Chpt.5: Griffon the Brush Off

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series or any other ideas that I might have obtained my ideas from…Except for my OCs. Note that asterisk stars (*) at the end of the chapter, refers to facts that can help clarify the terms.

Ponyville Park...

Under a sunny sky, Twilight and Spike are observing Daelyn as he makes several successful attempts to climb trees, using his magic in his feet. The purple unicorn has surveyed the young dragon's recent progress and it is safe to say she was pleased. Daelyn was now able to focus his magic into any specific point on his body, allowing him to have a better grip of his magic. This also meant that it was time for Daelyn to take the next step for his training.

"Looking real good, Daelyn!" Spike cheered.

"Yes." Twilight nodded, "It seems you truly have the technique down. Now you can try using simple magical techniques like levitation."

"You mean like this?"

Twillight and Spike's eyes went wide when they suddenly felt light as a feather. They quickly realize they were floating. Looking at Daelyn, Twilight and Spike noticed that the blue iris in his eyes changed glowed bright gold and the same golden energy was around them.

"H-How did you get that down so quickly?" Twilight asked.

"It's as you say Twilight. If I master this tree magic-climbing, I will be casting spells in no time."

Twilight rolled her eyes but chuckled, "Alright genius, don't get too full of yourself. There's still more we need to understand before we can dig deeper into your training."

"What do you mean?" Daelyn asked, putting Twilight and Spike down.

"Thing is, your powers are still very different compared to the magic used in Equestria. If we are going to fully understand how it works, we need to run some tests."

"Tests?"

"That's right. I'm going to the bookstore to purchase a book about potions. You and Spike head back to Ponyville and get some other stuff done."

"Potions?" Daelyn asked nervously, "You're going to make me drink potions for tests?"

"Absolutely."

Twilight galloped off, leaving a nerve-racked Daelyn behind with Spike.

"I've got a bad feeling about this..."

"Hey, Daelyn. Don't worry too much. Twilight's tests are always harmless...Most of the time."

"Most...of the time?" Daelyn furrowed his brow.

"Uhhh...H-Hey, how about you help me do some delivery."

"Delivery? You're heading to the post office?"

"That's right." Spike nodded, "Other than being Twilight's assistant, I also take the time to work as Ponyville's mail carrier. Come on."

"Lead the way."

At the post office...

As Spike began collecting all the mail needed to be sent out to the residents of Ponyville, Daelyn was holding the rest that came in within bags.

"Hey, Spike. I have a question."

"Yeah? What's up?"

"I remember seeing you deliver messages for Twilight by burning the scrolls with your fire. How does that work?"

"Oh, that's a charm Princess Celestia cast on me back then." Spike explained, "Whenever I spew out fire, I have to think about the pony I mean to sent it to. But I have to know exactly what they look like for it to work."

"So if you have never met the pony or have no idea what they look like, the spell backfires?"

"Worse than backfire." Spike admitted, "Whenever I sent a letter that doesn't get done right, the letter either explodes into ash or it gets delivered to the wrong pony."

Daelyn blinked, "Whoa...Must've taken you a while to get that down."

"Trust me, you have no idea what I went through to get this right." Spike said grabbing the last scroll, "Alright, that's the last one. Come on let's get these scrolls to everypony in town."

As the two began exiting the post office...

*CRASH!*

A sudden thunderclap caused Spike to jump while Daelyn instinctively bolting upwards and attached himself to the ceiling of the porch with his claws as the scrolls they carried flew everywhere. Pinkie Pie suddenly popped up behind Spike, who began hiccuping. Pinkie Pie began snickering and soon started laughing. Rainbow Dash, who was standing on top of the cloud used for the thunderclap, also started laughing.

"Oh Rainbow Dash, we startled Daelyn into sticking himself to the roof and Spike into getting the hiccups!" Pinkie Pie laughed as Rainbow Dash chuckled.

Spike chuckled along as well, "Good one, PinkiehicPie!hicYou're always pulling a fast onehicon me."

He tried to pick up one of the scrolls, but due to his hiccup combined with dragon breath, he ended up sending it.

"Oh no, you're not hurt are you?" Pinkie Pie asked in concern.

