Dream Magic stood there silently, watching the rain pour around her. She was supposed to walk home, but a sudden unscheduled rain, most likely caused by some rookie Pegasus in the northern cloud city about ten miles from their colony.
She watched other unicorns conjure up force fields to shield them from the rain. They’d smirk at her before trotting out into the rain, purposefully trotting through the puddles and splashing her pale green coat. She rolled her eyes but she never complained. If had been a half hour since school ended and most others had gone home, but she stayed, willing the rain to let up. She turned to see her new friend,if that’s what he was, Time Warp, who seemed to watch the rain peacefully. Not talking, for once, but instead observing. That didn’t last long.
“I wonder what stupid Pegasus is to blame for this shitty weather.” He commented dryly. He was annoyed when she stopped him from badgering the third unicorn to splash a muddy puddle her way. He wanted to defend her, but she told him she was used to it, that there wasn’t much of a point to stir up more trouble.
“I’m sure he didn’t mean it.” She answered quietly. Time Warp smirked.
“Sometimes, I swear you’re too nice to other ponies, Dreamy.”
“You’ve barely known me for a day. How could you possibly know anything about me?”
“I know you don’t deserve all the shit you go through. I could never handle it” He sighed, staring out at the gray downpour. Dream shrugged.
“I can’t force other ponies to like me.” Time Warp rolled his eyes.
“But you could at least try”. She narrowed her eyes at him.
“You think I haven’t? “She whispered coldly.
“Sorry.” Time mumbled, glancing at her. “I just don’t get why ponies have a problem with you. So you can’t do magic. What’s the big bucking deal?” Dream sighed.
“I guess ponies like me aren’t just good enough for ponies like them.”
“Well, that’s a pile of manure and you know it! I’ve only known you for a day and I already like you tons more than any of those snobby ass magically ponies!” Time snorted. She gave him a small smile.
“If that’s true, then what more of a friend do I need?”
“Awwww, looks like I’m growing on ya kid” He winked, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief.
“You wish,” She chuckled. Being with another pony had never made her feel so light hearted, and welcome before.
He smiled at her. A real smile, not one of those forced fake smiles given by sympathetic teachers. Not the cruel laughing smiles of her peers, but a warm smile. It made her feel happier than she had been in years. She suddenly felt something smash into her full force, causing her to topple to the ground if a certain chestnut unicorn hadn’t caught her.
“I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there, I was in such a rush when-“ The pony stopped when she realized who she was talking to. Dream Magic looked up, to see an all too familiar blue pony, with a choppy light purple mane.
“Shimmer,” The memories of them over the years came rushing back and Dream remembered how they first met in kindergarten.
“ Hello, I’m Shimmer. What’s your name?” A bubbly voice came from above the small desk where Dream was hiding. “Why are you so quiet? Can’t you talk?” Dream stayed silent. She was petrified; she hadn’t been in the classroom for more than a heartbeat when other ponies started teasing her.
“Where’s her horn?” One would sneer.
“Mama told us to stay away from ponies like you!”
“Why are you even here? This is a magic school” A pink unicorn by the name of Vibrato called the loudest. She was hiding from all the piercing eyes and mocking laughs. Was this one just going to make her life more miserable?
“Ignore those other ponies. They don’t even know what they’re saying, they just repeat what their parents say so they can sound smarter.” The small blue unicorn grinned at her. “If you’re playing hide and seek then I’m playing too!” She declared, squeezing under the desk besides Dream.
“I don’t think you mentioned your name.”
Dream Magic muttered her name so quietly that not even she could hear it.
“I didn’t catch that,” The small blue pony mused, her green eyes flashing playfully.
“Dream Magic.” The earth pony said, slightly louder.
“Well, Dream Magic, how about we become best friends forever?”
They were inseparable after that. Shimmer never cared what other ponies thought of her for being best friends with an earth pony. She always defended her against her worst tormentors.
“Leave her the buck alone!” It was the first year of middle school. Vibrato was up to her old tricks again.
“Aww, No Magic is so defenseless that she has to have her unicorn friend stand up for her!”
“What is wrong with you? Are you so emotionally challenged you find it amusing to flaunt your worth to a pony you find absolutely worthless? If anypony here doesn’t belong, it’s you,Vibrato! If you need to knock other ponies down to feel good about your oh-so-perfect self, then maybe you should pack your bags, and go back to whatever bucking Tartarus pit you crawled out of!”
