Hard Times in the Future

DiscoBiscuits'

The Renegades of Shanty Stables

In the year 274 of the New Millennium, a group of explorers were sent out into the West for research. When they came upon what seemed to be a settlement in the middle of the desert long ago, judging from the ruins of wooden houses and broken statue buried halfway up in sand, they began to dig. They found a time capsule of a sort, and in it was many things, but their best find was a journal. It was unmarked and in very good condition; what they found has been deciphered below.

My name is Dusty Trails, it is February ninth in the year twenty eight New Millennium.  I acquired this journal from the shop across from the saloon a few years back, and I haven't used it ever, but something happened, and I think it should be recorded.

Out here in the West, there is less influence of the UEA than there is in the urban areas.  About half a year has passed since the United Equines lost contact with Manehatten, and not much is known as of today amongst the town folk since the hostile activity in Equestria has died down. With a large population of a hundred and forty three ponies, a few buffalos, and a handful of griffons, we get by just fine out in the desert, practically cut off from the rest of society.  The only time we have any remoteness of the Aristocrats here in Shanty Stables is when a convoy gets lost out in the desert and stumbles into our neck of the woods to fill up on juice and marmalade.

My job here, is to protect Shanty Stable's townsfolk, so that makes me the sheriff, and I will defend this place to the death, but since we are under the rule of a tyrant, I don't really have control over anything besides who lives and who dies in this town.  We don't have any of those fancy shmancy rifles that shoot lasers and lightening, but what we have are simple, hoof operated and craw operated lever and bolt action rifles, revolvers, and the spinny guns the crank up to a hundred bullets in ten secs of a whip.  Hay, the only 'technology' we have around these parts are the train lines that lead into the city and the holocards that the UEA supplied us with to keep in touch with the rest of the world.

After hearing about the event that happened in Manehatten, I have a hunch it has something to do with those Renegades, the ones who have been fighting the enemies of the state for over half a century or something like that.  I don't really know if we should be happy or not because the Aristocrats obviously have taken extra standards to protect their king, who just sits up on his porcelain throne and kills a hundred ponies with a clop of the hoofs.

Yesterday, something happened in the afternoon that changed the town of Shanty Stables, down in the saloon over yonder past the Pony Express building.  I was sitting at the bar, enjoying a glass of brandywhine when a small group of ponies and griffons came in, some holstering a few swords, others a few revolvers that looked brand new.  I recognized a few of the peacemakers from the shop in town, a fine price.  They all sat at the bar with me, I was on the right end side, next to the exit of push and pull saloon doors.  The pony next to me was wearing a hat and a coat, I couldn't see anything but her face, which was obscured by a bandana, like the rest of them.

"I hear that you are the sheriff of this town, correct?" her voice was typical city folk, a rarity in these parts.

"You have heard correct," I returned softly, I had a few drinks in me.

"Then, I must ask of a favor for you, a special one that may decide the fate of Shanty Stables, do you accept the terms under the Renegades?"

I had no idea what to believe in at that tie, whether I was drunk or scared or nervous, it didn't matter. This group talked the talk, but did they walk the walk? I returned with a question as any other pony would do in this sort of a situation; "What?"

"Let me buy you a few more drinks and then we can discuss this at the sheriff's- I mean- your office."

I drank until I had my fill, I was not right in the head by the time I was done and I was gay as I could be, dancing around the room hoof in hoof with other ponies as the pianist played the old tunes from the Royal Age, how I longed those times.  The group of so called Renegades used this opportunity to seize me, drag me down the town street, and throw me into a chair back at my office. One of the griffons held me down, his accent was from up East, maybe Hoofington Scott, which was a small part of Hoofington Pass, a trading hub.

"Don't let meh' tell ya' again, stay daown' n' shoot' ya trap!" he yelped, I obeyed. He was a burly fellow who looked like he would rip the forelegs off a pony in seconds, not to mention his massive wingspan.  I got chills just looking at him.

The pony with the coat came over to me, she spoke in a soft voice, one to help calm my nerves, but I couldn't understand half the stuff she was saying until she whipped out her horn and touched my forehead with it. It gave a great light and my drunkenness was gone! Being a simple earth pony as was the rest of the town, the joys of magic was also a rarity like many, MANY other things.

