Author's Note
8/21/21
I plan on revising this story, I started this when I was a sophomore and finished it as an early junior in high school I'm now a freshman in college taking English 111. It's bad, I know, I have gone over the story multiple times and I just despise it for its errors and writing quality and I feel I can write a nicer story with the same plot.
Do not know how long it will take (hopefully not too long), but I just hope it's better.
One Lucky Griffon
It was the week leading to spring break for the school of friendship and many students conversed about their plans for break especially one group of six students.
"I Can't wait for this week to be over, no school for a whole week! Do any of you have any plans for the break?" Sandbar asked the group.
"I'm heading home to Mount Aris but my family has nothing really planned out," Silverstream responded.
"Yona has to be with yak family, big yak spring tradition," Yona said.
"Dragon lord ember has some weird festival planned and of course I have to go," Smolder told the group with an eye roll
"Same,"said Ocellus,"Thorax is doing something similar to what the ponies do for a spring festival," she said brightly
“Yeah I usually go to the Ponyville Spring Fling almost every year! But my family has a trip to Baltimare planned so we can't go," the pony replied with a smile,"so, Gallus you have anything planned?" He asked the griffon.
"What do you think," The griffon said dryly
"I don't know, you don’t talk about home often," The lime green pony said.
"Stuck in Griffonstone doing other griffins dirty work. That's my plan. Always has always will be..." he said with a sigh.
The group looked thoughtful and concerned for their friend. Soon their teacher arrived and gave their lecture rinse and repeat five more times and the school day was complete.
Gallus sat at his desk writing a paper that head mare Twilight had assigned that day. Though that paper was due after break so he practically half-assed the thing for the night.
*knock* *knock*
"Come in!" Gallus said turning to face the door. The door opened in came none other than Silverstream the jubilant hippogriff herself.
"Oh. What do you need?" He said turning back to his "hard work".
"To know if you are okay. You seemed down for the rest of the day after that group conversation we had in headmares Twilights class," She said
"I'm fine trust me."
"You sure?"
"Yep totally fine," he said with an obviously fake grin. Silverstream looked at him unamused with disappointed eyes piercing into his soul.
"Agh! Fine, I'm not completely okay…"
Silver giggled at the defeated griffon to which he rolled his eyes
"Alright, so what's got you so down?"
"I don't know? The lack of a vacation. Your literally talking to a griffon who's never been out of Griffonstone or Ponyville. Just you five talking about having actual plans just-" the griffon sighed looking down," isn't the best thing to hear when your only ‘vacation’ is literally a school which still feels like work," He said trying to avoid eye contact with the hippogriff.
"Oh... Well I could fix that!"
"What?"
"Why don't just come with me to Mount Aris my family has already told me I am always welcome to bring any of my friends to visit!"
"You sure? Wouldn't your mom and dad be a bit off put by you bring some guy home with you for a whole week plus would headmare Twilight even allow this?" He said bewildered by the offer. Though getting to actually have a relaxing time away from any work sounded great.
"One your not 'some guy' your my friend! Two I sorta already asked headmare Twilight and she said it is completely fine! Three… she already sent a permission slip to Grandpa Gruff," The hippogriff said with a sheepish smile.
.
"Oh? Okay well it looks like there is not backing out so I guess i'm going to Mount Aris for a week!" He said Brightly and from that response the jubilant hippogriff smiled and wished her friend a good night, and bid a temporary farewell.
The week went by in a flash Gallus and Silverstream both excited to go to Mount Aris. It was now Friday evening and all classes where done for the day. The six students headed to their dorms to start their packing for their vacations the upcoming week. It did not take too long for Silverstream to finish her packing so she headed to Gallus room to check if he had finished so the two could meet up with the others and grab dinner. From outside his dorm room she could hear the sound of a shower running.
*knock* *knock*
"I'll be out in a second!!"
About five minutes later a damp griffon opened the door.
"You packed?" Silverstream said with a smile.
"Uh, I think. I would only need to bring things for cleaning right?" Gallus asked.
"Eh most likely."
"Cool I'm done then let meet up with the others," Gallus said closing his door.
