After being exiled from equestria, a strange pony is sent to a mysterious parallel world. Can he learn what he must, of friendship and love, before returning becomes nothing more than wishful thinking?
"So, do you have anything to say?" He looked up and grinned. "Nothing that would change anything." "Then for your sins, i hereby exile you from the land of Equestria" And with that, he stepped through the mirror, leaving everything behind.
A strange young man enlists in The Canterlot School. Can he learn the values of friendship and how to love before its too late for him? Just what is his story, and why does it seem like he's not revealing anything to those who want to help?
Note: The beginning of this story starts before the events of the first equestria girls movie. Thank you to everyone who helped proofread my chapters, your help is EXTREMELY appreciated!
"Do you have anything to say before I begin?" The royal voice called down at the cloaked colt firmly, yet with an almost melancholy note. He looked up, the corner of his mouth turned up in a slight grin.
"Nothing that would change anything, Princess." He matched her tone, his eyes glancing to the guards posted at his sides.
She sighed, looking up to the ceiling, then back to the pony in front of her. "I don't want to have to do this a second time but I have no choice. For your sin, you have even exiled. You will be sent somewhere your magic will have very little influence or effect, and will be stripped of your title, rank, and privileges. Due to your past accomplishments and relations with the kingdom, you are allowed to be an observer of your new home, and report to me about any irregularities." Her voice was flat, orderly, as if she had to force the words out. "Maybe there, you can hopefully learn something," the princess remarked, passing him an empty journal with a royal seal on the cover.
His horn shone for a moment and a pair of saddlebags appeared on his flank, nothing more it seemed than a few books inside. The guards raised their weapons in alarm, but the princess waved them down, allowing it. "Alright then. Anything else?" He inquired, his resignation evident. He wouldn't fight this. She was an old friend, and a powerful one too.
She sighed once more and looked at him sadly, "I'm sorry for this. Truly I am. After I had to banish my sister, I'd hoped not to lose anyone else."
The mysterious colt's responses brief, but it had the impact his words usually carried, "We never truly lose those close to us. They remain in our hearts."
At their exchange, the door behind the throne opened slowly, revealing an ancient mirror, shimmering slightly in the dusk. The last of the sun shone down on it, and as the darkness grew, the artifact began to emit an eerie light. The surface of the mirror shimmered, almost invitingly, towards them. As he stepped up to the mirror, he turned his head and grinned slightly . "See you later, Princess," he whispered, and, turning his back, stepped inside, leaving Equestria behind.
The school bell rang loudly as students erupted into the halls, eager to meet up with their friends at lunch. Dusk had been there for a month, and he had yet to make any friends. Which was just as well; he was horrible at it, and he wasn't even sure he wanted any friends. Friends had never worked out for him; not in the last world, and not in this one. School, on the other hand, was nothing more than just being taught various bits of knowledge, and he had had his share of that already. The classes were easy, and he could have excelled in just about every class. The exception however, was history. Dusk had learned more about this prison of his every day, but he was still trying his best to figure the place out. Which was exactly what he was thinking about when he ran head first into the vice principal, who had traveling down the hall, making sure the students were in order.
"You should really watch where you are going, young man," Luna said, brushing herself off lightly and looking down at him.
"Sorry, V.P Luna," he muttered, lowering his head respectfully, "It won't happen again." He kept walking, turning his forest eyes floor-ward and continuing on. How strange it was that she looked so much like an old friend he once knew, even going so far as to sharing the same name.
Dusk shrugged, chalking one up for coincidence and filing it away in his head, and walked into the lunch hall. He found his usual spot, a table near the corner that didn't stand out much. This was where he belonged after all; alone in the back of the room. Luckily for him though, no one ever paid much attention to him. He was fairly average looking; with his short, disheveled black hair, his grayish skin, common jeans, and a black button down shirt - which was unbuttoned to reveal a sky blue t-shirt - everything about him simply blended into the crowd. Only three things about Dusk actually stood out: his piercing forest-green eyes, the symbol on his shirt, which this world called 'yin & yang,' and the fact that he never seemed to be comfortable wherever he was. That last trait, coupled with a strange 'forsaken loner' vibe he apparently gave off, tended to keep others out of arms reach of him, outside the usual ignoring of him. He pondered his situation to himself, sitting in his usual spot as he pulled his lunch out of the backpack he usually kept with him.
"Alright, so what will today have in store for me? I only have one thing to make sure i keep doing anymore..." he thought forlornly to himself, glancing at the journal he took with him before his banishment.
