A Long Hot Day

Chapters

The Demons of Box Back Canyon
A Villian In The Hoof Is Worth Two On The Rocks
A Conversation Without Words
A Thin Grey Line Between Allies and Enemies
Newfound Friends Under The Sun

The Demons of Box Back Canyon

The morning sun had risen hours earlier then normal. Most ponies simply believed, which wasn't far from the truth, that it meant a busy day for Princess Celestia. While it mattered little to most. For those who dwelt in the heat of the desert, it meant a long hot day.

Such matters did not affect Ruffback the scorpinors. A strange cross between a scorpion and a minotaur. Though such strange sights were common in the world of Equestria, not always were they forces for good. For Ruffback was an outlaw who prayed on the weak.

In the recent weeks he had begun terrorizing the good folks of Appleloosa. While most of his crimes had generally been committed at night and involved simple break-ins on unguarded barns and stores. Two day ago he struck the local train carrying a load of money meant to buy timber for the distant desert town.

The bulky scorpinor stood twice the size of a normal pony. His head, body and legs resembled a minotaur. From his steel black hooves, brown colored fur and bull like head. The major difference came from his hands. Both becoming elongated claws starting at the wrist. It was his back though that was the most dominating feature of this strange being. Since it was covered by a hard exoskeleton complete with a tail and poison stinger that hung over his head. A deadly stinger he was not afraid to use.

While the capable Sheriff Silverstar tried numerous times to capture the bulky bandito. The villains knowledge of the desert always kept him a step ahead of the Sheriff and his posse.

It was before noon as Ruffback stomped through the narrow canyon. As he went his way he heard a strange giggling echo around him. He stopped, his bloodshot eyes darting left and right in attempt to pinpoint the source of the sound. The giggling continued for a moment. His focus narrowed as he heard a second sound behind the laughter. A kind of forced guttural sound. Then all of a sudden it stopped, fading into echo.

Ruffback took one more look around before continuing on his way. Soon enough he came around the bend he saw a cloaked pony with a silver coat and goggled head close to the ground staring at a lizard. At first Ruffback just stood and stared at the pony. He was use to having others take notice of his might.

The pony, a pegasus, just continued to stare at the lizard until it darted for the safety of a rock. In a flash the pony jumped up and stomped on the small creature, killing it.

Ruffback stared as the pony begun to laugh at his cruel act. Well, he wasn't exactly laughing. While his body and head were moving as though they were, there was simply no sound.

Then all of a sudden he stood firm, his body posture tuning the happy smile into a wolfish grin all directed at the massive scorpinors. Ruffback was taken a little aback at the fearlessness of this... tiny creature. He snorted then moved his large claw to snatch up the helpless pony. Just before his claw found its way around the pony neck, and faster then his eyes could follow, the small pony jumped back, picked up a rock and smashed it on the fleshy part of the Ruffback's wrist. While the blow was not heavy it did cause Ruffback to pull back his claw in pain.

Venom dripped from the stinger as it darted for the clocked pony. Still smiling and without hesitation. The pegasus unfurled his wings shot forward, just under the the killing blow. He flew a loop around the tail and came right up to Ruffback. As he flew past the pony smashed his hoof into the brute's face. Ruffback reared up, blood pouring from his nose.

Hardly thinking at this point Ruffback grabbed a rock and hurled it at the now hovering pegasus. The pony shifted slightly and the rock flew past, as it did he stuck out his tongue put his hooves to his head and began mocking the large beast,

"bleeh, bleeh, mooooooo!".

Ruffback roared in defiance. "Tiny one, if you dare to face the great Ruffback. Then face me on the ground!"

The pegasus hovered there with all but his wings limp. Ruffback thought he looked like some sort of sickly vulture. A moment later the small pony dropped to the ground, his smile gone.

"GUAHAHAHA," The scorpinors roared in delight. "NOW YOU DIE!"

Charging, Ruffback lifted his claw ready to cut down the tiny opponent. When at the the last possible moment the pegasus ran forward with all his speed, leaped up from the ground and crashed, hooves first, into the monstrous opponent's chest.

Amazingly enough, the speed and momentum of the pony's blow not only stopped Ruffback's charge, but also sent him flying back. A fact that wasn't lost on the massive scorpinors.

As the pegasus ricocheted off Ruffback's chest. He darted upward at a much slower speed. Slow enough for Ruffback to strike. Instinctively his tail darted forward even as the rest of his body fell back. Time seemed to slow as the pony looked up at the massive stinger. With it's blue poison sack accompanied by a sickly yellow stinger that darkened to a rusty black tip. A crooked smile cracked the shocked expression of the scorpinors as victory seemed apparent.

The sound of metal gliding across metal was heard, followed by a 'thunk'. The scorpinors looked in horror as a blade appeared from out of nowhere on the pony's hoof and sliced upward. The blow cut the poison stinger clean off. Ruffback fell to the ground with a earth shaking thud.

Before his senses could orientate him to his new horizontal position he felt a small weight on his chest. It was a second pony wearing a similar cloak and goggles. This one however was dark tan. The mare just looked down smiling at the fallen creature. Ruffback could see his reflection in the pony's goggles as his senses returned.

'Snap', His claws attempted to cut the pegasus were for not for she nimbly leaped into the air to join her companion. Shame, pain, and a great deal of rage washed over Ruffback as he got back to his feet. He realized as he wiped some spittle from his mouth that tan one must have rammed the back of his knees as the silver one struck his chest. "That's why I fell," the thought raced through his mind.

Both ponies just hovered there, smiling their sickly bright smiles. Ruffback's eyes looked to the silver pony's right hoof, the one that cut off his stinger. It was some odd contraption that was attached to the front part of his hoof. Hovering in the air however allowed the pony to rotate his shoulders making it look like it was attached to the hoofs side. But Ruffback knew better at a glance.

A mixture of poison and Ruffback's own strange blood dripped from the tip of the blade. The pegasus flicked his hoof and the rest of the goo spattered on Ruffback. A sight that seemed to delight the pair. He then flexed his hoof and the short blade retracted back under his cloak.

Ruffback may have been bandit, and at times in his life a vicious brute. But he was not a mindless monster. He knew he was in trouble. For even against one he was completely outmatched. They were simply too fast! Ruffback no choice other then run.

He raced though the canyon knowing full well that his life depended on getting as far away as he could. But in his rush, Ruffback had not kept track of where he was going and soon found himself lost in the vast canyon network.

"If I can just get to a cave I can cut their speed and maybe..."

The thought trailed off as he found himself facing a dead end. One he had no hope of climbing. He turned in fear as the sound of wings had closed in. Both pegasi hovered in the air for a moment, then softly landed.

They sat there for a moment. Then as though they were moving as mirror images of the other. They each pulled back their hood to reveal their heads. The left one with his right hoof sported a pure white mane with silver coat. The right one pulled back her cloak with her left hoof showed a stark red mane on top of dark tan fur. They both still wore that same sickly sweet grin with dark goggles above. An image that would haunt Ruffback's dreams for the rest of his days.

