A Feathered Friend part 3

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Chapter 16 A Feathered FriendshipChapter 14 -16, A Feathered friend by Charles-GG


“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” a scream of sheer terror shocks everypony out of dreamland and back to the waking would. “Th-the...” Twilight's wings began to flap hard as she tried to talk through her heavy breathing, “The building! The walls! The books! THE BOOKS!!!” With each word, she rose higher and higher until she hit the ceiling with a loud thud. The blow stunned her and sent her back to the ground confused and looking around the room only to find everypony looking at her as if she should be embarrassed, Pinkie, Dash and Discord trying to hide their laughter behind quivering smirks, Apple back face hoofs while Rarity and Flutter Shy act like she didn't see anything. The sudden realization of her actions and reasons behind them turn twilight a bright red with a small nervous laugh to boot.


“So you asked me to donate all those books because you knew their library was destroyed along with most of their books?”


“Well....” feeling Twilight's intense gaze on her as they walked with everypony, Dash knew there was no point on lying. “Yeah, yeah I did....” Dash held her head a little low awaiting a lecture about lying or trust.


“Hmmm... I don't know if I'm annoyed that you lied,” said Twilight earning a roll of the eyes from Dash, “Or impresses that you actually thought of it in the first place.” The purple mare added bumping her hip playfully against her friend.


“Umm-well...” Dash stuttering for just a moment as her blue fur developed a new ting of red, “I can't believe your surprised, after all, I am the definition of awesome!” Twilight giggled and poked at the cocky mares wings with her own. Just as Dash was feeling good about herself she noticed Twilight stop abruptly and look off down a street, and at the broken down library. She huffed and flew over to her, “come on you...” Twilight whined as she was pushed down the street to join the others.


At the construction site everypony is amazed at how many griffons are there to help. At least 200 hundred in total if not more. Jax and Apple Jack look to Gilda who, judging by the expression on her face, did not know there were so many. “Well, look who decided to join us, everyone!” The ponies heard somepony say through a megaphone, “Yes you with the purple hood between the grumpy griffon and.... whatever that guy on your left is, let's call him Mr. snakie.... or Nightmare fuel, either will do!” Off in the distance Silver Quill is spotted on a makeshift stage of wooden planks, “Well, you all just going to stand there or come up and address the crowd?”


The ponies, Discord, and Gilda make their way over to Silver where Gilda is pulled up on stage and handed the megaphone. “Well... umm...” She looks over to the kooky hippogriff only to receives two claws up and a creepy but genuine smile. “I have to say I didn't realize how many there were of us here, kinda makes me think back to when we would all walk the streets and not so much as look at each other..... now we're all here.” Gilda paused and looked around waiting for every griffon to get to work, but they all just waited.


Seeing her nervous Twilight went up to join her, “When enough ponies... or in this case, griffons, come together, amazing things can happen. My friends and I have done more than I could have ever imagined, and that was with only six of us,” Spike coughs, “oh haha, I mean seven. But now you have a chance to do he same.” She smiles, but every griffon still stands there as if waiting for something. “What are they waiting for?” Twilight asked Gilda who shrugged.


Shaking his head in slight disbelief Jax joins them and speaks loudly without the megaphone, “You're all waiting for somepony or griffon to say something that will get you motivated when you should just get to work. I've seen times like this all over the place, homes designated by everything from poverty to war... and there are no words to describe the feeling of rebuilding after the storm has passed. Now it's your turn, so pick up a tool and get to work, this place won't fix itself.”


Jax steps down and points to a few griffon, motioning them to follow him to get started on the first structure. “well you heard the awkward griffon, weird princess and..... that guy, let's get started.” silver says before each griffon pairs up and starts building.


In a matter of minute Griffons already had the foundations ready to build on. “Remember to do everything you can,” Apple Jack calls out directing workflow, “if you see a job that needs to be done don't wait for some other griffon to do it, just get it done.” Sooner than could have been expected, the walls were already going up on several houses, some at the same time being held in place via twilight's magic as several griffons hammered them in place. Everything was going so fast, some work had to stop for a moment so supplies could be retrieved from a storehouse not too far away. When they returned, the first stone had been thrown, on the finished back wall of the house with the least amount of griffons on it, was graffiti that read, “Get lost!!!”


Soon after, more problems began to arise, small fires, supplies missing, walls coming down even after being fastened into place. sabatashing and vandalism, one after another, griffons started to slow their work feeling as though it was all for nothing, thinking that even if they finished, the problem would still be just next door. Apple Jack and Gilda do their best to keep mural up, but it was all too clear that every griffon was losing faith.


“What do we do?” Gilda asked her pony friends, “If this keeps up, we might end up being the only ones building, and once you all go back to ponyville, it will be just me!”


“Now calm down sugar cube, I don't think every griffon will leave.” Apple Jack said seeing a tinge of panic in the griffon's eyes, “But you do have a point, these are mostly volunteers, not workers.”


