//------------------------------// // Eye of the storm // Story: Dead Birds // by Stray Dog Kane //------------------------------// In spite of herself, Gilda felt things had gone smoothly. At least as far as she could tell Fluttershy was not going after her or straight up screaming at her for past actions. Let alone her returning to the asylum. Things never went that well for her, last she checked, when things got that bad. She couldn't decide to be relieved or tense for what came next. The pegasus left after lunch, likely to go to town where Discord was likely at. As far as Gilda could tell anyway. It was then the griffon noticed the weather had changed, the snow was getting thicker now. The night before the weather was choppy, some light parts first, then it got heavy later. Though she figured that was from Package Deal doing. Windigos were windigos though, and that weather had her worried. Then again, the pony brigade had seen worse...right? She thought. Distracted by that, and other musings, the griffon only just then noticed the small foal next to her. “Huh?,” Gilda said, somewhat surprised. “Oh, hey kid.” she said awkwardly. “I thought you would have left with the others.” “My home is still a mess, miss G,” Diamond Tiara answered, with a bit of humor. “Plus the celebration isn’t for a while so…” She shrugged her shoulders with a bit of a grin. “Guess I’m still here for now.” “Whatever,” Gilda replied with a sigh. While she more then felt like just being by herself, she decided differently. “You wanna talk or something?” she added, looking aside. “No one else is here anyway, even that silly rabbit I played checkers with.” “You played checkers with Angel?” Diamond said with surprise. “Did you win?” “Two out of three, kinda,” Gilda replied, and really didn’t feel like mentioning how she kept losing to something shorter than she was. “You play checkers kid?” “Chess is better,” Tiara said smugly. “Smarter too.” “Chess isn’t about smashing your opponent's army,” Gilda replied with a shrug. “So, where’s the fun in chess?” “Maybe wowing over someone who didn’t see it coming?” Diamond stated with a smile. “It’s awesome to watch somepony only just realize you beat em,” she giggled. “Think about it. They think they got you beat, you lost a bunch of your pieces, and they so proud of themselves,” Tiara explained. “Then they see that pawn you had, but they were too dumb to notice.” “Say what?” Gilda added, though to be fair she never played chess. “Do it right and the pawn can put the king in checkmate.” Diamond answered, somewhat annoyed. “Duh.” Gilda smirked. “That does sound like a fun way to ruin someones day,” she said as she scratched her head. “Too bad I don’t play well.” “I know, right?” Diamond said as she rubbed her mane. “But do other griffons play it?” “Maybe the empress court?” Gilda said, still scratching. “Ol’ dad wasn’t the only griffon who thought that kind of stuff was stupid. I bet the overseers might even see griffons as all pieces on a board. Remember dad called them pompous.” “Maybe he was jealous?” Diamond Tiara said in a sly tone. “Oh, yeah,” Gilda replied with a self deprecating laugh. “Pretty sure of that at this point.” “What’s the mean?” Diamond asked curiously. “He kept saying power came from claws or from one of those powder arms,” Gilda clarified. She had gotten tired of watching the snow and sat down on the living room couch, where the filly promptly joined her. “All this, talking about other stuff? He’d call it a bunch of noise that’s less than worthless.” “Wow,” Diamond said with wide eyes. “Your dad’s really was into smashing stuff.” “Took me awhile to realize that, but yeah,” Gilda replied, rolling her eyes after a bitter sigh. “Got anything to pass the time that isn’t chess, though?” she added. “I’m not in the mood to think too much right now.” “What have you done to pass the time?” Tiara asked. “Do you at least read interesting books?” “I used to practice flying skills, shadow box, listen to metal, drink…” Gilda trailed off on the last one. “You mean electric guitar metal?” Tiara asked. “Like rock?” “Not sure if you ponies got that, but it’s pretty awesome where I used to live,” Gilda said proudly. “Think the heaviest sounds.” “Sounds annoying if you ask me,” Diamond said as she rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue. “Meh, it grows on ya,” Gilda replied, surprising herself on taking that comment so well. “You got good music you listen to?” “Classical,” Tiara answered with a smile. Gilda guffawed as Diamond’s eyes narrowed. “It easy to listen to, intellectual and totally ponderous.” She huffed when she saw the griffon wasn’t quickly agreeing. “It’s better than just a bunch of musical pounding!” Gilda stopped her chuckling. “Heh, sure,” she said. “Guess I was never into easy.” “Ever enjoyed your singing, miss G?” Diamond Tiara innocently asked, and then saw the notable chill in Gilda’s face. She did noticed Gilda unease at least. “Um…I was good, ya know?” “I remember some karaoke at some ritzy drinking places,” Gilda blushed as she spoke about that odd bunch of experiences. “Usually had a few drinks in me, and seemed to be the times me and Eddy really got along well.” She tried not to be nostalgic, but she was. “As for that attempt at a lullaby? It was something I heard a few times.” “You should sing more,” Diamond complimented. “It’s was really good!” “I’m not a songbird,” Gilda groaned. “That stuff’s embarrassing to me.” “Just something to keep in mind,” Tiara said with a friendly smile. “Just in case that “bird you cannot change “ thing doesn’t work out.” “How about you?” Gilda changed the subject. “You ever accept the invite?” “Yeah…” Diamond replied, now looking nervous. “I did, and Apple Bloom looked way too happy about it too! She gave me a hug after I agreed…just out of nowhere too. Weird...” She then looked a bit more nervous as she gulped. “...Also, I kinda asked if you could come and she said it was ok.” “Oh, boy,” Gilda said. and this statement was not delivered in a joyful tone. More the tone of “this will suck”. “Please?” Diamond Tiara asked seriously. “It’s hard enough for me to do this already!” “Yeah, I got that,” Gilda added, and thankfully for them she did know. “Thing is, I’m already in the middle of something and…” She scratched the back of her neck. “I’d like to avoid any more pony based anger. You do remember that Dash bit, right?” “Yeah, I do,” Diamond replied, just a bit nervous. “Her sister is one of Rainbow Dash’s close friends too.” Gilda faceclawed at that. “Um, Bloom said she’d do something, um, about that.” “Really gonna suck,” Gilda replied to that answer, still holding her face. Through her claw, she could still see the sad look the kid now had. “Alright,” she moaned as the removed her claw from her face. “I’ll ask Fluttershy about going there.” “Thanks,” said Diamond, looking glad. “I don’t want to face this alone.” “Yeah,” Gilda said as she rubbed her head feathers. “I can tell it sucks to do stuff you’re not used to.” “When do you think she’ll be back?” Tiara said to change the subject. “No clue, I’m not even sure when that walrus is getting here,” Gilda replied. “I really need to talk to him too.” “Would it help if that tooth didn’t distract you so much?” said a voice sitting in a chair next to them. They turned to find Discord. Diamond Tiara seemed pretty creeped out and, had she been a more weirder sort, Gilda might have given the kid a reassuring claw. But for now she just scoffed at him. “Why do you even have that tooth?” Gilda asked, as she raised her claw. “It’s so stupid! What do you even do with it?” “Enjoy a fine kebab, but enough about that!” Discord said as he put his fingers together. “Little Fluttershy told me you had something we needed to talk about?” Gilda put a claw on Diamond Tiara’s head, calling the kids attention. “Can you go upstairs, kid?” she asked with an attempted comforting smile. “This is going to be one of those “grown up” talks. Okay?” “Whatever,” Diamond replied as she rolled her eyes again and pushed the claw off. She trotted upstairs as Gilda shrugged, while the griffon hoped she did that right.