Pinkie Pie was happily bouncing through Ponyville, throwing out waves and "hellos" to passersby.
"La-la-la-la-la... morning, Cheerilee!" She smiled.
"Morning, Pinkie!" Cheerilee waved.
"Hi, Diamond Tiara!" Pinkie called.
"Hi, Pinkie!" Diamond smiled.
"Hey, Junebug!" Pinkie grinned.
"Hey, Pinkie." Junebug beamed. "Having a good day?"
"Not just good." Pinkie declared. "It's a super-duper awesome day! I don't know how it could get any better!"
As if in answer to Pinkie's question, a familiar rainbow streak flew overhead.
"Ooh, I stand corrected!" Pinkie smiled. "Hey, Dashie! Down here!"
The rainbow streak turned back, landing right by Pinkie.
"Hey, Pinks." Rainbow nodded.
"Why are you in such a hurry, speedy mczoom-zoompants?" Pinkie asked.
"I'm always in a hurry." Rainbow boasted.
"But you're in an even bigger hurry than the big hurry you're usually in." Pinkie pointed out.
"...Sure." Rainbow shrugged, a little confused.
"So what's up?" Pinkie asked.
"Oh, I'm just getting ready to head over to Griffonstone." Rainbow explained. "There's a few days before the Wonderbolts' next show, so I figured I'd drop by and visit Gilda."
"Aw, that's great!" Pinkie smiled. "Hey, can I come too?"
"Sure, why not?" Rainbow shrugged. "It was all thanks to you that me and Gilda patched things up. And she might just be happy to see you, too."
"Yippee!" Pinkie squealed. "What are we waiting for? Let's go, let's go, let's go!"
Rainbow could only roll her eyes at Pinkie's exuberance.
"Yeah, yeah." She chuckled. "But first, we pack a few essentials. Meet me at the train station, 'kay?"
"Okey-dokey-lokey!" Pinkie saluted.
Pinkie dashed back to Sugarcube Corner, filled a travel case, then just as quickly raced to the train station. Rainbow was already there, her own pack filled with needed supplies.
"What kept you?" Rainbow joked.
"Just wanted to make sure I had everything." Pinkie declared, opening her bag to reveal a plethora of confectionaries.
"...Seriously?" Rainbow frowned.
"You said 'a few essentials'." Pinkie reminded her. "And what's more essential than having some yummy cakes handy? We've got quite a trip ahead of us, and we're gonna need the energy. Besides, maybe Gilda would like some."
"Yeah, well, I got a different kind of essentials." Rainbow dug out a money pouch, filled to the brim with gleaming coins. "A ton of Bits, just in case. Lucky for us, being a Wonderbolt pays real well..."
The train to Griffonstone pulled into the station. Pinkie and Rainbow boarded, and took their seats. Moments later, the train moved out.
"Well, off we go!" Pinkie smiled. "Next stop: Griffonstone!"
"Here's hoping Gilda's been doing okay." Rainbow mused. "Spreading friendship by yourself can't be easy. Especially in a place like Griffonstone."
"I'm sure she's doing a great job." Pinkie declared. "I used to think she was a meanie, but deep down, she's really sweet. Speaking of sweet..." Pinkie pulled out a cupcake. "Cupcake?"
"I'm good." Rainbow shrugged.
"Suit yourself!" Pinkie ate the cupcake in one bite.
Some time later, the train pulled in to the station near Griffonstone. Pinkie and Rainbow disembarked, and made their way up the mountain path to Griffonstone.
"Hoo, was it always high up?" PInkie groaned.
"No." Rainbow answered. "But you didn't have a backpack filled with sweets last time."
"Oh, right." Pinkie smiled awkwardly.
They finally reached Griffonstone, and were pleasantly surprised by what they saw. The last time they were there, the city had comprised of some shabby nests and dilapidated buildings. Some of the Griffon's dwellings had been patched up somewhat since then. While not exactly picturesque, the place did look a little more presentable.
"Well, whattaya know." Rainbow smirked. "Guess the Griffons have been doing some renovating."
"I'm thinking Gilda's been teaching them a little bit more than friendship." Pinkie noted. "But where is Gilda, anyway?"
