Chapter 8

Arthur sat in a chair with his arms crossed and his hoof crossed over his knee as he waited for Mayor Mare in her office. After his little speech of him being Ponyville’s new sheriff, he expected the ponies to reject him and say he was too violent or dishonorable to wear the badge. What the gunslinger didn’t expect was to receive a round of applause and words of praise to his proclamation. Something about seeing all their smiling faces brought a smile to Arthur’s face and a warm feeling in his heart. Knowing that he was now wearing a badge that didn’t have anything to do with deceiving anyone for his own gains was a bit surreal. He remembered all the times he had lied or cheated his way to gain fortune for himself and his old gang. His memory then drifted to how he used to collect money from those who borrowed from them, and how he later realized it was a deplorable act.

Arthur frowned as he took off his hat and pinched the bridge of his muzzle when the Downes family came to mind. At the time, all he wanted was getting back the funds that were borrowed and didn’t much care for how he was beating Thomas Downes. His actions would soon later come back to give him his just deserves when he was infected with the same disease that Mr. Downes had been riddled with. Arthur glanced out the window and wondered what became of Mrs. Edith Downes and her son Archie. During his travels, Arthur would occasionally run into Mrs. Downs which never ended well. The last he had seen them was when they were held up in an old mining town and they looked the worse for wear. Poor Mrs. Downes had reduced herself to a common prostitute and the boy was working a back breaking job where he was constantly belittled by the men he worked with. Not being able to bear their condition, Arthur had left them with enough money to leave and start fresh somewhere else. It was the least he could do after what he had done to them, but the guilt still ate him up both inside and out. His efforts to help the Downes family had soon proved to bear fruit when Arthur had one day read a ledger saying that Edith and Archie had moved to California to start fresh as Arthur wanted them to. The ledger read that Mrs. Downes founded a golf course and invested into several other businesses. In the west.

“Hmm, I hope I did enough right by them for all the pain I caused.” Arthur mused to himself.

Arthur was brought out of his thoughts when the door opened and Mayor Mare walked in with a few documents in her hands. “Sorry for the wait, Mr. Morgan, my secretary wouldn’t stop asking me about you.”

“Didn’t know I already had a fan club, Mayor Mare.” Arthur chuckled as he sat up straight.

“Oh you’d be surprised how far a few powerful words and a strong sense of conviction goes in this town.” Mayor Mare giggled as she sat down at her desk. “Especially when you managed to drive away that group of ruffians and exposed Rocky Edge.”

“Just doin’ what needed to be done, ma’am.” Arthur shrugged.

“Oh come now, Mr. Morgan, if we are to be working together I prefer if you called me by my real name.” Mayor Mare said with a warm smile. “My name is Johanna Justice, Mayor Mare is more of a title for my position as mayor.”

“Johanna Justice? Well I gotta say, that’s a mighty fine name ya got there.” Arthur complimented with his own smile. “Ya certainly got yer work cut out for ya.”

“Why thank you, Mr. Morgan.” Johanna said, her cheeks tinting a little.

“Now I think it’s only fair that if I’m to call you by yer name then you should be able to call me by mine.”

“Really? I wouldn’t want to overstep.”

“Naw, you could never overstep with a feller like me.” Arthur chuckled. “Please, Johanna, call me Arthur and nothin’ else.”

The way Arthur said his words had struck a chord within the mayor’s heart as she gazed into the gunslinger’s eyes. Those sky blue eyes were fierce and strong but also comforting and warm. It had been some time since Mayor Mare had felt this way, but she quickly cleared her throat and tired her best to stop her cheeks from getting any redder than they already were.

“Ahem, yes well, I will be sure to do just that, Arthur.” Johanna agreed, mentally squealing a little as she said his name. “Now then, as the Sheriff of Ponyville it is important you keep this town safe and follow the proper regulations. It will be your duty to keep this town’s moral high and its ponies from falling victim to any more wrongdoers.”

“Fair enough, I’m no stranger to puttin’ those who would do harm in their place.” Arthur nodded.

“I’m glad to hear it, but there is something else I must discuss with you that I feel should address.” Johanna said in a more serious tone. “That loud tool you used earlier, I have never in all my life seen anything like it. I also noticed that it is something that is quite dangerous if it can wound the way it does. So Arthur, please tell me, what exactly is that tool you have clipped to your belt?”

