//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Finding a new friend // Story: A Blackened Sunset // by MLPSolarDash1907 //------------------------------// Over the next couple of days, Sunset took a little time off from her studies to look around the School for Gifted Unicorns for anypony she could consider as having the potential to be her friend. Everywhere she went, ponies recognized her and gave her nods and smiles while some were ecstatic to meet her. She got into talking with a couple of mares a grade or two below her. They hung out at the Canterlot Café and Sunset enjoyed the exchanges they had. They bonded some and the protégé considered making them her friends. However, when Sunset left to go to fill up her drink, she heard the mares talking about how popular they’ll be when Sunset makes them her friends, the mare’s eyes widened at this as Celestia’s words as they had their tea came to her. “Don’t let ponies be friends with you if they want to use you to become more popular themselves, those kinds of relationships can spell bad news if you pursue them.” Snorting and forming a glare. She walked over to the mares. They were about to greet her until... “Save it,” Sunset growled, “I think we’re done here.” “Wh-what do you mean?” one of the mares asked, surprised. “I mean that we should part ways and consider that we never met.” “But we were having a good time together!” the other protested. “And then I heard you talking about how popular you were going to be when you made friends with me,” Sunset growled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” “Neither of us does!” the first added. “Save your breath. You need to realize how loud your voices are when you’re trying to keep your conversations private,” Sunset glared harder, “Because of that I heard what you said.” “Oh, what does it matter anyway?” the first asked, “We’d still have fun with one another!” “But not as friends should. Real friends wouldn’t be friends with somepony like me just to get popular.” “But we were just getting acquainted!” the second mare stated. “Maybe, but it is still the same attitude and motivation even if you are getting acquainted,” Sunset turned to leave. “Who would tell you such a thing like that?” the second mare demanded. Sunset snarled, offended, “My mentor, Celestia of course.” She glanced at them, “And I just got the implication of that you know who my teacher is and are questioning her wisdom.” She looked away, “Buzz off, and let’s never speak again.” Sunset left them, and when she closed the door to the café, both mares began arguing with one another, their loud voices almost piercing through the walls. Sunset saw what looked like the manager coming to have a word with them. Shaking her head, she headed off. Soon, Sunset went around Canterlot to find ponies to get acquainted with. Despite the setback, she will not fail to get a friend or two. She did end up meeting other ponies across Canterlot, but they were either too busy, happy, and just stupid. She never bothered with the high-class ponies, as she’s seen at the parties and the Gala, how haughty and uptight they can be, even to magic students. She did run into a stallion named Fancy Pants and had a small chat, he seemed like a decent guy, the best she’s seen out of the high class, but she didn’t feel as if she clicked with him as she did with the two mares. When she returned home, Celestia asked her how everything was going to find a friend. “About as good as finding a needle inside a haystack,” Sunset responded, feeling a little downcast. “Oh? What’s wrong?” Celestia asked. “Earlier today I did get acquainted with a couple of mares but they wanted to use me to get popular...” Sunset sighed. “Oh, I’m so sorry...” “Don’t be,” replied Sunset, having enough ‘I am sorry’ said to her multiple times, “I won’t fail at finding a friend.” And so, she continued looking. The next day, she met up with other ponies about her age and in her grade, briefly seeing a pony who kept to himself and into his magic studies. However, her attention was drawn away by a mare who began talking with her, as did some stallions. But none of them seemed to stick with her. Defeated, Sunset went back to studying magic again, more determined than ever to push through. Only that determination wavered when a stock stallion tried to flirt with her and make a move on her. Needless to say, she had him sent to the school nurse and got a bit of a scolding from Celestia, but she calmed down when Sunset told her what happened. Celestia understood and gave the stallion detention for a week. It took her a little bit to get back on track and meet other ponies, but those she did meet didn’t want her as a friend just to be friends, they wanted to be popular, or some were too afraid to interact with what Celestia might do to them if they messed up the relationship. As Sunset continued, she kept seeing that stallion who kept to himself, he didn’t even look up at her. Now at the donut shop, she sat down and sulked in her seat, eating several powdered donuts as she pondered the last few days. “Ugh why is this so difficult?!” she thought as she rubbed her forehead, “I’ve met all kinds of ponies here in my city and not one of them is a real friend, they don’t connect with me, and I