The Outlaw, The Star and the Big, Big Sky

by TotalOverflow

Chapter 3

        Braeburn crept from tree to tree, staying in the shadows and rolling to keep out of the moonlight, his ears still ringing.  Stepping carefully between burning embers and roasted, popped apples he slunk toward the crest of the hill, next to the trail of devastation.  A black apple rolled against his bandaged hoof and he jumped, jerking his hoof away and swallowing his heart.  Approaching the crest of the hill, he peered wide eyed into the dark, as a sizzling crater came into view.

        He stared down in wide-eyed wonder. At least five ponies across, it left the earth scorched and blackened, its edges glowing red with heat.  

        But in the very center of the crater...

        Was nothing.

        Braeburn gulped and skulked down the hill.  Branches and leaves of nearby trees were singed, and the ground around the impact site was hardened into glassy, reddish rock.  Reaching the bottom he walked around the hole, looking from every angle to ensure he hadn’t been mistaken.  It was, in fact, empty.

        “Nothing...” he whispered.  He looked up and glanced around the orchard, trying to see if whatever landed had bounced somewhere, but there was no sign of further destruction.

        He caught a glimpse of something disappearing around a tree.  Swallowing heavily he stepped in that direction, head low and heart racing.  He weaved through the trees, with the faint sound of running water growing louder as he approached the river.  Just about to exit the tree line, he saw it.

        Standing next to the river and staring into the night sky was a pony.  She stood motionless, her back turned to Braeburn.  Somehow, even under the shade of night, her coat appeared a pale blue, her hair a deep, rich black with streaks of navy and crimson and even shades of pink throughout.  As Braeburn moved closer the colors in her mane and tail ever so slightly seemed to shift and sway, shimmer and swirl.  Braeburn slowly approached.

        “Uhm,” he cleared his throat, “ex-excuse me...”

        The mare jumped, turning her eyes to him.  The air caught in the yellow stallion’s throat as her huge eyes, intense and wondrously scarlet even in the darkness, burrowed into his, sending electric prickles up and down his neck.  Gasping, she took a clumsy step away.

        “Whoa there,” Braeburn cooed, “easy now, I ain’t gonna hurt ya.”

        The pony furrowed her brow and calmed somewhat.

        “There we go,” said Braeburn, “it’s all right.  Are you okay?  Are you lost?”

        She stared at him.

        “Er, did you see what landed over there?” he continued.

        Seemingly frozen in place, she just stood there.

        “You ain’t from ‘round here, are you?”

        She stared unblinking at him.

        “Uh, are you here alone?”

        She was silent.

        “Um...” Braeburn scratched his neck, beginning to sweat, “name’s Braeburn.  What’s yours?”

        “...Burn?” she said softly.  Her voice rang like a crystal bell, childlike and confused.

        “Uh, yeah, Braeburn.  That’s me,” he chuckled.

        “Burn?” she said again.

        “Yeah.  Uh, what’s your name?”

        She stared up at the sky.  Braeburn followed her gaze to see the thousands of bright, shining stars.

        “Oh wow,” he said, “look at that!  Look at all ‘em!  Them star lights sure are pretty, eh?”

        “Star...light...?” she said quietly.

        “Guess I don’t often take the time ta really look at ‘em.  So, uh...” he coughed, “w-what’s your name, then?”

        “Star...light,” she said.

        “Starlight, eh?  Well, pleasure ta meet ya!” he jubilantly extended a hoof and she cowered away.  “Oh, uh, sorry, didn’t mean ta scare ya.  Uh, are you sure you’re okay?”

        She stared at him with confused eyes.

        “Listen, maybe you’d better lie down.  My home’s just up the hill.  C’mon, an’ I’ll get ya somethin’ ta eat, too.  Ya look famished.”  Braeburn started in the direction of home before stopping and looking back to see she hadn’t moved.  

