//------------------------------// // Ch. 9 - Blue Moon Offers // Story: Under the Blue Moon (Revised) // by Gear Works //------------------------------// Today was a special day for Canterlot High. Not only was it Valentine’s Day, but it was the first time for the boy’s basketball team to make it to the playoffs. The team has been doing well since they had Rainbow Dash on their team as the only girl to play with the big boys. And while Tidal has been attending the school for over a month, he has been fulfilling his commitment with Coach Iron Will as an equipment manager for the team for the past few weeks. And the last thing he wanted to think about was team playoffs. But unlike what played out at his old school’s football playoff chances, due to the bullying he went through, he was hoping that this would be different. The team did give him some credit for helping them out when someone was injured, or someone needed a towel or water on the bench. As the day went on, Tidal was already with Sunset, double checking their notes from Social Studies. They knew they had a big test in a few days, and Sunset wanted to make sure that Tidal was ready for it. As they were studying, some of the others joined in, with the exception of a few. “Where’s Pinkie?” Sunset asked. Swift was the first to respond. “She’s busy putting up posters for the Spring Fling.” “Eeyep,” Applejack added. “Lyra and Bonbon are helping her out, so they’ll be joining us later.” “And where’s Rarity?” Tidal asked. “Sick,” Clyde replied. “But I plan to stop by and visit her after school.” “Just remember. There’s a playoff game tonight,” Tidal said. “Last thing we need is one less key player for the team. Otherwise, kiss your playoffs series goodbye.” “Now come on,” Rainbow Dash replied. “We’ll all be there. And we plan to win.” She could see the stern look on Tidal’s face. “Look, we are nothing like your old school. All that loser of a bully did was put his focus on you, and it cost him, and the team big time.” “And Clyde and Rarity?” “This is different,” Clyde replied. “I’m just going to stop by, deliver some flowers, and lift her spirits. Then I’ll be back at the gym to practice before the game.” “Just don’t get sick yourself,” Tidal replied. “Don’t worry. She’s might be watching Xanadu again after ordering the DVD online. Maybe using the time to make some new designs.” Clyde leaned in to Tidal. “By the way, I’m glad you brought it up to her. It was another romantic night for the both of us.” Tidal rolled his eyes before he responded. “No problem. Just throwing it out there. At least someone enjoys the old stuff.” Applejack decided to step in. “Speaking of which, any word on your new car? We haven’t seen you drive up in one since you got your license.” Tidal took a moment to look at his phone before responding. “Still waiting to hear from my dad on that. He said that he was looking into it and have it sent to me later on.” “You would think that it would be easy to just buy one,” Rainbow Dash said. “Or are we looking for something in particular?” “Something in particular,” Tidal replied. “That’s what he e-mailed me about earlier.” That was when Pinkie Pie jumped out of nowhere and said, “Is it something classic!?” “Pinkie Pie!” Swift yelled is surprise. “When did you get here?” “Oh, we just got finished putting the posters up around the school for the Spring Fling,” Pinkie Pie explained. Lyra and Bonbon were able to join the others. “It was pretty easy,” Bonbon added. “Yea. We each took a fraction of the school and got all the posters up. No problem,” Lyra added. “With all the posters in place, this Spring Fling is going to be EXPLOSIVE!!!” Pinkie yelled, causing all the classmates to turn their attention not to Pinkie Pie, but to Sunset Shimmer. Sunset started to cover herself, still feeling ashamed about her past actions from the Fall Formal. Tidal saw this and decided to take action. “How about we focus on the basketball playoffs that are going on tonight. I’m sure that we don’t want to lose on our first attempt in them.” When all the students heard what he said, they decided to resume their own conversations. “That did the trick.” “Thanks, Tidal,” Sunset said. “Sounds like someone is taking advantage of his own past with this school,” Applejack said. “Just don’t let it go to your head,” Lyra added. “We don’t need another Demon Sunset in our school. No offense.” “None taken,” Sunset replied. Everyone was able to take a seat around the table. “So what were you talking about again?” Bonbon asked. “Tidal’s car,” Applejack answered. “We don’t know what he’s getting.” And that’s when Pinkie Pie decided to go off on her idea. “I bet it’s going to be super cool and fast and have turbo boosts and talks like it has a mind of its own.” Tidal stared at Pinkie Pie. “Did you just make a description of KITT for Knight Rider?” Pinkie quickly shook her head up and down. “Sounds like it,” Applejack added. “What kind of car was it again?” “A firebird trans am, I think,” Rainbow Dash replied. “That sounds about right,” Tidal responded. “You’ve seen the show?” “On reruns back then, when we were good friends,” Applejack explained. “Before Sunset appeared on the scene. But that was the old Sunset that we came across, not the Sunset we now know and help