“She’s dead! The sheriff’s dead,” Spike shouted, “What’re we gonna do?!”
“Will you quit hollering!?” Twilight shouted back, “She ain’t dead, just missing is all!”
“But that’s her gun! She ain’t never leave it behind, she’s dead.”
“She ain’t! If she were, why weren’t she on the ground with it?”
Spike immediately fell silent.
“I reckon she’s been ponynapped.”
“By who?” Rarity asked,
“Marauder Moon’s my guess, or bandits, or I hate to say it, both.” Twilight said, “But she ain’t dead, now help me look for clues.”
She dropped low to the ground, inspecting the sandy dirt. There was an indent where Sheriff Celestia’s gun lay, and a plenty of hoofprints around it, but there were hoofprints and cart tracks all over the road, it was impossible to discern any single direction.
“Do any of y’all have a lantern I could borrow? I need some light.”
“Coming right up, hyuck.” Pinkie Pie said, disappearing back into the saloon.
“What about the gunshot?” Applejack asked, “Was the sheriff the one shooting?”
“No,” Twilight shook her head, “She’s the one who got shot,” She turned to Spike again, “Still don’t mean she’s dead.”
“So where is she?” Rainbow Dash asked,
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” Twilight squinted in the darkness,
“Here ya are.” Pinkie Pie returned holding a lantern.
“Thank ya,” Twilight lowered it to the ground as well.
There were dark spots speckled across the sand, starting out small near where the revolver was, and increasing in size as they led to the side of the road. Shining the light over them revealed a dark red color and a small crater in the sand around them.
“That’s blood alright.” Twilight sniffed, “And it’s going that way.”
She followed the trail, noticing drag lines in the sand that looked to have been kicked over. They led to the edge of the intersection near a corner store before disappearing. Bringing the light up, Twilight saw wheel tracks pulling away from the side of the road and continuing down it.
“What’d you find?” Rainbow Dash walked up beside her.
“It was a trap,” Twilight deduced, tucking the immaculate revolver into her vest. “The sheriff was surrounded, shot, then dragged away to a cart. It looks like they took her that way.”
Twilight shined the light down the road, illuminating a pale figure walking towards them. They walked with slow, even steps, hooves just barely visible under an off-white dress. An incredibly wide-brimmed hat obscured most of their face, made even worse by the fact they were looking down. They froze in the light, and Twilight slowly drew her revolver again.
“Hold up,” Rainbow Dash blocked her with a wing, “I know her. Lemme talk to her.”
Twilight opened her mouth to respond, but stayed silent and watched as Rainbow Dash walked up to meet the figure. Once she was close enough, the mare looked up, revealing the bottom of a long, pink mane and a coat that was almost the exact same color as her dress. Her eyes and face remained hidden from view.
“Who’s that?” Spike asked, coming up to her side.
“Apparently Rainbow Dash knows her, she almost spooked me when I saw her.”
“Almost?”
“Shh.” Twilight shushed, she perked her ears to try and listen to their conversation, but she couldn’t hear their whispers.
Rainbow Dash nodded and shook her head as they talked, but the other mare remained almost motionless, her hat wobbling giving away her slight movements. Eventually, Rainbow Dash turned around and headed back to the group, while the mare stayed her distance.
“What’d she say?” Twilight asked,
“She knows where they went.” Rainbow Dash answered, “The cows saw everythin’.”
“What?” Twilight tilted her head,
“That’s Fluttershy, owner of the dairy farm North of town. She says her cows saw a cart headin’ further North.”
“Is there anything North of Ponyville?” Applejack asked,
“Everfree.” They all answered at once.
“Excuse me?”
“A ghost town,” Twilight continued, “Abandoned since the sheriff’s duel. If she’s being taken there, then I don’t doubt that it were Marauder Moon who shot her.”
“So that’s where we’re going then?” Applejack asked,
“Pardon?”
“Yeah, hyuck!” Pinkie Pie joined in, “If’n we wanna get our sheriff back, then we gotta go to the place the bandits are going.”
“Uh… Forgive me for saying this, but y’all hardly seem qualified for something like this.”
“Hogwash, sugar,” Rarity said, “I won’t sit idly by while the sheriff is taken right from under our noses.”
“But this ain’t a job for townsfolk, we should be going there with the full extent of the law!” Twilight argued,
Rainbow Dash put a hoof on her shoulder, “And how long will that take?”
Twilight stayed silent,
“Yer gonna need backup, and we’re all yer gonna get, whether you like it or not.”
Twilight bit her lip as she looked at the ponies around her. A singer, a city slicker, an explosive bartender, and an inaccurate lawmare. She pulled her hat off and looked at Spike, a deputy and a constable, against a bunch of bandits and Marauder Moon.
“Fine! Fine. But don’t go blaming me when you get shot.” Twilight said,
“Yeehaw!”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about!”
