Chapter 4: Lets Get... Political!

According to Zecora, if she had not treated Gearhead’s wound, the Timberwolf scratches would have been infected, and within a matter of hours more, he would have been very, very sick. Gearhead preferred to be very, very grateful instead. He was free of infection and illness, completely healed, and ready for the next adventure – but also with a vow to do his utmost to avoid putting so much as a worried expression on Fluttershy’s face.

Zecora was not the only one to bring gemstones with which to supplement Gearhead’s efforts: Rarity and Twilight also had contributions of their own, the latter staying to conduct her own research on the daggers, and then on the ironwood and adamantine. Gearhead hesitated to show even Twilight the Fireheart Gemstone despite their common interest, and Zecora did not counter him on his decision.

Gearhead had the rest of the gemstone daggers prepared before the friends’ train ride to Appleoosa, where Applejack’s cousins had an apple orchard and a small town.

Fluttershy’s personality made her ill-suited to the use of a bladed weapon, so her gemstone dagger was a rose sapphire wand that thickened and extended into a tonfa that extended and straightened into a staff.

Rarity’s gemstone dagger was amethyst chasing sapphire with a diamond core, but because it was also a wand it lacked an edge. It extended once into a sceptre, and again into a staff topped in a diamond, just like Rarity’s cutie mark.

Of the staffs, though, Twilight Sparkle’s was certainly the most impressive: Done in pink sapphire chasing amethyst, with a diamond core, this diamond dagger featured Twilight’s magic cutie mark quite prominently, and thus it was edged as well. It started off as a wand just like Fluttershy’s and Rarity’s, but its first extension was that of a sword, where the star was the crosspiece and also part of the hilt and much of the blade. Extended again, it became a staff, with the star moved up to the top, at a proportion where it would not get in the way.

While nopony in Ponyville had formal weapons training, Gearhead practiced whatever came to mind as a way to become increasingly skilled with his own new weapon, so he could fend off more enemies if and when he needed to do so. He knew that Fluttershy would not approve of the use of weapons, even if she recognized them as necessary. The Pegasus was simply compassionate, and the others could deal with that.

When the eight friends, including Spike, boarded the train to Appleoosa, Gearhead, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight were the only ones carrying their gemstone daggers. The others felt the weapons would be unnecessary, since they would be visiting to plant one of Applejack’s apple trees in the orchard at the other end of the tracks. Applejack fully expected the trip to be uneventful, and Gearhead certainly hoped that it would be so: his encounter with the beasts of the Everfree Forest was sufficient for the next few months, in his opinion. Still, one could never be too prepared.

Where the others had only packed minimally, except for Rarity who never did ‘minimally,’ and Applejack, who had planting to do, Gearhead was bringing everything he could carry. As usual his vest was packed with tools and samples, should the opportunity arise to show them off. He had his bowler hat with the adjustable rim, which also featured his goggles at the moment. All four of his shoes were zipped down and tightly secured so he could not touch off any geomancy near the orchard. Gearhead had designed a new scabbard for his geargem dagger, strapping it to his left foreleg to see if that was easier for him to grab and draw. The angle prevented it from popping out unexpectedly, even at a full gallop, but just in case he also had a strap buttoned around the pommel to keep the weapon securely sheathed. Gearhead did not leave anything to chance, if he could help it.

Gearhead could think of many different ways with which to improve the train. This started with replacing the four-horse team of stallions pulling the thing, and instead using a steam power system. The added power would allow the engine to pull more cars, although the cars’ frames would have to be reinforced in case of collision at top speed: a pony with a splinter would be sure to complain.

Applejack had reserved one car for the group to share, and a sleeper cabin for the tree she was hoping to give to the Appleoosians. Gearhead was incredulous that Applejack could treat the tree as a child, going so far as to cover ‘Bloomberg’ with a blanket in a bed, and even reading it a bedtime story. But, even one Earth Pony to another, Gearhead was not about to tell the farmpony how to do her job. It was just startling to see the usually down-to-earth pony act this way.

