“Fly?”
“Yup.”
Gabby blinked, staring at the unicorn in surprise.
“Ok, now you’ve got to tell me more!” She bubbled, not able to resist an excited squeak.
A unicorn who likes to fly? Oh my gosh I’ve gotta know more!
Aid shrugged, a smile quickly dawning on his features as Gabby showed nothing but excitable curiosity at his words.

“It started as just a silly interest, wondering about the sky. Then I convinced my parents to let me go skydiving as a colt as soon as I was safely allowed to. After that…I was hooked.” The stallion chuckled, the pair continuing to walk down the frozen stone halls of the mountain. The granite tunnels were likely carved by ancient underwater rivers, much of the wall and ceiling alternating between solid stone and streaks of ice.

“Then came paragliding, and then a ride on a gyrocopter. After that, I got certified to do my own base jumping and gliding. This was not exactly endorsed by my parents, but that was low on my list of reasons not to do something. Especially if the reason is only ‘it is not suitable of a noble to do such activities.’” Aid remarked, turning his nose skyward and injecting a snooty tone into his voice, prompting a pleasant giggle from the gryphoness.

“After opening my own enchantment shop, I began to explore other avenues now that I had more funds. That shop also allowed me to get into contact with a ton of different ponies, individuals I’d never have met being isolated in the noble section of Canterlot. Blacksmiths, enchanters far above my own skill, welders, electricians…” Aid let a determined grin slip onto his face, nodding slowly as he spoke.

“Over one hundred tries, and I finally got a prototype that worked. I wasn’t born able to fly, but I created a way to! My own wings!”
“You WHAT?”
The high-pitched squealing emanating from Gabby’s beak just might have caused the walls themselves to crack, the stallion looking over to the excited gryphoness. Her eyes were wide in wonder, the courier all but bouncing excitedly on her claws and paws.

“You made your own wings?! Really?! How? Are they like real feathers? OH! Are they steam powered- no wait, that wouldn’t work. Are-”
Aid smiled, holding up a hoof to forestall the inevitable tidal wave of guessing.
“They’re powered by mana crystals, mined from…well, everywhere. Instead of feathers, they’re thinly-sliced minerals, and the joints are both crystal and magical too. The main ‘bones’ of it are metal though, lightweight stuff of course.” he explained, then gesturing to his horn, still alight as he levitated a lantern in front of the pair.

“I charge the crystals up with extra magic, and then I have a huge reserve to work with. That’s why my vest has these big bumps on them; embedded crystals to let me cast spells for a longer period of time, and cast things I’d otherwise never be able to. Small stuff I can keep up indefinitely though, like holding the lantern.”
So. Cool!
I don’t really understand some of it, but WHOA!

Gabby’s head had begun to tilt as Aid talked about the magical side of things, the gryphoness now having a furrowed brow as she thought.
“I really don’t know much about magic.” she admitted with a shrug, then perking back up and looking at Aid. “But I’d really like to know! What do you mean ‘never be able to?’ Does the vest have like, a how-to manual for spells? So, you can only know how to cast them when you’re wearing it?” she asked excitedly, prompting a chuckle from the stallion.

“Oh, nothing like that. The vest literally just offers storage capacity for magic, which is kind of essential for me since I’ve got a handicapped horn.”
Now the gryphoness paused, looking over at the unicorn in confusion.
“A what now? You’re holding a lantern just fine- how is that ‘handicapped?’” She asked, genuinely interested before she took a sharp breath.
WHOOPS! I hope that wasn’t insensitive!

“OH! Erm, if it’s not a sore subject that is! I really don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” Gabby added, wincing slightly.
She sighed in relief as Aid laughed, shaking his head casually.
“Oh goodness, it’s fine. But thank you, Gabby.” he replied.
“Hmmm, how can I explain this…” Aid mused as they continued to walk. Gabby guided him down a fork in the halls, the lantern continuing to illuminate their path down the frozen bowels of the mountain.