Still in unison, they marched forward on three legs. Ruffback could hear the sound of steel protruding from under their cloaks as the silver one unsheathed the same kind of blade. This time from his left hoof, and the tan one from her right hoof. As they went the mare slowed and they crossed paths.

Without warning they darted toward their enemy. Ruffback reared up to defend himself as best he could and screamed.

A vulture shot up from it's spot in the shade as a stream of blood splatted high on the rock above. The sounds of heavy thuds, breaking bones, singing steel and splattering blood echoed throughout the canyon. All of this happening under the hot sun of that long day.

A Villian In The Hoof Is Worth Two On The Rocks

It was midday as Sheriff Silverstar of Appleloosa looked out from under the edge of his cowboy hat. As he gazed out on the hot day, a grim look plastered across his face. Celestia had raised the sun a full two hours and 37 minutes earlier, and that bothered the hell out of him.

During his time in the royal guards he only knew of three things that stopped her eerily clockwork sense of time. The first was a potential invasion from outside Equestria. The second was some internal problem within Canterlot she needed to sort out. The last was usually due to a visiting dignitary. Regardless of which, it always meant more work for everypony.

Well, whatever the reason, it was a problem beyond him now. His station these days was Appleloosa and that was that. The ground shook softly as though a minor earthquake had just occurred. Silverstar lifted his hat slightly to that.

"Been happening a lot lately," he thought to himself briefly as he once again brought the hat to it's original resting position. His thoughts returning to his daydreams.

Resting comfortably and his mind once again wondering. He could see the heat of the day causing the ground to look like a boiling pot of beans on a stove.

"Refrat... refrigid... refayion... Bah!" He gave up on trying to remember what that was called. "Hot lines," he stubbornly spoke aloud and to himself.

Despite this rather stubborn disposition, Silverstar rarely liked to impose his will on other. Unless of course the law was involved. In fact most ponies rarely saw his speak. On any given day they just saw him leaning on that post in front of his jail with his hat drawn over his eyes.

On the times he had to speak though, everypony listened. For he was once a member of an elite squad of the Canterlot guard, and their duty was simple. To hunt down and apprehend dangerous criminals throughout Equestria. And with no exception, Silverstar and the rest of the stallions of unit 606, always got their mark.

This duty saw him travel from one end of Equestria to the other. For fifteen years he trained, he fought, and he served. It was a hard job, but by the end of it he was entirely grateful for the experience, good and bad. Heck, in his opinion everypony should give themselves to Equestria at some point.

His smile faded with the memories of danger and adventure on high as he looked up at the golden spear leaning next to the door of the jail. The spear was of normal length and weight, yet intricately designed with several metals all coming together in a floral pattern.

To the untrained eye it looked like a unusable hunk of metal. One that you simply hung on the wall as a decoration. To soldiers like Silverstar however it was a finely crafted instrument of war. A parting gift given to him for fifteen years of dedicated service. Presented to him by none other then the former captain of the guards himself, Shinning Armor. Normally he kept the spear locked away, hidden. But today was different.

Ruffback was out there.

His focus once again turned to the desert beyond, the same place he had been staring at all morning. His posse had been tracking the villain for some time. Now he believed they finally found his hideout, Box Back Canyon. A network of canyons that stretched a seemingly impossible distance. It was a situation he was not happy about.

While he trusted his posse, they were no elite guard. Every time they went out somepony did something stupid that got himself hurt. A mistake you couldn't afford with someone like Ruffback.

He knew this because villains like Ruffback always had a certain pattern to them. And the slow progression of his crimes were getting bolder and more violent. In short, Ruffback was becoming a killer.

Silverstar's face saddened at the thought. He wished he was stronger, faster. But his best days were behind him, and the golden rule for facing someone bigger and stronger then yourself, was to be faster then them.

Ponies were going to die this day. There was no fancy way of saying it. But there was simply no other way to return peace to Appleloosha, and that was Celestia's honest truth.

The earth shook again, much stronger this time. Silverstar could hear something glass like shatter on the ground somewhere, but he ignored it. As soon as the heat of the day was broken they would be off, and finish this.

No sooner had the thought left his head, then a huge object came hurtling to the ground. It smashed through the corner of the roof on his porch. Bounced off the ground once, twice, rolled some, then came to a stop in the middle of the street.

Silverstar jumped out of his sitting position, grabbed his spear, and ran to take a look at the object that inexplicably came from the sky.

"RUFFBACK!" Silverstar said in disbelief. Not so much at the sudden appearance of the villain, but rather the condition he was in.

His left eye was meshed up so bad he couldn't open it. Both claws were sliced off right to the hinges and his poison stinger was nothing more then a stump. One of his horns had been completely broken off, and blood still poured from a place on his nose that once sported a nose ring.

A large cut, which began at his stomach, went straight up his chest and ended at the lower part of his chin. This large cut seemed to frame several other, deeper, nastier looking wounds. Silverstar could only quietly marvel at the life force of Ruffback. Celestia knows, he couldn't survive such a fierce beating.

But what disturbed the sheriff the most, was the fact that each of the deep wounds and biggest cuts looked like they had been sealed with some kind of red hot iron... blade shaped. The scorpinor struggled to look up with his one good eye. As his gaze fell on the sheriff he weakly pleaded.

"Help me!"

Before the sheriff could react a pair of shadows crossed his back. Silverstars eyes darted back in forth as a pair of pegasi landed. The silver one landing on Ruffbacks chest, the other, a dark tan one, right at his side. Both immediately began dancing about as they touched down.

The tan one put her hooves into her mouth and whistled loudly, then quickly broke into a strange sort of cheer. But no sound really came out. Only a rather weak, gurgling "aaaaa" sound was heard. The silver one raised his hooves into the air together in a self-congratulatory manner. Then began posing in quick successions of muscular flexing.

Sheriff Silverstar just looked on in the same way other ponies on the street were. A moment passed then the sheriff's attention began to focus on the ponies themselves, more to the point the dull brown cloaks they both wore.

"These are shadow ponies," he thought.

1000 years ago, in the months before Princess Luna's betrayal and her banishment to the moon. She gathered together a group of orphans and taught them the ways of the night. All in an attempt to heal some of the bitterness in her heart and find her place in Equestria.

It was for naught though, the dye had been cast and the evil she had allowed to grow within her eventually erupted. A tragedy that forced her to leave her adopted children behind.

In the aftermath of the battle between sisters though, not one of the adopted ponies could be found, nor were there any record of them... until now.

One year ago, in the dead of night, a group of four powerful ponies made their way into Canterlot. There was a brief fight with the palace guards that was quickly stopped by the appearances of Princesses Celestia and Luna. Upon seeing Luna they prostrated themselves before her, revealing that they were the distant descendants of the 20 original orphans that she took in all those centuries ago.

As it turned out, the descendants of the 20 all decided that if their princess was banished, then so should they remain in a self appointed exile. Over the course of several generations they kept out of sight and journeyed south of the Badlands. They eventually settled in a near uninhabitable place called the Deadlands.

Afterward, Luna and Celestia brought the remains of the tribe. A scant 30 ponies north from that nightmarish place, and into the much more hospitable environment of the Northern Badlands. Well hospitable to them at least.

