Section #1:
In the study hall by the library, 100 students sat in the couches and comfy chairs. Again, ten of them were Royal Guards. On a big couch, Backdraft (blue-indigo dragon boy with plump belly) sat with Shelldon (Ocellus' little brother), along with a little kirin and a little yak.
There were six gryphons (including Grampa Gruff), six dragons (including Backdraft), six changelings (including Shelldon, Ocellus' baby brother), three kirins, six yaks, and six hippogriffs. There were also one deer, one buffalo, and two Breezies. In total, there were 38 non-pony students, including Winger, the little lovebird boy.
In the middle of the study hall, Gallus, Gabby, and Winger sat on a round carpet. Next to them was a pretty-looking treasure chest.
"Good morning my dear students!" called Gabby, with her normal cheery voice.
"Good morning, Professors!" called many of the students.
"Good morning, big birds!" called Backdraft.
He blew a big flame to greet the teachers. Most of the students screamed with fear. Winger hid behind Gallus.
The flame blackened part of the ceiling, leaving a big hole. But at least nothing was on fire.
Backdraft laughed nervously. "Sorry ... I forgot that everything's flammable in Equestria."
"If you love arts and crafts," said Gabby, "then today's gonna be lots of fun!"
Backdraft raised his hand. "So, Professor Gray Bird, what do arts and crafts have to do with generosity?"
"Have you ever received a present?" asked Gabby.
Backdraft scratched his head. "No, not really ... Dragons don't really do presents ... at least not the ones I know ..."
Then the dragon's face brightened up. "Actually ... I received this from Garble's little sister!"
Backdraft pulled out a stone tablet. It was a drawing of Garble's gang (the six boys) floating, engulfed with a bright aura of light. At the bottom were the words "Elements of Brotherhood". Backdraft flew up and presented it to the group.
Gabby squealed with delight. With a burst of energy, she flew up for a closer look at the picture. "That's adorable, Backdraft! How did you feel when Smolder gave it to you?"
"At first," admitted Backdraft, "I didn't know what to do with it. I was kind of disappointed it wasn't a big gemstone. But then I took another look."
Backdraft looked back at the drawing. "And then I thought ... the little dragon girl actually likes me! I don't know why ... but that made me feel good!"
"Well," said Gallus, "no creature likes to be insulted, that's for sure."
"And," said Backdraft, "it got me to thinking ... Garble, me, and the others ... we're no longer just a bunch of thugs. We actually love each other. We really are like brothers! And when I look at this picture, I feel that Smolder is my sister, too. She feels like a little sister to all of us!"
As Backdraft spoke, he started to hug the stone tablet.
Gallus remarked, "They say it's the thought that counts -- not the gift. But too many creatures don't think about what I want. So I end up with stuff like ... paw warmers ... a stuffed rat ... and a prune cake. Oh, come on! Gifts should be fun -- not some lame gesture we do to be polite!"
As Gallus spoke, he pulled out a pair of plaid socks, a stuffed rat with buttons for eyes, and a brown-and-black cake that dropped like a rock. (The socks had holes where Gallus's claws had poked through.)
Gabby suddenly grew concerned. She flew back down to Gallus.
"Gallus," she whispered into his ear, "can I have a word with you?"
"Why do we need to whisper?" whispered Gallus.
Gabby, putting back on a smile, turned to face the crowd. "Class, we need to take a short break. Gallus and I have something we need to do."
Section #2:
Gabby took Gallus to her office, shutting the door.
Gabby's office was decorated with Cutie Mark Crusaders memorabilia. Several pictures hung on the wall. One was a photo of her with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Another showed these four plus Babs Seed and Rumble. Other pictures included a painting of all six cutie marks, a photo of the CMCs and their students from Cutie Mark Camp, and a photo of last year's class at the School of Friendship.
On Gabby's desk, there stood a picture of Gabby and Spike hugging each other, along with one of Gabby hugging Gallus and Gilda. On another table stood trophies for good citizenship, along with figurines of all six CMCs.
For such a cheerful gryphon, Gabby seemed quite angry at Gallus.
"Gallus!" she scolded. "I'm ashamed of you."
