Chapter 17:
Reuniting With Gallus/Silverstream Tricks Another Hippogriff
It was right now nighttime at Slim's Lair in Echo Mine, and another Bison-like Griffon stood by a cave entrance. Inside, Slim and his henchman Brain are trying to show Drain and Crain Slim's disguise.
"OK, boys let's go through this one last time. Who am I?" Slim said while gesturing to himself.
" Oh, that's easy. You're Slim, the boss," Crain said, raising a hand and taking a guess. It seemed easy.
"Correct, Heh. Now, I put on my hat, then I put on my spectacles-," Slim said with a nod and laugh as he puts on his hat and spectacles. Trying to be with his henchmen.
But it was when the spectacles were put on Crain and Drain began to panic.
"Aaah! Hey! Who are you?" Drain demanded in shock and panic.
"Yeah, where's Slim?" Crain demanded as he and Drain began raising their fists.
"Ooooooh! It's still ME! Can't you two stupid sack of hammers ever get it, right?!" Slim cried out in frustration and became red-faced as he removed his hat and spectacles and got angry red as Crain and Drain quivered and huddled together.
Then a train whistle was heard.
"Boss, he's here," Brain said, informing Slim that their guest is here which appears to calm Slim down.
"Oh! The Ever-Punctual Mr. Weaseley," Slim said, now calmed down as he turned to the direction where the whistle came from.
A train appeared from one of the tunnels and starting to slow down.
"Ok, everybody make way for the big Griffon in Black Market Griffon Residents," Slim announced as The train slows down to a complete stop as steam spews out of its pistons, and a short figure appeared.
Meanwhile, Brain had the spectacles and hat on and turns to Crain and Drain.
"Ahhhh!" Drain yelled, panicking from the disguise still.
"Hey, who are you?" Crain demanded.
"Aaaaaaah! It's me you feather-brains!" Brain growled as he also turns angry red and Crain and Drain quivered more in fear. It was those two were definitely dead heads.
Meanwhile, a purple hat was seen walking through a whole group of Griffons.
"Alright, come on! Move it, Bessie, or I'll tan your hides right here!" a voice said, threatening some of the Griffons.
Slim then pulls up a small griffon in a purple suit right out of the sea of Griffons.
"I - Hey - Hey - Hey! Watch the suit! Watch the suit!" the Griffon said, complaining about being manhandled.
"Feast your eyes! 5,005 Griffons on the barrel head as promised, Mr. Weasley," Slim said , gesturing the small Griffon to the sea of Griffons as he placed the Griffon down.
"The name's Wesley. So, Slim, what do you say we get a move on and load these cash Griffons onto the train. A.S.A.P, huh? Let's go!" Wesley corrected as he hands Slim his suitcase and Slim caught it with ease.
"Yes, yes, of course. Just as soon as I finished counting. Hmm," Slim said as he opens the suitcase which is filled with money and started flicking a few of the wads of bills. He loves money.
Meanwhile, outside of Echo Mine, dawn was starting to approach as The Young 4 and Lucky Jack have finally arrived.
"'Echo Mine'. Guys, Lucky Jack did it! We're here!" Ocellus said as she read the sign above them and they started walking up a slope.
"Well, I'll be. I can't believe I'm sayin' this, but this whole journey sure has been easy for us," Smolder said being impressed that they have finally arrived at Echo Mine. Without any real injuries as well without injuries.
"Yeah, Lucky Jack, you just got us here in just one piece," Sandbar said, facing Lucky Jack while they came around the bend with Lucky Jack riding on Sandbars' back.
"Well, seein' is believin'," Lucky Jack said, shrugging and gesturing to his old home.
"And Yona not believe what Yona's seeing," Yona said, noticing something ahead as her eyes narrowed. This was something she didn't expect.
"Oh, no! It's Silverstream! She beat us here already," Smolder said as they all looked to see Silverstream at the entrance to the mine which is guarded by the other Bison-like Griffon from the Griffon Drive.
"Hold on, looks like she's being blocked by that Bison Griffon," Ocellus said, noticing that the Bison Griffon guarding the entrance is currently talking to Silverstream, the last Griffon The Young 4 were expecting.
"So you see. I'm supposed to be here in case one of the Hippogriffs got tired," Silverstream said, trying to reason with the Bison Griffon through their conversation.
