Canterlot Academy Trials

As they continued to play, Nebula would notice a young hippogriff filly in the audience. The very same one whom he had saved during the attack. The one who had lost her father. She had been listening to them play music and was actively humming along in the audience.

His expression softened as soon as he saw her, and he’d continue playing without a hitch.

Meanwhile…

“Seems as if the local band has decided to play,” Fang commented from where he stood in a nearby cafe. “And Nebula is the forefront of it.”

“Doesn’t surprise me,” Spearklip added from nearby, “But I also heard that our new friend has decided to stay behind, huh?”

“It appears so, yes,” Fang replied with a sigh.

They had recently been informed of the fact that Lee had chosen to stay behind in her home territory of Wukong. As much as they were happy for her, they couldn’t deny how they felt inside over it.

“I’ll be frank,” the dog man continued, “It’s great knowing that she’s settled her issues at home with her family, but I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t miss her.”

“Agreed, yeah,” the zebra mare added, “Things were pretty lively with that monkey lady around. Guess we’ll have to restructure our team before our next mission, huh?”

Fang nodded. “Correct. Though I have a feeling that it will be a while before we get a new mission.”

“What makes you say that?”

“After a major international event, I wouldn’t be surprised if criminal activity died down for a while due to both nations being on high alert. Caninia and Abyssinia are still recovering from the planned terrorist attack by Odu as well.”

“Ah, yeah that’s right,” Spear agreed, “Well in that case, I can see us getting some off time especially thanks to the holidays being a thing. Planning on doing anything special?”

Fang chuckled with his tail wagging. “Hmph. I’m not much for the festivities personally. After dealing with celebrating every single one of my sibling’s birthdays, it’s become tiresome to remember each and every date.”

“I hear that. Back home, we only really acknowledged the important ones,” Spear reminisced with her hoof on the table, “But not everyone really thought the same way when it came to that stuff.”

“Interesting…I’m curious to know more about your tribe, Spear. You haven’t really discussed it very much.”

Spear rubbed her hoof against the back of her neck. “Yeah…I don’t really feel like getting into that yet.” Then she decided to change the subject. “...oh yeah. Have you seen Rufus around lately?”

“Ah, yes. I have--he’s been hanging out with a goblin saleswoman that has recently appeared in town,” Fang signed and looked away for a moment before a smile crept onto his face. “I have a feeling that he’s spending time with her as a way to cope.”

Spear remembered the exact details of Uziel’s grisly death and how shaken Rufus was after it all. “...yeah, I get you. Hope he’s able to get along well and move on.”

“I think he’ll be fine,” Fang replied, “That yak may not wish to admit it, but he’s just like his clan: Their hearts are tougher than any weapon you can find in reality.”

Meanwhile, at the goblin woman’s stand…

Rufus had just finished helping Matriel unload the last of her materials for her that were stuffed in heavy wooden barrels.

“Here ya go, ma’am.”

“Thank you, dear. But I really can manage from this point onwards,” Matriel urged him, “Go on. Have some fun. It’s your winter break is it not?”

“Y-yeah it is, but…” Rufus looked around, desperately trying to find something else to do, but was cut short by the goblin woman putting a hand on the side of his face.

“It’s okay,” she looked at him with gentle eyes, “I know you’re still hurting, but you need to keep going, okay? That’s what she’d want…”

Rufus looked at the older goblin woman and shut his eyes before nodding. “...yeah, you’re right. I should go take some time off, huh?”

“Yes,” Matriel agreed, “The heart won’t heal unless you allow it to. Don’t force yourself to feel any differently about it, understand?”

“...I understand, ma’am. Thanks.”

With that, the yak left her alone and went on to hang out with his friends at the nearby cafe. It seemed as if everything was stable and calm...for now.