Part 12
“So you are looking at marrying Escargot? Well that’s great. What can we do to help?”
“Ohhhhh, that’s a great idea.”
“But this griffin’s bad news… Please…”
Too Uptight
“I’m exhausted.” Escargot said walking out of the palace. Gisa sat on his back looking around watchfully.
“I’m starved,” Dinky whimpered, “I could eat a hundred of my mom’s muffins.”
“I think my brains leaking out of my ears.” Sweetie Belle whimpered. “I’m too cute to die!”
Scootaloo and Noi bounded up to them happy and excited. Both of them looked like they were full of energy, much to the ire of the unicorns.
“We had so much fun!” Noi said giggling.
“Heart Wrench took us out, showed us lots of stuff, and even bought us smoothies.” Scootaloo jumped fluttering her wings, “She really knows her stuff!”
Applebloom coughed a few times as she joined the group. “I’m getting better, I only blew up 2 potions today.”
All the girls giggled and looked down the street.
“How about we all go to Sugarcube Corner?” Escargot said looking off towards the building.
Noi and Dinky giggled and hugged Escargot from either side. “Perfect idea!” Both said in stereo.
Turning the group started trotting for the bakery.
“Well, well, look at the blank flank convention.” Diamond Tiara said trotting with her nose high.
Silver Spoon sneered at the foals. “There’s so many of them, I guess there wasn’t enough good cutie marks to go around.”
“Are you insulting the princess’ honor?” Gisa said puffing her feathers.
“She is not a real or true princess. She just won a rigged pageant.” Diamond Tiara huffed and turned her back on them.
“She is more of a princess then you will ever be.” Gisa roared. “So show respect.”
“Make me.” Diamond Tiara probably regretted saying that as soon as she said it.
The tiny griffin launched herself letting out a war cry as she headed for the little filly, talons first. This might have ended very badly for the poor pony. Escargot however was on the ball and grabbed her mid-flight.
“Gisa, leave her be, she’s just a bully.” Escargot said pulling the griffin back to his back.
Diamond Tiara was running for home crying. However Gisa’s roar had also scared Noi and Sweetie Belle who were also whimpering in fear.
“She challenged your honor and then mine. Now she runs?” Gisa said with a huff.
“She’s a pony Gisa, she doesn’t understand.” Scootaloo chipped in. “Sides she always runs home, she’ll probably tell her dad that we started everything.”
“She told me to make her. In Griffinstone that’s an open challenge to a fight.” Gisa said huffing.
“We can’t just fight everypony though that insults us. It’s not the way and it could get us, or you in trouble.” Escargot turned and started trotting back to the castle. “I’m going to head back, let Twilight know.”
“Kay, meet you at the Corner.” Dinky said and turned charging.
Walking back inside Escargot found Twilight reading a scroll in her throne room. The Princess of Friendship had a not so friendly look on her face as she scowled. Spike on the other hand stood dutifully ready with parchment and quill.
“Princess, I have a little bit of a problem.” Escargot sat and waited for a moment.
“Yes Escargot?” Twilight looked up from the scroll.
“Diamond Tiara was in one of her moods, Gisa told her to show some respect. Diamond told Gisa to make her. This almost ended in a griffin fight.” Sighing softly, “It’s not Gisa’s fault.”
“Gisa, you’re not in trouble, but I want you to spend some time with me and Spike. I’ll teach you some of the rules of Ponyville instead of Griffinstone.” Twilight said smiling softly.
Escargot picked Gisa off his back and hugged her tight. “Thank you for trying to protect me.”
“Well you would have done the same. She said make me, in Griffinstone that’s an outright challenge to a fight. You don’t say that.”
Turning Escargot giggled and pranced out of the castle. This required him to stop outside and think for a moment. ‘Did I just giggle? Did I just prance? Ok I need to be a colt again fast.’
Turning quickly he ran for home, he knew this would be disappointing the girls but he just needed to be a colt again. ‘I’ll make it up to them somehow’
Skidding inside he was thankful his parents were out and dropped Escargot’s bag into her room. One hot shower later and he was feeling like himself again. This was a good thing. Right?
Trotting past his room he grabbed his own saddlebag telekinetically and plopped it onto his back then shook his head vigorously. ‘Ugg I’m such an idiot. Why would I do something as dumb as using magic in the house? If my parents were home… I’m so stupid sometimes.’
