Beth was in luck that her size was similar to Philomena’s. Beth wore the blue dress while Philomena wore a lace chiffon cocktail dress. It was sleeveless with lace lining the low v-cut dipping between her breasts with the bottom ending just above her knees. It was a simple light yellow with light orange highlights, but it drew my eyes to her anyway. In a subtle yet look at me kind of way. Of course, while they did that I retreated to the bathroom to quickly take a shower and get dressed. Mother dropped in the casual clothes that she got for me in town.

And with everything taken care of it was off to the train station via cab. Of course, we couldn’t go cross-country to get to Appleloosa. Mountains were in the way. So our full-day journey went from Baltimare back to Canterlot, then switched trains from there to Appleloosa. The whole trip took the rest of the day to make.

During the trip, Philomena wouldn’t leave my lap for hardly anything. The minute I sat down on the plush bench sofa seat in the royal car, she had planted herself in my lap, took my arms, and wrapped them around her before laying her head back against my chest. Meanwhile, we found out nearly everything about Beth. With her fair skin, I had thought that she had grown up working inside. And I was right. She grew up in Appleloosa and was working in the Braeburn’s house alongside her mother. That was until they needed help in the only restaurant slash hotel in town. A simple two-story large building with a restaurant on the ground floor with a hotel on the upper floor.

“Appleloosa,” came the conductor’s call throughout the train. At the same time, the train’s whistle seemed to echo while pulling into the station at the edge of town.

There wasn’t much to grab other than his mother’s bag. “It’s time for me to lower the sun,” she told me letting me know to grab her bag. I did as she hastily made her way out, flew up to the roof of the car, and faced the setting sun. The rest of us exited as she lowered the sun for the night.

A second later the moon snuck its first peak above the horizon. It was also a way of letting the other know that they’re safe. Otherwise, who would raise and lower the sun and moon?

“Now then,” Mother smiled down at Beth putting a comforting arm around her after landing next to her. “Let’s get you home. Where is it?”

“It’s a small place at the other end of town near the edge of the orchard,” Beth told us.

“Whelp, no sense in dawdlin',” Mother and Philomena giggled at my over-exaggerated fake southern accent as we made our way into town. Being the dusty country as it was, every time a breeze blew through it brought some dust along with it. Not to mention the dust we were picking up just by walking. At least it wasn’t all that hot out today or we’d be sweating by the time we got even halfway through town. Which would all be about two hundred yards or so. “So, what’s the history of this place?”

“It started out, and still is, a sacred running ground for the local buffalo tribe,” Mother explained. “After Applejack’s cousin Braeburn helped establish the town and the orchard, things started turning for the worse. With the orchard in place, there was no place for their sacred run through the land. But after some pie-throwing, they both came to an agreement.”

“I remember that, Princess,” Beth spoke up happily.

While I listened my eyes were looking around at the various shops and buildings.

“I was hold up in there,” she pointed to a building off to the side. A two-story building that had some tables and chairs inside. “The Salt Lick,” she explained as we continued to walk down the street, “it’s where I work. When things started getting rough in town all the women took shelter in there.”

“Wise,” I commented as Philomena agreed with a soft chirp and a nod. Philomena had yet to let go of my arm. She was practically glued to my side.

“Princess Celestia,” came a very excitable male’s voice from the other side of us. An earth pony with a light golden coat and two-tone brilliant gamboge and brilliant amber hair and tail were all but running up to us. He was also sporting something directly out of a classic western movie, chaps and all. Complete with hat and vest. “Why welcome to Appleloosa,” the “A” in the town’s name got exaggerated with his arms opening wide as if he was going to hug us then and there.

“Thank you my little pony,” she answered back with strained patience in her voice.

“Do you need anything, your Highness? It’s been a while since you’ve been here. Are you catching up with-”

“Braeburn,” Mother’s voice was as dry as the look she was giving him.

“-the buffalo tribe? Did you know that Little Strongheart-”

“Braeburn,” her voice raised slightly due to her rising agitation of his non-stop questions.

“-is blending in really well here in town.”

“Braeburn,” Mother nearly shouted it out finally getting his attention.

“Yes?”

Before any of us knew what was happening, Mother had reached up tapping the tip of a finger against his forehead with a firm, “Sleep.” Immediately he started to slump as his eyes closed with his body relaxing as Mother put him to sleep. She didn’t let him fall but picked his snoring body up with her magic and put him in a chair that was across the street. Which so happened to be the sheriff's office.

