Dean and his mother lay resting in the corner of the dark cell. Covering both their bodies as much as possible with the small blanket.
Dean had his head rested against his mother as she gently stroked his mane. Giving him well needed comfort after several hours of crying.
The colt had his eyes shut tight. He couldn't sleep, couldn't if he wanted to. He had too much on his mind. So many questions.
What happened to the town? Why is the sheriff doing this? Where's the Doctor?
' . . . Where is he?'
At this point Dean felt that the Doctor wasn't coming. Maybe the Doctor escaped and left town? Or maybe Mrs. Sugar really did kill him? Either way, the poor colt felt that help was no longer coming to his aid.
Of all questions he had, one stood out far amongst the rest.
Softly, Dean whispered, "mom . . . h-how did dad . . . go?"
Mrs. Do stopped her stroking for a second, then continued as she explained. "Yer father got himself involved in some really shady business. Meddling into things he shouldn't have. Guess ah can't really say much, seeing how ah was involved too".
Opening his eyes, Dean said with a start, "You!?"
She nodded.
"W-Why were- how did- when did-".
"Calm down Sugar Cube-".
"But you and dad! You were- the both of you! W-What kind of "shady business" were you both involved in!?" Dean asked, raising his voice.
She closed her eyes for a moment, preventing herself from crying.
Dean's startlement and raising voice came as no surprise to Mrs. Do. Their family little to never kept secrets from each other. They were loyal, honest, and were always there for each other.
So for Dean to discover a secret such as this one from his own mother. Mrs. Do knew Dean had the right to be upset.
"It wasn't anything bad Dean, ah swear it wasn't. Still, it got all us in a lot a trouble".
"All of us? You and dad weren't the only ones involved?"
"No, Mr. Sugar was involved as well".
"Did you and dad involve him?"
"No, he involved us".
"How?"
Mrs. Sugar sighed, recalling the events that transpired the past week. "A lot happened while you were gone. First thing that happened was our town getting a new sheriff. Didn't think much of it, Cletus was old and deserved a nice retirement".
"After that, however, apparently there were more things happen'in at the town then ah realized. Ah had been so busy at the farm that I never noticed. Ponies disappear'in, deputies gone miss'in, even the mayor himself just goes and vanishes".
"How could you not know that ponies were disappearing?" asked Dean.
"Our crops aren't doing so well this year. They've been need'in extra care to make sure they survive this summer. Ah ended up stay'in at the farm twenty four seven. Only yer father left to town whenever he needed to go shop'in er whatever other errand that had to be done. I'm not sure when it happened or how long those two were at it. But at one point, Mr. Sugar had been snoopin around and investigating and somehow got yer father involved".
"What was he investigating for?"
"He was try'in to figure out why all the ponies were disappear'in. He thought the sheriff had someth'in to do with it. His paranoia spread to yer father and the both a them started snoop'in-".
"What about Mrs. Sugar? Was she involved?"
"No, apparently she knew about her husband's snoopin. But she never knew about her husband get'in yer father involved. From what ah heard from yer father, Mrs. Sugar did try and convince her husband to stop with his snoopin. She never involved herself in his snoopin and she felt mighty nervous with him sneak'in around. Had the right to, obviously. But he didn't listen. Went on snoopin anyway. And with yer father, the two worked together in try'in to solve what was happen'in to the town".
"Well, did they ever find out?"
"Er, yes and no. Its complicated, we couldn't find all the right papers".
"We? You mean to tell me it was at this point that you got involved?"
" . . . Yes".
Dean sighed in frustration, "you could've stopped them. You could've prevented this-".
"Dean".
"Why didn't you mom?-"
"Because ah didn't have a choice!" Mrs. Do shouted, causing Dean to look to her wide eyed in shock. She sighed and lowered her volume, "I didn't have a choice Dean. Neither yer father and ah had a choice. Especially not after the night yer father came home with information. The night he convinced me to start help'in him".
