Fluttershy didn’t leave the house to deliver the news when it was given to her. She quickly handed Angel a note, told him to be extra careful as he went to town and to come back only with another pony with him. To be on the safe side, if that wasn’t possible, she told him to stay with Twilight for the night just as long as her friends knew what they were dealing with.
While the pegasus had been calm even to a point, with some angry tones here and there, this was different. Gilda tried to appreciate the fact she wasn’t the only one scared to death right now.
The kids went to the bedroom and were told to stay there, the chickens too. Meanwhile Fluttershy and Gilda would stand watch downstairs. For some humor, Gilda put the nightstand against the bookshelf against the window. Those kids had a point now, silly as it was once. They seemed impressed though.
The griffon came back downstairs, finding Shy having herself a cup of tea. Most likely to keep her calm than to keep her up.
“The rabbit back yet?” Gilda asked.
“Uh...Gilda remember…?” Fluttershy began, and Gilda face clawed.
They were in the outskirts, and it had only been a few minutes after Angel left. Where was she again? This kind of tension was messing with her ability to tell time as usual.
“You got another cup?” Gilda said, not taking her claw off her face.
“I got you one,” Shy hoofed one over. “Here.”
Gilda took no time in filling the cup from the kettle on the table, downing it, and filling it again like she done before.
“How’d he find me here?” Gilda asked as she sat down, shivering, but not too bad.
“I don’t know,” Fluttershy replied taking a sip. “I know the escape was the other day. He must have moved fast to get here from Canterlot, even in this weather….”
“Yeah,” Gilda said with a bit of humor. “Guess he’s driven. It’d be pretty cool if he wasn't after me.” Her cud eating grin said it all, and she was lucky she hadn't freaked out yet.
“I’m sure Twilight has an idea to help stop him,” Fluttershy replied. She seemed to have noticed Gilda’s unease, much to the griffons annoyance, putting a hoof on her shoulder.. “Take it easy, Gilda.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Gilda asked, but Shy didn’t give a answer, the pony rubbed a hoof and let go. “Can ya, I don’t know, call a bear or something?”
“Harry’s hibernating,” Shy answered, taking another sip from her cup. Gilda had only just now realized she had been just holding the cup in her claw for awhile now. “For now, we have to wait.”
“You, ah, realize if he is nearly…” Gilda really didn’t want to finish that sentence as she looked around.
“I know,” Fluttershy said in a low tone. “But, don’t worry. He may not know where you are now.” She then cocked her head. “Um, Gilda? Your tea?” The griffon responded by downing the full cup in a second. “Take it slow, ok?” she added the Gilda took a few breaths.
While the griffon wasn’t too happy for that direction things were, even finding it painful to just sit there, the idea of facing Package Deal was still too scary to imagine. From his new teeth to the fact he--got her already once before.
They were quiet as they sipped their tea. The griffon looked out the windows from time to time, expecting Package Deal to be out there. With blood on his muzzle and a fanged smile on his face like before. Her wings wouldn't stay still, nor did her tail.
“Ya know….?” Gilda had figured a conversation might help, so she started one.
“Hm?” Fluttershy had the same idea as she listened.
“Remember that time, when I was talking about the storm?” Gilda reminisced.
“Kinda,” Shy answered. “Oh, the one you and Dash braved?” she recalled.
“Yeah, that one,” Gilda felt like sharing this irony she had in her mind. “I wasn’t scared of nothing back then, ya know?” She let out a sigh. “Lightning, heavy rain, gale winds, I’d laugh at that. Now, here I am, feeling like whimpering over one crazy pony that’s after me. Kinda makes me feel lame.”
“I told you it was ok to be scared, right?” Fluttershy said with a smile. “Do you remember how you dealt with it back then?”
“Pretty sure I just kept insulting that storm,” Gilda replied with some humor. “It was fun, even so exciting that I didn’t even notice a bolt burt my wing tip while I called the maelstrom a big stupid…” The rest wasn’t family friendly so she moved on. “I spat a lot of insults at it and I felt invincible.”
Fluttershy gasped. “A bolt grazed you wing?” she said with shock.
