Scrub. Scrub. Scrub.
The toothbrush jerked back and forth inside the tired pegasus’ mouth.
She stared vacantly ahead, studying herself in the bathroom mirror. This early in the morning, she looked like an exhausted train wreck of a pony.
Her brown mane, which while normally curly, had been twisted into an exaggerated parody and her heavy wings were in a desperate need of preening. That could wait until tomorrow. Just like it could for the last week and a half. Thankfully, her shower had done a good job of smoothing out her orange coat which had been a matted mess just minutes ago.
She spat a glob of minty toothpaste into the sink before throwing herself a big toothy grin.
“Hey good looking,” she said.
“I was just about to say,” a deep voice from behind teased.
Sandstorm Skies spun around on her hooves, feeling an embarrassed blush over take her. There was a very attractive gryphon at the bathroom door. A very attractive gryphon who just also happened to be her very attractive husband.
Gael prowled into the room and moved to Sandstorm’s side, towering over her by at least a head and a half.
“So, what do you want to do today?” he asked.
Today was the first day of their vacation and their limited budget left them with only one option. They were going to stay home and just kind of decompress.
Sandstorm began to nuzzle her husband’s golden coat before making her way up to the mane of soft white feathers around his face.
“Well I was thinking that after we drop off Gabrielle we could go for a nice morning flight. Maybe see a couple of friends around town? Oh, and I wouldn’t mind getting some lunch. It’s been ages since you’ve taken me out on a date.”
Gael looked skeptical. “I don’t know Gara. There aren’t many places in Ponyville that serve food I’m interested in.”
Gara, a gryphon’s name for a gryphon’s wife. She loved when Gael used it.
“Come on, there are a couple places that cook meat. We could go to Ruby’s. She serves seafood,” Sandstorm Skies said.
Gael rolled his eyes. “The waitress there always gives me fishy looks.”
“She’s just not…” She playfully glared at him. “DID YOU JUST!”
He smirked and placed a talon on the back of her neck, gently massaging it.
Her annoyance rapidly faded away.
“You know,” Sandstorm said. “It’s been a while since Autumn’s seen her goddaughter. So, I’m sure she’d be more than willing to foalsit if you want to… spend some time alone tonight.”
His talon slid away from her neck and rested under her chin, tilting it upwards. The couple’s eyes met and in an instant Sandstorm was lost within Gael’s piercing green gaze.
Gael slowly leaned forward. “That sounds like an excellent idea.”
Sandstorm’s lips met Gael’s beak and for a moment the two lovers attempted to kiss. Well at least the closest you could get when one partner had a beak instead of lips.
A small voice cleared her throat and both Sandstorm and Gael broke away, looking sheepishly towards the bathroom door. Their daughter, Gabrielle, was standing there.
Gabrielle was a young filly of a kindergarten age. She was a hybrid created from an equal mix of both parents, having inherited her mother’s mane, muzzle, and forelegs and her father’s lion like hindquarters and coat. The only feature not drawn from either parent were her eyes. Which were a piercing and beautiful blue.
Sandstorm Skies smiled. “What’s up, honeybun?”
Gabrielle tapped her paw impatiently on the ground. “I really need to pee.”
Oh, right, they were in the bathroom.
“Sorry sweetie, I’ll be done in just a moment.”
With that she turned back to the mirror.
Shower, check. Teeth brushed, check. Hair…
She grabbed a brush from a nearby basket and used it to rapidly shape her mane into a more tolerable style. It was somewhat successful.
Hair brushed, check.
Sandstorm ushered Gael out of the room, before following him.
“It’s all yours,” Sandstorm said.
With that Sandstorm closed the bathroom door and turned her attention back to Gael. “But for real, are you ok with Ruby’s for lunch?”
He shrugged. “I’d rather eat in, to be honest.”
“Come on, Gaellllll. We haven’t gone out in ages.”
She put on her best puppy dog expression, really hitting him up with those big round blueish-grey eyes.
