Gilda and Dash's Glorious Conquest

"Oh my gosh Gilda! I didn't know you were a princess!" Pinkie squealed, the first to break the silence that'd fallen over the group.

Dash and Spike could only attempt to conceal their laughter. They did so very poorly.

"So where's your horn then, huh?"

"Griffons," Gilda started, looking back at the pink ball of annoyance with confusion, "they don't grow horns ever. I don't think."

"Oh. So what do they do?"

"That's a lot of the reason Celestia is here. She has some explaining to do, and she knows it."

"Princess Celestia." Spike corrected, managing to supress his laughter finally.

"It's quite alright, Spike. She has every reason to be upset, and can express that however she wishes. Unfortunately I can't say I know the specifics of royal griffon physiology."

"Oh, well." Gilda grumbled.

Dash couldn't take it any longer. "I can't believe I didn't realize. You're a princess!"

Gilda shot her friend a glare, but Dash would not be deterred.

"Shall I have Rarity make you a fancy dress, Princess?" Dash continued, affecting a more "fancy" accent.

"Seriously Dash, now is not the time."

"Yes, please Rainbow Dash. Save your teasing for another time." Celestia urged.

"Yeah, okay." Dash said, still wearing a huge goofy grin. Fortunately enough she managed to avoid snickering.

"So I'm sure you have questions, and I am more than happy to answer any and all of them. I also thank you for not storming into my throne room and making a scene." Celestia said, wearing a calm smile.

"Yeah no problem." Gida repied, folding her arms and sitting back on her haunches. In this position she was exactly at eye level with the large alicorn.

"So it was you that sent the letter about my heritage?"

"Correct." Celestia nodded.

"So I ended up in your care at the palace before I was even hatched. Why didn't I grow up in the palace then?"

"I assume you mean to ask why you wound up in an orphanage in Cloudsdale. There are a good number of reasons. The primary one being that had you grown up in the palace your survival woud have been known to the griffon king decades ago; visiting dignitaries would've spotted you. Assassins would've been sent after you for most of your life."

Gilda was silent for a while after the princess had finished speaking. At length she shrugged and said, "Fair enough, I guess. Though I see now how much faith you put in the royal guard, and it's troubling to say the least."

Celestia grimmaced at the jab to which Gilda smirked triumphantly.

"Wait so did my parents know they were adopting a princess?" Dash spoke up from her place on the couch; seemingly having just regained interest in the conversation.

Gilda shot her friend another threatening glance.

"That was an accident I swear." Dash defended immediately.

For their parts Pinkie and Spike seemed to be completely absorbed in the conversation of the two royals. They both jumped in surprise when Dash spoke.

"No, and it needed to remain that way." Celestia responed quickly. "Getting her into the orphanage in the first place took no small amount of secrecy on its own. Once she was there it was entirely up to chance whether or not she would ever be adopted."

"So you had to get me out of the palace, but you've obviously kept tabs on me this whole time. Otherwise your letter would've never reached me."

"Yes. It was a lot of effort to make sure you didn't know you were being watched. Now that this is all come out into the open I can tell the sky guard to stop looking out for large griffons fitting your description."

"Yeah great. So thanks for the help last night when I almost died." Gilda said pointedly. Fixing Celestia with an acusitory stare.

"Yeah." Dash spoke up again, "If you knew where she was and you knew assassins were coming after her why didn't you help her?"

"There were only a couple. I knew they would underestimate her ability, and that she would survive. I also have to keep my personal involvement to a minimum; otherwise any who manage to report back to the king would know I am aware of Gilda's existence. He would start to make demands that I apprehend and turn over her as a fugitivate." Celestia paused and let out a weary sigh, for the first time since she'd arrived her smile completely vanished. "Most of the reason I asked Gilda to start a rebellion, and I realize how selfish this will sound, is that I can't involve Equestria or its military quite yet. It must start with the citizens of the Griffon Kingdoms if this movement is to have any chance of success."

"I'd ask you to explain, but I think I get it." Gilda said, but before she could continue Pinkie suddenly spoke up.

"Oh so you're going on a quest to save a land ruled by an oppressive king? This is just like those stories with the brave knights and dragons and stuff!"

"There aren't going to be any dragons." Gilda retorted quickly, a shiver of dread going through her at the thought.

"There already is silly." Pinkie chirped, clapping Spike on the back.

"That doesn't count. I don't have to kill him."

"Somtimes the brave knight befriends a dragon and then they become partners in battle and stuff!"