“Uh…” Gilda muttered as she rubbed her neck. “Even a graze would have been enough to blow a wing off.” Now it was Fluttershy who looked shaken. “Counselor told me how lucky I was to have been just out of range of the force from that bolt. I think I just laughed back at him.”
“Thought you were too cool to be hit?” Fluttershy kind of jabbed.
“Yeah...” Gilda said as she refilled her cup with a bit of humor, even having a bit of a laugh at herself. That bit of a enjoyment on self deprecation ended with a sigh, as the griffon was now back to looking at her tea. “Guess this all ends with me knowing I don’t take being hit well for real then, huh?”
“It’s ok.” Gilda raised and eyebrow as Flutters put a hoof on the griffon’s chin when she spoke. “I’ve been hit more than a few times, so I know you can make it.”
“Uh.” Gilda said, not quite convinced. “What do you mean by that line?”
“Remember those adventures you made a point not to ask about?” Fluttershy said with a coy smirk, that caused a groan from the griffon. “Sorry.” she added softly.
“This isn’t going to turn into some “My friends are my strength” kind of thing is it?” Gilda sighed. “I think I’ve been hearing enough of that crud from ponies.”
“There’s more to it than that, Gilda.” Fluttershy said as she shook her head, but still smiled. “It’s not just a matter of a cool sounding line that solves everything. There’s more to it than that.”
“Hasn’t solved me yet…” Gilda mumbled back. “So how do you deal with “being hit” thing with you being frail?”
“Well, I think you could understand your limits and work past them,” Fluttershy replied. She then looked sheepish as she continued. “Of course, you were the one who saved me when I forgot mine.”
Gilda sighed. “Limits suck.” Shy laughed at that. “What? What’s up with you?”
“I think we can both agree on that,” Shy said with a chuckle. “Maybe, some day.” She said seriously, but friendly. “We could tell you about a few things. You’re not alone in this, Gilda. No one is.”
“Yeah…” Gilda added as the conversation felt finished. Bright side was both felt less tense, almost. Then the sound of wood creaking had them both jump in the air with wings flapping.
“Eeek!” was Shy’s sound as she darted her eyes around the room. “Uh, oh, hi…” she added as she held her chest in between breaths, fluttering back down from the ceiling. “H-hi Diamond, c-c-can’t sleep?” The griffon looked and, true to advertising, Diamond Tiara was on the top of the stairs.
“Yeah,” Diamond said with a sad look. “The bla...others are asleep though, but I’m...” she muttered a bit under her breath. Fluttershy seemed to take the initiative, trotting up to the foal and talking to her, even guiding the little pony to the living room for a talk.
At first, Gilda was going to the kitchen to get the kid a cup, but then she had her own idea. After a brief trip downstairs, she came back to get that cup. All while carrying a pill in her feathers.
“...I know you insisted on having the bed alone, but you might feel safer if you slept with them,” Shy was explaining to the earth pony filly.
“That would be...weird, ok?” Tiara replied with a bit of exhaustion. “It would be enough to be sleeping in hay, but sleeping right next to them…” While there were a few things to say on this, the griffon stated the most obvious to her.
“If you took the bed,” Gilda asked. “Where am I sleeping then?”
Diamond looked a bit perplexed. “Oh…” She looked away for a moment, more than a bit nervous. “The floor, I guess?” Gilda faceclawed. “Uh, sorry?” she added sheepishly.
“Fine, whatever,” Gilda replied as she rolled her eyes in defeat. “Not like I’m sleeping right now anyway.” It worked for her plan anyway as well though. She handed Shy the cup, and the pegasus filled it, hoofing it to the kid.
“Do you need more help sleeping?” Fluttershy asked the foal. “Maybe a lullaby?” Diamond shrugged back and drank her tea.
“I got a idea, uh, can I?” Gilda asked, hoping Shy didn’t question what it was.
“Sure,” Shy replied with a nod. “I’ll wait here.” She seemed to trust the griffon on this.
“Come on,” Gilda lifted Diamond up again with her beak, putting the foal on her back. “Let’s get you to bed so we can resume our cowering, kay?” She hoped that was funny. Tiara continued to drink her tea in peace during this ride upstairs.