“Oh, don’t give me that look.”
Her lip began to quiver ever so slightly.
“FINE! We can go to Ruby’s.” He folded his arms over each other. “But you owe me one.”
Sandstorm rolled her eyes. It wouldn’t be a relationship with a gryphon unless there was constant bartering.
She looked him over with a half-lidded expression and bit her lip. “I’m sure there’s some way for me to repay you.”
Gael blushed a brand-new shade of red. It was cute.
He cleared his throat. “So, once we drop off Gabrielle where do you want to go flying?”
“I have a spot in mind. Don’t worry,” Sandstorm said.
“Where is it?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Flying next to a gryphon was an interesting experience. Their wing span was naturally longer than that of all but the largest pegasus. What this meant for Sandstorm was that for every single pump of Gael’s powerful wings she’d need two or even three just to keep up.
Those powerful wings gave Gael a confidence to own the sky. His expression was constantly stoic as he scanned the air with his sharp predatory gaze. In a less civilized situation Sandstorm would have feared those eyes. However, in reality she found them exciting, even comforting. After all, nopony was going to threaten the mare married to a massive carnivorous hunter.
“Do I have something in my fur?” Gael asked.
Oh, shit had she been staring?
“Pardon?” she asked.
“You’ve been staring at me for like the past ten minutes.”
Yep she’d been caught red hoofed.
“Oh, um, no. You’re fine. I was just thinking about how handsome you were.”
He chuckled softly. “Thanks?”
“I mean it. How did a mare like me get so lucky?”
“Well it all started when I really needed a green card.”
She snickered. “Shut up.”
Their current flight pattern had taken them well away from Ponyville, which had shrunk to a small blip in the distant east. Besides this the only sign of civilization was the thin rail line which bisected the wilderness down below.
“So where exactly are you taking me?” Gael asked.
“I have no idea.”
Gael’s eyes widened as he looked to his wife. “Excuse me? I thought you said you had a surprise planned.”
She grinned sheepishly. “Surprise…?”
“Wait so you never had a plan in mind?”
She shook her head. “Not even for a second. I just really wanted to go flying with you.”
“Well what if we get lost?”
“Oh, come on Gael. When did you lose your sense of adventure? We’re not going to get lost. Ponyville’s literally still in sight and that rail line is a pretty easy landmark to follow.”
When Gael didn’t respond Sandstorm stuck out her tongue. In response, he poked her sharply in the side.
“You tricked me,” he said.
“Of course I did.”
A cloud approached in the distance. Sandstorm banked around it while Gael simply ploughed through, smashing it into a thousand tiny wisps
“You know, I was thinking about how we met, last night,” Sandstorm said.
“Is that a good or bad thing?”
“Good, definitely a good thing. Our story kind of reads likes one of those trashy love novels. For example, you have a damsel in distress who gets saved by a knight in shining armour.”
“Huh, I never thought of myself as a knight.”
“Well to be honest you were kind of the damsel in my story.”
He looked at her and cocked an eyebrow. “If I remember correctly I was the one who saved you.”
“You must be remembering things wrong, because I was totally the hero in this story.”
There was a brief moment of silence before Sandstorm chimed back in. “You know I kind of miss the old days?”
“Back at the border?”
“Yeah, it was good work. Plus, you have to admit that sneaking out to fraternize with a foreign agent was pretty exciting.”
“It’d be even more exciting if everyone else wasn’t already doing it.”
Sandstorm nodded. “True.”
“Do you remember those Diamond Dog smugglers.”
She chuckled. “Do I! They still haunt my nightmares. I had to deal with one of those damn tunnels every week. Let me tell you something, babe. A pegasus should never, ever, have to venture into a Diamond Dog tunnel system.”
Gael snorted. “You ponies actually bothered inspecting those? We just told them to get everyone out before collapsing them
“Celestia! What if they lied?”
