Chapter 1
Sunset and the Mysterious Stranger
Sunset Shimmer sat outside CHS. It was a quiet morning and the school bus for the other students was yet to arrive. She had chosen to walk to school that morning after feeling a fresh breeze whipping in through her window and seeing the sun was bright and made her mood happy enough to walk.
Then, the sound of footsteps pattering around on the stone path to the high school’s front doors drew her attention. Sunset Shimmer felt her heart dance with a small amount of joy it might be Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie or Rarity arriving at school, but instead it was someone new and unfamiliar.
This stranger seemed to like black. Her jumper, her plain styled trousers and shoes were all black in colour. Sunset hoped this like of black didn’t make this new student someone with an anxiety or depression problem, but as she approached with a little curiousness to the stranger, she thought it too soon to rush to conclusions.
“Um… hi,” Sunset called out, wondering if the stranger was a possible new student or someone interested in taking a tour around CHS.
The stranger turned to face her and Sunset couldn’t help a small gulp at noticing the stranger’s deep jungle green eyes. The black attire and a shade of green for eyes was kinda creepy and reminded Sunset of the general appearances of Changelings back in Equestria as she took a step back.
“Oh,” the stranger muttered with uncertainty, “Hi,” her voice shook with nerves.
There was an awkward pause and Sunset felt stupid for it. Being said hi to should be something to reply too, but strangely the distance between her and the new student seemed like a void.
“Okay,” the new voice of the stranger said unconvinced of what Sunset’s inactivity meant and went inside the high school.
“Ugh, why did I do that? She said hi to me and my first response is to shift back a step and think about a void? Grr… that’s dumb!” Sunset yelled to herself and planted a frustrated hand onto the left side door of the high school entrance.
Then, her mobile phone buzzed. Not expecting a call right at the second, she thought she was being dumb, Sunset decided to check who had rang or had texted her.
‘What are you worrying about? Silly’ read the message from Pinkie Pie as she if could foretell or know that right now, Sunset felt stupid. Pinkie Pie had even included an emoji with wobbly and confused looking eyes for fun.
Sunset was about to ponder how could Pinkie know she was worried and a bit stressed about a first meet and greet scenario, when a rational thought cropped up in her head, it was normal for Pinkie to somehow foretell feelings, even though her own rationale would love to believe that made little sense.
“Maybe I can catch up with that new student and make up for making myself look like a foal,” Sunset said to herself and decided not to reply to Pinkie, but it wasn’t because she didn’t want to, it was because she was concerned this image of her being hesitant to approach and greet the new student would stick into the new student’s mind and the longer it lingered in the new student’s mind, the more likely it was to be harder to change.
Sunset reached the locker area of the school and anticipated the stranger see had seen before must pass by at some point. Perhaps after visiting Principal Celestia’s office to register herself as a new student or she might pass by after getting a little lost in a new school’s corridors. Either way as Sunset judged she was in a good position to intercept the new student and she would pass by sooner or later. Sunset allowed herself a small grin of satisfaction that this plan couldn’t fail.
A minute went by and then another and there was no sign of the new girl student she had seen in black clothing waltzing the halls. Sunset sighed and judged it was more likely she was with Celestia and registering herself as a new student, thus explaining why she wasn’t in the halls. Then, a beep came from her phone.
‘Hey Sunset, where are you?’ asked a text from Rainbow Dash.
Sunset exchanged a quick look up and down the corridor first for the new student and didn’t see her and then decided she had time to respond to Dash.
“I’m in the halls by the lockers, a nnew student arrived today,” Sunset muttered to herself as she typed a text back to Dash, knowing she would worry and search everywhere for her if she did not reply. Then, just before clicking send, she noticed her text had one accidental mistype in it and that was two n’s in the word new. She corrected it and then sent the text to Dash.
“Now, I wait,” Sunset commented to herself as she leaned against a random locker.
A minute later, Rainbow Dash ran down the corridor toward her and Sunset grinned knowing she was likely to be bombarded by questions from her brash, rainbow-haired friend.
“Oh, did ya’ type new student? Oh, who is it? What is the student like?” Rainbow Dash asked in hurried haste.
“One question at a time,” Sunset chuckled with a smug grin.
“Oh, did ya’ at least get a name, then?” Rainbow's cerise eyes brightened up.
“No,” Sunset scowled and remembered her gaffe of thinking there was a strange like void between her and the new student. Or maybe it was just her getting worked up over getting a little hesitant to meet someone new.
“No name! Come on! Did you not think to ask!?” Rainbow's eyes flashed with frustration, plus she stomped her left foot and made a stand in the firm belief that Sunset should at least got that much out of the new student.
