Hey everycreature! What's up!?
So this didn't start out as I hoped, especially this one person who's really persistent with the hatred… But does that stop me? NO! I got a good story idea, the motivation and devotion to do it, so that's enough for me!
Hopefully with the second chapter, it picks up a little!
Chapter 2: Hate Crime
Morning came over in Equestria and in Canterlot Sandbar and his griffon daughter Abby woke and packed up to go back home to Griffonstone. Before they would catch the train back home, Sandbar decided to say goodbye to Rose once more before leaving, it would be a bad decision… As the two, with their packed bags, saw Rose's flower shop in sight, what was once a wonderful bright light in the city's business district was a disaster.
"Daddy what happened?" Abby asked Sandbar as the stallion himself was taken aback.
"I don't know sweetie, lets check it out and see if Miss. Rose is okay." Sandbar answered in a clear worried tone as he hoped his friend was safe.
Rose's Flower Shop was a complete wreck, like a tornado crashed into the shop. The front windows were all smashed, soil was scattered about and covered the shop's floor, and flowers twisted or trampled on. As Sandbar and his daughter came closer to the store, there were several royal guards posted outside, who stood in front of Sandbar and the little griffon.
"Halt." One of the guards demanded.
"Who are you?" Another asked sternly.
Sandbar was about to defend himself, when a familiar voice came up, saving the two.
"Easy private, I know them, they're not a threat." The voice said as the owner came up, the guards stepping aside to reveal a red unicorn in a captain's guard armor. "Mr. Sandbar, my apologies, the guards are a little paranoid now." The captain apologized.
The captain was of course none other than Rose's father Sword Gauntlet, who of course heard about what happened and came right away with Princess Celestia's permission.
"Is Rose here? Is she okay?" Sandbar asked, showing a clear tone of worry.
"Come, she's inside." Sword replied. "She can surely use a friend right now."
And Sword led the two inside the wrecked shop while the guards outside continued to keep watch. As Sandbar got inside the shop, the destruction was worse than it looked from outside, the stallion wondering who would do such a thing to such a loved mare.
"Sweetie, your friend is here." Sword said as Rose's back was turned to them, clearly she was crying and heartbroken that someone would do this to her.
"Rose, are you okay? Are you hurt?" Sandbar then said, which caught Rose's attention.
"I'm okay, I just found the shop like this when I came to open it for the day, somepony must have informed the princess and my dad what happened." Rose replied as Abby, feeling sorry for the mare came up and hugged the mare, which Rose appreciated.
"Do you know who could have done this?" Sandbar then asked.
"No, I don't know." Rose answered in a confused tone.
"We do have some evidence, the motto underneath the shop's name sign had a "X" over it and judging by this destruction, I'm guessing it's a unicorn, plus all the bits from my daughter's earnings have also been taken." Sword reported. "There are still those who don't like other creatures from being in Equestria, so this is clearly a hate crime."
Sandbar couldn't believe it, that someone would dare to send out such a message by destroying his friend's flower shop which brought so much joy to everyone, with Rose not asking anything in return. It caused his heart to shatter.
"Until we find out who did this, I'm putting my daughter under guard protection for the time being." Sword continued.
"Dad, I don't need the protection, I'll be fine." Rose tried to reassure her dad.
"Sweetie, it's not only my job to protect the citizens of this city, it's also my job as a dad to protect my daughter, you're getting protection day and night." Sword stating defiantly as Sandbar shook his thoughts.
"Rose I'm sorry this happened to you, I wish I could do something to help." Sandbar apologized.
"No Sandbar, it's okay, I'll figure it out myself, I don't want to burden you or any of our friends with this, you all already have a lot to deal with." Rose said, drying up her tears as she stood up, Abby letting go of the hug. And going back to her dad. "And I see you're packed up to go back home, so don't let me stop you, I'm sure Gallus and Junior are eagerly waiting for your return." Rose tried her best smile.
So Sandbar, after saying a painful goodbye, left with his daughter Abby to the train station, waiting for the next train to Griffonstone, as it arrived, the two got up, bound for home. As Sandbar looked out the window at Canterlot, all he could picture was Rose's destroyed shop despite looking at the rest of the regal city.
"Daddy, is Miss. Rose going to be okay?" Abby asked in her shy voice.
"I don't know sweetie, I really don't know…" Sandbar sighed as he felt useless not being able to help his friend.
After a lengthy trip, the train finally arrived at Griffonstone, which was far different now than some years ago. Under King Gallus' leadership and the griffons accepting help from other lands now unlike the past, the griffons' home became more enjoyable and pleasant, they even have tourists now from the many other lands. Sandbar and Abby got off the train and made their way up the mountain paths to their home, going to the largest house in the kingdom, which was of course the king's residence. As they came inside the house, Sandbar called out.
"Gallus, Junior, we're home." Sandbar said, but not too loudly owning to his sadness, luckily it was enough that Gallus heard and came right away to greet the rest of his family back.
"Well, welcome back my handsome stallion." Gallus smiling as he gave a quick kiss to Sandbar's cheek before grabbing Abby softly and tossing her up in the air gently with his claws. "And you too my little griffon."
"Daddy, you know I'm still afraid of being too high off the ground." Abby chuckled as Gallus stopped and put her down, but then noticing Sandbar's expression on his face.
"What's wrong Sandbar?" Gallus said with concern. "You don't look too happy being back home."
"It's not that…" Sandbar said as he took out the flowers he got from Rose's flower shop and gave them to his husband. "I got these flowers for you."
"Oh…" Gallus said as he took the bundle. "You didn't have to, Yona and I had easy diplomatic meetings, no sweat."
"Well, I got those from Rose's flower shop, the next day before we got on the train, I wanted to say goodbye to Rose last one time, but…" Sandbar choked up as he felt he wasn't strong enough to say it or how Gallus would react to the news.
"Sandbar, what is it?" Gallus starting to worry now.
Sandbar sighed before taking a deep breath and finishing.
"Her shop was completely destroyed, some unicorn trashed the place and not only that but stolen all her bits and placed an "X" over her shop's motto." Sandbar got out.
Gallus was stunned beyond words as he just looked down at Sandbar's gift to him. Rose was part of the reason why Griffonstone has developed over the years, it was because of Rose's donations that the griffons were able to rebuild the land to its former glory. Rose was an honored guest whenever she came to visit Gallus and Sandbar and all the griffons loved her, especially the little ones who would crowd around the young mare.
"She said she can figure it out herself, even when I said I wished I could help…" Sandbar started to tear up. "I feel so useless as a friend right now…" Sandbar looking down at the floor of the house, feeling Gallus' wing wrap around him in a comforting manner.
"Hey, it's okay, you're not useless Sandbar." Gallus said as he brought his head closer to his husband's face. "And we can do something to help our friend who helped everyone else."
"But how?" Sandbar asked, wondering how they could help.
"By raising enough bits for Rose to open a new shop and find out who's responsible for this." Gallus said in confidence. "And it wouldn't just be us two." Gallus finishing, referring to several others that were important in Rose's life…
Obviously I'm referring to all of the Young 6!
That's pretty much it for now, so…
See everycreature later!
