Appleloosa Night of the Comet (open/all)

[Boss_Hoss1]

(Chatted wih Mojo and he offered to help start a minor RP with me to get me started in play. Thanks for everyone's patience whil I get up to speed. )

(*EDIT* Now Shanna and Bistro are approved. Come on in and say hello. )

It was late morning in Appleoosa on a day even the locals considered "Scortching!" when a small, bright yellow pegasus cart appeared in the sky over a ridge.

As it aproached for a landing near the train station, it soon becomes apparent there is a small cloud hovering over the cart as the bright bay stallion pulling it flares his wings and lands beside a horse trough.

"I said I'm sorry, okay? If I had known it would be this hot, I would have done that. Just take it easy sis..."

A voice groaned from inside the cart "This is why I wanted to start out last night and get here at dawn. I dont like this heat, it just wears me out."

The young stallion unhitches himself from the cart and moves to refill a bottle from his saddlebag at the trough, then stick his head in for a long drink.

Cooled off, he passes the bottle into the back of the cart, through the cloud. "Just keep yourself and the camera equipment cool while I line up some lodging for us, Shan."

After a muffled "Okay..." from the back, Hoss turns to look the town over. "I hope there's a place to stay, anyway..."

[Mojo]

Taking his usual stroll around town was Sheriff Silverstar, Appleloosa's famous lawpony. "This here heat's so powerful warm! Say, lookie over there? Someone's new in town, better amble on over thar and giv'm a real hearty welcome!"

The Sheriff proceded to trot over to the wagon of the newcomers.

"Howdy friend, welcome to Appleloosa! I'm the Sheriff here, is ther something I can help ypu with?"

[Boss_Hoss1]

The pegasus perks his ears and turns toward the Sherrif "Oh yes sir, I am Star Skybright, my friends call me Hoss. I and my sister Shanna are here on behalf of the Royal Canterlot Observatory, Cloudsdale branch to take photos of a comet by telescope." He nods to the shapely black hoof waving from the cloud sitting on the cart. "Hello."

He continues "I'm afraid It's hotter than the regional weather pony predicted it would be and poor Shanna here about passed out earier. Is there a place we can stay and cool off? We need to eat and rest up for tonight."

[Mojo]

"Lookin' at comets, er ya Hoss?" Sheriff Silverstar said, looking a bit bewildered. "Well, I hope both of ya have the best in luck findin' them things. As fer the best place to stay and grab some grub, I'd suggest Madam Bistro's Bed and Breakfast jist right across the street from us!"

The hat wearing brown stallion pointed with his right front leg towards a two-story wooden storefront, caramel colored with cream trim, with an outdoor cafe' front (several wooden outside tables on a wooden deck). There is a large window up front with the name Madam Bistro's Bed & breakfast beneath a hanging wooden sign with a picture of a cappuchino coffee cup and donut.

"Yes siree! Madam's Bistro is absotively the best place to eat and bed down in all of Appleoosa! Lookie up yonder! That mocha colored mare entering the swinging doors! That's Madam Bistro herself! If ya like, I could go in with ya and introduce you to her!"

[Boss_Hoss1]

Hoss smiled and perked up "Yes sir, that would be fantastic!" He slipped his head back into the harness just long enough to tow the cart over to the hitchin' post by the building in question.

In moments, he had helped his sister from the cart, then grabbed the camera case in his mouth. "K, les go."

Shanna was a little wobbly for a moment, but eagerly trotted into the shade inside. muttering about bringing some rain next time...

Hoss wondered how long the outdoor deck would be a feature of the new building since obviously it was currently too hot for anyone to eat outside. What few patrons she had at the moment were inside eating under the ceiling fans.

Once inside, he set the case down and turned to look with his sister at the proprietress.

He saw an elegant earth pony with mocha hide and an elegantly styled cream colored mane and tail with caramel colored streaks and a matching appaloosa blanket across her hindquarters. Her cutie mark was a cappuchino coffee cup.

