In Which Gallent's Birthday CommencesView OnlineThe Best Gift Of AllIn Which Gallent's Birthday Commences"Good moooorrrrning everypony!" These were the words being loudly proclaimed by a red-maned green mare as she bounced through the (usually) humble town of Ponyville, for today was a very special day indeed. Today marked yet another three-hundred-and-sixty-five (or three-hundred-and-sixty-six depending on the year - seasons are important, you know. They're what can give us days off work due to the weather) day period since Gallent Rage had come into being. And as a reward for living, she got a bunch of presents! "Haaaappy birthday!" A certain high-pitched voice made herself known by jumping and landing in front of Gallent. Gallent backed up in surprise. "Oh! Pinkie Pie!" she greeted. "Somepony's getting a present!" sang Pinkie. She reached behind her and pulled out a chocolate cupcake topped with vanilla icing and strawberry shavings. This particular cupcake, by the way, was about four to five times larger than usual. Gallent stared at it in awe. "...For me?" Yes, of course. Why the buck do you think Pinkie gave it to you? Did you think the "somepony" was meant to be the leader of the buffalo tribe? "Hey!" said Pinkie. "I don't like your attitude!" "Um... Pinkie? Who're you talking to?" asked Gallent, tilting her head. "Huh? Um..." Pinkie tapped her hooves together. "Enjoy your present!" With that said and done, she hopped away, la-la-la-ing all the way. Gallent did wonder about that mare sometimes, but for now, she was satisfied to just eat her present. She would have to wait until later to properly thank Pinkie for it. Gallent was able to conquer about 20% of the plus-size cupcake before she stopped, sitting on the grass groaning with a new pot-belly and a cake-covered muzzle. "Well," she decided, getting up and taking the rest of the cupcake with her, "I'm sure Winter and Lightning can help me out with this." She had been on her way to see Winter Ice, who held the title of her best friend. After all, it was only fitting they spend time together on a day such as this. Gallent rapped her hoof on Winter's door. She waited a few moments, but nothing happened. She tried again, but it again went unanswered. Gallent frowned. Why of all days... "Hello Gallent." Gallent turned around, and stood there was Winter Ice, much to Gallent's delight. Still, she did think, What is it with this town and surprise appearances... "I've been looking all over for you," said Winter, smiling warmly. "I wanted to wish you a happy birthday." "Well, now you can," replied Gallent. "Okay then. Happy birthday!" After that, the two mares giggled. "What is that?" asked Winter. Gallent knew exactly what she meant. "That is what Pinkie gave me," she replied. "There's no way it'll still be fresh by the time I finish it off." "I... see?" Her friend nodded. "Oh, and Lightning Blade is inside." "But I knocked..." Winter rolled her eyes and smiled. "You'll get your answer when we're inside, I'm sure." She let the two of them in and led Gallent into the living room... where Lightning Blade, Winter Ice's special somepony had made himself comfortable on the couch and was snoring away. Gallent put the oversized cupcake down and held a bunch of long strands of her mane together and grinned. "May I?" Winter realized what her friend meant. "Well... okay." You could tell from the look on her face she was trying to contain her giggles. Gallent moved her mane closer to Lightning's nose, and gently but quickly moved it swished it around. "Guh - Huh?! WINTER, STAY WITH ME! HURRY!" Lightning darted up high into the air out of sheer shock until he hit the roof, after which he fell back down. He looked up at the mares. "Oh, uh, hey darling. You too, birthday mare," he said sheepishly. "Hello, Lightning Blade," Gallent greeted him with a smirk. "May we use some of the couch?" "Go right ahead," replied Lightning, getting right back onto the couch and sitting on his rump instead of lying on his back, leaving space for the other two. Winter sat down and motioned for her friend to join. "Anything planned for today?" asked Winter. "Well, not exactly..." Gallent put her forelegs behind her head and kicked back. "Simply hanging out with my good friends is what would make this day good for me. And you're doing a good job of making this a good day already." "Already?" repeated Winter with a small smile. "But you haven't had your present yet..." Gallent paused for a few moments. "Winter..." she said. "Not to be ungrateful, but I thought we agreed I didn't expect you to get me a present. It's no secret things are a bit rough for you pair right now in terms of finance." "Just wait 'til you see it, Gallent," Lightning told her encouragingly. "Now now, Lightning," said Winter. "We don't wanna give too much away." She turned back to Gallent. "I know what we said... but you're always doing so much for me and all our other friends. Heck, you came to visit when it was your birthday!" "Winter," interjected Gallent, "What have I told you about doubting yourself? Being a great companion is good enough for me. You think I'm shallow enough to befriend people based on what they can give me?" "It's not that at all!" said Winter. "I just highly doubt a good relationship can thrive if one only gives and the other only takes." "Winter, you aren't like that at all," Gallent reassured her. "And you know that." "Look, you'll see later, okay?" said Winter. Gallent had had enough of arguing with her best friend. Who was supposedly doing something nice for her. "I guess so," she finished. She'd have to wait until later. And like a fish tank with the right cleaning supplies, all would become clear.
