//------------------------------// // Yeehaw! // Story: Who is our big sister? // by Nesfex //------------------------------// Limestone woke up early that morning. She was still tired, but because of been raised in a farm they were used to wake up early. She noticed her sister was not on the bed, however she left a note “Sis. Went for breakfast. Be right back. Marble” It said. Having time for herself now she decided to take one of her usual one hour bath. Because they couldn’t stay in a particular place since Fillidelphia she felt filthy. After taking the bath she combed her mane as she used to, a hundred combs, no more no less. Finally she felt like herself once again. She remembered the money from the stones and thought about buying a dress or some accessories. But then she remembered they were at Appleloosa and it might not have a good store for clothes, or not one for her sense of style. She came from the bathroom feeling fresh and pretty, and saw her sister placing some bags on the table. Marble was wearing both the saddlebag and the bronze star the sheriff gave them and greeted her sister “Howdy’ partner, ya ready for today?” She spoke on an accent very similar to Braeburn, but also it sounded pretty fake. “Why are you wearing that? We are leaving today. We should gave them back” Said Limestone “We can’t go now! We have to find the thief!” “Sis… this isn’t our town, it’s not our job, we are not sheriffs, we are already days late for the delivery and the pony will charge us so hard that we might not even get paid, and lastly I don’t think that’s going to bring you closer to Braeburn” “What?! Why do you say that?! He’s just a friend. But they helped us, they gave us a place to stay, and he saved my life” Begged Marble Limestone was really annoyed “Some time I wish he didn’t. Come on Marble, we don’t know how to handle buffalo, besides we are late!” Limestone was not going to change her mind so easily, Marble had to take some drastic measures to convince her “Okay Lime. I didn’t want to do this, but you leave no choice” Limestone looked intrigued when she heard it “Remember when you “lost” the gems when the cart with fashion items came to the farm? And remember when mom asked where were they? And who hid the new fashion stuff you bought?” It was convincing enough for Limestone to give up “Alright, alright. But if we don’t find the culprit by sundown, we are leaving!” This did not make Marble happy, but at least her sister agreeded to stay. After they finished their meal, they went to the sheriff’s office to hear their new duties. By that time, many ponies most of the ponies they saw yesterday were there. The got closer to know what was going on, and at the same time the sheriff came to the center to speak “Okay, yesterday was a false alarm. No one came close to the bank, thankfully, and there were no other harm done to the town. However this only means that the threat was only a distraction, and there might be something going on. I believe the best strategy is to remain guarding the surroundings of the town, if something big it’s going on we need to be prepared. You’ll hear your new position in a moment!” Marble and Limestone saw Braeburn and he came to the accompanied with Little Strongheart “Hey, so we are guarding again? What a bore” said Limestone “I know, but without any clue or hint we can’t do much. Sheriff’s right, something is coming” Replied Little Strongheart. Marble kept thinking about everything to put the pieces together, she remembered the doctor, the digging grounds, and the area around. Then, she thought about a crucial point they didn’t get to see “Hey, we checked the gaps, we looked for hoofprints, but we didn’t find anything, right? Well, what if they used a tunnel?” “A tunnel?” Asked Braeburn “Yeah, he could dig a hole on the hills walls and make himself tunnels. Than would explain how he disappeared” Marble explained Little Strongheart wasn’t too sure about what she said“But, how would he dig a hole” “The digging ground is near it, he could have stolen equipment to dig” Limestone understood quickly and helped to another see what her sister thought. “It does make sense” Said Braeburn “So, what do you suggest?” Little Strongheart was still unsure. “I say we go there and check the walls on the wills” Replied Marble “What about the town?” Asked the buffalo while looking back to the town. “It has many ponies protecting it, I don’t think 3 and a little buffalo would really make a difference” Said Limestone while smiling Braeburn adjusted his hat and said “Well, it’s better than nothing. But before we go set the red flares on your flare guns just in case. Awright, let’s get moving gals. Yeehaw!” The sneaked out before they were assigned to patrol the town, and went to the digging grounds. But before they check the hills, they went to the doctor to ask if someone had stolen equipment from him. Only to find there was no one around, no digging ponies, no paleontologist ponies to clean the bones, not even equipment could be seen. The went to the trailer and knocked three times… There was no response. The knocked again harder… There was no response. Finally Braeburn knocked the door for a third time even harder…The door fell. It wasn’t his intention, but he had a tremendous strength, almost similar to BigMac. The went to the trailer and saw that it was empty. Nothing was inside expect for a huge safe box, a desk and a chair. Inside the desk they could only found tickets from things he bought. Limestone took the tickets and read them out loud “Tephra rocks, igneous