Chapter 4: Manticores and Pony Roars

Gilda woke up the next day feeling even happier than before. Not only has Applejack forgiven her, but now she and Rarity were finally on good terms. While the modeling had been rather humiliating for the griffon, Gilda could rest assured that Rarity was not going to be giving out the pictures that she took during the process. Gilda grinned as she remembered what the unicorn had said to her.

"Don't worry Gilda nopony will see these pictures but me." Rarity assured her.

"Bet ya Dash will have something to say about that." the griffon had replied.

"Oh I did promise Rainbow Dash that I would take plenty of pictures." Rarity admitted. "But I never said that I would let her see them after all."

This statement caused the griffon to smile. She knew that Rarity was being fully honest with her. The griffon stood up, got out of her bed, and walked into the kitchen. Rainbow Dash was nowhere in sight and Gilda had a small smile on her face. She closed her eyes and waited a moment before turning and sticking out her forelegs. She reached out and grabbed Rainbow Dash in mid-tackle and stared at the pony's expression of wide-eyed disbelief. Gilda laughed a bit before she spoke to her stunned best friend.

"You can't pull the same trick on me twice in a row Dash." she teased. "You know me better than to think that it would work again." She put Rainbow Dash down and pulled her into an embrace which the pegasus eagerly returned. Gilda knew that Rainbow Dash was trying to catch the griffon off guard like she did the other day but Gilda was prepared for her this time.

"One day G, one day." Rainbow Dash muttered but the smile on her face gave away her attempt at being annoyed. The pegasus got to work making breakfast while Gilda did whatever she could to feel like she was being useful in some way. The duo sat down and ate the breakfast that the pegasus had provided. Rainbow Dash might not have been one of Equestria's finest chefs, but everything that she could cook was always delicious.

"So G." Rainbow Dash began. "Got any plans for today?"

Gilda shook her head. "Nah." she said with a grin. "I'll just wing it like I usually do."

"Well good luck." the pegasus replied.

The two friends got up and left Rainbow Dash's house behind. Rainbow Dash headed off to work while Gilda just strolled around Ponyville. She smiled and nodded at the few ponies that greeted her cheerfully. Some of them had even complimented her on how well she had performed during Rarity's bet the other day. Gilda's smile grew just a little bit. Little by little, she was convincing Ponyville that she wasn't as bad as the residents thought she was. Soon enough they would forget about her old reputation as a bully completely. Gilda wandered through town when a pony ran into her and nearly knocked her over.

If this had been the Gilda who visited Ponyville a year ago, then she might have lost her cool. Instead she just looked at the pony that had rammed her and saw that it was none other than Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus squealed when she realized that she had bumped into Gilda and hastily tried to apologize.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry." she stammered. Fluttershy kept trying to apologize but Gilda smiled.

"Relax Fluttershy." the griffon replied. "It's cool. You didn't hurt me or anything."

She was about to go on her way when she noticed that Fluttershy had a very worried expression on her face.

"Come on Fluttershy lighten up." Gilda said. "You didn't hurt me." Gilda grinned at the yellow pony who still had that worried expression on her face. Gilda grew concerned for the pink maned mare. "Something wrong Fluttershy?" she asked with a bit of concern in her voice.

"No no no." Fluttershy replied. "Don't worry Gilda I just need to get going. Oh what am I going to do?" Fluttershy was frantic as she tried to run off but Gilda blocked her. The griffon placed a reassuring foreleg on Fluttershy's shoulder and spoke in a gentle tone.

"Whoa Fluttershy take it easy." she said. "Just calm down and tell me what's wrong."

Fluttershy took a deep breath and tried to calm down. "It's Angel." she said. "I was walking with Angel and then Pinkie Pie set off one of her party cannons and now Angel's gone missing." Fluttershy was definitely worried for her rabbit friend.

"Don't worry Fluttershy don't worry." Gilda said. "I'll help you find Angel. Now which way did she go?"

"Umm Gilda." Fluttershy nervously began. "Angel's a boy."

Gilda grinned at the pony. "All right then." she said. "Which way did he go?"