The two left and got dinner with their friends the final one they would all have before they would have to leave for break some said their goodbyes there, others would wait until morning. The two griffs left the dinner first due to their was train arriving early the next morning.
“Train arrives at six right?” the griffon said from his doorway.
“Yep! Right at sunrise should arrive at Mount Aris some time in the afternoon,” she said and flashed a small smile.
“Alright night!” he said.
"Night!"
Gallus and Silverstream sat at the train station waiting for the train. Gallus watched the sun slowly crest over the horizon. Eventually the train arrived and passengers started to flood in to the train cars. Gallus and Silverstream were fortunate enough to find a seat. Silverstrean was snapped out of her tired trance when a hippogriff sat in front of the two next to him sat a slender petite mare.
“Mr.Mangi!” Silver exclaimed hopping up to give the hippogriff a hug.
“It’s so nice to see you again Silverstream! How have you held up at princess Twilights school?”
“It's been great!”
“That's always good to hear,” Mr.Mangi noticed Gallus, who had a confused look plastered onto his face,”so Silver who’s the griffon?” he said pulling away from their hug giving a small smirk towards the two.
“OH! This is Gallus he attends the school of friendship and is one of my friends,” Silverstream said putting an arm around the griffon which prompted a small blush on the griffon.
“Ookay you know i'm not the huggy type.” he said lightly pushing her away prompting a very light blush from the hippogriff.
“Nice to meet you Gallus” Mr.Mangi said shaking Galluses claw.
“You to.”
“So Mr.Mangi who is the mare?” Silverstream question the older hippogriff
“Oh yes Silver I would like you to meet Ira my special somepony I have met on my time away from Mount Aris.”
The small mare smiled at the two “nice to meet you two.”
“You too,” Silverstream said though she seemed a little off put, but Gallus didn't question it.
The four continued to talk for a little while, but eventually boredom caught up to Gallus and soon fell asleep.
Gallus awoke Mr.Mangi and his special somepony where asleep Gallus noticed to his left Silverstream a fallen asleep as well her head resting quietly on his shoulder, though he hated to admit it the scene he was in was kinda cute and comfortable to griffon. Having some creature being able to cuddle up with was… nice. Having some creature be with him, to love him? Was… nice? He started to think about her and all the things the two had been through, how long they had been friends… did he actually care for another creature in such a way?
*THUD*
A loud sound came from ahead snapping him out of his trance he tried looking out the window to see if he could see anything odd but nothing. The train seemed fine. He looked back every creature was still asleep. He noticed the train started to quicken its pace and the attendant that was usually at the door was missing he did not know what to make of the situation.
The train keep on gaining speed the outside world started to move faster and faster until it was just a blur. Then everything stopped the world was black he could hear nothing but the sound of ringing he felt cold. Gallus opened his eyes. Sitting in the same position he was in the train but there was no train well a functional one that is. Around him was dirt, wood, metal, mangled train cars, fire, and he could faintly see bodies within the carts lifeless some seemed to have gone smoothly other where mangled beyond recognition, he felt ill. He kept looking, his started breath quicken
“Silverstream? Mr.Mangi?,Ira?, ANY CREATURE!?” he called out he sat minutes waiting for any life from any creature nothing he began to shake had he lost them all? Had he lost her?...
Gallus eyes shoot opened he felt cold his breath was quick. Gallus took a look around and noticed Ira had fallen asleep cuddling with Mr.Mangi who looked at the griffon, and Silverstream also was in the same position as in the nightmare he had.
“So kid you okay?”
“Hm!”
“I can tell something has you troubled a nightmare perhaps?” the hippogriff questioned
Gallus nodded.
“Well what happened?”
“I rather not talk about it Mr.Mangi.”
Mr.Mangi looked disappointed but he got over it quickly.
“Its alright kid even I was unsure about my first love.”
Gallus eyes widened.
“what I don't love her…right?" Gallus thought to himself
There was an awkward silence between the two Gallus didn't really know how to respond so he changed the subject.
“Mr.Mangi I never asked, How do you know Silverstream.”
Mr.Mangi laughed lightly “she was a friend of my daughter, and my wife use to help frysit her.”
