back with scratches all over him as a warning to the rest of us.”

“Perhaps your ambassador wasn’t being very clear.”

“Are you proposing to try and deal with them?”

“Let’s take things one step at a time here, Sheriff.  First, we need to make it to the new settlement.  And I will help you with the patrol tonight.  Once we get things going there, then we’ll see what needs to be done about those Diamond Dogs.”

Sheriff Silverstar smiled at Braeburn.  “It’s a good thing some ponies on this train have a little common sense.  You make it through this, I dare say you’ll be one of the most powerful ponies in town.  For now, you should head back to your bunk and try and get some sleep.  The Summer Sun Celebration sometimes seems like the longest night of the year.”

Having nothing better to do to pass the time, Braeburn went back to his bunk and slept.

* * *

Braeburn woke up to the sun beginning to set below the horizon.  Dinner was still being served in the dining car and Braeburn went to find hardly anyone there.  Braeburn was served his meal and ate by himself before heading back to his bunk and pulling out the gun and two cartridges.  Inserting one into the butt of the gun, Braeburn cocked the rifle to make sure it was loaded and went to find Sheriff Silverstar.

The sheriff was in his office in the back car where Braeburn had met with him that morning.  He stood at attention when he saw Braeburn with the gun.  “I see you’re ready for work tonight,” Silverstar commented with a nod at the rifle.  “Do you know how to use it?”

“I’m sure I could handle it on the fly,” Braeburn said.  “I’ve seen my father handle one before.”

“Alright, then,” Silverstar said.  “First, we’ll just walk around the train and make sure all the windows are shut and locked tight.  It’ll prevent the Diamond Dogs from having a handle to grab the train with.”

Down twenty cars, Braeburn and Silverstar checked locks on doors and windows, making sure there was no possible entry into the train.  Silverstar also informed the passengers of the safety precautions and informed them to stick together in groups with someone always on watch.  Lights were turned on and kept on and food was served in the dining cars to make sure the ponies were kept at least momentarily satisfied.  When the doors were locked, Braeburn and Silverstar returned to the office in the back car to find three unicorns waiting for them.

“We’ve checked for the Diamond Dogs,” one of the unicorns, a light purple one with a beige mane and a small set of saddlebags, told Sheriff Silverstar.  “There was no sign of them in the desert, but there are a lot of places where they can hide around here.  Little crevices and dips in the sand that could possibly hide them until we get close enough.”

“Thank you, Lavender,” Sheriff Silverstar said.  “You go with Braeburn and start making your way to the front.  Double check the locks and keep an eye out the windows for any sign of them.  Stick around in the car just behind the tender and keep a watch out for any signs of movement.”

“Yes, sir,” Braeburn and Lavender replied.  Braeburn adjusted the rifle over his shoulder and the two ponies made their way down the train, double checking the locks to make sure nothing was missed before heading into the lead car.

Once in the lead car, Lavender led the way up a small ladder and out a door to a small balcony that covered the top of the car.  Braeburn adjusted the hat on his head, feeling the wind of the speeding train whip his long blonde mane around.  The big black steam engine released clouds of white smoke that quickly faded away into the moonlit night.

“At least the moon is out,” Lavender shouted over the pounding of the wheels.  “This should make it easier to see them when they approach.”

“When should they start coming?” Braeburn shouted back, steadying the rifle so that he could look down the barrel.

“Any moment now,” Lavender said as Braeburn crossed the balcony to the opposite side of the tracks.  “This here is all Diamond Dog territory.  We’ll need to keep on guard.  The driver and fireman have been informed to keep watch as well and they’ll tell us if they see anything.  We have Silverstar and two others down at the other end of the train so we should be okay.”

“What should I start looking for?”

“Green or gold dots means you can see their eyes.  Otherwise, with all this sand and red-rock, their black or dark grey coats will make them stand out.  Keep your eyes out for contrasts.  Also, keep a look out down the sides of the train in case they start running alongside us.”

“What sort of magic do you know?”

“I’ve got a small shield spell to keep us safe, plus a few offensive spells.  Nothing fatal, but enough to push them back.”  Lavender looked over to Braeburn.  “Probably why Silverstar paired me with you.  You’d be able to kill them if necessary.”

“Let’s hope that doesn’t come to pass,” Braeburn said, clicking the safety off and pointing the barrel to the desert sands.

For a long time, things were quiet.  Every few minutes, Braeburn and Lavender switched sides and took over looking what the other had been looking at before to make sure nothing was missed.  Every few rotations, Lavender would shout down to the driver and fireman in the cab to see if they saw anything, but for a long time they came up with nothing.

After maybe an hour on duty, Braeburn noticed a pair of green eyes staring at them from a ridge.  He called Lavender over, who pulled out a pair of binoculars from his saddlebags and stared where Braeburn had noted them.

“Yep, that’s a Diamond Dog eye alright.  Keep steady.  I’ll tell the driver and fireman to let off steam a little and slow her down.”  Lavender went over and shouted the instructions down to the driver, and soon the train was slowing down to maybe half the speed it was going before but still moving at a decent clip.

“Might take a little longer to reach the settlement camp,” Lavender told Braeburn, “but it’ll let Silverstar and the others know Diamond Dogs have been sighted and we need to keep on guard.  Have that rifle ready.”

Braeburn steadied himself and aimed the barrel out the side where he had seen the Diamond Dog originally.  It wasn’t long before a spark shot up from the opposite end of the train.

“Silverstar’s end is getting attacked,” Lavender shouted.  “Keep your guard up and watch out.”

Braeburn steadied the rifle as much as he could.  Before long, there came a hulking beast from over the ridge.  It was over seven feet hunched over and covered with a black fur.  Its muzzle was pointed much like the Timberwolves and had a full mouth of sharp white teeth.  It charged towards the train on all fours and eventually started running alongside the train a few cars down.

“We got company, Lavender,” Braeburn said.

“Soon as he makes his move, fire that gun,” Lavender commanded.

Braeburn watched the Diamond Dog intently.  Soon, it hunched over even further and kicked off the ground towards their car.  Braeburn’s rifle exploded with gunfire but the shot didn’t hit, landing inches away from the Diamond Dog’s tail.

“Hold on!” Braeburn shouted.

The Diamond Dog heaved itself towards the car and jumped into it, slamming it with its side.  The car jerked sideways, knocking Braeburn against the tower in the center and Lavender onto the rail on the other side.

“They’re coming from the other side now!” Lavender shouted back.

Braeburn steadied himself and fired a second shot at the Diamond Dog.  This time it hit one of the front paws, causing the Diamond Dog to yelp and jump backwards in pain.  Braeburn cocked the rifle again and ran over to where Lavender was on the other side, where two more had joined in the fray.

“One hit, potentially disabled,” Braeburn said, aiming his gun towards one of the Diamond Dogs running alongside the train.  “It had to make a retreat.”

“Good,” Lavender said.  “Keep steady.  They might make another pass at us.”

Braeburn shouldered his rifle again and aimed at the Dogs.  One charged forwards and rammed against the side again, jolting the car.  Braeburn was knocked backwards but Lavender managed to keep even footing and fired two magic bursts at the Diamond Dogs, causing one to recoil but not back down.  The other jumped at the car with intention to grab the balcony, but Braeburn managed to fire at the Dog, hitting it square in the chest and knocking it back from the force of the gunshot.  The Diamond Dog rolled for a little before falling down a ridge.

“Two down,” Braeburn said, picking himself up.

“Check the other side again,” Lavender said.  “We don’t want to get flanked.”

Braeburn ran across the balcony to find that two more Diamond Dogs were on the other side now.  One of the Diamond Dogs launched at the car before Braeburn had time to steady his rifle and managed to grab a hold on the bars of the balcony, jerking the car and knocking Braeburn on his feet.  The thing growled menacingly at Braeburn, who took aim and fired at the Dog as quick as he could.  It glanced off the paw but that was enough of a distraction for Braeburn to buck the thing off.

“Braeburn!” came Lavender’s voice from the other side.  “Help!”

Braeburn got up and ran over to the other side.  Lavender had been knocked over the railing and was holding on for dear life to the metal bars, back hooves dangling dangerously within reach of the remaining Diamond Dog on the side.  Braeburn shouldered the rifle and turned off the safety before running over and grabbing one of Lavender’s hooves.

“Kick up off the side!” Braeburn shouted.

Lavender kicked off the side of the car and Braeburn pulled back with all his might.  The pull wasn’t enough and Lavender continued to dangle off the side of the car.  The Diamond Dog came closer to him, licking its chops and opening his mouth wide.  The bite missed, but Lavender started swinging back and forth after being hit.

“Ah!” Lavender exclaimed.  “Braeburn, help!”

“I’m trying!” Braeburn shouted as he steadied his grip with his other hoof.  “Try kicking off again!”

Lavender kicked, but nearly kicked himself into the Diamond Dog and pulled back, just barely missing the swiping claw.  He fired a few bursts from his horn, one of which hit the Diamond Dog in the chest and knocked him backwards.  With a third kick he swung himself outwards enough that Braeburn could, with a large heave, pull him over the bars and back onto the balcony.

“Thanks,” Lavender said.

“No time for rest yet,” Braeburn said.  “We’ve still got two on the other side.”

Lavender nodded and followed Braeburn back across the walkway to the other side where the two Diamond Dogs were running.  Braeburn picked up his rifle and turned off the safety again before aiming at the Diamond Dogs.  Braeburn shot at one who was trying to hit one of the windows further down, catching him once in his back paw, causing him to trip and fall over.  The second Diamond Dog avoided his shot, but it ended up catching the other one in the head.  Blood stained the desert sand as the train sped forwards and the dead Diamond Dog faded into the distance.

“I think we’re almost through the worst of it,” Lavender said, firing a few bolts at the remaining Diamond Dog to keep it at bay.  “Once we hit the river, the attacks should be less.”

“Let’s hope so,” Braeburn said.  “I hope Silverstar and the other two didn’t have so many problems.”  With a final shot, Braeburn caught the Diamond Dog in the tail, causing it to whimper and scuttle away to try and hide or cover the bleeding spot on its back.  With that, neither Braeburn nor Lavender could see a remaining Diamond Dog near the tracks.

“You did good,” Lavender said.  “Once we hit the river, we can go and report to Sheriff Silverstar.  Seven’s a pretty high amount to take on for such a distance.  Depending on how many they encountered, we could have had nearly a third or even a half a pack taken down with the two sides combined.”

Lavender went forward and shouted to the driver.  Within a few minutes the train was picking back up speed and was soon pounding along at its normal pace.  A short while later, one of the unicorns was seen in the bottom of the car below the balcony.  Braeburn and Lavender climbed back down into the car.

“What’s going on?” Lavender asked.  “What’s the report from Sheriff Silverstar?”

“Six more Diamond Dogs taken down in the back of the train,” the unicorn said.  “Line seems to be all clear and signs of attacks have stopped.  Silverstar wants to know how many you had down here.”

“Seven attacked us,” Braeburn said.  “At least three were put out of commission, and four more were injured enough to retreat.  Aside from a few scratches, I think we’ll be okay.”

The unicorn nodded.  “Thirteen total.  Silverstar won’t like that; that’s the most they’ve seen on any trip.  The Diamond Dogs are probably getting restless.  I’ll head back and report to Silverstar.  In the meantime, he says you two can take a break if things are getting light up here, but to meet back with him in half an hour.

“Should be almost dawn by then,” Lavender said.  “Alright.  We’ll meet him in half an hour.”

The unicorn saluted and took off.

Lavender looked to Braeburn and smiled.  “Coffee and a pastry sound good to you?”

Braeburn nodded.  “I certainly could use it to calm my nerves after this night.”

* * *

For the rest of the trip, the ride on the train was smooth.  They ended up reaching the river by dawn and soon the desert gave way to thin strips of fertile land.  Green grass surrounded the river and they even went through a grove of trees.  Soon they crossed a bridge and ran along the inside of the river for a short ways before veering away.

“That river is called the Urodni,” Lavender told Braeburn as they started trekking back across the desert.  “It comes from a language outside of Equestria and means ‘fertile’.  You can go almost all the way from Canterlot to the frozen northern lands just by following the river and eating the fruit that grows along its banks.”

“Why aren’t the rails following it any further?”

“Just before it hits the new settlement, it drops down a forty foot cliff.  We have to go around so our drop isn’t as steep and so there isn’t the extra cost of leveling the land.  Anyway, we should be in Appleoosa in a few hours’ time.”

The train arrived just before noon.  A station had been built about a mile away from the river in a patch of dusty land that refused to grow anything under the heat of the sun.  Braeburn followed Lavender and Sheriff Silverstar off the train and over to a cluster of tents where a few others were waiting.  One of the ponies with a hammer and nail cutie mark came over and extended his hoof towards Silverstar, who shook it firmly.

“Good to see you made it through the deserts alright,” the pony said.  “I heard the Diamond Dogs getting riled up last night around here.  We were afraid you might be delayed.”

“We almost were,” Sheriff Silverstar replied.  “Had a goodly amount attack the train last night and we had to fight them off.  However, we’ve all managed to get here in one piece.”

“Good.  You bring the cement mix to help lay some foundations?”

“Yep.  There’ll be another train heading this direction from Dodge Junction with more if necessary.  You got any place to help keep these ponies until more gets built?”

The builder pony motioned to a cluster of hastily-assembled wooden buildings surrounded by a high wooden fence on the opposite side of the tracks.  “Enough storage space for everypony and their belongings,” he said.  “We even have a few spaces for cribs for the foals if need be.”

“Good.  We’ve got a few families on this train.  Help get them inside.  We still need to do a damage check.”

The builder pony nodded and he and Sheriff Silverstar walked back off towards the train.  Lavender and Braeburn went towards the back of the train where a porter was handing out baggage.  Braeburn and Lavender retrieved their belongings and a cart and walked across the tracks where another attendant was leading ponies to the building.  The two lined up at a door at the front of one of the buildings and waited as ponies were shuffled through.

Eventually, Braeburn’s turn came up.  The unicorn in front of him was a hardened stallion wearing an outfit similar to Sheriff Silverstar’s but without the badge.  Even so, he had a nametag on that labeled him one of the local officers.  “Need your name, sir,” he said gruffly.

“Braeburn Apple,” Braeburn told him.

The officer shuffled through his papers before nodding.  “Building one, sir,” he said, calmer and friendlier than he had before.  “You’ve got your own personal room.  If you still have any bags, a porter will be called to bring them here for you.”

Braeburn nodded.  “This settlement got a name?” he asked as he searched for Lavender’s name in the list.

“It ain’t been decided yet,” the officer said.  “There’s talk of your father Baldwin Apple having a few names, but since he’s dead…”  His voice trailed off and he shrugged his shoulders.

Braeburn took his bags to his room and found Lavender was to be in the same building as he was.  Braeburn deposited his things in his room before he and Lavender exited the compound to take a look at Braeburn’s claim before evening.

It was a wonderful plot of land.  Located at the base of the ridge, at least one square mile in a long rectangle was hidden in the shade of a cliff and surrounding hills.  The heat wasn’t so forceful down in the little hole and the grass and trees had sprung up again, not to mention the river flowing steadily beside it.

“If I hadn’t of known better,” Braeburn said, “I’d have thought it was paradise.”

“It may be once you get to work on it,” Lavender said.  “Anyway, the trees from Dodge Junction are supposed to arrive tomorrow.  We should also be able to get started on a home for you, if you had anything particular in mind.”

They turned around after a while and walked back towards the compound.  In the distance, the train gave a great puff of smoke and eventually steamed away, now heading for Dodge Junction for help with the supplies.

“I never caught exactly what you do,” Braeburn said to Lavender.

“Oh, I’m a jack of all trades,” Lavender said.  “I know a decent amount of magic, but mostly put it to work in either studying what magic can do or, my main job, a bit of construction work.  I work in land management as well as designing.  Soon as this place is set up, I’m supposed to head over to Dodge Junction for the building of a new mine.  I guess some gold was found in the hills just outside.”

“Pity you aren’t settling down,” Braeburn said.  “Decent, hard-working, able to handle yourself in a fight… you got what it takes to make it out here.”

Lavender nodded.  “I didn’t think I’d make some friends so quickly on the train ride here.  It’ll be a shame to leave them, but that’s the nature of my work.  I suspect I’ll be passing through here again, though.”

Braeburn nodded.  “Mind helping me with some ideas for a farmhouse while you’re here?”

Lavender smiled.  “My entire job is making sure you and the other farmers have your barns and homes built before moving on to the town center.  Soon as we get back to the compound we can head into the drafting offices and start planning.”

Braeburn ended up missing a few things from the train that were put in his room at the compound.  He spent some time getting them together before meeting with Lavender in the drafting offices in the same building and spoke of his plans.  The two mandatory things were a cellar to keep the apples in storage and a large barn to hold equipment in.  Braeburn’s house was quite simple: two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living area, a kitchen, a small storage closet, and a wide open room at the back with glass panels but shielded from the sun by large awnings.  Running water and electricity were preferred, especially for cleaning and storing the apples.

“Right, they’re trying to get electricity and running water up as soon as possible.  The whole town layout is already planned out so all we’ll need to do is tell them how to connect your place to the main lines.  From there, I’d wager it’ll be done in five days when the help comes in from Dodge Junction.  Let me run this design by the head builder and get it approved, then tomorrow we should be able to start work.”

Within an hour, Braeburn had his answer.  The ground was sturdy enough even the storage unit could be built underneath the home with minimal foundation needed and so the design was approved.  Construction would begin as soon as the train arrived from Dodge Junction the following morning.

* * *

The first train came in from Dodge Junction shortly after sunrise, bringing in construction materials.  Braeburn was not present at the station, having arrived at his farm and placing stones across the nearly barren landscape.  While he went about his land, he saw Lavender with another, larger pony with a reddish-brown body and a gruff face watching as timber and drywall and paint and wires made their way to land at the top of the ridge.  Almost as soon as the materials were brought to the area and organized, Braeburn saw them begin to consult diagrams and eventually begin to build his farmhouse.  By the time they stopped for lunch under the shade of the ridge, the area for Braeburn’s cellar had already been scooped out and Braeburn had finished marking his land with stones.

The second goods train from Dodge Junction arrived just after lunch was served and the first train had been unloaded.  Braeburn found it a sight to behold.  The big black engine slowly steamed into the station carrying thousands of apple trees.  Braeburn directed them where they needed to go, picking up the stones as they went.  The trees were dug into the ground and placed twenty-five feet apart from each other, giving them enough land to spread out and gain nutrients from the river nearby.  Nearly fifteen thousand trees were placed in the land by the river by the time evening had settled, and the ponies from Dodge Junction left on the next train back home.

At the end of the day, Braeburn returned back to the compound, but Lavender stayed out and supervised the construction until nearly dawn.  By the time Braeburn returned to check on the orchard the next morning, the foundation for the first floor was being laid down.  Braeburn enlisted some of the workers with Lavender’s approval to help him dig small trenches around the orchard to get them water and nutrients from upstream and soon small streams of water were flowing.  By nightfall, the trenches were complete and Braeburn had a completed foundation and cellar.  Braeburn started to help the builders continue their task with major preparations for the orchard now complete, the light of the moon overhead providing enough light to see clearly.

It wasn’t long before the outer walls were complete with electrical and water pumps going through them.  Just as the pony managing the pipes had decreed the job finished, Sheriff Silverstar approached with two other ponies, each wearing a jade green outfit with a bronze badge similar to Silverstar’s.

“I’ve got some bad news,” Sheriff Silverstar said.  “Normally, I’d let you continue working, but we’ve got reports of Diamond Dogs nearby.”

“Diamond Dogs?” Braeburn said.  “I thought we passed out of their territory once we hit the river.”

“Normally, that’d be the case,” Silverstar said.  “But I’m guessing our building projects have alerted them to our position.  We’ve made tremendous progress in the city, getting most of the foundations laid down and the residents all have a space and job of their own.”

“Perhaps all the noise,” Lavender commented, “especially with trains from Dodge Junction coming in and out of the station, has been echoing into the valleys and canyons where they live.  I bet you one Diamond Dog territory stretches for miles just so they can get something to eat in this landscape.”

“You probably have a point,” Silverstar said thoughtfully.  “In any case, I can’t let you continue building tonight.  Rally your workers together and head back to the compound.  You can continue in the morning.”

“What about the buildings, though?” Lavender said.

“Or the newly planted trees?” Braeburn said.  “It won’t be that hard for them to come in here and rip them apart.”

“I’m sorry,” Sheriff Silverstar said, “but at the moment your lives are more important than having to rebuild.  We can always send reinforcements from Dodge Junction, but we can’t guarantee getting you back in one piece if you’re caught.”

“He’s got a point, Lavender,” Braeburn said as Silverstar and his two companions galloped off to inform the others.  “We’ll come out early tomorrow to check the damage and continue working.  The orchards are ready to go, so I can help out more if need be.”

“We’ll need to push ourselves to get this thing finished,” Lavender said.  “Once that’s done, we can have a couple reinforcement spells put on it so it doesn’t break apart in case of attack.”

The two returned to the compound to find the entire place in an uproar.  Talk of the Diamond Dogs being so nearby worried everyone present.  A few unicorns were trying to get the leaders to let them do shielding spells around the encampment but were refused.

“It’s only been a sighting,” said one pony.  “It was spotted by one of the Dodge Junction trains heading up the river a short distance.  This warning is enough to let them know we are alert.  Silverstar is doing patrols around the encampment with his men, so you should be safe.”

“But they attacked us on the train!” one pony shouted.

“They rammed the cars and nearly damaged the windows!” shouted another.

“How can you expect us to feel safe if we don’t do something about them?” another said.

“Think of the lives that could be lost!”

“I can’t believe you dragged us out into this desert just for us to get killed!”

“Now, now, I assure you, we are taking steps to solve this…”

“…has anyone tried talking to these Diamond Dogs?”

The entire assembly went quiet and turned to look at Braeburn.    Braeburn looked around the room to see everyone glancing at him as though he was either mad or with sympathy as though they agreed with him but weren’t fully behind him.

“You could try,” Wheat Stalk said, though he didn’t sound convinced.  “They are defined as an intelligent species.”

Braeburn turned towards him.  “You don’t think it’ll work, do you?”

“Well, no,” Wheat Stalk said.  “No one has tried talking to the Diamond Dogs out in these deserts.  Even the folks in Dodge Junction don’t try to, and they’ve been here for nearly thirty years.  Last time somepony tried talking to them was back then, and they… well, let’s just say they were made an example of.”

The entire assembly went into quiet mumbles.  It seemed everyone had heard of the event and none seemed too pleased about it.

“I heard he wasn’t found until four days later.”

“I heard he was covered in scratch marks.”

“He was bleeding from every limb.”

“He looked starved and dehydrated.”

“There was a limb torn off of him.”

“Dodge Junction has barely kept them under control.”

“But Dodge Junction has prospered, hasn’t it?” Braeburn replied, causing the group to fall silent.  Braeburn walked amongst the group.  “It has managed to become a thriving community.  It has a working orchard.  It has a Canterlot-approved school.  It has a stable economic condition.  The people of Dodge Junction live and work – nay, they thrive in a harsh environment.  We’ll need to learn to do the same.”

No one seemed to share his enthusiasm.  Many pairs of eyes turned away instead of responding to him.  Though no one actually spoke against him, Braeburn felt the response was weaker as though they were torn between wanting to believe him and their own fear.

“Braeburn,” Lavender spoke up after a moment of silence, “what you are asking for is either suicide or a bloodbath.  No one has confronted the Diamond Dogs without having attacked and possibly killed at least one.”

“Maybe it is,” Braeburn said quietly, though his voice rang out amongst the silent crowds.  “But maybe we’ve given them the wrong impression.  We’ve fought fire with fire where we need to douse it with water.  Perhaps force is all we’ve given them when what we need is someone who can reason.”

“You can do that,” Wheat Stalk said.  “If it were me facing one of those things, I’d be making sure my horseshoes were sharp as a knife.  Better yet, I’d carry a knife with me.  All I know is I’m not getting caught defenseless or alone by one of those things.”  There was a general murmur of agreement among the crowd.

Braeburn thought about speaking up again, but at that moment Sheriff Silverstar came into the room.  “Alright, everyone,” he said in a loud voice that got everyone else quiet.  “Let’s keep things in order here.  It’s almost time for lights out.  Guard shifts have been arranged for the night.  In the morning we’ll check for damages and add a few more guards while everypony works.”

Wheat Stalk walked out of the main building and over to their lodgings before Braeburn could speak with him again.  Braeburn followed him out into the moonlight and heard Lavender trotting to catch up with him.

“You really think they can be spoken to?” Lavender asked.

“I think no one has tried,” Braeburn said, stopping to face Lavender.

“Still, pretty much across Equestria guards are instated and trained how to specifically handle Diamond Dogs in combat.  They’re a vicious bunch and I don’t think it’ll be so simple as asking them to leave us alone.”

“Don’t need to tell them to leave us alone.  All someone has to do is say we aren’t interested in the gems on their land.  If someone wants them, that’s the government’s job or some other pony’s.  But as far as the residents of this settlement are concerned, that isn’t the case.”

Lavender looked at him strangely.  “You’re not like the others here, Braeburn.  I’ve never heard a pony talk the way you do.  You’ve got a good deal of common sense, but you’ve also got some strange ideas in that head of yours.  I’d be careful around some of the others or they’d tear you to shreds.”

“If that’s the case, I’d rather that tearing be done by a Diamond Dog.  At least then it’d be over quick and you wouldn’t hear no more of it.”  Before Lavender could respond, Braeburn walked off and into his lodgings.

Chapter 6 - The Prospectors

Braeburn woke up just before dawn the next morning and got himself a bagel and an orange juice for breakfast.  Before leaving, he decided to head back to his room and pick up his rifle, slinging it over his shoulder and onto his back.  He met with Lavender outside the compound, who had a similar breakfast though carried his in a faded purple magic field.

“You up to check on the construction of the farmhouse?” Braeburn asked.

“We need to make the most of what daylight we have,” Lavender replied.  “We might need to repair things before continuing.”  He motioned to the rifle.  “Extra protection?”

“Just to be safe,” Braeburn said.  “I doubt we’ll need it.”

The two set off.  Thankfully for Braeburn, the orchard itself seemed untouched and all the trees were still in place.  The trenches were also still in place and the orchard was well-watered so none of the crops were spilled.  A wall had fallen down on one side of the farmhouse, but Lavender attributed it to a poor job setting it from needing to be in a rush to complete the day’s work after the Diamond Dog warning.

“Besides the wall,” Lavender told Braeburn, “no other damage has been sustained.”

“That’s easily fixed, though,” Braeburn said.  “We could probably get it picked back up in an hour or two once the rest of the workers get here.”

“That’s true.  I’d be worried if it was the foundation or the cellar or even the main water pump, but those are all intact.  All we have to adjust is the fact that building might take a few more days.”

Braeburn and Lavender started working on the farmhouse again as soon as the other workers arrived.  The old wall was cleaned up and progress began on a new wall to replace the fallen one.  By the time the new wall was fixed, the sun was rising in the sky and Sheriff Silverstar was coming around to check on things.

“Anything to report?” he asked.

“No,” Braeburn said, tapping a nail in with his steel horseshoe.  “We had a wall fall down, but it’s attributed to a loose foundation.  We got it fixed now.”

“Good.  What about the orchard?  Any tree damage?”

“None sighted.  Looks like this plot of land went untouched.”

“Also good.  I’ll be checking around for signs of any more proble—”

A piercing shriek sounded throughout the desert.  It echoed through the ridge and caused almost all the workers to stop doing whatever they were doing to look towards the sound.

“That sounds like Romaine,” Braeburn said.

“That is one heck of a scream,” Lavender said.  “Probably found some dead animal around here.”

“I’ll go and check it out all the same,” Silverstar said.  “Braeburn, I see you have your rifle with you.  Do you mind coming with me to check it out?”

“Of course not, Sheriff.”

Braeburn set down his nails and Lavender started ordering for the workers to get back to building.  Another worker was put on Braeburn’s station as the stallion picked up his rifle and trotted alongside Sheriff Silverstar.  Wheat Stalk and Romaine’s farm was just up the ridge and down a short way, and the two were quickly meeting Wheat Stalk at the site of another construction project for a house.

The site here, however, was terrible.  Walls seemed smashed and slashed apart and broken down into tiny pieces with splinters and strips of wood littered everywhere.  There were pieces of broken glass scattered amongst the sands that caused a group of unicorns to pick up sand and sift through it with their magic to collect it.  The foundation laid down was cracked in multiple locations and a large square area that might have been the location for a barn had supplies thrashed and thrown about everywhere.

“What in Celestia’s name happened here?” Sheriff Silverstar asked as he approached a shivering, pale Wheat Stalk.

The stallion just shook his head.  “I ain’t got a clue.  All I know is I saw my wife Romaine coming through the fields and galloping towards me.  She came over and tried to explain what happened but I couldn’t understand a dang thing.  Suddenly she just dropped.  I took her back with Quick Draw, but couldn’t find out what happened.”

“We’ll go check it out,” Silverstar said.  “You head back to the compound and make sure your wife and son are doing okay.  Braeburn, get out your rifle in case we got some vandals out here.”

Braeburn took out his weapon and hoisted it over his shoulder, walking carefully along on three legs.  The two cut through the wheat fields and headed for the back of Wheat Stalk’s farm.  As they approached, the sand in places turned red instead of the usual tan or brown.

“That iron?” Braeburn asked.  “Or worse?”

Silverstar went over to and picked up some of the sand with his hooves.  “Blood.  Someone got injured around here.”

“This doesn’t seem like a normal hooligan,” Braeburn said, steadying the rifle as he followed Silverstar to another spot of blood-red sand a few feet away.

The trail of blood headed up a small sandy hill at the back of Wheat Stalk’s property.  Alongside the blood, sometimes overlapping it, was a place where it looked like an inch of sand had been worn away as though someone had been dragging a limb.  Three other sets of horseshoe prints followed along beside it and eventually descended down into a small valley filled with dead bushes and Joshua trees on the other side.  Braeburn followed Silverstar as they carefully stepped their way down into the valley.

The blood went down into the valley and over to a small cliff-face a short ways away.  Here, the sand dipped down and into a small hole made out of giant rocks stacked on top of each other.  Sticking out of the rocks was a pony’s limb, a single hoof lying completely still.  Silverstar went to a nearby tree and grabbed a stick with his mouth, breaking it off the tree.  He poked the hoof a few times though no response.

“Hello?” he called out.  “Can you hear me?”

The hoof’s owner didn’t make a response.

“Here,” Silverstar said, tossing the stick aside.  “Help me drag him out.”

Braeburn slung his rifle back over his shoulder and grabbed the hoof with Silverstar.  With three large heaves the two had pulled the pony out of the rock.

It wasn’t long before Braeburn wished he hadn’t.  The leg that the pony had pulled out seemed to be the only thing that didn’t have damage.  There were slash marks across his chest and head.  One limb seemed to be nearly torn out while another had more scratch marks and another was horribly mangled as though it had been broken.  Dried blood covered his body and there were shreds of a jade green fabric.  Braeburn hid himself behind a bush and gagged*.

“By Celestia, this thing stinks,” Silverstar said, seemingly unperturbed, picking up the stick and turning the head with it.  “Must have been attacked and came down here to hide himself.  Valiant, yet unsuccessful.”

“Is… is that what a Diamond Dog can do?” Braeburn asked.

“Hate to say it,” Silverstar said.  “But it’s even worse to admit it.”

“What do we do, then?”

“Well, we can’t let the majority of them know.  It may just be a warning, but we’ll have to be strict about making ponies get back to the compound before dark.  Once the city’s up and finished, we can invest in a wall and hopefully that will keep most of them at bay.”

“A wall can’t stand forever,” Braeburn said.  “Somewhere there will be a weak point.  We need to let them know so they can be vigilant.”

Silverstar cocked an eyebrow.  “You’re kidding me, right?  They’ll think you’re crazy.”

“They already do after I suggested talking it out with them.”

Silverstar jumped back a little out of surprise.  “You see this?” he said, pointing to the dead body.  “Do you see what happens when a pony comes across a Diamond Dog?  You’re telling me you want to end up like that?”

“I don’t see any of you trying it.”

Silverstar glared at him.  “You really are crazy, you know that?”

“I’m not crazy,” Braeburn said firmly.  “I’m just suggesting what none of you have ever even tried.”

Silverstar opened his mouth, but didn’t respond.  “You got a fair point about that,” he said.  “But I’m not letting you try.  If this is the only one and they head back to their own territory, then we won’t need to be so worried about it.  If they attack us again, I may consider sending you with some backup to talk with them.”

“Backup?  You intend to make it look like we’re coming to attack them?”

“It’s just for the protection.”

“Well, then, that defeats the purpose of trying to say we don’t want to fight.”

Silverstar sighed and shook his head.  “It’s your life.  Don’t say I didn’t try to save it.  Come on.  We need to get back to town.”

* * *

Braeburn returned to his orchard to find another wall set up for his farmhouse.  It wasn’t long before he was back at work with the others acting as though he had never gone.  No one bothered Braeburn about what happened with Romaine and Wheat Stalk or what he and Sheriff Silverstar had found, but Braeburn assumed they already knew.  The building site was hushed until evening came and the workers organized the materials for the next day before leaving.  Braeburn trailed behind the group and Lavender followed him shortly afterwards after making sure the site was clean.

“What did you find?” Lavender asked, careful to keep his voice hushed.

“I’m afraid Silverstar has requested my silence on the issue,” Braeburn told him.

Lavender didn’t follow up to that.  “You look kind of pale,” he said.

“I’m sure it’s just been my working all day in the sun,” Braeburn said.  “I just need a drink of water and a good meal back at the compound’s dining hall and I’ll be fine.”

“You know what you need?” Lavender asked.

“You talking about my sun problems?” Braeburn said.

Lavender nodded.  “I’ve got some herbs for you that help with cooling your body down.  If you come with me to my room just before dinner, I could pull a few out for you to chew.”

Braeburn turned to Lavender, who looked entirely serious about the issue with the exception of a slight twinkle in his eye.  Braeburn understood immediately what he actually meant.  “Sure.  I’ll head there with you.  Just let me put my rifle away and I’ll meet you there.”

Back at the compound, while everypony else was heading to the dining hall, Braeburn followed Lavender to building one.  Braeburn quickly stowed his rifle away under the bed and went over to Lavender’s room in the same building.  The unicorn was waiting for him, and shut the door and fired a small magical bolt on it before turning to Braeburn.

“The door’s been silenced,” he said.  “No word of what you say will leave this room.”

Braeburn sat down and began thinking.  “Silverstar and I left for Romaine’s farm and found Wheat Stalk sitting among ruins saying his wife had fainted.  His farmhouse was almost completely destroyed; there were even cracks in the foundations.  Anyways, we followed the direction Wheat Stalk had pointed us to and found a trail of blood leading over a hill and into a valley.  In a small canyon there was a hole made of rocks where we found a pony torn up.”

Lavender gasped.  “What does Silverstar think it is?” he asked, voice hushed.

“There were no tracks, but he assumes it was the work of a Diamond Dog.”

Lavender gasped.  “A Diamond Dog?  But… that sounds like you might have only gone a half mile from Romaine’s farm!  That’s pretty dang close.”

“It wasn’t a pretty sight, either.  Poor soul had damage on every part of his body.  If it wasn’t bleeding, it was broken and mangled.  That’s why I looked so pale when I returned; I saw that body and just about puked.”

“That is disgusting…  but that means those reports earlier were not entirely just rumors.”

“Yeah.  Now, Silverstar has told me to hold off for the time being, but if they attack again I’m going to go and find the damn dogs and try speaking with them.”

Lavender just about laughed.  Not out of the silliness of the idea but of the absurdity.  “You actually intend to go talk to them?  Braeburn, I know you’re just trying to help out, but this really is going among the worst.”

“Even Silverstar admitted we’re running out of options.  If we don’t try and do something fast, I guarantee you those damned dogs will come down and overrun this new town.  We’ll go down even if we do put up a fight with those things.”

“But… you really think this is going to work?”

“I’m not saying it will.”

“You’re just that confident in it?”

“I’ll admit it isn’t the best plan.  But aside from picking things up here and moving on back home, I’m not seeing anything else.”

Lavender closed his eyes for a second.  Braeburn could almost see the gears in his head whirring as fast as they could.  When he opened his eyes, there was something new in them that Braeburn couldn’t place until he spoke.  “Let me come with you.”  The words were firm and almost took Braeburn off guard.

“First you chastise me for my plan.  Now you’re saying you’re in on it?”

“Someone’s got to bring back the corpse,” Lavender deadpanned.  When he spoke again, though, his tone was softer.  “But you have a point.  Crazy as it is, no one is trying anything else.  We’ve tried fighting them back, we’ve tried building barriers between us, we’ve tried adjusting our schedules, yet they beat us on every front.”

“So what are you really coming along for?”

“My magic can place small shields around us.  And, if things get tough, I can help you out offensively.  Besides, if this town falls through, it’ll be bad for business.  Will we get another partner if this happens?”

“Silverstar might if it means solving this problem he’s been dealing with.  But for now, let’s keep things quiet.  Only when another attack happens will we actually try.”

Lavender lifted up a hoof and smacked his forehead with it, creating a small red mark.  “Ugh, he’s really waiting until it becomes a bigger problem than it already is?” he said, keeping his voice almost a whisper though an angry growl clearly shone through.  “What’s he going to do?  Wait until they attack someone in broad daylight?  It’s as though someone getting torn to pieces wasn’t a clear enough message!”

“I agree with you, but I have to admit Silverstar has a point.  If it’s just the one attack and they see we don’t retaliate, they may back off.  But I don’t care what he says afterwards.  Once someone else gets attacked, I’m not going to hesitate to see what I can do.”

Lavender nodded and cast another bolt at the door before opening it.  “Even with the delays,” he said, “your house should be done in about a week.  Then we can get started on a decent sized barn, I was thinking a few hundred meters away.”

“Sounds perfect,” Braeburn said.

The two went off to the dining hall.  No one else seemed to have heard of the Diamond Dog attack and Lavender was careful with his words when speaking with others about why they were late.  Apart from a private conversation about additions to the house, nothing more was said between the two, though Lavender did have a talk with Sheriff Silverstar, who also kept his silence about the ordeal.  After dinner, Braeburn and Lavender went to their respective rooms and talked no more during the night.

The next day came without another casualty.  Braeburn wondered to himself as they worked on the farmhouse walls if the Diamond Dogs were merely biding time to see if the settler ponies responded.  But nothing came.  Braeburn felt on guard the whole day, waiting to see if Sheriff Silverstar came running over the hills to tell him to get ready.  Two more walls were put up and the exterior was finished by the end of the day, at which point Braeburn and Lavender and the workers packed up and headed back to the compound.  The workers were uneasy, but Lavender told Braeburn he had not mentioned the incident outside Romaine’s farm to them and they were merely worried about Silverstar’s warning of the Diamond Dogs from before.

That night in the dining hall Braeburn finally managed to see Romaine and Wheat Stalk among the rest of the ponies.  He trotted over to them and found Romaine looking a more faded green than she usually did.  “How are you all doing?” he asked.

“Well,” Romaine responded weakly, “but I feel alright.”

“Sheriff Silverstar told us the Diamond Dogs might have knocked our house down,” Wheat Stalk said.  “As for them red spots outside our land, he said there’s predators like snakes and scorpions around here and one of them might have caught a mouse or something else small.”

“Maybe you should invest in a fence,” Braeburn said.  “It might help to keep the critters like that out of your crops.”

“Yeah,” Wheat Stalk said, “but I’ll probably need some sort of repellant, too.  I hear there’s a magical service that a few unicorns come down and cast a spell on the property that prevents the buggers from burrowing in and drives them all out.”

“I’m just glad none of the crops were ruined and everypony’s alright,” Romaine said.  “I was afraid with the Diamond Dogs coming that close that somepony was going to be hurt, but Silverstar assured us everything is mostly under control and the other officers are well-equipped.”

Braeburn noted to himself that Romaine was right.  Two unicorn officers standing in the dining hall keeping watch not only looked rather sturdy but also held a baton and a small knife at their sides.  It was a little extra piece of security to help the residents feel safer.  “You know, Silverstar once mentioned that I should help out with the guard because of my rifle,” he said casually as he could.

“Not many ponies with guns around here,” Wheat Stalk said.  “Damn things are expensive.  I remember saving some of my profits and adding it to Quick Draw’s odd jobs to get him a revolver after he got his cutie mark.  I swear, some of those things can cost more than a pony makes in a year.”

“Your father must have been quite successful to have a gun of his own,” Romaine agreed.  “The price Wheat Stalk mentioned was a discount since Quick Draw had a cutie mark of a gun.  It would have been almost twice as much if it wasn’t.”

“Not many need them,” Braeburn said.  “A unicorn has magic, a pegasus can fly away, and an earth pony is strong enough to buck whatever it needs, not to mention we all live in groups.  But if something like a Diamond Dogs comes around… well, I’ll just say I was glad I had it on the train here.”

Dinner continued without interruption until a long, mournful sound came settling over the compound.  The long howl settled down around the dining hall and brought everypony silent, listening as the haunting sound filled the room.  As soon as the one howl stopped, another came from another direction, causing everypony to silently turn to where it came from.  The second voice was soon followed by a chorus of howls that danced savagely around the dining hall and echoed throughout the desert.

Almost as soon as the last howl faded away, the hall turned into an uproar.  Ponies were startled out of chairs and tables and dashed for the edges of the dining hall to see if they could see anything outside.  It took the officers scattered around the dining hall at least half an hour to get everypony to back away from the windows to finish their dinner before heading to bed.  When Braeburn finally got his own chance to look out at the desert, all he could see was the waning moon shining down and covering the desert in a thin white light and covered it with shadows.

One of the shadows contained a pair of green eyes staring back at him.

Braeburn was quickly torn away from the sight by a hoof tapping at his shoulder.  Braeburn whirled around to see Lavender panting and sweating as though he’d been running to find him.

“Silverstar has a message for you,” Lavender said quietly so that nopony else could hear.  “He says his men found another down by the falls.  Looks like we’ve got to go.”

Braeburn nodded and turned back to the window, but nothing was there.

“You see something out there?”

“They’re definitely here,” Braeburn said gravely.  “And they’re definitely pissed.”

Lavender scanned the horizon.  “I don’t see anything.”

“They saw me.  They probably know I’m coming.”  Braeburn turned to Lavender.  “Be ready early in the morning, and bring your saddlebags.  We’ll see if Silverstar can lend us any supplies and head out first thing.”

As Braeburn turned around, he noticed a young colt with a tan coat and a brown mane looking at him from across the dining hall.  Braeburn watched him, noticing he might have been a little over half his age with a cutie mark of two revolvers in an X-shape as well as how intently he had been listening to their conversation.  Before Braeburn could so much as open his mouth towards him, he dashed off quick as a gunshot.  Braeburn followed him, but by the time he reached the exit of the dining hall the colt had disappeared into shadows of the inner compound.

* * *

As soon as dawn rolled around, Braeburn and Lavender walked over to the office of Sheriff Silverstar with their saddlebags.  Silverstar was kind enough to let them have a few bullets sent down from a smith in Dodge Junction as well as told them to grab some bread and large water bottles from the storerooms.  Once Braeburn and Lavender had loaded down their packs, Braeburn hoisted his rifle over his back and the two left the compound before the others were awake.

“Where should we start?” Lavender asked.

“The first victim was found in the valley behind Romaine’s farm,” Braeburn said.  “The place looked like it might have decent hiding places.  However, we might be travelling for a while, so keep track of your supplies.”

Before they could be seen by anyone else, Braeburn and Lavender shot off for Romaine’s farm.  By the time the sun had finally finished coming over the horizon, they had travelled up the small hill and were heading back down into the valley.  The bushes now appeared to be between dead and a vibrant green as they wandered through the strange grove hiding just out of sight of the developing town.

“There are probably lots of nutrients in the soil around here,” Lavender commented.  “Maybe the Diamond Dogs came down here because it means more food for them which put them in such close proximity.”

“I don’t care if they come down to find food,” Braeburn said.  “I only care if they start rampage around the town or our farms.”

The two continued walking as they passed the place where the first pony was found murdered.  The place still smelled horrible and Braeburn warned Lavender not to look as they passed by.  Braeburn began to second guess himself telling Lavender this when the unicorn put out a loud scream behind him, though he shoved a hoof in his mouth to keep himself quiet.

“I can’t believe it…” Lavender muttered as they walked away.

The two ponies eventually stopped under the shade of some small trees for a break.  The hill leading back to the town was getting smaller and smaller and was now barely a small mound in the distance.  Lavender pulled out one of the water bottles and took a long drink from it before closing it again and wiping his brow.

“We’re probably not even close to where they are,” he said.  “You really are crazy to come out all this way to chase these beasts that might be hiding from us.  It’s possible we’ll walk out into this desert and not find them, then by nightfall we’ll get ambushed and die out here!”

Braeburn, watching the desert in the direction of the hill, didn’t even turn to look at him.  “So are you going to walk back?” he asked calmly.

“Can’t now,” Lavender replied.  “We’ve gone too far for me to be comfortable going back on my own.”

“Well, you wouldn’t exactly be on your own.”

“What do you mean?”

“We’re being followed.”

Lavender walked over and looked to where Braeburn was looking at.  It took him a long time to actually see anything, but finally there was a spark of movement from behind a bush.  He wouldn’t have seen the pony there if his tan coat wasn’t similar to the sand beneath him or his brown mane wasn’t nearly the same as the leaves on the bush.  What could be seen from behind it was a pair of orange eyes looking at them from a distance.

“Who are you?” Lavender called out.

The pony got up from behind the bush.  He was not so tall as Braeburn or Lavender was, but he was lithe and agile.  As soon as Lavender called out to him, he rose up and bounded over some rocks to reach them under the shade of the trees.  A quick scan of the pony revealed he had his saddlebags over his back filled with much the same things Braeburn had with him.  At his side, in a small holster that could easily be reached by his hoof, was a six-shot revolver with a wooden grip and a shiny metallic barrel and cylinder with a small trigger towards the grip.

“You’re Romaine’s son, aren’t you?” Braeburn said.

The colt nodded.  “The name’s Quick Draw,” he said, his voice a somewhat higher pitch than Braeburn’s and Lavender’s were as though he was close to becoming of age.  “You’re going after the Diamond Dogs, aren’t you?  You’re the one that wanted to reason with them, Mister Braeburn?”

“Firstly,” Braeburn replied, “don’t call me ‘mister’.  And secondly, me and Lavender are going to try and reason with them, but I can’t risk you coming out here with us.”

“I can fight.  I can use a revolver if things get tough.”

“I can’t let you.  What do you think your mother would say?”

“I’ll tell you what she said.  She said that everyone thinks you’re crazy.  But she also said she trusts you more than anypony else here.  She let me come because she thought you knew what you were doing while everypony else is running in circles like a chicken with its head cut off.”

