There was a time, long ago, when it would have been very strange to ever seen a Buffalo walking amongst ponies. But, those days had come and gone, and now, Little Strongheart was trotting through the streets of Appleoosa, a smile on her face, being greeted with warmth and friendliness by pretty much every pony she came across. A few tips of the hat here, a few "good mornings" there, and it felt as though she was as welcome here as anywhere. The sun, while still as clearly shining as it always was in this part of the world, was not quite as hot, and there was a gently-blowing cool breeze today, all combining to create a rather pleasant bit of weather for everypony. Strongheart, glancing at a lot of the homes and shops of the town, stopped at one in particular, looking through the window to all of the gifts on display for sale. And it was as she was doing this that somepony, finally, spoke to her.
"Well howdy, Miss."
A smile crept onto her face, and she turned, seeing the even wider smile of Braeburn, who was walking closer to her.
"Nice to see you too, Brae."
Tipping his own hat to her, the stallion then gave a little bow to her.
"Well, ain't every day we get a bonna fide Buffalo Princess come ta visit."
Strongheart rolled her eyes.
"For the last time, Brae, I'm not a Princess. I'm just the daughter of the High Chief."
Braeburn nodded.
"Same difference."
Strongheart grunted in annoyance.
"Are we seriously going to do this every time we meet up?"
A smile returned to the stallion.
"Only till it stops bein' fun."
Naturally, such a remark earned him a sudden punch to the shoulder from Strongheart, which he started rubbing while letting out a nervous chuckle.
"Yep...ah deserved that."
Strongheart giggled slightly, and before long, the two of them started walking down the street together.
"So, how are things with yer people?" Braeburn asked.
The young Buffalo considered that.
"It's going well. Having the tribes come together has really turned things around. I've never seen so many of my people come together like this. And work on our new home is coming along nicely."
Braeburn nodded.
"Ah have ta say, it'll be strange seein' a full-on Buffalo city spring up so close ta us."
Strongheart looked over her shoulder.
"Yeah...no more wandering around. Settling down in one place. It'll take some getting used to."
Braeburn looked in a similar direction, then back to her.
"Have y'all had any more trouble with them bandits recently?"
Hearing that, Strongheart placed one hoof over her other leg, where she'd once received an injury from those aforementioned attackers, and grimaced slightly.
"No, thankfully. Guess they don't want to deal with so many of us at once."
Braeburn nodded, but said nothing as Strongheart, after thinking for a bit, began to speak up again.
"If it wasn't for Twilight, who knows what would have happened. Plus, I really should thank Queen Moon's forces. They swooped on in and took those rogue Griffons like they were nothing!"
To that, Braeburn frowned a little.
"Careful bein' too grateful, Strong. Those varmints have got their hooves stranglin’ the Griffons because of that."
Strongheart looked to him.
"Hey, if it means my people don't get bothered by them anymore..."
Braeburn took that in, sighing, then looked back to her.
"Ya know...it's too nice a day ta talk about bandits and Queens."
Strongheart nodded in agreement.
"You're right, it is."
As they carried on, a smile returned to the Buffalo's face.
"So...heard anymore from your cousins, Applejack and Pinkie?"
Hearing those names, Braeburn too regained his smile.
"Eyup! Sent me a letter just yesterday. Might even be coming over for a visit."
Strongheart gave out a brief laugh.
"Happy to hear it. Always nice to get a visit from the ponies who saved your life."
The two laughed together, but it was short-lived, as Braeburn then spoke up once more.
“Say...is it true y’all got a whole bunch of fancy people showing up when yer tribes came together?”
Strongheart nodded.
“Yep. Princess Celestia, the Queen of the Griffons, even the leader of the Changelings.”
Braeburn, as one would expect, seemed impressed by this.
“Wow, ah’d have loved ta be there. But, ya know, work an’ stuff.”
Strongheart looked to him with understanding.
“Oh yeah, I forgot to ask, how is the apple harvest this year?”
Pride crossed Braeburn’s face.
“Little Missy, this year’s harvest is the biggest you’ve ever seen!”
The Buffalo giggled a little.
“Well, that’ll be quite something. I’m sure your family must be happy.”
Braeburn nodded.
“Sure are! We even got this big deal with some fancy hot-shot in Manehattan to start sellin em over there.”
That, at the very least, seemed to surprise Little Strongheart.
“Manehattan? Hmmm, nice.”
Braeburn tipped his had again.
“Y’all better believe it. Ah just’ feel like celebratin’ right now.”
Then, a thought came to him.
"Say...have ya ever been up ta look-out peak?"
The Buffalo shook her head, leading to the stallion starting to explain himself.
"Ya should! Ya go up there an' it's the best darn view in the whole world!"
Strongheart considered that.
“Yeah...sounds interesting."
Braeburn chuckled.
"If ya like, ah can show ya up there. It's gets especially goods at sunset. The sky looks beautiful, ya mark mah words."
Hearing that offer, a sly smirk crept onto Strongheart's lips.
"Braeburn...are you asking me out on a date?"
Instantly, the stallion started to blush fiercely, and scratched the back of his head in a nervous manner.
"Well...ah...um...well, maybe ah..."
But, he was halted, as Strongheart placed a hoof upon his lips, silencing him, before looking to him with a soft smile.
"I'd be delighted to join you up there."
Though taken aback, Braeburn soon regained his earlier confidence.
"Oh! Well...great! Ah'll see ya up there then...say...tomorrow?"
Strongheart nodded, then turned around and started to walk back off in the direction of her people's new home, before stopping and looking back over her shoulder to her friend.
"It's a date."
Again, Braeburn blushed, and Strongheart, now resuming her walk home, giggled as she moved onwards.
"Oh yeah...I think that is gonna be a lot of fun."
