> Coming Out
>  by Melody Song
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue 1: It's Okay
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Mmm...Sandy.” Gallus mumbled in his sleep, burrowing his head into his Earth Pony companion. Gallus sighed contentedly as he felt the pony shift.

They were sleeping in their shared dorm room, in the late autumn months. The teachers had just started removing the Nightmare Night decorations, and if you looked close, you could see Cloudsdale in the distance, heading for Ponyville. The autumnal chill was one of Gallus’ favorite weather types, if only for one reason: he got more snuggle time.

Gallus’ eyes opened slowly. He was in that sleepy state where he was just barely aware of his surroundings. Gallus blinked a few times and put his talons on his companion’s chest, pushing himself up so he slid up in bed. Sandbar grunted and opened his eyes, smiling at Gallus.

“Morning Gally.” Sandbar sat up too.

“Oh, sorry, did I wake you Sandy?” Gallus asked, reaching and running his claw through the pony’s mane.

“No, I was just waking up too.” Sandbar closed his eyes again and pressed his head into Gallus’ claw. “Just a little lower Gal, I’ve got an itch back there.”

Gallus smiled at him and shifted his talons to scratch the pony behind the ears. Sandbar sighed with delight and leaned into Gallus, burying his head into the griffon’s feathers.

“Gal...do we have class today?” Sandbar mumbled, and Gallus smirked

“Sandy, you should know by now, classes are for the weak.” Gallus leaned over and nipped Sandbar’s ear gently.

“Gally…” Sandbar warned, voice muffled by the Griffon’s feathers.

“Fine. Loyalty class starts in thirty minutes.” Gallus replied, glancing over at the clock to be sure.

“What? Gal, we’ve got to go!” Sandbar tried leaping off the bed, but Gallus was bigger than him and easily grabbed the pony around the waist, pulling him back into an embrace.

“Not so fast Sandy.” Gallus crooned, pressing his beak against Sandbar’s muzzle in an almost-kiss.

“Gally, let me go.” Sandbar struggled, and Gallus sighed sadly. “What’s wrong?”

“I wanted to have a nice, quiet morning. You know, some snuggles with my Sandy, wake up late. Fake being sick so Ocellus and Smolder can get our homework and we can just cuddle together all day.” Gallus buried his head in Sandbar’s neck, trying not to cry.

“Gally…” Sandbar lifted his chin. “I know you want that but...I want to go to class. Can we save a quiet day for the weekend?”

“But during the weekend it might not be cold. I want to cuddle ‘cause it’s nice and cozy.” Gallus protested, and Sandbar kissed him softly.

“Gal, it’ll be plenty cold then. Come on sweetie.” Sandbar replied.

“‘Sweetie’?” Gallus echoed, raising an eyebrow.

“Just trying it out. Does it work?”

“Not really. Stick to Gally.” Gallus replied, and Sandbar nuzzled him.

The two headed out of their dorm room, towards the Loyalty classroom. When they got there, Yona and Silverstream were waiting outside with Smolder and Ocellus.

“Hey guys.” Smolder greeted them.

“Hey.” Gallus replied, blowing the feathers on his head to the side.

The door opened to reveal Professor Dash, who wasn’t looking at them. She was glaring back at something in the room, not noticing the six students.

“I’m telling you, no one’s gonna care. I know it’s not inside your comfort zone but you’re gonna have to step outside it someti-” Professor Dash broke off when she saw them.

“Um, hi Professor. I know we’re early, we were just hanging out before class started.” Ocellus said nervously.

“It’s fine Ocellus. I was just about to let you guys in.” Professor Dash turned and led them into the classroom, where two mares stood.

One was easily recognizable, Spitfire Flare, who had substituted for Professor Dash once before. The other was less familiar. She had an ice blue coat, white mane, and almond-shaped, fuschia eyes. Her cutie mark was a blue horseshoe with a yellow blaze underneath.

“These are two of my fellow Wonderbolts. You know Spitfire, the captain. This is Fleetfoot, the third-in-command. They’re going to help me with class today.” Professor Dash explained, trotting over to the mares.

“What’s she paying you?” Gallus asked, and Spitfire glared at him.

“Nothing. We’re her friends and when Dash mentioned she could use some help, we agreed to join her for the day.” Spitfire replied

“Sorry.” Gallus said, raising his wings in submission. “I didn’t mean it in a rude way, just asking.”

“Yeah, I was wondering that too. Dragons and Griffons just aren’t used to seeing creatures doing stuff to be nice.” Smolder added

“That isn’t even the worst thing they’ve asked Spit, trust me.” Professor Dash told her.

The rest of the class trickled in after them, talking and chattering with each other.

“Alright class, today my friends and I will be demonstrating the importance of remaining loyal to your friends no matter what hardships you may face together.” Professor Dash began

“Hardships?” Silverstream asked

“Yes, for example…” Professor Dash went over to Spitfire and the mare opened her wings. “If Spitfire was practicing and got injured, what would be the correct course of action to take?”

“Run for help?” Ocellus asked

“Take her to the Hospital Wing?” a Unicorn asked

“Leave her there?” Smolder asked, and Professor Dash gave her a look. “What?”

“No. Just no Smolder.”

Smolder gave an “at least I tried” shrug, and crossed her arms.

“Help her to the Hospital Wing and stay with her?” Sandbar suggested

“Yes!” Professor Dash said with an exasperated sigh. “Thank you Sandbar.”

“I thought this wasn’t the very first class.” Spitfire said, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s not.” Professor Dash responded

“Then you need to work on your teaching strategy Dash.”

“Spit, you may be the Captain on the ‘bolts, but I’m the teacher here.” Professor Dash retorted before continuing the lesson.

They continued with a few team sports. Spitfire and Fleetfoot took opposite sides, helping the students, while Professor Dash refereed. After class, the two Wonderbolts were talking with Professor Dash. Gallus and Sandbar hung back with the others so they could talk.

“I really don’t want to go to Professor Rarity’s class.” Gallus muttered

“What's the use in complaining? You can't do anything about it.” Smolder replied

“Watch and learn Smolder.” Gallus cleared his throat and turned to Professor Dash. “Um, Professor Dash?”

“Yes Gallus?” Professor Dash asked, and he began coughing.

“I-I think I’m coming down with something. Can I be excused from classes?”

Fleetfoot, who hadn’t spoken the whole class period, now leaned over and whispered something to Professor Dash. She nodded, and turned back to Gallus.

“Yeah, nice try Gallus-actually, that was a terrible try. Go to class.” Professor Dash replied

“Worth a shot.” Smolder told him, clapping him on the back before leaving.

“Yeah yeah.” Gallus grumbled, following her.

“Gallus, you knew it wasn’t gonna work.” Sandbar said as they walked out into the hall.

Gallus responded with a smirk, grabbing Sandbar and pulling him up to his chest. Gallus backed against the wall, rearing onto his back paws, holding Sandbar. He put his beak by the colt’s ear.

“True. But it got them out of the way.” Gallus whispered

“G-Gallus!” Sandbar exclaimed, drawing the adults’ attention. “We’re gonna be late!”

“Aw, who cares? Professor Rarity’s classes are always dull. Why would I waste my time with that when I could be doing more important stuff?” Gallus asked.

Rainbow, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot looked out of the classroom. They saw Gallus, pressed back against the wall, standing on his hind legs. He was holding Sandbar in his front claws, lifting the smaller creature up. Sandbar was struggling in his grip.

“I know you don’t care about class, but I do.”

“Yeah, and being five minutes late won’t kill you. Who are you, Ocellus?”

“Gallus, put me down.” Sandbar said, wriggling to try and get away.

“Not until you do what I want.”

“We’re in public!”

“We’re in a deserted hallway! Why do you think I faked the coughing? So the others would leave without us. I knew it wasn’t gonna work. Just do it and I’ll let you go.” Gallus replied

Sandbar sighed, then reached. He slipped his hooves around Gallus’ neck and kissed him. Gallus pulled the colt closer, letting his claws drop lower, so they rested around the pony’s back. They kissed a minute longer, then broke apart. Sandbar, blushing furiously, looked to the side.

“Put me down now Gally.” he mumbled.

Gallus smirked and set the pony down. Sandbar picked up his bags, turned, and saw them. He dropped his saddlebags again, making Gallus look over.

“Oh.” Gallus backed up. “We were just heading to class…”

“We saw everything Gallus. And trust me, when you hang around AJ long enough you find it pretty easy to tell when someone’s lying.” Rainbow told him.

“W-we didn’t mean to do anything wrong.” Gallus said, grabbing Sandbar’s bags.

“What did you do wrong?” Spitfire asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Nevermind. Come on Sandbar.” Gallus grabbed the pony’s foreleg and dragged him off.

“Dash…” Spitfire turned to her friend, raising a brow.

“It’s not illegal or anything. But remember Spit, Gallus grew up in Griffonstone. He has no idea how accepting ponies are and clearly Sandbar’s too shy to fill him in.” Rainbow explained

“Fine. I guess we’ll have to do it ourselves.” Spitfire replied

“Yeah, come on Thpitty.” Fleetfoot nuzzled Spitfire, then set off after the griffon and pony.

"Guys! They have class, c'mon at least wait until their break!" Rainbow raced after them.

-----------------------------------------------

After Generosity class, they had some free time. Smolder, Ocellus, Gallus, and Sandbar made an excuse to Yona and Silverstream that they wanted to have a study session to help Smolder and Gallus. The two didn’t question it and went to the library. Spitfire and Fleetfoot followed the four students in secret, until the group went into one of their dorm rooms.

“We alone?” Gallus asked once Ocellus had closed the door.

“Duh.” Smolder replied, sitting down on her bed.

“He means, is anyone listening?” Sandbar asked for Gallus, who took a seat on Ocellus’ bed.

“Nope. Now come here Celly.” Smolder held out her arms, and Ocellus flew into them. Smolder pulled her close and kissed her cheek.

“Smoldie!” Ocellus giggled, snuggling into the dragoness’ arms.

“Sandy~” Gallus called in a sing-song voice. Sandbar climbed onto the bed beside him.

Sandbar sighed as he let himself be held in the griffon's warm embrace. He pressed his lips to Gallus’ beak in a longing, passionate kiss. The two homosexual couples sat on the beds, cuddling up to each other, a reward after a long day of work.

-----------------------------------------------

Spitfire and Fleetfoot were waiting for the group to come out, and Fleetfoot placed a tentative hoof on Spitfire’s chest.

“You know, I didn’t get much cuddle time with you latht night...” Fleetfoot began

“Now is not the time for that Fleet. We can talk about it later.” Spitfire replied, looking at the door to avoid showing Fleetfoot how much she was blushing.

“Who thaid anything about talking?” Fleetfoot asked, voice silky sweet and low. Spitfire turned and looked into her gorgeous eyes.

“Buck it.” Spitfire muttered at last. “C’mere baby.” Spitfire pulled Fleetfoot into her and kissed her passionately. They stayed that way, Spitfire letting Fleetfoot push her against the wall.

-----------------------------------------------

“We should go find Yona and Silver before they come looking for us.” Ocellus sighed, from where she was curled in Smolder’s arms.

The two couples reluctantly separated and opened the door. There, they saw Spitfire and Fleetfoot, leaning against the wall, kissing. Fleetfoot was pressing Spitfire to the wall, hooves against the other mare’s chest.

“Um...” Gallus cleared his throat and they broke apart.

“Oh, kids, we were just looking for you.” Spitfire said, turning red.

“You-you’re gay? Or-lesbian?” Ocellus asked. Spitfire cleared her throat and looked away, clearly embarrassed.

“I’m lethbian. Thpitfire’th Bi.” Fleetfoot said, slipping her hooves around the taller mare’s neck.

“You have a-” Smolder was about to say.

“You say one word about it and I’ll knock you into next week.” Spitfire snarled, leaping to Fleetfoot’s defense. Fleetfoot sighed a little and kissed her cheek gently.

“You know I like how you defend me Thpitty, but thometimeth it’th really not neceththary.”

“Anyway, you were looking for us?” Gallus asked

“Yes. We were just going to tell you that you don’t have to hide your relationship.” Spitfire said, clearing her throat.

“You just were, technically.” Ocellus objected

“That’s different. If word got out that the Captain of the Wonderbolts was dating her third-in-command, rumors would be flying around faster than Rainbow Dash.” Spitfire replied "Besides, we don't always know who we can trust, being famous. But in general, it's no big deal."

“But...I was always made fun of in Griffonstone for it.” Gallus said

“Does this look like Griffonstone to you? Ponies are very accepting.” Spitfire said

“Mm-hmm. I remember when we came out to the other ‘boltth. They were really happy for uth. They’re our friendth, of courthe, and thupport uth.” Fleetfoot added.

“Really?” Gallus asked

“Yeah. And it’s okay to be scared of what others may think, but you should tell them anyway.” Spitfire said

“It’s so different here.” Gallus sighed

“Well, glad we were able to help.” Spitfire shrugged, wrapping her wing over Fleetfoot’s back.

“Don’t you need to go back and help Professor Dash?” Ocellus asked

“Crash can handle a class on her own, clearly she’s done it before."

"So, I think the first course of action would...maybe be telling those closest to us?" Ocellus suggested

"Probably a good idea. It seems like you're hiding from the other two in your friend group as well, not really a good idea." Spitfire said "For now though, do you have any more questions?” Spitfire asked

“Yeah. Starting with why you said ‘Crash’ instead of ‘Dash’ a minute ago.” Smolder said, and Spitfire grinned mischievously.

“Oh, you’re gonna love this…”
> Prologue 2: Planning
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So... who's up first?" Smolder asked

The dragoness was lying on her stomach on the floor of her shared dorm room with Ocellus. The changeling in question was curled up beside her. Gallus and Sandbar were lying opposite them, cuddled up together. Gallus had a wing over Sandbar, and Smolder had a claw resting on Ocellus' hoof. Ocellus had a quill levitated in her magic and was poised over the paper lying between them all.

