An Earthling Earth Pony at Celestia's School of Magic: Year One

The viewing of Psychic Calm took place in the auditorium. I sat in the seats with Bright, Hannah, and Summer. Not every student attended, but there were still a lot. There were also many people from who knew where that were present, including some humans. All five alicorns were present in the front rows, as well as the five element bearers who were Princess Twilight’s friends, all the faculty, and a strange human dressed like an old medieval plague doctor. If Psychic Calm was who I suspected, a sibling of the Queen of Nightmares and one of the ponies that Princess Luna entrusted power to, then it wasn’t surprising he had such a turnout. There was no coffin. Psychic Calm’s body sat on a pedestal like he was simply sleeping. All could see him.

Princess Luna took to the stage, standing before the body. She gently touched a hoof to him and then bent down and kissed him on the forehead. She then turned and faced us.

“Thank you all for coming to show your respects to Psychic Calm. This is the second time I have had to stand before a body of one who inherited my power, and the third one such has passed into true death. It has not gotten any easier with each passing, and I do not believe it will get any easier with those who will follow,” she said, grief heavy in her voice.

She walked behind the pedestal and faced us again. “Psychic Calm was born human, a psychologist who often left patients off-put by his seemingly emotionless response to their struggles, but they came to value his lack of judgment for their deeds. He often took on troubled cases with dark histories, humans, and ponies that many would find beyond redemption. Though not all were saved from their darkness, his success rate was astonishing and a testament to his dedication to helping patients overcome their struggles. While many may have sought retribution against these individuals, he sought only peace, and so he claimed his title, Warden of Peace.”

“There is so much I can say about his tenure on Earth, doing the job I granted him, but few here would understand what I am discussing, and I do not want to stray into things that may be kept secret,” Luna continued, she looked at an odd collection of humans and ponies that were gathered together in the front row. “I see that the elite guard has come to carry him home. They are the ones who would care most about such talk, and they already know it in their hearts. I will not trouble this assembly with those matters. I do, however, wish to take this time to thank those guards. They serve faithfully, dedicating almost every moment of their lives without a day off for years, decades in some cases, to keep their charges safe while also acting as advisors, confidants, and errand runners to their charges. It takes a special type of person to fill such a role, and I cannot express my gratitude enough for their work protecting those I consider my descendants.”

That seemed like a horrible job. Never getting a day off? That sounded like a nightmare.

Luna sniffled. “Rest well, Psychic Calm. You chose to rest over immortality, and I cannot fault you for that. May Harmony preserve you instead of the Story.”

That was a strange thing to say. Did he really have the option of immortality? What was that last bit even about? I heard Equestrians reference Harmony before like it was some sentient force, like a god, but what was that about a story? Did it have something to do with the storytellers back on Earth? I hoped I wasn’t the only one completely lost about what she just said.

Luna returned to her seat, and the strange plague doctor human stood up and approached Psychic Calm’s body. He kept his distance and circled behind it before looking at the audience.

“My name is not important, but I am one of those that Luna claims as a descendent. Psychic Calm was a brother to me, even if not by blood. More than that, he was my counselor and friend who helped me get beyond my hate for one of the most influential people in my life.”

He looked at the body again. “When I was under consideration for my position, I held a great deal of hate and resentment for the one I sought the job of, even though I had worked for him for years. I was what you might consider his hunting dog. He would direct me to root out the location of some villain, and I would use my intelligence and cunning to find my prey. I accomplished a lot, but my predecessor still had my ire because he robbed me of getting my justice…no…my revenge against my first prey. As you might understand, it was a major barrier to me getting his job. Psychic Calm counseled me and helped me overcome my illogical hatred for the pony who avenged my sister instead of me.”

He slowly lifted his hands to his face and removed his mask, revealing a pasty white face and bloodshot blue eyes. He pulled back his hood, showing his completely bald head.

“I fear germs, mold, bacteria, disease…all the things that bring death. Strange, I know, considering I came to Equestria to escape the threat of immortality, but it’s true. I rarely remove my mask or any of my other coverings, except only to wash them. I need my protection from all those unseen things,” he said quietly. “This mask even has goggles to protect my eyes. I normally see the world through a tint. Since this may be the last time I see my brother, I wish to look upon him with my vision unfiltered.”

So it continued with people coming to say things about the now-deceased professor. Princesses Celestia and Twilight Sparkle spoke, as did several other professors. Most of those didn’t have stories but talked about how good a pony he was. A few students came up as well, and all of them had stories about how Psychic Calm helped them overcome this or that problem. I was shocked at how little crying there was. The only pony I had seen cry was Luna, and the strange plague doctor man was the only other to shed a tear. Everyone seemed sad, but I was shocked that almost no one had tears. Maybe they had already cried for him earlier that day and had nothing left, but it felt like a betrayal that no one was crying. Most of the professors kept their heads down.

