Solar Eclipse

As the morning sun crept through the curtains, Nerlz was already up, quietly slipping out of bed to avoid waking Sunburst. The handsome orange stallion was still sound asleep, his chest rising and falling rhythmically, his mane adorably tousled from the night. Nerlz glanced at him for a moment, feeling warmth bloom in his chest. It was early, 5 AM, but he thought it would be nice to take a bath and indulge himself a little before the day’s lessons.

Nerlz crept to the bathroom, careful not to make a sound, and started cleaning out the tub just in case. He gathered his essentials from his bag, but as he rifled through the contents, his cheeks flushed when his hoof grazed over a “Relaxer Toy” he'd forgotten was there. Quickly moving it aside, Nerlz selected a lavender-mango-scented bath bomb he’d been saving for a special occasion. Today felt like just the right moment.

With a flick of his horn, Nerlz tested the water’s temperature, ensuring it was perfectly warm. He stepped in carefully, allowing the bath bomb to dissolve in the tub with a gentle fizz, releasing its soothing scent into the air. As he sank into the warm water, he sighed, feeling the tension in his body melt away. His thoughts drifted back to the first time he and Sunburst had bonded over their shared passion for teaching and learning. It was one of the many things that had drawn them closer together. Nerlz smiled softly at the memory, allowing himself a few moments to savor the peace and quiet.

After about 20 minutes, Nerlz stood and showered to rinse off before heading to the mirror to brush his teeth and tie his mane into a neat ponytail. Once he was ready, he packed his teaching materials into his bag, making sure to include a few bits just in case. His morning routine now complete, Nerlz decided to make breakfast for Sunburst. After all, Sunburst had made hashbrowns the day before; it was only fair to return the favor.

He hummed softly to himself as he prepared the pancake batter, his magic flipping pancakes in the skillet. The delicious smell soon filled the room, wafting through the air and finding its way to the sleeping stallion across the hall. Sunburst stirred in his bed, groaning softly as he rolled over and rubbed his eyes. The aroma of breakfast roused him, and he blinked groggily, adjusting his glasses with his magic as he sat up.

Peeking out of the bedroom, Sunburst caught sight of Nerlz at the stove, humming a soft tune as his tail swished back and forth. A mischievous grin spread across Sunburst’s face. Quietly, he slipped out of bed and padded over to Nerlz, being careful not to make a sound. When he was right behind him, he leaned in and playfully nipped at Nerlz’s neck.

Nerlz let out a startled squeak, nearly dropping the spatula as he whipped his head around to see Sunburst standing there with a cheeky grin on his face. "Sunburst!" Nerlz stammered, his cheeks flushing bright red. "You scared me!"

Sunburst chuckled, nuzzling Nerlz affectionately. "Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. Smells amazing, by the way."

Nerlz’s heart fluttered, but he quickly turned his attention back to the stove, flipping the last pancake onto the plate. "Well, breakfast is ready," he said, trying to hide his bashfulness. Sunburst grabbed the syrup and some forks with his magic, and the two of them sat down at the table to enjoy their meal.

"So, how'd you sleep?" Nerlz asked between bites, glancing up at Sunburst.

Sunburst swallowed a mouthful of pancake and smiled. "Like a dragon after a big meal. Best sleep I’ve had in a long time."

Nerlz nodded, feeling a little relieved. "Same here. I woke up early, though, so I took a bath before making breakfast."

Sunburst grinned. "Well, I appreciate it. These pancakes are delicious!"

Once breakfast was over, Nerlz encouraged Sunburst to take a shower while he tidied up. After Sunburst finished getting ready, the two of them headed to the library where Sunburst would begin mentoring Nerlz on the finer points of teaching at the School of Friendship. Nerlz felt a flutter of excitement and nervousness in his chest as they entered the quiet space.

Sunburst led Nerlz to a desk near the whiteboard, and Nerlz eagerly unpacked his supplies, his quill at the ready.

