Chapter 5:
Gallus, Ocellus, and Smolder Go To Town
Pearl took a deep breath and calmed down enough for her to look at the bank notice. Still not wanting to lose her home, she looks off into the distance as she lets the notice fall from her hand. The mixed feelings Pearl had caused her to sway. She clutched her head and fell backward, only to be caught by Thorax and Ember.
"Pearl!" Thorax said as he and Ember caught her before she could fall to the ground.
"Are you okay?" Ember asked, feeling worried about her condition.
Pearl looked at the two and said, "Oh, I'm fine. Seems like it took the starch right out of me,".
Thorax and Ember helped Pearl to her house. Gallus, Ocellus, and Smolder couldn't help but feel bad for them as they watched Thorax and Ember help Pearl to her house. Feeling woozy as she removed herself from Thorax and Ember, Pearl leaned against one of the support beams and let loose a defeated sigh. Thorax and Ember watched her with worry as Pearl made her way to the door. They had never seen her look so defeated.
Before Pearl could go inside, she turned back and said, "I'm sorry guys. I'm just plumbed out of ideas,".
Then without another word, Pearl walked into her house.
Everyone looked at each other unsure what to do from there.
A few hours later, Thorax and Ember called in a gathering of Griffons for a meeting. Some of them were mumbling and whispering about the problem. Then they went silent as Thorax spoke.
"Now, you all know why we are all gathered today, correct?" Thorax said.
"Yes, Thorax. We're all here to talk about the auction," a female Griffon said, remembering what the meeting is about.
"And about losing our home too," a male Hippogriff added.
"Oh, come on. We all know what happens now," Grampa Gruff complained.
"Err, Gruff, don't you dare start," Ember said, growling with a warning. She didn't want things to start off negatively.
"Now we all get exiled," Grampa Gruff bluntly said, causing everyone else to gasp.
"Gruff!" Thorax said, glaring at Grampa Gruff.
"What? What? You think we won't get exiled?" Grampa Gruff questioned, moving away.
While the grownups were talking, the kids were having a meeting of their own near the gates. Sweetie Belle looked at the grown-ups talking with a concerned look on her face. Then she turned her attention to the others.
"I can't believe we're gonna lose our home because of some auction," Scootaloo said with disappointment.
"Yeah, me either. This place is the only place where we feel right at home. Now we're gonna lose it forever," Applebloom said, agreeing with her friend.
"With the auction coming, I have a feeling it'll be too late by the time we come up with something," Smolder said, knowing that it'll be too late to save their home.
Seeing how sad they are about losing their home, Gallus stepped up and said, "Come on, you guys. Don't let some auction stop you. There's gotta be something that we can do,".
"But what, Gallus? What can we do? We're just a bunch of kids," Ocellus said, feeling like there's nothing kids like themselves can do.
"Ocellus is right. Ah mean we can't do anything adults could do," Applebloom agreed with her.
"Ooooohhhhh, this just isn't fair," Scootaloo said with a frown and her arms crossed.
Then Gallus got an idea from what she just proposed and hugged her as he said, "Fair! Scootaloo you're a genius!".
"She is?" Smolder, Ocellus, Applebloom, and Sweetiebelle said in unison shock and confusion.
"I am?" Scootaloo asked, being a bit confused.
"Yeah, don't you guys see? If there's one thing I know is that you could win big money and see the beautiful west if you went to the county fair," Gallus said as he walked around his new friends.
"Ohh," Applebloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Ocellus said, being amazed.
With a roll of her eyes as she's not liking the sound of this, Smolder started to say, "I don't know Gallus. Are you sure you know what you're doing?".
"What of course I do, Smolder. I've traveled around a bit and seen a lot of things. This could help. And besides, you guys deserve this place and I not only see home but a sanctuary," Gallus assured her as he turned to Smolder with a smile.
Ocellus, Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were touched by that speech.
"So, what's your plan, Gallus? How are you gonna get the money?" Sweetie Belle asked, wondering how Gallus is going to get the money.
"Well, since I have been to the fair before. That place is about two weeks away. So I'm gonna go to town, find the Sheriff, and ask him to give me more time," Gallus explained.
