Over a Barrel

Pony's Log Number 121: It seems that land disputes are going to be an issue ponies and other creatures can NEVER learn to avoid. Also...NEVER send Pinkie Pie to settle one...

TOOT! TOOT!

As a train began to make its way across the desert plains of Equestria, and ironically being pulled by several stallion ponies, Applejack was reading a bedtime story to somepony.

"And that's when the yellow birdie thought to herself, "Hmm, my favorite little tree isn't such a little tree anymore."," Applejack read aloud, "So she sang her song, big and strong, and they all lived in that great, big tree happily ever after. The...end." Applejack then closes her book and tucks...an apple tree in for a nap?! It was then Rarity walks inside of what was actually the caboose.

"Applejack!" Rarity exclaimed, "Were you reading a bedtime story to...an apple tree?"

"Heh...uh...Well, ya know," said Applejack sheepishly as Rarity narrows her eyes at the orange pony, "bein' replanted in a whole new place is very upsettin' for a tree...and Bloomberg here is one of my favorites." As she spoke, Mario had also peeked inside as Applejack was explaining herself.

"No fair, Applejack!" Rarity whined, "You've got a luxurious, private sleeper car for a tree, while I am crowded and cramped in the same car with all the other ponies."

"You've got plenty of space back there, Rarity," said Mario indignantly, "and at least it's with your friends and not just some random ponies with no sleeping manners!"

"Well you snore!" Rarity pointed out.

"Well excuuuuuuse me, Princess!" Mario shot back as Rarity groaned.

"How am I supposed to get my beauty sleep?" Rarity asked Applejack, getting in the orange ponies face.

"Puh!" Mario retorted, "If you get any more beautiful Rarity, you're gonna make the rest of us look ugly!"

"Oh hush you!" Rarity snapped as Mario glared before walking back to the sleeper car.

"But Bloomberg's the whole reason we're making this trip," said Applejack, finally getting into the conversation, "He needs his rest so we can give him as a gift to my relatives in Appaloosa."

"Hmph!" said Rarity, "You talk about it as if it's your baby or something."

"Who you calling a baby?!" Applejack snapped, taking offense, "Bloomberg's no baby!" She then turned towards the tree and began to snuggle it.

"Don't wet whittle Rarity make you all saddy waddy," Applejack told the tree in baby talk, "Bloomberg's a big and strong apple tree. Yes, he is. A-coochie-coochie-coo-coo-coo!" One might have questioned Applejack's psyche after seeing this, but Rarity was still too upset to say anything about it.

"It's widdle Rarity who's all "saddy-waddy"! Ugh!" Rarity remarked irritably before stomping out of the caboose.

(Theme song)

As the train chugged along late into the night, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Pinkie, Twilight, and even Mario were conversing with each other.

"Oh man, we're going fast!" said Rainbow, "this is so exciting, I can't even wait!"

"You should see me when I pull a full sized train," said Mario, "We really go flying along the line."

"I've only seen you pull freight cars," said Fluttershy before adding smugly, "you're only a goods pony." Mario glared.

"I've pulled coaches too!" Mario retorted.

"Since when?" Twilight asked skeptically.

"It's been...a few years," said Mario slowly, "but I am telling the honest truth. I am still the only colt who ever pulled the Canterlot Express when he was still a young foal. And I'm still the only pony who can pull a train like this alone. When I'm not there, they need four ponies. Think of that! I may be small, but I'm very strong." Twilight and Pinkie smiled impressively. They had seen his strength firsthand when he pulled trains through Ponyville.

"Just tell us one thing Mario," said Rainbow.

"What's that?" Mario asked.

"Do you chant "I think I can. I think I can" when you pull coaches?" Fluttershy asked and Rainbow snickered.

"Very funny," said Mario as the others chuckled.

"For crying out loud in the morning!" Rarity sighed and grumbled as she turned over in her sleeping bed. They continued to converse with each other.

"I can't wait!"

"Yeah! Yeah! Oh my gosh!"

"Do you guys mind?" Spike asked with a groan, "I was up early fire-roasting those snacks you're all eating, and I'm pooped!" Some of the ponies had some boxes of popcorn next on their beds.

"Uh, speaking of," said Rainbow as she looked at her own box, "some of these popcorn kernels didn't get popped."

"Okay, fine..." said Spike with a smirk on her face before...

BURP!

"Ghk!" Rainbow yelped as Spike burned her popcorn box and one of the kernels exploded and hit the blue pony in the face.

"Good night!" said Spike irritably before burying himself inside his blanket to sleep.

"Uhh...maybe it's time we all got a little shut-eye," Twilight suggested, "We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Awww!" said Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Mario together as Twilight turned out the light. Yet it was only quiet for a few seconds as Spike began to snore.

