One morning at the School of Friendship, Gallus was sound asleep; that was until Sandbar barged into their shared dorm room in a state of panic.
“Gallus wake up! Wake up, Gallus! You’re gonna be late!” Sandbar exclaimed.
Right on que, Gallus awoke, let out a yawn, and sat up to stretch.
“Oh, hey Sandbar. What’s up?” Gallus greeted his friend.
“The time! That’s what’s up!” Sandbar replied, pointing at the alarm clock.
Finally realizing what time it is, Gallus let out a gasp and became as panicked as Sandbar.
“Oh no! I’m gonna be late! Why didn’t you wake me up?” Gallus said.
“Me? Why didn’t your alarm clock go off?” Sandbar asked.
Gallus went over to the alarm clock to check what time it was set to.
“Oh no! I set it to 7pm instead of 7am! Oh, I’m such an idiot!” Gallus cried, burying his face into his talons.
“Your fault! Now let’s go before we’re late!” Sandbar replied as the two hurried to their first class.
Once they finally made it to class, Professor Sunburst became cross at the two for arriving late.
“Gallus and Sandbar, care to explain your tardiness?” Sunburst asked sternly.
“Sorry, Mr. Sunburst. My alarm clock didn’t go off and I overslept as a result.” Gallus replied.
“Next time, Gallus, make sure your alarm is on and set to the right time. Take your seats.” Sunburst said sternly as the two took their seats.
“Sorry about that, class. Now, the history of the pillars of Equestria…” Sunburst announced.
“Gallus, do you want a granola bar? You need something in your stomach to hold you over until lunch.” Sandbar offered.
“Sure, why not.” Gallus replied as he took the granola bar and took a bite out of it.
“Excuse me, Gallus. Are you doing something you shouldn’t?” Sunburst retorted.
Gallus just gave him a confused look in response as he took another bite out of his granola bar.
“You’re eating in class, which is against the class rules. Did you at least bring enough for the whole class? This is a friendship school after all.” Sunburst retorted.
“Well, uh” Gallus said.
“So, that’s a no. I’ve had enough of your misbehavior, young man. Head to detention at once! And I’m throwing that granola bar away.” Sunburst retorted as he grabbed the granola bar out of Gallus’s talon and threw it into the trash can.
Feeling upset, Gallus made his way to the detention room where he would serve his time until lunch.
Gallus’s day didn’t improve by lunchtime. In fact, it only got worse. When Gallus got in line to receive his lunch, he was stopped by the lunch clerk.
“Money please.” She said.
As Gallus reached for his money, his pupils shrunk as he realized that he forgot his lunch money.
“Oh dear! It seems that I forgot my lunch money. Can I just go back to my dorm room and get it?” Gallus offered.
“Sorry, young man. You know the rules: no money, no lunch.” the clerk said as she spilled Gallus’s lunch all over the floor, upsetting Gallus even more. Now he’s on the verge of tears.
As Gallus took his seat in the cafeteria, Sandbar plopped himself right next to his friend.
“Where’s your lunch?” Sandbar asked.
“I forgot my lunch money today. Did you take it with you?” Gallus asked.
“Of course not! It’s your responsibility, Gallus. If you woke up early, you would’ve remembered to bring your lunch money with you. Again, you only have yourself to blame.” Sandbar retorted.
“Well, can you at least give me something to eat?” Gallus asked desperately.
“Sorry, Gallus, but I remember what happened in Professor Sunburst’s class. I don’t want to risk getting in trouble.” Sandbar replied.
“Come on, Sandbar! I’m starving!” Gallus cried, clenching onto his tummy.
“Sorry, Gallus. You haven’t been making very good decisions today. If you have, you would’ve had lunch.” Sandbar replied.
“Well…you’re a poopyface!” Gallus retorted as he left to beg others for food like a desperate Yogi Bear.
Sandbar scoffed and said “Wow, is that really the best insult he could think of? A five-year-old could do better.”
When Gallus saw Corn, he stopped and called out his name.
“Yes, Gallus? I’m right here. No need to holler.” Corn replied.
“Got any food?” Gallus asked.
“Not for you.” Corn retorted, deadpanning at the griffon.
“Darn!” Gallus shouted as he walked away.
After lunch, a very hungry Gallus went to his next class: honesty. Professor Applejack walked into the classroom and greeted the class.
“Alrighty, class. Today’s lesson’s gonna be on the dangers of bein’ brutally honest…” Applejack announced.
However, as he attempted to listen to Applejack’s lecture and take notes, his stomach rumbled.
“Can you keep it down, Gallus? I’m trying to take notes!” Peg retorted.
“Sorry! Can’t control my hunger, y’know!” Gallus retorted as his stomach growled again.
“Gallus, no talkin’!” Applejack chimed in.
“Sorry, Miss Applejack.” Gallus said.
“Anyways, class, you must always be honest, but being too honest isn’t good. It might even make you sound like a jerk.” Applejack continued but stopped when she heard Gallus’s stomach growling again.
“Now, what in tarnation is makin’ that noise. Is somethin’ wrong with the air vents?” Applejack asked.
Gallus’s stomach growled again.
“There it is again. Somethin’s wrong. Be right back, class. Ah’m gonna inform Headmare Starlight!” Applejack announced as she left the classroom.
“Whew! Got outta that one!” Gallus said, not realizing that he said it out loud.
“What do you mean by that? Do you know where that rumbling sound is coming from?” Peg asked.
“Yeah. My tummy’s rumbling. I’m very hungry.” Gallus replied, rubbing his tummy in a circular motion.
“Well, by the sounds of it, you sound really hungry. Did you eat anything at all today?” Peg asked, now feeling sympathy for her friend.