“I will once that little freak goes back to whatever sad little earth pony colony she came from.”
“You disgust me, Vibrato. Disgust me!”
“It’s not my fault you belittle yourself by making an earth pony your best friend. You could have been my friend, been popular, instead of a little nerd playing with earth ponies.”
“I would die before I became friends with you!”
“Fine, get teased all your life then, and for what exactly? A small earth pony that’s basically worthless here?”
“I won’t-”
“Just remember Shimmer, if you ever want to upgrade your friends, just give me a call.”
Shimmer promised her that day she would never pick a stuck up pony like Vibrato over her, but today in Unicorn history, her friend’s actions made her think otherwise.
Shimmer!” Dream called to her friend. Maybe this year wouldn't be so bad after all but as her friend's green eyes met hers, she saw a flash of embarrassment. Shimmer trotted past her, not giving her even a hint of acknowledgement. Shimmer instead ignored her and slid into a seat next to Vibrato, giving her a huge smile, and started chatting with her excitedly. Vibrato laughed at something Shimmer said, not even bothering to tease the blue unicorn about her blank flank.
“Hello Dream Magic.” Shimmer smiled shyly.
“Shimmer…I-”
“I’m sorry, Dream. I g-got to go. I’m meeting Vibrato at her house and-“
“You promised…” Dream cried, it barely came out in a whisper.
“Best friends right? You promised to never pick Vibrato over me.”
“We were in middle school Dream. I-I need more friends than an earth pony you know. I’m sorry, but talking to you won’t help me get those friends.”
“So you’re going to hate me now too.” Dream cried, feeling tears run down her face. She felt Time Warp glanced between the two mare. He took a step closer to Dream Magic, wanting to comfort her.
“I’d never do that Dream! Were still friends, and you can always come talk to me. Just…not in school. At school, act like we never knew each other.” Without another word. Shimmer trotted out in the rain, a periwinkle force field covering her and keeping her dry.
“The nerve of some ponies! I swear I-“
“Just don’t,Time Warp.” Dream sighed sadly, watching her once best friend walk out in the rain without her. Dream glanced at Time.
“Why aren’t you walking home anyway?”
“Because I don’t want to get wet?” He said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“But you can do magic. You wouldn’t get wet.” she looked up at him and he looked at her nervously.
“My father’s picking me up today. No reason to head home in this weather.”
Dream didn’t question him further, but she felt as if he was lying to her. She hated being lied to; but she didn't want to upset him if it was something personal. Besides, if he really liked her, he would tell her in due time.
The rain continued to fall. As if it never would stop. Time Warp turned to her.
“Doesn’t seem like it’s going to let up anytime soon does it?” She frowned at him.
“No it doesn’t, and I hate getting my coat wet.” Time rolled his eyes.
“If you don’t have anywhere else to go, I know a place to hangout. No pony ever goes there, so you wouldn't have to worry about any fools making fun of your...”
“Who said we were friends?” Dream reased.
“Dang girl, what happened to all that shyness? Now all I see is spunk.”
“Guess you got me to open up a little,” Dream smiled.
“Lucky me,” Time Warp laughed. “So, you coming or what?”
“I-”
“Shouldn't you two be at home?” A serious voice came from behind them. Dream Magic turned to the pony she knew she would see. Spell Caster-silver fur shining, black and golden mane thrown wildly by the wind and dark, wild green eyes boring into hers.
“The rain... I didn’t want to...” She shyly stated. Her face stared down at her hooves, unable to catch his eye. She heard a snort.
“It’s still cold, you’re gonna catch pneumonia if you stay out like this. I could make you a force field if your that worried about getting your mane wet.”
“N-No its fine. I’m heading out with Time Warp any how.” she spoke quietly, wishing the handsome silver stallion away.
“You don’t even know him.” He frowned disapprovingly.
“And you do? Why don’t you just go home instead of telling me who to spend my time with! It’s not like you're offering your company.” Dream could have sworn she saw a small smile and heard a small laugh.
“And if I was?”
But the stallion just shrugged his shoulders, creating a small golden shield around him. He stepped lightly into the rain, avoiding the puddle next to her. He trotted along until he was out of Dream’s sight. Not that she was staring or anything.
“He thinks he knows everything.” Time hissed.
“He might as well. He is the smartest pony in the school.” She reminded him. He merely gave her a crooked smile.
“Come on, the rain is letting up, and there are some ponies I think you might want to meet.”