Gearhead left it to drama queen Rarity to complain. Soon it was nightfall, and each pony tried to find a comfortable position in which to sleep. Gearhead unstrapped everything that needed to be, and put his vest and saddlbags against the window to be used as pillows. Lying back, he tipped his hat forward, cowboy-style, and even wiggled his ears to extend the brim a bit.

If Gearhead expected everypony to just go to sleep quietly, he was soon as disappointed as Spike was, with the others chatting inanely. He did, however, chuckle when Fluttershy said she would “like to be a tree.” Spike ‘huffed’ off to sleep with Bloomberg in the caboose. Gearhead sighed and tried to tune out the rest of the chatter, until Rarity expressed her displeasure (to put it mildly) and finally convinced the other mares to go to sleep.

The next morning proved bumpier than expected – so much so that Rainbow Dash got thrown from her bunk. Confused, the ponies looked out their windows. “Wow! It’s a buffalo stampede!” Pinkie Pie said.

“I just love their accessories,” Rarity said, for each buffalo sported a feather headdress.

“They must be natives of the area,” Gearhead said, donning all his usual gear and belting on his dagger.

“They’re getting awfully close to the train,” Twilight noted. Her concern bore out, as the Buffalos in the lead started to slam against the stallion team and the train, causing both to jump in their tracks. The collisions made the ponies watching from their windows lose all traction, throwing them all about the train in a confused ball of horse-hair.

“Hey look! Now they’re doing tricks,” Pinkie Pie said, again at the window.

“I do not think that is usual Buffalo behaviour,” Gearhead said, as some of the Buffalo had jumped on top of their running companions. A younger Buffalo in lighter fur jumped on top of that pile, taking her level with the train’s roof. “Now do a flip!” Pinkie suggested, but the young Buffalo jumped directly onto the train instead. “Or just jump,” Pinkie said, clearly disappointed.

The smaller Buffalo started heading for the caboose, as the ponies could track from the thumps of her hooves. Gearhead immediately started back, undoing the pommel strap on his scabbard as he went, just in case. Rainbow Dash headed out a window to intercept the Buffalo on the roof directly.

All the way back toward the caboose, Gearhead could only see the stampeding adult Buffalo outside any window or gap when he looked. They were holding fairly steady, even as the lead ones traded blows with the train’s driving team. The fact that they had not tried to disconnect the engine from the other cars indicated to Gearhead that the Buffalo were not after the passengers or cargo, and yet they had dispatched a youngling alone. And that Buffalo was headed toward the caboose without stopping for any reason!

Gearhead got to the partition with the caboose and threw open the door. There was the little Buffalo, standing on the other side, the caboose already disconnected and beginning to slow down. The Buffalo stood her ground, and Gearhead doubted he could make the jump and not get thrown, given that despite being young, the Buffalo was about the same size as he was. Even his dagger would not be any help here, since it was unknown how the Buffalo would react. She might even throw him from the train more violently, and then Gearhead would not be any use at all. The Buffalo whistled, and the others began to peel back. They reformed around the caboose and started to push it away.

Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Twilight joined Gearhead at the open doorway. There was already too big a gap between the caboose, going back the way they had come, and the train, continuing on to Appleoosa. Even Applejack had to give up on the idea of roping her way across, and Dash was their fastest pony – Gearhead had seen her on the ground beside the tracks. And the whole group saw Spike through the caboose’s window, calling for help: he had spent the night there rather than continue to deal with the ponies.

“Oh, horse apples!” Applejack and Gearhead said, both arriving at the same conclusion: they would be better off launching a search party from Appleoosa.

The train’s arrival came with an overenthusiastic welcome from Applejack’s cousin, Braeburn: every time he said ‘Appleoosa,’ he reared and extended the first 'A' into its own syllable. If not for the train robbery from earlier, Gearhead might have chuckled. Still, it was impressive that a group of normal Earth Ponies could put up a town in just a year. Until Braeburn finished showing them the local amenities, all the ponies could do was wait and absorb it all. Even Applejack could not get past the first syllable in her cousin’s name until he was done!

