Under the Blue Moon

Chapter 2 – Blue Moon Walking

Rarity was busy giving Tidal a tour of the school while there was still a delay for classes to start.  This also allowed Principal Celestia to work on his class schedule and hopefully get his schoolbooks for his classes.  Rarity pointed out various rooms that would help Tidal know his way around.  But whenever she checked to make sure he understood, it was always with a nodded or a simple “Yes”.  Rarity knew that this was going to be a challenge than she thought.

“And right here is the cafeteria, where we go to eat.”  Rarity looked through the window doors.  “Oh, there’s Lyra and Bonbon.  They must be helping out with breakfast for the other students when they get here.”

“That’s because they came with my aunts over here.  Said something about someone needing some help, I think,” said Tidal.

‘At least he can speak in sentences,’ thought Rarity.  “Applejack must have asked them for their help.  Her grandmother is in charge of the cafeteria staff, and she hates it when the roads get to be this bad.  She’s a nice lady, that’s for sure.  Now come along.”

As they started to walk away, Tidal came across a pair of light blue eyes if front of his face.

“Hiya!”

This surprised him and caused him to fall backwards onto the floor.  When he regained his focus, he saw a pink girl with puffy dark pink hair.  She was wearing a white shirt with a pink heart on it, a pink skirt with three balloons on the side, and blue boots.

“Pinkie!!!  Do you have to surprise every new student like that?” asked Rarity.

“Well dud.  It’s not a surprise if you don’t see it coming,” replied Pinkie.

“You do know this is the Principal’s nephew, right?”

“I do know that it’s her foster nephew.”

Rarity glared at Pinkie.  “And what makes you think that?”

“Oh, just a hunch.”  Pinkie smiled.  Rarity just rolled her eyes.

Tidal laid his head on the floor in disgust.  “Don’t tell me you know my father?”

“Nan.  That’s just Pinkie being Pinkie.”

Tidal looked up to see a country girl with orange skin and blonde hair in a ponytail.  She was wearing a white and green shirt, denim skirt, brown boots, and a Stetson hat.  Behind her was another girl with yellow skin, and pink long hair.  She was wearing a white tank top and a green skirt and boots.  She was acted a bit shy.

“Here, let me help you up.”  The country girl extended her hand to Tidal, which he accepted, and helped him get back on his feet.  “Name’s Applejack, by the way.  And this is Fluttershy.”  She pointed to the shy girl behind her, who just gave a small wave back.

“I’m Tidal.  Tidal Wave Blue.  And for the record, she’s right.  My father was adopted by Aunt Tia’s parents.”

“Aunt Tia?” said Pinkie.

“I think he means Principal Celestia,” Rarity clarified.  “By the way, how were you able to get here soon?”

“Bulk Biceps was able to pick us up in his all-wheel drive truck after picking up Fluttershy,” said Applejack.

“Oh, I just ice skated over here,” said Pinkie.

“Were the roads that bad?” asked Rarity.

“Oh the roads were fine.  I just skated on the icy sidewalks.”

“Seriously Pinkie?  You could have just walked on the snowy grass instead,” said Applejack.

“Or drove here,” added Rarity.

“But where’s the fun in that?”

“Well, I’m sure we would like to stay and chat, but the cafeteria ain’t going to serve itself,” said Applejack.

“I just saw Lyra and Bonbon in there already,” said Rarity.  “I’m sure they are waiting for you to help out.  I need to continue showing Tidal the school before classes start.”

Applejack, Pinkie, and Fluttershy started to go into the cafeteria, while Rarity and Tidal went to continue their tour.  It was then that Rarity remembered something.

“Applejack, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.  What is it?”

Rarity went up to Applejack and whispered, “Have you seen Sunset lately?”  Applejack just shook her head.  “Well, just keep an eye out for her.  Tidal’s had a hard time at his old school, and it’s much worse than what Sunset did back then.  I’ll explain later.”  Applejack nodded and followed the others into the cafeteria.

