I flexed my neck to bring down a stick and bang a pot with it. "Wakey wakey!" I cried out in half a song. "Time to get ready for a new life!"

"Huh?" Gael sat up in his nest, scowling at me. "It's barely light out! It can't be time to go!"

"You have to get ready to go," I explained with a smile. This was a routine I knew well. "First we eat." I pointed to the kitchen. "Good food makes for a good day."

He grumbled as he half fell/flew down to my level and stormed into the kitchen. "I don't even do breakfast half the time."

"There's your first problem." He had eggs, I had spotted them. I dug them right out and carefully slid them onto the counter. Jessica had made such good eggs! I'd try to channel my inner Jessica, for Gael. "You just relax and I'll have breakfast in a flash!"

"Ponies eat eggs?"

"It's not for me, and yes we do." I mean they ate cakes and things, and that wasn't flat bread or a baguette, so, yeah, eggs were involved, I could only assume. I got to awkwardly cracking a few eggs into a bowl. Hooves sucked for this work! I had something better... Something... Oh, like what Gael had, fingers, right. I had those, and I missed them.

I could feel Gael's eyes on me. "You know how to make those?" He didn't move to help, or interfere, just, you know, watching. Let him! I had a bowl of eggs and grabbed a.... Oh, he had no whisk. He had a fork! I grabbed the fork in my teeth and got to swishing around the mix, getting it nice and frothy.

"You can't be doing too bad."

"Huh, what makes you say that?" He peered at me confusedly.

"You have this." I waved a hoof about. "Bigger than the other nests, with a stove and a fridge! You have bits."

"I know how to budget," he spat. "And how to save. Those other jerks waste every bit they get."

I poured the egg mix into a waiting pan and with a nice sizzle, got to spicing and fluffing up the eggs as they cooked. "Cooking up some eggs," I sang to myself as I worked, wings pumping idly in a simple joy of the act. "I hope you're hungry!"

"I wasn't before..." Which was not a denial. He could smell what I was making, and he wanted it! Score.

With a flick of a wing, I sent the plate sliding in front of him. "Ta da! One set of Derpy Eggs."

He inclined his head a bit, then forgot his objections in favor of devouring the food. "You need to not get in the habit of waking me up," he grumped despite his eager devouring of the food. "Mmm, not bad."

I had succeeded! I ate the leftovers with a smile, but my eyes were on him. "Next step is washing up."

"What?"

I raised a fuzzy brow. "Wash up. You're all messy from sleep and eating. You're not going into work like that!" No wonder he needed help!

"Ain't never stopped me before." He pushed his plate back. "All done." That was as close to a 'thanks' as I'd get that morning. "Not bad." Closer... "You don't even know where to wash up."

"So show me." I was already cleaning the kitchen, tidying up after the mess I had made. I soon slipped a wing under his plate and ferried it away to the sink. Those wings were kinda useful! I mean, besides the flying part, that was awesome, but they were like a hand each if you let them do their thing. I liked wings.

"You sure seem... happier now." He stalked up closer to me, not as quiet as he probably wanted to be. "What's up with that?"

Well, yeah. I remembered being super upset when we first had met. "I used to live somewhere else." I couldn't provide too many details. "You and Fetlock took me away from it, without a lot of warning." I rubbed behind my head with a hoof. "I was scared, alright?"

"And now you aren't? Whatever, ponies are super strange." He huffed, swatting me across the back. "You sure washing is going to help me make bits?"

"Completely." I turned away from him, the vast majority of dishes looking better. "Now show the way. You don't have a bathroom, which confuses me."

"You're used to having a room just for a bath?" He shook his head slowly. "Crazy. I ain't wasting bits on that."

"Well, instead, you get to walk to where the bath is."

"Which is the river," he reminded, throwing open the door to the outside world. "C'mon!"

As I trotted past him, he thumped me with the flat of a hand. "By the way, you're dumb."

"What's that for?" I rolled my eyes as I emerged onto the morning street. "You're the one that asked for me."

"But you were not 'somewhere else'." He rolled his eyes right back at me. "You were made, for me, like her."

"Nuh uh." Despite our argument, we were moving away from the house. I could hear the sound of the river we were approaching. "Is that it?"

"The only one we have." He crested the hill and came down towards the bubbling stream. "Are you going to drag me here every day?"

I had to pause a moment. He didn't... "You don't bathe every day on your own?" I said out loud, interrupting my own thoughts.

"Pfft." In he went despite that. "I don't even like water."

"I'll make it better." With a twitchy tail, I went in after him. "But first, I want an apology."

"I didn't do nothin'," he grumped, crossing his soggy arms.

I splashed water at him, shoving my hooves forward. The water was cold! But not unbearably so. Still, cold. "You ripped me away from my home." Not that I could remember what home was, but I knew I had one. "I had a job." Besides being a mailpony. Not that being a mailpony was bad. "Say sorry."

