Chapter 2:
Sweet Griffon Apple Acres
The spirit of Sweet Griffon Apple Acres was happy as the day's chores were getting started. The owner of the Griffon Sanctuary, Pearl, a Hippogriff, opened the door as she and two young griffons walked out. One was a pale light grayish arctic blue giraffe-like griffon named Ocellus and the other was a brilliant gamboge with light gold griffon named Smolder, followed Pearl outside as their day begins.
( Little Patch Of Heaven Music )
Female Singer: I know of a place
Pretty as pie
Out where the river bend
Hits up with the end of the sky.
Smolder followed Pearl to a nearby coop where Pearl picked up before putting it through the strap of a feed bag. When she walked in, Pearl slightly danced to the beat of the day while bringing the bag of feed to the chickens. She was just happy to be alive, and with her family. When Pearl turned around, she didn't notice the eggs that the chickens laid had popped out of their nests and were falling to the floor. Quickly, Smolder was able to use her quickness to catch all the eggs before they reached the ground. Then one by one they hatched and all the baby chicks looked at Smolder and smiled.
Female Singer: It's left of Nebraska
And over a crest
In Sweet Griffon Apple Acres way out west.
When they left the coop with the new chicks following Smolder, they began their next chores. Rubbing the apple trees, Smolder and her older brother Garble, a moderate red Griffon, made the ready fruit start to fall to the ground. Pearl walked right up and held up a basket as the apples fell in. She also had help from Ocellus, another Giraffe-like griffon but with light lime green and dark azure feathers named Thorax, and an elder Griffon with violetish gray feathers named Grampa Gruff. Well it was mostly Ocellus and Thorax catching the apples with their head bumps and tails, since Grampa Gruff was eating all that he could catch.
Female Singer: Everything's green
Know what I mean?
Darlin', it's quite the greatest sight
That you ever done seen.
Pearl turned as Ocellus and Thorax tossed what they had to her and the apples piled into the basket with the other. A female Griffon with Brilliant cyan feathers named Ember has stepped on a corn stalk before releasing it. A few ears of corn were sent flying through the air before and landed right into another basket.
Female Singer: Ain't nothin' much out there
Just life at its best
In Sweet Griffon Apple Acres way out west.
A swarm of bees flew through the air in time with the music and smiles while Ocellus watched on with a smile of her own. When a few flew close to her head, Ocellus ducked down. The swarm disappeared into the air as Ember lowered her head to some flowers and took a sniff. She let out a sigh of relief before letting out a sneeze. Ember then got out of the way as a couple of tumbleweed came her way.
Female Singer: Bees by the dozen
Are buzzin' real peaceful
Every bluebonnet, doggone it, smells nice
Even the tumblin' tumbleweeds
Slow down to match your speed
Pearl placed plates with pieces of pie on the table as a few griffons gathered to enjoy. Three young Hippogriffs ran up to join, but it proved a little difficult. They jumped up and down the table before they got up there and started digging in. At the sanctuary, Smolder was putting the produce for the market as she finished and pushed the last crate in place. The chickens started dancin' while Pearl, Ocellus, and Smolder walked through the sanctuary grounds as the morning express went by on the tracks.
Female Singer: On my tiny half of acre of paradise.
Darlin' I swear
Once you've been there
There ain't a view beneath the blue
That could ever compare.
Soon, all the Griffons and Pearl started square dancing to the beat. Then Pearl started to finish the chores by taking a pitchfork and tossing a bundle of food into the feeding table. Smolder looked at the food on top of her head and saw baby chicks appearing. Even Pearl was surprised, but then she smiled at the moment while three chicks were playing with the pitchfork. The baby chicks on Smolder soon got off as she, Ocellus and their families watched their keeper walk off to do other things. When she walked off, one of the chicks climbed up to the chimney before letting out a full-grown rooster crow. The crow was so loud that it caused his father the rooster to fall off the roof and woke him as he fell to the ground.
Female Singer: The only thing missing
Is you as my guest
On Sweet Griffon Apple Acres way out west
Why don't you come visit?
There's room in my nest
On that Sweet Griffon Apple Acres
Way out W-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-est.