“Hoowee! We’re gettin that dynamite back papi!”
“Alright, enough!” Twilight stomped her hoof, “We gotta get ready to head out soon if we wanna get there in time. Everfree is only half a day away, right?”
“Give or take.” Rarity answered,
“Then we’re gonna need supplies, food, drink, a map, guns and ammo, and a cart.”
“I have a cart.” A soft voice came from Twilight’s side.
“Holy-!” She jumped up, dropping the lantern and drawing her revolver again.
Fluttershy flinched, and quickly hid under her hat. Twilight stared at her for a moment before holstering her gun.
“Sorry.” She cleared her throat, “Fluttershy, right?”
She gave a weak nod.
“You have a cart for us to use?”
She gave a weak nod.
“Are you… okay with us using it?”
She gave a weak nod.
“Alright then,” Twilight turned to the rest of the group, “Gather your things, whatever weapons you have and plenty of ammo. Meet back here in an hour, we’re leaving before midnight.” She checked her pocket watch, “Make that forty minutes.”
The group broke away save for Twilight, Spike, and Fluttershy, who pulled her hat even lower.
“Let’s go get that cart of yours.”
“...This way.” Fluttershy murmured,
She began walking back up the road, with Twilight and Spike following suit, only to find themselves quickly outpacing her. Twilight turned and gestured with her hoof, but the action was lost behind the hat, Fluttershy just kept her steady, careful pace.
“Er… I hate to say this, but could ya hurry it up a little?” Twilight asked, “We don’t have a lot of time.”
Fluttershy paused for a moment, “Oh, right.” She started walking faster.
“Thank ya kindly.” Twilight nodded.
The next few moments were spent walking in silence, save for the light crunch of the sand beneath them and a distant cricket. Twilight moved the lantern forward, rattling it slightly, the road ahead was just as clear as it was before.
“So, uh… What brings you to these parts?”
Fluttershy’s hat tilted, and Twilight saw the bottom of an eye flash for a moment,
“Cattle,”
“Been in the business long?”
“Whole life,”
“Enjoy it much?”
”Yeah,”
“You do anything else?” Twilight asked,
Fluttershy only gave a faint whimper.
Twilight tilted her head, realizing they had slowed down to a crawl, she looked over to Spike.
He just shrugged, “What kind of cows you have?”
Fluttershy looked over in his direction, and appeared to do a double take. A small gasp came from under her hat.
“Are you a dragon?”
Spike blinked, “Yeah?”
“A genuine dragon?”
“I ain’t no gila monster if that’s what yer saying.”
“No no,” Fluttershy squealed, “I just ain't never seen the likes of you, what’s it like?”
“Being a dragon?”
The hat bobbed up and down.
“It’s okay, I suppose.” Spike put a claw to his chin, “I like being in the sun, digging in the sand, and playing with cactuses, ain’t gotta worry bout no spines,” He flexed his fingers.
“So you like being in the desert?”
“Best place I’ve ever been,”
“It’s the only place you’ve ever been,” Twilight butted in,
Fluttershy gasped, “Does that mean there are more dragons in the desert?”
“Not that I know of,” Spike said, “Never met another in my whole life.”
“Yup,” Twilight said, “His egg found its way to the Sheriff a few years back, didn’t hatch till I came along. We think it were being smuggled,”
“Smuggling dragon eggs?” Fluttershy asked,
“I can tell you the whole story if ya want.” Spike replied,
“Please do.”
“Well,” Spike emphasized with his hands, “They say my egg fell from the sky…”
Twilight rolled her eyes, tuning out his story in favor of just walking.
“This is it?” Twilight asked,
“This is it.” Fluttershy answered, “Help me get the pails out,”
Twilight pursed her lips, “Better than nothing, I suppose,” She lifted a few milk pails out of the back, “Leave one, we can use it for water.”
Fluttershy nodded, picking up a pail and giving it to Twilight, “Here, there’s a spigot out back.”
She just passed it along to Spike, who awkwardly wrapped his arms around it and carried it behind the barn.
“You got a cover for it?”
“In the barn,”
“What about a second harness?”
This time Fluttershy paused, “I don’t know, lemme check.”
She hopped down from the cart, allowing Twilight to give it a better look. It was a simple cart with two wheels, a single harness up front, and a back that opened up. Perfectly suitable for a single rancher going about their needs, not so much a team of ponies and a dragon about to travel.
The barn doors then opened, and Fluttershy came back out dragging another harness.
“I do got another, I need help with the cover though.”
“Gotcha,” Twilight said, she walked over to the barn doors, saw the cover folded on the wall, and easily lifted it out with her magic.
She slotted the wooden arches into the sides while Fluttershy attached the second harness to the front. It was then that Spike came back around, dragging the milk pail behind him.
“I got yer water.”
