A smile.
For a gryphon, it was a tricky matter; having a semi-flexible beak and all. No matter the manner though, a smile was something that Griffinstone hadn’t seen in many years.
And to think, all it took to change that was some scones.
The town was bustling with activity. The roosts and homes were under renovation, the trash in the streets had been cleaned up, and even a town hall was being constructed from the remnants of the old castle. Griffins still had a slightly sour look on their faces, but every now and again you could catch one looking around, a slight twitch at the edge of their features indicating the suppression of a smile. Old habits die hard, especially when one grew up in Griffinstone, where bits were thicker than blood.
That’s how some argued the progress; more customers and visitors meant more bits. To get that, you had to act nice, and say thank you at the very least. Some griffins meant it, but the majority said it with an almost amused expression as I handed them their ordered scones.
My small wagon had grown to a permanent shop, which had attracted a steady supply of customers. It was a simple double-story building, hardly an estate, but it was mine . A sharp turn from wanting to leave the town, but at least it was a change for the better.
The interior was originally the same old wood as the rest of the town, but stained a pleasant soft maple. Upstairs was my own room, which made for easy mid-day naps.
Not that I indulged in such, usually.
A smile that had once seemed so foreign to me now was a common appearance on my features. Of course, I’d never admit it, but it was actually nice to smile.
Eh, maybe I’d admit it. Eventually. Just not to Pinkie Pie.
“Huh. These are pretty good.” My newest customer mumbled, a male gryphon clad in what apparently passed for fashion nowadays. The multi-colored hat was probably purchased at some equestrian vendor, and strangely enough, it worked as a fashion statement.
….Ish.
The bits rattled on the wooden counter as I nodded with thanks as the store was empty once again. There was the usual early morning rush, a few individuals picking up snacks, and then the lunch and dinner regulars.
And to think I had wanted to leave this town? It was a goldmine!
I couldn’t help but let my beak turn upwards into the slightest of smiles. Making friends and feeling like I had a purpose was a pretty big motivator as well. I was still as awesome as ever, but now had a chance to branch out.
The experience of mingling with other gryphons was rather awkward though, especially since social skills had not been on my list of talents. At least I was mumbling a bit less than a few weeks ago though. Talking to Greta was helping with that, at least a bit. The other gryphoness was working at the shop every other day or so, helping with large batches, cleaning, or getting materials together.
She was paid of course; but Greta had her own things to take care of as well. Despite the on-again-off-again help, it still made things easier, especially with the town slowly starting to get back on its feet. The library even had been rebuilt, under direction of an ash-grey gryphon who seemed determined to give every book a home. I swear I had seen him grinning as someone dropped of a stack of the things.
Eh, eggheads, even among griffins. He was a steady customer though, so I couldn’t complain. Not too hard on the eyes either. It was the same griffin that had said it was nice to meet me those weeks ago, as a matter of fact. He must be one of the mountain gryphons; with ear tufts and a fan of feathers at the end of his tail. His beak was a bit more streamlined, not like the thick ones other males had. He looked more sleek than others; I could definitely get to like the look, but that was a different train of thought, and a fairly new one at that.
Taking out another batch, I prodded a scone with a talon, nodding in approval. The cooked dough sprung back at her touch, indicating it was done. Too much heat and it’d be crumbly to the point of annoyance, and too little, and it’d be mush. A bit of spring was perfect.
“Hey Gilda, I’m taking off for a late dinner. So, you know, see ya.” Greta called from the front of the stone. I finished putting the scones aside, waving to the other gryphoness as she left. As the bell that hung over the rough wooden door chimed, I couldn’t help but notice another gryphoness leave with Greta. A friend of hers? That’d be nice to see, her first gryphon friend making-
Oh. Ooooooh. That was a nuzzle. Guess that answers that question. Good for you Greta.
My talons drummed on the counter briefly before I began organizing a few wayward items in the shop; some dishware I had traded scones for, and allowing for a few other items other than foodstuffs. The odds and ends brought in a few other customers. The mantra ‘one griff’s trash is another’s treasure’ was true even here.
Such a change from a few months ago.
I finally sighed, switching the store sign to closed before heading to the rooftop as my thoughts clouded over again. It was a simple climb up the ladder in my room, and to the small partially covered balcony. It was a nice place to think, something I was doing more of, for better or worse.