"Ah had no idea yer father had been sneak'in out and help'in Mr. Sugar with his investigate'in. When ah did find out was six days ago. Er, maybe it was seven. Could be more, or less, I really don't know. You can't really tell the time down here. Anyway, so yer father wakes me one night and tells me we need to talk. Something urgent he said. And ah knew he was serious when he started close'in the curtains and lock'in the doors and make'in sure nopony was around".
"After he made sure that nopony could hear us, he told me everything that had happened the past month. How the ponies been disappear'in, as well as the old law enforcers and the mayor, how he and Mr. Sugar had been investigate'in, and finishing off by tell'in me that he had just broken into the sheriff's office".
"Now, ah was about to smack the side a his head after hearing this, before he show'd me what he found while he was in there-".
"What did he find?" asked Dean.
"A document, giving Tumbleweed orders to take the town".
"Tumbleweed was given orders to take Dodge Junction? So he's not the one who's in charge?"
"He is in charge of the town. But there somepony who's higher up the ranks then he is".
"Who".
"No idea. Yer father only got part of the document. They heard somepony com'in into the room they were in before they could finish search'in. But whoever this pony is, they sure as heck knew what they were do'in when they set Tumbleweed with this job. Cause on the back a the document was a strict set a instructions. I can't remember exactly what it said. I remember some a the instructions but not all of it".
"He had instruction on how to take over a town!? How long had they been working on this?" asked Dean.
"I'm not sure. Coulda been months fer all I know. Yer father didn't get all the documents".
"Hold on, how did dad and Sugar even manage to break into the sheriff's office?" asked Dean.
"Oh those two were smart work'in together. After that night yer father showed me the documents I decided to tag along with them to try and get the rest. So ah got to see first hoof just how they did it".
"We snuck into town, make'in sure nopony sees us. Then, when we made it to the sheriff's office, yer father had me hide in a nearby alley while he and Sugar went to work. So while ah was hide'in, yer father went up and knocked at the door. Yer father ran off and hid before any a the deputies could answer. While the deputy was look'in fer who knocked on the door, Sugar had used some barrels to climb himself onto the roof. He threw a bit at a window away from the sheriff's office, make'in a noise and lure'in away the deputy. Once he was away, yer father ran to the door and looked inside to make sure the coast was clear. At the time we thought we were lucky that Tumbleweed only had one guard take'in post at the front that night."
"What do you mean "at the time?"
"I'm get'in to that. Anyway, yer father motioned for me to come and Sugar climbed down from the roof while I ran to the door. We made it inside before the deputy could spot us".
"Once inside, yer father picked the door to the only other room in the place. Which lead to the sheriff's personnel office. We went inside to try and find the other document. And we searched fer a good while to".
"But, that's when they caught us".
"Were you too loud?" asked Dean.
"No, he knew we were come'in".
"He?"
"Tumbleweed."
"Tumbleweed knew!? How?"
"Well, turns out the pony who almost walked in on yer father and Sugar was Tumbleweed himself. Although the two escaped through the window before they were spotted, Tumbleweed still noticed that his documents were missing. So he secretly had two guards posted at the front that night. One at the desk, the stallion who answered the door when yer father knocked, and the other was hiding under the desk. Guess, thinking back, we shoulda checked ta make sure no one else was in there-".
"No, you think?" said Dean, sarcastically.
"Don't get smart with me!-"
"You broke into a sheriff's office and tried to steal documents. I can get as smart as I want!"
"Dean this was important fer us to do this! We had to find out what Tumbleweed was up to! And it's a good thing we did! Cause before he caught us we found the other document!"
"Really? And what was so important on this document that made the three of you do all this?"
"It told us where all the ponies disappeared to!"
Dean's attitude disappeared as he heard this. Taking interest, Dean asked, "you found out where they all went?"
"Yes, turns out the sheriff has been take'in them all here" said Mrs. Do, pointing to the cell they were in.
Dean looked around in confusion. "Here? But when I came into the sheriff's office earlier I didn't see anypony in any of the cells-".
