FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter II - Family Heirlooms

Despite his staying up late the previous night, Braeburn still managed to get up early in the morning before Twilight and even Applejack were awake. Taking advantage of the early morning, the stallion went to the bathroom and decided he needed to rinse out the dust of the previous day. Braeburn turned on his shower and let the cool water cleanse him and wash over his body, rinsing the dust out as he put some soap in his mane and coat.

When he had finished, he brushed himself with a fine comb for his coat and a bristle brush for his mane before stepping outside into the sun to dry himself. The sun had hardly managed to set its course across the sky and yet it already beat down on the arid landscape stretching out before him. Braeburn was hardly out in the heat for five minutes before he was completely dry, his coat glistening as he returned into the house to start preparing breakfast for himself and his guests.

It wasn't long before the two ponies were awake and in the kitchen. While Twilight looked like she had a restful sleep, Applejack's eyes were bloodshot like she had either been crying more or hadn't gotten much sleep at all last night. Braeburn pulled out a few mugs and some orange juice and freshly brewed coffee and passed some over to the two mares as he finished cooking breakfast: farm-fresh eggs, a fruit medley, and a set of apple-cinnamon pancakes. The two mares thanked the stallion, who tipped his hat to them in reply, and they all settled down to eat.

"Braeburn, thank you so much for your hospitality on such short notice," Applejack said.

"It's the least I could do for my family and their close friend," Braeburn replied. "And of course I don't mind the extra company. It gets lonely out here living on the ranch by myself. I got the townsponies during the day, but evenings are usually spent in solitude."

"Well, you're lucky," Applejack said. "Macintosh said I could stay here for a few days to calm down and let this whole Granny Smith thing get through me. Of course, I still have some other business regarding that."

"Do you mean her will? I'm aware of it, but not the contents of it."

"I have a few things with me from back in Ponyville that she wanted to hand to you. They're all in my saddlebags. Three things were mentioned in the will, in addition to one more thing that she was talking about on her deathbed. They all either belonged to pa but never got to you or were hers that she wanted you to have."

Twilight went over to get the saddlebags and set them down on the table with her magic. Applejack began shuffling through her bags and searching through for the right items to pull out. The first was a small glass case with three ribbons in it. The second was a small silver pocket watch and chain that must have been at least a hundred years old. The third was a large envelope that looked old and weathered and seemed to barely remain intact. The final item was a polished wooden box about half as long as Braeburn's front leg and covered in ornate gold patterns.

Applejack pointed to the pocket watch. "This is an old watch from Granny Smith's younger days, given to her as a gift from her father. They bought it from a silversmith back in Canterlot before Ponyville was settled. It's at least ninety years old based on recent appraisals, and still works. The maker still makes batteries for it and I had it refitted with one for continued use."

Braeburn took the pocket watch. It was accurate in comparison to most of the clocks around Appleoosa and was finely constructed. "It'll be nice to have a clock telling me when to come in for dinner," Braeburn joked. "Everyone always says I'll waste away from not knowing what time it is and not coming home for meals at the right time. That aside, it is a pretty expensive watch."

Applejack nodded and pointed to the next item, the envelope. "This envelope contains your father's records for the settlement of Dodge Junction and its opening creeds as well as eventual records of its alliance with the rest of Equestria under Princess Celestia, and his personal journal. Granny figured they would be nice as historical documents and thought they'd be better going to you as opposed to a museum, as well as to be reminded of your father's legacy, which she said you would have made him proud."

Braeburn looked at the envelope but did empty it then and there on the table; its contents would require further exploration at another time, though he did rifle through and found many legal documents and some old black-and-white pictures taken, in addition to some portraits painted of the town.

"Next is these ribbons," Applejack said as she pushed the glass case towards Braeburn. "The red ones are for your pa's second-place victories in the rodeo circuit along the obstacle course. He was expected to make blue ribbon status the next year, but suffered a leg injury after bucking trees and didn't come in that year. He did eventually earn a blue ribbon in sharpshooting."

"I have his old rifle," Braeburn said. "Still fires, too. I don't use it much except to scare off any troublemakers prowling around the property at night. I knew he used it for tournaments, but I didn't think he won any ribbons in Dodge Junction."

"Those competitions came towards the end of his life, according to Macintosh," Applejack commented. "Sharpshooting was a relatively new thing back then, so he acquired the rifle and entered a few competitions. But it had its use, much as you're using it now. However, that brings me to the final item..."