Fluttershy pointed in the direction of a forest. It wasn't Everfree Forest but it was still a forest and a large one at that. Gilda could definitely understand why the pegasus was so worried about Angel. The rabbit could easily get lost in there. However Gilda grinned at Fluttershy.

"No problem." she said. "Follow me."

She took to the skies and soared over to the forest with Fluttershy behind her. Gilda stayed above the trees and searched the ground with her eyes. Being half eagle definitely came in handy whenever the griffon needed to find something in a place as big as this forest.

"Umm Gilda." Fluttershy began timidly. "Wouldn't it be easier to look for Angel on the ground?"

Gilda smiled at the pony that was flying next to her as she spoke.

"Fluttershy have you ever heard the term 'Bird of Prey' before?" she asked.

"I think so." the pegasus responded nervously.

"Well I'm half eagle." Gilda explained. "And because of that it'd be easier for me to find Angel in a forest if I look from the sky." Gilda saw Fluttershy's scared expression and knew that she needed to reassure the pegasus of her intentions. "Don't worry." she said in the most soothing tone she had. "I won't hurt Angel. I wouldn't want to hurt your friends."

Fluttershy seemed to believe that but she still had her doubts about Gilda's plan.

"Are you sure this is a good idea Gilda?" she asked. "This is a big forest. Angel could be anywhere and-"

The rest of Fluttershy's statement was cut off as a confident grin grew on Gilda's face.

"Found him." she triumphantly declared. She flew down towards the forest with Fluttershy behind her. The duo landed and Gilda walked over towards a tree where Angel was clinging to a branch in fear. Fluttershy followed her and tried to get Angel to come down but the rabbit wouldn't listen.

"I think he's scared." Fluttershy whispered. "You did say you weren't going to hurt him right Gilda?"

"Yeah but maybe he'd relax if I were somewhere else." the griffon replied. She noticed a stream and pointed it out to Fluttershy. "I'll be over there. Let me know if you need me."

Gilda walked over towards the stream and sat down looking into the water. While she was honest with Fluttershy when she said that she didn't want to hurt Angel, she knew why the rabbit was scared of her. Part of Gilda's eagle instincts meant that small animals like rabbits would naturally be scared of her. The griffon stared into the stream while she waited for Fluttershy to take care of Angel. Gilda noticed that there were quite a few salmon swimming around and she wondered if it would be worth grabbing one as an early lunch.

Should I risk it? she wondered. Fluttershy is an animal lover but this is a forest not her house. Well if I'm gonna grab a fish I'd better make it quick.

The griffon looked at one of the salmon swimming around and she raised one of her claws. She was just about to make a grab for the salmon when she heard a terrified scream behind her. Gilda turned quickly and what she saw shocked her. A manticore was leering towards Fluttershy, who stood helpless along with Angel. Making up her mind in an instant, Gilda stood up on her hind legs and cupped her claws around her beak.

"Hey furball!" she yelled. "Leave 'em alone will ya?"

The manticore turned and glared at the griffon. Gilda could see the hunger in its angry eyes. She gazed at the manticore as it bared its teeth in an attempt to scare her off. Despite the manticore's intimidating nature, Gilda stood her ground. This overgrown beast isn't making a meal out of my friends. Gilda thought determinedly. Not while I'm around.

"If you're so hungry." she taunted. "Why don't you skip the appetizer and go straight for the main course?"

The manticore glanced back at the terrified pony and rabbit and made up its mind. It charged straight for Gilda who had already prepared herself. The manticore raised one of its paws and was about to slash at Gilda, but the griffon ducked underneath it and then she jumped up and kicked it right in the rear with her hind legs.

The manticore roared in pain and tried to lunge at the griffon. Gilda easily dodged its attacks and countered with her own. Fluttershy could only watch the griffon's performance with a mixture of shock and awe on her face. She wished that she could be as fearless as Gilda. Gilda gave the manticore a powerful punch to the gut which sent it backwards. The beast breathed heavily and glared at the griffon while Gilda glared right back.

"Had enough?" she taunted. "Or are you hungry for a second helping?"

