//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 "Celestia's Gonna Cut You Down" // Story: Equestria Noir Case 7 "Into the West" // by Jacoboby1 //------------------------------// Chapter 8 “Celestia’s Gonna Cut You Down” We entered town just as Celestia’s sun was ready to make the dip towards the horizon. My companions and I walked in the center of the street with me at the helm. I was ready to confront the true mastermind. He stood in front of me and I was standing several feet in front of him. He smirked “Well, looks like the desert didn’t kill ya…” “You apparently didn’t get the memo” I said flatly “I’m very hard to kill…Silver Star” He laughed as he stood in front of me “So, how’d ya figure it out?” “It was rather simple really, my suspicions started when you showed more concern for your deputy then for the twenty buffalo dead. I chalked it up to simple grief at the time but then Poncho told me about a fella named Voice. Voice was the mastermind behind everything. The one who wanted to see this town free from the buffalo” Braeburn made like he was about to tackle Silver Star. But he was held back by Applejack who shook her head. Silver’s eyes were trained on me “And who is this voice?” “It’s you…it must’ve been so humiliating. There you were…ready to die to protect your town, willing to lay your life on the line to protect this settlement. But one pie to Chief Thunderhoof’s face later…and everything changed. Suddenly the Buffalo were no longer the enemy but an ally. You couldn’t stand it…you couldn’t stand being wrong about them” He was sweating at this point…he knew I was hitting the right points. I was backing him into a corner and I wasn’t about to let up. “You weren’t the only one though…you suckered in five others and you laid waste to the buffalo like there was not tomorrow” Townsponies were out by now wanting to know what the commotion was about. They all whispered among themselves as I went on. “But you knew that the time would come when you would have to put a stop to this. The buffalo stopped coming so you decided to clean up your mess. Your deputy was easy…send him out into the desert and put a bullet in his eyes. You hired both me and County to arrest the other two members and Braeburn took care of Gelder” “Yer spoutin out why and how I could’ve done it!” Silver Star snapped at me. “Ya have no proof Ah was there!!” I whistled and that’s when the wolf appeared. He held the Marshall in his teeth and set it down in front of me. I petted the wolf on the head “Good boy” I levitated the Marshall in front of me. “It’s the other gun your missing…you said you lost it but I beg to differ. This Marshall has the exact same serial number as the one you showed me at the party” “And where’d ya find this gun?” “My friend Luca here…” I gestured to the wolf that held his head proudly. “Found it at the crime scene buried under some rocks. Also he was shot in the leg by a .44 caliber bullet. The same bullet caliber that is found in a Marshall…and in Bronze Star’s head” There ya have it. He didn’t have anywhere to run now. He was exposed for the pony he really was. He laughed manically. “Ya really are a damn sympathizer!! Ah knew it from the moment Ah saw ya!” I kept my grey gaze calm and cool. He wasn’t getting away on my watch. “I’m placing you under arrest Silver Star” “Ah AM THE LAW HERE BOY!!” He yelled “Ah should put you under arrest fer obstruction of justice! Them Buffalo have done nothin but steal from us since the moment we arrived!” “How do you want to settle this?” “The western way…” I looked at my companions. Twilight looked at me worriedly but I gave her a small smile. I got this. County gently pushed Twilight to the side. Applejack and Braeburn walked over to my right towards the now shocked and growing crowd. Silver Star held his hoof next to his gun holster “We settle this once and fer all! Ya have two ways of goin out Detective…on the train…or six feet under.” I levitated out Blackbird…looked at it…then tossed her aside. Everypony looked at me like I was crazy. County held Twilight back so she couldn’t get in the fray. I glared at Silver Star “I thought we could settle this like Stallions!” “Ya thought wrong…” In a flash he pulled out his pistol stuck it in his mouth and fired. I flew back several feet as the bullet hit me in the chest. I fell to the ground in a heap of dust. Everypony in crowd was hushed as Silver Star looked around “See this is what happens to sympathizers! They let the buffalo poison their minds! This settlement has seen nothin but hardship because of them! Sympathizers only make it worse! Now you all see what sympathizing with those animals will do to you!!” A hush fell over the