Four days later....

Click click click tock.

The middle drawer opened ever so slowly.

Click click tock click.

The drawer was closed, and the first reopened, she set her head next to the side panel and listened closely.

Click click click tock.

The third drawer handle was grasped and cautiously opened.

Click click tickticktick tsssssssssss.

The drawers all slid shut of their own accord and Gilda sighed. She held the ornate jewelry box in her lap, its beautiful finish shimmering in the low light. Using two talons, she rubbed her beak nares and groaned, leaning back into the comfy cushion. Her wings felt constricted in the small chair but she didn't budge. She set the box onto the bedside table and her eyes caught the light on the window; her gaze lingered.

The sun outside the window was at its zenith, casting shadows on the edge of the sill. Four days after a massive storm had battered Griffonstone, a beautiful clear sky day had appeared. Outside, griffons were flying around screeching, warbling, and throwing snowballs at one another. Coffee, hot cocoa, and spiced cider were being shared. The gruffer adults seemed to enjoy complaining whenever the younger ones got underfoot in excitement or a snowball came too close for personal comfort. They could try and hide their smiles but it was noticed.

The town was happy. The people were happy. Their nests were being reinforced and some were being rebuilt altogether.

Gilda scowled and stood, walking over to the window and gripped the currents with both claws; she raked them closed forcefully. The room was darkened considerably in doing so, but Gilda didn't care. The nurses could complain all they wanted to. "Stupid idiots". She growled. "Stupid, dumb, uncaring assholes, all of you." Her voice was a whisper. She didn't wake the other occupant in the room.

She wished she could. Oh how she wished they would wake up.

She felt her claws and arms shake, her eyes clenched shut, and she fought the tears. "They go on like nothing happened...Like you aren't even in danger...No one even seems to care about you, except me...Gabby..."

Behind her, in a similar hospital bed to the one she'd woken up in days prior, suspended above it belly down, floated Gabby. Large arcane rune circles were hovering around her. Every so often they'd all pulse in different lights and different parts of Gabby's anatomy would glow in response. Her front right side was covered in large hard casts Her right wing was almost completely bound in white, the primary feathers barely visible at the end. She hung limp, eyes closed, almost as if sleeping.

Ten hours of surgery, four doctor swap outs during the procedure, and a Princess had been called in.

It had been an extremely close call, Gabby had teetered on deaths door twice during the procedure, needing to be revived. It had all felt so surreal, like a dream, but Gilda remembered seeing Princess Luna briefly. She hadn't cast any magic on Gilda, no. All her focus had been on the hen floating next to her now. She'd been emergency called in with Starlight Glimmer, by Gallus request, after Gabby went flat line the first time. Luna had apparently used her dream magic to calm Gabby's frantic and fractured mind, and with it, her body seemed to calm as well. Starlight had activated more then fourteen rune circles around the griffoness originally, each one designed to probe for problems and either fix them, or notify a doctor immediately should it be too much.

After Gabby's surgery was over, the first three nights spent at the pony hospital were...problematic. Gilda, after gaining her full mobility back, fought the doctors at every turn to see Gabby. She even got restrained by one of Princess Luna's night guard for trying to escape through the window early in the morning. When it was clear nothing was going to stop Gilda from reaching her friend, and the doctors had determined Gabby was no longer in fatal condition, Luna made the executive decision to move Gabby and Gilda back to Griffonstone. The train ride back had been just as tumultuous. Gilda didn't sit still, pacing back and forth as Glimmer and Luna rested.

The two night guard had assured her that Gabby would be well protected by them, but Gilda had paid them no heed and had sat next to the hen the whole way. From there, the two ponies had been staying at Gilda's bakery for the next week, in case they were needed. Luna, when not at the hospital, was ingratiating herself to the occupants of the griffon city, and assisting with the construction of new nests around town. The guest bedroom of Gilda's apartment had been taken by Luna, and her threstral guard detail, while Gilda gave Starlight her personal bedroom. Starlight had objected, but found it pointless to argue after the first two days.

Gilda still hadn't gone home since returning anyway. She'd stayed in the room with Gabby and slept on the floor much to the annoyance of the nurses. She watched with growing hope and apprehension as the wards around her friend pulsed softer as the days ticked by. Eventually most of them were gone, Starlight said that it was a good sign. It meant there were less complications and trouble to be found. The regular pulses Gilda saw now, were the injuries the remaining wards couldn't simply fix, and ones the doctors had done all they could physically.

