The Good, the Bad and the Unfriendly

On a section of dilapidated fence on the outskirts of town, four empty tin cans sat in a row. Baked beans, olives, corn, and peas. They had only been placed there a couple of minutes earlier for one express purpose and soon they’d disappear from atop the fence. It was close to noon and no wind blew throughout the land, making it a stale day and also one where no outside factors needed to be taken into account when it came to sniping these cans. From two-hundred yards away, behind the town’s jailhouse, a crack of thunder erupted and the can of beans was blown off the fence, folded in two with a hole going through it. Three more shots rang out and the remaining three cans all suffered the same fate. It was some expert sharpshooting practice that the sheriff of the town got up to whenever she could.

Sheriff Starlight Glimmer stood, with her legs spread and her rifle shouldered, as she squinted down the sights of the gun to make sure that every shot had been dead on. Beside her was one of her deputies, Sugar Belle, patiently watching and waiting for the okay to go out and retrieve the cans. After all, littering was a crime.

With a satisfied exhale of air from her nose and a smirk, Starlight Glimmer lowered her rifle. “Perfect again. You can go get the cans now, deputy.” She put her arm through the strap of her rifle and swung it onto her back.

“Right away, Starlight!” Sugar Belle said.

“Ah!” Starlight stopped her, holding a finger up. “We may be friends, Sugar Belle, but let’s be professional. It’s Sheriff Glimmer when I’m on the clock. Okay?”

Sugar Belle smiled in embarrassment but nodded. “Right, I’m sorry Sheriff Glimmer!”

Starlight winked at her. “Don’t worry about it.”

Their town was out of the way and Starlight was a well known and common presence throughout it. She had made a name for herself elsewhere in Equestria as a law officer before becoming sheriff here, that popularity (notoriety to some) led to this town being pretty quiet and peaceful. She also had four wonderful and capable deputies working under her. Starlight was proud to be able to say that her town was surely one of the safest and most orderly in the country. That didn’t mean no one ever got drunk and stupid, or that she never had to break up a fight, or some random ignorant criminal didn’t come through town on occasion, but she always resolved things quickly.

The townspeople knew Sheriff Glimmer had zero tolerance for any funny business. And that she occasionally went a little extreme when it came to doling out justice. But it was far superior to being at the mercy of some real outlaws or preyed on by the Shadowbolt Gang. And Sheriff Glimmer was genuinely friendly and well-meaning. She just… had her moments that scared people sometimes. In Starlight’s mind it was all reasonable because she knew how rough this world was and she couldn’t allow any weakness in herself or let word out that she and this town she protected were soft. So while she still followed the letter of the law, every now and then an unfortunate criminal would have an example made out of them.

As Sugar Belle reached the fence, Starlight took a big stretch, putting her hands on her back and leaning back until she heard a loud pop. A pleasure filled groan came from Starlight and she idly thumbed the sheriff’s badge on her vest.

Starlight wore a denim vest over a white blouse with her golden badge right over her left breast. Her hair was done up in a high ponytail that hung to the middle of her back and her bangs were cut straight right above her eyes. Tan leather boots with a steel toe covered her feet and tight jeans that went up all the way to her belly-button covered the lower half of her body. The blouse was tucked into her jeans and a black belt was looped around her slim midsection. Her clothes were not exactly the most practical or plain for a sheriff but she purposefully showed off her best assets to distract people. The tight jeans in particular did a good job of showing off just how curvy her backside was. Besides, anyone who tried to get frisky with her was going to soon regret it.

“Got everything!” Sugar Belle cheerily said as she came back to Starlight with all four cans gathered up in her arms. She was wearing an outfit similar to Starlight but her vest was tanned cowhide and her badge was silver.

“Great, drop em off in the trash in front of the office and we’ll head over to the post office later. I want to see what news has come through on the telegraph,” Starlight said. It was another part of her routine to check if anything pertinent to her duties as a sheriff had come in on the wire. She liked to keep up to date with recent crimes and movements of criminals. Just yesterday they had heard about a big train robbery that happened just a little outside of Las Pegasus. Sometimes it wasn’t something that came by telegraph either but instead came by through regular mail. Like a new wanted poster or a letter from the governor about recent attacks by Buffalo Men or the Shadowbolt Gang.

The two lawwomen walked together from around the back of the brick and iron-barred jailhouse that was connected to the sheriff’s office. The street that the front of the office sat on was mostly empty right now with most of the people in the livelier center of town at the moment. All that was out here were a few slow businesses and some homes. There had previously been a ranch covering this whole area (which is where the old fence was from) but that went under. Either way, sheriff and deputy both stepped inside the office after Sugar Belle deposited the cans in the trash.

“Only heard four shots, guess you haven’t gone to rust yet?” One of the other deputies jokingly asked Starlight right as she walked in.

“Very funny, Deputy Favor,” Starlight grinned at the blue-haired man.

The jokester, Party Favor, always knew how to make someone smile. He really brightened up this office. The other two deputies were a bit more formal as they greeted Starlight and Sugar Belle.

Double Diamond, the oldest of the deputies, was sitting behind his desk when they came in. “Welcome back, Sheriff Glimmer. Are you heading over to the post office now?”

“In a second, I’m just putting my rifle away first,” Starlight answered. Meanwhile the last deputy came back from the row of cells in the jailhouse, flashing an easygoing grin and waving at Starlight.

“Everything’s looking good back here, Sheriff,” Night Glider said.

“I would hope so,” Starlight smiled. They didn’t have anyone occupying one of those cells at the moment, so cleaning and taking care of them should’ve been an easy job. Their most common occupant was usually just a drunk who needed to cool off in the first place.

Starlight reached the office’s gun closet behind the desks of her deputies and in front of her larger area that was sectioned off by a little waist-high wall that formed a right-angle in the corner of the room. She pulled a small ring of keys from a pocket in her vest and opened up the closet, taking the rifle off her shoulder and putting it back in its own notch. There were enough rifles, sidearms, and bullets in here to arm an entire posse if Starlight decided to round one up. Though to be honest she didn’t like the idea of anyone besides her or her deputies having to deal with criminals. She didn’t want to put them in that sort of danger. The whole point was that they were supposed to be able to rely on her for safety, not the other way around.

Sheriff Glimmer locked the closet back up and smiled, her hands on her hips as she turned around to face the others. “Alright, Deputy Belle, we’re going to the post office. Deputy Diamond, you stay here in case anyone comes by, Deputies Favor and Glider will conduct rounds through town. Sound good?”

“Got it,” Double Diamond saluted.

“No problem!” Party Favor said, standing up from his desk.

“Time to stretch my legs,” Night Glider smiled.

And Sugar Belle nodded.

Starlight got ready to leave the office again but her eyes first glanced towards the far wall of the building from her desk. It was the wall upon which they hung their wanted posters. It was almost covered in such as Starlight never took the old ones down, only drew large red X’s in paint over them. A few really stuck out to her, such as Sunny Flare’s and Sunset Shimmer’s, along with a couple of Hooffields and McColts and a few other criminals not as well-known to the general public. There was a minor wanted poster of a certain bank robber that was fairly new as well. Most eyes wouldn’t be drawn to it since the criminal wasn’t connected to any murders, but Starlight’s eyes were always drawn to it for a different reason.

