//------------------------------//
// Episode 9: "The Luna Call" 
// Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 13 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
//------------------------------//

…

…

Ever since she had helped him get over his family's downfall, Gallus had developed a strong newfound respect for the princess turned professor Luna. One day, he sat in Celestia's class looking down at a picture he'd drawn of Luna, thinking of how he might show his appreciation for her.

"Communication," Celestia explained while directing the class to look at the word on the board using a pointer, the sound causing Gallus to take his focus off of the drawing. "Why is it essential for friendship?" No one answered.

"Because, my faithful students," Celestia continued. "Communication keeps friendships stronger and ensures they stay healthy for many years to come. That's why I have an assignment for you all this weekend."

Some of the students groaned upon hearing this. "But not in the way you think," Celestia laughed, causing the groaning to stop. "You are to come up with your own communication skills and present them to the class on Monday. It can be any kind of communication that you so desire as long as it fits with school standards."

To Gallus, this assignment was a gold mine. Immediately, he began to think of ways to get Luna to notice him. "Um, Professor Celestia?" He asked while raising his claw.

"Yes, Gallus?" Celestia inquired, suspecting nothing.

"Can we…I don't know…practice our communication skill in front of anycreature?" Gallus asked in a sheepish tone.

"Of course you can, Gallus," Celestia remarked with a small smile on his face. "In fact, I highly encourage it to all of you. Practice makes perfect after all."

Delighted to hear this, Gallus took his professor's suggestion in stride as the bell rang. "Remember students, it must be within school standards! Nothing inappropriate or naughty!" Celestia reminded as the students left the classroom.

Gallus barely heard it as he caught up with Silverstream. "Hey Silverstream," He greeted while fidgeting with his claws. "I've…I've got an idea on how to practice my communication skills."

The young hippogriff was surprised to hear this from her boyfriend. "Already?" She wondered while looking over at Gallus with a puzzled expression on her face. "What do you have in mind?"

Gallus grinned and puffed out his chest. "Well, it's like this…"

But Silverstream interrupted. "Why don't you demonstrate it after school today? I can't wait to hear it, though! I hope it's based on that whale song I've been trying to teach you."

Sighing deeply, Gallus had to wait another several hours before he could relay his plans to his friends. And his respect and admiration for Luna grew with each passing hour, further fueling his crazy idea for appreciation.

…

…

Sure enough, once the school day had ended, Gallus joined his friends at the Treehouse of Harmony, determined to show off his new call. "Boy, everyone's gonna get a kick out of this!" He chuckled to himself as he flew towards the treehouse and landed on the front steps. Making his way inside, he saw Sandbar in the doorway with Ocellus. "Hey guys, got something for you!"

"What is it?" Ocellus asked. "Is this about that communication exercise Professor Celestia wants us to come up with?"

"Even better!" Gallus excitedly answered. "You guys are gonna like this."

Taking a deep breath, Gallus prepared to make his call only to have Sandbar stop him.

"Uh, why not save it for the others when they get here?" The earthpony colt suggested. "They should be here any minute."

Sighing deeply, Gallus had no choice but to accept Sandbar's suggestion. "If you say so. But uh, while you guys are here…can I ask you something?"

Ocellus questioned. "About what?"

"About…well," Gallus paused, looking around to see if anyone else was listening in. "You guys know about the great respect I have for Professor Luna, right?"

"You mean ever since she made you make amends with your dad?" Sandbar guessed. "That respect sure hasn't gone away. What about her?"

"Well, this new call that Professor Celestia wants us to make," Gallus explained. "I have an idea that will not only impress Professor Celestia, but also Professor Luna."

But Ocellus wasn't convinced. "Are you sure about that, Gallus?" She asked as they made their way up the stairs. "You should also know that Professor Luna doesn't like to be bothered by any distractions, especially with the war against Grogar."

"This isn't a distraction, Ocellus," Gallus said. "It's a two for one deal. I do the homework that Professor Celestia assigned me to do and I show my appreciation for Professor Luna with no one being any the wiser. Easy peasy, isn't it?"

