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Chapter IV - Prince Blueblood's Arrival

Two weeks later, the harvest season ended. The weather started going from unbearable to where Braeburn was actually able to keep a steady temperature in the house during the day. The nights became cooler, the days grew hotter slower, and the Appleoosans began spending more time on the town. As the delivery carts started to make their rounds for pickup for the stores, there was a feeling of festival season in the air, celebrating the end of what could have been a disaster that turned out alright in the end.

Braeburn supplied the stores of Appleoosa, stores as far away as Canterlot and Baltimare, and the bakers and cooks of his town with the finest stores of apples, and ended up breaking his profit records from previous years, to which he took Cold Steel and his two friends from Appleoosa for a drink. Braeburn was in high spirits, as were those who had worked on his farm, as the stallion had been feeling generous and later handed out to them a bonus for their work in the fields. The townsponies were again grateful to Braeburn for his work in helping them out and, as the harvest season came to a close, it was suspected that one of the guests of honor for the upcoming festival would be Braeburn himself.

Braeburn became close to both Cold Steel and Coal Dust as time went by; Silversmith tended to work most of the time but would come by for a drink every once in a while. Steel had managed to be accepted into the training program at the sheriff's office through Braeburn's help and still couldn't stop thanking him, while Coal Dust had found work in an artisan's shop making furniture - not his usual job, but as he said: "It pays the bills, and that's more than I had when I left Dodge Junction."

Of the three that had come from Dodge Junction, only Steel didn't have anyone with him. Silversmith had a fiancée that wanted to leave with him, while Coal Dust had a wife and two foals, already enrolled in Appleoosa's school. Braeburn wondered if there were any more refugees that could have come from Dodge Junction and asked them one night while they had a few drinks of homemade cider around Braeburn's table.

"I'd wager there are," Coal Dust said; he had a slow drawl that was slightly higher than Steel's baritone. "Half the town went broke after the mining company settled in. If you were willing to work for the company, either as a miner or an office worker or a guard, you were fine. Got a nice house and a big paycheck provided by the company. But there ain't that many ponies with the education or skills necessary in Dodge."

"We ended up having ponies from other cities move in to take the jobs," Steel said. "I applied for the guard, hoping my time as a ranger would allow me a spot. They were about to hire me, then someone apparently started playing favorites and said that they found someone comin' in from Baltimare with police background."

"What happened to the rest of the town?" Braeburn asked.

"Well, it got run down and broken," Coal Dust replied. "Sure, you got some making enough to scratch out a living, but it just ain't enough. Not all that come from the cities are bad; had one who helped out in a shop as a manager and got the couple that lived there more profit. That one was kind, as were most who decided to live with the original residents. Anyone who worked for the mining company, though..."

Steel looked like he was about to say something, but didn't.

Coal Dust looked over to Steel as though expecting to him to continue. When Steel didn't continue, Coal Dust shrugged and continued himself. "...well, they think everything belongs to them. And the leader of them - a prince from Canterlot, he called himself - pretty much said that was true. Said the land didn't belong to the ponies but the Equestrian government. Not convincing, considering that the deeds went missing a while ago so we technically still owned the land since he doesn't have the deed for it. But then he placed the military law into effect and drove those of us who didn't like it out."

"Sounds horrible," Braeburn said.

"You have no idea," Coal Dust responded. "A few got lanced. Not a pretty sight. It started out as a peaceful demonstration against the hostile takeover when we were just trying to go about our business. Damned 'prince' didn't even come out of his office. A bunch of the guard did, though. Next thing I knew, three dead bodies in the streets. I found Cold Steel and we started gettin' our things together, along with Silversmith. We were gone by next morning."

Steel took a large gulp of his cider, finishing off the mug, and let it fall back down on the table as though he had no energy left. "We're mighty appreciative of the hospitality since comin' here," he said. "Managed to find a place to make it where it wasn't completely corrupted, and you seem like reasonable and sane folk. Got enough of the city to make things easy and livable, but you still got the hard workin' manner and dependability of the small town."

Braeburn laughed. "I aim to keep it that way," he said. "Ever since the town was founded, I've made sure this place has been kept safe and stable. I helped out in makin' peace between us and the buffalo around here, I helped established the sheriff's office with Silverstar, and I've helped out everyone around here during the plantin' and growin' seasons. It ain't easy in the slightest, but I like what I do; helpin' out the ponies like that."