“I’ll tell you how the doctors explained it to me. So, imagine every unicorn has a bathtub full of water, except that water is Mana; raw energy and the buildings blocks of a spell. Each spell you cast takes an initial scoop of that water. Sometimes it’s a little sip, other times it’s a huge bucket depending on the spell. That container the amount required to start up the spell, and sometimes have it complete fully. You follow me?” he explained, Gabby nodding eagerly.
This. Is. So. COOL!

“So, almost all unicorns have the faucet running constantly; they refill their mana reserves steadily, and if they cast too many big spells, big buckets, they have to recharge. That’s things like teleportation, a big shield, or lifting a heavy item.” the stallion continued.

“The smaller the item, the smaller the bucket. As the weight increases, the magic needed quickly increases almost exponentially. So, while most unicorns have a bathtub that’s normal sized, I’ve got a different one.” Aid then paused, then gesturing to Gabby.

“The bathtub I have is only as deep as one of your claws, but I’ve got a waterfall filling it up. All that extra just poofs away though. I can’t use a bucket, or even a really deep cup. So, the mana crystals are like other bathtubs I scoop the water into; they let me cast those bigger spells, and I can constantly siphon the extra magic into them. But because of that waterfall, I can keep up smaller spells up for much longer than a normal unicorn, and also multitask with magic much easier. I just never run out if I’m using a smaller cup.” he explained, looking over to see if Gabby had fallen into a stupor.

Checking to see if I was listening? Of course I was! That’s SO AWESOME!
And I totally get it. This guy is good at explaining stuff! Not too far out there, but in a way I can actually understand.
Magic is neat!
“That’s…huh. That’s so cool! I had no idea!” Gabby chirped happily.
“So big energy spells you can’t do without a vest, and you just siphon off the extra waterfall of magic into the crystals? Dunno if I’d even call that a handicap…just different. So, you can do stuff other unicorns can’t?” she asked, trying to be as sensitive as possible.
Last thing I want to do is offend a guy as nice as him!

“I suppose that term is only partially fitting. And yes. I can’t cast a big bubble shield, not even close, nor teleport even a pebble. But I can create a dozen smaller, dinner-plate sized shields. I can then form those into a dome shape. For multitasking, I can keep up certain spells for hours, and covering a dozen creatures without much thought at all. Apparently other unicorns can’t do more than one or two at a time.”

“Well, sounds more like just being different than a handicap, especially if you can do stuff others can’t.” Gabby proclaimed with a happy chirp.
“Thanks for explaining all that. That’s the first real talk I’ve had concerning magic- but it makes total sense now! Huh. I never knew that about magic” she continued to muse.
“So even with that limitation, you just found a way around it? That’s awesome! How well do the wings work? Have you flown yet?” Gabby bubbled before reining her excitement in. The fact Aid simply laughed eased her embarrassment a tad.
The fact he’s ok with me just blathering sometimes…
It’s really nice; doesn’t make me feel as tense; I can just talk, just be me.

“Just before this rescue mission actually- so yesterday. I had one of my first totally successful test flights. I got ten full wing beats in before the wings collapsed, double what I had even come close to before!” Aid proclaimed happily.

“See, as you’re flying, each wing joint has to be matched up perfectly. If something is even a teensy bit out of alignment with one of the joints, the more you use it, the more it’s going to show up. So, it might be fine for a few strokes, but then the gap or discrepancy just gets wider and wider, and causes the whole wing to eventually lock up. But now that I know exactly what joints are problematic, I can refine the spells and double it again! Oh, but when it worked, it was fantastic. It felt just natural, soaring and gliding and, erm…” Aid rattled off, his own blue face now tinging a bit purple with an embarrassed blush.

What the unicorn probably didn’t notice was of how Gabby had gotten a wider and wider grin on her beak as he talked; soaking in his excitement of the subject.
“I…erm…so-”
“Nope!” Gabby interjected, putting a claw on Aid’s nose.
“If I can’t say sorry about happy blathering, then neither can you.” she stated, Aid’s nose twitching at her touch
“Ok, that’s fair.” he said as Gabby retracted her claw.

