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Kelsie was frustrated, her mind conflicted by her duty to uphold the law - and her fantasy about Ironclad's words, that had burned into her mind like a branding iron. Could she believe him, knowing all he had done - the numerous murders he had performed - justified, she forced herself to admit, but murder was still a violation of the law - law she was sworn to uphold...it was an impossible answer to a question that caused conflict and emotional distress in her mind. Arrest him - knowing he would be tried and found guilty - or let him go, but in doing so, she was violating everything she believed in...

her revelry was shattered, as the door opened and Angelica entered, her paws slapping at her trousers and coat, shedding the dust before she wiped her forehead and flicked away the sweat. From the scent of the gelding which clung to her, Kelsie raised an eyebrow at the dishevelled Whitetail Doe, who drew closer, then stopped a few paces away.

"He accepted your invitation - " Angelica panted, as if she had run all the way home, then she put both paws on her hips and bent over, gasping for breath.

"My - invitation?" Kelsie frowned, her mind still concerned with larger issues, before realisation sunk in. "Oh...how...no, don't tell me, I swear, these walls have ears - "

Kelsie blushed, her inner ears reddening, before she stood and walked over to the sink where she filled a bowl with the cold water then held it out to Angelica, who gratefully took it and quickly drank, before wiping a paw across her muzzle and setting the bowl aside.

"You know, with the - him - out of commission, you're the new Acting Senior Constable - effectively, you're the new lawmaker here in Stringybark..." Angelica spoke quietly, as she leaned on Kelsie's desk, then stared into the young Filly's eyes. "With that sort of power, comes great responsibility - you could do such good for all of us - human and Anthropomorphic people...have you considered that?"

Kelsie laughed weakly, then gestured at the pile of paperwork that sat on her desk. "I know - how long I retain my position...I've got to send the logs and reports off on the Police Stage tomorrow - I doubt I'll get to keep my unofficial title for long...a Constable in charge? Unheard of - "

Angelica smiled, then reached out and placed a paw on Kelsie's, then squeezed gently. "I believe in you Kelsie - many of us do - you've suffered, we all have, but now - we have the opportunity for changing our lot in life! Already, you got to admit, things, because of - someone - has changed for the better!"

Kelsie knew well, who that someone was - but she wisely kept it between Angelica and herself.

"So much to do, so many reports and logs and..." Kelsie sighed in exasperation.

Angelica snorted, then tapped Kelsie lightly on the nose, before leaning close and staring into the young Constable Filly's eyes. "They can wait, you and I both know, where your heart is leading you - and your feelings - you've been offered something wonderful Kelsie, don't be a fool, and let it slip through your fingers!"

Kelsie snorted, her ears slashing backwards, as she narrowed her eyes. "I'm conflicted! On one hand, I know what my heart wants, but on the other, you...realise the repercussions of my feelings, in following my heart - what would happen? I'm sworn to uphold the law, to protect the innocent, to do right by the King's Justice and - "

Angelica blinked, then laughed weakly. "What better way than this? We both know what happened to our people, under the merciless yoke of - well - we both know who, now, there's a chance, a hero for our people - who protects us as best they can, who avenges us for the crimes committed against our kind! How many human's were charged for what they done to our people - and were convicted? Well?"

Kelsie opened her mouth to reply, before she stammered and shut it with a snap, wilting under Angelica's stern gaze.

"Precisely...yet how many of our people were fined, jailed...or worse...often on fabricated charges? How many innocents suffered to appease the greed and callousness of some humans? You're not a fool young Filly, use that brain the Gods gave you, and make a stand for once in your life - you've taken the first steps, but you need to harden your resolve and stand as a figure our people can look up too - be fair, impartial and just, uphold the law, but do it even-pawed! Do not side against the humans - not all of them are like...him...or his cronies, but I won't lie - not all of our people are sweet and innocent either! You need to strike a balance, prove yourself to be fair, impartial and incorruptible, make us proud of who you are! Uphold the law, protect those who deserve it, and punish the guilty...but first...someone is waiting to meet you..." Angelica told her, punctuating her lecture with the stern tapping on the wooden floor of a cloven hoof, and a light poke to the velvety nose of the Filly.

With a sigh, Kelsie hung her head, then sank into the hard wooden chair behind her desk.

"Therein lies the problem - uphold the law - means I need to hunt that Stallion - bring him in alive, preferably, for the King's justice to be served...if I don't, I'm a mockery of the law, and unfit to hold my position..." Kelsie muttered, then slapped the top of the desk with a fist, before there was a loud click and a hidden panel fell open, the front panel falling onto the floor with a loud slap and dust wafting up. "What the..."

Kelsie frowned, as she seen letters and paper flutter out, before she pushed her chair back and picked them up, after a quick glance, her eyes widened in horror as she read them quickly, the letters fluttering to the desk top from her nerveless fingers.

