Author's Note

Hey everycreature!

Hope you're enjoying the story thus far!

Before we get to the next chapter, I got another idea for another story:

So Cadance and Shining Armor actually grew up in the Crystal Empire and were in charge in the first place and they still have Flurry, but Sombra comes and nearly beats the two. However once Sombra is gone, both Cadance and Shining Armor discover that Sombra in fact has a unicorn daughter... Despite having a bad feeling, the royal couple take in the little filly as their own and Flurry has a new sister.

As the two sisters grow up, Sombra's daughter starts to display some weird behavior, like growing weak from being close to the Crystal Heart and starting to have nightmares. Eventually once Sombra's daughter is old enough, the evil within her comes out and Sombra takes over her body and it's up to Flurry to break through to her adopted sister she grew up with and fight it, reminding her adopted sister of all the fun times they had together and assuring her they'll get through this together no matter what.

So let me know what you think down below and I'll see if I'll do it!

Between Teacher and Student

From the big city of Manehattan, Gallus took the overnight train to the high up Equestrian capital of Canterlot and as the morning sun rose up above the horizon, Gallus, who slept on his seat in the train car, woke up, yawning as he stretched himself and looked out the window. And looking out he could see the majestic capital on the mountain side, shining like a diamond from the morning sun, to Gallus it was a sure welcome sight from his own homeland. Gallus sighed as the train continued rolling along the tracks, climbing higher and higher as it went through tunnels and over bridges until it reached the train station, which was different from the Manehattan one, being more palace like while the Manehattan train station was, well more city like.

"Well here goes nothing..." Gallus told himself as he got off the train and out of the train station into the city.

It wasn't like Gallus hasn't been to Canterlot before, the School of Friendship had a few trips to the capital to see the sights, and visit the museums, as well as the palace, however that was with the company of other students, this was the first time Gallus has visited Canterlot by himself with no one. So it was a little uncomfortable for him to be in such a prodigious place alone, but Gallus tried to stay as normal as possible as he walked down the streets towards the destination he sought for in the city... The royal palace.

Approaching the palace gates, of course there were guards posted outside to protect the perimeter and the ruler of all Equestria, who was inside and attending to whatever matters were at hoof. Coming closer, the guards noticed Gallus and as he was only a few feet away, they stopped him, crossing the entrance with their spears.

"Halt!" One of them demanded of the griffon.

"Who goes there?" The other asked.

"I'm just here to talk to the princess, nothing else." Gallus answered, not expecting to be stopped and his way inside blocked as he was a little annoyed.

"The princess is very busy right now, move along." The first guard replied.

Gallus was about to protest and force his way in, but than, looking past the guards he saw a very familiar dragon crossing the way from the inside.

"Spike!" Gallus called to the dragon. "Over here!"

Spike was currently looking at a list on a piece of parchment and at first was confused who was talking to him as he looked around until he saw the griffon by the palace entrance, the guards still not permitting him inside. Spike was very surprised as he walked to the gates.

"Gallus?" Spike questioned. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to speak with the princess, but these two wouldn't let me through." Gallus answered as Spike turned to the guards.

"It's okay, Twilight and I know him, let him through." Spike requested of the guards.

"But the princess doesn't have time." The second guard protested.

"Well, in that case I'm sure the princess wouldn't mind that I told her you two didn't let one of her former students talk to her..." Spike going a different angle as the guards quickly changed their tone, not wanting to endure the princess's disappointment with them.

"No, that wouldn't be necessary!" The first guard replied.

"You're good to go." The second one nervously smiled as the two guards raised up their spears and gave Gallus an open entrance. "Please don't tell the princess we stopped you." The guard politely asked as Gallus passed the guards.

"Thanks Spike, I would have been in some trouble if you didn't show up." Gallus thanking the dragon, who was taller now, certainly more mature looking than Gallus remembered during his school years.

"No problem, in fact I'm sure Twilight could use some distraction right now, she has been very busy and she'll be happy to see one of her students again." Spike assured the griffon as Spike led Gallus through the open corridors of the palace, plenty of activity going on with the palace's staff and the guards, a group of them on a routine march, their metal hoofshoes clanging against the ground as it attracted Gallus' attention.

