Ever since the days they spent harvesting apples together, the girls had agreed to share a lunch in the orchard every week to share any news, and enjoy each other's company. This week, Fluttershy had some interesting news, “I got a letter from Gilda this morning.”
Rainbow, having been taking a nap, shot wide awake and responded instantly, “What happened!? is she okay!? The last letter she sent said she was going to talk to her grandpa, Grunt I think.”
“Gruff actually,” Fluttershy corrected her friend. “She said she needed time to cool off after telling him, and she'll be arriving later this week.”
By this point the others were quite confused. “Who in the hay is Gilda?” Applejack asked.
Rarity provided the answer, “Isn't that the name of the gryphon who visits you on occasion?” The others all turned to Fluttershy for her answer.
Fluttershy shrank under the group’s stare, before she could answer Rainbow decided to butt in. “Gilda, Shy and I are kinda in a relationship.” At the looks the others gave her, she continued. “Shy has the ability to sense emotions, so she could tell that Gilda liked me and that I liked her, so she tried to set the two of us up together. It worked, but when Gilda found out, she decided to thank ‘Shy by inviting her to join our 'herd.' It took a bit, but Shy finally joined in after Gilda saw her undisguised and was okay with it.”
At the end of the story, Rarity had just entered a gossip induced faint, AJ looked contemplative (and a tad sheepish), Midnight was smiling in a slightly worrying way, and Pinkie looked ready to explode, “How long have you been a herd? When did it become official? What is Gilda's favorite dessert?” Pinkie had gone party crazy!
“A-about ten years this Friday, and she loves poppy seed buns.” Fluttershy finally rejoined the conversation.
AJ spoke up next “I always wondered what was going on with that. I kinda figured something rotten was going down, but I had no proof. Glad to hear I was wrong 'bout that.”
By that point Rarity had regained her wits. “Pardon me for asking but. You are happy for them, right darling?” Rainbow shot Rarity a dirty look. “I mean, let’s face it. Rainbow, you are very loud and intense, and from what I've heard, Gilda is brash and quite - open with her feelings - shall we say.”
Fluttershy stood up straight, “I am quite happy with my herd Rarity. I understand why you asked, but in this regard, I can take care of myself.”
As Rarity was blinking in mild shock at the sudden burst of assertiveness, Midnight laughed, “I guess that answers my question about who runs the house between you three.”
Spike (who had been enjoying his gem bowl quietly) spoke up, “How do Gilda and Scoots get along?”
Rainbow answered to avoid Midnight's knowing grin. “This'll be the first time they've officially met after ‘Shy adopted Scoots, but they both seem eager to meet each other."
“Well, see you girls. I have a major party to plan!” and with those parting words, Pinkie shot off like a rocket. The girls all said their goodbyes, each looking forward to meeting their friends' mare-friend for different reasons.
Day of the party.
Gilda could say with 90% accuracy that this was the worst day of her life. First, the pink pony (who had to be high on something!) had traps set up for her all over the place (which she had to deal with after she'd already had to go around town and meet ponies who almost fainted before she opened her beak). Thus, her mood was already bad. To top it all off, in a moment of rage, she had roared at one of her marefriends. “Yeah, today sucks.” Gilda was sitting on top of a hill trying to come up with a way to save her flank when the oddest pony she had ever seen walked up. “what do you want fang-face?”
If she was insulted, Midnight did a good job of not showing it. “You still want things to work with them right?” Gilda hopped up and growled at her, but after a short staring contest, she just slumped.
“Yeah. More than anything. I know 'Shy loves flowers, but I can't just walk into a store. This is going to have to be big.”
Midnight smiled kindly, “Follow me, I know the best places for wild flowers. Just don't pick anything I tell you to avoid, okay?” Gilda was stunned for a moment before she ran after the odd pony with a happy nod.
“So what’s your name, fang-face?”
“Midnight, Midnight Sparkle.” She had been ecstatic to hear the truth from her family. It felt good to use her real name again Twilight 'Midnight' Sparkle.
'Shy and Rainbow were sitting in the former's cottage enjoying some tea. Pinkie had come by earlier and explained why she had set so many pranks for Gilda, “I saw how grumpy she was and thought, pranks are funny, they always make me laugh. I was sure that would cheer her up. When you see her next, let her know I have an apology cake for her. No jokes or pranks. Pinkie Promise.”
Now they were sitting, thinking about what to say to the third member of their family, and hoping they could come up with a good plan before Scoots came home. Just as Fluttershy got up to refill her cup, she heard a knock on the door. When she opened it, her vision was filled with flowers and a sheepish gryphon.
”May I come in?” Gilda was quite the sight. She had a bunch of flowers almost half as big as herself, her feathers were a mess, and she looked like she fell in a mud pit. Fluttershy pulled her into the house so fast she squawked.
“Gilda, what happened to you? are you okay? do your wings hurt anywhere!?” Shy was in full medic/mom mode. Gilda wasn’t sure how to react. On the one claw, what other reaction had she been expecting? On the other, why was she not getting at least a dressing down for blowing her top? Before she could contemplate further, Rainbow was right in front of her. Before she could speak though, Gilda started her apology.
“Look, Dash, Shy, I-I can't think of the right words to say how sorry I am for losing it. I hoped spending time on my own after talking to my Grandpa would calm me down, but nothing worked. I hoped seeing both of you again would help, but then everything just seemed to go wrong. All I can ask is just please, please give me another chance. I promise I won't-”
Rainbow interrupted her “You feather brain! Was that what you were doing all this time? We just spent the last two hours trying to find you, hoping you were still in town.” Rainbow was near tears, “When you roared at 'Shy, I thought it was my fault, like I pushed you too fast when you were tired or something. Pinkie found us and explained what happened, she was trying to cheer you up in her own way and it backfired. She promised to make you an apology cake of your choice, no pranks involved, and she always keeps her promises. “
Fluttershy took over the conversation at that point “Gilda, I forgive you. You weren't mad at me, you were just mad and reacted. I feel the love radiating from you dear, so I know you're telling the truth. Now go wash up and come help me start dinner. Our little girl should be home soon and she can't wait to meet you”
Gilda felt her heart melting, They still love me! She still felt terrible though. “I still think I should do something, anything.”
Fluttershy paused before she said “Stay with me.” At Gilda's look she continued “Live with us. Stay in Ponyville. We can get you a job working with the Cakes and we know a family that could love your more traditional dishes. That is the only thing I can ask of you. We are your family now, Gilda, and if Gruff won't accept that, then it's his loss.”
Rainbow was nodding along with 'Shy, “Yeah this is your home now G, so let’s get ready before Scoots gets here, you don't want to meet the newest member of our family looking the same way she will, just with mud instead of sap.”
Gilda was very happy but slightly confused, “Sap, what do you mean?”
The door opened at that moment, “Moms, I'm home.” Gilda spun around to see an orange filly with a purple mane and small wings who was completely coated in tree sap. They looked at one another for a second, before the filly exploded with excitement, “WOW! You must be Gilda! Is it okay if I call you mom, or is that too fast?” Scootaloo waited for Gilda's answer with baited breath.
Gilda looked at the little filly, who looked as dirty and tired as she felt, and had to resist having a heart attack, “Yeah, you can call me mom, squirt. Now let’s go wash up before 'Shy dumps us in the tub.”
“YEAH! I'll show you where the muck remover is.” As Gilda followed her new daughter to the bathroom, she looked back at the other members of her family, and for the first time in a long time, she finally felt like she was home.