"New place, new ponies, new beginning!"
"Everything will be the same as always, except you don't have your parents around to scare ponies into submission."
"But they're miles away! As if any of those students even know who they are!"
"Their parents know and they will forbid their kids from associating with you."
"T-then, I'll just have to work fast, before anypony finds out..."
"Somepony might pull it off, but you have no experience in befriending ponies. The rumors of a 'Shimmer' coming to the school will spread faster than you can make a single friend."
"Y-you don't know that!"
"Yes I do."
"W-well, I'm not going to give up anyway!"
"Admirable, but futile. By now everypony knows about your heritage and thinks you're a little spy for your parents."
"I'm not! Well, they told me to be one, but I never wanted to, I just wanted a reason to get away from them..."
"Even if you're not, your family is forever labeled as 'Celestia Haters' and they don't try to hide it. Attacking that dragon librarian only added fuel to the fire. No pun intended."
"I keep telling them, it was just a misu--... wait, how do you know that? Y-you're not supposed to be here!"
"I'm not really here. I'm just a figment of your imagination, caused by the stress you had to endure over the last few days, which manifested as myself, because unlike other ponies your age, I was actually forced to interact with you, due to us being related by blood."
"I'm dreaming?"
"Yes, this is a dream."
"Oh..." Sunset scratched her back. That might explain the flying cupcakes... I was wondering what that was all about. "So, if I punch you in the face, I won't be in trouble?"
"No, you won't. I don't exist, so you won't be hurting anypony and it could relieve some of your tension. It's in your best interest to abuse me to your heart’s content."
Sunset smiled and raised her hoof. "Don't mind if I do!"
"I won't mind at a--BEEPBEEPBEEPBEE-"
BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEE--SMASH!
Sunset slowly, but surely got up, her eyes barely opening, which even further limited the vision she had through her messy, morning mane. She looked at the poor, smashed alarm clock, but felt no pity for something that disturbed her slumber. With no annoying beeping to keep her awake, she stretched a yawn and plopped herself back into the bed, hoping to continue with the plan. When suddenly...
BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP!
She got up again, grabbed the buzzing object with her magic and slammed it multiple times against the floor, no doubt annoying those living on the floor below. Once the annoying gizmo let out its last breath and died as planned, Sunset realized it was time to wake up and get ready for the first true day of classes.
Once she reached her class, the plan was as simple as the quantum theory. If the teen dramas she watched were anything to go by, all she had to do was say hi, introduce herself and then everything would fall into its respective place and then boom, instant friendship! With possible complications solved by friendship, musical numbers and makeovers. And Ice-Cream. With a new resolve in her head and heart, she approached the first filly she could find that was sitting alone AND wasn't Yellow Year or any of her cronies. She made sure to stay as far away from them as possible, though she failed to sneak past them and they started whispering something in between each other. She didn't care about them, as long as they stayed out of her way and didn't add any more fuel to the already big fire.
She approached a lonely, shy looking white coated unicorn (Duh, it's a school FOR unicorns!) filly with a long, pink mane, sitting by herself in one of the front seats, uninterested in other ponies, neatly stacking her notebook and quills around her desk, patiently waiting for the class which wouldn't start for at least 5 minutes.
Perfect! Now for the charm...
She slowly, but confidently, walked towards the girl, stopping just a hoof or two next to her... then stood in silence for about ten seconds, before she realized a mortifying fact. Wait, how do I start a conversation? I can't just smile, say my name and hope everything will work itself out. Or can I? Last time it went well enough, after a few hurdles. What if... She would've spent a few more minutes planning, if the filly hadn't turn to her, finally noticing her presence. Their eyes met, one looking from above at the sitting other. They blinked. Aaaaaand I'm blowing it already! Quick, small talk!
"H-hi!' She waved to the filly.
She waved back. "Uhm, good morning?"
No turning back now! Go Sunset, go! "Hi, I'm Sunset Shimmer."
"Uhm, hi, S-sunset Shi-shimmer." The filly nodded, blushing furiously, immediately turning away from the intimidating figure.
Sunset scratched her head. Either she has a giant crush on me (which I can't blame her for, even if I'm not into her kind) or she's even more shy than I am! That's okay, the natural small talk should begin anytime soon. Like in the movies.
Seconds passed...
Crap, why aren't we socializing? Quick, talk! "So, seems we're in the same class together, huh?"
"Uh-uh." The filly nodded, without even turning back to Sunset.
Oh brother... "It seems like I wasn't the only one looking forward to this class, right?"
Pause.
"You know, because you're sitting in the front? I mean, I would've taken a front seat too if I wasn't too late, but hey... what can you... do..." She hung her shoulders, before finally giving up and hitting her face. I knew it wouldn't be the easiest thing, but this is getting out of hoof!