The sun was beginning its downward journey of the day, and griffins flitted to and fro across the town. It was a far breath from the eyesore Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie had arrived to. Maybe they’d even get a visit from Princess Sparkle; Rainbow had mentioned something about her love of books…
My business was taking off, and I had even made amends with Dash’s friends Added to that was the stash of bits I had saved; no small accomplishment.
So why did I feel so weird?
At least I had made amends, to avoid that hanging over my head. Not feeling guilty about past actions was a surprisingly strong motivator, something I hadn’t encountered before. Granted, it had taken a few weeks, but I had finally visited Ponyville to apologize, even to Fluttershy.
It had taken over an hour to just get the Pegasus to open the cabin door, and that’s after I had been sat on by a bear, and tied up courtesy of a malicious bunny.
That small fluffy creature still scared me, and I was supposed to be the predator!
But I had finally apologized, and even gotten her to smile. That bunny still gave me the creeps though. ‘Angel’ indeed.
What had really thrown me for a loop though, was of how she had then said she was sorry, to me, saying that she understood why I would be so stressed. In a moment that had shocked me to the core, that yellow pegasus seemed to get it, where the anger came from.
And she was saying sorry? To me?
...or perhaps for me?
That...hadn't happened to me before, much less from a pony I had been less than kind to.
Yet, despite it all, it was these increasingly common moments I would like the company of someone, even if it was one of Dash’s friends, just for a bit.
Only in small doses though, especially if they happened to be pink.
A soft chuckle left my beak as I settled down on a worn blanket. There was no avoiding it, especially since Dash’s visit, it had been increasingly obvious. Friendships and social stuff had never been my forte. Even so, I knew this feeling all too well. It was the same emotions that I had felt when looking up at Dash, after just arriving to the junior speedsters. The memories still brought tears to my eyes, if I dwelled on it long enough.
I missed that; but clearly Rainbow Dash didn't realize how much that had meant to me, still meant to me.
But she was a country away, and being wrapped up with her own group of friends made that distance seem even farther. I didn’t know what that was like, to have that. Did I want that?
Now I was getting a bit peeved. Thoughts were harder to deal with than idiots or bullies. I knew how to deal with physical threats or annoyances. Thoughts, not so much. They just spun around in my head endlessly.
Ever since saving Rainbow and Pinkie, my entire way of thinking had cracked. Not broken though; I wasn’t that pathetic, but everything I had grown up with and grown to be was- it didn't feel good.
No, more than that. It was mean. I had been mean, yelling at them instead of explaining it all. Sure, I had a reason, but that didn't totally make me feel better. Strangely, that bothered me a lot more than it should. Or maybe it should bother me, I wasn’t sure.
Spreading my wings, I glided down to the street, meandering this way and that to look around the town. The counsel, newly formed to take place of the long-dead king, had actually asked me to be an advisor, one step below the group of head-honchos.
Not like I was doing much else, other than baking, so I had accepted. What that meant in the future, I wasn’t sure, but at least I had a goal. All the better to keep me occupied. Grampa Gruff was one of the other members too; stuck in his ways perhaps, but at least was well-known and respected.
Or tolerated, which had come to mean similar things over the years.
My paws and claws took me to the new library, a far cry from the ruins of a few weeks ago. Most of the books had been saved by somegriff, the only casualties being a few basic copies of history books and the like. Most likely the egghead’s doing. I wasn’t even sure of his name; just referred to him as ‘Ash’ in my thoughts. Not that I was thinking about him that much. Egghead; not my type. Then again, some of the construction workers that had been hired to assist in rebuilding looked rather attractive, but most already had mates, or were dumb as bricks.
If my eyes rolled anymore at my own self-monologue, I’d go blind. What was I doing? Fretting about new friendships and lack of other things, all because I was lonely?
….
Ah, there it was, the word at the heart of it all. It sounded so childish, so weak to even think about. I didn’t need or want anyone else! I had been fine up to this point.
Even if mentally spoken, the words reeked of lies. My shoulders slumped, claws toying with a small pebble. I had been fine, and that was a truth.
But that was it. No friends, just going day to day. Nothing had seemed enjoyable until Rainbow had shown up again. Even though it was bitter at first, it had been a change from the daily drudgery.
