Treasure in the West

by DiveBomb


Twelve - The Infamous Legacy

The sun outside had finally set, but the clouds over the horizon still glowed a dull orange from the dying sunlight. Applejack however, could no longer find comfort in the beautiful view. Her mind was at a state of unease, hoping that her cousin was alive and well. Twilight had been helpful, but ultimately useless in quelling her extreme amount of worry. The orange earth pony merely stared out the dusty window from her uncle's recliner, absentmindedly counting the quiet snores of the slumbering pegasus in the other room. Twilight had busied herself with the front page of the latest Western Weekly, her eyes darting across the paper as quick as could be, taking in every bit of information that had to do with the 'Hero of Dodge Junction.'

"I didn't know Dodge Junction had become such a criminally-active place," she noted aloud, her voice heavy with despair. "Did you know anything about this AJ?"

"Not even a clue," the farmer replied with a sigh, leaning back in the enormous chair.

"Should we tell your uncle about this? I mean, it's in the paper, so he's going to find out eventually."

Applejack chewed on her lower lip as she sat up on her haunches. She hadn’t thought of that before. Surely Bullet Tyme would blow a gasket over his only son in the area of the dangerous bandit known as Sure Shot. Not only that, but his earlier outburst would pale in comparison to what was to come if he found out. Applejack wasn’t too keen to be in the same town during such an explosion. The orange mare turned her right ear in the direction of the firing range, relieved to hear the continuous muffled blasts of gunfire. To her surprise, the shots sounded as quick as Braeburn’s. He must have had plenty of anger to release.

“But…I imagine that he might shoot us if we tell him,” Twilight concluded, as if she had read her friend’s mind. Applejack allowed herself a nervous chuckle.

Twilight let the slightest of grins play across her lips, her overall expression only somewhat serious. "He might shoot us if we don't tell him."

"Our chances don't look too good, huh Twi'?" she half-smiled.

"AJ, I'm serious," the unicorn continued, looking more and more distressed. "I don't want to interfere in your family's matters, but that's his son out there. I can't imagine that his wife feels any diff...Wait..."

Twilight cocked an eyebrow, looking around the Appleloosan home with curiosity. "Where is Braeburn's mother?"

Applejack lowered her eyelids, looking down to the old wooden floor. She sighed heavily, tucking her forehooves under her chest atop the plush recliner. The farmpony tilted her notched stetson forward, although not far enough to veil her eyes. Thankfully, Twilight seemed to grasp the hint.

"Oh," she said quietly, sorrow etching her face. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"S'not yer fault Twi'," Applejack replied with a reassuring grin.

"How...I mean, if you don't mind telling me..."

"Some sorta' rare heart disease," she said. "Took her in the middle of the night, 'bout five years ago, Ah reckon. Doctor told us she went painlessly, but we didn't take no solace in that."

A grave silence filled the living room after that. A sorrowful aura hung over them, perhaps more over Twilight than Applejack. The orange mare grew tired of the floor beneath her, and instead turned her gaze to her friend. The violet unicorn let out a sad little sigh, her chest deflating. "That's just so...sad. Braeburn seems like such a kind pony. A little excitable maybe, but kind nonetheless."

"Ah guess so," Applejack agreed, trying to lighten to mood in the room. "Uncle B never really gave him much room fer it, but Braeburn always managed to keep a smile on his face. But sometimes it wasn't the best thing fer him."

"How do you mean?"

"My cousin has a bad habit of bottlin' things up inside," Applejack answered. "When his mother passed, Braeburn didn't cry or even get mad. The next mornin' he just kept his head down and went out to the orchard, buckin' apples fer the whole day without so much as a break. He didn't talk to nopony, he didn't look at nopony. But fer the rest of that week he seemed like the happiest pony in the world, like his Ma was still alive and kickin'."

"But something happened, didn't it?" Twilight asked, dread forming in her eyes.