Before Sunset could collect herself and either give up or keep trying, the filly nervously left the seat, magically grabbing all of her belongings. "Y-you c-c-can have it, I-I-I d-d-don't need it! I can, uh, I can sit in the b-back!"
Sunset raised an eyebrow and followed after her. "Hey, I didn't mean anything like that, I was just--" she tried to reach with a hoof towards her, but upon the slightest contact, the filly shrieked and fell on the ground, covering her head with her hooves, while all of her belongings fell on the ground with a loud thud, now that her spell was suddenly interrupted. The noise was loud enough to attract the attention of all the gathered students, whose eyes were divided between the terrified filly and slightly less terrified filly. Sunset wasn't sure which description fit her the most.
The filly (who failed to introduce herself) trembled on the floor, but still managed to say a moderately coherent sentence. "I'msorrypleasedon'thurtmeIdon'twantanytrouble!"
Sunset blinked. And that was all she managed to do before blinking again, still too shocked to act or talk. Was she thinking I was trying to... bully her? She shook her head and rushed with explanation. "Nonono, it's alright, I wasn't trying to hurt you, I was just--"
"LEAVE HER ALONE, SHIMMER!"
Sunset was telekinetically shoved back from the sobbing filly by none other than the only other student she knew by name. Yellow Year's two henchfillies rushed in between the two and glared at Sunset, like a pack of mother bears protecting her cub.
"Get lost, Shimmer!" Said one of the cronies.
"Yeah, she's scared enough!" Added the second one, while Yellow Year leaned over the terrified filly and attempted to delicately calm her down.
Sunset's eyes twitched. "I wasn't doing anything!"
"Uh-huh, likely story!"
"First day and you're already bullying some timid filly?"
"I told you, I wasn't trying to bu--"
"What, got bored of the Baby Dragons?"
"Pick on somepony your size!"
Eye twitching intensified. Can they STOP interrupting me every two seconds? "I wasn't picking on anypony, I wasn't trying to bully her or anything, it was just a misunderstanding! I was just trying to be friendly!"
"Friendly? You think we're gonna buy this?"
"Yeah, you think we're, like, dumb or something?"
Sunset rolled her eyes. "Smart ponies don't use 'like' instead of elipses!" She immediately regretted saying or even implying this. While the perplexed look on the two was priceless, it didn't make her case any better in front of other students. A few whispers could be heard from around. Not a single one of them was in any way reassuring.
"That's the one that attacked Spike!"
"What's she doing in this class?"
"Keep quiet!"
"I thought the Shimmer clan was just an urban legend?"
"I heard they practice witchcraft!"
Sunset couldn't help but sigh deeply, knowing full well that no matter how much she defended herself, at least some part of what they were saying was true. Faced with a class full of contempt, she was about to go away and let things cool down by themselves. Okay, don't make things worse, just leave them, don't prove them right...
If only she was given that option...
"My parents warned me," she heard a voice behind the two unnamed fillies, before they made way for their leader to pass through. Yellow Year was glaring at Sunset Shimmer not with fear or anger, but with contempt. The whispers died down, making each step of the yellow unicorn that more powerful. "they said that all Shimmers are the same. I didn't believe them at first. I told them that you were just a normal filly, but they insisted. I thought they were wrong, but..." she stopped her march right in front of Sunset's face, who swallowed hard and stepped backwards. "... ever since you showed up, you've been nothing but trouble!"
"I-I, I just..."
"I don't know what it's like in Winter Park or whatever it's called, but this is Canterlot! Some ponies might be afraid of you or your clan, but make no mistake, your parents won't be here to save your ass every time you cause any trouble!"
"B-but... t-that was a mista--"
"The only mistake here is you!" Yellow Year's outburst made most ponies in the class gasp loudly, but not Sunset Shimmer. She wasn't sure how to react, so she ended up doing nothing. "I don't know why, after almost a hundred years, a Shimmer is coming to this school or why Princess Celestia let you inside, but mark my words, Shimmer! I'm keeping my eyes on you and I'm not afraid of your clan. Just TRY to do something wrong. I dare you!"
Sunset had a myriad of ways to respond. She could badmouth her so badly, she'd run away crying. She could dig up some dirt on her for use later. Use a subtle magical trick to make her trip, or destroy her belongings, burn her mane. Or forget any subtleties and just lunge at her with her hooves. She was trained in self-defense since she was little, this yellow bitch didn't have the slightest chance. The adolescent male part of the audience would no doubt enjoy a little catfight in the morning. But what was the point? She wasn't trying to make any enemies. They keep finding me, though. Eventually, she huffed and turned away, slowly walking back to the seat she just "acquired".
"Yeah, you better run!"
"Know your place, Shimmer!"
Sunset didn't respond. She was surprised she didn't feel like snapping back at the two cronies, or Yellow Year for that matter. Nopony said anything to her anymore, but she could tell that most of her classmates had their eyes on her, except not for the reasons she would've wanted.