"Equestria needs more ponies like you, then," Steel said, filling his mug with a bit of water from the sink. "Hard working yet still willing to help out others."

"I just do what anypony should do," Braeburn said. "I'm sure there are others."

"Not in Dodge Junction, there ain't," Coal Dust said. "At least, not anymore."

Braeburn took a swig of his own cider. "Miss Jubilee still there?"

"She's the only farmer who wasn't kicked off her land," Steel replied. "Not to mention she still makes those fantastic cherry pies; they became a hit among the new folk, so she got to stay. The rest of us weren't so useful, I guess."

Braeburn took another drink of cider.

Steel and Coal Dust stayed around for a little while longer before they decided they shouldn't keep Braeburn up so late and figured it was time for them to head home. They all rinsed out their mugs and Braeburn walked out with them to the front porch of the farmhouse and into the cool night air. They were saying their goodbyes when--

CRACK!

The noise was so loud that Braeburn, Cold Steel, and Coal Dust all turned around to see where it had come from. The noise seemed to be coming from behind the farmhouse, down towards the orchards.

"What was that?" Steel asked.

"I don't know," Braeburn sighed. "I'm goin' to check it out."

"We're comin' with you," Coal Dust said. "Ain't right to leave you to face whatever it is on your own."

Braeburn nodded and the three ponies went to the top of the ridge that overlooked the orchards. Braeburn looked around the orchards, using the light of the moon to search as he scanned the groves as best he could, wondering if it was a wild animal or a rogue thief that had tried to hide in his orchards.

Then he saw it: a glint of metal down by the river. A tree had fallen over, and next to it stood two shadowy figures. The metallic glint came over their heads every once in a while, then faded away, only to come back up again a few seconds later.

"Those bastards...!" Braeburn growled and charged down the hill.

"What happened?" Steel asked as he and Coal Dust went tearing down the hill after Braeburn.

Another resounding _CRACK!_echoed across the ridge and another tree fell.

"Those damned prospectors!" Braeburn shouted back, then ran off so fast that Steel and Coal Dust were left in a cloud of dust behind him. Those damned bastards had come back against their agreement! They had trespassed on his property and were tearing up his orchard! And for what? A little piece of yellow rock? They could search all they wanted for gold, but...

"...not on my property, you bastards!" Braeburn shouted as he got close.

The two were there just as Braeburn had thought; Lucky Strike and Gold Digger had their pickaxes flying at the ground where Braeburn's tree once stood. As soon as Braeburn shouted, their ears pricked up and they started wildly packing up their things, but Braeburn was charging too fast. Before they could even reach their things, Braeburn had jumped and tackled Lucky Strike to the ground. Gold Digger didn't even bother trying to pick up his things and started running backwards, only to be caught by Cold Steel and Coal Dust a few feet away. Braeburn flared his nostrils at the colt underneath him.

"What is blazes do you think you're doing on my property!?" Braeburn shouted in his face.

Strike could hardly get the words out; his eyes were wide but his pupils were tiny and he looked around wildly. "Gold... wanted gold... found earlier in the month... wanted gold..."

"We had an agreement," Braeburn said in a low growl that caused the other stallion's eyes to train in on him. "You promised me that you would stay for two weeks then get off my property and never come back. You realize that you're violating my land and I can have you arrested for trespassing, don't you?"

"But there's gold..." Strike said, almost unaware of what Braeburn was saying. "Gold in these fields. I just wanted to get the gold. If I hit the right vein, I could be rich."

"I don't care if you were going to be rich!" Braeburn roared as a hoof went across Strike's face. "You're attempts at getting rich are going to cost me my livelihood! So, what gives you the right to tear up my orchard, my property, my life, and get away for it? A few specks of yellow rock?"

"Just let me hit one vein," Strike pleaded. "If we hit one vein, we could be rich..."

Braeburn's hoof descended on Lucky Strike again, causing his eye to puff up and turn black and blue. "And I'll be broke!" Braeburn's hoof descended again and again on top of Strike's head, the stallion unable to do anything but pull his hooves over his face to try and hide or block the blows. "So long as I own this property, neither of you will find any gold on this land... or at all in Appleoosa!"

