Hang 'em High

by aceotaku

Rating: teen
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Original Character, Rainbow Dash, Adventure, Flim and Flam
Length: 7876

Twilight and Rainbow Dash go to a small town which is being haunted by a vengeful spirit

This story takes place after Apple to the Core.

Twilight, her father and their farmhands have been asked to go to a small town in the west that has not answered its letters nor has any messengers sent their returned. Bringing Rainbow Dash along, the group discovers that the town is facing a dire crisis as a terrible being seeks to bring 'justice' to the town...

Published 2015-10-30 15:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2015-11-20 10:54:04 UTC

Chapter 1

A dark figure drove across the desert plains at night, kicking up a cloud of dust as he moved at an impossibly fast pace.

“’Hang ‘em up high!’ that's what I said.
Time to play your dead man's hand
Dealin bullets is like dealin cards
When it all comes down to a draw.
Wind in my face I feel the burn.”

He drove past several skulls in the sand, which seemingly began to sing with him, somehow.

“Dust drinks the blood of their tears!”

“I say goodbye but it don't mean much
When shots ring like hits of a drum.”

The cloud of dust flared up higher behind the figure, a cold smile crossing his features as he neared a lonely looking town.

“’Hang ‘em up high’ that's what I said!
Lay your body down on the sand
When it's all said and done
It's just a price I work to earn
It's just a price I work to earn”

Aceotaku Presents

“Hot sun glares down on the street
Silence as deep as a coltarado gorge
Don't care where you been or where you come from
It's just my job to be done.”

A RiM-verse Ghost Story

“Wind in my face I love the burn!”

“Dust drinks the blood of their tears!”

“I say goodbye but it don't mean much
When shots ring like hits of a drum.”

‘Hang ‘Em High’

The Figure blasted through the town, pulling several wooden planks off the buildings, his eyes glaring as he neared the largest building in the town.

“Haaaaang ‘em high!
And they won't back haunt your soul like they do mine.”

He suddenly vanished, just in front of the front door, his voice still echoing over the town as he finished his song.

“This town crawls with beggers and thieves
Come to bite the hand that feeds...”

Inside, the mayor of the town awoke with a start in his home, looking around panickedly. “Is someone there!?”

His wide eyes scanned the room carefully, but he saw no sign of anyone. He began to relax and lay back down upon his bed, giving once last glimpse at the ceiling...to see a hideous bull’s skull glaring at him with hideous, monstrous eyes.

He scrambled out of his bed, hurrying to the door, only to be pulled back as a fiery lasso wrapped around his neck, pulling him close to the massive, ghostly figure behind him, forced to stare into its horrible face.

“You remember me don’t ya, Mister Mayor?” The spectral being growled, its voice deep and guttural, with an empty echo behind it.

“Y-you ain’t real!” The pony whimpered, struggling against him. “Y-You’re dead!”

The ghost chuckled harshly, pressing its face close to the Mayor’s. “Do I LOOK dead to you!?” It threw the pony bodily to the floor, who promptly began to crawl away, staring back at it fearfully.

“W-what do you want!? I-Is it revenge you’re after!?”

“I’m here to finish my job.” The spirit said. “I am gonna bring peace and justice to this miserable place...and there ain’t a thing you can do to stop me.”

It vanished, leaving the mayor shivering and sweating on the floor. “Oh dear Celestia no...”

There was a knock on the door to Rainbow Dash’s home, the Pegasus blearily opening the door to be greeted by the earnest face of her friend Twilight Sparkle.

“Twilight...its 6am.”

“I’m sorry Rainbow, but this is important.” The unicorn said with a small smile. “You see I got a letter today.”

“Okay and what does that have to do with waking me at six in the morning?”

“I’m getting to that! Anyway, you remember how my family have been made honorary members of the Apple Family?”

Rainbow nodded, pointing to the brown Stetson Twilight now wore occasionally behind her neck. “Yeah Twi, I was there remember?”

The unicorn blushed in embarrassment. “Anyway, Deep Roots sent me a letter saying he was concerned about a town Appleoosa had started trading with a month ago, except now they won’t contact him at all no matter how many letters he sends, and all messengers he sends simply never come back...”

The pegasus frowned, raising a brow. “Alright, I admit, that does sound fishy...but why talk to me about it? And what does this got to do with you?”

“Well...Deep Roots thought that my machines and my Dad’s negotiating skills could be help solve any potential problem, not to mention he needed something to cement my family’s ties with the Apple’s, and this was all he had on him...”

“Alright, alright I get the picture...”

“And that is why I woke you so early.” Twilight winced. “You know I would never want to bother you and take your time, but I think we could use your magic in case things go sour...”

Rainbow held up a wing. “Say no more. Just let me set up things with Spike to deal with the Library and I’ll come with ya.”

Twilight smiled gratefully. “Thanks, this means a lot to me Rainbow...”

“Hey, just cause you’re the Element of generosity doesn’t mean you can’t be given something in return.” Rainbow Dash replied with a shrug and a wink. “I’m your friend Twi, I always got your back same as you got mine.”

The unicorn smiled wider, tears in her eyes. “You’re the best friend I ever had...”

“Pshawww! Like I said, no biggie!”