“But, your father…”

“…is pissed, Mister Braeburn.  However, he won’t say a word against mother because he agrees with her.  Besides, I’ve been reading up on the Diamond Dogs and I think I know where they might be at.”

Lavender sighed impatiently.  “You’ve not had your first encounter with a Diamond Dog but five days ago and you’re convinced you know where they could be?”

“Mister Braeburn is going in the correct general direction,” Quick Draw responded as he turned towards Braeburn, “but unless he knows what to look for, he might not find them.  I assume it was also your first encounter with a Diamond Dog on the train five days ago?”

“Well, yes.  I merely was conscripted on the train that night because I had a gun.”

“Then why don’t you let me help you out.”

“What exactly do you know?” Lavender asked.

“I know there’s an old mine started up not far from here under a small cliff.  This was used to mine for rare gems around here.  The miners ended up digging out the Diamond Dog caves and incurred their wrath.  It was a massacre that caused only twelve of three hundred ponies to escape unharmed.  If the Diamond Dogs are obsessed with precious gems, this is the place.  There’s also water and what might be considered a decent food supply to support a pack of twenty to thirty.”

“You think there’s that many Diamond Dogs out here?” Braeburn asked incredulously.

“After the assault on the train, I’d say there could be two closely-related packs out here.  Both might have the amount I just mentioned.”

Braeburn turned to Lavender.  “How much of this do you know?”

“Not much,” Lavender admitted.  “Diamond Dog populations can cover such a large area we find it hard to actually be able to count how many there are in a certain area.  Besides, my knowledge is limited to the towns.”

Braeburn shrugged.  “Alright, Quick Draw.  Do you know where the mine is?”

“Not very far from here.  Just keep following the valley until you hit a cliff.”

Braeburn and Lavender packed their things back up and started moving again.  The three ponies wandered across the desert and through the valley, whose growth became more and more scant until it disappeared and they were left with nothing but sand in all directions.  It was late afternoon now and Braeburn hoped they would be able to find the Diamond Dogs before night came and they could use the shadows to their advantage.

Thankfully, Quick Draw quickly recognized the cliff they had been searching for.  He galloped over a little distance and stood at the edge of the cliff and motioned for Braeburn and Lavender to approach.  Once they arrived, he pointed down towards the base of the cliff.  Tall wood and steel buildings graced the face of the cliff, some looking like large machinery or mine shafts and entrances along with mine carts.  A short distance away, outside a wooden fence, stood a haphazard cluster of buildings made of wood mixed with sandstone and clay.

Not far away from where the three stood was a thin, winding path full of switchbacks that led to the base of the cliff.  Braeburn led the way with his rifle, followed by Lavender in the middle, with Quick Draw bringing up the rear.  The three carefully stepped their way down the packed sand until they came to the bottom of the cliff and a clear pathway through the buildings.

“I don’t like this place,” Lavender said as they walked through the empty town.  “I don’t like this place at all.”

“If we’re lucky,” Quick Draw said, “the Diamond Dogs will be in the shafts.”

“Probably don’t like to be out until nightfall due to the heat,” Braeburn commented.  “I suppose the mine structure is the best place to go.”

The three crept through the town.  Everywhere he looked, Braeburn could see signs of a once civilized place turned ghost town.  Bones lay scattered everywhere, often only in grey half-formed shapes amidst piles of dust.  A sign saying ‘Trading Outpost’ hung off-kilter on the side of a large building.  Within the houses Braeburn could even see a crib or two now lying vacant.

“Place is a ghost town,” Braeburn said, breaking the silence.

“Seems not even the Diamond Dogs like going here,” Quick Draw said.  “There aren’t many tracks around here from them.”

The three approached the large mine structure and entered it.  Quick Draw quickly found an oil lamp that appeared to still have oil inside it, and Lavender was able to strike a match and light it.  Lavender took the lead, holding the oil lamp inside his magic aura as they continued from the desolate structure and into the mines, following the path of a mine cart track.

“We should ride one of these things down,” Quick Draw said.  “Probably would be fun, then we’d get there faster.”

“Faster, maybe,” Lavender said.  “But safely… that’s another matter.  There’s probably track in disrepair, or debris blocking the path.  Slow as it is, we’re safest travelling on hoof.”

The three travelled down and down and down, following the cart path as it spiraled and went over a small bridge over a large chasm that they couldn’t see the bottom of.  The three traveled a little further afterwards and eventually came to a large cavern.  A hole at the top let in a pale orange light from above that was quickly fading, its remaining light lighting up the cavern and showing a large amount of holes coming from the sides.

Braeburn walked a short way into the expanse, Lavender behind him holding the lantern and Quick Draw following close with a hoof poised to reach his revolver.  “Hello?” Braeburn called out.  “Is there anyone here?”

A strange growl emanated from the darkness of the tunnels.  “It’s unusual you do not call for another pony,” came a rather deep voice from one ahead of them.  “I would have suspected you would have been looking for one of your own.”

“There are three of us, and perhaps twenty of you,” Braeburn called back.  “Show yourself since the numbers are on your side.”

“You expect me to take commands from a pony like you?”  The deep voice laughed.  “First you take our lands and come searching for our treasure, then you come and expect us to surrender willingly.  I have never seen a more foolish soul in my life.”

Braeburn took his revolver off and held it out in front of him with one hoof.

“Braeburn…” Lavender said quietly, “what are you doing?”

Without responding, Braeburn placed his rifle on the ground.  He turned around and motioned for Quick Draw to do the same.  The young colt did so reluctantly, letting the revolver fall out of his hoof unceremoniously.  Braeburn gave Lavender a fierce glare, causing the unicorn to nearly drop the lantern with his magic, before turning back around.

“Look!” Braeburn called.  “Although we have weapons that could kill you, we have placed them on the ground before us.  We are not here to fight.  We are here to talk.”

For a long time, the shadows showed no movement.  But suddenly from the back of the tunnel ahead of them, Braeburn could see a dark figure get up and begin approaching them.  At the least, he was twice the height of the tallest pony Braeburn knew, all of it covered with obsidian black fur.  His gold eyes scanned the three ponies as he approached, paws behind his back.

“You two,” he said quietly, though his deep voice reverberated throughout the cavern.  “You are the ones who killed three of my comrades on the train heading for the new settlement.  Now that I look at you and know who you are, you expect me to believe you don’t want to hurt me?”

“I only was called to duty because you had attacked the train first,” Braeburn said.  “I would not have even used the gun if it weren’t for that.”

The Diamond Dog eyed Braeburn with interest.  “Who do you suppose was here first?”

“You were,” Braeburn said.  “The mines must have disturbed you.”

“Indeed.  Since then, no more mines have been built.  We merely intend to keep it that way.”

“I can promise you there won’t be any more mining in the area.”

“You?” The Diamond Dog let out a huff.  “You think you can promise me something?  Try explaining that to the rest of my pack, those who have lost family and friends the last time we faced you.”

“He’s got a point,” Lavender said quietly.

“You were in on it, too,” Braeburn pointed out.

Lavender fell silent.

Braeburn turned back to the Diamond Dog.  “Do you have a name?”

“If you know my name, what good does it do you?”

“No one knows who you are.  If perhaps there was a name instead of just a beast, then perhaps we might look at you differently.”

The look on the Diamond Dog’s face softened.  “Indocolt,” he responded.  “In a language spoken far from Equestria, it means ‘reasoned one’**.  I am willing to listen since you have proven yourself reasonable.”

“In return,” Braeburn said, bowing slightly and waiting until Lavender and Quick Draw did the same, “I shall give you mine.  My name is Braeburn Apple, and I am a farmer in Appleoosa.  I come to tell you we have no business with your gems or your caverns.  The people of Appleoosa are above-ground folk and wish for me to tell you we plan to leave you alone.”

“But for how long will it last?” Indocolt replied.  “Your kind have pushed your influence on us and made us out to be killers.  They shall have a grudge for us.”

“That may be,” Braeburn said, “but they did not try speaking.”

“They sought it out as a last resort,” Indocolt said dismissively, becoming hard again.  “They obviously have no reason.  You need to give me a reason why you won’t pose a threat to us, or I shall have all three of you killed.  My pack has been waiting for retribution, and if necessary we shall take you as it.”

“Oh, brilliant idea, Braeburn!” Lavender almost shouted.  “You’ve gone and sentenced us to death!  What the hell do you have in mind to get us out of this one?”

Braeburn thought about it for a moment.  “I’ve told you before I should rather be torn by these Diamond Dogs than to be torn into by the residents of Appleoosa.”

Indocolt became surprised.  “You walked here knowing it was possible you would die?”

“Yes.  I care enough for the residents of Appleoosa that I walked out here and risked the possibility of death just to speak with you.  If I survive, they shall think it a miracle and would listen to what I say.  Furthermore, our resources of metals and precious gems can be found anywhere else in larger quantities.  We have rock farms that produce gems, in addition to mines in places towards the frozen Northern wastes and the Southern badlands.  It would be less expensive to ship our necessary gems and metals from there than to build a mine and hire workers to come here.”

Indocolt’s expression softened again.  “Why, then, do you plan a town out here?”

“Equestria needs outposts, places where trains can refuel and ponies can find new materials.  I have come here as a farmer, willing to work in the harsh environment to make sure that not only these ponies but ponies elsewhere may have food to eat.  So have others who have arrived with me.  Others are guards who protect us.  Still others are mages and explorers who wish to learn about the environment.  There are smiths and builders among our ranks, but they can get their material via other means.”

“Not a single one interested in the rich metals of this land?”

“Nary a single one.”

Indocolt closed his eyes, almost disappearing back into the blackness.  Before Braeburn could lose sight of him, he opened his eyes and stepped forwards.  His fur was coarse and occasionally dirty though far from mangy.  He became taller but his size did not feel so intimidating to Braeburn, though Lavender and Quick Draw stepped away and Quick Draw nearly picked up his gun though he remained steady.

“I have seen the activity of which you have mentioned,” Indocolt said calmly.  “It is true what you have said, how materials are being transported from elsewhere.  Aside from the planting of trees and crops and the development of a small area of barren soil and grass near the river, the desert’s surface has been undisturbed and no construction seems to take place of so large a building as a mine shaft.”

“Do you trust me, then?”

It was a long time before Indocolt nodded before bowing to Braeburn.

“Take this information back to your settlement,” he said.  “Tell them that the Diamond Dogs shall refrain from attacking their town so long as nothing is done to cause a disturbance to us.  This includes staying away from this cliff or the attempts to build a mine.  If you can keep that promise, we shall hurt you no longer.”

Braeburn bowed again.  Quick Draw did as well, though Lavender simply stared in awe.  “Does this mean you shall let us go free?”

Indocolt nodded.  “You are free to return.  I shall make sure no harm comes to you.  Travel back the way you came; the moon is still bright enough you should make it with no problem.”

Braeburn bowed again.  “Thank you for your understanding, Indocolt.”

“It is not often a pony wishes to speak with us,” Indocolt replied.  “I hope things shall change.”

With that, Braeburn and his two companions picked up their weapons, shouldered them, and left the cavern, Lavender leading the way back up the tracks with his oil lamp.  The others didn’t speak until they had gone far away from the caverns of the Diamond Dogs, up the cliff and back into the valley before Lavender finally spoke.

“I’m not sure whether to say I expected that or not,” he mused as they walked back across the valley.  “I mean, it was quite possible you were mad and it wouldn’t work, but it did.  It was logical, sure, that reason would work, but it was just strange.”

“You nearly ruined it,” Quick Draw said.  “If it weren’t for your shouting at Braeburn, I don’t think Indocolt would have threatened us as he did.”

“It would have happened either way,” Braeburn said.  “In the end, everything turned out alright.  So long as we bring the message back to the townsponies, I am hopeful things shall end soon.”

Back at the compound, the guards welcomed the trio in with relief.  Braeburn and the others barely acknowledged them.  Braeburn slowly plodded his way back to building one, barely noticing as Quick Draw quietly slipped into Wheat Stalk and Romaine’s room and Lavender drowsily walked into his.  Braeburn walked into his own room and closed the door before dropping his rifle on the floor and falling into bed, quickly falling asleep.

* * *

Braeburn woke late the next morning.  The sun was high in the sky and the compound had very few ponies wandering around.  Lavender and Quick Draw were both gone from their rooms along with the rest of the ponies from building one.  Braeburn walked out and went to the kitchen for food.

While he was eating, a guard came up to him and told him that Silverstar wished to speak with him in his office in the compound.  Braeburn accepted the message and finished eating before leaving the dining hall and making his way over to Sheriff Silverstar’s.

Silverstar was patiently waiting for him.  “I heard about your encounter with the Diamond Dogs and speaking with their leader, Indocolt,” he said.  “I am surprised it worked, though I suppose it was the option we hadn’t tried and thus was entirely possible.  I hear from Lavender you made it clear we weren’t searching for their gems?”

“Yes,” Braeburn responded.  “I told them we were here as a sort of outpost and that we wouldn’t want to start any excavation projects for gems.”

“Good, good.  I am hoping this shall make the settlement area a decent place to live.  For now, construction shall continue at the previous pace.  We’re expected to have the sheriff’s offices and the hospital up within the week and would gladly offer you a place in our ranks.”

“I would not speak too early, Silverstar,” Braeburn said.  “While we have received word from Indocolt, we should give him a few days to make sure he keeps his end of the bargain… and to make sure we keep ours.”

Silverstar ‘hmm’ed thoughtfully.  “I suppose you have a point.  Continue working on your farm and farmhouse as usual and we’ll discuss this more later, once the town is firmly established.”

Braeburn nodded and turned to leave.

“Braeburn.”

Braeburn turned back around.

“I know you are not exactly the founder of this place,” Silverstar said, “but because of your actions, and the memory of your father, it was suggested among the guard and some of the other members who heard of your actions that we name the place after you.”

“I don’t think my name is deserving of anything,” Braeburn said.  “You all thought me mad before anyways.”

Silverstar laughed.  “True.  Then at least we could name it after the memory of your father who started this project.  ‘Appleoosa’, the others were thinking, and I thought it suited it well for your father and your own orchard.”

Braeburn smiled.  “I think it suits it quite well.”

Braeburn left the compound and headed over to the farmhouse.  The walls were all in place now thanks to the builders and work was now starting on a roof and a chimney in the living area.  Lavender turned and saw Braeburn approaching and trotted over to meet him.

“Ah, you’re awake,” Lavender said as he came closer.  “I don’t blame you for sleeping late; we had a long night last night.  How did the appointment go with Silverstar?”

“Decently well,” Braeburn said.  “In a few days, we’ll have our answer to the Diamond Dog problem.   After that, they intend to christen the town after my father.  ‘Appleoosa’, he said they’d call it.”

Lavender smiled.  “Well deserved, I’d say.”  He sighed and turned back towards the construction.  “I’m going to miss this place,” he said.  “I’ll admit that my job doesn’t exactly have too many exciting moments.  I’m glad I was at least allowed one.”

“Could change your job to being a biologist,” Braeburn said.  “You’ve probably got some magic in you for that.”

Lavender laughed.  “Yes, I suppose.  But this one pays better.”

“At least you’re honest about it,” Braeburn chuckled.

Lavender calmed down and looked back towards the farmhouse.  “It has been a pleasure working with you and following you, Mister Braeburn.  I’ve never met a stallion who has… intrigued me more than you.  I’ll be leaving soon after the farmhouses are done, though I hope we can meet again sometime soon.”

Braeburn smiled as he shook hooves with Lavender.  “I shall be looking forward to it.”

Chapter 7 - Prince Blueblood's Arrival

Seven years later...

If you ever were to take the train from Canterlot to Ponyville, or vice versa, you’d come across a section of track that breaks off from the main line and goes south and west, away from the grassy hills of Ponyville or the green and purple mountains of Canterlot and off to places unknown.  Not too many trains go down that road, most preferring the mountain route over Canterlot to stay where most civilized ponies are willing to go; east to Baltimare and Fillydelpha, or west to Las Pegasus and San Prancisco.  Few have ever remembered a time when a passenger train ever went down that road, and very few freight trains ever really go down there; when they do, they’re small enough that no one takes notice.

But let’s say somepony found himself taking a train from Ponyville that happened to go down that road to the south and west, as one young farmer and alicorn found themselves doing once during the fall of 1007 A.N.M. (After Nightmare Moon), they would see the otherwise fertile plains become hot and dry, the grass eventually wilting and giving away to a golden brown sand that stretches as far as the eye can see.  Purple mountains give way to red rocks and cliffs that cover the landscape, and all water vanishes except for the occasional blue splash of color that populates the area around the winter rainy season.  The trees are too far away from each other to provide decent shade, and the land becomes populated with brush and long grass that looks like it could wilt at any moment, growing in small patches here and there across the desert floor like they’re trying to stick together for the sake of survival in numbers.  Few creatures inhabit these lands, and sometimes the carcasses of their dead relatives are all the remnants you see of whatever lives there.

But if somepony does happen to take a train out that direction, within three days they'll come across a small settlement that manages to take the modern comforts of civilization and make them work out there in the middle of nowhere.  A small city stands in the middle of the desert with all the accoutrements of most cities: running water, electricity powered by magic, a proper sheriff’s and fire department, and no less than six thriving orchards and farms that manage to feed the modest spread of people living there.  Some things have to be shipped in from other places that have better access and more excess than the citizens of this dusty town, but if they talked to the residents they would say they've never found another place they could call home.

Matter of fact, it could be said that the residents of Appleoosa are some of the nicest ponies one could ever come across.  They’ve had to learn to work together and become friendly with one another in order to survive a harsher climate than most care to even tread across, and so visitors are treated warmly and with quite the welcome wagon when they arrive, not to mention treated with the sort of utmost respect and hospitality found in small communities.  Though they often have little to share, whatever they have they are willing to share with guests from far and wide, somehow always finding a way to make things work out in the end that makes it seem like they hardly donated anything yet still every guest leaves feeling welcomed and as happy as can be.

This in part seems to be due to a few of the townsponies that have lived there ever since Appleoosa’s conception, with two in particular standing out from the crowd.  There’s Sheriff Silverstar, the head of the police and a generally nice fellow so long as you make sure to follow all the rules and don’t step out of line.  Then there’s Braeburn Apple, a most personable pony that everyone seems to take a liking to by the end of their stay; it helps he also happens to be a prosperous apple farmer and a hero of the town ever since a little incident with the buffalo about six years prior.

While it could be said that Braeburn held himself in high regard for the events that took place that year, he never really showed it.  He was simply known by the townsponies as a kindly individual that would help out anyone who needed it.  He ran and managed an apple farm of his own – with some other crops growing on the side – and was willing to let a pony that needed work help him out on his farm.  He himself had a modest house that was cozy, warm, and welcoming on the outskirts of Appleoosa on a cliff that overlooked his farmlands and a river that flooded and watered his fields during the rainy season.  While not rich by Canterlot standards, it could be argued that Braeburn was the richest stallion in Appleoosa due to the size of his farm and almost equally as philanthropic.

It happened that the two mares who stepped off the train from Ponyville to Appleoosa were on their way to visit the stallion at his home.  One, an orange mare with blonde hair and a trio of apples for a cutie mark, was Braeburn’s cousin Applejack from Ponyville who had come with a small gift after the passing of a close relative.  The other, a purple alicorn with the name Twilight Sparkle, had come along with Applejack as a friend and honorary family member (a title given after a little problem with two con-stallions at Applejack’s own farm) and wished to offer her own apologies for the loss.  The two were finally relieved when they made their way to the house at the outskirts of the city, able to finally get out of the piercing desert sun.

The stallion himself opened the door when they arrived.  His fur was a bright gold and the single red apple of his cutie mark shined like the skin of the real thing.  His wavy, golden colored mane was a neatly-combed and fell lightly around his shoulders and forelegs, his similar-colored tail ending in a slight curl at the end.  He had on a dusty-brown Stetson and vest he wore as a gift from his uncle when he was young, shading his bright green eyes from the harsh desert sun.

“Well, howdy there, Applejack!” the stallion energetically greeted the two mares.  “And if it ain’t your friend Twilight Sparkle!  I haven’t seen you since the Apple family reunion back in Ponyville.  Don’t stand out there in the heat and sun; I’ve got some nice cool cider I was just pouring myself.  Come on in and have a drink.”

Applejack walked inside the house, thankful as a rush of cool air descended on her in the darkened house, as she took off her saddlebags in the small foyer and followed Braeburn and Twilight to the kitchen.  “A glass of cider would be much welcomed after that train ride,” she said, wiping a hoof across her sweating forehead.  “I’m used to workin’ in the summer heat in Ponyville, but this is just ridiculous.”

“Thank you very much, Braeburn,” Twilight replied.  “I think this heat is beginning to get to my head.”

Braeburn led the two mares into the kitchen and poured and served them a glass of cider before getting himself one and sitting down at the kitchen table with them.  The windows looked out over Braeburn’s apple orchard, the trees currently boasting vibrant green leaves and were full to the brim with red, gold, and green apples.

“Close to harvest time, isn’t it?” Applejack said.

Braeburn nodded as he took a swig of sider.  “Applebuckin’ Season is right around the corner,” he said, getting up from the table to look out the window at his precious crop.  “I got myself about twenty extra sets of hooves to help me out this year.  I might actually be able to turn a decent profit this year if things turn out well enough.”

“I must admit, I’m surprised at how well Appleoosa’s doing,” Twilight said.  “I mean, I know the whole thing with the buffalo helped out immensely, but I didn’t realize you’d be up to par with most other towns and cities in so short a time.”

“It is quite refreshing to see this place is doing well,” Braeburn nodded.  “Even better considering the fact that this summer was one of the most oppressive we’ve had since the town was founded.  Nearly burnt up all of the crops over at Celery Stalk’s farm, and the fire department was called out twice to some of the others.”

Applejack took off her own prized Stetson, setting it down on the table.  “I’m sorry to cut things short, but I’m thinkin’ you’ve realized we haven’t come all the way out here for some small talk.”

“That’s true,” Braeburn said, still looking out the window at his orchard.  “Even my own cousin wouldn’t come all the way out for small talk, not with Applebuck Season so close.  How are Big Macintosh and my favorite younger cousin doing, anyway?”

Applejack laughed, though it seemed to mostly relieve tension than out of really finding anything funny.  “Macintosh is takin’ care of the farm while I’m out, and Apple Bloom is doing really good in school lately.  Managed to get all high marks for last year, and she’ll be ready to graduate out of Cheerilee’s school by next year, along with her two friends.  Though it’s a might ironic how you didn’t ask about Granny Smith.”

“Well, how is the old bird doing?  Still kickin’ up dust about Zap Apple Jam season?”

Applejack nervously fidgeted with her Stetson.  Braeburn turned around from the window to see Applejack’s eyes were watering and Twilight was already next to her with a comforting hoof around her shoulders.

“Granny Smith has gone through her last Zap Apple season.”

Braeburn’s expression went from a pleasant smile to a disheartened frown.  He set his mug of cider on the kitchen counter, afraid he’d spill it if he held it any longer.  “You don’t mean to say…?”

“Inducted into Ponyville Hospital three months ago, died two weeks ago,” Applejack said through sobs.  “Doctors said it was just old age and she died peacefully in her sleep, that we should have suspected it happenin’ considerin’ she was over a hundred years old.  Once we got the news, we buried her out near where ma and pa are, under their favorite tree in the orchard; the one we never buck for no reason.”

Braeburn nodded.  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there, Applejack.”

“I couldn’t have bugged ya,” Applejack said, “what with you managing your own farm out here.  I would have held it off for a few weeks until Applebuck season was over, but Big Macintosh said he could find some extra help this year and would be willing to take things over until I got back.”

Braeburn said nothing.

“She wanted you to be there, during her last days,” Applejack continued.  “Said she wanted all the grandkids around.  Well, Babs Seed and her family made it out and we were half expectin’ you to show up but you never came around.  No one is mad at you, we just all kind of wish you were there.”

“Things have been busy around here,” Braeburn said.  “I’ve had to take some time with the police force as a volunteer police officer since one of the members came down with hay fever.  Not to mention I’ve had to help some others with makin’ sure their crops were able to survive the summer.  I’ve had to—”

“Like I said,” Applejack interrupted, “ain’t nobody mad at you.”

Braeburn calmed himself down and nodded.  “How are Macintosh and Apple Bloom taking the news?”

“Well, Apple Bloom’s got her little friends from school, and she found her cutie mark in construction once we saw the work she’d done on the memorial for Granny.  It ain’t an apple, but it’s probably the best way I could think of for gettin’ a cutie mark, helping honor her memory like that.  Macintosh has taken it hard, but work’s kept us all preoccupied.”  Applejack sniffled a little as she calmed down.  “I’m sorry, Brae.  This is the first time I’ve been able to let it all out since then.”

“It’s alright, Applejack,” Braeburn replied, his voice soft and comforting for his cousin.  “Things have been hard on all of us Apple family this past year, but we’ve worked through harder stuff.  You’re a strong mare, Applejack, and you’ve got a strong brother and sister as well as your friends; I’ve no doubt you’ll spring back into shape in no time.”

Applejack smiled at her cousin as Braeburn took her mug and filled it up with some more cider, then pulled out an apple pie and sliced it up, passing a plate with a slice over to Applejack.  “Have some pie; you look like you could use it.”

Applejack took the plate.  “Thanks…”

Braeburn cut up another slice for himself and Twilight and the three talked long into the night, until long after the stars and Luna’s moon had come up from the sky.  Braeburn soon went to his guest room and fixed the beds for his two guests, then bid them good night.

But Braeburn himself did not go to bed.  Instead, he took a piece of straw and stuck it between his teeth, going outside and looking over his orchard and wondering if he shouldn’t take a young sapling the coming year and giving it to Applejack like she had done seven years previously.  It’d be a way to pay her back for coming all the way out here on both those occasions, as well as a little something for Granny Smith’s memory.  Braeburn sat on the cliff until the sun started to peek over the horizon, until the straw in his mouth had been chewed down to a nub.

Chapter 8 - Throwing Down the Gauntlet

Despite his staying up late the previous night, Braeburn still managed to get up early in the morning before Twilight and even Applejack were awake.  Taking advantage of the early morning, the stallion went to the bathroom and decided he needed to rinse out the dust of the previous day.  Braeburn turned on his shower and let the cool water cleanse him and wash over his body, rinsing the dust out as he put some soap in his mane and coat.

When he had finished, he brushed himself with a fine comb for his coat and a bristle brush for his mane before stepping outside into the sun to dry himself.  The sun had hardly managed to set its course across the sky and yet it already beat down on the arid landscape stretching out before him.  Braeburn was hardly out in the heat for five minutes before he was completely dry, his coat glistening as he returned into the house to start preparing breakfast for himself and his guests.

It wasn’t long before the two ponies were awake and in the kitchen.  While Twilight looked like she had a restful sleep, Applejack’s eyes were bloodshot like she had either been crying more or hadn’t gotten much sleep at all last night.  Braeburn pulled out a few mugs and some orange juice and freshly brewed coffee and passed some over to the two mares as he finished cooking breakfast: farm-fresh eggs, a fruit medley, and a set of apple-cinnamon pancakes.  The two mares thanked the stallion, who tipped his hat to them in reply, and they all settled down to eat.

“Braeburn, thank you so much for your hospitality on such short notice,” Applejack said.

“It’s the least I could do for my family and their close friend,” Braeburn replied.  “And of course I don’t mind the extra company.  It gets lonely out here living on the ranch by myself.  I got the townsponies during the day, but evenings are usually spent in solitude.”

“Well, you’re lucky,” Applejack said.  “Macintosh said I could stay here for a few days to calm down and let this whole Granny Smith thing get through me.  Of course, I still have some other business regarding that.”

“Do you mean her will?  I’m aware of it, but not the contents of it.”

“I have a few things with me from back in Ponyville that she wanted to hand to you.  They’re all in my saddlebags.  Three things were mentioned in the will, in addition to one more thing that she was talking about on her deathbed.  They all either belonged to pa but never got to you or were hers that she wanted you to have.”

Twilight went over to get the saddlebags and set them down on the table with her magic.  Applejack began shuffling through her bags and searching through for the right items to pull out.  The first was a small glass case with three ribbons in it.  The second was a small silver pocket watch and chain that must have been at least a hundred years old.  The third was a large envelope that looked old and weathered and seemed to barely remain intact.  The final item was a polished wooden box about half as long as Braeburn’s front leg and covered in ornate gold patterns.

Applejack pointed to the pocket watch.  “This is an old watch from Granny Smith’s younger days, given to her as a gift from her father.  They bought it from a silversmith back in Canterlot before Ponyville was settled.  It’s at least ninety years old based on recent appraisals, and still works.  The maker still makes batteries for it and I had it refitted with one for continued use.”

Braeburn took the pocket watch.  It was accurate in comparison to most of the clocks around Appleoosa and was finely constructed.  “It’ll be nice to have a clock telling me when to come in for dinner,” Braeburn joked.  “Everyone always says I’ll waste away from not knowing what time it is and not coming home for meals at the right time.  That aside, it is a pretty expensive watch.”

Applejack nodded and pointed to the next item, the envelope.  “This envelope contains your father’s records for the settlement of Dodge Junction and its opening creeds as well as eventual records of its alliance with the rest of Equestria under Princess Celestia, and his personal journal.  Granny figured they would be nice as historical documents and thought they’d be better going to you as opposed to a museum, as well as to be reminded of your father’s legacy, which she said you would have made him proud.”

Braeburn looked at the envelope but didn't empty it then and there on the table; its contents would require further exploration at another time, though he did rifle through and found many legal documents and some old black-and-white pictures taken, in addition to some portraits painted of the town.

“Next is these ribbons,” Applejack said as she pushed the glass case towards Braeburn.  “The red ones are for your pa’s second-place victories in the rodeo circuit along the obstacle course.  He was expected to make blue ribbon status the next year, but suffered a leg injury after bucking trees and didn’t come in that year.  He did eventually earn a blue ribbon in sharpshooting.”

“I have his old rifle,” Braeburn said.  “Still fires, too.  I don’t use it much except to scare off any troublemakers prowling around the property at night.  I knew he used it for tournaments, but I didn’t think he won any ribbons in Dodge Junction.”

“Those competitions came towards the end of his life, according to Macintosh,” Applejack commented.  “Sharpshooting was a relatively new thing back then, so he acquired the rifle and entered a few competitions.  But it had its use, much as you’re using it now.  However, that brings me to the final item…”

Applejack took the wooden box and carefully unlatched it before turning it around and showing the contents to Braeburn.  Inside was a finely crafted six-shot revolver, containing a sleek, eight-inch, black metal barrel and a carefully constructed wooden handle.  The revolver was made so that it could be held by an earth pony and was fired with the flick of a switch at the back end of the device.  Braeburn knew about the type of revolver; it was constructed specifically for earth pony use and was fast enough to fire rapidly with a simple flick of the hoof to apply slightly more pressure to the switch, as well as reducing the amount of smoke with every fire.  In the box there was also a set of thirty bullets.

“This is the gun your pa won the blue ribbon with,” Applejack said.  “Granny said she wanted the infernal device locked away after your father killed someone with it that had invaded his property.  Even if it was used for a good purpose, your pa agreed and let her have it and hide it away somewhere.  It was on her deathbed that Granny said she wanted you to have it back.  She told me where she had it – with pa’s grave – and told me to bring it to you.”

Braeburn inspected the gun.  It was unloaded though everything worked as though it was in peak condition, fresh out of the gunsmith’s shop.  The bullets were finely-constructed steel cylinders that bore the insignia if CS&W – Colt, Smith, and Wesson, who were still operating in nearby Dodge Junction and still made bullets.

“These bullets are thick,” Braeburn commented upon seeing the size of one of them.

“The notes that came with it state it’s a point three-two caliber,” Applejack said.  “Never much liked the things, so I don’t care too much about what that means, but it’s a family treasure all the same.  Anyways, you’d probably have better use for it out here.”

“Not really,” Braeburn said.  “Pa’s old hunting rifle can scare away most critters easily enough by the sight or by one loud bang.  I’ll take it, but it probably won’t get much use out here except as a treasure of my own.  Still, I’m glad Granny Smith gave it back for pa’s memory.  Have you already had the memorial service?”

“No.  We were all going to meet up in Ponyville after harvest time for a family reunion and commemorate her memory then.  We just had a burial a few weeks ago, but not much was done in terms of a memorial.”

“I see,” Braeburn said as Twilight closed the box and carefully put all the objects on the counter behind them so they could finish breakfast.  “I hope I’ll be able to finish up this year and head on down there, as well as bring a few of my own treats for the reunion.  Anyways, how long are you two plannin’ on stayin’ in town?”

“Another few days,” Applejack replied.  “We need the time to rest, and I don’t think Twilight’s eager to get back on that train again so soon.”

Twilight shook her head.  “It’s almost impossible to flare out my wings on that train when they get stiff; the only place I can is between cars and that can get hot and windy and make the feathers go all out of place, then it’s preening until I have to go outside and do the whole thing again.”

Braeburn nodded as he picked up the now empty plates and dirty utensils.  “You two are welcomed to stay as long as you’d like.  Say, why don’t you come on down with me to the dance hall later this evening?  There’s gonna be a big thing goin’ on for the start of harvest season coming up and everyone in Appleoosa is invited.   Wanna join?”

Applejack nodded.  “Thank you, Braeburn.  It sounds wonderful.”

Braeburn gave a smile and tipped his hat again, a gesture which he was sure made Twilight turn a bright red.

* * *

The dance hall was a modest establishment containing a large dance floor lit up by multiple chandeliers hanging overhead giving a soft light throughout the building.  There was a stage at one end that had a small band of ponies playing on various instruments, and their music rang throughout the hall as ponies twirled and danced in the center of the main room.  Off to one side stood a bar where a bartender sat serving ponies cider and salt blocks, while on the other stood a door that led into a small restaurant that always stayed open late for the patrons.

Braeburn escorted his cousin and Twilight to the dance hall sometime in the early evening as the sun turned a golden hue with pink and purple strands before it settled below the horizon.  The trio were talking and laughing on their way there, and soon Twilight had been caught up in a story that Braeburn had been telling ever since they left the farmhouse.

“…Now I wondered to myself what could have caused all this commotion, having all these ladies faintin’ around me at the slightest notice?  Well, I turned around to look at what the hay was the matter before I noticed Soarin of the Wonderbolts walkin’ down the street behind me.  Now he is a pretty handsome fella, but I decided he was flaunting the goods a little more than he should and I’d give him a taste of his own medicine.  So while I had caught him by surprise and without a word to say, I took off my hat and waved my hair around so that it glistened in the sunlight as it fanned out behind me.  Well, that little display alone got his own wings fannin’ out behind him, and the deal was sealed the moment I winked at him and smiled.  By the time I had tipped my hat to say ‘good day’ to him, he was passed out in the middle of the street, wings still unfurled and stiff like a dead animal once rigor mortis sets in, tongue hangin’ out of his mouth .  Oh, he was fine, but if you were to talk to him about it to this day, he’d deny it every time you asked him that he fainted dead away once he got a look at this stallion.”

It was either a testament to the silliness of the event or just the way Braeburn told it that Applejack was still laughing after hearing it every single time she had met with Braeburn, not to mention Twilight on his other side laughing so hard she was barely able to breathe.  Braeburn himself laughed a good-natured laugh along with them as they entered the dance hall, filled with ponies, and made their way over to the restaurant at the one end of the hall.  The trio ordered a round of hay fries and a set of daffodil and daisy sandwiches, one each, in addition to an apple fritter; Braeburn paid for the whole thing with generous tip.

As they were eating, many ponies came up to talk to Braeburn, and he answered every single one of them.  “Hey, Quick Draw!  I saw you get first place in the tournament last month in Dodge Junction.  Fine shooting there, boy!”  “Oh Miss Celery Stalk, you don’t have to repay me for helping out on the farm; I was just helpin’ another pony out.  My own orchard is doing quite well enough.”  “Sheriff Silverstar!  Glad you could make it out tonight… oh, so you’re just on the rounds.  Well, don’t be a stranger, ya hear?”

Of course, even though Braeburn was assaulted by ponies thanking him for the help over the past summer with making sure their crops were up and going alright, it wasn’t enough to keep his eyes off the purple mare sitting across from him.  He knew she had been looking at him all the past two evenings and now finally had a good chance to take a look back.  The only thing that would have signified her as a princess was the unicorn horn on her head and a pair of purple wings with a span longer than she was tall though at the moment neatly folded against her sides.  Her violet eyes shone brightly under the lights of the chandeliers and her purple with pink-striped mane had a unique little flip on one side.  Braeburn smiled at her and she shied away from his gaze, blushing all the same and eventually returning the smile with one of her own.

“And what’s a pretty little thing like you doin’ all the way out here in Appleoosa?” Braeburn asked, tilting his mug of cider towards Twilight.  “You ain’t got too many relatives or friends out in this direction.  I don’t see the appeal in comin’ out all this way.”

“I… I wanted to c-come with Applejack to a-a-apologize for the loss,” Twilight stammered as she tried to keep calm, though her face only got redder.

Braeburn chuckled.  “You know, it ain’t often we get princesses down here in Appleoosa.  Matter of fact, I think you’re the first that’s come down here, and twice to boot.”

Twilight smiled back.  “Well, Applejack’s m-m-my friend,” she managed to reply.  “And what sort of f-friend would I be if I d-didn’t help her out in this t-t-time of crisis?”

Applejack huffed.  “I know where you’re going with this whole spiel, Braeburn,” she spoke up before Twilight could become any more embarrassed.  “Please, don’t pursue it any farther.  I’m afraid you’ll break Twilight if you keep up with it.”

“I mean to break nopony,” Braeburn said, still smiling.  “I’m just asking a simple question.”

“You know darn well what I mean!”

“Trust me, cousin Applejack.  I know my limits.”

“Know all you want, but no touchin’.”

Braeburn pouted as though depressed, but he did it so over the top and with such a sad whinny accompanying it that Twilight broke out in laughter.  Braeburn just about laughed himself when he saw the look on Applejack’s face; the orange mare was trying to fix her hardest death glare on him but the corners of her mouth kept creeping upward.

Once dinner was over, the three moved out into the dance hall where the band was playing a lively country tune with a singer at the microphone.  Applejack immediately went to the bar to get herself something to drink, but Braeburn held out a hoof to Twilight, who at first looked shocked at the gesture.

“Care to dance, m’lady?” Braeburn asked.

Twilight looked over to Applejack, who was downing a shot glass of a brown liquid, before turning back to Braeburn.  “…I would love to,” she said as though in a daze and brought her hoof over to Braeburn, who led her out into the middle of the floor as the music picked up again.

It didn’t take long for her to snap out of it.  “Wait a minute!” Twilight said as she and Braeburn went to the center of the floor.  “I don’t know how to dance!”

“Don’t you worry,” Braeburn said.  “I’ll show you.”

Braeburn helped Twilight stand up on her two back hooves, showing her how to bring one hoof around towards his lower back while the other hoof was on his shoulder.  Braeburn soon mimicked the position once Twilight was in place and showed her how to lean on him for the support to stand up.  It wasn’t long before the next song started and Braeburn was carefully leading Twilight in the steps around the floor; it started out with a smooth melody but almost immediately began quickening in tempo towards the middle Twilight and Braeburn whirled around the dance floor, Twilight’ eyes locked with the stallions as he brought his golden tail around him.

Braeburn was surprised at how quickly Twilight managed to fall in line.  Within a few steps, the mare was keeping up with Braeburn’s practically breakneck pace and producing steps that matched the graceful quality of the stallion’s own.  Her flank began to sway in time with his and her tail even flicked with the same rhythm.  She never quite entirely managed to pull the dumbstruck look on his face, but Braeburn could tell from the lightness of her hoofsteps that she was enjoying it as much as he was, and soon the look became one of awe as Braeburn stared deeply into her violet eyes, feeling a flush come over his own face the longer he looked at her.

The beat picked up and became more prevalent and Braeburn’s hoof lowered itself on Twilight’s back to just slightly above her flank.  Braeburn’s steps quickened as his heartbeat matched the rhythm of the frantic, almost primeval beat, dragging poor Twilight around faster and sharper movements, but the mare managed to hold her own and pull off a few quick turns in direction that made it so that even Braeburn had to pull himself away from Twilight’s eyes to focus.  Twilight felt her hoof slip by accident down Braeburn’s back so that their hooves were in the same place and wanted to pull away, but Braeburn kept her close with a look that made Twilight become weak in his hooves and caused the stallion to use a little more strength to keep her upright.

Braeburn considered it a relief when the music finally slowed down to a stop and he could let go of Twilight.  The mare was as equally relieved, walking over to one of the tables near the bar where Applejack was sitting with a third shot glass in front of her and sitting down in one of the chairs to rest, but Braeburn could see the smile on her face.

“That was fun…!” Twilight said between pants.

“Glad you enjoyed yourself,” Braeburn said.  “I never figured myself a dance instructor, but I certainly taught you a thing or two.”

Twilight laughed as Braeburn waved down the bartender and ordered two glasses of water and two mugs of cider.  The bartender came out with the drinks and Braeburn paid for the tab as he continued talking with the violet mare, who was now much more at ease around him than she had been before they entered the dance hall.  As the night wore on and the two became more tired, Braeburn offered to take Twilight back to the house for the night.  Twilight, finally getting over her exhaustion from the dance, agreed.

“Hey Applejack!” Braeburn called to his cousin sitting over at the bar with a fourth shot glass in front of her.  “Do you want to head back with me and Twilight to the house?”

“Nah,” Applejack said.  “You two jus’ go along ahead.  I… I’ll be behind you in a minute.”

Braeburn whistled and the bartender looked over to him.  “Make sure she gets a glass of water or two before she leaves,” Braeburn said.  The bartender nodded and went to fulfill the order right away as Braeburn and Twilight left the dance hall and started walking through the moonlit streets of Appleoosa.

* * *

Braeburn considered himself one very lucky stallion.

Along the walk back, he and Twilight had gotten around to talking more, when he learned about a little of her time in Ponyville.  He had been growing to like the mare with just her looks, but as she continued talking he found himself attracted to her friendly nature combined with book smarts.  Braeburn wasn’t by any means as educated as she was, but Braeburn could talk about things that others in Appleoosa couldn’t, such as the works of old philosophers and literary criticism.  By the time the two got home, Twilight was much more open to talking than before… and a little interested in something else.

Now, the two were lying on Braeburn’s own bed, the door mostly closed so that when Applejack walked in she couldn’t see them out in the open.  Twilight was lying on her back with her wings folded up and around the stallion lying on top of her, kissing her on her neck and her cheek and her lips while cradling her head in his arms.  The purple mare didn’t resist in the slightest and even started kissing back after a while, grasping the stallion’s head and pulling it towards her own.  If she had been melting in Braeburn’s arms earlier, it was Braeburn who was now melting into Twilight’s hooves.

“I’ve never been with a stallion before,” Twilight got out in between kisses.

“Then you’ve been missin’ something,” Braeburn replied.

“I know…  It’s just the stallions back in Ponyville are currently more friendly than they are interested in romantic relationships.”

“I find that hard to believe with a pretty sight for sore eyes like yourself.”

Twilight moaned and pulled her head away, only letting Braeburn kiss her cheek and neck.  “And yet… even though I haven’t ever really been with a stallion, I’m pretty sure I’m not going to find someone else like you.”

“Well, I knew I had a natural sort of charm…”

Twilight pulled Braeburn back in for another kiss, drowning out whatever the stallion had left to say.  The kiss of that purple mare was like a drug, and he lost himself in it as he continued to hold the mare in his hooves, gently stroking the back of her soft mane through his hooves, a feel he couldn’t get enough of after spending his whole life with his feet in the hard and rocky soil around Appleoosa…

Something cracked and there was a creaking sound like the front door being opened.

“Did you hear that, Twi?” Braeburn asked, stopping himself from kissing the mare as his ears swiveled about.

“It’s probably just Applejack,” Twilight said, trying to pull Braeburn in for another kiss.

“Just hold on a minute!” Braeburn whispered, and Twilight stopped.

At first there was total silence, with only the sound of the desert crickets outside the window.  For a long time, that was the only sound the two heard, but just as Braeburn was about to dismiss it he heard another sound: two sets of hoofsteps walking around and causing the floorboards to creak.

“That isn’t Applejack,” Twilight said.

Braeburn rolled himself off the bed and Twilight soon followed.  The two made their way quietly over to the door of the bedroom and looked out.  There was nopony around, and when they looked over to the bedroom where Applejack and Twilight were staying, the orange mare was nowhere to be found.

“Twilight, go check the kitchen,” Braeburn said.  “Make sure those heirlooms are still there on the counter.  I’m gonna get pa’s old hunting rifle and a few blanks; maybe that’ll scare off whatever’s around here.”

Twilight nodded and went off towards the kitchen.

Braeburn himself shot off in the opposite direction, going for his living room.  In the living room was a fireplace, and over the fireplace there was an old rifle about longer than one of Braeburn’s legs from his hoof to his shoulder.  Braeburn took the rifle and opened up a box next to it and filled the cartridge with one bullet followed by a few blanks; bullets that would flash and bang and put up the same amount of smoke but wouldn’t actually hit anyone, then began creeping towards the kitchen.

“Braeburn!” Twilight’s voice rang out through the house.  “Help me!  Braeburn, He—”

The rest of her cry was cut off.  Braeburn galloped through the house to the kitchen with the rifle and came in with it pointed at the source of the noise; whether it was a mare or stallion, Braeburn couldn’t tell, but the entire body of the earth pony was covered in a black suit that didn’t even leave an opening to get a clear look at the color of the coat or the cutie mark of the pony.  What made things even worse: the pony had a knife pressed up to Twilight’s throat, the poor mare looked absolutely horrified and Braeburn could see her sweating.

“Let her go,” Braeburn commanded.

“You ain’t so tough,” the pony said, the voice making Braeburn think it was a stallion.  “You wouldn’t really fire that gun, would you?”

To prove he would, Braeburn looked at the open kitchen window, likely where the ponies had entered from, and saw a rat going by.  Without even taking the time to aim, Braeburn whipped around and fired at the rat the moment his gun’s sights went in that direction.  The shot wasn’t as accurate as Braeburn would have liked, but the rat’s back leg was shot off and it scurried away, bleeding.

Braeburn took the gun and pointed it back at the stallion.  “Yeah, I think I would.”

The stallion had seen enough.  “Come on!” he called to another room of the house.  “We need to get out of here!  This one’s got a gun!”  And he dropped Twilight on the floor of the kitchen.  It wasn’t long afterwards before two successive bangs marked the back door flying open and slamming against the back wall of the house.

Braeburn set the gun on the table and went over to Twilight.  “Are you okay?”

“I…I think so,” Twilight said.  “Thank you.  That was so scary…”  And she buried her face in Braeburn’s neck.

“There’ll be time for that later,” Braeburn said seriously.  “Go to your room.  Check and make sure that yours and Applejack’s belongings are still all there.”