She hadn’t heard any news lately about Trixie and her bank-robbing spree. And that, as much as any reason, was why she always went to the post office every day. She wasn’t sure if she did or didn’t want to hear anything about her, either option would probably be bad, but she couldn’t help thinking and worrying over her old friend. Perhaps Trixie had finally wizened up and stopped? Or far more likely she had gotten caught or killed and the news just hadn’t come in yet. A frown touched Starlight’s face, it would’ve been Trixie’s own damn fault if that was the case. What had possessed her to start doing something so stupid?

Starlight wiped the frown off of her face before any of her deputies could see and walked with Sugar Belle out of the office. It would just be a quick jaunt to the post office now. It sat on the other side of town by the railroad tracks. Unlike her deputies, Sheriff Glimmer didn’t put on a gunbelt or carry a revolver with her most times she went out. She liked to be approachable and she was confident that she could handle most situations without a gun. A dangerous gunfight was already enough of a rarity in this town too.

“Do you think there will be any more news of the Shadowbolt Gang?” Deputy Belle asked her when they were out on the street.

“It’s possible. They’re always up to something, Sunny Flare doesn’t like things to settle down,” Sheriff Glimmer answered.

“What if they come out here one day?”

Starlight glanced at her deputy, seeing a slight measure of fear in her eyes. “I don’t think you need to worry about that. They don’t really come out to this area. And if they did, I would handle it.”

It was something of an empty boast but it still brought a smile to Sugar Belle’s face. “I know you would.”

“Enough about that though. How’s your side-business going?” Starlight asked.

Sugar Belle blushed. “It’s not really a side-business at this point. More of a hobby.”

She had always had more a passion for baking than anything but circumstances required her life to go in a different direction. It was only when her life had settled down and become more stable in this town that she really got the opportunity to follow her dream. She had been practicing in her own home and borrowing the use of some of the ovens and supplies at the local bakery in town. Every now and then she made batches of fresh muffins that she gave out around town. One of these days she really wanted to retire from law enforcement and just become a full-time baker for real. Duty still called though.

“Just keep working on it, your muffins are great,” Starlight told her.

“Thank you, I’ll bake up a new batch soon. I was also thinking of trying cookies or cake too!”

“I’m sure whatever you make will be wonderful.”

As they got out onto the main street of the town, more people showed up going about their daily lives. Starlight smiled and waved to everyone and got a fair few greetings in return. It seemed like a pretty normal day and she was happy to show her face and just walk about in public for the benefit of everyone. Maybe she’d visit the mayor later and see if there was anything special going on in town soon. She walked by the main street saloon and grinned inwardly when she could see out the corner of her eye a number of men milling about outside it leering at her. Their eyes were practically bouncing up and down as they followed her walking form.

In the distance, directly down main street at the opposite end of town from the sheriff’s office, the train tracks lied. They didn’t get many passenger trains coming through, mostly freight, but the tracks were still decently busy. Right in front of those tracks there was the post office and the telegraph lines that ran alongside the tracks. A quick in and out and the two of them would be back to their other business.

That was right up until the sound of a fist smacking into a face resounded from an alley down the side of main street.

Starlight and Sugar Belle both looked over to see an upturned card table and three men standing over one on the ground in-between the general store and the blacksmith’s. It seemed a formerly friendly card game had just gone bad. Starlight frowned, she didn’t care for gambling and would outlaw it in town if she could but she also knew the backlash to that would be too much. It didn’t stop her from getting a sense of catharsis every time a fight broke out over it though. The men hadn’t noticed that Starlight and Sugar Belle had stopped and had seen what was going on. Starlight recognized all four of them in the alley, residents of the town, and two of them who had personally earned a night in a cell once or twice before.

“You think you can cheat us?!” The one who clearly threw the punch yelled at the man on the ground.

“It was a fair game, you can’t prove anything!” The one on the ground said.

Starlight narrowed her eyes at the table and the relatively few cards on the ground. She clicked her tongue. “Three-card-Monte. Not again.”

There was a difference between gambling and outright swindling. Although she didn’t exactly have a high opinion of someone dumb enough to fall for the rigged game in the first place. Before things could escalate however, Sheriff Glimmer decided to step into the alley and make her presence.

“The both of you stop right there. I’ll not have a fight in my town,” Starlight put her hands on her hips and glared at all four of them.

They looked up at her for the first time while Sugar Belle stood behind her at the ready. The swindler on the ground at first looked worried before he put a gracious smile on his face and got up.

“S-Sheriff, thank heavens you were walking by. Torrent wasn’t happy about losing my fair game and-”

“You can put a cork in it, Quartz Eye. I’ve told you before not to run any more of these rigged games. If you want to play poker then that’s fine but you’re in more trouble than our punch happy friend right now,” Starlight told him.

“I shouldn’t be in any trouble!” Torrent yelled and moved to maybe strike Quartz Eye again. “He’s the one who tried cheating me out of my money!”

Sheriff Glimmer quickly walked in-between the two of them. “Then you should have come to me or one of my deputies. Not engage in violence on your own, Torrent. That’s not how things are done around here. If you want to spend a night in the jailhouse to cool off that’s fine by me though.” She could see in his eyes what he was going to do even before he did it.

Torrent tried to step past her and attack Quartz Eye again. Starlight’s foot slid out and tripped him, when he stumbled her right elbow came up and jabbed him in the solar plexus. As he grunted in pain and started to fall her hand shot out like a striking rattlesnake, her wrist flicking and the back of her hand slamming into his face with enough force to break his nose and knock him out cold. Torrent went down with blood dribbling down his face, wheezing in unconscious pain and struggling to breathe. Starlight sighed and rolled him over with the tip of her boot, then kneeling down and taking out a pair of handcuffs.

“Why does everyone have to make things so difficult?” She shook her head. Thanks to these two they were going to have to walk all the way back to the sheriff’s office now and then come allll the way back out here to the post office. What a pain in the neck. Starlight glanced up at Sugar Belle. “Deputy Belle? Put some handcuffs on Quartz Eye too.”

“Yes ma’am!” Sugar Belle saluted and quickly turned Quartz Eye around, making him put his hands behind his back.

“Oh man… I hate sleeping in that jail,” Quartz Eye whined.

Considering what a mess the day had turned into it was nice that Starlight was still able to retire to her home and turn in for the night at a relatively normal hour. It was a small two-story home with only a single bedroom and bathroom on the second floor. Starlight rented it out from the landlord because it was only a little down the street from the sheriff’s office. She was happy to be home too, there was no meaningful news to hear at the post office and she had been on her feet all day. A sink into her porcelain tub is just what the doctor ordered. The day had been kind of disappointing for a variety of reasons so now that it was finally about to be over she was going to relax.

Once she walked up the stairs there was only a small landing and the door to her bedroom left. Starlight opened it up and closed it back behind her, pulling out her keyring and using her own personal key on it to lock the door. Probably unnecessary but she didn’t like unwelcome visitors. Her bedroom was rather sparse with a large wardrobe on the wall to her left and the door to her bathroom on the right. The center of the room was taken up by a single large bed that had two blinder-covered windows flanking the headboard. She was never big on decoration or pointless amenities. The only other thing in her room was a full-length mirror attached to her bathroom door.

