Hello, fellow readers! And welcome to Prism! The changes will be discussed at the end of this chapter, so let's just dive into it!
Prologue: Mysteries Abound
?
Opening his eyes, a male teen finds himself in a familiar setting as he looks around. It's not a prison like last time, but now it's simply a long blue hall that looks to be endless. He wasn't sure what to make of this, though before he could step forward, he heard a voice:
"What has brought you here?"
It wasn't his and it was not familiar to him. Looking around to possibly see where it came from, he then sees a faint red light emerge in front of him before it forms into a small gentle flame. It lit the area just enough to see clearly and allows him to see something behind it. Or rather, someone.
The person was also a male teen around his age, having gray hair in a bowl-shaped haircut with gray eyes to match and pale skin.
From the other teen's perspective, he saw a teen that has wavy unkempt black hair with dark gray eyes and pale skin.
They only had just enough time to see themselves before the flame starts to flicker, now starting to slowly grow larger and fiercer until it became a raging red inferno that surrounds them. Before they could even react, they were engulfed by it in an instant.
?, Dawn (R)
The night sky was slowly giving way to the sun currently rising over the horizon as the black-haired teen laid on the concrete of a school courtyard before moving his eyes open. His vision adjusts as he slowly raise his head to look around before getting up to his feet. Looking down to check on himself, he saw the attire he was currently wearing.
He wore a short-sleeved black polo shirt with a white collar, gray pants with a brown belt, a dark brown wristband on his left wrist, and gray converse sneakers. He then felt his face and realized he was wearing his signature black-rimmed glasses. Readjusting them a bit, he then looks at where he currently was.
He stood in front of what is most likely a high school, having a statue of a horse associated with it in its courtyard as he then sees the sign nearby that said:
Canterlot High
"What is this place?" He mutters as he adjusts his feet for a better view of the school, only to briefly hit something and looks down.
He sees a crown, a rather interesting crown as it is a golden tiara with a pink six-sided star on top, and picks it up for further examination before the silence air was suddenly broken. He heard cars go by on the street nearby and people walking on the sidewalk, some of them students as they went towards the school entrance. They went past him without a second thought as he only had more questions form in his head.
Knowing no answers will come to him, he decides to go investigate and starts with the school itself. Going up the steps, he enters through one of the glass doors into the main foyer where he saw various displays between the many halls interconnected with each other along with staircases going to the second floor. Looking around, he then notices the students and saw how colorful they were.
No literally, their appearances are more vibrant than those from his world. Other than that, they act pretty much human. Walking further inside, he overheard some conversations and finds himself able to understand every word. Guess his studying on other languages have paid off.
He then sees a male student carrying a guitar case walking by and gets his attention, "Excuse me."
The guitarist looks at him with vivid blue eyes that match with his spiky sapphire blue hair that goes darker at the tip and pale amber skin, wearing a black jacket over a white shirt that has a picture of a lightning bolt over a blue shield, blue jeans, and black shoes with white soles.
"Can you help me? I'm looking for the principal's office." He asks the guitarist.
"Sure thing." The latter was fortunately happy to help as he gives directions, "It's down that hall, third door on the left."
"Thank you." He thanks said guitarist before the two went their separate ways.
Walking down the hall, he sees a couple of students either looking through or hanging out next to their lockers before reaching his destination and opens the door shortly after. Entering said office, he sees a woman sitting behind the main desk looking over some paperwork before she looks up to see her visitor.
She had heliotrope colored eyes with long hair made up of light pale shades of various colors that were streaked evenly throughout and light gray skin, wearing a light brown jacket that has a sun-shaped pin on the collar over a white and purple striped v-neck shirt, purple pants and light brown shoes.
"Can I help you?" She asks him.
"Um, I'm new here. Though, my reason why is gonna sound a bit strange." He admits before remembering the crown in his hand, "Does this belong here by chance?"
Upon seeing the crown, she had a questionable look as she gets up and goes to a box nearby, opening it to see nothing inside. He deduces it must have been stolen and spoke again:
"I'm not sure how it got there, but I found it outside in the courtyard."
"...I see." The principal simply said afterwards, walking over to him and took said crown back. "Thank you for returning it..." She slowly ends her sentence, due to not knowing his name.
"Ren Amamiya." He introduces himself.
"Nice to meet you." She responds in kind before putting the crown in its box and closes it, "So, what brings you to Canterlot?"
