Here's Where You Belong
Gallus skulked around the ruins of Griffonstone, grumbling to himself. Grandpa Gruff had ordered him to go to some pony school just now, despite his vigorous protests against it. But, since Grandpa Gruff was pretty much their appointed leader, he couldn’t refuse, and there were no parents to have to refuse for him. Not that he wanted those. Griffons were pretty much terrible creatures in general, to each other and others. The only Griffon he didn’t know who was like that was-
“Hey Gallus!” Came a perky voice. As if summoned by thought, Gabby The Griffon appeared and started walking by him. Gallus started at the sound of her voice, so lost in his own murmurings that he hadn’t heard anygriff approach him. Not half a second later, he relaxed again.
“Hi Gabby.” It was muttered, hostile. Gabby, hearing it, frowned.
“You seem super grumpy today. Wanna talk about it?”
“No… Yes… I don’t know.” It was a defeated sigh. Gabby was the only Griffon who really was nice to everygriff, even when they weren’t nice back. Gabby didn’t touch him, but the feel of her eyes somewhat felt to him like a wing being wrapped around him. He sighed. He might as well complain about this to somegriff.
“Grandpa Gruff is making me go to some prissy pony school. So uncool.” He said.
Gabby somehow perked up. “Pony school? Where?”
“Ponyville, I think?”
Gabby let out a piercing squeal. “Ponyville?! That’s where the cutie mark crusaders are! You are so lucky! You’ll get to meet them! I’d love to see them again!”
He made a disgruntled noise. “Yeah, sure. Lucky.”
Gabby came down from her dreamy bubble and looked at him. “You don’t sound happy to go there.”
“Because I’m not.”
“Why not?”
“Because I belong here! Among my own kind! I already feel like I don’t belong here, and I don’t want to go someplace just to feel that again but a thousand times worse! At least I actually know griffs here! Why would I want to go to another place just to not find a home there too?!”
Gabby had paused at his outburst. For a minute maybe, silence prevailed over the pair of them. Finally, Gabby broke it.
“So, you don’t have a home too?”
Gallus looked up. “What?”
Gabby nodded. “I didn’t have a home or family here either.”
“B-But I saw you! You had dinner with Gilda and Grandpa Gruff at the Blue Moon Festival!”
“Yeah, because Gilda invited me. She remembered that I didn’t have a home.”
“You know Gilda?” He asked.
She nodded. “When I was a chick I kind of looked up to her. Like, not in a big sister kind of way, but like, “Someday I want to be like her” kind of way. I mean, She was brave and tough and strong, and all the stuff Griffons were thought to be, but once in a while she’d give me a free muffin or smile at me, especially when I was young and didn’t have a job. She kind of became family. Or, the closest thing I ever had to it, anyways.”
Gallus was still reeling from all of that. “Gilda smiles?”
“Not often, but sometimes. And usually when she does the most is when she’s getting or sending a letter to Ponyville! Her friend Rainbow Dash lives there.”
“She’s got a pony friend?”
“Mhm! They went to junior speedsters camp together, from what Rainbow Dash told me!”
Gallus didn’t know what to say to that, so he just shut his mouth.
Gabby, seemingly realizing she’d gotten off topic, picked up again. “I grew up without a family, Gallus. And I would see what they had and I didn’t have, and sometimes it would make me really sad. But Gilda showed me that one small thing from another griffon can make a really big difference. She made me want to be that griffon for others. That’s why I smile all the time. I hope that one day, I can do that for somegriff. Someday, maybe they could think of me as family…”
“What’s the point of that? If you don’t know where you came from, what’s the point of even having a family? It’s not like they actually do things for you. All the families in this town do is argue and fight. There’s no point to that. I don’t wish I had a family, but I do wish I had a home to sleep in.”
“You don’t get it, do you?” Gabby’s voice was quiet, surprised.
“Get what?” He asked. Huffing angrily.
“Gallus, family doesn’t end with the griffs you’re related to. It’s who you want around you. Gilda became my family. And I know even though you only spoke to her a few times, she could be yours too. Especially since you’re going to a pony school! You could tell her about Rainbow Dash’s adventures while you’re there! You would always have something to talk about.”