(note; Madam Bistro is currently NPC until I am free to get her app put in and approved, and her info is being passed to Mojo as needed)

[Mojo]

"See Hoss? Lookie at how popular this place is!" Sheriff Silverstar shouted as he waved to various patrons who acknowledged him as he led the brother and sister to the front counter where Madam Bistro waited.

"Madam Bistro," the mustached stallion said with a polite bow. "These two are newcomers to our fine town and need to be set up with some grub and a place to stay! This here's Hoss Skybright and his sister Shanna! They've come to see comets in the sky! Anywoo, Miss Bistro, I'm gonna dine with my new friends over at my table there in the corner. Fix me up my usual, coffee and cinammon donut. Give the Skybrights anything they want and put it on my tab! We'll go sit a spell and chew the fat, so to speak, y'know what I mean."

The Sheriff motioned for Hoss and Shanna to join him at this table.

[Boss_Hoss1]

The elegant mare hurriedly wave a hoof "Coming right up..." Obviously the place was new and had not yet got a full staff yet. the few were quite busy shuttling coffee and plates around including the owner.

Hoss went to the counter for a moment and scanned the menu, quickly jotting down two salads, a muffin sampler, two iced coffees and a pitcher of water on a pad there, and nodded toward the sherrif's table. Shanna had already gotten there and leaned back under the ceiling fan with a sigh of relief.

Hoss used a wingtip to pull up a chair and sat down by Shanna, fanning her with his left wing. "Thank you very much for your kindness, Sherrif. It's not often Weather Patrol ponies get caught off-guard like this, but the forecasters dont have as many scouts out this way yet. I'm afraid my sis does as well in heat wave conditions as I do in sudden severe cold.

From the reports the temps are usually bearable, arent' they?"

Beside him, the mare slowly drank the water that just arrived, keeping quiet for now.

Hoss suddenly earperked "Oh wait!? Arent' you the hero of Appleoosa? One of the Ponyville Weather Ponies told the story of the buffalo stampede. It was the talk of Cloudsdale for a month or so."

[Mojo]

"Well now, I wouldn't call me a hero or nutin' like that," Sheriff Silverstar said blushing under his fur. "It's true the buffalo stampeded, but it was all because of that pink pony's horrible singing! She got the Chief all steamed up! Had the situation under control till then! Anywoo, after Chief Thunderhoofs got clobbered with an apple pie and tasted it, he was the one who came up with the Great Compromise, an agreement between us Appleoosans and the buffalo herd. We got to keep the orchard in exchange fer us supplin' the herd with apple pies! Durn good arrangement if ya ask me! What's it like being weather ponies?"

[Boss_Hoss1]

Noss smiled and Shanna nodded agreement "That was still a great turnaround on a bad time and nothing to sneeze at. Anyway, being a weather pony is hard work but good, and fun too. Some days. we're herding clouds around for rain in places that really need it, other's we're busting them up so crops will get the best sun. Its quite a rush to surf on the stormfront winds pushing ahead of a storm. I hear earth ponies can do something like that on special boards at the sea shore, riding waves. "

[Mojo]

"Ridin' waves?" Sheriff Silverstar asked. "I reckon some Earth ponies do weird stuff. Never catch me ridin' no board like that! Flyin's fine if ya happen to be a Pegasus, but as fer me, I wanna keep all four of my hooves on the ground. Ain't Madam Bistro's grub the greatest in the whole wide world? So, you two came to see comets. Anything special bout these ones yous is lookin' fer? I hear tell that some comets only appear in the sky one every hundred years or so. And thar's no better place to look at the night sky than here in Appleoosa! The view from town's great and even better on top of the mesa jist outside of Appleoosa."

Sheriff Silverstar finishes his donut and sips on his coffee some more.

[Boss_Hoss1]

Hoss and Shanna eagerly munch on their salads and muffins as Hoss speaks "Yes, this is some great food! We'll definitely be eating here during our stay."