"Silverstream and Yona, obviously." Sandbar said

"Well... I don't know... Silver's not great at secrets... and neither is Yona, for that matter." Smolder objected

"No, but they're our friends. And Spitfire said keeping secrets like this from your friends never ends well..." Sandbar replied

"Kind of sounds like she's had the experience..." Smolder said in a low voice. Ocellus nuzzled her, then spoke up.

"Okay, I'll put them down first..." Ocellus said, scribbling on the paper with the quill. "Next up is definitely our families... so that would be my parents, Smolder's parents..."

"And my brother." Smolder put in. "He's been honest with me about his... unusual interests... so I should be honest with him."

"'Unusual interests'?" Gallus asked

"Unusual for a dragon, anyway." Smolder explained with a shrug.

"Alright, so definitely Garble as well... then would be Sandbar's mom and dad... and Gallus..." Ocellus looked up. Gallus shrugged it off, pulling Sandbar closer and nuzzling him.

"No big deal. I can just go with Sandy when he tells his parents. I know Gruff probably won't care, either that or he'll threaten me or something."

"Maybe we should go with each other." Ocellus said, looking around at them. "You know, all of us. To support each other."

"Maybe, but I doubt Headmare Twilight will give us time off." Gallus replied

"Even then, I don't think we all need to go with each other." Smolder said, stretching.

"Yeah, maybe we should just go in couples." Sandbar agreed

"Either way, we won't need Headmare Twilight to give us time off. The holidays are coming up, we'll just see everycreature we need to tell that isn't in Ponyville during that time." Ocellus reminded him.

"Yeah..." Gallus shifted uncomfortably and glanced at Sandbar. "Uh, do you mind if I crash your holiday Sandy?"

"Of course not babe, you're always welcome." Sandbar kissed his cheek gently. Gallus smiled and wrapped a wing over him.

"Oh, what about Gilda and Gabby?" Ocellus asked suddenly. Gallus looked up at her.

"What about 'em?"

"They're your friends, aren't they?" Ocellus asked, and he shrugged.

Gallus didn't respond, and Smolder cocked her head in confusion. "I mean, you've mentioned them before, right? Something about them getting together with Grandpa Gruff for your Blue Moon Festival?"

"Well, kind of..." Gallus wrapped a claw over Sandbar, who giggled. "Gilda lives with Gruff, he'll take in griffs sometimes. Gabby has her own place, but during Blue Moon I've seen her visit Gilda."

"What about you?" Sandbar asked, concerned.

"Well... I kind of have my own place... it's just a rundown house nogriff's using. Yeah, I've talked with Gilda and Gabby before, they're pretty nice... once Gabby invited me into her place for dinner."

"Well, I think you should tell them. If you're their friend, they should know." Ocellus said

"I guess..." Gallus didn't seem to excited, so they decided to drop it.

"Who else?" Smolder asked

"Um... I was thinking... do you want to... maybe tell our leaders?" Ocellus suggested softly.

"Gruff?" Gallus looked at her as if she had just suggested snow could catch on fire.

"Not him, I meant Thorax and Ember." Ocellus corrected

"Oh, okay-wait, you don't call him King Thorax?" Gallus asked, and Ocellus blushed.

"Well... he said I really don't have to unless we're being formal. He says that to everyling, really, but only those of us who are really close with him actually do." Ocellus said "So...do you think we should tell him and Ember?"

"Eh, maybe. I'm already telling Garble, and Ember and I used to be close as kids..." Smolder trailed off.

"You were? You never told us that." Sandbar said. Smolder shrugged.

"Well, it wasn't like we... I dunno, slept over at each other's caves or something. We didn't really think of each other as friends, since it wasn't something dragons 'did'. We were just a part of the same gang."

"Uh... gang?" Sandbar asked, raising a brow.

"It's a dragon thing, where you join up with groups that share the same morals as you or that you enjoy similar activities to. Ember and I were both kind of put down for being girls, especially since we were so much... well, smaller than most dragons our ages. Still applies now actually... anyway, we were seen as weak and not really worthy of joining any other gangs. Because of that, we just started hanging out, teaching each other to fight... stuff like that." Smolder explained

"So you think she'd want to know?" Ocellus prompted.

"It might be nice to talk with her non-formally again, so... yeah." Smolder decided.

"Okay, so that's Thorax and Ember... do you think the Professors should know?" Ocellus glanced around at them.

"Probably, but we don't have to tell them right away, right?" Smolder asked, Gallus murmuring agreement.

"Heh, probably not." Ocellus said, smiling. "I mean, I'm sure they won't mind, even though we share dorms... and it's not like we can... you know..."

"Oh, never." Sandbar said decisively.

"Hey!" Gallus squawked

"Sorry Gal, just saying, I don't think you and I would yet." Sandbar explained, pressing his muzzle to Gallus' cheek.

"Oh, right. Yeah, we wouldn't... sorry Sandy." Gallus nipped him behind the ear gently.

"It's fine babe." Sandbar nuzzled him.

"So, the Professors can know about us... maybe later on though... but I think that's everyone we need to tell." Ocellus said, setting the quill down.

"Yeah... so all that's left is..." Sandbar trailed off.

They looked around at each other, waiting for one of them to say it.

"So... who's first?" Smolder finally asked. Ocellus spoke up.

"...I think Yona and Silver."
> ...To The Best Friends
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So... how best to do this?" Ocellus asked.

Ocellus was standing with Smolder, Gallus, and Sandbar. They were at the school's library, hiding behind some bookshelves while watching their other friends. Silverstream was lying on her stomach on the carpeted floor, flipping the pages in a book with interest. Yona was lying beside her, drawing something in a notebook.

"Just walk up and say it?" Sandbar suggested

"Sorry Sandy, but I'm just not comfortable with that kind of... bluntness." Gallus nuzzled Sandbar, then ran a claw through his mane.

"Yeah, because you're being so subtle about it, Gallus." Smolder deadpanned. Gallus pulled his claw away, flustered. "C'mon guys, we all agreed they're first up. And they'd be the first we'd tell even if they weren't the first names we wrote on that stupid list..."

"Stupid?" Ocellus whispered

"I-I mean... no, it's not stupid Celly... I just was..." Smolder sighed and her shoulders, usually held up with pride, sagged. "I'm sorry Celly... the list is great, I just... I'm just still not sure I want to do this..."

"None of us are." Sandbar put in helpfully. "But we've got to. Miss Spitfire and Miss Fleetfoot were right, not telling someone is only gonna make it worse."

"I know... but I'm..."

"Yes?" Ocellus asked, looking up at her.

"You can tell us." Sandbar added.

"I... ugh... I'm nervous, okay?"

"You? Nervous?" Gallus scoffed disbelievingly.

"What about you? You're gonna have to come out too." Ocellus spoke up in Smolder's defense. "Aren't you nervous, Gallus?"

"Pfft, please. I laugh in the face of nerves, ahaha." Gallus said, putting a fist to his chest and shaking his head back and forth to swing his feathers.

"Funny. Let's just get this over with..." Smolder sighed

"Seriously, what do you guys wanna bet this is gonna be the easiest one to do?" Gallus asked, looking between them.

"Not much, you're probably right." Smolder replied, crossing her arms.

"Mhm. I know we're all really nervous, but they are our friends. They'll support us no matter what, and they deserve to know." Ocellus told them

"But... what if they don't support us?" Sandbar asked quietly

"Then screw them, because they aren't the friends we thought they were." Gallus replied, nosing him.

"Y'know, for someone who's about to out himself, you sound pretty confident." Smolder said, raising a brow.

"Oh, great, am I pulling it off? Because I'm actually terrified." Gallus said. The girls giggled and Sandbar nuzzled him. "No, guys... I'm serious... I may need some cuddles after this, Sandy..."

"Of course Gally." Sandbar nuzzled his cheek. Gallus chuckled and nipped him behind the ear.

"Come on then... might as well just get it over with." Smolder led them out from their hiding place and they made their way over to the hippogriff and yak.

"Oh, hey guys!" Silverstream said eagerly, getting shushed by some nearby ponies. "Oops, sorry. Hey guys!"

"Hey Silver, Yona." Smolder greeted.

"Hello friends." Yona said, at normal volume.

"So... um, guys... we kind of... have something to tell you..." Ocellus began shyly, blushing.

"Ooh, what is it?" Silverstream asked

"Well, uh... you see... the thing is..."

Ocellus took a deep breath, then blurted it out.

"I'mlesbiananddatingSmolderokay?"

"...Yona no understand friend Ocellus." Yona said after a minute. Ocellus blushed sheepishly.

"Yeah...what did you say?" Silverstream asked

Ocellus steadied herself and took a breath in, then let it out. Confidence suddenly built in her eyes and when she spoke, it was clear and calm. If not a bit quiet.

"I'm lesbian and I'm dating Smolder."

"And... Sandy-I mean... Sandbar and I are also dating..." Gallus added, placing a wing over Sandbar.

Silverstream and Yona stared at them for a minute, then...

"For how long friends together?" Yona asked

"A-A while..." Ocellus admitted "Sm-Smolder and I got together a month or so after the Tree's test in the catacombs..."

"Sandbar and I have been together since a little bit before our first Hearth's Warming at the School." Gallus said

"Y-You're not mad or anything... are you?" Sandbar asked

"No, of course not." Silverstream assured him, reaching out and grasping Ocellus' hoof. "Just... why'd it take you so long to tell us?"

"We didn't mean to wait so long... we just... the longer we waited the harder it was..." Ocellus said softly.

"And we wanted to tell you guys, it's just... we were still figuring things out ourselves..." Smolder added

"And then we got used to keeping it a secret..." Gallus sighed.

"But we knew we couldn't keep it to ourselves any longer... that's why we're telling you." Sandbar continued.

"You guys are the first ones we've told, so... please... please say you're not upset or anything." Ocellus finished, ducking her head slightly.

"Yona not upset... Yona only wonder why friends look so shy." Yona spoke

"Heh... we were... admittedly... kind of nervous about telling you guys..." Sandbar said

"Yeah... I see now we shouldn't have been, but still." Smolder said, smiling slightly.

"Of course friends not need to be scared. If friends happy, Yona happy!" Yona exclaimed

"Aw! C'mere guys, group hug!" Silverstream pulled Ocellus and Sandbar in, Yona joining.

"Er, I don't know-ahh!" Smolder yelped as Yona grabbed her.

"Ha! Looks like I-brawck!" Gallus squawked as Silverstream tugged him into the hug as well.

"Heheh, just enjoy it you two." Ocellus said, leaning against Smolder.

"Yeah, come on, it's not so bad, is it?" Sandbar asked, nuzzling under Gallus' wing.

"I-I guess not..." Smolder grumbled, putting her arms around Ocellus, who giggled.

"Y-Yeah..." Gallus agreed, wrapping his wing securely around Sandbar.

"Aww!" Silverstream cooed.

The two couples blushed and pressed close to their partners, smiling at the feeling of acceptance. The group all hugged fiercely.

"If it helps... we weren't lying, you two are really the first ones we've told." Gallus offered up.

"First? So, who are you gonna tell next?" Silverstream asked.

"Our parents, we think." Ocellus said

"You want our help?" Silverstream offered

"Probably something we should do ourselves, but thanks Silver." Sandbar replied.

"No problem. Yona and I will be here for you guys, if you ever wanna talk." Silverstream assured them.
> ...To The Pony's Parents
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Come on Gallus!"

"Do we have to?" the blue colored griffon whined as his pony companion looked back at him from a few paces ahead.

"Yes Gallus, we agreed. Come on, let's go."

"Why can't we wait until the holidays though?"

"Even if we did, I'd still need permission from my parents to go with you to Griffonstone and tell Gabby and Gilda."

"We still haven't decided whether or not to actually tell them though..."

"Gallus, we're telling them." Sandbar trotted back and put his hoof over Gallus' claw. "They may not be that close with you, but they're griffons who you know and trust and who actually care about others. Besides, you actually have talked with them before, and both of us know Gabby since she's the mail carrier."

"Still, it's not fair. Smolder 'n Ocellus get to wait until the holidays."

"Because their parents don't live anywhere remotely close to Ponyville. But they'll still tell them." Sandbar leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to his boyfriend's cheek. "Come on, the quicker you go, the faster it'll be over."

"Ugh, fine." Gallus sighed, then gently jabbed the pony in the chest with a claw. "But you better give me some really good snuggles after this."

"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Sandbar said, doing the motions, then taking Gallus' claw in his hoof and beginning to pull him along.

"How do we know your parents will be supportive of this?"

"Oh, they're really cool about this sort of thing. I've never told them I'm...y'know...but they support the community and everything. They're kinda anti-segregation, so they believe in equality for everycreature. It's part of why they wanted to send me to Headmare Twilight's school. Why do you ask?"

"It's just...Ocellus was telling me about these scenes in books she knows about awful coming out experiences...the parents going so far as to kick their kids out. And I'm already homeless, I couldn't bear knowing I was the reason you-"

"Gally." Sandbar's voice made him stop talking. "Those books...I won't say that they're wrong, because they're not...but things like that hardly ever happen anymore. And my parents are amazingly accepting. They're going to love you, and be very happy for us, I know it."

Sandbar then hugged Gallus tight and they continued walking.





Sandbar brought Gallus to a simple looking house on the outskirts of the town. He gave his boyfriend a comforting smile before turning and knocking on the door. It opened to reveal a yellow coated earth pony mare with a soft pink mane and the same green eyes as Sandbar. She smiled when she saw the colt.

"Sandbar! Sea Kelp, dear, Sandbar's here!"

Sandbar smiled and laughed, blushing softly as he led Gallus in. An earth pony stallion trotted over, smiling just as wide as the mare. He had a green coat, ocean blue eyes, and a light blue mane hanging in dreadlocks.

"Son! Good to see you again!" the stallion said, reaching to hug Sandbar around the neck. Sandbar's mother finally noticed Gallus.

"And who's this, Sandbar?"