with.” “And it was the coolest car ever seen,” Rainbow Dash added. “That’s right.” Pinkie went up to Tidal’s face and added, “You don’t hassle the Hoff!” “Maybe that’s what your father is looking for,” Bonbon said. “Something more classic like that. It could explain why he hasn’t sent you a new car since you turned sixteen. Even if you were able to send him the stuff you need to have it under your name.” “Well, I won’t know until I hear from dad when he has it,” Tidal replied. “You know, I never seen this series. Is it any good?” Sunset asked the others. “It sure is,” Pinkie Pie replied. “I have the entire series on DVD. Your welcome to watch it whenever you feel like it.” “Thanks.” Fluttershy, who was mostly quiet during the conversation, finally broke her silence and decided to asked Tidal something. “So, um, how’s the new therapy going?” “New therapy!?” “It seems to be working,” Tidal replied. “Not feeling any pain where I was shot.” “Wait a minute,” Lyra said. “When did you start this new therapy?” “Just last week,” Tidal replied. “It’s a new medical treatment that still in the works.” Fluttershy nodded. “Yes. Nurse Redheart told me about it earlier. It’s supposed to numb the nerves where the pain resides the most. But it’s still in the early stages.” “So Tidal here is now some… guinea pig of this medicine?” Applejack said. “Well, it’s one experiment that hasn’t been tested on animals, or that’s what I heard,” Fluttershy replied. “Well, I have to have it injected in the spot where I was shot once a day,” Tidal added. “That’s why I see Nurse Redheart in the morning before classes start.” “Well, I hope that it doesn’t become a problem down the road,” Bonbon said. “It hasn’t so far, I promise,” Tidal replied. “Nurse Redheart is keeping track on my progress in this… experiment.” Tidal asked Sunset Shimmer to come with him to his locker after lunch so that he could give her something. “So what is it that you wanted to give to me?” Sunset asked. “Just a letter,” Tidal replied. “It’s not some love letter, is it. I mean, since it’s Valentine’s Day and all.” “If it was, then it would be in a red envelope. This one is in a white envelope. More of a thank you, that’s all.” Tidal opened his locker to get the white envelope, only for two red envelopes to fall to the ground. Sunset had a questionable look on her face. “You sure it’s not a love letter?” Tidal went down to pick up the envelopes and looked at them. “They’re addressed… to me.” Now Tidal had a questionable look on his face. “Never expected anything like this to happen to me.” “Because of your past? There’s a first for everything. But a love letter on Valentine’s, and with you being here for over a month, that would be weird.” “And what about you and Flash?” Tidal asked with a raised eyebrow. “Let’s… not talk about it.” Tidal went to open the first envelope and pulled out the card. On it, it said “You are a rebel… with a cause. Your Secret Crush.” He went to open the second one and read the card inside. “There’s more to you than you think. Your Special Someone.” “Yep. This is definitely weird,” Tidal said. “Well, judging by the handwriting, it looks like you have two girls that have an interest in you,” Sunset explained. “Unless this is some cruel joke. I was more of a problem at my old school, and just about everyone here knows it.” “Maybe not. You were here before lunch. So maybe someone placed them in here during lunchtime.” “And who would that be?” That was when Lyra and Bonbon started to show up. “Everything OK here?” Lyra asked. Sunset looked over and said, “Just the two I would be looking for. Since your lockers are next to Tidal’s, and you two were out placing posters up in the hallways during part of lunch, you wouldn’t have seen anyone placed these two envelopes in Tidal’s locker, have you?” Lyra and Bonbon looked to see Tidal holding two red envelopes with cards in them. “What’s with the Valentine cards,” Lyra said. “Interested in Sunset this time?” “Actually…” Tidal went to grab the white envelope and handed it to Sunset. “This is for her. Someone else placed these cards in my locker.” Bonbon started to scratch her head. “Not really. Have you, Lyra?” “Um, I don’t think so. I was busy getting all those posters put up to even notice.” “Great,” Tidal replied in frustration. “I hope this isn’t some kind of prank.” “The only one who would pull something like that would be Sunset,” Lyra said. “No offense.” “None taken.” Sunset rolled her eyes. “I would ask around, but I don’t think anyone would be will to answer to me.” “What about the others that have to keep an eye on you,” Bonbon said. “I’m sure they could do it for you.” “Pinkie Pie would go off on a crazy adventure to get answers, and that would draw unwanted attention,” Sunset explained, to which Bonbon nodded in agreement. “And Fluttershy may have a hard time even asking the questions. Rainbow Dash can be aggressive in her approach, while Applejack more forceful in the search. That just leaves us with Rarity, and she’s out sick for now. I’ll see if she can help out when she gets back.” “Why don’t we do it?” Lyra recommended. “We have Agent Bonbon here, who can help solve the case, right?” She wrapped her arm around Bonbon’s shoulder and grin from ear to ear. “Let’s not push it,” Bonbon