The Element of Empathy

Narrator's POV.

'Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday Dear Ellie,
Happy Birthday to you!'

*Sigh* Here we go again. My sixth birthday and nothing has changed. Ever since I turned 2 and started understanding things, I've been feeling that I don't belong in this world. Like I'm meant to be somewhere else. I know it sounds like I'm quoting from Disney's Hercules, but that's really how I feel right now.

You see... I suffer from a neurological disorder known as Asperger's Syndrome. I don't understand much of the outside world. Social activity and other people confuse me very badly. My emotions are quite unstable, so that doesn't help either.

As for my intelligence, I have an IQ of 152. So, I'm very smart. Math, Science, Computer Lab and Languages have always been my strong points in school. However, Social Studies and Literature... Not so much.

Anywho, I'm rambling a bit here. I looked up at the skylight of the bank. The night sky was covered in stars, some of the stars, near the moon, were moving around the moon in a circular motion. And the moon's craters were in the formation of a unicorn's head. I narrowed my eyes at the moon.

The unicorn head turned and seemed to be looking at me. I continued to stare at the moon in curiosity and wonder.

"Come on, Ellie." I heard my mother's voice snapping me back to reality, "Blow out the candles and make a wish."

Placed in front of me was a small birthday cake. It was chocolate with mint frosting. Designed on the cake was a group of animated equines from my favorite show: My Little Pony. Each one was holding a lit candle that indicated my age.

I closed my eyes and thought hard on my wish.

'I wish, I hope, I dream, I pray.
By the Princess' rule, Light my way.
I wish to know what I've been missing so long,
Please take me and my family somewhere we belong.'

I blew the candles out and my family cheered. As if hearing my wish, the ruby around my neck glowed and the moon beamed a light upon me. A whirlwind of silver dust surrounded me and my family. It made me feel sleepy.

The next thing I knew, my eyes couldn't stay open. My eyes closed and darkness clouded my vision.

*Dream*

*Dream End*

"Hey, yah okay? Are yah hurt?" I heard a senior-sounded, female voice ask.

I lightly moaned in pain. My head felt like it was hit by a football. What hit me? I opened my eyes and saw that everything was very blurry, but full of color. I rubbed my eyes and the blurs just got worse. I wasn't wearing my glasses.

"Y'all alright?" The voice asked again.

'All'? That must mean that I'm not alone here.

"We're okay. Just a little sore." I heard my mother answered sweetly.

"Can you help me find my glasses, please? They're black." I asked politely, searching the cool grassed ground around me.

After a few seconds of searching, I felt a pair of furry hands place my glasses over my face.

"Are these yer glasses?" A deep male voice asked.

The blurred images cleared to reveal my family and I were on a large patch of grass, just outside of a town. Helping us were a couple of... Anthropomorphic, unguligrade ponies?

The female was an elder mare. She stood at least 5 foot 6 inches tall. 5 foot 9 if she stood upright. Her fur coat was a pale green. Her mane and tail were white, due to age, and tied in a bun. Golden eyes of wisdom and life-long lessons. Her forearms, blaze and socks faded to a near white color. Her nails and hooves were a light brown.

She wore an old-fashioned dress with a white apron and a plaid shawl over her shoulders. On her apron was a large patch of an apple pie. Just looking at it made me feel light peckish. Hehehe.

The male was a younger stallion. Looked about 13 - 14 years old. Yet being so young, he sure was big. The stallion stood a strong 5 foot 9 inches and he was very strong for his age. His fur coat was a brick red color. Mane and tail were a ginger orange color in neat combed style. His mane reached to his shoulders. His forearms, blaze and socks were a lighter red color. Dark beige hooves with well-kept fetlocks.

He wore a red collared shirt, with pockets over his pectoral muscles, and a pair of denim jeans. On the left pocket of his shirt was a patch of a shining green apple.

My mother couldn't help but smile and hug the senior mare, "Oh, my Celestia! Ma! I can't believe it! It's been so long!"

"Ma?" My sister, Sam, and I repeated in confusion. How can this mare be Mum's mother? Our mother is human. This elder is a... Pony!