Once again, Arthur was at an impasse. He was hoping to not be questioned about his gun but after the gunslinger’s little display at the lake, there was little to no chance anyone wasn’t just gonna ignore it. It also didn’t help when he saw everyone’s reactions when he fired his gun, how scared and startled they were; how uneasy they looked at the sight of blood. After seeing how they reacted, it was painfully obvious that his type of weaponry was unheard of and could pose as a serious problem should anyone get the wrong idea.

“Tell me somethin’, Johanna, there’s other kinds of weapons besides them swords and shields and stuff, right?”Arthur questioned. “Like, fer example, ranged weapons that can be fired?”

“Well…” Johanna tailed off as she pondered his strange question. “The only thing I can think of is the bow and arrow, along with the crossbows that the guards use.”

“I see.” Arthur said as he reached to the side of his belt. He grasped the handle of his six-shooter and slowly pulled it out of its holster and placed it on the desk. Johanna stared at the gun with a blank stare but soon lenad back in her chair and couldn’t help but feel uneasy at the sight of it. It looked so foreign, and at the same time held a very foreboding presence that made her shiver. Arthur on the other hand just sat there as Johanna tried to form the words.

“What…is this?” Johanna wondered.

“It’s called a gun.” Arthur said as he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “A powerful tool, used for a number of things but there’s one it’s used for most of the time.”

“And…what is that?” Johanna asked hesitantly.

“…Takin’ lives.”

Johanna gasped as she looked up to Arthur in disbelief. In all the years of her life, she never expected to hear such words being spoken. Yet this stallion just said it without any disregard, as if…he had done it before.

“Johanna, can I tell ya somethin’ that I’ve been meanin’ to explain since I came to this here town?” Arthur asked.

“I suppose.” Johanna hesitantly said, unable to look away from the weapon.

“I ain’t from around here.” Arthur said. “Matter of fact, you could say I ain’t from this very world.”

“I…don’t understand.” Johanna murmured.

“Honestly, I don’t know myself neither how it is I came to be in this world.” Arthur sighed as he reached into his satchel and pulled out a photograph he managed to grab before everything fell apart. When he showed it to Johanna, she saw three strange looking creatures; two of them were sitting and there was one standing behind them.

“Who are these strange beings?” Johanna wondered as she held the photo in her hand.

“Their names are Hosea Mathews and Dutch van der Linde.” Arthur said solemnly. “This photo was taken many years ago, the other feller is me in my younger years.”

“You?” Johanna said, unconvinced. “But you’re a stallion, a pony. You look nothing like this being.”

“It is me, Johanna, I may be a pony now but I was somethin’ else entirely. I was what’s known as a man, a human man.” Arthur explained. “My old life was mostly nothin’ but runnin’ and hidin’. The reason is because I was…an outlaw.”

“An outlaw? But you seem so kind and good.” Johanna protested.

“One thing you gotta know about me, I wasn’t a good man.” Arthur sighed. “As an outlaw, I ran with a gang of other outlaws and we did just about any bad thing you can think of. I stole, lied, robbed, beat, tortured, and killed many men in my world. It was a life I was raised into by that man in the middle, Dutch, and the life that…I ended with when I had passed.” Johanna looked more confused as Arthur continued. “I had come down with a disease called tuberculosis, a nasty sickness that made me go into a coughing fit and made it near impossible to breathe. Dutch was like a father figure to me, Hosea too in his own way, but Dutch lost his mind and ended up abandoning me in my time of need. He pretty much turned against everyone who was loyal to him despite all we had been through.” Arthur’s ears drooped as he frowned. “We were all pretty much family, despite the choices we made, we made sure to stick together. In the end, I was left alone; dying on a mountain edge. Next thing I know, I find myself here in this colorful world; no longer as a man. This weapon, Johanna, is what symbolizes the kind of man I am. I was an outlaw back where I’m from, and I probably hurt more people than I tried to help.”

When Arthur finished his story, Johanna had to compose herself to take in this information. It all seemed so unreal that a stallion like Arthur was actually an other worldly being. To make matters even more unbelievable, he had openly admitted to taking lives and being an outlaw which made her a bit fearful of the gunslinger. Part of her told her to demand the gunslinger to leave the badge on the table and to vacate the town so that he wouldn’t hurt anyone else. However, another more vocal part of her mind told her not to jump to conclusions and allow him to explain himself. After all, if he were as bad a stallion as he proclaimed himself to be, why would he have done all the noble acts so far? Why would he be so kind and gentle to those around him? Why would he have stepped in when those stallions threatened to take her away?

