Line #33 FanFic/HeartOfGoldFeathersOfSteel


1	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heart_of_gold_feathers_of_steel_2_8264.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:250:Dash and Gilda in happier times.]]
3	''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/65059/heart-of-gold-feathers-of-steel Heart of Gold, Feathers of Steel]]'' is a ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfiction by [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Nicknack Nicknack]].
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5	Three years ago, at Junior Speedsters Flight Camp, Gilda and Rainbow Dash were friends. The years since then haven't been kind to Gilda. Maybe a trip to see her old friend will help resolve some things...
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7	''Heart Of Gold, Feathers Of Steel'' retells the events of ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E5GriffonTheBrushOff Griffon the Brush Off]]'' from [[PerspectiveFlip Gilda's perspective,]] as well as the story leading up to it and the immediate aftermath.
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9	Has a sequel, ''FanFic/SummerDaysAndEveningFlames.''
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11	!!This fic contains examples of:
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13	* AbusiveParents: Gilda's father was incredibly abusive, with lasting effects on Gilda's behavior.
14	* BigDamnHeroes: Rainbow's JustInTime rescue of Gilda, complete with [[spoiler: sonic rainboom]].
15	* BittersweetEnding: Things remain rocky with Rainbow Dash and she's still an exile from her tribe, but Gilda has found a palatable alternative by the end.
16	* BrokenBird: Gilda's upbringing and exile have left her deeply cynical and emotionally detached.
17	* CharacterDevelopment: Gilda is much more fleshed out than the arrogant {{Jerkass}} we see on the show. Which doesn't mean she's not still a jerk, but she's much less one-dimensional.
18	* DyingRace: The griffin tribes, at least the oness Gilda is familiar with, have dwindled almost to extinction.
19	* TheExile: Gilda, until she fulfills her father's conditions. And not only can she not return home, but any griffin she meets is supposed to kill her.
20	* FantasticRacism: Gilda's father hates ponies, and didn't take kindly to his daughter making friends with one.
21	* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The Griffins are very similar to Germanic tribes.
22	* GratuitousGerman: The author uses German words for griffin names and terms.
23	* HeelRealization: Happens to Gilda twice. First when she realizes that she handled things in Ponyville poorly. Then when she [[spoiler: almost kills Dash.]]
24	* HiddenDepths: There is a lot more going on with Gilda than you'd expect just from watching ''Griffon the Brush Off.''
25	* InterruptedSuicide: [[spoiler: Gilda. Rainbow just barely manages to avert it.]]
26	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Iron Bulwark thinks Gilda is one of these. Exploring this is the focus of the sequel.
27	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Gilda's reaction to [[spoiler: nearly killing Dash.]]
28	* MyLifeFlashedBeforeMyEyes: Gilda has this experience during her fall in chapter six.
29	* OurGryphonsAreDifferent: the griffin tribes presented here are the dying remnants of a warrior culture. They are well aware of both their “glorious” past and dismal future and it shows.
30	* PerspectiveFlip: of ''Griffon the Brush Off.''
31	* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Deconstructed, Gilda has plenty of warrior instincts. However they do her more harm than good, which she herself acknowledges. Similarly her father's and other griffins' insistence on following the old war-like ways is what's slowly driving the griffin tribes to extinction.
32	* RageBreakingPoint: Gilda hits hers twice in the course of a single visit to Ponyville.
33	* SadisticChoice: Gilda's father gives her one - kill your friend or live the rest of your life in exile.
34	* WorldBuilding: Introduces a lot of detail about griffin tribes and culture.
35	* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Captain Bulwark tells Gilda a variation of this.
36	* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: Knowing that her father would approve of her [[spoiler: nearly killing Dash]] is what drives Gilda to [[spoiler: attempt suicide]].

Context FanFic / HeartOfGoldFeathersOfSteel