They were like a tiny lightshow, dancing hearths-warming lights, Gilda imagined. The green one lit up along Gabby's back, on her Coracoid bone. It was the hardest one to fix, having taken the full brunt of the pallet. The bone had been practically destroyed, but Luna had access to magic that none of the Doctors could hope to handle. The bone had been almost nearly put back together, with the side effect that Luna could not cast the spell again for a week at least. The light from the first ward faded and was immediately overshadowed by the purple ward, as it shimmered into life, wrapping gently around Gabby's Humorous bone. Little flecks of magical residue danced in the air like dust particles in the sunlight. The Humorous had been the least damaged, and thankfully the doctors were able to fix it without much help form the Alicorn Princess.

From there the red one activated, flowing along Gabby's radius like water, the second most damaged bone in her wing. Being hit by a corner of the wood sections had crushed it in the middle, causing multiple horizontal splits. It always seemed to be the angriest ward to Gilda. Like the world had slighted it and it sought revenge or something. She'd chuckled at first, murmuring her idea to the unconscious hen. No reply came of course, But Gilda found the more she talked to Gabby, the more it seemed to help.

She didn't chuckle now.

Finally the blue ward activated, and with its cool tones sifting over Gabby's Ulna bone, came the somber fact that her chances of ever flying again rode on that bone entirely. In griffons, The Ulna bone was like the unicorn horn for a griffon's flight magic. Break the Ulna bone too much and a griffon was grounded for life. For most flying species of the planet Equus, this was like being told you had three days to live.

Everything rode on that bone healing properly. Gabby's job, her career, her capabilities, and most importantly, her mental health, confidence and self esteem. A griffon that lost their flight, usually tended to lose a lot more after. Happiness and self worth plummet to all time lows, and some fall so far into depression, that they go to very dark places. Places one can't come back from.

Gilda shuddered as the light show faded away. She wouldn't leave Gabby until she was back up in the air again. The room fell back into darkness as the lights bled away completely. It would be back of course, Gilda had it timed now almost perfectly.

Every ten minutes. Every ten minutes I'm reminded of what I've done... Gilda walked around the bed to the end, and gently reached up, holding Gabby's cheek in her claws. She tenderly stroked the hen's cheek feathers. She'd been told multiple times it wasn't her fault. By Gallus first, the young tom was desperate to take the blame on himself and his guards. Several of them had joined him in this statement, but she'd tuned them out. Then by Princess Luna, the alicorn wasn't harsh in her words, but she didn't cut corners either. Gilda supposed she liked that about Luna, she was more forward than Celestia. Her words hurt more than they helped though.

The reason was that they were the most accurate. Survivors guilt, she'd said, was like an acid that burned constantly in the heart, and no amount of caring words from others would help lessen its pain. Gilda would have to decided if she was going to fight through it alone, or with friends by her side. Starlight Glimmer came next, a few of the doctors after that, and even by Grampa Gruff. The old buzzard had come in and quietly sat down at her side. The two hadn't spoken in a while, so she was surprised he'd turned up at all.

When he'd tried to put a talon on her shoulder, she'd growled and shuffled a few feet away, wrapping her wings around herself defensively. She refused to look him in the eye. He'd frowned and removed his fez.

"...You think I'm heartless don't cha? One of my charges is put in Death's claws and you think I'll just up and forget em? Well you'd be wrong. I may be rude, an ass, a prideful cock, and rather fond of the good ol days...but whatever yeh and the others think of me, it ain't worth a crock of horse-apples. I care about you three as if you were me own." His eyes downcast, and he murmured. "Sometimes...well sometimes I do wish you were my own." He'd dared to scoot closer and spoke far gentler than she ever remembered him doing.

"Gilda, Gallus, and Gabby. The 'Pillars of Griffonstone' they're calling ya, ya know that?"

Gilda had heard it a few times in passing, but she'd ignored it mostly. Gruff continued, sounding hopeful for a change.

"You three are the pride of this town, any griffon parent would be proud as Grover himself to claim ya as their blood." He'd paused and eyed the hen, who stared up at gabby forlornly. "I would be, at least. You guys are changing this world for the better and I know it, even if I don't agree with some of it." He whispered.

A moment of silence...the remaining wards did a another light show.

"Listen, Gilda...I know yeh probably heard it before, from the docs and the pony princess and all, but this wasn't your doing. The council made the vote. I didn't... I mean we didn't listen to you. I'll at least admit I'm a tough old bird and letting go of my pride is hard...but this time...This time Gabby paid for it. So we are gonna do what we can to make it up to you two...okay?"

He waited a moment, watching as Gilda, his eldest charge, turned her head away from him. "Go away." She'd whispered.

He frowned, and tried to reach to her, but when she hissed back at him, her sharp piercing gaze told him it'd be unwise. He lowered his gaze to the floor and left. The door had clicked shut behind him like a final note in a orchestra of sorrow, and Gilda wept openly. She didn't care that the nurses could hear her warbling and sobbing, she didn't care that Gruff and the council were going to help Gabby and her. She cared about one thing only.

