Gut Instinct

Chapters

"Treetops"
"Safety"
"Righteous?"
"Loyalty"
"Starlight"
"Solitude"
"Venture"
"Anathema?"
"Herds"

"Treetops"

"Treetops"

Cheerilee let out a sigh, listening to the pops and cracks as she stretched out her lower back. The field trip was finally coming to a close.

While the sun had been hot and her bones were stiff, she was glad to see the smiling faces of her students... she was also glad to soon be on the way back to school.

They had gone to see Cherry Berry's Balloon exhibit, something she'd done many times before. They walked outside of Ponyville to see the aeronaut float high in the air. Cheerilee had to shout at a few of her pegasus students to keep on the ground and give the balloons enough space... she could see them getting burned or colliding with the darn thing and falling... maybe even breaking a leg.

It would be just my luck.

The balloons were a sight to see, though... red, orange, green, purple, blue; some big and some small, each high in the sky, majestic and huge, one at a time floating weightlessly. Cherry Berry knew so much about them, and even with her knowledge, Cheerilee heard a new fact every now and again. That kept her from getting too bored.

Now was it time for lunch. They sat at picnic tables -- old, faded, and quite familiar to Cheerilee -- out for any pony who liked the peace and quiet of being outside Ponyville. Peace and quiet..., Cherilee thought. She sighed again. A little food and rest would do her some good.

Her students were always so well-behaved by this point, many of them growing tired as well. The class had done a substantial amount of walking to see the balloons and to keep up with Cherry Berry's lecture over the big megaphone. The only students who seemed to have any energy left were Dinky Hooves, Snails, and Scootaloo. It was hard to believe Snails wasn't tired yet, he was always so slow and easy to confuse, but today... for some reason, the hot air balloons really excited him. Might've found his calling. Cheerilee chuckled at the thought.

She noticed the three of them had finished their lunches and were already getting up. It was an outside meal, so recess went along with it... provided the students didn't wander out of view. She watched them carefully, eating her salad but not looking at it. She could easily count all her students, but her eyes were open for anything that might need attention.

Ever-vigilant... I really should get an aide.

The three walked in to a nearby field of flowers, maybe twenty feet from the furthest table. The ground was flat, trees belonging to the Everfree Forest a couple hundred yards off to the far right. This was the perfect place to bring a group of students. The meadow stretched forever, the sky was clear, almost pure -- Rainbow Dash had done an exceptional job of cleaning up the clouds today. Cherilee thought she could see for miles.

The sound of crows could be heard off in the distance, even over the students. There was a group of birds above the treeline. They all scattered.

Must be a territorial dispute, Cherilee thought, looking at her students in the field. She laughed. Hopefully I won't have to deal with that disharmony here!

Dinky, Snails, and Scootaloo all appeared to be getting along just fine.... though Scootaloo seemed to be scowling at Snails, saying something in either a frustrated or angry voice. It was typical of Snails to annoy his fellow students, though Dinky's mouth moved more sympathetically.

Cherilee pushed herself off the bench.

Maybe I should intervene... or at least see what's up.

She walked slowly towards the group while the three argued amongst themselves. When she got close Scootaloo glanced in her direction, then all three turned around.

"What seems to be the problem?"

"It's these flowers!" exclaimed Scootaloo, pointing at the ground and scowling. "Me and Dinky keep calling them green but Snails keeps insisting they're blue!"

"They are blue, Scootaloo!" Snails protested with a determined scowl. He wasn't ready to back down.

Cheerilee took a breath.

"Okay. Let me see," she said, looking at the ground where Scootaloo was pointing.

Most of the flowers in the patch were yellow, save a few pink ones found around the edges, and some green by Scootaloo's hoof. Cheerilee looked up at Snails and bit her lip.

Poor thing must be color-blind. It's surprising no pony ever noticed, though... his mane is practically aquamarine!

"Well, Snails, you're probably not seeing things..." she calmly began. The slow unicorn already began to look triumphant, despite her subtle hesitation. She cut him short. "They are green, though... it's possible you might be color-blind."

The yellow colt stared at his teacher, attempting to process what she had just said.

"Um, uh... Color-what now?"

"Color-blind," Cheerilee repeated, slowly. "It means your eyes don't have certain color-receptors. Some ponies are just born that way."

"I'm sorry, Miss Cheerilee."

The teacher rolled her eyes... but her voice was sympathetic:

"It's not your fault, Snails. It just happens."

"You know, my dad says that a lot when we have these types of problems and I'm starting to wonder if maybe he's just saying that just so I don't have hurt feelings."

Snails, you may be right.

"Oh, I know a couple of really, um... respectable ponies with this same problem, Snails. Anyway, I'm sure your father loves you! I'll talk to him later, if you'd like."

Snails nodded rapidly.

The two then exchanged awkward glances.... awkward even for Snails. The student smiled and Cheerilee smiled right back.

* * *

Cheerilee looked over her students one final time... at least they no longer looked angry. She was getting ready to turn back towards the tables when she was stopped by Dinky, who was looking off into the skies.

"Hey, what's that?"

Turning, Cheerilee put a hoof above her eyes and slowly scanned the horizon. Coming from the forest she saw a bird... barely recognizable above the treeline. What made it stand out was how low it was flying... when it didn't flap it looked almost still, silently gliding. Cheerilee knew from its size in comparison to the canopy it was much larger than two picnic tables combined... and the closer it came, the more it seemed to speed up.

"Oh, my..." Cheerilee rubbed her eyes, squinting. "That looks like it's coming here."

Even from this distance, distorted by Celestia's sun, the teacher could make out that it was a black bird. Pitch black. She had read about large predatory birds emerging from the Everfree Forest, ones that hadn't been seen in hundreds of years... yet, despite this being passed off as just a myth, she was already getting an unsettling feeling in her belly. This bird was huge and headed in their direction. She looked back over her shoulder.

"Dinky, Scootaloo, Snails. I want you to go back to the group right now." The three stayed where they were as Cheerilee studied the horizon carefully. She glanced back a second time. "Um, hello? Did you hear me?"

The teacher's tone was no longer warm and tired, but stern... Dinky heard a tiny bit of fear behind it. She nodded, nudging both the others along with her head.

"Come on guys," she said, calmly. "Let's go."

The bird continued on its path. Cheerilee picked up a rock... not taking her eyes off the approaching threat.

Now that it was close -- maybe six hundred feet -- the bird began to speed up, aggressively flapping its wings. Cheerilee could hear its wings generating enough force to snap the branches of the trees below. Unlike most predators, it stayed mostly silent... stealthy. Cheerilee felt a bead of sweat trickle down her cheek.

She tightened her grip on the rock. The creature's flight was much too swift for her to hope to land a hit... besides, what was her hope of scaring it off? Holding on to her rock, Cheerilee instead turned around and saw the three were still ten feet from the nearest table.

"Move!" she exclaimed. "Everypony, get under your tables right now!" Most of the students, confused and in their own world, didn't immediately register the urgency of their teacher's order. "Do it! Do it now!"

Scrambling, the students did as they were told. She ran to protect Dinky, Snails, and Scootaloo. The problem was, now that the undersides of the tables were full of young ponies, there was hardly any room, except at the very end... the mostly empty table where she had first been seated, alone.

I just need ten seconds.

A shriek filled the air... a cutting sound that chills bones, similar to the sound of scraping broken glass against a chalkboard. All three of the little ones began to scream.

"Keep moving!"

The light grew dim as Cheerilee turned around and flung her rock at the black horror she now realized was larger than her own apartment. She saw its electric crimson eyes without pupils, its plumage so dark she wouldn't know whether or not she had struck it... but it certainly wasn't going anywhere. Up close and terrifying, she could at least identify it from its eyes, and by the swirls of yellow know its intention. It was hungry, but she knew she was safe... as were most of her students. However for one brief moment she was still frozen in horror. This thing wanted magic.

The bird circled and circled, generating winds strong enough to blow away her student's food and tip over benches. They all screamed now. Cheerilee glanced back to see Scootaloo wiggling under the table, blocking the other two from going under.

"No!" she cried, grabbing the little pegasus by the tail and pulling as hard as she could.

The little filly screamed in pain. The teacher was sure she had dislocated something, but it was not important. Scootaloo would be safe. She turned to Dinky.

"Get under the table now, both of yo-"

Everything went black.

* * *

There was a colossal crash. Little did she know they were all flying through the air -- table, too -- as the giant bird picked up and threw everything at the very end where they had been seated.

When Cheerilee opened her eyes again everything looked fuzzy... she lay on the ground, staring at an unconscious Scootaloo. That is she hoped Scootaloo was unconscious. Cheerilee looked around, unable to hear anything clearly yet. She tried to take a breath and found she couldn't. The impact had knocked the wind out of her.

Snails and Dinky were both on their hooves, wobbling and clearly in shock. Cheerilee saw the black bird in the skies a couple hundred feet up circle around and head towards them. She had seconds.

Getting up was painful... the teacher felt a sharp crack in her sternum as she rose. Whether hitting the ground had broken ribs or not was unimportant. She had students to protect. The two were ten feet apart, Snails drooling, bleeding from the ears; Dinky with a black eye and bloody nose. The filly looked right at her, alert and in tears. Cheerilee got to her hooves. The teacher focused on one target and made the dive. She felt herself connect with the tiny warm body, closing herself into a ball, praying this would all be over soon. The bird shrieked again, deafening and distorted... but Cheerilee knew it might not be there for very long now.