“Ah that makes sense. Wait then what happened with your wife if you and Ira are dating”
Mr.Mangi’s face was a face of grimace.
“Gallus… I'm a widower, she past due to an illness right before the liberation of Seaquestrea.”
“Oh I'm sorry to hear.”
“Don't worry about,” Mr.Mangi said with a wave of his claw.
Gallus looked out the window and watch the world go by.
“The nightmare wasn't about love. Well I don't think it was, but I lost Silverstream, you, Ira… I did not know what to think...” Gallus said Mr.Mangi knowing what the griffon was trying to convey.
"Your worried that your gonna lose somegriff you care about," Mangi said Gallus could only nod.
Mr.Mangi laughed “don't sweat it, I highly doubt you'll lose he during this vacation. And if you do lose her… that's a damn shame you would be Damn lucky to get somegriff like her ever again now try to get more sleep you're gonna need it.”
Gallus took some time to contemplate on what Mr.Mangi said when he looked up Mr.Mangi was fast asleep with his lover. Gallus could not sleep with his state of mind he sat awake alone among the slumbering passengers.
The train stopped waking up numerous passengers including Silverstream. It had stopped at a station letting passengers on and off. Three ponies sat got on the same car as SIlverstream and Gallus two stallions and one mare they sat behind the two.
“He’s gonna be so happy to see us,” the mare said.
“I know right I'm just excited to go to Mount Aris! Finally get a chance to get out of this town!” the stallion, that was next to the mare, respond.
“Wait your going to Mount Aris!?” Silverstream said turning around.
“Yep! We have a hippogriff friend who runs a sandwich shop in northern Hippogriffia,” the stallion that sat behind the two said.
“Cool! We are heading there for spring break I have family there and my friend is coming due to a... Lack of better option,” she said a little sheepishly.
“Ah I’ve heard Griffonstone is a rough place to live,” the mare said to Gallus which he just shrugged it off.
“Is Griffonstone just like cold Dragon lands or whatever?” one of the stations said.
“Star!” the other two said with a disappointed laugh.
“What? He's not wrong,” Gallus commented back prompting more laughter.
Gallus and silver turned back around, but still tuned to the conversation that was being held.
“So Midnight what do you plan on doing with ol cheesy when we get to the shop?”
“I dunno,” she responded.
“Your probably gonna tape a bean to his-”
“Shut it Shoshinsha!”
The three laughed and continued to make stupid comments throughout the rest of the ride.
“Mount Aris station coming up every creature get your luggage ready!” a loud voice boomed in
the car.
“Where finally here!” Silversream said smiling wide. She eagerly looked out the window watching her home get closer as they crossed the causeway that connected the city to the rest of the world.
The train came to a screeching halt. Most passengers got off. The two said their goodbyes to Mr.Mangi and Ira and left the train platform to head to the beach where silver said her parents and brother would be waiting.
“Silverstream!” a voice yelled, looking Gallus could make out two hippogriffs and a sea pony
"Mom, Dad, Terramar!" Silver yelled rushing over to give her family a hug.
"It’s so great to see you Silverstream you coming down to Sequestria during your visit?" Her mother asked
"Of course! Why wouldn't I or well uh we..." Silverstream responded going from excited to a bit sheepish as she stepped to the side revealing Gallus who felt extremely awkward.
"Oh you brought a friend," Her dad said looking at the griffon,"so kid, what's your name?" He said seemingly friendly but cautious at the same time.
“Gallus," he said as he extended his claw and shook the fathers.
"Nice to meet you Gallus I'm Sky beak Silverstreams father."
Gallus smiled at the hippogriff and turned to the sea pony, who was giving him a slight smile.
"Hello Gallus I'm Silverstream’s mother Ocean flow," Ocean flow extended a fin towards Gallus he awkwardly shook it not really knowing how one would shake a fin.
"How's it going Gallus?" Terramar said shaking the Griffon's claw.
"Hey! Everything has been pretty good, you?"
"Nothing much."
“So you two have anything planned for the day?” Sky beak ask.
“Not at the moment well besides dropping our stuff off which I think we should go do now,” Silverstream responded.
“Alright so I’ll see you two at the house?” Her father questioned.