"Psst! Pinkie Pie, you asleep yet?" Rainbow whispered, holding a candle in her fore-hoof.

"No," Pinkie whispered back, "are you asleep yet?"

"If I was sleeping, how could I have asked you if you were asleep?" Rainbow whispered annoyingly.

"Oh yeah," Pinkie whispered back with a giggle.

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

"What tree?" Pinkie whispered, "You mean Bloomberg?"

"...No, Fluttershy," Rainbow whispered back sarcastically.

"Fluttershy's not a tree, silly!" Pinkie whispered.

"What's going on?" Twilight asked in a normal, but still quiet voice tone.

"Rainbow Dash thinks Fluttershy's a tree!" Pinkie told her.

"I do not think she's a tree!" Rainbow replied, still whispering, "I was just-"

"Did you say she was a tree?" Twilight asked curiously.

"No, Well...yes," Rainbow answered, "But not exactly-"

"Ya know she's not a tree, right?" Twilight pointed out.

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

"I'd like to be a tree..." said Fluttershy, now joining the conversation.

"Especially if you were a cheery blossom tree," Mario joined in, "they turn pink during the spring time."

"I've seen those before!" said Twilight.

"They're so pretty!" Fluttershy added.

"Oh, for Pete's sake!" Spike snapped as he grabbed his blanket, hopped off his sleeper bed and left with a loud slam of the door.

"Well, that was kind of huffy," said Twilight.

"Huffy the magic dragon!" Fluttershy teased.

"And his lovely wife, Mrs. Piffles," Mario added in a British accent, holding up Spike's handmade Rarity plush toy. They all giggled and snickered to each other. Then Rarity opened her curtain.

"Would you all be quiet...now?!" she snapped angrily, her face covered in a green moisturizer and cucumber slices. Since it was so dark, the sight was...very scary.

"AAAAAAAAH!" everyone else screamed as they blew out the candle.

"The horror..." said Mario traumatically as he and the others rushed back to their sleeper beds. Meanwhile, Spike had relocated to the caboose where Bloomberg was currently...sleeping.

"Bloomberg...? Bloomberg?" said Spike to the tree softly as he climbed next to the tree and snuggled into the blanket, "Sorry, but I tend to snore a bit. Good night." With a sigh, Spike drifted off to sleep, enjoying the peace and quiet of the private sleeper car.

A few hours later, the sun began to rise into the sky as the train continued on its path to Appleloosa. Things were still quiet in the sleeper car the ponies were sleeping in since it was early morning when the train started to rumbling.

"Who gets the what now, huh?" Rainbow stuttered as she was the first to be awoken by the rumbling and knocked off her sleeper bed. The rest of the ponies were woken up as well. Twilight looked outside the train window.

"A buffalo stampede," said Twilight. The rest of the ponies awed in amazement as the buffalo continued to run alongside the train.

"I just love their accessories!" said Rarity as she noticed the feathers on their heads, but then Twilights grew worried.

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

"You don't think they..." Before Mario could finish his statement, the buffalo made their way towards the stallions who were pulling the train...and began to buck them from the side. To make matters worse, the buffalos also began to buck the side of the train cars as well. Everyone inside began to shout indistinctively as they were knocked about the sleeper car as one giant ball, except for Spike, who was sleeping heavily through all the chaos.

"I want to speak to the manager!" Rarity cried out as they bounced around.

"I'd be more worried about finding a safe place to be in case our sleeper car tips over," Mario shouted. However, the stallions pulling the train managed to fend off the buffalo and the herd moved towards the back of the train.

"Oooh, looky!" said Pinkie, "Now they're doing tricks! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Now a backflip!...Or...just jump?" Pinkie and the other watched as one buffalo stood on top of the other. Then a young calf began to hop across the back of the other buffalo, jumped off the stack of two, and did a jump and front flip that rivaled the height and agility of Mario himself.

"Whoa...and I thought I was the only one could do that," said Mario, clearly impressed, when they heard the THUMP-THUMP of the calf walking on top of the train car roof.

"Hmm...Something tells me this isn't a circus act," said Rainbow as she made her way into the top of the train. She immediately found the calf sneaking towards the caboose. The calf gasped when she saw the blue pony behind her.

"Where ya headed in such a hurry?" Rainbow asked the calf before she picked up her pace and Rainbow chased after her, "wow, you're pretty quick for someone so...bulky. No offense."

"Huh?" said the calf puzzled.

"I just wanna know-" But before Rainbow could finish, the calf took off.

"Hey! I'm talking to you-" Rainbow was then ignored once again as the calf continued her path towards the caboose. Rainbow got in front of her. The calf simply jumped high into the air, doing flips before landing on the other side.

