I awoke the next morning and got right to work. I ate breakfast quietly and headed right out to class. I got there early, to the school. Sitting down, I brought out the Earth Keyboard and got to doing my words of the day. I wasn't going to skip on those!

"Hey." I could hear Gallus, but not see him as I busily typed. "You're here early." I could feel him sit next to me. "What's up?"

I finished that portion and drew my hooves away, allowing me to see Gallus there, watching me with thin patience. "Sorry. I was doing some work. Not like I can go to class."

Gallus rolled his eyes. "You came to school early, just so you could work? Strange..." He prodded me right on a sore part. "Gonna explain why it looks like you lost a fight? Did you lose a fight?"

I slipped the keyboard away, floating it with my magic into my saddlebags. "Yes, actually. I suck at fighting."

"Points for honesty," he laughed out. "But that sucks. Who's picking on my kirin, huh? I'll bite 'em in half!"

I imagined Gallus and that kirin coming to blows. "I'd really rather you didn't... I don't want you getting hurt."

"Getting hurt for a friend is a good hurt." He crossed his arms with a huff. "Worth it. So spit it out, who hurt you?"

I chuckled uncomfortably at Gallus' fierce protectiveness, not used to others leaping so readily to my defense. His dangerous beak and claws cut an intimidating figure to would-be bullies for sure!

"Well I definitely appreciate the solidarity..." Gingerly I stretched muscles still sore from that angry kirin's assault. "But going after him directly might just stir up more trouble, honestly."

I met Gallus' skeptical stare frankly. "He was pretty worked up over me kinda faking being a proper kirin when I started as an earth pony." I gestured at my bandaged wounds. "So me abandoning earth magic and 'purifying the fire within' would satisfy him or something."

I rolled my eyes with a snort. "As if I'd toss half my spell arsenal just because one blowhard disapproves." Smoky wisps stirred with those words - maybe my fiery side felt that defiance too.

Noticing Gallus' cheeky grin I waved dismissively. "I know I know, not very fiery or intimidating normally. But I'm not groveling to any jerk, whatever threats he makes!" Tiny licks of flame emerged punctuating that stubborn stance.

Gallus laughed loudly at the display. "Now that's more like it! Show that temper little dude!" He leaned back arrogantly. "Besides, he'd change his tune quick with me backing you up fang to claw."

He stretched nonchalantly. "So yeah, point him out if he shows his ugly mug spouting lies again. I got time to teach wannabe bigshots some manners..."

I smiled weakly at Gallus' fearless blustering, simultaneously touched but anxious. "Well, let's hope respect emerges without resorting to biting folks in half if we can... For now though, I do appreciate you in my corner."

Gallus shrugged with a snort. "Fine, fine... don't tell me... But you already did, sucker." He prodded my shoulder. "They're a kirin. How many of those do you think there are?! Seriously, might as well have given me a map." He clacked his beak. "Kinda dumb. I thought you were clever."

Oh, wow. I had been caught in a silly step there. "Point... Please don't start a fight."

"You got it. Shame he already started it." He punched one hand with the other. "Gonna friendship his face inside out." He suddenly took to the air a foot. "Be right back, gathering the crew."

"No!" But he was already taking off, away from me. "Damn it..." I slumped back on that bench, tail lashing fitfully. "Damn it..."

I started pacing restlessly, possibilities swirling. Would he simply scoff finding the library vacant, or stubbornly stake out the premises awaiting my return? Neither appealed. But neither did passively waiting for fresh disasters spawned from over-enthused "help"! I had to intercept him before things escalated without dragging more innocents into the mess.

I cantered quickly towards the clubhouse hideaway I knew Gallus frequented with Silverstream and Ocellus when cutting class. Sure enough raucous laughter echoed from within as I approached. I took a bracing breath and pushed inside.

"Whoa, hey who invited Sparky?" Sandbar exclaimed. Gallus froze guiltily with claw upraised, no doubt illustrating creative violence to come. The others looked confused by my sudden entrance.

"Sorry to interrupt..." I began awkwardly. Noticing Silverstream's excited gasp I quickly clarified: "And no I'm not staying transformed!" Her pout was almost audible. "I uh, I need Gallus a sec, real quick outside."

I tilted my head meaningfully towards the exit, fighting nerves. "Few things to clarify I'd rather discuss one on one if that's cool?" The tension was palpable under their curious stares.

Gallus leaned in with a frown. "Look, some creature hurt our friend. We're going to have a talk with them, hm. If they're reasonable, it can stop there."

Sandbar nodded swiftly, staking up a spot beside Gallus. "But we're not going to ignore it. You're a friend."

I smiled at that. "You're too nice."

Gallus fired a finger gun. "And you're too weak. Now, fire boy thinks fire's all that, but air's pretty great." He clapped his hands, lightning crackling between them. "I got wind, lightning, and thunder. All he has is fire." He patted at Sandbar. "And some backup right here."

"What are you talking about out there," called Silverstream from inside. "Can I come out?!"

I winced as Gallus casually conjured lightning while Sandbar offered earthy backup against my fiery foe. Their camaraderie was touching but worrisome given the display developing outside.

"Whoa take it easy on the elemental stuff huh?" I waved my hooves placatingly. "Last thing we need is escalating a freak storm and trashing half of Ponyville!"

I could understand their instinct to rally around a friend. Heck their very world ran on friendship's power after all! But projecting strength differed from picking unnecessary fights.

