My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Ladder Company 6 (Engine Company 22)
Chapter 4: A Second Chance (As Told By: Gilda)
After the incident with the Idol of Boreas and almost causing the Second Westland War, I am not afraid to admit I have made a lot of mistakes. On the other talon, I am not ashamed to admit that I have made some of the best friends I have ever had in my times of trouble. I am looking at you Greta, and you Billie, and all my friends here.
I made amends with Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, yet I wanted to give something back to the ponies that I was so wrong about. That is why I chose to become a firefighter. I am now the engineer that runs our tower unit to the fire when the alarm goes off. I am putting my life on the line every time I go into a burning building to put out a fire.
That is how I show my gratitude to the ponies who live in this city, but I don't do my job alone. I have friends who help me out, and talk to me when I have problems. These griffons and that hippogriff, Lieutenant Faucon, Captain Gordon, Greta, Gretchen, Giselle and Genevieve. They are all my brothers and sisters at the station, my own family.
To think that it started with a griffonscone and a little help from Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie? When I shared my first griffonscone with Greta, I knew I had made a friend and friendship that was meant to last. Greta and I went through the academy training together, and graduated at the top of our class. Billie was also a top graduate this year.
When we rescued Cinnamon Swirl from that apartment fire or took care of that big warehouse fire, I knew I was a part of something very special. Those big wigs on the city counsel can say whatever they want about us. As long as I have my friends and an emergency call comes in, Ladder Company 6 and Engine Company 22 are here to stay.
Like our trucks, our station too has a lot of personality. Our station was build in 1892, and has the old watchtower that was used in those days to spot fires. We live and work in the suburbs. Everyday at the station, there is always something new happening. Today we were going to the Fillydelphia Civic Center for the big Fire Safety Convention.
When I told Grandpa Gruff I was going to be a fire-griffon, he told me every act I do in the line of duty will bring back the honor of being a griffon. I am a fire-griffon for more than just honor. This decision was the best I ever made. I could honestly say that this series of events all started with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. I knew this is my career.
"Ladies, check it out, that's an E-One Quest rear mount aerial," said Gretchen in awe like a hatchling in a candy store.
"It's cool, oui, but our truck is better in my opinion," said Lieutenant Faucon, we looked around at all the equipment on display from new trucks to new tools. Billie showed me that nobirdy is perfect, and that I am capable of making mistakes. Greta was my first friend, and my first love. I don't know where I would be if it weren't for these two.
"Our trucks are less than 20 years old, and under our care they can run for twenty more" I said praising our trucks over the others on display.
Everybirdy is an individual. That's what makes us special. It didn't matter that the city gave us a secondhand trucks or an old station. Gretchen is bright and cheerful. Billie is the first to go into a burning building if there are ponies or griffons trapped inside. There is no better driver than Greta, and no better hose team then Giselle and Genevieve.
You expect that out of Billie. Our lieutenant has an element of harmony after all, the element of courage. Not to mention she is the marefriend to Princess Luna herself. I am proud to call her my friend. In the olden times, I would've been banished or excommunicated by my family for being friends with a hippogriff. Those times have long passed.
Times have changed, and so have I. Now that I think about it, I think our station needs to go through changes as well. We have a three-door garage for the trucks, and Captain Gordon parks his Chevy SS there instead of using his parking space in front. We've been asking the city for money for new equipment, but we're always turned down.
Even if we get a new rig, we will use our current truck until she can't go anymore. The way we've been taking care of her and her pumper-tanker sister, they're going to be with us for a long time. We are so stretched right now that we don't have enough griffons or hippogriffs to work in shifts. We live at the station. Somebirdy has to do the job.
Altough we are stretched for manpower, funds and equipment, there are good things that come out of this, like listening to Captain Gordon singing and dancing to 80s music in his office. Our captain is a good guy. He is very happily married to a wife named Gina and they have two hatchlings, a son named Garrett and a daughter named Colleen.
Garrett comes by on weekends to play basketball with Billie, Greta and I in the back of the station. Colleen likes being around Giselle, Gretchen, and Genevieve. Gina is a Peregrine Falcon griffon, built for speed. I remember her being one of the first griffons to try out for the Wonderbolts. She was turned down as the team was for ponies only.
She is a stay at home mom, and internet blogger. She is still fast on her wings after was turned down by the Bolts . After I became friends with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, there was something in my life I wanted, a second chance. I was afraid of blowing it. As a fire-griffon, I will always treat everypony and everybirdy with kindness and respect.