> Creature Feature > by LittleBitaMagic > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Double Dragon Dare. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The School Of Friendship was in full hustle and bustle on this quiet sunny day, the clouds were floating by lazily and birds were out singing a brand new tune. The school itself was alive with the promise of youth, along with the back talking and rudeness of it as well. Being close to midday most students were heading off to the cafeteria for lunch, some already getting a head start in that category. The cafeteria was large and open for the students, rows of long wooden tables lined up across the room for easy access. The top tables set aside for the staff who chatted away, enjoying the various foods created by the Lunch Mare. Many inspirational posters lining the walls with uplifting messages, four large glass windows allowing the beauty of the day to shine within. This day was indeed underway, the chatter of the children wafting across the air proudly. Some proclaiming how cool they were, while others had soft whispers that barely echoed at all. But one voice in particular was not only very loud, but also full of life and the willingness of a yak. To prove they could do all. “Yak like pony school! Ponies fill large warehouse full of nourishment, all this free for yak!” Yona bounced excitedly in place before a large row of foods, the petite lunch mare shivering in place within the kitchen caught off guard by the yak’s size. “Just..jus..one...per..cre...cre.” The lunch mare chattered through clenched teeth in horror. “Yak can have one of each?! Yak very hungry, so yak claim all goodies!” Yona smiled happily, her bright green eyes shining like gems as she swiftly tossed plate after plate of food onto her backside to carry. “...” “Can yak have extra juice?!” Yona yelled happily as the mare began to cry. “Yes! Just take it all!” She burst into a trail of tears, curling into a tiny ball on the floor. “Ok! Yak will take it all!” Yona lifted a huge crate of three dozen juices onto her backside as well, bouncing off towards the tables with a skip in her step and a bounce in her braids. “So my boyfriend I’m writing said he stood up to a mad tyrant with a magic staff, he looked the weirdo in the eye and said ”Try that staff out on me, I’ll stand still I promise.” like a total badass.” Smolder chatted away to her pale blue griffon friend at the nearby table, flaunting a claw femininely as she spoke. “Sounds like he sealed his fate to me…” Gallus yawned through his beak, eyes full of a dull sense of boredom. “That’s the awesome part! He slung the tyrant into a pool of boiling hot lava!” The young dragoness gave a squeal of excitement, eyes full of wonder thinking about creatures dying in lava. “Yak no fear lava! Yak just crystallize him, then shatter lava to the many winds!” Yona tossed a mountain of food onto the table with a mighty thud, Gallus snapping back into a excited look at the mere sight. “Phst! Lava doesn’t turn to crystal duh!” Smolder gave a soft eye roll of her blue eyes, orange claw picking up a fist of gems as she popped one into her mouth lazily. “Yak lava did! Yak lava thought he was king over yaks, so yaks silenced him…” “Yeah! Very interesting and whatever, are you really going to eat that?” Gallus gave a wide smirk, eyes climbing the tower of food in awe. “Holy dragon born! Aren’t you worried about your figure?” Smolder gave a snort, catching herself mid sentence. “Yes! Yak eat it all, one by one until it’s vanquished!” Yona nodded to the griffon with a smile. “Yak figures four dozen meals dragon!” She finished off as Smolder just gave a deep sigh in defeat. A sly grin broke out across the griffons face, his claw tapping excitedly across the wooden frame. His eyes locking onto the yak’s, full of mischief and wonderment at this sudden turn of events before him. “How about for fun, you eat just one meal?” Gallus spoke in a gleeful tone, eyes burning with a sense of madness. “Not one meal bird friend, many meals.” Yona gave a small giggle, patting her tower of nourishment proudly with a tiny hoof. “He is asking you to do something dumb, just ignore him Yona.” Smolder stepped in with a genuine sense of worry, not just for the yak but perhaps herself as well. “No! I’m just Double Dragon Daring You, to mush up everything into one and eat it!” Gallus almost screamed out in a proud manner, his claw pointing to the yak wickedly. “Oh dear Ember!” Smolder slapped her forehead with her claw in defeat. “THE DARE OF DRAGON DOUBLES! What is a dare of dragon doubles?” Yona gave a loud gasp, only to tilt her head in confusion cutely. “It’s a dumb strike at your honor Yona, just walk away and…” Smolder tried to speak only for the yak to blow steam out of her nostrils, proudly slamming her hooves into the tower of food. “Yak proud! Yak defend her honor!” Yona