Author's Note

Well this is only the beginning as the description says I was inspired to make this and got the go ahead by rated ponystar and his amazing fic why don't they want me this story will be swapping between events after that story ended and flashback chapters looking into his past and things that he said to starlight criticism is appreciated as this is a attempt at a complex character and situation and I could use the feedback if I'm doing ok or not.

After ages of addition and rewriting bits editing (big thanks to https://www.fimfiction.net/user/369683/Summer+Script) got his help and I will continue this I’m just trying to figure out where to go

The aftermath

As Gallus slowly recovered from his breakdown, he wiped his teary eyes. Looking at Starlight, he spoke in a low tone and broke from her embrace.

"Heh... I'm pathetic. Even after so long, I-I can't escape the past, no matter how hard I try. I guess you want to know about the things I've said, right?" Starlight nodded gently, placing a hoof on his shoulder and smiling as she spoke in a calm tone.

"You're right, Gallus, but in your own time. We don't need to go into it so soon. We can continue this later after you've calmed down. I think you should speak to your friends while I talk to Twilight about what happened today." Starlight paused, sighing as her head dipped down. "Hopefully it won't end with you being suspended, or worse over this."

Gallus gave a nod, sighing as he strode to the classroom door, opened it, and walked out into the hall. As he was headed back to his dorm room, he noticed ponies looking at him and moving out of his way. His cat-like hearing allowed him to hear hushed murmurs as he walked.

"Did you hear that crazy psycho nearly crippled Speed Thrower after gym today? There was blood everywhere! Not even his friends, a dragon and a yak were able to pull him off! Headmare Starlight had to cast a sleeping spell!"

"I did but I also heard Speed was asking for it! He was talking and mocking about how Gallus was an orphan and stuff!"

"Is that blood on his talons?!" one pony asked another as he walked past.

"Haven't you heard? He's the griffin the school's talking about! Apparently he went nuts and nearly killed a student!"

“Do you think he’ll try to kill us!?”

“Let him try!” one of the stallions said, not bothering to lower his voice as he pawed the ground angrily. “If he thinks he can hurt my friends and get away with it, he’s got another thing coming!”

“Dude!” another mare cried out fearfully. “Don’t say something like that you’re gonna make him angry again!”

“So what!? Guy’s a lunatic! And anyone who says otherwise is—”

Gallus blocked the rest of it out as he finally reached his bedroom. Shutting the door behind him, he sighed and flew up to a rafter in the ceiling, wanting to be left alone.

He lay down on the beam, tears threatening to escape him as he looked at his talons, seeing the blood. He still felt no regret for what he did, but more shame filled his heart at letting his anger get to him, just like it did so many years ago.

He then heard the door open and the sounds of Smolder’s footsteps fill the room.

"Gallus? You in hear?"

She quietly asked before hearing a rustling from above as Gallus replied .

"Up here,Smolder. In the rafters."

With a quick flap of her wings, Smolder landed in front of him with a look of concern on her face.

"Hey, Gallus. You doing okay?” Gallus said nothing so she continued uncertainly, “Starlight didn't chew you out too bad, did she?” He still said nothing. “You're, uh, the talk of the school right now. Yona went to find the others to tell them what happened herself." Smolder paused briefly before adding, “And Sandbar's at the nurse's office getting patched up; he took an elbow to the face when we tried to pull you off.”

“Is he alright?” Gallus finally mumbled.

“Yeah, yeah! It was just a bruise; he’ll be fine!” she assured. Smolder then gulped before stating, “Gallus, what happened back there? You…Well, you looked like you wanted to kill him!"

Gallus stared at her, speaking in the same low, monotone voice he spoke to Starlight in, "That's because, at that moment, I did. “I can’t explain it really I just felt so much anger and rage but also something else like a instinct.” He paused to calm himself before adding, “Gilda and Gabby told me that felling can happen but that cases of it are... pretty rare." He sighed, furrowing his brow upon noticing the look of understanding Smolder wore.

"Honestly, I would have done the same and I know the feeling your on about Gallus it’s a predatory instinct dragons have the same I’m pretty sure even Ocellus has a small one."

Gallus smiled gently at the reassurance before saying, "Its not the first time I've sunk into that rage, either. The difference is this time I... Felt the urge to kill. The other times, it was the only to get someone to back off, and this other time it was to save my life."

“Yikes…” she muttered, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. “I’m sorry, Gallus.”

“It’s fine,” he said, crestfallen. "So, what do think is going to happen to me now? I mean, the whole school is talking about it, and the looks I was getting… Evercreature was afraid of me."

Smolder looked away uneasily. “Well? I… I can’t exactly blame ‘em. Dude, not even Yona and I could get you off of him!” she exclaimed worriedly.

“Well, what was I supposed to do, Smolder!” he yelled, throwing his talons up in frustration. “Just stand there and let him— Speed had it coming!” Gallus declared abruptly. “He had it coming…”

“Yes, he did. But? Did that ‘rage’ of yours blind you to what you did to his face?”

Gallus remained quiet for a moment before asking, “How bad?”

“Bad enough that even Discord was called in to heal him and even he looked repulsed when he saw it,” she answered, eliciting a flinch from the griffin.

“Yeah, well… He still deserved it!”

“Maybe. But I don’t think everyone else sees it that way.”

Gallus remembered the ponies he had walked by earlier and shuddered worriedly. "Yeah, I know. Some ponies looked like they wanted a fight if it came down to it...”

Smolder frowned and swore, “Well, I don’t care what those ponies want! You’re still my friend, and I’m not going let them try to hurt you!”

“No!” Gallus yelped.“ I don’t want you guys getting involved! Heck! I might even tell the lot of you to fuck off and that we were never friends! At least that way, you won’t get hurt and I’ll be left alone."

After that statement, Gallus placed his head into his talons, waiting for Smolder to leave, yell, or declare that she didn’t want to be his friend anymore either. What she really did was wrap him into a tight embrace with her wings.

"Gallus,” she began in a soft voice. “You’re my friend, and I’m here for you.We all are! I don’t know what you have been through, but you’re not alone anymore! I’m here if you need to talk" Smolder then smirked, saying,"And if you think telling me to fuck off would get me to leave you're mistaken! I would never leave my friend to fight alone."

Gallus didn’t know what to say, so rather than saying anything, he simply wrapped his wing around her as well and hugged her close, finally allowing his tears to flow freely.