And thus, Rainbow now lazily laid on a large wagon, astounded by the sheer size, as well as its amazing engine. The last time she had ridden a vehical that could drive itself other than a train, it had been built by a criminal with anger issues and cobbled together from random machinery. This, however, was a true work of art and engineering, and made far less noise than that monstrosity.

Rainbow got up, smiling at the two farm hands that made the many machines of the Sparkle farm.

“You guys really made this yourselves?”

One of the twins turned to her, sporting a creamy coat and red, curly hair with white stripe highlights through it, and wore a corncob hat and a blue vest. “Well, Twilight did help a lot with this one. She really took to our work after we started working for her dad!”

A light chuckle came from his brother, who looked similar and dressed the same, though his hair was slightly different and he bore a well groomed moustache. “Those ponies are among the nicest we met, and were the first to show us the true merit of an honest living...”

Rainbow raised a brow. “Huh? What do you mean?”

The twins, Flim and Flam, shared a wary look. “We’ll tell ya later.” They both replied.

Rainbow narrowed his eyes but smiled after a second. “Alright, sorry to pry, I just don’t get a chance to talk to anypony other than my friends much...”

“It’s quite alright, it’s only natural to find a point of conversation on these long trips.” Flam said, waving a hoof dismissively. “We appreciate you respecting our privacy.”

“Hey no problem, Twilight trusts ya, and has known you far longer than I have, so you’ll get no guff from me.” The Pegasus smiled, still amazed at the craftsmanship the two brothers displayed.

“Speaking of, Twilight and Mr Nachtlicht still in the back?” Flim asked Rainbow

The wagon was very large, with a large canopy over the back and split in two compartments, with Rainbow using the first compartment while Twilight and her father stayed in the rear compartment.

“Yeah, just small talk really, didn’t want to intrude. I may be her friend, but I shouldn’t but into everything she does, especially if it’s with her dad.”

The brothers nodded as Flim spoke. “Those two have been really close as far as I can remember. You’ll never find a better pair of employers in all of Equestria, least as far as we’re concerned.”

Rainbow’s eyes widened in admiration. “You really look up to them both.”

“Not Twilight, she’s more of a little sister than anything else.”

“As for her Father, of course we respect and admire him!” Flam added, pride in his voice. “He is a wonderful pony and a truly benevolent employer. If anything happened to him...why, I best not think about it...”

Rainbow felt Twilight lean over her shoulder, smiling widely. “Oh I see you’re getting along well with Flim and Flam! “

“Yeah they’re pretty nice guys.” Rainbow smiled back, looking around at the wagon. “Still can’t believe just the two of them made this.”

Twilight giggled. “Well, Dad was really impressed by their inventions and hired them on the spot, and they’ve been helping us ever since.” She sighed wistfully. “They helped teach me just how fun it is to work on machines and how interesting it all is, and I am grateful for their help and friendship.”

The twin stallions blushed as Flam pointed ahead. “I think we’re here, ladies.”

The group looked ahead as they neared a small, ramshackle town. The wooden buildings looked like they had seen better days, the streets were completely empty, and there weren’t even any sounds in the town.

“Spooky.” Rainbow uttered as she looked around.

As they travelled further into town, they saw that wanted posters covered the walls and windows of almost every building, the brothers stopping the wagon as they and the two mares disembarked, Twilight’s father, Night Light, jumping off from the rear.

“Vhere is everypony?” the stallion asked in his thick, Germane accent.

“Judging from these posters, it’s possible they’re under siege by a gang of criminals...” Rainbow surmised. “But if that were the case, we would’ve been attacked by now...”

Flim and Flam shook their heads, Flam speaking. “No, I don’t think those are criminals...most mugshots would have a picture showing the criminal at their most fearsome, or at least a neutral expression...these posters...look at them...”

“They look...scared...” Twilight said softly, earning a nod from the twins.

Rainbow thought it over, nodding in acceptance as she narrowed her eyes. “Alright, so, let’s ask somepony about what’s going on...we still need to find out what happened to those messengers Deep Roots sent.”

Night Light walked up to a house at random and knocked on the door loudly. “Excuse me! Ve are representatives of ze Apple Family, Ve are here on behalfze of Deep Roots of Appleoosa, who you are trading vithz. Please speak to us, Ve need to know vhat is going on!”

“Go away!” a mare hissed fearfully from behind the door. “H-he’ll get you! Run while you still can!”

“Who?” Night Light asked. “Who vill get us?”

Before anypony else could react, a mad cackle filled the air and a lasso of fire pushed past Night Light and tore through the door, the mare screaming as she pulled out through the door and dragged along the street as she struggled against the rope of flame.

Rainbow gasped and chased after her, followed by Twilight and the three stallions of their group. “Don’t worry we’ll help you!”

Rainbow dodged as something shot past her at an unbelievable speed...and struck their vehicle, causing it explode. Flim and Flam stared at the wreckage forlornly, Rainbow and Twilight remaining focused on saving the mare.

The pair skidded to a halt, staring at the massive figure before them, holding up the frightened mare in front of it by the lasso.

It was huge, a massive creature with a frightening appearance. Its broad shoulders were covered by a thick, black trench coat, opened to reveal a ghastly green smoke where his legs would be and somehow oozing up from within its fleshless ribcage. Beneath a large, black ten gallon hat was a twisted, bull like skull with glowing, beady orange eyes. His left hand held a small metal weapon that reminded Rainbow vaguely of Rotten Bad Apple’s gun, only much smaller and sleeker.

