The train arrived at the Dodge Junction station but no sooner had we departed then the sound of gunfire filled the air.

Every-pony scampered about but the others and I rushed for cover. Bullets smashed into walls and windows as gunfire was exchanged from two parties. One was Ray and the deputies who were taking cover behind some crates at the general store while the other was a stallion in a black vest who took cover behind a porch post at the gun store.

The deputies fired their rifles at the lone stallion who in turn, fired back with an automatic pistol. The deputies and Ray took cover as the stallion easily outgunned the law officers by himself.

This was insanity, not even ten seconds into the town and a gun battle erupts. What next? We all rushed to cover behind some crates in the loading yard. “So how are we going to do this?” I asked the others as I unholstered John’s M1911.

“Well… Elijah seems to have an idea.” Billy stated and I looked to him only to realize Elijah and Bear were missing. I looked back towards the town to see Elijah and Bear rushing behind the saloon and along the backside of all the buildings. ‘What the hay did he think he was doing!?’

The gun-pony stayed fixated on shooting at the law-stallions so he didn’t even realize when Bear rushed him from the side. The golden retriever snarled as he lashed out at the criminal and grabbed him by the foreleg that he held his pistol with.

The stallion screamed out in pain. Dandelion went to take a shot at the criminal but Ray stopped him and pointed to the dog, obviously not wanting to accidentally shoot their saviour.

The stallion struggled and tried to swing Bear off his arm but Bear held on tight. The stallion swung Bear’s body into a wooden post that helped support the gun shops balcony sign.

Bear yelped in pain and let go of the stallion’s arm. The criminal reached for his pistol but no sooner had he grabbed his weapon, Elijah slammed a mighty buck kick into the stallion’s side with both his hindlegs.

The criminal was tossed out onto the street from the sheer force of Elijah’s kick. Bear immediately quarrelled the criminal and snarled with his lips curled back. The gun-pony shuffled back in fear but was stopped when he backed into Ray.

Ray stood there with a seriously angry face. “Son… you are in a world of trouble, yah hear?” To that statement the stallion’s head dropped down as he groaned. Dandelion and Rose picked up the criminal and hauled him off to jail.

Ray turned to us as we all approached them. “Well hey there Daring… and friends.” He greeted, not really wanting to say every-pony’s names.

We all gave a nod and I tipped my hat, formerly John’s hat. “Hey Marshal… listen we have a little bit of a situation and were wondering if you could help?” I asked him and he smirked.

“You always seem to have situations… alright, come along to the office and we’ll sort it out.” He stated and we all followed him down the empty streets of Dodge and to the marshal’s office.

Dandelion and Rose already had the criminal behind bars while Carnation had already started taking a nap on a cell cot. I rolled my eyes, only Carnation would want to take a nap right after a vicious gunfight.

Ray sat down and poured himself some whiskey. And only Ray would start drinking only minutes after the gunfight. He poured a second glass which Elijah took and quickly downed. I rolled my eyes.

“So… what’s this problem you seem to have?” Ray asked and I flopped the folded treasure map down on his desk. He opened the map and took a look at it before he chuckled to himself. “Well… I’ll be damned… looks like yah got yourself another treasure tah go find huh?... and it looks like it wants yah tah go tah the great rock formations in Marexico… and by the looks of it, the ones right by the border…” He trailed off his sentence and muttered to himself a few times.

“How do you know that?” I asked him and he shrugged.

“I’ve been to Marexico with my wife for our honeymoon. Went and saw these rock formations for ourselves. Sat on top of the arch too. Pretty nice scenery… lessen there’s a bunch of zebras and buffalo trying tah kill each other near you.” He chuckled and I tilted my head to one side in confusion.

“You see… the buffalo and zebra have been at war for… oh well… they started about the same time when ponies and buffalo started fighting but instead of signing peace they just kept fighting.” Ray informed us.

He pulled out a map of the Equestrian-Marexico border then scribbled something down before handing it over to me. “This is where you should look. If it’s not there then… maybe look in Hooftah.”

I really hoped it was in Marexico, because if it wasn’t then we’d have to go all the way back to search Hooftah, and this treasure map wasn’t all that depictive.

I gave him a nod but then suddenly there was a gunshot outside. Carnation lept out of the cell cot and already had his gun drawn as he and the others raced to the door. We all piled outside were a stallion sat on a horse in the middle of the main street of Dodge.

“Colt… get down from there!” Ray yelled out and the stallion simply snickered.

“Naw marshal… I think I’ll stay right here… but yah can give me Mr. Davy back!” He yelled back to Ray.

“We don’t barter with outlaws colt… now get down from there!” Ray called out to him but the stallion simply laughed.

“Last time marshal… give me Davy… or else!” The stallion yelled. Ray didn’t comply. In a flash of motion the stallion whipped out a revolver and shot at us, hitting Carnation dead center of his chest.

We all went to grab our guns but the stallion spurred his horse and galloped down a back alleyway before we could get a shot off. We all heard the stallion scream out: “This town’s gonna burn!”

Rose held the shivering Carnation as he gasped for air. The bullet had slammed right in his center mass and he wasn’t going to make it, even I knew that. “No… Carnation… stay with me… nononono! NOOO!” Rose screamed as his friend quietly passed away.

“Well… now it seems we also have a problem… Daring, would you and your friends be so kind as to help us?” Ray asked calmly and I looked over to him.

“What do you need marshal?” I asked and he sighed before looking to his watch.

“Well… it’s 2:30 in the afternoon. A train comes by here at 4:30 to take prisoners up to the Canterlot prison. We may need your assistance to get Mr. Davy there from the jail to the train station, reckoning things go south which I assure you they probably will.” Ray informed us.