can’t connect to them!” She frustratedly chewed on her donuts before opening her mouth and popping the last one in, “I mean I may not be an expert at all of this, but I should be able to make a friend. Isn’t it supposed to be easy?” She let out a frustrated snort before slamming her head onto the table, “If this whole friendship thing isn’t easy for me, is there something wrong with me?” She sighed, almost deciding to call it quits, and she’s never one to throw in the towel like this. She kept telling herself again and again that she will find a friend and not fail Celestia, however, those promises’ effects seemed to have lost their effects as did Sunset’s desire to find a friend. This whole shenanigan has taken her from her studies and hasn’t gotten as much done as she should have. Maybe before I truly call it quits, I can tell Celestia at the castle myself, she thought, picking her head back up, Unless I happen to run into somepony that’ll be my friend for real, I’m done here. Getting a determined look and considering a path she will follow, her heart for more knowledge grew. After paying for her donuts, she headed back onto the streets to make her way back to the Castle. She gazed around at the ponies heading to and fro across Canterlot’s streets, even spotting a white unicorn with a shiny blue mane heading over to meet his mom keeping a presumably 3-year-old purple filly close by. They didn’t look as if they could be her friend. Sunset kept looking around, while not fully paying attention to where she’s going, she kept her eyes open for ponies to talk to. Oh, who is she kidding? Frustration built up in her chest, her look hardening, there just isn’t anypony out there for her. Sunset tripped, fell flat on her stomach and right onto her left foreleg. “Gah!!” She yelped in pain. She turned herself over to sit and she lightly gasped when she saw she’d scrapped her foreleg. It was bleeding and she knew it needed treatment. When she looked to see what she had caused her to fall, it was revealed to be a curb of the sidewalk. “Miss! Are you okay?” a male voice asked, concerned. Sunset grunted, looking to see a brown-orange unicorn about her age with a black mane and tail. He had deep brown eyes and double yellow twinkling stars for a cutie mark. “What do you think?” Sunset grunted, showing him her injured foreleg. The stallion gasped, “Oh, my!” He set his books aside and knelt to get a better look, “That needs treatment right away!” “Gee, thanks smart guy,” Sunset said sarcastically. “There’s a pharmacy store nearby, I’ve got some medical knowledge and I can help,” the stallion said, helping Sunset up. “No, this isn’t necessary, I...” “No time to talk!” said the stallion, “We need to get you treated now!” Sunset opened her mouth to protest more, but the stallion had already begun taking her, while quick, carefully as well considering her wound. When the stallion arrived at the pharmacy, he sat Sunset down in a chair and entered the store. Sunset blinked a few times, processing what was going on. Before she could think further, the stallion came back out with a towel. “Put this around your foreleg,” he said, “Then apply pressure to stop the bleeding.” “O-Okay?” Sunset responded uncomfortably, grabbing it with her magic and doing as she was told. “I’m going to help you right away,” said the stallion before heading back into the pharmacy. Sunset blinked several times again, watching the stallion frantically looking around to heal her wound. Sunset wrapped the towel around her foreleg and provided some pressure. It stung some, but she managed to push through the pain and keep the towel there. A couple of minutes passed before the stallion reemerged from the pharmacy and came back with a bag levitating in his magic. He sat down next to her. “All right,” he said, “The bleeding should have stopped or at least have slowed down.” He looked at Sunset, “Let’s take a look.” Slowly, Sunset unraveled the tower to reveal a scrape containing debris from the sidewalk and some dirt. “It’s not as bad as I thought considering how fast it was bleeding,” said the stallion, “But it still needs to be cleaned thoroughly.” Levitating a bottle of water, he gently caressed underneath her foreleg and slowly poured the water on. Sunset slightly winced but she quickly got used to it. The remainder of the blood and dirt slowly washed away. The stallion rubbed the wound with a paper towel as Sunset continued to observe him help her. “Does that hurt?” he asked. Sunset shook her head. “Good,” he said, then he held up the jar of alcohol to keep the wound from getting infected, “But this here will give you some stinging here.” Sunset sighed, “I know of the procedure. Just do it.” The stallion nodded as he opened the bottle. He held the exit close to the wound as Sunset braced for the liquid. When it hit, she hissed in pain but stayed strong. A minute passed as bubbles began showing up in the cleaned wound when they did, the stallion began patching up her wound with a cloth and a large band-aid. Why was this stallion helping her? Just to be a good pony? Did he know who she was? He did look about her age and something about him seems familiar. “There,” said the stallion as he finished patching her up, “Now you don’t have to worry about