//------------------------------// // Chapter 75 – Within these Walls no one Shall Know // Story: Griffon of Canterlot // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Griffon of Canterlot Chapter 75 – Within these Walls no one Shall Know Gilda point a talon to the truck like table. “Take a seat, this place might not be much, but it home sweet home.” Gilda put down the bag of bits into a draw, closing it up and turn to see them all sit down, eating the scones. “Now with all the crazy that happened, what new crazy have you two found in the Griffonstone Palace?” “I thought it was a castle?” Gabby said with a confused look at Gilda. Gilda shrugged. “Castle, palace it all the same to me, it a oversized building saying look at me, I all big and mighty.” Gilda did air quotes with her talons, she sat down at the table with them. “So?” Nightingale swallowed her food. “We found a room untouched, a room my father once stood in.” Gallus nodded. “I saw it, but when she closed it up, the door vanished and all I found was wall.” He than took a bite out of the scone. Nightingale glanced at him. “I know, we both knew.” He swallowed and asked. “How?” Gale pulled out of his bag a feather putting it down on the table. “You feather.” Gallus looked at the navy blue wing feather. “So you were playing me at my own game, what'cha know, you two know a thing or two about griffons here.” “Wish we didn't, but Gilda's advise was solid.” Nightingale answered. Gilda crossed her forelegs. “I know what I was talking about, when it came to Griffonstone, dweebs.” Gilda then asked. “Night, this room you found, how did you know it was King Grover?” Gale answered. “Viewing crystal like one under throne room in Canterlot, it left message for Nightingale! After it finished Grover say he left for Canterlot than plan to head to Arctic Circle.” Gallus confirmed it. “I saw the same weird thing, it was like he was there but wasn't, the marks he left in a table were still there too.” “What was King Grover doing in that room?” Gabby asked. “Trying to find a way to free me, he knew about Zerra, the sphere and kept his findings to himself.” Nightingale said, she took a bite out of the scone. Gilda shook her head. “And there is our three, I really hate how things like that come in threes.” After that they sat eating their scones, having a filling lunch, Gilda giving them each a cup of water, it wasn't much else to drink and Gilda refused to pay out the costs for such things like tea, Griffonstone prices being stupidly expernsive. Gallus pulled out of his own bag a drawing. “Since I can't sell this cause of that promise, here you can have it.” Nightingale pushed it back as Gallus reach out to give it to her. “No you keep it.” “Why?” “Cause I said so.” Nightingale responded. Gallus put it back in his bag. “Fine...” Nightingale flex her talon. “This Griffonstone need serious help, dad told me too, but I have no idea where to begin, it could take years even making some sort of dent.” Gilda shrugged. “I been here most of my life, part from being at Cloudsdale during my summer camp times, all I can say is good luck.” “Geez thanks Gilda.” Nightingale rolled her eyes. “In any reality, you are just as rude as you are kind.” Gilda chuckled. “Thanks Night.” She turn to Gale. “As for you cub, after this visit, you dare come back here again without your mum's permission, I will make sure never to be your teacher again and you won't see me again.” “B-but-” “No buts, I am serious Gale, this is one of the most stupidest things you done, yes it came with merit with Night finding out about her dad, how he tried to free her, but it doesn't make mends the wrong you did.” Gilda looked disappointed at the young griffon. “So cub, what you got to say?” Gale look down at the table. “Sorry...” He sadly responded. “I sorry for worrying mum, worrying you, Nightingale and the others... I won't do it again, promise.” “Good.” Gilda pleased that she might get some sense into him. “Gabriella, how about you and Gallus take him on the remaining tour, I got to have a one on one chat with Night.” Gabby finished her scones. “Sure!” Gallus stared. “Right now? Come on!” “Tough dweeb, my home.” Gilda said back. “Now you want those remaining bits don't ya?” Gallus sighed. “Fiiiine! I really hate you Gilda.” “I know.” She smirked. “But in a good way I bet?” Gallus rolled his eyes. “You wish.” He got up with Gabby. “Come on Gale.” Gale looked at Nightingale. “It alright, you got Gabby and Gallus, you be fine.” He gave her a hug, she returned it. “Come on! We'll show you the shop that sells pretty much everything!” Gabby grab his talon with her own. Gallus turn to Nightingale. “For a griffon that is almost 800 years old, you sure don't look it.” “I sure don't.” Nightingale leans in whispering into his ear. “I saw the bluish white glow from a prime feather on your wing.” Gallus quickly looked surprised. “Wh-what...” Nightingale smiled. “Now we have one thing over each other.” She winked. Gallus groans. “You are a real high pain in the ass!” “I learned from the best griffons.” Nightingale laughed, Gallus shook his head leaving the house grumbling under his breath, quickly taking off to catch up with Gale and Gabby. After a few minutes past, Gilda got off the stall, walking around the table, her eyes never leaving Nightingale's form. “I am going to be dead serious here, I want a dead serious answer from you.” Nightingale nodded. “How are you?” Nightingale resting her talons on top one over the other on the truck table. “Not