Under the Blue Moon

Chapter 3 – Blue Moon Learning

Rarity just finished giving Tidal the tour of the school and was returning to Principal Celestia’s office.  It was at that time that Celestia was finished with Tidal’s class schedule.  Rarity knocked on the door and slowly opened it.

“We’re back.”

“Good timing.  I just finished with Tidal’s class schedule.”  Celestia handed Tidal a piece of paper.  “Make sure you know where you need to go.  I’ll escort you to your first class so I can explain to the teacher that you will be in his homeroom class.”

“OK.”  Tidal went outside to look over his schedule and a map of the layout.

“Rarity, can I talk with you for a moment.”  She nodded and made sure the door was closed.

“I can already see that you want to know about Tidal from my point of view,” said Rarity.

“And?”

Rarity let out a sigh.  “This might be tougher than I thought.  The boy has never made any friends, and feels like he never will.  I’m hoping that he will join us one day for lunch, but I’m not certain I can break through him.  Do you know any hobbies or interests that he has?”

“All I know is that he’s into anything fantasy, and has a love for dragons.”

“Dragons and fantasy.  If only Twilight and Spike were here.  Perhaps they could reach out to him.”

Celestia placed a hand on her chin.  “Maybe Sunset Shimmer could help.  She’s from the same world as Twilight.”

“I doubt that.  I already found her in the dark hallway.  She’s too worried about how the school is treating her since the Fall Formal.  I’ve already requested that she keep her distance from Tidal for now.  I don’t know what else I can do at this time.”

“Well, I thank you for at least trying.  I just hope things can get better for him somehow.”

“Well, if you need any help with him, you know where to find me.”  Rarity opened the door, waved at Celestia, and walked out, closing the door.

Celestia went to finish up on a few things before heading out to escort Tidal to his first class.  As she was leaving her office, she noticed Ms. Raven working at her desk.

“Ms. Raven, can you meet up with Miss Cheerilee and see if you can get the keys to the book storage room.  I need you to get the books that are used for these classes.  I need to escort Tidal Blue to his first class.”

“Certainly, Principal Celestia.  I’ll get right on it.”  She took the list from Celestia and made her way to Miss Cheerilee’s classroom.

Celestia and Tidal started to make their way to his first class, Geometry.  Tidal was really good in his math classes that he already started with Algebra I for his freshman year.  When they arrived at the classroom, Celestia walked in and explained to the teacher about the new student.  Tidal also walked in and looked at the students in the classroom.  While all he saw were new faces, he recognized two of the students in the back, Lyra and Bonbon.

The teacher got up from his seat and said, “Class, we have a new student here.”

Celestia took over.  “This is my nephew, Tidal Wave Blue.  He will be attending our school, so please be supported with his time here.”  Celestia was able to see Lyra pointing to an empty desk next to her.  “Miss Heartstrings, can you share your book with Tidal for today.  I have yet to get his books ready for him.”

“Yes, Principal Celestia,” replied Lyra.

Celestia motioned to Tidal to take the empty seat in the back.  Tidal walked down and sat next to where Lyra was.  As he was getting some of his supplies out, Lyra decided to scoot her desk next to his so that they can share the book together.

“Looks like we get to share homeroom together,” whispered Lyra.  Bonbon looked over at them and gave a wink to Tidal.

The bell rang, signaling the start of classes.

“Alright students.  Today we will be reviewing what we learned from last semester before we move forward.”

As their first class was coming to an end, everyone was getting ready to leave the classroom.  Lyra moved her desk back to where it was and asked Tidal, “So what do you think about the school so far?”

“It’s OK.”

“Oh there is so much more to experience, that’s for sure,” said Bonbon.

“Whatever.”

Lyra and Bonbon knew that he wasn’t much of a talkative person.  They looked at each other and nodded.

“Say Tidal, would you like to join us for lunch later one?” asked Bonbon.

“Yea, we can introduce you to some of our friends,” added Lyra.

“I’ll think about it,” replied Tidal plainly.

The class bell finally rang and everyone was leaving the classroom.  Tidal grabbed his book bag and made his way out.  That was when Principal Celestia and Ms. Raven were waiting for him with his books.

“We already have your books for your classes, but I’m still working on finding a locker for you to use,” explained Celestia.

“That’s fine,” replied Tidal and took the books and placed them in his book bag.  He had a side carrying book bag that he carried around his shoulder and body.  He took his book bag and made his way to his other classes.

It was lunchtime, and the five girls decided to sit together and talk about what they did for the winter break.

