Chapter 6: The Goddess and The Griffon

Gilda sat down on a cloud by herself. She needed some time to herself. She had just been on an incredibly dangerous rescue mission. While she and Rainbow Dash had managed to save Princess Luna, it came at a cost. Their cover had been blown before they could escape and now Grifforia was going to declare war on Equestria. How Princess Celestia knew about this so soon was a mystery to Gilda. Perhaps she had some spies in Grifforia. Gilda was concerned about what would happen to herself and her friends during this war. Her friends had agreed to stick by her and Gilda was definitely touched by this. However she hated the idea of seeing her friends get hurt for her.

"This is gonna get ugly." Gilda said to herself.

The griffon then thought about Rainbow Dash. The rainbow maned pegasus had been her greatest friend for so long. Gilda also knew that she had started to have new feelings for Rainbow Dash. This had caused her to be even more stressed out than usual. She was certain that Rainbow Dash wouldn't return her feelings. Gilda was scared that the rainbow maned pegasus would abandon her if she revealed her true feelings.

"I just gotta keep my beak shut." Gilda said. "Dash won't stick around me if she finds out."

Gilda sighed and stayed on her cloud. All of a sudden she heard a flutter of wings. She looked behind her and she saw that The Moon Goddess Princess Luna was standing with her on the cloud. The dark blue alicorn was alone and she stared at Gilda as she landed on the cloud.

"May I sit here?" she asked.

Gilda nodded silently and Princess Luna sat down beside her. Her legs folded as she relaxed next to Gilda. The duo sat in silence for a while before Princess Luna spoke up.

"I have to thank you for saving me." the alicorn said.

"You're welcome Your Majesty." Gilda said quickly.

"Please call me Luna." Princess Luna replied.

"Okay then." Gilda said. "You're welcome Luna."

"That rescue was a very good thing that you did." Princess Luna said. "I don't think that I could thank you enough for saving me from that prison."

"It's no big deal." Gilda said.

"I am flattered by your loyalty." Princess Luna said. "But this is not why I came here to speak with you."

"Then what do ya wanna talk about Luna?" Gilda asked curiously.

"I want to talk to you about something I sensed." Princess Luna said. "I sense a conflict inside of your heart. You are faced with an extremely difficult decision are you not?"

Gilda looked confused for a moment but then she smiled.

"If you're talking about the war then you're wrong." Gilda said. "I already made my choice."

"My dear Gilda." Princess Luna said. "I know that you have decided to fight on the side of Equestria. Believe it or not you made that decision a long time ago. When you befriended Rainbow Dash all those years ago you had abandoned the beliefs held by your griffon kin. In a way choosing Rainbow Dash over those beliefs was the same as choosing Equestria over Grifforia."

Gilda's eyes widened a bit. She hadn't thought about that. Princess Luna was definitely right about that. Gilda had pretty much sealed her fate when she became friends with Rainbow Dash. But if Princess Luna wasn't here to discuss the war then what did she want to talk about?

"I sense another conflict within you." Princess Luna said. "One that concerns your friend Rainbow Dash. Or is she more than a friend to you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Gilda lied hastily.

"My dear Gilda there is no need to lie." Princess Luna said. "We are alone and I wouldn't dare reveal anything that we talk about while we are here."

Gilda stayed silent. Once again The Moon Goddess was right. There was no point in lying.

"How do you know?" Gilda asked.

"I can sense feelings." Princess Luna explained. "I can sense that you have fallen in love with Rainbow Dash. I know that you are scared that she won't return your feelings or that she might even abandon you because of them." She paused for a moment and then continued. "And I can also tell that you are creeped out by the fact that I know this."

Gilda had a shocked expression on her face. Princess Luna was one hundred percent right. Gilda had been feeling everything that the alicorn had described. The thought of The Moon Goddess being able to sense her feelings was definitely unsettling to the griffon.

"It doesn't matter." Gilda said. "She doesn't feel the same."

"Ah but how do you know that?" Princess Luna asked.

"You mean you know?" Gilda asked as she looked at the alicorn beside her.

"I am afraid that I do not know." Princess Luna said. "I am able to sense feelings but Rainbow Dash is not thinking about any feelings that she might have for you at this time."

"I was right." Gilda said sadly. "I'm just her best friend."

"I never said that she had no feelings for you." Princess Luna assured her. "She just isn't thinking about you at the moment. She might actually return your feelings."

"No she won't." Gilda said. "She'll think I'm weird and then she'll ditch me. She's not gonna hang around me if she thinks I'm in love with her."

"You are speaking out of fear Gilda." Princess Luna said firmly. "You know Rainbow Dash better than that. You know that even if she does not return your feelings she would never abandon you. Her friendship with you would not change in the slightest."

Gilda kept silent as The Moon Goddess continued to speak.

"I know that it can be scary to admit your feelings." she said. "But you will have to do it eventually. It is not good for you to keep those feelings repressed."

"I guess I'm just nervous." Gilda admitted.

"I understand." Princess Luna replied. "It is hard to admit your feelings without knowing how the other feels. I know that you are nervous about this. Do not feel obligated to tell her soon. You alone will know when the time is right."

The duo sat in silence while Gilda thought about what The Moon Goddess had said. Rainbow Dash definitely would not abandon her just because she didn't return her feelings. Gilda realized that Princess Luna was right. She knew Rainbow Dash better than to think that.

"I must return to Canterlot." Princess Luna said. "Goodbye Gilda."

"Goodbye Luna." Gilda replied.

The alicorn took off and headed back to Canterlot. Gilda stayed on her cloud for another moment and then she left and headed back to the cloud castle where she and Rainbow Dash lived. The griffon went inside of her room and saw Rainbow Dash sitting on her bed with a rather impatient look on her face.

"I've been waiting on ya G." Rainbow Dash said. "Where were ya?"

"Just needed some fresh air." Gilda replied as she went into the bathroom and brushed her teeth. Once this was done she went back into her room to get some much needed sleep.

The griffon laid down in her bed and Rainbow Dash didn't move.

"Hey Gilda." she said. "Do ya mind if I stay here for tonight?"

"Go right ahead Dash." Gilda replied.

Rainbow Dash got herself settled underneath the blanket and she snuggled right next to Gilda. The griffon wrapped her forelegs around the pegasus pony as she nuzzled her head into Gilda's white feathered chest. Gilda liked having her best friend sleeping in her forelegs. Rainbow Dash really liked laying her head against the soft white feathers on Gilda's chest. Both of them were extremely comfortable laying together like this. It wasn't weird for them since they had done this sort of thing whenever one of them needed to be comforted by the other.

"Good night Dash." Gilda said.

"Good night G." Rainbow Dash replied.

The duo then fell into a very peaceful sleep. They both had content smiles on their faces as they fell asleep in each other's embrace. Neither of them revealed their true feelings for the other. Both of the fliers were doubtful that those feelings would be returned. Gilda and Rainbow Dash were happy to be together like this. All thoughts of the war and the dangers that lay ahead for them were gone from their minds as they relaxed with each other. Each of them took comfort in the presence of the other.