Exposure Therapy

Many, MANY years before the story really started: The Realm of Equestria

Starswirl the Bearded frowned as he marched around a small pedestal. Every few seconds he would stare at what rested on it, his horn lighting up with magic, or press a hoof against various spots only to mutter to himself.

The source of his trouble; a polished green stone sphere, about half the size of his head, resting in a small indentation on the pedestal. Attached to it was a heavy brass chain, showing it to be a pendant of sorts, though it looked too big for any pony to wear.

"Starswirl, sir?" The voice of Clover the Clever piped up from the entrance of the older unicorn's lab, "Have you found out anything about the artifact?"

"Absolutely!" Came the reply, "It's ugly as blazes, clashes spectacularly with my hat, and made quite the impressive bonking sound when it bounced off the head of the pony who tried to sell me jackalope insurance. I don't even OWN one!"

Clover blinked, "Um, I mean if it has any magical properties."

"Oh, It's quite magical." Starswirl replied, barely missing a beat, "Magically normal!"

"I don't understand..."

"All my tests indicate that there is a fair bit of magic in this thing." He prodded it again with a hoof, "The problem is, it doesn't do ANYTHING! Wearing it gives no enhanced strength, magic power, speed, endurance, senses, or libido. It puts up no defenses, doesn't transform the wearer, doesn't shoot energy beams. It doesn't even have a curse on it, aside from making me question the taste of the original owner!"

Picking the pendant up in his magic, he strode over to a large, elaborate-looking mirror. Casting another spell caused the mirror's glass to ripple briefly, changing it to a glowing portal. "'Tis a piece of crap!" Without a second thought, he hurled it into the portal. The opening flashed briefly before reverting back to it's original reflective state. Starswirl looked at it for a moment after the flash and shrugged.

"Starswirl!" Clover yelped when she saw him throw the artifact away, "What if it falls into the wrong hooves!?"

"Relax, Clover. I sent it to the same magicless world I banished those sirens to. No magic means no one will sense it, much less find it." He started walking off, "And to think I paid fifty bits for that thing."

"F-Fifty!?"

On the other side of the portal, however, the pendant now rested in a small grassy field; the chain laying beside it, and wedged in what could only be described as a small glowing hole on the ground.

With a faint multicolored light steadily pulsing through the pendant from it.

Back To The Present: Canterlot Academy

"Headmistress Celestia? You wanted to see me?" The young woman asked as she entered the office, a trio of textbooks floating beside her, held in the purple glow that shone from the same-colored horn emerging from her forehead.

"Yes, Twilight." The headmistress set her work aside, "We have a new student arriving today, and I'd like you to show them around when they arrive."

Twilight's eyes widened, "M-me!?" She squeaked, a slight anxious blush tinging her cheeks, "B-but you know I'm not that good at...at meeting new...!" She trailed off when Celestia held up a hand.

"I know. But given this new addition, you're the best suited for this." The headmistress grinned slightly, "Besides, this is someone I believe you know. And I figured you'd want to catch up on old times with them."

Twilight looked at her, pushing her glasses up. Someone she knew? "Who?"

The grin just widened, "And spoil the surprise?" She looked over at the clock. "Better head out, they should be here short-."

Both were interrupted when a a bloodcurdling scream erupted from the front entrance.

"What was THAT!?" Twilight yelped, covering her ears.

"Hazarding a guess, I'd say our new student just got here." Celestia motioned toward the door, "Better get a move on, Miss Sparkle, before anyone else beats you to them."

"Uh..um..o-ok." A hint of unease found its way into Twilight's voice before she hurried out.

Celestia, meanwhile, looked in the general direction of the scream, "Things certainly aren't going to be boring around here for a while."

Twilight's shoes clicked rapidly as she hurried down the main hall, 'If that's the new student, then why did she scream like that!? That sounded like pure terror!' She asked herself, the front doors finally coming into view, 'And why does Headmistress Celestia think I'll know her?'

As soon as she reached the doors, she threw them open with a pulse of magic, not breaking stride to reach the source. What she saw when she finally got outside, though, only half-confirmed her thoughts.

There stood the person Celestia had apparently said was the new student, and judging from how badly they trembling, they were most definitely the screamer. However, it wasn't a girl. Not by a long shot. Although she DID recognize him.

The surprised gasp she let out was more than enough to get the newcomer's attention, causing him to jerkily turn his head her way,

"Spike/Twilight?"

Twilight could barely believe her eyes; less than ten feet away stood, quite literally, the first friend she ever made. And one she hadn't seen since they were Ten. "Spike...wh...what you doing-" She was silenced by the sensation being wrapped up in two arms, along with his still shaking form.