She opened her eyes again and looked down to see Dinky still in her hooves. She looked up, knowing already Scootaloo was still there. Snails, however... was gone. The bird had taken him. Looking up, Cheerilee could see they were just a shrinking speck on the horizon, its shriek now no louder than one of Fluttershy's whimpers.

Cheerilee took a breath. All was silent.

"Safety"

"Safety"

When Cherilee finally got up, she had little time to process what had happened. A student was gone, but she had twenty-two others to protect. If she knew one thing she knew it was unsafe where they were. With school almost a mile off, the nearest heavy structure in town was the Carousel Boutique... Cheerilee knew that, being a business, it had to have a first-aid kit. With two fillies on her back that's where they headed.

While Cherilee felt a little woozy, and didn't realize she was bleeding from the chin, this was nothing compared the state of her injured students. Dinky let out a soft whine as she wobbled on her teacher's flank, while Scootaloo was just starting to open her eyes... and feel pain. The pegasus filly cried quietly, having no clue where she was or what was going on.

During the walk to Ponyville Cheerilee's students remained quite close (and very scared)... some of them staring off into the sky, while others fixed their gaze onto the horizon... waiting for the bird to come back down and pick another one of them off, as they had all seen it do to Snails. Every filly and colt was quiet... eyes big and frightened. Even Snips, Snail's best friend, remained dead silent. He'd have to process the loss later on. They all couldn't get back soon enough... Cheerilee kept both her eyes on their destination.

Once inside Ponyville most of Cheerilee's students broke off and scattered... despite her shouting to stick together:

"This is an emergency! You must stay with me!"

They were all scared and Ponyville was at least familiar. No pony in town seemed to notice anything particularly unusual from their homes -- just a group of loud, screaming students not listening to their teacher, as usual. Cheerilee at least recognized the paths each student took... they were all headed home. She sighed.

Had the ponies in town actually bothered to look out their windows, however, they would have noticed the two fillies on Cheerilee's back, but the Boutique was too close to bother shouting for help. It would take longer to get somepony's attention than it would to get there, not to mention it would frighten the remaining students even more than they already were.

"Just a little bit further girls..."

Apple Bloom remained close... as did Sweetie Belle, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Most of these fillies lived outside of Ponyville, after all. Soon Sweetie Belle would be home, the Boutique's doors open to anypony in need... especially after coming in from something like that.

"Miss Cheerilee... are they going to be okay?" asked a genuinely frightened-looking Diamond Tiara.

Cheerilee didn't answer. She was too focused on getting them there safely. At this point, it was a matter of less than twenty feet... she could taste it.

The doors to the establishment flew open. Rarity clearly didn't see who was coming, starting in with her usual:

"Welcome to the Carousel Boutique! Where every garment is chic, unique, and-"

"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle squealed over her sister's lyrical routine, cutting her short and causing her to wince.

"Sweetie Belle...?" Rarity blinked. "Whatever are you-" It was then that the unicorn got a good look at the two ponies resting on Cheerilee's back. "... oh, dear."

* * *

Thirty minutes later the Carousel Boutique had become a bustling place of business... but not for the reasons Rarity had ever intended. There were ponies there to look after the fillies, take them home; ponies there asking questions, and ponies there to look over the two banged-up little fillies. The Carousel Boutique had seldom been so busy outside of the occasional show, yet this was one event Rarity couldn't wait to be over with.

Upstairs Dinky lay on Rarity's guest bed, shaking, a blanket draped over her shoulders. A few of her remaining classmates had first tried to comfort her (mostly Sweetie Belle), but it did no good. Scootaloo lay beside the tiny unicorn, now quite awake and irritable, her tail neatly bandaged... no great surprise that it was broken in two places. They had been cleaned up and Doctor Stable was there to check their vitals... noticing Dinky's pupils were still dilated half an hour later.

"Mmm... quite a scare," he concluded, looking at them both as he hoisted up his saddlebags. "You are both going to be fine. Your families will be here shortly to pick you up. Scootaloo, try not to move your tail too much and it should heal within a few weeks. Tell an adult right away if it goes numb."

Scootaloo nodded, glaring out the window at the pink mare outside who had pulled her tail so hard she actually heard it snap.

Doctor Stable headed towards the door. Leaning against the frame was Applejack. She nodded to the Doctor as he passed. She had been just down the street with her brother making deliveries when she saw the commotion. With attention turned towards the Boutique, it could all wait an hour... for the time being she would be there for the girls. She entered the room casually.

"Your mother'll be here soon, Dinky," Applejack said. "For the time bein'... is there anything either of you might need?"

They both turned to her and looked up. Their eyes said it all. Even she couldn't keep a straight face.

"Aw, hey now... it's over. Y'all ain't got nothin' to worry about no longer!"

The fillies didn't so much as smile in response.

Truth be told, Applejack wasn't exactly sure what had happened... just that they were away from it. With Apple Bloom safely on her way back to the Acres with Big Mac... the filly looking apprehensively at the skies, Applejack would have a long talk with her when they all got back. Apple Bloom, like a number of her fellow students, had seen it all. Mare-sized talons were what carried Snails off... that image would be in her mind forever.

Above it all Derpy was flying down to collect her little muffin. While it meant losing a couple hours at work, when she heard that there was trouble, the mailmare immediately thought Dinky had done something wrong... boy, was she in for a surprise. Rainbow Dash unfortunately would take a while longer... being loyal to everypony meant she would sometimes be hard to find, this time having decided to help Fluttershy move big cans of doggy kibble in her cottage basement.

* * *

In the fresh air, nursing a mug of warm Darjeeling Rarity had so kindly made her, Cheerilee sat in the shade... recapping the events to the officers that left her one student short. They couldn't believe it.

"I'm telling you the truth," Cheerilee said, plainly. "The bird took Snails away, then I carried them here. It was the size of a house, there was nothing I could do!"

"It's not that we don't believe you, Mrs. Cheerilee," said the unicorn taking notes.

"It's Miss Cheerilee," replied the teacher. "Or just Cheerilee... anyway, what's the problem?"

He said what she already knew:

"Birds like what you're describing are the stuff of old pony's tales. Legend." He scratched his head. "Unless I'm mistaken they haven't been seen in centuries!"

"Well, I've got twenty-two traumatized students that can vouch for me." Cheerilee narrowed her eyes. "But I wouldn't recommend asking any of them today."

The officer smiled, setting down his notebook... then leaning towards the teacher. His friendly demeanor had suddenly shifted.

"About that... Do you mean the group of foals you let scatter off the moment you entered Ponyville?"

"They were all headed home. I had to remain focused on my two hurt students!"

"Headed home..." He smiled again, leaning a bit further forward. "How do you know that? They could have been headed anywhere."

"I know where they all live." Cheerilee sipped her tea nervously. "I'm not saying that was the right thing to do, but at least we were safely in town."

The officer sat back, glancing over at his partner leaning against the outer wall of the Boutique. They grinned, the officer furthest from Cheerilee passing his partner another notebook... full of pink papers.

"There are a number of things you did wrong today, Mrs. Cheerilee," said the Officer, calmly. "Where shall we begin?"

Cheerilee stared at him, setting down her tea and gulping the last sip she had taken.

"You tell me."

The officer looked back at his partner and grinned... it appeared as though they were both going to enjoy this.

"Righteous?"

"Righteous?"

With the bird in the past, this was the part Cheerilee dreaded almost most of all... she knew the officers were going to grill her, but not this badly. She took one last sip from her tea, finishing it off before setting the mug down firmly on the table in front of her. She would get through this.

"So you let three foals wander from the site while you were eating lunch? That seems kind of irresponsible."

"We were all eating lunch!"

The Officer against the boutique wall rolled his eyes.

"Just answer the question please, Mrs. Cheerilee."

"Yes, I do let them 'wander around' a little whenever we're eating outside, but they were in my sight! Maybe twenty feet away, a straight line in front of me."

The Officer nearest Cheerilee passed her a paper.

"That's just a warning," he said, with a smile. "You did have your eyes on all of them, after all, but you shouldn't let foals wander around in a strange place."

The teacher blinked twice.

"Right outside of Ponyville? Where many of them come on their own time?"

The officers looked to each other and shrugged.

"So you got up and walked over, turning your back on your class while the three were having a disagreement about... of all things, color?"

"Again, just twenty feet..."

The Officer checked something on his paper.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Cheerilee stared at him.

"Everything was perfectly in my control. Besides, I can't keep my students regimented like you all probably had to be at the Academy. Then they'd really be acting up every time I turn my back. As a teacher, you have to let foals explore their surroundings a little."

"Duly noted," said the Officer against the wall, clearly not taking notes.

"So, from what you're describing, you gave some pretty good instructions, seeing how you never had to drill for something like this... but, you injured a filly trying to make room for the two others. Broke her tail. TWICE."

"She was going to be fine!"

"Doesn't sound like she's fine to me," said the Officer in front of Cheerilee. "Quite the opposite."

"Sounds like potential nerve damage..." The Officer against the wall stretched, revealing his two, massive white wings. "Do you have any idea how important a pegasus's tail is for flight?"

"Of course I do. I'm a teacher!"

"We use it to help us steer in all directions, gauge our speed and slow down, and to help with-"

"Enough!" the seated Officer grumbled, putting a hoof up to silence his partner. "Well, hopefully Scootaloo will be able to fly okay when she gets older."

"That may never happen..." Cheerilee sighed. "She's got under-developed wings. We can only hope and be as encouraging as, well... we can be."

The officers nodded, passing Cheerilee a pink paper.

"Fair enough. Two breaks, two citations. Violence against a foal. That's a pretty serious offense, but seeing as you had 'no choice' in the matter we're going to go easy and just give you a fine."