“If what you say is true, then why accept the position as sheriff?” Johanna questioned as she handed Arthur back the photo.

“I don’t know, maybe I wanted to see if I could be somethin’ different than what I was. I always told the gang I ran with I wanted to go straight.” Arthur said. “But that all went downhill faster than I care to admit when one of our own turned against us. I know this all is a shock to you, Johanna, I understand if you don’t want me as yer sheriff no more.”

Arthur reached up to unpin the badge on his shirt, but Mayor Mare quickly stood up and leaned forward and grasped his hand. Arthur looked up to gaze into the mare’s eyes as she held onto his hand with a stern gaze.

“Answer me this, Arthur, do you still wish to continue your old life?” Joahnna questioned.

“No, I prefer it stay buried.” Arthur responded.

“Do you have any intention of hurting anypony?”

“Only to those who deserve it. As for the other townsfolk, I wouldn’t hurt anyone even if I wanted to.”

“And this…gun of yours?”

“I prefer I not use it anymore than I already have, but if I must, then only when absolutely necessary.”

“And do you believe that you will be a good sheriff? One who will keep the peace and all of us safe?”

“I’ll do my absolute damndest, Johanna.”

“Lastly, what is it you want for yourself, Arthur?”

“To rest.” Arthur stated. “To not run anymore, to just settle down and actually do some good. I may not know why or how I came here, especially how I became a pony, but that all don’t really matter no more. I want a fresh start, one with not as much bloodshed as I spilled back home. These ponies, this world, it’s all still unfamiliar to me, but I still would like to see what it has to offer. If you would give me a chance, I swear on my life I’ll prove you right.”

Johanna stared into the gunslinger’s eyes for a few moments so she could see if what he proclaimed was the truth. Arthur was not like any other stallion she had met, for he was more unique. In more ways than one, since he had told her of his origin and who and what he is. His words, besides his eyes, were what mattered to the mayor of Ponyville. They sounded sincere and truthful as he had hoped, but also very sad and tired. However, there was something else about Arthur that made her heart flutter ever so slightly as she gazed into his sky blue eyes. Johanna had not seen such eyes as his and she found herself to be entranced by them. Blinking out of her staring, Johanna smiled as she pulled his hand away from the badge pinned on his shirt.

“Arthur, thank you for being honest with me. I can honestly say that you are indeed a good stallion at heart.” Johanna said warmly.

“But I-”

“Please allow me to finish.” Johanna said, raising her hand as she sat back down in her chair. “You say you aren’t as good as you claim, when in fact that it could not be farther from the truth. You say you have done a great many bad deeds, including taking lives, but that was what you were in your old life. Here, in Ponyville, you now have a chance to be somepony different from what you once were. If you were as bad as you claim to be, then why did you help those mares? Why did you expose Rocky Edge? And, more importantly…” Johanna reached over and placed her hand on Arthur’s. “Why did you protect me?”

“Well…” Arthur glanced down at her hand on his. “Maybe I just wanted something to do to pass the time.”

“Maybe, or maybe you knew it was the right thing to do.” Johanna said as she removed her hand. “The ponies of this little town might find your actions to be overzealous, but I am willing to be bold enough to say that it’s just what Ponyville needs; as Celestia is my whiteness.”

Celestia? Who’s that?

“You’re that confident in me, aren’t ya?” Arthur chuckled.

“I am, you must be willing to give yourself a chance even if you do not believe it. I do, Arthur, I believe in you.”

“Heh, well shoot, how can I say no after all that?” Arthur chuckled. “Alrighty then, Johanna, I’ll keep wearin’ the badge.”

“I am very happy to hear it.” Johanna said with a cheerful smile. “And…if it’s not too much to ask.” Johanna looked away bashfully as her cheeks tinted a little. “Perhaps you would like to accompany me some time for a small get together?”

“Hmm, hell, why not?” Arthur nodded.

Johanna was still smiling cheerfully at the gunslinger as to maintain her composure, but internally she was squealing like a filly and jumping around excitedly.

Oh thank Celestia! He said yes! I wonder what I’ll wear? What should we do together? I need to plan, I haven’t spent time with a stallion in so long! Johanna cheered in her head.

“Welp, if that’s all there is to it, I best be startin’ my patrol.” Arthur said, putting his hat back on and holstering his gun.

