Justice, Integrity, and Service

An odd silence hung in the air after Daring finished her account. “I haven’t cried that hard in a long time,” she remarked softly.

Braeburn just nodded absently. “We, uh… haven’t had to tell that story in a very long time. Nopony’s every bothered to ask, I guess.”

“Well, we’re asking you now,” Lyra ventured. “And I’m really sorry to hear about that. But why didn’t we know about this? I mean, when an RIS agent dies, it’s all over the news. I can’t believe we’ve never heard about this.”

Daring gave her a sad smile. “Because that was the turning point. The point where everything changed. The point where we became a target for everyone’s hatred.”

“Story for another time,” Braeburn said. “We’re gettin’ ahead of ourselves.”

The funeral was mostly a blur. The deputies sat together, dressed in dark suits and ties, with their badges affixed to their chests. A thin black stripe was placed diagonally over the star, signifying the death of a deputy. There were speeches and tears from family members and friends, hugs and words of encouragement.

Daring didn’t remember much of it. She thought she had seen Twilight and Blueblood in the background, but they disappeared before the service ended.

As they left the cemetery, someone absently suggested getting some drinks. Earp had excused himself, but the others obliged. And so they found themselves at Dusty’s, swapping tales of Doc and Earp, doing nothing more than enjoying each other’s company.

A few drinks later, Daring found herself in a booth with Braeburn. The other deputies were sitting around the center of the bar, not looking in their direction.

“This might be the first time I’ve been here without Earp and Doc,” Braeburn noticed, drinking from a bottle.

Daring said nothing. She had at some point taken her badge out, and was staring at the black band that covered it. A mourning band, it was called. Something she had heard about but never dreamed that she would see.

“Darin’? When you charged at Blueblood, what were you going to do to him?”

The pegasus pondered on that for a second. “I dunno.”

“Then why’d you do it?”

“It seemed like something Doc would do.”

Braeburn smiled and raised his glass. “Yeah. I guess it does. Here’s to Doc.”

Daring raised her glass. “To Doc.”

The glasses clinked and the bar fell silent.

At some point, Bon Bon realized that Braeburn had stopped talking. Daring had picked up the story, and instead the stallion was staring off into space, a lost look in his eyes.

That caused her to frown. She knew now why the RIS and the Marshals barely spoke, but something was nagging at her. There was more to this story, she realized. There had to be. She had what she wanted, but she couldn’t quit now.

“Not much happened after that, not for a few months anyways…”

Braeburn didn’t need to look up from his work to feel Daring staring at him. “What is it?” he asked.

Daring hesitated, unsure of how to phrase the question. She decided to abandon caution and just get to the point. “How are you holding up?”

The stallion blinked. He sure hadn’t been expecting that. “What are you talkin’ about?”

“Just, in general. You’ve been, I dunno, quiet lately.”

Braeburn chuckled. “I thought you liked it when I’m quiet.”

“You’ve said three words to me in the past four days.”

The stallion fell silent. “Not well, to answer your question.”

Daring knew what he meant. It had been a few weeks since the death of Doc, but the pain was clearly still there. She sighed, searching for the right words to say to him. “Yeah. Me neither. Know what, I think I need a drink. Care to join me?”

“I think I’d like that.”

Dusty’s was fairly busy, but Braeburn and Daring were able to secure their usual booth, tucked away in the corner. They lay their hats on the desk and threw back a few drinks before they started talking. “You know,” Braeburn stated, “We haven’t been here since the funeral.”

“Hm.” Daring turned her cup around in her hooves. “I think I know why.”

Braeburn took another sip, listening.

“It’s the same reason Earp hasn’t been here since the funeral either.” She waved her hoof around the room. “It reminds him of Doc.”

The answer was simple, but the more Braeburn thought about it, the more it was right. He could almost feel Doc there, sitting at his usual seat by the bar.

“But you know what? I think he’s afraid of it.”

Braeburn was confused. “Afraid of what?”

“Remembering him, I guess,” Daring replied. “Like he’s scared that all of these memories are going to be painful.”

“Can’t blame him,” Braeburn acknowledged. “They kind of are.”

“Yeah, but if we don’t remember him, we’re going to forget him.” The pegasus hesitated but continued. “And I’m saying this because it’s what happened when my dad died.”

Braeburn raised an eyebrow. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine. But when he passed, I wasn’t sure how to feel. I didn’t really want to see anything that reminded me of him. I thought the pain would be too much. But my mom told me that forgetting him wasn’t the same as healing.” She sighed. “Loss doesn’t get any easier though. Each one hurts as much as the last.”

She glanced up to see a strange expression on Braeburn’s face. It seemed to be empathy, mixed with sadness and understanding. “You’ve been through a lot, I take it.”

“More than you could ever imagine.”

Braeburn offered a sad smile. “Then I won’t imagine it.” He offered his cup in a toast.

Daring returned the gesture, the two cups clinking together. The rest of the night passed in silence.

“So what did happen to the Marshal?”

“What didn’t happen to him? Doc was our friend, but he was closer to Earp than anyone else. And Earp didn’t really take the loss all that well,” Daring replied. Her nostalgic tone had faded away and was being replaced by a creeping bitterness.

Lyra was worried. She wondered if it was worth it to keep pushing forwards. It was clear that these stories were more recent, and the pain still present. She wondered if it was too late to turn back.