The ponies ears perk at the question "Ah, the comet! Yes, We're lucky to be the ones gettng this view of it. Observatories in Canterlot, Cloudsdale, and other places to the East will be watching it. but the best place to try and get pictures of it was calculated to be around here, and we get to be the one's trying the camera attachment for the first time. We tested it with the moon last night and it seems to be going great.

The comet is a strange one. it comes around every 150 years and was reported to trail sparkles in its tail last time around. the photos are to help us see what the sparklies are later.

Thanks for the advise, that was going to be one of our questions as to where we could set up the telescope. I'll definitely check the mesa out before I sack out for a bit."

A rushed waitpony in a stetson stopped for moment, dropping off a key after having Hoss sign a small book. "She has you folks in Room 5, to make up for not greeting you in person. It's lunchtime and we're a bit short hooved for the moment. Welcome to Appleoosa."

[Mojo]

"Room Five!" Sheriff Silverstar neighed. "That thar's absotively the best room in this here hotel! Two big beds, big ol' bathroom and a nice balcony too!

The mustached stallion took another sip of his coffee.

"Say, when the two of you are ready, I'll gladly escort you up to the mesa! After all, it is my duty as the peace officer here in Appleoosa to see to the safety of all visitors to our fine town! Most of the time, the mesa is peaceful and quiet, but thar have been times some dangerous critters roam around. Y'all might be needin' my pertection."

[Boss_Hoss1]

Both pegasi neigh appreciatively "Yes that sounds perfect!"

As the Sherrif continues and offers his protection, he nods "We thank you! That wil be a great help, sir. I'll give it a quick once over at 500' after I see Shanna of to bed, then I'll explore the town on my way back. That should be a nice safe distance."

Shanna yawns "Can you meet us at a half hour to sundown, Sherrif?"

[Mojo]

"Absoltively, Hoss!" the mustached stallion neighed as he finished up the last of his coffee. "That'll be about the time my street patrol ends. I'll gladly meetcha outside then! One last thing I gotta do before I go, like I told y'all before, breakfast is on me!"

Sheriff Silverstar walked over to Madam Bistro, paid the bill and then waved to Hoss and Shanna before galloping outside. Apploosa was unusually quiet today. Few ponies were out and those that were, stayed in the shade. The Sheriff was glad to help his new friends, but also was a bit curious about all this talk of comets. He also began to wonder if other tourists would descend upon the town for a chance to watch the skies for this special comet.

[Boss_Hoss1]

(YAY! Shanna's now approved!)

Shanna looked more at ease now that she had eaten and cooled off, now standing and facing the Sherrif. "Thank you Sherrif, for all your help. We shall see you later."

Hoss smiled and waved a hoof as the earth pony departed. "All right Shan, head on up while I get the telescope inside."S

he nodded and headed on up with the room key.

Several minutes later, Hoss arrived in the room with the telescope in it's bright yellow painted oaken case, assisted by a donkey baggage handler.

The pegasus smiled and handed the donkey several bits tip "Thank you Mr. Thorn." then checked the parachute pack on the case "Looks good."

Shanna yawned and climbed into her bed under the ceiling fan and drew up a light cover. "All right Hoss. By the way, I have already checked, and the balcony looks like a good place for us to take off and land if the cafe area is too crowded later."

The stallion nods "Great! I'll be back soon, sis..." He chuckled, seeing she had already fallen asleep as he spoke.

He fluttered into a light hover and left the room quietly.

A minute later, he ventured out into the street, and leapt into the sky, heading for the mesa to give it a quick once over. He wondered if that was another train coming, off in the distance....

[Mojo]

(ooc: Louise LaMare was just approved too!)

Another train was on approach to the Apploosa station. When Sheriff Silverstar heard the rumbling in the distance and looked up at the town clock, he panicked.

"Jumpin' Jehosaphat! I plumb fergot! Today's the day! That's her train!"