“I can’t believe you finally got yourself a boyfriend, Rarity,” said Applejack.

“Yea, and in such a short time,” added Rainbow Dash.

Rarity sighed.  “I know.  It’s like a match made in heaven.”

“Yea.  Just don’t get carried away with him.  We need him on our basketball team,” said Rainbow Dash.  “Besides, I want to know who this new student is that you were showing around the school earlier.”

“His name is Tidal Blue,” explained Rarity.  “And from what I have noticed, he’s had a hard time at his old school.  Never made any friends.  I was hoping that he would join us, but I don’t know where he is.”

“Let me see.”  Pinkie stood on the chair and placed a hand over her eyes like a sailor and started to rotate around a few times, scooping out the area.  After she stopped and sat down, she said, “Nope, no sign of him anywhere.”

“Maybe he’s with Lyra and Bonbon,” said Applejack.  “I’ve ask them to help him out in making some friends if they see him again.”

“I’m surprised that you would do that so soon,” said Rarity.

“Well, after you told me how rough it was at his old school, and the fact that the girls have already met him on his way over here, I figure they could help us out,” explained Applejack.  “Besides, it might be hard to help both him and Sunset at the same time.”

“Speaking of which, look who’s coming to join us,” said Rainbow Dash and she was looking at the fiery haired girl walking towards them.

“OK if I join you?” asked Sunset.

“By all means,” responded Rarity.  Sunset took a seat next to the other girls.  “It’s nice that you took my advice and join us.”

“Just so you know, everyone has been glaring at me this whole day,” said Sunset.  “I don’t think anyone is willing to accept me anymore.”

“Nonsense,” replied Rarity.  “You just need to give it some time and it will happen.”

As they were about to have their lunches, Lyra and Bonbon were walking by them and stopped for a moment.

“Hey Applejack, you’ve seen Tidal anywhere?” asked Bonbon.

“Yea, we were hoping that he would join us,” added Lyra.

“Nope.  Haven’t seen him around here,” answered Applejack.

“Rarity was hoping that he would join us for lunch as well,” said Fluttershy.

“Maybe Sunset scared him off,” said Lyra.

Applejack stared straight at Bonbon.  She saw this and responded by smacking Lyra in the back of the head.

“OW!  Why did you do that, Bonbon?”

“Because I ordered her to do so,” replied Applejack.

“Now that’s just mean,” said Lyra.

“Hey, at least give Sunset a chance,” said Rainbow Dash.  “Unless you want to be like her.”

Lyra opened her mouth to say something, but decided to keep quiet.

“Actually, I saw him walk outside and sit on the front steps,” said Sunset.  “That’s where he’s having lunch.”

“Oh my.  Wouldn’t he get cold out there?” asked Fluttershy.

“I think he’s used to it.  He did say that he was from New Hampshire,” said Bonbon.

“Then maybe what Principal Celestia said was true,” said Rarity.

Lyra and Bonbon decided to sit down next to them.

“What you mean?” asked Applejack.

“She told me that Tidal was bullied at his old school, but it was nothing that Sunset did,” explained Rarity.  “No offense.”

“None taken.”

“Somehow, they got the whole school on their side against him.”

“They?  You mean more than one bully?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“I think so.  I didn’t have time to get all of the details, but I think this became someone’s personal vendetta.”

Lyra said, “Yea, just like-” Everyone was glaring at her.  “Never mind.”

“If only we can help him out.  Make him see that we’re not like that other school he was in,” said Bonbon.

Pinkie Pie stood up and pointed up a finger.  “I know.  Let’s give him a ‘Let’s be best, best, best, best, best friends for life’ party!”

“Pinkie dear.  I know you like to throw parties, but I don’t think he’s a party person,” said Rarity.

“He has to be one.  Everyone loves parties.  Even on birthdays.”

That’s when Sunset had an idea.  “Pinkie, do you know when his birthday is?”

“Nope.  But I can find out.”

“Well you better make it fast, because I think it’s during this month.”

“How do you know that?” asked Applejack.

“I’m sure that Principal Celestia has put you up to the task, Rarity, because Vice Principal Luna did something like that to me.  And she said that his 16th birthday is in a few weeks.”

“Oh my gosh!  Sweet sixteen!” said Pinkie with a wide grin.  “Oh wait, that’s for girls.  What would that be for guys?”

“Well, it would be that he can get his driver’s license, that’s for sure,” said Applejack.