After that, it took mere moments to get Braeburn caught up on the train robbery by the Buffaloes, who had taken Spike and the tree meant for Appleoosa’s orchard. But until Fluttershy mentioned it, Gearhead had not noticed that Pinkie Pie was missing. He would not and could not worry about that one, given her proclivity toward making friends, and he said as much to the others. ”Of our group, Miss Dash is our fastest member and best flyer, though. If anypony made the Buffalo camp safely, it would be her. And, odds are, Miss Pinkie as well.”

“Well, them Buffalo keep insistin’ we move our orchard even though we worked our hooves off to grow it. We need those trees for our livelihood and to feed our families and foals!”

“Well then, we’ll just have to convince them Buffalo to let the trees stay,” Applejack said.

“That may not be possible, Applejack, depending on the reason for the Buffalos’ demands to move the orchard. I suggest we find the others and try to open up a dialogue between the Appleoosians and the Buffalo.”

“In that case, you’d be needin’ to travel deep into Buffalo Territory, which is bound to be very dangerous,” Braeburn said. “I’ll come along, at least as a guide.”

“That’d be appreciated, Cousin.”

“In that case, we’d best prepare to move out as soon as possible.”

“I would like to speak with Sheriff Silverstar before we leave,” Gearhead said. “I need to know if he would even be willing to sit with the Buffalo Chief.”

“That should be possible,” Braeburn said.

“You want to what?”

“One: Travel deep into Buffalo Territory to recover our friends. Two: Sponsor a discussion of the orchard land between the Appleoosians and the Buffalo.”

Sheriff Silverstar blinked. “That’s what I thought I heard you say. You must be daft to think Chief Thunderhooves would sit down to have a pow-wow with the likes of us!”

“From what I gather, their latest action is more intensive than what they have done before. If that is the case, it is likely conditions could deteriorate into full-out war between the tribe and the settlers within a couple months. Any battle could have serious repercussions on the land, and severely damage any trust between the two sides to talk peace thereafter. Now is the last chance to talk peace. Surely you can see that, and want what is best for all of Appleoosa.” You are responsible for these ponies, Gearhead did not add, so as not to belabour the point further.

“You may be right about this likely bein’ the last chance to talk, but I want to see their Chief willing to talk before I agree to sit down with him.”

“As long as you are willing to give my friends and me the chance to bring the Buffalo delegation to neutral ground to open a dialogue, that is all I can ask.”

“Then you’d best not be wastin’ my time, young’un!”

“You shall not regret it,” Gearhead said.

“Gently, please!” Rarity gasped as Applejack tightened the strap on her saddlebags.

“Sorry, Rarity, but we need to be prepared for a long trek into Buffalo Territory to rescue our friends,” Applejack said. Fluttershy, Twilight, and Braeburn were also standing by, about ready to leave Appleoosa. Gearhead strode up and adjusted his hat so it sat on his head more properly.

“We have limited time. Sheriff Silverstar will not talk unless the Chief is willing to do so first.”

“Then we’d best get goin,’ it bein’ a long way ahead,” Braeburn said.

But they only moved three steps before they encountered Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Spike all standing in a line in front of them. “Hi!”

“Oh, Pinkie Pie, we’re so glad you’re safe!” Fluttershy tackled her similarly-coloured friend and nuzzled next to her.

“But how did you escape the Buffalo so fast?” Twilight asked.

“We didn’t,” Pinkie said, and the little Buffalo stepped out from being a pony-sized rock.

“We promised our new friend, Little Strongheart, the chance to talk,” Rainbow Dash said. Considering she was usually all about action, Gearhead thought she was being very mature.

“About what?” Applejack asked archly.

“About the need to move the orchard. The settler ponies built it on Buffalo lands without knowing it – honest mistake.”

“The settlers need that fruit to live!”

“That would be useful information—“ Little Strongheart started.

“The Buffalo have been stampeding through that ground for generations!”

