. . . . . . . .
Curtain Rise!

Act III: The Law

Scene i: In the Flesh

The entire population of Girffonstone was currently out and about. Everygriff was gathered in the center of the once great city for a particular purpose. A big change for Griffonstone was in the works, and whether or not it would come to fruition depended on this very meeting.

A makeshift podium was set up, and Gilda was standing at it as she addressed the mass of griffons gathered together, with Greta and Gabby flanking her.

"Alright, alright! Listen up, Griffonstone!" Gilda said loudly, "There's been a growing desire among you lot that we should repeal the law the bans singing in Griffonstone. I gotta tell ya, I didn't think something like this would ever happen, but here we are."

Gilda cracked a smile and said, "Heh, and I gotta admit, I'm on board with this too. Believe me, I'd hate to have us break into random musical numbers like the ponies, but I'd bet some singing every once and a while would really brighten this dingy place up. So, I'm all for this!"

"ME TOO!" Gabby said cheerfully as she pumped her right fist into the air.

"Gabby, calm down," Greta said stoically as she gently grabbed Gabby's wrist and pulled her back down into a sitting position.

Gilda's smile fell and she sighed in annoyance, "But. . ., not everygriff wants the law repealed. So, we called together this meeting here to get both sides of the argument. That way we can make a fair decision about this law. . ." Gilda paused for a moment, looking as if she were dreading what was coming next, and then she said, "Well, I guess we'd better get on with it. Speaking for the side that wants to keep the no singing law. . . we have. . . Grampa Gruff. . ."

Gilda stepped away from the podium as Grampa Gruff walked over.

"Outta my way!" he spat at Gabby, deliberately pushing into her.

Gabby was silent as the older griffon walked by, but she did give him a pitying look. Gretta and Gilda, however, looked as irritated as ever.

There was a bit of applause and cheering as Grampa Gruff stood before the entire population of Griffonstone. He adjusted his fez hat, cleared his throat, and spoke out to the crowd in the loudest voice he could muster.

So ya thought ya might like to see that law go?

To hear and make the melodies that those ponies know?

Grampa Gruff smirked for a moment, then he continued.

I've got some bad news for you, deviants

You're clearly not well, and traitorous as well!

No pathetic pony attribute will tarnish this land!

Right now we will find out where you griffons really stand!

Greta and Gilda exchanged nervous glances, while Gabby merely stared at Grampa Gruff with a blank, bewildered expression on her face.

Grampa Gruff leaned on the podium and peered into the crowd with his good eye.

Are there any ponylovers in crowd today?

Grampa Gruff slammed the podium with his right fist and shouted.

Throw them into the Abyss!

There was a gasp of shock that ran through the crowd, but Grampa Gruff appeared to ignore it as he continued.

Does anygriff envy the pony way? We'll make them pay!

Thrown them into the Abyss!

Grampa Gruff hunched over the podium as he swept his good eye across the crowd in judgement, venom in his voice as he continued on with his tirade.

That one likes dancing! That one makes cake!

Get these freaks out of Griffonstone for goodness sake!

All you griffons with songs that you want to hear sung. . .

If I had my way. . .

I'd have all of you hung!

The audience was now loudly talking amongst themselves. Clearly they were affected by Grampa Gruff's speech.

Meanwhile, behind the old griffon, Gabby, Gilda, and Greta were feeling a mixture of shock and utter disbelief. Gabby's beak was hanging open, and she actually began to feel a little afraid of the old griffon. Greta was frowning in deep thought, while Gilda clearly had a deep and furious anger boiling up inside her.

In spite of all this, Grampa Gruff simply stood at the podium with a contented, satisfied smirk on his face.

Scene ii: Griffon Holiday

Slowly but surely, the muttering of the crowd slowly shrank away as a new sound garnered their attention. As more griffons noticed the sounds, more of them ceased speaking, which made the approaching noises all the more apparent.