“I usually have only Wind Sheer to bounce ideas off of, and he can only tolerate being a wall for my ideas for so long. He’s a Pegasus actually, my best friend for years. I actually used his wings as a general model for mine, even though they’re probably about as big as yours. But that helped a ton. He’s actually one of the Team leaders- when another isn’t available. It’s nice talking to someone who doesn’t mind a bit of excited ramblings though.” Aid mused, prompting an agreeing nod from Gabby.

“No arguments here! Gryphons are toooootally boring in that regard. Gilda is nice though- my only friend really, but she’s got her own baking life in Griffinstone. There’s not too much time to just chat though, especially since I’m out and about. Oh, and she actually found a nice guy, so that cuts down on chatty time too.” Gabby added, letting out a laugh.

“I’m glad though. Of like, ten nice gryphons in the entire city, she finds one who likes her. He seems pretty neat too. He’s a total bookworm, oddly enough.” The gryphoness mused, then pausing as the tunnel ended abruptly.
“…uh, this wasn’t here before.”
Rocks were piled high to the ceiling, and Gabby gave them a few firm pokes before shrugging.
“Avalanche?” she asked, and got an affirming nod in return.
“Avalanche. Plan C, we wander for a bit. Can you make marks on the wall as we go?” Aid asked, getting an ever-cheery nod in reply.
“Sure thing! Where was I…”

“Gilda? Found a nice guy? Apparently, they’re rare?” Aid suggested, immediately putting Gabby back on track without skipping a beat.
“Ooooh. Yeah and they are. Gryphons are naturally grumpy and unpleasant. Well, most of us, but we’re getting better! Obviously helping others isn’t really a normal thing, let alone not being a grump. So, trying to find friends is kind of hard, especially when most gryphons don’t understand what a good friend is.” Gabby then winced and stuck out her tongue.

“Bleh. Probably why the nation is such a mess. It’s rare to see even a happy family together in any way shape or form.” she mused, even as Aid’s ears perked up again.
“Hmm. What do you mean?”
Gabby shrugged her wings, her usually peppy mood getting doused with a bit of sad reality.
But, it’s my past, and my home. Life is life.

“Ponies are really neat, and lucky. Most of you have a mom, a dad, or combination of those, and maybe siblings. Sure, you might not always eat together, or talk often, but you can talk to someone in your family, at least most of the time. If not that, you can reach out to others for help. In Griffinstone and other provinces, none of that stuff is that common. In a few areas it is, but mostly…not.” she sighed, kicking a pebble along the tunnel.

“Very few even know who their parents are. I mean, we have one holiday where we try to be pleasant, but even then, it’s just faked. Most chicks grow up on their own, and never really learn what a friend is, let alone a family. I certainly didn’t.”

A gentle nudge to her shoulder caused Gabby’s thoughts to shift, the stallion next to her having his hears slightly flattened in worry.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Gabby. Really. I can’t understand fully, but I can at least understand it must have been hard, even if it was common.” he mused, prompting a very strange warm glow to briefly ignite in the gryphoness’s chest.
That’s so sweet, and a nice way of putting it.

“Thanks, but it’s ok. As you said, it’s common, and we make do. I got lucky though- somehow I didn’t let myself be a grump. I’ve just always tried to find the good in things, despite the not so great situation.” Gabby chirped, shrugging her wings.

“You’d think we’d learn to get our act together. So many parentless kids…but in a nation where the second main sport is one-night stands, who would have guessed?” Gabby sighed. She was completely caught off guard as Aid let out a soft ‘snrk,’ shaking his head in reply.

“S-sorry. I was not expecting that.”
Gabby grinned in reply, rather enjoying the surprised stallion’s reaction.
“What? It’s true! What’s even sadder is that stuff is about as close to a friend in terms of gryphon relationships. But I think that’s changing though, at least I hope it is.” she let out a wistful sigh.