"Whoa!" said Rainbow, "That kid could match Mario in agility and jumping!" She didn't think too much about it before giving chase once more. This time using her wings.

"Arrrggg..." Rainbow groaned as she increased her speed to catch up to the calf and was soon beside her.

"I got you now, you-"

CLANG!

Rainbow groaned as she flew head first into a railroad crossing sign. The calf had ducked between the last coach and the caboose as Rainbow tried to grab her. She smirked to herself before uncoupling the caboose from the train. She gave a loud whistle as the other buffalo surrounded the train and began to take the caboose away. The other ponies gasped in shock.

"They've got Bloomberg!" Applejack exclaimed. It was then a familiar dragon woke up and realized he was also being kidnapped.

"Heeeelp!" he cried out from the caboose door window.

"And Spike!" said Twilight.

"Not if I can help it," said Mario before spin jumping off the train and taking off for the buffalo at high speed.

"Hey, that doesn't belong you!" Mario called out as he quickly approached the buffalo. One of them saw Mario approaching and stood before him, ready to strike.

"You think you can stop me?" Mario said confidently as he spin into the air and launched himself right at the buffalo herd. Then Mario was surprised as a buffalo stood on its hind legs, allowing Mario to strike its stomach. Since the buffalo had a bouncy stomach, Mario slowed down and was immediately sent flying away.

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Mario cried out as he bounced between some cacti several times before heading directly back towards the train. The other ponies gasped as they side stepped to avoid being hit, except for Twilight, as he smashed into her.

CRASH!

"Nice move, Mario," said Twilight sarcastically once she had snapped out of her daze. Mario recovered soon after, but the others cringed as they saw his back was covered in cactus needles.

"Believe (ow) me, Twilight (ow)," said Mario as he used his magic to take out each needle from his back, "That (ow) hurt me (ow) alot (ow) more (ow) than it hurt (ow) you." Mario groaned as he continued to painfully clear the stickers as Rainbow was still recovering from ramming into the railroad sign.

"Ugggh..." Rainbow groaned as he saw the caboose being taken away.

"Heeelp!" Spike cried out in the distance.

"Dragon-napping, Spike," Rainbow grunted, "I'll show her!" It was then the pain from her head throb a bit, "Ow..."

As soon as the train made its stop, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Twilight, and Mario rushed out of the train and ran into a peachy yellow pony with a two toned orange mane and tail wearing a cowboy hat and a brown hoofmade vest. This was Applejack's cousin Braeburn.

"Hey there!" he said cheerfully, "Welcome ta A-A-ppleloosa!"

"Braeburn, listen-" said Applejack but was cut off.

"Cousin Applejack, mind yer manners," said Braeburn, "You have yet ta introduce me to your comrades! Shame on you!"

"Braeburn, listen," said Applejack firmly and not listening to him, "somethin' terrible happened-"

"Terrible is right, your train is a full seven minutes late!" Braeburn said firmly before giving them an over the top smile, "That's seven minutes less for you to delight in the pleasures and wonders of...A-A-A-ppleloosa!" The view zoomed out to show a very old western style town as several earth ponies were walking about.

"Boggles the mind," said Braeburn, "we settler ponies built all this in just the past year, don't it?! And as you can see, we have all of the finest comforts..." Braeburn then pushed the entire group of ponies towards the first point of interest. "...like horse drawn carriages." The group saw a horse pulling a carriage with another pony inside the carriage.

"Okay, you pull now," said the pony named Black Stone, who was pulling the carriage.

"Aww, we just switched," the pony named Noteworthy protested, who was sitting inside the carriage.

"And those are horse-drawn, horse drawn carriages," Braeburn pointed out. But what the group saw were a bunch of ponies just drawing pictures of carriages.

"Listen, Braeburn, I-Oof!" Applejack was cut off when Braeburn pushed them again towards another point of interest.

"Now you know how Apple Bloom feels sometimes," said Mario, only getting a brief glare from the orange pony.

"And here's our local waterin' hole," said Braeburn as he showed them all a western style saloon, "The Salt Block." Just then the owner kicked a pony out of the place.

"That's enough salt for you!" said the owner whose name was Morton Saltworthy.

"Can't I at least...get a glass of water?" said a woozy looking pony named Ol' Salt before passing out. The ponies just stared before Braeburn pushed them somewhere else.

"Over there's the office of Sheriff Silverstar," said Braeburn as the group saw a grayish-brown pony with dark brown mane and tail, with a black mustache. He was also wearing a blue denim vest, a red handkerchief around his neck, and a black cowboy hat. He was also just lounging around lazily outside his office. Braeburn then pushed them over to another area.

"And here's where we have our wild west dances," said Braeburn as some of the ponies were dancing energetically with one another, "And here's where we have our mild west dances!" The group saw some more ponies dancing, but with much less energy.