"Oh..." Sandbar walked over to Gallus. "Mom, dad, meet Gallus. Gallus, this is my mom and dad, Shell Scallop and Sea Kelp."

"Hey..." Gallus said, suddenly shy

"Cool, a gwiffon!" a little filly, no more than five years old, came running up. She had a sea foam green coat, a messy mane striped in pink and teal, and teal eyes. "Can you reawwy woar wike a wion?"

"Heh, Gallus, this is my baby sister, Coral Reef." Sandbar said, picking up the filly and holding her gently.

"Sanba, Sanba!"

"Hi little one." Gallus said, and the filly reached out and touched his beak. "Heh, hey, that tickles!"

"Coral, c'mon, back off." Sandbar set her down and she trotted to her parents.

"So, what brings you two here?" Shell Scallop asked, and the two boys looked at each other.

"Hm...I see there's something you two are probably wanting to tell us." Sea Kelp said, beckoning them further into the house. "Why don't we sit down and talk."

"Okay dad." Sandbar said, and they followed the adults into the living room.

The four ponies and one griffon sat down on the couch, facing each other, and Sandbar took a breath.

"Mom, dad, we came here today because...well, you see, Gallus isn't just one of my friends. He's, well..." Sandbar looked over at Gallus, who looked away, not sure how to offer support. "He's my...my boyfriend."

Shell Scallop and Sea Kelp just smiled.

"Oh, honey, I'm so happy for you!" Shell Scallop leaned over and hugged her son.

"Honestly, Sandbar, we suspected for a while. We just never knew the right time to ask you." Sea Kelp added

"So...you're okay with it?"

"Of course we're okay with it." Shell Scallop replied

"Was a boyfwiend?" Coral asked

"Well Coral...it's when you really care about somecreature deeply, in a romantic sense." Sea Kelp told her "And if that creature happens to be a boy, then it's called a boyfriend."

Coral nodded like she understood and looked up at her brother and Gallus in awe.

"Now tell me, how did you two start dating?" Shell Scallop asked eagerly.

"Well, we share a dorm in the Friendship School, and...do you remember the Hearth's Warming when I stayed at the school because our professors invited me and my friends to join them for their celebrations?"

"Of course. We were so proud of you for getting such an amazing honor." Sea Kelp said

"Mwissed you." Coral interjected, moving and nuzzling up to her brother.

"I missed you guys too. But a little bit before Hearth's Warming, I approached Gallus. Part of the reason we stayed behind in the first place was because we realized Gallus didn't have a family to spend the griffon's holiday with. Gallus and I had grown closer before then, and it was kind of the time I thought I should confess to him." Sandbar looked over at Gallus, who blushed.

"Yeah, I'm embarrassed to admit it now but at the time...I thought it was wrong to feel that way about another guy, that I myself was mentally ill for being attracted to Sandbar that way. See, Griffonstone isn't a very nice place to live, and I had been told my whole life just by hearing other griff's conversations that it was wrong. And Gruff, the one adult griffon who talked to me on occasion, told me I was wrong when he overheard me talking to a fellow griffon, Gilda, about how I might like boys. So...I was scared when Sandbar told me he liked me."

"You poor thing, and you have to go back to that place?" Shell Scallop asked worriedly

"He didn't have to that year." Sandbar put in. "I talked to Gallus and ended up convincing him it was okay to feel that way. We ended up...kissing, and started dating a few days later."

"Oh, that is just the sweetest thing." Shell Scallop said "Gallus, sweetie, are you going to go back to your home?"

"Well...I don't exactly have much of a reason to. My parents are gone and the only griffs who really care about me are only a couple years into being adults, Gilda and Gabby."

"Actually, mom, dad, I wanted to ask you two things..." Sandbar said "First, if Gallus could stay with us for Hearth's Warming."

"Of course he can Sandbar." Sea Kelp replied

"Great...the other thing...is if I could go with Gallus to Griffonstone. Just for a day, so he can tell Gilda and Gabby about us."

"If you feel like you need to, we'll let you Sandbar. But we want you boys back here for Hearth's Warming." Sea Kelp told him.

"Of course dad. We wouldn't miss it." Sandbar said





"See Gallus, what did I tell you?" Sandbar asked. Gallus had his arms around Sandbar as they laid in bed, snuggling together.

"Yeah...you did keep your promise about cuddles." Gallus murmured

"Not about the cuddling you silly griffon!" Sandbar kissed Gallus' forehead. "About how things went with my parents."

"Well...you were right about that too." Gallus admitted, and Sandbar nuzzled him.

"Mm-hm. My parents do really like you, and they're glad for us. Just like I said they'd be."

"Yeah, yeah. You were right..." Gallus sighed, then yawned. "Mind if we take a nap?"

"Not at all."

Sandbar snuggled up close into Gallus, burying his muzzle into Gallus' chest fur. Gallus smiled and pulled him closer, resting against his coltfriend and falling asleep.
> ...To the 'Ling's Family
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ugh, its freezing..." Smolder muttered, rubbing her arms as she and Ocellus walked through the snow.

It was the holiday break at the School of Friendship, and Smolder and Ocellus had departed for the changeling kingdom after saying goodbye to their friends. The two had decided they'd go there first, then to the Dragonlands. They'd taken the train to a station near the hive but they still needed to walk the rest of the way.

"It's not that bad sweetie." Ocellus remarked to Smolder's grumbling.

"Celly, how are you not cold? You have chitin, not fur or scales!"

"Well, usually in the old days, changelings would go deep into the hive and hibernate through the winter. But our chitin is a bit tougher now, and slightly more resistant to the cold. Plus the hive is so much warmer now that it's practically-"

"A beacon of love?"

"Well, yeah, pretty much." Ocellus giggled and blushed at the fact Smolder remembered a way she had previously described her home. "Anyway, you might also be feeling it more since dragons are more used to the heat than the cold."

"I guess. Still, are we almost there?"

"Yep. My mother told me the hive looks so beautiful in the winter. I really want to see it up close."

Smolder shivered again as a gust of cold air hit them. Since the hive was it's own kingdom, pegasi did not schedule the weather like they did in Equestria. This meant they hadn't known what weather conditions to expect. Ocellus felt a little bad for not mentioning to Smolder it might be cold, and pressed against the taller creature. She felt Smolder's tense form relax slightly.

"Thank you for coming with me Smoldie. It means a lot." Ocellus murmured, closing her eyes and smiling as Smolder placed a claw on her back.

Smolder sighed and blushed. "No problem Celly. At least we can cross off two at once on that list."

"What do you mean?"

"Aw, come on Celly, don't tell me you haven't gotten it!"

"Huh? Got what?" Ocellus looked up and shook her head to clear it.

"Celly, you were the one who suggested you and I tell our leaders, remember? We're going to the hive now, we might as well not have to make the same trip twice to tell two different changelings."

"Oh, right." Ocellus rubbed her eyes. "Sorry Smoldie. I did mention changelings used to hibernate in winter due to the cold...old habits are hard to ignore, I'm kind of sleepy."

"You need a lift?" Smolder held out her arms, and Ocellus smiled at her, cheeks pink from the cold and her blushing.

"Hehe, well, I wouldn't want to slow you down..."

"Nah, it'll be extra warmth for me. Young dragons' pyro glands aren't fully grown, so I can't heat myself up very much. But if I'm holding you, I might be warmer."

Ocellus giggled. "Okay then."

The two stopped so that Smolder could lift Ocellus into her arms. Ocellus shifted until she'd adjusted herself into a comfortable position. Smolder chuckled and kissed Ocellus' head gently, and she nuzzled her. Smolder then started walking.

Soon, after walking through a forest of now bare trees covered in ice, they reached a cliff overlooking a snow covered field. The spires of the hive could be seen in the distance.

"Great..." Smolder groaned, and Ocellus leaned up to touch noses with her.

"You know, since you're carrying me, and your wings aren't as fragile as mine, you could fly us there..."

"Way ahead of you." Smolder spread her wings and pushed off the cliff, taking off and wobbling a bit as she balanced them.

Ocellus giggled and pressed against Smolder as they flew above the snowy fields. They could see frozen and wilting plants. Ocellus smiled as she admired the view. It was surprisingly new and different, seeing it from her special someone's arms rather than just flying on her own.

"I see the hive!" Smolder called out.

"Okay, go ahead and land Smoldie. Pharynx is probably patrolling the hive and we don't want to get on his bad side."

"Oh alright..." Smolder sighed, lowering down to the ground until she landed.

Ocellus, ignoring the whine of protest from Smolder, slid out of the dragoness' arms and began leading the way. As they neared the hive, she gasped in amazement.

The hive was covered in a thin layer of frost, so that it gleamed and sparkled in the cold sunlight. Icicles hung from some of the walls, and a few vines that thrived in the cold were weaving around the spires of their own accord, creating a mystical appearance.

"Oh wow..." Ocellus breathed

"You got that right..." Smolder murmured "You know...this is kinda giving me an idea for a dress." she blushed, and Ocellus looked up at her, smiling knowingly.

"So that's why there's so many new dresses in the closet I don't remember you buying..."

"Don't tell anyone?" Smolder asked in a low voice, and Ocellus smiled at her, rubbing against the dragon.

"Promise."

"Halt! Who goes there-oh, it's just you." Prince-General Pharynx of the changeling hive stalked up to them, leaving prints in the untouched snow.

"Hello Prince Pharynx." Ocellus said, breaking away from Smolder and trotting to him.

"I assume you're here for the holiday break?"

"Yes. Smolder and I will be leaving for a bit, but I wanted to talk to my parents and Thor-I mean, King Thorax." Ocellus corrected herself after a glare from Pharynx.

"Your parents are on decorating duty, Thorax isn't here at the moment."

"Where is he?"

"That's none of your business, Ocellus." Pharynx replied, nodding to the entrance of the hive. "Go on then, do whatever you came here for. I'm continuing my patrol."

"Thank you." Ocellus bowed to him, and he nodded in approval, then continued on. "Come on Smolder."

Smolder followed Ocellus into the hive. Ocellus led her down the halls, where they saw tons of changelings hanging decorations and talking to each other. Ocellus had her mouth open slightly, and Smolder looked at her.

"What are you doing?"

"Every creature has a specific thing they taste-or smell-like. A distinct scent. I'm searching for my parents'."

"Oh...so Sandbar tastes like...?"

"Saltwater and sea air."

"Huh. Thorax and Pharynx?"

"Thorax's scent is Mango, Pharynx's is Meyer lemon."

"Heh...me?"

Ocellus looked up at her, smiling. "The smoke coming off a roaring fire."

Smolder smiled and reached, intending to hug the young changeling, but before she could, someone called out.

"Ocellus!" a female changeling with teal chitin, a yellow stomach, and fuschia accents raced up to them. She was followed by a male changeling with a horn, powder blue chitin, light red eyes, and a green carapace.

"Mom! Dad!" Ocellus raced to the two, hugging them. "It's so great to see you! Where are Capillarie and Scorpia?"

"They're in the nursery while we hang the decorations. Oh, it's so wonderful to see you too, my little june bug!" the female said

Smolder cleared her throat, and Ocellus blushed.

"Sorry Smolder. These are my parents, Pupae and Oculus. Mom, dad, this is Smolder. She goes to school with me."

"Hello ma'am, sir."

"It's nice to meet you Smolder, please, call us Pupae and Oculus." Ocellus' mother said, smiling.

"Okay..." Smolder said hesitantly, giving them a small smile.

"Mom, dad, can we go to my room? I have something to tell you."

"Alright sweetie. We'll just go get your brother and sister and meet you there." Ocellus' father replied, and the family hugged once more before Pupae and Oculus headed off.

"Come on Smolder." Ocellus led her down the hall, and they eventually came to a door that Ocellus pushed open.

"So this is your bedroom, huh?" Smolder asked, and Ocellus nodded, blushing.

"It's across the hall to my parent's..."

"Good to know." Smolder winked at her as she entered the room.

"Sm-Smolder!" Ocellus blushed harder.

"Heh, what?" Smolder was looking at the dresser, then opened the closet and reached in. "You still have the tiara I gave you?"

"Y-Yes, b-but Smolder, why?"

"Well, I don't know why you kept it-"

"You know what I mean!" Ocellus' eyes widened as she realized how loud she had been. Her voice dropped as Smolder turned to look at her. "I mean...why did you say that?"

"Well, I've got to know how loud we can be..." Smolder stalked up to her, and Ocellus backed up. "After all..."

Ocellus reared as she hit the wall and let out a small squeak. She blushed fiercely as Smolder placed a hand on the wall to box her in.

"...I wouldn't want my queen-" Ocellus let out a small gasp at the nickname, "To be caught doing something..." Smolder lifted Ocellus' chin, smiling, and she smiled back, falling into the dragoness' sapphire eyes. "...that her parents didn't think her capable of..."

They kissed. Ocellus slipped her hooves around Smolder's neck, pulling her in and pressing her body against the dragon's. Smolder moved her hands to wrap around the changeling's waist, closing her eyes and sinking into the passionate kiss. Just as they released each other, staring into each other's eyes...

"Celly, who's that? Why'd you kiss her?" a small voice asked, and the two turned, eyes widening and cheeks turning red.

The owner of the voice was a small pink female changeling nymph with blue accents and deep blue eyes. She stood beside a green male nymph with a horn, yellow carapace, and blue accents. Behind them were Ocellus' parents, who were staring at them.

"U-Um...I...I can explain..." Ocellus stammered, blushing.

"So, Ocellus, I assume Smolder is a bit more than a friend?" Pupae asked with a knowing grin.

"W-Well...I..." Ocellus blushed harder and pressed into Smolder, who wrapped an arm around her. "Y...Yes...Smolder's my...my girlfriend..."

"That's wonderful Ocellus!" Oculus said brightly, trotting to her.

"Celly's got a girlfriend~" the male nymph teased

"So, who are they?" Smolder asked as the two nymphs ran to Ocellus.

"Oh, right. Smolder, this is my brother and sister. Capillarie," Ocellus gestured to the boy "And Scorpia." she then picked up the girl.

