It was her first day as a senior of a public high school. Her mother drove her to school in their blue minivan. Before then she went to private school. Those were happier times. Her mom and dad were still married. But her mom can't afford private school on her own and her dad refuses to pay if she isn't living with him.

"It'll be okay, Twilight, sweetie," said her mom. "Public school is just like any other school. I went to public school, and look at me! I sell houses!"

"I'm not worried about the education, mom," Twilight Sparkle said. "I'm worried about the students. I'm probably gonna be the only new pony there for her senior year while everypony else have already made friends with other ponies who've been there since their freshman year or earlier. Nopony would want anything to do with me."

"Oh, come on, Twilight," said Spike, her adoptive brother, "You're thinking negative. It's like what dad always said, 'Negative thinkers are stinkers!'"

"Yeah, and he was a stinking drinker," their mom added.

"Mom," Spike whined.

"Okay, I'm sorry, but he's right, Twilight. Make the best of it."

"Okay," she said with little meaning behind her response.

They arrived at the school. The big sign out front read "Equestria High School: Go Buckaneers!" Their mother pulled up at the kiss and go to let out her children. It was very busy. Students were everywhere waiting for the homeroom bell to ring. Twilight and Spike surveyed the area making careful mental notes about each student they laid eyes on: cool ponies, geeks, hipsters, popular ponies, not as popular ponies, jocks, popular hipsters, stoners, and everypony else. Spike was eager to meet everyone while Twilight tried to find just one pony she can easily walk up to and ask them to show her to her locker.

Their mother drove off to complete another workday. Spike took this as a cue for them to part ways. He left to run after a group of rough looking kids around his age. Twilight rolled her eyes and continued looking for a pony. She finally found one with a red and yellow mane walking alone toward the entrance of the building.

"She looks approachable," Twilight said to herself.

Twilight hurried to catch up to her. She met her at the main entrance doors. Twilight quickly cut in front of her to open the doors for her.

"After you," Twilight greeted.

The other pony didn't say a word. Twilight saw passed the weird behavior and continued to speak to her.

"So my name is Twilight. I'm new here. What's your name?"

"Sunset Shimmer," she sternly responded.

"Oh! What a pretty name! So are you a senior here? I'm a senior. I transferred here from Princess Academy in Canterlot. My folks are going through some stuff, so now I gotta go here. Not that it's a bad thing. I'm sure you love this school and that it's a great school and everything. In fact I think I'm gonna like it here! So who do have first period?"

"Listen, Twilight, was it?" Sunset said as she got in Twilight's face. "My time is very valuable so is there anything I can help you with so you can buck off and leave me alone?"

Twilight suddenly became frightened.

"Um, do you know where my locker is?"

Sunset Shimmer sighed and turned away from Twilight.

Feeling discouraged, Twilight quickly turned around without looking. She accidentally bumped into Fluttershy who was passing out flyers about animal rights propaganda. The bump caused Fluttershy to drop all of her flyers on the floor, scattering them about. Students around them began to laugh and point at Fluttershy. Sunset Shimmer almost missed the commotion but was able to see that Twilight knocked Fluttershy's papers out of her hooves.

Twilight started to rush to help Fluttershy but Sunset stopped her.

"Hey, Twilight, was it?" Sunset Shimmer started. "I think we started off on the wrong hoof. I had you pegged all wrong. I didn't think you were cool like me. Sure it wasn't totally humiliating but you put that annoying granola muncher in her place. Way to show who's boss!"

"Uh, thanks?" Twilight winced.

"Hey, a couple of us cool ponies are gonna go out for lunch. You should hang with us."

"Um, I'll think about it. Still kinda gettin' used to the school, here."

"Oh, okay. No worries. We'll hang whenever! You can find me in the parking lot by the cafeteria. Or in the bleachers in the gymnasium. Or on the softball field. I'm usually never in class. Catch ya, around Twi. Oh, and your locker is at the end of the hallway!"

Sunset Shimmer darted off toward the lunchroom. Only Twilight and Fluttershy were in the hallway. Twilight, was excited that a pony wanted to hang with her. But in her delight she almost forgot about Fluttershy.

"Oh my gosh let me help you," Twilight said leaning down to help her pick up her papers.

"N-no. I'm s-so s-sorry," stammered the frightened pony. "It was t-t-totally my fault. Please, don't… h-hurt m-me."

"Hurt you? I want to help you."

"Oh, you don't need apologize for anything, Ms., um, New Pony! I shouldn't have been in your way. It'll never happen again. Just don't throw me in the bushes."

"Throw you in the-, listen, I think you have me confused with another pony."

"Oh no," Fluttershy muttered. "I'm so sorry. It's just that, um, well, I saw you with Sunset Shimmer."

