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Artist's comment:

While Celestia prepared to send Last Thing to capture a key suspect in Manehattan

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some of her other Mares-in-Waiting were going into action outside Equestria's borders.

A dry, hot, afternoon wind blew up the canyon causing the dust and sand to swirl and flow along the sandstone walls until it settled in one of the many branches of the main canyon. It hissed and sometimes moaned as it flowed along canyon walls.

Celestia's orb was beginning to set in the West causing long shadows to start creeping across the canyon floor. The deep purple shadows were in sharp contrast to the brilliant oranges, yellows, and reds of the sandstone still bathed in the afternoon sun. It was stark, but surprisingly beautiful place who's grandeur was only marred by the remnants of a rambling collections of abandoned and destroyed buildings. The ruins were of varying age, and obviously parts from older buildings had been cannibalized to create new ones. Some of the ruins had been destroyed with fire while others bore the scars of explosives. Finally a few appeared to have met their fate due to powerful magic.

Still no matter how many times this location had been razed it always seemed to come back to life. Like some undead horror that one couldn't abolish forever. Here amongst rubble one could find signs of its restless stirring again. There was several reasons for it arising from the ashes over and over again.

One was the presence of a small spring which provided the only reliable source of potable water within a day's travel. Although the presence of numerous destroyed water towers seen scattered amongst the ruins told a story of hoarding by past inhabitants. Second the location was the best for passing through the numerous canyons and hills that dotted the landscape. Finally its location was within a few days travel by hoof of Equestria's borders, The Realm of Dragons, and one of the griffin nations.

As such the locale was ideal for raider, smugglers and those that desired to conduct business that was frowned upon in those realms. Also it seemed to naturally attract those who had black hearts and dark thoughts in their minds. Various incarnations of the settlement had gone by different names but they'd all had shared a common trait of crime, desperation, suffering, and exploitation.

Tombstone slowly lifted the wide brim of her hat and stared out at the canyon. For the last hour she'd had this itch in her mane and she had learned what that meant. Somepony was watching her group of five.

Her gang had started using this location as a semi-permanent base of operation where they could hide out and stash their stock of items they'd secured from raiding or trading with similar like-minded individuals. At the moment it appeared that nopony had routinely visited the site for a few years. Eventually other folks would show up but until then she liked it this way. Which is why she didn't like the feeling that somepony was out there watching them. She didn't want other ponies setting up shop here as well or trying to snag their stash.

The palomino unicorn slowly got to her hooves and shook off the dust and sand that the wind had deposited on the poncho that was draped over her body. As her eyes continued to scan the canyon she clicked her tongue loudly a couple of times. A few seconds later a middle-aged earth pony stallion with a bowler came moseying out from under one of the canvas canopies they'd erected to sleep under and to protect their wares. He wandered over to the mare's side.

"Watz up Tomb?" The stallion's gravel-like voice was just a whisper but in this quiet place his voice seemed unnaturally loud.

"Where's the rest of gang Tumbleweed?" Asked the mare. The harness she wore creaked and jingled a bit as she shifted her weight and took a step forward. Slung horizontally across her chest was a harmonica carbine. The short barrel weapon was not much wider than her. Across the front of her harness were 4 more sets of 4 round chambers. Each chamber was preloaded with powder, bullet, sealing wads, and percussion cap.

The stallion sat down on his haunches proceeded to roll himself a cigarette. As he did his eyes started scanning the canyon intently. He'd noticed the mare's actions and from experience he knew what was happening. However he kept talking as if everything was normal.

"Well, Sand Dune is out on patrol as ya planned. Gear Shaft is trying ta see if she kin git them damn rocks cleared from the spring so it'll be a easier ta git at the water. Not sure where Side Step gotten ta. That pony is always slipping away and doing thur own thing!" Grumbled the stallion.

Tombstone nodded her head. "Call them all in with the dinner bell. They'll know what it means. You've probably already figured it out, but we're being watched."

