The thick snow around the school muffled any sour feelings, joyous individuals scampering this way and that. Lights were hung on every window and eve, and more than a few small trees with ornaments dotted the halls and main rooms. Classes had gotten out early, and students were busy frolicking in the deep snow. On a small hill under a snow-laden tree, two individuals huddled together in the cold.
“So you’re heading back to Mount Aris then?” Gallus asked, Silverstream letting out a slight hum on his shoulder.
“Mmmhmm. Just for the break, then back here in a few weeks. The offer still stands to celebrate with us…”
“Silver, I-” The gryphon sighed, shaking his head. “I’d love to, but I can’t. If I’m going to meet your parents, then I don’t want it to be under those circumstances. If that makes sense.”
“It does. But doesn’t mean I won’t miss you.” Silverstream grumbled. “They’re going to ask sooooooooooo many questions. Ugh. And my brother. Oh he’s going to have too much fun at my expense.”
“It’s just for three weeks, and I’ve got plenty of individuals here I can hang out with. Ponyville isn’t so bad. Spike and Big Macintosh invited me for some sort of game with Discord, so I’ll have stuff to keep me busy.” Gallus mused, then hearing a slight sniffle.
“Silver?”
“It’s only three weeks. I know it’s stupid, b-but still…”
Gallus couldn’t help but chuckle softly; he had the perfect remedy for this. He scooted forward ever so slightly to face Silverstream, giving her cheek an affectionate caress with his own. She let out another sniffle, and Gallus leaned in to give her a gentle kiss.
Just as Silverstream kissed him back, Gallus wrapped his arms around the hippogriff and pulled her closer, prompting a surprised squeak.
That squeak quickly faded as the gryphon poured every last bit of affection and gratitude he felt into the kiss, the world vanishing amid the loving gesture. If there was one thing he wanted Silverstream to know without a doubt, it was how much she meant to him.
Finally breaking the kiss, Gallus couldn’t help but smile as very happy but flustered hippogriff looked back at him.
“I’ll miss you too.” He whispered, Silverstream nuzzling under his neck for a few moments. The fact she sagged against him never got old. A loving gesture, and she turned to putty.
Yeah because you’re so much better….Gallus mused sarcastically to himself, which was true.
Silverstream stayed in his arms for a moment longer, then reluctantly pulling away ever so slightly.
“We should probably say good-bye to everyone else.” She sighed, and Gallus nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, but no reason we can’t have a few minutes before you go. Should have a bit more time before the train leaves.” He added, Silverstream giving him a final nuzzle before the two made their way to the nearest building.
They walked the halls slowly, enjoying each other’s company. Silverstream opened the door leading to one of the larger lounges, and as Gallus poked his head inside-
“SURPRISE!”
The gryphon promptly fell on his rear, four familiar friendly faces beaming back at him with huge smiles. Silverstream’s giggles only affirmed her being in on all of this. While the room had the usual hearth’s warming decoration, there was a smaller tree in the center, with five small presents.
“Uh, guys? What’s this?” Gallus ventured to ask, picking himself up off the ground and walking closer.
“Well just because we’re heading home doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Sheesh.” Smolder grumbled, a slight smile actually twitching onto her features.
“It’s your own private hearths warming!” Ocellus beamed, Sandbar and Yona nodding in agreement.
“Your own tree and presents.” Silverstream explained finally, Gallus’ eyes widened in shock. A trembling smile slid onto his beak, and it was the gryphon’s turn to sniff, barely holding back tears.
“Y-you all didn’t h-have to….” The words stopped in Gallus’ throat, warmth spreading through his frame as he looked away, a few small tears escaping his eyes.
They really are my family.
Silverstream walked up close and put a clawed hand on Gallus’ cheek, a tender smile on her face as she nodded.
“When you care about someone, it’s what you do.” She whispered, tightening her arms around Gallus in a hug that was promptly increased four-fold.
Releasing the gryphon from the massive hug, a certain Yak looked at the gryphon curiously.
“Gallus like?” Yona asked, the others looking on curiously.
“Not just like, Yona. I love it. Thank you, thank you all.” Gallus replied, a genuinely tender smile on his beak.
“YAY! Gallus should open presents!” Yona added, bounding over to the tree.
Even Smolder was actually smiling ever so slightly as Gallus opened the simple gifts; A cider-drinking stein from Yona, an ever-changing sapling tree from Ocellus, a durable satchel from Sandbar…
“Whoa. Is this lava?” Gallus asked, looking at the miniature stone pool.
“Yep. It’s a weird magical type that stays bubbling for ages.” Smolder remarked, gesturing to the rock piece. “There’s crystal cover on the top in case it tips over, but I honestly don’t know how long that’d last…”
“Dangerous gift. Cool.” Gallus remarked with a grin.