"But, Braeburn," Applejack tried to interrupt again, "we-" Applejack was cut off once more as Braeburn pushed them out of town and into the outskirts.

"And here's the most wonderful sight in all of...A-A-Appleloosa!" Braeburn announced proudly as he showed the group a large orchard from above a high ledge, "Our apple orchard." Applejack was losing her patience.

"Braeburn!" Applejack called out.

"First harvest should be any day now," Braeburn told them, still not listening to Applejack.

"Braebu-"

"Good thing too!"

"Brae-"

"'Cause we need that grub to live on."

"BRAEBURN!" Applejack shouted loudly.

"Uh, yes, cuz?" Braeburn asked, finally listening.

"You have a very nice town an' all," said Applejack firmly, "but we have a hu-uge problem! Some of our friends are missin'."

"A stampede of buffalo," said Fluttershy flew next to him.

"They took Spike!" Rarity added behind him.

"Rainbow Dash went after them!" said Twilight quickly.

"And we can't find Pinkie Pie," said Fluttershy.

"And we had an apple tree with us for your orchard," said Applejack, "but they took that too!"

"I tried to stop them from taking the tree," Mario added, "but all that did was earn me some cacti needles on my flank (OW!)." Mario found that he had missed a needles and painfully pulled it out.

"Did you say...buffalo?" said Braeburn as he was overlooking the orchard as they all spoke, "Them buffalo, they want us settler ponies to take every single tree you see here off this land. They sure as hay don't want any new ones added in."

"But why?" Fluttershy asked.

"Beats me," Braeburn answered, "We put a lot of hard work into this land, so we can feed our town, our families, and our foals. And now they're sayin' all these trees have to go? T'ain't fair..." Mario looked a little concerned.

"I think we better speak to the sheriff about all of this," said Mario, "I mean, he might know why the buffalo are so adamant about these here trees."

"Actually, he's just as clueless as I am," said Braeburn.

"Well, has anyone ever thought to ask the buffaloes why they want to trees removed?" Mario asked, "They might even have a good reason."

"Now just one apple pickin' minute there, Mario!" said Applejack sternly as she got into his face, "Are you saying we should consider moving the apple trees off our land?!"

"Quit being so defensive," said Mario as he lightly pushed her out of his face, "I'm saying that there might be a diplomatic solution to all of this. Try using your brain for once instead of just following your protective instincts all the time!"

"You callin' me dumb?" Applejack snapped as they glared eye to eye.

"If the horseshoe fits..." Mario retorted angrily. Applejack blinked as a smile appeared on her face, but it wasn't a happy one.

"Say that again..." Applejack warned with a low tone.

"If...the...horse-shoe...fits..." Mario repeated slowly, giving a stern glare.

"Okay...pony-boy..." Applejack remarked as they growled loudly, grinding their foreheads together.

"Enough you two," said Twilight, pushing them both apart, "Let's just focus on finding our friends and then we can decide together how to deal with the buffalos. There was still some tension in the air before both ponies agreed. Of course Applejack couldn't resist bucking Mario in his flank using one hind leg before they went to get ready for their journey.

"Cheap shot," Mario groaned.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was already deep into buffalo territory and was slowly making her way towards the buffalo camp grounds. She was quietly trying to tip-hoof from one large rock to another so she wouldn't be seen.

"Ooh, I can't wait to get on my hooves on that little buffalo...hnnh...ow," Rainbow grunted but then recoiled since her head was still hurting from crashing into that railroad sign, "Nopony tricks Rainbow Dash and gets away with it."

"Boo!" said a familiar pink pony.

"Yah!" Rainbow jumped and tumbled into her back before she saw who startled her, "...Pinkie Pie!"

"Aww, ya caught me!" said Pinkie, "Looks like I tricked you and didn't get away with it either. You're good!"

"Shhshh!" said Rainbow, covering her mouth, "What do you think you're doing? You gotta get out of here!"

"I do?" Pinkie asked in a clueless tone.

"You're gonna blow my cover," said Rainbow, trying to keep her voice down.

"I am?" Pinkie asked in her normal voice tone.

"I'm trying to save Spike!" Rainbow snapped, raising her voice.

"Oh my gosh! So am I!" said Pinkie.

"And the more of us there are out here," said Rainbow, now yelling, "the more chances of us getting...caught."

Don't you hate it when you try to warn the one pony with the loudest voice, only for it to be your own yelling that blows your cover?

Rainbow certainly felt that way as the two ponies were now surrounded by a group of large buffaloes.

"Run, Pinkie, I'll hold 'em off," said Rainbow to the pink pony, "Save yourself!" The buffalo look ready to charge when...

