The streets of Canterlot were as one would expect. They were beautiful, well crafted, and busy. Every part of the street had a pair of feet on it. The residence went about their day and worked as if it was any other day. Nothing interesting seemed to be going on, well, at least by Canterlot standards. From anyone else looking at the display of behavior, it would look like a shining example of peace and prosperity. Even the poorest of Canterlot residency had money to lend to a traveling tourist who needed a few extra bits. So, one could well imagine the success of the city and that of its residence.

Adjacent to the Royal Canterlot Castle, stood the marvelous Equestrian Junction. Trains from all over the country were sent in and out of the station every day. Passengers ranging in great varieties to and from the station flowed from the junction. Whether it is for business or pleasure, the Equestrian Junction was run twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. A ceaseless dance of screeching halts or whistles blowing from the steaming mouths of the trains that only brought the best of the best.

Then there was Canterlot castle itself. A gleaming, white example of power and prestige. The tall ivory spires tickled the heavens with their points, and the flags they bared waved with the breeze in a gentle dance. Naturally, the castle itself was at first built as a fortress made for the specific purpose of defense, but over the centuries, it became a symbol of the royal family and its responsibility to shine as an example to all of Equestria as a flame of hope. Hope for a bright and certain present. Even more so, a brighter and more certain future. Just looking upon the structure gave one a sense of safety. Yes, it was one of the most magnificent things that human eyes could lay on.

However, inside Canterlot Castle, it was a different story. The inside was even more regal that the exterior, but something hung in the air that seemed to steal the glimmer and shine from the whole castle. If one was to enter that royal palace of white, it almost seemed to mirror the opposite of what was happening outside of it, at least in a particular portion of the structure. A stain glass window adorned with the image of a starry blue sky over the rising sun drew the gaze of one particular royal. Princess Celestia, the co-ruler of Equestria, gazed at this window for so long that one would think that it had hypnotized her. Contrary to popular belief, Princess Celestia would have preferred that that be the case. Instead of being entranced by the craftsmanship of this window, she looked upon it with a sense of grief and solemn sadness. For among those heavenly pieces above the sun was a newly fitted star. The princess looked to it and a lone tear left her eye. She took in a shaky breath and let it out slow as another tear trailed down her fair face.

As the sun goddess stood entranced by the small star, she felt a hand grace her shoulder. She didn't need to turn on the person to know who it was. "Sister." Princess Celestia said in a choke.

The princess of the moon put her arm around her taller sibling's shoulder and gave her a kiss to her cheek. "You miss him, don't you?" Luna asked in a sweet, motherly tone.

The princess of the sun just nodded her head as a response. A huge lump filled her throat preventing any form of vocal communication.

"He was a good man." Luna said. She looked up to the star that her sister was gazing upon. She read the small lettering that was on the small piece of glass.

Marshal Buffalo Scroll

"The three things I will always

love are: my wife, my job,

and mustard!"

A tiny chuckle escaped from Princess Luna. "He always had such a way with words." she said with a small smile on her face.

The corners of Princess Celestia's curled slightly. She always did enjoy the talks that she had with Marshal Buffalo Scroll. She let a small giggle slip out. "Do you remember what he always used to call us?"

Princess Luna rolled her eyes as she laughed. "He called us the Two Cougars." Both Celestia and Luna slowly lost their sense of grief and were joined in tandem laughter. "Remember when . . ." she had to take a breath. "Remember when we found out what he actually meant by that?!"

"O-Oh!" the sun goddess howled as she politely covered her mouth. "Our faces had to be as red as tomatoes that day!" Celestia recalled the event. Her faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, was present and had told them what the nickname had meant. It had been an embarrassing moment for the sisters, but as they look back on it, they couldn't help but smile as they remembered how the older gentleman was.

