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// DAY FIVE:  The White Buffalo 
// Story: Love is Found in the Strangest of Places 
// by Stormbringer 
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The first thing Twilight noticed was the sound of the waterfall.  Then she noticed that she was warm and dry, her head was resting on something warm and soft.  But then the memories of the incident came crashing through.  Twilight sat up quickly.
“Apple-Dumpling?” Twilight called in fear.
“Ah’m here Twi Sugar.”
Twilight’s eyes quickly became accustomed to the gloom.  They were in a cave, a curtain of water covered the opening.  There was no light seen through water so Twilight assumed it to either late night or early morning.  She couldn’t quite make out any ceiling or walls of the cave.  The back was a black tunnel with no sign of an end.  She saw that AJ was sitting by her.  Twilight’s head had been resting on AJ’s legs.  She was illuminated by the glow of a small fire.  Twilight grabbed AJ and started to cry.
“I can’t keep going through this!  I thought I lost you again!”
“We almost lost each other,” said Applejack, “but there was a ledge with a cave behind the falls, not far from the top an’ we landed on it.  Ah came to not long after we hit, Ah think.  But, ya’ve been out fer a spell longer.”
“And you were able to move me and start a fire?”
“No,” said AJ, “our host did.”
“Our host?”

As AJ said this, a buffalo walked into view, a white buffalo.  What was most surprising, he was the largest buffalo Twilight had ever seen or heard of.


“He fixed my splint.  Then he cleaned an’ bandaged yer wounded shoulder.” Said AJ, “he appears to know all that’s been goin’ on with us, ’cluding you bringin’ me back to life an’ killin’ the mountain lion.”

“And we need to talk about that last point,” said a voice, dripping with threat.

Twilight looked and there walking up by the buffalo was the largest mountain lion Twilight had ever seen.  He made the lion she’d fought look like Rarity’s cat, Opalescence.  
Never the less, she immediately sprang up and placed herself between the lion and AJ.  Her ears laid back, the hair on her back was raised and snorted angrily and pawed the floor.  She’d had just about enough of mountain lions, even one this large.
“Keep away from my marefriend, if you know what’s good for you!”
The lion smiled a smile of grudging respect.
“You certainly are brave and loyal to your partner.  But relax, if I wanted to kill you, I could’ve done it while you slept.” Said the lion, “you have nothing to fear from me…  

At least yet.”

That last part put a shiver up Twilight’s spine.  But she wasn’t backing down.

“Now Misibizhiw,” said the buffalo, his deep voice exuded power and peace, “that isn’t the way to speak to our guests.  Especially to one so loyal and brave.  
And besides, with the intelligence, courage and passion she has shown, she might just best you!”
“That might be worth testing,” said Misibizhiw with an uncertain tone to his voice.  Twilight couldn’t tell if he was serious or joking.

But the buffalo and lion both gave an honest chuckle.

“But you are correct as always, Wakan Tanka,” said the lion, “I’m sorry to upset you Princess Twilight Sparkle.  Normally I would’ve said ‘frightened’.  But when it comes to you and your mate, I see that fear doesn’t come into play, I can respect that.  But understand this, I jealously guard my people, and I avenge those killed for sport or for no good reason.”
“You know our names?” asked Twilight finally relaxing seeing no immediate threat.
“We know much about the two of you,” said the white buffalo, “we know who you are and why you were in the buffalo lands.  Also what you did to save your mate… 
Twice,”
AJ took Twilight’s hoof, she was liking the sound of ‘mate’.  

The buffalo continued;

“Peace makers are held in high esteem.  You have been instrumental in making peace with buffalo tribes more than once.  That in itself deserves reward and respect.
Now Misibizhiw and I need to talk.  Rest, we will talk later.  You’ve nothing to fear.”
Somehow, this buffalo saying that they had nothing to fear, removed any anxiety they’d had with this encounter.  
The two turned and walked back into the cave’s gloom and soon were out of sight.
Twilight turned and embraced Applejack.
“Oh my darling Apple-Dumpling,” said Twilight, “I’m so sorry that I’ve gotten you into all this trouble.  When the map chose us to go on this mission, I thought it’d be a nice time alone with a pony I was having feelings for.
Never did I expect that it would put your life in danger, multiple times.  Had I known, I would’ve refused the mission.”
“An’ Ah wouldn’t of let ya,” said AJ, “we have responsibilities to Equestria.  Otherwise, there’d only be one throne in Friendship Castle.”
The two embraced and held each other for several minutes.
“It’s still late,” said AJ, “let’s lay down an’ get some rest.  They’ve provided hay to lay on an’ blankets fer us.”
Twilight and AJ lay together and held each other close.
“Good night, my sweet cowpony.”
“Good night my princess.”
They kissed and drifted off to sleep.


Twilight and AJ awoke to the smell of something familiar.  As they sat up there were large bowls of the food stuff they were very familiar with.  Also there were bowls of water.
“Ya said that having the green mush sounded good,” laughed AJ.
“Apple-Dumpling,” said Twilight, “it’s a banquet!”
The two hungrily devoured the food and water.  
When they finished they sat and talked quietly.  As they did, some very large squirrels ran up and collected the bowls and disappeared into the gloom of the cave.  
They were noticing that their wounds were feeling much better.  Twilight’s wing felt functional again and the discomfort of AJ’s leg was much less.  Also their scratches and small lacerations from falling through the tree branches were all but gone.
They still saw no light from the other side of the water curtain so they were unsure of the time or how long they’d slept.

It wasn’t long before the white buffalo and the mountain lion returned, with them was a menagerie of other animals. 
All of which were the largest specimens either pony had ever seen.  There was even a pony they didn’t recognize.  Her size made Celestia look like a foal.