“Then let’s make it a-”

Rainbow Dash covered Pinkie’s mouth.  “Let’s just hold up on the title until later on.  For now, we need him to join us for once.”

Rarity looked at Lyra and Bonbon and said, “Say, do you two plan to walk home after school?”

“As long as the sidewalks are fine, which is looking that way,” answered Lyra.  “Why?”

“See if he’ll walk with you two back home, since his house is along the way.  Maybe you can get him to open up, since you have a class with him.”

“We can do that,” replied Bonbon.

“I’m just wondering, but how can we get him to join us for lunch.  I mean any of us,” said Fluttershy.

“Let me deal with that,” answered Sunset.  “Since I’ve seen where he likes to go to for lunch, I’ll make sure he comes over here instead.”  She looked at Lyra.  “And I’ll make sure I don’t do anything bad to him, OK?”

Lyra just stared and blinked.

Applejack looked at Lyra and Bonbon.  “Listen.  If we can get him to join us for lunch, it might be best that you two sit with us as well.  As long as we can learn more about him, the better we can help him, right?”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

As the girls finished up lunch, the bell rang, and everyone went to throw away their trash and head on back to their classes.  Sunset decided to speak with Rarity for a moment as they walked out.

“Rarity, I have a confession to make.”

“Sunset, you are willing to talk to me if it makes you feel better.”

“I know.  But I was just thinking of this today.  What I did before the Fall Formal was to end friendships so that I can take over the school and use them to take over my own world.  I know that Twilight was able to rebuild the friendships that I destroyed, but I would have never thought that someone could get others on their side just to bully one kid.”

“I understand, dear.  There are some bad things out there that don’t even need magic to get what they want done.  All they need is to share a common goal.  I think once we can understand Tidal’s past, maybe we can get a clear picture as to what he’s gone through and how we can help.”

“Then I guess our goals are clear.”

“Indeed they are, my dear.”  Rarity placed her arm around her shoulder and said, “I think you might be starting a new path to friendship.  If Twilight was here, she would be smiling right now.”

Sunset just replied with a small grin.

As school came to an end, Tidal went to Principal Celestia’s office to wait for her and Luna to go home.  As he was looking over some of his assignments, Lyra and Bonbon walked in.

“Tidal, we were wondering if you would be here,” said Bonbon.

“We were hoping that you would like to walk with us on home,” explained Lyra.  “Your house is along the way, and you don’t have to walk by yourself, or wait some time before your aunts are ready to head home.”

Celestia hear this and made her way to the opened doorway.  “I think that would be a good idea.  You do have the key to the house.  And we are going to be here a while.”

“I guess.”  He got up and grabbed his book bag and placed the strap over his shoulder.

Bonbon noticed that it was heavy and asked.  “Principal Celestia, does he have a locker he can use?”

“I’m still looking into that, since your homeroom teacher didn’t have any that were not in use.  And I’m trying to find one that he can work with between classes.

“He can share with mine for the time being,” said Bonbon.

“You sure about that?” asked Lyra.

“Better mine than yours.  You have a lot of stuff in yours.  I got more space in mine.”

“True,” replied Lyra with a nod.

“You don’t have any problem with sharing, do you?” asked Celestia.  Bonbon shook her head.  “Then you can share lockers until I find one for him to use.”

“Come on.  Any books you don’t need for today, you can leave them in my locker.”

They went to their lockers, which were next to each other.

“You know the combination setup, right?” asked Bonbon.  Tidal nodded.  “26, 10, 2.  That’s the combination.”

Tidal went to the dial and turned it right for three full turns and stopped at 26.  Then he turned it left for one full turn and stopped at 10.  Then he finally turned it right and stopped at 2.  He lifted the handle and opened the locker door.

“See, that was easy.  You can put your books on the bottom.  I always put mine on the top shelf.”

He started to place the books he didn’t needed for today and kept the ones he needed in his book bag.  As he placed it on his shoulder, it felt lighter than before.  As he was about to close the locker door, he saw some pictures of Lyra and Bonbon together.

“We’ve been besties for a long time,” said Lyra.

“Tidal, did you ever had any friend before?” asked Bonbon.

Tidal was quiet for a moment as he looked down.  “No.”

“How come?”

“I…rather not talk about it.”

“That’s OK,” said Lyra.  “You don’t have to tell us if you don’t feel like it.”

Tidal closed the locker door.  “I’m ready to go.”  He started to walk away.

Lyra and Bonbon started to follow, knowing that this was going to be a challenge.  But they were willing to make an effort to be his first friends.