"Stop!" said Spike as he rushed up to the group and stood in front of the buffalo, "Dash, Pinkie, 'sup?" He then turned towards a buffalo, "Hey, no worries, I know those guys. They're cool."

"If you say so, Spike," said the buffalo, "Catch ya later, bro." The two shared a friendly hoof bump before the rest of the buffalo headed back to their camp. Spike then leads Rainbow and Pinkie towards the campsite, which is a collection of teepee tents surrounded by a collection of wood for a modest fire.

"Seems they took me by mistake," Spike explained, "And they feel awful about it too, poor guys. Fortunately, they totally respect dragons, so they treat me like an honored guest." A buffalo came by and dropped what appeared to be some sort of gruel for the two ponies to eat. Rainbow took a sniff.

"Ugh..." she groaned, not wanting to eat it.

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

"Huh. Well, I still don't trust them," said Rainbow bitterly, "I say we tail and bail while we still-" Rainbow was then cut off as some gruel splashed near her. Pinkie had plunged herself headfirst into the gruel and was enjoying it.

"Mmm!" Pinkie hummed as she continued to munch away, "Before we finish eating? Are you loco in the coco?! Can I please have more of that mushy stuff, whatever it was?" Rainbow began to look about the camp.

"Certainly," said a familiar young calf as she dropped off a bowl of gems for Spike, "And, Mr. Spike, you like gemstones, yes?"

"Turquoise," said Spike as he dumped the entire contents of the bowl into his mouth and munched away before continuing to speak, "Mmm! Heh hah! This here is Little Strongheart, and these are my friends Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash." Thing got very tense when the calf and the blue pony recognized each other.

"You!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

"You!" Little Strongheart exclaimed in return.

"That's it!" Rainbow snapped, "We are outta here!" Rainbow rose to her feet and was about to leave by pulling Pinkie away by the tail.

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

"Yeah, right," Rainbow replied, not believing a word she was saying.

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

"Huh?" they both asked in confusion.

"I think it's time they met Chief Thunderhooves," said Spike to the young calf. Rainbow just narrowed her eyes at the young calf. Soon they were surrounded around a large group of buffalo and Chief Thunderhooves stood in the middle with Little Strongheart beside him. Pinkie looked about with worried expression on her face while Rainbow just had her eyes narrowed and stood on guard.

"Hmmh," Chief Thunderhooves mumbled, "We have a long and winding stampeding trail that we have run upon for many generations..." He took a breath before continuing, "...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-" As the statement was repeated many of the buffalo grew bored, some were even drooling as the repetitive statement made them sleepy.

"I think they get the idea, Chief," Little Strongheart interrupted.

"Hmph," said Chief Thunderhooves, "It is a sacred tradition to run the path every year. But this year these...settler ponies...these...(snort) Appleloosans!" Chief Thunderhooves began to snort angrily until Little Strongheart poked a fore-hoof in front of one of the Chief's nostrils to calm him down.

"They planted apple trees all over it without asking our permission," Little Strongheart continued.

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

"Hmph..." Rainbow pouted as she sat on the ground, looking away with her fore-hooves crossed.

"The ponies refused to move their trees," Little Strongheart added, "so we're stuck here, and it is not fair!" Little Strongheart began to pout as Rainbow glanced her way. Despite her own pouting, she had been listening the entire time.

"See, Rainbow Dash?" said Spike, "They had a good reason to-" Spike was interrupted when Rainbow took to the skies.

"Huh...Ah!" she mumbled before as she flew upward, turned around, and landed facing Chief Thunderhooves gritting her teeth, making the buffalo gasp.

"I'll say they had a good reason!" said Rainbow as she flew over to the Chief, "C'mon, we have some Apple pickin' Appleloosans to talk to." The rest of the buffalo smile.

It was early the next morning as the rest of the ponies were outside Appleloosa to began the search for their missing friends. Applejack was currently tying Rarity's saddled bag on, though it could be debated that it was against the marshmallow will to tag along.

"Ow! Gently, please!" Rarity groaned as Applejack pulled harder on the strap to her saddle bags.

"Sorry, Rarity," said Applejack, "but our friends are out there and we have ta' be ready for a long hike into buffalo territory if we're gonna save 'em! Let's go!" Everyone else began to make their way down the hill they were on. Of course Mario lead the charge being faster.

"Later you...guys?!" said Mario, who had barely started to pick up some speed when there before them all were Rainbow and Pinkie. They were just giving them blank stares.

"Hi, guys!" said Pinkie cheerfully.

"Pinkie!" said Fluttershy, tackling the pink pony to the ground, "We're so glad you're safe."

"Oh, there you are!"

"Thank goodness!" said the others as Little Strongheart shyly hid herself behind a rock.

"How did you escape from the buffalo?" Twilight asked curiously.