I watched Mother let out a slow calming breath before I lost it. Even Philomena and Beth were laughing, though Beth trying to hide it as if it would upset Mother.

“Mother? Did you ever do that to me?” I asked her through a few dwindling chuckles.

“No,” she said with a smile as we started walking again. “It was cute when you did something like that. I don’t know how Miss Applejack puts up with it.”

After another few minutes of walking an older-looking cabin came into view when we reached the other end of town. It looked like it belonged in the woods by its design. A small thing with probably only one bedroom, basic bathroom, with a kitchen and living room in the front of the house.

“This is it,” Beth called out and immediately started running up to the front door. “Mom!”

Mother let her go as we walked up to the house as Beth was walking in.

“Beth?” a woman called out from the back. “Beth!” we heard just as we walked in and just in time to see Beth get caught up in her mother’s arms. “I’d never thought I’d see you again,” her mother cried as they hugged each other.

Mother, Philomena, and I stood back with a smile. It does a heart good to see a family reunited again.

“I was so scared,” Beth cried into her mother’s arms.

While we watched on, Philomena cooed softly leaning her head against my arm.

“Oh, your Highness,” until Beth’s mother nearly shouted out in alarm after spotting us by the front door.

Mother raised her hand to stop her from bowing. “Relax. It’s alright. Please be at ease.”

“Oh mother,” Beth grabbed her hands while practically bouncing in front of her. “This is Prince Fred. He and the princess saved me from being sold.”

Beth’s mother stood up, came forward, and started kissing our hands, “Thank you so much.”

Mother looked at me and rolled her eyes slightly.

I stepped in and took one of her shoulders in my free hand to stand her up, “You’re quite welcome Missus…?”

“Oh sorry. Missus Davidson, my husband is in the field working.”

“Well, you could say that I was in the wrong place at the right time to help,” I told her while she gave me a confused look. “You see Missus Davidson,” I continued as she backed up hugging her daughter again, “I was kidnapped as well.”

She gasped when she heard it but stayed quiet.

I nodded. “I woke up in a warehouse near the pier in Baltimare just one cage over from your daughter. Both of us were wearing our birthday suits at the time. Then a stallion came in as the seller wanting to sell us both to a couple, who wanted to use us as breeding stock.”

Beth blushed heavily but had a slight smile on her face. I was too just not as hard. “Oh dear,” was her mother’s soft response.

I smiled at her, “However we were lucky that they didn’t know about me.” I lifted up my free hand ignited it for her. “Or that I can use magic because of my mother. So, I essentially blasted my way out where mother found us, and here we are.”

“I can’t thank you enough,” she finally responded. “I wish I could do something to say thank you.”

A thought hit me. I smiled at her, “Well why don’t we visit for a bit and tell us how this town is treating you and the other humans here?”

She seemed to think it over before motioning to the living room slash kitchen area. Instead of a sofa, it was a table large enough to fit all of us that was made from scraps of wood. After taking a glance at it, it was well-built and sturdy as are the chairs around it. Just not anything fancy, just functional. “I’d be happy to,” she said going into the kitchen, “Unfortunately all I can offer is water.”

“Water is fine Missus Davidson,” Mother reassured her as we took our seats at the table. And after the water was passed out she sat across from us while Beth took her seat close to me with a happy smile. Philomena sat down on the other side of me. “So, how are humans in general treated here in Appleloosa?”

Missus Davidson thought for a few seconds before answering. Meanwhile, I took a sip of the water. One can learn a lot about how they are treated by what they have. The place was small, barely the size of a small apartment back in the human world. It was built to last though.

“In general,” she said after some thought, “I’d say well enough I suppose.”

“What about this house?” I asked curiously. “Who built it?”

“Oh, my father built it.” She spoke up proudly for her father as it showed in her eyes. “He used logs and pieces of wood from around the area.”

“It’s very well put together,” I commented while looking at the log style home. “But no one or no pony helped you though?” They both shook their heads. There were only two windows in this area of the house and Luna’s moon shined through one. A magical lamp was the only other light in the room as it glowed above us. About the power of a sixty-watt bulb or close to it. “No running water?” They looked a little confused at that. “Let me rephrase that. Where do you get your water?”

“Oh, we have to get it from a well in the middle of the orchard.” Missus Davidson’s frustration was echoed in her voice.