As Gallus looked, he couldn't help but imagine himself wearing a guard's outfit, all regal looking and proud to serve and protect the princess, Gallus thought about how nice it would be to have such an important job, it would certainly give him a purpose.

"Gallus?" Spike snapping Gallus' attention as he brought back the griffon to real life. "You okay?"

"Huh?" Gallus asked as he shook his head a little before looking at Spike. "Oh yes, fine, sorry I guess I'm just a little tired from the trip here."

"Okay, well follow me." Spike replied as the two entered the main part of the palace, where the princess resided and worked.

Spike led the griffon down the hallways until the dragon stopped by a door and asked the griffon to wait while Spike went inside. As Spike closed the door behind him, Gallus put his ear against the door, hearing muffled voices, but could tell the voice of his former headmare at the School of Friendship as Spike told Twilight that Gallus wanted to see her and as Twilight excused herself Gallus quickly retracted his head against the door as he heard the hoofsteps of the princess come and open the door. Gallus prepared himself, a little nervous to see his former teacher again.

As Twilight opened the door, Gallus wasn't sure what to say, he could only bow as the ruler of all Equestria stood before him.

"Gallus, you don't have to bow to me." Twilight spoke lightly.

As Gallus lifted his head back up, he found that he could no longer look straight ahead to see his former teacher's face, needing to look upwards a little to see Twilight's face, even thought Gallus himself was older of course.

"Spike tells me you wish to talk to me?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, Head... I mean your majesty." Gallus nervously expressing. "In private if you don't mind."

"Of course not." Twilight smiled as she turned to Spike. "Spike, can you handle the city council until I get back?"

"You can count on me Twilight." Spike returned as he took Twilight's place in the meeting, closing the door as he left former teacher and student alone.

"Why don't we walk and talk?" Twilight suggested to her former student as the two began walking through the hallways side by side out onto the castle gardens. "It's nice to see you Gallus, all grownup, I heard you and your friends have recently graduated from the School of Friendship."

"Yes, it was a happy day." Gallus answered. "Well, for my friends, not me." Gallus said quietly under his breath.

"And I'm happy to see you're taking your lessons to heart." Twilight confusing the griffon a little.

"What do you mean?" Gallus asked.

"I saw this morning's paper, something about a blue feathered griffon returning an old mare's purse that was stolen from her in Manehattan..." Twilight stopping and turning her face to look at Gallus.

"Oh right that..." Gallus not knowing what to feel. "Actually that's what I wanted to talk to you about, not that exactly... But... It's just I'm trying to figure out what my purpose is now that I graduated, I want to do something important like my friends have planned."

"Well, from what I read in the paper, it seems your purpose is to help protect others Gallus and you do a great job at it." Twilight pointed out. "I don't want to decide for you, but have you considered becoming a royal guard, I'm certain the guard could benefit from such a member like yourself, you would a good example for them."

"I have thought about it, it does seem like a good career choice for me, but every single guard here is a pony and I'm a griffon..." Gallus remembering what he saw while walking through the palace.

"So?" Twilight replied back. "Gallus, I opened the School of Friendship for everycreature and even thought the EEA was against it at first, I stuck to what my friends and I wanted and I don't think the royal guard, like education, should be limited to just ponies."

"You really think that?" Gallus asked.

"I do and you can be the first to break that barrier, you can make history Gallus." Twilight urged her former student. "But it's not up to me, your future is in your claws and no one else's, think about it and no matter what, I'll support whatever decision you make."

"Thank you head... I mean your majesty." Gallus thanked Twilight.

"You're welcome Gallus, now why don't you rest here for tonight, I'll have a room set up for you so you can rest and you can leave in the morning." Twilight replied as Twilight led the griffon back inside and to a guest room for Gallus to stay for the night.

As the room was cleaned and set up for the griffon to stay for the night, Gallus laid on his back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about his conversation with his former teacher about his potential future here. Gallus thought about it into the night, putting a lot of thought into it as he didn't sleep for some time, and well by the time his eyes finally decided today was enough, Gallus knew what his future would look like...