The clouds overhead barely allowed the sunlight to pierce through, signalling to the land below that it was time to wake up and get moving. Below the clouds was a land scorched by an ancient war long since passed. Scattered amongst the dead hills, valleys, and plains, communities began to awaken, getting their morning preparations like breakfast out of the way for the day ahead; whether it be surviving from Raider attacks, avoid the menacing hooves of Slavers, or just struggling to provide food for the family, the day ahead didn't promise much, nor would it ever. The Equestrian Wastes would take away promises quicker than a sniper round taking a life. However, these promises went untaken for one community in particular.
Travel southbound along the train rails from PonyVille and one would come upon a fork in the rails. Take the left rail, and you'll come upon Dodge City; end of the line. However, there is a slightly worn road that leads to the entrance to the Badlands. If you took this road, you'd travel for a few days until you came across a town called Pioneer's Rest. From a distance, the town seems deserted. However, if one continues along the road, they'll find that the supposed ghost town is actually quite lively. Ponies with smiling faces and clean coats would greet you at the North Gates. Once you pass Security, your senses are bombarded with a variety of smells, sounds, and sights. Ponies going to and fro with shopping in tow, a line at the Cinema, and in the distance, the silhouette of a roller-coaster is seen cresting the hill, then plunging down said hill at fast speeds. Some call this place a Paradise in the Wastes, although a majority of the ponies who live at Pioneer's Rest have no clue what anypony means by 'The Wastes'. But before anypony could explain, they're whisked away to an attraction and the confused Ponies return to their activities.
Morning rose on Pioneer's Rest. The sky was a cheerful blue, and not a cloud in the sky. The sun slowly rose and started to spread its rays of warmth and happiness amongst the town. The sunlight however, had no clue of privacy, as it blasted Silver Star's room with brightness. The only thing Silver Star did was place his pillow firmly over his eyes. A groan escaped the stallion's throat as his brain started to connect the wiring needed to wake him up. Sitting up and throwing the pillow, Silver Star glared out at the sun as it continued to rise.Mumbling, he got out of bed and shuffled his hooves out of his room and into the kitchen to make his breakfast. Today was Monday; Town Meeting day. Oh how he dreaded Monday and the meeting. Every week the town officials would gather in Town Hall and discuss the weeks plans and events. Silver Star was the town's Sheriff and only source of Justice in paradise. Even paradise needed to have some law enforcement. He was required to discuss any arrests that were made the week prior and over the weekend. With Pioneer's Rest being so happy and relaxed, there were barely any arrests made. The worst case of public disturbance was when a young filly wouldn't let her sister play with a little doll while at the park and the sister began to scream and throw a fit. Silver Star was nearby to watch the event occur and merely rolled his eyes.
Silver Star got his cereal bowl, milk, and box of Sugar Apple Bombs. He tiredly made his breakfast and proceeded to faceplant into the bowl, and fall asleep. The sleep only lasted about five minutes because his senses registered that he was drowning in milk. His mind generated an image of the next morning's newspaper headline:
BREAKING NEWS: LOCAL SHERIFF FOUND DROWNED IN BOWL OF SUGAR APPLE BOMBS!"
In a flash of motion, Silver Star woke up again with some cereal flakes stuck to his toffee colored coat. Wiping the sugary flakes off himself, Silver grimaced at the bowl and decided to throw the breakfast away.
"Looks like I'm eating at Scramble's today." He muttered to himself as he left the kitchen. Grabbing his hat, revolver holster, and trench coat, Silver Star got dressed into his Sheriff's uniform. Leaving the house, he locked his door and made for the Town Hall. As he walked, his eyes slowly adjusted to the sunshine as he glanced at foals playing in their houses' yards, ponies mowing the lawn, and Stallions working on their cartridges in their driveways.
Pioneer's Rest was laid out like this: In the center was the town hall. To the west was the residential area. At the east was the entertainment districts, and the south was the industrial section. The north was the main road that went from the North Gate, right up to the Town Hall. The lay out was simple and clean. If a pony were to travel on hoof from east to west, it would take literally a day. Pioneer's Rest was big, yet easy to navigate. As Silver Star turned from Manehatten Drive onto Mane Street, he scanned the businesses that lined Mane Street. Ice Cream parlors, clothing stores, and other small businesses were opening their doors, flipping the signs, and getting the street displays ready. Silver Star continued to walk along Mane Street, a sudden shout of terror caught his ears and his head snapped to the alley way beside him. It wasn't uncommon to see more businesses lining the alley ways of Pioneer's Rest. Most of them were the more seedy and gritty kind of shops, like 'Pet' shops, and 'Toy' stores. Picking up his pace, Silver Star trotted into the alley way as a grey pegasus stepped into the alley way, a look of shock on his well-aged face.