Making their way into the workroom, Gallus placed his school bag down on the desk just as Silverstream arrived along with Yona, Smolder and Luster Dawn.

"Hey Gallus, sorry we're late," Silverstream explained. "Had to make some pit stops."

"Yona drank a lot of water today." Yona replied in a slightly embarrassed voice.

"Right…" Gallus blinked. "Well, anyways, I just wanted to share with you all my communication assignment."

"Already?" Luster Dawn asked. "That was fast."

"Can't we wait for Cherry Tomato to get here?" Smolder suggested, much to Gallus' growing annoyance. "He had to…"

"Fine, fine, whatever," Gallus sighed in annoyance. "I don't like to be kept waiting, that's all. This is so important to me!"

Fortunately, at that moment, Cherry Tomato arrived.

"Okay, now if everycreature is all present and accounted for…?" Gallus said, taking yet another deep breath and cried out in a loud natural voice. "Luna!"

"Um, that makes you sound like you are screaming at her," Ocellus suggested, causing Gallus to give her a dirty look. "Just saying."

Taking another deep breath, Gallus made another call. "Lu...hoo…hoo…na!" The call made the others feel somewhat awkward, but Galus insisted on repeating it twice.

"Um, I don't get the point of that call," Silverstream blinked. "It sounds like you're doing a bird call. Or is that the point?"

"What's the difference?" Gallus remarked while looking back at Silverstream. "You're a bird…somewhat."

"So are you, half lion and half eagle or half panther and half hawk or something like that." Silverstream blinked in confusion.

"Only Gustav Le Grande is a mixture between a panther and a hawk…or a falcon," Cherry Tomato pointed out. "I think."

"Who asked you?" Gallus asked the Mustangia native before clearing his throat. "Look guys, the fact is that Professor Luna has already made a huge impact on my life, and I want to show my appreciation for her. But I don't want it to be too obvious. If I say it's for the communication exercise, no creature's gonna bat an eye."

But the others didn't see it Gallus' way. "Isn't Professor Luna already making an impact on you, Gallus?" Luster Dawn asked.

"Well, you're just saying that because she helped you and Quiet Play come to an understanding, right?" Gallus pointed out. "It would be not unlike if you wanted to show your appreciation to Princess Twilight or to Headmare Starlight for letting you come here."

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, Luster Dawn backed away.

"Well, as long as Professor Luna feels comfortable. Just try not to overdo it. You know, so you don't lose your voice or damage your vocal chords." Ocellus suggested and Gallus felt his creativity flow once more.

…

…

The next morning, Gallus awoke bright and early with his cousin, Icarus and proceeded to the front door of the Castle of Friendship. "Professor Luna is going to love this," Gallus laughed quietly to his cousin. "Imagine…a call made by me in her honor!"

Icarus eagerly encouraged. "Go for it, cuz!"

Stepping forward, Gallus took a deep breath and cried out in a loud voice. "Lu…hoo…hoo…na!"

A few moments later, the door flung open and Luna angrily stepped down the stairs towards the two griffons. "You are not calling a duck!" She thundered with her wings spread open in frustration. "What's the meaning of this, Gallus?"

"Oh... just something that I am practicing for Professor Celestia's class," Gallus replied. "In your honor, of course."

But Luna wasn't convinced. "Is this about your assignment that my sister gave you?" Luna inquired, her right foreleg tapping. "The one about communication?"

"Well, yeah…" Gallus noticed his professor's temper start to rage and right then and there, he felt like escaping. Before he could do so, however, Luna pulled him and his cousin into her aura.

"Indeed…then I suggest perhaps you try a different call that you can do at a normal voice, young griffon," Luna scolded. "Ideally, something that doesn't involve waking me up early in the morning when I'm not in a good mood. Do I make myself clear?!"

Feeling that his plan backfired as evidenced by his professor's annoyed tone, Gallus quickly left the scene with Icarus in tow (once they'd been released from Luna's magical hold).