“I know,” silver said as he popped up with a bottle of Apple Jack Danial's, “we have a drinking game, every time you hear someone hit their claw with a hammer, take a shot!” Just as he finishes the last work the sound of a griffon hitting himself can be heard, “And we're off!” Silver announces as he pours himself a shot, the rest of them just look at him with the most deadpan expression he had ever seen. “....What?” Every pony turned away ignoring him.


“I say we go get those jerks and show them they won't get away with this!”


“Oh come now Rainbow dash, violence never solved anything,” Rarity replied to the hot-headed mare.


“Oh I don't know, perhaps a little... forceful persuasion is in order.” Discord added only to gets a strict glare from both Flutter Shy and Twilight.


For a moment everypony thought quietly until they realized... it was quiet, the sound of construction has ceased. Instead, all the griffons were waiting, watching them, eagerly hoping to hear an answer but instead got the same awkward quiet gaze returned to them. “If they want to leave then that's fine...” all eyes turned to Jax carrying several planks of wood twice the length of his body. “If this were easy then it wouldn't be worth doing... so long as there is, at least, one griffon working to make this a better place to live, for others or just themselves, then that's enough to keep going.” The stallion walks up to Gilda, “And you don't have to worry about doing this alone Gilda, the girl may have to go back to ponyville at some point, but I don't. If you really need the help, you, at least, got me.”


The griffon was speechless, “Wait, you barely know me, and you've only been her for two days. You would actually leave ponyville to help me here?”


“Apple Jack never needed my help on the orchard, she was just nice enough to give me the work. I'm not the kind of stallion that would walk away from those in need, so if you need me, you got me.” All eyes were on the stallion as he made his way to the house he was helping with. “And as for you...” Jax forcefully adjusted the lumber he carried on his shoulder, hitting a black feathered griffon out of the air and onto the ground. Before any could question the clear assault, a can of spray paint rolled away from the dark colored griffon. “I won't portend to understand what is going through your head, or the heads of those who think that this town is OK the way it is, but so long as Gilda or any other griffon asks for my help, the work will keep going, and you'll just be wasting your time.” The griffon sneered at him ready to retaliate only to watch the stallion move on to the houses. “Well?” he asked the griffons, still watching him, “You all going to go home or get back to work, because if you're just going to stand there then you're in the way.”


That was all they needed to hear, not even an hour later, the first house was done, and the next soon after, and the day was only half done. More problems arose, but nothing more than before, until Jax found several tools broken. Only minutes later a fire was set inside one of the structure that already had its walls up. After it was put out before any real damage was done, one of the griffons inside revealed himself as one of those who did not want the work done, by yelling and flying into the wall, leaving a gaping hole as he flew away.


The wall was fixed in no time, but things were getting out of hand, so Jax called for Discord and Twilight. “These griffon's are getting desperate, I have a feeling this is going to escalate even more.”


“I told you we should have done something about them, just say the word and-”


“No Discord,” Twilight said denying any play he could come up with, “we can't solve this by causing more trouble, there must be another way.”


“We can figure that out another time, all that matters is that no pony or griffon gets hurt. The moment we start fighting back is the moment things go from bad to worse. We need to make sure we all keep leveled head, stay focused and vigilant. If we can get the work done for today, it will help to stop problems in the future.” Jax looked out at the Griffons, tired and wary, but still working hard, “It's not easy building up a town, but it's even harder to rebuild a home.”


Twilight looked into Jax's eyes as he watched the griffons, and saw the same distant look he gave when avoiding questions about himself. “You... really know a lot about this kind of thing...”


“Yeah... like I said... I've helped others build up their homes like this before... this is far from the first time...”


The day went on and more attempts at slowing construction were made, but Twilight and Discord were watchful and were aggressively deterring any nasty griffons they could catch in the act. Soon after Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack joined the watch quietly keeping the griffons safe while still keeping productive. However, one very unfriendly Griffon slipped past them and into one house that was close to being done. He poured out three cans of liter fluid all over the wall and took out a match intending to leave the place in an inferno. To his disappointment, the match did not light and broke after three attempts. The Griffon wanted to scream in frustration but held his tongue in fear of being seen. Looking around his eyes locked on a rope attached to a pulley, used to lift things up to the roof for easier access, cutting the rope would mean one would have to fly down and get what they needed. Upon further investigation, it was found the pulley was holding up a large amount of roof tiles, that if broken would ensure that at least one house would not be finished that day. With a single claw the griffon cute the rope sending the roof tiles falling, right on top of an unsuspecting yellow pegasus carrying a bucket of nails.


Flutter Shy heard the snap of the rope and saw the shadow over her get smaller, looking up time seemed to stand still as she was frozen with fear at what seemed to be head inevitable death. No scream, no twitch, all she could do was try and cover her head. Just as she was about to fall to her knees, she saw him appear in a blur, eyes blazing red.