The mare pried Mum off and looked at her with a raised brow, "Do Ah know yah from somewhere?"

"Ma, it's me. Limelight Suki Ginger." Mum explained in a hopeful tone, "You remember, don't you?"

The mare narrowed her eyes and looked into my mother's strange, but beautiful, light green eyes. A smile grew on the mare's muzzle.

She hugged my mother tightly, "Mah Little Suki! It has been such a long time."

Mum hugged her back, "Too long, Ma."

"Can someone please explain what's going on?" Sam exclaimed in confusion and frustration, "Where are we? How did we get here? Who are you and how does my mom know you? What the Hell is going on??!!!"

Our step-father, Steve, frowned at my younger sister, "Samantha, language!" Then looked at Mum, "But I agree. What's going on here, Lorraine?"

Mum let go of the elder pony and started scratching the back of her head, "Oh... Well... Steve, remember that I told you that I'm not an ordinary human?"

Steve nodded, "Yes. I thought you meant that you were of Asian ethnicity or African, despite being Caucasian."

Mum shook her head, "Not really. I'm a pony, from the Apple Family." She explained, "I went by Lorraine Susan Gentry because the initials were close to my real name; Limelight Suki Ginger."

I smiled, "Like the apples."

Mum nodded, "That's right, Ellie." Then she raised a brow, "I'm not sure how, but it appears that the magic from your wish brought us to my home."

My eyes widened in shock. My wish did this? Magic? I thought there was no such thing as magic. How could I have done this? And where are we?

"And this place is...?" Sam asked.

The elder pony giggled and smiled, "This is Equestria, mah dear. The home of Earth Ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi alike."

The young stallion nodded, "Ee-yup."

I couldn't help but smile. My wish came true. If Equestria was where my mother was born, then that must mean this is where we belong. Come to think of it, I do feel at home here. It's like a void within me has been filled. I feel whole.

Suddenly, a strange, cyan magical circle appeared below my feet. My body glowed in a cyan color. My mother called out my name before a bright light blinded me. I shielded my eyes and braced myself.

Eventually, the blinding light faded, and I can see again. I lowered my hands to find myself in a large classroom. A university classroom by the looks of it.

Inside were six more ponies. But this time, they all had spiraled horns protruding from their foreheads. Three adults and three foals. They must be Unicorns. I've read a lot about them from the school library. Supposed to be similar to Elves.

One of the Unicorns caught my eye. A female foal. She was around the same age as me, 6 - 7 years old, judging from her height.

Her fur was a vibrant amber-golden color. Her eyes were a normal cyan. Her red mane was mid-back length with a natural curl and yellow streaks. Her tail matched her mane. The color scheme kinda remind me of a sunset.

She wore a light purple tank top with a light orange skirt. Upon her the chest area of her tank top was a design of a yin-yang shimmering sun.

"Uh... Hello." She awkwardly waved.

I timidly decided to stay quiet. My mother told me to never talk to strangers. Also I'm quite shy around new people.

"Sunset Shimmer, what happened?" An older, more regal voice spoke from the other side of the classroom.

The filly, Sunset Shimmer, and I looked at across and saw another anthropomorphic, very pale pink, almost white unicorn with large wings, walking toward us.

An Alicorn....

Judging by its figure, it was female. She was as tall as my father, which around 6 foot 5 inches. Her eyes were a pale magenta. Her mane was lower-back length, pastel-toned and was flowing, like there was an invisible wind. Her tail matched as well.

The alicorn wore a beautiful Greek dress with a golden belt and trimmings. Upon her head was a golden crown with an amethyst in the center. Around her neck was a matching necklace. She also wore golden bracelets around her wrists and golden 'shoes'. On her left hip was a sun-like symbol.

Her whole appearance made her look like she was the Goddess of the day.

"Princess Celestia." Sunset Shimmer gasped, standing still as a statue, "Please, I can explain."

The alicorn, Princess Celestia, looked at me. Her eyes had a gentle, motherly feel to them. She was not cross, but surprised to see me. I guess she's never seen a human before.