“Good,” Twilight floated it out of his grasp and into the back of the cart. She then turned to Fluttershy, “And thank ya for letting us use yer cart, I promise I’ll get it back to you when we get back… or repay you should something happen to it.”
She shook her head, “No,” then murmured something.
“Pardon?” Twilight leaned closer,
“I’m coming with,”
She blinked, “What? Why?”
“Rainbow Dash told me what happened to the Sheriff,” Fluttershy said, “And if them there bandits are apart of it, then I wanna come.” She lowered her voice, “They been using my cows as target practice.”
“Okay…” Twilight replied, “You got a gun?”
“Just my daddy’s shotgun, I ain’t never used it before.”
“So ya don’t know how to shoot?”
Fluttershy recoiled, “...Not well…”
“But you still wanna come with?”
She nodded,
Twilight just stared at her for a moment, “Fine, but the same goes as the others, don’t blame me if you get shot. Now let’s get back to the saloon.”
“Thank ya,” Fluttershy said before walking briskly to her homestead,
Spike walked up to Twilight’s side and yawned, “She coming with?”
“Guess so,” Twilight answered, checking her pocket watch again,
By the time they got back to the saloon, all the others were gathered there, a multitude of boxes and bags waiting nearby. Twilight and Fluttershy pulled the cart to the side and unhitched themselves, and Spike hopped off the back.
“Y’all get everything y’all need?” Twilight asked the lot,
There were various affirmative responses,
“Alright, well I can say for certain that not all of it’s gonna fit.” She turned to Rainbow Dash first, “What you got?”
“Some ammo and food and a sleepin’ bag.”
“And you?”
“About the same,” Applejack answered, “I don’t have a gun though, so no ammo.”
“Right,” Twilight turned to Rarity, “You? I hope you have more than that little pistol.”
“Of course, sugarcube,” Rarity said, unslinging a scoped rifle from her back, “That, and I do have two of them,” She patted her other sleeve.
“And what else are ya bringing?”
“Oh, y’know, the basics, food, water, ammo, a tent, a change of clothes,-”
“Imma stop you right there,” Twilight held up a hoof, “Yer not gonna need another dress, and we need to conserve space. Only bring what’s necessary.”
Rarity pouted, “Fine, give me a moment.”
Twilight nodded and turned to Pinkie Pie, “What you got?”
“Two things, hyuck!” She placed down a crate of dynamite and set a jug of moonshine on it,
Twilight raised an eyebrow, “Nothing else?”
“I don’t got nothing else.”
“Well alright then,” Twilight said, “Let’s load up what we need and get moving!”
“Yeah…” Spike stumbled behind her, yawning, “Let’s go get the Sheriff back.”
“Spike,” Twilight turned to look at him, “Why don’t you stay behind?”
He blinked, “What? But the Sheriff!”
“I know, but we also need somebody to hold down the fort here, tell the townsfolk why the Fiesta ain’t happening. Besides, yer bringing a knife to a gunfight, pardner,”
“What about Applejack? She ain’t got no gun!”
Applejack stopped loading items to look at him, “Have you ever been shot before, kid?”
Spike shook his head,
“Thought so, it isn’t fun. I can handle myself in a fight, can you?”
Spike gulped, “I-I’ll stay behind,”
“Thank ya,” Twilight said, “And I don’t think we coulda even fit ya in the cart anyways.”
“Well where do I go?” Spike asked,
Twilight looked over to Pinkie Pie, “Can he stay in the saloon for a bit?”
“He sure can, hyuck,” Pinkie Pie replied, she dug in her vest pocket and pulled out a key, dropping it into Spike’s claws, “Room’s are on the second floor.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“We’ll be back in hopefully a day or two, if not, then go back to Canterlot and get the rest of the law.”
“We’re loaded and ready to go.” Rainbow Dash called out,
Twilight and Spike looked at her for a moment.
“Can ya do this for me?” Twilight asked,
Spike nodded.
“Good, now take care of yerself ya hear? And make sure to get some shuteye, it’s almost midnight.” Twilight turned to face the group, “Now who wants to take first shift with me?”
“I’ll do it,” Rainbow Dash replied,
“Then git yerself strapped in, we’re leaving now.”
She stepped down from the cart and moved to one of the harnesses up front, Twilight did the same, but not before looking back at Spike one more time and nodding. She slid the harness over her head and tightened it, as did Rainbow Dash, and together they pulled. The now much heavier cart lurched forward, its wooden wheels squeaking as they moved. They began picking up speed, evening out at a walking pace on their way out of town.
Rainbow Dash huffed, “Where we goin’?”
“Everfree,” Twilight responded, “But I figure we should at least get out of Ponyville and settle down for the night. Wanna be ready for tomorrow.”
“You don’t wanna go all night, try and catch up?”
“Maybe, but do ya think we can all go that long? If we run into something plumb tired then things might not go our way.”