"Sheriff Silver Star! Am I glad to see you!" The pegasus called out waving a hoof. Silver Star reached the pegasus and scanned around.
"What happened? I heard a cry from down here." He asked looking to the pegasus.
"Somepony broke into my weapons shop." The pegasus said simply. Silver Star stood there staring at the pegasus. His expression went hard, his inner Sheriff powers from countless Silver Stars before him flooding into his mind. His voice changed tone, going into a deep, gravely tone.
"Did you say 'Weapons Shop?" He asked darkly. The pegasus gulped and a small nervous sweat broke across his brow.
"Y-Yes sir." He replied. Silver Star continued to stare at the pegasus, the air around them suddenly becoming tense.
"You are aware that weapons are prohibited from being sold to the public? Only law enforcement, meaning me and security at the North Gate, are allowed to have weapons in city limits." Silver Star ranted off, his stare becoming more intense. The pegasus shrank a bit at the stare.
"I-I know s-sir. B-But, like any c-city, there's going t-to be an underg-ground." The pegasus said nervously. Silver Star sighed.
"You're right about that Bullet Holes." Silver Star said as his tone returned to normal and he visibly relaxed. "Show me." He added, nodding his head to the back entrance to the weapon store. The pegasus nodded and lead the way into the shop. The back hallway lead to a small showcase floor. Tiny spotlights lined the ceiling, shining their lights on broken weapon cases. Silver Star stepped up to a case that had a Nine-millimeter pistol hanging haphazardly from one of its' wall mounts. His eyes moved around and looked at the broken glass. Finally, he turned to Bullet Holes.
"What's missing, and how many of it?" He asked. Bullet Holes rolled his eyes to the ceiling as he mentally made a list of what was stolen.
"About ten nine-millimeter automatics, four Hunting Rifles, fifteen sidearms, all varying in type, and a missile launcher, and all the ammo I had for the weapons." He said turning his eyes back to Silver Star. The sheriff's jaw was literally dropped.
"A missile launcher...?" He asked shocked. The pegasus nodded sadly.
"Afraid so. From my 'Specialty Safe' in the back." Bullet Holes said throwing a hoof towards the back where a massive safe was slightly ajar.
"Why would a thief need a missile launcher...?" Silver Star asked himself mentally. He looked to the center floor display that must have contained the stolen sub-machine guns. Bullet Holes stood there nervously, waiting for Silver Star to speak.
"Well, the only thing I can do is bring this up at the Town Meeting." He finally said. Bullet Holes visibly paled and gulped.
"Please don't tell them." He begged.
"I'm sorry Bullet Holes, but I have to. It's part of my requirements. But don't worry, I'll be on the case to try and find the thieves. But as for the shop, you're being taken outta business." Silver Star said sadly. He knew there were some ponies in Pioneer's Rest were struggling to get by, and Bullet Holes must have been one of them.
"Sheriff, I'm begging you. This shop is all I have. You can take the weapons and give them to security, hell, you can even take some. I'll start selling groceries instead! Please, I beg of you." Bullet Holes said as he stood there. Silver Star thought about this. If he turns a new leaf, the flow of business for his food would help stabilize his finances and put food on the table for a family, if he had one. With one less weapon business out from under the radar, there would be no risk of him being arrested. Silver Star nodded.
"Alright Bullet. I'll tell them about the robbery, but I'll also add in that you agreed to turn over a new leaf and run a grocery store. I can even see if they can move you to a new store on Mane Street. Agreed?" He asked, holding out a hoof for a hoofshake. Bullet Holes smiled widely and grabbed Silver Stars' hoof with both of his and shook vigorously.
"Oh thank you sir! Oh thank you! Good luck with the investigation." Bullet Holes said as he shook. Silver Star gave a gruff chuckle and released the shake.
"I best be on my way. They'll be mad if I'm late." Silver Star said leaving through the back. As he walked, his hoof stepped on an odd looking revolver. Removing his from the holster, he compared the two. The one on the ground looked to be a long barreled .357 Magnum. He currently had his father's .44 Magnum, passed down through the generations. He looked to Bullet Holes who glanced from him to the revolver on the ground.
"Hoofington Model New Army. Six chambered, long barreled, three-fifty-seven. That gun dates back five-hundred years. Still works like it was just manufactured." Bullet Holes rattled off. He smiled and chuckled. "You can have it. It would be ashamed to see a beauty like that be sent through the incinerator." He added. Silver Star nodded, put the ancient revolver into a inner-pocket in his coat, and holstered his .44.