Starlight took off her belt and casually threw it onto the bed, letting herself breathe just a bit easier. The vest and boots came off soon after. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting her chest rise and fall, before preparing to take that bath she was looking forward to. For a moment she stopped to look at herself in the mirror before opening up the door. With a bit of a frown and a slight blush she turned around to look at just how tightly her pants actually hugged her body. Her breasts were of a good size and shape too but her more than generous posterior put them to shame. Still, the way she dressed served its purpose, although maybe it was getting a little too embarrassing for her.

She reached her hands into her jeans to grab the tucked in hem of her blouse and pull it off over her head when she suddenly stopped.

It was a little chilly in her room. Why?

Her eyes narrowed as she looked over to the window on the right side of her bed. The blinds were down but they were moving slightly, a breeze was coming in from outside. Frowning, she walked over to the window and moved the blinds slightly to see that the window was open.

“Did I leave you open last night?” Starlight asked aloud to herself.

She shut the window and held her hand up to her chin, thinking. She was pretty sure that window wasn’t open the last time she was in this room. There was no sense in being paranoid but she still couldn’t help but wonder…

A thump came from her wardrobe and then a high-pitched creak as the front cabinet was slightly opened.

Starlight turned around, her eyes wide. She didn’t have a gun on her and someone had just gotten the drop on her. A figure was emerging from her large wardrobe—only to trip on the way out and fall onto the floor with a yelp.

“Oof!” The girl groaned. “Ow...”

Starlight was so surprised and confused that she just stood there with her mouth open for another moment. Almost too stunned to think. The girl who had come out of her wardrobe stood up, she was an absolute mess of tattered and dirty clothes, her hair and face also dirty enough where it looked like she hadn’t cleaned them in weeks. Her cheeks were slightly sunken too and her lips were chapped and cracked. Signs of not having enough to eat or drink lately.

And still, Starlight recognized her immediately.

“H-Hey, Starlight. Been a while,” Trixie said to her, waving awkwardly while an unsure smile was stuck on her face.

Starlight didn’t say anything. Her mouth was still half open in shock as she quietly stared at her old friend. Trixie meanwhile stopped waving and put her hand down, just standing there and waiting for Starlight to say or do something. Starlight Glimmer soon found her wits and closed her mouth, taking a few slow and deliberate steps to Trixie before standing right in front of her.

Trixie smiled wider but it was still forced and nervous, she shrugged and held her hands palm up by her sides. “H-Hug?”

Starlight punched her in the stomach.

Trixie went down like a sack of potatoes, clutching her stomach in pain.

“You idiot!” Starlight yelled down at her. “What the hell is wrong with you?! Robbing banks?! How could you possibly start doing something so stupid? How could you possibly think coming here to me would be a good idea?”

“I-I understand why you’re angry-”

“No, you moron, you listen to me-” Starlight reached down and grabbed Trixie by the collar of her shirt, lifting her up and holding the magician right in front of her face. “Angry is what I get when you don’t tell me what it was that turned you into a bank robber. Angry is what I get when I hear a really stupid reason for it. But I’m sure you wouldn’t come back here, to your old friend, your sheriff friend, without a decent explanation? So please, Trixie, tell me what the fuck you were doing and hopefully I won’t have to beat you senseless before I throw you in jail.”

Trixie looked rather afraid to answer as her “friend” glared right at her. She had to look away and gulp before she found even a modicum of courage to actually respond. “Well the short answer is… I needed money?”

Starlight’s eye twitched and she pulled back a fist to punch Trixie’s lights out. “You-”

“Please! Don’t hit Trixie!” The magician cowered and squeezed her eyes shut. “And don’t throw me in jail either! I-I-I came here because I need your help and you’re the only one who cares about me!”

“Help you?” Starlight was in disbelief. “I’m a sheriff, Trixie! Why would I help you?”

Trixie looked at her pleadingly while she cried fresh tears. “Because we’re friends.”

“You ruined that when you started robbing banks. What happened to being the greatest traveling magician in the country, Trixie?” Starlight almost looked sad as she asked.

Trixie choked back her tears and looked down in shame. “It didn’t go so well. I didn’t want to hurt anyone—and I never did—no one ever got hurt in my robberies! But I needed money, and I wanted to be famous, and I had a whole plan for reigniting my career but… I guess it was pretty dumb.”

Starlight sighed and let go of her, letting Trixie fall to the floor. She brought her hands up to her face and shook her head, dragging her fingers down her face in pure agony. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Please, please don’t turn me in! Trixie doesn’t want to die!” Trixie clasped her hands together and groveled at Starlight’s feet.

Starlight rolled her eyes and lightly kicked her away. “You’re not going to be hung, Trixie. Not if you actually turn yourself in, you’ll just be imprisoned in Canterlot. Unless the governor decides to make an example of you.”

Trixie paled.

“Oh, quit it already! I’ll at least pull some strings with her to make sure nothing like that happens,” Starlight said.

“B-But Trixie can’t go to jail either! That’s horrible! I don’t want to be stuck in a cell for the rest of my life!”

“Oh so you’re just planning to be let off scot-free and go back to performing magic shows?”

“Yeeeesssss?” Trixie shrugged, a nervous grin on her face.

Starlight clenched her fists in anger. “Trixie!”

The failed magician hopped up off the floor and held her hands up. “Look, I know you obviously don’t like that idea-”

“You’re asking me to turn my back on my duties as a sheriff! You’re asking me to turn my back on everything I believe in!” Starlight yelled.

“Not for nothing! For your bestest friend ever!” Trixie yelled right back.

“Who became a criminal because she’s a moron!”

“I stopped at least!”

“Oh yeah? And did you only stop because you finally got into some danger and didn’t want to die or get caught?”

“Uhhh...”

Starlight facepalmed. “I know you too well, Trixie.” She calmed herself down and folded her arms under her chest, glaring at the other girl. “So what did happen?”

“Well it’s pretty much what you said. When I saw my wanted poster said “Dead or Alive” I kind of lost it. And a little after that I almost died… lost my wagon, most of my clothes and everything else, and was stuck out in the wilderness. So it took a while but I eventually made it here. Found out where you lived and, eh heh, climbed in through the window. I, uh, hid in the wardrobe cause I wanted to be sure it was just you coming in here.”

“I would feel sorry for you if it wasn’t entirely your own fault,” Starlight frowned and looked up and down Trixie’s body. “You’re filthy though… and you need a meal. You should almost thank me for throwing you in jail since you’ll at least get some food and water.”

“No! Please, you still can’t take me in!” Trixie pleaded, grabbing Starlight by the shoulders. “I came here because I wanted you to protect me, not comfort me before throwing me in jail anyways!”

“Then you came to the wrong person, moron!” Starlight knocked her hands away and reached back to her bed, picking up her vest and showing the golden badge on it to Trixie. “Sheriff. Do you see that word?”