gave a loud huff, smushing every item on her plate into one single item. “Yes, So awesome!” Gallus began to laugh aloud, his eyes watching the yak work before him. Hayburgers were squashed into cupcakes, oats floated in slimey pools of red juice. Wet oozing sandwiches were compressed into ice cream, oatmeal tainted with ketchup, mixed weakly into mustard stained waffles. Each item slowly forming into a lump of greenish goo, a odd scent of sour and spice wafting into the air. “Hahaha...ha! It’s way more gross to look at, than I thought it would be.” Gallus swallowed a large lump in his throat, fighting back the urge to vomit. “Ewww! Yona don’t!” Smolder locked eyes with the yak, pleading her to change her mind. “Don’t cry for yak, yak already gone.” Yona winced and dug her muzzle into the goo, eyes growing wide in fear and horror at the wicked taste of this monster. “I’m going to be sick.” Smolder placed a dainty claw over her mouth in disgust, watching the scene unfold in slow motion before her. “Arrrgh! Taste like yaks!” Yona gargled in place, green slime oozing out of the side of her mouth. “Hahaha…”Cough.” haha..”Gag” “Oomph”..ha.” Gallus wanted to laugh, yet his pale blue color quickly faded to a sickly green. “Yak must not!...blargableh!” Yona felt her eyes widen to the size of moons, her gaze frozen in shock as her mouth hung open, mushy green ooze dribbling out of her mouth. “Darling are you ok? You children look ill over here?” Rarity hearing the roar of gagging and laughter cantered over, gazing down to the yak in worry. “Yak need to yaaaak!” A large green flood of puke exploded out into the air, splashing the warm sour chunks all over Rarity’s clean white coat. “Awesom-blehhh!” Gallus turned towards Smolder who screamed, a flood of wet sticky vomit spraying onto the dragoness. “No! I don’t want to bluuuurg!” The dragoness held her claw over her mouth, trying to hold back a explosion of puke oozing out of the sides of her fangs. The sound of vomit filled the air, as soon the staff joined in on the madness. Unable to fight off the horrid stench of the ooze, a flood of multicolored puke pouring out across the floor. The front door to the cafeteria suddenly swinging open as Head Mare Twilight cantered inside, a smile across her muzzle oblivious to the horror awaiting her. “How are my students today!?” She gave a proud chirp aloud, eyes closed as her hooves slid into a warm puddle of waste. A loud crash could be heard as she fell to the floor with a bang, landing face first into a fresh batch of green vomit. “I think we might be in troub-blehhh!” Gallus felt his stomach toss again, turning to his side and letting himself go once more. Indeed it was a bright new day. > The Honest Standard. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Professor Applejack swiftly drew the outline of a large apple tree upon her chalkboard, a smile creeping over her face as she outlined a few scribbles of writing underneath it. Each student in class quickly jolting down the information, last thing each of them wanted would to be caught off guard by a pop quiz. “And that is the simple outline for The Tree Of Truth! As long as we each stay honest and true to ourselves, then I believe the world’s karma meter will stay in balance and promote harmony.” Applejack gave a sweet smile before cantering to her desk. “Now before class ends, does anyone have questions?” The apple mare gave a sly wink to each student, feeling she had this quite under control. “Oooo! Ooooo!” Silverstream held up her claw in excitement from the back, her dark violet colored hues burning as bright as the sun. “Silver…” AJ tried to call upon her, only to hear a loud girlish squeal. “Is it true that if you tell a lie, you’ll die!?” The magenta grey hippogryph asked in such a serious tone, holding her breath in anticipation. “I think that was just um, Gallus messing with you.” Ocellus gave a soft whisper aloud, hiding her face away by lowering into her seat shyly. “I don’t care! I want the truth from the horse's mouth!” Silver gave a loud excited shout, a green flash from Ocellus causing her to look back over to the changeling. “I do does thunk, Gallus was just messin’ with yaaal!” Applejack in Ocellus seat gave a very southern drawl reply, tilting her hat back swiftly and proudly. “I don’t go soundin’ like that y'all! I mean you all!” AJ gave a loud snort in place, flashing a glare to the changeling who quickly switched back as giggling filled the air. “Heehee! She’s good!” Silver pointed to Ocellus happily, the small pastel changeling blushing brightly. “No Silver I do not die.” AJ just sighed and gave an eye roll. “Interesting! Also this is a two part question!” Silver screamed excitedly as her claws waved frantically in the air. “Grrr. Yes?” “Is it true? That staircases can also….SPIRAL!?” The slender hippogryph excitedly flew out of her seat, hovering in air