We are on a train being pulled by ponies. Okay, I can understand a stagecoach, but a train? Plus the passenger who gets the best car of the train is a tree. How come I am confused, but not surprised? "Oh wait, I know the answer," I muttered to myself, "crazy things are the norm here. Of course."
Rarity stalked back from the private car, muttering "I can't believe she gets it a private car, reads to it, and talks to it like a baby. It's a tree. How am I going to sleep cramped with the other ponies and a human?"
"Oh I don't snore Rarity. You won't remember that I'm here." I tried to fruitlessly comfort her. She just huffed. I tuned out the girls and fell into a light sleep. Snapping awake when a door slammed. Then I saw it was just the girls and nothing was wrong except for them being excited, so I relaxed back into sleep.
I woke up early and entered the private train car out of curiosity. Wow, Applejack actually tucked it into bed. I chuckled as I saw Spike snoring away, sharing the bed. Ah, so he was the door slam. Must have been fed up with the girls talking, and came here.
Suddenly, the train starting shaking more than usual. I glanced out the window to see stampeding buffalo. They are awfully close. The car lurched sideways as they hit it. I fell, but immediately rolled into a balanced position. I watched the bed slide back and forth, Spike blissfully asleep. I felt the car slowing then speed up again.
Spike woke up. We looked out the window, the train was getting smaller and we were being pulled away by buffalo. Through a window Spike yelled, "Help!"
We got to near their camp. I was completely on edge. Ponies I could handle, but buffalo? I knew nothing. A small buffalo walked in. She was startled to see me, but spoke, "We mean you no harm. We only meant to get the tree."
I raised my eyebrow. "A lot of work for one tree." My voice was cold.
She sighed. "If you come with me, I'll explain why." She bravely looked me in the eye. "We won't harm you, if you don't harm us." I looked back at her. She was sincere. She was also young. I didn't harm children.
I nodded. We left the car. We walked to the lights in the distance. "My name is Alex Rider. This is Spike."
"I'm Little Strong Heart. I'm curious, I know Spike is a dragon, but what are you?"
"I am a human. I come from very far away. I've only been in Equestria for less than a year. It has been different living among ponies. Then I get kidnapped by buffalo." We reached the camp. Spike wandered off. She sat me down and offered me food. "Sorry, but no. There are things human can't eat, and I don't know if one of them is in there." I pulled some food out of my bag.
She nodded then spoke, "We took the tree, because we don't want another one planted where the settlers are. They planted their orchard right where our ancient stampeding grounds are."
"Can you not move the stampeding area?"
"No, it is the only level place."
"Well, that makes for a complicated situation. If it's the only level place, you need it to stampede, they need it to feed themselves. I can't help you out. Where I live ponies are used to me and listen to me, everywhere else I am strange."
"I understand. We really did not mean to kidnap you."
"And I understand. Unfortunately mistakes can happen." I took my sketchbook out to pass the time.
She looked at my sketchbook as I opened it, "Wow, you're really good at that."
I looked up in surprise, "Oh thanks. I sell pieces and portraits for money. I love doing them."
"I can tell. I'll see you later." I nodded and she left.
Later, Spike arrived with Pinkie and Rainbow. I nodded to them as they came to the campfire. Spike explained what happened. Little Strong Heart came up with some food for Spike. I still don't understand how dragons can eat gemstones. What exactly does it give them? Better fire? Rainbow then seemed to recognize Little Strong Heart from the train incident.
To explain the situation, we went to the chief. He started explaining, then sort of got stuck on saying the many past generations, that stampeded on those grounds. Little Strong Heart, saved us all from being there all night. "I think they get the idea." He started to explain once more, and got angry at the settlers and couldn't continue. She did though, "They planted apple trees all over it without our permission. The ponies refuse to move the trees and we are stuck here. I realize now though that they can't move the trees, for there is no other place, but it is not fair. We have been here for generations."
I thought Rainbow was still mad at the buffalo, turns out though she was going to fight for them though. I hope they settle this peacefully. It will get messy if the can't.
The next day we were just about to reach Appleloosa when the others were running towards us with a determined look on their face. "Hi guys." Pinkie cheerfully greeted them.
Fluttershy actually tackled me in a hug. "Oh my. I am so glad you guys are safe!" She had a relieved smile on her face.
