Gilda's Training

***My Little Pony: Friendship is magic is owned by Hasbro. This is a fan created story using copyrighted characters without permission for non profit uses. I do not claim ownership for any characters except my own.***

***The following is not my opinion or view as to how others should be treated, mainly a thought that was in my head for months that I finally put into writing. Please view it as just that, a story I decided to write. Thank you for your time.***

**Author's Note: Sorry no pictures this time. Maybe later :P**

...

Gilda groggily awoke in the spare bed Fluttershy had provided for her. She wasn't used to sleeping on her stomach like she had last night, but the pain from her freshly bandaged wings had made it an obvious choice in regards to comfort and safety. She found it amazing that she got any sleep at all after her horrible journey to the mare's cottage. If it where not for the relaxants Fluttershy put in her tea after she was done patching her up, she probably would've been up all night!

Shuddering at the remembrance of those pellets going into her wings as she tried to escape that horde, and then crash landing in the Everfree. The sounds of those monsters savagely trying to get to her as they tore down trees and set fire to brush while she dodged through the forest, barely avoiding the projectiles from their weapons. It all came back to her as the hybrid sat up in bed. Observing the way it hurt to try and expand her wings just a little. The thought of never flying again crossed her mind, causing a nervous gulp as a massive pit in her stomach began to form. She sat up in bed for what seemed like forever as these thoughts went through her mind until she was interrupted by a stern voice.

“Good to see you're finally awake. Now get up and go downstairs. Breakfast is being made, and once you're done with that we'll go over what you'll be doing today.”, Fluttershy ordered. She seemed to have been observing Gilda from a top the stairs. For however long, was a mystery to Gilda, but the cold stare she received from the mare made it seem like she saw exactly what was going through her mind. The mare then made a warm smile as her eyes remained fixed with a dead panned expression that seemed to say 'that's right I know'. Fluttershy turned, heading downstairs, leaving the mentally stunned griffon to contemplate what she just saw.

“What does she mean 'what you'll be doing today'? What could I possibly do in the state I'm in? That stare, those eyes just... drilled through me, and I didn't even hear her come up the stairs. It was like she was there the whole time.”, Gilda pondered. The thought of that mare watching her all night while she slept frightened the hybrid. She came to the quick conclusion that she simply hadn't heard the pony making her way up the stairs while deep in her thoughts. That had to be it, just a coincidence. Still, the pegasus's unexpected smile reinforced the feeling of something being very off to the griffon, something that put fear in her heart.

“Taking your sweet time, GilDUH? Hurry UP!”, shouted a recognizable, yet clearly irritated, voice from the kitchen.

The shock of being ripped from her thoughts like that did not give enough time to even organize a response or acknowledgment as she shot out of bed. Trying at first to fly downstairs but winced in pain as her wings remained stiff inside their bandages. She remembered that they were currently not an option, and instead opted to pace quickly to the kitchen on all fours.

As she entered the kitchen, Gilda could smell bread being toasted, and soon became witness to many vegetables and fruits being cut up then placed in bowls. Fluttershy was busy in the middle of it all, filling up bowl after bowl of food clearly marked for a different kind of animal found in, or around, her cottage. In the center of the kitchen was a medium sized table with a chair at each end.

“Wow, you're finally down here, well look at that. I take it you slept well?” the yellow pony asked as she glanced over her shoulder, still chopping away.

“Um, yes, yes I did. Th-thank you very much for the tea and the stuff you put in it. That helped a lot, because otherwise I don't know how I would've gotten to sleep after... well-” the griffon tried to continue but was cut off by the mare, who had enough of hearing about what they had both witnessed.

“Yes, yes, after your little crybaby incident, I know. Now take a seat.” Fluttershy turned away from Gilda and grabbed a medium sized bowl then filled it with fruit, also grabbing a plate with buttered toast she placed both parts of the meal on the side of the table that had a chair facing her, so she could better talk to Gilda as she continued with her preparations.

Noticing that the chair wasn't in the process of being filled she looked at the griffon who still stood at the entrance of the kitchen with her mouth agape, unbelieving that her entire ordeal was chalked down to nothing more than 'a crybaby incident'. The poor bird looked like she was close to crying from the insult, but Fluttershy merely raised an eyebrow as if she was being challenged.

