Billy and I cracked open the back of the carriage to reveal a Pale blue unicorn with dark purple hair. Her eyes were a light shade of blue. She had a stupid looking purple cape on that had stars and other weird stuff woven into it. “BEHOLD, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL BRIXIE!” She exclaimed.

I mouthed my tongue around in a rather unimpressed fashion. “Where is my applause? You are standing before greatness… now bow down!” She ordered and I looked over to Billy.

“You know, personally, I’d prefer the bandits.” I said and we both chuckled in humor.

“What is so funny? Brixie demands to know why you laugh!” She ordered and I sighed as I looked to her.

“So what are? A circus clown?” I chuckled and she gasped in revolt from my comment.

“How dare you make a mockery of me!? I am the…” she began but I cut her short.

“Yeah-yeah, we know already. ‘The great and powerful Brixie’ blah, blah, blah.” I said, making absolute mockery of her.

“You’re mocking Brixie!” She yelled and I made an apologetic face.

“Oh no… pfft yeah.” I laughed then suddenly a blast of energy grabbed me and lifted me into the air.

“Well then perhaps Brixie shall have to teach you a lesson.” She informed me but nothing happened.

“Uhm… so… are you gonna give me a head rush from too much blood going to my head or…” I trailed off to let her tell me what exactly she planned to do with me.

“Brixie shall turn you into a rabbit… or maybe a hare.” She informed me.

“Same thing.” I told her and she shot me an irritated look. Suddenly a revolver pressed up against Brixie’s head. Brixie gulped in fear and turned to see her oppressor who was none other than Daring Do.

“Put-him-down.” She hissed and Brixie immediately set me down. She stepped back from Daring and gulped fearfully. Daring looked to me. “So what do we do with her?” She asked and I just shrugged.

“Not sure to tell yah the truth… but regardless we have to go to Horseshoe Bay.” I reminded her and Brixie gasped from the information.

“You’re going to Horseshoe Bay. Can Brixie come too? Brixie could make a lot of business in Baltimare.” She asked but Daring replied before I could say anything.

“No.” Daring said bluntly and mounted up on Nostalgic.

Brixie gave a pouty face. “Please? Brixie did not mean anything by what she did.” Brixie pleaded.

“No, and that means no.” Daring said again and Brixie immediately looked to me then got down on her knees and groveled before me.

“Please… Brixie would be forever in your debt… please bring Brixie along.” She pleaded, nearly in tears. She got a very pouty and saddened face then gave me tearful puppy dog eyes.

“NO!” Daring yelled but I didn’t listen and picked Brixie up to her hooves.

“Yes.” I replied, getting a gasp of shock from Daring. I looked over Daring and held Brixie’s still pouty face so that Daring could see how adorable she looked. “Awe but Daring… look… she’s sooo cute.” I said, as if I was talking about a puppy dog or something.

“Ugh… you’re despicable.” Daring scowled and I nodded.

“Yeah I know, I despise myself as well. Alright Brixie hop on. But if you try anything then I’ll put you down.” I told her and she got a bright and pretty smile that spread across her face as she literally lept on me, embracing me in a very tight hug.

“Oh thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou, Brixie shall remember this forever.” She thanked me. Daring scoffed.

“Well she’s not riding with me.” She stated and I rolled my eyes before mounting up on Marry. I helped Brixie up and sat her behind me. Daring just rolled her eyes. Brixie wrapped her hooves around my chest as we began to trot along with our horses.

I looked over my shoulder to Brixie who had her face buried into my shoulder. “So what do you plan to do when we get to Baltimare?” I asked and with that we began to make small talk. I could constantly hear Daring mutter things to herself then Billy would laugh or have a chuckle.

The day had been long and tiresome so I was glad that we were finally stopping for the night. I managed to find a larger quantity of wood which would keep the fire going for a considerable amount of time.

As I stoked the fire Billy came over with some cooking pans and we began to try and cook. “What are you doing? Do you not know how to cook? Here, allow Brixie to show you.” Brixie said as she trotted over then began to miraculously cook like she was a chef or something.

I looked over to Daring whom I hadn’t really spoken to all day. “Well looks like the mare can cook… oh she’s definitely a keeper.” I said to Daring who rolled her eyes then looked away.