“I’m not going to that school!”
“Why not? A chance to get out of here, to have a roof over your head and a bed to sleep in, to meet new creatures- what’s not to like?”
“Because I-“ He simply stopped, and went silent.
It took Gabby a second to realize where he might have been going with that, but when she did, her eyes grew sad. “You still don’t know who they are, do you? Your parents?”
“No…”
“And you don’t want to leave because you think they’ll come back?”
He nodded.
Gabby straightened up, tougher, bolder all of a sudden. About as cocky as Gallus himself might be on a regular day. “Well I think that’s pretty sad!”
He looked up. “What?”
“If your parents couldn’t be bothered to stick around and see what an amazing griffon you grew up to be, that’s pretty sad! You’re a good griffon, Gallus, and anygriff who won’t give you the time to show how amazing you are doesn’t deserve to get to know you!”
He stared at her, half bewildered, and half amazed, before he smiled a tiny bit. “Thanks, Gabby.”
“It’s true.” Gabby smiled. “But that’s why I think going to Ponyville would be good for you. When I went there, the Cutie Mark Crusaders showed me real friendship for the first time ever. I was kind of scared at first you, know.”
“You were?”
“Uh huh! I knew when I went there to find them that I wanted to get a Cutie Mark because every pony there seemed so nice and friendly, but It was really scary being with all these creatures I never met before. It was overwhelming. But you know what I found out?”
He was curious now. “What?”
“They were as nice and friendly as I thought they would be. They smiled at me, and they welcomed me, and they made me feel like what I thought home was supposed to feel like. But I learned that home wasn’t just having a roof over your head. Sometimes home is the place where everyone is nice to each other and cares about them. Sometimes home isn’t a place. Sometimes it’s another creature. But you’ll never find it if you don’t go.”
Gallus pondered this for quite a while. He thought about how alone and Isolated he’d felt, growing up in Griffonstone. He’d wondered time and again what home would feel like, what family was like. He’d long since come to grips with the fact that he would never have a family, and that he was doomed to be alone. But now, Gabby’s words were making him rethink everything. He could recall snippets of griffins smiling at him, rare as the Blue Moon festival. He’d always thought they were pity smiles, smiles that said, “Oh you poor orphan”, or “Someday you’ll understand what you’re missing”. But maybe… Maybe he was wrong? Maybe it was a subtle way of saying “Keep your head up.”. Griffons didn’t do well with feelings other than anger or spite. But… He thought about Gilda, and realized that maybe in some way, he had looked up to her in some way too. She was older, after all. He remembered- or thought he could- her smiling at him that way when he’d been very young. Had he really misinterpreted that all this time?
The only griff he was sure didn’t feel that way was Grandpa Gruff. He was the stereotype of Griffon’s that made the rule. But yet, there was Gabby, who broke every one of those rules. It was so confusing, and the thoughts and images swirled around in his head like some churning cauldron brewing a new cocktail of emotions. He had to stop himself a minute, clear his head, before he tried to understand what he felt now.
It was a new feeling. Different, and weird, but good in a way. He tried to find a word for it, and a memory to match it. Finally, he remembered a griffon smiling at him, very faintly, and feeling that feeling. He knew now what it was. Hope. It had been so long since he’d felt such a thing, that he could hardly remember it. He’d learned not to pin his hopes to the chest of another griffon, but this was different. He wasn’t putting them onto another griffon. He was putting them onto a place now. He lost his hope that Griffons could change. But maybe he could change, and Ponyville would be the place to change him.
He still wasn’t sure how he felt about leaving Griffonstone. Sure, he hated those dirt roads, those crumbling buildings, and those decrepit statues. But they had been home to him for as long as he could remember. The comforting familiarity they provided was something he would miss. But as he knew all to well from the countless hours watching other Griffon families, everygriff had to leave the nest sometime. And even if he didn’t make it over there, he could always come back here. But the promise of hope for change called to him like a siren song. Freedom from the past that encircled him could be reached at last.
