Night Class

Vice Principal Luna gave Sunflowers the key for the basement storage room before taking off towards the administration wing with Star Gazer in tow.

Walking through the school’s hallways and staircases after dark was strange. Lights were only on were their group came through, shrouding all adjacent hallways in deep shadows. And it was quiet, unlike during the day when, even during class periods, there was always a constant hum, people walking around, and general background noise. Schools just weren’t meant to be seen at night, it seemed.

All those dark deserted classrooms that could hide just about anything right now.

Sunset considered for a second or two to tell her co-nerds a little ghost story to try and scare them a bit, but she realized that they probably weren’t going to appreciate that. And she was, after all, making an effort.

The basement wasn’t a very inviting place during the day, but it definitely looked like a horror film set late at night. The ceiling lights in the hallways were, in Sunset’s opinion, sadly lacking compared to the neon lamps upstairs. The ceilings being a few inches lower contributed in making the corridor appear like some primal cave.

The storage room where the telescopes were supposedly stored was the second door down a corridor to the left. Sunset waited impatiently while Sunflowers was unlocking the door, pondering countless wasted opportunities for mischief. Who would have thought that you could be granted a key to some unclear storage room just for being in a nerdy club?

“Spooky,” commented Sweetie Drops when Sunflowers had finally managed to open the door.

“There’s no need to be worried,” Micro Chips hurried to reassure her, and Sunset rolled her eyes. It was one thing to make an effort, but the awkward nerd courting was getting more and more irritating.

She only realized that Sunflowers was standing right in front of her, glaring. “Just so you’re clear, we’re no happier to have you here than you are. So at least either act like a decent human being or sod off, okay?”

Anger flared up inside Sunset Shimmer, and she welcomed it like an old friend. Who did this kid think she was?

Making an effort, don’t forget.

With unhuman—actually, she thought—willpower she managed to stay calm and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry if I offended you,” she said with just the smallest amount of sarcasm in her voice.

“Are you,” Sunflowers said coolly.

“Come on, Sunflowers,” Micro Chips called. “Let’s focus on the telescopes.”

“Yeah, let’s,” Sunset Shimmer agreed.

“Just so you know, I wasn’t supporting you, just the observation,” Micro Chips said in a strained voice before abruptly turning away from Sunset Shimmer and heading into the dark storage room. Wondering what that kid’s problem was, Sunset made sure to be the last one to enter.

The light in the storage room was even worse than out in the hallway, due to the storage being cramped with several rows of shelves casting the tight corridors in between in deep shadows. As she hurried to keep up with the others, who seemed to know exactly where they were going in this silly maze, Sunset glanced at all the stuff resting on those shelves. Boxes filled with old newspapers, crates, cable drums, toolboxes, a sledgehammer, pipes, rows of books between unclear metal parts, and—ironically—a collection of disconnected ceiling lamps. And who knows what else was hiding in the shadows. It smelled faintly of dust and old paper.

Sunflowers led the troupe to the backmost corridor where three long cases where lying on a shelf. Sunflowers, Micro Chips and Sweetie Drops each took one, while Sunset was put on door and light duty.

Just as they were about to leave the storage room, someone called from the corridor outside, “Who’s in there?”

All four students jumped, and Sweetie Drops almost clung to Sunflowers’ arm.

“Come out slowly!” the voice called. “I have a weapon, and I’m arrestin’ you for trespassin’!”

Freaking Clay Jug! Sunset almost laughed at how startled she had been just for a short moment. Of course the basement was the janitor’s realm, even though she was slightly surprised that the man was still at work. Then again, what do I know about what that guy does all day?

“It’s alright, Mister Jug, it’s only us!” Micro Chips called and took the lead as they left the storage room.

Clay Jug, an almost bald man wearing a dark grey overall, was standing at the corridor’s entrance, a wrench in his hand. “What do you want? You’ve no business bein’ down here!”

“Miss Luna—“ Micro Chips started.

“I don’t care about your excuses,” Clay Jug snapped. “School’s out for today, and you’ve no business bein’ here. Now get outta here and annoy someone else!”

“Mister Jug, we—“

“You kids think you’re funny, don’t you,” Clay Jug growled. “Makin’ fun of me. Makin’ a mess of the bathrooms. Destroyin’ the furniture, breakin’ windows, yellin’ and screamin’ and runnin’ in the hallways. And now you’re even comin’ at me on my knockin’-off time!” He slowly walked towards the group of students who inadvertently huddled up a little closer.