My place... where?
The classes in the most prestigious middle school in Equestria were supposed to be something else. It was supposed to be the most amazing thing, filled with new knowledge and experience. But for some reason, she ended up learning a material that she was already familiar with (Is it my fault for reading everything beforehand?), surrounded by those who feared, hated or, in the best case scenario, didn't care. She tried to be patient, just like Princess Celestia advised, but a similar story repeated in every class, whether because Yellow Year or one of her cronies was there, or because they already heard the rumors and kept a safe distance, no matter how much she tried to get closer. She kept a straight face all the way though repeating Princess Celesta's 'Just be patient' mantra, which helped her not kill anypony on the spot.
Once she closed the door to her room, however...
"I told you it wouldn't be any different."
"Well excuse me for trying!" She snapped back at her imaginary cousin, tossing her saddlebags violently at her own bed.
"You're angry at yourself because you knew this would happen, but you tried it anyway."
"No sh*t Sherclop!"
"And despite all that, you're going to keep on trying. Because nothing will stop you. You're a Shimmer and Shimmer's don't quit."
"Don't you even dare saying what I think you'll say!"
"You're just like your fathe--"
A pillow passed through the imaginary filly and slammed at the door.
"I'M NOT LIKE HIM!"
Sugarcoat was silent for a moment, before shrugging. "He has a short temper too."
Sunset wanted to cover her head with a pillow in vain hopes the voice in her head would disappear already, but since she threw it away and didn't feel like levitating it back, she instead used her blanket. "Just leave me be!"
"The fact that I'm here shows that you're afraid of doing what you're about to do, which is still trying to reach out to others. You know how it will end and you desperately wish for somepony to stop you or give you a hint to give up. Which was usually my job."
Sunset sighed heavily. It's not too late to get a book from the library, is it? Anything to stop thinking about... it.
"It's too early to go to the library after what you did to that dragon."
"I KNOW THAT!" She shook her head. The more she talked to her imaginary phantom of her least favorite (and only) cousin posing as ponification of her own self loathing, the more real she felt. Besides, she entered this school to learn more about magic, get away from her home AND find some friends. And Sunset Shimmer doesn't stop at anything less than 100%!
"Even though I doubt you'll listen to me, I'm still going to say that I don't want to be the one telling you that..."
---
A few days later, Sunset Shimmer didn't even have enough strength to throw pillows anymore. They were in fact being used for something more important. They were easier to replace than a blanket wet from tears.
"...I told you so."
She knew this would've happened and she didn't need an imaginary enemy to point it out. First impression was the key, she blew it and it only got worse. She was a Shimmer. That was a fact and it was engraved in everyponies heads and no amount nice behavior would ever get that stigma away from her. She didn't even have to do anything to deserve it. The rumors escalated on their own, nopony was even trying to get her down. Not even Yellow Year, who kept an eye on her, but rarely interfered, acting more as a guardian and protector to those around them. She even took Twinkleshine, the wallflower she scared on day one, under her (proverbial) wing and she became a fourth member of their clique, which was... good for her? Either way, she didn't want to bother with any of this anymore. She came to this school for three things, but at this point, she was content with just two.
"67% is still above average, I guess..."
"I think you now fully realize that nopony in the school will ever talk to you now that they know who you are, or at least they think they know the real you, which they don't because nopony bothered to--"
"Oh for Celestia's plot, when will you finally shu--" She stopped in the middle of the sentence, her mouth still hung open, as well as eyes, as a realization struck her.
"Nopony in the school will ever trust you, but there's more to Canterlot than just this building." Sugarcoat's image said with the same cold face as always while Sunset's smile slowly grew. "Most ponies outside don't know about your clan and even when they find out they will be more willing to let it slide since they aren't as connected to the--"
"Yes, yes, you don't have to over-explain it," she jumped off her bed and passed by her imaginary cousin towards the mirror "I was so caught up with the school that I forgot ponies exist beyond these walls! All I have to do is find some and make a good first impression, for once! And speaking of," she noticed her own reflection, baggy eyes and disheveled mane being the highlights "gotta do something about this mess I call me! And don't you even dare say a single word! You hear me, Sugarcoat?" She turned away to see... nopony. No Sugarcoat, real or imaginary, anywhere in the near, or far, vicinity. She smiled as she opened the bathroom door.
"Perfect! I'm feeling better already."
---
Easier said than done.
