//------------------------------// // Chapter 60 – The World of Cloudsdale Part One // Story: Griffon of Canterlot // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Griffon of Canterlot Chapter 60 – The World of Cloudsdale Part One Six Pegasi guards pulling the chariot across the sky, with six more around it and sitting on it Gilda, Gale and Princess Celestia, the chariot on route to Cloudsdale with a eager teenager watching the city in the skies getting closer by the second, Gilda felt a little bit more apprehensive about returning to Cloudsdale, just looking at it reminds her of Rainbow Dash and their friendship. Celestia glance over to Gilda, she had her talons over the edge of the seat side staring out to the endless sky. “Is something of the matter Gilda?” Celestia quietly asked as Gale's full attention was on the closing cloud city. Gilda didn't bother to look behind as she continue to stare out at the sky and clouds going by. “It really lame of me to feel like this...” Gilda mutters with a soft sigh. “It also lame of me to think Rainbow Dash would come to Canterlot to apologise to me...” Gilda rest her bottom part of the beak against the tops of her talons. Celestia took a moment to think of something to say. “Sometimes those that can't apologise right away are the best kind to wait for.” “If it was only that simple.” Gilda had some tears falling. “When I promised to come here my hopes, how dorkish it sounds.” She sniffed a bit. “Was that Rainbow would be around before coming here, this is where we became best friends and lasted till that stupid bucking moment she broke her promise...” Gilda wiped the tears away. Celestia put a hoof to her right side. “I had to live with my actions with what I did to my sister for 1000 years, I and Luna had much to apologise for.” Gilda glance over at the hoof to seeing partly the flowing mane. “Point taken, still doesn't help this pit of a twist in my stomach I am getting thought.” “That something you just have to deal with Gilda, even if we do encounter her and no apology comes right away, just be natural with her at least, can you do that?” Gilda roll her eyes. “Of course Princess, I am not that cold hearted, I might act like a jerk at times but I feel weirdly better with myself since teaching Gale, so don't let that pride you have getting me to teach him go to your head.” “Duely noted.” Celestia remove her hoof. “I believe there a chance we will run into her some way or the other.” Gilda couldn't help but snorted with a laugh. “Sure thing dweeb.” She push off the side turning her body around to face ahead turning her head a bit to look at Celestia. “Bet she found a way to drag her friends up to the city and planning to tour the Weather Factory.” Celestia smiled. “Wouldn't that be just the coincidence?” Gilda smiled back. “With everything that happened so far, I wouldn't be surprised if that did happen.” “Indeed.” Gale turn to them pointing to the large floating facility coming into view with blackish grey clouds discharging lightning close by. “Weather making place?” Celestia lean down to him. “Yes Gale, that the Cloudsdale Weather Factory, the place where all our weather is made and sent out through out Equestria, we are going to take a tour and show you how it is all made.” She nuzzled him a little. “Excited?” “Yes mum! Very excited!” Gale was eager to have a look inside the Weather Factory.. The chariot finally lands on the cloud near the entrance to the reception area of the factory, the guards pulling it detatch themselves and stood to attention with the other guards, Celestia step out with Gale and Gilda. “With all these years being here in Cloudsdale I never once came to the factory.” “First time for you and Gale.” Celestia said walking up to the glass double doors opening them with her magic, they follow her inside while the guards wait outside. Soon as they walked inside Gale heard his talons tap against the floor, he look down to see a solid flooring that looked like marble flooring in Canterlot he seen, tapping it with a claw. “What are you doing cub?” “Marble flooring, think it is, how sit cloud?” Gale tilt his head. Gilda was about to answer that but couldn't think of one part from... “Magic is all I got for ya.” Celestia turn to them. “It comes from the ground and yes, magic is infused in it to sit on clouds.” “Infused magic stuff stay cloud?” “I guess so.” Gilda shrugged. “Magically infused stuff is the best answer we will get.” Celestia turn her attention to the pony behind the reception desk, Gale notice it was a wooden desk and took into account what was said, he had to accept that as magical infused answer. “Hello Princess Celestia, we been expecting you, the prince and Griffoness Gilda, please follow Storm Cloud to get your clean jackets and hats before entering the factory.” “We will and thank you.” Celestia answered, she wave a wing for Gale and Gilda to follow her as they followed the red stallion wearing a white coat with a hat on to the dressing room. As they put the coats on with the hats, Gale looked at himself wearing them with a laugh how silly he looked. “Silly me!” “Dweeb it will look silly on us griffons.” Gilda chuckled. “Your mum, that coat match her fur.” Gale turn to see it for himself. “Funny mum!” Celestia giggled. “That it is, but we have to wear it.” She used her magic to tie up the mane and tail. “Now I am ready to go, let the tour begin shall we?” They nod. “Follow me, I been here many times and easily can explain it to you two.” They follow Celestia out of the dressing