Applejack took the wooden box and carefully unlatched it before turning it around and showing the contents to Braeburn. Inside was a finely crafted six-shot revolver, containing a sleek, eight-inch, black metal barrel and a carefully constructed wooden handle. The revolver was made so that it could be held by an earth pony and was fired with the flick of a switch at the back end of the device. Braeburn knew about the type of revolver; it was constructed specifically for earth pony use and was fast enough to fire rapidly with a simple flick of the hoof to apply slightly more pressure to the switch, as well as reducing the amount of smoke with every fire. In the box there was also a set of thirty bullets.

"This is the gun your pa won the blue ribbon with," Applejack said. "Granny said she wanted the infernal device locked away after your father killed someone with it that had invaded his property. Even if it was used for a good purpose, your pa agreed and let her have it and hide it away somewhere. It was on her deathbed that Granny said she wanted you to have it back. She told me where she had it - with pa's grave - and told me to bring it to you."

Braeburn inspected the gun. It was unloaded though everything worked as though it was in peak condition, fresh out of the gunsmith's shop. The bullets were finely-constructed steel cylinders that bore the insignia if CS&W - Colt, Smith, and Wesson, who were still operating in nearby Dodge Junction and still made bullets.

"These bullets are thick," Braeburn commented upon seeing the size of one of them.

"The notes that came with it state it's a point three-five-seven caliber," Applejack said. "Never much liked the things, so I don't care too much about what that means, but it's a family treasure all the same. Anyways, you'd probably have better use for it out here."

"Not really," Braeburn said. "Pa's old hunting rifle can scare away most critters easily enough by the sight or by one loud bang. I'll take it, but it probably won't get much use out here except as a treasure of my own. Still, I'm glad Granny Smith gave it back for pa's memory. Have you already had the memorial service?"

"No. We were all going to meet up in Ponyville after harvest time for a family reunion and commemorate her memory then. We just had a burial a few weeks ago, but not much was done in terms of a memorial."

"I see," Braeburn said as Twilight closed the box and carefully put all the objects on the counter behind them so they could finish breakfast. "I hope I'll be able to finish up this year and head on down there, as well as bring a few of my own treats for the reunion. Anyways, how long are you two plannin' on stayin' in town?"

"Another few days," Applejack replied. "We need the time to rest, and I don't think Twilight's eager to get back on that train again so soon."

Twilight shook her head. "It's almost impossible to flare out my wings on that train when they get stiff; the only place I can is between cars and that can get hot and windy and make the feathers go all out of place, then it's preening until I have to go outside and do the whole thing again."

Braeburn nodded as he picked up the now empty plates and dirty utensils. "You two are welcomed to stay as long as you'd like. Say, why don't you come on down with me to the dance hall later this evening? There's gonna be a big thing goin' on for the start of harvest season coming up and everyone in Appleoosa is invited. Wanna join?"

Applejack nodded. "Thank you, Braeburn. It sounds wonderful."

Braeburn gave a smile and tipped his hat again, a gesture which he was sure made Twilight turn a bright red.

* * *

The dance hall was a modest establishment containing a large dance floor lit up by multiple chandeliers hanging overhead giving a soft light throughout the building. There was a stage at one end that had a small band of ponies playing on various instruments, and their music rang throughout the hall as ponies twirled and danced in the center of the main room. Off to one side stood a bar where a bartender sat serving ponies cider and salt blocks, while on the other stood a door that led into a small restaurant that always stayed open late for the patrons.

Braeburn escorted his cousin and Twilight to the dance hall sometime in the early evening as the sun turned a golden hue with pink and purple strands before it settled below the horizon. The trio were talking and laughing on their way there, and soon Twilight had been caught up in a story that Braeburn had been telling ever since they left the farmhouse.

"...Now I wondered to myself what could have caused all this commotion, having all these ladies faintin' around me at the slightest notice? Well, I turned around to look at what the hay was the matter before I noticed Soarin of the Wonderbolts walkin' down the street behind me. Now he is a pretty handsome fella, but I decided he was flaunting the goods a little more than he should and I'd give him a taste of his own medicine. So while I had caught him by surprise and without a word to say, I took off my hat and waved my hair around so that it glistened in the sunlight as it fanned out behind me. Well, that little display alone got his own wings fannin' out behind him, and the deal was sealed the moment I winked at him and smiled. By the time I had tipped my hat to say 'good day' to him, he was passed out in the middle of the street, wings still unfurled and stiff like a dead animal once rigor mortis sets in, tongue hangin' out of his mouth . Oh, he was fine, but if you were to talk to him about it to this day, he'd deny it every time you asked him that he fainted dead away once he got a look at this stallion."