“Yes, but-”

“But nothing! I’m sorry Trixie but I’m taking you to the jailhouse. I mean what else did you expect? Even if I didn’t turn you in what could I really do for you? You have wanted posters probably all over the country. I have other deputies who would recognize you, you couldn’t even show your face around town!”

“That’s why I was going to suggest we skip town and go on the run together!” Trixie proclaimed with a grin.

“That’s your idea? Living on the run while the law chases the both of us down?” Starlight scoffed.

“Well when you put it like that it doesn’t sound as fun but I figured with the two of us together it would go alright. You’ve always been good at getting through whatever life throws at you. And I’m… um… fun to have around?”

“You. Are. An. Idiot!” Starlight yelled.

“O-Obviously you have a right to be upset at me for putting you in this position but wont you please think of our friendship? All the great memories we have together? You’re my best friend ever, Starlight! My only friend… I-I risked my life to come here and ask for your help. That’s how much I believe in you! And how much you mean to me...” Trixie tried to convince her, showing off her best puppy-dog eyes.

Starlight took a deep breath and exhaled through gritted teeth. “Do you have any idea how important my reputation is? This country is already panicked enough—if Sheriff Starlight Glimmer suddenly becomes a criminal it would be a disaster!

“You’re putting the rest of the country over your best friend?!”

Starlight punched her in the face.

“Ow!” Trixie fell over, rubbing the eye that was surely going to be black later. She looked up at the supremely angry Starlight standing over her and gulped. “A-Alright, t-that sounded a bit more selfish than I meant...”

“This is important, Trixie. A lot of people look up to me. A lot of people rely on me. The governor and every other law officer has their hands full dealing with things like the Shadowbolt Gang and the Buffalo Men and all kinds of other criminals. What happens when a famous sheriff decides to throw away her career to join her bank robber friend? It would destroy people’s confidence in the law everywhere, it might make criminals more brazen, others might see my bad example and do the same thing. Things are just too explosive right now, Trixie.”

Trixie had, for once, a solemn and serious look on her face as she looked deeply into Starlight’s eyes while a single tear each rolled down her cheeks. “You’re… you’re really going to turn me in?”

Starlight felt a stab in her heart as she groaned in frustration, reaching her hands up to her head and pulling on her hair. “Grrrr!” She looked like she was about to explode… until she dropped her arms and slumped over in defeat. “Just… go clean up and take a bath tonight, Trixie. I’ll get you some food from downstairs. We can talk in the morning.”

“Thank you!” Trixie practically catapulted herself at Starlight and embraced her in a warm hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re the best friend ever, Starlight!”

Starlight didn’t return the hug. She merely stared off at the wall in annoyance. “I hate you so much.”

The following morning, Starlight woke up in bed and her mind immediately flashed back to the previous night. Groaning in annoyance she looked past the foot of her bed and—yep—Trixie was sleeping there on the floor in an old blanket Starlight had given her. Starlight was frazzled and exhausted, not being able to sleep well at all last night. She sincerely wished that had all been a dream and she wasn’t seriously about to ruin her life over her idiot friend. Not that she had made a definite decision in that regard though. She had the right and the power to just arrest Trixie now…

But no. Starlight sighed and stepped out of her bed, walking over to her large wardrobe and opening it up so she could put some clothes on. Once she was done she was going over to her office to take care of some things and after that she’d come back here and talk with Trixie.

Speak of the annoying devil, once Starlight had finished buttoning up her shirt, Trixie began to stir. With a great big yawn, Trixie sat up and stretched, the blanket falling off her naked body.

“Oh geez,” Starlight closed her eyes and looked away. “Hurry up and put on some clothes, Trixie.”

Trixie looked down at herself with tired eyes and just shrugged. “Well after taking that bath I really didn’t want to wear those awful dirty clothes again.” She patted her stomach and examined her long legs after throwing the blanket off all the way. “I’ve lost so much weight...”

“Practically starving in the wilderness will do that to you. Now just grab something out of my wardrobe, okay?” Starlight said and moved aside.

It was true what Trixie had said though—she was downright bony. Starlight could see that when she took a glance at her friend to make sure she wasn’t going to take her time with the clothes. None of Starlight’s bras would fit her and everything else was probably going to feel fairly loose too but that wasn’t a huge problem. At least Trixie could put on a belt and nobody cared if a shirt was a bit loose.

Naturally Trixie voiced her concerns when she slid a pair of pants up her too slender legs. “Starlight, your pants are too loose for me. How big is your butt?”

“Shut up, Trixie,” Starlight blushed and glared at her.

Both of the girls finished dressing and went downstairs for a light breakfast before Starlight left. In that time, Starlight was going to ask a few more questions of her “friend”. And make sure Trixie knew how things were going to go here.

“So, Trixie-” Starlight started as they both sat down at her small kitchen table. “Let me set things straight with you. I still haven’t decided on if I’m arresting you or not. Not for sure.” At Trixie’s horrified look, Starlight held up a hand. “Let me finish. I’m at least not going to turn you in just yet. I’m… going to have to think for a little while today. But I’ll at least make sure nothing happens to you while you’re here in town, living under my protection. So I also need to ask you, because you’re wanted, do you know if anyone is trying to hunt you down for the reward? I’m assuming that’s the trouble you got in in the first place that led to you having to struggle your way across the country without any money or transportation.”

“Well that’s not entirely what happened at first but… there may be some bounty hunters after me now...” Trixie tried to avert her gaze from Starlight.

“May?” Starlight narrowed her eyes.

“Definitely. There are definitely bounty hunters after me who know I’m coming here.”

“Trixie...” Starlight ground out through gritted teeth.

The failed magician sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. “I may have gotten drunk one night when I actually did have a slight reprieve from my agonizing journey and I may have said some things I shouldn’t have said about knowing you and how you would totally definitely take care of me...”

“So not only are there bounty hunters that will be looking for you, they know to come here to my town and they know that you have a relationship with me?”

“Yeeeesss?” Trixie shrugged.

“Ughhhhh, I’m gonna hit you, I’m gonna hit you again.” Starlight propped her elbows up on the table and buried her face in her palms. “At best now I’ll just have to tell them you never came or that I’m arresting you. But if they came all this way for the money they might not be placated so easily. Why do you have to be like this, Trixie?”

“One of these days when my magic show is back on track I’ll totally pay you back for all the help you’re giving me!” Trixie smiled.

Starlight shook her head, Trixie still didn’t seem to get how impossible such a thing was. “Anyways… you just stay here today, okay? I don’t want you going anywhere or doing anything. Consider this your temporary cell. I’m not taking the risk of someone, least of all my own deputies, recognizing you. I’m going to do something about your wanted poster that’s at our office and maybe after a few days you can start showing yourself around town. But you should probably do something about your hair and face.” She sighed. “With any luck those bounty hunters wont be a problem and with you not actually robbing any banks recently things might—might—just blow over. Especially if the Shadowbolts keep committing so many crimes. And then maybe you can actually live a decently normal life here. But I doubt you’ll ever be able to safely travel through Equestria again with so many wanted posters of you already being out there and so much being known about you and your crimes.”

“I’ll find a way to make it work.” Trixie nonchalantly shrugged again—either still not getting it or just in full on denial.

