The Adventures of Hoss Wild the Cowpony: Beginning

Chapter 6: Learning to Shoot

The next morning, there was a sense of anxiety in the town. Everypony was on edge after the fire, and the rumor of a possible spy began to spread. Hoss was looking at his new clothes in the mirror when a knock came at his door. Hoss opened it to find Braeburn.

“Good morning Hoss, or should I say hero,” he said with a smile, “We’re meeting downstairs. Come meet us when you’re ready.”

He began to leave but stopped and turned around to place a basket of apples on the floor.

Braeburn took of his hat and said, “These apples are from your farm, they were in storage and I wanted you to have them. You can save the seeds and plant them one day, on your own farm.”

Hoss was saddened and fixated on the bright red apples, “Thank you Braeburn, these mean a lot to me.”

Braeburn smiled and said, “No problem. Oh, and by the way, Twilight put a enchantment on them so they can stay fresh for years, just make sure to wipe the dust off.”

Braeburn closed the door, and Hoss could hear his hooves go down the stairs. Hoss sat down and stared at the basket, his last family harvest, his family’s legacy all in this one tiny basket. Hoss remembered a time when he and his family would fill crates upon crates of apples, but that was all a memory now, and that memory fueled the vengeance that festered in his heart.

Hoss finally made it down and was greeted by the group.

“Good morning Hoss, did you sleep okay after all that craziness last night?” asked Fluttershy.

“Yeah I slept okay, what about you guys?” he replied.

Rarity yawned, “I was so sleepy after that drama, I’m just happy we put the fire out.”

Twilight agreed and said, “Right, but we got lucky that time. We need to start our investigation as well as take precautions in case somepony may be spying on us.”

Braeburn spoke up, “Agreed, but Twilight… Things are getting to intense for a princess… I think you should leave and let us handle it from here on out.”

Twilight shook her head and said, “No, I will not abandon my friends, but what I think we should do is split into teams. Hoss, Braeburn and AJ, you guys will be our field team. We need you to go out and look for clues, trails, anything that can lead us to these criminals. Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity, you will be looking for possible spies. Look for things out of the ordinary in the way anypony acts. Fluttershy and I will call in extra security and stay here at the saloon sorting out any data you guys gather.”

Braeburn smiled, “Wow, that sounds much better than what I had planned.”

AJ grinned, “That’s why Twi is an expert on organization.”

Twilight gleamed, “Thank you both, but we have our assignments, any questions?”

Pinkie Pie raised her hoof, “Just one question.”

Twilight said, “Yes?”

Pinkie Pie had a mustache on.

Twilight said, “Yes, this time you must be undercover to find the spy.”

Pinkie Pie put on her spy suit with mustache and left with Dash and Rarity.

“Fluttershy and I will go and investigate that fire across the street, what will you ponies do?”

Braeburn stood up and walked to a chest. He opened it and spent a minute putting on a device. He then whipped around and showed Hoss and the group his leg.

Braeburn smiled and said, “this here is a six-shooter leg revolver, you just move you point your leg at the target and pull your hoof in like this to fire it. This has gotten a lot more severe so I want y’all to have protection in case things get too hairy.”

Twilight was skeptical, “You really think it will come to pulling a trigger?”

Braeburn nodded, “These ponies are capable of a lot, and it may have to. Today we’ll train to shoot.”

Twilight gathered her paper and quills and headed up to her room with Fluttershy following along.

She turned back to the other three and said, “Just be careful, guns are not toys, only aim at what you intend to kill.”

She looked at Hoss, then turned and continued on up.

Hoss and AJ put on their revolvers and followed Braeburn to the edge of town, where he had set up bottles along an old wooden fence.

“Okay, the key to shooting is picking your targets with precision. Take a few breaths, aim, and fire.”

Applejack went first, raising her right leg and aiming down the barrel. She breathed in and out, then,

POW

She had hit the target.

“Good,” said Braeburn, “Again, faster if you can.”

AJ smiled and breathed in and out.

POW POW POW POW POW

She hit four out of the last five.

“Whoo-whee! Cousin, you are a natural shot, good job. Hoss, you’re up.”

Hoss went to where AJ had stood. He raised his arm. It began to shake.

“More space in between your legs Hoss, you need more of a base,” called Braeburn

Hoss spread his legs more, which stopped the shaking. He took in a deep breath and held it.

POW

He missed.

“That ok Hoss, try again. Take your time and aim.”

Hoss breathed in and fired.

POW

He missed again. Braeburn looked at AJ with a concerned look.

Hoss began to panic. He couldn’t shoot, and if he can’t shoot, he can’t protect himself, and if he can’t protect himself, he can stop the gang, and if he can’t stop the gang, he can’t avenge his family…. click.

Hoss squinted his eyes and pulled the trigger three four times.

POW POW POW POW

As the smoke cleared, four of the glasses were shattered.

Braeburn and AJ both cheered.

“Good going Hoss, we knew you’d get it!” said Braeburn.

“Now, lets start looking for these no good varmints and bring them to justice,” yelled AJ.

The three ponies went back to the saloon to grab their gear and start their investigation for the outlaws.