“My apologies Missus Davidson,” my mother said apologetically, “but your home should have been connected to the water system. Something I plan on looking into and correcting first thing in the morning.”

“Oh thank you so much, your Highness,” Beth was practically bouncing in her seat at the news.

“You are quite welcome, my dear.”

I leaned back in the chair in thought, “Looks like this town might have a hands-off passive-aggressive approach going for it.”

The door opened behind us, and we heard one heavy footstep before Beth and her mother looked up. “Father,” Beth cried out, happily launching herself from her seat.

“Beth!” My mother, Philomena and I stood up, turning around to greet her father. Both of which were locked in an embrace, crying softly together. “They said I’d never see you again.”

“Who father?” Beth asked. Good thing she did or I would have.

“Sheriff Silverstar,” he said still holding his daughter in his arms. “He told me it was because I got too nosy into pony business and that was my punishment.”

Now that is interesting.

“Father, the princess, the prince, and Philomena rescued me.” Beth pulled back from her father motioning to us. That was when her father spotted us for the first time nearly having a heart attack.

“Relax Mister Davidson,” my mother calmed him by her soothing motherly tone and holding up a hand. “Though I am curious as to the reason you said behind your daughter’s kidnapping.”

He looked understandably nervous.

“Go on dear,” Missus Davidson told him with a smile, “they’re here to help.”

He nodded once then took a spot at the table folding his hands on it. “Alright then. My daughter was taken from us because of what she overheard at The Salt Lick. She told me what she had heard and she was taken the next morning on her way to work.” He turned to Beth and with a nod told her to tell what she heard.

Beth looked up to my mother and I, “It was a few days ago while I was cleaning out the upper rooms. I had heard the sheriff talking with another pony about the buffalo. They were talking about ways to get them angry at us.”

“Why would they do that?” I asked her.

“The sheriff said that the buffalo didn’t belong here and should have been wiped out during the fight before.”

My mother nodded, holding up a hand, “I think I get the idea. The sheriff doesn’t like the buffalo here at all and wants to start another fight.”

I got the idea, “So he can use it as an excuse to kill them outright.” One thing puzzled me though as I looked over at Beth, “But how did the sheriff find out that you overheard them?”

“I told Mister Beer about them. He’s the one behind the bar.”

“The owner,” I mused.

“Yes,” her father clarified.

“It was the next morning that I was taken.” After she finished I wasn’t feeling too hot about this sheriff. Neither was mother or Philomena either.

“Bet you the royal treasury he confronted the sheriff and was forced to tell how he knew.”

“No bet here son,” she agreed. “So it appears there’s some cleaning up to do.” She stood up as did Philomena and I with her, “Thank you for telling me Beth and I’m happy that you were returned home.”

“Thank you so much,” she replied getting up to hug my mother again plus Philomena and I as well.

“You’re quite welcome,” she replied hugging her back. “I think we’ll go talk with Mister Beer. Besides we need a couple of rooms for the night anyway.”

With a few more goodbyes and thank you’s we left their place to walk back to where The Salt Lick was. It looked like the stereotypical saloon that I saw in all those western movies. Double wooden small doors, that always squeaked, leading to a lobby filled with tables. The bar and office were on the left with stairs leading up to the rooms at the far end of the room. It was a little dusty but other than that it looked like a clean simple place.

The spot where we checked in for a room was at the end of the bar closest to the door. My ears even picked up the sound of snoring from the door leading to the back office. Mother saw the small bell at the end of the bar and gave it a couple of rings. The snoring stopped with, “Who’s there?”

“Princess Celestia, Mister Beer,” she told him.

“Yeah right,” he snorted out a laugh, “like she would have an excuse to come here.” There was a pause before the sound of shuffling was heard, “Then again you do sound right pretty. I could give you a night for free if you wouldn’t mind spending the night in my bed.” There was a pause while we heard some shuffling sounds. “So what’s your name sweet thi-” he stopped dead in his tracks with the look of absolute horror on his face when he spotted us. He also gave out a sound similar to a rat dying in pain.

“The name is Princess Celestia and I decline your offer as I had a husband thank you. Plus I can assure you that you don’t measure up to him Mister Beer.”

Damn. I almost lost it. Turned down and burned by a princess. Mother sure knows how to burn somepony.

“However, I do need to speak to you regarding two rooms and about what Miss Beth Davidson told you,” she said as sweetly as if she was talking to me. “And the rooms will be free because you tried to ride the royal rump.”