Starlight decided it was pointless to get angry at her again. For her own health as much as Trixie’s. “Let’s just eat. And then you stay here.”

“I’m gonna be so bored...” Trixie muttered, slumping in her chair.

“Better than being dead,” Starlight glared.

Trixie (surprisingly) wisely shut up and the two of them were able to eat their breakfast in peace. After that, Starlight got up and left her house, with one last hard stare given to Trixie before she left to let the magician know she was serious.

Starlight used the short walk to the sheriff’s office to cool her head. She was going to have to lie to her deputies and change her normal schedule. Hopefully none of them would confront her on anything and hopefully none of them would recognize Trixie if they saw her in town once Starlight took down the wanted poster. If they did… maybe the two of them would just have to skip town? How infuriating would that be though? Her current plan was a way to keep Trixie safe without ruining her own life and reputation. But her own deputies might make that impossible. And if any of those bounty hunters did come to town they could ruin things too if they didn’t just let Starlight convince them to go away.

Though she supposed she could use the excuse of vigilantism not being allowed in her town to “take care” of the bounty hunters in a different way… but that was almost abusive. And it would still likely lead to things being revealed about her and Trixie to her deputies. As well as bring the strife and chaos to this town that she really didn’t want to bring.

“So if it comes down to it am I really going to choose protecting Trixie over everything else?” Starlight wondered as she looked up at the cloudy sky.

Trixie really didn’t deserve it. She had dug her own grave and now it was only right that she use it. More than that she was still selfish and obnoxious and Starlight had way more important things to worry about and do in this country. She should arrest Trixie, throw her in a cell, and send a letter to the governor asking her to not have Trixie hung. That would be the thing a good sheriff and a good formerfriend would do. She didn’t owe Trixie anything at all. In fact, Trixie had kind of thrown their friendship in her face when she started robbing banks and then came here without any consideration for Starlight whatsoever.

And yet when she thought of Trixie looking at her with those sad, betrayed eyes from behind bars…

Starlight just didn’t have it in her. It was hypocritical and went against everything she had been doing as a sheriff. But it seemed like she knew what her choice was going to be if it came down to it.

“Can’t believe this...” Starlight grumbled as she stepped into the sheriff’s office.

It was early but Double Diamond had gotten here before her. He was tasked with taking care of Torrent and Quartz Eye’s meals after Starlight and Sugar Belle brought them back yesterday. Those two were in adjacent cells in the jailhouse right now. In the back so Starlight didn’t have to look at them.

“Morning,” Double Diamond said and smiled at her.

“Good morning, Deputy,” Starlight nodded back at him, attempting to look and sound as normal as possible.

When he went back to his own work, Starlight inched her way towards the wall with the wanted posters. It’s not like she had to act inconspicuous or anything—she was supposed to be here—but she still didn’t want him to be looking in her direction when she secretly took down Trixie’s wanted poster. She acted like she was just looking over the various posters, the dozens of them that lined the wall. A quick glance over her shoulder told her that Double Diamond was staring at something on his desk She looked back at the wall and stepped right in front of Trixie’s wanted poster. Of course she was idiotically smiling in it.

Starlight quickly pulled the poster off the wall and stuck it into her vest. There, easy. Now she would just go through her day like normal, everything would be normal for the next few days. That was the plan. She would be horribly stressed on the inside but she would deal with it. Maybe she could buy some beauty products, clothes, and some combs and scissors for Trixie to change her appearance with sometime too. Then everything would blow over and she could introduce Trixie as an old friend of hers from somewhere with a new name.

Now I’ll just go to the post office or do some more target practice or something. Starlight thought as she turned around. “Okay, Double Diamond, once the others show up here just tell them to go on rounds. I’m going to do my own little patrol through town now.”

“You got it,” he said to her and with another curt nod, Starlight left the office.

Most of the rest of her day after that was thankfully normal but she was always worried that Trixie hadn’t listened to her and had gone out and done something. Which wouldn’t have been a surprise at all. Hopefully the magician realized how serious things were. The first problem for Starlight was when she came back to the office later in the day when everyone was there and Party Favor was staring at the wall of wanted posters. It would’ve been weird if she didn’t ask him what he was doing sooo…

“Something on your mind, Deputy Favor?” Starlight asked him.

He looked over at her, noticing her arrival for the first time. “Oh! Uh… not really but… I feel like there was a wanted poster up here that’s missing now.”

Starlight grimaced. “Oh yeah?” She asked as she stood next to him.

“I remember cause the girl in the picture was really cute and I thought it was a shame she was wanted dead of alive. Er, sorry, kind of stupid I know. She’s a criminal after all,” Party Favor blushed.

“Don’t worry about it,” Starlight gave him a reassuring smile. “But are you sure you’re not mistaken? You know I never take down a wanted poster.” She tried to convince him. “Maybe you’re remembering wrong, there are some other pretty girls up on this wall after all.”

“Yeah that must be it… just seemed like she was kind of different,” he scratched his head in thought.

“Why don’t you ogle some of the girls in town, Party Favor?” Night Glider said as she came up and rested an arm on his shoulder, playfully winking at him. “Gals love a guy who knows how to use his weapon.”

“Okay—enough of that,” Starlight frowned at her female deputy.

“Just having fun,” Night Glider shrugged. “This whole office is full of lonely singles!”

Starlight dragged her hand down her face. “I don’t mind the lasciviousness, Deputy Glider, but not when we’re on duty. Keep it for when you’re partying at one of the local establishments.”

“Okaaaay,” Night Glider relented.

“Are we still going to do some target practice?” Sugar Belle asked Starlight now that the others had gone back to their own business.

“Hmm… let me take a rain check on that actually,” Starlight answered. “I didn’t get the best night of sleep, wouldn’t want it to affect my perfect record.” She looked at her deputy with a raised eyebrow. “Why don’t you go try some target practice yourself though? You could try becoming a sharpshooter just like me, you’ve got the talent for it.”

Sugar Belle awkwardly smiled and blushed, staring at the floor. “I’m decent. But no one has your talent when it comes to using a rifle.”

That was true. It was maybe a bit egotistical to admit but Starlight was good with the long gun. Very good. She was fine with the revolver too but she much preferred dealing with her targets from a distance. She felt more imposing to criminals when she had a rifle in her hands or slung over a shoulder too. It made her look strong and dangerous and it had proven to be better at disarming a potentially deadly situation than having a revolver on her hip. And although she usually didn’t carry a gun around with her the situation with Trixie made her consider changing that.

And speaking of Trixie, she should really get back home.

“Well thank you for the kind words, Deputy Belle. Now I’m going to check on our two guests and then head out, the rest of you go on another patrol through town.”

Starlight’s orders were followed and once everyone had left the sheriff’s office she locked it back up and went back to see her “friend”. Her friend that was probably going to lead her to an early grave.

Once she got back to her front door she took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself just in case Trixie hadn’t listened to her and was gone. She opened it up and stepped inside, quickly walking to the kitchen where she had left Trixie—and seeing her still there, only this time passed out on the table with a number of empty beer bottles surrounding her. Starlight rolled her eyes in annoyance and walked over, reaching down and squeezing Trixie’s nose shut.

