Author's note: Sorry about the delay, had some Wi-Fi issues. I am now back, so the chapters will start to flowing again.

Chapter 18: Just A Normal Day

Well then. Somehow or another I have gotten roped into another one of the girl's adventures.

It turns out that we have to deliver a tree to a western town called Appleloosa. As for why we needed to deliver the tree is anyone's guess.

Unfortunately, I had to leave Nyx back home, but she was rather ok with it, because her, and the other CMC girls are spending it at Applejack's farm with Big Mac.

So here I am, sitting in a train, watching the nighttime scenery go by, and waiting for whatever disaster to strike.

"Oh man, we're going fast! This is so exciting I can't even wait!" Rainbow said from her spot.

"Oh my gosh!" Pinkie added, bouncing around.

"For crying out loud in the morning!" Rarity sighed, trying to get some sleep.

"I can't wait!" Fluttershy said.

"Yeah, yeah! Oh, my gosh!" Rainbow

"Do you guys mind? I was up early fire-roasting those snacks you're all eating, and I'm pooped!" Spike groaned.

"Uh, speaking of, some of these popcorn kernels didn't get popped," Rainbow said, holding up a bag of popcorn.

"Okay, fine..." Spike said, relenting.

You got to stand strong Spike, don't want to always be walked over.

Then, as if he hear me, he spat fire at the bag, surprising Rainbow, and burning her popcorn.

Rainbow Dash: Ghk...

"Good night!"Spike said, pulling the covers over his head, trying to sleep.

"Uhh... maybe it's time we all got a little shut-eye. We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow," Twilight suggests to the group, a little off put by Spike's actions.

An "Awwww," came from the remaining ponies, as Twilight turned off the lights, and they laid down to rest.

This peace only lasted a few seconds, till a candle was lit.

"Psst! Pinkie Pie, you asleep yet?" Rainbow was the first to speak, calling out to Pinkie in a loud whisper.

"No, are you asleep yet?" Pinkie replied.

"If I was sleeping, how could I have asked you if you were asleep?"

"Oh yeah!" Pinkie giggles.

Might want to be quite, you are going to wake the others.

"When we get to Appleloosa, you think we'll have to carry that heavy tree all the way from the train to the orchard?" Rainbow asked.

"What tree? You mean Bloomberg?" What is Applejack and pet names for her trees? I'm not joking, she has named all the trees in her orchard. I have heard names from Applica, to Zap-Apple Rooty.

"...No, Fluttershy," Rainbow replied, sarcastically.

"Fluttershy's not a tree, silly!" Pinkie said, not getting the sarcasms.

"What's going on?" Twilight said, waking up from their noise.

"Mild insanity, and insomnia," I said from my bunk.

"Yeah, Rainbow Dash thinks Fluttershy's a tree!" Pinkie says, agreeing with my joke.

"I do not think she's a tree! I was just–"Rainbow tries to defend herself.

"Did you say she was a tree?" Twilight interrupted.

"No. Well.. Yes. But not exactly–"

"Ya know she's not a tree, right?"

"She's not a tree, Dashie!" Pinkie added.

"Pinkie, Rainbow was being sarcastic when she said Fluttershy was a tree," I stated.

"I'd like to be a tree..." Fluttershy suddenly added.

"Oh, for Pete's sake!" Spike yells, getting out of his bunk, and moves to the caboose, with Bloomberg.

"Well that was kind of huffy," Twilight commented on Spike's actions.

"Huffy the magic dragon!" Fluttershy adds. Was that a… No, I doubt Fluttershy would make that reference. Rainbow, yes. Fluttershy, no.

Fluttershy's joke, got the girls laughing, but was a little too

"Would you all be QUIET... NOOOOW!?" Rarity shouts from her bunk, showing her face care.

"Aaaaaah!" The girls shouted, and blew out the candle.

Well that should keep them quite.

I got up out of my bunk, and moved to one of the forward carts, where it was empty, but still lit. I picked the closest seat to the back, and pulled out one of my books to read.

One of the down sides to being a spirit, you can't sleep through the long trips.

I only got through 3 chapters when something interrupted me. No it was not the train, or the ponies, or anything I could control. It seems that we are now traveling into a thunderstorm.

It had started just as then usual pattering of rain on the windows, but the weather took a drastic turn, and lighting was constantly flying through the clouds.