Princess Celestia looked at Sunset Shimmer, "There's no need. I just wish to know what happened."

Sunset Shimmer looked at me, then looked at the Princess, "Well, I was casting the growth spell on the vine, and something came to my mind. And the growth spell became a summoning spell." She pointed to me, "Then this creature appeared and well, you came."

I folded my arms and lightly glared. It's very rude to point.

Sunset Shimmer looked at me again, noticed my glare and stopped pointing.

"Do you have a name, young human?" Princess Celestia asked me. I looked at her. She knows what I am, she must have seen one!

I couldn't say nothing to her. I bowed in respect, "Eleanor May Carter, Your Majesty. But I also go by Ellie."

"It's very nice to meet you, Eleanor." Princess Celestia greeted with a smile. She looked at Sunset Shimmer, "Sunset Shimmer, I have noticed that your studying has gotten quite rigorous. How would you feel if Eleanor could help you?"

"Like a study partner?" Sunset Shimmer asked, then she smiled, "Of course. There must have been a reason why Ellie appeared out of nowhere."

"Princess Celestia, wait, please." I spoke up, "I have a family in a small town. I'm pretty sure they're wondering what has happened to me."

Princess Celestia smiled, "No worries, Ellie. I'll send a messenger to locate them and let them know that you are alright."

I smiled in relief. First few minutes of being in this world, I've already made my first friend and became her study partner. Maybe there is a reason why the moon reacted to my wish and sent my family here. Who knows? This place might be not as bad as I thought.

*The Next Day...*
Sunset Shimmer and I got to know each other better, over time. The books she studied with were most fascinating. Magic, laws of physics, rules on how to use magic, even the history of this world, Equestria.

I learned that this world was full of fantasy creatures. Dragons, griffons, and many others. But, mostly, ponies of three main races; Earth Ponies, Pegasi and Unicorns. The city I arrived in, Canterlot, the citizens are mostly unicorns and some can be high-class jerks.

I asked Princess Celestia if humans did exist in this world. She explained they did. Over a thousand years ago, when ponies were quadrupeds with above-human intelligence, humans used to live among them in peace and harmony.

However someone got extremely jealous and banished most of the humans to another dimension. My home dimension, where magic doesn't exist and animals don't talk.

Celestia explained that this 'villain' was not an ordinary pony, but a creature of powerful magic. I think she said his name was 'Disarray'...? 'Dystopia'...? 'Disorder'...? Something around there? Either way.

I came to realise, that to escape this villain's grasp, the remaining humans were transformed into ponies. So, a thousand years later, the pony population evolved into bipedal, unguligrade ponies with some human traits in their DNA. Somehow you can tell between ponies which have the human traits.

I asked Sunset Shimmer about the sun design on her tank top, and she replied that it's her Cutie Mark. She explained that a Cutie Mark is a special mark that appears on the pony's hips when they discover their special talent or who they really are.

Since you can't see their Cutie Mark, the mark also appears somewhere on their clothing. In Sunset Shimmer's case; the sun design on her tank top.

Anywho, I'm rambling too much again. Since I came to this world unprepared, Sunset Shimmer and I had to share clothes. Good thing she and I are the same size.

I was dressed in my signature black-framed glasses, scarlet scarf and my ruby choker. A white shirt with magenta sleeves and trimmings. A pair of green and black fingerless gloves that reach past my elbows. A pair of olive green cargo shorts and a pair of black sneakers with white socks.

Sunset Shimmer wore what she wore yesterday. Turns out to be her favorite outfit.

Today was a nice summer day. Sunset Shimmer and I were sitting on a bench, reading some of the advanced spell books. Around us, unicorns were enjoying the day and having picnics.

Across from us, I saw a teenaged male unicorn and a teenaged female alicorn playing with a young unicorn filly, around mine and Sunset Shimmer's age. They looked like they were having fun. I miss my family...

"Sunset Shimmer!" A voice called.

I yelped in startle, then calmed down. Sunset and I looked over and saw five young unicorn fillies. One was yellow with a curly blue mane and tail. She wore a light green t-shirt and darker blue pants.

