//------------------------------// // Urges // Story: The Crass Menagerie // by Coyotek4 //------------------------------// “… AND BEHOLD, THE RABBIT IS STILL INSIDE THE HAT!!!” As Trixie’s horn illuminates, a bunny levitates from inside the top hat on the table. The bunny spreads his arms and flashes a big smile, as the students pay tribute with rousing applause. “The Great and Powerful Trixie thanks you all,” she states with a bow. “You’ve all been a wonder audience … this time, anyway.” Her aside draws laughter from the group. “That concludes this evening’s festivities, and once again, I—” A ringing sound emanates from her cap. Her horn lights up again as a banana hovers towards her ear. “Hello? … Uh huh … Okay …” The banana returns to her cap as she again addresses the students. “Trixie is needed for another engagement. Thank you all again for coming.” She reaches into her cap and pulls out a smoke bomb, which she flings to the ground to set off a puff of smoke; the cloud dissipates to reveal an empty stage. The students turn to Starlight. “Was that part of the act?” Ocellus asks. Starlight forces out a chuckle. “Yeeeah, all part of the act,” she replies. “Anyway, This is when I would have given you the rest of the day off … but since it’s now getting close to midnight …” Aware of the time, and given the day’s events, the students need no additional encouragement; in turn, each bids the counselor a good night and shuffle off to the dorms. Alone for the first time since the morning’s field trip, Smolder addresses the group. “So, what does everyone else make of today?” “It was incredible,” Silverstream admits. “I mean, I can’t believe the rabbit was in the hat the whole time!” Gallus eyes the hippogriff for a moment. “I think Smolder’s talking about the rest of today.” “Oh … yeah, that wasn’t as much fun.” “Gallus,” Ocellus asks, “do you think Grampa Gruff will really be OK with you returning? He wasn’t too happy when you told him you were coming back.” “I explained how I wasn’t myself when we spoke.” “He didn’t sound satisfied with that explanation,” Sandbar mentions. “Well, he’s one of the oldest of the ‘old-school’ griffins. He’ll come around … just like everyone else in this world, I guess.” “Not everyone,” Ocellus solemnly states. “Everyone can change,” Yona claims. “Even former queens. Just takes more time for some than others.” “I suppose,” Ocellus replies. “I wish we knew more about how those evil spirits came to be. I still have so many questions about them.” “I’m just glad to be rid of those spirits,” Smolder asserts. The others utter ‘uh huhs’ and nod in agreement, save for Gallus. “Something still troubling you?” she asks. “No … I mean, not really, but …” “But what?” Silverstream asks. “Well … it’s like I said about Grampa Gruff and his ways. It’s that way for many griffins, almost as much now as before I came to this school and met all of you. It’s just not in our nature to make friends.” “What about that test the Tree of Harmony put us through, through the grate in the school library?” Sandbar asks. “I know about that … and I do believe I’m a different griffin than I was when I first got here. But I can’t ignore a lifetime of being raised in an environment where friendships just didn’t exist. It’s like there’s a small part of me that clings to that history, and when I picked up that purple log, that part of me seized control.” Gallus shakes his head. “I know it sounds selfish to say that.” “Yona understand.” The young yak’s comment draws the attention of the group. “Yaks always believe yaks best at everything … even though yaks maybe … not … best at everything. But yak pride strong; it’s what made yaks what yaks are today. And Yona very proud of being yak. But honesty about self not natural to yaks. Yona learn as much at Friendship School. Now Yona more honest with self, but when Yona pick up orange log, old feelings return.” Sensing where the conversation is heading, Smolder speaks next. “We dragons are loners. Always have been. Once you’re of age, you’re out the cave. So the idea of being loyal to others was strange, at first … but being here, getting to know all of you, really opened my eyes. Now I can’t imagine not being there for you, or you not being there for me. But that blue log pulled at something in me, something deep, and my instincts from growing up dragon took hold.” “When the hippogriffs fled to the sea,” Silverstream continues, “it was a really dark time. We got used to our new life, our new forms, and it was really great … but there was always a feeling underneath, of despair and doom. Maybe I just never think about that feeling, because I don’t want to remember it. But that feeling came back quickly this morning.” “Before the Transformation,” Ocellus says, “we changelings were considered a scourge of creaturekind. We took what we needed and wanted, with little regard for how that made others feel. I suppose Chrysalis is still like that. But maybe there’s a part of that selfishness still within me, within all changelings. I honestly don’t know … I wish I did …” The group turns to Sandbar, expecting him to share a similar story. He offers a different perspective: “Maybe there is something within all of us that wants to lash out, do bad things for selfish reasons. We all get those urges. But what separates us from those spirits is how we choose to act on those urges.” Sandbar turns to Gallus. “You say there’s a part of you that shuns friendship, but before this morning I’ve never seen you do anything that would harm the bonds we have. Whatever that part inside of you is like, you don’t act on those urges. And that’s what separates you from that spirit.” He turns to Smolder. “And I’m sure there’s a ‘dragon’ part in you that wants to go it alone, never look back … but you don’t do that, because you believe our friendship is stronger than that.” Gallus and Smolder both nod at Sandbar’s assertion. “And the same for all of us. I’ve had moments of anger …” Silverstream laughs at the comment, causing Sandbar to turn to her. “Oh, sorry,” she sheepishly replies. Sandbar smiles. “No, I’m sure it’s funny to think that. But it’s true. When we all crashed through the floor during rehearsal of that play. Or when we all ended up in the lake because our professors kept arguing with each other. I mean, anyone would be frustrated by those things … but whatever I’m thinking, I don’t act on those feelings. There’d be nothing to gain … and a lot to lose.” … “Wow,” Ocellus finally speaks, “I never knew you were so profound. I’m impressed.” “Yeah, well I had a lot of time to think about things during the trip back from Griffinstone.” “Huh … all I could think about was the scenery,” Silverstream admits. “But it was really beautiful scenery!” “All Yona thought about was how much Yona hate water.” “I’m already thinking about my next trip back home,” Gallus says. “Next time, it’ll actually be my decision … but I hope you can all come with.” “Only if you all come with me to visit the dragon lands,” Smolder replies. “And Yakyakistan! Yona’s friends have to come to Yakyakistan!” “And Mount Aeris!” “And the Hive!” Sandbar laughs. “Sounds like a lot more field trips in our future.” The group shares one final laugh before the last of the candlelight fades.