"Solitude"
For the first time in almost eight years, Cheerilee had no plans to make. There were no projects to grade, no foals to watch over... nothing. She felt so empty, yet treated her first couple days as though it had just been a weekend.
She spent most of her time in her bathrobe, eating chocolate oat swirl and reading novels. She looked a lot like Rarity on one of her "worst possible days", though her novels weren't about frou-frou feelings and escapism... they were about real heroes, inspired by events in Equestrian history. They were about leaders. She also wasn't wearing any make-up, but if she had been her mascara would've run during the times she had to put the book down and just look off, thinking about what happened... what she knew the bird had done to Snails.
As promised the Princesses found the bird during first morning light... but they didn't find a trace of Snails. It didn't go as expected because the bird had a nest. It needed all of Snails body to feed its young -- bones, magic, and flesh -- so there was nothing left to bury. The fact that it had chicks didn't keep Luna or Celestia from looking deep into each other's eyes while it slumbered... their horns glowing electric blue. Like Snails, who was alive until the very end, the coup de grace was actually quite painless. Though the cloud it made could be seen from Ponyville, not that many ponies were up to see it.
The same afternoon Cheerilee received a late newspaper with a hastily-added article talking about the death of the bird and a foal... in her charge. The first half of the news would relax Ponyville, which from her guess was already tense because of the unknown danger (well, mostly the foals), but she also felt tense for herself because of the other information it released. While the paper didn't reveal her name, it didn't have to -- there was only one Elementary school teacher in Ponyville, it said the accident had happened "while the young colt was attending an Elementary school field trip." She knew soon trouble would likely come her way, some ponies looking for any reason to lash out with bricks and horrible words, but happily... over the next few days, her life was surprisingly quiet.
Naturally, life continued on outside her apartment -- even for Mollusk -- as he made preparations to put his son's memory to rest. All of the energy he once put into chiseling for profit he placed into one final gesture for his son. He would make it grand, but it would take more than a couple weeks to complete. Outside of his clients, no pony in particular minded that his shop was closed. He was niche artist after all... but now ponies knew and ponies talked about what had happened. Another reason Cheerilee didn't want to leave her home. Rumor could be so toxic in such a small town.
Three days passed with Cheerilee resting, withdrawn and undisturbed. At times she felt almost... fine. It's easy to blot out unpleasant thoughts with inspiring novels just a foreleg's length away... each full of uplifting passages and ideals to keep her tired mind occupied. Outside of her own little world, however, her few friends were active...
It took those three days for the ponies who cared most about her to make a move. Pinkie Pie knew an unhappy pony when she saw one, and saw it from the Sugar Cube Corner each day Cheerilee left to get her mail. That's all she saw of her -- head down, quick stride... she didn't even want to be outside. Pinkie couldn't believe it:
"What kind of pony doesn't want to be outside, Twilight?" she asked, genuinely worried about the teacher's mental health... in her own Pinkie Pie way, of course.
"Pinkie, Cheerilee's going through a difficult time! We need to-"
"But she's still wearing her pajamas! It's so sad. I gotta at least try to go make things better for her."
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea." Twilight looked away for a second, in to the sky from her main hall window. She sighed... turning back. "Maybe we should first-"
Pinkie wasn't going to hear it as she had already left. The door swung limply, open, a pink blur exiting the building. Twilight shook her head... At least she knew Pinkie meant well.
Despite the Alicorn's repeated suggestion that she back off and give Cheerilee some space, while they came up with a plan that wasn't too intrusive, of her own accord (as Twilight would put it) Pinkie left a package on Cheerilee's doorstep... hiding just out of view, so she could watch her fellow pink pony's reaction.
Cheerilee opened her door and looked down at it. It had a small card tethered to it. The teacher picked up the card, opening it up wide. She found a small slip of paper:
From the Sugar Cube Corner,
Love Pinkie Pie.
Cheerilee shrugged, picking up the package and taking it inside. Pinkie bit her hooves, instantly regretting not labeling it for outside opening only because of the surprise it contained.
Moments later, Pinkie Pie knew for sure Cheerilee had opened it. There was a loud eruption coming from Cheerilee's home, typical of Pinkie Pie -- a combination of horn, a shrill squeak, and some crackles a set off by harmless pyrotechnics. This was everything that would have cheered Pinkie Pie up. It even had a little card that said "Get Well Soon!" Pinkie would had laughed if she were on the receiving end. As expected, the cupcakes it contained were fine... a pristine package of twelve, there for Cheerilee and any company to enjoy. The recipient, however...
Cheerilee opened her door. The mare's mane was now blown back, a mess of slightly frizzled and darkened strands. While she didn't have a scowl on her face, even from that distance Pinkie could tell she was not amused. She had the package with her (save the cupcakes, thank goodness) and walked over to the alley by her apartment. She opened the trashcan and dumped the package inside, closing it up tight and sighing. She leaned against the wall and shook her head. Pinkie couldn't see it, but she could feel it. Cheerilee was smiling... but not in a way that would have made her feel happy, though.
"That Pinkie Pie! Of all the silly, silly things to do..."
Hearing this, Pinkie understood what she'd done wrong. She felt a little sad, but not quite enough to deflate her mane. Still, Twilight was right... not only had she made it worse, it sounded like Cheerilee wasn't very happy with her. The pink mare left, making herself scarce as Cheerilee drifted back to her apartment. The door closed again, not to open for the rest of the day.
Inside Cheerilee's apartment was a mess of confetti and multi-colored streamers. They were everywhere -- in her curtains, on top of the refrigerator, under her coffee table. A cluster had even made its way to her pocket. The card Pinkie had chosen -- its colors matching the teacher's mane and aquamarine bathrobe so perfectly -- was stuck to the ceiling, the surface around it darkened from the sheer bombastic nature of Pinkie's pyrotechnics. The words "GET WELL SOON!" clearly visible from the floor. Getting her spare pointer, Cheerilee looked up at the card, poking at it.
Well, at least this gives me something to do... she thought, as the card drifted down.
That, too, would go in the trash... not because Cheerilee didn't appreciate the sentiment, but because it was quite ruined. Even so, she had twelve cupcakes to enjoy in peace and quiet... after she cleaned up the mess, of course. That would take a while, unfortunately, but once she finally did relaxed, much like the end of a day at school, it would feel so good.