“But we could catch them bandits off-guard, and they’ll be tired too.”
Twilight thought for a moment, “Let’s just get out of town first, see what we see and go from there.”
“Gotcha,”
“See anythin’?” Rainbow Dash asked,
“Nothing yet,” Twilight said, “What about you, Rarity?”
She sighed, lowering her rifle, “No, the road’s clear, but something was definitely on it, I can see the tracks from here.”
“Yer right,” Twilight traced the lines in the sand as they crested a small hill and dipped behind it, “They must’ve made it into the ravine already.”
“Should we follow them in?”
“No, if they had any sense of being followed, they’d be waiting to ambush us. We’ll set up camp here tonight and continue tomorrow.”
“Fine by me,” Applejack said, “I don’t know about you all, but I’ve been working all day. I want to go to sleep.”
“You could have some dinner first, hyuck,” Pinkie Pie said, she pulled a small tube out of her mane and ignited it with a match. Dropping it into a pile of wood, it crackled and popped before bursting into flames, and a second later a skillet was placed over it, a can of beans following soon after.
“I’ll have some, if yer offering.” Twilight said, “I haven’t eaten since this morning.”
“Come one, come all,” Pinkie Pie shrugged, “Soup’s on.”
There was a distant howl, followed by a chatter of yips and barks. They all looked over to see a multitude of shapes moving across the dark landscape.
“Coyotes.” Fluttershy announced, “Shouldn’t come near unless they’re desperate.”
“Y’know if they are?” Twilight asked,
“Can’t say for sure, best keep an eye out.”
The sun rose, and they continued up the road. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy pulled the cart while Twilight and the others sat in the back.
It was silent, save for the noises of the cart.
Twilight took a swig from a canteen before setting it back near the water pail, she pulled her hat over her eyes and leaned back to listen to the outside.
“Alright,” Rainbow Dash broke the silence, “Hooves up, who’s taken a bullet before.”
Peeking from underneath her hat, Twilight saw everypony else raising a hoof.
“Why are you asking that?” Applejack asked,
“Somethin’ you said before, you been shot?”
“Yeah?”
“Why?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“If it’ll pass the time.”
Applejack exhaled, “Okay fine, I was shot in the flank,”
“Yes, but why, sugarcube?” Rarity asked,
A grumble, “It was back in the city, a couple gangsters bet against me in a boxing match. They didn’t like it too much when I won, so they cornered me in an alley to get their payback. I guess they forgot I just beat the crap out of a stallion twice their size, and I did what I do best. Turned out one of them had a gun, and on my way out to the street they shot me.”
“Oh my, I hope you got back at them.”
“I kind of already did,” Applejack said, “But I still went back and broke both of their jaws before going to the hospital.”
“Wow, what about you, Rarity?” Rainbow Dash asked,
“Who me?” She replied, “Well, it was a few years back. My family had just come to town, and I started work in the saloon. Apparently one salted stallion liked me more than the rest, and he followed me to my room to hopefully, ‘get it on’. He didn’t take too kindly to my refusal, but he left me alone nonetheless, for about five minutes. He decided that since he couldn’t have me, nopony could, so he came back in waving his gun around, threatening to shoot me and such.”
“So he shot ya?”
“More or less. I’m not as dainty as I may sing, and I tried to wrestle the gun away from him. We fell to the floor and it went off, right into my shoulder. He sobered up real quick after that, but I still sent him packing, and he hasn’t been to the saloon since.”
“Does he live in town?” Applejack questioned,
“He sure does, I’ve seen him ‘round. He certainly doesn’t look me in the eye.” Rarity said, “I still have the scar, and it’s why I carry these ‘round wherever I go.” She flicked both her wrists, both guns sliding into her hooves.
“Makes sense,” Rainbow Dash nodded as Rarity reset her sleeves.
“And what about you?” Applejack asked,
“Huh?”
“You raised your hoof as well, so how did you get shot?”
“Oh, y’all have much cooler stories than I do.”
“Well what happened?” Rarity asked,
Rainbow Dash mumbled something.
“Speak up, sugarcube,”
”I shot myself.”
“You what?”
”I shot myself.”
“You shot yourself?” Applejack asked,
Rarity let out a single laugh, “Lemme guess, it was during one of them fancy tricks of yers.”
Rainbow Dash sighed, “Yup,”
“Are you going to tell the story?”
Twilight lifted her hat slightly.
“Well, I just got my first gun, and I wanted to see what I could do with it. I spun it around, and shot myself. In the hoof.”
“I bet you won’t do anything like that again,”
“N-nope.” Rainbow Dash awkwardly cleared her throat.
The next few moments were spent in silence, only the creaking of the cart accompanied them.
“What about you, Twilight?”
“Pardon?” She sat up, putting her hat back on.
“Have ya ever been shot?”