I couldn't focus on reading with all of this flashing, and booming of the storm outside, so I just put my book back in my suit, and just watched the storm go on.

I continued to just stare out the window, watching the lighting arching, and dancing through the sky, and watching as then thunder rattled the windows in the cart. But while the lightning continued to light up the sky, I noticed something up there in the storm. No wait, make that 3 things flying close together up there

I think that there are some pegasus flying up in that storm. What the heck are they thinking? Do they have a death wish or something?

I continue to watch those crazy flyers, as the fly through the storm, narrowly avoiding the lightning. Oh for the love of god, they are idiots.

Right as I thought that, I saw the pegasus in the middle get hit, and the others got stunned from being so close.

I watched as they fell from the sky, and the one that was struck, was falling toward the train.

The pegasus was falling fast, and smashed into the top of the train by the sound of the thumps on the roof.

Crap, is it hurt?

I open up the window next to me, and climbed out to help the crazy. When I got to the roof, I saw the hurt pegasus, laying on the roof, but starting to slid off.

I hurry over to the crazy, and grab her and pull her back from the edge. I continued to pull her back, till we reach my window, and I had to pull her inside.

I put her down on the seats, and try to gather my thoughts.

Ok, I just rescued a crazy pony that was flying in a thunderstorm. I know that she was struck, so she will need some medical aid, where would I find some. A train this size should have a first aid kit somewhere, now where is it.

I move from the hurt pony, and search the cart, for a first aid kit. I ended up finding it under a seat near the front of the cart.

I took the kit back to her, and started to examine where she might be in pain.

For the first time, I notice that the pony is wearing some kind of odd looking blue spandex outfit, now ruined from the storm. Must be some kind of uniform.

I look around her body for any sign of where she was hit, and found the spot, her left wing was singed.

I then move her, and removed her from the outfit, so that I could see if any other form of damage was on her.

Huh, she has a coat like Fluttershy's, I wonder if they are related.

While I examined her, she twitched when I touched her ribs. She must of fractured something, it doesn't feel broken.

I move back to the kit, and removed some gauze, and wrapped it around her ribcage, and her left wing. This pegasus maybe tough, but she isn't going to be flying this one off.

Ok, now that she is all set, let's see who this crazy pony is.

I begin to prod her awake, gaining just some pained moans, and twitching. After doing it a few more times, I finally get some results, the pegasus opens her eyes.

"Ohh.. what the buck hit me?" She said, holding her ribs.

"Lightning, hit you, and then you hit a train," I said, gaining her attention.

"Who are you, where am I?" She asked looking around.

"Well you are on a train to Appleloosa. As for who I am, you can call me Chrome. Now let me ask who are you, and what were you thinking going into a storm like that?" I asked her.

I received a blank look.

"What? I answered you questions, so what is wrong with mine?"

"You got to be kidding me. You have no idea who I am?" She asked disbelieving.

"Yes, I know that you are the pony who flew into a storm, and nearly fell of a train," I stated.

"Wow, you aren't kidding are you," She said, "I am Spitfire, from the Wonderbolts. How could you not of heard of me?"

"Wonderbolts does ring some bells, but only in passing." So this is only of those pegasus Rainbow goes on about.

"Where have you been living, under a rock or something?"

"Are you trying to insult me?"

"What? No, I'm not trying to insult you. It is just that everypony knows who we are," she states, taking a bit of pride in that last bit.

"Ok then, Spitfire, what were you doing flying in a thunderstorm," I said.

"Oh, my team, and I were training. Nothing like dodging lightning to work on agility, and reaction time," she said smiling.

"So you are a thrill junky, who risks her life, and her teammates' lives," I stated.

"What no, no one's lives were at risk from that, it was just a usual practice" She said, offended by me questioning her.

"Spitfire, if I was here, you would have fallen off the train, and most likely of either been ran over by the train, or gain some serious injuries. Either way, you wouldn't of been found till the sun came out, and by then it might have been too late," I told her, causing her to pale at my words.

"W-well then, I guess that you have my thanks," she said.

"Think nothing of it, I did what anypony would of done in my position," I said.

"Well, still thanks, there has to be a way to repay you for saving me," she offered.

"No thanks," I decline.

"No, I really must find a way to thank you," she insisted. I don't think her pride can let her back down from this.

"If you want to repay me, then just rest. You are in no shape to be flying as it is," I said, pointing at her wings.