Although, calling Marshal Scroll an 'older gentleman' didn't really fit the criteria. He was actually a curmudgeony, old sob who had a bad temper, and often cracked dirty jokes. The princesses took note of this whenever they would see him, but then they also took note of how people would react to his jokes. Even the more 'proper' set of people understood that he was just some old fart of a man who was stuck in his ways. Of course, the Marshal had the common decency not to be too obscene in front of children. That earned him some points from a few people who took objection to his behavior. All in all though, the marshal was loved by everyone in town. Ponyville, now just climbing out of their mourning after his death, had never seen a better lawman. He was polite, at times, and he helped out with whatever he could around town. The Marshal was also great with the young ones. Making appearances at the school, and giving advice and direction to those who needed it. These were only the little things he did in the grander scheme of things. On top of that, he wasn't afraid of anybody, or anything. He stood his ground in more than a few scraps with a couple outlaws and took more than his fair share of lead. No matter the task, it was never too great for Buffalo Scroll.

Even after all he had been through, the thing that killed him was the thing that made him such a good man, his heart. During one of his usual rounds, he had suffered a fatal heart attack. It all happened in the early part of the morning when the sun was just starting to creep up. No one was awake at the time. When someone finally found him, he had already been dead for an hour. How awful it must have been for that person to find him especially because that particular person was a child.

Both princesses knew him well, and even though he wasn’t their only law officer, he was a great friend. The older sister sighed deeply. "I think it's time we left." she said somberly.

Princess Luna gave her sister a tight hug and led her out of the corridor. Further down the hall, a pair of guards that had been stationed there to leave the princess time to grieve, now took up their positions at the princess' flanks. Their gold colored sack coats and hats gleaming in the rays of the sun that came through the windows. Their neatly polished and silvery trapdoor rifles also gave off their own blinding glow as they were carried at the position of shoulder arms.

Luna spoke out. Keeping her voice at an understanding tone she said, “I know it may be early sister, but considering the circumstances, I think my question may stand. Have you given any thought as to who will precede our departed friend?"

The sun goddess shook her head. "No, I haven't." she said. "Though, even if I wasn't grieving for the loss of one our dear friends, I don't think I can even supply Ponyville with a proper Marshal."

"How can this be, sister?" Luna asked. "We've never run out of Marshals."

"Every available Marshal that we had was deployed to Germaneigh to clean up the mess that the crime syndicates have made out there.” Princess Celestia explained.

"Couldn't we just send a Ranger there?" Princess Luna reasoned. "They do the same type of work as a Marshal, though they are a little more violent."

The older sister shook her head. "Sending any Ranger to a place like Ponyville would be a mistake."

"Why?" Princess Luna questioned.

"Well, first off, the Rangers are not properly trained to be lawmen. They exist to do the job and leave. So, they are not the occupying type. Secondly, they have very little understanding of the law. They only know enough to keep them out of trouble, but nowhere near close enough to even pass a beginner course as a Marshal. Lastly, it's because of that point you brought up. They are much too violent. Get them just a little bit angry, and they go off like a stick of dynamite. No, a Ranger is much too extreme for such a job. Their training is geared toward taking on nothing less than anything ranging from organized thugs to mountain trolls. Not the duties of an officer of the law."

"Hmm." Luna grunted. "So, we need someone who is both well educated in the law, but still has the grit to stand up to those who would threaten the safety of the citizens."

"Not only that." Celestia added. "But they would also need to be able to participate in the community. One that is well-rounded in both high and lay society."

The floor seemed to become very interesting to the lunar princess. "It seems that we are asking for a lot." Her words spoke true. No one seemed to have these qualities on hand at this time without the necessary training. She turned her head up to her sister. "Are you sure that we have no Marshals available?"

Princess Celestia nodded. "The next cycle of Marshal training isn't to be out for another month, and Ponyville has already been out of a proper police force for two weeks."

"So, it seems we also need someone who can be here on a whim."

"Um . . ." a noise shot from their flank.

The two sisters looked to one of the soldiers at their side. "Is everything alright, Private?" Princess Celestia's voice was soothing and motherly.

"Yes, Private?" Princess Luna's tone was much sterner. "Is everything alright?" She had no love for undisciplined troops.

"I-It's nothing, Your Majesties." the guard's tone was rather quick.

"If you have something to say that might help, we would be more than glad to hear it." Celestia asked.

"No, Your Majesty." the guard said in a hurried tone. "I have nothing to say on the matter." The guard started to sweat under his sack coat. He kept his gaze straight as he marched out of step with his partner.

