Griffon of Canterlot
Chapter 96: Consequential Actions
Three days had past since that moment at Sweet Apple Acres, the news of what happened to Celestia's son Gale to the continuous mountaineering threats that Grogar's monsters posed on the teenager. On top of all that she still had a kingdom to run and her son to raise, this was all piling up on top of the meetings, daily appearances and the most recent news she completely forgot.
The Grand Galloping Gala was only one and half days away.
Even there are more pressing matters such as her son's safety, Celestia knew Silvite with a few others she recently was informed about could handle it. This didn't stop her from worrying fears over his safety, the teenage griffon seemingly happy even what had happened to him and the last three days been very uneventful.
The doors open for the white unicorn with brown mane and tail holding a clip board in her pink magic. “Morning Raven Inkwell, I gather you have my schedule for today?”
“Morning Princess.” She approached. “I do have it, a key point is a meeting with the leader of the No-Yantic Kitsune Clan Pom-Pom, Captain Armor currently keeping her occupied with a tour of the city and the castle.” Raven took a piece of paper off giving it to Celestia. “There are other meetings with mayors of Trottingham, Vanhoover and Baltimare, as well a ribbon cutting of the opening to Easthoofwood Movie Theatre. And finally going over final preparations for the Gala tomorrow night.”
Celestia looked over the schedule. “It seems I am going to be very busy all day.” Celestia turn to Gale. “I won't be able to come with you to check on Shadow this morning, I do apologise.”
Gale looked disappointed but turn to Luna. “Aunty Luna you can go with me?”
Luna smiled. “Of course dear nephew, I will gladly go with you.”
Gilda had finished off her pancakes and drunk the last of her orange juice. “As for me dweebs I am going to get some air time, see ya later!” She got up and about to walk to the door, she turn with a roll of her eyes talons out.
As expected Gale gave her a hug. “Lunchtime?”
“Sure thing cub, usual place?”
“Yes!”
“Than see ya there dweeb!” She saluted and in usual fashion kicked open the doors with a hind paw, the guards glance at her before looking back out at each other. “Need new rotations Celestia, the guards don't freak out now!” Gilda called out as she left.
Celestia shook her head. “Never a dull moment.” She got up. “Now Raven, shall we?” The unicorn nod. “Gale I'll see you tonight okay?” She raise a foreleg out, Gale gave her a hug with the foreleg over him, her head nuzzling against his.
“Yes mum, tonight! Don't work to hard! Okay?”
Celestia release the hug laughing softly. “No promises.” She turn and leaves with Raven, Gale wave his talon to her as Celestia leaves.
Luna point a hoof to the chair. “Come nephew, finish your breakfast and we will go see Shadow.”
“Okay Aunty Luna!” Gale walked back to the table, he sat down to eat his breakfast.
The throne doors open with Princess Celestia and Raven walking into something they were not prepared for. Sitting on Celestia's throne at the top of the steps was her daughter Nightingale, sitting on the steps reading a comic was the blue griffon Gallus. “Hello mum! Surprise!” She waved a talon with a smile.
Gallus peered his eyes up over the comic book to see Celestia. “Hey.”
“Hello again Gallus.” Celestia smiled warmly to the cub, she turn to look up at Nighting.
Nightingale gestured to herself sitting at the throne. “How do I look up here mum?”
“My little princess sitting on my throne.” Celestia walked up to them, Nightingale gave her a look. “But you do look beautiful up there Nightingale.” She stopped at the base of the steps. “But I am surprised to see you here, I was told you be arriving tomorrow and alone.” She looked over to Gallus.
Nightingale got off the throne, with a few flaps of her wings she descended to stand on a few steps at eye level with Celestia. “Plans change mum, Gallus is working for me and got permission from his guardian to tag along, the cub been a great deal of help and think the Gala will give him a perspective of you.”
Celestia gave a curious look. “Oh?”
“That isn't why we here right now though.” Nightingale turn the attention away from the Gala. “I and Gallus got a very odd message from a Kitsune, Pom-Pom.”
