Gallus went out to the courtyard of the Friendship School, looking out at the gently falling snow. He could see the castle from here. The place's windows were glowing, showing the warmth and light. Gallus could hear the faint noise of ponies singing in the castle. Gallus sighed and turned back to the cold, empty dorms.
"Gallus?" Starlight Glimmer came up to him, wearing a scarf and boots.
"Y-yes Counselor Starlight?" Gallus asked
"Gallus, you know you don't have to stay in the student dorms. You can always come stay in the castle with us. I know Spike would love the company in his winter Ogres and Oubliettes tournament." Starlight offered.
"N-no, it's okay Counselor Starlight. I'm used to being alone, and I wouldn't want to intrude. I'll probably just break one of Professor Rarity's decorations or mess up one of your Hearths Warming carols." Gallus replied, waving a claw in dismissal.
"You wouldn't be any sort of intrusion Gallus, we'd all be glad to have you-"
"It's okay. I'm just gonna...turn in early tonight." Gallus replied, turning and heading back inside.
"Alright then. Goodnight Gallus. Happy Hearths Warming."
Gallus ignored Starlight's words and went back into the cold, unwelcoming dorms. He looked around and remembered when the hallway, like the castle, used to be full of light and activity. When he and his friends ran through them and talked, laughing and chattering. Now they were empty, all the students had gone home for the holidays. And Gallus didn't want to keep his friends from their families. Thinking of the families they had made Gallus' heart ache.
"I bet Yona's smashing stuff with her family, and Silverstream is probably jumping around between land and sea with her little brother." Gallus murmured, a smile flickering across his face. "Ocellus 'n her family are probably hanging lanterns under an upside-down tree."
"Yeah, I should probably have explained those instructions to her so they didn't mess up again. But I guess it's their own tradition now." Gallus turned to see Sandbar behind him.
"S-Sandbar? What are you doing here?" Gallus asked, flustered
"I just wanted to see if you were coming to the party." Sandbar replied
"Well, I'm not, so you can go now." Gallus told him
"Aw, why not? Everyone else in town is coming." Sandbar whined.
"Yeah, well, I'm not everyone."
"Gallus, come on! We're going to be singing and playing and laughing all night! You know, like this:" Sandbar cleared his throat.
"On the coldest day of winter
Snowflakes dance and play
Everypony joins in on the fun
Of our favorite holiday!
Hearths Warming Eve is here!
The most magical time of the year
When all are filled with cheer
It's Hearthswarming-"
"Stop it Sandbar!" Gallus covered his ears with his claws. "You just don't get it! Nobody will!"
"Why not Gallus?" Sandbar asked
"Because you have a family!" Gallus yelled.
"Gallus..."
"You all have one! You don't know what it's like to have no one! You all have families!"
"Gal-"
"Ponies have families! Hippogriffs are split between land and sea and they have families! Yaks think that stomping matters more than anything and they have families!"
"Gallus-"
"Dragons only care about their hoards and they have families! Changelings used to feed off of love stolen from innocent creatures and they have families!" Gallus' voice broke and his haunches hit the floor.
"Gallus..." Sandbar tried again
"You don't get how hard it is...to see you all go back to your own families and have NOONE there for you! I can't take it Sandbar! I just can't!" Gallus' chest heaved as his gasping sobs echoed around the still hallway.
"Gallus...I'm here." Sandbar trotted over and put his hoof on Gallus' shoulder. "We all are."
"But...you can't be my family." Gallus objected, looking up, tears falling down his cheeks.
Sandbar leaned in and touched his muzzle to Gallus' forehead.
"We're your friends, and we're here for you, even when we aren't really here." Sandbar said.
Gallus pulled Sandbar in for a hug. Gallus hugged him close and buried his head into the pony's mane. Gallus began crying, it felt like his heart was breaking.
"S-Sandbar...you don't know what it's like to have your family gone."