Applejack nodded gravely. "It was probably the scariest thing Ah've ever seen. When ya' grow up with a pony like Braeburn, ya' get used to him being nothin' but nice and happy from sunup to sundown. But one day he just lost it. Ah came up here fer the weekend one day to find him hollerin' at the top of his lungs at one of Uncle B's workers. And he wasn't just yellin', it looked like Brae was 'bout to bite that poor colt's face off. Took me, Bullet and Big Mac to get him away and calmed down."

Twilight's eyes flew open. "Wait, this was Braeburn?!"

"Ya' only saw him fer one day Twi'," she grinned. "Can't exactly grasp who a pony really is in that amount of time. Granted, Braeburn is all-'round a kind stallion, but he can have his rare moments like that. Ah've only seen that happen once. He kept his feelin's tucked away fer too long, just waitin' to lash out at the first outlet it could find. Just goes to show that everypony is just that; a pony."

As soon as Applejack finished her sentence, the door to the gun range creaked open slowly. The orange mare jumped to a sitting position, gesturing for Twilight to hide the newspaper as quickly as possible. The purple unicorn panicked for the briefest of moments, her horn flashing with an unknown conjuring. Thankfully, Bullet Tyme never saw the purple flare of magic before he emerged into the living room. He had a tired look on his face, laced with what looked like guilt. The middle-aged stallion immediately gave Twilight an apologetic look.

"Ah'm a mite sorry you two," he said with a heavy sigh. "Ah shouldn't have acted out like that. S'nothin' but shameful on my part."

Twilight and Applejack's faces fell into disbelief. They quickly gathered their composure, unaware of what the unicorn's spell had done. "Oh that's alright Uncle B! Don't think nothin' of it!"

"Yeah!" Twilight chimed in, nodding frantically. "It's okay! We all get angry sometimes!"

Bullet Tyme's eyebrow twitched ever-so slightly, eliciting feigned grins from the two mares. Thankfully, Bullet shrugged their odd behavior off and took the newspaper in his forehooves. Applejack cringed, ready for the row that was about to occur.

"Huh...'Price of ammunition drops'. Good news, but not somethin' Ah'd put on the front page. Guess nothin's goin' on worth talkin' 'bout these days."

With that, Bullet Tyme exited the room, leaving Twilight and Applejack to sigh in relief.

"He's going to find out eventually you know," the unicorn whispered, making sure her words were out of his earshot.

"Well what d'ya think we should do 'bout it?"

"Look, you're worried about Braeburn, right?"

"O' course Ah'm worried!" Applejack hissed in distress.

"And you don't want to be around when Bullet Tyme finds out about him, right?"

"What're ya' getting at Twi'?"

The violet mare turned her head in all directions, as if the old stallion were going to pop in from any angle. When she looked satisfied that the coast was clear, Twilight leaned her head in close, gesturing for Applejack to follow suit. "Then let's go to Dodge and see what's going on!" she whispered.

"What? We can't just up and leave!" the orange mare retorted. "At least Ah can't! There's still work on the farm to be done here, and Ah promised Uncle B that Ah'd be here to help! Not to mention Ah told Daring that Ah wouldn't tell nopony 'bout her!"

"Then tell her I wouldn't let you go alone," Twilight argued, perhaps a little louder than she intended. As realization dawn upon her, the purple unicorn threw a hoof over her mouth, surprised at the volume of her own voice. Applejack didn't have time to quietly scold her, for her words were overridden by the sound of approaching hoofsteps.

"Go alone where, AJ?" came a gruff, hoarse voice. Applejack whipped her head around in shock to find her uncle standing behind the recliner, the newspaper rolled up in the crook of his foreleg. He raised his eyebrows, lids low to form a flat expression. "Wouldn't happen ta' be talkin' 'bout Dodge Junction...would ya'?"

