“Everycreature, we have an announcement!”
Every eye at the mess hall table went to Ocellus and Gallus. There was an air of unease with the two as they sat. The rest of their friends could tell that there was something on their minds. Ocellus, who had just spoken, had a determined demeanor about her, while next to her Gallus was much less so.
“You know, we don’t have to do this right now,” Gallus said in a hushed tone.
Ocellus replied, “I know, but I still really want to. Don’t you?”
“No, I’m starting to have second thoughts.”
Across the table, Smolder was chewing away at her breakfast. “What’s all of this about?”
“Yeah, whut rre yuu saayin ova daar?” Silverstream said with food in her mouth.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, Silverstream,” Sandbar insisted.
Covering her mouth, Yona giggled, “Yona think everycreature still understood friend Silverstream.”
After finishing the food in her mouth, Silverstream spoke again, “Okay, there. Now, what’re we talking about?” She then promptly took another bite of her apple.
Gallus gave a sigh as the changeling next to him spoke with a contentful smile, “So, Gallus and I....the two of us are dating.”
There was a moment of silence amongst the table after Ocellus spoke. The other creatures didn’t seem to have any real reaction to the news. This stillness didn’t sit well for the two creatures as they waited for any response for what felt like forever. However, in reality it was only a couple seconds and the silence at the table was broken by Sandbar:
“Ha! Pay up!” the pony pointed and gloated across the table to Smolder.
With a sigh, Smolder waved it off, “You know, I really thought they wouldn’t tell us until after winter break. Alright, alright, I owe you a soda, Sandbar.”
Gallus was dumbfounded, “Wait, you knew?”
“Friends of Gallus and Ocellus know about relationship for while now,” Yona explained.
The changeling was also surprised about her friends already knowing, “But....but I thought we were so discrete about it.”
Without a word, Sandbar began laughing to himself.
Smolder had a sly smirk to her face, “Really? Come on. We knew about it, the professors knew about it, all of Ponyville knew about it....even Silverstream knew about it.”
“It took me a while, but I finally figured it out! And I only had to have it explained to me four different times!” Silverstream said proudly.
“So how long has it been going on officially? Two, three months?” Smolder asked with interest.
Gallus answered, “A little over three months. But if you all knew about it, why didn’t any of you do anything?”
Sandbar answered with a shrug, “Well, it’s your own thing. It’s not our place to force answers out of you. We’d figure you’d tell us when the time was right.”
“I personally thought it was hilarious,” Smolder had a smug expression on her face. However, Yona jabbed the dragon in the side. “Ow....and adorable in its own weird way....” the dragon added.
“Yona agree, it adorable and Yona happy for friends being open about relationship!” Yona clapped her hooves happily.
“It’s not like you two were sneaking off to plan a surprise party for me!” Silverstream said with a laugh. Her thoughts, however, continued, “Unless....are you? Are you planning a surprise birthday party for me?!”
“Silverstream,” Ocellus interrupted, “your birthday isn’t for eight months.”
“All the more reason to start now!” the hippogriff exclaimed.
Sandbar brought the conversation back, “What Silverstream is trying to say is that we’re happy for the both of you and happy that you’re both being open about things. You don’t have to keep it as some sort of secret.”
“Yeah, I agree. A secret relationship doesn’t really suit either of you if you ask me,” Smolder snickered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gallus asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yona noticed when Ocellus wasn’t in dormroom,” Yona stated.
Sandbar added his own thoughts, “Gallus would often ask if I would be visiting my family. And not to mention the first night of them sharing a bed.”
“Sharing a bed? Oh, how scandalous!” Smolder laughed.
While the rest of the table were laughing at the thought of the griffon and changeling sharing a bed, both Gallus and Ocellus blushed fiercely.
Upon seeing how her joke was making her friends, Smolder spoke again, “Look, we’re happy for you two, honest. But we’re actually surprised it took so long for you to be open about it.”
“Though it wasn’t like we were gonna rush you or anything,” Sandbar insisted.
Smolder nodded, “Right. But it’s something we all saw coming.”
“Really?” Ocellus asked with surprise.
“Yeah,” Smolder nodded, “Back in the Dragonlands, we got a saying: ‘love is like fire. Those on the outside can easily see the smoke before those on the inside can see the flames.’ And again, you two weren’t the greatest at keeping things secret.”
Silverstream interjected herself in, “Yeah! I totally knew! And Gallus knew I knew! And I knew he knew I knew. And he knew I knew he knew I knew. And-”
Sandbar placed his hoof over Silverstream’s beak to stop her, “Point is, we knew for a bit.”
Ocellus covered her mouth as she chuckled silently at Silverstream’s statement, which Yona also did.
With a bit of a giddy and mischievous smile, Smolder leaned in, “So, tell us, when did you really know you two were just destined to be?”
“Do we really need to do this?” Gallus sighed.
“Yes please! I’m a sucker for a cute romance story!” Silverstream clapped her limbs together.
With a small giggle, Ocellus shrugged as she spoke, “It was just one of those things that happened. Gallus and I just started to click with one another. We’d spend time together, a date here and there, and,” she paused for a moment with a contented smile before adding, “well, when you know you know.”
“Yona gets what friend Ocellus mean!” the yak stated happily.
“And here I didn’t think Gallus would have a romantic feather in his wings,” Sandbar snickered.
