//------------------------------// // Chapter 88: A Bird in Claw and Hoof Part Two // Story: Griffon of Canterlot // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Griffon of Canterlot Chapter 88: A Bird in Claw and Hoof Part Two “I have to say that was a very pleasant meal.” Celestia said as she, Gale, Gilda, Shining Armor, Sunbeam and the Cutie Mark Crusaders left the Hayburger Restaurant. “I am happy that I got to know you little ones, you will get your cutie marks in time.” She lower her head to them. “Just don't give up, it will come you see.” She winked. Applebloom smiled. “Ah believe ya Princess! We won't stop tryin'!” Celestia raised her head. “Good to hear Applebloom, when you do you will do your big sister proud.” The others was about to speak but Mayor Mare came out of the restaurant. “Princess Celestia.” Celestia turn and so did the others. “Hello Mayor Mare, enjoyed your meal?” “I did Princess.” She bowed her head a little before raising it to continue speaking. “I was hoping to have some time with you about the town's budget, and possible funding to some future projects.” Celestia looked over to Gale for a second. “I believe I can, please meet me at the town hall, I will be there in a moment.” “Of course Princess, it will give me time to get everything out.” The mayor walked by them. “Captain.” Shining stepped up. “Yes Princess?” “I like you to go with my son to Sweet Apple Acres, I like to make some advance orders from there, and think Gale can use the experience, you will be his aide for this task.” Celestia said lowering her head down to Gale. Shining Armor raise a eye brow. “Princess, couldn't Gilda do that?” “She could, but she won't.” “What are you cooking in that head of yours Celestia.” Gilda frowned. “I need someone that outside the box so to speak, unless your not up for the challenge.” Celestia glanced at her with a slight smile. Gilda rolled her eyes. “I'll amuse you on this, not cause of the challenge bait you dweeb.” Gale checked on the phoenix egg. “What of egg?” “That go with you, the captain be able to look after both of you.” “Mum, no idea what to do.” Gale said with concern. Celestia put a wing tip under his beak lifting his head a little. “I know, that why the captain will be with you too, he has experience in this kind of thing.” Celestia kiss him on the side of this face. “Think of this as learning what you might have to do when your older.” Gale nodded. “Okay mum, I try and be best!” “That you will be.” She nuzzled him. “Now Gilda shall we go?” “Sure whatever.” Gilda shrugged. Celestia turn to the three little fillies. “We will have to do this again some day, be good little ones.” “We will!” Scootaloo said. “Yeah! It was fun!” Sweetie Belle waved her hoof. “Ah'll take them to Sweet Apple Acres, it where ah live!” Applebloom looked up at Celestia. Celestia nod softly. “Thank you Applebloom, till next time my little ponies.” She turned to Shining making a scroll appear. “These are my personal requests on Zap Apple Jame and Apple Cider.” Shining Armor saluted while holding it in his magic, Celestia turned and walked away with Gilda. Sunbeam stepped up beside Shining Armor with two other guards. “Captain I just got told that Philomena been seen at the bearer of Kindness cottage.” She whispered to him. Shining looked over to Gale and the fillies. “On pure instructions from Princess Celestia, we keep the pretence of not knowing Miss Shy has Philomena.” “Yes sir.” Sunbeam saluted without hesitation. Applebloom waved her hoof. “Come on, ah'll show ya to mah home Captain sir!” “Lead the way, ma'am.” Shining Armor said, they walked to Sweet Apple Acres leaving the town, they heading to the outskirts towards the acres of apple trees in the distance. As they walked Gale noticed something, he saw a pear tree farm, run down and abandoned. “Pears?” He turn walking through the entrance of the farm, he could see a barn house, home and other structures all seen better days. The teenage griffon flew up to a tree pulling one of the pears off taking a sniff, he took a bite of it. “Prince Gale!” He turn to Shining Armor staring up at him. “We got a task to fulfil and you are eating someponies food!” Gale looked at the pear and around the farm. “Shiny no live here, it empty look.” He point to the