//------------------------------// // Will You Marry Me? // Story: Popping The Question // by FabulousDivaRarity //------------------------------// Time was an incredibly fickle thing. Gallus and Silverstream both knew this well. Important or special moments seemed to be over in an instant, and during the slow times, or times leading up to exciting events passed by slower than a turtle. For Gallus, this was particularly true now. Four years had passed since he and Silverstream had begun dating, and so much had happened in that time. They had graduated from The School Of Friendship alongside their friends. They had decided to stay in Ponyville for a time after school had ended, figuring out where they would go later on. Of course, sometimes leaving couldn’t be helped. Like when Silverstream was asked to come and teach to hippogriffs and seaponies alike about what she had learned from Twilight’s school. Gallus had stayed at their home during that time because he had promised to help Sandbar build something for his little sister. So, many a long distance lullaby were sang before bed, in hopes that the other would come home soon. It was during the times that they were apart that Gallus realized just how much he missed her. Little things she did that he didn’t realize he noticed would become apparent to him. How she hummed whenever she cleaned the house, how she had to get the covers just right before bed, how she giggled when she got brain freeze from ice cream. What bothered him most, though, was the nights when he came home to an empty bed. Even though he knew she would always be back, it didn’t make it any easier. The empty space where she should have been made his heart ache, and the lack of warmth beside him made him feel cold. It was those moments that made him realize how much she meant to him, and that he did not want to be apart from her. He decided that he was going to make her his wife. Gallus was most definitely not a Griffon who enjoyed lavish or elaborate things- more so, being a part of them. He was much more of a small gatherings with simple touches type of Griffon. But this proposal was not for him. It was for Silverstream, and she enjoyed elaborate things. Granted, some of those elaborate things meant indoor plumbing, but nonetheless, if he was going to do this right, he was going to do it for her. Gallus had asked a favor of Smolder, and had her ask Silverstream to come hang out with her while she was in Ponyville a few days visiting with Spike, and Silverstream was delighted. Gallus told her in the meantime that he was taking a night away to head to Griffonstone to speak with Grandpa Gruff, but really, he was headed to Mount Aris. He was not old fashioned in any sense of the word. Gallus preferred to keep things modern as much as he could. But Silverstream focused so heavily on her family, so Gallus found it important to respect her family and ask her father for permission to Marry her. He had met with Silverstream’s family a few times in the years they had been dating. Sky Beak, Ocean Flow, and Terramar were all extremely welcoming to him, and in an odd way he felt like they were already family. So this wasn’t exactly as nerve wracking for him as it might have been were they strangers or cold to him. When he got to Mount Aris, he found Sky Beak near Harmonizing Heights. He thought that as good a place as any to speak with him, since it was curiously empty at the moment. Gallus flew over to him, and tapped his shoulder. Sky Beak turned to see him and Smiled. “Gallus!” His voice was, to Gallus, a sort of cheerful thunder. “Hey Sky Beak.” Gallus greeted, and shook Sky Beak’s claw. “What are you doing up here on Mount Aris? Did Silverstream come to surprise us with a visit again?” “No, Silverstream is in Ponyville with Smolder. I came here to talk to you about something.” “Is everything okay?” He asked, concerned. “Everything is great. That’s why I’m here.” Gallus assured him. “Alright then, I’m listening.” “Silverstream and I have been together for four years now. I can’t see my future without her, and I don’t want to. When she’s gone, I miss her in ways I didn’t think I could miss anygriff. But with her it’s different. She changed everything for me. So, the reason why I came here is… Sky Beak, I would like your permission to Marry Silverstream.” In the seconds that followed, Gallus felt uncharacteristically unnerved. Like the world was hanging by a fraying thread. Sky Beak’s eyes gave nothing away about what he was thinking, and Gallus felt like he was about to fall off the edge of a cliff with no way to get back from it. But then, the most amazing thing happened. Sky Beak smiled at him. The tension that had tangled his stomach so intricately suddenly released, like a child trying to tie a knot with it coming apart. “I was wondering when you might ask me that.” “What?” The word came out of Gallus’ mouth equal parts relieved and confounded. Sky Beak chuckled warmly. “Ocean Flow and I were young and in love like you two once. The last time you and Silverstream visited with us, it seemed to be pretty clear you were serious about each other. Ocean Flow and I knew it was only