The mare walked over to the designated chair, pulled it from the table, and then in an almost snarling voice she venomously ordered, “Take a SEAT!”

Gilda responded by ducking her head down and rushing to the seat. Holding back tears as she sat down, and was then brought to face the table when Fluttershy rotated her chair back in to the proper position. Sniffling as she looked down at the meal that was provided for her. It consisted of cantaloup, watermelon, apple slices, grapes and many other delicious fruits, with the toast providing a much needed offset to the juiciness of the fruit. A glass of milk slide into view, meeting a now complete breakfast, she soon looked up to see Fluttershy staring at her. While the two shared gazes at each other the feeling that she was being waited on overcame the hybrid who, thinking she understood the intended message, began to eat her meal.

Fluttershy walked back to the counter and started chopping up a small pile of carrots while she spoke, “I don't know what you're so sad about, you're not the one who got her skull split open! Please, you're going to be just fine. I took care of the big-bag-mean-old-monsters, bandaged you up and was even nice enough to make you a delicious breakfast... that I still have yet to hear a 'thank you' for!”

It took but a moment for the bulb above Gilda's head be lit, and quickly understood why Fluttershy was staring at her just moments ago. “Oh, um, thank you very much!”, the griffon responded. Then asked, “Wait, you said that I'll be okay? Does that mean I'll still be able to fly?”

Not missing a beat with her chopping, the mare continued to look down at her work and replied, “The herbs I mixed in your wounds should heal and close all the holes within a week or so. As to whether or not you will be able to fly depends on how many feathers you have. Because, after all, without enough of those you'll just fall like a rock.” Bringing down the knife on the head of one carrot for added emphasis.

“Well, that shouldn't be much of a problem, I didn't lose many feathers. Its just the holes that kinda slowed me down.” Gilda responded cheerfully, trying her best to show the mare that she was really grateful for all she had done, and also to maybe get her to lighten up.

“Mmm,” was all the griffon could get from the pony before she got back to her chopping.

Continuing with her breakfast the hybrid tried not to focus on the pony who was obviously still irate from last night. “I know she was mad after I punched her, but she even said it was an accident. So why is she still angry at me?” Gilda's train of thought was, once again, interrupted. This time by a loud thumping coming from her left side. She looked down to see a white rabbit with its arms crossed and an annoyed look on the rest of its features, especially the drumming it's right foot was performing.

“Hey, little guy! You, um, want a piece of apple?” Gilda asked as she waved a slice from her bowl in front of the rabbit. The animal responded, in turn, by giving her an unamused look, then slapping the piece of fruit from her talon. Afterward it began pointing to her chair. “Huh? No, y-you can't eat this whole chair. Can you?”

Only able to respond with a dumbfounded expression followed up by face palm, the rabbit then began to point at the chair once more then his rump, and continued this a short number of times before stomping his feet in place like an angry child.

“Well, yeah, that's what I mean, its going to hurt coming out, so that's why I have doubts about you being able to eat it.” retorted the griffon, still oblivious as to what the creature was implying.

Raising its right paw up and opening its mouth in a way that looked entirely like at any moment the critter would learn Equestrian and shout out his demands he was soon cut off by Fluttershy.

“No, Gilda, he doesn't want to EAT the chair, he wants to SIT on the chair. That's Angel, my number one assistant, he helps me out with taking care of the rest of the animals here, and in the mornings that's normally his chair.” Fluttershy walked over to the bunny and knelt down so she was at face level with it. “I'm sorry, honey, for now I need our guest to use this chair, but don't worry I've got something just as good.”

Flutttershy then pulled up a stool for the bunny, and placed a small bowl of chopped up carrots by Angel's new 'seat'. “Now why don't you hop on up, so you can eat your breakfast, and have lots of energy for today!”

Angel responded with the same kid like tantrum he threw for Gilda, who could only wince at how agitated this must be making Fluttershy. She was trying her best to make the mare more open to accepting that she had changed, and this could in no way help her cause. Thinking that maybe what she meant by 'what you'll be doing today' would consist of her going around the town and apologizing to those she had berated. It only made sense, after all the mare did spare her life, and was treating her somewhat nice. “It would also be nice to see Rainbow Dash...” thought Gilda as a sigh escaped her beak.

As she continued to observe the two, Gilda was more than surprised at what she witnessed next.