"Yes well, we were never actually in danger." I told them. Twilight asked how we escaped from the buffalo. "We didn't."
They gasped as Little Strong Heart jumped from behind a rock. Rainbow told them, "We promised to give the buffalo a chance to talk."
"Oh yeah?" Applejack did not look happy. "About what?"
As Little Strong Heart and Braeburn tried to talk, Applejack and Rainbow started arguing for them. Twilight interrupted them by saying both parties had a good reason for using the land. "There must be something we can do." Pinkie said she had an idea. I blinked Oh dear. I hope this idea works.
Buffalo, human and ponies gathered around a stage. I was getting as much sidelong looks as the buffalo. This is getting to be annoying. Seems like I'll have to deal with this, in every new place I go. Spike started playing the piano, then Pinkie began singing about sharing and caring. I face-palmed. Music is good and all, but I don't think this will solve the problem. I was proven right as the two sides separated to prepare for a fight.
As the girls tried to talk some sense into the ponies, I stood thinking. If the girls will listen to me perhaps there is a chance, all the others will. The girls came back saying no one would listen. "Is there a chance the buffalo will? I have an idea if they will," I spoke up. They said there was a chance.
We ran to the camp. Rainbow was talking to the chief. "Rainbow I have an idea that can stop the fighting." She nodded at me to continue. "What if they shared the land? Ponies could still have their orchard. For the buffalo, a path can be made in the middle of it that they can use to stampede."
We turned to the chief. He nodded. "I do not want to fight. If the settlers will agree, I think we can work with that." With that he left and the girls turned to me
"How long have you had this idea?" One of them asked.
"For awhile. I didn't think any side would listen to me, because I am a strange creature to them. They seemed to like you, so if you were good with the idea maybe one of them would be too." They nodded in agreement to my words.
"Well hopefully Ah can get my kin ta listen." Applejack said worriedly.
The next morning, the girls ran to the sheriff. After a bit of arguing, they agreed. They didn't really want to fight, but it seemed like the only option. "What are we going to do with all these pies though?" One of the ponies asked. Really, pies as weapon? I am actually grateful though. I do not want to see a bloodbath.
"Why not offer them to the buffalo as a peace offering?" I spoke up. They looked at me in surprise then started agreeing. So, a path was made, apples pies were given, and Bloomberg was planted.
Twilight walked up to me with Little Strong Heart. "Thank you for helping us avoid fighting and help us get along with the settlers, Rider." The young buffalo told me.
I knelt down. "I am trained to fight, but I don't enjoy it. I am glad that you and the others were open to my idea. I hope peace stays with you for along time." She nodded and ran off stopping to wave to Rainbow and Applejack.
"These past few days weren't what I was expecting, but I am glad everything turned out well." Commented Twilight.
"Indeed. You ponies are quite remarkable, for you turned an enemy into a friend, in just two days." I replied.
"Well, friendship is a very powerful force. It is even working on you. Though you are in denial of that."
"I am not ready for friends. I may never be. Are you willing to work on me, stay with me for that long?" I was doubtful of that.
She turned and looked me in the eyes and said just one word, "Yes."
My heart pounded, for 3 people had said that same word in answer to that same question, albeit slightly different. One was dead, the others two I had pushed away in fear. The words built in my throat, threatening to do so again. The images though of the heartbroken eyes of Tom and Sabina flashed through my mind, and as it morphed into each of the girls, and I realized I couldn't do it. I couldn't break their young innocent hearts. So I remained silent, broke her gaze, and stared at the sunset, hoping I wouldn't eventually shatter.
Why in the world did Twilight make me come? I do not like Princess Celestia. I said in an isolated area of SugarCube Corner, far away from the princess, glaring. My glares must have recovered from their slump because ponies were giving me a very wide berth. Except, for a certain lavender unicorn. I upped it a notch, she just raised an eyebrow. Seriously? When did she become immune to me?
"Will you please say hello, at least? I do not understand why you don't like her." She was exasperated.
"No." I do not like her because she sent me here to make friends, and her plan is working a little too well I think. My glare turned into a scowl.
She sighed then walked back over the the princess's area, pausing to let Fluttershy in. They reached the princess, and she brought out a bird cage. Some weird bird was in it. It looked sick. I wonder if Fluttershy will be able to resist treating it. As the princess left, I escaped to the kitchen and ate some of the food.