"Nehiceh, don't behicsilly, dragons arehicfire-proof."

"Oh, okay, good." Pinkie Pie replied before she and Rainbow Dash burst out laughing again.

Spike picked up more scrolls, but he accidentally sent them all too when he hiccuped, "I wish the same thinghicwere true with scrolls..."

He then tried to pick up the spare scrolls on the ground but with each one he tried to pick it up, he kept sending it whenever he hiccuped while Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash continued laughing.

"Have you ever SEEN anything more hilarious?" Pinkie Pie asked before laughing again.

"I can think of ONE thing." Rainbow Dash kicked the cloud again, this time, scaring Pinkie Pie.

After a few seconds, she began laughing again while hiccuping at the same time.

"I didn't take you for a prankster, Pinkie Pie." Rainbow Dash said.

"Are youhickidding?hicI love to pull pranks. It's allhicin good fun, and Pinkie Pie lo-hic-oves to havehicfun!" Pinkie Pie continued to hiccup.

"You know Pinkie Pie, you're not as annoying as I thought. You wanna hang out?"

"That'd behicI'd reallyhicWhen dohicI meanhicWhen would you–"

Rainbow Dash placed her hoof on Pinkie Pie, "A simple nod would do."

"Mm-hm." Pinkie Pie responded, and they went off to do whatever they were talking about.

Spike, who was still collecting the scrolls, sighed, "Ahh, forgethicit. As long as Ihickeep hiccuping,hicI'll end up sending thesehicscrolls to places wherehicthey're not suppose to...Hey, Daelyn can youhic-...Daelyn?"

"Up here."

Spike looked up and sees a deadpanned Daelyn hanging upside with his claws stuck into the ceiling, "How often does Pinkie Pie do this?"

"Quitehicoften..."

Hours later, in the Golden Oak Library...

In a higher floor of the library, Twilight has a setup of laboratory glasswares, including beakers and flasks, for her eventual tests on Daelyn. With a stand holding papers along with a jar of ink and quill, she was ready to conduct the planned experiments. However...

"Where are those two? They should be back by now."

Twilight questioned the whereabouts of her two dragon friends when she heard the front door open. Galloping down the stairs, she sees Daelyn and Spike finally returning.

"There you are." Twilight asked with a frown, "I had everything set up for the tests but you two still didn't return. Where were you two?"

"Canterlot." The two dragons said in sync.

"Canterlot?" Twilight questioned, "What were you two doing in Canterlot?"

"Mail problems..."

"Oh..." Twilight's expression deadpanned, realizing what the dragons are implying. "Anyway, come on, Daelyn! We need to run these tests."

Making their way upstairs, Daelyn laid down on a nearby carpet as Twilight began double-checking her set.

"So Twilight, how is this test going to work?"

"Well so far, we know that your powers are influenced by emotion and your magic can change based on it as well." Twilight used her own magic to levitate her collection of potions, "Drinking one of these potions will induce you to project a specific kind of emotion. Once you begin to feel something, begin emanating your magical powers so I can get a sample of them. Finally, using my own magic, I can fuse them to your body and analyze how they react to you."

"Hmm..." Daelyn thought, "Have you ever done this before?"

"Nope." Twilight smiled.

The platinum dragon sighed, "Well...It can't that bad. Let's get started."

Twilight began by passing over the first potion with red liquid inside. Feeling a bit uncertain, he drank the potion and tried his best not to taste it, to no avail.

With a disgruntled expression, Daelyn frowned, "I FELT LIKE I WALKED OUT TO THE ROAD AND DRAGGED MY TONGUE ACROSS THE DIRT! WHAT IN TITANS' NAME DID YOU GIVE ME!?"

Spike glanced at Twilight with doubt, "Was that the anger potion?"

"N-No. That was suppose to be the happy potion...And a potent one at that." Twilight began jotting down notes, "He reacted almost immediately. This is really educational."

Spike gazed back at Daelyn and sees that the teenage dragon was fuming, "Uuh...Twilight, you might have went a bit overboard with that potion."

"Oh, don't be ridiculous." Twilight glanced at them, "It's all part of the test."

