Is all Hope Lost?

It was a rather fun ride for Spike to be onnthe back of a gigantic eland like this, for this was certainly not like a Twilight carrying him. Zecora was walking next to Imari while Discord was floating next to the Eland kind’s left side. Some other eland soldiers were following them and keeping an eye out for any danger that could come at them and the rest of the group,

“What can we expect from Zuberi?” Spike Asked curiously.

“Not to worry,” Said Zecora. “Just let me tell him the whole story.”

"For our sake, I hope that we can possibly reason with Zuberi in any way possible." said the Eland king. "There would have to be something to persuade him into joining our cause against Roseblood. At least he will listen to me at least."

After a little short ride, they made it to a large town with walls surrounding it, like it was a military zone. Two buffalo guards with berets on their heads were standing on one end of the entrance, possibly to see if any outsiders were friendly or not. Spike looked a little uneasy about this, but Imari went up to the two guards he didn't look afraid at all.

Elands were rather taller than Zebrican buffalo, and weighed more pounds, but the buffalo had a far bad temperament, that was for sure, despite them being smaller than the largest antelope ever

The two brutes blocked their way with a grunt. "Halt!" said one guard fiercely

"Who goes there?" said the second one.

"Stay your horns, fellas." said Imari. "It is only I, the eland king. I demand you let us pass into your city and speak with your chief."

"Imari? Of course, do come right-" then the two guards recognized Zecora in an instant when they got a good look at the zebra. "Ah, the almighty Zecora has come back to Zebrica, has she?"

"What a pleasant surprise." said the other guard in a sarcastic voice. "We never thought we would never see you again."

"Hello." said Zecora. "Please let us through and let us go." and she let out a small sigh.

"The chief is not going to be very happy to see you Zecora." said the first guard. "He might gore you to death, and we would know who would win between you two."

"I don't care. If I die, then I die fighting!" Zecora said boldly. "And I do not care how many of his guards there are, I will take you all on if I have to if it means trying to talk."

"But we know who will win between buffalo and elands." said King Imari.

"Our king has fought against your chief." said and eland guard.

"And we all know the rest of that story." said Lekan

"I don't." Spike blurted." the two buffalo guards looked up at the baby dragon with a breath through their big noses. "oops." he muttered to himself. Spike was worried that the buffalo would attack him on sight since he's a dragon and all.

"Hmm, who's the little purple crocodile?" said the first guard with his left eyebrow raised. The baby dragon suddenly perked his eyes up in disbelief and offense, and he sat still like a wax statue would be like. All of a sudden, he stood on his legs, right on the eland king's back.

The baby dragon said in a huff "I am not a crocodile! I'm a dragon, a baby dragon! You guys should know about them, don't you?" and he stumbled, and was about to fall off the king, but then Discord caught him just in time before his small body could hit the ground. "Okay, yeah, we're both reptiles, but we're very different."

"A dragon, you?" said a buffalo guard. "You look too weak to be a dragon in my eyes."

"And mine." the second guard added. "You couldn't even be strong enough to breath fire."

"Hey, you watch your putrid mouths!" Discord said with a scary look in his eyes, blazing like hellfire. "Spike certainly is a baby dragon! Don't you ever make fun of him! Besides, that's my job."

"Oh thanks a lot." Spike muttered sarcastically.

"Pay no heed to them, Spike." said Imari. "Now, I can rest assure you two that Spike is indeed, a baby dragon, and a noble one." and he gave the two buffalo a stern look on his face. "And I insist you treat him with the respect he deserves, whether I am around or not."

"Come on, this little runt is so weak, he couldn't even hurt a fly if he wanted to, nor even lift a fly with those small appendages called 'arms'." said the first guard. Just then, the king of elands stood in front of them, intimidatingly, with a more stern look on his face.

"I am warning you two brutes for the last time: Treat him with respect." the king said in a threatening voice. He even made a loud huff to them while narrowing his eyes at them through his nose. Both bulls didn't move and gulped down their throats in fear. "Now, I would be more than happy if you let us all pass."

"Even... that chaotic monster?" said the second guard. He was obviously referring to Discord, who stuck his tongue at the guards with disdain.

"Yes. Discord is no longer evil. Now, I will say it one last time: Let. Us. Pass, now."

Feeling more intimidated, the guards timidly stood aside and let the outsiders pass through the gate and enter their village. Inside, there were many Zebrican buffalo going about their lives without a care in the world. The houses were made of clay and there were gardens and fields of cabbage, carrots, tomato plants, and others.

The cows also had horns, but they were relatively smaller than their male counterparts, and a little more brighter brown color than the bulls. The calves were an even more lighter brown then the cows would be like.

Spike also witnessed a small event that involved two large bulls sparring with one another with their deadly horns, with the sound of blows being heard in the distance. The baby dragonnwss rather impressed by how this buffalo lived, and yet a little nervous, considering the fact that they looked like a group of warriors. It would be a perfect backup for him and his friends to save Equestria.