Brixie looked to me. “What do you mean Brixie is a ‘Keeper’?” She asked and I had a chuckle.

“Well, none of us can cook except you… after you’re done you’re business in Baltimore would you be interested in tagging along with us? We’re looking for a criminal outlaw and could really use a cook.” I told her and her face seemed to brighten up.

“Really?! You really wish for Brixie to stay with you? Of course! Brixie would be delighted to stay with you. Brixie has never had friends before.” She told us with a brightening smile.

Daring simply scoffed to herself. “Yeah I wonder why?” She asked rhetorically. I rolled my eyes and watched in fascination as Brixie cooked us supper. ‘Yup, definitely a keeper.’ I thought to myself.

After about an hour, Brixie had cooked us all potatoes and made a rather nice salad out of: a head of lettuce, some cut up apple pieces and other various items. I gave my thanks to Brixie but Daring kept quiet, though she still ate the supper.

As we began to settle in for the night I offered my sleeping sac to Brixie, who took it gratefully. Billy and I stayed up while the two mares passed out beside the fireplace. He looked over to me then looked to Brixie with a raised eyebrow.

“She sure is something else huh?” I asked and he nodded. “Well… I guess that makes four of us now, huh?” I stated and again Billy nodded with a slight smirk.

“Yeah but I don’t think Daring is all that pleased with the idea of Brixie tagging along.” He commented and I shrugged.

“Meh, I don’t know what’s gotten into that mare but…” I began but then suddenly Daring spoke up.

“Nothing’s gotten into me. It’s what’s gotten into you.” She said sternly as she rolled over. My eyes widened in confusion and I looked over to Billy with a look of curiosity. He slapped me upside the back of my head.

“Oww! Hey what the hay man!” I exclaimed but then I heard Daring mutter something to herself. It sounded like ‘Yeah, you show him Billy.’ I gave Billy an unappreciative look and he face hoofed.

“You idiot… you are seriously naïve ain’t yah?” He asked and I raised an eyebrow from the comment. “Never mind, I’ll let you figure it out for yourself.” He told me then got up, trotted over to beside the fire and laid down, quickly passing out and leaving me alone.

I thought for a second. ‘Could Daring like me… as more than just a friend?’ I asked myself then quickly disregarded the thought. No, she wouldn’t, she wouldn’t like a ruffian like myself, she even said so.

Then Billy’s tale played in my head. How his two parents despised each other yet in the end they fell in love. I looked over to Daring. She was pretty cute… I quickly subdued the thoughts and focused on a more probable answer.

She probably just disliked Brixie because of Brixie’s boasting or maybe it was because I trusted her so fast. One of those answers ought to be the right one. I chuckled to myself as I remembered how only a second ago I thought that Daring Do, my first friend since… a very long time, might have liked me.

I sat and kept watch, my mind now at ease. I watched the fire crackle and burn until soon my eyelids became too heavy to keep open any longer. I let out one final yawn before lying back and looking to the stars in the night sky, far above the world. I smiled faintly as I shut my eyes and passed out.

I awoke to the smell of cooking eggs… we had eggs? I quickly shook off the thought and sat up only to see that Brixie was cooking breakfast. I smiled as I yawned and she looked over to me.

“Good morning Mr. John. Brixie cooked breakfast. Would like some?” She offered. I heard Daring mutter something to herself from where she sat. I nodded in reply.

“Thanks Brixie. That’s real kind of you.” I thanked her as she offered me a plate of eggs and some apple slices. ‘Damn, she’s good… really a keeper for sure.’ I thought to myself. Billy was already eating and Daring, by the looks of things, had already eaten and set her plate aside.

After breakfast we mounted up, Brixie riding with me and Billy riding with Daring. Daring seemed to still be scornful of Brixie though I guess it would just take some time for Daring to get used to another mare in the group. Well hay, I guess it would be difficult seeing as how it was originally going to be just me and her, then it was Billy. Now it’s a fourth member who just happens to be a mare.

I looked to the road ahead. It changed to forests in the distance then on the other side sat the outskirts of Baltimare city. We would probably arrive late at night. “Next stop: Baltimare.”