> Of A Flock
>  by Living Madness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Prologue Part 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special thanks to Pure Note for editing this chapter.





As the hot summer sun tips into mid-afternoon a strange rustling comes from the Everfree forest, inside skulks a creature that which has never been seen in Equestrian history before. Said creature was also mouthing off some pretty distasteful swear words, as it approached the end of its destination, dragging its tired legs across the gravel.

The creature wipes a single drop of sweat from its brow, as it slowly marched out of the canopy. The humidity of said forest was not helping its situation at all.

Sighing, it holds its veterinarian coat at arm’s length, not wanting to risk smelling the foul liquid that covers most of it. It grimaces at the coat as it drips who knows what onto the floor, it’s not a pretty sight. Thank god it skipped breakfast this mornings and had nothing left to add to the already ruined cloth. 

After a while it reaches the exit of the path, it can already notice the change in the atmosphere, the cool feeling of the open meadow breeze and sounds of the peaceful creek signals its arrival to its chosen destination. The serene atmosphere of the little cottage does wonders for its dower mood. 

The strange mammal approaches the door, however it stops, noticing a furry white silhouette glaring at it from one of the ground floor windows near the side of the door. The white creature inside the house looks the intruder up and down and smiles wickedly as it notices the ape like creature's coat.

Finally the man narrows its eyes at it and extend a less than polite gesture with its finger. 

You’ll get yours Angel, one of these days. 

You swear to yourself, staring daggers at the bunny as you look around noticing the time that has passed from the only digital watch in this known world. You snap yourself away from your bitter rivalry with the fur ball, even for you staring down a bunny is a bit weird.

You grunt bringing a limp hand up towards the door and knock.

After hearing the snapping and clicking of a few latches, perhaps more than was necessary in your opinion, the door cracks open slightly revealing a light blue eye, hidden behind a wall of pink hair.

“H-hello who is…oh back so early?” she greets with a gentle smile.

“Hey Shy, yeah turns out everything was fine, just a little misunderstanding.” You sigh.

Fluttershy looks both ways, as if crossing the road before opens the door further to invite you in.  Unfortunately she begins to see why your coat was away from your body, as she crinkle her nose at the horrid smell that covers most of it creeps into her nostrils.

“Oh my, what’s that smell?”

You take a tired glance at the coat and sigh, you liked this coat quite a bit.

“Yeah turns out Mr Manticore was sick of taking his medication... in more ways than one.”

“Oh my, is he ok?” Fluttershy asks her voice thick with concern.

“He’s fine now, he just had a bit more of a reaction to it than I originally hoped, I gave him something to calm his nausea and now he’s resting in his cave, he should be right as rain in a few hours, which is more than I could say for my coat.” you grumble.

“Oh I’m sorry I know you liked that coat, maybe I can wash it for you, in fact why don’t you come inside and I can draw a bath for you if you’d like?” she asks with genuine sincerity.

The prospect of cleanliness seems to lighten your mood greatly. “Yeah that sounds pretty sweet actually.” you grin nodding your head eagerly.

Fluttershy gestures you inside and you proceed to make you way into the centre of the house, again you feel your dower mood lift somewhat, as you feel the comfort and calmness of the rustic room wash over you like a waterfall. You would expect the level of noise to be defeating considering the amount of animals that skulk about the place, but if anything it’s a hell of a lot quieter than your house, and considerably cleaner.

Then again you don’t have Snow white like powers to command  animals to clean up your dirty laundry when you come home, no you're only magically ability is that one card trick you learned ten years ago from your mate in school and even then you always mess that up when it counts. But besides that, you can’t help but inhale deeply as you take in the aura of the cottage.

“Um, if you would like I could wash your shirt as well? It um, it smells really bad too.”  She ends with an almost mutter as she looks away but keeps her gaze on you, you swear you catch a small blush on her cheeks.

You chuckle. “If you weren't so adorable, I’d say you were up to something Boss.”

The mare turns a scarlet red almost immediately, and retracts herself behind her hair fully, scuffling her hoof against the floor. You hear a tiny voice reply, “I’m not your boss.” 

You try and suppress a laugh with your hand and inwardly ‘aww’ at that, you know it’s mean to keep doing that, but her reaction is just too adorable, if cuteness could kill that mare would be the cause of pony Megadeath.

You turn your gaze down, looking at your shirt and agree with Fluttershy, slipping off your shirt and handing it down to the mare, who despite her friendly gesture reluctantly takes it into her hoof.

"Oh my, did the Manticore bite you as well?" Shy asks as she notices the additional marks around your neck, shoulders and chest that already match you’re pretty scratched up body, however these marks seem to lead all the way down a very specific trail.

You blush at the marks remembering last nights 'tumble' with a certain feathery friend.

"Uh yeah, something like that." you mutter, putting an idle hand over as many  bites as you can.

“Why don’t I go put on some tea while you relax, you look like you had a long day.” She asks.

“Don’t worry yourself Shy, I’ll set the tea up and you can go wash the shirt or draw the bath, I’m pretty sure I know how you like it."

She nods in agreement, flying gracefully up the staircase with an outstretched hoof holding your vet coat as far away from her as she can. Manticore sick is not pleasant.

You turn towards the kitchen and flick though a few of the rustic cupboards, finding the cups you place them down before placing the kettle on an open flame, then you set about the annoying task of picking from a very large selection of tea.

 Let’s see now berry flavour, cherry flavour, strawberry flavour, mint flavour and snozberry flavour? Screw it Earl Grey will do.

You never really were that adventurous, at least not with your drinks, as you slip the tea bags and sugar into the cup, before turning towards the sink and promptly dunking your entire head under it the smell is driving you crazy, you can't wait any longer for the bath. Thankful that there is a hot tap you pull your head back and reach for a kitchen cloth feeling a little more refreshed, you turn back to the hob just as the kettle begins to whistle.

As you reach for it you hear a light humming sound coming from upstairs and frown. I wish I could hear that sometimes, she can really be, NO, no its fine, shes a different girl and I love her for it, I just wish she would dial it down a bit.

You slouch against the counter and sigh, looking down at the floor dejectedly. You lift the kettle from the hob stopping the incessant whistling, after a moment you notice the pink and yellow mare standing next to you giving you a concerned look.

How long has she been there? man I need more sleep.

“Are you ok?” Shy asks in a worried tone.

“Of course Shy, never better.” you lie with the weakest smile you could muster, before turning back to the tea.

The mare gives you a skeptical look, before floating up towards you, lifting a hoof onto your shoulder as you pour the water into the cup and stir.

“We’re friends right?” Fluttershy asks causing you to spin round, narrowly missing the mare with the kettle. The relatively mundane question seems to have more weight to it coming from the fellow animal carer.

“Of course Shy, why would you say that?” 

“Well, as your friend I feel I have to know why you’ve been acting so defeated lately.”

“I- I um-“

“Is it, because of Gilda?” Fluttershy asks, getting an immediate response from you as you accidentally spill some of the water onto the counter. The words pierce into you like a knife into butter, you look at her and then look down, watching the hot water gently leak down from the counter onto the floor.

“If it’s bothering you, you need to talk about it, I’m your friend but I can’t help you if you don’t let me in, a burden shared is a burden halved.” She softly lectures leaning her hoof on you further, as the gentle breeze from her flapping wings and disarming smile calms your inner resolve somewhat.

Your mind is racing for the best excuse to brush it off, but there’s no lying to this mare, you let out a deep sigh. She’s right, this might be my only chance to get some help with this.

You don’t really reply, you just nod your head slowly, you usually have a sarcastic witty comeback for everything, it is your greatest defence against feelings after all. But you really need some help with this, plus you can't deny that little mare even if you tried.

Shy leads you to the table, floating over towards the counter with a flap of her wings, she lifts the two teas up and lowers one to you which you take not really looking up at her, as you bury your gaze onto the table, trying to think of anything else while the awkward silence begins to rise.

Man even her table is better than mine, I’m so getting a better kitchen I swear to god. You think trying to distract yourself from the real problem plaguing your mind, this new concept of opening up is still something you're getting used to.

She sits there opposite you in patient silence waiting for you to speak up, you let it linger on for as long as possible you're both pretty socially awkward at least around a lot of ponies. But when it comes to a silent competition, well she wasn’t called Shy for nothing.

“Ok Shy, I trust you, but this is personal and I have no other options, no offence, it’s not like I don’t like talking to you it’s just… talking about my problems is really not something I do.”

Its true you always preferred the whole bottling it up effect, its worked for you so far, you never really talk about you problems, nobody did back where you came from. Except when they were drunk and that was usually followed by the phrase 'I love you man' or ‘hold my hair’ before emptying their stomach content  onto the floor. Come to think of it your life really is surrounded by a needless amount of vomit.

To her credit Fluttershy simply sits still giving you her full undivided attention. You take one more look into her eyes, before gulping and moving onto the issue at hand.

“Ok, so you know Gilda and I have been going out for about nearly five months now.” You say lifting the cup of tea towards your dry mouth.

The mare suddenly brings a hoof to her mouth trying to stifle a small giggles, topped with a small blush. “Yes, I remember being there on your first day as a couple.”

You spit the tea out all over the table luckily missing Shy as you cough and hit your chest with a closed palm, a small matching blush creeps into your cheeks. “*cough* Yes *cough* well anyway, ever since then things have been amazing, well it was amazing, I mean it was all fine and then…”

“Its ok you can tell me?” She asks leaning forward from her seat.

“I don’t know Shy, she was never like this before it’s just all so out of the left field you know? I mean she’s acting crazy all the time, one moment I come home and she’s normal old Gilda, the next thing she’s throwing lamps at me and yelling, which admittedly still falls under normal old Gilda, but it’s different. She always did stuff like that and it was funny or at least it was to her, now, she’s does it purely out of anger and for no reason, then I call her out on it and yell at her she just gets worse or sometimes she even starts crying and runs into the bathroom. She’s in there for a while, I try to talk her out of it but she won’t listen to me and when she comes out sometimes she… well she smells like sick.”

“Oh my.” was Fluttershy’s only response as it appears she's hanging off every word.

You look both left, then right, making sure your alone in the house its only Fluttershy and her animals, but a guy can’t be too careful, satisfied you continue.

“Also, do not, I repeat, do not tell anyone I told you this or she’ll kill me.” You say laughing nervously as you look around again, you swear you saw a white blur just a second ago.

Damn this lack of sleep is making me see things.

Fluttershy looks at where you’re looking in confusion she in turn begins laughing nervously with you as well, until she spots you're dead serious face.

“I mean it Shy, she’ll kill me.”

She gulps and nods in understanding.

“As I was saying she well she’s gotten sort of.”

"What, what is it." Fluttershy asks, leaning forward inquisitively.

“She.”

“Yes?”

“She’s gotten kinda’ fat shy, not that I mind, it’s weird she's tried all the time, I have to give her back rides even in the house, which I barely get a chance to leave because she gets all clingy and tries to make me stay with her, even though I explain I have to work to pay the rent, which starts the whole process off again." You say throwing your arms up in frustration.

"Did you try examining her?"

“I try, but I'm a vet Shy, she's more than just a dog or cat, I can fix broken legs, wings even fevers, but if this is a virus, or god forbid something genetic I can't do shit, besides she's funny with needles." 

Maybe she sick because of the vaccination she wheezed out of. You contemplate tapping your chin with an idol finger before continuing.

"It’s not all bad really, but sometimes she gets these cravings, I don't even know if it has anything to do with what's wrong with her. But they're the worst of all, she made me catch fish for her Shy, I hate fishing, good lord do I bloody hate fishing!” You yell slamming your fist down on the table almost a bit too dramatically.

Fluttershy looks away, taking all the information in, before her eyes snap wide as you imagine some form of sudden  realisation come to her mind, as she takes in what you’ve mentioned. Unfortunately at this point you’re already going into some sort of embarrassing breaking down in front of her to even comment.

“I mean really let’s face it, all you do is put a pole between your legs and drink beer, I could just go work at a strip club and do that at least I know the reason it smells like fish.”

Eww.

Shut up brain I’m having a moment!

“Um, excuse me.”

“And every time you go there, you’re dad always pretends to tip the boat and then when you’re not looking he does it for real and now you can’t even relax in  a boat anymore because you afraid of capsizing.” You begin to yell flailing your arms around for dramatic effect as you go pretty much full psycho.

“Excuse me”

“And then, then when you’re not looking my brother or sister puts a live fish in your trousers, it’s not funny! That fish could have diseases, I know it’s a pond but what if it was somehow came from the sea? That fish could have radiation poisoning, do you even know how much crap fish swim in on a daily bases, I don’t think so!”

“Excuse me!”

The alien yell snaps you back out of your psychotic breakdown, as you spin you gaze towards the mare who lets out a small “Epp” before hiding behind her hair again.

“Sorry, it looked like you needed some help.” She’s whispers tentatively.

“Thanks” is your only answer to her, as you looking down in shame.

“I-I think I know what’s wrong with Gilda.”

“You do!?" You announce shooting up again to meet her eyes.

She nods “Yes, but I think it’s something I need to confirm with her in the room, this, this could be a little delicate.”

You raise an eyebrow, but you don’t let it phase you too much, as you rush up and grab the mare in a huge bear hug. “Thanks you Shy, thank you, thank you, thank you.”

The mare face turns an even darker shade of red in your bear hug, her wings fight to snap up in your arms, but you put that down to her lack of oxygen as you let go of her.

You drop her down gently as she reintroduces the precious air into her lungs, while you rub your neck sheepishly apologising to the mare.

“You'll need a professional to confirm it later after I see here.” She states finally catching her breath. “But for now you can bring Gilda over, I’m sure I can give you my opinion for now if that helps.”

You walk towards the counter and take the slightly wet but now clean T-shirt Shy placed next to you, totally forgetting you coat and the bath. As you proceed to leave the house before replying.

“More than you know, Boss more than you know.”





You rush back towards your house, running around the other side of the Everfree to avoid the afternoon rush as ponies get off of work. You spot a quaint two story house at the very edge of the forest entrance you've come to know as home. 

You approach your humble abode, just as the sun hits the horizon reflecting the rays of light quite nicely on the outside giving off a warm and inviting feeling from the rustic structure.

Wish the inside looked like that. You inwardly mumble to yourself.

As you unlock the door, you open up to the true extent of what you expect a bull and tornado would do if they had a progeny, let's just say the house has seen better days, as you walk over destroyed cushions, tables and even wallpaper.

Fuuuuck! Well I guess the house looks on par with the kitchen now, At least I have an excuse to get a new couch. You concede to yourself, as you kick at a pile of springs and a bit of fabric you wager was your easy chair.

Hearing noises from your, and recently your girlfriend’s room you quietly slip upstairs making sure not to draw any attention,as you remember all the stairs that don’t make an almost comically loud creak when you step on them. You turn the handle remembering to take the necessary precaution for what has for the last two months been a somewhat predictable routine.

Opening the door you peer into the room and as predicted you duck away from the lamp that fly’s into your field of view, you narrowly miss it, as it slams against the wall above raining bits of glass and porcelain on your head, thank god you remembered this time.

Huh, she used a lamp, I really thought it was going to be the bedside table.

“Gilda what the hell!" you yell behind the door on the off chance she's duel wielding.

“Where were you, damn it, you said you’d be here 25 minutes ago!” Gilda scream as you hear her wings flap up and down in frustration.

You slowly enter after a few seconds, arms raised above your head in surrender.

“Look, calm down you're not thinking rationally, its ok, I got some help she’s good with animals.” you calmly suggest, using the same tone you would to calm the now by comparison much less scary Manticore.

“What did you just say, did you just call me a buckin' animal!?” she says in disbelief, that quickly forms into oh so terrible anger.
Your eyes go wide with shock as you curse yourself for that particular slip of the tongue.

“Oh shi-“ is all you managed to say before shes on you.

Crash 

You wince in pain as you try and lift yourself off the remains of your bed side table or what used to be one before she attacks again, you both roll over trying to pin each other down in the death struggle.

Bugger me, did she get stronger?

Somehow after fifteen minutes or so of her trying to claw your eyes out the struggle turns into something more, as she lunges forward kissing you on the lips passionately, she removes her hands from trying to kill you as she tightens her grip on the collar of your shirt  while you're still stupefied by her actions before returning her affections.

She breaks from her kiss, panting heavily as you roll onto her pinning her down.

“Strip, now.” She commands to you with an almost desperate look.

You nod stupidly as natural reactions take over rational thought, reaching down you almost tear you now clean shirt off, however as you pull the shirt from above your face you notice whimpering noises.

You pull the shirt back over yourself, revealing you’re now crying Girlfriend, she’s turned away from you and wraps her wings around herself defensively.

Great and now I feel like a dirt bag for no reason. You think rubbing your neck awkwardly at the scene.

“Feathers what’s wrong?” you ask with a voice mixed somewhere between concern and confusion.

“I’m fat.”

"No, no you're not.” 

“Don’t lie to me duffus, I know you don’t want to be with a griffon who can't even keep herself together.”

Now you're getting upset for an entirely different reason, what is this, this isn’t like her.

You, somewhat courageously clutch under her chin, forcing the She- griffon to meet your eyes as you stare into them with fiery determination.

"Ok look, maybe you got a little bit more over the average than you want, but I really couldn’t give a toss if you decide to get as fat as a whale or hell, even shave yourself bald I'd still love you, you feathery loon, I won’t leave you, no matter what, but I’m not gonna sit here and let you berate yourself understand?”


It takes a minute but Gilda eventually gives you a weak nod, as you release your grasp making sure to keep eye contact as you stroke her cheek with your thumb.

"But hear me out, I think you need help, something's not right sweetheart this isn't you.”

She opens her beak trying to formulate an excuse, but you pretty sure she wasn't expecting you’re to say any of this. Finally she replies.

“I-I know alright, I'm just in not comfortable with doctors.” she replays giving you the same excuse she's been using for the last three months.

"This isn't about doctors or hospitals and your know it, please don’t lie to me Gilda you have to go.” you state trying desperately to stay as calm as possible.

“I-I can’t go ok, I’m not going to the hospital, you know why I can't go.” 

“No Gilda I actually don’t know, you don’t tell me shit about your past, hell I think I told you just about everything about my life, but you never share anything.” you're trying not to yell now but its hard to see her like this, you take a deep breath and slump next to the she griffon. Resting your arms on your knees you look over at her still lying on the floor.

Gilda stares up at the ceiling her stomach contracts and expands slowly with its added weight, she flicks her tail and clenches her talons as it looks like she’s trying and failing to contain her pent up emotions.

You look down at her and frown thinking you probably went too far.

 No she needs to hear this, I'm trying to help her, but I can't when she’s being so stubborn all the time. Bite the bullet she needs me to be strong even if she can't understand it now.

You lay on your back next to the griffon who’s still hazed from the argument, you see her clench both her talons tightly, its hurts to see her like this but it had to be said.

You reach forwards coupling the griffon’s cheek in your hands and pull her into a loving kiss, after a moment you feel her lean into you more as the kiss does the job or reassuring and snapping her out of her thoughts.

After a moment she pulls away from the kiss and leans her head against your shoulder, wrapping your hands around her soft white neck. Instinctively she wraps her tail around your leg something you know she only does when she needs comfort.

“What’s wrong with me?” She whispers at an almost inaudible volume into your ear.

You tighten your grip around Gilda to reassure her as you begin stroking her silky feathers.

“I’m not sure honey, but I can tell you one thing you can't stay like this for both our sakes, we need to get help and Fluttershy says she can help for now so would you go with me to see here she might be the only one who can.”

Gilda doesn’t say anything for a long time as she buries herself further into your shoulder you take her silence as an agreement.
“Ok then, we probably have to get going.” You tighten the hug one last time to calm her and also your own nerves.

"Jeez you really can be such a love struck filly sometimes.” She roasts, smiling softly to you as she wipes away a single tears that escapes from her eye.

“Hey, one of us has to act at least a little like a girl.” You mocking joke, earning a swipe from her right claw which you thankfully avoid. 

“I’m sure whatever it is will pass, Fluttershy says she might be able to help you but you’ve got to calm down and trust me, you do trust me right?"

“Of course I trust you, you big ape.” Gilda states slugging you in the shoulder with more determination.

"OK, tough gal, let's go" you state, lifting yourself up and making your way to the door.

You look back but the griffon isn’t moving well she is sort of, she's struggling and wiggling, but shes not moving exactly.

“Uh Gilda, are you come along?”

“What do you think I’m trying to do idiot!?”

So much for staying calm.

"You need any hel-"

"Don't you dare, I got this so if you don't mind, buzz off."

You shrug your shoulders and move to open the door, however you opted to stay in the archway, if she can't get up you're gonna have to help.

She continues to flail around on her back for a few moments trying and failing to find a way up from her back, you know to give Gilda space for these things. Once again she’s got more pride than sense sometimes, but it’s getting a little awkward now and you really want to sort out what's wrong with her as soon as you can.

Shaking your head you walk over towards the still struggling griffon and despite the protests and added weight you lift her up into your arms. Something she is not happy about. 

“No way, put me down, now!”

"Come on you were complaining about your sore talons and paws the whole morning, let me take care of it for you, besides no one’s going to see you I’m going through the Everfree.”

Gilda opens her beak to argue, but you can tell she’s weighing the pain of walking on her sore talons all the way around the Everfree or a free ride.

“Fine! But put me on your back, and if you tell anyone.”

“I know, I know you probably going to use me as an exotic one of a kind punching bag or something like that.” You say sarcastically rolling your eyes.

“You know for a monkey you catch on quick.” 





You finally reach Fluttershy’s cottage after an hour or so of traipsing around the edge of the Everfree, even at the very edge of the forest it’s still not an easy trek. Especially when you have to stop every so often for Gilda’s nausea, as much as she appreciates you carrying her the bumpy path is doing terrible things to her stomach and you’ve had just about enough of stomach bile on your person for one day.

As you leave the forest you think it’s interesting how little the ponies use the Everfree even during the day. Yeah it’s got some pretty dangerous animals and plant life but like the ocean that stuff is pretty much in the deeper end of the forest, for the most part it’s pretty safe barring a few painful thorns here and there. Then again you and Gilda use it so you don’t have to see any ponies, so for ponies to use it would kind of defeat its point you coincide to yourself.

As you reach the path you look back at her. She's resting her head against your shoulder as she sleeps every so often she winces and groans with every other step.

You turn towards the cottage frowning deeply.

 I didn’t realise it was this bad, the sooner she’s fixed the better.

Crossing the familiar bridge you notice that most of the lights in the house are still on. You find it strange that she would need so many, but you think that it’s probably her way of letting you know she’s still up and waiting for you, or at least something like that. 

As you step up towards the cottage you glance once more over your shoulder at the sleeping griffon whose snoring gently on you, it’s pretty adorable even if your back and arms are killing you.

You hate to wake her she looks so peaceful for once, but you know what you need to do, plus it wouldn’t be fun for her to wake up being inspected on some table. 

Yeah she’d probably attack first, ask questions later, better wake her. Slowly you bring your head over towards hers and nuzzle it softly.

“Hey sleeping beauty, time to get up.” You jokingly whisper, watching as she begins to stir from her sleep.

You hear a soft popping noise as Gilda stretches her wings out to full with an exaggerated yawn.

“Huzza what? Where are we?” she replies tiredly with her eyes still mostly closed.

“At Flutter’s, remember? She’s here to help.” You respond calmly trying not to let the strain in your voice show, as you back and arms sting from the weight of the griffon and an almost hour long trek.

However Gilda doesn’t look so sure about all this. 

She turns away for a moment in contemplation, before turning back at you and sighing in resignation.

“Fine, but if this turns out to be a bunch of bull, no sex for a month!” she threatens.

You can't help but chuckle at least her threats involve less blows to the face this time. You turn back and knock on the door, after the first few knocks you hear some muffled noise coming from the other side, you and Gilda both focus your attention on the door.

Is she talking to someone in there? Nah don't be paranoid.

However you still can't help but lean closer to the door. When suddenly the sound of the locks flicking open makes you jump back in fright, not an easy thing to do carrying a heavy loaded griffon on your back. 

Thank god she can't read minds.

After regaining your footing and huffing in annoyance as you hear a mocking chuckle from behind you, your again for the second time today  greeted by the same wall of pink hair and blue eye.

“Hey Shy, sorry I’m late we had a bit of an issue.” You say looking over your shoulder just in time to see Gilda shrug.

“Oh I don’t mind, it was actually better that you came here later, it gave me more time to prepare.”

You raise your eyebrow. “Prepare in what way, Shy?”

"I um, I think it’s best if you two came inside.”

With little to go on and questions to be answered you agree with the mare, stepping into the middle of the room and softly placing Gilda down onto the floor. For a moment you think you glance something out of the corner of your eye turning towards it, it slips away from your view, you shrug thinking it’s one of Shy’s animals and turn back to Gilda who is looking at where you were with narrowed eyes, you’re about to comment on it when your thoughts are cut off by the mare behind you.

“Um is everything ok, I mean did you get here alright?” She asks, looking at you with a courteous smile.

“Yeah, it wasn't too bad, the forest isn’t that intimidating if you take the outer path, no ponies around staring at you like some gormless tit.”

"Now there really isn’t any need for that language is there.” Fluttershy states disapprovingly.

You look down apologetically at her. “Sorry Shy, been a long day.”

How does she keep doing that? I never apologies for shit normally.

“It’s ok just be careful around the walls Mr Squeaks has a two year old, their very impressionable at that age.” She states happily accepting your apology.

You snap away from Shy focusing your mind back on your girlfriend, it's been a while now and she hasn’t said a word.
“You doing ok there darling?” you ask with puzzled concern.

“Where is the other one?” Gilda states suspiciously turning her head towards Fluttershy.

Other one?

"Wait you mean angel?" you chime in, subconsciously putting a little venom into the name of your furry nemesis.

Gilda however doesn't seem to hear you as she turns and storms towards Fluttershy,  towering over the now shivering mare who was trying and failing to not shrink into herself. 

"Don't lie to me, I maybe sick or whatever, but I saw something go into the other room before we got here, my griffon eyesight is 20/20 there’s another pony in this house."

"I- I mean we." Fluttershy fights to say cowering as Gilda puts a single talon against her chest and begins poking it with each word.

"You better start talking pipsqueak or else I-"

"Gilda enough!" you finally yell back trying to defuse the situation, both parties look back at you in shock, you try and ease Gilda's 'mood swings' with care but threats were not going to help anyone.

"look, we talked about this you can't just threaten peo- I mean pony's like that, besides I trust Shy, she wouldn't just be hiding ponies around the house, why would she? Now could you please at least apologise she's helping us out of her own kindness, the least you could do is return some of that."

Gilda looks at you with a stare that back in the day had you backing into a corner, however after almost four months of this type of death glares you're getting pretty good at holding your own.

After a few tense moment Gilda finally slumps away from Fluttershy and you even make out a barely audible "Sorry" from the griffons beak before she angrily stomps back in your direction, you sigh in relief and wipe some sweat from your forehead, thankful that went as well as it did.

It takes a moment, but Shy manages to come out of her fortress of hair and even cracks a small smile. 

"That's okay I forgive you, especially given your, um, predicament."

Wow that mares got some patience, well they don't call her the...um chemical of kindness? Was that it, whatever she's not know for that without a reason. You concede to yourself reaching over and stroking Gilda's feathers trying to calm her down a bit she tries to pull away, she's kind of embarrassed by  public display of affection but your fingers make short work of any protests as you idly preen and stroke them.

"Yeah, so about that, I mean can you help her in anyway?"

"Hey! I am right here you, oh yeah right there that's it" she says slumping into your side as you fingers hit a particularly sensitive spot.

"Sorry hon, anyway Shy can you help us?"

"Oh yes I can certainly try but before I do, I-I have to apologise you see, there is somepony with me." She tentatively declares pawing at the ground and looking up at you dejectedly.

Oh god damnit no. You think face palming with your free hand.

"I knew it!" Gilda yells, pushing away from you hand.

"I'm sorry! I know you two aren't ready for your relationship to go public, but I needed to be sure that I was correct and I only knew one other pony who had books I could use to study griffon anatomy." Shy pleads backing away from Gilda.

"Yeah right! You Pegasus ponies are all the same, I'm out of here come on lets go." she motions for you to come along with a wing, as you try and think of how to best handle the situation.

Bloody hell, why can't things be easy for once.

Just before Gilda reaches the door a voice call out from the top of the stairs.

"No wait!" 

The mare behind the voice suddenly materialised into view with a flash of blinding violet light. You recognise the mare immediately it’s the one that used to badger you for information about your old world. The purple princess one that sort of looks like the other two that occasionally come to check up on you. 

Dammit what was her name again? Names are hard and here in Equestria they're pretty ridiculous, I mean ones called Fancy Pants, Fancy Pants I mean really who do you have to be to be given a name like that? Then again apparently he’s a cool guy, so what do you know.

Thankfully Gilda stops, for now at least, although you can see her eyeing the door ready to make a break for it. Not that she could really get anywhere given her condition.

"I'm sorry." The Purple one yells running up between Fluttershy and Gilda who is now near the front door. "Don't blame Fluttershy, it was my idea to come here, when she came to my library asking for griffon anatomy, I maybe' kind of made her tell me what it was for." she finishes lowering her head with an uneasy laugh and a sheepish smile.

"That still doesn't explain why you're here exactly?" Gilda grows. 

You look back at the Purple mare who now almost looks like she's doing an impression of Fluttershy, as she lowers her head and paws at the ground. 

"Well you see, I know I wasn't around much when you visited Ponyville the first time, but I was there for the party so I know you could be a bit, how do I put it, aggressive, I wanted to make sure Fluttershy was going to be ok, I didn't know you three knew each other for this long and I especially didn't know you where her coltfriend." she finishes pointing at you with an idle hoof.

You respond with a shrug mostly because you have no real idea what a 'coltfriend' even is, you guess it means boyfriend here, but to be fair most of your time is spent either in the house or the Everfree your still getting used to the new lingo which is harder to get since you still haven't really gotten over the whole pony's staring at you all the time thing.

"Yeah, we were trying to keep it on the low down, until your nerdy flank stuck your muzzle in our business." Gilda growls venomously towards the Purple mare.

You give Gilda a disapproving look, but she doesn't see it and to be fair you're a bit angry at the Purple one as well. Nobody like someone who sticks their nose in someone else's business.

"I know, I know and I'm really sorry I just wanted to make sure Fluttershy was going to be fine, considering how you yelled at her last time you were in town."

Wait is she talking about the first time I found her?

"Why did you yell at Shy, I thought you said she had nothing to do with whatever it was that went down that day?" you say more out of genuine curiosity than anything else.

"Look it was nothing personal, I was having a sorta’ bad day and she got in my way so I snapped at her. For what it’s worth I didn't mean anything by it, jeez it was months ago so don't go all sappy and make me apologise now." Gilda states folding her arms across her chest slumping down on her flank.

“It’s ok, I forgave her way before that." Fluttershy chimes in quietly.

"For what it’s worth Shy did vouch for you two, I just wanted to make sure myself, I guess I should be a bit more trusting of my friend’s word next time, but if it’s any consolation I still want to help you and Gilda out I have a pretty good grasp on griffon anatomy and medicines." She finishes sitting on her hind legs with a sincere look across her muzzle.

Gilda glares at the Purple mare with suspicion, she doesn't look entirely convinced but she's not moving towards the door anymore, which you take as a good sign.

"Just who else did you tell." She states to both Shy and the Purple mare hunching over at them.

"Nopony else I swear! Dash doesn't know and neither does Pinkie it’s just me and Twilight." Fluttershy quickly interjects.

Twilight! That that was her name, you think snapping your fingers in recognition. Wait did she say pinkie as in...Oh no what's she got to do with it? And how does she know this Dash pony before. Actually that name does sound familiar…You think scratching the five o'clock shadow developing on your jawline.

"So let me get this straight." Gilda states "You let Princess book worm here, who probably hasn't even seen a griffon besides me in her life and who has friends who she knows hate my guts come here and help purely because she's doing it out of the kindness of her heart, I'm not buying  it."

Once again Gilda turns towards the door.

"Wait before you go tell me, have you been experiencing mood swings?"

"I guess, what it to you" Gilda answers still walking towards the door.

"Nausea?"

"Sometimes, why?" Gilda nonchalantly states placing her talon on the door handle.

"What about terrible stomach cramps, for minutes at a time?”

Gilda stops turning her head quickly in the direction of the Twilight.

"How do you know about that." she states her voice a mixture of suspicion and shock.

"Please Gilda let me and Shy help."

"How do I know I can trust you huh?”

"You need to have some faith, I promise by Celestia’s crown, me and Shy will help you."

The she griffon looks at both Shy and the Purple pony for a while before turning her head back to you her eyes solemnly begging for your two cents into the conversation.

"This is up to you, Darling, I trust Shy and she trusts the…uh crap what was it again the purple one? You say clicking your fingers as you try to remember.

"Twilight" chimes an annoyed voice.

That was it, man I suck at names.

"Yeah, Twilight, sorry bad with names, either way it’s up to you. I'll support you no matter what, I just want you feeling better that's all." you finish staring into those shining amber eyes for what feels like forever.

Finally Gilda sighs and looks back at the other two mares, who are eagerly awaiting the griffon’s response.

"Fine, but no funny stuff got it!?" she threatens rolling her talon into the fist.

Both mares nod simultaneously before stepping over the invisible no man’s land that the argument had created.

"You have my word, now would you please follow me into the kitchen." Twilight gestures to Gilda to follow her in.

You attempt to follow her inside but Twilight stops you.

"This could take a while and because of the equipment I brought Fluttershy kitchen is a bit cramped and because of your you know..." she finishes looking you up and down as you realise she's on about your more than large physique compared to the ponies.

A wave of fear strikes you as you begin to protest, however Gilda lifts up a talon to stop you, funny as much as you can read her she probably just as good at reading you.

"Don't worry tall stuff, I'll be fine worse comes to worse I can take these two easy." 	She jokes with a cocky smile plastered on her beak flexing her overly shape talon for effect.

Actually, is she kidding?

Not wanting to take any more time up, you walk over to Gilda and plant one more kiss on her soft beak laying your hand gently across her side. "Okay, Feathers, just don't worry everything's gonna' be fine"

"Okay, mom." Gilda sarcastically states rolling her eyes just as she walks past you brushing her tail against your leg and turns back one more time with a small smile just as Twilight begins to shut the door with her magic.

That stubborn feather brain. You chuckle shaking your head as you make your way towards the couch a little of the fear leaving your clouded mind.







You stamp out another butt and reach into your side pocket to produce a tin labelled ‘Emergencies Only’ and produce another cigarette.

Yep the fears back.

It’s been nearly an hour now and the wait was driving you mad, so you decided to get a breath of fresh air, and well nicotine. You know you shouldn't you only really stated at the beginning when you came to Equestria, you were pretty sure you were dead so you decided smoking was the least of your troubles. After you were finally convinced it was another world and that you were at least in this form still alive, well at least you finally got to see what all the fuss was about.

You take another drag of the cigarette, as you come to the conclusion that at least now its ok to fall off the metaphorical wagon. Besides you needed something to take the edge off, the silence and waiting was driving you insane. 

She's going to be fine, they would have called me in if anything went wrong. You try and convince yourself.

You flinch quickly gazing back at the door as you hear it unlock, apparently the universe, cosmic prankster that it is heard that, as you spot Fluttershy walking soberly out  towards you.

You throw the cigarette onto the floor and stamp it out, before rushing over to the mare in question?

"Is she ok? What happened, tell me she ok." you say pretty much all at once.

Fluttershy gives you an uneasy look before casting her gaze towards the house then at you again.

"Um, I'm not sure how to say this, maybe you should come inside."

You gulp audibly, a bead of sweat drips down your forehead. "Shy, how bad is it?"

"It’s not... it’s uh, I really think its best you come inside."

You don't wait for her, as you all but run back into the house throwing the door to the kitchen, you survey the room which for all intents and purposes had become a hospital in and of itself. The dinning table acting as a bed with blankets and even a pillow the sound of heart monitor going at a slightly erratic pace takes you attention, as you spot Gilda.

You almost trip over the wires rushing over towards the bed and kneel by Gilda's side. She doesn't even registers your presence as she keeps her eyes firmly locked on the kitchen floor.

"Gilda, honey what's wrong, speak to me!" You plead waving a hand in front of her face, which gets no reaction from the she-griffon.

You look around the room for any sort of clue to help you understand, when you spot Twilight hunched over the kitchen counter surrounded on all sides with books, as she aggressively flicks threw several at a time with her magic, tosses them away from herself after every few pages.

"Hey Twi, what's going on, she won't speak to me." You worriedly yell, but you get even less of a response from the mare who's still desperately flicking through the pages.

"How is this possible? I don't understand!" she frustrated mumbles to herself, not even looking at you.

What going on, was there a gas leak of something?

You continue to try and snap Gilda out of her trance but it’s not working, a few moments later you see Fluttershy creep back into the room with a look you can't place its somewhere between apprehension and curiosity.

You turn to her ready to question what went on when Gilda finally speaks up.

"I-I’m pregnant."

The words hit you like a speeding train, as you automatically bolt upright fixing your gaze solely on her as the room begins to fade and blur.

The room is the essence of an abyss, no Man, Griffon or Pony moves, speaks or even breaths. Finally after almost an eternity.

"H-huh, would you fancy that." You weakly chuckle to no one, before your world goes completely black.
> The Testing Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special thanks to RegretFearandRevelry for editing this.





“That's an odd place to put a table?” 

You think as you’re blurred vision slowly adjusts as the world around you begins to settle.

The loud ringing sensation in your ears begins to clear and dull in to nothing as you scan around the room around you. Slowly you begin to rise up as you notice that you are slumped on the floor like a burlap sack. All you can see is a cream coloured bed spread and what looks like a few table legs wrapped in wires. The sound of muffled voices takes you from your thoughts, as you try and work out what has happened.

"I think he's waking up!" a muffled voice from across the room speaks.

"Do, do you think he's ok?" A soft voice chimes in thick with concern.

"He’d better be. I'm not going to be a single mom in this economy." A not so concerned voice replies.

You lick your dry lips and try and attempt to formulate coherent sentences fighting through bouts of pain and dizziness.

"The hell…….?" you mumble, trying to sit up before a soft hoof lands on your shoulder.

"Take it easy now, you had a nasty fall and you could have a concussion." The yellow blur you begin to recognise as Fluttershy softly comforts you.

I passed out? Damn I need to remember to eat more, one cup of Earl Grey is not a good dinner.

You begin to stand up against the wall, leaning your head against it, before quickly flying away from it as the pain reminds you that it still hurts like hell. You take a hand to the back of your head and feel around you feel a large lump on the back of it, but as you pull your hand back you breathe a sigh of relief that at least it’s not covered in red. You proceed to lean back more carefully this time, as you try and remember just what incident must of occurred that caused you to land on the floor.

You feel a hoof move you forward slightly; a pillow is placed between you and the wall, courtesy again of Fluttershy.

"You took a nasty fall, I tried to stop you, but for some reason you required more magic than I could do at the time I don't know why though" wonders a voice next to you, thankfully you can still remember as Twilight, who was now  tapping a hoof against her chain thoughtfully.

“Fluttershy is right though you need to tell us what happened. If there are any gaps in your memory your head injury could be exceptionally serious." Twilight explains.

You moan as the pain of your head injury makes it hard just to even concentrate. 

"I remember being outside and then Shy called me in for something so I ran in and then you were in the corner with some books, I tried to call out to you because Gilda wasn't talking and... Gilda!?" You yell out jumping up off the floor despite your body's and Fluttershys protests.

"Over here you big lug."

You scan the room and very quickly spotting your pregnant girlfriend a thought that makes you bit your lip hard in trepidation. She's laying on her back looking back at you as she  props herself up on some pillows on the table where you last saw her. A blanket still covers her modesty whilst the heart monitoring equipment covers the rest of her torso. You rush over to her, or to be more accurate you stagger as your legs stumble in a haphazard fashion, like a punch drunk boxer who was trying avoiding cracks on the pavement before you slump down next to her on the bed. You look up towards her, your face is awash with panic and concern.

"Holy shit Gilda you, you, gah. What.. what I mean is, holy shit!" You stutter, looking for any words to convey your feelings over a situation that really should not exist.

She looks back down at her stomach as your eyes follow. The slow melodic rising and falling of it carrying something you could never imagine existing in your wildest dreams.

You should have known better as the signs where everywhere after all. But the idea of it being possible to knock up your griffon girlfriend was not something that your imagination ever accounted for, and if it did it was trying desperately not to connect the dots. 

"Guess this explains a few things huh?" She whispers to you, as the memories of the mood swings, muscle spasms and mindless destruction of property seem to make at least a little more sense now.

"T-that it would, I, what should we do?" you almost rhetorically ask.

"You’re the one who plans things remember, I usually just wing it and see what happens." She answers looking at you, a worried smile still on her beak.

How can she taking this so lightly, she has a kid, we have a kid? You think as your mind rushes ablaze with thoughts and imagery.

You reach a hand over to her unsure of what you’re really doing. You find yourself lightly caressing her stomach with your hand, you hear Gilda catch her breath but she doesn't pull away. You sit there for a while simply allowing you hand to rise and fall with her breathing, slowly you feel a soft yet scaly hand join yours, From the corner of your eyes you can see a tiny albeit a genuine smile grace her beak. But you’re too lost in within your reverie to truly concentrate on it.

The room is silent once more as the scene plays out. It should be a tender moment and for the most part it was. However your mind is dead-set on finding some sort of explanation. Unfortunately even with your vivid imagination no answer comes to mind..... well one does.

You slam it down as quickly as it appears. The notion seems downright absurd to you, yet it festers and claws its way back in to the forefront of your mind all the same.

Did she...cheat on me? You think, the idea causes you to catch your breath.

You shake your head trying your best to get rid of the idea from your mind, 

No, no of course she didn't, Gilda would never do that she is as loyal as they come, but, she did go away after that first week we were together, she never did give me a good reason for leaving...

Hey, HEY you ok!?" The tomboyish voice calls out, waving a claw across your eyeline to get your attention.

You snap yourself away from your thoughts and look towards Gilda as she puts an Idle talon across your cheek.

"Hey bud, thought I'd lost you again for a sec."

"What? No of course not, I only pass out when its vital. It’s a defence mechanism." you say with an uneasy smile pushing that particular idea back to the dark and empty recesses of your mind, hoping it doesn't come back.

"Ahem." A cough from across the room, breaks your concentration from the griffon.

"Sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt. Look I know this is a lot to take in but the sooner we can get some answers the better. If it’s ok with you I'm going to need a few samples from the both of you, this is going to take some testing." Twilight chimes in, moving up to the both of you as you look down at her in confusion.

"Umm, samples what do you mean by that?" You worryingly voice.

"Well I’m going to need a blood sample from both of you for a start."

Gilda shakes her head violently "No buckin' way you’re not getting anywhere near me with a needle or anything like that end of story!" She declares slumping back in the bed with her arms crossed.

"Gilda please you need to do this it’s only a simple blood test." You voice caringly.

"Hey I don't need to do anything, you’re not the one who's pregnant here pal." She growls pointing a talon towards her stomach as if you needed to be reminded.

You give her a sympathetic look as you reach your arms over and massage her shoulder muscles reassuringly with your hand. "It’s going to be fine hun. We need to give her some samples to make sure that our child is going to be okay. We don't even know anything about this sort of thing, don't you want to make sure that it’s healthy at the very least?" You question softly to Gilda who gives you nothing but a grumpy stare. 

As you look deeply into her eyes you notice something in them you have never seen before, as soon as you mention the word child, (which is something that will need to be said many times before it stops being weird.) A look of concern and a smouldering yet quiet love is detailed within her expression. If there was any word you could use to describe it, it would be maternal. A mothers concern.

"F-fine, but just make it quick ok and only take what you need or else." She threatens uneasily.

You smile rubbing her shoulders again as she weakly tries to pry you off with a talon before simply resting on it. What can you say you’re a natural masseuse with those talented fingers of yours.

"Thank you Gilda, I promise to be as gentle as possible, oh but ah one more thing." Twilight asks turning over to you her wings unfold slightly as she looks like she's trying to find the correct words to say.

This isn’t going to be good.

"I'm going to need a sample, from err down there." She stutters pointing whilst keeping her eyes raised to avoid staring at that particular seam of your trousers

You raise an eyebrow as you slowly look down before the penny drops as you shoot your neck back up .

You shake your head and wave your arms frantically. "Whoa whoa. There is no way. These boys have already caused enough trouble I’m not getting them out all willy nilly." You mentally kick yourself for creating a cheap pun like that.

"I I think I'll go make some tea." A shy voice squeals out rushing upstairs She has a kettle upstairs? you think idly, before being drawn back into the dreaded conversation.

Twilight sighs "Looks if were going to have any idea as to how this even happened and how this could affect your hatchling we need your cooperation."

"Yeah you need to do this for our little hatchling remember." Gilda states with a nearly held back smirk, she's enjoying this way too much.

Looking down at her with a dower expression you fold your arms and huff in resignation.

"Fine, fine! Just don't call it that."

"Call it what?" Twilight asks.

"A hatchling, it’s weird."

"It’s not weird, it’s what griffons call their young, right Gilda?" Twilight responds in a scholarly tone looking over towards Gilda for conformation.

Gilda shrugs and lifts a claw brushing her fringe away from her face. "Heck if I know, I left Griffonia when I was five."

Griffonia? that's what they call it, seriously who comes up with these names? Wait did she just say five!? Before you can respond however Twilights right on top of the griffon.

"Wait really!?" Twilight replays running up towards Gilda with a questioning gaze "Why did you leave so young, do your parents still live in Griffonia, I thought only noble families where allowed to leave?" She all but blurts out; you’re amazed she could even say all that without breathing once. It almost reminds you of the times you run into that pink party mare. The thought sends shivers down your spine as you recall just how dizzying it is to talk to the little devil you know.

Gilda leans back uncomfortably looking for any escape route she can. "Um yeah they still live around somewhere, I think? I ain't sure, we don't talk, like ever." She finishes awkwardly as Twilight leans over even further than is socially acceptable making the she griffon all the more uncomfortable.

"Can somepony tell princess bookmark here about personal space." She asks, with an uneasy expression leaning as far away from Twilight as she can, a bead of sweat dripping off her forehead.

"Wait, wait hold up so you’re race doesn't let you guys go anywhere outside of your own country? What gives, I thought this world was all lovey dovey and full of peace and friendship and stuff?" You ask scratching your chin in puzzlement. You were pretty sure that you had sussed this place out the moment you arrived here some two years ago, It was some sort of Saturday morning cartoon show, admittedly one with some bad ass magic and monsters, but political strife didn't exactly cross your mind.

Twilight turns to you snapping out of her integration like trance, much to the relief of the griffon.
"Well, no that's unfortunately not true, whilst Equestria is a very progressive country and that we haven't had any major conflicts with bordering nations in over a thousand years. But sometimes other nations don't always take our lessons to heart as much as Celestia tries."

You can't help but whistle in surprise at that. A thousand years!? I couldn't even go down certain streets back in my hometown without someone thinking I had a few too many teeth.

"However Griffonia, Umm how do I put it, they're much more of a, oh pony-feathers how do I put this..." She stutters looking back at Gilda.

"Hey don't let me stop you, I've spent more of my life in this pony land than I have with my own kind. I have no real loyalty to 'em." She finishes with a shrug that you don't quite buy.

Once again the questions keep piling up. You’re really going to need to sit her down and have a nice long chat about this stuff, then again you think looking down at Gilda and your unborn infant, one issue at a time.

Twilight nods at Gilda and continues.

"Well Griffons are more set in their traditions and customs than ponies, whilst they are not as severe as the Minotaurs. But Griffons don't like to let their secrets and ways out for many to see. They used to be an empire and consider themselves a warrior nation. They even have mandatory conscription into the army for any male over the age of fifteen. However besides a few books there is actually not that much known about them, except that they are a very proud nation, very quick to act and a belligerent of new concepts, so I've been told."

You can take the Griffon out of Griffonia. You can't help but joke inwardly, as you chuckle and look subconsciously down at Gilda who looks up at you with angry expression, hitting your leg before you have a chance to react.

"Hey what was that for!?" You bellow holding your leg man she hits like a prize fighter! You grown inwardly clutching a new bruise that will soon join Gilda's road map of abuse against you. 

"Don't think I didn't know what you were thinking about bub!" Gilda growls slumping back into the pillows.

Twilight rolls her eyes before continuing. "Well anyway since they value their privacy above all things they don't often let native Griffons leave, only a few noble clans are allowed to go anywhere outside of Griffonia but it’s often because of trade or political obligations, however there are exceptions to those rules such as major sporting events on like the Equestria games but still it’s very rare to see a Griffon outside of these three reasons and if they are its without the clans permission”

"So what about you Gilda? How come your parents or clan have not sent anyone to come up and visit you yet?"

"Beats me." she simple states with that trademark shrug of hers, causing you and Twilight to let out a small grown.
What?!" Gilda yells at you two.

"Well sweetie have you considered that it was not that normal for someone to not know or care where their family is?"

"Or that your one of the very few Griffons in Equestria who's actually living here without I’m guessing your clans knowledge or at least permission." Twilight chimes in.

"Look I'm not comfortable talking about it ok, I barely  even remember them. I got here when I was five years old my mom just left me here with a bag of bits and some vague direction of where to go, what do you want from me!" She finishes slumping further into the bed, your sure if it wasn't for her condition she would have walked out probably slamming the door, at least there’s some silver lining.

You look down at the griffon in shock; she was abandoned by her own mother when she was five years old! What the hell were her parents thinking, how is she even this stable? No wonder she’s so cold all the damn time, who wouldn't be angry if they were dumped by their folks?

"Oh hell feathers, I'm so sorry I can't even imagine I mean my dad and siblings where never really that close to me, but they never just up and left me. My mum would have his head before that could ever happen." You say leaning down towards your girlfriend and placing a loving hand on her back.