Gallus lower the comic now paying attention. “She said something about Gale turning a oversized dragon into a statue with his crazy pure magic, also your overworked, stressed, unable to do anything about Grogar's monsters and that Zebra that wiped out the Inverse Reality still around working from said Grogar.” Gallus summed it up with a bit of sarcasm in his voice. “Is that about sum it up?”
Celestia was taken back by the direct blunt sarcastic tone from the teenage blue griffon, he was right on the dot with every word though. “I have to admit you are correct young one... I am having to continue as things are even with what is happening, I do not like it one bit at all.”
“Then just toss the crown.” Gallus responded.
“I wish it could be that simple, but I can not Gallus, my responsibilities run too deep, I have to keep a calm collected manner to my little ponies, I have to show strength, compassion, .”
Gallus shrugged blowing the feathers that drooped down over his vision. “Guess they solid points.”
Raven tap the schedule. “Princess we have a meeting with Alpha Pom-Pom.”
“And it happening right on time.” They turn to the doors as they open, Pom-Pom walk into the throne room with Shining Armor. “Morning Princesses, blue griffon.”
“Gallus.” The blue griffon informed her.
“Morning Gallus, how cute you look.” She smiled.
Gallus gave a odd look at her. “Cute?”
“Those feathers, that colour, your stance, it shows how cute you are and how prideful you look.” Pom-Pom stated.
Gallus quickly grabbed the comic book shoving it up into face covering the heavy blush, grumbling under his breath behind it. “Alpha Pom-Pom, you informed my daughter of my personal issues I am dealing with, I wish to know why.” Celestia walked up to her throne, and took a seat on it staring down at her with a dead serious look.
Pom-Pom walked up the steps till she stood before Celestia. “I did because I am a leader, parent and dealing with problems that I have to keep under radar at time, also showing I am giving a smile even there is negative things happening while dealing with meetings and so on.” Pom-Pom's tails sway around slightly with the magic flames pulsing through the heavy tone of voice.
“We use a form of magic with colours to hide the whole settlement from the sky, we have guards at the only three ways into it, each with magical safe guards, even in the settlement itself there a somewhat tense situation of creatures could attack, before a few days ago all we had was rainstorms, lightning and endless darkness to deal with on top of those beasts.”
Celestia listened to her as she continue to talk, the others did too and Raven Inkwell writing it down for Celestia.
“I been around the block for over 700 years, been the Alpha for roughly 620 years of it, I even with all this magic can be overwhelmed, even raising a child stressed me out, worrying for his safety, the threat of Thunderous every day. Yes we have Grogar and Zerra, including whatever monsters that were created to deal with, that why we have those that can handle it to do that for us to allow us to live and be the rulers we are.”
Celestia looked out the stain glass window to her left. “Hmm... What if they come directly for Gale?”
“Than you have a friend to call and ask for help, have guards be prepared, but keeping the citizens out of harms way, yes it wrong to keep information like this from them. But sadly a ruler must at times do things they don't like to keep the peace, there is no real danger of them coming to the city or harming the kingdom, until that moment comes keep them safe and be prepared.”
Pom-Pom please her paw on Celestia's chest plate.
“Be there for your children, work with meetings, deal with public appearances, yes it will be stressing and things get backlogged, but that life, nothing perfect, if it was we be singing rainbows and cuddles all day. Life be boring without a hint of chaos.”
Pom-Pom remove her paw from Celestia's chest.
“You have your sister, your daughter, Gilda, Captain Armor, your niece, your former student.” Pom-Pom turn around looking down at everyone. “You have all of us, and we will get through this one way or the other, let your daughter sort out the rest of the Gala, get Gallus to go hang out with Gale.”
“That would work, Gale and Gallus does have that honorary brother connection, and I can help out with sorting out the Gala too, I had many years of experience.” Nightingale confirmed and agreed to what Pom-Pom said.
Gallus closed up the comic putting it under his wing. “Seriously? I don't get a say in this?”
Nightingale stepped up to Gallus. “You can help me out sorting out the Gala if you want, you still get paid either way.”
“Hang out with Gale or do more work?” Gallus tap the tip of his beak. “I'll go with hang out.”
“Very well, captain could you take Gallus to Gale?”