"Alright," Sunburst began, standing in front of the board with a marker held in his magic. "Today, we're going to cover lesson plans. At the School of Friendship, lesson plans are essential for every educator, and they consist of three main elements: the instructional objective, a learning activity, and an assessment."

Nerlz listened intently, his quill already scratching against the parchment as Sunburst spoke. He had some experience with lesson plans from his previous teaching days, but he knew Sunburst’s guidance would help him improve. Sunburst’s approach was always so methodical and thoughtful, which was something Nerlz deeply admired.

Sunburst continued, pacing slightly as he explained. "The first thing to understand is how learning takes place. Lesson plans help teachers prepare by documenting what’s being taught and ensuring the material sticks. For instance, a good objective for today’s class might be, 'Students will be able to identify and explain three methods of conflict resolution using examples from everyday situations.' It’s specific, measurable, and directly tied to what we want them to learn."

Nerlz nodded, jotting down the example. "That makes sense. So the objective needs to be clear enough to measure whether they’ve achieved it."

"Exactly!" Sunburst said enthusiastically, writing the objective on the board. "Next, you’ll want to plan a learning activity that will help the students reach that objective. This can be anything from a group discussion to role-playing or even a creative project. The key is to make it engaging so that students stay invested."

As Nerlz absorbed the information, his thoughts drifted to the students they’d be teaching. The Young 6 were some of the brightest and most dynamic students at the school, and he wanted to create lessons that would capture their attention. He couldn’t help but smile at the idea of Yona eagerly smashing her way through a hands-on project or Silverstream getting lost in excited ramblings about her latest discovery.

"Lastly," Sunburst said, snapping Nerlz out of his thoughts, "there’s the assessment. This is where you’ll evaluate whether or not the students have met the learning objective. It doesn’t always have to be a test; it can be a reflection, a presentation, or even a peer evaluation. The important thing is to ensure the assessment aligns with what was taught."

Nerlz tapped his quill against his chin thoughtfully. "I think figuring out the best way to assess if the students have really understood everything might be the hardest part," he admitted, placing a star next to “assessment” on his notes.

Sunburst nodded. "It can be tricky, but with practice, it’ll get easier. You’re already doing great so far, Nerlz."

The smaller stallion felt a warm blush creep onto his cheeks. Sunburst’s encouragement always had a way of making him feel more confident. By the time they had finished reviewing, Nerlz had created a lesson plan that even Sunburst praised as thorough and well-crafted.

"You did an amazing job," Sunburst said, leaning down to plant a quick kiss on Nerlz’s forehead. “Honestly, you barely need my help!”

Nerlz’s face turned crimson, and he stammered out a shy “Th-thank you, Sunburst.”

With a teasing smile, Sunburst leaned closer and whispered, “That’s Mr. Flare to you, Nerlz.”

Nerlz’s ear twitched as Sunburst nipped it playfully, causing him to let out a flustered whine.

Meanwhile, across the library, the Young 6 had been watching the duo with a mix of curiosity and amusement. Gallus, who had been lounging lazily at a table with the others, raised an eyebrow. "Yo, you guys seeing this?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Sunburst’s got himself a little... study buddy."

Smolder smirked, her arms crossed over her chest. "I’ll say. I didn’t know Sunburst had it in him. That mare looks pretty cozy."

"Yona not sure that's mare," Yona said thoughtfully, tilting her head.

Sandbar squinted at Nerlz, leaning forward as if trying to get a better look. "Nah, that’s gotta be a mare. Look at those bows and that hair. Plus, she’s, uh... kinda got the look, y’know?"

Gallus snorted. "What look? I’m telling you, she’s a stallion."

Silverstream’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Ooo, I’ll bet two bits they’re a stallion! It’s always the ones you least expect!"

Yona nodded sagely. "Yona bet ten bits. That is stallion."

Sandbar looked around nervously, adding five bits to the growing pile. "I still think they’re a mare."

Ocellus, quiet as ever, spoke up softly. "They do seem really happy together... but I think they're a mare too."

