"Can… Can you please dismount from my backside? Your poundage is squashing the breath outta from my lungs." Orpa wheezed, prone as I stood atop his horizontal body.
'What? The audacity, insinuating I have hefted. Ugh, I'm lighter than a plume's whisper!' His dialogue frosted my expression, as we were ourselves on the dais, before the auditorium's multitude.
"Okey-dokey!" I have a scheme for his punishment.
There was a sly grin on my lips, tighter than a snare drum as I delivered a vigorous pogo upon Orpa's spine before walking away.
"Arghhhhhhh! You witch!" From his gaping maw billowed a veritable cumulus, as if the poor chap had swallowed a steam locomotive.
Shaking my cranium, I too turned tail to the boards, only to discover my vestments had taken on the crumpled visage of a well-trod roadmap. Wait one cotton-picking minute…
'What if someone suspects me as Twilight?' My eyes adventure the scenery, and the afterglow immediately drains from my cheeks, exciting me alabaster as a communion wafer.
I suppressed the urge to emit a mighty Crikey, sufferin… succotash!
Every cuck of me in this poultry coop is drenched to the skivvies. If one of these jokers queries me, I'm properly gobsmacked!'
"Iris!" Luna's dulcet tones reverberated behind me, prompting a frisson to cavalcade down my vertebral column.
'Ahhh, Time for some fabrication!' I fantasize an action, featuring a scared cat more trepidation than a feline in a room brimming with rocking chairs.
"L-Luna!" My body commenced quivering with all the enthusiastic vigor of a paint mixer set to frappe.
Hastening into her cuddle, I enveloped her in an ardent clinch, my head nuzzling her delectable neck, And fawned in a manner befitting an unrepentant urchin, using to sway her with my histrionic cajolery.
"L-L-Luna, I was p-petrified! A-a vast, colorless room confined me, c-caged me with a f-feral beast!" I tremble uncontrollably, eyes wide with faux terror, clutches Luna tightly, whimpering.
"A m-malevolent creature fixated upon me with h-hungering eyes, as if p-poised to d-devour me with its eyes!"
My face buried in Luna's hug, I fabricated some muffled sobs before continuing and pulling myself back slightly with an upturned expression. "I-I-It was a nightmare."
It was better not to calm my breaths, So I did and glanced at her frightened expression.
'This charade is to dispel any doubts from her ever-suspicious mind on me.' An airtight performance now could prove indispensable later, should anypony else suspect my true, Twilight identity.
They'll be reminded by recollections of this Oscar-worthy display of innocent fright. Luna's eyes bored into mine, like they wanted to know the truth. "Which place were you in? Are you Okay?"
"I… boohoo…" My vision went hazy as I frantically tried to compose myself. Of course, I could manipulate the situation, physical body… almost.
And I quickly chose my words carefully, feeling everyone's penetrating stares after I cried loud enough for everyone to see after me.
"T-That place...it was scary…. Sniff!... white room. There was this creature that could shapeshift to look like other people."
I muttered, my voice agitated as I squeezed Luna's arm. "M-Merfolk were being imprisoned there too, and the creature would kill them after taking their body role."
The principal also leaned forward to her after he saw all circled around Luna. "Is there anything else you can tell us?"
"I-I-I don't know much more. I heard some people talk of framing people's eclipse shadows or something. And some project involving the Deadnova organization..." I shook my head, not meeting his gaze.
And trailed off, digging myself in Luna's warm hands and crocodile tears sprang to my eyes. Time to use my trump card.
"T-Those people were wishing to use female students as sex slaves, to let their child grow inside their womb… Before something happened to me, I was here again… That's all I know, I swear…"
—sniff!
"Is that all?" The principal's brow furrowed deeply, feeling guilty that he should even consider the proposal.
Perhaps the child before him wouldn't have this trauma for a lifetime.
He quickly restrained himself from rethinking it, as joining them would only lead to more harm. Instead, he fondled the kid's head gently.
"It was my failure as principal to let our guard down. I don't know what will help you heal, but… as compensation, you may ask any reasonable wish of me in the future, and I will fulfill it to the best of my abilities."
… An interesting volunteer, but I neither agree nor deny it outright.
Soon, I could sense Amelia and Gwen's presence beside Luna, but I paid them no mind, continuing my act as crocodile tears streamed down my face before fainting into Luna's soft cuddle.
'Good night, just hope nothing goes wrong'
***
"Ahem… Everyone, I have a declaration to make. The current date is March 11th. Time has passed speedily while you were in that realm." Ben saw Iris was sleeping, then he scanned their surroundings, all the students.
"This holiday comes early in March because of this accident, which oftenly would have been in June. It would be advisable for all of you to rejoin your families. There will be a hiatus of one month and ten days, starting from March 13th."
"Should any individuals be unaccounted for, we shall provide accommodation or a superior arrangement… Tomorrow, Pack your belongings and seize this chance to spend quality time with your loved ones."
With those words imparted, Ben vanished without a trace. And Luna gazed upon Iris with an impassive expression.
She exhaled resignedly. 'One day… as for now. I won't expose your secrets if you prefer to keep it hidden. I merely hope that eventually you will detail the rationale. About this DeadNova and current school hijack… I should look after this threat, as well as the eclipse shadows.'
"Can I take her with me? I mean, to my home?" Amelia, until now in a daze, having vowed to protect Iris, felt a pang of remorse for failure in her promise.
Ely cradled Iris in her arms from Luna and responded to Amelia, "No! Iris and I have some important work to do at home."