It wasn’t long before her breathing became troubled and she started snorting and flailing about, finally waking up and nearly falling out of her chair.

“Whazzat?! What’s going on?” The groggy and still half-drunk Trixie said as she furtively looked around the kitchen.

“Well I see you found my beer while you were gone,” Starlight icily said as she glared down at the other girl.

“Oh,” Trixie finally noticed what was up. “Yeah.”

“Yeah?” Starlight narrowed her eyes at her.

“I mean you left me alone all day with nothing to do, are you telling me I’m not supposed to drink?” Trixie folded her arms over her chest, peeved in her own way.

“I don’t think you needed to drink so much you passed out though.”

“That wasn’t just because of the alcohol. I’m still very tired, I haven’t had the chance to get a lot of real rest lately.”

Starlight huffed and sat down across from her. “Alright, that’s fair. I know you’ve been through a lot. You could’ve at least tried going upstairs and using my bed, that probably would’ve been a lot more comfortable.”

“I tried but tripped on the stairs,” Trixie blushed. “I had a lot to drink. Then I just came back to the table and… I don’t even remember falling asleep.”

Starlight frowned. “Did you get started right after I left?”

“Uhhh, maybe? I’ve been kind of depressed lately for obvious reasons. I just wanted to relax.”

“Fine, fine, that’s fine,” Starlight sighed. She took a moment to pause and gather her thoughts before fixing Trixie with a serious look from across the table.

Trixie shrank in her seat. “What?”

“I’ve decided… that I’m not going to turn you in.”

The reaction was immediate. Trixie’s entire face lit up and she threw herself over the table, knocking over many of the beer bottles and wrapping her arms around Starlight while kicking her legs up and down.

“Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, thank yoooouuuuu!” Trixie yelled as she hugged her friend and nuzzled up to her.

“Ughhh, let go of me...” Starlight groaned, forced to sit there in dismay while Trixie glomped her.

“No way! Don’t you know how much this means to me? You’re saving Trixie’s life, Starlight!” Trixie looked up and smiled brightly at her.

Starlight flatly stared back at her. “Yeah, and only at the cost of my own.”

Trixie still whined when she learned that just because Starlight had chosen to protect her it didn’t mean she could start leaving her house. But that’s just the way it was. Especially with Deputy Favor’s reaction to her wanted poster disappearing, Starlight simply couldn’t take the chance of him recognizing her. So her dumb magician friend pouted and complained over the next couple of days while Starlight insisted she wait longer. The one good thing that Starlight could think about was that at least no bounty hunters had shown up.

Of course, that was her counting her chickens before they hatched.

On the third day after Starlight had made her decision to help Trixie, the sheriff’s office had a trio of visitors. They didn’t come inside but the three of them stood on the street right outside the front door at a time of day when several other townsfolk were around. So it wasn’t just Starlight’s deputies that were going to see this confrontation.

Their leader, a large, barrel-chested man by the name of Solar Flare, had a pistol on his hip and a shotgun slung over his shoulder. A guy and a girl who both looked to be in their early twenties flanked him. They had a fairly similar appearance, Starlight was pretty sure the younger guy and girl were children or maybe some other relation to Solar Flare. Solar Flare had called Starlight Glimmer out by name, and she and her deputies responded. It wasn’t a challenge but it wasn’t a friendly hello either. Starlight knew he had some very distressing things to ask her.

“What did you just say?” She narrowed her eyes at him, putting on her coldest and most authoritative face. She didn’t have a gun but her deputies did.

“I said we know your old friend Trixie the bank robber came here. Now where are you hiding her?” Solar Flare stared at her. He wasn’t particularly angry, instead trying to come off as just bored, but Starlight could see he was ready for a fight too if it came down to it.

Starlight folded her arms over her chest. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

To his credit, Solar Flare didn’t explode. But he did slowly shake his head. “That aint going to work. We’ve followed her tracks all the way here and since we didn’t find no dead body outside of town—well, that means she made it to you.”

“Uh, Sheriff? What-” Double Diamond tried to ask but Starlight held up a hand to silence him.

“I still don’t know what you’re talking about. Of course I’ve heard of this “Trixie” since she’s a wanted criminal, but we aren’t friends.”

Solar Flare snorted. “Come on, maybe she didn’t tell you but a lot of people have heard her go on about her friend the sheriff. Mentioning you by name and saying how you were going to help her.”

God damn it, Trixie. Starlight inwardly winced.

“You’re a sheriff, are you seriously protecting a criminal?” Solar Flare raised an eyebrow. “If word like that were to spread...”

“What are you implying?” Starlight narrowed her eyes at him.

“Nothing, nothing. So long as you tell us where that criminal is we won’t be saying anything. But that’s only if we can collect the reward on Trixie. And by the way, we’ve been having a looksie through town, and we know where you live and where we’d start looking for her if you refuse to do anything about it.” Solar Flare finished.

“Well then maybe I’ll just say that bounty hunters and threats like the one you just made are against the law in this town. And instead the three of you can spend some time in jail,” Starlight threatened right back. Inwardly she was worried because it meant that she had been so stressed over Trixie she didn’t even notice these lunks in town earlier.

“I don’t think you want to do that, sheriff. After all, your deputies are still going to have questions for you and these fine people out here on the streets will likely think something’s wrong as soon as you start a ruckus with us,” Solar Flare said, gesturing to the people out on the street.

Starlight knew he was right but she still couldn’t exactly let things go like that. “And I think you’re still outgunned.”

She glanced left and right to her deputies and was rewarded with seeing them bring their hands to their holstered pistols. Despite the obvious confusion in each of them they were still loyal to her and trusted Starlight.

Solar Flare was still calm and unperturbed though, his kids didn’t even try reaching for their guns either. “You don’t want to start a fight over some criminal who you know you should be giving up.”

“Even if she was here that just means I would take her in and arrest her anyways.”

“But she is here. And you aint gonna do that,” Solar Flare narrowed his eyes. “And we aint gonna leave without a reward. We could cause a whole lot of trouble for you or you can just do the right thing, the easy thing I might add, and give us that bank robber.”

Starlight stood there, tapping her toe against the wooden floorboards on the outside of the office and glaring at the three bounty hunters. Was this it? Is this how her normal life ended? And what about her deputies? She really needed to think of a way to deal with this. Glancing up she saw the sun in the sky, less than an hour away from high noon. And that gave her a risky idea.

She made a show of sighing and really struggling with her decision, gritting her teeth and rolling her tongue around in her mouth. At last she dropped her arms to her sides and clenched her hands into fists. “Alright. Alright. Forty-five minutes at noon and I’ll have Trixie here.”

“Sheriff...” Sugar Belle gasped, in disbelief that Starlight actually was harboring a criminal.

“Not now, Deputy Belle. We can talk about it later,” Starlight gave her a knowing look before looking back at Solar Flare. “But until noon I want the three of you out of here, you’re scaring people. And I won’t have you just shoot Trixie when you see her either. Wanted dead or alive, you’re not shooting an unarmed person in my town.”

Solar Flare nodded and then looked at the two kids. “That’s fair. The three of us will still be around town though, so don’t try any funny business. We’ll be back as soon as that sun hits the middle of the sky.”