Seeing Gabby alive and well. Seeing her flying. Seeing her smile. That ridiculous smile that always brought joy to those around the hen. That smile that had shown up so many times when Gilda had needed assurance or comfort. Gilda clasped her claws together and leaned her forehead into them on the bed, propped on her elbows. Her wings arced open and seemed to hover just inches away from Gabby's chest.

I need her to smile...just one more time...just once in my lifetime let her smile and I won't act bothered! Let her hug me as much as she fucking wants to and I'll hug her back, I swear it!

Her shoulders shivered, her wings slowly closed, and she slumped against the bed. Tears streaked her cheeks as she pleaded to no one in particular. "Please..." She whispered. Her body moved of it's own accord, crawling underneath Gabby's form and laying there a foot or so beneath her. Gilda reached up and tenderly cupped Gabby's cheeks once more. Her voice weak and frail, like a hatchling mewling for its mother...

"P-Please...smile...just once....let me know you're still...still there."

Gabby didn't smile.

Seven Days Later...

click click click tock.

Gilda frowned and closed the first drawer. She scribbled a quick note down, and then she held the box to her ear again and slowly opened the second drawer.

Click click tock click.

She nodded, and closed the middle drawer and then opened the first.

Click click tock tock.

Gilda scribbled the new sound pattern onto a parchment she'd grabbed from a nurse.

Instead of going farther, she closed all the drawers and set it on the side table once more. Looking over her notes, she nodded to herself, nibbling the eraser gently in her beak. "Uh huh...definitely a pattern here...What the hell is this thing, a bomb?"

She glanced at the clock. It read seven thirty P.M. She groaned and tossed the parchment and quill onto the bed. "Ugh I hate puzzles Gabby. They suck." Several days of studying the jewelry box and all Gilda had figured out was that the separate sounds made a pattern. The 'tock" noises meant something inside the bottom was unlocking. If she did the combination of the drawers wrong though, it all reset. It was aggravating, but it also helped keep Gilda's mind from wandering. She needed to keep herself occupied or her thoughts would turn sour.

Above her, Gabby continued floating. The ward on her Humorous bone had finally disappeared, so there was good news there. It felt better knowing one less problem would rear its ugly head. Gilda watched her friend's chest rise and fall as she slept, and then shrugged, and stood up. This elicited several sudden pops and cracks from her body as the hen stretched. She looked surprised, caught mid stretch with wide startled eyes as her body readjusted to the movement. "Ooooh I need to stop sitting in that chair for so long, it's destroying my back..."

It took a second, but she blinked halfway through an arm stretch and rethought about her wording and facepalmed hard. "WOW...That was in terrible taste! I'm uh, sorry Gabby, my bedside manner is atrocious." She smirked half-heartedly. "I know if you could here me, you'd have laughed at it, that's what counts I guess."

Gabby remained unmoving.

After a moment of silence, Gilda yawned and then almost gagged as her breath caught her nostrils and she reeled for a second. She pointed at Gabby with a claw. "Uh...okay either you ghosted a fart like a pro, or my breath just tried to kill me..."

Taking a moment to sniff her chest and wings, she coughed and gagged with a grimace. "Nope, not you, that is definitely me." She checked herself over, and realized she hadn't properly bathed in days. Her feathers were all out of placement, her head crest was droopy with too much body oils, and her tail actually felt heavier than normal. With a resigned sigh she turned and looked up to Gabby.

"I...I should probably fix that. I know I said I wouldn't leave you, but it might explain why the nurses were particularly brusk with me..." She walked forward and reared up onto the bed. After a moment of hesitation, she leaned out to nuzzle Gabby's good shoulder with her beak and cheek feathers, and gave a short but soft warble. "You'll be okay while I'm gone, right?"

Gabby floated silently on, and Gilda sadly pulled back. Using her palms, she rubbed her cheek feathers vigorously and then smacked both her hands to her cheeks. Her eyes snapped open with determination.

"Right, personal intervention! I need to go home and shower, and maybe take a nap. and--" Her stomach grumbled something fierce. Gilda wobbled on three legs as she clutched her belly with a talon. The floor swayed slightly. "Ooh...and maybe eat something that isn't just hospital pudding cups..."

she eyed the corner trash bin where a pile of empty chocolate pudding cups teetered dangerously on the edge of collapse. they were good pudding cups...

She left promptly, notifying one of the doctors where she'd be. He seemed very happy to hear this news and even helped usher her out the door with a mention of a good soap brand to try using on her wings. Sheesh...She didn't smell that bad, right?