"Hey I ain't sweating it " she answers in a brooding tone as you imagine she's trying to do her best to stitch up old wounds in her mind. 

"If they didn't want anything to do with me that's their problem, besides if they didn't abandon me here I never have met my nerdy ape." she finishes with a small but at least sincere smile squeezing you hand with hers. 

"You’re something else sweetheart." You say mirroring her smile even though you don't quite feel her confidence.

"Well I knew that, but it’s nice to hear still." she smugly retorts.

"Gilda I'm so sorry about that, I can't imagine what you must have gone thought." Twilight says with solemnly look across her muzzle.
"Yeah we'll it sucked, but I'm over it now so if you wouldn't mind, I think we have other things to talk about it." She finishes looking back down at the real reason you and her came here.

Twilight gives her a questioning look before her eyes shoot up in acknowledgment "Oh horse apples you're right yes, sorry it’s not every day I get to study a griffon so freely." She finishes walking back down towards the table and levitating a clip board a cup and a quill.

"Now about that sample?" she finishes with an uneasy smile levitating the cup towards you hand.

You glare down at Gilda who’s wearing that bloody cocky smirk again. Should have known she wouldn't forget about that.

"I um ah...damn it." you say snatching the cup in the air and walking over towards the bathroom hearing muffled laughter as you close the door angrily.
> The Planning Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special thanks go to RegretFearandRevelry  for editing this.





You make the walk of shame from Fluttershy’s downstairs toilet, holding you cup in one hand and your face in the other.

Slowly you make your way to the kitchen finding only Twilight and Fluttershy sitting around the table, they stop talking when you enter and turn to meet you with concerned faces as you look around. You notice that for the most part them kitchen is pretty much back to its rustic form, clear of any medical supply's only a folded blanket on the side of the room and the heart monitor was evidence of the state the room was in when you left .

"Wow you guys clean up quick." you announce, scanning the surroundings.

"Um, actually you've been gone for about thirty minutes, we were about to go see if you were ok." Shy finishes getting redder and redder with each word, she turns to Twilight who is trying to keep a professional demeanour... and failing miserably.

"Yeah sorry it’s not something's I can really do on order... and the baby talk doesn't exactly get me in that sort of mood, if you catch my drift." You say, awkwardly rubbing the back of your neck and weighing the pain of the embarrassing situation with the potential amount of pain created by jumping out the nearest window to escape it.

"So do you have the sample?" Twilight asks levitating a saddle bag over to you, still not quite making eye contact with you, which to be honest you are sort of thankful for.

You slip the closed container into the bag quickly before it is levitated back to Twilights side.

"So ah, where's Gilda?" You ask trying to break the awkward silence, this situation was way too uncomfortable for her not to hang around and mock.

"She fell asleep waiting for you, me and Twilight took her to my room, poor dear was so much more exhausted than she let on." Fluttershy answers offering you her seat and flying over to Twilights side.

You notice a cup of coffee next to you which you are immensely thankful as the weight of the day both emotional and physical comes crashing down on you.

"How do you think she’s fairing? I know she likes to put on a brave face about things. I’m guilty of that myself. " 

"She's seemed to be taking it well all things considered, I'm sure the situation was just a little too much for her right now, it’s a big deal I know but I'm sure she's just happy to have someone around to help her." Shy replies with a gentle smile, she may be a shut in at the best of times but that mare was pretty good at reading others.

"How are you holding up for that matter, this can't be easy on you either?" Twilight asks.

"Yeah, no I'm fine it’s not that big a deal, I mean people have kids all the time right." You try and convince yourself and the mares waving your hand dismissively.

Twilight lifts up her brow in confusion. "Really I thought you'd be freaking out, I mean you have a child on the way in only four months time by my calculations, you have nowhere to keep it, most of the town probably doesn't even know your here let alone Gilda and you’re also essentially going to be looking after either an infant of your own kind or Gilda's or maybe even a hybrid of the two and that's not even considering--" Twilight stops as Fluttershy puts a hoof on her shoulders to stifle her onslaught.

"Twilight I think he understands." Fluttershy states tentatively.

Twilight looks at her then back at you and winces as she notices both your hands resting on your face burying your gaze into the table.

“I am so fucked..."

Fluttershy fly’s over towards you and places a wing around your back.

"Hey it’s going to be ok, think of all the positives. You’re going to have your own little bundle of joy that you can call your own. You get to experience all of the pleasures of being a dad. Like um..." Fluttershy finishes trying to work out the right words to say.

"Their first library card!" Twilight chimes in happily.

"That's right their first...well that's not really what I meant, but ok that works." Fluttershy replies with polite confusion.

"Does it?" you ask, still not looking up from the table.

"Hey it was a proud moment for me and my dad." Twilight huffs.

"I'm sure it was Twilight, but I was talking more about watching something you love grow and prosper." Fluttershy states diplomatically.

"We'll sure, when you put it like that, that's also pretty important I guess." Twilight states trying to backtrack from her previous sentence, something tells you she wasn't quite ready to understand parenting herself.

"Oh and also the baby's first word, and the first time they lose their primary feathers that was a big moment for my dad."

"Ok, ok Shy I see your point, and your right this is supposed to be a happy occasion and believe me I’m ecstatic, really. But goddamn if I have so much to do and no time to do it in." You say lifting my head up from the desk looking at the girls worriedly.

"Don't you worry, I'll do everything I can to help you two and your baby. Its the least I could do for all the help you've given me over the years." Fluttershy states giving you an infectious smile that you can't help raise a little smile yourself

"I'll also help in any way I can, any friend of Shy is a friend of mine, and maybe I will be the first to research a brand new life form depending on the genetic makeup, oh Celestial! I wonder if they will publish my thesis, maybe even give me a Nobel prize. I need to get started as soon as possible. Its only three hundred fifty six more days till the next convention!" Twilight rambles out, completely lost in her own delusion.

You can't help but laugh at the mare the first real laugh you've had all day.

"Thanks girls, really you don't know what this means for me and Gilda." You say with a slight whimper, you feel your eyes begin to water a bit at the sincerity of the mares, feeling slightly embarrassed you turn away for a second to whip your eye with a hand as both pony's look at you with warm smiles.

"We should really start discussing what to do first to get ready." Twilight recommends.

"Well actually now that you mention it, I think its best we try and get Gilda back into Ponyville, even just for a bit."

"Why do you want her to go back I thought she wouldn't ever want to come back all things considered?" Twilight asks.

"Well its more for the child really, We don't know how pony's are going to accept this, I mean I still get problems from pony going into town the last thing I need is Gilda or the child getting ostracized on top of that."

"Pony's have been giving you problems, like who?!" Twilight asks her voice a flurry of shock and anger. 

"I don't know a bunch of pony's its not too bad, most just stop and stare at me, but there was a few of them when I walk past shouting names like monkey boy, offering me bananas stuff like that." you say with a tired shrug.

"They what!?” A terrifyingly angry voice from the shyest mare in the world yells in utter furry.

"Yeah I thought you guys knew about this already?" you ask looking towards both mares.

"No of course not! Why didn’t you tell me or Fluttershy?" Twilight states in utter disbelief.

"Well you know I don't really get out much I just assumed that this place had its own racial well actually I guess its species problems, like back in my world. It was kind of common back on earth until recent times; I just assumed that it was something I had to live with." You say rubbing your neck, you didn't like it as much as anyone, but since it never went beyond name calling it didn't really affect you too much at least that what you were going to tell the girls.

"I can't believe some ponies would do that especially in Ponyville." Twilight asks you turn towards Shy who is also bright red but this time it’s not a blush and it’s scaring the heck out of you.

"Honestly I don't let it bother me to much girls and think of it as free potassium right?" You say looking at the two of them hoping your little lie and joke show might make them drop the subject.

"How can you joke about this it’s not funny, obviously it’s affecting you, oh pony feathers that's why I never see you in town. How do you even get your food?"

"I grow it myself at the back of the garden or if I have to I fish." You say, looking down in shame.

"That’s why you wanted gardening lessons!?" Fluttershy asks still in her rage her wings where extended and fluttering like crazy.

The table goes back into a tense silence for a while as both mares take in the information you turn over to Fluttershy who is still very angry, hopefully not at you.

"I just can't believe this it makes me so mad I just want to scream." Shy growls opening up her mouth and giving the quietest most adorable scream ever conceived in the known universe.

"We have to fix this." Twilight states solemnly.

"Girls really it’s fine I've lived like this for almost two years now with no major problems, you can't change people’s minds."

Yeah but there is so many nice pony's out there your missing, I just can't believe you didn't do anything about it." Fluttershy asks her ears lower in defeat.

"Well to be honest I can’t, Celestial made me promise never to harm or create any situation that could endanger a pony not that I was going to but I keep my Promise's."

"But what if this affects your child, what if ponies do that to the child too." Twilight tries to persuade.

"They won’t." You state in utter confidence.

"Yeah but."

Twilight they won't trust me, I won't let them get the chance."

"Twilight tries to argue but flinches at the determined look you give her after a moment she simple nods and sits back in her chair.

"While we’re on the subject though if it’s ok with you girls I need to know what exactly happened with Gilda and this Rainbow Dash gal. If just to know whose going to be the hardest to convince, I'd ask Gilda but she never tells me anything before she entered the forest where I found her."

Both mares look at one another with worried expressions, as they silently debate the question you asked.

"That bad huh?" You ask after a moment of silence.

"I'll go make some more coffee." Fluttershy states finally, unfolding her wing from your back and trotting over to the counter.







...and that was the last time she was in Ponyville or at least the last time we thought she was." Twilight rounded up sipping the remains of her coffee.

You sit back on your chair and massage your eyes both out of stress and overwhelming tiredness.

Yep that would explain a few things alright. You think matching the events in your head from then till the time you came here. 
"Yeah that was pretty bad."

"It wasn’t pretty." Twilight agrees "Although it could have been worse the last time we had somepony around like that Ponyville was attacked by an Ursa Minor."

"Yeah I remember that, I mean I was at my house at the time which thankfully was nowhere near the attack but Jesus if that roar didn't scare the hell out of me. My whole house was shaking the tremors smashed a few of the windows." You say remembering the blood curtailing roar of the star beast. 

That was only an infant, you think shivering slightly.

"At least with Gilda it was relatively tame, you think that point will hold on this Rainbow Dash and Pinkie?" You say slightly joking as you gage the other pony's reaction.

Fluttershy shakes her head solemnly "I'm afraid not Rainbow is a loyal and caring friend but she can be a bit um... stubborn about these sorts of things."

"Ah, I can see why they used to get along." You joke trying to inject a little humour into the conversation.

"Pinkie might be the best bet to start off with; she’s not the type of pony to hold a grudge. I'm sure if we can find some way for Gilda to make it up to her that would go a long way." Fluttershy chimes in trying her best to stay awake, it’s already past midnight and she's a pretty early riser.

"That's not going to be easy Shy, you weren't there when I meet her, I mean if I didn't stumble upon her when I did, who knows what would have happened? If anything I think she's expecting Pinkie to apologise. Perhaps its best if we get her used to the other pony's around Ponyville first, you know take baby steps." You say wincing at the accidental pun.

Twilight considers the notion in her head for a moment before nodding. "That's probably not a bad idea actually, and as it happens Rainbow is still at flight academy for the next few months and Pinkies going away for the week for the annual bake off so if we time it right we can plan this accordingly."

You agree to the idea and begin discussing the details in depth with Twilight. Fluttershy was at this point asleep if everything went right Gilda could at least go visit some of the other elements of harmony as you now realise they were called, maybe even a few of the townsfolk. 

That would also mean that you personally would have to go there from time to time, a prospect you are really not looking forward to, but if it was for the good of your child and Gilda you were just going to have to deal with it, what was the worst that could happen?

After an hour or so you move onto different topics and eventually as always when talking to Twilight the conversation progressed back to Earth or at least Earths technology.

"So let me get this straight, your people have invented a method of transporting pictures of anything in the world though the air?"

"Yep."

"And so your people then use this device you call a 'mobile phone' to take photos of their own faces or 'selfies' as you call them and send them through the airwaves onto another 'mobile phone' on the other side of the world."

"Correct."

"And then when the information has travelled all that way to your mobile phone you ignore them because and I quote 'it looks their pulling a stupid duck face and I'll have no part of it.'"

"Pretty much."

Twilight slams her head down into the table in abject defeat, which gets a chuckle out of you, every conversation about Earth seems to ends this way.

Your about to press on when you feel a soft thump against you arm, looking down you notice Fluttershy slumped over you softly snoring.
"I suppose that means we should call it a night." You say looking back at Twilight who's covering her mouth as she yawns.

"Yeah your right I should get back."

"Yeah I'm guessing Spikes probably worried about you."

"Oh, so you remember his name, but not mine?" Twilight asks with a furrowed brow.

"Well of course, I mean your cool and all, but Spikes a freaking dragon! You know how cool it is to meet a dragon even a baby one?." 
You say excitedly as your inner veterinarian squeals at the memory.

Twilight simply sighs and shakes her head as she jumps down off her chair.

Standing up you gently picks up Shy with both hands trying to resist the urge to awaken her as she snuggles into you like she would a pillow. You walk up to her room and open it thanks to the help of Twilight, and place Shy on the double bed parallel to Gilda.

Tiptoeing around you try and pick her up as well but it looks like you were more comfy than you thought as the She griffon subconsciously grabs on to you with both talons, pulling you into a cute but deadly judo hold.

Jesus she's like a fluffy vice! You scream in your head as your lungs are denied its precious oxygen. Somehow you manage to turn your body around so that Gilda is leaning against your back.

"Twi a little help" you wheeze out.

She looks at you in confusion, before she nods in understanding lifting Gilda up just enough so that you could hoist her properly on your back for the second time today.

"Thanks" you whisper catching your breath.

"Don't mention it" she whispers back as you both leave the room quietly.







You said your goodbyes to Twilight promising to meet up soon and really set out a plan. As you make your way back through the path. It's dark but you've walked this path so many times it’s almost second nature to you as you take a right then left thought the winding path.

The walk back itself was largely uneventful except for fighting off the occasional loving choke hold from the slumbering griffon on your back.

However as you walk back the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention as you feel like some things watching you.
Occasionally you flick back but nothing shows except occasionally an owls or bat.

Cutting out of the forest, you take the path down to your humble abode stepping onto the porch and fishing for the key made impossibility difficult by your pseudo slumbering backpack.

Stepping over the debris you precede to your predetermined destination your second secret lover, the bed...now for the hard part.
"Gah one more come on you can do it!" You say clenching your teeth as you pry the last scaly appendage from your chest with all the strength you can muster, allowing Gilda to slip down onto the bed where she promptly slumps to the other side still deep in sleep.

You sit down on the other side to catch your breath as the mini workout takes its toll. For a few minutes you contemplate going to bed, but the carnival of thought is now kicking in to full swing and you know you won't be able to get any sleep for a while even being as tired you are.

You pull yourself back off the bed or at least you try to.

"What the?... oh come on!" You yell as you notice the scaly arms wrapped around your waist again.







Fifteen minutes later.

You sitting outside on your back porch, it's been a while since you came out and in all that time you've been staring down your small canister of tobacco, the word emergency's only still labelled across it. You want to have another, you really do but some sense of niggling guilt claws at your mind, if you were going to be a father it just didn't feel right to keep up the habit even when it wasn't really one you partake in that often.

Well I guess now I have a good reason to stop. You think and in an act of defiance you stand up and throw the canister into the back of the garden before turning back into the house.

"OUCH son of a..."

You snap your gaze back to the garden and scan around trying to pin point where the sound came from, when suddenly a large figure bolts out of the bushes and launches into the air with its page powerful wings. 

As it fly's you try and make out anything you might recognise, luckily the creature flies into a ray of moonlight taking your breath from you in shock.

No but Twilight said, but it is it’s... you gulp as the creature flees into the ever black of the night the sound of its powerful feather appendages echoes through the sky. As you stare dumbfounded at the familiar creature.

"A griffon..."
> The What Goes Bump In The Morning Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once again special thanks for editing this chapter goes to  RegretFearandRevelry.




The light of the morning sun seeps perfectly into your room, miraculously it manages to only beam onto your person as you arise from your slumber.

“Uh shit, morning” you think rubbing your weary eyes. 

I was having such a good dream as well.

You gaze at the calendar by your side and sigh.

Ughh, Monday morning, double shit

However your sour mood caused by the rude awakening is not as painful as it once was. You turn in your bed and feel the light caress of fur and feathers clutching your chest.

It’s made up for a lot of awfulness of morning to feel this warmth against you. You slowly reach a free arm over her side hearing the soft clicking and cracking of your joints as you begin to warm them up so to speak, softly you lay your arm around her side causing the griffon to snuggle further into you as she rests her head near your neck, subconsciously fighting for the comfort it brings. You look down at her you notice a small smile on her beak. 

Man, I could stay like this all day. You think a soft smile gracing the corners of your lips

Slumping your head back down onto the warm pillow you gaze lazily around your room its simple enough, a wardrobe full of well nothing really, clothes are expensive here in Equestria. Even when you have Shy’s friend Rarity who would give you a discount here and there it still cost a lot of bits, so the most you could really afford was about five shirts and two pairs of trousers that you rotate conservatively. Next to the wardrobe is a wooden shelf dominated with books, mostly medical ones with the odd historical one shuffled round the bookcase, and yes they mostly are about phoenixes and some other animals, however there was currently a steadily growing amount of dragon based books to rival it. 

You continue to look around not really focusing on  anything in particular simply trying to take your mind off the in-coming wave of issues that chase your thoughts like a pack of hound.

As the fog of sleep leaves your waking mind you decide that you have to deal with them, time waits for no man or in your case slave as you silently tell yourself not really meaning it, it was going to be a chaotic couple of days/weeks/months for the two of you.
You mentally revise the list of objectives that needed to be accomplished.

Step One: Starting today Get Gilda to the hospital.

It had taken a lot of persuading and promises for Gilda to go through with it. The slave metaphor was aptly chosen considering that starting from now till when the baby came that's what you effectively were.

Could be worse at least she won't make me do anything to outrageous... though she does have her kinks, how am I going to find a set of handcuffs for a human in a place like this? you think with a somewhat strained smirk.

Step one was most likely going to be the easiest and that was saying something, you and Gilda would head down to Ponyville general hospital, though that meant you would actually have to go through Ponyville, something that causes you to worriedly bite down on you lower lip, then again, you concede that not having to worry about running into Rainbow and Pinkie who were away at this time made things slightly easier at least. It was still going to suck but it was only going to be a short walk to Twilights house before hand so you wouldn’t be alone. As long as you didn't stop you’re sure it would be fine.

After that came Step Two: Meeting Twilights friends or at least two of them Rarity and Applejack.

As a way of slowly introducing yourselves back into the small village. Twilight had insisted that getting to know the local fashionista and farm pony more was defiantly going to help. 

You were not entirely sure about Rarity, true she seemed fine the first and only time you two had come into contact, she was the one who gave you the clothes you were wearing after all. 

It had actually been Fluttershy who had introduced you two back in the days when you first arrived. Celestia had left Fluttershy in charge of you after you had told the princess about your profession. Once you two were formally introduced the first item on the agenda was of course getting some clothes. Because as it turned out being quite literally throw into a new world did terrible things to cloth. Either way the mare seemed fine if a bit eccentric but who wasn't in this world?

The later pony Applejack was hopefully going to be a little smoother to deal with you hoped. You had already gotten into her good books after you had helped her dog Winona. When the poor thing had broken its leg and you fixed it free of charge. Of course you always had an affinity for dogs and it never sat right with you taking money for that especially, you wouldn’t charge money to patch up a friend and dogs are man’s best friend after all. 

You exchanged a few pleasantries now and then when you were called to the farm on business but that was as far as it went really. Although every so often she let you know if she had made her homemade moonshine which was pretty sweet, that stuff was deadly to the touch so naturally you always made sure to buy a couple of bottles every chance you could. 

Maybe I should bring some of that stuff with me; it could really help smooth over the awkwardness. You smirk as you entertain the notion of seeing Twilight and Fluttershy on that deadly concoction that would be a sight to see. You chuckle idly scratching the five o’clock shadow collected around your jaw.

As it happens Fluttershy and Twilight had apparently decided that a picnic on the outskirts of the farm was a good place for the parlay as you had aptly nicknamed it. It would be a nice place to sit down and would be far away from wandering eyes.

If all else went well then you could move onto the third point: Pinkie and Rainbow. 

The later was defiantly going to be the hardest as you've been told over and over again. You groan audibly bringing a tired hand over your forehead to lightly caress your temple.

Wasn't the pregnancy hard enough, why do I have to deal with this shit on top of everything else, I would so move my practice if I could.

However that was not a choice you really thought you had any reign over. As much freedom as you get you still had a niggling paranoia that Celestia didn't quite trust you entirely enough to let you simply wander around without her knowledge, based on her interactions with you and the bi-monthly visits. In fairness you could at least rationalise that part, after all you were essentially a meat eating alien from another world or was it another dimension? Who knows? Either way you hardly believe she even allowed you to go anywhere out of her sight to begin with, but still even after two and a bit years you were starting to think that unfortunately her apprehensions would never change.

You feel a bit of a familiar headache coming on as the problems keep piling up, as promising as it could be there was so much that could go wrong and even though it had only been a week you were already starting to feel the effects of the stress. It had even killed your appetite so much so that Gilda had actually forced you to sit down and eat a few times these past couple of days.

It didn’t help when you kept your mind on the events in the back garden the night you found out about the baby. A thought that clouded over all of the other problems leaving nagging questions that clung to your mind why the hell was there a griffon watching you? What did it want? Were there others?

The questions were driving you insane, you haven’t seen anything like that in these past couple of years so why now and what did it want? Either way you know that you weren’t going to rest until you found the griffon, though you weren't sure how you were going to accomplish that part. In all honesty thinking back on it you weren't even one hundred percent certain it was a griffon it was dark and thinking back to the events of last week the memory was mostly a blur. You were so exhausted that day, and you know that it could have been your mind altering events and memories you had read about stuff like that rational people seeing bears in the woods for split seconds and claiming with all certainty that it was bigfoot. The human mind has a habit of playing tricks on their owners like that, but whatever it was it had been the seed of your paranoia for some time now. 

You quickly and you do mean very quickly entertained to thought that the Griffon had something to do with Gilda but you dismissed it immediately that was a thought to terrible to entertain even for a second. Just like before it sits out back in the dark recesses of your imagination.

Frowning at the thoughts you feel another bout of rustling coming from your side.

You lean down and kiss her gently on the head as she stirs from her sleep.

"Hmm you’re awake before me? That’s a first." Her tired voice calls up at you with a smirk on her beak before covering her mouth to suppress a yawn.

"Yeah I’m too busy pulling the night shift as your personal pillow." you say ticking the griffon as she smirks leaning against your chest.

"Not my fault you’re comfy." Gilda retorts snuggling against you further.

"Anything for you two" you say caressing the griffon’s side.

"Two?! Wait what do... oh right yeah the baby." Gilda says lifting her head up quickly for a split second before you burst out into a soft chuckle.

“Ha ha, what was that about?” you ask with a bemused look on your face.

“Nothing just thought there was someone else in the room...Shut up I’m tired ok.” Gilda smiles awkwardly as a small blush lightens her face.

"So what are we going to do now." Gilda asks in a slightly embarrassed tone leaning back down on your chest and looking up at you with a glazed expression in her eyes. 

"Well firstly we need to get you to the hospital in an hour or so, for the first real check up." you explain eliciting a small grown from Gilda as she moves around your arm somewhat restlessly.

"Jeez, you better not be this much trouble when you’re out." Gilda jokingly threatens lifting up a wing to look down at her stomach.
You smile at her leaning down to stroke her stomach lightly as she shuts her eyes and nuzzles against your chest once more. 

"Ha, don't listen to your mom she’s more of a handful than you'll ever be."  You lightly tease towards the baby wincing lightly as you wait for a retort from the griffon. Gilda snaps up to you opening her beak to speak until you suddenly feel a soft thud against her stomach. You retract your hand from her briefly in shock before the realisation come to mind.

"Was that?" 

Gilda's eyes shoot open as she snaps her gaze down at her stomach and back up to you. 

"I think the baby just kicked." She giddily squeals leaning her back against you and holds her hand with yours. You almost want to tease Gilda for the out of character squeal but you’re doing no better in that department as you feel your lips curl into the biggest smile you’ve probably ever worn.

Again after a moment you can feel another soft bump against the front of her stomach eliciting a joyous gasp from you and Gilda.  You can’t describe the feeling of euphoria and the slightest bit of shock as the next one hits. 

"This kid’s a fighter, just like her mom." you say nuzzling your head against Gilda's cheek as she turns and gives you a loving peck on the cheek.

You stay like that for another few minutes or so as the little onslaught of soft bumps against her side slowly decline in number until finally they stop. 

"The kid sure knows how to kick." Gilda teasingly moans, caressing her stomach lovingly still not taking her eyes away from the specific spot.

"At least the baby tires easily must not be a morning person." you jest.

"Huh wonder where the baby gets that from." Gilda retorts looking up at you and  rolling her eyes as you both chuckle. 

Both still wearing enormous grins you both snuggle closer together peacefully the only noise that comes is the sound of the birds chirping outside and the soft beating of Gilda’s heart against your side as you both bask in the first real feeling of parenthood and for the first time feel just a little of that fear and stress wash away.

> The Short Trip Through Town Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

And again special thanks for editing this chapter goes to RegretFearandRevelry.





After going through your morning routine, of dressing yourself in a bland combination of black shirt, black trousers and your trusty white veterinarian coat freshly cleaned and pressed courtesy of the ever flowing kindness of Fluttershy, you stop to help Gilda with her feathers something you've gotten really good at now maybe I should open up a shop or something and go pro you consider to yourself, as you preen both wings softly and carefully putting each feather back into place. You even catch a mild  blush from Gilda as her wings stiffen slightly, the Griffon leans into you with more gusto. It was amazing how sensitive griffons and apparently ponies were to preening. Taking into account what you were able to do to the griffon with only a limited amount of knowledge on how to preen, that idea did hold some weight.

You shrug leaving the thought for a later time as you grab your bag of equipment and a heavy loaded saddle bag, attaching it around your waist like a tool belt however, instead of tools the belt bag filled to the brim with treats (and even a well concealed bottle of moonshine just in case) for the up and coming picnic before heading out towards the town.

The cool breeze married with the warm gentle glow of the sun seemed to of set a peaceful atmosphere around Ponyville. Atmospheres in which you try desperately to linger on as you press further and further into the small town. As nice as the day was this is shaping up to be a big step for both of you.

It’s ok just stick to the path and walk down the street it’s only a few blocks to Twi’s house, what could go wrong... Damn I hope Gilda doing better than I am you debate to yourself already starting to feel a small bead of sweat drip down your forehead. You cast your gaze down towards the Griffon who was actually looking surprisingly confident pressing forward with little to no apprehension in her movments and her head held high, as you both press forward she’s showing almost no signs of hesitation.

As the path became littered with the morning commuters more and more pastel coloured ponies make themselves known. You already begin to feel a little self-conscious even though most are only giving you and Gilda quick glances before pressing forward. Even that causes you to sub-consciously edge closer and closer towards Gilda until you’re basically pressed up against her wither. Thankfully Gilda doesn't seem to notice in fact it’s only after a few minutes that you begin to see a change in her attitude, as the she griffon begins to look around frantically through the market square.

"You doing ok there hun?" you ask giving the she griffon a concerned look.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine but, ahh I need to use the restroom real quick" she frantically states looking around for any available area.

"Now!?" you stutter worriedly.

"Yeah, now! What’s the big deal?"

You give her a panicked look for a moment as you look for a viable excuse for her to keep going as your own niggling paranoia of the ponies around you begins to fester. "Oh uh, well I mean you already went before we left." you answer desperately hoping the dumb logic will somehow convince her to press onwards. You never really did tell her the extent of your problems with ponies, she knew you didn’t like to be around them but you didn’t exactly explain the true extent of why. 

Some might call you stubborn but it was your own problem and you had to deal with them on your own. True you did have your moments where you would get some minor payback on them you even remember a particularly funny moment where a stuffy opinionated unicorn from Canterlot had gotten between you and a large dirty puddle whilst he belittled and mocked you. Let’s just say you didn’t care about getting more muck on you. After all, in your line of work you were pretty much covered in awful fluids most of the time, but oh boy did his suit look clean and expensive emphasis on the did of course. However staying here to long just made things more uncomfortable and this could be going a whole lot worse if you stuck around, you just hoped the loud mouths of the town were still asleep.

Gilda gives you a deadpan expression. "Yeah and if you hadn’t noticed I have a baby inside me that’s using my bladder as a punching bag right now so I need the toilet again." She argues turning on the spot and making her way across the street towards one of the public restrooms littered around the town.

“Shit…..” you quietly mumble under your breath before speaking up.

"Ok but don't take too long." You say in a rushed, panicked tone racing up beside her.

Gilda stops in her tracks and looks around at you with a concerned expression. 

"What's up with you, you are acting weirder than normal, are you ok?" she asks putting extra emphasis on the last part.

You give her a forced smile trying to stifle her worries. 

"Yeah fine hun, just we uh… we're going to be late for the appointment if we don't hurry." you finish stroking the back of your neck awkwardly trying not to meet her scrutinising gaze.

Gilda looks you up and down suspiciously but after a few seconds the she-griffon thankfully drops the topic in favour of natural urges.

"Fine, but if something’s up you'll tell me ok." Gilda announces pointing a talon up at you.

"Yeah totally, but nothing’s wrong I promise." You pretty much mutter out still keeping up the nonchalant façade.

Gilda shakes her head slowly and proceeds towards a room with the symbol of a stick figure mare at least you think it’s a mare it’s hard to tell the stick figures apart in all honesty. You exhale softly slumping against a wall next to the restrooms as you survey the market trying not to meet the gaze of passing ponies as they go about their daily routine within the market square.

Most of them are doing their best to ignore you, which you are silently grateful for. For the most part as you predicted some were simply staring at you their faces awash with confusion likely trying to work out what you are and more importantly what your intentions were. You give them all a quick glance as you scan the busy market square before looking down at the floor trying to ignore the increasingly awkward situation as a whole.

Looks like things haven't changed at all, at least they’re leaving me alone. You concede allowing a brooding expression to descend across your face. Unfortunately even that doesn’t last as suddenly you hear a loud voice bellow from across the market.

"Hey Starblossom look! It’s the monkey I was talking about." The obnoxious voice announces.

Shit! spoke to soon, its fine just don’t acknowledge them, if you don’t do anything they’ll leave before Gilda gets back...hopefully. You sigh keeping your gaze firmly on the floor as you hear the trotting of hoofs move closer and closer.

"Wow it’s so weird looking." A female voice blurts out like a child would at a wildlife exhibit.

"Does it talk?" a curious masculine voice asks.

"Yeah I saw it talk last time, isn't that right monkey you can talk can't ya'?" The cocky voice asks as it trots closer to you.

You do your best not to rise to the bait knowing that it wasn't worth it, clench your fists slightly tighter you continue to burry your gaze into the floor. You want to show them exactly how well you can talk, starting with the list of profanities you’ve learned over the years, but the fear of stating trouble keeps the extent of you vocal onslaught at bay.
Don't cause a fuss, remember what Celestia said. I can’t risk doing anything, besides she’s much worse than these assholes. You bitterly argue and confide with yourself as you dispel the temptation of unleashing your anger out on the ponies.

"I thought you said it could talk Snowfall." The female voice wines in a nasally high pitched voice that grates against your ears, after a few moments you hear her stamp her hoof in annoyance.

"I know it can we just need to coax it with something, quick hand me the bag." The leader of the group demands, the area around you is lit up in a bright yellow light that engulfs your vision as you come to the realisation that your tormentor is a unicorn. You look away trying to focus your gaze on anything but the ponies in fount of you slightly hoping Gilda would finish up so you could get the hell out of here. But as you turn your vision in blurred by something yellow that you guess is a banana levitated directly in front of your face.

"Come on monkey say something funny and I'll let you have this delicious banana, you'd like that right?" the lead pony coo's levitating it around your field of view like a owner would to coax a dog with a treat.

"Haha I can't believe you’re doing this Snow, you’re going to scare the monkey." The male voice laughs.

"Nah its fine. Right monkey come on say something funny!" the voice calls out with more authority than before.

You bite your lip with as much force as you can allow, doing everything you can to contain the inferno of rage inside you at this time. You’ve tried explaining to other ponies before that you can talk and are in fact contrary to their popular belief not a monkey, but it falls on deaf ears every time. After a while you simply just let it happen no matter how embarrassing the whole ordeal is. But this was far more blatant than before and it was taking everything out of you.

"This is boring you said he would do something funny." the female pony moans again.

"He will, he will" the stallion hesitantly states. "Look you stupid monkey just do something funny or I swear I’m going to-" the stallion yells before stopping abruptly, you can’t help but look up to see why as your eyes shoot fully open in realisation as you stare at the scene you try and step in but before you can even say anything you realise what's going on.

As the stallion stops a scaly hand grabs into his shoulder, the stallion turns to see what was holding him when another scaly fist slams with the force of a speeding train raining down on the bridge of stallions muzzle, the blow launches the pony almost entirely in the air as he is effectively flung across the street. Rolling over a few times the body of the stallion finally come to an abrupt halt against one of the kerbs of the street.

"Don't you ever talk to my stallion like that you hear me!" Gilda roars ferociously at the fallen pony her face twisted in terrible anger.

"Snow!" the female pony worriedly yells towards this partner running over towards the downed stallion who is clutching the side of his head with both hooves and wailing in pain.

"Gilda what did you do!?" you worriedly yell out the Griffon still trying to make sense of what just happened, shaking in anger the Griffon snaps her rage towards you.

"You stay out of this, you’re in serious trouble bub!" She scolds with a burning rage as she fixes her attention back to the other ponies.

You open your mouth to reply but find no words to say, knowing how angry she is right now you don’t know how to even begin to reply to that, all you do is simply look down in shame.

"You bucking stupid feather freak! You broke my nose." the lead pony cries in rage and agony through his hooves small lines of blood drip down his hooves.

"I'll break more than that if you come anywhere near him again!" Gilda barked back.

By now the crowd has assembled all around you, some out of shock, others out of curiosity, as they begin to mumble worriedly at the scene currently taking place.

"You going to regret that, both of you." the pony weakly decrees pushing himself up on shaky legs as he attempts to walk back.

You peer around the market all eyes are on you and the group it’s as if someone left the pause button on the whole town. Both of his friends attempt to help him up, before he shoves them off glaring hatefully at Gilda taking an aggressive stance that’s undermined somewhat by his  bleeding nose.

Gilda instinctively moves in front of you, her wings stretched out to their full span as she stares down the other three offending ponies.

"You're gonna get it." The lead unicorn growls moving slowly forward towards you.

You take a step forward making sure your almost adjacent to Gilda no matter what the child come before your own safety and you’re not going to let Gilda do this alone Celestia be damned. However before anything can transpire any further, a lone pony steps into the middle of the fray, holding up a hoof as the crowd of ponies part ways for the mare. Her brilliant white coat and dark purple mane jogs your memory somewhat as both the parties involved stare in mild befuddlement at her. It was only when she beings to speak with that undeniably upper class accent that you recognise the mare.

"Now now everypony, we really don't want to cause a fuss on such a beautiful morning do we?" The mare you know as Rarity diplomatically announces looking at both parties.
"Stay out of this, this loser threatened my stallion and called him a monkey. Nobody does that except me!" Gilda growls through clenched beak never breaking eye contact with the injured unicorn.

Rarity turns to him in mild shock. "Mr Snowfall how could you really be so distasteful as to call this gentle-colt a monkey?" 
The stallion in question is taken back somewhat at the accusation no doubt confused by her choice of words before leaning forwards again gritting his teeth.

"Yeah so what if I did he is one isn't he!?" The stallion spat venomously.

"Yeah and a freaky one at that" one of the other members of his little group yells.

You hear Gilda growl in anger and stamps one of her claws down onto the ground "You come over here and say that I dare you!"

"Now now my dear there’s no need for that. I’m sure Snowfall and his friends will be leaving very shortly wont they?" she calmly declares turning back to the offending grey unicorn.

"Like Tartarus I will, now get out of my way, or are you with the freaks as well?" he says barging past her.

"Well I wouldn't exactly call myself a freak as you so crudely put it but I would say that unlike you I'm not so shallow as to look past who somepony is or how they chose to live their life. Something I believe you should take to heart especially." She states confidently you notice a mild smirk on her face as she utters the last part.

"Oh yeah and why's that!?" the unicorn states edging slightly closer to Gilda who's now in a pouncing position you mentally prepare yourself as well you’re not letting that ass get anywhere near the baby even if it means having to hold Gilda back.

"Well while we're on the subject of odd ponies I heard this absolutely juicy rumor from a fellow fashionista Crimson Blush, you may know her as she runs the mares lingerie shop near the west end of Ponyville"

Some of the crowd begin muttering immediately, confused as to what the mare was talking about, but you seem to clock on instantly this mare knows some deadly gossip.
It seems to resonate with the unicorn as well as he stops dead in his tracks.  His attention diverts from Gilda to the white fashionista worryingly.

"Yeah I may have heard of it, what of it?"

"Well" Rarity begins loud enough to get everyone's attention. "As it happens she was telling me about a particular client who frequently visits alone and here is the truly scandalous bit he, yes he has been doing so for some time now even going as far as to order custom made outfits, Oh blast but I forget his name, what was it again..." Rarity trails off lifting a hoof to her chin and tapping in mock thought.

The stallion’s eyes snap open as he begins sweating profusely. "You know what you freaks aren’t worth it. I'm out of here c’mon guys." The stallion harrumphed as he turned, lowering his head slightly as he walked past Rarity and back towards the group.

"But I want to know who the stallion was." The other apparently more dim-witted stallion whines.

"I said we’re going, now!" Snowfall yells pushing through the crowd that already begins to disperse as the actors leaves the metaphorical stage.

You let go of a breath you didn't know you were holding as the situation whined to a close. Gilda relaxes her posture slightly her eyes now fixed on Rarity as she trots over with a cocky smirk.

"Some ponies simply have no class." she states looking at you. Her smile diminishes somewhat as she notices your defeated features; you can't even muster the enthusiasm to look her in the eye for more than a second.

"It’s alright dear you did the right thing you shouldn't feel ashamed, those brutes were completely out of order. I would have stepped in first if it wasn't for Gilda here." she states pointing her hoof idly at the Griffon.

"Hey how do you know my name?" Gilda states narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"I was at the party dear the one a few years back, and before you state yes I do know the whole story as it happens I seem to be invited to that little picnic you have on the farm."

"You were there and you still helped?" Gilda questions disbelievingly “Not that we needed it I could have taken those dorks without you stepping in." 

"Gilda I--"

"I don't want to hear another word from you until we get somewhere quiet." she threatened back at you, you shoot your tired eyes up before gulping and nod your head weakly.

"Well of course I was going to help, I know you and some of my friends don't see eye to eye, but what type of pony would I be if I just stood there and let three thugs converge on a pregnant griffon."

Gilda looks the mare up and down before lowering her wings and turning back down the road.

"You! here now!" Gilda growls looking down at you.

You look up at the mare nodding in thanks before slowly traipsing to Gilda.

"Oh and thanks whoever you are, my stallion may be an idiot, but he's my idiot." Gilda affirms looking back towards Rarity.

"Don't mention it darling. I was just doing what I thought was right I shall see you two later then tata." She smiles confidently before trotting off to her complete her morning stands.







You both subconsciously decide to cut through the park where the chances of meeting more belligerent ponies would be slim to none.

As you drag yourself you can't help but feel tired. Tired of the actions from other ponies, tired of having to be so god damn defeated all the time. Tired of the weight of the world that seems to always bear down on your shoulders. In summary you were tired of everything.

You try and press forward but the path is blocked by a feathery wall looking down you see Gilda's extended wing she looks up at you and points to a park bench before walking over to it and taking a seat.

"Gilda what are you doing we’re going to be late." You groan tiredly.

"Let them wait, we need to talk!" she demands pointing to a space next to her on the bench.

Instead of fighting the she griffon like you want to you simply slump next to her staring off to the distance a moment passes as you continue to stare off into the litter down bellow seeping off into the depression and stress you’ve come to know well.

"Now are you going to tell me just what the heck that was or am I going to have to beat it out of you."

"What do you think it was that you saw!" you bitterly growl.

"I thought I saw a bunch of buckholes ganging up on the father of my child as he just stood there and took it!" She yells back moving her face closer to you.

"And what was I supposed to do yell, scream?  Give them what they want or should I of lashed out at them and maybe hurt one badly, and be considered dangerous to live among ponies and if I'm lucky just be sent back to Canterlot never to see you or my child again, and thats not even counting the fact they might just throw me in some godforsaken dungeon, is that something you wanted to see Gilda!" you yell at your griffon as she winces and moves backwards.

You stare back into the distance before covering your face with a hand letting out slow angry breaths as the exhaustion of it all eats away at you.

"Sorry Gilda, I didn't mean to yell at you, it’s just, I'm a little bit stressed right now, it just feels like everything's out to get me. It’s one problem after another. Fuck I'm the one who’s supposed to be taking care of you not the other way around"

After a moment you feel a soft wing slowly descend over your back causing you to look back up at the Griffon oddly she didn't seem angry or upset in fact the opposite she was giving you a gentle smile.

"Look doofus. I may be pregnant but that doesn't mean that I'm not the only one in this relationship who gets to freak out from time to time.”

"Yes it does, you out of us both should be freaking out and you'd have every right to, but you’re keeping everything so calm and collected and I'm at my Witt's end. I don’t know what to do Gilda I mean with the baby and the other ponies and even that..." you trail off as you almost accidentally let slip the part about the other Griffon you could't bring yourself to bring that up at this moment as you bit your lip stopping yourself for finishing the sentence as you stare desperately at Gilda. 

Despite everything that transpired today you were truly ready for anything to happen but you were not prepared for what came next. As you turn back to Gilda before feeling an open palm slap across your face painfully you flick a hand up gasping in shock and pain but don’t get time to comment before the griffon launches into you throwing you down on the park bench and moving her head inches away from you even with the baby she was surprisingly agile.

As she pins you down she turns her head and presses her beak against my your lips interlocking them in a moment of bliss the perplexity of the opposite actions stopping any form of protest as the act of kissing take your focus. You simply let the primal reaction take over as you quickly join the griffons kiss with more vigor as the rest of the world seems to melt away feeling only her long agile tongue wraps and interlocks with your own.

The kiss presses on for some time you hear trotting and even a few exaggerated huffs from passing pony but for once you don't care too busy socking up the moment.
Gilda finally pulls away with a heavy pant that matches your own.

"Dweeb, I love you but things aren’t going to get any easier. You and I both know that, but you can’t let those losers beat you around I won’t have it.  So buck what other ponies think, buck everything so long as it’s me you and the baby well get by, so stop being such a filly about everything and pull yourself together because I want the stallion I fell for back, got it?"

You blink blankly taking in Gilda’s words. You know it’s funny at that moment a realisation come to mind as you stare into those determined amber eyes. Through everything that had and still could go wrong,  you can’t find fault with Gilda’s words, you were getting so worked up putting the weight of the world on your shoulders despite the help you have around you. You come to realize just how little that it all mattered at least right now. It never was quite like the movies sometimes not everything can be wrapped up into a neat little package with everyone riding off into the sunset. 

Obstacles where always going to present themselves it was life, the only thing you could do was not allow them to trip you up or chain you down but persevere through them and not look back. Maybe it was just the confidence in her voice or the firm tough love that now left a pretty red mark on your cheek, but you couldn't help but give a small smile at your stubborn tomboyish Griffon as you take a deep breath and step away from the abyss of your downward spiral.

Gilda turns her head to looking at you with a soft expression "There’s the dweeb I fell for."

"Yeah, thanks feathers, I guess...I needed that."

"Yeah well don't make a habit of it you still got me to worry about, and if you think you’re not still in trouble for not telling me about those punks and how they treated you, you’ve got another thing coming." she smirks lightly prodding you with a talon before leaning into your chest, softly leaving the two of you to rest on the bench as the warming sun touches you both.
> The Hospital Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special thanks goes to Smokey Glacier for editing this mess.





Thankfully for once in your life, the rest of the walk went undisturbed.

The slight chill of the early spring morning sobers your thoughts, giving you time to reflect on the conversation that took place on the bench, as you press forward towards the hospital with Gilda and the most recent addition to the party, Twilight.

You had no complaints of the silence that formed between you and Gilda. No one outside of your little motley crew was even given a chance to comment after meeting up with Twilight, who, to put it nicely, wouldn’t let anyone get a word in edge ways after you met with her at her castle. 

You had made the mistake of asking her how her studies on the blood tests went. After the first five minutes of mostly nonsensical pseudo-magical science mumbo jumbo that threw all laws of nature and biology through the proverbial window, you pretty much zoned out. 

Not that you didn't try to pay attention, but even having it explained in her version of 'laymens' terms you still felt like she was speaking Greek to you. Hopefully the doctor would be able to explain the situation in a way that someone who wasn't a magical genius would understand.

Then again, as mentioned before you didn't mind her talking too much. It gave you time to sort through the thoughts that had been plaguing your mind this week.

That was until you heared your name being called by the lavender pony.

"...don't you think?" Twilight concludes, looking up at you for conformation.

"Huh? Oh I make it about half ten?" You stumble out, looking down at your watch before looking back at a more than annoyed face.

"Were you even listening to me!?" Twilight yells, throwing her wings up in disbelief.

"I did! I mean I was, but after I told you for the fifth time, I have no idea who Starswirly is and how his theory of magical displacement through cells or whatever that even meant, you just kept going." You argue back, mentally patting yourself on the back that you even remember that part of the nonsensical rant.

"First off, it’s Starswirl. And second, it's easy. You see, the amount of MPBL can also determine the effects of both your DNA and the displacement of the magic through the infants developing cerebral cortex. How is that so hard to understand?" She asks in the same tone of voice that one would ask someone who didn't understand that two plus two equelled four.

"Noooo, no you're right that makes perfect sense." You sarcastically agree rolling your eyes at the mare.

"See, I knew you would get it if you focused." Twilight obliviously celebrated in triumph with her head high, before launching back into the lecture.

"Now then, as I already explained before, through the study of enzymes, it’s possible that..."

"Will you two give it a break? We're here already," Gilda exclaims pointing up towards the large building helpfully labelled hospital in enormous red letters.

"Right, yes, well let's continue inside." Twilight sighs slightly annoyed that her lecture went unfinished.

You pass through the car park, or the pony equivalent you guess.

Knowing this place, it’s probably called a wagon pa-- yep there’s the sign. 'Wagon park no caravans past ten pm'. Called it... 

You smugly pat yourself on the back as you close in on the entrance, turning around towards the group you notice your party is lacking in numbers. Mainly two, to be exact.

"Sweetie you alright?" You ask tentatively, turning back towards Gilda, who is looking the building up and down as if it was some great lumbering beast, before taking a long drawn out breath.

"Yeah, yeah it’s nothing. It’s just, I hate hospitals." She slumps down with a slights shiver.

"I know Gilda, they're not the most pleasant places I'll admit, but they’re really not that bad."

"I thought I could handle it, but heck, the last time I was in a hospital was the last time I saw them both, you know? So I don't exactly have fond memories of these places."

You frown at the new revelation, as some of the lingering questions are answered. You crouch down to her level and place a reassuring hand around her, stroking the feathers on her back and neck, attempting to comfort the griffon who continued to scowl at the building.

Out of the corner of your eye, you spot Twilight waiting patiently a few steps behind you with a perplexed expression on her face.

"I don't mind if you want to sit and talk about it." You whisper lightly into her ear.

Gilda takes another long huff, bringing her gaze to the floor for a few brief moments before shooting it back up with fiery determination. 

"Nah, we've done enough talking for one day. Let's just do this already." She states defiantly pushing off the ground and storming towards the main entrance. You nod respecting her choice. You lift yourself back upright and follow the Griffon inside.

Once again, the parallels of this world and yours simply fascinate you. As you look around, you notice what looked like an identical replica of the hospital you would visit back on Earth. Even down to the sickeningly awful colours they picked for the walls and the five year old magazines that had been read and re-read more times then they were ever intended to.

Thankfully though, unlike your hospital, this one seemed to be running rather smoothly. Only a handful of patients were seated in the waiting room and they both were flanked on either side by nurses and/or doctors. 

Must be more staff then patients. Well that's a nice change of pace.

You observe the room as you press onwards towards the front desk with the rest of the group. Stopping at a respectful distance, you let Twilight go ahead towards the receptionist, who is staring with utter boredom at the files in her hooves.

"Hello my name is Twilight Sparkle, we're here for--" She begins before being stopped by a dismissive hoof from the receptionist.

"All patients please take a number over by the wall and wait to be called." The mare states in a practiced dull voice. 

"But we're actually expecting-" Twilight tries to intercept, but once again stops as the mare holds up her hoof.

"Please take a number and wait to be called." The mare broadly repeats, not even glancing up from the reports.

Twilight grumbles in exasperation, throwing up her tail and wings in a huff as she storms back to you and a distracted Gilda, who was acting surprisingly sombre, she's seems to be to lost in thought to truly keep track of anything going on around her.

"Can you believe some ponies? I mean what if one of us were seriously injured!?" Twilight growls, giving the receptionist a quick glare.

"I'm just surprised you didn't pull the social rank card on her. I mean don't you own Ponyville or something like that? You know, being princess and everything?"

Twilight gives you a shocked stare, the expression on her face was the same as if you asked her to help bury a dead body.

"I would never take advantage of my position like that! That would be completely immoral!" She exclaims loudly, holding a hoof towards her chest in shock.