"You still think you're in the sheriff's office?"
"Well, not anymore, now that you said that".
"Dean, the cells have no windows-".
"I just assumed they covered them to make the place dark-".
Mrs. Sugar sighed in frustration. "Dean, were not in the sheriff's office anymore. This is a secret prison that Tumbleweed had his deputies make".
"But for what purpose!? Why would he do this?"
"To take over the town. With those documents, we found out that everypony was forced to give their property and land away for free to Tumbleweed. Anypony who didn't comply had a member of their family brought here. Anypony who dared to try and leave Dodge Junction, tell anypony in town what he had done, or try and get help from guards, they would be beaten to a pulp".
"Tumbleweed had them beaten?" asked Dean.
Mrs. Do nodded, "see the stallion across from us?" She asked, pointing to the cell on the other side.
"Barely, it's too dark so I couldn't really tell who it was".
"That would be Cletus".
Dean looked to the stallion across from them with wide eyes. "The old sheriff!?!"
"Eeyup, turns out he was one a the first ponies to be brought down here. He tried to tell everypony about Tumbleweed after Tumbleweed forced Cletus into retirement. So he had his deputies beat Cletus up. Poor stallion, during ma time down here ah haven't once seen him move. The only reason ah know he's still awake is cause he moans every once in awhile. It wasn't long after Cletus that Tumbleweed's deputies went after Cletus's deputies and had them sent here too. Cletus's deputies are the ones who told me this."
"You've never seen him eat or drink?"
Mrs. Do chuckled, "eat? Those scumbags only bring us water. Barely enough to keep even a rabbit hydrated. They don't bring us food, ah haven't eaten in days. I'd hate to imagine how much longer its been since Cletus has eaten, seeing as he's been the first one down here. And as bad as that seems, it only get's worse."
"How can it be worse then it already is!?"
" . . . The mayor, he was forced to give Tumbleweed full authority-."
"Well I would assume so. If Tumbleweed is stealing property, it makes sense for him to start with the leader. So he takes over the mayor's job and he throws him into jail with us. Is that what makes this worse? Tumbleweed being mayor?"
" . . . Tumbleweed didn't throw the mayor into prison with us."
"W-Where did he take him? somewhere more secretive or something?"
Mrs. Do was silent for a moment, the sound of her heavy breathing preventing pure silence. Her stress rising as she spoke.
" . . . The mayor is dead. He killed him."
Dean's jaw dropped. An expression of utter shock was present on his face as he looked into his mother's eyes.
"W-What!?!"
Mrs. Do didn't respond.
"Tumbleweed killed him!?! What for!?!"
" . . . I don't know. The document said to kill him, on the instructions. But it didn't have a reason for why-".
"So he just killed him . . . killed him for no reason?"
"He was follow'in orders-".
"Be as it may, he stilled killed someone without knowing the reason why! He doesn't know why this pony has to die! Some random pony comes along and tells him to do it and he just does it!?! W-What is- how . . .", Dean couldn't finish.
There was a brief silence before Dean spoke again.
"So all this . . . all this just to take everyone's property?"
"Well, once they have all the property in the land, then they'll have full, complete control over the town".
"But why do they even want to take over Dodge Junction? They could have picked anywhere! The South Colonies, Marzipan, Colesville, instead they choose here! Why!?"
Mrs. Do sighed, "I'm not sure Sugar Cube. We got all the information we could. But we couldn't figure out why they were doing this or who gave Tumbleweed his orders".
"Really? So we're stuck in prison, everyone's losing their land, Tumbleweeds taking over the town, and we don't even know why?"
Mrs. Sugar didn't answer.
" . . . Where is this prison anyway? Are we still in Dodge Junction?"
"I don't know. Everypony who was forced down here was knocked out with chloroform before entering. Nopony knows whether or not we're still in Dodge Junction".
"Perfect", said Dean sarcastically.
There was a brief silence before Dean asked, "So if anypony gives up their land to Tumbleweed, what happens? Aside from him gaining more power, what happens to the ponies?"