Braeburn's hoof descended for another hit, but he never made it down. Someone had grabbed him and was pulling him off of Lucky Strike, bleeding in the sand. Braeburn fought against the confines of whatever had restrained him, but it never let go.

"Calm down, Braeburn!" came Steel's voice. "You're gonna cave his skull in!"

"I want to!" Braeburn roared.

Despite his near constant fighting, Braeburn couldn't release himself from Steel's grip. Eventually, he calmed down, but Steel refused to let him go.

"I'd better run, if I were you," Steel said.

Coal Dust let Gold Digger go, and the two prospector ponies had soon gathered up their stuff and were tearing across the desert. The three stood there until the prospectors had crossed the river and were galloping away in the moonlight. When Braeburn was released, he slumped on the ground.

"It's okay, Braeburn," Steel consoled.

"We could probably pull the trees up with a little rope," Coal Dust observed.

"They won't catch hold fast enough," Braeburn said, feeling tired. "With how little water we get out here, once they're uprooted they won't get water fast enough to stay alive. We could try and pull up the ground and get dirt from the river, but they'll either use them up fast or the sun will dry it up before the trees can get to it. Those two trees are gone."

Coal Dust looked out at where the prospectors had run off to. "Do you think they'll be back?"

"Certainly," Braeburn said, walking over to where the gold sparkled in the moonlight through the areas dug up by the two ponies. "If they were persistent enough to come onto my property after we made an agreement and trespass just to get some of this gold, they'll be back."

"You can't move?"

"There ain't any more fertile land around here," Braeburn said. "Even if I did find some, it wouldn't be enough to grow apples."

Steel walked up to Braeburn and put a hoof on his shoulder. "At least you have evidence if they try and come back, both in how they were so damn focused and the fact that they ripped up your trees. If they come back, you can fight it."

Braeburn nodded, but didn't say anything back.

Back at the farmhouse, Steel and Coal Dust stayed around for one more drink of cider before heading their own way and leaving Braeburn at peace. Now feeling slightly light-headed from his last drink of the cider, Braeburn dragged himself to bed and laid there on top of the sheets and blankets, closing his eyes and breathing deep to try and calm himself down.

Braeburn didn't see the prospectors over the next two weeks. Even so, he didn't get any rest. Others had started to hear of the vein of gold found on Braeburn's farm, and no less than twenty other prospectors came to Braeburn asking if they could take a peek at the vein or get a few chunks out; Braeburn continually told them "no" and sent all of them away. Sheriff Silverstar, made aware of the plight of Dodge Junction through Cold Steel, sent out ponies to inspect Braeburn's orchard for more prospectors trying to get a piece of the gold every hour, scanning the fields and returning with a report.

The gold itself was hidden again. The morning after the prospectors were kicked off the property, Braeburn went down with Cold Steel and Coal Dust and a few buckets and shovels. The three went down to the river and scooped up the dirt from the bottom of the river, placing them in the buckets and placing them over the area where the gold was. Afterwards, they dragged the overturned trees to where the river's current was faster a short ways away, and pushed them into the river and watched as they were carried away. By late afternoon, just as Braeburn predicted, the sun had dried up the mud and dirt from the river and it blended in with the rest of the landscape as though the vein wasn't even there.

When the festival came around, Braeburn was observed as the pony of honor over the past summer for helping ponies with their crops, as well as for his achievement for pulling off the highest profit he'd ever had. But Braeburn wasn't around to accept the thanks, and very few ponies saw him at all during the festival, which had been one of his favorite times and an event he had helped to established. All the ponies knew was that by the end of the week of the festival, Braeburn had erected a large fence with barbed wire around the edge of his property, even barring off the river that was on his property just so ponies wouldn't be tempted to try and cross it or dig it up. And, for the time, the prospectors were deterred and stopped coming.

It was when the job was completed that Braeburn decided to look through the folder that Applejack had given him to see what was inside. There were a few photos of his pa Baldwin Apple, the founder of Dodge Junction with a cutie mark of an apple with crossed spurs, together with some of his friends. There was his pa with the award-winning revolver that Braeburn now owned in his hoof, a picture of him with the ribbon for sharpshooting. There were also a bunch of pieces of a journal in there, describing the early days of Dodge Junction and, eventually, an entry describing the passing of the deed for the land of Dodge Junction from Princess Celestia to Braeburn's father. Not long after was the deed itself, drawn up twenty-three years ago.

