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// To Speak or Not to Speak 
// Story: Silly Stories of the Student Six 
// by Level Dasher 
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“Attention, students. Please report to the lecture hall for a short assembly. I regret to inform you that your next classes have been cancelled.”

Silverstream pouted as she and her five compatriots changed their direction. “Awww, we have to miss Professor Pinkie’s class? I wanted to make macaroons!”

“Fine with me,” Smolder said with a shrug. “I don’t mind not burning anything.”

Gallus cocked a brow at her. “You could try actually using the oven.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

The six of them approached the main entrance to the lecture hall. After entering behind another group of students, they all looked around. “Where should we sit?” Ocellus asked. 

“Ooh! Ooh! Let’s go to the back!” Silverstream said with glee.

“Yona want sit in front,” Yona responded. “No stairs.”

“But that’s the best part! C’mon!” Silverstream then dropped to the ground and began prancing up the stairs to the top of the lecture hall wearing a big grin. Yona groaned and followed her, slowly hopping from step to step.

Gallus rolled his eyes as he followed Sandbar up to the back of the hall behind the grumbling yak. “I don’t get why she’s still so crazy over stairs. They’re… well, they’re stairs.”

“She grew up without them,” Sandbar said, glancing back at him. “Wouldn’t you be excited seeing something you’d only ever heard of your whole life?”

“I mean, sure, but not for five months. When Professor Pinkie came to Griffonstone and introduced her scones they were awesome, but I got over it in a few days.”

“Hey, everyone’s different.” Sandbar looked up the stairs again, then after a minute looked back at Gallus and smirked. “Besides, I don’t hear you complaining about the view.”

Gallus cocked a brow. “What are you talking about?”

Sandbar kept climbing as he stepped to the side of the stairway, and despite the yak behind her, Gallus got the perfect view of Silverstream’s rear end.

“W-wha—!” Gallus stumbled on the stairs, causing Ocellus to bump into him. “Geez, ‘Cel, sorry about that.”

“It’s okay,” she giggled. “Just try not to drag on.”

“Har har,” Smolder scoffed.

Silverstream reached the top row of seats, then filed in towards the center. Her friends followed behind her, and she beamed with joy when she finally sat down.

As Smolder plopped down into the aisle seat, Sandbar elbowed Gallus in the side. “C’mooooon, you can’t tell me you haven’t taken a peek before,” he whispered.

“N-no!” Gallus quickly replied, keeping his voice low. 

“My empathy says otherwise,” Ocellus giggled. Miming taking a drink of water, she added, “That was spicy.”

When Gallus turned and glared at the changeling, Smolder smirked and added, “And that sunburn on your cheeks is a dead giveaway.”

With a scowl, Gallus crossed his arms and shifted his eyes side to side without moving his head, looking at his classmates. “…Fine, maybe once or twice,” he grumbled under his breath. “You all keep your beaks shut.”

Sandbar, Ocellus, and Smolder all swiped hooves and a claw, respectively, across their mouths.

“Why haven’t you said anything?” Ocellus asked.

Gallus shrugged. “I’unno. She’s all bubbly like, twenty-four seven, and I’m just kinda… not. Wouldn’t work. Besides, she’s half fish. You know I’m claustrophobic; being down underwater isn’t much different for me. I’d rather stay in the air.”

“But dude, she’s a catch. Gotta say something. Don’t even prepare anything, just wing it.”