“It’s pretty much impossible to find someone to just talk to, to just have fun with- not just that other type of fun. Relationships don’t really exist there, not like in the old times. Knights, ladies, nobles, dating in any way shape or form; all that was gone generations ago. I guess that’s also part of the problem. I’ve always really envious of ponies and how that all goes, relationships with families and otherwise.”
Aid let out a soft hum in thought, then nodding his own head slowly.

“I mean, it makes sense. You don’t have any sort of family to keep stuff together. No mothers, fathers, any combination of the two- it just falls apart. I didn’t know any of that; so thank you, Gabby.” the stallion remarked sincerely.
“I visited Griffinstone when I was younger, and saw the horrid conditions some of the time. It really helped push me to help other creatures. Just because I was on the other side of the world didn’t mean I couldn’t help others.”

Gabby smiled, letting out a soft ‘oooooooh’ as they paused at an icy section of a wall.
“Oh this is neat! Look at all those swirls and patterns!” she exclaimed, fascinated by the sight.
“Looks like someone froze a wave just as it was about to crash.” Aid mused, looking at the interesting dips and weaves of the ice.
“It does!”
Huh. He likes random oddities too. That’s nice.

After regarding the interesting formation for a while longer, the pair continued on their journey, Aid piping up first.
“If I may ask, since you said pony relations are a definite thing you’d enjoy having- erm, friends and stuff, do you have any other friends that are ponies, Gabby? Sounds like these crusaders are.” the stallion asked, shrugging his shoulders.

“I only bring it up because I don’t really know any other gryphons, and you seem like the type of creature to attract other nice individuals.”
“Awwww.”
I totally saidthatoutloudohno.
Gabby’s face fluffed with embarrassment, the gryphoness not able to look at Aid for a few moments.

“Sorry. Not used to those sorts of things.” she mumbled, prompting a curious head tilt from Aid this time.
“Huh? Compliments? Blunt compliments?” he replied, and only grinned as Gabby nodded.
“….is it a bad thing? I don’t mean to make you feel uncom-”
“No! It’s just…well, new. Good new. Gryphon’s don’t really compliment each other, not normally. Even being in Equestria a fair amount doesn’t lessen the oddity fully.” The gryphoness explained, doing her absolute best to ignore the blush under her feathers.
It's just a compliment. My gosh, why are my cheeks so flushed.
A compliment from a really nice stallion.
Ugh.

“E-erm, I kind of…don’t, to answer your question.” Gabby continued.
“I haven’t talked to the Crusaders in a while, and other than Gilda back at home, there’s nobody really to chat with regularly. That’s both because of the grumpy factor and how my job keeps me moving a ton.” Gabby explained, heart starting to sink in her chest with the words.

That sounds really depressing now that I actually put words to it.
“So, circumstances make it difficult to make friends?” Aid asked, prompting a slight nod.
“Yup. Really stinks.”
“Well, I’ll join that club, but for slightly different reasons, but perhaps not totally.” the stallion mused.
“How so?”
Aid shrugged, indicating the bags on his back with a toss of his head.
“My job is…unique, and the fact I’m technically a noble makes it doubly difficult.” The stallion’s shoulders then slumped, a sad sigh leaving his frame.

“I can easily make a dozen acquaintances within a single night. But of those ponies, all are vying for power or influence, so no actual friends. Likewise, trying to make friends that aren’t just the first group masking as such…” Aid shook his head, a sour expression worming its way onto his face.
“I am a bit gullible, and have learned that the hard way.”

Gabby let out a humorless chuckle, not able to resist a sigh of her own.
“Y’know, for all the high-nosed noble stuff I’ve encountered, they sound a lot more like gryphons than I think they’d ever admit.”
Aid paused, a smile quickly dawning on his previously overcast features.
“I think you’re very right on that.”
The two continued to walk, and Gabby finally ventured a question.
I know some ponies aren’t as open or such, but maybe…

“Hey Aid?” she asked, her usual enthusiasm dampened by a bit of nerves. While the stallion was one of the nicest she had met, he was still mostly unknown to her. That said…
“Maybe we could be friends?” she suggested, nerves vanishing like smoke as a genuine grin plastered itself onto Aid’s face.
“I’d like that a lot. Unless of course, this is just a way to get more hot chocolate.” he joked, causing Gabby to giggle.
“I think if it was any other gryphon or noble, that’d be a valid question! But no, I’m just after the company!”