"This statement hereby proclaims that the land in and for one mile surrounding the city of Dodge Junction belongs under the ownership of Baldwin Apple and his relatives and descendants by blood and marriage. It is only through this family may land exchanges occur with outsiders, and all who wish to settle this land must either first gain permission through Baldwin or his relatives and descendants, or with the Princesses themselves."

Braeburn looked over the deed, noticing it was signed by both Baldwin Apple and Princess Celestia. If what happened in Dodge Junction was true, then that meant even the prince couldn't have control over the land. Braeburn looked around and went for the records he own in his office, stating his own deed. It was similar to the one in his possession from his father, except that "Dodge Junction" was replaced with "Appleoosa" and "Baldwin Apple" was replaced with "Braeburn Apple".

"Why didn't you send this to me sooner, Granny Smith?" Braeburn muttered under his breath. "None of this would have happened if you hadn't kept it from me."

Braeburn resolved to head over to Dodge Junction and see this 'prince' to speak with him about the land ordeal after he had put some affairs in order. A few days at maximum before a train arrived and Braeburn could hopefully give Steel and his companions their land back.

* * *

A few days later, a train arrived into town that was treated with much attention. Instead of the usual train coming from Ponyville and Canterlot, this train came from the opposite direction, from Dodge Junction. It pulled two coaches that looked like they were from the express trains going from Canterlot to Baltimare and Phillydelphia; glistening white with black tops and a red stripe going down either side. Whatever sheen these coaches might have had earlier was beginning to be muted by the amount of dust on the train. Despite the train stopping at Appleoosa's station, it didn't take on any passengers or baggage and it only let two dark grey pegasi with gold armor off. The train stayed at Appleoosa's station the whole night and no more activity could be seen until later.

Sometime that evening, Braeburn spotted the dark grey pegasi at the dance hall and restaurant. The hall itself was hardly used except for the bar at one end where Braeburn was currently drinking, and the dark grey pegasi were talking with the bartender and proprietor of the establishment. Braeburn heard them speak about a room for someone in the hotel next door, but didn't bother with specifics. Eventually the proprietor and bartender agreed to the pegasi's deal and a few ponies were called out to clean up the room and make sure everything was running smoothly. The proprietor left and Braeburn walked up with a few bits to pay for his drink.

"What was that all about?" Braeburn asked the bartender.

"Them pegasi wanted a room for a 'special visitor' coming into town," the bartender replied, hoof in a towel as he wiped off a recently washed mug. "Said they wanted the finest room we had and would pay whatever amount of bits it required for their stay. So I gave them the two suites we had on the top floor, the ones about as big as the house you've built for yourself on the ridge."

"Who could pay for something like that for as far as they know an undetermined amount of time?"

"Beats me. All I know is there's more bits coming in for me if they keep buying drinks. And trust me; with how hot and dusty it gets around here, they'll want something to drink sooner or later."

Braeburn didn't inquire any further; he paid for his drink and went back on home.

The next morning, Braeburn returned to town and asked the bartender if a guest had arrived.

"I haven't seen anyone come through here yet," the bartender said. "Try the train station; that's where the guards went after they left here last night."

So Braeburn left the bar and headed for the train station. A bunch of other ponies were there as well, looking at the station curiously. The train that had pulled in last night was still there as though it hadn't even moved, and hardly anyone was on the platform except for two dark grey pegasus guards standing on either side of the entrance of one of the coaches. Eventually, Sheriff Silverstar walked up to the pegasi and spoke with them for a minute before the coach door opened.

The first pony to step out was a large, sleek, jet black pegasus wearing bright gold armor that shone against his darker color. He wielded a lance at his side and even had a lance as a cutie mark. His armor had the three stripes signifying the Captain's rank in the royal army, and might have been one of the largest pegasi that Braeburn had ever seen. He didn't look like he had much muscle, but Braeburn could tell just by looking at him that he was likely as strong as he was fast.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the pegasus addressed the crowd in a rough, deep voice. "I present to you His Majesty Prince Blueblood, head of the Land Management Committee and member of the Canterlot Royal Court."