Twilight nodded and ran off.  Meanwhile, Braeburn checked the saddlebags to make sure that the heirlooms were still there.  The ribbons were all in place, the documents were unmoved, the pocket watch was still there, and the case with the gun looked like it wasn’t even tampered with.  Braeburn opened up the gun’s revolving cylinder and placed six of the bullets inside it before running off to where Twilight was in the guest bedroom.

Twilight was frantically looking around.  The bedroom was halfway torn apart from her searches as she checked all the drawers and the closet and her saddlebags.  It took a minute for Braeburn to calm her down and ask her what was wrong, and even then Twilight was absolutely frantic.

“The pendant that Princess Celestia gave me!” Twilight shouted at Braeburn.  “It was supposed to enhance magical powers and make it so that my more powerful magic didn’t go out of control as an alicorn!  Without it, I can’t use magic otherwise the energy will be too much!  I… I think they took it!”

“Calm down, Twilight!  What did it look like?”

“It was white-gold chain and center with an amethyst set in the main part.  It’s really simple, but I need it to perform magic!”

Braeburn went to the window and looked out.  He could see the two ponies trying to hide in his orchard despite the bright moon outside lighting up the night.  If he left now and took the revolver, he might be able to catch up to them and get that pendant back.  Braeburn put on his hat, holstered the revolver, and started making his way out the back door towards the orchard.

“Wait, Braeburn!” Twilight screamed.  “You’re not going to go after them, are you?”

“You stay here and wait, Twilight,” Braeburn told her.  “Lock all the doors and windows.  Only unlock them when you can see Applejack outside or if I come callin’ you.  Tell Applejack what happened if she gets back before me and alert Sheriff Silverstar.  We need to keep you safe and get that pendant back.”

And Braeburn ran off before the mare could stop him, tearing off across the orchards to where the two ponies were looking over a bag of loot.  Braeburn pulled out the gun and fired a warning shot towards the ponies once he got close enough to see their outlines clearly.  The two ponies quickly wrapped up the bag and tore off across the desert.  Braeburn chased them as they fled through the dust until they hit the river at a point where it was so wild and the drop steep enough that falling in meant being swept back along towards Braeburn’s farm.

“That’s as far as you two are going,” Braeburn said, aiming the revolver at them.  “You tried to steal my heirlooms and took something from a friend of mine.  I’m afraid that I can’t let you do that.  So you give me the bag of items you got there and I’ll be on my way without hurtin’ anypony.”

One of the stallion’s spoke.  “You got some damn nerve followin’ us out this way.  I didn’t think you’d actually do it.  Most of the folk around here don’t give a damn.”

“You managed to piss off the one that does,” Braeburn said.  “Now, I’m gonna give you until the count of five to drop the knife in the bag and toss it over here to me.   But be warned: any funny business and I’ll shoot right here and now.  One…”

The stallion brought around the bag and opened it.

“Two…”

The other stallion took his knife and dropped it in.

“Three…”

The stallions made like they were going to toss the bag towards Braeburn.

“Fou—”

One of the stallions looked like he was going to throw the bag in the river, while the other looked like he was going to pull out another weapon.  Braeburn fired the revolver at the one holding the bag before he could hardly get the swing going.  Blood splattered everywhere as the stallion collapsed in the sand without even a scream, his eyes wide open and his mouth hung open as though in shock.  The weapon the other had turned out to be another knife, but he didn’t look ready to use it anymore.

“Are you gonna try anything?” Braeburn asked him, now training the revolver at his head.

The stallion, eyes wide with panic like his dead companion, shook his head frantically.

“I thought not.  But just to make sure…”

“Wait, what are you doing!?  You said you’d let us g-AAAAAAAH!”

The stallion dropped the knife and collapsed as another shot rang out and hit his hoof.  Braeburn shot one of the stallion’s back hooves soon after, causing his blood to turn the sand red and made it so that the stallion couldn’t even stand up on his own.  The stallion looked up at Braeburn, who still had the gun trained on his head.

“Now I better not see you mucking around my farm again,” Braeburn growled, “or you’re going to get a one-way ticket like your friend did.  Have I made myself clear?”

“P-p-please…”

“Have I made myself clear!?”

“Yes yes yes yes yes!” the stallion shouted, wincing from the pain.  “I won’t do it again!”

Braeburn nodded.  “Just over that hill is Appleoosa.  There’s a hospital you can use to treat your wounds and a sheriff’s office if you feel guilty enough to explain your attempted crime.”  Then he holstered the revolver, dropped the second knife in the bag, and took the bag back to the farmhouse, leaving the bleeding stallion in the desert sand.

Sheriff Silverstar and Applejack were both at the house with Twilight when Braeburn returned.  Twilight came and threw her arms around him, thanking him and telling him how grateful she was that he wasn’t harmed.  Braeburn told Sheriff Silverstar about the missing goods and his pursuit of the robbers to the river in order to get the items back.  The bag Braeburn had contained all of the missing items, including Twilight’s pendant, which the stallion gave back to her.  Once the story was told and all the missing items were discovered in the bag, Sheriff Silverstar gave an approving nod.

“Once again, Braeburn has helped keep Appleoosa runnin’ smooth,” he said.  “You’ll become a local legend if you keep this up.”  And he went off to find the stallions where Braeburn had last seen them, taking a few other officers with him.

“Well, I must admit you’d at least be able to protect Twilight,” Applejack said.

“It’s nothing, really,” Braeburn said with a smile on his face and a tip of his hat.  “I just did what anypony should do.”

Chapter 9 - A Spark to a Flame, Pt. I

The next morning, Sheriff Silverstar had found the two attempted robbers and had dug a grave for one and inducted the other into the hospital for his wounds.  The robber confessed his crimes of breaking and entering, trespassing, attempted robbery, and attempted assault on two ponies.  Given that he confessed to Silverstar, the court found it reasonable that he be placed immediately into the city jail with a fairly high bail due to the severity and number of his crimes.  While Sheriff Silverstar thought to talk to Braeburn about the incident, due to the particularly violent manner he had dealt with it, the stallion’s story basically put Braeburn’s moves on the right side of the law and thus he thought it a waste of time to deal with the stallion.

Applejack and Twilight stayed at Braeburn’s house a few more days, partly because of not wanting to go on the train but mostly because Twilight was still wracked by the experience.  The day after the robbery Applejack accompanied Twilight to the hospital to make sure she suffered no injuries.  Thankfully, the doctor said that she had nothing wrong with her though did recommend for Twilight to take it easy for a few days if only to calm down from the traumatic experience, and Braeburn offered up his home for them to stay in as long as needed before Twilight returned on the train to Ponyville.  Soon word of the events had reached the rest of Appleoosa, and it wasn’t long afterwards before the town was singing praises of Braeburn’s protectiveness, courage, and what a comfort it was knowing that a stallion like him was in town.

  The only one in the entire town not pleased was Braeburn himself.  The night of the robbery he didn’t get any sleep, and when he went to bed the next night he was restless.  He commissioned a local artisan to build a stand for the revolver and its case and placed the stand in his room.  For all of the night after the robbery, even after Twilight and Applejack had managed to get to bed, Braeburn sat staring at the weapon, thinking.  It was strange to him; the thing felt good in his hooves and did help protect the mare he had fallen in love with and retrieve the stolen items.  But he had spilt another pony’s blood, one that he killed with a single shot and another that he had almost left out in the desert to die.  And he had been gotten a sort of thrill from it.  It was a horrifying thought to him, and it kept him up for two nights.

On the third night after the robbery, he sat in the kitchen with the revolver, staring at the three bullets left in the cylinder and the three empty chambers that had been fired.  He spun the cylinder absentmindedly, feeling the cool of the metal barrel under his hoof.  It caused a shiver to go up and down his spine, and it terrified him to think of that night.

Braeburn heard a set of footsteps and found Twilight standing at the door of the kitchen.  “Twilight!” he exclaimed.  “What are you doing up so late?”

“I just wanted a drink of water,” Twilight yawned, “though I think I could ask you the same question.”  The purple mare levitated out a glass, filled it with some drinking water, and went over to the table to sit down next to Braeburn, who had gone back to looking at the revolver.  “You’re still thinking about the other night, aren’t you?”

Braeburn nodded.  “I’m not sure which I’m scared of more: the fact that two ponies nearly got away with robbing my house and attacking you or the fact that I nearly killed both of them without hesitation.”

Twilight sipped her water and brought a hoof over to Braeburn, who set the revolver back in the case but didn’t close it.  “You may have reacted in a way strange to you, but you did it in the right circumstance, didn’t you?  You used it to save my life and recover the lost items.”

“Twilight,” Braeburn said, voice trembling.  “I shot one of them straight through the head.  I shot the other one’s hooves in such a way that he would have had to crawl back to Appleoosa to get treatment if Sheriff Silverstar hadn’t gone and found him.  And the weird thing was it just felt so easy to do.”

Twilight set down her water and scooted her chair over closer to Braeburn.  “Listen to me, Braeburn: just because you attacked those ponies in self-defense doesn’t mean you’re a killer.  You are still a strong, amazing, kindly pony.  Think about it: if you really killed them in cold blood, would you be feeling the guilt you’re feeling right now?”

Braeburn hadn’t thought about it that way before.  He had just been wrapped up in the strange and uncomfortable feelings surrounding killing the pony that he failed to recognize it was his own guilt.  “I… I suppose you’re right.”

Twilight smiled.

“But… why then?  Why didn’t it come out some other time?  I’ve had robbers trying to steal crops before, so why didn’t I have any problems with that sort of instinct before then?”

Twilight thought about it.  “Well, according to the book The Psychology of Revenge I have at the library, perhaps you wanted to get them back for threatening you.  Maybe you feel you’ve been pushed around long enough.  Maybe you feel that you had something to protect.”

“I did,” Braeburn said.  He looked over at Twilight and into her violet eyes and felt his heart skip a beat.  “I do.”

Twilight blushed and looked away.  “Well, me and Applejack are going to be heading back home in a few days to let you be free for the harvest season coming up.  We’ll be back to visit at some point or invite you on down to Ponyville.”

Braeburn gave Twilight a sad smile, noticing his voice had stopped trembling.  “It’ll be lonely without you around.”

Twilight nodded.  “Don’t talk like it’ll be ‘goodbye’.  I’ll come around and see you again sometime.  And besides, we still have a whole day left before our train comes through.  We can still spend some time together before I have to go.”

Braeburn turned his smile into a cheeky grin.  “You want another dancing lesson?”

Twilight giggled and leaned closer to Braeburn.  “Which sort of dancing: our hooves or our tongues?  Because I certainly liked learning that one.”

Braeburn’s eyebrows raised, and he felt his own cheeks get red hot when he saw Twilight motioning with a hoof for him to come to the bedroom.  Relieved to have at least gotten past the worst of the night’s memories, he followed Twilight into his bedroom and caressed her mane gently as Twilight pulled him towards her, causing them to fall on his bed.

In the bedroom across the hall, Braeburn could hear Applejack groaning.

Two days later, just before the harvest season started, Applejack and Twilight left to go back to Ponyville, saying their goodbyes and promising to return some time later once the harvest season had ended back in Ponyville and in Appleoosa.  Braeburn walked them and their belongings to the train station and waited with them until the train from Dodge Junction arrived.  Braeburn and Twilight kissed each other, and Braeburn hugged his cousin Applejack, before the two got on the train, and they waved to him from the train car as they left.  Braeburn stayed on the station waiting until they had gone far away to the point where the dust and the sun had obscured them from sight before heading back home and resting.  He didn’t leave his house again that day, not even to go to the dance hall like he usually did.

* * *

The next day, Braeburn was up bright and early before the sun, eating a short breakfast before getting himself ready to go out into the orchards with a straw in his mouth.  His twenty hired hooves arrived shortly after the sun started peeking order and Braeburn started making sure that every single stallion that had signed up was ready to work.  A few others had arrived along with the twenty.

“Word in town is that you need some extra help this year,” one of the newer stallions said.  “We came over to see if you needed any help.”

Braeburn sized them up.  There were only three of them, which wasn’t too bad and he could still get away with a profit with paying them.  They were on the bigger side and kind of bulky, too, which meant they could work hard and long.  “What are your names?”

One with a dark brown coat and black mane with a dagger covered in barbs for a cutie mark stepped up; he looked the youngest of the bunch and spoke with a rough baritone.  “The name’s Cold Steel, but you can just call me Steel.  My friends here are Silversmith and Coal Dust.  We’ve all come from Dodge Junction; we couldn’t find work there anymore on account of some of the town being torn up for a mine, so we moved out here this past summer.  It’s been odd jobs ever since.”

Braeburn nodded, sizing up the stallion standing a head taller than himself.  “Doesn’t sound like the right names for a bunch of applebuckers.”

“They said in town you were the most reliable one to find work.”

“It’s been nearly a year since I went to Dodge Junction, but I heard about that mine.  Never thought it would make it where anyone had to move.”

“We neither,” Steel replied.  “Now, it doesn’t matter what we do, so long as we can feed our families.”

Braeburn nodded.  “You pull your weight, you make sure that you help bring in the apples before the season’s out, and I’ll make sure you get paid and will give you a good word when the season’s over and you’re looking for a proper job.”

Steel finally broke into a smile.  “Much obliged.”

Braeburn nodded.  “Alright, everypony!” he shouted.  “Get yourself to the barn and start pulling out the barrels!  Remember: three around each tree in a triangle shape so most of the apples fall in there.  Water’s available in the keg by the barn, but I expect to be done with this and applebuckin’ by two.  Slack off and I’ll deduct from your pay; work hard and I might let you get a little more of the share.  Let’s get to work!”

The twenty-three ponies all shouted in unison “Yes, sir!” before they all headed to the barn, each grabbing a barrel and starting to place the barrels in threes around each tree.  Empty, each could be carried by one pony and the barrels were quickly transported from the barn and across the acres of trees stretching all the way down the river until the grass turned to sand and couldn’t support anything else.  Braeburn worked alongside the ponies, carrying barrels out himself though still shouting at ponies who appeared to be slacking.

Braeburn met his scheduled time and the ponies began applebucking.  Instead of all the ponies participating in the job, four ponies – including Braeburn – were applebucking the trees, filling the barrels until hardly an apple could fit inside them.  Four others took these filled barrels and started loading them into two wooden carts, where two of the larger ponies would carry them back to the barn at the top of the ridge overlooking the orchard.  At the barn, four more ponies unloaded the carts, while the rest of the workers started sifting through the apples and seeing which were good enough to sell and which had to be thrown out due to imperfections, then separated by cultivar and packaged before having them taken down to a large, cold cellar underneath the barn where they were stored to keep them fresh.  As many as one hundred fifty barrels a day passed through Braeburn’s barn starting on the second day, but today only fifteen trees were bucked before Braeburn called it day’s end and finished with the work with the sun still in the sky.  As the ponies were leaving, he approached Cold Steel and his two friends.

“You did good today,” Braeburn said.  “I’ll be pleased to have someone like you on the team after that performance.”

“Thank you, sir,” Steel answered.  “It’s good to be back doing honest work.”

Braeburn patted him on the back with a hoof.  “At the end of the season, all three of you will be getting a big fat check.  Might even be able to end the season early and get a little extra with the extra help.”

“Again, thank you, sir,” Steel answered.

“Please, call me Braeburn,” Braeburn said with a slight smile on his face.  “I’d rather you not be so formal.  After all, I’m working out there in the field with you.”

“My family taught me to treat my employer with respect and to be gracious for the work given,” Steel said.  “I’d prefer if I call you ‘sir’, but so long as you’re fine with it, then Braeburn it is.  Also, if you need a helping hand with anything else, feel free to call me up.  You giving me this work and offering to help finding a job afterwards… it’s more than I ever expected, especially after what happened in Dodge Junction.”

“If you keep working for me like you are,” Braeburn said, “I have no problems helping a newcomer like you out.  Same goes for your friends.  It’s tough out here in Appleoosa, and we have to stick together like brothers if we ever intend to survive out here.”

Steel stuck out a hoof towards Braeburn.  “Thank you, brother,” he said with a smile.

Braeburn accepted the gesture and shook the stallion’s hoof.  He was beginning to like this colt and hoped he could see him around more often.

* * *

A few weeks later, nearly three-quarters of the orchard was bucked and half the apples were brought into storage.  Braeburn drove his workers harder every day, and soon they were ahead of the other orchards in Appleoosa, and with the apples in storage sooner, Braeburn knew they would stay fresher for longer, which meant higher profits when it came to selling the apples, and a bit of extra pay for his coworkers.  As a result, none of them minded when Braeburn drove them harder to get it finished early.  Worked continued on even through the weekends, as any time the apples were left on the tree was time for the apples to rot according to Braeburn.

Cold Steel and his companions continued to work under Braeburn throughout the harvest season.  It might not have been their preferred field as per their cutie marks, but they were grateful for the work and worked as hard as they could.  Steel himself worked alongside Braeburn bucking, while Silversmith helped unload buckets and Coal Dust was attached to a cart.  For his hard work, Braeburn went to the office and helped Steel and his companions with finding jobs, getting all of them work for when the harvest season finally ended.

One day at the end of work, Braeburn was talking with Cold Steel by the water tower getting drinks when two earth ponies came up to them that Braeburn had never seen before.  The first one was yellow-coated with a brown mane and had a gold pickaxe cutie mark.  The second was brown-coated with a yellow mane and had three lumps of gold for his cutie mark.  They approached Braeburn each of them wearing small hats that shaded their entire faces and faded the color of their greenish-gold eyes.

“Are you the proprietor of this farm?” the yellow-coated one asked.

Braeburn looked at Steel, who shrugged.  “I am,” Braeburn said, turning back to the ponies.  “If you’re looking for work, the harvest season’s nearly over and I’ve got all the hands I need.”

“Oh, we’re not looking for work,” the yellow-coated one said, pointing to himself and his companion in turn.  “My names Lucky Strike, and this here is Gold Digger.  We’re prospectors searching for gold.  You see, we’ve detected traces of gold in the river outside your property and the only place we haven’t checked is the part of the river that is on your land.”

“So, we’ve planned a little proposition,” Gold Digger continued from where his partner left off.  “We’ll pan the river for gold for a few weeks and see if we find anything.  Once we have gotten our fill, we’ll sell the gold, give you ten percent of what we find, then leave and that’ll be the rest you’ll see of us.”

The offer sounded enticing, but… “Give me a day to think about it.  Come back tomorrow at this time and I’ll have an answer for you then.”

“Are you sure?” Gold Digger asked.

“It’ll be a huge hall if we find even a little gold,” Lucky Strike said.  “We know the places that’ll buy it for the most bits.”

“I said give me a day to think about it,” Braeburn said, voice raising to the point where the two ponies and Steel flinched.  “If you two aren’t from around here, I got no idea what your intentions are, and you’d better realize you can’t rush things around here without there being some sort of conflict with your actions.”

The two Earth ponies didn’t even speak.  They sort of huddled together under Braeburn’s gaze.

“Now,” Braeburn said, voice lowering but the fire not leaving, “you get off my farm, head back to town, and come back at the proposed time and I might have an answer for you.  Get up.  Go!”

Gold Digger and Lucky Strike nodded.  “We’ll be staying in town at the local watering hole if you have your answer for us early.”  Then they galloped off back to town without another word.

Steel watched them leave alongside Braeburn.  “I don’t like the sound of those two,” he said.

Braeburn looked over to Steel and noticed a look of worry and unease that he hadn’t seen in him before.   “I’ve been meaning to ask you about what happened to Dodge Junction ever since you mentioned being unable to find work.  Seeing your reaction to them, it sounds like a similar situation happened there.  Please, tell me what happened.”

Steel sighed.  “Me and my friends all worked in Dodge Junction.  I worked as a ranger, a sort of law-enforcement officer.  Silversmith made jewelry from precious metals, and Coal Dust worked in a small factory.  We had things good.  We worked, we got paid, we hung out with each other.  Now, Dodge Junction’s a fair bit bigger than Appleoosa is, but it still is nothing like the bigger cities and kept things simple.”

“Then a pony came along saying he found gold in the mountains just outside Dodge Junction,” Steel continued.  “He bought himself some land outside of Dodge Junction and started mining for a while.  Turned out there was a large gold vein there.  Prospectors of all sorts gathered there and started mining.  Well, word about the size of the vein eventually got around to the heads of government themselves.  They came in with the army, booted out some of us living and working there, and took over half the town to build a mining operation.”

“Have you wrote a letter to Shining Armor, Captain of the Guard?” Braeburn asked.

“Neither Shining Armor nor his troops were involved in this.  Shining Armor’s a good pony and visited Dodge Junction once.  He was a lot kinder than these were.  Hung around and had a drink with us like a normal pony.  But these… these ones were under a different insignia.  Sort of looked like an eight-point compass rose, not the stars and shield of Shining Armor.”

“Couldn’t you have protested?”

“We tried.  A bunch of us did.  But these ones started going off of ‘martial law’, saying that the amount of prospectors had made the town unruly.  I told them it was a load of horse apples and that if there were any problems, we rangers would have had it covered.”  Steel looked over to Braeburn.  “We didn’t.”

Braeburn was silent for a moment, and Steel sniffed particularly loud as though holding back his emotions.

“When did you leave?”

“Soon after.  I found Coal Dust and Silversmith in the same position as I was, and we packed our things and left.  Got on the first train we could find heading out here.  None of us were willing to head to a big city, but we knew the harvest season was rolling around here in Appleoosa, so we came here.”

Braeburn looked at Steel, then back in the direction of town as though Lucky Strike and Gold Digger would be coming up the road any minute looking for an answer.  “What do you think I should do?”

Steel inhaled deeply.  “Don’t let my story affect you.  Perhaps things will turn out different here.  But when they find their gold, don’t let them stay.  Have them get their gold and get out.  If any others hear about it, you’ll be bringing the same trouble down on you.   I wouldn’t blame you for it, whatever happens.  It wasn’t the fault of the pony who lent them their land.  It was when the military came in that there was trouble.”

Braeburn nodded.  “I suppose in the worst case scenario, I could simply state that there was a trespassing violation and have them all arrested.”

Steel nodded assent, but didn’t respond.

“I want you to do something for me,” Braeburn said.

Steel looked at Braeburn with interest.

“You said you were a ranger,” Braeburn said.  “What did that entail?”

“It was like your sheriff and your police force,” Steel replied, “only on a much wider terrain.  Sometimes we would set off and patrol the hills and desert around Dodge Junction in addition to being on patrol in the town.”

Braeburn nodded.  “I’m thinking of taking him them up on the offer.  What I’ll do, though, is go to town and get you a knife, one with a longer blade.  What I’ll have them do is report to me along with the others working the harvests.  You’ll go out there with them with the knife out of sight and keep an eye on them.  Check in with me around midday, tell me how they’re doing, then head back.  If they have any problems, you draw that knife and bring them back to me, preferably without a scratch on them.  You do this and I’ll give you a little extra pay when the harvest is over.”

“What about the applebucking?” Steel replied.

“I can take one of the stonger ones from packing duty and get him applebucking.  I have no idea how long they’ll want to be there, but I figure I can give them a timeline of two weeks and they’ll have enough gold and they’ll scoot.”

Steel sighed.  “It’ll be risky, but if that’s what you want, then I’ll go ahead with it.  I just hope what happened in Dodge Junction doesn’t happen again.”

* * *

The next day at about the same time, when Braeburn and his workers had finished with their work and had loaded all the equipment back in the barn, Braeburn met with Cold Steel and they walked around to the front of the barn to wait for the two prospector ponies.  While they were waiting, Braeburn gave Steel a bag with a dagger – with a blade as long as Steel’s foreleg from knee to hoof – and told him to place it around his neck so that the prospector’s didn’t suspect anything right away.

A few minutes afterwards, Lucky Strike and Gold Digger came trotting down the road towards the barn.  Once again they had on their hats that shaded them, but this time they had pans and sifters and pickaxes.  Braeburn noticed a hungry look in their eyes, particularly in Strike’s, as they approached them, almost running when they came close by.

“Well, Mister Braeburn?” Lucky Strike said as they drew close.  “What’s the verdict?  Can we poke the river on your property for gold?”

Braeburn looked over to Steel, who nodded.  “Gentlemen, I’ve come to a conclusion.  You may look for gold in the river on my property, but there are a few conditions.”

“We don’t care!” Gold Digger said.  “Just tell us what they are!”

“Then sit down and calm yourselves,” Braeburn said, “because the first condition is you have the same hours as my men when we’re all at work.  If you’re out there either before I am or until long after I am, I will immediately call Sherriff Silverstar and report you for arrest for trespassing.”

The stallion’s heads drooped and they sat down, though they kept their ears perked.

“Second condition is you don’t start messing with my orchard for any reason.  I don’t care if you’re hungry, you don’t touch one of the apple trees or pick any of them.  These are my crops on my land, and they’re my livelihood around here; I sell them to the townsfolk here in Appleoosa and elsewhere, so if you want one, you just got to wait until they get sold at the markets and stores.”

Braeburn motioned to Steel standing next to him as he continued.  “Thirdly, my friend Steel here will be watching you.  He’ll be with you from the time we get started working and make sure to bring you in when we’re done, as well as reporting to me periodically throughout the day.  So long as you don’t go crazy, you can harvest the river for gold for the next two weeks.”

“Two weeks!?” Gold Digger exclaimed.

“That ain’t hardly any time at all!” Lucky Strike said.

“It is if you don’t have to pay me anything,” Braeburn said, unwavering in his speech.  “Also, need I remind you this isn’t free land?  I bought it with my bits, I have the deed for it from the desk of Princess Celestia herself, I established my home and orchard on it, and that means whatever I say goes.  You have a problem with it, you go find somewhere else to dig up your gold.  I’m certain that if you were to ask any other pony here, they wouldn’t be as charitable.”

The two prospector ponies looked at each other.

“Those are my conditions.  Take them or leave them, that’s your choice.”

Lucky Strike pulled Gold Digger a short ways away and they started talking animated to each other for a while.  Braeburn watched the animated gestures, but couldn’t hear what they were saying.  After a minute, they walked back up to Braeburn and Steel.

“We’ll take it.”  Gold Digger replied.

“Good,” Braeburn said.  “Now get going and come back tomorrow morning if you want to start with your search.”

“Are you sure we can’t scout the river today?” Lucky Strike asked.

Braeburn didn’t say anything.  He just glared at the two.

“Just one pan?” Gold Digger asked.

“If you don’t leave my property, the deal’s off.”

Lucky Strike and Gold Digger nodded and galloped away back to town as though Braeburn and his gaze were behind them every step of the way.  Braeburn waited until they were long out of sight before he turned to Steel.

“Tomorrow morning,” Braeburn told him, “come and report to me at the barn.  When we’re all heading out to the orchard to buck, you go ahead and go straight for the river.  Make sure they don’t try any funny business.”

“Will do,” Steel said.  “Also, if you’re feeling any guilt, I think you did the right thing and treated them the right way.  Dust always told me those types get greedy if you let them search for too long.  Either they go mad from finding it and want to get more, or they go mad from not finding it and start tearing things up.”

“I just hope two weeks isn’t too long,” Braeburn said.

Braeburn walked alongside Steel as they made their way to the farmhouse and the road back to town.

“Why didn’t you accept it?” Steel asked.

“I don’t trust them,” Braeburn replied.

“Yet enough to sift for gold on your property?”

“That’s why you’re going to be there.  To make sure I can trust them.”

“That doesn’t fully explain why you didn’t accept the offer they made you yesterday.”

“I don’t need any gold,” Braeburn said.  He motioned to the property: the orchards, the large barn with storage, and the farmhouse.  “I’ve lived well enough off selling the products of my orchard.  And with the size this year, I’m expecting to make more than ever, even with you and your friends working for me.  I have enough to keep me happy without gold fever,” Braeburn said in a lower voice than usual.  He raised his head almost enough to look Steel in the eye.  “And I wager you’d like to keep it that way.”

Steel nodded.  “You have a point.”

The following morning, Lucky Strike and Gold Digger came up with all the other workers on Braeburn’s orchard.  After Braeburn had gotten everyone else started heading towards their stations, he made sure Steel had his dagger and sent him off with the prospectors to the river.  Braeburn took one of the stallions from packing duty that he thought was strong and assigned him to help buck and work resumed as usual.

The schedule was a bit different, but Braeburn didn’t mind.  Neither did any of the other stallions.  Every morning the work duty was assigned with the slight change made to the lineup of who would be bucking trees.  Every afternoon Steel would come over to Braeburn in the orchards and give him a report of where they were on the river and if they had found anything.  Every evening Steel would escort the prospectors back to the barn where Braeburn would watch as they left his property.  It went this way for a week without anything eventful; Strike found a few slivers of gold but nothing noteworthy and Steel never had to resort to force for anything.

At the start of the second week, Braeburn and the rest of the workers had reached the back of the orchard.    When Steel came in for his afternoon report, he called over to Braeburn and pulled him aside.

“They hit a big one this morning,” Steel said.  “Found a small lump at one point towards this back edge.  They started sifting through the river and found a lot more where that came from.”

“Have they gone crazy yet?” Braeburn asked.

“I don’t think so.  I’ve been keeping an eye on them.  They seem pretty reasonable so far, but depending on how much they turn in, I’d say have them pull out early.  Get them enough to be satisfied then kick them out before they turn up the whole river looking for more.”

Braeburn nodded.  “I’ll think about it.  if they’ve had a big haul a few days before the end date, I’ll tell them they probably got all the gold there was in the river and send them on their way.  Keep me posted if they hit anything else.”

Steel nodded and went back to his post at the river.

But by the end of the day, the lump and a few pans full from into the early afternoon was all that was found in the river.   The next day didn’t show anything, and the next didn’t have any gold show up either.  Three days after the find, still nothing more had shown up at any time that Steel reported back to Braeburn.  As a result, Braeburn decided to let the prospectors go until the end of the two week time, surprised that there was gold on the land but convinced they weren’t going to find anymore.

A day before the end date, however, another lump was found towards the far end of the river on the side with the orchard.  Even more gold was found in pans, and by the end of the day Lucky Strike and Gold Digger had found double the amount than they had the entire rest of the time.  Braeburn was surprised about the find, and Strike gave him a small lump of gold just out of generosity and surprise they had found that much on the orchard, and agreed to leave peacefully and not bother Braeburn again once the last day had ended.

On the last day of applebucking and the prospectors’ stay, Braeburn was working in the orchards when Steel came up to him earlier than the noonday report.  He quickly pulled aside Braeburn and spoke with him in hushed whispers so that the others couldn’t hear.

“One of them pulled out a pickaxe and intended to use it on the grounds,” Steel replied.  “I didn’t use the knife, but I did restrain him and pulled him back and told him that I was going to get you and inform him of it.”

Braeburn nodded.  “Lead the way.”

The two ponies galloped to the part of the river where the prospectors were.  Braeburn went over to them, cowering next to the river with all their equipment.  Braeburn walked up to them.  “Steel here said you were going to use a pickaxe on my land.  Explain.”

“W-well we were searching for gold,” Gold Digger started.

“Then Digger here said ‘I bet you with the load we found yesterday there’s got to be a bunch underneath the ground’,” Lucky Strike said.  “I figured he was on the right track but knew Steel was watching us.”

“So he held back for a little while, but every once in a while I could see him reaching for his pickaxe and I had to constantly remind him.  There was one time where he pulled it out and refused to put it away, so I took it from him.”

Gold Digger puffed out his chest proudly, but when Lucky Strike started speaking again he immediately shrank back.  “But then, I was sitting here panning the river when I turned around and saw him using the dang thing on the rocks.  It was then that your buddy here came over and lifted Digger with a hoof and pulled him far enough off the ground that the pickaxe couldn’t reach.”

“That’s true, sir,” Steel replied, turning towards Braeburn.  “I lifted him up off the ground and held him there until he let go of the pickaxe.  I don’t think he’s got any damage, but if he did that’s my fault.  But you said they weren’t to touch your property, so I was holding him to it.”

Braeburn turned to Gold Digger.  “You got any wounds?”

“No sir.”

Braeburn nodded.  “I want you to get your things.  Pack up, and leave.  I don’t care if the day isn’t over yet!” Braeburn shouted at the two as they started to protest.  “You violated the conditions we set on our first day!   I told you that you could pan the river so long as you didn’t start messing with my orchard.  You just about went and took a pickaxe to it!”

“But it’s the last day…” Gold Digger protested.

“Please, give us another chance,” Lucky Strike begged.

“Why are you asking for another chance?  You had a huge run of luck yesterday, I think you’ve got all the gold you need.  Here…”  Braeburn reached inside the pocket of his vest and pulled out the lump of gold and threw it at them, hitting Gold Digger on the forehead.  “…take back your gold.  Pack your things and leave before I call Sherriff Silverstar on you for trespassing.  And if you dare fight it, I have a witness.”

The two prospectors looked at Steel, who flared his nostrils and snorted.  The two prospectors packed their saddlebags with their equipment and the gold they found and fled through the orchards, back up the ridge, and down the road towards Appleoosa.

“Don’t think they’re gone forever,” Steel said when they had left.  “They’ve found the gold and want more.  If they want it, they’ll come back when they think you aren’t looking.”

Braeburn nodded.

At the end of the day, Braeburn paid his workers and gave Steel a little extra for doing guard duty over the prospectors.  Steel and his companions came up to each shake Braeburn’s hoof.  “Thank you again for everything,” Steel said.  “If you need anything else, come around and find us.  We’ll help out with whatever you have.”  His companions nodded assent, then they left.

Braeburn was really going to miss that colt.

Chapter 10 - A Spark to a Flame, Pt. II

Two weeks later, the harvest season ended.  The weather started going from unbearable to where Braeburn was actually able to keep a steady temperature in the house during the day.  The nights became cooler, the days grew hotter slower, and the Appleoosans began spending more time on the town.  As the delivery carts started to make their rounds for pickup for the stores, there was a feeling of festival season in the air, celebrating the end of what could have been a disaster that turned out alright in the end.

Braeburn supplied the stores of Appleoosa, stores as far away as Canterlot and Baltimare, and the bakers and cooks of his town with the finest stores of apples, and ended up breaking his profit records from previous years, to which he took Cold Steel and his two friends from Appleoosa for a drink.  Braeburn was in high spirits, as were those who had worked on his farm, as the stallion had been feeling generous and later handed out to them a bonus for their work in the fields.  The townsponies were again grateful to Braeburn for his work in helping them out and, as the harvest season came to a close, it was suspected that one of the guests of honor for the upcoming festival would be Braeburn himself.

Braeburn became close to both Cold Steel and Coal Dust as time went by; Silversmith tended to work most of the time but would come by for a drink every once in a while.  Steel had managed to be accepted into the training program at the sheriff’s office through Braeburn’s help and still couldn’t stop thanking him, while Coal Dust had found work in an artisan’s shop making furniture – not his usual job, but as he said: “It pays the bills, and that’s more than I had when I left Dodge Junction.”

Of the three that had come from Dodge Junction, only Steel didn’t have anyone with him.  Silversmith had a fiancée that wanted to leave with him, while Coal Dust had a wife and two foals, already enrolled in Appleoosa’s school.  Braeburn wondered if there were any more refugees that could have come from Dodge Junction and asked them one night while they had a few drinks of homemade cider around Braeburn’s table.

“I’d wager there are,” Coal Dust said; he had a slow drawl that was slightly higher than Steel’s baritone.  “Half the town went broke after the mining company settled in.  If you were willing to work for the company, either as a miner or an office worker or a guard, you were fine.  Got a nice house and a big paycheck provided by the company.  But there ain’t that many ponies with the education or skills necessary in Dodge.”

“We ended up having ponies from other cities move in to take the jobs,” Steel said.  “I applied for the guard, hoping my time as a ranger would allow me a spot.  They were about to hire me, then someone apparently started playing favorites and said that they found someone comin’ in from Baltimare with police background.”

“What happened to the rest of the town?” Braeburn asked.

“Well, it got run down and broken,” Coal Dust replied.  “Sure, you got some making enough to scratch out a living, but it just ain’t enough.  Not all that come from the cities are bad; had one who helped out in a shop as a manager and got the couple that lived there more profit.  That one was kind, as were most who decided to live with the original residents.  Anyone who worked for the mining company, though…”

Steel looked like he was about to say something, but didn’t.

Coal Dust looked over to Steel as though expecting to him to continue.  When Steel didn’t continue, Coal Dust shrugged and continued himself.  “…well, they think everything belongs to them.  And the leader of them – a prince from Canterlot, he called himself – pretty much said that was true.  Said the land didn’t belong to the ponies but the Equestrian government.  Not convincing, considering that the deeds went missing a while ago so we technically still owned the land since he doesn’t have the deed for it.  But then he placed the military law into effect and drove those of us who didn’t like it out.”

“Sounds horrible,” Braeburn said.

“You have no idea,” Coal Dust responded.  “A few got lanced.  Not a pretty sight.  It started out as a peaceful demonstration against the hostile takeover when we were just trying to go about our business.  Damned ‘prince’ didn’t even come out of his office.  A bunch of the guard did, though.  Next thing I knew, three dead bodies in the streets.  I found Cold Steel and we started gettin’ our things together, along with Silversmith.  We were gone by next morning.”

Steel took a large gulp of his cider, finishing off the mug, and let it fall back down on the table as though he had no energy left.  “We’re mighty appreciative of the hospitality since comin’ here,” he said.  “Managed to find a place to make it where it wasn’t completely corrupted, and you seem like reasonable and sane folk.  Got enough of the city to make things easy and livable, but you still got the hard workin’ manner and dependability of the small town.”

Braeburn laughed.  “I aim to keep it that way,” he said.  “Ever since the town was founded, I’ve made sure this place has been kept safe and stable.  I helped out in makin’ peace between us and the buffalo around here, I helped established the sheriff’s office with Silverstar, and I’ve helped out everyone around here during the plantin’ and growin’ seasons.  It ain’t easy in the slightest, but I like what I do; helpin’ out the ponies like that.”

“Equestria needs more ponies like you, then,” Steel said, filling his mug with a bit of water from the sink.  “Hard working yet still willing to help out others.”

“I just do what anypony should do,” Braeburn said.  “I’m sure there are others.”

“Not in Dodge Junction, there ain’t,” Coal Dust said.  “At least, not anymore.”

Braeburn took a swig of his own cider.  “Miss Jubilee still there?”

“She’s the only farmer who wasn’t kicked off her land,” Steel replied.  “Not to mention she still makes those fantastic cherry pies; they became a hit among the new folk, so she got to stay.  The rest of us weren’t so useful, I guess.”

Braeburn took another drink of cider.

Steel and Coal Dust stayed around for a little while longer before they decided they shouldn’t keep Braeburn up so late and figured it was time for them to head home.  They all rinsed out their mugs and Braeburn walked out with them to the front porch of the farmhouse and into the cool night air.  They were saying their goodbyes when—

CRACK!

The noise was so loud that Braeburn, Cold Steel, and Coal Dust all turned around to see where it had come from.  The noise seemed to be coming from behind the farmhouse, down towards the orchards.

“What was that?” Steel asked.

“I don’t know,” Braeburn sighed.  “I’m goin’ to check it out.”

“We’re comin’ with you,” Coal Dust said.  “Ain’t right to leave you to face whatever it is on your own.”

Braeburn nodded and the three ponies went to the top of the ridge that overlooked the orchards.  Braeburn looked around the orchards, using the light of the moon to search as he scanned the groves as best he could, wondering if it was a wild animal or a rogue thief that had tried to hide in his orchards.

Then he saw it: a glint of metal down by the river.  A tree had fallen over, and next to it stood two shadowy figures.  The metallic glint came over their heads every once in a while, then faded away, only to come back up again a few seconds later.

“Those bastards…!”  Braeburn growled and charged down the hill.

“What happened?” Steel asked as he and Coal Dust went tearing down the hill after Braeburn.

Another resounding CRACK! echoed across the ridge and another tree fell.

“Those damned prospectors!” Braeburn shouted back, then ran off so fast that Steel and Coal Dust were left in a cloud of dust behind him.  Those damned bastards had come back against their agreement!  They had trespassed on his property and were tearing up his orchard!  And for what?  A little piece of yellow rock?  They could search all they wanted for gold, but…

“…not on my property, you bastards!” Braeburn shouted as he got close.

The two were there just as Braeburn had thought; Lucky Strike and Gold Digger had their pickaxes flying at the ground where Braeburn’s tree once stood.  As soon as Braeburn shouted, their ears pricked up and they started wildly packing up their things, but Braeburn was charging too fast.  Before they could even reach their things, Braeburn had jumped and tackled Lucky Strike to the ground.  Gold Digger didn’t even bother trying to pick up his things and started running backwards, only to be caught by Cold Steel and Coal Dust a few feet away.  Braeburn flared his nostrils at the colt underneath him.

“What is blazes do you think you’re doing on my property!?” Braeburn shouted in his face.

Strike could hardly get the words out; his eyes were wide but his pupils were tiny and he looked around wildly.  “Gold… wanted gold… found earlier in the month… wanted gold…”

“We had an agreement,” Braeburn said in a low growl that caused the other stallion’s eyes to train in on him.  “You promised me that you would stay for two weeks then get off my property and never come back.  You realize that you’re violating my land and I can have you arrested for trespassing, don’t you?”

“But there’s gold…” Strike said, almost unaware of what Braeburn was saying.  “Gold in these fields.  I just wanted to get the gold.  If I hit the right vein, I could be rich.”

“I don’t care if you were going to be rich!” Braeburn roared as a hoof went across Strike’s face.  “You’re attempts at getting rich are going to cost me my livelihood!  So, what gives you the right to tear up my orchard, my property, my life, and get away for it?  A few specks of yellow rock?”

“Just let me hit one vein,” Strike pleaded.   “If we hit one vein, we could be rich…”

Braeburn’s hoof descended on Lucky Strike again, causing his eye to puff up and turn black and blue.  “And I’ll be broke!”  Braeburn’s hoof descended again and again on top of Strike’s head, the stallion unable to do anything but pull his hooves over his face to try and hide or block the blows.  “So long as I own this property, neither of you will find any gold on this land… or at all in Appleoosa!”

Braeburn’s hoof descended for another hit, but he never made it down.  Someone had grabbed him and was pulling him off of Lucky Strike, bleeding in the sand.  Braeburn fought against the confines of whatever had restrained him, but it never let go.

“Calm down, Braeburn!” came Steel’s voice.  “You’re gonna cave his skull in!”

“I want to!” Braeburn roared.

Despite his near constant fighting, Braeburn couldn’t release himself from Steel’s grip.  Eventually, he calmed down, but Steel refused to let him go.

“I’d better run, if I were you,” Steel said.

Coal Dust let Gold Digger go, and the two prospector ponies had soon gathered up their stuff and were tearing across the desert.  The three stood there until the prospectors had crossed the river and were galloping away in the moonlight.  When Braeburn was released, he slumped on the ground.

“It’s okay, Braeburn,” Steel consoled.

“We could probably pull the trees up with a little rope,” Coal Dust observed.

“They won’t catch hold fast enough,” Braeburn said, feeling tired.  “With how little water we get out here, once they’re uprooted they won’t get water fast enough to stay alive.  We could try and pull up the ground and get dirt from the river, but they’ll either use them up fast or the sun will dry it up before the trees can get to it.  Those two trees are gone.”

Coal Dust looked out at where the prospectors had run off to.  “Do you think they’ll be back?”

“Certainly,” Braeburn said, walking over to where the gold sparkled in the moonlight through the areas dug up by the two ponies.  “If they were persistent enough to come onto my property after we made an agreement and trespass just to get some of this gold, they’ll be back.”

“You can’t move?”

“There ain’t any more fertile land around here,” Braeburn said.  “Even if I did find some, it wouldn’t be enough to grow apples.”

Steel walked up to Braeburn and put a hoof on his shoulder.  “At least you have evidence if they try and come back, both in how they were so damn focused and the fact that they ripped up your trees.  If they come back, you can fight it.”

Braeburn nodded, but didn’t say anything back.

Back at the farmhouse, Steel and Coal Dust stayed around for one more drink of cider before heading their own way and leaving Braeburn at peace.  Now feeling slightly light-headed from his last drink of the cider, Braeburn dragged himself to bed and laid there on top of the sheets and blankets, closing his eyes and breathing deep to try and calm himself down.

Braeburn didn’t see the prospectors over the next two weeks.  Even so, he didn’t get any rest.  Others had started to hear of the vein of gold found on Braeburn’s farm, and no less than twenty other prospectors came to Braeburn asking if they could take a peek at the vein or get a few chunks out; Braeburn continually told them “no” and sent all of them away.  Sheriff Silverstar, made aware of the plight of Dodge Junction through Cold Steel, sent out ponies to inspect Braeburn’s orchard for more prospectors trying to get a piece of the gold every hour, scanning the fields and returning with a report.

The gold itself was hidden again.  The morning after the prospectors were kicked off the property, Braeburn went down with Cold Steel and Coal Dust and a few buckets and shovels.  The three went down to the river and scooped up the dirt from the bottom of the river, placing them in the buckets and placing them over the area where the gold was.  Afterwards, they dragged the overturned trees to where the river’s current was faster a short ways away, and pushed them into the river and watched as they were carried away.  By late afternoon, just as Braeburn predicted, the sun had dried up the mud and dirt from the river and it blended in with the rest of the landscape as though the vein wasn’t even there.

When the festival came around, Braeburn was observed as the pony of honor over the past summer for helping ponies with their crops, as well as for his achievement for pulling off the highest profit he’d ever had.  But Braeburn wasn’t around to accept the thanks, and very few ponies saw him at all during the festival, which had been one of his favorite times and an event he had helped to established.  All the ponies knew was that by the end of the week of the festival, Braeburn had erected a large fence with barbed wire around the edge of his property, even barring off the river that was on his property just so ponies wouldn’t be tempted to try and cross it or dig it up.  And, for the time, the prospectors were deterred and stopped coming.

It was when the job was completed that Braeburn decided to look through the folder that Applejack had given him to see what was inside.  There were a few photos of his pa Baldwin Apple, the founder of Dodge Junction with a cutie mark of an apple with crossed spurs, together with some of his friends.  There was his pa with the award-winning revolver that Braeburn now owned in his hoof, a picture of him with the ribbon for sharpshooting.  There were also a bunch of pieces of a journal in there, describing the early days of Dodge Junction and, eventually, an entry describing the passing of the deed for the land of Dodge Junction from Princess Celestia to Braeburn’s father.  Not long after was the deed itself, drawn up twenty-three years ago.

“This statement hereby proclaims that the land in and for one mile surrounding the city of Dodge Junction belongs under the ownership of Baldwin Apple and his relatives and descendants by blood and marriage.  It is only through this family may land exchanges occur with outsiders, and all who wish to settle this land must either first gain permission through Baldwin or his relatives and descendants, or with the Princesses themselves.”

Braeburn looked over the deed, noticing it was signed by both Baldwin Apple and Princess Celestia.  If what happened in Dodge Junction was true, then that meant even the prince couldn’t have control over the land.  Braeburn looked around and went for the records he own in his office, stating his own deed.  It was similar to the one in his possession from his father, except that “Dodge Junction” was replaced with “Appleoosa” and “Baldwin Apple” was replaced with “Braeburn Apple”.