“That information could be—“

Gearhead watched in amazement as this time Applejack interrupted Braeburn. It seemed those directly involved were willing to compromise, however the ponies acting as proxies had actually actively chosen sides. While Applejack was correct in that little other land was useable as an orchard, there had to be a compromise. But the argument itself was heading for war, which Gearhead had promised Sheriff Silverstar he would help them try to avoid.

Gearhead drew the geargem dagger and pointed it across his chest toward the ground, and willed it to extend to sword length. The tip buried itself into the ground with a loud “shunk!” and the other ponies immediately turned to stare at him. “Now that I have your attention, I hope you will both calm down. We are here as intermediaries to set up a talk. Little Strongheart, would your Chief be willing to come out to speak to Sheriff Silverstar on how to create a lasting peace between your peoples?”

“I believe so,”

“Then I will guarantee him and your people a safe meeting with the Sheriff, should the Chief also agree on a time.”

“That would be very useful.”

“My friends and I will act as mediators as necessary only,” Gearhead said pointedly to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “This is between Appleoosa and the Buffalo, and those of us from Ponyville cannot speak for either.”

“I will go back and talk to Chief Thunderhooves,” Little Strongheart said.

“Wait up,” Spike said.

“As a dragon, Spike has a ‘place of honour,” Rainbow Dash said in answer to the others’ obvious confusion..

“More importantly, they feed him topaz,” Pinkie said.

“Ah, of course,” Twilight said. She knew how Spike’s mind worked very well.

The whole lot of them reconvened underneath a plain white tent outside of Appleoosa, out of Buffalo Territory. Chief Thunderhooves sat at one side of a round table, facing Buffalo Territory. Little Strongheart sat on his right. Sheriff Silverstar faced Appleoosa. Braeburn sat on his right. There were mugs and pitchers of water on the table, as this promised to be thirsty work.

Spike and Twilight sat at a smaller table against the west tent wall, facing east. Both had paper and pens, as they were to act as Secretaries. Applejack and Rainbow Dash sat opposite them, while Pinkie Pie and Rarity stood on the west end of the table. Fluttershy and Gearhead held the east side.

“Now that we have all gathered, I will set up the ground rules, which will be in place only to facilitate meaningful discussion and a swift resolution.

“First, our location will be considered neutral territory, neither held by Appleoosa or the Buffalo Tribe. As Facilitator of these proceedings, and as a pony whose town of origin is far enough removed to prevent conflicts of interest, I will hold jurisdiction.

“Second, the two parties involved in this matter are to be referred to only as ‘Appleoosa’ or ‘Appleoosians’ and ‘Buffalo Tribe.’ We shall endeavour to avoid ‘us’ and ‘them’ phrasings and mentalities.

“Third, if at any point discussion begins to escalate toward argument and conflict, I, as Facilitator, and the other five Ponyville ponies, as Mediators, may call for a five minute recess to cool down and resume normal talks.

“Fourth, nopony will be permitted to leave until resolution is reached. If talks break down, neither I, as Facilitator, nor any of the Mediators or Secretaries, may interfere in the battle, which will be carried out in its entirety starting three hours from the time of break-down. If, after the battle, conflict persists a new round of talks will be called first.

“Fifth, talks are in session as long as my dagger stands in the middle of the table. If it is not there, only I, as Facilitator, or the Mediators, may speak. Neither Secretary may speak except to read back the minutes as requested. Mediators who break role will be asked to leave the tent until after the following recess.

“Chief Thunderhooves will be the Primary Negotiator for the Buffalo Tribe, with Little Strongheart as his Second. Sheriff Silverstar will be Primary Negotiator for Appleoosa, with Braeburn Apple as his Second. For the duration, please use ‘Prime’ and ‘Second’ as their titles in place of their official ones, avoiding unnecessary perceived bias based on rank.

“Are there any questions? I am seeing confused faces, but perhaps getting started will clear the matter up.” Gearhead drew his knife, and slid it toward the center of the table. Using his geomancy, he put minor magnetic charges into the center of the table and the blade’s point in order to stand the dagger up on its point, and oriented it so both parties could see the gear-styled crosspiece.