It was either a testament to the silliness of the event or just the way Braeburn told it that Applejack was still laughing after hearing it every single time she had met with Braeburn, not to mention Twilight on his other side laughing so hard she was barely able to breathe. Braeburn himself laughed a good-natured laugh along with them as they entered the dance hall, filled with ponies, and made their way over to the restaurant at the one end of the hall. The trio ordered a round of hay fries and a set of daffodil and daisy sandwiches, one each, in addition to an apple fritter; Braeburn paid for the whole thing with generous tip.

As they were eating, many ponies came up to talk to Braeburn, and he answered every single one of them. "Hey, Quick Draw! I saw you get first place in the tournament last month in Dodge Junction. Fine shooting there, boy!" "Oh Miss Celery Stalk, you don't have to repay me for helping out on the farm; I was just helpin' another pony out. My own orchard is doing quite well enough." "Sheriff Silverstar! Glad you could make it out tonight... oh, so you're just on the rounds. Well, don't be a stranger, ya hear?"

Of course, even though Braeburn was assaulted by ponies thanking him for the help over the past summer with making sure their crops were up and going alright, it wasn't enough to keep his eyes off the purple mare sitting across from him. He knew she had been looking at him all the past two evenings and now finally had a good chance to take a look back. The only thing that would have signified her as a princess was the unicorn horn on her head and a pair of purple wings with a span longer than she was tall though at the moment neatly folded against her sides. Her violet eyes shone brightly under the lights of the chandeliers and her purple with pink-striped mane had a unique little flip on one side. Braeburn smiled at her and she shied away from his gaze, blushing all the same and eventually returning the smile with one of her own.

"And what's a pretty little thing like you doin' all the way out here in Appleoosa?" Braeburn asked, tilting his mug of cider towards Twilight. "You ain't got too many relatives or friends out in this direction. I don't see the appeal in comin' out all this way."

"I... I wanted to c-come with Applejack to a-a-apologize for the loss," Twilight stammered as she tried to keep calm, though her face only got redder.

Braeburn chuckled. "You know, it ain't often we get princesses down here in Appleoosa. Matter of fact, I think you're the first that's come down here, and twice to boot."

Twilight smiled back. "Well, Applejack's m-m-my friend," she managed to reply. "And what sort of f-friend would I be if I d-didn't help her out in this t-t-time of crisis?"

Applejack huffed. "I know where you're going with this whole spiel, Braeburn," she spoke up before Twilight could become any more embarrassed. "Please, don't pursue it any farther. I'm afraid you'll break Twilight if you keep up with it."

"I mean to break nopony," Braeburn said, still smiling. "I'm just asking a simple question."

"You know darn well what I mean!"

"Trust me, cousin Applejack. I know my limits."

"Know all you want, but no touchin'."

Braeburn pouted as though depressed, but he did it so over the top and with such a sad whinny accompanying it that Twilight broke out in laughter. Braeburn just about laughed himself when he saw the look on Applejack's face; the orange mare was trying to fix her hardest death glare on him but the corners of her mouth kept creeping upward.

Once dinner was over, the three moved out into the dance hall where the band was playing a lively country tune with a singer at the microphone. Applejack immediately went to the bar to get herself something to drink, but Braeburn held out a hoof to Twilight, who at first looked shocked at the gesture.

"Care to dance, m'lady?" Braeburn asked.

Twilight looked over to Applejack, who was downing a shot glass of a brown liquid, before turning back to Braeburn. "...I would love to," she said as though in a daze and brought her hoof over to Braeburn, who led her out into the middle of the floor as the music picked up again.

It didn't take long for her to snap out of it. "Wait a minute!" Twilight said as she and Braeburn went to the center of the floor. "I don't know how to dance!"

"Don't you worry," Braeburn said. "I'll show you."

Braeburn helped Twilight stand up on her two back hooves, showing her how to bring one hoof around towards his lower back while the other hoof was on his shoulder. Braeburn soon mimicked the position once Twilight was in place and showed her how to lean on him for the support to stand up. It wasn't long before the next song started and Braeburn was carefully leading Twilight in the steps around the floor; it started out with a smooth melody but almost immediately began quickening in tempo towards the middle Twilight and Braeburn whirled around the dance floor, Twilight' eyes locked with the stallions as he brought his golden tail around him.