"Now, as I said, this favor will cost you and I need to know if you are willing to take the costs.'

"Listen her, little lady, I don't know, by any means, what any of this is about."

"The UEA are closer than you think, I can show you, but you must agree under the terms of the Renegades."

At this moment, I realized that I was going to have to sing some contract, whether it be by hoof writing or tongue. She was convincing enough packing heat and a rag tag group that looked like they were ready for a world war at the least, scary as that was. I was sheriff, this was my town, and I was going to do what ever was best for her. That moment, I took a leap of faith and said my answer; "No, I don't."

"No?" she asked as if she was surprised.

"Yes, I think what I don't know wont hurt me or my town."

"That is a mighty fine thing to say, but for this situation, I would advise you rethink your motives, sheriff."

"I'm sorry, but I think somethings are best left unsaid..." I returned.

"Listen, ya blook' headed rascaal', Ah'm gon-" the burly griffon stepped in.

"Wait... If his mind is made up, then it is what it is," she stopped him, smiling, "but  maybe if I bend the rules a little bit, I can show him."

"You know that cannot be done," another pony from the small group stepped in.

"Sometimes, things have to happen differently to work properly in the future," she said as she reached for her pocket.

I quickly drew my revolver, but my hostility was maxed tenfold by the group as I was shoved in the face with rifles, swords, and revolvers. I holstered my piece faster than I drew it as the pony withdrew a blue holocard. She pressed the button in the middle and a hologram of the West appeared.

"I don't want to know this information, I told you!" I stamped.

"If you do not know this information, you will surely die as well as your town!" she stamped back and I finally shut up.

"The UEA are closer than you think, sheriff. Underneath the dunes about three miles north of Shanty Stables is a cave entrance which we are certain leads to a small underground UP facility that are supplying other UP stations throughout the West."

Now I wish I had said yes, the town was in trouble, the UP were experimenting right underneath my snout and I hadn't noticed. They could be standing on the side of a red barn with a black bullseye and I would miss 'em. I let her continue.

"We need good marksmares, weapons, and a place to stay for the next two nights, will you aid us?" and she held out a holocard.

Here came the responsible part, the part where I make one of those big changes in life, one that would save the entire town.

"Yes."

As time passed, I set them up in rooms above the saloon for free, which was a bad play on my part, but it was of use to them since the money they were carrying was no good here. Out West, we still use the old golden bits, but in the cities, they use credits. The only reason they acquired the guns from the shop down the street was because they threatened the cashier, but I let it slip, seeing what the situation was.

--

February 10 -

The tenth of Feburary, now, is recruit day.  We, the folk of Shanty Stables, are true gunslingers, but we need to be persuaded, otherwise we don't show it. I rounded up the town in front of the court house in the center where we normally do hangings to listen to what these Renegades had to say to my people.

"Shanty Stables! I bring news!" the unicorn in the coat and hat said, "The UEA have come to the West and are planning something big right underneath us as we speak."

There was a chatter among the townsfolk, some good, some bad. I just prayed to Celestia that they would come to terms and see things the way I saw them lat night. She pulled out the holocard of the underground map and activated it.

"We need ponies and griffons who are willing to claim their land back from the UEA and keep this region safe. All who are in favor, please step forward for testing, we need marksmares and skilled swordsmares," she finished and waited.

There was a long silence as a tumbleweed rolled across the center of the street. I was sweating as I took my hat off and wiped my forehead. I thought that if I stepped in, it would encourage some other ponies. I got up to the front of the group and said aye. A few more started to step forward, but not enough. We had five volunteers and everypony else backed down which scared me. One pony spoke up out of the crowd, "Where is your proof?"

"Is the holocard not good enough, sir?"

"Not for me, I want to see what we are going up against before I agree to something like this."

"Out in the desert, there is a cave entrance which leads to a group of tunnels and UEA facilities. If you and ten other ponies step forward to make twenty one, we can set out and show you just exactly what we are up against."

I spoke up, "Now listen, what this unicorn is telling is what appears to be the truth in my eyes. Don't y'all see what this means? Shanty Stables is an old town with old ponies and old stories, this is our opportunity to make a name with ourselves and sock it to the UEA.  Y'all remember what happened in Manehatten last year? These freedom fighters are one of the last symbols of hope in our country against our tyrant ruler! Now, we are going to go underground and take out all of those UEA fillyfoolers who is in charge of this neck of the woods, who is with me!"