"I don't understand," said Gallus. "What's your problem?"
"You might have hurt someone's feelings!"
"I was just telling the truth," asserted Gallus. "Oh -- I forgot. This is Camp Generosity -- not Camp Honesty."
Gabby took some deep breaths. "Gallus, I don't want you to be dishonest. It's just that some things are better left unsaid."
"That's not what I want in a friend!" protested Gallus. "I want to be open and honest about how I feel."
Gabby sighed.
"Sometimes the truth hurts," said Gallus. "Didn't Applejack teach us that?"
Gabby replied, "Didn't she also teach us to speak nicely and politely?"
Gallus sat in a chair. He crossed his arms. "If they won't give me gifts I like, then I'd rather receive none."
"What if you gave your friend a present," asked Gabby, "and they said it was pathetic? How would you like it?"
Gallus paused.
"Doesn't feel so good, does it?" declared Gabby.
"The truth is," explained Gallus ... "I have never given a present in my life. I love receiving presents. I love getting something for nothing. But ... I hate giving up any of my own stuff ..."
"What about on Hearth's Warming Day?" asked Gabby. "Didn't I see you give gifts then?"
"It was stuff from Twilight and Applejack. I just repackaged it."
Gallus hung his head, feeling embarrassed. "I've been assigned to Camp Generosity. But I'm like a dragon. I hate giving gifts. ... I love to be a hero. ... I can sacrifice myself to save the world. ... But ... in everyday life ... I want what's mine to stay mine. I ... I don't like doing things unless something's in it for me."
Gallus sighed. "Smolder should be here ... not me."
Gabby started to feel bad for Gallus. With her wing, she gave him a hug.
"Don't worry, Gallus. There is something in it for you! You have friends who love you. If you give them things they want, you know they're gonna hug you and tell you how great you are!"
In Gabby's office, one other picture hung on the wall. It was a photo of the Student Six hugging one another in front of the revived Tree of Harmony (aka the "Treehouse of Harmony"). (Gallus and Smolder were mostly hugging each other, with Ocellus hugging mostly Smolder and Sandbar. Sandbar and Yona were mostly hugging each other, and Silverstream was mostly hugging Gallus.)
Gabby flew off and grabbed the picture. She brought it back to Gallus.
"Gallus," she asked, "do you remember the time you did some arts and crafts in remembrance of the Tree of Harmony?"
Gallus paused. "Now that you say so ... yes, I do!"
"And you really loved putting it all together, right?"
"Yeah ... after my friends and I stopped fighting over what to make."
Gabby asked, "You say the Tree of Harmony has talked to you now and then?"
"Yeah," said Gallus, "But that was months ago."
"Maybe she doesn't speak to you in words," replied Gabby. "But there's still a part of her inside of you." Gabby pointed to the photo of the tree, and then she pointed to Gallus.
"And there's a part of you inside of her!" She pointed to Gallus again and then pointed back to the photo of the tree.
Gallus paused, fidgeting with his hands and feet.
Gabby put down the photo. She wrapped her wing around her blue friend.
"The spirit of generosity is within you, Gallus," she assured him. "You just have to believe in it!"
"That little lovebird really is counting on me," said Gallus ... "I know he hates to be away from his parents ... I really want to be his father when his father's away. Like a fun uncle!"
"Now go on out there and make him a present!" encouraged Gabby, pointing her wing to the door.
She flew to the door. "And no matter what Winger makes for you -- tell him that you love your present. All that he wants is to show that he cares."
"Yes," said Gallus, as he walked to the door, "but ..."
Gallus sighed. He stopped in front of Gabby.
"I really want to make Winger happy. But I want to be happy with my present."
He sighed again. "But sometimes ... the best present is someone who went to a lot of trouble to make you happy."
Gallus started to smile. "Whatever it is ... I'm sure it'll be more thoughtful than giving someone a prune cake!"
Gabby laughed. "Those store-bought cakes really do taste like trash. But -- if you try one of Pinkie Pie's, you'll find you didn't know what you were missing!"
"Did some creature say 'prune cake'?!" exclaimed a high-pitched voice.
Pinkie Pie dropped into the scene, carrying a big prune cake. It was fresh out of the oven!