"Hey little guys." Smolder said

"So, I take it you'll take good care of her?" Oculus asked, and Smolder nodded, blushing.

"Y-Yeah, of course I will."

"Good." he smiled at her.

"Um...we wanted to tell Thorax too...Pharynx said he wasn't here though..."

"He left this morning, we're not sure where he went, though I think Pharynx knows." Pupae said

"Speaking of Pharynx, he clearly doesn't know what he's doing, leaving the hive unprotected while patrolling."

"Dad! Don't say that, I think he's a great general."

"Of course he is sweetie, Oculus is just saying that he needs to think of the possible threats outside the hive's borders that are waiting for us, instead of thinking only of those that are coming for us."

"Mom, dad."

"Right. He should be back by now Ocellus, he said he'd be back around this time." Oculus said

"Alright. I guess we should check the throne room then." Ocellus said "Come on Smolder."

They headed out of the bedroom, leaving her parents and heading for the throne room.
> ...To the Griffons
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shortly after Smolder and Ocellus set out to the changeling hive, Sandbar and Gallus boarded a train that would take them to Griffonstone. They had made sure to check and confirm Gabby and Gilda were both in Griffonstone, at Gallus' insistence. Gallus told Sandbar it was so they wouldn't have made the trip for nothing, though they both knew the real reason Gallus had insisted on it was that if the two griffons were in town, or planning to visit, then they wouldn't have to go.

They had sent a letter ahead telling Gabby and Gilda to expect them-well, Gallus had sent a message with Gabby when she made her final mail round before heading back to Griffonstone for the winter hiatus. She had been overjoyed and eager to welcome them, even though they couldn't give her the exact time they'd arrive.

Sandbar now sat beside Gallus on the train, reading a book. Gallus stared vacantly out the window, resting his head on a claw and gazing at the passing scenery, though he was barely seeing it. Sandbar looked over at him and rested a hoof on his shoulder.

"You okay?"

"I..." Gallus sighed and looked over at Sandbar. "I'm just...I don't know what you'll think when you see it...it's a total dump, Sandy."

"I know. And I know you didn't want us to go. But really, I think it'll help me gain a better understanding of what you had to go through as a kid."

"So you can feel even sorrier for me?" Gallus mumbled, but Sandbar surprised him with a kiss on the cheek.

"So I can understand why you hate that place so much." he corrected, and Gallus smiled, wrapping a wing over his colt. "Now come on, why don't you read with me?"

"Um...well..." Gallus blushed

"What is it?"

"Since I'm an orphan...I kind of...never learned to read...and, well, Gruff kind of just picked me randomly off the streets...Gilda taught me a little, and Headmare Twilight knows I'm illi-ill-whatever she called it."

"Illiterate?"

"Yeah, that was it." Gallus sighed and glared down at the book in Sandbar's hooves. "I've been taking lessons but I'm not really good..."

Sandbar nuzzled Gallus and snuggled against his side. "Well, why don't I help you with that? Here." He placed the book in Gallus' claws, flipping back to the first page and pressing against Gallus on the seat. "Sound out each word, one at a time."

"O-Okay..." Gallus said "But, shouldn't I just pick up where you left off?"

"It's okay. I like the beginning, it's a story of romance and there's fencing and other stuff you'll like later. Go ahead." Sandbar rested against Gallus, who hesitantly began.

"Okay...B-Butter...Buttercup...was raised on...a sm-small farm in the co-coun..." Gallus looked to Sandbar, who nodded in encouragement.

"Coun-try." he sounded out for him.

Gallus smiled and nuzzled Sandbar before going back to the book. "In the country of...Flo..Florin..."

After reading for a couple chapters, Gallus began reading more fluently, laughing along with Sandbar at the funny part they'd just come across.

"'No more rhymes now, I mean it.' Vizzini cried." Gallus read, giggling. "Fezzik resp-responded, un...unfazed. 'Anybody want a peanut?'. As Vizzini screamed in fru...frustration...the others continue their work..."

The train whistle suddenly blew, signifying they'd arrived. Gallus looked up and sighed. Sandbar placed the book back in his saddlebags after marking their page. He leaned up and kissed Gallus lightly on the cheek, smiling at him softly.

"It's okay honey. I'm here for you."

"Thanks Sandy." Gallus smiled and wrapped his wing tightly around the colt, who smiled and brushed against him.

The two creatures exited the train and looked up at the towering mountain.

"Oh wow...so we have to climb that?"

"Depends." Gallus looked over to him. "How tight do you think you can hold onto me?"

Sandbar beamed, realizing what Gallus was suggesting. "You're going to carry me?"

"Yep. Air might get a bit cold but you're prepared for that, right?"

"I figured any place on top of a mountain would be cold, especially in winter." Sandbar reached into his saddlebag and withdrew a green toned scarf, which he wrapped around his neck, then pulled out a yellow winter hat, placing it on his head. "Are you okay? I have an extra scarf."

"I'll be fine. It won't be nearly as cold in the air as in Griffonstone. Besides, we're only gonna be here a day and I used to survive whole winters there."

"Okay then..." Sandbar said slowly. "But tell me if you start feeling too cold."

"I will Sandy." Gallus promised as they made their way towards the path up the mountain. He crouched down, smiling at the pony. "Coming?"

Sandbar chuckled and climbed onto Gallus' back, locking his hooves around the griffon's neck, just tight enough to hold on and not so much he'd accidentally choke him. Gallus straightened up and opened his broad wings. Then, he lifted off. Sandbar let out a startled yelp and clung to Gallus, who laughed and began flying up the mountain.

"Oh wow..." Sandbar breathed, and Gallus looked over at him.

"You've flown before."

"I know, but the mountains look so cool from this angle!" Sandbar exclaimed, drawing a chuckle from his boyfriend.

"It is, isn't it?" Gallus then looked away. "But a cool mountain range doesn't do much to disguise the ruins of a once majestic kingdom."

Sandbar leaned forwards and nuzzled him affectionately. "I did read a book in the school library about how the griffons were once a proud nation."

"Mhm. United by the Idol of Boreas and led by King Grover."

"Like the Crown of Grover?"

"Yeah. Grover found the Idol and the Crown. The Idol united the griffons and the enchanted crown ensured he was the leader."

"How does that work?"

"Dunno. I guess it just kind of radiates leadership? The book on the artifacts we studied wasn't clear. At least, from what I could tell, it was full of a lot of confusing words. I guess someone would have to wear it to know for sure."

"Guess so." Sandbar nuzzled him again. "I'm sorry you had to grow up in the ruins of your kingdom, instead of the great place it used to be."

"It's okay Sandy. Can't wish for something you never knew, right?" Gallus asked, giving him a slight smile. Sandbar smiled back halfheartedly.

"Yeah, guess not..." Wracking his brain for a less depressing subject to discuss, Sandbar looked up.

"Is that it?"

Gallus followed his gaze, and his wingbeats slowed.

"Yep."

Griffonstone.

"It really is a tree." Sandbar said, making Gallus chuckle slightly as he descended, getting ready to land.

"Yeah. Our ancestors crafted the tree and managed to somehow enchant it to grow and thrive with the griffons...when we lost our pride, the tree lost its strength..."

Gallus landed, and Sandbar slid off his back, shivering. "You were r-right, it is cold up here."

"Told ya." Gallus said.

Though the remark was meant to be given with a bit of the griffon's usual snark, it came off as more depressed, as if Gallus had lost the will to care. Something about Griffonstone had robbed him of his normal personality. Sandbar pressed himself against Gallus, who placed a wing over him, then they walked through the gates, and Sandbar saw exactly what Gallus meant by 'total dump' when describing the kingdom to him.

The tree was definitely dying, if not already dead. Branches were bare save for precariously balanced houses, some were even in danger of coming off. The houses on the streets below the tree fared no better, lopsided and covered in dust, a few collapsed in on themselves. Gallus, unfazed, stared straight ahead as they walked through the street. Sandbar, however, looked all around, seeing griffons gambling, slinking through alleyways, and selling things at stalls.

"It doesn't look like you have a lot of produce..." Sandbar attempted to slip out from under Gallus' wing to get a closer look, but he pulled him back.

"Sandy, I wouldn't look over there."

"Why not?"

"There's a lot of...items that aren't exactly pony-friendly..."

"What do you mean?" Sandbar looked up at Gallus, who sighed.

"Meat, Sandbar, I mean meat."

Sandbar gulped and shied away from the apparent marketplace, hiding his face in Gallus' fur.

"Sorry Sandy..."

"I-It's okay Gal...I'm okay with hearing the word, I just don't wanna see it..."

"Okay then."

Gallus leaned down and buried his beak in Sandbar's mane momentarily. It smelled like his shampoo, green apple. He only did this for a moment, forcing himself away and looking around to see if anygriff saw. Luckily, no one could care less about a random orphan and his coltfriend.

"Come on Sand, Gabby's house is the closest." Gallus said, keeping a wing securely over Sandbar as they walked.

They soon reached a modest two-story house. It was reasonably well built and seemed sturdy. Gallus raised a claw and knocked. The door opened and Gabby stood before them. Her eyes went wide and she shot forwards to hug them both.

"You'rehereyou'rehereyou'rehere!" Gabby exclaimed excitedly, then called back into the house. "Gildie, come see! They're here!"

"Alright, I'll humor you, who're you strangling this time?" Gilda appeared at the doorway. She was wearing a blanket like a shawl and her voice seemed slightly more raspier than usual. "Oh, hey Gallus."

Gabby released Gallus and Sandbar at last and instead turned to all but shove Gilda back inside. "Gildie, get back to the fire, you'll catch cold!"

"You were the one who called me over here." Gilda deadpanned, but obeyed anyway.

"Gabby, what's Gilda doing at your place?" Gallus asked as Gabby beckoned them in.

"Oh, well-"

"Gruff kicked me out and Gabs took me in." Gilda explained. She was lying on a couch now, the blanket wrapped around her and a fire in a fireplace nearby.

"Gildie caught a bit of a chill so I've been looking after her." Gabby added, going over to Gilda and pecking her on the cheek. Gilda swatted her away, though she didn't seem that invested in doing so. "It's a bit hard since Griffonstone's lacking so many medicines and proper stuff like Ponyville but she's getting better."

Gallus and Sandbar glanced at each other, each clearly thinking the same thing. This was definitely going to go easier then they'd expected, judging by Gabby and Gilda's actions. They looked back to Gabby and Gilda.

"You know, I've got to give you credit Gallus." Gilda remarked, coughing slightly. "I don't know how you managed to survive on the streets for so long, I barely lasted a few weeks before Gabs 'rescued' me. You're tougher than you look."

"Thanks..." Gallus rubbed the back of his neck with a claw. "Listen, we've got tickets for the next train, we only came for a quick visit."

"Aw, but the next train leaves in an hour, that's too soon!" Gabby protested, sitting down beside Gilda.

"Sorry Gabby, we didn't plan to stay long." Gallus apologized "We actually just came here to tell you something."

"Ooh, what is it?!" Gabby asked eagerly, and Gilda sat up, laying a claw on her shoulder to calm her.

"Well..."

Gallus looked to Sandbar, who nodded. He then wrapped a wing over Sandbar and leaned over to nuzzle him, releasing the longing he'd had to cuddle with the pony. Gallus nipped Sandbar gently behind the ear and the colt giggled. Gallus then remembered they had an audience and looked back up at the two female griffons, blushing.

"So...you're gay." Gilda guessed.

"Heh, yeah..." Gallus blushed. "Sandy-er, Sandbar-is my coltfriend."

"Aww, Gallus, that's adorable, we're so proud of you!" Gabby exclaimed "Right Gildie?"

"Yep. Nice going kid." Gilda agreed.

"Yeah...honestly I was kind of nervous until I saw you two...um..." Gallus trailed off.

"Gallus, believe me, if I wasn't still in danger of getting Gabs sick I'd prove it right now." Gilda wrapped a wing around Gabby, who squealed softly and pulled Gilda into a hug.

After talking with Gilda and Gabby a little more, the griffon and colt decided to leave the couple to their own devices. Gallus said he had something to show Sandbar anyway.

"Where are you taking me Gal?" Sandbar asked

"Well, remember how you mentioned you wanted to see where I used to live?" Gallus stopped outside a house. Sandbar gaped at it.

It was certainly not in the best shape. It's second story had caved in and the whole thing was rather small. Sandbar put a hoof to his mouth and looked at Gallus.

"G-Gally...you really lived there?"

"I had no choice..." Gallus murmured, looking away, though Sandbar thought he could see pinpricks of tears in his eyes. "It was better than the streets, and at least sheltered...though I still had to stay in the streets sometimes..."

"Your claustrophobia..."

Gallus nodded, tightening the grip he had around Sandbar with his wing. "Sometimes it got too bad, so I had to stay outside for the night...it didn't come from living this house, though. I keep having nightmares about it coming from a different thing..."

"Oh Gally..." Sandbar kissed his cheek gently, then hugged him. "I had no idea baby...no wonder you kept trying to find ways to keep us from coming here. I'm so sorry honey."

"It's okay Sandy. You couldn't have known, I never said anything." Gallus replied, wiping away tears now. "L-Let's just go home now. Please?"

"Of course we can." Sandbar leaned in and nuzzled him, then they set off, Gallus with a wing around Sandbar, backs to the rundown house as they left the griffon's past behind.
> ...To the Leader of the Lovebugs
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ocellus took a shaky breath before staring at the door. Smolder placed a comforting claw on her back. The door they were standing in front of led to the throne room, they had learned that Thorax was there, with Pharynx.

"You nervous?"

"Not at all. It's only the leader of my hive, who took me under his wing, wants me to be a royal advisor one day, and is counting on me to make the changelings proud-"

"Celly!" Smolder lifted Ocellus' chin. "Breathe."

Ocellus took a few deep breaths, then sighed. "Sorry Smoldie..."

"It's okay. Just calm down." Smolder stroked Ocellus' neck, and she sighed happily. "Listen, Celly, I know it's probably really intimidating, but you've said yourself that Thorax isn't like other leaders."