“Oh, one more thing, Arthur.” Johanna said. “What exactly are you planning regarding future living arrangements?”

“Well my tent seems to be enough fer me.” Arthur shrugged.

“Hmm, I’m afraid that will not do.” Johanna shook her head. “If you would give me some time, I believe I will be able to provide you with living under an actual roof.”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that. You already done enough fer me already by lettin’ me keep this here badge.” Arthur said.

“Be that as it may, I believe that a stallion of your stature, with your position, deserves his own humble abode in Ponyville. We can’t have you camping out at the lake all the time, now can we?” Johanna argued.

“I honestly don’t mind it.” Arthur shrugged again. “But you do what you think is best.”

“Then I shall do just that.” Johanna said.

Arthur noddded and rose from his chair. He tipped his hat and left Mayor Mare’s office and Johanna was left by herself. Once she was alone, she rested her head on her hand as Arthur’s face kept popping up. Johanna bit her bottom lip and her eyelids grew heavy as she hummed in delight.

“That stallion, what a character he is.” Johanna sighed.

2 Weeks Later

Life in Ponyville has improved for the better for the ponies of the little town. Ever since the gang of troublemakers were run out of town, everyone was now able to walk about the streets without having to worry about getting harassed or bullied into doing something unpleasant. Things were looking much brighter for everyone Ponyville, well…almost everyone. There were still those who would sometimes like to cause mischief. Such mischief would include how right about now, a stallion was following Pinkie Pie who was about to join her friends for a picnic. He had been eyeing the party mare since this morning and Pinkie, despite her mostly bubbly attitude, was feeling rather uncomfortable for being followed.

“C’mon, Pinkie baby, just one night?” The stallion insisted. “It’ll be fun, you like fun, right?”

“I do like fun, but I have a lot of baking to do so I can’t.” Pinkie insisted.

“Oh, I don’t believe that. I know you’re the kind of mare who wouldn’t turn away from any kind of fun.”

“Welp, I guess you’d be wrong. Now please leave me alone.” Pinkie said as she quickened her pace.

“I don’t like being told no.” The stallion frowned, then grabbed her arm. “I’m trying to be nice, and this is how you act? You’re supposed to be the party mare!”

“Let go of me!” Pinkie shrieked.

“Not unless you say yes!”

“HEY!”

Both ponies turned their heads to see a very unhappy tall stallion. He wore a white button up shirt, a black bandana tied around his neck, blue jeans, black suspenders, and a leather Stetson hat that covered his eyes from the shadow of the sun. Pinkie smiled as she pulled her arm free and hopped over to the stallion as the harasser was frozen due to fear. He knew who this stallion was, since he recognized the badge pinned to his shirt almost anywhere.

“Sh-Sheriff Arthur Morgan…” The stallion stuttered as the gunslinger lifted his head up a little so his eyes could be seen; and they did not look friendly.

“Hi Arty!” Pinkie chirped as she gave Arthur a big hug. Arthur smiled for a brief moment as he returned the gesture by patting her head but went back to glaring at the stallion as Pinkie stood by his side.

“Mister Jester.” Arthur sighed, making the pegasus stallion stand up straight. “Ya just can’t seem to keep yer hands to yerself, can you?”

“I-It was an honest mistake, sheriff, I-I swear!” Mister pleaded.

“Yeah? Like how ya said it was a mistake last week when ya tried to swindle Miss Citrus Squeeze out of her fruit?” Arthur questioned as he approached Mister. “Or maybe when you tried to ask for a reward when you helped them elderly ponies with their shopping? Only you weren’t too friendly when you asked.” Arthur stood over the sweating stallion as Arthur placed a hand on his belt. “Now I see you hasslin’ Pinkie Pie here, who happens to be a good friend of mine. Is this another one of them mistakes Mister?”

“I-I-I…” Mister struggled to find the words.

“I never understand why ya pull the same bullshit every time, Mister, why won’t ya just grow the hell up like yer momma keeps tellin’ ya?”

“I’m…sorry.” Mister said quietly as he hung his head.

“I’m afraid it’s a little late fer sorry, son.” Arthur said as he pulled out a pair of chain cuffs. “Turn around, I’ll let yer momma deal with ya back at the barracks.”