"I don't think I'm going with her, Pinkie." Spike cut in.

"Huh, fair enough Pinks." Gilda said witha shrug, "But yeah, I think I've gotten all the help I'm going to out of this particular dragon."

"I wouldn't say that," Spike grumbled, "won't be leaving Ponyville though."

"At any rate. Griffons have not historically responded well to any kind of foreign incursion. Even relief efforts in the past have been met with hostility." Gilda finished her earlier thought. "Am I in the ballpark there?" She asked.

Celestia nodded.

"Great, so about the money you've been giving me then? If you can't take the risk of helping me directly what's up with that?"

"As far as anyone is concerned that money is coming from an anonymous third party. I'd apprecaite it if you stopped telling ponies that the message and the account number are related in any way. In truth I'll never actually know the total you spend on this effort until centuries from now." As Celestia spoke she wore a rueful smile. "I desperately wish the need for secrecy wasn't so important. I mean that Gilda."

"What makes you so sure that the first time I say the word rebellion in the Griffon Kindgdoms I won't immediately be shot full of arrows?"

"For one thing, you would be lucky to encounter a griffon still using a bow or crossbow." Celestia said with a grim face.

Before anyone could question what she meant Celestia resumed her soft smile.

Looking to the room's other occupants the elder alicorn continued, "Aside from that I have faith. Faith in those you meet on your journey. Faith in those that you personally can call friends. Lastly, and most importantly, I have faith in you Gilda Stormtalon. In spite of or because of the life you've lead unti now, you are wise beyond your years. I know you have the capability to do what is right at the right time, especially in the face of adversity."

"That was awesome! I love inspirational speeches!" Pinkie cheered as soon as Celestia had finished speaking.

"Yeah that was really cool." Rainbow Dash addded, much more subdued than her bubbly friend.

"It was a nice speech." Gilda agreed with a shrug. "I still kind of want to hit you after finding out that I've been living a lie because of you. I get why you did it, but as it turns out that doesn't make me feel any better."

"What?!" Came three voices in unison. Gilda ignored them. One of them the deep growl of a very unhappy dragon.

"Would hitting me actually make you feel better?" Celestia asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Yeah probably." Gilda said, with a smirk.

"I suppose I owe you that much after all I've put you through." Celestia said quietly, a hint of resignation in her voice. She went from standing to sitting, and turned her head slightly to the left. She did not close her eyes and instead stared at a far wall as she waited.

"Wait, what?" Gilda said, her smirk suddenly vanishing. "You're just going to let me hit you?"

Celestia nodded. "I'd like there to be as little animosity between us as possible. If this will help towards that goal I readily accept it."

"Princess Celestia you can't be serious." Spike protested.

"This is not up to you Spike." Celestia said simply as she continued to stare slightly to the left of her would be assailant.

Gilda's claws balled into a fist, but she heasitatd. She looked Princess Celestia over. Without her regalia she was essentially like any other pony. Bigger than most, but alive and capeable of feeling pain.

Gilda frowned and pulled back her arm to swing. Celestia didn't react. Gilda started her swing and stopped mid way. Celestia did not flinch.

"No this doesn't sit right with me. I can't hit you if you aren't going to defend yourself, it'd be really lame if I did." Gilda finally addmitted defeat, her shoulders slummped as she shook her head.

Celestia beamed a smile, "I was right to trust you. You have the spirit and sense of honor every griffion is born with. You also have the heart of an Equestrian pony; filled with compassion and caring. Please remember these things in your travels." Once she finished speaking Celestia bowed a deep bow, nearly prostrating herself before Gilda.

"Yeah. Thanks for confessing and stuff. I'll do what I can for the Griffon Kindoms, and Equestria; assuming I can even get this off the ground." Gilda said, offering a hand as a friendly gesture.

Celestia extended a hoof similarlly and said, "In the end that is all I can truly ask of you."

The shook, after which Celestia excused herself. The four other occupants of the library watched her leave, watched the door close by Celestia's magic, and remained silent for a few short moments after that.

"I had no idea." Spike muttered.

"Gilda that was so cool!" Dash gushed, "Seriously one of the most awesome things you've ever done!"

"Oh oh! Can I throw you a 'Going on an Epic Quest' party? Oh, and a re-welcoming party!" Pinkie shouted.

"You know we need to throw her another party too, right?" Dash asked. Seemingly coming to a sudden realization with a sly smile.

"Three parties in one?" Pinkie replied excitedly.

"Yeah we need to throw her a princess coronation party." Dash said with snicker already making a b-line for the closed door.