Shining Armor saluted. “Of course princess. What will you do Alpha Pom-Pom?”
Pom-Pom sat down by Celestia's throne. “I am interested in seeing how a leader deals with everyday life of dealing with meetings and such, so I'll stick with Princess Celestia and observe, if that alright with you.” She glance over to Celestia. “Also we can chat a bit more as parents and leaders between actives, also how you feel uncomfortable about what happened with Gale against Thunderous and Zerra at Nowhere.”
Celestia wouldn't mind a fellow leader from another nation observe. “Very well Alpha Pom-Pom, you may join me, I never had a fellow leader of another nation join me on such a thing, it would be interesting.” Celestia said. “Also I feel welcomed of such talks, talking also about my son with someone such as you would be helpful.”
“Mum tonight I like to give you something that may help too.” Nightingale added. “You were unprepared as I am for all that happened, I am trying to adjust as much as you are, mine just digging into my dad's past that keeping me busy. And having this cub working for me been a welcome change of paste.” Nightingale said and turn to Gallus with a warm smile from her beak. “Thank you Gallus.”
Gallus shrugged. “You paid me, I got enough bits to keep myself fed and save up for a better place than that tip I call home, you helped me and I helped you even it being paid for.” Gallus thought about hanging out with Gale. “You know what, forget the bits for hanging out with Gale.” He got up.
Nightingale blinked. “Ar-”
“Yes and don't make me regret it, now where is he at?” Gallus interrupted.
Raven Inkwell answers the question. “I believe he at the Greenhouse Sanctuary of Philomena the Phoenix, Captain Armor knows where it is and can take you.”
Shining Armor walked up to Gallus pointing a hoof to the door. “Follow me, I'll take you there right away.”
“Sure, lead the way.”
They watched them leave the throne room. “That I wasn't expecting.” Nightingale stared at the doors now closed. “No bits? Am I missing something here?”
Celestia got up walking up to her daughter putting a wing over her. “That my little Nightingale is Gale's doing, his kind heart is infectious.”
“Magic?”
“No just kindness, generosity and honesty.” Celestia said removing her wing from Nightingale. “I look forward to our talk tonight Nightingale, and it good to see you home.”
Nightingale ruffled her wings. “Yet I don't have a room at said home do I?”
Celestia tap her hoof on the muzzle. “Hmm... Don't you?” She gave a sly smirk leaving a very confused Nightingale trying to process what she said. “Come Raven Inkwell, Alpha Pom-Pom, there still a long way to go till days end.”
“Lead the way.” Pom-Pom gestured for Celestia to go.
Nightingale watched them leave, soon she was alone in the throne room trying to process what her mother just said. “I have a bedroom?”
Gilda flying around the castle around the spires to under bridges and across the water ways, the relaxing fly around was a release for Gilda before the lame party she has to attend, she hoping that Gale will find it lame too and they won't spend too long at the Grand Galloping Gala. “Hey Kitty!”
Gilda came to a dead stop hover looking to the source of the voice to see Amber sitting beside the Pony Victory statue at the Canterlot Gardens, she flew down to the anthropomorphic cat. “Hey Gingernut, day off?”
“Pretty much, I hear your also been invited to the Gala.” Amber went directly to the topic she wanted to speak about and not mince words.
Gilda sat down against the statue beside Amber. “Your going to huh? Guess it won't be so lame after all.” Gilda teased.
Amber nudged her. “Maybe.” Amber pulled out of her leg bag a photo of Gilda and Gale. “I thought you like to have this, as a keep sake for your unprepared life choices you made.”
Gilda took it from the paw hands of her feline friend, moving a claw over it. “That lame photo taken when he hugged me, who would of thought three months later I am not only his teacher, sister and worried that dweeb over what happened in the last few weeks.” Gilda took a deep breath. “Matters that made worse for Gale because of that dweeb Anubis.”
“It must be effecting him in ways that we can not see either, trying hard to push it away to be that youngster we grew to know.” Amber looked up at the blue sky as the clouds roll by.
Gilda looked up at the sky too. “Gale was forced into something that no cub should be put in, if it was me before Celestia made that bet with me, I would of just laughed it off and moved on with life.” Gilda saw two guards walking by.