As some wood was placed on the fire, Twilight and AJ could now see that the walls of the cave were painted in motif they had seen the buffalo using.
The animals made a circle around Twilight, Applejack, the buffalo and the mountain lion.

“I hope you had a good rest and are refreshed,” said the buffalo.
“Yes,” said Twilight, “thank you for your hospitality.” 
The buffalo smiled and just nodded in acknowledgment.  
“Now your actions must be judged,” said the lion.

“Do what you must,” said Twilight, trying not to show any fear, as was Applejack.
“We ain’t ‘fraid,” said Applejack moving shoulder to shoulder with Twilight and held her hoof.

“We’ll see about that…” Said the lion in a most unnerving way.

Twilight saw that the great pony was smiling at them and they seemed to hear in their heads:
“Relax, my daughters.  You’ve nothing to fear.”

A drumming started and a chanting.  It was either in a language the two ponies couldn’t understand or it was just a rhythmic chant without words.  But neither Twilight or Applejack could tell where the drumming or the chanting was coming from. 
The air started to glow, then there in front of them was the image of the fight between Twilight and the lion.

“Thank you so much Sugar Cube, Ah’m sorry to be such a bother.”
“You’re no bother.  You’ve always worked hard to take care of your family and friends.  It’s time somepony took care of you.”

“Oh how touching, how I hate to break up such a lovely pair.”

“What… 
What… 
What do you want?"

“I’m here for dinner.  Now why don’t you make it easy on all of us and leave the injured one to me.  You get away easy, I get my meal easy and I put your friend out of her misery easy.
We all win.”

“Go Sugar Cube, save yerself.  Ah’ll just slow ya down.”

(Twilight and AJ heard the animals mumbling at this.)

“No bucking way!  If you value your mangy hide, run away and never return.  If you try to touch the pony I love, you will find that your hunger will never get to be satisfied.  And not one creature will mourn your departure.  So go while you have the chance.  
Because I will kill you!”

(More mumbling.  But they noticed that the great pony was smiling.)

“Ponies don’t kill, ponies get killed, and eaten!”
“Ponies do kill and leave the bodies for the worms to eat, how noble of an end!

The fight played out; it was astonishing to many of those observing.  Even the lion appeared impressed.  He’d never seen a pony or any prey take such punishment and keep on fighting.  Not just defending themselves, but dishing out as much punishment as well.

Finally there was Twilight’s endgame, the apology and the coup de grâce.

When finished, the image faded.  The animals all nodded to the buffalo and lion.  Also, the great pony smiled and nodded to Twilight and AJ.  The two ponies could feel her thoughts of pride and an almost motherly love for them.  The animals walked out silently, leaving only the white buffalo and the mountain lion.

“Are you convinced, Misibizhiw?” asked the buffalo sounding amused.
“I am convinced, Wakan Tanka,” answered the lion who actually smiled an honest smile of respect, “perhaps it was best I didn’t take her up on her challenge earlier (both the buffalo and the lion chuckled).  
And I’m amazed that I, the guardian of all lions, never knew that I have lions out there who walk about on four hooves and eat grass.”
Then he turned to face Twilight.
“Never have I seen a lion fight so to protect their mate.  You’ve shown bravery, honor, sympathy and with the way you ended it, you showed a trait that most lions have forgotten; mercy, and more mercy than your adversary would’ve shown.”
The lion walked to Twilight, for whatever reason, she was now no longer afraid of the massive lion.  Misibizhiw placed his massive paw on her head.  Twilight could sense a vast hidden power.
“I bless you, Princess Twilight Sparkle.  You shall be known among the buffalo and the lions as Tlvdatsi Nahna Ulasideni: Lion on Hooves.  

You need never fear mountain lions again.

Go in peace.”

The Lion nodded to the white buffalo and left out the back of the cave.

“You have indeed showed a higher spirit than all the buffalo or the lions,” said the white buffalo with a smile.  “With the way the two of you are linked in body, mind and spirit, I have no choice but to bless you.”

As if out of thin air, the buffalo produced two pony sized robes and put them on the ponies.  These were just like the robes they had seen some buffalo wearing in the buffalo tribe’s camps.

The white buffalo put his hooves on Twilight and Applejack’s heads.

“We have a tradition among the buffalo when there are two of the same gender in a relationship, it is called ‘Two-Spirit’.  These individuals are held in high regard.  And so I name you, Twilight Sparkle and you, Applejack of the Apple Family to be joined as a blessed Two-Spirit couple.”

Then he chanted a blessing:

“Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two ponies, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth.
Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulties and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong.  In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives.  Remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.

I, Wakan Tanka, The Great Spirit, have spoken.”

AJ and Twilight were surprised at him declaring that he was The Great Spirit.  Then the two felt an odd sensation as if they hadn’t slept for moons, they were very sleepy.

“Sleep now, my children.” Said the white buffalo.  “And give young Miss Celestia my greetings.”

Twilight and AJ couldn’t be sure, but it appeared that the buffalo just vanished.  They lay down, embraced and slept long.

Both dreamed that giant owls picked them up and flew with them not only through the night, but through space and time.  Then they placed them down together, in the desert.

When they awoke, they found that they were indeed in the desert.  The surroundings were familiar, as was the town in the distance.  But for whatever reason, it was colder than before they had went over the falls.  Luckily, they were still wearing the robes which kept them warm.
But most surprising were the mountain lions in a circle standing guard over them.  
“Farewell, Tlvdatsi Nahna Ulasideni,” said the largest lion seeing that the ponies were awake.  “It was an honor to serve.”
They bowed and left silently.
Twilight and AJ just looked at each other in shock.