“Thank you, really. Thank you for this. I-” Words got stuck in his throat, and to Gallus’ surprise, it was Smolder who stood and gave his shoulder a friendly bump with a fist.
“We get it dude. And you’re welcome. Happy Hearth’s Warming.”
Gallus was then in the middle of another piled-on hug, the gryphon then wishing each of his friends farewell for the break as they left to catch the various trains. As Smolder was leaving, Gallus saw a very flustered purple dragon hovering in the air in the hallway with a small gift box.
He had never seen Smolder blush, let alone that fast and bright.
Huh.
Now alone with Silverstream, Gallus took the small box from her with a curious head tilt. She had held her gift for last, so that had him intrigued…
Opening the box, the gryphon felt his heart skip a few beats. It was a small item; just a piece of string with three small objects on it.
“S-Silver.” He whispered, glancing up to her.
“You do know what-”
“I did quite a bit of reading on it, so yes. I know what means. Why do you think I’m giving it to you?” She replied with a wide smile. Set on the sturdy cord of Gallus’ present was a single pink feather, flanked on either side by a seashell and a stone from Silverstream’s ocean. It was a gryphon tradition almost older than Griffinstone itself.
The giving of such a necklace, set with a feather from yourself and two items from your home, was a sort of claim on the wearer. If they chose to wore it, it was an outward sign to other possible interests to back off. Likewise, there was an honor system around if you dared break the necklace of another.
It wasn’t like a pony’s engagement rings or anything; but something to be worn for the duration of a relationship, wherever it may lead. To present such an item to another was about as close to a physical ‘I love you’ as you could get.
Clasping the sturdy cord around his neck, Gallus looked in a nearby mirror, dampening eyes quickly obscuring his vision.
I never thought anyone…
The second he felt Silverstream leaning on his shoulder, he turned to pull her into a tight hug.
“Thank you Silver. Thank you. I-” He shook his head, simply burrowing into her neck fur with a shaky breath. “You won’t have to wait long for yours. I promise.” Gallus whispered fiercely into her fur, a pleasant shiver running through the hippogriff’s frame. Feeling her chest rise with his, and the small movements Silverstream made to snuggle closer only made Gallus’ heart burn more.
Someone wants to be close to me.
Me. Of all gryphons.
“I don’t want to let you go.” He whispered, emotion clogging his throat. It was brief moments like this, holding her close that made Gallus realized how much Silverstream meant to him.
And what I’d give to not let this end.
Reluctantly pulling apart briefly, Gallus gave her a final kiss with enough intensity to make the bubby hippogriff squeak, a happy smile on her beak as he broke the gesture.
“You have a train to catch. I’ll see you soon, alright?” He said, Silverstream giving his claws a squeeze. “Have a good holiday Silver, ok? I’ll try to write a letter if I can manage it. Might take that long to just get there.”
She nodded, giving him another hug, still sporting the genuine and affectionate smile on her beak.
“I’d like that, and you too Gallus. I’ll s-see you soon!” She then trotted out the door, Gallus not missing the slight hitch in her voice.
For a time, Gallus examined the gifts from his friends, each having a practical use as well as being unique to the giver.
They were perfect.
The gryphon looked out at the snow, thankful that this time his claws didn’t shake.
I want to tell her so many things. But first those three words. Three words that would unlock so much; actually opening up to someone.
And yet…
After the thought spun around in his head for a few minute, Gallus let out an annoyed huff; an idea then coming to mind. Specifically, it concerned when Fluttershy had invited Discord to a lesson.
Maybe…
“Hey. Discord. You can hear me right?” Gallus asked, letting out a grunt as silence answered him. “Well. Knowing you, you could be messing with me. I had some questions.”
In an instant, the familiar Draconequus snapped into view, clad in what appeared to be a full suit of armor.
“SALUTATIONS SIR GALLUS! You have questions about our upcoming game? Oh FINALLY another adventurous soul!” Discord crowed happily, doing a flip midair. To the chaos god’s delight, Gallus nodded with a slight chuckle.
“I actually do have quite a few questions about this game. Before that though, I had a different one.”
“Oh?” Discord asked, the armor vanishing and being replaced with a bowl of popcorn in his clawed hands, the Draconequus hovering and munched on the contents
The chip-like eatables were apparently small versions of his wings.
“How did you open up to Fluttershy?”
Discord promptly rammed his fist to his chest, coughing up some stuck wing-chips as he glared at Gallus.
“You have to warn be before launching THAT sort of question cannonball at me! Good heavens!” Discord grumbled, shrugging his shoulders with a roll of his eyes. “And what do you mean ‘open up?’ I’m just good friends with her!”