Cheerilee gritted her teeth.

"I really didn't want to hurt her."

"None of that matters. What matters is that you did hurt her."

"Very badly, might I add."

Cheerilee let out another, more labored sigh. She was going to have to let this go.

"Alright, f-fine. What else did you want to know?"

"Well, we know you watched your class disperse when you entered Ponyville, you're going to be fined for that, too... just one more question. Why would you try to help the student who looked less injured? ... that's Dinky, right?"

Cheerilee nodded, taking in deep, silent breaths.

"Why wouldn't you help the other one? Um..."

"Snails," said the Officer against the wall.

"Yes, Snails. Why didn't you help Snails, who was probably deafened seeing how you described him as..." He checked his notes. "Bleeding from the ears?"

Cheerilee's silent breathing had become visible, her chest rapidly rising and falling. Her lower lip quivered, images of the horrific moment flashing through her mind... she had not seen it take Snails, but she she knew it had, and she knew it would. Images of the fear in Dinky's eyes played again and again.

"I-it happened so fast," Cheerilee finally whimpered, setting her head on the table. "I just helped one of my students." She looked up, fresh tears in her eyes. "She looked right at me... do you have any idea what it feels like to have somepony so small and helpless look up at you and say please help me with just her eyes? I-I just dove... I wanted to make it all go away. I wanted to protect her."

The two officers remained stone-faced.

"Sounds like you made a mistake and let your emotions get in the way of your work, but I can understand why you did what you did." They each looked at each other and nodded. "Mrs. Cheerilee, I'm afraid we've got no choice but to place you on Administrative leave. You're pending investigation."

Cheerilee's heart slowed down. In just seconds she felt achy and sick, as thought the entire day had come crashing down on her.

"No... I-I didn't do anything wrong!"

The officers smiled, the standing one glancing over the seated one's shoulder as he scribbled something down.

"Consider it a paid vacation!" said the Officer against the Boutique. "It even comes right out of your accumulated time."

"Trust us. We just want to make sure you're competent enough to lead around our class... they are the most precious resource to us, after all. We wouldn't want to lose another one because you couldn't make a proper decision when the need arises. Here." He passed her a paper, this time yellow. "Take this home. We know where you live... if in three weeks you are determined not to be dangerous to Ponyville's foals, I won't come to visit you,. If I do, I'm giving you another paper, which... depending on what we decide after you see Doctor Stable for a lengthy evaluation, might mean indefinite leave for you. You'll probably get an okay in the mail, but we want to be sure. Do you understand?"

Cheerilee snatched the paper as the Officer passed it to her. She held it in two hooves, reading it closely... her forelegs shaking, wrinkling the note.

"I would take good care of that if I were you," said the standing Officer. "Put it some place safe... if you can't produce that note when asked, that'll say a lot about how accountable of a mare you are. We give out no copies, as we trust you, Mrs. Cheerilee. We believe in you."

The Officer passed her one final note. Negligence charges for letting her foals go.

"You may go now."

Cheerilee got up, taking the small hoofful of pink and yellow papers the officers had given her. None of the fines were important, it was a few Bits she could easily pay. Cheerilee had no pony to spend money on... just her kids to watch grow. Her lip quivered. What these fines meant was more important than anything else.

She looked up at the officers, wanting to express her frustrations in some way... tell them off, tell them they were terrible ponies for what they had just done... but she knew a lot about how the Equestrian system of law worked. She knew that, if she did that after they had gone easy on her... maybe she wouldn't be so lucky next time, if she ever had to see them again.

"Loyalty"

"Loyalty"

Cheerilee slowly walked away from the officers, her head down. She was going home... then to bed. Whatever else came up, she would deal with it later. The officers could deal with it if it needed to be dealt with right now... they had certainly dealt with her.

Rarity saw this from her Boutique's second story and put a hoof to her mouth. "Oh dear...." From years in the fashion industry, Rarity knew what a crushed pony looked like, and Cheerilee looked worse than any she had seen in years. She had to say something encouraging, make some type of offer to balance things out... so they wouldn't seem so bleak. She had known Cheerilee since school, after all.

As Cheerilee made her exit, Rarity also saw two ponies approaching the entrance to her shop. The unicorn would have rushed down to say her store was closed, but she recgonized them both: Derpy Hooves and... the other the stallion she knew, but she couldn't remember his name. He was a sort of mustard-colored unicorn with a blue mane, a bit unkempt, quite talented with a chisel. She knew he was Snails's father, and that was enough to get her moving.

"Cheerilee!" shouted Derpy, seeing the teacher approach. The pegasus took one look, her face sagging when she saw the dried cut below Cheerilee's lip. "Oh, Dinky didn't hit you... did she?"

Cheerilee looked up and gave a weak smile.

"No, Derpy, she's perfectly f-"

It was then that Cheerilee saw Snail's father Mollusk. He smiled cheerfully when Cheerilee made eye-contact.

"We were both told to come here..." Mollusk said. "Some kind of trouble. I've got a couple clients waiting for me... Dinky and Snails didn't get into a fight, did they?"

Cheerilee stared at Mollusk, barely shaking, her lip quivering. She felt so very, very light...

The two parents looked at each other, confused by the teacher's sudden pale appearance.

"Miss Cheerilee, are you okay?" asked Derpy. "Anything I can do to help?"

By this point Rarity was racing down the steps, praying to Celestia she wouldn't be too late. Sweetie Belle had given her a full account of the events from her perspective, after all. The unicorn leapt down the last few steps and her doors flew open.

"A-hem!" Rarity shouted into the spring air. "Sir? Miss Hooves?"

"Huh?" Both Derpy and Mollusk turned to the Boutique.

"What is it, Rarity?" asked Derpy.

Rarity tried to keep her voice deep and professional, as if she was talking through an auditorium during rehearsals to one of her clients at the very end.

"Would you please come inside and sit down? I'll make tea! We have some... uh, officers here that need to talk to both of you."

"Is Snails alright?" Mollusk asked.

"Um..." Rarity hesitated. "I'm afraid I don't entirely know what's going on," she half-lied. "Cheerilee was just instructed to go home and rest, that's all I know for sure."

"I.... I..." Cheerilee was speechless. She swallowed hard, staring at her hooves, then up at Rarity. "Maybe I should join you?"

"Um... If you think that's best, Cheerilee," Rarity said.

"I don't... but I know it's the right thing to do." She looked at the other two.

Three ponies -- earth, unicorn, and pegasus -- headed for the shop. Cheerilee kept her head down, her mind blank. In another twenty feet, they'd all sit down and at least she'd get a chance to explain, before the officers told their version. She'd be accountable for her own actions.

* * *

Rarity was known to work quickly. Applejack stood by the doorway, watching the three carefully, already briefed on what was going on. She was ready... before the officers were even inside she was ready.

Rarity opened a window right outside the room.

"Sirs?" she spoke up, plainly. "Please come inside... we have the parents in my den."

It would take them more than a couple minutes to get their paperwork together. That didn't stop stories from being told... it was only right that Cheerilee show Mollusk that was not afraid of him or guilty of neglect by telling him when she was not safest. This could be a mistake, but at least Applejack was there should he do something unexpected.

Sitting on a chair as the fashionista them brought tea, Cheerilee said all there was to say, plain and simple... facing both Mollusk and Derpy directly. They sat on Rarity's plush loveseat, Cheerilee pulled her chair close so that all they could see was just each other. The whole exchange didn't take very long. Alongside Applejack, the ivory mare stood near the doorway, waiting... unsure what she could do seeing how Mollusk was almost as large as Big Mac. She remained poised, attentive. By the end, Derpy moved a few inches back... away from Mollusk, unsure of what he was going to do.

For the stallion the world was just a pinpoint.... he hadn't touched his tea, and knowing what he did now, he wouldn't. He stared at Cheerilee, his eyes unblinking. His body wasn't trembling, but his heart was clearly racing... Cheerilee could see the veins pumping at the side of his neck. He stayed silent for the longest time. It was unsettling. The voices of the officers finally echoed through the business as they entered, seeming to trigger something in him.

"My colt is dead?" Mollusk finally asked.

"Yes," Cheerilee replied, the voices of the officers growing even louder. "There was nothing I could do."

The stallion bit his lip, squeezing his teacup so hard the handle cracked... a bit of Porcelain striking Derpy in the shoulder. She got up from the couch, and stood alongside the others.

"... how do you know?" He looked at her, his pupils tiny... his voice calm. "How could you know if the bird carried him off? Can't we go looking for him? Maybe it dropped him?"

"Mollusk, I've studied this bird... or at least, what's been written about it." She sighed, trying to keep her voice even. "You really don't want to know what it did to him the moment it got back to its nest, it's not pretty. I know he's dead, Mollusk. It had to kill him to get what it wanted. I can tell you if he wasn't killed flat out by its talons when it picked him up, he didn't suffer after it got back... he didn't even see it coming."

Mollusk simply shook. He kept staring at Cheerilee, not blinking. Cheerilee did not back up, look away, or shield herself. If Mollusk was going to hit her, then she would just have to take it.

He just got up. As the officers approached the den he headed for the doorway. Applejack, Derpy, and Rarity got out of his way quickly. He looked at them once as the officers blocked his path.

"I've heard all there is to hear," he said to the officers. "Unless there's something you want of me, I'm going to go close up my shop and send everypony home. I'm not working today... I'm not working this week."

"Sir," said the Officer with the white wings. "Were you told of what-"

"Unless there's a reason to hold me here, just let me through." He looked back at Cheerilee. "I know what happened. My son's dead... and she was brave enough to tell me personally."