She exited out of the hospital and...

Okay, either those flowers were actually wilting on the sidewalk as she passed or she was hallucinating. She glowered at em and grumbled. "Okay jeez I'm going I'm going. Who plants flowers in winter, in Griffonstone anyway?"

She didn't look back or she would have seen them all shrug, high five each other, and change colors.

two hours, one shower, a preening and a meal later....

Gilda sighed blissfully as she stepped from the shower feeling refreshed and invigorated. Never in her life had bathing felt so... good. The water temperature had been perfect, never cooling or heating too much in the wrong direction. It seemed to find all her sore spots and just...take em away. The soap and cleaning supplies were well stocked in her bathroom and her feathers felt soft and smooth once more after a good preening. Her paw pads on her back feet squeaked lightly as she made her way out of the bathroom and into her bedroom. She'd been surprised to find It was sort of in disarray. She'd have to tell Starlight she was a horrible nest builder.

Luna on the other hand, had kept her room pristine and neat. Nice and clean too, each surface was polished and even sparkled in the right light. Gilda cautiously closed the guest bedroom door and just vowed she'd poke everything with a stick first in case it had magic in it. Neither Luna nor Glimmer were present however, and Gilda wondered if they were away on business or if the council had them tied up at the moment.

Figuring it wasn't her problem any more she headed back to the hospital. As she landed(and verified the flowers were NOT wilting) and entered the building proper, she saw a younger griffon by the name of Gunter hailing her with a waved claw. He was a spunky red tail hawk variant griffon tom who worked with Gabby at the news post. Like gabby, he was energetic and perky and loved to laugh and smile. "Miss Gilda is that you?" He asked, his wings fluffing out in excitement.

Gilda reached him and frowned, looking around the main lobby of the hospital. two other patrons were present and openly ignored the duo. She looked back to him and rolled her eyes. "Last I checked I'm the only Gilda in this town, so unless some stupid bug pony is impersonating me, then yeah, it's me. What do you need, Gunter?"

Gunter reached into his post bag and produced a small scroll. "You got a letter!" At first, Gilda felt a little elation jump into her chest at the sight of the scroll. She thought it might be another letter from her mystery lover. She'd kind of wanted one to show up, but ever since Gabby had been hospitalized, she'd not received a new one.

I guess if they know what's going on, they're being considerate and giving me some space to spend time with Gabby, that's nice of them. She accepted the scroll from Gunter, who happily warbled and trilled in front of her, much to her confusion. Why is he so excited I got mail?

"Um, thanks I guess. what is this?" She said holding it out and opening it. It was a letter from the post master himself. "Huh, okaaaay what's he want?" She mumbled.

--To Gilda Griffon.

My deepest apologies for bothering you, Miss Gilda, First Pillar.

"The fuck..." Gilda peered over the letter and then to Gunter. "The First Pillar? What is this, nickname griffons day? Why'd he do that?"

Gunter smiled and put a claw up. "Oh! because we consider you and your --sort of-- siblings to be the best griffons in town! It was something the council decided! Gallus is a knight captain in Canterlot, his prestigious position allows griffons around town something to be proud of and we hold our heads high because of him. Then there is Gabby, she is one of the best working griffons around and she's helped out almost everyone I know, including me! Then there is you, Gilda, you are like, the BEST baker ever, you've gotten the ponies to helps us loads of times, and, and you've helped this town grow into a better place for everyone! You guys are like...famous!" He grinned and leaned forward, whispering. "By the way, big fan, I love your meat scones!"

She felt goosebumps travel up her spine and she shuddered. " Fan? Famous? Yeaah nope! Nope nope nope. I'm noping out of whatever this is. Nope, nuh uh, good bye, friend needs me in the hospital, bye Gunter."

Gunter scrambled to pick up the letter she'd dropped and looked crestfallen as she walked into the building. "Ack! B-But miss Gilda, w-wait, you need to read the rest of it!"

She didn't hear him and entered into one of the side hallways. One of the nurses saw her, grimaced, clacked her claws on the tiles, and then smiled evenly. "Ah miss Gilda, thank you for taking a ah...reprieve from the hospital. I hope it was pleasant?"

"If you mean I bathed and ate some food, then yeah, I guess. Just tell me I stink next time and I'll fix it, jeez."

Before she could reply, another griffon nurse leaned out of the hallway and shouted "HA! I told you she'd say that! You owe me four bits, Garta!"

Garta cursed and wheeled about to scowl at the other nurse. She then stopped and gave Gilda a gentle and kind smile. "I'll remember to do just that, Gabby is in the same room, same condition, you're free to enter."