Another was in a full blue color scheme and wearing a pale blue dress.

The third was in a pink color scheme with blue eyes. She wore a white shirt and a pink skirt.

The fourth was a shade of mint green. Her mane was the a deeper color, but with a white streak, same with her tail. She wore a yellow shirt and matching light green skirt.

The last one had a combed, red mane and tail, with a two-toned purple highlights and dark purple eyes. Her fur was a light yellowish grey. She wore a pair of black-framed glasses and a very pale grey sundress.

"That vine you made was amazing!" The blue one exclaimed with a smile. Sunset raised a brow.

"Really exquisite." The pink one added.

The green one nodded and asked, "Would you like to come have lunch with us." She looked at me with a smile, "We can get to know your friend."

I smiled and was about to answer, but Sunset Shimmer scoffed and walked off, dragging me along, "Hmph! Ellie and I have better things to do than socialize! I'm going to re-read 'Advanced Elemental Magical Practices', and then Ellie's gonna help me practice for my advanced summoning spells exams. What are you studying for? Nothing, that's what."

I looked back at the unicorns. They looked hurt by Shimmer's words. The light yellowish grey one looked at me. I gave her a sympathetic look then turned to Shimmer.

"Actually, Shimmer. I'd like to get to know some of your classmates. Practice Princess Celestia's lesson on humility." I told her, fiddling with my fingers.

Sunset Shimmer rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Fine. But don't take too long. We're study partners for a reason."

I nodded and joined the other fillies. The light yellow filly regained her smile and we got to know each other over lunch.

The all-blue filly was named Minuette.

Lemon Hearts was the yellow and blue one.

Lyra Heartstrings was the green one.

The pink-schemed Unicorn was Twinkleshine.

And Moondancer was the one in the sundress.

*A Little Later, in Celestia's Castle...*
Princess Celestia has called Sunset Shimmer into the main foyer, so she could talk to her. Shimmer insisted that I'd come along. Just in case something goes wrong.

"Sunset Shimmer, I've heard that you're not getting along well with the other students." Princess Celestia told Sunset Shimmer, "We've talked about the fact that personal relationships-"

Shimmer cut the Princess off, "Personal relationships? Who needs anypony? The most important thing in life is to be the best."

I shook my head, "Shimmer, trying to make friends doesn't make you weak." Princess Celestia smiled and nodded at my words.

Then she looked at Shimmer, "We've talked about friendship and its importance before, and we've discussed that you need to open yourself up to new friends." Then she lightly smiled, "And you remember that talk we had about humility?"

"I remember how boring it was." Shimmer answered.

"I enjoyed it." I answered with a small smile.

Princess Celestia smiled at me, as she lead us to a small room with a strange mirror. There was something about the mirror, that made me feel uncertain.

"Look into this mirror, and tell me what you see." Princess Celestia told Shimmer.

"A beautiful pony that has nothing but power and potential." Shimmer answered, looking at her reflection and touching her face with a smile.

She stepped aside and it was my turn to look. I looked at my reflection and saw a shadow-like vapor surrounding me with glowing red eyes. It gave me chills from the anger I sensed, but I could also feel loneliness from the red eyes.

Who are you, Lonely Shadow? How can I help you?

Then the shadow gained color of a rainbow and separated into 6 colors: Pink. Blue. Purple. Orange. Yellow and White.

The vapor took the shape of a group of 6 fillies; Two Pegasi, two Unicorns and two Earth Ponies. The same ponies from my dreams.

I smiled with tears welling up in my eyes, "I see a group of friends. Happiness and smiles." I answered.

Princess Celestia smiled at my answer, but turned to Shimmer, "Care to try that again with our talk about humility taken to account?"

I stepped aside. Sunset Shimmer growled under her breath and looked at her reflection again, "I see a pony, who isn't powerful enough. Somepony who could be great, powerful... Somepony that could rule Equestria."

I looked at Shimmer's reflection and saw her as an Alicorn. But something felt off. The reflection smirked and morphed into a teenage human girl. Then she was engulfed in fire.