"Oh my god - " Kelsie gasped, as her mind began putting together a jigsaw, that she had slowly been trying to assemble mentally ever since she first become a Constable here at Stringybark.

"What is it?" Angelica asked, as she stepped around the desk, then picked up a letter and frowned, her literacy skills not as evolved as Kelsie's. "What does...forced..."

"Acquisition - " Kelsie finished for her, as he eyes welled in tears. "Those farm holders didn't sell up and leave...look at these! They're logs, detailed reports on the...the...that fucking bastard!"

Kelsie wept as the puzzle pieces began to snap together, before her anger took her and she leapt up then paced around the police station, her whole body quivering in rage and grief.

"He murdered them all - dozens of them - then claimed they had sold out their farmsteads an left the district, but these reports and logs...it's all lies - the Sargent and Sebastian and others - intentionally murdered dozens of land owners for their property for...for..."

Kelsie snatched up the reports, scanning them quickly, but there was no rhyme nor reason, no justification for why so many Anthropomorphic farm holders had been murdered in cold blood - their lands seized under the orders of the Sargent. What didn't help, was the reasons why these forced acquisitions had been done - and by whose orders? Kelsie didn't have the answers, but already, she began formulating a new plan - determined to find out and bring the Sargent up on charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and other charges, but she knew in her heart she needed more evidence. So, as much as she desired vengeance, she was adamant she would build an ironclad case to bring before the magistrate, to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt the Sargent was corrupt, had murdered or ordered murdered dozens of innocent's - there would be no chance for him to escape the justice that was so cruelly denied his victims, there would be justice - but it would be by the letter of the law, and this was merely a first step - towards building the compelling case against him...

Kelsie's fingers contracted, scratching across the desk and making Angelica shiver, before Kelsie clenched her teeth and ground them, her anger rising to a boiling pressure within her.

"This explains so much - but still leaves even more - unexplained..." Kelsie ground out, as she snatched up the quill and a piece of paper, intending to start writing down the formal letter that would be presented to the magistrate, requesting his presence.

"Who, I don't understand - " Angelica whispered, as she frowned. "You mean that - "

"Exactly - " Kelsie snorted. "I've been wondering for some time, it seemed awfully convenient that only Anthropomorphic people sold out and left...never humans, now I know the truth - the Sargent will hang for his crimes, I swear it! I won't rest until I see him marched to the gallows and hung for his crimes against our kind! This is unforgivable in the extreme, we've been lied too for far too long!"

"What you're proposing - " Angelica began, then she trailed off. "This? This isn't enough, you need more, it could be claimed that these letters are forgeries and - "

Kelsie slapped the desk hard enough to make Angelica jump in fright and step back. "This is his writing - there's no doubt about that, I've read enough reports to know it backwards! It's even his signature at the bottom of some of these letters and logs..."

"Ask yourself, who benefits from the murders?" Angelica spoke quietly, as she scratched the back of her head and frowned, trying to think like a police officer.

"Obviously, the Sargent!" Kelsie growled, as she felt her anger turning white hot within her.

"No, I don't think that's right - " Angelica pondered, as she sat on the edge of the desk. "He hates our kind, that's no secret - but how does he benefit from the murder and destruction of their farmsteads? He - doesn't seem like the farming type - you need more compelling evidence, as I believe someone used him...he...he doesn't have the brains to pull off some elaborate plan like this himself. He's like a feral dog, trained to attack and kill - but he isn't holding his own leash, someone gives the orders, and he fulfils them, as who better? He was the leading Policeman in Stringybark - his word was law - who would dare speak up against him? Those who do, were brutally assaulted - or met with unfortunate accidents and - "

Angelica's eyes widened, as she suddenly felt pieces drop into place, and she clasped her paws to her muzzle as she moaned in horror and disbelief.

"Those were no accidents - " Kelsie snorted. "I bet each and every_accident_ was disguised to look like just that, to cover the Sargent's hand in it...no, you're right my friend - the Sargent doesn't have the brains to pull something like this off...but I bet I know who does..."

Angelica began swinging a furred leg back and forth, as she thought, the frown creasing her forehead. "I can think of any number of possible people who would stand to benefit from it, just off the top of my head and - "

Realisation spread across Kelsie's muzzle, like the rising dawn, and her mouth fell open, ears flattened and nostrils flared, as the final puzzle piece dropped into place and the whole picture was revealed in her mind.

"No...it can't be - but all the evidence so far, my own experiences..." Kelsie murmured, as her mind reeled with the epiphany that struck her.

"Who?" Angelica asked, as she frowned in confusion.

