High Noon

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. "This is fer Johnny! Yah sick sunuvabitch!" 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)