Looking back at her notes, she blinked in surprise to see that her written words are all gone. Before she could do anything, Spike hastily grabbed another potion and forced it into Daelyn's mouth. Right at that moment, Daelyn blew a fuse, literally. Smoke came out of him as Daelyn passed out from the potions' dosage.

"Ah!" Spike yelled, "He's dead! No wait, his eyes are still open...He's just asleep! He might be going into a cardiac arrest...or worse, a coma!"

"Spike! Calm down. He's just lost conscious." As the purple unicorn tries to help her dragon student, she hears giggling just outside. Glancing out the window, she spots Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie laughing away as she realized that the two swapped her normal ink with invisible ink and tampered her potions. With a frown, she marched outside to have a word with them but by then they have already scrammed off.

"TWILIGHT!" Spike shouted, "HE STOPPED BREATHING!"

Twilight sighed, "This is going to take a while to fix..."

Next day...

Twilight and Spike managed to get Nurse Redheart to help Daelyn stabilize his condition before it got any worse. After a full night's rest, Daelyn was fine...For the most part.

"Daelyn, I'm so sorry about all that yesterday." Twillight apologized.

"No worries. It's not your fault." Daelyn organized the books before frowning, "Pinkie and Rainbow were the ones responsible and, by the Titans, I'm going to make sure they FEEL responsible for it later."

"Ah, come on, Daelyn." Spike said, "It was just a prank..."

Daelyn and Twilight glared.

"...Well, considering that you almost went into a coma..."

"Spike." Daelyn said, "There is 'far' and there is 'too far'. Just because you think a prank is harmless doesn't mean it IS so to the ones that get pranked."

"Yeah...I hear ya..."

"Daelyn." Twilight called, "Do you still want to go through the tests?"

"Of course." Daelyn nodded, "We can't leave something unfulfilled. We might as well finish what we started."

"Alright then." Twilight began setting things up again with the two dragon's help when-

*KNOCK!*KNOCK!*

Sudden knocks on the front door caught their attention. Daelyn answered it and sees an unhappy Pinkie Pie, who simply stomped past him.

"Pink? What's gotten into you?" Daelyn asked.

"Twilight, Daelyn, Spike, you won't believe what is happening. This new griffon friend of Rainbow Dash showed up, and she was totally a meanie!"

"Wait...Did you say griffon?" Daelyn blinked in surprise.

"What's a griffon?" Spike asked.

"Half-lion and half-eagle creature. Fast-flying, arrogant, and greedy bunch of fliers."

Twilight raised a brow at Daelyn, "You make it sound like they're an unpleasant bunch."

"That's exactly what I am saying." Daelyn said sternly, "Pinkie, I'm guessing this griffon is also unpleasant?"

"Um, YEAH! She keeps stealing Rainbow Dash away, she pops my balloons, and she told me to buzz off. I've never met a griffon this mean. Well, actually, I've never met a griffon at all, but I bet if I had, she wouldn't have been as mean and grumpy as Gilda."

Twilight raised a brow, "Well you know what I think Pinkie Pie. I think you jealous."

"Jealous?!" Pinkie exclaimed loudly.

Spike then said, "Green with envy or in your case pink with envy."

Twilight continued, "Well yes jealous. Look Pinkie, I don't want to upset you, but just because Rainbow Dash has a new friend, doesn't make Gilda a grump. Perhaps it's you Pinkie Pie who needs to improve her attitude."

Pinkie gasped, "Improve my attitude?! But...but, but it's Gilda that...that, are you serio...Ergh!"

The pink pony then stormed out without uttering another word. Twilight then shared a nervous glance with Spike and turned to Daelyn who shook his head in disappointment.

Confused, the unicorn asked, "What?"

"Twilight. You don't know about griffons as much as anybody else so I don't believe you have the right to lecture others like Pinkie about attitude, especially when it comes to griffons."

The purple unicorn frowned, "What's your problem with griffons?"

"A lot. Those overweight buzzards are nothing but trouble. They only care more of their own welfare than others. In other words, they are greedy...just as much as a full grown treasure-obsessed dragon."

Daelyn began walking outside.