He gave us the looks of complete and utter defeat and helplessness. “Let me get changed, your Highness.” Without another word, or waiting for our response, he turned around and shut the door.

“Damn mother,” I chuckled looking at her with a wide smirk, “you really burned him good.” Even Philomena was giggling.

She sighed with a wide smile and winked at me, “Yes, I know. I do love trolling sometimes.”

He came back out a few minutes later in his normal uniform, also straight out of an old western movie. “What about Beth?” he asked as he took his spot behind the counter.

“She told us what she overheard. We know that you were forced to tell the sheriff who had overheard him. I’m assuming you went to talk with him in order to stop what he was doing?”

“Yes, your Highness,” he nodded to her while handing her two keys, one of which she gave to me. “However, he told me that if I didn’t tell him who overheard him and shut up about it then he would have torched this place. I couldn’t have that because I put everything I had into this place and it’s the only thing I’ve got.”

“I understand,” she told him quietly. “Beth is safely back with her family, we just came from there. Thank you for the rooms. We’ll go find the sheriff now.” And that was it. With our room keys in hand, we turned around and walked right on out to go across the street to the sheriff’s office. That is if he was still there.

Mother wanted to go first. Once we got to the office she tested the door to find it locked. Easy fix with magic, naturally. Once it was unlocked, it squeaked slightly as she opened it. Being dark, we assumed that he was asleep in his room, so we were being quiet. There was a front area where he and a deputy could sit, complete with office equipment. Then a door on either side of the room.

“I’ll check out this door,” I whispered to mother. She nodded to me and waited while I walked over and took a peek. Jail cells. And empty ones. With a look over at Mother, I shook my head to her before we made our way to the other door. It opened quietly after Mother put a spell around the hinges. The moonlight from his windows shined upon…

“SHIT!” There was just enough time for me to put up my shield before the flying chair hit it.

“SHERIFF SILVERSTAR,” mother got his attention with her amplified voice from behind my shield, “YOU WILL CEASE AND DESIST AT ONCE.” The sheriff had thrown the chair from where he stood on the other side of the bed away from us. My shield was still up as he seemed to think about his current situation. Before he could do anything else my mother quickly ignited her horn, raised a hand, and captured him in her magic. Then turned on the magical lamps in his room.

I dropped my shield, now that it was safe, as mother floated him up to her.

“I’m disappointed in you,” she sighed heavily as he tried, and failed, to even struggle, much less get free. “Now you will tell me what you have done against the buffalo. I will not let you ruin the delicate peace we have with them. And you will tell me who you contacted in order to have Beth kidnapped, which is safe and sound at home again.”

“Fine!” he grumbled out while going limp in mother’s magical grasp. “You caught me, but I won’t tell you anything, your Highness.” He said it with a disapproving emphasis. “We never should have been friends with those buffalo. Nor should you have defiled yourself with that...human. All it’s done is to make things more complicated for us.”

Mother simply sighed and shook her head. “Son, would you go get the cuffs for me?”

I nodded, leaving the room, and checked the main room for them. Nothing was said as I looked, finding them on the wall, and returned to his bedroom.

“Silverstar,” mother told him sadly as she let him down for me, “you are hereby under arrest.”

I put the cuffs on him, which oddly enough looked exactly like the ones in the human world. Soft clicks were heard as they locked his hands in place behind him. Even through all this, he was still defiant. Without a word, Mother led him to one of the cells. The cell door opened with a metallic creak and groan where I led him in facing the wall. The cells were solid metal walls, oddly enough, with a solid metal door and a small window. A toilet slash water faucet and sink combination was in the corner, opposite of the bed. And that was about it. He didn’t resist after I shoved him in and unhooked him and left him locked in with a solid “thud” from the door.

^_^

Philomena was in my bed again. Although this time instead of heading to Mother’s room she just came into mine. I think she and Mother had discussed it because each room had only one bed. After locking up Silverstar we had returned to our rooms for the night. I stripped down to my undershorts while Philomena had taken off her dress. In front of me no less. Although she wasn’t looking at me. So, right now I was on my back with one arm around her as she used my chest as a pillow. She hummed contently as my fingers ran through her hair.

Thoughts ran through my head while stroking her hair. Mother wanted to leave Braeburn in charge until such time that a replacement sheriff would be installed. Her replacement would come in the form of a handpicked guard. So, tomorrow’s schedule was basically getting up and going over to the buffalo to talk with them. From there she would return to Canterlot to commission one of the guards. And not only that but she is even going so far as to send a tutor to instruct Beth and the humans in education.