The two princesses gave each other a look. It was one that they gave each other when something such as this came up. "So," Princess Celestia said. "Private . . . um" the guard's name slipped her mind.

"Private Crimson Blaze, Your Majesty." the guard said coolly.

"Yes." she said embarrassingly. "Private Blaze. Do you enjoy this job?"

"Yes, I do." he replied.

"Do you have a court mate?" Princess Luna asked.

"A what?"

"A girlfriend." Princess Celestia clarified.

"Uh, yes." the private said. "I do."

"Is she pretty?" Luna asked.

"Ye -" he answered too slow.

"Is she as tall as you?" Celestia asked quickly.

"Well, she's-" the guard tried to answer the new inquiry.

"How long have you two been courting?" Luna asked with lightning.

"About a yea-" he was trying to keep up with the questions, but the royals kept spitting them out like a Gatling gun.

"Are you thinking of marriage any time soon?" Celestia shot.

"Well, I was planning-"

"What's the man's name?" Luna asked.

"His name is Cross!" he answered in a hurry. But when he finished his sentence, he covered his mouth and silently cursed behind his hand.

The two sisters looked at each other in triumph. They had learned this trick from their father all those years ago and it was an effective interrogation technique.

The party stopped in the middle of the silent hallway and every eye turned on the guard. Even his comrade was on the edge of the seat he didn't have. The other guard was just going to soak this up while Blaze was eaten alive in the spotlight.

"Cross?" Princess Luna said the name skeptically.

Crimson Blaze went to the position of attention to speak, but was told by Celestia to stand at ease. He took the position and said. "Yes." the guard sighed. "His name is Cross."

"Cross, what?" Celestia prodded for a sir name.

"That's it." the private said. "It's just Cross. He doesn't have a last name."

"Why would he be relevant to the conversation I am having with my sister?" Luna took her respective role as "bad cop". She didn't need to, but Celestia knew better than to try to snap her sister out of it.

"He's relevant because he might be the type of man that you are looking for." Blaze explained. "He not only has incredibly fast hands and a wit that's sharper than an adamantine sword, but he also knows the law. Very well, actually. He also is a 'likable' person and has the love of everybody in the town he lives in."

"He sounds like he might already be a Marshal." Princess Celestia said with a growing smile.

"Well, that's where you're wrong." Crimson Blaze shifted his stance to get more comfortable. "Cross isn't an official Marshal. He's a peacekeeper in the town he occupies, but that's just what he does on the side."

"What does he really do?" Luna snapped at the guard. The sun goddess rolled her eyes at her sister.

"He's a bounty hunter." the young man said as he flinched backwards when he caught the edge of his interrogator's voice.

"Why would a bounty hunter want to know the law?" Princess Celestia questioned. "Let alone, be on the same side as the law?"

"He originally studied the law because he wanted to keep himself from breaking it while still being able to do his job." Blaze enlightened the sisters. "However, when he started to become a peacekeeper, he started to get in depth to written law so he could keep the people of the town in line."

"Where does Cross live?" asked the opposite guard. "By the sound of it, he lives in a pretty rough neighborhood." The question stood well enough with the princesses for them to turn their attention back to Crimson Blaze.

"Nowhere." he said flatly.

"Nowhere?" Celestia skepticized. It took a tick or two, but then the princess' eyes nearly flew out of her head when she was mentally slapped. "You mean the town of Nowhere!" Crimson Blaze gave a nod in response

"What is this town, sister?" the younger sibling asked with confusion.

The sun goddess didn't take her eyes away from the one thousand yards she was starring at. "Cross is the peacekeeper of Nowhere?!"

"Sister?!" Luna demanded. "Tell us what the matter is with this town."

"Yeah." the other guard said. "Don't leave all of us in the dark." The soldier looked to the party for a laugh. All he got was Princess Celestia shaking her head at him, and a sour look from the lunar ruler. 'Fuckers.' he thought to himself as his face put out a defeated frown.

