Two weeks passed since the Parasprite attack, with the funds from the repurposed taxes and some financial support from Princess Celestia, Alex and Mayor Mare were able to set up a plan for ponies to obtain medical help without out of pocket expenses, and some of the public housing began to take shape. But it was still far from complete, in the meantime Mort had finally recovered from his injuries and rejoined the two in their temporary living area.
It was around this time that the trio heard that the Mane Six and Spike were preparing to leave to Appleloosa to deliver a tree to Applejack's cousin. That is when Dark and Alex decided to make it up to Applejack and offered to join them in their journey to the settlement to help make sure the tree would arrive safely. To do this they also offered to stay in the Train Cart closest to the tree, and were ready for anything that would come their way.
"Look guys, I get you guys felt guilty for letting down Jappleack or whatever her name is, but why the FUCK did you have to bring me along for the ride?" Mort said in a clearly annoyed voice.
"Mort, the funny thing is that is actually a reference to something related to this show, and that name is not even that wrong." Alex said in an amused tone.
"I really don't need that image in my head if we are on the same page." Dark winced, having flashbacks.
"Oof right, forgot those videos got to you."
Mort simply looked annoyed as he stared out of the window, the sun was starting to go down, but there was still enough light to illuminate the land.
"So Dark, what do you remember from this episode? Because I'll be honest, I don't think I've watched this one… or at least don't remember it." Alex said.
"I know the ponies in Appleloosa planted some trees on the buffalo tribes stomping ground and when we get there a fight will break out between them eventually ending in a truce somehow."
"Ah shit, I didn't know it literally got into Native American and USA style politics… that's pretty intense. Well, I guess it's something to go off of."
"Wait wait wait wait wait… You guys said this was a kid show, yeah?" Mort asked, confused.
Both Dark and Alex nodded their heads to confirm.
"Then why are they talking about a topic like this? It actually sounds kind of like a serious issue."
"Mort if this show was that simple people wouldn't watch it, anyway it never gets overly serious, most of the situations we've been in are on a completely different level." Dark responded
Mort simply rolled his eyes and mumbled under his breath something the others couldn't hear, as he continued to stare outside of the window.
A few hours passed as the sky grew dark and others started to fall asleep. But unlike other ponies, the trio refused to be brought under the spell of sleep… at least at first. The three of them quickly realized they had nothing to pass the time, leading them to slowly be carried to sleep. The trio were quickly jolted awake by the sound of the train cart being opened.
"Wha- who's there?" Alex asked with a yawn as he turned toward the now open door.
"It's just me, I'm just trying to find a quiet place to sleep…" Spike said with a pillow in hand.
"You can stay here if you want, just pick a bed and go for it." Dark said with a drowsy voice.
"Alright good, you guys always seemed pretty quiet anyways." Spike said as he jumped into one of the beds and quickly fell asleep. The trio did the same thing not too soon after.
As usual, it was Alex who woke up Dark and Mort, but made sure to let the baby dragon sleep a little bit longer.
"No sleeping until noon Dark, we need to be ready for anything." Alex said as he pulled the cover off the unicorn.
"This sleep schedule sucks, sleeping at night and being awake during the day, I feel like a total normie." Dark responded lazily.
"I hear you, but we just have to put up with it until we deliver this da- I mean dang thing to Applejack's cousin." Alex responded knowingly.
"I can't believe I took vacation days for this." Mort said.
"I'm surprised your boss even gives you vacation days." Alex responded in disbelief.
The trio started to wake up properly, it wasn't too long after the sun finally rose above down that the entire train shook violently.
"Jesus, what was that!" Mort said with an exasperated tone.
"Trouble, that's for sure." Alex said as he made his way to the nearest window. "It looks like Buffalo are ramming the train."
"I guess I forgot some of the details, I can't remember what there aft-" Before Dark could finish the train swayed again and threw the stallions and jack around.