Starlight watched them intently as they left down the street, waiting until they were out of sight. Without a word to her deputies she then turned around and went back inside the sheriff’s office. Going straight towards the gun closet. The four were following her as she took out her keys and opened it up, grabbing two rifles and putting the straps over her left shoulder and them grabbing several different pistols and ammo belts.

“Um, S-Sheriff?” Sugar Belle started.

“Now you can just call me Starlight I’m afraid,” Starlight sighed as she finished gathering her weapons.

“Wait so—it’s true?” Night Glider asked while gawking at her.

“Fraid so,” Starlight nodded.

Party Favor snapped his fingers and looked over at the wall of wanted posters. “So I wasn’t going crazy!”

Starlight snorted. “No, Party Favor, you were right.”

“But wait, Starlight! What are you going to do? And so that bank robber is actually at your house? You’re friends with her?” Double Diamond asked.

“Unfortunately yes. And I’ve already made m decision when it comes to her. So I’m not going to be staying in town anymore, you can’t have a sheriff that breaks the law and chooses moronic criminals over justice,” Starlight said, tying the last ammo belt around her and getting all the guns ready. “I’ll be leaving town right at noon with her. There’s a freight train that’s coming through at noon today. It doesn’t stop but it still comes through, Trixie and I will hop on it. The guns are just for… self-defense.”

“But Starlight you’ve always been so… so… reasonable! You’ve been trying to be the best sheriff possible and you’re really going to throw it away?!” Sugar Belle shouted.

Starlight started rubbing her forehead before fixing Sugar Belle with a sad smile. “It wasn’t an easy decision and I know there were better ways to handle it. And ways to compromise too. But this is what I’ve chosen, to help my idiot friend. I’m aware of how bad the fallout is going to be too.”

“Then...” Double Diamond gulped. “Then what do you need us to do?”

All four of the deputies lined up together and though they looked a little unsure it was still clear that they would loyally follow Starlight’s orders if she gave them any.

Which Starlight Glimmer had no intention to.

She smiled but shook her head at the four of them. “I don’t need you to do anything. I don’t want you to do anything. You shouldn’t get involved with criminals, the four of you need to keep on going as honest officers of the law.”

“B-But even if this is your choice we’re still your friends!” Sugar Belle pleaded.

“And that’s exactly why I can’t drag you all down with me. Stay here and stay out of it. Consider those my last orders as Sheriff.” Starlight sighed and took the golden badge off her vest. Looking at it despondently before handing it to Sugar Belle. “Tomorrow, you’ll be Sheriff Sugar Belle.”

The others watched in open-mouth astonishment as Sugar Belle took the badge, holding it as reverently as if it was magical.

“I… I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. But I certainly would appreciate it if you gave me a bit of a head start before trying to arrest me,” Starlight winked.

“Really great time for jokes, huh?” Night Glider grimaced.

“I’m sorry but, well, now it’s just time for me to go help my friend,” Starlight said with a sad smile as she walked to leave the sheriff’s office.

“Goodbye, Starlight. And good luck,” Double Diamond waved to her.

Not a one of them were being proper officers of the law right now, their camaraderie ran deep enough for them to let Starlight get herself and Trixie to safety before they sent the word out. For as much of a stickler as Starlight had been, the hypocrisy she was showing was hurting her something fierce. And she had dragged her friends into it too. She only hoped that someday she could fix all of this. Make up for her crimes and for Trixie’s. But that was something still far off on the horizon. Right now she had to make sure she and Trixie got out of this town safely.

“Starlight? I know it probably hasn’t looked like it with the way I’ve acted and everything, but I’m really, really sorry for ruining your life.”

“It’s okay, Trixie. It was my decision.” Starlight said to her as she explained what had happened and what their plan was now. “Here, just take one of the rifles and pistols I brought over.”

Trixie’s eyes went wide and she fervently shook her head. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, no, no, no. I can’t use a gun! There’s no way I can fire one of those things! I’d probably just shoot myself—or you!”

“And wouldn’t that be a tragedy...” Starlight groaned and had to rub her forehead again to calm down. “Look, even if you don’t use one of them at least carry them for me. Okay?”

“Okay...” Trixie gulped and held the guns Starlight gave her as if they were sticks of dynamite until Starlight made her properly carry the rifle on her back and tie a belt around her waist so she could holster the revolver. She looked almost like a child in her awkwardness, with the too-baggy clothing she was still wearing as well. It was more proof than anything that Trixie really should never have started living a life of crime.

Starlight had to roll her eyes at the outrageous contradictory nature of the girl and her past choices. “Alright, let’s go. Are you sure you’re okay with jumping aboard a moving train?”

Surprisingly though, Trixie just confidently grinned and placed her hands on her hips. “Hah! Trixie has performed numerous dangerous stunts and tricks all on her own! Merely jumping onto a moving train will be no problem at all.”

“Well I hope your confidence isn’t misplaced for once,” Starlight said as she took one last look around her little home. “I’m ready to go if you are.”

“Y-Yes, ready,” Trixie said, with quite a deal less confidence as she knew they still had to make it through the city. And even after that they were doing to be all alone out in the world.

Starlight put her hand on Trixie’s shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze and a smile. The girl may still have pissed her off like nothing else, but it was going to be just the two of them now.

As they made it out into the town, Starlight immediately looked every which way to make sure they weren’t being watched by Solar Flare. She wouldn’t have put it past him to stake her out. Luckily it seemed like he either trusted her enough or was just somewhere else at the moment. She and Trixie walked down the street and entered a back alley behind numerous buildings. They were going to use the alleys and backroads as much as they could on their path to the train tracks. Starlight knew every inch of this city so they should have the advantage. And she really didn’t want to be seen by any townsfolk, that would just be awkward.

“Just follow along with me Trixie,” Starlight told her. The both of them were carrying their guns but neither had them out, Starlight didn’t want to look like she was getting ready to kill someone. She wasn’t going to be firing the first shot against anybody. That was the sheriff part of her.

Trixie gulped and nodded. “Right. How far is it to the train station?”

“Tracks,” Starlight corrected. “Since we’re just jumping on there’s no reason to go to the station where more people might be. We’re just going to make as straight of a line as we can through town.”

The two of them were silent as they darted behind a carpenter’s store. Starlight had been in there once or twice, the owner carved and put together his own chairs and tables. Past the backside of it there was a little four-way intersection of alleys, Starlight had Trixie stop behind her while she poked her head out to make sure things were safe. In the direction of the main street there were a few crates and boxes stacked up that someone could be hiding behind but Starlight couldn’t see anything. They’d just have to risk it.

“Let’s run to behind the next building quickly, okay?” Starlight raised an eyebrow at her friend.

“Got it,” Trixie bit her lip.

For some extra safety, and maybe to ease Trixie’s nerves, Starlight reached out and tightly grasped Trixie’s hand in her own. In the next moment the two of them were across the alley and pressing themselves to the back of the other building. Now they were behind the largest building in town, a department store owned by a rich businessman by the name of Wispy Willows. They could go along its back for a fair distance before they’d need to change their route. At least things were still mostly a straight line.

