Romance and the Fate of Equestria

Chapter Ninety-Three

Fluttershy poked her head out of her back door. It was a dark and cloudy night, nearly pitch-dark, apart from the snow that was falling.

"Is somepony out there?" she demanded in a shrill, nervous voice, marching out into her yard. "Show yourself!"

She rounded the corner of the chicken coop, her eyes shut tight, and anxiously opened one eye just a little.

She saw Gilda, grinning sheepishly and holding a chicken tightly in her claws.

"Gilda?" Fluttershy said in surprise, opening her eyes completely.

"Hey, Ducky," she muttered. "What's up?"

"Put that chicken down!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "Have you been hunting on my property?"

"No! Of course not!" Gilda cried out, raising her claws in surrender, one claw still holding the chicken aloft. "We had an agreement, and I abide by it. I only hunt in the Everfree."

"Okay," Fluttershy said calmly. "Good."

"And I know everypony would feel better if I didn't hunt at all," Gilda said, waving a hand impatiently. "But I have to. I like tofu and assorted grasses, I really do, but I go a day without meat and I get all weak and light-headed, and by the fifth day I start hallucinating, so… yeah, I've tried really, really hard to go vegetarian, but I'm just not built for it."

"I completely understand," Fluttershy said sincerely. "I take care of all animals, including carnivores. And I have to feed them. My day usually involves breaking the necks of a few fish to feed to the ferrets and raptors. I don't like it, and their fellow fish definitely don't judge me kindly, but all creatures who witness what I do know that it's necessary for me to take care of the ecosystem."

"Mm-hmm," Gilda said thoughtfully. "You know, where I come from, the ecosystem pretty much takes care of itself."

Fluttershy giggled. "Yes, so I've heard. I had to be told that the way it works in Equestria, requiring guidance and nurturing from ponies, isn't the norm. In most places, the flora, fauna, and weather work independently. Though it's not just Equestria, it's anywhere with a strong pony influence. I guess there's something about us."

Gilda nodded, adjusting her grip on the chicken she was holding so she was gently cradling it.

"So what brings you to my backyard?" Fluttershy asked.

"I just wanted to hang out with your chickens," Gilda said quietly. "I like chickens. I never kill or eat them. Some folks live by a personal code of honor that dictates their every move. Me, my code is only three words long: no hurting chickens."

"That's… fascinating, Gilda," Fluttershy said, surprised. "May I ask why?"

Gilda shrugged. "If you're in the mood for a long story."

"Please," said Fluttershy. "I'm very curious. Would you like to come in out of this cold?"

"…Can we bring the chickens?"

"Certainly."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Fluttershy and Gilda sat in large, cushy armchairs in front of Fluttershy's fireplace. The chickens had been brought in, and wandered around Fluttershy's cottage. Gilda had one in her lap, and stroked its soft feathers tenderly.

"So, uh, I was glad to hear you got back together with your boyfriend," Gilda said with forced brightness.

Fluttershy beamed at her. "Thank you."

"I was worried, after that whole thing with Dash, but I guess it worked out."

"Yes… Dash has always been an advocate of mine," Fluttershy said sweetly. "She's such a sweetheart. She knows what's best for me… I would never have gotten together with Macky the first or the second time if it hadn't been for her."

Gilda gave a small laugh and nodded.

"So, what's this story of yours?" Fluttershy said gently.

"Right, well… it started when I was a trainee in my country's military," said Gilda. "There's a test they put you through. They put you in this controlled forest arena, all by yourself, and you have to hunt and forage in there for three months. And what they do is, they tether up a chicken in there with you. Now, what everybody knows, even though we're not supposed to know, is that they have something very specific in mind for that.

"The idea is that the trainee will become so lonely that they start talking to the chicken, and that the chicken becomes the best friend they've ever had. But after a few more weeks, when the food runs out… they get so hungry that they kill and eat their new friend. And so they're toughened up."

"That's horrible," Fluttershy gasped, recoiling in disgust.

Gilda nodded. "Some griffons, who either aren't familiar with the process or want to beat the system, they kill the chicken immediately when the test starts. Those guys never get out with their sanity intact. Never ever. But no matter what happens, at some point in that three-month period, the griff does kill the chicken. Always.

"Now, when I did it, I…" She stammered for a moment, then bit her finger to hold back a sob. "Wow, this is hard…"

"Please go on," Fluttershy urged gently.

"I knew how the procedure worked," Gilda forced out. "And by the end of my first day in the arena, I knew something else too. I knew that I loved my chicken and wanted it to live. The first day, Peeper. You believe that? So I busted out of that arena with my chicken, dodged all the crossbow fire being shot at me, and hopped a ship to Equestria. Had to flee the country, you see. They don't let you just quit the army. I'd been to Equestria before, when I was a kid, for junior flight camp. I only remembered one name: Rainbow Dash. So I tracked her down, and tried to bunk with her… but you were there, you saw how that went. Blew my top in front of the whole town, had to get out of there before it got violent. So that was two years ago; I ditched Ponyville, the only sanctuary I ever thought I'd get, and headed up to Vanhoover with no possessions except a chicken. And you know the rest."