"Oh that is it missy!" Gilda shouted turning abruptly to chase after her retreating friend. "Get back here!" She shouted out an open door. She took a bounding leap out the door took off.

Their combined exit sent papers scattering everywhere as well as toppling a few stacks of books.

"Huh. Maybe things aren't too different around here." Spike said, with a roll of his eyes. As it started to pick up the mess he couldn't help but smile.

Several hours later found both Gilda and Dash with several more bruises than they had earlier; the both of them were in high spirits in spite of the scuffle they'd had. What started out as a simple chase became a violent game of tag that ran though and above the usually calm town.

In addition to this Pinkie's impromtu party was soon to begin, with invitations given to all the town's residents. It was announced as Gilda's Re-Welcoming to Ponyvile Party. It promised 80% more attendance of the guest of honor this time around. As well as 10-15% less angry shouting.

Once Pinkie had delivered their invitations, which Gilda and Dash both tried to convince the hyper mare was unnecessary, they'd both agreed to a truce and gone to retrieve Spike from the library. After a few minutes of grumbling Spike began to chat goodnaturedly with the both of them. In the half hour before the party it took only a few words of encouragement to convince the young dragon to extend his time out voluntarily.

The three walked in a pleasant silence on the way to Sugar Cube Corner, the venue for the night's party. Rainbow Dash did pick up on some discomfort coming from her friend Gilda and chose to address it before they arrived at the party.

"Hey, G. Is something up?" Dash asked, disrupting the quiet.

Gilda looked at her teal friend as though she'd entirely forgotten she was there. She looked away in thought a moment befor responding, "Yeah. It's not that I don't appreciate Pinkie giving me a seond chance and all, but is anyone actually going to show up to this? After my last visit why would anyone come to a party thrown for me?"

Spike responded to Gilda instead of Rainbow Dash. "After everything that's happened around here I doubt anyone even remembers your outburst."

"Yeah." Dash agreed. " Besides which everypony who can will show up. There isn't anything to do out here besides go to a Pinkie Pie party, anyways."

Gilda looked up and down the small town street, cast in the glow of the late afternoon. "You can say that again."

Sugar Cube Corner came into view as they turned down another street. "Hey at the very least, they get to watch you make a fool out of yourself on the daily."

"What? You mean my awesome stunts?" Dash retorted, puffing out her chest.

"I know what I said." Gilda jabbed. "They called you Rainbow Crash for a reason."

"Oh don't even go there, the fillies and colts at school called you way worse." Dash bit back.

Spike rolled his eyes and went in ahead of the bickering pair.

"That's because you were the only one I was even a little bit nice to. They never had a pair big enough to call me those names to my face though, that was you and you alone."

They smiled meaningfully at each other as they entered the brightly lit establishment, to the chours crowd cheering "Surprise!"

Gilda tensed for a moment apparently expecting to be attacked.

"Relax G, it's a room full of ponies." Dash said with a chuckle, having noticed her friends sudden discomfort.

"Heh, yeah. I was just uh-" Gilda grimaced, "surprised is all."

"That was the idea." Her friend replied with no small amount of snark.

"That's why I thought about not finishing that sentence."

"I'm super glad you were surprised even though you knew about the party!" Came Pinkie's happy cry from behind them. It managed to get both Gilda and Dash to jump.

Gilda wheeled around to face the pink mare and tell her off for scaring her, but found she was glaring at empty air.

"How-" Gilda began, before turning around abruptly due to a tap on her back.

Pinkie stood there offering her a plate of cake and a smile.

"How did you do that?" Gilda asked making no motion to accept the cake.

"What? Bake the cake? I can show you if you want." Pinkie said, apparently obivious to Gilda's disbelief.

"No, not the stupid cake. How did you get around me without me noticing? I didn't even hear you move."

"Not sure what you're talking about, I said I was happy that I managed to surprise you with a not-a-surprise party, party. Then I offered you cake." Pinkie replied, beaming one of her pattented smiles.

"Gilda, it isn't worth going into. Just take the cake." Dash suggested, grinning at her confused friend.

"Thanks, Pinks." Gilda said, taking the cake carefully. Pinkie nodded and walked away back into the party. Gilda watched her go until Pinkie was on the other side of the room. She glanced behind her once before turning to the addmittedly delicious looking three layer cake. Maybe a little more pink frosting on it than she'd normally prefer. It was free, though; and made for her besides. Those two facts made it easily one of the best pieces of cake she'd ever had, as she bit into it from directly off the plate.