Daring grumbled to herself, pulling her favorite tan hat down over her eyes. Stupid sun, she thought. Maybe she should invest in some sunglasses.

“I’m worried about Earp,” said Braeburn.

“I didn’t even know he was back,” Daring replied, her eyes finally safe from the sun.

“That’s because he locked himself in the office and didn’t talk to anyone,” Braeburn said. “He told Marshall not to let anyone in, even us.”

The pegasus let out a low ‘hm,’ furrowing her brow. “Why would he do that?” She shook off the thoughts as they came to a stop at yet another wooden building. It was funny, she thought. She had been doing the job for so long that the buildings were starting to look the same.

After a few knocks on the door, a yellow coated mare answered. Daring zoned out for a bit as Braeburn explained that a warrant had been issued and that she needed to come with them.

“No,” the mare protested, trying to back away. “There has to be some mistake.”

“Ma’am-”

The mare suddenly slammed the door. “Ah!” One of Daring’s hooves was in the way, and the pegasus winced in pain. “That’s it!”

Daring shoved the door open, accidentally smacking the mare in the face with it. “Ow!” The mare recoiled in pain and was quickly forced to the ground by the combined efforts of Braeburn and Daring. “Help!”

Outside, some of the neighbors had gathered in the yard. Looks of concern fell upon their faces as they heard the mare’s screams.

Braeburn led her out, having secured her in hoofcuffs. “You alright?”

“Peachy,” Daring hissed. She hobbled out, trying not to put weight on her injured hoof. The neighbors gasped and pointed, eyes wide in shock. Daring was confused until she saw that the mare’s face had a jagged cut from being hit with the door.

“Hey, deputy, can you find some towels or somethin’? She had an accident with the door,” Braeburn called. One of the deputies nodded and dug around in the wagon, coming up with a rag.

“Next time, don’t resist,” Braeburn remarked as he tried to wipe the blood off of her face.

“We didn’t know it at the time, but that would be the case that fucked everything up.”

Bon Bon blinked in surprise. “Why? It sounds like you did everything right?

“Because,” Braeburn cut in, snapping out of his stupor. “We didn’t know it at the time, but things were happenin’ behind the scenes.”

“What kind of things?”

“Politics,” spat Braeburn angrily.

Daring Do knew that something was off the minute she stepped into the office. The first clue that tipped her off was that Marshall wasn’t behind the front desk. The second was that Braeburn wasn’t in the bullpen. However, she could hear loud voices coming from the door of the marshal’s office.

“Land’s sake, Braeburn, what are you? Stupid?”

That was the third clue that something was wrong. It was the voice of Marshal Earp, but she had never heard him use that tone, or call Braeburn stupid.

“Sir, I”m tellin’ you-”

“I don’t care what you’re tellin’ me, Marshall! I don’t care!”

Deciding against her better judgement, Daring went over to the office and timidly knocked on the door. Marshall opened it, his face falling when he saw her. His eyes flicked backwards.

“Is that her? Send her in. Don’t stand there like a cactus.”

Marshall complied, and Daring entered the office. She saw Braeburn slumped in a chair on the right, looking exhausted. He looked up at her with apologetic eyes, his face lacking the usual smile he had when he greeted her in the mornings.

“Deputy,” Earp said from behind his desk. Daring saw the bags under his eyes, but was more concerned about the scowl on his face. “Have a seat.”

She tentatively sat down next to Braeburn, a bit confused. “Sir? Is everything-”

“You will speak when spoken to,” Earp spat out.

That was odd. Any hint of Earp’s normal, easygoing manner had vanished. Earp leaned forward. “Tell me what you did to Sandy Storms.”

Daring blinked. “Who?”

“The mare who slammed the door on you,” muttered Braeburn.

“Uh, why?”

Earp rolled his eyes. “Because she is suing us for excessive use of force.”

The pegasus’s eyes went wide. “What?!”

“She is saying that you slammed her against the wall and shoved her to the ground while pointing a gun at her,” Earp said matter-of-factly. “Her attorney is claiming she is in emotional distress. And she has some injuries to prove it.”

Daring shot out of her seat in anger. “Sir! You’re not believing that crap! I hit her with a door because-”

“I don’t care why you hit her!” Earp’s thundering voice silenced her. “The point is you did! And now we’re in a whole crock of shit!”

An uneasy silence filled the room. “Sir, I-”

“We all have to go to Canterlot for the trial,” Earp said as he stood up. “Just stick to your story and listen to your lawyer and we’ll do fine. Next time be more careful, we can’t afford to deal with this shit. Now get the fuck out of my office.”

Daring opened her mouth, but she couldn’t piece a sentence together. She numbly stood and turned to see Marshall still holding open the door, not meeting her eyes. She glanced at Braeburn to see a strange fire burning in his emerald eyes as he glared at Earp.

A million thoughts were flying through her mind as her hooves guided her out of the office and to her desk. Marshall left after her and shut the door. “Terribly sorry,” he said. “I don’t know what’s gotten into Earp. I’m sure you did the right thing and this will all blow over.”

“S’fine,” Daring heard herself say. She sat down at her desk, staring at the wall. She heard voices from behind the closed door but couldn’t make out the words. The voices rose in volume until the door opened again and Braeburn stormed out.

He took one look at Daring and his gaze softened. He jerked his head in the direction of the conference room. Daring stood and followed him, still trying to process what had just happened.