“Oh, please will you come up to eat? You know I love having my number one bunny eating at the same table as me like the big boy he is, and I REALLY need your help today with my new assistant!” Fluttershy practically begged the rabbit, coddling her cheeks against his in a motherly fashion. Diverting his eyes away from her efforts, Angel remained firm in his resolve.

“Tell you what, if you do this for me then tonight I'll make carrot cake for desert!” Fluttershy hummed, she could tell that the rabbit was close to breaking. “Extra frosting.”

These two words couldn't roll off Fluttershy's tongue any sooner than the rabbit could hear them before he jumped up on the stool and ravenously devoured his meal. Then burst out the back door to get the rest of the animals ready for breakfast, as well. Fluttershy giggled at the display.

Gilda sat awestruck at what she had just witnessed. The change in the mare was so sudden that it seemed like there was a completely different Fluttershy in the room than the one she was with both moments earlier and last night. As quickly as the happy transformation came, it left when Fluttershy turned to face Gilda. Returning to her previous foreboding glare as she said in a hard tone, “Hurry up with your breakfast, I'm almost done filling up the animal's bowls, and I will not let them go hungry waiting on you!”

Gilda gulped, turning back to her plates and quickly finished up her fruit. The toast was the next to go in rapid succession, and the milk soon after. Finishing up with a burp, the griffon chuckled embarrassingly, but soon apologized when she saw that she had earned a sharp glare from the pony that seemed filled with distaste, “Excuse me, eh-he.”

The mare simply rolled her eyes and then shook her head. Filling up the last of her bowls she questioned the griffon, “Are you done with your breakfast?”

“Um, yes.”

“Then bring your plates and glass over to the sink and wash them off.”

“Okay.” After washing down the plates with soap and water Gilda then asked, “What should I do with these?”

“Just leave them there, right now I need to tell you what work you'll be doing first today.” Fluttershy began by grabbing a few bowls and placing them on a tray.

“Wait, work? But I can't work in the condition I'm in. I mean, I can't even fly.” the griffon tried to reason with the pony. Manual labor was not at all what she had in mind for what she would be made to do.

“Really, now? You are too sick and wounded to feed a few animals and clean out a few pens, but when it comes time to rush down my stairs and eat my food you can pull that off no problem?” Fluttershy countered, clearly aware of the lazy bird's sad attempt to get out of working.

“Well... um.. I...” the hybrid fumbled, she was fine with ponies, but she really didn't want to deal with little critters. She never was good with any of her pets, and her parents ended up taking care of, or giving away, most of the ones she was given when she was an eaglet.

“Yeah, that's what I thought.” Fluttershy angrily scowled, “Now if you're done trying to make up poor excuses, here is what you will be doing first. Right now all the animals are currently awake, or being awoken by Angel. They are all hungry, and their pens need to be cleaned today, so what you are doing first is placing the correct food for the current animals outside of their home, and while they are out eating you will clean out their pens. When you're done with that, we will do the same thing with next pen until we are done. Simply enough?”

“Yeah, ...but I thought you wanted to know that I have changed?” Gilda replied still questioning how the pony making her do physical labor could prove this.

“Of course, and if you have been paying any attention at all you will have noticed that I am an animal caretaker and help animals, what did you possibly think I would make you do?” the mare questioned, actually eager to hear what the half-and-half had to say.

“That you would make me go around Ponyville, apologizing to all the people I yelled at. Then go on to be a productive member of society after I admit my past flaws, and promise to do my best to be rid of them?” the griffon replied, looking as if she was completely certain that this is what needed to happen.

For the first time since she had seen seen Fluttershy in Ponyville's market the pegasus's eyes actually managed to widen almost all the way to their limit. At first it seemed like the mare had seen a ghost and was completely stiff, but a slight chuckle began to emit from her mouth as the rest of her features gave way. This kept going until the pony was laughing uncontrollably, to the point where she was snorting.

Gilda, on the other hand, was feeling very uncomfortable at the reaction she was getting to what she thought was a really well thought out plan.

“Oh, boy. Oh my goodness.” The pink maned pony cried, wiping tears from her eyes. “That was too funny, I almost feel like believing you now...”

The mare tried to continue, but went into another fit of laughter as she wrapped a drawstring pouch around her neck, “You remember what I told you last night. I don't believe a single word that was said to me about you 'changing', so what makes you think that if I bring you around Ponyville and having you lie everypony else that I'll change my mind?”