You hold up your hands defensively, assuming you must have hit a nerve or something, and drop the argument before it could take root.

"Okay, damn... Take it easy, it was just a suggestion. How about I go talk to her?"

"Good luck. That mare's more stubborn than a mule in a debating society." She huffs, blowing a lose strand of hair from her sight.

You smirk. "Trust me Twi, if there's one thing I'm good at, it’s getting some pony's attention." 

You march towards the desk, towering over the miniature work bench coughing once to get the mare’s attention.

The mare perks up her ears, flicking them in your direction for a moment before sighing, still keeping her gaze fixed on the same report. On a whim, you lean further across using your superior height advantage. You notice some sort of gossip magazine concealed inside the folder.

"How many times do I have to tell you, pick a number and wait in line! Can't you can see I'm very busy?" The mare moans.

Without missing a beat, you lean forward and pluck the magazine out of the folder. You give it an amused glance over as you read the title of the magazine.

"You know, I'm not sure how 'comoponyton' is going to help your patient’s. But then again, what do I know? I'm only a vet." You give a cocky chuckle as the mare glares up at you about to protest. However as quickly as she was about to complain, the words died on her tounge as her eyes shoot open fully in shock.

Ha! that got her attention. Finally, score one to me.

"Oh my Celestia, why didn't you say anything before!?" She bellows out, racing around her desk and whistling with a single hoof, getting the attention of two nurses in the waiting room.

Still feeling cocky about how easy that went, you turn away from the mare and face towards Twilight, ready to gloat.

"See Twi, what did I tell you? it’s all a matter of WHAA!"

Before you can even finish your victory speech, you’re shoved backwards and land on a stretcher that somehow fits your size (mostly), not even getting a chance to speak up. The group of nurses flank you on both sides, muttering reassurances as restraints are strapped around your chest and arms.

"By Luna's grace, I've never seen a pony so sick before!" One of the nurses to your left worriedly mumbles looking up at her fellow nurse.
"This could be the worst case of poison joke I've ever seen. It’s completely malformed, this poor stallion." The mare declares lifting your shirt all the way up to your neck with her magic.

"I’m not a pony for Christ sake, I'm a human! And who’re you calling malformed?!" You yell, struggling with all your strength against the restraints.

"Oh my Luna, the poison is making this poor colt delusional! This is worse than I thought. He must have ingested the plant! it’s the only way it could be this bad."

The other nurse lowers her stethoscope onto your chest, listening intently to your erratic heart beats.

"Coldcoldcold!" you squirm as the ice cold touch of the stethoscope makes contact with your skin.

"His heart rate is far too low. What do we do? He could go into shock any minute." The nurse to your right announces panicked, looking around frantically for help.

"I don't know, this my first day as a nurse!" The mare opposite of her replies.

"Mine too! Wait, I have an idea, Follow me!" The other nurse turns, running out of your now restricted view.

Oh Jesus, you’ve got to be kidding me. You think, squirming against the restraints looking around for anything that could aid in your escape. 

Where the hell are Gilda and Twilight?!

As quickly you had though that, you spotted them. One had a look of confution and worry on her face, and the other trying hard to contain her laughter. It was not hard to work out who was who.

You see Twilight make a step forward before being blocked by a large brown griffon wing before she can assist.

"Wait egghead, I want to see where this goes." She chuckles as she watches you squirm.

"Gilda what are you doing?" You panically scream. "Come help me you feathery loon!"

"Nah." she states, casually looking at her talon trying to scrape a bit of dirt from under it.

"What, what do you mean nah!?"

"If this has anything to do with that Karma thing you told me about, then you’re getting a little taste of what you deserve after last Monday!" She yells at you with a wicked smirk.

Last Monday? "Wait your not still mad about that are you!?" You yell out, flinching instinctively  as you hear an ominous electrical buzzing noise wheeling close towards your blind spot.







You scutch closer to Gilda on the bed hearing an annoyed huffed escape her beak as she folds her arms, giving you a tired leer.

"Aw, C'mon." you plead.

"No." Gilda firmly replies, tightening her arms across her chest.

"C'mon, please?" you say pouting your lips in a last ditch attempt to win her over with cuteness.

"I said no and that’s final! You’re not doing that there, it’s disgusting!" She yells, slamming her talons down on the bed.

"How is it disgusting?  Fluttershy tells me she does it all sometimes." You try and argue lifting on hand up into the air acting flabergasted.

"I don’t care what she does in bed, you’re not doing it!" She argues back in a final tone, pointing her sharpened talon at your chest with every word.

"But I've seen you do it yourself when you think I'm not around." You wink, looking back at her with a smirk, as you see the griffon blush slightly embarrassed at that bit of information.

"T-that’s different!" the griffon stutters.

"How is it different?"  You say throwing up a shrug.

"I don’t leave a mess!" Gilda yells back at you.

"Yeah right!" You mutter.

"Look." Gilda sighs tiredly, pinching the bridge of her beak and eyes with two talons. "I know you, you’ll just end up putting it all over me, like you always end up doing. You know how hard that stuff is to get out of feathers?" She throws up her wing showing you a still yet to be cleaned area of her wing span from last night.

"Fine whatever, jeez you’re impossible!" You wail knowing you’re not going to win this argument.  Throwing yourself off the bed, you storm out of the room with the bowl of ceral you were desperately trying to eat in hand.

"And don’t let me catch you eating it anywhere but the kitchen! Seriously, why do guys always want to eat in bed? Bunch of slobs...”







"I already said my bad!" you plead as the sweat begins to drip down your forehead, a horrifying buzzing could be heard coming from behind your vision.

"Yeah, after you ignored me and spilled it all over the couch like I told you you would do! And guess who sat in it and had to spend twenty minutes cleaning up? My plot still smells like sour milk."

Despite herself, she pushes forward not breaking eye contact for a second. "Oh and let's not forget the time you spilt tomato sauce all over me, Twice in the same day because you thought eating and working around the house was a good idea!" Gilda angrily retorts, as Twilight franticly flicks her gaze between you two with an utterly confused expression painted on her muzzle once again.

"That wasn't my fault! That Labrador was out to get me!" you yell, never had you ever thought you would have to place those words into a sentence but you knew that dog was somehow working for Angel. You felt it.

"The machine is ready. I just hope we're not too late." The nurse mare worriedly announces, placing the two defibrillators against your chest, much to your horror.

You look one last time back at the two with a pleading expression but it has little to no affect on the bloody griffon.

"If I die I'm haunting your ass so hard!" You yell in defiance at the griffon who is chuckling wickedly.

"Bring it." She cooly states with a menacing smirk on her beak.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I had to run into the market to pick up some feed for my chickens and... Oh my!" A shy voice joins the fray, just before you feel the cruel electrical plates against your chest activate.

"Gilda you suck so haAHHHHHHH!"

==========
"I am so terribly sorry that happened to you. I assure you that this would not have happened if any of the fully trained doctors were on call." The stallion adorned in a white doctors coat apologizes to you for the uptinth time from across his room. He pauses quickly, leering at the two nurses, who were standing next to him both heads hung in shame.

"Its f-f-fine wasn't your fault-t-t, just please god make s-s-sure it doesn't happen a-a-again." You stutter out as the involuntary muscle spasms cause you to twitch every few seconds from the shock. You do your best to give Gilda the most evil eye you could muster through the twitching, which probably wasn't having the affect you wanted.

"If you say so." The doctor states with a slight bow before fixing his spectacles with a hoof.

"Anyway, Ms. Gilda, would you and the others like to proceed to the examination room please? Everything is set out for you." 

All four of you make your way through the halls of the hospital looking at the large amount of vacant rooms that litter the coridors of the hospital. It was interesting how big the hospital was despite how relatively small the town was in comparison. Then again, with the amount of trouble the little settlement gets into on a nearly weekly basis, it’s no wonder they would keep so many rooms vacant and ready. At least that was your hypothesis.

Turning through the ever winding corridors, you finally come to a stop at an unmarked room almost identical to the others. It's impressive how anyone could navigate their way through this medical maze.

"Please, if you would make your way inside the room, I'll be with you shortly. If you would, position yourself on the examination table in the mean time Ms Gilda." The doctor calmly explains pointing to Gilda who snaps her gaze towards the doctor.

"Uh, yeah, sure." She stuttered uncharacteristically, pushing open the door and walking through the wooden archway into the room. You follow her in and turn to keep the door open for Twilight and Fluttershy.

"You coming?" You ask to Twilight before she turns quickly to her saddle bags then to the doctor.

"Oh doctor I forgot to mention, I have those samples you asked for." Twilight states levitating a bag gently over to the doctor who takes it in his own magic.

"Thank you Princess Twilight in fact why don’t you accompany me for a moment so we can discuss your findings."

"Of course doctor." She chirps happily.

"Huh, I didn't know you were a doctor?" you ask inquisitively moving out the way for Fluttershy to enter the room.

"Oh, no, I'm not a doctor really. I only started studing first aid because of how many times the girls and I get into trouble. Well, it started that way, and then I guess I may have moved onto basic medicine and then, well didn't stop." she blushes sheepishly.

The doctor chuckles as he fixes his glasses once again. "Yes the Princess has even approached me many times these past few months asking for a few books. She's even offered to help out and assist me at the hospital from time to time for practice. She's been most helpful."

"Thank you doctor Brown, but please, just Twilight is fine." She states in mild embarrassment.

The doctor lightly adjusts his spectacles once again, chuckling a bit. "Of course."

You try to hold back, but you can't help giggle at the stallion name.

"What's so funny?" Twilight asks curiously.

"Nothing nothing, its just back on Earth-"

"H-hey what's the hold up?" Gilda asks from inside the room in an uncertain tone.

"Nothing hun, I'll be inside in a minute." You say turning back towards Twilight and the walking irony.

"Well, time is wasting. We should get these to my office. Don't worry, we won't be more than a few minutes. As I said, everything has already been laid out for you. The staff were particularly excited about your visit."

"You told the whole hospital?" You say letting a little bit of panic in your voice show.

"No, not all of them, but I had to tell them something. Sorry, it was going to happen sooner or later." Twilight panikly answers back her ears sprayed back in a guilty fashion as she looks up at you.

You stare at Twilight for a moment before remembering Gilda's lecture on the bench, taking a large deep breath you try and calm your mind.
"Fine, but just tell me next time you do something like that. Who knows what will happen if the wrong pony finds out?"

The doctor gives you a queer look, but nod regardless. "Of course, it is your right after all, but usually couples are more than happy for this sort of news to spread."

"Yeah and usually couples are the same species and aren’t social pariahs." You point out.

"Fair point. Anyway, I will respect your request, so Twilight shall we?" The doctor concludes, leading the way for Twilight as you turn back into the fairly large examination chamber.







Apparently a few moments to ponies translates out to fifty minutes as you tediously count down the seconds on your wrist watch.
At first the wait was excruciating. It took Fluttershy, of all ponies, to tell you to stop pacing around. To be fair, she did it in an incredibly kind and apologetic manor.

You opted to sit next to Gilda by the examination bed. She was once again preening her feathers for the third time out of boredom. She had been pretty apprehensive as well, but unlike you, that had died down pretty quickly given her fairly weak appreciation of the virtue of patience.

Fluttershy was quietly flicking through a magazine occasionally stopping to ask Gilda a few questions every so often and vice versa. Fluttershy and Gilda ironically had become better friends than you had ever expected. You were a little apprehensive about the two of them meeting at first but surprisingly they took to each other like fish and water.

Maybe it was because Gilda was just happy for some female company for a change. Or the fact that they had some common ground growing up in Cloudsdale. You even found out that they went to the same primary school together, admittedly at different years, but still.

I guess every little bit helps. You smirk, looking over at the two of them. Gilda lets out a cocky chuckle as she finishes telling Shy her story, the yellow mare was also softly giggling behind her hoof at what Gilda had mentioned.

"What are girls plotting over there?" You ask with a small smile.

"Oh its nothing really, Gilda was just telling me about her time in Cloudsdale elementary, it turns out we had the same teacher." Fluttershy answers back finishing her giggle fit.

"Yeah, we both had this stuffy old stallion called Mr. Raincloud. He would always cough dramatically before each sentence and talked in a very important fake Canterlot voice like this." Gilda finishes impersonating a stereotypical overly snobby voice that caused Shy to giggle harder behind her hoof.

"I thought he was very nice. He always let us take a sweet from his jar that he kept on his desk after class finished." Fluttershy adds with a blissful gaze of nostalgia.

Gilda rolls her eyes at that. "Yeah, if you were good. He never gave me any! only thing he ever gave me was detention."

You chuckle at that, as nostalgic thoughts of school flood your own thoughts. "Yeah, I got a few detentions in my day too. You wouldn't think it, but I never could keep my big mouth shut when it mattered. My mom always gave me an earful every time, but it never really sunk in till later on."

Gilda gives you with a cocky smirk. "Ha you think that's bad? I remember this one time I took all the sweets from Mr Rainclouds desk when he was facing the blackboard. Heck you should have seen his face when he turned back. Ha! It was priceless!" Gilda clutches her sides as she laughs uproariously flicking a little tear from her eyes.

"Oh, Snowdrop yelled at me so hard when I got caught. I never thought she would stop." Gilda laughs begin to subside as she catches her breath, Fluttershy only shaking her head in amumsment.

“Snowdrop? Who’s that, the head teacher or something?" You say with a bemused smirk.

"Huh? Oh no she was my sponsor. Like a foster parent from the orphanage. She would get on my flank like almost every day. The way she treated me, you'd think she was trying to be my, uh... never mind." As fast as it appeared the laugher subsides from her as the cornors of her beak aim downward into a frown.

You open your mouth to comment, but are interrupted by the sounds coming from outside followed by the door being pushed open with a wave of magic.

"I'm so sorry for keeping you all, but we had to double check the findings." The doctor stiffly announces as he rushes into the room panting heavily for some reason.

Did he run here?

"What me and Twilight found was, well, very hard to believe." the doctor adds, catching his breath and looking a bit flustered. It looked like he was about to get back a test he didn’t study for.

You lift an eyebrow in puzzlement. Oh this can't be good

"Uh, what's up doc?" Great, now I'm bugs bunny.

“We found, well, to put it nicely we found a major anomaly in one of the samples you gave us. Actually, we found several.” He answers.
You look down at Gilda who is sharing your look of confusion, before turning back at the doctor.

"Sorry to sound rude doctor, but I could have told you that. We know this is all an anomaly, that's why we came here." You explain shrugging at him.

"No, no lad it’s not the baby, it has something do with the blood samples you gave us."

"What's wrong? is my blood bad or something? I don't really go to check ups often." Gilda asks worriedly.

"No, Ms. Gilda, your samples came back fine." The doctor turns and points a hoof at you. "It’s your blood that confounds us."

You look at the doctor in utter confusion, turning to Twilight whose face was just as flustered as the doctors. "Wait, wait." you begin pinching the bridge of your nose, trying not to get any more disoriented then you had already become. "Hold up, what? You can't just say something like that, what do you mean my blood's a problem? Did you find something in it I should be worried about?"

"Well that's just the thing." Twilight buts in "We didn't find anything."

Okay you were confused before, now you where completely baffled. You give the mare the most perplexed look you could muster as you tried to work out what the heck that sentence ment word for word.

"Sorry to sound like a broken record here, but what?"

"What Twilight means is that based how we tested your blood by all accounts my lad, you should be dead."

"Uh...Could you run that by me again?"

"Based on the sample you gave us, by every basic law of nature in Equestria you should have died years ago."

You stare at the stallion for some time, slumping down on the seat behind you. You don’t make a single sound as you feel a soft wing reach around you side.

"What kind of nonsense is that? You can't just say something like that you stupid jerk! You better speak up doc, or else!" Gilda growls as you let the words sink in.

"I'm sorry Ms. Gilda. perhaps I should explain when we tested your husbands-"

"Coltfreind." Fluttershy quietly corrects, despite her own shocked expression.

"Sorry. Your coltfriend’s blood sample we found not a single ounce of magic."

You snap your gaze up, looking angrily at the doctor. "Wait, magic!? Jesus doctor, I could have told you that! Of course I don't have any magic, no human does!" you yell out, angered by the doctor effectively scaring the hell out of you.

The doctor visibly recalls from your bellowing. "I’m uh, sorry, but you have to understand that in this world everything has magic inside of it. Even plant life and animals have traces of magic. It’s the life force of nature that keeps this world flowing so as you could see the fact that your cells contain none whatsoever, well you must forgive us for reacting so drastically. I sincerely apologize if I gave you cause to distress."

You rub your temples, letting the minor panic attack leak from your mind as you gently caress the sides of your skull.

"You think that maybe you could have explained that to me that before you told me I was going to die!?"

Twilight is the first to speak up, moving further into the room near you.

"I think that what the doctor was trying to state is that we have never had anypony ever with your type of condition before, so it shocked us."
Shocked us? Jesus, am I the only sane person on this planet? Well, I suppose so, since I am the only person on this planet. But still, can't they just have a moderate amount of empathy?

You exhail through your nose, resting your head against the wall quietly, enjoying the feeling of Gilda's warm wing around your shoulders.

"It’s fine, it’s fine. Hell, it’s not the worst thing that someone’s said to me today." you say, glancing at the confused ponies who were trying to work out what that ment as you relax into the wing.

"Thank you now. At least the upside to this is that we can give you a good guess as to how Ms. Gilda became pregnant."

The doctor clears his throat as you await his explanation.

"Based on our understanding your cells don't give off magic like others do in Equestira, but rather they absorb all types of magic."
"All types of it? Isn't magic just magic?" you ask.

“No, magic has many different elements. Like when one breathes, magic like air has many different elements in it that every life form takes parts from it. They then release the parts that are not needed. It’s like the equivalent of taking in oxygen from air and expelling out all the unneeded elements that make up air, as well as converting the magic equivalent of carbon dioxide. But I won't get too much into that, as its unnecessary at this time." He begins to walk around the room like a passionate lecture. It would have been entertaining if you weren’t so utterly baffled by it all. 

"However, unlike the norm, your cells accept all the elements inside them and harmlessly merge with them. At least that's what we witnessed when testing. The only trouble is, when we tested for it, we couldn't find any of the original magic elements inside the cells. It was as if they became a different entity entirely. It’s absolutely fascinating!"

"Yeah, it’s riveting doctor, but could you maybe get to the point?" you say tiredly slouching on the chair as you take note of what the doctor was saying. 

At least this is sort of making sense I guess. Well, it makes more sense than anything Twilight was trying to tell me on the way here.

“Sorry lad, I get a little carried away sometimes with these sorts of things. Anyway, taking that into account we can deduce that your semen sample, (You and every mare in the room blushes slightly at the doctor’s nonchalant attitude.) we took the internal magic from Gilda's sample and applied it with your sample. From what we could tell, your sperm cell's seemed to accept her magic too. We can't be sure that this is the reason, but it would be the first step in explaining the pregnancy, or at least it's the best explanation we can give you for that.”

"Wait, hold up." You say, lifting a hand up. Magic could explain a lot of bull but from what you could remember about your admittedly somewhat basic knowledge of biology, this didn't explain anything.

"Doctor, I’m not telling you how to do your job or anything, but based on laws of nature, if DNA doesnt match and neither does the chromosomes, then there is no real way this could actually be possible. Otherwise, you'd be walking around with all manner of different mix breeds like catdogs or something just as preposterous.

You hear Fluttershy squeel gidilly at the idea, getting a little rise out of you as you look back at the doctor.

"Well that's the thing. Normally, that would be the case. However, as I stated before, magic is the life force of nature in Equestria. It bonds everything together. And you’re correct. Certain forms of magic don't hold meaning and neither does their DNA. Which is why cows and ponies can't breed, nor can griffons and so on. However, your cells, even your sperm cells in fact, accept all levels of magic without bias. Basically what that means is that it could In fact be possible for you to impregnate Ms. Gilda."

"Okay, I'm sorry but that's just stupid. You’re saying I can just go knock up any animal in the land?"

"What? No good Luna no! You still need the correct level of magic per cell for anything like that to be possible. Only ponies, griffons and other intelligent species like that have enough magic in them for anything like that to be possible."

You sit back, massaging your sleep deprived eyes contemplating the doctors speech. It still seemed insane to you, but then again, it was the best. And by that you mean the only explanation you had been given that you could understand without delving back into those dark thoughts. Compared to the alternative, you'd take anything.

"Well it still sounds like bull to me, but it’s the only explanation anyone's given me, so I'll take it I guess."

"We can always run more tests later on." Twilight jumps in. You notice a gleam in her eye, carefully noting that that wasn't really a suggestion but more of a demand. There’s no way she wasn't going to study you more when she could get those hooves on your poor soul.

"As Ms. Twilight says, but for now, why don't we do what we came here for. I'm sure both of you are as excited as I am to see how the infant is doing?"

You nod eagerly, looking up at Gilda, who is mimicking you response.

You step back a bit to allow the doctor to walk around Gilda as his horn glows a faint blue, bringing the stethoscope to his long equine ears.
"Now, I am just going to do a simple standard examination checking for heart rate to make sure there aren't any irregularities with the infant, and those sorts of things."

You spot Gilda giving the stallion a weary look. She really isn't comfortable with another pony touching her. Especially when she’s in such a vulnerable position, you can tell the doctor is also catching on to this as he patiently awaits her response.

It takes a moment, but Gilda nods, lifting the blanket off herself to reveal her plump stomach.

"Now again, as per standard procedure I'm going to have to cast a few spells in order to check the child’s health if that's ok with you Ms. Gilda?"

Once again, Gilda nods slowly, never taking her eyes off the doctor. You’re not sure why exactly the few machines dotted around you were so advanced. You were certain that pony's were not as technologically advanced as humans were.

Whilst ponies had shown the capability for being as smart as humans, the inherent bonus of magic in this world meant they didn't need to seek out alternative sources of fuel or technologies that humans needed like electricity. Most things were charged and sustained by magic. Even down to the light bulbs that lit up this room.

With Gilda’s silent permission, the doctor diligently began his practice, placing the scope first up to Gilda before solemnly humming and bringing it further down towards her stomach stably to check the child. The room was pretty still at this point, the only real noise comes from the soft aura of magic from the doctor’s horn and the near silent buzz of the hospital lights beaming down on you.

You keep your hand on Gilda, lightly stroking her back as she shivers slightly. It's hard to tell if it’s from the cold steel of the stethoscope or from the doctor’s touch, but you do your best to keep her comfortable because lord knows you weren’t doing any better yourself.

After a few minutes the doctor lifts his head and nods to himself, bringing a quil and clipboard up from across the room.

"Well, from what I can gather, both you and the child's heartbeats are fairly normal. I'd say the child has a slightly lower heart rate than I would deem normal but nothing to worry if my hypothesis is correct, considering that from what I can gather from human males, that's normal as well."

"Well, that's good to know at least." You chuckle lightly to Gilda.

"Now I'm going to take a few moments to cast a spell to check the other aspects of the child. In the mean time, have you given any though as to a midwife, or would you like me to suggest one of the nurses on my staff? Unfortunately, it’s not the cheapest choice. Most pony's usually have a trained relative do it. However, given your predicament, and Ms. Gilda’s lack of a next of kin as I understand it, that's not much of an option.” The doctor hums in thought, examining the clipboard, his horn glowing a faint blue once more.

"Midwife? What, like a full time one? No I didn't even think about that. Is it really necessary, humans don't tend to need them that much back in my day and age."

"It’s pretty standard here, especially in Ponyville." Twilight chimes in. "True, it’s become more of a tradition, especially among each Earth ponies who tend to have more rural lives close to family. But every book I've read on the topic lead me to believe it’s the best choice. I think even my mom had one when I was born." She taps her chin in thought.

"What do you think sweetie?" You ask looking over to Gilda who snaps her gaze away from the doctor who is now casting a spell on Gilda.
"Well, I mean if it works fine, but I don't know how we're gonna afford it. Didn't you say you were having trouble keeping up with the rent this month?"

She had a point. Being an on-call vet was very much a fickle profession. True, you got a grant from Canterlot that you shared with Fluttershy for preserving the wildlife in and around the Everfree. 

But for the most part, your funding really came from the local ponies pets, at least the ones that let you come within ten feet of them.  Applejack’s livestock was your best source of income, and as horrible as it was to say, it’s unfortunate that not many of them needed a regular check up.

Then again, that could come down to the fact that your superior knowledge of animal anatomy and medicines. Thanks to the human advancements in understanding wildlife and medicine, you were almost over qualified in insuring the local wildlife’s survival if you could allow yourself that much credit. So what would have been a two day job was half a day to you and so on.

You chew on your lip as you do the calculations in your mind.

I don't need to eat every Tuesday.

"It’s fine. We can get by. True, I might have to look for a second job to earn the bits, but I'd do anything to make sure you and the baby get the best care you can." You say with a gentle smile.

Gilda eyes open fully as she turns almost her whole upper body in your direction, her eyebrows are up as high as they physically could as her expression is one of utter astonishment. As quick as she looks at you she looks away her whole body quivering.

Did I say something wrong?

You hear a small sniffle as you lean down over the bed, slowly touching her on the shoulder.

"Gilda what did I say? Are you alright?" you say quietly. Everypony in the room was silent and just as confused as you where.

"No, I'm not alright!" she yells, sitting up to almost your eye level on the bed, wiping her eyes with the tips of her wing.

"You got me all choked up in front of all these other ponies. You know those hormone things make me all emotional and stuff. But no, you have to go say something so stupidly sweet like that make me look like such a dork." She finishes weakly, slumping her head against your shoulder with a child like pout on her beak.

You shake your head, leaning an arm around Gilda. You hear small 'ah' around the room whilst  the doctor simple chuckles light heartedly, shaking his head and continuing with the spell.

"Gilda?" a soft voice calls breaking your embrace.

Gilda lifts her head from your side and turns her gaze to Fluttershy who is smiling softly at you two.

"I-if you want, I could do it. Be your midwife, that is. If you want me to, I helped a lot of my animal friends with their babies and my mother is a trained midwife. I'm sure she'll be happy to give me a few lessons."

"You don't have to do that, Shy." Gilda call out lifting her head from your shoulder.

"Oh, no, it's no bother, really. I want to help and if it will save you any problems, then it would be my pleasure to help."

Gilda scrunches her beak in thought before smirking. "Well, it would be better to have somepony I know rather than a total stranger. And I guess I couldn't do worse than somepony who had to deal with Mr Raincloud. Any ponies who had to sit through one of his lectures and not die of boredom is tough enough to help me out."

Shy giggles again at Gilda. "Oh well, if you put it like that, maybe im not all that tough.” She lightly says jokingly.

"Well, now that that's sorted, do you want to hear the results? I have some good news and some not so good." the doctor states looking at you slightly solemnly.

"Uh not so good first. Let’s at least get this out of the way." you say before anyone can comment.

"The not so good news is that Gilda going to need more regular check-ups than the average pony because of the circumstances. And just how much liberty I'm going to have to take with my medical knowledge, it’s imperative that the child be monitored as frequently as possible."

"So what you’re saying is that I'm still going to need that second job?" You say.

"I'm afraid it’s not going to be cheap. We could sort out some sort of payment plan. I really hate to bring this up now, but I'd rather not string your hoof around on the matter."

"I understand. I appreciate the honesty, doctor."

"Don't worry lad. You two are sweet together and I'm a hopeless romantic at heart. I'm not going to leave you two bankrupt, but I am going to make sure that you two get the best care that this hospital can afford. You deserve that much at least."

"I swear, you ponies. Sometimes you’re just too kind." you say with a genuine smile that the doctor matches.

"Pah! It’s the least I could do, my boy! Now let's not dwell on that thought, shall we?"

"What was the good news doc?" Gilda asks.

The doctor once more fixes his glasses, looking between you and Gilda with a big grin on his muzzle. "Well it’s good news for you Ms. Gilda, but not so much for your colt friend. You see, I'm afraid your stallion is going to have a big problem in the future chasing all the young colts away when she grows up."

Your jaw drops. "Wait, you mean..."

The doctor nods with a proud expression as he lifts his head up high at you.

"That's right! it’s a filly."

> The New And Old Friends Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also Special thanks goes to Smokey Glacier for editing this other mess.





Still grinning like a madman, you close the door to your house and press forward.

You still couldn't believe it. A baby girl! You didn't even think about the baby's sex beforehand, being too busy with dealing with the problem of now. But as soon as the doctor had told you and Gilda the news, you just couldn't stop thinking about it.

Looks like I'm going to be buying a small army of dresses and teddy bears before this is over. Then again, if she’s anything like her mother, I'm probably just going to be buying hoofballs and sports gear too. What if she has wings? I should really put more padding around the house.

The doctor couldn't tell you anything more than the sex of the baby. Ultra sound was still a very new and untested practice in only the highest end hospitals around Equestria. It wasn't a common practice, especially among places like Ponyville. 

The only reason the doctor could tell it was a girl, was apparently by testing the magic per cell count, or MLPC as you had been told. 

Apparently, the higher the count per cell, the more it was likely it was to be a girl, according to the chart.

It made sense in a way. The most powerful ponies around this county were mares even up to the rulers of the country. It didn't necessarily mean that stallions were weaker but it was easier for mares to call on their natural magic reserves. Again, you didn't quite understand the doctor, but Twilight seemed certain enough.

With the excitement of the morning finally dying down once you exited the hospital, you turned back to your house for a short break to hopefully collect your thoughts for the up and coming picnic. As ecstatic as Gilda was about your little baby girl, the morning had taken it out on her considerably (though she would never admit it). It was still far too early to meet for the picnic on the farm so you decided to let Gilda have some peace and quiet in bed whilst you went to go visit some old friends that you haven't seen in a while.

Pressing on through the beautiful late morning sun, you turn down a small rural path parallel to the Everfree. It didn't take long to stumble upon your destination. It takes you a minute to realize you’ve even arrived, as you were barely paying any attention to the world around you. It feels like you’re viewing everything through rose tinted glasses with the troubles of this morning all but forgotten.

You stop by the field, inhaling deeply through your nose before releasing a calming exaggerated gust of air. You feel total serenity wash over your mind and body.

Gazing lazily around your favourite little retreat, a small still lake right at the cusp of the town, you hear the tranquil calls of nature and feel the wind as it sweeps through your hair and rattles the leaves of the surrounding oak trees that act as a natural fence for the area. The sapphire blue lake centred in the middle of the field ripples softly from the breeze, occasionally broken by your footsteps as you walk around the shallow bank barefoot and enraptured by the symphony of Mother Nature.

Walking right over to the other side of the lake, you locate your favourite spot, a perfectly arched tree that allows just enough shade and grass to let you sit comfortably for hours on end.

Still wearing that enormous grin, you lean against the tree and let yourself slide down the smooth bark until your rump come into contact with the grass bellow with a quiet thump.

Detaching the saddle from your waist, you set it down by your side, shifting through the compartment to grab your journal and a crafted piece of charcoal. You open it up, surveying the finding of you latest research. After finding the page where you last left off, you let it flop down on your lap as you stare off into the distance awaiting the arrival of your friends.

As the minutes progress, the whistling winds slowly come to a slow halt, leaving the sounds of the ripples of the enormous lake and its wild inheritance as the soundtrack of the area.

That is until you hear an odd noise.

The alien sound catches your attention immediately as you bite the inside of your cheek in contemplation, focusing on the sound.

You hear it again. It sounds like something is catching its breath. You can even make out some soft muttering. Though it’s nearly inaudible, you can tell what it is almost immediately and it sounds like its coming from behind you.

You turn in place, looking behind the tree you were using for support to confirm your predictions.

There facing away from you sat a fiery orange little Pegasus filly with a deep magenta coloured mane. She was slumped down her head almost touching the floor. You didn't need to see her to tell she was crying. Every few seconds she was fighting back a sob, her tiny wings twitching and fighting to stay against her side. It looked like she had been there for some time.

Frowning, you look back towards the lake. You had no idea who she was but the sound alone was playing your heart strings like a violin.
Despite the knowledge that being alone with a filly in general was not a good thing for obvious 'Oh Celestia that monsters going to eat that defenceless little filly,' quickly followed by the sounds of an angry mob chasing you into a soon to be burned down house, you couldn't just sit back and leave her there no matter what.

Just play it calm and this won't turn into a Mary Shelley novel.

"Rough day, huh?" You finally say in a soft tone just loud enough for her to hear.

Immediately the sound of the sniffles stop. You don't turn around or make any noise at all. You can guess the little filly's looking around for whatever voice just called out to her.

"Yeah, my day’s been pretty rough as well. Then again, I just got some good news an hour ago so I'd say me and karma are pretty much even for now." You shrug despite the knowledge that the filly can't see you.

The soft sounds of hooves confirm the filly's approach as she very slowly paces towards you the sounds stop instantly as the filly rounds the corner catching her breath in shock.

Don't scream, don't scream, please don’t scream.

You turn your gaze slowly over to her throwing your best disarming smile at her as you try to insure her that you’re friendly. Even in a sitting position, you easily towered over the child.

"Don't worry kid, I'm not going to eat you. You don't look like you'd be much of a meal anyway." You joke, chucking a bit to hammer home that you didn't mean it, as you notice the filly's eyes go as wide as dinner plates.

"Y-y-you’re that monkey dude who helped Applebloom’s dog! What are you doing here?" she weakly asks.

Wow, even the kids are calling me monkey? Ah, screw it, at least I stopped her crying. I'll take what I can get.

"I think the term human would be the accurate name last time I checked, but I guess Doc works. That's what the Apple family calls me. Then again, my marefreind is fond of calling me dork so I guess you could take your pick."

The filly despite herself, giggles slightly bringing a hoof up to her face before turning away from you towards the lake, frowning as if she was mad that she had forgotten she was supposed to be upset.

"And to answer your question, I'm waiting for a couple of friends." You give her another friendly smile trying to meet her eyes whilst staying still as you try to look as least dangerous as possible. "Any reason a little filly like yourself is here all alone on the edge of the Everfree?"

The little filly turns to you with a furrowed brow giving you a grumpy look as she stuck her lip out at you in one of the most adorable pouts you’ve seen.

"I'm not a little filly! For your information, I'm almost nine years old and I can take care of myself."

You chuckle a bit at her bravado. "I bet you can. You didn't even turn and run when you saw me! You’re a heck of a lot braver than most ponies I see."

The little compliment you give seems to perk the filly up a bit as she stares at you and turns her head to the side. “Well, you do kind of look a little scary at first, but Applebloom tells me you’re nice and you help the Apple family out a lot, so I don't think you could be all that bad."

"Huh, wish more ponyfolk were as smart as you. So if you don't mind me asking, what's a big brave mare doing upset and crying alone in the woods?"

"I wasn't crying, I just got a fly in my eye! Both of them..." She states defiantly turning away quickly rubbing her tear soaked fur with a hoof.

"Ah, that's a shame. Whenever I'm upset I like to sit here and chow down on these amazing Sugercube corner cookies Fluttershy brings me.

They always make me feel better." You state reaching down into the bag and pulling out a small box of baked goods.

"But you probably don't need cheering up, considering you’re fine and everything." feigning sadness, you shake your head before sighing and lifting up one of the white chocolate infused baked goods into your mouth.

You catch the filly's eyes that had shot open for a moment as she watches the cookies with a panicked expression as they rapidly decline in number.

Frowning, she turns around to make sure the coast is clear before turning back and sighing with her ears sprayed back and wings dropped to the sides.

"C-can you keep a secret?" she asks looking up at you with saddened gaze.

You nod, putting the putting the box back down on your lap, giving the filly your undivided attention.

"I can certainly try. Then again, I don't really talk to anyone, so I don't have anyone to tell even if I wanted to." you answer with a soft smirk.

The filly herself wasn't able to look you in the eye. She was looking everywhere but at you as she stroked one of her forelegs with a hoof like a child ready to be told off by a teacher. "I... I was crying okay, but just a bit. Please don't tell anypony! They’re going to think I'm a wimp if they find out."

The filly begins to shiver again as the pent up emotions threaten to overcome her again. Reaching over, you softly cup the filly's muzzle with your hand bringing her gaze back to you.

"There's nothing wrong with crying. Every, er... pony does it. Heck, even I, the big scary ape from far away has been known to cry when I'm truly unhappy. I'm more concerned about why you were crying?"

"I-I don't want to talk about it." The little filly frowns, closing her eyes as she fights back a sob.

"That's fair. I'm not going to make you tell me, but if you want to talk, I'm all ears." You say handing over a cookie to the filly who takes it into her hoof tentatively eyeing it for a while, then looking back at you.

"Don't worry, it’s not poisoned, see." You smirk, quickly pinching the cookie from her hands before throwing it into your mouth with a nearly contained snicker.

"Hey, you can't just do that, that's mine!" The filly pouts.

You chuckle lightly. "Too slow kid, you got be quick if you want to- whaaa!" You scream, not even finishing the sentence before the little devil lunges at you snatching the box and retreating out of arms reach distance with a cocky look plastered on her muzzle as she waggles her tail playfully.

You sit up laughing as you recover. "Haha, okay, nice moves kid. You got me."

"Well, I learn from the best." She gloated, digging into the box and taking out a large multi coloured cookie.

Your eyes shot up and you put your hands against your cheeks in mock terror. "No please, you wouldn't. Not my super deluxe multi coloured cookie!"

She smirks evilly taking the whole cookie into her mouth and puffing out her chest in victory as you slouch back acting mortified with your mouth wide open.

You shake your head and chuckle. "So what do I call you then beside the cookie monster?"

The filly snaps up, giving you a perplexed look her muzzle covered in crumbs.

 Duh, of course she doesn't get the reference.

"The names Scootaloo, but you can call me scoots. That's what my friends call me." She smiles quickly before pushing her muzzle back into the box. You feel a little warm spread across your chest at the prospect of acceptance from the filly.

You shake your head, looking back at the lake, amused by the noises of the rapidly declining army of baked goods the little filly was massacring. Those poor cookies never stood a chance.

"So.” She mumbles, her muzzle still stuffed with cookies. “You said you were meeting some pony friends here?"

"I am indeed, although I don't think it’s accurate to call them ponies." you say, scanning the area.

They should be here any minute now actually

The little filly gives you a quizzical glare, opening her mouth to speak she stops as a loud screeching noise pierces the air and catches the filly's attention.

You smirk, looking around for your feathery friends. You don't have to search very hard as not a second later a small crimson and purple thing, the size of a tennis ball, collides into your chest sending you back to the ground where the filly had previously landed you.

"Haha, hey their little one, did you miss me?" you say cupping the little chick in your hand as it nuzzles your thumb.

"Wow, is that a phoenix?" Scootaloo inquires, edging closer to your hand, stopping just short of you and the little phoenix.

"Yep. This little one here's called Ember. Not all that original, I know, but I think it fits." You say pulling out a neckless from bellow your shirt attached to it is two feathers, one crimson and deep darker purple than the little chicks and the other considerably larger primary feather coloured in a warm chocolate brown.

The little phoenix cheeps as it smells the scent of the feather of its mother moving up and nuzzling it too.

"This feather symbolises that I'm pretty much a member of their flock! How cool is that!?" You explain with perhaps a little too much passion in your voice.

Scootaloo goes bug eyed looking down at the chick and then up at you several times. "Wait you were adopted by phoenixes!?"

You pause for a minute before you can't help but laugh, holding a hand up to your mouth to stifle yourself as the filly gives you an annoyed pout.

"Sorry, I wasn't laughing at you, it’s just I never thought about it that way before. When you put it like that, I guess you're right.” 

You delicately lift the purple feather up from your chest, letting the filly examine it closer.

"This was given to me by the local family. See, I'm a vet and to make a longer story short I saved Ember here and brought her back to her parents. This feather here symbolises trust and acceptance. It's like being accepted into the family. So to sum things up as weird as it sounds, yeah I was adopted by phoenixes." You watch as the little chick hops up to your shoulder and pecks at your ear lightly eliciting a childish giggle from you. You always were a bit ticklish.

"Yes, yes, I haven't forgotten about you, Ember. Here, want to know who my new accomplice is?"

"You can understand her?"  Scootaloo leans further until she's practically on your lap.

"No, no, I'm not Fluttershy, but I do read a lot about their gestures and body language enough to get an idea. Not that Ember here is all that subtle." You smirk as the little chick nips at your ear again harder this time.

"Ouch! Okay, okay, sorry. Well, she can understand me and you perfectly at least."

"Wow, that's so cool!" Scootaloo yells. You’re sure she's not even really paying attention. You wouldn't be either if this was the first time you saw a phoenix.

"I know, right?" You giddily answer before coughing for dramatic effect putting on an air of class and mock sophistication as you sit upright.

"Madam Ember, It would be my great honour to formally introduce you to my newest compatriot and friend, the fair Ms. Scootaloo." You announce to the little chick that mimics you by standing to attention and bowing in the direction of the little filly, unfurling her wing behind her back as she bows.

Scotaloo giggles at the act, doing her best to copy you both as she bows politely. "Charmed, madam Ember."

The little phoenix hops down from your shoulder, flying over towards Scootaloo, landing lightly on her head and giving it a soft pick eliciting another soft giggle from the filly.

"I think she likes you." You add softly.

The chick flies up to the tip of Scootaloo’s muzzle pecking the left over crumbs of the cookie that dangle off her snout.

"Hey, stop that that tickles!" Scootaloo squeals trying to get away from Ember who persists, chasing after the her as they run around the field.

You smirk looking around, "So where is mom hiding?" 

You hear a louder screech this time come from above your head as you look up to spot the majestic older phenoix perched on a branch above. She looks down at you with her fantastic pitch black eyes before launching off the branch, flying lazily in a circle around the tree before landing on your outstretched arm.

The mother phoenix moves over towards your shoulder, giving you a quick nuzzle before looking at the little filly and her chick playing near you.

"It seems both Ember and I made a friend today." You say softly before the mother looks at you, kawing again at you before she flaps her wings a few times in a very significant manor.

You frown at the phoenix. "Hey, I do get out more, believe me." you say back to the phoenix who rolls her eyes and extends her left wing, flicking the tip of her feathers a few times.

"What do you mean I never come to visit? I'm here now, aren’t I?" you argue as the  mother phoenix gives you a ‘yeah right’ look, shaking her head and kawing at you again turning her head to the left moving her body down and back up.

"Okay, okay, I'll try and visit more frequently when I can, but it’s going to be hard with the baby and everything." You accept defeat rubbing the back feathers of the phoenix.

"Maybe you could move your nest closer to the house. I'm sure the baby would love to meet you guys someday. and Fluttershy and I always worry that your nested to close to that dragon tribe."

The phoenix rubs her wing under its beak in thought as you turn around happy. You leave her to Contemplate, content to simply watch the children play as they dart around the field.

After a short while, the two girls begin to tire down, moving over to your side as you continue to talk to the mother phoenix, occasionally noting down some of her gestures and patterns into the book for a later study.

"You and Ember have fun?" you ask light-heartedly.

The filly nods her head vigorously. She sits by the side next to your crossed legs catching her breath. You think about light heartedly ruffling out her hair but decide against it. You still don't know how you stand with ponies so you simply sit quietly next to filly.

A bout of mumbling causes you to look over at the filly.

"Scootaloo are you okay?"

She looks up at you, opening her muzzle to speak a few times before turning away.

"C-can I ask you a question?" Scootaloo finally asks, looking up at you with those big magenta eyes of hers.

"Of course." you say, flipping the book closed. "Ask away."

"I was just kind of um, wondering something. If you were adopted by Ember and her mom, does that mean you were an orphan too?"

You raise an eyebrow at the filly, taking a moment to consider the question. You whisper to the larger phoenix on your shoulder. The mother nods and launches off around the canopy with her daughter in tow.

"Well, that's hard to say. I mean, I had a family and friends a few years ago but... something happened. I'm still not sure to this day, but I lost them all when I came here. It was... an unpleasant time for me." You give a world weary sigh as the memory's come flooding back.






An empty house devoid of life and sound floods your mind. The dull constant pain of your legs helped little by the medication the doctors gave you after the hospital discharge.  You light the next cigarette almost robotically as your body feel like it’s on auto pilot, staring into the fireplace. The only source of light and almost the only companion you have. Cursing whatever took your old life from you, you look down at the medication. It was strong. Almost effective, but did little other than make you drowsy and muddy your thoughts. An idea creeps into your consciousness. Maybe, just maybe if you took them all at once you could... No! No, that's not a road you'll go down so easy. Slumping further against the wall, you pull the smoke back into your mouth. A single tear trickles down your left cheek. I just want to go home...







You shake your head violently. Silencing the memory now was different. You look back at the filly confused, but not phased by the seconds of silence.

"Yeah, I suppose you could say I am, or was an orphan. I had no one truly for some time. If it wasn't for my overly, uh, assertive roommate turned girlfriend, marefriend whatever you call it, and these beautiful birds, then I guess I would be alone."

The filly doesn't say anything but just looks further ahead. She slumps her side lightly on your crossed leg, leaving you feeling a tad uncomfortable given you social standing in this town as a meat eating monster. But you decide against moving. She looks like she needed the company. Contemplating the thought, you see the subtle twitching of her ears and caught breath the only indication that she was still awake.
"I ruined everything again." She states nearly above a whisper.

"What was that Scoots?"

"I ruined everything. I always ruin everything. I'm such an awful pony." She states shakily, looking at you with misty eyes that threaten to release a wave of tears.

"Scootaloo, how could you ruin anything? I've only known you for half an hour and already I know that's not true."

The filly shoots up, ears spayed back as she angrily pokes your leg. "No I did! I-I told my mom’s I don't love them anymore!"

"Why would you do that?" You ask the filly, trying to soothe her.

"I don't know." She whimpers, her voice cracking into a sob as she shrinks into herself. "I just didn't want to have to go through that again; the rejection." Scootaloo stares at nothing as you wait for her to continue. Despite the warmth of the morning sun, you notice the filly begin to shiver as some awful memories glaze through her mind like tremendous thunder storms.

"I was at the hospital today." she finally begins, taking your undivided attention. "You know most pegasi can at least glide at six years old. Both my mom’s wanted to get me checked out to see if I was a ‘late bloomer'." she empresses the last part using her small wings for quotation marks.

"I've never been to a hospital before, not even when I was really sick. Before I meet them I couldn't afford to even eat most of the time, so hospitals where out of the question. I'm kind of glad I didn't go. It was scary going in the first time but at least I had mamas with me so it wasn't so bad like the last time I went camping with Sweetie Bell and Applebloom." She smiles at the nostalgic memory before continuing.

"The doctors kept me there all morning. I wasn't allowed to even move or anything for hours. They kept poking my wing and taking blood and stuff. I don't want to sound like a little filly but it really hurt. One of my mom’s was there to read to me so it wasn't that bad I guess." She smiles despite chocking back another sob as the story continuing.

"After all that time spent waiting telling me that everything was going to be fine, I knew it wasn't. Nothing ever goes right for me. I can't even say I was surprised when one of the doctors came in and said... and said..." she doesn't finish the sentence the  gained emotions cracked her inner resolve. In a second the little mare began to cry into her hooves.

Despite everything you told yourself on instinct, you reach over bringing the filly into your lap as she breaks down in your embrace stroking her soft spiky mane whispering words of comfort at the distort filly.

"That wasn't even the worst part! I always knew somehow in the back of my mind. I knew I wouldn't be normal, but I didn't even have to look at my mom’s to know they were disappointed in me. I've seen that before. The other families at the orphanage, I just knew they didn't want me anymore. I thought I could take it but it hurt so much. Even when mom came to hug me I don't want her to lie to me, so I yelled told that they couldn't love a f-f-freak and then I told them I didn't love them anym--." she nearly manages to finish the end of her story before the fiery coated filly completely breaks down in your arms as you softly pat her mane and stroke her back.

“Shhh... Hey, it’s okay. I'm sure they know you didn't mean it. You were just told something so awful. No one comes out level headed after that. You should have seen me at the hospital when I first came here. I accidentally knocked out two orderly’s and fell out of the two story window." You grimace as you remember the steel beams that broke your fall.

"But now they don't love me anymore. Who would love a stupid Pegasus who can't even use her wings?!"

You snort angrily as you brow crinkles at the filly's deceleration. "Hey! Look at me."

The filly keeps her gaze down.

"Scootaloo, look at me now."

The filly slowly turns up to meet your gaze, her cheeks matted with tears and her eyes bloodshot.

"I thought you were a smart brave young mare, so don't you go saying something as childish and idiotic as that. I know it must be painful being different. Believe me, I know as well as anyone. No one’s expecting you to get over it so soon. But don't ever let this make you think that ponies don't love you anymore, especially your folks." you begin to wipe away some of the tears with your sleeve as you continue.

"Believe me, if someone like me can find love and a family in an insane magical land with an equally insane equine race, then you have no excuse to think otherwise. You understand?"

The filly doesn't move from your embrace but you feel her nod weakly as she slumps against your shoulder.

"And at least you can rest assured that I and Ember will always be your friends. We can be two orphans against the world, eh? A Human, a Phoenix and a Pegasus with a heart of gold. We should fight crime." You finish with a wink as the filly cracks a smile, looking up at you with matted tears on her muzzle and swollen baggy eyelids.

"...Sorry about your clothes." she adds softly.

You look down at the little mess of tears and mucus on your shoulder and shrug.

"Don't worry about it. The horrors this coat faces on a daily basis, this is nothing. Now come on, let's go find your parents. I'm sure they're worried sick."

The filly begins to shuffle a bit in your embrace looking a little panicked.

"No, I can't go back not after what I said!"

"Look Scoots, right now they don't care about what you said. I can see it in your eyes that you love them, which means they love you too and I can't even imagine how scared they are, that you’re not anywhere to be found. You don't want them scared and worried do you?"

"Of course not!" The filly quickly replies, shooting up at you, her hair scruffy and matted.

"But... But can we just stay here a bit? I'm not ready to go just yet." she finishes meekly wiping her tear stained fur. Her eyes looking at you innocently was enough to know at that moment she didn't see you as anything other than someone she could rely on. It was moments like these that made that year alone worth every torturous minute.