Gallus stared at the Draconequus, shaking his head.
“You know what I mean.”
The chaotic god stared down the gryphon, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
“You are quite the observant one, I’m surprised. And that doesn’t happen often.” Discord muttered, snapping his claws. Every surface of the room promptly was locked up; shutters on the windows, locks on the doors, and even the floor was sporting a large spiked padlock across it. “Alright Gallus, but this doesn’t leave this room. I can’t handle too much of this genuine stuff. It’s bad for my heart.”
“We’re talking about Fluttershy, and you say it’s bad for your heart, really?” Gallus quipped, smirking as Discord groaned, pulling his face down as though made of rubber.
“Touché. That was good, I’ll give you that.” Discord replied, taking a deep breath. “Hold on.” He popped some large pills into his mouth, pulled from a blue box labeled ‘emotional laxatives.’ “I’d suggest you try these, but I doubt you’d have any bones left. Mythical strength and all that.” Discord added, then sighing.
“To answer your question, I didn’t do anything different. In short, I was myself. I tried not being myself to make her more comfortable once, and it nearly destroyed me.” He poked a claw towards the gryphon; more specifically towards the pink feather around his neck. “Looks like to me being yourself is exactly what she wants. If you’re talking about opening up in terms of talking, and concerns and-” Discord took another deep breath, as though the words were of titanic difficulty. “Your feelings and such, then I’d say do it when it’s the most comfortable. For me, it’s never comfortable, only stages of uncomfortable. So when that’s at the least amount. Does that make sense? I don’t know if I can handle repeating that.”
Gallus nodded slowly, holding out a set of claws in thanks.
“It does. Thank you Discord. Really.”
The Draconequus took the offered claws, and shook the gryphon’s hand without so much as a pranking shock, the locks and shutters vanishing abruptly.
“You are quite welcome Gallus, you’re actually of the more interesting individuals I’ve seen. Also one of the few who almost ate one of my creations during my brief time leading the school…”
Gallus chuckled, shrugging his wings.
“It DID try to bite me. I just bit back.”
Discord chortled, laying on his side with a wide grin.
“So, you DO have questions about our upcoming game?
Gallus nodded, listing off his top curiosities about Ogres and Oubliettes. In short, the who, what, when, where, why, and how.
When Discord was done explaining and showing with animated sock puppets, Gallus felt a slight thrill run through his frame.
“That sounds awesome. Can we have a miniature game now? To practice of course.”
The wide grin on Discord’s face was answer enough as he snapped a set of claws.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A week later, Silverstream was lounging in her Mount Aris room looking through some of her old journals and musings when a pony-sized scroll ‘POPPED’ into existence in front of her.
‘Hey Silverstream! Thanks to Discord I was able to write this special note. I’m having a blast (see the picture below,) and hope you are too!
For the special part about this note, lean in towards the paper...’
Silverstream let out a slight huff, leaning in to the paper-
And was promptly grabbed into a hug, blue-furred arms pulling her close.
“G-Gallus?!” She squeaked, looking at the portal formed in the center of the massive parchment, and the gryphon who held her in his arms.
“Yup. Courtesy of Discord. That guy actually has quite a big heart if you can believe it. Can’t take too long though.” Gallus replied, yanking the surprised hippogriff into a loving kiss. The fact Silverstream didn’t even hesitate to return the passionate gesture sent pleasant shivers down his spine.
As they broke apart, Gallus placed a small object into her claws; a sturdy chord with a blue feather, surrounded by a piece of metal ore from the Griffinstone mines, and smooth polished stone.
“Getting to Griffinstone is faster taking the Discord-train. So, I promised you…” He mumbled, cheeks reddening. Silverstream’s eyes watered as she fastened the necklace around her neck, then letting out a giggle. It perfectly matched with the necklace holding the magical pearl shard, standing out brightly against her pink feathers and fur.
“Thank you Gallus. I-this feels better? Is that the words?” Silverstream asked, prompting Gallus to chuckle.
“I think the word is official. And I’d agree. I have to go though, I’ll see you in two weeks!” A brief kiss on the cheek, and the gryphon waved before the portal vanished, leaving Silverstream smiling with teary eyes.
As she looked at the picture attached, the hippogriff doubled over in giggles. It was a picture of Spike, Big Macintosh, Discord, and Gallus, all with varying forms of armor and apparel fighting off what looked like hordes of paper zombies.
Her giggles then turned into a massive blush, her heart thudding in her ears.
Even if it was paper armor, Gallus looked good.
Like. Really, really really good.
Back in Ponyville, four voices rang out as one in an excited battle cry;
“HAVE AT YE, ZOMPONIES!”