“B-But I have changed! I swear I have! I learned how horrible it is to bully somepony, and to be bullied yourself. Those monsters showed me that. Please, what can I do to show you I mean the truth!”

The mare cocked her eyes and analyzed the griffon before speaking once more, “Well if also remember correctly, last night you also swore that you would do anything I want, and right now that pathetic excuse for what you learned isn't nearly enough to convince me that gallivanting around Ponyville yelling out 'HERP-DERP!!! GILDAR IZ NEICE!!!' is what I WANT! Anypony can be coerced into doing something they don't want with death threats, that doesn't meant that they've changed one bit. The only helpful thing those monsters did for me was bring you here. Now I can show you where you've gone wrong and how you will go right. I will show you what compassion, kindness and charity are, and you, in turn, will act with these elements just as I do. YOU WILL LEARN FROM THE NUMBERS! I WILL TEACH YOU!”

At this point the griffon was on the ground trembling from the vehement pony's rage. Who was practically standing over her, boring through her mind and thoughts with those penetrating blue eyes. Crying, the hybrid could only respond with these two choked up words, “Yes, Ma'am...”

Fluttershy got off of Gilda, and grabbed the tray once more, shoving it in her hands as the scared bird got up, “Good, now lets go outside and get started.”

…

True to the pony's word, angel had woken up most if not all of the animal's in Fluttershy's care. The chickens would be the first to go. The squawks of a few roosters and many hens clearly showed the activity inside the small red home as they waited for their meal.

“Now this should be somewhat easy, even for you.” Fluttershy said as they walked up to the animal enclosures. “Right now these chickens are waiting pleasantly in their nests for today's meal. Once they know that their food is here they have a tendency to all crowd around one bowl, and this can cause fighting and bickering. What I want you to do is when I let the chickens know that its time to eat is to make sure that they each get their own individual bowl. Now, be sure to be kind and explain to the chickens in a calm soothing voice when you do this, even if it means picking them up and moving them physically to a bowl. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand.” Gilda replied meekly, still visibly scared of the pony from her previous outburst.

Walking over to the chicken coop, Fluttershy peeked her head inside the entrance, just enough to get the fowls' attention. “Okay my little chickens, time for breakfast!” The mare then quickly removed her head from the coup, as a fury of chickens exited for the prepared bowls.

Much as she had predicted, the chickens where already flocked around a single bowl, shoving and prodding their way to the seeds it contained. Gilda was overwhelmed at first, but soon handled the dilemma diligently. This was much to the mare's surprise, although she did not show it.

“Here try this bowl instead.” Gilda said softly directing each individual chicken to its own bowl one by one.

“Hey, this bowl is empty why not use it instead?” the griffon asked another hen. This actually wasn't so bad at all the hybrid thought cheerfully. It was a bit dull, but it wasn't hard work in the least. If this was the kind of stuff the mare had in mind in order to teach her these elements, then she would prove her knew outlook to the pony in no time!

A few of the roosters from the still somewhat large flock around the first bowl caught site of the griffon and began walking over to her while she was turned, busy helping a hen to an unoccupied bowl. They began doing the traditional chicken courtship ritual by circling around her, clucking and squawking as they did. Then after two rotations the two began jumping into her rump only to be blocked by her tail.

“Hey, quit it!” Gilda asked, starting to get annoyed by the two roosters as they continued to incessantly perform their jumping to no avail. Pushing them forcefully away from her with her free talon she retorted, “I mean it you two, cut it out, right now!”

The two roosters flew away from the griffon with the force of her shove. Causing one to land in the group of hens still at the first bowl, scaring most of them away. The other rooster was trying to land gracefully after touch down, but ended up tripping over a rock, while getting its balance, and fell to the ground, instead.

“GILDA!” the pony roared. “That is not how you treat confused animals!”

“b-but they where bumping into m-”

“TWO FEATHERS!” the pink haired pony sternly shouted as she made her way over to the griffon, opening up the pouch around her neck.

“W-what?”

“You heard me! Pluck TWO feathers from your wings, and put them inside of this pouch!”

“What! Why do I have to do that?”