"Sure Scoots. We can stay for a bit." you say, patting her mane as she lays down in your lap humming lightly in your touch.

You know if this is what it’s like maybe this parent thing isn't so hard after all.

I'm going to need to work harder on my delivery though. I'm starting to sound like a motivational speaker, you think, tapping your cheek with a bemused smirk.
> The 'The Parley Part One' Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Very Special thanks once again to Smokey Glacier for editing this chapter 





(Slam)

You nearly take the door off its hinges. In your rage, the red mist of anger muddies your thoughts as you step back from the door, unsure of what to take this terrible rage out on. You try and take deep breaths to calm your nerves, your hands are shaking and you decide that cold water might sober you up from this concoction of venomous emotions. It would also assist in getting the dirt and sweat from your brow.
Catching your ragged breath, you slump you back against the door, momentarily pulling a loose strand of hair off your face. You wince as your shaking hand accidentally grazes you're sore and soon to be blackened eye.

You let out a long tired sigh.

That's what I get for trying to be a decent person. Last fucking time.

You decide to take your anger out on your new furniture, recently purchased, as you throw your saddle bag down into the couch with reckless abandon. Stomping into the kitchen, swears and callous words on the tip of your tongue as you enter. You resist the urge to throw the space hogging table off its wooden legs but thankfully collect yourself long enough to reach the sink.

Cupping your hand under the tap, you appreciate the icy water that cascades from it. Throwing the water up to your face, you feel just a little better as the cool water drips from your form. The subtle melodic ticking of the grandfather clock from the hallway in the other room invades your ears a sign of momentary peace or a symbolic doomsday ticking down the time till your next catastrophe you could not say. Placing both hands on each side of the sink you take a practice's meditative breath staring vacantly out the kitchen window.

The moment of peace was not to last unfortunately. With the catastrophic force of a tornado, the door flings open, revealing the sight of a large pregnant griffon twined with two deadly weapons. A baseball bat in one claw and a vicious frown on her beak equally as deadly.

"If you think your gonna’ rob anything while I'm around you got another thing... oh it’s you?" Gilda yells loudly, before teetering out.

You both mentally and physically face palm taking the embarrassment to a new level. You forgot that Gilda was sleeping upstairs. Also looking at her, you deduce based on the bags under her eyes you must have woken her up pretty abruptly.

"Yeah, sorry hon, forgot you were in." You apologise sincerely.

"Jeez, with the noise you were making I thought we were being robbed. I know the door gets stuck, but you should be more careful with our house, what--" She hesitates on the last word, looks you up and down like a noire detective would a crime scene and you notice her face form into an unreadable emotion.

"What happened to your eye?" She finishes, placing the bat by the kitchen counter, walking up towards the table in an incredibly methodically way, never hesitating with her next step and never breaking eye contact with you.

You touch your eye lightly in confusion before turning around. You grimace, wrapping your mind around coming up with a quick and ultimately flimsy lie. If this morning was any indication of what happened when someone pushed you into a corner, there was no way you could tell Gilda what happened. Not after all this work. You couldn't see it go to waste because of a stupid fight.

You straighten your posture and open up a cupboard, pretending to make some tea. You try to be as nonchalant as possible as you answer Gilda from over your shoulder, making it easier to hide your eye.

"Oh, uh funny story you see I was examining this doorknob in town that was made from these intricate little crystals and it reminded me that I needed to get a new door for the house entrance, when silly me, someone on the other side opens it with me still look--"

Gilda raises a single talon up in the air that you catch in your peripheral vision. It was slow and calculated as she keeps eye contact with you face. You quickly quite down under her stare. "Okay bub, I'm gonna stop ya right there. This lie right now needs to stop. One, because it already stinks and two, because I don't like my coltfriend acting like an idiot. You can't lie for horseapples anyway. We both know that you can't, so I'm gonna ask again slowly this time, in case you didn’t understand me." You turn slowly seeing Gilda digging her talons into the table slowly, methodically, scratching the wood from the flimsy oak as she glare up at you with those untamed golden pupils.

"What happened to your eye?"

You bite your lip and turn around fully, just about meeting her gaze. If you weren’t going to get away with this, you could at least tell half-truths.

"I got hit, by a rock, I didn't see it coming, I was trying to talk to this mare."

There was a pregnant pause in the air. Gilda was deathly still, her expression as neutral and emotionless as one could be. The only thing that changed was the depth in which her claws dug into the already abused kitchen table.

She inhales from her nostrils before speaking. "Who?" She finally answers.

"I uh, no idea probably, just an accident, you know kids mucking around!" you answer almost too quickly. She leans in closer to you on the table. "Lie to me again and see what happens. Last chance."

"I'm telling you, I don't know! It wasn't the mare I was talking to though she was quite angry or I guess worried or confused I don’t know it was all a bit hectic. It sort of came from someone in the crowd. It all happened too fast."

You almost wish she was yelling and screaming at this point. The silence was far more intimidating than you had ever experienced. Even more intimidating than that time Fluttershy fired you three times in the space of five minutes for being late to your job and also for talking back to her, for explaining you live in your job so you can theoretically never be late. This was back when she was taking lessons from Iron Will. Those where scary times. But this was on a new level that you never thought or hoped you'd experience.

"What Crowd?" she asks lifting an eyebrow in condition for a moment as the subtle yet claustrophobic rage in the air continues to rise.

You lean against the kitchen counter cupping your forehead and slowly massaging your temples with both finger and thumb. You replay the event in your head, remembering to be as select as possible to insure that Gilda didn't get the full story, or half Ponyville would be dead or worse by now if she found out.

"Yeah, look I was trying to take this filly home. She was upset and alone and I was trying to do the right thing, but apparently everyone else didn't think I was. Something happened, I couldn't calm them down and some blue bastard threw a rock at me!" You growl out the last part as your own rage rises in your chest.

If she wasn't so furiously angry, you were sure she would have smiled at that. "... So he was blue? You did see him!"

You raise your eyebrows up in surprise, cursing yourself for letting that tid-bit of information go.

"Tell me who he is or so help me I'll beat every blue stallion I see in town until I find the right one, I don't care." She finishes with deadly conviction in her voice. Her wings raised in that same predatory stance you witnessed back in town.

You gulp before continuing. You didn't want the bastard dead, but didn't want Gilda hurting innocent ponies in the process. She wasn't thinking straight in her rage. This wasn't Gilda right now. "It was one of the ponies from this morning, okay? The other stallion I don’t think I saw. I ran as soon as it looked like it was going to get ugly."

Gilda considers the statement for a moment the unhappiness and rage in her face is pushed down as she turns from you and begins to leave the seat.

"Gilda if you’re trying to do what I think you are, please don't do it. You’re not thinking cle-"

"Shut it! This is personal now. I'm taking that buckers horn!" Gilda growls, directing a talon up at you as her breath becomes more and more muddled in its pent up inferno of emotions. She quickly launches off the wooden seat, bolting towards the kitchen door.

But he's not a unicorn...oh Jesus!

"No, Gilda don't!"  You yell truly panicked now, launching after her and throwing the table out the way, letting the cutlery and pottery slip and smash into a thousand shards down on the floor. It didn't matter right now. The only thing that mattered right now was stopping Gilda from doing something everyone was going to regret.

You turn the corner, slamming into the wall in your speed as you make a grab for her tail, but with her lead and her naturally quick body, she easily bolts away from you. She doesn't even acknowledge your presence any more as she stares forward with nothing but the most unholy retribution in mind.

You've thought it before, but it still impresses you to no end how quick she was, even while bearing the child. Thank god the doctor said that her sprints didn't affect the child inside or this would have been far worse than it already was.

The point takes a new level of impressiveness as she winds up her powerful hind legs and in one quick effortless motion vaults over the couch, catching her stance with little to no effort. Unfortunately, in your state, you’re not quite so artistic with you gymnastics. You attempt the same thing but the couch clips the tip of your boots causing you to slam face down onto the floor.

Groaning, you hastily try and collect yourself, thankful that you decided against putting a glass table here. Lifting your head up, you grit your teeth, pushing past the pain as you hear the latches of the doors lock turn.

Gilda, please don’t!" you desperately try and concise to the she-griffon as she swings the door open.

However, it would only take a miracle to convince that girl to stop her vengeful pilgrimage to right the wrong that had been sighted to her through her other half. Though she wasn't part of her pride for a very long time, the instinct of the griffon and her pride was still embedded deep into her being.

To protect.

Unfortunately, being a race of two different carnivores and also being pregnant thus hyper emotional as wells as an irritable dry spell in the sex department (that you were going to eventually have to address in a no way embarrassing  or uncomfortable talk) gave a new heightened fuel to her anger. As you had come to understand, considering you deep down held these similar instincts hidden behind an aura of civility.
Yes it would take nothing short of cosmic intervention to stop Gilda.

Luckily as the saying goes, when god closes a door he also apparently opens the back window with a cinder block and loots the house.

As quickly as she sprang out Gilda come to a dead stop a gasp leaves her beak, as you in turn freeze in place, you words dying on your tongue as your jaw falls open in dumbfounded shock.

The uncomfortable silence bears down on you like an enormous boulder making it impossible to move, or even think. Gilda’s mood changes entirely as she takes one of two steps back, her beak also matching yours in the agape department.

The figure by the door takes a half-hearted footing inside not out of fear but through twined amusement and befuddlement as it surveys the scene. The wall of white that blocks the doorway raises its eyebrow as she turns her gaze gracefully from the stunted griffon to you.

"Hello my little human. Is this a bad time?"

Oh shit...

Finally after an eternity or two you manage to choke out an appropriate response.

"Hhh-hello Celestia"
> The 'The Parley Part Two' Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Very Special thanks once again to Smokey Glacier for editing this chapter





You try and pick up your jaw, moving it around after it effectively just hit the floor. You barely let out a breath, the aching in your chest the only natural indication that you need to release the spent air in your lungs.

Gilda, based on muscle memory alone, steps to the side of the door moving over towards your downed body, her eyes fixed on the enormous and almost glowing figure in front of her.

Celestia still stands at the doorway, smiling softly yet stoic in her pose as she accesses the scene that had just played out in front of her. Her lips forms into a mild smirk as two of her guests in this country of Equestria gawk a tad rudely at her. Not that she wasn't used to that look before. You witnessed many times in her presence, pony’s that had met the blunt end of a door or lamp post from such prolonged stares.

"I hope I'm not interrupting?" She half jokes, lightly raising an eyebrow almost knowingly.

It takes all of your will power to snap out of the daze your in. It was not so much that Celestia herself was paralyzing you from looking away. You had meet her enough times to lose that effect, but being caught with your hand in the metaphorical cookie jar had you tongue and limbs tied.

Lying face first on the floor by an angry pregnant griffon and a shiner to rival prize fighters right hook on your right eye... It’s obvious to note that this was not how you usually meet the co-ruler of the country.

A loud and confident voice behind Celestia answers her little jest. "Stay thy wit oh perfect sister of mine! Tis not like we have not caught you in similar moments of embarrassment, or do you not remember that time you lay bare on thine bed with that Zebr-"

Celestia frantically shushing the voice behind her as her face turns a scarlet red. She quickly steps aside to let the other voice come into view.

Still fixed on the doorway, you see another equine figure similar to Celestia in all but colour and size. The darker figure flicks her ethereal mane from her eyes looking down at you. She smiles widely her face hiding nothing but her deepest happiness as she canters over towards your prone form, taking you into her powerful hooves and embracing you like a child would a stuffed animal.

"Human friend! Tis been too long! We have missed your odd features and bitter ironic wit." She squeezes tighter as you feel a disc slipping slowly from your spine.

"H-hey Lu, g-great to see you haven't stopped trying to break my back." You say with a strained but equally sincere smile.

Luna hums in your embrace like a child hugging a puppy. An overly grown and unlucky puppy with part insomnia and a near permanent frown, but a puppy none the less.

"I think he gets the message dear sister." Celestia chuckled looking at your face as it goes from pink to an unhealthy shade of blue.

"Hmmm a few more seconds." Luna hums rocking you gently side to side like a newton’s cradle. It would be incredibly emasculating if you were not already used to being emasculated on a daily bases by your little feather brain. Still, you didn't mind; You were always happy to see Luna smile. She never did it enough in your opinion.

A gruff and quick cough breaks both of your embrace, as Luna releases you slightly from her grip, staring at the origin of the noise; An unamused griffon staring up at her with a raised brow.

"And you must be thee griffon we have heard tales and whispers of?" Luna gives her an unamused glance before letting you fall back on your knees.

"Now Luna, we are guests here in this little abode." Celestia softly replies to her little nocturnal sister.

"I know it might be a little late to say." Celestia gives a knowing nod to her sisters’ rude entry. "But may we come in?"







You walk back from the kitchen towards the dining room with a tray of tea bags, a steel kettle and two fine china bowls of both brown and white sugar cubes in your hands.

The odd parlour of life forms that inhabit your equally strange life sit both comfortably and uncomfortably on your furniture parallel to one another. It almost looks like a toy store shelf or a petting zoo, and of course you were the main attraction.

Setting the tray down on the small coffee table between the two deity’s, you land next to Gilda on the opposite side, reaching over with one hand and stroking just under her wing as you sit upright, almost to attention.

The two princesses begin to make their own collective drinks. You didn't have the Fluttershy level of brewing ingredients, but Jasmine tea and Earl Grey usually did the job for most people.

"I don't believe we have ever been to you house before. It’s very pleasant. Rustic and comfy; a quite fine combination. Who did you get to design it?" Celestia asked, sipping her tea softly.

"Tia don't bore him, I wish to speak to my friend without having to go into thy dream-scape to do so." Luna chuckles gaining a roll of the eyes from her bigger sister.

"Well I built it myself, sort of. It was run down when I got here. Best I could afford after leaving Shy’s place. Applejack and her little sister helped out when they could." You smirk at the memory of you and Applejack staring slack jawed as her little sister built an entire coffee table in under ten minutes with spare materials no less. She couldn’t be more pleased with herself, smiling with the hammer in her mouth.

And that little filly still doesn't have her mark yet, do they all have to happen dramatically or something?

"Ah yes, the element of honesty, a fine pony indeed. It’s good to see you making friends." She replies cheerfully, nodding to you in acceptance of the company you keep.

You massage your knee with your right hand, not sure how to take the complement. "Ha, well yeah we talk every so often, but I would say acquaintances more than friends really."

Luna raises her brow in confusion, apparently finding your choice in words more than a little odd. "Why not pursue thy friendship further? Has she slighted you in some way?"

"What? No! It’s just I don't really leave the house often, you know?" You say with a shrug.

Luna furrows her brow setting her Jasmine tea down on the table with her magic. "No? Why must thou exile thyself to thine home?"

"Well uh-"

"Okay, if no one’s going to say it I am. Why the buck are they here!?" Gilda yells at you, simultaneously pointing to Celestia and Luna respectively.

Celestia, the ever stoic one places her cup down on the table with a small practiced smile on her face. "Can't Luna and I meet a friend?"

"We cannot believe she speaks, we thought she was a mute!" Luna gasp, looking back at you in oblivious confusion.

Gilda looks taken aback by the Lunar princesses,  not sure wither to take it as an insult or otherwise. "Wha- Of course I can speak dweeb!" She yells back.

"Gilda!" you yell back.

Luna smirks wickedly at you. "Thou griffoness has a fiery spirit. She must be a demon in thy chambers."

"Luna!"

Celestia coughs lightly, a faint blush on her snow white cheeks as she looks away before speaking. "Not that I would know, but I heard you must be careful of griffon claws, you can get... scratches."

"Celestia not you too!?"

An irritated growl leaves Gilda beak. "Don't talk about me like I'm not here! What do you two want? I have half a mind to kick you both to the curb for everything that happened to us, so fess up. What’s your motive?"

Celestia’s mask cracks somewhat, as mild confusion takes over her features. "We did not lie, we came here to visit our human friend. We heard some... things. Interesting things have happened in these past few weeks and we thought it would be best if we came and sought to understand them."

Your face goes pale and all blood leaves your features as Celestia finishes her sentence. She couldn't have been vaguer. It was almost torture. More than a few things happened in these past few weeks. Which one could have lead her down to Ponyville? The baby, Gilda herself , the fights? You were going to have to pray that whichever one it was, it was not going to end with what your worst case scenario could be.

"W-w-what do you mean? Everything's been fine and normal since we last spoke." You push a hand through your hair, feigning ignorance. Despite your rapidly changing features, you could feel your body warm up already from the sting of the possible accusation.

"Is that so? Well, if that's the case maybe we were ill informed. Though based on our arrival, we couldn't help but hear some gossip from the towns folk. I usually don't hold such things highly but my little ponies seem to have a certain... interest in you and your actions." She smiles once more, "Don't worry we were discrete as always."  She adds with that hidden smile portraying more than just simple happiness. You could never decode that smirk. You doubt anyone but her sister could. Having a millennia to work with left even the most terrible poker faces hardened.

"Human friend, we noticed before, but now we are more than a little curious, what happened to thine eye? Tis very swollen. It almost matches our very coat." Luna adds in, gazing inquisitively and with unsuppressed concern at the painful right side of your face.

You touch your eye quickly, smiling at both Luna and Celestia showing a bit too much teeth. "Oh this? You know, an accident. It happens."

"Yeah, accident." Gilda adds in a passive aggressive manner folding her talons after clawing once more at the couch.

Luna didn't seem sated by the remark, gazing at Gilda she holds her stare over to her for a second longer than usual. Her eyes bore into the griffon before sighing or what may even been construed as a huff, she turns back to you.

"An accident you say? Well that is saddening, I hope you are feeling well. Maybe you should place some ice on it." Celestia states diplomatically, going for another round of Earl Grey. Placing two sugars, she stirs methodically with her magic, keeping her eyes firmly gazing at your own.

You bring a hand lightly up to your face, careful not to touch the injured area too bluntly. Your whole face was on fire at this point and not simply from the injury.

Why are they here? Gilda's right, something's going on. Then again, this could give me some time to work things out. At least this black eye was good for something.

"Y-yeah, maybe you’re right." You say softly agreeing to the remark. Squeezing Gilda’s side quickly once more, you head off, catching her giving you a soft smile from the corner of her beak. You stand up and proceed to the kitchen.

"Wait human friend, we shall accompany thee!" Luna states quickly, hopping down from the easy chair after you.

Crap, never mind.

"Oh, uh sure." You smile weakly, looking back at Luna, your eyes dart quickly to the scene. Gilda unfazed and uncaring of the smaller alicorns actions as she continued leering with refined restraint at Celestia with almost perfect stoicism, almost like that of a beefeater. Celestia on the other hand slumped back further, sipping her cup and smiling innocently back at Gilda, with that ever innocent or omnipotent smile it was hard to tell.







You push into the kitchen and look at the mess of the floor and the table that had recently joined it. A sudden unease come to the forefront of your mind, in a desperate attempt at an explanation for such a mess. With little to work with, you turn in place slamming the door shut, rudely cutting Luna’s entrence from behind you.

"Huh? Human friend what is the meaning of this?" Luna's voice echo's from behind the door.

"One second Lu." You panicky state, running over to the mess on the floor, scooping up the larger less sharpened peices of what once were plates and mugs from the top side of the upturned table.

"Pray tell us, is everything well?" She asks slightly louder than before, turning the door knob slowly.

Panicking further, you drop the shards of porcelain. Running over to the door, you hold the knob in place before she could activate the latch.
"Everything's fine Lu." You bite the inside of your cheek thinking up an excuse. "It’s just a real mess in here, not fit for a princess like yourself."

There is a slight pause before you hear an unsuppressed chuckle for the lunar goddess.

"Haha, you always know how to make me laugh friend, quit as you say pulling thine leg. You of all care little for the formality of our title. Tis one of the things we find most endearing with you. Now quit thy whimsical silliness and open the door."

"J-just a second."

The mirth in her voice begins to subside somewhat. "Now is not the time for games friend, we must see to thine eye, so please open thy door."

"Um...no."

Another pause "No? Tis the only response you give?"

"Um...yes?"

Another moment passes.

"Ha, oh we see... are you standing by the door at this very moment?" a cheeky wickedness rises in her playful tone.

You think for a minute.

Yes?

"Um...no?

Slam

The door flings open with a magical aura, flinging the wood against the wall and taking your body along with it.

"We have warned you that a game of strength would always leave us the winner, human friend! We thought that thou would learn that after the fiftieth hoof wrestle." she states in a cocky happily voice of blissful ignorance.

“Ugh, my everything..." You groan.

The door fly's back as the Luna princess peeks around at you in puzzlement, then at the door. Her cheeks redden in a sheepish blush.
“Thou were telling a lie with thine place beside the door.”

"…Yes"

She leans down further to you, frowning apologetically.

“Oh, our most sincere apology."

"Its fine, Applejack’s pigs kick harder anyway." You grimace as you try and push up from the ground, but failing as you wrist gives away under the pressure and you crumple. "Can you help me up?" You grunt out, pushing a shaking hand down from the floor, musing over the fact that you have now been painfully thrown about in every single room in your house by Gilda or otherwise.

Well, not the bathroom… other than that one time, but I can hardly call that painful.

Luna leans down, allowing you to throw an arm around her side. Being hoisted up, your vision begins to settle as you walk in tandem with Luna, before the mare stops midway with a mild gasp.

"Huh?" You question, looking at Luna and at the mess in the kitchen.

All is still at that moment as she assesses the room with her calculated gaze, taking in shallow breaths. Without a moment’s notice, she lifts the table and a few thrown about chairs to their correct location, propping one around to face you, she walks over leaning you against the seat. You can only mumble a quiet thank you.

Luna navigates as gracefully as she could over towards the sink, taking a clean white cloth from the side, she wets it fully under the sink folding it up three times. Her horn shines quickly freezing the cloth. After another few moments she moves back over to your side pressing it gently against your eye. She makes sure to keep her eyes entwined with yours, a small frown prominent on her face.

You raise a brow at her, puzzled by her now sombre mood while letting the freezing cloth cool the stingy inferno of the brushed eye.
“You know, it’s okay Luna, it was an accident. Things just got out of hand, no need to frown about it. You've done worse to me in the past; I mean I'm pretty sure my arm shouldn't click when I rotate it." You chuckle giving her an example, hoping to pull her from her down mood. 

However, it was to no avail as the dark blue coated alicorns frown only deepens.

"Human friend, we wish  for the truth in what we are about to ask of thee."

Confused by her choice in words and again by her almost bipolar reaction to the previous few moments, you nod to the mare, your own thoughts running wild.

"What we are about to say may not be easy, you must understand this but we ask you for your own good."

"Jesus Lu, calm down, you're at risk of sounding overly dramatic. It’s just a graze, you don't have to put any drama into this." You grin, leaning back in the seat.

Luna surveys the room once more with her eyes, before slumping down on her wither. "Thy kitchen is a mess and not in your usual sense. When we arrived, we found you on the floor of your own house. At first, we saw no oddity in it initially, but seeing thine eye brushed and damaged... our friend, how could this lead to nothing but drama!" She all but yells.

You slump down in your seat metaphorically zipping your mouth shut under the scrutiny of an angry goddess as she bores down on you.
"That's not all, Princess Twilight tells me you haven't left your house in months except when you must, In months?" Her voice softens somewhat. You think you even hear some guilt in her voice as she notices the position she is currently putting you in.

“S-she’s been talking about me? Did she tell you why?"

Luna shakes her head, trying to work away her frustration. It subsides somewhat as she notices the concern in your features.

“Stay thy worries; Twilight is tasked with the protection of Ponyville and its residents. It is her duty to look after all of her charge, and that means you my friend.” She lifts your chin up lightly with her hoof giving you a quick caring smile.

“She writes to us and thine Sister from time to time, never bad things. Well, not unless she has her fears. No, she, like me and my sister are merely concerned with your well being, taking away our own personal feels from your health. We must set an example, you are the first of your kind, and perhaps maybe not the last, who is to say?"

She pauses again, sighing slightly. She retracts her hoof from your tender grazed cheek, looking down somberly before staring up at you with increased determination.

“What she states in her scrolls worries us. You, you seem to be like we were before or banishment. You are a hermit out of some unknown necessity it seems, even now you appear far more panicked than when you left our castle and... and worse than that, thou lied not just to my sister, but to us!"

"Luna I, I didn’t..."

“Please don’t lie again, I thought thou were our friend, this is not what companions do!” Some of the hurt in her voice echoes through you, cornered by the shame in putting your first real friend in this world into such a state.

You put the frozen compress down at your side determined to show Luna that she had your undivided attention. “I-I’m sorry Luna, things aren't putting me in the right place at this time, I’m trying, I really am.”

Luna places her hoof on your hand, squeezing it lightly. A hint of a tear forms in her right eye that she quickly removes from her face with an idol hoof. “We understand, we would be a hypocrite if we called you out for such a lie.”

"What do you mean?”

“We must confess, our trip was not as spontaneous as originally stated." Luna coincides her voice, gaining an increasing wave of foreboding as she spoke

You shift uncomfortably on your seat, not through lack of comfort on the chairs part, but by the crushingly ominous way Luna had begun to speak.

“How long has that griffon been in your presence?”

“Gilda? Uh, a while, two and a half years around about.” You muse tapping an idle finger against your cheek in thought.
Wow it seems so much sooner than that.

“We see, and that griffon, has she been... difficult? Agitated, maybe aggressive at times?”

You can’t help but suppress a chuckle.

That’s putting it lightly.

“A bit, she’s a feisty girl but she’s harmless, it’s mostly just a bit of arguing and a wrestle here and there, but nothing major.”
The answer does little to retract Luna from her mood. She simply nods, holding your hand tighter. Her frown doesn’t even flicker upwards as you smirk at her.

“And this griffon—“

"Please, Luna, she has a name.”

Luna nods reluctantly. “Very well. This Gilda, what is your relation to her?”

Despite yourself and the silliness of the action, you begin to blush lightly, looking away from Luna. You've never really been asked that question so directly before.

“Uh... oh god, well she’s, special to me. She’s my, well you say marefriend here, but it’s more than that, especially now.”

“You are smitten with her. Would you do anything for her?”

“Well yeah of course. Within reason, I mean as long as she doesn’t want me to rob a bank, heh...” You rub the back of your neck with your free hand. You didn’t understand why Luna was being so serious.

“My friend…”

“Yes?”

“Art thou familiar with Stockholm syndrome?”

You hesitate, not sure how to truly answer her question. “Well sort of. Wait, you’re not saying what I think you’re saying..?”

She grits her teeth “The evidence is clear, not just on thy face, but on the floor and walls.” She slams her other hoof down, a great sadness crosses her face. “Tia was right! And all this time, I was left ignorant to your plight, tis obvious that she has cast down thine esteem and thy very well being with fear and threats. But no more will I leave my friend in a state of distress! Tis okay, you are safe now.”

You almost shoot out of your seat, the horrible venomous heat of anger invading your chest and mind from the very accusation. "Luna just what the hell are you on about!?"

She sighs heavily, looking at you with tired eyes. "Tis sadly common, some mares... they are unfit to herd. It comes from a darker time when stallions were seen in an uneven light, especially one with a gentler heart like thou's." She stands back up now, coming over your head, she squeezes your hand one more time as you once again are fixed in place both shock and total bewilderment.

"Worry not, she will torment you no longer. The griffon will be reprimanded and you will be safe once more, this I promise." Luna smiles softly to you before turning from the room.

What!!!???

You shake your head from your own stupor, shooting from the chair fast enough to send it hurtling backwards.

"Luna, what?! No, stop!" You race out to the room as she canters back into the dining room, placing a hand on her back to regain her attention. You open your mouth to protest when you spot another figure opens the front door curiously out of the corner of your eye.

"Hello anyone home? Gilda, doctor-" the figure pauses. "Oh, princesses! My apologies, the door was ajar. I didn't know you two were here, I'll just wait outside." The white fashionista lowers her head submissively and politely begins to back away. Her vision temporarily blocked by a large white sun hat adorned on top of her head with a simple scarlet ribbon wrapped around it, holding a pair of black sunglasses carefully on top.

Celestia, quick to the draw, speaks first. "Nonsense Miss Rarity, I'm sure they don't mind, do you?"

You shake your head, more of a natural reaction than an action with any real thought. The day was reaching fear and loathing in Las Vegas levels of weirdness and insanity. Why not let everyone else join in the madhouse.

You peer at Gilda, reading her subtle mannerisms you've come to learn over these past two years. She was on edge, grinding her beak ever so subtly, and the feathers on her back almost to full attention. Whatever had happened between the two women had been no less heated to say the least.

Her expression changes from this, to one of partial relief causing you to raise your brow for the uptenth time today. "Nah, you’re all good, what is it, uh, Rarity was it?" She inquires in a tired yet still uncaring manor.

"Yes, Rarity is fine." The white fasionista confirms to Gilda. "Well, it’s just that the picnic stated twenty minutes ago and its missing the two most important guests of course." She smiles innocently, obviously oblivious to the situation at hand. "I came to see if you were still coming along. It would be a terrible build up for nothing if you didn't go darling." She winks at both you and Gilda that despite yourself, you laugh lightly entertained by the innocence and playful nature that had been sorely lacking this day.

Seeing this as a lifeline, you grab onto it with all your might. "Oh of course!" You throw up a toothy smile, snapping your hand up to your forehead in mock embarrassment, your smile perhaps too big to be believable. You hope nobody notices as you race from Luna's side quickly picking up the saddlebag that had been cast aside in your anger.

"How could I forget, terribly sorry princesses, memory of a goldfish you know? Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, it would be so rude to decline now. After all as miss Rarity says, we are the guests of honour and they put so much effort into this we can't refuse now." You wipe away some of the sweat dripping from your forehead. You walk over to Gilda lightly but firmly tugging her left talon toward the door.

"Hey what's the big deal!?" Gilda squawks, resisting your pull as you drag her towards the door.

Rarity, bless her, was at least pretending to not notice as you fight towards the door. Coughing lightly, she looks back at the co-rulers.
Luna stood with her maw closed, her lower jaw moving from side to side grinding her teeth as she stares at Gilda with nothing but contempt. Celestia for her part was looking down deep in thought, her previously happy mood another charade.

You feel another tug as your weak grip on the Gilda slips away with a grunt. "Jeez, you could have just asked. What's your problem!?" She harshly whispers to you.

"No time, I'll tell you later, just trust me okay?" You quickly whisper back.

Gilda rolls her eyes, but nods passive aggressively, tragically not privy to the danger you were trying to get her away from by playing this facade. Once you two were far away enough you could reveal the problem but not here. Too much could go wrong. You were going to have to bide your time playing the fool and keep your cards firmly to your chest.

"Well." you announce loudly as you reach the door. "I'm really sorry again, but we can't stay around any longer. It was fantastic to see you both again, princesses. Same time next month right?" You all too quickly blurt out pushing politely past Rarity to freedom.

"Wait!" Luna calls holding out her hoof. "Thou can't just-"

"You know we have plenty of time scheduled before we must return to Canterlot, perhaps if it’s not too much trouble we might accompany you? It’s been so long since me and Luna have enjoyed the splendour of a simple picnic." Celestial interrupts, having apparently recovered from her previous deliberation.

Staggering back almost physically, you quickly look for an excuse. "Well you see you could, bu-"

"Oh of course, princess it would be wonderful to have you and Princess Luna join us! Twilight and the girls would be thrilled to see you both again, you know how she is." Rarity chuckles throwing a hoof nonchalantly in the air.

...Goddamn it Rarity.

"Excellent! A picnic would do wonders for these old bones, we will be with you shortly, do excuse us me and my sister have something to discuss."

Luna looks about ready to scream. Not falling for this little act one bit, she never was one for playing the game as you had witnessed many times back in Canterlot. "Tia, you can't seriously think-"

"Luna my dear sister please, we can talk about this in a moment."

"Fine! But on your head be it sister." Luna snarls back, returning to her previous action of grinding her teeth into diamonds.

Celestia nods confidently back at Luna turning back to the little group at the doorway. "You don't mind if we stay here another moment? It’s a private matter and with so many wandering ears it would be better if we could converse in an isolated area such as here, we will be sure to lock up before we leave." Celestia states calmly to you and Gilda.

"Sure whatever, just don't break anything." Gilda calls back walking towards the exit.

"Thou would know all about that wouldn't thou!" Luna mumbles looking down at her hooves.

"What was that!?" Gilda growls, turning back and  stepping forward slightly before freezing her talon, and shoots it back to her stomach in painful discomfort as she winces looking down at the swollen mass.

"Is something wrong?" Celestia of all people jumps in before you even get a chance to parrot her words. Confused, but more worried for your girl you lean down next to Gilda.

Gilda waves you always slightly wincing again as she brings her claws down to the floor. "It’s nothing, just cramps. Not as bad as this morning, I-I'll be fine." She answers to you despite the question not leaving your lips.

You stroke her feathers lightly with a caring smile, Celestia leaning forward from her seat towards the griffon again with that odd look of confusion and a hint of relief on her features. Even Luna seems to have lost her animosity in the moment as she tilts her head sideways in equal confusion.

Rarity moves to flank the griffon and begins to speak. "Are you alright to walk darling? We could get a cart or something if it’s too much trouble."

Gilda gives the mare a blank stare. "I'm not disabled, you know."

Rarity blushes and takes a step back from the annoyed griffon giving an awkward laugh to distil the tension.
"No, of course you're not forgive me... so shall we proceed?"

You give one final look back at the princesses, biting your lip hard enough to almost draw blood.

Relax, take a deep breath, you still have time to explain to Gilda before this goes any more tits up... Oh Jesus karmas really making me her bitch today isn't she.

Another forced uneasy smile cracks across your face as you fish for your key walking down to hand it to Celestia before gazing back clapping your hands together dramatically.

"Rarity, I thought you'd never ask." 
> The 'The Parley Part Three' Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

You walk a respectable distance behind the white mare, who blissfully canters to the parley point. Her hoof making calculated bounds down the little dirt road, three hoofs then one, then three then one, a melodic rhythm like a practiced ballet dance subconsciously created a primal ease in your mind, as you follow slowly behind her, in tandem with your one and only Griffoness and her ever present little package, swaying lightly underneath her as she walked.

Wiping a bead of sweat from your brow, not attributed to the sun, you massage your eyes with both thumbs. It feels like forever since you enjoyed such a moment, even with the weight of things to come burdening your mind and weighing on your shoulders, you can find some joy in the walk.

Jumping out of the fire of mere moments ago, this quite march was as close to a blissful vacation as you had gotten these past few days and you were doing all you could to subtly enjoy it. Closing your eyes, as you walked the well-worn dirt road, you enjoy the warm spring breeze as the smell of new life, the blossoming flowers, the swaying of the trees, the scent of Mother Nature at her prime invades your nostrils and sending euphoric waves of tranquillity that left you wanting more.

There was at least one silver lining that others couldn't take from you. Ponyville for all its demented town dwellers and uncanny ability to attract the best and the worst on any given day, could not take away from the heart of what it was deep down. A beautifully harmonious settlement.

It would be a cold day in whatever wicked afterlife these ponies believed in before you would be cheated of it.

You peer down at Gilda as you travel that long gravel road. You chop it up to her (somewhat creepy) sixth sense like way in which she knows exactly when someone looks at her, which is proven almost immediately as she looks up confused somehow noticing your lingering eyes as you look down at the she griffon.

Gilda gives you a raised eyebrow with a cocky smile.

"Something on your mind big guy."

You don't know the half of it.

You decided that right now was not the best time to tell Gilda, what would or still potentially could happen if you had stayed at home. Like you, she hadn't seen much peace in these last few days, even with her dramatic and energetic aura she loved to parade herself around in, you know she could sometimes appreciate these moments of peace the same way you could.

And besides the third member in this party was still not someone you trusted with this type of information, not yet.

"Oh you know stuff." You say nonchalantly shrugging your shoulders.

"Yeah? Any of this ‘stuff’ on me because your eyes seem to think there is." She retorts back in a cocksure tone, using her wing feathers as quotation marks.

"Well you do have a lot of stuff in certain areas... Wait no! That sounded better in my head, give me a second!" You sink into your shoulders berating your awful ability to talk sexy. Like always it wasn't your fault. How were you supposed to just know that Griffons liked to be complimented on their wingspan and that you should never, ever, ever say they have a big beak!

Gilda just laughs at you swatting you thigh with her tail as you walk. "Always know how to talk to a gal huh big guy, jeez you're hopeless."

"Hey it worked on you didn't it?" You confidently quip back to Gilda.

"Yeah, I must be losing my game." She smirks again, looking down the road.

"Hey I'm not a bad catch, I got a good, if dangerous job, I’m fit and healthy again thanks to the dangerous part of that job. tall to boot and ruggedly handsome and if I may say so myself." You mockingly push your hair back imitating one of those girls in a hair product commercial "I'm a catch back where I come from, I work with animals darlin' you don't know how many times you can get a date for saving a girls puppy."

"Yeah I'm sure all the mares love a guy who can catch the attention of their guide dog." she laughs again racing forward towards Rarity before you can form a response.

"...Wait, they weren't blind! Oh you bloody walking quill factory!" You yell back chasing after her as she bolts faster away the echoes of her mischievous cackle ringing in your ear, catching the attention of your guide who looks back separated from her own day dreams.

"My somepony's energetic, do be careful dear, you don't want to harm the child. You shouldn’t put stress on your body like that." She lightly warns walking over towards Gilda who slows her pace next to the mare.

Gilda shakes her head at the mare giving her that trademark smirk "Relax Madam Frou-Frou my baby's fine. Griffons aren't as fragile as you ponies are. We still gotta' catch food and stuff when we’re with a kid. Not that I'm risking anything like that, but a short run or jump isn't going to do anything to my little girl."

"You sure about that?" Rarity asks hesitantly but a subtle undertone of anger laces her voice.

Gilda smile forms into a frown. "Yeah I’m sure! My big Monkey here and I have been doing research on this stuff, you better not be thinking I'm irresponsible enough to just go running around recklessly with my little chick in the oven!" She snarls back.

Woops time to step in.

"She right miss Rarity, she’s fine, believe me I've made dead certain to check the facts, as long as she doesn't do anything unnecessary like flying or climbing the baby's safe."

Rarity bites her lip an uncertain expression was plastered on her face. But after a moment she seemed sated by the confidence in your voice. "Well if you're certain. I'm sorry Gilda, I didn't mean to imply that you were irresponsible. It's just a bit of healthy concern for the child, after all if we’re to be friends, you can at least afford me to be a tad crude every now and then, especially if it comes to your own well being."

Gilda eyes the mare, demonstrably confused by her non-confrontational reaction to her own retort. She opens her beak a few times before speaking. "Heck don't sweat it. I guess I'm sorry for gettin' all up in your grill about it, I tend to be on guard around you types, it’s something I'm working on." She looks away for a second staring at the sky, though you suspected it wasn't to look at any particularly  interesting cloud.

Rarity bemused by the humility of the griffon chuckles softly to herself shaking a strand of hair away from her eyes. "I hope I'm not going to be too much of my 'type' for you?" she asks.

Gilda seems to sink down slightly, embarrassed by the word she had chosen. "Gahh sorry even when I'm apologising I mess it up. It’s just that you have that Canterlot voice that just makes everything sound worse to me."

"Worse?" Rarity inquired raising an eyebrow.

"It’s kinda', uh how do I put it?" Gilda looks down at her talons for a moment in thought her posture changing to a more subdued position as she muses over the question. "Well my teachers and stuff talked down to me with that voice, they always seemed to be harder on me than the other kids, I'd say it’s because I'm a griffon but maybe it was more than that. They used to think I was dumb, 'an irresponsible hatchling' that's what they kept callin' me. It's kinda'  why I act out, did bad things sometimes. I wanted to show that I could outsmart them every chance I could. Even if it got me in trouble more times than I wanna' admit."

Rarity gives Gilda a saddened smile looking into her eyes. "I'm sorry my dear I can't say I truly understand, I didn't have it as bad as you apparently did, but I can say that I at least sympathise, maybe not with your actions, but your reasoning." She finishes giving Gilda a caring smile that Gilda returns.

"Well that's all behind me now, I'm done caring what everyone thinks, I know I'm responsible and I'm going to prove it by taking care of my little girl here." She clutches her plump stomach smiling down at it. You stay silent but simply lean over and caress her side in agreement.
Rarity grins at the scene, looking down at Gilda's stomach before shaking her head playfully. "You know you're just like her. It’s such a shame what happened happened." Rarity mumbled mostly to herself just loud enough for you to catch.

Gilda snaps her head away from her stomach towards the mare. "What did you mean by that?"

Rarity stops in her tracks "Oh nothing darling it's simply that Rain--"

"Raires, Doc, that you!?"  A southern voice bellows from across the way.

All three heads snap forward to the voice, a friendly wave from an orange farm pony adorned with her trademark Stetson you know well greets you at entrance into the farm. She chews on a long straight bit of orchard grass, letting it sit at the side of her mouth as she leans against a piece of fence.

You couldn't help but grin at the cocky stance of the tomboyish mare. She was as close to guy company as you got, besides Big Mac. But good luck getting more than a two word conversation out of him. You didn't even know that the answer to the meaning of life was a simple “Eeyep”.
Rarity seemed more than pleased by the sight of the mare as cantered quickly over to the work pony, who tipped her hat higher up from her face exposing her emerald green eyes.

"Well I’d be damned, I musta’ died and gone to the great plains above, cos’ I see an angel right in front of me, Celestia have mercy on ma’ honest soul."

Rarity giggled into her hoof slowing her pace in an sultry almost cat like walk until she was inches from the apple mare.

"Whomever said I was an angel darling? Devils wear new disguises every day and you aren’t as honest as you let on my dear." Rarity walks past pushing her muzzle into the other mare for a quick but passionate kiss, before moving around  Applejack, hitting the farm pony lightly on the muzzle with her tail as she circled around her.

You move over to the side, slightly dumbstruck, looking down at Gilda who  was in turn looking at you with a similar expression followed by an exaggerated shrug of her shoulders.

Wow that's a hell of a greeting, I need to get out more if that's how everyone says hi.

"Wow that got hot quick, these pony don't play around!" Gilda exclaims getting a brief but passionate nod from you as you look back at the mares.

Upon hearing that, both mares faces go as red as the apples on the farm.

"Uh sorry ya’ll sometimes I forget we got company." She moves the hat further over her face, covering her eyes.

Rarity coughs into her hoof, trying to rid herself from the discomfort of the scene. "Yes we uh, well it’s just that we haven’t seen one another in a while and uh..."

Gilda starts laughing at this point and despite yourself you can't help but join in, it was a little mean spirited sure, but a little teasing never hurt anyone and you and Gilda were pretty good at the teasing thing.

Gilda looks up at you moving her eyebrows up and down in a suggestive manner. and just then you know it was on, that was the code word and with a subtle nod you were in.

"You know." Gilda starts, moving further toward the couple, circling them in a sultry stance. "I've always been a fan of apple's, strong taste, sweet and juicy you know? I could get into this one." She leans into Applejack, taking an overly exaggerated sniff of her hair before looking back at you to tell you it was your queue.

“H-h-huh?” Applejack weakly mutters.

"Now sweetie you should treat yourself more often, you know that something more savory is better for you, how about this one?" You walk over towards Rarity kneeling next to her and cupping her cheek. "Soft as a marshmallow and just as sweet I bet, I think we can work with this one." You quickly wink back at Gilda as she bits her talon trying desperately to bust into a fit of laughter as Rarity’s entire coat turns into a fiery inferno of red blush that could match the very sun.

"You know big guy I can't decide maybe we should toss a coin over them." She faces her head towards you but her pricing amber eyes never leave the mares.

"I-I-I beg your pardon?" Rarity just about mumbles out.

You scratch the stumble of your chin in mock thought "Ooor, you know maybe we could try both? it looks like a two for one deal here anyway."

"Hmm maybe you're right sweetie." The Griffon purrs her head back to Applejack who was mouth agape and staring into the distance. Obviously completely unprepared for your two pronged attack. Rarity was faring little better.

Gilda takes both of their paralyzed muzzles and turns them to her own face, with a soft wicked smile. "If you want some real fun you know where to find us, I love a little wickedness and I bet madam Frou-Frou and miss Cowgirl here does to." She winks and gives both of their cheeks a quick peck.

And there it was, mission accomplished. Now for the best part you and Gilda walk around the stunned mares, you grab onto Gilda's flank as she wraps her tail around your leg.

From any other perspective it looked like the deal was deadly serious. But from the front you were both scrunching your beak and mouth collectively doing absolutely anything you could to not break down then and there.

"Oh dude, I can't hold it any longer, are they still looking!?" Gilda holds her breath as a chuckle escapes her beak.
"Shh this is the best part, don't look, wait till we get to the other side."

"Okay okay I'll uh, just think about unfunny stuff like paint drying, uh grass growing, ah and...oh heck I can feel the white one staring at my flank right now!”

That was it, a little giggle escaped your mouth which caused Gilda to chuckle which in turn caused you to fall down laughing and for her to promptly land on you both yours and her cheeks filled with tears of joy and laughter those therapeutic tears of pure laughter washing as sweet as any candy, it only got sweeter when you and Gilda managed to catch the punch line you were waiting for.

A southern voice shaken but not as stirred as the other mare finally questions to her significant other in a fairly curious tone. "Y-You think their serious?"

It took several minutes for you two to breathe right.







After a while you finally collect yourself, rubbing your eyes, letting the droplets of joy wash off your cheek via your sleeve. You pick Gilda back up from her prone position as a pair of angry blushing faces stare down at you, you mumble apologies between breaths.

You hope they didn't take it too badly, you and Gilda had done far worse for lesser reasons, not that you were going to let slip that piece of information.

It was all in the name of fun anyway. A healthy way for you and Gilda to let out a bit of frustration and get your own back every now and then and unfortunately right then it was on your new friends this time.

Both tails intertwined, Rarity and Applejack walk off ahead of you as Gilda leans against your leg her beak splitting her face in a massive grin, you know a proper apology was in order, but for now you were happy to let her have her fun.

Squinting your eyes after, walking up another seemingly endless ocean of green, you shield your vision with a hand, peering through Celestia’s rays of light. Spotting the group across the field next to a simple watering hole, that Applejack used to let her animals drink when she would let them roam and graze. The small party seemed to be in full swing, the colourful figures conversing together happily on the other side of the field. You even spot two fillies running off towards the water’s edge, a small purple drake running quickly after them as the echoes of their childish laughter ricochets off the many farm hills that encircle you.

Moving closer to the groups you feel Gilda tail constricts further around you. Taking the obvious sign of nervousness you reach down softly stroking her wither. You don’t want to address her apprehension out loud, you didn't want to take away from the confidence she normally tries to put up as a front to hide any real emotion she might be feeling.

Simply happy that she would share this subtle message at all, you do what you can to comfort her as she slows her walk leaning into your lower hip with more gusto while simultaneously keeping her appearance of nonchalant bravado as she scans the party.

Twilight is the first one to pick up on your imminent approach. Waving happily to all four of you, she stand up from the other group subtly flanked by your demure little boss, who leaves the two elder Apple family members on the red and white tartan blanket as they meet you halfway.

"Hey AJ, Rarity, how are you?"

"We’re fine Twi, though I think our guest are more comfortable then I took them for, Their a might playful, you coulda’ told me they were swinge--" Applejack tried to finish her sentence but found a swift and not to subtle kick to the ribs from her significant other made her words much harder to voice.

"We are fine darling, nothing to worry about, I told you a little sweet talk would coax them out of that hermit cave of a home." She coughs putting on an air of grandeur as she spoke next. "With that said, I present to you our guests of honour."

All four of the pony's turn to you and Gilda. It seems silly in retrospect, you’ve both meet all four of them at least once before, but seeing them all together was created a completely different perspective. It almost felt like some sort of intervention, then again you most likely won't going to start your introduction with 'Hello I'm a human and I'm an alcoholic.'

You throw out a soft “Hello” instead, Gilda simply nods at the group as they move closer towards you.

"My o' my Doc y'all a little soft spoken now ain’t ya’, that's a change?" Applejack retorted ignoring the glare Rarity was going her.

"Are you both doing okay? We were starting to worry you two wouldn’t show up." Fluttershy asks, ignoring her Apple picking friends question.
You sigh "We had some... things that came up, as it happens."

Fluttershys face lights up in concern as she lifts off from the ground up to your face. "Oh my what happened to your eye, it’s all swollen!" she squeaks out, already fussing over you.

"Buck heads happened!" Gilda growls, looking at you the rage in her eyes returning.

"What do you mean?" Twilight questions moving closer to you as you softly take Fluttershys hoof away from your eye, as she continues her concerned examination.

"Nothing, nothing just an accident, you don't need to concern yourself with it." You answer back in a monotone and tired voice.
Rarity tilts her head to the side butting her lip in thought. "I certainly hope you’re not referring to the Princesses my dear? That whole situation did seem a bit tense when I came by."

You open your mouth to speak but are quickly cut off.

"Wait, the Princesses are in Ponyville!?" Twilight yells with complete (and loud) shock and a bit of crazed glee causing all around to shield their ears from the high pitch squeal.

"Yes darling, calm down, they said they would be around shortly as it happens.” Rarity answers removing her hooves from her large equine ears.

From the insane twitching look in her eye that you had already come to recognise as her 'crazy face' you could tell this wasn't exactly good news.

"They’re coming here!" She screams.

"They said they'd be over in a bit." You answer resentfully, brought back to that moment with Luna not too long ago.

Twilight looks back at the farm frantically. "Why didn't you tell me they were coming, we can't bring them here looking like this, this place looks horrible!"

"Hey!" Applejack growls.

"We can't just let the princess's walk in here like this we need banners, decorations, oh horse apples Spike, Spike!" Twilight yells her hair already frazzled as she flies up racing towards the group of little filly’s.

