Author's Note

If there are any Native Americans reading this and any of the things I spoke about are wrong, please message me or comment and let me know so I can fix them. I was just writing about what I knew and what I could find through searching.

VI: The winds of change

Magis watches them continue to leave, finding herself missing them already and heads back home to make another entry into her journal. As she walks through the door, she goes to her nightstand to retrieve it. Opening it to the last page she wrote, she looks it over and reads about how she found a pair of strange ponies out in the blizzard. The passage also says how she was happy to see them to make a full recovery, learning that the older pony was an Alicorn and that how she finds it hard to believe they are 3,400 years old. She picks up the small piece of charcoal she uses to write with and turns to a new page as the previous one is full. She then starts writing, 'Galadriel left the village today with his wing harness due to his cursed wings leaving him unable to fly, but gave us two gifts for saving both his life and the life of a little filly called Light Bright. I wonder how these two crystal gifts are used... I can't believe how large and elegant one gift is, it rises up to touch the very sky like Mount Everhoof does. Yet the other gift is small and made of Diamond crystal, how do I power this with love... Ugh, I shall have to examine the Crystal Heart again later, but something about this feels familiar somehow.'

*A couple hours later, at the southern edge of the vilage's lands*

Light continues to follow him as the ground returns to being grass and asks, "Why aren't we staying a bit longer? I wanted to see the village some more."

I look at her and admonish her lightly, saying in a serious manner, "Light, it is rude to overstay your welcome and mooch off the host, it is important to remember one's manners when in somepony else's home as a guest."

Her ears fall a little at being scolded and lowers her head saying, "But my parents never taught me any manners, they only taught me to speak, walk, and fend for myself."

I shake my head and berate myself for forgetting how her parents treated her and say, "I'm not mad at you, I was just telling you to be more polite and thoughtful to others. Since your parents didn't teach you hardly anything, I will teach you what I can. Is that okay with you?"

Light's ears lift back up as she returns to her cheerful nature and says, "So where are we going now, leader?"

I smile and change my direction towards where the rest of my herd is and say, "Now, we are going to get the rest of my herd and we will continue to wander this land and see what else we can find."

She smiles and prances around asking, "Will there be other foals there for me to play with?"

I chuckle and nod saying, "Indeed there are, my two daughters named Midnight Autumn and Summer's Day. They are both only a few months old now, so you might have a job to babysit from time to time. As they get a little older you all can play together, but remember that you are the eldest of them so you will need to be the responsible one and look after them when you turn 10 years old." I then see a stream ahead and say, "Let's take a short break here to get some food and water before we continue on."

A month later, at Galadriel's herd's village

Fair Seed laughs as her daughter chases a butterfly around the harvested rice field saying, "Now be sure not to leave my sight honey."

Summer's Day giggles and chases after the butterfly, then stops for a moment with a smile on her face saying, "Okay momma, when's papa comin' home?"

She sighs and says, "He said that he will be back before the snow falls, sweetie. This means that he will be back really soon, if he is late I am going to kick him into next week."

The filly sighs and says, "Ah hope he comes soon, cause ah wanna meet him. Ah wanna see mah papa's face again, what does he look like again? Ah fergot."

*On the outskirts of the village, with Galadriel*

I make my way into the quiet village, looking up to see bright scarlet and orange leaves filling the cherry blossom trees as Light follows beside me, mesmerized by the lovely sight before our eyes and say, "We have arrived at last, I wonder where my herd has gone off to..."

Light follows him, slowing slightly as she is entranced by the beauty of this place and asks, "What are those things, leader?"

I smile as I see a familiar tan earth pony with a black mane and tail lying under a large Sargent's cherry blossom tree, then make my way towards her as her back is to me while our daughter chases a butterfly around. I then lower my head to Light and whisper, "Shhh, be quiet and watch me annoy my partner over there. She's the mother of the filly chasing the butterfly over there, that is Summer's Day."

She nods her head and grins, then stays quiet as she watches where she is stepping. They make it all the way close to the mare as she watches her filly play, fighting back a snicker as she watches him slowly approach the mare and very quietly blows gently across her right ear.