“Because this is the best way for you to learn from your actions. You said you wanted to keep flying after your bandages are taken off? Then you better forget about being as mean and cruel as you are now, and start learning how to show some true kindness, compassion, and charity like I told you too! AND HURTING ANIMALS IS NOT THE WAY THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN! So like I said, two feathers in the pouch, do it NOW!”

“B-but I've had these feathers ever since I molted my birth ones off from when I was an eaglet, if I lose these then the feathers that grow back won't be nearly as strong! Please don't make me take them out! I'm sorry!”

“Whats that Gilda? I could've sworn that while you giving excuses I said four feathers instead of two... Hmmm, maybe I should get the monsters back here and see what they think...”

“NO! NO! I'LL TAKE THEM OUT! I'LL TAKE THEM OUT! I'M SORRY!”

Fluttershy smiled while calmly directing the opening of the pouch towards the griffon. Shaking it teasingly as she waited for the griffon to hand over the feathers.

Whimpering the griffon analyzed both of her wings. After careful observation, she decided on two small ones from the back of her left wing. She desperately hoped that the mare wouldn't stop her when she selected them, and make her pick two of the big ones. Because at least now she wouldn't see them missing, and they wouldn't affect her flight that much if at all. Putting her talons on the two she decided on, the griffon looked back up at the mare who nodded her head accordingly. Taking this as a message to continue she closed her eyes and began pulling on them when she was stopped.

“No,” the mare ordered, motioning with her right hoof to stay in the position she was in, “look at them as you do it. I want you to remember seeing those feathers come out, so you will know that every time you mess up or are mean to anypony this is what is going to happen.”

“Yes, ma'am.” the griffon replied miserably. Turning back to her talon that had pinched the two feathers in place In one quick pull both feathers came out.  Tears where running down her face as she brought the feathers to the pouch and deposited them in its opening.

“Now, are you going to be making up any more excuses?”

“No, ma'am.”

“Are you going to be mean to anypony else?”

“No, ma'am.”

“Then round up the rest of the hens, and apologize to the roosters.” the pony ordered, going back to the chicken coop so she could keep an eye on everything that was going on.

Rounding up the hens wasn't hard at all. The next part was going to be the most challenging for the griffon, knowing that she would actually going to try and repair the confidence of two species-confused chickens. Finding them both cowering behind the chicken coop, they where doing their best to hide from what was apparently the new alpha female of the coup.

Getting down to face level with the birds, Gilda did her best to chock down her tears and clear her voice before spouting off her apology. “Look you too, I'm really sorry for how I previously acted. It was a mean and selfish way for me to respond to two handsome roosters such as yourself, who where just trying to say that you think I'm pretty, but you need to know that it could never work. I mean I'm a griffon and you two are chickens! Yes, I may be half eagle, but I'm also half lion, too. Besides there are plenty of hens here who you need to look out for, and I'm sure would just die to have one of you as a suitor.”

After hearing this the two roosters stopped their cowering and where know standing proud and tall. Puffing their chests out as far as their little rib cages would let them as they walked back to the hens and both found an empty bowl to eat from. Gilda did her best to force a smile as she waved them off.

While Gilda was asking for forgiveness from the two roosters, a lone hen, much bigger than the others, had broken off from the group at the bowls and snuck around to the back of the coop as well. Stealthily coming to the griffon's backside, it arched its body in a lunging motion as a tiger would on an unsuspecting prey. Eyes filled with rage it it hollered, “YOU DARE THREATEN MY POWER OVER THESE MAGGOTS! I WILL DEVOUR YOU FROM THE OUTSIDE-IN TO THE INSIDE-OUT!”

Gilda's smile soon formed into a more relaxed expression. She didn't have much time to go over what she was just forced to do to her wings and her pride as she felt a slight pecking on her back legs. Gazing down behind her at the source of the sensation, she found a chubby hen quietly clucking as she lightly pecked at the griffon's back paws. Gilda turned and picked up the hen, inspecting it as she brought it back over to the bowls. The griffon could tell that there was obviously not much going on in the chicken's mind from the blank it expression it had over its face. “Here ya go, enjoy some corn! It taste's a lot better than my leg, silly!”

