//------------------------------// // Chapter 74 – Some Insight of Griffonstone // Story: Griffon of Canterlot // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Griffon of Canterlot Chapter 74 – Some Insight of Griffonstone Gale and Nightingale walked out of the castle, the two griffons looked upon the city from high above, griffons were out and about, some flying by them going about their day, one thing they noticed right off the bat was a few fly almost into each other, followed by arguing and flying off the opposite direction. “Why they anger with each other? Why no say sorry and fly on?” Gale asked with confusion. Gallus land in front of them. “That just the norm around here, grumble, anger and mean, including the desire for bits and other valuables on top of that.” Gallus explained. Nightingale took a good look around. “I gather they won't shut us down, or slam doors in our faces if we present a few bits of a few minutes of their time?” Gallus shrugged. “Maybe, never bothered trying, no griffon in fact has.” “That doesn't vote any confidence in getting to the root of this problem, and maybe solving it.” Gallus chuckled. “Yeah you won't get far on that, it most likely take a life time to do that.” “Good thing I got all the time in the world.” Nightingale slyly smirked. Gallus frowned. “What the heck does that suppose to mean?” He lied, as he knew she was somewhere close to 800 years old after he listened in on her and Gale. Nightingale hummed. “Pay me 799 bits and I might tell you.” She winked. Gallus pretend to be taken back by the shear amount. “W-what!? Y-” He continue the fake surprise of what the 799 was. “No way you are not that old!” Nightingale grinned walking up to him, ruffing his feathered head with a talon. “Your not as dumb as you act to be, shall we begin?” Gallus pushed her talon away. “I don't know if your pulling my tail or even saying you are, at the moment I don't want to even think about it.” Gallus open his navy blue wings up, flapping them a few times to get some lift. “Where you like to start? The ones flying, these upper tree homes or on the ground? Either way I am getting paid for this.” “Houses here, they closet, and work down.” Gale suggested. “Sound like a plan little brother.” Gallus rolled his eyes. “Right, super rich, stuck up griffons first, don't blame me if they take the bits and slam the door in your beak, Grovelia.” He took off. Gale flew after him with Nightingale. “Nightingale, he know middle name, that prove what we thought.” “That he was Gale, don't worry I got a plan.” She winked, Gale nodded as they followed Gallus. Gallus put his talons out to the few homes on the branch. “Knock yourselves out, I'll be right here.” The two griffons flew up to the first house, landing at the door Nightingale gave it a few knocks with her talon. “Go sell to somegriffon else! Scram!” Came a female voice from behind the door. Nightingale spoke back. “I am not here to sell anything, I only wish to talk.” “Yeah right! As if I fall for that bucking trick! Get lost before I set my prized hawk on you sale's griffon!” The griffon threatened. They left and went to the next. “Wow not even a door open, that was one stuck up griffon.” Gale nodded in response to Nightingale. Gale knocked on the next door, it was opened by a golden brown griffon wearing a white shirt, black blazer, black bow tie with white cuffs on the forelegs and hindlegs, feathers on the head combed neatly. “Hi! I Gale, we like talk, we give bits for few questions, is okay?” “No...” He said calmly. “I can not accept money from the common-folk, I would loss my job from my master, if you wish to speak to him, leave a letter and possible time from a meeting, payment for such meeting will be 40 bits up front and 10 bits a minute.” Gale blinked. “No! That rip off!” “Then be on your way.” He slam the door. Gale snorts. “Greedy griffons...” Nightingale's right eye twitching. “That was only two...” Nightingale look over to the other homes. “How about we go to the lower levels, these griffons are beyond talking to.” Gale shook his head. “Try one more!” Gale flew over to another door, he knocked on it. The door opened to a female blackish grey griffon, she look down at Gale. “Cub I am not buying any-” She noticed all he had on him was an plush of himself, carrying a set of saddle bags, wearing a bandanna and leg bands. “-Cookies...” She stared at him for a moment. “I never seen you around Griffonstone and I make it my business to know every griffon.” “I from Canterlot! Home there! Came for