a matter of time, and we want to give you our blessing.” “Really?” Gallus broke into a smile. Sky Beak nodded and put a claw on his shoulder. “Welcome to the family, Gallus.” Gallus beamed at those words, and felt a page turning in the book of his life. A new chapter was about to be written for him, and this time, he would have family by his side. Actual relatives who could trace their histories. He gave Sky Beak a hug, which was more than odd for him, and then he spoke to the Hippogriff about what he had in mind, while asking for suggestions of what Silverstream might like. The answer of “Whatever you do, I’m sure Silverstream will love it.” Wasn’t exactly what Gallus had been hoping for, but it was still encouraging all the same. Time passed, sometimes slow and sometimes very fast in the weeks that followed. Gallus was carefully plotting the perfect proposal for Silverstream. He had picked up a ring from the jewelers he thought she would like, and then had taken it to his former Headmare Twilight. He had explained the situation to her about proposing to Silverstream, and the conundrum he now faced. Where would he put the ring when he proposed? Her claws were small, and he imagined walking on the ring might be irritating. Plus, she didn’t always have claws either, so that would be hard. Headmare Twilight, smart as ever, thought up a solution. She enchanted the ring, so that no matter where Silverstream decided to wear it, it would be sized to fit that point. He had also sent letters to Silverstream’s parents, Brother, Aunt, and Cousin, along with Smolder, Yona, Sandbar, and Ocellus as the day approached. He wanted them all to be there as a surprise for Silverstream. Each sent word that they would be there on the big night, and promised they would follow Gallus’ instructions to the letter to make sure it went perfectly. With two months of careful planning under his wing, the big day finally came. Gallus had barely slept a wink the night before, but he didn’t feel that way. He felt like he had slept for three days straight with all of the energy he had now. He got up at the break of dawn, earlier than Silverstream, and made her breakfast. He had been taking cooking lessons from Pinkie Pie and gotten recipes from Applejack for the occasion. He had also contacted Rarity for her help, and even Rainbow Dash. Gallus made up some pancakes with pralines and syrup, with an apple tart, along with some water to drink, and some yogurt. He had rehearsed it a million times before, until he had become an expert, and now he could do it without thinking. He put everything on a tray and flew to their room to give her breakfast in bed to start off the best day of her life. The smell of food cooking roused Silverstream from her slumber, and when she opened her eyes she found Gallus there. “What’s all this?” She asked, grinning sleepily. “Breakfast, what else?” He grinned, and set the tray down for her. “Did you make all of this?” She asked. He nodded. “Yep. I took lessons.” “You took lessons on how to cook?” “Yeah.” “Why?” “To surprise you.” Silverstream grinned. “You did this for me?” “And we’re doing a lot more today, so eat while you can.” Silverstream was pleasantly surprised by this, and was quick to eat up. Gallus had already bathed earlier, so all he had to do was wait for Silverstream. She soon hopped out of the bathroom and Gallus took her by the claw and told her to follow him. Wings linked together, they made their way to The Carousel Boutique. When the bell rang, their former Professor Rarity answered the door. “Gallus! Silverstream! Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where everything is chic, unique, and magnifique! I assume you’re here to pick up your order?” “That’s right.” Said Gallus. “Excellent!” Rarity beamed. “Allow me to get it for you.” They only waited a moment or two before they were given two garment bags. One marked S, and one marked G. “Thank you.” Said Gallus. “Anytime!” “Do we have to pay?” Asked Silverstream. “Oh no, darling! It’s been taken care of.” Silverstream nodded. Gallus reached out and shook her hoof. “Thank you for this.” “My pleasure. Have a lovely day, Gallus.” She told him warmly. “We will.” Gallus responded. With that, they left. Gallus flew Silverstream back home and had her be sure not to peek in the bags. They laid them on the bed, and then he took her back out after they were dropped off. They went around Ponyville that day. Every place they visited had significance to them. The Cafe where they had their first date. A forest where they took a field trip in school. Ghastly Gorge, where they had raced each other on a bet with Smolder. The cliff where they had fallen asleep together and heard the Nightingales sing. The last (or perceived to be last by Silverstream at least) stop on this journey was the School of Friendship itself. They had been given special permission to go to Gallus’ old room, where their romance had begun. “It’s crazy how much things have changed.” Said Gallus. “Yeah. Good thing we never will!” Silverstream smiled. Gallus’ heart skipped a beat. He hoped they would always be like this together. They took a moment to look