“Not quite,” Home Run said, putting down Moonglade’s note cards.

“Ugh, why is this so hard?” Moonglade groaned.

“Sshh!” the librarian hissed from one of the shelves, standing on top of a stool.

“Sorry!” Moonglade whispered, keeping her eyes down. She knew other people were likely looking at her now, so she tried not to look up. Tapping the end of her pencil against her chin, she stared at the math problem. It didn’t get any simpler to understand. Rather, the numbers seemed to be taunting her. Moonglade refrained from stabbing the textbook and instead reached into her jacket and took out a nut and ate it.

“Should I go on with an easier one?” Home Run looked through the girl’s note cards.

“Yeah… Yeah, that’s a good idea, I guess.” Moonglade smiled. “I’m sorry we have to spend a date studying, while there’s so much more we could be doing.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it.” Home Run waved a hand and flipped one note card over. “Spending time with you is fun enough, even studying. But wow, I never expected such tough questions for homeschool. Your mom must’ve really gotten a high leveled syllabus for you, huh?”

“Something like that. It’s a little complicated.”

“Well, I do hope I can help you out with all this. Calculus isn’t like, my strongest subject or anything. I’m just okay with it.”

“Okay’s better than not understanding it at all,” Moonglade joked and put a hand on his arm.

There was a faint rustling noise from the shelf behind where Home Run was sitting. Moonglade looked at it, and as she watched, two books shuffled aside to reveal a familiar green eye.

She’s not being that obvious, is she?

On the way to the library, Moonglade had spotted her aunt following behind them in the car a few times, but that was excusable, seeing as there wasn’t much spots she could hide along with the car.

“So, next equation…” Home Run held out a note card.

When Moonglade heard it, her head began to spin. These calculus questions really didn’t want to make themselves easy. She had written all those note cards herself, but even doing that didn’t seem to help her. She had briefly considered murdering her calculus teacher, but Mishter Schniffs had pointed out that another teacher would simply replace him.

“Why did this have to be so hard?” Moonglade leaned down in her arms and kicked her legs out under the table.

“Hey, don’t worry so much, Moonglade.” Home Run put an arm around her shoulders. “Not everyone’s good with everything. Just look at me with my chemistry work. I don’t even know how I’ve been managing all year.”

“Well, chemistry’s easy though. Calculus is so… ugh.” Moonglade lifted her head and leaned it on Home Run’s shoulder. “Maybe I need an incentive to try harder.”

“Well, does homeschooling have exams or something?”

“Um, no, but knowing my work pleases my mother.” Moonglade shrugged. “I don’t know if that’s incentive enough, but I do want to show her that I can do this.”

“Well, okay then. Let’s work on this so you can show her, hmm? Maybe I’ll start by explaining some of the formulas instead of testing you.”

The next hour was spent with Home Run going on and on about the different equations and how to work with them. Moonglade felt like she could just go to sleep right now, but she had to fight on. She wasn’t going to fail a subject just because it was tough and boring. By the time they reached the end of the study material, the sun was beginning to go down and Moonglade had finished all her nuts. One by one, the streetlamps blinked on.

Moonglade looked back in from the window and rubbed at her eyes. She could safely say that she had at least three more formulas memorized and learned, but that was it. She still had a lot to do if she wanted to succeed, but she was glad Home Run was around to help her, at least for today.”

“I’m sorry that I’m such a bad learner, Home Run.” The young changeling pushed at her pencil with her index finger. “I’m trying, I really am.”

“I know, Moonglade, I know.” Home Run held one of her hands reassuringly. “And you’ll get it, okay? It takes time. And whenever you need any help, I’ll do my best to help you out.”

“Even during the exa- umm… even if you’re taking your exams and I need help?”

“Uh, well… Except then.” Home Run rubbed the back of his head. “Can’t use our phones during the exams. That’s like cheating.”

“Well, using it in class is technically against the rules too.” Moonglade smirked.

“Uhhh, umm… yeah…” Home Run’s cheeks turned pink. “But okay, exams are different. The penalty for getting caught is so much higher.”

“What’s it like?” Moonglade leaned closer. “Taking an exam?”

Home Run looked up and hummed. “Well, an exam is kinda just like a test paper. You just sit there and try your best to finish it. Oh, no talking is allowed and you can’t sit next to anyone. There’s usually a supervisor from the Board of Education to oversee it. Well, some schools at least. Though I don’t know about now. Did you hear the news during the winter break?”