"Some are set free and can go back to their families. Others aren't so lucky. From what I've heard from the deputies, those who are set free are on strict curfew and must never leave Dodge Junction. They don't say it, but ah know they're just afraid someone's gonna go and get guards if anypony does leave".
"So that's why I'm here! You haven't given Tumbleweed our farm yet, have you?"
" . . . No. No ah haven't".
" . . . Before I was knocked out, Tumbleweed said that he had his stallions looking for me. He had one of his deputies send a messenger bird to tell them to stop their search, said that their "target" returned home by himself".
" . . . I'm sorry".
"Don't be. I know how important the farm is-".
"Its not more important then you-".
"But would dad have wanted you to give it away?"
"Of course not!-"
"Then you did the right thing-".
"But he would have wanted me to if it meant saving you!!!" she shouted.
An awkward silence ensued the cell for several moments, as Dean sat up in his place.
He looked to his mother as he said, "finish your story".
Mrs. Do looked to her son with saddened eyes as she took a deep breath. "After we were caught, Tumbleweed commanded his deputies to take us into custody. There was a struggle and it ended with me in chains, yer father with pepper in his eyes, and Sugar, in the nick of time, escaping through the window. We were take'in into one a the sheriff office cells for a few hours before Tumbleweed had us dragged through town. Literally, they dragged us on chains until we stopped in front a Dodge Desserts-".
"Why did they take you there?"
"Cause apparently the first thing Sugar did when he escaped was warn his wife about the sheriff and his deputies. Guess he didn't realize that that would be the first place they would look fer him, cause the next thing I know I see a couple deputies have Mr. and Mrs. Sugar in chains. They both get'in dragged into the middle a the street with us".
"After that the sheriff tells the town that we're criminals fer break'in and enter'in and fer thievery. That we are the criminals! Can you believe that? The three of us were outraged! But poor Mrs. Sugar, that poor dear hadn't any clue what was go'in on. She was damn well surprised when she saw yer father and I. You know, cause she didn't know we were involved. Anyway, so after the sheriff shouts out this nonsense, Sugar completely loses it. Starts shout'in that he's a liar and he that he can prove it".
"I guess he was pretty desperate at that point, cause that stallion ends up throwing our evidence into the crowd. Now ah thought that Tumbleweed woulda snatched that document up fast and gotten rid a it. But before he could, some a the townsfolk grabbed and started read'in it. Started share'in it with one another too".
"The town knew the truth after that. Most of them had known he was no good, steal'in their property and send'in ponies to jail. But they had no idea their scheme was this big! They had no idea he had actually murdered somepony until now. They were furious, tried to start a riot, them townsfolk. But just as they did, Tumbleweed pulls out some fancy whistle and blows on it. A few seconds later, a whole bunch a ponies ah ain't never met before come outta nowhere! They started attack'in the townsfolk, stop'in them from start'in a riot. And once the chaos went down, Tumbleweed told us that these new ponies worked fer him. That they were his new deputies and the old ones were no longer work'in fer him".
"Are the deputies down here too?" asked Dean.
"Yes, all of them. He didn't have any a them killed, thank Celestia. But . . . what he did next . . . he . . . he", Mrs. Do couldn't finish. Her eye's watered as she recalled the events that transpired next. She folded her forehooves around her torso, holding dearly to herself as she tried holding back tears. Her lips quivered on gritted teeth as tear drops fell.
"Mom?" Dean returned to his laying position, hugging his mother close to him.
His mother accepted the hug, wrapping her forelegs around him. She placed her face hard into Dean's torso.
"I'm sorry! I just . . . I - i".
"Hey, hey, hey, it's okay, it's okay" said Dean, trying and failing to comfort his mother.
She sniffed, "it's not okay! It's not! T-Tumbleweed got mad and said that t-there was no point in keep'in secrets since everypony knew! He didn't want anypony to fight back or question his authority! So to show everyone that he meant business he . . . he . . .".