around, and then, he told Silverstream, “Come on, we gotta get back home so we aren’t late for what I planned next.” Silverstream, of course, complied. They went back to their home, and Silverstream unzipped her garment bag to see a beautiful ice blue dress that shimmered in the light. It was breathtaking. She ran a hand down the fabric, and found it was silk. Gallus had gone to a separate room to change, and Silverstream did so in their bathroom. When Gallus came in, he found her in the dress that he had tried to help Rarity design. It was all she had promised it to be and more. His heartbeat quickened, and he couldn’t help but think that this was the griff he was destined to spend the rest of his life with. Gallus himself was in a black suit jacket, designed by Rarity also, that fit over his wings without hindering his flight. A pocket on the inside of the jacket held the ring inside, and for a moment they stared at each other, just taking it in. Silverstream was the one to break the silence. “You look incredible.” “So do you. Glad to see it fit.” “Did you- Did you plan this?” “Surprised?” His tone was more than a bit cocky. “Pleasantly.” She smiled. “Come on. We gotta go.” He told her. She followed without question. He took her to what appeared to be an ordinary restaurant, but this one was quite special. There was a back room reserved for them, with a white table cloth, candles, and roses. He had gotten a hold of the chef about a month ago for this dinner, and he had asked him to prepare all of Silverstream’s favorite dishes from home, along with a few of his own. When the meal was presented to Silverstream, she was squealing with giddiness. “This is amazing! All of my favorites! I didn’t know Ponyville had fish oil tea or kelp chips!” “They do if you know who to ask.” “This is incredible! Thank you!” He smiled at her. “My pleasure.” They ate and talked for a long while, and so many times Gallus just wanted to grab the ring from his pocket and pop the question right there, but he didn’t. He wanted it to be perfect, and he had to make sure it was. So he waited, even though the ring he kept seemed to be getting heavier all the time as his ache to give it to her grew. Finally though, after what seemed like forever, dinner was done. Gallus turned to her. “There’s one more place we’re going tonight.” He told her, and had her follow him. The final destination was soon in sight. The lake where they had shared their first kiss came into view, and he had put candles in jars around a part of the beach. The moon was high in the sky by now, and he took her over to them. “What is all of this?” She asked. She had known for some time now that something was going on, but she had no idea what. “It’s for you.” He said. “What?” She asked. It was the moment of truth. Gallus got down and kneeled as best he could before he looked up at her. “Silverstream, when I met you, you felt torn between worlds, and so did I. And tonight I want to change that. I want to make one world- with you and I in it together. Sky, land, or sea, I want to share it with you.” He pulled the ring from his pocket, and opened the velvet box. “Silverstream, will you marry me?” Silverstream gasped at the ring inside. A gold band, with one circular diamond centerpiece, and three blue sapphires on each side. One for each world they had inhabited. Griffonstone, Mount Aris, Seaquestria, The School Of Friendship, their home, and one sapphire for the new world they would make together. Her eyes welled up with tears. “YES!” She said, and kissed him. Just at that moment, a large boom could be heard, and Silverstream broke off the kiss to look up. The sky shimmered with rainbow colors and one rainbow suddenly created itself overhead. Rainbow Dash’s sonic rainboom had colored the night. Gallus then slipped the ring around her necklace that bore her pearl fragment, and it instantly sized to fit. Just when the boom faded, there were cheers from around them. Silverstream looked around to see Smolder, Ocellus, Yona, and Sandbar coming out from behind some trees, cheering for them. Silverstream ran up to hug them, crying happily. “I can’t believe you’re all here!” She sobbed. “Wouldn’t miss it.” Sandbar said. “Yak friends be together forever! Yaks know best!” Yona said. “Way to go, you two.” Said Smolder. “I hope you’ll be happy together!” Ocellus commented. “We will! Oh, I just wish my family were here!” Silverstream said. “They are.” Said Gallus. Silverstream turned to look at him. “What?” Gallus, in reply, pointed to the lake. Up popped the heads of Sky Beak, Ocean Flow, Terramar, Princess Skystar and Queen Novo. Silverstream screamed as they all transformed into hippogriffs, and went to hug her. “We’re so proud of you, Silverstream.” Said Sky Beak. “You picked a good one, sweetie.” Ocean Flow told her daughter. “Congratulations, sis.” Terramar grinned. “Way to go, Cuz!” Said Skystar. “My best wishes to you, Silverstream.” Queen Novo smiled at her niece. All of her friends and family surrounded her in one group hug, and she couldn’t stop smiling. When the hug broke apart, she pounced on Gallus and kissed him. This was the greatest day of her life.