        “C’mon,” Braeburn said, smiling his friendly smile and giving a little wave with his hoof, “it’s this way.”  Starlight gave a tiny smile and followed, her hooves pattering along the soft ground, her eyes darting this way and that.

        Braeburn led her through the trees, effortlessly weaving to and fro between their trunks.  Pained grunts came from behind and he looked back to see the filly stumbling over exposed roots.  He directed her from the orchard, to the path that ran around it, making the trip twice as long.  

        “So, where’re ya from?” Braeburn said after a minute of quiet walking, “you here for the celebration?”

        “Cel...br-bration?” she asked.

        “Yeah!  The Summer Sun Celebration!  Well, not the real one...That’s in Ponyville this year, I think.  First time it’s been someplace twice in a row!  Pretty big deal!  ‘Course, it’s always a big deal whenever the Princess pays a place a visit!”

        “Princess?”

        “Yeah, y’know, Princess Celestia.  An’ Princess Luna now too, I guess.  Shoot, it’s already been a year since she’s returned, eh?  Ain’t seen much of her.  I ain’t never seen her at all, actually.  My cousins in Ponyville did, though!  Nice place.  You ever been there?”

        She giggled in reply.

        “Heh, you okay back there?” he grinned awkwardly, looking back to the pale pony.  

        “Burn!” she said, her laughter bright and pure.  Her crimson eyes smiled at him, glimmering faintly like little stars as she sidled up beside him.  Braeburn’s cheeks burned and he felt his heart do a little flip.  

        “So, uh...” he stammered, “um...Right!  You’re probably hungry, ain’t ya?  Here.”  He hopped over to a nearby tree and gave it a swift buck.  Starlight shrieked in surprise and cowered to the ground as apples fell around her.  Braeburn pursed his lips and rolled one over to her.  As it came near she jerked away, her eyes wide.

        “Shoot, you’re really jumpy.  Are you okay?” he asked as he stepped closer.  A thought entered his head, and his eyes narrowed.  “Did...did somepony hurt ya?”

        Her hoof recoiled from the red fruit on the ground.  Braeburn sighed and lifted it in his hoof.

        “Well, listen, you’re safe here in Appleloosa, ‘kay?  Ain’t nopony gonna hurt ya here.”  He passed her the apple, and she cautiously leaned to sniff it.

        “Apple?” she asked.

        “Uh, yes?” he replied.  She gave it a tiny nibble and her eyes lit up.  A few seconds later she devoured it, and happily licked her lips.

        Braeburn chuckled and rolled another toward her.  “See?  Feelin’ better?”

        “Apple!” she grinned, greedily gobbling it up.  Braeburn resumed his trek and she hurried to follow before suddenly teetering to the side.  Braeburn leapt back to steady her, and she looked at him with half-open eyes.

        “Boy, you’re in some real rough shape...C’mon, we need ta get you ta bed.”

        Braeburn stayed close to the filly for the rest of the journey, and they arrived at his home after a few minutes.  Braeburn pushed open the door for the pony who simply stood out front.

        “S’okay,” he reassured her, “c’mon on in an’ make yourself at home.”  She looked at him trustingly and stepped inside.  Braeburn hurried to light a lamp and she backed away from the flame.  Braeburn sighed.  “Poor girl must be in shock,” he whispered to himself, “if I ever find the guy who did this ta her...!”

        He cleared his throat, placed the lamp on a table and helped her over to the couch.  Braeburn pulled a blanket over her, and in the lamplight her coat looked more a light pink, rather than the pale blue it seemed before.  He also just noticed that she had freckles.  He lifted his right hoof toward her head causing her to recoil.

        “Easy now,” he said, “just goin’ ta check if ya’ve got a fever.”  She kept her eyes fastened on his bandaged hoof.  Braeburn looked to it and chuckled.

        “Oh, it’s nothin,” he said, gingerly pulling some of the white fabric down to expose a little of the soft flesh above his hoof, “hurt ‘em in an accident out at the quarry today, but they ain’t that bad.”  

