//------------------------------// // The town, the hunt and the gang. // Story: Amnesia and Love. // by Shimmering Honor //------------------------------// Chapter 5, The town, the hunt and the gang Shimmering Honor ventured out into Appleoosa, it was a small town compared to Ponyvile, with a train station, a sheriff's office and a bar that doubled as a hotel, in the distance he could see another Apple orchard. He walked down the main road for a bit to get a feel for the place, it was nice, but something was missing, he couldn't place it. He walked over to the bar and walked in, the room became deadly quiet, everypony looking at him, the piano stopped and some pony in a stetson near the bar spat into a bucket on the ground, Shimmering stared back, his wings propping the doors open. "Excuse me" came a voice from behind as the Sheriff attempted to walk in. "Oh, sorry" Shimmering stood to the side, the Sheriff walked past him and up to the bar. a pony in what looked to be a trench coat leaded over, and whispered something in the Sheriff's ear, which shot up, alert. "You there, whats your name?" Asked the Sheriff, not moving his gaze at all, Shimmering looked around to see who would answer him. but everyone was looking at him, the Sheriff turned around and stared Shimmering down. "I asked, who ya where?" the Sheriff asked again, staring right at him. "Me sir," Honor replied, pointing at himself "Yes sir, you SIR" the Sheriff replied, the pony in the trench goat got down from the stool and walked next to the Sheriff, a deputy badge on his chest "I..I am Shimmering Honor, I am a bit lost" he replied, his nerves getting to him. "Shimmering Honor, lost ya say" the Sheriff looked around the room, all the ponies eyes where on him, the Sheriff walked up to Shimmering and looked him in the eye, Shimmering looked back, and saw darkness, they stood staring at each other, another pony spat into a bucket near the piano. "I would say ya lost...." the Sheriff narrowed his eye, tension building so much you could cut it with a feather. "...You ain't ordered a drink yet, Never been in a saloon before" the Sheriff Step back, front legs stretched out wide, he spoke in a cheerful tone, all the other ponies around starting laughing, it was obviously a major joke they played on new comers. "So, what will it be Shimmering, Cider, Cider or more Cider" the Sheriff asked placing a hoof on the back of Shimmering's neck and leading him towards the bar. "I think I will take a cider please" Honor replied with all his manors, the room soon return to normal, everypony talking, playing cards or seeing if their glass was bottomless. The Barcolt slide a cider down the bar and it stopped just in front of Shimmering Honor. "thanks" and he took a large swig, it was sweet, very sweet, it made him cough. "Ya alright?" asked the Sheriff "Yeah, I am fine, just didn't expect it to be so sweet" Shimmering replied. the Sheriff just laughed "Wait till the after taste kicks in" not seconds later the after taste hit his tongue, it was nutty, sweet and tangy all at the same time. "Oh wow, how do they do that?" Asked Shimmering. "I haven't a clue, but the Apple family from the orchard make the best Cider in all of Equestria, so whats ya story?" the Sheriff asked, changing the subject. "Well, I have been told I have Amnesia, the first memory I have is me falling, then hitting an Apple orchard and some Yellow filly told me the History of Equestria, then some Zebra who talked in rhyme poured different liquids down my throat, then I had a fight with another Pegasus, ran off over some forest, got attack by Timberwolves, I think that's what they are called. Then ended up in the desert and then in your Doctors Office." Shimmering said. the Sheriff stared "Wow, so ya have no memories, it that why you have no cutie mark?" he asked pointing at the other Colts flank. "Yep" "SHERIFF, SHERIFF, THEIR BACK!" came the shouting from somepony outside the saloon, they sounded scared. "Oh hay," the Sheriff but his drink down and walked outside "Whats going on Sheriff?" asked Shimmering "Come outside and find out" the Sheriff replied as he walked out the saloon, Shimmering Honor followed him out, of in the distance a small dust cloud was approaching, fast. "What is that?" He asked as more deputies appeared from all over town, ponies rushed to cover and others attempted to quickly barraged themselves inside buildings "The local gang"..... ************ Luna was still flying over the Everfree forest, it had been three days since she had heard the voices and had set out on the hunt for Shimmering Honor, "where could you be Captain?" she asked herself, worried that if she was too late, he could be in grave danger. ************ "Hello Sheriff, how is everypony today?" Said the mare sarcastically. "Hello Storm, we are doing just fine, until you and your gang arrived" the Sheriff, he stared down the mare, she stood in front of her gang, Shimmering Honor looked at her, she was a Pegasus, Just like him, she had a deep black coat, Maroon mane, that was cut short, she wore a belt.with a revolver on the left side, a saddle bag on the right. she had several different ponies around her, all with revolvers and different types of hats. "Well, looks like you have another deputy Sheriff, whats his name?" Asked the mare "Him, He ain't no deputy Midnight, he is a traveler, whats ya name again son?" the Sheriff asked turning to Honor. "Eh, Shimmering Honor" He replied. "Well, I am Midnight Storm, and as ya'll can see" pointing to the other ponies around her "This is my gang, now stay outta our way and ya'll wont get hurt" She replied. "Now what do ya want Storm?" Asked the Sheriff. "Oh