That visit culminated with choosing Rainbow, and Pinkie, over a solid gold statue. For so long I had wanted to be the ‘cool’ one, and that statue would have solidified that statement, in more ways than one. But I chose something better...at least I thought so.
But now?
My beak grit together, and I walked over to look at the new structure being formed, most of the library’s roof completed, and the interior taking shape.
It felt like before Junior Speedsters, when I was shy and unsure of myself. What frightened me more than anything, was that I didn’t know whether I hated this feeling, or liked it. Not worrying about ‘coolness’ anymore, just being me.
But was I even happy being myself?
My thoughts carried me right into a low-hanging beam, I bit back a few nasty obscenities.
Great. I was turning into an egghead. Or…something.
“Gilda?”
Almost smacking my head on the beam again, I turned to glance towards the source of the voice.
“Oh, hey Ash, erm, dude.” I stammered, wanting to just walk into the beam again to avoid my embarrassment.
The griffin blinked, letting out a soft chuckle.
“Ash? Eh. As far as nicknames go, at least it fits.” He replied casually, glancing over his feathers. Strangely, he seemed more at ease conversing with me than others.
“It’s Gelvin, by the way.” He added, holding out a set of sharp talons.
“Oh. Huh. Nice to uh, meet you officially I guess?” Not my smoothest words ever, but considering I had made a fool of myself, not too bad.
The fact I could feel my facial feathers fluffing from a simple claw shake made me want to curl up and die. Was our race this starved for contact, verbal and otherwise? Apparently so, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel nice.
“So you’re the librarian then? Or soon-to-be one?” I ventured to ask. A conversation would keep my mind from wandering, and Gelvin seemed at least capable at holding a decent back and forth, unlike many others.
No, more than that, he was willing.
Weird.
“Eventually, yes. I saved most, if not all the books that were still left. Loads of copies were ruined, but the old librarian passed his records on. Kept in the family and all that.” Gelvin explained, gesturing to the building.
“It’s just; finally I have a place to put all the books! Sure, maybe nogriff will read them, but at least they’ll be here for someone! Ah….” His words stammered off, reaching a claw to smooth down some fluffed crest feathers.
“Sorry. I like books. Not much of gryphon history or any sort of novels by our kind.” He muttered, prompting me to chuckle. I couldn’t help it. He was such an egghead, but not in a pushy way, more of in a cute and fragile sort of manner.
Totally was not going to dwell on how I just called this guy cute. Not a chance.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Gelvin asked, sitting down on a spare patch of floor, glancing up to the stars through the holes in the roof.
“Can’t blame you. This town has been through the blender.”
I was about to say something, but then couldn’t help but catch his wording.
“We don’t have many blenders around here?” I ventured to remark. Now I had my suspicions.
“Ah. Right. Adopted by ponies. Force of habit.” His words were spoken with a rather reserved demeanor, as if he expected me to lash out with sharpened words of disdain, his gaze shifting to the floor.
It almost-no, it did hurt to realize a few months ago, I might just have done that. No, I would have done that. Scoffed, and blown him off as being lame.
But, that was past Gilda.
I realized I was simply staring, and so waved a set of claws dismissively.
“Eh. That makes sense. I've got some friends who are ponies, so all cool.”
It still felt really weird to say that; my best, and only friends.
Gelvin blinked, glancing up with genuine surprise at me.
“Friends with ponies; I have to say I’m surprised.” He remarked, finally glancing up to me.
That was another thing we didn’t do around here. Eye contact. It was mostly mumbled words and be distracted by anything else other than that griffin you talked to. It was very strange for me to find somegriff else returning the gesture, simply because of the lack of such around the town.
Ooooh, green eyes? That is definitely cool.
“Anyhow, I won’t keep you.” Gelvin remarked, gesturing around to the library.
“I need to head out, so, see you later? Maybe?” He stated, or rather, asked.
I shrugged, not entirely sure what the appropriate response would be.
“Well, you seem to like my scones well enough. We’ll be open as usual, so probably.” I replied back, waving a claw as I headed to the door.
“See ya, dude.”
“Same, Gilda.”
His reply almost caused me to walk into my familiar enemy; the wooden beam of pain. I didn’t hear my name spoken much by anygriff other than Greta, so it was still an alien sound to me. Especially by a male.
It was nice though. Then again, this whole friendship business I could get used to.
Maybe.