The mare screamed as she dragged by the lasso and pulled under the monster’s trench coat, vanishing without a trace, even her screams had been silenced.

Twilight stared in horror as Rainbow growled. “W-What are you!? W-what did you do to that poor mare!”

The creature chuckled, his voice deep with a slight drawl. “Poor mare? That wretch was a criminal, she broke the law, and I merely acted as the instrument of her retribution.” He pointed his skeletal finger to a wall, a flash of flame causing a wanted poster bearing the mare’s frightened face to appear. “You see?”

Rainbow stared in surprise and steeled herself as she looked at the monster. “What did she do that was so wrong?”

“Don’t matter, she paid for her sins.” He chuckled. “Welcome to Dry Hot Gulch, ladies, I’m the sheriff of this town. Enjoy your stay.”

With that, he vanished without a trace, Twilight shivering.

“Sh-she didn’t deserve that...whatever he did to her...” the unicorn whimpered.

Rainbow nodded in agreement, glaring at the spot the spirit had once stood. “Yeah...poor mare was frightened out of her wits...”

“You really shouldn’t have come here...”

The two mares turned to the new voice, seeing a white Earth pony stallion with a black mane and tail.

“Who are you supposed to be?” Rainbow asked, her brow rose in suspicion.

“Name’s Hill.” The stallion replied. “I’m the Mayor of this town, and you folks have made the biggest mistake of your lives in coming here.”

Author's Note

Just in time for Halloween! (ignore this message if it is not, in fact, Halloween,or at least close to Halloween)

Chapter 2

Flim and Flam carefully inspected through the wreckage of the wagon as Night Light watched from behind.

“Can it be repaired?”

The two brothers looked at each other and nodded and Flim spoke. “Yeah, it can, but we’ll need some resources to replace what has been damaged, and it may take a while.”

“Take as long as you need, ve’re not going anywhere.” The older stallion chuckled.

“Speaking of, what even was that?” Flam wondered. “I have never seen something so small cause so much damage in all my life.”

“And then there’s that mare that Twilight and her friend chased after.” Flim continued. “This place is way more dangerous than we first thought.”

Night Light nodded. “Just vhat is happening in zis town?”

The three of them looked up as they heard hoofsteps, seeing Twilight and Rainbow Dash walking behind a white stallion.

“Twilight vhere is the mare?” Night Light asked as he and the twins walked over. “Vhat happened?”

The unicorn mare lowered her head. “I...I’m not sure dad, to be honest. Some..some monster took her.”

Flim and Flam held onto each other tightly as they paled and grimaced. “A-a monster!? L-like an Ursa or a timberwolf or a”

“No, no, nothing like that at all.” Rainbow said, shaking her head. “It was...it was some sort of bipedal spirit, it claimed that mare committed some crime and...I dunno, swallowed her I guess? All these posters seem to be of his victims rather than actual wanted criminals.”

“Swallowed?” Night Light frowned, eyes narrowing before turning to the white stallion. “And who are you?”

“I’m Mayor Hill, I run this town.” The stallion replied, looking down sheepishly. “Well, tried to at any rate. When I heard the commotion here, I came to investigate, and saw these two mares talking to the monster plaguing our town. May I ask who you ponies are?”

“Ve are here on behalf of Appleoosa.” Night Light answered. “He had sent messengers after your scheduled trades had failed to be delivered. Said messengers failed to reply to him as well. Am I right in assuming zis...spirit is ze cause?”

The Mayor looked between the stallions and mares, sighing as he turned and began walking towards a building visible from down the road. “Walk with me, I’ll explain everything.” The group looked between each before following after him, Flim and Flam staying behind to work on repairing the wagon.

“It...it was a long time ago.” Mayor Hill began as they walked. “This town was newly made, and started small, but eventually grew in size as it took in folks from all sorts of places. Ponies, Minotaur, griffon, it didn’t matter, we all for one reason or another came to this place and settled, however due to just starting out we were afraid of bandits and wildlife attacking us and taking what little we had, see this was before we formed a partnership with Appleoosa to secure ourselves a better source of food, money and jobs.” His gaze narrowed. “We were saved from a bandit attack from a passing minotaur, a refugee from the minotaur capital. His name was Hangem High, and he became our sheriff.”
Twilight shivered as a cold wind blew past, the sun setting and casting an orange twilight over the town. Rainbow held a wing over her friend’s back to warm her, smiling at her.

“At first things were swell,” the mayor continued, “the sheriff protected the town and made sure criminals suffered...but Hang ‘em High said that the twn was a rowdy bunch full of criminals, and he was right, several townsponies, griffons and even minotaurs had begun turning to crime either out of desperation, high emotions or just plain boredom. Hangem High decided to lay down the law and punished every criminal severely....and for a time, it was swell, ponies began to follow the law and began to fear and respect our sheriff...but there was still a few troublemakers causing mischief, so Hangem High did as his name suggested...and hung’em high from a wooden structure with a rope tied around their neck.”

Twilight paled, bringing a hoof to her throat. “That sounds awful...”