After a quick shower, mane styling and deciding not to wear anything other than her saddlebags to not appear too vain, Sunset Shimmer found herself on the busy afternoon streets of Canterlot. It sounded great in her head, but as always the devil lied in the details, which she wasn't quite sure how to handle. For example, where was she even supposed to find ponies her age? Her first thought were libraries, book stores and some nearby cafes, but then she'd probably find students from her school trying to break the monotony of their usual life (Just like me?), which was a big no-no. Her newer NEW start had to be as fresh as possible, so she walked all the way to the opposite side of the city, towards the more busy side of Canterlot, filled to the brim with restaurants, middle class shops and non-elite schools. But finding a bunch of teenagers wasn't as hard as actually interacting with them. If the past few days had taught her anything, it was that first contact is often the most complicated one and for her, a complete stranger to both this city and youth culture in general, this would be the biggest hurdle to overcome. At least back at the school she had classes as a common topic.
After about ten minutes of searching, she found a clique of three teenage ponies roughly her age, walking down the streets. All three of different tribes and coats, but all shared the same passion for accessorizing, as they were all into glitter, earrings, necklaces, make-up, girly saddlebags, all the girly stuff from the magazines. All of them were of course just cheap imitations, but the glitter was still impressive for an untrained eye.
All in all, this was as typical a teenager as she could imagine that wasn't going to the most prestigious school in Equestria. She hesitated only for a short moment, realizing she'd rather try and fail miserably than talk with 'Sugarcoat' ever again. Armed with feigned courage and illusory confidence, she approached the trio.
"Hey there," she caught their attention and almost immediately followed up with more dialogue, hoping to outrun the nerves she was gathering "so, umm, hi, my name is Sunset Shimmer and I'm new in town, I mean, city," earning mostly confused glares, Sunset swallowed and smiled brighter "so, umm, wanna hang out, or stuff?"
Aaaaaand I said it. At least I was honest. That counts for something, right?
The trio looked between each other, then almost simultaneously snorted.
"Ohmigosh, did you hear that?"
"What a geek!"
"Yeah, like, who does she think she is?"
Sunset raised one eyebrow. They do realize I'm still standing right here?
"Thanks but no thanks, Sunset Trimmer..."
"Shimmer."
"Like, whatever!" She rolled her eyes and lead her pack away from Sunset Shimmer. Their giggles and jokes could be heard for a few more seconds, before the sound became too incomprehensible.
Sunset closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Calm down Sunset, no use turning them into ashes... just yet. Collect your thoughts and think positive... umm, at least they were honest? That has to count for something. At least they weren't prejudiced against me for my family name alone... yay?
"Don't worry about those three," Sunset almost jumped when she heard a male voice behind her "your saddlebag has more IQ than those three combined. You're not losing anything of value."
She turned back and eyed the newcomer. He was a young colt, dull gray earth pony with a dark, messy mane that almost covered his expressionless face, as if trying to say 'whatever I don't care anyway' and blue eyes. He was wearing a simple black t-shirt with some sort of hard rock band whose logo went way and above the call of duty when it came to being able to be read and understood (which she heard was a sign it was a good band). She only took a small glance at his rear (because she WASN'T interested in stallion rears!), but she noticed that his cutie mark was an electric guitar with several sparks coming from it.
"O-okay," she nodded, not quite sure how to continue the conversation "and you know that because...?"
The youth shrugged. "I've known them for years. Same school, same neighborhood, you know."
"Ah. Childhood friends?"
He rolled his eyes. "Tsh, yeah, right. Before they became bimbos."
"Rrright."
Silence fell between the two of them. Sunset scratched her head, wondering if she should continue the conversation, turn away and leave, or...
"You're new in Canterlot?" He asked suddenly.
"Uh, yeah. Just got here a week ago, for the new semester."
"What school?"
"Celestia's Schoo--" She held her tongue, realizing her mistake. Crap, I was supposed to keep that fact hidden! Oh darn, no turning back now! "Celestia's School, yeah."
"Cool. You're in luck today."
"Thanks, I guess... why?"
"Because every minute with three stooges would make you dumber. It's been known to happen."
Sunset snickered. "Fortune smiles upon me."
The teen smiled too. "It sure does."
Another moment of silence passed between the two, though this one wasn't nearly as awkward or inconvenient. The colt coughed, scratched his head, his eyes looking slightly away as he asked.
"I could... show you around? Canterlot, I mean. If you have time, you know."
Sunset's eyes opened wide. Woah, is he... is he asking me out? I mean, he seems okay (if a little apathetic) and I don't blame him for trying, but... But as she was about to start considering her options, a familiar, light blue filly with glasses and three ponytails, stared at her from behind the colt. She opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, but Sunset was faster.
"Yes, I would love to... I-I mean, sure, why not? I don't really have anything better to do right now anyway."
The colt blinked, then nodded. "Cool. I'm Glam Rock."
"Sunset Shimmer."
"Cool name."
"Thanks, yours too... I guess."
As the two left, Sunset peeked behind her, in search of her cousin's ghostly form. Thankfully, Sugarcoat was nowhere to be found.