"So, what in this place has changed recently?" Pulling out his lunch, he flipped through his journal, looking for a clean page, mumbling under his breath. "Spells, no.. Incantations, no... Magical augmentation, no... Research.. ah, here we go - observations." Flipping to a clean page near the back, he nibbled as he scribbled, taking notes on observations of how things worked and changed around high school. Considering that no one paid much notice of him, Dusk could gather information easily enough. A group of younger girls, calling themselves crusaders of some kind, were talking about how their song was coming along. Another girl was commenting about her favorite muffins to her friends, who were commenting back and forth about different genres of music, both too engrossed to realize the other wasn't listening. Those two middle schoolers, Snips and Snails, were stilling nipping at the coat tails with that narcissist, Trixie.
"Nothing much interesting ever happens anymore. Its all just routine, day in and day out. I wonder when anything actually new will happen.." He glanced around again, his mind flipping through mental folders.
"Oh wait.. There is still that new girl. something about her..." Dusk said, his voice barely catching his own ears, His eyes wandered to the other side of the cafeteria, landing on a young girl his age, with striking red and yellow hair. Sunset Shimmer was it? he thought, running a hand through his unruly hair. She had joined a couple weeks back, and won the crown of the Fall Formal easily, but something about her always seemed off. It was as if being the best just wasn't good enough for her, as if she had someone she was trying to prove herself too. This could be worrisome, but then, he was just supposed to be an observer. He wasn't tasked with being an interference - this world had enough to deal with without him messing things up. And yet... he still couldn't shake this sense of dread and uneasiness. So Dusk put his journals down and dug back into his meal, his eyes slowly wandering amongst the masses. Things would be happening soon enough. New things, old things, curious happenstances. But things, however mysterious, happened at their own pace, not his. That was the deal with dealing with magic, and if he knew anything, it was there was magic in everything, no matter how small an amount. He could wait, he would wait, even if just for a little while. For now, blending in and settling in to a routine would have to be his goal.
"Hey, have you heard about the new guy?" Scootaloo asked as she walked with her friends.
"What, the one that just joined the fencing club?" Sweetie Belle inquired back, shouldering her backpack.
"I heard he's a natural, even though he's only been with 'em fer a few days!" Applebloom exclaimed. "You guys think he can show us a few things? Maybe its something we'd be good at!"
Sunset Shimmer glared at the three young girls as they raced off, probably back home. It was the end of the school day, but she couldn't care less. At the moment, she was too busy seething. How dare they talk about someone else in her presence - and some nobody at that! She didn't work her shimmering butt off just to have the attention taken away from her, and she'd be damned if she let it happen right after her victory at the fall formal. Getting the other girl to step down from the running was easy enough; she just hoped the emotional scars wouldn't last. She may be manipulative, but she wasn't violent. But alas, that wasn't her problem anymore; He was. Sunset began to make her way down to the gymnasium, where the fencing club had just started its after-school sessions. Time to see who she was dealing with this time.
As she walked into the gymnasium and took her seat at the top of the bleachers, the small class of fencers, about eight or nine of them, plus the teacher, were just coming out of the locker rooms. They were all laughing amongst themselves, slapping each other on the back, but one of them caught her eye. One fencer seemed to stand out more than the rest. He was hanging near the back of the group, between two other students, talking politely. A few passing remarks got him to grin at the others, but that unmistakable air of solitude hung around him like a disease. Him. It had to be him. So, he was the one taking her rightful attention.
Well let's see what I can use against him, Sunset thought to herself, smirking and leaning back into the shadows. I shouldn't have to do anything more than tell him how horrible all his precious work is. Then i can go back to ruling this school of pathetic losers.
The young men took up positions, beginning their practice maneuvers and stretches, but her attention barely wavered from the one, and as soon as they were finished, the coach began calling out sparring partners.
"Fleetfoot, you're up against Caramel, Spitfire, you've got Lightning Dust - and please try to keep the trash talking to a minimum this time, Soarin' you and Dusk are next.." Sunset Shimmer stopped listening as she saw that one from earlier perk up. Her suspicions were correct, the one named Dusk was who she was looking for. He was bumping fists with another student at the back of the room. She recognized Soarin' - he'd spent years at the school already - but Dusk.. he was much newer. "So he is the one huh..?" she muttered to herself. "He isn't that bad-looking... Maybe ill just take him for myself... If he's useful."
As the third match rolled around, Sunset Shimmer could see the two of them pulling their masks on and readying their foils, taking up their positions in the middle of the mat that had been set out for them. Right as the start was called, Dusk launched forward in engagement, instantly getting a point to Soarin's chest and retreating back to where he had started, his movements a blur. She glanced around and saw that all the other people in the room were watching with almost rapt attention, watching that man attack his opponent with parries and ripostes, his blade dancing around Soarin's guard. After not even a minute had passed, Dusk was only one point from winning, and his opponent only had gotten a couple hits on him. A moment later, the match was over, the point of Dusk's foil resting on the ground, shaking hands with the other man. Well, she thought, a wicked grin beginning to creep across her cheeks, He's certainly, talented, ill give him that. I think i can work with this.