"Y-Yeah... but-" Ocellus was cut off as the dragon looked her in the eye.

"And didn't you say that Thorax is really open about this stuff?"

"Y-Yeah..." Ocellus mumbled

"Mhm. I think I know how to calm you down before this."

"Sm-Smolder, we're in public-"

"Not that." Smolder chuckled "I know how you feel about it."

"Then what?"

Smolder placed a claw on her shoulder. "Tell me something that you've heard about Thorax. Like a rumor, a not-so-secret secret he told you. Anything."

"Why?" Ocellus blinked in confusion.

"It'll calm you down to remember something about Thorax that makes him seem a little more real. Not like a ruler, just another creature."

Ocellus paused, then giggled. "Where did you hear about this working?"

"Heh... well, the dragons used to use it as more of a means of making fun of the current Dragon Lord behind their back. But I told Silverstream about the tradition and she suggested it could be used to make larger-than-life leaders seem a little more like the creatures they are. Not Gods or Goddesses or anything, just themselves."

Ocellus smiled and nuzzled against her. "I don't think you've ever been that eloquent before, not unless we were having a tea-"

"Shh!" Smolder covered her mouth with a claw, blushing.

"Okay, okay." Ocellus moved Smolder's claw. "Sorry Smolder."

"It's okay. Just tell me something about Thorax. Or maybe Pharynx. Ooh, or both."

Ocellus giggled and nodded. "Well, there's a, um... there's a rumor going around that Thorax has a... oh, no, that's too embarrassing for him..."

"Come on, you can tell me."

"Okay..." Ocellus rose into the air with her wings, then whispered into Smolder's ear. "There's a rumor going around that Thorax has a plushie of Ember hidden in his room."

Smolder blinked. "As in, Dragon Lordess Ember? No way!"

"Shh!" Ocellus giggled "Yes, as in your leader. And I know for a fact that..." Ocellus lowered her voice again "Well, that Pharynx has a black and purple dragon plushie named Night Fury."

Smolder snickered "The great General of your hive has a little plushie?"

"I don't think that's any different from the big and strong dragoness enjoying wearing dre-" Ocellus was cut off by a flustered yelp from Smolder. "Okay, okay. Well, yeah. I'm not sure if Pharynx gets any use out of it, but I was the one who gave it to him on Hearth's Warming so I at least know that he has it."

Smolder giggled "That's definitely something that makes them seem more like normal creatures."

"Heh, yeah..." Ocellus looked back at the door. "Okay... I'm ready."

Smolder smiled down at Ocellus. She smiled back, took a deep breath, then pushed the door open.

The two walked in to see King Thorax lounging on his throne, Prince-General Pharynx sitting stoically at the foot of the relaxed leader's throne. Thorax sat up as they entered, beaming.

"Ocellus! Pharynx told me you and your friend were visiting!" He stood and leapt off the oak throne, trotting to them. "It's Smolder, right?"

"Uh, yeah. That's me." Smolder replied, somewhat surprised he'd remembered her name. He smiled back.

"Heh, Ember has told me a lot about you."

Remembering what Ocellus had said about his plushie of the dragon, Smolder bit back a snort of amusement at the statement. "Really?"

"Of course. She's very proud of you for representing the dragons so well." Thorax said with a slight blush. He then turned to Ocellus. "Have you gotten to talk with your parents?"

"We just came from visiting them, actually." Ocellus said, a bit nervously. "And, well, we talked with them about something that I wanted to also share with you."

"Of course. You can tell me anything, Ocellus." Thorax smiled at her fondly, as Pharynx stood and trotted over to join them.

"W-Well... it's kind of big..." Ocellus looked at Smolder, who smiled back. "See, um, the thing is... Smolder and I... we're..."

"You're dating, aren't you?" Pharynx asked bluntly. Thorax turned to glare at him.

"Pharynx!"

"What? It was obvious!"

"At least give them a chance to tell us themselves!"

"Wait, you knew?" Smolder asked, blinking in surprise. The brothers turned back to them, Thorax smiling sheepishly and Pharynx giving them a deadpan stare.

"Well, Pharynx mentioned to me that you both had a strong taste of love coming off you, and it was dark chocolate. That's what he tastes when he witnesses romantic love."

"Him specifically?"

"Right, I forgot to mention it." Ocellus looked over to Smolder "Each changeling tastes different types of love a little differently. Romantic love may taste like dark chocolate to Pharynx but it tastes different for everyling else."

"Oh." Smolder then glared at Pharynx. "So you tasted us?"

"It's not like I chose to. It was practically coming off you in waves." Pharynx retorted

"Heh, Pharynx relayed this information to me and I sort of figured that's why you told him you were here specifically to talk with your family and myself."

"Oh..." Ocellus blushed. "So... you're okay with it?"

"Of course!" Thorax beamed "This is wonderful, I know you probably don't want to think of it as a way to strengthen relationships between our two species but it really is! Not to mention how fantastic it is that you've found someone to love!"

Pharynx rolled his eyes at Thorax's antics as the king began prancing on the spot. He locked eyes with them, pointed at Thorax, then faked a gagging fit. Thorax stopped and glared at him, to which he tried to look innocent.

"I'm just glad you're happy, King Thorax." Ocellus said, blushing as she pressed against Smolder.

"Yeah yeah, now that that's out of the way..." Pharynx stepped forwards with a sharp gaze. "You. Are you going to let any harm come to Ocellus?"

"U-Uh, no...?"

"Are you asking me or telling me, kid?"

"T-Telling you?"

"Pharynx, please, there's no need to-"

"Well you aren't going to do it, and Oculus is always too busy griping about my patrol strategies to remember to do this." Pharynx replied, turning and glaring at Smolder. "So, are you going to let any harm come to Ocellus?"

"N-No sir!"

"Pharynx..." Ocellus groaned, her face matching Thorax's in identical expressions of exasperation. Pharynx ignored both of them.

"What's her favorite food?"

"Wh-What?"

"Ocellus' favorite food. What is it?"

"Uh...she really likes chocolate, but her favorite food is probably fruit salad."

"Favorite book?"

"That would have to be either Equestrian Cultures and Camaraderie or Dancing in the Stars."

"Favorite type of music?"

"Classical or love songs."

Pharynx nodded, then turned to Ocellus.

"Fire rubies, The Duke and the Tailor, and heavy metal." she told him before he could open his mouth.

Pharynx hesitated, then nodded. "Okay." he then turned back to Smolder. "But I'm warning you... if you ever hurt her I will personally hunt you down and make sure no one finds the bod-"

Pharynx was cut off by Thorax pulling him backwards. "Pharynx!"

"What? I'm just doing my job!"

"But you-"

"It's an empty threat and you know it! It's only to make sure she keeps her word!"

"Pharynx!"

"Um... King Thorax?" Ocellus asked, and the two stopped their bantering.

"Sorry about that Smolder." Thorax said, but Smolder waved a claw dismissively.

"Nah, it's actually not that different from what I've seen a couple dragon parents do-and they say that stuff in public. It just caught me by surprise."

Pharynx smirked at his brother, who rolled his eyes.

"Alright, if you're sure..."

"Yeah, it's fine." Smolder assured him.

"We were actually going to, um, head to the Dragonlands to tell Smolder's family."

"Oh! Well, don't let us keep you waiting." Thorax reached and gave Ocellus a hug. "We've all missed you though Ocellus, I hope you'll be back soon."

"We were probably going to come back to spend the holidays here." Ocellus agreed with a small smile.

"We'll look forward to it." Thorax said with a smile. "But I thought the dragons had their own traditions, Ember mentioned something about a Feast?"

"The Feast of Fire's kind of dull, honestly. Just sitting around listening to stories. I'm kind of numb to being scared by some of the dumb ones the other teenagers come up with."

"Well, alright then." Thorax smiled and waved as they made to leave.

As they headed out, Ocellus had them stop so she could say goodbye to her parents and siblings, then they headed out. Smolder noticed the bright smile on her face, seeing how happy she was. Once they were out of the hive, Smolder picked up her girlfriend-making her squeak in surprise-and took off.

"So, that go better than you expected?"

"Yeah... I was kind of worried how they would react to me dating a dragon but that went so well!"

Smolder chuckled and held her closer. "Think this'll give you confidence when you meet my parents?"

Ocellus' eyes widened. "O-Okay, but... how big are they?"

"Eh, not that big... I mean, they're nowhere near Torch's height..." Smolder said dissmissivly.

"Eep!"

"I promise, they'll love you. My mom's pretty cool about this stuff." Smolder assured her.

"Okay then..." Ocellus nestled against Smolder, giggling. "I think I could get used to you carrying me, Smoldie."

"Then I guess I had better get used to carrying you." Smolder responded, kissing Ocellus gently on the forehead. She giggled again as they flew towards the train station in the distance.
> ...To the Dragoness' Brother
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Thanks for carrying me again Smoldie." Ocellus giggled as the dragon carried her over the rocky terrain.

"No problem Celly. I know the rocks can be hard on you softer creatures."

Ocellus pressed her hooves against Smolder's chest and held herself away from her. "Softer creatures?"

Smolder's eyes widened. "I-I meant, you know, creatures without scales..."

Ocellus giggled and pressed back against Smolder, rubbing her head underneath Smolder's chin. "I know what you meant Smoldie, I'm only kidding."

"Oh..." Smolder sighed in relief, then looked down and grinned. "Ohh... heh, clever. Now you're thinking like a dragon. I'm so proud of you."

Ocellus chuckled. "Thank you Smoldie. But honestly I thought stuff like that was more of a griffon thing."

"Either way, my queen's being the confident bug I knew she was." Smolder kissed her forehead gently.

Ocellus giggled, nuzzling her. "I'm your queen?"

"Of course you are. I mean, I know you're not royalty and neither am I, but still. I promise to treat you like a queen."

"Heh... and I'll treat you like my queen." Ocellus said, reaching and booping her nose. Smolder's nose twitched and she blushed.

"C-Celly... not here, what if somedragon sees?" Smolder stammered, blushing

"Alright. Sorry." Ocellus nuzzled her.

"Heh... can I put you down? You can hover if your legs get tired." Smolder said

"Of course."

"Okay. Sorry, I just don't want to accidentally spill the beans like with your parents." Smolder set Ocellus down and rubbed the back of her neck.

"It's okay Smoldie, I don't blame you for that." Ocellus giggled "I couldn't have predicted they'd walk in just then either. Though I didn't exactly close the door so it may be my fault they didn't think to knock."

"I guess." Smolder rubbed Ocellus' back. "Forgive and forget?"

"Of course." Ocellus smiled and blushed. "So, where are your parents?"

"I'm thinking we tell my brother first. He's... got some secrets of his own. He'd understand."

"Alright then."

"Yeah. Come on, I know where he usually hangs out. If we get lucky we might catch Ember there with him." Smolder said, walking forwards and beckoning to her.

"Really?"

"Yeah, he runs this kind of... club that she participates in."

"Heh, you learn something new everyday I suppose. Even when on break." Ocellus chuckled

"Can we not think about school?"

"Sure Smoldie. So, where's your brother?"

"Follow me."

Smolder led Ocellus through the Dragonlands, to a rocky overhand with rocks that looked like chairs underneath. Seated there was a red dragon with orange accents. Smolder beamed and flew to him.

"Garble!"

"Smolder? Smolder!" the drake stood and caught his sister in a hug.

"Hey, how you been Gar-Gar?"

"I've been good. Missed you little sis." he let her go as Ocellus walked up, and he took notice. "Who's this?"

"Oh, um... Garble..." Smolder went to Ocellus. "This is Ocellus. My... my girlfriend."

Garble blinked. "Your... your girlfriend?"

"Yeah..." Smolder blushed, and Garble then turned and kicked a rock. "Gar-Gar?"

"Dangit, I owe Ember thirty gems!"

Smolder's eyes widened "You what?! She knows?!"

"Knows?" Garble turned back. "No, Ember doesn't know you're gay. I just bet her thirty gems I'd get a boyfriend before you ended up with someone."

"Oh, that's not so-wait, boyfriend?!" Smolder asked loudly

Garble blushed and chuckled. "Heh, yeah... surprise..."

"So... wow... mom and dad are gonna flip." Smolder said, and Garble chuckled.

"Yeah, guess so..." he looked down at Ocellus. "So... hi."

"H-Hello..." Ocellus whispered. Smolder had told her Garble was big but she didn't expect him to be so much taller.

"So, you went for the quiet one."

"W-Well... Celly gets me." Smolder explained

"Ah."

"So Ember knows your gay? You told her before me?" Smolder seemed a bit hurt.

"No! Not by choice!"

Garble reached behind one of the larger rocks and withdrew some drums made of a black rock. Ocellus tilted her head in a mix of surprise and confusion. Drums in the Dragonlands?

"See, I was reciting some beat poems about discovering myself when Ember showed up to a club meeting early. She caught me and I was kind of forced to explain. Though she was surprisingly cool about it. We talked a bit before the others showed up and Ember was really understanding. That's, um, kind of when we made the bet. I mean, I didn't tell her you were lesbian. I just bet that I would find someone before you did."

Smolder nodded. "I understand Gar-Gar."

"Yeah. Still, I'm happy for you sis."

"Thanks." she smiled at him, then looked to Ocellus, who smiled back. "Want to help us tell mom and dad?"

"Sure." Garble tucked the drums under one arm. "I'm here for ya sis."

"Thanks. By the way, where's Ember?"

"You just missed her, actually. She was here earlier to tell me she was heading out of the Dragonlands for the day, so she'd miss today's club meeting."

"Oh... Celly and I are only staying to tell mom and dad... we'll be heading back to the changeling hive for the holidays."

"Aw, that's too bad. I'm gonna miss you sis."

"I'll be back for the spring break, Gar-Gar."

"There's also the Family Day at school, it's coming up after the break." Ocellus added helpfully.