Dread crept down her spine, her face contorted into a transparent veil of confusion. The way he emphasized the name of the town sent a cold shiver through her being. Before she could formulate a lie, Bullet Tyme tossed the printed stack of parchment onto the table between the two mares. To their horror, the front page had returned to its previous article, showing the picture of Braeburn as plain as day, along with the headline: DODGE JUNCTION'S NEW HERO.

"Twilight!" Applejack scolded.

The lavender mare looked equally mortified. "Oh no! I'm sorry! I was nervous and I couldn't cast a strong enough spell! I must've-"

"Ah don't care what yer spell was supposed ta' do," Bullet interjected, his tone dangerously calm. "Ah don't know ya' well enough Miss Sparkle, but Ah can't say that Ah'm not disappointed. But Applejack...Ya' know full and well that Ah care 'bout my son, despite how much he can aggravate me at times."

Applejack lowered her head in shame. She knew that it wasn't right to keep such information away from her uncle. It wasn't her intention for him to never find out, just not from her. However, she knew the stallion would take no solace in that.

"Ah'm sorry Uncle B, Ah just didn't know how you'd...well, take it."

"Well Ah'm takin' it like this," he answered, looking back to Twilight. "Miss Sparkle, do me a favor and take your pegasus friend and go home ta' Ponyville. Applejack, Ah want ya' ta' go with them."

"What? But Uncle B-"

"Ah don't wanna hear it AJ," Bullet grunted, turning back to his niece. "That bandit doesn't go nowhere without a whole gaggle of followers 'round him. My son is in danger, and Ah'm goin' ta' make sure he's alive!"

Applejack furrowed her brow, a sudden bravery rising in her chest as she stood up on the floor. She met his gaze despite the height difference, looking him right in the eye. "Ah know what Ah did was wrong, but Ah'm not a filly no more. I'm an adult, and so is my older cousin! Ah'm not goin' home when my family might be in danger! Ah'm goin' to Dodge too."

Bullet Tyme almost immediately exhaled a long breath, his chest deflating in defeat. "Fine," he said before looking over to Twilight. "Ah would appreciate if ya' let this be a family matter, Miss Sparkle. If it's easier fer ya', sleep here and leave in the mornin'. AJ and Ah are leavin' right now."

With a nod, Bullet Tyme left the living room once again, allowing Applejack to turn around to face Twilight. Her unicorn friend looked sad and guilty, as if he had just lied to Princess Celestia herself. She looked up to the farmpony, rubbing her forehooves together in a fidgeting motion. "I'm sorry AJ."

"S'alright Sugarcube," she smiled. "Ah doubt Braeburn's in any real trouble, but we just gotta make sure. Stay the night here with Rainbow Dash and leave fresh in the mornin'."

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Twilight asked, to which she received a nod in response. "Alright. I'll be sure to send you a letter when we get home, and I'll place a reply spell on it you can send a note back if you want."

"Come on AJ!" came her uncle's voice from the other room.

"That's my ride Ah guess," Applejack sighed. "And remember, don't tell Rainbow 'bout Daring."


Braeburn and Daring Do sat on the cold stone floor in each other's embrace for what seemed like ages. When the earth pony thought she was done, the pegasus only held on tighter. It was as if she simply couldn't let him go; as if his well-being depended on her embrace. Silence rang in the dark cavern as Braeburn reveled in her warmth, absentmindedly counting the gentle thumps of her heartbeat. It may have taken a few minutes for him to realize it, but this was all that the stallion wanted. It was what he longed for since she saved his life. Now that she had done it again, his affection only redoubled for the only pony he could call a true friend.

"How are you feeling?" she asked gently, her voice slightly muffled into his long mane.

"Warm," he chuckled. "Ah'm more concerned 'bout you right now. Yer bein' awfully clingy."

"Don't be," she whispered. "I'm not the one who just cheated death. I'm just...I'm just happy you're okay."