as eyes became as large as two full moons. “Um yes?” AJ squinted her eyes, not sure how to reply to such a question. “So the myth was true! Like Oh My Gawww!” Silver splashed down into her seat roughly, quickly sketching into her book a etching of herself next to a spiralling staircase smiling. A spring bud colored hoof lifted from the back, a lax looking colt hiding away in the back of the room wishing for attention now. His multicolored greenish mane hiding away lovely pale colored eyes, his hoof lifted with some confidence yet it felt as if it were fleeting quickly. “Yes Sandbar?” AJ asked in a sweet tone of voice. “Well you say, be true to you. But what if being true, means a rough road ahead?” Sandbar spoke up as AJ gave him an odd gaze slightly confused. “What kind of rough road?” “You know like fam…” The loud bell suddenly rang in a high pitch, causing the colt to nearly jump out of his seat. Soon everyone in the class began to rush out of the small packed room, Silver giggling happily about finding a mythic staircase after classes. Ocellus delicately collecting her items in a saddlebag, cantering over to Sandbar’s side. “You coming Sandy?” Ocellus asked with a small blush. “You can stay and chat if you like?” AJ spoke up as Sandbar just let out a sigh, quickly smiling afterwards. “It’s nothing after all teach! Just forget I said anything!” Sandbar gave a nervous chuckle, quickly rushing out the door with his changeling friend. AJ batted long lashes softly, feeling a ping of something bad on the horizon within her chest. Praying that all would be ok and that the princesses would protect her students, for now and always. The halls were packed with many students of various kinds, most were new here as the weeks began to pass the count just kept rising. Soon the large castle like school might not be enough to hold everyone, but hopefully that was still some time off. “So what was that question all about?” Ocellus spoke up in interest, walking at Sandbar’s side sweetly her frame so much smaller than his. “Hmm. You wouldn’t understand.” He gave a loud groan aloud. “Try me?” “Do you ever feel like you can’t be yourself, wishing that you could just become someone else? That maybe then you’d be noticed by someone…” Sandbar spoke up his words a bit broken, his spirit flying low. “You are totally right, I have no idea how that feels.” Ocellus gave the colt a blank stare and a small huff. “Hehehe. Oops sorry.” He broke out into a loud chuckle, the changeling about to speak up when a greyish blur flew over to them wildly. “Look! Head Mare Twilight is talking to our friends, ALSO THEY’RE COVERED IN PUKE!” Silver gave a loud squee as her dainty claw pointed to the main office door slightly ajar, Spike walking over and shutting it quickly. “I wonder what’s happening?” Sandbar spoke with a sense of worry, glancing to Silver who nodded along in agreement. “Like I know! If only we had a friend with a wacky power, like being able to transform into things!” Silver turned and squished her face against Ocellus cutely, the small changeling sighing aloud. Head Mare Twilight gave a stern glare to each child before her, mane slicked up into the air by sticky waste of a greenish hue. Those violet colored eyes burning deeply into each child, Yona shivering wildly in place out of pure fear while a loud knock could be heard. “Enter.” Twilight spoke in a icy tone, her hooves clicking together The large wooden door swinging open as AJ walked into the office, her dark green eyes watching the events of the room unfold with interest. Twilight giving her friend a slight brow raise, flaunting a slender hoof her way. “Well Applejack?” “Oh! I need to talk to you about a study plan, but I can wait till you are done…..howdy.” AJ gave a nervous smile weakly, Twilight simply rolling her eyes. “Who of you three,came up with this plan? I need to know who to punish.” Twilight gave a frown to each creature, Smolder quickly elbowing Gallus in his side. “Ow! I have no idea, I just know Yona stacked her plates waaay too high.” Gallus gave a quick and hasty reply. “Is yak in trouble? Yak can’t bring shame to yak clan, yak would be exiled to the many winds!” Yona yelled aloud in fear, her tiny hooves slamming down onto Twilight’s desk. Twilight sighed as her desk simply cracked down the middle, a small shift later it split into two separate halves with a dull thud. Spike in the corner of the room snickering, Twilight glaring to the small dragon in disapproval. “Spike go clean up the cafeteria.” “Hahaha...wait what!?” Spike gave a sudden gasp in horror, Twilight just flashing a small smirk. “Grrr. I saved an empire twice and still have…” The young dragon mumbled aloud, dragging his claws across the floor as he exited. “Now do none of you wish to admit, that they might have pushed Yona to this event?” Twilight swiftly tossed her mane back, eyes locking onto the