//------------------------------// // Chapter Two: Death by vita-min-itus // Story: Stream of Silver, Heart of Gold // by RadBunny //------------------------------// (Season 8 Finale Spoilers from here on out, be ye warned) Happily trotting down the worn hiking path, Gallus glanced over to see if Silverstream was still at his side. Of course she was, padding alongside the gryphon with a smile, one that changed into a very tender look if he happened to meet her gaze. Every time he caught that caring look, it felt like his heart was going to overload. Nobody had ever looked at him with such affection before. It was almost too much to take in, but in a good way. The date at Sugarcube Corner the day before had been…interesting. If not for the fact his other four friends showed up after about twenty minutes, it would have gone off without a hitch. Well, at least they knew about him and Silverstream now; and with minimal jokes too. That was especially a wonder considering how Silverstream had answered Smolder’s question as to why they were there together. “HE’SMYSPECIALSOMEGRIFF!” Gallus’ head had hurt for a good hour after smacking it into the table at that. The ecstatic hippogriff had whispered an apology, but how could he stay mad at her? The excitement and joy behind those purple eyes had shattered any annoyance that dared linger after a moment. Karma had decided to attack though, and with good purpose. Sandbar had simply raised an eyebrow as he sat next to Ocellus, smirking ever so slightly. “Huh. And after all the jokes you sent towards us? Really?” What could he say to that? Gallus had just groaned and waved a set of claws. “Fair point. I guess I deserve a good few jokes from you two. To be cashed in whenever.” He sighed. The conversation had then settled smoothly into what they were going to do with the last day or so of the long weekend. As the other four chatted, Gallus hadn’t missed the few looks Silverstream had cast his way. There was something deeper behind her eyes; and the fact she seemed to almost be on the verge of tears a few times. Not in a sad way, but a very happy way. Hopefully he’d find a way and time to ask her about it. With the official special-somegriff title, Gallus had been wracking his brain for how in the world to even do that. All he could come up with was exactly what Silver had said; be himself. The knowledge that Silverstream cared about him though had ignited a certain protective….something towards her. The idea of her being sad now hurt more than before; was that how it all went? His thoughts came to a halt as a very large distraction collided with his face in the form of a tree. “Gallus? You alright? Or…is walking off the path into a tree a common thing?” Silverstream quipped with a grin, now hovering next to him. “Nah. Just was thinking, a bit too much apparently.” The gryphon responded with a slight grumble. “About uuuuusssss?” Gallus sighed, not able to be more than a smidge annoyed at the ecstatic hippogriff looking at him. “Um, duh?” “REALLY? OHMYGOSHIDIDN”TEXPECT-Umm, it’s in a good way, right?” She chirped, landing to walk beside him once again. “Definitely a good way. I’m just new to this. I think you have a better idea what to expect.” He quickly interjected, not wanting her to get the wrong idea. “…YAY!” Gallus bit back a chuckle at hearing her response; noting a slight hesitation though. Odd. He fished around in the small satchel that hung around his neck, handy for small errands and the like. On feeling a small cylinder and giving it a shake, his ears flattened. “Ah crud. I’m out. Erm, before lunch can we make a detour? I’ve gotta pick up something.” She’ll find out eventually. Not like it’s a big deal or anything. “Sure!” They walked in silence for some time, just enjoying each other’s presence. That fact was another new thing to Gallus; not being up-tight around someone when alone. The path leading back near Fluttershy’s cottage and to the main road, Gallus aimed towards the Ponyville hospital; and the only pharmacy in town. Why he had to pick up the prescription there he didn’t know. It wasn’t like they were dangerous drugs or anything. “The hospital?” Silverstream asked, head tilting rather adorably in curiosity. “Yep. Just have to snag something. It won’t take long, and you can wait out here if you want.” “I’ll come! I’ve never seen the inside of a hospital!” Of course. Thankfully, there weren’t too many ponies or any patients for that matter, so it was a simple task to give his name and pick up the already-paid-for item. Gallus took it out and sighed, placing the pills into his satchel. “You can ask what they are. If you hold it in any longer you might explode.” Gallus sighed, having seen Silverstream look at the items intently as they walked down a side street. “Okwhatarethose?” She