"We didn't!" Pinkie answered as Little Strongheart jumped out of her hiding place and stood before them. The ponies gasped when they saw her.

"We promised the buffalo a chance to talk," said Rainbow.

"Ah! I see you and I were thinking alike," said Mario impressed.

"Oh yeah?" Applejack asked rather defensively, "'bout what?"

"We brought our new pal Little Strongheart here to explain to the Appleloosans why they should move their apple trees from buffalo land."

"That information would be quite help-" But Braeburn was cut off when Applejack got in front of him.

"That's weird," said Applejack sternly pushing Braeburn into Little Strongheart, "'Cause my cousin Braeburn here want to explain to the buffalo why they should let the apple trees stay."

"Wow, first he spoke over her and now vice versa," Mario muttered to Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy, "must be a trait that runs in the...OH-Hmm-hmm, ummmmmmm..." Mario was cut off as Applejack bucked a large apple straight into the pony's mouth.

"That would be a useful thing to-" But Little Strongheart was cut off by Rainbow Dash.

"The land is theirs!" said Rainbow, "You planted the trees not knowing that. Honest mistake. Now you just gotta move 'em, that's all."

"Well...heh..." Braeburn stuttered sheepishly.

"They busted their rumps here!" Applejack retorted, "An' now they're supposed ta bust their rumps again, just cause some buffalo won't stampede someplace else?"

"Plant the trees somewhere else!" Rainbow said straight to the point.

"Where?! It's the only flatland around these parts!" Applejack shot back.

"The buffalo had it first!" Rainbow yelled in Applejack's face.

"The settler ponies need it to live!" Applejack yelled back into Rainbow's face.

"Come on, Applejack!"

"You're bein' unreasonable!"

"I put my hoof down!"

"Look!" said Twilight to make both ponies stop and Mario finally was able to get the jammed apple out of his mouth, "Both the settlers and the buffalo have good reasons to use this land. There must be something we can do." Pinkie just watched quietly until she smiled.

"Hey! I've got an idea!" Pinkie said excitedly. Mario groaned.

"She's gonna do what I think she's gonna do isn't she?" Mario said wearily.

It wasn't much longer before many of the ponies of Appleloosa, several buffalos, and six pony friends had gathered around a stage that Pinkie had put together within a few seconds. Sheriff Silverstar and Chief Thunderhooves were side by side as they awaited what was going to happen. Mario then saw Pinkie poke her head out from the curtain as Spike was sitting by the piano, ready to began the music.

"Awww, man..." Mario groaned before he dug a hole into the ground, squatted and stuck his head in it. Fluttershy looked annoyed until she smirked and gave a hard stomp on the tail.

"EYOW!" Mario yelped as he lifted his head out, saw his friends glaring at him, before he smiled as he looked away embarassed.

Spike began to play the piano as a giant white clamshell appeared on stage. It open to reveal Pinkie, now wearing 19th century showpony outfit.

And now it's time for another episode of Silly Songs with Pinkie Pie, where Pinkie gets the delusion notion to sing...a silly song. Everyone give her a funny look as the begins.

[Pinkie Pie]

We may be divided
But of you all, I beg
To remember we're all hoofed
At the end of each leg

Pinkie is help out of the shell by two background ponies. She then bounces twice on her hooves and pulls the lips of a random buffalo as she sings the next part. She even pops out of the piano top. The others just looked at each other and Mario was trying not to cry.

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?

She then began to do the can-can on her hind legs

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

She then appeared between Sheriff Silverstar and Little Strongheart and hugs them, and shoves apples into their mouths. She then re-sang the chorus and was doing the can-can with several ponies.

But our diet, 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
Throoooooooooooooough!

The song was completed with a cheerleader style pyramid with Pinkie standing on her hind legs at the very top. All the ponies were silent, except for Spike, who was the only one applauding the performance. Twilight slapped a fore-hoof on her face.

"All right, Pinkie Pie!" said Spike, "That was fantastic! What a great song! Yeah, right on!" Sheriff Silverstar and Chief Thunderhooves just looked at each other.

"It appears that Sheriff Silverstar and I have come to...an agreement," said Chief Thunderhooves.

"We have," Sheriff Silverstar said as well. The other ponies all looked at them hopefully.

"That was the worst performance we've ever seen," said Chief Thunderhooves.

"Teh...Abso-tively," Sheriff Silverstar agreed as Pinkie just frowned.

"HERE-HERE!" Mario shouted in agreement with a smile, earning himself dirty looks from Pinkie, Spike, and the other five ponies.

"The time for action...hmh...is upon us," said Chief Thunderhooves as he got into the sheriff's face, "Our stampede will start at high noon tomorrow. And if the orchard is still there, we'll flatten it...and the whole town!" The ponies all gasp in shock.

"But, Chief!" Little Strongheart protested.