In Which Gallent Has Another MeetingView OnlineThe Best Gift Of AllIn Which Gallent Has Another Meeting"See you later!" Gallent called to Winter as she waved. "Bye!" replied Winter. Right, thought Gallent. I suppose I'd better see if they have any good costumes in the shop. She made a turn in her path and headed toward a nearby small building. The bell above the door rang as she entered. "Ah!" She looked at the "Animals" section and rummaged through the costumes on hangers. The raccount suit seemed interesting, as did the frog and cat suits. Although maybe it was a good idea to avoid looking toosilly. Her parents did tell her she needed to grow out of her little tradition of wearing a costume every birthday and that it should have ended at age seven, but Gallent had simply loved it so. She looked past some of them and saw a familiar stallion's face. "Hyper? Hyper Chaser?" The stallion looked a bit awkward. "Uh... hi, Gallent." The green mare shook her head. "Really, Hyper, you should know by now that we don't resent you." As a colt, Hyper Chaser had been a bully towards poor Winter Ice. But now, as an adult with a more developed view of the world around him and higher emotional maturity, he felt absolute sorrow for what he had done. Even though it had taken some time, Winter Ice had agreed to put it all behind them. He didn't even look like the kind of pony to be a bully. "I know.." He sighed sadly. "But these things really catch up with you, you know?" "I understand," replied Gallent. "But to me, the fact that you're sorry and want to make it up makes you a good pony in my book." "Yes, well... anyway, how is Winter Ice doing?" he asked. "I went to see her just now," explained Gallent, trying to read a label. "And she's in a bit of a rut right now. Money troubles." Hyper hid his face in his hooves. "I can't believe I was actually like that to her..." he said in a voice that suggested he thought of himself as the scum of the earth. "Hey, look, buddy," said Gallent, lifting his chin up. "You were just a colt. Surely you can understand the difference between a grown stallion with a fully developed mind and a young colt without experience of the real world?" "Excuse me..." said Hyper, and turned to go to the door. Gallent frowned as she watched him leave. The past was clearly causing him problems. "The banner seems good enough," murmured Winter with a smile as she admired her and Lightning's work. She noticed something out of the corner of her eye, and when she looked, she seemed a little unsure at who it was. "Um... hello, Hyper Chaser?" Hyper looked down at the ground. "So, um..." He finally looked up. "What's going on?" "Well, since it's Gallent Rage's birthday, we're setting up a little special something for her," Winter told him. "Ah, I see how it is," responded Hyper. "Look... I know it might all seem strange, but... may I help?" "I don't know..." said Lightning, squinting at him. He still had his suspicions. "Lightning! Don't be so rude!" said Winter. She turned her attention back to Hyper. "Why, yes," she replied. "If you really want to, you can help. It's what Gallent would like." Hyper did something he couldn't even remember doing for a while. He gave a smile. And the trio were off to work, making what would be a pleasant surprise for dear old Gallent.