Sunset Shimmer waited until the class was over and everyone was on their way home before confronting Dusk, her fingers itching to have him twisted around them. She caught up to him as he walked out of the school his bag around his shoulder.
"Not a bad match in there, huh?" She commented, standing behind him, smirking. Time to do what she was good at.
He shrugged, looking back at her. "Yea, it was alright." Not a man of many words it seemed. She would have to try harder to find something she could exploit, so testing his pride would be a good start.
"Although you were pretty sloppy."
"Hmm. Well, thank you for the criticism. I'll have to try harder next time," he said nonchalantly, nodding politely and continued walking. Alright, so pride was out. Time to try something else.
"I'm Sunset Shimmer by the way. Of course you've heard about me, haven't you? I did just win the fall formal."
"Can't say i paid much attention to it. Not a huge fan of social events. Dusk Spinner by the way." He held his hand out politely, to which she refused, grinning to herself when he awkwardly turned away after a few moments.
"Well get used to hearing my name. I'm the most important person in this school, so you better be careful how you talk to me. I'm the one running things around here, but i might just have room for an..assistant. I'll make sure no one ever stands up to me or looks down at me.. or us, if you're in." She flipped her hair, looking down at him self-righteously.
"Well, alright then. And I'm sorry, but you don't have much to offer me anyway, Ms. Shimmer." He suddenly turned his piercing eyes on her, the colors in them melting together, as if they were looking deeper into her own. She could feel herself withering slightly, recoiling inwardly at the depth of his gaze. Just what were those eyes seeing, what was he hiding behind them? "And if you didn't notice back in the gymnasium, I'm not really the type to have all that many friends." His voice was low, but calm, and firm. "So trying to turn me on to whatever side you think you're on is probably not going to work." To which he walked away, turning down a side street and leaving her at the school gate.
What was that? How had he noticed her back in there? She had been sitting in the back, in the shadows, where no one was ever noticed. And what the hell did he mean by that 'side' comment!? She was fuming now, her fists clenching and her knuckles turning white as she stormed back the other way on her way home. She had EVERYTHING to offer him, and he turned her down!? She would have to try even harder to make his life a living hell, until he came crawling back to her, begging her to make him worthy of even looking at her. Those eyes of his would be weeping by the end of the week.
Fire. There was lots of fire. Ponies were running around. What was happening? A building exploded. He looked down, his hoof prints trailing behind him haphazardly. There were even more ponies running through the streets, away from the flames, but to no avail. Screaming. That's what he was hearing. Wailing. Crying. Fear. He heard children crying, a mother crying.. even men were crying. Another explosion. Flowers of crimson and light were blossoming all around him. Fear. His breathing grew haggard, the cloak drawing tighter around him as he ran. He couldn't go back. Not there. Not anywhere. Not anymore. Not after what he did. Fear. All he could do was run. Rivers of red ran down his vision. Was it blood, was it fear? That word.. it was always there, floating amidst the flames. Fear. It kept repeating itself over and over and over and over and fear fear feAr fEAr FeaRFEaRFEARThEY aRE aLL G0nE.
Dusk Spinner woke up in a cold sweat, a scream lingering on his lips. It was that dream again. Always that dream...
Dusk sighed as he closed his locker, his eyes drifting off towards his left. It had been a week since his initial talk with Sunset Shimmer, but she hadn't made things any easier. She was constantly watching him, sizing him up, and it was actually starting to get on his nerves. Having this much attention on him was rather unusual; he hoped Sunset couldn't sense his discomfort from her vantage point. He sighed again, shouldering his bag and daring another glance to the side. Yep, she was still looking. Gods, that was getting old quickly. He raised his eyebrow quizzically at her and she turned away, so he turned the opposite direction, and headed off to his next class.
When lunch time eventually rolled around, he took his usual spot in the back corner of the room, opened up his journal to the usual pages, and took a bite of the usual sandwich he had packed earlier at home. Things were beginning to get rather stale in his everyday life. How can these humans live like this? he thought to himself, absently taking notes of the jocks at the next table over throwing a football around. Its like none of them even care what happens tomorrow, or if it ever comes. How can they be content with this boring kind of life? I know I've been banished, but jeez, Celestia could've at least sent me somewhere more interesting... Suddenly, his head slammed sideways, a football careening off of it. One of the jocks ran over, grabbing the football and running back to his table with a slight wave of a hand in apology, laughing as he sat back down. Bunch of idiots. Shaking it off, Dusk picked up his things, scooting down a few feet, and resuming his slow absorption of a turkey and cheese sandwich. His lunch was interrupted yet again when a hand abruptly came down on the table next to him, causing him to jump and look over. Great, speaking of interesting, here was Sunset Shimmer again, probably to harass him about not helping her cause. He was running out of sighs, so he looked over at her slowly.