I watch as her ear flicks at the sensation, then do it once more and see her shake her head mumbling something about pests. I then lower my mouth to the tip of her ear and brush my hair along the edge of her right ear, causing her to shake her head again. I silently chuckle as her mane slaps against my neck and face, I then decide to let her know that I am home. I then use my lips to play with the tip of her ear, earning myself an irritated snort from her.

Fair Seed snorts again in irritation as she feels her ear being touched again and begins to look around for the culprit saying, "Awright, who's messin' with my ear!" She then hears a light chuckling coming from behind her and turns her head around to look at them, coming face to face with her lover. Shock briefly flashes over her face as it changes to excitement and happiness, whipping her head back around, standing up then jumps her lover saying, "Yer finally back, dear! We've missed ya so much, where have ya been in yer travels?"

I chuckle as her hooves hold my neck as she nuzzles against me affectionately and say, "I have been to the sea far to the north of here, seen quite a few things. Most were very interesting, but one thing was not nice at all. That ugliness is behind me now for it has been dealt with, our children and their children's children will be free from its presence since I have destroyed the foul city and punished its citizens. Though we should always be looking out for any danger, you never know what is coming around the next corner."

*On a distant shore, far from the ruins of Saddleantis*

Grogar looks across the vast expanse of water, fuming furiously as he finally managed to get away from those wretched insects and huffs out an angry breath thinking, 'After finally evading those pests, I can finally use this piece of wood to get to the other side and hunt this Galadriel down and make him pay for wrecking the city I built!' He then growls and shouts, "I'm coming for you Galadriel! Wherever you are and whoever you are, I will find you and PUNISH YOU!!" He then pushes the wood into the water and gets up onto it, using his cloven back hoof to push off into the water.

He then grabs a flat stick he carved and plunges one end into the water with his magic, then uses it to row the platform through the water. A grin crosses his face as he feels the wind pick up, putting aside his stick in favor of a pole with a piece of cloth on it. He then sets the pole into a hole in the center of the wood and picks up his stick, then goes to the back and drops one end of it into another hole at the far back of the platform. He cackles cruelly as his craft moves along quickly through the water and grins maliciously saying, "I'm coming to get my revenge on you...Galadriel. I will look upon your face and see the terror on it as I destroy everything you hold dear, so get ready...because here. I. come."

*Three weeks later, somewhere far southwest of the village*

I look back over my shoulder, sensing that something dark is looking for me and see nothing in the immediate area around us when I hear a rumbling, sounding a lot like a great many hooves and turn my head to see what is approaching as I stand in front of my herd protectively as my love's older sister called Hoof Pie joins me with a fierce look on her face and say, "I don't know what comes this way, but try not to start a fight okay?"

Hoof Pie looks at him for a brief moment and nods her head saying, "Eeyup, ah'll let them start the party first before ah start knockin' sense into their heads."

I chuckle at her behavior before seeing a large cloud racing towards us, making me take a closer look and cock my head at seeing a stampeding buffalo herd heading our way. As I watch the herd get closer, I start to notice feathers attached to their ears, or beaded headbands on their heads.

The herd stops just in front of the strange visitors to their lands as the lead bull stomps forth and says, "Hallo, strange land creature. I Chief Windhawk, who be you? What bring thou to our land?"

I nod my head at him and say, "Hello, Chief Windhawk, I am Galadriel. My herd and I are on a journey to only see new lands, we do not claim any land we visit. Only things we require is food, water, and rest, we get the water and food from what is already there. We will not touch what you grow to feed ourselves, we come here in peace to only see what is in this vast land."

Chief Windhawk looks the land creature up and down, gauging his character and finds him to be honest and asks, "Galadriel, what creature are you?"

I smile and hold my head up saying, "I am called a type of pony called an Alicorn, the pony to my right is an Earth pony. The two ponies with the strange appendages at their sides are called Pegasi, just one of them is called a Pegasus. The young pony with a horn on her head is called a Unicorn, and we can use our horns to cast magic."

He looks at the Alicorn curiously and asks, "This magic, it be good or bad?"

I look at him and answer honestly, "It is not good, or bad. The nature of the magic depends on how it is used, if it is used to cause harm, it is bad. If magic is used to help others, it is good. Will you allow us to stay and rest for a few days before we move on to the next area?"

Chief Windhawk thinks about it for a moment and asks, "You not cause harm to tribe in our land?"