“Why didn’t you send this to me sooner, Granny Smith?” Braeburn muttered under his breath.  “None of this would have happened if you hadn’t kept it from me.”

Braeburn resolved to head over to Dodge Junction and see this ‘prince’ to speak with him about the land ordeal after he had put some affairs in order.  A few days at maximum before a train arrived and Braeburn could hopefully give Steel and his companions their land back.

* * *

A few days later, a train arrived into town that was treated with much attention.  Instead of the usual train coming from Ponyville and Canterlot, this train came from the opposite direction, from Dodge Junction.  It pulled two coaches that looked like they were from the express trains going from Canterlot to Baltimare and Phillydelphia; glistening white with black tops and a red stripe going down either side.  Whatever sheen these coaches might have had earlier was beginning to be muted by the amount of dust on the train.  Despite the train stopping at Appleoosa’s station, it didn’t take on any passengers or baggage and it only let two dark grey pegasi with gold armor off.  The train stayed at Appleoosa’s station the whole night and no more activity could be seen until later.

Sometime that evening, Braeburn spotted the dark grey pegasi at the dance hall and restaurant.  The hall itself was hardly used except for the bar at one end where Braeburn was currently drinking, and the dark grey pegasi were talking with the bartender and proprietor of the establishment.  Braeburn heard them speak about a room for someone in the hotel next door, but didn’t bother with specifics.  Eventually the proprietor and bartender agreed to the pegasi’s deal and a few ponies were called out to clean up the room and make sure everything was running smoothly.  The proprietor left and Braeburn walked up with a few bits to pay for his drink.

“What was that all about?” Braeburn asked the bartender.

“Them pegasi wanted a room for a ‘special visitor’ coming into town,” the bartender replied, hoof in a towel as he wiped off a recently washed mug.  “Said they wanted the finest room we had and would pay whatever amount of bits it required for their stay.  So I gave them the two suites we had on the top floor, the ones about as big as the house you’ve built for yourself on the ridge.”

“Who could pay for something like that for as far as they know an undetermined amount of time?”

“Beats me.  All I know is there’s more bits coming in for me if they keep buying drinks.  And trust me; with how hot and dusty it gets around here, they’ll want something to drink sooner or later.”

Braeburn didn’t inquire any further; he paid for his drink and went back on home.

The next morning, Braeburn returned to town and asked the bartender if a guest had arrived.

“I haven’t seen anyone come through here yet,” the bartender said.  “Try the train station; that’s where the guards went after they left here last night.”

So Braeburn left the bar and headed for the train station.  A bunch of other ponies were there as well, looking at the station curiously.  The train that had pulled in last night was still there as though it hadn’t even moved, and hardly anyone was on the platform except for two dark grey pegasus guards standing on either side of the entrance of one of the coaches.  Eventually, Sheriff Silverstar walked up to the pegasi and spoke with them for a minute before the coach door opened.

The first pony to step out was a large, sleek, jet black pegasus wearing bright gold armor that shone against his darker color.  He wielded a lance at his side and even had a lance as a cutie mark.  His armor had the three stripes signifying the Captain’s rank in the royal army, and might have been one of the largest pegasi that Braeburn had ever seen.  He didn’t look like he had much muscle, but Braeburn could tell just by looking at him that he was likely as strong as he was fast.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the pegasus addressed the crowd in a rough, deep voice.  “I present to you His Majesty Prince Blueblood, head of the Land Management Committee and member of the Canterlot Royal Court.”

The announcement was followed by a slightly off-white unicorn with a glistening blonde mane and a compass rose cutie mark stepping out of the coach and across the platform.  Two dark grey pegasi covered in armor and each carrying a lance stood on either side, four altogether, and they flanked him as he came up in front of the crowd.

“Such a dirty, uncivilized town,” Prince Blueblood sneered as he scanned the landscape.

“I beg your pardon, sir,” Sheriff Silverstar said, “but we’ve got all the basics.  We’ve got everything they have in larger cities, just not as sophisticated and a little more living off the land than they are.”

“Yet you haven’t even managed to tame the dust,” Blueblood replied.  He coughed a few times before looking out at the crowd again.  “Make way, commoners!”

No one moved.  The entire crowd looked over to Sheriff Silverstar.

“Alright, everypony!” the sheriff said.  “Make a path for Prince Blueblood to get through.  And none of you harass him while he’s here.”

Blueblood held his head up high and refused to look at hardly anyone as he passed by.  Braeburn watched as he walked down the line, the Captain walking next to him while the soldiers walked two by two behind him.  Sheriff Silverstar stayed on the platform, eyes scanning over the crowd as though to make sure no one did harass Blueblood.

Braeburn was at the edge of the crowd.  Blueblood stopped for a second and looked him over, and Braeburn did the same.  He had some muscle but was nothing like the Captain and more bulk than muscle though he didn’t stand much taller than Braeburn except for his horn.

“Such gall,” Blueblood muttered, and spit in between Braeburn’s forelegs as he continued.

Braeburn kicked dust over the area where Blueblood had spit before returning home.  With the ‘prince’ here in Appleoosa, now was as good a time as any to speak with him about Dodge Junction.  Braeburn stayed at home for a short while before pocketing the deeds in his vest pocket and went off to the hotel, where he found the jet black pegasus standing at the bottom of the stairs.

“Excuse me,” Braeburn said.  “I’m here to speak with Prince Blueblood.”

The jet black pegasus Captain scoffed.  “You?  What’s a little pipsqueak from this dust ball want with Canterlot nobility?”

“I’m the founder of Appleoosa hold the deeds to this town and its lands,” Braeburn said.  “If he plans on staying here for any length of time, he’s got to talk to me.”

The jet-black pegasus growled.  “Let me see if Prince Blueblood wants to speak with any visitors.  Wait right here.”  And he turned around and went up the stairs to where Blueblood’s suite was located.  He returned a short while later.  “Prince Blueblood is willing to see you.  Do not make this a waste of his time.”  The black pegasus moved out of the way.  “Top floor, suite 501.  That’s where Blueblood is.  Remember to address him as PrinceBlueblood, speak with respect, and please do not do anything stupid.”

“I think I know what is considered stupid,” Braeburn said and walked past the pegasus.

Braeburn climbed the steps to the top floor, the hallway dimly lit by overhanging lights that illuminated the hallway in a faint yellow glow.  A red and gold carpet went down the center of the hallway and potted plants lined the sides; by no means expensive or fancy but certainly enough for short stays or those times around the Apple family reunion when the entire hotel would be filled with Braeburn’s family members.  Braeburn walked up to suite 501, where two of the dark grey pegasi guards were standing in front of the door.

“You here to speak to Prince Blueblood?” one of them barked.

“Yes, sir,” Braeburn said.

The pegasi guards nodded and stepped out of the way.  Braeburn opened the door of the suite and was met with a much brighter light coming in from the window, the red blinds drawn backwards to let the Appleoosan sun in.  Two suitcases were opened on the luggage racks and the unicorn himself was sitting at a desk, an inkwell pen held by his gold magic as he wrote something down on a scroll.

“Do make yourself quick, commoner,” Blueblood said dismissively as though barely recognizing that Braeburn was in the room.  “I have work to do and would really like to get it done and leave this place as quickly as I can.”

“So, Prince Blueblood…” Braeburn said, closing the door of the suite and leaning on the wall near the desk where Blueblood was.  “…what makes royalty come out to a ‘dirty, uncivilized town’ instead of staying in Canterlot?”

“I don’t believe it concerns you,” Prince Blueblood said, not fully paying attention.

“You agreed to talk to me after I told your Captain that I hold the land deeds for this town,” Braeburn said.  “In case you’re not aware, that means whatever you plan to do here, you can’t do it without my permission.”

Now, Blueblood actually looked to Braeburn.  He stood up from the desk and tried to stand up taller than Braeburn was, which wasn’t easy considering Braeburn could still just about look him in the eye.  “Your permission?” he said, raising an eyebrow.  “Please, what could give a commoner like you any reason to act like you can tell me what to do?”

“I’ve never heard of this ‘Land Management Committee’ before,” Braeburn said.  “At the time the deeds were given to me, I don’t think Princess Celestia knew, either.”

“You little pup!” Blueblood seethed.  “You think you can threaten me with the princess?  She listens to me.  She established this Land Management Committee to help redistribute the land to obtain its maximum wealth.  Because of my special talent, she placed me in charge of the thing.  And what reason does that give you to come and talk to me about a royal order?”

“Because your royal order defies an order already set in place, Your Majesty,” Braeburn said, craning his neck so that he could be just a few inches taller than Blueblood.

Blueblood sat back down, now staring at Braeburn with an amused grin on his face.  “Do elaborate.”

“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but thirty years ago Dodge Junction was established by my father,” Braeburn said.  “His name was Baldwin Apple.  About five years later, my father grew ill and died, but not before buying the land from Princess Celestia, a transaction that was recorded in a deed.”

Blueblood raised an eyebrow.

“A few months ago, my relative Granny Smith down in Ponyville died and sent to me a few heirlooms from her, as well as a few things that were left over when my father passed away, things that I was too young to deal with.  One of these included the deed, which states that the land on which the city sits, and for one mile surrounding the city, belonged to my father and his descendants by blood or by marriage and that either my family or the Princesses must be contacted about any decision to alter the land or to change the city and that they must approve it before changes could be made.”  Braeburn quit leaning on the wall and stood upright.  “I don’t believe I’ve been informed about anything.”

Blueblood stared intently at Braeburn.  “I think that the royalty and nobility would have more power over something like that than a simple apple farmer.”

“You’d think correctly,” Braeburn said.

“Then that means this conversation is over, isn’t it?”

“Not quite.”  Braeburn pulled out the deed for Dodge Junction and gave it to Blueblood, who opened it with his magic.  “Not when the deed is signed by Princess Celestia.”

Blueblood looked over the deed.  While his face didn’t register surprise, Braeburn could tell he read over the deed and had noticed the signature as his magic control cut of abruptly with a spark.  Braeburn picked up the deed and pocketed it as Blueblood blinked a few times.

“I believe a mining operation has been set up in Dodge Junction without my approval,” Braeburn said.  “Considering that I am now the holder of the deed, I could report this to the princesses and have it where you leave right away before considering doing the same thing here.”

Blueblood sighed.  “You don’t understand,” he said.

“I think I do,” Braeburn said.  “But I won’t put over any accusations on you yet.”

Blueblood said nothing.

“So, Your Majesty, what exactly were you planning on doing with my town?”

“Well, your town is sitting on top of a particularly large vein of gold,” Blueblood said as he relaxed a little bit, “considering the amount of prospectors that have come through here.  So I wanted to start up a mining operation that I believe would benefit the town by bringing income.”

Braeburn sighed.  “If the government did in fact start a mining station here, there’s something you wouldn’t understand.  That is that the gold vein happens to be under my land.  My apple orchard.  There’s not another fertile plain that can withstand an orchard large enough to cover my needs for living like that one can.  If you were to move me off my land, you’d move me off my home and life…”  Braeburn paused, seeing if Blueblood had a reaction before he continued.  “…like you’ve done with a few of my friends that came here from Dodge Junction.”

Blueblood glared at Braeburn, but Braeburn steeled himself and showed no response.

“So, Prince,” Braeburn said, “if you’re planning on trying to form an operation on my land, you’d better talk with the higher-ups in your government that said I had the right to decide.  And if you’re not comfortable with that, I suggest you’d better leave.”

Blueblood tensed and shot upright again.  “…are you threatening me?”

“You’re threatening me and my livelihood,” Braeburn said.  “I’m just fighting fire with fire.”

Blueblood gritted his teeth, but said nothing.

“Well, I think I’ve said all that I’ve needed to,” Braeburn said, “so I’ll be leaving you for the time being.  If you have any questions, I own the orchard on the outside of town.”  Braeburn tipped his hat to Blueblood.  “Your Majesty.”

Braeburn could feel Blueblood’s eyes glaring at him as he left, but didn’t turn around.  He walked out of the suite, down the stairs, past the jet-black pegasus, out the hotel, and didn’t stop until he came into his own house.  Once there, he sat down at his kitchen table and slumped forward so that his head hit the table; a short, sharp pain came across Braeburn’s forehead, but he didn’t care.

“What am I going to do…?” he asked no one in particular.

Chapter 11 - The Devil Came Down to Appleoosa

None of Appleoosa knew of the discussion that occurred between Braeburn and Prince Blueblood within the hotel suite.  Braeburn himself mentioned it to no one, and Blueblood didn’t leave the hotel for a few days after his arrival.  Braeburn received no response from Blueblood or the military pegasi that came with him, and neither did the pegasi ever come near Braeburn’s farm.  As for the deeds, Braeburn kept them hidden, ready to pull them out whenever the time arose yet never in the most obvious place.  For all he knew, Blueblood was trying to think of a way he could use his position to get the deeds from him.

If that was Blueblood’s plan he didn’t show it.  What was seen was a larger amount of the dark grey pegasi appearing around town.  First there was the four that came with Blueblood on the train.  Over the following three days, eight more pegasi arrived.  Two always stayed at the hotel, but the other ten started walking around town, scanning the whole of Appleoosa, from the red rock ridges that looked over Braeburn’s property to the hills just north of town to the river that flowed by the town.

A few pegasi tried to enter Braeburn’s farm once.  They flew overhead and started looking around the orchard.  Braeburn had been out in the barn and was heading in for lunch when he saw the two pegasi flying over his orchard and shouted to them: “Hey!  You’re over private property, and that means private airspace!”

One of the guards snorted and called back to Braeburn “Says who?”

“Says the pony who holds the deed to the town, that’s who!” Braeburn said.  “At this stage, I have more power over you than your prince does!  So either get off my turf or I’ll make you!”

“You’re just an earth pony!” the guard called as Braeburn ran inside.  “Aw… little earth pony is afraid of battling the pegasi.  Little earth pony thinks he can fight us when he can’t even… is that a gun!?”

Braeburn fired the revolver into the air, creating a loud bang! that caused the pegasi to jump in the air a few feet.  “I’d take that back if I were you,” Braeburn said.  “With this little thing, it’s now an even fight.”  The pegasi flew away in a set of grey blurs before Braeburn could even take the chance to aim the revolver at them.

After Prince Blueblood had been in town a few days, he showed up at Braeburn’s farmhouse.  The stallion watched him walk up from behind the curtains in the kitchen, watching as the unicorn faded into view coming in from the town and past the barbed-wire fence.  With him was the jet-black pegasus Captain, walking alongside him with a lance under his wing.  Braeburn could see them through the curtains as they walked up to the door and the pegasus knocked on the door three times with the butt of his lance.

“Are you sure he’s home at this time?” the pegasus Captain asked.

“That was what the residents were saying,” Blueblood said.

“They could say whatever they wanted, sir,” the Captain replied, turning to face Blueblood.  “Residents of small towns don’t take kindly to those that come from the big cities.”

“Dodge Junction didn’t at first, either.  If we ever manage to get the mine started, the ponies here at Appleoosa will change their mind, too.”

“But what do you make of what this Braeburn said earlier about their being former residents of Dodge Junction being here in Appleoosa?”

“I wager it was a bluff.”  Blueblood whirled around to face the Captain and slammed his hoof on the porch as Braeburn opened the front door.  “He thinks he can bluff royalty?”

“You have to watch out, sir,” the Captain said as Braeburn put a straw in his mouth and leaned against the doorframe.  “You know how people in these towns can get.  They’ll look like they’re weak and defenseless, but the moment you turn your back on them, they will stab you in the back then kick you while they’re down.”

“That’s only because you’ll do it to us if we don’t act first,” Braeburn quipped.

Blueblood and the jet-black pegasus whirled around to see Braeburn calmly chewing on a piece of straw in his mouth.  Blueblood’s jaw had dropped while the pegasus’ eyes were wide and the pupils were nearly pinpricks.  Eventually, Blueblood put a hoof to his mouth and coughed into it a few times before speaking.

“Might I ask how long you’ve been standing there?”

“Not very,” Braeburn said, putting on a smile for the both of them.  “Welcome, Your Majesty.”

Blueblood didn’t return the formality.  “I’ve come to see if you’re willing to discuss more about the deeds for Appleoosa and Dodge Junction that you were telling me about yesterday.”

“It’d be a pleasure,” Braeburn said.  “Can I get you two gentleponies something to drink?  A glass of cider, perhaps?”

“I’d rather not,” Blueblood said.  “It might be… I don’t know… poisoned with how you treated me yesterday.”

“If you’re willing to treat me fairly,” Braeburn replied, “I’m willing to treat you as an honored guest in this household.”

Blueblood flicked to get a piece of his golden mane off his forehead.  “Very well,” he said.  “Lead us in.”

Braeburn nodded and opened the door the rest of the way to let Blueblood and Captain Lancer into the house.  Once inside, Braeburn took the two to the kitchen where he pulled the deeds from their hiding place and poured three glasses of cider from a keg in his kitchen, passing one to Blueblood and Lancer as he invited them to sit down at the table.  The two ponies sat down but initially didn’t drink any of it.  Braeburn took a few sips of his own then tipped his glass towards Blueblood and Lancer as though inviting them to drink.  Only then did Blueblood taste it, but Lancer didn’t have any.

“Well, I know you two aren’t here for a drink of cider,” Braeburn said.

“No,” Blueblood said.  He opened his mouth as he looked at the cider, but put the cider down and sighed and didn’t speak for a while.  “I came to talk about your deed.”

Braeburn adjusted his hat.  “I suspected as much.”  He motioned to the jet-black pegasus with Blueblood, who was unaware that Braeburn had listened in to his conversation.  “Who is this pegasus?  Every time I see you, he isn’t far behind.”

Blueblood motioned to the pegasus with a hoof.  “This is Captain Lancer,” he said.  “He’s a member of the royal guard under my jurisdiction, and happens to be the military leader and second command to me.”

Braeburn nodded.  “Sleekest pegasus I’ve ever seen.”

“We’re not here for flattery,” Lancer said flatly.  “Quit skirting around the issue.”

“Now, Lancer,” Blueblood said, placing a hoof to the pegasus’ chest.  “We’re not here to force ourselves upon this farmer.”  Blueblood set his hooves on the table.  “All I want to do is talk.  About you, about the deed, and about your land.”

Braeburn finished his own mug of cider and looked over to Blueblood.  “You’re the one that came here wanting to know about the deed.  I’ll simply answer the questions you have for me.  Whatever you want to know about the deed, ask me.  Otherwise, I shall say something.”

“I am the prince of Equestria,” Blueblood said.

“As far as I’m concerned, in name only,” Braeburn fired back.

“That’s what you think,” Blueblood said.  “I still need you to comply with my requests.  No matter what you think, you are not the one with the upper hoof here.”

“You wanted a conversation,” Braeburn said.  “If I’m the one speaking, it’s simply a lecture or dissertation.  Ask me questions, tell me what you want to know, and I can answer them for you.”

Blueblood gritted his teeth.  “Fine then.  Let’s begin with the deed for Dodge Junction.  How exactly did your father come to receive the deed?”

“At the time, most of the desert region was unexplored because ponies didn’t ever have the guts to explore it,” Braeburn said.  “My father, Baldwin Apple, managed to build a community on one of the fertile patches he found when he was looking for a new place to live.  Eventually, he built up the city of Dodge Junction.  It grew when ponies realized that things in the desert could be used for profit, like certain conditions to grow crops or the appearance of a few mineral deposits.  It grew profitable and soon gathered into a small town.  It was then that my father had a talk with Princess Celestia.  Celestia declared my father to be the leader of the town and that he and his descendants were the ones who could tame the land, and so handed him the deed for the land to mark it as his, though he always obeyed the order of the Princess.”

“How did you come about receiving the deed for Dodge Junction?”

“A few years after starting the town, my father came down with an illness.  My mother soon came down with the same illness and sent me and the deed to live with my cousin Applejack in Ponyville, where the deed came into the possession of my grandmother Granny Smith since I wasn’t of age and didn’t even have my cutie mark yet.  When I came of age, I came out here and started Appleoosa. I started it much the same way my father started Dodge Junction, and received the deed for Appleoosa in the same way.  A few months ago, however, Granny Smith died and ended up leaving me the deed for Dodge Junction in her will, since I was the heir to the deed originally.”

“So, the deeds are signed by the Princess?”

“Princess Celestia signed both of them.  At the signing of both the deeds, Princess Luna had not yet returned to power after her thousand years as Nightmare Moon, yet both are perfectly legal if you were to speak with either princess.”

Blueblood nodded.  “I bet you’re wondering why I’m here in Appleoosa, especially considering your backwards town is hardly up to speed.”

“I think I know why,” Braeburn said.  “But I’ll let you explain for me.”

“I received reports about gold stores found here on your property,” Blueblood said.  “The Equestrian government has relied on gold for many things, including the minting of bits, the creation of jewelry and other adornments, and even sometimes as a magical conduit.  That’s—”

“A channel,” Braeburn said.  “I might be an earth pony, but I know a thing or two about magic and how it behaves.”

Blueblood raised an eyebrow and his originally emotionless expression became a smirk.  “You’re more intelligent than you look, Mister Braeburn.  Anyways, the various reasons I explained are nothing compared to the fact that Equestria needs money to run the government and make sure that everything runs smoothly all over the land.  Gold is the primary store of wealth the Equestrian government has.”

“As if it doesn’t have enough?” Braeburn asked.  “I’ve neither seen nor heard of any reason that the Equestrian government would run out of funding when it takes in as much revenue as it does from taxes every year.”

“Gold is not just used inside of Equestria,” Blueblood said.  “It is also used as a bargaining tool.  It is used to make compromises and trades with other states and other kingdoms.  Equestria is not alone on this planet, Braeburn, and we need to keep ourselves at peace with those around us.  Gold is one of the ways we make peace.  It becomes an offering of fellowship and an item of appeasement.”

“You could do without one vein,” Braeburn said.  “Why do you need mine?”

“For all the reasons I just explained,” Blueblood replied.  “Simple transactions, yet necessary to keep Equestria running as it should.”

“That doesn’t explain the purpose of my vein,” Braeburn said.  “It seems to me that things are running quite fine and the government has plenty of funds if it was able to create a new board within the past few years that it hasn’t needed for at least a thousand years.”

Blueblood sat there for a moment before responding, the smirk on his face now gone and a look of worry in its place.  “Whether or not it needs it is not the issue here.  I’ll get straight to the point, Mister Braeburn: I would like you to sell both of the deeds to me.  If you sell me the deeds, I’ll make sure you have a nice home and are cared for by the Equestrian government, living in the lap of luxury.”

“I am happiest with my farm to tend,” Braeburn said.

“We can always move the farm,” Blueblood replied.

“There isn’t another fertile area around here,” Braeburn said.  “And I’d prefer to stick by Appleoosa, around which this is the only plot of land that can support the orchard of my size.”

“There must be something else we can do to help smooth this transaction out.”

“I’ll give you something: I don’t want what happened in Dodge Junction to happen here.  I know what happened over there.  I’ve heard about the division between the residents that were there originally and the group you brought in from elsewhere – how they took over the town and ran some of the residents out.  The town’s likely gone into debt from having to pay you back.”

“It’s not as bad as you think…”

“But it is.  If you were to build a mine here, you’d not only shunt me – the most prosperous farmer here – off my property, but you’d place the land in debt through a combination of not being able to sell as much and having to help pay for all the costs of construction.  Not only that, with me gone, we wouldn’t have as much food grown on our own.  We’d have to bring in food from elsewhere just to make it by, and that’d put us in more debt from the cost of bringing it in.  I can’t sell you the deed, Blueblood, and I can’t let you build a mine on my property.  Now, if you would so kindly, I would like you to get your hooves off my property, as the privacy laws are still in effect.”

Blueblood didn’t move.  “I’m a high-ranking government official.  You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Need I remind you those deeds are signed by Princess Celestia.  If you were to try and take my land or start building on my property without my permission – which I’m not giving to you – I could write a letter to her and you’d be in hot water so fast you’d wonder what happened.”

Blueblood laughed.  “That’s big talk for a small farmer.”

Braeburn looked at Blueblood.  “How far are you willing to push me, Prince Blueblood?”

Blueblood started laughing even harder.  “You’re threatening me again?  Oh, how rich!  Lancer, look at this pipsqueak, thinking he can talk back to royalty and government!”  And Captain Lancer started laughing along with Blueblood.

Braeburn huffed and walked off to his room, Blueblood and Captain Lancer still laughing uproariously at him.  He went to the gun stand on his shelves and pulled off the revolver.  Bringing it over to the kitchen, Braeburn took aim just over Captain Lancer’s shoulder and fired, causing there to be a loud bang followed by the shattering of glass.  Cider exploded out of the still-full mug and soaked the jet-black pegasus, causing the laughter to stop immediately.  Blueblood turned around with a disbelieving look on his face and looked from Braeburn to the revolver then back.

“…you’re serious?” Blueblood said.

“I would shoot you right now,” Braeburn said, “but I’m opposed to violence if I can avoid it.  So, for now, I’d appreciate it if you left the premises and quit bothering me about having my deed.  I’m not interested in selling it.”

Blueblood motioned for Captain Lancer to go on ahead of him and watched as the pegasus left the house.  Blueblood himself got up from the table and walked out the door after the pegasus, but turned around while he was still on the porch and looked at Braeburn.

“There are more ways to pay for a deed than just gold, Mister Braeburn” Blueblood said quietly.  “And I’ll take whatever payment I can get.”

“There are more poisonous things than a drugged cider,” Braeburn said darkly.  “And there are worse ways to be hurt than by a gunshot.”

Blueblood sighed.  “You disappoint me.  I thought we could be friends, what with an intelligence that seems higher than the others in this town.  But it seems I was wrong.  Good day, Braeburn.  I’ll come back to take my payment in due time.”  And he turned back around and left.

Braeburn closed the door and watched Blueblood leave from the kitchen window.

* * *

A few days later, Braeburn found himself going to the train station after receiving a letter that Applejack and Twilight were coming back into town.  It had been a long time since the two had come to visit him and Braeburn was looking forward to another visit from them, especially after the talk he had with Blueblood.  Braeburn looked eagerly for the train to come, waiting with anticipation then excitement as a line of smoke appeared on the horizon.

The train came up and slowed down as it entered the station, the engine stopping near where Braeburn was waiting.  Braeburn walked to the coach opening behind the engine and watched as two familiar ponies stepped out, an orange mare with a Stetson similar to Braeburn’s and a purple alicorn mare with a white gold and amethyst pendant around her neck.  As soon as she caught sight of Braeburn, the purple mare ran up to him and threw her forelegs around him in a hug.

“Braeburn!” Twilight shouted.

“It’s good to see you too, Twilight,” Braeburn said.

“She’s done nothin’ but talk about you ever since I mentioned I was headin’ out this way,” Applejack said.  “I figured it wouldn’t hurt to take her along with.”

“You have any particular reason for coming out here?” Braeburn asked as he and Twilight let go and the three started walking along the road through Appleoosa.

“Not really,” Applejack said.  “Just that I got to thinkin’ about what you said the last time I came down after Granny Smith died.  Other than the reunions, we never really get around to talkin’ much.  I mean, the last time I really came down to speak with you about anything was seven years ago during the conflict with the buffalo.”

“Yeah,” Braeburn agreed.  “I wish I wasn’t such a stranger, but with the conditions here, it’s hard to do much outside of Appleoosa.  I need to start digging the trenches for the flood waters soon to make sure the land stays fertile.”

Not a word more was said until the three returned to Braeburn’s farmhouse.  It was late into the evening and Braeburn made a simple salad for them to eat paired with a loaf of fresh-baked bread from the market.  It was over dinner when Applejack finally spoke.

“What’s with the barbed-wire fence?  Are the buffalo givin’ you trouble again?”

Braeburn sighed.  “You know Prince Blueblood, by any chance?”

“He gave Rarity a tough time at the Gala a few years back,” Applejack mentioned.

“He was adopted into the royalty once he showed promise in magic and in bureaucratic order, neatness, and efficiency,” Twilight said.  “However, he’s also either lazy or disconnected, and is simultaneously considered indispensable and a thorn in their side.”

“He’s being a thorn lately,” Braeburn said.  “That’s part of the reason, at least.”

“What’s been going on?” Twilight asked.

“During the harvest season, I had a few prospectors come through.  I let them search a little while for gold, but they went crazy and started digging up my orchard.  I built the wall to keep them out; the only way they could enter was the way I could see them from.”

“What does that have to do with Blueblood, though?”

“Blueblood’s come through Dodge Junction lately and built a mine there.  But he hasn’t exactly been reasonable; half the town belongs to Blueblood due to some Land Management Committee he’s using to take over the land to control the mine.  In addition, he’s got some guard under him that’s been terrorizing the town to make things go their way as if they own the place.  From the sounds of it, he intends to do the same here.”

“Is there anythin’ you can do to stop him?” Applejack asked.

“I own the deeds for both here and Dodge Junction,” Braeburn said, “after the one for Dodge Junction was given to me in the will.  Both are signed by Princess Celestia, so logically Blueblood shouldn’t be able to do anything.  However, he’s trying to buy it off me.”

“Are you gonna let him?”

“Of course not!”  Braeburn pounded a hoof on the table.  “I intend to keep things the way they are!  Blueblood building the mine here would mean I’d be shunted off my land, and Appleoosa would go into debt from the mine and needing to bring food from elsewhere.  And then there’s the fact that the guard oppresses those who don’t like it, so those who don’t want it can stay how they are but are going to be pushed around anyway.”

“I’d say ‘that doesn’t sound good’,” Applejack said, “but I have a feelin’ that would be statin’ the obvious.”

“When’s he supposed to ask about the payment again?” Twilight asked.

“He came around a few days ago,” Braeburn said.  “He said he would come back later to try and discuss it again, but I haven’t seen him or any of his guard around here lately.  I don’t think he’ll be giving up any time soon, though.”

It was dark outside when Braeburn finished speaking, the sky a deep dark blue and a large, white, full moon shining overhead lighting up the house and the apple orchards.  In the distance, the lights of Appleoosa started to slowly fade and die away as the town went to sleep, but still Braeburn’s household stayed lit as the three ponies continued talking amongst themselves.

It was Twilight who noticed something different about the sky outside that night.

“What’s that shape in front of the moon?”

Braeburn and Applejack both turned in the direction of the window to see what Twilight was now pointing at.  There was a vaguely pony-like grey shape in front of the moon, though it appeared to have a large pointed rod sticking up from it.  Eventually the rod lowered and the point seemed to be headed in the direction of Braeburn’s farmhouse.

“Oh, no…” Braeburn said.

Applejack looked at Braeburn.  “What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.

Braeburn turned around and looked at the two.  “Get to the center of the house.  Back away from the window.  Now!”

“Braeburn!” Twilight said, voice shaking as she got out of her chair and started backing away.  “What are you—”

Twilight’s question was cut off by her screaming.  A large spear crashed through the window and landed right where the alicorn had been sitting.  A second one soon followed it and slammed on the table, firmly lodging it in the wood.  Braeburn ushered Applejack and Twilight out as a third spear crashed through the other window facing the front porch.

“Get to the center hallway!” Braeburn shouted.

The three ponies dashed off for the hallway and huddled in a pile there as more spears crashed through the windows.

“What the hay is going on!?” Applejack shouted.

“It must be Blueblood’s orderlies,” Braeburn shouted back.  “I knew he was pissed when I said I wouldn’t take the deal.  I didn’t think it would be this bad, though!”

“Bit of an overreaction, don’t you think?” Applejack asked.

After a while, the flood of spears stopped.  The kitchen windows were broken, as was a window in the living room.  Spears were scattered around the kitchen and living room and a few had landed at the entrance of the hallway.  Braeburn and the others remained huddled in the hallway, hiding from the pegasi outside.

After a moment of silence, there came a growling voice from outside.  “Braeburn Apple!  This is Captain Lancer of the Royal Guard!  We need you to come out here and follow us to Prince Blueblood to talk about the conditions under which you will surrender the deed!”

“If Blueblood wanted to talk,” Braeburn shouted back, “why didn’t he just come over here and talk himself instead of sending you!?”

“Prince Blueblood doesn’t have time to spend messing with you!”

“He certainly does if he sent you out in the dead of night!”

“That’s enough!  You have one last chance.  If you don’t come out in five seconds, I’ll have my soldiers continue their assault!”

Braeburn got up from the pile in the hallway.

“Don’t do it…” Twilight pleaded.

“Twilight’s right,” Applejack said.  “You can’t go out there.  It ain’t gonna mean anything but bad news if you do.”

“I never said anything about complying,” Braeburn said.

Twilight and Applejack watched as Braeburn went into his bedroom and loaded the revolver, pocketing a few extra bullets in his pockets.  Braeburn eventually walked back into the kitchen, spinning the revolver’s chamber as he did.  Braeburn pointed the revolver barrel at the broken window as Applejack and Twilight nervously peeked around the corner.

“If you want me to talk to Blueblood,” Braeburn said, “you’re going to have to have to bring Blueblood to talk to me.  Otherwise, I’m not going.  So, either you bring Blueblood here, or I fire at you, and I can tell you that a bullet is faster than a lance.”

There was a long moment of silence, and Braeburn could only imagine that Captain Lancer was actually thinking.

“There’s also a princess in here,” Braeburn shouted.  “Princess Twilight Sparkle is here with me.  If you do something to hurt her, I’m sure that Celestia would be completely willing to send all of you either into prison or to banishment.”

There was another long silence.

“I still don’t hear a response!” Braeburn shouted

The grey shape in front of the moon raised its lance to point upwards, then pointed it back down again.  As quickly as he could, Braeburn flipped the kitchen table over and ducked behind it as more spears came through the window.  A large amount hit the table and bounced off, and others went around to either side.  One came close to Braeburn and ended up scratching his foreleg.

“Keep throwing!” Capain Lancer barked.  “Don’t hurt the Princess inside, just attack Braeburn as ordered!”

When Braeburn noticed a break in the onslaught, he quickly picked himself up over the table and fired the revolver out the window.  He delivered three quick shots; none hit, but suddenly there was a frantic and confused shouting from outside as the pegasi stopped throwing to try and regroup themselves.

“Don’t flitter about you fools!” Captain Lancer shouted.  “Stand firm and keep throwing!”

Braeburn ducked as another volley of lances entered the kitchen.  Applejack and Twilight hid themselves in the hallway again as a few lances struck the front door and caused it to rattle on its hinges.  After the volley, Braeburn picked himself back up over the table and fired a few more shots, and this time one hit.  The dark night outside was suddenly stained red as one of the pegasi spiraled and flailed towards the ground below, eventually landing just inside the barbed-wire fence surrounding Braeburn’s property.

“Retreat!” Captain Lancer ordered.  “Forget trying to get the lances!  We’ll come back later!”  And the jet black pegasus started leading his squadron away from the farmhouse, leaving the one pegasus screaming out in pain.

Braeburn walked outside the house, Applejack and Twilight following cautiously behind, and up to the pegasus.  The feathers on his left wing were bent and broken, and a very clear hole could be seen from where the bullet had landed and hit the bone in the pegasus’ wing. The wing was bleeding profusely, and he was scratched in multiple places on his right side were scratched up from hitting the barbed-wire fence.

Braeburn turned around to Applejack.  “Call the hospital.”

Applejack nodded and galloped back off towards the house as Braeburn turned back around to face the pegasus.  “Why did you and the others attack me and vandalize my household?”

“Ugh…” the pegasus groaned in pain.  “Blue… Blueblood ordered us to.”

“Why did he order you to attack me?”

“He… he wanted you dead.  He… he said if he could kill you the deeds for Appleoosa and Dodge Junction could be transferred over to him.”

Braeburn put the revolver to the pegasus’ throat.  Twilight gasped behind Braeburn, but the stallion hadn’t done anything.  Yet.  He tapped the revolver barrel against the pegasus’ chin.  “I’m not going to kill you.  However, if I ever see you coming around here again with the intent to attack me, my family, or my friends again, I will not hesitate to put a bullet straight through your skull.”

Braeburn pulled the trigger while the gun was pointed at the pegasus’ throat.  Twilight gasped against and the pegasus flinched, but all the gun did was give a little click, leaving the pegasus a shivering, whimpering wreck.

Braeburn holstered the revolver.  “The paramedics are on their way.”

Braeburn and Twilight stayed outside of the farmhouse until the paramedics arrived and took the pegasus away.  No one in Braeburn’s house got any sleep that night, gathering up the thrown lances and bundling them up before locking them away in Braeburn’s cellar under the barn.

Chapter 12 - The Oncoming Storm

The next morning, the three ponies went out to survey the damage.  Bunches of holes were found along the sides of the house from where the lances had struck, and the glass in the windows in the kitchen and living room was broken.  Similar holes were found all over the inside hallway, kitchen, living room, and the kitchen table that Braeburn had hid behind.

Applejack came up alongside Braeburn.  “I’m sorry about your house,” she said.

Braeburn smiled weakly.  “It’s not your fault, cousin,” he said.  “It’s Prince Blueblood’s.  If it wasn’t for the fact that Granny Smith had the deeds hidden until recently, this whole thing could have been stopped sooner just by sending a letter to the Princess.  Now…” Braeburn sighed and remained quiet, despite expectant looks from both Applejack and Twilight.

As soon as the stores were open, Applejack and Twilight went with Braeburn to purchase paint, a gel-like substance to fill the holes in the wood, and a few new windows to repair the damage.  The three ponies worked all day to fill the holes in the walls and the floors and spent late into the night putting up the new windows.  The day afterwards, the three continued working by painting the house where the holes had been and let them dry in the hot Appleoosan sun.

Braeburn saw no sign of the guards return in the few days after the attack.  They were bound to come back, but the announcement that Twilight had been in the house with Braeburn had likely startled them; to think of hurting a Princess was unbelievable, and actually hurting one of them – especially the one that happened to be the star student of Princess Celestia herself – would likely have consequences far larger than just a stern talking to.  It was Braeburn’s belief that Blueblood had likely heard about Twilight’s arrival and was considering other routes.

A few days after the attack on Braeburn’s household, Sheriff Silverstar came by the farmhouse.  He came in the early morning while Applejack and Twilight were still asleep.  Braeburn invited the sheriff into his house and poured them both a cup of coffee before sitting down in the living room.

“What exactly happened last night, Braeburn?” Sheriff Silverstar asked.  “It’s not exactly like you to go firing a gun in the middle of the night, not to mention shooting a royal pegasus guard and hospitalizing him for injuries to his wing.”

“A group of them attacked my house,” Braeburn said.  “They came and threw spears through the windows and completely scratched up the side of the house.   I had to spend the last two days with Applejack and Twilight repairing the sides and the windows.  Not to mention this scar on my foreleg.”  Braeburn held out his hoof to show Silverstar where the injury was, a long, thin, pink line going down his leg.

Silverstar examined the spot.  “I suppose I can’t fault you for that,” he said thoughtfully.  “Still, the people came to me afraid of the noise that came from here last night and specifically mentioned gun fire.”

“It was out of self-defense.  Also, did you know that Princess Twilight is in town?  I might not know much about royalty,” Braeburn said, “but I do know that those guards trying to attack this house with the princess in it should be a punishable offense.”

“I’m sorry, Braeburn,” Sheriff Silverstar said with a shake of his head.  “I’m afraid I can’t do anything about that.  Prince Blueblood has higher status and influence than I do, so even if his guards are doing something wrong, I can’t just walk up there and ask him to—”

“What else do you think you should do!?” Braeburn shouted.  “Blueblood needs to be spoken to that he shouldn’t be acting so rashly and his guards shouldn’t be strutting around like they own the place!  What happens if he starts attacking more than just me, huh?  What if his guards decide that it’s not just my house that needs to be attacked, but anyone against them?  Tell me what you would do then?”

Silverstar sat there in silence for a moment, jaw dropped as he stared at Braeburn glaring back at him.  After a while, he put a hoof to his chin in thought, then looked at Braeburn and shrugged.

“Are you kidding me?” Braeburn said.  He gave an exasperated sigh.  “You would really just sit around and do nothing?  You would sit in your office and do nothing like you did last night when they attacked me without warning!?”

“I didn’t know it was even happening!” Silverstar said, voice almost turning into a defensive whine.  “And I didn’t say I would do nothing, I just said I don’t know what I’d do!”

“Which is as good as doing nothing!”

Silverstar flinched.  He gave a tired sigh.  “I don’t know.  Nothing like this has ever happened since this town was established.  I’m kind of at a loss.  I have the others working with me on patrol almost constantly but it’s not easy with the guards around.”

Braeburn sighed.  “It’s not like I don’t understand what you’re thinking, Sheriff Silverstar,” he said.  “I’m just frustrated that you haven’t even spoken to him.”

“Have you tried?”

“I have.  Twice.  One time at the place he was staying in the hotel back in the town and once when he came out here.  He wants the deed that I own for the town of Appleoosa and the one for Dodge Junction, and I’m sure he isn’t leaving until he has both.”

“So why do you want me to try if you didn’t get him to leave?”

“You’re the law enforcement of this town and, as far as most of those ponies out there are concerned, the head of the town.  I just own the land and let you do as you see fit considering you know what to do.  But these ponies are after my land.  They trespass on my land, they violate my land owning rights, and now they’re out for my blood.  As a pony of the law, you ought to be able to do something about it.”

Silverstar took a long drink of his coffee and set an empty mug on the table.  “I’ll try and see what I can do,” he said.  “I don’t know how much influence I’ll have, what with him being nobility at the least, but I’ll try if it means that much to you.”

“Thank you,” Braeburn said.  “Even if you don’t convince him to leave, I’ll be happy if you just tried to get through to him.”

Silverstar nodded, shook hooves with Braeburn, then left the house.

After Silverstar left, Braeburn took his and the sheriff’s coffee mugs and went to the kitchen to wash them.  He was taking a towel to dry the mugs when he heard hoofsteps coming from behind and turned around to see Twilight in the entryway.  Her eyes were looking at him questioningly and her wings were neatly folded in.

“Are you okay?” she asked.  Her voice was quiet, yet nervous.

Braeburn smiled at her to try and alleviate her nervousness.  “Everything’s alright,” he said as warmly as he could.  “I was just having a little conversation with the sheriff about what happened a few nights ago.”

Twilight didn’t look convinced.  “There’s no need to hide it from me.  I heard the whole thing.  After what happened last night, I can always write a letter to the princess and let her know that Blueblood is doing this.  She’ll call him out on it right away.”

Braeburn nodded and set down the dry mug.  “How long will it take for you to get a letter to her?”

Twilight shrugged.  “When’s the next train supposed to come around?”

“Not for two more days.”

“In five days I’d be able to get a letter to the princess.  One day to wait, three days to get back to Ponyville by train, and the following day to send it; by the time I return, Spike will likely be asleep and I can’t wake him with how late we get back.”

“That doesn’t matter.  Besides, it’ll probably be best if you get out of here before things get too heated.  Wouldn’t want your pretty little princess wings to get hurt, now would we?”

Twilight chuckled at the remark, but upon seeing the concerned look on Braeburn’s face as he went to stare out the kitchen window, she stopped.  Instead, she went over to him and placed a hoof on his shoulder.  Braeburn turned around and looked at Twilight and noticed the wider violet eyes and the eyes staring at him questioningly again.

“Braeburn… after I’ve sent the letter, I’ll come right back.”

“No,” Braeburn said.  “I can’t let you.  If things get too rough around here, I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.  You should stay in Ponyville until a response from the princess arrives.”

“And if you get in over your head,” Twilight said a little more forcefully, “you’ll need someone who can either hold you back or provide a voice of authority on par with Blueblood.  He might not listen to me or Celestia with the power he seems to hold, but if anything you’ll need someone on your side with power.”

Braeburn had to consider that; the mare had a point.  Right now, all he had was a land deed and a vague knowledge about the laws surrounding it.  Twilight not only would have read up on most of those laws due to her library and studies, but had connections to the princesses and the guard plus a large knowledge of magic if things got a little hectic.

Braeburn nodded.  “Alright,” he said.  “Also, while you’re in Ponyville, I need you to bring some books on laws and see if you can find anything about the Land Management Committee.  Maybe check recent publications or newspaper archives.  If Blueblood has as much power as he says, there’s got to be a way to balance it out somehow to make sure the system runs smoothly.”

Twilight nodded.  “I’ll do that.  But please, don’t do anything reckless while I’m gone.  If you do, I’m not sure how well you’d be able to protect yourself from the law.”

Braeburn smiled at her, and this time the mare returned it.  “I’ll try.  Of course, if anything, I can always say Blueblood or his guard started it.”

* * *

Prince Blueblood paced back and forth across the living area of his suite.  Captain Lancer stood at attention at the door of the suite in his gold armor, watching as Blueblood went across the floor multiple times until the carpet had a defined portion where the fibers were pressed down.  Afterwards he sat on a chair facing the door and Captain Lancer and sighed.  His eyes darted around the room as the and eventually placed their sights on the Captain, who immediately pulled his eyes away to avoid eye contact.

“How is the guard with the injured wing?” Blueblood asked.

“He’s in the hospital,” Captain Lancer replied.  “The wing will heal, but it’s likely he won’t be able to fly for a couple of weeks.”

Blueblood nodded and grabbed a cigarette.  He placed the cigarette in his mouth and pulled over a lighter.  The cigarette didn’t light immediately, the lighter was shaking too much and the fire kept going out.  Blueblood had to keep clicking the lighter over and over before it stayed on long enough to bring it back up to the cigarette and lit it.  He took a puff and released the smoke in one long breath.

“What do we do with him, sir?” Lancer asked.

Blueblood took another puff from his cigarette.  “Who are you referring to?”

“Braeburn, sir,” Lancer said.

Blueblood shrugged.  “I know what to do about the guard, though.  Once he’s cleared from the hospital, send him back home on leave for three weeks.  Let him have time to rest up and make sure he gets his pay.”

Lancer nodded.  “But, I do have to ask, is all this really worth it for a vein under a farm?”

Blueblood started at Lancer.  “What do you mean, ‘is all this really worth it’?  Of course it’s worth it!  Those two prospectors that came to us told us it reaches well under that orchard.  If we could get our hooves on the land, that would be one heck of a payday!  We’re talking potentially hundreds of thousands of bits depending on how deep it goes!”

“I do suppose I have to ask the question of how do we sway the townsponies?  Many of them are heavily sided with Braeburn, not to mention a few ponies have come here from Dodge Junction that haven’t liked what we were doing there and likely won’t be on our side doing it here, especially since they worked for Braeburn this past harvest season.”

Blueblood took another puff of the cigarette.  “What exactly has Braeburn done that these ponies like him so much?”

“Well, he’s the single most prosperous farmer of Appleoosa, he’s known for being a volunteer at the sheriff’s department during the winter and summer when there’s nothing to do with the plants, and he’s mostly responsible, along with local Sheriff Silverstar, for stopping a crisis between the Appleoosans and the buffalos when the town was initially started.  Town’s been doing good for seven years and half the townsponies seem to agree that Braeburn has something to do with it.”

