//------------------------------// // Gallus' Audition // Story: Shooting Star // by Omegathyst //------------------------------// Within the house of Starlight Glimmer and Trixie was a former Guest room that was transformed into Gallus’ room only a few days after the two mares had officially adopted the young griffon. The walls were painted the exact same shade of blue as Gallus, with a queen sized bed generously donated by Princess Twilight herself. It was Saturday morning, not the day of the party, but exactly a week before. Gallus was sleeping soundly underneath his covers, gently kneading the mattress with his talons when the door swung open, revealing Starlight Glimmer as she used her magic to prod Gallus awake. “H-Hwuh?” Gallus’ eyes flickered open for a brief moment before he threw the covers over his face. “Just ten more minutes, Mom…” “I would love to give you ten more minutes, but you know how Twilight is,” Starlight explained, walking to her son’s bed and removing the covers. Gallus’ eyes were tightly closed as he softly hissed at his mother. As he opened his eyes once more, he sighed as he was met with his Mom’s unamused stare. “Alright, I’m getting up,” Gallus groaned, getting up and jumping off his bed. “I’m surprised Twilight was able to plan an audition for me on such short notice.” “Well, we were already planning to have a tour of her castle,” Starlight smirked. “Worked out pretty well, don’t you think?” “I’ll say,” Gallus chuckled, following his mother out the door and to the dining table where a box full of donuts was awaiting him. “Wow, thanks Mom.” “Thank Pinkie, she was willing to give them half off because they were going to expire soon,” Starlight told him. “Pick your favorite.” “I will,” Gallus sat at the table and snatched up a glazed donut, eating the entire donut within three bites. “Can I have another?” “Sure, just save two of them for us,” Starlight smiled. “Thanks for asking.” “No problem,” Gallus smiled, feeling his tail wagging briefly before he reached for a cream-filled donut and taking a big bite out of it. After swallowing it, he continued to talk to his mother. “I um…don’t know if I have enough experience to get the part.” “Gallus, it’s a school play, not Bridleway,” Starlight laughed. “You’ll get a part in the play, don’t worry.” “But I don’t know if I’ll get the part that I’m hoping for,” Gallus frowned. “What part would that be?” Starlight smirked. “Does it have anything to do with what I said yesterday?” Gallus set his half-eaten donut back down on the table, blushing as he stared at his mother’s expression. “I…um…” Gallus stared down at his donut, feeling his words get caught in his throat. “Don’t hurt yourself, Gallus,” Starlight’s smirk faded away as she approached the donut box. “You don’t have to say anything.” “Oh thank Celestia,” Gallus gasped, burying his face in his talons for a few seconds before looking up at his Mom. “Y’know I’m just curious to try the role, right? I’m not gay.” Starlight tilted her head, narrowing her eyes at Gallus. “I’m not!” “Okay, okay,” Starlight raised her hoof at him. “You don’t need to get all snippy about it. There’s nothing wrong with being curious about Equestrian history.” “Do you think Sandbar would be okay with kissing a dude?” Gallus asked. Starlight gave the same deadpan expression she gave Gallus earlier. “Gallus, you do realize most of the ponies in Equestria are either gay or bi?” Starlight reminded him. “I know!” Gallus threw his talons in the air. “That doesn’t mean that I’m just going to assume!” “It’s a pretty safe assumption, seeing as how he auditioned for the role of a gay stallion,” Starlight pointed out. “Do you…” Gallus gulped, imagining Sandbar’s smile twisting into a very unusual scowl upon seeing Gallus playing the role. “Do you think he’d be okay with kissing me?” “I highly doubt he’s that afraid of your beak,” Starlight snickered. “C’mon now, quit stalling and eat your donut.” Gallus sighed, picking up the rest of his donut and scarfing it down. Wiping the crumbs off his talons with his fur, Gallus got out from his chair and followed Starlight. Just as they were heading out the door, Starlight looked over her shoulder at her room door cracked open. “I’m heading out, Trixie!” Starlight shouted. “Kay, good…good luck Gallus,” Gallus barely heard Trixie’s muttering before hearing a loud snore coming from inside the room. “Such a deep sleeper,” Starlight giggled, her half-lidded stare on the room door lasting for two seconds before she faced the front door, trotting towards it and exiting the house with Gallus right behind her. “Got that energy in you, today?” “Yeah, I sure do,” Gallus flew over Starlight and grabbed her, holding her close as he took them above the houses and towards Twilight’s castle. After a good ten minutes of flying, Gallus landed in front of the huge glittery castle, gently dropping Starlight on the ground before rolling over flat on his back gasping and panting. “I c-can have a few minutes before this audition, right?” Gallus wheezed. “Obviously!” Starlight used her magic to lift Gallus up and carry him towards the castle, with the blue griffon floating in her magical aura. Approaching the door and knocking on it, Starlight didn’t have to wait long as Twilight opened the door less than a minute