it getting infected.” Sunset gave him an uncertain look, “Thanks?” “No problem,” the stallion smiled, “I’m glad it wasn’t worse than what it seemed.” “Appearances can be deceiving.” “Apparently.” The two of them were silent for a minute as they sat there. Sunset gazed at her patched wound and back at the stallion. When she looked at him... “Wait a second!” she gasped, “I think I’ve seen you before.” The stallion dropped his smile, “You have?” “Yes!” Sunset said, knowing where she’s seen him, “I’ve seen you around the School for Gifted Unicorns. You were always by yourself and into your books.” The stallion sighed, “Right on the button.” Sunset cleared her throat, “Then...” Her eyes widened, “I presume you know who I am. I am...” “Sunset Shimmer,” the stallion replied, looking down. “Yes, I am,” replied Sunset, growing suspicious, “Why did you help me so fast?! Is it because I’m a personal protégé of Celestia?!” “What?! No!” the stallion replied, shocked and somewhat offended, “I was just trying to help you like you were anypony else. Honest!” “Really, I seriously doubt you’d just help anypony.” “You were hurt and needed aid immediately, I had to do something. You don’t see that kind of stuff in Canterlot do you?” “Maybe not, but I bet you probably just want to not really connect with me and just use my popularity to become popular yourself, I totally get it.” “What? Whatever gave you that idea?” “Oh, I don’t know, I guess trying to make friends with ponies across this city was too good for me, if it is, maybe it is for most of everypony else,” Sunset snorted, glaring at the ground. The two were silent for a little bit again, the stallion genuinely looking surprised at her statements. He thought a bit about his next words. “Well... I didn’t intend to really get popular or see you in that way,” he said in a genuine tone, “I just wanted to make my family proud. But...” he sighed, “Everything is so new at the school and the students sometimes can be a little stuck up...I just find it difficult to get to know ponies.” He paused. “Plus I couldn’t bring myself to speak to you because I’m not really the most social pony...” He said awkwardly, looking away, “I understand if you think that way, but I just thought I’d seize my opportunity and help...” Sunset glanced over at him, seeing his face, “And...” He sighed, looking away, “I just thought we probably could talk for a bit...” Feeling slightly guilty, Sunset’s look softened. She always thought ponies just saw her as a bit of a celebrity at the school, and it’s true that everypony knows who she is, but based on Celestia’s words, this pony doesn’t seem to be like the others she’s met. “Okay...” she said, “I’ll bite.” That got the stallion’s attention. “What’s your name?” “My name is Copper Bronze,” the stallion replied, “I know, I know, it’s a stupid name...” He sulked. “No, I don’t think so,” replied Sunset. “Wh-what?” “I mean, I don’t think it’s stupid, it’s... unique,” Sunset explained honestly. “You mean that?” Sunset smirked, “I do. And I’m no liar.” Copper smiled very awkwardly, “G-Gee thanks. Nopony has ever told me that before.” “Well, they’re just not willing to understand things in the simplest things, I love heading out into the field and doing things, and I can appreciate the smallest of things.” “Wow, I guess I never thought of it that way before.” “Celestia taught me to see the beauty in everything from the biggest mountain to the blades of grass, but,” Sunset smiled a little sheepishly, “I am a little into my own world and don’t do it as often as I ought to.” “A little?” Copper cocked his head curiously. Awkwardly, Sunset rubbed the back of her neck, “Okay maybe a little more than that.” Copper nodded, “So, you... love magic huh?” He inwardly slapped himself. “Oh, definitely!” Sunset said with a bright grin, “Starswirl’s writings and the spells he wrote are fascinating.” “What about Haycartes?” Copper asked. “You know Haycartes?” “Of course, he’s a genius, there’s even a spell you can go into a book,” Copper smiled. “Really? All my time studying Starswirl I hadn’t heard of that.” Copper lightly blushed, “Let’s just say I’ve tried multiple times and one didn’t end well.” “Oh?” “About a dozen pages got attached to my body and I had to have a magician remove them from me...” Copper looked away. Sunset giggled. “Yeah, it’s stupid huh?” “No, it reminded me of a time where I attempted to cast a spell for Celestia when I was younger and I ended up overdoing it, giving us both dog ears,” Sunset explained with another giggle. Copper looked at her with an amused look, “Seriously?!” Sunset nodded, “Yep. Seeing those flabby ears on Celestia’s head just cracks me up every time I think of it. We both laugh about it to this day.” Copper lightly laughed. Sunset was still a little skeptical, but she was finding some pleasure in talking to him. Then again, it was the same case for the mares she’d met back in the Café. Copper’s smile dropped, “I’m not really the kind of ponies most ponies talk to, but...” He smiled lightly, “I am glad I managed to speak with you.” Sunset didn’t respond for a little bit, so he continued, “I wish I had the courage to talk more to ponies and share my knowledge of magic. Isn’t it kinda frustrating to have so much knowledge