Dusty Trails

(https://youtu.be/bIZIzdsOPxA?si=KmqGGZ5bUzmmMAPA) Something has happened in the San Palomino desert. Snow blankets the sands in quantities never seen before. The town of Appaloosa has been suffocated into silence under a blanket of snow, and ice. What crops could survive the desert have long since died. Supplies begin to dwindle, and the town has begun to ration what's left. Worse yet, train tracks all across the desert have iced over so badly, trains cannot safely use them. Leaving caravans of wagons as the only way to re-supply the town. Even then, the journey is perilous. Some caravans return to Ponyville missing a few members. Others never return. Some never even make it to Appaloosa. Frequent blizzards change the landscape often, making navigation a difficult task. Families huddle in their wooden homes, hoping to keep warm, and avoid starvation.  A few preliminary tests from a wizard who got stuck in the town during a visit has brought dire results. Firstly, the wizard can decidedly state that the source of the snow is magical in nature. However, he cannot discern an exact source. Worse yet, the snow is filled with arcane energy that is harmful if ingested. Victims suffer from a disease that withers their body from the inside. At first, they will feel cold, and be unable to stay warm. Then, their skin will turn an icy blue. Afterwards, some report snow leaving from the mouths, and noses of victims. In the end, the victim's body withers away into snow. Adding to the frozen hellscape that has blanketed the San Palomino.  Dusty can't be sure exactly what time it is when he set out today. With the ever present, dark gray clouds overhead, it's difficult to tell the time without a properly set clock. Atop his mount, Dusty exits the town. The wizard rides behind him in the saddle. Both men wrapped in heavy winter coats, and headwear. Dusty's mount whines in protest of having to go out into the cold, but he re-assures her with a few soft pats on the coat surrounding her body. "C'mon girl. We gotta get tah tha bottom of this, 'fer people freeze tah death." She wickers in response, but continues forward.  From within the town, Dusk Patrolman Misty Steps watches as the Dawn Ranger, and Wizard disappear into the snow. He sends up a silent prayer to King Artemis that they return with any news. Or, that they simply return at all.

The sound of gunfire echoing from within Appaloosa has gone silent. Atop his mount, Dusty Trails enters the town to the scene of a brutal gunfight. Along the streets, and some of the buildings lay the sheriff, his deputies, and brave stallions of the town who stood in it's defense. Standing at the center of the town is the being responsible for such a massacre. A black dragon in a long, brown duster, with a wickedly large revolver on his hip, and a rugged stetson on his head. In one hand, he holds the last living deputy of the town aloft, digging a claw into the man's chest as he flails in a futile attempt to defend himself. (https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=xnJg9EaT1FY&si=7JMT8mOayGwtAQLR&feature=xapp_share) "Lone Star!" The ranger calls in challenge. The dragon looks over his shoulder. Upon spotting the ranger, his maw curls into a wicked grin. With a quick motion of his wrist, a snap is heard, and the deputy goes limp. "I'mma callin' you out!" The ranger booms. His voice full of fury, and purpose. The Lone Star turns to face the Dawn Ranger. A towering abomination of malice, and cruelty against the last remaining light of Solaris' justice in the town. Against their better judgement, townsfolk who had been hiding peek their heads out to watch the confrontation. The Lone Star's eyes momentarily dart to the clock tower in the center of the town.  11:59.  Almost High Noon. The Lone Star grins. Acid drips from his massive fangs to the sand below. He has never lost a duel. He's the quickest draw in all of the San Palomino. This foolish ranger has just signed his own death warrant.  Townsfolk wait in breathless anticipation. The fate of the town hangs in the balance. Some send up silent prayers to the monarchs to give the ranger strength. Others, prayers that their deaths at the claws of the Lone Star will be quick.  12:00. Two gunshots ring out.  The Lone Star stands rigid. The barrel of his revolver slowly beginning to dip. The Ranger's hat tumbles to the ground, a hole straight through the top of it. As it tumbles to the ground, the ranger slowly rises from a kneeling position.  A growl gargles in the Lone Star's throat as he tries to curse the ranger for ducking. The bullet lodged between his eyes making forming speech difficult. He barely manages to will the muscles in his fingers to tense, firing off another shot. It goes into the sand not far from Dusty's feet. The ranger responds by unloading the remaining 5 bullets in his revolver into the Lone Star. Then, he holsters the revolver, and draws his repeater, quickly approaching the dragon. The ranger empties the repeater into the Lone Star, and only then does the Lone Star fall. Yet, as the ranger approaches he notices that the Lone Star still lives. With a fury never seen from him before, Dusty reverses his grip on his repeater to use it as a club. He lifts it above his head, and with a furious roar, he brings the repeater down onto the Lone Star's head. The Lone Star gurgles an attempt to spray acid up at him. The ranger responds with another bash with his repeater. Dusty screams curses, and insults at the Lone Star as he mercilessly brings his repeater down again, and again, and again. "He doesn't stop until two townsfolk forcibly pull him away. By then, the Lone Star's head is unrecognizable. Only then does the fury subside, and exhaustion take hold. With the help of the two townsfolk, Dusty is lowered onto the steps of one of the town's shops. He stares at the body of the Lone Star as his eyelids grow heavy, and his head begins to droop.  The last thing Dusty sees before sleep takes hold is a small group entering town from the direction of the Lone Star Manor, and Misty Steps hurrying towards him. (https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=gYr2xiwS1sc&si=eIH7AwJLRY7ts8B9&feature=xapp_share)