She picked up the chicken she had been holding and set it down on the ground. It nuzzled her hind paws with its beak before strutting off to join the other chickens in absently wandering around the cottage.

"What happened to your chicken?" Fluttershy whispered.

"Got old, I guess," Gilda muttered.

Fluttershy pouted sympathetically. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

Fluttershy leaned toward Gilda, serious-faced. "I know there's no replacing the one you lost… but would you like to have one of my chickens?"

Gilda blinked. "Really?"

"Yes."

Gilda stared in disbelief. "I… what would I have to pay you?"

"Just the promise that you'd love and care for your new pet. And I think you've given that. The story you've just told, that's promise enough for me. Take your pick."

Gilda heaved herself off the armchair and started prowling around the room, examining each chicken in turn. "I like… this one," she finally said, picking one covered in dark gray speckles.

"Excellent choice," said Fluttershy, bowing her head. "Not only do you have a wonderful new companion, but a young and healthy hen like this one should lay an egg almost every day. That might help you get the protein you need to get through the day with less hunting."

"You're okay with me eating eggs?" she said in surprise.

"Of course," said Fluttershy. "Ponies do. It's a staple of our diets, actually. Every creature could use some protein, and eggs are one of our only sources for it."

"Huh," Gilda remarked, sitting back down. "Wish I'd known that sooner."

She gently stroked the neck and back of her new chicken, and it snuggled up to her, nuzzling the warm feathers on her chest.

"What am I gonna do with the rest of my life?" Gilda wondered quietly.

"Sorry?" Fluttershy said in surprise.

"I can't run a real business," Gilda grumbled. "No matter what I tried to do, it tanked without Golden Thread. I've become too soft and compassionate to go back into organized crime—not that that's a bad thing. And I don't know how to do anything else. I'm living on scraps. I'm back to being…" She sighed and gazed at the chicken cuddling with her. "…Just a griffon with a chicken," she finished.

"That's not all you are," said Fluttershy. "You also have friends."

She held out a hoof to Gilda, who chuckled and took the hoof in her claw, rubbing it with her thumb affectionately.

"Two things come to mind, about creating a future for you," Fluttershy continued. "First, what if I were to buy your business? The entire thing. That should get you back on your paws and talons, right?"

Gilda raised her eyebrows. "You'd do that?"

"It's no trouble at all."

"There's not much left."

"I'll take it," Fluttershy insisted. "I've been thinking about it for a while. I have a lot of money to spare. I've thought about buying Sugarcube Corner and converting your business into a second Sugarcube Corner. But I haven't done anything of the sort, because I realized… that doesn't sound much like me, like something I would do. I should stop thinking things like that." She giggled. "But yes, I'll gladly buy the Golden Thread building, if that would help you."

"It would," Gilda said. "Thank you."

Fluttershy nodded. "The other thought I had, was about your future profession. How would you like to join a military without the barbaric hazing rituals?"

Gilda smirked. "I'm listening."

"You said once that your most valuable skill as a mobster was looking scary," Fluttershy explained. "Maybe you could join Princess Luna's night guard."

Gilda inhaled deeply at the thought. "Like the guys who pull her chariot?" she breathed. "With the bat wings and the fangs?"

"Simple illusory modifications," said Fluttershy, shrugging. "They're just regular ponies. But yes, them. They're very in-demand. Not many ponies are interested, sadly."

"I do like those guys," Gilda muttered. "I will definitely give that some thought. Thanks for the ideas, I owe you one."

"Anything to help a friend."

Gilda sighed. "You're too good to me, Peep—I mean, Fluttershy. After what I've done to you… I don't deserve your compassion."

Fluttershy shook her head. "It's called kindness, and it's who I am. And if you think I'm giving kindness to one who doesn't deserve it, well then, that's called mercy, and everypony deserves it. Do you need a place to stay tonight?"

"No, I'm not in that much trouble," Gilda said hastily, shaking her head.

"Okay," said Fluttershy. "Well, I'll come by tomorrow and we'll discuss a price for that building."

"Okay," Gilda agreed. They both stood up, and the griffon hugged Fluttershy tightly. "Thanks," she whispered. "Friendship really is magic, isn't it?"

"The kind of magic that moves mountains," Fluttershy whispered back as they parted.

"Good night, Fluttershy," Gilda said shyly.

"Don't forget your companion," Fluttershy sang.

"Of course not." Gilda picked up her new pet chicken, looked at it lovingly, and slowly made her way to Fluttershy's front door before gently sailing away on her wings.