While Rarity continued giving Tidal the tour of the school, the other girls were able to join up with Lyra and Bonbon in the cafeteria.

Bonbon saw them walk up and yelled, “Hey Applejack.  I see that you and some of the others were able to make it.”

“Besides Pinkie’s strange way of travel, we had some help from Bulk Biceps,” said Applejack.  “How are we doing on serving breakfast?”

“Almost ready,” replied Lyra.  “Just need to make sure the sausage and biscuits are warmed up.”

“I’m on it!” singed Pinkie and zipped off into the kitchen.

“Any sign of Rainbow Dash or Rarity?” asked Bonbon.

“Or even Sunset Shimmer,” Lyra added with disgust.

“Oh, we just saw Rarity give the new student the tour of the school,” replied Fluttershy.

“You mean Tidal Blue?  We just met him while Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna transported us over here,” said Bonbon.

“He doesn’t seem much of the talkative type,” said Lyra.  “Maybe he’s just not used to the move that he had to make over the winter break.”

‘Or maybe he hasn’t made any friends at all, if Rarity’s right about his problems being worse than what we’ve faced,’ Applejack thought.

“I just hope Sunset doesn’t decide to use him as her new…OW!!!”  Applejack slapped Lyra in the back of her head.

“Now listen here.  We know that Sunset did some bad things in the past.  But it’s our responsibility to watch over her and help her make a change for the better.  That’s what Twilight wanted us to do, and we plan on doing it.”

“Then how come we don’t see her with you girls,” asked Lyra.

“I hate to say it, but she’s right,” Bonbon added.  “She’s been hiding a lot and trying to avoid everyone else in the school.  It’s like she doesn’t want anyone to help her.”

“Maybe she’s just scared,” said Fluttershy.  “She was a bully once before the Fall Formal.”

“Well, at least she can experience what it feels like to be mistreated,” said Lyra.

“Lyra, I should just slap you again for saying that.  But I’ll let it slide for once.  Besides, it makes me wonder…”

Rarity continued showing Tidal the school and came up to her favorite room.

“And this here is what I like to call my fashion room.  It’s where I’m in charge of the fashion club, and design various dresses and costumes in my free time, when I’m not at home.”

Tidal rolled his eyes, and Rarity was able to notice that he wasn’t interested in any of it.

‘There has to be a way to open him up,’ she thought.  That’s when she noticed his shirt.  ‘Ah ha!’

“You know, I noticed that your shirt has the moon over the waves at night.  You wouldn’t happen to know where you got it?”

“It was a Christmas gift from Aunt Lulu,” he replied.

“You mean Vice-principal Luna.”  Tidal nodded.  “It’s really nice.”  Rarity placed a figure on her chin.  “I’ll have to keep that design in mind,” she said as she pointed at his shirt.

Tidal just shrugged his shoulders.

“All right then.  Let’s move on-AAAHHHHH!!!!!”  Rarity was grabbed by a boy behind her and swung her around 360 degrees before setting her back down.  She noticed that he had gray skin and black hair, and was wearing a black shirt with a basketball on it.

“Clyde!  You know better than to sneak up on me like that,” Rarity said as she lightly tapped her fist on his chest.

“I figure that I surprise you, since I knew you would get here before I would,” replied Clyde.

“And why is that?”

“Because I called your house to see if you needed a ride.  But you were already gone.”

“AHHH, how sweet of you to check up on me this morning.”

Both of them started at each other for a moment, before someone else decided to clear his throat.

“Oh, excuse me,” Rarity said as she regained her focus.  “Clyde, this is Principal Celestia’s nephew, Tidal”

Clyde extended out his hand to Tidal and said, “Nice to meet you.”

“Same,” he replied as he quickly shook his hand.

“He just transferred here over the winter break,” explained Rarity.

“I’m sure you’re going to like it here,” said Clyde.

Tidal just shrugged his shoulders.  Rarity wasn’t pleased with the response, but kept her composer.