structures. Shining took a look. “Hmm... It does look it.” “That because it is.” Applebloom said from behind Shining at the entrance. “Ah been told not to go there...” “The way those buildings look, I understand Miss Applejack's concern, they look very unsafe.” Shining Armor turn his attention to Gale. “Let's go talk to Miss Applejack first and come back okay?” “Okay!” Gale land before him with a pear in claw. “Eat?” Shining Armor took it with his magic. “I'll save it for later okay?” Gale nodded as he watch it disappear in a puff of magic. “Now come along Prince Gale.” Gale nodded again and rejoin the group heading up the path to Sweet Apple Acres. They continued up the path to the Apple's farm, they walked under the wooden arch up towards the house. “Do you know why no pony live there Applebloom?” Scootaloo asked. “Ah never thought to ask about it, ah just kept away from it.” Applebloom answered. Big MacIntosh pulling a wagon full of apples towards a barn noticed them walking up to the farm. “Hi! I Gale!” Gale came up to him waving a talon. “Mum erm... asked erm...” “What Prince Gale trying to say is that Princess Celestia asked him to request some advance ordering on a few of your unique products, those that made here at Sweet Apple Acres.” Shining Armor stepped up with the scroll held in his magic. “I am Shining Armor, captain of the guard aide to the young prince on this matter.” Big MacIntosh nodded. “Eeyup, ah just need to put these here apples away and be with ya.” “Fair enough, is your sister Applejack Apple here?” “Eeyup in the house.” Big Mac continue his way to the barn. “Thank you.” Shining Armor step up to the house. “Applebloom, would you be able to get your sister?” “Will do!” Applebloom ran inside the house. “Applejack! Prince Gale and the guard captain is here to make some advance orders!” As they wait, Gale noticed the almost featherless phoenix rush past towards Ponyville, Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle running after her. “Philomena?” “You saw that weird bird being chased by Fluttershy and Twilight too?” Scootaloo asked. Gale nodded. “She phoenix like egg I have, she... erm... stage of featherless and soon burst to flames, than she turn to ash and reform into fully healthy phoenix, she mum pet.” “Sooooo... That bird a featherless phoenix? But return to normal afterwards?” Gale nodded. “It sure can move.” Scootaloo said. “She going to be fine?” Gale smiled. “Yes, she fine, she teasing them, having fun.” Scootaloo frowned. “How smart is that bird?” “She speak in mind, she very smart.” Gale turn heading back to Shining Armor, Scootaloo turn following the young prince, she was curious about how this chase would end. Scootaloo thought about Philomena. “A bird pretending to be dumb to tease ponies? Do you think Rainbow Dash be fooled by Philomena?” Gale glance at her. “If not know, yes.” Scootaloo imagine it and giggled, getting a little laugh from Gale too. Applejack walked out of the door with Applebloom. “Howdy captain, ah hear yer here to talk business.” “Not I, the young prince, I am just here to aid, advice and speak for him for the most difficult words he may have trouble saying.” Shining Armor stated. “May we come in?” Applejack nodded. “Sure, the other guard stay out here.” “Fair enough.” Shining turn to Sunbeam. “Private, you are the others take guard around the house.” Sunbeam saluted. “Yes captain.” The three guards part to secure the house from the outside. “Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, why don't ya go up to Applebloom room and play okay?” “Sure thing!” Scootaloo walk in. “Thank you Applejack!” Sweetie Belle followed, they follow Applebloom to her room. “Come with me sugarcube.” Applejack walk in, they followed and Gale was excited to learn about how business work Philomena gave Twilight and Fluttershy the run around, Gilda watching this madness taking place through the window inside the town hall office, Celestia and Mayor Mare going through the finer details. “Philomena having fun.” Gilda chuckled turning to the two ponies. “Indeed, soon I might have to step in, it does seem to be getting out of hoof.” Gilda gave her a look. “Okay it already has...” Celestia sighed. “Once we finished here I'll go sort this mess out-” “And give them a friendship lesson.” Gilda