No Place Like Home
Gallus yawned as he woke up from his nap, the train’s slowing motion bringing him to wakefulness as it rolled into the station. By his side, he heard a muffled snicker as he slowly sat up.
Gallus rolled his eyes as he looked over to the hypogriff.
“All right, what is it this time?” He asked, his expression a deadpan.
“Aw, it’s just you look so cute when you’re waking up~!” Silverstream said, reaching a claw out and smoothing the cowlicks in his feathers. “Just the way your feathers get smushed looks so adorable!” Gallus couldn’t help his beak cracking into a smile at that.
“Well, you don’t look too bad yourself, Silverstream.”
Letting off another yawn, he got onto all four claws before slinging his saddlebags back on his back and heading to the door, Silverstream quickly following with her own.
“Ooh, I can’t wait to see your hometown Gallus!” She excitedly said as they dodged around families of grifs heading home for Hearth’s Warming, all of them making their way to the exit. “I wanna meet everygrif you grew up with, the grifs who raised you and then you can show me around the sights!”
Gallus gave an exasperated sigh as they finally got off the train. “I’ve told you before, Silver, Griffonstone isn’t as great as the name says it is. We’re only here because you wanted me to spend more time at home.”
Walking to the side, they took off from the platform and flew up the mountain to Griffonstone.
“You hardly ever talk about it! It’s like you don’t want to be there!”
“Uh, yeah, I really don’t want to be there.” Gallus sarcastically replied. “Who would?”
Silverstream gave a gesture to the other griffons flying up the mountain. “They would!”
Gallus deigned not to reply as they finally reached the summit. They landed and walked through the gates to the town, packed snow cold beneath their claws.
The sight that greeted them wasn’t the prettiest one. The buildings that sprawled out in front of them were dirty and looked weathered, even under a blanket of snow, and they almost looked like decay had started to set into the stones that made them as well.
And yet, though the town was dirty, and the buildings looked a good shove away from collapsing, Silverstream’s look of awe stayed on her face through all of it, like a baby bird seeing the world for the first time.
“Wow, Gallus! Griffonstone looks so amazing! Just look at how old the houses are, they must be really strong! And that tree must be the castle King Grover lived!” She pointed out the husk of a tree with a stone structure on it, “I hope I can see it later!”
He smiled at her, “I’m sure we can see it all later, Silver, but right now we need a place to stay.” He started pushing through the crowds and further into town, Silverstream by his side as they plowed on.
Despite his earlier thoughts on it, the town really did look like it was getting better. All around there were griffons, joking with each other and laughing, some just sitting contentedly with their loved ones, enjoying each other’s company and the sights all around them. And sprinkled among the crowds were ponies, changelings, hypogriffs and even a couple yaks, all smiling as they went on their way through town.
Scattered over the buildings were tinsel and wreaths, arranged in an aesthetically pleasing pattern, coloring the inner city red and green, and even if he didn’t see them before, the decorations really did liven up the scenery.
Honestly, even if most of the place was run down, things looked like they were taking a turn for the better in griffonstone ever since they had helped out Equestria defeat their three greatest villains.
Though, nothing would have gotten better if Gilda hadn’t-
“Strudels for sale! Piping hot strudels for sale!” A griffon with a brown coat of feathers and a crest of pale green ones shouted from just outside what looked like a recently built bakery.
“Ooh, ‘Gilda’s Ganache!’” Silverstream blushed as a growl rose from her gut at the thought of food. “Maybe we can get something to eat before finding a place to stay?”
Gallus held in a snicker and settled for an amused grin. “I’m sure there will still be lodging after we eat. Come on.”
He walked over and into the bakery, his nose instantly flooding with the sugary scents of the sweet confectionaries within. Directly across from the door, past a few tables and not just a few other patrons, stood the counter for the bakery, cakes and pies on racks behind it, with muffins, scones, cupcakes and strudels all protected behind glass cases on the counter.
They quickly got into the line, silent for the most part to keep from disturbing any other grifs there.
Eventually, the line progressed far enough that they could actually see the one selling the foods. Behind the counter, selling her pies and her cakes, her scones and her strudels, was the Bakery’s namesake, Gilda, a smile on her beak and flour in her feathers.
“So she’s the Gilda?” Silverstream whispered to Gallus.