I had taken half of that speech from a book on Starswirl the Bearded and I had no idea what I was talking about. Maybe I was scared, scared that the folk would just trot away and let in inevitable happen.

Some agreed, we had eighteen ponies, which was a fair sum, but the unicorn didn't approve, "We are going to need more firepower than this."

I stepped in, "We can use the wagons to carry the spinny guns and a few boxes of dynamite, would that help?"

"Dynamite?"

"Of course, we have a mighty large supply of it at the sheriff's office's basement."

"Great," she said in a change of heart tone, "we'll head out tomorrow morning, Sheriff, now supply these people with weapons and if all goes right, then we will save the lives of thousands."

It was with those words, that I realized how much of an honor as it was a curse to defend Equestria and her ponies to the death, and after being sheriff for twelve years, I have seen what it truly meant to be an Equestrian. I went to the armory and grabbed as many guns as I could pass out, set up the wagons, and by the end of the morning, we were a small army.  It was now time to practice shooting. We set up bottles and targets on one of the old barns on the outskirts of town. Most of us were pretty decent shots, but the group that came rolling in last night, the Renegades, could shoot a bit out of the sky from a hundred miles away.

It was amazing to watch them shoot and swashbuckle with each other, they were trained in ways I never saw. The sword fighting was extreme, they clashed them and sparks bounced off. I will have to continue writing after practice is done, until tonight.

Night -

Everything was set for tomorrow morning, but I fear I may not be able to go through with it. While shooting practice was going on, I found some shade in a barn across from the other ones to have a sandwich and some water. I didn't notice that the unicorn had followed me in there. I found a nice hay stack to rest on and I tilted my hat over my eyes as I chewed softly, my golden sheriff star shining. She revealed herself, this time she was not wearing her hat. She approached me, and spoke.

"Sheriff, you do understand the risks we are taking?"

"Wha- Oh, I didn't see you come in, rebel. Would you like a piece?" I offered her a piece of my sandwich.

"Yeah, thanks. Some of these ponies are not going to make it back, I hope you know the dangers, and I hope you have enough wood for coffins," she returned.

"I do, but I have to ask you a question... Why do you have so much hope in Shanty Stable to take down this facility?" I asked.

"What do you mean?"

I swallowed, "Shanty Stables is a small town in literally the middle of nowhere, yet you guys come rolling in like Celestia II herself, throwing down info like a secret UEA             lab underneath us, then you take twenty of us, suit us up to the teeth with guns, and we plan to kill every last one of those fascists."

"About half a year ago, I lived a simple life under the rule of Equestria's tyrant, I didn't have too many worries, and I lived in a somewhat safe environment, but things changed. When I joined the Renegades, I had to train hard and learn many things that I was not able to learn before. I had to learn how to trust somepony before I met them, I had to practice the way of picking somepony out of the crowd. Shanty Stables is one of many, but anypony can become a fighter, it just takes time and hope."

She drew a long sword from her holster, it was a beautiful weapon, crafted with the strongest steel as she explained, and was given to her after the completion of her training.

"I have been to parts of Equestria ranging from the aquatic civilizations of Whales to the Nomads of the Arctic South, just opposite of the Kingdom of Aris and New Trottingham. I just got back January fifteenth, I haven't even been in the country for more than a few weeks. This lab beneath us is supplying resources to UPs all over Equestria, and if it falls, we go one step further into our plan," she said.

"What plan?"

She bit her tongue while chewing, "Ah! I shouldn't have said that, I need to learn to keep things to myself. Forget I said anything about that last part."

She got up and left the barn, while I was left there wondering about what she said. I tremble as my quill touches these blank pages; for death is looming over me and it's right on our front door. I must catch my rest before we go to battle, I will write back before we head out in the morning to write my thoughts.

February 11 -

We leave in five minutes, I have my best sheriff suit on, a vest, some suspenders, a coat, and a holster for my revolver and one on my back for my rifle. I'm enjoying my last glass of brandywhine before I get up on my wagon with the spinny guns pulled by buffalo and we set off into the dunes. I hope Celestia is watching over us this day, for I am scared. All the dynamite went into boxes and were loaded onto separate carriages, but I kept a few sticks and matches in a satchel that I'm keeping with me.