Gilda rolled her eyes, nodding. "Thanks, Garta."

She went to move but Gunter dove into the hallway, startling her and blocking her. "What the hell Gunter?" She growled at him and he cowered, holding the note up.

"Y-you gotta read the rest, ma'am, I can't go back to work with out you doing so!" The tom wilted under her glare, and scooted back as she snatched the letter from him.

"Ugh fine! But then leave me alone, I'm in no mood to deal with you today."

Re-opening the letter, she continued to read.

"Myself and the other postal workers are devastated to hear what happened to Gabby, and we wish her a full recovery as soon as possible. She is truth be told, a bit of a beacon of hope for us, here at the post office. Her pep and joy is more like a fresh cup of your bakery's coffee in the mornings when the job is slow. Both do an excellent job of keeping us awake and ready for what lies ahead.

We keep Gabby and you in our thoughts as the days roll on.

As I'm sure you don't want to be caught up in reading when you could be spending time with your friend and roommate as she heals up, I thought I'd keep things short. This letter is to inform you that as of two days ago, Gabby has been put on medical leave. She will be utilizing some of her PTO. Something I know she'll groan about when she is back to full strength, but it's for the best. I inquired with the doctors on her condition, and even in the best case scenario, she'll need to spend a month or two at home, healing and retraining her wing and leg. Please use that time to help her when she needs it, I know we can trust you'll keep her out of most trouble.

I also write this to ask if at your soonest behest, you could drop by to pick up some of Gabby's personal items. As much as I'd like to keep her desk and area the way it is for when she returns, we need the space to hire a temp worker or two and they will require Gabby's desk for this.

She is NOT BEING FIRED. I must state that firmly. I know she and maybe you might worry that that is what is happening, but we will not let an accident like this mar her great history with us. Gabby is like family and always will be. Please tell Gunter when you can stop by, he's been assigned to help you if you should need it. Please forgive his energetic enthusiasm, we like to say he gets it from Gabby.

Best wishes and fair winds,

Post Master Gyre"

Gilda had let her frustration go by the time she'd finished reading, and she sighed, letting the note drop in front of her. Gunter gently picked it up and watched her. For a few moments Gilda simply closed her eyes and breathed. The scents of the hospital pulled into her beak nares. She was pretty familiar now with what each scent meant due to her extended stay. She could tell that the food cart had been by recently, and that it was turkey and pork night. One of the nearby rooms had an older tom inside, the scent of old griffon wafted out into the hallway and the nurses seemed to gag every time they had to enter his quarters.

Farther down the hallway were the break rooms for the workers, and the scents of coffee and tea snuck out to mingle in the air with the antiseptic chemicals that cloaked the building. Laughter and general banter could be heard through the door as it opened, and Gilda heard Garta grumble in protest as her co-worker gouged her for bits she owed.

But even farther down the hall, three doors down and into the left wing, she could smell it, Gabby's scent. Gabby's scent had been the first thing Gilda found herself subconsciously seeking out whenever she'd left the room. It was reassuring to know her friend was still there. Still present, still safe. Gabby's scent was loam like in smell, with a hint of forest smells. Pine needles, sugar pinecones, and damp moss came to mind. Gilda still remembered when they'd been asking her general questions about her and Gabby's health and they'd bluntly inquired as to why both hens had beads inside them.

That had been awkward to explain, and it had caused her a couple flustered and jealous glares from the other hen nurses when she'd explained the use and utilities the beads provided. The doctors had had to remove them to allow Gabby to use their bathroom equipment while unconscious. Gilda hadn't been present during the process, but the after scent left behind had sent her reeling for a bit.

Like falling into a forest and a patch of wet moss. She'd thought.

She blinked and slowly craned her head back down, looking at Gunter. He'd cocked his head slightly to the side and was watching her with a curious expression. "What uh...what was it you were sniffing for?" He trilled quietly as she realized she'd done that in the middle of the hallway.

Gilda blushed and looked away as she walked. "Uh...I was just...taking a moment to gather my bearings...I wasn't sniffing for anything, dweeb." She said with a grumble. "Now lets go back to your work place, you and I need to clear out Gabby's stuff."

Gunter immediately perked up and hopped after her, his tail swishing excitedly. "Oh yeah! I can show you where Gabby works and where I work and then where we eat lunch on boring days, and then we could take a tour if you'd like?"

"No."

"Awww... but I have a stamp collection..."

"stamps are stupid."

"Noooo their stampy!"

"Uuuugh."