The stallion nodded. “It was, but it was effective....but it still wasn’t enough for our sheriff, who claimed the populace still refused to properly respect him and follow the law, and so..he went after smaller offences, finding little excuses for ponies to break the law in any way, and hung them all just the same. He showed no mercy nor remorse, but we still let him go on, because to do so meant we’d have no sheriff to protect us, and we were afraid that defying him meant hanging ourselves, even I was scared I’d be next if I questioned him...until he went too far.”

Rainbow’s eyes took on a steely look. “What happened?”

“A foal, just a colt of five, ripped a tag off of a mattress. It was an accident, and it was just a minor offence, at most, but it didn’t matter; Hangem High sentenced the colt to hanging. Upon making that declaration, with the scared colt by his side, in front of the entire town, we snapped. We could excuse everything he did before, but this was over the line. We all ganged up on him, restraining him, fury in our eyes. The sheriff struggled and fought back, cursin’ our rebellion until we finally wrapped a noose of rope around his neck and hun hum as high as we could, watching until he finally choked and breathed his last.”

Twilight turned green as Rainbow snarled. “You KILLED him!?”

Mayor Hill turned back to her, fire in his eyes. “You damn right we did! He was gonna hang a foal for just being a foal, he killed HUNDREDS of ponies, and do you wanna know why!? Because Hangem High is a sadist and a monster, who only became our sheriff so he could get off on ruling us through fear!”

“You could have done something else!” Rainbow argued.

“Oh, you mean ask the royal guard or law enforcement?” The white stallion questioned. “We are OUTSIDE the borders of Celestia’s rule, the royal guard CAN’T do anything out here, we had NOPONY to turn to but ourselves! Trust me when I say this, girl: that was the ONLY option we had, and not a ONE of us regrets that decision!”

“Now, that ain’t true now, ain’t it, Hill?” A voice growled out from in front of them.

The two mares and two stallions turned, Hill paling as he saw the imposing figure in front of them.

“After all,” the ghost continued, “I’m still here, ain’t I?”

“H-Hangem High...” Hill gulped.

The former sheriff twirled his revolver in his hand, looking the group over. “Such a lovely bunch of visitors we have today; and after all the trouble Hill took to making sure no one came here. Guess those Appleoosans were getting worried about their friends not contacting them.”
Rainbow stepped over. “So, you’re Hangem High...look, I know what they did to you, and it wasn’t good, but you need to stop this, you’re hurting innocent ponies.”

“Innocent?” The minotaur titled his head, chuckling. “Who in this world is innocent? You...you all think I came back just for some petty revenge?” He cackled harshly. “Get real! This ain’t about revenge! This is about justice, because there are ponies out there with a sin and they all need to be punished...every....single...last...one.”

He dissipated into smoke, reforming as he lifted up the Mayor by his neck, gazing deep into his terrified eyes.

“This stallion and this whole town committed some evil deed of some sort: lying, cheating, stealing, and worst of all killing ME! But it ain’t just them, every pony, griffon, minotaur and whetever else has done something they’re not proud of, and I came back from the grave to ensure their punishment!”

Night Light ran over. “Put him down right now! It does not matter what wrong they committed, nopony deserves whatever you have done to them!”

The ghost snarled and threw the white stallion to the ground, turning to Night Light. “Oh, while we’re on the subject, let’s get to you, Mr Night Light! Aiding and abetting fugitives! A miiiightyyyyy serious offence!” He pointed his revolver at the stallion. “How do ya plead!?”

Rainbow fired a blast of magic at the spectral horror, giving a desperate look to Twilight and her dad. “Run! I doubt our magic can put him off!”
Hangem High snarled, firing several bullets, one of which struck Rainbow Dash in the side, making her cry out in pain and collapsing to the ground.

“Rainbow!” Twilight yelled, rushing to help her friend up, laying the Pegasus across her back.

Night Light pulled the prone Mayor in his magical grip, he and his daughter running together as the enraged spectre chased after them, cackling madly.

The pair ran down the street in a panic, dodging the dark sheriff’s bullets as he fired at them. Each bullet destroyed a piece of road or building, causing debris to fall everywhere behind them.

Miss Twilight? Mister Nachtlicht?” the voices of Flim and Flam greeted the pair, the twins looking at them worriedly. “What happened to those two? What are ya running from?”

Twilight froze and turned, her father skidding to a halt beside her, scanning the street. There was no sign of Hangem High anywhere.
“W-wha...?” Twilight muttered, squinting her eyes as if it would help her find their pursuer.

Suddenly a rope of fire tied itself around around Night Light’s neck as well as the mayor’s, pulling them both up towards Hangem High, who hovered above them by several metres.

“This is my town, I am the law!” He bellowed. “And I will punish all those who break my laws!” He pointed malevolently at Flim and Flam as the Mayor and Twilight’s rather were pulled into his body, their screams silenced. “I’m coming for you two next!”

Twilight screamed and tried to reach at her father with telekinesis, but it was no use: he and the mayor were gone. Flim and Flam, pale and frightened, grabbed Twilight and Rainbow Dash, running into a building as the cruel spectre roared in anger, blasting the building into smithereens with several shots from his revolver. The sheriff lowered himself, chuckling cruely, only to blink in surprise at seeing no sign of his prey.