Blueblood motioned for a nearby ashtray.  Lancer went over and brought it over to him, placing it on the small table next to Blueblood’s chair, but the unicorn didn’t use it, taking another puff of the cigarette.  “So, he’s a town hero, is he?  Yeah, he’ll be hard to take up off his land.”

“I don’t see why you’re getting so aggressive,” Lancer asked.  “If Princess Celestia finds out what you’re doing, all of us will be going to Tartarus and back and even then she won’t be done with us and I don’t know which is going to be worse.  I mean, you’re violating a contract that came into place before the Land Management Committee was even formed.”

“But because of the recent laws put into place, the Land Management Committee currently has hold and rule over them.  We overdo those laws if it is, and I quote, ‘for the good of the ponies inhabiting the land or the good of the Equestrian government’.  All I have to do is say he’s going against the government and whatever actions I take are justified.”

“But Celestia could wave her hoof and all those laws are overruled.”

Blueblood didn’t say anything in response.  He took another puff of a cigarette and put the remainder in the ashtray, squishing it.  “Yes, she does have rule over me.  I do want to help her out with the ruling, but she doesn’t think I’m good enough.  She says I’m too detached.”

“I wouldn’t say so, sir,” Lancer said.

“Yes, but the others don’t,” Blueblood replied.  “They don’t see the fact that things would be better around here.  Dodge Junction has been pulling in more money than ever since the mine was started.”

“But sir, if there are some here from Dodge Junction, then what do you make of that?”

Blueblood shrugged and started to light another cigarette.

“There is one more thing you should know, sir: Princess Twilight is in town.”

Blueblood dropped the cigarette.  “Twilight Sparkle?  You don’t mean Celestia’s student and the recently-crowned princess?”

“The same.  She is currently staying with Braeburn.  She was there when we staged the attack on the house.”

“You attacked the house with Twilight inside?”  Blueblood shot upright and advanced on Lancer, smacking him across the face with a hoof.  “Are you a fool!?  Imagine what would happen if she told Princess Celestia about the attack!  It wouldn’t matter what the laws say, she’d automatically send us to Tartarus!”

Lancer brought a hoof up to rub the spot where a blue bruise was already forming.  “I was trying to tell you that earlier…”

“But you didn’t tell me about Twilight!”

“So… what exactly happens with Twilight in the mix?”

“Twilight, as a princess and former student of magic under Princess Celestia, will have direct contact with the Princess.  If Twilight manages to get a letter to the Princess about what’s going on here, Celestia might ignore any laws, write up a law between her, Luna, and Cadence, then the land from here to the Crystal Empire will be under their control.  I’ll be booted out of the nobility, you might get demoted to grunt duty, and both of us might have to pay out of pocket for the destruction of the mine, the recall of the soldiers, and the reparations to both Dodge Junction and Appleoosa!”

“It’s not just that, sir; Twilight’s one of the Elements of Harmony, as is Braeburn’s cousin, Applejack.  If word gets out, the rest of the Elements of Harmony could come.  The simple thing to do is prevent Twilight from leaving Appleoosa.  If we can break off connections, we can make it where none of the other Elements can reach here and Twilight can’t get somewhere to contact Celestia.”

Blueblood raised a hoof to his chin and scratched it.  “Where is the next train coming from?”

“Dodge Junction, sir.  It’s due here in two days’ time.”

Blueblood nodded.  “Take some of your guard and fly to Dodge Junction; the next train will be coming from there.  Once you get there, tell the men at the station to keep the train from coming by order of Prince Blueblood.  If you need to, have your men make the train unable to function by whatever reason necessary.  Go quickly before the train leaves the station!”

“Yes, sir,” Lancer said.  “I’ll leave a few men here for the time being.”  Then he turned around and left the room.

* * *

Later that afternoon after the sheriff had stopped by, Braeburn walked through the town with Applejack and Twilight at his sides.  While initially the two were scared to go out after being attacked by the guard, Applejack was eventually getting stir-crazy and Twilight wanted a chance to stretch her wings.  So, hiding the revolver in his saddlebags, Braeburn took Twilight and Applejack onto the town for a little, browsing through stores if only just to look.

The three were in a tool store after a while after Braeburn realized he needed some new shovels for the upcoming flood season.  Before the floods came around, Braeburn always dug small ditches around the apple trees to allow the ground to absorb more water; the flood waters came through and would fill the holes to keep the ground fertile with minerals instead of passing by when the land was flat.  The holes around the apple trees kept the minerals in the same location.  Cold Steel and Coal Dust had offered to help out with digging the holes this year, so Braeburn needed to buy a few new shovels to replace his old ones sitting in the barn.

It wasn’t long before a few guards came in, two dark grey unicorns with gold armor and their spears pointed up towards the ceiling.  They approached the owner of the shop, a light grey pony with dark brown eyes, and stood at attention.  As they spoke, Braeburn tilted an ear in their direction and watched them from over the shelves, his hooves still examining the shovels on the racks nearby.

“Excuse me, sir,” one of the guards spoke up.  “I was wondering what your price per hammer is, as well as how much for a box of nails.”

“Well,” the shop owner replied, “one hammer is four bits.  But if you buy in bulk it costs three bits per hammer.  Same with the nails; normally it’s three bits for a box of one hundred nails, but buying in bulk makes it two bits per box.”

“How much would you consider as buying in bulk?”

“Oh, I’d give it ten or so of each.”

“What about lumber?  You know of any places around here where we can get lumber?”

“No, sir.  All the farmer’s properties around here are off limits unless one of them were to offer you some.  Otherwise, it’s all got to be imported from somewhere else, like the Canterlot Mountains.  Best lumber, though, comes from Phillydelphia and the oaks that grow around there.  Automatically water-tight and structurally sound from the get-go.”

“Thank you, sir.  We might be coming around later if we can’t find another store in town.”

“But there aren’t any other stores.  I’m the only hardware store since the town’s so small…”

“Who said we had to go to another town?”

Braeburn growled, but he felt Twilight’s hoof on his shoulder.  Braeburn turned to look at her and she merely shook her head.  For the time being, Braeburn’s anger subsided.

Despite that, the guards had noticed Braeburn’s growl and started wandering over to where he was standing in the shelves, both of them pointing their spears at him.  They approached the two and pointed their spears both at Braeburn’s chest.  “You have a problem with that, son?” the second guard asked.

Braeburn nodded.  “You happen to know where the lumber is going?”

The two guards looked at each other.

“My orchard.  Or, the one that won’t allow it there.”

“It’s by order of Prince Blueblood,” the second guard said.  “It doesn’t matter what a simple commoner says.”

“I’m no simple commoner,” Braeburn replied.  “I own the land.  I own it here, too.  I signed the deed along with Princess Celestia saying I have the right to do with this land what I want to do with it.”

“Recent laws dictate that the Land Management Committee has the power to do whatever it wants with the land if it is for the good of the ponies living on the land and the good of the Equestrian government.”

“What good is certain debt?” Braeburn said.

The first guard looked put off for a second, and turned to his companion again.  “It is going to take a lot of money for the job…”

“We’re talking about my land and you’re going to squabble over money?  I’m just going to head this off at the pass and say that if you’re going to think about building on my orchard without my permission, you can just get off right now.”

“The gold vein on that land belongs to the Equestrian government,” the second guard said.

“It’s on my property,” Braeburn replied.

“Your property matters not to royal affairs.”

“If you want to talk royal affairs, you’d better speak with me first.”

Braeburn turned to see Twilight walking forward to face the guards.  “I’m Princess Twilight Sparkle, student of Celestia and crowned alicorn princess a little over four years ago.  At this point, I have more power than any of you and a direct connection to Princess Celestia, so I advise you back down before I do more than just send a note to my teacher.”

The second guard scoffed as Braeburn grabbed a shovel in defense.  “You’re just sending a letter to your teacher.  What’s the big deal abo—oof!”

There was a flash of purple light and the unicorn guard was thrown across the room and harmlessly into the floor.  He flailed about trying to get up, causing his companion to rush over to his side to make sure he could get onto his feet.  Twilight’s horn was still glowing with a translucent purple hue and was aiming it at the guards.

“When the teacher is the alicorn of the sun, I think it’s a big deal,” Twilight said.

The guards lifted themselves up and looked at the unicorn who got hit by Twilight’s spell.  A trickle of blood was running out his nose and down his face and he wasn’t able to stand straight up for very long.  Despite this, both guards were picking up their spears and pointing them in the trio’s direction.

“I say we book it before this store gets too messed up,” Applejack said.

Braeburn didn’t need telling twice.  The three ponies shot out of the store with the unicorns in pursuit, running through the streets of Appleoosa.  Crowds parted ways as the three ponies ran by, and jumped even further out of the way when the unicorn guards passed by soon afterwards, with two more joining the chase.  Braeburn and the others galloped towards the farmhouse, yet even then the unicorns ran after them when they passed the property line.

“Hey!” Applejack called back.  “Y’all aren’t supposed to be on this land!”

“We’re enforcers of the law!” the guards called back.  “We go where we need to if we need to catch a wrongdoer!”

The three ponies ran for the back of Braeburn’s farmhouse, though the unicorns soon found out what they were trying to do.  Before the three had realized it, two unicorns had run around one end and the other unicorns had run around the other end, trapping them in front of Braeburn’s barn.  The three ponies looked around at their pursuers and the ridge they had trapped them against.

“Get the princess out of the way!” one of the guards shouted.  “Blueblood’s orders: she cannot be hit!”

“She can’t,” Braeburn said through gritted teeth and the shovel.  “But you can.”

Twilight fired more magic at the guards, taking advantage of the order they had just shouted out.  Applejack managed to buck a unicorn’s horn and made him lose his magical grip on the lance he was carrying.  Soon, both mares were taking on three of the guards, Twilight using her wings every once in a while to fly above the range of the guards’ hooves and casting magic while Applejack continued to buck and kick and even punch the guards.

Braeburn found himself facing only one guard.  Gripping the shovel in his mouth, Braeburn waited for the guard to attack.  The moment he thrust his lance, Braeburn swung in the direction and knocked the lance harmlessly out of the way.  The guard thrust his lance again, and once more Braeburn swung the shovel at the weapon and knocked it harmlessly out of the way.  The unicorn picked up speed and soon Braeburn had to jump out of the way.  Eventually, the unicorn came close enough that he slammed his lance into Braeburn’s chest, causing the stallion to drop down to the ground and the wind to get knocked out of him.

The guard turned the lance around and started to draw it back to ram it into Braeburn.  However, the stallion had refused to let go of his shovel and before the unicorn could draw his lance all the way back, Braeburn whirled around and slammed the unicorn in the back of the head with the shovel, causing a massive wound to appear in the back of his head as he himself went to the ground.

The unicorn was still alive but badly wounded and bleeding and had lost his grip on his lance.  He staggered to his feet and weakly tried to pick up his lance again, but the magical energy kept fizzling out.  Eventually, he staggered back towards the cliff edge, trying to get ready a charge at Braeburn, but he ended up stumbling onto a piece of loose rock at the edge of the cliff.  The unicorn shouted for his companions to help him, but his cry was cut off as he slipped down the cliff face, his body hitting the cliff and eventually slamming head first on the ground below.

Everything stopped.  Twilight’s magic fizzled out.  Applejack stood on three legs, one having previously kicked a guard, who was knocked over and still looking, along with the other two, at the place at the cliff where the guard was knocked over.  The three unicorn guards dashed over to the ledge and looked at their companion sprawled out over the land below in the shade of an apple tree.  One of the leaves, turning brown, fell off the tree and floated down and onto the guard’s head, immediately turning red from the blood staining its surface.

The guards forgot about the fight between them and the three ponies.  Instead, they charged down to where their companion was, one of them dropping his spear as though out of disbelief.  Braeburn watched from above as the three ponies approached the fallen guard, each one nudging him as though he was merely asleep, though the body did not move.  One of the guards fell down and started crying at the body of his comrade, his sobs carrying up to the cliff face to where Braeburn was watching.

“He’s dead!” the guard cried out.  “I hope you’re happy!”

“I’m not!” Braeburn shouted back.  “It was in self-defense!  He would have killed me otherwise!  And he fell off the cliff; I didn’t push him down!”

The guard cried out in anguish, accepting the defeat.  Eventually, the three remaining guards took their companion across their backs and walked up to the top of the ridge, where Braeburn came over to them.

“I’m so—” Braeburn started.

“DON’T TELL ME YOU’RE SORRY!” the lead guard shouted at Braeburn.  “You think you can just apologize and make it all go away?  Well, that doesn’t matter!  You’ve taken a life!”

“You think I don’t know that?” Braeburn shouted back.  “Let me tell you something: I’ve only killed a pony twice in my life.  I’ve never, ever felt like I did the right thing; I only did what I had to do.  Your companion would have killed me if I didn’t fight back.  And what do you expect from the pony who your beloved prince is trying to kill just so he can have my land for the gold underneath it!?  You expect me to just stand by and let him take it from me?  This is my home and my property, and it’s my right to do with it what I want to.  So you can march your little asses right back to your prince and tell him that if he plans to take my land by force, he’ll have to expect a fight in return.”

The guard actually flinched from Braeburn’s shouting and stood there paralyzed by the reaction.  Eventually, he lowered his head and sighed.  “We’re just like you, you know.  We have families, homes, a need to protect them.  But this… this is not how I prefer to do it.”  Then he walked off, his two companions behind him carrying the fallen body.

Applejack walked up to Braeburn and put a hoof on his shoulder.  “Are… are you alright?”

Braeburn shook the hoof off.  “I need to pay for the shovel,” he said, and walked back in the direction of Appleoosa.

Chapter 13 - Isolation

When Braeburn returned early in the afternoon, he had not only bought the shovel he used but had also bought three more.  He took his shovels and placed them in the barn then supposedly returned inside the house.  However, when Applejack and Twilight went to go search for him to let him know of their leaving the next day, the stallion had mysteriously disappeared.  They looked for him in his room, in the kitchen, in the living room, even out in the barn and in the orchards, but they couldn’t find him.  They had half a mind to just give up looking for him when Twilight suggested going into Appleoosa and looking around for him.

Few ponies were out in the heat at that time; the ponies that lived there knew to stay inside or in the shade of the cliffs near town, while Blueblood’s guards either suffered from the heat, panting and sweating, or had retreated to any number of small shops that sold drinks.  None of the guards had seen Braeburn, though many had heard of the incident at Braeburn’s farm and most decided they didn’t want to get involved for reasons from not wanting to get involved to respect of the property to just simply not caring.  Even the hardware store clerk had already forgiven Braeburn, even if it was for the fact that Braeburn paid him for one extra shovel to make up for running off with the one.  But little luck was had in their search.

They eventually found Braeburn at the dance hall; only the bar area was open at this time and had a few guards around it playing cards in addition to a few other patrons.  Braeburn himself was at the bar, drinking what looked like a normal soda.  Applejack and Twilight went over to Braeburn, slumped over at the bar with his head on his hooves.

“There you are!” Applejack said.  “We’ve been lookin’ all over for ya.”

Braeburn looked over at Applejack and Twilight, though his head never left his hooves.  “You were lookin’ for me?” he said, voice slurring.  “What for?”

Twilight sniffed the drink in front of Braeburn; it smelled strongly of alcohol.  Three empty glasses with the same smell were littered all over the bar space near where Braeburn was sitting.  “What have you been drinking?”

“Root beer,” Braeburn said, “with a little moonshine for kicks.  Bartender’s specialty.”

“Braeburn!” Applejack scolded.  “You shouldn’t be drownin’ yourself like that!  You know what happened the last time you got drunk like that!”

“What exactly happened?” Twilight asked Applejack.

“Aside from gettin’ sick as a dog, he started up no less than three fights: one with me, one with a relative from Baltimare, and another with Big Macintosh.  He was out for the rest of the day after that one.”

“I coulda beat him if I had one more minute!” Braeburn grumbled.

“Mac tapped him on the head and he was out like a light.”

Braeburn started laughing.  “You think that was bad?  You shoulda been in here earlier!  I bought a drink for one of the guards over there playin’ cards a few minutes ago.  Told him it was a mixture of root beer and coke, sweet as the first and refreshin’ as the second.  Sucker drank the whole thing down in three seconds.  Stupid Canterlot folk can’t hold their liquor; he’s been in the bathroom ever since.”

“What’s he been doing in there?”

“Vomiting, likely.  That toilet bowl’s gonna be his best friend for a long while.”  With that, Braeburn took another few gulps of his own drink, then laughed again as the guards gave a few growls and angered mumbles in his direction.

“It’s gonna be yours, too, if you don’t stop,” Applejack said, swiping the drink away as soon as it hit the bar counter.

Braeburn rolled his eyes and gave an exasperated sigh.  “I didn’t complain when you were over here the last time you came to town.”

“I didn’t have nothin’ as strong as that,” Applejack countered.  “Four shots of a simple gin that has less percentage than any one of what you’ve been drinkin’.   And I sat around for a while before returning home.”

“So?  I was gonna do the same thing.”

“Yet you might come home with a little extra mark than just that of gettin’ drunk.  Come on, Twi.  Help me get him back to the farm house.”

Twilight nodded and helped Applejack pick up Braeburn, one foreleg around each of them.  They walked slowly down the street through Appleoosa – Braeburn had started acting mostly as dead weight – before heading out of town and back down the road towards the farmhouse.  At the house, they set Braeburn at the kitchen table and got him a large glass of ice water.

He nearly finished the glass before turning a bright green; Applejack ran to the cupboards and got a large metal bowl and set it under Braeburn before the stallion leaned over it and vomited into it.  The bowl was quickly filled and as quickly dumped into a larger bucket that Twilight ran to get before being placed back under Braeburn.  By the time the stallion had finished and the green was beginning to drain from his face, another bucket had been grabbed and was nearly full and the smell in the kitchen was so putrid that Applejack and Twilight had to open the windows even though it was still hot outside.  Braeburn finished the glass of water and stumbled back to his room before he lay down and fell into a sound sleep.

Braeburn didn’t wake up until late that night.  Applejack had already prepared dinner and was nearly finished eating along with Twilight when Braeburn dragged himself into the kitchen.  The stallion clumsily prepared a plate of food and pulled an aspirin out of the cabinet along with another glass of water.  The aspirin was gone, along with half the water, before he even started eating.

“How are you feeling?” Applejack asked.

Braeburn groaned through a mouthful of dandelion salad.

Applejack sighed.  “I know you feel bad about knockin’ the other pony off the ledge earlier today, but you can’t go around mopin’ and drinkin’ to try and get it out of your brain.  It’d be better if you talked about it.”

“I don’t wanna talk about it,” Braeburn said quietly.  “I’ve killed two ponies.  Most don’t even think about the first one.”

“But you didn’t actually think about killing them,” Twilight tried to explain.

There was a long silence where Braeburn didn’t respond.

“…did you?”

“Not the first time.  When I aimed that gun at the robber, I didn’t think about wanting to kill him.  I just thought I wanted to scare them into giving back the bag with the belongings and the pendant in it.  But I ended up aiming for his head and it killed him when I shot when they didn’t want to play fair.  But the unicorn on the ledge…”

Braeburn took a deep breath before continuing.  “I looked at him and thought to myself ‘I’m going to kill him before he kills me’.  Now, that wasn’t the first thought in my brain.  The first thought was ‘I have to protect Twilight and Applejack.  Maybe I can hold him off until he backs down.’  But when he knocked me down and that spear was above me, I figured I had no other option left but to kill him.”

Twilight and Applejack exchanged a look.

“I’m sorry.  I know your train leaves tomorrow and I know I should have been a little more careful.  It’s my fault.  If I had just gone straight to Celestia with a letter and told her about this I wouldn’t have been so in trouble with Blueblood and his men as I am now.”

“Braeburn… tomorrow, we’ll be getting on the train,” Twilight said.  “I promised you earlier I was going to write to Princess Celestia and tell her about what’s going on here.  I’m going to keep that promise.  So long as you keep out of trouble with Blueblood and his men from now on, I’ll be able to get Princess Celestia to stop Blueblood from going any further by next week.”

Braeburn smiled at Twilight.  “Thank you.  I’m glad you’re still around and still willing to help, especially after what happened.”

“You’re Applejack’s family, and she’s my friend.  I kind of feel like I should do something.”

“Anything is helpful to me right now,” Braeburn said.

Twilight returned the smile and hugged Braeburn.  The stallion returned the hug and closed his eyes as he felt a few tears run down his cheek.

* * *

The following morning, Applejack had to wake Braeburn up and get him breakfast.  The stallion was in a much better condition than he was the previous night though still reeling from his drinking binge and had to have another aspirin along with breakfast that morning.  Eventually, he was at the table eating with the other two ponies, then went into the guest bedroom to make sure their stuff was packed up.  As they were getting ready to leave, Braeburn called for a carriage to come to the farmhouse to take them to the train station and loaded his gun in case any more guards decided to pick on them.

It was a lovely morning.  The heat was not as oppressive as it had been the past few weeks and a few clouds could be seen on the horizon; the rainy season was coming soon and the weather was slowly starting to get cooler.  A little breeze even blew by as the three ponies climbed into the carriage and set off for the train station.  Soon, Braeburn would be signing ponies up who wanted to work in helping him dig the trenches around the apple trees to give the land nutrients and water after the upcoming floods.

The train had not yet arrived at the station when the carriage arrived, so Braeburn and the others took their time in getting the luggage off and saying their goodbyes as they walked to the ticket stand.  However, the look on the ticket pony’s face was not reassuring, and even less so was the news they received.

“I don’t know how long it’ll be until the train comes around,” the attendant said.  “I received a call from the Dodge Junction station saying they couldn’t even leave after a fuel leakage.  They can’t leave the station until a new part comes in from Manehattan.  It’s on rush order, but that could take a week or more.”

It didn’t take long for someone to figure out what was going on.

“I bet you Blueblood’s keeping the train held up,” Applejack said.  “After shouting to Captain Lancer about Twilight being in town, he likely knows about the connection between Celestia and Twilight and didn’t want her leaving.”

“Can we try and make it by running across the desert?” Twilight asked.

“You’d have to be crazy to do that,” Braeburn said.  “Even following the train lines, it’ll likely take you six days just to get to the edge of the desert.  Not to mention the fatigue and heat would slow you down even more, and even then you can’t pull all-nighters running that long.  I’m sorry, but I guess you’re stuck here for now.”

“What about mailing a letter the old fashion way?” Applejack asked.

“If Blueblood’s got the train held up at Dodge Junction, no mail will enter or leave here unless he says so,” Braeburn responded.  “Our best bet is to keep ourselves low for the time being and hope that he doesn’t rough anyone up.”

There wasn’t much left to do, so Braeburn and the others returned to the carriage and told the lead pony to take them back to the farmhouse.  The three sat in silence in the carriage as it went down the main roads through town and they didn’t even question what was going on when the carriage suddenly stopped.  Eventually, a knocking on the carriage door broke the silence between the ponies.

Braeburn opened up the carriage door to see their driver standing just outside.  “Excuse me, but it seems we have a bit of a problem.  We’re right by the hotel in town and there’s a large crowd gathered around blocking the road.”

Braeburn looked at the other two, who simply shrugged.  “Wait right here until we come back,” Braeburn said to the driver as they all climbed out of the carriage and walked over to the edge of the crowd.  It seemed as though everypony in Appleoosa was out in the intersection where the hotel was, and all were looking up at the top level where the suites were, particularly at one large window standing five floors above ground.

Cold Steel and Coal Dust were in the crowd towards the back and waved to Braeburn and the others.  Braeburn noticed them and Applejack, Twilight, and the carriage driver followed him over to where they were standing.

“Any idea what’s going on here?” Braeburn asked.

“I just got here myself,” Steel replied.  “However, there’s been word that a farmer named Wheat Stalk around here got harassed by some of the guard looking to take his crops for their own.  Said they were commandeering it by Blueblood’s orders.  Now, he wasn’t the strongest-looking guy, so I understand when he backed down from a fight initially, but he decided to take it to Blueblood himself.”

“How come there’s such a huge crowd here, though?”

“A few of them are supporters of Wheat Stalk,” Coal Dust replied.  “Most are involved in making it into bread somewhere down the line.  A few others are his family and friends in town.  The rest didn’t even know about the incident, yet already ideas between them are mixed.”

“Mixed?”

“Some think that Blueblood and his committee will help make Appleoosa more prominent on the map,” Steel explained.  “Others are also complaining of getting harassed by the guards and don’t want him here any longer.  I’ll admit Blueblood making this place more noticed sounds tempting, but after what he did in Dodge Junction, I don’t like it one bit.”

“We had enough trouble back there,” Coal Dust agreed.  “I just want a place where I can settle and not worry about

“It’s a lot worse than that,” Braeburn said.  “The train’s been waylaid in Dodge Junction and we’re assuming it’s his work.  My friend Twilight here has a connection with Princess Celestia and would have written her a letter explaining the situation, but now she’s stuck here after the train had a fuel leakage.”

“Certainly sounds like a lot more than a coincidence if there’s a student of Celestia here,” Coal Dust said, bringing a hoof to his chin as the ponies turned back towards the hotel suite.

The suite had a large enough window that some of the action could be seen from outside.  Blueblood was sitting in a chair with Captain Lancer next to him while a tan pony with a stalk of wheat for a cutie mark was pacing back and forth, likely trying to explain himself.  No one could hear anything from inside the hotel suite, though Blueblood eventually turned his eyes out of the window and down on the crowds below.  He let it linger there for a while before turning his eyes back towards the pony.

There was a long period of inactivity.  Eventually, Blueblood turned to Lancer and nodded.  Lancer pointed his spear at the pony and two unicorns came up on either side of him.  Both of them took hold of a leg with his magic before walking over to the window with the tan pony flailing around between them, unable to move from two golden auras surrounding his forelegs.  The pony was swung backwards, forwards, backwards, forwards, backwards…

The glass shattered as the tan pony launched out of the window.  Ponies closer to the window started fleeing and scattering in all directions as the streets erupted in shouts of panic and fear.  Broken glass started falling from the shattered window and eventually the tan pony himself crashed on the ground below with a few audible cracks and bleeding scratches from where he was hit by broken glass or the window.  A few ponies came up to him and started nudging him, but the pony wouldn’t respond.  Eventually a few others hoisted him onto their backs and started leaving as fast as they could to take him to a hospital.

Braeburn hardly thought twice.  “You bastards!” he shouted and pulled out the revolver, firing four times at the broken window and causing Applejack, Twilight, Cold Steel and Coal Dust to duck down and cover their heads with their hooves.  The first one, aimed at Blueblood and Lancer, missed as the two ducked out of the way behind the wooden walls.  Two more missed, but the fourth shot hit one of the unicorns in the horn.  The grey horn cracked then snapped off, falling five stories down and landing on the street before getting trampled by more of the panicked ponies.  The unicorn whose horn was broken fired off three shots of stored magical energy, two out the window and a third blasting a hole in the ceiling.

“What the hell was that!?” Applejack exclaimed.

“You broke his horn with that damn thing!” Coal Dust shouted.  “Even I know that’s the most sensitive part on the unicorn’s body!  He won’t be able to do magic for weeks even if the horn is reattached!”

Braeburn didn’t even turn to look at them.  He kept looking at the unicorn up in the suite, screaming in pain as his horn continued fizzling with magical energy.  “Were you and I even looking at the same thing!?” he nearly shouted back.  “Those bastards threw Wheat Stalk out of a five-story building, and from the looks of things I doubt he survived.  If something isn’t done, there’s gonna be more than just broken horns around here.”

“That’s true,” Twilight said, “but couldn’t you have been a little more civil about it?”

Braeburn almost seemed to ignore Twilight.  He holstered the revolver and started walking through town.  “I’ll meet you back at the farmhouse.”

That evening, long after Braeburn had returned home and shut himself up in his bedroom, Wheat Stalk was pronounced dead by blunt force trauma after falling five stories from the hotel suite.  The news was aired on the local radio station, along with an announcement from Blueblood that he didn’t feel sorry for him but would be repaying the hotel keeper for the damage to the window.

Braeburn felt that wasn’t enough.

Chapter 1 - The Lone Stallion

It took a few days before Braeburn finally poked his head out of the farmhouse.  The stallion went to his barn early in the morning and checked the apple supply temperatures, still hovering around 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and brought a few out in a bucket and took them up to the kitchen.  The apples were diced and placed into a few bowls, the knife in Braeburn’s hoof slamming down on the counter hard enough to cause small grooves to appear.  It wasn’t long before Braeburn had some apple turnovers in the oven and a few diced apples in a salad.  By the time Twilight and Applejack had woken up, Braeburn had finished making the morning meal and was drinking a glass of cider along with his serving.

“You’re drinking already?” Applejack said.  “I have half a mind to take away your key and lock up the cider storage.”

“Calm down,” Braeburn said, “it’s the non-alcoholic version.  Like the apple juice you make at home but with a little extra spice and a little more natural sweetness.  If you want some for yourself, there’s a small keg in the fridge.”

Applejack looked in the fridge and saw the keg.  She shrugged and got two mugs for herself and Twilight and filled them up before setting them both down at the table.  It was only after Twilight tasted hers for any traces of alcohol – and finally noted that there really wasn’t any – that the two finally went to go get their plates for breakfast and sat down to eat.

“Why are you so on edge today?” Braeburn said.  “That stint at the bar was an extremely rare occurrence.  The last time I drank that much was at the Apple Family Reunion back in Baltimare, and even then I had no idea someone spiked it.”

“Because you’ve been too reckless lately,” Applejack spat.  “First you killed the robber, then you shot the pegasus’ wing, then there was the unicorn falling off the cliff, then shooting the other unicorn’s horn, and then drinking yourself sick.  And this behavior isn’t even in most ponies lifetimes; you have it over the course of a few months, and the last ones were in a matter of weeks!  Is there anything else stupid you’ve done lately?”

Braeburn took a bite of salad and shrugged.  “I might have nearly beaten a prospector to death after he tried to—”

Braeburn’s explanation was cut off by a horrified gasp from Twilight.

“You nearly beat somepony to death!?” Applejack exclaimed.  “Braeburn, what has gotten into you?”

“Now hold on a minute, cousin Applejack!  You didn’t even let me finish!  The pony in particular was a prospector who was trying to get at the gold vein under my orchard.  He and a companion trespassed on my property and knocked over two trees trying to get at the gold.  Now, normally if I found out about it soon enough, the trees could be replanted, but with the heat I couldn’t put them back in and get them both to survive.”

“That is no reason to go around beating up ponies, though!” Applejack scolded.  “You could have put a lasso around him and called for Sheriff Silverstar to come around here.”

“Listen to me, Applejack.  Silverstar is a good pony, but he has done nothing ever since Blueblood’s arrival.  He didn’t come around last to make sure we were okay, he came around because the townsponies were complaining of gunfire!  He wasn’t present at the time Wheat Stalk was thrown out the window, and he hasn’t even tried to speak with Blueblood to get him to stop.”

“Quit talkin’ about now and let’s talk about then!  Why didn’t you call Silverstar then?”

“Look at you!  You’re trying to divert the subject!  That means you admit that as of late Silverstar has been useless!”

“Because I’m not talking about now!  Why didn’t you call him then?”

“Because by the time I had reached them myself two of my apple trees were dead!” Braeburn roared.  “I had the biggest crop of apples and the biggest profit I’ve ever had and these prospectors were killing off my orchard as though it meant nothing!  I bet you they found out about Blueblood in Dodge Junction and made their way over there and told him of the gold store under my orchard!”

“Well, now, you’re just goin’ crazy and makin’ assumptions,” Applejack said.  “I realize you’re mad because they took down two of your trees, but what good is it to go around assumin’ things like them going over and telling Blueblood?  I bet you sooner or later Blueblood and his men would have come digging around here even if the prospectors didn’t come here!”

Braeburn sighed.  “You just aren’t seeing things from my angle, are you?” he said.

“And you aren’t seeing things rationally at times,” Applejack countered.  Her voice had softened, though Braeburn could tell her anger was not yet abated.  The mare sighed.  “Maybe in those situations you were in the right, but that doesn’t mean you went about them with the right mind.  I’m just saying you could have tried a different route.”

Braeburn looked over to Twilight, over to her violet eyes.  “Twilight… please say you believe me.”

The mare went red, though Braeburn could somehow tell it wasn’t from flattery like she had been before.  “Braeburn… when I first met you, you were a charming, personable pony.  But no amount of believing is going to help me get over the fact that you’ve been reckless and even a danger to be around.”

Applejack took a moment to look over at Twilight, still staring at Braeburn seemingly conflicted over whether or not she should look at him lovingly or if she was afraid of him, then turned to the stallion.  “Braeburn, you’re my cousin and I love you dearly.  But I don’t think we can stay here much longer.”

“Where are you going to go if you can’t stay here?”

“We’ll find a spot in the hotel.  I’m sure we can get a room for a decent price or tell them we’ll pay them back later.”

Braeburn sat quietly for a minute, then nodded.  “Alright, let me call a carriage for you.”

“No!” Applejack shouted, causing Braeburn to jump but not flinch.  “You’re just trying to get back on our good side again and make it where you’ll be able to get us to stay.  Well, I’m not havin’ any part of that serpent talk!”

“Now, Applejack!” Braeburn said, sitting up from the table.  “That’s a blow below the belt.  I haven’t gone and insulted you that way ever!”

“I’m sorry, Braeburn,” Applejack said, “but I’m not one to skirt around the facts.  Come on, Twilight.  We’re packing up and leaving before this damn fool gets us into any more trouble.”  And she left the kitchen, Braeburn listening to her hoofsteps as she walked down the hallway to the guest bedroom.

Twilight slowly got up out of her chair at the table and seemed hesitant to leave.  Braeburn walked over to her as the mare pulled her head away.  Braeburn took a hoof to her chin and pulled it back to his own.  He could see the fear in her eyes, a feeling of being trapped and alone… with him, and yet there was something awestruck and mesmerized by him.  He was so close to her and wanted to kiss her so bad, yet restrained himself.

“You promised you would send the letter to the Princess,” Braeburn whispered.  “Even if you can’t reach Celestia, you’re still here.  Please… I need your help.”

Twilight’s eyes were watering.  “Please… don’t make this any harder on me.”

“Twilight… I love you.  Please don’t go.”

“I don’t want to…”  Twilight’s voice quivered.  “…but Applejack’s right.  I can’t stay.”

“It’s not fair,” Braeburn responded, barely raising his voice.  “Applejack isn’t the final say.”

“I know, but… she’s the most honest pony I know.  I can’t just cast her advice aside.”

“Open your eyes, Twilight.  Circumstances aren’t the same now as they were a few months ago.  Maybe if they were this wouldn’t be a problem.  But, for now, all we can do is dream and act until Blueblood realizes what he’s doing.”

Twilight’s eyes closed and she turned away as Braeburn came in for a kiss.  Braeburn stopped, noticing the mare had turned away, then gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Dreaming can’t make it go away, Braeburn,” Twilight said as she pulled away from the stallion.  “But neither will going to such extremes.”  Then she turned and walked out of the kitchen and down the hall as fast as she could.

Applejack and Twilight left the farmhouse later that same morning without even saying goodbye to Braeburn.  Their stuff was packed and they started walking with their saddlebags in the direction of Appleoosa.  Braeburn watched them leave, a mug of cider in his hoof, staring hard at Twilight and feeling a sense of loss and betrayal.

* * *

A few more days passed.  A large area had been surrounded by a fence put up one mile outside Appleoosa and was viewable from the river and the ridge on Braeburn’s farm.  Everypony knew where the wood was coming from, even though the trains never passed through anymore; they always left from the same direction they came.  Within the fence stood a simple but rather neat house easily as large as Braeburn’s house and barn combined on one floor, and another structure had a foundation set and a first floor completed.  Coincidentally, the suite on the top floor of the hotel in town was evacuated by Blueblood and his men and two new patrons had eventually taken the room for themselves.

The construction caused more than its share of problems among the residents.  The townsponies were getting irritated with Blueblood’s guards stalking around the city and harassing them for food and money.  A few even went to the sheriff’s office to see about getting them off the land.  However, Sheriff Silverstar ended up making excuses as to why nothing was done: the construction was just over a mile away which meant it was perfectly legal, the guards were making the town safer than before, and Blueblood simply had more power than he did being a government official.  Even worse, Braeburn thought, was the fact that a few of the townsponies actually sided with Blueblood and Silverstar; a few had gone to work with him in the construction of the complex outside of town and came back singing praises about the pay and the conditions.

Matter of fact, it seemed to Braeburn that Blueblood was getting more supporters by the day.  Braeburn, the other farmers, and their families were against Blueblood due to constantly being harassed about giving up their land or giving their crops over to Blueblood and his men.  A large number of shopkeepers, however, had started approving of Blueblood and his men due to them getting more business than they had in years, though Coal Dust and his family managed to gain a few supporters at their forge.  Even the sheriff’s department was enjoying it because they said that Blueblood’s men helped them with the patrol; only Cold Steel and his family refused to buy in to Blueblood and his men.  It was with these divisions that the town became split in the matter of Blueblood, some arguing for his cruelty and harassment being grounds to get kicked out, while others said they were small setbacks and otherwise he was helping.

At a town meeting it was quite clear that it was not helping.  Profits for the farmers had gone down and imports from other cities and towns were going up, causing Appleoosa to go into debt for the first time in seven years.  Instead of attracting money to the town, Blueblood was drawing it away, though his supporters argued that his work was just starting and it would eventually give back to the town once it got underway.  A fight ended up breaking out among the ponies that resulted in a few from each side getting taken to the hospital.

Braeburn had feigned being sick and not attended the meeting, feeling the town had become a bunch of fools and likely wouldn’t agree on anything.  Any information he knew about it was gained from the newspaper, the radio, and getting other information from the other farmers that had gone to the meeting.  Braeburn continually told himself he had seen this coming ever since Blueblood had come into town, though only now were the ponies starting to realize this was the case.

Despite his anger, Braeburn kept relatively quiet and took no further reckless moves against Blueblood and his men.  He carefully avoided the guards when he went to town and took extra care to make sure he didn’t look suspicious.  He simply went about his usual routine of getting his groceries, getting any broken tools repaired, and posting up his notification that he was about to begin digging the trenches for the upcoming rainy season and letting ponies know he would be paying any of those who helped out that year.  Four names were placed on the notice by the end of the day: three of them were Cold Steel, Coal Dust, and a young brown colt named Quick Draw, an avid marksman who likely was looking for extra money to help out with his mother’s shop in town.  The fourth was Twilight Sparkle.

Braeburn smiled to himself as he saw the name.  Either Applejack was finally starting to see what he was seeing or the mare had done it on the sly.  Either way, it was a chance to see her again.  Perhaps that was part of the reason that he had not been so reckless lately; there was no one around to protect, no one around to enjoy himself with.  Ever since she left, Braeburn had felt so drained and longed to see her again, though Applejack and Twilight had seemed to distance themselves from him so much lately since the shooting at the hotel.  Braeburn admitted that he acted rashly and quickly, and regretted the decision now that he saw what the consequences were.  No matter, Braeburn thought to himself, as digging the trenches will show them that I’m back on track and have calmed down again.

No new names were placed on the notification the next day, though a different piece of news arrived that Braeburn found particularly interesting.  After returning from town, Braeburn noticed a letter had arrived to his house that had no return address.  Braeburn opened up the letter in the kitchen and found three interesting things about it.  First was that it was written in a very neat handwriting on very expensive personalized stationary; a compass rose was in the bottom right corner and the paper had a gold edge around it and a slight silver tint on each of the corners.  Second was the fact that it was sent from none other than Prince Blueblood himself.  Thirdly was that it didn’t seem to be angry or mad at him at all.

Braeburn Apple:

I am sorry that our time together has gotten off on the wrong hoof.  If you would not mind, I would like to make it up to you.  This coming Tuesday, I will be coming at 11:00 in the morning in a private train car to Appleoosa.  If it pleases you, I would like you to join me for tea on the train, a tour around the changes I’ve made to Dodge Junction, and lunch at my personal suite and work area.  Rather than drawing blades at each other’s throats, I want this to be a peaceful and pleasant gathering and will promise you now that no guard will attack you.

Prince Blueblood – LMC.

Blueblood was willing to talk.  The thought amused Braeburn greatly.  The prince had been so stuck up and refusing to listen to him every other time they had met, yet now he was willing to talk.  Yet it occurred to Braeburn that he was not going to be easily swayed; it wasn’t stated exactly though Braeburn assumed that the entire point of the trip was to convince him to hand over the deeds by making what he was doing sound good for Appleoosa.

Still, it would be an entertaining venture if nothing more.

* * *

On Tuesday of the next week, Braeburn decided he would take up Blueblood’s offer.  Pulling together the deeds and hiding the revolver inside his vest, Braeburn locked up and called a carriage to head to the train station.  He was there half an hour early, though Blueblood was already there speaking with a few of his guards.  As he noticed Braeburn approaching, he cut off his conversation and went up to Braeburn, holding a hoof out in front of him.  Braeburn approached and took the hoof.

“I’m glad you could take up the offer, Braeburn,” Blueblood said, sounding genial.

“I also would like to stop the bad blood between us,” Braeburn replied.  “I figured it wouldn’t hurt to talk.”

“And, as I said before, the deal stands.  If I order my men to attack you, you may pull out a gun and shoot me.”

“Well, I have a feeling it won’t come to that,” Braeburn said, “so I left it in a safe spot back at home.”

Blueblood nodded before gesturing to the train at the station.  It was a different sort of vehicle than the normal steam engines that traveled through; the white cars with a blue line down either side were sleek and streamlined with a distinct rounded point on each end.  There were two cars in the middle and one of the “engines” was placed on both ends, rounded edges out.  “Now, usually, the journey to Dodge Junction takes one day, but since this is considered something of a government trip, this electric engine should get us there in about an hour.  Not as much time starting up and it will go faster than any other engine you can imagine.”

Braeburn nodded.  “I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen one of them before.”

“Well, now you get to ride in one,” Blueblood said, placing a hoof around Braeburn’s shoulders.  “Come along, then.  We wouldn’t want to keep you waiting too long.”

Braeburn nodded and followed Blueblood into the car.  The carpets were made of a soft fabric that felt good on Braeburn’s worn hooves and the stallion was greeted by a blast of cold air followed by a comfortable temperature once the doors closed.  Inside the car were a few tables and a small bar area, along with a set of stairs that could be taken to a second floor.

Blueblood walked up the stairs and up to the second floor area where a special table had been laid out.  The table was long and thin and covered with a pristine white tablecloth, on top of which there was a large porcelain teapot and two rather large teacups.  In the middle were small bowls containing sugar and cream, as well as a plate of small crackers, finely sliced cheeses, very as well as an assortment of vegetables and fruits.  Blueblood sat himself down at one side of the table and Braeburn picked up a seat across from him.

One of Blueblood’s men walked over.  “Shall I tell the engineer we’re ready to leave?”

“Yes; I know it’s early, but tell him it means a longer lunch break later,” Blueblood said.

The guard nodded and went down the stairs, presumably leaving the car.

“Does he really get that break?” Braeburn asked.

“Oh, certainly,” Blueblood replied.  “I can’t have morale down among those who work for me.  It keeps them working longer and harder if I give them the little extra incentives.”  Blueblood’s horn glowed and soon the teapot was being levitated towards Braeburn.  “Chai tea with vanilla?”

“Never had it before, but I’ll try it.”

Blueblood nodded and soon a slightly caramel-colored liquid was being poured into Braeburn’s cup and filled it maybe three-quarters of the way full.  Blueblood poured the same into his own cup and began pouring some cream into his tea before the train started moving.  It wasn’t long before they were already out of Appleoosa and gliding along the tracks, Braeburn adding a small amount of cream to his own tea after finding he liked the taste of it.

“You could always take off your hat,” Blueblood said.

Braeburn touched the rim of his Stetson.  “You mean this?  It’s a gift from my pa.  I’m not risking leaving it anywhere.  And besides… it fits nice and keeps my head cool.”

Blueblood nodded.  “Fair enough.  I’m supposing you don’t take outings like this often?”

“If you’re meaning with a government official,” Braeburn said, “then I never have.  If you’re meaning small vacations, I hardly have time.”

“Ah.”  Blueblood took a sip of his tea and started placing some crackers, cheese, and vegetables on his plate.  “Now, while small talk is plenty excellent, I’m assuming you realize from the letter that isn’t the point.  What I would like to do is get to know a little more about you and your town as we make our way to Dodge Junction.”

“Fair enough.  Where do you want me to start?”

“At the founding of Appleoosa, preferably.”

“Alright.  I had been living at my relative’s farm in Ponyville ever since I was about seven.  That’s when my father died, and the closest living relative was my Granny Smith, along with her two grandchildren: Big Macintosh and Applejack.  Anyways, I’d been living there for a while when I got the idea to start my own farm.  What with all the hills around, Ponyville ended up not being the most decent place to start one.  I gave up for a little while for reasons unknown and took up exploring the deserts.”

Braeburn took a grape and placed it in his mouth; likely it was the sweetest one he had ever tasted.  “After a while, I came upon a small town that hadn’t really been started up yet; they were building the first few houses but had no protection and less food.  Well, I found a couple of nice pieces of fertile land and planted a few trees from the seeds that Granny Smith gave me.  Working on a farm a few years gave me some experience in that field, so I helped out another farmer start planting a whole bunch of vegetables and got another started on some wheat fields.”

Braeburn had a cracker with some cheese; the cracker was slightly salty with a slight crunch while the cheese almost melted in his mouth.  “After those other two farmers and I had started up our farms, ponies started believing the town could make it.  A saloon was built, as was a baker and a miller.  Soon there was a hardware store and a forge sprang up soon afterwards, along with a sheriff’s office to make sure nopony was out of line.  It wasn’t long before mineral deposits were found due to the river that ran by the town and we had at least five hundred ponies by the end of the year.”

Blueblood smiled approvingly as he took another sip of his tea; he had patiently waited until Braeburn was done speaking, allowing his story to complete before speaking himself.  “Now, I must say I’ve heard a lot of stories about you from the townsponies, almost all of them good.  Though, one particular incident stands out to me: the buffalo.  Mind telling me what happened there?”

Braeburn continued picking at the food as he continued speaking.  “Well, as congratulations for starting up the town, my cousin Applejack came over with some of her friends to bring an apple tree to place in my orchard.  Things were going swell until the buffalo started intruding; apparently, we had built our town on their migration route and they didn’t take kindly to them.  I’ll spare you the details, but I eventually managed to find one of the buffalo that was as eager to talk things out as we were.  The buffalo were about to attack Appleoosa as we were making a compromise, and eventually we got things sorted over with the leader, a certain Chief Thunderhooves.  He agreed to the compromise and stopped the attack on Appleoosa.  All we had to do was to clear out and move a single row of trees from the apple orchard to make room for their stampedes.  It worked well and we haven’t had a conflict since.”