"Pumpkin you know I love ya, but you know how she gets with the princesses, couldn't ya’ have said that a little more, I don't know, subtle like?" Applejack turns back to Rarity who laughs sheepishly, a blush comes to her face.

"To be fair, I sort of did something like that when I found out." You add diplomatically.

Rarity sighs, "I'll go calm her down dear, why don't you and the rest go over there and settle down, this might take a while."

"Sounds good pumpkin." Applejack pecks her on the cheek, before untangling her tail from Rarity’s as she begins to race after the crazed Alicorn.

You, Gilda and Fluttershy follow the farm mare back towards the group, as you exchange pleasantries with Fluttershy who still hadn’t stopped fussing over you. As you walk you begin to talk about her animals to stop her fussing over your face. As predicted it works almost instantly as you asks how some of the ones you had worked on were doing, now that they were beginning to recuperate back at her cottage.

As you approach the large quilt that comfortably housed the other guests and refreshments you choose to sit on the corner close to but not in the middle of the group. Crossing your legs Gilda slump down at your side, resting diagonally against your side so as not to put too much pressure on her own stomach.

"Granny, Mac, ya’ll know Doc here, but I'd like ya ta meet his other half, Ms Gilda." Applejack points a hoof over to you and Gilda as you nod and express pleasantries.

"Hooooey! My eyes must be getting’ rusty, is that gal a griffon." Granny Smith inquires with unrestrained enthusiasm.

Gilda raises an eyebrow turning to the apple family matriarch "Yeah I am, you got problem with that?"

The group takes an awkward pause as the old mare leans back in surprise blinking a few times before erupting in a loud cackle. "Haha shucks, she's a feisty one ain't she, reckon she's a handful in the hay, ay Doc?" Granny cackles again as the rest of the group goes a subtle but noticeable red.

"Granny!" Both Mac and Applejack yell collectively.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Gilda muses to herself.

"I honestly have no idea." You reply earnestly.

Granny Smith waves her hand lightly back at Gilda "I'm messin’ with ya dearie', I’m just a little surprised is all, we ain't never seen a griffon in Ponyville, let alone on this humble apple farm."

"Actually Miss Smith, Gilda here's been living in Ponyville for two years and a bit years now." Fluttershy states quietly, with a welcoming smile.
"Truly? well I'll be a zebras uncle, why ain’t you shown yourself around girl I ain't heard nothing about ya till just now."

A sigh leaves both your and Gilda mouths as Gilda responds "It’s a long story, maybe I'll tell it later." She answers solemnly.

Applejack places a hoof gently on her grandmother gaining her attention. "That's what we're tryin' to do now Granny, same with Doc here, both them want ta’ go out more now that  Gilda here and the Doc are havin' a foal."

"A girl to be specific." you add, with a touch of glee.

Granny Smith shakes her head in amazement even Big Macs maw is fully open which you add to one of your list of achievements. "You don't say! just how in the hay is that supposed ta’ work then, less Doc here's been puttin’ up a disguise all these years."

You jokingly ponder that thought for a moment before dismissing the idea. "Ha, no me and Gilda are just as surprised as you are, believe me it was quite a shock."

"Yeah something to faint over." Gilda chuckles as you give her a deadpan glare.

"Who’s having a filly?" A loud childish voice calls out behind you. You turn around seeing two small filly’s with quizzical stares look back at you. One you know fairly well, stands in front with a large red bow on her head a smile plastered on her muzzle. Her other white and curly haired companion seems far less enthusiastic, hiding behind her friend trying shrinking down, trying herself as small as she could. Even though with your height advantage you  could have seen her even if she was in a five foot hole in the ground.

"Hey Applebloom, how you doing?" You ask happily.

"I'm as good as can be Doc, who's your friend, are ya’ll both having a baby filly!?" she states enthusiastically wagging her tail.

You lean down ruffling her hair playfully as she giggles and tries to swat your arm away from her head "As a matter of fact we are, Applebloom this is my girlfriend Gilda." you gesture over to Gilda who shuffles slightly next to you to get a better view of Applebloom.

"G-Girlfriend?" The shyer pony behind Applebloom calls out.

Gilda smirks "He means marefreind kid, monkey keeps putting human words when he means other things, trust me it's cute at first but it gets annoying real quick."

You cast your gaze back down to Gilda with a mocking harrumph "Well excuse me princess, you get thrown into a different world with talking ponies and see how well you adjust to their Lexicons after only two years."

Gilda rolls her eyes looking back at the filly's. "Well my chicks at least gonna’ be easier to understand than he is, nowhere near as annoying either." She smirks before grimacing slightly. "Though she's been kicking pretty friggin’ hard right now, she hasn't stopped since we left."
"Has she now?" You smile down to her stomach. "You take it easy on Mama now you hear? She only pretends to be tough sweetie, so don't go hurting her."

"Like heck I ain't tough!" Gilda yells at you.

"Can I touch it?" Applebloom asks innocently up at Applejack.

"Don't look at me sugarcube it's up to her mama." Applejack replied with a bemused smirk, tilting her hat up.

Applebloom flicks back to Gilda with pleading eyes and a pouting bottom lip. It was perhaps one of the most adorable sights you saw in a long while. You probably would have given her your wallet if she asked you with that look.

Gilda looks hesitant for moment, never one for being touched, you can see in her eyes, as she begins to weight the thought in her head before sighing quietly. "Sure kid, just be careful okay."

"Yes ma'am" Applebloom salutes walking over to Gilda side as she lifts up her wing for better access.

"I can't feel anything" Bloom bemoans after a few seconds.

Gilda chuckles "That's because you're on my liver kid. You need to move lower down like this." Taking the filly's hoof in her claw, she guides it down towards the lower end of her stomach leaving it in what you surmised was the most prominent area.

It takes a moment but you can tell by the look on Applebloom face that she felt something. "Wooow!" Bloom exclaims almost retracting her hoof out of shock causing a round of laughter from the group as they watch the little filly face fully light up with wonder.

"You want a feel as well kid?" Gilda asks to the other filly who hasn't stopped staring at you.

"N-no thank you." She answers weakly.

"Common Sweetie Belle ya’ll gotta’ feel this it’s real nifty." Applebloom encourages.

"I-Im good." The filly answers looking once more back at you as she circles around you towards the apple matriarch and Big Mac.

"Common youngin’ ain't like ya'll get another chance like this." Granny  states encouraging the foal with a hoof.

Thy filly only whimpers lightly never taking her eyes away from you. You breath lightly huffing through your nostrils, that was a look you've seen before, it wasn't Gilda that was causing the filly to hesitate.

"Its fine Miss Smith, let her be." You say to her, more too end the conversation, for both your sakes.

She scrunches her face up, before shrugging "Fair enough Doc, but stop callin’ me Miss Smith ya’ll known me long enough to dispense with that kinda’ formality.”

You smirk “alright uh G-Granny?” you say, a little weirded out by referring to her like your relative, even if it was her real first name.

“Okay Bloom that's enough give the Missy some personal space." Applejack calls out to Bloom who moans in disappointment, moving her hoof away reluctantly causing another round of chuckles from the group.







A good time passes and the (parley) picnic seems to be going well in your opinion, once Twilight, Spike and Rarity re-join the picnic that was. A sheepish apology from Twilight and the group seemed content. Caught up in the prospect of the other princesses visiting they all seem to have forgotten about your black eye thankfully. For the most part you kept quiet, observing from the side lines.  Occasionally cracking out a few stories, one liners or answering some questions directed at you.

However despite the pleasant atmosphere everyone around seemed to emit you couldn't find the enthusiasm to join in. Constantly looking over your shoulder at the horizon you were waiting for the figures to cross the hills to take away all that you had worked for over such a wicked misunderstanding.

Never had you thought you would have to be afraid of Luna. She was your first real friend here in this world after all, after you came here and she evidently returned a mere week before, both of you were pretty much fishes out of water in this world. It had given you something to bond over that was for sure. Though she did still treat you more like her beloved pet than a friend, it was something you were working on.

But now her misguided ideas would spell doom on your happy family. Biting your lip you decided that now was the time to tell Gilda. You had given the others enough time that leaving now wouldn't seem to odd or suspicious.  You needed to explain everything quickly in a secluded area, it was like a plaster it needed to be ripped off quickly to ease the pain, it was the best line of defence you could have at saving Gilda. if you could tell her you could prepare an alibi, you just needed somewhere quiet to do it. That was the first obstacle.

For the most part the group was fixed on its new member. Though Gilda was obviously hesitant at first she quickly warmed up, after seeing the genuine nature of the mares and with encouragement from her friend Fluttershy, she quickly became the focal point of the group, becoming more adventurous and bold as the minutes pressed on.

It impressed you to no end how the group could forgive the problems that had arisen from Gilda’s first trip to the town. Though Applejack seemed a little more reserved around the griffon she was at least keeping any hostility out of the conversation, perhaps out of politeness to you. But like everything else it was a start.

After a while the fillies were off playing with Spike again somewhat thankfully in Sweetie Belles case you consider. You decide at that point you could break out the moonshine from the bottom of your saddle, fishing the corked bottle from the bag you pick up a few glasses from around the blanket and ask each member individually if they wanted a glass.

The ever proud Apple members presented with their own creation were more than happy to sample the bottle they sold you.

Nothing seals bonds like a drop of liquid courage.

Twilight Rarity and Fluttershy declined instead opting for a glass of wine that Rarity had in her terms 'Scandalously snuck out from her home.' Gilda obviously opted for a simple glass of apple juice instead.

You thought maybe it was a little insensitive to drink when Gilda couldn't even if it was to calm your shaking nerves, but she none the less insisted, explaining that you don't relax enough anyway and maybe it'll in her words "get the stick out your butt." Not that she ever drank anyway she said it makes pony's idiots. But you know she was sort of talking from experience, because to say she was a bit of light weight was an understatement.

Or feather weight haha, man I need to call her that more often. The other quips are getting a bit stale.

As you look down at your wristwatch you are reminded of the time limit you were afforded, already you thinks it’s time. You turn back to the group as Gilda come to the end of her story. A story you probably should have advised her to keep under her hat around the more faint hearted party goes.

"So how did you get out!?" Rarity asks leaning forward towards Gilda along with Fluttershy and Twilight who were both enraptured by Gilda’s tale.

"Well we were surrounded by the two lugs, but while they were too busy arguing about which one would take the money, I managed to flip the table sending the cards and chips flying everywhere. Everyone around was too busy trying to pick up the poker chips that fell off the table at that point and the bouncers got swarmed by the other casino goers. Got out by the skin of my beak thanks to these wings I can tell you." 

Gilda gives a cocky laugh at the memory before looking down at her wings stretching them out to their limit. "Heck, I can't wait to use these puppy's again."

"So they tried to arrest ya, and ya, bolted is what ya’ll were sayin?'" Applejack sums up clearly not impressed.

"Well duh! you see what they do to pony's that get caught, I wasn’t gonna’ be on the blunt side of a hammer to the claw that was for sure!" Gilda argues back.

"Well I can't say that I agree with your actions, but that was a truly scandalous tale." Rarity adds clearly not sure whether or not to be impressed or disapproving.

"Hey I needs the bits I was broke, Los Pegasus is a pretty rough place and I wasn't exactly doing anything wrong I was just the look out, Lucky Strike was the one that was supposed to count the cards." She folds her claws into her chest with a huff.

At this point Twilight seems to be looking in the same way as Rarity and Fluttershy was just starting with her mouth agape. However a chuckle from Granny Smith breaks everyone’s attention away from griffoness as the old mare spills a bit of her drink that she had been chugging a little to liberally in your opinion.

"Ah that ain't nothin', you should have seen me and Vine back in the day, we could clear out a poker table in our sleep."

Applejack stares wide eyed at the mare." Granny, please tell me that's the shine talking!'"

"Ah lighten’ up Applejack it ain’t illegal, The Missys right Los Pegasus is a mean old place. Those crooks a'll take ya for the whole pot ‘iffin’ you ain't careful."

"I can't believe what I'm hearin’ right now, what would Granpappy say if he heard this, he'd be spinning in his grave!"

Applejacks anger was meet with another cackle from the tipsy mare. "And just who do ya’ think  taught me to count cards Missy?"

You cough uncomfortably putting your glass down. Okay this is just getting weird, now's probably the best time to slip away.

You lean down to Gilda ear. "Sweetie I need to talk to you about something important, you mind?"

Gilda who was busy laughing at the mare and the uncomfortable reaction the group was having from it, turned back to you with a befuddled expression. Obviously reading the serious undertone in your voice, despite your best efforts to disguise it.

"Uh, sure big guy." she answers uncertainly.

"Hey everyone we'll be back in a minute, me and Gilda have to talk about something. "

Twilight was the first to speak while the others were still busy with the old mare. "Is everything okay?"

God I hope so.

"Don't worry about it just uh, baby stuff, kind of personal if you catch my drift."

"Do you need any help?" Fluttershy asks politely, being Gilda's new midwife it wasn't that weird that she would be inclined to help, even with something that would be deemed personal.

"No thanks Shy, it's nothing too big we can't handle, don't worry I'd let you know if it’s something big." You reluctantly lie to her.

That seems to sate everyone baring one slightly drunk mare.

"Now ya’ youngin’s better not be trying no funny business on this farm, that hays for Eatin' not sleepin' on."

Your eyes shoot open as you blush lightly, Gilda seems far more amused than that probably wanting to start another game off again.

"Granny! Stop your fussin’, sorry Doc that's the moonshine talking.” She apologises before turning back to her elder You need to slow down."
The enormous red stallion know as Big Mac steps in, taking the glass away from the elder mare.

"I ain't as think as you drunk I am Big Mac, now gimme back that glass!"

"Eenope." Was her only response.

Applejack face hoofs before looking back at you. "Ya'll better get now while the gettin’s good, if you need to do uh whatever you need to do you can go to the barn you ain't gonna’ have any trouble there Doc."

"Thanks Jack it won't take long."

I hope.

============

Walking towards the barn you muse over exactly what you were going to say to Gilda. Its been at least twenty minutes since walking but  the idea formed was still solid, but without any evidence you didn't know how you were going to convince the monarchs that she was innocent. Luna thought that your love for Gilda had left you delusional at best, so simply explaining the situation was pretty much out.

Celestia was less likely to see reason either. Though she was the more rational sibling, you always felt some sort of an inherent bias from her. Call it paranoia you just didn't think any good would come from pleading your case to her either.

Then there was the ponies themselves. The princesses were always so proud of their charge, ever so far as to refer to them like her children "my little pony's" she had called them many times in your presence. Would she even begin to believe that some of her little ponies were not the four legged angels she had been lead to believe?

It stood to reason that most were nice or at least neutral as far as you could tell, most were simply fearful of what they didn't understand, a certain Zebra would testify to that point. It was understandable, even spending two years in this town one did not simply accept a new sentient life form off the bat. Perhaps it was your fault, spending all your time locked away working, reading or sleeping you didn't exactly do everything you could to accept the new location and acclimate with its residents that had occupied your new home town.

Even with Gilda it had taken the better part of a year to work out her intentions were not just platonic. Fair enough, the girl had a funny way of showing her affections, but the point still stood. There had to be a balance and right now things were nowhere near harmonious.

It doesn't matter you thought. Right now all that matters is that she's safe, both of them.

You reach the other side of the field relatively quickly. Gilda had been rubbing up against you all the way to the barn, her tail lifting the back of your shirt and vet coat so that she had a better grip on your back, you don't feel the need to question the caressive almost suggestive touches she is giving you.  You're too busy in thought to really be distracted by them anyway. Gilda detaches her tail from you as you pry open one of the barn doors.

However she playfully shoves you out the way quickly, just as you get enough of the door open to fit through.

"Jesus girl take it easy, you nearly took me out." you yells slumping against the door as she rushes into the darkness.

"Oh take it easy buddy, you aren't the only one who's been waiting for this!" The disembodied voice calls back as you lose sight of the griffoness.

What? she knows about Luna!?

You peer into the blackness, a large stack  hay bales and farming plows are stacked neatly around the room and  on the floor like a mini labyrinth. You push the door open slightly more to let in as much light as possible.

"Gilda what are you doing? Can you come out where I can see you please."

"And give up the hunt? I thought you knew me better than that." she purrs, the disembodied voice seems to echo all around you not giving you a particular location to focus on.

"Gilda don't play around, this is serious!" You yell into them darkness getting more than a little frustrated considering the time restraint. Taking another step you vault over one of the stacked hay bales.

"Oooh serious, I like it! You want to be the dom for a change? well you got to find me first my dorky monkey." The disembodied voice chuckles.

You focus your senses, waiting for her to give away her position. But as you do this you begin to hear one of the many farm tools chink and cling together on the opposite side of the barn.

Taking the initiative, you race over to that side. However the darkness stops you from keeping a real footing and you manage to just about catch you balance on another stack of hay bales as they wobble unsteadily above you.

At the peak of your tolerance you finally snap. "Gilda for fuck sake stop playing around! I'm not trying to fuck you, you're in danger, please come out no--"

However before the rest of the words leave your lips your draw to a hushed and frantic conversation at the other side of the barn wall, and you know instantly that its not one of the girls.

“I saw it go in here!”

“Are you sure!”

“Yeah that freaky thing went in with the griffon.”

“I bet it’s trying to eat it too.”

“Nah I’m certain that Griffon is helping it out I’m sure, come on we can deal with it when we capture it!”

Whatever your previous thoughts were they were gone now, it didn’t take much guess work to figure out that ‘it’ was you and by the tone of the groups voice and numerous sounds of hooves rushing to the barn you suspect the group to be very large indeed.

You don’t take your gaze away from the origin of the noise, eyeing the barn door you begin to walk backwards facing all the while searching for a weapon or a decent hiding place, preferably both

“Gilda, Gilda where are you.” You harshly whisper, frantically turning towards any unseen spot you had yet to inspect.

However before you could back away further something grabs your shirt. The surprise of the action taking you completely off guard and causes you to lose your footing, falling back into whatever had grasped you.

Landing behind a few bales of hay, you spin around to meet the instigator, hand firmly clenched into a fist ready to grapple the assailant down. However you stop instantly as the feathery figure comes into view.

“Oh thank god Gild-“ you pause, looking at the figure, this wasn’t Gilda the lower contents of its face were masked by a grey and tattered bandana that covered its features. Its bronze armour placed around strategic points on its body giving it just enough room to make quick evasive moves if it needed to. You look up to the top part of its face, also concealed by an angled bronze helmet that hid everything but its amber eyes. The wear and tear marks on its helm looked akin to the tattered bandana it used to hid its features.  But you knew that figure well enough from your time with her to know immediately what you were looking at.

It was another Griffon.

You open your mouth to speak but the griffon grabs it before you could, bringing a claw up to the beak it shushes you before pointing to the barn door. Turning back you catch a glimpse of the group, fifteen, you count fifteen ponies, a myriad of Unicorns, earth and Pegasi ponies, each one entering the room with a determined and sullen expression as they peer into the barn.

Frantically turning back, you stare at the griffon. “Tell me where Gilda is now!” you venomously hiss.

The griffon turns around looking across the top of the barn, taking a few seconds before turning back to you, only to point to the top of the barn. Above you see a landing inside the barn just atop of where you and this griffon were, instantly you spot her. You question how the griffon had spotted her so quickly but the answer comes quick, Griffons could of course see very well in the dark, once again you had worked that out with Gilda, it was how she had been able to so expertly grab you in time before those Timber wolves did all those months ago.

Squinting your eyes you see the panicked gaze of your other half peers down at you. She looks scared not just for her but for you, you imagine your expression isn’t much better as you watch her flick her gaze from the group back to you constantly.

“Okay be careful everypony, it could be anywhere!”

“What if it's above use, monkeys are really good at climbing.” One of the stallions panicky yell, before being shushed.

“Quite Green, that filly-nabber could be anywhere, we can’t let it get the jump on us.”

Filly-nabber? Wait were they talking about Scootaloo?

“I don’t think this is a good idea Snow, maybe we should go back and get more ponys.”

“No, we can’t go now, if we leave it, it could take more children, you want it taking your colt, you saw it with that orange filly if we don’t get it now, it could escape!”

A sigh is heard in response. “You're right, Snow, if the town isn’t going to help then it’s up to us.”

“That’s the spirit, if we cripple it and get it away from town they’ll eventually  realise that we were doing them a favour. This is for the greater good. Now come on that monster could be anywhere!”

Okay, so diplomacy is out…

Now it had happened, the worst case scenario. In taking the filly into town  you had given them the evidence needed to finally convict you. You knew you should have woken her and avoided the centre of town but she looked so peaceful and vulnerable, curled up in your arms. On the one hand you kick yourself for not seeing something like this. But then again, you never expected that they would act like this. You truly had become the Frankenstein’s monster of Ponyville.

You only hope it didn’t end the same way.

The griffon shakes you away from your thoughts, grabbing you roughly by the arm pulling you towards the edge of the hay bales towards the landing. You have no idea why you were following the Griffon having literally no idea if you should trust, he, she…it? But at this moment you had no choice in the mater and the simple act of the griffon hiding with you made you surmise that for now at least it was on your side.

You hear some more hoofs go around the barn, as the more courageous ponies begin to excavate the crevices of the barn. Ducking down further, you try to work out just how you could get out of this. It seems the griffon is doing the same thing, both you and the griffon were still far too far away from the ladder to the landing. Even with a quick dash only one of you would make it up in time.

You needed a distraction, you could throw something to distract them but that would only last for a few seconds what you needed was something to temporarily incapacitate them, something large and heavy like the…

That’s it!

You begin to stand up, but the griffon pulls you back giving you a look like you just went insane. You point to the stacks of hay bales you were hiding behind, and then give it a light shoulder barge hammering home your plan. it just about went over your head but to the griffon and the pony’s it was a good three or four feet taller

The griffon examines the hay for a second and then back at you before raising a claw giving you the universal ‘one second’ action. Turing behind itself the griffon grabs what looks like a old lantern. Snatching it into its grasp the griffon turns and slams it onto the floor creating a enormous smashing sound that echoes across the room.

“There, I hear something!” A pony bellows, rushing over to the area with his compatriots.

As the numerous sounds of the hooves grow ominously louder, you turn back to the griffon and nod, simultaneously both you and it shoves into the hay, feeling it dislodge slightly, again and again you both strike the hay with your shoulders as the noses get closer and closer only at the precipice of the situation does the hay finally collapse. The panicked shrieks from the ponies behind the bay confirm the success of the plan. You almost pat yourself on the back for that one but now was not the time for self-congratulations.

Hearing the groans of the group that had been trapped under it you waste no time rushing over towards the ladder. The griffon launches itself up past you flying over to the landing and next to the wall.

You don’t risk looking back, but already you can hear some of the stronger Earth ponies push the bales from their bodies with deep grunts. Almost slipping on the wooden steps you finally reach the top.

Immediately Gilda is on you pulling you into a bone crushing hug, which you return.

“Oh thank Griffonia, you’re okay, what going on, who are they, who is that!?” Gilda accusingly yells pointing to the Griffon, who isn’t paying either of you any attention, as it surveys the landing for any escape route.

“No time to explain, but the griffon helped me and it's obviously not with them, so I’m inclined to trust it.” You answer back, looking down to the group who are slowly but surely freeing themselves from your improvised trap.

The armoured griffon rushes over to your side pointing to a part of the wall. Instantly you see the rays of sunlight coming from behind the stacks of barrels; it was the upper barn window. However it was blocked by the barrels, six large ones to be specific.

The griffon takes the indicative walking towards the barrels, grabbing the top one and like the hay before shoving it off the top of the other one to the floor. You rush over to its side, straining with all your might against the barrels. They were beyond heavy each one felt like you were ramming against a wall and with the same effect. However like the hay before, the barrels slowly begin to tumble down.

As the last of the top row of barrels cascades to the floor with a enormous thud. You want to cheer but suddenly you hear Gilda behind you.

“Guys, we got company!” Gilda yells by the ladder.

Both you and the griffon look back to the position, before turning back to each other.

“Ill deal with them, get her out of here, I don’t care where but get her to safety, please!” You beg to the griffon, who nods in agreement, redoubling its efforts to open the way to the window. It was your only real exit you all had, especially once those unicorns were free. You were certain that Gilda and the griffon couldn’t fly around them, this was your only way out for certain.

Racing forward you stop by the ladder. Most of the ponies were now free, helping the ones still trapped and the ones that were not were now climbing the ladder, it would not be an exaggeration to say they were visibly pissed off now.

You first thought was to try and shove the ladder down but immediately give up on the idea once it was clear it was bolted to the wood.

“Here!” Gilda yells at your side.

You turn round just in time to catch a bucket she had thrown your way. Catching it you immediately throw it down at one of the assailants, wincing slightly as it slams against the stallions head, sending him tumbling back down onto the hay, unconscious.

Another pony takes his place instantly, again another Earth pony. Once more Gilda throws whatever she thought would help and once again you throw it down at the pony stifling him but not dislodging him like before.

Again and again Gilda throws down heavy farming tools and you launch them at any pony stubborn enough to try climbing or any Pegasus attempting to fly up, the attack goes on for what feels like minutes as time losses meaning. However as you turn back towards Gilda once more, you find her nowhere to be seen. Pancaking and thinking that perhaps one of the Pegasus had reached her, you frantically turn to the armoured griffon.

However as you do you see it dragging Gilda towards the window, with her fighting the griffon all the way.

Gilda pulls the Griffon's claw away from her beak, “Get the buck off me, I need to help him!” She screams turning to you with pleading eyes the panic in her face sending an almost palpable shock through your body.

“Go Gilda save the baby, I’ll keep them occupied get away now, trust me I'll be fine, I promise.” It was a lie to be sure, you were unsure of any outcome where you came out of this fine, but right now it was your job to get her the hell away from here. You were not going to let any of those ponies near here, even if it meant forcing her away.

Once again Gilda fight the griffon who is dragging her towards the now open window screaming in protest the entire time

"Gilda you don't have time, get out, save the child I'm not important! "

You can already see the tears in her eyes as she wells up.

"Don't you dare say that!" She screams back.

You feel something grab your leg one of the ponies on the ladder grabs onto your foot pulling you down you land on the floor quickly managing to kick the pony in its muzzle as you fell. Grabbing for anything to give you leverage you pick up a rake by your side and swinging it into the pony's flank driving it from the ladder and onto the floor.

“You don’t have time, go!”  You yell back grunting as you feel one of the Pegasus land on your back. You turn, throwing it off and flinging it onto the ground at your side. Not wasting any time you place it into a headlock using your body as leverage over the Stallion, you slam the Stallion's head a few times onto the wood stunning the stallion enough for you to look back up.

You see the armoured griffon had had enough of Gilda struggling. Jumping onto her and locking all four of its appendages around Gilda it lifts her into the air with its powerful wings before descending off the windows edge.

“Nooo get the buck off me!” Gilda screams again but to no avail.

Another pony lands by your side, bucking you in the ribs, you grunt as the electrify agony of the blow goes through your rib cage, almost knocking the air from your lungs. Struggling still you keep your hold of the top of the ladder grabbing the rake and spearing the blunted wooden end of it into the pony’s chin and down it goes with a painful thud. You quickly turn to the pony below you and repeat the action landing right between its eyes you achieve similar results.

However despite your best efforts to get up another force grabs your boot, the tingling of the ponies magic tendril instantly informing you that the unicorns were now free. Straining with all you might, you begin to pull away however another tendril latches onto your clothes and soon another joins onto your other leg and then  your coat. Slowly, inch by inch you feel your grip loosen on the wood as you grit your teeth and feel the burn of each muscle desperately clinging onto the wood.

However despite your best efforts you begin to give, still kicking and punching the ponies below you see a Pegasus lands next to you, a sickening smile on his muzzle as he rears his hind hoofs and turns "I'm going to enjoy this monkey." He whispers before slamming them into your chest, sending you flying off the ladder.

Even in this moment the only thing that is at the forefront of your mind was the strained cry and angered grunts of Gilda as shes was pulled away from you, it was beyond heart wrenching. That very well could be the last time you ever hear here again. It was a bittersweet feeling, at least they were safe. The baby still had a chance even if there was a chance you wouldn't ever see it. She would still have her mama.

You could live with that.
> The Pain Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A famous author once coined the phrase "If getting drunk was how people forgot they were mortal, then hangovers were how they remembered." Thought the subject itself was not entirely true to this predicament, it held similar connotations, if you replaced 'drunk' with 'medically induced coma' and 'hangover' with 'waking up in blinding pain'.

A faint beeping was the first thing to invade your senses, the constant irritating beeping at first an alien, strange and faint noise was now the only thing your addled could focus on.

Beeping...noise? You’re barely conscious mind could surmise only string a limited cognitive thought, before aforementioned blinding pain blocked out any other.

Grimacing you clutch the sheets around you tightly constricting your fingers into the soft fabric, as you try and suck in a deep breath greedily through your dried and cracked lips. However immediately as you try to breathe in you feel something logged deep in your throat, this unknown object stops you from preform that most basic function.

Feel the nausea and animalistic panic of being denied this most basic need, you launch your body upright from where you were laying, opening your eyes as they blurrily gaze downwards to your mouth. 

That was your first mistake.

The action follows the reaction and as you shoot up the intense pain from before almost reaches a new level that cause you to almost pass out instantly, the nauseous feeling from before was bad, now however you knew with all certainty you were about to throw up. 

The terror in your mind however creates the impetus you need to grab whatever was blocking your throat. Retching from your action you pull and pull on the object as the long slippery translucent tube slowly, painfully slowly, as it slithers out from your throat.

You feel every torturous second of the pain and sickness, as you drag what you deduce is an assisted breathing tube from your wind pipe. Finally the last bit of it exits your mouth with a flat hissing side and not a second too late, as you fling it down and lean over the bed, too expel your stomach contents all across the floor.

It take a while, as the acid burns your throat like Greek fire, but after the initial torrent of bile and blood from you leaves, it finally turns to wrenching and spiting. You deducing that there was little in your stomach to expel. Finally finished you spit a few more times gasping for breath trying to ride out the burning feeling of acidic bile and the metallic and salty taste of blood in your mouth as the reactionary tears and sweat from the pain leak down to your cheeks and forehead collectively. 

Catching your breath now, somewhat perversely happy that that was the last of it, you slump back down on the bed. Coughing violently and bringing the only hand that seemed to be responsive to your throat massaging it softly. Though it does little to actually quell the pain the redundant message feels good none-the-less.

Every part of you seemed to hurt and what little comfort you could gain from removing the tube was tarnished by the sickly cough that seemed to shake every painful limb and bone in your body. It felt like someone had put you through a tumble dryer and then threw you down an elevator shaft.

So yeah, it hurt a bit.

The more you coughed the more it brought pain and the more pain in your body the more you seemed to cough. It was a vicious cycle and even the bitter irony of it did little to lighten your mood.

Being a vet, you got use to morbid jokes and moments, the humour was a type of coping mechanism, like that of a doctor or anyone close to death. You tried not to let the rare but often deep feelings of misery from losing an animal get to you. But even for you, this irony was not funny at all.

Taking any sort of silver lining from the situation, you deliriously and sub-consciously notice your eyesight was subtly returning to a somewhat normal capacity. Also now that you thought about it the pain was at least some indication you weren't dead, that or you hoped the higher plains of on high didn't make the passers on still feel the pain that had led them to their demise, because really that would just be unfair. 

Then again it could be hell. Boy would that be a kick in the sack.

Focusing your sub conscious away from such metaphysical debates and other unpleasantness, you are not to quickly drawn back to another pressing matter of the body. 

So… goddamn… thirsty Was you’re second coherently thought.

You take the initiative, casting your gaze around the room, searching for a glass of water, to wash away the metallic taste.

Casting your eyes around the sides of the bed, you look for any liquid refreshment you could, careful not to move your head around too much, you notice two things.

One. Obviously this was not your room, you don't usually leave a heart monitor and an empty I.V drip on your night stand. 
You weren't (that) kinky.

Two. While there wasn't any water to be found, there was one thing clearly littered the room, cards and flowers... and a god damn lot of them.
You were almost hard pressed to see the very furniture in the room, even most of the floor has cards flowers and...

Is that a... giant stuffed Minotaur with a veterinarian coat on it? What the hell?

The scene befuddles you as a million tiny questions shoot through your mind, like a torrent of rain, and though it hurts, you try and think back to the last thing that happened.

Okay, okay deep breath, so uh… We went to the field for... drinks? No… it was a picnic, that's it! And then Granny Smith got really 
weird...again. Then I went to the barn... why did go to the barn? No Gilda was there’s as well wasn’t she? Yeah, something about wanting to tell... Gilda!

The panic come out once more in all its horrific form, you hear the heart monitor going haywire as it reads the pace of your panicked heart. You throw the covers off your body and try to launch up from the bed.

That was your second great mistake of the day, you grit your teeth in pure agony as the shock of your injury’s force you back down to the bed. It was made demonstrably clear you were not going to be moving for a while.

Grinding your teeth together, doing all you can to not let the panic drive you mad, you begin to rationalise the situation.

Okay no I’m sure, no I’m certain she got away before they caught her... and then what happened? You look down at your exposed body and grimace.

The purple and almost blue bruises and lacerations were prominent and in clear hoof marks mostly on your side and by the pain you surmise your back as well. But still the bruises were all over your body.

Even the parts which were not wrapped in plaster mainly around one of your arms were littered with lighter bruises and small cuts, probably deemed too small for stitches as they were left fully exposed. 

Most of the worse ones looked to be inflicted by a metal object most likely the horse shoes, the imprints were deep and likely to scar, but nothing more than that you would guess, thankfully and at least it seemed you had no infection, though your temperature was high, and your body thick with a layer of sweat, your ability to think clearly meant you had either passed or dodged that level of uncomfortableness. 

Whatever the doctors did to patch you up worked wonders, thankfully for you, they didn’t seem to rely solely on magic for healing. Something told you that would have been fruitless at best and left you far more damaged at worst.

Then again, you still weren’t sure about all that. 

Well thank fuck for morphine at least. You smirk at your own observation, but don’t commit to a laugh.

Looking down you see your left leg was suspended in the air by a harness obscuring your view and your movements. Though you notice that all five toes the ball of your foot and the rest were still in place and the leg was straight, it was hard to investigate, and analyse the damage, not just because most of it was encased in caster either. 

One because you were a vet not a doctor and though certain animals held similar elements to man, it would be a lunatic to thing a vet would or should take their place. There was a reason they were different professions. And two you couldn’t even get close enough to your leg to check even if you could examine it. 

Through sheer simple observation, you count your blessings that everything looked and wiggled In order. Even though you couldn’t feel yourself, seeing yourself control the muscles made you breath lighter. And to be honest you were just happy it was at the very least still attached to your body. Everything else on your body that was not covered in plaster was instead wrapped in white bandages though the discolouration on them showed they had not been cleaned or changed for a time. 

Deciding that for now that is the least of your concerns you continue looking at your body, mostly for morbid curiosities sake now.

Oh good, at least they kept my underwear on, save me some of my dignity whatever's left of--

You raise an eyebrow. Something was not quite right.

Wait a minute, that’s not the boxers I was wearing before!

You groan loudly, lowering you head back on the pillow.

Great just fucking great I'm stuck here waiting, I can't remember the last time I prayed this hard for a glass of water, and someone besides myself or Gilda has seen my junk when I’m pretty sure they didn’t need to. Somebody up there is having a god damn ball right now, well laugh it up fucker! 

Closing your eyes you try and relax your heart rate, mostly to stop the machine next to you from beeping incessantly and grating against your ears. You really didn't want a migraine on top of everything else.

You sigh loudly, your thoughts were still not cohesive enough to remember everything that had happened, and it had been a long, long week after all. But patches of what happened were starting to flash up in your mind like cut clips in a projector, you were beginning to see some things clearly before they blacked out into obscurity once more. You focus your mind on what you can still remember, thinking back again to something, anything before you landed here in this bed. Everything seemed fuzzy and you only seem to remember seeing Gilda one more time, but you focus on the memory.







"There that should stop it for a while... Tough bastard" The voice of a stallion announces over your beaten form, it had taken all the fight you had but there were just too many and the fall had knocked most of the fight from your body.

“Nice kick High Tide that will teach the bucker, and his freak Griffoness to try and hurt my sister filly like that, and it thought it could taunt her like that in public, this things bucking sick, it’s just lucky I’m even letting it live!”







You cringe and bite your lip as the pain of the memory cause a physical attack to your body. You needed a drink so badly, the blood vessels in your brain are tightening and you can almost feel each one of them. 

Jesus now I knew how jack Nicholson character felt in The Shinning. I’d literally sell my soul for a glass of water!

You breathe in through your nose and out your mouth.
(Okay, okay focus come on you can do it!)







“What are we going to do with it Snowfall?”

“Put it where all the bad things go.”

“Manehatten?”

“No Celestia save us, the Everfree!”

“Ohh”

“Is the others going to be okay?” Snowfall the leaders (You surmise) voice calls out. 

“Rain unconscious, pretty nasty gash on his head, Pepper Corn and Salt Shaker are pretty much the same, some of the others have a few broken bits but most are fine.” A different feminine voice calls out.

“What about Plain View, he still up at the top of the ladder?” The leader of the group asks.

“Mi’m mine, mucker broke my muzzle!” The stallion calls from above, groaning in pain.

“Quite your wining View you got off easy, at least we found them away from the others the elements, they wouldn’t understand, least we found it alone in the barn, oh by the way that reminds me, good tracking Bait n’ Snatch… Bait n’ Snatch?”

“Oh sorry Snow he’s knocked out too, the Monkey landed on him when he fell.” 

“*Sigh* Idiot…” Snowfall mutters loudly.

“Don’t call him an idiot!”

“I’ll call him an idiot and bucker if I want to Lightning! Unless you want to end up like monkey here?”

Fighting to stay conscious you look around for an exit, despite the likeliness you could even move as the ponies argued amongst themselves through the buzzing in your ears you hear another stallion in the foreground yell out to his comrades. You Lift the only hand that seems to be working and begin to crawl away only for a blur to stop just in front of you smacking you hand away.

“He’s still up? Buck me!”

 “Okay guys, no time to bicker we got a job to do. 

“Yeah it’s time to finish this guys!” 

You feel the hoof steps race towards, one in particular was closer than the rest.  You but the primal survival instincts inside you tell you to push on anyway, you get only a few inches before their upon you but before you feel the heavy keratin hoofs on your body a figure shadows you from the front, its silhouette blocks out the only light from the barn. The hoof steps stop immediately.

"My sentiment exactly knave!" A thunderous voice bellows through the barn, you hear the very rafter boards around the room begin to shake as you snap your one none swollen eye open fully in shock.

An enormous wave of magic splashes over the barn, flipping you over onto your back and slamming into the stallion that had walked over to your body, propelling him through the air and up against the wall with a booming crash, the stallion now unconscious body cascades to the floor before slumps to the floor. One of his hoofs bending in unnatural stance, an almost identical refection of your own.

You flick your eyes to the voice behind the source of the magic and then to the first of the group as they are similarly if less violently thrown against the walls of the barn levitated against it in some form of living wallpaper by a golden aura. 

Painfully you turn your gaze back to your saviours. You can't help but gasp as you see none other than the two ruling diarchy each with deathly glares on their faces. Celestia countenance one of stoic judgment, but behind that hidden more poorly the notion of disappointment evident in her eyes. Luna’s was easy no myriad of emotion in either her eyes or face only one of unkempt rage.

As the lights fade from their horns you try and signal where you are but your hand simply won’t heed your command and all you manage to do is inflict another shooting pain up your arm causing another pained growl to slip from your lips.

"Lay still friend, we have arrived now." Luna calls from across the barn, racing over to you. A deeply saddened cadence in her voice over takes the angered one of before.

You breathe raggedly one thought on your mind "L-Luna?" you mutter out, you knew it was her but for all on high you wanted to make sure this wasn’t some sort of concussion style hallucination.

You didn't have to wait more than a second before something else races over to you. Stopping just short as if afraid getting any closer would cause you to shatter like a porcelain plate.

You wait for the Princess to approach you, you can’t quite find the energy to turn your head, but instead you hear commotion come from the entrance. 

“No do not go in there, Griffon, tis not safe.”

“Ms Gilda this is a crime scene as of now stay back.”

“Get out of my way or I’ll shove your heads so far up your plots you’ll be wearing your cutie marks as hats!” Gilda’s voice yells back at the two. 

“Wait no, don’t go in there.” You hear but the sounds of footsteps, Paw steps? Means they failed to stop her. 

You hear a feminine gasps, muffled into her talon.

"What did they do to you?" She whimpers moving with the pace of glacier over to your bloody and shaking body. Before she could take no more dropping from her shaky legs. Your vision is engulfed by the feathery face of your love as she leans down to you, cupping a claw softly across you cut cheek.

"Y-you s-should s-s-see the other guy." You chuckle softly spiting a bit of blood from your mouth as it leaks out the side of your cheek leaning into her loving touch like it was the softest silk.

"Y-you S-sstupid..." she doesn't even finish her sentence before leaning down to you pressing her forehead against yours forehead.

You feel a horrific pain as you were lifted lift lightly onto your back, the magical touch on your clothes were as light as a feather however even still the gentle act causes you to scream through your clenched jaw.

Gilda shoots up from her spot looking for the source of magic.

“Don't hurt him!" She screams at the source. 

"Relax." The commanding voice of Celestia retorts firmly. Before softening back to its usual mannerisms "We need to move him now. I am no doctor, but his condition appears critical, I'm trying to be as gentle as possible but we need to put him under. If he is awake, I believe that if we attempt to move him any greater distance the pain might send him into shock."

Gilda's lower beak just quivers from the thought you wanted desperately to reach out and comfort her, but you we're not going to be moving any time soon.

Despite the pain you couldn't help but try to lift yourself up, in an attempt to peer back at your body, the adrenaline coursing through your bloodstream at this moment blocked out much of the pain you would very soon be feeling. But you needed to know, before it diluted back into your system and you would not be able to afford such luxuries anymore.

Before you get the chance, a soft dark blue hoof clasps your head pulling it up to her. "Please my beloved friend, we suggest against such endeavour, for your own sake." She whispers softly a single tear welling in her own eye. You flop back down, eyes growing heavy, breath strained.

Gilda races back to you, pulling you into her grasp. "Hey, hey stay with me big guy! Y-you promised! You said you were going to be fine! Don’t you dare lie to me now!"

"Ms Gilda." Celestia’s voice calls out calmly. ”Please, you’re only making this worse, step away from him please."

"Buck you! Buck all of you, you did this to him, you and Luna and all you bucking ponies, all we wanted was a quiet normal lives but no you had to stick your big muzzles in it. Why can't you leave us alone?!" Her acrimonious voice thunders around the room.

You hear hoof steps as Luna pulls Gilda roughly away from you. 

"Now is not the time for hoof pointing your stallion is hurt. My friend is hurt!"

"Then help him a-and get out of our lives!" She screams back, her breath laboured in angry growls.

By this point everything was going black, the loss of your motor functions was being to bear down on you and you couldn't keep your eyelids open any further.

"Princess Celestia?" A scholarly voice recognise immediately as Twilight calls out, before another southern voice drowns it out. "What’s going on here, we heard all sort’s a ruckus, all the way from... oh ponyfeathers!" Applejack calls out followed, by a multitude of gasps from the other female voices and one male one. 

You peer back to Gilda through the crack in your eyelids, one last time, as she stands determined on shaky claws between you and the princesses, you try and say the next few words, but could only think them.

Don’t worry.

Then the world goes black.







The rapid rise in pitch of the disjointed noise of the heart monitor breaks you away once more from your dark thoughts and to be honest you were more than thankful for it. At the very least you could surmise that Gilda was safe, one way or the other, but it left more troubling questions.

( Did they take here away? They couldn't, they wouldn't be that cruel...would they?)

It also left you with another question, just exactly where were you, and were you still in Ponyville? That was most likely the case again you surmise by the same garish paint and decor of the hospital you had visited with Gilda, but then again how long had you been out hours, days, a week? 

You questions are ultimately left unanswered, save for what you could figure out yourself. You stare at the door hoping, begging someone, anyone would walk through those doors and save you from your maze of thoughts and doubts. The image of her being dragged away from the barn, never to know if you survived and with nowhere to go, she would have to look after her child without you and you without her. If you had the potential at this time to scream and rage around as you feel like you should be doing, caught in this cyclone of doubt and frustration no amount of furniture would be safe. But alas you felt at least in this state could voice no more than a croaky semblance of words. 

Seconds go by, then minutes, the room is without a clock but you keep counting to yourself just to keep you occupied, especially as you can do nothing more than stare at the door longingly, the silence and isolation being to stare at your soul as you close your eyes.

(Please anyone just someone come I'll take anyone...Fuck I’m so damn thirsty.)

As if the universe had heard your plight. You hear hoof steps behind the door as you snap open your eyes gasping in anticipation.

You see the door handle rattle a few times, almost teasing you as you wait with unkempt anticipation.

(Please, please come in.)

The handle comes down like a javelin as the door is slowly pushed open.

(Oh thank you universe, God, Buddha, Batman whomever.)

But once again as the door pushes fully open, you are brought to the crushing realisation, that your life was just one badly dealt hand of cards after another and that if there was a god he was either insane or the most evil deity to have ever been praised.

(No...)

You lean back into your pillows on instance like a scared animal backed into a corner, however this beast was no simple minded killing machine, no that would be merciful.

(Please not her.)

A pink muzzle pokes through the door followed by the blue eyes that should have been sweet and kind at first glance, but as you knew it held the insanity of someone who had stared into the abyss and seen it stare back at her with a Groucho Marxs mask.

This beast was not out for blood, no she had come to take away the one thing you had left or at least pretended to still hold, your sanity.
The wicked creature in pony form comes clearly into view a gasp escapes her maw as her smile widens to an I human and probably in pony capacity.

The thing gasps loudly, floating in mid-air. 

"Holy guacamole you’re awake!  This is superdy duperdy good news!" The curly cotton candy haired pink mare exclaims loudly bouncing up and down on the spot.

(Not the Pink one, please anyone but the Pink one!)

And this was your third greatest mistake of the day denouncing Murphy’s Law. For the universe is a fickle bitch and she still wanted you as her play think it seemed.

(Fuck you Batman!)
> The New Development Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As you stare in shock at the pink mare who is already babbling incessantly about… you think cheese, or pogo sticks; you begin hear the voices that yell from the corridors. "Pinkie you can't go in there without a doctor or member of staff!" A familiar voice chastises.

Pinkie stops mid-sentence turning to the mare scolding her. "Silly Twilight, you only have to ask somepony to go to the toilet when you’re a little filly in school silly."

"W-Why—y-you even--h-here?" You weakly manage to scratch out through fits of coughs, still paralysed by injures and now a healthy dosage of fear and mild annoyance to the bed

Pinkie winces at that her smile dips but does not leave her face. "Well I'm talking to Twilight obviously."

You would face palm if you really had the capacity to do such a thing. "D-do -- s-somewhere else." You again force out feeling like your swallowing glass with each syllable.

"But then I wouldn't get to see you?" She states oblivious as always to your plight.

"Pinkie come out of their right this instant, this goes beyond indecent, to just go gallivanting into his room yelling and screaming like a hawk, when the poor stallions in such a condition. I sw--" The voice of Rarity scolds before spotting you her chastising words dying on her tongue that spawned them.

"Oh Celestia you're awake!?" She practically bellows out as Twilight come into view equally galvanised into the same position of confusion.

You grunt, unsure whether or not the question was rhetorical. Obviously you were not that used to the formal retort of these types of questions in this predicament, well actually to be fair you where sort of, but animals didn’t respond... on earth anyway.

"W-what was that!?" Another gruffer but no less feminine voice squawks out like it had been thrown from the thrones of sleep, its voice familiar in its tone thick with tomboyish vigour. You recognise the voice anywhere.

“Hey what are you doing in his room? What is she doing here!” It continues getting closer to the door entrance.

"G-Gilda?" You squeak out in a mixture of hope and in the fear of being wrong. 

“What the buck is the pink one still doing here I told her to go!” She states rhetorically.

“I did, I even made a tree like you told me to, and look you’re the bush with the frowny face next to me.” Pinkie exclaims showing a crudely drawn picture of her in some sort of tree costume and what looks like one of those finger painting turkeys which only added more questions, because of her demonstrable lack of Fingers.

“That’s not what I said, I told you to make like a tree you stupi—Gah! Just get out of my way buckin way nerd!”

Sure enough as you force out the words a large Griffoness forces her way into the door pushing ruffly past the pink party pony and the other ponies culminating by your room as if they were not even there. 

She Gasps as you lock eyes and she races over to your side here expression both sick with worry and glowing with untold relief. 

"Big guy y-you’re okay?" She mumbles out a little water quickly forms in her eyes as she leans over the bed leaning over you, before wiping it away quickly.

"I a-am no--." You croak out coughing again more violently this time, the irritation of your swollen throat was becoming unbearable as you feel you’ve used up every bit of saliva in your throat, any more talking and you were certain you would lose your ability to speak at all.

Gilda joyous smile turns to horror as she sees you cough turning back over to the soiled side of the floor as the nausea in your stomach returns with a vengeance.

"Quick somebody get a doctor!" She bellows back to the tirade of multi coloured ponies who quickly scatter out of the room in search of aid.

"It’s okay take it easy big guy, slow and steady." She comforts bringing a scally claw over your back rubbing it in clockwise motions as you wheeze and moan over the side of the improvised bedding. 

Huh?

Hugging the side of the frame from this angle you could see were four or five single sized bedframes lined horizontally together with two mattresses on top in some sort of improvised bedding to accommodate your size at least that was what you wagered.

Even being tall was a challenge in this world.

Though doing nothing to truly stifle the pain the feeling of your lovers arm massaging your back brought a psychological feeling of comfort that rested your weary soul.