Braeburn was surprised at how quickly Twilight managed to fall in line. Within a few steps, the mare was keeping up with Braeburn's practically breakneck pace and producing steps that matched the graceful quality of the stallion's own. Her flank began to sway in time with his and her tail even flicked with the same rhythm. She never quite entirely managed to pull the dumbstruck look on his face, but Braeburn could tell from the lightness of her hoofsteps that she was enjoying it as much as he was, and soon the look became one of awe as Braeburn stared deeply into her violet eyes, feeling a flush come over his own face the longer he looked at her.

The beat picked up and became more prevalent and Braeburn's hoof lowered itself on Twilight's back to just slightly above her flank. Braeburn's steps quickened as his heartbeat matched the rhythm of the frantic, almost primeval beat, dragging poor Twilight around faster and sharper movements, but the mare managed to hold her own and pull off a few quick turns in direction that made it so that even Braeburn had to pull himself away from Twilight's eyes to focus. Twilight felt her hoof slip by accident down Braeburn's back so that their hooves were in the same place and wanted to pull away, but Braeburn kept her close with a look that made Twilight become weak in his hooves and caused the stallion to use a little more strength to keep her upright.

Braeburn considered it a relief when the music finally slowed down to a stop and he could let go of Twilight. The mare was as equally relieved, walking over to one of the tables near the bar where Applejack was sitting with a third shot glass in front of her and sitting down in one of the chairs to rest, but Braeburn could see the smile on her face.

"That was fun...!" Twilight said between pants.

"Glad you enjoyed yourself," Braeburn said. "I never figured myself a dance instructor, but I certainly taught you a thing or two."

Twilight laughed as Braeburn waved down the bartender and ordered two glasses of water and two mugs of cider. The bartender came out with the drinks and Braeburn paid for the tab as he continued talking with the violet mare, who was now much more at ease around him than she had been before they entered the dance hall. As the night wore on and the two became more tired, Braeburn offered to take Twilight back to the house for the night. Twilight, finally getting over her exhaustion from the dance, agreed.

"Hey Applejack!" Braeburn called to his cousin sitting over at the bar with a fourth shot glass in front of her. "Do you want to head back with me and Twilight to the house?"

"Nah," Applejack said. "You two jus' go along ahead. I... I'll be behind you in a minute."

Braeburn whistled and the bartender looked over to him. "Make sure she gets a glass of water or two before she leaves," Braeburn said. The bartender nodded and went to fulfill the order right away as Braeburn and Twilight left the dance hall and started walking through the moonlit streets of Appleoosa.

* * *

Braeburn considered himself one very lucky stallion.

Along the walk back, he and Twilight had gotten around to talking more, when he learned about a little of her time in Ponyville. He had been growing to like the mare with just her looks, but as she continued talking he found himself attracted to her friendly nature combined with book smarts. Braeburn wasn't by any means as educated as she was, but Braeburn could talk about things that others in Appleoosa couldn't, such as the works of old philosophers and literary criticism. By the time the two got home, Twilight was much more open to talking than before... and a little interested in something else.

Now, the two were lying on Braeburn's own bed, the door mostly closed so that when Applejack walked in she couldn't see them out in the open. Twilight was lying on her back with her wings folded up and around the stallion lying on top of her, kissing her on her neck and her cheek and her lips while cradling her head in his arms. The purple mare didn't resist in the slightest and even started kissing back after a while, grasping the stallion's head and pulling it towards her own. If she had been melting in Braeburn's arms earlier, it was Braeburn who was now melting into Twilight's hooves.

"I've never been with a stallion before," Twilight got out in between kisses.

"Then you've been missin' something," Braeburn replied.

"I know... It's just the stallions back in Ponyville are currently more friendly than they are interested in romantic relationships."

"I find that hard to believe with a pretty sight for sore eyes like yourself."

Twilight moaned and pulled her head away, only letting Braeburn kiss her cheek and neck. "And yet... even though I haven't ever really been with a stallion, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to find someone else like you."

"Well, I knew I had a natural sort of charm..."

