Shadowstone's Guilty Pleasure

[Two months earlier]

Racing Rain took a look at the mare standing next to him. She was a dark lilac unicorn wearing metal jewelry that shone in the morning sunlight. Taking in her features deeply, he found a magnetic energy about her. The way she expressed herself wasn’t like any of the other mares here. It was her mask. Wearing it, she kept everything she felt inside of her, a way to keep ponies from seeing her true emotions. Her mask was unbelievably strong. He struggled to push through it, to see what was hiding beneath, but he couldn’t seem to force himself through.

The eyes were the quickest and easiest way to break through the mask- the mare’s eyes were stone cold. Racing couldn’t believe it. He had found someone with a mask strong enough to resist his attempts to see through. It was intriguing. This is something new, he thought.

Keeping her in his thoughts was easy. She kept looking at Racing like he had done something terrible. Come to think of it, had Racing done anything wrong? He wasn’t sure if he did or didn’t mess up, but even if he did, he wasn’t sure what he had messed up. Oh well. Surely if he talked to her he would find out.

That’s exactly what he did.

****

Racing sat next to her. It was lunch, and he wasn’t sure what to do. Should he eat, or not? Hesitantly lifting his sandwich to his mouth, he took a bite. The latter was his choice.

The mare was still there next to him, ignoring his choice to feed himself. Turning his head to look at her, he took a breath. “So, how’s your day been?” She blinked and looked at Racing. Her food floated in the air.

“What?”

Racing laughed. “I asked you how your day was.” The mare gave him a confused look. “I mean, I don’t know your name since I’m new here, but that’s okay. I just wanted to ask.” She opened her mouth in shock.

“No one wants to talk to me,” she half-whispered. “I can’t believe you asked.” That was strange. Why would nobody want to talk to her? Calm and collected, she seemed like she would be the center of attention. Back at Racing’s last school, confidence was key to becoming popular.

Racing did what anypony would have done if they were in his horseshoes. He asked. “Why doesn’t anyone want to talk to you? You seem like a nice pony.”

A small smile appeared on the mare’s face. “Thank you. As for my name, I am Shadowstone- pleased to meet you.” She stuck out her hoof tentatively, and Racing eagerly shook it. It was official. They were friends.

****

“You have a snowy owl? Cool! What’s her name?”

“I call her Stealth because she always sneaks up on me.” She laughed. “Do you have any pets?”

Racing took a large bite of his sandwich and slammed it on the table. In an exaggerated voice, he said “You bet I do! Only the best of the best for me!” Smiling while un-squishing his sandwich, he described his pet to her. “Egghead is the best chicken you’ll ever meet! She’s way friendlier than most chickens are- she doesn’t peck or bite ponies. Her name is a pun on something my mom used to call her friend Twilight Sparkle,” he said while putting the poor sandwich in a paper bag.

Shadowstone’s face lit up. “Oh, you mean Rainbow Dash! Tw-My mom is one of her friends,” she burst out, seeming to have slipped up in the beginning. Huh? thought Racing Rain. Did she say something else? Brushing off the thought, Racing continued to converse with Shadowstone.

Looking up at the clock, Shadowstone gasped. “Oh, ponyfeathers! I’m going to be late for my magic theory class!” Packing up her belongings quickly, she galloped out of the cafeteria.

Staring at her, Racing saw the mask reappear on her face. Her mouth curved upwards ever so slightly. Just how important am I to this mare? he wondered as he collected his belongings for his next class.

****

He headed for his class and took a seat. Waiting for the teacher to begin class, he pulled out a book and started reading. “Psst,” a voice behind him said. Racing turned around. A friendly violet mare smiled at him. “Hi, I’m Science Spark. Couldn’t help but notice that you’re new here. So, have you made any new friends lately?” Surprised at her eagerness to talk to him, Racing smiled awkwardly.

“Well, I did meet this one pony. Her name was Shadowstone. She says that nopony likes her.” Touching his hoof to his chin, he said “Come to think of it, are you one of those ponies?”

Science Spark laughed, tears streaming down her cheeks. She wiped them off with her wings. “No, no. I’m her sister. You couldn’t tell?” Silence. “Well, I feel really stupid right now.”

“It’s okay.”

Spreading her wings out to stretch, she remarked, “Hey, do you ever wonder why it’s called ‘Twilight’s School of Magic for All Creatures’?”

Racing cocked his head. “Why?” She smiled. “They decided to start teaching magic to everyone when somepony in Manehatten made the discovery that all creatures have a magical component- even Pegasi and Earth Ponies! It’s known that Pegasi can walk on clouds, but not until now, nopony knew why! Turns out there’s a magical component in Pegasi bones that make them lesser in density, which is why when forces like Tirek steal magic from them, it becomes harder for them to fly and walk on clouds.”

Science put a hoof to her mouth. “Sorry,” she apologized. “I’m usually a dork like this,” she chuckled. “Science and magic are my obsessions. In fact, my talent is finding ways to combine the two. See?” Her wings unfolded to reveal her cutie mark, a star shaped vial with multicolored sparks flying out from it. “I got my cutie mark when-” The teacher’s loud voice, which pierced through the commotion and interrupted her.

“Today we are learning about how the weather is controlled. You see, this class is exclusively made up of only Pegasi for this subject. Now, let me introduce myself. I am Merriweather. Don’t try any funny business with mocking my name, or you will be dealt with,” she said, nodding at a group of stallions who looked like troublemakers.

“Anyway, I’m here to teach you the magic of pegasi. Quite literally,” she remarked. “All of you are segregated from the Earth Ponies and Unicorns because they are not suited to these classes. Now that we have that cleared up, I would like you ponies to choose a partner- don’t abuse it.” Everypony in class scrambled to claim somebody. Science Spark and Racing Rain sit together, not chosen by anyone.

A lavender Dragon-Pony hybrid waved over to Science. “Come on, I’m waiting,” she beckoned.

“But I don’t even know this guy’s name! I’m being rude!” Science flattened her ears back. “Please? You know how much I love meeting new ponies,” Science Spark said, giving her friend big puppy dog eyes.

“Aww. Fine. You can spend some time with him.”

“Yes! Spark has won! You’re no match for my cuteness and you know it, Fireopal!”

Fireopal must be that- um, hybrid pony over there. Wait, I thought only pegasi were in this class. Oh well. Maybe it’s because she’s part pony. Whatever the reason, Racing was more than happy to meet new friends. The more, the merrier!he thought.