“Which news?”

“There was an attack on the Board of Education or something. I think it was... terrorists, but a lot of the Board members were killed.” Home Run looked out the window at the streets. “So I don’t think they’ll be sending people this time, but I don’t know. It’s been a while since then, huh?”

“Yeah, you just moved here after that, huh?” Moonglade stretched her legs out. “Well, I’m glad you moved over from Fillydelphia. That way, I got to meet you.”

“Yeah, I’m glad I moved to Canterlot. So much has happened since I’ve been here and I’ve learnt so much through it all. And then yeah, I got to meet you too. And I’m really glad I did.”

There was a faint chuckle from the shelf behind Home Run.

“Hmm? Did you hear something?” Home Run turned around. “It sounded like laughter.”

Moonglade looked past him, then waved her hand dismissively. “Uh, must’ve been an owl or something.”

“Hmm, right, it is getting dark.” Home Run turned back. “Do you need to get back soon?”

“Soon, yeah, but I still have some time.” Moonglade held one of Home Run’s arms. “I still have to thank you for helping me with my work, right?”

“Well, uh, what do you have in mind?” Home Run asked with a strange croaked voice.

Moonglade giggled. Home Run smelt nice. Then she leaned closer and pecked him on the lips. “Oh, you know… stuff. How about we go somewhere else now? I think I’ve had enough studying for today.”

“Sure. Here…” Home Run stacked up her cards for her.

“Thanks, Home Run.” Moonglade took them and threw them into her bag. “Hey, I’ve been trying to come up with a nickname for you, but I haven’t quite figured one out yet. How’s HR?”

“Sounds a little… I don’t know, doctory, don’t you think?”

“Your mother’s a doctor, right? So what’s the problem?”

“Um, I just don’t think it’s very me, you know?”

Moonglade laughed and gave him another kiss. “Yeah, you’re right. Doesn’t match you. How about…” She slung her bag over her shoulder.

At that moment, the sound of a phone ringing went off from Moonglade’s bag.

“Shh!” the librarian hissed again.

The girl quickly fumbled through her bag embarrassedly, almost dropping the phone twice before finally putting it to her ear. Then she realized she hadn’t accepted the call or even looked at the number. She did so. It was private.

“I wonder who this is…” Moonglade accepted the call. “Sorry, gimme a sec, Home Run. Hello?”

“Hello, swe- I mean snowdrop,” the caller said. It sounded like her mother. “Just calling to remind you that dinner’s in about fifteen minutes. If you want to have it, you should be home before then. Bye!”

“Uh… huh.” Moonglade looked at her phone’s screen for a while before stuffing it back in her bag. “Right, well, I guess I’ll be expected home for dinner. Even though my mother’s not home…” Moonglade grumbled to herself.

“No sweat, Moonglade”. Home Run got up and picked up his bag. “Hey, how do you feel about Moony? Too normal?”

“The sirens call me that…” Moonglade said quietly. “I’m concerned for them,” she said out of nowhere. “Hopefully that’ll change soon. Anyway, I should get going. Need to wash up before eating and all.”

“Yeah…” Home Run nodded.

The two of them walked out of the library together, hand in hand. Moonglade really didn’t want to let go yet, but she knew she had to.

When they reached the street, her aunt was already there in the car, waiting. She was really fast on her feet.

“So… I’ll text you, huh?” Moonglade wrapped her arms around Home Run. It was a pity she could only see him so often, but that made her treasure their time together more. The only problem was that she wasn’t supposed to.

“Yeah, I’ll see you, Moonglade.” Home Run hugged her back. “And I’ll come up with a really cool nickname for you.”

“Right, keep at it, sluggy.” Moonglade kissed him on the lips before letting him go.

“Yeah, that name’s… uh… Yeah.”

“Right… I guess I’ll have to work on the nicknames too,” she chuckled and opened the car door. “Bye, Home Run.”

The boy nodded and waved. “Bye, Moonglade. Enjoy dinner, okay?”

The young changeling nodded, then ducked her head into the car and closed the door, buckling up.

Moonglade’s aunt was in the driver’s seat, but the chair was reclined back and she was watching some kind of cartoon on a tablet computer. At the moment, a man in a green school uniform was licking a cherry like some kind of deranged lunatic while saying, “Rerorerorerorero…”

“Umm…” Moonglade was grossed out by the way he was licking the cherry. “What are you… watching, Aunt Ivory?”

