Indigo Zap was quite respected at Crystal Prep Academy.

But outside of it, she felt like a completely different person. Her reputation not baring down on her meant she was free to express herself. But when she actually does... she feels trapped in a different way.

With the arrival of some new faces at Crystal Prep, Indigo's life will be turned upside down, as circumstance makes her question herself, her history, and her friends.

And it wasn't like she could just fly away from her problems. After all, humans don't have wings...

It was a week before Nightmare Night, when Rarity decided to take a trip to Canterlot.

And while there, she meets a sweet, classy mare with a prismatic mane, and a habit of saying "Darling". But there's something about her that she finds just too familiar.

And as she'll learn, maybe there's more to this familiarity than meets the eye.

Update (4/8/2023): Now with a Dramatic Reading by Obab Scribbler

Author's Note (11/14):

Sweet Celestia.

Less than 24 hours live and this story has set three milestones for me. This is the first time I've had a story of mine be top of the Featured list, the first time I've had a story of mine get over 100 Likes, and the first time that a story of mine has reached over 1,000 views.

Thank you all so much. I am amazed.

Perception is a fascinating thing. Sometimes, how someone views themselves and how others view someone don't coincide. In fact, it can be absolutely baffling how different the two are.

The girl who seems to have everything together? She might be a wreck beneath the surface.

The girl who seems so inattentive? Perhaps she genuinely doesn't see the attempts to reach her.

The girl who seems so moody? Maybe there's more to it than what people see.

But of course, that's the thing about perception. Sometimes, it just doesn't line up. And few know that better than the girls at Crystal Prep Academy.

(This is a collection of little vignettes I'll be publishing, effectively going into my headcanons for the Shadowbolts. I hope you enjoy it.)