//------------------------------// // Chapter 21 – One Problem leads to Another // Story: Griffon of Canterlot // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Griffon of Canterlot Chapter 21 – One Problem leads to Another Gilda flying over the city of Canterlot took a good look at the city from high above, she left the train soon as it arrived at the station to find a place to stay. One thing that she never thought about before hearing how Shining Armor look forward to getting home to see if Cadance has returned from her oversight trip to Cloudsdale. This quick off the head plan quickly was falling apart as she descended to the city cobble stone streets, landing gracefully with a few short strong flaps, Flash Sentry lands just behind her with a clop of the metal golden shoes to the cobble stones. Gale lands on his paws but with a few miss-flaps he flew a few feet backwards landing on his back laughing. “If seems Gale like to join you Gilda, as long as Flash Sentry goes with him I don't see any harm.” “Do I get a say in this?” “Well you did agree to teach him not only to write and speak but you agreed to show about being a griffon, so spending time with you I say yes.” “Fine!” “Gilda one-” Gilda recalling the short chat at the station how she flew off before Celestia could finish whatever she was going to say. Gilda sighed walking over to Gale putting a talon out, the teenager took it with his and she pulled him up onto his paws and talons. “Your a crazy cub, y'know?” Gale squawked happily. Gilda turn to Flash. “Since your from here, where exactly did we land?” Flash Sentry took a good look around. “Just down this road to the left is the Canterlot Public Library, two buildings down from that is Agency that deals with available housing in the city.” Flash point a hoof to the general direction. Gilda leap on her paws clapping her talons together rubbing them. “Perfect!” Flash Sentry was about to say something to her but she quickly ran down the street with Gale in tow, shaking his head the guard gave chase. “This is going to be one of these days!” Gilda raced by the library with two unicorn statues on either side of the steps up to it with a big large diamond patten glass dome on the top. Gale slide to a stop staring at the large building with the large stone carving with a book on top of four large pillars. “Come on Gale! We come back to the daff library after we gone to the Housing Agency!” Gilda called out to Gale, he nods in agreement running to her. Flash Sentry right behind them, he noticed ponies watching them run by. Flash Sentry slid to a stop as Gilda walk up the steps to the building with a house carving above the door. “Gale it be best for us to wait here.” He put a wing on Gale to stop him from joining Gilda. Gale point to it and tilt his head. “Gilda gone inside to see if she can rent or buy a place here in Canterlot.” Gale frowned and point to the castle in the distance. “Yes your mum does have a place in mind that is free, but Gilda left before she could tell her.” Gale eyes shift with a frown showing he was thinking about what Flash said. A short time past with Gale with a claw out and a butterfly sitting on it with the wings steadily opening and closing. He stared at the beautiful colourful pattens on it. The door opens and Gilda steps out looking very dejected walking up to them. “Well that sucks...” “How so?” Gilda rubbed the feathers on her head. “No homes available till further notice...” Gilda turn to the building. “How do you run a place with no homes to sell?” The butterfly flew away and Gale watched till it disappeared out of sight. “You do know they don't just sell homes, they rent out homes they own. So they are open for those said renties.” Flash Sentry blankly stated to Gilda. “Fine... But doesn't help me out.” Gilda walked away from the building towards the Library with Gale walking beside her eagerly bouncing in each step towards it. Gale quickly bounced by Gilda to twist around and point to the castle to a random building afterwards. “Okay... What are you trying to say Gale?” He hummed and point to Flash then to the same things again. Flash stood beside Gilda. “Gale most likely trying to tell you that Princess Celestia got a place in mind for you to stay at while in Canterlot.” Gilda grabbed Flash by the chest plate pressing her forehead against his. “You could of told me this sooner you dweeb!” “I heard how you griffon types like to do things yourself and refuse any form of help.” Flash responded in a nervous tone. Gilda let go and Flash step back straightening out his armour. “Your right we are.” Gilda sighed turning to Gale. “Don't be like that okay?” Gale nods not completely sure what she meant. “Good, now let's see this library shall we?” Gale nods again this time eagerly. “Note to self. Don't judge Gilda off other griffons.” Flash muttered and followed them up the steps to the library main doors. One of the two guards put a hoof out to them. “Sorry the library is closed today young prince. Come back tomorrow and