He sent a wave back at me, proving that a hand can pedal water better than a hoof could. "Yeah? Prove it. What job? And if you say carrying mail..."

"It wasn't that!" I was pretty sure... "I did help people though, like I'm gonna help you." Oh, wait, like hands! I brought my wings at him, scooping up water as it went in a nice big wave, sploosh!

"Hey!" He sputtered and shook off as best he could. "Damn ponies. Am I clean enough yet?"

"No." I closed in on him and began scrubbing. Hooves against fur and feathers, I was determined to get him as clean as I could in the rushing water. We had no soap provided, but it didn't mean I couldn't scrub vigorously and let the water carry most of the dirt away. "Your boss is going to be so impressed!"

Idly, he was a male catbird, I confirmed as I went. I assumed that was a cat thing I had felt, not that I lingered. Still, by the time I was done, I was still blushing, realizing what I had touched. "All better."

He shoved away, back towards shore in broad forceful steps. "Great, let's never do that again." He was soon shaking himself off vigorously, sending water all over. Thankfully, he had climbed out on a rock, not sand, so his paws didn't get all mucked up again.

"Looking good," I called. Well, he looked good before then, but he was even better! "You need one more thing."

"You said one more thing last time." He glared at me as I climbed free of the water, but it turned to confusion as I walked away from him. "Where're you going!?"

"I don't want to get you wet, silly." I began to shake as some part of me really wanted to do, sending water off in all directions, but not getting him wet again. "Better. Alright, now." I looped back around and, ah ha! Some griffon, probably, left their towel just laying there, hanging from a branch. I grabbed it and inspected it quickly for dirt.

"You need help drying off?"

"Hm? No." I held the towel towards him. "We're going to get you dry. Can't go into work all damp." I attacked him viciously with a new round of rubbing, getting him from 'mostly dry' to 'pretty much dry' with a good round of rubs. "Don't you feel better?"

"This isn't what I paid for," he grunted, looking himself over. "Still, uh... thanks. I didn't think a pony tutor would include this." He started back towards town, glistening and clean. I had done my job well! I trailed after him with a big grin, stupidly proud of what I had accomplished.

I mean, sure, I was a pony. I was pretty sure I wasn't always that. Completely sure. But I was a happy pony. I was doing my part... I flapped my wings as I went, considering taking them for another spin later. Maybe I'd learn how to land without smacking into the ground...

I realized there were no clocks... "What time is it?"

He made non-comittal noise.

"We have to be on time after all that!" I stomped a hoof down. "Where's work? Better early than late by far. We have to get you a clock."

"There you go, suggesting I waste my bits." He huffed at the idea, but did start in a new direction. Work? I could but hope. "Why are you following me?"

"I need to see how you work." I mean, duh? How else was I going to give any real advice. I could coach the start of his day, but that only went so far. "To work! Unless they have rules against me being there?" That would be awkward.

"Not specifically." He rubbed behind his head a second before resuming his walk. "Whatever, let's go." As I trotted a little behind him, he turned one of his ear tufts at me. "You aren't flying."

"Nope!"

"Why aren't you running?" He fished out my leash. "Shouldn't you be wearing this?"

"I'm yours," I reminded. "I'll wear it if you want me to, but not while we fly. That doesn't work."

He snickered in remembrance of my attempt to fly with it on. "Sure doesn't. Whatever." He tucked the leash back away. "Keep the collar on."

"I wasn't thinking about it." Which, of course, meant I had started to think about it. The collar was not something I was used to wearing, but, he had given it to me, and told me to wear it, so... of course I'd wear it! I was not trained in such things. Was it a nice collar? I couldn't tell and didn't even have a mirror to inspect it with. I was collared...

"There." He pointed to... not a building. It was a little stand with a map on it. "Behold, my job."

I saw no boss. I trotted over and saw no stock either. I saw nothing but a place to stand. "Uh..."

"What?" He lifted the counter and slipped inside, letting it close behind himself. "I stand here, offer tours."

"I'll just... watch." I looked around and saw a convenient perch. With a quick little flapping, I had sat myself on a thick branch no other creature was using. "Good luck!" It struck me a moment after that, hey! I had flown, and not crashed. Go me! I came down from my euphoria to notice Gael standing there as griffons went by.

"Want a tour?" he asked one. "Hey, I'll show you around!" he shouted at another. None of the griffons seemed to be paying him much mind. Most ignored him entirely, when they weren't looking annoyed at his shouting. He was getting nowhere fast, and it seemed clear to me some of the reasons why.

"Not a lot of bites?" I asked, coming in for a-- Right into the stand, thwap. I crashed gracelessly with a little grunt.

Gael leaned over the side to look down at me with a smirk. "Smooth."