Braeburn nodded, giving her a final squeeze before letting her go. He knew it; his previous assumptions were correct, and this as only confirmed when she rubbed her eyes with her forehooves. The stallion gave her a reassuring smile, and she sniffed in response. He didn't need to ask what was wrong, or why she had clung to him for several quiet minutes. Daring was almost adorable when she let herself feel. She was so much more than the hard-boiled action hero of the books. She was real.

"Ah thought we were done bein' sappy," he mused. "Ah'm startin' to think ya' might have a little crush on me."

"Maybe I needed to be sappy Brae," she replied softly. "After all this time-"

"Shh," he interrupted, holding up a hoof. "Ah get it. Now can we get outta here so Ah can get some rest? Ah don't think my body can take no more o' this nonsense."

"Then don't jump in front of a swinging blade you daft mule," she replied, her voice cracking with subtle laughter. "Can you move with your back like that?"

Braeburn answered by standing wearily to his hooves, cursing under his breath from the stinging pain of his wound. As he rose, he felt something covering his cut. The stallion thanked her with a smile, and she replied with a simple nod. Daring then extracted a small aluminum can of lantern oil from her bags, removing the cap and pouring its contents into the dying lantern. The orange flame burst back to life, casting its glow around them. Their surroundings were instantly illuminated, and the two were shocked to see what was revealed.

They stood in a much smaller hallway, this one not adorned with anything but the natural stone the alcove was made out of. Directly in front of them was a deep pit, its bottom unseen through the thick veil of shadow. Ten feet ahead on the other side of the pit was what looked like a prison cell; iron bars set into the stone with a locked door in its middle, right at the edge of the cliff. Braeburn gasped at the sight of a steel box, standing atop a chest-high pedestal. Behind the column was a single door, which looked to be unlocked and ready to be opened. It must have been the way out of the dungeon, and the box must have contained the treasure.

"Oh my gosh," Daring whispered, her mood lifting almost instantly. "That's it! We found it Braeburn!"

"Hehe, yeah," he smiled. "But...how do we get to it? This here pit is too wide to jump across, not to mention there's nothing to jump to on the other side with those bars in the way."

Without a word, Daring flew over to the other side, inspecting the door and its lock. She even tried to fit herself through the iron bars, only to find that just a hoof could fit. She slid her foreleg through the bars, tapping at the back of the lock. "That's weird. This lock is made of case-hardened steel and has no keyhole...but the back is made of aluminum." Daring landed back on Braeburn's side of the pit, cocking her head at the cell.

"What? Why would Cunning do that?" he asked.

"Why would he make this easy?" she countered. "Something has to break the lock if it doesn't have a key."

"So...Ah should shoot it?" he asked with a shrug. Daring cocked an unimpressed eyebrow.

"Not at that type of steel. It would only ricochet and possibly hit us," she sighed, rubbing her chin with a hoof. "Something needs to strike the weaker metal on the back."

"Alright, but where's..." Braeburn trailed off. He searched the floor for his missing rifle, finding it near the closed slab of stone. However, there was something wrong. The stallion's face fell when he approached the weapon. The wooden forestock had been split in twine, a vertical silver gouge cut into the left side of the barrel. Braeburn sighed, far too tired to be angry. Surprisingly enough, the swinging blade hadn't been enough to bend nor slice the steel enough to render it useless. For now, Thumper still had half of its front stock, which he could more than likely replace in the future. In the end, he was just lucky to be alive. He didn't wish to think of what would have happened if it weren't for Thumper. He pushed the spring-loaded cartridge gate open to find the back of the last brass shell he had left. Braeburn had forgotten about his lack of ammunition, and hoped that he would need any more than one bullet until they got out of this place.

"Ah hope ya' got an idea in mind," Braeburn started, turning back to the archaeologist. "'Cause we ain't gettin' out the way we came in."

"Pfft. Are you new here or something?" Daring chided. "That's been the case since we got dropped into this tomb."

"Daring," he said flatly. "Please, Ah'm exhausted."

