Pacing the park

[Deleted]

Wandering aimlessly, Celestia found a bench and sat down on it. She supposed she ought to be calmer. Not all of her worry was entirely rational, after all. That her adopted daughter Sunset Shimmer had turned out to be an extradimensional pony was, well, quite the shock, but they'd talked through it and when push came to shove, Celestia had to admit that there really wasn't a good way to broach that topic. No, the thing she ought to worry about was the part where the girl had stolen a magical artifact, used it to transform into a demoness and tried to mind control her fellow classmates. It really didn't reflect well on the girl that she was willing to go that far for power. Celestia had seen that hunger before.

And therein, of course, lay the problem. The cure for loneliness was friendship, and friendship, as both mother and principal, she could not grant. It was difficult, knowing how far gone Sunset was, and knowing that the best cure was out of her hands. Let the girl have her slumber parties, and she might come out on top. Meddle, and her faith in both her mother and her new friends might be damaged irreparably.

Celestia got off her bench and continued pacing the park. This wasn't a worry that'd let her sit. It needed walking off. She kept a careful eye on the sky as she walked. It wouldn't do to lose track of time. Everfree Park was dangerous at night.

[Deleted]

Suddenly, the wind blew harshly and the bright moon light reflected off of the two round lenses of his glasses. As soon as the wind died down, his bangs fell back into place, concealing the left lenses once again. The cracks were only visible for a brief moment, and would easily be missed if one weren't paying attention to him. At the moment, it seemed to him like Celestia was lost in her own thought and preoccupied with how high in the sky the rising moon was.

Though he wouldn't have put it past her to notice. She always seemed quite sharp. Not someone to be underestimated.

He continued on his way closer to her, moving at a casual pace. He had caught sight of her from outside the park by chance and decided now was the time to speak with her. His meeting with the enigmatic spirit, Discord, had proven to him what happened on prom night was real. A whole new world of possibilities were opening up in front of him. He knew he had to take advantage of it. This new thing called 'magic'. Was it like in the story books? Like in myths? Fairy tales? There were too many questions. He knew too little. He knew too little. He was sure that Sunset Shimmer and the others involved probably wouldn't be too forthcoming with what they knew, but perhaps he could still glean some kind of information from casual conversation. Anything was better than nothing. Given how Celestia was in charge of the school, he'd suspect she'd have some kind of inkling as to what had happened. It was worth a try.

Finally, the walkway he was strolling down crossed with the one Celestia had been pacing down. He put on his usual business smile and would nod to her if she noticed him approach.

When he was within comfortable speaking distance, he'd greet her politely.

"Good Evening, Principal Celestia. Forgive me for saying, but... it looks like you have something on your mind," he pointed out just to make conversation. He couldn't exactly run up to her and start interrogating her about magic after all. Though truthfully, he didn't actually care about what her problems where.

[Deleted]

Celestia stopped and turned to the boy, some of her worry fading as the principal in her pushed the mother aside. "Good evening. Eclipse, was it? Yes, I suppose we're all a bit troubled after all that's been going on. I hope you've been feeling well? No headaches?" Truthfully, Celestia hadn't the foggiest what the long-term side effects of temporary mind control were, but headaches seemed like a safe bet, all things considered. Besides, it was a conversation topic, and Celestia had long ago decided she needed to talk with the boy who hid behind formal clothing yet couldn't afford to replace his broken glasses. Slightly adjusting her course, Celestia walked with the boy, directing their path close to the edges of the park. If she wasn't entirely comfortable herself in Everfree this late, she definitely didn't want children stuck in there.

[Deleted]

"Eh heh, please don't worry about me. My doctors assure me I'm 100% perfectly healthy," what he said sounded like it was trying to help her to not worry on the surface, but he did just let her know he felt bad enough to get a check up.

He followed her path, walking with her as he continued the conversation. It was right where he wanted it, and it didn't take much to continue it.

"But boy, that sure was... well... unbelievable. If I weren't there myself, I'd probably believe it were just a story myself. In fact, I'm not even sure what exactly happened," he pointed out shaking his head a bit.

"I guess, I'd feel better if... if there weren't so many frightening questions still hanging in the air. I think most of the student body would feel better, if they just understood what happened and that we're safe," he briefly paused there for dramatic effect.

"We are safe, aren't we?" He asked, genuinely sounding scared. It was easy to sound scared, since he actually was. He had no idea what magic was or what he was getting himself into.

