Griffon of Canterlot
Chapter 13.5 – The Winner Is...
Celestia whispers into a Pegasus guard ear, he salutes and flies off to the ref pony. She now turn her attention to Shining Armor and Gale, the press had been informed about Gale and what happened to him in the briefest way possible.
“Princess you've just let the press know about Gale, why are you even thinking about letting him declare the winner!?” Shining Armor said with shock.
Celestia look over to the blacken screen she were holding up with her magic. “Captain. Do you really think they will sit on it for two days?” Shining Armor's eyes shift to the left and right.
“We both know they will do whatever research they can do and create a story for tomorrow's headlines. Ponies don't need it to be real to be news.” Celestia said firmly to the captain of the guard.
“This is the chance to give them something to write about and have it on our terms.” Celestia turn to Gale. “I know this seem very confusing to you but please trust me in this. I been dealing with stuff like this for a very long time.” Celestia lower her head to his level looking him in the eyes.
Gale slowing breathing in and out finally give a nod. “Thank you my little griffon. I will make this up to you, I promise.”
Shining Armor lowered his head slightly with a sigh before raising it back up. “I do not like this Princess but you have a valid point that is very much true.” Shining Armor turn to the black screen. “How would you want Gale to present the winner?”
Celestia smiled. “A rather simple way.” Gale tilt his head in curiosity and nervousness. “Gale put your talon around Shining Armor's right foreleg gentle.”
Gale does it and looked very confused by this action, so did Shining Armor. “Now Shining Armor raise your foreleg and Gale raise your talon.” They did so and now Shining Armor's hoof was above his head. “There we go, you just declared the winner.”
Letting go of the foreleg Gale rubbed the back of his head. “This was a testing kiddo. When you do the real thing you will go to the one that won the race, the photo will show it and be on the right side.”
Shining Armor face the same way as Gale raising his right foreleg. “This is right and this is left.” He rose his left foreleg after putting the right down.
Gale nods in understanding him. “Shall we go?” He nods again to Celestia this time and she cancel out her spell, the black screen fades away.
They leave the royal booth heading down the stairs. “I just been informed that Princess Celestia wishes to have a word before we announce the winner!” The ref pony gives her a wing signal to take the headset off him.
Celestia does so and put it on over her head. “Hello my little ponies, I do apologise for interrupting the results of that stunning race.” Celestia turning her head to the left to the right looking at each of the ponies. “As many of you know now this young griffon I recently took in as guardian and adoptive mother.”
Gale nervously wave at the ponies staying just between her forelegs. “Gale at first saw me and all the ponies in fear, he fled and ran. But soon we came to a calming setting that I gained his trust to the point he saw me as an motherly figure.”
“I first wasn't sure if I should take that role but soon I learned he begun to learn, gain memories and become this young curious griffon you all see. I decided from that moment to do so and I never regretted it, Gale will be fearful and shy to many ponies.”
Gale showing that all too well to the ponies that listened and watched, Celestia gestured for the photo. “I thought being the first step to bring him out is to announce the winner by raising the foreleg of that said Wonderbolt.” The pony gives Celestia the photo. “What do you think captain?”
Spitfire pulled up her goggles showing her eyes. “I say it a great start for the cub.” Spitfire and Gale looked at each other. “I saw you watching us fly. Those wings fluttering that excitement, your first time seeing the Wonderbolts right?” His gaze shifted ruffling his wings slightly before nodding in reply.
“Princess give Gale the photo and show us who out of us three have won!” Spitfire turn to Fleetfoot and than to Soarin, they both nod in agreement raising their goggles up too to show their eyes.
Gale took the photo from Celestia. “Go on son. Pick the winner!” He nods and looking at the photo he showed it to Shining Armor to get it right.
Pointing to it the captain nods. “That right that one won by the tip of the muzzle. Go on announce the winner!”
Gale looking around hearing sounds of clicking and slight flashes from the cameras around. He nervously gulped and flew over to them, looking at the clouds he slowly and carefully landed on it.
Gale looked suddenly surprised and excited, he bounced around on it. “Look like your having fun, first time on a cloud?” He turn to Spitfire and nods. “Well cub. Go on show who of us won.”
Gale look to the photo again and up at each of them, instantly he went right to Soarin taking his foreleg with the talon and raised it up.
Shining Armor chuckled seeing ponies now cheering as Gale announced the winner.“That was blunt.”
"Indeed." Celestia giggled.
“Look like we got a win Princess.”
Celestia give back the headset to the ref pony as he calls out the winner. “The winner of the Wonderbolt Derby is... SOARIN!” The ref pony point his wing to the co-captain.
Celestia glance down at Shining Armor as the Wonderbolts gather around Gale rubbing his feathered head talking to him with photos being taken.
“Indeed it is captain. Gale is happy and forgetting his fears at the moment, I know this is a push that could of gone badly but I am glad it worked out for my little griffon.”
Gale flew over to Celestia pointing and squawking at the Wonderbolts with excitement and joy also showing the photo with three hoof prints on it. Celestia didn't need to say a word as she hugs him and he hugs back happily, they both full of happiness at this very moment.
The ball is now rolling and Celestia knew by morning her former student Twilight Sparkle WILL know.