Gillian paced around the already cramped living room in an anxious daze. The other griffons had perched on high shelves, and Gaine even stuck himself to the ceiling, but she was too busy worrying. This plan wasn't going the way either of them had intended at all. Gillian was willing to admit this was partially her fault, she should've asked a couple more questions first. Maybe she just got caught up in the heat of the moment. It was surprisingly difficult to focus on what the princess was saying when her eyes were filled with sparkle, which made sense, she was princes Twilight Sparkle.
But this whole plan was going downhill fast. Sure Gillian had the book on all those monsters from Grover knows how long ago, and Sam didn't know a lick of it, but was it really worth it when Twilight nearly let Sam loose? It really didn't seem like it. And now, Twilight was unconscious, tied down to a chair. Was she supposed to give her the note now? No, she said only when it was the right time. But how was Gillian supposed to know when the time was right? She couldn't predict the future, and based on what was happening now, she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to. Either way, she needed to figure out a solution.
Gillian had told the rest of the party about the situation, and about Sam, but she didn't tell them everything. She didn't tell them about Twilight's apparent lessons with Sam, nor about the note Twilight had written for her to keep. And she certainly didn't tell them about the memory wipe. The less they knew about that whole situation the better, lest one of them accidentally trigger the spell and ruin their plan.
Gillian continued to pace, flicking Rainbow in the face with her tail as she spun around. With each passing second, the ice was getting weaker, and Sam was one second closer to escaping. She really hoped that the explosion from earlier wasn't him escaping, but then again, what else could it have been? This was bad. This was really bad. What were they gonna do?
Twilight stirred lightly in her restraints, and everyone present stopped in an instant. After an overly long, completely motionless minute, the group continued to devise a plan of interrogation. Gillian, meanwhile, kept a steady eye on the windows. The hum of Cadance's protective spell was nearly drowned out by the chatter around her, but Gillian could still see the pink veil of the protective bubble that surrounded the cabin. It's glow made everyone else feel safe, but Gillian had a sinking feeling that it wasn't enough. Not by a mile.
Gillian walked over to where Twilight's friends were gathered, listening to Cadance discussing something. Gillian leaned over from behind the couch, pushing Pinkie's mat of poofy hair down to allow herself to see.
"Now all we know is that this... Sam?" Cadance looked towards Gillian for an answer.
"Uh... y-yeah. Sam. That's it."
"So we know that Sam is stuck in the estuary five miles north of here. Gerret is keeping watch for now."
Applejack raised her hoof suddenly. "Uh, sorry to interrupt ya, Princess, but we're sure Sam's still locked up in that ice of his?"
"Yeah, we all heard that big kaboomey last night, what if he got out?" Pinkie added.
"If Sam really did escape, Twilight'd be iis first target for sure, So he'd come here first 'n' foremost," Gillian spoke up. The suspicious stares from the rest of the party quieted her quickly, though, and she shrank down into the pillow that was Pinkie's hair.
"What does he want with Twilight anyway, can't we just talk this out peacefully?" Fluttershy whispered.
Rarity spoke up first. "Well, if Gillian is correct in assuming Sam has mind controlled Twilight, having a princess under your thumb would be quite the useful tool for manipulating the masses."
"Well I say we go out there right now, kick the snot out of this guy, and get our friend back!" Rainbow shouted, rising from her seat.
"Hold on Rainbow Dash," Cadance interrupted. "We don't want to start a fight when we don't know what Sam is capable of. If he mind controls the right pony, what do we do then? What if he uses Twilight as a weapon?"
"Oh... right," Rainbow drifted back down to her spot on the couch with a frustrated look.
"You said something about his eye, right? That that was how he mind controlled everyone?" Gaine murmured.
Gillian shrugged. "I.. I think."
Gaine nodded. He dislodged his claws from the ceiling and clambered down to join the rest of the group.
"so what are we to do if Sam does show up?" Rarity peeked out the window cautiously.
"Keep him and Twilight away from each other at all costs. We might be able to fend off one of them, but if they work together, we won't be able to stop them."
The group began to shift and move off the couch at the finality of Cadance's words. Twilight remained still, so they would have to wait for Cadance's spell to wear off before they interrogated her. Gillian made a mental not to ever listen to one of Twilight's plans again.
Gelgen spoke up, disturbing the silence that clung to the cabin's walls. "Uhh, Where'd Gaine go?"
Before anyone could answer, a loud, muffled boom pierced through the walls of the cabin. Quickly, the group of ponies and griffons scattered in every direction, preparing for the worst. Gillian stood frozen in fear. It happened. It really happened. Sam was free.
Cadance shouted out behind her. "Gillian, stay and watch Twilight. Stop her if she makes any sudden moves. We can't afford to let Sam get what he wants!"
"Yes ma'am!" Gillian shouted amongst the chaos.
The rest of them funneled out of the small doorway. Pinkie leapt her way out of a nearby window, and her lighthearted "wheee!" was the last thing Gillian heard before the cabin returned to panicked, paranoid silence.
Gillian twiddled her claws nervously, the book still stashed safely under her wing. Then, just when she believed things might have calmed down, she heard a slight creaking from behind her.
Twilight was waking up.