Dirty Birds

by TheFlyingHippogriff

True Grit Griffons

Today we were putting Blossom and Belladonna through their paces with Holly and Helena going through a test-run too. Blossom and Belladonna have a lot of muscle to get through the tough overburden of rock and dirt. It is like watching a dance seeing a mighty power shovel crowd, hoist and swing before dumping it's bucket into a dump truck.

There's quality in our work, and in our talons. While we were testing out our restored equipment, a messenger pony came to us from Cantorlot, "Countess Wilhelmina De Faucon?" asked the messenger pony, I nodded to him to tell him that was me, "you've been summoned by her majesty Princess Celestia, be in Cantorlot tomorrow at 9am,"

Belladonna and Blossom leaned their buckets down to get a look at the message, "Hmm...the Two Princesses Canal, sounds like something big," said Blossom,

"We best not pass up an opportunity like this, if I do say so myself," said Holly, one of our new off-road dump trucks,

"I second that," said Helena, adding her two bits and ready to take on the big task,

"Our ancestors were called Steam Shovels, and they would be proud to know we are taking on a project like this," said Belladonna, ready for the challenge ahead,

Gabby, Greta, and Gilda were with me at the mine helping me test out the new machines, "I've heard about this project," said Greta, "it began about twenty years ago, the ponies were trying to build a canal to link the Griffon Kingdom to Equestria, but the project was stopped due to the number of accidents and the rough terrain," she explained

"Hmm...It says to bring your best workers, that means we're all going," said Gilda, when I first met her, she came off as brash, overconfident and a bully. But when you get to know her, she's hardworking, lovable and a friend to the others in our crew. She looked up at our high front shovels, "Hey, Blossom, Belle, we're gonna work those buckets,"

"No mountain is too high, no valley is too low," said Blossom,

"But when that work whistle sounds, you gotta go, you gotta go," said Belladonna, they truly are sisters and a joy to have among the other machines in our family,

The next morning, our crew gathered at the work shop in Baltimare and we flew to Cantorlot to meet Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, "Thank you for coming,"

"It's our pleasure, Your Majesty," I replied as we all bowed before her, "so you want to restart up the Two Princesses Canal project?" I asked Princess Celestia,

"Exactly, the project has been on hiatus for so long that many ponies know the failure that the first attempt was, now we need all the help we can get, and that is why I have brought you here today, representatives of the best construction and excavating firms, we need the best of the best to see to this project," Princess Celestia asked of all of us,

"Well you're in luck, Your Majesty, we're the best of the best," said Gilda happily, the princess smiled to her words. I patted Gilda on the shoulder. I expected a few ponies would have something to say to that. Griffons and hippogriffs have been victims of some mean stereotypes, but I feel taking up this big project would prove them all wrong.

"We need for you and your crew to stay in Cantorlot while we go over the building plans, as you may know the previous plan didn't fair so well," said Princess Luna,

"We can do that, honestly I've never been to Cantorlot before, oh I've heard so many great things about it," said Gabby, being ever the enthusiastic one,

"The thing is we have no set 'Boss' as some would say, we all do our part, and we favor no one else over another," I stated to the Princesses.

"I think we have seen all we need to see, judging on their crew mentality, but this is a great task, you may need others to help you see it done," stated Princess Luna,

I nodded in understanding to Princess Luna, "Now then, we need to see the equipment that will be used in said endeavor, it will take more than a few ponies and griffons with picks and shovels to see to the completion of this canal," Princess Luna asked of us, "this is the biggest building project in the history of Equestria and the Griffon Kingdom,"

"You can count on us, Your Majesty, we will never back down from a challenge," said Gabby brightly, if you want to hear the voice of our crew and our reputation it is Gabby. We welcomed the princesses to our workshop in Baltimare. I counted on Galena, Irma and Giselle to have the machines ready for the princesses. They did not let me down.

"Good work ladies," I said to Irma, Galena and Giselle giving them hugs for the occasion of coming back to the shop, and a job well done to them.

"Hey if we've got princesses coming, we'll make the girls queens, and the guys kings," said Galena, proud of the work they did, polishing and cleaning up the machines.

"All we have to do now is wait for the princesses to draw up the plans for the canal they are planning," said Greta,

"Impressive," said Princess Celestia, "most impressive, I like what you have done for these machines, most wouldn't give them a second chance," we even let the princesses work have their pictures taken in the cabs of the big machines they liked the best. Princess Luna got her picture taken wearing a hardhat, and sitting in the cab of Belladonna.

Princess Luna is right. We will need others to help in the construction effort. There's another construction and mining firm in Griffonstone, the Iron Talon Earthworks. Their boss is a griffon around my age named Garrett. He is a good tercel, and treats his crew like brothers. He just purchased two Lima 1850 cable shovels. We may need his help.