The Man With No Name

House Keeper knew better than anypony how hard business was to get in Appaloosa, Especially with the war going on and all. Appaloosa wasn't to near the fighting but sometimes Lunar soldiers would pass through, you see the Lunar ponies held southern Equestria and the Solar ponies Held the north. The problem with the Lunar soldiers was that they felt they owned anything within their territory, they often times would stop in the saloon and make the bartender give them free drinks claiming that they were "Fighting the good fight." Ha! As if.

The desk House Keeper was sitting behind was positioned to the left of the main door, the stairs to the rooms on the second floor were to the right of the door and on the wall opposite to the main entrance was the door to the kitchen, in-between all of it were round dining tables, keeper himself had a brown mane and dark yellow fur. Yawning he shifted on the stool he sat on, thinking about the war would do nothing, he knew he couldn't change the world. He laid his head on the desk in front of him, right now he couldn't figure out why he had decided to open an inn in Appaloosa, it was hot, boring and he barely got enough business to get by.

As Keeper mused over his situation he was unexpectedly jolted out of his thoughts to the sound of the main door opening, looking forward he saw the most peculiar creature walk through the door. He was the tallest thing Keeper ever seen, even taller than a minotaur, it was wearing some kind of body blanket with weird patterns on it over his top half. On the strangers head was some kind of weird hat that was almost like a top hat but the top was shorter and the edges longer, his face was devoid of fur but he had a light beard and in his mouth was a cigar that was almost burned to a stump.

"Umm... excuse me sir do you need a room?" Keeper asked sitting up straight.

turning his head slowly the stranger looked at him with narrowed eyes,"Yeah and... you got some food?"

"Yes sir we've got food, it can be ready in a couple minutes but your gonna need to pay first." Keeper stood up and walked over.

Sighing the creature pulled reached into a pouch slung over his left shoulder and pulled out ten bits,"This enough?"

Nodding as he reached out and took the money he pulled a key out of his back pocket,"Your room is on the upper floor and it's number is eight, if you want I can start making some food while you check out your room." Keeper offered as the creature walked by him and towards the stairs.

stopping at the base of the staircase he looked to Keeper with a thoughtful facial expression,"That sounds good." he turned around and made his way upstairs and out of sight.

Sighing Keeper shook his head and muttered,"Why do i get all the weird ponies?" then resuming his duty he walked back to the kitchen to start preparing food for his most recent guest.

Placing the food on the table Keeper stood up fully and cracked his back as he was about to go tell the stranger his food was ready he heard footsteps on the stairs, looking over he saw the guest coming down the stairs. Shrugging Keeper went back to his desk and sat down, looking over he saw the stranger take off his hat and place it next to his bowl as he sat down, seeing he had dirty blond hair keeper now had a nick name he could call the creature if given it was okay with him.

                  "Hey stranger." He called grabbing the creatures attention,"Mind if I call you Blondie?"

                  Looking up from his food Blondie squinted at him and slowly nodded yes, smiling keeper reached under his desk and pulled out a bottle of whiskey,"Blondie," he looked up at Keeper still chewing,"I'm gonna step outside and take drink my fill your welcome to join me if you want, there's another bottle under my desk."

                   "Sure maybe I will." He replied going back to his meal, walking out the door he leaned against the fence lined up along the side of the wooden porch. Lifting the bottle up he took a good long drink, he stood there for awhile drinking before he heard the door swing open and the strange stallion joined him. Blondie walked up next to him and lit up a new cigar, then joined Keeper stare at the other side of the town. There wasn't much going on, a few mares getting groceries at the general store but  last of the activity was at the saloon across from Keeper's inn.

                   "Why is this town so... quiet?" Blondie asked looking to Keeper with a questioning look on his face.

                   "Well with the war going on and all," he said taking a deep swig of whiskey,"Most folk got up and went to join the war, albeit most went to Luna's side a few joined Celestia." He explained shrugging,"Now there's only foals, mares, shop owners and old stallions left over."

                  "And uh... Why didn't you go?" Blondie questioned him.

                  "What me? Do I look like I could handle a sword?" Keeper responded chuckling in a melancholy way.

                  "You never know till you try." He took the cigar out of his mouth and let out a puff before leaning against the porch rail and watching ponies go about their day.

                  For awhile it was peaceful but that never lasts in Appaloosa, before long they heard a commotion from the saloon. The doors of the saloon swung open and the bartender was thrown out, she landed on the dirt road face first, out of the building came four batponies in Lunar armor walking with a swagger in their step. The ponies in the saloon watched through the windows and the ones in the street got inside.