"Maybe we might find out what we want to do on the way there," Silverstream said turning to start heading toward the city.
“Alright be careful you two!" Sky beak said as the family waved the two off.
Gallus and SIlverstream walked through the gates of Hippogriffia. Silverstream flew around excitedly greeting many hippogriffs that she did and did not know. Gallus was blown away by the city’s pure beauty. It reminded him of photos of when Griffonstone wasn't a poverty rich city back when they had an actual ruler and the idol of boreas. They eventually made there way to a sizable home near the top half of the mountain.
“I'm assuming this is your father's house,”Gallus said as the two entered.
“Yep!” the hippogriff replied.
The house was pretty typical in layout near the entrance was the living room, with a flight of stairs leading up to more rooms. A Small kitchen in the back end of the house next to it sat the dining room with a small table.
Gallus moved over towards the couch putting his stuff down, prepping it to act as a small bed.
“Gallus you don't need to stay on the couch,” Silverstream giggled, “ we have a guest room you can stay there.”
“A guest room? Fancy most griffons don't have a spare room for guest if they even let you in,” the griffon mumbled prompting the jubilant hippogriff to laugh.
Up stairs Silverstream lead Gallus down the hall to a decently sized room a full bed sat in the middle with two small tables sat on either side of the bed. A door near the foot of the bed lead into a small bathroom, and closet.
“Wow? I knew you had money but this is pretty nice just for a guest,” Gallus said in wonder. His friend blushed a little at his remark.
“Well we have a large family and usually two hippogriffs sleep in here,” Silverstream said.
"Nice a two griff bed for one!" Gallus exclaimed plopping himself on the bed," and it's soft too! Way better than any bed I've ever slept on!"
Silverstream could only giggle at her friends jubilant attitude something she rarely saw out of him.
“So you have any idea what we are doing for the rest of the day it's only,” Gallus paused to quickly look at the clock,” five twenty-seven.”
“Well I rather leave Hippogriffia for tomorrow due to its size and my dad also makes dinner around eight-ish so I was thinking I could show you around The Harmonizing Heights.”
“The Harmonizing Heights?”
“It's a park in Hippogriffia, it's pretty big."
“Big enough to spend three hours in?”
The hippogriff nodded to her friend “come on I think you’ll enjoy it.”
“Alright I’ll wait down stairs you still have to put your stuff up to,” the griffon pointed out
“Oh right!,” the hippogriff shot out of the room into the room right across from his and shot right back out,”no waiting needed lets go!” she said smiling.
Exiting Sky beaks house many hippogriffs where gathered near a large statue proclaiming it was "Proud to be a Hippogriff Festival." Silverstream remarked how often the festivities occur. Ahead Gallus could make out a huge arched gate. Upon approaching Gallus could see inside It was indeed massive, he could hear the birds and many peaceful waterfalls standing there at the gate.
“Wow you were not wrong this place is huge!” Gallus could not stop marveling at this place it was so extensive,”you know I really would not mind living here if I had the money.”
Silverstream laughed lightly at the griffon as they started to walk along the path.
“Being a griffon wouldn't you get annoyed by all the craziness that happens around here?” Silverstream question.
“Nah living at the school has gotten me used to some degree of craziness, especially a certain creature,” Gallus said being a bit flirty and giving his friend a light shove which was a mistake. As one should expect for every action, there is an equal/unequal reaction when it comes to another creature. Silverstream pushed back causing Gallus to lose his balance and fall into some bushes.
“Gallus!” Silverstream rushed over to the bushes pulling them back. Gallus sat idle looking up into the hippogriffs eyes.
“Thanks…” Gallus said flatly.
Silverstream helped him to his feet to which they noticed something, an odd path. Gallus looked at the hippogriff and shrugged. Unanimously they walked down the overgrown walkway. They walked for a good half hour. It eventually ended in a small clearing with a large hole breaking through the stone wall.
"Wonder how this happened?" Gallus said moving towards the hole.
"Must of happened during the storm king's attack could have been an old boarding zone." She said moving her claw on the slightly eroded rock.
"Hm well we should finish the tour of the park," Gallus said moving toward the path.