"Bucking Tartarus," Spitfire said depressed, looking at her injured wing, "Looks like my team is just going to have to do without me for now."

"Well, think of it this way. You are now on a surprise vacation to a land known for their hospitality, and food," I said, trying to cheer her up.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," She said, a little happier, but quickly faded.

"What's wrong now?"

"Vacations are hard for me, with my fame and all. Won't be long till paparazzi swarm in, and I can't fly away now," She said. Hmm, that would be a rather annoying issue.

"I have an idea to help," I said.

"What?"

"What if you go disguised, no pony will know who you are, and you can relax till the train returns," I suggested.

"That is a good idea, but who can I go as? And the train staff will know if an extra pony appears. I would never be able to live down with the guards coming after me," she states.

"Don't worry, I have a plan. You just have to dress as me, and no one will notice."

"But they would be able to tell when I speak that it isn't you," she argued.

"I rarely speak as it is. So just relax, I got it covered," I said, placing my hoof on her shoulder.

"Ok, thanks for this, but I will still owe you for this, and I won't except the injury for the other," she stated adamantly.

"Fine, how about this. I tell you a secret for one of them, and you can repay me for the other when we meet again, deal?" I offered her my hoof. These mares over complicate things.

"Deal," She said, shaking my hoof, "So what is this secret?"

"This," I said, as I phased out of my outfit, and it to land on the floor.

"How did you do that?" She asked, looking around for me.

"Spitfire, I am a spirit, simple as that," I said.

"Oh… that is new," she said, taking my outfit.

"Meh, it can get old sometimes."

Spitfire then put on my outfit. "How do I look," She asked, striking a pose.

Spitfire and I ended up talking a bit, mostly with her doing the talking. She mostly talked about the Wonderbolts, its history, and herself. She is a surprisingly nice mare, despite her actions last night.

She did eventually fall asleep after I guided her back to my bunk, and gave me time to read my book before the sun rose.

I managed to finish the book before the next event happened: A Buffalo Stampede.

"A buffalo stampede!" I heard Twilight yell, looking out the window at them.

Her shouts ended up waking Spitfire.

"I just love their accessories!" Rarity commented.

"They're getting awfully close to the train," Twilight said, worrying

The buffalos then slammed into the train, causing the ponies to tumble.

"I want to speak to the manager!" Rarity yelled.

We continued to look outside, and saw two buffalo stacked on another one.

"Oooh, looky! Now they're doing TRICKS! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! "Pinkie shouted, as the younger buffalo jumped, "Now do a back-flip!... Or... Just jump?"

"Hmm.. Something tells me this isn't a circus act. Hey there!" Rainbow said, as she exited the train to chase the young one. That bird brain never things before doing.

I and the girls stay in the cart, when we noticed that the caboose was leaving the train.

They've got Bloomberg!" Applejack shouted.

We looked out the window, and saw Spike trapped in the caboose.

"And Spike!" Twilight yelled.

I move over to Spitfire, "Sorry, friend in danger. Be back soon," I whispered to her. I then left the cart to stay with Spike.

When I entered the cart, it was being hauled away by the buffalo.

"Heeeelp!" Spike shouted towards the girls.

"Spike, calm down, I am here," I told him.

"Chrome, is that you? Thank Celestia," He said relived, "What are we going to do?"

"Spike, right now, we are just going to have to wait," I said, and Spike was beginning to worry again, "Don't worry, a spirit can take on anything these buffalo can do."

After about an hour the buffalo finally stopped pulling the cart, and opened it up.

"Um, hi," Spike said, meekly waving at the first Buffalo

Said Buffalo paused, and turned out towards the others, "Fetch Chief Thunderhooves."

Well then, as it turns out, the buffalo have a great respect for dragons.

After the buffalo found Spike, they have been treating him quite nicely. I wonder what dragons did to cause this? Might be out of fear of dragons, would make sense in such an open area to fear flying monsters.

After a few more hours of Spike being treated with respect, Rainbow and Pinkie show up near the camp, and were quickly surrounded. Bird Brain really needs to be more quite when sneaking around.

"Run, Pinkie, I'll hold 'em off. Save yourself!" Bird Brain said, getting ready to fight the group.

"Stop! Dash, Pinkie, 'sup? Hey, no worries I know those guys. They're cool," Spike told the buffalo

"If you say so, Spike. Catch ya later, bro," One of the buffalo said, before hoofbumping Spike

The buffalo end up leading Rainbow and Pinkie back into the camp, and serve them some muck around the fire.