did air quotes with her talons. “Blah blah blah, let's talk about funding and whatever before it does get out of hoof.” Gilda sat at the desk with her forelegs crossed. Mayor Mare blinked a few times. “Ri-right...” Gale yawned sitting on the sofa, it been a hour of talks between Shining Armor and Applejack, he got bored half way through. Big Mac came up to him with a glass of apple juice held in hoof. “Here.” “Thank you.” Gale took it and drunk a little of it. “Yer first time tryin' a hoof at bein' a prince talkin' business?” Gale sighed. “Yes, it boring, I saw answer but go round and round...” He look down at the reflection. “Hmmm... What answer ya have?” “Mum does not want much, saw paper, two barreals cider stuff and erm... ten rainbow colour jam, mum even added extra to cost, both get fair share, why talk talk talk?” Gale sighed again. Big Mac took the paper to take a look for himself as Applejack and Shining Armor argue over it, Ganny Smith slowly walk in. “What the hay gonna on in here?” “Advance ordering and stuff... They been talking and yelling for hour...” Gale said and drunk a bit more. “I like what say on paper, but she say not far on others, no understand what she mean... Confused...” Granny Smith looked at the young prince. “Yer ma asked ya to do this?” Gale nodded. “Experiencing what it like when ya order huh?” Gale nodded again. “Bored and confused?” Nodded once more. “Hmm... Big Mac let me have a look at that request.” “Eeyup.” He went over taking it without them noticing and gave it to her. Granny Smith took a good look at it. “Well ah'll be, Princess Celestia want to try some of her products, and at a higher than normal price... Ah can see where her heart is but we don't usually do such a thin' since Filthy Rich has the first mass pick of jars, it part of our contract.” Gale listened to her. “I no knew that... She no say that.” “Of course not.” Granny shook her head. “Ah think we could put one barrel aside and a few jars, far less than on this paper, but at a acceptable cost.” “Really?” Gale eyes lit up. “So less better than nothing right?” “Correct young prince, now ya gettin'.” She smiled. “We reduce the cost by half too to make it even, does that seem fair.” Gale took the paper and look around. “Quill?” “Here.” Big Mac gave one to. Gale wrote on it with his tongue hanging out the side of the beak showing focus, soon as he was done the teen gave the paper back. “How that?” Granny Smith took a look so did Big Mac. “Ah heard the natural gift of griffons and business, but seein' it with mah own eyes ah can see it true.” Ganny looked to the large Earth Pony. “What ya think?” “Ah think it a deal.” “Ah do so too.” Granny signs it with the quill in mouth, than so does Big Mac. “There we go sonny.” “Thank you.” Gale gave her a hug, a sharp click was heard causing him to let go and flinch. Granny twist her back a few times with a lift of the hide leg. “Ah'll be, that put mah hip right back into place, thank ya Prince Gale.” Gale blinked. “I did?” “Yer sure did.” Granny smiled. “Yer two youngsters done? Cause we are.” Both stopped arguing to turn to her. “Done what Granny?” Applejack asked. “The deal, we came to an arrangement.” Shining looked at Gale. “How?” “That between me, Big Mac and Prince Gale.” She winked to them, they smiled. “Granny what did ya-” “What we agreed on is signed by all of us.” Granny said back. “It fair and won't harm our traditions.” Gale held the rolled up paper. “I did good! I did what mum asked!” He said with glee, suddenly he felt the bag shake. “Huh?” Gale pulled it open to see a crack on the shell. “Egg damaged!” “No it not sugarcube it hatchin'!” Applejack said with alarm. “What do I do? I no idea to do!” Gale said with panic. “Well we-” CRACK Laughter from a newly restored Philomena and the ponies came to a sudden halted when the phoenix turn to the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. A pulse of magic rippled upwards into the sky. “So it finally happened.” Celestia whispered, she turn to Philomena. “Go.” She nodded and took to the sky heading to Sweet Apple Acres. “What the hay was that!?” Rainbow Dash pointed her hoof at that direction. “That Dash is something just hatched.” Gilda responded “What hatched?” Twilight and the others asked. “The black phoenix.”