Trotting past confused bystanders, the mustached stallion rushed towards the train station. He arrived just as passengers were departing. When a light brown furred Pegasus mare wearing a cowboy hat and boots walked onto the platform, Sheriff Silverstar shook with excitement.

"It's HER! It's really HER!" the smiling stallion said to himself. "Louise Lamare! THE most famous author in all of Equestria! Her books on Pioneer times inspired me to dream of living in a Western type town! I've read all twelve of her novels from cover to cover! And she's HERE! In Apploosa!"

Louise noticed the sheriff and walked over to him.

"Howdy!" she shouted in a sweet, soft voice. "Can you help me find a place to bed down? I'm new in town and I'm.."

"LOUISE LAMARE!" the sheriff pony shouted as he offered his hoof to shake. "It is a pleasure and an honor to meet ya! I've read all your books and LOVE your work! I knew it was you from your photos in the paper! Anything you need, you jist say so, Miss LaMare!"

"Well Sheriff, I do need my hoof back," she said politely as he had been continually shaking it all the time they were talking.

"Oops! Powerful sorry bout that, Miss LaMare!" he said, releasing her right hoof.

"Please Sheriff, just call me Louise. And you are?"

"Havin' the absotively greatest day of my life!" he said dreamily before shaking his head to come back to reality. "I'm Sheriff Silverstar, and THE best place to stay in Apploosa is Madam Bistro's Bed and Breakfast! Foller me and I'll take ya there!"

"Wonderful, Sheriff Silverstar! Just give me a moment to instruct the station ponies to where to put my things."

"Put your things?"

"Yes Sheriff. I've decided to move to Apploosa, lock stock and barrel! How could I resist living the lifestyle of the early settler ponies here in this wonderful town? I've already arranged to have all my things put in storage while I shop around for property to purchase. Sheriff? SHERIFF?"

There was a blank look of sheer joy on the mustached stallion's face. Louise waved her front hoof in front of him several times to get his attention back.

"YEEEE HAW!!! The purdiest filly in the whole wide world's gonna be livin' here!" the happy stallion shouted before a look of fear and embarrassment overtook him. "Er... that was outloud, weren't it?"

Louise chuckled and then gave a warm smile.

"Why thank you, Sheriff. I'm beginning to like this town already! Now, if you don't mind, would you escort me to Madam Bistro's?"

"I'll do better than that! I'll lead ya there myself!" the starstruck sheriff neighed as the two walked towards the center of town together.

[Boss_Hoss1]

Meanwhile, Hoss winged his way out to the mesa, giving it a good look. There was even a nice sturdy trail to pull the cart to the top with several ponies walking alongside if the sherrif did not want to ride in the cart for flying to the top. Some earth ponies were funny that way aout air travel.

Satisfied, the pegasus did a wing-over and headed back to appleoosa. As he was landing outside of town, he saw a flash in the desert, like fireworks.

* I'll report it to the sherrif whenI see him. If nothing else I may check out later. * he thought.

[Mojo]

"And over here is Madam Bistro's!" Sheriff Silverstar happily announced to Louise LaMare.

"Oh how rustic! How lovely!" the Western attired Pegasus neighed. "I'll register for a room and then join you for a tour of the town!"

"Yeah but Miss Lamare," the mustached stallion managed to say before Louise disappeared inside the building. "I can't give her a tour of the town cause I promised to escort Sky and Shanna to the mesa. I sure am in a pickle now."

"Oh, there you are, Sheriff! Got a room and paid in full for the week! Now, if you'll be so kind as to show me around."

"Miss LaMare, I'd love to give ya a tour, but I promised two visitors that I'd escort them to the mesa and.."

"The MESA!" Louise shouted as she jumped up and down. "I'd LOVE to see the beautiful scenary of Apploosa! I'd LOVE to join all of you in that journey, if you're friends would allow me to!"

"Ya means it? Ya wanna come with us?"