There was more to it then that though. Their story was actually quite tragic. One that was filled with pain, triumph, and death, all over the span of 1000 years. While Silverstar didn't know it all, he could at least claim to be one of the few who knew the whole story of their exodus from the Deadlands. For he had kept in touch with his former unit and they trusted him enough to share the story. At least the parts of it that never made it into the papers.

Silverstar started to say something when both ponies ears shot up, they turned their heads in unison and before Silverstar could say anything they darted off flying close to the ground. Then shot up to the top of a nearby porch where a simple lamp hung.

The mare who was hovering next to the strange object, tapped it with her hoof a couple of times. The stallion landed on the roof. Then with his back legs hooked on an exposed piece of timber, hung over the side. With his forelegs, he held the lamp in his hooves as though inspecting it. All of a sudden his back legs slipped. He flipped over, and with wings unfurled in surprise, began to swing from the lamp.

The mare briefly looked as though she was laughing then grabbed the other pony around his stomach. Both momentarily swung from the lamp before the hook attached to the roof broke off and the lamp came crashing to the ground. In the instant the hook gave way the two peggasi let go and hovered in the air. A look of joy on both their faces.

Around this time Braeburn, and a couple of other members of Sheriff Silverstar's posse, came running up.

"Sheriff what's all the commotion. Gahhhh!" The young stallion yelled at the sight of Ruffback on the ground.

"Get that scum to the jail now, and call Doc Butterspread, he's hurt pretty bad."

Braeburn looked at the two peggasi. He wanted to know more about what was going on right now, but knew better then to question the sheriff. He nodded to the other two stallions.

"You heard the Sheriff, get a stretcher now!"

The other two shot off in the direction of Doc. Butterspreads office as Braeburn looked after Ruffback.

The sheriff ran to the two ponies who were busy pulling up a board on a nearby porch. The stallion pulled up a floor board with his hooves then the mare stuck her head in the hole to looked under. As the sheriff approached he spoke.

"Now I know you two are shadow ponies from the south, and I am grateful for your help apprehending that villain, but I have a few questions for you."

The two peggasi looked at him from behind their dark goggles. They leaped off of the porch and onto the hot dirt right in front of the Sheriff. There they patiently sat, looking up at the taller pony. For a moment there was nothing but silence as the sheriff just stared. After a moment he cleared his throat.

"First of all I'm Silverstar, Sheriff of Appleoosha," he said as he gestured with his spear the town around him. "Who might you brave ponies be?"

The two stared at him for another uncomfortable moment then wrote in the dirt with their hooves. As they finished they looked up again. Silverstar could read the names easily since both had written backward and upside down from their sitting position. The silver stallion with white mane, name's read 'Turnip'. The dark tan mare with a stark red mane, name's read 'Tulip'. No sooner had the sheriff read the names then both ponies shot off again in another direction.

An older mare wearing a dress and a parasol in hoof was walking across the street. The two peggasi made a beeline straight for her. Tulip ripped the parasol from her hooves. Flew into the air slightly then tried to use the parasol as a makeshift parachute. It worked for a moment. Then a snap was heard and Tulip flopped on the ground rear first.

Turnip meanwhile was pulling at the mare's dress a little, apparently a little curious as to why anypony would wear so many clothes. The mare for her part began screaming at the sudden violation of her personal space.

Silverstar was starting to get angry.

"Leave her alone!" He ordered the two pony's.

They obeyed, but took the strange parasol and flew to the top of a roof in order to more closely inspect it.

At that point Braeburn came running up to the sheriff. "You want me to get the posse sheriff?" Implying these two ponies seemed rather dangerous.

"No, I don't think that will be necessary. These are shadow ponies, and you met some of them same as me. They are a honorable group."

As the sheriff spoke Braeburn remembered when the shadow ponies first started journeying out of their new home in the northern badlands, a still unnamed town. On occasion they visited Appleloosha, always traveling in groups of three, and always wearing the same dusty brown cloaks that covered from head to back hoof. But the sheriff was right, while they were a little... odd. They were in the end still ponies of Equestria, and clearly good hearted folk.

Although, if they always traveled in three's why were these two alone? Braeburn wanted to look around for the third but the sheriff was still talking.

"We must be patient and trust in Princess Luna's judgment!" Silverstar finished with his typical 'matter of fact' way he had when he spoke.

They were looking at each other as they spoke and failed to see the two shadow ponies flying to the town's clock tower. Sitting at the base of they looked at it for a moment. Tulip pointed at the corner. There was a sound of metal gliding on metal as Turnip raised his hoof in a backhoofed motion. The blade glinted in the sunlight which caught the sheriffs attention, then he made a single cut at the corner.

Silverstar's mustache bristled as he yelled "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!?"

There were four distinct sounds that happened after that. The first was one of the sound of one of the main support beams falling out of place and jutting down right between the two ponies. The second came from the braking apart of the countless tiles that decorated the clock, as the whole of the tower lurched forward. The third sound was the ruffling of feathers as each peggasi took to the air. The last came from the clock tower as it came crashing to the ground.

The sheriff and Braeburn looked on as this scene played out, mouths open in astonishment. The whole town had put so much effort into rebuilding the clock tower after the incident with the buffalo tribe. In fact they rebuilt it five times. Each one falling down mostly due to the fact they didn't know how to build a proper clock tower. The first one they outsourced to an architect when Appleloosha was first founded. Now, it was destroyed once again.

While everyone was distracted Ruffback somehow made it to his feet. All eyes were on the clock tower so he moved unnoticed towards an alleyway. Mostly unnoticed, the same mare that the pair of peggasi molested screamed as Ruffback came near. As the sheriff turned, Ruffback grabbed the mare and began backing away.

"I want no trouble, j-just let me leave and I won't snap this silly little mare neck like a twig!"

The sheriff stopped in his tracks. He silently berated himself for getting so distracted, and trusting a bunch of fools to take care of his responsibility. A shadow quickly passed over Ruffback. His face became frozen in fear as he looked around.

Suddenly, he howled in pain then fell to his knees. As he did he let go of the mare in order to keep his already exhausted body from falling over. Out from behind him came Turnip, a grin stretched across his face, blood dripping from a pair of blades on his front hooves.

All of a sudden Tulip's leg came crashing down right on Ruffback's head. As the blow landed he made a sputtering sound. Silverstars body began moving forward on it's own. He could see the look on Ruffback's face began to show the signs of a living being giving up on life after a horrible experience.

"This isn't justice," he didn't think, but would later recall he felt.

Both peggasi hovered around Ruffback in a circle, each in the throws of their strange silent laughter. Then Tulip's blade extended and she to drifted forward to make the killing blow. Turnip just grinned at the sight. Ruffback knelt there as Tulip came closer. The only thing he could do was close his good eye, ready for what was to come.

Tulips blade struck not the wounded scorpinor, but against Silverstars spear. Sheriff Silverstar had enough, and began to enforce what was saw was right. Ruffback, exhausted, just fell over as he passed out.

"You stop right there little lady," the sheriff growled. "This one has had quite enough."