"You're not doing better." I sat up, my eyes spinning a moment as things settled back into place. "You can't just shout at everyone. You're selling a specific thing."

"Guides? Duh?" He drummed his fingers on the wood of his counter. "Tell me something new."

"Guides, yes." I nodded quickly. "So people who live here don't need it. Why are you even looking at them?"

He squinted at me. "I'm supposed to keep track of them all?"

I had to. I put a hoof to my face with a sigh. "It's really gonna help this job. For a day or two, just try saying hi, learn who is who. When you get an idea of who's always here, stop bothering them, go for the new people." I brought my hooves together in a smart clop. "Ah ha! Cheat! If you see a pony? Probably from out of town. Not a griffon in general, go for it, but for griffs, learn your neighbors! They don't want it, and being asked if they want a tour just annoys them."

"Uh huh..." He didn't look entirely convinced. "I'll try..." He reached down to ruffle the top of my head. "Hey, thanks. You're doing what I got you for." I felt like smiling, so I did. "Keep it up." He waved back towards my perch. "And get lost, I see more folks comin'!" I scooted out of the way as he looked to who was approaching.

He recognized them! Good, we had just talked to her. "Hey, Gelly, right?"

"That's the name," she agreed, peering at Gael. "You alright? You never remember anygriff's name."

"We just talked," he noted, agreeing with my thoughts. "Ditzy enjoyed the chat."

Her expression softened a little. "I see her there, peeking. Is she watching you, or me?"

Crap, spotted! I ducked back a bit more around the corner of the building I had been hiding behind.

He chuckled softly. "Me. She's trying to help."

"You going to start doing real work?" She stood up taller, which I could see, peeking back out. "Why don't you work in the mines? Good bits for anygriff willing to get dirty."

"I don't want to mine." He snorted a little, looking her over. "Anyway, you don't want a tour... right?"

"Right." She rolled her eyes. "I was surprised you didn't start with that. No griff is gonna want that!" She threw up a talon as she began to walk away. "You're wasting your time!"

He grumbled a little, looking off where I had hidden. "Was that better?"

"I... think so, yeah." I emerged, nodding at him. "She wasn't angry at you like the others. You made a friend!"

"We barely know each other."

"You could fix that." I stuck out my tongue a little and sat on my haunches. "But not now. Now is work time. I have more ideas, for later." I tapped my chin thoughtfully.

He looked pleased at that. "Good, you keep on thinking. I'm paying you to make this better." He turned back to the griffons going past, eyes sweeping quickly. "Hey you!" A griffon looked to him. "New 'round here?"

"Someone asked me to come by," replied the griffon with a raised feathery brow. "Why?"

"I offer tours." He waved to his sign. "Show you where everything is around town."

Oh, how I smiled. He was doing it!

"Like what?" demanded the griffon, peering at Gael.

"Like where to drink." He counted on his fingers as he went. "Where to wash." Was he listing places I cared about? Aw. "Where to buy food, all the basics. You want to know where something is, I'm your griffon."

"How much?" The griffon put his hands on his sides, the scowl growing. "You want all my bits?"

Oh shoot. I didn't see a price sheet. What was the going rate?

"Twenty bits," declared Gael.

"Pass." The griffon began to turn away, but Gael snatched him on the shoulder before he could finish. "What?"

"That's my tourist price," assured Gael, smooth! I didn't teach him that. "You said a friend invited you, right?"

"Yeah. Gale." He pointed the way towards Gale, whoever that was. "You know him?"

"We're all friends around here." Boy was that a big fat lie. "So I'll give you the local price." I bet he had no local price, seeing as he didn't know who the locals were. "Half that."

"Ten bits huh?" He scratched at his beak a moment. "Sure, show me what you got." He dug out a little coin and gave it to Gael.

Gael looked disappointed. "I said ten."

"You get ten when I like what I see. Go on, earn the rest."

Gael grumbled and flipped up the counter to get past it. "Fine! Whatever. We're closest to the market, wanna get something to eat? That's the place." And off they went.

I considered following him. How he acted with his customers could make a big difference... Off I went, trailing after the two griff-- Something was holding my tail. I looked back over my shoulder to see Gelly with my tail firmly in her talons. "Hiya." I waved at her, always nice to see a friend. "I need to keep up with them."

"What are you doing?" she demanded instead of letting me go. "You've been watching him all day."

"That's my job," I pointed out with a little nod, as if that was super obvious and anyone should know that. "I'm showing him how to be better at his job. I need to keep up."

"You ponies are crazy." She released my tail. "Seriously, if he ever makes you cry though? Lemme know."

Aw, she cared! I reared up and grabbed her, wrapping both arms around in a big hug. "You're super nice, but I really gotta run!" And off I dashed, leaving the stunned Gelly behind.