It was time. He had reached the point of fission. He was ready to separate from Griffonstone for a while, and leave the nest. He didn’t know what would wait for him out there in Ponyville, but he hoped for something great. It was time to leave the dusty roads and desecrated buildings behind him. He knew better than anygriff that if you always stay where you are, you will never get to where you want to be. And he knew where he wanted to be.
A place with a roof over his head. A place where griffons weren’t jerks to each other. A place that wasn’t falling a part at the seams. A place where he could have fun, and be himself, and enjoy his life instead of having dread about waking in the morning and worrying what the day would bring.
He looked at Gabby, finally, her eyes covered in worry for him. He smiled at her, gave her a nod. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
Gabby looked as though she would explode in relief and happiness. Though she usually would have bounced off the walls with joy, she kept it contained for the sake of Gallus’ dignity.
“I’m so happy for you.” She said sincerely, eyes sparkling.
He nodded. He couldn’t think of anything else to say.
Some time later, After a short time making friends at the School Of Friendship in Ponyville, Gallus was drifting between the line that separated wakefulness and sleep. Before bed, he remembered the wonderful day he had had at school with his friends. An image of the School Of Friendship flashed before him, just before he crossed the border into sleep. And as it’s image was in his mind, burned into the back of his retinas, a soothing voice spoke one sentence to him.
Here’s Where You Belong.
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Heheh. Nice!
Nice and wholesome.
This was nice. Gallus was the one I always imagined who'd be resistant to going to Friendship School the most. Nice to see Gabby talked some sense into him.
hey look, you managed to write something that wasn't fucking diaper-fetish trash
a broken clock's right twice a day after all
9664855
What’s your problem? What did she do to you to deserve such a hateful comment?
9664855
Firstly, you randomly went out of your way to throw the author under the bus. Not cool.
Secondly, if it bothers you that much, you can just turn "View Mature" off; that's what I do.
Thirdly, please take a chill pill; people are less likely to listen to what you're saying if you say it like a condescending jerk.
9664908
take a look at their other stories, take a look at their bio
you'll figure it out from there i'm sure
9664922
With all due respect, that isn’t what I asked about.
9664932
you asked what my problem with them was
that's my problem with them
9664920
not throwing them under the bus if it's factual, m8
and miss the actually good porn that comes up once in a great while? yeah no, blow me
i'm not trying to be condescending, i'm trying to be a snarky dickhead
and i'm not going to stop, because the author here hasn't earned that yet
Loved this.
9664948
I find it mildly amusing that the whole message of our little fandom is to love and tolerant each other, yet you are actively coming to a story by a writer you hate to pick a fight with them.
Stop, take a step back and think about that for a minute.
What they write doesn't gel for you or annoys you? Just be an adult and walk away. Nobody is holding a gun to your head to make you read this or engage with the author.
There are plenty of folks here who write stuff that makes me green around the gills or just flat out disgusts me, but that doesn't give me cart Blanche to harass or denigrate them because I don't like or disapprove of what they produce.
If you don't like the author's work or themes, just keep scrolling. It's a big internet, there's room for most folks so long as we don't run around being pricks to each other.
9664948
Congratulations. You just exemplified all the reasons why I wrote those stories. Intolerance. You certainly are not obligated to read my stories on the subject, but you could take a lesson from them about kindness. I write those stories because I want to give a voice to that community. I try and explain to others what it is. I want to give insight into something so many people misunderstand and sexualize when it is not sexual at all. All of my stories about the subject aren't sexual, which you would know if you bothered to look any further than a picture and summary. Secondly, I use the fetish tag only when I believe a character to not be at the age of consent in the story. Never in my life have I considered that lifestyle sexual. It never has been, nor will be for me. The fact that you attacked me for my other stories while completely ignoring any review at all of this one shows absolutely no respect for others, and a very closed mind. I believe that my job is to educate people about a subject that not many others understand well or know about. I want the world to be a better place for all ABDL's, Littles, and CG's, but most of them are terrified to even talk about this because of the words of people like you. Words are powerful when you use them correctly, but when you use them as you have here, all you have done is insult me and dug your own grave, and that is highly disappointing, especially coming from someone with no works of his own. I don’t have to earn anything from you. I have followers, family, and friends who love me and care about me. The respect of some guy who is such a coward that he felt the need to attack me through a computer screen who doesn’t even have the courage to post his own writing isn’t something that I want to earn, nor need to. I wish you luck in your life, because with the lack of respect and courtesy you have shown here, you will certainly need it.
