//------------------------------// // Chapter 10-The Griffon of My Dreams // Story: Abstract Helps Kyo Date Gilda // by AbstractThought //------------------------------// After a long and nerve-wracking train ride, we were finally here! Appleloosa! What a funny name for the city of my fated meeting with my beloved! As soon as the train doors opened, I noticed one thing in particular about our destination, more so than the buildings that looked straight out of a Western, the orchard of apple trees over to the left, or even the out-of-place purple circus tent sticking out from somewhere in the back: The intense desert heat. “Deep fried griffons!” I cried out as I felt the sudden rise in temperature around me. “So…HOT!” “Well, we are in the middle of a desert,” Abstract pointed out, though I could tell the heat bothered him as well. “Ugh, why couldn’t Gilda have stayed in the Crystal Empire?” I whined as I flapped my wings quickly in an attempt to cool down. “At least there wouldn’t be any risk of burning to a crisp there!” “Who knows? Maybe that could one of the things you and Gilda could talk about,” he offered. “Aw yeah, I have so much I wanna talk about with her!” I said excitedly, my wings flapping even faster from adrenaline. “I can just imagine,” he replied with a grin. “Let’s just hope she hasn’t flown the coop before we got here.” “Yeah…let’s hope…” I said, my excitement turning into dread. Dang it, Abstract, why do you have to be such a buzz kill? We walked into town, our luggage in tow. As we looked around, two things occurred to me: 1. We didn’t have anyplace we could leave our luggage, and 2. The town seemed almost deserted (pun possibly intended). I really hoped we hadn’t stumbled into a ghost town by accident, especially if it was a literal ghost town, cause I really wasn’t in the mood for horror. I was about to talk to Abstract about the lack of ponies when I heard a voice call out, “Howdy, newcomers!” “AAH, GHOST COWBOY!” I screamed as I quickly ducked behind Abstract for protection. Hey, don’t judge me; I had ghosts on my mind, and I can’t fight worth a feather unless there’s a controller involved. “Ghost?! Where?!” the voice cried in alarm. “Huh…I don’t see anythin’.” After stammering gibberish for a few seconds at the situation, Abstract cleared his throat and said, “Uh, please excuse my friend, sir; he has a bit of an overactive imagination.” I peeked over Abstract and saw a yellow stallion with a light orange mane and an apple cutie mark dressed in cowboy duds. He didn’t look like a ghost at all; in fact, he looked like a real hunk. He still wasn’t as hot as Gilda, though, so don’t get any ideas. “Yeah, my bad,” I chimed in. “Aw, it’s nothin’!” the cowboy said, perking up surprising quickly. “I’m just glad to be able to welcome you to AAAAAPPLELOOSA!” He hollered the last word in a way that suggested he got a real kick out of it. “My name’s Braeburn! Who might you fellas be?” “I’m Abstract Thought. Nice to meet you.” “Name’s Kyo Kusagani! Same here!” “Well, it’s nice to meet you too, Abstract Thought and Kyo Ku…Kuso… whatever you just said!” Breaburn replied jovially. “Now, what brings you to this fine town?” “I’m here to find the love of my life,” I answered in a dreamy tone. “And I’m here to interview the buffalo for an article I’m writing,” Abstract added. “Do you know where we can find them?” “Well, your timin’ couldn’t be better!” Braeburn said. “Chief Thunderhooves and his tribe are visiting us at the moment. You should be able to find them over by that big tent over yonder, where some magician’s settin’ up a magic show that’s got everyone real excited, ‘specially since there’s not a whole lot of excitement round here most of the time.” “Great! Thanks!” Abstract said with a grin. “Not a problem,” Braeburn replied modestly. He then turned to me and asked, “Now as for this love of yours, what can ya tell me about her?” “Well, uh,” I began uncertainly, “do you know what a griffon is? Half eagle, half lion, all awesome?” “Now that you mention it,” Braeburn said, putting a hoof to his chin, “I do believe I’ve seen a creature like that over by the tent. Figured she was an attraction or somethin’.” “You better believe she is!” I cried out excitedly. “Come on, Abstract!” With that, I grabbed Abstract’s hoof and flew like a flash towards the tent, ignoring his panicked screaming. In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the brightest idea to just fly off without taking our luggage or even saying goodbye to that nice cowboy, but at the time, there was only one thing on my mind: She’s here, she’s here, SHE’S HERE! I skidded to a stop when the entire tent came into view. There was a large crowd of cowponies and buffalo, and at the center of the crowd’s attention, standing by the entrance to the tent, was none other than HER! Gilda the gloriously gorgeous griffon herself, just as beautiful and awesome as I remember her! She was standing upright on a crate and advertising for the show in her