it will be open.” Gale wings went slack and sitting on his rump staring to the ground in sadness. “Why is it closed?” Flash inquired. The second guard responded. “The librarians are at a book fair in Baltimare.” Gilda walked away from the library. “Well that's that Gale, no library for ya.” Gale followed dragging his claws and paws down the steps still having his head lowered. Gilda rolled her eyes. “Sulking about it not gonna make it open cub. Not everything will work out for ya, getting your way with everything is one way that lead you to greed.” The warning from Gilda to Gale made him raise his head up showing there was tears fresh. “Serious?” Flash was surprised as Gale were. “Hello adult griffon here! I am serious!” Gilda stood on her paws pointing to herself with her talons. “I got to do something about this!” Gilda land back on all fours. “We finding ourselves some griffons that live and work here!” Gale wiped the tears away and turn to Flash Sentry with surprise in his eyes. “There are griffons here in the city Gale.” Flash tap his hoof on the tip of his muzzle. “One of them in fact runs his own restaurant outside Restaurant Row. Gustave le Grand if I recall, it a desert themed restaurant but has a top floor slash kitchen for those that eat fish like us Pegasi need every so often for our wings.” Flash Sentry explained to Gilda and Gale. Gilda pinched the top of her beak rubbing it. “Gustave... That Prench griffon.” She sighed. “Better than randomly asking about other griffons here. Lead the way almighty guard.” Gilda mockingly bows with a wing out in front of her to Flash. Flash just ignored her mocking and open his wings up. “Follow my lead you two.” Gale nods and Gilda just gave him a deadpan look saying 'go already!' They take off and a short flight after land on the outskirts of Restaurant Row, before them was Gustave le Grand Icy Delights restaurant. The sign had the griffon's upper body half showing with wings out, wearing the chiefs hat and holding two different type of éclairs treats. One key difference it was circular all the way around with windows, two levels with a double door entrance at one side. Coloured cyan with rest border lines and chequered flag patterns between the red borders of the between section of the lower and upper floor windows. This included a mid-section roof under the red border chequered patten that out stretched over creating a shelter. Through the windows they could see the red chairs sat on by ponies laughing and talking to each other while very pop music being played from a colourful jukebox lit up with a vinyl moving around. Gale stared at it and for some sudden reason coming to his mind he could see something called a 60's themed restaurant, blinking a few times to try and understand where this memory even came from. “This is seriously Gustave's restaurant? It's crazy!” Flash chuckled. “It sure is! Ponies come here after eating the blandest lunch they had from Restaurant Row! They love the swing of this place!” He trot up to the glass doors putting a hoof to the metal border. “Also the doors open both ways, he pushes the doors with the music coming through more clearly. Gilda flinched from the loud music coming from it. “How can any of you ponies hear yourself think with that racket!” She shouted. Gale grabbed her talon with both of his pulling her to go in.”Okay okay! I get the message you want to go in!” Gilda freed her talon from his walking inside, the music was more bearable past the second door. “Okay... Why is it louder outside than inside?” “It how he attracts many of his customers, bright colours, yummy treats and very upbeat music! Three things a pony loves!” Flash stated. Gilda chuckled now. “Otherwise his cornered your head for the most bits he can get out of ya. This place is like a crazy magnet and because it only here in Canterlot you ponies come from far and wide to come here.” To Flash this is one of his favourite places to go after work second to Donut Joes. “Do you think Donut Joe and Gustave has a business relationship?” “Knowing that Prench feather brain from the last time I saw him with that crazy moustache. I say anything possible.” Gilda replied, Gale had wondered over to the jukebox listening to the music coming from it and watching the vinyl spin around. “Hey cub! Get your tail over here!” Gale quickly turn to Gilda going over to her and Flash. They walked up to a Pegasus that had brood body, four legs with a short mane cut wearing a black suit and tie with a white shirt under the suit. He also wearing shades over his eyes looking very static, the two griffons and guard walked up to him. The red pony seem to look over each of them before unhooking the red rope keeping the upstairs sealed from the general public letting them go up the spiralling staircase. “Welcome back Flash Sentry and welcome to Gustave le Grand Icy Delights young prince, enjoy your stay.” He put a wing out to Gilda. “You try anything and we will toss you out before you can blink.” He whispered to