and not share it with others?” Yes, Sunset thought, realizing she never considered it. “The fact is that...” Copper continued, “I’m just too anti-social and ponies snuff me while in that school when I try to talk to ponies my age... and I’m not the best with kids, so...” Sunset saw that he was being genuine, something she never truly saw in the mares now that she thinks back on it. He’s trying to talk to her as if she were another pony, he’s knowledgeable at magic and knows Haycartes. “Don’t get yourself down,” Sunset said without fully thinking. Did I just say that? “Huh?” Copper asked, confused. Thinking quickly, Sunset spoke, “What I mean is that you sound like a talented pony and have your own issues. But if you keep worrying about them and not work around them, things won’t go so smoothly for you. But if you work around them and know how to handle them, your life can be very successful.” “Did you learn that in school?” “The last part,” Sunset admitted, “But hey, I’ve heard of some ponies with disabilities and ponies with autism become successful in writing, making films, and more.” Copper furrowed his brows, thinking, “That’s interesting.” Sunset looked to see a nearby clock and that it was almost five. She knew she’d had to go home, eat, take a bath, then go to sleep for the next day. “This was an interesting conversation, but I need to head home,” she said, standing up, “Thanks for helping.” “Sure...” Copper replied weakly. Sunset slightly frowned, “I’ll see you around school.” She began walking, only to wince at the pain of her foreleg. She’s limping and didn’t look as if she could walk without taking some breaks. “I don’t think you should walk without some help,” said Copper, now beside her. Sunset stopped and looked at him as if her pride had been damaged. “I can get you home... I mean, if you want me to...” he said, gaining an awkward look. Sunset paused. If he were to help her, he’d have to hold onto her and make sure she doesn’t walk on that foreleg. She hated the idea of somepony doing that, even if they were helping, she was big enough to take care of herself and now one little accident causes her this. His awkward look and genuine attitude were getting to Sunset, something she inwardly cursed herself for. However, this was the first pony with all the qualities she’d set for him, plus she did bond with him some. Sunset sighed, “Fine.” Then she gave him a warning look, “But don’t mention this to anypony at the school.” “O-Okay!” replied Copper surprised and delighted that she accepted. As Copper helped her more, both ponies eventually started talking again. This time more about themselves and what they do. Copper mentioned that his family is originally from Vanhoover and they managed to get him into the School despite how far they live. They can’t visit as much as they like but they communicate through letters. Sunset told him about her parents and how their jobs have kept them from ever talking to her and she wished she could see them again. Copper felt as if he’d violated something, but Sunset assured him it’s not his fault and that she’s doing her best. Still, Copper couldn’t believe it and he apologized for them not coming. Eventually, Copper and Sunset arrived at Sunset’s tower. He sat the mare down at the bottom of the stairs. “Well, here you are,” he said. “Yep,” replied Sunset, “Thanks.” “You’re welcome.” The two ponies didn’t speak for a minute until “Do you think we can meet after classes?” Copper asked softly. Sunset raised an eyebrow, “How do you mean?” “I-I mean we did bond...and I just thought we could be...I don’t know, friends?” Copper took a step back. Sunset’s eyes widened. Friend? That’s the assignment Celestia had given her! She did enjoy her time with him, and wouldn’t mind seeing him again. “Sure, I wouldn’t mind seeing you after classes,” she said. Copper smiled brightly, “Promise?” “I promise,” Sunset smiled lightly. Before Copper could say anything, there came a whooshing of air with the sound of wings flapping. Sunset and Copper looked to see Celestia in all her majestic land close by with a sympathetic look. “Sunset?” she said, “I saw you with a bandage on. What happened?” “Oh, I tripped and fell...” Sunset smiled sheepishly. “What?” Celestia’s eyes widened. “But,” she smiled, “My new friend saw what happened, helped me, and got me home.” “You made a new friend?” Celestia’s eyes widened and she smiled. Sunset motioned with her head over to Copper Bronze, who stiffened and bowed before the alicorn. “Copper Bronze, isn’t it?” Celestia asked, still smiling. “Uh, yeah, Your Highness,” Copper stammered out. “No need for that, just call me Headmare Celestia, and you can stop bowing.” Copper stood up straight, still stiff, looking slightly nervous, “Thanks Prin... Headmare Celestia.” Celestia giggled, “It’s okay. I also want to thank you.” “Thank me?” “Yes. What you did for Sunset was something most ponies wouldn’t have done.” “I-I just did it because I wanted to, and more ponies should be more like that,” said Copper, “Why can’t they be?” “I wish I had an easy answer. And I believe you’re Sunset’s new friend?” Both Copper and Sunset glanced at one another and back at Celestia. “Yes. I am,” said Copper. “Indeed, he is,” Sunset smiled, to which Copper returned.