"It's ok, we just need to focus, we have to figure out why they're here. I don't think they're here to run the train off the tracks… so there must be some other reason." Alex reasoned out.
"You guys hear that sound?" Mort asked the other two.
The metal clinks could be heard as what sounded like people running across the roof of the train, along with heavy thumps landing on them.
"Ok, sounds like there are some peo- ponies…. Fucking people on there ok!" Alex finally shouted.
"They are heading here? But the only thing back here is… The god damn tree!" Dark shouted making his way to the train cart door, pushing it open with his magic.
Alex saw this and immediately followed his lead, and quickly shouting toward Mort.
"Stay with Spike, me and Dark will try to handle this."
Unfortunately the two were met with the sight of a young buffalo pulling the pin that connected the two train carts together, releasing the caboose in the process.
"I'm going in!" was all Alex heard before Dark teleported onto the roof of the rogue cart.
"Not without me!" Alex said as he jumped with all of his might to make it to the quickly slowing cart. The donkey struggled for a moment as his hind legs were still dangerously near the rapidly moving train tracks.
"Omae wa mou shindeiru" Dark bellowed to the young buffalo.
They jumped back in surprise "Wha- How did you?!"
"You- gah, were waiting to say that line weren't you Dark?" Alex asked as he finally pulled himself to his hooves and made a pincer motion with him and Dark surrounding the buffalo calf.
"You bet, but we got something more important to talk about now though, first things first we aren't going to hurt you so you can relax." Dark said easing down his previous stunt.
The Buffalo calf looked at the two for a moment, before letting loose a whistle for the other buffalo to hear.
"Oh boy, that can't be good." Alex commented.
It wasn't very long when the other buffalo that were attacking the train began to retreat and push the cart into the opposite direction as the rest of the train.
Attempting to converse with them Dark started again "Please just hear us out, we know the reason you and the Appleloosains aren't getting along but we came to help both of you come to peace about this."
"You know nothing about our struggles, pony." The young buffalo said as they jumped off the cart and onto the back of another buffalo.
With that, it left the two on top of the cart as they hauled the metal cart to an unknown location.
"Well, at least we still have the tree." Alex said as he hopped down the roof and inside the cart.
"Looks like I'll have to leave this one to you, they won't listen to someone like me but maybe you can get them to see we aren't their enemies." Dark replied following suit.
"Hm yeah, I could feel the unpleasant vibes she was giving off from up there. Let's just hope they'll be a little more open to a donkey than a pony." Alex commented.
It didn't take too long for the buffalos to stop pushing the cart upon reaching their destination. It was an area that contained numerous tents and buffalo standing proudly as the two stepped out of the cart.
Alex looked around for the young buffalo from earlier and quickly made a b-line toward them, with Dark following behind the Donkey.
"Hey, I understand you may not want to talk with ponies, but do you mind if you could talk to me? Or at least help me find someone who would be willing to talk to me?" Alex pleaded with the young buffalo.
"You are not a settler pony it seems, perhaps Chief Thunderhooves would be willing to speak with you. Oh, and my name is Little Strongheart." the young buffalo stated.
"Any idea where I could find them?" Alex asked the calf.
She simply pointed across from her toward a large buffalo wearing a feathered hat, waiting patiently by the cart.
Alex gave a nod to the calf as he and Dark made his way to the buffalo. When Alex entered the earshot of the chief, he began to speak.
"Hello Chief Thunderhooves, my name is Alejandro, and I understand there's been some conflict between you and the settler ponies, I would like to help."
Chief Thunderhooves looked toward the donkey for a moment before responding.
"Ah, I see. You are not one of the settler ponies who seek further encroachment on our sacred lands. Then please sit, you are an honored guest to our tribe."
Chief Thunderhooves gestures for Little Strongheart to give Alex a bowl of some kind of porridge.
"Oh, thank you. But I would rather help you resolve your conflict with the ponies." Alex said as he gently pushed the bowl away with his nose.