“Did I raise my hoof? No, I’ve never been shot.”
“Well, deputy…” Rarity joined in, “Have you ever shot anypony?”
“I… have,” Twilight pursed her lips, “Ain’t much of a story though.”
“What, did you just shoot somepony in the street?” Applejack asked,
“Sort of… There’s more to it.”
“Well tell us then.”
Twilight glanced at them individually, they were all eagerly listening.
“Fine, it was when I just became a deputy. It weren’t no criminal or outlaw, just somepony badmouthing the sheriff in the middle of town.”
“So ya shot em?”
“I’m getting to that,” Twilight retorted, “I was on patrol, caught wind of what they were doing, and went over to investigate. She was criticizing the sheriff’s law, arguing with whoever disagreed, and threatening to shoot those that persisted. I felt I had to keep the public safe, and to defend the sheriff’s honor, so I came up and called her out on it. She took one look at me and challenged me to a duel.”
“Did ya win?”
“Does it look like I lost?”
“Maybe.”
Twilight rolled her eyes, “No, the crowd cleared out, and we got ready to draw. I was aiming for her gun, try and resolve it peacefully and the like, but when the time came to shoot, something flashed in my eyes. When I opened them again, she was dead on the street.”
“And you call that not much of a story,” Rarity said, “That’s plenty interesting.”
“If it were true.” Rainbow Dash interrupted, “How do we know it is?”
Twilight glared at her, “I can tell ya the name of the pony I shot, along with the names of her family, which I paid my condolences to.”
“Oh yeah? Who then?”
“Sunset-”
The cart jolted to a stop, nearly causing them all to fall over. A moment later Pinkie Pie appeared through the folds in the cloth.
“We’re at the ravine, hyuck.” She said, “Should we go in?”
Twilight righted herself in her seat and glanced at the others. “Let’s take a look around first, wanna make sure we don’t walk right into a trap.”
She climbed out the front of the cart, tipping her hat to block the morning sun. Looking around, steep rock faces surrounded them, a single, tight gap in front of them. A multitude of loose rocks and boulders lay around the entrance to the ravine, a layered mix of oranges, browns, and even the sparse red or white stripe in the stone.
Applejack then made her way out of the cart, and Twilight stepped down to let her pass.
“Yeesh, do we have to go through this chasm?”
“It’s the fastest way through the mountains, if we wanna get to Everfree in time we gotta go in.”
Twilight peered down the ravine, the curved path quickly disappearing around a bend. It was relatively flat, and just wide enough for the cart, but there was an endless amount of hiding spaces inside. Inspecting the ground, another pair of cart tracks led in, no hoofsteps in the slightest.
“I reckon nothing’s right inside, but we’ll have to keep looking further in.”
“Hey Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash called from the back of the cart, “Is that one of them coyotes?”
Fluttershy looked back, unhitching herself from the cart and walking around it. Both Applejack and Twilight followed.
“Oh, consarn it.” Fluttershy mumbled, “That’s a scout.”
They all looked back, where a lone figure sat atop the sandy hill, staring at them.
“What does it mean?” Rarity asked,
“It means they’re interested in us, and the rest of the pack’s not far behind. We better keep moving.”
“We gotta move anyways,” Twilight said, “Who’s taking next shift?”
“It’s my turn,” Applejack stepped up,
“Who else?”
They all looked at Rarity.
“Oh, um…” She flipped out her fan and fanned herself, “I’m not much of a cart-puller.”
“Really?” Twilight raised an eyebrow, “I thought you didn’t want to ‘sit idly by,’”
“I don’t.” Rarity argued, “It’s just… Dirty,”
Pinkie Pie raised an eyebrow.
“And hot.”
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow.
“And the harness won’t fit well with my dress.”
Though it was hard to tell, Fluttershy raised an eyebrow.
“Alright fine, but later, I wanna make sure I don’t pass out in the sun.”
“Sure…” Twilight said, “Guess I’ll pull then.”
She and Applejack moved back to the front and hitched themselves to the cart, the rest getting in the back. As they started forward, Twilight looked back one more time. The lone coyote stood up from the hill, and made its way down it as they entered the ravine.
“Are we just going in then?”
“For the moment, yes, but keep an eye on the ground, I’ll watch above.”
“Got it,” Applejack said, pushing forward,
Together they pulled further into the ravine, quickly disappearing around one of the bends.
It wasn’t long before they came across their first obstacle. As the sun appeared directly above them, it lit up a boulder blocking their way. It sat in the middle of the path, a large indent off to the side revealing where it once lay.
“I guess they don’t wanna be followed,” Twilight said,
She lit up her horn, then grunted as she slid the boulder back into place, easily clearing the way.
“Won’t stop us none.”
“Wow, nice.” Applejack said,
They moved the cart forward, only to stop a moment later, another boulder in their way.
“Great.”
“Do you want some help with this one?”