I'm right behind the wagon as I write and I see the other seventeen ponies saying goodbye to their families. I hope that they all make it back, for what I have heard from the rebels, the UEA have much more powerful weapons in the labs underground that they are experimenting on and they are much more dangerous. The unicorn rebel gave a speech a few seconds ago.

"Today, we ride into the desert to fight for a royal cause underneath Celestia's flag. You will be remembered, whether you die on this day, or you live past one hundred.  A pony once told me about a land, one blooming with fruit and flowers, one where the freedom was unlimited and the possibilities; infinite. This is what we are fighting for, a peace for which heroes strive for and peasants long for. Today, we set out to save Shanty Stables and others alike, under one ruler, Celestia. Today, we ride for freedom."

She paused then, "Let's head out."

I don't know why, but I feel a strange connection to the unicorn, one that I had felt all my life. I am just realizing it now, probably because I have some alone time before we reach our destination. The buffalo are quiet as they pull, but I can here some of the other ponies talking outside. I feel a strange loneliness.

I think when this is all over, I'm gonna' start a family.

Night -

Today, I fought a battle, I saw ponies die, we saved thousands. I sustained a few injuries, but none of them compare to the ones I sustained to my heart and mind. Out of the eighteen, fifteen returned, and I have copied the letters to the families down below, but I left their names out in the journal, I can't bear to look at them;

Dearest family of...

On this day, February 11 of twenty eight NM, your son, brother, and friend was killed, fighting valiantly beside his own kind against the tyranny of the United Equine Aristocrats, whom we thought left us alone out here in the wild West, but to my foolishness, I let us let our guard down, and they were here all along. ... was a treasured member of Shanty Stables and he will be missed by us all. He will be missed at the saloon, at the store, and around town, but do not grief because of his loss, for he died a hero, and will always be remembered as one, nothing less. I will take full responsibility in ensuring his burial on the grassy patches of the apple orchard to the north of Shanty Stables, as he told me on his dying breath. I wish it was it was me more and I would trade in my life to protect the lives of the creatures of Equestria, but now, we must wait, together.

Dusty Trails

Dearest Family of...

Your daughter, by now you have heard, tragically perished on this day, February 11, twenty eight NM. She was one of the only mares to answer the call when Shanty Stables was in dire need of assistance, and she fought with bravery, courage, and such a will power. When our Renegade friend gave the speech this morning, we were told we were fighting for peace, which was the main reason your daughter, sister, or friend, came to fight. She was one of the bravest ponies I have ever met, this being a small town, heroes are scarce. She will have an empty coffin buried on the Great Plains near the many lakes. As I said, heroes are scarce, and it saddens me to realize that we have just lost one.

Dusty Trails

When we returned home just a few hours ago, I was a different colt. Before, I was just plain old Dusty Trails, a loving, caring sheriff watching out for his peaceful town, but as I write, I am becoming more of an emotional wreck. If only I could describe what I saw, what I did...

We pulled up to the cavern entrance in the side of a dune, just an ordinary dune, but in the cave, we came upon a large rock wall. We all stood ready for anything and one of the Renegades (I finally counted them, five) walked up to the wall, placed her horn to the wall, and it lit up like a Hearth's Warming Eve tree.  The wall slid open and it led to a metallic tunnel, which was where we proceeded. Down in the tunnel, we came to the first lab, the one the unicorn told me about, and everypony started shooting at each other. I got into cover as fast as I could, and as fast as it started, it was over. Nopony had taken any damage and we continued to the next lab. I didn't look at the UPs on the ground, I couldn't.

The next few labs were a challenge, they had laser beams and swords and high powered thingamajiggers that I thought were impossible to be built. That was when we lost the colt I wrote about. Stabbed right in the chest with a UEA standard issue sword, he didn't even see it coming. I pulled my revolver and shouted at the top of my lungs, then that UP looked right at me through his mask, and I shot him clean in the forehead. I couldn't do anything but pull the sword out quickly, and the fighting stopped immediately. He told me where he wanted to be buried, and then tears swelled up in his eyes.

"I don't wanna die..."

"I know... I know..."

"I wanna go home."

I'm sorry, my friend, I am truly sorry. I wish it was me.