I nod my head and say, "We will not, we shall behave ourselves. I like to do what I can to help those that I come across by creating things to add beauty to their land that will also make its residents happy, it is always done as a gift because it is my duty to assist others to make their lives better and punish the bad.

He cocks his head and asks, "You punish bad? Who be bad? None here bad, no punish."

I shake my head and say, "I do punish the bad, I was speaking of an evil, dirty city in the past that was bad as can be."

Chief Windhawk gulps and asks curiously, "What name, where city? W-What happened to city?"

I look at him and say, "It was called Saddlelantis, it was very far to the northeast of here. I used my magic to create a big storm and had it wreck the city while I transformed the sinful residents into horrid insects, then I asked the sea to return the city to the depths of the ocean floor." I then shift my eyes over to Light Bright and smile saying, "The young unicorn with us, Light Bright saw it all as she is the only innocent that I found there and saved." I turn back to look at Chief Windhawk and smile saying, "Your tribe has nothing to fear from me, I always give the guilty a chance to repent their actions before passing judgment upon them. So don't be so nervous, please. We are here just as a wandering herd passing through an area to get to another, so there's really no need at all to pay us any mind."

He sighs a breath of relief he didn't know he was holding at hearing the tale and clears his voice saying, "You ponies welcome to stay if no harm is caused, welcome to Buffalonian Lands." He then turns around to address the others with him saying, "Visiting ponies honored guests, treat well!"

I watch as the other buffalo in the herd bow their heads in acceptance with smiles on their faces, allowing me a chance to look around at their land and see that it is pretty barren of anything green. Making me think of what I can do to add some greenery and think, 'I think a few cacti, bushes, some flowers, some tumbleweeds, and perhaps a few fruit trees'

After addressing his group, he watches them turn around and make their way back to where they came from and turns around to look at the group and says, "Honored guests, please follow us to village."

I nod my head in agreement and ask him, "Is food difficult for your tribe to find?"

Chief Windhawk approaches Galadriel and talks low saying, "Food difficult to find, yes. But water plentiful, land get little rainfall. We search lands for food, little success. I not sure how solve, you idea?"

I smile at him and nod my head saying, "I have some ideas, but I do not want to be treated like some all-powerful being. I can show you what many different plants are and what medicinal qualities they have. There are a few things I would like to teach you while I use my magic to call forth some plants that will survive in this area that can serve as food for you all, is this agreeable?"

He thinks hard on the offer, thinking of how hungry his tribe is getting lately and watches his tribe get further away to make sure none see what he does next, then bows his head saying, "Please help tribe solve hunger, hunt season upon us soon."

I cock my head and ask, "What do you mean by hunting season, do you all go out hunting for food?"

Chief Windhawk shakes his head and says, "No, great sky beasts with featherless wings that breathe fire hunt us, take many shiny rocks we find on ground, kill few and eat for food. Almost lost all tribe last hunt season, not able to lay many to rest. Greatly upset me to not lay daughter to rest, me wish season to end."

I then grin slightly as I hear the evil acts committed from the chief and ask, "When is this hunting season going to start?"

He then looks up at the sky and says, "Next full white circle after tonight's full white circle, why ask?"

I then hold my head a little higher and say, "So they will come in twenty-eight days, I think what these creatures do to you is bad enough to earn punishment."

Chief Windhawk looks at him nervously and asks, "You not take life, right?"

I sigh and look down for a brief moment with a somber, yet serious look in my eyes and say, "I try to avoid doing that at all costs, all life is sacred." I then use my hoof to pick up an ant saying, "From this tiny ant, to the largest creature that breathes air." then return my hoof to the ground, letting the ant return to his business and continue, "All things have a value to their existence, it is not to be taken lightly."

He smiles and releases a sigh of relief saying, "You very wise, me have much respect for you. What you teach me?"

I smile and start walking saying, "Come, take a walk with me and I shall tell you of a race from the land I come from, they happen to be very similar to your tribe." I then look at my herd and say, "You all may do as you wish, I need to share a few things with the chief."

Summer's Day then trots after her father saying, "Ah wanna go with papa, ah don't want him to go away again!"

Midnight Autumn then trots along after her half-sister saying, "Me too, me too!"