“Well, I’d say the reason is mutual then.”
Gabby knew her grey feathers couldn’t hide the slight flush to her cheeks this time.
Since when has anyone, let alone a guy, made me blush this much? It’s maddening!
But in a weirdly good way.

Aid couldn’t get the smile off his face a good few minutes after Gabby’s suggestion, the gryphoness’s cheery mood rather infectious.
Finding a new friend was always nice, and the stallion could certainly relate to Gabby’s predicament. He honestly haden’t really interacted with that many creatures like this before, just walking and talking.
Walking and talking alone with a lovely gryphoness.

The fact that Gabby had suggested being friends only made Aid smile more. Unlike nobles, where every possible positive interaction was a veiled request to get something, nothing could be gained by Gabby’s requestother than pleasant company.
And that’s a rare thing indeed.

“…uh oh.” Gabby muttered, slowing to a stop. Aid blinked, noticing the path in front of them lacked a very crucian ingredient.

“Where did the floor go?” she whispered, the answer not visible in the inky darkness below them. It wasn’t a massive hole- but definitely too large for a simple hop, skip, or jump. A steady wind blew up from beneath, indicating some sort of tunnel system that connected the sinkhole to the outside world.

“I guess the avalanche shifted things, including the floor. At least it collapsed when we weren’t on it!” Aid remarked, a cheerful grin on Gabby’s beak as she nodded.
“True! So how do we get across? I mean I can just glide over, hmmmmm….”
Aid crept forward, lowering the two large bags to the ground as he peeked over the edge.
“Maybe ferry the bags over, and I’ll see if I can-”

His words cut off as a blast of wind hit Aid’s face, the stallion’s eyes dilating fully. Two pink eyes surged to the forefront of his mind, and the stallion’s limbs immediately began to quake. Scooting back to press against a wall, Aid heaved in breaths as his eyes darted around, caught between the nightmares of his mind and the calm reality.
No. Not again.

“Whoa, Aid? Aid?” Gabby called, immediately walking over and sitting in front of the distraught pony.
Aid barely heard her; words rushing past his ears like the now imagined wind that pushed against his face and fur.

Gabby’s own eyes widened as tears began to stream from Aid’s eyes, the gryphoness recognizing the cloudy gaze in the stallion’s eyes from before.
Not responding to a few more calls, Gabby decided to chance it, and promptly leaned forward to wrap the pony up in a feathery hug.

For a moment, Aid didn’t respond, instead simply shivering in her arms. That alone was enough to prick at the gryphoness’s heart. Seeing such a sudden change in the previously upbeat stallion was unnerving to say the least- yet not unexpected from what she had seen earlier.
To Gabby’s surprise, she felt Aid lean forwards after a moment, sobbing into her feathers softly.
What happened to you?

His breathing began to slow, and the stallion quickly seemed to regain his faculties. Pulling away, a purple blush now began to creep up his face.
“Thanks, erm, again.” Aid mumbled, head shaking back and forth slowly.
“I really don’t know why that…it’s been over a year.”
Gabby shrugged her wings, excitable energy dampened for the moment.
“Trauma does that, and correct me if I’m wrong. Seen it in gryphons plenty of times, just well hidden.” she stated, feeling a bit of relief as the stallion nodded in agreement.
Seen it, and been there.

“Well, you’re right. I suppose you’re never cured of such, but it has been months since something like that set me off.”
She didn’t say anything for a few moments, then looked up to Aid as he scrubbed away the dampness still remaining on his cheeks.
“I’m certainly curious, but it isn’t my business. I know better than to push, especially on stuff like that. I’m just glad I could help.” she whispered, a smile now making its way back onto her features.