"Can't take a joke anymore I guess," she mused, walking over to the edge of the dark pit. "Okay, last roadblock at the end of the tunnel. Let's look at what we know. The bars were made to not allow a pony to fit through, and there's no way we're moving them. The pit separating us from the cell is about three yards wide, so there must be a reason for its existence. That box stands atop a column made of the same steel as the front of the lock, so it's bullet...proof..."

Braeburn sat down next to her, saving his energy. He noticed something dawn upon her like a slap in the face. Her eyes glinted, brows furrowing. "He wanted his treasure to only be obtained by somepony worthy of his legacy. Meaning, the one that inherited not only his rifle prowess, but Thumper as well. Only you can open that lock Braeburn."

"What d'ya mean?" he asked. Daring only gave him a tired look, gesturing to the rifle in his hooves.

"Isn't it obvious? You need to shoot the back of the lock where it's weak, by ricocheting a bullet off the steel column. That's why the pit is there, so the shot is more difficult. The bars are too close together to weave the gun through, that'd be too easy."

"Lemme get this straight," Braeburn exhaled. "Ya' want me to shoot that there stand in a way that bounces the round directly into the back o' that tiny-as-heck lock?"

"Yessir."

"You understand that Ah only have one shot left, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"And if Ah miss, we're stuck down here with no way out."

Daring went to reply, but then closed her mouth just as soon as she opened it. The dark-yellow mare brushed her monochromatic bangs from her eyes, looking down to the stone floor. As uncertainty overtook her face, horror came over Braeburn's as the truth hit him like a bucket of ice-cold water. He never knew the reality of the situation until he said those words. If he couldn't make the shot...they would die down here. Could he even attempt such a feat? The idea itself sounded impossible to do on purpose. Whenever a bullet ricocheted off a hard surface, it was usually at a wide, unpredictable angle. How could he calculate such a tight corner without only shooting himself or Daring in the process?

But...he wouldn't know until he tried. Braeburn stood up with a painful grunt, holding Thumper in his mouth as he walked to the left side of the pit, kneeling on the edge. He crouched on his hindlegs, bringing the barrel of the weapon level with the steel column. As soon as the iron sights were aligned, the riflepony lowered the weapon again. His hooves shook in fear of the thought of failure. There was no second chance. If he missed, their lives would end in the underground tomb. They would never be found, they would never be saved. Both of their fates were in his hooves, and the stallion didn't know if he could handle it.

Daring Do slowly and carefully walked over, sitting on her haunches next to him. He didn't look to her, but to the Marechester instead. From the corner of his vision, he watched the pegasus take off her signature pith hat, placing it to the floor in front of her. "I get it," she said quietly. "But you can't let the stress get to you. You have to remember who you are."

"A scared little colt who's in way over his head?"

"Oh really?" she perked up, catching his gaze. "You think you're out of your league here? Even after putting Sure Shot and his crew of bandits behind bars with your deeds? Come on Brae. If I didn't trust your ability to do this, then my hooves wouldn't be as still as they are."

The mare took his shaking right forehoof in hers, emphasizing her point. "Don't think. Just do."

Braeburn sighed, taking his hoof back and slowly raising to his hindlegs. She was right, just like always. He may not have liked it, but he was the descendant of a legendary shooter. If any pony could do this, it was him. The riflepony let a determined scowl creep across his face as he flipped the rifle of myth around his hoof, racking the action with a triumphant flair. The scarred barrel fell onto his right forehoof while he switched the other into the trigger guard of the lever. The sights found their mark, and he adjusted the angle of his shot. The stallion gritted his teeth as he cast out his thoughts to an impossible recipient:

Alright Cunning, ya' brought me this far, so Ah guess ya' really trust yer bloodline or somethin'. Ah gotta say, Ah'm startin' to believe it myself. Ah mean, what else could'a given me this...talent, Ah guess? Ya' know, Ah'm havin' a real hard time acceptin' the pony Ah'm related to. Ah'm not like you, in any way...but...yer still my grandpappy. My distant grandpappy, who gave me the chance to save my farm. Ya' may not have been able to predict it, but yer really savin' my flank here. So...thank you, Cunning the Colt. Thank you...grandfather...