He shrugged. “Then they learned a very valuable lesson in honesty.”
Sandstorm rolled in the air, coming up on Gael’s other side.
She poked him with a hoof. “So, I noticed that you got a letter from your dad. How is the Grand Archchancellor of South-Eastern Griefsaxonborg doing?”
Like many gryphons, Gael’s family enjoyed the art of adding on pointless titles to make themselves sound important. In reality, Gael’s dad was just a member of the lower gentry within the Grand Gryphonian Empire and was little better than a middling Equestrian public servant.
Of course, she kept this to herself. Gryphons, Gael included, were very concerned with their prestige and pride. The last thing she needed was for him to be all mopey.
“He’s doing alright. Him and mom really want us to come visit.”
“Well, we will once Gabrielle is strong enough to fly.”
“Are you worried?”
“That she isn’t flying yet?”
“Yeah.”
Sandstorm nodded. “A little bit, but I’m sure she’ll get it soon enough. She has a very impressive pair of wings.”
“That she does.”
Sandstorm bit her lip. “Can I admit something to you?”
“Go for it.”
“When I was pregnant, I was worried that she’d have four wings.”
Gael chuckled. “Four wings?”
“Yeah one pair of gryphon and one pair of pegasus. It was a very real fear.”
“Really now? Is there anything else that you didn’t tell me about when you were pregnant?”
“Well I had this really strong craving for salted oats. Like it was out of this world.”
Down below a train whizzed past, coming from Ponyville.
“That must be the 10:50 to Canterlot. We should probably head back if we want to get lunch,” Gael said.
Sandstorm smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”
It was noon when they arrived back in Ponyville and the town’s small marketplace was already crammed full of ponies. Gael and Sandstorm landed on the edge of this crowd, merging in to reach their destination.
Amongst the crowd of ponies Gael stood out like a sore thumb, making him the recipient of a few wary, or even hostile, looks.
Sandstorm knew he hated the attention. She tried to calm him by keeping close and nestling her small frame against his side. His reassuring smile told her it worked.
She returned it. However, her gaze sharpened the second she looked away and back to the crowd.
These ponies were free to gawk all they wanted but the first one to step out of line and get in Gael’s face would receive a not so kind introduction to her hoof.
Their relationship hadn’t exactly made them a lot of friends. Oh sure, most ponies would claim to support them but she wasn’t stupid. She knew the way ponies talked about them behind her back.
The names alone were enough to make her blood boil.
She gave Gael a sideways glance.
Of course, the slander was more than worth it. Who carried if she was a social pariah? She had Gael and he was worth more than a dozen so called friends.
The restaurant they approached was named Ruby’s Café. It was a middle of the road kind of affair being the right mix of casual and formal dining. It was the kind of place where the town’s shopkeepers and lawyers might go for a business meeting with a client.
Outside of the restaurant was a young unicorn mare with a ruby red coat and ginger mane. She was the name sake of this restaurant and the owner’s daughter, Ruby Essence.
By now she was very familiar with the two figures who approached.
“Hello Sandstorm. Hello Gael,” she said in a cheery tone. “Can I get you a table?”
Sandstorm nodded. “Yes please. Gael here is taking me out on a date.”
“Oh? Are the two of you celebrating something?”
“Nah, we’re just on vacation and I talked him into taking me out for lunch.”
“Well that’s nice. Can I get you a table inside or on the patio?”
“Patio please,” Gael said.
Sandstorm looked over at the enclosed space. It seemed pretty empty with only a couple of other parties being seated. Two groups looked like other, more orthodox, couples while a larger was a table of four very important unicorns chatting about what was probably business-related things.
Ruby used her magic to pick up a pair of menus. “So, how are you two doing today?”
She stepped away from her post, leading the couple into the enclosed patio.
“Pretty good,” Sandstorm answered, “just got back from flying.”
“That sounds nice.”
“Oh, it was. I love getting a chance to fly doing something besides work. You know what I mean?”
