Matters of the Heart: Immigrant Griffon

Gallus waited half-patiently in the row of chairs outside Headmare Twilight's office. She normally had an open door policy, but when her door was rarely closed, as it was now, it meant that she was occupied with something. He wasn't worried; he had scheduled this meeting a few days in advance, and he had arrived a few minutes early. All he could do to pass the time was twiddle the tips of his claws as he watched the second hand tick by on the wall clock.

Sure enough, two minutes later, the office door opened, and Princess and Headmare Twilight Sparkle took a step out into the hall.

"Ah, Gallus, I hope you haven't been waiting long." Twilight said, waving him into her office as she turned and walked back to her desk where she took her seat behind it.

"Only a couple minutes, Headmare." Gallus assured her, taking a seat at one of the two chairs on the front side of the oak desk.

"So, what can I do for you?" She asked enthusiastically. With Starlight as quite the effective counselor, students wanting to specifically see her weren't all that common.

"Well, Headmare Twilight, I know we're quickly coming up on the end of our first semester of classes, and that you've offered summer lodging to students who want to stay here over the summer, but..."

"Yes?" Twilight asked, gently urging him to continue when she sensed a hesitation in his words.

"I'm looking for something a little more permanent. I'm wondering what the first steps are to the official process of immigrating to Equestria." Gallus told his headmare.

Twilight took in her student's words, and treated his question very seriously.

"Ah. Well, I'd be lying if I said part of me wasn't expecting this, what with your actions before Winter Break last year. I'm also guessing that Sandbar has a great deal to do with this?" Twilight asked him.

"Yes. I know that you probably want to tell me that I shouldn't make a choice like this based on a school romance that has no guarantee of lasting. Sandbar and I are doing great, things have only gotten better, but honestly, even if him and I weren't together... I don't want to go home, Princess."

"Well, firstly, I'm glad to hear that you two are still doing great. But don't you think that you should take the lessons that you've been learning here, and bring them to Griffonstone?" Twilight asked.

"If I hadn't fallen for a native of Equestria, that question would probably have more weight. But honestly, Princess Twilight... I wouldn't be the first to bring that ray of light to the griffon lands. First Gilda, then Gabby... It's not working. Not how you think. The Blue Moon Festival is just as awkward as ever, Gilda has gotten closer to a friend of hers... Greta I think her name is... But the plain and simple fact is the vast majority of us are still completely obsessed with wealth. It consumes almost every single facet of our society, and most griffons just want to get enough bits together to come over here."

Gallus was unfortunately right on his last point. The vast majority of Equestrian immigration applicants were griffons, and most of them stayed on the east coast along the Celestial Sea, having created a fishing industry for trading exclusively with other griffons across the sea. This industry had slowly crept south down the coast to also open up trading relations with the hippogriffs; ponies weren't much for seafood. Griffon chefs who were successful towards the interior of the nation had adapted to Equestrian and interspecies diets. The most well known living example was probably Gustave le Grand, a baker who had a successful shop in Canterlot, with a smaller confectionery right here in Ponyville.

"Well..." Twilight began as she figured how to respond. "I'm not saying you're wrong for wanting to stay here, Gallus, especially considering your relationship with Sandbar. And maybe you're right; maybe it's going to take longer than one generation to spread the magic of peace and friendship far beyond the borders of Equestria. So, to answer your question; legally visiting Equestria is virtually effortless, and obtaining legal citizenship isn't particularly difficult either; but it will require you to decide what you want to do here once you leave school; the easiest way to become a citizen of Equestria is to be sponsored by a legal citizen, most commonly an employer. So your relationship with Sandbar aside, what do you see yourself doing with your life?" Twilight asked.

Gallus wasn't entirely expecting the last part of Twilight's answer, but it made sense; if he wanted to live here on a permanent basis, he was going to have to figure out what he wanted to do, occupation-wise.

"Honestly, I've enjoyed our cooking classes the most. Do you think that's enough experience to get a job?" Gallus asked.

"Well, the culinary arts are vast and varied, it depends on what area you want to focus on. I'm not expecting you to settle on something right here and now if you haven't figured it out already, so no worries. But if you love cooking, then I will say that Chef Grubber is always looking for a little extra help in the school and castle kitchens. Starting pay isn't the best, but if it's experience you're after to start out, I can't think of anything better for a summer job once classes let out."

Gallus was well aware of the little hedgehog whose small team had been responsible for the menu for the past year. Not only that, but he also prepared the meals for the Ponyville EUP guard, and any special events that were held at the castle. Starting out there would be daunting, but it made the most sense as a next step after cooking classes at school, and the experience he'd gain would be priceless if he wanted to go somewhere else.

"That sounds like a fantastic idea, Princess. Thanks!" Gallus replied with a smile.

"You don't have to make any decisions today, but think about it, and feel free to stop into the castle kitchen anytime classes aren't in session; he's there most of the time. Well, I won't take up any more of your time; all in all, an employer sponsorship is generally the fastest and easiest way to Equestrian citizenship. Now go have a great weekend!"

"You too, Princess." Gallus replied, before getting up and exiting her office.

He had a weekend to spend with his boyfriend.