"Thanks Bullet. Good luck with things." And with that, Silver Star left the shop and returned to Mane Street.
~~~
Silver Star entered the meeting room and removed his hat. He looked to the other important ponies of Pioneer's Rest. They looked at him as soon as he entered and a light pink mare spoke up.
"Nice of you to join us Silver." She said, her voice slightly snotty.
"Mornin' to you too, Chef." He said sitting down at his assigned seat. At the head of the table, the Mayor of Pioneer's Rest sat there, looking at each and every one of them.
"Good morning, and a happy Monday to you all." He said with a bright smile. The others simply grunted and yawned in response. "What's on the agenda for the week ahead?" He asked. A light green mare with a roller-coaster car for a cutie mark tapped her papers into order and cleared her throat.
"Eh, the water park is having a Luau this coming Wednesday. And the amusement park is having a Family's Night event occurring on Friday evening." She said smiling.
"Very good Endless Fun. What about the food business?" He asked looking to the pink mare.
"Tartarus's Kitchen is having a buffet night on Tuesday, and a new Saddle Arabian restaurant is being opened on Fillydelphia Avenue on Thursday." She said looking at her notes.
"Excellent Head Chef. What about the industry? How's the factories coming along?" The Mayor asked looking to a muscular light grey stallion.
"Factories are runnin' at a-hundred an' fifty percent." He said with a thick Manehattanite accent.
"Good work I-Beam." The Mayor said turning his gaze to Silver Star.
"And you, Star?" He asked. Silver Star sighed and pretended to remember what had happened in the past week. With another sigh, he rubbed his jaw and spoke.
"Eh, a back alley-way weapons store on Mane Street was robbed. I talked to the store owner, and he said a majority of the weapons he was selling were stolen last night. Ranging from sub-machine guns to...well...a missile launcher." He said a bit nervous at the Mayor's reaction. The Mayor sat there in silence.
"A...missile launcher...?" He finally asked.
"I asked the same thing to him. And yes, a missile launcher." Silver Star said. The Mayor was about to speak, but Silver raised a hoof to stop him. "Hear me out. The poor guy is struggling to get by. He figured weapons were a great way to rake in the cash to help support his family. But, he agreed to stop selling the weapons and turn over a new leaf. He said he'll start selling groceries, and that'll get him more business than the weapons trade. I agreed to help track down the thieves and have the weapons taken back and melted down." He said falling silent now. The Mayor seemed to think about what he was just told. Finally he nodded.
"Alright Silver Star. You find the weapons, we'll provide a new store for this victim so he can start a new. Agreed?" The Mayor asked. Silver Star nodded.
"Agreed. I'll get started as soon as possible." Silver Star said standing up.
"Well, if that's all. Meeting adjourned." The Mayor said standing up himself. The other ponies stood and each walked out of the room and going their own way.
Introductions Are In Order
-Static, then white noise, and finally a voice faintly comes through-
"Uhm, hello? Is this thing recording?"
-Sounds of clicking knobs, a hoof hitting metal, followed by a speaker screech-
"Ah ha! There we go! Alright, where to start off? Uhm...I guess my name is a good place to start. My name is Silver Star. Full name is Silver Star the three-hundredth and second. I know, fancy name, but it's followed by a long history of stallions who were Sheriffs of a small frontier town called Pioneer's Rest. A virtual paradise in the badlands for ponies who had ventured the sun-bleached roads just to trade with the town. It had everything a pony could want on a vacation: A large complex of pools, amusement parks, fine frontier dining, and hundreds of attractions. The town was a glimmering jewel in the harsh sands. The towns' motto was: 'Pioneer's Rest: The place where fun under the sun NEVER ends!'. Sounds catchy, right? That motto was just a mask for a more darker secret that the town held. But I'll get to that later. Right now, I should really start be ready in the event I'm stumbled upon. I'm surprised I've been able to avoid them long enough to get this recording in. If anypony should find this with my body, take the file attached with it to the nearest pony of authority."
-Some beeps are heard, followed by a cheerful 'ding' sound-
"There. The file is attached. The file contains my story and the cause behind the new war being raged on the Wastes. I-"
-Distant crashing, followed by a couple of angered voices-
"Shit, it's only a matter of time now. -Sigh- Looks like I'm going down swinging."
Sounds of a weapon being drawn from a holster, some sounds of exchanging magazines, and finally a bolt being slotted in, followed by another sigh
"This is Silver Star, and this is my last journal entry."
-Sounds of splintering wood, followed by "THERE YOU ARE!" by a different pony, followed by "Come and get it.". Sounds of firing, then recording clicks off.-