Soon though, I was back to sleep.

^_^

Found myself in the dreamscape with the numerous orbs floating around me. Not one seemed to be a nightmare though. “Good eve nephew.” Luna was standing there when I turned to face her. She was wearing a regal-looking dress tunic complete with regalia.

“Hi Luna,” I greeted her with a smile, “Mother tell you what happened yet?” She shook her head giving me a curious and concerned look. “We’re in Appleloosa. It was just before the speech in Baltimare that I was knocked out from behind and taken to a black market for human slaves. They didn’t know who I was.”

“Are you alright?”

“Oh yes, don’t worry. We’re fine. To make a long story short, I wasn’t the only one there when I woke up in a kennel. A human girl was with me in the cell next door and after they let me out, which was the first mistake, I knocked out the stallion, who was fixing to sell me and then signaled mother with a pillar of fire. You could call it a fire flare. After Mother showed up we took the girl back home to Appleloosa. Where we found out that the sheriff was going to start a fight between the town and the buffalo in order to kill the buffalo off.”

“Truly? That was not a jest?” she asked with shock in her eyes.

“Truly,” I nodded with a slight chuckle, “it really happened. In the morning we’re going to see the buffalo to let them know then Mother will be back in Canterlot and I’ll go on to Ponyville.”

“I am pleased that everypony is safe and sound.”

“Thanks, so am I.” I looked around at the floating orbs and had a thought. “Luna, I was wondering if I could visit Applejack’s dreams?”

“You could, but why?” she asked curiously.

“I thought about trying to understand her better through her dreams and maybe talk to her in her dreams. Perhaps Rarity as well. Those two will be the toughest to sway. Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and even Rainbow Dash is fine with me.”

“That is not what I do.”

I nodded with a patient sigh, “I know, but in these dreams, I’ll be dealing with the subconscious mind. At the very least it will help me understand them better. I can talk with them within their dream as if I was a natural part of it.”

“I understand nephew,” she said softly at last then lifted a hand to bring Applejack’s dream orb to us. “Once you enter, you will be able to stay until she wakes up. Be careful nephew, for dreams are powerful in this world.”

“I’ll be careful, Luna,” I told her sincerely before touching Applejack’s dream orb.

In a flash, everything changed. Now standing by myself, and naked mind you, in the middle of a small field of flowers. It was as if only this small field, of maybe fifty yards radius, was the only thing in existence. It was a beautiful day with partly cloudy skies and the sun high in the sky. A gentle breeze was gently playing with my hair. The whole thing was odd. Like all those dream sequences in those anime shows I watched. The breeze was nice against my naked skin, though would be embarrassing if-

“Tarnation, why am I here again?” AJ’s voice brought me out of my musings making me nervous. Because I wasn’t immediately facing her it was easy for me to simply stand still and let her come to me. It would be interesting to watch and see how she reacts to my nakedness, that’s for sure. I heard her soft hoofsteps against the soft ground as she approached me, then came to stand in front of me.

She was naked as well with her hair and tail loose and blowing in the wind without her hair ribbons. It took all my will to just stare straight ahead and not look down. Though if I did at least she was covering her breasts with her arms. Not so much down south. Her eyes looked me over while having mixed emotions in them.

“Are you going to say something this time, or simply stand there like a sapling?”

My ears caught the nervousness in her voice and probably some confusion as well considering we were naked. I tried to make my voice dreamlike with a soft tone to it. So, I started out with a simple straightforward question. “How do you feel about me?”

She sighed, stepping up to me, still with her arms crossed over her breasts, and looked me over again. “Big Mac is telling me not to hate humans. Thanks to your conversation with him he tells me not to live with hate in my heart. That Granny is wrong.” She sighed looking down slightly as if in thought, “Especially as an Element of Honesty.”

When she didn’t say anything after a few minutes, or what seemed to be that long, I spoke up again. “I only want to be your friend Applejack.”

“I know that,” the tone in her voice told me that she understood that. “Part of me accepts that and part of me can’t.” She eyed me carefully, as if I was under a spotlight, “That doesn’t explain why we’re naked though.”

You got me on that one. This is your dream, not mine.