later, her eyes widening as she looked up at the floating Gallus. “Is he alright?” Twilight asked. “You didn’t have to drag him here, did you?” “Of course not!” Starlight waved her hoof. “Gallus is eager to get this role in the play, trust me.” Gallus glared down at his mother, before looking at Twilight and giving a loud sigh. “Her wording is a bit exaggerated, but she’s telling the truth,” Gallus assured his Headmare. “I just got really exhausted flying us here, b-but I can walk now! I just need some water.” Starlight nodded, setting her son back on the ground and releasing him from her magical hold. Gallus smiled at her before turning to Twilight. “So, I don’t need to do a lot of performances, do I?” Gallus tilted his head. “Oh no! We’re just having you look over the lines and see if this is a role that you’re comfortable with,” Twilight explained. “All the performing will be during rehearsals, unless your friends would like to practice on your own time of course. I mean, who could blame you? You will be performing right beside Princess Celestia, only one of the most powerful alicorns known to-” “Ahem.” “Right! The audition!” Twilight jolted back into focus, grinning at Starlight before she ran into the castle. “Spike made some extra blueberry pancakes if you two are hungry.” “Are you still hungry?” Starlight turned to Gallus, and Gallus quickly nodded before making a beeline to the kitchen. Grabbing an empty glass, Gallus filled it with water from the fridge and downed it several times until he was no longer dehydrated. Licking his beak, Gallus placed the glass in the sink before turning to the pancakes that remained. Marching over to them, Gallus pulled one to himself and ate it in three bites. Walking out of the kitchen, Gallus saw Twilight and Starlight talking to each other. “She’s…never acted before?” Starlight asked slowly, staring at Twilight’s wide grin. “I know! Isn’t it exciting? She gets to have her debut role in a play celebrating her Ones-versary!” Twilight squealed, stomping her hooves in place. “And I get to be there to witness it take place! Oh my stars, and I get to be the director too!” “Twilight!” Starlight shouted, stopping the alicorn in her excitement. “Obviously it makes sense that the students don’t have any acting experience, but if Celestia’s acting sucks? Twilight, they’ll have that all over the papers.” “It won’t suck,” Twilight rolled her eyes. “How could an alicorn be terrible at anything?” “Um, Princess Luna wasn’t exactly the best co-ruler over a thousand years ago,” Starlight pointed out. “I’d think you of all ponies would remember something like that.” “And you didn’t exactly handle my situation the best either,” Gallus interjected, walking within sight of the two mares. The both of them turned to him with wide eyes, and Twilight had her jaw dropped as she stared at Gallus. “What? It’s true,” Gallus shrugged. “But you more than made up for it, so I’m not bitter about it anymore. Maybe you could give us all acting lessons before the play?” “Pssh, you guys will be fine,” Twilight waved her hoof. “That’s what the rehearsals are for! Trust me, I’ve got everything taken care of, even the transcript right here!” Gallus thought that Twilight hadn’t processed what he said to her at all, that is, until he saw her eye twitch briefly despite the grin she gave to him. Using her magic to place a paper packet in his talons, Gallus brought the paper closer as he read the lines. Since the play was centered around Princess Celestia, only her and the narrator had a lot of lines, leaving the Young Six with few to no lines. Although, there was a scene where Starswirl and his stallion kissed after celebrating Celestia successfully raising the sun for the first time… …Gallus reread the lines, and his eyes nearly bulged out of his head. “Everything okay, Gallus?” Twilight asked. “Y-Yeah, I mean, I had a hunch that there was a kiss scene,” Gallus explained as his eyes never left the paper. “I just didn’t know for sure.” “Starlight mentioned that to you, right?” Twilight asked. “Yeah, she did,” Gallus nodded, giving Twilight back the transcript. “And I’m um…comfortable with it.” “Oh good!” Twilight smiled as she took the papers back. “Did you have any more questions about your role or the play?” “N-No, I’m all good,” Gallus felt sweat rolling down his face as he turned to his mother. “Shall we get going? Before Trixie accidentally sets something on fire.” “Good point,” Starlight agreed, stretching her hoof out towards Twilight. “Well, here’s to hoping that this play doesn’t crash and burn.” “C’mon Starlight, have a little more faith in this,” Twilight pouted, reaching out and shaking Starlight’s hoof. “Please?” “Hey, I’m helping you out, aren’t I?” Starlight tilted her head. “I suppose I’ll try.” “Thank you!” Twilight let go of Starlight’s hoof and waved the two goodbye as they approached the front doors. “See you both on Monday!” “The play won’t be that bad, will it?” Gallus asked Starlight as they left the castle. “All depends on how good Celestia’s acting is,” Starlight shrugged. “It’s all out of my hooves now.” Gallus thought about how Celestia could flop at acting, which would most likely mean no play and no kiss with Sandbar. Gallus gulped, shaking the thought and walking with his mother back home.