She began weeping fiercely onto Dean. "He took a bow and shot yer father!!!"
Dean's eyes widened at his mother's sudden shout. His grip tightened as she said this.
Mrs. Do sniffed, took a deep breath, and continued weeping as she said, "he took a bow and shot yer father in the chest! He killed him!"
Dean's own eyes had began to water as he felt the same sorrow as his mother's. Sifting to rest his head closer to his mother, he allowed tears to fall as he stared to the wall behind her.
He felt he shouldn't ask this, but he had to know. He didn't want to come this far just to stop and cry. He was hurting, but he needed this information.
Finish the conversation, then morne, he decided.
"Mom, w-why did he spare you and Mrs. Sugar? A-And w-what happened to Mr. Sugar".
Speaking between sobs and breaths, Mrs. Do said, "h-he let Mrs. Sugar live because she was one of the few ponies in town who didn't know anything. Because she didn't get to read the documents. So he spared her life, but kept Mr. Sugar in this prison as insurance to make sure she doesn't come onto Tumbleweeds bad side. As fer me, he kept me because ah hadn't given him the farm yet. So ah had "unfinished business" with him, as he called it. Ah asked why didn't he just kill me and steal the land, but he said he had his reasons. Wouldn't say what those reasons were".
" . . . And did dad . . . did he say . . . anything? Before he died?" asked Dean.
Mrs. Do sobbed for a brief moment, before forcing her emotions silent so she could speak. She looked straight into her son's eyes, her eyes more bloodshot then before, and smiled. "He was awake long enough to give his goodbyes. He said he loved me. And he wanted me to tell you, as soon as ah saw you again, to tell you that he loved you. And how proud he was of you".
Dean didn't speak. A fresh wave of tears flowed rapidly as stared back into his mother's eyes. Silently crying.
Gently, Mrs. Do placed a hoof to her son's cheek. Smiling, she said, "he loves you and is so proud of you Dean. Ah know things seem bad now, but just you wait. Things will get better, ah just know it. And as fer yer father, ah bet he's looking down on us right now. Think'in how grateful he is that his son is at least home".
MEANWHILE
"Ah cannot believe you brought ma son home!!!" Mr. Do shouted, angrily.
After Mr. Do had revealed himself to Mrs. Sugar and the Doctor, he retold the story from his point of view. From Mr. Sugar convincing him to help him investigate. All up to the point where everypony had witnessed his false death.
Along the story, the Doctor and Mr. Do would occasionally argue with each other back and forth.
Mr. Do's story coming to a halt as their argument continued once more. This time arguing about Dean.
"Well what did you want me to do? Leave him stranded and alone?" asked the Doctor, angrily.
"Ahm not saying that! Ahm glad you found ma son but you coulda taken him anywhere else-".
"Oh like where!?"
"Anywhere! Literally anywhere! Mixon, the South Colonies, heck, you coulda taken him outta country! Somewhere like Britain! He woulda fit in just fine with his accent! But you just had to bring him here!-"
"We didn't know it was dangerous!"
"He hasn't received any letters from us fer a long time! Ah think that would be indication that something's go'in on!"
"And even if Dean had told me that, which he never mentioned, that would have given us more motivation to come here!"
"That should tell you not to come here! Not to come faster!"
"That would have made us worry!"
"Why would you be worried about us!?! We don't know you! Now ah don't know how you know Dean, but he wouldn't be here in this town full a murderers if it weren't fer you!!!"
"Your son barely escapes Discord from Mane city, loses all his money on supplies only to get lost in a forest, and, beleive it or not, gets himself involved with more murderers! So yes! I brought him home safely! But by all means, shoot me!"
"Both of you stop!" Mrs. Sugar shouted, catching their attentions.
The Doctor and Mr. Do went silent for a moment, looking to Mrs. Sugar then back to each other.
"Is now really the time to be fight'in?" asked Mrs. Sugar.
"No, it ain't" said Mr. Do.
