Pigs are uncommon animals in a farm. They don't give milk like cows or give eggs like chickens and ducks. Most ponies keep pigs as company and even use them as their own living garbage can.

Then theres the wild counterpart of pigs, The wild boar. They are what happens when its decided that a pig is given a rough, thick coat of fur, a set of razor sharp tusks, and top that off with an attitude that would make a manticore blush. It doesn't help their reputation when ponies tell of sightings where boars can grow to be the size of bears, Earning the name Hogzilla.

Applejack and her family never had the misfortune to deal with wild boars as they prefer to live in the southern part of equestrian in swampy forests. But she had heard horror stories from granny smith when she was a young teenager, about how wild boars have a taste for ponies.

So imagine her increasing terror of seeing a legitimate Hogzilla standing next to the dragon that had saved her from the potential foalnappers. Granted, the hog did helped her by bulldozing the pegasus that had pinned her down but the desire of wanting to run grew when the hog stared at her with its red beady eyes.

The dragon must've noticed the mare's discomfort as he petted the hog with his fingerless glove hand.

"Easy there boy, its alright. She's okay." His words had eased the boar but it still stared at the sitting pony.

The dragon walked up to her and she noticed the threatening aura on his face was gone and instead is replaced by a calm and warm look in his green eyes. He hold out his clawed hand to her and she took it, letting him help her up.

"You alright, Ma'am?" he asked, concern laced in his voice.

Applejack just stared at him back with her awed expression, remembering the incredible gunslinging skills he displayed against the outlaws.

"Y-You..That-That was..The smoke…Hog." She stammered, clearly trying to express her amazement.

She shook her head and became more clear. "That was amazing, Stranger! The way you showed those no-good tooting outlaws whats what was incredible. Wait till Spike hears this."

She then remembered where she was at. "Sorry, where are my manners. My names Applejack." She greeted, tipping her hat.

The Dragon tipped back. "Mr.Northstone." He gave his name. "Now do you mind asking why a mare like you was pulling an empty cart in the middle of the desert?" He gestured at the now smashed up cart. "Hope the reason was worth it for you to get jumped by a bunch of mama boys."

"Oh, ah was just coming back from delivering some apples to for a baker from a town that way." She explained, pointing behind them the general direction of where it was.

Northstone frowned at the direction and gave a suspicious look back at Applejack, adding a raised scaled brow for good measure.

"Does this town have only one street?" He asked with a questioning glare.

"Y-Yea, it does. Is something wrong?" She repiled, caught off guard by the dragon's sudden unease.

He didn't answered, instead he analyzed her and the more he did, his unease switched to confusion.

"Huh, usually when ponies enter that town, they never leave and somehow got their cutie marks removed. But you still look bright as sliver in a mine." he said.

Understanding the confusion, She explained "Ah well that was before me and my friends came in and got the town ponies marks back. Their former leader had some…interesting philosophies regarding cutie marks." She internally cringed from the memories of the past Starlight's views. But she made up for it and now is growing into a good friend.

"Well that was mighty decent of you and your friends. That makes me feel better as some of my friends are looking to head up there."
He replied, sounding relive and went back to his relaxed stance.

"Oh, theres more of ya?" Applejack asked, surprise the dragon has company. Minus the sheep and the killer tank with tusks.

"Well they're not ugly dragons like me." He joked. "I left them with the sheep when we heard the commotion over here. I better go back to them to let them know that things have cleared."

He then gives Applejack a concerned look. "I actually would like to come with me as I'am not fond of you going out alone after what happen. My friends and I can help take you where you need to go."

But Applejack brushes it off "While ah thank ya for the concern, Those rattler suckers caught by surprise. I'll be more careful. Now I have to get going to ponyville, thank ya for ya help Mr. Northstone." She then starts to moseying along on the trail she stopped dead when a coyote howl pierced through the desert. A horrifying sound that manage to come from a scrawny canine.

Applejack then rethinks her situation. As much she doesn't like the idea of relying on traveling with another for safety like a damsel from those sappy novels that Rarity likes to read, She remembered her stubbornness had gotten her a lot of trouble in her life. She didn't want have more trouble while alone in the desert because she denied the offer from a dragon that had saved her.

She turns sheepishly back to Northstone. "On second thought, There is safety in numbers." She said with an embarrassed blush on her face.