“Griffoness Gilda.” One said with a slight nod.
“Hey dweebs.” She waved at them, they continued on their patrol. “Amber, Anubis messed with things he shouldn't have, that Grogar created him from Gale...”
“It hard to believe that there are others created from Gale's imagination and memories by Grogar out there now being hunted.”
“That Gingernut is a crazy power hungry lunatic.” Gilda's tail twitching around showing her irritation. “I hate just carrying on and unable to do anything serious, now we know something big is coming and yet we going to some lame Gala! What the buck wrong with us?”
Amber reached over to her side pulling out of a bag two cans, she gave one to Gilda. “Nothing wrong with us, we doing our part here and now, it sucks that we can't kick some ass, but you have Gale and he needs you more than ever. Turning a giant dragon into stone in a fit of rage and will to defend those he cared for was amazing, it will effect him ways that make him think others might be scared of him.”
Gilda looked at the grape soda flavour drink in a can. “I hate it when you make sense Amber...” She pulled the tag with a hiss coming from the seal opening up. “But I am glad you do.” She drunk a bit of the frizzy substance.
Amber opened hers up taking a sip of the drink. “Glad I did.” She put the free paw hand on Gilda's shoulder. “Be there for him Gilda, be that sister he sees you as.”
“Oh I will.” Gilda turn her eyes to Amber. “Thanks for being a good friend.”
“No problem.” Amber smiled and Gilda return the smile back.
They sat back and chilled out watching the clouds float by in the sky as time past by left with their own thoughts.
Gilda finished her drink, she burped and toss the can into a nearby bin. “Well...” Gilda got up from the statue. “This dopey dweeb got to get back and check up on Gale.”
Amber raise her almost empty can. “Good you need to. See you around Kitty.”
“See ya, Gingernut.” Gilda opened her wings taking off to the castle.
As Gilda flew over the castle she noticed something shimmer catch the corner of her eyes, she slowed to a hover looking over to that shimmer was, that when her sharp griffon golden yellow eyes saw a shimming figure leap from one roof top to another. “What the buck is that?” Gilda flew down to investigate.
Gilda land on the roof, taking a good look around for that strange moving shimming object that was almost completely invisible to the eyes. “Honorary sister to Gale, Gilda we finally meet.” She turn towards the curved wall of the tower, she couldn't quite see who it was in the shadows, the sun shining at her in a angle that made it hard to see.
She squinted her eyes. “Your that shimmer, some sort of dorky unicorn spell to make you invisible?”
“Invisibility yes, magic no.” The calm deep voice answered. “If you wish to talk and to listen to my words I advise staying where you are, or this conversation is over.” Gilda got the feeling of getting a deep forboating stare from this mysterious figure that gave her chills down her wings.
Gilda shook off that chilly feeling. “Fine by me dweeb, you know who I am from the look of things, who the heck are you?”
“Hmm... One that lived and observed for longer than any that live on this mountain, as for who I am, that I will not share at this time, you haven't earned my respect to be given such.” He said to her as Gilda sat down on her rump glaring at him with annoyance. “You can be annoyed all you like, this is how I answered what you asked Gilda.”
Gilda half growled. “Fine, your really old and really annoying already.” Gilda thought about what he said. “Wait a second... You said been here longer than those lived on this mountain! That means your-”
“Correct I am.”
“You one of those creatures Grogar created!” She got up instantly with back raised, forelegs spread down with wings wide open ready for fight. “You think I am going to let you get near Gale your surely not!”
A soft deep chuckle came from the creature. “Yes I can see that young warrior, you are fierce and would act in such a way to defend your honorary brother, one you do not have to worry about.” She saw a bag tossed from the shadows landing before her, it impact sounded like glass cracking and breaking from the impact. “That holds the Eye of Grogar, or what left it.”
Gilda slowly eased her stance but cautiously took the bag opening it to see the contents was in fact a shattered orb. “Your one of those made from Gale's memories or his imagination before he was Gale, aren't ya?”