"Griffons Only," Junior, the Bison Griffon, only said while not moving an inch. He was like a bouncer at a nightclub.
"Look, sir, you obviously don't understand my situation," Silverstream said, getting annoyed by Junior saying 'Griffons Only'.
"No, you don't understand, young lady. So I'll say it again, the only creatures who can get by me are Griffons. Griffons ONLY," Junior said, clarifying for Silverstream as the Young 4 walked near them from behind.
After hearing from what Junior just said, The Young 4 looked at each other and smirk, getting an idea about how they can get into the mine without any oppositions.
"Oh, please, look, Sir. Let me explain. Now… what?" Silverstream said, still trying to talk her way in until she heard somebody cleared their throat and turned to see the Young 4.
"What, what are you four doin' here?" Silverstream asked as Ocellus went up to Junior.
"Ha-ha! Sorry, we're late sir, we got separated from the flock. Also, did you see a Blue Griffon that passed by here?" Ocellus asked, giggling a little bit at the smiling Bison Griffon.
"Why, yes indeed little lady, right this way. Tell him Junior sent ya," Junior said, stepping aside to let Ocellus and her friends enter the mine.
"What? Hey! This is not fair…," Silverstream groaned for she could hardly watch them getting closer to Slim as Smolder walked past her with Lucky Jack riding on her back.
"Howdy, partner," Lucky Jack greeted, looking at the unfortunate Hippogriff.
"Excuse us, Hippogriff," Yona said as she and Sandbar walked past Silverstream.
"Yeah, new recruits comin' through," Sandbar commented as he swings his tail at Silverstream, who ends up having feathers in her mouth.
Silverstream spits out the feathers while becoming irritated by the comment and could only watch them get past Junior as Junior got back to his spot, guarding the entrance again.
"Hey, wait, what gives? How come they get to go through and I can't?" Silverstream demanded, complaining.
"They're Griffons," Junior said, reminding her of the rules again.
"What? But what about the rabbit?! He's not even a Griffon!" Silverstream exclaimed, questioning about Lucky Jack, seeing that he's not a Griffon.
"No. But obviously, he was with those griffons," Junior pointed out.
"But, sir, I'm with those Griffons too," Silverstream said quickly while bluffing.
Then she got an idea and called out to the Young 4 in the tunnel, "Yeah! Hey, guys! W-wait up! You got to tell this guy you know me! See tell Mr. Junior we're old friends,".
The Young 4 kept going deeper into the cave until they turned to Silverstream as she keeps calling out to them while trying to persuade Junior, "Come on, Yogurt! Uh, Ocella! Sandy, uh - uh, Smokey! Come on, it's your old friend, Silverstream, see?".
"Silverstream, Silverstream?" Smolder said, about to have some fun at the moment.
"Hmmm, anybody remembers a Hippogriff named Silverstream?" Ocellus asked, turning to the others while playing along.
"Not sure. Oh, wait a minute, I think it's comin'...," Sandbar said as if he truly remembered it and turned back to the entrance.
"Nah, doesn't ring a Yona's bell," Yona said, pretending not to know Silverstream as she and the others walked off.
"No, no, no! Wait! Hey, guys, come back! No!" Silverstream begged as Smolder, Ocellus, Yona, and Sandbar snapped their claws one by one in the last laugh way.
"Hang on - hang on a second. Heh, heh, heh, they're just kidding, Sir. You see if you could just-," Silverstream said, nervously laughing as Junior took a step closer.
"Oh, hey! Hey! Hey, Guys! Guys!" Silverstream said as Junior, having about enough, tossed her up into the air and hits the ground hard on her side as she looked up at the Bison Griffon.
"Don't make me hurt you," Junior said, warning her.
"Heh-heh," Silverstream chuckled nervously as she backed up a little until she noticed something.
Above them, on the ledge, was Rico and the Adult Hippogriff that replaced Silverstream as the two Hippogriffs turned around a corner of another part of the mine.
"Rico," Silverstream said quietly with a smile as she thought she might still have a chance to rove herself.
With a small laugh and a weird-looking face, Silverstream walked off and said to Junior, "Look, I gotta go. But let's go throw on the old feedbag sometimes. Stay cool,".