“Nah, I got it.” Twilight strained as she rolled the boulder off to the side,
“Are you going to do that for every one?”
“Depends on how many there are.” Twilight stepped forward, stopped, and groaned.
There were two more boulders, smaller ones, but they were still blocking their way.
“Wait a minute,” Applejack said as Twilight removed the first one.
She didn’t stop, instead picking up the second one.
Something snapped, and there was a clang of metal as a spring flew up into the air. There was a scratching sound, followed by a hissing as a spark traveled up the newly revealed fuse going up the side of the ravine.
Twilight set the boulder down, “Darn.”
“Should we get going?”
“Yup. Run!”
They jolted forward, the cart creaking loudly behind them as they picked up speed. There was a rattling inside, followed by a thump and a shout. Rainbow Dash poked her head through the cover.
“What gives?!”
She was answered by an explosion on top of the ravine behind them. A shower of rubbled fell around them, and loose rocks began tumbling down the sides.
“Gotcha,” Rainbow Dash ducked back inside, “Hang on everypony!”
Twilight and Applejack continued forward, skidding around a bend as another explosion rocked the ravine. The rock wall to the side cracked and started to shear off, the cart just barely shooting by. Larger rocks started to fall in front of them, and Twilight used her magic to push most of them off to the side.
The cart kicked off of a rock, causing them both to stumble for a moment. They flailed to the side, trying to steer the cart around another bend. It swerved to the side, smashing into the rockwall right as a third explosion rang out behind them, causing a massive rock above the ravine to tip over into it. It fell in front of them, getting wedged between the walls above the ground. Twilight and Applejack made it under, but the cart did not.
The top of the canvas clipped the boulder, the wooden supports snapping from the force and causing the cover to fold over backwards. There were some muffled complaints from the ponies inside, but they were otherwise fine.
A fourth explosion, then a fifth, and the rock walls surrounding them started to crumble, sand and gravel flowing into the ravine. They kept going however, the exit now within sight.
A sixth explosion went off, and ahead of them the walls collapsed, filling the gap and blocking them in.
“Shoot!” Twilight dug her hooves into the sand to try and slow down,
Applejack kept running, “There!” She pointed,
Off to the side, an incredibly steep slope connected the bottom of the ravine to the top, easily manageable by a pony, not a cart. Twilight shook her head, but started running again, turning the cart to the side and lining it up with the ramp.
They jumped onto the rock, the wheels of the cart smashing into the slope. Their speed only took them halfway up, and they struggled to get the rest of the way as a seventh explosion lit up their trail. Twilight grunted and stomped her hooves, and a few more inches were gained. An eighth explosion, closer. Applejack strained against her harness, hooves scraping across the rough stone.
Nine explosions, the ground shook beneath them.
They crested the ravine, the cart leveling out behind them as they continued forward, straight down the other side, crashing into the sand below.
A tenth explosion, right where they once were. They both scrambled up and pulled the cart even further away from the cliffs. An eleventh explosion, on the other side, quickly followed by a twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth as they continued back down the ravine.
“How much-” Twilight gasped for breath, “Dynamite did those bandits steal?!”
Pinkie Pie crawled her way out from under the canvas, “‘Bout four crates, hyuck.”
There was more movement from the cart, and Fluttershy slipped out the back.
“Is it over?” She whimpered, reaching back in to grab her hat.
She jumped as more explosions sounded off in the distance.
“We’re clear.” Twilight lifted the cover off the cart, “For now anyways.”
Rarity shakily stepped off the cart, while Rainbow Dash simply fell out the back to the ground.
“How ‘bout we rest for a minute or two?” Twilight asked, “Then get back on the road,”
“I do believe a lunch break sounds delightful.” Rarity said,
“We need to fix the cart too,” Applejack added,
The sun began dropping from the sky, and the cart trundled onward. With Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie pulling, the cover remained half collapsed, the shoddy repair job leaving it to wobble with every movement. The others were crammed in the back, though Twilight remained half out the entire time.
“How much further we have to go?” Rainbow Dash called back,
“Not far,” Twilight pulled out the map, “We’re past the ravine, that just leaves the rest of the desert and Hoodoo Ditch. So ‘bout halfway there,”
“I thought it was only gonna be half a day, hyuck.” Pinkie Pie said,
“Well, we ain’t exactly traveling the fastest.” Twilight replied,
“We can go faster if ya like.”
“I’d like to, but I ain’t so sure ‘bout the others, or the cart.”
“Can we get there by sundown?”
“Sun’s already setting,” Twilight pointed out,
“Fine, by midnight then?”
“If we hurry, but we can’t go too fast now, I think the axle took a hit in the ravine.”
“Fine by me, let’s git goin’,” Rainbow Dash said, she pushed ahead, Pinkie Pie quickly following suit.