blurted out, causing the gryphon to shrug. “Just vitamins for gryphons.” “…Vita-mins? IS THAT LIKE A CURE FOR A DISEASE? DO YOU HAVE VITA-MIN-ITUS?” Her ears pinned back suddenly at a thought. “Are you really sick? Is it deadly? You can’t be! You’re the first guy I-” Her words cut off as Gallus reached over to place a set of claws on her shoulder-only, he missed. Instead of her shoulder, the gryphon found himself gently resting his claws against Silver’s cheek. The affectionate look in her eyes caught him completely off guard as he sputtered to explain. “I don’t have- that’s not even a disease. Vitamins are good stuff in addition to food. Healthy stuff? You didn’t have those?” He asked, only half-aware of what he was saying. Silverstream had completely relaxed at his touch, an almost dreamy look on her face until he removed his claws. “Um, Silver?” “Bwa? Um, oh. Ok.” The fact her cheeks were even pinker than normal told Gallus something was up. “So you didn’t have vitamins?” He asked, slotting her odd behavior away to ask about later. “Huh? No, we just ate what foods were good for us. So vitamins are like, extra food? Super good for you?” She asked, blush still very present on her cheeks. “Sorta? Like, it’s a concentrated formula that gives your body a boost of stuff it might not have. In my case, my body didn’t have much of anything.” He added with a shrug. “I can explain more-just, let’s just get some food, yeah?” “Mmmhmmm.” Ok. Silverstream being calm and not-too-talkative is really starting to weird me out. But she seems ok…so what’s up? Food first. Then ask. They snagged some hayburgers and took them to go; heading down the main road again to a secluded hillside. Gallus had spotted it when flying over Ponyville a few weeks ago, and it seemed like the perfect place to hang out with Silverstream. Hang out-Or was this date number two? Hanging out was now dating? That conundrum made Gallus’ brow furrow, but at the end of it, Silverstream was here with him, and that was the goal. The gryphon was still getting used to the warm lump in his chest whenever he met Silver’s gaze though. The hayburgers were devoured in moments; and the two sat sipping on some various juices as they looked out across a field. “So, no death by vitamin-itus.” Gallus remarked with a slight smirk, popping one of the large pills into his beak with a grimace. “Bleh.” Silverstream glanced over to him curiously, the gears clearly turning in her mind to put things together. “But you look healthy? Why have these super special vitamin pills?” Gallas’s wings drooped ever so slightly, and he held out one of the appendages briefly. “Look at my feathers, do they look good, or not so great?” Silverstream’s eyes narrowed as she examined his wing closely, and then promptly blushed as she looked at Gallus in general. “Y-you look really good. Erm. The feathers. And you.” She squeaked, prompting the gryphon to grin, the expression then fading. “Thanks- but this is the first time I’ve looked like this. It’s taken over half a year to molt out the other feathers. Before now? My feathers and fur were horrible. Remember when we had that general checkup after saving Equestria? Something about making sure the magical fields didn’t clash with us or something?” Silverstream nodded; they had all been cleared for a clean bill of health, including Gallus… “Well I went back in a few more times. Apparently I wasn’t doing so great. They didn’t want to make it a big deal, even though it kind of was.” His voice got a bit softer, remembering the blunt explanation. “Basically, Princess Twilight said I was in the danger zone across all measures of health. If I had gotten anything worse than a cold, I’d have been in the hospital for a long time. Or worse. Apparently my bones were about as strong as glass too, it was a wonder I hadn’t gotten a fracture before.” Gallus continued softly, gesturing to his side. “Poke me here. Gently.” Silverstream stared at him, and did so. “I’ve got some muscle and stuff, but you probably didn’t feel that much squish.” Gallus let out a soft chuckle, which was offset by his flattened ears as worried thoughts spun in the back of his mind. “Funny how so many want to lose fat nowadays. Now, I’m needing to gain it. I’m finally within the ‘to-be concerned’ health zone now according to the Princess. It’s taken almost a year of good food to get me there. The vitamins are just a part of that, making sure I’m healthy in the right ways. Slowly building back everything to get me stronger, and not make me sick from it all. Don’t want to get too fat too quickly.” The hippogriff stayed quiet, clearly troubled by his words but letting Gallus explain. “Because of how things were in Griffinstone? This is all due to that?” She finally asked, her usually bubbly demeanor subdued under