//------------------------------// // Subject 96: My Lovely Teacher // Story: Interviews With Equestrians // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// So we both went home. Cozy had actually fallen asleep next to me part way through the train ride, so I kept watch over her so she didn’t get jostled around when the train shook from its motion. Right on time at 8PM is when I arrived at Cheerilee’s place. Cozy’s home was nearby, so she was able to head there within a reasonable amount of time. Of course, I kept an eye on her the whole way to ensure that she got there safely. As soon as she did, I breathed a sigh of relief, and knocked on the teacher’s door. She had also given me the rest of the cinnamon pastries from the Tasty Treat and told me to give them to Cheerilee. Something about sharing the passion or something? Anyway, the door opened, and I was met with her adorable, cheery expression as always. “Ah! You’re here! And just in time, too,” she said as she grabbed my hoof, and pulled me inside. Then she immediately shut the door. “I’ve been waiting for a moment where we could spend some alone time together without you having to worry about your job or anything interrupting you.” I set the bag of sweets on her kitchen counter, and took off my coat and hat to get more comfortable. “Yeah...I apologize for that,” I replied with a frown as I put my coat on the nearby rack, “My job knows no boundaries when it comes to my own personal life. But fortunately, I won’t have to worry about that too much for the time being.” “Hm?” Cheerilee tilted her head with a concerned expression, hoof raised. “What do you mean by that, Pale?” I waved my hoof downwards to dismiss any negativity. “Ah, it’s nothing. Twilight just wants me to take some time away from working on this new case involving some evil changeling that’s returned.” Of course, I didn’t wanna give her all of the details, because I didn’t want to alarm her. But it was just enough for her to form a rather intelligent response befitting that of a teacher. “I see...far be it from me to judge a situation without enough info on the situation, but...maybe it’s best if you do relax for a while. You do so much, and never stop to think of yourself,” she approached me, and nuzzled her head against the bottom of my chin, “You need to stop and smell the flowers sometimes, you know?” Flowers. I looked at her cutie mark. Three flowers with smiles in the middle. Then I looked at my own. A lone puzzle piece. The more I thought about it, that statement Daybreaker made on Nightmare Night was correct. I was indeed an ‘Unknown Actor’ and so were the rest of my friends. Actors in a play of the unknown calamity and hatred-filled script we called life. Shakesponian description, yes. But valid all the same. Anyhow, I placed a kiss upon her forehead, and smiled down at the purple mare. “Yes...I should. The last thing I want to do is do something too crazy and end up half-dead because I made a decision that I wasn’t proud of. Even now, part of me still wishes that I didn’t follow through on killing Svengallop so readily…” Cheerilee stopped, and pulled me over to the couch. “We all have to make difficult decisions, Pale. But just because a choice is better than another, doesn’t make that choice good.” She sat down, and I sat down with her. “Do you get what I’m saying?” “Yeah…” I knew very well the intent behind her words. Both to lecture, and to comfort me when I needed her most. I couldn’t fault her for that. The problem laid within me. I was stubborn, and would go to the ends of the earth for what the truth behind something really was. But maybe...maybe I didn’t need to go so far. “You’re right, Cheery. There are no definite answers to these types of problems. All I can really do is focus on making more conscious decisions going forward.” “Great!” she clapped her hooves, “And what do you mean by that? What exactly will you do to learn from what you’ve experienced so far?” she asked in that motherly tone of hers. Leave it to the schoolteacher to dig deep and pull exactly what you need to improve upon. “...I need to be able to take a step back, and weigh the options of what a better choice to make would be. I can’t just...accept an order without processing the implications of it first.” I looked down at the carpet with a sigh. “Instead, I acted upon my emotions like a complete fool out of a sick, selfish desire to see Svengallop dead by my own hooves.” I looked at the rack that I had placed my coat and hat upon with a remorseful stare. “Do I truly deserve to wear that coat, that badge, and that hat? Am I...truly a stallion of honor? Or honor before reason?” Cheerilee got closer, and huddled up next to me. She planted a kiss on my cheek. “You’re smart. You’re intelligent, funny, strong, kind, and above all else--brave. I couldn’t ask for a better stallion to enter my life than you, Pale. You know that. You not only convinced the public to let Cozy have another chance to earn an honest living, but you fought off a crime syndicate, and talked down a rabid goddess of hatred and hellfire. Many ponies would consider you crazy for the things you do,” she paused and giggled. “Hehehe! While they may be a little bit correct, the fact of the matter is that you take risks nopony else is willing to take and you’re willing to correct what others don’t notice. I’d say you’re more than worthy of the position, badge or no.” My heart felt like it had been ground into fresh mulch. Her sweetness and sensitivity overwhelmed me as I did my best to hold back my tears. “I...you think so?” “Of course I do,” she replied with a loving smile, “Granted, I don’t want you going out and dying because of a foolish decision you’ve made. Which is why I wanted to take the time to talk to you. You’re better than that, Pale. Don’t let yourself fall behind and into the same trap that others have?” I shuddered from the inside. Just what could she mean? “What sort of trap is that?” “The trap of self-doubt, lack of self-esteem, self-deprecation. Whatever