The cart complained from the speed, but they were making their way through the desert faster now. Twilight gave a nod, then shuffled back through the cart. Looking out the back, she scanned the horizon, quickly coming across a figure in the sand.
A coyote, it was walking briskly to keep up with them, but it was still only trailing, watching.
Twilight looked to the left.
There was another, doing the same.
“Shoot,” She said aloud, “We must be really interesting to them.”
Fluttershy then stood up to see as well, she sniffed, “We can’t camp out tonight. We’re gonna have to find someplace to spend the night.”
“There ain’t no place between here and Everfree though.” Rarity said,
“We’ll get there by midnight,” Twilight reassured,
“Won’t matter,” Flutttershy shook her head, “As soon as that sun goes down, the rest of the pack’ll come out.”
“I’m assuming we can’t go faster?” Applejack asked,
“I don’t wanna risk breaking the cart more.” Twilight answered, she turned to Fluttershy, “Sorry ‘bout that by the way.”
“It’s fine.”
“I reckon it’ll be better to have the cart during the night than to be stuck without it.”
“You think we can outrun an entire pack of coyotes?” Rarity asked,
“I think we’ll be in a better position to do so. Unless ya want to run the rest of the way to Everfree, you’ll just have to hope we make it.”
Rarity bit her lip, “I hope we do.”
The sun began to dip below the horizon, creating long shadows across the desert. Twilight looked at the sunset, then behind them at the coyotes. There were three of them now, and as the light darkened around them, their curious cantor turned to a creepy stalking as they weaved through the dunes.
“We’re almost to Hoodoo Ditch!” Rainbow Dash announced, “Once we get through we should be able to go straight to Everfree.”
“Then let’s go.” Twilight said, “It’s almost dark out and we don’t wanna be out any longer than we have to.”
“How’s the coyote situation, hyuck?”
“There’s three on our tail now,”
“Four.” Fluttershy called back,
Twilight winced, “We need to go faster,”
“What about the axle?” Rainbow Dash asked,
Twilight grit her teeth, “We can’t risk getting stuck out here, just keep going and… We’ll see.” She turned back into the cart. “We’re not gonna make it, how do we deal with the coyotes?”
“You shoot them?” Rarity tried,
“We definitely don’t have enough ammo for that.” Applejack said,
“No, she’s right,” Fluttershy said, “We just need to…” She paused, “Shoot... enough of them and the rest should back off. But we need to get them before they get us.”
“And how do we do that?” Twilight asked,
“Don’t let them surround or separate us.” Fluttershy said, “Pick off the closest ones and keep moving.”
“How many do we have to shoot?”
“Depends on how big the pack is. Which…” Fluttershy looked to the horizon, where the sun just finished disappearing, “We’ll find out right about now.”
A cacophony of howls filled the air, soon followed by incessant yips and barks. Rarity lit a lantern and held it out, revealing hundreds of eyes glinting in the dark. They bobbed up as they rapidly approached, the sound of panting soon reaching the group’s ears.
“Shoot, shoot, shoot shoot shoot!” Twilight shouted, she almost tripped moving back to the front of the cart. “Run, now!”
“But the axle!”
“Don’t matter! They’re already here. Go go go!”
The cart lurched forward as Twilight drew her revolver, she turned and aimed it out the back of the cart. The others did much of the same, Fluttershy leveled her shotgun while Rarity unslung her rifle, Applejack simply slipped on her horseshoes. Everything in the cart started rattling, the canopy overhead wobbling with every motion, threatening to collapse again at any moment.
“How much ammo y’all have?!”
Fluttershy immediately fumbled her shotgun, “F-fifteen shells, t-two slugs.”
“Twenty rifle, twenty pistol.” Rarity answered,
Twilight checked her own and grit her teeth, “Twenty four for me.” She took a deep breath, “Alright! Pick yer targets, call yer shots, and don’t miss. Hopefully we won’t have to shoot too many.”
She pulled the hammer back on her revolver, Rarity pulled her rifle’s bolt back, and Fluttershy pulled her hat down. They steadied themselves against the rocking of the cart, setting the lantern to swing wildly off to the side. The pattering of countless pawsteps followed behind them, and a mess of shapes danced and weaved in the dark.
“Here they come!” Twilight shouted,
A single tan snout came into the light.
“On the left!” Twilight called out,
She fired, and the coyote let out a surprised whimper before dropping to the ground and disappearing. The rest howled and barked in response, nearly deafening due to their proximity.
“Right!” Rarity called out, firing her rifle,
Another coyote fell away, it’s whine drowned out by the others.
“Center!”
Bang
“Right!”
Bang
“Left!”
Bang
“Left!”
Bang
“Right!”
Bang
The coyotes drew closer to the cart, more and more entering the light from all sides. Some ran further ahead, running up alongside the cart as well.
“Center!” Twilight called out,
“Center!” Rarity repeated, firing as well.