rocks, picks, axes, dynamite, digging supplies… Dynamite?!” “Why would an anthropologist want dynamite?” Asked Little Strongheart. “Ah’ don’t know, but this is too suspicious to let it go. We need to find this doctor” Replied Braeburn They came out of the trailer and moved to the hills. Not before Marble looked to the place she was about to fall yesterday and noticed something “Look at that!” “What? It’s just bones” Said Limestone “Exactly. The bones are in the same depth as before. Also the supplies and equipment are at the exact same positions” “So?” Limestone was not understand what Marble tried to say “So, if they bones are almost to be dug out, why would they stop the process? And if someone could steal your equipment, why would you leave it out in the open?” The finally understood what Marble was saying. They thought for a moment, and found nothing that could explain this “Another reason to find this doctor pony. You two run to the sheriff and tell him about this. We’ll go to the hills and check them” Ordered Braeburn Without hesitation Little Strongheart ran back to the town followed by Limestone. Marble and Braeburn stayed behind and moved to the near hills. The put their hooves on the surface checking for something that felt off. For some time they couldn’t find something. But suddenly Marble felt something that felt like wood “Hey, check this out” She said while moving the plank that was more like a door. It was painted and cover with dirt and rocks, compare to the rest of the hill it was so good painted to fool anypony. The door led to a some stairs going down. It was a dark path and they could saw nothing to the bottom “Woow, this is huge. Should we go in?” Said Braeburn. Marble hesitated for a moment, but being with Braeburn calmed her down. The walked the stairs down very close so if they trip the other will help. The path to the bottom of the stairway was dark. As they reach the bottom they noticed little torches lighting up the way. It was still dark, but thanks to the torches they could see were to go. They were on a cross road, one way going right and another going left “Now, where do we go?” Asked Limestone. “Mah’ mom always says one should take the right way. So, maybe we should take her advice” Replied Braeburn while moving to the right way of the cave. “I don’t think she meant it like that… Oh well” Marble followed him. They did not know what was at the end of each path anyway. As they walked through the cave they noticed that the place was brighter and brighter, that could only mean that they were close to the end. They reached the end of the path, only to find themselves at the digging grounds, they could see the bones of the fossils and the trailer of the doctor at the top “What the…? Is this the digging grounds?” Braeburn was astonished. “The doctor is planning something. And that thing is at the end of the road. Shall we?” Marble had become more fierce, she began to enjoy the thrill of the investigation process. Braeburn smiled and went back to the cave. They walked back to where they entered and moved forward. They walked slower, if the doctor was planning something it might be better if they were stealthier. For a moment it felt like if the cave were on forever, the couldn’t tell if they were making progress or if they’ve been walking in circles. The walked silently, and the more they walked the more sounds they could hear. They heard moaning sounds, like if ponies were moving heavy stuff, pickaxes hitting rocks, and many more things. The finally arrived to the end of the path and were shocked to see what lied in the cave. There were tons of buffalo working inside, there was a structure like a latter at the center of the place where the buffalos climbed and placed on the ceiling what it looked like dynamite charges. They could not see the doctor, but they saw a big buffalo with paint on his face monitoring everything. They didn’t know why they were there or what were they doing. But whatever it was it couldn’t be good. But before they could leave a big buffalo came from above and hold Braeburn “Intruders!” He yelled, and all the buffalos turned to see the ponies at the door, Marble tried to move the Buffalo to free Braeburn, but he was way stronger than her. At the end she was captured to by another buffalo who was close to them. The big buffalo with the marks on his face came to them and spoke “Well, what do we have here. Two little ponies sneaking in our cave. Don’t you know is bad to break in others place?” “Let us go!” Yelled Marble “You found our little secret, you can guess letting you go is not one of your options” The voice of the buffalo was calm and soft. Kind of scary considering the situation Braeburn, who could barely move, asked “And who are you anyways?” The buffalo got erected in a proud way “I am White Feather, second in command of the buffalo tribe… Or I used to be” “Very nice to meet you. But I’m afraid you are all arrested!” Using all his strength Braeburn managed to free himself from the buffalo grip. Taking advantage of their surprise, Marble could easily free herself too. She slided through the buffalo’s legs and got behind him “Run! I’ll keep them busy!” Braeburn yelled. She didn’t want to let him on his own, but considering the amount of enemies, being there wouldn’t help at all. She ran as fast as she could to the door, the buffalos followed her but she was way faster than them. She finally found the door and claimed quickly stairs, only to be stopped by a buffalo at the door. She remembered the flare gun, she took it and aimed it to