"She's gotta be around here somewhere." Rainbow declared. "We just gotta find her."
"Ooh, it's like hide and seek!" Pinkie giggled. "And not to brag, but I am an awesome seeker!" She looked around, spotting a familar mix of white and tawny feathers nearby. "Found her!"
"Wow, you weren't kidding." Rainbow snorted. "Yo, Gilda!" She called out. "Down here!"
Gilda turned in the direction of Rainbow's voice. Her beak curved into a smile as she beheld the face of her old friend.
"Hey, Dash!" She flew down to greet her. "It's great to see ya again!"
"Hey, I said I'd come visit, didn't I?" Rainbow smiled. "And Rainbow Dash always keeps her word."
"Me too!" Pinkie pulled both Rainbow and Gilda into a hug.
"Yeah... good to see you too..." Gilda wheezed, Pinkie's hug constricting her. "I think..."
"Oh my gosh, it feels like forever since we were here the last time." Pinkie loosened her grip. "Doesn't it feel like forever to you? I know it's only been a little while, but it seems more like a long while to me..."
"Same old Pinkie." Gilda rolled her eyes.
"Tell me about it." Rainbow joked. "What's up, G? You been doing okay up here?"
"How's the whole 'spreading friendship' thing been going?" Pinkie asked. "Good, right? Please say 'good'..."
"It's been going okay." Gilda shrugged. "We all know us Griffons aren't the friendliest bunch, but I've been making some progress. Hey, how about I take you to meet the gang?"
"You bet." Rainbow nodded.
"Any friend of yours is a friend of mine." Pinkie smiled.
"Sweet." Gilda grinned. "We usually hang out over on the west side. Follow me."
"Ooh, now we're playing follow the leader!" Pinkie smiled. "I'm a great follower, just you watch."
Pinkie and Rainbow Gilda to a half-destroyed house, where a small gathering of other Griffons were hanging. Pinkie and Rainbow recognised one as Greta, the Griffon Gilda had won over the last time they were here. But the others were new
"Hey, guys!" Gilda waved, as they stepped inside.
"Hey, Gil." A male Griffon with gold streaks on his face feathers smiled.
"Where you been?" Another male, this one with pale brown head feathers, asked.
"And what's with the ponies?" A female with blue markings on his face feathers frowned.
"It's cool, guys." Gilda declared. "They're just some pals of mine, visitin' from outta town."
"Friends with ponies?" Greta smirked. "You're just full of weird ideas, huh, Gil?"
"Real funny, Greta." Gilda snorted. "Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, meet..." She indicated the gold-streaked Griffon. "Gary..." She pointed at the brown-headed Griffon. "Grant..." She pointed to the female with blue markings. "Gloria, and of course, Greta."
"So you're Rainbow Dash, huh?" Gloria appraised her. "Gil's told us a lot about you."
"Some days, she can't stop talking..." Gary snorted.
"Well, can you blame her?" Rainbow smirked. "I am pretty awesome, you know."
"So Gil keeps telling us." Grant declared.
"It's sooo nice to meet you all!" Pinkie Pie hopped up and down. "Hey, I've got an idea! Why don't you tell us how you and Gilda all became friends?"
Pinkie leaned forward, a big grin on her face, her eyes nearly popping out of her head.
"I think you should tell us." Rainbow smirked. "Trust me."
"Oh, well... For me, Gil just came up to me one day, and offered me a scone." Gloria recalled. "She didn't even want money for it. It weirded me out at first, but it was a really good scone. We got to talking after that, then we agreed to hang out a little later, and... well, I guess it just happened."
"It was the same for me." Greta nodded.
"Gilda just helped me with my nest." Grant smiled. "There was a big wind storm, and my nest was about to blow away, but Gilda helped me hold it down. No Griffon's ever actually helped me before. I figured I owed her one, so when she asked if we could be friends, I figured 'why not'? Turns out, she's pretty cool."
Gilda smiled proudly.