The others watched as the rooster fell to the ground and tumbled across the ground before barreling into the feeding table where Ocellus, Smolder, Thorax, and Ember were enjoying their lunch. The rooster turned to them and said with a chuckle "Gee, that's my boy,".
"Can Griff! Can Griff!" three voices yelled.
Ocellus, Smolder, Thorax, and Ember heard the three Hippogriff Fillies shouting across the yard. They looked to see the Hippogriff Fillies yelling at Grampa Gruff who is sitting at the entrance of his house. Grampa Gruff looked at the three Hippogriffs with a slight glare and said, "Don't yell at me,".
"The Call Of Duty," Thorax said as he and Ember recognize the situation.
Seeing the situation, Smolder thought of an idea and said, " Hey, why don't you let me and Ocellus handle this one?".
While Smolder was talking, Ocellus was blowing some food into a bubble like a piece of gum until it gave a loud pop.
"Really?" Ocellus asked excitedly,
"Really? Are you two sure you could handle this?" Ember asked. She loves them but isn't sure about giving them too much responsibility at such a young age.
"Of course. Plus, it's time we learn how to take responsibility around here. Come on, Ocellus," Smolder said as she heads on over.
"Coming," Ocellus said as she follows behind her.
The two young griffons walked over to Grampa Gruffs' place as the three Hippogriff Fillies continued to glare at him and yelled, "Can Griff! Can Griff!".
"Get out of my case, you little foals," Grampa Gruff shouted in annoyance.
"Okay, okay. What seems to be the problem here?" Smolder asked as she and Ocellus walked over and shaking their head.
"It's our can! Grampa Gruff took it from us," a Hippogriff filly named Applebloom said, pointing at Grampa Gruff.
"And now he says it's his can," the Hippogriff filly next to Applebloom named Scootaloo said.
Ocellus moved between the two and said with a sigh, "Grampa Gruff you know it's not nice to take their can. Give it back to them,".
"Sorry, but their can landed on my property. And anything that lands on my property stays with me," Grampa Gruff said, shaking his head.
Seeing that Grampa Gruff wouldn't give the can back, Smolder came up with an idea and had a sly grin on her face.
"Well, if you're not gonna give the can back. Then I suggest we...KILL THE OLD TIMER!" Smolder yelled.
"Let's Do It!" a white Hippogriff filly named Sweetie Belle yelled, agreeing.
The three Hippogriff fillies leaped at the elder Griffon while yelling at the top of their lungs. As they fought, Sweetie Belle jumped on Grampa Gruff causing him to lose grip on the can. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Grampa Gruff all made a grab for the can as it heads higher into the air.
Seeing the can up in the air, Smolder saw this chance and yelled, "Now Ocellus!".
Ocellus caught the can with her tail which caused the fight to stop and said with a firm look, "Ahem,".
"Sorry Ocellus, sorry Smolder," Applebloom said as she and her friends stopped fighting Grampa Gruff.
Holding the can away from them, Ocellus asked, "Guys, why can't you three leave Grampa Gruff alone?".
"Yeah, why can't ya?" Grampa Gruff asked with a slight nod.
"We all know that this old Griffon needs peace and quiet," Smolder said.
"That's right I need it!" Grampa Gruff said.
"So run along and take your can with you," Ocellus said as she flicked the can away.
Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle ran after the can with joy.
Even Grampa Gruff agreed and said, "Yeah you take that can and -,".
But he suddenly realized what had just happened and said, "Hey! Whoa! Come back here, you little peasants!".
"Grampa Gruff, don't you think you have enough stuff for now?" Ocellus asked.
"Uh, no. Not really," Grampa Gruff said, sitting down.
Ocellus and Smolder looked at each other with skeptical looks as they looked to see a mountain of stuff next to Grampa Gruffs' place. Honestly it was more than enough junk for any creature.
Author's Note: Looks like things are going well at Sweet Griffon Apple Acres. Chores being done, Smolder and Ocellus learning how to be responsible, and everyone is happy to have a home for them and their families. But I have a feeling things are gonna change when an unfamiliar visitor comes around in the next chapter...
