Gallus stood over a lake, looking at his blue feathers shaking against the cold wind, his body shaking against the cold wind.
Several minutes had passed since he made the heart-stopping decision of stepping into Rarity’s boutique, planning on asking Sandbar why he had taken such an interest in fashion.
His question slipped out of his beak and onto the floor, as he eyes landed on the green pony’s lips pressed against the lips of their mutual friend, Yona. Just as Sandbar’s eyes glanced the griffon’s way, Gallus squeaked and stumbled out the door, flying away.
Memories rolled into his brain, stinging at his head and his heart as he remembered his former roommate. After their graduation, he had planned on bringing lunches to Sandbar every now and then, inviting the pony to different Ponyville events. After all, moving to Ponyville was one of the greatest gifts the griffon wanted to share.
It wasn’t just him either: Smolder, Ocellus, and Silverstream had begun their first semesters as teachers. Gallus daydreamed of the six of them, spending game-filled, relaxing afternoons in the small town till their fur and feathers turned grey, their foals and chicks racing around.
Given, Gallus’ chicks had a specific parent in mind, but that was but a fool’s dream now. Droplets of water fell to join the lake below. Gallus pondered how much weight his dreams still held, if he could handle his dream of dozing in Ponyville amongst pony-yak foals running about. Gallus shivered, tears rolling down faster as his talons gripped his chest feathers.
“Here, Starlight,” Gallus said, handing the unicorn the paper.
“Are you sure about this, Gallus?” Starlight asked. “It’s only been a few weeks, maybe a few more might-”
“No, I can’t,” Gallus interrupted, jolting out of his once comfortable position. “Even if I become a teacher at your school, they’re always going to hang out with those two. I don’t want Sandbar and his yakfriend even near me. I’m done.”
“Just promise me,” Starlight held the letter with her magic. “That this’ll be the last place, you’ll settle down and be happy.”
“With her help,” Gallus said, looking up at Starlight Glimmer. “I will be.”
Starlight Glimmer zapped her magic at the letter, causing it to disappear with a spark of glitter. As soon as the glitter danced into nothing, Starlight stood up on her hooves and sighed.
“You’ve packed everything?” Starlight asked.
“It’s all in here,” Gallus replied, tugging a black suitcase into view. “I’m ready.”
“Do you...want to say goodbye to them?” Starlight asked, as the two walked out of the School of Friendship.
“No,” Gallus stared straight ahead. “I know my future is not with them.”
“Y’know this won’t fly with her,” Starlight walked ahead, only to look at Gallus over her shoulder. “You’re just going to throw all of her teachings away, and for what? Just because somepony doesn’t like you back?”
Gallus froze in place, glaring at Starlight.
“I’ll send a letter to them at some point, I’m not ready,” Gallus huffed, resuming his walk. “They won’t even notice I’m gone.”
Gallus’ dreams had already torn apart at the seams, so there were no more tears as he stood at the train station with the suitcase by his side. As the train arrived, Gallus looked around him. With no ponies or other creatures about, he took a deep breath before stepping onto the train.
He had expected for Starlight to pull some dick move, but he felt the lack of his friends’ presence as he sat down in the train. His heart thudding, the weight of his actions were slipping onto his limbs and pulling them down like chains. Stop the train, go to them, speak to them.
His body did not move. The train did.
Gallus stared straight ahead at the couple of ponies, one of them holding a foal, the other tapping the foal gently while making cooing sounds.
Gallus turned his back to them, sinking his talons into the cushion beneath him. This feeling, pent up in his chest and causing his tail to dance in the air. She would have a solution to all of this, Gallus was sure of it.
After a few hours, the train finally stopped at its destination: Canterlot. Gallus took his black suitcase and flew out the door, not needing to look for a second longer. The ruler of Equestria stood before him, several inches taller than Gallus remembered her to be.
“I think it’s a bit of a growth spurt,” Twilight chuckled, looking at her slightly longer legs. “In a few more years, I should be as tall as Celestia.”
Twilight stepped forward, wrapping her extended limb around Gallus’ shoulders, causing him to perch on his black suitcase.
“It’s good to see you again, Gallus,” Twilight said. “I read your letter, I’m so sorry this has hurt you the way it has.”
“Well,” Gallus frowned. “I’m just relieved to be here, is all.”
“Fortunately, it didn’t take me long to find a new home for you,” Twilight smiled. “Canterlot Academy, your training begins in a week.”
