//------------------------------// // Interlude: When They Return // Story: Coming Out // by Melody Song //------------------------------// A group of four creatures sat in Smolder and Ocellus' bedroom. Gallus was cuddling with Sandbar, holding in his claw a plushie of the earth pony. Sandbar was nuzzling Gallus while holding a plushie of the griffon. Smolder and Ocellus were nearby. Smolder was carefully sewing two pieces of fabric together while Ocellus read a book. They were enjoying some quiet time together while they waited for their other two friends to return from the holiday break. Gallus broke the silence first. "So... how was meeting Smolder's parents? I know you mentioned what Cellus' family and leader was like but what about Smolder?" Ocellus looked up from her book with a smile. "Oh, Smolder's parents, Garnet and Fume, are really nice. They agreed that as long as we were happy, it didn't matter." Smolder nodded, jumping off the bed and holding out the fabric to examine it. "Garble came out to them too. They were really accepting, which is something. I think mom might have to convince dad a bit though." "Heh, can't believe you like sewing." Gallus chuckled "Yeah yeah, laugh it up. You're lucky Celly talked me into telling you and Sand." Smolder grumbled, shoving the fabric into her closet and closing it. "He means," Sandbar cut in, "It's really cool that you're doing what you love despite it not being...the first thing someone would expect from a dragon." Smolder sighed. "Thanks. So, what about you guys? How was Hearth's Warming at Sand's place?" "It was fun." Gallus smiled "Sandy's parents are awesome, they let me and Sandy share his bedroom." "Well, they did make us promise that we wouldn't do anything..." Sandbar said, blushing, and he cuddled the plushie griffon closer. "Still, they were really cool about it. And we got these from Sandy's mom for Hearth's Warming..." Gallus gestured to the plushie of Sandbar, blushing as well. "They're so cute." Ocellus said, smiling at the plushies. "Heh, yeah. My mom owns this little knick-knack shop out by our vacation home in Horseshoe Bay. She was thinking of collaborating with a company in Manehattan that makes plushies, and decided to test out their products by giving us these." Sandbar explained "Well, she definitely should sell those...is Horseshoe Bay close by?" Ocellus asked Sandbar laughed "Well, she's going to open up a sister location in Ponyville." "You live in Ponyville." Smolder said, plopping down on the floor in front of them. "Why is her original store in Horseshoe Bay instead of here?" "We actually used to live in Horseshoe Bay, we moved to Ponyville when they found out I was accepted to Friendship School." Sandbar explained "Now our place in Horseshoe Bay is our vacation home instead." "They moved just for Friendship School?" Gallus asked, looking over at Sandbar, who chuckled sheepishly. "They'd been considering the move for a while. Honestly...I was a little against it. My dad's a marine biologist and I always wanted to follow in his hoofsteps. Horseshoe Bay was the perfect place to study sea life...but then we moved here, since my dad hardly ever went out in the field anymore...too bad for me, I always liked going out with him on the rare occasions he did. It was fun, being out in the sun and sand..." Sandbar sighed and snuggled against Gallus, who draped a wing over him. "Sorry Sandy..." Gallus nuzzled his neck. "I know how happy you always get when we go to the lake. Can't for the life of me understand why, but you always seem happier." "It's okay Gally." Sandbar nuzzled back. "I mean, I don't regret us moving here, at all. I'll just have to work harder to become a good marine biologist when I'm older." "Moving on..." Smolder reached and snatched the Sandbar plushie from Gallus. "Hey!" Gallus squawked "It'll only take a sec." Smolder said, turning the plushie over in her claws and squeezing it a few times. "Hm... Sand, I don't think your mom should use the plushies from this company." "Huh? Why?" Sandbar asked "Agreed, why not? It's adorable." Ocellus jumped down from the bed and curled up beside Smolder, reaching and poking the plushie. "Sure, it looks cute, and it is pretty soft..." Smolder squeezed it again "But anyone can tell just by looking at the stitching that it was machine-stitched. Not only does that give it less of a personal touch but it also means the stitching is probably only going to hold for about a year, two tops. It's not as durable and they clearly haven't applied any spells to waterproof and stainproof the thing." Gallus blinked. "Okay, wow. I take back what I said about you sewing. That's awesome." Smolder blushed and tossed it back to Gallus. "I mean, I'm no expert or anything..." "You