Ruby chuckled. “Sorry I can’t say that I do.”
“Oh right…you’re a unicorn.”
“Very astute Gara,” Gael said.
She playfully punched him. “Shut up.”
As they entered the patio a few eyes lingered upon Gael for a moment too long. Though he didn’t seem to even acknowledge them.
“Now, should I have even bothered with menus?” Ruby asked.
Sandstorm took a seat at their table with Gael following suit. Thankfully, he had mastered the art of balancing on furniture that was far too small for him.
She raised a hoof. “I’ll take one.”
Ruby placed one menu on the table. It was a single sheaf of paper with only a few items listed.
“I’ll just have my usual,” Gael said.
“Seafood platter with a baked potato and steamed broccoli?” Ruby asked.
Gael nodded.
“And what can I get you two to drink?”
“Diet cola,” Sandstorm said.
“Regular cola,” Gael said.
Ruby nodded. “Alright I’ll be right back.”
With that she walked away, leaving Sandstorm and Gael alone.
“Why did you grab a menu?” Gael asked. “You’re just going to order a daffodil sandwich.”
“Well, they might have something new on it.”
“Do they?”
Sandstorm scanned it. “They do not.”
“I wonder if he’ll make her pay the bill?” a voice whispered from behind.
Sandstorm tensed, her ears instantly perking up.
Did someone really just say that?
“Probably,” said the voice’s companion. “They are generally a very frugal bunch.”
For the love of Celestia. Couldn’t they at least wait until they left the restaurant before gossiping.
Gael must have sensed something was wrong because he reached across the table and ever so carefully squeezed her hoof.
“Are you alright, Gara?” Gael asked.
She forced a smile. “Yeah of course. Soooo, how has work been?”
He pulled his talon back, rolling it. “Ehhh, so and so. Though I really think I’m starting to fit in around there.”
“That’s fantastic. Do you think they’ll keep you on after your contract expires?”
“I really hope so.”
Ruby returned, levitating a pair of drinks. One had a blue straw and the other red. The red straw went to Sandstorm and the blue to Gael.
Sandstorm took a testing sip.
Yep, that was definitely regular cola.
“So,” Ruby said, “what can I get you?”
Sandstorm made eye contact with her husband. A knowing smile was etched onto his beak. She couldn’t let that stand.
“An eastern salad. Though hold the olives, please.”
Ruby looked surprised. “Uh, alright. And for you Gael?”
“Still the seafood platter.”
Ruby nodded. “Alright. I’ll be back in a bit. Just let me know if you need anything.”
The two of them nodded and with that Ruby walked away.
Once she was out of sight Sandstorm switched drinks with her husband.
“Did she get it wrong?” he asked.
She nodded and took a sip of “his” drink. This one was diet.
The voice from behind returned. “Why do some ponies just need to flaunt their fetish around?”
Sandstorm’s smile instantly dissipated.
Gael must have heard it too because his expression sharpened and eyes narrowed.
He reached across once more, squeezing her hoof.
“Don’t,” he warned.
“It’s probably a phase. Some mares are just fans of…” the female voice said.
“Talons?” the male asked.
“Exactly.”
Sandstorm’s lip twitched as she noisily cleared her throat.
“Oh shit. I think they heard us,” the male voice whispered.
He sounded familiar. It took her a moment to place him as one of the town’s many shopkeepers. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. This stallion had been their main source of baby supplies when Gabrielle was still in diapers.
Why should she be surprised? It wouldn’t be the first time a supposed friend talked ill behind their backs.
It seemed like her interruption had at least shifted them onto a more productive topic.
It didn’t really matter. The damage was done.
She sighed and tried to muster a smile. If Gael’s expression was any indicator it wasn’t very convincing.
“Do you want to go home?” he asked.
More than anything in the world.
“No, let’s stay. It’s not like we haven’t heard this before.”
He didn’t look convinced but her words managed to get a small nod.