"Heh-heh, it's hero-time," Silverstream said, walking off while thinking of a plan and getting herself ready.
Meanwhile, in the mine, Gallus was walking further into the mine until he stopped and looked ahead to see light at the end of the tunnel. Gallus knew it means that Slim is out there as a look of determination appeared on his face. But just when Gallus was about to head out, he heard a familiar voice.
"Hey, Gallus!" Smolder yelled out, catching Gallus attention.
"Wait up!" Sandbar said as Gallus looked behind himself to see Smolder, Ocellus, Sandbar, Yona, and Lucky Jack running up to him.
"Guys? What are you doin' here?" Gallus asked, surprised to see his friends came here to help him.
"We came here to help," Ocellus replied as she and the others came to a stop.
"But why?" Gallus asked, wondering why they have came here to help him.
Smolder walked to Gallus and said, "Because we knew you couldn't catch Slim on your own. So we thought we could come and help. Plus, I want to say that I'm sorry for being hard on you. Could you forgive me?".
"Hey, you know that I can't keep a grudge against you forever. Right?" Gallus said, facing Smolder with a smile on his face, feeling happy to hear her apology.
"I know, friends, again?" Smolder said, sticking her hand out for a handshake.
"Friends again," Gallus said as he and Smolder shook their hands in acceptance.
"Now, that's what I called to reconcile," Lucky Jack said, being surprised to see Gallus and Smolder becoming friends again.
"Oh, who's this?" Gallus asked, noticing Lucky Jack on Sandbar's back.
"Gallus, meet Lucky Jack, he's the Jackrabbit who brought us here in one piece," Ocellus replied, introducing Lucky Jack to Gallus.
"And Lucky Jack gonna help Yona and friends bring Slim to justice," Yona said, getting determined to bring Slim to justice and stopping his rustling.
"So you kids are gonna bring Slim to justice?" Lucky Jack asked, surprised to hear that these kids are going to bring the Rustler to justice.
"That's right, Lucky Jack, we're doing this for all of our homes," Gallus said, looking out to the exit of the tunnel with a smile of hope and confidence.
"Well, I can't argue with that. Well, kids, if justice is important to you. I'm with ya til the end," Lucky Jack said as he bowed down to them.
"So what's the plan, Gallus?" Sandbar asked, wondering what their plan is in capturing Slim.
"Okay, let's see what do we got…," Gallus said as he thinks for a moment and looks around the mine.
Gallus then saw a rope, a mine cart, and suddenly got an idea as he turned to the others, "Okay, here's the plan. And here's how we're gonna do it, Sandbar and Yona, you two will go out there and get Slim's attention while Ocellus, Smolder, and I will sneak up behind him and we'll knock into the cart, rope him into the cart, and wheeled him to justice," Gallus said explaining his plan while pulling some rope out of a mine cart.
"But we'll need something to make sure he doesn't escape from us when we bump into the cart," Smolder said, knowing they will need something to keep Slim in the cart while they wheel him to justice.
"Hey, how about this miner pan?" Ocellus suggested, grabbing a nearby miners' pan with her mouth.
"Excellent, Ocellus. We could use that to knock Slim out," Sandbar said, nodding head and liking the way how Ocellus is thinking.
"So, here's how we're gonna do the plan, Yona and Sandbar will go out there and get Slim's attention…," Gallus said as he starts explaining the plan to the others.
In Gallus's mind, he pictures Sandbar and Yona going out of the tunnel, getting Slim's attention as they walked over to the next tunnel on the other side.
"Since Slim is a rustler, he'll go after them…," Smolder said, picturing Slim going after Yona and Sandbar in the other tunnel.
"Then when Slim's distracted, Gallus, Smolder, and I will sneak up behind him and knock him into the cart…," Ocellus said, seeing herself, Smolder, and Gallus pushing the cart up to Slim from behind and knocked him into it.
"Even though Slim will be moving, I'll be zooming in tying the ropes and use the pan to knock him out…," Lucky Jack said, imagining himself doing his part in tying Slim's arms and legs with rope and knocking him out with the pan.
"And when Slim's out…," Yona said, starting to know where the plan is going as she pictures Slim falling to unconsciousness in the cart.
"We'll push the cart out of the mine and after we're away…," Sandbar said as he imagined them pushing the cart Slim is in right out of the mine.
