> Gay Pride and Some Prejudice > by The Bricklayer > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > It's Gay, okay? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Okay, I’m going to be upfront with you here and now. I’m gay. Gay as the day is long. Like covered in rainbow gay. Got it, okay good. Now that we’ve got that out of the way... My name is Gallus, capital G, and yes I share a name with a type of chicken. Har har, laugh it up. Okay, you’re done, right? Now, second thing you need to know about me? Well, we’ll get to that in a minute… For now, sit back, relax, and just enjoy what you’re about to read. ---------- Gallus didn’t normally get mixed up in politics, he really didn’t. Didn’t normally give a crap about them really. Why should he? Wasn’t his concern, besides Princess Celestia was a good ruler. Her and her sister, even with their apparent retirement coming up fast.  Still, even he was concerned about some of the rumblings up in Canterlot. They seemed so far and away right now, but Gallus knew from personal experience that with enough traction? Anything could go far enough. “Gallus, move your wing,” Sandbar said from behind him, water sloshing around beneath the two of them. “I can’t give you a nice good scrub if you won’t cooperate!” The blue griffon was dripping wet, Sandbar shoving a sponge into his feathers and scrubbing hard as soap bubbles flew, the water continuing to slosh beneath him. Gallus flicked a soap bubble towards the stallion, with a little laugh. “You’re not making this any easier, you ass,” Sandbar grumbled gruffly to himself. “But I’m your ass,” Gallus deadpanned, flicking him in the forehead with a claw.  “I’m not going to even dignify that with a response,” Sandbar replied, continuing to scrub under his wings, Gallus letting out a little moan in response. Sandbar flushed at the sound but continued his scrubbing all the same. He moved to the other wing, and globs of soap bubbles flew in his face. Gallus laughed, grabbing a bunch of bubbles and covering his face in them to give himself a little beard. “...goof, you’re such a goof,” Sandbar said as he used his sponge to scrub away at Gallus’ face, Gallus playfully swiping at him. Sandbar gave an annoyed nicker, uttering: “Oh stop that! I thought birds liked baths!” “I’m not a full bird,” Gallus pointed out. “I’m half cat, cats hate baths.” “Don’t see you complaining so far,” Sandbar replied. “Most cats I know, they’d be yowling at me and slashing my face open. Thankfully, your claws don’t seem quite so sharp eh?” “Only because it’s you, hun,” Gallus replied. “If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t be so lenient.” “Sure you wouldn’t, turn around for me, would you? I have to get your back,” Sandbar ordered and Gallus did so, with his boyfriend going for his back. Up and down, up and down the sponge went with soap suds flying everywhere. Some were tossed to the far end of the barn, landing in the straw outside the metal tub. With a little laugh, Sandbar scrubbed Gallus’ head, soap suds covering his face. Sandbar kissed the nape of his neck, whispering: “Good boy.” Gallus gave a little shudder, whispering back: “I can be a bad boy, if you want…” “No, just no,” Sandbar said. “Time and place man. I’d rather not have to explain to Professor Applejack why her little sister’s hearing strange noises coming from the barn.” “You can just say it’s haunted,” Gallus said as Sandbar continued scrubbing. “You’re insatiable,” Sandbar replied. “And it’s the daytime, not 7:00 at night. It’s not even lunchtime yet!” “So, ghosts can come out in the day! They’re probably pretty hungry themselves, being dead and all. And hey, on the sex thing? What can I say, I can’t get enough of you babe,” Gallus said. “Not my fault you’re handsome beyond belief.” “Flatterer,” Sandbar said, kissing his neck again. “But no amount of flattery’s going to get me to have sex with you right now.” “Oh, you sure? It’s not a personal problem is it?” Gallus drawled. “Cause pretty sure there’s a special medication for that. You know, 9 out of 10 doctors state that…”  “Oh hush you!” Sandbar replied with a small snort, flicking a glob of soap bubbles his way.  “I thought you were supposed to be getting me clean,” Gallus replied. “Not getting me even dirtier!” “It’s soap, it’s very clean,” Sandbar uttered in reply. “Why you’d drag me along for Professor Applejack’s apple-bucking course is still beyond me…” “You’re an Earth Pony! Thought you should know your history!” Gallus replied with a small laugh. “We’re not all farmers, you know. That’s speciesist!” Sandbar replied. “Coulda fooled me,” Gallus said. “Besides, everything’s much more fun with you…” “Don’t try to be sappy, man,” Sandbar said as he continued his work. “It doesn’t suit you. I think I prefer the smartass you.” “Or just my ass in general, eh?” Gallus laughed.  “...I take it back,” Sandbar sighed. “I’ll take the sap thank you very much!” “Sorry, no takesy backsies!” Gallus said, blowing a raspberry at him. “Did… did you just seriously just say no takesy backsies?” Sandbar asked before tossing a glance skywards. “There are some phrases that should not be uttered by some creatures, and that’s one of them.” “Well, I annoyed you so goal accomplished. Who da man?” Gallus teased. “...and that’s another phrase,” Sandbar grumbled. “You’re trying way too hard to cool.” “But admit it, you like it that way,” Gallus said, turning around to kiss him square on the muzzle, before flicking a glob of soap at him. Sandbar simply tossed the wet sponge at him, scoring him directly in the face. Gallus grinned. “Oh, so that’s the way you want to play it…” He shoved water towards Sandbar, the two laughing up a storm as they had their own little private war. Thoroughly soaked to the bone, and both smelling fresh as the day they were born, Sandbar leaned in to kiss his boyfriend on the lips. “I love you, jerk.” “I love you too, dork.” ---------- So yeah, second thing. I’m dating Sandbar and you can’t even try to stop me. I’ll fight you if you did, and trust me no creature does better in a brawl than a griffon. It’s the claws, really. Nobody wants to mess with someone who can rip them open. Truth, am I right? Now, you may be wondering how I started dating Sandbar. Well, a guy’s allowed to have some secrets right? It’s not really important at the moment anyways. What is important is what comes next… ---------- Now, one of the things you need to know about ponies is there’s a distinct gender ratio. It used to be worse back in Commander Hurricane’s time, 40 to 1 on the female to male ratio. Nowadays it’s only ten to 1. Okay, that’s still pretty bad admittedly, but it’s gotten better so bright side right? There’s an odd double standard in society really, and it all has to do with this gender ratio. See, mare on mare? Nobody looks at it twice. But because there’s not a lot of dudes around, well. You can imagine the eyebrows raised if two guys started dating. Okay, Gallus knew it wasn’t as bad for him as griffons had a less skewed ratio. But he’d seen the glances tossed towards his boyfriend. Er, coltfriend as they called it here. It wasn’t to the point anyone was refusing him service -yet- but he’d have to have been blind to miss the odd and sometimes disappointed looks tossed his way.  Ugh.  So okay, Gallus understood their stance on the matter. Males were a precious thing in this society, but love was love right? Surely the land of harmony and friendship and all that rot could understand that much. Unless all of the lessons he’d been taught were all bunk, and if that was the case why was he even in this school? Well, he supposed there was one reason he mused as he looked at his sleeping boyfriend. Snuggled up under the covers in their dorm, they lay. Gallus had wrapped his paws around his coltfriend’s barrel, and snuggled into his fur. He could, for a time, pretend all was right with the world. And maybe it was.  Oh Enlil, he was turning mushy. Sandbar had to be rubbing off on him. He just had to be. He didn’t used to be this way.  Sandbar let out a soft little moan turning over on his side. Gallus maneuvered his head so he wouldn't get kicked in the face, before adjusting to snuggle into Sandbar’s autumn-borne chest fluff. Nice and warm, and so very… oh, he wasn’t going to even finish that thought. “Don’t get distracted by the fluff, don’t get distracted by the fluff. You’re an alpha male and you don’t even think of succumbing to these types of things!” He looked at his peacefully sleeping coltfriend, and dear Enlil that fur looked like the perfect pillow. Oh, screw it. With a small sigh, Gallus just snuggled into Sandbar’s far, wrapping his arms around his love. Feeling the soft thump thump thump of his heartbeat, the griffon gently started to lull himself off to sleep.  No, no, not right now. Goddamit body, he was just starting to get back to sleep! After a quick trip to the bathroom, he stole back to his love’s arms. Snuggling under his head and into his chest fur went Gallus. His wings wrapped themselves around Sandbar, and off to sleep drifted Gallus. Or… he would have drifted off had his mind not still been perfectly awake and active. Damnit. It still worried about his and Sandbar’s current relationship. Yeah sure he felt safe right now and everything seemed to be all sun and roses. But what about tomorrow, or the next day? While Gallus doubted lynch mobs would be forming in the streets anytime soon -probably- there was always a… worrying possibility. Denial of service for one thing. Males weren’t supposed to date other males, at least not in pony society. And here Sandbar was defying that very creed, and with a griffon guy at that! Now, logically he should be fine as it was one less pony male to worry about not continuing his line. But all the same… Was he being selfish, not wanting to get caught up in the type of shit that was sure to come? God, Sandbar should really seek a better boyfriend than he. He was a coward. He thought bitterly, traitorously. “So much for the brave, mighty griffon eh?”  