Ren hesitates for a moment, not having anything for a cover story prepared and wings it. "I-I'm from out of town. I don't usually stay in one place for too long, just traveling around to see what the world has to offer."
"A tourist, huh?" She summaries from his answer, "Well, I'm sure you'll find this city rich and worthwhile."
"I hope so." He then gets an idea, "Actually, may I use your library? I would like to learn as much history as I can for each place I visit."
"Very well. I would show you where it is, but I have my hands full with work right now." The principal admits, "I can probably get one of the students to-"
"Oh." Another voice was heard near the door, getting their attention as they look in that direction.
The two see another student in the doorway as she has long red hair with yellow streaks that compliments her light amber skin and cyan eyes, wearing a black leather jacket with a sun design matching her hair colors on the back over a dark pink top, black jeans, and black boots.
"Am I interrupting something?" She asks the obvious.
"Actually, you're just in time." The principal answers before introducing the two, "This is Ren Amamiya, a tourist who came to see our city recently. Ren, this is Sunset Shimmer."
"Nice to meet you." Sunset holds her hand out as a greeting, which Ren returns in kind.
"He just asked to see the library. Would you mind to show him where it is?" The principal asks her to do.
"Yes, ma'am." Sunset gladly accepts.
"Excellent. Hope you enjoy your time here, Ren." The principal said to him.
"Thank you for your help, Principal-" He then realizes he didn't learn her name.
"Celestia." Celestia finishes what he was saying, "I just realized that myself."
Ren simply nods and takes his leave with Sunset leading the way, leaving Celestia alone in her office as she mutters to herself:
"I would think he stole the crown, but why would he come back to return it? Or the better question is, who took the crown in the first place?"
? (Y)
Opening his eyes, the gray-haired teen finds himself in a rather interesting place and slowly gets up to his feet before checking himself over for any damage. He sees that he is wearing a gray long-sleeved shirt over a black unzipped jacket, black pants, and gray sneakers with yellow laces.
Once he's done that, he then shifts focus to his surroundings. They are that of a town, one that is large enough to have a downtown area and suburban area, along with mountains in the distance to shelter it from the world beyond. He stood on a tall hill that looks over said town, impressed by its architecture, if there wasn't one thing that kept him from enjoying the view...
It was so quiet. Like, eerily quiet.
No birds chirping, trees stood still like statues, not even a hint of a breeze...
And no citizens to be seen.
"Where am I now?" An understandable question he muttered to himself, but knows he can't find an answer by waiting.
Walking down the hill to enter the town, he notices that everything was rather gray upon a closer look. The buildings and roads were dulled, the parked cars are rather weathered on the verge of gaining rust, streetlights that look like they haven't been used in years...
The further and further the boy went, he only felt a feeling of melancholy that stayed in his gut as he then reaches the suburban area.
The houses are empty, the trees having no leaves on its branches, not even the grass was green with its blades barely reaching the height of the sidewalk...
He looks up to the sky and saw it was a sunny day... with the sun emitting a black light with the clouds appearing as shadows across the gray void.
Upon looking back down, his eyes fell upon a rather peculiar sight. Color, specifically the color red, was on a building down the street that appears to be a high school. He sprints down towards it to reach it in seconds and saw the more intricate details up close. Turns out, the red was actually more so a shade of crimson red.
While it was a high school, it was the towers on top that stuck out. Two tall ones side-by-side with the third in the middle practically double their height. A glass-stained mural of a red and yellow sun was seen on the main building over the entrance that comprises of a set of steps to a pair of large double doors. Unlike earlier, the grass was a healthy green in the courtyard he stood in with its blades thoroughly trimmed and the concrete freshly coated.
It gave off an impression of a castle, yet retains the appearance of a school? An odd combination, but it's the only place that has color compared to the rest of the city. Kinda reminds him of the dungeons he roamed through back in the TV world.
His curiosity only grew more as he gets to said entrance and was about to walk up the steps, only to see the double doors were that of a giant's height. Thinking of any other way to enter, he then feels something vibrate in his pocket and pulls out his phone. Flipping it open, he sees one message from an unknown sender:
Your glasses will reveal a secret. Follow it to find a way out.
He was rather confused before realizing what it meant. Checking his other pocket, he pulls out a pair of glasses that matches those he wore before back in Inaba. Putting them on, he looks around to see nothing really different, just his vision was darkened a bit...
And a trail of blue footprints on the steps.