I took a step back in fear, as I saw a pair of menacing cyan eyes and draconic wings sprouting out of the flames.

Princess Celestia must've noticed my fear and moved Shimmer and I away from it, "Maybe we better move on..."

"Wait, what was that? I thought I saw-" Shimmer exclaimed, as Princess Celestia guided us away from the mirror.

"Oh, it was probably a trick of the light. Our lesson is over for today. For tomorrow, I want you to reflect on the discussion we've just had." Princess Celestia answered.

Sunset Shimmer kept her eyes on the mirror. I guess she doesn't know what the meaning of her reflection's actions meant. I shuddered, as the thought came to me.

*A Few Weeks Later...*
It's been a few weeks since the lesson with the mirror. It still worries me that Sunset saw what her reflection did. However, it seemed to have caught Shimmer's attention. Through the past few weeks, Shimmer kept asking Princess Celestia about it, and Celestia kept refusing.

One day, during a windy picnic, Shimmer brought it up again, "You know what's fascinating? Mirrors. About that one in..."

Princess Celestia had enough, "Sunset Shimmer. We've been over this, we will get to the mirror and many other lessons in due time. When you're ready."

The windy weather turned into rain. Worried that this weather will turn into a storm, I cuddled close to Princess Celestia. Celestia saw me, and put her arm over my shoulder and her wing over my head.

Dang it, I hate rainy weather!

Celestia and I walked back to the castle. Sunset Shimmer made her own way back.

With my strong hearing, I was able to catch Sunset Shimmer mutter under breath, "I am ready."

I looked back at Shimmer, as she walked off. My heart sank, she's slowly turning into the demon I saw in the mirror. That's not good.

*Later, that Night...*
I was in my room, in the castle, laying on my bed, staring at the night sky. Unable to sleep. The moon was in the center of the sky. The moon's eye glowed. I heard a voice speak to me.

"Protect your friend. She is following a path not destined for her..."

With that, the moon's eye stopped glowing and continued its duty. I heard a rapid knock on the door. I got out of bed, put my glasses and hoof braces on, walked over and opened the door. It was Sunset Shimmer at the other side. She was wearing her purple pjs and had a large grin on her face.

"Shimmer? It's the middle of the night. We have exams in the morning." I whispered.

"I think I've found something about that mirror. Why we saw what we saw." Shimmer answered.

I sighed. This again? Shimmer is very persistent when she wants something. Whether it be magic or answers.

"There's a section, in the library, that is about certain books on types of magic. I need your help to find it." She explained.

I thought for a second and remembered what the moon told me. I looked at Shimmer and nodded. She smiled, grabbed my hand and lead me into the library. I hope I'm making the right choice in protecting Sunset Shimmer.

Sunset Shimmer lead me to a door, that was locked tightly. The door said 'Dark Magic. No Entry'. A voice inside my head told me to go back to bed. But my gut told me I needed to stay with Shimmer. She needs me. With a simple lock-pick spell, Sunset Shimmer opened the door and we entered the room.

I gotta say, there were a lot of books in this section. Why did Princess Celestia keep this room locked like a secret?

'Dark Magic'......

"Not ready? I'll show her not ready." Shimmer muttered under her breath, then she joked, "You'd think this place would be better guarded."

I suppressed a giggle, then started looking through the books. Sunset Shimmer and read through a bunch of books. 'Crossing Over', 'The First Ponies', all sorts.

"Nothing on the mirror yet, but a few of these spells will come in handy..." Sunset Shimmer said, as we read the books.

I closed my book and set it aside. Then, another caught my eye. 'Canterlot Castle. A History. Vol II'. I picked up the book and started reading it.

I smiled, "Shimmer, I think I found something."

I gave the book to Shimmer and she started reading it. She smiled, "Well done, Ellie. You've got really good eyes."

I smiled and pushed my glasses up my muzzle, "Thanks to these babies."

Shimmer flipped through the pages, "The Crystal Mirror... Every 30 moons, a portal will open to... Another world?"

I shook my head, "I'm pretty sure it's not my world. I would've noticed something."