"Seems they took me by mistake. And they feel awful about it too, poor guys. Fortunately, they totally respect dragons, so they treat me like an honored guest," Spike explained to them.

"Ugh..." Rainbow says, smelling the muck.

"Still don't like ponies much, though... But you're with me, so it's cool."

"Huh.. Well, I still don't trust them. I say we turn tail and bail while we still–"

"Mmm!" Pinkie said, enjoying her muck, "Before we finish eating? Are you loco in the coco?! Can I please have more of that mushy stuff, whatever it was?"

"Certainly. And, Mr. Spike, you like gemstones, yes?" Said the young buffalo from before, handing Spike some blue stones

"Turquoise. Mmm! [munching] Heh hah! This here is Little Strongheart, and these are my friends Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash," Spike said, introducing the ponies.

"You!" Rainbow yelled, at Strongheart.

"You!" Strongheart said surprised.

"That's it! We are outta here!" Rainbow declared, trying to leave.

"Wait! Please accept my apologies for what happened on the train. We didn't mean for anyone to be hurt," Strongheart said, stopping Rainbow.

"Yeah, right," Bird Brain said.

"We only wanted the tree. The settler ponies have overtaken the land and have planted an orchard all over it! Because of their thoughtlessness, we can no longer run over our traditional stampeding grounds," Strongheart explained.

"Huh?" asked a confused Rainbow, and Pinkie.

"I think it's time they met Chief Thunderhooves," Spike said, leading them to the Chief.

"Hmmh. We have a long and winding stampeding trail that we have run upon for many generations. My father stampeded upon these grounds, and his father before him, and his father before him, and his father before him, and his father before him, and-" Thunderhooves started.

"I think they get the idea, Chief," Strongheart said, noticing the others were getting bored.

"Hmph. It is a sacred tradition to run the path every year. But this year, these... settler ponies, these... Appleloosans!" Thunderhooves said, snorting at the name "Appleloosans".

"They planted apple trees all over it without asking our permission." So it is a repeat of Native Americans, but just constructive instead of destructive.

"Well that's not very nice. Right, Rainbow Dash?" Pinkie asked.

"Hmph..." Bird Brain replied.

"The ponies refused to move their trees, so we are stuck here, and it is not fair!" Strongheart said.

"See, Rainbow Dash? They had a good reason to–" Spike said, before Rainbow moved.

"Huh... Ah!" Rainbow said, standing up, "I'll say they had a good reason! C'mon. We have some apple-pickin' Appleloosans to talk to!"

Oh great, Rainbow the Revolutionary.

The ponies then left, with Strongheart, to go talk the Appleloosans. After a bit of walking, we come upon the rest of the girls, and some western pony.

"Hi, guys!" Pinkie shouted to them.

"Pinkie! We're so glad you're safe," Fluttershy says, hugging Pinkie.

"How did you escape from the buffalo?" Twilight asks.

"We didn't!" Pinkie said, pointing towards Strongheart.

While the girls started talking about the Buffalo/Appleloosa deal, I moved over to Spitfire.

"So how are you holding up?" I whispered, surprising her briefly.

"Eep. Chrome, don't do that… oh wait, invisible… nevermind," Spitfire said, "It is going quite well so far, none of your friends have noticed yet. You really are a quite one. Oh, and I managed to send a letter to my team to tell them I am ok, I am going to meet them at Ponyville."

"That is great Spitfire, sorry about this whole mess that you got dragged into," I said.

"Don't worry, I have had to deal with worse. Soarin can get us into all kinds of trouble when we are on tour," Spitfire states.

"Ok, oh. I think they have done something bad again, hand in there Spitfire," I said, as I floated back to the group.

"Look! Both the settlers and the buffalo have good reasons to use this land. There must be something we can do," Twilight says.

"Hey! I've got an idea!" Pinkie shouts, jumping around.

With Pinkie, this will either work, or make everything worse.

Oh Pinkie, this is going to end so badly. It turns out that Pinkie's idea was a musical with some of the locals. Well then, let the dominoes fall.

Pinkie, "We may be divided

But of you all, I beg

To remember we're all hoofed

At the end of each leg

No matter what the issue

Come from wherever you please

All this fighting gets you nothing

But hoof and mouth disease

Arguing's not the way

Hey, come out and play!