"Gilda's been doing a lot of helping lately." Gary noted. "These past few weeks, she's been lending other Griffons a talon, and talking about how we could make Grifonstone great again by doing the same for each other. She inspired a whole bunch of us with that speech, even me. I have never heard another Griffon talk like that before, and I was intrigued. I figured it might be worth knowing such a unique Griffon."
"Yeah, this one actually came to me." Gilda smirked. "How 'bout that?"
"Sounds like you're doin' a great job here, G." Rainbow smiled.
"Eh, I'm doing okay." Gilda shrugged. "A lot more Griffons bought into this friendship thing than I thought, but there are more than a few who aren't exactly getting the message."
"Hey, watch where you're walking!" An irate Griffon yelled at another out on the street.
"You watch it!" The other Griffon spat.
The two Griffons walked away from each other, fuming.
"Now those are some grumpy Griffons." Pinkie frowned. "But you know what? I'm sure they'll come around. You did, remember? No offense, but your were really mean yourself not so long ago."
"None taken." Gilda smiled. "I was kinda rotten back then."
"Times change." Rainbow shrugged. "Usually for the better."
"Mind if we knock off the sap for a minute?" Grant asked. "I'm starving."
"Yeah, me too." Gary added.
"I could eat." Gloria nodded.
"Then today is your lucky day!" Pinkie opened up her backpack, revealing the plethora of treats inside. "Help yourselves!"
"Aw, yeah..." Grant's beak watered at the sight.
"And how about a little sunlight to enjoy your food in?" Rainbow flew up, and in the blink of an eye, cleared away the clouds above them.
"Wow." Greta gaped. "These pony friends of yours are something else, Gilda."
"I know." Gilda grinned. "Great, isn't it?"
For the next couple of hours, Pinkie and Rainbow enjoyed the treats and chatted with Gilda and her new friends.
"...So then the Diamond Dog said 'I buried it right here'!" Pinkie finished one of her best jokes, to widespread laughter.
"That's a good one!" Gary guffawed.
"You guys ain''t seen nuthin' yet." Rainbow chuckled. "You should see one of Pinkie's full-on shows. You'll laugh your feathers off!"
"You know, I'm starting to understand what Gilda sees in you ponies." Gloria admitted.
"Yeah, you equines are alright." Grant admitted. "Guess Gilda was right when she said it wouldn't hurt to reach out a little more to your kind."
"She did, did she?" Rainbow grinned.
"I figured it'd help Griffonstone if we had more friends." Gilda shrugged. "And you ponies sure know a thing or two about friendship."
"And we'd be happy to teach you." Pinkie grinned.
"We'll have to see how things work out." Gilda admitted. "Let's face it, if Griffonstone can be great on its own, we can only imagine how great it'd be with a little help from out neighbors."
"Now that I'd like to see." Rainbow smiled. "I really would."
"Me too!" Pinkie beamed.
Not long after, Pinkie and Rainbow had to return to Ponyville.
"It was really nice meeting you guys!" Pinkie beamed.
"Come back soon." Greta smiled.
"And bring more treats." Gary grinned.
"Typical Gary..." Gloria rolled her eyes.
"Like food is the only good thing about Pinkie." Grant agreed. "Though those eclairs were incredible..."
"I'll bring more next time." Pinkie chuckled. "Promise."
"See ya around, Dash." Gilda declared.
"You can count on that." Rainbow nodded. "And keep up the good work."
"You know I will, old friend." Gilda raised a clenched talon, bumping it against Rainbow's hoof.
"Not a doubt in my mind." Rainbow smirked.
"Or mi-ine!" Pinkie sang.
"I'll see you around too, ya big pink goofball." Gilda chuckled.
"Not if I see you first." Pinkie's eyes pushed forward as she made that statement.
"Come on, Pinks." Rainbow urged. "We got a train to catch."
"I hope we don't have to literally catch it." Pinkie declared. "Because that would be a problem. I know you can catch up to a speeding train, but I'd probably just get all tuckered out..."
Smirking, Rainbow rolled her eyes once more.
Pinkie and Rainbow departed from Griffonstone, leaving behind new friends, and holding greater hope for the Griffons' future than ever before. With Gilda around, they knew things couldn't be in better talons...