Mrs. Sugar looked crossly to the Doctor as she received silence from his response. "Well?"
"What?"
"Is now the time to be fight'in?"
"Well . . . technically he started it-".
"Doctor!"
"No! Now's not the time to be fighting! And . . .", the Doctor sighed. "I'm sorry, if I had known your town was in this state I would have taken Dean somewhere safe. Be as it may, Dean would have been in a much worse situation if it weren't for me. I understand that you're upset Mr. Do, however, I'd appreciate it if you didn't take your anger out on me".
Mr. Do looked away in shame as he said, "yer right, I'm sorry. I've just been . . . on edge. This past week hasn't been easy on me, fer any a us, actually. While I've been keep'in in the shadows, stalk'in up on food and make'in sure ah don't get caught. The rest a the town as been have'in to deal with Tumbleweed and his deputies. Boy I'd wish ah knew why he's do'in all this. I don't like be'in stuck without a clue".
"Same here as well. The most info we have is that he's doing all this because he was told too by somepony else, his boss. Hmm . . . well, putting that aside for now, I'm still curious as to how exactly you're still alive Mr. Do. Everyone else seems to think you're dead, how did this happen?"
"Ah, well, as ah told you, that no good Tumbleweed blew on his whistle and had his secret deputies come outta hide'in. After they prevented the townsfolk from riot'in he said he wanted to make an example to the town. Make sure they didn't disrespect his authority or anything. So, he used me fer his example. Took a long bow and shot me right here-".
Mr. Do stripped his jacket, revealing a large, whitish brown, square cloth tied onto his wound. He untied the cloth used to hold his bandage in place and allowed it to fall to the ground. He removed the cloth, revealing a mid-sized black and brown hole. Some of it had healed, those parts being sealed by a scab. However, a large majority of the wound was still wide open.
The Doctor approached Mr. Do, placing his head inches to the wound so he could observe it closely. "He was aiming for your heart and missed". Gently, the Doctor placed a hoof to the wound, "its nonfatal".
"I'd appreciate you not touching it" said Mr. Do, cringing.
The Doctor stopped and back away. "Sorry, just a bit, er, surprised. He was really close to giving you a fatal wound. And with all of you chained and helpless, Tumbleweed would have had plenty of time to shoot and kill you with no mistakes. Was Tumbleweed far from you when he fired?
"Er, he was about six meters, ah reckon."
"Really? That's about twenty steps away. Probably wanted to show off. Even so, at that range he could, no, should have killed you! You were a chained, defenseless, immobile target! So, how did he miss?"
"Probably just a bad shot", said Mr. Do.
"Yes . . . perhaps", said the Doctor, feeling this wasn't the correct answer.
He thought for a moment, then asked, " so how exactly did you manage to survive?"
"Well, after he shot me ah told ma wife ma goodbyes then passed out. I really thought ah was going to die you see. The next thing ah knew ah was wake'in up in the middle a the desert not even a mile away from town! Guess they didn't bother checking to see if ah was alive still. They just assumed ah was dead so they left ma body for the vultures. A way a get'in rid a me without do'in the dirty work themselves, lousy no good scumbags!"
"So after that ah snuck back into town-".
"Why didn't you just leave and go get help?" asked Mrs. Sugar.
"Ah had a hole in ma chest! You really think ah would go out in the desert and get guards? Do'in that woulda killed me! I'm lucky to even be alive now!"
"No kidding, you've lost a considerable amount of blood and, from the looks of it, you haven't cleaned it very well", said the Doctor.
"Get'in clean water has been a challenge fer me".
"I see, so you survived and went into hiding in this . . . um . . .", the Doctor paused and looked to his surrounding. "Where are we?"
"A secret self made cave! When ah was a colt ma friends and ah loved dig'in holes! We would get into trouble cause some ponies would fall into them. So we decided to start dig'in in places that no pony usually walked in. Like the alley outside, no pony ever walked in it. So ma friends and ah dug there. We just kept dig'in and dig'in in the same spot everyday until we ended up make'in this cave! About two meter down, underneath the Quills and Sofas shop".
