//------------------------------// // A Reluctent Queen // Story: World of Ponies: A Collection of Days // by ShadowWalking18 //------------------------------// Rainbow slammed her mug of cider onto the bar counter with a refreshed gasp. "Awww yeah!" She declared, "That hits the spot." Dash leaned against the bar, and then checked the clock and sighed. She was late. 'Wish Castus was here. Least then he could massage my wings. Practice was killer today.' Dash thought, rubbing her wings. And if Castus was here, she could have someone to drink with and shoot the breeze. Oh and massage her wings. It wasn't anything big, it was just something he offered her one time when he had seen her sore from practice and she just took advantage of the free massage. It wasn't like she was asking him to preen her feathers. But sadly, her best drinking friend was away on business in the Empire tonight, as Fluttershy had told her. He was expected to be gone for a week. But she could live with that. Besides, tonight she was meeting someone that she hadn't seen in awhile and had left on two differing terms so Dash was glad for the privacy she had to get her mind straight. The bar she was in was called the Five Mug Stallion, a small and quiet Draught style bar in Ponyville run by a mare named Full Kegs. And despite her name the mare was as flat as her, much to Dash's surprise when she had first met her; but her flank was big enough to even make her lick her lips. But she was a nice enough mare, who knew what her customers wanted and when they wanted privacy and when they wanted to talk. Full Kegs didn't talk much herself, but when she did you could always expect a well meaning ear and if needed a good pep talk. Tonight though, Kegs could tell that Dash wanted to be alone and only after giving her another mug of cider did she hang back and clean a glass. 'It's been so long since we last met. I wonder how Gilda is doing.' Dash thought. When she had last seen Gilda, they had made up for hurt feelings and a sour separation so long ago. She had been glad to have an old friend back, but they had never had a time to really sit down and talk when they had left her back in Griffonstone to help fix the griffons there up. So when Dash had received a letter in the mail stating that Gilda was visiting, and wanted to meet Dash at the Stallion, well Dash was quick to reply and say she would be there. It would be the best time for them to talk and really reconnect properly. Yet she was late. Dash looked up as the door to the bar opened, and she waved as she saw Gilda walk in. "Hey Gilda. What kept ya?" Dash asked, as she motioned to a chair beside her. Gilda smirked, "Sorry. Been awhile since I've been in this town. Got a little turned around." Gilda sat beside her friend and order up a drink. Dash smirked, "Yeah. Ponyville has been getting bigger the past few years. I think it has to do with Twilight being a princess now, it really put the town on the map." "So I understand congratulations are in order. Miss New member of the wonderbolts" Gilda said, taking a drink from her mug once Kegs brought her drink. She gave Rainbow Dash a pat on the back. Dash winced, "Ah, easy, my wings are a little sore today." Gilda smirked, "Rainbow Dash, the fastest flier in Equestria, complaining over sore wings?" Gilda feigned shock. Dash laughed, "Yeah well my wing massager is on vacation. And its not like you never complained about wing cramps. Remember Young Fliers Camp." The two laughed, and clicked their mugs together and each took a heavy pull back on their cider. Then they sat there, smiling for a time as they remembered old days of the past. "Can't believe its been that long. It all still feels like yesterday." Gilda said, swirling her drink. Dash sighed, "Yeah. Whoever thought we would be here now," She took another swig of her drink and turned to Gilda, "You sounded like you wanted to talk about something in your letter. Is something wrong?" Gilda winced, and she clutched her mug with both claws, "Um, well....I...." Dash blinked, surprised by her friends hesitation. This wasn't like Gilda, and this had her worried. She placed a hoof on her friends claw. "Gilda. You know you can tell me anything. We are friends. You can tell me anything and-" "They want me to be queen!" Gilda blurted out suddenly, before throwing back her entire drink down her throat, "Another please." She said as she slammed the mug down. Keg's took it without saying a word. Dash sat their, mouth wide open as she stared in shock at her friends words. "W-whoa, wait pull back a moment," Dash said, "Say again." Gilda sighed and placed her head on the bar and covered it with her claws, "Griffonstone. All the griffons there want to name me their queen. They think I should lead them. I already have suitors lining up asking for my claw in marriage. And my uncle is already telling stories to fledglings about Gilda the Unifier." Dash blinked, "Uh....wow that's...." "It's terrible!" Gilda groaned, grabbing the fresh mug that Keg's brought and downed it all. "Well, I would have said awesome." Dash said, "I mean, I don't get a lot about griffon politics right now, but doesn't that make you like ruler of all griffons or something?" Gilda looked up at her friend, "Are you serious?" She deadpanned. Dash smiled nervously and shrugged, "Eh, not really up to date with everything in the griffon kingdom." Gilda sighed, straightened herself and rubbed her beak, "Okay. You know about King Grover, and how after the Goblet was taken his reign ended and Griffonstone fell into dismay." Dash nodded, "Yeah." "Well Griffonstone was just one territory of what was once