Year 1: Prologue - Somewhere New

“This is the biggest mistake you'll make in your entire life.” The enraged mare snarled, as the guards led her away from her former mentor. Celestia muttered something, glancing at an old mural, but Sunset Shimmer Didn't hear it. Or care. All she cared about right now was getting back at the princess she had looked up to, the mare that in her eyes had betrayed her.

She belonged here. She was smart enough, she was powerful enough, and that was how the world worked, didn't it? After all, Celestia was the only living pony strong enough to have achieved ascension, and she was Equestria's ruler. ...even if she had gotten 'soft'.

That's why this world needs a new ruler. Somepony who is still strong. That's what the mirror was showing me, and she knows it. She's afraid of me. The sorceress mentally grumbled, fuming. She was not going to take this disgrace lying down. Lowering her head as if ashamed as she walked, so that her mane hid her horn from the view of the two guards flanking her, she waited until they passed as close as they would get to the mirror. All the while the most potent flare spell she knew built.

Now. There was the mirror. Her prize. Her escape. Closing her eyes and letting loose the flare the room flashed bright white. She didn't waste a second, shifting her weight to her front hooves and lashing out with her rear ones. The satisfying clang of brass horseshoes against golden helmets rang out, followed by two thuds.

“Amateurs.” The grinning sorceress stated with a disappointed huff, before trotting casually over to the mirror and stepping through.

Emerging from a mirror set into the base of a statue, a tall building loomed before her. Stone columns showing ornate workmanship ahead of her. Above the entrance two words, strangely enough in what looked like modern equestrian: Signal Academy.

“Well, this is an interesting development...” Shimmer mused as she looked over her new form. She had known enough about the magic mirror to be aware the journey would change her, but not this much. Where once has been a a lovingly groomed beautiful golden coat was now a hairless tan hide. She had a biped build that reminded her somewhat of a minotaur... or maybe a monkey? It was hard to tell. Her amber streaked red mane remained but seemed longer with more of it coming from the top of her head instead of her neck and back, but at least her ears and tail were still where they belonged. Strangest of all, she had manifested the oddest of attire.

The clothing resembled a dress in burgundy and amber with black accents. The top had long sleeves that expanded slightly, hanging loose around her forearms where black bracers. The material of the bracers was black and felt like the hide of some creature. It was the same material as her boots. The symbol for her cutiemark stencilled onto the full length side of the dress against an amber background, only, changed slightly. That parts that should be red were red, but the parts that should be gold were absent save for a red outline, as if somepony had tried to render it with only a single colour.

Looking away from the mirror. Shimmer made for the door. “Very interesting. Now the real question... Just Where am I?”

reaching the door she gently and quietly slid it open just a crack to listen. It would do no good to be caught unaware in... wherever she was. On the other side were several bipeds like her, some of them crowded around a projected image that seemed to be speaking.

“...orphaned by yet another White Fang attack, is now in the custody of her grandfather...” The voice sounded like someone reading the news aloud. That would be the perfect way to learn about this place without drawing attention to herself. Wanting to stay up to date on the news surely wouldn't seem out of the ordinary.

Slipping into the small room and moving towards the voice, listening intently, she payed careful attention to the other bipeds around her, one in particular catching her eye. A dark haired girl who had on a black dress with red accents. She was scanning the crowd for someone, her gaze pausing on sunset for a moment, before moving past her to another girl, a blonde probably two or three years the girl's senior. As soon as she saw the blonde she rushed over while Shimmer watched unnoticed.

But that wasn't what had caught Shimmer's eye. It was the look the girl had... like, something important was missing. Perhaps it was the story playing about another girl loosing her father, but she couldn't help but wonder if this dark haired child had suffered a similar fate.

What if I misunderstood what the mirror was showing me? This place seems far worse off than home is... What if I'm meant to... no. Can't get distracted. She thought, shaking her head. Don't forget why you're here; hone your skills, recruit followers, return home and claim what's rightfully yours.

Her thoughts were interrupted a moment later by a pair of whispers from one of the others around her.

“I didn't know there were any of them going to this school.”

“It should go back to the forest...”

Her attention back on her surroundings Sunset realized too late that all eyes seemed to be on her, Some curious, some kind, some... decidedly less so. the others like her were... actually... these bipeds weren't like her. None of them had tails, none of them had the same kind of ears.

Oh no... the whole situation had alarm bells going off in her head. She needed to get out of here, now. Slowly backing away, she realized with alarm that a few of them were between her and the entrance as well...

“Hey there you are! About time you got here, come on.” A strange voice called as the blonde she had noticed earlier grabbed hold of her and pulled her away from the crowd to the relative safety of an unoccupied corridor. After a few random turns they stopped, and though Shimmer now felt a bit... lost. Looks like I'm stuck with these two for a while. Still, better than being in that crowd.

“Sorry to drag you away like that, but you looked like you were about to have a panic attack.” the blond commented with a laugh, “I didn't know there were any faunas' starting this year. That's pretty cool. I'm Yang.”

“Sunset Shimmer.” She stated, still a bit out of her element, but resigned to having to... tolerate Yang and, whoever the other girl is. “I take it you two have been here a while?”

“Nah. Ruby's still too young, she's just visiting. It's my first day here too.” Yang said with a silly grin, as the other girl simply nodded.

Wonderful...