The post office of Griffonstone was located closer to the exit to town, and it was currently the quietest place that Gilda had seen yet. Apparently word had in fact gotten around town about what had happened to Gilda and Gabby. She'd gotten severl wishes of good health and a couple asking if Gabby was doing okay. It made her feel better to know that her fellow griffons did care. However, she'd also been accosted by no more than six reporters from their local news station (she didn't even know they had one of those!) and a couple of em weren't even from around town, they were ponies from Ponyville!

She'd been surprised when Gunter had stood his ground and told them all to back off and that "The First Pillar had important work to do, and they were impeding her progress."

Oddly, the title had caused them all to look at her in more of a sense of awe. She hated it immediately. "Er...yeah, I got work to do, um...git." She'd shoed them away halfheartedly with a wave of her talons and they'd grumbled but obliged, mostly following from a fair distance away until their end location had come into view. Once the post office came into view, the group fell away.

Gunter had leapt up the steps three at a time and then opened the door for her with a flourish of his wings and arms, and bowed. "Ma'am, welcome to the Post Office."

She'd rolled her eyes, walked by and smacked him in the shoulder with her tail tuft. "I've been here before, stop acting dumb, weirdo."

He rubbed his shoulder and chuckled. "Er, I knew that! And wow! Thanks for the compliment!" He puffed out his chest and trilled happily.

Gilda looked back at him with a raised brow, "What compliment?"

He passed her and unlatched the counter top door, allowing them beyond the front area. He spoke as he waved to the hen at the front desk, she smiled and waved a wing in reply as she sorted through several stacks of mail by claw. They passed by several desks, currently empty of workers but piled with mail from all over the place.

"Oh, well Gabby talks about you a lot ya know? She says you're like, the best roommate in the world, and that you are always there for her in a pinch. So when I asked if you and I could possibly be friends, she said that being called weird by you is a good compliment. She says you always call her weird and that she considers it a term of endearment instead of an insult and that I should too!"

Gilda faltered and slowly came to a stop between desks. "She...said that?" A slight blush reached her cheeks and she cursed inwardly. Gunter didn't notice and made his way to a desk that was littered with paperwork and other bit-bobs of stuff. a name plaque with his name on it in gold lettering sat at the forefront of the pile, haphazardly standing on two piles at once.

"Yup! She wanted to warn me before I tried talking with ya. Said you have a hard time expressing yourself and opening up to others, so ya hide it behind a thin veneer of snide remarks and sarcasm." He ducked behind his desk, disappearing long enough to miss the cross expression that smacked itself across Gilda's face.

"Wow... thanks Gunter."

He popped back up with an empty card board box and chirped happily. "No problem! I consider it my job to try and be as friendly as I can be!" He came over and handed the box to Gilda, who snatched it from him with a scowl. It was then he saw her peeved expression and wilted, clasping and rubbing his claws. "I-I mean...I'm still working on it. I could do with some more practice."

Gilda felt her chest feathers wilt a little. For a moment her mind fell away to younger years, and she saw a teenaged Gabby standing in front of her at school, doing the same thing. Gabby's eyes had been nervous but hopeful.

I...I know you don't really like to do much, and I'm kinda 'not cool' to you, but I thought maybe we could be, ya know, friends?

Gilda had rebuffed her then, more to protect her self image, but they'd slowly grown closer over the years after. Gabby had never given up. Slowly cracking away at Gilda's defenses with friendly gestures, small gifts here and there, kind words when they were alone, and at first, Gilda had no idea how to react. It all sort of just happened. Next thing she knew, she was allowing hugs and nuzzles, and the two were roommates. Moments of physical comfort between them had become a normal occurrence.

Gunter was talking. "--And I know maybe I over did it with the commentary but I wasn't trying to say anything untoward or not, it was just--"

"Gunter."

"-- You're like, one of the three pillars! I couldn't blow it on my first try could I? Gabby said I needed to be confidant and bold so I--"

"Gunter!" Gilda hissed. Gunter chirped and stood at attention. Taking a moment to breath and pull herself together, She stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. He eyed it cautiously and then peered at her. "Look, I'm not...good with the whole friendship thing just yet. It's still hard for me to think of others that way."

He looked down and away, his head crest drooping. "A-ah...I see."

She shook her head. "No I don't think you do. A lot of griffons don't. I'm not saying we can't be friends. I'm saying the exact opposite. We need to be friends. We need to have more of them, and we need to be more willing to reach out like you did. You reaching out to me through Gabby was a good thing, I just...I get overwhelmed easily, okay?"

He perked up slowly. "O-oh, um, okay then. So...can we be friends?" When Gilda nodded, his eyes sparkled something fierce and his wings shot open. "YEEESS!" He cheered and went to hug her. Gilda hissed harshly and he flinched back instantly. "O-Oh right, whoops heh...Gabby did say that I gotta earn those."