“Considering that’s twice you’ve helped, I think you deserve a bit of an explanation.” Aid replied, ears perking up in surprise as Gabby shook her head.
“Deserve? I don’t think that’s the right word. For stuff like that, an explanation isn’t really a deserved thing. A helpful and clarifying thing maybe, but I don’t see it as deserved. I guess that’s a view many would have though…”

Apparently, that was not the reply Aid was expecting, because he stared flabbergasted at the gryphoness until he was able to speak again.
“You are the most fascinating and kind gryphon I’ve ever met, Gabby. Thank you for that- it’s a lovely and fresh perspective.”

Gabby’s cheeks instantly ignited, and she mumbled something containing the word ‘welcome’, at least she thought she did.
Ugh. Why do I get thrown off by compliments STILL? I mean it doesn’t help that it’s from a really neat guy.
….hmm. I guess I’m starting to get a list of reasons why though. I wonder-

“All I’ll say about the matter though is this. With my work, I try to save every-creature. That’s just not possible sometimes, and last year was a really bad one. I almost didn’t make it either.” Aid whispered, head shaking slowly.
Oh wow…I can’t image-
No. I pretty well can. Not exactly, but pretty close. I’m sure you did your best Aid.

“Well, back to the immediate issue, how do we get across this thing?” Aid asked, prompting Gabby to perk back up and giggle.
“Well, I can fly the bags over, and maybe carry you. It’s not that far- just a few wing flaps.” She mused, causing a certain stallion to shrug.
“Huh. Really? I know it kind of varies on how much one can carry, so I wasn’t going to suggest it.”
Is that his way of not wanting to mention I’m a bit small?
…That’s actually rather sweet.

“Heh, well considering I’m not the most beefy gryphon around, it’s a fair assumption.” Gabby replied, spreading her wings for emphasis.
“I mean, I’m deeeefinitelly on the small side, but I can still carry a fair amount, especially for a short distance.” She added, another blush dawning on her cheeks as Aid glanced her way.

“I wasn’t sure if it was a sore topic.” The stallion mused, then looking away.
Wait. Is that a blush?
IT TOTALLY IS!
“Aaaaaiiiid. Whatcha thinking?” Gabby asked, not about to let the pony get away with a possible juicy bit of insider information.
“Nothing important…”
Oh that means it is!

“You know, blue fur makes seeing blushes rather easy.”
TOTALLY PURPLE NOW!
I’ll be sure to make it up to him, but this is too much fun, and it’s all in GOOD fun.
Gabby picked up something along the lines of ‘grey makes it easy too,’ (which immediately made her own feathers fluff rebelliously,) but the gryphoness then turned her attention to Aid as he began to speak.

“Just about size.” he mumbled, now appearing to be genuinely bashful as the stallion kicked at a small pebble.
“It’s just rather nice, not a bad thing at all. You being smaller I mean.”
“…Huh.”

The blush on Aid’s cheeks deepened, Gabby then letting out a soft laugh and waving her claws.
“I don’t mean that in a bad way! Just- I’ve never had the topic come up and it end so nicely.” she explained, the bashfulness apparently finding a new home in her heart.
“It’s new that being smaller is a good thing. With gryphon’s it definitely isn’t. So, thank you, Aid.”

Seeing a genuine smile on his face, the gryphoness decided to press her luck a bit further. It would either make things a bit more simple, or really complicated, depending how the conversation went.
I am curious though.

“Y’know, I’ve never seen someone blush as much as you do, and I have to say, it’s a good look. Is it something I’ve said or did? And before you say anything, I knooooow my feathers don’t hide mine well. I’m just not used to compliments.” Gabby remarked, watching the stallion out of the corner of her eye.
To her surprise, Aid Chaser’s brow simply furrowed in thought.
“It’s a new thing, actually.” he muttered, apparently not having thought about the issue much before.
“Oh?”