“That I am, that orb if intact would have been the transmitter to transfer Gale's magic from him into it to Grogar, now broken that connection is no longer possible.” He answered Gilda. “One time I did have a chance but choose that it was dishonourable to do such a act to one so young, so innocent.”
Gilda frowned. “You seriously think I am going to believe that?”
“Two days after the Night of Nightmare, the return of Luna of the family of Solarclaw, I stood before a teenage griffon hiding behind two waste storage units, one for waste, one for food waste. He was feral, no formation of memories, sleeping without dreams of his own.” The creature said strongly to Gilda no hint of hesitation in his words.
To Gilda he was either a really good liar that prepared this speech or he was definitely telling the truth to her. “Okay, if I am to believe what your saying is true, what exactly are you?”
A slight irritating hum come from the creature. “All that were made after the lose of Grogar's bell were created with a magical crystal as our cores, our bodies are formed from that core, with it drained, destroyed or removed from our bodies will turn us into rock.”
“Golems, you dweebs are all golems...”
“Correct, but unlike those golems you met and encountered, we are flesh, we eat, sleep and all independent of thought.” He confirmed. “We are more advanced versions to those Princess Celestia created, and we were all brought to life with basic memories with a mission ten years after Grogar's defeat.”
Gilda listened to what he was saying.
“Each of us have abilities and memories formed depending on our forms and appearances, Anubis, Leela and Shal-Quz were created before the bell was taken, they are the strongest of creatures created by Grogar to acquire the magic for him.”
“And Leela turned against him from the get go, only loyal to Gale.”
“Indeed, that is what I have observed and heard from many of you.” He confirmed. “She was his book keeper of records after all, any and all written languages stored within. But also even Anubis the Death Dragon and self proclaimed god of the dead to dragon kind has consequential actions that has caused rippling effects.”
Gilda growled slightly rubbing her head with both talons. “This is too much to think about! Why talk to me!? Not one of those eggheads like Purple!?”
“I have thought about talking to Twilight Sparkle of the house Sparkle, but I found talking to one with a heart of a warrior would be more benefiting.”
“I am not a warrior you dweeb! I am a griffon! Griffons are born with a inherited need to fight for what they deem worth while!”
He emerged from he shadows. “A race of warriors, natural at it.” Gilda looked up and down at him. “And if you wish to bring Celestia lead head of Solarclaw to talk to me, do so only in a form of a griffon, even as a pony it is a insult of her true heart within.”
Gilda still trying to take in what she was seeing. “Your really ugly.”
“As you are to me.” He countered calmly in response. “I believe I shared and shown enough to gain your trust, I will be waiting at my home for the rest of the weekend for your and Celestia's arrival at the place you once were without being there.”
Gilda tried to understand what he meant. “Splitjaw what the buck are you talking about?”
He points up and she look up at the mountain. “You already know from your experience at Cloudsdale during the young fliers event, when you spoke to Gabriella about it a few weeks ago here in Canterlot.”
Gilda lower her head. “Ho-” He was gone from the spot he stood at, Gilda looked around to get any sight of him. “Buck! He gone!”
“Gilda?” She turn to see Flash Sentry. “Why are you standing on the roof with a bag of what look like a shattered orb?”
Gilda picked it up. “Discovering something more than I liked. And now got a bucking headache over it.” Gilda open her wings up taking to the air. “Is Celestia done with the meeting?”
“No, the meeting with the mayors still on going for about another hour or so.” Flash stated.
“Fine... Is Gale still in the greenhouse?”
“Yes, in-fact that why I am here, you have a dinner arrangement with them at Gustave le Grand Restaurant, a young blue griffon called Gallus be attending as well.” Flash answered and explained his reasons for looking for her.
Gilda smirked. “Great timing, I think I really need some fish.” She pat him on the back. “Come on dweeb, I own ya lunch from last time, now good enough time to pay ya back dweeb.”
Flash tried to recall what she meant as the griffon flew off. “I didn-” He recall Ponyville. “She can't seriously mean that? I was just doing my job.” Flash stomach growls. “Okay, I get it, free food is great.” He loses to the stomach and flies after her.
The creature dubbed Splitjaw by Gilda watched them leave. “If being prepared were so easy.” He turns invisible soon after turning to walk away.