“Did I mention that you look beautiful today?” Gael asked.
Her smile became genuine. “You did not.”
“Well it’s true.”
He reached over and placed a single talon under her chin, tilting her head ever so slightly upwards.
“Well I just thought you should know that you’re the most beautiful mare in the room.”
Sandstorm blushed. “We’re outside.”
“Then I guess you’re the most beautiful mare in the world.”
She giggled and pulled away. “That doesn’t even make any sense.”
He grinned before taking an awkward sip from his straw. They weren’t very gryphon friendly.
“Do you think Gabrielle’s having fun at school?” Sandstorm asked
“I’m sure she is. Didn’t she have a presentation today?”
“Crap, did she?”
“Yeah, it was one of those show and tell things.”
“Do you know what she brought?”
“I think her stuffed lemur.”
“Oh, that’s good she could talk about that thing for hours. She’s a smart girl.”
Gael grinned. “She gets that from her mother.”
Sandstorm blushed. “It’s rude to lie, Gael.”
A loud sigh came from the table behind them and Sandstorm’s gaze narrowed.
Those pure-blooded sycophants had just pushed her last freaking button.
Before Gael could say a word, Sandstorm wheeled around and stared at the mare behind her.
Yep, just as she suspected. The stallion was a local unicorn shopkeeper, Amber something. His partner was some nag of a housewife who hadn’t aged gracefully since rounding her thirtieth birthday.
The mare noticed Sandstorm and put on a tight prissy smile.
By Celestia she had such a punchable face.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“Yeah, I was just wondering if you wouldn’t mind moving to another table?”
The stallion now turned to face her. “Excuse me?”
“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation and well it was pretty rude. So, I only see two options here. Either you move or…”
“Or you move?” The mare offered.
“Or you get the hell out of my sight.”
Suddenly the patio was silent as every other party present was focused on her.
The mare snorted. “Excuse me. Where do you get off using that tone?”
Sandstorm let out a single hollow note of a laugh. “Where do I get off with my tone? I’m not just about to roll over and let you slander me and my husband. Do you have a problem with me marrying a gryphon?”
“No,” said the mare.
“Yes,” said the stallion.
The mare looked mortified. “You can’t just admit that Amber.”
The stallion shook his head. “Yes, I have a problem. Your relationship is unnatural.”
Sandstorm got to her hooves and marched over to the table.
The mare flinched but this only seemed to strengthen her partner’s resolve.
“Unnatural? What’s unnatural about two consenting adults being in love?”
“What’s wrong is that a pony mare is dating a gryphon cock.”
“Oh, so you’re racist?”
“What, NO! I have nothing against gryphons. I just don’t believe that they should be crossbreeding with ponies. It’s morally wrong.”
Sandstorm huffed. “I suggest you leave.”
“Gara….” Gael said.
The stallion laughed. “Gara? That doesn’t seem like an equine name. Tell me, did you also adopt a set of gryphon manners to go along with your gryphon name.” He waved a hoof. “If I don’t move will you sick your pet gryphon on me?”
Sandstorm gritted her teeth. She could fight him. She’d probably win. Then what, get kicked out, maybe end up ostracized by the whole town? No, she needed to maintain a level head.
“Hey I recognize you. You’re one of the mailmares,” the mare said.
Oh shit.
The stallion raised an eyebrow. “That’s why you look so familiar. Tell me, how would your supervisor react to the knowledge that you’re threatening ponies in public?”
Wait, she remembered something. Something about the stallion’s mail. It was an opening and she was going to take it.
“Tell me Amber. If I get fired then who will deliver your mail to that mare in Manehatten. Ditzy Doo?”
The wife’s eyes were instantly glued to her husband. “You told me that you stopped talking to her.”
The stallion went pale. “I have no idea what she’s talking about.”
The wife snorted. “That sounds like an oddly specific and accurate thing to make up.”
