Really Rad Rodeo

"So let me get this straight, ya decided in a hostage situation to attack the hostage-takers, with a lantern."

"It was that or call him mean names for twenty minutes."

The sheriff let out a rather large sigh. It wasn't a secret that he was exhausted, I'm surprised he was able to work as much as he did. I explained the situation involving the corpse we had founder along the border of the orchard. The sheriff deflated a bit but grabbed some of his men and headed over to investigate a bit.

The sheriff said to just head to his office and take the couch for the night. As he was heading out he also told me we'd speak in detail about my situation later.

With an exhausting day being put behind me, I trudged back to the town, broken lantern in hand, ready to sleep. The sheriff's door was locked so I had to climb through an unlocked window. Once I got in I collapsed onto the couch, my last thought before I fell asleep was something along the lines of My missing pitchfork'.

I woke up to the sounds of cheering and loud laughter. I hate hearing both of these things right when I wake up. I rolled off the couch onto the dusty wooden floor smacking my forehead on the wood before I got up. I poked my head out the office window, I almost said get off my lawn.

In the central road of Appleoosa was a large celebration, many of the ponies were drinking and cheering. I guess I must have slept later then I expected. The celebration was a rodeo or at least it looks like one, I'm pretty far away from the crowd so I couldn't tell. Once I was finished observing the crowd I made my way to the door.

Before I could reach down and open the door, it flew open to reveal the sheriff and his daughter.

"Well if it ain't the drunkard that's been hoggin' the couch!"

"Peter monkey, I heard ya beat some bad guys!"

Is closing the door a valid option in this conversation?

"I didn't do much, your dad did most of the work."

"Nuh-uh, I heard ya beat three bandits with your weird arm thingies behind your back!"

"Nah kid you have it a bit mixed up, also before I forget, Sheriff we needed to talk about some stuff, right?"

"Right, Star why don't ya watch the rodeo for a bit."

"Yes daddy," the small filly mumbled. Must not have liked getting booted out of the conversation.

"So first things first, I'd like ta thank ya fer what you did last night during the hostage situation, even if it was mighty risky."

"It was something."

"Well, that 'something' of a move saved the orchard and the bandits inside from bein' burned!"

"What do you mean?" Might as well play dumb, it'd be weird if I knew what he meant.

"The hostage was the daughter of Brim Stone, of the Stone family! Mighty big family, lotta control over this region."

So you're telling me that the blue stallion that walked into Alice's shop was some big shot? His daughter looks nothing like him, never would have guessed they were related. Guess he was quite literal when he said he would burn the bandits.

"Oh, well, at least she is safe and nobody got burned."

"Almost nopony, your lantern burned Bowie's mane and fur after you hit him."

"Oh jeez, he deserved it though."

"Before I forget, the next and last pony I want ya to meet is gonna be outside this office 'round evening time."

"Really? Also, how am I gonna travel now that the train is wrecked?"

"Don't worry I got it covered, and the pony will probably find you before you find them so don't worry 'bout not seein' them."

A pony trotted out from the crowd with a worried expression, once he noticed the sheriff he quickly made his way over.

"Sorry ta interrupt, but it seems like some ponies are makin' trouble at the saloon."

"Let's head over, let me just grab some cuffs from the office, we'll talk later Peter."

So I'm just supposed to hang out here then? Maybe I could head out and enjoy the festivities for a bit. With that in mind, I walked out of the office towards the crowd of colorful ponies. Once I looked carefully though, there were buffaloes among the crowd of ponies.

As I neared the crowd there were some interesting sounds coming from a rodeo. Interesting only because they sound unnatural and cartoonish. As I made my way to the weird sounds and the crowd I noticed something, the ponies didn't seem as cautious as they were originally.

Once I got past the crowd I was met with a peculiar spectacle. There was a stallion making a fool of himself, I guess it makes sense too since it Trouble Shoes. Who would thought all that bad luck could be used for entertainment. Every time he slipped or had a random pie smashed on his face the laughter of the crowd was a common response.

Seemed the cartoonish sound was the honking of a clown's nose and many other slapstick sounds. I thought it was pretty funny, and before I knew it I was laughing with the crowd and enjoying the rodeo clown's routine. It is weird to think yesterday even happened.

I shook my head to get rid of that stinkin' thinkin' and headed off to some of the stalls set up along the road. I had the bits from the work I did for Alice maybe I could get something to help me along my journey to nowhere. With that thought in mind, I walked from vendor to vendor checking out their wares.

I ended up eating an apple pie and chatting with a few ponies playing some carnival-esque games for an hour or two. Times passed before I knew it. Most of the ponies cleared out after a while, but I had time to spare so I walked to the struggling stalls.

The last stall was odd and eye-catching, there were several brass items and shiny bits and bobbles decorating the wooden stall's exterior. A pony ran the stall, a stallion by the looks of it. Once I approached there seemed to be many items laid across the counter.

"Hello there my good sir, what can I get for you today?"

Oh? He isn't from appleoosa, he seems to be missing the country twang.

"Ah, I'm just looking around."

Among his many, many items I saw and picked up a brass compass. It looked pretty cool, very shiny.

"Oh, are you interested?"

"Uh, sure."

"it's a basic brass compass, so since it's unused it'll be nine bits."

Fuck me man, I don't know if I'm being scammed or not. Ugh, I'm going to have to suck it up and pay it until I figure out average prices.

"Here."

Before I handed him the money he stopped me by putting his hoof up.

"For an additional two bits, I'll throw in this map I got here, be warned though this thing is quite old."

"Fine."

I feel like I've been robbed.

Author's Note

I'm sorry this one is so late, I'm sick. 😷

If you see any errors please report them to me, being sick made seeing error a little bit harder.

Thank you for reading, I hope you have a wonderful day.