Feeling confident that you would not throw up again you lay back down fully on the bed, doing your best to smile back at Gilda as she fussed over you in a loving if slightly out of character fashion that was more befitting of Fluttershy than the cocksure, mostly morose Griffon you knew. She leaves your side quickly moving over to the door on the other side of the room which you deduce was the bathroom.

"*cough* S-sorry." You mutter as she rushes back out of the bathroom and walks out with a freshly topped up glass of water.

"Shhh, less yapping, more drinking." She commands bringing the glass up to your mouth. The moment that liquid bliss hits your mouth you greedily suck up all that you can despite your angry stomach protests to go slow.

"Easy, easy, no good drinking it if you're just going to throw it back up again." She smiles half attempting a joke that she couldn’t fully committed to.

Finishing the glass, you are about to ask for another, but she already two steps ahead of you as she rushes back to the bathroom sink refilling the glass.

"Don't worry the water’s good here, I made sure to check." She states bringing the glass back over to you.

She repeats this two more times before you finally feel like you've had enough.

Leaning your head back down to the pillow, you feel a little better and more able to speak as you let out a content sigh.

"I think, I already know the answer, but how are you feeling pal?" She asks, her amber eyes offering nothing but sympathy, as she reaches over to your good hand holding firmly in her own.

"Like shit, to put it nicely, and more than a little embarrassed." You answer eyeing the area the vomit stained flooring would be.

Gilda sighs squeezing you hand a light hearted snort leaves her beak. "Don't worry, I could give a damn about that, so long as you're okay, and besides I think it’s only fair after all the morning sickness I went through."

You chuckle, simultaneously wincing in pain at the vibrations at the same time, looking back at Gilda "I went to fifteen different ponds to fish because I thought I kept giving you food poisoning, I can't believe how naive I was about the baby." 

Gilda sighs moving her head over to yours rubbing her cheek with yours. "I was so worried about you, I haven't slept in like three days."

With little way to console her physically you lean into her cheek and nuzzle it as best you could, like you had seen pony's do countless times before. "I promised you I'd be okay, I would never lie like that, I’m not that good at it... Wait was it really three days!?" you shout in disbelief releasing yourself from Gilda as she rises up to meet you at eye level.

"Three turns of the moon indeed." Comes a voice from the doorway turning from Gilda you spot the owner of a voice as she moves further into the room.

"L-Luna?" You mumble out.

"Yes my friend tis I, it is good to see you engaging in levity considering your condition, it makes us breath easier." She smiles sadly moving to the foot of your bed she looks you up and down and then to the side of your bed wincing at the mess but does not mention it.

Gilda turns to her reaching over you in a protective stance. 

If Luna noticed the change in Gilda’s stance she either didn't seem to understand it or didn't care to address it, instead a long and world weary sigh leaves her mouth as she slumps down just about meeting your gaze.

"We...I-I know now is not the time, but like your griffoness, we have not been sleeping well with the consternation of what our actions may have caused, We know we are not truly to blame for your condition, but a part of us feels we must apologise, for we truly, I am so sorry for accus--"

"I'm here with a doctor!" Twilight announces, steeping aside at door. 

All three of you turn your attention to the door where a flustered doctor and nurse rushes into the room, his white doctors coat glowing red as his unicorn magic fishes for the medical tools inside the pockets.

The nurse rushes to the side about to replace the empty I.V bag, when she spots the mess on the side of the bed. Looking up to you with a worried frown, she turns, calling the doctor over however he is still slacked jawed staring up at you as marches over to your side. 

"Excuse me." He calls to Gilda wishing her to move, she opens her mouth to protest but thinks against it quickly moving away from you side.
On closer inspection the doctor looks completely drenched in sweet his slick flat black mane sticks wetly to his chocolate brown coat. His panting was light but suggested he had been running around quite a bit at first glance but the shaking of his hooves the sunken back he looked nervous like he was sitting his final school exam, he looked like all of his medical knowledge was now being put to the test.

He looked like you the first time you were on call at your old practice.

“You’re awake!?" He in mild disbelief. You almost want to role your eyes now wondering if this was going to be a running theme, but to be honesty you were more disturbed by the notion that the apparent ‘doctor’ was saying that, apparently bedside manners were not his forte  
"I uh…I think so?" is your only real comeback.

"I’m sorry forgive my shock but, you should have been under for at least another two days!" He shakes the shock from his face looking at your body he pulls the slime covered cord that had recently been deep in your throat. The same cord that now gave you a deep founded sympathy for the animals that had sometimes been forced to receive the same medical care you had. 

“I’m going to level with you, I don't know if this is normal, as you can understand we don't have many humans in this hospital. A normal pony should be out for at least four to six day with such horrifically sustained injury, and that’s if they were not unfortunate enough to slip into a non-medically induced coma, you should still be in one, but I see that…"

Your turn looking back at the I.V drip and the feeling of pain, you deduce that it was probably the lack of medication that had brought you out of your mini coma.

The doctor follows your eyes up to the empty bag, biting his lip sheepishly.

"Yes…that was my theory as well."

"Wait, so you mean, you did this?" Gilda like the predator she was, pounces on the theory as the doctor and nurse go uncomfortably quite.
"Thou doth realise doctor that negligence is a very serious offence." Luna joins in towering easily over the doctor, her sullen recrimination makes the doctor act like he was about to sweat out all fluid from his body.

"I-I apologise deeply princess but as you know criminals though they are you, him and your sister hospitalised at least thirteen pony's, and most every other available member is away for the heart and hooves day festival preparations, the staff are stretched thin as it is right now plus accommodating for you and the other princess I’m sorry I was unprepared for this." His shaky voice argues in a humbled manor shrinking into himself like a turtle.

"Regardless tis the victim who should receive the most attention nay, is that not what we have paid you personally for?"

The nurse turns from the I.V walking over and positioning herself by the doctor who was now prostrated on the floor head basically touching the ground. “Please your highness it’s not his fault, he’s new here, because of the return of the Crystal Empire most of our staff have been sent over by orders of the princess to administer and teach the local doctors there. We only have a few experienced doctors here on staff and they all are working as best they can, I’ve even been stuck administrating the new nurses and doctors around the hospital and I’ve only been here for three years I’m hardly arch-matron material. Doctor Scalpel here is only recently finished medical school, we had to hire a larger amount of inexperienced Doctors and nurses to accommodate for the others temporary leaving. Please if anypony is to apologise it’s me.”

Luna huffs her chest protruding out eyeing both the doctor and the nurse for a moment. “Very well, we seem to remember our sister saying something about that in passing, as such we understand your predicament. But tis not we who needith thine apology."

As you understood it, Princess Celestia dealt with Political oversights, Laws, Municipal and otherwise, and Foreign affairs (Luna would only join her on these ventures when in somewhat hostile territory or one in her favour such as Transylmaneia, which were more open to their old master than Celestia.) and Luna dealt with Civil Defence (Areas that had been partially taken over by Twilight and her friends) and Economics. So it did not surprise you to notice that she was unaware of such a large dealing as this.

"Yes of course princess" the doctor stutters out almost prostrating himself on the floor just out of your limited view. He turns back to you as you raise an eyebrow at the pony. "I'm deeply sorry for the discomfort you have suffered through my actions."

You stare at the doctor suddenly feeling a little tired by all the negative emotions surrounding you, you simple want it over and done with. "Its fine, I know how it is to be the new kid it’s not easy especially in the medical trade, besides it’s not like you put me here anyway."

Once again you don't know really how to respond, not used to being on this edge of the knife. You believe that the doctor at this point is just flustered and that it was truly a mistake.

The nurse trots back readjusting the I.V and clipping the tube back into the needle in your wrist.

"He going to be okay though, right doc?" Gilda asks. She and Luna turn their head over at the doctor as he bits his lip in thought.

"He seems stable, but we can't rush these things Ms Gilda he's sustained enormous trauma and waking up this early, it’s unhealthy, especially considering the condition of his leg." He muses, turning back to you.

"M-my leg? But its fine isn't it I can see it?" 

“It was a clean break sir it went through the skin, I won’t get into the morbid details, and I’m sure it will be fine but… well, all things in time. But yes it will fuse back together and all that will be left is a scar if we are only talking aesthetically. Muscle damages however, well we can talk about that once your condition is more stable.” He mutters the last bit, not meeting anyone’s eyes in the room as he nervously claps his hooves together.

What was that about musc—oh my god that feels awesome!

You want to comment but once more you begin to feel your eyelids grow heavy like weights had been attached to them. Losing the resistance to fight it, you land your head back down on your pillow with a heavy thud.

So this is what the animals feel like… Wow this stuff is great. A goofy smile hit your face as the high from the I.V drip begins to work its magic. The grips of pain release its grasp from your body and all the muscles in your body relax into your bed. 

“Tis okay my friend, thou shall sleep easy, we will stand at the precipice of your dreams, guarding you like we always have.”

You nod at the dark blue blur, enjoying how it spinning around the room, That dark blur was always doing silly things like that. It sounds caring if a little funny with all the old English colloquialisms in its voice but it reassures you regardless.

Hey where’s the brown blur? Oh there it is.

Stroking the amazingly soft brown object by your side you drift once more into the thrones of sleep.







The beeping of the heart monitor once more wakes you from your dreamless sleep. Before it was disorientating and creepy, but it was starting to become far more annoying now.

Groaning in discomfort you fight with all you might to open your eyes, wincing at the dim but still blinding florescent side lamp that bores into your retinas, you wait for conscious thought to connect the dots.

It takes less time than before, thankfully, for your memory floods back. This time you don't jump out of bed like a buffoon, but slowly lift your head with a morose groan.

Once again you see the room in the same state, it had been since you first cast your gaze upon it, even down to the untold number of cards and that over the top stuffed toy Minotaur that still puzzled you.

Your eyes feel like they weigh twenty tons and you feel sick to the bottom of your stomach, but you couldn't go back to sleep. The shock and awe of waking up  like this and the bedsores act like two shots of expresso and a line of speed had entered you system, especially as you move to find a comfy, warm weight lay next to your weary form.

Your fidgeting elicits a slight movement and brings on a murmur and coo that grabs your attention. Looking over you notice a body of fur and feathers by your side, lying next to you was your special someone, deep in the thrones of sleep, she rests her head on the top of your shoulder, moving her body she grabs hold of your arm more tightly as she makes herself more comfortable, you feel her swollen stomach pressing closer to your forearm. The feeling reflexes, and beings on a deep, primal level of comfort. If not for your original observation, you would have just thought that you had woken up in your humble abode like any other day.

At least my throat went unmolested this time and less tubes sticking out of it. That's always a plus. You muse, too tired to laugh at your own joking observation.

"It seems you've awoken? How are you feeling?" A serene and motherly voice quietly whispers over to you.

You snap your head back to the other side of the bed, your vision is engulfed by the wall of white fur as you gaze up at its owner.

"Celesti-"

"Shh, no yelling now, your loved one is asleep, we don't want to awaken her do we?" she asks rhetorically with a small smile on her muzzle, masked on one side by the night and lit up by her sisters ethereal moonlight on the other, she turns from the window and walks towards your bedside, it surprises you how quite she was for a pony of her size.

You pause, then look back at Gilda, she's still resting blissfully unaware, her wither rising and falling softly, she wasn’t a heavy sleeper, but she had looked so exhausted since you last saw her so you felt it was safe to continue. 

"What are you doing here Celestia?" you whisper bitterly to her, you would be more courteous, but you found that in this state your patience was a very rare commodity presently.

She leans down a little more to your level out of politeness "I only wished to see you well, we left on... difficult terms last time I saw you."

You frown not out of sadness but anger "Maybe for me and Gilda, you and Luna seemed perfectly content to creating those terms if you recall, we didn't exactly come barging into your house accusing your girlfriend and the mother of my child of--"you suck in your breath bite the side of your lip, cursing yourself for letting that slip.

Celestia’s smile still remains as she speaks "Relax, we both know of Gilda condition, she may have hinted it quite heavily when you and Luna went to talk, not that it wasn’t obvious after a short while, it has been something me and my sister have been puzzling over for some time."

You roll your eyes. "Get in line then."

Celestia sighs, her unreadable ruler mask begins to crack, as she stares down at you as a heavy deep sigh leaves her body through her nostrils as she looks away from you finding comfort in the bedding. "Would you believe me if I said I truly am sorry for what happened, I’m not as ignorant as you would have me believe. I know you and I were never that... comfortable in the presence of one another. Perhaps it was my fault, no I see it probably was me, especially if my sister is testament to anything. She truly does sees you as a dear friend."

You almost want to laugh in her face at that. "I don’t think a friend goes straight to accusations, she didn’t even hear me out before accusing Gilda of abuse.” You hiss, gritting your teeth at the mare. Maybe it was your overwhelming tiredness, or the fact that your patience running thinner than autumn ice, but your undirected anger was causing you to spill more of your deep seated inner emotions than usual. However even then, you seem to regret those words the moment they left your lips.

The celestial monarch seems to recoil, lightly, from you harsh tone and in a sickening way you are happier for seeing it. "Please hear me out, I know you must blame me for this, but please don't blame her. I was the one that brought my suspicions to her. Your absence from the last few meeting and the ominous under tones in Twilights letters… Gave me cause to act. Luna is innocent in this."

Now you do laugh at her, deeply and bitterly the fire in your eyes burn with a sickening intensity "Is that so? Well, so what? I should just blame it on ignorance, is what you’re telling me, I should just say 'accidents happen don't worry I'm only in intensive care and your family was attacked it’s no biggie. Oh and don't worry about us threatening to take the mother of my child from me, without me being able to defend myself and her actions."

You’re working hand is now shaking as you press it into a fist, you take a second to close your eyes as you try to bury your rage, before it spews out any further. "Celestia…Friends are supposed to be supportive, hear each other out, not just act on suspicion alone. She’s pregnant for god’s sake, I’m not sure how many times I need to stress that!" You raise your head further meeting those bright aged pink eyes. You hold your breath, trying not to grit your teeth and losing the fight to keep your turmoil in check that bubbles like a cauldron in the pit of your stomach. It was only Gilda’s presence that you aren’t outright yelling now.

To her credit Celestia meets your glare with her own holding nothing back "Luna, is… new to this sort of thing. It didn’t help that I did little to enlighten her to that fact…Even before the banishment she was isolated for many years without a friend or even myself thanks to my own ignorance it seems." She scrunches her own tired eyes, as if the words had been a blow to her own body, the pain of untold years of her own mistakes for once in a rare moment clearly visible in her face. 

"It’s the only reason I even trusted you with the elements. Though my suspicions for you were  now as I see it unfounded, the fact that you even entered our lives and were able to bond with my beloved litter sister in her time of need. You did more for me than I should or could ever repay. Please believe me, she was misled she was always the more adventurous out of us and she tended to act quicker than most. If anyone deserves your just aggression it’s me, not her."

You lean your head back closing your eyes you let out a malicious snort, though it would be fair, you couldn't bring yourself to harbour the flames of your animosity towards Luna. Nor truly to a lesser extent Celestia a feeling of cognitive dissonance towards thinking that very concept makes you almost smack yourself for feeling, but you roll with it. Happenstance or not it had been their actions that had caused you to isolate yourself with Gilda in the barn, where you could be ambushed. 

But the anger was more than that even you were truly angry for Celestia for hiding you away for never introducing you to this world. All the lies and stigma on you ultimately stemmed from her actions.

It was whatever idea of you she harboured that made her hide you away, inside the bowels of Canterlot castle, for so many months. Because of her, you were never publicly allowed to explains your full story, or even yourself.  As such, her fear had led to suspicion in the castle staff and that suspicion lead to wide spread mistrust of you throughout Canterlot and beyond, by those privy to your existence. Even to this day your name was found in some of the other admittedly more fear mongering unrepeatable newspapers like Canterlot express or Ox news, as some sort of Bigfoot or loch ness monster of the imperial city. 

And when she did let you out of her sights it was to be whisked away to some small town, in the hands of another Princess and her elite squad of knights. Well obviously that wasn’t exactly true. Fluttershy was about as far away from elite military as you were. But in hindsight how were you to know that.

You tried to rationalise it at first in your mind why they thought that. Given the large number of  thousand year old evil deities that popped up over the last couple of years, how was it not a given assumption on anyone’s minds that you weren’t just another of those wicked abominations? But after so many months around her, hadn’t you proven yourself enough to let that stigma dissertate? 

You never knew why Celestia didn’t trust you even after this time. True, you were not normal in this world’s definition. But you in your short time here had never seen her treat, even openly hostile races, like the Changelings like she treated you. You gained the courage one day to ask Luna once and she said that it was just her way, she had always been scared of what was different, or even change after so many years of peace and that perhaps you were the start of something new. For someone with such a long life change most often than not meant something bad, especially when you had a country to run, she was as much a mother figure for her ponies as she was a monarch.

In the end, it was what it was, pointless to pontificate. You were not able to convince her you were anything but an unknown. No evidence other than time would suffice, so that was what you chose for good and bad. You sympathised and hated at the same time but it was never towards Luna.

Ultimately you didn't truly have the capacity to sever such a tight bond with Luna even over something like this; you were a rational person at heart. The entire situation was just a string of unlucky situations, for the most part, and even then, she did not keep you locked away. But instead sought after you. You, an out of place and isolated individual cast into a world you barely understood…almost like her. 

In your heart and mind you were certain Luna never wanted to see you in this state, siblings of misfortune that you and she was, she was almost like a foster sister to you if you could be so liberal with the statement, in those many months before you meet your demented aggressive second half. You never got on with your real sister there was no closeness, nothing beyond contractual sibling love, and obligated understanding that kept you in each other’s lives. Before or even after this incident everything Luna did seemed to be in your best interests.
Opening your eyes once more you turn back to the older sibling who was captiously awaiting your words.

"I, I don't hate Luna, and I don't blame her...I'm mad, furious even... but I'm not going to throw it needlessly around, especially at her."

Celestia smile grows exponentially, oddly it was perhaps the first smile you ever saw from her that you truly believed was real.

She tilts her head down in a humble thanks "I truly did misjudge you. Thank you, she hasn't been right since the incident, I will bring her here at once so she can speak her peace, I can't stand seeing her like this It's--"

"Celestia I don't blame her... but I don't think I want to see her, at least for a little while, the wounds are still to fresh, quite literally in this case and I, I haven't even spoken to Gilda properly since I first woke… and ultimately even though I don’t blame her, I do to an extent blame you."

Her smile seems to drop, but in its place is a look of understanding as she turns her head to the door in thought.

"Yes…I see what you mean, I understand, it will be enough for her to know this at least.” She pauses her eyes unfocused as she soaks in the sentence you wager it was one of the very few times in recent memory for the mare that anyone had outright refused her so blatantly. 

But you gaged she was rational enough not to take it as an accusation like this. You had a pretty good ability to understand of mannerisms, it was what made you such a great vet, every animal was unique no matter what anyone said and understanding mannerism and subtle body language was key to any veterinarian worth his or hers salt. No one lasted long in an animal enclosure without knowing what you were working with regardless of how many tranquiliser darts you happen to have.

“You know it’s funny…” Celestia continues “I pushed her to meet other ponies, stallions and mares beyond counting that I thought would do her better in getting back to normality and acclimate. But, she kept coming back to you, no matter where you where, now I think can see why."
You open your mouth to speak but a large yawl comes from your side as you turn to look you hear some mumbling as Gilda turns over onto the other side of the bed taking most of the quilt with her. At the same time she pushes her back and wings into your body in a funny, if ironic way of subconsciously keeping you warm whilst stealing you warmth at the same time.

You chuckle lightly, looking back to Celestia who had also adorned a warm smirk on her muzzle. 

You feel compelled to comment. "She does that a lot, normally I just grab another blanket but-- instantly a second quilt lands on your chest teleported curtesy of Celestia—oh uh thanks." You finish awkwardly as Celestia just nods in acknowledgement.

"Your wife appears to be fine by the way, from what I can gather, she's still rather hostile to me, my sister and some of the other elements as I have learned first hoof. But Twilight, Rarity and Fluttershy seem to have kept her mind stable at least. It took a little convincing but we came to an understanding with the doctors and allowed her to stay by your side, once she was thoroughly sterilised of course. It was better than the alternative, she can be rather, intimidating to the other ponies as you may know, not many have the pleasure of meeting Griffons."

You chuckle again, as you entertain the less than kind words she spoke and the intimidating moments that she must have put everyone through. At least she was still her same old self and though it was troublesome to put it nicely, that type of normality was what you needed right now more than any medication.

Celestial seems to chortle along with you, before a now infamous bought of coughs breaks your focus. Again what seems like Deja vu a glass of water is lifted to your face to answer for the deep chesty coughs.

"Thanks" you whisper guzzling from the levitated cup, it was funny as livid as you still where at her, the situation in and of itself brought some sort of civility to you now that you had exposed your true emotions to her. Perhaps because of the surliness in your mind that you even believed that you were still alive as it would happen, then again perhaps it was just the meds.

“She’s actually my girl, no I mean my marefreind by the way, not my wife.” You add in.

Celestia raises an eyebrow, looking at you with a sideways glance. “Oh, but the feather around your neck I just assumed she was your Feather -Kompis.”

“Kompis?”

“Mate. Is the Equestrian translation of their language, though that might be the wrong term I forget if that is for a friend or a lover.” She shakes her head, in acknowledgment that she was rambling to herself.

“Never mind perhaps I’m jumping to conclusion then.  Again though considering your inexperience with this world, perhaps you might want to ask her about that in a bit more detail when you get the chance. Especially considering you’re going to be a father if  I heard correctly?" She scrunches her lips in thought before speaking in earnest "I suggest we skip the genetic mystery of it all, I imagine you are as un-savvy to the esoteric doctor talk as I am."

Again you couldn’t help shake the weirdness in seeing Celestia draw you into here form of ‘small talk,’ but this kind of normality at least distracted you from the other looming issues.

You grunt moving a bit more upright, looking back briefly at Gilda. "It seems so, I haven't had much time to really deal with that, but I'm hopeful that I'm up to the task. It’s one of the sorry handful of things that keeps me going."

"From experience I can tell you nopony with any common senses believes they are up to the task at first, you can only try to do what is right, I'm certain you'll make a wonderful father." she pauses again her features go serous once more.

“Though a small pointer if you’ll allow me, learn to understand sophistry.”

“Sophistry?” you parrot back with a raised brow.

“There’s not a child alive that won’t try to convince you that sweets and backed good before bed is a good for them. Trust me foals are a sneaky bunch and there not afraid to employ their deadliest of weapons, puppy dog eyes are more convincing than any debater could ever hope to be.” Celestia finishes with a comical smirk, laughing softly at her own joke. 

You chuckle light heartedly along with her, nodding. “I see your point, I’ll make sure to do my research.” 

“See that you do, for both of your sakes.” She goes quite for a moment, contemplation painted on her features.

"Though if you'll let me state one thing, my sister was right in saying that it is true that we have been ignorant to your issues with my little pony's." She turns from you to the window observing the outside of the hospital through the window looking down at the passers-by.

"It’s selfish I know but I wish I could remain ignorant myself to this. However it’s obvious that my ponies are still not as accepting as I thought they would be after a thousand years. Perhaps it explains the reluctance for immigration from other country's to our own. I had always wondered why most chose to avoid Equestria, for other pastures."

"You're referring to Gilda" you say in understanding.

"I am, concerning the griffons and others, I dismissed my former students letters about the zebra stationed here. Zecora if I recall her name was? I thought perhaps it was just a little small town ignorance that led to her being ostracized. Ponyville isn't much of a cultural melting pot as other cities are... were. Unfortunately it seems the issues is greater than that, I see now why the zebra mare sought sanctuary on that Tartarus trash heap they call the Everfree if you and Your wife's misfortunes are anything to say about that."

You want to correct her about the wife part again but it was harmless and your thoughts were else were at this time "It’s been tough, I won't lie, Fluttershy and some of the others have been beyond pleasant and hospitable enough. But even going to town is a herculean task for me at times." She turns back to your eyes wearily dawn to the tubes and medical machinery that covers your body.

"I understand, even now with the letters that brought me here and your vicious attack that kept me around, I won't promise that I can change pony's minds... but I will try. Something must be done and by the sun and the moon I will make this right."

You fight back a scoff "How?"

"Well for starters, I believe that you and Miss Gilda have been going through some financial troubles, as I know well, preparing for a filly is both a physical and financial issue."

"Celestia stop, you can't and I won’t let--"you words are cut out with a raise hoof in protest.

"I can and I am more inclined to do so than anything I have ever done in my long, long while. But not for my own source of pride or redemption. For starters Luna would kill me if she found out that I let you go on struggling right after everything you’ve been through." She spoke in earnest. 

You bite your tongue, wanting to protest further, however it was all true you were going to struggle you didn’t have expendable money like you would need for starting a family. You didn’t even have the baby’s room ready or even planned, nor did you even know how you were going to look for a second job. Being a veterinarian was a full time job, and now especially with your injuries. Swallowing your pride you unwillingly accept her offer, "I-I don't know what to say?" a truer statement never left your lips.

"Then don't waste the words, it’s not something that needs to be spoken. But I must ask a necessary hardship from you in return, I will be making a formal speech, something I have neglected to do for far too long. Though I will be touching on immigration policy and other such factors, you will be the focal point, and me and my sister will be meeting with the major publication's to discuss in harsher words the price for threatening a political guest of Equestria as well as friend of the royal family."

The way she said that, the icy cadence in her voice makes you parched throat somehow even drier. "You really think fears going to help?"
"No, not fear, fair warning and respect, just as I would wish on any pony that is a victim of brutality because of fallacious prejudice. But that is neither here nor there at this time. I'm only saying this because I want you to know that you, Gilda and your child will be protected even if I have to post half the guard in Canterlot to do so, I swear here and now, you will have a normal life."

You shake your head biting your tongue once more. "Compared to how I used to live, all I can say is don't jinx it."

Celestia smiles down at you her icy tone replaces by a mischievous twinkle lights in her eyes that appear for only a moment.

"You know I always kind of liked that word, do you know the origin of that phrase in Equestria?"

“What, Jinx?”

“Yes, funny, of all the words penned to paper in Equestrian history, the word before here meant something far more devious. It was above the most unused and the most…well taboo is probably the word for it but that’s a story for another time.” She chuckles as the flair of nostalgia seep into her cadence.

“As I was saying, I once had an advisor, She grew up in an orphanage, called herself Jinx much to the disapproval of her peers and the staff so I’m told. She was as unpredictable and mischievous as her name suggested, the troubles she would weasel her way out of, or cause. It became the focal point of that phrase for many of my advisors, every time something was too good to be true, one of them would bring up Jinx as a precaution, thus the word changed meaning.

Funny you think she would have been angry, but she revelled in it.  She was the most loyal and honest mares I had the pleasure of being near. Though perhaps too honest at times, she did tell me, on multiple occasion, that my posterior was like two clouds trying to fight one another for space in the sky.”

You bite your lip trying desperately not to laugh, mostly because you didn’t want to start coughing again, but good lord was it hard not to. Especially coming from the mouth of the co-monarch herself.

“I would like to meet this mare sometime she seems very interesting and more than a little brave.”

Celestia chuckles softly. “She was, however I’m afraid you’re a little too late to meet her, she was before your time.”

“A shame.” You say solemnly.

Celestia looks down at her hooves muttering something to herself, almost like a silent prayer. “Indeed, but she lived a happy life, one that I shall see you both and your child take as well.”

Celestia closes her eyes, looking up in deep thought, the action confusing you to the point you need to address it, but she catches you before you get a chance to voice you puzzlement.

"I am needed elsewhere, I am sorry, I will keep you up to date on any new events that come to light. I shall have two of my top Royal guards posted at the door so that you can rest easy, no one will be allowed access without your express permission." She stated matter-of-factly, leaving no chance for protest. 

“Oh and be warned, more than a few reporters have travelled here. Apologies once more for that was most likely spurred on by our continual stay in Ponyville hospital. I’m afraid they will soon find out about your wife’s miraculous conception, if they have not already, do not worry though I have forbid any of them from meeting you until you are well, and will do my best to quash any ugly rumours before they have a chance to blossom. I wish you all the best, believe me, with a hatchling, you will need it.” She finishes with a wink and a laugh.

You feel the stirring to your side caused by your loved one as she flips back over to your side rubbing her eyes. "Uhh big guy, is everything alright, who’re you talking to?" She asks sleepily eyes still closed.

You turn from her back to Celestia, or where she once was. The space she occupied was now vacant, filled in only with the white pale glow of the moon from the window.

Turning back to Gilda, who settles into the crook of your neck, you nuzzle her cheek. "No one darlin', just talking to the sun."

A pregnant pause fills the conversation for a moment "You’re not still loopy from the meds are you?" She asks her eyes now half closed.

"I hope not, don't want to find out your just my imagination and I'm actually hugging that random minotaur doll next over there."

She lifts her head slowly, before laughing and returning to your neck. "That things from some toy making stallion in Ponyville. He brought it in saying he didn't have any pictures to use to make a doll of you. But I think it pretty much the same, expect for the horns, it even fits your vet coat."

You eye the stuffed figure trying to work out if she was teasing or not. “Thanks feathers maybe next time we have a photo taken, I’ll just take a picture of a duck or a cat, it’s pretty much the same as you right?”

Gilda leans in nibbling your ear. “You wouldn’t have the guts, dweeb.”

Though she was under you, you still roll your eyes for effect."…So these cards and stuff, all of them from the Girls at the picnic?"

"Nah they're from the random hicks around town, strange right? Seems they suddenly give a damn about you, now that a couple of the buckers assaulted you." Even coming out of the thrones of sleep she instinctively reaches over and holds you tighter, yet still careful enough that she didn't press on your injury or her own swollen stomach.

You lift up an eyebrow. "Huh that's… interesting." 

"You should have seen the mayor outside, she was all for making speeches and wanting to take a photo of you for some stupid political stunt, said it would hammer home the importance of fighting against prejudice in the home towns or some bull. I bet it’s just some stupid mayor voting thing." Gilda growls moving a wing over your chest.

"I… well I don't know about that, she didn't strike me as that type when I meet her, even a couple years ago she seemed okay with me."

Huh actually, maybe it was just because I was buying that condemned piece of junk from her, back when no one would?

"Whatever, that old hags not doing anything while I'm around, that'd for sure!"

"Thanks Feathers, nice to see you got my back." You very lightly shove her shoulder with your working arm evoking a cocky laugh from her.
“Course…so uh, you actually okay? When you last woke up you gave me a bit of a scare, I mean I knew you were fine and all, I wasn’t actually scared, my stallions been through worse... but still, you are okay right?"

“I'm fine Gilda, just a few cuts and bruises, I've had cat scratches worse than this." You jest.

You shuffle closer to her, using whatever working muscle you still had to get you about as close as you could, given the circumstances. It was hard to even move your free hand, everything apart from breathing was a laboured chore.

Turning your head you stare into the golden eyes, peering into the depths of those troubled yet loving pupils, which flicker up back to meet your own, piercing into the very soul inside your mortal coil. 

"I'll be fine, really. I mean I feel I will, I haven't really talked to the doctors enough, as you know, hell I'm probably still pretty drugged up right now. But I honestly don't feel as bad as I must look."

Gilda straightens her wing across your side, her primary feathers dance and caress your upper chest underneath the blanket. "That’s good, I talked to him after you passed out and the Doc was sayin’ it was a lucky break, eh, no pun intended." She adds in with a sheepish, apologetic smile before continuing on.

"He said it was a miracles that you landed on something soft or somepony I mean." Dispute herself she actually manages to chuckle at that. "Also the fact that you fell on your back like you did helped save you a heap of extra breakage, but it still didn't stop your leg breaking, based on the investigation they say that it got tangled in the ladder as you fell apparently human legs are not supposed to bend like that normally and we'll the leg bone... well you really don't want to know actually."

You grimace at the thought, thankfully the fall was all but a blur, so you didn't have to relive that part over and over again in your mind. It had trouble letting you sleep normally as it was.

"I don't remember much after falling, I guessing the group did the rest of the work." You say lifting your broken arm up an inch off the bedding to look at before the weight of the cast and your depleted strength brings it back down. 

Her beak boomerangs into a hate filled frown a fire burns in her eyes as she eyes the arm subconsciously as she tenses up next to you. 
"That's what the guard report said, the guards said they dragged you off the bottom step of the ladder, but I don't know the rest." Gilda growls slamming her talon into the bedding, trying to placate her own anger and helpless frustration, before reluctantly drawing back.  "Those sheath sucking buckers!" 

You grab hold of her claw interlocking them with your own "Hey easy, it’s over now, we’re still here, okay? We're still together." you smirk even though you feel no joy behind it. "At least I'll have some new battle scars, I hear girls dig guys with scars?" You joke, hoping to make light of this depressing conversation.
"I think I'd rather have my guy in one peace." She baits back, huffing angrily, even in the fading light you could see her feathers were ruffled and unkempt. She still looked tired and the bags under her eyes were still prevalent, a war torn road map of sorrow and unkempt worry on her face, she probably hadn’t even showered since the incident.

You sigh deep and long, looking up at the roof of your room, eyeing the cracks and patterns in the wall panels as the conversation withers into a uncomfortable silence, it looked like that would be your only bit of scenery for a while considering that the window looked out to, yet more of the hospital.

Yay.

Might as well start counting each panel now, wait does the lights count? Ah I'll work that out later.

You stay quiet for a bit enjoying the comfort of Gilda's wing on your chest the transfer of warmth onto your chest, the curves of the feathers, soft like angels wings, blanketing your body, as they ripple over your body.

You had joked to her back in the day and it was still true in a crude way, that it was like if a pillow had gained sentient life and decoded that its first act as a sentient object was to smother it owner lovingly. Then again, everything felt like that on morpheme.

And the less said about what how you described her ass the better.

You think about going back to sleep, the idea is beyond tempting. But something prevents you from going back to sleep, a niggling sensation in your thoughts deprived you of the sleep you so desperately lusted after even now.  You couldn't really commit to relaxing whole heartedly, so many things were still bugging you, so many questions unanswered. But you couldn't put a finger on any specific one, the question wasn't about the ponies who attacked you, nor  Celestia and Luna for some reason it was something to do with Gilda,  or was it, wait was it the baby? No, she would have brought something up if anything like that had happened, no it had something to do with the barn something to do with armour... 

"Gilda!?" you whisper loudly, nudging her with your shoulder.

Turning back Gilda squint her eyes yawning again as she lifts her head from your shoulders. "Nghh, what? I though you went back to sleep?"
"No, I was just thinking…What happened to the griffon who helped us Gilda, where is it?"

Gilda's eyes open more fully now as she fixates on the bedding in thought. "I-I don't know the guy napped me from the barn and took me towards the picnic, I tried to fight, but he was pretty tough I couldn’t get her off me--

"Wait, it was a he?" You but in.

Gilda lifts an eyebrow up at you "Not sure, I never really hung around with any griffons before, so I can't tell right off the bat like that, but I guess so?”

The cadence in her tine seems off to you, like something wasn’t right furrowing your brow you can’t help but ask, “You guess so or you know so?”

“I guess I know so, what does it matter anyway if it had junk or not!?" she finished with an cursing caustic tone that takes you off guard.

Why did she make it should like I asked a taboo question, I only asked if she knew where he went?

You frown at the tone she responded in, like she was mad for you asking the question. Maybe she was just cranky. Even sympathetic as she was to you plight, the lady loved her beauty sleep, another lesson you picked up early into meeting the griffon, a nap to Gilda was anywhere between five to ten hours.

"Gilda, do you know that griffon?" You almost cup your mouth as the words slip out before you had a chance to analyse what you said.

Gilda sits upright immediately bringing her face up next to you. "No, why are you asking me!?"

"I don't know, why are you being so defensive over him if you don't know him!?" You bite back.

Gilda huffs at the question leaning back forehead crinkled in anger. "Wow, wow wait an buckin’ minute, you better not say something that you’re going to regret, you’re not saying what I think your saying...are you!?" 

“I—

“Yeah!?” She growls moving further towards you.

You bite your tongue, the rage still curdled inside you in a sickening vile form, but still, did you have it in you to start accusing anything, especially now?

Was it even the same griffon from that night, I don’t have any evidence, I need. No! What I need to do is stop this now before it gets out of hand, this is foolish, even if the griffon was there for her, and it doesn’t mean she knows him...

…But then what does it mean?

"No, I guess not, sorry Gilda, it’s the pain talking, I didn't get that great a look at him, it all happened so fast. Plus the fact he was wearing armour and the griffon didn't speak, I wouldn't have known, it just seemed so weird that he was there."

Gilda gives you a deadpan stare for a full minute before breaking out a tiny smile and wiping you lightly with her tail. "Don't worry dweeb its fine, any other time I would have flayed you for even suggesting that. At least, even in life threatening situations you weren’t checking anypony out, you frickin’ dweeb."

Despite yourself you chuckle slamming your head down on to the pillow wirily "Shut it bird brain, I'm the one in the hospital here." you retort playfully with an impish smirk.

You see the smile once more leaves her face with a dejected sigh "Yeah don't remind me..."

"So the griffon..."

She sighs again. "I don't know, we were in the air for like a minute or so, then he must have spotted the others because he swooped down behind a tree, dropped me and bolted."

"He just left you there didn't anyone else see her?"

Gilda shrugged, "Not sure, he literally dropped me down landed pretty hard and then he turned an flew off east, I wasn't really thinking about it I was just occupied trying to get the groups attention, so I ran to Twilight and told her we had to get to the barn to save you."

"Wait, he literally just dropped you?"

"I know what an asshole, it hurt like a motherbucker!" She says with an indignant slam of her claw.

You eye her from paw to beak "You’re okay right, the baby’s okay?"

Another deadpan stare follows you question. "Dude, we’re both fine, can you stop being so caring, you’re the one in the friggin’ hospital right now!"

You shrug with your good arm "Sorry force of habit, if you lived with Fluttershy for as long as I have you sub-consciously pick up a few things from her.”

As well as ticks from all the bloody animals as well, just because she can talk to them doesn’t mean they wouldn’t still bight me.

“So was the princesses with Twilight?"

"Yeah they all were and so we're some of the guards I don't know why but they said they were already heading over there before I told them, they were looking for you in particular."

So they were heading there before you went was it because they had heard the noises and went to investigate? The farm did have a large echo when it was a peaceful still day.

Then again it could have been Luna coming to take Gilda away, it could have explain the extra guards, not that they would have needed them, I didn't even see the guards when we left, perhaps they were lying in wait ready for anything to go wrong it was supposed to be a secret meeting like always, it makes sense I guess.

“Do the princesses know, about the griffon I mean?”

“Yeah one of the guards flew after him the moment I got in view of the group, I don’t know after that they won’t tell me the rest, it’s on some stupid ‘need to know bases at the moment’.” She mockingly ends using her claws for quotation marks.

Celestia didn’t mention him to me, maybe she’ll ask later?

Gilda stretches one of her paws hearing the cracking sounds of loosening joints that sends an involuntary tingle down your spine you couldn't stand that noise for some reason, but she probably knew that by now. "Can we drop the subject for now, it’s too late for this and I don't want to spend all night getting angry again, I was this close to decking that pink dweeb yesterday."

"You mean Pinkie?" you say with a subconscious shudder, you had nothing against her really but the speed, the craziness. Jesus it was like hanging out with the joker if he was harmless; interesting and fascinating but a complete detriment to your sanity.

She snorts out an indignant huff, ruffling her neck feathers as she settles back into your chest. "Yeah, I mean why the heck she'd even show her dumb, goofy muzzle around here I’ll never know! I thought she came here to laugh at me or something, by Griffonstone she bugs me!" 

Gilda grumbles mumbling further complains into your shoulder the thoughts of sleep long evaded from her body by now.

You shake your head with an exaggerated huff it was nice to see that she hasn't changed one bit at the very least. "It’s okay you don't have to like anyone just because you're told to, not everyone clicks together friends should be like-minded people or at least share something in common, I know she’s crazy weird but she never struck me as sadistic, she means we'll even if she's weird as fuck, I wouldn't go fighting her Gilda we are trying to get back into society I don't think hitting our important princesses world saving friends will help that at all."

Gilda sits upright towering over you with a worried and perplexed look on her face.

"Wait you still want to go around with those jerks in town after all this, are you insane, they tried to cripple you!?"

The question takes you back somewhat you thought instinctively you two where on the same wave link, you both still wanted to keep the plan going right? 

"Well yeah, it wasn't like the town did this, it was just those pony's at the barn I even heard them say the town didn't want to join in and look at all the get well soon cards do you think people that hate us would go out of their way to send their sympathy. We can't give up now if we keep hiding, keep to the shadows something bad is going to happen again?" You explain moving your free hand up to cup her cheeks only for her to move it away from her.

"No!"

You pause for a second taken back by her tone "What?"

"I said no, there is no bucking way I’m letting our child anywhere near those crazy freaks. As soon as you’re better we're getting as far away from here as possible!"

You push yourself upright in the bed, trying to maintain eye level with the griffon it was a painful bad idea as your chest and abdomen scream at you from such actions, but you mollify the pain pushing up until you’re at last meet her at eye level. The gravity of the situation demanded such actions.

"No Gilda I know you're upset right now but this is the best it’s going to get. Do you think any other towns going to treat us differently? At least here we have a foundation to work on, I have a job a home and a friend, I don't give up when the going gets tough and I know for a fact that you don't either!"

Gilda opens her beak to retort but the evidence and conviction in your voice gives her reason to pause. You take this as a chance and press on.

"Sweetie I know this looks bad, you almost got maimed or worse over nothing and I almost lost the most important thing in my life. But we have to think about this, do you really want our daughter growing up isolated in some forest somewhere, knowing that nobody will accept her, or me, or even her mother? That she should be afraid of being who she is. She has a right to grow up normal like everyone else doesn’t she?  This is the only place for her that will give her a chance. It’s not the best place I know that, but with the princesses help and if we play our cards right, we can at least have some semblance of a normal life, isn’t that worth fighting for?" 

It was true all the hardships you had faced now… to start that again in some other patch of soil…it would probably be too much. Your life here wasn’t exactly perfect even before the baby but you had to believe that as soon as everything went back to the way it was, the sooner you could go back to starting on a normal life. It really was the best of a bad situation. Even if you did entertain the notion, where would you go?
It was true that Gilda was well travelled even in her young life, she had only ever had one home back in Cloudsdale and it was demonstrably clear she wasn't in a rush to go back there. So where would you go if Equestria was out of the question?

You knew next to nothing about the Minotaur’s homeland or the Zebras or any of the other species, would they be any different, would it matter in the long run?

Griffonia was the only viable option, but it was so far away. You couldn’t travel that far with a new-born and besides, from what Twilight had told you, they didn't exactly seem like they were taking people like your family in with open arms. They didn't even care for their own leaving. 
Twilight had alluded that that was a relatively new practice for them, something they had only adopted in the last few years, you would have to ask her about that at some point, even just out of curiously. But to do something like that now would not only be irresponsible, but it could be dangerous. Moving in and of itself was an arduous affair with a moving van and a car, the logistics of that now, well it wasn't even worth entertaining. 

No, truly Ponyville for better or worse was the only viable option, it was quite, out of the way. You had a somewhat stable income from your practice and despite what had just happened it was relatively tranquil, out of all the options it was the best place to raise a child.

Gilda's facial facades barely changed her frown hung deep and long on her face. But you could already see it in her eyes, that the fight was gone, at least for now.

She relaxes her posture once more, before turning to her stomach bringing her hand over to it and stroke the contents in which she carries, it’s both peaceful and heart wrenching at once.

"I hate when you do that." She mutters leaning onto your side using your good shoulder once more as a pillow.

"Do what?"

"Make sense, can't it go back to me being the logical one?"

You chuckle and she joins in even if none of you could really commit to it.

"I still don't like it though, who's to say somepony doesn't try it again?"

You muse on the response, the idea wasn't too far from your own thoughts either. "I think this whole thing has brought us into the limelight Feathers, those guards out there are blocking half of Equestria press right now."

"How do you know it's that many?" She asks suspiciously.

"Well…I don't think it’s every day that three princesses visit a hospital to go see the only human in Equestria and his miraculously pregnant girlfriend who may or may not be carrying a new species inside her. Honestly darlin' I'm just surprised it didn't happen sooner, I suppose even Celestia couldn’t keep this under wraps forever." Though you bet more than anything she was still trying, then again it wasn't like you were trying to advertise all this. What could you say shit just happens to you, how could you even begin to conceive you would be here in this situations, just a few months ago you were debating kicking you free loaning roommate out unless she found a job, now you and her were starting a family.

Life's has a sense of humour like that, it seemed.

Gilda puts her claw lightly onto your chest. "But that just means more are aware of us, they know where we are now doesn't that mean anything to you!"

You take your good hand and place it over hers stroking it lightly a caring smile aimed at soothing her vehement tone. "I know but it was bound to happen eventually you know that. Besides I doubt anypony will get the chance, I'm not saying it’s impossible but I get the feeling we'll be getting better help than before." You decide to leave out the conversation with Celestia right now Gilda still seemed more than hostile towards the Alicorn and everything Celestia said had yet to be proven though nothing she said sounded like false promises you didn't want to be the one to get yours or Giada’s hopes up so soon. Actions spoke louder than words.

Gilda doesn't seem too convinced, her understandable pessimism was something  you shared, but she doesn't state otherwise, perhaps Celestia had told her or maybe Twilight it wasn't out of the question they might have said something weather Gilda was in any mood to believe that was a different story.

it was obvious this was all too much right now the sleep in her eyes and the posture she was in this was all too much for a morning discussion on a hospital bed this was a conversation for later, it was still too soon to tell or make radical dissection both of you knew that. Right now sleep was the only thing on both your minds.

“I" she sighs deeply before cupping her beak as she yawned blinking slowly, "I'll think about it big guy."

"That's all I ask." you say leaning down to kiss the top of her head, leaning in as she turns around to return the favour on your lips it was a brief but fulfilling kiss that felt akin to losing yourself in the moment it soothed your soul considerably more knowing that even now you could enjoy these tender things. Even as the moment was being serenaded by a beeping heart monitor.

Neither one taking their eyes off each other as your eyes before she nestles into your arm again with a sigh, you couldn’t tell if it was one of weariness or world weariness perhaps she was just glad things for now were at least fine for now, you couldn’t quite say. Maybe it wasn’t for you to comment. Soon your eyelids become too heavy to stay open you drift off with her being your own last image like always before the grasp of sleep takes hold, it was only so many more months until the problems of today would be over and then there would be many more months for it to start up again strong and even more treacherous.

But like Gilda had said back on that bench back in what seemed like years ago, Fuck what anyone said or did. All this trouble all this pain you were both still here together, still fighting sometimes each other but that was neither here nor there, and that wasn’t going to change.

But...

Still something had changed, those words were right to a degree, but they didn’t have the cosmic unpredictability factored in. It was all well and good saying fuck the world and doing your own thing, but when the world was actively waiting for you to drop the soap in the showers and it became you against the world, you can’t defend yourself forever, no one could. 

Sometimes help could come from unlikely places when the world was at its worst. Sometimes in the form of a smile and a shoulder to lean on… and sometimes in the form of a talking horse that moved the sun like a cosmic tennis ball. Regardless what she said for most people would be right but you needed more you both needed more.

Right now however, rest was all you needed, perhaps tomorrow would be different. Certainly it would always be unique, that, in this world was a given.
> The Calm Before the Storm Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special thanks to The Cake Devil for editing this chapter. 





*Knock knock*

"One second, just a minute!" The forever panicky voice of Twilight Sparkle frantically yells, from behind the enormous blue prism castle doors. Followed by the sounds of crashing pottery and moving furniture. You stand a respectful distance by the maw of the castle archway, leaning on your carved wooden oak crutch for support. Your leg was faring much better these past few months than it had before, but it was still causing you discomfort when left standing for too long, without rest. Such was the severity of the break. At least your arm was pretty much healed. However, despite your protests, which were quite often, they still refused to take the cast off, which was starting to become rather irritating.

Stupid hot friggin’ cast , you grumble mentally as you twist the constrictive material around on your arm. ... Maybe I should just get a saw and…nah, on second thoughts, better not actually.

You reach over and twist the thing again, hoping, in vain, it will scratch the unbearable itchy.

Jesus! My wrist never got itchy like this before, where is a fork when you need one? Damn it where’s Gilda’s’ claws when you actually need them? Gah, this is going to kill me!

You drop your arm in frustrated futility, looking around out of boredom and a need to distract yourself. You see a few ponies dotted around the landscape, making their way through town across the dirt road behind you. Some of them were walking along and/or happily whistling a tune or greeting one another as they passed around one another, as they went about their busy day.

One or two of them had become more familiar with you as of late and didn't avert their gaze as you lock eyes with them, like many often did once before, one of them even waves to you happily from across the way.it was an odd experience that you were still getting used to, but it was far from unwelcome.

To say these last few months had been easy was like saying pushing a bolder all the way up to the top of Canterlot was a pleasant stroll. Sleep had been relegated to a hobby, one you had no time for. You stroke your ragged beard threading your fingers through the hair that had culminated into an impressive size, reaching almost to your Adam's apple, as you watch the parade of colourful denizens of Ponyville.

You frown as you try and pull some of the tangled knots from the beard, another thing you just didn't have the time to clean up, and the less said about your hair the better. It would probably be better to tackle it with hedge trimmers at this point. You just didn't have the time to clean the mess up.

Thankfully, Celestia had some spare photos of you to use for the media news clippings, she had her staff take them when you had first arrived, for the purpose of studying your biology or something along those lines. If the press had taken any of you now, you would look like a crazed, yet well washed hobo.