“If you will both recall, I asked the Mediators to conduct a coin toss before the parties arrived here. Prime Thunderhooves won, so he will present his opening case first. Please proceed.” In actuality, since Pinkie Pie had conducted the coin toss for the Buffalo Tribe, she could have produced whatever result she wanted to. To balance that out, Rarity had flipped for the Appleoosians, and she could have changed the result with her telekinesis. But the only rigging that had taken place was to ensure the coin tosses took place at the exact same moment, using Spike’s Sending magic to coordinate it, with Twilight at the Appleoosian end.

Thunderhooves looked at Gearhead, at the dagger standing on its tip on the table, back at Gearhead, then straight across at Silverstar. “The Buffalo Tribe has a long and winding stampeding trail. It is a sacred tradition to run it every year, however this year the Appleoosian orchard blocks it. The Buffalo Tribe is stuck, although –“

Gearhead raised a hoof to stop the Buffalo Chief from threatening to flatten the orchard right there. “How many generations did Prime Thunderhooves recount in your presence, Mister Secretary?”

“Six. No, seven,” Spike said. “He started with his own father.”

“Thank you, Mister Secretary. Prime Thunderhooves, am I correct to believe that you have already stated the essence of the Buffalo Tribe position?”

“Yes,”

“Then I would like to ask Prime Silverstar to give us the Appleoosian statement.”

“That’s simple enough: The Appleoosians have all busted their rumps in the past year to build Appleoosa!” Silverstar cleared his throat. “The site for the orchard was chosen because it’s the only flatland large enough for all the trees, plus a little expansion because the town’s still in its infancy. To move the –“

“A moment, Prime Silverstar. We are not there yet.”

“Well, the Appleoosians need those apple trees, for both food and income, since what we don’t eat, we sell.”

“Prime Silverstar, these proceedings are trying to avoid setting an ‘us vs them’ mentality.”

“Yeah well, it’s a stupid rule and hard to follow.”

“Granted. Try anyway, please.

“The opening statements of both parties have been heard and recorded. Prime Thunderhooves, could you please kindly state the Buffalo Tribe’s request?”

“The Buffalo Tribe wants the Appleoosians to move the orchard off of the traditional stampeding trail,” Thunderhooves huffed.

“Prime Silverstar, what is the Appleoosian request?”

“The orchard needs to stay so we got somethin’ to eat!”

“Prime Silverstar, please follow the ground rules out of respect for each other. I will call for a recess if you do not. The same action stands if you let your temper get the better of you, Prime Thunderhooves.”

“If you think this talkin’ will get us anywhere new, you’re deluding yourself,” Silverstar said.

“Let us at least try, please. Now, I asked Miss Applejack and Miss Sparkle to conduct a quick survey of the orchard. I also asked Miss Dash and Miss Fluttershy to confirm nearby terrain from the air. Madame Secretary, could you please read the findings of both surveys?”

“I’d be happy to. There are one hundred fifty-three trees standing on land fertile enough to allow for growth, and an additional band of fertile land around that. This band of land measures approximately three trees deep at its narrowest, and was originally designated for possible expansion of the orchard by the Appleoosians.

“As to the other land around Appleoosia, it is unfortunately either too arid or rocky to support the apple trees. Any other fertile land spotted from the air is easily too far away from the settlement to be ideally-located.”

“Thank you, Madame Secretary. We ponies hosting and supporting these talks have now established what information we could find, so I now turn the talks over to Prime Thunderhooves and Prime Silverstar in turn to proceed.”

“This ‘taking turns’ is taking too long, and is unnecessary. This matter is quite simple: the Buffalo Tribe has been using these trails long before the Appleoosians. The Appleoosians, therefore, need to move the apple trees.”

“Are you telling us to pick and move the whole town? Because that’s what it sounds like. Just throw out a year of hard work and effort? I don’t think so! In fact, I know none of the townsfolk’ll go for it. I won’t go for it!

