//------------------------------// // Chapter 17 – A Different Griffon Brush Off: Part Three // Story: Griffon of Canterlot // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Griffon of Canterlot Chapter 17 – A Different Griffon Brush Off: Part Three Gilda flew around above Ponyville looking out for Gale, the clue to finding him was looking for the guards that kept close to him. Soon she spotted the orange Pegasus guard and lands not to far from him to find Gale. He sat at a table with Shining Armor dipping hayfries in ketchup and munching on. “Hey dweebs!” She did a mock salute with two claws to the forehead pushing out to them. “I finally got a idea how to get Gale to say one lame word...” “For sure or your just setting the bar too high?” Shining Armor sounding not very convinced by Gilda's boosting. Gilda rolled her eyes. “I just spent who knows how long in that lame library looking for something to help Gale.” Gilda walked up to the table sitting down on a stall. “I finally got help from this purple unicorn.” “Twilight Sparkle.” “Yep that the one.” Gilda clicked her claws. Gale with a hayfry held in his open beak stared at Gilda's talon as she clicked the index and thumb claw together. He ate the fry, then looking to his claws to try and repeat what Gilda did with her's. “If that the case we solid.” “Just like that? You think I got a shot?” Gilda raised an eye. Shining Armor nods crossing his forelegs. “I do.” He picked up a hayfry with his magic and ate it. “You know that purple unicorn don't ya?” Gilda stared at him. “She my s-” Audible click came from Gale's direction whom squawked happily and clicked again and again. “Gale just learned that off you.” Gilda grew annoyed of the clicking and put her talon right over Gale's. “Okay I get it! You know how to click! Please stop it getting annoying!” Gale hummed it sadness as she let go and to apologise he pushed the plate over to her. “What are you doing?” “He saying sorry and giving you the rest of his hayfries as part of it.” Shining Armor stated. Gilda was about to protest but her hear stomach growl getting a confused look to her stomach by Gale and Shining Armor chuckling. “I'll accept your apology and these hayfries.” He smiled happily. “But...” Gale listen to what Gilda was about to say. “After I ate and hopefully getting you to say my name at least.” Gale now was excited by this news. “We going to work on you saying sorry and leave it at that. Not giving stuff to others to add to it, some may accept it and move on but others will use it against you.” Gilda explained and warned. Shining Armor nods. “I agree with Gilda on that one. Kindness can be taken advantage of even you are doing the right thing. Just saying sorry is good enough.” Gilda was surprised to hear Shining Armor agree. “Blue Hooves, thanks...” “It Shin-” He pauses. “Nevermind. Let finish our meal and get you started Gilda.” Shining Armor decided to let it go by the odd name Gilda gave him. Gilda shrugged. “Fine by me. Sooner the better to get Princess Celestia off my back.” She lean in to whisper the rest to Shining Armor. “No offence but she terrifying and you tell any of these ponies what I just said. I'll-” Shining whispered in response. “Loud and clear, I know what image means. Just don't let it get in the way of helping Gale.” Gilda rolled her eyes. “Dweeb I know.” She took a hayfry, dipping in ketchup and eating it. “Wow no wonder Gale put so much of this sauce on this. It awesome.” Gale grinning. “Yeah yeah I like it. Now let me eat cub.” Gale nods holding his plush watching and waiting. Gilda felt unnerved being watched but didn't show it as she put on a brave stubborn face eating the hayfries. After she was done, Gilda took Gale along with the guards protecting him to small lake just outside Ponyville. Shining Armor took a good look around pointing to one location to another, the guards salute walking or flying to those locations. “I don't like being in the open like this. But I guess you picked this lake for a reason.” “Dash told me not many come by here. It got a good view and best place without the distractions of other ponies around.” Gilda move her talon around showing what she meant. Shining Armor couldn't disagree with the logic Gilda brought forwards. “Very well. Proceed. I'll be just over here.” Shining Armor point to the tree next to the lake. “Good by me. Your not half bad Blue Hooves.” Shining shook his head slightly. “Thanks featherbrain.” He countered getting a roll of her eyes, both knowing it wasn't a good one. Now Gilda was sorta alone with Gale, he sitting on his flank eager to say his first word. She didn't like the high hopes he gave her. “I am going to be real here Gale. What I got in mind is do or don't moment. If you don't pick up on this you may never know how to speak.” Gale suddenly looked sad. “I am just dropping reality on you cub. I am not being a dorky duchy dweeb on purpose. So whatever happens...” Gale nods without her needing to finish as he got a understanding what she trying to push. “Now shall we?” He nods. Gilda took a deep breath in and breathed it out. “Okay... Here we go.” She walked up to him sitting on her hunches. “Now place your claws gently on my neck here.” Gilda points. “And look directly at my beak as I say my name.” Gale raise is right talon placing his claws around that part of the neck gentle as told to do and look directly at her beak. “PLEASE WORK!” Gilda cried in her mind. “Gil... Da... Gilda... Gil... Da...” She repeats over and over again. Gale at first felt her neck muscles move with a startled shift of the eyes to his claws. “Gale eyes on beak!” He nods and went back to watching her beak move with each time she told her name in slow to fast and breaking down Gilda's name. The movement of the beak with each time she spoke came to his dream talks he has with Aunt Luna. Gale recalled seeing the mirror speaking towards it with the way the beak moved. “Cub try mouthing it first before trying to try and speak okay?” He nervously nods with sweat forming and running down his feathered fur face. Gale started to attempt to mouth her name with no words spoke Gilda suddenly stared with amazement. “H-how the heck are you picking up on this so fast!? Your mouthing my name!” Gale gasped in excitement and hugs her surprising her. “Gah! Get off! I don't do hugs!” He refused and continue to do it for a few more seconds before letting go. “Now let try saying it, you felt my neck muscles right?” He nods. Gale gives it a try but came out a odd sounding squawk. Gale tries again with another odder one. Growling in annoyance he tried again and again. Gilda flinched at the high pitch squawks. “Gale cool it! Don-” That when the next oddest squawk came with Shining Armor now turning to his directly with surprise and Gilda staring with beak hanging open. The word was... “Sqida.”