He looked at the officers directly, the same unsettling rage behind his eyes as he had with Cheerilee... for it was not aimed at her, but the entire situation. The two looked at each other and parted for him. He walked by, his hoof steps reverberating through the Boutique all the way to the exit... where the bell tinkled as he left.

Every mare in the room sighed.

* * *

Derpy turned to Cheerilee. The teacher was staring at where Mollusk had been last standing... that whole exchange could have ended terribly. He showed her just a tiny bit of understanding, through all that anger she could sense. If anything bad happened to her now, she at least had his understanding.

Derpy walked up to the teacher and gave her a hug.

"I'm so sorry, Miss Cheerilee."

"Are you the unicorn's mother.. um, Derpy?" asked the perplexed-looking, wingless Officer. "I heard you were a pegasus."

"Yes, that's me," said Derpy, turning towards him.

"Do you have any questions?"

"Um... Just one."

The two officers looked at each other.

"Then ask it."

Derpy paused for a moment.

"Can I take my Muffin home now?"

The two officers looked at each other again and shrugged.

"Uh... what?"

"She just wants to take her daughter home," piped in Applejack. "Look, is there any reason she can't? Aside from being shaken up, the little thing's got a clean bill of health."

"Sure," said the wingless Officer. "Take her home and put her to bed."

Derpy cantered towards the door.

"I dunno," she said, turning to face the officers. "Any time she's scared, it always helps if I make my muffin surprise. I think that's what I'll do."

"She might fall asleep, Derpy," said Cheerilee. "She's been through a lot."

"Oh, um... okee!"

Derpy smiled, then walked through the door and down the hall to find her daughter.

"I'd best point her in the right direction," said Rarity, excusing herself by the officers. "Is all set now, gentlecolts?"

"Indeed," said the Officer with the wings. "At this point-"

Derpy cut him short.

"Woah!"

A rainbow blur filled the doorway. floating a foot above the floor was Rainbow Dash, looking eager to see what had happened.

"What's going on?" she said, her eyes wide. "I just heard Scootaloo got hurt. Where is she?"

"She's right down the hall," said Rarity quietly. "Her tail is broken, but she is fine. She'll be happy to see yo-"

Cheerilee stood up, barely able to keep balance at this point.

"Rainbow, I broke her tail trying to protect two students... sit down here and I'll tell you what happened."

The two officers looked at each other and shrugged as Rainbow Dash dropped to the floor.

"Cheerilee?" Rainbow Dash had been in such a hurry she had noticed the other ponies in the room, but hadn't processed who they were. "You broke Scootaloo's tail? ...why?"

"Just sit down and she'll tell you already!" grumbled Applejack. "She's been through a lot, so just bear with it, Rainbow."

Rainbow Dash approached the loveseat and sat in front of the teacher. Rarity sighed, exiting the room to help Derpy find her Muffin. Rainbow and Cheerilee were one-on-one now, none of the other ponies in the room mattered.

"You're always so good with the fillies and colts... what happened?"

Cheerilee let out a sigh.

"Guess I'll start from the beginning..."

Cheerilee shared her story and Rainbow Dash listened patiently. Time with Fluttershy had shown the rainbow-maned pegasus that sometimes when you give some pony a little patience, you can get the whole story and it can really surprise you in the end. The two officers' story would agree with Cheerilee's... and Rainbow didn't need to hear the story twice, especially from two ponies she didn't even know. Cheerilee had done the right thing, though by this point her voice was hollow... and she felt the same way on the inside, reliving those last moments again, and again, and again.

* * *

The sky had turned orange, shifting to blue as evening approached. With nothing more to do the officers left, giving everypony some much needed space and silence. They could now breathe at least.

Cheerilee looked out as Scootaloo limped away alongside Rainbow Dash. They'd go home and hopefully in a few short weeks the filly would be fine again.

I really didn't want to hurt her, Cherilee thought, staring at Scootaloo's bandaged tail.

Derpy and her Muffin were long gone. By now Dinky was home... possibly drifting off to sleep as Derpy was making her a treat. Cheerilee had saved Dinky's life. She could take that home, along with Mollusk's understanding. Tiny pinpoints of light in a dark situation.

Cheerilee slowly walked down the stairs, passing Rarity and Sweetie Belle along the way, Rarity styling her sister's mane... something fun after something so terrible. She looked up at them by the door and gave a weak smile. They smiled right back.

"Sweetie Belle," said Cheerilee. "I don't know when I'm going to be back, but I hope it's soon... What I had to do today was very hard, but I'm glad that no other of my students got taken away. I love you all so very much and I am so, so sorry you had to see that awful thing happen today. You're such a wonderful little filly, and I hope whatever happens you continue to do well and grow, and eventually get your Cutie Mark with all your friends. I know just how much it means to you and I'm going to be so sad if I don't get a chance to hear about it at school."

Sweetie Belle smiled uncomfortably.

"Thank you, Cheerilee," said Rarity, forcing a smile. "They've all been through an awful lot... as have you. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask! That includes employment, should this 'vacation' take longer than expected."

Cheerilee smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Rarity."

The door opened, the bell tinkled, and Cheerilee was out of there. Rarity let out a sigh, giving her little sister a nice, long hug before focusing back on her mane. She didn't notice how sad Sweetie Belle looked, and if she had noticed she wouldn't have known why... it just dawned on Sweetie Belle that might be losing her teacher because of what happened.

Away from the Boutique, Cheerilee was finally greeted by silence. Not even a cricket chirped as she slowly cantered home, her head down. Clip-clop, clip-clop! Soon she would be there, and soon... she would have to think about what she had done.

I think I'll sleep in tomorrow, thought the teacher, trying to keep even her thoughts light at this point. Celestia knows I'm going to have time for it now!

And it grew even darker as she walked home... not a pony out, not a cloud in the sky. The illuminations of the moon were peaceful, but in the absence of plans and only uncertainty to look forward to, Cheerilee felt all the more alone and overtaken. This simply was how things were going to have to be for the time being. However, Cheerilee was a mare made of surprisingly stern stuff... one would have to be to take the job she had, and know so much about each student. That was her strength, but for now... she didn't have it. She just had herself. Alone. In the silence.

"Starlight"

"Starlight"

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Cheerilee lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her plans to sleep in the next day involved first... being able to get to sleep. Though it was dark everything felt so vivid -- the clock on her wall, the moonlight coming through her shades... and finally the heat. It was unbearably hot. She felt sweaty, but knew if she opened the window, a ripple in her curtains (or the wrapping of her shade on the windowsill) would be enough to drive her crazy. So she lay there... sweaty and drained.

On warm, sleepless nights as a filly Cheerilee would sometimes stare up at the ceiling and eventually space out, drifting off. She couldn't tell time then, but always had the feeling it was sometime early in the morning... so early Celestia's sun wasn't even up yet. Like old times, Cheerilee found herself staring at her ceiling, ready to drift off... but it didn't work. She let out a low growl, hitting the back of her head against her pillow.

I can't take this.

Bolting upright, she stumbled out of bed... limbs half asleep, she could hardly walk a straight line. Her window was nearby, easy to open... once she did she felt immediate relief.

Sliding back in, Cheerilee felt the cool air waft over her and began to relax... expecting sleep to soon take her. Closing her eyes she let out a sigh. She saw darkness, with bits of blue light shining in, as was coming from her window. It morphed into images of the meadow: Scootaloo, Dinky, and Snails... the warm sun, bright flowers, big balloons... lunch. Watching the foals.

Wish it had stayed like that.

Outside a cloud flew over, dulling the moon light for a moment. It was dark now.

Shadows crept in. Her aching body remembered each laceration it blocked out at the time. Her elevated heart rate brought back the feeling of bile in her throat... it felt fresh.

Cheerilee took a breath.

Stop thinking about this...

The teacher couldn't help it... it was too recent.

Frightened foals, their eyes focused on the horizon... too scared to ask when everything was going to be okay. That look in Dinky's eyes. Lurching forward to make it better. Beating the black bird for survival... her survival.

Cheerilee felt tears forming. She opened her eyes and turned toward her window, staring out at the faint light as it reemerged from the clouds.

"I did right today."

The teacher's eyes were wide and she felt wired enough to get out of bed, though she was exhausted. She lay there, staring out the window, occasionally closing her eyes only to have open them again. Sleep wouldn't come. Eventually the night cooled down... Cheerilee's mind went dull, but she would come right back before she drifted off. All she had was herself right now... the only pony she had to spend eternity with. It would be a long night.

Across the way two pegasus -- mentor and mother -- put their little ones to bed. Both were alive because of Cheerilee and they would be grateful, even Scootaloo (eventually...), but neither slept. Not tonight. Pain and fear kept them awake, the ponies they admired most sleeping on the floor of their rooms. At least they were safe.

* * *

Cheerilee's eyes were closed... her room went dark again as the moonlight was blocked for the second time.

Oh, thank Luna.

Her praise was short-lived.

"Can't sleep?" a gentle voice said from the window.

Cheerliee's eyes popped open. She was facing her window... looking at a dark, flying pony with a big horn.

"Wha...?" Cheerilee grumbled, her mind fuzzy from all the stress. She rubbed her eyes.

"I asked if you could sleep," Luna repeated. "It makes sense you'd be sleepless after what happened. You know you're not dreaming."

Cheerilee sat up in bed, unable to believe her eyes. She felt somewhat... violated by the lack of privacy with the Royal figures, not that she would have let on.

"Not that I mean to be rude, Princess Luna, but... what are you doing here?"