Once they were gone, Luna rolled her eyes and went back into the castle.

"Luna, what was all that about?" Celestia asked her younger sister.

"A couple of duck callers," Luna muttered much to Celestia's slight concern. "Two students of yours."

Once the calling was over, Luna begrudgingly sat down at the breakfast table thinking of the precious moments of the morning she had lost because of Gallus' calling.

"Um, Luna?" Twilight asked as she walked into the dining room. "I heard some strange calls this morning. Is somepony playing a trick on you?"

"Who, Discord?" Luna asked sarcastically, much to Twilight's surprise. "Oh sure, he's probably just standing right outside the door and…?"

"Uh-huh…" Twilight muttered, taking a sip of orange juice while raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure it was Discord? Because it looked like Gallus and his cousin Icarus to me."

"Of course it was Gallus and Icarus," Luna grunted to her little sister figure with a slight snarl. "I'm all for creatures great and small showing their appreciation towards me, but there are limits… What Gallus and his cousin are doing is too much!"

Begrudgingly, Luna drank her cup of coffee as Celestia and Spike made their way into the dining room.

"It seems to me like my lesson about communication must have gotten to Gallus' head," Celestia remarked only for Luna to glare at her older sister. "Certainly not what I had in mind, honest."

Immediately, Twilight tried to change the tone of the conversation. "With all due respect, Luna, you have made a huge impact in Gallus' life. More so than any other of my former students, or Luster Dawn and her friends for that matter."

Luna groaned. "Yes, but that is no excuse for disturbing what sleep I can get. I'm a pony with personal boundaries that are not meant to be crossed. Everypony and everycreature knows that, right, Celestia?"

Seeing her sister's irritation, Celestia felt like she had gone too far with her class's homework assignment. "Well…uh…yes, yes I understand, Luna. If you'd like, I can pass word along to Gallus advising him to do something else. And if he insists on doing it anyway I can give him a zero for the project."

Just then, Starlight and Trixie entered the dining hall having heard everything. "Is this about the duck calls?" Trixie wondered. "Because Trixie thinks that…"

"A student was going beyond and above when they were really annoying me?" Luna sneered as she took another sip of her coffee. "Yes, those were the ones."

…

Meanwhile, Gallus and Icarus flew all the way to the center of Ponyville and took shelter in the back of Sugarcube Corner.

"That…wasn't what I expected, cousin." Gallus gasped while trying to catch his breath.

"Yeah. I totally agree, cousin. Is this really how she repays your show of appreciation? It was an honest mistake." Icarus panted as the door opened to reveal Pinkie Pie bringing out garbage.

"Oh hey guys, what's up?" Pinkie asked, seemingly hearing what was being said as she bounced right past them. "Hiding?"

"Yeah," Gallus remarked as Pinkie placed the trash in the dumpster. "From Professor Luna."

Pinkie Pie blinked. "Now why do you want to hide from Luna? She's not a princess anymore, she can't banish you just for getting on her nerves. The worst she can do as a professor is give you both detention… I think."

"Right…" The two griffons stared at each other at the awkward response that they'd just gotten from the princess of laughter.

"Is it because of some assignment on communication?" Pinkie then questioned.

"How did you know that?" Gallus wondered, placing his claws on his side as he flew up to Pinkie's level.

"Celestia told me yesterday," Pinkie explained. "Communication is a big part of friendship, you know. Take it from me and the other princesses, we have our moments."

"But how can we…?" Gallus started to ask.

"Now, if I told you, how else will you learn about friendship?" Pinkie laughed. "Good luck on your assignment! And if I were you, I'd work on that bird calling at Fluttershy's sanctuary or somewhere else where Luna's not gonna be around to hear it. Maybe you'll even learn something from studying actual bird calls." And then, humming, she went back inside.

"Well, a lot of good Princess Pinkie's advice does us after Professor Luna already yelled at us!" Icarus huffed. "What now?"