“You think you can RUN!? You think you can HIDE!?” He howled as he faded away into thin air. “I OWN this town, and without that hunka junk, you ain’t leaving ANY time SOON!”

Author's Note

Okay, REALLY unsure about this chapter, probably also could've made it a bit longer too. My main gripe is everyone's reactions to Hangem High's death, as well as some points in the backstory itself. If enough people offer suggestions or complain, I will edit this probably. We'll see.

But yeah, that baclstory is the main reason why this has a dark tag. Wonder what you all think of our villain?

Chapter 3

Twilight, along with the still paralysed Rainbow Dash, had been pulled into a building by a panic stricken Flim and Flam, leaving the still damaged wagon behind. Before she could ask them anything or demand they go back for her father and the Mayor, the building began to shake and rattle around them. The Twins paled and held each other in fear, only for the floor to spin and send the four of them underground.

This happened within a span of minutes, and not a moment too soon as the building was torn asunder.

Of course, now that they were underground, they weren’t quite aware of all this. To Twilight’s eyes, where once was a wooden house there was now a dark, musty room filled with a few lanterns and several scared looking ponies.

“U-Umm hello!” Twilight held up a hoof in greeting, smiling as she got her bearings. “I’m Twilight Sparkle of the Sparkle Family Farm from Ponyville, here on request by Deep Roots of Appleoosa to see why you have ceased your correspondence with Appleoosa!” Her smile drooped slightly. “I...I guess your sheriff was behind that.”

One of the locals, a large minotaur, nodded. “Yep, that’d be Hangem High. Everytime newcomers’d come in, he’d paralyse them with that weapon of his and then...subject them to the fate of everyone else he deems ‘guilty’.” The minotaur looked over at Rainbow Dash. “Seems he got one of ya with them.”

Twilight nodded, frowning. “He managed to capture my father and...” She gulped. “The Mayor.”

The ponies, griffons and minotaurs turned to the ground with downcast eyes as the minotaur speaking to Twilight sighed sadly. “I told him he needed to get down here, but he refused...wanted to make sure he could warn any other messengers and couriers Appleoosa sends...you’d be the fifth group sent here.”

Several unicorns laid Rainbow Dash onto a makeshift bed, looking her over, clearly local doctors. “Don’t worry, it will take a while, but we can cure the paralysis. Just hang tight and we can help her.”

Twilight frowned worriedly over her friend, but her thoughts were interrupted as she was pulled to face the twins.

“Twilight what in the name of Luna’s moon is going on!?” Flim asked worriedly. “W-what WAS that thing!?”

Twilight frowned. “From what we gathered, he is a ghost...the spirit of this town’s sheriff who was...punished for awful crimes.” She went green but swallowed and regained her normal, though hesitant, composure. “H-he seems to be punishing ponies for crimes...though what these crimes I cannot ascertain...and I have no idea why he would take my father....”

The brothers paled. “He’s...He’s after...criminals...?”

“Do not be fooled by his words.” The minotaur spoke from behind. “He is a coward and a liar by nature; he only harms those weaker than himself and when he is certain he can win, to boot. He only took on the role of sheriff because he enjoyed lording over us and indulging in his sadistic tendancies. The ‘crimes’ we all committed to deserve being roped up and pulled into...Celestia knows where? Anything. Forgetting to pay for candy as a foal. Not tipping ponies for their services. Any lie or minor misdeed you did: its all the same to him. The Mayor may have sugar coated for ya, but let me tell ya: NONE of his victims deserved being hung, way back when, and it ain’t no different now.”

Twilight nodded sadly. “Yeah. Rainbow has a strong sense of justice, she believes in the system, I doubt she was willing to believe that someone like that was capable of doing such awful things...but...its clear he isn’t a nice person...” the purple mare began to tear up. “You were all driven down here so he couldn’t hurt any of you, weren’t you? I am so sorry...”

“Now ma’am it ain’t your fault...”

“I know...” Twilight sniffed. “I just wish I could do something...give anything to appease him, make him stop whatever he is doing...”

“Trust me miss.” The minotaur stated with a serious gleam in his eye. “There is nothing you can do that will make that...monster stop.”

Flim and Flam looked at Twilight, then at Rainbow Dash, then at the huddled remnants of the town, and finally turned to each other. They gave a swift nod and turned. Twilight blinked and ran to them as the pair trotted off.

“Where do you two think you’re going!?”

“There is nothing you can do Twi...” Flim said. “But...we might be able to try something...even if it’s just a slim chance, even if it doesn’t work...we still gotta give it a shot.”

“What are you talking about!?” Twilight exclaimed. “W-why do you look like your going to your...why do you look so grim!?”

Flam sighed and spoke this time. “Miss Twilight...we...we haven’t been honest. That...spirit...monster...whatever, it was right about us.”

“What...? What are you talking about!?” Twilight stomped her hoof, looking incredulous.

“We lied. We stole. We hurt a LOT of ponies.” Flim continued. “We were con-men Twilight, and no matter how you slice it, we’re bad ponies. The only reason we aren’t in prison right now is cause of your dad...”

“He found out what we did, what we were like.” His brother nodded. “We only began working for him due to our own idiocy.” He chuckled and smiled. “But...that only taught us how much our old lifestyle was a waste, and we even thought about turning ourselves in...but your father...he knew, and he protected us.”