                  "Think you can make us pay for a drink?!" The one middle asked stopping in front of her,"We fight for your gracious queen Luna and this is how you repay us?" He said his friends stoping alongside him,"That ain't to nice of you now is it?" He placed an armored hoof on her left leg and pushed down making her yelp and grind her teeth in pain.

                  "How do you expect me to stay in business if I don't make money?" she spat at them her blond mane waving in the sudden burst of wind. Her brown fur was matted with sweat as she tried to break free from his hoof's grasp on her leg.

                  "We don't care if you do or don't stay in business do we fellas?" He looked to his friends which nodded in agreement,"Now how's about you say your sorry in the best way a mare can?" He said bringing a hand down and squeezing the armor plate over his crotch.

                  "Never!" She yelled panicking as all the stallions above her laughed at her pain. Keeper knew he couldn't do anything to stop it, Tartarus if he even got close they would chop him up and hang him from the ceiling. That's when it happened.

Blondie stood all the way up and stepped off the porch, flicking his cigar off to the side he started walking towards the scene,"What are you doing!" Keeper yelled standing up and looking towards Blondie with wide eyes but he didn't pay attention to Keeper. When he reached the bartender on the ground the Lunar soldiers finally noticed him standing a couple yards away on the other side of the misfortunare girl.

                  "I don't think it's nice you beating up on this poor girl." He stated calmly with a charming smile

                  The batponies looked at him like he was crazy before laughing loudly,"Is this some kind of joke?" The one on the right breathed out between laughs.

                  "No it isn't." He shook his head before flipping the the blanket like thing over his shoulder to reaveal a sheepskin vest over a blue button up shirt and on hi hip was a belt that connected to some kind of holster that held what Keeper assumed was some kind of weapon,"Back way and apologize now," He threatened his demeanor changing,"And we can get on with our day."

                  The soldiers stopped laughing almost immediately and snarled at him, he didn't even budge. They stared him down and he stared right back narrowing his squinty eyes, Keeper saw sweat  matting on the batponies foreheads they obviously never dealt with something like this before.

                  Then faster than the blink of an eye their hands shot for their swords on they're hips and Blondie's hand shot for the thing on his hip, before they even reached the hilts of their swords Blondie brought his hand up with the metal weapon and he brought his other hand down. Blondie made three swift motions with his hands each one resulting in a noise akin to that of an explosion, and with each explosion one of the soldiers armored chests exploded with blood making them fly backwards and on to the ground. The only one left was the one who had his hoof on the mare's leg.

                  With his hand on the hilt of his sword he looked at each of his dead friends frantically, then he looked towards Blondie and stared at him wide eyed and shaking. Blondie's left hand went back to his side as he lifted the weapon in his right hand and pointed it upwards slightly, then cocking the pull on the top back he smiled at the remaining soldier and tssked condescendingly,"You had a chance." Then with a quick pull of the trigger the explosive sound rang through the town and the soldier fell dead.

                   The towns ponies looked at him in shock and started pouring out of the saloon to see the dead ponies, squatting down Blondie offered the injured mare a hand which she gratefully took. He helped her to her feet and with a spinning motion holstered his weapon,"Thank you so much mister!" The mare hugged him suddenly.

                  "It's okay." He said as she pulled back,"I just thought you might like some help." He smiled pulling his blanket thing back over himself and taking out a cigar.

                 "Mister if you ever want a drink you just come by and you can have them on the house." She promised with a smile.

                 "I'll remember that." He nodded lighting the cigar and putting it in his mouth.

                 "Alright well ah gotta get to back to work before mama tans my hide." She told him as she backed away and towards the saloon,"Ah'll uh see you soon!" He tipped his hat to her as she went through the crowd and into the bar.

                  The crowd watched as the coroner accompanied by the marshal walked out to inspect the bodies, Blondie began walking back to the inn when the marshal yelled,"You murdered these soldier!" Keeper gulped as he watched Blondie turn his head to the marshal.

                 "And?" He replied cocking an eyebrow.

                 "And we'll... I'm uh... Gonna have to report this to the crown." He explained licking his lips.

                 "By all means do so." Blondie said befor turning around and walking back up into the inn, Keeper watched him go inside and heard him walk upstairs. Keeper stayed out and watched them calm the crowd and carry off the bodies, that's when he realized,"This guys staying with me."