Chapter 5

“Can you see what’s going on out there?” you ask, leaning on her slightly as she slips her head between the curtains trying to look through the slats of the shutters.

“I don’t think it’s you they’re after, it’s some stallion in a hat and poncho, he looks pretty mean.”

“Wait, what colour is his coat? What about his mane?”

“Sort of orange, kinda almost rusty. I can’t really see his mane, but his tail is sort of... off white. Hold on, I see Silverstar, no sign of the others though.”

Seeing as they’re not trying to find you, Toffee opens the curtains and shutters, allowing for a better view. You see the stranger at one end of the dusty road, the sheriff at the other.

“The people have had enough, Silverstar. I’ve got your associates in custody. I suggest you come quietly.” The stranger said, moving the hat to the back of his head, giving him a better view, “We know that you’ve been organising the hunts on the buffalo. They know it too. Our only chance for peace-”

“You know nothing, city boy.” the sheriff spat, “You think I don’t know who you are? You think ah don’t remember the great Sergeant Snapshot of the Royal Protectorate from mah time in the guard?”

“You were lucky Her Majesty let you keep your head for your negligence. Do you think you’ll be that lucky this time? Considering the hurt you’ve caused? You almost had Duke coming down here to deal with you himself. You’re lucky they sent me. Oh, and it’s Captain now.”

“So what? Hoofsbury rules? You gon’ take me down, all civilised like?”

You see the captain grin as Silverstar lowers his head, pawing at the ground with one hoof, ready to charge. He calmly nudges the hat further back on his head as a single small rock impacts the side of the Sheriff’s head. Silverstar wheels around to a small unicorn, barely twelve years old by the look of the child, snarling. Another rock hits him, this time large enough to cause the stallion to lose his footing, propelled by another unicorn from across the road.

The captain just stands there, smiling confidently as the rest of the town come out from their hiding places, converging on the bruised Sheriff, various implements levitated or held between teeth, a pie held in a beautiful red dish hovering with pride of place above the crowd.

“Stop.” Snapshot says, nearing Silverstar, “He’s had enough. I’m taking him in, he has to have a trial.”

Another earth pony, clad in a heavy looking apron and bearing a mark very similar to that of the mare sat next to you joins the captain and addresses the angry mob bearing down upon them.

“He’s right. We owe this fella all kinds of hell, but that ain’t nothin’ compared t’whut the courts can do to him. Y’all should get back to your homes, it’s over. We ain’t gon’ be at war with the buffalo no more.”

The two stallions hold their ground, the crowd looking slightly uneasy. You see the sergeant that had accompanied your group flap down into the circle, manacles held between his teeth.

“Silverstar of Appleloosa, I’m arresting you under suspicion of corruption, including but not limited to the organisation of ethnic cleansing parties, unlawful imprisonment and conspiracy towards the attempted murder of a government official. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you choose not to reveal information that you later rely on in court. You have the right to a defence lawyer, if you cannot afford one then one will be provided for you at no extra cost; but I’ll warn you, mate, he’s a bit shit.”

“Sergeant...” the captain sighs, kicking at the ground with a hoof impatiently.

“Scrap the last bit.”

The scene soon dissolved after that, the townsponies soon giving up their arsenal and trotting off back towards their abodes. You saw the old blacksmith look up at you, a wave of brief surprise crossing his face when he saw you and his daughter cuddled together, observing him through the still open window.

You’re sure he raised his eyebrows at her, and she nodded her head in response before kissing you on the cheek. He raised his hoof to between his eyes, looking at the ground in frustration.

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