weekend, curious of city Griffonstone!” Gale pulled out two bits from his bag. “Could I ask questions for bits?” “Two bits to ask me some questions? Sure?” She open her talon out to him, he gave her the two coins, she took a good look at them. “Two questions, then go back to Canterlot, your type of griffons not welcomed here.” Gale was curious why she said that, he was about to ask but caught on to it. “Why griffons in Griffonstone greedy and mean?” “Ask the old coot Grandpa Gruff, next question.” Gale blinked seeing she avoid it to put it on somegriffon else. “Erm... Do griffons here ever not mean and greedy?” “Blue Moon festival cub, now beat it!” She slam the door in his face. Gale turn to Nightingale. “Blue Moon Festival? Grandpa Gruff?” Nightingale shrugged. “I don't know either of them, the Wish Reality Griffonstone had similar holidays to Equestria, in fact since I was ruler I slowly installed it to become part of Griffina culture to have holidays that brought joy, guess here it never happened.” Nightingale suggested her theory on it. Gale looked upon the other homes on the thick large branches. “I no think others be as good.” “I agree, we will take the lead on this Grandpa Gruff, let's go back to Gallus.” Gale nodded and they flew back to Gallus, they found him on a small branch counting his bits, splitting them apart into small piles. “Gallus, we done with the rich class.” Gallus didn't look at them as he continued to split the coins into smaller piles. “They didn't give you the time or day?” “First two didn't but the third gave us somewhat two answers, one being a Blue Moon Festival.” Gallus answered. “That the one time of the year griffons are nice to each other, well nice as we can be here in Griffonstone, families get together complain about the food, give each other presents they don't like and try not to yell at each other.” Gale frowned. “Very weird holiday...” “Whatever Gale, it our holiday, so tough!” Gallus snapped at Gale. Nightingale thought about it. “Fair enough, that something I might have to look deeper into, as for the second, it to do with a griffon called Grandpa Gruff.” Gallus rolled his eyes, now gathering his bits and putting them back in the pouch. “Gee, I didn't see that coming.” He gave a sarcastic response. “The old coot live near the old run down library, he will talk your ear off about old time stuff for bits.” Gallus said as he took off down massive tree, they followed him to the ground settlement around the tree. “Should of took you there in the first place.” Gale thought about the old griffon, thinking about the one they met in the castle. “Does he wear red fez?” “Yeah he never take it off.” Gallus answered turning to Gale. “You met him already?” “Yesterday night.” Nightingale confirmed. “He never told us his name, but he was old and wore a fez.” They land on the ground, walking up to one of the buildings. “This is he home, knock yourself out.” Gallus turned away walking up to a bench, sitting on it with his forelegs behind the back of his head. Nightingale knock on the door, soon it opened and the old griffon appear from it. “What do you youn-” He saw whom was before him. “Oh it YOU, what do you want!?” “Some questions to be answered, you can give them for bits correct?” Grandpa Gruff step out closing his door. “Pay, than ask and I will answer, that how I work.” He poked her. “Now Grovelia pay two bits!” Nightingale rolled her eyes. “Here.” She gave him the bits. He bit into them. “Good, now ask!” “What caused the fall of Griffina, the fall of Griffonstone?” “Oh that very simple, you like the short answer or the tale how we were once greedy, turned proud then greedy once again?” “I'll pay you extra two bits for the tale.” Nightingale offered. “You got a deal!” Gruff with a closed fist bang his chest a few times. “The first griffon king, King Grover, united our kind like we've never been united before or since! And he did it all with the incredible Idol of Boreas!” Gale gasped upon hearing it. “Griffax Boreas!” He whispered to Nightingale. “Yes I know, now shhh.” She put a claw to her beak, Gale nodded. “Sorry about that, you may continue.” “Right...” Gruff gave them a strange look. “As I was saying...” “The idol brought pride to the heart of every griffon that saw it! From one king to the next, Griffonstone had our golden idol. We were the envy of all other species, it held us together – it gave us an identity – right up until the reign of King Guto.” “Guto the betrayer, Maple said that.” Gale whispered to Nightingale, she nodded. Gruff