Gearhead sent a tendril of energy to his dagger, making it jump and spin so that it came down on its pommel with a loud thump. “All this fuss is unnecessary. Both of you have to come to an agreement on your own, though, or this whole thing becomes meaningless. I am calling our first recess. Two minutes. Talk with your Seconds, but do not leave the grounds. I do not want to have to intercept you.”

The Buffalo and settlers left the tent in a huff, the designated Seconds trying to calm their leaders. “This isn’t working,” Rarity said, as she and Twilight went out to watch the delegates.

“The issues are laid out plainly. If it does not work, it will be war. Something is missing to make it work.”

“They don’t want peace bad enough,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Oh my,” Fluttershy said.

“I believe you are correct, Miss Dash: neither side is motivated to collaborate together and achieve a compromise. At the very least, they need to know what they can get from working together, rather than what they would get from fighting each other.”

“If the orchard stays, everypony can eat apples,” Applejack said. “If the settler ponies lose the orchard, nopony eats.”

“How does Appleoosa distinguish itself from other towns?”

“It’s a Wild West frontier town,” Applejack said.

“With an orchard,” Pinkie Pie said.

“This would be much easier if Appleoosa had a known local specialty.”

“I’ll ask Braeburn,”

“You’ll have to ask later, because now we’re reconvening,” Twilight said.

As everypony took their seats, Gearhead looked at all their faces. The Primes were still steaming, while the Seconds looked concerned. Two minutes had obviously not been enough to cool down. “We need to reorient ourselves to the issues at hand. Madame Secretary, please read the minutes.”

“Right! The issue at hand is the disposition of the trees currently in the Appleoosian orchard. The trees stand on part of a Buffalo Tribe stampeding trail. The Buffalo Tribe need access to it as part of their long-standing traditions, and to access lands on the other side. The Appleoosians need the trees for sustenance and income. Surveys have found that the only additional land anywhere nearby that’s capable of supporting the trees is a narrow band around the existing orchard.”

“Prime Thunderhooves, do you have any further details to add?”

“If you ponies do not—“

Gearhead reversed and thumped his dagger again. “Please do avoid all threats.” He paused and took a deep breath. “It is clear that failure of these talks to achieve a peaceful compromise will result in battle. Prime Thunderhooves, do you have anything to add?”

“No,”

“Prime Silverstar?”

“No,”

“Prime Thunderhooves, do you have anything else to say or ask of Prime Silverstar?”

“No,” the Buffalo Chief huffed.

“Prime Silverstar, same question, parties swapped.”

“No. This is all-or-nothing.”

“Second Little Strongheart, do you have anything you would like to say?”

“I would like to avoid fighting, if possible. I do not think we need to fight if we can figure out a way to move some of the trees. Just enough for the Buffalo Tribe to use the trail again.”

“Second Braeburn?”

“I agree with Little Strongheart, but only because Appleoosa wouldn’t need to be moved.”

“Prime Thunderhooves?”

“They are traditional Buffalo lands. The trees should not have been planted there in the first place. They were planted without permission!”

“Well, you didn’t come to us either.”

“We did not need to, because they are Buffalo Territory!”

Gearhead thumped his dagger. “These talks are not getting anywhere, and the recess failed to calm you.” He took a deep breath, and then looked from one Prime to the other. “I am declaring war between the Buffalo Tribe and Appleoosa.” The others gasped audibly. “I am also suspending these peace talks until after the conflict, by which time I hope you will both see greater value in compromise than in battle. The delegates are to leave this tent before the Mediators. See you in three hours.” He thumped his dagger again, and sheathed it.

The friends stood off to the side and watched as the Appleoosians went about their preparations for battle. They built small barriers with wood and logs, laid down hay bales for cover, and baked apple pies. That least seemed incongruous to Gearhead, but he did not know what the local version of war meant anyway. Perhaps pie used in battle was the Appleoosian specialty.