"Patterson...that cunning bastard...it makes perfect sense now! He has hated our kind for, what feels like eternity...he has the power, the wealth and the influence, with him pulling the strings of the Sargent like a puppet...it all starts making perfect sense! He'd stand to benefit the most with cheap land he could acquire, which would mean people loyal to him, more profits in his pockets..." Kelsie swore as she resumed pacing the Police Station, her conviction growing more and more.

"If that's true...how can you prove it? You have no evidence to convict, the Magistrate would have it thrown out, and you'd be marked for...well...we both know what, the Sargent may be a drunken fool and an idiot and other things - but he still has friends both in Stringybark and in the surrounding districts! Patterson, if what you say is true! - he could put the word out, and you'd meet with an unfortunate accident...with no witnesses to prove otherwise!" Angelica sighed, as she wrung her paws in frustration.

With a snort, Kelsie's eyes narrowed, as she scratched at the back of her head and frowned in consternation.

"I don't know how, but I swear - I'll find the evidence, and it'll be total and complete - but promise me Angelica, not a word of this will be spoken, outside of the Police Station, or in my quarters - I'd - never forgive myself, if something happened to you..." Kelsie whispered, as she turned around then gripped Angelica's paws in her own and squeezed.

"I promise - now - go on, you got a handsome young Stallion waiting for you...he accepted your offer - and agreed to meet. Go to him as a Filly, not as a Constable - oh - one last thing, leave your holster on your horse...he has...quick reflexes and is rather - highly strung..." Angelica giggled, as she licked Kelsie on the forehead, then cuddled her close. "I want to hear all about it, tomorrow - all this - can wait - he will not..."

Kelsie blushed, then loosened her tightly fitting collar, feeling the blush that flowed up her head like a wave, making her inner ears turn crimson.

"Is it that obvious?" Kelsie giggled nervously.

Angelica snorted, then placed her paws on her hips and stared at Kelsie, then took her by the forearm and gently pushed her towards the door.

*

Kelsie bit her lower lip, as she clucked gently at her mare, ears twitching too and fro as she paused at the edge of the clearing, the old, delapitated cabin on the far edge. It didn't show any signs of habitation, and as Kelsie watched, a young Kangaroo and her joey grazed contentedly near the cottage, as if nothing was wrong. Carefully, Kelsie dismounted her mare, who nuzzled at her and snorted softly, before Kelsie remembered the warning and unbuckled her belt, before looping it over the saddle horn on the saddle and timidly stepping out into the open, holding her paws out from her body, then slowly turning around. With a warning grunt, the Doe snorted and her Joey fled to her pouch and tumbled into it, before the Doe stood upright, her ears twitching and staring straight at Kelsie.

"Easy little one," Come a gruff, stern voice, then the soft thud of hooves against the ground, as Ironclad stepped into view and walked over to the quivering Kangaroo Doe, then rested a pale paw on her shoulder. "I've been expecting this filly...go on, she won't hurt you..."

"You - " Kelsie stammered, then she blinked as the Doe merely flicked an ear and hopped off, as if Ironclad's words had been understood.

"Pretty young girl, and a great mother too, very - protective - of her Joey...now, nice and easy Filly - oh, rest assured, I've been watching you ever since you entered the bush - I keep an eye on people who enter my territory..."

Kelsie shivered more violently, as she obediently stepped forwards, holding her paws up over her head, as Ironclad roughly patted her down from neck to ankles, then he stepped back, satisfied she was unarmed, and nobody had followed her.

"You can stable your mare out the back, there's fresh hay, water and such for her - you and I - we have a lot talk about - Constable- " Ironclad whispered, but the hint of steel in his voice, heavy on the emphasis of the word Constable.

"I come in good faith - alone, as promised, and unarmed - " Kelsie stammered, her courage wilting like a freshly plucked flower.

"I wouldn't have let you get as far as you did, if I had any doubts..." Ironclad told her, as he lifted her head with a paw and gazed into her eyes, transfixing them with his intense gaze.

"You - " Kelsie began, before she visibly swallowed the lump in her throat and her ears flattened in fear, remembering the strength in those paws, and how he could easily snap her neck, if he was so inclined...

"Shhh, there's no need to be so afraid young Filly...I won't hurt you...I promise..." Ironclad smiled, then he leaned down and licked her forehead with his long, rough tongue, before he swept her off her hooves and cradled her like she was a newborn, the iron-like muscles beneath his golden coat rippling, as he carried her towards the cottage.

"If you truly love me, the way I think you do - " Kelsie whispered, gazing up at him. "Then love me..."

With a blush that Kelsie felt, as she caressed his nose, Ironclad smiled and kissed her forehead.

"I will little Filly, on that, I promise..."

Backing through the door, Ironclad kicked it closed with a loud thud, which caused the birds to erupt from the trees with a shrieking cacophony of calls and screeches...

To Be Continued...