“UNHAND ME COWARD, SO THAT WE MAY DO BATTLE AS MY PEOPLE HAVE FOR EONS! LONG BEFORE WE WERE BETRAYED BY CELESTIA, AND CURSED TO LIVE IN THIS PATHETIC FORM! IF I WHERE IN MY ORGINAL STATE YOU WOULD KNOW PAIN! YOU WOULD KNOW FEAR! FOR I WOULD UTTERLY ANHIL-OH MY GOD, CORN!!!”

The hen waited stoically as the griffon let her go next to the last free bowl, then nonchalantly walked over to the bowl, and began to feed quietly, save for a cluck here and there. Gilda then left the chickens to their meal, and walked to Fluttershy who had a trash barrel and rake prepared for the griffon.

“Good job handling that hen. Maybe you are learning.” the mare sternly responded to the griffon's act of kindness. “Now all that's left for this coup is the cleaning. All that you really need to worry about is the waste and hay the chickens litter on the floor every so often. Just get in the coop and work from the back to the entrance, and BE CAREFUL of the hens' eggs.”

“Front to back, you got it!” the griffon replied cheerfully while taking the two items from the pegasus. Trying once more to lighten up the mare's mood, this only caused her blue eyes to narrow as if she was treating the response as a facetious provocation. The griffon, still trying, laughed a bit in the hope her new boss would join in, a hoof sharply pointing to the entrance of the coup was the only bodily movement she received while the pony shot daggers from her eyes. Gilda sheepishly nodded and hurried inside. She had barely made it half way I in the coup. when she stepped on a splinter sticking out from one of the floor planks.

“AHH!” The griffon shrieked, falling face first on the floor inside of the coup and then curled up to . “Dammit! My foot!”

“What? Are you serious right now?” the mare shouted from outside the coup. Even though, at this point the hybrid was far inside the coup the pony's voice could not be as easily muffled as the other sounds nature was producing that morning. “You haven't gone five minutes since your first plucking, and already you're messing up?”

Now frightened by the idea that she may lose yet another feather for a situation out of her control Gilda tried her best to explain herself. “N-no! I stepped on something sharp. I think it was a nail or a tack.”

Crawling backwards outside the small entrance she poked her lion's half out in the open to show off the damaged hind leg at the mare.

A loud, irritated, sigh could be heard from the world outside the chicken coup, followed by a command that carried the same tone, “Just stay right where you are and don't move, I'll be right back.”

Hearing the clopping from the pony leave the griffon. Gilda soon was left to her thoughts, again, Taking note of how much of an awkward position she was in. One that might make a passerby stop and double take their view. Seeing an immobile  lion's body in the entrance of a home meant for chickens, while the chickens were helping themselves to food not five feet away. As if it had somehow gotten itself stuck inside either by a crazy set of events or shear stupidity, or perhaps a little of both, and had given up trying to escape. Luckily, this was quite an improbable scenario for the griffon as the animal pens faced the Everfree.

Coming back to reality from the sound of returning hooves, the griffon felt the hurt paw being lifted up and then held in places by two hooves. Wondering how the caretaker would manage to treat her wound now, Gilda got a response by an even greater pain rocketing through her foot and lower leg as she felt what seemed like cold steel pincers dig into the gash and then suddenly jerk out. Doing her best so far at concealing the yelp that was building up during this process it was soon found to be impossible as a lukewarm liquid splashed on her paw, burning and sizzling as it settled deep in the wound. Grinding her teeth and emitting a few whimpers the griffon felt her foot being expertly bandaged, and then, to her surprise, felt a hoof grab each of her hind legs and pull her back into the outside world.

Temporarily blinded by the sudden sunlight the bird regained her vision just in time to see an angry Fluttershy pin her against chicken coup with a force uncalled for from a pony with such a small frame, nearly inches away from Gilda's face. Having already established herself as hard going on the griffon, Fluttershy's expression gave the inkling that this new face meant Gilda was dealing with a different beast all together.

“What where you THINKING you dumb half-and-half?” Fluttershy was pressing her forelegs hard on the griffon chest at this point, completely oblivious to the fact she was depriving the mammal of oxygen. “Swearing AND being negligent for the safety of those around you? Just how many darn times do we need to go over this?”

“But... *wheeze* there aren’t any animals in the *wheeze* pen...” the griffon explained, her breaths getting labored as the pony's pressure continued to increase, more so after her reply.