the buffalo “Move now, or I’ll shoot” She said strongly. But the buffalo didn’t seem impressed, he only stared at her expressionlessly “You’ll regret this, pal” She said before shooting the gun, the flare came out of it and bounced on the buffalo’s face up to the sky. Except for some fur burned, it didn’t have any effect on him. White Feather was right behind her and said “Did you really think that was enough to take down a buffalo? Take her with the other!” He ordered as he moved back to the place where she left Braeburn. Braeburn was completely tied up and placed at the top of the structure right beneath the dynamite charges. He saw Marble being tied up too and he let a tear drop from his eye. They placed her next to him and reunited with their leader. There they could finally saw the rest of the cave, many tunnels have been dug around connecting that cave to other places, that explained how every time they followed a buffalo it suddenly disappeared “I’m sorry to drag you into this” Whispered Braeburn. “It’s okay, Braeburn. Everything will be fine” Replied Marble. “I’m afraid that is not the case” White Feather down at the ground “You are doom, just like the town of Appleloosa” “What are you planning you… You meany!” Marble yelled in anger. White Feather calmly explained his plan “Our tribe was foolish enough to give part of our sacred lands to the appeloosans, but we are going to take it back. At this moment all the ponies in town are panicked for a threat that does not exist, all of them are gathered there. When we set the dynamites the whole town and it’s inhabitants will disappear in the sands!” The more Braeburn hear him the more angrier he got “What?! You are gonna kill them! There are children there, innocent ponies who did nothing wrong!” “They shall pay for their fathers sins” The buffalo replied “What about the doctor?! What did you do to him?!” Asked Marble “They do nothing, but offering me lots of money” From behind some buffalos, the doctor appeared “They asked me to help them out, I gave them the equipment and the suits to cover the whole operation and they will pay me with more money I could earn in years” “Then why did you order the rocks and the equipment if it all was a cover?!” She asked further. “A digging area without equipment and investigation items would have been suspicious, wouldn’t it? So, sorry you had to be involved. You are very pretty” The doctor seemed like he didn’t even think of the lives of the ponies. “Which reminds me” Replied the leader of the buffalos “Guards, put him with the others!” Two buffalo came with a rope and tied the doctor like the others, and put him at the top of the structure “What is the meaning of this?!” He yelled. “Deal is over, doctor. Your services are no longer needed” The leader answered “It’s time, brothers and sisters, time to make the town begone!” “And that’s all I needed to hear!” A familiar voice came from the path they entered. It was non other than Sheriff Silverstar with the whole gang of officers, Little Strongheart and Limestone with him “White Feather, by the laws of Appleloosa you and your gang are under arrest!” “What?! How did they find us?!” Asked White Feather “I told you you would regret it” Said Marble with a smirk in her face. The flare wasn’t meant to knocked out the buffalo, but it was a signal for the other ponies. They stared at each other for a moment, all the ponies and buffalos stood still waiting for a command to follow. Until White Feather spoke “Charge!” And all the buffalo attack at the ponies. A clash between the two groups was made, buffalos and ponies hitting each other with all they got. Limestone and Little Strongheart avoided the confrontation and went to the structure to free their allies. They climbed carefully the structure that looked very fragile, and cut the rope from Marble and Braeburn “What do we do now?” Asked Limestone. “Ah’ think we should join the fun, what do you say gals?” Said Braeburn confidently.They all moved her head in agreement and jumped down the structure, leaving the doctor at the top tied up. Braeburn took a rope and use it to lasso two buffalo together, he was very skillful with it, and proceeded to tackle some others. He was very strong, so his tackles meant that you will be in pain for days. Strongheart wasn’t as strong as grown up buffalos, but she was quicker than any of them, using her speed she lure some buffalos to get in the line of ponies attacks, and make others hit with each other. The sisters noticed they had no fighting skills, but Limestone remembered something her sister did days earlier “Hey, sis. I betcha can’t shoot rocks faster than me!” She said, just like when they were young. They gave a smirk to each other and moved to a pile of rocks at the side of the cavern, and using their back hooves began to shoot rocks like a machine gun. They have never used this to attack others, except for Gilda, but they had great precision. A buffalo was about to get Little Strongheart from the back, but thanks to the good reflects of Limestone a rock knocked him down. Another went for the sisters, who were the biggest threat for them, but Braeburn stopped him with his lasso skills. The battle went for quite some time, ponies and buffalos alike were knocked down, but the buffalo were clearly outmatched by the strategies and skills of the ponies. White Feather stood alone between his fallen comrades. Sheriff Silverstar came close to him and offered him to surrender “There’s no need to keep this thing going. Surrender now!” White Feather grunted, and took a