The stallion looked first to Sandstorm then back to his wife. When no response came the mare got up.
“I think I’ve lost my appetite,” she said before walking off.
The stallion held out a hoof, attempting to stop her. When this failed he sighed and shot Sandstorm a deadly glare.
She returned it in kind.
With her job done she made her way back over to Gael, taking a seat.
She flashed him a big fat grin. “Want to see a movie tonight?”
Sandstorm walked between her husband and daughter on their way back from Ponyville’s elementary school. It wasn’t a long walk and she enjoyed the time alone with her family.
“Learn anything interesting today, sweetie?” Sandstorm asked.
“We had show and tell today,” Gabrielle said.
“Oh? How did that go?”
“Pretty great. Frigid Winds brought in a picture signed by the Wonderbolts.”
Sandstorm grinned. “No way. The actual Wonderbolts?”
“Yeah, he met Fleetfoot in Cloudsdale when his dad took him up for a show. He got her autograph and everything.”
“That’s awesome.”
“Can you take me sometime?”
Sandstorm swallowed hard. “Mmm I don’t know.”
“Pleaseeee?”
“Maybe for your birthday.”
She ignored the critical look Gael gave her.
Maybe she could call in a few favours or something. There had to be somepony in town who had a few tickets to give away.
Gabrielle beamed.
Ok even if she couldn’t find free tickets she’d find a way to buy some. Maybe sell a kidney? Gael had a couple to spare.
Sandstorm cleared her throat. “So, what did you bring for show and tell?”
Gabrielle nodded to her backpack. “I brought Phillip.”
“Your lemur?”
“Yeah.”
“Did the other kids like him?”
“Mhm.”
“See. I told you she’d do fine, Gara,” Gael said.
“I never doubted her for a moment.”
Sandstorm turned her attention back to Gabrielle. “Did you have fun with your friends today?”
Gabrielle looked up. “Yeah we played tag during recess.”
Sandstorm couldn’t help but smile. It was always good to hear that Gabrielle was being accepted by her peers. The thought of her being bullied or ostracized had always been a deep-rooted fear.
“Hey mom?” Gabrielle asked.
“Yeah?”
“Do you know when I’ll get my cutie mark.”
Sandstorm looked towards Gael who looked back at her. They were both very aware of the fact that the rear half of their daughter’s body was very gryphon in nature.
What did this mean in terms of her getting a cutie mark? Neither of them really knew.
“Welllll… I didn’t get mine until the third grade. So, you have a couple years of waiting to do.” Sandstorm said. “Are your friends starting to get them?”
“No, but the CMC are having a cutie mark summer camp.”
“A cutie mark summer camp?”
“Yeah. Can I go mom?”
“Uh, ask your father?”
Gael shrugged. “Is it a day camp?”
“I think so.”
“Is it free?”
“Yeah.”
“Then sure, why not. Make sure to pack yourself lunch.”
Gabrielle grinned. “Sure thing, daddy.”
Sandstorm’s heart couldn’t help but melt at Gabrielle’s expression. At times, her smile was almost too much to handle.
They arrived at their little cottage on the outskirts of town.
Gael walked ahead of his family and unlocked the door, pushing through into their home.
“So, Gabrielle do you want to watch a movie tonight?” Sandstorm asked.
“Can we see the new Daring Do movie?!” Gabrielle asked.
They made another one of those?
“Yeah, sure.”
“Thanks mommy.”
Gabrielle hopped into their home with Sandstorm following right behind.
As Sandstorm entered their small abode, she found herself struck by a sudden wave of tranquility. Sure, the events of the day had been a bit of a rollercoaster but it had ended pretty well. She’d been taken out on a date, spent time with friends, and was now about to go see a film with family.
What more could a mare ask for?
Nothing.
Gael popped his head out of the kitchen, eating a popsicle.
“Babe, make sure to add popsicles to our shopping list. This was the last one.”
Ok maybe she could ask for one little thing.