It was a new day at Canterlot High, only days after the incident at the Friendship Games. Cinch was abruptly fired due to endangerment and blackmailing. As for Twilight "Sci-Twi" Sparkle, she's been fitting in at CHS without any problems. As for the Shadowbolts, they've been turning a new leaf, seeing Canterlot as equals.
At the moment, Sci-Twi was chatting with Sugarcoat via cellphone.
"So far, Principal Sombra's been much better." Sugarcoat said.
"Really? I know he was good as Vice-Principal, but I never thought he could be the real-deal." Twilight said.
"Well, yeah, he's a little strict, but everyone seems to love him."
"That's good. I gotta go, Celestia wants me to show the new kid around."
"Got it." Sugarcoat said as she hung up.
Twilight went to the front door, just in time to see a mini-van drive off and a boy in a dark hoodie and a backpack slung on one shoulder began walking into the building. He stopped and looked up at Twilight, giving her hardly any time to catch her bearings.
"Hi, um... my name's Twilight Sparkle. I was supposed to show you around...?" Twilight shuddered.
The boy sighed, and took off the hood, revealing a face Twilight was all-too-familiar with.
"S... Sky?" Twilight asked.
Sky Armor, the weakest student at Crystal Prep. She's seen him get bullied by male Shadowbolts, and shunned by female Shadowbolts.
"Sky, um..." Twilight started.
"Celestia gave me my schedule. Just need to find my locker." Sky directly said.
"Uh... Okay." Twilight said, awkwardly silenced.
Sky went to his locker and entered the combination. He tossed his backpack into the locker, with a tad more force than usual. He then went to his first class with Mrs. Harshwinny. He went into the class and quickly took his seat.
"Class, meet our new student from Crystal Prep... Sky Armor." She said.
One student reared to another.
“First that Twilight lookalike and now this guy? They’re moving like flies at this point.”
“Can you blame the guy? I heard rumors from some kids about him... kicked around like a crash dummy.”
As the two students spoke to each other, Sky took note of his classmates. A girl with large, pink hair and a constant smile on her face. Another was a girl who had her feet on the desk, short rainbow hair taking the spotlight. Sky quickly took notes of the two, how people seemed to like them.
The school day was over and Twilight gathered the Humane 6 along with some Shadowbolts.
"Wait, Sky Armor?! We thought he moved!" Sour Sweet said.
"He must've, but to our district line." Sunset said.
"What do we do?" Fluttershy asked.
"We need a way to make him smile!" Pinkie said.
"No, you need to give him time. He was invisible at CPA, maybe he wants to do the same here." Sugarcoat suggested.
"There's no way he would want that, who would?!" Rainbow asked.
"Look, he's had bad history with us, a falling out with his family, just let him adjust." Jet Set said.
The group took time to consider this. Spike hopped out of Twilight's backpack.
"I remember you guys picking on him. We'd see it everyday for a year. We shouldn't start meeting like this. We're right outside the school and anyone can see us, including--"
"Me."
The entire group jumped back as Sky Armor walked up to the center, hands in his pocket.
"Forgot my book. Wanted to go get it." Sky said as he went back into the building.
The group fell silent again.
"See? It's bad!" Pinkie said.
"Okay, so he's... distant. So what? What can we do about it? It's bad enough that we're even talking about him like this, just give him some space." Sunset said.
The group agreed, and the meeting ended just as Sky walked out of the building. Fluttershy sighed and got up after him.
"Flutters, where're ya goin?!" Rainbow asked.
"Home. Got to check on the animals." Fluttershy said as she walked in tandem with Sky.
"Hmm..." Rainbow said.
"What is it?" Sunset asked.
"Fluttershy said something about a new roommate. I'm wondering..." Rainbow started.
Fluttershy made it back home and opened the door. She was greeted by another student feeding the birds.
"Hey, Fluttershy." Sky said.
"Hey, Sky." Fluttershy said awkwardly.
A silence followed until Fluttershy cleared her throat.
"I'm so sorry we talked about you like that. The others were just worried."
"And the Shadowbolts, too?" Sky scolded.
"Y... Yes. They wanted to help us to know you."
"They don't know me." Sky scoffed.
Fluttershy went for her medication as Sky undid his backpack and tossed it into his room. Sky looked back and saw Fluttershy down her pills for the day.
"Hate that stuff." Sky muttered.
"I need to take it. If I don't, my voice could fade away. I'm lucky I could speak at all." Fluttershy said.
"You can't afford the surgery?" Sky asked.
"It's 20 times my pay rate. I know you can't afford it." Fluttershy quickly gasped at her words.
"It's alright. You have a point. I gotta find a job-- a good job." Sky said.
"I think I can help you!" Pinkie said from behind Sky.
"HOLY--" Sky jumped 15 feet back and almost collapsed.
"Pinkie! You scared the life out of him!" Fluttershy said.
"Sorry! Couldn't help it. Any-who..." Pinkie teleported in between the two.
"... We're hiring at the Sugar Cube Corner, Applejack could always use an extra paid hand at the farm, and Rarity could use help finding jewelry!" Pinkie said.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, I don't even know any of those people, A. And B, I don't need help finding a job. I know lots of people who are hiring." Sky bluffed.
"Oh, yeah? Like who?" Pinkie asked.
"Well, um..." Sky started.
"Thought so! Seeya, Flutters!" Pinkie slid down the stairs and she was gone.
Sky looked up at Fluttershy.
"So, um..." He started.
"Forgive Pinkie, she just wants to have fun."
"No, she's okay. It's just..." Sky started.
Another silence fell for what felt like hours until Fluttershy cleared her throat.
"Let's get started on homework." She said.
"Yeah... Let's." I said.
The two finished their homework and Fluttershy started dinner. She grabbed old leftovers from last night and reheated them.
"So, everyone thinks you're vegetarian?" Sky asked.
"Yes, it's so annoying..." The pizza was heated and the two started eating.
"I mean, I see why people would think that, but still..."
"It's the circle of life. I don't eat my animals, but I'd eat this any day." Fluttershy said as she held up her sausage pizza as she ate.
Sky faintly chuckled as he kept eating.