“I just hesitated when I should had opened up by introducing myself,” Sunset complained and lowered her head in shame, “Wait, there she is!” Sunset smiled and spotted the same black clothing attire she had seen earlier on the new student.
In eagerness to meet and greet with the new girl at their school, she and Dash rushed over, only for Maud Pie to turn around to greet them with a confused look, but with a slight smile of being happy to see them.
“Oh, Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer, why were you running in the school halls? And did you need me for something?” Maud asked in her boring, drone voice with only the slightest hint of a chuckle.
“Oh, I forgot you wear black too,” Sunset gaffed and rolled her eyes.
Rainbow Dash flinched back and wanted little to do with the socially awkward teenager.
“You two haven’t seen Boulder around by chance, have you?” Maud droned, “He’s been naughty and wanting more adventures since Camp Everfree.”
“Nope, haven’t seen him,” Rainbow Dash gave a quick answer.
Sunset flinched with slight surprise that Dash remembered that Maud liked to refer to her rock pebble, Boulder as a him rather than as an it.
“Hmm,” Maud looked at them both with a bored stare, “I guess I’ll keep searching for him, then,” Maud flashed a very small amused grin, somehow knowing she had gotten both of their attention and left finding it just weirdly and yet slightly funny.
“Ugh, I still can’t believe she’s related to Pinkie and can give me the creeps like she does,” Rainbow Dash muttered.
“Yeah,” Sunset agreed, but also took an opportunity to re-check the hallway to see if anyone else in black attire was approaching or was nearby. It only took two seconds to see the coast was clear of anyone else in that attire.
“Maybe, we should wait outside Principal Celestia’s office? We would totally intercept this new girl there,” Rainbow Dash suggested after taking a brief glance up and down the halls herself.
“I guess it beats being mobbed by students starting to arrive to pick up their stuff before class,” Sunset sighed in defeat that might be a plan. Plus, she noted she might get a comment from an annoyed student when they found her leaning on their locker.
“Okay then,” Rainbow Dash said with a little uncertainty and followed her lead.
Soon, she and Dash managed to get to Celestia’s office and was just about to start waiting at the new location when the door to the office creaked open. Sunset beamed, she was about to get a second chance to make a first impression on someone new. The new girl walked out and gulped as if not expecting to run into Sunset again so soon.
“Oh, hi,” Sunset greeted, “I’m Sunset Shimmer,” Sunset smiled, “And let me be the first to welcome you to CHS as a fellow student.”
The new girl flinched and took a hesitant step back as if not expecting a welcoming committee.
“And I’m Rainbow Dash,” Rainbow Dash grinned, “The fastest and the star athlete in CHS,” Rainbow boasted in her classic sporty manner.
The new student gulped again and took the time to think up an answer.
Sunset wondered if that was a smart or a shy response or perhaps both, but also took the chance to gain a proper look at her face. She was surprised to see a raven black face and with the deep jungle green eyes and black clothing attire again sort of matching the look of a Changeling, she couldn’t believe this thought about Changelings had entered her mind twice.
“Raven Mystery,” the new girl finally stuttered out in the meantime.
“So, what’s with the all-black attire, if you don’t me asking?” Rainbow Dash probed with eagerness.
Sunset snapped out of her nonsense Changeling thoughts while Rainbow Dash had asked that question. Sunset felt stupid again as she thought there was no way an Equestrian Changeling could sneak past Princess Twilight back in Equestria and through the mirror portal into this world? No way could that be possible.
“Umm… Umm, I’m kinda new here and I don’t have a CHS uniform yet,” answered Raven with another unsure answer.
“Pfft! We don’t exactly have a transcribed uniform to wear here!” Rainbow Dash scoffed and joked a little.
“Oh…” Raven murmured, “I didn’t know that before.”
“Oh, in that case, I think you need to meet Rarity. She’s our friend and she can whip up a stylish dress for you in no time,” Sunset decided to chip in some friendly advice and persuasion. Sunset hated to admit it, but she did think that Raven’s current black attire might turn a few students away from wanting to meet and greet Raven.
“Plus, what’s with the hood over your hair? It really is as if you’re trying to hide something,” Rainbow Dash commented and drew Sunset’s attention that Raven’s hairstyle was hidden from view.
“Please, don’t pull it down, no one deserves to see my hair,” Raven revealed some self-anxiety with flinching again and being reluctant to show off her hair.