It's a shiny, new day

So, what do you say?

You gotta share

You gotta care

It's the right thing to do

You gotta share

You gotta care

And there'll always be a way through

Both our diets, I should mention

Are completely vegetarian

We all eat hay and oats

Why be at each other's throat?

You gotta share

You gotta care

It's the right thing to do

And there'll always be a way

Throoooough!"

Oh god, that was…

"All right, Pinkie Pie! That was FANTASTIC! What a great song! Yeah, right on!" Spike shouts from his seat.

"It appears that Sheriff Silverstar and I have come to... an agreement," said Thunderhooves from the front. Wait, did that actually work?

"We have," the Sheriff agrees.

"That was the worst performance we've ever seen."

"Teh... Abso-tively!" So much for that

"The time for action... Hmh... is upon us! Our stampede will start at high noon tomorrow. And if the orchard is still there, we'll flatten IT! AND the whole town!" the Chief declared.

The ponies gasp at this declaration.

"But, Chief!" Strongheart shouts.

"An' we Appleloosans say you'd better bring yer best, 'cause we'll be ready and waitin'," states the Silverstar.

"But, Sheriff..." Braeburn tried to say, but was ignored.

"Oh... That wasn't the message of my song at all..." Pinkie said to Spike. Wow, Pinkie's music has the power to declare war.

I float over toward where Spitfire was sitting, "Bet Soarin never caused a war with his music."

"No, no he has not," Spitfire said.

Ok then… these ponies just went up a few notches on the crazy meter. I mean, I understand the barricades, and their anger, but pies? They use pies as a form of weapon, what is that going to do to a tank of fur, and muscle as it charges at you?

Fortunately, I was staying out of the conflict on the clock tower, and with me, Spitfire.

"Why can't I join this? I have had plenty of training as a Wonderbolt to take down some buffalos," She asked. Sigh, what is with these mares?

"Spitfire, you forget that you are both injured, and are pretending to be a dead pony. If you don't heal, then you won't be able to fly at you next show in time," I said, getting her to calm down, "And trust me, my friends can handles this."

The clock the struck High noon, and the buffalo didn't move.

"I don't think they are going to do it," Spitfire said.

"Wait for it," I said. Things are never this easy with the girls.

From up on the tower, we could then hear Pinkie singing again, "You got to share

You got to care

It's the right thing to do

You got to share"

"CHAAARGE!" Thunderhooves shouted, and the buffalo charged.

"You got to care

Wah-ahh! Woah-oo-oo-oo-ooah!" Pinkie said, as she was lifted up by buffalos.

"How did you know that was going to happen?" Spitfire asked me.

"Spitfire, with my friends, expect excitement, adventure, and the unexplained," I told her.

Me and Spitfire watched as the locals fought off the buffalos with their pies.

The 'battle' last only a few minutes, and ended when Thunderhooves was hit in the face with a pie, and laid on the ground. It was then that some of the ponies, and buffalos started crying. What is wrong with these ponies?

Suddenly, the Chief stood up, and licked the pie off his face.

"Yum! Hey, I've got a much better idea!" he declared, "We... will allow the apple orchard to stay in exchange for a share of its fruit, heh... Those... delicious apple pies!"

"Well then, looks like the war is over," I said to Spitfire.

"Yep," she replied

After the whole 'Pie Battle' was over, we ended up leaving Appleloosa, and headed back to Ponyville.

When we arrived at the train station, the girls finally got a little curious.

As Spitfire stepped off the train, Twilight was the first to ask.

"Chrome, why have you been so quite lately? You haven't spoken a word in almost 4 days."

Just then, two pegasus came up to Spitfire.

"Ah there you are," said the blue pegasus.

"We were worried about you," said white one.

"Oh my gosh, the Wonderbolts!" Rainbow shouted, noticing her heroes.

"Ah there you guys are," Spitfire said, catching the girls off guard.

"Huh?" the girls asked.

Spitfire removes my suit.

"Spitfire?! But-In a- How-…" Rainbow said, confused

I took this time to get back in my outfit.

"Take care Spitfire, and remember to rest you wing," I told her.

"Yeah, yeah, I know Chrome, you keep telling me that. Now come on boys, let go before we make a scene," Spitfire says, walking away with the other Wonderbolts.

"Well then, that was an interesting week. Now I wonder where Nyx is." I said, leaving behind the flabbergasted girls.