The stallion toyed with a pebble in front of his hooves, magic pushing it this way and that.
Quite a loaded question- what answer are you looking for, Gabby?
…Or are you looking for a specific answer at all?
“Just, erm, Gabby, I am walking the line between being professional and not. I’m technically working, but this is a rather unique situation.” he explained with a sigh.

“You’re quite a charming gryphoness, and that’s something rather impossible for me to ignore, nor would I want to in any situation. Does that answer your sort-of-question?” he asked, fully aware of the blush on his face but deciding to glance over to her regardless.

Seeing Gabby’s entire face puff out was well worth the effort, the courier staring at him for a few long moments. Apparently, words completely failed her, because the gryphoness quickly ferried the two large bags across the gap and then sat down to look at Aid.
“Erm, sorry. I wasn’t expecting that. Well, not totally, but not like that.” she muttered, prompting Aid to tilt his head curiously

“Huh?”
“Let’s cross the gap first?” she suggested, prompting the stallion to wince.
Did I overstep things? Ugh. I’ve always been so good on being professional.
…But I’ve never been stuck with an attractive female twenty-four-seven before.
Not that I’m complaining, but hopefully that didn’t ruin anything.

Aid nodded, letting out a soft yelp as Gabby yanked him into the air. Her wings beat visibly faster as she heaved the stallion across the crevasse, safely depositing him on the other wide.
“Huh. That was easy.” The unicorn mused, picking up his bags and glancing back to Gabby.
“Shall we continue?”
She nodded, still staying silent for a time. That alone was enough to put the stallion on edge. Usually, when you give a hint that you find someone attractive in any sense, and they clam up, that’s an uh-oh.

“Do you really find me charming? Erm, offthe record if you’re on the job, if that helps.” Gabby asked, voice strangely subdued but still carrying with it an underlying perkiness.
“Yes, very.” was Aid’s quick and sincere answer, prompting a slight sniffle from the courier.
“Nobody has ever said that about me b-before.”

Pausing on hearing Gabby’s words stutter, Aid sat down and looked over to her, the usually peppy gryphoness staring at her claws.
Uh oh.
“Gabby? I’m sorry, did I say something wrong? I really didn’t mean to cause-”
A giggle reassured him that she was alright; even though her teal eyes were damp and brimming with a storm of emotions.

“Wrong? Aid, you’ve said so much right, that’s part of what’s a bit hard to process.” she sighed, shaking her head.
“You’ve been to Griffinstone- that’s what you said. How well do you think somegriff like me fit in there when growing up, let alone got complimented?” Gabby asked softly, her wings drooping ever so slightly.

“The closest thing to that I ever got was a few guys making a remark about my figure. And I won’t repeat those things. Even ponies just see me as another gryphon, but just an odd one. S-so, you didn’t say anything wrong. If anything….well, thanks.” she whispered, tracing the ground with a set of claws.
Aid blinked, then letting out a shrug as a smile spread to his features.
An interesting change- I guess she’s not all infinite energy and a boundless well of happiness. There’s another gryphon underneath that, maybe one who could use a hug a bit more than me.

“Well you are most welcome. Now, I don’t know about you, but I think we should get out of this cave before we run out of hot chocolate.” he quipped with a smile, words eliciting a slight giggle from Gabby, ears perking back up.
“Agreed.”
She seemed a bit more at ease as they walked now, a bit of pep returning to her step. Oddly, Aid felt a strange warmth prickle along his spine when the unicorn caught Gabby’s gaze flickering over to him, the action causing her to smile just a bit more.

Well, she knows I find her charming, so I guess that’d make her feel better.
Wait.
WAIT.
What if it’s not that, but actually just-
…..Naaaaaaaah.

Author's Note

*Gestures to a small container* anti-fluff formula shots are complimentary upon reading the story.
Looks like both these individuals have an interesting past...
AND THE BEGINNINGS OF THE FLORF!
(Fluff + Lore, Character Lore in this case) = Florf.