Luna chuckled, drifting into Cheerilee's room, setting both hooves on the floor.

"I can leave, if that's what you wish.... I've simply come to make sure you're okay."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Despite Cheerilee's grouchiness, Luna answered with a straight face. Patience and understanding were a required when dealing with a sleepless pony... especially one who's ambitions had been brought under close scrutiny.

"What I read this evening... from officers' notes and Twilight's letter she sent me through Spike. She and her friends are quite worried about you."

"Well," Cheerilee rocked in bed, thinking about what to say. "Princess Luna, I really appreciate this, but..."

"You don't want to talk about it?"

Cheerilee sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Don't you normally just visit ponies while they sleep? Wouldn't that be better than, well, here... in reality?"

Again, Luna chuckled.

"Yes, but you're not asleep... I know sleep, Miss Cheerilee. It's far off for you. The waking world is as much my domain after the sun goes down as is dream. Talking about this trouble might make you feel better... I know what happened, or at least the version ponies have told me who were not there. I seldom extend this opportunity -- this is your chance to have my ear without appointment. Our ear. I've leafed through your records as a teacher... you've received a few commendations, but never have had anything this horrendous happen while you were teaching."

"Horrendous is right," replied the teacher, with a slight wince. "It's over now, though..."

"Tell me what happened. Why did it happen?"

Cheerilee swallowed hard.

"You... won't judge me?"

Luna shook her head.

"I will not."

"Okay..." Cheerilee took a breath, finding herself looking at the floor. She glanced up one time. "I'll tell you... I don't really want to, but I will."

"Speak then... Our time is yours."

* * *

Cheerilee spoke and Luna listened, remaining still and attentive, occasionally nodding. She told the story exactly as it happened... and Luna did not interrupt with prodding questions. When she got to the end, though she was under the Night Princess's accepting gaze... Cheerilee broke down. The wound of losing Snails was still fresh in her mind, having happened not seven hours before.

"Luna, I did everything I could..." Cheerilee took a deep breath. "I looked into Dinky's eyes and dove. She looked so scared, I just wanted to make it better. To protect her... but I lost a student."

The Princess nodded.

"How do you know Snails is dead? Could the bird not have just dropped him on the way to its nest? He could always be lost in the forest, injured but alive."

The Alicorn levitated a box of tissues from a dresser top towards Cheerilee, setting it on her bed. The teacher took one and blew her nose hardily.

"I know from what I studied when I was younger," the teacher replied, in a nasal voice. "The bird that took him is almost unheard of -- a black relic that goes after unicorns, takes them away so no pony can stop it as it cracks their skulls with its beak to get at their magic. Luna, I feel so awful for Snails and his father. It never should have happened."

"Perhaps not, but as cold as this may sound, Cheerilee, what's done is done. I know you teach over twenty students... many of them unicorns. Did you not have to protect them, as well?"

"Well, it's true... all of my unicorn students were in great danger."

"And just two were exposed?"

"Well, yes... but-"

"You had the choice to save just one or the other?"

Cheerilee bit her lip.

"No! I- That's not at all what happened." She took another tissue. "Again, I- I... I saved Dinky because she looked at me. She looked so helpless, I dove in to protect her. I didn't think about anything other than keeping her safe."

"The look of fear in a foal's eyes is a great motivator for any caretaker. You've told me about Dinky... but what about Snails? Tell me again... what shape was he in?"

Cheerilee took a sudden interest in her floor.

"He was worse off. He looked out of it, deafened, bleeding from the ears... ready to collapse under his own weight."

"Then why not help him instead? Merely tell Dinky to duck under a bench?"

Cheerilee looked up at the Alicorn.

"Honestly... I don't know."

Again, Luna smiled, this time compassionately.

"You saved a life, Miss Cheerilee... the bird would've killed her. I know this bird of which you speak. Thousands of years ago they were rampant, out of control and killing Our subjects, but the more time progresses, the more their numbers diminish. Celestia and I have seen to it to keep Equestria safe for all unicorns... but we are not infallible and neither are you. You know why you chose to save Dinky over Snails, Miss Cheerilee. You have told me twice."

"Princess Luna, I don't know what you're-"

"Yes, you do. I ask that do not delude yourself. While you are still in a state of shock, this will haunt you for a very long time if we do not deal with it tonight."

"But..."

Luna turned towards the window, looking out at the full moon.

"Cheerilee, you injured another student, Rainbow Dash's protégé Scootaloo, to keep them safe... say you broke her tail in two places?"

"I'll tell you exactly what I told the officers... she was going to be fine! I had to make room under the table for Dinky and Snails."

Luna looked back.

"Dinky and Snails, you say." She smiled at the teacher. "You did what you had to do... you made a calculated decision to keep them safe. You are a natural, borne leader, Miss Cheerilee. This is what leaders, at times, must do."

"I don't follow."

"Tell me... what type of student is Dinky?"

Cheerilee thought for a moment.

"Well... she certainly is a strong filly, who cares a lot about others."

"Empathic?"

"Quite... it looked like she was trying to defuse the issue between Scootaloo and Snails this afternoon."

Luna smiled.

"Is she not intelligent?"

"Well, she's certainly quite bright. Not my star pupil, that's definitely Twist, but... I've never had any problems with her."

"Then how is Scootaloo as a student?"

Cheerilee put a hoof to the back of her neck, looking away.

"She's... okay. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, that's a club she and two other students formed, tend to be a little distractable... no more than any other little groups of students I've had before, though."

"And how well did Snails do in your class?"

Cheerilee fell silent... letting out a sigh. She looked up at Luna and chuckled.

"Do we really have to do this?"

"No, but I am curious as to your perception of him."

"He..." Cheerilee looked into the Princess's compassionate eyes. "He was never the first to catch on whenever I'd bring out a new lesson or idea. I had to have meetings with his father about it. We never could come to an agreement about what to do."

"Did he seem in his own world?"

"No more than most other students I've had." Luna stared at Cheerilee, the Alicorn's eyes piercing into her. "Okay, he was one of the most dense students I've ever had, and that's really saying something! What does this have to do with anything?"

"You made a choice, Miss Cheerilee. You had no other option or another student could die. The bird could even have killed you to get to that student... you know it would, if given no other choice."

Cheerilee looked up at Luna, the whites of her eyes shining in the faint light.

"Wait a minute... are you suggesting I sacrificed Snails's life?"

Luna sighed, a look of sympathy in her eye.

"You and I may discuss this further if you wish. In the end you might rationalize it away, but it would be on your mind regardless of whether or not I came here tonight. I am suggesting, Miss Cheerilee, that you did not wish to... but you had to. You did it to protect Dinky and the rest of your class, just as you decided Scootaloo's tail was less important than the lives of Dinky or Snails."

"Hey!" Cheerilee rose to her hooves on her bed. "There's a big difference between the life of a foal and maybe breaking one's tail to save the rest! It's my job to keep them safe when we're out on a field trip and I did my best!"

"Precisely. You chose between the life of one exceptional student, who could easily be a leader when she grows up and another, whom needs help with more basic tasks... among the 'densest students you've ever taught' in your own words. Was Dinky not trying to deescalate the argument between Scootaloo and Snails when you first walked up? Two students were there to say the flowers were a color other than what he saw, and yet he insisted-"

"It was something I never picked up on! How was I supposed to know Snails was color-blind?"

Luna turned towards the window and spread her wings.

"Because every ounce of energy you ever put into him was just to keep him afloat in your classroom. It is hard to teach a student, much less more than twenty, with one monopolizing so much time."

Hearing this, Cheerilee's face contorted.

"I did not let Snails die!"

The teacher put both hooves to her mouth, eyes wide. She was aware of what she had just denied so vehemently... and how everything she denied so far had proven to be true. Tears were streaming down her face, visible to the Alicorn in the faint light. She slumped back down and fell silent, exhausted.

Luna turned around and approached... touching Cheerilee with a foreleg. She smiled.

"You did not let Snails die... you would have protected him if you could, but you could not protect them all. You made a choice to protect Dinky... not for Snails to lose his life. You love them all so very much, I can feel that in the way you speak of them. There are times in the past where Celestia and I have had to make the same choices with Our subjects... it never gets easier and one hopes to never have to make that choice again, but as a leader... there are times you must. It is calculating, not cold."

Cheerilee sat there, rocking, forelegs pulled in against her body.

"Cheerilee, you did right today. Your feelings of self-betrayal will fade in time, I assure you."

The teacher looked up at the Alicorn and wrapped both forelegs around her barrel.

"You are a leader." Luna smiled. "I can stay here all night if that is what you wish."

Cheerilee made eye-contact with Luna and let out a sigh.

"Princess Luna..."

"Say what you wish, Miss Cheerilee, completely unfiltered. Perhaps you wish to know why I came here?"

Cheerilee nodded slowly.

Luna pulled away, turning towards the big window again. She spread her wings, looking back with a smile.

"I came to hear your side of the story, and be sure you didn't allow your student to die. From notes sent this evening Celestia and I know approximately where the bird resides. We're planning to destroy it on first morning's light as it rests in the brief span between my night and her day... when it is most vulnerable. That will make one less bird to terrorize our subjects... meaning Snails' death was not in vain. His magic, freshly consumed, will help Us find it, as well as his remains. With that said, do you wish me to leave you in peace?"

Cheerilee nodded again.

"Princess Luna, I appreciate you doing this, but-"

Again, Luna smiled.

"You do not need to explain yourself if that is your desire. Farewell Miss Cheerilee... I hope the next time I see you you are in better spirits."