But Tulip didn't stop. Her face became wild as though someone had just stolen a prize from her. She shot forward with her blade in a series of several strikes. As they continued, a bad feeling crept up on Silverstar. There was something terribly wrong with this pony. He didn't have any evidence other then her feral smashing of steel on steel, and a feeling. One that told him she needed to die! As the thought passed, he saw Tulip swung wide for a powerful blow.

Although he was in no position to execute his own killing move. He did have the ability to kick her, hard.

Tulip re-sheathed her blade as she flew back. She let the momentum carry her a ways before unfurling her wings and dropping her legs, spinning in the dirt as she came to a stop.

Silverstar started to chase but was intercepted by Turnip. As the silver pegasus came between the sheriff and his prey.

A Conversation Without Words

At this point Silverstar had quite enough. Flipping his spear in hoof he landed the staff portion just under the tip right on Turnip's head. A clashing of metals could be heard as the blow was stopped by something hard just under the pegasus cloak.

Coming to a full stop Tulip turned obviously ready to continue the fight. Turnip glanced back ever so quickly as he braced himself against Silverstar. Tulip, apparently getting some sort of message from the look, noticeably relaxed and plopped down in a sitting position. There she remained staring blankly at the impending confrontation.

The stretcher finally reached Ruffback, and as the battle began they carried the near dead bandit away to jail. Albeit with a little difficulty due to the villains size.

Silverstar and the pegasus in the meantime kept pushing back on each other in their clash. He stared down at the smaller pony trying to get a feel for the others strength, only to realize the other was attempting to do the same. This sent a chill down the sheriff's spine as the apparent experience of the smaller pony began to reveal itself.

There was something wrong with this whole situation and Silverstar simply didn't understand. Nothing these two did made any sense. It was like they were causing chaos and destruction simply for the joy of it. And what of Princess Luna? Did she really have no control over her ponies?

As Turnip looked up he could see the sheriff's facial expression betraying his thoughts. The confusion, the frustration at seeing him and Tulip just doing what they pleased. A sight that made Turnip smile.

Upon seeing this twisted pony smile. Silverstar's rage finally boiled over. His eyes widened as he let his spear slip from the clash and plunged it forward. Wings unfurling, Turnip shot back as he nimbly dodged the spears tip. In the same moment he flexed his hoof and the short blade slid out from under the cloak.

The next few moments were the most amazing that any pony had ever seen. Here stood their sheriff, a pony who time and time again only used his hoofs and wits to solve whatever trouble came to their small town. After all what pony in their right mind would want to see a real war?

It was that sort of bloodless compassion that he was known for. Now here he was, in a life and death duel with a powerful opponent. It was like he had transformed himself into an entirely different pony. One that none of them knew.

As the fight dragged on a couple of ponies watching could see the tactics each were employing. Silverstar was relying on predicting the smaller, faster, pony's movements. Then countering them expertly with his golden spear. His natural earth pony grit making him look like a stone mountain.

Turnip on the other hand was relying mostly on speed and precision. His wings occasionally giving him extra bursts of speed. Both ponies seemed evenly matched. Until Silverstar hopped back flipping his spear around his hoof, apparently leaving his front exposed. Taking the advantage, Turnip leaped forward ready to make the killing blow.

Now caught in his trap. Silverstar's spear finished flipping and as he held the top of the shaft with his foreleg, he kicked the base with his hind leg. Silverstar's other two legs, which were keeping him amazingly well balanced, sprang him forward in the same moment as the spear. All of this was done in a single, well executed motion. To those observing he had instantaneously gone from a standing position to a full charge with spear extended. A sight many free beings of the world considered to be the most dangerous place to be on the receiving end of.

It was a difficult maneuver Silverstar accomplished. In fact he was one of the few ponies in Equestria who could pull it off so... seamlessly.

Every pony there held their breath as the pair were about to crash into each other. Had it been any other pony in the world, then that pony probably would have found himself impaled on a spear, but not Turnip. Still smiling he flung his wings out and dug his free hooves into the ground to stop his momentum, then with all his might he flapped his wings and leapt backward. The tip of the spear drawing the slightest amount of blood from Turnip's chest.

For the briefest of moments Silverstar was close enough to Turnip to see his eyes through the dark goggles. He realized in that moment that he wasn't dealing with a pony. No, he was dealing with a beast. But there was a difference. The other, Tulip, was completely wild and feral. This one was precise, knew exactly what he was doing... and enjoyed it.

As Silverstar's own momentum exhausted itself he stood firm. He flipped the spear around his neck and it came to a rest on his other front hoof in an assaulting manner. Silverstar could see the skin around his opponent's goggled eyes pull back. He could tell the pony's eyes were growing wider with delight.

Turnip's smile stretched his face to it's limit. He cocked his head with a look of admiration. Then shot his other fore hoof out to the side and extended the blade attached.

Silverstar's nostrils flared and he grit his teeth. He stomped his rear hoof as his facial expression almost roared, "NOW the fight can begin!"

Turnip's body hunched forward as his backward momentum slowed. His wings flexed and every pony could see the rippling muscles around the base of his wings. Which seemed so out of place on such a small pony. Yet, with a great force behind it, the wings flapped. He briefly slithered up and down like a snake, then shot forward with blurring speed.

Silverstar's hooves set the rest of his body in an oddly similar motion. Except in his case they sharply trotted left to right immediately giving his body extra momentum. When it finally came time he put his head down and launched himself forward already at full gallop. His spear ready to cut down the pegasus.

While it was never a long fight. To the ponies who were watching, it seemed to last an eternity. One filled with charges and retreats, with sidesteps and thrusts, and the ever present clanging of steel on steel. No pony dared take their eyes off the battle as they waited in breathless anticipation for a victor to emerge.

Only Tulip, still sitting in the same spot, merely yawned as if bored.

But before the fight could reach it's climax the ground shook underneath. Immediately Turnip leaped back. Both blades retracting before he skidded to a stop. He stared at the ground, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Silverstar likewise put a little distance between himself and Turnip, his own chest burning with exhaustion. And more then a little confused at the sudden halt in the fight.

Both cloaked ponies stared down at the rumbling earth. When it stopped they exchanged knowing looks then shot into the air. They made for a large rock that was protruding up through the ground next to the towns local tavern. There they abruptly came to a stop. As she landed, Tulip hugged the bolder and pressed her ear against it. Turnip simply sat down, watching patiently.

Silverstar though, not so patient at the sudden, and completely unnecessary end of their duel. He stomped forward.

"Hey, you low down son of a snake! Get back here!" he shouted.

No one in town made a move, nor did any pony understand what was happening here now. As Sheriff Silverstar reached his adversary he pointed his spear down, placing the tip right on Turnip's shoulder.

"We ain't finished, me and you!" He stated in a deep country draw which made the anger in his eyes all the more menacing.

In one quick action, Turnip jutted his left hoof out aiming it inches from Silverstar's eye. As he did, his cloak ruffled and fell down his leg. The sheriff flinched slightly at the speed of the movement but held firm.

As the cloak fell, it revealed the strange contraption that lay underneath. It covered the lower length of the leg from the base of the knee to the ankle, just above the hoof. Silverstar saw how the ingenious design could be employed by any pony. Since it allowed the wearer complete freedom of movement, yet provided both protection and a weapon. But that isn't what made Sheriff Silverstar, former member of an elite squad of guardsman, blood freeze in his veins.