genuine concern. “Yeah. Skipping meals for a day or two or more adds up over years and year. It got better recently though; a nice gryphoness gave me all the extra scones she baked at the end of the day. But that wasn’t too long before I came here. Probably the main reason I didn’t look like skin and bones. Barely.” A sniff caught his attention, and Gallus looked over to see Silverstream wiping her eyes. “…Silver?” He asked, scooting a bit closer. “Just-you just didn’t deserve that. Nobody does.” The hippogriff whispered, shaking her head. “Well, I’m still here and doing ok. I just have to follow the doctor’s instructions. I’d really rather not tick off the Princess.” Gallus mused, giving her shoulder a nudge with his own. “So…when you were thinking I was about to die due to vita-min-itus, you said I’m the first guy tooooooooooo?” The gryphon asked, looking at Silverstream expectantly. He didn’t want her to dwell on his predicament any longer than necessary. To his dismay, her ears flattened even further. That was not what he had wanted to cause at all. “Silver?” She sighed, toying with some grass with her claws. “You’re the first guy I’ve liked who likes me back. Ever.” She finally whispered. “What? That-wait, how? Why? You’re so happy and curious and just fun! That and being in a royal family, I’d have thought you’d have plenty of choices.” Instead of me. The other dozens or more of hippogriffs who aren’t homeless orphans… “I liked a few. But between the ones who just wanted the title of a noble, and the ones who…” Her voice trailed off, prompting Gallus to sigh. He reached over and pulled the unsettled hippogriff into a hug for a few moments. “Look. I know something’s bothering you. If you don’t want to say anything, I won’t push. I know gryphons, including myself, can be a bit blunt and pushy. I won’t ask more if it’s too upsetting though.” Gallus said softly, feeling Silverstream lean into his embrace with a slight shiver. “I’m just happy. And sad. And-is this how you feel? It’s so confusing! It’sIdunnojustUGH.” Silver mumbled, pressing her head against Gallus’ shoulder. “Sad? About us?” “NO!” Her face looked up at him with an embarrassed blush. “Sorry. I’m super-duper happy about us. It’s-” Silverstream let out a frustrated ‘MMMFFFF’ into Gallus’ feathers, briefly pulling out of his embrace to look at the ground, her wings sagging slightly. “The other ones I liked never liked who I was. I couldn’t be me around them. Their faces when I started talking or got excited- it hurt to see them change. To want nothing to do with me.” “S-so to finally have someone want to be my special somegriff when I’m myself i-is just…it f-feels…” Gallus gladly returned the hug as Silverstream yanked him close, a few sniffles leaving her beak. “I may be new to this whole special somegriff thing, but remember that’s all based off one thing.” Gallus whispered, pulling his head back to look into her purple eyes, still shimmering with unshed tears. “Everything stems from liking you. Curious, spastic, happy, sometimes-ok often, over the top excitable you. That’s the Silverstream I care about. And I’ll gladly remind you of that.” On seeing Silverstream’s eyes continue to water and a genuine smile edge onto her beak, warmth flooded through Gallus’ chest. I can see why someone might not be used to your energy; but nobody should feel like being themselves is a bad thing. The gryphon thought as Silverstream snuggled closer in his embrace. “I take it I’m doing alright at the whole special somegriff thing though?” Gallus asked, prompting a giggle from Silverstream. “Uh huh. I’d say so.” On a whim, Gallus moved back ever so slightly and rested the palm of his clawed hand against Silverstreams cheek- The hippogriff instantly sagged into his arms, a blissful smile on her face. “Um. Silverstream? Does this mean something to hippogriffs orrrrrr?” Gallus asked, both amused and curious. “N-no. I just always imagined my special somegriff doing this.” Ok, that’s adorable. How long has she wanted someone to do this I wonder? ….I guess I found Silverstreams‘ off’ switch! The gryphon mused happily. After a few moments, Silverstream sighed and gently pressed against Gallus’ palm, eyes meeting his ever so briefly. “It just makes me feel safe.” She whispered, prompting a rather wide grin from Gallus. He could relate to that. So this was comparable to a hug… Good to know. After a few moments, Silverstream shifted her head to rest against Gallus’ shoulder happily, letting out a soft hum. “I never really would have guessed that you were this snuggly. Not complaining though. Super-duper happy about it actually. Special somegriff without hugs or stuff? Nooooooo thank you!” Gallus tried to grumble; he really did. Instead it came out as a sigh. “I think it’s only with you.” “YAAAAAAY!”