"Why is that such a big deal?"

"Well, I really can't blame her for it. She might have came from a bad home. I'm sure she's more than just a… big meanie pants! Oh! Please excuse me, um,-"

"Twilight. Twilight Sparkle."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Twilight Sparkle. It's just that it was Sunset Shimmer who bumped, I mean, whom I bumped into before and I guess that made her very upset because,... well, she ended up throwing me in the bushes one. I had pricklies in my mane all day."

"That's awful," Twilight gasped.

"Yeah, she's kind of a bully. But I don't hate her. I know deep down inside all of that icky meanieness, she is a good pony!"

"I'll have to stay clear of her then. Thanks, um…"

"Fluttershy," she said with a giggle. "Hey I can walk you to your locker and maybe show you around a bit, I mean, if that's okay with you. If not then at least take this flyer. It's about saving baby seals, the cute little darlings."

"Thanks, Fluttershy. And I don't mind you showing me around."

"Really? Oh Twilight, I can't wait to show you all the wonderful things we have here!" Fluttershy said in delight as she started hovering. "What's your schedule?"

Twilight showed her class schedule. She had a lot of advanced courses to take.

"Wow, you must be really smart," Fluttershy remarked. "We have the first period together with Dr. Discord."

"Dr. Discord?

"Well, I don't think he's a real Doctor. He just tells us to call him that so when he does role call we answer 'What's up, doc?' He's an, um, interesting teacher."

The two ponies walked to Twilight's locker together laughing and talking about the school. Meanwhile, Spike was still following the rough kids from before. They were the Diamond Dogs. Rover, Fido, and Spot were making their way to the East wing of the school, outside. The dogs were laughing, calling each other names and making inside jokes. Spike was laughing along with them the whole way.

"Hey smell my breath," Rover said to Fido, blowing hot air to him.

"What did you eat?" Fido winced.

"Your momma's pussy!"

The dogs all laugh in unison. In an effort to fit in Spike also joins in laughter. The sound of his childish giggles disrupted the unruly cackling from the Diamond Dogs. Their attention was fixed on the intruder. Spike suddenly grew nervous.

"Hey, who are you?" Spot grilled.

"Um, I'm Spike," Spike shakily spat out.

"Spike?," said Rover. "That tough name! You tough?"

"Well, yeah I'm tough," Spike said with more confidence. "I'm plenty tough!"

"Oh, yeah?" said a voice from the shadows. It was Babs Seed. She slowly crept from the shadows. She unwrapped a sucker and stuck it in her mouth. "You think, ya tougher than me?"

"Well-" Spike started

"What's ya name kid?"

"His name Spike, boss" Fido barked.

"Spike, huh. That's cute. Youse supposed to be a dawg, too, er sumthin'?"

"No, I'm a dragon."

"A dragon!" Babs said circling Spike. "Intrestin', intrestin.' You must be new around here."

"Yeah I am.."

"I see. Well since you're new I'll grant you the privilege to join our little operation here. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and I think a pup like you could go far with the likes of me!"

"Huh? Wait, who are you?"

"Well the faculty calls me Barbra. Anypony else call me that and they're buckin' dead! Ponies around here call me Babs, see? But, you can call me any time, Spike… the dragon." Babs stuffed her sucker into Spike mouth. Spike coughed and gagged by the sudden gesture. "See ya around, babe. And consider my offer, will ya? Let's go boys."

Babs Seed and her Diamond Dog goons left Spike alone. Spike finally managed to spit out the candy. Upon doing so he found himself standing before three eager young mares.

"Can I help you?" Spike said.

"Yeah, where's your cutie mark?" said a short orange pegasus.

"Scootaloo, hush! Sorry 'bout that," said the yellow red maned pony. "I'm Apple Bloom and that one's name is Scootaloo. And this is Sweetie Belle. And we're here to show you around the school."

"Aw cool," Spike cheerfully said. "I'm Spike. Spike Sparkle. This must be some place if you get to have three ponies show you around."

"Actually only I was assigned to show you around," Sweetie Belle said.

"But we do everything as a team!" Apple Bloom shouted.

"We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Scootaloo added.

"Is that like a club or something?" Spike questioned.

"Sort of," Scootaloo said. "We're on a quest to find our cutie marks or die trying!"

"Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom yelled. "We gotta work on your recruitment skills, lil lady!"

"Recruitment? Well, I'm a dragon. Dragons don't get cutie marks. At least I don't think they do."

"Oh. Well, that's okay," Apple Bloom said. "We can still be friends."

"Sweet!" Spike cheered. "Now I have seven new friends here at this school. Twilight is gonna flip!"