Twilight pulled Braeburn back in for another kiss, drowning out whatever the stallion had left to say. The kiss of that purple mare was like a drug, and he lost himself in it as he continued to hold the mare in his hooves, gently stroking the back of her soft mane through his hooves, a feel he couldn't get enough of after spending his whole life with his feet in the hard and rocky soil around Appleoosa...

Something cracked and there was a creaking sound like the front door being opened.

"Did you hear that, Twi?" Braeburn asked, stopping himself from kissing the mare as his ears swiveled about.

"It's probably just Applejack," Twilight said, trying to pull Braeburn in for another kiss.

"Just hold on a minute!" Braeburn whispered, and Twilight stopped.

At first there was total silence, with only the sound of the desert crickets outside the window. For a long time, that was the only sound the two heard, but just as Braeburn was about to dismiss it he heard another sound: two sets of hoofsteps walking around and causing the floorboards to creak.

"That ain't Applejack," Twilight said.

Braeburn rolled himself off the bed and Twilight soon followed. The two made their way quietly over to the door of the bedroom and looked out. There was nopony around, and when they looked over to the bedroom where Applejack and Twilight were staying, the orange mare was nowhere to be found.

"Twilight, go check the kitchen," Braeburn said. "Make sure those heirlooms are still there on the counter. I'm gonna get pa's old hunting rifle and a few blanks; maybe that'll scare off whatever's around here."

Twilight nodded and went off towards the kitchen.

Braeburn himself shot off in the opposite direction, going for his living room. In the living room was a fireplace, and over the fireplace there was an old rifle about longer than one of Braeburn's legs from his hoof to his shoulder. Braeburn took the rifle and opened up a box next to it and filled the cartridge with one bullet followed by a few blanks; bullets that would flash and bang and put up the same amount of smoke but wouldn't actually hit anyone, then began creeping towards the kitchen.

"Braeburn!" Twilight's voice rang out through the house. "Help me! Braeburn, He--"

The rest of her cry was cut off. Braeburn galloped through the house to the kitchen with the rifle and came in with it pointed at the source of the noise; whether it was a mare or stallion, Braeburn couldn't tell, but the entire body of the earth pony was covered in a black suit that didn't even leave an opening to get a clear look at the color of the coat or the cutie mark of the pony. What made things even worse: the pony had a knife pressed up to Twilight's throat, the poor mare looked absolutely horrified and Braeburn could see her sweating.

"Let her go," Braeburn commanded.

"You ain't so tough," the pony said, the voice making Braeburn think it was a stallion. "You wouldn't really fire that gun, would you?"

To prove he would, Braeburn looked at the open kitchen window, likely where the ponies had entered from, and saw a rat going by. Without even taking the time to aim, Braeburn whipped around and fired at the rat the moment his gun's sights went in that direction. The shot wasn't as accurate as Braeburn would have liked, but the rat's back leg was shot off and it scurried away, bleeding.

Braeburn took the gun and pointed it back at the stallion. "Yeah, I think I would."

The stallion had seen enough. "Come on!" he called to another room of the house. "We need to get out of here! This one's got a gun!" And he dropped Twilight on the floor of the kitchen. It wasn't long afterwards before two successive bangs marked the back door flying open and slamming against the back wall of the house.

Braeburn set the gun on the table and went over to Twilight. "Are you okay?"

"I...I think so," Twilight said. "Thank you. That was so scary..." And she buried her face in Braeburn's neck.

"There'll be time for that later," Braeburn said seriously. "Go to your room. Check and make sure that yours and Applejack's belongings are still all there."

Twilight nodded and ran off. Meanwhile, Braeburn checked the saddlebags to make sure that the heirlooms were still there. The ribbons were all in place, the documents were unmoved, the pocket watch was still there, and the case with the gun looked like it wasn't even tampered with. Braeburn opened up the gun's revolving cylinder and placed six of the bullets inside it before running off to where Twilight was in the guest bedroom.

Twilight was frantically looking around. The bedroom was halfway torn apart from her searches as she checked all the drawers and the closet and her saddlebags. It took a minute for Braeburn to calm her down and ask her what was wrong, and even then Twilight was absolutely frantic.

"The pendant that Princess Celestia gave me!" Twilight shouted at Braeburn. "It was supposed to enhance magical powers and make it so that my more powerful magic didn't go out of control as an alicorn! Without it, I can't use magic otherwise the energy will be too much! I... I think they took it!"

"Calm down, Twilight! What did it look like?"