room through a door to outside and to a door that slid up, they walked inside and Gale was surprised how cold it suddenly felt as the door slide close, he also saw ponies working on snow flakes. “This is where winter is made, each of their ponies are hoof making each snowflake with care, delicately and precision.” Celestia explains to them. Gilda walk up a pony working on one with a large magnifying glass over it. “Geez... I never knew snow was this crazy to made, your saying that these dweebs spend hours a day in this freezing cold place hoof making each snow flake?” “Indeed, it something that been done for quite some time with many times of success.” Celestia responded. Gale curiously point to one. “Pick up okay?” The blue stallion wearing a fluffy white coat nods. “Sure Prince Gale, just becareful okay?” Gale pick one up carefully and turn it around one way than the other. “Pretty and cold, like.” He put it back down. “Thanks!” He cheerfully said to the stallion. “Your welcomed and thank you for being careful.” He nod happily to Gale before going back to work. Gale walk up to Celestia. “Like white stuff!” Gilda chuckled. “I got to admit, what I seen so far even this is the beginning of the tour, it pretty coo.” Gilda hears the door slide open, she turn around with the others to see Rainbow Dash with her friends walk inside. “This is where they make the snowflakes.” Rainbow Dash paying attention to her friends and they to the place unaware of Celestia or the griffons. “Each one is hoof made, as you can see it a delicate operation.” Gilda noticed Rarity with butterfly wings and as she was about to fly up to have a closer look at one she spoke up. “That has to be the lamest funniest thing I ever seen stuck on a pony! Hahahaha!” Gilda burst into fits of laughter, Gale was also laughing. “Well I never! Wh-” She turn to see them. “Oh my! Princess Celestia! Prince Gale!” She instantly bows as Gilda and Gale continue to laugh. Celestia watch the griffons laugh. “Hello my little ponies.” Twilight gasped. “Princess! It a surprise to see you here!” She bow to her with her friends. Celestia raise her hoof. “Please stand, we are in a busy factory afterall.” They stood up. “Howdy Princess, what bring ya to Cloudsdale?” Applejack asked. “I, Gale and Gilda are here to oversee the contest for the young fliers, also I am part of the judges to declare the winners.” Celestia answered. Fluttershy look over to Gale circling Rarity looking at the wings. “Gale look well.” “He doing very well.” Celestia said with pride. “You found out his birthday yet? Huh huh?” Pinkie asked, Celestia shook her head. “Awww... poop!” Gilda step up to Rainbow Dash. “Hey Dash...” “Hey Gilda...” “How things?” Gilda asked. “They okay I guess, you?” “Crazy and not so lame or dull.” Gilda chuckled glancing over at Gale. “Got to say that if it wasn't for you breaking your promise it wouldn't gave me the push I needed to teach him.” Rainbow Dash blinked. “You teaching? As in Egghead teaching?” Gilda rolled her eyes. “Whatever you like to think of it I am teaching him to speak and write.” Gilda answered. “Why are you here?” “We here to tour the factory and watch the contest later, this be Gale's first official event as prince and I promised to tag along.” Gilda explained. “That why I am here, otherwise I'm not.” She turn walking up to Celestia. “Let's move on.” Celestia nods. “I gather you are giving the tour to your friends, Rainbow Dash?” “Yeah I am.” Rainbow replied rubbing a foreleg over the other. “Just didn't expect to run into you, the cub or... Gilda of all griffons.” “Things have ways of happening when you don't expect it, don't be nervous of the contest and relax, do your best in the arena okay?” Celestia said to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash smiled a little. “Thank you Princess.” “Now shall we continue on the tour?” “Sure thing, come on this way to where the rainbows are made!” Rainbow wave her hoof for them all to follow her. Celestia glance to the griffons. “Shall we join them or wait?” “Do whatever you like, I am going with what you suggested on being natural with her.” Gilda directly said back to Celestia. Gale tilt his head. “Thinking weird wings, laugh.” “Yeah it sure does cub.” Gilda smirked. “Take a photo.” Gale shook his head. “No, funny but no one photo of that.” “Couldn't say it any better myself Gale.” Gilda chuckled as Celestia leads them to the next area where the rainbows are made. They walked into a large open area with liquid rainbows pouring into one platform into another, ponies using large spoons from what Gale could see stirring them leading into bigger ones. “Welcome to the part of the factory they make the rainbows that you see all over Equestria.” Celestia said to them. Gilda took a good look around seeing Pinkie Pie put her hoof in the pool to than lick it. “Don't lick it you-” She does and the reaction showed Pinkie displaying different colours of the rainbow with different reactions. “Dweeb...” She groans. “Spicy...” Pinkie Pie wheezed before running off by them, Gale stared at the pool of rainbows. “How?” “It has a very powerful spicy horrible taste to it, trust me I did the exact same thing when I was young a long time ago, which shows it still happens over 1100 years later.” Celestia giggled. Gilda raise a eye. “How old are ya?” Celestia half rolled her eyes with a hum. “Oh that for me to know and you for not.” Celestia playfully said to her. Gale tap the end of his beak and blurts out a number. “1,132!” Celestia stared at him for a second and