"Wow," remarked Gallus. "Speak of the Pie and she will come!"
"Actually, it's cake," said Pinkie.
Gabby laughed.
Section #3:
Gallus and Gabby returned to the study hall by the library.
“Hello again, class!” called Gabby, as the two flew back to the round carpet in the middle. “We’re now ready to start ...”
Gabby paused. She took a second look at the class.
To her surprise, the students were already busy doing their arts and crafts! The pretty treasure chest was already open, and most of its contents had been removed.
Many students were doing paper cutouts with construction paper. Many were drawing with the markers and crayons, along with the glitter glue. Some were building things with craft sticks, along with pipe cleaners. Many were decorating things with colorful feathers, colored cotton balls, and plastic stars and dots. A few were sewing things together with pieces of cloth.
"Wow, class!" said Gabby. "You're really enjoying yourselves, aren't you?"
"Look at this necklace I made!" called a hippogriff, proudly holding his creation. He had strung together some beautiful seashells.
“I made this little dollhouse!" called a Royal Guard (male earth pony). He also presented his creation, which had walls painted pinkish purple and a roof that was violet-purple.
"I made this quilt!" called a female deer, showing a quilt made with brown and green patches like the forest. It also had patches that looked like colorful leaves.
Shelldon, making some happy bug noises, presented a crude drawing of him and his baby sister hugging Ocellus.
"Look at mine!" called Backdraft.
Backdraft had made some crude stuffed toys that looked like the other boys in his gang -- plus Smolder. (In total, that was six stuffed toys.) They had buttons for eyes, and each was accurately colored (with the appropriate cloth).
Gabby squealed with delight. "Oh, Backdraft! They're adorable! I'm sure your friends will love them!"
"You really think so?" asked Backdraft.
"I know that Smolder will, at the very least!" said Gallus.
Suddenly, Backdraft felt a sneeze coming. He tried holding his breath, but it was no good.
Backdraft sneezed a great ball of fire. Unfortunately, his stuffed toys were severely burned, covered in gray and black. (Part of the carpet was also burned.)
The blue-indigo dragon hung his head, feeling sad. Both Gabby and Gallus felt sorry for him.
"I'm sorry, Backdraft," said Gabby. "We should have found some fireproof fabric."
"In the Dragonlands," said another dragon, "we make blankets out of asbestos. But I hear that it would be dangerous for ponies."
"Very dangerous," said the Royal Guard who made the dollhouse.
"Sorry, guys," said Backdraft. "I guess I will have to make new stuffed toys back in the Dragonlands."
"Don't worry, big dragon!" said a young girl's voice. "We'll be your new stuffed toys!"
Backdraft looked back down. "Wait, what?" He shook his head vigorously and looked again. "I don't believe it!"
Backdraft's stuffed toys were back in pristine condition. Or at least that was what it seemed.
"You like what you see?" asked a young boy's voice.
"AAAH!" screamed Backdraft.
He leapt off the ground. Flapping his wings, he crashed into the ceiling.
Backdraft now hovered in place. "That stuffed toy talked to me!"
The stuffed Garble sighed. "I'm sorry, big dragon. We thought you'd be happy."
The other stuffed toys sighed. All six hung their heads.
With a blue flash of swirling light, the stuffed Fizzle (white dragon boy with red-pink crest) suddenly disappeared. As it turned out -- it was Shelldon in disguise!
The other stuffed toys also revealed themselves to be changelings.
Backdraft landed back on the carpet. "Don't -- don't get me wrong, little changelings. I'm glad you tried to help. But I wanna make these arts and crafts for myself."
Suddenly, there was a loud snapping of fingers -- and a bright flash of light. Everyone yelped with surprise.
"You don't have to," echoed a familiar voice ... "Because I've already fixed them!"
Backdraft looked back down. His real stuffed toys were good as new!
"I don't believe it!" exclaimed Backdraft. "Someone fixed my toys! Was it you, one of you changelings?"
"No," said the familiar voice ... "it was me!"
With a flash of light, Discord popped into the scene. The class yelped with surprise again.
Discord declared, "Not only are they good as new -- I added a non-toxic protective coating that is resistant to brief bursts of fire."