“Oh, but Rarity can’t really help you with a new style, if you won’t let or co-operate with her good intentions of helping you fit in here,” Sunset tried to encourage Raven to let Dash pull down her hood or to pull it down herself.
“Yes, and everyone knows black can give off an anti-social image, you do want some friends during your high school years, right?” Rainbow Dash asked with blunt brashness.
“Umm… shouldn’t I be the one who decides when and with whom I make friends with?” Raven answered back with an unexpected question.
Sunset gasped in shock and Rainbow Dash gaped her mouth open. Neither of them were quite ready for a put-down like that.
Raven then sniffled in response as if knowing she had hurt their feelings, but instead of hanging around to apologise, she tried to walk off.
“Hey!” Rainbow Dash called after her, but still Raven walked away.
Sunset stood in conflict and confusion, she wasn’t sure what to make of Raven and if she should assist Dash in chasing after her or not. In a way, Sunset reasoned with herself, Raven was right that she was the one who decided who she would be friends with, but did she have to put reasoning across with blunt or hostile attitude?
“Hey! Come back here!” Rainbow Dash hollered out and began to chase after Raven.
Sunset judged she might be needed as a voice of reason in case Dash pressed onto Raven what she just said and did to them felt unfriendly, but before reaching a definite unfriendly judgement about Raven, Sunset tried to think maybe it was just first day nerves having an adverse effect on Raven.
Raven Mystery tried hard to walk away from Dash, but of course Dash wouldn’t let her.
“Hey!” Rainbow Dash finally got in front of her, “Where are you going? And why do you want to get away from us?”
“Just leave me alone,” Raven cried and tried going around to the left, but Dash blocked it and then the right, Dash blocked that too and then Sunset caught up to them.
“You know, me and Rainbow could help you,” Sunset tried to be helpful to Raven, “We could give you a tour around all of CHS,” Sunset mentally cheered herself on, hoping Raven would see an advantage in being led by two students who knew where they were going, rather than wonder the halls by herself.
“Really?” Raven sniffed in doubt, but paused to consider it.
Sunset smiled when she noticed a familiar lost puppy look in Raven’s deep jungle green eyes and thought Dash would make the offer a permanent one.
“Of course, we will!” Rainbow Dash snapped just a little, but meant her words.
Raven let a small smile of gratitude cross her mouth and Sunset judged they were getting somewhere.
“So, first, how about I show you where the science lab is,” Sunset suggested.
“Yeah, then, I could show you the way to the gym and the outside field,” Rainbow Dash contributed suggestions to the cause and Sunset smirked, knowing Dash would mention sport locations.
“You would help a newcomer this much on her first day at a new school?” Raven asked with a bigger smile and a hint of surprise that Sunset and Rainbow were keen to help.
“Yes, we would,” Sunset boasted with pride as she thought they would soon see friendlier behaviours from Raven.
Raven beamed with gratitude and let Sunset and Rainbow show her around the school. After, showing where the science lab was, and then crossing most of the corridors in the school to get to the gym, Sunset came up with a cunning scheme to get Raven to meet up with Rarity despite her initial protest and led her to the main function room. Where it was also likely Raven would meet Pinkie and perhaps Applejack too.
“And this is where, most of the school’s functions are held,” Sunset opened the door for Raven with a bright smile.
“Wow!” Raven became dazzled with the large amount of space and walked into the room to get a better look.
Sunset couldn’t help to flash a small cunning grin as she anticipated Rarity would be all over Raven if she was in that room.
“Ooh! A new student!” Rarity cooed, happy to greet someone new, “Ooh, but that tacky black has to go, darling, that’s not saying you can’t wear black, if black is your colour and your thing, but I see no harm in getting you in an outfit that screams a bit more style.”
Sunset smirked as Rarity went through the motions of getting Raven’s measurements by examining her and measuring her with tape without her permission.
“What are you doing!?” Raven yelled, unhappy with Rarity taking measurements.
“Ooh, silly me, here I am, trying to take your measurements and think about a new style for you without first asking permission and introducing myself,” Rarity stopped and then exchanged a small embarrassed blush for getting carried away on a whim.
“I’m Rarity,” Rarity introduced herself to Raven as she battered her eyelashes a few times, gave a friendly and playful wink and then smiled.
“You’re Rarity?” Raven flinched and took a step away.
“Yes, darling,” Rarity confirmed with a coo, “Now, I must insist that your outfit needs changing or getting a facelift,” Rarity closed the distance and tried to get Raven to follow her with her eyes.
“Um… okay,” Raven shivered, but then trailed behind Rarity’s lead.