"An' we Appleloosans say you'd better bring yer best," Sheriff Silverstar replied, getting into the chief's face, and pushed Chief Thunderhooves away, "'cause we'll be ready and waitin'."

"But, Sheriff..." Braeburn protested. But soon everyone minus the seven pony friends and Spike had dispersed to prepare for war. Pinkie looked worried.

"Oh...That wasn't the message of my song at all..." said Pinkie to Spike.

It wasn't long before the citizens of Appleloosa were getting ready for the stampede. Several ponies were rushing across town, boarding up and shutting their windows and gathering materials, even knocking around a few barrels. The mane seven and Spike were just watching the action around them with worry.

"I want my kin ta' have what they need to live..." said Applejack, "but a storm's a brewin' here. And I don't like the look of it."

"Me neither," said Mario, "This is a battle that is not going to end well for either side. This battle will do more than just destroying trees. It will destroy the land as well so...nobody will win."

"We've just got to talk some sense into them before somepony gets hurt," said Twilight.

"Including us," said Mario as Twilight approached a nearby pony.

"Listen, maybe if you would just reconsider, we-" Twilight was then cut off as the pony jumped inside and the others nearby slammed the windows closed.

"About the tree," said Rarity to some other ponies, "Now if you could-" But Rarity was tuned out as well as the other ponies continued to safe guard their homes. They then headed towards the orchard where several ponies were bucking trees and aggressively collecting apples. Twilight then tried to speak to a colt gathering some apples.

"If we could just sit down and talk we could-"

"Grrrrr!" a pony named Goldengrape snarled, making Twilight gasp and glare. Mario gritted his teeth.

"Don't you ever growl at my best friend!" Mario shouted angrily only to get an apple splattered onto his face. He used a spare cloth he kept in his saddle bag to wipe it off as Twilight groaned.

"Why won't anybody be rational and reasonable?!" Twilight shouted.

"Call it stubborn pride and the obligation to defend their home," said Mario, "remember how Applejack was when we tried to help with her apple harvest?"

"Oh please don't bring that up," Twilight remarked with a groan. The rest of the ponies and Spike weren't having any better luck getting the other's to listen and soon they heard some hammering, sawing, and nailing as a roadblock was created just outside the town.

"Sheriff," said Applejack as the grayish-brown pony was supervising the work, "If we could only-" But the sheriff refused to listen as well and soon a large crate of apples were being carted to a large building. Indoors, they saw some more ponies were hard at work creating apple pies by the hundreds. Soon, a war flag was raised and ponies cheered. All except for the mane seven and Spike. They all could see that a war between the Appleloosans and the Buffalos had been declared and there was no turning back.

Back in buffalo territory, the buffalos were busy training late into the night for the stampede. Some were even head butting each other for practice and others were putting on war paint. Spike was with Little Strongheart. They were watching the training from a safe distance.

"Isn't there some way to stop this?" Spike asked worried.

"Unless the settlers remove those trees," said Little Strongheart as she handed Spike another bowl of gemstones, "I do not think so." Spike sighed as he grabbed a gemstone and started munching it.

Back at the main camping site, Rainbow was sitting next to Chief Thunderhooves. She could tell that the head buffalo wasn't exactly trilled about stampeding tomorrow.

"I know you don't want to do this," said Rainbow.

"But they have taken our land," said Chief Thunderhooves sadly, "What would you have me do, Rainbow Dash?"

"I don't know," said Rainbow hesitantly, "but it's never too late to think of something."

"At noon," said Chief Thunderhooves as he applied war paint to his face, "it will be too late."

Time seemed to move far too fast for the main seven and Spike as a good number of ponies in Appleloosa were standing at the roadblock, ready to stand and fight. The remaining Appleloosans were taking shelter inside the buildings. The tension could be felt in the air.

"Come on, think! Think, think, think, think, think, think, think," said Rainbow, as she tapped her head for an idea. It was just then the town clock chimed twelve times. Everyone was holding their breath. The chief, with Little Strongheart, were standing just outside of the town. Little Strongheart placed a hoof on the chief sadly, even the chief looked a little uneasy and sighed. Rainbow saw this and gasped.

"He's not gonna do it!" said Rainbow with a smile. But then...

[Pinkie]

-what do you say?
You gotta share
You gotta care
It's the right thing to do

Rainbow's smile dropped to a frown, as well as her heart being sent into her stomach. Mario just looked bored as Pinkie sang her song and did the can-can alone.

"I always knew that pink pony would doom us all," said Mario aloud. The others just looked at him.

"Hope you're not expecting us to admit you were right," said Rarity indignantly. Mario grumbled loudly to himself as Chief Thunderhooves growled angrily.