eyed Gale. “Guto the Betrayer did you say? Cub.” Gale nodded. “Hmm-mmm, he went mad after losing idol, he took army to try steal griffon stuff from smart Finch Griffons, but he failed and war with Equestria no happened cause of it!” Gruff sighed. “Yes... Shall I continue?” Gale nodded, Gallus was curious now, he never saw that look Gruff just gave, he looked a bit paler than he usually look. “That's when Arimaspi came to steal our griffon treasure! King Guto tried to fight him off, but Arimaspi managed to get away with the idol! They say when our treasure fell into the Abysmal Abyss, our pride went with it. King Guto was the last king of Griffonstone, Griffina, and we all lived miserably ever after!” Nightingale had started to paste back and forwards through the strew filled ground. “No that can't be, that could be... Maybe... Yes? Could it be?” Gallus step up to them. “What is this about Finch Griffons?” “There are a sub-group of griffons, they are small, paws instead of talons and very smart, they could think of things that we could never even think of in a million years.” Gruff told him. “That a freebe, any more you pay me cub!” Gallus shook his head. “Nope, you gave me enough of a freebe there, they sound like eggheads.” “Cause they are, you won't be able to find them, they only be found when they want to be.” Gruff turn to Nightingale and Gale. “Now I've told you what you wanted, now leave me be!” Gale gave him the two bits extra before Nightingale could, Grandpa Gruff walk back to his home slamming the door shut. Gale and Nightingale glance at each other then turn to Gallus. “We go to Gilda?” Gale asked. He shrugged. “Sure, why not, I need to buy some scones from her anyway, also it past lunch time too.” Gallus lead them away. “Gabby most likely be there too, she a h-” “Yay! Gilda and Gabby! We go now! Take us take us!” He jumped around Gallus. “Geez your crazy! Okay stop dancing around me! Stop I s-gah! Get off me! No hugging! Get off! Help!” Gruff peer through the door watching Gallus trying to get Gale off him, no matter what he tried Gale wasn't letting go, Nightingale laughed a little, she said something to Gale, he let go and they left heading to Gilda's stall, he closed the door, resting his talon against the wood. “How did Prince Gale know about that? And did I hear him correctly? Did he say Maple?” A griffon gave eight bits to Gilda, she gave in turn a bag of ten scones to her. “You should stop doing that teaching stuff Gilda.” Gilda shook her head. “Not a chance Greta.” The brown, white griffon with green fur feathered markings around her eyes and feathered head tip, wearing a scarf with a gold ring on it, she shook her head. “What happened to that mean take no bucking rubbish griffon I know?” “Still here, just had my eyes opened to what out there, also dweeb, your holding up the line.” Gilda hints to behind Greta, she turn to see a few griffons looking very annoyed. Greta noticed a group of them, one was Gallus the dumbster diver griffon she seen looking through trash, but the two with her were new. “Look like you got out of town griffons wanting your scones, are you sure not give up that stupid job in Canterlot?” “I already said I-” Gilda saw them, Gale waved happily. “Gale!? What the bucking heck!?” Gilda quickly flew past the queue of griffons. “What the heck are you two doing here!? Didn't I tell you how crappy this city is!?” Gale flew up giving her a hug. “Hi Gilda! Happy see you! Know annoyed you maybe, but I came to see!” Gilda looked around seeing the griffons stare. “I let him do this! You got a problem!?” They turn their heads muttering to each other. “Gilda teach me, Gilda like big sister! You no say things behind back! Mean! I no like mean!” Gale growled at them and gave a mighty roar at them. They surprised by the roar and she been his teacher, it dawned on them not to cross him like Gilda. “That cub got guts, a big surprise from a Canterlot Griffon, now I know why you refuse to stop teaching him, he even gave me chills.” Greta flew up to Gale, ruffled his feathered head with her talon before flying off with her scones. Nightingale watched her fly away. “Greta...” She whispered. Gale let go of Gilda, she flew back to the baking wagon. “You three wait till I am done here, we will talk a moment dweebs.” They nodded and wait for Gilda to finish with her sales of scones, once she was done with the last of the sales, Gilda put a sign up saying 'Closed for Lunch, come back later you dweebs!' Gilda turn to Gallus. “Now cub, how are you involved