“Oh! Oh thank you Twilight!” Gallus chirped, flapping his wings and hugging his former principal, burying his beak into her chest. “Um, what’s Canterlot Academy?”
“I’ve sent a few books and equipment to your new dormroom,” Twilight replied with a wink. “Just try not to fall for any of your roommates, okay?”
“Y-Yeah, of course,” Gallus felt his face heat up as he pulled away from Twilight’s chest. The purple alicorn smiled, and Gallus knew that this was the start of his life in Canterlot.
Over the course of the next four years, Gallus’ training of obstacle courses and sparring with his fellow classmates had left him with enough stamina to fly for several days at a time, as well as limbs of steel. His beak and his talons allowed him to subdue most of his classmates, with the exception of the unicorns, for which he wore a special kind of armor.
Every few months or so, Gallus would notice his classmates freeze in their tracks before bowing towards the ground. The first time this happened, Gallus immediately followed suit, only to lift his head and see the purple alicorn slowly landing before him with a smile that could lift the sun.
The first time, Twilight had brought him a small sapphire attached to a necklace. Then, rubies, emeralds, and different treats from Canterlot’s eateries had followed. Each of his gifts following shortly after an A on a test, or a year of training completed.
Gallus could not understand Twilight’s visits until a particular conversation at the bar, where he was to abstain from the drinks and escort his drunk “buddies” home. They had looked amongst each other, speaking of what they’d do as future captains of the royal guard. For a few minutes, Gallus thought nothing of the conversation. But then, puzzle pieces in his brain clicked together, and his eyes widened. The temptation for a beer hadn’t been stronger than that night.
Several mornings later, Twilight had appeared on Gallus’ doorstep. Gallus closed the door behind him, and took a deep breath.
“Your plan for me is bigger than I thought it was,” Gallus admitted, and Twilight smiled with a gentle tilt of her head.
“The last one to be captain was my brother,” Twilight explained. “Nopony in this place showed half the bravery he did, but you’re no pony.”
Gallus stared up at the alicorn, his heart beating faster.
“I’m glad Sandbar and Yona are working under Rarity, and the others under my school,” Twilight added. “But I always saw something in the way you kept to yourself, the way you grew up. I know you loved him, but I knew your path would end up alone once more.”
“Do you think I’ll ever…” Gallus whispered, only for Twilight to press her hoof to his beak.
“Maybe one day,” Twilight nodded. “Get some sleep, your graduation is tomorrow.”
There was a way that Twilight smiled at him, that left him frozen and helpless to the hoof pressed against his beak. From the tip of his tail to the tip of his beak, a warmth radiated from his body that he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Before he could speak, Twilight was already gone.
“Congratulations, Gallus. Not only as a graduate of this here academy, but as the first griffon to do so.”
Gallus puffed his chest and took the certificate as he heard his classmates stomping their hooves with loud cheers and hoots. In the back of the crowd, clearly visible, was the ruler of Equestria herself. Extending her wings, she flew onto the stage and hugged Gallus with her wings, leaning till her mouth was hovering over his facial feathers.
“As future captain, I request your presence in my castle tonight,” Twilight whispered. “6 PM sharp, don’t be late.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Princess,” Gallus whispered back, the same beat within his chest pounding away.
And so at 6 PM, Twilight saw the doors to her castle steadily open, revealing the griffon in his golden armor, the feathers around his face turning red.
“I d-didn’t know what to wear, your majesty,” Gallus bowed.
“No need for that, feel free to wear and speak however you want under my roof,” Twilight batted her eyelashes, turning around and walking down the hallway. “My chefs just finished, follow me.”
Gallus jumped up from his bow and unhooked the armor from his body, unfurling his wings and flying in the Princess’ direction. More doors opened, revealing plates of grilled, fried, and glazed chicken, glistening under the table’s lights. There was also an assortment of familiar cupcakes at the end of the table, and a plate of hay-sliders and hay in teriyaki sauce.
“Cage-free chicken imported from Griffonstone,” Twilight said, snapping Gallus out of drooling from his beak. “The tax was higher than the actual price, of course.”
Gallus nodded, rolling his eyes. Licking the drool from the edge of his beak, Gallus flew to the table and tore into the grilled chicken, flapping his wings rapidly. After a few moments, Gallus’ head jolted upward as his eyes met Twilight’s.