They saw the largest buffalo bull walking along outside of his large house. It had to be ten leader, for he had the deadliest looking horns, and he had sunglasses over his eyes, and his skin was the blackest of night. He also wore a green beret over his head and had a scar running down his right eye.

“Ah. There is the one.” Said Zecora. “Zuberi, now Spike, Just don’t be afraid sweetie.”

“Yes Spike. It’s best if we do the talking to him.” Imari added. They all went up to him and the bull was accompanied by two small bulls who were his bodyguards.

“King Imari.” Said Zuberi in a low, rumbling voice. “It’s always a pleasure spot see you in my humble home again.” The Zebrican buffalo bull looked at Zecora, and frowned. “Oh, it’s you.” And he let out a breath from his nose.

“Zuberi, my old friend.” Said Zecora. “We are on desperately need your help, for poor Zebrica might come to a horrible end.”

“You got a lot of nerve coming back here to Zebrica.” Said Zuberi. “First you move to Ponyville to become an herbalist, and now you come back to our homeland?”

“I am not just an herbalist, I am an alchemist! A potion maker! For you must all listen, we are all in terrible danger.”

The buffalo chief’s face didn’t really change and looked at the others. “Discord. Come to cause more chaos I presume? Because we know how to treat evil demons like you.”

“I’m Not an evil demon.” Said Discord. “I have friends that I care about so much. And besides, I just want to have fun.”

“Hmm. Well I am certainly going to keep an eye on you, In case you decide to pull any devious tricks.”

“Umm, Imari, can you please put me down now?” Spike Asked the eland king.

“Oh yes, of course.” Then the gentle giant bent down on his knees and the baby dragon toppled off of his back with a grunt.

“What might you be little one?” Asked Zuberi.

“I’m Spike, and I am a baby dragon.”

“A dragon?” And the buffalo got a closer look at him and began sniffing him with his large nose. “You don’t... smell like a dragon, you look a little more like.... a small crocodile with a bizarre color.”

“Grr! Why does everyone keep saying that?!” Spike complained. “Do I look anything like a crocodile? Oh, wait, don’t answer that.”

“You are far too weak to be a dragon, youngling.” Said Zuberi. “You’re only a boy, and you couldn’t last a whole minute against anything dangerous. You’ll probably be dead someday.”

Spike was fuming from the buffalo’s insult and his face turned red. “Spike, Spike, please. Calm down now.” Zecora Said.

“Yes Spike.” Said Imari. “Perhaps we should just cut to the chase.”

“Yeah.” Spike Said with a small breath, trying to calm down. “Zecora’s Right, we have come to ask for your help.”

“Very well. What kind of help do you all possibly need.”

Imari, Zecora, and Discord all began explaining to Zuberi one at a time about the recent encounter with the corrupted Mane Six. The chief’s face still didn’t change, for it was still blank. “Please Zuberi, we all beg you to see reason.” Said Zecora. “We all need your help against Roseblood and free the princess’ from her spell once and for all.”

“Celestia and Luna are none of my concern.” Said Zuberi.” He Then took off his sunglasses, and huffed again. “No life is worth more than me and my own family and friends within these walls. Buffalo are for buffalo.”

“Come on.” Said Discord. “You all just want to isolate yourself from the rest of society and live on like hermits?” Discord Asked him

“No, of course not. We need to take care of our own. Besides, the princess’ never even bother to try and help with our problems before.” Said Zuberi. “They don’t even bother contacting us. What should we even return the favor?”

“Because,” Said Spike. “It would be the right thing to do. But I guess you guys don’t have any morals, do you?”

The buffalo got in a charge position, ready to trample Spike to death. “I would not say such things if I were you.” Said another bull. “No one insults our kind and gets away with it.”

“Peace, Spike. At least reason with me, Zuberi. We are allies and you should listen to me about saving a land.”

“Imari, I am sure all those three are doing is bringing omen and hell to us if you all got attacked by your brainwashed friends.”

“But that’s why we need your help.” Discord Said. “With you on our side, we can have a greater chance of defeating her and prevent hell from even coming to Zebrica in the first place. We can always use some extra firepower.”

“No.” Said Zuberi. “I will not help you.” Then he turned his back away from them. “Better you than all of us being slaughtered by her.”

“Grr, you know what? You are just a hypocrite and an irrational beast of burden.” Spike insulted him.

Zuberi turned around, looking white angry, and charged at him, but then, Imari blocked him with his mighty horns, and threw the buffalo chief to the side. Many guards were taking notice and were about to attack them and imprison them, but Zuberi ordered them not to.

“At least see reason!” Imari Said.

The chief was silent for a moment and he ultimately said: “Get out of my sight. I don’t want to be humiliated by you again, Imari.”

Feeling very reluctant, the heroes all decided to leave the settlement and leave Zuberi in his stubbornness. “Great, now what are we going to do?” Said Discord.

“Just leave them be.” Said Lekan. “Zuberi was always a soldier too short in a choir. Besides, we can always find more help to our cause.”