"Wait would you like to come here after dinner? There's a thing counselor Starlight said I should try one day." The hippogriff said.
"That being?"
“Star gazing! She told me it’s extremely relaxing thing to do.”
“Uh huh. Alright I guess so,” Gallus said confused.
They finished their walk around the park returning to Silverstreams house. Entering they could smell food and hear many sounds coming from the kitchen walking in they could see Sky beak hard at work making dinner he was periodically checking recipes and the timer near the stove intently.
“Uh hi dad?” Silverstream said breaking sky beak out of his trance.
“Oh hi sweetie dinner should be ready soon at least I hope so could you go get Terramar from upstairs Gallus you can take a seat at the table.”
“Okay! Terramar Dinner’s Ready!” the hippogriff said flying up the stairs.
Gallus could hear the notable sound of a door being opened and some playful muffled horse play from upstairs. He sat down at the table its was small compared to the larger ones they had at school only having four chairs. Sky beak moved over towards the table setting it for their meal he was caught off guard by the loud ding of his timer causing him to rush back to the kitchen. The two hippogriff siblings eventually made there way down. Skybeak came out with four plates of salmon meunière of some sort. Gallus could only stare at the plate stunned.
“Is this salmon?”
“Yep fresh from the market near the station. Picked it up on Terramar and I's way back,” Sky said taking a bite of the fish.
“How much did it cost you?”
“About six bits.”
Gallus dead panned “six bits t-that's a steal! Fish is a royalty in Griffonstone you rarely see it in any shops for such a low price!” his dead face demeanor quickly changed to pure excitement.
“How much is it usually worth back home?” Terramar asked the excited griffon.
“Eh due to its rarity is about ehhh thirty to fifty bits.”
“Thirty to fifty bits!” the three said in unison.
"Fresh or imported?" Terramar ask.
"Either imported or freshly caught doesn't matter." Gallus said with a shrug.
“Wow no wonder so many griffons starve or so I'm told,” Sky beak said concerned with the safety and well being of the country's citizens.
“Its expected for a griffon to get their own food through conventional or unconventional ways the ones who starve are the ones who can't provide for themselves,” Gallus said taking his first bite of the salmon,”mhmm I have not been treated with such a great meal in years,” to which the other three laugh.
“So Gallus besides high food prices what is Griffonstone really like,” sky beak ask the blissful griffon.
“It can be pretty tartarish during the winter and the summer… or any time.,” Gallus responded.
“Oh,”sky beak said looking at the griffon,”it can't be all that bad.”
“Well no griff there likes it there, they’re all miserable and lazy that's why griffons like me go and take whatever job they ‘need’ some other griff to do I practically work any time I'm there with very little down time that's one of the reasons I took this trip.”
“Ha a work juggler. Interesting not very common around here, but from how you described Griffonstone I assume is pretty common there,” Gallus nodded to Skys comment,”and assuming due to your workload you don't get to relax at home or see your family too often,” sky said innocently taking another bite of his food. Gallus paused.
"I uh don't really have a uh home or a family for that matter," Gallus said trying to avoid eye contact with sky beak.
“Oh thats um... Wow really sorry to hear," Sky beak said not really knowing how to properly respond to such a response.
The room fell silent the only audible sound where of the silverware's clatter.
“H-hey dad," Silverstream said trying to break the silence in the room,"I found a spot in harmonizing heights today with Gallus and I wanted to go there tonight to try something out that the guidance counselor suggested me. Mind if we go?” she said looking over towards the griffon who had finished his plate.
“Yeah sure you two go ahead me and Terramar can clean up.” sky’s response prompted a quick glare from his son, but Terramars eyes were swiftly beaten by his fathers.
“Okay thanks!” Silverstream said hopping out of her chair rushing upstairs to grab whatever the two would need. Gallus grabbed his plate and walked into the kitchen it still had the smell of the salmon to which he smiled lightly. He placed his dish into the sink and rinsed it off.
“Gallus! Come on let's get going,” Silverstream hollered from the bottom of the stairs he made his way towards the front door opening it letting the hippogriff and himself exit the house.