"Can I help you?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm without betraying his annoyance at the constant disturbances.
"Just what the hell is your problem?" she said, her voice rising in pitch. It wasn't her issue to deal with, why was she here?
"Excuse me?"
"I said I wanna know what your deal is!" She was getting angry now, Dusk could see that much. He didn't want to cause a scene, so he gathered his things and began walking towards the door. "Follow me" were his only words to her.
Outside, behind the cafeteria where none could hear, he set his things down and turned around to face Sunset Shimmer.
"Well, are you going to tell me, or am I going to have to start spreading rumors?" She crossed her arms, glaring at his defiance of her.
"Im actually more interested in what your problem is." He looked her in the eyes, doing his best not to be angry. Putting up with complaints against him, at least that was something he was used to. "Every day you keep looking at me like I'm some kind of enemy, some mark on your record. I've done nothing wrong, and yet you still keep acting like I'm the goddamned plague!"
"Because no matter what I see, I just can't figure you out!" Her sneer could have sliced the building tension in half. "Even if you won't help me, I can't just stand by and watch you ignore everything that happens to you! I won't let the man who turned down my offer of power be some wuss. Show some backbone, hold a damn grudge, and stop being so weak! Just what are you afraid of?!"
Dusk's eyes narrowed, his voice taking on an icy calm. The steel in his eyes magnified the firmness of his words as he spoke, and he lowered his hands to his sides, "Do not call me weak.."
"I'll call you whatever the hell I want!" Sunset Shimmer was almost shouting now, and he could see she was letting that self-righteous sneer sneak back onto her face. "God, look at you, I don't think i've ever seen anyone more weak and fearful than whatever you think you are."
His hands were clenched into fists. That word...fear. All the memories that Dusk had been pushing down were starting to inch back into place. And now, with this girl screaming at him, he had had- "ENOUGH!" His word cut through the noise, the memories and emotions swimming through his head as he tried to control himself. "You want to know why I don't keep grudges?!" His voice was rising, and he could feel himself looming over her slightly, pressing her back against the wall. Fear. His eyes were piercing through that arrogant will of hers, the fire in them blazing brightly. "Maybe its because I choose not to, maybe its because I enjoy not hating people, or MAYBE its because a long time ago, a whole lot of good people DIED because I held a grudge!!" Your fault. "Because of my own pride and arrogance, I have to look at the faces of a hundred innocent souls every single time I close my eyes!! Maybe THAT'S why I choose not to hold a grudge! So don't you DARE call me weak, because I'm doing everything I can just to not go completely insane in this world!" Weak.
After a few moments, he finally began to calm down, his breathing growing heavy as he held his head, one hand running through his hair. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to blow up like that. Please excuse me, I'm not feeling well.." Stepping back, he grabbed his bag and was walking towards the school exit when her voice stopped him.
"Wait." He hadn't actually heard her use a gentle voice since he had first met her, but apparently there were firsts for everything. Dusk turned slowly and saw Sunset Shimmer standing there, her hands at her sides. Guess I am weak, huh? Still hurting people.. His thoughts were settling down from a boiling rage into a mild sorrow now. He could see fear in her eyes from his outburst, but he could see confusion too. "What do you mean, this world...?"
He could only chuckle slightly at that. If she only knew just what he was..where he came from..what he did. "We all have sins that we must atone for.. but some sins can't be erased, no matter what you do.."
"Whatever you did can't be that bad.. You could still be-"
"My sentence was banishment. Not forgiveness." He could still hear the fear in his own voice, but there was something else mixed in with it. Sadness? Regret? Dusk shook off the thoughts, nodded his head politely and continued his exit, raising his hand slightly in a wave as he hit the gate.
~~~~~The Next Day~~~~~
"Alright, that will be it then. We hope to see you here again soon." Principal Celestia smiled as Dusk let himself out of the principals office, slipping a folder into his bag.
"And just where do you think you're going in the middle of the day?" Sunset Shimmer said, interrupting his exit and stepping out in front of him.
He raised an eyebrow at her, zipping up his backpack. "Well, if you want me to be straightforward, I'm doing the rest of the year's work at home. There are some things that somepony needs to take care of that I can't do at school, at least not yet." A grin began creeping onto his face with his next words. "Besides.. You don't need my help with your plans. Trust me. So you can stop trying to...collect me, for lack of a better term. Good luck, though, Sunset Shimmer." He offered her a small smile, and, to her protests, a pat on the head.
Dusk walked out of the office, heading towards the front doors. It was too bad he couldn't hear the soft words spoken from inside after the doors had closed.