Finally, Headmaster stepped up to do his speech, which would be the last, and we all waited for his words.

He stared at Psychic Calm silently and continued staring for a minute, then another, and then an uncomfortable other, not saying a word. Was he going to speak or not?

“I…I’m sorry. I can’t do this,” he said at last before hastily retreating from the stage and out the door.

Professors Newman and Inkwell exchanged a look between each other and hurried off after him, leaving the other professors, along with the rest of us, still gaping in shock. A moment later, Luna followed after the trio, and then Celestia followed after her. Baxter Stockman then took off after them. The plague doctor quickly followed suit, and then Princess Flurry Heart went after him. The crowd started to mutter.

It was Sweetie Belle who decided to take it upon herself to step forward to the stage.

“Thank you all for coming,” she said to us. “Forgive Headmaster, this seems to have shaken him more than the rest of us and maybe shaken several more than it initially appeared. I must now ask everyone to exit in an orderly fashion, so our guests from Earth can start preparing the body for transit. This wasn’t planned, but I think also giving tomorrow off from class is for the best. Be ready to return to class the day after. Thank you all again for coming and showing your appreciation and respect for Psychic Calm.”

We all started to exit, talking amongst ourselves quietly as we did. Everyone in the previous audience did. Maybe we were all just eager to say anything after sitting silent for so long, as our conversations were not very deep.

“Is Sweetie Belle the vice headmare?” Hannah asked. “I assume that someone is the vice principal or whatever, but they’ve never really said who. She seems to step up a lot.”

“So do Inkwell and Newman,” I said.

“True,” Hannah replied. “They seem to have clearly defined side jobs, though. Inkwell is in charge of clubs, and Newman is the admissions person.”

“Sweetie Belle is a counselor,” I reminded her. “I’m not sure there is a vice headmaster.”

“There should be,” Hannah protested. “Who will be in charge if Headmaster decides to take a week off or something? He seemed pretty upset. He might need more time to mourn.”

“I don’t know. Maybe Neighsay? He was the head of a school board or something way back in the day,” I suggested. “But then again, he didn’t step up just now. I still think it is nobody.”

“Ain’t it all strange like seein’ Headmaster get all emotional?” Bright asked. “Ah ain’t never seen him get upset like that.”

“I guess they were close friends,” Hannah said.

“I know it sounds bad, but I’m glad someone other than Luna got distressed,” I said. “It just felt wrong not to see anyone crying.”

Summer, who had been following close to us, stopped, and a few flicks of flame could be seen coming off her that made other students quickly give her space.

“Maybe some of us are doing our best to keep it together. Did you think of that?” Summer demanded.

I stepped back. “Easy, Summer. I understand. I just felt unnerved that everyone was so calm. I didn’t expect so many eyes to be dry. People should cry when someone dies, don’t you think?”

“Where’s your colt-friend?” Hannah asked her. “Shouldn’t he be here, comforting you?”

Summer’s ears fell. “I haven’t seen him since this morning. He took off without a word. He hasn’t been in his room either. I don’t know where he is, but I know he was very upset. I didn’t know he was close to the professor. He never said a word about him all the time we’ve been dating, even though I told him that I had a counseling session with Psychic Calm.”

“Sounds like he’s keeping secrets from you,” Hannah said smugly.

“Hey! Lay off the guy,” Bright protested. “Ya’ve had a burr in yer tail about him since before ya met him. He makes Summer happy and treats her right; that’s all that matters. Ya don’t need to like him, but ya can’t be constantly raggin’ on him ta Summer.”

I squinted as I looked across the fields towards the dorms. “Well, I just spotted him. He’s going into the fourth-year dorm building.”

Summer frowned. “I don’t think he knows any fourth-year students besides the head of our art club, but they were in attendance here.”

“You don’t think he’s going to Psychic Calm’s office, do you?” Hannah asked. “Not ragging on him. It’s the only thing there other than the students.”

“Runnin’ kinda late ta be doin’ that if he were,” Bright said. “If he were tryin’ to be all sneaky-like, he should have done it when everypone was still attendin’ the viewin’, not after we are gettin’ out.”

“It’s still the only thing that makes sense,” Hannah asserted.

My curiosity had a hold on me. “We should check. He shouldn’t be trying to sneak in there.”

Summer looked unhappy. “I don’t like the idea of spying on Hail.”

“Don’t you want to know what he’s up to, why he wasn’t at the viewing, and what his connection to Psychic Calm is?” Hannah asked.

“Well…yeah…” Summer conceded.

“Then let’s go,” I said as I started walking towards the dorm.

A new mystery was afoot.