Northstone looked satisfied from her choice and motioned her to follow him up to the hill. While they walked up the mound, the monster pig walked in between them, still giving Applejack a stink eye.

She wanted get this out as the pig was unsettling her. "Um, you said you have a sheep herd, right?" She asked the dragon, whom she can still see his head over the hog.

"Yep thats right, Its something of a hobby of mine. The wandering thing can make one go crazy so I decide to be productive when I travel." he answered

"Not to be rude, but whats a sheep dragon doing with a hogzilla?" She cautiously gestured toward to said glaring hog.

Northstone gave a proud smirk. "This here is my sheep pig, Ricardo. No offensive to sheep dogs but with all the monsters in Equestria, you need something with a bit more bite if you want keep your cotton balls." He said, petting the hog who was pleased with his master's petting.

They finally reached the top of the sheep dragon's previous entrance and Applejack saw another field but this time was occupied with a decent sized sheep herd, no more then 30 sheep, and on the left side of the herd is what Applejack remember as buffalo teepees.

She looked back at the dragon. "Your friends are buffalo?" She asked.

"Is there a problem?" he gave a raised eyebrow with that question.

"Oh No, Im just surprised to see buffalo this far out as they usually stay near Applelousa." She reassured

"Like I had said before, they came here to try some apple treats from the baker in the town." he said, seemingly glad there wasn't gonna be some pony/bison problems.

When they reached the camp, the buffalo came to greet them. Applejack had forgotten about how big and muscular the buffalo can get, which made her glad that they and the Appleoosa ponies had stopped fighting. Otherwise, things would get really messy.

A red furred bison who looked fairly young but was the biggest of the group came up to greet them.

"Northstone, glad to see you still living. We had heard thunder cracks from your weapon. The others wanted to rush in but I knew you still be with us as you are strong like the buffalo." He said confidently with his deep, fierce voice.

"Nice to see you cared, Fierce-Horn" The dragon jabbed in good natured. He took off his hat and they gave each other a hard head-but. They then laughed joyously.

"Tell us, who was your foe that you claimed victory against." Fierce-Horn asked eagerly, with battle lust in his eyes.

Northstone nonchalantly waved off. "Oh it was just some pony outlaws that were given this fine mare trouble."

Applejack gave a small blush

"Applejack!" a young female voice shouted from behind the buffalo.

They moved to make way for a young female bison calf wearing a feathered attached headband around her bushy mane.

Applejack immidently recognized the calf.

"Well, cover me in carmel and call me an apple treat! Little Strongheart!" she shouted while rushing toward her. They gave each other a good hug.

"I'm so glad your alright. If I knew it was you there, I would've join with Northstone to fight off those dishonorable snakes from you." Strongheart declared.

Applejack gave her friend a reassurance pat on the shoulder. "Its alright Little Strongheart. Thanks to Northstone here, i have a feeling those varmints won't go back to being outlaws for a loooong time."

"Thank you Northstone for saving my friend." Little Strongheart said gratefully.

Northstone simply tipped his hat with a warm smile.

"But what are you y'all doing here, Appleloosa is miles upon miles from here." Applejack questioned the buffalo.

"When your brother Big Mac came to Appleloosa, we heard of how his spirit mate makes some of sweetest apple treats. We the buffalo want to try some for ourselves so our chief assigned me and Fierce-Horn to take the treats for the tribe back home." Strongheart explained.

"Well yer in luck! I was just heading back to ponyville after delivering a bunch of apples to Sugar Belle before ah got jumped by those outlaws. I'm sure she would be delighted to make some treats for visitors like y'all." Applejack said with a smile on her face.

Her face quickly fell as the image of her mother replaced Sugar Belle in her head. She looked down sadly as she pawed the ground with her hoof.

"Maybe its best that we all rest for the night as it was a long day for all of us." Northstone suggested, probably notching Applejacks mood.

The group agreed and head to camp to rest with Applejack and Little Strongheart in the rear.

"Are you okay Applejack?" The young buffalo asked concernedly.

Applejack just gave a sad smile. "Yea I'm fine. Northstone right, I just need some rest is all." She reassured

She hurried to the camp while Little Strongheart looked at her friend's back with worry.

Author's Note

Glad the first is gotten some decent views. Like I said before, Tell me the things I did right and wrong with this chapter. I want to write stories with quality for you guys.
Keep on living lads and enjoy.