The manticore growled and lunged at Gilda who ducked underneath it and then she did something incredible. She placed her forelegs underneath the manticore's torso and lifted the beast right off its paws. Then she hurled him away and watched it struggle to get back up. When it finally got itself back up, it decided to run away deeper into the forest. Gilda smirked as she watched the manticore run away. Then she stood up on her hind legs and let out a thunderous roar of pride. When Gilda settled herself down, she approached Fluttershy with a concerned look on her face.

"You okay Fluttershy?" she asked in a small voice.

Fluttershy nodded and then out of nowhere she hugged Gilda.

"Thank you." she whispered as she held the griffon in her forelegs.

"No problem." the griffon replied as she returned Fluttershy's hug.

"I wish I was as brave as you Gilda." the yellow pony whispered. "I'm always scared of everything."

"It's okay Fluttershy." Gilda said. "That manticore was huge. It's okay to be scared of it."

The two of them let go of each other and walked towards the edge of the forest with Angel sitting on Fluttershy's back.

"I just wish I could be more like you." the pegasus muttered sadly.

"Maybe I could try to help you?" Gilda offered.

"Really?" Fluttershy asked. "You would help me?"

"Of course." Gilda replied honestly. "That's what friends do."

Gilda and Fluttershy stopped walking abruptly. They faced each other and Gilda asked Fluttershy if she wanted Gilda to start helping her now. The pegasus accepted and then the two of them stood facing each other a good ten feet apart.

"Okay." Gilda began. "Roar at me."

"What?" Fluttershy asked.

"You heard me." the griffon responded. "Give me your best roar."

Fluttershy gave it her best efforts but her roar was weak and almost silent. Gilda shook her white feathered head,

"Come on Fluttershy." she urged. "Dig deep. That roar is in you. Find it and let it out."

Fluttershy concentrated and roared again. It wasn't as loud as Gilda's but it was definitely audible.

"Keep it up." Gilda encouraged her. "Dig real deep. You can do this."

Fluttershy closed her eyes, prepared herself, and when she opened her eyes, Gilda could see the change. Gone was the pony's usually timid expression. Now Fluttershy's face wore a look of fierce determination. She let out a roar and Gilda was definitely impressed. Fluttershy was no griffon, but her roar was almost as loud as Gilda's roar had been. When she realized what she had done, Fluttershy blushed with a rather embarrassed look on her face.

"Did I do it wrong." she asked.

"Fluttershy." Gilda began. "That. was. AWESOME!"

"Really?" she asked. She couldn't believe it.

"Yeah." Gilda answered with a grin. "That's just what I was telling you to do."

"Wow thanks Gilda." Fluttershy whispered.

Gilda grinned as she answered. "No problem Fluttershy." she paused and then her grin turned from pride to mischief. "That manticore better not come back or you'll send him running back to his mommy."

Fluttershy looked a bit scared but when she realized that Gilda was making a joke she laughed. It helped that Gilda was laughing with her. The pegasus and the griffon walked side by side until they were out of the forest. They laughed and talked all the way back to Fluttershy's cottage. Fluttershy thanked Gilda for all her help and then the griffon left for home. Some ponies had seen her walking with Fluttershy and they smiled at her. Gilda's reputation was definitely getting better. She walked back into Rainbow Dash's cloud castle and saw her best friend waiting for her.

"Jeez Gilda were you trying to scare everypony in town with those roars?" she asked.

"That first roar was me." Gilda admitted. "But the second one was someone else."

"Oh really?" Rainbow Dash asked skeptically. "Like who?"

"Fluttershy." Gilda answered.

"Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash asked in an even more disbelieving tone. "No way."

"Yep." Gilda responded. "She's almost as good as me."

Rainbow Dash grinned at her best friend. Gilda told her the whole story with extra emphasis on her fight with the manticore as well as how impressive Fluttershy's roar was. The pegasus couldn't believe her ears yet she knew that Gilda was being honest. Rainbow Dash knew that Gilda would have no trouble making friends with Twilight Sparkle and Spike now that she had helped Fluttershy. The duo ate dinner and went to bed both grinning broadly.