We came to the center of the complex, where the main generators were located, and where the dynamite I packed would come in handy. The buffalo that was carrying the crates of dynamite tripped as he ran over to the generators and they rolled all over the floor towards the UPs who were shooting at us. That is when I grabbed my small stash and got ready to throw myself into the generators. We were being overwhelmed by the UPs, soon we would all have been shot. I lit the long fuse, three times along as a normal stick, and charged towards the generators, then I was shot in the back left leg. The stick rolled on the floor, and the mare who was with us picked it up.

"Wait! You can't, I'll do it!" I begged her to stop.

"No, sheriff, you go back to Shanty Stables, protect them."

She seemed so sure that this was what she wanted, even though it was suicide. I called everypony to fall back to the exit, and we galloped as fast as we could until an explosion burst within the generator room, sending a fiery wall up the shafts and blowing out the front of the cave as we made it out just in time. The rest was history. It was one of those 'you had to be there' moments to fully understand it, but I never want to relive something like that again in my entire life. I felt as if I had just rang a door bell and ran for my fillyhood life, hoping I wouldn't get caught.

An hour ago, the unicorn came back into my office, and she talked with me for w while.

"How are you doing?" she asked.

"I don't know,  I wrote these notes to the families of the deceased, but I'm not to good at writing those kinds of things, what do you think of them?" I handed her them two notes and she read them over carefully, studying the words. She took a deep breath and stared;

"I couldn't help but notice you said you wish it were you. Sheriff, I know we came in here in an 'all-of-a-sudden' manor, we showed you something you didn't want to see, we made you take your people and fight a battle you had no idea that was coming."

"We Equestrians fight for the good of its ponies, Shanty Stables, though peaceful, is not a stranger to death," I smiled, which was the only expression I thought seemed right at the moment, not because I was happy, but because I was proud.

She said that she and her posse were departing and I asked, "Where will you go now, rebel?"

"Off to fight the tyranny, my friend."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, if you must know, I think we are going to the other side of the world, wait until some more info comes up from our resources..." she paused for a second. "Ever since my life changed and I joined this whole struggle, I have believed that one day, everything will change. I'm not supposed to say this, but... the Princess has a plan."

"But wha-" I managed to stumble out, and she was gone.

April 17 -

It has been two months since I last saw the mysterious unicorn and her ragtag group of rebels, and in honor of their help for the town, we built a small monument for them out in the center. Time has flown by fast, and I have taken my words before to heart, I think I'm going to start a family. I have been trying for a while, and I will have to update as soon as possible.

December 4 -

I think I might have found the right one.

May 4, 0029 NM -

I'm getting married.

February 11, 0035 NM -

It is National Rebellion Day in the town of Shanty Stables, and my family and I are going to pay our respects to the two who lost their lives on this day. Today, we are making a time capsule just to let the people in the next millennium know who lived here and what they did. In it are valuables such as bits, photographs, bullets, clothes, my sheriff star, and this journal, which I plan to put in the capsule tonight.

In the next paragraph, I will be addressing the creatures who find this journal;

Greetings my fellow Equestrians and/or other countrymares, I am sure you have just finished reading my story of the mysterious rebels, and I hope that times are much easier in Equestria, now that it is one thousand years into the future (or whenever this is discovered). I only hope that the downfall of the UEA has actually happened, and if not, then I hope the Renegades are trying as hard as they can. Please take my sheriff star and other artifacts. Just remember as I have wrote, the Princess has a plan.

Dusty Trails

As the researchers and explorers continued to search the desert, they came

across the sheriff's office, which was still in good condition despite the two hundred years of loneliness. Over the hill, there is a cemetery, with one of the graves marked; Dusty Trails, born 997 Middle Millennium, died 67, which would make the narrator of the journal seventy years old. His remains were dug up and examined, his cause of death was from cardiac arrest from old age.

Historians have made thousands of copies of this journal and was adapted into the best selling short story called 'As the Sand Blows Over the Dune", read by millions of Equestrians to this day.

Explorers also found the old and crumbling tunnel that led to the UP facility underground, where they found old research papers, remains of experimental weapons, corpses, and other things.

Dusty Trails was seen as a historical figure, starting off as a simple, small town sheriff, to a war hero, saving thousands, and loved by millions.

• Excavation log #768

          Hail Princess Celestia