"Gallus, if you don't mind me asking...what happened to them? I promise I won't tell anyone, not if you don't want me to." Sandbar pledged
"They..." Gallus trailed off and closed his eyes. "It was years ago Sand. I was just a little chick, I don't remember everything."
"What do you remember?"
"The last thing I remember...was being all alone...and really, really cold. I don't know if I ever had a family to begin with. For as long as I've known, I've always been by myself. That's why I don't like Hearths Warming, it just reminds me of how I nearly froze on the streets. And no one ever cared enough to take me in."
"You're not in Griffonstone anymore Gallus. You're in Ponyville. Plenty of ponies here care about you, and would be happy to take you in, if only for the winter. I know my family, for one, would love to help you."
"Really? Your family?" Gallus asked
"Well, yeah. I've told them a lot about you." Sandbar replied, blushing.
Gallus began blushing as well, and hugged Sandbar tighter. Gallus buried his head into the pony's neck. Sandbar hugged him back, just as tight. They let go of each other to look each other in the eye. Gallus suddenly leaned in, pressing his beak to Sandbar's muzzle. The two boys kissed for a minute, then broke apart.
"So...that just happened." Sandbar said, breaking the silence.
Gallus snickered, then pressed his head to Sandbar's.
"D-did you really mean it? About your family wanting to help me?"
"Of course. If you'll let us." Sandbar gently kissed the top of Gallus' head, pressing his head into the Griffon's feathers.
"I-I think I'll let you." Gallus replied, touching his beak to Sandbar's muzzle in a light kiss.
"Then let's go...Gally?" Sandbar tried
"Okay...Sandy." Gallus responded
They headed back out, where Sandbar led him to the Friendship Castle.
"Like I said, everyone's here for the party, including my parents. You have to meet my little sister Gal, she'll love you." Sandbar told him.
"Well, okay." Gallus sighed, following him in.
Everypony was gathered around the tree, talking and exchanging presents. Headmare Twilight and a few of their professors saw them. Counselor Starlight saw them and smiled, waving. Gallus was led to Sandbar's parents, who, like Sandbar had promised, were very happy to finally meet him.
Gallus was holding Sandbar's little sister, Coral Reef. He watched Sandbar chat eagerly with his parents, then looked down at the little green filly with the aqua and pink mane. She looked up at him with her dark green-blue eyes and beamed. Gallus smiled down at the little filly, and Sandbar came over.
"Hey Gallus. How's Coral acting to you?"
"She's...cute." Gallus replied, smiling at Sandbar hesitantly.
"I know. Oh, they're about to start the caroling. Come on Gal." Sandbar passed Coral back to his parents, then tugged Gallus over to their Professors.
"Hey you two." Rainbow said, taking a sip of the non-alcoholic cider she had in her grasp.
"Glad you changed your mind." Starlight murmured to Gallus, who chuckled.
"Me too." Gallus replied
Headmare Twilight stepped forward and cleared her throat.
"I would like to thank everycreature for joining us tonight. Now, let's start the caroling!" Twilight called, then she and Starlight began, everyone else soon joining in.
"The firelight is shining bright
While the snow blows cold outside
Friendly faces, warm embraces
Surround us all tonight"
Gallus and Sandbar leaned into each other, Gallus putting a wing around Sandbar. They began singing together.
"So we'll make this
One simple wish
For every girl and boy
May the holiday bring you peace and joy~
From those, who we love
To the stars up above~
May the holiday bring you
Peace and joy~
Peace and joy!
From those whom we love
To the stars up above
May the holiday bring you
Peace and joy~"
As the others began a new song, Gallus and Sandbar looked to each other.
"You okay now?" Sandbar asked
"Y-yeah. Thanks Sandy." Gallus said
"Anything for you Gally. You're home now."
Author's Note
The two songs are from a show called Sofia the First, both from the episode Holiday in Enchancia. I fudged the lyrics a little on the first song, but the lyrics from the second one are the same as in the show.
~Melody Song