should talk to Professor Rarity, I'm sure she'd be happy to help and I'm sure she can keep a secret." Sandbar told her "I guess... she's going to find out I'm sneaking fabric and supplies from her at some point..." "Smolder!" Ocellus glared at her "What? I leave bits behind!" "Still, you should apologize for that." "Alright, alright. I'll talk with her, maybe she can give me some private lessons." Smolder looked over at Sandbar and Gallus. "Anyway, those plushies look nice now but like I said, I don't think they'll last very long." "Oh, that's too bad..." Sandbar cuddled the plushie of Gallus. "Well, at least I've got the real thing." he pecked Gallus on the cheek. "Hehe, Sandy..." "Sandbar." Smolder got his attention again. "I'd suggest to your mom to try the companies in places like the Crystal Empire or Baltimare. Lot more family businesses there, they'd hoof-make their products." "Alright, I'll let her know. Thanks Smolder." Sandbar said, smiling. "Heh, no problem..." Smolder replied sheepishly, and Ocellus nuzzled against her. "I like your unexpected talent Smoldie." Ocellus said, kissing her cheek, and Smolder giggled. "Heh, thanks." Smolder pulled Ocellus into her lap. "I think I'll make you a dress next." "R-Really?" Ocellus nuzzled against her. "Yeah. I think you'll look good in an off-the-shoulder... and I bet coral and white would really go well with your chitin." "Heh, you're really into this stuff." Gallus chuckled, and Smolder blushed. "I mean... I've just... I've studied a bit... and there's this book..." Smolder stood and set Ocellus down, walking to the bookshelf and pulling out a graphic novel. "The Duke and the Tailor. It's about a colt who's going to become the duke of his kingdom, and he hires a tailor because she's really creative. He asks her to make him dresses, because he really likes wearing them." "So...?" "Well, it's got a lot of great designs..." Smolder opened the book to a page and let out a soft sigh. "I'd love to try designing these... or just wearing them... Celly was the best to give me this." Ocellus giggled. "She kept borrowing the copy from the library, and it was getting hard for her to do it without arousing suspicion. So I got her her very own copy for Hearth's Warming." "Heh, I take it she liked it?" Sandbar asked "Tackled me to the ground while repeating 'thank you' and 'I love you' again and again while nuzzling me." Ocellus explained, blushing. "I'm, um, glad that we were only with Thorax, Pharynx, and my family." "Why were they there?" Gallus asked "Thorax invited me and my family to spend Hearth's Warming with him and Pharynx. I've spent Hearth's Warmings with them before, and after we told him about us, he invited my family to join us." "That was nice of him." Sandbar smiled "He seems like a really laid-back leader." "He is..." Ocellus smiled "Anyway... to get back on topic..." Gallus reached under Smolder's bed and drew out the list they'd made months previously. "Who's next?" "Well, according to the list it should be the teachers." Sandbar pointed out "Ugh...do we have to do them now? Can't we pro...procrasti-" "Procrastinate?" Ocellus provided "Yeah, that was it." Gallus said "Can't we procrasti...crasti...whatever. Can't we do that?" "We have to anyway..." Smolder sighed "We never got to tell Ember, she wasn't back before we left." "True... wait." Ocellus sat up. "Family Day. It's coming up, and all the leaders will be there. We can just get her away from the others and tell her then!" Smolder looked down at Ocellus, grinning. "Baby, you're a genius!" They leaned closer to each other and kissed. "Heh, aww." Sandbar said, nuzzling closer to Gallus. Smolder and Ocellus broke apart, then turned back to them, breathless. "Heh, sorry.." Ocellus blushed, then cleared her throat and looked down at the list. "So, after we tell Ember, there's the professors... do you think we should tackle them one at a time or all at once?" "We can work that out after Family Day." Smolder replied, grabbing the list and shoving it back into it's hiding place. "I just want to enjoy the rest of the day." "Fair enough..." Ocellus looked down at the plushies Gallus and Sandbar still held, then up at Smolder. "You know, who needs a plushie? I have you." "Heh, yeah." Sandbar sat up and kissed Gallus' cheek. "You're my big cuddle-griffon." "S-Sandy!" Gallus protested, blushing, as Smolder and Ocellus giggled. "Aww, come on..." Sandbar nuzzled him. "It's sweet." "Yeah, I call Celly my queen." Smolder added "Well that's not so bad..." Gallus mumbled "Cuddle-griffon is cute." Ocellus remarked "Sh-Shut up!" The rest of the group dissolved into laughter, Gallus eventually joining them. They ended up cuddling their partners, smiling and talking for the rest of the day.