“Gilda, there are EGGS in that coup! Some that have little chicks in them, and in your carelessness you  put at risk their lives by flailing around over a little scratch! I mean the darn splinter had barely pierced your skin.”

“But I didn't try to hurt them, it was an accident plea-” Gilda blurted out, hoping to say anything that would relent the surprising pressure the pony was exhibiting on her frame.

“You also didn't try to take in account your surroundings before acting out! Just like before in the middle of town, or did you think I forgot all about that. Hmm little 'Miss. I've Changed'? You need to watch what you're doing, otherwise people could get hurt!”

“Please... *gasp* you're crushing me!”

Fluttershy's eyes narrowed, and she said the following before releasing her grasp. “Hurts doesn't it?”

The griffon dropped the ground doing her best to regain her breath.

“I should make you pluck another two out for that... but considering you're covered in bird waste I'll just let it slide, seeing as the situation delivered its own justice.” The pink haired mare mocked, slightly chuckling as the griffon's eyes began to widen.

“W-waaa... what do you mean was-” The bird slide a talon over her right jaw and looked in horror at the white dirty substance she found thickly laid over her palm. Gilda began to heave as she became aware of the substance covering the rest of at least half her body.

“Are you going to puke? This means yes. This means no.” The pony suddenly asked in a tone of urgency, as she bobbed and shook her head much in the manner a mother would when she needed a stingy child to cooperate. Receiving a slight nod in the affirmative as the eagle part of Gilda's body began getting green. Fluttershy barely had enough time to bring the trash barrel in front of the sickened creature before it got to reunite with it's breakfast.

When it seemed as though there was none left Gilda was thrown a rag from Fluttershy, who had apparently grabbed from the nearby clothing line. After wiping herself off the griffon was pointed back into the coop, and finished up the rest of the animal pen. Careful of the floor and even more so for the eggs. The rest of the pens and shelters went by without incident. Gilda was devoting all her energy to showing the pegasus that she was indeed 'learning', and had no further screw ups until she reached the last animal pen, which contained the the ducks.

While Fluttershy was busy inspecting the last shelter, insuring Gilda had done a good job. The griffon had decided she would go on ahead an get started on what she hoped was the last of her chores. Setting down the food bowls for the ducks was as easy as it was for the rest of the animals, but as she approached the pens to let the smaller birds know it was time for breakfast she noticed something was visibly off with the mother and father ducks. Shielding and then moving their babies away from the perceived threat, Gilda was baffled as to why out of all the animals she dealt with this morning these where terrified of her.

Investigating the commotion, Fluttershy gasped at the scene unfolding in front of her, and quickly intervened. Coming to face the hybrid she put a hoof out to stop her from going any further, then lightly shoving her away. Effectively preventing her from chasing the scared flock any farther.

“Don't worry about these ones Gilda. Just go inside and wash up. I'll handle the rest.” The pony commanded in a stern but surprisingly calm and relaxed done. Turning away from the griffon she could be heard mumbling something about forgetting to round these up before hand.

“Why are they acting like that, is something wrong with them.” Gilda replied, genuinely concerned about the ducks, and feeling bad for scaring them.

“No, nothing is wrong. Now get back in the house like I asked you too.” Fluttershy responded, her voice getting louder and more irritated with each word.

“Well... did I do something wrong? I mean, I promise not to do it again, and I'm sorry. I just don't know what it is I could have done...” the hybrid spouted off, but her apology fell short when she saw the animal caretaker turn around. As sure as Gilda was that she had witnessed the full extent of the pony's rage, the mare did not cease to amaze her as she became witnessed to a demeanor that would make the whole horde flee with terror.

Grinding her teeth and having a few veins pop out from her forehead, so much so that the stitches under her hair ripped open a bit, causing blood to poor down her face once more. The pony could barely relay an audible sentence through her closed jaw. “You have no idea just how hard I am trying not to tackle you right now,” the mare continued after taking many deep breaths, “You have a hard time doing what you're told, so take out five feathers for that, and another five for not trusting ME to know what I am doing!”

Stumbling backwards the griffon could barely reply to what she was hearing. “B-but what did I do wrong? I wasn't even hurting anyone! I'll j-just go in the house. Please! I don't want to take that many out.”

“Hmm, I do agree Gilda, twenty feathers is a lot, even for a griffon, no wonder you're taking so long...”