I met Gallus and Sandbar's excited gazes earnestly. "I think we all agree talk before talons if possible, yeah?" Reluctant nods answered my appeal. "Then help me brew up a plan catching my fiery counterpart alone first."

I glanced back at Silverstream bouncing eagerly just inside. "And let's keep club business club business for now. No need dragging others into personal stuff unprepared right?"

Gallus grumbled unhappily but waved Silverstream back before she tumbled out. "Yeah yeah, we'll figure things out a way that don't ruffle your feathers too much..." He leaned closer with a toothy grin. "But that kirin's gonna learn respect one way or another!"

With a nervous chuckle I wrestled Gallus roughly away defusing rising tensions with rowdy play. "Fair enough, tough guy. For now though let's grab some grub while we scheme next steps hm?"

Sandbar raised a hoof. "One thing, our club's more than the three you see here. If the others ask, we will tell them. Good luck making Yona not go someplace she wants to."

I imagined anything standing before that great yak. "That wouldn't work."

"Glad you get it." Sandbar turned for the inside. "Look, for now, why don't you do the student thing. We got this. We were a group before you got here. None of us will charge in alone, promise."

Gallus thumbsed up at that. "Seriously. We got this."

They headed inside, leaving me out there. Not having the courage or will to chase after them, I went back to the main courtyard of the school and sat down on the same bench, just to have my tail swatted at. I jumped with a squeak to find a little filly had brushed it. "Sorry?"

"Golly, why would you be sorry?" I recognized her the moment she spoke. Cozy Glow. "You look a little lost. Can I help?!"

In the show, she was an evil little pegasus pony of undetermined age that attended the school briefly before being tossed out. What was she in that world? How did I even ask without being rude? "Hello, Cozy."

Her eyes widened. "Gosh, you've heard of me? I heard of you, golly, how could I not? You're the only kirin in all of Ponyville!" She threw her hooves wide. "And you look so neat." She reached out to casually brush over scales with obvious fascination. "Gee... can I get cool scales like this?"

I tensed involuntarily as Cozy Glow's intrusive hoof stroked along my pelt uninvited. Even without fully grasping her canon nature something felt...off balanced in her too bright gaze.

"Heh, uh thanks but they just kinda showed up when I got zapped kirin-wise." I gently extracted myself from her fascinated attentions. "Not really a spa treatment I can recommend per se."

Her exuberant smile faltered briefly before redoubling. "Rats! Well at least tell me there's special kirin magic I can learn too, pretty please?" Without waiting for confirmation her next words tumbled out rapidfire. "Ooh, think Chancellor Neighsay would give me extra credit mastering outside talents?"

My ears pinned back defensively as requests piled thoughtlessly atop each other. Did she just overlook personal boundaries automatically assuming compliant good will? As she prattled on about ambitious academic aspirations I studied her uncertainly.

Maybe casual callousness explained canon conquests better than innate malice? Still her chaotic friendliness set me on edge after recent encounters with controlling personalities.

I stood hastily backing away with fixed polite smile. "Well, magic often manifests unexpectedly as we discover our talents. For now though class calls - take care Cozy!"

And I trotted briskly off before she could barrage further with disarming invitations I lacked defenses against just yet. Those big eyes seemed to promise friendship but something lurked behind them hungrily.

She descended in front of me, little wings fluttering. "Don't run away so quickly! Just tell me the truth. Friendly ponies tell the truth."

I hesitated a moment. "Alright... I might have lied a little."

She gasped dramatically. "How could you? Gosh, we only just met. Did I say something wrong?"

"No! No..." I pinned an ear back. "You know how pony elements work, right?"

She twirled in place. "I'm air!" A gust of air exploded from her in a gentle wafting from her. "And you're fire, right?"

"Sorta..." I wobbled a cloven hoof at her. "But playing with fire brought out the kirin. I have a talent for it, and poking my snout in it far enough pulled me the rest of the way. Make sense?"

"Ohhhh. I get it." She nodded, hood at her chin. "Hmm, don't think I'm any good with fire, boo... I'd be pretty cool as a kirin! Lucky you!" She darted in, almost nose to nose. "Nice to meet you anyway!"

I blinked rapidly leaning away from Cozy's abrupt invasion of personal space. For all her dizzying friendliness something unreadable lurked behind guileless eyes that set my teeth on edge.

"Luck had little to do with it - more magic gone haywire." I resumed cautious steps towards the main building hoping she'd get the hint. But wispy wings carried her effortlessly backwards keeping uncomfortably close pace.

"Still though, getting to be special without hardly trying seems delightful!" She twirled casually sideways. "Don't you just love standing out brightly among dull crowds?"

Before I formulated careful responses she breezed on cheerfully. "Everyone watching your next move, having teachers and celestials take such interest up close?" Her even wider theatrical grin held strange hunger. "Why, that's practically being a star!"

I halted abruptly, scaliness bristling as subtext dawned. She thought infringing rules won fame through controversy alone? The pain that standing out still stung as a clear reminder.

"Brighter lights often cast deeper shadows, little one. Focus on figuring yourself out before you go for standing out."

The bell rang out clearly across the campus. School was starting, and with it, a chance to suck a little less at interacting with my fellow creatures. I hurried to the next class with a faint smile.

Author's Note

You know life's odd when school's the happy place.

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