A week later

Eric, his family, and their friends were on the train to Appleoosa from Las Pegasus. It wasn’t long before the train stopped at the Appleoosa train station. There, everyone got off and went into town and were greeted by a light glow earth pony stallion with a light gamboge and amber mane and tail, light green eyes, and a red apple for a cutie mark.

“Howdy, cousins and everyone,” the stallion said.

“Howdy, Braeburn,” Applejack and Apple Bloom replied in unison.

“Good to finally meet you, Prince Eric Sparkle,” Braeburn greeted.

“Same here,” Eric replied, “These are my friends, Holly, Marina, Zuni, Slapstick, and Nightshade.”

“This is my boyfriend, Smokey,” Applejack said.

“And Nightshade is my boyfriend,” Apple Bloom added.

“Good to meet y’all,” Braeburn greeted, then turned to his cousins, “It’s about time you had a special somepony, AJ. Way to go, Apple Bloom.”

“I’m Jasper, Smokey’s twin brother and special somepony of your cousin’s friend, Rarity,” Jasper introduced himself.

It wasn’t long before Braeburn, along with he CMCs, gave Eric and his friends a tour of the town from the saloon and the sheriff’s office to the town hall. He also showed them the arena where rodeos and other sport events were held. Just then, they happened across Sheriff Silver Star, who was with two other law-ponies.

“Howdy, Sheriff Silver Star,” Braeburn said.

“Howdy, Braeburn,” Silver Star greeted, then turned to Eric and his friends, “Eric Sparkle, welcome to Appleoosa.”

“Thanks. Ever since I took a day trip to Cloudsdale on my sixth birthday, I wanted to see more of Equestria. Earlier today, I came here from Las Pegasus,” Eric replied.

“Pleasantries aside, we need your help,” Silver Star said.

“How can we help, Sheriff?” Nightshade asked.

“The Wild Bunch Gang has struck again, they’re the most notorious outlaws in the desert and they must be stopped, for they outnumber me and my posse,” Silver Star replied.

“We’re right with you, Sheriff,” Eric said, turning to his fellow CMCs, “Girls, if my parents ask, please tell them that we are helping the sheriff with something important.”

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo returned to their older sisters. Eric, his other friends, and Sheriff Silver Star’s posse went off to search for the Wild Bunch Gang and bring them to justice. They kept searching the outskirts of town until they came across Chief Thunderhooves and his tribe.

“Howdy, Chief Thunderhooves,” Silver Star greeted.

“Good to see you, Sheriff Silver Star,” Thunderhooves said, “You must be Prince Eric Sparkle. The towns-ponies told me and my tribe about you and your friends a while back.”

“Good to meet you, chief,” Eric replied, “My friends and I are helping the sheriff track down the Wild Bunch Gang, have you seen them lately?”

“Yes. Just a few days ago, we noticed them hauling carts full of apples and cherries that they have stolen and their base is in a cave just west of here,” Thunderhooves explained.

“Thanks, chief,” Silver Star said.

After crossing a few miles of desert, the posse finally took notice of the Wild Bunch Gang hauling carts full of stolen apples into a cave while hiding behind a large rock.

“Ok, let’s follow them into the cave and stay out of sight,” Silver Star said.

The posse went into stealth mode as they followed the outlaws into their cave headquarters. It wasn’t long before they saw the gang leader with a crystal ball. He was a light golden unicorn with a long, dark red, mullet-style mane, thick red eyebrows, a short red goatee on his chin, long angular mustache, and murky-green eyes. His attire was a large brown coat with shawls covering his cutie mark, orange sparkly shirt, red frills, a blue tie, and a gray Stetson hat with a black band on the brim. Silver Star recognized him as Deadeye Buck.

One gang member was a greenish blue pegasus stallion with a short-cut brown mane and brown tail with a brown Stetson hat and a yellow checkered shirt. The second was a brown earth pony stallion with a black mane and tail, blue eyes and a dark brown jacket along with a black hat and matches in his ears and mouth. The third was a silver unicorn with a black mane under a tan hat and wore glasses with red and blue lenses. The other three gang members were triplet earth pony brothers with long blonde manes and tails and were dressed identically except for the bands on their derby hats and bandanas.

“We have the apples and cherries you requested for your army, Glacio,” the gang leader said, holding his crystal ball.

“Good. You are to bring them to me by tomorrow or else,” Glacio ordered through the crystal ball.

“Yes, my lord,” Deadeye Buck replied.

“It all makes sense now. The Wild Bunch Gang weren’t stealing for themselves, they were stealing food for Glacio and his army,” Eric said, whispering.