“But I-”

“I don’t wanna hear it, boy.” Arthur lectured as he turned Mister around and cuffed his hands behind his back. “I gave ya one too many chances and ya squandered the lot of them. Now yer gonna deal with the harsh reality that you can’t do what ya please just for the hell of it and not expect to have it bite ya in the ass.” Once he cuffed his hands, Arthur pulled out his rope and tied Mister’s wings together so he couldn’t fly away. “Now let’s get to it, I’ll see ya around Pinkie.” Arthur said as he tipped his hat to the party mare.

“Thank you Arty! There’s a free donut with your name on it the next time you come by Sugarcube Corner! La la la la laaaa~!” Pinkie sang gleefully as she hopped away.

Arthur chuckled as he pushed Mister to walk and made their way over to the barracks. Yes indeed, everyone was familiar with their new sheriff and were grateful for keeping the peace and kept their heads held high. Arthur also made sure to help around town besides upholding the law. He’d always try to assist in any way he could, which included being a voice of reason to those who just needed advice. In the two weeks since his arrival, Arthur was well known to everyone as Ponyville’s star citizen. However, if there were a group of ponies who just might have enjoyed Arthur’s presence more than anyone in town, it would have to be the group of foals whom Arthur first met upon his arrival. The CMC and Pipsqueak had recently made a habit of visiting Arthur at his camp or seeking him out every day. They admired the gunslinger and always desired to spend time with him as much as they could before and after they had to go to school. Arthur personally didn’t mind their company since they would always ask for a story or two from back home. While most of his stories wouldn’t be for the ears for children, there was one he’d always tell about how he chased around Magnifico the Magnificent through the forest for Miss Marjorie. The story would always make the foals laugh themselves silly as Arthur imitated Bertram and how he talked. Arthur soon made it back to the barracks and the guards present watched Mister being pushed along with knowing smirks.

“Told you he’d be hauled in by the sheriff.”

“Couldn’t keep out of trouble, huh Jester?”

“It’s about time he got a pair of cuffs on him.”

“Pipe down, the lot of ya.” Arthur said as he passed Mister off to the chuckling stallions and untied his rope from Mister’s wings. “Somepony send fer his momma, she’ll wanna know that her boy finally made it here.”

“You got it, sheriff, where’re you headed off to now?”

“I’m done fer the day so I’m headed back to my camp.” Arthur said as he waved over his shoulder and exited the barracks. “Y’all take care now.”

As Arthur made his way back to camp and the sun was just about to set, he heard some kind of commotion happening near the edge of town. It all sounded like shouting and ponies yelling at each other. Curious, Arthur approached all the noise he was hearing and was met with a very unusual and crazy situation. Ponies were all piling up on each other and had a strange look in their eyes, in the center of it all was Big Mac who was holding some kind of old looking doll and trying desperately to keep it away from them all.

“What in tarnation is goin’ on here?!” Arthur wondered as he stomped over to the pile of ponies. “Get off of him, the lot of ya!”

“Wait Arthur!”

Arthur turned around to see Twilight run up to him and she looked completely frazzled. Her mane and tail were unkempt and scraggly, her clothes were all wrinkled, and she was completely out of breath from running all over the place.

“Twilight, what sweet sam hill is with them?!” Arthur demanded.

“I didn’t have a friendship problem to write about!” Twilight blurted out. “I cast a Want It Need It spell on my doll to make one and everypony went crazy!”

“Why the hell would ya do that?!”

“Because I was gonna be tardy! I’m never tardy, Arthur, never!” Arthur was about to look back at the doll but Twilight grabbed his head and shielded his eyes. “NO! Don’t look at it! You’ll be under the effects of the spell too!”

“Twilight, get offa me!” Arthur snapped as he pried her hands loose. “Now I may still be new to all this magic and what not, but whatever ya did is makin’ everypony lose their shit! Ya need to fix this right now!”

“GIMMIE!”

Arthur turned around again to see Mayor Mare snatch the doll away and run off with it.

“NOPE!” Mac snapped as he and the crowd ran after her.

“Damnit! Calm down, will ya?!” Arthur barked as he gave chase.

“I can fix it! I swear I can fix it!” Twilight yelped as she ran close behind.

Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity were all sitting around together; enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. Applejack was leaning against a tree with her hat tipped down as she chewed on a straw of hay when she heard loud noises approaching, which made her tip her hat up and look around.

“Y’all hear that?” She asked her friends. Out of nowhere, a stampede of bewitched ponies ran past the group of friends, kicking up dust as they ran by. “What in the name of things natural is goin’ on here?!”