"Earth ponies aren't big on forks at informal events, are they?" She anounced her observation to her friend.

"Nah." Dash confirmed, mimicking her friend.

Gilda scanned the rest of the crowd observing the multitude of colors.

"Haven't been in a crowd like this for a while." She stated. "Doesn't seem like much has changed, ponies still sort of avoid a griffon almost twice their size." As she finished speaking her gaze settled on a white unicorn with a royall purple mane and three diamonds for a cutie mark. The unicorn wouldn't have caught Gilda's attention if not for the scornful glare she was shooting at her.

"You just gotta go and introuduce yourself. Ponies around here warm up to strangers pretty quickly. Once they know you they'll hang out with you no problem."

"Hey that unicorn looks familiar, what's her name?" Gilda said, ignoring her friend's words.

"Huh?" Dash intoned, tracking Gilda's gaze. "You mean Rarity? She's one of my friends bearer of generosity and stuff. Why?"

"Oh that's the dressmaker Rarity? Dang, it looks like she's got beef with me." Gilda paused for another bite of deliscious cake. "Not sure why though, I don't think I really said anything to her the last time I was here."

"Beef? You think she's mad at you? I think the only one Rarity holds a grudge against is Prince Blue-" Dash paused when she noticed the singularly focused glare Rarity had directed at Gilda. "Oh wow, she's pissed at you. Maybe Pinkie didn't tell her what's up?"

"Hopefully. I need her to do some work for me. Maybe I should go clear the air before she gets any angrier."

"I'll come with, just in case."

"Are you worried about me? I can take her, no problem."

"Not what I meant. Don't fight my friends please." Dash said, mild concern in her voice. She didn't actually believe Gilda would after all the effort her griffion friend was putting forth to be nicer.

"I'll defend myself if I have to." Gilda said setting her cake aside and dropping to all fours.

"Geeze, G."

The pair began to make their way across the room. Rarity having noticed this, moved to apparently meet them half way. The white unicorn stomped angrily across the room; the other guests quickly gave way for the furious looking mare.

Gilda and Dash both paused at Rarity's reaction.

"Uh, Dash. She looks really really pissed. Not saying I'm going to swing first or annything, but-"

"Woah, okay!" Dash said, taking fllight to zip between Gilda and the approaching storm of a pony.

"Rarity, what's up? You look like you're about to kill someone."

Rarity stopped just short of Dash and snorted angrily, "You may notice that Fluttershy isn't here." She spoke loudly enough for other party goers to hear, but didn't take her gaze off Gilda.

"Fluttershy probably just didn't feel up to being social. Why are you giving Gilda a death glare?" Dash tried to get in Rarity's field of vision.

"That would make sense. I was at her cottage just a ittle while ago, after Pinkie told me that Fluttershy started to panic when she received an invitation. Would you like to know what I found out from Fluttershy when I visited her?"

Dash got the sense that regardless of her answer she was getting an explanation.

"What did you find out?" Dash asked.

By now the entire room had fallen silent in reverence of the drama that was playing out before them.

Pushing past Dash, Rarity threw up an accusing hoof. "This thug threatened to eat Fluttershy's animals, and now the poor dear has boarded up her home with all her animal friends inside. She refused to even open the door when I stopped by."

The room let out a collective gasp, as all eyes turned to the accused party.

Gilda felt the room turning hostie against her in a hurry.

"Gilda, did you do that?" Dash asked, her gaze faling on her friend.

"I-" Gilda thought for a moment, "Yeah I did. It was after I stormmed out of the party the last time. I spotted her on my way out of town and lashed out at her." Gilda confessed slowly.

After a few moments of silence during which Dash was speechless and the tension in the room steadily rose, Gilda finally spoke again. "Look, I'm sorry."

"I don't need your apologies." Rarity snapped back.

"Not just to you." Gilda said quietly. The look of being ready for a fight dropping away and being replaced by a regretful downcast gaze. "I've been trying to do better recently, and I'm totally used to my past catching up with me. I was a class-A jerk the last time I came through here, and I'm trying to apologize to all of you. I came to your town and terrorized total strangers. Even if I didn't bully you directly, I'm sure you all felt it in some form or another, and I really truly am sorry about it."

Gilda paused mid speech and looked around the room. Rarity's gaze had hardly softened at all, but the rest of the room at least wasn't quite as against her as it had been a moment ago.