The myriad of meetings in different places and press interviews, not to mention half the town had now taken more of a friendly or indifferent interest in you, in no small thanks to Twilight and her friend’s interventions, had left you and Gilda little time to yourselves. The mayor had even made a point to include you both in to her local council meetings with the some of the more venerable member of the community’s Pony watch, which was basically the exact same as neighbourhood watch with a few added things to discuss (I.e. Pegasus flight restrictions.) It was actually quite stunning that they didn’t actually call it neighbourhood watch just so they could address the neigh in neighbourhood like they did with everything pun related thing here, but regardless it was a pleasant change.

The addition to add you both into the watch had been kind of her, even if it left you completely out of your depth. You never entertained the idea of going to one of those neighbourhood watch things back on Earth, and that hadn’t changed here. But you both did what you could to improve your standing with the town and things seemed to be moving smoother and quicker than before. Even if Gilda might have 'accidentally forgot' to go pretty much every single time. And even if the pace of change was more like a glacier now than a mountain. Once you were able to get back to your veterinarian practice, things would likely go back to a slightly altered normality, something you couldn’t wait to return to. But for now, you had work to do and one of those was meeting up with Twilight.

You snap out of your daydreaming, the  sound of the lock tumbler clicking on the castle doors, drawing your attention towards a lavender muzzle leaning out to investigate, quickly followed by the rest of her.

"Oh sorry, had to get things ready busy, busy, busy." She greets with a slight eye twitch.

Oh hell she’s got that look again, wonder what it is this time.

"Sorry I’m late, I had to walk Gilda over to Fluttershy for her weekly check up and it took longer than I thought. She’s having a hard time walking that far these days, you know, with the baby so close and everything, it’s been hard on her legs, well, harder than mine anyway." You say with a disarming smile, striking the crutch lightly down on the floor for effect. The feeling of the crutch in your hand and the limp in your leg creates a sickening feeling of frustration in your stomach, but you push through it, suppress it and bury it.

Twilight looks at the crutch with an uneasy expression before looking back up at you with her ears spayed back.  "Its fine, its fine, your only twenty six minutes late, but I’m sure we can fit all ninety two questions into the next thirty four minutes, then I’ll still be on time to give the paper two hours early to the princesses as usual, haha, haha." You wince away from the scary grin she gives you, that shows far too much teeth to be anything but unnerving.

"Um…Okay Twilight, do you want to take a deep breath, or a walk or something, you’re doing that funny thing again, and not in the ‘haha’ sort of way." you inform her, unsure of how to react to that face.

If Twilight heard you she didn’t show it as she opens the door further beckoning you in. "Come on, we're wasting time." She commands latching onto your hand with her hoof, tugging you forward before you have any time to react. She pulls you at a pace you can’t keep up with and you soon trip on your own crutch, and falling onto your bad knee, letting out a small hissing sound as the pain shoots down to your ankle and simultaneously up to your thigh,  causing you to grit your teeth as you land on the hard crystal floor.

“Ah, Jesus, Twilight slow down!” You hiss at her yanking your hand from her hoof.

Immediately Twilight stops her incessant mumbling, seemingly snapping out of her ‘crazy time’ with a gasp.

Twilight stops turning back to you as you gain your balance, hobbling your way onto the hall. "Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it—

You rub your leg looking back at her as she stumbles over her words, in the moment you throw her venomous glare, frustration and anger at your damaged, useless, leg and the mare who just made it worse.  But as you see mares face, one of genuine remorse, and notice her bottom lip begin to quiver, you bit your lip mitigating the anger. You look down to take a few deep breaths, before looking back up again. "Sorry for snapping, Twilight, it’s just, could you be more careful, my legs, not having one of its good days."

Her ears go back even further than before as she frowns and takes a hesitant step towards you. “...Would you like something to help you, I know magic isn't much use, but I have some new tea I'm experimenting on with Zecora, as the testing shows it’s proving to be both natural and nutritious, even if the taste is a bit bitter."

You nod. Thanking Twilight as she form up beside you letting you use her as leverage to hoist yourself back up. "Sure, as long as it doesn't taste like that last one you gave me, I swear I can still taste the bark."

Twilight thinks for a moment before offering a small sheepish smirk "That's because it was bark, an extract taken from the base of the Tutus tree, that grows in the shade of Canterlot castle. It's the only tree to grow in the shade of the mountain, without any sun. It has amazing healing qualities. The tea you drank was supposed to be both healthy and as I'm informed delicious, it was also supposed to be boiled for four hours, but was only boiled for two hours, because somepony moved it to make hot chocolate!" She yelled over her shoulder quickly signalling with her chin over to a small lighter purple and emerald green coloured figure, splayed out on a mountain of silk covered cushions at the end of the room.

The figure lifts its head up from the cushion, rolling its eyes. "How many times can a guy say my bad?" Spike exaggeratedly moans back, folding the corner of his comic book so that one of his emerald eyes was visible to Twilight and yourself.

"Once would be nice." Twilight chides back, walking over to a set of chairs around a rustic sized wooden table, with a deep scarlet fabric sheet embroidered with floral ivy patterns on the edges, draped over it. One of many that dotted around the enormous rectangular shaped hall, that sported two dimensional stalagmites leading upwards flanked by golden arches that acted as the source of natural light sources for the room. The whole place was breath taking even after this many visits.

"Hey man, how's it going?" You great behind Twilight, giving Spike a smirk and a quick wave.

Spike turns to your direction, giving you a friendly smile in return. He throws his well-read and battered comic over his shoulder onto one of the pillows and walks over to you, and bumps his fist to yours. "Not bad dude, been a slow day but I made due. Uh... How's the pain?" He says with a hint of worry in his voice as he eyes the crutch by your side.

"Oh fine, I left her with Fluttershy" you joke back with an impish grin. Getting sympathy was nice for what it was worth, but you sort of wanted your friends to start treating you normally again.

Spike tries to keep a straight face but it only lasts for a few seconds before he clutches his sides falling on his back chuckling heartily at your joke. You thought it odd that the little joke got that much of a reaction, but then as a kid this was probably the first time he was hearing these old gags. 

God, it’s nice to have some guy company for a change, even if he is still a little kid.

You here a grumpy tutting sound by your side at the table.

"That wasn't very nice, she's your marefreind you know." Twilight grumpily responds, clearing the table with her magic.

You turn your impish grin towards her. "You think that's bad? You should hear the things she says about me."

"You have a weird relationship dude." Spike chips in, catching his breath and getting back on his stubby legs.

You shrug your shoulder, "eh, you'll understand when you’re my age."

"Actually, Spike will just be entering his pre-teen years by that time, dragon’s age differently to us."

You tap your chin. "Yeah, I read that in one of my books somewhere, but I just know this little man here's going to be batting the dragonesses away with a stick by that time."

Spike sticks his forked tongue out like he just ate something disgustingly sour. "No way, girls are gross, they're full of cooties."

Twilight seems more than amused by his declaration looking at him with as mischievous glint in her eyes. “Oh really? That’s not what you said about Rarity, even after she started going steady."

Spike looks down at his claws tapping them together with a blush. "Yeah, well, she's the exception, she probably already got her cootie shot anyway."

Both you and Twilight laugh at that, watching as Spike blushes harder with a cute little grumpy pout, trying to maintain some shred of maturity.

"Spike, can you go fetch that tea I was brewing in the kitchen for our guest, his leg is still sore.” Twilight asks giving the little guy leave of the conversation.

That seems to snap Spike from his mood "Sure thing!" The little drake yells with a swift salute, before racing off to the kitchen. You can't help but watch him go, it was refreshing seeing something walk on two legs for once. Any form of normality was refreshing, it’s probably why you liked him to begin with, that and he was a goddamn fire breathing dragon.

That reminds me, I need to get ask Twilight if my order is in for the second addition of Mocking jays ‘Dragons and Dragonesses: An in depth analysis of the inner workings and biology of Eques giants.’ That First edition was like reading a super in depth fantasy novel, I need that second edition in my collection now!

Snapping yourself away from your nostalgic thoughts, you limp your way over towards Twilight with determination and dignity your leg would allow you to muster, something you’ve been working on since the incident. Setting yourself down on the opposite side of the table parallel to Twilight, you placing the crutch across your lap leaning back into the chair.

Twilight clears her throat with a small cough. "So, first things first, how has everything been this week?" She begins levitating a piece of paper over towards herself and dipping a quill into a black pot of ink, before folding her fore hooves together on the table, giving you her full attention.

You shrug. "Fine, pretty much."

Twilight begins to write on the piece of paper in front of you, as you roll your eyes and grunt.

"You know, you don't have to always write everything I say."

She smiles looking up at you. "On the contrary, everything you say is just as important as the things you don't say. For example, you constantly need to mask your true feelings behind a Veneer of nonchalantness, it’s something you always seem to do."

You huff at her and tap your crutch with your index finger a new, but soon to be inveterate action. "Jesus, I thought this was a report, when did you become a psychiatrist?"

Twilight smirk rises, as she scratches more words down onto her paper, before dipping it back into the ink. "I've read a few things, perks of living in a library for so many years." She adds with a cheery disposition.

"Okay, so run this by me again, because I'm still not getting this, why are you writing this report again?" Of course you knew the answer, it was blatantly obvious. Twilight was an altruist at heart, true. But it was not like she was doing this because it came to her one day in a dream. Celestia's hooves were all over this. Not that that was anything knew. At least it wasn’t quite as nefarious as it had once been, but it still annoyed you that it was hidden under the veneer of Twilight simply trying to keep tabs on your day to day life. And not some sort of mental assessment. Which it most certainly was. No matter how much she denied it. In fact, it had become something of a game for you now. You would play mental gymnastics with Twilight every time you sat through one of these meetings and try to get her to admit what this was.

A therapy session.

And as always, this meeting was no different. You always took the opportunity to tease Twilight for making you do this every Thursday.

Something about her getting worked up was just so funny for you, you couldn’t help but do it. The plan today was to somehow get her to actually say ‘therapy’ instead of ‘friendship report’, which should just about do it.

"Well, once again it comes under a number of different factors, for one it is good to detail your experiences as an immigrant in Equestria. Also it’s to assist in our understanding of humans, even if it’s only specifically you, but it will give us all some sort of basis to work with, should any more humans find themselves in Equestria. And the last reason was more selfish than the others."  She finishes with a chuckle setting the quill back up into her magic.

You lift your brow up at her. "Oh, and what's that?"

"I'm curious about you, not many ponies act like you do, heck not many anything I can even think of acts like you do."

"So you’re saying that when I start eating hay and bucking trees with my feet we can stop this?" you smugly quip back, enjoying the look on Twilight's face as she rolls her eyes.

“Can we not do this today, please?”

You resign to let her continue however, you had places to be and bugging her only meant it would take longer, so you decided to keep your wit to a minimum today. "Fine, I'll keep playing along, so, where were we at last?" You capitulate with a wave of your hand.

Twilight shifts a few papers around, skim reading them all. "Hmm last we checked you were leaving the hospital, or was their anything else that happened that you wanted to talk about.

You scratch the stubble on your chin, humming for a second in thought. The hospital had been, for the most part, a boring and painful experience of healing and tedious bouts of muscular therapy, broken up by moments of sporadic craziness.

"Well some insane Pegasus reporter broke into my room for a one on one interview with Manehattan post, asking me what my plans were for world domination and  if my blood was also a powerful acid that could cut through steel."

"Yes I have that already documented and so does the guard report."

You tap your chin in mock thought. “I still think it would be some sort of giant death ray, only problem is I wouldn’t know where to put it, though.”

“Zoning laws would require you place it beyond the boundaries of Ponyville. Otherwise you would get petitions to have it taken down as it would become an eyesore to the rest of the residents.” Twilight retorts as she leaned back a bit, humouring you.

“Huh, I’ll keep that in mind, perhaps I’ll just stick with mutating some sort of giant H.P Lovecraft-esc squid creature, it’s more in my field of work anyway.”

“I’m sure Fluttershy wouldn’t mind it, regardless of how mutated it would be.”  Twilight chuckled.

"Well its win win for everyone then... Okay... Uh well there was that time Pinkie came to celebrate my last stages of recovery, and by that I mean she fired a cannon full of cake all over me while I was still sleeping."

Twilight nods at you as if it was something to just take in stride when it came to her friends. You didn't know if her ability to just shrug off that level of crazy was normal, maybe there was something behind that, you thought she would try to study her crazy friends supernatural powers. But you guessed there was a reason why she didn’t "Yes I have that as well, oh on that note Pinkie told me she's still very sorry about that and asks for you to lift this speaking embargo you put her under,  I'm still not sure how you did that."

You tap your nose with a smirk "I have my ways, and I told her that I'd do it once she and Gilda made up, or at least could stay in a room long enough to not start an all-out war, though that's more Gilda's problem, it should be a good bargaining chip should Pinkie back out in the last minute."

"So you mean when we go to Sugarcube corner this afternoon?"

You nod folding your arms across your chest. "Indeed."

Twilight taps the quill on the table a few times silently muttering to herself, what she had previously written, it had only been a few months but the stack of paper she had on you was almost intimidating. You wouldn't say you were a boring person by any stretch of the imagination. But for only three years of your life, she had written enough to fill at least three biographies and still had room for a dissertation to boot. "Okay, so that's about everything on that, let's go into your hospital visits a bit more. Anyone of note worth talking about?”

“Well there's a few names that come to mind, but they’re not all that particularly interesting, at least not to you anyway.”

Twilight dips the ink into the pot, wetting it in the black ink, she looks back at you expectedly with a smile as she awaits the first set of stories.

“Okay, uh, where to begin.”





"That was a sweet story." Twilight states giving you a warm smile. She had even set down her quill halfway through the story, apparently enraptured by your story telling ability.

You take a glass of water, chugging it down greedily, telling the tale left your throat parched. Maybe you shouldn't have started doing it in the voices but you stopped after the first minute when you could see twilight getting irritated, you didn't want to ruin the story.

"Yeah they're a nice couple, we’re having them over for dinner in a week as it happens, plus I think Scootaloo kept dropping hints about wanting to babysit. She keeps hinting at it every time the baby was mentioned, so that's pretty sweet. But, I think that might also be because she wants to spend more time with Ember, not that I mind, I’d be in the same boat if I was her.” You grin tapping your fingers around the side of your cane in thought.

However the happy memory is tainted somewhat by the reason as to which the family actually came to visit you to begin with.

“It’s just a shame about her, you know her brother, I know he thought I was attacking the little filly. But…”

“What happens to Snowfall Scratch has nothing to do with the mare herself, or even you for that matter. What happens in the courtroom will be a matter against the crown, even you can’t have a say in it really. This up and coming trial is an offset of the original trial and therefore falls under different circumstances.”

You nod your head solemnly, it had been months now but it still seemed that every time you turned your head something about that day came back to bite you. Your eyes drift down to the bit of wood in your lap and you subconsciously grimace.

Though with those months in mind. It lead to other ‘Problems’

It’s getting so real now, so close until I can hold her in my arms, I wonder if all dads to be feel like this, some weird mix between jumping for joy and wanting to throw up every time I think about the responsibilities.  I wonder when I'll start making cheese dad joke, maybe it’s like a virus that spreads over the years, Jesus I hope not, Mom was bad, but Dad’s puns made me want to jump in front of traffic.

Thinking about the baby, you lean your head down to the side looking at the watch tied to your wrist, remembering that you had places to be and scary hormonal nine month pregnant Griffons to meet. "So is that about everything?"

“No, sorry we still need to complete around four more pages of the report before I can send it off, is there nothing else you can tell me, before we move on?”

Should I tell her about the part where me and Gilda christened the hospital bed when nobody was around… oh hell yes, Twilight might actually stop these all together if I did. But then again it would take about a few months before she would actually have the courage to look me in the eye and not blush herself to death. Actually, on second thought, nah, save that one for a rainy day. If I know this mare anything to do with sex is going to be a bombshell.

"Well Twilight that actually really just about sums everything up…for now"

Twilight flicks her ear. “Sorry what was that?”

“Nothing, nothing.” You say taking a sip of your tea, hoping it covered your mischievous grin.

Hmm. This is pretty good actually, and the dull throbbing stopped quite a bit. I wonder if she’ll let me take the cauldron once she’s done with it. Maybe it would even help Gilda, it’s all natural right, can't hurt the baby. I’ll have to enquire later when I get the time.

"Okay.” Twilight continues, “so, after the hospital, there was the council meeting in Canterlot. That preceded after the trial."

"Humans vs Snowdrop, as the papers are calling it. Doesn't really have the Roe vs Wade or Plessy vs Ferguson feel to the name does it?"

Twilight giggles at that, interestingly after so many meeting she had finally gotten a good grasp at some parts of human history, among other things in human culture.

Thank god there is at least someone in this world that will get my references to the twist to the original Star Wars movies...Besides Luna… Hmm, I should probably tell her the movies aren't actually a part the real Human history. Then again, it was in a galaxy far far away, long ago, who knows, it could have happened.

"No, but in terms of foreign immigration it’s just as important, it’s a sort of civil rights, if you think about it." Twilight answers.

"True,” you say draining the last of the tea as the thoughts of the original trail came to mind.  “It’s funny they didn't really throw the book at them, like I thought they would. Even with testament from three princesses of this county and eye witnesses, from you’re, uh, Elements? I mean, premeditated assault, trespassing and battery of two guests of Equestria, one of which was pregnant, and they get Five years in prison and two thousand days of community service? It would be at least twenty to life back home." You shake your head, a guttural growl reverberates in your throat for just a moment, you were still livid at the group of assaulters. Your emotions even now were spiked to the point of blind fury towards the group. Evident by your vice grip on the wooden crutch.

Twilight nods understandingly, as she bit her lip in thought, no doubt going through Earth's penal systems in her mind compared to the ones held in Equestria. "I understand, when you put it that way, their crimes seem more than despicable. But, it was a fair trial and you have to remember that Equestria's judicial system is completely based on reforming, not punishing, like other countries it would be hypocritical if we sentenced them to life, but let Discord run free, considering all he's done, and I’m not suggesting Luna had any control over herself. But the horrors Nightmare Moon caused..."

You raise an eyebrow. “Wait, didn't you lot set Discord in stone for a thousand years and send Luna to the moon for the same amount of time?"

Twilight leans forward furrowing her brow. "Yes but that means very little to somepony like Discord and even really Luna. Besides, in Discords case, his crimes and reign of terror added up to much, much longer, if you were to stack them together. What I’m trying to get at here is it is all relative, it was a fair trial.”

You shake your head more to throw the poisonous emotions from you mind. "Say that when it's your kid on the line Twilight, it’s a very different story then."

Twilight opens her mouth to speak but decides to bite her tongue bringing a fresh paper over to her front scribbling, a few notes down you try and get a better look at the ‘assessment’ she was writing about you, but your damaged and still painful leg didn't allow that to happen sadly.

"…Let's get away from this unpleasantness for now shall we?”

You nod. “You read my mind, I didn't come here to get angry, I came here to tease you and wait for Gilda to finish chilling out with Shy.”

Twilight grabs a paper lifting up to her face she brings it back down with a wicked smirk. “Well, if you want to get onto the topic of teasing, I got something for you right here, in a minute.”

You chuckle. “Sure you do, there isn’t anything you could say that I don’t get a hundred times worse at home.”

“Oh, we’ll see about that.”

Twilight taps the paper in thought with her quill "So, I don’t really know how to say this without sounding rude, so I’ll just come out with it. You’re not having any financial troubles are you?"

You reach over and scratch your chin again, thinking about just how much you had left in your bank account. "No, the settlement from the court case is being put to very good use, thank you and the other princesses again for that. We even managed to renovate a baby room and not a minute too soon. Oh, that reminds me, I almost forgot, Gilda says thank you for the crib, she regrets not having that baby shower, but we’ve been far too busy to organise anything like it."

Well, her actual words were something more like, baby showers are for nerds and that she's not going to be stuck in a room with sappy ponies coddling her for seven hours. But Twilight doesn’t need to know that part.

Twilight begins to blush "Oh it was nothing, Spikes old crib was just taking up space, and I think my parents were more thankful to be rid of it if I'm being honest, sorry if it still smells a bit smoky, the new paint should have hopefully masked that."

You tussle your beard, combing it with your fingers, raising a brow as the statements surprises you somewhat… "Huh, I mean no it’s all good, my nose has lost a lot of its sensitivity over the years. Probably due to me being in sterilized bleach filled rooms with pungent medicine, but Gilda didn’t mention anything, so it’s probably not a problem. Sorry, but something you just said, I thought your parents would want to keep the crib, you know, for sentimental value?”

Twilight nods in understanding as the glaze in her eyes seems to indicate she was remembering something to that effect. "They said it would be better suited to a new family, for gaining new experiences, instead of gaining a new layer of dust."

"Haha, well, thank you anyway, it will get plenty of use I'm sure."

Twilight smile becomes more genuine at that, the glaze in her eyes seem to vanish which in turn makes your smile grow with it. "How is Gilda doing by the way?"

You scratch your beard again as you give the question some thought, as always it seemed weird to the ponies and dragon in your life about the dynamic of your relationship with the griffon. However, in those moments of arguing, teasing and general blunt talk, nothing was left to simmer in some sort of unspoken resentment. If you or her ever had something to say to one another. It was said, plain and simple, for better or sometimes worse and you worked it out from there. In an odd way, a way that a couples counsellor would probably have had a field day with.  But it worked before and after you both stated dating and nothing was going to change that much for the foreseeable future. "Well, she fights, cries, and we make up and make fun of each other all over again. It’s pretty much the same as it’s always been… Well, without the crying part anyway, but that's the hormones. Honestly, I think she's just restless, we both are, she just wants to start flying again, and she wants the baby out. I don’t blame her for mood swings, even if it does get ugly at some points, she's never been grounded for more than a few hours in her life, as much of it as I’ve been around for anyway."

Twilight giggles taking it all into account, interestingly she doesn’t write any of that down. You surmise, that it had more to do with Gilda than you, another point that hammers home that this was more therapy than a report. "Haha that last part sounds a lot like Rainbow Dash."

You pause at the name drop "…Yeah, I've been told that before."

"Does she scare you? I mean now that's she's coming back." Twilight observed, noticing the pause in your voice.

"What? No, don't be silly, Twilight, if I ever let myself be afraid of a pony that isn’t the Princesses, I’ll literally lose the last piece of normality in my system, no offence.  I'm just worried about Gilda, I think their last encounter hurt her more than she likes to admit. I know something more went on between them two than a simple cat fight, losing a friend sucks I know, but to have that much effect on her like that, something else happened, it must have…”

You shake your head, wishing you had more tea to excuse yourself from your rambling. “Sorry, I’m thinking out loud now.”

Again Twilight nods in understanding, setting the quill in the pot. "I know she can be abrasive, but Dash is a good pony, I'm sure she’ll be forgiving, and we can work through this. Especially after everything that you two have had to endure."

Again you find yourself wishing you had more tea, but instead you slump back in the seat twisting the crutch around on your lap, with a sullen pout. "I'm sure you’re right, I just hope it’s after the baby, this on top of her problems, might just be the straw that broke the camel’s back.”







“Anything you’d like to talk about, before we conclude?” Twilight muttered as she concentrated on writing down the last sentence.

One question comes to mind. “Any news of the griffon, you know, the one at the barn?"

Twilight shakes her head, scrambling around presumably for a copy of the official guard sheets, that she was privy to thanks to the loophole in the ‘I’m a goddamn princess’ clause. "No, the local guards are still on the lookout for anything fitting yours and Gilda’s description. But if he's been around for as long as you claimed, without a single pony noticing, he's obviously very adept at stealth, he's most likely camped somewhere inside the Everfree."

“Well to be honest, Gilda had been hiding round my neck of the woods for years and no one noticed.”

“True, but she had a safe place to rest, and I'm guessing she never ventured around any further than the end of town, I assume you allowed her to eat your food?”

You nod. That was putting it mildly, she basically cleared out your pantry every other night she was over, even back in the very early days.

Twilight rubs her chin with her wing, mulling the notion over mentally adding up her assumption. “The only place that I can think of that would sustain a male griffon with enough protein and water, and keep him latent from even you, Zecora, or Fluttershy's eyes would be in the Everfree, at least in the Third ring. The outer ring would be possible, if he had nothing to do all day but hunt. But if again, if anything Fluttershy would have noticed if some of her animals from the outer ring went missing.

"Jesus he must be a tough guy then." You knew about the third ring of the Everfree very well. You, at times had to skirt the circumferences of it in order to make some emergency on site calls, for the second ring animals that had been foolish enough or desperate enough to enter the third ring. Not even Manticores or Blue skinned Tatzelwurm(1) roamed there, maybe Red skinned ones, but they only migrated to Equestria during the spring time to breed.  Regardless, Blue skins still stuck to the second ring. And given their size and animosity when cornered that was saying something.

Twilight nods in agreement. “It’s odd really, I can’t see a pattern in his modus operandi, you saw him about a week before the incident spying on you two in your back garden, and he flies off before you could call out to him. But then he comes and saves Gilda just in the nick of time, covered in armour and clothing that hid his appearance, now he's not been seen for months. What is he up to I wonder? Is he operating as a lone agent, or if this is part of something bigger? Did Gilda have any connections to Griffons back in her home country, after her first visit to central Ponyville?”

You shake your head, confident in your knowledge that she had been alone since then. “No, Gilda’s not too keen on talking about her past, what she can remember of it anyway, from some of the stories I’m privy to I almost don't blame her. But if she thought any of us would be in danger, because of this griffon, I know she would have said something about it. That girl is a true lioness when it comes to her family, she's pretty stubborn about her past, but she’s not foolish.”

Twilight frown grows as her eyes skim over the report by her side briefly. “Well, if that's the case, then all we can do now is wait until the griffon shows himself again, none of the guards are equipped to go that deep into the forest, and even if we could find the time and resources to get a special task force, who could breach into that level of the Everfree, we have no leads and no way to know where they could start a search in such a huge and dangerous wilderness. Unfortunately all we can do is wait.”

You scratch the irritating stubble on your chin, with a pout, annoyed by your helplessness in all this. “Understandable, it’s not worth anyone getting hurt just to find this guy, we don’t even know his motivations, if he was out to get Gilda or me, the barn would have been the perfect chance, so we can at least scratch out anything nefarious about him at this time.”

“Exactly, I'm sure we'll sort this out. But for now if that's sorted, I just have one question left before we can finish this report.

“And that would be?”

"Did you sort out the feather issue?" Twilight asks with an element of mirth in her voice. A knowing look graces her face.

By all the graces on high, you manage to keep a stone face as the question is fired at you, you faux cough into your fist, to hide any victory Twilight was looking for. Ah so this was that teasing thing she was on about, well played Sprinkles, well played indeed.

"No, no not really, well… Okay sort of, I read the book, the one you gave me." You try and fight the startled tone in your voice, but ultimately fail.

Twilight leans further onto the table, that same playful smirk on her face only grows as you back away from her predatory smile, feeling your own stubborn chagrin rise. "Well?” Twilight asked with vigorous enthusiasm.

“Okay so…”





You sit down in your chair, your new one, scratch and griffon claw/paw free, spotless with that, new chair smell. It was soft to the touch and for once made for your size. One of the many perks of having money for a change.

You lay the book down on your lap. Kicking off your shoes you turn in your seat, letting the light of the sun illuminate the pages perfectly as you get comfortable.

"Okay, let's get this over with." You mutter, inspecting the pristine book in your grasp. The book was definitely old, based on the slight discolouration and crypt like smell of the pages. Based on its condition, it had probably only been read a handful of times at best.

"A Guide to inter Species Dating, Griffon Edition.” You read the books title aloud with mild scepticism and enticed wonder. You question why this had really been given to you. You assumed an almost three year relationship with a griffon of your own would be enough of a guide without a book's assistance. 

But still your curiosity got the better of you.

You look over to the corner where a letter addressed to you was sitting, on one of the small oak tables, next to the brown packaging the book had been wrapped in. The book had been a gift from ‘Twilight’ but it probably wasn’t, you surmise, as you again questioned why the mare would even send something like this to you unprompted. She had stated in a letter that came with the parcel that chapter thirteen, page one hundred eighty three was a ‘particularly interesting read’.
With nothing to do, since you were still unable to perform your duties as a veterinarian; you decided to take the bait. Maybe it would let you get the upper hand on Gilda for a change, It was always nice to surprise your partner.

Might even be able to use it to get lucky at some point…. Okay focus, get your mind out the gutter, in your condition you're not going to be doing anything that active for quite some time.

Looking over the book, you examine the cover first. The picture was of an outline of a genderless griffon on the front next to an equally genderless pony, facing one another, with a love heart around the two. As always with this world the book cover was pretty on the nose. But then again, it did make things undoubtedly easier to work out its intent, if the title wasn’t obvious enough. Out of curiosity, you flick to the back of the book, opening the last page of the hard cover.

Inside was an aged black and white photo of a young earth pony mare snuggled up to what appeared to be a large black and grey feathered griffon, outside a rustic two story home that looked freshly made, given the pristine condition it was in and the lack of any weathering on the wood or tiles on the roof. What caught your attention most was the pronounced smiles on their faces and the loving, life bonded look they were giving one other. You could feel a little something pull at your heartstrings and before you knew it you were already smiling along with them. Though it did strike you as odd that the cutie mark of the mare was intentionally blurred out.

Jesus, I’ve gotten sappy with age. You shake your head, but can’t shake off the smile.
The bottom of the picture was in exquisite, and well-crafted cursive writing style and simply read, "Dedicated to my beloved Hanz. May we one day find each other again, in the great plains above."

Flipping the book back over, you crack your knuckles in your hands before cracking open the book. Flick to the page ‘Twilight’ had hinted at, you began to read the title of the chapter.

"1) The feather, a guideline to dating." You look up with a confused furrowed brow, pondering the chapter title. Huh, that seems a bit redundant? I'm sure Celestia knows at least that were already dating, she said it herself?

Then you read aloud the first sentence.

"Congratulations, so you finally decided to get engaged!"

You drop the book down onto the floor as if it was on fire, your eyes bug out and you take a sharp inhale from the shock. Almost jumping out of your seat.

What the fuck!

It takes a moment to calm down but afterwards you snatch the book from the floor bringing it right up to your face, as you attack the pages with feverish vigour, reading them aloud.

"Hold your horse shoes now, I know what you're thinking, married!? I only just meet the griffon! Well, I shall be the first to inform you that griffon romances are a profoundly unique element of their own society, compared to other cultures. Griffons, if you didn’t know, mate for life. But that doesn't mean they take the first partner they see. No, griffons are very particular with their relationships.

“The only way to equate the concept of the feather without dipping into hyperbole is like a long term engagement ring or necklace, for you Earth ponies out there. You see, if a griffon finds some pony he/she cares enough for, they gift them with a feather. Often the first primary they ever lost, however, that is not always the way, considering cases whereupon the feather was lost or too damaged to be gifted, it isn’t seen as a faux-pas for a griffon to gift any type of primary, should their first be unavailable, and often that is the case. Especially for most families outside of those of the ‘Adel bloodline’ or ‘nobility’ as best translated into common Eques. Most griffons cannot afford the necessary runes or warding spells in order to keep the first feather they ever lost in pristine condition.”

“The feather, symbolises that they see you as a potential life partner. However, it doesn't mean they want to necessarily marry you, in the traditional pony sense (See Pp. 239 on griffon bonding ceremonies), or expect you to marry them right on the spot. The feather is more symbolic than a real engagement ring. Often, among griffons, the period of feather gifting to actual marriage (For the bases of this chapter, bonding ceremonies (Liimaus seremonia) will be referred to as marriage, to negate confusion.) Can take anywhere from the next day to five years. Remember, it is a symbol for which they will engage in a pact for life, every pony.”

Life… I wonder, Gilda grew up in Equestria, does she even know this herself, she must have known some of this, right?

"It's likely that a griffon will feather gift up to about ten or twelve times in their lives, before settling down, and it's not uncommon for them to feather gift to multiple partners at any one time. If they have other potential life partners in mind. It is a long period of trial and error and a large investment in their lives, so don't take offence if you and somepony else has one, the symbolic gesture of the feather itself, doesn't mean that they like you or anypony else more (That is more based on the individual griffon, for further explanation see Pp. 345 for notes on body language and gestures/intimations.) It's just to show that they see you as potential candidate and a special somepony in their life, should anything else happen, to act upon that.”

Gestures? I wonder if that has anything to do with that weird stretching thing she does before… out the gutter mind, keep it focused!

“Now, the feather itself is very important to a griffon. Even if it is purely symbolic, so treat it with the utmost respect, like you would any engagement ring/necklace. If you don't feel like they’re the special somepony for you or you have eyes on another, make sure that you at least give the griffon a day before returning it, as there tradition demands, and for Celestia's sake don't throw it 
away!”

Well learned that the hard way You think licking your dry lips, as a deep blush of embarrassment swept across your face, as you flip the page.

“2) Accepting the feather.”

“You got a feather, lucky you. But you're probably thinking, what now? Well, now it’s up to you, if you feel you would want to date this Griffon. If so, then do what you think is right, this part’s pretty much up to you two. The simplest answer is do what you both wish to do. Take them out on dates or allow them to reciprocate that, maybe, go hunting together, if you have the stomach for it, or simply spend time with them it’s not horn surgery every pony."

"Griffon dating is about patience, despite, as I have encountered in my studies and experiences, many griffons being excitable and often full of energy, dating is taken very seriously. No amount of time is to long for them, if they see you as a potential partner. Remember, as I mentioned above, griffons mate for life everypony, I can't stress that enough, it is a part of their D.N.A, if you feel you can’t commit, for everyponies sake in this, you will have to tell them."

You turn the page, quickly reading on.

"To lead a griffon on is about one of the worst things you can do to a griffon. Both emotionally and for their own health. A griffon divorce is unheard of and the ones that have happened among interspecies relationships do not end well. What I’m trying to lightly put is that the griffon doesn’t tend to live very long after separation from what they believed to be there life partner. If you understand my meaning."

"Complementary side note. Like Pegasus, griffon beauty is measured at times by the size of their wingspan, as in their culture it is believed that a longer wingspan means a stronger fighter and better hunter. Take note to complement that about a griffon. Griffon claws are also another complement that would win you favour when dating a griffon, the longer and sharper the claws are the more desirable a griffon is to one of its own kind. Again going back to the belief in a stronger and more naturally skilled hunter. Be warned, Beaks are as important to complement as the other elements of a griffon, but be very sure not to mention the size of the beak specifically when referring to a griffoness and specifically in referring to how large it might be. While a male Griffon might take this as a point of pride, stating that a female griffon has an enormous beak is attacking the griffoness’s femininity. It is like stating that a mare has a very straight jaw. Or on the other hoof, for a stallion, stating that they have a nimble and curved figure. It is not likely to go down well, even if the complement was well meaning."

Yeah... I kinda learned that one the hard way. Man, what I wouldn’t give to have this book even a month ago.

“3) How to return the favour.”

“A common question for every pony, but mostly for us non Pegasus out there, how do I return the favour. Griffons or Pegasus who accept the feather gifting and want to return the favour give a primary feather back to their loved one, it’s a symbol of trust and devotion. Like carrying a piece of their loved one around so as to never forget them, it’s rather romantic isn't it?"

"But for the rest of us, this author included, it is a bit of a nightmare. I’m sure you will ask yourself, what do I do, I don't have a feather, do I borrow one from a friend? Well the short answer is no, in recent history we have seen a larger amount of griffon marriages outside of their species, at least on the villages of the Griffonian and Equestrian border and from what this study has been able to find out, anything can be used as a proxy for the feather."

"The crux of it is not that the proxy feather is valuable, but that it holds sentimental value, and that the griffon in question knows this. That is vitally important, as mentioned above, the feather is very important to a griffon so it only stands to reason that your proxy feather should be as well."

So if you think buying a big ring with a huge gem on it is going win you favour with the griffon in question, chances are you might as well be hoofing them a clump or dirt. Griffons, despite their underserved reputation for greed, actually care very little for fancy gems and gold, especially if it wasn't earned the hard way. I’m looking at you big spenders out there.

"No, it has to mean something, it can be anything, a family heirloom, a past down hair ornament your mother might have worn, I had even heard during the study for this book that a pocket watch that had been through three wars being used as suitable substitute feather. It is all about the importance, not so much the price. Though in this author's experience, it helps if you can wear the item in question. Having a photo album of the times you have spent with your griffon in question is sweet, but it's not something that an easily worn or given away at the ceremony. Then again, though I have spent all my life in the company of griffons, this is, and will always come from a pony's perspective."

"Chapter fourteen. Meeting the pride.”

You set the book down and promptly message your eyes, lying back in you easy chair. That was allot to take in, but as you sort through all that you'd read from the book, all of it made perfect sense.

The reaction to the feather, going on hunts or more accurately fishing trips, saying she had beak for days. Everything you did with Gilda matched the book in one way or another. It had to be some sort of natural instinct as much as culturally too. You knew Gilda hadn't been back to Griffonia since she was an infant.

You reach under your shirt pulling the necklace you always wore, from around your neck. Examining it, like always, it was the same warm chocolate brown colour smooth and silk like texture since the day it had been given to you, in perfect condition to boot, despite what you’d been through. You never left your house without it, it rarely even left its place around your neck. That large primary brown feather twined with the purple fiery red phoenix primary you had received on the same day always stayed on you. They were practically the most important possessions you owned, besides the house, and your trusty veterinarian coat.

You can't help but chuckle as you twisted the feather in between your fingers, you knew it was special to her, she always smiled when she saw it on you, even if she was trying to be secret about it. It was part of the reason you never took it off. But knowing what it truly meant, besides what you had surmised back on that fateful day, made it all that more important.

But that just left one vital question 

What the fuck do I do now? The question, though crass, hits you hard. Do I love enough for this? Heck I mean sure, we're having a kid together, but it wasn't like we planned it... I know the right thing to do would be to go through with what the book said. But what if I can't be what shes looking for, or the other way around, Its only been basically three years. Most couples take way longer than that to decide they want to settle down with one another forever, right? If I'm wrong, and this doesn't work out. Well, like the book says I can't just divorce. I mean would she be different? She did grow up in Equestria, a completely different society after all. But the books definitely confirmed it was instinctual. If something went wrong. and we couldn't hack it together, she wouldn't just... end it? Nah not Gilda, she probably just be really mad, probably break stuff, Like she does all the time. Heck the first day I meet her she was venting in the Everfree because of some chick fight, she was fine then, I think. Shes not that type to...

You shake your head snapping the book shut. "No i'm sure its fine." You confirm aloud, for some reason you felt you needed to. "I just need to sit on it, the book said it was fine to wait. Plus I'm sure Twilight going to be all over this when I meet her next anyway."






"Hello?" Twilight asks waving a hoof over your eye line snapping you from your thoughts.

"Sorry,” you apologize coughing, with a small blush.  “I was miles away."

She giggles "I know, you stopped talking halfway through your story.”

"Yeah, I do that sometimes." You sheepishly laugh, scratching the back of your head.

"It’s alright, it’s an interesting read, Griffonian culture is absolutely fascinating, I wish there were more than a hooffull of books out there, and there mostly kept at Canterlot library, this one was the only one to have mass release and it actually caused some controversy when it was released.”

"How so?" You say interlocking your finger and laying your elbows on the table, intrigued at the notion of learning any more information on the book that Twilight had to offer.

"Well,” Twilight began, her tone taking a more lecture like stance, which normally would have made you switch off immediately, along with everyone else in the room. “Like a great many things concerning Griffonia, the griffons prefer to keep their culture to themselves. We still don't know why really, even Celestia has to sign a contract silencing her from discussing anything in depth about them, as a sign of good will, she won't even tell me or Candace all that much about them." Twilight finishes with a grumpy sigh.

"You wonder how the book even got published?"

"Well, the authors name is signed in a nom de plume, no pony knows her or the griffon in the picture and this was published at least sixty years ago, via a publication that went out of business shortly thereafter. It was only in the last ten years that the Griffonian imperator had deemed the book an affront to the griffon’s goodwill clause in the contract between our nations. This might be one of the few remaining books around, since it was removed from libraries across Equestria."

You lift your eyebrows up, though you don’t know why the notion shocked you so much, given all the other information you had learned about the griffons. “Wow, what was with the change of mind?” you pause considering your own question before adding."Then again. It might explain the griffon that followed us around."

Twilight smiles sadly looking you directly in the eyes. "My thoughts exactly.”





Another few minutes go by, you continue your talk with Twilight has become something of a routine with you and her batting back and forth about your life, it had become less like an agony aunt since the first time she asked you to come over It was still weird, you were never one for talking about your feelings or thoughts.

Yawning, you glare down at you watch noticing the time. "Oh shot! I have to go. The Pinkie thing is in a couple of minutes, Gilda’s probably waiting for me with Shy."

Twilight nods her head in agreement, draining the last vestiges of her coffee as her horn lights up and the contents of the table teleport to parts unknown, well most likely just her basement, but you’d like to think your personal details were being guarded by some giant Cerberus type beast in a dark deep dungeon.

"I'll walk you over." She adds, smacking her lips together as she put the coffee cup down.

You shake your hand at her as you place the crutch down by your side, using it and the table as leverage, you let out a grunt as you get your balance, even sitting for so long your leg still felt tired and sore. The tea had helped somewhat but only rest and time would truly help in the healing process. "Oh there’s really no need for that."

Twilight rolls her eyes. "Please, I insist, I want to say hi to the girls before I delve back into my book on zoology."

You look down at her with an impish smirk. "Zoology huh?"

Twilight it seemed pretended not to notice the teasing cadence in your voice as she walks with you to the castle entrance. "Yeah, you and Fluttershy always have such interesting discussions about the animals of Equestria, I always feel a bit left out, my understanding of animals has always been a bit lacking."

"Well, if you need any help, let me know. I’ve been told I was pretty good at that stuff."

Twilight giggles "I'm sure you are, you should go pro."

“Ha, hmm there’s a thought.”

You almost reach the archway of the doors before something hits you. “Oh I just wanted to thank you for all the talks we’ve been having, you know, our therapy sessions really are starting to work I think, I feel better every single time I come here.”

Twilight smiles brightly up at you as she uses her magic and grasps hold of the door handles and pulls the behemoths open. “I think so to. Therapy has really helped you out of your shell these past few months.”

“Yeah, not like those lousy reports…” you say giggling into your hand.

“No, Celestia was right about that. Friendship reports wouldn’t really help in your cas… oh hourseapples!” Twilight bellows. Flicking her eyes up to you and giving you a grumpy yet adorable pout as a small growl reverberates from her, it didn't really work though since you were too preoccupied keeping your balance as you hug the side of the door, laughing hard.

Nailed it!
> The Griffons Perspective Part One Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special thanks to The Cake Devil for editing this chapter.





Gilda grunted as she stumbled on an uprooted piece of the cobblestone bridge atop the peaceful, lazy brook. She caught herself before she could fall, but her stubbed paw showed that she didn’t get off altogether. It didn’t so much irk her that she had stumbled. But that it had been the seventh time since she made the short trip towards the cottage, along the outskirts of the peaceful town of Ponyville. After leaving her now almost three year long mate, who had to attend a meeting with the princess of Ponyville.

It wasn’t her fault, the weight under her swung like a newton's cradle. Every time she tried to pick up momentum it threw her off balance. Perhaps she should have been more careful, but to keep herself from stumbling every few minutes she would have had to go at a pace that even a tortoise would have scoffed at.

And Gilda didn’t do slow.

She grunted again, this time at the cramp at her side, which caused her to stop outright. Clutching her stomach she waited for the uncomfortable pains to subside. Another thing that acted up every few minutes, more so today than any other time this month.

“Listen kid, let's make a deal, let me get inside and sit down and you can punch and kick for as long as you want, got it?” Gilda sullenly grunted to her stomach. Ironically, the pain began to subside the moment she uttered the deal and Gilda found herself chuckling at that.

Finally having crossed the perennial stream, she waddled up the small earthen rampart to the cottage, which felt more arduous because of her added weight, Gilda sat down on her withers and knocked loudly on the wooden door three times.

“J-Just a moment please.” A frazzled and as expected demure voice called out, as the sounds of hissing, squeaks, chirps, hoots, bleats, croaks, warbles and clicks (among other things) bellowed out from the open windows of the cottage, in a parade of near deafening noise.

Gilda raised her brow at the sounds, before shrugging. She guessed that Fluttershy was having a bad day with the animals, it was a rare occurrence but in the past few months that Gilda had gotten to truly know her, she had seen a few of them. And they weren't pretty.

Gilda surmised Fluttershy could do her job more easily if she would just tell them to shut it more often. That would work for her. Then again, animals never seemed to care much for Gilda, or to like the scent of a griffon at all, especially cats. Perhaps it was the scent of an apex predator. Or simply just her demeanor. Her human said that animals, like dogs, could sense those things. Now that she thought about it, perhaps it was more her fault that Fluttershy animals were acting up. The wind was blowing behind her, perhaps it was quite possible they could have picked up her scent from a few yards away.

Again Gilda shrugged, Fluttershy could handle it just fine.

Gilda gazed around the horizon with disinterested, nothing seemed to catch her eye, not the dancing of trees, as the wind swept and caught there leaves, nor the occasional rustling from a pair of squirrels foraging, nor that white rabbit with an angry pout that Fluttershy liked so much hopping out of the bushes, twitching its nose patiently before diving back into the undergrowth. Nor even the family of otters flapping their tails in unison as they swam lazily around a pocket of water, encircled by long green reeds, that split off from the main body of the stream. She saw it all, but she registered none of it for more than a moment.

It was when she looked up forlornly at the sky, that she allowed herself to sigh and take in what the infinite blue had to offer her.

Soon.

That was all she could think, as she looked at a near perfect set of clouds, almost ring shaped, each one of them. How she would trade every coin she had, just to race up there now, wings extended, she would hit each side of the ring with her wings as she spun around, just to prove she had meet all of them, even if none were around to witness it. True, she wasn't the fastest, but griffons were nimble, she could turn on a dime, hit all three disjointed circular clouds in seconds and be down before anyone would know.

But then of course someone would know. She looked down at her stomach again and pouted. Even if, for some reason, she pretended she didn’t, she already loved her baby, the instinctual maternal care for her chick was impossible to ignore, her child was a part of her in both the literal and metaphorical senses of the word. But that didn't mean she didn’t find her frustrating. Even if it was hardly the chicks fault for her temporary prohibition on flight.

And just then the kicking began again, almost doubling the levels of discomfort from before. As if the chick had caught onto her fantasy, somehow scolding her mother for trying to cheat her way into some air time.

Gilda's eye twitched. “Will you just come out already!” She bellowed at her unborn charge.

A myriad of animal noises once again erupted from the house, that had been quite for more than a few moments, and immediately the door flung open, as the small creamy yellow and bubblegum pink veterinarian landed face first on the welcome mat by the door. Her face and parts of her body was covered in short, tattered greyish blue bird feathers.

Gilda looked down at the mare and then tilted her head to the side, confused by her, (still relatively new) friend's entrance.

Fluttershy looked up at her with tired, bloodshot eyes. “Sorry Gilda, I tried to get Filla back in the cage as quickly as I could, but he's started fledging and he gets really restless, I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.” Fluttershy explained, as she coughed out one of the greyish blue feathers that had somehow gotten into her mouth.

“What? Oh thats cool I wasn’t yellin’ at you, I was-” She stopped for a moment, wondering how she would sound if she said she was just actually yelling at her stomach, or even her unborn daughter, that didn't seem like a very awesome thing to be caught doing. “-so, yeah uh, you free now?”  She said instead as she sheepishly scratched the back of her neck.

Fluttershy shook the feathers away from her face, blushing as she got back up on her hooves. She nodded, holding the door for Gilda, who casually walked inside, gazing around the room.

She’d seen all there was to offer from the cosy, old, rustic cottage. But unlike every other house, (her own excluded to a large room that her stallion used to ply his trade.) Fluttershy’s house was alive and animated in a sea of animals that dwelled in it. It was like looking at a petting zoo that changed critters every week.

The musky scent of animal fur and food was strong in the house. But thanks to the plants and herbs that hung among the rafters and on the corners of the room, it was mostly masked. Again, Gilda didn’t care much in the way of animals, sure, some of them were cool to look at. And she always sort of wanted an Orthrus, or maybe a Falcon, heck she's even take a Hummingbird,  just so they could fly together and she knew the bird would keep up with her turns. That would be awesome. But she wasn’t all that good at looking after things, the only thing she ever really had in the way of taking care of stuff was a cactus. One that that blue pegasus had given her, back in flight school, as a joke gift. And even that had died after the first few months.

Apparently cactus’s, despite being in a dessert need more water than she thought they did.

The thought made her frown, as her mind's eye wandered to the cargo she was carrying inside her. But she dismissed the thought, though it didn’t stop her from frowning, nor from her troubled prognostication as to the hardships that was to come. Or how it would affect her usual easygoing, laissez-faire approach to life.

“W-Would you like something to drink, maybe?” Fluttershy voice rang out, shaking the griffon from her troubled thoughts. Gilda turned from the entrance of the room towards the kitchen, where her little friend was standing patiently inside. A small welcoming smile on her face. Oblivious to her new friends parental conundrums.

Gilda shrugged. “Eh, sure what you got?”

Fluttershy taps her chin in thought, her tail wagged happily as she pondered the contents of her cabinets, before responding with another friendly smile. “Well, as it happens, Twilight just gave me a whole pot of special tea--”

Gilda held up a talon. “That ain’t tea this time, I mean.” She quickly added, she was sick of tea.

Fluttershy warm smile quickly descends into a small, slightly panicked frown. “Oh, um, well, I have some juice, I think, but probably only apple or orange, sorry, unless you just want some water?”

Gilda thought for a moment, as she slowly made her way over to the kitchen, picking the left wooden seat closest to the back wall, so that she could have a view of everything that went on in the kitchen. Not that she would need to really, It was just her and Fluttershy. However it was more of an inveterate need nowadays ; A habit she picked up in some of her more temerarious days. Days where perhaps it was better that she had her back to no one and her eyes on everyone.