[Pinkie Pie]

You gotta share

"Chaarge!" Chief Thunderhooves shouted and the buffalo charged, heading right at Pinkie Pie.

[Pinkie Pie]

You gotta care

Pinkie didn't need long to realize her mistake.

"Wah-ahh! Whoa-oo-oo-oo-ooa!" Pinkie yelped as she was knocked upward and above the buffalo and out of the way. Though Mario was hoping they would run over her.

"I heard that!" Pinkie shouted angrily.

Uhh...anyway, the buffalo charged full force, smashing the road block and heading into town. However, the Appleloosans were ready for action.

"Ready...aim...fire!" Sheriff Silverstar shouted as a large barrage of apple pies were sent flying into the air. They began to rain down onto the buffalo, disorienting them and causing them to separate and charged out of formation. The rain of apple pies continued while some ponies were tossing pie directly at the buffalos to stun them. One pony began to ride the buffalo like a bucking bronco. Another pony was actually trying to wrestle with a buffalo. A pony named Cherry Berry gasped as a buffalo charged into her tall haystack, knocking her and the stack over. One buffalo charged right into an anvil hidden inside the hay stack (ouch!). Another, with his face covered in pie, crashed into the clock tower, knocking it down as several ponies rushed to avoid the damage. The battle continued with Sheriff Silverstar continuing to fire pie after pie.

"Ah! Aah!" he grunted as he tossed a pie, but when he went to pick up another. He found that he was out of ammunition. That was when Chief Thunderhooves saw and charged for him. Sheriff Silverstar saw the buffalo coming at him. He lowered his hat and shut his eyes, ready to meet his fate as Chief Thunderhooves came at him. Mario gasped and grabbed a nearby pie.

"Mario no!" Twilight called out as Mario spin dashed in place and threw a pie hard between the Chief and Sheriff. Just at the Chief launched into the air to strike, the pie nailed him right in the face.

"Nooo!" said the chief in a distorted tone as the pie, sent him away from the Sheriff before he collapsed to the ground, knocked out and his face covered in apple pie. Everyone gasped and stopped fighting as they saw the knocked out Chief laying on the ground in defeat. Mario's eyes nearly popped out as his eyes watered.

"I...I...I was only trying to...send him off target...I didn't...I didn't..." Mario covered his face with his hooves as he began cry as Rarity held him for comfort. Some of the other buffaloes were shedding tears as well as a few of the ponies were lowering their hats in respect. Even Spike began to cry as he hugged Twilight for comfort. An important note of interest was that the Chief's tongue was sticking out. Then some of the juicy apple dripped off his face and landed on his tongue. The taste immediately revived the fallen buffalo Chief as he rose to his feet and licked his face clean with his tongue.

"Yum!" Chief Thunderhooves exclaimed excitedly, "Hey, I've got a much better idea!"

Within no time at all, a special compromise was made. The ponies began to chop down some of the apple trees, but not all of them. They were actually clearing a nice path so the buffalos could stampede through the orchard without any risk of damage.

"We...will allow the apple orchard to stay in exchange for a share of its fruit," said Chief Thunderhooves, "Heh...Those delicious apple pies!" Some other ponies had prepared some pie and gave them to the buffalos as they stampeded by. Spike just watched them stampede with a bowl of gemstones at hand.

"I'd rather eat turquoise any day of the week," said Spike as he chomped one down, "Auhh..." Meanwhile, Applejack and Mario were getting Bloomberg all nice and settled as Rainbow just watched nearby.

"Bloomberg, this is yer special day," said Applejack, "Mama's so proud of you!"

"They grew up so fast," Mario added, touched by the moment.

"Aww, give me a hug ya big lug," Applejack replied as she hugged Mario rather tightly. While Mario felt like couldn't breathe, he still smiled nevertheless as Rainbow chuckled to herself. Twilight just smiled as she watched the buffalo stampede away.

"Dear Princess Celestia," Twilight later put in a letter,

"Friendship is wondrous and powerful thing. Even the worst of enemies can become friends. You need understanding and compromise. You've got to share. You've got to care."

It was then Little Strongheart headed back towards Rainbow, Applejack, and Mario, asking them to join her on the stampede. The three ponies smiled as Rainbow flew alongside Little Strongheart as Mario and Applejack followed close behind into the sunset.

Twilight was right. Compromise involves both sharing and caring.

"Hey! That's what I said!" Pinkie yelled.

Pinkie go stick a fork in that apple pie. Just like that pie, this story is done.

That comment involving Mario pulling full size trains might seem far-fetched but down the line I will do an in-between season chapter featuring more background about that famous Canterlot Express event.

And I never believe that the pie that hit the Buffalo chief was just a wrong place at the wrong time. Somepony threw that pie so...let Mario be the one who did it.

Peace Pony Fans!