His eyes follow the trail up to a statue in the courtyard that is a simple horse on its hind legs, which he follows up to said statue. Upon looking at it more closely, he sees them stop at the statue where the last footprint was halfway under it. Most likely, there was something hidden inside.
His glasses then detected a particular point in the statue, on the edge of the platform where the statue was is a button. Upon pressing it, the surface facing him splits open to reveal a set of stairs going further inside. Seeing the trail continue onwards, he follows them down inside.
Torches lit the pathway as he went down a spiral staircase, starting to feel a surprisingly warm air coming from further inside that only increases in heat until he reached the bottom... and sees why.
A gigantic library was what he found as there were torches there that lit the place up just enough, yet it looks to be rather ancient in its structure. The bookshelves were several feet tall on the walls, lined up with many books neatly filed and organized. He'll admit, this is really impressive.
His phone vibrates again, flipping it back open to see another text from the unknown sender:
Press on, you can't take too long. Follow the balloon.
Most likely just to get him back on track. Looking on the floor, he then sees more than one trail throughout, but manages to follow one that goes to a door on the other end and opens it to find a long corridor with seven doors. Three on the left, three on the right, with the last one straight down on the other side as the torches were lit in various colors. Here, the trail splits off to each door multiple times, showing the frequent visits this place gets from... whoever is here.
He then sees symbols on top of each door that the torches each match, except for the seventh one that has none. From the far left to the far right, it was:
Lightning Bolt, Butterfly, Balloon, Star, Apple, and Diamond.
His eyes shift back to the balloon, back to the message, and back to the balloon before continuing onwards. Entering inside, he goes through a long corridor and up more stairs to another door. Upon opening it, he was surprised to find himself inside the school that was surprisingly modern compared to the passageways. Though, that wasn't the strangest sight.
There were Shadows. And not like those he faced before, just silhouettes of people acting like normal people as they talk to each other in groups and walking down the hallway like any other school. They had no distinguishing features on them other than a few various body types commonly found among humans.
His phone then vibrates again, revealing another message:
Ignore them, they won't bother you. Keep walking.
He's not wrong, they haven't even noticed him at all yet. Continuing on, he tries his best to stay on one path as there were many going every which way through the halls. Though, he eventually realizes that one trail was in blue as the others are white, making it easier to see.
He eventually follows the blue trail to a pair of doors where he gets another message:
You're almost there. Enter, and I'll tell you the exit.
He immediately enters through the doors and finds himself in a gymnasium. An average sized gym, so nothing to ride home about. Though strangely, no one was in here except for him as he walks further inside before getting another message:
The door behind you.
Immediately turning around, he sees a door that was kinda distorted. It still appears solid, but it's like there was mist forming around it. Shrugging at it, he opens it and enters inside with the door closing behind him soon after. It was rather cramped, only having just enough for two people. A strange safe place as it had no clear exit, even with the glasses.
Another message on his phone, it reads:
Press the button and you'll return to the real world.
Finally, some good news. Upon pressing it, the area starts to distorts around him before he disappears into thin air.
CHS, Morning (Y)
Upon the distortions ending, he finds himself in a dark place with the only light coming from his phone where he sees one last message:
Don't come back if you want to stay alive. Trust me.
Whoever this was, he can tell this is someone who has good intentions. Otherwise, he would still be trapped in that other world.
Exiting the small space, which turns out to a utility closet, he closes the door behind him as he finally takes time to breathe and process what just happened. Closing his phone, he puts it back in his pocket before taking off his glasses and putting them away as well. After a few deep breaths, he looks at his new surroundings and finds himself in a gymnasium.
Though this time, it was decorated like there was a party event being planned. Balloons, streamers, the works. Definitely a different atmosphere than-
"HI!"
He jumps at the sudden shout, due to being distracted by the decorations. Turning to who surprised him, he sees a rather interesting human being.
She stares at him with pale cerulean eyes that compliment her light pink skin and rather puffy rosy pink hair as she wore a pink sweater with three balloons on the front, where the two on the sides are blue with the center being yellow, white pants, and pink boots with white laces. The two stare at each other for a moment before she lets out a small giggle:
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you like that."
He composes himself soon after, "It's fine. Just didn't expect you."
"That's cool. Name's Pinkie Pie!" She introduces herself with a wide friendly smile.
He couldn't help but return the greeting with a smile, "Yu Narukami."
"Nice to meet Yu." She cheerfully snuck in a pun with his name, which he barely notices before casually asking. "So, what were you doing in the utility closet?"