young griffon before her. Smolder simply let her gaze fall to the floor in silence, a look of shame across her face as Yona let her lower lip quiver in place. Gallus softly whistling aloud, his eyes darting out a nearby window. “AJ! Tell them how important the truth is.” Twilight gave a sly wink to the apple mare standing to her right. “Students! The truth is our most important quality, it shows how much we can be trusted and in return how much trust is given! If our word is worth nothing, then how do we expect another to open their hearts to us?” AJ spoke up proud and with a stern gaze to Gallus who gave a loud groan. “Well said Applejack.” Twilight smiled as AJ simply blushed. “Ok fine it was me! I might have caused her to blow chunks everywhere!” Gallus crossed his arms slowly, glaring down to the floor in growing anger. “Thank you Gallus. That was very mature of you, do you have anything to say to Yona?” Twilight spoke in a sweeter voice, the young griffon moaning aloud. “Gah! I’m sorry or whatever!” He shook his head in shame, feeling like a total wimp right now. “Yak accept your forced apology!” Yona smiled sweetly. “Smolder please walk Yona back to her dorm. Gallus head to the cafeteria with Spike, I want to see the whole place spotless.” The Head Mare spoke with a stern but fair tone, the griffon just rolling his eyes. The door to the office swinging open widely, Applejack walking inside with a slight canter in her step. Coming face to face with her twin, as a look of shock took over her small frame. “Uhhh. Howdy?” Ocellus gave a light worried giggle, her ears folding back as the green light engulfed her and returned her back to normal. “Ocellus go clean up the cafeteria too.” Twilight shook her head in defeat, a sense of dread slowly creeping across her hooves. “That doesn’t sound too bad.” Ocellus spoke with a slight chipper tone, Gallus walking over and wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “Yeah. Just keep saying that, might make it true.” Gallus gave the petite changeling an eye roll, the tiny creature gazing down in worry. “Welp! Better be off.” Smolder gave a light giggle, opening the office door as Silver and Sandbar fell into the room with a loud thud. “Grrrr!” Twilight could feel her left eye twitching. “We should all just clean up the cafeteria, shouldn’t we?” Smolder winced in place, Twilight just nodding in silence as anger boiled deep within her. “Cheese it!” Sandbar spoke in a haste filled voice, the whole group rushing out of the room in a flash. “Where did I go wrong Applejack?” Twilight whimpered aloud in her seat, AJ sniffing the air softly before scrunching up her muzzle. “What smells like old corn?” > Gallus Chapter.1. What Is Strength? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “So I told Professor Rarity is it true, that in this land exist a flight of stairs that can move on their own?” Silver spoke in a giggly tone of voice, her claws moving at a speed of light as she quickly cleaned the floors of the cafeteria. “What did she say?” Sandbar gave a reply in a polite manner. “She said yes! That they are called ESCAGATORS!” The hippogryph gave a loud squeal, that easily echoed around the empty room. Gallus could feel his eyes twitch from the loud noises filling the room, he could only grit his teeth in growing anger towards the creatures. Yona flashing him an odd look, confused from the conversation she just overheard. “Escagators sound tough and as if they would have mighty jaws! Not as tough as yak jaws though, yak can chew through rock if need be.” Yona spoke up sweetly as Ocellus just let a giggle slip out. “It’s Escalators! That and yak’s can’t chew through rocks, they can barely clean up!” Gallus gave a loud snap to the room, Yona backing up frightened as she knocked over a large bucket of waste onto the floor. “Dude chill!” Smolder flaunted a claw towards the griffon, the young male just rolling his eyes in reply. “You chill! Ever since I’ve come here, I feel as if I’m being turned into a wimp!” “Yak no wimp! Yak challenge you to death battle now!” The large yak snorted out a cloud of steam from her nostrils. “Don’t push me tons of fun!” Gallus gave a growl to the yak, showing off his razor like claws that he lifted into the air. “Don’t fight! I’m sorry for bringing up escagators!” Silver swooped in between her two friends, hoping that she might be able to avoid a fight breaking out. “Yak not a ton! Yak light as feather!” Yona gave a stomp on the ground, the whole building shaking for a split second. “I agree with Silver. What’s with you, Gallus, we stopped by our dorms before here and you’re acting all psycho?” Smolder raised a brow to her griffon friend, he in turn just scowled. “I’m out of here! I don’t have to be weak like you!” The griffon gave a softer growl, his claw pointing to Sandbar in the corner who gasped. Within a blur of blue the griffon exited