Gallus rubbed his forehead with both of his talons, “This is literally killing me right now. If I knew all of you would be like this I wouldn’t have said anything.”
Ocellus tried her best to hide her laughter, “Well, I’m so happy all of you are supportive.”
“Did Ocellus think friends would not support relationship with Gallus?” Yona asked.
“No, it’s nothing like that!” Ocellus said.
A wicked thought came to Smolder, “Do you think Ocellus is just dating what daddy hates?”
“Smolder!” Ocellus was not happy with her friend’s statement, even if it did cause Sandbar, Yona, and Silverstream to laugh, “I can assure you that my father likes Gallus very much and that they got along quite well!”
Gallus added to the statement, “It’s true. That was one very awkward day, but he really seemed to like me. Still not sure why....”
“Okay, okay, that’s enough poking fun,” Sandbar spoke with a little laugh still in his voice, “In all seriousness, we’re happy for the both of you. Though I will say you do look a bit out of it, Gallus.”
“Yona agree, friend Gallus seem glum. Is friend Gallus not happy?”
The griffon shrunk a little in his posture as he was singled out and with all eyes on him. “Of course I’m happy, even if awkward about being put on the spot about our relationship being made known. I just.... I just guess I have some doubts about myself....”
“Aboouf yoorsalf?” Silverstream asked with a mouthful again.
“Silverstream, please stop talking with your mouth full,” Sandbar instructed.
Gallus sighed as he spoke up, “Yes, about myself! I mean, look at Ocellus! She’s brilliant, kind, clever, and so much more....and then there’s me. Other creatures might think I tricked her or she lost some sort of bet, or something!”
“Don’t you think that Ocellus is smart enough to know when she is being tricked by some creature?” Sandbar asked.
A little surprised, Gallus tripped over his words to reply, “Well, yes of course, but others might think....”
Yona interrupted Gallus, “Does Gallus think friend Ocellus not look smart to other creatures then?”
The griffon continued to trip over his words, “No! I mean....yes, wait no!” He took a moment to collect his thoughts before speaking again, “What I’m trying to say is that she deserves better than whatever I got.”
“And what exactly, would you say, do you have?” Smolder asked. Her words, however, were not smug or jokey as they were previously. Rather, they were a sincere question to her friend for him to open up. “Because right now, all I see is your own insecurities that keep you from letting Ocellus be with the griffon she loves.”
Gallus was silent as he looked down at the table. He didn’t know it, but Ocellus was looking at him with a soft, warm smile. Her face alone explained that she understood his worries.
“Are you nervous about being with Ocellus, Gallus?” Silverstream asked.
“Of course, I’m nervous,” Gallus said calmly with melancholy. “I’ve always been doubting and second guessing myself with this sort of stuff. And I just never think I’m good enough for anycreature, much less Ocellus.”
Silverstream thought for a moment before speaking again, “Then, don’t you think you should stop feeling sorry for yourself and be the griffon you think Ocellus deserves?”
Gallus was speechless. He could only mutter the first word of a few sentences as his face grew flushed.
To change the focus of the conversation, Sandbar looked toward the changeling, “Ocellus, how would you say your relationship is with Gallus?”
Ocellus lit up as she spoke, “Oh, it’s so wonderful! He might be a little rough around the edges, but that’s just one of the many things I adore about him! He’s considerate, a gentle soul, humorous, and absolutely loyal to a fault.”
“And he makes you feel loved?” Silverstream asked.
“Very much so!”
“And if you are both head-over-hooves for each other, then who cares what any other creature might think?”
Gallus finally was able to speak again, “I....I guess you all have a point.”
Yona chimed in with a smile, “Gallus should be best Gallus for Ocellus!”
“Try saying that three times fast,” Sandbar chuckled a little.
“Yeah, be the Gallus you think she deserves, dork,” Smolder said.
Silverstream nodded, “And if there’s something bothering you, don’t you think you should talk to Ocellus about it? A relationship is about communication, isn’t it?”
The griffon was a bit dumbfounded, unable to speak.
Smolder continued, “Look, you aren’t the only one who cares about Ocellus. We all do. And we’re really happy for you two. Personally, I think it’s great because I think this will help you come out and be a better griffon. I think Ocellus here will have you work to make you the best version of yourself.”
“Just like you will bring the best out of her as well,” Sandbar added.
Gallus raised a talon up to his head again and rubbed his forehead with a sigh, “Oh by Gideon the Great, I’m getting relationship advice from Smolder.”
There was laughter amongst those at the table. Looking to his left, Gallus saw Ocellus looking back at him. She had a soft smile on her face, which Gallus returned. With his left talon, he reached toward Ocellus’ hoof, which they then held. The changeling then leaned a little to the right, resting her body lightly against Gallus.
“Glad we told them?” Ocellus quietly asked
“A little bit,” he snarked back.
A sly smirk appeared on Ocellus as she then spoke up for the rest of the table. “By the way, I learned that Gallus really likes head pats!”
Smolder shared the wicked smile, “Does he now?”
“I told you not to tell anycreature!” Gallus exclaimed, flustered. As the rest of the table laughed again, Gallus sighed as he added, “It’s really bad that you’ve started to take after some of my habits.”
Ocellus laughed, “Oh, are you starting to have second thoughts about me?”
“Never.”
END