Grampa Gruff noticed this as well, as he craned his neck to see that a group was slowly making their way into Griffonstone. It appeared that the group was the source of the noise, which turned out to not merely be noise, but music.

Before long, the group got close enough for the griffons of Griffonstone to see who it was. It turned out to be Gallus, leading his five best friends into town. What's more, his friends were all carrying a musical instrument. Smolder was playing her tambourine, Yona was playing a yovidaphone, Ocellus was playing a harmonica she held up with her magic, Silverstream was hovering in midair as she played a guitar, and Sandbar was playing a tuba.

The group was marching with serious expression on their faces, clearly that had a definite purpose in their arrival. Once the group got close enough to the crowd, Gallus turned around and gave a nod to his friends.

The group increased their volume, and Gallus turned around again to address the crowd of griffons in song with his friends backing him up.

Hear the sound of the fallen reign
King Guto's kingdom went down in flames (Hey!)
A shame
But the Arimaspi wasn't all to blame

Gallus pointed an accusing claw at Grampa Gruff, who was still standing at the podium looking scandalized.

Hear old Gruff howlin' out of key
To a hymn called faith and misery (Hey!)
You see
He's gonna loose the war today

Gallus' friends joined him as he stood proudly before his fellow griffons and sang.

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
Griffon holiday!

Gallus thumped his chest with his fist as he continued.

Hear my heart pounding out of time
Cause I'm the griff who's gonna cross the line (Hey!)
To find,
The money's on the ponies' side

Gallus turned back to his friends and smiled.

Hey guys, can I get an Amen?

(Amen!)

Gallus frowned as he looked around Griffonstone.

Because the flag of my land's been torn to shreds (Hey!)
So sad,
Look at our crumbling monument

Gallus pointed to the crumbling statue of King Grover, and everygriff in the crowd looked at it as well. Many spoke words of regret as they looked upon the old statue, shame and self-disappointment seeping into their hearts.

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
Griffon holiday!

As Gallus' friends played, many of the griffons began swinging their tails, bopping their heads, and tapping their talons to the music. Smile were even beginning to appear on some of their faces.

Grampa Gruff, however, was utterly livid. The fact that Gallus had brought a bunch of non-griffons into Griffonstone to blatantly disobey a law they hadn't finished discussing just made his blood boil. Just as he was about to raise his voice and demand that the music stop, the music suddenly became lower and less strong, much to his surprise. Before he could make anything of it, Grampa Gruff was suddenly shoved to the side by Smolder, who had swiftly flown up to him.

"How dare you!" Grampa Gruff shouted, "Get your filthy claws off-."

Smolder held the old griffon's mouth shut with both claws and said, "Quiet you! Gallus has the floor."

Gallus flew up to the podium and looked out the crowd. "King Guto, give me strength," he thought to himself, then he spoke.

If you ignore old Grampa Gasbag
Then his voice is your punishment

Hordes all his cash and he does nothing
How can you call that a government?

"Mine, mine," goes his crotchety voice and
"Hang all the griffs that don't agree!"

His world of greed is catching fire
It's not the way for you and me!

Gallus lifted up his claws to the sky and declared loudly to all of Griffonstone as his friends began singing and playing strongly once again.

Just sing!

Just sing
And let your voice be heard!

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives

This is our lives, Griffon Holiday!

As the the group finished playing, the griffons all cheered, fully swayed and invigorated by the music. It was quite clear that the decision had already been made. The law banning music in Griffonstone would surely be repealed.

"YAY, GALLUS!" Gabby shouted as she flew over to him and patted him on the back.

Gilda just smiled calmly at him and said, "You did good, kid. Guess all that friendship is magic nonsense wasn't nonsense after all."

Greta was silent, deep in thought as she gazed at the cheering griffons. However, she noticed out of the corner of her eye the absolutely livid countenance of Grampa Gruff. Hatred burned in his eyes, and he swiftly turned around and walked back to his home.