in this?” Gallus smirked showing the bag of bits. “We made a deal, I give them the tour, 30 bits up front and another 30 at the end.” Gilda beared her teeth, beak raised at him, growling. “Before you snap, it was their terms not mine.” “It true, we needed a tour and from what I was told about Griffonstone from you, we took that into account.” Nightingale told Gilda giving her a wink too out of sight of Gallus. Gilda understood the wink. “Your bits to waste.” Gilda shrugged. “Now...” She turn to Gale. “I am guessing your here to fill that stomach of yours?” Gale presented eight bits to her. “Yes! I buy! Got bits! Eight bits for ten yummy scones! Four me, three Nightingale and three Gallus!” Gale said eagerly. Gallus was surprised upon hearing that. “Wh-what?” “You guide, you hired, you need food too, till hire over food part deal! No take back!” Gale grinned. “Urrr... Sure?” Gilda took the bits, giving Gale a bag of four scones, three scones to Nightingale and three to Gallus. “Happy doing business with ya dweebs, now come back to my place, we sit and chat there in private further about this, it be far warmer than out here.” Gilda walk up to the wagon, hooking the strap around her waist, with a pull she start to walk. “Also to have a bone to pick with you Gale.” Gale nodded. “You mad...” “Oh I am, but also I knew this day was coming cub, this isn't a friendly place, guess it a good thing YOUR new sister is here and got you out of a heap of trouble.” Gilda said as they started to walk. “But Celestia will have you more carefully watched for now on, that I can count on.” Gale nodded again. “I know, Nightingale say that too.” “Yeah well, Nightingale most likely using this to distract herself from the pain she has.” Gilda glance at the white and blackish grey griffon. Nightingale sighed. “It is and isn't, it very complicated.” “I was there, I know HOW complicated it is.” Gilda said. Gilda took them towards her house. “Gilda can I come too!?” Gabby lands before them. “How long were you there?” “Only for a moment! I know what you know, also I am like family to to Gale since he call you big sister and that means I am his COUSIN! Right?” Gilda rolled her eyes. “Sure dweeb, did you sell those scones I gave you?” “Yep! All sold!” She showed the bag of bits. “See!” Gilda smirked. “Good Gabriella, I'll make sure to give you your cut.” “Cool!” Gabby gave Gale a hug, he returned it. “Hi honorary cousin! I heard what happened this week! It must good to have some norm this weekend right?” Gale happily nodded, she turn to Nightingale. “Also can't believe your-” Nightingale did a wave over her neck part a few times. “Oooooh right! Gotcha!” Gallus frowned. “Care to share?” “We will dweeb, and your mind will be blown cub.” “Right... As if.” Gallus didn't believe Gilda. Gilda chuckled as they all walked back to Gilda's home. “Oh you will be, and before that your Griffish Pinky Promising not to tell a soul.” She stopped turning to Gallus. Gallus frowned. “You really think I'll agree blindly to that? I am not making you that kind of promise.” He sat on his hunches crossing his forelegs angrily looking at Gilda. Gilda gave him a dark look, this gave him a chill down his spine to the tail tip. “Oh you will, because...” She unhook herself walk up to him, whisper into one of his feathered ears. His ears fell with a panicked look fallen upon his blue eyes. “Ho-how-” “Well?” She raised a talon up, pinky claw out to him. “I promise not to tell a soul, if you promise not to tell a soul what said behind the walls of my home.” Gallus growls. “Fine you win! I can't believe you know that and would!” “When it comes to Gale, I will.” Gallus hook his pinky claw around hers. “I promise not to tell a soul! Happy?” They shook on it, Gilda let go. “Good with me, you better keep it dweeb.” Gallus recovered flapping his wings holding the paper bag of scones tight to him. “You seriously changed Gilda, and I can see where he got that mean streak from too.” “What can I say? He rubs off me and I rub of him.” Gilda hooked herself back to the wagon, she continue to walk with the others following. Gale curiously asked. “What happen if Griffish Pinky Promise is broke?” “That cub, you never want to know.” Gilda responded, she pulled the wagon into a big shed, taking the harness off she, stepping out Gilda shut the door and clip on a padlock, she finally stood before the house door before the group of griffons. “Welcome to my lame home, come on in.” She put a key into the door, turned it to unlock the door and pushed it open.