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2013 12:21:51 GMT -6 @eclipse said:

"Eh heh, please don't worry about me. My doctors assure me I'm 100% perfectly healthy," what he said sounded like it was trying to help her to not worry on the surface, but he did just let her know he felt bad enough to get a check up.

So he'd met with doctors. Good.

Dec 16, 2013 12:21:51 GMT -6 @eclipse said:

He followed her path, walking with her as he continued the conversation. It was right where he wanted it, and it didn't take much to continue it.

"But boy, that sure was... well... unbelievable. If I weren't there myself, I'd probably believe it were just a story myself. In fact, I'm not even sure what exactly happened," he pointed out shaking his head a bit.

"I guess, I'd feel better if... if there weren't so many frightening questions still hanging in the air. I think most of the student body would feel better, if they just understood what happened and that we're safe," he briefly paused there for dramatic effect.

If it hadn't been for the seriousness of the matter (and her excellent poker face), Celestia would have giggled. Speaking as an experienced prankstress and ne'er do well, the boy's attempts at fishing for information were, well, adorable. She resisted the urge to sit down and whisper conspiratorially in his ear, he was well into the age where that would just be patronizing. Instead, she just let him ride out his train of words until he'd said his peace.

Dec 16, 2013 12:21:51 GMT -6 @eclipse said:

"We are safe, aren't we?" He asked, genuinely sounding scared. It was easy to sound scared, since he actually was. He had no idea what magic was or what he was getting himself into.

At those last words, Celestia stopped and looked Eclipse in the eye. I don't know. I've talked with everyone involved, but Twilight Sparkle made it very clear that the magic from that other world isn't... isn't what happened here. I would like to tell you everything's going to be alright, but I'm not going to lie to you, Eclipse. Not now, not ever. If you find anything unusual, anything at all, no matter how small, I hope you can trust me enough to bring it to me, and we can figure out what we need to do to be sure.

She wasn't sure if that was going to be enough, but if her guess was right, and they usually were, the boy needed something, and she'd keep trying to give her students what they needed if it killed her.

[Deleted]

Of course, he looked Celestia right back in the eye with unwavering confidence. Something had told him that she wasn't one to underestimate. It was probably, everything about her. Tonight she did not disappoint. She knew when to take things in stride, and she knew when to take things seriously.

A part of him really wanted her to tell him that everything would be okay. He respected her more for being honest. It really felt like she was being forthcoming.

Even if she hadn't given him much. It was more than possible that she just didn't know anything more about it.

"I see... Well, that's a little bit more than distressing to here," he also tried a little honesty.

"If I find anything, I'll be sure to let you know," he lied.

He continued to walk alongside her, whatever path she choose. Some company wasn't bad. He had been walking with his usual proper demeanor. He didn't have any unnecessary swagger or stressed attitude in his posture. He stood tall and proud, as always. At the same time, his stiff posture was rather strict and was anything but relaxed.

"Doing our best to spread awareness is all we can really do, in the face of the unknown," he commented.

That name she dropped so casually just now. It peaked his interest. Twilight Sparkle. The new girl. The one who dethroned Shimmer. He had tried every resource he could, but other than that humorous video, he could find nothing substantial about her.

"You said... other world? Magic comes from this other world? And Twilight Sparkle knew about this?" He didn't know this part.

"Speaking of Twilight Sparkle, what happened to her? I don't see her around school anymore. In fact, its like she was hardly there at all," he questioned further. 

[Deleted]

You didn't know? I'd have thought the rumors would have made it clear across campus by now. I can't tell you everything, there are too many people who'd get hurt if certain things got out, but I can tell you this. Twilight Sparkle was a visitor from another, well, universe of sorts. A very different one. With very different rules. If I told you what she really looks like... well, we're getting off course. She came here to retrieve a magical artifact, the source of all this trouble, and once she had done so, she had to return, or she would have been trapped. It was calming, walking with the boy, doing her job, working on something she was used to, something she could manage, without any of her precious laws of nature being broken willy-nilly. Does that answer your question?

[Deleted]

"Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about what 'you can't tell me', but I suppose I'll just have to live with that unfulfilled curiosity," He lied. No wait, that was honest. Most of it.

He had heard lots of rumors, but he didn't believe all of them. Even stories as silly as pretty prancing ponies protecting a world of gum drops and lollypops. He had mostly disregarded such rumors as unrelated foolishness. Her word carried more weight, though.