the room, slamming the large wooden double doors behind him loudly. “What did he mean, weak like me?” Sandbar pointed to himself confused. “You are the smallest of the group.” Smolder hid a soft giggle behind a claw. “Uh hello!? Ocellus?” Sandbar scoffed and pointed to the delicate changeling at his side. “Yeah. But she can like totally make herself huge with her craaaazy powers!” Silver spoke up in a excited tone of voice, waving her claws wildly in the air as her eyes did a crazy dance side to side. “Whatever something is wrong, we need to check up on him. Whose with me?” Sandbar asked the group. “We’d just end up fighting.” Smolder pouted. “Yak can come, yak must still fight him to the death.” Yona nodded proudly before kicking over another bucket of waste. “Uhhh.” Ocellus softly looked away, gazing out a nearby open window. “I’ll come! I sooo care about our friend, totally not wanting to get away from this puke everywhere!” Silver darted to the side of Sandbar excitedly. “Nopony else?” He winced in place, the crowd just giving him silence. “Heehee! You’re stuck with me!” Silver gave a loud squeal, quickly darting out the doors and into the light of outside. The colt gave a defeated sigh in place, at least this might turn out interesting. “Ok here is the game plan! I’ll bust in and pounce onto Gallus, where he should then fight back so, Yona you will headbutt him into submission.” Silver spoke in a highly serious voice, the young yak simply nodding along. “Uhh?” Sandbar could only blink confused. “After he is dazed ,Sandbar here will have a heart to heart with him and fix everything!” The young hippogriff gave a soft giggle, resting her claw on the knob of Gallus’s door. “Silver that’s crazy…” “Crazy like a fox!” Silver suddenly gave a loud scream her claw flinging open the door, Sandbar gasping in horror as the creature dashed inside. “No!” “Prepare to open your heart and...awwww is that a Sandbar plushie?” Silver skid to a stop inside the dorm room, seeing the young griffon on his back punching a small plush colt in his claw. “Huh!? What no!” He rolled his eyes and tossed the plush behind him, Sandbar walking inside with Yona confused indeed noticing the toy did look like him. “We came to…” “Battle to the death! And make sure you are doing ok…” Yona stomped inside with a soft huff, gazing around the room checking things out. “Grrr I’m fine you dorks! It’s just some toy I keep around, when I want to punch something.” Gallus rolled his eyes slowly, the colt taking a seat on the side of his bed worriedly. “Like why do you need to punch something?” Sandbar spoke up in a serious tone. Silver gave a soft squee behind the boys, crawling up onto the bed as she swiftly scooped up the small plushie and began playing with it. A series of soft coos escaping her mouth, eyes sparkling brightly in the dim light of the room. “Wouldn’t you like to know weirdo! Coming here with your gal pals, thinking I want to gossip with you?” Gallus gave a loud snap, Yona lifting onto her hind hooves in the background reading a letter on a nearby dresser. “Awww! C’mon Gallus you can share with us, and even if you feel uncomfortable how about…” Silver lifted the plushie up to the face of the young griffon. “You can tell me hoo-hoo! I’ll let you punch me afterwards!” The hippogriff spoke in a cute sing-song voice, making the plush colt dance in the air. “I hate you all so much…” Gallus gave a blank stare to Silver. “Welp I tried! Sandbar tag in!” Silver did a flip off the bed giggling, tossing the plush onto the colt’s lap before walking out of the dorm into the hallway. “Seriously dude we care about you, I know you think it is showing weakness but sometimes strength comes from others instead from within.” The colt ran a hoof over the plush, gently placing it beside his friend afterwards. “Whatever.” “I won’t push it, Gallus. But remember you aren’t alone.” The colt nodded and made his way outside in silence. Gallus could just sigh aloud in growing defeat, he wanted to be alone yet instead he felt more loved than ever. His eyes lifting away from the floor, coming face to face with Yona locking eyes with him. “What?!” “Yak see letter, griffon’s friends are entering a warrior’s school!” “...” “Yak know you feel weak, watching those you grew up with take the path of action. Griffon feeling ashamed for searching for peace, that it is the weak way out.” Yona nodding softly in place. “...” “Yak think peace is powerful in its own right, so is griffon! Yak think both are good, yeah both are strong...no shame...no shame.” Yona lifted off her hooves, wrapping Gallus into a warm hug. The griffon looking down in silence, his arms slowly embracing his friend tightly. The thoughts of letting his kind down lifting slightly,perhaps he could find a way to prove himself here. As long as he didn’t exclude his friends, together they could perhaps face anything.