Gilda. “Clear?” “Seriously? That Prench idiot still have it out for me?” She whispered back. “You are a paying customer and he does not turn down customers.” He lower the wing and speaks clearly. “Enjoy your first visit griffon and hope it a memorable one.” Gilda gave a sly smirk. “Sure thing dork.” Gilda went up the spiral stairs joining Gale and Flash. Flash curiously look back down at the pony as he re-hook the red rope. “What was that about?” “Griffons don't get on well with other griffons, enough said.” Gilda walked by him taking a good look around, there was about four Pegasi and one griffon sitting at some of the tables. Many were empty. “Quiet hour?” “It's close to lunch and Monday so... Yeah it will be.” Flash stated. “The main business is down below, this is for those that need something more than icy treats. But don't expect it to be cheap though.” Gilda chuckled. “No surprise there.” She noticed the open display kitchen with the smell of fish being cooked for other customers by two unicorns. “No Gustave?” “If that bouncer was anything, I say he most likely be up.” Flash answered. Gale sniffing the air and licking his beak followed by pointing to the kitchen behind the drink stations. “Has Gale eaten any fish?” Gilda now asked another question on top of her first. Flash shrugged. “That something you need to ask Princess Celestia.” Flash open his wing up pulling out a bag of bits. “But she does have us covered for the day.” Gilda stared at the bag and back at him. “She needs to stop spoiling Gale.” Gilda seriously looked at him taking the bag from Flash Sentry. “I'm taking care of this, you watch the master at work!” “Yes ma'am!” He saluted. “You dork.” They chuckled afterwards. “Sale! S'I so sald so see sou!” The only other griffon spoke up once he raised his head, Gilda got a good look at him. colbolt blue, white tail, end wing tips, under belly, head feathers with mix red, yellow and green tips. Black talons and bulky big beak. Gale on the other hand was so engrossed watching the unicorns cooking to even realise he was spoken to by the unknown griffon. Gilda instantly knew this kind of griffon. “Oh great it a Macaw Griffon...” Gilda muttered. “Bad enough having a cousin that whistles when they talk with everything starting with a... S...” Gilda slowed her words at the end realising what he just said. “Did you say Gale?” “No he said Sale.” Flash believe he corrected Gilda not aware of what she just muttered first. But Gilda counter corrected. “You idiot that how Macaw Griffons speak. I have a cousin that one, she exactly like this and carry a mean whistling musical tone as well. Just make sure not to listen or you'd find yourself a few bits short without a care to giving it away.” “Really?” The Macaw Griffon hesitated in speaking up as Gilda spoke to the royal guard. “Really you dweeb. They have a musical whistle that sort of magical, they create sub-sonic sound waves. Think of it as suggestive thinking on a very low level. Just that little push to what you might be thinking of doing that isn't anywhere effective in your day to day life, just one of those minor things.” Gilda gave the details to Flash. The colbolt blue griffon stared in surprise as if he never knew this about his kind of griffon. Gilda growled. “Now I sound like a dorky egghead!” Gilda turn to change the subject. “Okay you! How do you know Gale!?” “Sow so sou snow Sale?” He asked back as if this griffon already knew Gale and he knew him. Gale now turn his attention to the two griffons now standing a few feet from each other. “I asked the question first you dweeb!” She turn to Gale. “Do you know who this griffon is?” Gale shook his head in a instant. “He sure think he knows you.” She point to the colbolt blue griffon. Gale tilt his head in confusion trying to place how this griffon knew him since this is the second only griffon he met not including the giant sign on top of the restaurant. “S'I sot surprised sooking sike shis.” He rubbed the back of his neck with an talon. This left them very confused by his statement. “What are you blabbing on about you crazy griffon!?” Gilda was thinking after her question throwing this loony griffon down the stairs. “s'I Soctor Srace.” “Doctor Trace?” Gilda repeated the name unaware of the reaction to come from Flash Sentry and Gale. There will be three paths that this point forward the story can turn to, read each short summary and pick one option. Read carefully and choose wisely. Update: voting closed. Option One: Trace tries to duplicate the magic in Gale resulting in turning into a griffon and unable to get back to his apartment for the reversal potion. Accidentally Option Two: Trace discovers a way to track the magic to a ruined castle fort half buried in the mountain east side. He finds out more than he bargin for. Ancient Evil – (Big hint first chapter) Option Three: Trace discovers while tracking the unique magic a sectary organization been attempting to take the magic for themselves. Secret Organization - (Idea comes from Black—Soul comment story)