For there, stamped on the front guard of the contraption was THE PERSONAL SEAL OF PRINCESS LUNA HERSELF!

A Thin Grey Line Between Allies and Enemies

At first he refused to believe what he was seeing. He knew they were Luna's ponies, but no princess in her right mind would ever place her personal seal on something unless that pony was on official royal duties for that princess.

"They must have stolen them!" Was the first thought that crossed his mind. "Yes, shadow ponies always travel in groups of three or more for protection, they must be outcasts."

Then he took a closer look at Turnip. The buttons around the collar of his cloak had loosened. From his angle he could see underneath it to the edges of a dark blue uniform. Complete with badges and an Equestrian captains ranking for the general army!

Silverstar, in complete shock let his spear fall from his hoof. He took a few steps back as he struggled to process this new information. After a few agonizing moments his mind fell back to an article in the weekly paper 'Equestria Times'.

In the article, it stated that the princess of the night formed an elite squad made from the refugee shadow ponies of the south. Their sole purpose was to guard the vast southern boarder of Equestria from the western portion of the San Palomino Desert, all the way to the most eastern part of the Badlands. His eyes darted between the pegasi, as the realization came upon him both these two must be members of that elite squad!

With what appeared to be a break in the fight, a dozen Appleloosians ran from opposite directions across the street. Most were mares with their foals heading to the town hall. The place everypony was to go to when trouble occurred.

The rumbling began again as most of the ponies finished their crossing. Suddenly Tulip let go of the rock and shot off toward the end of the street quickly followed by Turnip. To Silverstar's horror they were headed directly towards the last two ponies still out. His own wife and small colt!

The normal stone like expression that the entire town saw in Silverstar contorted into a heart wrenching vestige of fear. As the two pegasi closed in on their obvious target, Silverstar lurched forward. Spear unknowingly in hoof and aimed at the pegasi. The two, who had in the heat of the day proved to be enemies, drew nearer as Silverstar cried out his wife's name.

"Fannnnyyyyy!!!".

In the instant before he let loose his spear the rumbling earth erupted next to the sheriff's family. All eyes fell on the massive worm as it tore itself up from the earth.

Light brown and covered with a thick carapace the worm kept rising into the sky. It rose higher then any of the structures in town before arching downward. It's maw turned as it descended onto the mare and small colt.

His attention now turned, but still screaming his wife's name, Silverstar let loose his spear. It soared through the air as Turnip and Tulip drew ever nearer. The worms mouth opened to reveal four layers of pointed, shark like teeth. The beautiful golden haired mare could do nothing but grab her colt in a vain attempt to shield him from immediate death from above. They both closed their eyes.

The pegasi sped towards the helpless pair but appeared to be just out of reach.

Just then, the spear Silverstar let loose passed right over Turnip's head and disappeared deep into the worms massive maw. While it appeared to do no real damage. The strike caused the worm to hesitate slightly. In that fraction of a second Turnip and Tulip reached the sheriff's family and tore them apart from each other.

Tulip, carrying the colt, kicked off to the right of the worm. They rolled on the ground for a moment before she threw the young pony head first into a nearby building. Imminently after, she flipped herself over and ground her hooves into the hot earth. The only other sound came from inside the building as the colt crashed into several tables, a few chairs, and a china cabinet.

Turnip hit the ground as he skidded forward with the mare wrapped tightly in his hooves. They both disappeared as the worm came crashing to the ground. Blowing dust and debris in all directions.

In the confusion Silverstar ran blindly forward to ascertain the fate of his family. Braeburn stayed at his side trying to get the sheriffs attention but it was no use. The normally hard and focused sheriff was lost in a maze of uncertainty. His gaze, solely focused on the last spot he saw his family.

Tulip grit her teeth as she flew forward, blades extended. Crossing what anypony would guess as the head of the beast, she cut a dozen deep laceration into the behemoth. But to no avail, the worms carapace was too thick for such light blades to fully penetrate.

As Tulip flew, everypony still on the streets made for the closest building. Only the pegasus, Silverstar, and his loyal friend Braeburn seemed to stay in the midst of the battle.

Tulip finished her pass on the worm. She hovered in the air briefly while it turned it's head to her. It's maw opened and it spit a yellow substance at her. While the behemoth's attack was far too slow to catch such a nimble pegasus, it just happened to be within range of the two earth ponies on the ground.

Focused solely on what was in front of him. Silverstar kept moving forward, unaware of the danger from above. Braeburn's eyes darted between the sheriff and the worm as it spat. He hesitated slightly out of fear of crossing the sheriff. But at the last second he came to his senses and tackled Silverstar, pushing them both out of the way of the goo as it splattered on the ground.

Braeburn rolled to the side as some of the strange yellow substance dropped next to him. He swallowed in fear as he saw smoke from the powerful acid burning several holes into the ground where it fell.

Looking up, Silverstar saw a silver bolt shoot up from behind the worm. And with all the speed he was born with, Turnip made two circles around what passed for the worms neck.

Somehow sensing danger the worm began to slowly move backwards through the hole it came out from.

Tulip hovered in the air as all this happened. Head darting, teeth gritting, blades hungry, as though she was looking for something.

Finishing his circles Turnip stopped, hovering at the base of the monster tying what appeared to be several ropes together.

"Paaaa?"

A small sound called from inside a nearby building next to the sheriff. Both him and Braeburn looked up in surprise as the voice of Goldstar, Silverstar's son, squeak out from inside.

"ALIVE," the sheriff realized.

His chest rose from the ground as though Celestia herself inflated it with magic, the steel edge returning to his face. He turned his body to the massive monstrosity that was threatening what he loved. While he still did not know the fate of his wife, he was certain she would want him to fight on for their son's sake. Braeburn, taking courage from the sheriff, stood with equal determination at his friends side.

Tulip's head finally focused on what she was searching for. Landing blades first, she pierced the carapace of the creature and onto a soft spot on top of the worms body.

Those ponies who witnessed the battle would mostly remember how naturally she seemed to sit on the back of the beast as It twisted and turned in obvious pain. Much like a rodeo, some ponies would recall.

They would also recall how familiar these two ponies seemed to be with this creature. They would later learn for other shadow ponies who occasionally visited. That they had indeed learned of ways to fight and destroy these foul beasts, and a score of others like them. Knowledge gained and passed down throughout the generations.

Tulip continued to sit there on the beasts head, trying to hold on and occasionally twisting her blades to cause as much damage as she could. The beast reared up, an unbearable grumbling coming from deep within, namely pain.

Turnip, finishing his task, threw the ropes in two different directions. He backed away from the worm far enough to get Tulip's attention. She lifted her head to see Turnip looking at her and pointing his hoof at the worm. Without reaction, Tulip launched herself from her perch. She flew high above Turnip for a moment then shot herself straight at the monster. Turnip also sped forward, driving himself down before leaping up, ramming his shoulder into the worms underside. As he did this the worm briefly lurched up. It's teeth jutting forward as Tulip charged, blades first, then disappeared into the massive maw of the beast. Some mares screamed at the sight of the apparent suicide attack.