The announcement was followed by a slightly off-white unicorn with a glistening blonde mane and a compass rose cutie mark stepping out of the coach and across the platform. Two dark grey pegasi covered in armor and each carrying a lance stood on either side, four altogether, and they flanked him as he came up in front of the crowd.

"Such a dirty, uncivilized town," Prince Blueblood sneered as he scanned the landscape.

"I beg your pardon, sir," Sheriff Silverstar said, "but we've got all the basics. We've got everything they have in larger cities, just not as sophisticated and a little more living off the land than they are."

"Yet you haven't even managed to tame the dust," Blueblood replied. He coughed a few times before looking out at the crowd again. "Make way, commoners!"

No one moved. The entire crowd looked over to Sheriff Silverstar.

"Alright, everypony!" the sheriff said. "Make a path for Prince Blueblood to get through. And none of you harass him while he's here."

Blueblood held his head up high and refused to look at hardly anyone as he passed by. Braeburn watched as he walked down the line, the Captain walking next to him while the soldiers walked two by two behind him. Sheriff Silverstar stayed on the platform, eyes scanning over the crowd as though to make sure no one did harass Blueblood.

Braeburn was at the edge of the crowd. Blueblood stopped for a second and looked him over, and Braeburn did the same. He had some muscle but was nothing like the Captain and more bulk than muscle though he didn't stand much taller than Braeburn except for his horn.

"Such gall," Blueblood muttered, and spit in between Braeburn's forelegs as he continued.

Braeburn kicked dust over the area where Blueblood had spit before returning home. With the 'prince' here in Appleoosa, now was as good a time as any to speak with him about Dodge Junction. Braeburn stayed at home for a short while before pocketing the deeds in his vest pocket and went off to the hotel, where he found the jet black pegasus standing at the bottom of the stairs.

"Excuse me," Braeburn said. "I'm here to speak with Prince Blueblood."

The jet black pegasus Captain scoffed. "You? What's a little pipsqueak from this dust ball want with Canterlot nobility?"

"I'm the founder of Appleoosa hold the deeds to this town and its lands," Braeburn said. "If he plans on staying here for any length of time, he's got to talk to me."

The jet-black pegasus growled. "Let me see if Prince Blueblood wants to speak with any visitors. Wait right here." And he turned around and went up the stairs to where Blueblood's suite was located. He returned a short while later. "Prince Blueblood is willing to see you. Do not make this a waste of his time." The black pegasus moved out of the way. "Top floor, suite 501. That's where Blueblood is. Remember to address him as_Prince_Blueblood, speak with respect, and please do not do anything stupid."

"I think I know what is considered stupid," Braeburn said and walked past the pegasus.

Braeburn climbed the steps to the top floor, the hallway dimly lit by overhanging lights that illuminated the hallway in a faint yellow glow. A red and gold carpet went down the center of the hallway and potted plants lined the sides; by no means expensive or fancy but certainly enough for short stays or those times around the Apple family reunion when the entire hotel would be filled with Braeburn's family members. Braeburn walked up to suite 501, where two of the dark grey pegasi guards were standing in front of the door.

"You here to speak to Prince Blueblood?" one of them barked.

"Yes, sir," Braeburn said.

The pegasi guards nodded and stepped out of the way. Braeburn opened the door of the suite and was met with a much brighter light coming in from the window, the red blinds drawn backwards to let the Appleoosan sun in. Two suitcases were opened on the luggage racks and the unicorn himself was sitting at a desk, an inkwell pen held by his gold magic as he wrote something down on a scroll.

"Do make yourself quick, commoner," Blueblood said dismissively as though barely recognizing that Braeburn was in the room. "I have work to do and would really like to get it done and leave this place as quickly as I can."

"So, Prince Blueblood..." Braeburn said, closing the door of the suite and leaning on the wall near the desk where Blueblood was. "...what makes royalty come out to a 'dirty, uncivilized town' instead of staying in Canterlot?"

"I don't believe it concerns you," Prince Blueblood said, not fully paying attention.

"You agreed to talk to me after I told your Captain that I hold the land deeds for this town," Braeburn said. "In case you're not aware, that means whatever you plan to do here, you can't do it without my permission."

Now, Blueblood actually looked to Braeburn. He stood up from the desk and tried to stand up taller than Braeburn was, which wasn't easy considering Braeburn could still just about look him in the eye. "Your permission?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "Please, what could give a commoner like you any reason to act like you can tell me what to do?"