“Left!”
Twilight flung her cylinder open and dropped the casings, quickly bringing up six more bullets, she slotted them in and closed it. Cocking the hammer back, she aimed to shoot, but hesitated.
Only two of them were shooting.
Looking to the side, Fluttershy held her shotgun in a shaky grip. She was aiming right at the closest coyote, switching to another when it fell behind, but she had yet to actually fire a single shot.
“Right!” Rarity announced,
“You gonna shoot?” Twilight asked,
“I-” Fluttershy shook her head, “I don’t wanna!”
“What?!”
“Center!”
“Why not?!”
“They’re just animals. They’re only doing what they know.”
“So? So are we. What difference does it make?”
“Center!”
“But we’re ponies! What business do we have meddling with their hunt?”
“Because we’re their hunt!” Twilight put a hoof to her face, “Don’t get philosophical with me now! Do ya really think they’ll give ya the same just because yer a pony?”
“Right!”
Fluttershy shrank underneath her hat.
“It’s us or them.” Twilight finished,
“I could use a little help here gals!” Rarity exclaimed,
They both turned to see multiple coyotes running in the light, some were getting close enough and brave enough to start nipping at the cart.
“Pick yer side.” Twilight said, aiming her revolver and shooting the closest one.
It crashed into the sand, but was quickly replaced with another. It was at that point that the cover above them came crashing down, the thick fabric almost smothering them.
“Screw it!” Twilight yelled,
With a flash of magic, she heaved the canvas off the cart and threw it to the ground behind them, hitting several coyotes. The lantern went with it, leaving them in darkness as they ran, dozens of coyotes still following.
Twilight squinted, staring at the dark landscape as the breeze whipped her mane back. She checked the sides, where darker shapes were making their way forward, coming dangerously close to Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.
“We got another light?” She called out,
“Not a good one!” Rarity answered, she flashed her horn, giving off a dim light that just barely illuminated their surroundings.
“Right side!” Twilight said, firing into the darkness,
A short whine revealed she didn’t miss.
Lighting her own horn, Twilight took up the other side of the cart, shooting at anything that came into her vision. Unlike before, not all her shots hit.
“Whoa!” Rainbow Dash jumped, causing the cart to jerk to the side, “What are y’all doin’ back there?! I got a coyote on my tail!”
Twilight grunted, then turned fully to the side, “Rarity, watch the other side! Fluttershy and Applejack, keep them off our back!”
“We’re almost to Hoodoo Ditch, hyuck!” Pinkie Pie shouted, “I can see it from here!”
Twilight glanced forward, seeing pillars of rock rise above the horizon in the darkness.
“Is there a road?”
“Maybe?”
“Stay on it! We’ll try to lose them in there.”
She turned and shot another coyote, causing it to crumple to the ground and trip another. With a small smirk, she emptied her chambers and reloaded, but before she could aim her next shot, the cart jostled, throwing her off. A large shape flew past the cart, and the coyotes weaved around it, falling back slightly. Lowering her gun, Twilight looked forward again, where more spires lay in front of them on the sides of a winding path.
The pack diverged away from the cart, leaving just the ones in the back to keep chase. The sand below turned to harder rock, causing the cart to bounce around even more. Twilight shuffled to the back again, watching as the coyotes squeezed together on the road. Increasing the intensity of her horn, the pack was cast in magenta light.
“Light them up!”
A series of gunshots, Rarity aimed high while Twilight shot low, taking out coyotes in the front and back. Fluttershy finally fired, the flash of her shotgun nearly blinding in the dim light.
“Sorry!” She exclaimed,
Coyotes fell in pairs, yet they still pursued, tailing them through every turn and bend of the road. They got closer, brushing up against the cart, snapping at the wheels and biting at the wood. One of them jumped up, only to be kicked back off by Applejack, it yelped as it was sent back to the ground.
Another came up, and met the other end of Fluttershy’s shotgun. She fired, winced, then broke it open and loaded two more shells.
Twilight also reloaded, grimacing at the fact that she was down to her last six bullets.
“I’m almost out!” She said, “How many more we gotta shoot?”
As soon as she said that, Fluttershy fired two more shots, eliciting a chorus of howls and barks from the coyotes. The pack slowly peeled away, thinning out as they stopped chasing. The last few stragglers slowed to a stop, staring at them as they congregated back on the road.
The group sped off, giving minor cheers as they too slowed down, though they didn’t stop until the last coyote was well out of sight. Twilight let out a sigh of relief, holstering her revolver and looking around for a moment.
“We did it,” Rainbow Dash said, breathing heavily, “Now who’s takin’ next shift?”
Rarity watched the road for a few more moments before slinging her rifle back over her shoulder, “I suppose it’s my turn then?”
One of the cart’s wheels popped off, sending them all tumbling off it.
To Be Continued...