"How do you know that and not Smolder?" Garble asked

"I, um... I asked Headmare Twilight about upcoming events so I could be prepared..." Ocellus explained bashfully.

"Well, come on Celly. Let's go find mom and dad. You know where they are, Gar-Gar?"

"Mom said she and dad would be at the lava pool."

"Cool, I've been itching to do some lava diving." Smolder grinned, then blinked at looked at Ocellus. "But, um..."

"Well, when I transform into a dragon I take on their immunity to fire..."

"Awesome!" Smolder hugged her. Garble nodded.

"That's pretty cool."

"Come on, we'll introduce you to mom and dad, then the three of us can go lava boarding. I'll show you Celly, it's really fun."

"Hehe, okay." Ocellus agreed, smiling.

Garble and Smolder led Ocellus away from the overhang. They began talking, and Ocellus smiled, looking forward to meeting her girlfriend's parents.
> Interlude: When They Return
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A group of four creatures sat in Smolder and Ocellus' bedroom. Gallus was cuddling with Sandbar, holding in his claw a plushie of the earth pony. Sandbar was nuzzling Gallus while holding a plushie of the griffon. Smolder and Ocellus were nearby. Smolder was carefully sewing two pieces of fabric together while Ocellus read a book. They were enjoying some quiet time together while they waited for their other two friends to return from the holiday break.

Gallus broke the silence first. "So... how was meeting Smolder's parents? I know you mentioned what Cellus' family and leader was like but what about Smolder?"

Ocellus looked up from her book with a smile. "Oh, Smolder's parents, Garnet and Fume, are really nice. They agreed that as long as we were happy, it didn't matter."

Smolder nodded, jumping off the bed and holding out the fabric to examine it. "Garble came out to them too. They were really accepting, which is something. I think mom might have to convince dad a bit though."

"Heh, can't believe you like sewing." Gallus chuckled

"Yeah yeah, laugh it up. You're lucky Celly talked me into telling you and Sand." Smolder grumbled, shoving the fabric into her closet and closing it.

"He means," Sandbar cut in, "It's really cool that you're doing what you love despite it not being...the first thing someone would expect from a dragon."

Smolder sighed. "Thanks. So, what about you guys? How was Hearth's Warming at Sand's place?"

"It was fun." Gallus smiled "Sandy's parents are awesome, they let me and Sandy share his bedroom."

"Well, they did make us promise that we wouldn't do anything..." Sandbar said, blushing, and he cuddled the plushie griffon closer.

"Still, they were really cool about it. And we got these from Sandy's mom for Hearth's Warming..." Gallus gestured to the plushie of Sandbar, blushing as well.

"They're so cute." Ocellus said, smiling at the plushies.

"Heh, yeah. My mom owns this little knick-knack shop out by our vacation home in Horseshoe Bay. She was thinking of collaborating with a company in Manehattan that makes plushies, and decided to test out their products by giving us these." Sandbar explained

"Well, she definitely should sell those...is Horseshoe Bay close by?" Ocellus asked

Sandbar laughed "Well, she's going to open up a sister location in Ponyville."

"You live in Ponyville." Smolder said, plopping down on the floor in front of them. "Why is her original store in Horseshoe Bay instead of here?"

"We actually used to live in Horseshoe Bay, we moved to Ponyville when they found out I was accepted to Friendship School." Sandbar explained "Now our place in Horseshoe Bay is our vacation home instead."

"They moved just for Friendship School?" Gallus asked, looking over at Sandbar, who chuckled sheepishly.

"They'd been considering the move for a while. Honestly...I was a little against it. My dad's a marine biologist and I always wanted to follow in his hoofsteps. Horseshoe Bay was the perfect place to study sea life...but then we moved here, since my dad hardly ever went out in the field anymore...too bad for me, I always liked going out with him on the rare occasions he did. It was fun, being out in the sun and sand..." Sandbar sighed and snuggled against Gallus, who draped a wing over him.

"Sorry Sandy..." Gallus nuzzled his neck. "I know how happy you always get when we go to the lake. Can't for the life of me understand why, but you always seem happier."

"It's okay Gally." Sandbar nuzzled back. "I mean, I don't regret us moving here, at all. I'll just have to work harder to become a good marine biologist when I'm older."

"Moving on..." Smolder reached and snatched the Sandbar plushie from Gallus.

"Hey!" Gallus squawked

"It'll only take a sec." Smolder said, turning the plushie over in her claws and squeezing it a few times. "Hm... Sand, I don't think your mom should use the plushies from this company."

"Huh? Why?" Sandbar asked

"Agreed, why not? It's adorable." Ocellus jumped down from the bed and curled up beside Smolder, reaching and poking the plushie.

"Sure, it looks cute, and it is pretty soft..." Smolder squeezed it again "But anyone can tell just by looking at the stitching that it was machine-stitched. Not only does that give it less of a personal touch but it also means the stitching is probably only going to hold for about a year, two tops. It's not as durable and they clearly haven't applied any spells to waterproof and stainproof the thing."

Gallus blinked. "Okay, wow. I take back what I said about you sewing. That's awesome."

Smolder blushed and tossed it back to Gallus. "I mean, I'm no expert or anything..."

"You should talk to Professor Rarity, I'm sure she'd be happy to help and I'm sure she can keep a secret." Sandbar told her

"I guess... she's going to find out I'm sneaking fabric and supplies from her at some point..."

"Smolder!" Ocellus glared at her

"What? I leave bits behind!"

"Still, you should apologize for that."

"Alright, alright. I'll talk with her, maybe she can give me some private lessons." Smolder looked over at Sandbar and Gallus. "Anyway, those plushies look nice now but like I said, I don't think they'll last very long."

"Oh, that's too bad..." Sandbar cuddled the plushie of Gallus. "Well, at least I've got the real thing." he pecked Gallus on the cheek.

"Hehe, Sandy..."

"Sandbar." Smolder got his attention again. "I'd suggest to your mom to try the companies in places like the Crystal Empire or Baltimare. Lot more family businesses there, they'd hoof-make their products."

"Alright, I'll let her know. Thanks Smolder." Sandbar said, smiling.

"Heh, no problem..." Smolder replied sheepishly, and Ocellus nuzzled against her.

"I like your unexpected talent Smoldie." Ocellus said, kissing her cheek, and Smolder giggled.

"Heh, thanks." Smolder pulled Ocellus into her lap. "I think I'll make you a dress next."

"R-Really?" Ocellus nuzzled against her.

"Yeah. I think you'll look good in an off-the-shoulder... and I bet coral and white would really go well with your chitin."

"Heh, you're really into this stuff." Gallus chuckled, and Smolder blushed.

"I mean... I've just... I've studied a bit... and there's this book..." Smolder stood and set Ocellus down, walking to the bookshelf and pulling out a graphic novel. "The Duke and the Tailor. It's about a colt who's going to become the duke of his kingdom, and he hires a tailor because she's really creative. He asks her to make him dresses, because he really likes wearing them."

"So...?"

"Well, it's got a lot of great designs..." Smolder opened the book to a page and let out a soft sigh. "I'd love to try designing these... or just wearing them... Celly was the best to give me this."

Ocellus giggled. "She kept borrowing the copy from the library, and it was getting hard for her to do it without arousing suspicion. So I got her her very own copy for Hearth's Warming."

"Heh, I take it she liked it?" Sandbar asked

"Tackled me to the ground while repeating 'thank you' and 'I love you' again and again while nuzzling me." Ocellus explained, blushing. "I'm, um, glad that we were only with Thorax, Pharynx, and my family."

"Why were they there?" Gallus asked

"Thorax invited me and my family to spend Hearth's Warming with him and Pharynx. I've spent Hearth's Warmings with them before, and after we told him about us, he invited my family to join us."

"That was nice of him." Sandbar smiled "He seems like a really laid-back leader."

"He is..." Ocellus smiled

"Anyway... to get back on topic..." Gallus reached under Smolder's bed and drew out the list they'd made months previously. "Who's next?"

"Well, according to the list it should be the teachers." Sandbar pointed out

"Ugh...do we have to do them now? Can't we pro...procrasti-"

"Procrastinate?" Ocellus provided

"Yeah, that was it." Gallus said "Can't we procrasti...crasti...whatever. Can't we do that?"

"We have to anyway..." Smolder sighed "We never got to tell Ember, she wasn't back before we left."

"True... wait." Ocellus sat up. "Family Day. It's coming up, and all the leaders will be there. We can just get her away from the others and tell her then!"

Smolder looked down at Ocellus, grinning. "Baby, you're a genius!"

They leaned closer to each other and kissed.

"Heh, aww." Sandbar said, nuzzling closer to Gallus.

Smolder and Ocellus broke apart, then turned back to them, breathless.

"Heh, sorry.." Ocellus blushed, then cleared her throat and looked down at the list. "So, after we tell Ember, there's the professors... do you think we should tackle them one at a time or all at once?"

"We can work that out after Family Day." Smolder replied, grabbing the list and shoving it back into it's hiding place. "I just want to enjoy the rest of the day."

"Fair enough..." Ocellus looked down at the plushies Gallus and Sandbar still held, then up at Smolder. "You know, who needs a plushie? I have you."

"Heh, yeah." Sandbar sat up and kissed Gallus' cheek. "You're my big cuddle-griffon."

"S-Sandy!" Gallus protested, blushing, as Smolder and Ocellus giggled.

"Aww, come on..." Sandbar nuzzled him. "It's sweet."

"Yeah, I call Celly my queen." Smolder added

"Well that's not so bad..." Gallus mumbled

"Cuddle-griffon is cute." Ocellus remarked

"Sh-Shut up!"

The rest of the group dissolved into laughter, Gallus eventually joining them. They ended up cuddling their partners, smiling and talking for the rest of the day.
> ...By Accident
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soon enough, all the students and teachers had returned from the winter holidays. They brought with them stories and presents and plenty of new news. Of course, in the eyes of four particular students, no one had bigger news than them.

With the beginning of the new semester came the Spring season's Family Day. And that meant a very big moment for Smolder and Ocellus. Where they would reveal their relationship to Dragon Lordess Ember. Gallus and Sandbar had promised to be there for moral support.

"I don't know if I can do this..." Smolder whispered

Smolder, Ocellus, Gallus, and Sandbar were standing in a group huddle in a corner of the courtyard. They were ignoring the rest of the crowd, which went unnoticed since Pinkie Pie had started a few party games. Smolder glanced nervously at her leader. The blue dragoness was talking to King Thorax, the two of them laughing as they ate some of the pink professor's pastries, Thorax's brother standing on guard nearby.

"It's going to be okay Smolder, just get her away from the others... oh, you could go over there." Sandbar suggested, pointing to a shaded area that was a bit away from the crowd, similar to where they were currently standing.

"I guess..." Smolder muttered

Ocellus placed a hoof on her claw. "Smoldie, it's okay. I'll be right there with you the whole time, just like you were for me. Okay?"

"O-Okay Celly." Smolder gave her a brief but affectionate hug.

"Great, now that that's taken care of, I'm gonna go check out that spread." Gallus grinned. "I'm pretty sure I saw a couple shrimp dishes... you coming Sandy?"

Sandbar gagged slightly. "Uh... I'll come with you Gallus, but... I think I'll stick to cupcakes."

"Eh, that's fair. Come on!" Gallus flapped his wings and flew towards the tables where food had been set up.

"So you two will be okay?" Sandbar asked

"We're fine, just go be with Gallus." Smolder replied

Sandbar nodded and trotted after Gallus. Smolder took a calming breath, then led Ocellus towards Dragon Lordess Ember.

"U-Uh, Dragon Lordess?" Smolder asked

Ember turned to face her. "Oh, there you are Smolder."

"Y-Yeah, uh, listen, Ocellus and I kind of wanted to talk with you... a-alone. If that's okay." Smolder stammered

"Sure." Ember shrugged, then looked at Thorax. "I'll be right back Thorax."

Thorax nodded with a slight blush on his face. "Okay Ember, take your time."

Ember smiled slightly before letting Smolder and Ocellus lead her off. Thorax smiled after them knowingly, mouthing a silent "good luck" to Smolder and Ocellus as they glanced back.

"So, what did you need to talk to me about?" Ember asked when they reached the shaded area Sandbar had pointed out to them.

"W-Well..." Smolder trailed off and mumbled something.

"What?"

"See, Ocellus and I..." Smolder began. "We kind of have... a special bond."

"So? You're friends, of course you have a bond. Right?" Ember looked between them.

"It's... well, it's more than just friendly." Ocellus tried next. "More like... uh... well..."

"You know, if you aren't going to be clear, I can just go." Ember said

"No!" Smolder stopped her. "W-We do have something to tell you."

"Then spit it out already." Ember said, looking at them.

"I... see... we..." Smolder stammered. "Ocellus and I are... we're kinda..."

"Well?"

"I... we..."

"Smolder..." Ember snorted out a bit of smoke, clearly growing impatient. "Come on, you obviously dragged me away from Thorax for a reason, I'd like it to be quick so I can get back to him. I was trying to finally get him to take me on a-I mean, about to get him to agree to a trade deal."

Smolder gulped nervously. In the back of her mind, she registered what Ember had nearly said. The idea that her leader was also with a changeling, or at least, trying to get with one, should have helped. But her nerves were clouding her thoughts and she didn't comprehend it.

"Smolder!" Ember snapped, and Smolder yelped. "Do you have something to tell me or not?"

"I-I do!"

"Then say it already!"

"I..." Smolder broke off, the words refusing to form in her mouth.

"Smolder..." Ember growled. Smolder balled her claws into fists and screwed her eyes shut.

"Oh for the love of Torch!" Smolder cried out, frustrated at herself for not being able to say it already.

At the dragon's exclamation, many creatures looked over. Ember stepped back slightly, surprised at Smolder's outburst. Twilight, nearby, opened her wings slightly, fluttering them to fly closer to the three creatures. Just as she was about to say something, Smolder continued yelling.

"Ocellus and I are in love, okay?! L-O-V-E! That's what I wanted to tell you!" Smolder screamed.