"I've never heard of this 'Land Management Committee' before," Braeburn said. "At the time the deeds were given to me, I don't think Princess Celestia knew, either."

"You little pup!" Blueblood seethed. "You think you can threaten me with the princess? She listens to me. She established this Land Management Committee to help redistribute the land to obtain its maximum wealth. Because of my special talent, she placed me in charge of the thing. And what reason does that give you to come and talk to me about a royal order?"

"Because your royal order defies an order already set in place, Your Majesty," Braeburn said, craning his neck so that he could be just a few inches taller than Blueblood.

Blueblood sat back down, now staring at Braeburn with an amused grin on his face. "Do elaborate."

"I'm not sure if you're aware, but thirty years ago Dodge Junction was established by my father," Braeburn said. "His name was Baldwin Apple. About five years later, my father grew ill and died, but not before buying the land from Princess Celestia, a transaction that was recorded in a deed."

Blueblood raised an eyebrow.

"A few months ago, my relative Granny Smith down in Ponyville died and sent to me a few heirlooms from her, as well as a few things that were left over when my father passed away, things that I was too young to deal with. One of these included the deed, which states that the land on which the city sits, and for one mile surrounding the city, belonged to my father and his descendants by blood or by marriage and that either my family or the Princesses must be contacted about any decision to alter the land or to change the city and that they must approve it before changes could be made." Braeburn quit leaning on the wall and stood upright. "I don't believe I've been informed about anything."

Blueblood stared intently at Braeburn. "I think that the royalty and nobility would have more power over something like that than a simple apple farmer."

"You'd think correctly," Braeburn said.

"Then that means this conversation is over, isn't it?"

"Not quite." Braeburn pulled out the deed for Dodge Junction and gave it to Blueblood, who opened it with his magic. "Not when the deed is signed by Princess Celestia."

Blueblood looked over the deed. While his face didn't register surprise, Braeburn could tell he read over the deed and had noticed the signature as his magic control cut of abruptly with a spark. Braeburn picked up the deed and pocketed it as Blueblood blinked a few times.

"I believe a mining operation has been set up in Dodge Junction without my approval," Braeburn said. "Considering that I am now the holder of the deed, I could report this to the princesses and have it where you leave right away before considering doing the same thing here."

Blueblood sighed. "You don't understand," he said.

"I think I do," Braeburn said. "But I won't put over any accusations on you yet."

Blueblood said nothing.

"So, Your Majesty, what exactly were you planning on doing with my town?"

"Well, your town is sitting on top of a particularly large vein of gold," Blueblood said as he relaxed a little bit, "considering the amount of prospectors that have come through here. So I wanted to start up a mining operation that I believe would benefit the town by bringing income."

Braeburn sighed. "If the government did in fact start a mining station here, there's something you wouldn't understand. That is that the gold vein happens to be under my land. My apple orchard. There's not another fertile plain that can withstand an orchard large enough to cover my needs for living like that one can. If you were to move me off my land, you'd move me off my home and life..." Braeburn paused, seeing if Blueblood had a reaction before he continued. "...like you've done with a few of my friends that came here from Dodge Junction."

Blueblood glared at Braeburn, but Braeburn steeled himself and showed no response.

"So, Prince," Braeburn said, "if you're planning on trying to form an operation on my land, you'd better talk with the higher-ups in your government that said I had the right to decide. And if you're not comfortable with that, I suggest you'd better leave."

Blueblood tensed and shot upright again. "...are you threatening me?"

"You're threatening me and my livelihood," Braeburn said. "I'm just fighting fire with fire."

Blueblood gritted his teeth, but said nothing.

"Well, I think I've said all that I've needed to," Braeburn said, "so I'll be leaving you for the time being. If you have any questions, I own the orchard on the outside of town." Braeburn tipped his hat to Blueblood. "Your Majesty."

Braeburn could feel Blueblood's eyes glaring at him as he left, but didn't turn around. He walked out of the suite, down the stairs, past the jet-black pegasus, out the hotel, and didn't stop until he came into his own house. Once there, he sat down at his kitchen table and slumped forward so that his head hit the table; a short, sharp pain came across Braeburn's forehead, but he didn't care.

"What am I going to do...?" he asked no one in particular.