        Starlight seemed to settle down a little and he gently touched her forehead.  The instant contact was made a shiver bolted through his hoof and down his spine.  He yanked his hoof away and suppressed a yelp.  Shaking himself and blinking to focus his eyes, he cautiously leant in again to press his foreleg to another part of her face, expecting another jolt but receiving none.

        “No, no temperature...I wonder-”

        *HIC*

        Starlight stared at him, her hooves clasped over her mouth.  

        *HIC*

        Braeburn let out a guffaw.  “That’s why ya ain’t feelin’ well!  Y’all ate too fast!”

        *HIC*

        “Still, you’d better take it easy for a bit,” he said, pulling his bandage back up, “I’ve got ta run some apples back ta my sis in town, so you should just take it easy for now.  Try ta get some sleep.  I’ll see if I can find you someplace ta stay t’night.  My home ain’t the greatest, an’ uh...” he blushed, rubbing a hoof across the back of his neck.  “...Ain’t really proper, y’know, ta...uh, just...for you, to stay here...with me, y’know...”

        She just smiled at him from behind her hooves.

        *HIC*

        “A-anyways,” he stuttered, his cheeks burning again, “I’d best get goin’.  But don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”  He moved toward the door, opened it and took a step outside.

        “Burn!”

        He poked his head back inside to see Starlight sitting straight, eyes wide in panic.

        “Don’t worry,” he said, smiling, “I ain’t gonna leave ya.”

        She swallowed, and returned the smile.

        *HIC*

        Braeburn galloped as best he could back to town on his stinging hooves, the half-full cart of apples rattling behind him.  The road to town seemed twice as long as usual, and he was relieved when he rounded the last corner and saw the town lights.  He passed the crowds, heading straight for Marmalade’s apple stand.

        “Oh...kay...” he panted as he arrived in a small cloud of dust, “got...yer apples, sis...”  He removed himself from the cart, and finally looked up to see his sister staring intently down the road.  Braeburn followed her gaze to see the entire town had become enraptured with a conversation between Sheriff Silverstar and...

        “Chief Thunderhooves?” muttered Braeburn.  The large buffalo and the stallion were speaking in hushed tones in the street below the clock tower, and the whole town did their best to listen in.  

        “He came by few minutes ‘go,” Marmalade whispered without looking back, “looks upset ‘bout somethin’.”

        “Like what?”

        “Dunno.”

        Braeburn straightened his hat and puffed out his chest, marching down the road past the crowds.

        “All right, folks!” he bellowed, “ain’t your mothers ever told ya’ll not ta eavesdrop?  C’mon, let’s give ‘em some privacy!”  Ponies chuckled nervously and pretended to walk away, ears tilted back to pick up any bit of gossip they could.  With the crowd dispersing, Braeburn was able to approach Thunderhooves and Silverstar.

        “What’s goin’ on, Sheriff?” Braeburn asked, his voice low.

        “Well,” Silverstar replied, “Thunderhooves came by ta ask us if we’ve seen anythin’...strange lately.”

        Braeburn inhaled sharply and turned to look at the bison.  Thunderhooves glared at him, his eyes narrow, his breathing long and loud.  

        “Like what?” Braeburn asked, brow furrowed.

        “Anything at all,” Thunderhooves replied, his voice raspy.

        Braeburn pursed his lips and glanced around at the crowds of rapt ponies, all with ears pointed directly toward them.  It seemed everypony in town had turned out for tonight, now watching the private conversation with interest.  In fact, they were all here in town!  The crowds were here; nopony had gone to investigate the crash site.  How anypony could have missed that bright-

        “...The fireworks...” he muttered.

        “Now, Braeburn, them fireworks’ve been planned fer months.  Ain’t ya ever seen fireworks b’fore?”

        Braeburn looked to Silverstar, then back to Thunderhooves, whose gaze had become even harsher.

        “Sorry,” the stallion swallowed, “still...not used ta them.”