“Eastern cartoons,” she replied. Then she put her computer to sleep and placed it on the passenger seat. Then she put her seat back into an upright position. “Well, enough of that, time to head home. Did you have fun, sweetie?”

“Mostly. The studying wasn’t quite fun, but I enjoyed my time with him.” The young changeling looked back at Home Run, who was getting his bike ready. “Mother called. Again. She wants me home soon.”

“Did she now?” Ivory said with a strange glint in her eye. “Well, we’d best get going then.”

Moonglade sniffed and found a strange smell coming from her aunt. It wasn’t something normal and it smelt a little like burnt cinnamon.

Hmm… I wonder what that is.

“So, umm… Aunt Ivory… How did I do today?” Moonglade flashed her her best smile.

“I don’t know calculus,” Ivory Wings drawled, putting the car into gear and pulling out onto the road. “So I can’t judge your academic progress.”

“Oh, you don’t?” Moonglade tugged her her seatbelt. “I thought you learned everything after being alive for so long.”

“I learn things that are practically useful and applicable. Calculus never came up in all the time periods in which I was serving your mother. Ask me about any type of swordcraft or gunsmithing. I know that. Stealth and subterfuge and war tactics, I wrote books on. But calculus? Never came up as practically useful.”

“Oh. Um… yeah, I guess. I don’t see why I would ever need to use it.” The blonde haired girl shrugged. “Oh well. I’ll just need to pass this exam and I’ll be done with calculus. Maybe I’ll just take something easier next semester?”

“We’ll leave that up to you and your mother.”

“The only reason I picked calculus was because mother wanted me to complete all the hardest subjects.” Moonglade folded her arms and looked out the side window. “I thought it wouldn’t make much difference, but after calculus… I hope she at least reconsiders for my math subject.”

“Yes, well, while she’s still in a good mood, I suggest you have a talk with her.” Ivory Wings kept her eyes on the road. “I don’t know how much longer this will last, nor do I think I have the stamina to keep it up with her whenever she’s home. You know, your mother just insists on making love whenever she has the chance. She really needs to tone it down a little.”

“Ummm…” Moonglade’s face went red. “Y-You… uh, don’t like doing it with mother, Aunt Ivory?”

“Well… I didn’t say I don’t enjoy it…” Ivory chuckled, and accelerated the car. “It’s just that there’s more to life than just sex all the time, sweetie. I think she’s just excited that she finally has a relationship.”

“Does she usually…? You know… have relationships?”

“Hmm… Usually, yes, though the last time I saw her before I left was back in Trotsylvania. She would have… let’s say cattle from time to time, but that’s all they were. Food.”

“You make her sound like a vampire,” Moonglade commented.

Ivory Wings snickered. “Well, that’s kind of what we were presenting ourselves as at the time… well, your mother at least. I was acting as a hunter. Trotsylvania was… sub-optimal, but at least we got our link to the blood moon there. Something I’m sure you’ve inherited.”

“Oh, actually, I don’t know, Aunt Ivory.” Moonglade looked at her hands. “I’ve never been able to overdrive like you and mother. These talon things are new, remember?”

“Well, we will see come the next blood moon. Speaking of which, I need to get my star charts from my penthouse to foretell the next one. So much to do,” Ivory said with a sigh.

“So what does happen during a blood moon, Aunt Ivory?”

Ivory Wings put on her blinker and changed lanes. “You know by now that when we perform certain feats, we expend love energy. Well, during a blood moon, all that goes away. We gain unbridled access to our abilities, all without using any love energy. Plus, we can go faster than usual, take more abuse than usual, all around it just improves us. So long as the red moon is high, we become nearly unstoppable.”

“Wow. Sounds too good to be true.” Moonglade turned back and looked at her aunt. “So only you two can do this? Only you two are affected by the blood moon?”

“The sirens are affected too, to some extent,” Ivory said, drumming her fingers on the wheel as they tailgated a particularly slow driver. “Although I don’t think they will be now, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah…” Moonglade played a hand on her black skirt. “I do hope you can figure something out for them, Aunt Ivory. I don’t like seeing them like this.”

“I’ve almost finished designing the invitations,” Ivory Wings said smugly. “I just need to look at the weather forecast for the next few weeks or so to determine the date. That’ll be fun, hm?”

“Yeah, sounds great,” Moonglade giggled. “It’ll definitely be a picnic they won’t forget.”

“That it will, Moonglade.” Ivory smirked and drove on. “That it will…”