“The one and only.” He grinned lightly. “You know, her scones actually used to taste like dirt.”
Silverstream’s eyes widened before she glanced to the side to confirm that, yes, those ponies eating the scones were not dying of food poisoning.
“What happened to fix it?”
Gallus just rolled his eyes. “Same thing that’s always happened, the Elements of Harmony swooped in and saved the day, and everygrif’s taste buds.”
“They really do a lot for everycreature, don’t they?” Silverstream contemplated that with a content smile. “I’m glad we finally returned the favor with Cozy Glow, Chrysalis and- Wait, what was that last ones name again?”
He let off a short laugh. “Tirek, birdbrain.”
“Yeah, him!”
At this point they had finally made it up to the counter, a grinning Gilda meeting.
“Hello, welcome to Gilda’s Ganache!” Gilda greeted, “What would you like tod- Wait, Gallus? Is that you?” She ended off, surprised.
He let off a sly grin. “Do you know any other devilishly handsome blue griffons?”
Gilda’s grin widened. “Cocky as always, you fluffbrain. Here with your girlfriend I see...” She appraised Silverstream up and down. “Not a bad catch, if I say so myself, Gallus.”
He let off a squawk of indignation while Silverstream held up a claw to muffle some laughter.
“Sh- She is not my girlfriend!” He denied, “We’re just friends spending the holidays together.”
Gilda gave him a skeptical look. “Riiiight...” Abruptly, she changed the subject. “So, how’s it feel being the big grif on campus, eh?”
He gave her a confused look. “Uh, what do you mean?”
“Well, ever since you convinced Griffonstone to help Equestria out, tourism has been booming, and all that money and fame was traced back to you and your big beak getting us involved.” She said, pulling a newspaper from behind her counter with his picture on the front, headlined ’Business’ Booming, Hometown Hero To Thank’ in large, black lettering.
“Oh, wow Gallus!” Silverstream exclaimed. “You’re famous!”
He just put a claw to his face, groaning in embarrassment. “Can we please just get some food, Gilda?”
She laughed before grabbing a bag and filling it with strudels and scones, before handing it to a surprised Silverstream.
“Here, on the house.” Gilda said, winking. “Come again, hero.”
Gallus and Silverstream walked away from the counter, a light laugh from Gilda as they departed, and went back outside. From there, they started heading down the street again, Gallus leading the way.
“Wow, she was really nice Gallus! You two must be close.” Silverstream said, fishing out a strudel from the bag. “Mmm, this is really good~!”
Gallus chuckled a bit, a faint smile on his beak. “Yeah, she was the closest thing to a sister I had growing up, though we did drift apart after she moved out from Grampa Gruff’s.”
“She must have been fun to hang out with.” Silverstream said around a mouthful of strudel. “Did you ever miss her after she left?”
“Well, she was still in Griffonstone, most of the time, and I saw her here and there, but yeah, I guess I did miss her, sometimes...” He let off a small sigh, memories of the past bubbling up. “It’s nice to see she finally made it big with her passion for baking.”
He reached over and fished a scone from the bag, popping it in his mouth, letting out a surprised grunt of satisfaction. “Well, well, looks like she did improve the recipe.”
Silverstream gave a triumphant grin in his direction. “Told you it was a good idea to spend more time here!”
Gallus sighed, facepalming. “Let’s just go find a place to stay, okay?”
With that, he quickened his pace, intent on finding somewhere to rest, Silverstream snacking on strudels right behind him.
“I’m afraid we’re out of room here, sir.” The stuffy grif behind the clerk desk said, looking through a ledger.
“What do you mean ‘out of room’? There can’t be that many creatures visiting Griffonstone.” Gallus asked, irritated.
“I mean just that,” He continued, “We’re booked in every room all the way past Hearth’s Warming. The last one was filled just a few minutes ago, in fact.”
Gallus blanched at that while Silverstream just gave a cough of embarrassment. The clerk looked at them oddly as they just stood there.
“...Ah, are you two alright?” He asked.
Gallus shook himself out of his stupor and nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine...” He said, turning to the exit, “Come on Silverstream, let’s head out.”
And with that they walked out, leaving the clerk to his work.
“Well the next one has to have room...” Gallus muttered, walking into another hotel.
“I’m afraid...
“Okay, definitely this one.”
“...That we...”
“Why am I even bothering with this one...?”