Sighing softly he steadied his bag on his back and took a breath and looked back at his cutie mark. ‘Maybe it’s true what dad says, maybe I am just slow.’
Heading outside he held his head high and inhaled deeply. Ah, the wonderful day, the sun, the flowers, the… His stomach growled loudly reminding him that he was still hungry after his class. Turning the colt made a break for Sugarcube Corner.
Trotting in he saw the girls sitting at their table, talking and laughing. Lifting a hoof he considered joining them but shook his head. Turning he looked around and smiled seeing Snips. Taking a seat beside Snips he looked at the next table over.
Diamond Tiara was sitting with Silver Spoon and the griffin Kunibert. Groaning softly Snails looked at Snips. “It’s going to be one of those days isn’t it?”
“Nope, seems like a normal day in Ponyville to me.” Snips replied playing with his ice cream.
“So you are looking at marrying Escargot? Well that’s great. What can we do to help?” Diamond Tiara said.
Snails shot his head to look at Diamond Tiara’s table.
“Excellent, any information about her you can provide as well as her friends will help.” The griffin nodded sagely. “I will pay of course.”
“The important thing will be to separate her from her friends.” Silver Spoon added. “Or better yet turn them against her.”
“HIEEEEE!” Pinkie Pie said almost making Snails fall out of his chair.
“Um hi, I’d like….” Snails blinked looking away from the trio of doom, as Pinkie put down a double chocolate fudge banana split in front of him.
“Here you go, every other unicorn was so hungry after their classes with Twilight so I figured you’d be to.” Pinkie said giggling and turned bounding back to the kitchen leaving Snails blinking.
“But I…” Snails gulped and nervously started eating.
“So who are they?” Kunibert asked Diamond as he ate his scones.
“The boys? They're noponies. Pretty much useless tagalongs, you don’t need to worry about them.” Diamond Tiara said confidently. “Between the two of them they might make a half-wit.”
“So who’s the big griffin?” Snips asked curiously.
“I don’t know, some bigshot I guess. He just seems too uptight.” Snails said with a sigh. He looked down at his sundae pushing it with a spoon. A useless tagalong.
“Oh a big shot?” Snips perked.
“An evil big shot. Don’t even think of trying to be friends or help him.” Snails corrected with a sigh.
“Oh a pouty pony, what can I do to help make you feel better?” Pinkie Pie asked appearing beside Snails almost causing him to fall out of his seat again.
“Ever thought of seatbelts for the chairs here?” Snails said offering a fake smile.
“Ohhhhh, that’s a great idea.” Pinkie said, “I’ll talk to the Cakes about it right away.”
Snips chuckled, “Fastest turn around I’ve seen yet.”
“I think I understand now what mom means about her having to fake things with dad. A faked smile goes a long way.” Snails said getting up.
“Where are you going?”
“To talk to the girls, then Twilight.” Snails said heading over and sitting on the floor by Sweetie Belle.
Scootaloo looked over and tilted her head giving a little smiled. “Hi Snails. Sorry were talking cutie mark stuff.”
Sighing softly Snails took a deep breath. “Diamond Tiara is out to get Escargot. She’s teamed up with a griffin who wants to take either Escargot or Gisa as his mate wife.” Taking another deep breath he went on. “Girls, Diamond Tiara wants to drive you from Escargot or turn you against her. I don’t want you getting hurt so it might be best if you backed off of her a bit.”
Applebloom narrowed her eyes. “Thank you for telling us but no, we won’t back off, especially if she needs our help.”
“But this griffins bad news… Please…” Snails pleaded a bit.
Sweetie Belle shook her head. “If he’s bad she’ll need all of us more than ever. But thanks for the warning, we’ll be ready for Diamond Tiara’s tricks.”
Turning he walked out and ran towards Twilights castle. He needed help, he just didn’t know what to do anymore. The door was already open so he ran inside. Slowing he tried to control his breathing as he walked towards the throne room. Inside was the grand map of Equestria and beyond. Twilight sat in her chair looking at the map, as did Rarity.
Both of their cutie marks were flashing brightly. A mirror of their cutie marks, Twilights stars, and Rarity’s diamonds hovered over Ponyville on the map. Seeing Snails run in, they both looked up at him tilting their heads.
Almost in tears Snails sat down. “Princess Twilight, I need your help…”