incredible voice! I didn’t even pay much attention to what she was saying; I was too enraptured by being in her presence again at last! I don’t know how long I drooled over her before I saw a cloud drift into my vision, snapping me out of my stupor. “Hey! Where’d Gilda go?!” “Now that I have your attention,” Abstract said as he got rid of his thought cloud, “I was going to suggest you go up and introduce yourself to Gilda instead of just staring at her all day.” “Y-yeah…” I was suddenly feeling a little queasy. “I just…need to get my mojo flowing!” I laughed and plastered a confident grin on my face that even I knew was phony as all get out. “Kyo, listen to me,” Abstract told me in a serious tone, putting a reassuring hoof on my shoulder. “I know you’re nervous about talking to Gilda, but I want you to know that you have nothing to worry about. You’re the coolest, nicest and funniest pony I know, and Gilda would be lucky to have a boyfriend as awesome as you. Just be yourself, and if Gilda’s half as awesome as you say she is, she’ll appreciate you just the way you are!” I could feel my nerves ease up from Abstract’s words of confidence. “You’re right, A.T.!” I declared with a more sincere grin. “I’ve been preparing for this moment for over a year! I can do this! I can win Gilda’s heart!” “That’s it! That’s the right attitude!” Abstract cheered. “Now get over there and sweep her off her feet!” “I will!” I whooped. I turned to make my way to Gilda, but first I turned back to Abstract and said softly, “Thanks, man.” “Anytime, bro,” Abstract replied with a smile. I turned back to face Gilda. “Alright,” I said under my breath, “here goes everything!” After taking a deep breath, I made my way through the crowd toward the griffon of my dreams. It wasn’t until I got trapped behind a couple of buffalo (which are pretty huge, by the way) that it occurred to me that I could simply fly over the crowd. So I did just that, landing in front of Gilda with a flourish. “Hey there, sup?” I greeted nonchalantly, just like I practiced. “Huh?!” Gilda stared at me in surprise for a few seconds, while I stood there thinking, Oh dear Celestia she’s looking right at me! She then narrowed her amazing eyes at me and asked, “What do you want?” Wow, that was some freaky precognition on Abstract’s part. Maybe his thought cloud ability isn’t his only superpower. “I, uh…” Come on, brain, don’t go blank on me now! “I…just wanted a chance to hang with you,” I finished coolly. Nice. “I’m busy,” Gilda said curtly. “Come on, please?” I cried, my cool façade slipping. “I’m a huge fan of yours! I came out here just so I could meet you!” Gilda stopped short at that comment. “A fan?” she said with a tone of disbelief. “Are you serious?” I went into full fanboy mode at that moment. “Totally serious!” I gushed. “You’re the single coolest creature I’ve ever met! Your look, your attitude, everything about you is just…pure badass!” “Heh, tell me something I don’t know,” Gilda said nonchalantly, though I could see a small grin appear on her face. Yes! I’m getting to her! “Well, how about this?” I offered. “I’ve prepared a scrumptious lunch for two, and it’d be awesome if you joined me!” I added in a whisper, “It includes meat.” I could see Gilda drool a little at the mention of meat. Perfect play! She turned toward the tent and yelled, “Hey Trix, I’m gonna hang with a fan of mine! I’ll see ya later!” “What?!” A blue unicorn in a wizard’s hat and cape I recognized as the pony that was with Gilda and Twilight the other day poked her head outside the tent, looking pretty steamed, and not just from the heat. “You can’t just leave! Trixie is about to start her show!” “You’ll be fine!” Gilda assured her. “You’ve done plenty of shows without me!” “Yes, but to leave me for a simple fanboy?!” Trixie seethed. “Hey! Who are you calling simple?!” I snapped. “Hey, you’re the one who gets all the fans!” Gilda said gruffly. “Why can’t I have one for a change?!” Trixie breathed deeply, her eyes clenched shut. “Fine,” she relented. “You two have your fun. Trixie has a crowd to please!” With that, she flourished her cape and trotted back inside the tent. Gilda muttered something under her breath that I didn’t catch, then turned to me and asked, “So, where’s this food you mentioned?” “I’ve got it all prepared in town,” I told her, not wanting to mention it was still in a suitcase I left in the middle of the street. “Ready to chow down?” “You know it!” Gilda said eagerly. “Alright, let’s go!” I took off into the air, with Gilda flying beside me. “My name’s Kyo Kusagani, by the way.” “Kill a goose and what now?” Gilda asked with a frown. “Uh, just call me Kyo.” “Kyo? Eh, not the weirdest name I ever heard,” Gilda decided with a shrug. I nodded, turning forward to hide the excited grin I was trying to suppress. I can’t believe it! Gilda wants to hang out with me! This is a dream come true! The urge to grin faded quickly with worry. I just hope it doesn’t become a nightmare… End of Part 10