Right after Gabby was finished with her mail rounds, I went with her back to Griffinstone. Gabby knew how nervous I was.
"You do know he's not going to be any happier even after you admit the truth to him, right?" Gabby asked.
"Yeah, I know." I said. "Grandpa Gruff is the oldest griffin in Griffinstone, and he's lived a whole life of grouchiness, so I expect alot of verbal abuse."
"Yeah," Gabby agreed. "but this is a very brave thing you're doing."
"Grandpa Gruff never wanted to tell me he was proud of me. He said it himself yesterday." I said. "But that was when he actually implied it. He really IS proud of me - he's just too bitter to admit it."
"Bitter on the outside and sweet on the inside." Gabby said.
"A bittersweet old bird." I said.
So Gabby and I stopped landed in front of Grandpa Gruff's house, and I knocked on the door. Shortly thereafter, he opened the door and started choking. After the choking he asked, "What do you want now, boy? Another silly forum to sign?"
"No." I said. "I'm here for-"
"If you want me to apologize for what happened at the school, you wasted your time coming here! I AIN'T APOLOGIZING!" Gruff yelled.
"That's NOT what I'm here for!" I yelled.
"Well spit it out, boy! What do you want?" Gruff asked.
"I'm just here to say.... thank you, Grandpa Gruff." I smiled.
Just then, he slammed the door on my face.
"Well that went... better than I expected." Gabby chuckled in awkwardness.
"Grandpa Gruff, please listen!" I yelled out as I started walking around the house, looking for an open window. "I know the truth, and I've been pretty ungrateful for all that you've done for me. I never had a family, but you took me in when no other griffin would." When I looked through a window to see if I can see him, he closed the blinds. "You raised me as your own, you gave me food and shelter, and any other griffin would've just left me out here alone. I just want to let you know that! Please, Grandpa Gruff!" I sat down by the front door, waiting for a response, but I got nothing.
"It's okay, Gallus." Gabby comforted me.
"I know it is." I said. "I just... I just thought that maybe... you know... I could've helped him out of his shell. Maybe I could've seen the true side of him. I just..... I just want him to know that I'm grateful for him. He doesn't have to say it in return."
So I got up, and I was just about to fly away when suddenly, the door creaked open. "Get over here, boy." Gruff said from the crack. I slowly walked over back towards the door. "Get inside." He ordered me. He opened the door for us, and we both headed in. "Shut the door behind you." Gabby did that. We all then sat down, and Gruff gave us some tea.
"Why the change of heart?" I asked.
"Shut your mouth, boy." Gruff ordered me. "I'm only going to say this once. When I was your age, I had no griffin either. No guardian, no family. I had to rely on myself. It was survival of the fittest here in Griffinstone, and it's still that way today in case you were too clueless to notice. I found you out there as a hatchling, all alone. I had empathy for you, so I took you in despite not wanting to. SoI have a conscience, bit whoop! So I took you in and toughened you up to make life a little easier for you. Not that I was getting any reward for it. Are you going to pay me for all that I did for you, huh boy?"
"I know, and I'll always be grateful about it." I said. "But I just wish you were more compassionate, and showed more love and kindness towards me, like a parent would."
"Oooooh now you're saying what I did wasn't enough, huh?" Gruff complained. "Give me that sob story about you being 'grateful' to me, and yet you still criticize me! Nothing's too good for you, huh Gallus?"
Just then, I ran up to Gruff and gave him a hug. "Oh..." he said uncomfortably. "Alright, that's what you wanna do, huh? Alright.... alright, that's enough." I didn't want to overstay my welcome so I let go.
"I know you're proud of me, Grandpa Gruff." I said. "I know you want what's best for me. But you don't have to bitter like the rest of the griffins. Come with me back to Equestria! You don't need this. Come to Twilight's school, and you can finally be the very griffin you deserve to be. You don't have to hide your kindness. I'll make sure you're welcomed with open hooves, claws, wings, whatever. What do you say?" I held my claw out, hoping for him to take it.
Grandpa Gruff just slapped my claw away and said, "Get outta here. When you left for the School, I was happier than I ever been because I finally had a weight off my back. I don't want you here, Gallus, and when you get old enough, I want you to NEVER return. Don't ever come back to this dump, and don't ever see me again, you understand, boy? Go back to where you belong. Now get outta here! SCRAM! Both of you!"
I respected Grandpa Gruff's wishes. He just turned and faced his fireplace, with his back looking at me. Gabby and I walked out and closed the door behind us.
"I'm sorry, Gallus." Gabby said.
"I'm not." I said and smiled. "Grandpa Gruff loves me."
"But he said when you get older, he doesn't want you to come back." Gabby reminded me.
"I know." I nodded. "He said that because he knows I deserve better. WE deserve better. If only he can one day see that he deserves better too."
So Gabby returned to her home nearby, and I returned back home to Equestria, for the first time feeling more at peace than I ever been.