Gearhead’s decision to end the talks came from the belief that if they had continued they would have deteriorated and fallen apart anyway, only with both parties being even angrier at each other. The three hour window he had specified in the rules allowed for minimal preparation, so neither side would be bringing their best war faces to the battle. If they were off their game, they would not fight at their best, and hopefully less ponies (and buffalo) would get hurt.

Due to the stated rule of non-interference, the friends could only watch the preparations. They could not try to talk the Buffalo or the settlers out of the fight. But exchanged glances made it clear that not everypony was happy with what was about to happen. Rainbow Dash had gone to watch over the Buffalo, while somewhere in the fuss Pinkie Pie and Spike had vanished.

At the three hour mark, the Buffalo appeared at the top of a nearby ridge, ready to charge down it. Rainbow Dash exchanged one last look with Little Strongheart, then flew over to rejoin the others. The clock tower struck its mark, the time for battle having arrived. But neither side advanced. “He’s not gonna do it,” Rainbow Dash said, elated.

Then somepony struck up a piano. Everypony turned to the source of the music, to see Spike playing the piano (Gearhead had not known he could do that), while Pinkie Pie began to sing and dance, supported by a group of Appleoosians. Unfortunately, despite her message of ‘sharing and caring,’ nopony seemed to be enjoying the song at all. When it came to an end, Chief Thunderhooves exchanged a look with his opposite number below.

“It seems Sheriff Silverstar and I have come to an agreement of sorts after all,” the Chief said. Several ponies breathed a sigh of relief. Gearhead raised an eyebrow. “That was the worst performance we have ever seen.”

“Aww,” Pinkie Pie said.

“The time for action is upon us,” Thunderhooves said. “Today we fight. Today we flatten the orchard and the town!” The Buffalo all roared in approval, and charged. The Appleoosians moved behind their barricades and took up their other positions – and took up their pies.

A moment later, Gearhead’s curiosity was answered as Sheriff Silverstar called out “fire!” and the settlers began throwing their pies into the charging Buffalo faces with enough force to seemingly fell them. Gearhead saw several strange moves by the settlers, like hiding a blacksmith’s anvil in a hay bail, or jumping down from the clock tower. Silverstar jumped from bail to bail, picking up pies he had placed there ahead of time.

Until he ran out of pies.

Chief Thunderhooves was right there, and seeing Sheriff Silverstar wide open after he had pied so many of his tribesponies did nothing to calm his temper. The Chief charged, and only a last-moment pitch of the pie saved the sheriff from impact with horn and hoof. Incredibly, Chief Thunderhooves simply fell, his eyes closed. Silence fell, but only for a moment, before ponies began to cry in open mourning. Crust and apple filling slipped down the Chief’s face, and into his open mouth.

He jumped up, licking the rest from his face. “Hey, I’ve got a much better idea,” Thunderhooves proclaimed, to the cheers of all the others. “We will allow the apple trees to stay in exchange for a share of its fruit: those delicious apple pies.”

“In that case, we’d be willin’ to cut you a path wide enough to use as a stampeding trail through the orchard,” Silverstar said.

“And we can do what we came here for and transplant Bloomberg,” Applejack said. She got questioning glances from settlers and natives for this. “The apple tree we brought with us? He doesn’t need flat land, we can plant him on a rolling hill. I happen to know just the one.”

“And if the trees are moved instead of cut down, you can harvest more apples,” Little Strongheart said.

“More apples mean more pies,” Thunderhooves said. “It seems we have reached an agreement.”

“I’ll agree to that,” Silverstar said, and the others whooped.

Gearhead shook his head. “If I had known this issue could be solved by battle, I would have thrown the first pie myself,” he said.

“Hey, who did throw that last pie?” Twilight asked. “I didn’t see anypony else that close to those two.”

Nopony said anything, but Braeburn and Little Strongheart exchanged a quick glance.

“At least now there’s an agreement to share the land,” Twilight said.

“Hey, that’s what I said!” Pinkie Pie piped up. Next Chapter: 5. Close To the Sun Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 5 Minutes