The two walked through the city despite it being about nine the city was still bustling with hippogriff natives and some pony tourist. They entered the harmonizing heights to find it lightly packed with many couples enjoying the clear night sky or singing to each other. They noticed the bushes that covered the path had not been disturbed sense they last left them they waited till no one was looking and they maneuvered themselves behind the bushes onto the dark path.
“Spooky,” Silverstream said jokingly prompting an equally comedic eye roll form the griffon.
Their spot was clear the only disturbance was from them hours ago Silverstream laid out the small blanket and the two sat down.
“Sooo what did counselor starlight say about star gazing what does it do?” Gallus asked his friend
“It's supposed to be relaxing ‘helps calm ones stress and anxiety from the day or do it if your into astronomy’ that's what she told me.”
“Hm so you just look up and stare at balls of plasma.”
“Balls of plasma?”
Gallus sighed. “Remember that reading day Headmare Twilight held in her class a few months ago?”
“Mhmhm.”
“Yeah well I randomly choose a science book that explained what stars exactly where and what their made of, Gallus said with a light chuckle prompting the same reaction form the hippogriff.
“Hey Gallus?”
“Yeah?"
"Never mind I forgot what I wanted to say," She said instinctively looking away from the puzzled griffon.
The two sat in silence just looking up they both had to admit it was relaxing the cool spring air the faint sounds of singing and waves crashing on the beach down below and just being alone…
Alone that word is so familiar...
“Do you two wealy have to goo?” A young griffon called out to two older griffons.
“Yes sweety I know being home alone for a few weeks is hard but trust me you will be fine,” one of the griffons said.
“Yeah! Trust me my parents did the same thing my dad would always tell me ‘to hold the fort’ so… Gallus can we trust you to hold down the fort for us?” Gallus’s father sat in front of him.
Their sat a five year old Gallus scared but slightly excited about being home alone for the very first time.
“I guess…” Gallus said sheepishly.
“Cmon I need a better answer than that! You’re our brave little Gallus!”
“I wuill!” Gallus said triumphantly.
“Yeah!” Gallus’s father said giving the small Griffon a high claw.
“Okay you two we got ta get going. Mr.Gruff will be by to check on you periodically throughout the next week,” Gallus’s mom said giving him a light hug.
“Oki! Wait wuill you bee home fowr the festabal?”
“Of course we will! Why would we leave our little Gallus alone for such a holiday!” Gallus’s mother said from the door frame with a sympathetic smile.
“Oki!”
The doors to the house shut leaving Gallus sitting their alone.
*knock* *knock*
Gallus opened the door to reveal a much younger grandpa gruff staring down at the young griff.
"Mr.gruff!"
"Its grandpa no matter how many times I tell them they still call me-," gruff snap himself out of his grumble realizing he still had a job to do. "Sorry okay do you have any injuries?"
"No."
"You hungry and thirsty?"
"Yeah."
"Okay then go make a pb&j and a glass of milk or whatever liquid you can get and make it quick I want to go home as soon as possible."
Gallus swiftly ran off toward the kitchen grabbing some bread, peanut butter, and strawberry jelly and tried his best to replicate what his mom would do…
"What in Grovers name is that!" Gruff yelled pointing at what appeared to be two pieces of bread coated on both sides with globs of peanut butter and jelly.
"Its pb&j wike you said." His mouth full of peanut butter.
"Whatever you seem to be… capable of being alone see you in a day or two or whatever." Gruff said slamming the door on the griffon leaving him alone.
Gallus flew around his house playing with his toys, sleeping in his parents large bed meddling in almost everything he could, he felt free!... This lasted four days till he started to whine for his parents. He missed them their trips would take forever but usually he was with them.
One week had passed and his parents did not arrive not too much surprises so Gallus did not give it much thought. That night he was making a pb&j ,which he was getting stick of having, a large snowstorm hit Griffonstone. When he was done with his sandwich a loud snap from outside scared him only a few seconds later a tree was barreling through the roof right toward the kitchen Gallus didn't move horrified. He went cold darkness consuming him.