replied, removing Lyra’s arm from her shoulder. “Maybe we should… just wait this out. I’m sure the girl will be willing to come forward when she… feels like it.” Sunset shrugged her shoulders. “Not going to argue with you there. Maybe it’s someone who wanted to lift your spirits,” she said to Tidal. “Let’s hope that’s the case,” Tidal replied. “I had this happen last year, and it turned out to be some cruel joke when no one showed up to meet in person. I knew that the others didn’t like me in the first place. And that was just the start of my own problems.” Tidal was watching the basketball game take place as his school was still behind. It wasn’t clear as to what was wrong, but the boys were putting an effort in making a comeback. And it was Clyde who was able to make the last basket and get the foul, allowing them to finally get the lead. But the other team made a mad dash to their basket, hoping for a miracle win. In their attempt, it was CHS own big guy, Bulk Biceps, who was able to block the shot, allowing the school to win. Or so they thought. The ref blew his whistle, calling some kind of foul, allowing the basket to count. It wasn’t clear about the call, but Coach Iron Will is furious. But in the end, it cost the school a chance to advance from the first round. Canterlot High was already eliminated from the playoffs. All the students and players have already left, leaving Tidal busy putting away all the basketball gear and collecting the sweaty uniforms in a bin in the locker room. That was when Coach Iron Will walked in. “Don’t bother having them washed tonight. Iron Will will take care of it tomorrow. Iron Will needs to take inventory, now that the season is over. But Iron Will has something to show you.” Tidal and Iron Will walked back out to the gym’s basketball court. Iron Will was able to grab a volleyball from the seats and tossed it in the air to Tidal. “Serve!” Tidal was quick to respond and clasped his hands together, bouncing the ball in the other direction. “Nice.” Iron Will went to grab the ball and went up to Tidal. “Now, SPIKE!” He toss it in the air again. Tidal did what the coach told him to do and jumped up in the air towards the ball. With one fierce motion, he spiked the ball so hard, that it hit the floor board hard enough to leave a small round mark on it. That was when someone started to clap behind them. “So that’s the famous Fireball Spike that I’ve been hearing about.” Tidal looked to see Mrs. Harshwhinny walking towards them. “How… did you know?” “Let’s just say a couple of birds told me.” “So, do you think he will be of use on your team?” Iron Will asked Mrs. Harshwhinny “In the fall? If he’s willing to try out.” Tidal was a bit confused. “What’s this about?” “A change in the rules,” Mrs. Harshwhinny explained. “I’ve already heard from the sports committee that volleyball will be a co-ed sport next season, just like soccer has been the past few years.” “Mrs. Harshwhinny is the active coach of what was the girl’s volleyball team,” Iron Will explained. “Now, it’s the co-ed volleyball team, and Lyra and Bonbon speak highly of you to be on their team.” “Let me guess, they want me to join the team in the fall,” Tidal said. Mrs. Harshwhinny explained. “Well, there are a few… requirements for boys to qualify. But Principal Celestia believes that you will be able to qualify for the team, pending tryouts in the summer. Lyra and Bonbon have been the best players on the team. Not to mention that’s the only sport in the school that they would try out. And I think with you on the team, we might have a better chance to get far in the playoffs.” Tidal raised an eyebrow. “Far?” “The only team that had given us a hard time is Crystal Prep,” Mrs. Harshwhinny explained. “I’m sure you’ve heard on them.” “Through my cousins.” “Well, there have been champions for a long time. And our school has yet to beat them, even since I took over for our last coach several years ago. But it is your choice. I’m not forcing it on you. But you would make a nice addition to the team next school year. As long as you don’t hurt yourself in the process.” Mrs. Harshwhinny started to make her way out, causing Tidal to think about what she said. That was when she stopped and added one more piece of detail. “Oh, your aunt did wanted me to add one more detail. Their top player on the team from last season was Indigo Zap.” Tidal went into a state of shock when he heard the name. Then a smile came across his face. “I’ll give it a shot.” “That’s good to hear. See you next time in class.” Mrs. Harshwhinny waved her hand as she left the gym. “Looks like you’re going to try something new.” Iron Will slapped Tidal in the back with full force. “Hope that didn’t hurt.” “No. In fact, I didn’t feel a thing. Must be the new meds having an effect.” “Well, go home. You have a busy life ahead of you.” Tidal did what the coach said and grabbed his jacket and made his way out of the school. As he left the main entrance, he looked up to the clear, night sky. That was when he heard something in the bushes. He looked to where the sound was coming from and went on the defensive. “Come out, whoever you are.” A hooded person came out from the bushes and pulled down the hood, causing Tidal to relax for a while. “Oh great, it’s you.”