In Which Gallent Gets Her Special SurpriseView OnlineThe Best Gift Of AllIn Which Gallent Gets Her Special Surprise“So… may I open my eyes now?” asked Gallent. “Mm hmm! Sure as sugar!” replied AJ, and took her hooves away from Gallent’s eyes. What the birthday mare was greeted with was a small but admirable crowd of ponies all gathered round, underneath a banner reading: “Happy Birthday Gallent Rage!” Gallent was awestruck, to say the least. “Um, er… everypony!” she greeted them. She looked a little closer in the crowds and her eyes caught out a face she had seen only today. “Winter Ice!” Her friend was leading the crowd. Lightning Blade, was near her. “Yes, Gallent, it's me,” Winter greeted her. “And I've got a little special something prepared just for you.” “Winter…” said Gallent. “What did I tell you?” But Winter took no notice. She simply said, “Now, who would like to go first?” At this point, a young filly eagerly hopped in front of everypony. “Ooh! Miss Gallent helped me learn how to ride a bike!” Gallent inspected the filly, then smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I remember that,” she said. “I wanted to jump for joy when I saw you doing it all by yourself…” She was taken by surprise when the filly clung to her leg and nuzzled. “Thank you!” Gallent looked up from her to see a casual friend of hers, Fluttershy, approaching in a shy manner. “You helped me find Nephy when nopony else would,” she said appreciatively. “Well, sure!” said Gallent. “What part of “non-poisonous” did they not understand? If it’s not poisonous, then I don’t see a reason to be afra - GAH!” She fell back in surprise when the familiar face of Nephy, one of Fluttershy’s pet snakes, looked at her with its head inches away from Gallent’s. Fluttershy couldn’t help but giggle at the spectacle slightly as she motioned for Nephy to come back to her. The vermilion and cream-colored snake obeyed, slithering back to Fluttershy and nestling in her mane. “Remind me to only talk to that mare after she’s had a manecut…” came a voice in the crowd. An elderly stallion slowly made his way out towards Gallent. “This here filly helped me with my shopping,” he said, motioning at her with his cane. “You’re quite welcome, Mr., uuummmmm… Derrick,” said Gallent, vaguely remembering this from admittedly quite a while back. “I couldn’t just leave you straining with all that stuff.” This went on for a few minutes more. More members of the group gathered in this spot of Ponyville came out and recalled sometimes even the most minor helpful and good deeds Gallent Rage had done for them in the past. Some of them, Gallent had even forgotten about, and others, she was wondering why they warranted a huge thanking like this so long after the deed had been done. Just being a little helpful every once in a while was easy. You don’t get a medal for it, right? Soon, Winter Ice approached, followed by Lightning Blade. “This mare here,” said Winter, “has been loyal and faithful for as long as I can remember. She’s the kind of person we need more of.” “Things haven’t exactly been panning out well for me recently…” she went on. “But Gallent Rage? She’s had my back all throughout it. Why, she’s even helped with financial troubles. I’ve never known anything she wouldn’t do if it meant helping those who needed it.” “Winter, if I may?” put in Gallent, standing next to her friend. “You and I are best friends. Helping each other out is just something you’re supposed to do. You really don’t have to give me a big huge speech of thanks for it in front of everypony…” She looked at the crowd. “So? Does that mean it’s not a good thing when you do?” questioned Lightning. “I don’t know many other ponies who would put in the time and effort to be such a great companion to stand by,” Winter told Gallent appreciatively. “I was starting to get used to being spat on and scorned. But you have shown me the light at the end of every tunnel. And for that, I think you deserve to be properly known for what and who you are.” Gallent looked at her friend with eyes of understanding, and knew that she was right. "Thank you for this," said Gallent happily and embraced with Winter in a BFF hug. As the two held each other close, Winter could think of nopony she would rather have for a best friend than Gallent Rage herself. Gallent was just the same. And that was just how they liked it.