Without another word Princess Luna leapt from Cheerilee's window and flew off. The teacher was left sitting on her bed in a fetal position, barely rocking... wondering what the heck had just happened. She felt vulnerable, betrayed by her own Princess (in her own bedroom no less), yet she felt more like she had done the right thing than before Luna had arrived. It would just take time for her to process everything.

Again, all the teacher had was herself... the only pony she had to spend eternity with. Even now knowing the truth as it was for sure, it would be a long, restless night.

Author's Note

This chapter caused me a bit of trouble.

How best to convey Cheerilee's thoughts about what had happened? I wrote a sequence where it was just Cheerilee by herself coming to this realization, but that was dark and the pacing was weird/draggy; I wrote another one where it was a dream, but it started getting silly... so I settled on Luna paying her a visit while she was still awake. A lot of the dialogue is pulled from the dream sequence; it resembles that one the most. My only hesitation is there isn't a whole lot of time elapsed between when Snail's being carried off happened and when Cheerilee comes to this. Luna seeing her first thing seems a little... pushy. It makes sense an Alicorn, the Princess of The Night, might know how delicate her ponies can be... especially after one loses a student and possibly her job. I tried to make Luna non-judgmental, but brutally honest about what she detects in Cheerilee. Luna's quite fun to write for, especially when she uses THE ROYAL VOICE and the old English affectations. This chapter wasn't boring or too frustrating, it's just the chapter where the "cards get shown" so to speak... we learn what went into Cheerilee's choice. That makes me a bit nervous :twilightblush:

Anywho, hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you. Peace! :eeyup:

"Solitude"

"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.

"Venture"

"Venture"

It was late afternoon on the fifth day.

Cheerilee sat on her living room sofa, mugs scattered around her coffee table with a few bowls she hadn't bothered to clean up yet. There were a few leftover stains of dried coco and ice cream, but with a little work they'd come right out. She had an opened book, but wasn't exactly reading... rather spacing on the words. She wanted so badly to lay down, shut her eyes and drift off... but every time she did she'd want to sit right back up and put her mind back to work again. Having an idle mind felt... weird. This, of course, had already lead to a couple restless nights.

She thought she heard something, faint and delayed by the door. It sounded like... of all things, knocking. Cheerilee's eyes shifted towards her door and she waited, only to hear it again. Knock-knock! ...knock. Somepony wanted to see her.

Swear I'd recognize that knocking anywhere, she thought, slowly getting up and stretching, feeling her back and shoulders crack. That can't be Derpy.

It had become somewhat amusing. Each time Miss Hooves visited the school after class -- despite the building being open to the public after three PM -- she'd always knock. Derpy had the strangest pattern when it came to knocking, same with hoof steps... sporadic, uneven. Cheerilee could always identify her by these sounds well before seeing her.

It took Cheerilee a moment to answer the door. Her apartment was small and, at the moment, slightly untidy. Getting there was awkward... she hopped around a couple trash bags and unfolded articles of clothing. Cheerilee had forgotten the day before was garbage day, the day before that laundry day. If it wasn't for her shouting "coming!" the pony knocking probably would have thought she wasn't home. Depressed or not the teacher still tried to make herself look presentable, tying her mane back with an old rubber band... one that would definitely hurt coming out.

Cheerilee's door swung open. She winced as Celestia's sun peeked in, not bothering to fake a smile when she saw Derpy standing there.

"Oh, hi Miss Cheerilee!" Derpy exclaimed with a nervous grin, eyeballing the trash bags by the entrance. "Oh, wow... you look, um, really tired today."

"I'm not feeling all that well, Derpy," Cheerilee replied, matter-of-factly. "What do you need?"

"Well..." Derpy went through her satchel. "I've got a couple letters for you... Mr. Mollusk wanted me to give this one to you personally. Don't worry, it's nothing bad! I, uh... got one, too."

She passed a couple small letter to Cheerilee, one of them inscribed with gold. She opened the fancy one first with Derpy still standing there. Cheerilee was pretty sure she knew what it was, and she was right -- an invitation to Snails's Memorial Service. The second was for an evaluation in three days... Doctor Stable wanted to see her. The teacher made an effort to keep a straight face, not that Derpy would have judged her if she looked half as grumpy or tired as she felt.

"Thanks."

The pegasus smiled awkwardly, putting a hoof to the back of her head.

"Um... Hope you can make it."

"Oh, I'll be there," Cheerilee replied. "It's only right."

Derpy nodded rapidly.

"Okee. Guess I'll see ya then. Um, later."

"I'll see you there, Derpy. Promise."

The pegasus nodded slowly. Turning around she began to trot away... but Cheerilee stopped her.

"Hey... Derpy?"

She spun around quickly.

"Yeah?"

Cheerilee smiled genuinely, taking a breath.

"Please tell Dinky I said hi. After all that's happened... I just hope she's doing alright."

Derpy's awkward expression turn into grin. Her voice grew warmer as she spoke:

"She's doing much better, thanks for asking! I'll let her know you asked about her first thing when I get home! Promise!"

"I'm glad to hear that."

Derpy turned around and began to trot away again, this time with a noticeable spring in her step. Seeing this made Cheerilee smile... knowing that Dinky was safe and well, but also that her mother was the type of pony who could put such things aside and just do her job. Cheerilee had to admit that Derpy was a lot stronger than she looked... but so was Cheerilee.

For now Cheerilee shut the door... it was back to resting. In the morning she would have to leave the comfort of her home. It was only fitting that she get the proper attire for Snails's service, however... she would forgo a veil. Hiding her face might suggest to other ponies that she felt guilty... which she didn't, not for a few days at least had she felt anything other than empathy for everypony involved, but she knew how silly adult ponies could be over even the most trivial of things... and death of a foal would be much, much worse. Truth be told, even in the privacy of her home... Cheerilee wanted to be invisible.

* * *

The next day the teacher left early... having hardly slept the night before. She felt groggy and listless, but still focused on her goal.

There were no ponies on the street, the sky a shade of orange as Celestia's sun barely peeked over the horizon. Ponyville was silent, just as it had been the night she took the long walk home.

I just have to get to Rarity's... that shouldn't be too hard.

She kept her eyes forward and trotted along. Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop... Soon she'd made it all the way to the fountain. The only sound that could be heard was running water. Normally it would calmed her nerves, focusing on something else... something soothing, gentle, but Cheerilee's problems were on the inside. No amount of ice cream, books or white noise could help her.

Almost there...

She trotted on. Just another two blocks and she would be looking at Rarity's shop, at a time she was sure (from what Sweetie Belle had once said) Rarity had little business. It also helped that it wasn't the weekend quite yet. It would just be two old friends discussing a special order, and that's it. She would be back home within the hour... hopefully.

Off in the distance there was a motion in front of Cheerilee... at first she didn't see it. She unconciously tuned it out, but the more she focused elsewhere, the more exaggerated it became.

Rose Luck was out watering her garden. She saw Cheerilee and was waving hello. When the teacher didn't see her, she simply waved harder.

You know Rose Luck, Cheerilee thought, extending her hoof out for a small wave. She's always been so nice. She hesitated... but she does like to gossip a bit.

Cheerilee pressed on slowly, peering at Rose Luck... who was just watering her garden atop a hill by her home. She didn't notice Cheerilee staring at her for the longest time, but when she did she looked right into the teacher's eyes. Cheerilee didn't realize it, but she was scowling... not only that, she wasn't blinking. The two ponies locked eyes, Rose Luck's expression turning to one of confusion and concern. Cheerilee crossed the street and continued on.

"What's gotten into that mare?" Rose Luck wondered out loud, going back to her garden.

Rose Luck knew what had happened, but wasn't the type of pony to butt into another pony's business. A faux pas? Absolutely, she'd gossip about that with everypony to no end, but the loss of a colt was nothing to spread around town with glee. Cheerilee didn't know this because Rose Luck's only source of joy was her garden... everything else was, unfortunately, quite barren.

The way Rose Luck looked me, I know she had to have said something, Cheerilee thought, stepping out into the intersection before Rarity's shop. It figures... you think you know somepony, then you see that look of unquestionable guilt. She let out a sigh. "Wait... do I actually know her?"

Cheerilee shrugged. It didn't change how she felt about the situation, but for right now she was going to go into more familiar territory... Rarity's shop.

* * *

The door swung open and she stepped inside. Cheerilee saw Rarity approach well before she saw her... she even noticed the smell of Darjeeling, which meant Rarity was just waking up.

"Welcome to the Carousel Boutique! Where every garment is chic, unique, and magni-"

"Um, hi Rarity," Cheerilee said, just loud enough to be heard over the ivory mare's schpeel.

"Oh!" Rarity blinked twice in surprise. "Cheerilee! It's so good to see you! We were beginning to worry. I was getting ready to stop by tomorrow." Rarity smiled. "Care for some tea? I've a fresh pot in back. That is, assuming you can spare a few minutes... if not, how may I assist you today?"

Rarity was seldom awkward, always smooth at transitioning into salespony... Cheerilee knew her well. She smiled back.

"It's good to see you, too," the teacher said, taking a breath. "I really could use your help... and I think I will take that tea."

"Of course!" Rarity began to trot behind the counter, motioning for the teacher to come along. She opened the counter and invited Cheerilee inside with her, levitating a tea pot between the two mares while filling a cup. "What I can help you with?"

"Well, I'm going to need a dress for Snails's memorial service," Cheerilee said, taking the tea.

Rarity's smile faded, a more serious expression took it's place. She motioned for her friend and customer to sit at the stool behind the counter.

"Understood, dear. I take it you would like something more conservative?"

Cheerilee sat while sipping the tea:

"That's exactly what I'm thinking."