"Uh ... uh ..., thank you, dragon horse," said Backdraft.
"I don't do this every day," said Discord. "But today, I want to make my students feel extra welcome!"
With a snap of the fingers, Discord disappeared again.
Backdraft's toys were better than new. But everything else he had burned was still burned.
Gallus looked in dismay. "That was pretty nice of him. But I guess he's not gonna be nice enough to fix the fire damage in the library."
"Or the kitchen!" said Gabby, staring at Gallus with a wry smile.
Some of the students laughed.
Section #4:
Gabby turned back to the class.
"By the way, Grampa Gruff," asked Gabby -- "what did you make?"
Grampa Gruff answered, "I made this ..."
He coughed and wheezed.
"... this card for you, Gallus. It's the least I can do for the years I hated you."
Gruff flew to Gallus and handed him the card. Gallus opened the card.
On the left half of the card, Gruff had written the following words: "I'm sorry, Gallus. I've been an angry and miserable man ... and I kind of took it out on you, along with Gabby and Gilda. Now I know the power of friendship, thanks to you and your friends. I want to be your friend, too. Can you forgive me?"
On the right half of the card, Gruff had drawn the following picture: Gruff hugging Gallus, both of them crying happy tears. Gilda and Gabby were also hugging him. (Both the writing and the drawing were surprisingly well-done!)
Gallus was at a loss for words. "I ... I ... don't know what to say. ... I never thought I would hear ..."
Gallus started to sniffle. Then, with a big smile, he leapt toward Grampa Gruff. He gave the old gryphon a big hug!
Gruff was taken by surprise. Gallus's hug knocked the wind out of him. Gruff nearly lost his balance, but he flapped his wings and avoided falling down.
For a moment, Gruff seemed annoyed. Then he saw Gallus smiling, crying into his shoulder. He stopped and stared. Then he smiled, too. Gruff also gave Gallus a big hug. Rubbing his beak against Gallus's, he also started to cry.
Gruff seemed really touched. "You mean ... you can forgive me so easily ... even after years of me treating you so badly?"
Gallus said, "I don't care who you were before. All I care about is who you are now! You now care about me, and that's all that matters. This is what Princess Twilight's kingdom is all about!"
For a few more moments, Gruff and Gallus hugged each other. Gruff gave Gallus a kiss. Gallus kissed him back.
Grampa Gruff put the blue gryphon back down.
"Professor Gallus!" called Winger. "Would you like to see my arts and crafts?"
Gallus turned to face the little lovebird. "Uh ... uh, sure ... Winger ...," he answered a little nervously. "Let's see it!"
"It's a stuffed puckwudgie!" Winger showed his masterpiece.
For a little boy, Winger was surprisingly good at making stuffed toys. It looked a lot like the real thing -- but could easily be held with one hand. Unlike a typical puckwudgie, this one would always smile, always ready for cuddles.
Gallus cringed, trying to smile. "Why ... why, thank you, Winger!"
"Those creatures are really cute!" said Winger. "Dad and I played with one a short time ago, and we shared some of our crackers."
Gallus laughed nervously. "I -- I can't say I've had such a good experience."
"He did get a little angry at my father," admitted Winger. "But I got him to apologize for shooting a quill into my father's tail."
Gallus picked up the stuffed puckwudgie. He held it in his arms. "I ... I hope I someday meet a puckwudgie that's as friendly to me as one was to you. But be careful. Many will cut you up with their quills if the slightest thing annoys them."
"They say that lovebirds have a special way of reaching creatures' hearts," said Winger. "If I just approach a creature without fear, ready to show that I care, I find that I am almost always safe."
Gallus blushed, feeling a little shy. With a warm smile, he held the stuffed puckwudgie with his wing. He picked up Winger and gave the little boy a big hug.
"I love your present," said Gallus. "But I love you even more! You're like the nephew I never had!"
Winger gave Gallus a big hug, too. "So, Uncle Gallus, what are you making for arts and crafts?"
Grampa Gruff laughed. "Looks like I'm a grampa who's no one's actual grampa. And Gallus is an uncle who's no one's actual uncle!"
The class laughed.