*Sigh* It disappoints me to no end when people ruin a good thing by going out of their way to be cruel.
I was proud of this story and every story you've helped me to write. You've helped me feel 'creative' during a time I was not able to tap into my talent as a result of my wife leaving me, finding another person to love, watching my colleagues at my new job leave one-after-the-other, feel frightened about losing my job as most of the technology can't be made blind friendly, and having to have my right eye surgically removed.
Your stories have always made me feel a bit warmer for being like who I am. Yes, to anyone who reads, I find diapers to be soothing. Why? For me it is due to having a broken childhood filled with discrimination, doctor's appointments, and surgeries.
I could never see well enough to play those team sports I wanted to play. It got so bad in gym class that I, eventually, had to get a doctor's excuse for the entire year to avoid always being singled-out for how my lack of eyesight when I actually had usable sight still wasn't enough to see a ball until it hit me in the face.
II've talked with therapists for the past 8 years. Mostly about coping with being bullied out of two jobs as a result of my disability and coping with losing the rest of my physical eyesight. However I also talked about my liking of diapers and diapered cartoon animals and found there is nothing wrong with me. It's simply something I acquired by chance when I was young that persisted into adulthood.
Do I force diapers and diapered cartoon animals on people? No. Do I expect everyone to like me after they know diapers are my coping mechanism? No. Heck, it is part of the reason my wife left me. As a social worker she understands why I am the way I am. However, at an individual level, she just couldn't live with knowing her husband found diapers and diapered cartoon animals a soother during times of high stress.
Do I have regrets? No. I feared being 'judged' ever since I was a teenager. I tried to not be into diapers and diapered cartoon animals and nothing worked. I'd get into a very stressful situation and end up seeking a cartoon and a diaper to wear to calm myself down.
Life has taken a lot from me. I've lost a good paying job, my eyesight, an eye, and my wife. I've endured over 50 surgeries and have barely made it financially due to the stigmas placed on those with visual disabilities. The job I have now pays $8 less an hour and it just has to work because nobody thinks about what it is like to have to be 'different' and/or not having an important sense, like sight.
Ms. Rarity here, if folks took time to read between-the-lines, is a very caring and nurturing individual who can genuinely write just about anything. Her tales speak to the heart and are less about AF DL propaganda and more about finding that feeling of 'love', 'safety', and being able to know that one can come to not feel shame as a result of something (s)he never asked for.
Does anyone wake up in the morning to say, "I want to do stuff to be more disliked by society?". No.
Ms. Rarity is doing what I, along with many others, try to do. This being the work of crafting tales that are less about the whole 'fetish thing' and more about what AF / DL is about. It's a way to, for a moment in time, to escape the cruelty of the world that scourns and dismisses you for not being like everyone else.
Many with special needs will tell you there is so much love and support when you're little. However, as you get older, society not-so-subtly tosses you away to where you can't be seen. All the love and support becomes replaced with "Just live off Social Security" or "You are an inconvenience who should just be happy to work in a 'Sheltered Workshop'.".
It took me nearly 20 years to learn to self-accept who I am and not allow others to tear me down for who I am as a person. This is why, like Ms. rarity, I strive to write stories that, largely, help show happier times where life isn't being so cruel because of how you are a misfit in a world that abides by outdated stigmas and stereotypes.
This is a good story and one I am glad Ms. Rarity could write while I recover from so much loss and hurt. It is a tale of support when you may feel nobody cares. It's about how always keeping a smile despite what may face you can help not only you succeed in life but also help others to know they can, too.
So, to anyone who believes bigotry is cool, please know that your close-minded kind is unwanted in this age of acceptance, understanding, empowerment, and community.
I encourage all who feel they need to 'force' their ideals on others to realize that you are only hurting yourselves by not taking the time to at least try to see another's point of view. It's truly amazing how much you can grow if you take a few seconds to see life outside of your comfort zone / bubble.
This was very Hearthwarming. Thanks for writing!