"Wait, where are you going?" Twilight asked.

"Cheering up a pony you insulted."

"But what about your test-?"

"To the Abyss, with your test!"

Later...

After a few minutes in searching throughout Ponyville, Daelyn finds Pinkie Pie at a table outside of Sugarcube Corner. But when he got closer, he realized she was glaring at somepony at the road. Glancing where Pinkie was looking, Daelyn's eyes widen. There stood a female griffon with brown fur and feathered wings along with pale feathers on her head and neck. To his horror, the griffon bumped into Fluttershy, who was only escorting a family of ducks, and she began to berate the timid pony. The commotion hasn't gone unnoticed as everypony nearby watched in curiosity.

"Oh, um, I'm sorry. I-I-I was just trying to..." Fluttershy stuttered.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." The griffon mocked, "Why don't you just watch where you're going, doofus?"

"B-b-b-but I... I..."

The griffon took a huge breath, alarming Daelyn. With quick flap of his wings, Daelyn flew over and landed right in between Fluttershy and the griffon, surprising everypony around.

Daelyn growled at the griffon, who blinked for a moment in surprise but frowned upon realizing who she was looking at.

"Gilda of Griffonstone." Daelyn muttered sternly.

"Well, well, well~...If it isn't Daelyn the Exiled...Of all the dumb things I've seen in this stinkin' town, I didn't think I'd see your ugly face."

"Likewise. Of all the things I've seen in the world, I never would've imagine that you had any friends...especially Rainbow Dash."

"Hah! Rainbow and I go way back." Gilda smirked, "But what about you? How are things been since you got kicked out of your clan?"

"Thankfully, it's gotten better for me." Daelyn remarked, "I'm glad to be away from the Dragonlands, away from my own kind."

Gilda chuckled in a mocking tone, "That's odd. If I remember correctly, you were fairly close to your...brother, what changed?"

"That's none of your concern." Daelyn scowled, "You're disturbing the ponies in this town. Scram before I leave a scar."

"Scar? Like the scar, I gave to your loving older brother?"

Daelyn fumed and growled even louder, "I'm warning you, Gilda. Just because you're a friend to a pony in this town, doesn't give you the right to torment the others. If this were the Dragonlands, you'd be served as dinner on a platter. But this is Ponyville, the folks here are a tranquil people. And the last thing they need is a freak pulling shenanigans for her own amusement. Now if you've got a problem with this place, you're more than welcome to fly off and leave."

"Leave? Hah!" Gilda grimaced, "Unlike a certain coward, I don't run away when others try to boot me out. If you want me to leave, you'll just have to make me."

For a silent moment, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy gazed nervously as the two glared at each other.

"You-," Daelyn snarled, "-just dug your own burial."

Sensing the hostility, all of the nearby ponies began to slowly back away as Gilda and Daelyn circled one another. Finally, the two opened their respective wings and made their opposing stands.

*SCREEE!*

*GROOAR!*

With a high-pitched screech and a booming roar, Gilda and Daelyn charged against each other and commenced their brawl with a headbutt. While Daelyn had more physical strength, Gilda had quicker reflexes and agility. At blinding speed, the two thrashed at each other, claws striking and deflecting own another as each attempts to land a decisive blow.

Gilda landed it first, bringing her sharp beak down onto Daelyn's neck right below his head, piercing into his scales. The impact was powerful enough to rush him into the ground. Holding firm, Daelyn quickly got back on his feet and flailed his head violently to shake the griffon off but Gilda used her wings to maintain a proper angle to her grip. Finally, Daelyn raised his claws and struck Gilda at the side of her neck, pinned her to the ground, and applied increasing pressure as his claws insert themselves into the griffon. Knowing she was in a dangerous spot, Gilda released her bite grip and flapped her wings to escape. She did and faced Daelyn again as the two glared at each other.

While this was happening, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and the other ponies were watching in absolute horror. No pony in this town has seen such violence before and the fear has them all frozen in place.

"Oh dear! Oh dear!" Fluttershy panicked glancing at Pinkie Pie, "W-What should we do?!"

"Quick! Fluttershy, go get Rainbow Dash here! I'm going to find Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Spike!"