"That's not really for you two to know, now is it?" A familiar voice asked from behind us.

Sunset Shimmer and I turned and saw it was Princess Celestia and a couple of her guards. How did she know we would be here? Of course, the librarian. She must've slipped past us. The guards grabbed me and dragged me away from Sunset Shimmer.

"Please, let me go." I asked the guard on my left, trying to struggle free.

"I'm sorry. Princess' orders." He answered.

"How dare you keep this kind of magic from me! You know that I'm ready for this, that I can be great!" Shimmer shouted at Princess Celestia.

"You could be great." Princess Celestia corrected in a calm tone, "I thought I saw compassion and sincerity in you, but it was nothing but ambition. The compassion and sincerity came from Eleanor. You're being selfish, you need to step back and reflect-"

In anger, Sunset Shimmer's horn glowed black with a cyan hue. Her eyes emitted a black haze. Oh no.

She cut Princess Celestia off, "I'm selfish?"

Her horn fired a strong beam of black and cyan magic at Celestia. I forced myself out of the guards' grip and pushed the Princess of the Day aside. Shimmer's beam hit me in the chest, where my heart was. A sharp sensation struck my heart and my body was overwhelmed with a throbbing pain. I fell to the ground, holding my chest. It felt like I was shot, but there was no bullet. It burned.

I felt a pair of soft, furry hands over my shoulders. I looked up and saw Princess Celestia's deeply concerned expression.

"That book, right there, says that I could become as powerful as an Alicorn Princess! I could rule here! It's selfish of you to keep me from my rightful place!" Shimmer continued, "I deserve to stand beside you and be your equal... If not, your better. Make me a Princess."

"No." Princess Celestia answered in a low tone, "Being a Princess must be earned. I have been trying to teach you everything you need to know, but you've turned from it. Every time you say you 'deserve' to get something without the effort just proves to me that you're not ready."

Then she announced, standing up and held me close to her, "Sunset Shimmer. I am removing you from the position of my pupil. If we cannot get past this, your studies end here. You are welcome to stay in Canterlot, but you are no longer welcome in the castle."

"We'll never get past this because you aren't seeing how great I deserve to be. Is that really all you have to say to me?" Sunset Shimmer asked with a sharp glare.

"No. The guards will escort you out." Princess Celestia answered.

With that, the guard walked beside Sunset Shimmer and escorted her out of the building, at the doorway Shimmer hissed, "This is the biggest mistake you'll make in your entire life."

Once Sunset Shimmer was gone, Princess Celestia lowered her head with a sad look, "One of many." She turned her attention to me and helped me back to my feet, "Are you hurt?"

I stood up and answered, "A bit sore, but I think I'll be alright." Then I looked at the regal alicorn of the day, "Uh... Princess Celestia? Am I in trouble too? Are you gonna banish me as well?" I asked, as my mind raced with paranoid thoughts.

Princess Celestia smiled and shook her head, "No, Eleanor. Like I told Sunset Shimmer, I see compassion and sincerity in you. You went out of your own way to help her. I even saw you with the other students. You can stay in the castle, and we'll find you a new friend."

I regained my smiled. Princess Celestia and I entered the room, with the mirror inside. To our surprise, the guards were inside and were knocked out. Sunset Shimmer was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh, Sunset Shimmer... No..." Princess Celestia grimaced.

Celestia and I helped the guards back up their hooves. "Sir, what happened?" I asked.

"She took us by surprise and just... Just... Jumped into the mirror. I don't know." One of the guards answered the best he could.

"Shh. It's fine." Princess Celestia assured, then asked, "If you're feeling up to it, would you please help move the mirror to a safer place?"

*The Next Morning...*
While Princess Celestia and the guards were moving the mirror, Princess Celestia advised me to stay in my room and just wait. I laid on my bed and stared at the sky in sadness and wonder.

Will I be able to see Sunset Shimmer again?

Can she be forgiven for what she's done?

Who will be the next pupil for Princess Celestia?

Will she, or he, be as good as Sunset Shimmer?

And what the heck is gonna happen to me?