I chuckle as they catch up to me and look at both of my loves, nodding my head and say, "Very well, this may be a bit of a walk while I tell him about the race from where I come from. If you come along, do not leave my side or I will scold you and not let you come with me again, okay?"

Chief Windhawk smiles as he watches the two girls nod quickly and follow after him with big smiles on their faces, then walks next to Galadriel and asks, "How these others similar to us?"

I then continue walking and say, "Well, they also wore beads, headbands, and feathers like you do. They also have a great respect for life when it comes to nature, they do not waste what they take from nature. Each part of the creature's body was used in some way for their needs, be it weapons, tools, clothing or even food, nothing was ever wasted or thrown away." I continue walking as I tell him a bit more saying, "Do you believe that everything has a spiritual essence?"

He looks at him and nods his head saying, "We do, we pray to spirits for various things. Even this vast world has a spirit of its own, though none of us are able to commune with it."

I look around for my children and find them beside me, chasing each other around while laughing. I then look back to the chief then nod my head and say, "Okay that is also similar to what they believe, now let me tell you about what they once held in great respect over all else. They called it the medicine wheel, this will take a little while to explain so let's lay down here for a bit and I will tell you what I know about it."

Chief Windhawk listens intently to what he hears about this medicine wheel, learning how it moves in a clockwise pattern following the cycle of life. Each section of the wheel holds certain meanings and represents many things. North is the air or wind element. It represents elders or death, winter and the spiritual aspect of life, it is also called the white nation with the bear as its animal spirit. Offerings made to this nation are to be cedar. The next direction in the cycle is East, it is the fire or sun element. Called the yellow nation with the Eagle as its animal spirit. It represents spring, birth, and the intellectual or mental aspect of life. Its offering is to be tobacco. The direction after that one is South, is the earth element. Called the red nation with the Wolf as its animal spirit. It represents summer, youth, and the physical aspect of life. The offering to this one is sweetgrass. The last direction is West, is the water element. Called either the black or blue nation with the Buffalo as its animal spirit. Representing autumn, adulthood or parents, the emotional aspect of life, and the water element. The offering to this last one is sage.

I take a break to catch my breath a little before saying, "The medicine wheel is also called the sacred hoop, it can be painted or be crafted into items. It can also be built on the ground using stones placed in a circle and either a pile of stacked stones to mark the directions with the stacked stones painted to match each direction, there is an inner circle in the center of the outer circle where you can stand and meditate on what you are thinking about, searching for an answer." I then look to him and see him looking off to the side, deep in thought and smile saying, "One thing about these beings is that they went on spiritual journeys or 'vision quests' as a rite of passage or to search for answers. A vision quest normally means spending time alone, communing with nature and focusing inward to connect to the deeper pieces of ourselves. There is much more I can tell you about their ways, but for now I think it is best to let you contemplate and understand what you just learned."

He then turns his head around to look at the very wise pony and nods saying, "Much appreciated wise one, have much to think about and discuss with tribe tonight. Let us return, for it is late and we have yet to eat."

I look around for my two girls and see them lying right beside me, making me smile as I use my magic to lift them up and carefully set them both on my back. I stand up carefully, trying not to disturb them and follow the chief back to his tribe.

*The next day, around noon just outside of the tribe's village*

I look to my two loves and say, "I am going to go see what the chief wants to do today, try to keep out of trouble you two fillies." I then smile and call forth a large patch of grass for them to eat saying, "This grass won't survive in this area, so eat as much of it as you can to tie us over until tomorrow before they perish." I then start to walk away when my two daughters start to follow me and look at them with a loving smile on my face and shake my head saying, "Sorry girls, papa's going much further away from the village this time to teach the chief more about the race I know of, so you will have to stay here, unfortunately." I watch as their faces become crestfallen and say, "Don't worry, papa shall take you out and teach you how to find food, and survive on your own when I am finished with my tasks here." They both run up to me and hug my forelegs and I say "I love you both, very much. I will be back within a couple of days, I promise." I then see them let go of me and return to chasing each other around, even chasing after Light a bit. Turning towards the tribe's village, I then start heading towards it and wonder what this day has in store for me.