"I know Fluttershy isn't here to hear this, and I intend to apologize to her directly when I can. I'm trying to do better these days, and this is something that needs to be said. I am sorry. It's up to each of you to forgive me if you will, not that I expect or really deserve it." Gilda fell silent. For a long moment an oppresive silence ruled the room, strangely offset by the colorful decorations of the party.

"That's two speeches in one day!" Came Pinkirs exuberant voice from the crowd. Her proclamation was followed shortly after by canon fire. Brightly colored confetti and streamers rained down over the whole room.

A pink blur shot out of the crowd and wound up along side Rarity's side. Pinkie Pie threw a eg around her furioius friend and said, "Come on Rarity, she's super duper sorry. Besides doesn't everyone deserve a second chance?"

While Gilda tryed to wrap her head around the fact that she was the only one in the room at all phased by the sound of canon fire, Rarity went quiet. For the first time since the debacle began Rarity took her eyes off of Gilda and instead inspected each piece of colorful paper as she picked it off of herself. Rarity examined each piece as she held it in her magic, apparently searching for the one that had an answer she sought.

The room waited in a sort of reverent silence as Rarity finally removed the last piece of confetti from her mane. Her anger filled scowl was replaced by a deep frown as she spoke, "I suppose everyone is deserving of a second chance."

Pinkie smiled wide in triumph. Before the excitable mare could speak Rarity continued.

"Once Gilda has proven that she's changed, and once she's apologized to Fluttershy, I will accept her apology. Not before."

Pinkie's smile waned ever so slightly as her friend finished speaking and retreated to the farthest corner of the room away from Gilda.

The almost-a-fight being over the room slowly came back to life. The crowd went from a gathering watching an execution back to a proper party.

"Geeze, G. I can't believe you did that to Flutters." Dash finally said.

"Yeah I was in a really bad mood to be fair. I know it doesn't excuse what I did, but I've done way worse than threaten others for far less. Now I just have to figure out a way to apologize to her."

"That'll be pretty hard since she'd just as soon fight you as hear you out. Especially if she thinks you're after her animals from the get-go."

"That might work. Maybe if I just let her kick my ass she'll feel different about listening to my apology." Gilda said with a shrug. "It's worked for us in the past."

"Or," Pinkie suddenly cut in, "you could give her these lemonberry cupcakes. They're her favorite." She produced a butterfly decorated box containing a dozen cupcakes with yellow icing and a strawberry on each one.

"Alright, now I know you weren't holding that a second ago." Gilda started in, eyeing the box of colorful confections. She would've continued if she hadn't noticed Rainbow Dash slowy shaking her head.

"Uh... Thanks, Pinkie. I bet these will be helpful." Gilda said, taking both Dash's advice and the offered cupcakes.

"No thanks necessary. Anything for a friend." Pinkie chirped.

"Maybe if you give her cupcakes and let her beat you up, she'll forgive you." Dash quipped.

"That's not a bad plan, actually." Gilda addimitted, having apparently missed her friend's joking tone.

"Wait a minute. You just had Fluttershy's favorite cupcakes ready to go?" Gilda asked suddenly. She realzied fter the fact that Pinkie had disapeared quietly back into the crowd.

"That's just how Pinkie does things. She says she always has a counter-" Dash started, shaking her head while trying to think of the right word. "Coutern. Contiguou- Uh, what's the word?"

"Contingency plan?" Gilda suggested in a flat tone.

"Yeah that's the one."

"Were you going to say contiguous?" Gilda asked with a laugh.

"I spent a lot of time with an egghead. I've run into a lot of multi-syllabic words since I met her."

"Sweet Celestia, Dash! I bet you don't even know what a syllable is."

"So what if I didn't? Which I did. I used it right and everything."

"Whatever, egghead." Gilda dismissed mockingly. "I should probably take ccare of this Flutthershy thing sooner rather than later. I'm going to head out now."

"That's not a bad idea. You want me to come along?" Dash offered.

"Nah. If I take you with me and she does try to attack me. I don't want you taking my hits for me."

"Well, alright. Don't hurt her though. She's still the same Fluttershy we knew in Cloudsdale."

"I'll keep that in mind." Gilda said walking to the exit with cupcakes in hand. "Tell them not to wait up for me when the party starts winding down. Oh, and tell Pinkie I said thanks. For everything really."

"Will do, G." Dash said, waving her friend off.

As Gilda left she noticed a particular banner hanging above the door. It read "Welcome Back to Ponyville!" in big gold letters against a pink background.

"Hell of a welcome." She mused to herself as she stepped out into the late evening.