The guest room was as quiet as expected, with the blank CMC sleeping soundly on the sleeping hay. The free ranged chickens were with them, huddling close to Sweetie Bell of all ponies. Gilda let Diamond off on the bed.
“You know anything about pills that cause dreams?” Gilda asked in a low voice, hoping Fluttershy didn’t hear.
“Nope,” Diamond Tiara answered in her own whisper.
Gilda pulled out the pill. “This thing was helping me with my nightmares, so I figure it can help you with yours.”
“So, I just take it and dream...right?” Tiara answered, the good news being she wasn’t doubting this.
“Well…” As Gilda spoke, she looked for that sleeping mask. She then cursed to herself when she found Bell was wearing it. This was going to be hard. “Eventually.” she continued. “First you go to this weird place, which was why I need you to close your eyes.”
“Why?” Tiara asked back, now suspicious.
“It’s a place scares me even, so it’s going to scare the crud out of you,” Gilda admitted. “And I think you have enough problems right now.”
Diamond Tiara was the one who rolled her eyes then. Still, she shut them. Gilda handed her the pill and DT put it in her mouth. When handed her tea cup she drank and swallowed it.
“Now…” Gilda was trying her best to remember her last trips. “Try to think about stuff you are safe around. Nice stuff. Family, things you enjoyed.” Diamond kept her eyes closed with a frown for a moment, but then spoke.
“Give me a lullaby,” she said. Gilda felt a jolt for a moment on that demand.
“Are you….?” Gilda began, but sighed when the filly sternly nodded.
“Yes.” Diamond Tiara replied.
Gilda needed an idea quick. What was the least embarrassing song Edward got her to sing? One came to mind, but she really didn’t want to sing again.
“You know, you could-” Gilda was about to say, but Tiara wasn’t hearing it.
“Sing!” Tiara demanded.
Oh well, Gilda thought, least no one else will hear it. So, she began to sing a bit.
Amado mio
Love me forever
And let forever begin tonight
Amado mio
When we're together
I'm in a dream world
Of sweet delight
Many times I've whispered
Amado mio
It was just a phrase
That I heard in plays
I was acting a part
But now when I whisper
Amado mio
Can't you tell I care
By the feeling there
'Cause it comes from my heart
Gilda was hoping Diamond was sleeping now, before this got creepy. Luckily, by the peaceful smile and light giggle, the kid looked relaxed. Maybe even past the weird place and completely asleep then. She was seeing stuff that was better than her life was at last.
The griffon let out a sigh of relief as she turned to leave, then finding an unintended audience was behind her. Two weirded out foals and one silently clapping, eager for her to continue.
“Bite me,” Gilda said simply to the crowd. The confused two rolled their eyes, Bell looked disappointed. “I’m not a songbird, alright? Sheesh.”
The CMC would have little trouble getting back to sleep, so she left and hoped they wouldn't advertise yet another moment in the griffon’s life she was going to regret latter.
Back downstairs, things were about the same. Fluttershy had poured herself another cup and the cavalry had not arrived yet.
Gilda picked up her cup from the table, the tea was cold but drank it anyway.
“How long’s he been gone for?” Gilda asked Shy.
“More than a hour now,” Shy replied, not much more shaken. “And…..” She then looked alerted to something.
The griffon followed the pony’s gaze to the window next to the door. Gilda was about to ready herself for, hopefully, a fight. But instead there was a knock at the door. The griffon’s tension left her as she looked down and sighed, she let Fluttershy get it.
The gang was all there, it seemed, at least part of it anyway. Pinkie and Sweety’s sister Rarity were at the door. Both had a worried expression on their faces.
“Where’s Angel?” Fluttershy asked, moving her head and noting one more missing part to the crowd.
“Fluttershy, dear?” said Rarity, putting a hoof on Shy’s wing like she was going to deliver bad news. “I’m afraid the situation in town has…” Dramatic pause. “Become untenable.” While the meaning of that wasn’t quite clear, Pinkie Pie made it easy to explain.
“Deal took hostages!” she shouted. Sadly, that was enough to cause the other ponies present to faint. The unicorn more artfully styled than the pegasus.
“Aw nuts,” was Gilda reply to the situation, as Pinkie tried to revive her friends.