Lyra and Bonbon made their way to the hospital to visit Tidal with their own book bags and one special book bag. When they finally made it to Tidal’s room, he was already looking over his cell phone, reading emails from his aunt, that came from his teachers.
“Reading up on your homework assignments?” Lyra asked.
“Yea,” Tidal replied. “Any problems getting my notes? Or getting into my locker?”
“Nope, and nope,” Bonbon replied.
“We already have a copy of our notes from our class,” Lyra said.
“And someone from your other classes was able to lend them a copy of their notes for you to look over,” Bonbon added.
“With help from Miss Cheerilee in the library, of course,” Lyra also added.
“And we got your books so you don’t fall behind,” Bonbon added again.
They laid Tidal’s book bag on the table that was in front of him so that he could go through his things. He started to look through what notes he had and realized that something was missing.
“Where are my Social Studies notes?”
“Oh. Sunset said that she was going to bring those by later on,” Bonbon explained.
“Yea. She had to take care of something first,” Lyra added.
Tidal raised an eyebrow. “Any surprises that I should be expecting?”
“Not that we know of,” Lyra replied. “Maybe wanted to make sure that Rainbow Dash is still doing fine after what happened to her on Friday.”
“Let’s just make sure that you don’t have any problems with your classes,” Bonbon said.
They started looking over Tidal’s homework, guiding him through some of the problems that he had to deal with for about an hour until a visitor came by, knocking on the door. They looked up and saw Sunset Shimmer at the doorway.
“I hope I’m not intruding.”
“Oh no. Come on in,” Tidal said to Sunset. “I hope you have our notes from class?”
“I do.” Sunset went in and pulled out a copy of the notes from their class. “I would have brought them sooner, but I had to bring a few friends along.”
Tidal soon saw several of his classmates walk in: Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Clyde, Swift, and Pinkie, who was carrying a box of dounts with her.
“OK. That’s more than a few friends that you were talking about,” Tidal said.
“Hey. After hearing about what happened to you, we had to come and visit,” Clyde said.
“Are you the only ones that know about what happened?” Tidal asked.
“Well, Principal Celestia called me up first about what happened,” Applejack replied. “So I called Rarity and told her about it as well.”
“Since Rainbow Dash and Rivet were involved, I figure that Clyde needed to know so that he was ready to help out,” Rarity added.
“But for some reason, Pinkie Pie found out and had to tell the entire school what happen so that she could get some support,” Applejack explained, looking at Clyde.
“I just called Swift about it,” Clyde said. Everyone glared at Swift.
“I’m sorry. It just slipped,” Swift said in a panic.
“So basically, the whole school knows about it,” Applejack said. “Which does have some benefits.”
“Since I’m busy taking your notes, the other students are keeping their distance from me in class,” Sunset explained. “Until you get back, of course.”
“That’s a good thing, I guess,” Tidal said.
“There’s just one other thing left to do.” Applejack nodded to Fluttershy, who went to the doorway and directed someone else to come in. It was Rainbow Dash and Rivet.
“Hey there Tidal.”
“Hey there Rainbow, Rivet. How are you feeling?”
“A bit… shaken. But we’re be fine,” Rivet replied.
“Still dealing with nightmares, having a gun next to your head.” Rainbow shivered at the thought of it. “But Coach Iron Will said that he might have an idea of how I can get through it before each game.” Rainbow Dash then went up to Tidal and gave him a hug while crying. “But you didn’t have to take on that guy for us after what happened.”
Tidal’s face was filled with pain as Rainbow Dash was still hugging him.
“Hey! That’s where Tidal was shot! He’s still trying to recover from that,” Lyra responded.
Rainbow Dash let go of him and backed away. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s… OK.” Tidal replied, recovering from the pain.
“So, how long do you have to stay here?” Fluttershy asked.
“I should be out of here in a couple of days,” Tidal replied. “But I’ll be on bed rest for the rest of the week. I have to take some pain meds for a while, and padding around the wound until it’s fully better. They said that there might be some nerve damage from where I was shot, so it’s going to be sensitive for some time.”
“And the other guy. He’s dead, right?” Rivet asked, to which Tidal nodded.
Clyde responded. “Man. If karma was following him around, then she must have been a-”
“Now, now, Clyde. I won’t have you saying it in front of the others,” Rarity quickly responded.
“Hey. Guess what I brought?” Pinkie went a placed the box of dounts in front of Tidal. He looked and noticed the name on the box.
“Dount Joe’s?” He opened the box and saw the special dounts inside. “Dunkers!?”
Rarity explained. “Well, after Pinkie knew about what happened, she recommended that we bring a dozen dunkers from Dount Joe’s downtown. So I asked Nurse Redheart to place the order, to which I was able to pay for it while Pinkie made the pickup. Done and done.”
“And there’s enough for each of us,” Pinkie added. “Dig in!”
Tidal went and grabbed one of the dounts and took a bite. A smile came across his face. “Now this is a true dunker if I ever tried one.” He handed the box to Lyra, who took one and passed it to the other so that they can have one to eat. Each and everyone enjoyed the dunkers.
“Man, was that good,” Applejack said.
“I can see what makes them popular,” Rarity added.
“Say. Did you tell Tidal the news?” Clyde asked Lyra.
“News? What news?” Tidal responded.
“Oh, about that. Since Principal Celestia won’t have you cleared to practice in gym class, Coach Iron Will is limiting you to to just simple exercises.”
“I don’t see what could be a problem with that,” Tidal replied.
“Well, there’s one catch,’ Lyra said. “You have to help out with the boys’ basketball team as their equipment manager. But only for the rest of the semester.”