“Apple sounds pretty good, thanks.” She decided, letting out a long, throaty, content sigh as her swollen paws and claws were given some rest from the weight of her own body.

Fluttershy nodded, whizzing around the room on her small, petite wings. Collecting the cups and containers she lightheartedly hummed a happy upbeat tune. Before flying back over towards a steel kettle, sat atop an open flame, as it began to whistle. Gilda tried not to look at the flying mare, instead focusing on rubbing her aching wrists, but she couldn’t help it. A touch of jealousy grew somewhere deep inside of her as she watched the mare buzz and dance around the kitchen, majestically and without a care in the world.

She tried to take her mind off the matter by gazing around the place, she’d been here more than a few times now, but she still couldn’t help but notice the similarities between her home and this one.

The furniture for a start, the tasteful rugs dotted around the floor, and the soft light green couches (though different in colour) where near identical to hers at home. Even the drapes were the same, including the wooden honeytone coloured window shutters, with the same cared engravings of leaves on either side of them. It was almost to a “T” the same as Fluttershy house.

Besides the comfortably big kitchen that was.

She wondered if the big guy had done this by pure coincidence, knowing that he had spent his first few months in the mares home as a roommate, having his own home to decorate, a familiar setting to assimilate to might have simply sprung to mind subconsciously, or perhaps he had modeled it after her home by conscious choice. Perhaps all homes in Ponyville had similar interior to this, Gilda had only been in two houses in her time here, excluding her own house, and the castle, which she thought didn’t really count. Ultimately Gilda concluded it had no real meaning, it was a nice home, nothing like a cloud house, but contemplating it at least took Gildas mind off of things.

But unfortunately, though she tried to distract herself from her shameful jealousy, she had inescapably triggered another even worse form of it, one that encompassed her stallion as well as the pegasus mare, thoughts of the similarities of the houses brought similar connotations to the time they shared together and just how much they had in common. Again now that she had been around the mares for this amount of time, she couldn’t help but notice the same traits and correlations they had together.

Gilda sighed again.

She didn’t know why she was thinking about these things in recent months, it was stupid, she would be the first to say it. There was nothing that even remotely showed that he wasn’t hers, whole heartedly, and vice versa. However, even though she pondered it briefly, it did hurt to a degree that he hadn’t brought up anything about perhaps reciprocating her feather, or even talked about it at all.

And also that it would also have been remiss of her to neglect the idea that Fluttershy wasn't worth it either, should it ever be brought up. All with eyes could see that the mare was drop dead stunning, Gilda wasn't vain enough to state that she was anywhere near the level Fluttershy was on, in fact if she was still a single Griffoness or one who knew her mate herded, she would have at least tried something on the mare by now. It would be a crime not to, in all fairness.

Fluttershy was nice, stunning, had a slim figure, a small well rounded muzzle, pony wings to kill for, she was patient, she never swore, she didn't threaten to punch anypony for looking at her funny, she was a wicked cook and she was a national hero. As much as she liked that about her friend she hated it just as much if she was allowing herself to be brutally honest. She just couldn't help but notice that if that happened, perhaps if she was with anypony else, she would not have been up to the challenge of being the alpha mare in a relationship. In a typical pony herd somepony like Fluttershy would have that down in spades. She could only tell herself, compared to that... What candle did she have?

No!She almost yelled the thought out loud.

Even with the mares personality and beauty, Gilda still knew her feather mate wore her primary proudly and at all times purely out of love for her, (except for the shower,) and though she would admit she never made it easy for him (or to a degree, him for her) there relationship was still, somehow, going strong. It was that thought, coupled with the feather he wore, that still made her cheeks warm and sent embarrassing and intoxicating little butterfly's flapping in her stomach.

In times like these she had somepony to tell her she was special.

Gilda groaned. She blamed the conspiratorial thoughts of humans and mares, on hormones and unbalanced chemicals that flew around her system these past few months, they were simply out to get her, she didn't need this closure shit when she wasn't pregnant...

Again she groaned, yes she did, she was just better at hiding it back then.

She slumped further down on the chair, frowning deeply. She needed her stallion, she needed him right now, she wanted him to tell her she was special. Tell her she was more than just a bloated hormonal tomboyish Griffoness with an accidental baby on the way. She needed him to tell her he loved her. She wanted to lay her down next to him, like that night they took their friendship to the next level, she wanted him to pull her down, dig his strong fingers into her flank and rut her bucking sill--

“Gilda, is, is something the matter?” The tender voice of Fluttershy broke Gildas train of thought. Gilda looked up from her claws, which were dug deep into her seat, to notice the mare was now sitting on the other side of the small table, the hot mist of her tea cup rising up past her muzzle, which was scrunched in unease.

Eyeing the glass next to her, Gilda noticed the icey cold droplets of the glass of juice that created a small puddle from the condensation, indicating that the glass and by extension the mare, had been there for some time now.

Wow, how long was I daydreaming?

She pondered as she mentally commanded her tail to stop swaying happily from side to side. And for her wings to stop twitching.

Gilda noticed a worried frown on Fluttershy's lips, as she leaned forward resting her hooves onto the table. “Sorry Gilda, it’s just, you seemed... sad? D-do you wanna talk about it? I’ll listen to anything you have to say.” She asked earnestly.

Anything? Well funny story, did you know hospital beds are actually really good for foreplay, you know that extending thing they do, where the top part goes up? Best thing ever! Gilda almost tore herself up, wanting that to be her rebuttal. But she knew the mare she was dealing with. If it was clinical, she had no problem, but straight up girl girl sex talk, well... In what little moments of rest Gilda had, it would suck if she would have to spend them coaxing the bashful mare out of a closet she would (inevitability) lock herself into.

“Nah, it’s nothing Shy, just some stuff, you know how it goes.” Gilda stated, banishing the conversation away as she waved her claw. Brandishing the cup, she took long gulps of the juice.

“Umm, okay then, if that's what you want, well,  before we begin, are you feeling better since last week? You seem less um, uncomfortable? Since the last time we talked?” Fluttershy was not too happy about changing the subject, but she deemed it to push on better than to force the topic further.

Gilda shrugged “Yeah I’m good actually, I don’t feel so bloated, even though I’m looking like a balloon now, and the mood swings have gone down this week. I think? Well, I mean dummy doesn’t help sometimes, with all his fussing, but he means well, so I let him live.” Gilda chuckled at her own joke. Remembering some of the downright silly fights she had had with him, over things like 'where the can opener was, staying up late, not staying up late enough, not spending enough time together, where her scarf was, saying he stole her scarf, (realising she didn't have a scarf,) spending way too much time together, what colour the baby's room should be, not wanting to go to that stupid mayor pony watch meeting and where the can opener was.'

Funnily enough, some of those might have been before she got knocked up and the hormones drove her temporarily nutty, now that she thought about it. But who was keeping tabs on that really?

Fluttershy grinned at Gilda's response, but it had too much teeth to it, she was still, after this much time, not perfectly sure when Gilda was joking or not. Then again, she would consider their friendship still in the infant steps, perhaps more than that, but she didn't quite know, that was more of Twilight's thing.

“H-hows your day been so far?” She asked a bit too quickly, wanting to avoid the awkwardness of the encroaching silence that seems omnipresent in the room, threatening to take over in a moments notice. She was sure whatever Gilda was brooding over would return eventually and she hoped she could keep her griffon friends mind off it before it returned with avengence, it was the best she could do if the griffon didn't want to talk about it.

Then again she was not what most would call a "talkative" mare.

Gilda gave Fluttershy one of her trademark cocksure grins. “Shy, it’s like nine in the morning, It’s not even been, like, one eighth of a day for me yet.”

Fluttershy blushed lightly, gazing at the clock in the kitchen quickly. “Oh, um, I guess you’re right… how’s that been then?”

"What been?"

"The, eh, the one eighth of your day?"

Gilda chuckled, but no happiness was behind it. “Fine, I guess.”

“That’s, good."

Gilda shrugged. "Yeah, guess it is."

Another moment of silence passed between them.

“Um do you, want some more juice?” Fluttershy asked politely, tapping her hooves together as she fought with the uncomfortable silence between them.

“Nah, I’m good.” Gilda stated, looking back down at her claws once more.

“Oh, okay.”

“Maybe later?”

“Um, okay that’s fine.”

The oppressive kitchen clock ticked on.

"Do you have any, um plans for today?"

"Got that meeting thing the big guys forcing me to go to, at the bakery with that pink mare." Gilda's jaw set hard as she uttered the last part of the sentence.

"Oh? Oh yes, the Pinkie Pie party. Are you looking forward to it?"

"Bucks no."

"Oh, okay then..."

The oppressive kitchen clock uncomfortably ticked on.

Fluttershy abstained from further questioning of her day, tapping her hooves together, meticulously looking around for anything to comment on. As the ticking of the clock on the wall somehow became louder and more oppressive with each passing second.

It was not that they didn't have anything to talk about, Fluttershy was actually quite fascinated with listening to Gilda retrace one of her old stories of her teenage years and her early twenty's, and the amount she had, it seemed, was almost infinite. She often liked the notion of seeing the world vicariously through the griffons perspective,  places she would probably not like to go to very much, and experiences she thought she could not quite handle on her own, because of the danger or seedy undertones of the towns and establishments. But still, she was undeniably fascinated by them. Plus Gilda was quite fond of telling them to any pony who would listen.

And Gilda had to admit she liked the subtle humour Fluttershy added to her life, unknowingly to the pegasus or not, it made Gilda smile seeing the mare get flustered or let slip something her mind had failed to edit. Mostly when it came to sex, but other forms of social taboo as well. It was like the real 'not sheltered' Fluttershy had slipped out against her own will when that happened.

Plus having someone feminine around was a decent enough change of pace, Gilda would admit she wasn’t very girly herself and she never really sought the platonic company of mares or sows or any others of the female persuasion. It was hard for her to rationalise it. But ultimately, she liked Fluttershy's company.

But for as much as they mutually liked one another, the silence wasn't going away and the oppressive kitchen clock awkwardly ticked on.

Fluttershy eyes feel once more on the slouching griffon, she couldn't help but notice a difference in Gilda.

Something was truly bothering the griffon and Fluttershy seemed to think she had a pretty good notion of what that was. After all, her mother had given her so much useful advice on being a midwife these last couple of months. Being a professional pediatrician, she didn’t exactly help with deliveries, but she knew a lot about the process. She was practically born for these types of things, as she would like to joke.  Her mother had graced her daughter with a lot of information, a frankly enormous amount of information, some might say she gave her young daughter too much information.

Evidently Fluttershy had found out that she had been a cesarean, something she had realised when she had awoke from passing out on the floor having been shown the correct procedure for that, using an crystal mirror spell recording of her very own birth. Something no mare should have to see.

Though meaning well, her mother was a tad aloof at times.

But she had told her daughter that, couples, especially young ones, had troubles with coming to terms with being parents. The lack of life experiences, lack of confidences or even the notion that if they could handle those things, the ever present fear of doubt that one another would be there for each other on such a demanding level.

It either happened at the very beginning or manifested itself later in the pregnancy, but it always showed. And Fluttershy had a funny feeling that the usual ‘tell it like it is’ Griffon, was dealing with something like that.

A stronger mare would have broached the topic by now. But, regrettably, Fluttershy, as was her nature, was not quite sure how to address the elephant in the room, the metaphorical one, not Henry, who would be coming on Tuesday, she spoke to him just fine.

Try as she might, playing with all the scenarios and hypothetical situations floating in her head she just couldn't think of a way to bridge the conversations. Sure, she had learned a lot about talking with her friends, her short, but lucrative modeling career with Photo Finish had taught her to speak up for herself and the motivational assistance from Iron Will (Who she was still taking secret lessons from every two weeks,) had greatly bolstering her confidence and assertiveness. However, it was a little different with Gilda, because Gildas pregnancy was ultimately different.

Ultimately she would have to wait for the griffon to make the first move.

Fluttershy fought back a sigh.

The oppressive clock selfishly ticked on.

Left to their own brooding thoughts, the room continued in palpably heavy silence. Gilda looking down at her throbbing claws, Fluttershy tucked inside her own safe room, I.e. her long thick bubblegum pink mane. Occasionally muttered some inaudible words of inspiration to help her muster the impetus to speak.

It was after an unknown time had passed that the silence was boorishly disrupted. A loud thumping noise startled both of them. Both of their eyes were drawn down to a white rabbit, that was waving its forelegs rapidly in the air, like tree branches in a hurricane, thumping its foot on the wooden floor for attention.

Fluttershy took it as a chance to escape from the oppressive silence and regroup, as she  lept onto the fuzzy, white opportunity. "Oh hello Angel sweetie, what's the matter?"

Angel pointed to the griffon, then pointed to the back door his eyes wide with a frantic panic as he jumped up and down sporadically, not taking his gaze off of Fluttershy.

"What's wrong sweetie, it’s just Gilda?" Fluttershy asked quizzically, leaning down to his level.

Angel waved his paws at the Griffon, pointing to her and then to the door making a shooing notion, as if commanding her to leave immediately. The action of the rabbit made Gilda's skin crawl.

"Hey, tell that little, soon-to-be pelt to scram, if he's got a problem!" Gilda growled turning to the rabbit and throwing it a deathly glare.

Angel took no notice of this however as his panicked, almost dance like need for attention doubled. Again and again he pointed to the griffoness then at a window in the kitchen then to the back door.

Fluttershy,a little worried by his actions picked Angel up and began stroking the top of his head. "Aww, is my sweet little Angel cranky about his food, I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to make it on time today, mommy's been busy."

The bunny rolled its eyes at its master. He was cranky about that, but that was besides the point. Struggling to get get free, he popped out of his mistress arms running up to Gilda he pushed his whole body against her trying, in complete vain, to get her to move from the kitchen and by extension the house.

Gilda's eye twitched as she mentally visualised tying it up on a spit roast by an open flame. She picked up Angel by his ears and threw him into Fluttershy's awaiting hooves. "You do that to me again you little fluff ball, I'll have you turned into a coat so fast you won't know what hit you!" She bellowed pointing at the fluffy beast threateningly

"Gilda please, he’s just a sweet little bunny, he’s only playing." As if adding insult to injury Fluttershy stroked the bunny who was wearing a still panicked but now also fuming look on his face, as he was squished into his mistresses chest.

Fluttershy seemed oblivious as she flapped her way towards the exit of the kitchen. "He's only a bunny rabbit, he doesn't know any better."

Despite all his squeaks of protest, Angels protests were not heard. No matter how much he tried.

Gilda scoffed at that as the pegasus began to fly into the next room. "Shy, one of these day we got to sit you down and discuss the unhealthy relationship you have with that stupid rabbit.  and then we can discuss tying it to a firework and sending it to the moon.”

“What did you say Gilda?”

“Nothin’, nothin’, just do it quick okay, I can’t stay here forever.” Though she wished she could, that bunny was almost like hanging out with the Canterlot Raiders hoofball team, compared to who she had to meet later on today.

Why did it have to be the Pink mare?

Sulking she turned her head over to the window, only to catch a lingering shadow behind the glass quickly zipped away, at a frightening speed, as Gilda locked eyes with it. Spooked, Gilda shoot back in her seat, almost falling out of her chair.

"What the buck was that!" She whispered to herself. Jumping off the chair, she raced over to the window as fast as her legs could carry her. She pressed her beak to the glass keeping an eye out for anything that moved.

Nothing.

The outside of the house was just as it always was.

"Haha just one the animals I guess, haha... ha...Shy, you don't happen to have that bear around again do you!?"

"Just a moment Gilda." Fluttershy answered, too distracted to focus on Gilda's question.

"Y-yeah no worries, I'll just, I'm going to go to the living room, maybe check the back doors are locked."

"What was that Gilda?"

"I'll be in the living room, just, chilling you know."

"Okay I'll be one min-- Angel, sweetie just a moment, I need to get the medical bag out the closet. No honey,  you can't play outside right now so stop pointing to the door."

Gilda slapped herself a few time trying to control the momentary shock of the aberration she had thought she had seen, as she stared through the window. "Bucking snap out of it dweeb, it was just a stupid animal..."

Somehow the thought didn't help her. 
> The Griffons Perspective Part Two Part
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special thanks to The Cake Devil for editing this chapter





It took more than an hour for Fluttershy to calm all her animals , who were once again kicking up a fuss, She had made a mental note to talk to them about it once Gilda had left, but right now that was her top priority.

After Fluttershy had come back into the room, having put Angel away, distracting him with a carrot. She returned to Gilda who had moved over towards the living room taking a seat by the side of the wall only a few feet away from the kitchen entrance.

Though she was not expected to find Gilda rolling around on her back on her cloud stuffed couch, much like her old pet Muffins the cat used to do. A quiet apology seemed to stem the large blush on the griffons cheeks, who apparently had been missing the comforting feel of clouds.

She knew what was coming next, it was the reason she had moved to the living room, it was time for her weekly progress update on the baby, Fluttershy was her midwife after all. It was true that the whole weekly extra check up was perhaps a bit overkill given a normal pregnancy. But of course this was as far away from that than anyone in Eques history had ever known. Precision, tedium, and overkill were needed, in astonishing times like these.

Gilda sat there patiently, while Fluttershy placed her stethoscope into her ears and a few other medical instruments across a small coffee table by the couch Gilda was laying on. Slowly and meticulously she placed the tunable diaphragm across her stomach and down by her womb. Each cold touch of steel made Gilda shudder, as it always did. She hated being touched with a passion, she made an exception with the ones she liked, and she liked it from ones she loved, but still it was an affront to her personal space, something she converted with all her might.

It was when Fluttershy hit closer to a specific area that Gilda felt the need to strike up some sort of conversation, anything that would distract from the maddening sensation of being touched, especially  ‘around there’.

But she couldn't think of a topic. Well... She only had one in mind, but she didn't want to talk about it. But as the stethoscope reached further down  she felt she had no choice. It was the one thing on her mind that could distract her fully from that.

“H-hey? Shy? Can I ask you something?” Gilda perked up with an unsure tone of voice.

Fluttershy stopped what she was doing for a moment, her focused gaze flicked onto Gilda as she simply nodded, waiting for the she-griffon to continue.

“Your folks, did they… you know? Know how to take care of you, when you were a foal?” She asked in an uncharacteristically, unsure, scratchy tone, stroking the back of her head as she looked over to the other side of the room at a throw pillow as if it was the most interesting thing she had ever seen in her life.

“What do you mean by that Gilda?” Fluttershy asked, pushing one of the ear pieces of the stethoscope from her long equine ears.

“Well I mean, I don’t really have many ponies that I feel I can get a good, or heck any real answer from, and you take care of kids all the time. I mean, there animals, but its sorta the same right? It’s just that I’ve read a bazillion of those boring ass books on the subject of kidcare, but none of them really seem to say much of anything. They always seem to contradict one another. I mean, like how do I know that I’m gonna be caring for my chick enough? Or when to start teaching her about, I don’t know, life and stuff? What if I teach her stuff and she’s not ready. Or I don't teach her the right things and like, oh heck what if she gets hurt because I didn't do the right thing?"

A pleading sadness inflicted Gilda last sentence, Taking Fluttershy completely off guard by just how unsure of herself it had sounded. Fluttershy pursed her lips for a moment, reflecting on what her mother had mentioned, and editing all the unnecessary eccentric information out. "Well I think you’re very smart, Gilda, from all the stories I've heard from you, you seem to know how to handle life quite well. B-but um, I don't think there is anything definitive on how to care for a foal, sorry I mean chick, sorry I mean whatever she will be."

Gilda blushed a bit at the comment Fluttershy had paid her, but it did little to help her. "Yeah but like, they must have known something that worked, you came out really perfect, and like, well I mean they must have known something else right?"

This time it was Fluttershy turn to blush. "Well I think they did get some help from my Grandma before I was born, but no I think it was just trial and error really, and I wouldn't say they were perfect, I'm certainly not perfect, but my mom did what she could. Why are you asking this now Gilda? If you don't mind me asking that is. You seemed so confident about it since we all first found out about your pregnancy?”

Gilda bit her tongue between her beak, as the icy cold steel touched even lower, she sighed looking back into Fluttershy’s shimmering sapphire eyes. "Well, like, I’ve sort of been thinking about it for a while but it only really sorta hit me last week. I was walking through the park right, me and big guy, we were having one of our moments out together.”

“Oh you mean you were on a date?” Fluttershy asked, continuing to blush, as a weird hint of jealousy struck her tone, shaking even herself.

Gilda raised her brow for a moment at the weird deviation in the tone, but shook her head. “No, not really, that's a bit fruity, I don’t do dates, we were just hanging out by the Ponyville lake, being cool, kissing and junk.” Her tone was more shaky but she tried to keep it in check as it behooved her ego to do so.

“Uh Gilda, I think that still counts as a , you know, a date.” Fluttershy added as she remembered the rules of dating that Rarity had (in a lengthy meeting) instructed her on one of there spar sessions a few weeks ago.

Gilda blushed. “Whatever junk you want to call it, it ain’t important. Anyway, as we were laying on the grass I was watching this family on the other side of the lake, it was this stallion and his colt and the stallion looked like he was teaching his colt about swimming.”

Fluttershy leaned back in mild shock. “Oh that’s quite impressive, how did you even know that; the Ponyville lake is huge?”

Gilda stopped what she was about to say for a moment only to smile and tap the side of her face close to her eye. “Hello, half eagle, remember? I can see a magazine somepony’s reading from way up in the sky. Or specifically the playcolt a stallions put in between the newspapers to hide it.”

Fluttershy blushed, letting out a cute little "Epp".

Gilda shook her head, not letting herself get distracted, now that she had finally convinced herself  to speak her mind. “Anyway, the kid didn't seem to be getting the hang of it, every time his dad let him go he’d start panicking and flailing and the dad would have to come and hold onto him. Like it happened sixty times, not only was the dad there every time it could go bad..”

Gilda sighed. “But it was like he knew when to help, when the colt looked like he had had enough, not like he wanted his colt to get hurt, but heck you know what I mean right?”

Fluttershy nodded, she got the jist of what Gilda was trying to say. Her father once taught her how to glide, once, a very very long time ago. It held similar connotations to the allegory of what Gilda was trying to get across in her story.

“A few minutes go by, and the colt got all mad and frustrated and stormed off onto the beach, the dad just let him hang for a bit then he came over wrapped em in his wings and they talked for like another ten minutes. Then, out of nowhere the kid just gets back into the water again."

“And?”

Gilda grimaced letting out a cute guttural moan as she gazed down to the invading hoof. "Uh Shy..."

Fluttershy dithered. "Yes?"

"Usually mares are supposed to buy me dinner before they even get that far, or was this whole midwife stuff just a ruse so you could get me all alone?" She eyed where the hoof was making its journey,or the destination.

"What?"

Slowly Fluttershy's eyes travel down her hoof that was holding the tunable diaphragm that apparently, unbenounced to her, had been traveling further and further down south as the mare had lost her concentration while listening to the story, until it had collided with a incredibly sensitive area between the griffons legs.

She all but threw her hoof backwards flinging the stethoscope painfully from her ears in the process. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I wasn't paying attention, I mean, I was just so engrossed in the story.  You're really good at telling it and you're so interesting, and I didn't know I was doing. I just--

Fluttershy pleading tirade was quickly silenced by two talons that gripped her flapping lips shut before she could talk her way into fleeing into a closet, like Gilda had predicted.

Gilda caught her breath as she stopped laughing. “It’s fine Shy, I know you didn’t mean it, besides, even bloated and pregnant I’m as hot as they come. Who could blame you?”

Gilda waited for Fluttershy to finish her muffled apologies and embarrassed “epps” and “squeaks” as her lips were still trapped between Gildas rough claws. Once the mare had calmed down to a reasonable level and it looked like most of her blood in her body had left her cheeks, Gilda released them, quickly continuing with her story. As much as she wanted to keep teasing the easily rattled creamy yellow mare, she wanted an answer more.

"Uh anyway, what I mean by this is that, whatever he did, he got the kid to keep trying, and made everything okay. How the heck did he do that? Was there some sorta script or something parents get when there kids are born to teach him how to not be a loser?

“Heck, I don’t even know what I would do in that position. I hoped I’d be able to sort the kid out, but what if I was to harsh on the kid, or made it worse, somehow and my chick would never, ever want to step paw in water again. I’d completely buck her life up, just because I was a lousy parent. Gah this whole things just way to complicated!” Grabbing the pillow behind her Gilda pulled it over her face groaning into the fabric.

Fluttershy didn't speak she waited until every sentence every syllable of the story was finished. It was important for Gilda to get this off her chest, and for those words that needed to be said to finally be spoken aloud.

“It’s, It’s okay to think like that Gilda, but it’s like I said before, not every parent gets it right, mine didn’t, my mom did her best but she couldn’t be the perfect mare you think all parents are, and my dad, well I only ever meet him once or twice in my life. But, they were just good ponies, sometimes it’s just as simple as that. Foals are going to get into trouble. I-I even got into trouble when I was young. It’s only natural for you to worry and second guess yourself.”

Gilda lowered the pillow over to her chest, raising her brow, not fooled by Fluttershy’s choice of wording, unsure if anything Fluttershy did would really be all that bad “But look at you Shy, you’re normal, sure you’re quiet and stuff, but you have a house and a career and friends. Shy what if something bad happens like, really bad, I forget stuff all the time, what if I’m not paying attention and…”

Fluttershy shushed her, quieting Gilda almost immediately. The shush was not meant in a mean or condescending way, more simply to calm her down before Gilda got herself too worked up to come up from her downward spiral.

“Gilda, I, if it helps, I’ll tell you something I haven't told anypony before. Before we moved to cloudsdale, this cottage used to be my grandmother's home, I spent a lot of my childhood here, mostly because my Mom didn’t earn much as a trainee doctor and she had me quite young. This was also the first place I got my first animal I ever took care of. She was a black and white kitten called Muffins. I loved her with all my heart and took care of her and nurtured her and feed her and even let her sleep on my bed every night, even though my mom told me not to.”

Fluttershy giggled softly, tapping her hooves with mild embarrassment. “It was also the first time I ever got fleas.

“One day, when I was just a little filly, my Mom had to go to work before my foalsitter could arrive, and my Grandma was visiting my Grandad at the cemetery which was in the next town over. She told me to stay inside and wait for the sitter in the living room and not to open the door for anypony, because the sitter  already had the house keys, so I did just that, I waited for a while, just playing with Muffins. The one thing I remember vividly from that day was that it was in the middle of a heat wave, the pegasus cloud factories were on strike for some reason, I can’t recall, I just remember it was so hot, I wasn’t thinking, I left the back door open to let some fresh air in the house.

“Afterwards, I went and got a glass of water from the kitchen, Muffins snuck out to go play in the garden. I, I wasn’t paying attention, I knew I should have, but it was just so hot, I couldn’t think straight. When I came back she was just gone. I called out for her, she never, ever left my side for more than a few moments. When she didn’t meow back or come to me, I got so very scared, I just, I wasn’t thinking, I searched everywhere. I ran out into the back garden, then around to the front, calling her name over and over again. When I went over the cottage bridge  I thought I saw her tail go into some bushes in the Everfree so I followed what I thought was her.”

Gilda just nodded, her lower beak hung open, brow furrowed in driven concentration, unsure of where the story was taking her.

“I don’t know how long it was until I stopped looking, it was getting dark before I realised how far I was away from the house. I desperately wanted to find her, so I just kept going. It was only when I heard howling that I even realised how lost I was, I was so small, I couldn’t see over the bushes, and, well, my wings weren't strong enough for me to fly over the trees. I wasn’t the strongest flyer after all, this was before I went to flight camp.”

Gilda nodded but continued her silence, adjusting herself more comfortably on the couch so she could better gage herself in Fluttershy's story..

“The howling was getting louder and louder, so I just hid in some thick bushes. I had no Idea where I was, I was so scared, more scared than I ever was in my whole life, even after all the adventures with the girls, the scary dragons, the evil spirits, this was the worst, because unlike those other times I was completely alone.

“When I heard the rustling of the bushes just next to me, I was so terrified the howling had reached me, I couldn’t even scream, I just curled up into a ball and cried. I didn’t even feel what it was that was prodding me, talking to me. I didn’t even register his hooves, or the knife that cut the thorns that had got tangled up in my mane, as he picked me up and put me on his back.

“It was only when I got out of the woods, when I was at the foot of the house that I opened my eyes. All I saw was a golden helmet. And past his helm at the foot of the door was my mother.”

Fluttershy stopped for a second as a hiccup interrupted her story. She gently wiped away the tears from her cheek. She felt a wing fall over her, strong and rough, by pegasus standards, but warm and reassuring nonetheless, She smiled up at Gilda as she strengthened her wing hug.

“I’ve never seen my mom so, so distraught, she looked like she'd been crying for hours, it must have been hours, if her bloodshot eyes were anything to go by. The stallion didn't even flinch or protest when she snatched me off his back and almost crushed me with her hug, before  shutting the door on him.

“For a whole month after that, she never left my side, I even missed a lot of days from school, because she was too afraid to let me go, because I might do something bad again.”

Fluttershy laughed bitterly, another side Gilda had not ever thought to see in the mare, her laugh was so alien coming from the shy,isolated mare, yet she believed every emotion that the laugh brought forth as if had come from herself.

“It was only when that stallion, the one in armour came over again that I finally went back to school. I remember him standing there with my mother I watched it on the stairs through the banisters. He said there was nothing my mother could have done, fillies and colts attract trouble like magnets, all we can do is be there for them and teach them how to repel that magnetism when we have the chance. It was when he told my mom to buck up and stop being so afraid that she snapped...

“My mother never ever hit anypony in her life. It was so shocking to see, she hit him in the chest with her front hoof over and over again, saying he was a terrible pony and that she hated him, but the stallion just smiled it wasn’t a warm smile, but it wasn’t a cold one either, he just smiled and let her take her anger out on him. That’s the most vivid memory I had of him was his smile, he smiled like he knew something, like everything was as it was and like he understood that the words had sunk in, because straight afterwards my mom hugged him, and cried into his shoulder.”

Fluttershy looked down and sighed, hiccuping once more, letting all the built up emotion flow out of her with one more deep sigh.

“It was strange when he spotted me, while my mother was holding him and simply nodded, that same smile on his face. That same weird, knowing smile, this time directed at me, not her.” Fluttershy still couldn’t quite rationalise that smile even to this day, perhaps she would never know fully, but the smile seemed to hit her on a deeper level of understanding, one that said it would all be okay from here on out. That's at least what she choose to take from it anyway.

“I didn’t see him after that day, maybe once after, very briefly, I think, but nothing more, but after that I started going back to school again, I even got enrolled in flight camp, I knew my mom meant well, keeping me by her side for so long. Even though I didn't really like Flight camp all that much, she just needed to know that sometimes bad things happen and we can't stop that from letting ponies take chances. If it wasn’t for her and that stallion. I never would have gotten my cutie mark, or meet the girls, or you or anypony.”

Gilda turned her head looking out the window towards  the dancing trees and the twitching nose rabbits and the playing squirrels. Not gazing at any of them as she pondered the words.

“So the answer is that, I can’t know, I don’t know how it's gonna be, I just have to go with it and help when I can?” Gilda reiterated.

Fluttershy shook her head, but not in disagreement. “I don’t know Gilda, I doubt anypony knows how to be a good parent. I think that's what makes it such a beautifully scary thing… The only thing you can know for certain is that I’ll be there for you Gilda, me, your stallion and your friends. We’re all here to help you, and her, when you need us.”

They stayed quite for some time, Gilda not relinquishing her hug as she stared unfocused out the window, Fluttershy happy that, perhaps something had sunk into the griffon, and happy that, for the first time she had told the story she told no one and thought no one would ever hear.Most of all she was happy that Gilda had been the one to hear it.

It was only after that long time, that Gilda broke the silence.

“That stallion...”

Fluttershy shook her head, reaching up to her lukewarm tea with both hooves, as she hesitantly broke away from the wing hug.

“Who knows?” She shrugged in a bitter yet honest fashion. “I was very young and I only meet him once or twice.”

Gilda said nothing as she watch this new side to Fluttershy, this adult, proud, yet truly vulnerable side of her that she had let Gilda of all griffons see, and not even her closest friends. She didn't know what to say, or even know how to deal with that fact. But for some reason seeing Fluttershy like this, made Gilda blush in a way she only did for her stallion.

She tucked her tail between her legs hoping Fluttershy didn't notice the waggling.





The morning was growing late and the ever climbing sun shone further into the small petite rustic cottage, illuminating the room ever more brightly as it reached over the tall trees of the outside forest, free to punch its light fully through the cottage windows. Fluttershy and Gilda had retired back into the kitchen, the heavy conversation from before still on both their minds but, for now, it took a back seat to more benign, simplistic, yet more importantly, enjoyable talk. The fact that Gilda had gotten some of the weight off of her chest made conversation for the silver tongued Griffoness smooth once again.

However Gildas cramps had gotten worse and worse as the morning progressed, she had pushed it down thinking it to be nothing more than ‘a bad day’ as far as her pregnancy went, she had plenty of them over the course of the last two months but, for some reason her chick was just not giving up her struggle for attention this morning. Thankfully the tranquil cottage and the angelically calm nature of her midwife had helped smooth the turmoil inside her to a degree.

Fluttershy sipped her herbal tea, careful not to scold her tongue as the blueberry flavor laced with a hint of lemon swirled and danced on her taste buds. “I was thinking, do you have any plans for the summer, I know you might be busy, but, once the chick comes, it might be nice to go on holiday, I mean once you settle into everything, and now that you two have some time on your hooves.”

Gilda stroked her beak, “Yeah, I was thinking about maybe going to see Lucky, been a while since we meet up and hung out. Then again, he’s probably really busy, I heard he runs a casino down in las Pegasus now.”

“Oh, wow that's quite something… wait, isn't Lucky the stallion you said used to count cards with you back in the day?” Fluttershy balked, vaguely remembering something to that effect about the stallion called Lucky Gilda had mentioned at the picnic months ago.

“Haha yeah, good times. I got a letter from him a year ago, saying he’s out of the deck busting business now, ever since Wacker kicked out the  ‘Luna es mejor potro’(1) group, he’s got a run on the whole east side of town, and Lucky Strike was always better at running something, than cheating it. So I think they're in cahoots now. Which is good for him, Wackers a decent dude, I used to run with him from time to time.” She chuckled again, remembering her more rambunctious halcyon days.

Fluttershy tilted her head, she was sure she had heard the name Luna es mejor potro somewhere. She wasn't really much into reading the news, or much of anything, that didn't really effect her animals or Ponyville really. Not for a lack of empathy, she just didn't really like reading the news all that much. It tended to depress her, reading about suffering or troubling times in distant countries knowing she couldn’t do much about it, beyond the end of the world type of events. “Is the Luna es’s a football team, I don't really know?”

Gilda cackled clutching her side as a lighting bolt of painful cramps tried to stifle her laughter but it was too funny not to laugh. Shaking her head at the silliness of the idea she responded, “Ha, what?! No, Celestia, they might have owned one or two of them back in the day, but there not a team. Nah, they were part of the mob, filly!” Gilda cackled again, she knew the name so well that hearing it so blatantly wrong it was almost as Fluttershy had gotten the names of the princesses wrong.

Fluttershy froze nearly dropping her tea on the floor.. “T-the what!? Gilda you were part of the Luna es’s!?!”

“What? No! I just ran with Wacker sometimes, it was fun, you get to meet some interesting pony’s that way.”

“And Wacker… He’s, he’s part of the mob?”

Gilda shook her head causing Fluttershy to sigh in relief, as she tried to stifle her shaking hoof.

“Na he isn’t part of it, at first anyway, he was small time, but I think he is the Mob now, runs pretty much every major casino in Las Pegasus, if he took the Luna es’s section that is. Then again, knowing him, he's probably gunning for The Family's turf next. Hotels and bars run claw in claw with casinos.”

Fluttershy immediately began to feel light headed, she caught herself from swaying as she thought of all the connections Gilda had to other ponies and all out of all the old ball adventures she had in her mysterious past this just hit a new level. She immediately shrunk further into herself, now ever more aware of the sharp knife like claws the griffon proudly boasted.

She just managed to keep her quivering lips in check. But her curiosity got the better of her. “Gilda, did you...Do a lot of things with this Wacker stallion?”

Gilda looked up at the ceiling, scratching her neck with the downturn daggers at the tip of her claws. “Huh, well, not that much... Only knew him through Lucky, he was big into doing runs when I was around. He wasn’t that good, but he was pretty cocky about it, you gotta admire that about somepony that slow.”

Fluttershy was truly on the assembly line to fainting time at this point, the sweat dripping off her forehead was stinging her eyes and for once she wished her panic closet had more than just a few dozen locks on it. She visualised how she would explain to Twilight that using the elements of harmony to somehow make the door invincible was important enough to warrant using the god like artifacts. Or maybe, if that failed, hiring her brother out for private security. He was good with shields, and she might just need the protection, just in case some seedy ponies came round to her house asking questions.  

Fluttershy almost screamed when she focused back onto Gilda who had lent over the small table a few inches away from the tip of her muzzle, snapping her claws by her face. “You okay Shy, you just zoned out there, and you ain’t looking so good?”

“ EPP, I’m fine! Very fine, more than fine!” She yelped, flying backwards as far as the chair would allow her.

Gilda shrugged. A nostalgic smile crept its way on to her beak as her tail swished behind her happily. “Yeah good times, shame that I had to get out because of Lucky's many buck ups. Plus it gets boring after a while. Once you round the city up a few time where do you go from there, I mean it's just desert after that?”

Fluttershy smiled as hard as she could, stinging sweat burning her eyes. She looked for what might have to be her escape route if she asked the wrong questions. She did have dreams that one day she would be able to live underwater and play with the many different fishes and underwater mammals. But she didn't particularly want to do it without gills or with concrete horseshoes.  “Aha, yeah, no I’m sure running with a gang gets, gets boring after a while. With all the laps and um things.”

“Yeah it does, and running just isn’t the same as flying."

Fluttershy looked away from the  window she was wondering if she had enough body strength to smash through. Eyes glued back to Gilda as her jaw hit the floor.

"Wait, what!?”

“I mean no offence I know you hang out with unicorns and Earth ponies and junk and there cool, I get it, its fun to beat ponies in a race, the big guy can’t fly but he puts up a good challenge. But even on the ground, it’s not the same as having the wind on your face, or making that perfect dive towards the finish lines! Now that’s the real deal!” She all but made the diving motion with her forelegs as the nostalgia took full effect.

“Gilda, when you said you ran with Wacker. D-Did you mean run, as in run run?”

Gilda, having evidently made the diving motion without even realising, chuckled nervously before commenting, "What other type of running is there? Yeah, we ran together at the parks and a claw full of times at the athletics tracks. I mean, there's far too many ponies on the street for you to get a good rhythm going, you’d just end up knocking into somepony at some point and the desert sucks for running.”

Fluttershy almost threw her hooves into the air to praise the very sun itself. “Oh thank Celestia!”

Gilda raised her brow, “Wow Shy, you sure you're okay?"

Fluttershy looked from the ceiling then at Gilda then at her hooves, which actually were in the air, dispute her thinking she didn't put them there. A heavy red flushed her cheeks. “I-I-I’m fine I just thought you, the way you were saying it, that is that I maybe assumed...I thought you were in the mob.”

Gilda looked at her with her brow raised, then a tiny giggle escaped her, then another laugh which morphed into a full blown chuckle and before she knew it she was sprawled over two of the kitchen table chairs laughing her flank off and kicking at the sky. “Hahaha, oh buck, oh buck haha are you kidding me!? Those ponies!? You though I was with those maniacs , Shy those ponies are psychos, you really think I'd run with them!?"

“I-I didn’t mean anything by it Gilda it just sounded--”

“I mean sure, the most I ever really did was knock a few shopkeepers out, whilst Wacky and Lucky robbed them.”

“W-what!”

Gilda sat back up catching her breath. "Maybe set fire to some shops, small time stuff."

“No!” She cupped both her cheeks in horror.

“And there was the occasional smuggling. But with drugs how they are in Las Pegasus, that’s hardly even a crime.” she shrugged.

"You didn't!"

"No, I didn't do them, just sold them." Another shrug.

"Why would you do those things, Gilda!?"

Gilda fought to keep her giggling in check “Well a chicks got do what a chicks gotta do, and sometimes it takes cracking a few muzzles, you have to set an example sometime. You know what I’m talking about Shy… Shy? what are you doing, Shy wait! Don’t go upstairs, Shy, Shy,  COME ON SHY--

Gilda only heard a slamming noise followed swiftly by many locking sounds.

“I WAS JUST JOKING!”

No response was heard except for what Gilda assumed was the untold latches of Fluttershy safe room.

“Jeez, some ponies just can’t take a joke." She shook her head, slumping down to her withers, as she contemplated going up the arduous length of stairs, and deciding whether or not it was worth the struggle and pain to her legs

As she contemplated the inevitability, a dense, booming knock echoed from the front door. 

But as it did something inside her hit just as hard. 

Gilda jumped up, startled by the force of the blow in her lower abdomen, "Gah, what the buck?"

The knocking hit again and almost a second later the wave of pain hit inside her again harder and more forcefully, almost making her back legs buckle under her.

"OUCH, oh buck what the heck...Shy, Shy! I need some help over here, something feels different--" She clamped her beak down hard as the wave of something like a cramp and a kick in the stomach by a pro-hoofball minotaur quarterback charged full force into her stomach. Her legs began to feel wet and warm as something trickled down them.

"Shy! Shy! I need help!" No answer replied to the panicked call, as she looked back up towards the stairs. Just her luck her mouth had finally, truly, put her in the shit. But at least she now had her wish answered; the kid was finally leaving its deluxe apartment inside her. At the worst, possible, time!

Panicking still, she remembered the knocking at the door, that realisation washed over her dread with some form of relief, somepony at the door would help her, one of Fluttershy friends must have come to visit. She hoped it wasn't really the white fashion one,  she probably wouldn't be able to support Gilda's weight, and the added amount of magic could be harmful if she tried to levitate her especially if now that she was in the process of delivering a child.

It was really happening, the terror was beyond imagining but she forced it down, when she was in the hospital bed, then she would panic.

All of these rational and somewhat irrational thoughts whirled around her in a matter of seconds as she struggled to make her way to the door, her body locked and protested with every movement as she pushed on, almost begging her to lay down and stay still.

She reached the door after a minute or so had passed, praying that in the time it had taken her to get there the pony behind the door had not just left, but for once, luck was on her side as another bout of knocks continued once more impatiently loud.

Using the last of her coordinated strength she grasped the handle of the door flinging it open. Only to be blinded by the intensity of the sunlight blurring into her retinas.

She slumped down on her withers, her back legs now just to weak and shaky to hold her up. "Hey buddy you gotta’ help me, I think my water just--

“Gilda!?"

Her eyes, still not adjusted, could just make out the shape of a mare wearing some form of uniform, a single shoulder board badge  glistened on either side of her. The figure moved at an almost frightening pace, as it came into full view. Gilda could just make out a pair of arms that shot towards her.

She didn't have the coordination to jump back, her body betrayed her and she just stood stupefied as she felt hooves fly into her, with speed and intensity of a freight train knocking her onto her back as the uniformed, blue pegasus straddled her holding her down with force flinging her almost to the middle of the living room

"What are you doing here? Where’s Fluttershy? If you hurt her, so help me I--

"Gah, buck buck, ouch, get off, get off me!" Gilda tried to screamed at the top of her lungs fighting underneath the mare, who had all four hooves on her chest and stomach.

The mare in question stopped her threatening tirade, looking bewildered as she looked down at the griffon, her head cocked to the side.

"What are you talking about I barely hit you, Wow wait, what happened to you? You look, bigger than last time?"

“Get the buck off me you bucking idiot oh buck it hurts, it bucking hurts so bucking bad, get off!"

A scream came from behind both of them but Gilda was too busy trying and failing to take the pegasus mare off her. "Ra- Rainbow Dash what are you doing!?"

"Fluttershy? Are you o-- uff"

Fluttershy bolted over, colliding into Rainbow Dash with a force neither of them knew she could muster. As Rainbow was sent hurtling backwards catching herself in the air before she hit the ground.

Fluttershy straddled Gilda, holding her head in her hooves "Gilda, Gilda speak to me?"

"Fluttershy get away from her she's danger--" Rainbow immediately stopped, frozen in place as Fluttershy for the first time ever fixed 'The stare' onto her freind. "Shut up!" Fluttershy commanded before turning back to the hyperventilating Griffon.

"Baby, pain, idiot Dash! The baby's coming, Shy the baby's, gah I can't breath, Shy I can't breath.” Gilda chest was rising and falling rapidly, she whimpered sickeningly as it felt like her lungs were refusing to inflate.

"It's okay Gilda, the airs just been knocked out of you. It's fine, look at me, look me in the eyes and breath like I am, yes, that's it, in and out, small breaths, small breaths Gilda, take it slow, keep going Gilda, just keep doing what I'm doing and... Gilda.... Gilda keep your eyes open, Gilda, oh no, don't, Gilda stay awake, Gilda you must stay awake!"

Rainbow dared to move one hoof further towards the scene. "Will someone tell me what's going on here!"

Fluttershy flicked her ear towards Dash but kept her eyes on Gilda, a horrified look on her face, as she realised that Gilda had completely blacked out. she pushed her fear down remembering her practice, she might not have been a doctor like her mother, but in moments like these even with her animals she had learned from many years of experience that panic was the worst thing she could do to herself, she had to stay calm, panicking now could cost more than one life.

"Dash, I need you to carry Gilda to the hospital, I can't carry her, I'm too weak, you need to do it."

"Fluttershy will you tell me at least--

"Dash, no time to explain, Gilda's water just broke, she's about to give birth. We need to get her to the hospital. Now please help me get her up.”

Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped. She had only come to show her childhood friend her new suit and the happy news that she was now an official Wonderbolt cadet. But for once in her life she was truly lost for words, Gilda, The Gilda, the griffoness she had spent the better days of her foalhood with was pregnant! Her of all of her old friends, What had she done, she had just... to a pregnant griffon. That wasn't what she meant to do, that wasn't what a Wonderbolt cadet did!

"I-I-I didn't mean to do it Flutters I though, I just, I thought she was trying to hurt yo--

"Rainbow now isn't the time. We need to put her on your back, she needs professional medical attention, this is deadly serious, she can’t be asleep for this!"

Terror stricken, Rainbow Dash took two paces backwards, ears spayed back to her skull, she opened her mouth but no words came back save for an inarticulate stutter. Finally after remembering some of the breathing exercises the Wonderbolts had taught her she managed to regain her senses .

She raced over to the downed Griffoness and with the help of Fluttershy she managed to hook most of Gilda's body onto her back. She would have to be incredibly careful not to put unwanted pressure on the womb, as she flew at top speed. But if any pony could do that, it was Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash was about to turn, towards the front door, careful not to jostle Gilda from her back. But just as she did so a long and foreboding shadow blanketed the both of them from inside the room. 

"Ikke ganske jenter."

Both mares stopped in place looking over towards the wide open back door of the cottage, at the foreign alien voice. On the precipice stood a stocky, well defined enormous griffon with dirty bronzed armour half metal, half some form of tanned red leather, which seems to have been put into places where the metal had fallen off or had been too damaged to be left open. The parts not touched by the armour or the substitute leather showed the griffons brown fur and the downy black feathers on his neck and face black as soot.

A ripped sun weathered bandana blocked the rest of his face. The ragged cloth was tied across his beak and a helmet over his head revealing only his amber like eyes devoid of emotion or life. the earthy smell of sweat, dirt and leaves was almost as noticeable as the griffon itself, as both mares nooses crinkled instinctively. Fluttershy took two paces back, her wings twitched in fear, whilst Rainbow Dash simply cocked her head to the side looking at the griffon with a puzzled glare.

"Another Griffon, Shy, you know this guy as well?"

Fluttershy stayed silent. Shaking her head as she stared at the armoured, muddy griffon that was almost double her height and width. The stench of predator like musk hit a primal part of her brain she had not know existed and she felt her wings twitch again, begging her to take flight and flee.

The griffon coughed through his ragged bandana, his voice was deep and croaky. “Siirr pois hänen!”

"What he say?" Rainbow Dash asked Fluttershy who shook her head, having not the faintest clue, what the griffon spoke.

The griffon groaned, "I say, move away, now."

Fluttershy, despite her diffident ways so show found the impetus to move deep inside her, and did the exact opposite as she walked forwards shielding Gilda with her body. Taking the command as an obvious threat Rainbow Dash did the same.

"Listen buddy, you better, take a few slow steps back and high tail it out of here, you don't want to deal with us, I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget!"

The griffon smirked hideously through his dirty bandana. "Now normally, *cough* now normally *cough* *cough* now norm- oh by the great mother Kotka... sorry one minute." The griffon countenance morphed instantly from the villainous smirk to one of embarrassment, as he turned around reached up and tore off his bandana hacking and coughing for a solid few seconds.

Fluttershy and Rainbow eyed one another with one raised brow.

Catching his breath the griffon turned back to them. "Sorry about that, you know not how weird it is to talk when being alone for months, Lijons! Is going to take getting used to, to hear own voice again... Can I get a glass of water perchance. No?  Alright then... Rude. Where was I, um, oh yes... Normally I like to see you two hot little filly come teach me lesson, but this isn’t time, you will klo her over now, please."

Both mares stayed right where they were, confused, intimidated but determined.

The griffons sighed and shook his head slowly. As calm as if he had decided to take a pleasant  stroll through the countryside he took another few step forward towering over the mares his shadow eclipsing all of them including the downed moaning Griffoness. Reaching into a pouch on his back, the griffon slowly and meticulously drew out a serrated, rusted and well used blade, scraping against the scabbard to insure both mare heard every frightful second of it being drawn out.

"So *cough* little fillies, I ask one more time, in case you are hard of hearing, you will step away from my Gilda!"