//------------------------------// // Tender Moments and Information Gathering // Story: Descendants of the Isle // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Sandbar stood at one end of the Blitzball field, watching as Gallus took his place a yard or so away. Sandbar held a stopwatch in one hoof and a clipboard was on a table next to him. “Okay Gallus, we’re gonna do some sprints, you ready?” he called “Sure…” Gallus called back uncertainly, then suddenly took off running. “Ah! No! Wait!” “Sweet!” Sandbar called, "You're a natur-huh?" Gallus ran right past him, a small orange tabby kitten with black streaks to its fur was running after him, meowing and seeming under the impression they were playing a game. “Huh? Gallus? Gallus!” Sandbar chased after the griffon and kitten. “Ahh! No! G-get away!” Gallus screamed back at the tiny animal. Gallus ran into the woods, tearing through the undergrowth and screaming madly. He saw a tree with plenty of clawholds and scrambled up, clinging onto the trunk with his claws and gazing in horror at the little animal. The kitten mewed and pawed at the base of the tree, gazing up at the griffon with curious eyes. “Gallus?” Sandbar trotted over. "There you are!" he said when he found him, eyes laughing slightly as he saw where the griffon was. “Sandbar! Sandbar, help!” Gallus shrieked. “Help? With what?” Sandbar asked “That thing is a killer!” Gallus pointed a claw at the kitten. “H-He’s gonna chase me down and claw out my heart! It’s a vicious, rabid monster!” “Woah, woah, woah. Who told you that?” Sandbar asked “My grandfather, who else?!” “Gruff?” Sandbar seemed to come to a realization. “Yeah, he’s a cat expert, a feline whisperer.” Gallus said. Sandbar laughed softly and lifted up the kitten. “Why are you holding him, Sandbar?! He’s gonna attack you!” “Gallus... you’ve never actually met a cat, have you?” “No, of course not.” Gallus said Sandbar smiled softly. “Monarch, meet Gallus. Gallus, this is Monarch. He’s the campus kitten, a stray that the students began feeding and eventually brought in. No one’s taken him to a permanent home, so we've been keeping him here.” “H-He doesn’t look like a vicious, rabid monster…” Gallus lowered himself down the tree, and Sandbar readjusted his grip on the kitten to help him down. “Here, why don’t you hold him?” Sandbar suggested, setting Monarch down in Gallus’ foreleg, and the kitten nuzzled up to him. Gallus giggled at the sensation of the small creature cuddling against him. “Oh... he’s a cute little guy, isn’t he?" Gallus murmured, and Monarch mewed. He chuckled "Yes you are, yes you are.” Gallus crooned, petting him. “...You must have it pretty rough on the island, huh?” Sandbar asked softly. “Let’s just say we don’t get a lot of back scratches.” Gallus chuckled, and Sandbar smiled, reaching and ruffling his head feathers. “Good boy.” Sandbar said then blushed. “I-I mean you’re a good runner, you’re really fast…” “Oh... thanks.” Gallus blushed as well, then began scratching Monarch behind the ears. “No problem.” Sandbar stroked a hoof along Monarch’s back, then straightened up. “I’m gonna give you two some space, okay? You two get acquainted, and come find me when you’re done. You know the way back, right?” “Yeah. Thanks Sandbar.” Gallus said, and they smiled at each other, blushing, before Sandbar headed away, leaving Gallus alone with the little kitten. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luna stood under the bleachers, blushing as she watched Blueblood gaze into her eyes. “Is everyone back at the Isle as pretty as you?” he asked “Well, I like to think I overshadow them all…” Luna said, twirling her mane. “So... how many rooms are in your castle?” “Oh, too many to count.” Blueblood replied dismissively. “You know, you really nailed that chemistry problem today, you’re gonna have all the nerds after you.” “I’m not that smart…” Luna blushed “Of course you are.” “No, really, I’m not. But I’m really good at sewing, cooking, and cleaning. See this?” Luna pulled out the crystal and showed it to him. “It’s an enchanted moon crystal, if I ask it where something is, it tells me.” “You’re serious?” Blueblood asked, and Luna nodded. He took the crystal in his magic and held it up to his mouth. “Where’s my phone?” he asked, then shook it when it didn’t react, making Luna giggle. “It won’t work for you silly, only for someone of the Moon family.” “Oh... it’s not a problem. My grandmother will probably just buy me a new one.” Blueblood shrugged, passing it back. “Your grandmother... Platinum…” “Yeah.” “Princess…” Luna then snapped out of her daze remembering the story. “Rising Dawn. Hey, I heard her crown is in some museum. Do they always leave it there?” “I’d really like to talk, but I’m swamped…” Blueblood threw his head back dramatically, then seemed to think of something, brightening. “Unless...” “What?” Luna asked eagerly. “Well, if you could knock out my homework along with yours…” Blueblood levitated a tan colored saddlebag to her, and she held out her foreleg to take it. “I could maybe find some time for us to get together, hang out…” “Okay…” Luna said, lost in his eyes, and he grinned. “Thanks babe.” he then trotted off. Luna sighed blissfully and lifted the bag onto her own back, easily supporting the weight of both his bag and her own with her natural earth pony strength. Suddenly, Snowdrop flew up to her from the top of the bleachers. “I couldn’t help but overhear…” Snowdrop began “Are you stalking me?” Luna asked “I... well, they did ask me to help out you and your friends... but technically... yes.” Snowdrop blushed. “The point is, I also have a fascination with Rising Dawn’s crown and the rumored magical power it contains. Another reason I’m looking forward to the coronation. Maybe we could sit next to each other and discuss its attributes?” “...They use it in the coronation?” “Well, of course they do. It’s the ceremonial crown they use to represent how the new ruler will agree to protect Equus and it’s citizens-” “You’re saying they use it in the ceremony and then it goes back into storage?” “Yes. I’m also... uh... asking you out…” Snowdrop blushed Luna sighed and looked away. “I’m sorry... mother says fillyfoolers go to Tartarus.” “Oh…” Snowdrop sighed “So... could we just be friends then?” The question shook Luna from her thoughts. “Huh? I... um... sure, I have to go.” Luna ran off.