Little happened in the next few seconds as the worm simply continued it's attempt to crawl it's way back into its hole.

Turnip jumped out of the way of the beast and positioned himself again between the two ropes. As he did he tore off the tattered remains of his cloak and stood their, showing the entire town his uniform and ranking. He cocked his leg and unfurled his wings in a pose. Then he spoke, or rather commanded!

"Ponies of Appleloosa! HEAR ME!"

All ponies turned their heads to the strange small pegasus.

"I know not your ways. For I am not your kin. But I tell you now, if you do not do as I say then there will be no future for Appleloosa. There will be no future for any of us who dwell in the desert! Now join me now, pull these ropes so we can slay this beast! AND ENSURE A FUTURE FOR US ALL!!!"

There was a roar, as ponies from all over Appleloosa came to the call of battle. Silverstar not seeing any other choice but to trust his enemy, found himself to be the first to pick up the rope. He wrapped it around his hooves and braced himself on his rear legs.

As they pulled the massive worm from its hole he could only marvel at the pony in front of him. Mere minuets ago he sought only this pony death, now he was fighting right beside him.

A perfect commentary on the confusing nature of war itself, he would think to himself sometime later. And while he would never admit it with words, he began to respect this little pony.

Blood began to leak out of the giant worms mouth. While only Turnip knew the reason why. It still was an encouraging sign, causing all ponies to pull harder.

"1,2,3, PULL! 1,2,3, PULL!!" The two teams yelled as they pulled the massive worm from out of it's hole.

In a flash Turnip let go of the rope and raced forward, his blades plunging into a second soft spot on the worm. Racked with pain the beast tried to pull it's head back. But the ponies held strong and the worm came crashing down onto the ground again, blood gushing from it's mouth as it fell.

Turnip darted out of the way as it came down the final time. Following suit, the ponies holding the ropes dashed left and right to avoid the blood.

In the mists of the blood a single lump of what appeared to be nothing but a clot jutted out from the worm's mouth. It splattered here and there then came to a stop.

It rose off the ground slightly as an odd shape began to appear. At first it was blobish in it's appearance. Then, as the blood fell off, it took the shape resembling something akin to having a head and six appendages. Turnip sped to the spot of the aberration as the worm behind him flattened out, dead.

For the first time all afternoon the town became silent. Everypony just stood and stared at the awesome spectacle of what just happened, of what they just helped do.

The blob slowly rose from the ground. Wobbling this way and that as it tried to keep it's balance. As Turnip came to it he began wiping off some of the blood and gore.

Those watching could see a pair of wings beginning to flex out, finally taking the shape of Tulip. Turnips hooves traced their way to the head. As he finished wiping the thick blood away from her face and mussel she took a deep breath. Though still covered in blood she gave Turnip a smile in gratitude for his help.

Seeing she was OK, Turnip fell back pointing his hoof at Tulip, roaring in his silent laughter. With most of the blood wiped away Tulip started to shake the rest off. He sat up still smiling as blood and gore splattered all over his face.

When she had finished she was still stained from head to toe, but was free of all the clumps. She took a moment to wipe her goggles clean then ran up to Turnip. They embraced each other, then began to give a celebratory prance about the blood... an awkward celebration to say the least. And without doubt the part of the story the Appleloosians always left out when they recanted the tale to visitors.

Seeing their saviors unhurt, the ponies of Appleosha gave out a great cheer. Friends shook hooves and others threw hats high into the air. The pitched battle against the sudden appearance of a terrible enemy was over.

Silverstar head slumped slightly in exhaustion as he looked upon the dead worm. Braeburn, head turning, tapped Silverstar on the shoulder. The sheriff turned around to see his wife Fanny and son Goldstar emerged from behind a building. She was battered, her dress torn her mane a mess and her shoulder and side had no small amount of scrapes and bruises. Goldstar was a little worse off since he was thrown hard into a building. He had several bandages on his neck and flank. His left eye was purple and bruised, and his gold colored fur was stained with dry blood. Silverstar's eyes widened as he saw them. Fan Dresser, or Fanny as she preferred to be called, sighed in relief and smiled as her eyes met with her husband's.

Without thinking he ran over to them. Fanny extended her hooves to him, but Silverstar stopped short of embracing his mare. He just sat there holding her face in his strong hooves. Staring at her as though he was trying to burn the image of her face forever into his memory.

After a moment, he rained down a series of kisses all over her face. She giggled, both at the silliness of her husband, and at how his thick mustache tickled her. Silverstar stopped his gentle assault and they touched foreheads together. His son, Goldstar came around the pair just in time for his pa to pick up the young colt and he gave them both a hug.

Braeburn wiped a tear from his eye as he watched the reunion, then glanced over to the two pegasi. They were sitting in the middle of the pool of blood each making gestures to the other.

He noticed they never really seemed to talk. For whatever reason they had this must be how they communicated with each other. Without warning they shot into the air and flew to the southeast.

"The apple orchards", Braeburn thought. "They must be heading for the river."

Braeburn's guess was a good one since it was indeed to the river they went. While the sun was still high in the sky, enough time had passed so that the hottest part of the day was gone. But by no means was it cool. They picked a shady spot that overlooked the life giving river and apple orchards. They spied a few mares with foals still hiding in the orchard then sat and took off their weapons and uniforms.

Taking out small kits each possessed they began the difficult task of cleaning their weapons. The process was quite a long one considering each blade had several springs and gears hidden inside. Plus the screwdrivers they had were rather small and difficult to handle.

Still, both pegasi were well practiced with their weapons, and had dis-assembled and re-assemble them so often they could do it blindfolded. After some time they managed to properly clean and oil their 'Lockblades', as they were called.

Turnip then grabbed his uniform and began washing it in the river, with Tulip quickly following suit. While they did the best they could it didn't mattered much. Tulip's uniform, normally a dark shade of blue, was rendered pitch black and hopelessly stained by the worm's blood. Turnip's uniform was torn in several places when he rescued Fanny.

Getting bored with all these chores Tulip tossed her uniform aside then jumped into the river. Turnip looked up in time to get his face splashed with water. Placing his own uniform on the rock he jumped into the river after Tulip.

They played around in the water for a moment before Turnip paddled back to shore to grab his cloak. He ripped a large piece from it, wet it down in the river, then returned to Tulip to began scrubbing down her body. Other then her eyes that were covered by the goggles, Tulip was stained from nose to rear with the worms dirty blood. He silently cursed himself for forgetting he should have washed Tulip first.

She didn't resist as he scrubbed every inch of her body, and for a good reason. There was much disease in the desert sands of their former home, and any contact with creatures like those worms had to be treated with caution. Since it had been known to make a pony quite sick from time to time.

After cleaning her body and intimate areas he ripped off another chunk of his tattered cloak, washed it down, and opened her mouth. He sighed in relief when he saw it perfectly clean. While he completely trusted Tulip in battle he still was a little worried she would swallow some of the blood while she was cutting up the worm's insides. But she kept her mouth shut tight as he knew she would. Taking special care to clean out her nose and ears he dunked her head into the river to rinse everything off.