Chief Windhawk finishes speaking with his tribe about going on a spiritual journey to find answers, they are very accepting of the information he learned from their honored guest and eager to add more of their methods to ours. Hearing that his tribe is willing to learn more about their ways, he makes his way out of the village and sees their honored guest already nearing the village and smiles saying, "Honored guest, you and herd sleep well?"

I nod my head and say, "Yes we all did, thank you for asking. What do you seek today Chief Windhawk, food or knowledge?"

He smiles and says, "Knowledge. Tribe wish know more about these other beings, they fascinated by others' way. Wish to know what sacred hoop is, you show?"

I smile and nod my head saying, "I shall need a lot of stones to show you what it looks like in its most basic form, flat stones are needed too for the directions."

Chief Windhawk looks to his tribe and says, "Gather many mouth-sized stones for sacred circle, bring some flat stones as well."

The ground rumbles as the tribe scurry around, collecting rocks and placing them into piles as I dig around for a flat stone to mark the first direction. After finding it, I pick it up with my magic and head to a large area to set the first stone saying, "When you build a sacred hoop, always progress in the direction the sun and moon travel...always clockwise, or to the right. Only enter the hoop when you have need for it and an offering, always walk around it and never through it or it will lose its sacred nature."

He watches as Galadriel works on building the circle, telling the tribe more about how the other beings believed that the races of their world were at one time one tribe that were divided into other tribes and sent to different areas of the land to master a certain element they were asked to learn and master.

I continue to place directional stones down, then start placing stones down in a clockwise manner and say, "There is a great circle of life, the force that drives the circle onward is time. Nothing can stop time from continuing on its path, everything is a part of the cycle in some way. When something comes into this world, it is at a young stage. As it gets older, it moves towards the end of life. When it reaches the end of life, it dies and returns to the ground. After it returns to the ground, it nurtures the next life until it is born back into the world. The cycle of life, death, and rebirth never ends, there is no need to fear one's own passing for you will return someday."

Chief Windhawk listens to his words intently as do the entire tribe as he continues to place stones in the same direction, never changing his movement. He wonders just how much knowledge they have and how long they have been around to gain that knowledge.

I finish the outer circle and start placing the first line saying, "There is a circle inside of the large one where one individual stands until they are satisfied with what they discover, an individual may take an unknown amount of time searching for their answer. Have the patience to wait for them to conclude their meditation before taking your place inside the circle, remember to make your offering when you enter the large circle. Then move to the smaller circle to face the one you wish to think on and close your eyes, once you find your answer you may open your eyes and take your leave. Some of their tribes put bowls at each stacked stone for their offerings." As I finish the last line, I then start placing the inner circle. I make the inner circle a little bigger for their larger bodies and return to telling them more of what I know of their culture. As I place the last stone, I look to the tribe and say with serious look on my face, "Never step on one of the stones in the circle, always step over them to show your respect of the cycle of life." and then turn to the right and raise my hoof up as I watch where I am stepping, and step over the circle of stones.

He watches the being step over each stone he comes across and asks, "Now what you teach us?"

I then walk around the circle and think of where a forest may be then say, "I shall teach you about the ceremonial plants that are offered to each point of the sacred circle, let us go to an area with trees and grass."

Chief Windhawk thinks for a moment and says, "Closest area with trees and grass west and north of here, several hours of running to get there. We carry you there, it faster and you be honored guest."

I smile and nod my head, accepting the offer to not be rude and say, "Thank you for treating me so kindly." I feel one of them use their head to lift me up onto another one's back and hold on for the ride ahead.

*Timeskip, about two days later*

And so I spent the past couple of days teaching them what all I know about the various plants and herbs of the forest, even telling them about the animals they held most sacred...the buffalo. I tell them about how the other race of beings encroached on their land, thinking that it did not belong to any of them. I made sure they knew that all these things I am telling them happened long ago before I started telling them about how the lack of good communication between the two races led to very violent conflict, resulting in the once-mighty tribes losing the fight and were forced to move to another land. I then sigh and say, "Those were sad times for the tribes, communication is very important because it may help those involved to avoid unnecessary violence. I hope that your tribe will learn from their past and live less-violent lives and protect what is most dear to you." I look around the land as we near the buffalo's village and say, "Tomorrow I shall wander around your land and try to commune with mother nature to see what can be done regarding your food situation."