"Even after all these years nopony has ever found it! All ma friends and ah have grown up, but we still keep this cave a secret. Nopony except them knows about it!"
"Well, that's convenient. You survive getting shot, hide in this cave, and what? Scavage supplies while you were in hiding?"
"Yes sir".
"Okay, you seem like you knew what you were doing but what happens next? You can't hide forever, and if you don't get that wound properly treated then you definantly have no chance of living for too long. What were you planning to do after hiding?"
"Honestly, ah ain't too sure. I decided to stay in hide'in fer a while before come'in up with someth'in. And yer right about ma injury, it's start'in to hurt real bad these past few days. I was in town yesterday morn'in look'in fer someth'in fer ma injury when a spotted you and ma son come into town".
"You saw us?"
"Ah was in the alley, you almost caught me".
"That was you?"
"Yes sir it was me. After that ah decided to spy on you two, ah didn't know who you were or why you were with ma son so ah didn't feel comfortable come'in outta hide'in just yet-".
"But you must have seen Dean leave at one point", the Doctor interjected.
"Yes ah did. Saw him gallop outta there without his bag and hold'in yer hat. Ah tried follow'in him but the colt was too fast! Couldn't keep up thanks to this injury a mine. But ah knew where he was go'in, if ah wasn't hurt ah woulda stopped him before he made it to the sheriff's office. But ah couldn't, so he's stuck there". Mr. Do looked away, his look of shame returning.
"Don't be ashamed Mr. Do, there was nothing you can do. If you did overexert your body to catch up to Dean then you would have most likely cause your wound to reopen entirely. And that would have killed you", said the Doctor.
"Ah know, ah know . . . but Celestia knows what's happen'in to him".
The Doctor scoffed, "Celestia? The tartarus does Celestia know? Nothing! That's what! But you and Sugar and I know just enough!"
"What do you mean?" asked Mrs. Sugar, slightly taken aback to hear the Doctor speak this way about the princess.
"I'm saying that we have just enough info to fight back against Tumbleweed! Not all of it, but once it's over I'll find out exactly who Tumbleweed is working for!"
"Once whats over?" asked Mrs. Sugar.
The Doctor looked to Mrs. Sugar with a look of determination. "We're going to bust into the sheriff's office, find Dean and the other ponies, and free this town from Tumbleweed!"
"Now that sounds like a plan!" said Mr. Do, smiling.
Mrs. Sugars eyes widened, "what! You can't be serious! There's only three of us by ourselves fight'in against these guys!?"
"Mrs. Sugar, do you want to see your husband again?" asked the Doctor.
"I, well, yes but-".
The Doctor came close to Mrs. Sugar and placed a reassuring hoof to her shoulder. Smiling, he said, "we're going to free your husband and you two will live in this town safely again".
"But there's too many of them!"
"Dean and I outnumbered you two to one and that didn't seem to stop you with that bat".
"What bat?" asked Mr. Do.
"Oh that was different! There was two a you! There's at least fifty deputies!"
"And are you going to let those fifty deputies stop you from seeing your husband again?" asked the Doctor.
" . . . I . .".
"Well?"
Mrs. Sugar thought for a moment, looking to the Doctor with fearful eyes. Slowly, she sighed, "no. I'm not gonna let them stop me from see'in ma husband!"
"That's the spirit!" said the Doctor, giving her a friendly pat as he turned away. "Game plan, let's begin-".
"Now hold up, what was that you said about a bat?"
"Nevermind that! Now, here's what we're going to do. The three of us are going to need to break into that office in order to find out where Tumbleweed is keeping all his prisoners! Sure enough there are going to be a few deputies in the way. However, after that deputy from earlier attacked Mrs. Sugar and I, we now know that Tumbleweed knows about me and has his stallions searching for me. That sounds bad, but if we plan it right, we can use this to our advantage!"