Braeburn opened his eyes, and pulled the trigger.

The small alcove echoed with the tremendous bang of the .30-30 round, causing an immediate ringing to resound in his ears. Sparks erupted from the steel column, and then the right wall of the cell. Chunks of stone exploded from the wall, eliciting a horrified look from the riflepony. However, his dread only lasted for a fraction of a second. With a flash or orange light, the metallic lock on the cell door burst into an explosion of steel and sparks, allowing the ungrounded bars to fly open in their iron frame.

"And BOOM goes the dynamite!" Daring exclaimed in elation, throwing her hooves into the air. Braeburn allowed his eyes to widen as large as saucers before he wore a bright grin.

"By Celestia and Luna," he whispered. "That actually worked."

"Of course it worked," Daring chimed in, attracting his gaze. "I told you it would. Now come on!"

The archaeologist drove her wings backward, propelling herself through the gap in the iron bars. His veins running hot with adrenaline, Braeburn sheathed Thumper, backing up a few steps and leaping the gap with a three-yard head-start. He skidded to a halt in front of the scarred column, his eyes transfixed on the black, dust-coated box.

This was it, the moment they had worked tirelessly for since the day Daring Do had come into his life. The treasure that Cunning the Colt himself had left behind for him, hundreds of years ago. He looked to the mare next to him, the pegasus that changed his life forever. She cocked an eyebrow at him, although not without a small smile.

"Is there a reason you haven't opened that box yet?" she chuckled.

"What? Why would Ah do it? Yer the one that found Cunning's first clues!"

"Yeah, but he didn't leave it for me," she countered. "He left it for you."

"But...Ya' spent so much time trying to find this. It was yer expedition, not mine. Ah can't take that from ya'."

"Well that's too bad, 'cause you're gonna. He's your ancestor. Now open that chest, or I'm not walking out of here until you do."

Braeburn sighed, knowingly beaten. He felt guilty for taking her well-deserved prize, but he knew that the pegasus was just as stubborn as he was. If she said that she wasn't going to do it, then the stallion believed her. He nodded to her with an appreciative smile, turning back to the box.

The chest wasn't anything special or ornate as he expected. Instead, it looked like a simple lock box, just without the lock. He blew the dust from its surface, coughing a few times as some of the particles found their way into his mouth and nose. He took in a long, apprehensive breath, and opened the box.


Luna's radiant moon had shone bright in the Western night sky, accented perfectly by the twinkling stars above. Even through a dusty window pane, the sight was nothing short of breathtaking. Without the summer sun's harmful rays, a cool chill was allowed to provide a comforting air to the small town. Their journey may have only taken a few days, but the events that had transpired made it feel like weeks instead. Shootings, discovery, revelations, sorrow and even a little pain from the past had occurred. Now that it was all over, now that the puzzle had been solved and all the questions had been answered, they were finally able to breathe, finally able to relax.

Daring Do stared out the small window, her eyes staring unfocused at the beautiful vista. It had been over a month since she could just sit down and breathe. All the time and effort trying to track down Cunning the Colt's last piece of remembrance had finally paid off. In actuality, it had been the shortest expedition of her career, but that did not mean it hadn't been the most difficult, in more ways than one. It wasn't just the tiring weeks of planning and research, alone without her usual team of archaeologists. No, it was also the physical and emotional pain she was forced to endure, both derived from the same source.