“Have no room left.”
Gallus sighed in exasperation as he walked out of the latest in the long line of fully booked hotels, Silverstream waiting outside.
“No room...” He said to her, tired from the frustrating task. “There’s no clucking rooms left in this stinking town!”
“Welllll...” Silverstream said, a talon to her chin, “There is one place we haven’t tried yet.”
Gallus turned his head to her, curiosity on his face. “Wait, you know where some other hotel is in Griffonstone?”
“More like a house...” She said, rubbing the back of her neck nervously, “But you won’t like it.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Okay, where are we going to stay?”
Knock~Knock!
Gallus and Silverstream nervously grinned as they stood in front of a house devoid of any ornamentation or decoration, despite the neighboring houses shining with tinsel and wreaths.
“This is a terrible idea...” Gallus said out of the side of his beak.
“We’re out of options...” Silverstream said out of the side of hers.
The door in front of them slowly creaked open, and the head of a vulture-like griffon poked out the opening, glaring at their smiling faces with both his good eye and his bad eye, his fez at a slight tilt on his head.
“Hi, Grampa Gru-!” The door slammed shut before he could finish.
“Oh well, we tried.” Gallus said, starting to walk away, but a magenta claw planted itself on his shoulder, holding him back.
“Come on, Gallus,” Silverstream pouted, “He is your Grampa.”
Gallus sighed before turning back and knocking on the door again. “Technically not my Grampa... But fine, one more shot.”
The door opened yet again and Grampa Gruff glared at them again as well.
“You didn’t take the hint the first time? Beat it!” He practically snarled out at them. “Find some other Griffon to bug!”
Before he could slam the door shut again, Silverstream jumped forward and put a claw on it, holding it open.
“Wait!” She pleaded, “All the hotels are full, and we don’t have anywhere else to go!”
Grampa Gruff huffed at that. “I don’t see how that’s my problem!”
“But this is your grandkid-“
“TECHNICALLY, not my grandkid!”
“Fine, he’s practically family! Doesn’t that mean anything?!” She pleaded.
“Bah, most of my family are a buncha freeloaders and nothing but trouble!” He huffed. “Now beat it!”
“We can pay you to let us stay,” Gallus spoke up, causing Grampa Gruff to pause in shutting the door.
“...How much?” The old griffon asked, while Silverstream looked aghast at the prospect.
“Forty bits for us to spend the week here sound like a fair deal?” He offered.
“Fifty bits! And I’m not giving ya any of my food!” Gruff countered.
“Forty-five, and you give us breakfast.”
“Fifty-five, and you can have dinner but no breakfast!”
Gallus grinned. “Sounds like a deal to me!”
Gruff harrumphed before opening the door all the way for the two to enter. “Well get in here, before I change my mind and leave you in the cold!”
A smug Gallus and a slightly confused Silverstream walked into the house.
“What just happened?” Silverstream asked.
“Oh, just buying our way through Hearth’s Warming. Cheaper than a hotel, too!”
Silverstream followed Gallus into the house, making their way down the hall to what looked like a decently sized living room.
All around were furs from different animals and candles of various colors, ranging from purple to green. On one wall, above a brick fireplace, was a painting of a beautiful griffoness, with a brown body and a grey crest, a necklace of pearls on her neck.
Over to one side was a dining room with a kitchen a bit behind it, the dining room boasting a table made from a tree stump with six stools surrounding it, a large amount of birdhouses holding various jars split between the dining room and kitchen along one wall, with a net holding sealed clay pots above the table up against the tree-like ceiling.
The kitchen had a variety of pots and pans lined along the back wall, with cupboards taking up the rest of the space. A stove stood in the corner, a pot on it with a stew cooking inside it.
And sitting at the table in the dining room was a small brown griffon who looked up at Gallus with slight disdain.
“What are you doing here?” He asked.
Gallus sighed, annoyed by the child. “And a ‘hello’ to you too, Gavin.”
“What’s he doing here, Grampa Gruff! And why’s there a girl with him?” He asked the griff in question, who had just walked into the room and was heading into the kitchen.
“They’re paying to eat, sleep and be a pain in the tail feathers.” Gruff answered simply. “Be rude if you want, I’m still getting bits out of this.”
Before anyone could say anything else, Silverstream walked up to Gavin, sticking a claw out.
