Many years ago within the Griffon Kingdom, a female griffon and a male griffon are hiding from the guards outside. Among the two was a newborn griffon, crying.
"Shush Gilda!" The father yelled at her. "You'll get us caught!"
"We had to have a crybaby at a time like this!" the mother complained. "We're so close to Griffora too!"
"Once we cross the border, we'll be scot free!" the father quoted. "So don't mess this up Gilda, or we'll leave you!"
The baby cried louder, making the parents hold her mouth in order to mute the sound.
Years later, the baby grew up to be a young griffon. The family was now living in Cloudsdale. Though the griffons got away, they had to sacrifice their beloved wing ship in order to make it out safely. From then on, they blamed Gilda for it due to her excessive whining that nearly got them caught in the first place. As Gilda ran home, she went to her parents in tears.
"What is it now?" The father asked without care.
"T-T-The pegasus started bullying me again!" Gilda cried. "They keep calling me a bird face!"
"I expected them to call you waterfalls." the mother retorted. "You just keep on crying!"
"Listen, you gotta take care of yourself already!" the father scolded. "Stop bothering us with your problems! We've already had to lose a lot just to bring you where you are now! The least you could do things on your own."
"But… But…" Gilda whimpered.
"Here's 20 bits, go buy some friends or whatever." the mother told her as she threw the bag at her daughter's face. Gilda only complied and left the house.
As Gilda left, she overhears her parents yelling. She stays nearby the door to listen.
"Can't believe this! We have an annoying brat now!" the mother complained.
"I know honey, but don't worry." the husband reassured her. "Once we get a new ship, we'll set out to sea without her."
Gilda's eyes shrunk as she collapsed near the door. Trying her hardest to hold back the tears, she wipes them before they can even show.
Gilda is now a teenager. She has held back the feelings of despair and showed off the intimidating side to show everyone around her who's the boss. She walks around the hallways as if she owns the place, even pushing a few pegasus around. Though she was seemingly ruling the school with her ruthlessness, she notices another pegasus gathering a lot of attention. The rainbow mane pegasus strolls down the hallway before glancing at Gilda.
"Hey, what are you looking at!?" Gilda questioned.
"I didn't know they have griffons at this school." Rainbow commented.
"And I didn't know they had clowns at this school." Gilda insulted.
Rainbow flew to Gilda's beak and said, "What was that beak face!?"
"You heard me clown wig!" Gilda retorted.
The two then got into a fight. A few punches and scratches were given before the teacher's had to separate them. From then on, the two competed in power, speed, and popularity. The rivalry was something that was part of their lives. Every day was a contest, and the victor would always prepare for tomorrow to repeat the process.
High school, Gilda's first day isn't going too hot. The pegasus she has bullied before now come back for revenge. Though she managed to fend them off, she was unable to rest without worry. Then, she came…
"What the hay happened to you!?" Rainbow questioned.
Gilda spat on the floor and said, "What? You gonna laugh at me?"
"Who did this!?" Rainbow yelled.
"Pfft, no one." She said as she walked away.
A few hours later, Gilda happened to pass by the principal's office to see the pegasus that bullied her back. Rainbow happened to walk out the door and run into Gilda.
"Oh, hey." Rainbow greeted.
"What did you do?" Gilda asked.
"Just taught those guys a lesson. That's all." Rainbow answered.
"But… Why?"
"I just hate bullies. So I like to show them what's up."
Gilda was stunned that her rival would do such a thing. She looked down as she stuttered, "But… Aren't we…"
"Friends? Yeah, of course!" Rainbow finished for her.
Gilda was still. Holding back the tears, she nodded in acknowledgement. From then on, they were pals. Gilda would continue to compete with Rainbow, but has never again belittled her. As the two hung out, Gilda became happier and more confident than ever. There were times however when Rainbow comforted others from the same treatment due to the bullies. One of the most reoccurring was Fluttershy. Gilda watched from afar as Rainbow embraced the shy pegasus.
"There, there." Rainbow told Fluttershy. "Come on, it's nothing to get upset about."