As the two ponies scurried off, the fight between Daelyn and Gilda continued. Back and forth, the two landed blow after blow against each other hoping to end the fight quickly, all the while, damaging the surrounding property. Finally, the two came at an impasse as they glared at each while catching their breaths.

"I must admit..." Gilda huffed, "You're more annoyingly tenacious than I remembered...I'd thought you'd gotten...soft after living with these ponies."

"In your dreams, griffon..." Daelyn muttered, "If you wanted a easy brawl, you provoked the wrong dragon."

With another moment of deafening silence, the two were covered in scratches and bruises. Hoping to regain momentum, they both spread their wings wide and leapt into the sky. With his large webbed wings perfect for power flight, Daelyn flew up swiftly until he disappeared into a large bank of clouds. Gilda, with feathered wings best for glides and smoother flight, ascended more gradually.

Higher into the sky, Gilda soared until she entered the bank of clouds that Daelyn disappeared into. As she glides around in search of the platinum dragon, the griffon began to get the impression that he fled. But sudden as a thunderbolt, a roaring Daelyn dove upon the unsuspecting griffon. Locked together, the two lost their balance in flight as they each struggled to land a decent blow to their opponent. The ground rushed closer with terrifying speed as the ponies below gaped in horror.

Finally noticing the ground, Daelyn broke off his hold and stretched his wings to decelerate. Gilda did the same but her feathered wings did not offer the same resistance to the air as Daelyn's webbed wings. As such, Gilda crash landed into a food stand while Daelyn managed to make a decent landing onto the ground.

Groaning in pain, Gilda struggled to stand up as the platinum dragon snarled ominously at the griffon.

"Heh..." Gilda chuckled, "Too bad, your brother didn't put up much of a fight as you do now..."

Growing more enraged by the remark, Daelyn's eye pupils became menacingly thin as his iris began to glow bright gold.

"An eye for an eye." Daelyn snarled deeply as glimmering gold particles began gathering in his open mouth in the shape of a sphere.

Gilda blink in shock at what she was seeing as she spread her wings to evade Daelyn's next attack.

"GILDA!"

"DAELYN!"

At the sound of their names, Gilda glanced upwards to see Rainbow Dash flying over, followed by Fluttershy. Daelyn spotted Twilight galloping over, with Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, and Spike in toll. The energy sphere in his mouth disintegrated while his eyes returned to normal. Rainbow Dash went to check on her griffon friend while Twilght galloped up to her dragon student in deep worry.

Twilight spotted the platinum dragon, covered in scratches and bruises as well as the small gash on his neck,"Oh, Daelyn! Are you alright? You're hurt!"

"It's just a scratch. I'm fine."

"That wound does not look fine to me." Twilight berated, "I'm taking you to the hospital, right now!"

Daelyn groaned before glancing at Rainbow Dash, who glared and flew over to him, "Who do you think you are?"

"Excuse me?" Daelyn questioned.

"Don't play dumb with me! Gilda told me everything that happened."

The annoyed dragon glanced over to the griffon, who smirked, making it fairly clear that she had told the rainbow mare a warped version of the incident.

"And you take her word for it?"

Rainbow Dash stomped her hoof, "Yeah, she told me how you attacked her for no reason!"

Daelyn twitched an eye and shouted, "No reason?! I wasn't the one who started this mess-!"

"Oh save it, reptile!" Rainbow Dash retorted, "I know all need to know. Just because you're some big scary predator doesn't give you the right to pick on new faces. We ponies didn't treat you this way when you came to Ponyville and yet now you're bullying others. I think it's about time you leave."

Daelyn's eyes widened at Rainbow's words and snarled. Twilight, unable to bear seeing this, moved in front of her student.

"Daelyn, please stop!" Twilight plead, "This violence is not going to get you anywhere."

"Stay out of this, Twilight!" Daelyn rebuked, "This pegasus and that overgrown buzzard needs to be taught a lesson!"

"Give it a rest, Daelyn!" Twilight shouted, stunning the dragon, "I don't care what happened here. And I don't care who started this. Both of your fighting is intimidating everypony, just look!"