Gallus was woken up by dripping of water from an old pipe landing on his face. He tried moving but couldn't his wing was trapped under the branches of the pine tree that toppled onto the house. Gallus tried lifting the branches off of him but to no avail he was too weak. The next solution one that hurts the most pulling. He moved himself the best he could luckily wing freed itself but unfortunately his wing had a few broken bones and minor scrapes and bruises. Looking Gallus noticed the wall to his right had collapsed onto the rest of the house and the tree blocked both exit from the kitchen he was trapped…alone. It took days for Gallus to escape the kitchen he did all he could somehow succeeding. Using knives ,his talons and sometimes his own beak to dig at the trees trunk making a small hole that the could squeeze himself through. Looking around the downstairs seemed disturbed the door was left open and some small trinkets where missing. Outside Gallus saw Gruff placing a sign down.
"Mr. Gruff?" Gallus called startlingly old griffon.
"Great Grover… the kids alive." Gruff said in disbelief.
Gallus approached the old griffon taking note of the sign that was placed.
[house condemned for demolition by the griffon empire]
"What's damolation mean?" Gallus said innocently.
"Means your house is being torn down," Gruff said flatly.
"What! Do my pawents know!? Are they the ones tearing it down?" Gallus said teary eyed he loved his house.
Gruff had completely forgotten about the boys parents. "Uh listen kid I know is kinda hard for ya but…" gruff swallowed know he would not take this well," they passed away on their way back from Canterlot in a train accident roughly a week ago."
Gallus’s heart sank he heard Gruff correctly his parents were gone just like that. Gruff had left him soon after he told him the news. He was now alone no mother no father no… any one he sat on the front porch of the house that night looking up at the stars crying quietly to himself.
Gallus snapped himself out of his trance his face damp.
"Gallus are you okay?"
"Hm! Y-Yeah i'm fine," He said stammering looking away from her trying to compose himself.
"If your okay then why where you crying," Silverstream said putting a claw on his shoulder, "you know you can always tell me."
Gallus sighed "just memories."
What kind of memories? Happy, sad?" Silverstream said innocently.
Gallus sat thought for a moment it seemed there would be no way out of this without making the rest of the trip awkward if he didn't say anything he should be honest about it they've known each other for almost a year and a half.
"They were happy and sad. I never told you guys much about my childhood back home. Well up until I was five I Had a family a mom and a dad they were oddly nice for two griffons I don't know if it could have been an act but they were two of the wealthiest griffons in Griffonstone and were like among the Canterlot nobles. Every once and while they had a business trip to many of the Equestrian city's I would go with them it's really funny when we would go to Canterlot there was always this purple unicorn that hung out near the library and castle."
"Was that headmare Twilight?" Silverstream said cutting off Gallus.
"Yeah it actually was I never met her but I know my parents did I have never decided to bother headmare Twilight about it. Well on one of those trips they left me home alone for two weeks which were pretty miserable I lived off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."
"That explains your hate of peanut butter," Silverstream said with a giggle.
"Yeah," Gallus chuckled,"but one night I was making a sandwich in the kitchen when a storm hit and a tree fell trapping me in the kitchen and giving me a broken wing it took me a week to claw myself out of their."
"Wow," Silverstream was in disbelief,"And nogriff came to see if you were alive," Silverstream said scooting closer to him.
"Maybe when I got free the door was open and some things were gone. Well I exited the house to see grandpa gruff placing a demolition sign come to find out my parents had died a week ago in a train accident…leaving me alone," Gallus said looking down.
"You're not alone you have m- all of us your friends," Silverstream said wrapping an arm and a wing around Gallus pulling him in for a light hug. She started to pull away respecting the griffons personal space but she was stopped.
"Nah you're good I'll allow it this time." Gallus said causing the hippogriff to light up practically tackling the griffon to the ground in a tight hug. Gallus blushed hard as Silverstream laid on top of him and snuggled her head right under his.
"Silverstream w-what are you doing?" Gallus said with a stammer.
"What?" She said backing off she began to blush furiously realizing what she had just done and was now staring directly into his eyes they sat like this for several seconds, not saying a word. Silverstream snapped herself out of her trance quickly apologizing quickly moving away to sit back down.
"Well that could have gone better. Great way to make it awkward Silverstream now he's probably really mad or embarrassed what did I do," Silverstream thought to herself her heart racing.