The group fell into a heated debate, their voices overlapping as they argued back and forth. Gallus waved his talon dismissively, still convinced he was right. "Listen, if I’m wrong, I’ll eat my tail. But I know what I saw!"

Smolder raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair. "And what exactly did you see, featherbrain?"

Gallus hesitated, trying to come up with a good answer. "Uh, well... I just have a feeling, okay? I mean, look at the way Sunburst is acting. You don’t get that mushy over just anypony."

Sandbar rolled his eyes. "That’s not proof, Gallus."

Silverstream giggled, adding her bits to the pile. "This is so exciting! I love a good mystery!"

Yona, who had been quietly observing, suddenly spoke up. "Yona know how to solve problem. We ask pony. If pony say ‘I’m stallion,’ Yona win. If pony say ‘I’m mare,’ Sandbar win."

The others nodded in agreement, but there was still a sense of uncertainty. None of them wanted to be the one to approach Nerlz directly. Ocellus, noticing their hesitation, offered a suggestion. "Or... we could just observe a little more. Maybe we’ll figure it out without asking."

They all exchanged glances, nodding in unison. It seemed like a good plan. But as the bits piled up, Smolder suddenly stood up, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Alright, I’ve got an idea. I’ll drop something near their table and see if she—er, they—bend over to pick it up. We’ll find out once and for all."

Gallus laughed, giving a playful salute. "Good luck, Smolder. If you’re right, we’ll all owe Yona and Silverstream some bits."

Smolder strolled confidently over to Nerlz and Sunburst, pretending to fumble with a student book before letting it fall to the floor. Nerlz, noticing the dragon, tried to pick it up with his magic but failed due to the anti-magic enchantments on student books. With a sigh, Nerlz stood up and bent over to retrieve the book with his hooves, tail swishing as he did.

Gallus’s eyes widened, a low whistle escaping his beak. "Whoa. Did you guys see that?"

Smolder returned to the table with a triumphant grin. "Well, mystery solved. That’s definitely a stallion."

The rest of the group blushed at the revelation, Yona and Silverstream grinning as they collected their winnings.

Gallus rubbed the back of his neck, flustered. "Gotta admit, though... those were, uh, pretty big..."

Sandbar nodded in agreement, still staring after the pair. "Yeah... Definitely didn't expect that."

Smolder just chuckled, her mischievous grin growing. "Well, that was fun."

As the lesson continued, Nerlz felt more and more comfortable with Sunburst’s guidance. They discussed different ways to make the material engaging, with Sunburst sharing stories of how various students had responded to different activities. Nerlz listened eagerly, taking mental notes on how to incorporate creativity into his teaching style. Sunburst even brought out a few examples of past projects, from group art pieces to interactive games that made learning fun.

“I’m always amazed at how much these students can accomplish when they’re given the right kind of support,” Sunburst said, his eyes shining with pride. “They’re a wonderful group, and I know you’ll be a great addition to the teaching staff, Nerlz.”

Nerlz felt his heart swell with gratitude. “Thank you, Sunburst. I’m really excited to be here.”

After finishing their lesson, Sunburst and Nerlz, oblivious to the Young 6's antics, headed out for a well-deserved lunch. They sat together in the cafeteria, enjoying each other’s company as they laughed and talked, completely unaware of the curious glances still being cast their way.

“Do you ever feel like we’re being watched?” Nerlz asked, glancing around the cafeteria.

Sunburst chuckled, waving it off. “Nah, you’re just imagining things. Come on, let’s finish up and get out of here.”

As they finished their meal, Sunburst glanced around to make sure they weren’t being watched. With a playful grin, he leaned in closer to Nerlz. “How about we get out of here?” he whispered, his breath warm against Nerlz’s ear.

Nerlz nodded, smiling softly. “Sounds good to me.”

Sunburst’s horn glowed, and with a flash of light, they teleported away, leaving the Young Six behind.

The group sat in stunned silence for a moment, still processing what had just happened. Finally, Gallus and Sandbar exchanged glances, each secretly thinking the same thing—stallion or mare, Nerlz was kind of hot.