He stopped walking for a beat.

"Thank you for answering those questions. It really helps to know," he said before continuing to walk with her. He began to carefully think about what more he could possibly ask her to get more answers, letting a pause of silence fall between them. Meanwhile, he tried to enjoy the company. Before he excused himself, there was one more matter he wanted to press. However, he wondered how he should go about it. After all he respected her. He liked her, even. Not because he had to, like other authority figures in his life, like his family members and Discord, but because she earned her respect.

[Deleted]

Celestia walked in silence with the boy, and the clouds within her mindscape opened, letting in the sun. Even in a multiverse with talking ponies and magical tiaras, students still needed their principals. That much hadn't changed, and it gave her hope that daughters still needed their mothers.

Well, that was a topic for later. There was a child who needed her right here and now, after all. Was there something else you needed to ask, Eclipse? Is everything going well with your studies? She wanted to add "Is everything all right at home?". She wanted to. But the boy had given no indications of wanting to talk about his situation, and it wasn't the kind of thing that could be solved if he didn't want it solved. So she put a lid on her worries for now, and kept quiet. She was good at quiet. It was a life skill.

[Deleted]

Perceptive as ever.

"Oh, my studies are fine. It's probably a good sign that we haven't gotten a chance to talk much before," he pointed out. He was never sent to the Principal's office for trouble before. Not at this school.

"There is one thing I did want to ask," in the end he had decided, despite how much he liked her, he liked himself more, and he wanted those answers. Ironically, she was respecting his personal space by not questioning him about his home. He would do just the opposite. He dropped the forced smile, since it would be meaningless now.

"What did your daughter have to say about the whole affair?" he finally asked. The words were innocent enough, but the question was heavy. It was Celestia's own adopted daughter who was the center of all of the chaos that happened at the dance. The question insinuated that she was more than partially responsible for everything. It also insinuated that Sunset Shimmer, and Celestia by proxy, should know more than what has already been said. With those few innocent words, he demanded to know what she was holding back. The question struck at a personal level. It was a wretched and unkind question. To ask it, Eclipse himself really must also be that kind of person.

[Deleted]

When Eclipse dropped his game face, Celestia put on hers, replacing her genuine smile with a subtly different fake one. Again, though they were distressingly advanced and calculatedly cold for one so young, the boy's attempts at manipulation were so cute she could not resist playing along. That, my dear Eclipse, is one of the things 'I can't tell you about'. At least, not yet. Was there anything else? That the boy had hesitated so much before asking that question, that he'd wanted to spare her feelings, was deep consolation. It, and the frank honesty of his earlier desire to know, showed maturity and a seed of inner strength that would serve him well in his life. It was quite funny, that underneath Celestia's fake smile hid a real one, along with a slight shiver of worry over her daughter's situation. Celestia hoped the girl's slumber party was going well. Sunset Shimmer looked like she was going to need all the friends she could get, given the opinions her classmates seemed to have of her.

[Deleted]

"No, that's all," he relented. That was his final bid for answer. He didn't want to stir the pot too much. Not this early in the game.

He took a second to collect himself, then smiled again.

"Well, its getting late. Shall I escort you home?" he offered. After all, she was still a beautiful woman. It wouldn't be proper to have her walk home alone in the city. He tried to sound as polite as usual, as if his previous prying had never happened.

[Deleted]

Smiling brightly again, Celestia offered her arm. Thank you, that would be delightful. The morals behind his offer were outdated, true, and it was doubtful how much protection a teenager could offer a grown woman, but the intent seemed sincere and it wouldn't do any harm to humor him, either way.

[Deleted]

He took her arm without missing a beat, as odd as it was. It was really just a gesture of courtesy. He didn't really expect her to be in danger. He half expected her to refuse him, but it wasn't an unpleasant way to spend the rest of the evening.

The short walk was quiet. A lot had been said, and there was a lot to take in. True, he didn't get all the answers, but where would the fun be if it were that easy. He still did get some new information. He'd have to pour over the rumors he had gathered up and see which ones match up with what she had said. Using her word as a standard for what was true and what wasn't, was a safe bet. He couldn't imagine that she'd lie or joke around about such serious matters.

This deep contemplation continued even after he said his goodbyes to Celestia, and returned to his own home, and on into the night. The secrets of magic. It felt like they were just outside his reach.