Beware Burglin' Bandits

I was now able to walk the streets without causing a ruckus. So after leaving Alice's, I made my way towards the sheriff's office. Once I arrived at the office I quickly took note of the large crowd outside, some were yelling and others were thrusting their pitchforks into the air.

The sheriff walked out of his office with a grim look. The mob immediately started jeering him, and a few from the crowd shouted questions. I made my way a bit closer in an attempt to understand what the angered ponies were trying to say.

"Quite, Quite!"

"Ah know yall are angry, we're workin' on it," the sheriff reasoned, or at least attempted to with the crowd.

At the sheriff's statement, the crowd exploded in anger, many of them shouting at the sheriff.

"We ain't lettin' no bottom of the barrel scum get us good like that!"

"What 'bout our families!"

"C'mon sheriff our livelihoods are at stake!"

Many ponies from the mob seemed genuinely scared, what happened? The sheriff took out a piece of paper, many ponies from the mob seemed transfixed on the sheriff's sudden action.

"From here forth anypony that can bring in Bandit King Bowie will receive five hundred 'n fifty bits, dead or alive. He's wanted for ponynapping, murder, and attempted arson of the Appleloosan orchard."

Bandit King Bowie? That is one hell of a stupid name. I mean, I get it, strike fear into the hearts of your enemies but seriously, bowie? The mob cheered, many of them raising pitchforks and torches in a stereotypical mob fashion before clearing the area, I'm assuming to talk about the subject.

After the crowd dissipated I walked over to the sheriff to ask him some questions, many of the questions dealing with what transpired.

"So...you seem busy." Ah, my conversation skills have improved.

"That's a damn understatement." Is that the first of pony profanity?

"What was all that about?"

"The bandit group Ebony Knives raided the locomotive."

Ebony Knives? A bandit attack, man this pony world just took a nosedive. Though maybe you think after dealing with hydras, giant alligators, and cleaning that my perspective would have changed earlier. Hopefully, none of the ponies on the train died.

"Any....casualties?"

"Nopony was injured, thank Celestia, however, a pony that was onboard is now bein' held for ransom." The sheriff's demeanor changed dramatically from informative and rational to something akin to fear.

"W-well, that's...er...yeah...a-anyways what about the ponies you wanted me to meet."

"Ah, sorry, I don't think now's a good time we need all hooves figurin' out where the bandits fled to."

This situation may be worse than I originally thought. When the sheriff previously mentioned bandit attacks I took it lightly, but the metaphorical shit just hit the metaphorical fan. Maybe I should help them look, It could help me earn their trust.

"Well Mr. Sheriff I don't have hoofs but I do have a pair of hands, maybe I can help."

"My name's Silver Star son, and yes, any help is the kind of help we need. Just head over to the railroad and I'll meet ya there, I got some stuff to finish here first."

Guess I'm knee-deep in a bandit investigation now, coming to this world has been one wacky ride.

"Oh, before ya head out Peter I ought to tell ya that your alligator pal is workin' out in the fields west of the orchard."

So that what happened to the lizard huh, that's pretty cool.

"Hey, sheriff which way on the railroad did the raid happen?"

"Towards the orchard."

"Got it."

I shouldn't have got myself involved in this, but then again it's this or begging on the streets so I don't have a choice. I made my way towards the railroad hoping everything would end up all right in the end. Hopefully, the bandits would give up the pony they grabbed and I wouldn't end up begging on the streets.

I made my way through town passing groups of ponies, many of them speaking about the bounty or their families. Once I reached the railroad near the border of the town I saw the friendship express.

The locomotive's frame was still intact but the amount of damage done to the thing was absurd. There were several large dents in the train's frame as well as large holes in the ceiling of many of the cars. This doesn't look like a bandit attack, not that I've seen any, this looks like it was bombed.

I looked down the right side of the track, it seemed like the railway itself also sustained heavy damage. I started following the railroad track towards where the raid happened, which is probably a very bad idea.

I was walking past a bend in the orchard which the railroad bent with when I saw the sheriff and the wizard from the shop talking. They hadn't noticed me yet so with no bad intention in mind I tried to hear what they were saying.

"Look Mr. Star I'm giving you two hours to retrieve my daughter before I burn everything in a mile, understood?"

"I'll get her by then Mr. Stone."

"You better."

I blinked and the wizard was gone no trace of him anywhere, how the hell does he do that? With my question unanswered I made my way to the sheriff who, in my opinion, looked worse for wear.

"howdy sheriff, what's happening?"

"Nothin' but a bandit invasion, I was just waitin' for you and the others to arrive."

Now that I think about it, how'd he get here before me? It isn't exactly a small walk, what's with ponies and mysteriously appearing and disappearing?

"So I got a pitchfork...am I supposed to kill a bandit if we engage them or something?"

"You bet your britches son, you best be ready for a brawl, however, if ya can capture one for questionin' that'd be a priority."

So...kill first ask questions later or question first kill later? I'm just going to assume he wants me to capture one if possible for questioning but if I can't, well...I'd better not think about it too much.

Author's Note

Woah, bandits and wandering wizards?

Thanks for readin'.

Schools startin' up fer me so my upload schedule(I don't have one) is gonna get a tad jumbled.

If ya spot any errors please notify me. 👍

Have a nice day.