Slowly and gingerly she extended a hand to me and laid it on my chest. Her eyes were searching mine when she whispered out a question I never thought I’d hear from her. “Does that mean I find you...attractive?” She paused while staring at her hand. “Is that letter I got really true?” Another pause. “It was my handwriting and the other girls accepted theirs. So, are you really that honest and honorable as she said you were?”

“What can I do to help you like me Applejack?” I asked her, softly again trying to sound like part of the dream.

“Am I afraid of you?” She asked the question as if she didn’t hear mine. Her eyes looked up at mine. “Look at me.” I did and locked my eyes on hers. Without a word, she took both my hands in hers, exposing her chest to me, which was a good looking chest, and stepped up to me. With our bodies almost touching she put my arms around her lower back. While still looking up at me she brought her hands forward, placing them on my chest.

“How do you feel about me now?” My voice was a whisper, still trying to mimic what she would normally hear in this instance.

“All humans deserve death and slavery!” Granny’s voice almost made me flinch, almost. It did send a chill up and down my spine though. For it was part of AJ.

“Living with hate is not a way to live.” This time it was her brother’s calm voice from behind her.

“Killin’ is wrong.” Now Apple Bloom’s voice from right beside her.

“I’m not afraid of you.” AJ said it softly to herself in realization, then looked up at me. “Is it really that a’right to like you?”

“No, it ain’t,” from Granny.

“Remember how I used to dislike humans AJ?” This time it was from Twilight. “I said he changed me, didn’t I?”

While her mind was basically arguing with itself, she was looking up at me. In her eyes held the same thoughts as those around her. I simply held her while looking down at her with a slight smile, hopefully with inviting kind eyes.

“I remember,” she said softly, answering Twilight’s questions. She didn’t say anything else for a while, or what seems like a while.

My mother appeared off to the side. “You have questions.”

AJ looked over to her, “I do, but I’m afraid to ask.”

“The only dumb question is the one not asked my little pony,” mother said in return.

“It’s alright to ask AJ,” Twilight echoed before everything started fading away.

Right before I woke up in bed again I heard AJ’s soft voice, “Alright, I’ll ask.”

^_^

All through the morning, while getting dressed and the trip to the buffalo, I was deep in thought about AJ’s dream last night. My body, however, was remembering how close I was to her last night. Literally. How she felt in my arms. The feel of her, surprisingly, soft coat against my skin. The form of her body, made through the years because of all the hard work. And not just that, but her inner struggle that she’s having in her mind.

It took Philomena three tries at poking me with one of her talons on her hand before she was able to get my attention. “Huh?” Bringing me out of my musings suddenly I looked down at her. She pointed ahead.

“We’re approaching the buffalo encampment son,” Mother giggled slightly at me. “Please come down from the clouds for us?”

I chuckled embarrassingly, “Sorry, was lost in thought.” There was a buffalo ahead of us, just about five yards or so, waiting for us. Like a guard, he stood about fifty or so yards away from the main encampment.

“We can speak of it later if you need.”

I shook my head, as we stepped up to the guard. “No need mother, don’t worry about it.” The guard had only markings on his face and some feathers around his front hooves. They were actually four-legged buffalo and not anthropomorphic in nature.

“What does the Goddess of the Sun have with us?” His voice was a deep bass voice, almost as tall as I was, and looked like he could use one solid buck to kill me outright. The breeze blew some of the sand around, but all in all, it was a pleasant morning.

“I bring news to your chief about some rogue ponies that mean harm to your tribe.”

“You dare to threaten us?”

“No, she didn’t, she is here to warn you against someone who wants to possibly hurt you.” I was able to resist calling him a nitwit, but just barely. It appears this particular buffalo has the IQ of a turnip.

“Come,” he said to us through narrowed eyes, “you will answer to our chief.” And he said it with pride too.

Oh brother. I shook my head behind his back, so to speak, as we followed him into camp. It didn’t appear that whomever Silverstar sent over to cause trouble hasn’t shown up yet because the buffalo didn’t give us any nasty looks as we walked through the camp. And what did the turnip say to the chief as we walked into his tent?

“Chief Thunderhooves,” the buffalo actually saluted while speaking curtly. “These ponies have come to make war upon us.”

This time I couldn’t help but chuckle out a groan while shaking my head, “Oh brother.” Even Philomena, along with my Mother, was in on it as they practically did the same. Inside the tent were two buffaloes. One was the chief as it was obvious by the feathered headrest he was wearing. The other looked like a young one, female maybe? She was small. Probably the smallest I’ve ever seen. Barely came up to my waist, while the chief came up to my neck.

