//------------------------------// // 19 - First Day // Story: New Moon // by AzuraKeres //------------------------------// Bud’s lecture ended after covering the necessary contents before the bell rang for lunch. She had made a strenuous mental effort to not tangent from her lesson as she did last week. The time she wasted time placed her bit behind her syllabus and the last thing she needed was more strain on her mind. It also didn't help that a portion of her students dared to make small banter during her lecture. Thankfully,a segment of her lecture involved reading, so Bud made rounds around her whispering students to motivate them to pay attention. Their reaction to Bud befuddled her a bit though. She couldn’t understand why they were somewhat fearful of her; she knew was had her usual smile that was always perceived to be endearing. Regardless, Bud played her role in escorting her students to the cafeteria. Depending on the time, a certain age of students would fill the large room to receive their fair share of food and refreshments. Most teachers would leave their students for the cooks and school monitor to deal with and return to the teacher’s lounge to enjoy their privacy from the students. Bud on the other hoof, would join her students and spark conversations to become more familiar with them. She was even more lenient of their juvenile behavior, which may be the reason why many of the students may adore her company. However, today, Bud felt it was necessary that she needed some privacy. She returned to her classroom and exhaled a large weight that she was carrying. She slouched on the side of her desk and then sighed when realized she had forgotten to make lunch for Lazuli and herself. That mare, Tenure Grace, has so far been nothing but an inconvenience to her daily activities. In fact, Bud may go so far as to call her a hazard. Who did that mare think she is to say that Bud couldn’t handle raising her own foals? Bud has had them for more than six days and she’d say that everything has gone quite fine at the moment. And who is she to say that her past experience at her mother’s daycare doesn’t qualify as a factor. Bud would bet that she has far more experience with foals then that Tenure Grace had for her entire career. Does she honestly think that Bud couldn’t adapt to things like she can? The nerve of her! That mare is too prideful for her own good. At least when Nebula does it, it’s cute. But this Tenure Grace… Just why? Why now? Why does she have to deal with this mare and the city government right after coming to grips with her own problems? Is this going to be a thing she’s going to have to deal with on a daily basis? Well, she gave birth to the literal reincarnations of royal usurpers, so she shouldn’t expect a normal parenthood in her future. Bud groaned as she turned to bang her head onto her desk. “This is so stressful,” Bud complained. “Can’t I at least have just one day where I don’t need to try so hard to keep my sanity?” “Ms. Bud,” Bud heard a filly’s voice from the entrance to her classroom. Bud swiveled her sight and saw her star student, Raven Inkwell, approach her. Bud fixed her posture and put on a smile. “Raven,” Bud started. “Aren’t you supposed to be at lunch?” Bud noted the lunchbox that was laid on Raven’s back. “I was hoping I could have it with you if that’s alright? You left the cafeteria so soon that I was worried that you wanted to be alone. But I thought that I should at least ask first.” “That’s so sweet of you Raven,” Bud said. She hopes her children can grow to be as doting as Raven. Though, that seems like a stretch in Nebula’s case. “But don’t you want to use this time to mingle with your friends?” Raven nodded her head in disagreement. “I have other moments in my school time where I can spend time with them, but I prefer to have this with you if that’s alright?” “If that’s what you want,” Bud sat before her desk. “Then come take a seat at my desk.” Raven happily placed her lunchbox on Bud’s desk after pushing a stool from a corner of the room before it to sit atop of. Bud watched her star student open her lunchbox and revel an assortment of steamed greeneries inside. “That smells so nice,” Bud commented after taking a whiff of the enticing aroma. “Did one of your maids make it for you?” “Actually, it was my dad.” “Hawk cooks,” Bud perked at her student’s claim. “I would’ve never thought that.” “Yes, my dad is very vigilant about my diet. That’s why he makes all of my meals for me. I once asked him if he could teach me his recipes, but he told me that it shouldn’t be one of my priorities at the time” “Really? Because I don’t remember him bringing lunch boxes when he sent you to Ponyville with me?” “S-speaking of which, “Raven nervously said. “Did the conversation between you and my dad went smoothly?” “Now Raven,” Bud said. “I told you that you have no reason to concern yourself about that.” “I know, but…I really don’t want the tow you to hate each other. Dad isn’t a bad person. He just has a lot on his mind.” “I know Raven,” Bud assured. “He’s told me plenty of them.” “You don’t hate my dad, right?” “I don’t hate Hawk,” Bud answered. “I just disagree with him, that's all. Now let’s leave it at that shall we?” “Yes ma’am.” Raven craned her head to her lunchbox and stared at it. bud frowned at this sad display of her star student and sighed. “Everything is fine Raven,” Bud assured. “I promise that you don't have to worry about it. I still love you and my opinion of Hawk hasn’t changed that much.” “Do you,” Raven started. “Do you think he could open up to me again? Like he was before mom was with us?” “I…” Bud struggled for a response. “I can’t say. I think the only pony that can reason with him right now is himself.” “So you think so as well,” Raven mumbled. “H-how about we don’t worry about that stuff right now,” Bud. “I’m sure there are more positive things we can talk about, right?” “Yeah,” Raven gave a weak smile. “Let’s do that.” “Are you sure you don’t need any help,” Hope asked Tenure Grace, who was staring under the couch. “I assure you Ms. Hope,” Grace said. “I have this under control.” “I know you mean it, but you’ve said that for nearly half an hour now. There’s no shame in having a helping hoof, you know?” Grace did not bother to reply to Hope’s suggestion and focused on adjusting her eyes to find Artemis again. The colt has been moving about under the couch as if he