"It was white-gold chain and center with an amethyst set in the main part. It's really simple, but I need it to perform magic!"

Braeburn went to the window and looked out. He could see the two ponies trying to hide in his orchard despite the bright moon outside lighting up the night. If he left now and took the revolver, he might be able to catch up to them and get that pendant back. Braeburn put on his hat, holstered the revolver, and started making his way out the back door towards the orchard.

"Wait, Braeburn!" Twilight screamed. "You're not going to go after them, are you?"

"You stay here and wait, Twilight," Braeburn told her. "Lock all the doors and windows. Only unlock them when you can see Applejack outside or if I come callin' you. Tell Applejack what happened if she gets back before me and alert Sheriff Silverstar. We need to keep you safe and get that pendant back."

And Braeburn ran off before the mare could stop him, tearing off across the orchards to where the two ponies were looking over a bag of loot. Braeburn pulled out the gun and fired a warning shot towards the ponies once he got close enough to see their outlines clearly. The two ponies quickly wrapped up the bag and tore off across the desert. Braeburn chased them as they fled through the dust until they hit the river at a point where it was so wild and the drop steep enough that falling in meant being swept back along towards Braeburn's farm.

"That's as far as you two are going," Braeburn said, aiming the revolver at them. "You tried to steal my heirlooms and took something from a friend of mine. I'm afraid that I can't let you do that. So you give me the bag of items you got there and I'll be on my way without hurtin' anypony."

One of the stallion's spoke. "You got some damn nerve followin' us out this way. I didn't think you'd actually do it. Most of the folk around here don't give a damn."

"You managed to piss off the one that does," Braeburn said. "Now, I'm gonna give you until the count of five to drop the knife in the bag and toss it over here to me. But be warned: any funny business and I'll shoot right here and now. One..."

The stallion brought around the bag and opened it.

"Two..."

The other stallion took his knife and dropped it in.

"Three..."

The stallions made like they were going to toss the bag towards Braeburn.

"Fou--"

One of the stallions looked like he was going to throw the bag in the river, while the other looked like he was going to pull out another weapon. Braeburn fired the revolver at the one holding the bag before he could hardly get the swing going. Blood splattered everywhere as the stallion collapsed in the sand without even a scream, his eyes wide open and his mouth hung open as though in shock. The weapon the other had turned out to be another knife, but he didn't look ready to use it anymore.

"Are you gonna try anything?" Braeburn asked him, now training the rifle at his head.

The stallion, eyes wide with panic like his dead companion, shook his head frantically.

"I thought not. But just to make sure..."

"Wait, what are you doing!? You said you'd let us g-AAAAAAAH!"

The stallion dropped the knife and collapsed as another shot rang out and hit his hoof. Braeburn shot one of the stallion's back hooves soon after, causing his blood to turn the sand red and made it so that the stallion couldn't even stand up on his own. The stallion looked up at Braeburn, who still had the gun trained on his head.

"Now I better not see you mucking around my farm again," Braeburn growled, "or you're going to get a one-way ticket like your friend did. Have I made myself clear?"

"P-p-please..."

"Have I made myself clear!?"

"Yes yes yes yes yes!" the stallion shouted, wincing from the pain. "I won't do it again!"

Braeburn nodded. "Just over that hill is Appleoosa. There's a hospital you can use to treat your wounds and a sheriff's office if you feel guilty enough to explain your attempted crime." Then he holstered the revolver, dropped the second knife in the bag, and took the bag back to the farmhouse, leaving the bleeding stallion in the desert sand.

Sheriff Silverstar and Applejack were both at the house with Twilight when Braeburn returned. Twilight came and threw her arms around him, thanking him and telling him how grateful she was that he wasn't harmed. Braeburn told Sheriff Silverstar about the missing goods and his pursuit of the robbers to the river in order to get the items back. The bag Braeburn had contained all of the missing items, including Twilight's pendant, which the stallion gave back to her. Once the story was told and all the missing items were discovered in the bag, Sheriff Silverstar gave an approving nod.

"Once again, Braeburn has helped keep Appleoosa runnin' smooth," he said. "You'll become a local legend if you keep this up." And he went off to find the stallions where Braeburn had last seen them, taking a few other officers with him.

"Well, I must admit you'd at least be able to protect Twilight," Applejack said.

"It's nothing, really," Braeburn said with a smile on his face and a tip of his hat. "I just did what anypony should do."