“Ha! I wonder what outfit, Rarity will whip up!” Rainbow Dash laughed and hoped it would improve upon a black and depressing look for Raven.
“Huh? I guess we’ll find out,” Sunset shrugged, but grinned in anticipation of seeing something flashier on Raven’s body when she emerged from Rarity therapy.
“Hey, Sunset,” Pinkie called out as she entered the function room, “Like, why didn’t you answer my texts?” She walked straight to Sunset and asked with accusing eyes with a hint of playful silliness.
Sunset yanked her mobile out of her pocket and saw there had been a few messages from Pinkie since her first one.
“Oh, sorry Pinkie, there’s a new student here at CHS today and…” Sunset was about to elaborate more on her answer.
“Wow! A new student,” Pinkie bounced up with joy and the keenness of her eyes lit up, “Why didn’t you text me that?”
“Didn’t your Pinkie sense not pick up on that today?” Sunset asked with a slight, unsure chuckle.
“Nope! Not at least until you just told me about it!” Pinkie dismissed with a bright smile.
“Huh?” Rainbow questioned, “You’re usually aware of these things before we are.”
“Actually, I did get a tingle something was bothering Sunset earlier today, so I texted her about it,” Pinkie revealed her Pinkie sense had caught onto that and she shrugged with playful attitude.
“So, what’s her name!” Pinkie asked.
“Raven Mystery,” Sunset answered and felt Pinkie’s influence and presence improve her mood.
“Ooo! Ooo,” Pinkie cooed with enthusiasm, "Her last name sounds kinda mysterious, plus Raven might mean she has dark skin, black clothing or has raven black hair,” Pinkie tried to guess at her appearance.
“Oh, she definitely has black clothes,” Rainbow Dash sassed.
“Hmm, I would put a firm bet on Rarity will get her hairstyle to show itself when she reveals her make-over,” Sunset pondered, but she wondered how much protest Rarity might meet from Raven.
“Hmm, anyway I’ve just remembered, I’d been meaning to ask you what bothered you,” Pinkie encouraged Sunset with a wild look in her eyes.
“Huh,” Sunset huffed, “I guess, I gaffed over when I was supposed to introduce myself. I remembered to say hi, but before she said hi back, for some reason I imagined some kind of void between us instead of pressing ahead with my name.”
“Some kind of void? Oh, that’s just silly and is your imagination playing a trick on you,” Pinkie chuckled.
“Plus, it’s kinda normal for some hesitance at first meetings, ya’ know,” Rainbow Dash contributed her opinion too.
“Yeah,” Sunset stroked her crimson hair, “But there really isn’t a second chance to make a good first impression,” she sighed and hated herself for following a logical thought.
“So, you gaffed,” Pinkie eyed her, “Big deal! We all do that for time to time, and you know as well as I do that the first impression of someone or some-pony can be changed,” Pinkie tried to raise her spirits again.
“You know, that doubting side of you is all that remains now of the past Sunset Shimmer, if you can learn to always look forward and not cast doubt or reflect on the past so much, I think you’ll find that rebel smile of yours telling yourself you can move past your past dilemmas,” Rainbow added her encouragement too.
“I am a bit of rebel, aren’t I?” Sunset asked with playful intelligence, anticipating Rainbow and Pinkie would read her small smile as coming out of a depressing mind-set, but she knew to be rebellious meant to rebel against being happy all the time too.
“Yep!” Pinkie and Rainbow answered almost at the same time with happy smiles.
“Plus, I actually think that rebel side of you also shows at least your imagination is still growing up wild and forever free!” Pinkie buzzed with excitement.
“What do you mean?” Sunset asked and then flashed her eyes to where Rarity had led Raven and thought maybe Rarity was done with whipping Raven’s style into something more modern, but as she didn’t see Raven or Rarity, she judged she wasn’t done yet.
“Oh, only a wild and forever free mind can imagine a new student to remind them of an Equestrian Changeling,” Pinkie chuckled.
“Huh!?” Sunset’s eyes rolled in surprise, “How do you know what I was imagining? You didn’t even need to touch my forehead or look inside into my mind!”
“Heh,” Pinkie shrugged, “It was just a feeling,” she then beamed one of her random, somehow knowing and yet happy smile that suggested that she had guessed at it, and yet through a random guess narrowed down exactly what Sunset had thought like only Pinkie Pie could do.
“Whoa!” Rainbow exclaimed, “You actually thought Raven was an Equestrian Changeling from Princess Twilight’s world?”
Sunset sighed and knew she expected to hear some sort of logical, but yet brash and adventuresome type of reasoning from her into how she came to that conclusion…