"I've seen this before," Gallus declared, getting himself an idea. "Maybe we need to rethink our decision and do another approach that's much better. It sounds like this incident I heard about with Princess Pinkie Pie and something called a yovidaphone, whatever that is."

"Um, I hate to break it to you, Gallus," Icarus remarked as he nervously took to the air. "But I think you should handle this part on your own. It was your idea after all."

"Hey, where are you going?!" Gallus called out as he saw his cousin flee.

"Back to the school before I get into any more trouble," Icarus declared. "See ya!"

Watching his cousin fly away fast, Gallus flew off to think more about his actions. Why did it seem like whenever he wanted to do something to show the ponies how much they meant to him, it always backfired?

…

Back in the Castle of Friendship's dining room, Luna continued to grumble over Gallus and Icarus' actions.

"Now Luna," Starlight nervously suggested. "I'm sure that Gallus didn't mean you any harm. You know he really admires you after all you've done for him. He's made no secret of it in private."

"Yes, Starlight Glimmer," Luna nodded in reply. "I'm well aware of that fact. But who can ever claim that there is a pony who has a poster of me on his wall in his dormitory and a few other places?"

"A poster of you in his dormitory?" Starlight blinked in surprise and concern. "I don't necessarily see anything wrong with that unless…maybe he doesn't understand personal boundaries like some of the other students."

"Yeah, Trixie believes that is the case," The magician turned counselor replied. "After all, I have two ponies who used to like following me around all the time. I appreciated all that they'd do for me, but even Trixie gets uncomfortable sometimes." And as she spoke she felt a chill run down her spine.

"When did this all start, Luna?" Celestia inquired.

"Right after I took Gallus to visit his parents' grave in Griffonstone," Luna calmly answered. "There have been times since then where I've overheard Gallus singing my praises and says that there will never be another professor like me. I may be an alicorn and a former princess, but I know when enough is enough. And it's only been growing stronger in recent weeks."

"Haven't you ever spoken to him about it?" Celestia asked again.

"I tried to, Celestia," Luna unhappily sighed. "But the more I try to put my hoof down, the more I worry about upsetting him in the way that he might misunderstand me. Just this morning, because I was so sleep deprived I almost slipped into my Royal Canterlot voice in front of him."

"Well, if you ask me I'd say that now is as good a time as any to get him to understand," Spike suggested. "You might as well find Gallus, wherever he is."

Taking another sip of coffee, Luna felt that she needed to say her peace with Gallus. Tapping into her alicorn powers, she sensed where Gallus was going and began to focus on finding him there. "I think I know where he is going," She declared. "Please excuse me. This is a discussion that's been a long time coming." Then, rising from the table, Luna departed the dining hall leaving Celestia and the others alone.

"I hope she doesn't do anything rash," Spike said to Twilight. "Maybe somepony should follow her."

"I'll go," Celestia volunteered. "If anything, I'm partially to blame for this situation by encouraging Gallus to practice his calls." And with those words, she departed from the dining room to follow her sister.

…

…

Returning to the Treehouse of Friendship, Gallus continued to come to terms with his failed attempt to do both a homework assignment and show appreciation for his biggest idol. "Okay, maybe the call was too much," Gallus said as he paced around his room in the treehouse. "What do you think, Archie?"

The green cockatrice shrugged his shoulders when he couldn't come up with an answer to his master's question.

"Of course not, you are not the one with a problem. I am," Gallus replied. Then, taking his attention off of the cockatrice, Gallus resumed his pacing. "It's just that…Professor Luna has done so much for me since she retired from being a princess," He then proceeded towards a statue of Luna on a bookshelf that was entirely dedicated to Luna with books, pictures, drawings, you name it. "I just wish I could show her how I feel about what she's done for me."

Just then, Gallus heard a knock at the door and proceeded downstairs. "Who's there?" He asked.

"Open up, Gallus. We need to talk," Luna answered and taking a deep breath, Gallus opened the door. This made Gallus gulp nervously and step back in slight fear. "So here you are."