“Clyde dear.  I need to finish up giving him a tour of the school.

“I’ll see you later in gym class?”

“You know it, dear.”

Clyde gave Rarity a kiss on the cheek and went on his way.  Once Clyde was out of view, she turned her direction to Tidal and looked straight at him.

“Now look here.  So far, I have kept my cool while you have been more…more anti-social!  What is wrong with you?”

“Why should you care,” replied Tidal.

“Why?  WHY!  Because your aunt worries for you.  Didn’t you have any friends at your old school?”

“Like I need any.”

“Everyone needs friends in their life.”

“All everyone needs is to be better than everyone else.”

“Now that’s not true.  Maybe that school doesn’t even care, but here, we always care for each other.  Now if you never made any friends before, then that’s going to change.  I know some friends of mine that would be glad to be friends with you.”

“Like the ones that I saw before?  I doubt they want to be friends with me.”

“Well, sure they might be different from each other, but that’s what makes us special.  We’re always there for each other.  And if you want, you can join us for lunch later on and get to know them better.  I guarantee that you will like them.”

Tidal just shrugged his shoulders again.

“Well, come on,” said Rarity.  “There are still places of this school that you need to know if you plan to get around.”

They continued their tour until they came across a darken area.  Tidal looked and saw what looked like a girl with fiery hair and a dark leather jacket.  Rarity noticed what Tidal was looking at and recognized who the girl was.

“Can you excuse me for just a moment.”  Tidal just stood there while Rarity walked over the where the girl was at.  “Sunset Shimmer.  What are you doing over here?”

“Staying in the shadows, what else,” replied Sunset.

“Now that’s no way for you to show the school that you can change.  Twilight gave you this chance, and all you are doing is avoiding everyone all together.”

“Have you seen the students lately?  No one is willing to let me help out, or at least sit next to me.  I don’t even know why Twilight left me here in the first place.”  Sunset looked over Rarity’s shoulder and saw Tidal leaning on the lockers where she left him.  “Who’s that?”

Rarity looked over for a moment and said, “That’s Tidal Blue.  He’s the principal’s nephew.”

“Looks like he doesn’t want to be here,” said Sunset as she saw him just staring at the floor.

“He’s had it rough at his old school.  It might be best to keep your distance from him at best…until we can find out what’s really wrong with him.  And do me one favor.”  Sunset raised an eyebrow as to what she wanted.  “At least join us for lunch one day.”

“So you can keep an eye on me?  There’s no more magic around, so I can’t harm anyone else.”

“I don’t mean it like that.  Perhaps others will be willing to give you a chance if you are with us for once.  Well, I better finish up with his tour.  I’ll see you later.”

Rarity walked back to Tidal and decided to finish up with the tour.  Sunset was wondering about what Rarity said about him and for her to try to make an effort to change for the better.

‘Could he have been treated badly at his old school?’ she thought.  ‘What if there was someone who was just as bad as me at his old school?’

“He’s had it rough.”  Sunset was surprised to hear the voice nearby.  “My sister knows that he’s been picked on, and she hopes that she can change, but I worry that it could be too late for that to happen.”

Sunset knew that it was Luna who was talking to her.

“So you want me to keep my-”

“No,” interrupted Luna.  “I want you to help him.  I know you were once a bully, and now your more of a victim to everyone.  You’ve experienced both sides.  Maybe you can help find out what’s really wrong with him.”

“I think Rarity has that covered,” replied Sunset.

“I’m not so sure she or her friends can do this alone.  You want to learn the meaning of friendship is, right?  Then maybe the best way is to teach it to him.”  Sunset stayed silent.  “I know that the school is still against you for what you did in the past, but I feel something bad is going to happen to him if he doesn’t get better.  If you have to help him in secret, that’s fine by me.  Just help him before it’s too late.”

Sunset can hear the footsteps of Luna walking away.

“How can I help him without the school knowing what I’m doing?”