At that instant, Daelyn took a look around and saw the surrounding ponies quivering at the sight of the mess that the brawl has done. Upon the realization, Daelyn closed his eyes and sighed in defeat. He took one final look at a fuming Rainbow Dash and a smirking Gilda before opening his wings and flew off without a word.

"Daelyn!" Twilight shouted, "Where are you going? Come back!"

The purple unicorn began galloping after Daelyn.

As she watched, Pinkie Pie spoke to herself with a frown, "I should have said something. That Gilda...She's a grump, and a thief, and a bully, AND a liar. The meanest kind of mean meanie-pants there is. I can take it, but no one treats Fluttershy so badly, starts a fight with Daelyn, and then lies to her old friend to cover her own mistakes and gets away with it. No. One. This calls for extreme measures, Pinkie Pie style."

Daelyn's Grotto...

It didn't take long before Twilight managed to track her dragon student into his underground home. Gazing into the beautiful cavern, she spots Daelyn laying down and resting next to the spring, resting his head on top of his arms. With a deep breath, she walked over the distraught dragon, hoping to comfort him.

"Daelyn...?" Twilight called softly.

The dragon sighed, "I'm very sorry...I caused a serious mess in Ponyville today...Showed everypony a side of me that they didn't need to see."

Twilight stopped right next to Daelyn, seeing not an angered but a depressed demeanor on his face. He raised his head and gazed on his reflection in the water.

"After leaving my clan, I had thought I left all of it behind...The sorrow, the rage, the contempt, everything..." Daelyn mumbled, "Now, it's followed me here...Rainbow Dash is right...I shouldn't stay here."

"No! Don't say that." Twilight said, sitting next to the platinum dragon, "Rainbow Dash was only upset to see her old friend hurt. But, what happened? What started it all?"

Daelyn sighed, "When I was looking for Pinkie Pie, I found her at Sugarcube Corner where Gilda was causing trouble with Fluttershy after she bumped into her. Even after apologizing, Gilda returned the gesture with an angry response. I couldn't bear to watch it so I stood between the two. Gilda and I got into an argument and you know what came next..."

Twilight nodded in understanding, "I see...Do you and Gilda have history with each other? I didn't sound like a pleasant one."

"No," Daelyn scowled, "It certainly wasn't. Two years ago, when I was still a member of the Auburn Clan, my fellow dragons and I went off gathering and hunting for food supplies to survive the coming winter, including gemstones that we manage to dig up from the earth. However, we made the mistake of laying camp near the northeastern border of the Dragonlands, where the griffons tends to roam. My clan was set upon by griffons who wanted the gems we possessed. They were always fond of wealth and our gems were the perfect target. The griffons lured the bulk of the clan away from our food supplies while the main force snuck past us. My older brother and the clan's future lord, Baeryn, caught wind of this scheme and set off with a group of his fellows to stop them. I tagged along, even though I was rather small and my brother ordered me not to come. I didn't listen, went anyway, and I didn't stand a chance against the larger griffons and I almost got seriously hurt until..."

"Until?"

"...Until Baeryn got in front of me and took the blow...He lost his right eye...because of my rashness. Since then, my life in the clan went from bad to worse..."

Twilight gazed sympathetically at Daelyn. Obviously, the other dragons of the clan blamed Daelyn for causing their future lord, Baeryn, to be scarred in such a way.

Suddenly, the unicorn realizing something, "Daelyn. The griffon that took your brother's right eye...Was it?"

Daelyn nodded, "It was Gilda."

Twilight's eyes widen, "So that's why you know her. That's why you were so angry at her."

"Griffons will be griffons." Daelyn muttered, "I can't put the blame entirely on Gilda...If I had listened to my brother, he never would have lost his eye on my account."

Daelyn glanced up to the ceiling opening, "Coming to Ponyville, I truly hoped that I can let all of that go...But I guess past mistakes are bound to catch up sooner than later. And when it came rolling back into my head...I snapped...I lashed out and I made a fool of myself."

Twilight stood up, "Then fix it."

Daelyn glanced at the unicorn.