Greta watched the old griffon go with a wary look in her eye.

Scene iii: Music and Songs

Starlight Glimmer was pacing in her Guidance Counselor Office in the School of Friendship. She wasn't just pacing, she was nervously pacing. She was so caught up in her own pacing that it was a solid 2 minutes before she noticed Princess Twilight had entered the room, and that was only because Twilight had spoken up.

"You really don't need to be this worried," Twilight said.

Starlight actually jumped in shock and turned to look at Twilight. She took a moment to catch her breath, then she said, "Yes I do, Twilight. You don't understand how things have been for Gallus lately." Starlight scowled a bit before continuing, "Things have gotten worse between him and that awful Grampa Gruff. I swear he's everything wrong with Griffonstone given physical form. And if Gallus' plan to help get the anti-singing law repealed doesn't work-."

"It will work," Twilight said with certainty.

Starlight huffed and said, "How could you possibly be so sure?"

"Because his friends are with him," Twilight said, "And I'm pretty sure we both have. . .experience with friendship doing amazing things. If friendship can save the world. . . or the timeline. . .then I'm pretty sure friendship can improve a struggling city."

Starlight gave Twilight a look and said, "Ya just had to go there, didn't ya. Not that I blame you, and I'll admit you've got a point. . .but still. . ."

Starlight fell silent, and Twilight looked upon her with sympathy. "You really are concerned about Gallus, aren't you?"

The question caused Starlight to recall the incident between Grampa Gruff and Trixie, as well as the Gallus asking her about finding another guardian, and of course the moment when she learned that Gallus and his friends went off to help get the anti-singing law repealed. Twilight had approved of the mission, and Starlight had only learned of it after the group had already left, leading to a full day of fretting and worrying.

Starlight went over her worries over the young blue griffon in her head for a moment, then opened her mouth to voice the conclusion she came to.

Knock-knock-knock!

Surprised at the interruption, Starlight turned to the door and called out, "Come in!"

Smolder entered the room, and she promptly closed the door behind her as she entered.

Starlight practically zipped right over to the dragon and said, "You're back! Did everything work out!? Was the law repealed? Where's Gallus? Where are the others? What happened?!"

Smolder backed up a bit, slightly freaked out by Starlight's enthusiasm.

Twilight used her magic to pull Starlight backwards and said, "Starlight, I think you should give her a moment."

"Uh, yeah!" Smolder remarked with an eye brow raised, "I just walk in and I get a pony all up in my face?"

Starlight smiled sheepishly and said, "Oops. Sorry. I just gotta know how it turned out. . ." Starlight's face fell, "Wait, why are here alone? Is Gallus okay? Oh my gosh, don't tell me you couldn't. . ."

Smolder held up a claw as she frowned seriously, "Wait, just wait a minute. I kinda got a question for you, first."

Starlight nodded and said, "Okay. . ."

Smolder stood in a relaxed pose with a claw on her hip, then she snapped her claws as she spoke.

How does a ragtag, mishmash, gang of young creatures,
Change a rotting city with such depressing features?

The door suddenly opened slightly, and Ocellus slipped into the room and posed her own question.

How do we free Griffonstone from the quagmire,
and somehow lift the low spirits of griffon-kind higher?

Sandbar slipped in through the slightly ajar door and chimed in with a smile.

Well. . turns out we have a secret weapon!
A feathered friend you know and love who's not afraid to step in!

Silverstream zipped in right behind Sandbar and spoke absolutely gleefully.

He totally rocked the place and forced old Gruff to give in. . .

Yona threw the door wide open and shouted at the top of her lungs.

Everycreature cheer loud for truest, bluest griffon!

GALLUS!

Gallus swooped in through the door, practically glowing with delight as he danced in mid air not unlike Rainbow Dash and sang.

I'm taking Griffonstone by the reins
Driving Grampa Gruff insane!