Gilda held her claws to her chest and breathed a few times before nodded. "S-fine, just...ask first, as for friends, why don't you come over and hang out a few times with Gabby and I? Friends get to know one another. It also helps if we have stuff in common."

Gunter nodded happily and then pointed to the desk on his right, Gilda's left, and smiled. "That sounds fair, and I do love your scones. Speaking of Gabby, that is her desk. I already unlocked the drawers with her key earlier, so you can take whatever is inside. I'm sure she'll appreciate her stuff being in good claws as she recovers."

Gilda grunted in reply and began the process of cleaning out the drawers. Most of it was paperwork detailing random deliveries she'd made over the past month. One of the drawers had a few items of random order to them. a rubber duck wearing a bow tie, a box of jacks, a rather large paperclip with the words "Vinny" written on the side, and a greeting card from the crystal empire. It mostly seemed to be stuff she'd been gifted by customers over the years. Gunter seemed to watch for a moment or two before he went to his desk and began filing mail and writing out information. The room gained a feeling of quiet, and Gilda took a mental moment to bask in it. She finished rather quickly, and was on her way out, when Gunter spoke up.

"Hey Gilda...Um, can I ask a favor?"

She looked back and eyed him. "Maybe, it depends on what ya want."

He seemed to slouch in his chair, and looked nervous. He took a moment to speak, twiddling his thumbs as he hemmed and hawed on what to say. "Gabby and I...we sort of have a ritual we do when we see each other at work and I...I miss it...I was wondering if you could give her a neck nuzzle for me? I would myself but the doctors said only family members were allowed in, and I'm not on that list."

Gilda blushed and scratched at her beak a moment. "You uh, you do know her and I aren't actually related right? Neither is Gallus."

Gunter nodded. "Yeah, I do, most everyone in town is aware, but you were all raised under the same roof, so legally you're like a family. Sort of, it's complicated." He shrugged and waved it off. "It's no worries, I just miss her."

Gilda watched him as he went back to work and then she smiled. "Yeah, I think I can do that for ya, Gunter. Why don't ya stop by the bakery tomorrow, I'll make some fresh meat scones and we can chat."

Gunter looked up and his neck fluff began expanding outward at a rapid rate. He looked about ready to explode with joy, but then a split second later he stopped and took a long, slow breath and calmed down. His smile was warm and caring when he spoke. "Thanks, Gilda. I really appreciate it. I'll stop by around mid afternoon. I get done with deliveries around then, sound good?"

She nodded. "Yeah, sounds good. See ya...weirdo." She smiled as she said it and caught Gunter warbling happily. At least I managed to make his day a lot better...Gabby would be proud I think.

As she walked home, Gilda looked around and saw her town was still lively as ever. She smirked as some hatchlings ran by, screeching and throwing snow at each other. Her sour mood from before had lifted a little, Gunter had helped a lot with that. She even threw a snowball at Grandpa Gruff as she spotted him. He seemed both shocked to see her and upset that she'd nailed his fez right off his bald head. Bonus, it landing upside down with the snow in it.

He'd seemed conflicted on how to react, and settled with a chuckle and a wave of his fist at her. She nodded to him and continued on. The bakery was cold and quiet when she returned, the ovens empty of warmth and the customer lounge devoid of life. She frowned and walked past it all. She'd be back up and running once Gabby was too. This place isn't the same without her energy...

Gilda entered the apartment and found it as she'd left it since showering. Apparently Luna and Glimmer had not returned. Maybe they didn't need her house any more? She didn't care much and walked to Gabby's room. At the door she paused, looking from the box to the door. Under normal circumstances, Gilda would have simply placed the box at Gabby's door and knocked, letting the hen know something was outside. With Gabby in the hospital, it was Gilda's decision.

After a moment Gilda shrugged. "Its her stuff. It goes in her room, so she should understand."

Entering Gabby's room was kind of a surreal moment for the hen. She hadn't actually been in Gabby's room in months. Gabby's nest was neatly made and clean. The pillows were numerous and fluffy, covering most of the wall. Her deep emerald green window curtains were drawn closed for privacy, and her nearby armoire door was slightly open. Gabby's desk was devoid of writing materials or anything really. A bunch of stickers marred its surface though, randomly smacked into open spaces and making it all blur together. Gilda set the box on the bed and took a moment to take in Gabby's scent. it was all around her, mingling with the other scents of her bedroom.

Pillows, paper, cardboard, that weird shampoo she buys from the ponies, roses, that scarf she always wears when....wait...