The stallion wedged a match between one of his front hooves and the shoe on it. Scrapping it against a nearby rock it burst to life; he then spent the next few seconds lighting his cigarette. Shaking his hoof to extinguish the match he nodded his head. "Yeah you've ben jumpy all afternoon so I figgered something was up. Who ya think they are? Another gang? The law?"

"Can't say Tumble. That's what's bothering me. It doesn't feeling like another gang, but I don't see a posse coming all the way out from Appleloosa either. They generally don't go across the border."

"Whatta about griffins?" The dusty grey stallion blew smoke out his nostrils. As he did he adjusted the straps holding the pair of pepperbox style pistols to his chest.

The mare shook her head. "We haven't been in their territory in months." Said the mare slowly. "If we were going to have trouble with them it would've happened weeks ago. If it was dragons, well we'd be on fire already."

Tumbleweed sauntered over to the triangular bell and taking the striking iron in his teeth he rang it several times. With that accomplished he wandered back to Tombstone's side.

A minute or so later a dappled grey, young earth pony mare wearing a soft cap and covered in mud and dust came galloping up. A few seconds afterwards a young, pale cream, unicorn stallion with a skimmer hat came sauntering over.

"What's up? Said mud encrusted mare?"

"Yes I'm quite curious as well?" Said young stallion with a surprisingly smooth voice.

"We're being watched." Said Tombstone. She looked around the canyon and frowned. "Sand Dune hasn't returned?"

"He maybe still be returning, or maybe he didn't hear the bell?" Said Gear Shaft as she scrapped some now drying mud off her front legs.

Tombstone was now scowling and very deliberately scanning the canyon. "No. He wouldn't patrol out so far he couldn't hear the bell without telling me, and if he was still returning he'd send a signal. I want everypony to be on the lookout. There's bad taste in the air. I think—"

Suddenly the wind rose in intensity. Along with its increased velocity a great cloud dust and sand rose up obscuring the canyon. The wind had descended on the ponies so quickly that even the unicorns didn't have a chance to raise force bubbles. Tombstone and her gang had to close their eyes to keep the flying sand out of them. Then just as quickly the wind vanished taking the cloud of dust and sand with it. Tombstone opened her eyes to see a unicorn with a similar wide brim hat standing in front of her.

To be continued.


Uploader’s comment:

This storyline has been uploaded haphazardly. Here they are in order:

Nightfall >>1567996 10-22-17
Straight Laced >>1568180 (Suggestive) 10-22-17
Silk Cords >>1574086 (Suggestive) 10-30-17
Midnight Oil >>1850778 11-31-2017
Half-Cock >>1819165 08-29-18
I’m Not Celestia 09-19-18
Boom >>1837953 09-21-18
Rope Tricks >>1841404 09-25-18
Straight Laced Practicing >>1845774 10-01-18
Midnight Oil Practicing >>1850773 10-06-18
Are You Two Done Having Fun? >>1854243 10-11-18
Thank You For Your Assistance >>1854753 10-12-18
Hangover >>1856848 10-14-18
Available Resources >>1912427 10-17-18
Bad Taste in the Air >>1912433 11-07-18
Go Ahead, Give Me a Reason >>1913197 11-08-18
Haunting Memories >>1913206 11-12-18
Want to Get Some Breakfast? >>1881623 11-13-18
Prophecy >>1890081 11-18-18
Reviewing the Plans >>1890087 11-19-18
Good at What She Does >>1913213 12-12-18
Time is on My Side >>1915689 12-13-18
Time Anchor >>1913141 12-17-18
As the Hammer Comes Down >>1912959 (Grimdark) 12-19-18
Cast On the Seas of Time >>1916571 12-21-18
The Gatekeeper >>1915762 12-22-18

This is by no means complete. Baron’s dreamscape is very extensive, and most of it hasn’t been uploaded here. If you’re interested, here’s the DA folder .

Upvotes at import: 74 | Stars at import: 49
Posted previously at: 2018-12-19T00:03:57 | Posted previously by: PlotHole