"What do you propose we do then?" asked Mr. Do.
The Doctor grinned, "here's how we're going to break in!"
MEANWHILE
Tumbleweed awoke with a start. Dripping sweat, he wiped his brow as he looked to the clock beside his bed.
"Three in the morn'in? Damn nightmares, still got a few more hours a sleep!" Sighing with a dry mouth, Tumbleweed slipped out of bed and walked downstairs.
On the first floor of his home, he walked into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of cool, refreshing water from a pitcher in his fridge.
He drank the liquid, placed the cup beside his sink, and exited his kitchen.
"Good morning sir" said a voice.
Tumbleweed gasped in surprise as he looked to his left.
A deputy stood there, looking at him with confusion at his boss's startlement.
Tumbleweed sighed, having forgotten that he had two deputies in his home as guards. One for day shift, one for night shift.
"Morn'in", he said grumpily, turning away.
He walked a few feet before stopping. He turned to the deputy and asked, "have any of the other deputies returned yet?"
The deputy shook his head, "no sir, none of them have returned".
Tumbleweed growled, "they better get here before noon tomorrow, or their all gonna be in trouble!"
"Should ah send another messenger bird?"
"Don't bother, the one from earlier should suffice. Just keep guard and wake me if they return".
"Yes sir!".
Tumbleweed turned away, walking upstairs and returning to the comfort of his bed. He chuckled as he thought about the hours to come.
"By tomorrow, that farm will be mine! Then, ah will officially own all of Dodge Junction! And best of all, once them deputies are back, ah can finally get rid a those prisoners once and fer all!"
MEANWHILE
"So, any questions?" Asked the Doctor, having finished explaining the plan.
Mrs. Sugar raised a hoof.
"Yes Sugar".
"Are you sure this is going to work? It sounds dangerous".
"Of course it's dangerous! One single mistake is all it will take to get us killed!"
Mrs. Sugar gulped.
"But don't worry! Stick to the plan and you'll be fine! You just need to have faith".
"Welp, we better get move'in. We only have a few hours a darkness left", said Mr. Do.
"Oh! Hold on! Before we leave, can you show me your wound Mr. Do?"
"Why?"
"Well we can't have you help us free the prisoners with your injury. Let me tend to it so you can work properly".
"I don't know-".
"Hey! I'm a doctor! Don't you trust me?"
"Ah still don't know you-".
"And I said I'll tell you after this is over! Your wound, bring it, now!" The Doctor said sternly.
Mr. Do sighed and complied, "fine".
"Now, as soon as I finish we'll head out. Just a warning in advance, if you feel a burning sensation, do try to remain calm. You'll make this more difficult if you panic".
"Why would ah feel a- WHOH NELLY!"
"I told you to remain calm!"
"What in tarnations are you!- . . . . Are you crying on me?"
MEANWHILE
"Alright stallions! Five more minutes a break, then we head off!" the head pony shouted.
He walked from the group to the edge of the hill they rested on. He took out a telescope from his saddlebag and looked into the horizon.
"How much further?" asked an orange stallion, walking to his side.
"About five more miles. If we hurry, we should get back to Dodge Junction by sunrise".
"Why don't we sleep fer the night and continue in the morn'in?"
"Ah told you! The boss says Dean returned on his own! We don't need to search fer him anymore! We gotta get back to town as fast as possible so we can finish the job once and fer all! The boss'll be mighty angry if we don't hurry!"
"What does he need us for? Can't he kill them prisoners without us?"
"No, he can't! There ain't enough deputies back at Dodge Junction to keep things in order. If the boss tries to kill them prisoners without us and the town fights back, he'll be in serious danger! We gotta get back and make sure to keep them townsfolk in line during the execution".
"RIght, ah see. Welp, guess since ah won't be get'in sleep tonight, I'll just whip ma self up a hot cup a joe".
"Get me one too will ya?"
"Sure thing" said the orange deputy, returning to the group of thirty deputies.
All of them, resting before making their return to Dodge Junction.