The mid-morning Appaloosan sun beats down on a lone zebra as he works to till one of the fields of his farm. Makabe and his family moved to the town after this farm was passed down to him by his grandfather around a year ago now. All things considered, they have a good life here. With the help of the locals, they've fixed up the farm, made plenty of new friends, and have become well known members of the town. His wife has started her own little business selling tinctures in the town, his farm makes enough money for the family to live comfortable, if modest lives, and his son recently got an apprenticeship under the local postman! As Makabe tills the fields, he's wracked with worry. The postman, and his son never came back from their route yesterday, and it's been a while since Dusty, the local Dawn Ranger went out to find them. He's afraid they may have had some sort of accident, and might need help. Makabe rises from his work, and wipes the sweat from his brow. It's then that he notices a figure atop a steed, making it's way down the road adjacent to his farm. When the gets closer, he recognizes it as Dusty. Makabe smiles as the ranger dismounts his steed. He's noticeably much quieter than usual, and the brim of his hat is tipped down to cover his eyes. Makabe lifts his hand in greeting as Dusty turns to grab something off of the back of his steed. "Dusty! I hope this means you have-" The world stops when Dusty turns back towards him. There, in the rangers arms, is Makabe's son, Johnny. Limp, and lifeless. Makabe stares in shock, and horror for what feels like an eternity, only broken from his trance when he hears the door to the farmhouse open. "Oh! Hello Dusty!-" The voice of his wife, Zevana calls out. Makabe spins around, throwing his hands out in front of him. "Zevana, wait!" Zevana's eyes lock on her son. Her mouth hangs open, the words she had meant to say having been lost. The air is filled with the most blood curdling scream Dusty has ever heard. In seconds, Zevana rushes over to Dusty, and swipes her son from his arms, pressing him tight to her chest. Zevana's voice cracks as her trill cries, and screams of anguish fill the air. She falls to her knees, clutching her son tightly to her chest as she continues to scream his name. Makabe falls to his knees beside his wife. Tears stream down his face, yet he still focuses on comforting her. He wraps his arms around her, holding her, and their son as close to him as he can. She continues to scream, and sob into his chest. Her screams becoming more incoherent as she seems to completely break down. Dusty's shadow moves, causing Makabe to look up at him (https://youtu.be/usnUZalo4q0?si=-AXl1Vs8h6mU2dRq) When Makabe looks up, Dusty is saddling his steed. Bewildered, the farmer barely manages to beg a question. "Wait! Dusty! Where are you going?!" The ranger's head hangs low. His voice is low, and cold. "This ain't gonna go unpunished." Dusty spurs on his steed, and it begins their trek back to the town proper. Makabe, and Zevana are left to their grief, as Dusty's figure slowly disappears into the distance. "I'll kill every last one of them sorry son's ah' bitches."