“Look, Mister Jug,” Sunflowers said in her firmest voice, “there seems to be a misunderstanding. We’re here on behalf of Vice Principal Luna to fetch the telescopes for the Astronomy Club. If you won’t believe my words, I’m sure Vice Principal Luna can explain everything to you.” She waved the key in front of the janitor. “She gave us the key to the storage room. We’ll fetch the telescopes and be out of your business in no time.”

“Vice Principal Luna, you say,” Clay Jug said. “I’ll ask her about that. And if her answer isn’t to my liking then God help you!” He slowly stepped aside and freed the way back to the stairs, still eyeing them suspiciously. They walked past him one by one “And stay out of my way,” he shouted after them.

“Can you believe this guy,” Sunset mumbled to herself.

“He just hates everyone because he’s old and hasn’t achieved anything in his live other than being a janitor,” Sunflowers said dismissively. “It doesn’t matter what he says. We could even go to Miss Luna and complain about him yelling at us like that. I’m sure he’s not supposed to do that as a janitor.”

“When I was a freshman I was super scared of him,” Sweetie Drops said. “Like in my first week or so he yelled at me because someone slammed a door somewhere down the hallway, but he was dead certain it had been me.”

“Yeah, I’m always trying to avoid him too,” Micro Chips said. “He’s got anger issues for sure.”

On their way back they went more slowly, apparently taking all the care in the world to not drop their precious telescopes. When they were back in the first floor hallway they had to wait for Sunset to switch off the light before they could head to the stairs to the second floor because she couldn’t find the blasted switch. Again they had to slow down because the only light in that hallway was coming from the staircase ahead of them.

Wasn’t that light on befo—

Before Sunset could finish her thought, a muffled rattling suddenly sounded from the right, probably from one of the classrooms. Sweetie Drops jumped so hard she nearly dropped the telescope she was carrying; the others, although more composed, also visibly started.

“What was that?” whispered Sweetie Drops.

Probably someone trying to be funny, Sunset thought. My money is on mister computer nerd preparing his quote unquote simulation. She grinned to herself. Who would’ve thought.

“Probably just the plumbing,” Micro Chips tried to explain, failing to sound convincing. “This edifice is from the fifties after all.”

“Plumbing doesn’t sound like chains!” Sweetie Drops insisted.

“Maybe the janitor is working on something?”

“Maybe he’s sitting in some closet rattling with some old rusty chains, you mean,” Sunflowers snorted. “I wouldn’t put it behind this weird old guy.”

Sunset chuckled. Sweetie Drops said, “Yeah, sure, Clay Jug has nothing better to do than try to scare us.”

“As punishment for disturbing him,” Sunset chimed in. She was pretty certain that Sunflowers was pulling Sweetie Drops’ leg. I deserve a little fun too.

“Very funny, you two!”

“Whatever it was, it doesn’t concern us,” Sunflowers said, and Sunset had to give her credit for almost sounding calm.

“Can we just go?” Sweetie Drops whined. Micro Chips freed a hand from underneath the telescope’s case and gave her an awkward pat on the back. Sunset shook her head and started for the staircase door where she waited for the others.

The three others hurried upstairs as fast as they could with their precious cargo. Just to keep her mind off Micro Chips and Sweetie Drops flirting, Sunset thought about the noises she had heard. It had definitely sounded like rattling chains, not like plumbing. But there were no chains in Canterlot High School, especially not in the classrooms.

So, what was it?

Probably nothing. Some Nightmare Night prank.

It wasn’t like the school was built on some zebra burial ground or something.

On the second floor landing Sweetie Drops, who was leading their group, stopped so suddenly that the following club members almost bumped into her, interrupting Sunset’s musings.

“What the hell?” Sunflowers asked.

“There’s someone standing in the hallway,” Sweetie Drops whispered. “I can see his shadow!”

“No there isn’t,” Micro Chips said and gently pushed past Sweetie Drops.

“Wait!” Sweetie Drops hissed, but Micro Chips tore the door open, stepped into the hallway and looked around—

—and almost immediately jumped to the right, away from whatever shadow Sweetie Drops had seen. Sweetie Drops shrieked, but suddenly Micro Chips snickered.

“What’s so funny?” Sweetie Drops demanded.

“It’s just Billy Bones,” Micro Chips explained, still laughing.

“Who??”