Rarity pulled a book from behind the counter, drinking down her entire cup in one gulp. It was time to get serious.

"We can go though this and pick out the most appropriate attire." Rarity winked. "Shouldn't take long."

Rarity pulled the book beside Cheerilee and opened it up. The ivory mare flipped a few pages up to the wedding and funeral section, and opened her mouth to speak when she was cut short:

"Rarity!" a shrill filly's voice shouted from upstairs. "You promised to let me make pancakes this morning!"

Cheerilee instantly recognized the voice as Sweetie Belle's.

"I'll be right up to help you, Sweetie," Rarity replied in the direction of the stairs. "Not too long."

"How long?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Rarity looked at Cheerilee.

"Oh, I can only guess, since I am with a client, after all... maybe twenty minutes?"

Cheerilee grinned.

"That sounds about right."

"I'll be up in twenty minutes, Sweetie Belle. Please help yourself to some juice in the meantime!"

Rarity turned back to the book and regained a professional composure.

"Sorry about that, Cheerilee." The teacher casually sipped her tea. "There'll be no more delays, I can assure you of that."

"It's quite alright." Cheerilee smiled. "But isn't Sweetie Belle going to be late for school?"

Rarity put a hoof to the back of her head, her face contorting awkwardly.

"Well, you see... um, Sweetie and a couple of her classmates were given the rest of the week off."

Cheerilee's smiled instantly faded. She knew why this had happened, but still wanted to be sure:

"Is it because of Snails?"

Rarity nodded slowly.

"She really hasn't been sleeping too well lately, and... well, uh," Rarity shook her head. "Let us not focus on that! We've got an order to fill and a lengthy book of options to go through!"

Cheerilee nodded.

"Okay then!"

Cheerilee was ready. She knew the order wouldn't be take long, Rarity knew her measurements and could tell by looking at her that it would be best laid out as nothing more than a series of yes or no questions. Rarity also had received a card from Mollusk, but she never would have dreamed of leading one of her oldest Ponyville friends into a sale first thing. Now that they both were settled on this idea, Rarity was in the proper mindset:

"Are you sure you want no veil?" she asked Cheerilee. "It's traditional! Makes sense for this occasion."

"I'm positive, Rarity. I thought about this all last night. I don't want anypony to think I'm hiding... as much as I want to."

"Very well!" Rarity checked an item off on her form. "That is completely understandable."

Having something going on involving a friend felt rather refreshing... even if it did concern an awful thing that happened less than a week before. The teacher took note that she probably needed to get out soon to shake this feeling, but knew in the back of her mind that once she got back on the road she would probably want to head right back home and be alone. This order would take a lot longer than it needed to, but not so long that Rarity would begin to realize that just having her attention right now felt good to Cheerilee.

Still, soon Cheerilee was back on the road, a slip in her possession that would go on her bulletin board. By the time of the service her black dress would be ready. She sighed, finally feeling tired despite having drank most of a cup of Darjeeling. Typical.

"Anathema?"

"Anathema?"

There had been a huge gap of silence.

Doctor Stable peered over his glasses, furrowing his brow at the teacher. The interview had taken over three hours, and was composed of mostly yes or no questions, many of them painfully tedious... others possibly leading. Cheerilee could only guess that her answers painted an image that she would be unfit for teaching, depressed and unstable. She was tired when she went in and she was definitely going to be tired when it came time to leave, but first the doctor had to give his opinion. He cleared his throat:

"It's in my expert opinion, Miss Cheerilee, that you are suffering from moderate anxiety and depression, as well as exhaustion. You lost a student only a short while ago and that would cause any pony to feel 'empty and devastated,' as you put it at the beginning of this interview, especially since he was only a colt. I suggest you take these few days before Snail's service to rest before you become rundown and sick."

Cheerilee looked up, attempting to fake a smile. She knew Doctor Stable was doing his best... at least he'd been sympathetic, not once taking sides or talking down. There was one problem though:

"I already told you I've hardly left my house since it happened. A pony can't get more rested than that."

The Doctor grinned slightly.

"Well, then maybe this will help you sleep. It's also in my opinion you are not a danger to any colt or filly, though ultimately it's not up to me and I can only help sway the process. I will put down on my yellow form that if I had a foal I would feel comfortable with you instructing him or her alone, especially on a field trip. From what you've had to say and how you've said it, you sound like a most wonderful teacher... perhaps a bit burnt out from this experience, but that will pass in time."

Cheerilee found herself genuinely smiling. The doctor nodded and scribbled something down on a small piece of paper. He passed it to her.

"What's this? Another form?"

The Doctor got up, not before tapping his papers on the table and putting them away.

"It's one you don't have to take, if you don't want to. It should also help you with sleep."

Cheerilee held it up, reading the somewhat unclear script:

Alprazolam 1mg Tab Dava

The doctor crossed behind the teacher and swung the door open.

"You are free to go. Please try to get some rest."

Slowly Cheerilee got up and turned towards the door, script in hoof. She passed the doctor, who smiled on her way out.

"Thank you," she said, as she left the room.

Doctor Stable continued to nod as he slowly shut the door behind her.

"Take care and come back if you need anything."

Once the door closed, Cheerilee let out a warm sigh. She knew Doctor Stable was fair and could do little other than be a cog in this process, but he could help a little and the interview went along more smoothly than she expected. He was one of the few ponies that could separate the process from the pony... surely a sign of intelligence, if not good bedside manner.

Cheerilee, alone in the hospital hall, took a long look at the script, only to look back up... getting her bearings. She saw exactly what she wanted to do next.

She headed towards the exit. It wasn't far. As she came up to it, she folded the paper and let the paper drift into the trashcan alongside the bend. Without looking back she walked towards the doors, the bright light of Celestia's sun waiting behind them. This was the first time in days she felt the tiniest bit of hope.

* * *

Exhaustion, depression and anxiety. That was what Doctor Stable told Cheerilee she was suffering from. That's all he came up with, and surely a sign of remorse to have in the notes... but why had she thrown his script out?

Over twelve hours later she lay on her bed, sweating and motionless, staring up at her ceiling. Two days. Snail's service would be in two days. That's all she could think as the clock on her wall continued to tick and tick.

She looked over at the clock. Though it was dark, if she squinted, she could make out the time in the faint light. It was just after four-thirty in the morning. Celestia's sun would rise over Ponyville soon enough. She had gone to bed early, sleeping maybe an hour... which had felt like the entire night. She had hoped to be up with the sun. Doctor Stable's news certainly made her feel as if she might get some rest and start a new. The medication, she was sure, would just make her groggy and she didn't like the idea of resorting to something that could disconnect her from what she was feeling... besides, she was sure it would just backfire if she took it the night before one of those Officers surprised her the following morning.

Knowing she had nothing waiting for her once the sun did come up, Cheerilee dragged herself out of bed. An hour or two at this point wouldn't make a difference. She would watch the sunrise up high. It might make her feel better, since it seemed nothing else but time would.

The teacher, still clad in her bathrobe, walked from her apartment up a few stairs. She soon found herself on the roof. High above it all all she had was an old lawn chair resting near the edge, but that's all she needed. There was a time when she would sunbathe on that same chair, but up until lately she only had time to do that during the summer.

Sitting down she noted first that the morning was cool, but not cold... the robe helped keep most of the breeze away. She looked out at the horizon, which looked like a straight line.. The view was nice, if not a tad minimalistic, save the treeline. The sky was turning orange, thankfully not red, as clouds drifted by on a gentle breeze. She was almost certain she could see a few pegasus overhead working to make everything -just- right for when the sun finally did rise.

The sun came over the hill, instantly hitting Cheerilee with its warm rays. It felt magnificent, a sense of relaxation she hadn't felt in days. The sunrise always had this magical power when it first came up, but a pony always had to want to see it for it to work. She sat there, embraced in its warm glow for that magical moment between night and day, when Celestia and Luna had killed that black bird not a week before.

Momentary blackness swept over her as Cheerilee opened her eyes, letting out a sigh. A second sigh seemed to echo at the same time, followed by a warm chuckle. The teacher turned to her left, eyes widening as she saw Princess Celestia standing about a meter away. She nearly fell out of the chair, but kept her composure as the Princess looked down upon her with a gentle smile, her gaze tranquil as always.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" the princess asked.

Cheerilee nodded rapidly, letting out a second sigh.

"I hope I didn't frighten you. I wished to speak with you earlier."

Much like with Luna, Cheerilee couldn't help withdrawing a bit, facing away from Celestia and towards the rising sun.

"Why didn't you?"

She heard Celestia let out a second low chuckle.

"I'm sure you know why I chose not to. We must respect the system of Government our ponies have in place. Given all that has transpired and all that I have been told, it appears that you are in no real danger, but there is still one pony you must answer to, and that takes away all the meaning our system seems to have." There was a long pause of silence. The two felt a warm breeze waft over them as the sky turned blue. "Cheerilee, I understand what you've been through. I've been through it countless times, and had my ponies not trust me for generations."

Cheerilee turned to look up at the Alicorn, letting out a wry chuckle.

"I've read enough history to know a little about what you're talking about. It's buried deep, but it's in there. You eventually outlive their memory, though. I don't have that luxury."

The deity nodded.

"It's true, a pony's memory is short compared to Our eternal life... but there's one pony who will never forget those decisions."

"Luna came to me the other night about this."

"And she has but one position... in life there are seldom absolutes. In my time I've seen flies take down spiders and fillies take down demons."

"That didn't happen in the meadow."