“FLUTTER SHY!!!!” Pinkie cried as the crash of the tiles echoed through the surrounding area. She ran to the pile of ceramic rubble faster than any had seen her move before. “You OK Flutters, you're going to but just fine, don't you worry, Pinkies here.” Pinkie rambled on trying to clear the rubble, Discord and Twilight joined her, using their magic to lift away the tiles and wooden platform they rested on. The wood was crushed and splintered under the weight of the tiles and had to be removed in large pieces, and under the rubble........ was a flattened bucket of nails.


Off to the side Jax was setting Flutter Shy back on her feet, still shaking, tears running down her face having just seen her life flash before her eyes. Pinkie and Discord rush over to comfort the quivering mare with the others following in seconds. Twilight stayed behind for just a moment, more than long enough to see that the rope had been cut. “This wasn't an accident?” she thought to herself, “someone did this?” her hair began to glow red, “someone nearly killed Flutter Shy?!” Twilight's mane became a bright red as her rage began to fill her to the breaking point. She turned to the griffons with the severed rope still held in her magic, ready to give them a piece of her mind. But Jax beat her to it.


“Is this really worth it?!” the green stallion shouted leaving Flutter Shy in the care of her friends who held her close still shaking, whimpering, speechless. “You can destroy these houses all you want, they can always be rebuilt, but you would really go so far as to endanger others lives?!” At first, it seemed as if Jax was looking at the whole crowd until he turned to the house Flutter Shy was under. “Are you going to stay in there like a coward or are you going to get out her?!” The griffon poked his head out the window shaking almost as much as Flutter Shy, “Scared are you? GO!” the griffon retreated again.

“look at you all, you think you're so sneaky, you actually think no one saw you snooping about, I can point out every one of you bastards that were destroying our work! I let you stay because I thought you would see what was happening here, how you're lives can change for the better if this work gets done, But this is too far!” Each griffon Jax laid his crimson gaze on flinched as if fearing for their lives. “even if you don't want this to happen, it will take years for a town this size to be reconstructed. No pony or griffon said you had to help, you can stay in your little homes and wallow in your greed, but you have no right to make others do the same!” Twilight watched, amazed that the green stallion, so quiet and withdrawn from everypony around him, spoke with the authority and confidence she has only ever seen from her mentor and older brother. “Look over there!” Jax pointed to Twilight and then to Discord, “A Princess from Equestria, and the Spirit of Chaos himself are here helping you sorry souls rebuild your home, what does that tell you!” He looked on as some heads started to lower revealing some of the trouble makers. “you're all going to leave now,” he said speaking calmly but load enough to be heard by all, “And you won't come back, you'll never mess with the town's construction again, and by the ancients, if I ever see any of you try to, you will answer to me!”


Jax looked over to others and smiled as if trying to user them he would keep his word. Meanwhile in the crowd, several of the griffons walked and flew away surrendering the-the change to come. Some looked back questioning their retreat, only to be met with a piercing crimson gaze that will haunt their nightmares that night. The rest of the day went smoothly, Flutter Shy and Discord sat on the sidelines with pinkie pie checking on them frequently, allowing the poor mare to calm down with her two best friends. Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash kept an eye out for any who would try and disturb the construction again, but there was no griffon to be found that would dare. Close to days, end the ponies decided it was time to go so they could get back home before they were missed.


“Are you sure you don't want me to stay Gilda?”


“Na, I think we got this.” she told Jax pointing out the nine houses built and ready for owners and three more that would be done soon enough.


“If you need anything just send us a letter,” Twilight told her feathered friend, “We would be happy to send anything we can to help, and be sure to let me know when that library is built to.” Gilda rolled her eyes.


“Well, I reckon we better get a move on, else we're going to be going down a snowy road in the dark.” Apple Jack donned her snow gear with the others and waved goodbye to every griffon.


Dash stayed behind for one last goodbye hug, something Gilda didn't like everypony seeing often. And don't forget, anything else go's wrong, ill be her faster then you can say sonic rain boom!”


“Haha yeah, I'll keep in touch loser,” Gilda said lightly punching the blue mare's shoulder, “speaking of speed, why didn't you tell me Jax was so fast?


“What do you mean?”


“Well, he's the one who pulled Flutter Shy out of the way right?” Dash nodded her head, “Well last I saw him, he was on the roof two houses down.”


“Wait what? You sure it was him?”


“Positive, there aren't many green griffons around here, and none of then wear a purple cloak like that. Where did you say he was from again?”


“Well.... we don't know, he's not very open about that....”


“Well dash, where ever he's from, ponies there must be fast, I didn't even see him grab her...”


Dash watched as Jax pulled his hood over his heChapter 14 -16, A Feathered friend by Charles-GG

Chapter 14 -16, A Feathered friend by Charles-GG

Chapter 14 -16, A Feathered friend by Charles-GG

Chapter 14 -16, A Feathered friend by Charles-GG

ad, following the others out of town, now wondering what other secrets he may hold.

© 2016 - 2024 Charles-GG
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