"Of course! What an opportunity to see real frontier wildlife and travel like our early pony ancestors did! COUNT ME IN!"

[Boss_Hoss1]

Hoss trotted into the street, looking around. Most of the town ponies seemed to be inside out of the heat. "I'm probably better off looking for the Sherrif for a quick rundown on what's where before I get a quick nap in."

He "Ah-ha!"ed and spotted him in front of Madam Bistro's, and started on over.

* It would be nice to meet some of the other townsponies though. Maybe more will be out tomorrow before it gets hot... * he thought.

[Mojo]

(ooc): This will bring out all the townsfolk!

Back at the train station, there was one more passenger who was finally departing from the train. Suddenly, about a dozen ponies gathered around as a lime green mare with gray mane and tail (both tied up in buns) mozied onto the station deck. The gathered ponies then began to shout for joy, two of them unfurling a banner that read "WELCOME TO APPLOOSA, GRANNY SMITH" on it. Yes, it was her, the matriarch of the entire Apple clan arriving in the town populated by many of her distant kinfolk.

"So, this here's Apploosa!" she spoke. "Fine lookin' town y'all got here. Downright perty! I sure am hungry, any of you youngin's know where I am git somethin' to eat?"

The entire crowd cheered, hoisting Granny Smith gently on their backs as they galloped over to Madam Bistro's. As they lowered the elderly mare to the ground, both Sheriff Silverstar and Louise LaMare stood stunned in amazement.

"Granny Smith?" the Pegasus mare asked.

"What in tarnation are YOU doin' here?"

"Things are slow at Sweet Apple Acres now, so I took my kinfolk's invite to visit Apploosa! Applejack told me how great this place was, and she's right! Traveled all by myself I did! Big Mac said I couldn't do it, but I showed him! I showed'm all! Wait, where's my luggage?"

Two young foals with apple related cutie marks arched their backs to show that they were carrying Granny's luggage.

"You youngin's are very mannerly, thanks a heap! I can smell fresh hay in that Bistro and I'ma wantin' some!"

The crowd of Apple kinfolk led Granny inside to get a room and some breakfast.

"Goes to show ya, never know who'll show up in Apploosa!"

[Boss_Hoss1]

(finally finished the app for Bistro and added pics, heres hoping she's approved soon, so Granny can get a proper greeting)

Hoss trotted up toward the Sherrif, then stopped in surprise at the crowd. "Granny smith"? Ohh I think I remember, she's real well known in Ponyville... Wow! She made it all the way out here?"

He moved closer to the Sherrif "Hello there, whats up?"

Finally noticing the mare with the Sherrif, he dips his head politely since he didn't have a hat. "Good day, I am Star Skybright, or "Hoss"."

He looked back to the Sherrif "I thought I saw something out in the desert several miles from here, like fireworks. I can take a quick look if you like. I was also wanting to poke around town for a bit before I get a little sleep for tonight's comet watch. Anyplace in particular I should see?"

[Mojo]

"That's her alright, Hoss, absotively!" Sheriff Silverstar neighed. "She's related to pertin' near half of the colts and fillies in Appleloosa! I was jist escortin' my new lady friend to Madam Bistro's and.."

"And I'm Louise LaMare, newest resident of Appleloosa!" the brown Pegasus mare said as she offered her hoof to shake. "Are you and the Sheriff planning on going to the Mesa? I'd love to tag along, if that's alright. Or if you're wanting to tour the town first with the Sheriff, I'd like to come too! After all, since I'm moving here to stay, I need to know where all the facilities are."

"It's all up to you, buckaroo! Where did ya want to start first?"

As the Sheriff spoke, Louise glanced over at him. Rugged, tall and sturdy. This was the kind of stallion she's always dreamed of! A real Western lawpony! She knew Silverstar liked her, and now, she was starting to have similiar feelings for him.