so well, barely holding it together, I had a few distractions to keep myself from thinking much about it, lack of sleep for the last few days, want my old life back.” Gilda opened up a cupboard door, pulling out a bottle. “Here.” She pour some into a cup and give ti to Nightingale. Nightingale took a look at the purplish liquid, took a sniff of it too. “Grifape Wine, Griffish Isles speciality, the grapes grow in special conditions only found on that island.” Nightingale took a sip from it with her beak. “This taste exactly like the wine back-” She put the cup down with tears starting to fall. “How do I help the griffons? I do I beat them out of their senseless greed?” “A few griffons at a time, also-” She poured herself a cup, taking a small amount of it herself. “I bet even with the rosy world Zerra created for you, it wasn't that simple being a ruler for over 700 years.” Nightingale shook her head. “No it wasn't, I had support from some griffons and my mum, the stuff I set up to improve griffon and pony relations took many many years, trade negations, exchange programs, mayors arguing over the silliest of things, natural disasters, almost wars, greedy ponies and griffons illegal using the system to improve their lives over the ones that worked for them, and so on.” Gilda chuckled. “Sound like a normal lively day to me, that kind of crap Celestia deals with, so does that old fart feather brain of a dweeb, Grandpa Gruff, he might look like a old timer that seem to do barely nothing, but many see him as the one that decide things around here, even the super rich snobby types wouldn't dare cross that line.” Gilda explained to Nightingale. Nightingale wiped away a few tears. “I seen my share of those types, still... It took Zerra 799 years to make the reality cease to be, wiped out his own kind there...” “Yeah I know, I was there.” Gilda rolled her eyes. “The nutter used three wishes from here, very personal ones to break down the walls of reality to escape, that world might be made of wishes, might be made through your primal thoughts, it was still your home and don't forget it.” Gilda reached over and poked Nightingale on the beak. “Your world might have been a big rosy one, but it still had it share of problems, like Nightmare Moon.” Nightingale nodded. “It did, Twilight and her friends restored her, I gather that happened here too?” “Sure did, dweeb.” Gilda confirmed. “How did my Ponyville surprise go over there?” Nightingale thought about it. “From what I was told, you and Rainbow Dash had a falling out, you called her a flip-flop and left, after you falsely blamed Pinkie Pie for the pranks, but it was Rainbow Dash that set them all up.” Nightingale said about her version of events. “So I still broke up with her but never met Gale?” Nightingale shook her head. “No it was when you was on your way home, you flew into mum, the griffon one, she just got a letter from Twilight, that was also when Gale was introduced to you and with a few days of help, he got his first word, also the birthday surprise he set up patched things up with Rainbow Dash.” Gilda smirked. “Well it seem with some differences, our worlds won't that different.” “No, but one was, I never exist here, which mean the crown, the chest plate, it worthless.” “Unless you make it that, you can sulk and hide from it, let your pain get to you dweeb, or use it to show that Zerra was a complete bucking ass, something like Nightmare Moon level, which I think he was.” Nightingale drunk a bit of the wine. “Your right, he sorta was, but he made them all vanish with a wave of a hoof...” “Yet Gale restored them, gave them their final real moments with a counter wish.” Gilda countered. “Just punch through it and start with your dad.” “Huh?” Gilda rolled her eyes. “Geez, do I really need to spell it out for you!” Gilda drunk the last of her wine. “What did you find out in that stupid room you spoke of, you lame griffon!” Nightingale eyes widen. “D-dad was trying to free me, with all kinds of magic, runes and whatever else was on those notes, drawings, and those magically artefacts!” She drunk the last of the wine. “I can retrace my dad's steps! Get to know him from this reality! Maybe even track him down into the frozen northern lands!” Nightingale rushed around the table, gave Gilda a hug. “Thank you Gilda! You gave me something to stride for!” Gilda grunts in pain. “Damn it with you Celestial offsprings and those hugs!” Gilda pulled herself free. “I didn't do jack you dweeb! All I did was tell you what you are overlooking you dolt!” Gilda ruffled her wings. “And I suggest getting Gallus to help ya, he know about it, so use that to get him to earn bits to help you!” “Yes! That would work! Your a genius Gilda!” Nightingale said with giddiness. “Oh and I gather this stay in these walls?” Gilda smirked. “It does, I am not going to look soft for you or Gale, this is Griffonstone Gilda beyond these walls.” “I got it! Just don't forget, Gale won't care and will hug you!” “Oh I know it.” Gilda raise the bottle. “More?” “Yes please!” Nightingale took the empty cup. “Also we can exchange tales!” Gilda shrugged. “Why the heck not, this life I got now, just never going to be simple ever again.” Nightingale nodded as Gilda pour a cup full each. “Nope, with a almost 800 year old griffon added to the mix, it won't be.” She took the cup raising it up. “To never normal.” Gilda raised her cup. “To never normal, you lame griffon dweebish dolt!” “That I am.” Nightingale laughed and Gilda laughed too.