Celestia explained to her sister. "Nowhere is a town out in the badlands next to a large natural spring. It was established well over two hundred years ago. The reason for the town though, wasn't a settlement for westward expansion, but rather it was built as a haven for outlaws to hide out in. With the help of magic and the geological landscape, Nowhere is hidden from those who have no idea how to get there. The only people that know the exact whereabouts of the town are either those who were born there, or outlaws seeking refuge. And even if a criminal would like to get there, they would have to be SHOWN where it is, and how to find it again. I've sent many spies to find the place, but no such luck prevailed. We had caught outlaws in the past who have taken residence there and tried to have them lead us to the location. Upon their return, they always seem to end up getting away. They would either sneak off in the night, or a hidden sniper on top of one of the canyons would kindly send a bullet their way." The princess sighed when she remembered that she had lost a whole team of police because they had gotten lost. "However, if you do go there, you will actually find that there is little to no crime in Nowhere. Save for a petty theft or two."

"Why is that?" the partner guard asked.

"Because of Cross." Crimson Blaze spoke up. "After he showed up, he started to make laws. Not too many people were happy about that, but after a few speeches made with the muzzle of his weapons, he gained favor in the town. Once the outlaws realized that the settlement could be a place that it was safe enough where they could walk the streets without their guns on them, they started to go along with it. The reason for the low crime rate is because Cross implemented laws that applied to everyone in town. The laws were fair and provided a system of checks and balances for every citizen and their well being. Under Cross' laws, Nowhere became a place for outlaws to unwind and relax. Sure, he's had to bust a few skulls in the past month, but all in all, crime is still lower there than it is here in Canterlot, and the town is relatively peaceful."

"If all of this good came from Cross," Princess Luna interrogated. "then why were you so hesitant on bringing Cross up?"

"That is a good question." Princess Celestia backed up her sister. "If Cross can handle law enforcement with criminals, then regular people should be easy. What is it about Cross that one would think that he would be a bad choice?"

Private Blaze looked away. He gritted his teeth behind his lips. His face bore the mark of grief. "I just . . . "he turned back after a few seconds."Listen, it's a long story." he said in a somber chord.

Princess Celestia nodded to him in understanding. She didn't want to press the issue if all it would do is cause pain.

Crimson Blaze took in a few breaths to steady himself before he spoke. "I bet you all want to meet him now, don't you?" The floor became very interesting to the young man.

"That would be best." the princess of the sun said.

Without another delay, Private Blaze went into his haversack and pulled out a small statuette of what looked like to be a ruby vulture. "Stand back." he said as he made a call with his mouth that mimicked that of a buzzard. From the figurine shot a cascade of furious flame. The red blaze didn't produce any heat, but the light that shone form it was just as bright as the sun. From the inferno shot wings of flame, and when the wings beat mightily the remaining fire created the rest of the shape of a terrifyingly hideous vulture. It expanded its wings and shrieked at the trio before it with an open beak of steely razors for teeth. The two sisters flinched back as the guard was already aiming down the sights of his rifle at the monstrosity.

"I wouldn't do that, Private Price." Blaze said with a smirk. "You'll only make him angry." he tossed the bird with his wrist and sent the bird flying out the open window next to him.

"W-What was thing?!" Price exclaimed as he slowly lower his weapon.

"A Tartarus messenger bird." Private Blaze explained. "A fiery buzzard that flies just under the speed of sound and is built to relay messages at a pace just under the speed that almost matches that of magic."

"What message did you send?" Luna asked with a hint of fear in her voice.

"None at all." Crimson said coolly. "Which means to Cross that he is needed. Fast." The flapping of wings resonated behind him. This made the guard jump. He turned to see that a similar bird of flame perched itself on the window sill. This one however, was a sickly green color.

"Well, that was quick." Princess Celestia said.

"Too quick." Blaze said as he collected the bird back into a figurine. "I hadn't even sent that other bird out a minute ago."

"So what does that mean?" Price asked.

"It means he's close." he looked out the window and squinted to see a train roaring its way across the tracks in the distance. But next to it, was the unmistakable shape of another Tartarus animal. This one was a horse, and Crimson Blaze only knew one man who rode such a steed. "Real close." he cackled softly as he smiled wide.

Author's Note

This story is monumentally different from the last one. Please ignore all previous comments. Please send constructive criticism my way.
-1000Fights