fighting stand. All of the sudden the sound of someone's clearing his throat could be heard, at from the opening of the cave it was Chief Thunderhooves followed by the whole buffalo tribe. White Feather smiled when he saw them and replied “Chief, this ponies pretend to take us and judge us with their laws. Help us!” “In scenarios like this we would help out one of members, and then judge him with the laws established by the ancestors. Which, according to them, you will be send to exile” Said the chief “But as I remember, you are not longer one of us. Sheriff, do you need help?” “I don’t know, it all depends on him” Said the sheriff. The buffalo seeing both his old tribe and the whole police of ponies had no other option but to surrender. She put his hooves in the air and order the buffalos to give up. Finally, the clash between ponies and buffalos came to an end. Using carts in the cave the moved the uncious back to the town, not before they tied them in the case they woke up. For the others, they would be guarded until they arrived the town. Some ponies stayed to take away the dynamite and to cover the openings of the cave. There weren’t enough cells in the sheriff’s office to take all the buffalo, but thankfully they jail had more than enough for them. And thanks to the overwhelming amount of evidence a trial was not needed. They took all buffalos and the doctor to jail where they were more than happy to receive them. After the last buffalo was taking in Marble couldn’t help but ask “So… What now?” “Now… We celebrate!” Braeburn said and everypony screamed cheerfully. Everypony in town got out of their house or job and joined at the centered of the town where there was a huge stage. Some ponies placed tables and brought foods of every kind, some others brought their instruments and got ready to play, others prepared the dance floor, and a few more were just there to see what was all the commotion about. Braeburn and the sheriff got on the stage and asked Marble and Limestone to come with them. The mayor a big pony wearing a top hat was there preceding the ceremony. Breaburn took the microphone and spoke “Hello y’all. We are here to thank these brave ponies. Who saved the town from total destruction. Protecting a town and ponies they don’t even know. For your services and for saving us all, we are proud to call you Heroines of Appleloosa!” Everypony in town cheered in an unison. “Wait! Heroines, but we did nothing” Said Marble “If it wasn’t for you, we would go back to the digging grounds and the discover the whole plan. Ah’ would have been here guarding the town and fall with all of the ponies. You saved us, and Ah’ll always be grateful” Said Braeburn while holding her hooves. The mayor came with some medals and put them around the sisters necks. Gold and shiny medals with the word “Heroine” written on them. Then, he took the microphone and said “Okay everypony. It’s time to celebrate Appleloosa style! Yeehaw!” Everypony and buffalo in town enjoyed the festivities. Musicians played very lightened up western music, the dance floor was full of ponies dancing, others served traditional food, and for the little ones an old pony sold firecrackers for them to play with, not big so they wouldn’t get hurt or start a fire. Limestone walked around and saw some ponies knitting dresses, she got excited and joined them. Using her knowledge of rocks and fashion she created a beautiful white dress adorned with smalls rocks that sparkled with the light, the design was very simple but the sparkling touch was made it look unique. Marble and Braeburn stuck together for the rest of the evening, Braeburn wanted to show everything he couldn't do before. He took her to everywhere in the town, introducing her to every pony around, but there were so many she couldn't remember all of the ponies names, she only smiled. Then, Braeburn took her to the dance floor and invited to dance, she didn’t know how to dance, but it didn’t matter. Braeburn led the way, and Marble felt like if they were walking on a cloud. To commemorate the occasion, the ponies in Appleloosa took Marble and LImestone a photo to place it in the mayor’s office, but after they did everypony wanted a copy. Everyone wanted to hang the picture of their heroines in front of their houses, Marble didn’t like the attention, but Limestone for one wanted to please everypony The celebration lasted all the day and part of the night. The next day everypony in town was exhausted, but no one complained. They hanged the picture of their heroines, they had became a living legend for the small town. However, the time has come for them to leave. At noon, the Pies were about to leave the town. They did not tell anyone, because they didn’t want to say good bye. But before they left Braeburn came running “It’s… It’s rude to leave before… saying good-bye, ya know?” He said while trying to catch his breath” “I’m sorry… It’s just that saying good-bye it’s really sad” Marble explained. “Fair enough. But this won’t be a good-bye good-bye, it’s more like… A see you later” He replied. “What do you mean?” She asked “Take this” Braeburn took his hat and placed it on Marble’s head “It’s a promise that we will see each other again. Take good care of it, it’s mah’ favorite hat… More like mah’ only hat” She smiled, tears of joy wanted to drop from her eyes, and she hugged him “I’ll write you every week” she promised. Braeburn hugged her back, and promised it too. They left moving to the horizon. As the little sheriff stayed, waiting for the day they will see each other again.