“The biology skeleton?” Sunflowers asked and also stepped into the hallway. Sweetie Drops and Sunset followed her. There was indeed a skeleton hanging from the wall right next to the staircase door.

“Yeah, it’s definitely him,” Micro Chips said, pointing at the skeleton’s face. “That’s the spot where he got into a scuffle. Right there on the cheekbone.”

“Don’t you tell me that’s a real skeleton!” Sweetie Drops cried.

“It’s not,” Sunflowers said. “It’s made from plastic of whatever. They’d never have a real skeleton for biology class—gross!”

“Sure,” Micro Chips agreed sheepishly. “It’s just something Dex and I once thought of… see, there’s this bump in the arm, he probably fell over at some point, and we made up this story about him… it’s silly.”

“See?” Sunflowers turned to Sweetie Drops. “Just the decorations committee going crazy. Let’s head back upstairs, and maybe try not to get spooked by your own shadow again.”

“It’s still a freaking skeleton,” Sweetie Drops mumbled. “Skeletons are creepy. Who’d put that up in the hallway?” But she nonetheless complied and followed the others back to the club room.

When they reached the club room, Luna and Star Gazer had not yet returned. While Sunflowers and Sunset made themselves comfortable in some chairs, Sweetie Drops took to pacing up and down the room.

“Just how long does it take Dex to copy some program?” Micro Chips wondered.

“Geez, could you stop that?” Sunflower said to Sweetie Drops before she had even completed her second round.

“Something is going on down there, and you’ll excuse me for worrying!” Sweetie Drops snapped.

“It was only the plumbing, just as Micro Chips said.”

“That didn’t sound like freaking plumbing!”

“Guys…” Sunset tried to calm them down.

“You stay out of this!” Sweetie Drops hissed at her. Sunset felt her anger rise yet again.

Just as she was about to jump up and give that chick a piece of her mind, the door opened and Vice Principal Luna returned, without Star Gazer. “Ah, you are all back already, very good, It just occurred to me that the school owns at least one, or possibly two star maps which we could put to use tonight. They would be in the map room. Sweetie Drops, if you could go fetch them, please?“

“Not on my own,” Sweetie Drops replied immediately, her eyes white open. “Miss,” she added.

Vice Principal Luna looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “And what appears to be the problem?”

“It’s spooky down there!”

Luna sighed. “Miss Shimmer, would you kindly accompany Sweetie Drops and make sure that no evil ghost attacks her?”

“Sure thing.”

“Sunflower and Micro Chips, please wait here for their return,” Luna said. “And mine. Star Gazer and I are almost done preparing the new telescope.”

Sunflowers just nodded, lounging in her chair. Micro Chips looked like he was going to volunteer for the basement trip, but eventually settled down, looking somewhat deflated. Luna hurried off, and Sunset led Sweetie Drops to the stairs again.

“I’m not crazy, you know,” Sweetie Drops said.

“Um, sorry? I didn’t say anything.”

“But you were thinking, you and the other two. Crazy Sweetie Drops believes in horoscopes and ghosties. But I’m not crazy!”

“Whatever you say,” Sunset said.

“Look, I know as well as the next person that horoscopes are a scam! But I’ve heard what I’ve heard!”

“Alright, alright, can you drop it already?” Sunset pleaded. “I don’t really care what you believe in. And if it’s any consolation, I heard something down there too.”

Sweetie Drops turned in front of Sunset and faced her, her arms crossed. “And what do you think it was?”

“I honestly have no idea. Maybe the plumbing, maybe Clay Jug. It doesn’t really matter.”

“Pfth, plumbing. How big a fool does Micro Chips think I am?”

Way less than you think, Sunset didn’t say.

All was quiet in the first floor hallway. Sweetie Drops nonetheless tiptoed past the classroom doors as quickly and silent as possible. Sunset didn’t really care. She was still convinced that there was nothing here.

When they had just reached the basement door, the rattling started again.

Sweetie Drops shrieked and instinctively clung to Sunset’s arm. As instinctively, Sunset removed her hands at once and shoved her away. “Stop that.”

“But there it was again!” Sweetie Drops yelped, her eyes wide with barely suppressed terror.

“It’s probably nothing,” Sunset repeated. Nothing but a crazy janitor, or a nerd trying to be funny.