“I never had any lunch, and I barely had breakfast. Sandbar gave me a granola bar this morning, but Professor Sunburst threw it away because he didn’t like me eating in his class.” Gallus replied.
“That’s terrible. Now I feel bad for not giving you a part of my lunch. I’m sorry, Gallus.” Corn added.
Finally, the school day ended (and if you’re asking, there is nothing wrong with the air vents). As Gallus walked back to his dorm room to mope and cry over how bad his day was, he slipped and fell, his homework flying everywhere and getting ruined by the water on the floor. This was the final straw for Gallus as he then had a meltdown.
“Ahhhh! This day is the worst day ever! My alarm didn’t go off, I had nothing to eat all day, I slipped on a wet floor, and now I can’t do my homework because it’s all ruined! Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!” Gallus yelled as he stamped his fists and paws onto the ground like a four-year-old having a fit at the toy store over not getting their favorite toy.
Suddenly, Starlight Glimmer saw Gallus crying in the hallway and walked up to him to ask what’s wrong.
“I didn’t have a good day today. My alarm didn’t go off, I didn’t eat anything, I slipped and fell, and now my homework’s ruined! Now my teachers will be mad at me!” Gallus cried while explaining everything to Starlight.
“Oh dear! I’m very sorry to hear that you’ve had a bad day, Gallus. Let me make it up to you now by making a nice dinner just for you. Would you like that?” Starlight offered.
“*sniff* Very much, thank you!” Gallus said as he got up and hugged his headmare. Starlight hugged back.
At Starlight’s house, Gallus is waiting patiently for his dinner.
“Dinner is served. Enjoy!” Starlight said as she presented a plate of spaghetti and meatballs to Gallus.
“Looks yummy, thank you!” Gallus said before digging in.
Once he was done, Gallus got up to put his plate in the sink.
“That was delicious, Starlight! I never knew you were such a great cook!” Gallus complimented.
“Oh, thank you! Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies.” Starlight replied.
“I can see that. Thanks again, Starlight.” Gallus said as he made his way out of Starlight’s house.
“No problem! Have a good weekend!” Starlight exclaimed.
Once Gallus had left, Starlight began to think. “Hmm, I think I have a hunch as to why Gallus was having such bad luck today.”
She made a beeline for her wall calendar, which revealed that today was Friday the 13th.
“Aha! I knew it! Friday the 13th is when dark magic strikes Equestria! I must tell Gallus tomorrow!” Starlight said.
The next morning, Gallus was seriously hoping that today would be a better day than yesterday. He and Sandbar were watching cartoons when suddenly, a knock was heard at the door.
“I’ll go answer it.” Gallus said as he made his way to the door.
Gallus opened the door and revealed Starlight.
“Headmare Starlight? What are you doing here?” Gallus asked.
“Gallus, I think I know the reasoning behind your bad luck yesterday. Yesterday was Friday the 13th, the day that dark magic usually strikes Equestria.” Starlight replied.
“Huh. I was wondering why all that stuff happened yesterday. Am I infected?” Gallus asked.
“Well, remember that time you fought Cozy Glow and destroyed Grogar’s bell? Well, he’s back.” Starlight replied.
“He’s back? But, how? And why did he choose me out of everyone?” Gallus asked, starting to feel panicked.
“That’s too much to answer right now. We need to take you to Princess Twilight. She’ll know what to do.” Starlight said as the two made their way to Princess Twilight.
When they arrived at Twilight’s castle, Twilight was excited to see Gallus again.
“Gallus! My favorite student! How are you?” Twilight cried as she went up to Gallus to give him a hug.
“Well, I- kinda, uh…” Gallus didn’t know what to say.
“Is something wrong, Gallus? Did someone hurt you? I’ll show them! Nobody hurts my baby griffon!” Twilight said.
“It’s not that, Twilight. Yesterday was Friday the 13th which is the day that dark magic strikes Equestria. Gallus just so happened to have a bad day yesterday.” Starlight explained.
“Oh, sorry. Well, if Gallus was affected by the dark magic, there’s one thing he can do to counteract the effects and keep himself immune.” Twilight replied.
“Really? What?” Gallus asked.
“You’ll have to complete acts of kindness for a whole day.” Twilight replied.
“That’s easy! I can do that! But, what can I do?” Gallus replied.
“There are many things you could do! You could hold a door for someone or help them with their homework or even clean the park!” Twilight exclaimed.
“Say, wanna help clean the park? I’ll buy you lunch.” Starlight asked Gallus.
“Free food? I’m in!” Gallus exclaimed as he and Starlight left the castle.
Gallus held the door for Starlight.
“Why thank you, young man. That was very kind of you.” Starlight said.
“Kind? Did you just say kind?” Gallus asked Starlight, feeling very excited.
“Of course. Holding the door open for others is a very kind thing to do.” Starlight replied.
“Woohoo! Immunity, here I come!” Gallus exclaimed.
Starlight giggled and said “Oh, Gallus! You’re so silly! Now let’s get to the park.”
After a long day of doing acts of kindness, Starlight and Gallus went to a diner for dinner.
“I’m very proud of you for all of the kind things you’ve done today.” Starlight said.
“Say, do you think that all of this kindness worked?” Gallus asked.
“I think it did. Do you feel any tingling or negative thoughts or anything?” Starlight asked.
“Hmmm…nope, no negative thoughts or weird stuff.” Gallus replied.
“That means it worked! Well done, Gallus!” Starlight exclaimed.
Soon, their food arrived. Gallus and Starlight munched on hayburgers to celebrate Gallus finally being ridded of the dark magic…for now at least.