By the time Braeburn had finished, the train had arrived at Dodge Junction and glided so smoothly to a stop that Braeburn hardly felt it.  Blueblood got up from the table and motioned for Braeburn to follow him out of the train and into the station.

The station was the first thing that Braeburn noticed.  It was completely covered now in finely polished wood floors and flawless tile walls, mostly white though one wall was decorated with a mine shaft with the sun behind it while another had a view of Canterlot from a distance.  Ponies traveled back and forth under the multi-colored glass roof, the sun shining down and bathing the floor of the enclosed station in multiple hues of blue, purple, red, and gold.  The temperature in the station was warmer than that of the car but still comfortable.

“I figured Dodge Junction needed some improvements to keep itself on par with the rest of Equestria,” Blueblood said, “so why not start with the basics?  Let them enter and be amazed at what they see and it will convince them to stay around longer.”

Braeburn was amazed, though in the back of his mind he was trying to figure out how much it would cost to be able to build such a thing.

Outside of the station were tall buildings, nowhere near the size of those in Manehattan or even Baltimare, though much larger than the hotel in Appleoosa.  All were cleanly whitewashed then painted over with blue and gold accents, not to mention having evenly spaced windows all along the sides of the buildings and glass double doors as entryways into gold-accented granite lobbies.  Some advertised apartments to rent, while others held businesses and others held restaurants and shops.  Braeburn had been to Manehattan before for a reunion, but the cleanliness of it all still surprised and amazed him, not to mention the continued construction of more buildings and repaving of the original dirt roads that had once traveled through there.

Blueblood led Braeburn over to a carriage that had two rather large unicorn guards saddled up to it.  Another guard opened the door and motioned them both in.  Braeburn stepped in and sat on the plush set covers as the door was closed and the carriage started off through the streets.

“It’s a short ride to the mining company quarters where my quarters are and where we’ll be eating lunch,” Blueblood said.  “I often enjoy going to some of the restaurants around here on my days off; there’s an excellent place around here that grills the vegetables so well they are well cooked but retain all the flavors and nutrients.”

“I’ve never tried cooking them that way,” Braeburn said, thinking of nothing else to say.

“Anyways, what do you think of the town now?” Blueblood said.  “It’s not just your rough and tumble town anymore.  Now, the land is being put to use.  The size has at least tripled since the last rodeo and gun show that was hosted here two years ago and the ponies here are thriving.  If you look out the window in a few minutes, you’ll see the new housing set up.”

Gradually, as Blueblood said, the buildings became smaller and smaller and eventually the streets became filled with houses that were the size of Braeburn’s farmhouse at the smallest.  Even then, the houses also contained sometimes a basement or a second floor, in addition to small personal gardens and lawns out in front.  Tall shade trees dotted the landscape and brought relief from the hotter afternoon sun, and every once in a while a new building appeared; a coffee shop, a local grocery store, a small restaurant or café, smaller clothing and home goods stores.

“What do you think of the sites so far?” Blueblood asked.

“Well, it certainly looks nice,” Braeburn admitted.  “And it’s far cleaner than anything in Appleoosa.”

“I do try to keep the streets and houses clean,” Blueblood said.  “We won’t be passing them the route we’ll be taking, but there’s more than enough schools and parks that are nearly as high as the standards in major cities like Baltimare and even Canterlot.”

“And it’s all very organized,” Braeburn commented.  “Twilight would approve.”

Blueblood smirked, but it soon simmered down to a simple smile.  “How interesting that you would note Twilight,” he said.  “I spoke with her a few days ago and she said she wanted nothing to do with me.  I let her go her own way, but it is interesting how you put forth that Twilight would approve when she, from the last time I checked, doesn’t.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Braeburn said.  “She hasn’t spoken with me since I shot your guard.”

Blueblood pshawed and waved his hoof.  “Can’t we put that behind us?  I’ve already stated I wanted no bad blood between us.  And besides, his horn will heal.  He’s being treated by some of the doctors at the hospital here, which I assure you is held to the same standards as everything else.”

“What of your mine?”

“Haven’t had an accident and all workers have gotten ample sick days.  At the very least it isn’t something like coal that would be worse for the health if you breathe it in.”

“Yet coal has more functional and practical use.”  Braeburn gestured to the buildings outside.  “Most of what you have is functional and practical.  Your layouts, your cleanliness, the repaving of the roads, and yet some things are simply extravagant: the gold accents, the granite tiles, the multi-colored glass.”

“It has its usage, I assure you,” Blueblood said, “aesthetically in terms of making things look more pleasing to the eye, and keeps the same functionality.  Sometimes, with the darker colors like blues or reds, it prevents people from looking in and makes things less conspicuous.”

“A pair of drapes would cost less,” Braeburn said.

Blueblood opened his mouth to speak, yet no words came out.  He shut his mouth and gave an acknowledging nod, though Braeburn had the slight feeling that he wasn’t actually paying attention to him.

Eventually, a much larger building began rising above the otherwise suburban neighborhood.  This one had floors painted in alternating shades of dark green and a light beige color.  The top floor was much smaller and painted beige and stood maybe six floors high.  It was here that the carriage pulled up to and another guard opened the door so that Blueblood and Braeburn could get out.  Blueblood motioned for Braeburn to follow him and the two went inside.

The lobby of the place was plainer than the buildings that Braeburn had seen by the station though it had its touches of decadence.  The wood floors were polished so finely it shone, a glass chandelier hung overhead with bunches of smaller golden lights that hit the glass and sent miniature rainbows all over the lobby.  The main counters marking the reception desks were covered in a fine granite surface and had gold trim along the edges and corners.  Braeburn was led over to an elevator and found more of the granite tiles inside the elevator, along with a gold railing around the outside.  Blueblood punched a button on the elevator’s console and the elevator began smoothly making its way upwards.

“Where are we now?” Braeburn asked.

“This is the mining company’s and my management committee’s main offices,” Blueblood said.  “Here is where we have meetings determining the quality and efficiency of the mine, do paperwork to send to Canterlot, and see about what land spaces can be appointed for what work or jobs.  We’re currently heading to my offices and quarters on the top floor.”

The rest of the ride was quiet until a small ping sounded and the doors opened on the opposite side of where they entered.  Braeburn followed Blueblood out of the elevator and into a large entryway that was filled with carpet instead of wood or tiles. In front of Braeburn was a long hall with two doors on either side and a door at the end of the hall.  Blueblood led Braeburn to the first door on the right, which opened up into a large dining room with windows looking out over the reformed Dodge Junction and where two place settings were set up at a fancy wooden table.  Braeburn sat down at one of the spots while Blueblood positioned himself at the other and a few ponies that Braeburn assumed were servants began bringing out bowls of hot soup and cold salad garnished with expensive dressings, along with a plate of steaming fresh bread.

Blueblood arranged a napkin over his chest before using his magic to levitate spoonful’s of soup to his mouth.  Braeburn was a little sloppier, though managed to properly grip a spoon in his hoof and ate slowly; for some reason, he had not been feeling very hungry that day despite the fact that everything tasted better.  Perhaps he was still on edge, and Blueblood had yet to show any real signs of hostility much like he had promised.  Even so, there was something that Braeburn was sure Blueblood was not showing him.

“So, Braeburn,” Blueblood said after they started eating.  “I want you to tell me what you think of my improvements.”

“Of what I’ve seen,” Braeburn responded, “I haven’t seen much bad.  The homes are neat and nice, the buildings are near those I’ve seen in Baltimare or Manehattan, everyone seems to have some amount of wealth stored away, and everyone seems to be living quite well.”

“Yet your earlier statement betrays your real opinion.  I’ve arranged this meeting so that we can be honest with each other.  So tell me what is it that you were questioning?”

“You’ve only shown me the best parts of your city.  You showed me a thriving downtown, a calm suburban neighborhood, and a successful business headquarters.  But that’s all I’ve seen.  Dodge Junction could not have gone from frontier town to thriving metropolis in two years without something giving way.”

Blueblood laughed good-naturedly and smiled at Braeburn.  “You keep assuming the worst of me, Braeburn.  I don’t want to start up our old arguments for the sake of you saying I’m hiding something from you.  I’ve already told you: there are no guards and I currently have no weapon with me.”

“I didn’t say you were trying to ambush me,” Braeburn said.  He pushed away the remainder of the salad and the soup and leaned back in the chair he had been sitting in.  “What was the cost of such a large city renovation?  I’ll wager it was at least in the millions of bits.”

“Something around that mark, yes.”  Blueblood kept his smile though there was a look of confusion on his face.

“Have you paid off anything?”

“This very building you sit in,” Blueblood replied proudly.

Braeburn thought about it for a moment.  “That’s it?”

Blueblood gulped and Braeburn could see he was struggling to maintain the smile.

Braeburn nodded.  “How long, do you expect, will it take to pay off so much work done in so short amount of time?”

Blueblood shrugged.  “I’d wager a few years.”

Braeburn nodded again.  “That’s one of the things I don’t want for Appleoosa.  I don’t want to continually be paying a piece of my profits to someone who doesn’t even live there.  What I do with my farm is trade; I send out my apples, they give me money, and sometimes I pay them the money back to get things we otherwise don’t have.  That’s a trade.  A transaction.”

“It’s the same with our building projects here,” Blueblood said, his smile gone though still not malicious.  “We pay for their services, they build the buildings.  It’s a transaction, same as with you and your apples.”

“But it’s not the same,” Braeburn replied.  “I built my house from scratch.  I bought the wood, the paint, the stucco, the drywall, everything.  Sure, I might have hired another pony or two to help with the electricity and the air conditioning, but for the most part it was all my own.  Same with a fair amount of the ponies in Appleoosa.  We bought the items, we made the transactions, we built the homes and the stores.  When the transactions were through, that was it until we wanted another service.  But this… this is a binding contract.  They’ve sold themselves to paying off these buildings that will take years.”

“What do you think taxes do?” Blueblood deadpanned.

“I still pay my taxes,” Braeburn said.  “It’s what keeps the trains running so I can sell my apples.  But I owe nothing more on the house.  Appleoosa broke profit records every year after its first year.  So now, since we’re being honest, tell me how broke Dodge Junction is.”

Blueblood’s eyebrows finally started to register anger though his voice was still restrained.  “It will be paid off in twenty years.”

“Oh?  But what about the food that you’ll need to bring in?  Or the medical supplies, or the cooking materials, or the building materials, or the books, the papers, the machinery?  Will that debt ever be paid off since you shunted most of the original residents off the land?”  Braeburn folded his hooves and placed them on the table.  “Even the ponies in Canterlot buy my apples, Blueblood.  Take that away and one of their suppliers would be gone, as well as some of whatever money might have been coming into Appleoosa.  This doesn’t seem like much, but with a farm as big as I’ve had the last few years, it might be enough to call it a shortage.”

“I have spoken with you about moving the farm, haven’t I?” Blueblood asked.

“I have spoken with you about there being no other suitable fertile land large enough, haven’t I?” Braeburn returned.

Blueblood shrugged.

Braeburn exhaled loudly.  “Can I see your offices?”

Blueblood adjusted his collar.  “I don’t see why not.”

Braeburn gave a little smirk as Blueblood got up out of the chair and started walking off down the hall.  Braeburn followed him out of the dining room and off to the door at the end of the corridor opposite the elevator.  Blueblood took out a key with his magic and placed it in the door, unlocking it and opening the door before stepping inside.

Braeburn followed him in.  It seemed like a normal office; there was a desk with an inkwell pen and a container of ink, along with some stationary along with a few memos about things that were needed to be done.  Along one edge of the room stood a large oak bookcase filled with classic novels and modern books on cartography, geography, and geology.  Behind the desk was a chair that was crafted from leather and a red drape covering the window.

“Mind opening the window to get some sunlight?” Braeburn said.  “It feels a little dark in here.”

“I don’t really think that’s necessary…” Blueblood said.

“Now, now,” Braeburn said.  “If I remember correctly, it was your idea to be honest with each other.  If there’s something you’re hiding from me…”  Braeburn took out the revolver from his vest and pointed it at Blueblood, clicking it to let him know it was loaded.  “…then open that window and show me.”

Now Blueblood was panicking.  He adjusted his collar, hooves shivering as he did so, and he walked slowly over to a pull cord on the wall.  As he pulled the cord on the wall, the window opened and light streamed in, illuminating the tiny drops of sweat on Blueblood’s forehead as Braeburn walked over.

Whereas the city’s downtown and suburbs had been brightly colored, outside the window was a different story.  Large machinery rumbled and clanked outside the open window.  Everything, including the ponies, seemed to be covered in a layer of dirt and smoke and soot, but this was normal for a mine.  What really struck Braeburn was what lay in the distance, beyond the smoke and dust: a rundown neighborhood of houses of rotting wood, guards constantly patrolling the streets, abandoned buildings, and ponies that looked either starved or simply poor with barely enough to get by.

“What’s over in that direction?” Braeburn motioned with the revolver before training it back on Blueblood.

Blueblood gulped as he backed away into shadows behind the window drapes.  “That is the remnants of the old Dodge Junction,” he said.  “That is where all those who were opposed to me doing these renovations stayed.”

Braeburn looked out over the old city.  “It looks like almost all of the original residents,” he said.  “I’m guessing twenty-five percent of the city is in that one area?”

“Twenty-two percent,” Blueblood replied.  “We’ve had a few leaving the city entirely lately.  Some went off to Ponyville.  Some went off to the major cities to look for family.  And some even went to Appleoosa.”

“I know,” Braeburn said.  “Three of them worked on my farm this past harvest season.  They told me about the original state of Dodge Junction, about what you had done.  I’m guessing the rest of the city’s population has been called in from elsewhere; either personal contacts, those you owed favors to, or those who you wanted in support of your new little committee?”

“Minus the favors,” Blueblood admitted.

Braeburn nodded.  He clicked the revolver’s safety on and put it back in his vest.

“…you’re not going to shoot me?”  Blueblood’s voice was a mixture of surprise and relief.

“No.”  Braeburn said, pulling out something else from his vest to show Blueblood.  “I wouldn’t ever actually kill someone so close to the government as yourself.  But I can make it hell for you.”  Braeburn showed Blueblood the two deeds for Appleoosa and Dodge Junction.  “Were you looking for these?”

“Not me personally, no,” Blueblood said.

Braeburn didn’t believe him since he didn’t have the gun pointed at his head anymore.  “Take one last long look at them, Prince Blueblood, since this will be the last time you ever lay your eyes on them.”

Braeburn kept them out a little while longer, letting Blueblood look at them.  Just when the unicorn appeared to be ready to reach out and grab them, Braeburn rolled them up and placed them back in his vest with the revolver.  “Shall we return to Appleoosa?  You said you would escort me back, and I still won’t do anything to do so long as you keep your end of the bargain.”

Blueblood sighed and walked off to the elevator, Braeburn following behind.  As soon as the elevator doors closed, Blueblood turned to Braeburn.  “It’s not often I see somepony from the smaller towns put up such a fight as you have.  If this is going in the direction I think it’s going, it’ll be fun to see where things end up.”

Braeburn didn’t respond or even look at him.

No less than thirty minutes later, Braeburn was at the bar on the train with Blueblood, both drinking shots of a weak gin and tonic as the electric engines glided along the desert tracks back towards Appleoosa.  Neither talked to the other, only speaking to order another shot whenever they felt it convenient enough; Blueblood ordered three shots almost as soon as he got on the train, while Braeburn had the same amount throughout the entire trip.

Back at the station in Appleoosa, Blueblood and Braeburn walked back through the town until they came to the hotel, where Braeburn would turn off to go back to the farmhouse.

“If it ever came down to it,” Blueblood said before they parted, “would you kill me?”

“I’ve had more chances to than you realize,” Braeburn said.  “It simply has never been the optimal time to take any of them.”

Blueblood nodded, then continued walking down the street.  Braeburn turned and went back his own way to the farmhouse, noticing the face of Twilight Sparkle in the top-floor windows for a fleeting second before it disappeared into darkness.

Back at the farmhouse, Braeburn was thinking about getting himself a cold mug of cider, yet as he stepped into the kitchen, he realized something was wrong.  Drawers had been opened and shuffled through, the cabinets had been moved around and items inside were placed all over the counters.  The same happened with the end tables in the living room, as well as a chest of drawers.  The air was hot despite the air conditioner being on, and Braeburn walked over to see the back door was open.

Braeburn walked outside the door and noticed two unicorn guards walking away across the orchard.  Laughing to himself, Braeburn crept over to the ridge and pulled out the revolver, turning off the safety.  Two shots rang out across the orchard before Braeburn put the revolver away and dumped the two unicorns in the river, watching as they floated away downstream.

Chapter 14 - Imprisoned

The bells belonging to Appleoosa’s only steeple rang out their mournful tune, not to announce the hour but to announce a due to the dead.  A large group of ponies dressed entirely in black were marching through town, ignoring the desert heat that scorched them.  Most of those in the procession were not native Appleoosans; they stood along the side of the streets as the procession came into town, watching with a sort of curiosity as they entered and walked from the direction of the complex one mile outside town.

At the head of the procession were two guards, golden armor neatly polished and glinting in the sun as they solemnly lead the procession towards the train station.  Behind them were eight ponies carrying two coffins, four to a coffin and also dressed in their golden armor.  After them were Prince Blueblood and Captain Lancer, both dressed in black suits with black bow ties.  Behind them was a procession of what might have been at least twenty if not more of the guard, all dressed in black and wearing the status symbol of the fallen comrades.  At the back was a procession of four guards wearing black shirts under their golden armor as they wrapped up the procession.

At the station, Blueblood and Lancer stood on either side of a door leading into one of the electric train cars, while those who had attended the procession stood an equal amount on either side.  The guards at the front of the procession continued through the line of soldiers standing at attention on either side, guiding the ponies holding the coffin as they walked into the train, then followed the four guards at the back of the procession.  Once the guards were in with the coffins, the door closed and all the ponies outside the train saluted.  There was the sound of two whistles, one short and one long, then the train started and began picking up speed.  In no time at all, it had left Appleoosa and the procession long behind.

Once the train was gone, Blueblood walked out and through the procession with Captain Lancer at his side.  Two by two, the others fell in line until the new procession had formed four rows of men and started walking behind Blueblood and Lancer through Appleoosa and back in the direction of the compound.  Once the last of the procession had left Appleoosa, the bells stopped their tone and Appleoosa became completely silent and still.

“It’s a bit ironic, isn’t it?” Lancer spoke quietly to Blueblood as the group walked across the desert sands.  “We’re the ones that organized the mission that got them killed, knowing full well what would happen, and yet we now provide a funeral session and mourn for them as though it was unexpected.”

“It is not that it was unexpected,” Blueblood replied.  “I should have realized that Braeburn would not just leave those documents lying around.  It just seemed to go so well until he pulled the gun on me.  I wish I could have sent word to you sooner to get them out of there, but after that he wouldn’t let me out of his sight.”

“Yet still we mourn for them.”

“In this case, it is because I had a failure in judgement.”

“You’ve been outsmarted by a mere earth pony.”

Lancer was suddenly thrown against the ground, a bleeding spot on his face.  Blueblood had a red mark on his hoof.  “Don’t you speak of him that way!  He might be an earth pony, but no mere pony is able to pull something like that on us.  Don’t you remember what he said to us when we went to the farmhouse?”

“It was something about how he was going to stab us in the back and kick us while we were down.”

“…because we didn’t act first.  Don’t you see?  We’ve been slow to act; he made the first move by coming to us while we were still in the hotel suite, then pulled another fast one on us with the gun when we were at his house.  He knows how badly we want that site in his field, and he knows the length’s we’ll take to get it.”  Blueblood pulled out a cigarette and lighter with his magic, lighting the cigarette before putting it in his mouth and taking a puff.  “That’s why those two men died: I underestimated just how badly he wants us gone.”

Lancer finally pulled himself up from the ground and they continued onwards.  “Sir… are you beginning to regret coming here and building this compound?”

“No.  Not in the least.  You see, I might have admitted that Dodge Junction was broke, but I did not admit even close to the exact amount.  And now, with the deaths of those two men, I only have even more push to go for it.  Now it isn’t simply a matter of obtaining the gold on his property but making him pay for how unceremoniously he’s been treating my men.”

“You never told me where exactly you found the men.”

“They had been shot in the head and dumped into the river.  Their bodies floated a short way before sinking to the bottom.  A few of the men found them on their patrol around the complex and brought them back over.”

“Do you think he wanted the men disposed of where we couldn’t find them?”

“No, not us.  I don’t think he wanted Sheriff Silverstar to find them.”

“This has begun to interest me.  He keeps his actions hidden from the sheriff and yet has not been afraid to hide his actions from you.  By the same token, he has yet to harm an Appleoosan while your men he is not afraid of hurting or even killing; four of them are dead by his hooves.”

“Very true… however, this is a circumstance that I will have to look into later.”  Blueblood approached the entrance of the compound where two ponies were sitting and looking anxiously.  “It seems our guests have arrived.”

“Who are they?” Lancer asked.

“They know where precisely the gold is on Braeburn’s farm,” Blueblood responded.  “If we can leave the apple trees alone for the time being, perhaps we could come up with some sort of deal and be able to build a mine shaft on his property.  It is only a possibility, but it might be the safest one we have.  I don’t want to go through another funeral.”

* * *

Braeburn, for a lack of anything better to do, was sitting on his front porch in a wooden rocking chair he’d built himself.  His eyes were closed and he could feel the warmth of the sun coming down on him and he sat content in the chair.  He thought about going into town and heading to the bar or the saloon for a stiff drink or a salt lick, but he remembered what happened the last time he did that and stayed put.

It had been nearly a week since the train ride with Blueblood and two days since the bells had tolled for the fallen guards in Appleoosa.  Braeburn hadn’t seen any sign of them lately; no guards walked through Appleoosa and no pony ever came near his farm.  Sheriff Silverstar had stopped coming around to question Braeburn about the gunfire that had come from the orchards a few days ago, and whatever evidence there could have been was either dried up by the sun or had sunk into the ground.  Ever since the time when Silverstar came around to ask about the gunfire when Braeburn had shot down the pegasus, the farmer had always had his suspicions about the sheriff, though not enough evidence had come up to support Braeburn’s own claims.

It wasn’t long before Braeburn, who had started to doze off, was awakened by the sound of hooves approaching.  The stallion opened one eye lazily and blinked it a few times to clear his vision and looked down the road.  A single stallion was walking down the road towards Braeburn’s farm, and by the size and stature of the pony and the sight of a horn on his head, there was only one option who it could be.

“I thought I said you’d never be seeing the deeds again,” Braeburn said as he opened the other eye.  “So, I have to ask what brings you around here if that is the case.”

“You’re smarter than most, Braeburn,” Blueblood replied.  “I’ve hardly been able to match wits with you ever since I arrived.”

“You’re giving up?” Braeburn said.  “You’re leaving?”

“No,” Blueblood said.  “Not yet.  I first wanted to see if we could make a compromise.”

“It could be a dangerous thing,” Braeburn replied, “depending on how far you want to swing things in your favor.”  Braeburn picked himself up from the chair and walked towards Blueblood.  “It’s like how our little trip to Dodge Junction was just to serve as a way of trying to find the deeds.  I came home and saw that everything was out of order like it had been shuffled through after a promise that you wouldn’t pull a fast one on me.”  Braeburn walked until he was almost nose to nose with Blueblood.  “I wager you’re not sorry for that.”

“I regretted it,” Blueblood said.

“If only because you now have two more men dead.”

Blueblood nodded.  “That’s why I want the compromise.  I don’t want any more men dead; I’ve already had to send three guards home in coffins since my arrival.  So, I wanted to see if we could figure something out.”

Braeburn sized up Blueblood.  The unicorn was carrying nothing with him, but it was completely likely he could use magic if he so desired.  “Do you want to come inside for a drink while we talk this over?  I have a keg of non-alcoholic cider in the fridge if you want some.”

“I think I would,” Blueblood said.

Braeburn led Blueblood into the living room and invited him to sit on the couch while he went to the kitchen.  Once in the kitchen, Braeburn poured two mugs of fresh cider and brought them back to the living room where Blueblood was sitting on a comfortable armchair.  Braeburn gave him one of the mugs then returned to get his own, taking a sip of it as he entered the living room and sat down on the end of his couch away from Blueblood; only then did the unicorn take a sip of his own and relax in the chair.

For a long while, neither of them spoke.  They just sat around sipping the cider.  Much to Braeburn’s surprise, Blueblood genuinely enjoyed the cider, sipping it calmly though at an even pace that was faster than Braeburn’s own.  It wasn’t long before the unicorn had finished his, and while he looked ready to speak he waited until Braeburn had finished drinking his and had set down his mug on the coffee table alongside Blueblood’s before anyone said anything.

“It’s been a long time since I had a good mug of cider,” Blueblood said, a barely perceptible smile on his face.

“Don’t you get any up there in Canterlot?” Braeburn asked.  “I figured they’d have the best methods up there, what with all those fancy cooks and machinery.”

“You’d think,” Blueblood said.  “They do have some good ones, though.  One little restaurant – a pub, even – has an alcoholic one with a little honey and spice added in.  Good after a long day of work.  But nothing beats the homemade stuff.”

Braeburn smiled.  “Yeah, you can have all the money in the world, and yet sometimes it’s the homemade stuff that tastes the best.  I’ve never bought others’ cider; I’ve always made my own.  People buy my apples and make their own, but I’ve had yet to hear anyone find a better one.”

Blueblood nodded and the smile finally showed as he laughed.  “Well, you’ve got yourself another favorite,” he said.

Braeburn didn’t laugh and his smile faded.  “Well, you’re here to talk about a compromise, not cider,” he said.  “Of course, I’m willing to listen to an extent.”

“What extent?”

“If things seem a little too much in your favor, I’ll call off whatever deal you might have.”

Blueblood studied Braeburn’s face, though the stallion didn’t change his expression.  The unicorn nodded.  “Alright.  I suppose we can start with what you want.  This is your farm, after all, so I figure I should know my limits of what I can and can’t do.”

“If I were to have things my way, you’d do nothing but leave and I’d have my farm in peace,” Braeburn replied.  “But considering that’s not quite what a compromise is, I’ll give you a few boundaries: I can’t have another apple tree uprooted and I can’t have any of your men stealing from my farm.  They’ve harassed too many ponies out here for those acts to go unnoticed, I’m sure, considering you threw one of them out a window.”

Blueblood’s smile faded.  “Yes, I realize.  I haven’t since.  Which is more to say than for what you have done lately.”

“What?  Killing two of your guards after they trespassed on my property with your approval looking to steal the deeds for my farm and for Dodge Junction, which you still don’t have rightful claim over?  I hardly call that worse than what you’ve done.”

Blueblood opened his mouth, then shut it with a sigh.  “Fair point.”

“Back to the compromise: I’ve placed that I don’t want any more trees uprooted and I don’t want anyone stealing from my farm.  What exactly do you have in mind?”

“Are you going to place any more on the table?”

“I have to see if your offer is fair enough.”

“Alright.  I want to build a small shaft.  Not big, maybe twice as high as one apple tree at the biggest.  It would be entirely out of wood and contain a small elevator for ponies to go down and into the mines with.”

“Where do you plan on placing this building?”

“I’ve noticed you have a barren spot on your orchard where two trees might have once been.  They seem to be along a small path through the orchard.  It would be in that area, with a promise not to build within fifteen feet of the trees, as well as to not start expanding until we’ve gone at least twenty feet down.”

“Anything electrical?”

“Not with the river so close.  I’d get some of the strongest rope or wire I could handle and have a few ponies operate the elevator with a sort of crank.”

“How long do you expect to build?”

“Oh, the initial structure would take about two weeks after the digging, which I can have some do with shovels and pickaxes within about a week.”

“Alright, it seems fair.  I only ask one thing: wait three more weeks.  There is an annual flood that comes around this time of year, when the rains fall and the river overflows.  I need time to dig small trenches around the trees so that they absorb the nutrient-rich water from the river as well as the rainfall.  If you give me this, I won’t hinder your building a small mine-shaft on the property.”

Blueblood blinked, then rubbed his eyes with his hooves.  “You… you’re serious?”

“If there’s anything I disapprove of as you’re doing the construction, I will tell you and hopefully have your men change their tactics to accommodate.”  Braeburn held out his hoof.  “Do we have an agreement?”

Blueblood held out his own hoof.  “I think we do.  I’ll get my men to get their supplies ready, but we will not start anything – even preliminary preparations – until you give us the okay.”

Braeburn gave a small smile towards Blueblood though his eyes still studied him hard.  “Pleasure doing business with you.”

Blueblood nodded.  “Same to you.”

Blueblood left the house, and Braeburn watched him walk away.  As he watched Blueblood leave the premises, he noticed the unicorn turn back a fair way from the house as though looking to see if Braeburn was watching him.  When he presumed the coast was clear, he wiped his brow with a hoof, adjusted the collar and bowtie he had been wearing, then took off at a gallop, leaving nothing more than a trail of dust in his wake.

* * *

The day after Blueblood visited his house, Braeburn went to Appleoosa to find and tear down his posters.  He had gone through all of them and had torn down the last one when he noticed two things different about the list.  The second thing was that only one more name had been added to the list: Applejack.  The second thing was that he was being followed by a colt ever since he had taken down the first poster.

The colt was a few inches smaller than Braeburn, with a tan coat and two small revolvers in the shape of an “X” as a cutie mark and bright blue eyes.  He had on his own small hat similar to Braeburn’s and had a holster belted around his midsection, though it was currently empty.  “Are you not going to dig this year, Braeburn?” the colt asked.

Braeburn smiled as he looked at the colt.  “I’m sorry, Quick Draw.  This is a private affair now.  I really don’t think you should be getting involved in it.”

“Is it about Blueblood?” Quick Draw said.  “If it is, I want to join.”

“This is nothing for little colts to be involved in,” Braeburn said, turning back to the sign and raising a hoof to take it down.  “It’s a matter over land issues and over political and financial views, not some simple competition.”  The sign was taken off the board in which it was placed with a quick swipe of the hoof.

“Blueblood threw my father Wheat Stalk five floors out of the hotel window and mother keeps getting harassed over the land even after father is gone.  My father is dead over land issues and you want me to stand by?” Quick Draw asked.

Braeburn, who had started crumpling the sign to throw it in a nearby trash can, stopped in his tracks.  He turned to look at the young colt.  “How much do you know?”

“I saw you getting on the train with Blueblood and I heard about the gunshots that killed the two ponies,” Quick Draw said.  “I also saw Blueblood going over to your place yesterday afternoon.  If it’s something to do with Blueblood, I want to join to get back at him for what he did to my father.”

Braeburn finished crumpling up the paper and threw it away.  “You aren’t going to be getting any money for this job, let me make that perfectly clear.”

“If mother stopped getting harassed, we could make enough money to get by,” Quick Draw responded.

“Hardly even of age to hold a gun yet you already got your cutie mark with them,” Braeburn said thoughtfully.  “I suppose the extra help wouldn’t hurt.  At the start of next week, meet up at the barn before sunrise.  I’ll be letting the others know and you’ll all get filled in when we start.”

“Yes, sir,” Quick Draw said.  “Mother said she trusts you, Braeburn.  She says you’re the one who will help the town even if the sheriff hasn’t.”  Then he started walking away.

“I hope I can trust me,” Braeburn said to himself when he thought that the colt was sufficiently out of hearing range.

Braeburn’s next stop was the hotel.  He walked up to the hotel manager and asked which suite was currently in use.  When he got his answer, he walked up the stairs and walked down the dimly-lit hallway until he came upon a door labeled 502; the hole from the unicorn’s magic going haywire in 501 was still being repaired.  Braeburn knocked on the door three times then sat patiently outside and waited.

Braeburn was beginning to think that Applejack not speaking to him might have been a good thing lately when the mare herself opened the door.  She looked much more tired than she had been lately and even appeared weak.  She was surprised by the fact that Braeburn was currently standing in the door of the room.

“I saw your name on the list,” Braeburn said.

Applejack nodded.  “Come all the way into town to speak with your cousin and you don’t even say ‘hello’?”  She chuckled.  “It ain’t been easy out here.  The hotel manager and the restaurant owners have been fairly mellow and let us get away with a bit since Twilight’s a princess and all, but we need the money to pay for better food.”

“I won’t be giving you money for working this time,” Braeburn said.  “But I can send some groceries here if you need them.  You’re still family.”

Applejack nodded.  “You wanna come in?”

Braeburn walked into the room.  It looked similar to the suite Blueblood had taken, but the windows were currently drawn so that only a small patch of light came in and the place was a lot quieter and more organized.  Braeburn took a seat on one chair while Applejack took a seat on another.

“Where is Twilight?” Braeburn asked.

“She’s asleep,” Applejack replied.  “Hasn’t had much to do lately, so she’s been either practicing her magic from memory or sleeping.  She reads every once in a while, but she’s already exhausted the selection here at the hotel.”

Braeburn nodded.  “You don’t even look like you.”

Applejack sighed.  “I sent a letter to Big Macintosh saying I was trapped here for the time being and to help Apple Bloom get ready for school.  If necessary, she can spend some time with Rarity and her little sister Sweetie Belle.  I want to get back to work.  I wouldn’t have signed that sheet otherwise.”

Braeburn nodded.  “With recent turns of events, it’s becoming a private affair.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow.  “What do you mean?”

“Dodge Junction’s broke; millions of bits in debt that will take decades to pay off.  Problem is, Blueblood still wants to tear up my farm to get at the gold.  We proposed something of an agreement, but I have a feeling he’s going to use it for his own ends.  You know the saying; give somepony an inch and they’ll take a mile.  I’m afraid I’ve given him the inch.”

“What exactly did you propose to him?”

“He’ll build a small shaft on the property.  He’ll dig up the gold and carry it off without so much as disturbing any other tree on the orchard.  I would have trusted him if it weren’t for the fact that the bastard double-crossed me and tried to steal the deeds when we went away to Dodge Junction to see it.”

“What does it look like?”

“On the surface, it looks just like the nicer parts of Baltimare or Manehattan.  It’s got towering buildings, a quiet suburban neighborhood, successful businesses, and plenty of schools and museums.  But then you have the old town: an absolute wreck.  Ponies who were opposed to Blueblood initially now have to make a living as best as they can, and they can’t move to the new city because they’re so poor and oppressed.  That is what Appleoosa will turn into if Blueblood isn’t stopped.”

Applejack took off her hat and fidgeted with it in her hooves.  “So… I suppose this whole process of diggin’ the trenches is gonna be some sort of plan to get back at him?”

“Applejack… promise me you’ll tell no one.”

Applejack turned in the direction of the suite’s bedroom, then back to Braeburn.  “Not even Twilight?”

“If she’s still in, she’ll know eventually.”

Applejack nodded.  “What do you have in mind?”

“We’re gonna destroy the mine shaft after they’ve built it.”

“How are you plannin’ to do that?”

“I need you to build a large wooden box, maybe even two or three, and place them outside of the orchard on the ridge at the far edge overlooking the river.  We’re gonna take the dirt we shovel out from the orchard for the trenches and take the dirt up there.  Once we get the dirt up there, we’ll be able to dump it in the river.  The two apple trees that got torn up are down there, so what we’ll do is create a large barrier that will force the water to stop there.  Once the rains come and the floodwaters rise, that basin will be filled with rushing water and that shaft is going to be completely destroyed.”

Applejack gasped, then looked back to the bedroom as though to make sure Twilight hadn’t heard.  “Braeburn!” she exclaimed quietly.  “That… that’s just plain crazy.  Think of all the ponies you’re gonna hurt with that!”

“Think of the ponies that have been hurt so far,” Braeburn replied calmly.  “Think of Wheat Stalk, who got thrown out of the window.  Think of yourself and Twilight, who have been placed in mortal danger twice at the hooves of Blueblood’s men.  Think of the farmers who have been harassed by the men for food and supplies and shelter, who have also had attempts to kick them off their land.  Appleoosa isn’t the town it used to be, and I would wager elsewhere that Equestria isn’t the land it used to be, either.”

Applejack sighed.  There was something in her eyes that told Braeburn she wanted to fight it, that she wanted to complain and tell him he was wrong, but every time she started speaking the words failed to come out of her mouth.  Eventually she just gave up and didn’t even try to argue with him though she didn’t speak with him at all, either.

“Will you do it?” Braeburn asked.

For a moment, Applejack shook her head.  When she spoke, her voice was choking as though she was on the edge of crying.  “Couldn’t you have just tried to tell him to leave?  Couldn’t it be some other way?”

“I’ve tried telling him to leave, but he won’t listen,” Braeburn said.  “I can’t.  Applejack, he’s tried stealing my deeds just to be able to get at my land.  Whatever trust he might have cultivated in me was gone by the time I saw what happened to old Dodge Junction and when I returned to find two of his guards fleeing my house.  I could talk to him as much as I want, but I wouldn’t be able to believe a word from his mouth.”

Applejack nodded and a few tears rolled down her cheek.  She went over to her cousin and buried her face in the fur on his neck.  It was strange to Braeburn to see his cousin like this, normally so strong and stubborn but now breaking down.  He gently placed a hoof around her neck, pulling her close.

“I know it’s true,” Applejack said through sobs, “but I still don’t want to believe it.”

Braeburn eventually released her and put his hooves on her shoulders.  “I know it’s difficult, but can you do this for me?”

Applejack sniffed and wiped her face with a hoof.  She stared at Braeburn, looking back at her with what looked like concern though there was something extra in his eye, something she was afraid of.  “Alright,” she said.  “I’ll do it if you promise to stop actin’ so restless.  But please… please promise me you won’t go and do somethin’ stupid that puts us all in danger.”

“With Blueblood’s arrival,” Braeburn said, “I think that sentiment’s a little late.”

“Don’t remind me,” Applejack said.  She pushed herself away from Braeburn.  “I’ll get some supplies and come around to the barn to work on them.  I’ll probably bring Twilight along with me; it’ll give her somethin’ to do instead of us goin’ stir crazy.”

Braeburn nodded and turned to leave.  “Thank you, Applejack,” he said.  “Really, I mean it.”

Braeburn started walking towards the door.  He had opened the door and walked out when he heard Applejack make a sort of coughing noise.  Braeburn turned around to see Applejack walking up to him.

“Who are the others?” Applejack asked.  “The others who signed the list?”

“Remnants of the old Dodge Junction,” Braeburn replied.  “Those who made it out before it was too late to be drowned by poverty.  Except Quick Draw.  He’s the son of Wheat Stalk, and wanted to send a message to Blueblood to stay away from his farm.  I’m off to talk to them about this change next, though I’m sure they’ll want to be involved with it still.”

“He’s young, isn’t he?  He only got his cutie mark a few years ago.”

“I tried talking him out of it, but he was persistent.  I suppose he has a reason, but I’d prefer if he stayed out as much as possible.”

Applejack finally gave a sad smile towards Braeburn.  “I suppose you do still have a heart in there somewhere,” she said.  Then she closed the door before Braeburn could respond.

* * *

The following day, Applejack and Twilight had come out to Braeburn’s ranch and were in the barn building large wooden boxes.  Braeburn helped out Applejack with putting the box together while Twilight kept everything in place with her magic.  The four boxes constructed were seven feet by seven feet by seven feet with an open top.  After they were constructed, the three ponies covered the outside with pitch to seal the cracks, after which they covered them with a water-resistant seal.

“You sure this is gonna be enough to hold the dirt from the trenches?” Applejack asked.

“The canyon’s thin at that point and the river’s not very deep,” Braeburn said.  “Once the rains come, the whole basin gets flooded just on the idea that not enough water can filter through at one time.  It’ll work; if we have more, it’ll be easy enough to throw it in and no one will notice.”

The ponies were done by the end of the week and Twilight used her magic to move them to a specific place up by the place overlooking the river where Braeburn had first shot the robber.  A small amount of dirt was shoveled out to make the place where the boxes were slightly submerged and hidden by the land and was deep enough to the point where the ponies could lay down and not be seen from the orchards.  Once this was done, they returned home and none of them spoke about the wooden boxes.

The following week, Cold Steel, Coal Dust and some of his male relatives, Quick Draw, Applejack, and Twilight arrived at Braeburn’s farm and began digging the trenches.  Twilight was posted up by the boxes to help receive any dirt that came through.  Applejack, Cold Steel, and Coal Dust and one of his relatives were attached to four carts that would transport the dirt from the orchards to the ridge.  Braeburn, Quick Draw, and another of Coal Dust’s relatives stood by the trees, shoveling small ditches around each of the trees.  They worked quickly and silently, shoveling dirt into the carts as fast as they could and transporting the dirt to the ridge.

The job was done like clockwork.  Nearly everyone was constantly moving and working in order to get the dirt to the ridge.  Just under a quarter of the way through the orchard the first box began to overflow and dirt had to be placed in the second.  At the end of two weeks, all four boxes were filled to overflowing with small piles above each box.  Again the work went quickly and quietly and when the work was done all of them quietly said their goodbyes and left without another word about the job.

The following day, Blueblood arrived at the farm with a few men to survey the land.  He checked in with Braeburn at the farmhouse and Braeburn was allowed to watch from the ridge overlooking the orchards.  With a spot staked out, a few ponies began driving wooden stakes across the whole ground as they looked at what to build where.  It wasn’t long before the main shaft was mapped out with four stakes in a perfect square, in addition to another six where the elevator was going to be.  A few other ponies soon arrived and started digging on the land, with wheelbarrows being taken to a place out in the desert.  Blueblood, deciding to be a bit fair to Braeburn, left at sundown though told Braeburn that they would be there again at sunrise.

Braeburn told them he didn’t mind.

But as soon as Blueblood left, Braeburn had grabbed a flashlight and went to inspect the area near to the prospective site of the shaft.  The hole was already a few feet deep and the stakes were also connected via lines drawn with white powder.  It wouldn’t be long before the shaft itself was to be constructed on the property, and almost time for the second part of Braeburn’s plan to take effect.  For the time being, the future mine shaft site was left alone as Braeburn took the time to inspect the trees surrounding the shaft.

Since harvest season was already over, no fruit could be stolen from the trees.  But Braeburn still needed to search for signs of tampering; branches that could be cut off or broken either on accident or on purpose, any sign of the soil growing weak around the tree stumps, any possible cuts that would have shown any sign of cutting as though they were trying to chop it down.  Tonight, however, no such signs appeared on the trees and Braeburn returned home feeling a little more comfortable than he did before.

The next morning, Braeburn woke up soon after sunrise to find that Blueblood’s men were already at work.  Braeburn served himself an egg with various vegetables mixed in and went outside to the back porch to watch.  Blueblood once again went up to the farmhouse to check in with Braeburn, who gave him a polite nod as the unicorn approached.

“I hope our work isn’t disturbing you,” Blueblood said as he ascended the ridge.

“Not at all,” Braeburn said.  “With the distribution already under way, all I have to do is wait for the rainy season.”

“I was just hoping you hadn’t found any fault with our work,” Blueblood said.

“None yet,” Braeburn said.  “I don’t know if I told you earlier, but I would like it if you reminded your workers to not tamper with the trees.  I haven’t had any damage yet, but I would like to prevent it if at all possible.”

“I will tell them neither to cut a limb nor to break a branch,” Blueblood said.  “You have my word.  Also, you mentioned something about a flooding season.  I was wondering if you had any advice for my men while building the shaft.”

“A small barrier about a foot tall will keep out any errant water,” Braeburn said.  “The water doesn’t rise very far, but your hooves will be wet and you risk drowning your mine if you don’t.  It is a simple task, really.”

Blueblood nodded.  “Very well.  Thank you for the information.”

The unicorn returned down the ridge to where construction was now taking place.  Braeburn watched him carefully until lunchtime, at which he returned inside the house and didn’t watch them for the rest of the day.  He didn’t return to the orchards until nightfall with his flashlight to inspect the boughs of the branches.  The mine shaft’s base was completed and well within the lines that the ponies had drawn, and still no branches had broken.  Satisfied with his search, Braeburn returned and went back to sleep.

As the construction went on, Braeburn began to feel more at ease about his accepting of Blueblood’s proposition.  The hole got deeper, a small barrier was built around the hole, and the elevator was even built.  The shaft was nearing completion and smaller holes were starting to build around the bottom.  It took a long time, but finally Braeburn stopped taking his flash light out at night to look at the orchards.

Soon afterwards, the digging of the tunnels began.  Blueblood’s workers, now satisfied that the shaft would be good enough to bring up whatever they had found and that the elevator would support up to four ponies, began digging outwards to where the gold would be.  The mines were at the minimum twenty-five feet from the ground’s surface and, giving an inspection of them himself with Blueblood’s permission, figured they would probably be good enough to not uproot any more trees.  For a short time, Braeburn wished no ill will upon Blueblood or his men, as Blueblood was good on his word.

But something struck Braeburn as odd among the workers.  Blueblood himself was acting reasonable and though his check-ins were not as frequent he still gave Braeburn updates and was constantly supervising, but Braeburn wasn’t worried so much about him.  Two stallions, one with a yellow coat and brown mane and a brown coat with a yellow mane, looked oddly familiar and Braeburn didn’t like their presence one bit.  They kept mostly in-line under Blueblood’s eye, but Braeburn still didn’t trust them and he soon went back to prowling the orchards at night.

Braeburn considered his prowling poorly timed; Blueblood’s workers were getting lazy and beginning to not care.  To make room for more of the elevator shaft, a tree had a few branches broken.  A few branches were littered around the mine shaft.  A few more branches could be seen in the river, stuck along rocks.  And Blueblood had been around less and less, the check-ins getting farther and farther apart.

It wasn’t long before Braeburn was prowling the orchards one night when he saw a suspicious light moving across the desert from Blueblood’s compound over to his farm.  Realizing he might have enough moonlight to see normally, Braeburn shut off his flashlight and walked over to the shadows near the mine shaft, where he lay in wait for the ponies to arrive.

The brightness of the lantern made it easy to see the two ponies huddled around it as they crept up to the shaft.  It was the two ponies, the one with the brown coat and yellow mane and the yellow coat with the brown mane.  The yellow-coated one had a gold pick-axe cutie mark while the brown-coated one had three lumps of gold.  Each carried a pickaxe with them.

“You sure we should be out here?” the brown-coated one asked.  “Blueblood wouldn’t like us coming out without supervision.”

“If we have to explain ourselves,” the yellow-coated one said, “we’ll be able to say we helped expand the tunnels and missed out on the call to come back.  If we have any luck, we’ll be able to get some overtime.”

The first pony went down the ladder, followed by the second carrying the lantern with him.  Neither spoke until they went down the ladder and started walking into a tunnel.  Braeburn crept over to the edge of the pit, leaning over the small barrier set up to protect from floodwaters.  The tunnel was not yet very deep, so the light of the lantern could still be seen shining an amber light out of the tunnel entrance.

“Careful!” came one of the voices.  “If you go too far up, you’ll hit the tree roots.  Blueblood told us not to hit the tree roots.”

There was an irritated sigh from the other.  “I keep forgetting we’re on a farm what with all the mining equipment and mine workers.”

“Yeah, but it’s only because the proprietor let Blueblood mine here.”