I found my targets talking. I had missed the market, aw. They were walking away from it. At least I had a peek at where the market was, but they were headed for the river. I knew where that was.

"Put something in, something comes out," joked the griffon. "Know what I mean?"

Gael just nodded a little. Two points off! "The river's just up ahead. You can get a... oh, yeah, don't drink there." One point regained. "Fine for washing though. I did it this morning." Too much information!

"I bet..." Still, they came on the river. "Huh, looks alright."

Gael shrugged at it. "A river." He waved at it as if presenting some treasure. "You'll miss it when you can't find it."

"Point," allowed the other griffon, turning back to town. "You said you can't drink from it. Give me a second." He scurried off to answer nature's call, then came back. "Where do you get a drink around here?"

Gael got a bit of a smirk suddenly. "You want something hard, or soft?"

The other griffon laughed. "It's too early to get smashed. Something soft. Shoot, water that won't send me running back here would do just fine."

"Well, uh..." Shoot, he had forgotten a name. "I know a place that does fruit drinks. Ain't bad at all. There's a well we use for drinking or drawing from. I can show you either, or both." He waggled his brow. "Say if we can get more of that ten bits."

A bit pushy! Still... A few coins emerged. It had worked, to my surprise. "A pleasure doing business." Gael led the way with a smile, back into town, to the well. "Here she is, always keeping us full up when we need it."

"What kind of fruit?" He wasn't all that interested in the well besides knowing where it was. "Something good?"

"Some kinda citrusy thing? I like it." Gael shrugged softly. "When I wanna splurge."

"Prefer the free stuff, huh?" The other griffon followed as Gael led the way towards the fruit drink stand that was maybe a block away from the market. "Hey, they have a selection." He sauntered up to the couple that ran the place. "Give me the run down."

They all started talking about what drinks were available and their prices. Gael wandered towards me instead of listening in. Why was I so bad at hiding! "Hey, how am I doing? You getting more ideas?"

"Yes." I nodded at him and pointed. "But right now, you should be paying attention and acting interested. The more he thinks you care, the more he might tip." Oh yeah! "And don't get angry if he doesn't!"

"Why shouldn't I?" He huffed, but went back to stand by his customer.

"I'll try one if he does." He hiked a thumb at Gael.

"Huh?" Poor Gael had not even been there to hear what they were talking about.

The hen behind the counter offered a cup of some strange purple fluid.

The tour customer waved at it. "Go on, on me. You drink it and you don't die, I'll have one."

"Yeah..." Poor Gael sure looked like he didn't want to try it, but he reached for it anyway. Go on, do it! He took a loud sip from it, and he perked right up, then guzzled the rest down. "Mmm, that's pretty good!"

"I'll take one," quickly demanded the guide customer, getting one for himself. "Sorry for doubting you."

The hen looked smugly vindicated. "A blend of berries, grapes, and other secret ingredients give it that kick. It's great, isn't it?" The customer was soon drinking it, though less quickly than Gael had. "I see you like it."

Gael gestured at the vendors. "See, told you. Anything else you wanna see?"

"Nah, think that's enough." He dug out some more bits and slapped them on the counter, then a few of them made its way into Gael's eager talons. "See you next time."

"With pleasure." Gael pocketed his coins with a smile, watching the griffon wander off.

"You never came here before," noted the male griffon when the customer was out of ear shot.

"Now that's a lie, Gary. He's been here a few times." The hen grinned at Gael. "Always wants the peach drink and runs off."

"Well, yeah..." Gael scratched behind his head. "The guy asked for soft drinks and I thought you would fit the bill."

"Well, thanks for that." The husband(?) thrust forward a hand and they shook. Was that a bit? I couldn't be sure. "You run into anycreature else that's thirsty, you send them this way."

Gael strutted off, looking mighty proud of himself. I caught up with him quickly. "Happy?"

"Why shouldn't I be?" He patted where his coins were, the metal jingling softly. "I don't normally get this much from a single sucker."

"Customer."

"Whatever."

"They won't be either if you call them that." I stuck out my tongue at the idea of calling customers that. "They will hear if you go around badmouthing them. Besides, they give you those coins, be happy with them too."

"Yeah, sure." His growth would not be instant. "Good job though." I perked. "You earned a treat today." I was suddenly quite happy. "Since you like it so much, how about a steak for both of us."

"I feel like I hit my limit of steak." Maybe it was being a pony. My insides were not made for steak, tasty as it was. "Hold onto that thought though." Treat! "How about I get one of those drinks." I pointed back the way we had come. "You two looked like you were really enjoying it."

He snorted out a laugh, swatting me across the withers. "Alright, one drink for you. Keep thinking of how I can keep those bits flowing and we can consider something else, eh?"

Author's Note

A day in the life of Gael! We learn more about him here, yes?

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