[Boss_Hoss1]

"And I'm Louise LaMare, newest resident of Appleloosa!" the brown Pegasus mare said as she offered her hoof to shake. "Are you and the Sheriff planning on going to the Mesa? I'd love to tag along, if that's alright. Or if you're wanting to tour the town first with the Sheriff, I'd like to come too! After all, since I'm moving here to stay, I need to know where all the facilities are."

Hoss smiled as he shook hooves with her "Pleased to meet you, Miss LaMare. We wont mind the company when we go to the mesa. Oh! The Author? My father reads your books! He will be thrilled to hear I met you."

"It's all up to you, buckaroo! Where did ya want to start first?"

Hoss smiles "We still have some hours yet before nightfall. I think a tour would be perfect."

He scans the sky to the NorthEast "There, about 4 hoof-marks or so above that ridge. You can see it a little if you are looking for it, that fuzzy white puff. That's why I and Shanna are here. It will look far more impressive at night, up on the Mesa."

As the Sheriff spoke, Louise glanced over at him. Rugged, tall and sturdy. This was the kind of stallion she's always dreamed of! A real Western lawpony! She knew Silverstar liked her, and now, she was starting to have similiar feelings for him.

Hoss noted the glance the author gave the sherrif and smiled inwardly *I wonder if she's going to write a cowpony romance now..* he thought.

[Mojo]

(ooc): We can wait until Madam Bistro is OFFICIALLY in play before we continue with Granny Smith

"Tour of the town? You betcha! Foller me!" the sheriff said as he led Louise and Hoss down the street. "Usually, Braeburn's the one who serves as Appleloosa's unofficial tour guide, but since he ain't here right how, it'll have to be me."

"I'm sure you can handle it, Sheriff," Louise said with a smile.

"Alrighty then. Over here's the Post Office. Mail comes here either by train or by Pegasus delivery. Usually the mail gits here on time, but not when they put that blonde crosseyed Pegasus on our route. Had to send out a rescue posse out to the desert many a time to retrieve her when she'd fly off course.

"I think I've heard of her, Sheriff," Louise giggled.

"And over here's our famous watering hole, the Salt Block! Over yonder's my office, and lookie over thar! We have horse drawin' carriages, and horses drawin' horse drawin' carriages too! We also have Wild West dances and mild west dances, but it's too durn hot out today to have them. Our famous apple orchard is just over that rise, if'n y'all wanna see it."

[Boss_Hoss1]

(ooc): We can wait until Madam Bistro is OFFICIALLY in play before we continue with Granny Smith

"Tour of the town? You betcha! Foller me!" the sheriff said as he led Louise and Hoss down the street. "Usually, Braeburn's the one who serves as Appleloosa's unofficial tour guide, but since he ain't here right how, it'll have to be me."

"I'm sure you can handle it, Sheriff," Louise said with a smile.

"Alrighty then. Over here's the Post Office. Mail comes here either by train or by Pegasus delivery. Usually the mail gits here on time, but not when they put that blonde crosseyed Pegasus on our route. Had to send out a rescue posse out to the desert many a time to retrieve her when she'd fly off course.

"I think I've heard of her, Sheriff," Louise giggled.

"And over here's our famous watering hole, the Salt Block! Over yonder's my office, and lookie over thar! We have horse drawin' carriages, and horses drawin' horse drawin' carriages too! We also have Wild West dances and mild west dances, but it's too durn hot out today to have them. Our famous apple orchard is just over that rise, if'n y'all wanna see it."

Hoss nickered appreciativley at the tour. "I dont mind, I hear Braeburn's pretty gung-ho at his tours."

As the Post office was pointed out, he nodded "I am not surprised. I heard she went North at the last Ponyville Winter Wrap-up to round up the birds that went South. At least she never actually loses a delivery."

Hoss spread his wings for some shade as the art jam was pointed out and chuckled at the puns. He nodded eagerly at the next suggestion "Oh yeah, seeing the orchard sounds great. Lets go."