When they finished bathing they emerged from the water, picking up their uniforms along the way. They sat down in a flat area and Turnip quietly laid out his uniform. Tulip held up her uniform proudly as though saying good as new. Turnip giggled at the ruined uniform. She frowned then shrugged at Turnips rudeness, pouting at her wounded pride.

He leaned over to give the mare an apologetic hug. Her smile slowly returned. As he let go she brushed her nose against his. They looked at each other for a moment before Turnip turned back to his uniform, blushing as he finished spreading out the wrinkled areas. He closed his eyes in quiet meditation, trying to slow his rapidly beating heart. Then he suddenly sprang to his hooves with a playful expression on his face. Tulip likewise dropped her uniform and they both ran to the tall rocks nearby.

While the danger was long since passed many of the Appleloosians still took refuge in the apple orchards. After all there was a rather grizzly cleanup that was needed. Chiefly a bloated carcass and a small river of blood that all had to be cleared before the sun went down. The worm was easy enough. As it simply needed several strong ropes and twice as many strong backs.

The blood was another matter. They first mixed in some dirt and leftover wood chippings from the sawmill. After a bit of stirring, it was scooped up and shoveled into several wagons. Then, the worm, blood and wagons were all dragged to a nearby cliff upwind of Appleloosa, and unceremoniously shoved off the side.

While the stallions continued the extensive clean up. The rest of the fillies, colts, mares, and elderly, stayed at the river to take a break from the excitement and to get away from the oppressive heat.

Goldstar trotted out of the orchard next to the river just in time to see Tulip leap off a rock and cannonball into the gently running water. His eyes lit up as he ran over to join. His mother pulled him back though, a look of concern on her face. The look quickly passed though when another five foals followed Turnip off the rock. Fanny glanced by the bank of the river and spied several of her friends keeping a close eye on their young.

Her thoughts turned to back when the worm was about to eat her and Goldstar. The last thing she remembered was closing her eyes as the worm began to descend on her. Then the feeling of hitting the ground hard and tumbling around. When she opened her eyes she saw the silver pegasus standing above her. Before she could think straight he grab her by the neck and began yelling at her.

"Go to where I saw those foals and mares go!"

Fanny looked up at him in shock but understood what he said. He was referring to the town hall, it was considered the safest building in town and the place to take shelter in during a crises. Like when Turnip was fighting the sheriff.

"Gather them up and head to the river," he continued. "This beast will die if it gets too close to the water, so that makes it the only safe place! If the battle goes bad then take everypony and lead them north, as far as you can. And do not fear for your son, he is safe with Tulip, now go!"

He finished as he lifted her to her hooves then shoved her away. She ran towards the town hall, looking back to see the pegasus run into the hardware store.

She did as he instructed and got everypony safely to the river. Then headed back to find Goldstar. The memory faded as the sound of laughter filled the air. She sighed, while dangerous she could not believe these two meant to harm anypony. Not after risking their lives to save them the way they did. She let go of Goldstar who ran to join his friends, then she trotted out to join hers.

And there they stayed, as the two ponies of shadow played games with the young foals of Appleloosa under the hot sun.

Newfound Friends Under The Sun

The sun was finally going down by the time the clean up effort was finished. The 'Burroworm', as the town would later learn it was called, was an ancient creature that inhabited the Deadlands to the south. A-sexual by nature they only fed during the day just before they gave birth. At which point the surrounding desert would have been infested with the carnivorous creatures for many years.

No longer then a generation though. According to the few books that could be found on them. The beasts could only thrive in a truly arid environment. Even the parched lands surrounding Appleloosha were luckily too wet for them to survive in for too long. Not to mention anything else further north. Turnips warning turned out to be a godsend of a rally cry. Something the folk of the town would not soon forget

It was latter decided from a counsel put together by Princess Celestia that this one had been driven north due to the rain that occurred in the Deadlands once every 100 years. Around the time the royal sisters brought the refugee shadow ponies up from the Deadlands.

It was late afternoon by the time the cleanup effort had finished. The sun's glow bathed the town in it a soft orange light as Sheriff Silverstar walked across the main street and towards a nearby water barrel.

Water cascaded over the side of the barrel as he plunged his head in. As the water calmed he could see the reflected light dance and bend all before him. He closed his eyes against the kaleidoscope of confusing, tiring images and let the coolness of the water transport his inner thoughts to a calm dark place.

As the seconds passed, several bubbles rushed out of his mouth and to the waters surface. When the last of the air had finally escaped his lungs he lifted his head.

The water gently ran down his weary features as he stood staring at the wall.

He was tired, more tired then his old body had felt in years. After a moment he wiped the water from his mustache, then curled it to it's normal handle bared position. The streets were empty now. The other stallions had headed to the river to clean up.

He was alone.

He surveyed the town, or at least what was left. The clock tower had fallen, there was a big gaping hole in the middle of the street, a couple of buildings had collapsed due to a sinkhole caused by the worm, and signs of the battle between him and Turnip could be seen here and there. His fair town.

"But they were alive!" A small voice in his head spoke out.

He thought of the way Fanny and Goldstar emerged from the alleyway after the worm was slayed. Her gentle smile, reassuring him that they were both ok. His legs grew weak as he was briefly overcome with emotion.

He leaned on the water barrel and covered his eyes with a hoof as he tried to get a hold of himself. Tears streamed, but after a moment his willpower took over and he stood again. Wiping his nose with his foreleg.

"They were all still alive!" The voice said again.

He heard the sound of hoof steps not to far away. Silverstar finished slowing down his breathing and composed himself just as several mares and foals came trotting into town from the direction of the apple orchards.

"Now that all that awfulness is done, it's time for some supper." Silverstar heard one of the mares say.

"Braeburn must have let them know we were finished" He thought.

His spirits picked a bit as he watched the ponies. After all the chaos and fear, normality was finally returning.

The moment was disturbed when an alarm set off by the sheriff's sharpened instincts alerted him to danger from behind. He quickly turned around.

Out of an alleyway behind him came the two pegasi. If they saw Silverstar they didn't show it. They just strolled on out, stopping as they entered the main street. Each had their outer cloaks and goggles draped over a front hoof with an apple nuzzled in their ankles. They enjoyed the treat as they watched the beauty of the town in the soft glow of the late afternoon.

The sheriff's eyes became hard again. While this well practiced look was always about him, it was never voluntary. He truly did believe in friendship and forgiveness, it was how he had kept his sanity in the face of the terrible things he had witnessed over the years.

That being said, he still did have a few lingering hard feelings towards the silver pegasus. Despite of what he did for him and the town.

Sensing eyes on him, Turnip turned his head toward Silverstar. He eyed him for a moment. Then tossed the remainder of the apple into his mouth as he walked toward silverstar. Tulip imitated him exactly then came up on Turnip's flank. When her eyes fell on Silverstar her head picked up slightly.

"Guess we're all thinking the same thing." The final thought crossed the sheriffs mind as his adversaries came closer.

With their cloaks and goggles off the sheriff could finally get a good look at them. Both ponies were shorter then average height, half a heads length the sheriff thought. Turnip was a stallion with a Silver coat, white mane, and steel blue eyes. Silverstar could see several age marks at the proper places.