“Y-You’re lying!” Twilight weeped. “Y-You were the first friends I ever had! Th-there’s no way you hurt anypony!”

“it’s true!” Flim snapped, crying. “We are no better than bank robbers! Heck, we DID rob a bank once! We’re scum! The only reason we even changed was cause of ponies like you, and your dad! But the truth is, we deserve to be punished, and if it means we can get our jsut desserts whole trading ourselves for the safety of you and this town, we’d gladly make that sacrifice!”

“Y-you can’t!” Twilight whimpered. “I-I won’t allow it.”

The brothers chuckled. “What’s this? Twilight Sparkle acting selfish? Twi, you’d sacrifice anything for anypony, what kinda friends would we be if we didn’t do the same, after everything your father did and taught us?”

Twilight whimpered. “B-but...I’ve known you since I was a filly...”

“Twi, you know when a pony does something bad, they have to be punished for it, otherwise it isn’t fair.”

“But this isn’t even a proper punishment!” Twilight yelled. “You’re sorry! If you’re sorry then you should be forgiven!”

The brothers turned away, erect a wall with their magic to stop Twilight. “Even IF we had been forgiven, and we hurt too many ponies for that, we cna never forgive ourselves. Sorry Twi, but at least this way, we can help someponies, even if only for a brief moment.”

“No! You don’t have to!” Twilight cried, slamming her hoof on the wall of magic, but was silenced as the minotaur grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth with his hand.

“You idiot! He might hear you!”

The pair froze and everyone else looked up as the ground rumbled above them.

“No...” The minotaur breathed.

Suddenly bullets began flying into the tunnel, the minotaur grabbing Twilight and ordering everyone to evacuate, Rainbow Dash being carefully but hurriedly carried up by the doctors as everyone else used nearby tunnels to dash away from the bullets....and onto the surface, in the middle of the town’s street.

“Ya’ll though you could hide from me, that I didn’t know where you were?” Everyone looked up, seeing Hangem High hover above them. “Like I couldn’t still grab ya whenever I wanted? Hah...you all are idiots.”

Twilight stared as a pair of ponies stood under Hangem High: Flim and Flam.

“Sir, we have a deal we’d like to make.”

The ghost raised a brow and lowered himself closer to the ground, in front of the twins.

“W-we...we offer ourselves to you!’ Flam continued, pale. “Do whatever you want to us, but in exchange, you will leave these good folk alone!”
“’Good’?” The former sheriff tilted his head. “What does that MEAN exactly? Let me tell ya, there ain’t no one GOOD in this world. These of mine...they show me things. The sins of, the smallest piece of guilt within ya, or the hatred of those you have wronged. EVERYpony has done something they ain’t proud of, from stealing to hurting a small insect or even picking up some money off the ground, it’s all a crime.” He chuckled and grabbed the twins by their necks, making them choke and squirm as he lifted them up. “So tell me...what makes ya think I would ignore the crimes of so many...just cause a couple of really bad eggs asked me to?”

“Let them go!” Twilight exclaimed, running forward.

“And what will you do, hmm?” Hangem High snorted. “You gonna fight me for them!?”

“No...” Twilight sighed. “I...I will make a deal of my own: I challenge you to a duel. I’ll use my horn, you use your...weapon.”

“Gun.”

“Duly noted. Anyway, we’ll have our backs together, and take five steps away from each other. Once we reach those five steps, we’ll turn to face each other and fire. The first one to be hit loses. If I win, you will release EVERYONE you captured and leave, never to return, if I lose....y-you can have me, in exchange for Flim and Flam, a-and the rest of the town, but free to ask for anything else otherwise...”

The sheriff thought, a skeletal finger to his chin. “Now...first of all, that seems mighty favourable towards yourselves more than anything.”

“No...y...you can keep everypony you already took...i-if you win...y-you’ll just release Flim and Flam and leave the town alone...I’m sorry but nopony else needs to suffer...”

“Second of all, how ya know I didn’t just KILL my quarry?”

Twilight gazed at him, steely. “It’s true we have no idea as to what happened to the others...b-but if you did want to kill them, wouldn’t you hang them like you did when you were alive? There is a reason you drag them away and pull them inside yourself...”

“And you’re willing to sacrifice yourself, to whatever whims I have, to a fate you admit to not knowing ANYTHING about, just for these two con artists?”

“They AREN’T con artists!” Twilight asserted. “They are my friends, and good ponies, no matter what they used to be in the past, they have changed.”

Hangem High chuckled and threw the brothers away, a few ponies managing to catch them and cushion them bodily. “Fine! I accept your terms! We’ll duel. But only the two of us, no one else, pony or otherwise, may try to help or interfere. ” He smirked. “Fair and square. No cheating. And...if I win, I keep everypony I took, AND you.”

Twilight nodded, gulping. “Fair enough. I accept your terms.”

“Twi wait” Flim started, but was interrupted by a gunshot, a smoking bullet hole inches from where he stood.

“No interruptions.” Hangem High stated coldly. “If you break any part of the agreement, the deal is null and void, and I take EVERYONE, town and all.”

Again, Twilight nodded. “It’s okay, guys, I know what I’m doing.”

Rainbow groaned, giving Twilight a worried glare as she was laid on a blanket and surrounded by ponies.