Gilda blinked rapidly and sniffed again, carefully sifting through the scents of the room. Yes! there it was! Gilda was smelling roses. She looked around in confusion, but none were visible. "Why would the room have that smell?" She murmured. She peered beyond the curtains thinking maybe a vase would be on the sill, but she found none. She checked around the bed, sniffing and hoping to see maybe a perfume bottle or some incense burner, but none appeared.

She looked to the armoire, the door was partially open and her curiosity got the best of her. "I bet its just a sticker or some other gift her customers gave her. Scented to smell funny or some other gimmick."

She opened the armoire door.

This was no gimmick. No tricks, deceptions or traps. Gilda's rump hit the floor and she felt her mind turn sideways. Her eyes shrank in shock, her beak fell open. "Wh...what the hell...." Her voice fell in volume. "What...what is this...?" She whispered. Her claws began to shake, and she found herself reaching fearfully into the cabinet and grasping the object inside. Tenderly, she held it close and her voice cracked as tears slowly beaded at the edge of her vision.

An enchanted rose. The petals glistened with an ethereal light, their frozen dew drops never shifting or moving from their spots the spell had seized them in. They cast rainbows around the room in a kaleidoscope of colors. The rose looked as fresh as the day it was picked, save a few missing petals. She looked up and spotted something else.

Surrounding its stand, thumbtacked to the back of the armoire were photos Gabby had taken over the years. Specifically photos of her and Gabby together in some adventure or another. Pictures of them at school, at the dinner table, in a pile of leaves, or flying around. Each one was carefully placed in a way to give each one optimal space around the flower. Some weren't tacked up yet and Gilda, grasping for straws in her current state reached out and picked one up.

"Gabby...what....what is this...what is any of this...?" She whispered. She choked as a sob escaped her and she quickly set the rose back before she dropped it. Doing so dislodged the picture from her talons and it drifted to the floor, flipping over as it did so.

There was writing on the back!

She carefully picked it up and read the little paragraph on the back. Gilda and I at the park, Some jerk of a tom shoved her, and Gilda's ice cream fell off her cone and into the pond, so I shared mine. Not exactly how I wanted to share food with her, but it works!

Gilda peered at the words and felt something was off about them. "Why did she darken the "share food" part?" She flipped it back over and another thing caught her eye. Gabby and Gilda were in the photo, sitting at the local Griffonstone park fountain. They were sitting together and Gilda looked disgruntled as she licked at a strawberry ice cream cone. Next to her Gabby was holding the empty cone, but she wasn't smiling at the camera...She was smiling at Gilda. Gilda wiped her eyes frantically and peered closer. Gabby was blushing.

A thought began to worm its way into Gilda's brain and she felt her wings close tightly around her. "No..." She murmured.

She looked back up at the photos on the wall and began examining them closely and her worry grew ever greater. "No...no! It can't be!" She warbled nervously.

In almost every photo, no matter what seemed to be taking place, Gabby was either blushing, looking at Gilda, or both. Gilda felt her heart wrench sideways as she grasped one of the other photos yet to be tacked up. She flipped it over and looked at the writing.

Gilda and I tried her first batch of candy, it burned, but I managed to cheer her back up with a hug. The writing was loopy and in cursive...

No...No there's no way...

Gilda panicked. She dropped the photos, she dashed from the room and tore into hers, almost breaking the door off one of its hinges and bruising her wing shoulder on the frame. The pain spiked in her shoulder but she disregarded it and yanked open her desk drawer.

The letters, they would prove her theory wrong, it had to!

She stood over the scrolls, each one carefully rolled back up and wrapped in ribbon. More tears threatened to break from her eyes at any second, and so she quickly scooped one up at random and ran back to Gabby's room. Reaching the Armoire, she held out the scroll with both talons and gently, slowly opened it.

"No...NO NO NO!!!!"

Gilda reared up onto her hind paws in a panic, lost her balance, fell backwards and smashed into the wall next to Gabby's nest. She clenched her talons into their palms hard enough to draw little drops of blood and pushed them against her clenched eyes, trying to stop the tears. Her body curled into itself and she sobbed hard. Her wings closed around her protectively and she rocked back an forth as the scroll was crushed in her grip.

"No....no...please no...."

The writing on the photos...and the letters....were exactly the same.

Gabby was the writer...Gabby was Gilda's lover...

And Gilda had nearly killed her.

Author's Note

In the gardens, a flower grows.
A rose of blood red that always knows.

It knows what you feel, it knows what you seek,
the curtain unveiled gives way to a streak,

streaks of reds and whites and amber golds,
all the roses your mind can hold,

but only one is ever for you,
its your color, your heart, it is your truth.

dare not cut down the rose that you own,
or you may one day find yourself alone,

Roses grow together, thorns and all,
and when death takes them, together they fall.

"No one should be alone." --A poem by Gabby Griffon.