Leftover insecurities, really. Gallus would freely admit that. He’d been alone for a large part of his life, and having someone who cared for him -truly, deeply cared- was a new sort of thing. He still wondered if it was a dream. Sandbar practically doted over him, hell just earlier today he was all too happy to bath him clean! “I’ll never understand it,” Gallus mused as he kissed his colt on the forehead. “What you saw in me, and not… I don’t know, Ocellus! She’s a good girl, could turn into your ideal date if you just asked. Me? I’m just a poor boy from a poor family. Sad but true.” With a small sigh, he adjusted himself so Sandbar was holding him from behind. Here, he felt safe, protected and perhaps, more importantly, he didn’t have to look him in the eye. A little snore came from behind Gallus, Sandbar hugging him closer as if he was some giant plush toy. Gallus was hit with a realization then, like it came almost as if a slap to the face. Oh, what was he doing? He was Gallus Gruff, not some sappy insecure idiot. He’d take what comes, that’s what he always did. Seemed to work for him so far. And now he had a reason not to be cowardly. Him. Just him. So, corny as it sounded… put up your dukes world. He’d gladly fight back.  ---------- I’m allowed to have brief moments of cowardice, aren’t I? Brief moments of weakness where I let my guard down. Everybody has them, so don’t judge me okay? Anyways… ---------- Daybreak came, and so restarted the classes. It sorta went by in a blur actually, the day’s classes and when lunchtime finally arrived Gallus let his head thump against his table. “Uuuuuuuuugggghhhhhh…” “Hey look guys,” crowed out Smolder. “I think school’s finally done him in, now meet Gallus the Zombie! Got any brains to contribute?” “Har dee hee har har,” Gallus groaned out. “You’re not as funny as you think you are Smolder. Enlil, day’s not even halfway over yet…” “Hey, you alright? Usually, you laugh at my jokes,” Smolder said. “Even my terrible ones.” “All your jokes are terrible,” Gallus said. “That aside…” Smolder trailed off. “Okay, maybe I am in a bit of a mood,” Gallus admitted and cast a glance around the room where he saw the expressions given at him. Or more accurately, at him and Sandbar. Smolder noted them as well and suddenly nodded in understanding. “Ah,” she said. “That kind of thing. I get you. I take it you’ve heard the news.” “Obviously,” Gallus groaned. So, yeah let me back up and explain for a moment here. Jet Set and Upper Crust, you know them right? Canterlot snobs? Rich gits? And currently calling for a campaign to make being gay illegal. Because obviously if you want to protect pony bloodlines that’s the way you do it. Though if you asked Gallus, who’d want to have sex with either of them afterwards? Obviously not him. Celestia nor Luna couldn’t do much to stop them, largely because of the bureaucracy involved. It was one thing to not show support for it, but it was another thing entirely to try and stop it. Even in a monarchy, there was paperwork. A lot of paperwork. And trying to keep the male population, well, alive was a popular sentiment. Not many would admit to wanting some males to go off and do whatever with other males. “Joy.” Rock and a hard place really. Neither Princess could openly show support against or for the bill. Not unless they wanted to alienate half of their supporters.  “Cowards.”  Gallus was bitter, so what? He hated politics. The one thing he was grateful Griffonstone didn’t have, crummy as it was in other aspects. “Yeah, yeah, I know. It sucks,” Smolder agreed. “Can’t believe Blueblood’s tossing his support in for this nonsense. Sorry, Prince Blueblood.” she corrected herself at the glances tossed her ways. “Even if he’s a poof?” Gallus asked and his boyfriend smacked him lightly. “What? We all know if there’s anyone so deep in the closet it’s that idiot!” “I know, but still…” Sandbar said even if you looked closely you could see his shoulders were shaking with held back laughs. “He’s still a prince!” “Not for me he isn’t,” Gallus said. “He’s a prince for ponies, not for griffons. Even if you ask me if I was a pony I’d call for him to forfeit his title for this nonsense…” This last part was grumbled. “You could protest,” Smolder said. “Hold a rally! Gays against inbred idiots!” “...Smolder!” Sandbar said weakly. “What, you all know it’s true,” Smolder