"He's older then he seems, probably around the same age as me." He said to himself.

Tulip was slightly taller then Turnip, but sported a dark tan coat with a stark red mane. Silverstar did a double take as he looked at the mare. Mostly it was her red eyes. They showed the same age as the other but seemed to shimmer and almost sparkle, like rubies in the right light. Yet behind the sparkle, there was a strange blank emptiness he couldn't explain. Like looking into the eyes of a scorpion.

As he managed to pull his eyes away from hers he also noticed the uniform she was wearing had no rank. Nor did it have any insignia other then a leg band that bore the symbol of the same elite squad that was on the other pegasus leg, 'The Night Hunters'.

That only deepened the mystery as Turnips Uniform had all the 'bells and whistles' one would expect to see from an Equestrian captain. His anger rose slightly as he looked at the pony. He honestly couldn't figure out what was worse. The fact that he once wore a similar uniform, or that Turnip was of a higher rank then he use to be.

They stared at each other for a moment. Then Turnip began by writing in the dirt with his hoof. He wrote upside down and backwards so the sheriff could easily read. As he wrote, Tulip extended a wing and began sweeping away the writing a couple of words past what Turnip was currently working on. And so did the conversation progress in this manner. With both ponies moving together like a typewriter.

"Guess we aren't finished yet?" Turnip wrote.

"No, I guess we ain't, and drop the act! I know you can talk" Silverstar quickly replied.

Turnip smiled slyly as he looked up without raising his head.

"No." He drew.

Silverstar braced against the desire to throttle this pony. He quickly released his anger. Even if he had the strength to continue fighting. His only weapon was lost inside the gullet of the beast. Beside, the mare would probably join in this time, and there was something rather unsettling about her.

The fur around the sheriff's ears stood on end as his eyes fell upon Tulip. She was staring at him again.

Tulip held the blank gaze for a moment before her attention once again focused on Turnip and her sweeping duties.

"So, sorry about that tower over there," he nodded his head towards the fallen clock tower. "It was kinda a piece of crap, so I thought it should come down."

Silverstar's mustache almost bristled out of it typical well groomed place at the remark.

"Piece of crap? Why you little foal! You know how much time and effort we put into building it!?"

"Yeah, and I destroyed it with a simple cut from my Fentblade." Turnip wrote as he gave Silverstar a strange look.

Silverstar was a little taken aback. At this point he truly couldn't deny the clock tower was a dangerous hazard. But what really stung his stubborn pride was the simple fact he never allowed himself to realize it. All he could do in the face of an overwhelming failure was stomp his hoof on the ground in anger.

Tulip smiled softly as she glanced at the bristly mustached weirdo.

"So your kin ok?" Turnip continued.

In truth Sheriff Silverstar wanted to thank these two for what they did for the town, for what they did for him! However he also couldn't let go of the desire to beat the hell out of them for what they had done. 'His stubborn streak', as most ponies said of him. All he could do at this point was to use every ounce of his concentration he had to keep himself civil.

"Yes" He said flatly. "For what you did for us I'll overlook your crimes. But I want your word you'll behave yourself while your in this town."

Turnip snorted then sharply turned around.

"No," he wrote with his hind leg before walking away.

Unable to conceal his emotions any longer Silverstar's face exploded with anger, his normally groomed mustache bristling like an old broom. He breathed heavily as his hooves moved on their own, taking a couple of steps forward.

Tulip meanwhile continued to stare at the sheriff, not moving in the wake of the fiery tension. The sheriff's angry eyes fell on the mare as she walked towards him.

Turnip turned his head noticing Tulip wasn't there.

The mare walked right up to the sheriff then stopped. She never blinked, never took her sparkling eyes off of him. Sheriff Silverstar reared his head back slightly, obviously a little uncomfortable at being so close to her.

All of a sudden Silverstar could see something in her eyes. The blank emptiness seemed to lift as some light, some spark of recognition began to take shape. That spark grew as fast as the smile that stretched across her face. Then before Silverstar could react, Tulip threw her hooves around him and she embraced him in a hug.

At first Silverstar tried to back away, but only succeeded only in dragging Tulip across the ground.

"Hey! get off me!" Silverstar protested.

Tulip nuzzled her face against the sheriff's hot neck.

Silverstar noticed as he tried to pry her off that she was incredibly strong for a pegasus.

"She won't let go." Turnip explained.

Silverstar looked up, a little shocked by his sudden speaking.

"Seems she's taken a liking to you. She's sick in the head you know, some fancy doctors up north said she suffers from..." Turnip put his hoof on his chin trying to remember. "Schizophrenia, and something else called Psychopathy something-a-rather..." Turnip waved the second part away.

Silverstar looked down in astonishment as the puzzle of this little pony started coming together. During his time at the academy, before he joined unit 606, Princess Celestia had them all read a mountain of books, and take several ethics classes in preparation for dealing with the kind of villains they would be hunting. This included those who suffered from mental disorders.

"Full of shit if you ask me." Turnip interrupted the thought. "Sounded like they just want to label somepony because they really don't know the pony they are trying to 'help'," he said mockingly. "They don't know HER! Bastards!" His face contorted with contempt at the onset of some terrible memory.

"That's all good and well, but please get her off of me!" Silverstar insisted.

"No..." Turnip replied defiantly. "Her world is sooo small. She wants to be your friend and I'm going to let her."

"Well I don't want her friendship! Now why don't you take her and just get the hell out!"

Silverstar did yell, but there was a hollowness to his anger. He was genuinely having a having a hard time with Tulip hugging him. By no means was he the touchy feely, kind of pony. Usually only in the most extreme of circumstances, or when he was alone with his wife Fanny, did he ever show the inner part of himself.

"No", Turnip said softly. Any obvious attempt to and make the sheriff angry was gone. There was just this peaceful, yet sad look on his face.

Before Silverstar could react. Turnip was on the other side of him giving him another hug. As Tulip felt Turnip's warmth next to her she began to make cooing sounds then hugged all the harder in the wake of her validation.

Silverstar tried to pull away. But his thoughts kept betraying him with images of his own family floating around his head. The heart rendering sight of nearly losing them to that beast, and their miraculous saving at the hooves of those he once fought. His eyes became misty as he tried his best to push away the memories. But the flood of emotion was just too overwhelming.

As his heart sank he looked at Turnip. Was everything he did this day just a distraction for Tulip? After what he just heard and everything he had seen, there was just no other explanation. This crazy pony seemed absolutely willing to turn the entire world on it's head. Just for the sake of one little pony, his twin, his family.

Silverstar thought about it for a second. Was he any different?

As that final thought echoed in his head a look of utter defeat washed over his face. He bent down low to return the hugs.

"Daddy was right..." he thought to himself, "you just can't win against fools!"

Breaburn and a couple of others who arrived late, just stood there. There were no words. Nor did any of them think they had a right to interrupt even if they had. And while they still didn't fully understand the whole story, too much had happened this day to let it end sadly. They all just stared at the strangely sweet sight, as the sun sank ever closer to the horizon.