"I know, but I'm just a bit hungry…" Fluttershy expressed. "I wish they didn't take my lunch…"
"Hey! I'll share some with you." Rainbow offered. "My Mom and Dad gave me some sandwiches. We can share so you won't starve."
"Oh, but… I don't know…" Fluttershy replied quietly. "I don't want to be a bother."
"No bother to me Fluttershy. Come on, let's eat."
Fluttershy nodded and sheds a small tear. Gilda gags at this.
"Pfft, what a wuss." Gilda sneered.
In mind, Gilda disliked Fluttershy because Fluttershy reminded her too much of herself. A constant crybaby who cried over everything. But this was much deeper, as Fluttershy had Rainbow to comfort her as many times as she needs. Gilda had only met Rainbow's loyalty now, and was jealous every time she went to someone else's aid besides her own.
One day, Gilda came home only to find everything in her house gone. Only thing left was her belongings as well as a stack of money. Beside the money was a note containing the following message.
To our dearest daughter…
We finally hit the jackpot and now have enough money to restart the Griffon Pirates once more. This time, we are leaving our mistake behind. You. Don't bother looking for us, we have already ditched you the second you went to school and are probably leaving the shores of Equestria. We will most likely NOT come back.
Yours truly, the parents that were forced to watch over a poor excuse for a griffon.
Gilda merely stared at the paper as if she knew this would happen. Looking around the room, she sneered, "Good riddance."
After a the last time she saw Rainbow in Ponyville, Gilda was visited by some griffons. The griffons were actually associates of the Griffon Kingdom and had taken her into custody. There, she was found guilty of having the blood of the infamous Griffon Pirates. The king loomed over Gilda as she awaited her sentence.
"You know…" He began. "I have a better idea. How about this? You become my personal bounty hunter, and in exchange, I'll release you once you've accumulated 5,000,000,000 bits."
"R-Really?" Gilda asked.
"Yes, I'll even give you a job right now." The king tossed the papers onto the floor. Many of them were rebels defying the kings orders. "I heard some are even impossible to catch. Thos are the ones you really want."
"But… But, how am I supposed to turn them in?"
"You could turn them in." He suggested. "Or you can kill them."
Gilda's eyes shrunk as the king laughed. Was this where her life turned to? The next few months were gruesome, but thanks to her rummaging around her parents old room, she found secrets she could never know about without going to sea. As she looked around the chest, she found her first weapon. A sea stone glove. Gilda then lived the life of a ruthless bounty hunter. She chased after the hardest of rebels and beat them. She was never able to kill however, and was often beaten to a pulp for not doing so. But soon, her debt got smaller and smaller until she only needed to pay off 500,000,000 more bits. When the time came however, it lead to nothing but a mess.
Back at the inn, the girls were wiping their eyes at such a cruel story. Even Chopper needed Pinkie to give him a hankie to blow his nose. Zoro, Robin, and Usopp maintained a straight face, not showing any emotion.
"So yeah…" Gilda sighed. "Now you understand why I'm like this…"
"I… never knew…" Rainbow whimpered.
"So Straw Hat, now you see why our king is…" Gilda spoke. "So… Do you pity me?"
Luffy's hat was tipped over his eyes. Gilda and the ponies awaited a response as Luffy seemed to take his time. However, they soon realize that Luffy was asleep.
"YOU'RE SLEEPING!?" Gilda and the ponies shouted.
Luffy woke up and looked around warily before yawning.
"You have got to be kidding me…" Applejack muttered.
"Ah, nice nap." Luffy commented. "So, are we helping her out or what?"
"How could you sleep through such a sad story!?" Twilight questioned.
"Ah, sorry." Luffy replied as he picked his nose. "So what happened to her when she went to school?"
"Are you serious!?" Twilight questioned.
"I don't get him." Gilda stated. "So what? You won't help?"
"Of course we'll do something about it." Luffy accepted as he placed his hoof on his hat. "The moment you were willing to let Rainbow go told me that you aren't so bad after all."
"Wait… What…?" Gilda muttered. "You… You'll help?"
"We're here to back you up, so don't worry anymore." Luffy stated as he gave a big grin.
Gilda wasn't sure how to respond. Slowly, for the first time, she lets the tears go. After all these years, she finally cried. It was a miraculous day.