Twilight and Hangem High turned, their backs as near together as they can while being of different statures.

“1!” they took a single step forward in the opposite direction from each other.

“2!” They took another step.

“3!” another step...and Hangem Highs arm twisted behind himself suddenly and fired a shot at Twilight.

“Twi!” Flim and Flam cried out.

Rainbow jerked and fought against her paralysis, trying to drag herself over, groaning unintelligibly.

However, Twilight stood, one of the many wanted posters near her now sporting a smoking bullet hole, a bubble of magic surrounded the unicorn.

“You cheated!” Hangem High shouted, firing several more times, however Twilight’s magical shield deflected each shot into a another poster.

“You cheated first though.” Twilight pointed out. “You were the one who fired before we finished counting, and you used your unusual form to ensure your victory. You had no intention of honouring our deal at all, did you!?”

“Don’t call me a cheater!” The sheriff shouted. “Of course I had no plan to honour a deal made with a cheat and an accomplice to two...no, three criminals!”

“We had a deal and you broke it!” Twilight argued. “You lied and you cheated, I was perfectly willing to give you whatever you wanted as long as everyone else was safe, but you didn’t even honour that!” twilight glared. “I dislike greedy cheaters and liars.”

“YAAGHHHH!!!” Hangem High screamed in rage, firing hundreds of bullets, but they continued to be deflected into the surrounded wanted posters.

“This is the strongest spell I can muster.” The purple unicorn said. “It was taught to me by somepony I once respected, though no longer. This spell requires surprisingly little magic to use, and anything that touches it I can deflect in whatever direction I choose....at least, as long as what hits it is magical. Physical objects will just be stopped.”

“Shut up!” The ghost continued to fire, glaring. “Stop talking! How dare you call me a liar and a cheat!”

Twilight uncharacteristically smirked. “Why? Because , by your twisted logic, that makes you a criminal too?”

“I am not!” Hangem High snarled...then his eyes shrank as he looked around himself. “I...Oh no...”

Everypony (and otherwise) else looked around as the pictures on the wanted posters began to burn away and change....revealing the cruel grin of Hangem High in the place of the fearful features of his victims. The air grew cold within the town, the cruel spirit looking around and cowering in fear.

“I-I did nothing wrong!” He shrieked, backing away....as firey lassos flew from the posts and deep into his ribcage. A tearing, cracking sound filled the air as every pony, minotaur and whatever else he had captured was pulled out of his body and the spritit collapsed to his knees, visibly weakened.

“LIAR!” a deep, terrifying voice resounded, everypony looking around in fear.

“No!” Hangem High got up, turning to run, only for the flaming lassos to return and tie themselves all around him. “I-I ain’t going back! Let me go!”

“YOU KILLED COUNTLESS INNOCENTS TO SATE YOUR LUST FOR POWER, TO PROVE YOU RULED THE TOWN!” The voice continued, its source unseen. “JUSTICE? YOU CARED NOT FOR ANY OF THAT, MERELY LIES TO HIDE THE TRUTH: YOU JUST ENJOY HURTING OTHERS! THAT WAS WHY YOU WERE SEALED AWAY WITHIN TARTARUS, EQUESTRIA’S GREATEST PRISON, THE MOMENT YOU DIED! YOUR SINS WERE TOO GRAVE TO ALLOW YOU FREEDOM, EVEN WITHIN DEATH!”

Hangem High screamed as his skeletal body was torn to pieces, the orange eyes within his skull flying out into the horizon from the sheer force. His errant pieces shook, trying to pull themselves together.

“I DO NOT KNOW HOW YOU DID THIS, OR WHAT FORCE GAVE YOU THE POWER, BUT YOU WILL NO LONGER ESCAPE, AND YOU WILL NO LONGER USE THE LIVING TO FOOL US ANY LONGER! NO LONGER SHALL YOU CAPTURE OTHERS TO TAKE THEIR PLACE FOR YOU! YOU WILL RETURN TO YOUR CELL WHERE YOU BELONG!”

Hangem High screamed as a massive, black, clawed fist sprang from the ground and wrapped itself tightly around him, a three headed giant of a dog, glaring angrily.

“HANGEM HIGH, YOU ARE HEREBY SENTENCED TO THE GRAVEST SENTENCE OF ALL: AN ENTERNITY IN TARTURUS, UNTIL THE IMPOSSIBLE DAY YOU REFORM AND REDEEM YOURSELF!”

“No! NOOOOOO!!” The cruel minotaur screamed, struggling from under Cerberus’ fist, trapped. “NOT BACK INTO THE PIT! IT BUUUUURRRRNNNNS!!!” His scream echoed throughout the town as Cerberus pulled him back down, deep beneath the earth, the ground sealing itself as if nothing had happened, the wanted posters burning into nothing, as if they were never there.

Twilight stared, unsure what to think of what happened, everpony else hugging their returned relatives as the sun rose over the town, signalling the return of peace.

Rainbow glared at the doctor looking her over. “I’m fine now, really.”

The doctor gave her a stern gaze. “You look alright...but we just can’t be too careful with magic, you know?”

The Pegasus rolled her eyes. “I’ll have myself looked at later then, at a proper hospital, but right now I just wann see how my friend is doing.”
The doctor nodded. “Alright, you check out fine anyhow, just be careful.”