"But you gave it your all, and for that alone I am so very proud of you." Celestia approached the chair, smiling down at the pony. "Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason as to why we do what we do. We act on impulse, from our instincts. Luna chooses to rationalize every action, as if instilling labels on ideas will make them become less frightening... but in actuality it can push our perceptions further from the truth, as they become colored by other's projection." Cheerilee's breathing began to speed up again, as she flashed back to the last time she was leading class. "I don't tell you these things to make you question yourself, but to tell you that if you've spoken the truth so far nopony can tell you why events transpired the way they did down in the meadow. Only you."

She continued to look up at Celestia... her heart rate slowing down. She still took a deep breath, fighting back the tears.

"I reached for Dinky... she looked right at me. I dove, Princess Celestia. That's all I can tell you."

"Perhaps you felt a momentary connection, no different than you would have with any other student. I can't tell you why, but I can tell you this. Ponies see what's in front of them... and there's only so much one can do. What you are seeing in others, Miss Cheerilee, might be felt as judgment or distance, but for some of it that is likely just your projection. They all have lives, and they don't want to dwell on the vulnerabilities of themselves and those they care most about to outside forces. For those who are projecting hostility your way, the guards are in part to who I am referring... Miss Cheerilee, ponies cannot live in dread. That is fear you are seeing, and will pass in time as Ponyville sinks back into its old, peaceful routines once more. They seem to blame you, in part, because there's no other pony to blame. They respond to the what while avoiding the why. In truth, there are only a few ponies who can actually do something about what happened, and we are not infallible... but your information helped us find the bird, so that it's hatchlings do not form more threats down the road. That in itself may help ponies who are born long after you are gone."

Cheerilee looked up at Celestia. The deity smiled back.

"Is there anything you don't understand about what I've just said?"

"No." Cheerilee took a breath. "I understand everything, Princess."

"I cannot guarantee you that you'll get your teaching position back, but in the millennia I've spent talking with ponies I feel you are in no way to blame." Cheerilee sighed, and Celestia did the same. "I'm sorry, Miss Cheerilee, but I cannot interfere with how my ponies choose to Govern and live. I must not make exceptions, no matter how unjust situations become, unless lives are at stake. You are the only pony you must spend all eternity with, and my hope is that you reconcile these feelings before you take them into infinity... everypony else will forgive what happened in time, I promise. For the few it may take their entire lives, but it is the emptiness and vulnerability they loath so much, not you. You are simply the effigy."

With that Celestia turned, spreading her wings in preparation to fly. She looked back one final time.

"Thank you," Cheerilee said.

The deity smiled, nodding.

"I've done nothing but give you my thoughts. I know you'll use them for good."

Celestia then took off... leaving the teacher alone with her thoughts, once again.

Cheerilee found, in that moment, she felt something... a feeling she hadn't known for days. Though what had happened was still horrific, and Snails was still dead, looking out at the sunrise, still gold and peach in hue, she felt... peaceful.

"Herds"

"Herds"

Walking alone in the mid-morning, Cheerilee felt the cool breeze waft over her. She wore the black dress Rarity had designed for her -- it was simple, no frills, and, as Cheerilee had already decided, her face was uncovered. No pony was around and she could hear nothing but the gentle breeze. For the past couple days her mind felt surprisingly light. She left an apartment that wasn't entirely clean yet, but getting there.

Snail's Memorial Service would be on the outskirts of town, relatively near Mollusk's shop and their home. That only made sense -- it would be on a plain with an open horizon, and a few bushes she was sure they had both looked out upon before spending time together as father and son.

The walk wouldn't be far, yet it didn't take her long to see other ponies -- young and old -- dressed in black and headed in the same direction. She walked with them, quietly, noticing veils on all the mares. She couldn't tell who was who at first glance, and only upon closer inspection did she spot a pony she recognized -- Lyra. The teacher noticed a mare walking close beside her, and knew that must be Bon-bon. With a turn of her head, Cheerilee confirmed this. Lyra glanced back, Cheerilee could only gather because she felt her eyes on her. The couple nodded under their veils, and Cheerilee nodded back, smiling weakly before marching on.

Together with all these ponies, uncovered as she was... Cheerilee noticed hardly a glance in her direction. Just a few nods from ponies who looked at her for more than a second. Every pony around her seemed focused on getting there, and any voices she heard fell silent after a simple greeting.

It was towards the end of the walk. Cheerilee saw the stone podium surrounded by a half circle of marble benches. It took a lot of courage for her to make it just this far, and since she was there, she could sit, though she knew she would not rest.

Not everypony went right to being seated, though. Some were standing, talking quietly around the structure. Mentally preparing themselves, Cheerilee thought. A few foals were running around, and mother were fixing their son's attire.

"I'm feeling kind of constricted by this vest, Mom," whispered a familiar, gravelly voice.

"It's only for a couple hours, Button," replied his mother. "You can take it off when we're home."

Cheerilee couldn't help smiling hearing that, passing as mother straightened her son up, the maternal figure's voice soothing and calm. She'd let them do what they were doing in peace.

She passed Snail's friend Snips with his uncle, overhearing more snatches of conversation:

"Um, is Snail's, um... really here, Uncle Clod?"

"His body's gone with the rest of him, son," the bearded stallion replied, uncharacteristically soothingly. "That is why it is called a 'Memorial Service'. We do this to honor the dead, if there ain't a trace to bury."

It wasn't hard for Cheerilee to imagine Snips carrying on for those days as though it were just the weekend. Anything he liked he payed a lot of attention to... anything he didn't he pretended wasn't there.

In the middle of it all Cheerilee found a seat, fixing her gaze towards the stone arch behind the main podium. This was a place of gathering, not usually for this type of service. Cheerilee had once heard a concert here, happy cello and violin pieces with Rarity a few summers back. The entire place had a different feel to it then. The teacher noticed, behind the podium, almost entirely concealed by the marble, was... a sort of shape. It was sturdy, tremendous and tall, yet compact, and ... tan. It didn't take her very long to realize she was looking at a drop cloth concealing something of rather large size, a tool perhaps for vocal amplification during the service. Cheerilee then realized this was the first memorial service she had attended, the first of any service for the deceased in at least ten years. Outside of anecdotes she'd read, she hardly knew what to expect... though it probably wouldn't be too different from a funeral.

"Hi Cheerilee," said Derpy, approaching from the left. "Is it okay for me and Dinky sit by you?"

Cheerilee looked over. She could see Derpy smiling, having drawn back her veil. Dinky was smiling, too, unveiled just as she was.

"Um, sure," the teacher replied as Derpy sat down, placing Dinky right beside her. "How are you, Dinky?"

"Okay, I guess," the little filly replied.

"I can understand that... it's a lot to take in."

More ponies began to sit. Cheerilee could hear Rainbow Dash's huskier voice somewhere in the seats in front of her, but still couldn't tell one mare from another.

"Well, turns out you were not that hard to find," Rarity said quietly to Cheerliee's right. "Would it be alright, if-"

Cheerilee nodded, turning to look at her friend.

"Please, sit. If that's what you're asking, Rarity. It would be nice."

Rarity responded by smiling warmly under her veil.

Like Derpy, Rarity was with Sweetie Belle. With a slight nudge, which (even from a few paces over) Cheerilee felt, but didn't see, Rarity encouraged Sweetie Belle to go sit by her teacher.

"Go, sit," Cheerilee saw Rarity mouth.

"Oh, she doesn't have to if she doesn't want t-"

Before Cheerilee could finish that statement Sweetie Belle was sitting beside her. The filly's veil was down, but just a glace at her face she saw Sweetie Belle looking back up at her.

"Hi," the filly said, as Rarity sat down beside her.

"Hello, Sweetie Belle. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

The teacher then noticed Sweetie Belle had turned her head, facing towards the podium at the front. She nodded to herself... leaving the filly be for now.

"It's okay," she mouthed to Rarity, who nodded back, before sitting.

Cheerilee looked forward again, noticing just two rows up Scootaloo had her veil back and a bigger mare was helping her fix her hat. Even under all that black Cheerilee saw a just peek of rainbow mane. She sighed. It certainly was nice to feel supported.

Working back from the front row Cheerilee could see two ponies -- a stallion and mare -- moving quickly, passing out pamphlets.

It's likely just the program..., the teacher thought.

It only made sense to pass them out after every pony was seated, as outside in the outskirts as they were, ponies had come from different directions. The flyer-carrying ponies would find their way back to her row, eventually, so the teacher relaxed... allowing her mind to wander, looking off toward the open fields. She was too tired to realize that, if she wasn't worn down from feeling nervous for days... she wasn't afraid as she might've expected had she come by herself. Beside the meadow, not far from the treeline of the Everfree, her mind was empty... her temper even. Everything was okay at this point and it seemed as if it was going to be. If not, she was surrounded by ponies who cared about her. She couldn't help sighing again, her eyes feeling a bit heavy, but that was fine.

Finally the mare with the pamphlets made her to their row, and Cheerilee looked down at what she was passed. The listing was fairly sparse, similar to the Invention mailed out -- just one folded page of gold with black writing. Mayor Mare and Mollusk would speak separately, then the mic would be open to any pony for an hour. There would then be a small reception where music would be played in Snail's honor, and... it would all be over after that.

As the two ponies trotted past Cheerilee's isle to the front, signifying papers made it to the final row, there was nothing left but to begin. With the exception of a rustling papers and a distant cough all ponies began to quiet. Cheerilee just sat back, looking forward and listening. Mayor Mare wasn't at the podium yet, but she was on stage... talking to Mollusk in the back by the cloth. She turned around, looking at every pony, approaching the center. She was unveiled as well.