said with a roll of her eyes. “They’re so obsessed with keeping their lines clean from ‘outside influence’ that they’re probably tainting it anyways!” “Yeah, sure. That’d work wonders,” Sandbar said. “Not to sound defeatist or anything, but…  “But what?” Smolder asked. “Okay, let me reword that. Let me be realistic about this,” Sandbar corrected. “You think Canterlot nobility is going to listen to a hick from Ponyville and an exchange student from the poorest country in the world? Because, shocker, they don’t care about Ponyville. At best, it’d go as just one cute little voice in the crowd. Laughed off.” “...yeah, you’re right,” Smolder admitted before she watched a slow smile come to Sandbar’s face. “...Okay, what are you thinking dude?” “Of course, who said it had to be just a hick from Ponyville and an exchange student from the poorest country?” Sandbar theorized and Smolder and Gallus gained identical equal grins as they realized what he was thinking. Gallus, in particular, gave him a searing kiss leaving Sandbar in a daze as he stared at Smolder. “...what? I’m not kissing you!” Smolder said. “That’s for your boyfriend to do!” “Enlil, you’re so hot right now…” Gallus breathed out before he collected himself. “So, okay yeah. You’re suggesting we use our connections to further our cause? ...that’s thinking like a griffon!” “Well, duh. I’m dating one aren’t I?” Sandbar said, giving him a flat look. “They’re bound to listen a bit more if it was hippogriff and yak royalty along with the current changeling princess speaking out!” “...wait, Ocellus is royalty?” Gallus asked. “...news to me!” “I overheard her once, she’s Pharynx’s daughter and as Pharynx is obviously Thorax’s brother…” Sandbar trailed off. “Am I seriously the only one who knows this?” “Plus, Ocellus is a bookworm. We’ll defeat stupid with logic!” Smolder cried out. “Failing that, surely there’s some odd loophole somewhere that can take this nonsense law to the cleaners!” “...to the cleaners?” Gallus asked. “...have you been watching those Haytalian mafia movies again Smol?” “So what if I have been, see?” Smolder asked with a toothy grin. “I respectfully decline to answer because I honestly believe my answer might tend to incriminate me.” “...you’ve already incriminated yourself, you know that right?” Gallus drawled. The sound of laughter filled the table, and for a moment Gallus relaxed. Yeah, it felt as if the world was going to be alright. They could beat this, they could. They’d faced the world once, they could do it again. Right, right. His heart could stop beating a million miles a minute now. Just breathe, just breathe. Nobody was going to take his coltfriend away. Not if he had anything to say about it. Not on his watch. The day passed on by without much incident, and as soon as classes let out, Sandbar and Gallus went into town. Muttered whisperings followed them with every step, with both trying to ignore the remarks as best as they could.  “They’re just jealous,” Gallus said over a cup of coffee before kissing Sandbar on the forehead. His coltfriend flushed a bright shade of red.“None of them probably have a colt as cute as you.” “Flatterer,” Sandbar said, but all the same despite Gallus’ joke he looked distinctly uncomfortable. Had to have been all the stares. Gallus, being the good boyfriend that he was, picked up on all of this. “Ignore them,” he said. “There’s not much they can do to us. It’s not illegal to have coffee.” “Yet,” Sandbar pointed out. “Yet.” “And it’ll never be if you have your way, remember?” Gallus said before sighing. “...let’s get off the subject okay? Don’t want to see you turn into an anxious wreck. Doesn’t suit you, hun.” “A-Anxious wreck?” Sandbar stuttered in disbelief. “Me? You’ve met my mom, right? Mellow as can be.” “Yeah, that’s only because of all the weed she smokes,” Gallus pointed out. “Even runs a shop for it, herbal remedies she calls them.” “Well, she’s technically not wrong about that is she?” Sandbar returned, with a smug little smile on his face. “Don’t give me a look like that, it doesn’t suit you,” Gallus said before taking a sip of his coffee. “I’m supposed to be the smug one in this relationship remember?” “..Dunno, you seemed pretty pleased with my smugness earlier…” Sandbar drawled. “Called it pretty hot, right?” “Shaddup,” Gallus said smacking him in the arm. He took good pleasure in the looks being sent their way this time. Let them stare, really. They were just that jealous of how cool his boyfriend actually was. “Say we do find some loophole in this law, right?” Sandbar started.  “It’s not a law yet, so can we stop calling it that?” Gallus asked with a small sigh. “And if I have my way, it’ll never be a law.” “Whatever,” Sandbar remarked before continuing. “Say we find some loophole to abuse, what then? Do we take this to the supreme court?” “Not a bad idea, actually now that you mention it,” Gallus said. “Can’t see any other way to get the nobility to listen.” Presuming they even want to listen, a nasty little voice in the back of his head said. He was well aware it was a possibility. They could get laughed out of the building, and then there was the fact that to be perfectly honest, the nobility were bigots. Half of them didn’t care for dragons or changelings or anything like that. If Chancellor Neighsay was any evidence, it was Equestria for ponies only. Joy. Didn’t this bode well? “...Presuming we’re even allowed to state our case,” Gallus admitted. “Princess Twilight tolerates a lot of things -love and respect her for that- but I’m sure even she has her limits. We’re still students, after all. It’s not like we’re allowed to just drop our studies for anything, even for this.” “Actually, I beg to differ,” came a voice from behind them, and both Gallus and Sandbar stared in shock. Twilight had walked up, smiling warmly at them. “I’ve never been more proud of any of my students. This is exactly what I’ve been trying to teach all of you, harmony and acceptance.” “...shame you can’t teach it to your nobles, eh?” Gallus said in a sarcastic drawl.  “Yes, well, change is a hard thing,” she said sadly with a small shake of her head. “But this is where it starts, with the next generation. Hopefully, one day, all of Equestria will share your views. But until then, we keep on fighting.” “...through the thunder and the lightning?” Gallus joked weakly and Sandbar punched him in the arm. “...you’re not funny,” he sighed. “Timing man…” “Oh, I thought I was plenty funny,” said Gallus in reply. “Wasn’t that the reason you started dating me to begin with?” “Har har, you and your ego think you’re so cute…” Sandbar drawled. “You should start dating that instead.” “Well, if the horseshoe fits…” Gallus teased before Princess Twilight coughed into her hoof. Both looked sheepish. “...as I was saying,” Twilight continued before she grinned. “You’re going to need someone to represent you in court, and considering I’m a Princess… well, it’s about time I use this title for something right?” ---------- Okay, credit where it’s due. I wasn’t expecting Princess Twilight to step up like that. No, not Headmistress Twilight. Princess Twilight. Right now her title was on full display, and we pick up the action just a few short days later. Now, well it was now or never. It all came down to this. I was just hoping we were going to be listened to. ---------- The Canterlot Royal Supreme Court. Bit of a mouthful, but there you go. “The School of Friendship VS The State, we are now in session,” said a voice, and then came the bang of the gravel. Neither of the Royal Sisters was actually present, how odd. “Right, uh… yeah,” Sandbar started off, with a small stutter in his voice and shuffling his hooves anxiously. “Not sure how I’m supposed to start this off so I’ll just get right to the point. You all are making a mistake,” “...wow, Yona thought being blunt was supposed to be Gallus’ thing,” Yona said from nearby, under her breath. Smolder shushed her.  “And why, is that?” said Blueblood looking down at the younger stallion. “What he’s trying to say is this,” Gallus piped up. “You are going against your own country’s creed. Friendship and harmony, right? Doesn’t that include the acceptance of all beings?” “This isn’t about ‘acceptance’,” Blueblood replied with a small sigh. “This is about statistics. And they don’t lie, the male population of Equestria is at a dangerous low. We can’t have other males just deciding that they won’t do their lawful duty!” Jet Set sneered at the young griffon. “Prince Blueblood is right, young griffon. I’d advise you to listen to him.” “No, let him speak,” said Neighsay, and Gallus’ eyes widened in surprise. He wasn’t expecting support from him of all ponies. Nearby, Princess Twilight shot the Chancellor a grateful smile. “I actually want to hear this, it takes courage to speak to the nobility directly. I like that, so let him have the floor!” A few murmurs and a few mutterings followed his proclamation.  “Fine…” Jet Set sighed waving his hoof  “No, this isn’t fine!” Upper Crust piped up before Neighsay looked at her. Seemingly oblivious, she continued running her mouth. “What does this young runt have to say that’s of any worth?” “This young runt…” Gallus growled. “Be silent with yourself, Dame Upper Crust,” Blueblood said. “Or I will be forced to hold you in contempt of court.” The buttercream mare looked suitably quelled, and she slinked silently into her seat.  “If I may?” Ocellus stood up with a couple of folders in hoof. “I’ve done the research, and skewed as they are, statistics should allow this. Gay males are still in the minority right? It shouldn’t be enough to affect the overall breeding population, correct?” A few more murmurings and mutterings passed themselves around the room at this. Gallus picked up from where she left off. “Plus, let’s be honest here. You’re overlooking the obvious!” “And what, may I ask, is that?” Jet Set asked with another sneer. Must have been his default tone, Gallus reasoned. “It’s like saying to a child, don’t do this cool thing. It’s dangerous! Said child will find a way to do it anyways,” Gallus said. “It’s like banning alcohol. Ponies will still find a way to drink it, and ponies will still hump in dark alleyways or in basements just out of view!” “Thirdly,” Ocellus piped up. “You could always, ah, encourage ponies to donate.” She said this with a blush. More murmurings and mutterings. “So you see,” Ocellus said. “Despite the apparent beliefs there is no prejudice in this bill, I believe evidence points to the contrary.” A few ponies were looking at the others across the room, a few glares sent in other directions. Clearly, a few nobles weren’t going to be associating with a few others for a while to come if Gallus suspected right. But he wasn’t done yet was he? And neither was Ocellus. “Quite frankly, if you refuse to see that… well, I’ll be sure to tell my father and my uncle about your bigotry. I do wonder how the Prince and King of the changeling kingdom would take this news hmm?” Ocellus said, suddenly becoming very very frightening. A few nobles sweated and pulled at their ties. Ocellus smiled. She doubted either would take it well, especially given Thorax’s choice of prince consort. He tried to hide it as best as he could, but everyone knew which drake he was seeing on the side. “And I doubt Queen Novo would either.” Silverstream put in, with a tone of faux sweetness. “Nor Yona’s father Prince Rutherford!” Yona added and a few shuddered remembering the yak’s infamous temper. Gallus stepped up. “Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking,” Gallus added. “I’m a street rat. I mean, look at me! I’m all skin and bones, pretty scraggly. I shouldn’t even be there. You’re probably right. I got lucky when I was shoved off here, the best form of luck ever. I didn’t want to admit it at first, but I am now. Equestria’s sort of becoming a second home for me, really. But seeing this… well, I’m not sure I love it so much anymore. Love is love, right? So why do you want to stop that?” “...never knew you could be so sappy,” Sandbar whispered to him. “And I thought you hated it from me. It didn’t suit me, right?” Gallus whispered back to him. “Eh, it’s starting to grow on me…” Sandbar murmured back as he nuzzled his boyfriend. A few ‘awws’ came in response.  “But if you can’t accept that, well!” Gallus turned back to the courtroom with an angry sound. “I think we’re done here.” “I think we are actually. Frankly? Well, I think we’ve obliged these young ones long enough. Humored them for too long, really,” said Jet Set, Neighsay looking at him in disgust. His views, it seemed, had been changed for the better. “...can we get on with some real business?” “On the contrary,” said a familiar warm voice, this time sounding legitimately angry. Twilight nearly dropped her things and turned to look at the source of the voice. “I think they are the only ones making sense around here!” In walked Celestia and Luna. Mutterings and gasps filled the room. “Yes, it seems just because we are about to retire, it seems some ponies think it is high time to take advantage of us,” barked Luna turning on the Royal We. “We thoroughly object to this notion!” “Quite!” agreed Celestia, tossing a glance towards Blueblood that could only be read as: ‘we will have words, nephew of mine’. Blueblood swallowed nervously. “We apologize, but apparently our little excursion to Saddle Arabia was read as a time to pass barbaric backwards laws without our consultation.” Oh, oh dear. Celestia had the Royal We in her tone as well. “Apologies for the late arrival,” she said before smiling warmly at Gallus. “You did well. I’ll be sure to tell Gruff of what you did here today. You shall be congratulated on standing firm for your beliefs. All of you will.” Ocellus looked as if she might faint from the praise. As the group walked out, Sandbar turned to his boyfriend. “You weren’t even worried, were you?” he asked. “Not even for a minute.” Gallus beamed. “Liar,” Sandbar said before kissing his cheek. “Love you too.” ---------- So yeah. All’s well that ends well, right? Not sure whatever happened to Blueblood, didn’t really care as in less than a year Princess Twilight was on the throne. Sure she shipped him off somewhere where he couldn’t do much damage. I don’t know, and I don’t care. I’m happy with my life. Change is hard, sure, but if you fight for it… it comes. It will come. Peace out.