“Glacio’s been paying them this whole time. I never suspected that before,” Silver Star replied, “Let’s get ‘em.”

The posse came out of hiding and faced the gang in a standoff.

“Reach for the sky!” Eric said, pointing his wand.

“You’re busted!” Nightshade added.

“Who are you callin’ ‘busted’, busters?” Deadeye Buck retorted.

“Deadeye Buck, you and your gang are under arrest for robbery, assault, and cattle rustling,” Silver Star said.

The standoff soon became a brawl with the posse gaining the upper hoof on the gang. The sheriff lassoed the gang member called Three-Dee and the two other law-ponies lassoed the gang members called Skin-Mane and Matchstick, while Nightshade, Zuni, and Marina lassoed the triplet brothers.

“Hey! There’s a snake in your boot!” Eric said, causing Deadeye Buck to look down.

“Incarcerous!” Eric incanted, causing Deadeye Buck to be tied up.

Soon enough, the posse took the apples and cherries back to town along with the newly captured Wild Bunch Gang. It was now sunset and the gang was locked up in the town jail.

“You think you’ve won? It ain’t over ‘till the fat pony yodels!” Deadeye Buck said in defiance.

“Go ahead and yodel, but you can’t escape,” Silver Star replied.

“For a dangerous outlaw, you sure are good at yodeling,” another law pony added.

“Well done, Prince Eric. You and your friends have done us a great service, we never would’ve caught them without your help,” Silver Star said.

“All in a day’s work, sheriff,” Eric replied.

“Your friends and family are invited to a hoedown in your honor,” Silver Star replied.

“Thanks, sheriff. We must go to them,” Eric replied.

Eric and his friends met up with Twilight and the others. He immediately hugged his parents, as well as Sweetie Belle. Nightshade and Slapstick also hugged Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

“What were you helping the sheriff with, may I ask?” Twilight asked.

“My friends and I helped him catch the Wild Bunch Gang and now they’re behind bars,” Eric replied, “I hope you’re not mad at me.”

“Why would we be mad? You did Appleoosa and the rest of Southern Equestria a big favor,” Twilight said.

“We’re actually very proud of you, sport,” Storm added.

“Thanks. The townsponies are having a hoedown in my honor at the inn,” Eric replied.

“Great, let’s go,” Twilight said.

It wasn’t long before Eric, his family, and friends went to the inn for the hoedown. Some of the townsponies were playing their fiddles, drums, accordions, and harmonicas. Even the bison tribe were enjoying themselves.

“I bet Pinkie would’ve liked this,” Eric said.

“No kidding, she’d be a sucker for a hoedown like this,” Applejack replied.

Once the hoedown was finished, Eric, his family, and friends turned in to the rooms for the night.

Two days later

Eric and his friends were playing a scaled up version of Dragon Pit after Starlight, Sunburst, Trixie, and Maud had their turn. He took a quick liking to the game after seeing his mom, foalsitter, and their friends playing it.

“Eric takes the game!” Storm announced.

“Good game, everyone,” Eric said to his friends.

It wasn’t long before Starlight, Twilight, Storm, Maud, Trixie, and Eric saw Sunburst off at the train station, with him and Starlight placing two of his bags on the train.

“I don't know why I got so worried about us not having anything in common,” Starlight said.

“Yeah. I kind of think it doesn't matter as long as we enjoy each other's company,” Sunburst replied, as they held hooves.

“And that game was certainly enjoyable,” Trixie spoke up as she and Twilight carried all of his luggage and most of his antiques he bought.

Trixie and Twilight were sweating on their heads after carrying all those items.

“What made it even better was getting to play it with all my friends,” Starlight said, getting into a group hug with all her friends. Trixie pulled Maud for her to join in.

Afterwards, Eric gently nudged his foalsitter as a reminder to tell Sunburst how she feels. Sunburst proceeded to board the train before Starlight spoke up, “Wait! I have something to tell you.”

“I have something to get off my chest too, Starlight,” Sunburst replied.

“You first,” Starlight said.

“I love you, Starlight. I always have,” Sunburst confessed.

“I love you too,” Starlight replied as she pulled him in for a kiss.

Sunburst’s eyes widened at this initially, but returned it. They gently broke away and he asked, “See you soon? Maybe for a date?”

“You bet. I want to hear if you find anything interesting in that barrel,” Starlight said.

“Trust me, Starlight. You'll be the first to know,” Sunburst replied as he boarded the train.

Just as the train left, the new couple waved to each other. Starlight, Twilight, Eric, and their friends returned to town.

Image of Chief Thunderhooves courtesy of AndoAnimalia on DeviantArt.