Smolder then stepped back, relaxing her stance and opening her eyes, taking a few breaths. That was when she looked up. Her jaw fell open. Everyone was staring.

Silverstream and Yona were blinking sympathetically from by the fountain. Gallus, who was standing beside Sandbar, dropped a cupcake he was clearly in the process of passing to Sandbar. The pony in question was biting his bottom lip and looking at them worriedly. Thorax and Pharynx, the only other creatures there that knew already, seemed startled, Thorax more sympathetically. Everyone else's eyes were wide in shock.

Smolder turned red, then looked at Ember. She had seemingly recovered from the surprise, and was reaching out a claw to her.

"Smolder..."

"Bah! What kind of lousy excuse for a scaly fire breather are you?" a voice rang out.

Everyone turned to look. Grandpa Gruff was limping closer with his cane. Gallus, having recovered from his shock, stepped over.

"Really Gruff?!"

"What? Am I wrong?!"

"Yes!" Gallus shouted.

"Don't you argue with me boy!"

"Well I'm gonna!" Gallus snarled, stepping forwards. "What gives you the right to say anything?!"

"They're both a bunch of miserable gay-"

"Gruff! We are on school property and you will not use any foul language!" Twilight Sparkle cried out.

"Oh whatever! I'm not wrong, am I?!"

"Hey!" Ember flew forwards.

Smolder yelped, terrified that Ember was going to side with Gruff. She stood protectively in front of Ocellus, shielding the smaller creature as she cowered, despite shying away herself. Ember landed in front of Gruff, snarling.

"You do not speak about Smolder that way!"

"Or Ocellus!" Thorax joined in, striding forwards. "She is my student and doesn't deserve to be treated that way!"

"The likes of them shouldn't even be considered worthy of being at this school!"

"Then what about me?!" Gallus shouted, and they all looked to him. He stalked over. "What about me Gruff? If 'the likes of them' don't deserve to be considered students then I don't deserve to be either!"

"What?! Boy, don't tell me that you're-"

"Yeah! I'm gay!" Gallus announced loudly. "I'm gay and I'm dating Sandbar, happy?!"

A few gasps of shock spread through the crowd. Gallus opened a wing slightly to let the green pony slip underneath it. Gruff growled and jabbed his cane at Gallus.

"Boy, you take that back!"

"What? Take back my sexual identity? Don't see how that's possible." Gallus scoffed.

"You miserable excuse for a griffon!" Gruff yelled. "I knew I should have left you to die in the cold, you filthy orphaned street rat!"

Gallus' eyes widened and he pulled Sandbar closer. He backed away, towards the school. Then, in a flurry of feathers, Gallus scooped Sandbar up in his talons and shot into the building. Smolder wiped tears from her eyes and grabbed Ocellus, lifting her up and holding her close to her chest. She then spread her wings and bolted after him, ignoring the startled yelp from Ocellus.

"Gallus! Smolder! Wait!"

Smolder heard her Headmare calling out for them but ignored it, pumping her wings harder. She flew down the hall, chasing the blue blur that she knew was Gallus. Behind her, she heard on last cry from Gruff.

"Yeah! Go ahead and run you miserable little dy-"

Smolder whipped around and sent a burst of fire at the door, forcing it closed with a slam, cutting off Gruff's insult. With that, she turned and sped down the hall, letting tears stream from her eyes, seeking the sanctuary of her and Ocellus' dorm room.
> In The Aftermath
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Smolder kicked open the door to her and Ocellus' room. She dropped Ocellus unceremoniously on her bed, then flew to the closet.

"S-Smolder? What are you-Smoldie!" Ocellus screamed as she realized what Smolder was about to do.

Smolder ignored Ocellus, ripping open the doors to the closet, nearly making them fall off their hinges. She yanked out the first piece of clothing she touched, the blue dress she'd worn to her first tea party with Ocellus. With a frustrated roar, she grabbed it in both claws and yanked, ripping a large hole in it. Tears falling freely, Smolder cast it aside. She sobbed harder as she grabbed another.

By this point, Ocellus flung herself off the bed. She ran to Smolder and latched her forelegs around the dragon's arm, trying to stop her. But it was no use. Smolder blew fire onto this dress, messily sewn but lovingly crafted. The first dress Smolder had ever tried making for herself. With another sob, she dropped it and took another off the hanger.

"Smoldie, stop, please!" Ocellus screamed

"No! You don't understand, I should never have done this!" Smolder shouted, shaking Ocellus off. "What kind of... dumb... dragon... makes... stupid... frilly... dresses?!"

With each pause, Smolder gave another slash to the new dress. Now riddled with long gashes, it fell worthlessly to the floor. Smolder gave loud, convulsing sobs as she reached for the next one.

"Smolder, please! You-you love your dresses, I won't let you destroy them!"

"I-I have to Ocellus! Look at me! I'm not some prissy pony, I'm a big tough dragon!" Smolder cried

Ocellus was crying now too. She backed away, realizing this was not an argument she was going to win. Ocellus grabbed up the first dress Smolder had ruined, then slunk over to her bed and sobbed as she crawled underneath it and hid. Ocellus shut her eyes, every so often daring to open them, only to witness another burned or torn dress being cast aside onto the floor.

Ocellus continued to cry as she held the dress she'd grabbed close. She buried her face in it, as if wishing for it to take her back to that moment. Where everything had been okay. When they were newly in love.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the boy's dorm, Gallus fared no better. He was ransacking his side of the room. However, unlike Smolder, he sought not precious items, but things he'd brought from Griffonstone. Everything, bags, quills, trinkets he'd found there, they were all tossed recklessly into a trash can.

"Gally... please... calm down..." Sandbar pleaded softly.

Sandbar was lying on his bed, clearly upset. However, while tears did trickle down his face, he had settled for hiding under the covers. Gallus didn't listen to his coltfriend, too upset. He grabbed up a couple books he'd managed to salvage from the Griffonstone library in an attempt to teach himself to read. With a frustrated groan they were slammed down onto the floor, doing the already pretty heavily damaged books no favors.

"Gally, please..." Sandbar whispered

Gallus let out a griffon screech that made Sandbar's ears fold back. He then swiped a claw across his desk, which was littered with schoolwork. The papers, quills, and inkpots were all tossed to the floor, creating a mess. He then flopped down into the desk chair, leaning forwards heavily. Tears splashed onto the desk as Gallus put his head in his claws.

Sandbar lifted himself off the bed and stumbled slightly, tripping over the blankets. He reached and laid a hoof on Gallus' shoulder.

"Gally..."

Gallus took a deep, shuddering breath, then looked up.

"S-Sandy, I... I always thought... thought he cared. A-At least a little..."

"I know Gally." Sandbar held out his hooves.

Gallus gave a wail and flung himself at Sandbar. The force of it knocked the pony off his hooves and he landed on his rump. But he still kept a firm hold on Gallus, pulling the griffon close and stroking his head soothingly.

"It's alright. It's okay..." Sandbar tried to soothe him.

"S-Sandy..." Gallus sobbed, burying his head in Sandbar's shoulder.

"Shh, I'm here. You're okay. Everything's going to be okay."

Gallus clutched at him tightly, crying. Sandbar leaned back against the bed and held his boyfriend tightly. Sandbar was unsure what to say or do to make Gallus feel better. All he could do was pull him close, hold him, and wait for it to pass. He rubbed Gallus' back, nuzzling up to the griffon and shedding a few tears of his own.

"A-And I-I can't believe he said that stuff... about you and Smolder and... and Ocellus... n-none of you deserve that..."

"It's okay Gallus, it's okay." Sandbar murmured

"It's not, Sandy, he... he hurt you... a-and wh-who knows what's going on with Ocellus and Smolder right now and... th-that jerk just..."

"Shh... I know he doesn't speak for you."

"S-Sure... h-he doesn't speak for me... but he does for Griffonstone..." Gallus sobbed, clutching Sandbar tighter.

The earth pony sighed, understanding what Gallus meant. Gruff's opinion on the LGBTQ community was obviously a common opinion shared by many, if not all, of Griffonstone's subjects. Gabby and Gilda may have been supportive, and those they passed on the street while in the kingdom oblivious, but that didn't ensure nothing bad would be spoken towards them.

As Sandbar continued to try and soothe his boyfriend, his ears pricked. He heard the door creak open, and looked up.

"Sandbar...? Gallus...?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eventually, Smolder stopped her rampage. She slumped down against the back wall, then drew her knees up to her chest and buried her head in them. She cried silently, surrounded by her destroyed dresses and sobbing as if each ruined piece of cloth were a wound on her own body.

Ocellus noticed Smolder had stopped, but she still didn't emerge from underneath her bed. She merely clutched the dress she was still holding. Ocellus curled up around the dress, crying into it. The two girls were so wrapped up in their own pain, neither noticed the door open slowly.
> ...With Comfort and Love
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gallus and Sandbar looked up, seeing Silverstream and Yona in the doorway. Silverstream headed over and lifted up Gallus, pulling him from Sandbar.

"Come on Gallus, up."

"Noo..."

"It's okay, I just want to get you to lie down." Silverstream said, her voice oddly calm, lacking the usual energy.

"B-But..."

"Gallus no have to worry. Mean griffon not bother you anymore." Yona said simply, as if that settled the matter.

Gallus nodded silently and laid down in bed. Sandbar stood and joined him, as Yona began picking up the mess. Silverstream pulled a blanket over them both, smiling kindly before turning to help Yona. As the girls very kindly cleaned up the mess Gallus had made, Sandbar wrapped his hooves around the griffon, providing silent comfort as the griffon's breathing slowed, and he fell asleep.

"Th-Thanks girls..." Sandbar whispered. "Wh-Where are...?"

Yona and Silverstream looked at each other.

"W-Well... Dragon Lordess Ember and King Thorax went with Headmare Twilight to get them." Silverstream explained

Sandbar nodded in understanding. He settled beside Gallus, knowing there was nothing they'd be able to do. He just hoped they weren't being too hard on the girls. They hadn't done anything wrong.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Smolder?"

Smolder glanced up hesitantly. Twilight Sparkle stood in the doorway, behind her was Dragon Lordess Ember and King Thorax. Twilight locked eyes with her, then gave a small gasp as she saw the dresses littered around her.

"S-Smolder did... did you... are these yours?" she blurted, as Ember and Thorax stepped in, also seeing the dresses.

Smolder blushed through her tears, and gave the very slightest of nods. Twilight blinked in surprise, then lifted a mangled dress in her magic.

"Well, I suppose this explains why Rarity keeps telling us about missing fabric..." Twilight said. "But... Smolder, why did you destroy them?"

Smolder's breath caught in her throat. "I-I..."

Ember walked over and picked one up. "Smolder, you... made these?"

Smolder nodded slightly. "I... I didn't mean..."

"This is... actually pretty cool." Ember said, making Smolder blink, and wipe away tears. "Heh, so, your brother's a poet and you make dresses."

Smolder forced a laugh at this. "Y-Yeah..."

Ember smiled softly and sat beside Smolder. She laid a claw gently on the younger dragoness' shoulder.

"Where's Ocellus?" Thorax asked.

Smolder shook her head in response. She didn't know. Smolder had lost track of Ocellus after shaking her off during the brief struggle over the dresses. Thorax's eyes widened, and his jaws parted slightly. Smolder recognized dimly that he must be tasting the air for her personal scent. He then leaned down and looked under the bed.

Ocellus had heard hoofsteps and muffled voices. She pressed herself closer against the dress, still crying softly. Then, she heard her name. Hoofsteps sounded nearer to the bed, and she opened her eyes hesitantly. Thorax was staring at her, and smiled kindly.

"Ocellus, please come out." Thorax said. "It's okay. We're not going to hurt you."

Ocellus gave a soft gasp and dragged herself out from under the bed. She whimpered softly, accepting Thorax's offered hoof as she crawled out, pulling the dress with her.

Smolder blinked as Ocellus emerged, had she been under there the whole time? Ocellus was pulling something with her... a dress. Twilight smiled softly as Thorax helped Ocellus stand up.

"O-Ocellus, i-is... is that...?" Smolder asked softly.

Ocellus wiped her eyes and nodded, pulling it closer. Twilight stepped forwards as Thorax led Ocellus to Smolder, sitting down with her.

"First of all... you two need to know that you are not in trouble." Twilight began

Smolder blinked in confusion. "What...?"

"The way I see it..." Twilight began, sitting down as well. "You two were minding your own business trying to tell Ember about your relationship. You got a bit frustrated and blurted it out a bit louder than intended. However, it wouldn't have been a problem if not for Gruff. He was the real disturbance."

"S-So we... we won't be in trouble?" Ocellus asked tentatively.

"Of course not." Twilight smiled softly. "And after a... forceful talk with your leaders, Gruff left. He will no longer be a problem."

Ocellus blinked in surprise and looked at Thorax, who chuckled sheepishly.

"W-Well, uh... Pharynx did a bit of the talking..."

"And you transformed into a bear and roared at him." Ember added, then looked at Smolder as Thorax blushed. Twilight smiled and left the room silently. "Smolder... I'm not mad."

"Wait, really?"

"Of course. You think I would be after that old buzzard said that stuff?" Ember nudged Smolder gently. "Guess this means I owe Garble some gems now though."

Smolder chuckled dryly. "He mentioned that..."

Ember smiled and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "Seriously Smolder. You're... kind of like a little sister to me. I don't want to ruin that."

Smolder smiled, then looked to Ocellus. Ocellus trotted over, and Smolder reached, pulling her into a hug. The love that passed between them told each other all they needed to know.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sandbar was woken up from his light sleep by a gentle tap on the doorframe. He sat up, seeing Twilight standing there.

"Headmare Twilight."

Gallus stirred and sat up. "Huh...?"

"Boys..." Twilight waited for Gallus to register that she was there. "First of all, to quell your fears... Gruff has been escorted out of the school and it will be a while before I consider allowing him back."

Gallus sighed with relief. Twilight then held up a hoof.