“Hi, I’m Silverstream! It’s so nice to meet you, and, awww, you just look so adorable~!” Silverstream said, grabbing Gavin and giving him a big hug despite the loud shouting to the negative from said child. “I just wanna hold you forever and never let you go~!”
The sounds of Gavin struggling were drowned out by Grampa Gruff’s and Gallus’ guffaws of laughter.
“Gallus! Get this pink Timberwolf off of me!” Gavin pleaded.
“Silver— Snicker, Silverstream, could you please, hehe~, Please put Gavin down?” Gallus asked, laughing the whole way through.
“Oh, sure!” Silverstream let Gavin go on the stool he was sitting on before, from which he immediately raced away to the opposite side of the table.
“You,” Gavin hissed at Silverstream, “Are evil.”
“Your fault for being a shrimp.” Gallus retorted.
Gavin simply huffed and turned away from the other griffs in the room, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge them further.
“Is he always this grumpy?” Silverstream asked.
“Nah,” Gallus answered, “Just when anycreature calls him cute, when there’s strangers around or when I tease him. All three happened at once, so he’s really grumpy.”
“Bah, quit your whining!” Grampa Gruff grumbled. “Dinner is almost ready!”
Gallus shrugged and took a seat at the table, Silverstream almost sitting to his left, though he subtly nudged her to his other side and away from Grampa Gruff’s favorite stool. The fact that it put her closer to Gavin had nothing whatsoever to do with it.
“Hey, where’s Gabby?” Gallus asked Gavin, “Isn’t she usually here this time of year?”
Gavin huffed. “She’s out visiting her boyfriend.” He replied in disgust.
“Wait, Gabby, the Gabby I used to tease, has a boyfriend?” Gallus asked in disbelief.
“Ooh, who is he?” Silverstream added in.
“Some dragon in-“ Gavin started, before Grampa Gruff cut in.
“Quit your jabbering! Soup’s ready.”
Grampa Gruff brought the pot and four bowls over to the table, ladling them out to each griff and sitting down to eat his bowl, grumpily grumbling about his guests while he did so.
Taking his cue, Gallus, Silverstream and Gavin all started eating from their own bowls. The stew was surprisingly savory, with a salty taste to it that made it enjoyable.
“So...” Gavin said after a few minutes, “How long are you staying for?”
“Just the week, then Silverstream and I are back to Ponyville.” Gallus replied.
Gruff huffed at that. “Why they ever named a town after their own race, I’ll never know...”
Silverstream looked confused by that. “Wait, isn’t this the kingdom of Griffonstone?”
Gruff, with an annoyed look on his face, opened his beak to retort, but paused halfway through and just settled on giving her a glower, returning to eating stew.
Gallus subtly gave her an amused grin, going back to his food.
“...And here’s where you two will be sleeping.” Grampa Gruff said, gesturing at two guest rooms down a side hall.
“You better not keep me up with any racket you kids are gonna make!” He additionally growled out before turning and heading back down the hall and towards his own room.
Gallus just rolled his eyes, turning back to Silverstream. “So, what do you think of my,” Gallus gestured some air quotes, “‘Family?’”
“Grandpa Gruff does seem a bit cold, but he’s been really nice!” She said, smiling, “And Gavin is just the cutest little Griff... He seems to look up to you a lot, like a big brother.”
Gallus ‘hmmed’ in thought at that.
He really does, doesn’t he...?
He gave Silverstream an amused smile. “Only ‘cause I was the only other guy who isn’t Grampa Gruff in this house. Honestly, he probably hates me for leaving him stuck with Gabby.”
Silverstream smiled. “I knew you’d like being back home. Just look at you, you’re happy!”
“I suppose I am...” He replied.
And, seeing her in the light of the moon streaming from the window, she looked... Breathtaking. Beautiful in every way he could imagine, and a few that he couldn’t.
And then he did something. Something impulsive, which afterwards he couldn’t explain exactly why he did it, but was so very glad he did.
Gallus leaned over to Silverstream and gave her a kiss on the cheek before pulling back, smiling at her shocked face.
“Goodnight, Silverstream.” He said, walking into his room and shutting the door.
And in the hall, staring at the door Gallus just closed, Silverstream couldn’t help smiling herself.
“Goodnight, Gallus...” She whispered before heading into her own room, her heart as light as her foot falls.