“Sorry, Twilight,” Gallus chirped, chicken hanging off his beak.
“Don’t be, that’s why there’s an assortment of chicken,” Twilight winked. “I do my research on all creatures.”
Gallus felt warmth spreading from his shoulders to his legs, as he continued tearing into the chicken. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Twilight pulling a glass of red wine to her with the magic around her horn. Losing focus of his princess, Gallus’ beak dove into the glazed chicken, the tangy flavor dancing over his tongue. He switched between chickens until there was nothing left but crumbs on the plates.
Gallus felt his surroundings sink back into him, when he looked up and saw four empty wine glasses scattered on the table beside the plate of a few hay straws. As he steadily lifted his head, his eyes landed on the giggling alicorn, leaning against the table.
“Oh boy,” Gallus gulped.
“Y’know Gallus?” Twilight hiccuped. “She’d just play with my buttons, kiss me goodbye, and go back to the shit she always does.”
“Who?” Gallus asked, feeling his heavy body sinking onto the wooden surface beneath him.
“And then she breaks up with me, staging it as this grandiose retirement. And has the gall to leave me in charge!” Twilight growled, pressing her hoof into the table. “Y-You wouldn’t do that to me, right?”
“N-No,” Gallus shook his head, stepping closer.
“Of course you wouldn’t, you’re my special little bird~” Twilight purred, her eyes blinking rapidly. Her body slumped forward, her muzzle only inches away from Gallus’ talons.
“Was it selfish of me?” Twilight whispered.
“Was what selfish of you?” Gallus asked.
“To make you captain so I could…I could…” Twilight’s eyes closed, and a snoring followed.
Gallus lifted Twilight up in his talons, flapping like a hummingbird as he got her out of her chair and up the stairs. Thoughts racing in his head, he placed his princess in her bed. Taking in her lavender fur, as well as the colors of dark purple and pink, Gallus remembered the gemstones, the visits. The image before him became crystal clear, and yet he didn’t feel deceived. Not in the slightest.
Gallus slept on Twilight’s floor, using a few blankets to sleep for at least a few hours before he heard Twilight groaning. Jumping up, he grabbed the bucket next to him and placed it beneath Twilight’s head. Twilight coughed, her body shuddering.
“G-Gallus?” Twilight asked.
“Shhh, it’s okay,” Gallus placed his talon on her hoof. “How are you holding up?”
“Like hell,” Twilight coughed. “I’m s-sorry about last night. I remember bits and pieces-”
“It’s okay,” Gallus repeated. “If anything, it helped clear everything up for me.”
“W-What do you mean?” Twilight stopped coughing, looking at Gallus with wide eyes.
“The gems, the visits, the dinner, the position you’ve given me,” Gallus leaned forward. “It wasn’t just because I was a talented griffon, was it?”
Twilight remained silent for a few moments, groaning as she moved her head back onto the bed.
“I’m not upset, Twilight,” Gallus insisted. “If I didn’t want to join the Canterlot Academy, I wouldn’t have. I...I feel the same way.”
Twilight groaned again, turning away and leaving Gallus in silence for several minutes. Gallus’ talon reached out, just an inch away from her shoulder, when her words jolted him back into reality.
“I’m immortal,” Twilight admitted.
Gallus paused, remaining next to the bed.
“T-Twilight,” Gallus whispered. “If you had turned me away, sent me back to Ponyville, I would’ve drank a lot more than four glasses. I wouldn’t gotten over him, would have always lived in the shadows of my friends. Making me captain of the royal guard, regardless of the reason, brought out a side to me that I had never known. And it’s all because of you, my princess. Nothing would honor me more than to spend the rest of my small life as your protector. I’ll never do what she did, I promise.”
Twilight turned over, pressing her muzzle to Gallus’ forehead.
“Thank you,” Twilight pressed her lips to Gallus’ head briefly, before stepping off the bed.
“Please tell me you contacted them at some point,” Twilight whispered. “I’d hate to see you guys lose touch.”
“I’ve sent letters to Smolder back and forth,” Gallus admitted. “Most of them have made peace with what I did. Who knows? Maybe I’ll visit Ponyville with you sometime.”
“I’d like that,” Twilight smiled. “My knight in shining armor.”
Wrapping a wing around Gallus, Gallus pressed his head against Twilight’s side, purring as he felt Twilight’s wing above him.
Thanks to his princess, Gallus discovered a life beyond Ponyville.