"Then we will take Slim back to town, bring him to Skybeak, get the reward…," Gallus said, explaining the end of the plan as he pictures himself and his friends dashing off back to town and bringing Slim to the Sheriff's Office and Skybeak giving them a bag filled with 750 Dollars.
"And save Sweet Griffon Apple Acres!" The Young 5 and Lucky Jack said finishing the plan in unison as the plan ends with Sweet Griffon Apple Acres being saved from being auctioned.
"It's foolproof. So who's with me?" Gallus asked, turning to the others to see who will go with his plan.
"Yona in!" Yona said, raising her arm up into the air.
"Count me in!" Sandbar said with a smile, thinking the plan might actually work.
"Sign me up!" Ocellus said, ready to begin the plan.
"So am I!" Lucky Jack said, saluting with his arm.
"I know I am. But I just hope it works," Smolder said, feeling hopeful about the plan working but also a little concern about there being any flaws.
"Don't worry it will. Now let's get this plan in motion," Gallus said, assuring Smolder that the plan will work as he and the others get themselves ready to set the plan in motion.
Meanwhile, outside of the mine, Silverstream have found herself on a higher ledge above Junior. The sun started to rise in the east for dawn has finally arrived. Silverstream peaks from around the bend and smirked and chuckled seeing Rico and the Adult Hippogriff who replaced her.
The adult Hippogriff was standing a higher nearby ledge, while Rico was on a ledge below sitting close to some tracks, keeping an eye on another set of tracks a distance away and waiting for Slim.
Silverstream got herself ready and made herself look like she is really out of breath and nervous as the adult Hippogriff looked back to see Silverstream.
"Phew, good, I'm not too late. Sorry, sir. Still stakin' out for your quarry, huh?" Silverstream said as she approached the Hippogriff while the Hippogriff was looking at her with a confused expression.
"Yeah, pretty much, kid, why?" the Hippogriff asked, not seeing the need for a kid like Silverstream to be here.
"Listen, sir, I came here to warn you. One Hippogriff to another about Rico. As soon as he nabs that rustler, he's gonna be in a real hurry to collect that reward," Silverstream said as she got close to the Hippogriff looking very scared while she and the Hippogriff looked at Rico.
"So?" the Hippogriff inquired, not seeing what the big deal is. Every hero deserves the reward they work hard for.
"So?! So?! Once, he captures Slim, that's when the Horsewhip comes out and he's not shy about using it either," Silverstream said, she was expecting that and then started making it sound true.
"Did you say Horsewhip?" the Hippogriff asked in fear, now getting nervous.
"Yes, I said Horsewhip! And not only are you gonna help Rico catch the rustler but you're also gonna be carrying him as well. I mean have you seen Slim? He's huge!" Silverstream replied, seeing she has him right where she wants him and she got up in the Hippogriffs face.
"What should I do, kid?!" the gray adult Hippogriff asked in fear, now getting scared and not wanting to carry a big Bison Griffon or get whipped by a horse whip.
"Run!" Silverstream shouted at him.
"OK, Good Idea," the Hippogriff said, nodding as he got ready to take off.
"Yeah, come on, follow me. Run like the wind, partner, save yourself!" Silverstream said, urging him as she and the Hippogriff rushed off and slid down the slope.
"Come on, you gotta take off. Fade! Ride into the sunset!" Silverstream shouted, urging him on even further.
"Alrighty, I'm outta here!" the Hippogriff said as he and Silverstream reached the bottom of the slope and ran off.
"Aaaah! Go, Scram!" Silverstream shouted one last time to the Hippogriff.
"Okay, thanks, kid! I owe you one!" the Hippogriff yelled as he runs and takes off into the air away from the mine.
"Celestia Speed, my friend!" Silverstream called out as the Hippogriff was soon out of hearing range.
Silverstream then chuckled to herself and said, "So long, sucker. Heh-heh, boy, he must have taken stupid lessons from that Bison Griffon,".
But what Silverstream didn't know, is that Junior was standing right behind her and he snorted on her neck angrily after hearing her comment about him.
"Uh-oh," Silverstream said in fear, realizing her mistake as she glanced back.
Author's Note: Looks like things are gonna take a turn for the worst.
