Applejack glared at the still unconscious Gilda. I rolled my eyes. Okay, I forgot something else important. I need to have Gilda earn their respect too. The room had a red carpet, and on the ceiling a painting so incredibly gory even I couldn't look at it too long. Griffins can be so weird sometimes. Twilight was reading a book in the center of the room, while Rarity and Fluttershy had been on the far end of the room, but Rarity was slowly walking over here.
"Hmmm, at least she's lost that horrid dress. It may be trey hip in Celestia's court, but it's just completely wrong for her."
"Rarity, forget your dress silliness for a time. Now Dash ya can't seriously mean…"
"Oh AJ, parties are always more fun with more. I mean my last party didn't work, but ever since the Gala I've been studding different types of parties. I mean I still don't know how to make the Gala fun yet without also making the uptight ponies all grumpy whumpy, but I'm working on it and…"
"Pinkie." AJ didn't bother to use a hoof, but it still worked. "Ah didn't even ask ya, so would ya please let Dash answer."
"Pinkie, you really should know better. I mean that was the height of rudeness."
"If rudeness has a height, does that make her a pony?"
There was silence, but no pony said anything. I don't think Twi even looked up from her book. Pinkie then laughed. Gilda then groaned, and slowly got to her feet. She then took a step back. If I had AJ glaring at me, and Rarity giving me that focused look of hers I'd probably do the same. Pinkie then turned back to normal. Then she tilted her head and turned into her unicorn form.
"Seriously? She can shape change now."
"And I can go faster than time, and Fluttershy has pretty much made nature her…"
"Do not dare finish that sentence Rainbow."
"I was just going to say slave. Geesh. I have some manners ya know."
"Well I'm sorry, but you show very little evidence of that."
I rolled my eyes. "Just cause I'm not uptight about that sort of stuff as you doesn't mean I don't know how to behave."
Gilda then smirked, letting out a little laugh.
"An just what are you laughing at?"
"Their arguing, it's funny." Gilda then blinked
Twilight's head came up, and turned toward AJ. "I think that was a truth aura before you ask. It was only strong enough to sense clearly for a moment, but I told you I thought I was detecting one."
"Wait, you can make me tell the truth?" said Gilda, pulling back
"Ah guess. Is that right Twi?"
"Yes, or at least not lie. You're the one that talked to me about the difference. I'd guess you'll have only sporadic use out of it for some time."
"Okay, uh, good ta know ah guess."
"Dash, tell me one good reason why I shouldn’t buck this here varmint into next week."
"Yes, this is the miscreant that frightened Fluttershy, correct?"
Gilda suddenly took a step back, Rarity's hair now gently roaring purple flames. Of course G was already near the wall, so very quickly she had nowhere else to go. Fluttershy now walked over, shaking a little as she walked, but then stood in front of Gilda. She then looked both AJ and Rarity in the eyes in turn.
"Now Gilda didn't actually hurt anypony. No matter how mean she's been that doesn't mean you should be worse in return. You should be ashamed."
Rarity looked away, head down. "I'm sorry. You're right of course. It's just being mean to you on top of that horrible dress."
"It's not like I wanted to wear that thing."
"Hmm, then maybe you have some taste at least."
"Ah, guess you're right, though ah wasn't really planning on doing nothing." Said AJ "Ah just meant to scare her a bit like she done to granny."
"Yea I wasn't scared of you, I was scared of the one with the flaming hair."
"Oh my, again?" Rarity's hair then returned to its normal, solid state. "There, much better. Hmmm, you know, normally I'm against dying one's self, but from what I've seen griffins are a bit drab. In fact I think purple suits you very well."
"Huh?"
I laughed. "She's talking fashion. She's probably already figuring out some frou frou dress she wants to put you in."
Rarity shook her head. "Of course not. Though she might look lovely simple elegance is certainly the way to go with griffins." Then she got this huge smile on her face. "Oh my, an entire new species to work with. How exciting."
"Uh…"
"Hey Twi." I said "You okay here reading, whatever it is you're reading?"
"It's the griffin's history of the period known as the dark ages. Did you know that the solar bomb incident is seen completely differently from the griffin perspective."
I waved a hoof. "Yea, yea. Celestia's a jerk for doing it. I know that opinion well enough by now. I'll take that as a yes."
"One of the servants even said if needed they'll see me to the royal library later."
"Okay, so you're good." I then turned to Rarity "Rares, you're looking around because you already have some idea that you want to start sketching right?"
"Yes, I must start immediately. I simply must get this down post haste. I really…"
Twilight's horn glowed and a bunch of papers, a bottle of ink, and a quill all suddenly appeared. She didn't look up from her book at any point to do so. Gilda blinked, suddenly staring in Twi's direction.
"Okay, even I know that's impressive."
"Oh, it's nothing really. It's a fairly simple creation spell, and I often need paper or something to write with."
"Okay, so that means once Gilda shows us to the palace gardens Fluttershy will be set and then we can go show AJ the coliseum."
"Dash, you can't be serious? asked Gilda
"Oh, I'm sure I'll be good here. I'll just…"
"Really Flutter?" I said "Even though the garden is chock full of even more exotic animals than Celestia's?"
She smiled hugely. "Really?"
"Yea." Said Gilda. "My freaky sister is all about weird animals. She's got like a ton out there, and has more in her room. Dad would probably be really pissed if she wasn't one of the youngest. Unlike me she didn't have a job form birth."
"Ah still don't like you."
"If you weren't Dash's friend I wouldn't care at all. Come on, we're wasting time."
Gilda then stormed out of the room. I sighed. That went slightly better than I expected. Pinkie had her hoof on her chin.
"Wait, what am I doing?"
"I figure you'd tag along all day, unless you can think of something else. Oh, uh, Twilight, if you can try to think of something you can do to impress Gilda."
"Now hold on a minute here." Said AJ "What is this all about."
I closed my eyes. "I'm loyal AJ. Really loyal. I don't like leaving anyone hanging, even if they are a jerk sometimes. I fight for my friendships, all of them."
"Ah see. Ah I guess I can't really argue with that, though she still seems like nothing but a bad apple to me, and now a spoiled brat on top of that."
"You seriously just said that?"
Pinkie giggled, AJ didn't say anything in return, just frowned.
"Anyway, that might be true, but even though it's odd we really are good friends. We may rag on each other, even throwing a kick or two, but when I need her she's there. Well, if I can find her."
"Doesn't sound like she's too there to me."
"She had her reasons. I always believed her when she said that, and now I even know what they were. Come on. I have this idea and I'll think you'll like it."
"What da ya mean by that Dash?"
I walked out the door. Pinkie bounced out behind me, and Fluttershy was right behind her. AJ didn't immediately come out, but I'm sure she would. I saw Gilda at the end of the hall, tapping one talon on the marble floors. Okay, this might be tricky but I can totally do this.