crowd. Then…it began. Stomp. Clap. Stomp. Clap. Stomp. Clap. Everypony looked over as Braeburn stomped on the ground and clapped his front hooves. The pattern continued when Applejack, then Twilight joined in. Stomp. Clap. Stomp. Clap. County pulled out a guitar and started strumming a familiar tune. A tune that revealed what was to happen… Silver Star looked on “Have ya all lost yer minds! Yer friend just got shot and yer playing Ponny Cash?!” The crowd looked on as Applesnack joined in. His steel face betraying none of what he was feeling, he was following Applejack’s pattern to a tee. She smiled at him and the pattern continued. Then…I began to sing in a low voice… You can run…for a long time Several ponies gasped in shock as I stood up on my hooves. Silver Star’s face turned pale as he saw me walk towards him. The sound of my friends continued to reverberate throughout the whole town. Run on for a long time…Run on for a long time… My grey eyes glared at him. Sooner or later Tia’s gonna cut you down…Sooner or later Tia’s gonna cut ya down… I advanced on him and he aimed his gun at me. I levitated the gun right out of his mouth and tossed it beyond his reach. Go tell that long tongue liar…go tell that midnight rider. Tell the rambler the gambler the…back rider. Tell him that Tia’s gonna cut ‘em down. Tell ‘em that Tia’s gonna cut em down… Other Townsfolk joined in the pattern and song. Some that knew the words sang along with me. Slowly the town was turning against Silver Star. Well my goodness gracious let me tell ya the news. My heads been wet with the midnight dew. I’ve been down on bent and lot, talkin to the princess of Canterlot. He was sweatin now…I advanced even more on him. He had nowhere to run, nopony to support his mad dream. He only had the judgment of Celestia provided by me. And she spoke to me in a voice so sweet. I thought I heard the shuffle of Angel’s feet. She called my name and my heart stood still. I opened my trench coat to reveal a bullet proof vest under it. I then looked right in Silver Star’s eyes. “When she said Private…” I gave him a mean left hook that sent the sheriff to the ground like a ton of bricks. “Go do my will…” ________________________________________________ A couple of burly townsfolk took Silver Star to the prison cell. He wasn’t going to get out any time soon. Several towns’ folk spoke worriedly. If the Sheriff was gone then who was going to maintain order? What were they going to do? That’s when I shot Blackbird in the air to get their attention. They all turned to look at me as I stood beside Braeburn. I looked at the yellow stallion and smiled. “You’re on Braeburn. Show them what you’ve got” Braeburn then stood on top of a nearby store porch. Everypony looked to him and many whispered about the ranch stallion standing in front of them. “Listen ere ya alls!” Braeburn spoke to the crowd “We can’t let this stop us!” A towns pony shouted from the crowd “The buffalo will come and attack the town! This whole settlement has been a disaster!” Several spoke in agreement. Braeburn’s green eyes scanned the crowd “That’s exactly what Ponies like Silver Star fed on” A hush fell over the crowd as he spoke confidently. “We can’t quit now! This settlement was built not because things were easy but because they were hard!” I felt Twilight brush up against me. She sat beside me as Braeburn continued his speech. “We sweated and bled for this land! We didn’t do it for ourselves we did it fer our children! Our children’s children and their children after that! How can we look our children in the eye and say we gave up!? We are earth ponies! Ah wanna be able to look my grandson in the eye and say that we made this land into what it is!” The mood lifted in the crowd. Everypony was willing to listen to Braeburn and his inspiring speech. Braeburn reared on his hind legs and shouted “We will not back down! We are not gonna let this ruin everythin! The buffalo are not enemies but allies! Our friends! Let us work this land together! AS ONE!!!!” Several Ponies cheered at this. I looked on and even saw some buffalo had worked their way into the crowd. Man those guys were sneaky. The crowd dispersed and started talking with the buffalo that came. Suddenly they were no longer afraid of them; they were inspired by Braeburn to make this work. I walked over to the stallion who was looking upon the fruits of his labor. I smiled at him “You really won them over” Braeburn rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment “Ah just told em the same thing ya told me…only better and without the whole punchin me in the face deal” We both laughed at that. “Can I trust you to handle things here?” “You