After I ate my fill, I headed to the park to sketch. My wings were done and ready to test. The princess's visit made Twilight and I agree to take a break today though. I was observing the park, hoping for a new idea when I saw that weird bird thing running around, with Twilight and Fluttershy chasing it. Oh that bird is smart. Good luck girls you need it. I gave up on the park. I headed to the fountain in town.
There I found the rest of the girls. As I sat on the edge of the fountain, the bird thing ran up and perched on the very top of the statue. The two chasing ponies after it, arrived not too long after it, searching. "Girls?" They looked at me, and I pointed up. Then moved backwards so I could look at it. Oh my it looks worse than before.
They gasped and Fluttershy cried out, "Philomena come down from there! You'll hurt yourself!" It coughed, pretended to die, then made itself fall from the statue. Fluttershy rushed to catch it. As it fell it burst into flames and became ashes. I raised an eyebrow. Is she a phoenix? That looked a lot like one of the fabled cycles of the creature.
The princess arrived. As Fluttershy and Twilight argued over who's fault it was, Celestia walked over to the ashes then spoke to it. "Oh stop fooling around Philomena, you're scaring everypony." The ashes then rose up and transformed into a phoenix. I smirked. I was right.
As Fluttershy asked what it was, Celestia turned to me, "Perhaps you would like to explain, Rider?"
I nodded, "Sure. Fluttershy, that is Philomena. She is a phoenix, a majestic and magical bird. Most of the time, they look like that. Every so often they shed all their feathers, and burst into flames, renewing themselves. It is a life cycle for them. I never thought I would see one. They are just a myth where I come from." She hovered over me so I held out my arm. Philomena landed on my arm. "You are amazing. Do you mind if I sketch you?" She shook her head, so I quickly got out my things and began sketching her, ignoring the rest.
When Philomena made the guards laugh though, on Rainbow's request, I laughed as well. Wow, though. Philomena is amazing.
The day has finally come to try flying. I had done the extension and retraction of the wings over and over again. The wings themselves were made of lightweight yet durable metal unique to this world. The power stones fully charged. Now though I had to see if the engines would get me off the ground, and keep me airborne.
We headed to an empty grass field. If they worked, I did not want to crash into anything. I extended the wings out, then activated the engines. I jumped up and was able to hover a few feet of the ground. I carefully leaned backwards to move back. It worked. I leaned further to go faster, I sped up. Seeing as I was doing alright I straightened, then I leaned forward. I moved forward. I tried turning just slightly and they responded.
I tried to go higher. That was where the trouble began. In going higher, I had less control over my movements. I had to either sacrifice height and keep control. Or sacrifice finer control and have height. I needed both though. Then the power source cut out. Oh, crap. I landed in roll hard. I groaned and kept my eyes closed. My back hurt from rolling on the pack. I opened my eyes to see Twilight's purple ones. "Alright then," I spoke to her, "first things, first. Increase the longevity of the power source. Then I can learn finesse." She nodded and I let my head fall onto my arms, groaning.
A week later, I was about to bang my head on something in frustration. Twilight was somewhere in town and I had chosen to study some more. For some reason I was getting nowhere on the power gems. So, in order not to break something I took out another book, this one on the older way of spell casting using matrixes. I wanted to see if I could put a spell into my pack and have it continue permanently.
Spells work on me now, but they still fade too fast. Plus, some spells aren't mean to last long. If I am going to fly like a pegasus, I need to be able to walk on clouds like a pegasus.
Twilight walked in later humming, a joyful look on her face. "I am guessing your day went well," I commented to her as I closed my book.
"Yes I did. Remember when I told you of how I got my cutie mark?" I nodded to her question. "Well Rainbow had done her first rainboom at that very same time. If that boom hadn't happened I would have failed my exam. All of the other girls got their cutie mark too, from the effect of seeing that rainbow and explosion."
"Wow, seems like you were all connected before you even met. That's pretty amazing."
She nodded excitedly, "I know, right?" She trotted of happily.
I watched her go, a thoughtful look on my face. Amazing, connected since you were little fillies. That connection has only grown stronger now. I thought back to all the things I have seen them do together. I smiled content. Wow, I enjoy being with them. I never thought I would enjoy someone else's company again. I shook my head. Oh girls, you don't even try and you pull on my heart.