was trying to conceal himself again. Due to his constant movement, Grace could not move the couch else risking harm to the little colt. But he can’t allow him to stay under the couch. She has no clue what's under there. There’s possibly a well collection of dust there that could get the colt sick. She needs a solution to get him out as soon as possible. “You know,” Hope voiced again as she unwrapped Nebula from the soaked towel. “Arty happens to be a glutton for pineapples. I’m sure wavering a slice in front of him is all the motivation he needs to come out.” “Is that so?” “How about I bring some,” Hope offered. “I have a container I saved in the refrigerator.” Hope briefly excused herself to the kitchen and brought back a small container of pineapples for Tenure Grace. “Thank you,” Grace awkwardly said as she retrieved the container from Hope. It’s not often that Grace thanks the kindness of others, it’s usually the other way around. Regardless, a possibility was opened to her and she was more than willing to take it. Grace opened the lid of the container and presented its contents under the couch. “I hear that you like pineapples Artemis,” Grace shifted to a doting voice that was a sheer contrast to her professional demeanor. “If you be a colt and come out, I’ll give you a slice.” “Now why couldn’t you have that voice from the beginning?” “I believe Ms. Bud would be offended if I spoke to her like she was a foal.” Grace can hear movement from under the couch, goading her to crouch down to make herself appear less intimidating to the colt. Relief washed over her when the colt finally emerged his head from the couch and carefully approached the container. “That’s right Artemis, just a little bit closer.” Grace waited at the moment Artemis stuck his snout into the container before she picked up the distracted colt. Artemis flailed in alarm as he struggled to release himself from Tenure Grace’s grasp. “Artemis,” Grace voiced. “Please calm yourself. I am not here to hurt you.” Despite Grace’s assurance, Artemis began to cry loudly. His sobbing was a genuine confusion to Grace. Why is this colt so afraid of her? The reports mentioned that Artemis is supposed to be the most trusting between the foals. Where is this fear coming from? Grace, however, did not have time to concoct an answer when she heard Hope’s voice, “Grace, duck!” Grace’s instincts blessed her with fast enough reaction to crouch in time to avoid a dark blur that passed over her head. Her sight adjusted to the couch, where the blur revealed to be Nebula. The small filly glared at Grace with cold bloodlust, instilling a semblance of fear into the grown mare. Much to her surprise, Artemis seized the moment to leap from Grace’s loosened grip and retreat back under the couch. “You have committed a grave sin that can never be forgiven,” Nebula leered at Grace. “Your only redemption now is to be smitten for your disgusting conduct toward Luna!” “Nebula,” Hope voiced. “Easy there. You don’t want to do that.” Grace was at a loss of what to do here. She didn’t expect this filly to be this antagonistic toward her. If Grace had been successful in gaining the trust of Artemis as she planned, this wouldn’t have happened. “Ms. Hope,” Grace said. “If you’re still in a charitable mood, I would appreciate if you could inform me on how to calm her.” “I really think your best option is to get behind me,” Hope said. A pleasing option, but counterintuitive to what she needed to achieve. She can’t muddle things on her first day. She needs to establish herself to Bud of being the reliable mare that she is. She’ll just need to think calmly and— Grace fell on her back when Nebula suddenly dashed her. Grace moved her back on the couch as she watched Nebula leer at her from the ceiling. “Nebula,” Hope called for her. “Get down from there.” Her granddaughter responded with a hiss as she displayed her fangs to both of them. “Nebula wouldn’t also have an affinity for pineapples, would she?” Hope did not have time to answer when Nebula swooped down at a speed Grace did not expect. Grace could only defensively raise her forehooves and yelp when she felt a deep puncture into one of them. Grace yelped again when Nebula quickly bit another portion of her hoof. “Nebula,” Hope hissed as she rushed to grab the filly. Expecting Hope’s reaction, Nebula did something that neither could have possibly expected. Nebula leaped into the shade on the floor and disappeared into it with a brief ripple following behind her. Hope and Grace stood in shock at what they had just witnessed. A baby filly just disappeared from them in the most unnatural way they have ever seen, however, it didn’t take long for Grace to snap out of her shock. Nebula is most likely looking for another opening to strike her again. And Grace is fairly certain that the filly was aiming for her neck in her previous attempts. “Perhaps I should wait for Nebula to calm herself,” Grace did not wait for a response from Hope as she power-walked into Bud’s room and closed it before her. When she felt somewhat safe, she examined the bite marks on each of her hooves. Neither of them seemed serious, however, if they were an inch or two longer, she may have punctured into her bones. Things may turn out bad if Nebula retains this behavior when she grows older. She could tell that Nebula was simply being protective of Artemis, but this reaction would be unacceptable in their society. Well, all she can do now is to wait for Hope calm Nebula for her. She’ll need to be more cautious in her next approach. If Artemis is going to be scared of her then she’ll need to show the colt that he can think otherwise. That way, Nebula will— Grace’s thoughts halted when she perked to an odd sound behind her. It sounded like a constant crackling of bones that become louder with each passing second. She reflexively turned from the door and again witnessed something she never would have expected to see today. A jet-black figure emerged out of Grace’s shadow. A mixture of crackling and snarls emitted from the figure that looked to be dissolving fragments of its liquid-like skin. But those features were not what demanded her attention. It was its sharp slit eyes. Those baleful cerulean eyes that glared at her with the intention to eradicate her from existence. “What have I gotten myself into,” Grace thought as the figure made its first step to Grace. You shall receive penance.