        “I see,” said Silverstar, “well, other’n that, have ya seen anything...out o’ the ordinary lately?”

        Braeburn held his gaze on the chieftain's eyes.  His nose tickled, and he picked up that scent rising off the bison: the same scent as that night around the fire.  It seemed more recognizable now that it wasn’t mixed with the reek of a campfire’s smoke.  It was eerily similar to how the town smelled after Tanner’s unwanted visit...

        It was fear.  The huge buffalo was afraid.  

        Afraid...and angry.  

        Braeburn’s mind raced.  The lookouts, that whispering buffalo, Strongheart’s apprehension, their prolonged stay in the desert, Salty’s words, Tanner’s paranoia, and...that buffalo by the quarry...

        The yellow stallion grit his teeth and glared at the buffalo.

        “No,” he growled, his knees trembling, “nothin’ unusual.”

        Thunderhooves heaved a great sigh and looked back to the sheriff.  “Please, do inform us immediately if you do notice anything strange,”

        “Sure thing, chief,” the sheriff replied, tipping his hat, “but I tell ya, it sure would be helpful if’n y’all would tell us what we’re s’posed ta be lookin’ fer.  An’ why.”

        “Again, I cannot,” said the bison as he turned to leave, “I am sorry, but...you must trust us.”  

        The two stallions watched the chieftain leave in silence.  The lantern-lit town slowly filled with the sound of ponies resuming the celebration, and the sheriff turned to Braeburn.

        “So, Brae,” he said, clearing his throat, “how’re yer hooves there doin’?”

        “Oh, uh, better.”

        Braeburn chewed his lip for a moment before turning and walking down the road.

        “Braeburn.”

        The yellow stallion stopped.

        “Are you sure you ain’t seen anythin’ suspicious?”

        His eyes narrowed.

        “Nothin’ ‘cept them buffalo,” he muttered.  The sheriff sighed and walked away, leaving Braeburn alone in the middle of the road.  

        He felt his hooves tingle a little and he leaned back to take the pressure off.  The sound of talking and laughter and children and games and dancing and singing filled his ears and his eyes closed.  The music of the town calmed him for a moment, but when he looked back up to see the sheriff staring solemnly at him from the porch of his office, Braeburn’s stomach churned.

        Taking a deep breath, he turned and walked down the road toward Marmalade’s stand, where she was sorting through the load of apples he brought back.  She would be more than willing to let Starlight stay with her the night and-

        Braeburn stopped cold in his tracks.

        “I can’t tell anyone ‘bout her tonight,” he murmured to himself.  Ponies here and there were whispering amongst each other, pointing and glancing between him and the sheriff.  “Folks’d get suspicious...an’ if them buffalo hear...”

        “What’s that, Braeburn?”

        Braeburn jumped and looked up to see Linky standing nearby, her big pink hat practically glowing in the moon and lantern-light.

        “Oh, uh, jes-jes’ thinkin’ of turnin’ in for the night.”

        “Oh, good idea,” she said, cantering off, “best ta stay off them hooves o’ yers!  Ah’ll be by t’morrow mornin’ ta change yer bandages.”

        Braeburn smiled weakly and nodded after her.  After a moment, he took a deep breath, cricked his neck and trotted toward the orchard.

        Bristling with the light of a thousand stars, the cloudless night sky stretched out forever, the full moon hanging lazily above the open field of trees.  Carried to Braeburn’s ears by the cool breeze was a sound, ringing and dissonant.  Rounding the last bend, his home came into view, its windows lit.  As he drew near the ringing became louder, and trotting up to the house he peered through the dusty window.  Starlight was seated at his piano, hammering on the keys with the giddiness of a foal.  His ears folded at the sour notes.  Chuckling, he turned and crept down the hill toward the orchard.

        As he followed the path of destruction down the acreage, Starlight’s piano playing became increasingly muffled by the trees.  Once he reached the top of the hill overlooking the crater he rested on his haunches.