“I’m going to be very happy when we’re on that train and I can relax,” Trixie grumbled.

Starlight shushed her. “I know, but no more talking for now, let’s keep going.”

Trixie (wisely to Starlight’s surprise again) listened without a complaint and they kept up their silent travel through the alleys. Soon they found themselves blocked off by a row of houses built perpendicular to the back alley they were traveling through and they had to run past their back fences until they could get through somewhere else. Ahead of them now the alley would soon open up to the main street of town. Starlight considered having them turn back even if it cost more time just so they could avoid the more popular streets. Still, it’s not like they were actually going to emerge onto the busy street, there was a small alley between the houses and the back of a stable.

That stable had a number of barrels of feed stacked up behind it with most of its back being an open storehouse, and a side door that came out into the alley.

Starlight was keeping her eyes on that side door and the back of the stable. So much so that she didn’t notice the danger coming from behind them. Not until the blast of the shotgun rang out and blew away part of the wall next to Starlight’s head. Her instincts told her to get down but she had to fight them. What she needed to do was get around the corner or to the back of the stable where she or Trixie could hide.

The world seemed to slow down around her as Starlight acted, her grip on Trixie’s hand growing tighter as she pulled the other girl along with her while Solar Flare snapped open his shotgun to withdraw the spent cartridge and pull in a new one. A single glance back at his direction showed him leaning halfway over the fence making up the end of a house’s backyard. Probably standing on top of something he had pushed against it. He must’ve been hiding out back there when they had gone by.

Trixie was screeching so Starlight pulled her hard to turn the corner do they could go out behind the stable. But once they turned the corner, Solar Flare’s two kids were standing there at the end of the alley with their guns raised. Starlight’s eyes had just enough time to open wide before the two other bounty hunters shot at them. While bullets whizzed by, Starlight pushed Trixie over some of the barrels stacked up behind the stable and jumped behind them herself, the two then crawling around to put some more barrels between them and the three trying to kill them.

“Well this is just great,” Starlight growled.

“Sorry,” Trixie apologized as she held her shaking hands on her head and tried not to cry.

“It’s fine, I’ll handle it,” Starlight cracked her knuckles.

“How?!” Trixie stared at her. “They’ve got us pinned down from two different directions, they’re just going to walk over here and shoot us!”

“No they won’t. They obviously saw that we were carrying guns, so they aren’t just going to put themselves at risk like that. They’ll take things slow because now we have cover. Although probably not too slow because people definitely heard those gunshots. Either way they aren’t going to come at us guns blazing right now.” Starlight grinned. “That’s what I’m going to do.”

“Huh?” Trixie said.

“They won’t be expecting me to turn the tables on them. Trixie, I need you to grab one of these barrels real quick. Do you think you can lift one of them?” Starlight asked her.

Trixie quickly looked at one of them and furrowed her brow before looking back at Starlight. “I think so.”

“Good. I want you to grab it and throw it back down the alley in the direction of the two with the pistols. I’m going to use it as a distraction.” Starlight said.

“I-Is that all I have to do?” Trixie asked.

Starlight nodded. “Yes, after you throw it just keep your head down.”

“Trixie can do that.”

Starlight took a deep breath and grabbed not just the revolver she was carrying but the one from Trixie’s belt as well. Both fully loaded and ready to use. She would’ve preferred being in the type of fight where she could just hang back with her rifle but there was nothing she could do about that. She held both revolvers in her hands and tensed her body, getting ready to leap out like a tiger. Her magician friend saw that she was ready and Trixie grabbed one of the barrels that they weren’t using for cover. She struggled to lift it a little with her scrawny and malnourished arms but eventually she was able to raise it. With a small smile and nod, Starlight signaled to her to throw it.

Trixie heaved it with a heavy grunt and Starlight immediately sprang up after it, both barrel and former-sheriff leaping into the alley. Two shots went out and hit the barrel out of reflex—Solar Flare’s kids—before they managed to restrain themselves. But their eyes had still been drawn to the distraction and in the split second it took for them to refocus on their real target, Starlight did two things.

One: with the revolver in her left hand she fired a blind salvo in the direction Solar Flare was, by the back fences of the houses. Nothing needed to hit him, he just needed to know he was in danger to hide behind cover and not return fire. Although he did actually return fire. The blast from his shotgun was almost deafening in the tight alley but thankfully just like his last shot it went wide and only blew apart part of the stable’s back wall. Since his shotgun was single-barrel though, Starlight knew he had to reload before he could shoot at her again.

The second thing she did now was: aim the revolver in her right hand at the two other targets. She saw them attempting to aim at her, she saw her own reflection in their eyes, knew their lives were flashing before their lives, and she fired two quick shots into their chests. Both of them went down like sacks of dirt.

She was about to spin around and do the same to Solar Flare when the cocking of a shotgun made her freeze.

“End of the line,” the cold voice of Solar Flare met her ears.

Starlight had no time for last words or any chance to talk her way out of things. A loud gunshot erupted through the alley and a body fell to the ground.

Only after blinking did she realize it wasn’t her body.

Starlight turned around to see Depu—Sheriff Sugar Belle standing there. A rifle gripped in her hands and a hard frown on her face. On the ground, Solar Flare lied there, minus half his head.

“Sugar Belle...” Starlight’s shoulders slumped as she sadly looked at her friend. “I didn’t want you to get involved. I… I didn’t want you to become a criminal like me.”

The new sheriff just raised an eyebrow at her as she put down her rifle. “What are you talking about? All I did was stop someone from committing an extra-judicial killing. That’s all that’s gonna be written down about this.”

Starlight couldn’t help but laugh. “Hahaha, Sugar belle...” She even doubled over slightly. “Ohh, I wouldn’t normally approve of bending things like that but, well, guess I’d be pretty hypocritical to complain.”

“A little,” Sugar Belle smiled and winked at her, then looked around the alley. “Where’s your friend?”

Starlight frowned and walked over to the back of the stable, between the barrels where they had initially hidden. There she spotted Trixie on the ground, shaking all over with her hands tightly held over her ears and her eyes closed. Starlight rolled her eyes and gently nudged her side with her foot. “Get up, Trixie.”

Her eyes snapped open and she looked up, a mixture of surprise, fear, and tentative hope on her face. “W-We won? We’re safe?”

“We, huh?” Starlight snorted but smiled at her friend. “And yes, we’re okay. But we still have a train to catch.”

She reached down a hand to help Trixie up. Trixie smiled and grabbed it, standing up and briefly hugging Starlight, despite the latter’s protests. She then saw the dead bodies around them and nearly retched.

“Keep ahold of yourself, Trixie,” Starlight said as she lightly pat her back. She then looked again to Sugar Belle and smiled. “And thank you again, Sugar Belle. You’ll be good for this town.”

“Thank you for everything,” Sugar Belle said and waved back to her.

It was pretty much noon now and the former sheriff and failed magician would need to run to catch that train before it left town completely. But they both felt like a weight had been lifted from their shoulders and the two friends happily ran through the rest of town to the train tracks, not caring who saw them anymore. The road would be a long one for them, but they were going to tackle everything that came at them together.