a larger kingdom, and its functioning capital. Once Griffonstone fell apart, the rest of the Griffon Kingdom fell apart. Without the unity the Goblet offered, and some other political reasons like a lack of an heir, led to rebellions, civil war and all that leads up to the disorganized collection of dukedoms and territories in what was once one whole nation who are still today fighting each other to get everything." Gilda explained. Dash was surprised, "Wow. I uh...didn't know that." "My uncle told me it. There currently aren't any new books about current griffon history now these days." Gilda sighed. "So, whats the problem?" Dash asked, "So you become queen of a territory in the Griffon Lands, sounds like a good deal to me." "But I don't want to!" Gilda shouted, slamming her mug on the bar, "I can't lead a city. Especially not the historical capital of my people." Dash leaned back, holding her hoof up, "Hey, take it easy Gilda. Keg's will blow a fuse if you break her bar." Gilda blinked, and leaned back from the hard glare that Full Kegs leveled at her for a moment before cleaning a glass once more. "S-Sorry." Gilda apologized before sighing, "I just....I don't know why they want me? I'm not queen material." "Well you must be if all of Griffonstone wants you. They sure didn't seem willing to listen to anyone else when I last saw them." Dash said, patting her friends back. "All I did was just get them to stop fighting each other and work to rebuild the town. It's not a dump anymore now, but I don't see why that makes them think I should be a queen." Gilda sighed, rubbing her. Dash sighed, "Look Gilda. I'm not really a professional about this sort of thing. But from what I can tell, you brought what was once a city of bickering griffons that was falling apart back together. You pulled them together, like how a flight leader needs to pull her team together to accomplish a complex maneuver. That's pretty much the same thing as being a queen. I guess." "I just did what you helped me figure out and what I thought was right. What if I mess up? What if I suddenly make things worse for Griffonstone?" Gilda said, fear apparent in her voice. "How can it be worse then what it use to be?" Dash asked. "Trust me. It can." Gilda said, a hard look in her eyes. "Well, maybe you will mess up. I mean, I know I've messed up on things. When I first entered the Wonderbolts I made a fool of myself, and totally messed up my first show. But after that, I figured out the things I was worried about weren't worth worrying about. You've been doing good so far right?" Gilda bit a talon, as she thought, "Well...yeah." "Then just keep doing that. And if you ever need a hoof, just give me a call. I'll be there to help you all the way, just like I know you would do the same for me." Dash said, wrapping a hoof around Gilda's shoulders. Gilda smiled, and wrapped her talon around Dash's shoulders and hugged her close, "Thanks Dash." "No problem. What are friends for." Dash smiled, as she and Gilda clicked their mugs together once more and down their drinks. "I still don't know about this. But....well...I do know that there doesn't seem to be any other griffon who wants the job. Probably nogriffon else who would. I put a lot of work into Griffonstone, I don't think I want to see it go to waste." Gilda said, rubbing the back of her head, "Maybe...I'll think about it a little more." "You should ask Twilight or even Castus. They could probably give you a way better pep talk about this then I could." Dash said, sitting back down. "Castus? That's a weird pony name." Gilda said. "Well he isn't a pony," Dash chuckled, "He's a human." "A human? Are you serious?" Gilda said, sounding skeptical. "Come on, you must have heard about the Empire of Man by now? You know, populated by those intelligent humans?" Dash asked. Gilda tilted her claw side to side, "Eh, not a lot. Not a lot of news gets into Griffon Lands these days right now." "Well, I got a story to tell you then. It's gonna sound crazy, but I swear its the truth." Dash started. Gilda smirked, "Lets hear it." Dash smirked and started telling Gilda about Castus, about the human revolts. She didn't know how Castus made other humans like him, but she knew from talks with him how he felt when he became their leader. She told about the war, and the changelings and ended with the peace between Equestria and the new Empire of Man. "You're right. That is crazy." Gilda said, sipping her drink. "Heh, yeah it is. But I drink with the guy almost ever other week." Dash laughed. Gilda smirked, "Hmmm. Still seems odd. But, if from all that I guess maybe he might have some advice that might be worth hearing." "I'll try to set up a time when you guys can meet each other. If you want." Dash offered. "Eh, I don't know. Maybe." Gilda said, uncertain, "I kinda got a lot on my plate already." "Yeah, you do. Can't say I envy you." Dash said, "But I know you Gilda. You'll do great. After all, you were the second best flier back in Flight Camp." "Second best?" Gilda said shocked, "If I remember I beat you in the graduation race." "No, I passed the finish line first. I left you in the dust." Dash smirked. "Oh yeah? Want to try again?" Gilda challenged, crossing her claws over her chest with a challenging look. "Try me." Dash accepted, placing money onto the bar. "Sure your wings are up for the task." Gilda mocked, as she and Dash walked out of the bar. "My wings are fine," Dash laughed, "And I'll prove it when your eating my cloud stream." Dash then playfully shoved Gilda back as she ran out the bar and into the sky. "Hey! Cheater!" Gilda laughed, chasing after her friend.