"Learn how to control your emotions and not let your past memories control you." Twilight explained, "You have an opportunity to make yourself a better dragon here in Ponyville. It's not easy to change. It's never easy to change. But, it's always easy to make a choice and learn from your mistakes. After all, I made the mistake of thinking friendship was a distraction until I realize it was the very thing that would help when the situation was dire."

Twilight gestured Daelyn to stand up, "You have friends by your side, me, Spike, and everypony else. We will help you face your struggles as long as you calm down and tell us what bothers you. Whether it is something that is hurting you from the past or something else, we'll be there for you...Always."

Daelyn gazed at the unicorn for a moment and returned her advice with a smile, "I guess we dragons really are primitive savages. But it's never to late to learn something new...Thanks Twilight."

As the two smiled warmly together, a familiar voice echoed in the cavern, "Twilight? Daelyn? Are you here?"

"Spike?"

The little purple dragon appeared at the entrance, "There you are. I've been looking for you guys. Hey Daelyn, are you alright?"

"I am now, thank you." Daelyn grinned.

"Phew...Okay good." Spike said in relief, "Hey! Pinkie Pie is throwing a welcoming party at Sugarcube Corner in Gilda's honor. And she has invited you two to join..."

"A welcoming party?" Daelyn questioned.

"For Gilda?" Twilight added.

"It's a long story." Spike smirked.

Sugarcube Corner...

Upon arriving to the location of the party, Twilight, Daelyn, and Spike gave uncertain glances to each other before heading for the door. To their shock, they heard a loud crash. Inside, they see Gilda covered in cake toppings and icing with a blindfold on top of her beak, making it look like a mustache. Seeing the ponies around her laughing, the griffon lost her temper and let out a huge roar before hovering in the air.

"THIS YOU'RE IDEA OF A GOOD TIME? I'VE NEVER MET A LAMER BUNCH OF DWEEBS IN ALL MY LIFE! AND PINKIE PIE, YOU ARE QUEEN LAMO WITH YOUR WEAK LITTLE PARTY PRANKS! Did you really think you could make me lose my cool? Well Dash, have at least 10x as much cool as the rest of you put together. Come on Dash, we're bailing on this pathetic scene. Come on Rainbow Dash, I said we're leaving!"

Rainbow Dash didn't move and frowned instead, "You know Gilda, I was the one who set up all those 'weak' pranks at this party."

...

"What?!"

"So, I guess I'm the queen lame-o." Rainbow inquired with a scowl.

"Come on, Dash, you're joshing me." Gilda muttered in disbelief.

"They weren't all meant for you specifically, it was just dumb luck that you set them all off."

"I shoulda known," Pinkie said, "That dribble cup had Rainbow Dash written all over it."

Gilda shook her head, "No way, it was Pinkie Pie. She set up this party to trip me up, to make a fool of me."

"Me?" Pinkie gasped, "I threw this party to improve your attitude. I thought a good party might turn that frown upside down."

"And you sure didn't need any help making a fool of yourself." Rainbow Dash added, "You know this isn't the way I thought my old friends would treat my new friends. If being cool is all you care about, then maybe you should go find some new cool friends someplace else."

Gilda growled, "Yeah? Well you, you, you are such a, a flip-flop: cool one minute and lame the next. When you decide not to be lame anymore, gimme a call."

As the griffon made her exit, Dash remarked, "Not cool."

As the nearby ponies chattered with one another about what happened, Rainbow Dash saddened, "I'm sorry everypony, for bringing Gilda here. I didn't know how rude she was. And Pinkie Pie I'm really sorry she ruined that awesome party you put on for her."

"Hey if you want to hang out with party poopers, that's your business."

The sky blue mare replied, "I'd rather hang out with you. No hard feelings?"

"No hard feelings."

As the two shared their moment with a hoof-shake buzzer, Spike walked up and cleared his throat, getting everyponies' attention, "Um Dash, I don't mean to ruin the moment, but don't you think you owe someone an apology?"

Pointing at a different corner of the room, everypony spotted Daelyn and Twilight.

Rainbow Dash shuddered, "Oh...yeah..."

She walked up to Daelyn was simply staring at her in the eyes.