Rainbow nodded and ran out of the clinic, looking around for Twilight...only for Flim and Flam to walk up to her.

“You...heard what we said, didn’t you?” Flim said. “About...our past.”

“Yeah, I was paralysed, not in a coma.” Rainbow nodded. “Look...I can’t claim I’m fine with the idea that you guys were conartists, or that you haven’t gone to jail or anthing, but....you don’t seem like bad guys, and you were willing to give yourselves up to help the town, not to mention how much Twilight cares about you too...look, I’m not gonna hold anything against ya, as long as you don’t do anything wrong in the future.”

Flam chuckled. “Look, that part of our lives is over and done with, we’re much happier helping build machines for the farm. That being said, I think these folks can handle themselves fine without us now, so we should get ready to go, right?”

Rainbow shrugged but nodded. “Yeah I mean, I don’t really see much more we can do here right now, so I’ll go wait in the wagon....you guys really did fix that thing up really fast though.”

The twins smirked and stood proudly. “Well, when it comes to mechanical repairs and construction, we’re your stallions.”

The Pegasus rolled her eyes. “Yeah yeah, I’ll let you guys know if I ever need anything like that in the future.” She started walking towards the wagon. “You guys think Twi will be alright? I mean...this is the first time she had to really fight something, by herself, and with her dad...”

“Don’t worry, Twi’s stronger han you give her credit for.” Flim stated. “Her dad too. They’ll be fine.”

Rainbow sighed. “Alright, I’ll take your word for it....I just worry sometimes, ya know? Especially since I was sorta useless for this.”

“You’re here for Twilight, and that’s all that matters.”

“Yeah.” Rainbow snorted and smiled. “Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

“Zat vas very dangerous!” Night Light scolded his daughter in the back of the wagon.

“I know dad but...things looked desperate, it was the only thing I could think of to save Flim and Flam...” the unicorn mare lowered her head, whimpering.

Her father sighed and gently wrapped his hoof over her shoulder. “I know, but...you must understand, sometimes you can’t make a deal to solve a problem, and you CERTAINLY shouldn’t sacrifice yourself, that is no way to protect others.”

“I’m sorry dad...”

He smiled and nuzzled her softly. “It is alright dearheart, I was just concerned, I am proud of you all the same...just remember to think about yourself ever once in a while.”

“Maybe...”

“I was surprised you resorted to your brother’s spell,howezer.” He continued. “I zought you hated him.”

Twilight scowled. “I do...he abandoned us so he could focus on his career, and then thinks that sending us some token handouts will solve everything. He’s no better than the rest of those snobs!”

“Twilight...your brozer is not as bad as you zink...”

“That’s what you and mom always say! But I don’t believe it, if he really loved us so much then why didn’t he stay with us!”

Her father sighed. “Not ezery family can stay together indefinitely, my child.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “You always say that too...the only reason I use that spell anymore is cause its quite useful, and its the only spell I can really use at all...”

“You could train yourself...”

“No.” Twilight glared. “I’m a farm girl, I have no need for studying and magic.”

“You used to love zat...”

“I’m not the same little filly who idolised her ‘BBBFF’ who wanted to become Celestia’s student, dad.” Twilight sighed. “Those days are long gone...”

Night Light lowered his head sadly. “This is true...”

Rainbow suddenly poked her head in. “Hey why so glum? You should be happy, you saved a whole town by yourself Twi!”

The unicorn giggled. “Nah...it was nothing really...I barely did much...”

“Look, just doing your part, no matter how small, counts if it leads to helping someone.” Rainbow smirked. “Trust me, I should know. So what were you guys talking about anyway?”

Twilight looked to her father, the two of them looking back at the pegasus and speaking as one. “Nothing important.”

“Alright, anything you two want to say to the locals or do before we head out?”

The two put their hooves to their chins in thought.

“Well...” twilight drawled. “We could go see if the locals need any reimbursements for supplies!”

“And...what, you’re just gonna give it to them out of your own pockets?”

“Why not?” twilight chuckled as her father nodded.

“It wouldn’t be right, leaving them so suddenly. Let’s stay a while und smell ze roses.”

Rainbow laughed mirthfully. “Alright, I’ll break it to the twins then. Heck, I might be able to ask the Mayor for some books on their town history and the like!”

Twilight laughed and hopped out. “You and your books, Rainbow.”

The Pegasus lauged and ran ahead, Twilight chuckling and chasing after her. “I may be a bookworm, but I can outrun ya!”

“We’ll see about that!”

Night Light shook his head, smiling.

Sunset Shimmer trotted along the desert, looking down at the pair of orange eyes that lay on the ground, staring up at her. Her shadow moved forward as the eyes were dragged down and absorbed into it, a pair of threatening, yellow eyes glowing for a brief moment before vanishing.

“You shall be whole.” The unicorn muttered. “And we will make them all pay for humiliating me.”

Author's Note

Alright, it’s done. It’s a lot shorter than I had intended and I may have rushed through things a bit too quickly, but it’s more or less fine as is.

At one point Rainbow was gonna be the one who faced off against Hangem High, before I changed it to Twilight. You can probably tell that however. :twilightblush:

Hope you all enjoyed it, and please comment.