        “...the heck happens now?” he muttered.  Pushing his hat away from his tired eyes he let loose a sigh, staring down into the crater.  “Empty.”  The word hung in the air.

        A second passed and a sudden thought struck him.  He stopped breathing and spun around to stare in the direction of his home.  Through the trees he was barely able to see the glow of its windows and the shape of Starlight within.

        “Is it...possible...?”

        Swallowing, he turned back to stare at the empty crater.  A headache gripped the side of his head, thumping with the sound of hooves on a piano.

        “No...That can’t be...right?”

        As he stared into the hollow groove the random piano notes slowly melded together.  One after another they found their place and a simple melody was formed.  He looked back again, listening as Starlight’s hooves began to move from key to key with a newfound elegance.  The music faltered for a moment, then resumed, but now it was different.  

        Braeburn’s eyes shrank and his heart caught itself.  Slow, and guilty of the occasional wrong note, the song from Braeburn’s crumply old sheet music filled the air.  His eyes closed and he began to hum the song he knew so well.

        “Been riding down this road so long,
        ‘Cause I’ve got no place to go.
        I’m on the run
        From the things I’ve done
        And the world that I know.

        Can’t go back the way I came,
        Only road’s the road before me.
        And so I’ll roam,
        ‘Cause I can’t go home,
        To the way things used to be.
        My pistol full
        And guilty as sin,
        I’ll ride out once again.

        Oh I’ll keep...On riding,
        I’ll keep riding on.
        Yes I’ll keep...On riding,
        Oh I’ll keep riding on.”

        Braeburn blinked his eyes dry as the movement of the keys came to an end.  Rocking gently, he stared at the smoldering crater as his mind cleared.  It didn’t matter if it was possible or not...

        “...there’s no way I’m lettin’ anything happen ta her.”

        He stood up violently and galloped into the desert toward the rocky hills.  A minute or two later he rounded a tall cleft of rock and the small field of hoodoos came into view.  He scavenged around until he found a round, smooth boulder and rolled it back toward the orchard. He pushed it over the edge of the crater and scooped up some of the ash and charcoal, smearing it along the rock’s surface until it was dyed a deep black.  Then gathering some burned apples he rubbed them on the boulder in a few places.  When finished, he stepped back to admire his work, and smiled at his makeshift meteor.  

        “That ought ta throw ‘em...off...”

        A great yawn attacked him, and he caught himself swaying slightly to the side, exhausted from a long, long day.  He slowly walked back up the hill, wiping his hooves in the grass along the way.

        When he arrived at home he found Starlight resting on the floor with her chin on the piano bench, looking dreamily at him with unfocused eyes.  He chuckled and helped her up.

        “Burn...” she said quietly.

        “Howdy Starlight...”  He led her to his room.  “Sorry I couldn’t find somepony ta take ya in fer the night,” he said, his gut twisting at the fib, “take my room tonight.  We’ll see what we can do for ya in the mornin’.”  Starlight toddled over to his bed and plopped down.  Braeburn stepped over and pulled up the sheets for her as her eyes fluttered, struggling to stay open.

        “...Buh...” She said weakly.  Braeburn couldn’t help but chuckle and lifted her head onto a pillow.

        “Just try an’ get some rest.  I think we’ve both been through a rough day.  Reckon we could both use a good sleep.”  Before leaving he drew the curtains, leaving only a sliver of moonlight to seep through.  He then turned and left, pulling the door shut as Starlight’s breathing became long and steady with sleep.  

        Braeburn tossed his hat and vest onto the kitchen table, blew out the lamp and fell onto the couch.  As sleep overtook him, he looked out through the window into the starlit sky.

        “...I’ll ride out once again...” he hummed as his eyes blurred shut.

This story is incomplete, and I need your help to finish it. Please comment and leave feedback on this chapter. Let me know what you think and any way this story can be improved.
Thank you.