GALLUS!

And I'm never gonna stop
Bring griffons to the top
'Til none of their grumpy greed remains,
I'm-

GALLUS!

Watch me singing with 'em,
Flinging with 'em!
Convincing 'em to throw that law out!

GALLUS!

I went to get some stuff done!

GALLUS!

I went and brought out-

Music
And songs
Snatched from defeat' prongs

Silverstream nodded enthusiastically as she explained.

We met with Greta and Gabby,
And we chowed on Gilda's scones!

Gallus landed next to her and nodded, wearing a slightly nervous look.

We can bring back Griffonstone, raise it like a phoenix,
But for this to succeed,
There is someone else we need

"I know," Silverstream said.

The six friends all pointed right at the unicorn in the room.

STARLIGHT GLIMMER!

Gallus flew over to a very surprised Starlight and proudly draped a wing over her back with a smile.

Yeah, this pony's got a genius brain!
When she trusts her gut, she's evil's bane!

STARLIGHT GLIMMER!

You all know I was gonna ask her eventually
Who's better to guide me than a counselor, she's-

STARLIGHT GLIMMER!

My city needs her resilience
To save it I just need a dose of her brilliance

STARLIGHT GLIMMER!

I wanna fight for my land back!

STARLIGHT GLIMMER!

Silverstream winked.

Get the griffons back on track!

STARLIGHT GLIMMER!

Gallus looked at Starlight intently as his other friends chanted.

Yeah! Get the griffons back on track! (Get the griffons back on track!)
You know we'll get the griffons back on track! (Griffons back on track!)

I mean I want to make Griffonstone better (Starlight Glimmer!)
I need help from Miss Glimmer (Starlight Glimmer! Starlight Glimmer!)
To get the griffons back on track! (Ha! Ha!)

Gallus lifted his wing off of Starlight, and then quickly stepped away and turned to face her.

Guidance Counselor Glimmer. . .
All of Griffonstone is waiting for you
If you would help me out right now, together we can turn the tide

Gallus took out a scroll and unrolled it, showing it to Starlight.

Oh, Guidance Counselor Glimmer
I have ideas to be approved by you
If we manage to get this right...
If we keep fighting the good fight...
Griffonstone won't be the same,
Miss Starlight Glimmer…

Gallus smiled gently at Starlight as he held out his scroll of ideas for Griffonstone. Starlight gazed at him in amazement for a moment, and then her eyes drifted over to Princess Twilight. The Alicorn didn't say a word. She simply smiled and tilted her head to silently communicate to Starlight that the choice was hers.

Gallus' friends all held their breath, looking on tensely as Starlight appeared to be in deep thought.

Then, Starlight smiled broadly and said, "I'll do it."

Curtain!

Author's Note

Author's Note:

The featured songs were In the Flesh from Pink Floyd's The Wall, Holiday by Green Day, and Guns and Ships from the musical Hamilton.

On the Song List so far (and in no particular order):
~~Poison (Thanks for Nothing) by littlejayneycakes~~
~~You'll Be Back from~~ Hamilton
~~Holiday by Greenday~~
~~Guns and Ships from~~ Hamilton
The Story of Tonight from Hamilton
The Story of Tonight (Reprise) from Hamilton
The Cell Block Tango from Chicago (Glee cover)
Cupcakes from Something Broke by tarbyrocks
Thank You Very Much from Scrooge- 1970
The World's Greatest Criminal Mind from The Great Mouse Detective
Stronger Than You- Sans Version by djsmell
Stronger Than You- Frisk Version by Starbeam
~~Cheer Up Charlie from~~Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
~~Be Prepared from~~ The Lion King (2019 and 1994)
~~I Have a Plan from~~ The Lion Guard
When I Lead the Guard (How I Got My Scar) from The Lion Guard
MAYBE Ten Duel Commandments from Hamilton
MAYBE The World Was Wide Enough from Hamilton