“I will take care of it Sky Head,” the chief said to the guard in an authoritative tone of voice. Which the guard saluted once again and left, but not without giving us the stink eye.

“Sorry about him Goddess of the Son,” the chief said politely, motioning us to sit with him. “But he’s not one of our brightest, but still a good warrior.”

“I gather that’s why he’s named Sky Head?” I asked curiously after sitting with my mother around a dying fire in the middle of the tent. “And does that mean what I think it does?”

“Yep, a polite way of saying airhead, as in not all there.” The smaller one spoke up with a girlish giggle. Definitely female.

“Little Stongheart!” the chief admonished, but not too harshly.

Still, she giggled slightly again, “Sorry father.” You know what? I like her.

The chief sighed patiently before looking over at us, “What news do you bring?”

“I’m sorry to say that there was a rogue faction within the town of Appleloosa that is trying to cause trouble for your tribe. It was the hope that you would attack the town again for the purpose of destroying your tribe. However, due to a bit of luck, we were able to arrest Silverstar, who was the one ultimately responsible. Unfortunately, we don’t know who he told to make trouble for you. So, be alert and know that if you take any action against a pony that means you ill then it will be understood that you are simply protecting your tribe.”

He sat in silence while his mind processed this before speaking again. “Why would he do this?”

“It appeared that he really didn’t like you in the first place chief,” I told him simply.

“So you don’t know who this pony is?”

“I’m sorry but no we don’t Chief Thunderhooves,” mother said soberly with a slight shake of her head.

Suddenly a scream rent the air within the camp. It sounded female and sounded like she was screaming bloody murder. I got up first and headed outside with a, “What the hell?” Following me outside was Philomena, my mother, Little Strongheart, and the chief. The Chief’s tent was in the middle of the camp, so we didn’t see anything directly in front of us.

“My calf,” a female’s cry rent through the air behind us.

Hearing rapid hoofsteps approaching one side of the tent, I rushed toward it. Almost running into a fleeing pegasus in the process. As he started skidding to a stop my eyes spotted the crying calf in his arms.

“Out of my wa-”

With a shout of anger, I used a large flash of flame and heat as a make-shift flashbang in his face. That got a startled shout out of him plus disorienting him, but didn’t release the calf. The calf was my top priority. With the opportunity with me, I quickly grabbed one arm that held the calf. With the other ignited a tight fireball. The unsuspecting pegasus stallion had enough time to widen his eyes before I put it into one of them. Instincts took over his mind and he let loose the calf while screaming holding both hands to his now useless eye. With a shout of success, I caught the calf as it was turned loose, “GUARDS, MOTHER, NOW!”

Luckily for this poor stallion, my mother got to him first to administer some first aid as buffalo guards surround him. Otherwise, I don’t think he would have survived if the guards got to him first.

“My calf,” came the female’s voice coming around the tent.

“Over here,” I called out from the front, taking a place next to the chief. When the cow came around the front and spotted me, Philomena, Chief Thunderhooves, and Little Strongheart smiling, she relaxed.

“Oh thank you,” she said walking up to us. “Thank you.”

I knelt down as she approached and handed the little calf to her. It was surprising that she could use her front hooves as arms. She held the calf to her while softly saying thank you.

“You have my thanks, Son of the Sun,” the chief said as he stepped up to me with a grateful smile. Little Strongheart was beaming as well.

I bowed my head to the chief. “You’re welcome Chief Thunderhooves,” I told him as Mother and the guards were walking toward us with the bound pegasus. “I’m happy to be in the right place at the right time to help.” As my eyes spotted the pegasus, and what my fire did to him, I couldn’t help but wince a little. His left eye was useless and black as was the fur around his eye. Mother had probably used some pain killer magic on him because he was no longer screaming in pain. He was wearing a nice scowl on his face.

“Goddess of the sun,” the chief turned to mother as she approached, “you also have my thanks for the service you’ve done for my tribe. Rest assured that we will take no action against Appleloosa.”

Mother bowed her head, “Thank you Chief Thunderhooves. We’ll just take him to town and lock him up with his accomplice.”

From there it was easy enough to return to town and drop off the pegasus at the jail. Then board the train back to Canterlot. Mom would be dropped off to take care of Appleloosa’s needs while Philomena and I return to Ponyville.

Next Chapter: Chapter Fourteen: Flutterbat Estimated time remaining: 17 Hours, 47 Minutes