shook her head giving him a hug. “Oh you cheeky little cub.” She laughed. “Maybe close, maybe not! Just guess!” He grinned. They turn their attentions to a few voices. “Oh hey look! It Rainbow Crash again!” The brown pegasus first spoke. Gale felt that was a insult to her, a bulling tactic and he half growls a little as he recalls being picked on with insult of words, even being pushed by group of kicks with books taken from him. “Rainbow... Erm... CRASH!” “Rarity why are you talking to THESE guys?” Rainbow looked up at Rarity hovering above her. Rarity replies. “Oh they were only admiring my wings Rainbow Dash!” She did a few shifts of poses in the air. Gilda put to claws in her beak giving a fake braff motion in response, Gale glaring at the three stallions still, he very upset with them. “You recalled being bullied haven't you?” Celestia whispered to her son noticing his anger. “Let me handle this okay?” Gale still angered by nod to allow his mother to deal with it. “You should forget that sonic rainboom and get wings like these!” The brown one laughed with his friends as they fly off with Rainbow looking depressed by what they said. They didn't get far when Celestia speak up to them. “Please reframe with the insults little ponies and for the record, reports of ten years ago does state she did it, if I was correct you and your friends were racing her at the time, you got literally blown away by her Rainboom.” The three ponies look down at Celestia who smiled at them. “Erm... Well... Erm... We got to go back to work!” They quickly left in a hurry. “It seems the truth still burns brightly.” Celestia turn to Gale with a wink, he happily smiled giving her a thumbs up. Gilda coughs. “Trollestia strikes again.” “What did Gilda Say?” Applejack didn't quite hear Gilda and before she could get a answer Fluttershy speaks up. “Why don't we go see how clouds are made?” Celestia watch them leave with Rainbow Dash looking deprived. “Those lame ponies always love to pick on others, they picked on me about nine years ago when I first went to Junior Speedters Flight camp...” “Sometimes it hard to change those that stuck in their ways.” Celestia sighed. “You just have to give them the right push.” Gilda look at her. “Right push in a kick up their rumps.” Celestia thought about a way to counter that but couldn't. “For once I have to agree with you.” Celestia walks on. “Come let's go to the cloud maker part of the factory.” Gilda brain slowly processed what Celestia just said. “Did she just agreed to-” “Yes...” Gale nods slowly. “Okay... Moving on.” They followed Celestia. The next room they entered had machines on stilts with funnels on the top, ponies pushing down blow fans under them, cloud vapour raising up as ponies stirring them and others putting buckets of water into it. “Oooo fluffy clouds!” Gale flew up to one waving his talon through it laughing at the feel of steamy hot loose clouds going around it. “-Perfection?” Gale turn to the source being Rarity's voice and got a reflective shine from the butterfly wings in his eyes, squawking in alarm he tumbles in the air towards one of the funnels. Gilda quickly react to catching him and landing. “Are you alright Gale?” Gale rubbing his eyes. “Spots in eyes, spots everywhere look!” He continue to rub them. Celestia looked quite annoyed by Rarity's actions. “Rarity I admire how amazing you think your wings are, do not fly directly in front of the sun with those things! You just blinded Gale with them!” Many ponies were surprised by Celestia's outburst but soon dawn on them why. “Oh my I didn't realize Princess! I am so so sorry.” Gilda grumbles. “I highly doubt it with your head stuck so far up your a-” Celestia coughs hinting to Gale. “Whatever Celestia, what she did was highly irresponsible.” A elderly mare speaks up to Rarity. “I can watch you fly all day long.” “No pony like me can use wings like these, perhaps I should compete.” She flies off with the ponies following. “What did I say, her head is so far up it!” Gilda growled. “What am I going to do? I never gonna win the competition now...” Rainbow dishearteningly said. Gilda give Gale to Celestia. “Cover him up and his ears Celestia.” She does so as Gilda walk up to Rainbow Dash, giving her a hard slap. “Get your head out of the gutter you dweeb! This isn't the Rainbow Dash that stuck up for me at day one of camp against those jerks! Buck up and show them who boss! I don't care we not friends at the moment and what I do care about is the loyal pony that stuck up for me and your shy flying friend there!” Gilda point to Fluttershy. Rainbow and the others minus Rarity was shocked, more so than was Dash holding her side of the face. “G-” Gilda interrupts. “Don't be a ass Dash... You need to stop being a bucking wimp and be the bucking pony I know you to be!” She poke Rainbow Dash in the chest a few times, she finally turns to Celestia. “Let's get out of here.” Celestia nods and uncover Gale with her wing, Rainbow Dash stared speechless with her friends. “What happened?” Gale seeing the shocked jaw drop stares, he curiously looking around. Gilda put a talon over his side. “Just a peep talk cub, time to chow down Cloudsdale style!” Gale squawks happily at that idea. Gale hugs her. “Yay! Good food?” “Good food Gale, now please let me go so we can go?” Gale let go of her and they leave. Celestia look back at Twilight and her friends. “See you all at the arena and enjoy your time in Cloudsdale.” She turn and walk away. Rainbow Dash finally speaks. “What the heck just happened!?”