you want to call it. Twilight isn’t denying you access to this case because you’re a bad agent--far from it. You’re the best there ever was.” She put a hoof on my back, and rubbed in gentle circles. “But the reason why she is, is because she doesn’t want to put you in a position where you’re vulnerable and at risk for making a decision that you’ll regret for the rest of your life. Do you get it?” Her soothing words and actions helped me relax. Twas true. I had gotten lost in my own swirling torrent of uncertainty that I genuinely didn’t know what to do next. But that had to change. I was not going to remain in a slump forever, and sit idle in my own head. That wasn’t healthy, and I knew that. “...You’re right, Cheery. I can’t believe I stooped that low. But no more. I refuse to let myself end up unable to act because I refused to think for myself. I just need to…” I shut my eyes, put my hooves against the sides of my head, and rubbed my temples to relax myself. “Empty my mind, and focus on what matters most.” It was her turn to ask the important question. “Oh? What’s that, dear?” I opened my eyes, and looked directly into those beautiful, green eyes of hers. “...You, Cozy, my crewmates, and myself.” She gasped. “Ah! Finally!” I tiled my head. “Um...what’s the matter?” She giggled, and put her hooves around me. “You’ve finally mentioned the fact that you’re going to take care of not only us, but yourself as well. That’s the most important thing that can be done!” Well, she did have a point, heh. I could exactly refuse what she said since she knew that I couldn’t exactly take care of anyone else if I didn’t take care of myself. “Heheh...right again, Cheerilee.” She nuzzled the side of her cheek against my own. “Good. Now then...why don’t we start with our--” DING-DONG! Cheerilee’s doorbell rang, and we both looked up. “Who could that be? It’s going to be late soon.” she wondered aloud. The mare got up, and went to the door to see who it was. “Starlight? Now what could she want?” I shrugged, and waited for her to open it. Cheerilee opened the door to see the pink unicorn. “Hello?” “Ahem! Hi, yes,” she replied from outside, “Is Pale here? I was just at Cozy’s house, and she told me that Pale was probably here if he wasn’t at his own place.” “Oh, yes he is,” the earth pony answered, “Did something happen?” Her response was swift. “Oh no! No! I just...have a message for him from Twilight.” Wait a minute, already? We had only left Twilight’s castle a few hours ago. How could she have already gotten a message to her? I bet it was that darn dragon of hers. Well, there was no point in making it last longer than necessary, I suppose. I got up, and walked over to the front door next to Cheerilee. “Ms. Glimmer? Is something wrong?” “Ah! No-no!” she repeated, “Nothing’s going on. I just have to tell you something that Twilight wanted you to hear.” Cheerilee had left from the front door, and retreated to the living room which allowed me to stand in the doorway to hear the message for myself. “Oh?” I asked, “Okay then. What is it?” Starlight cleared her throat, and spoke more candidly. “Alright. In a nutshell, Twilight just wants you to be aware that she appointed me to keep an eye on you to make sure you don’t get involved with the new changeling situation.” “She what?” I rolled my eyes, and sighed with my hoof against my forehead. “I know, I know,” Starlight replied with a shrug, and an annoyed frown on her face. “I was confused also, but she told me to let you know since she wanted to have full transparency with you and whatnot. Spying on you would’ve only made it more complicated, you know?” she explained, and tried to pass it off with a nervous, cheeky smile. There was nothing I could do there. My hooves were tied, in a sense. Now I knew for sure that I would be unable to take part in this case if Glimmer was notified of what had transpired. Nothing escapes that mare’s sight with how many friends she has. Not that I was going to break her rule or anything. But still...it was somewhat troublesome to deal with. Anyhow, I replied amicably. “I understand completely. You won’t catch me getting involved with anything regarding that situation. I can assure you. I have no interest in it, anyways.” Probably shouldn’t have worded it like that, but I had to ensure her of my stance. Naturally, Starlight looked at me with eyes of suspicion for a moment. “Riiight...anyway.” She turned around to leave, “Have a nice night, sir. Sorry to interrupt.” I waved as the unicorn trotted off. “No problem at all. Have a good evening!” And I shut the door. Outside… “...Can you do me a favor and make sure nothing goes wrong? I know Twilight trusts him, but I just want to be sure he won’t try and plan a counterattack on the bug behind our backs. Just keep an eye on them from a window or something.” “Heh! No problem at all, Starlight. I will keep tabs on him with my great and powerful--!” Starlight stuffed a hoof in her friend’s mouth. “Just make sure he doesn’t do anything funny, okay? You can go to bed after an hour or so.” “Mmph! Ptew!” She spat the hoof out. “Hmph. Of course, my friend. Leave it to me!” Yeesh. How annoying. Did Twilight really not trust me enough to be able to control myself on my own? I won’t lie, it felt a bit painful to know that she didn’t take my word. Then again, I knew she trusted one of her closest friends far more than she could ever trust me. So I had to accept that, and move forward. I sighed, and went back to the living room where Cheerilee had started to prepare for her exercise routine with stretches. “What was that about?” she asked. “Ah just making sure I’m not involved or whatever.” I shrugged, and watched her stretch, “But that’s not important right now. What is important, is helping you with your...exercises, was it?” Cheerilee giggled with a sly smile. “Ah yes, finally we can get started. Now, lie down on the floor.” “Yes, ma’am,” I did as she asked with a smile of my own. Maybe this could help take my mind off things.