//------------------------------// // 7-The Dodgy Side of Equestria // Story: The Orphan // by Dramatic Stories //------------------------------// The Dodgy Side of Equestria I checked my saddlebags a second time as I watched the train approach the platform I was standing upon. Holora stood beside me quietly on his cane. The train came to a screeching halt as the brakes were applied. It halted, and the whistle blew with a high pitched wail. The doors on the cars opened up, and a conductor stepped on to the platform. "ALL ABOARD! NEXT STOP DODGE JUNCTION!"He called aloud. "Take good care. Use your training and abilities to guide you to success."Holora said. I nodded once, and stepped through the doorway of the car. "Tickets?"Another conductor was awaiting inside. I gave him my ticket, and quickly found a seat. Two other mares boarded shortly after me, taking up two more seats in the car. With that, the door closed, and the whistle wailed again. The train shuddered as I looked out the window. Slowly, the world around me begun to move towards the back of the train. The whistle wailed a few more times as the train slowly accelerated out of the station. I watched as we left the station, and eventually, left Ponyville. *THUD* My eyes snapped open to the train shuddering. I rubbed my eyes and turned to look outside the windows. The sky was no longer lit as the moon was high and the stars littered the sky around it. A canyon flowed underneath the train as it sped on across a long bridge crossing the gorge. "Seems like we'll be arriving soon"I thought to myself. Wouldn't you know it, it would only be another ten minutes before we arrived. The time passed quickly as I gazed upon the seemingly lifeless desert. I heard the brakes apply on the wheels creating a high pitch screech of metal on metal. The train slowly slowed, and approached dodge junction. I pushed the window next to me open, and stuck my head out to look ahead. The station was directly in front of us, as was the small community of Dodge. The train gave another short screech as we halted at the platform of the station. The conductor opened both the doors on our car, and stepped off. I shortly followed. The world around me was much different than the one I had left. Instead of green fields and tall snow covered mountains, the land was covered in sand and so flat it seemed you could see the edge of the earth. The wooden platform creaked from each step I'd take. The small station was lit by two dim lanterns on each side of the platform. The train gave a short whistle as steam hissed from the engine. The train departed from the station, and begun rolling down the track. Just like that I was left alone on the platform, watching the train grow smaller and smaller in the distance. The Following Morning at Sunrise Scootaloo barged into the Tavern with her hood over her head, immediately getting everypony's attention. Among their stares, she ignored them, and slowly trotted to the other end of the room, where the bartender was quietly cleaning out a glass mug. Scootaloo heard a quiet laughter and chuckles from the ponies who were staring at her. Again, Scootaloo ignored them, and sat down at the bar. The bartender looked at me. "Aren't you a little young to be wandering around here all by yourself?"He asked. "Maybe."I said in a sarcastic tone. The bartender looked at me with a confused and irritated face. A stallion with a harsh raspy voice spoke behind her. "Listen here. This aint a place for a little filly like you."I turned to see him standing up, and taking a step towards me. He took a swig of his mug, finishing the last of the liquid, before tossing it aside. "I suggest you leave before someone gets hurt."He threatened. "I suggest you sit back down before you get hurt."I said in a calm voice. "I'm just here looking for somepony." "Well I think that somepony is trouble."He drew closer to me as he spoke. I could smell the alcohol on his breath from where I was sitting. "Now you leave her alone Hank. She aint botherin' nobody."The bartender spoke up. "Enough of this."Hank said pushing a chair aside. "You're obviously looking for trouble."He drunken stallion wobbled a little towards me. I climbed off of the chair, and stood my ground. "This is unwise."I said. "Hank don't do this."One of his peers said. "Shut up Jenkins. We're settlin' this the ol' fashioned way. Don't need none of her big city attitude buckin' things up."Hank drew a knife, and pointed it at me. The bartender made a move to subdue Hank. "No."I said. "He wants to fight, he'll get one."I moved a chair the bartenders intended path with my hind leg. Now the stallions and mares in the tavern were staring at us, waiting to see who made the first move. Knowing my code I swore to, I stayed my blade, awaiting to defend myself. "Come here!"Hank said aggressively. He lunged forward, driving the knife towards me clumsily. I simply swayed to the side as the knife overshot its intended victim, and took his leg hostage in my hooves. Using one hoof to hold his leg, and used the other to pry the knife out of his hoof. It was almost like fighting a straw dummy. I kicked his stomach, and took the knife. A wave of cheering and whistling sounded through a few of the stallions as Hank held his gut. "Finished?"I asked. "Hank stop this immediately."Jenkins said getting up from the table. He tried to pull Hank away, but Hank shrugged him off, and got up on his hooves. He looked at me, and realized I had his knife. He lunged in an attempt to take it back. With swift movement, I leaped to the right, and left the bar in his path. *SLAM* His head hit the bar, and he fell to the floor, dazed and disoriented. "That's enough."I heard. I looked towards the entrance of the saloon, and saw a pony wearing a leather vest with a gold star on it. "Sheriff."The bartender said. "Explain this mess."The sheriff said. "We're all witnesses here. It's safe to say this filly was defending herself."The bartender said. I turned towards Hank, who was still recovering from the unexpected blow to the head. The sheriff suddenly heaved him up with the help of who I assumed was the deputy. The deputy looked at me curiously and said, "You watch yourself." Just like that it was over. "Now you said you were lookin' for someone?"The bartender asked. I climbed up on a chair, and stood upright, holding up a picture of my intended target. "I'm looking for a griffon. I was informed she was seen around here lately."I slowly swiveled the picture so everypony could get a good look at it. None spoke up. I sighed. "Does anyone know a griffon by the name of Gilda?"Upon saying her name, a few eyes widened, and I heard mumbling around the building. A yellow furred mare stood up. "I saw her yesterday while I was huntin' for dinner. She was out with a weird looking creature. Had a bunch of holes in her legs and wings."She said. "Saw them out east towards the abandoned mine." "Thank you."I said. I grabbed three bits from my pocket a tossed them into her mug. The 'creature' she described had to be none other than Chrysalis. She's the only living thing I know of that has swiss cheese for a parent. As I walked out of the tavern, I wrote down a memento on a piece of paper. "Head east towards abandoned mineshaft."As I wrote it, I bumped into somepony causing me to drop the paper. "Sorry."I said, picking up the piece of paper. "Wasn't lookin...Applebloom?"I looked up, and realized that I had bumped into Applebloom. "What are you doin' here?"I asked. "I was about to ask you the same question. We're here visiting Braeburn after the ordeal at the farm. Just to make sure he was okay."Applebloom explained. Applejack walked up from the post office to join the conversation. "Well look who it is."Applejack said. "Visiting Braeburn huh? I thought he lived in Appleloosa?"I asked. "Well yes he does, but he's been spending some time down here for a while. We're jumpin' on the train tomorrow with him to go back to Appleloosa."Applejack explained. "So what in tarnation are you doin' all the way out here?" "I guess you could call it a business trip."I said. "Hm. Doesn't seem like one. Well we're gonna go grab a drink. Want to come with?"Applejack offered. "No thanks."I said. "I've got work to do." "Suit yourself."Applebloom said. "The age for drinkin' alcohol is younger out here, and I get to try my first mug of Apple cider!"Applebloom said in an excited tone. "I keep tellin' you Applebloom. It's gonna taste exactly the same as that Apple juice you drink. You wait."Applejack said. "Well, see you around scoots."Applejack and Applebloom walked into the tavern, and left me to do my work. To the East I go.