“WHAT! You said ten...” Gilda tried to go on, but her mind stopped her body from acting further, instead she just dropped down to her knees and closed her eyes before crying. She knew it would be pointless to even try arguing. She could only try and minimize the damage at this point. “I'm sorry for disobeying you, I'll take out the ten like you asked, and go back inside. Please don't make me take out twenty. I'm sorry.”

Analyzing what she just heard, the yellow pegasus observed the griffon's physical expressions as well. Coming to the agreement that Gilda was actually being genuine in her apology Fluttershy decided to give the half-and-half a break, after all this was good progress! “Fine, but five off each wing. And one by one, no more of that all together nonsense. It minimizes the pain, and I want you to remember each and every pluck, otherwise you won't learn as fast.”

Crying even more so then the last time, Gilda complied without protest. One by one, wing by wing, out the feathers came. Gripping some of the feathers she had used ever since her time in the Junior Speedsters with Dash, the griffon lifted them over the hole of the pouch. Opening her talon, she watched the clump of brown feathers fall like a pebble thrown in the center of a deep lake, taking note of how the seemed to sink into a black oblivion, lost forever.

“Now go inside, and wash up.” the pony commanded once more.

“Yes, ma'am.”

It wasn't long before the griffon had finished properly cleaning her self off from the grime of the morning's chores that Fluttershy arrived. Finding that Gilda was stoically waiting for whatever it was the mare would have her do next the mare took out a quill and parchment and scribbled a somewhat long list of chores inside the house that she would do for the rest of the day.

“These are the rest of the chores you will be doing today. Do them in order or not, it doesn't matter. Just get them done. Since I didn't really plane on having enough food for two for this week's supply I need to go out and get more. Angel will be in charge, if you do ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING wrong  while I am gone Angel will see it and I WILL know about it. Understood?”

“Yes, ma'am.” The Griffon replied, deciding it would be best to keep responses short and to the point. Taking the list and going over it's objectives she found they where well within her capability, just that they would take her most of the day till dinner.

“Help yourself to whatever is in the fridge. I know you are probably hungry again, especially after the chicken coup incident.” The pony replied in a hurried tone as she was busy putting on her supply sacks across her back. On cue, Angel scampered to her side as she opened the front door. “Angel, the house is in your fluffi' widdle' paws now. Just make sure she does what she's supposed to, and that cake is as good as yours.”

Saluting Fluttershy much like one would their commanding officer, and Angel stood proud and tall as a bunny could while she exited. Causing her to giggle a little from the display. Gilda took this rare change of attitude as a chance to ask what had secretly been going through her head all morning.

“Hey, um, Fluttershy?” the bird asked meekly. Earning a slight turn of the head from the mare that gave her a good view of the unamused expression across her facial features. “Do you think, maybe if its alright, that I could see Rainbow Dash later on today? I'd really like to talk to her, and I think it would  help me get better.”

Sighing heavily in manner that gave the griffon a clear impression that she would rather be on her way then discuss this right now, the pegasus made her way back into the house stopping just a few feet away from the ever shrinking griffon. Who seemed to sense that she was going to be berated once more. “First off, you do not get to call me that. Only my friends and people who aren't mean bullies like you get to call me Fluttershy. For now on you may only call me Final Say, because I have FINAL.SAY. over what you will and will not do! I don't even want you calling me 'Ma'am' anymore. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Ma-err I mean, Yes, Final Say.” Gilda replied, breathing a sigh of relief that she wasn't going to be made to take out more feathers. Not even daring to face the pony, she drew her eye's attention to the ground, and waited to see what the response to her request would entail.

“Second, you've already shown me that your not ready for visitors yet. Maybe we'll see how well you do for the rest of the day, till I get back, and we'll talk more about it during dinner.” Leaving a saddened griffon in her wake, Fluttershy slammed the door shut with her tail. Looking down at the list the bandaged creature sighed, and decided to get to work. The thought that she might be able to meet Dash gave her a constant reminder to do well.

While making her way to Ponyville, Fluttershy stopped before getting into view of anypony and made herself more presentable for her trip into town a quick smoothing of her hair with her wings then a wiping off of the dried blood on her face and she was set, being especially careful to cover her scar. A warm smile came over her face as she looked up at the sky, mostly sunny with a few cumulus here and there, she could already tell that today was going to be a great day!