“Hey!  You see that?  There’s a glimmer of gold up there!  We’re gonna get a raise for sure with finding out this vein!”

“Have you even seen the proprietor around here?”

“I think so.  He’s a yellow-coated stallion that almost always wears a brown vest and cowpony hat.  He came to look at the mines with Blueblood one evening.”

“Wait a minute!  Brown vest… cowpony hat… you don’t mean to tell me we’re back on that Braeburn’s farm again, do you?”

“…for your name being Lucky Strike, you certainly haven’t been very lucky as of late.”

“…shit.”

There was a sudden rumbling from underground and the sound of snapping wood.  Braeburn quickly galloped around the back of the mine shaft as the wood of a nearby tree started splintering and sharp pieces began breaking off.  More wood started splintering at a faster rate until the tree couldn’t hold its weight any longer and broke off, crashing on the ground.  There was a frantic shouting as the two ponies shot out of the tunnel and the top collapsed near the surface where the ditch had been dug, allowing for a beam of amber light to shine from the mine entrance.  The two ponies soon ran back in to the mine, grabbed the lantern, and the area around the shaft turned dark again.

Braeburn had seen enough.  He turned his flashlight back on and galloped through the orchards to his house at the top of the hill.  He went into his room and grabbed the revolver, but by the time he had gotten outside with it the light from the lantern was already halfway across the desert to the compound, too far from the orchard to pursue and too close to the compound to attempt to shoot and hit them cleanly.  Braeburn momentarily suppressed his anger and put the gun back in its container.

* * *

A few days later, the rain began to come down.  Blueblood was back to supervising the mines again and the broken tree and branches were gone, sent off down the river, before any mine work was done.  The rain poured harder and harder but neither Blueblood nor his men made any attempt to leave the site.  Eventually, Blueblood came up to Braeburn for his usual check-in, though he had some news.

“I’ve gained information about revolts in Dodge Junction,” he said.  “There was a call about a strike gone wrong.  I’ll be leaving Captain Lancer in charge for a few days while I go out that direction and will be back as soon as I can.”

“Have you any information about why one of my trees was found in the river not long ago?” Braeburn said.

“To be completely honest with you,” Blueblood said, “I currently don’t have the time.  I’ve got reports to fill out and financial information to go over and I’ve been too busy to supervise and see what’s going on down there.”

Braeburn nodded.  “Very well, then.  Don’t let me stop you.”

Much to Braeburn’s own surprise, Blueblood dismissed the comment.  He stayed around one more day, then he was gone without looking into the tree.  Braeburn would have shrugged it off and informed him when he got back, but instead he was treated with two more trees falling down the next night, and Captain Lancer didn’t even bother to notify him about the trees even when one of them fell in broad daylight.  Both of the trees were dumped in the river.

The next night, there was a small break in the rain.  Braeburn called over to Applejack and Twilight at the hotel and got them to come to the ridge, where he explained to them what had happened with Lucky Strike and Gold Digger and with Blueblood leaving.  This time, Applejack showed no horror at the idea and Twilight merely nodded.  Using her magic, the purple alicorn pulled the boxes up off the ground, one by one, and emptied them into the ravine.

Shining a flashlight down the cliff, Braeburn noticed that the two trees he had tossed during the harvest season were there in addition to the three trees pulled up during the current mining and all four boxes of dirt.  The already narrow ravine was plugged up with debris and the dirt..

By the time the trio had reached the farmhouse, the rain had begun again and Twilight and Applejack walked back to town, Twilight using her horn as a light.  Braeburn watched until the light had faded into the distance before going to sleep himself.  He was woken up during the night by the rain starting to come down in a deluge and Applejack calling to say that she and Twilight had arrived safely at the hotel.

The next morning, radio alerts spread throughout Appleoosa about the danger of the river outside of town flooding.  With Appleoosa being a little bit higher than the river, it was simply warned not to go within a certain distance of the river and to not try and cross it at any time.  All the families stayed indoors or hung around at the bar and restaurant, which played music and always kept a radio on for the reports.  To them, it was business as usual, though the talking and the playing and the dancing helped stave off the boredom.

Braeburn remained at his farmhouse.  No leaks needed to be patched, no water-resistant coverings needed to be placed, and the barn didn’t need locked up.  All he wanted to do was to watch the mine shaft, still visible through the downpour.  Captain Lancer and his men continued working on the mine, adding extra covering to the mine shaft to keep water from draining in, almost completely ignoring the rising river.

After three days of nearly constant rain, the river began to surge upwards.  First it was splashing over the edges, then it was leaking out, then the first trenches began to fill.  Braeburn watched as the ponies worked even as the rain continued to fall.  By the time Captain Lancer had noticed the dangerous state of the rising water, the ponies were already in a few inches of water.  Braeburn had no need to hear what was going on as the ponies started frantically trying to escape.  Pegasi were flying in and out of the mines, carrying ponies to safety.  Armor had to be tossed aside to save other ponies and equipment.  The elevator collapsed and broke as water flooded the inside of the shaft.

Eventually, a radio broadcast came of a surging current upstream and advised the ponies of Appleoosa to remain within the center of town and not to leave their houses.  It wasn’t long before Braeburn could feel the rumbling of a large wave coming down the river, and not much longer before the wave had crashed into the basin where the orchard was.  One of the shaft supports broke from the impact and the wooden structure soon tilted over and crashed into the river.  Some pegasi were trying to move the fallen wood to help those underneath, but then it was too late and the only option any of them had was to leave for the compound.

Braeburn watched the scene with a certain feeling of satisfaction even as something inside of him said it wasn’t right.  But it was right.  This was the message that Blueblood needed to see; this was the message that would finally get through saying he needed to leave.  He would leave Appleoosa alone and the people would go back to living as they had been for a long time.

With that, Braeburn felt no remorse.

Chapter 15 - Split Loyalties

The rains didn’t stop for another two weeks.  The waters flooding the orchard and small basin didn’t leave even when the rain lightened into showers and travel through Appleoosa became possible once again.  Braeburn himself only left to get groceries from the store and sent a few towards Applejack and Twilight.  The rest of the time, he surveyed the orchards and looked at the splintered pieces of wood and destroyed remnants of the mine shaft and tunnels.

Three trees.  Three more trees had been torn down due to a combination of incompetence from the miners and the lack of respect from the supervisors.  Both Blueblood and Captain Lancer were at fault in Braeburn’s eyes; Blueblood started getting dismissive and no paying attention while Lancer was more militaristic and just wanted whatever was in his way to be gone.  The three trees plus the two wrecked during the prospector’s time earlier made for five trees gone, causing Braeburn to think that any more trees and he’d start losing money by the next season.

Was over-flooding the orchard a little much for that?  Maybe, but Braeburn wasn’t going to put up with it anymore.  If Blueblood kept on being so dismissive of his property and would bring in someone like Lancer when he left, he had no more business being on Braeburn’s farm.  Braeburn had regretted doing the act, to be fair to himself, but words wouldn’t work with them anymore.  Braeburn had tried to no success; Blueblood kept returning.

But even after the rain stopped, Blueblood didn’t return.  Even after the floodwaters subsided and most of the rubble from the broken mine shaft and elevator had washed away, Blueblood didn’t return.  Even when the sun started to come out again and dried up the ground except for small puddles near the trees, Blueblood didn’t return.  A few of his guards were seen in the town watching Braeburn as he went about his business, though they looked beaten and battered to the point that the stallion could probably easily beat them on if he provoked them to fight.  But none even so much as talked to him, preferring to steal glances in his direction when they thought he wasn’t looking.

But Braeburn knew better.  They knew the flood was engineered.  The trees they threw down the river might have helped it along, but the water level would hardly have changed if that was the case.  But the dirt that was carried to the ridge, the late night spent piling it up, the suspicious tip about building a wall to prevent the mine from getting washed out… that was planned.  Of those who Braeburn managed to catch looking at him, most would give a look of disgust before turning their heads away.  One was even restrained from attacking him by two other guards, something which Braeburn thought sad because the guard who tried attacking him was a former Appleoosan, one he had known for years.

It wasn’t just the one Appleoosan who lashed out at him.  The farmers who Braeburn had helped get through the previous summer all shunned him except for Quick Draw and his family, for whom the harassment had stopped.  The townsponies became quiet around him and some became afraid to approach him, as though there was some aura around him that set entire places into unrest until he had left.

One evening Braeburn decided to have a drink at the bar and walked up to the building, loud and full of conversation.  As soon as he entered the doors and a few ponies looked his way, first a few then all of the ponies started to be quiet as though not even daring to talk to him in hushed whispers.  They all looked at him as he approached the bar and even averted their gazes as he looked in their direction.  Braeburn called the bartender over, ordered a root beer with a splash of moonshine as he had before, and sat patiently as the bartender mixed the drink.

Braeburn didn’t like the quiet.  It was unnerving to him.  He was used to ponies just sort of relaxing in his presence, seeing him as a friend and a helper.  He turned around on the stool he was sitting at and faced the ponies sitting in the bar, all staring at him as though transfixed on him.  Some had cards, others had dice, others simply had drinks, but everything was still.  Even the wind had stopped as the ponies stood still as statues.

“What?” Braeburn addressed the crowd.  “Haven’t you ever seen a stallion order a drink?”

With that remark, most of them simply turned away.  A few others returned to what they were doing but even then they took wary glances towards Braeburn every so often.  The bartender brought Braeburn his drink and stayed by him until he had taken a few sips, watching him drink.  Braeburn noticed this and set his drink on the counter.

“You waiting for me to pay?” he asked.

“I just wanted to make sure everything is to your satisfaction,” the bartender said.  “Sir,” he added hastily.

Braeburn took another gulp of the drink in front of him and wiped some froth away with his hoof.  He slammed the glass down on the table, causing some of the drink to spill out and on his hoof and a few chairs behind him to go skidding across the wooden floor.  He smirked for a second before giving his reply to the bartender.  “Bring another one out here for when I’m done with this one.”

The bartender nodded and went off to get a second drink of root beer and moonshine.  A few chairs settled themselves back into place, but Braeburn hardly noticed.  The second drink was set down before the first one was finished.  Braeburn reached for the drink to pull it closer as the bartender flinched as though expecting Braeburn to hit him only to relax when all the stallion did was move the drink along the counter.  Even so, his ears flipped back and flat against his head as though irritated.  When the drink was finished, the bartender shot over and grabbed the empty glass as Braeburn started the second drink.

By the time the second drink was finished, Braeburn was feeling a little light-headed though not completely without his mental process.  Having nothing better to do for the rest of the night, Braeburn paid his tab and walked out of the bar, nearly falling over as he walked out the door and leaning against the side of the bar to steady himself.  The potency of the moonshine that evening surprised even him and he assumed a stronger batch than usual had been made.  Braeburn stayed where he was for a long time until he was sure he could walk, hearing the conversation in the bar strike up yet again as he walked down the street.

Braeburn didn’t walk very far.  He went to the hotel and walked up the stairs to the fifth floor and knocked on the door of suite 502.  He was about to knock again when he heard hoofsteps approaching the door.  The door opened to reveal Applejack, who did not look very pleased at all.  The radio was buzzing in the background, playing a local news broadcast.

“Have you looked at yourself in a mirror lately?” she asked impatiently.

“I wager there was one in the bar,” Braeburn said.  “But I don’t go to a bar to look in a mirror.  If I wanted that, I’d go to my bathroom.”

Applejack stepped out of the way as Braeburn walked into the room.  “I’ve been lookin’ for you all day.  You weren’t at your farm, you weren’t at any one of the stores, and I even checked the bar earlier today and didn’t see anythin’.  Where have you been?”

Braeburn looked around the suite.  “Where’s Twilight?”

“What’s it matter to you?”

“You answer me, I’ll answer you.”

Applejack gave an exasperated sigh.  “I last saw Twilight going to help mend the bridge leading out of town that was destroyed by the floodwaters.  Now, where the hay have you been, Braeburn Apple?”

“Walking,” Braeburn replied, sitting down on a chair.  He spit into a nearby trash can, making Applejack shut her eyes in disgust before opening them slowly.  “I needed some fresh air to clear my head after three weeks of being shut in my house.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you came by.  We need to talk.”

“And we aren’t right now?”

Applejack growled irritably as she closed the hotel door.  “There was a news report on about the destruction of the mine shaft.  Five dead and at least four times that injured.  I’m hopin’ that walk cleared your conscience, because you’ve got a lot of thinkin’ to do if they ever figure out it was you.”

“Oh, they know,” Braeburn said.  “Haven’t you seen the looks on their faces?  The way they all avert their gaze whenever they look at me?”  He spat in the trash can again.  “I hate it.  I hate how I’ve gone from a respected citizen of the community and friend of nearly everyone here to the stallion that everyone wants to avoid.”

Applejack nodded.  “No one talks to you anymore?”

“Quick Draw and his family do,” Braeburn admitted.  “So do Cold Steel and Coal Dust and his family.  Haven’t heard anything about Silversmith, though.  But most of the town has started to avoid me.  Even the farmers I helped out this past summer want nothing to do with me.”

Applejack nodded again.  “Terrible, isn’t it?” she said sympathetically.

Braeburn raised an eyebrow.  “You think I deserve it, don’t you?”

“Not entirely.  Trying to kick Blueblood out of town is a noble cause, especially if he gets it any further in debt.  But killin’ his men?  I have a feelin’ that even if Celestia were to get wind of this whole situation, she’d be as likely to punish you as much as Blueblood.  As of right now, he’s still government.”

“It’s still power that went to his head.  He got the chance to do something he showed off as reasonable then went reckless with it.”

“That does not mean you need to go around killin’ his men just to say he needs to leave!” Applejack shouted.  “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you’re gettin’ as reckless as him if not more so!”

“You weren’t there in Dodge Junction,” Braeburn replied calmly.  “You didn’t see what I saw.  What Coal Dust and Cold Steel had experienced.  Poverty.  Ignorance.  Oppression.  That is what happens to us if Blueblood goes too far.”

“That might be so, but who will stand with you?  Those who are on your side probably couldn’t even take on Appleoosa, let alone an army of trained soldiers!  Why couldn’t you just solve this thing diplomatically?”

“We had set up a compromise,” Braeburn said.  “He could build his mine shaft on the empty space where the two trees had been torn down by the prospectors if he stopped messing with my farm.  By the time the rains had come around, three of my trees were torn down and none of them were reported to me, and none of them came with an apology.”

Applejack fixed Braeburn with a hard stare.

“Trust me on this, Applejack,” Braeburn added.  “Diplomatic issues don’t work anymore.”

Applejack sighed.  “Did you even give him a chance or did you immediately go for the ditch when you were sure he was comfortable with the agreement?”

“No.  I waited.  Things were going fine at first; he checked in with me from time to time and made sure his men didn’t do anything.  If there was some broken branches, they were cleaned up and sent out for firewood.  But then he started getting dismissive.  He let one of my trees come crashing down without even reporting it to me.  I confronted him but he avoided the issue.  The idea was sealed to go through when he set his military commander at the helm and two more trees went down.”

“But there are five dead and twenty injured,” Applejack said.  “If I’m rememberin’ correctly, some of them are still in our hospital.  Some of them are Appleoosans, for that matter!  I thought it was your job to protect Appleoosa from Blueblood, not to go killin’ off everyone.”

“They were Appleoosans,” Braeburn said, raising his voice for the first time.  “The minute they decided to go to work for Blueblood, they turned their backs on this place.  They no longer care.  They are no longer working to protect Appleoosa anymore.  They want some of what Blueblood has.”

“And what does he have?”

“Promises.  Promises of money, fame, power.  Promises of stability, promises of not having to worry about whether or not they’ll have enough money to feed their family, promises of having their kids be able to make it on their own.”

“It certainly seems to me like they’re gettin’ it, so far.  I bet you that if y’all just let Blueblood do his thing, none of us would be in this mess we’re in right now.”

“But at what cost?” Braeburn fired back.  “At what expense would we be not in this mess?  What if…  What if Ponyville had some expensive metals under your farm?”

“Braeburn, please, that’s crazy talk.”

“What if Blueblood went over to Ponyville and wanted to build a mine there?”

“Braeburn, stop with this nonsense.”

“What if you were forced to make a choice between protecting your farm and having Blueblood take it over?”

“Braeburn!” Applejack yelled.  “Please, just quit talkin’ nonsense!  Nothin’ like that would happen to Sweet Apple Acres, I swear it.”

“You don’t think that I thought that myself!?” Braeburn roared.  “You think that I never thought that nothing would happen to my farm!?  Look what I’ve gotten myself into!  Look at what’s happening to me!  If you told me a few months ago when you came down from Ponyville to visit that my farm and my town was going to be held hostage by a prince and some committee he set up to get himself more power and gold, I would have told you that was crazy talk.”

“It still is!” Applejack shouted.  “We’re startin’ to compare apples to oranges here!  My farm is not the same as yours, my town is not the same as yours, my predicament is not the same as yours!”

“Well, you’re stuck here with no way to get back to Ponyville right now, aren’t you?”

Applejack couldn’t even respond.  She just looked at Braeburn with disgust.  The stallion could see her eyes were beginning to water up.

“Wake up, Applejack,” Braeburn said, calmer than before but with the same venom.  “Blueblood has Appleoosa in a choke hold.  We either band together to get him out of here before anything worse happens, or we get trampled under their hooves.  It doesn’t take advanced education to see what’s going on here.”

Applejack’s expression didn’t change.  “What happened to you, Braeburn?  What happened to the stallion that I once knew?  The cousin that helped me to become more outgoing with others?  Don’t you remember the times at the farm, before moving off to start Appleoosa?”

Braeburn barely registered anger.  He inhaled noisily through his nose.

“Back then, it was so much easier.  You would help me and Mac on the farm, then afterwards we would go and hang out with the others in town.  You were always makin’ friends with everyone; even the most reserved pony would suddenly be full of life around you.  Anyone could feel safe around you.  But they don’t anymore.  You aren’t the stallion we knew back then.  I don’t feel safe around you.  Twilight doesn’t feel safe around you.  Appleoosa doesn’t feel safe around you.”

Braeburn snorted.

“That’s why some of them have gone to Blueblood.  I’ve heard it in their conversations.  Some of them don’t know where to go if Blueblood will take the town to ruin or if you are going to kill everyone who tries to stop you and end up destroying the town before Blueblood takes it.”

Braeburn stood up, trying to make himself tower over Applejack.  “This town will die if Blueblood gets his hooves on it.  I will die before Blueblood gets his hooves on it.”

Applejack stood firm as she could and nodded.  “Fine, then.”

“But know this, Applejack: you are safe.  Twilight is safe.  Blueblood wouldn’t think to hurt someone of such a high rank without there being very steep consequences.”

“That doesn’t change anything.  This town is not going to survive no matter what route it takes to end this conflict.”

Braeburn walked to the door out of the suite and opened it.  He turned around to Applejack.  “Give Twilight my regards,” he said.  “She seems to still see something in me.”  Then he closed the door and left before Applejack could even respond.

* * *

Braeburn did not return home right away after leaving the hotel.  The first place he stopped was at the broken bridge outside of town where he asked the ponies still there if Twilight was anywhere nearby.  The ponies working said that she had left a short time before to head back to the hotel where Braeburn had just come from.  Braeburn went back to the hotel and talked with the concierge only to find that he hadn’t been paying attention when Twilight walked back in.  Upon hearing this information, Braeburn left the hotel and went outside into the night to walk back to the farmhouse.

The night was so dimly lit by the waning moon that Braeburn could hardly see the path back to the farmhouse.  Almost immediately as he approached, however, he could tell something wrong.  The lights in the kitchen and the living room were on despite his turning them off before he left.  Braeburn walked carefully up to the house and wondered what could have invaded his house and been so bold to turn his lights on.  He opened the door only to find nobody in the kitchen and only a single, simple glass cup removed.  The faucet dripped as though recently used, hitting the metal of the sink with small pings that proved to be the only noise for a long while.

Braeburn was treated to something entirely different in the living room.  At the far end of the living room was Blueblood, sitting in one of the arm chairs as he sipped a glass of water from what Braeburn recognized as the missing cup.  On either side of Blueblood was one of the pegasus guards, each holding a spear.  Two other unicorn guards appeared behind Braeburn from the hallway and blocked his exit with a revolver each.  Braeburn looked at them, sizing them up and realizing neither had his personal gun before turning back to Blueblood.

“I thought we had an agreement, Braeburn,” Blueblood said as he set down the glass.

“I thought we did too, Blueblood,” Braeburn responded.

Blueblood lit a cigarette and put it in his mouth.  “I personally was wondering what could have caused someone to specifically engineer a flood that killed five of my men and injured another twenty when he had specifically allowed me to mine on his land.”

“We had a deal, Blueblood,” Braeburn said sternly.  “You wouldn’t mess with my land, and I wouldn’t mess with your mine.  For a long time, you checked in on me and I had nearly decided that the flood wasn’t going to be worth it.  It was when you stopped checking in on me, after two of your men came in at night with zero supervision and started digging upwards to knock down a tree that the idea came back, and when you refused to speak about the issue is when I decided it was necessary.”

“Why didn’t you confront me?”  Blueblood said.  “Under the pretenses of our deal, I would have done whatever it took to satisfy you.  You could have taken your complaint directly to me and I would have done something about it.”

“You did, though,” Braeburn said.  “You took the tree and dumped it into the river when you thought I wasn’t looking.  Then, when I hinted about the tree going into the river, you simply dismissed it and said you were heading off to Dodge Junction.  Then you placed that Captain Lancer in your position until you came back, and he didn’t check with me at all.  Two trees went down in one day because of your men, Blueblood, and you didn’t even bother to check and see what happened in your absence or to place someone more competent in charge.”

“That doesn’t mean that five ponies needed to be killed,” Blueblood said.

“It’s one per apple tree,” Braeburn said.  “Perfect considering you’ve trespassed both the grounds of my property and the grounds of our agreement with their actions.”

“There are worse ways to hurt a pony, Braeburn,” Blueblood said.  “Killing him ends his life, but sometimes that punishment is too harsh.  Take something else away from him and let him learn a lesson, then give it back and he will have learned not to do something.”  A trash can was brought over to Blueblood as he deposited the remains of his cigarette in it.  “I suppose I should take away your land for a little while as I originally promised to do, then give it back when you’ve learned who’s in change.”

“You’ve forgotten it as well, Blueblood,” Braeburn replied.  “I’m not here to enforce my own laws, but find the loophole in the ones you’re trying to impose on me.  That is that Princess Celestia’s laws stand firm over every single one of them, and if you are trying to take my deed away, you should be talking to Princess Celestia first as her signature is still valid.”

Blueblood glared at Braeburn, but didn’t respond.

“What?  Are you too afraid that if you do manage to talk to her about it you’ll be exposed for all of your other abuses of power? Taking over Dodge Junction when it was thought the deed was lost, for one?  Or how about building a compound outside of Appleoosa for your mining company?  Not to mention the fact that you threw someone out the window of a hotel suite and killed him.”

Blueblood got so angry with Braeburn he stood up from the chair and walked over to Braeburn.  With one swift movement, Blueblood’s front hoof lashed out and smacked Braeburn across his cheek, leaving a large gash and causing the stallion to be thrown across the floor.  “I am not like you!” Blueblood shouted.  “I am not going around killing everyone and believing I am a hero!  Neither do I think I am doing the right thing!  I’m only doing what is necessary!”

“That makes two of us, then,” Braeburn said.  The stallion tried picking himself up from the floor, only to have Blueblood smack the top of his head and send him right back down.  “And you’re not denying it which means I must have some reason to have done what I did.”

“That doesn’t mean you’re getting away with it,” Blueblood said through gritted teeth.

Two more guards stepped into the house through the front door.  “Sir, we found the other one in his home.  He’s been knocked out and the others are taking him back to the compound for questioning.”

Blueblood nodded.  “Guards, subdue him but don’t kill him.”

Braeburn didn’t have to think too hard about what that meant.  As soon as the guards came for him, the stallion started bucking and lashing out at the guards approaching him.  One got a similar scratch to Braeburn’s across his cheek, while another was bucked so hard he caused a crack in the wall.

Even with his strength, Braeburn could not hold off the onslaught, especially when Blueblood came into the mix as well.  Blueblood tackled Braeburn and slammed him into the wall, causing the stallion to drop to the floor.  He was about to get up when Blueblood took his hoof and back-hoofed him across the face.  Everything became blurry as the guards surrounded Braeburn holding a long string of rope.  One of the guards holding a revolver raised it up and brought it down; Braeburn felt a sharp sting of pain before everything faded to black.

Chapter 2 - Braeburn and the Diamond Dogs

The first thing that Braeburn noticed when he came to was the sensation of lying down on a cold, hard floor.  When he opened his eyes afterwards, he saw that it was very dark and light only came from two places, a large overhead light that was mostly hidden behind a large stone wall and a pair of smaller, glittering lights that seemed to blink out every once in a while.  Despite the dim light, something was very clear; between Braeburn and the lights were a set of iron bars and a dark-furred unicorn guard with a spear held at his side with magic.  Braeburn lifted a hoof to his head to find his hat and vest were gone.

Braeburn groaned and slowly stood upright; his stomach was still in pain and he felt like he was going to vomit.  Braeburn looked around his cell, hoping he could find a glass of water or at least a sink; he found both, in addition to a small window and a small bed with thin sheets and a small pillow that was just big enough for him to lie on.  Just outside the cell was a clock currently set to just after four o’clock.  Braeburn took up his glass of water and drank the whole thing before settling himself down on the bed, almost immediately feeling his stomach settle.  He felt so weak that he didn’t try to fight against the guard when he came over, unlocked the door, and took the empty glass out of the cell before locking it again.  He soon disappeared somewhere behind the stone wall, but Braeburn could hear him speaking as though over a phone or radio.

“Blueblood, sir, sorry to disturb you so early.  This is Guard number one-seven-six calling to inform you that the prisoner Braeburn has woken up.  Yes, he did drink the whole glass of water.  There’s still about two hours until breakfast is served.  …I understand, sir.  I’ll let the cook know.  And what about the other one?  Do we feed him as well or does he get the minimum?  Yes…  yes…  okay, I’ll let the cook know about him, too.  When are you going to be coming around?  Before breakfast?  Okay.”  Then the guard’s voice stopped and he returned to where Braeburn could see him.

The next hour passed slowly; Braeburn couldn’t tell if it was because of his stomach or the fact that he was restless and should have been doing something.  Even when his stomach did calm down, he soon felt himself gain a violent migraine that racked his head and made it near impossible to stand up.  When he tried standing up, he became dizzy and the urge to wretch was stronger, and so he lay back down on his bed.  The guard ended up bringing him another drink of water, but this one Braeburn didn’t take.

Braeburn felt he must have dozed off eventually as he was later awoken by the sound of tapping against the iron bars of the cell.  The room was a little lighter from light starting to come through the window and Braeburn could easily make out the figure of a tired Blueblood standing at the entrance of the cell.

“Well, I hope you’re happy,” Braeburn said.

“Not quite,” Blueblood replied.  “There are still a few things I need from you.”  A white pony with a nurse’s cap appeared from behind the wall as the guard opened up the cell with his key.  “I can’t have you dying on me.”

The nurse came over and set up a small amount of medical supplies on the rim of the metal sink and started placing something around Braeburn’s forehoof.  Braeburn lay on the bed as the nurse asked him questions about what he last remembered eating (“Root beer laced with moonshine.  Two of them.”), did he feel any pain (“What do you expect after someone takes a revolver handle to the stomach?”), and if he had vomited (“Not yet.  But I have a hell of a migraine and expect to soon.”).  After checking Braeburn’s blood pressure, eyes, heartbeat, and mouth, the nurse pulled out a small syringe and stuck it into Braeburn’s forehoof.

“The nurse is giving you a pain reliever,” Blueblood explained as he walked into the cell.  “You’re beginning to regain strength, as shown by drinking the water, but I’m not going to risk you having a pill and either vomiting or choking quite yet.  This will spread quickly and hopefully you’ll be strong enough when breakfast comes around to eat if only a little.”

“You certainly are taking care of me for me being in prison,” Braeburn said.

“Like I told you, there are certain things I still need from you.  I need you to be strong enough.  I was going to question you today, but I think I will wait a few days until your strength is returning.”

“Sounds like it’s more than just information you want from me.”

Blueblood shrugged.  “Now, I’m going to give you a little schedule for your time here.  Breakfast will be served at six-thirty, at which point you will be woken up.  At seven-fifteen, you will be given a chance to relieve yourself, then you will be tasked with chores until lunchtime at one.  When lunch time is over, you’ll be given another chance to relieve yourself, then will be doing chores until dinner at six, after which you will be given a third chance to relieve yourself, then you go back into your cell.  At nine o’clock you will be given a final chance to relieve yourself, then it will be lights out at ten.  This schedule will begin today and will last so long as you’re here.”

“And how long will that be?”

“However long I decide.”

“Have you decided yet?”

“You think that I will tell you?  I won’t even know until I get all the information I need, which will take however long you want to give it to me.  And even then, whatever that conversation reveals will add something new to the situation, namely how severely the punishment is.”

“Punishment?  You act as though I am the only one who has done something wrong.”

Blueblood’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t strike out as Braeburn thought he would.  “It is highly likely that you won’t see me for a few days.  I will be giving out orders as to which chores you are to do, but it will be the guards who give you the orders and oversee your actions.  Do note that any attempt to escape will result in immediate force.”

“Is there going to be anyone else working with me on this?”

“There are three others, one of whom you will be interrogated alongside when the time comes to see if we can’t get the full story out of you.”

Braeburn said nothing, though the glittering lights in the cell across from him seemed to shrink back to within the dark corners until they were almost gone.

Blueblood stepped out of the cell and the guard locked the door.  “Breakfast is in one hour,” Blueblood said once the door was firmly locked.  “I would recommend you get some rest before then.”

Braeburn didn’t have the strength to argue with him anymore.  He simply turned around and faced the stone wall as the guards left the room and the overhead light was turned off.  He heard the sound of a large metal door shutting as he closed his eyes and fell into a light, fitful sleep.

* * *

When a pegasus guard came around and tapped on the iron bars to wake him up, Braeburn felt much better and much stronger.  He got himself up and stretched himself out, giving his legs and neck a slight turn and cracking to make sure they were all back to normal.  His stomach had also settled and he no longer had a migraine and was for the first time aware that he was still in the prison cell; the time passed before was almost like a dream to him from the grogginess of the hangover and the pain from being hit in the stomach with the handle of a gun.

The guard seemed to be in no rush; when he saw Braeburn was awake he went and started tapping on the other cell across from Braeburn and didn’t rush him out.  Braeburn quickly went over to the window and hoisted himself up to see outside.  He appeared to be on either the second or third floor of a building inside the compound outside Appleoosa; the town itself could be seen in the distance over a large wall.  Braeburn figured that nopony would be able to tell it was him inside the cell even if they were close and also had the thought that no one had known of the invasion of his farm the previous night.  As for chances of escape, the guards that originally seemed sparse were swarming around the outside of the compound.

“Get down from there!” Braeburn heard a gruff voice shout; he turned and saw the guard was looking at him and immediately settled himself down on the floor again.  The guard unlocked the door and motioned for him to come out.  A unicorn with a cutie mark of a police baton was outside with a metal chain that was looped around into a hole just big enough to fit around Braeburn’s head.  The chain was slipped on him with ease and the unicorn gave the chain a pull as he led Braeburn out of the area with the cells.

From the cells, Braeburn was led to a large dining hall where other members of the guard were eating.  Here, the unicorn escorting Braeburn led the stallion to a place at a table at the back end of the room and had a plate of food set in front of him: eggs, toast, and apple slices with a glass of milk.  Braeburn picked up one of the slices with a hoof and inspected it, smirking as he recognized the cultivar.

“Funny,” he said to no one in particular.  “I’m one of three Apple family farmers who grow the braeburn apple, and the only one to not export them.  This must be one of the ones I grew last season.”

Braeburn felt a hoof smack the side of his muzzle and a sharp sting of pain as he keeled over; he wasn’t as strong as he thought yet.  “No one asked you about where the food came from!” came the equally sharp voice of the unicorn that had escorted him.  “Eat and be done, then it’ll be time for your chores.”

“Don’t punish him too much,” came the voice of the pegasus guard from the prison block; apparently he had been asked to escort Braeburn and the other prisoners now filing in, approximately eleven of them all sitting at different tables with their backs to Braeburn so that he didn’t recognize any of them.  “Blueblood has specifically asked for this one to be treated with care.”

The unicorn growled and grabbed Braeburn’s hair, pulling it so that the stallion was face-to-face with his.  “Blueblood may want you treated lightly,” he said through gritted teeth, “but don’t expect me to go easy on you.  I’ll treat you like I do any other prisoner here.”

“I’m guessing you must be the warden of this here joint,” Braeburn quipped, trying to act as though his mane being pulled didn’t matter to him.

“You got that right,” the Warden said.  “And that means you follow my orders.  I may have received these orders from Blueblood himself, but around here I interpret what he wants; my word is law and you’d better follow it.”  He released Braeburn’s mane and pushed him back down, causing the stallion to have to pick himself up yet again.  “Now eat.”

The Warden didn’t speak to Braeburn again throughout breakfast, though he did look in his direction often and the pegasus guard made sure he didn’t strike Braeburn again.  It was unusual for Braeburn to receive such special treatment as a prisoner and he knew it; Blueblood likely had something planned for him later on when he did come around to speak with him.  Braeburn ate cautiously and at a relaxed pace, though he finished the food before some of the other prisoners.  His plate was taken away and soon Braeburn’s chain was picked up again by the Warden, though he wasn’t pushed or pulled anywhere.

At seven-fifteen, Braeburn’s chain was yanked and the Warden led him and the others to a bathroom.  Three of the prisoners were allowed in at a time to relieve themselves; Braeburn was among the second group.  Each group of three was escorted by a unicorn guard armed with a small black pistol with a silencer attached to the end.  The three did their business and washed up and the unicorn would lead them back out.  The Warden himself escorted Braeburn’s group of three, and Braeburn found after spending all night in the cell he needed to use the bathroom.

Having to go was not the issue.  The bathroom itself was dirty and filthy, with grime everywhere.  The inmate before Braeburn hadn’t flushed so the stallion needed to flush it himself before he used it, and even then he covered the seat with a layer of toilet paper so as not to get himself dirtier than it had been.  Braeburn finished as quickly as he could and simply rinsed his hooves when told to wash up.  After the last prisoner had finished, The Warden escorted them all out and waited for the other groups to finish.

“Alright,” the Warden said addressing the groups.  “Your first job this morning is to go in and clean up the kitchens.  We’ll be watching your progress and making sure you get everything sparkling clean.  Let’s go!”

Braeburn was led back into the dining hall and through to the kitchens where he was assigned to cleaning the large amount of dishes left over from the morning meal.  Others found themselves cleaning the ovens, while others were taking care of the counters, and still others were cleaning the floors.  Braeburn kept quiet as he went through the stack of plates nearest to him, carefully rinsing, soaping, cleaning, and rinsing again before passing it off to someone else to dry.  The work was long and soon Braeburn found it monotonous, spending hour after hour cleaning what may as well have been the same plate over and over again.

By the time lunch rolled around the job was finished and the group was ushered out into the dining hall once again and fed lunch, a small salad and half a sandwich.  Then came the bathroom break and the prisoners were split into two groups of six.  Braeburn’s group stayed close to the bathrooms with the pegasus guard and the Warden overseeing them, while the other six went and followed a few other guards somewhere else.

“Alright, men, we’re cleaning these bathrooms today,” the Warden shouted.  “Three per bathroom, one for the men and one for the women.  You’re going to scrub the toilets, the stalls, the walls, the floor, and the sinks until not one drop of grime or dirt remains.  Get to work.”

Braeburn and two other ponies started cleaning the same bathroom they had just used.  Braeburn took a mop and started mopping the floor, then when that was done went to work on the toilets.  This work took less time than the kitchen duties, but the Warden was always pointing out mistakes they had made; grime left on the bottom of a seat, water stains left on the side of the sink, the soap they used to clean being left on a wall.  The pegasus guard was much more tolerant and let some of them pass, but the Warden constantly disagreed with him.

When the work was done, Braeburn was shuffled off to the outside of the building and into the hot afternoon sun, where he was given more cleaning supplies and he and the other five ponies in his group were instructed to clean the windows on the first floor of the building.  This was done for a longer time than the bathrooms until an announcement came around that dinner was starting in five minutes, after which Braeburn and the others were taken into the dining hall for dinner, then to the newly cleaned bathrooms for a chance to relieve themselves again.  Afterwards, Braeburn and the others were taken back to the prison block and placed in their respective cells.  Only then did the Warden leave and Braeburn was left alone.

Alone except for the glittering pair of lights in the cell across from him.  The lights came up to the bars and actually revealed themselves to be another pony, one with a dark brown coat and a black mane and a dagger covered in barbs for a cutie mark.  “Braeburn…?” he called out to the stallion in a rough baritone.  “Braeburn?  Is… is that you?”

It took a moment for Braeburn to recognize the stallion.  “Cold Steel?”

Steel nodded.  “I didn’t think they’d get you so quick after what happened.  Who found you?”

“Blueblood,” Braeburn said.  “Surprised me in my own home one night after I returned from the bar.  I probably could have fought them off if I hadn’t been drinking.  I woke up here with a massive headache feeling sick.  What about you?”

“That bastard Captain Lancer found me,” Steel said.  “I don’t know what happened; all they knew was that I worked on helping dig the trenches around the trees; no one seems to know of the involvement of your princess friend.”

“Someone must have tipped them off about the work above the dam,” Braeburn replied.

“But who?” Steel asked.  “That princess didn’t seem like the type to go squealing if she was in a job whole-heartedly, and her friend is your cousin and she wouldn’t do anything to family.  Then there’s that youngster and his family whose father was thrown out the window.  And Coal Dust didn’t even know about the dam.”

“That doesn’t give us much to go on,” Braeburn said.  “But whoever it is, they must be the reason why Blueblood’s guards all have guns now.  Haven’t you seen them?  They’ve ditched all their spears and started going after guns.  That, or the sight of the revolver has sent a few of them into a panic.”

“But again, who could have thought up the idea?”

“Blueblood himself could have done that.  I pointed the revolver at him.”

Steel looked shocked, but then he became stern and nodded.  “Bastard deserves it with what he’s done to my home.  If you had pulled the trigger, I bet none of us would be in this situation right now.”

“Yes, but we’d be answering to Princess Celestia,” Braeburn replied darkly.

Steel nodded.  “Yeah, I suppose this is better.  Hey, do you think that princess friend of yours is going to get us out of here?”

“I don’t think she knows about the imprisonment.  My house isn’t exactly in Appleoosa’s main part, and it happened at night, so she might not have gotten word.”

Steel groaned and stretched himself out.  “Well, I suppose I’m going to sleep.  Damn guards are slave-drivers; my joints hurt like hell from having to lift a bunch of stupid pieces of heavy metal this afternoon.  Don’t worry, Braeburn.  I’m sure they’ll figure it out soon enough.”

Braeburn nodded and went to sleep himself, though it seemed like only minutes before the guard was once again tapping on the iron bars of his cell.

* * *

The schedule lasted for three months before Braeburn got a call to see Blueblood.  During that time, the stallion had become thinner and his eyes were starting to sink in.  His face around his eyes was wrinkled from multiple restless nights and his muscles didn’t seem to be able to hold as much as they could anymore.  His coat and mane were dirtied with the grime he had cleaned off of other things and from his own cell.

He was called to see Blueblood at lunchtime.  The Warden brought him over to a pure white room with a large table in the center.  Braeburn was told to lie on his back on the table, and wasn’t surprised when they buckled him so that his hooves couldn’t move from the table.  It was only when he was secured in this position that Blueblood himself came in, pulling up a chair next to Braeburn’s head so that the stallion could see him.

“It is most unfortunate that we should be seeing each other like this,” Blueblood said.

“Cut the small talk,” Braeburn said.  “It’s about time we get to the bottom of this.”

Blueblood clicked his tongue disapprovingly.  “I was going to try and be nice to you, but it seems you would rather I go straight to the point.  So… where are the deeds to Appleoosa and Dodge Junction?”

Braeburn smirked.  “What took you so long to ask?”

“I’ve sent multiple groups of guards out to the farmhouse to see about what happened to those documents.  Now, I’ve had some insider information from a pony in Appleoosa that said he had seen you with the documents at some point and thought he might know where they were based on your goings on before you arrived here.  However, despite all that occurred and all that he told us, we were unable to find the deeds.  As you are in prison, I could let you out early and lighten your sentence to a mere year if you were to tell me immediately where the deeds are.”

Braeburn snorted.  “Tell me who gave you the information and I’ll tell you where the deeds are.”

Blueblood lifted up a black police baton, standing out against the white of the room.  With a flash the baton had descended across Braeburn’s forehooves and caused the stallion to wince in pain.  “I don’t believe you are in a position to bargain,” Blueblood said.  “And given your past promises to date, I don’t believe you for one second.”

“If you don’t believe me for one second, then why has your insider not told you that Twilight Sparkle was the one who dropped the dirt and the boxes into the ravine to create the dam that flooded the orchard and your shaft?”

Blueblood blinked and opened his mouth as though to respond but no words came out.  Instead of offering a response, he merely slammed the baton down across Braeburn’s forehooves again.

Braeburn gave a cry of pain before turning it into laughter.  “Is it because you knew that prosecuting Twilight for such a thing would get you in trouble with Princess Celestia?  Is it because you knew that if anything happened to her favorite student, she would come down here and investigate and find out about the deeds and Dodge Junction?”

Braeburn cried out in pain three more times as Blueblood hit him again and again with the baton, only to keep on laughing once the final cry had subsided.  “That’s it, isn’t it?  You’re afraid of losing your position and your power so you cut off the escape route of the one that could expose you, then didn’t prosecute her because someone would get word to Celestia.”

Blueblood growled.  Braeburn kept laughing and Blueblood’s growl turned into a roar as he took the baton in one of his hooves and slammed it down on Braeburn’s hooves, then his sides, then his stomach, and once even on his head.  “Stop it!  Stop talking like that!”

Braeburn’s laughs turned into coughs as he sat on the table.  For a moment, he was barely able to breathe after Blueblood’s baton had caught him in the chest and stomach and it took every ounce of strength he could muster to keep from vomiting.  “So… who was the one who supposedly ratted me out?”

Blueblood was panting, though whether it was from anger or exertion Braeburn could not tell.  “A pony from Dodge Junction named Silversmith, a light grey pony with a silver mane.  He confessed everything he learned from his friend Cold Steel and told me he was the second accomplice in the act of constructing the dam, in addition to telling me to switch to guns to counter your own revolver.”

Braeburn laughed again, but went back to coughing when he found it too painful.  “Steel hardly did anything,” he said.  “The whole thing with the trenches was normal routine around here, and he helped dig them.  It would have stayed there if three trees didn’t go floating down the river due to a lack of attention and care.”

Blueblood kept panting for a little while, then coughed himself.  He turned away from Braeburn and faced the door.  When he did turn back around, Braeburn noticed he never made eye contact with him.

“You said you would reveal to me the location of the deeds,” he said.  “Where are they?”

Braeburn coughed and noticed he was coughing up blood.  “You want me to tell you in this condition?”

Blueblood looked him over.  “I believe we had an agreement.”

Braeburn smirked at Blueblood.  “You know how ponies in these towns can get.  We look like we’re weak and defenseless, but the moment you turn your back on us, we will stab you in the back then kick you while you’re down.  So here’s the kick: I’m not going to tell you, no matter how long I’m in here.”  And he coughed on Blueblood, streaks of red coating the unicorn’s otherwise pristine white coat.

Blueblood ended up being so repulsed by the fact that Braeburn had coughed on him and by the fact that he had blood on him that he didn’t even bother to hit Braeburn again.  Instead, two guards came in and set Braeburn on a stretcher and took him to the hospital wing, where he was treated for his coughing up blood and wrapped in a bandage.  He was monitored for two days and was sent back to his cell with orders not to work for two weeks.

Braeburn was happy for the break.  Over the next week, he stayed mostly in his bed and took pills whenever the guards came around with them.  Most of all, he was happy not to see the Warden again, though Cold Steel seemed to take most of the abuse now.  One night while he was still recovering, Braeburn told him of Blueblood’s confession of Silversmith’s part.

“That double-crossing bastard,” Steel said.  “He was on board to leave Dodge Junction when things started going bad.  I suppose he found Blueblood’s money more important than loyalty or his friends.”

“Yeah,” Braeburn said.  “I should have known something was up when he stopped associating with you before I left for Dodge Junction.”

There was suddenly a small sphere of light in between Cold Steel’s and Braeburn’s cells.  The light grew and grew until suddenly it exploded.  The two guards in the prison block were blown backwards as the light revealed itself to be a purple pony with a unicorn’s horn and a pair of small purple wings.

“Twilight!?” Braeburn exclaimed.

The guards started to recover, but Twilight lowered her horn and set it alight, soon firing two quick blasts at the guards, each hitting their prospective target and causing them to fall right where they stood.  Twilight went over to one of the guards and sorted through his pockets until she found his keys, then came over and started fiddling with the keys and locks.  It wasn’t long before both Braeburn’s and Cold Steel’s cells were open.

“What are you doing here?” Braeburn asked.

“Getting you out,” Twilight said.  “Quick, both of you grab on.”

Braeburn and Cold Steel wasted no time and soon both had clung to Twilight’s neck.  Before another guard could enter the room, Twilight’s horn had started glowing again and Braeburn watched the world around him melt away until he was no longer in the prison block but standing just outside Appleoosa.

“I feel I could kiss you right now,” Braeburn said as he looked at Twilight.

The unicorn responded with a slap to his face with a hoof.

“What the hell was that for!?” Braeburn exclaimed.

“You idiot!” Twilight said.  “You’ve been gone for three months now.  Applejack was getting worried about you ever since she felt bad for telling you off and you didn’t have enough sense to just stay with Applejack and me until you weren’t drunk anymore.  Not to mention the town is going crazy ever since you disappeared, with guards getting more and more aggressive and searching through your house like mad, though nothing seems like it was stolen; just upset.  Whatever you told Applejack about Blueblood getting his hooves on the land is mostly being proven true.”

“He still doesn’t have the deeds.”

Twilight stopped ranting and looked at Braeburn in confusion.  “Where did you put them?”

“In a place he’d never find them.  He said he had looked everywhere, but the time after he came around with the proposition for the mine shaft, I made a few adjustments and hid them away so that he could search the farm and never even see them.”

Cold Steel looked eagerly at Braeburn.  “Where exactly did you put them?”

Braeburn turned to Cold Steel with a smirk.  “I buried them under an apple tree in a wooden box.  Digging the trenches allowed me to hide the deeds away, then when the floodwaters came and deposited sediment over the land and filling the trenches, the box would be hidden.”

This time, Twilight brought her hooves around Braeburn.  “I think I’ll let you do more than kiss me,” she said suggestively.