The lavish train car rattled slightly, forcing a male voice to groan subconsciously. Daring cast her fatigued eyes to the stallion across from her, sprawled out on the other maroon couch with a blanket snuggled close to his body. He had wrapped himself tight in the warmth of the covers, his thick blonde mane carelessly swayed over the left side of his face. The beige earth stallion rested peacefully, like a newborn foal after living the first day of his life. The poor riflepony had been put through a veritable gauntlet of physical torment and trials. After the many injuries he had endured, Daring was more than happy to see him rest, safe and sound. The exhausted stallion hadn't been able to undress before he simply passed out on the couch. Nevertheless, his bags, duster, hat and rifle laid in a neat pile underneath the table. Aside his belongings were her own; a white pith hat, a pair of saddlebags and a tattered olive-green shirt. In the midst of the pile was a battered, black steel box, wrapped tightly in a locking cable to prevent any sort of unsavory loss or theft.

The dark-yellow mare laid on her stomach, her forelegs tucked underneath her chest. Her eyes felt like barbells, although unable to close despite their weight. Sleep simply hadn't been able to come to her, even after the severe lack of rest from the past month. If it wasn't one thing keeping her awake, it was another, it seemed. For now, it was the throbbing soreness in her chest that banished even the mere thought of sleep. Her wings laid limp at her sides, their pinion feathers sprawled out and motionless.

The door to her train car slid open slowly and quietly, wary of anypony's slumber. From the threshold emerged a tall, light-gray stallion with a sleek mane and tail of jet-black. His small blue eyes bore thin lines under them, their lids low. The earth pony's usual conductor's visor and vest were gone, revealing a broad, powerful-looking chest. Upon his flank was a golden pocket watch. Even though she had just shared a long conversation with the stallion, it took a second or two for Daring to recognize him through her fatigue.

"Ah, he's asleep. Good thing too," Artemis whispered, closing the door behind him. "That boy looked like he was about to die right there on his hooves."

"After what he's been through, I'm surprised he didn't," she mused, although halfheartedly. "So what's up Art?"

"I just wanted to let you know that we'll be in Canterlot by sunrise, and that you should really get some sleep," he said with a flat tone. "You look like death."

"You know just how to flatter a lady."

"Since when are you a lady?" Artemis laughed, to which Daring allowed herself a smile.

"Duly noted."

Artemis snorted out an amused breath, looking over to Braeburn. "To think that pony shares the same blood with a myth. That's nothing short of amazing. I'm surprised he's not some sort of bandit himself."

"Quite the opposite, actually," Daring said. "He's probably the nicest stallion I've ever known. I just hope other ponies don't shun him for his lineage."

"If he keeps doing deeds like what he did to Sure Shot, I don't think that will be a problem," the gray stallion said. "Yup, I think he brings a whole new meaning to the name."

"Name?"

"The Colt of the West, of course," he smirked. Daring smiled at that. That seemed like a fair-enough name for him. It was something ponies from Dodge Junction and Appleloosa would fashion, just as they had for Cunning all those centuries ago. The new Colt of the West. It was unnaturally fitting, somehow.

"You know..." said Artemis, the laughter disappearing from his voice as he took on a more serious expression. "I'm glad that you decided to tell me the truth about everything. If I had known, I wouldn't have written that insensitive letter to you. I just wanted you to be safe."

"It's okay Artemis. I should have just trusted you from the beginning and told you up front," she said, returning her gaze to the plush cushion in front of her face. "Sometimes it's just hard for me."

"But not with Braeburn here, eh?" he grinned, gesturing to the unconscious stallion. "So when are you going to tell him?"

Daring cocked an eyebrow, her confused face bolting up in his direction. "Tell him what?"

"Stop playing around Missy."

"Art, I'm too tired for games. What are you talking about?" she asked, her eyelids only half-opened. Instead of answering, the conductor only grinned and opened the car door.

But before he disappeared into the night, the stallion poked his head through the opening. Artemis cast a series of looks between Braeburn, their luggage and Daring. "Wasn't that boy wearing his clothes when he passed out?"

"Aren't you supposed to be conducting a freaking train?"

With a barking laugh, her godfather closed the door after he departed. Daring let out a grunt of exhausted irritation, letting her head fall onto the couch.

"Ridiculous."