"Second of all... I know you two did a brave thing, outing yourselves to help Smolder and Ocellus. And I commend you for that. But Gallus... how long as Gruff been treating you like this?"

"All my life..." Gallus sighed

Twilight's eyes widened, then she nodded. "I... see. Well, no promises... but I'll see what I can do."

"...Thank you." Gallus mumbled

Twilight smiled. "Now, that's all I had to say. I think I'll let you two get some more rest. Silverstream and Yona mentioned you seemed pretty worked up."

"Thank you Headmare." Sandbar said, Gallus nodding agreement.

"Of course boys." she smiled at them before leaving the room.

Gallus and Sandbar hugged, then shared a quick kiss before laying back down to go to sleep.
> ...In A Much Better Way
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"There they are..." a colt whispered as Smolder passed him, Ocellus by her side. Gallus and Sandbar were walking beside them.

"Isn't that the ones who..."

"Woah, they actually showed up for class..."

Smolder grunted in annoyance and clenched her fists. Ocellus rubbed her back.

"It's okay Smoldie." Ocellus whispered

Smolder ignored her and stormed into the library. Gallus huffed as he sat beside her, pulling Sandbar down beside him. Ocellus snuggled against Smolder.

"W-Well at least we can be public about our relationships now..." Sandbar said quietly.

"I guess." Gallus muttered. Smolder crossed her arms in frustration.

"Kids! Silverstream said you'd be here!" Twilight trotted up to them. "I have some good news!"

"You invented a memory wiping spell that'll make everyone forget we shouted our sexualities and our relationships to the whole school?" Smolder asked

"What? No!" Twilight shook her head. "I know the other students have been making it hard on you. But I figured out a way for you to properly explain and announce."

"How?"

"I was thinking that maybe you could announce it to the school as a whole." Twilight explained

"What?" Smolder and Gallus hissed

"Now just a minute, hear me out for a bit, okay?"

Smolder and Gallus crossed their forelegs but stayed silent. Twilight took a breath.

"I know that what happened during Friends and Family Day was not the way any of you wanted to come out. But the solution might be letting them know as much as you wish them to know about your relationships."

"I don't see how it's going to help." Smolder muttered "They already know."

"True. But this time, you're coming out to them on your terms." Twilight replied, smiling slightly.

"Our terms, huh?" Gallus asked, seeming interested.

"Yes, your terms. Do I have your attention now?" Twilight asked, raising a brow.

"Yeah. So what you got for us teach?" Gallus asked

"A school assembly." Twilight said simply. "I'd advise you to prepare a speech but this might be a better situation for you to speak from the heart."

"And we wouldn't bother writing one anyway." Gallus shrugged

"So you'll do it?"

Smolder hesitated. "We'll... uh... consider it. Now we have homework to do, Headmare, so if you wouldn't mind...?"

"Oh... of course. I'll let you get back to work." Twilight said, leaving.

"What was that for?" Sandbar asked Smolder once Twilight had gone.

"What? I told her we'd think about it!"

"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure we were all on board!" Sandbar said

"Smoldie, is something wrong?" Ocellus asked, putting a hoof on her claw. "You taste upset..."

"I just..." Smolder sighed "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing." Ocellus said "You're upset about the idea of it. But why?"

"B-Because... I... they're just going to laugh at us more, that's why!" Smolder slammed a fist down on the table.

"Shh!" a few students nearby hissed. Smolder growled and lowered her voice.

"You saw them this morning guys. We couldn't even go to class without them talking about us. How is officially coming out to the whole school going to help?" Smolder whispered

"Smoldie, you heard Headmare Twilight. She's offering us a chance to come out on our own terms." Ocellus said

"And what does she even mean by that?" Smolder threw up her claws in frustration.

"She means that it'll all be up to us." Gallus said, smirking. "It's pretty popular as a Griffon thing. We'll be the ones deciding what they will know and what they won't know. For example, you get to decide whether or not you want to tell them about your... heh, hobby."

Smolder blushed, burying her face in her claws to avoid showing him the embarrassment. "G-Gallus, not in public."

"Whatever. Point is, if you want to tell them, you can. And you get to decide how much to tell them. Like, if you just want to tell them you enjoy an unusual hobby and leave it at that, you can."

"So... we get to decide what to go into detail on?" Smolder asked, lifting her head.

"Yep."

"Okay..."

"So you'll do it?" Sandbar asked, smiling.

"Heheh, yep." Smolder agreed, grasping Ocellus' hoof.

"Come on then, let's go find Headmare Twilight." Gallus said, standing.

The group headed off, and Smolder glanced down at Ocellus.

"This will be okay, right...?"

"Of course it will Smoldie." Ocellus assured her, giving her a quick nuzzle. Smolder let out a very girlish giggle and blushed.

"Thanks Celly..."

Ocellus blushed and smiled, pressing close against the taller creature.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"May I have your attention everycreature?" Twilight Sparkle called.

The Headmare of the School of Friendship hovered in the air above a podium, the entire student body before her. On the podium below her, were four familiar creatures. Sandbar, Gallus, Smolder, and Ocellus. Ocellus and Sandbar looked characteristically nervous and a bit shy, while Gallus stood proudly and Smolder shifted uneasily.

"We are here today so that these four creatures may provide a bit of explaining on the... rumors that have been going around the school." Twilight said

"They're not rumors, they're true!" a unicorn called

"Shut up and let them talk, Orchid!" a pegasus snapped, wings flaring.

"Thank you." Twilight nodded to the pegasus, who nodded back. "Now, I'll let these four students take it from here."

Twilight then flew down to join her friends, standing at their sides. Gallus stepped forwards.

"Hey, so, uh... I know that this has already been made pretty clear by now, but... we wanted a chance to do this on our terms, instead of like what happened at Friends and Family Day." he spoke.

The students remained silent, and Gallus took that as permission to continue.

"So here it goes..." Gallus took a breath. "When the four of us came to Friendship School, I don't think any of us were expecting to find love. Much less among our own little circle of friends. But now, here we are, with the greatest partners we could ask for. So yes, it's true, Sandbar and I are a thing, as are Smolder and Ocellus. And we each may have started out as friends, but we've grown to be so much more than that to each other."

Gallus then looked to Ocellus, who nodded and took his place.

"I for one, w-would like to say that... that I know that interspecies relationships are fairly new and not very common. But... well, a year ago, I would have been beaten terribly by my queen for even suggesting that friendship with other creatures was an option. And now, I'm standing here with my girlfriend, in a school for interspecies friendship." she said, smiling.

"And I, a worthless griffon orphan, now have someplace to call home." Gallus added

"And if the rest of you don't like that we're dating, then that's your problem." Smolder finally spoke up.

"Because we love our partners. And despite never expecting to find love here, we'd never want to spend another day without them." Sandbar finished, slipping his hooves around Gallus' neck.

The room was silent for a moment.

"So you're really proud of this?" the unicorn from before, Orchid, sneered. "I mean, I guess the bug-pony's to be expected, all her kind are probably like that, what other examples does she have? But you, Sandbar? You know better." Ocellus and Sandbar both visibly flinched.

"Well I, for one, think they're very brave." the pegasus that had spoken against Orchid now strode forwards, smiling. "They spoke their truth, and weren't afraid to admit it. And hey, haters gonna hate. But that doesn't mean we have to listen."

"Hey!" Orchid cried

"Oh what, so like you're going to deny it?" the pegasus filly asked, smirking at her. They now recognized the purple stripe in her mane.

Orchid huffed and stormed off. The pegasus smiled kindly at the four creatures, nodding at them to continue.

"Thanks Melody." Gallus whispered, then raised his voice. "So yeah. To sum it up... I'm Gallus Griffon, and I'm Gay." Gallus announced, then looked to Sandbar.

"I'm Sandbar Kelp, and I'm Bisexual."

The focus went to Ocellus. "I-I'm O-Ocellus Iris, and I'm Lesbian."

Finally, the attention of the crowd went to Smolder. She took a breath.

"I am Smolder Dragonwing, and I'm Lesbian."
> A Prideful Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Whew! Was that an awesome festival or what?" Smolder asked as she entered her and Ocellus' bedroom, Ocellus following behind.

"I still can't believe you guys talked me into getting a kitten." Gallus grumbled, entering the room behind the two girls with Sandbar. Cradled in his claw was a tiny blue-gray furred kitten, who was sleeping.

"Aww, come on Gally, she's cute." Sandbar said, smiling at the tiny cat.

"Heheh, yeah... a little..." Gallus chuckled.

"And you two picked a great name." Ocellus remarked, setting the saddlebags she'd been wearing on her bed.

"Yeah, little Mistpelt there went to great couple too." Smolder added, grinning at the kitten.

Gallus chuckled, blushing, and pulled the cat closer. Sandbar kissed him on the cheek. He blushed harder. Ocellus giggled softly and turned to her saddlebags, pulling out some of the stuff they'd bought.

"Smoldie, here's that gay flag you bought for your brother." Ocellus said, holding out the rainbow flag to her.

"Thanks for carrying it Celly." Smolder took it and put it on her side of the room.

"Of course Smoldie." Ocellus then continued digging through the bag. "Oh, Sandbar, Gallus, here are the Bi and Gay scarves you got."

"Yes!" Gallus took the rainbow striped scarf and put it on. "Thanks 'Cellus."

"Yeah, thanks for holding onto them Ocellus." Sandbar said, folding his own scarf and laying it on his back.

"Oh, of course you two, I was happy to!" Ocellus said, pulling out the lesbian patterned hoof bracelet from her bag and slipping it on.

"It was great hearing all those speeches too." Smolder said, sitting down beside Ocellus on the changeling's bed. "I mean, I'm not one for lectures or anything but it was really great."

"Yeah, and it was great to meet all those creatures too." Sandbar agreed, he and Gallus taking seats on the floor.

"Yeah, though I admit I didn't expect to see the Fangs there..." Ocellus said "Heh, but it was wonderful to find out Dagger had come out."

"Yeah, like you Celly." Smolder pulled Ocellus close and she giggled.

"And I also saw Spitfire and Fleetfoot from the Wonderbolts." Sandbar added

"Yeah, that was pretty cool." Smolder said "Did you see Spitfire had a Bi flag on her cheek and Fleetfoot a Lesbian one?"

"Heheh, remind you of anyone Smoldie?" Ocellus asked, kissing her on the cheek.

"Heh, yeah. Pretty cool coincidence."

"What was really cool was finding out one of Professor Pie's siblings is Trans." Sandbar remarked.

"Heh, yeah. Her brother seemed really happy to have a place to be accepted." Gallus agreed.

"And did you see those cakes they had? Rainbow frosted cakes!" Ocellus squeaked

"Heh, yeah, you wanted one, didn't you?" Smolder asked, and Ocellus blushed, nodding sheepishly.

"All in all, I'd say it was a great day." Sandbar said

"Mhm..." Gallus yawned, stretching out on the floor and setting Mistpelt in front of him.

The little kitten opened it's mouth to let out a tiny mew. It opened it's eyes, revealing them to be silvery blue. Sandbar beamed and reached to scoop Mistpelt up.

"Aww, who's a cute kitty? Who is?" he cooed

"Aww, it's not me?" Gallus pouted playfully.

"You're a cat-bird, isn't there a difference?" Smolder asked

"Whatever." Gallus waved a claw in dismissal.

"Heh, don't worry Gally, you're the cutest kitty here." Sandbar said, kissing his cheek. The griffon blushed.

"I'm so glad Headmare Twilight told us about today's Pride Festival." Ocellus murmured, leaning against Smolder.

"Yeah. I'm never going to forget this day..." Gallus sighed.

"Really?" Sandbar asked.

"Yeah... I'm finally free... Gruff's not my legal guardian anymore, Gilda and Gabby have become like sisters to me... and I got to spend the whole day with my boyfriend in public, and no one said a thing other than how cute a couple we were." Gallus said, putting a wing over Sandbar.

"Heheh, I had fun too Gally." Sandbar said, leaning into Gallus.

"Yeah, and I feel the same way." Smolder said, pulling Ocellus into her lap, ignoring the startled squeak from the changeling. "I just wish Garble got to see it..."

"Why wasn't he able to come again?" Ocellus asked, looking up at her.

"Heheh, Gar-Gar finally got a boyfriend." Smolder replied. "Some drake named Geode, moved to the Dragonlands from the Dragontown in Fillydelphia."

"Really? What's he like?" Sandbar asked

"Well, Gar-Gar didn't go into too much detail. He said Geode was a drake his age, black scales with purple accents, and that he was really nice. That's about all I know."

"Anyway..." Gallus looked to Smolder. "The festival give you any ideas?"

"Oh, tons!" Smolder began ticking off things on her claws as she spoke. "White dress with transparent skirt to reveal a rainbow underskirt, black fake leather jacket with rainbow highlights, maybe some pride themed accessories, like a metallic rainbow mane clip or a lesbian flag themed headband."

"Well then to commemorate this great day for us all, I say we celebrate." Gallus flew out of the room.

"Where's he going?" Smolder asked, and Sandbar shrugged.

Gallus soon returned with a cake box.

"Gally, what's in there...?" Sandbar asked

"Heh, only... this!" Gallus opened it to reveal a cake. It was covered in white icing and decorated with three flags, the Bi flag, the Lesbian flag, and the Gay flag. They were in front of a rainbow stretching across a light blue frosted part.

"Rainbow cake!" Ocellus exclaimed

"Had Professor Pie make it." Gallus explained, smiling. "It's chocolate."

"Yes!" Smolder cheered

The cake had already been sliced, so they each took a corner piece. Gallus held up his slice.

"To LGBTQ rights!" Gallus proclaimed

"To Love is Love!" Ocellus added

"To Respect for All!" Smolder cheered

"To us!" Sandbar finished

"To us!" they all chorused, bumping their slices together.

The four creatures then began to eat, laughing and talking with each other. The only emotions they felt were happiness and love. Their trinkets they'd bought at the parade and one sleepy kitten laid beside them, mementos to a day they'd never forget.