Braeburn turned to Cold Steel, who simply gave him a wink and nodded before leaving back for Appleoosa.  Meanwhile, Braeburn walked Twilight back through Appleoosa and back to his farmhouse which was in almost the exact same condition as he had left it.  He took Twilight into the house and into his bedroom, laying down on the bed and allowing Twilight to climb on top of him before pulling the covers over them with her magic.  As the night grew later, Braeburn could hear Twilight moan as he kissed the base of her neck.

Chapter 3 - Appleoosa Settlement

A few days later, Applejack and Twilight had moved back into Braeburn’s house from the hotel.  As it turned out, they weren’t the only ones; in the barn on cots and in sleeping bags were Cold Steel, Quick Draw and his family, and Coal Dust and his family.  Cold Steel was out of work in the police department, and Coal Dust had been kicked out of his job at the metal workers.  Similarly, Quick Draw and his family were kicked out of their property by the guards and their farm had been commandeered by some of Braeburn’s workers.

Braeburn was pleased to find most of his things had remained untouched, including his hat, vests, and the revolver he had gotten from his father.  To add to his pleasure, Cold Steel had managed to smuggle a few cases containing hundreds of bullets with him from the police station after he had been kicked off.

To pay back the time for their stay, Applejack and the others had been helping to keep what remained of the farm running.  “It’s not the best,” she said, “but we got a small wheat field planted where the mine shaft was.  The flood seemed to clear out most of the debris and we cleared out the rest and the flood re-strengthened the land.  With a simple press, we might be able to make enough to help sustain us for a while.”

“How long has this been happening?” Braeburn asked.

“About two months,” Quick Draw replied.  “Once the guards saw you weren’t around town anymore, most of them started stepping up their aggression.  We’ve managed to keep them off our property and two other farms, but they up and took over the rest of them and most of the town; we have enough tools to keep going for a little while and can still plant enough to feed us, but we can’t hold them off forever.  It seems we’re pretty split down the middle, and things have been getting worse.”

“What kind of worse?”

“All sorts of it,” Coal Dust replied.  “The sheriff’s been either standing by idly or not doing anything, the guards either steal supplies or pay hardly anything, and those who the guards are convinced they’re in league with you have been kicked out of their jobs.  At least a quarter of the town is a ghost town.”

“Most have taken place in one of three farms,” Twilight said.  “There’s about thirteen here, twelve in another farm, and fifteen in a third that are against Blueblood as well as scattered portions through town that aren’t vocal about it.”

“There isn’t enough to fight back,” Braeburn said, rubbing the bandage around his chest and stomach.  “Especially not while I’m in this condition.  Other than myself, we have Applejack, Twilight, Cold Steel, Coal Dust, and maybe a few others from the other farms depending on who made it out.  And there’s no use calling for help from the Equestrian military if Blueblood’s cut us off from the rest.”

“I can fight, sir,” Quick Draw said.

Braeburn sighed.  “You’re too young.  You’d get yourself killed in an instant out there.”

“I am old enough!” Quick Draw shouted.  “Need I remind you I won last year’s deadeye competition, skeet shooting competition, and target competition at the Rodeo and Gun Exhibition in Dodge Junction, not to mention at eighteen I’m old enough to sign up for the Equestrian military.  I own two revolvers of my own, something that we’ll need if the guards have stepped up their game.”

“It’s not just that,” Braeburn said.  “They’re all equipped with guns, supposedly with knowledge from a former escapist from Dodge Junction.  They know that we all are involved because he found out and told them about our plan to dam the river to destroy the mine shaft because they bought him.”

“So it wasn’t just that Silversmith led them to us?” Cold Steel said.  “The bastard went over there because it was better paying than what he had originally?  Perfect!  Old friendships are out the window because of greed.”

“I guess so,” Braeburn said.

Cold Steel growled.  “If I ever get my hooves on that traitor, I am going to wring his neck!”

Coal Dust placed a hoof in front of Steel, who calmed down.  “There’s nothing we can do at the moment,” he said.  “The guards are on high alert since Twilight helped Braeburn escape from prison.  Any one of them could either attack or kill us at a moment’s notice.”

“So we’ll need to wait for a while until Braeburn’s recovered,” Applejack continued.  “If Blueblood is aware of Braeburn’s condition, they’ll be on high alert while Braeburn is weakened and will back off when he’s back up to normal.”

“I can still fire a gun,” Braeburn spoke up.  “I don’t need to be out of a bandage to do that.”

“Yeah, but if you were to get into close combat I don’t think you’d do very well,” Twilight said.  “Your ribs and lungs are in bad enough condition from Blueblood’s beating; it won’t take much more to get you back to being hospitalized.”

“Are any of them on our side?”

“A nurse and a doctor are on one of the farms, along with their families.”

Braeburn nodded.  “See if they have any pain-killers or even ointments and herbal remedies, would you?  I’ll probably be incapacitated for a few days and need all the medicinal help I can get until I can recover.”

Cold Steel smiled at him.  “You just get yourself back up to speed,” he said.  “We’ll all help take care of the farm.”

“There must be at least something I can do,” Braeburn said.  “I’ll go crazy if I’m cooped up here for a few weeks.”

“Just wait until the nurse comes around,” Applejack said.  “Twilight can probably teleport and get them fast enough so you won’t have to wait for the results.”

Just as Applejack said, the nurse and doctor came over relatively quickly.  While Twilight did teleport over to where the two were, they had to walk back with Twilight to avoid getting too sick; Twilight managed to use a cloaking spell to hide them until they got within the farm’s boundaries.  Almost immediately the two came over with their equipment to find Braeburn lying in his bed.  They asked him to sit up.

“How do you feel?” asked the doctor as the nurse starting checking over his body.

“A little dizzy but not too problematic,” Braeburn said.  Just to prove it, he reached for the revolver nearby though missed it once before picking it up.

“What exactly happened to you?”

“The day before Twilight picked me up I had been beaten up by Blueblood with a police baton.  I was given a shot of some medicine and had a bandage wrapped around my chest and hooves.  I’ve been in this position ever since.”

The doctor nodded.  He turned to the nurse.  “How are the usual areas?”

“His eyes seem to be fine and he has a good reaction time.  His mouth’s nice and wet so I wouldn’t say illness is a problem.  However, if he was placed in bandages I’d wager there’s something underneath that could pose a problem.”

The doctor nodded.  “Prepare a new bandage by soaking it in warm water and mixing it with an antiseptic medicine.  I’m going to peel some of this bandage off to see what’s going on.”  The nurse followed orders while the doctor took the bandage and unwrapped it from around Braeburn’s chest.

The wound was small though what was there was nasty.  Multiple spots all over Braeburn’s chest and arms were a deep purple and he found it harder to breathe with the bandage taken off him.  He told the doctor this, who nodded thoughtfully.

“Well, it’s not good but it’s better than I thought,” the doctor said.  “I would say you have some internal bleeding along with a broken rib.  I can’t do much for the rib besides the suggestion of a glass of milk with every meal and making sure the windows are open during the day – that’ll cover the calcium and vitamin D intake – in addition to placing a new bandage on you.  Otherwise, for the bleeding, plenty of bed rest and salads with a rather large amount of kale and lettuce; that will add some vitamin K to clot the blood in those areas.  I’d say no physical activity for three weeks and no strenuous activity for another two once that time period is over.  The nurse is preparing a new bandage for you.”

A few minutes later, Twilight was helping the nurse put the new bandage, the nurse supporting Braeburn while Twilight did the rest with her magic.  It wasn’t long before Quick Draw was escorting the doctor and nurse back to the farm where they were staying.

“At least you’re still alive,” Twilight said.

Braeburn nodded.  “Five weeks of bed rest,” he said.  “I don’t know if I can stand being cooped up that long.”

Twilight smiled sadly at him.  “Think of it as a rest after three months of prison labor.”

Braeburn motioned to the other side of the bed.  Twilight went and crawled in next to him.  “What was it that took you so long to come and get me?” he asked.

“I didn’t know the layout of Blueblood’s compound.  I can’t fly well, but I managed to get to a small overlook a little to the north.  I kept watching the schedules every day for a few months then started getting myself used to the layout of the compound so that I could just teleport in, grab you, then get out.”

“You never got caught?”

“No.  It’s just like you said: Blueblood wouldn’t risk capturing or hurting me if it meant Princess Celestia comes down on him.”

For a few weeks, it was as though Appleoosa was made of three separate communities.  Blueblood’s compound kept gaining members of the guard that now lived there and took anyone who stood against them to prison.  The main town was split between Blueblood supporters and Braeburn supporters, neither of whom could set foot outside without getting attacked by the other at some point or being harassed by the guards that acted as though they owned the town.  The farms were the stronghold of Braeburn and whoever was fully on his side.

The royal guards and military initially attacked the farms furiously as though to try and recapture Braeburn and put into prison anyone who had sided with him.  Braeburn wished he could take his revolver and go fight the guards, but the others handled themselves well; Twilight teleported among the three farms to shield whichever one was attacked, while strong fighters soon emerged from each of the three farms.  Braeburn only heard of the heroics of other farms, but from his window he could see some of the fights between the guards and those on his own farm.  Quick Draw proved an able shooter, firing off all bullets from his own six-shot revolver in a matter of seconds and hitting whatever target he aimed for.  After shooting three guards in five limbs and killing one with one load, the young stallion came in to see Braeburn.

“Did you see me out there?” he asked.

Braeburn nodded with approval.  “A regular deadeye if I ever saw one.  I’ve never seen anypony shoot so well since my father went into those competitions.”

“That’s how I won,” Quick Draw said proudly.  “The judges said they couldn’t remember the last time they saw someone shoot that fast and accurately.”

Braeburn smiled.  “You’re better than I thought, you know.”

Quick Draw sat at the edge of the bed.  “You’re not the only one fighting for something,” he said.  “It may not be as strong as what you’re fighting for, but ever since my father was killed everything’s been going downhill.  Our farm started to go under when the guards harassed us; we’ve been living on the poverty line for a few months.  I want Blueblood out of Appleoosa just so mother can have some peace concerning my father’s death and so my younger siblings don’t have to live in fear.”

Braeburn sighed.  “I wish there was some way of getting them out of here and on to somewhere more peaceful.  My old hometown of Ponyville would be good.  Green fields, clear skies, no known jewel fields within the town lines.  It’d be a place away from the fighting.”

Quick Draw nodded.  “Mother would like that.  Maybe someday we’ll go there.  Someday when things are better,” he added.

Braeburn nodded.

Quick Draw got up.  “Applejack said she’d be in with some soup shortly.  Keep resting and getting better, Braeburn.  The town shunned you and thought of you as mad before.  Maybe you are a little, but now there’s something even worse afoot.”

Braeburn’s smiled faded.

“I mean no disrespect,” Quick Draw said.  “I don’t think anyone saw any of this coming.  Now that it has…”  His voice trailed away as though lost.  Eventually, he nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Braeburn ate his soup and fell asleep early that night without fuss.

* * *

After five weeks, Braeburn’s bandages were changed again and the doctor gave him permission to walk around.  Braeburn’s first walk after the rest let him survey the perimeter of the farm and the new types of crops that had been planted for subsistence farming.  Towards the edges of Braeburn’s property were simple things like wheat and carrots, while other places also had lettuce and berry bushes.  Inspection of another farm revealed it only doubled up on one or two crops from Braeburn’s farm for a wider variety.

A week later and with the pain in his stomach nearly gone, Braeburn put on his hat and vest and holstered his revolver before taking a first look into Appleoosa with Quick Draw and Twilight at his side.  The streets, once thriving with residents that would have been selling goods to help with the planting season, was barren except for the occasional guard from Blueblood, now mostly comprised of unicorns wielding guns with shorter barrels than Braeburn’s that were painted white.  A few unicorns and nearly all the pegasi still carried spears; Braeburn surmised this was mostly because the large amount of money it would take to supply the army with guns would make someone in Canterlot suspicious.

On his first day walking the town, Braeburn and the others got into three gunfights.  One of these started almost as soon as he stepped into the town’s boundaries.  The fights were ended without casualties but someone from the guard went away injured in all of them and they had to learn to avoid streets where supporters of Blueblood’s new order were higher and took streets where supporters of Braeburn were higher.

It didn’t take long for word to spread that Braeburn was back on his feet.  While he was nowhere near top condition, the mere fact that one of Equestria’s ranking gunponies was back to health caused whispers to go throughout the town.  The guards stopped attacking the three farms for fear of being shot at by two of the deadliest marksponies in Appleoosa.  By the third day of walking the town, Braeburn was able to bring back an entire family of supporters to the farms without getting shot at by the guard, who seemed to do their best to avoid him.

“It’s odd, isn’t it?” noted Applejack after coming with Braeburn on one of his walks through Appleoosa.  “You’d expect that with Blueblood’s money he’d have a larger force and yet Braeburn’s able to walk through town without gettin’ shot at.”

“It’s simply a matter of time,” Braeburn said.  “Blueblood is likely trying to train his men for another attack.  He wants me dead or alive, I’m guessing, and he’ll take whatever methods he can to make sure I’m back on his property.”

“What about the rest of us?” Quick Draw said.  “We’re all aligned with you.”

“But he won’t try and get some of you,” Braeburn said.  “Applejack is out of the question being an Element of Harmony.  Twilight is out of the question being a princess.  The others he might assume are just pieces in the machine, with me being the power required to keep it running.  Without power, the machine cannot run.  If I’m gone, resistance in Appleoosa is crushed.”

“But you’re our main fighter,” Twilight said.  “Without you, Blueblood isn’t afraid.  With you able to fight, Blueblood is either forced to make new decisions to turn and run.”

“But he’s still not up to speed,” Cold Steel pointed out.

“Not yet, anyways,” Braeburn agreed.  “I’m on my way, though.  I still can’t strain too much.”

“We’ll need to find a way to attack Blueblood,” Coal Dust suggested.  “If we managed to take out something of Blueblood’s his own forces might be crushed or hesitant to fight back.”

“That I don’t think is the problem,” Braeburn said.  “The problem is more firepower.  Cold Steel, what was the sheriff’s office like before you left?”

“Still able-bodied and decently well-equipped,” Cold Steel replied, “but they’ve been slow to respond.”

Braeburn nodded.  “How many deaths have there been in the time I’ve been out?”

“Around one a day until the last month,” Twilight said.  “Approximately one hundred and twelve ponies have been killed in the last four and a half months, ninety of those while you were imprisoned by Blueblood.  Eighty-point-three-five-seven-one percent of those have been on our side.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow.  “How much is that?”

“About ninety,” Twilight said.  “Most of those were during the days Braeburn was in prison.”

“That alone is proof of how little the sheriff’s office is doing,” Braeburn said.  “For seven years, Sheriff Silverstar was a trusted member of this community and one of the top two figureheads of the town along with myself; I helped with the farms and helped others manage crops and jobs, and he kept the town safe and running legally, as well as overseeing construction projects.  We need to convince him that his lack of response is a part of what is causing Blueblood and his men to temporarily go berserk with that statistic as proof.”

“Is possible,” Cold Steel said, “but not likely.  Force may be necessary.”

“Alright, then.  We arm ourselves.  We leave a few capable ponies here at the farms to help defend them, then we go in to Appleoosa and meet with Sheriff Silverstar.  He probably is still operating his late hours around the office, so we’ll go then when the heat’s died down.”

After the meeting was finished, Braeburn went to his room to lie down for a minute, still feeling the pain in his ribs every once in a while.  The energy stemming from his own enthusiasm had worked him up and caused the pain to resurface.  He had lain down and just closed his eyes when a knocking came on the door.  He opened his eyes and looked up to see that Coal Dust was standing at the entrance of his room.

“How long were you standing there?” he asked.

“Not very long,” Coal Dust replied.  “Only opened the door about a minute ago.”

“Forgive me,” Braeburn said, straightening himself up.  “My ribs were acting up again and I figured I should lay down for an hour or two.”

“I promise I’ll make my statements quick,” Coal Dust replied.  “I simply had a question about a certain phrase in our meeting.”

“Ask away,” Braeburn said.

Coal Dust cleared his throat.  “By what exactly did you mean by ‘heat’?  Did you mean the sun or did you mean the police?”

Braeburn shrugged.  “I half assumed they would be no different.”

Coal Dust nodded and closed his eyes for a second.  “That’s what I thought.  It should be noteworthy that Blueblood has unofficially announced a curfew.  Some of the deaths that have happened lately have been because Blueblood has started making his guards get a little more aggressive a few hours after nightfall.  Problem is, the only ones he’s told about this are his guards; even his supporters don’t know about the curfew.”

Braeburn paid a little more attention now.  “This does pose a problem,” he mused.  “Do you have any suggestions?”

“Early to late evening would be a better time to try and confront Sheriff Silverstar,” Coal Dust replied.  “The road nearest to the farm is fine, but if you were to go two farms over the street is filled with Blueblood supporters, but because it’s close to the farms the guards don’t often go as close since they’re afraid of retaliation.”

“But what about the time?”

“I’m getting there.  When the shift changes a few hours after nightfall, the guards that come out are much more aggressive, as are the ones that take the morning shift.  The reason I suggested early to late evening is because the guards are going to be hot from a long day in the sun, and the ones on patrol often take no rest.  By that time they’re tired and not as combative.  Early to late evening means safer passage and less harassment.”

Braeburn mused about this as well.  “Do you have any experience with a gun?”

“Little,” Coal Dust admitted.  “I’ve mostly been a miner and swung a pickaxe around.  Never have handled a gun before.”

Braeburn nodded.  “I want you to come with me when I go to the sheriff in two days’ time.  Find a tool that could be used as an appropriate weapon.  Swing it around a few times and see how hard you can hit.  I’ll need someone who is good at close combat.”

There was a moment’s silence.  Cold Steel didn’t leave.

“Of course,” Braeburn added, “if you don’t mind.”

“It would be my pleasure.  But what about Applejack?”

“She knows how to run a farm.  It’s soon time for the next part of the planting season and I’ll need her out of combat so she doesn’t get as banged up as I am.  I’ll probably be not much use since I can’t bend myself so much for the time being.”

“Fair point.”  Cold Steel nodded politely and left the room and left Braeburn to rest.

The day after the meeting, the farms were allowed a reprieve.  Braeburn confined himself to his own home for the most part and anyone who wanted to see him had to come to his farm.  The guards didn’t harass them at all, for which Quick Draw’s family in particular was thankful for.  Applejack and the other farmers began busying themselves with the next stage of the planting season.

Despite the rest, the air was tense.  Everypony on the three farms knew what was going to happen tomorrow and how much the result could help.  It would depend entirely on how well things had gone between Braeburn and Silverstar.  Despite confining himself to the house to keep his movement to a minimum, even Braeburn was restless and kept moving around the house in a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.

On the second day, Braeburn got himself ready and asked for Twilight Sparkle and Cold Steel to prepare themselves.  Braeburn refilled his revolver with bullets, Twilight gave her magic-reducing amulet to Braeburn to hide, and Cold Steel picked out a rather large hammer from the tools in Braeburn’s barn.  The three waited until late evening, when the sun had touched the horizon, to leave Applejack in control of the farm and head into Appleoosa.  Quick Draw watched them as they left, standing guard with his own revolver.

The three entered Appleoosa as Cold Steel had previously mentioned, using the entrance from the farthest farm from Braeburn’s.  While the street seemed to have a hostile air, no one attacked them as they entered town; a knock at a door caused one of the residents to hiss that Braeburn was unwelcome on Blueblood’s property but they didn’t go farther than that.

“I would have thought,” noted Twilight, “with a street full of Blueblood supporters that one of them would have attacked us by now.”

“The guards on this shift are tired,” Coal Dust said.  “They’re not willing to patrol as much.  They’re all hiding or exhausted from the heat.  Without the backup and firepower of the guards, they won’t try and fight.”

The same was true for two other streets they used to cut across the town.  They encountered a guard on one of the streets, but as soon as he aimed his own gun at them the windows on half the street opened all revealing ponies getting ready to chuck items or armed with their own tools to throw at the guard.

“Blueblood’s a thief and a despot!” one of the ponies cried.  “Get out of here!”

The guard fled quickly and they continued onwards without much fuss.

The sheriff’s office was towards the center on the opposite side of town.  It was a small two-story building that had both offices and sleeping quarters and was located next to the town jail.  Braeburn looked into the windows as they approached and saw most of the officers inside were sitting around wooden tables playing cards or drinking.  Braeburn opened the door and entered, Twilight and Coal Dust.

One of the nearby officers looked up at them from his drink.  His dark eyes were filled with disdain.  “You three got any business in here?  I’m afraid we’re off duty at the moment.”

“I’m not here for you,” Braeburn said.  “The name’s Braeburn.  I’m looking for Sheriff Silverstar.”

The officer’s eyes slowly widened with shock and surprise.  “V-very well,” he said.  “Sheriff Silverstar is in his offices up top.  It’s the door at the end of the hallway with his name on it.  Don’t’ cause a fuss.”

Braeburn nodded.  He walked to the staircase and climbed up, feeling the eyes of the officers on the floor following his every move even when he was on the second floor and hidden from them.  He walked to the door with the sheriff’s badge on the front, turning around as he approached it to see if they were still watching him.

Braeburn opened up the door to see Sheriff Silverstar at his desk writing something and chewing on a stalk of wheat.  A book was splayed open on the desk, matching an empty spot in a nearby bookshelf.  On the wall closest to the desk, there stood an old telephone where Silverstar received incoming distress calls.  A door off to the side revealed a bedroom where Silverstar himself lived, while behind the desk stood a large window that looked out into the town.

Sheriff Silverstar looked up as Braeburn entered.  “It’s been a long time, old partner,” he said.  “It’s been a while since you last volunteered here at the department.  I thought I’d be expecting you once the harvest season was over.”

“I’m not here for volunteering,” Braeburn said.  “But I need your help.”

“Help?” Sheriff Silverstar asked.  “You have any idea how trying it is to keep this city under control?  One hundred and twelve recorded deaths in the last few months.  It’s been Tartarus trying to keep track of them all.”

“That’s why we need your help,” Braeburn said.  “There’s about sixty of us hidden in the farms just outside town.  Blueblood’s guards have prevented us from roving freely and forced us into hiding.  It’s been because of Blueblood and his attempts to implement the policies in the town he technically doesn’t have control over that all these deaths have occurred.”

“You think I don’t know?” Silverstar replied.  “Every single time someone’s been killed, a guard has had blood on his spear when we show up on the scene.  I know very well that it’s them.  And believe me when I say I’m as sick of it as you are.”

“Obviously not enough to do something about it,” Braeburn fired back.  “I have a feeling that with our combined firepower we could find a way to fight back against Blueblood and keep him from causing further destruction.”

Silverstar sighed.  “I don’t want any more blood on these hooves,” he said.  “I don’t want to have more innocent blood be spilt.”

“And you are well aware that Blueblood’s hooves are guilty and have innocent blood spilt on them.”

Silverstar nodded.  “What more will fourteen ponies do?  Even if we do combine forces, that’s only seventy-four ponies.”

“There are more in the city that are against Blueblood.  They hide because of the guards, but with the knowledge of the police force on their side, they will be braver and be more willing to fight.  Once they see the backing they have, they will fight for whatever cause.”

Silverstar nodded.  “I should long like to see this place be the prosperous community it once was,” he said, turning to look out the window and down to the streets.  “I should like to do something about it.  But can I?”

The statement caught Braeburn off guard.  “I’m not sure what you mean by that.  Is there something holding you back?”

“I’m just still not sure,” Silverstar said.  “Give me a few days to think it over.”

Braeburn sighed.  “What is going on with you?”

“I’m just not as sure as I used to be,” Silverstar said noncommittally.

Braeburn and the others turned around.  “You know where to find me.”

Braeburn, Twilight, and Coal Dust left the room.  Sheriff Silverstar followed them and closed the door behind them.  As Braeburn walked out of the hallway, he could hear the ringing of the phone sounding a distress call, knowing there was a high likelihood that Silverstar wouldn’t answer it and wouldn’t respond to the frantic caller on the other side of the line.

I would have answered that, Braeburn thought to himself.

Chapter 16 - Loss of Reason and Order

Braeburn, Twilight, and Coal Dust left the sheriff’s office and returned down the streets the way they came from.  To Braeburn, the thought of losing a once firm ally was heartbreaking, but it only strengthened his resolve.  Sheriff Silverstar was no longer helping them, but at least he wasn’t helping out Blueblood all that much.  However, to sit back and do nothing was an even worse crime than to help Blueblood destroy the town, and he would take care of it even if it meant just those in the farms taking on Blueblood by themselves.

Along the way back, Twilight walked up next to Braeburn.  “I’m sorry things turned out that way,” she said.  “I hope it isn’t hurting you too much.”

“I just hope whoever made that call is okay,” Braeburn said.  “I just want all this to stop.  If I could, I would just tell everyone to call me to help out with their disputes.  But if Blueblood keeps putting the pressure on us, I won’t be able to answer everything at once.”

“You don’t have to take him on alone,” Twilight said.  “If a few more come by the farms looking for shelter, I’m sure they would be willing to help you out along with everypony else already there.”

From a distance there was the sound of gunfire.  Braeburn and the others picked up the pace as they started running through the streets of Appleoosa, avoiding guards as necessary.  “Maybe sometime when it gets late, we can break in and see if you can’t put a call through to Canterlot to Celestia.  Phones in the residential areas aren’t good for long distance, but someplace like the sheriff’s office should have a phone that could reach there.”

“It’s worth a shot,” Twilight said.  “We’re running out of ideas and, if Blueblood keeps attacking us, running out of time.”

Braeburn and the others bolted through the streets, noticing a lessened presence of guards as they maneuvered through the dusty avenues.  “Where do you suppose everyone is?” Coal Dust asked.

“I don’t know,” Braeburn said.  “If you’re right, they should be all at the bar getting a drink.”

“Yeah, but it seems like there’s even less out than that,” Coal Dust said.  “I’m almost afraid of an ambush every time we turn a corner, and would be expecting one if the streets weren’t so wide.”

“Enough room for ponies and carts,” Braeburn explained.  “Can’t have someone getting run over or trampled.”

The sound of a gunshot came again.  Braeburn and the others broke into a gallop and took the quickest route they could out of the city.

“Something strange is going on here,” Coal Dust said.  “It almost feels like the gunshots are coming from the farms.”

There was another gunshot, followed by a very loud scream.

“That sounded like Applejack!” Twilight commented.  “We’ve got to get back and make sure she’s okay.”

“Then quit talking and let’s move!” Braeburn said.

Without another word, the ponies mustered up every ounce of strength and bolted down the nearest street heading towards Braeburn’s farm.  The lack of guards allowed them to bolt through despite being harassed by numerous townsponies not entirely in favor of the idea of three rebels running freely.  Braeburn, Twilight, and Coal Dust weaved through the increasing crowds coming to see the ruckus of the cloud of dust until they managed to break free of the crowds and reach the home stretch.

When they came into clear view of Braeburn’s farm, it was obvious they were a few minutes too late.  There were two dead pegasi holding spears just outside the property.  Inside, one of the windows of the farmhouse had been busted and two carts had been upturned to create makeshift barriers.  Despite the quick thinking, three other ponies lay dead.

“Braeburn!” Cold Steel said as soon as he saw him coming.  Quick Draw ran up alongside him as Braeburn approached.  “Thank Celestia you’re back!” Cold Steel exclaimed.  “It was terrible!  Blueblood jumped us!  We got ourselves together and managed to fight back, but it was too late for those poor sods.”

“We heard gunfire and a scream that sounded like Applejack’s coming in this direction,” Braeburn said.  “What happened?”

“Applejack saw what was going on and said she wanted to fight.  I told her to stay back, that she was needed to help take care of the farms in your absence, but she was stubborn and went in there anyway, saying it was taking care of the farm if she went out there to fight.”

“Then a few pegasi guards just swooped in out of nowhere,” Quick Draw stepped in.  “I tried firing at them, but they’d gotten wise and started doing aerobatic stunts.  Soon we had to reload, when they came down in formation and picked up Applejack and carried her off.”

“Damn it!” Braeburn said.  “I told her to stay out of the fighting.”

“We need to get her back,” Twilight said.

“We can’t right now,” Cold Steel said.  “Soon as they got outside of Appleoosa’s boundaries, they were protected by a backup unicorn guard.  Blueblood must have had them shipped in from Dodge Junction in case something like that happened.  We’ll need to wait a minute so they can’t go on high alert.”

“But we need to get back Applejack!” Twilight said.  “I can’t just leave her sitting there!  She’s not like Braeburn in Blueblood’s eyes.  She’ll be beaten up worse and potentially killed.”

“And leave Equestria without an Element of Harmony?” Braeburn said.  “I’d like to see him try.  Celestia would get really mad if that was the case.  Far as I see it, we do need to get her back, but we have some time.”

Twilight looked angry.  For a while she just glared at Braeburn.  Eventually, she got tired of looking at him and walked off with a snort.

“Alright,” Cold Steel said, “now that that’s over, how was the ordeal with Sheriff Silverstar?”

“He said to give him a few days to think it over, but I think he’s already decided,” Braeburn replied.  “He’s turned a blind eye to every distress call for the past few months because, according to him, he’s getting sick of having to deal with showing up to a scene and finding a guard with blood on his spear.”

“I sympathize with him on that point,” Coal Dust said thoughtfully, “but I personally don’t believe he’s that invested if he just stops answering calls.  He isn’t hindering us, but he certainly isn’t helping us either.”

“So now we’ve got to get Applejack back,” Quick Draw said.  “Take a few patrols of the compound, find where she’s being held, and get back in there.”

“Probably won’t be so easy this time, since they’ve already had one escapee,” Cold Steel commented.

“Yeah, but afterwards, if we find anything out, I’m going after Silverstar,” Braeburn said.  “To turn a blind eye at an Element of Harmony and my cousin… he can’t stay here any longer.  I’ll take Twilight with me tomorrow night to go and look at the compound.”

“If she’ll agree with you, that is,” Quick Draw said.

Braeburn nodded.  “I’ll go and speak with her in a little bit.  It should give her a chance to cool down.”

* * *

Braeburn knocked on the door of the guest bedroom of his farmhouse.  Despite not receiving an answer, he opened the door anyways to find Twilight sitting on the bed.  He didn’t move any closer to her and leaned on the door.  It took a long time before Twilight even noticed that Braeburn was standing in the door, and when she turned around Braeburn could see she wasn’t happy with him in the slightest.

“What is the matter with you?” she growled at him, careful to keep her voice low.  “How could you just dismiss Applejack like that and say we have time?”

“I have to ask what Celestia would think of this,” Braeburn said.  “And it’s true.  Celestia has relied on Applejack as one of the Elements of Harmony for seven years now.  It’s not like she would tolerate it lightly if Blueblood killed her.”

“But what about potential damage?”

“Applejack is much stronger than you realize,” Braeburn nearly whispered.  “You may be friends with her for a while now, but I was the one who saw her grow into the mare she is.  Of all the ponies in this town, she one of the scant few that will tell me I’m crazy.  As of late, it takes a lot of guts to say that, especially to a family member.”

“But you are almost planning on simply leaving her there!”  Twilight jumped off the bed and stomped over to Braeburn.  “You’re planning on leaving my friend in prison!  As strong as she is, Applejack’s strength is dwarfed if a pony has a weapon that won’t allow her to get close or could puncture her.”

Twilight’s face was mere inches from Braeburn’s but the stallion remained calm.  “Let me put this in another perspective: if I had died during my time in prison, then the deeds for this place and Dodge Junction would be lost and we would not be standing here right now.”

Twilight stumbled backwards as though she’d been hit.  Braeburn guessed she wanted to continue complaining but her mouth kept opening and closing without sound as though she couldn’t get the words out.  Eventually, she just stopped trying to speak.

“I do want to get my cousin back,” Braeburn said.  “If you think it would hurt you, think of how much it would hurt myself or Big Macintosh or Apple Bloom if she died.  I’m not letting her stay with Blueblood.”

“We need to come up with something,” Twilight said.  “I would have thought you’d have already thought of a plan to get her back.”

“One does not wage a war in a few days, Twilight Sparkle,” Braeburn said, the use of her full name stunning the alicorn.  “There is scouting, there is planning, then there is an attack.  I want to enact a plan soon, but I’ll need your help again.”

“Promise me you won’t be so reckless about it this time,” Twilight said.  “I… I have had enough of death.”

“If all goes well, Applejack will be out the same way I was freed.”

Twilight nodded.  “What do you need me to do?”

“Fly around the complex.  Find out where Applejack is being held and use your magic to see if there’s any barriers put in place from when you busted me out.  If so, detect any weak points in it.  If it’s possible to teleport in and bust Applejack out, we’ll do it.  If not, we’ll find ways to exploit the weak points.”

Twilight nodded.  “Promise me you won’t kill anypony.”

Braeburn smiled at her.  “I will try.”

“Don’t try.  Do.”

“I promise.”

Twilight gave a small, resigned smile.  “Tomorrow night.”

“How long will it take you?”

Twilight’s smile actually grew a little.  “A week, I think.  I already know the compound somewhat so unless they’ve started anything new, it shouldn’t take long.”

Braeburn smiled back at her and turned to leave.

“Braeburn.”

Braeburn turned around to see Twilight back at the doorway.  “I’m sorry I doubted you.”

Braeburn nodded.  “I’m sorry I doubted me, too.”  Then he left and shut the door before Twilight could respond.

* * *

For the next week, things were calm at Braeburn’s orchard.  During the day, Braeburn, along with some of the other ponies hiding on the farm, started spreading fertilizer around and digging small trenches for water from the river to pass through and irrigate the farm.  Repairs were made on broken equipment and supplies were constantly checked on.  A few ponies almost always had weapons on them, watching in case Blueblood’s guards came back for more of them.  Braeburn himself sighted guards once or twice, but nothing new came and no one ever travelled anywhere without at least one other pony with them.

During the nights, final messages between ponies would be transferred just after sunset.  Within fifteen minutes after everypony was accounted for, the barns and farmhouses would be shut down and locked up with one light always on.  In the dark, often moonless nights, Twilight would silently slip out of Braeburn’s farmhouse and fly away, her lavender form just barely visible against the deep blue.  She would stay away for hours at a time, and not return until just after sunrise when the others could see her different coloration coming towards them and not attack her on sight, though usually she was back before the barns were unlocked.  She would never tell her observations to anyone, though Braeburn noted she started writing in a small notebook.

No more meetings were held during the following week.  Since Braeburn’s return from meeting with Sheriff Silverstar, there hadn’t been much said to anypony and they were simply waiting for Twilight to finish surveying the compound.

After a week, however, Twilight came back early one night.  Braeburn saw two ponies running along through the orchard and would have gone to get his revolver if he didn’t see a purple spark of magic go up from the trees that was most definitely Twilight.  Braeburn unlocked the door and brought a lantern with him and ran out to the ridge to meet Twilight.

“Twilight!” Braeburn called quietly.  “What brings you back so early?”

“I found someone trying to sneak away from the compound,” Twilight said.  “He says he knows you from Appleoosa’s early days.”

“Bring him into the house,” Braeburn said.

Braeburn returned to the house, Twilight following behind.  Braeburn set the lantern on the kitchen table and dimmed it as a lavender unicorn followed Twilight in.

“Lavender!” Braeburn exclaimed.

“Braeburn!” Lavender cried out.  “Oh, it’s good to see you!”

“It’s been a long time,” Braeburn agreed, “though I hoped to meet in better circumstances.  What were you doing sneaking away from the compound?”

“I was working as a drafter under Blueblood for a little while.  The pay was good and I lived comfortably for a while, so everything was fine.  Then I started hearing about a mining dispute with one of the locals in Appleoosa and was called over here.  When Blueblood started talking about the area in question, I remembered that was your farm.  Well, I helped build Appleoosa and hadn’t heard anything of the sort, but I wasn’t going to be so quick as to destroy a town I helped build.  I gathered some of the more important things and left.”

“Well, I’m glad to see you again.  So, why exactly did you come here again?”

“Blueblood’s gone mad.  Oh, sure, he treats us all nice, but he’s sick of trying to convince you to get off the property.  He’s going to try and build a mine that goes under the river from outside Appleoosa, within the one-mile area he’s not supposed to go in.  It’s going to run under the river and come back up to hit a large area right underneath your farm.”

“Expected losses?”

“Well, if he goes up enough to hit the suspected area, we’re looking at about an acre of trees that could be lost due to a cave-in, not to mention disrupting the long-term effects of the area’s nutrients going bust if it flows in there.”

“One more thing,” Twilight cut in.  “Do you know of a pony being held in the compound named Applejack?”

“Yes.  She’s under high security prison for treason, according to Captain Lancer of the guard.  That’s the other reason why I suspected Blueblood is going mad; he actually had Silverstar come over to the compound one day not too long ago and paid him for not answering when his guards came to capture her.”

Braeburn nodded.  “Twilight,” he said, turning towards the alicorn.  “Were there any barriers or weak spots?”

“There is a magical barrier.  It’s kept pretty high and I don’t see any weak spots.”

“I could come in handy here,” Lavender said, “if you’re thinking of busting her out.”

“I’d wager this reunion is highly more convenient than it should be,” Braeburn said, “but if you have a plan, I’m willing to hear it out.”

“I know who keeps up the shield at night.  I have minor teleportation skills myself.  I could go back for a short while and serve the guard a drink at his usual time laced with a sort of sleeping medication.  Once he’s down, the barrier will be down as well.  Then it’s a simple matter of heading for the prison area.  However, I should think you should stay here, Braeburn.  Twilight and I will go and take care of this one.”

“You want me to step aside while my cousin is trapped in Blueblood’s compound?”

“I hate to say it, but this time you’ll be a load.  Twilight can teleport and fly around the area without being seen, while I am familiar to the guards for working under Blueblood and can go almost anywhere.  I’m sorry, but it’s best if you sit tight.”

Braeburn growled, but didn’t say anything against it.  Eventually, he let out a long sigh.  “How long do you think it will take to carry this out?”

“At least a few hours.  I need to go back, explain myself, send the guard his tea with stimulant, then wait until he falls asleep for the barrier to break before Twilight can even play any part in it, but Twilight will need to wait until I give her the signal.”

Braeburn nodded.  “Have you any proof of Silverstar being bribed?”

Lavender shuffled through his bags.  “I was thinking you’d want that,” he said.  He pulled out a copied sheet of paper listing the expenses and placed it on the counter.  A circle was written in around a line that noted “Extra expenses: 1400 bits for the hiring of local guards as extra help for securing the site to prevent guards from coming in.”

“Look below that, too,” Lavender noted.

Braeburn read it.  “It says that one hundred guards would be shipped in instead of the normal two hundred,” he said.

“He’s got others coming in,” Lavender said.  “Just yesterday, he sent a letter asking for thirty more guards to come around from his previous troops in Dodge Junction.  Are you going to send that to Princess Celestia and let her know about it?”

“No,” Braeburn said.  “We can’t since Blueblood took over the trains and stopped them coming through here.  But I’ll be heading over to Sheriff Silverstar’s in a few days to make a phone call to Celestia’s court.  If I say I have a copy of the expenses and can locate where they are, I could inform them and they could possibly act.”

“Braeburn, you should wait,” Twilight said.  “Wait until this whole ordeal is over and we have Applejack back and I’ll be able to go with you.  They’ll listen to me since I’ve been a student of Celestia herself and I’m a princess.”

“I’ll need to go and make sure the line is open,” Braeburn said.  “If Silverstar isn’t letting us take calls or if Blueblood’s cut the lines, there’s going to be problems with this plan.  However, to make the actual phone call, I’ll wait.”

“Thank you,” Twilight said quietly.

Braeburn turned to Lavender.  “You can rest here tonight,” he said, “and we’ll make sure you’re fed in the morning.  But maybe you should get back by tomorrow afternoon if we’re to get Applejack out as soon as possible.  Afterwards, you may return with Twilight.”

“Thank you so much,” Lavender said.  “Anything to get away from Blueblood.”

* * *

The next morning, Lavender ate breakfast and told Twilight to head to the ridge overlooking Blueblood’s compound in two days before leaving just after the sky had become completely dark.  Braeburn stashed the paper containing proof of Sheriff Silverstar being bribed under his bed for safekeeping and waited patiently until the time came when Twilight was to leave.

“But why do you need to convince Silverstar?” Twilight said.  “You’re good enough friends you should be able to make a call even if Blueblood is bribing him.”

“If he’s being bribed, Blueblood may want him to keep his mouth shut,” Braeburn said.  “It may also extend to making sure no information gets that far.”

“But why do you have to do it while I’m gone?”

Despite further questioning from Twilight, Braeburn did not answer her.  Twilight eventually gave up and left him alone, something that Braeburn preferred.  It left him time to think.  The decision to confront Silverstar had not been easy, especially with a meeting with him so close behind him.

Two days later, Braeburn and Twilight sat in the living room and waited for darkness to descend.  Braeburn would have gone off and worked, but he wanted to make sure Twilight was not seen before going off on his own business.  The sky got darker and Braeburn went off to his room, leaving Twilight in the living room.  He came back a few moments later, shoving the paper containing the bribing evidence in his vest pocket.

“Are you ready to go?” Braeburn asked, lighting a few lamps in the living room.

“Yes,” Twilight said.  “I have hidden the amulet that restrains my magic for the time being.  I’ll put it back on when I return with Applejack.”

“You’ve had something to eat and drink?  There’s no telling how long it could be before you get back.”

“If I have any problems, I’ll just have something when I return.”

Braeburn stepped closer and kissed Twilight on the cheek.  “Be careful.”

Twilight nodded, then unlocked and stepped out the back door of the farmhouse.  Braeburn shut and locked the door behind her and went to the living room.  The moon provided little light, and within seconds after takeoff Twilight had vanished into the night sky.  Braeburn watched the skies for a few minutes to make sure she wasn’t coming back before going back to his room and putting something in his pocket.

When Braeburn himself left, the sky was dark and the night was quiet.  Braeburn took the main road into town and ran through the streets.  No guards were present though all the lights were on in the bar and hotel.  A few more blocks and Braeburn reached the sheriff’s office.

A single light was on in the bottom, but Silverstar’s office light was also on.  Braeburn knocked on the door and waited for a response, but none came.  Impatient, Braeburn turned around and bucked the door three times before the lock busted and the door flew open.  Braeburn walked calmly inside and shut the door to prevent the night wind from coming inside.

Despite the loud noise the bucking made, Braeburn found no one coming after him.  The single light from the lamp near the door cast a dim, flickering golden light over the offices and shadowed the entryway into the holding cells.  Braeburn heard the clanging of chains from the shadows and walked over, but no one came over to see him, so he walked up the stairs and faced the hallway with Silverstar’s door.  He approached the door without making a sound and pushed it open to find Silverstar at his desk, only this time without his hat or his coat and badge.

Braeburn walked up to Silverstar’s desk, but the stallion didn’t seem to notice him.  From within his jacket, he pulled out the fully-loaded revolver and tapped the metal barrel three times on the desk.  Silverstar finally looked up to see Braeburn standing over him, his bright green eyes and half his face hidden by the shadow of the Stetson on his head.

“Have you reconsidered?” Braeburn said darkly.

Silverstar pushed himself up.  “I-I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“You know,” Braeburn said.  “A few days ago, I came here asking you whether or not you would help us out with Blueblood.  You said to give you a couple of days to think about it.”  He brought up the revolver until it was pointed at Silverstar’s head.  “So… have you reconsidered?”

“I said I wanted no more innocent blood to be spilt,” Silverstar said, sounding tired.  “I said I wanted no more blood on my hooves!”

“You also said you wanted to see this place become a prosperous community once again.  And you said you wanted to do something about it.  I’m giving you that opportunity.”

Silverstar stared firmly at Braeburn.  For the first time Braeburn ever saw, Sheriff Silverstar took out a cigarette and lit it, putting it into his mouth and drawing in a deep puff.  “Do you think a revolver pointed at my head is going to convince me of anything?”

“No,” Braeburn said.  “I didn’t.  However, I would rather have you betray me and die rather than keep you alive and have to deal with your indecisiveness and unwillingness to tackle this problem head on.”

“Now that is just absurd!” Silverstar said.  He bolted up from his desk, though Braeburn kept the revolver trained on the middle of his forehead.  “Since when have I ever displayed such traits?”

“Three times.”  Braeburn’s words and eerie calmness had a sense of finality that caused Silverstar to jump and with every word Braeburn spoke he felt himself slump back into his chair at his desk.  “First was with the Diamond Dogs.  You thought me crazy to try talking with them, and you left me and Lavender alone to face them without even sending backup.  Second is the fact that you’ve been letting Blueblood get away with whatever he’s done so far without a single realization that it’s against the original premise of the deed and violates our relationship with the Diamond Dogs.  Thirdly is the fact that you stood idly by while my cousin was kidnapped by Blueblood and his men.”

Silverstar looked aghast.

“But why wouldn’t you?” Braeburn questioned, though Silverstar didn’t answer him.  “Blueblood’s little stipend for keeping your mouth shut probably was better pay than you’ve had in weeks.  What was it now… two-hundred fifty bits per week additional?  So you’ve conveniently overlooked these little things because you’ve been getting a little extra pay.”

The cigarette nearly dropped out of Silverstar’s mouth.  “H-how did you find that out?”

“Lavender.  He worked for Blueblood for a short time until he realized how mad he was.”

“Mad?  Blueblood’s not mad.  He’s a genius!  Even with his little operation, the extra forces would be able to protect us from Diamond Dogs, the buffalo, or raiders.  Not to mention it would make Appleoosa richer than… than…”  As much as he wanted to say it, Silverstar faltered.

“Than me?”  Braeburn laughed.  “No.  Once Blueblood has what he wants, how long do you think it’ll be before you are thrown aside and forgotten, before the money goes towards his own needs and wants?”

“That… that wouldn’t happen!  He relies on me too much!”

“Cold Steel was once part of Dodge Junction’s sheriff’s department.  He moved because he couldn’t afford living in his own home anymore.  How much better do you think you’ll fare once Blueblood gains full control?”

Braeburn pulled out the sheet of paper and gave it to Silverstar, who looked at it, defeated.

“I’m sorry, Silverstar,” Braeburn said coldly.  “But leaving my cousin to be kidnapped was the final straw.  Thanks for naming the town after me, considering you didn’t do too much for it anyways.”

Silverstar got up and backed against the window, but Braeburn kept the revolver aimed for the forehead.  He opened his mouth to scream, but it felt dry and he could barely even choke as Braeburn took a step forward.

A loud bang! resounded throughout the office.  The window behind Silverstar cracked and shattered and pieces littered the streets.  Silverstar slumped over into a red puddle forming on the wood.  A thin trail of smoke came out from the revolver in Braeburn’s hoof.  The night wind blew in and extinguished the light from the lamp in the room.  Braeburn holstered the revolver and picked up the paper, putting it back into the pocket of his vest.

As a final thought before leaving the sheriff’s offices, Braeburn picked up the phone at the opposite end of the room.

The line was dead.

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