bet!” Braeburn said determined “Ah’m gonna turn this town around with the buffalo’s help. No longer do we have to ‘fraid of each other” “That’s good to hear” “Say uh…” “What?” “Could ya do it with me?” “I don’t know it’s kind of your thing” “Just this once?” “Fine…but only because it’s time for celebrating” We both reared on our hind legs and shouted “AAAPALOOSA!!!” _______________________________________________ Twilight and I stood in front of County as the train rolled into the station. We were about ready to leave and it was time for goodbyes. County smiled at me “It was great workin with ya again Private…” I returned the smile “The feeling’s mutual County…it was great having a great detective such as yourself on board” “Aww now yer makin me blush” She said with a chuckle. She then turned to Twilight “Keep em out of trouble will ya?” Twilight smiled and nodded “I will, it was nice meeting you County” County smiled in a rather sly way “Just name one of yer fillies after me and will call it even” Both me and Twilight’s faces turned deep shades of scarlet. Twilight had no idea about the whole “we’re going to have a daughter” thing but the thought of us. County laughed out loud “Ah you two are just so adorable!” “County!!” We both said at the same time. We looked at each other then away as our faces turned even more scarlet. But then I noticed Applejack with Applesnack. He was holding something in his hoof in front of her. A piece of paper? Applejack nervously took it and put it under her hat. She smiled at Applesnack and hugged him with her forelegs. He awkwardly hugged her back but gave a small smile. Twilight looked over at me and smirked “You wouldn’t have anything to do with this would you?” “What can I say Twilight?” I said in mock innocence “I just am a soldier of love” That's when I felt something rub against my leg. I looked to see Luca sitting beside me. His yellow eyes betrayed what he wanted. I looked over at Twilight "Private he's a wolf!" "A very smart and useful wolf" I said petting the wolf on the head "With the right amount of training he could make a great help on cases" "Alright but I'm not going to be responsible for any rabbits going missing" The conductor called for the passengers to climb aboard. They put Luca in a cage to ride in the baggage car. I had to do a little arm twisting to do so but they became convinced to let the wolf on board. Twilight, Applejack and I got on the train quickly to avoid the rush. All Three of us looked out the window as the train began to move away. County waved at me and I waved back. It was strange…it was like I was waving a part of me behind. I guess I just worked with County for that long. My eyes followed Applesnack…his steel gaze was only on Applejack. Applejack blushed a little then blew a kiss at Applesnack. Was that a flush that came to his cheeks? He made a show of catching the thrown kiss and holding it to his heart. I smirked over at the blushing Applejack. Her green eyes glared at me and Twilight “If any of ya alls blab this tah anypony Ah’m gonna tie ya both up and hang ya from a cliff” Both Twilight and I simply laughed as we ventured the long trek home. ___________________________________________________________ 200+ years later… I was looking down at a strange hat. It was grey and looked like the hats on some of the detectives you would see in some of Stable 2’s literature. I use literature in the most light of term though as usually the criminal was some kind of anti overmare fanatic. Not riveting in the least if you ask me. I picked it up and looked at it curiously…where did I see this before? The hat looked familiar almost… I then heard Velvet Remedy calling for me “Littlepip! Calamity found some supplies!” I turned my head and called back “I’ll be there in a sec!” I turned my attention back to the hat. Whoever it belonged to…well I got this weird feeling in my gut that he was happy. He lived a good life…somehow because of me. I shook my head. I must just be craving Homage so much that my head was messing with me. I could use some mentals. I put the hat back down on the ground to rest. I turned around and began walking…I could've sworn some voice called me though…saying… Thank you Littlepip…. _______________________________________________ Authors Note This story is dedicated to my inspiration and muse. Kkat, if you ever find this I just want to say thank you. It’s because of your masterpiece that I felt the courage to write. I still have a long ways to go but I want to thank you for putting me on that path. Thank you so much for giving the fandom such an awesome gift. I hope one day I can be as great of a writer as you are. Your biggest fan… Jacoboby1