With a sigh, she said, "Daelyn...Umm...Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy told me everything. I'm sorry for blaming you for an incident that wasn't your doing and...I know a simple apology will not make it all up but...I'm sorry for telling you to leave."

For moment, nobody said anything until Daelyn placed a frown on his face, "You're right. It isn't enough. While I fully understand why you covered for Gilda today, the fact that you told me to leave Ponyville sent a personal message that you still don't trust me, simply because I am a DRAGON. I thought we saw each other past that borderline on even terms as friends but I guess I was being delusional."

Daelyn turned away, "Trust must be earned. While I can accept the other ponies not trusting, the fact that you, Rainbow Dash, still don't trust me because of what I am, only proves that you are NOT worthy of my trust..."

Rainbow Dash flinched at the platinum dragon's words. As harsh as it sounds, she can't deny the truth of it and lowered her head in sorrow.

"However," Daelyn said, "I still wish to learn...To be a better dragon for everypony...It's a start..."

"Thanks, Daelyn." Rainbow Dash let out a faint smile as the other ponies grinned in turn.

"Alrighty then, everypony~!" Pinkie Pie shouted, "Let's keep this party going~!"

"Hey Pinkie." Twilight called, "Sorry I accused you of misjudging Gilda. Looks like I'm the one who misjudged you."

"It's okay Twilight, even you can't be a super smart smarty smart-pants all the time. Come on everypony, there's still a whole lotta party to finish~!"

"Hey Pinkie, come here. I want to tell you something?" Spike smirked.

"Yeah? What's up?"

"Do you remember how you and Rainbow Dash scared me into getting the hiccups?"

"Umm...Yeah?"

*GROAR!*

"AAH!"

At sound of a loud roar behind her, courtesy of Daelyn, Pinkie stood there frozen for a moment before starting to hiccup again. Everypony in Sugarcube Corner began laughing hysterically at the prank.

While the party went on, Twilight walked to the side and began writing a letter back to Princess Celestia.

Dearest Princess Celestia,

Today I learned that it's hard to accept when somepony you like wants to spend time with somepony who's not so nice. Though it's impossible to control who your friends hang out with, it is possible to control your own behavior. Just continue to be a good friend. In the end, the difference between a false friend and one who's true will surely come to light.

Also, I have also come to learn more of Daelyn's past. From the looks of it, he has been through worse for wear during his youth in the Dragonlands and his past experiences have come back to haunt him. No doubt the frustration and torment he went through those days are being expelled through acts of violence and anger. But it doesn't matter, as his teacher and friend, I will do my best to help him come to terms with his past and help find him a place here in Ponyville.

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle

To be continued…

Next Time:

Chpt.6 - Boast Busters

As Twilight helps Daelyn learn more about the functions of his magic as well as some useful tricks. A new unicorn, Trixie, appeared in Ponyville with an obsessive love for the spotlight. However, her boastful behavior doesn't make her very well-liked by Twilight and her friends, especially Daelyn. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse when some of Trixie's admirers brought something both dangerous and extremely dangerous to town...

Here are lists of characters that are introduced so far:

Dragons

Daelyn - Voice by Brina Palencia

Spike

Ponies

Twilight Sparkle

Applejack

Fluttershy

Rarity

Pinkie Pie

Rainbow Dash

Griffon

Gilda

Author's Note

Hello everyone, Seraphias here. Hope some of you liked some aggressive violence between a dragon and griffon as well as some insight on Daelyn's past in the Dragonlands. As of right now, Daelyn doesn't trust Rainbow Dash as a friend but he is willing to keep an open mind in the future. But if any true MLP fan would know, Rainbow Dash means well in many ways. The two WILL fully reconcile soon.

Also, I would appreciate some comments on what you all think of his story. Logical criticism is much appreciated. But no flames, I wrote this fanfic because I enjoy it and for certain MLP fans to enjoy as well. If you don't like it then don't bother reading. This is My Little Ponies and Dragons, we're here to have fun.

And as always, review for anything including holes & errors, as well as possible improvements. Also, I welcome new ideas anytime. It will inspire me and prevent writer's block from happening so don't be afraid to share! See ya!