The buffalo looked at the donkey with suspension as he responded. "And how do you plan to do that? They have stolen our land and used it for their own benefit and deny us travel through our stomping ground."
"I know that they have stolen your land from you and your people, however it is also unethical to force them all to move. Instead, why don't they pay reparations to you and your people for what they've done and make a path for you to pass through." Alex asked with a genuine tone.
"Reparations? What would they give us for the wrongs they've committed." The buffalo said with a stern voice.
"It is very clear that they grow apples and profit from selling them or by making goods with them. Perhaps having them give you and your people a cut of their bits and products would end up beneficial. Have you tried their apple themed pastries and food?"
"No I have not, but even if we agreed to that idea. What makes you believe they would honor such a deal?" Thunderhooves asked.
"I have friends who will help me convince the mayor. Please, just hear me out. I understand it is disrespectful what they did without permission, but at least let them try to pay amens." Alex said to the buffalo chief.
Chief Thunderhooves looked toward the others of the tribe for a moment before looking back at the donkey.
"I will discuss this with others and return with my answer. For now you and your companion will be our guests. Feel free to have a seat by our fire." The buffalo said before walking away.
Once the chief was out of eye shot, Alex let out a long sigh.
"Well, I think that went pretty well. What do you think Dark?" Alex said as he sat down by the train cart.
"Not sure, we still have to see if we can convince the ponies in Appleloosa to agree to the terms." Dark replied as he joined the jack in sitting down.
"Yeah, I guess for now we just have to relax until the chief gives us his answ-" Alex was cut off before he could finish his sentence.
"Alejandro, I have decided that we shall travel to where the Appleloosains live and discuss such matters further. We shall travel until dusk and set up camp near the edge of town." The chief said.
"Ok! That's great news, we're ready when everyone else is!" Alex said, getting to his hoofs.
After some time for the tribe to get ready to travel, the group started their journey toward the settlement. But it didn't take long for them to be stopped by two familiar ponies.
"Rainbow Dash? Pinkie Pie? What are you two doing here?" Alex asked the two mares.
The two ponies were surrounded by the herd of buffalo, with Alex and Dark moving closer to see what the disturbance was.
"To make sure you two are ok, duh!" Pinkie Pie said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"And to make sure the tree is ok." Rainbow Dash added in a deadpan voice.
"Oh, well yeah I guess that makes sense... " Alex said to himself with a frown.
"So what are YOU two doing with the buffalo?" Rainbow Dash asked in an accusatory tone.
Dark sighed "Look we've already agreed to make peace between the buffalo tribe and Appleloosians all we need to do is get the mayor and the chief to work out the proposed deal."
Rainbow Dash simply rolls her eyes and responds with a monotone "Whatever."
"Well, you can come with us. We're making our way to the town right now." Alex offered with a look of regret already creeping on his face.
"OOOOOOOOOOOHHHH! Can we sing songs on the way there!" Pinkie Pie said with a huge smile on her face.
"NO." Alex, Dark, and Rainbow Dash said collectively.
"Awe, you guys are no fun." Pinkie Pie said with a pout on her face.
Night quickly came and the tribe set up a temporary camp, while the three ponies and jack laid on the floor of the cart containing the tree.
"I can't believe the only bed in this cart is for the literal tree." Alex said to Dark. "I mean they could have at least had a few other beds or something. There was like a bunk bed on each side of the cart on the others."
"How'd they even afford a whole car for this, I thought most "ponies" were still trying to recover from the swarm." the unicorn responded.
"The swarm didn't hit the barn remember? It hit our house instead." Alex whispered to Dark.
"Yeah, part of me still thinks that wasn't a mistake, the barn is much bigger I imagine it looks tastier than our place."
"Hey! Can you two be quiet? I'm trying to sleep and your voices are giving me a headache." Rainbow Dash said in an annoyed voice.
The two friends shrugged and the four of them fell asleep on the floor of the train cart.