Ocellus knew that Gallus would be going to town by himself so she's been thinking about it. Then she figured it wouldn't hurt. So walking over to the gates, Ocellus grabbed the notice with her tail and walked back to Gallus, and said excitedly, "Well, if you're going. Can I come too, Gallus?".
"Sure, I could use some company," Gallus said with a nod.
Gallus turned to Smolder and asked, "What about you, Smolder? Are you comin' too?".
Smolder scoffed and said, "On this crazy mission? No, you guys might want to count me out,".
"What? But Smolder, don't you want to save Sweet Griffon Apple Acres?" Ocellus asked, feeling kinda shocked by Smolder's answer.
"I do, Ocellus. But I don't want to abandon this place nor our friends, especially Pearl. So technically saying, I'm staying put and making sure everything goes fine here," Smolder replied.
"Okay, then. Suit yourself," Gallus said shrugging his shoulder, seeing as they are unable to change her mind.
Gallus turned to the gate and then back at Ocellus and said, "Come on Ocellus. We got a home to save,".
Gallus started heading towards the gate while Ocellus cast one last glance at Smolder before following him. They stopped midway to the gate and looked back.
"You think we should give her a little time?" Ocellus asked Gallus in a whisper.
"Nah, I'm sure she'll come around. Besides, you can't stay in one place forever," Gallus said, feeling that this isn't the right time.
And the two young griffons then continued on their way as their friends called out to them.
"Good luck, guys," Applebloom said, waving at them.
"See ya soon!" Sweetie Belle said, waving at them with a smile.
"Hurry Back! " Scootaloo shouted, waving at them as well.
Gallus and Ocellus continued as they disappeared over the hill.
After a few hours of walking, they were halfway to the town of Griffonwater. Gallus and Ocellus decided to pass the time by talking to each other. The two talked as they passed under a tree.
"I can't believe Smolder decided to stay rather than going on this adventure with us," Ocellus said with a sad sigh, still not believing that Smolder has chose to stay at home.
"Don't worry, Ocellus. I'm sure she's just itching to join us," Gallus said, assuring her that Smolder will join them eventually.
"I hope you're right, Gallus," Ocellus said as vultures began flying overhead.
"Listen, all I know is that Smolder is just bound to be with us because as much she doesn't want to leave, she is willing to save Sweet Griffon Apple Acres," Gallus said, assuring her some more.
Then Ocellus noticed the vultures flying ahead and asked, "Even if it means the vultures have to circle us?".
Gallus looked up and saw the vultures as well.
"Don't worry. I got this," Gallus said as he walks up to the vultures.
Then he shouted to the vultures, " Hey! We're not dying!".
One of the vultures stopped to hover and said, "You kids sure? We can wait around,".
"Yeah, we're fine. Look we'll keep y'all posted!" Gallus called out tot them.
"False alarm, Clem!" the vulture said to his friend.
"Roger Dodger, out like the wind!" the other vulture said as they both flew off.
As Gallus and Ocellus were about to continue on their quest, they heard a familiar voice from behind them.
"Hey, guys. Wait up!" It said as Gallus and Ocellus looked behind themselves to see Smolder catching up with them.
"Smolder, you came," Ocellus said, feeling happy to see her as she hugged her friend.
"Well, what made you change your mind?" Gallus asked, approaching the two friends.
Smolder looked back and looked as if she was about to cry. But taking a deep breath and making herself look strong, she said, "I'd rather not talk about it,".
"It's a chick thing," Ocellus said to Gallus in a whisper.
"So, now that we're together. How do we find the Sheriff's Office when we get to town?" Ocellus asked, wanting to know how they were going to find the Sheriff's Office in town.
"Don't worry, Ocellus. If we find Silverstream, we find the Sheriff," Smolder replied as she already knows how they could find the Sheriff's Office.
"Tell me more about Silverstream. What is her deal?" Gallus said as he becomes interested to learn more about Silverstream while he and Ocellus nodded in agreement, thinking it was a great plan.
"Well, for starters. Silverstream is always the hero in her mind," Ocellus said with a teasing smile.
Then the Young 3 Griffons started laughing at the thought as they continued following the trail to town.
Author's Note: Looks like The Young 3 have decided to head to town to talk to Skybeak about the auction problem so they can get the money to save their home. Of course, this is half of where their journey begins...