"What was that?" Gallus thought still lying on the ground staring into the sky,"I don't ever recall her ever hugging any creature like that…why do I feel so warm inside? Did I enjoy it? Of course I did it Silverstream. Do I want more? Yeah. Is that what pure affection feels like? If it is it's been years since I've felt that," Gallus continued to ponder as he got up to see his isolated friend.
"Silverstream? You okay?" Gallus said approaching the despondent hippogriff.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to hug you so- well I did mean to hug you but I didn't mean to hug you so aff-" Silverstream was cut off by Gallus grabbing her beak.
"I know what you mean you're fine." Gallus said letting go of Silverstream beak causing her to look down in embarrassment, but she was caught off guard when Gallus himself decided to hug her tightly. Silverstream was shocked hugs from Gallus where a rarity, "It's been a long time since I have felt such a level of affection. It's something I must have unknowingly desired I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it."
Silverstream smiled at his responses wrapping herself around Gallus putting him back on the ground nuzzing herself back under his head. Silverstream was soothed by Gallus breathing as his heartbeat sent her into a blissful daze. Gallus couldn't help but notice how warm and soft she was, like a small duvet covering him.
"So Gallus? How do you know Headmare Twilight knew your parents?" Silverstream said breaking the blissful silence of love.
"I found out during the small economics class the entire school had to take she mentioned two griffons Faris and Pelcia," Gallus voice starting a quiver a bit,"and how they got so wealthy all to come to such an end to unstable train bridge…" Gallus breathing slowed tremendously trying to retrain his pride.
The two continued lay in silence for minutes Gallus could feel Silverstream get heavier by the minute. They would need to wrap up soon, but that did not stop Gallus from asking a question one that plagued many.
"Where is the king what ever happened to him?"
"The king?" Silverstream was confused pushing herself up coming face to face with the griffon.
"Ya know Queen Novos husband? What happened to him why does no creature ever talk about him?"
"Oh… you mean uncle Marti, or king Martimine Breeze. He passed during the storm king's attack sadly I never got the chance to meet him and auntie Novo and my parents rarely talk about him," Silverstream said a bit Saddened,"even Skystar doesn't know a whole lot about him and that's her own father…" Silverstream let out a long sigh putting her head back under the griffons,"maybe his death was so traumatic it brings back too many flashbacks or he was not all to great of a guy and they don't want people to look at him in such a bad light… I guess we'll never know," Silverstream fell silent.
"Wow," Was all Gallus could mutter. The two remained quiet for Silverstream, Gallus’s breathing was becoming a lullaby causing Silverstream to slowly fall asleep atop of the griffon.
Gallus took note of her slumber and smiled he let the moment sit for a while finally wrapping his own arms around her, but he knew eventually they would need to return to her home. As time passes Gallus could feel himself drifting off snapping himself out of exhaustion and decided now was a god time to wake up the hippogriff.
"Silverstream?" Gallus whispered.
"Yeah…" Silverstream said wearily.
"We should leave you're falling asleep," Gallus said moving himself out from Silverstream and into a sedated position she didn't move.
"I'm gonna have to carry her am I?"
"He is gonna have to carry me…" Silverstream thought. She felt his claws move under her body has Gallus hoisted her into a carrying position "YES!!" Silverstream wrapped her arms around Gallus neck and snuggled her head into his shoulder.
Gallus slowly flew through the park to find many couples still out and about. Gallus notice that some of the couples began to stare. This felt like the longest flight he had ever taken. At the front porch of the house Gallus placed Silverstream down and opened the door letting the two make their way in and upstairs. Gallus put a claw on the doorknob to the guest room he turned to bid Silverstream a goodnight to be greeted with a swift locking of their beaks and hug.
"Goodnight Gallus," Silverstream said turning around and disappearing into her room.
Gallus sat shocked his face frozen as he entered his room and plopped onto his bed. He stared at the ceiling his flat demeanor slowly grew to a smile as he fell asleep knowing they he cared for her as she cared for him and for that she was safe. The words of Mr.Mangi constantly remind him how damn lucky he really was.