Tidal was nearly in shock. “Seriously?”
“Hey. At least you got us around,” Clyde responded. “And we don’t have to worry about your-” he shifted his eyes before saying “Fireball Spike!”
Rainbow Dash freaked. “What? What!? Where!?”
“Maybe she should be worrying about that instead,” Applejack said.
“Ha ha. Very funny.”
“And I figure you get over that after my first day there,” Tidal said. Everyone else started to laugh.
“Well, I’m sure we would like to stay longer, but I’m sure you have homework to do,” Sunset said, causing a few to let out some groins.
“Come on now,” Applejack said. “It’s going to take him longer to get the work done, and staying here with him ain’t going to help.”
As everyone started to head out of the room, Bonbon went up to Tidal and said, “Don’t worry. One of us will come by and pick up your homework tonight and take it to school tomorrow.”
Pinkie went back in and asked Tidal, “Can I borrow your 3DS?”
Tidal plainly replied, “Sure. I’m sure you want to add some StreetPass tags for me with special messages added to them.” Pinkie nodded her head with a big grin and took the game unit with her.
They left Tidal’s room and made it to the elevator going down. That was when plans were being put into motion.
“I guessing that it’s no longer a “Welcome to CHS/Happy Birthday” party for Tidal in a couple of weeks, is it?” Rarity asked Pinkie Pie.
“Nope. Now it’s a-” Pinkie stopped for a moment to think up a new name. “Wow. I wonder how I can add what happened here into the title. Oh, and I have to add the fact that he’s now an equipment manager. I hope I can make a sign big enough to fit in the title.”
“Well, let me know so I can come up with the cake design for the party,” Rarity said.
“How about we just keep it simple,” Bonbon said. “This is his birthday party, and he turns sixteen at that time.”
“Which means he finally gets to drive,” Lyra added. “Maybe something with a car will do.”
Pinkie went up to Lyra and said, “Good thinking. Having a car design on the cake will do. I’ll have to ask him what car he wants to drive when he gets his license.”
“I’ll guess I’ll be sitting this party out, will I?” Sunset asked.
“Not this time,” Applejack said. “You’ll going to be helping Pinkie with the setup when the time comes.”
“And it’s up to Lyra and Bonbon to bring Tidal to the party when it’s ready,” Pinkie added.
“US!?”
Tidal was able to finish up his homework in time for Nurse Redheart to bring him his dinner.
“I see that you you’ve been busy with school work?” Nurse Redheart asked.
“Just finished,” Tidal said. “Hoping that someone will be coming by to pick it up so that it can get turned in.”
“Then I’m just in time.” Tidal looked up to see his aunt, Luna, walking in.
“Aunt Luna!”
“Tidal, you worried us all after what you did Friday night,” Luna said.
“I’m sorry, but I felt like I had to do something,” Tidal replied.
“Well, there are other ways to handle it without risking your own life,” Luna yelled. “But I’m glad that you’re still alive.”
Tidal noticed that Aunt Luna was alone. “Cynder and Eclipse not here?”
“Eclipse is busy with his own homework,” Luna said. “Crystal Prep doesn’t go as easy as Canterlot High when it comes to education. Or anything in that matter. But your Aunt Cadence does keep an eye on him when needed. As for Cynder, well, she’s busy with… other things. Besides, I didn’t want her to be a burden on you with what you just went through.” She sat down next to Tidal’s bed as Nurse Redheart left his dinner tray on his table and left. “Well, don’t let your food get cold. Eat.
Tidal saw that it was a hamburger stake, with mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes on the side, and a some fruit punch. He started to eat, knowing that it was typical hospital food, it was still good.
“So, I hear that you will be with the boys’ basketball team as an equipment manager,” Luna said.
“Well, doesn’t look like I have a choice, now do I?” Tidal replied.
“Well, Coach Iron Will can be very demanding on everything sports related. And he has been requesting an equipment manager for the games every single time. I guess it’s fitting that you fill the role for now.”
Tidal stopped eating and stared at her aunt. “So was this all your doing?”
Luna stared back at Tidal. “I don’t know. Is it?” Tidal gave up and went back to eating. “Look, you need to make a better effort with your life than this. Sure you had it bad at your old school. But this school is much better than that one.”
“And Sunset Shimmer?”
Luna paused for a moment before answering. “That was just… a random incident. Nothing more.” She paused for a bit before continuing. “Well, more like a magical incident that no one saw coming. Look. I know Aunt Tia told you about her, and what she did was wrong. But somehow, not everyone is willing to give her a second chance. And yes, it feels like history is repeating right before your eyes, but I think right now she could use someone to watch over her. I know the other girls are doing the same, but I think she’s now going through the same thing you have been through. And right now, what she needs is a friend that can overlook her past.”
“And Lyra and Bonbon? I know I’ll be seeing them more.”
“Maybe you can get them to overlook her past as well. Then maybe others will do the same. If they understand what you went through, then they can avoid a repeat performance between Sunset and the entire school. Just… make sure the school understands that we don’t need to be like the school that you once attended.”
“OK. Just one question. Are we going to have another magic basic incident again at school?”
Luna let out a small giggle. “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. Besides. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something else.” Tidal raised an eyebrow. “I’ve heard that there’s going to be a retro gaming tournament going on this summer. And Cynder tells me that you’re an expert in the classics. Think you would be up to something like that over the summer break?”
“Maybe. But I’ll have to see it in detail.”
“I should know more later next month, since they’re keeping the details a secret. But I think you can make it big when it comes around. You was always playing with your father’s old systems back home. And I think it would be nice to get out more when the summer comes around.”
“I’ll hold you to it.”