nothing much, just passing through, wanted to see this new Pegasus in town, you know I know everything that goes on" Midnight replied. "Oh really, you wanted to meet a new Pegasi, well here he is, now get out of my town" the Sheriff shouted. "Calm, calm, we mean no harm, yet" Midnight said and then they all turned around and galloped away. The sheriff stared as the dust cloud slowly disappear, he turned to me and smiled "And now ya'll know our problem" and with that he walked away. "Wait, what does she do that's so bad?" Asked Shimmering. "Well, she robs the bank, hijacks trains, stage coaches, anything that carries or holds any bits, she takes it." He said looking down at the ground. "And so far I haven't had the ability to catch her" the Sheriff said, disappointment in his voice. "And why is that?" Asked Shield, he already new the answer, it was plain to see, but he wanted to get the Sheriff back for his little joke earlier. "BECAUSE SHE IS THE ONLY PEGASUS IN THIS ENTIRE AREA!" He shouted out, shear anger displayed on his face. Shimmering Honor just laughed. "Whats so darn funny?" the Sheriff asked, his tone was cold and a twitch had appeared in his left eye lid. Shimmering kept laughing, the saloon looked over at the two, trying to figure out what was so funny about the situation. Honor soon calmed down and wiped a tear from his eye. "That was better than I thought" he said, then he spread his wings out as high as he could get them, they looked impressive, all the other ponies gasped, finally catching on to the joke, even the Sheriff had a smile on his face. "Well I be darned, we do have a Pegasus that could help, I assume ya will help us?" ********** Princess Luna had been flying for a few days now, She had just gotten to the edge of the Everfree Forest and saw some hoof prints, these seemed to appear from no where then wander in circles for a bit, as if confused. Then they disappeared, Luna landed near by and listened, but it was still day, she couldn't use her full power till the night came. so she sat down and waited. "Oh, where in Equestria are you Shimmering Honor, the night guard need their captain." She was tired, so very tired, so very very..... ********* After some planning and paperwork had been signed, the plan was set in motion, Shimmering Honor sat atop the train station, hiding behind the big sign and out of sight for all to see, life continued as normal, ponies going about their daily business, a train stopping every couple of hours. This was Tiring work, a deputy trotted up to the station, he had a case in his mouth, the earth pony looked around confused, then placed the case on the ground, near the side of the station, near of some other luggage. Shimmering watched as he gave one more confused look around and headed back to the Sheriffs office, Shimmering looked around, then in a blue blur, swooped down and picked up the case, no pony saw him. He opened it up and inside was a letter, a top a paper bag and a bottle. "Eat this, ya'll be feeling hungry and thirsty soon" the letter said. Shimmering looked in the bag, inside was a daffodil sandwich, he tucked in, he was very hungry, yet he managed to conserve enough of it for a good few hours later, he didn't know where the knowledge came from, it was instinct not to eat the whole thing and safe some. He turned to the bottle and opened it, a strong sweat smell of cider flowed out of the top, he took a swig and again conserved his rations. A few more hours of this and I might go insane, yet why does it feel so familiar? he thought to himself, still hiding behind the sign. Still nothing odd happened, nothing seemed off. From his hiding spot, Shimmering Honor could see all the way down the street, and could see the direction the gang had come from and went last time they where in town. The sun was starting to get low in the sky and soon Ponies where heading to the saloon for an evening drink, Shimmering wished he could join them, but he still had his ration of cider in the case. Then coming down the street was the Deputy with another case in his mouth, he did the same thing, walked up to the station, dropped off the case and walked off, still confused as to where it was going. Shimmering Honor retrieved the case, opened it and inside was another note, which simply said. "Dinner" Inside was some hay fries, another sandwich and more cider, the fries where still warm. Shimmering ate those quickly to warm his stomach, then placed the sandwich and cider in the other case, he dropped the case back on the other side of the station, went back up to his hiding point and nibbled on his previous sandwich. Still fresh. ******** It was dark when Luna woke back up, the air was cold, the sky lite by the moon and the stars, She was happy, she as in her element. She looked around and was surprised to see the residue was still around, she could see the blue Pegasus she searched for fly off at a fast speed, she followed the ghostly form, her eyes never leaving him, then he stopped, the ghost faded, revealing that he had chased a mirage, she saw hoof prints and followed them, going off to the left of where he had just come from. ********* It was the coldest night yet, there where no clouds in the sky, just clear skies, nothing to stop the heat escaping into the sky. Shimmering Honor sat there, shivering. dam its cold he thought, but he never stopped watching, every pony had gone to sleep, or at least that what it seemed like to anypony who would enter the town now. Yet that was the plan. A faint yellow twinkle caught Shimmering's eye, off to the left of the town, it grew bigger as it drew near, a dust cloud behind the light, they had arrived....