During the morning, the three ponies and a jack surprised the Mane Six by halting their search for them before it even started.
"I know you were probably worried about the Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie but they're fine, and the tree is safe as well, but we don't have a lot of time and we need to talk to the person in charge of this settlement." Alex said as he and Dark started to walk past the other Mane Six.
He was quickly stopped by Applejack and the others.
"Now hold awn thair! we were worried sick about ya an dark!" Applejack said with a bit of huff in her voice.
"Oh… well… uh…" Alex was caught off by Applejack's sudden interjection.
"Yeah, jeez! You two jumped out a go- gosh darn train!" Mort said, moving next to Applejack.
"Wait, what is she doing with you four?" Applejack asked as she narrowed her eyes to the young buffalo standing behind the four
"She's here to help resolve the conflict with the Appleloosains, do you know who we need to talk to?" Dark responded as he two walked up to speak to Applejack.
"An how is she goin' t' manayge that?" Applejack asked questioningly.
"We're going to help her and see if the settler ponies would be open to reparations." Alex replied as Dark, Little Strongheart and himself moved past the others.
"Reparations for what?" Twilight asked the three of them.
"The place where the apple trees are planted on is a sacred path that the buffalo tribe walk every year." Dark answered.
"And the ponies here took that land without asking." Alex added.
"That don't mean they should pack their bags and move!" Applejack said with some edge to her voice.
"That's not what we're going to ask Applejack, ponies staked their lives here already, it isn't right to ask the people who set up a life here to uproot everything and leave. But it does mean they owe a debt to the tribe that needs to be paid." Alex added with understanding in his voice.
"Ya should tawk ta thuh sheriff about any negotiations, I wish ya all good luck." Braeburn said with a resolute tone.
"Thanks." Alex said with a nod.
The other Mane Six began to talk to each other as Alex, Dark, and Little Strongheart made their way to the sheriff's building.
As the three of them walked inside of the building, they could see the Sheriff playing poker with a few other ponies at a table. Upon hearing the door close, Silverstar quickly turned to the three of them and stood up.
"Good mornin' yall, how kay-yun ah help ya?" Sheriff Silverstar said in his thick accent, but quickly froze upon seeing the young buffalo with them.
Alex quickly stepped in between his line of sight.
"Hello sheriff, my name is Alejandro and this is Dark and Little Strongheart, we're here to ask you if you would be willing to discuss a peace negotiation between the Appleloosians and the Tribe of Buffalo."
"Oh, is that hooaah ya've brought this kid here?" Silverstar responded.
"I am a proud contributing member of my tribe!" Little Strongheart said with frustration in her voice.
"Look, would you be willing to hear them out? Regardless of your choice she's here to relay the message you give. I can say that this issue can be resolved quickly and painlessly if you just hear them out." Dark said matter-of-factly.
The Sheriff looked between the three of them and let out a sigh.
"Ifin' ya thihnk it will resolve thuh issue, the-yn ah'll be out as duhrectly as possible."
Dark and Alex nodded their heads and started to make their way out.
"Sorry about that Little Strongheart, most peo-ponies don't give the young the respect of the adults." Alex said with sympathy.
"I'm starting to see that." She said in a solemn voice.
"Alright, I guess we just need to- Where did Dark go?!" Alex said, realizing that Dark had disappeared from sight.
"I believe your companion is over there." Little Strongheart replied as she pointed in to the right of the Jack.
Alex quickly turned to see Dark purchasing an apple pie from a nearby stand. The donkey only stared as the Unicorn slowly walked back to the two non-ponies.
"So, what you got there?" Alex said in a monotone voice.
"A pie." Dark said as if it was obvious.
"Ok, but why?"
"Well, let's just say I remembered something, and a little sample of what the Appleloosians can offer their tribe is a good idea."
"Ah, I see." Alex said with a smirk.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Dark said as he floated the pie in the air.
"Let's go resolve this whole situation with pie."