From the crowd, the doll flew through the air and a couple mares tried to pull it from each other. The doll slipped out of their grip and fell to the ground near the mares. Before Rainbow could properly look at the doll and fall under its influence, Twilight caught up to her friends and grabbed Rainbow’s head and pulled it away.

“Don’t look at it!” She yelped.

“Don’t look at what?” Rarity wondered.

“My smarty pants doll! I enchanted her and everypony’s fighting over her!”

“Why would you enchant your doll?” Fluttershy asked.

“I had to do something! I had nothing to report to Princess Celestia! I thought if I couldn’t find a problem, I’d make a problem! The day is almost over!”

Just as the doll was about to be pounced on again, a lasso flew out towards it and was pulled away. The doll then found itself in the hands of the gunslinger as all eyes were met on him. Arthur glanced at the doll in his hand and noticed it had a slight glow with little hearts swirling around it which made him arch a brow.

“Why the hell would these folks go through all this craziness fer this stupid thing?” Arthur wondered.

“GIMMIE THAT DOLL!”

Arthur looked up to see multiple ponies about to jump him, but Arthur ducked just in time and made a run for it.

“Y’all crazier than a drunkard on moonshine!” Arthur snapped as he ran away from his pursuers. “It’s just a damn doll, fer christ sake!”

Arthur ran in circles as he ducked, dodged, and avoided any who tried to take the doll from him. Unfortunately, Arthur soon found himself completely surrounded by the ponies who were all eyeing him, mostly the doll, with crazed expressions.

“Aw hell…” Arthur muttered as the sun set and he covered his face with his arms, bracing for impact.

“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!!”

Suddenly, a bright light appeared in the sky and the ponies stopped in their tracks before they could pounce on the gunslinger. There was a collection of gasps that filled the area and Arthur was beginning to relax himself. Lowering his arms a bit, he opened an eye and saw that all the ponies were dispersing and leaving Arthur alone. When he lowered his arms a little more, he saw that the doll wasn’t glowing anymore; which meant the spell was broken. The light still shining behind him made Arthur turn his head, only to be met with a spectacle that made his eyes widen. Standing before Twilight, who was frowning and on her knees, was a mare wearing a white regal looking dress with a picture of the sun embroidered on the side. Her fur was a sort of alabaster white and her mane and tail looked like a rainbow that seemed to be flowing in a nonexistent wind and she had a pair of wings and a horn. The unknown mare was wearing an assortment of jewelry on her hands and a necklace around her neck, including a golden tiara with a purple gem in the center The way she gazed down at Twilight with a stern gaze, how her friends looked especially nervous in her presence, left the gunslinger so shocked that he didn’t notice Mac swipe the doll from his hand and run off with it.

“Meet me in the library…” The mare said in a strict, yet motherly, tone. She then spread her wings and took flight towards Ponyville, leaving the mares and was too preoccupied to notice Arthur.

“Goodbye girls…” Twilight said sadly as she stood up and walked away. “If you care to visit, I’ll be in magic kindergarten back in Canterlot.”

Meanwhile, Arthur was still in a daze as to what he had just witnessed. Who was that mare? Why did she make Arthur tense up at the mere sight of her? It was as if he was in the presence of an almighty being who would send shivers down his spine, should she have noticed him.

“Magic kindergarten?” Fluttershy repeated.

“Canterlot?” Rainbow added.

“We’re never gonna see Twilight again!” Pinkie cried.

“What’re we gonna do y’all?” Applejack wondered.

“Of all the worst things that could happen!” Rarity shrieked. “This is THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!” The other mares just gave her a deadpanned look. “What? I really mean it this time!”

“Ahem, uh ladies?” Arthur cleared his throat as he approached the mares. Rainbow flinched and looked away with an embarrassed look as she hid her face with her wings. “What the heck was that all about?”

“Oh Arthur, this is not good.” Fluttershy said. “If she sends Twilight back to Canterlot, we’ll never see her again.”

“I see, but I got a question fer y’all.” Arthur said. “Who was that mare?” All the mares looked at the gunslinger as if he had grown a third head.

“Surely you jest, Arthur, everypony knows who Princess Celestia is.” Rarity said.

“I’m afraid I ain’t one of them.” Arthur argued. “So again I ask, who’s Princess Celestia?”

Author's Note

The gunslinger and Princess of Equestria, they shall finally meet face to face.

Hope you enjoyed!

~WurkyWilk has left the building...