As she looked back into the dark hallway which was only illuminated now from the staircase light, she noticed that one of the classroom doors wasn’t fully closed. It was easy to see by the way the faint staircase light was reflected by the slightly tilted door. It was probably the one where the chain rattling had come from. This particular ghost, or whatever else he intended to be, was either very dumb or trying to be very clever.

“What do we have there,” she murmured.

“What?” Sweetie Drops sounded as if she was on the brink of panicking. “Is something there?”

“That door is open,” Sunset pointed out. “Isn’t that where the rattling came from?”

Definitely someone trying to be funny, she thought. But now she also wanted to see what Poindexter had prepared for them. And just how scared Sweetie Drops would get.

“So what?” Sweetie Drops asked in a shrill voice. “I don’t care what’s in there!”

“Let’s at least take a look to make sure there’s nobody in there,” Sunset suggested innocently.

“How about no?” Sweetie said. “How about instead we return upstairs and tell Miss Luna something is seriously wrong down here?”

“I’ll go,” Sunset announced. “You can wait here and be quiet.”

Sunset tiptoed back along the hallway until she stood right in front of the door. Now that she was close enough she saw a faint light shining out through the crack of the door. She held her breath and listened, but from inside the classroom there was nothing to be heard. She quickly pulled the door open and stepped inside. To her mild surprise, Sweetie Drops followed suit immediately, almost bumping into her when she stopped right behind the door.

The classroom was almost dark, only illuminated by two candles standing on the teacher’s desk. The light was barely enough to recognize a sheet of paper that had been fastened to the blackboard, and to read what was written on it in some brown or dark red substance.

YOU ALL LOOK SO TASTY

That’s actually rather silly than scary, Sunset thought with a hint of disappointment. “It’s just a sign.”

“And what’s that next to the candles?” Sweetie Drops asked. She again held onto Sunset’s arm and pointed.

“Just a cupcake—“ Sunset said but was cut short by Sweetie Drops’ gasp.

“There’s an eyeball on top of it!” she screamed.

“Would you calm down!” Sunset snapped. Her ear hurt from Sweetie Drops’ shrill scream. She pulled away from Sweetie Drops and approached the teacher’s desk with the spooky decoration.

Sweetie Drops held her back. “Let’s get outta here”, she urged. “We’ll tell Vice Principal Luna that it’s not safe. She can call the police.”

Sunset sighed. There was no way she was going to get an opportunity to examine the scene, not with Sweetie Drops practically dragging her out of the classroom. She was sure that somebody had set this up, and she was curious what else there might be. It was still funny how upset this little setup had made Sweetie Drops. Here we go.

“Stop right there!” a voice cut through the empty hallway just as they left the classroom. “What do you think you’re doing here?”

“Miss Harshwhinny,” Sweetie Drops gasped.

“And? Would you care to answer my question, Sweetie Drops?”

“We’re… we…” she stuttered.

“We’re with the Astronomy Club,” Sunset explained. “Vice Principal Luna asked us to retrieve a star map from the basement, and so…”

“And did she also ask you to create bedlam and interrupt my work? Mind you, after she sang your praises and told me how I wouldn’t even notice you were here. What do you have to say for yourselves?” She looked Sweetie Drops over but quickly focused her gaze on Sunset Shimmer. “Not that I’m overly surprised to see you involved, Sunset Shimmer.”

“We had nothing to do with the noise,” Sweetie Drops said. “We don’t know where it came from!”

“Of course you don’t,” Miss Harshwhinny said coldly. “You never know anything about anything.” She narrowed her eyes, still staring at Sunset Shimmer. “I shall see Vice Principal Luna about this on Monday. There will be consequences, that I guarantee you.” She turned on the spot and headed for the staircase.

At the door she looked back once more. “If I have to leave my office again because you are causing more uproar, then God help you. Are we clear?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

They waited for another minute to make sure Miss Harshwhinny wasn’t in the staircase anymore before setting off for the clubroom.

Sunset took the lead again, with Sweetie Drops way too close behind her for her comfort. Sweetie Drops urged her to keep the lights on in the staircase, just in case. Sunset was impressed by the effect Poindexter’s little arrangement had had. Just one stupid muffin…

“She’s way scary,” Sweetie Drops whispered. “It’s like, I never get into trouble. But Miss Harshwhinny still always makes me feel guilty.”

“She just hates everyone,” Sunset said. “Regardless of what you do or don’t do.” At least I always made sure there was a reason for her to be mad.

Silently they continued on back to the clubroom.