"P-Professor Luna…" Gallus stammered. "About what happened this morning…"

"-I haven't forgotten it, Gallus," Luna interrupted as she stepped into the treehouse. "But I don't think you understand that your actions can be bothersome to me," Then she requested. "Please show me where your room is, if you wouldn't mind."

"Yes, Professor Luna," Gallus gulped as he led Luna up to his workroom. Stepping inside, Luna was immediately taken aback by the small shrine Gallus had made in her honor. "This is it. What do you think?"

"It's nice, Gallus," Luna answered while walking up to the small shrine. "Very nice, indeed. You can get a lot done in this room of solitude. But, uh…what importance is this tribute to me?" Luna tapped the statue in her likeness gently, trying to make sense of it.

"It symbolizes how important you are to me, Professor." The young griffon explained.

"But all these pictures…some of them aren't really good pictures of me," Luna remarked before she went up to the shrine and saw a small figurine in her likeness. Inspecting it, she found that the figurine was poorly made and looked nothing like her at all. "Who made this figure?" She asked.

"Some griffon in Griffonstone made it," Gallus answered. "It's not the best, but…"

Slightly taken aback, Luna walked over to Gallus and draped a wing on his left shoulder. "Gallus," She confessed. "I appreciate you showing all your love and support for me, but…if I can be totally honest with you, it can be a little too much for me, especially when you take it this far."

Gallus merely looked away from Luna in shame of his actions. "Was what happened this morning…my homework assignment…just a little too much for you?"

Sighing, Luna thought of what she could say to Gallus. After a few moments, she did. "If I can confess, yes and no."

Gallus opened his eyes wide and turned his attention back to Luna upon hearing this."What do you mean?"

"I mean your invented call…anycreature can make that call," Luna explained. "Annoying, yes, but it's a call nonetheless. But that's beside the point. The fact is, Gallus…I request that you no longer display any more evidence of your…" She paused in uncertainty before deciding to state it for what she felt it was. "Love towards me."

This made Gallus jump back in shock, nearly backing into a wall! "Love?!" He cried and coughed. "Why would anycreature think that? You are my professor, my teacher! Why do you think that I would love you in any kind of romantic way?! It wouldn't be appropriate."

"I may not necessarily see it that way, but there are others who might, young griff," Luna cautioned. "I just don't want any rumors spread around the school or around Ponyville for that matter, because there are going to be creatures who will see the situation differently. Intentional or not, your worship of me could be mistaken for romantic affection."

"Yeah," Gallus sighed after thinking it through. "I suppose you are right, Professor. Besides, there's only one creature that I truly love, and that's Silverstream." He then made his way over to the bookshelf and removed all the knick knacks that he had of Luna. And he just was about to remove the statue when Luna stopped him.

"Wait!" Luna cried, grabbing the statue in her aura. "Why don't you leave this? It's greater than any picture or book about me." Placing the statue back on the shelf, Luna admired its place as Celestia came into the treehouse. Curious, Celestia looked down at the knick knacks of her younger sister and couldn't help but feel slightly amused by one of them.

"What are you looking at?" Luna asked in a stern sounding voice as she snatched the tired picture of her from Celestia's aura. "I'm throwing this out!"

"Come on, Luna!" Celestia laughed. "Have a little sense of humor, why don't you? In fact, I think Gallus' call is probably something that I should use when you are unable to hear me."

"Now just a moment, big sister," Luna cautioned, looking at Celestia right in the face. "Only Gallus can use that call as long as I am not in the middle of something important like sleeping in late in the morning after a long week."

Hearing this for the first time, Gallus felt slightly embarrassed that he used his created call at the most inopportune time. "Uh, heh-heh, sorry." He nervously chuckled as he stepped back against the doorway of his room."

"I think you might get yourself an 'A' for your creativity, Gallus," Celestia chuckled before turning to her sister once more. "Although, Luna?"

"What is it, sister?" Luna asked, noticing her sister's raised eyebrow.

Celestia coughed into a hoof. "I think you owe all the ducks in Equestria an apology."

Luna blushed. "Right…that."

…

…