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.