He pauses for a moment, not really sure how to explain it without coming off as crazy. He isn't a convincing liar, so-
"Oh, wait! Let me take a guess..." Pinkie stops his train of thought as she goes into thinking mode, which he could have sworn he heard gears turning before setting off a dinging sound. "I got it! You came from another world into a strange alternate one where everything was gray, except for one that had color, and had to be navigated by mysterious texts to come to the real world, which is ours, that just so happen to use the utility closet as a gateway!"
Yu was genuinely surprised she nailed it dead on within one breath without a hint.
"...That's an accurate answer." He eventually said.
"Really? I just guessed!" She casually shrugs at it before having an idea, "Hey! You mind helping me finish decorating for the dance?"
"What kind of dance?"
"The Fall Formal! It's coming up in three days and I'm only halfway done! I tried asking for help, but everyone I asked just said they were busy!"
"Really? Even your friends?"
He then sees her puffy hair seems to deflate and her smile falter a bit before speaking, "I-I don't really have many friends. The ones I do have help out now and then, but... rarely show up. I get it though, they have their own problems to deal with... besides me."
"That is tough to think about." He gets that friends do have their own lives outside of their social circles, but it sounds like there's more to it. Wanting to know more and doesn't mind helping out anyways, he assures her. "Sure, I'll help you."
She then shook her head like it was wet, making her hair puff up again with a smile returning to her face. "Really!?"
"Yeah. In exchange, you'll tell me more about your world."
"Tell me more about yours and you got a deal!" Pinkie then tosses him a bunch of streamers and balloons, which he caught in his arms. "Let's DO THIS!"
"Yeah!" He was feeling more energetic already, due to her infectious joy as the two got to work.
CHS, Morning (R)
The walk through the halls were rather quiet for the most part, which was strange considering the amount of students he saw talking among themselves. Or rather, they were whispering to each other as they walked by. From past experiences, he expected them to be about him as he's the new guy around here. However, their eyes were actually towards Sunset more so than himself, which raises questions in his head until they arrived at said library.
It was rather big, having two floors dedicated to books and the like, including computers placed around the center pillar on the first floor. More impressive than the one at Shujin, in terms of size. He did see a couple of students throughout, but it was rather empty for the most part.
"Here we are." Sunset points out, "Nice, huh?"
"Definitely." He agrees, "I guess you come here often?"
"Not as often as I used to." She admits before turning to him, "Have fun."
Upon seeing her take her leave, he calls out to stop her. "Wait a moment!"
She pauses before turning around, "Yeah?"
He was straight as an arrow when he asks the next question, "Why were the others talking behind your back?"
She stares at him for what felt like minutes before asking, "Why do you wanna know?"
"Being judged by others is something I've dealt with." He honestly answers, "I'm asking if there is a reason why towards you."
Sunset shifts her eyes away in thought before speaking, "There is... and they're not nice ones."
Ren notices her voice became a bit softer towards the end. Likely, she's been dealing with this for awhile now.
"Wanna talk about it?" He offers, "It might help clear your head."
She was a bit put off by his friendliness, "We just met. Why do you care?"
"Like I said, I've been an outcast myself. The least I can do is help others in a similar situation."
His firm response surprises her for a moment, which she couldn't help but smile at.
"All right, you got me curious." She admits.
The two walk into the library and went up to the second floor into a section where no one else was, sitting down at a table next to a window before he spoke:
"OK, whenever you're ready."
The two sat in silence after he said that, not out of awkwardness, but hesitancy from Sunset as she thought about where to begin. Letting out a small sigh, she eventually starts her story:
"I was quite the talented kid growing up. While it takes some awhile to learn a skill, I pick up on it rather quickly... and lose interest just as fast mainly due to it lacking any sort of challenge at that point. The only interest that did stay were books, those I read more of in a day than actually socializing with anyone, but it only helped me learn more about the world around me. It wasn't until I've reached my teenage years that another interest caught my eye, which may sound a bit strange."
He doubts it'll be any stranger than what he's seen, but still listens intently as she continues:
"And it was magic. I don't mean the supernatural though, like actual magic. The concept of it, being able to create miracles and do the impossible that even the geniuses can't decipher. That is fascinating to just think about for me, so I looked into anything about it on whatever I could find. Though, this is also why I don't have any friends to speak of. While my academics are excellent, my social skills are not as I can come off as kind of... odd."
"How so?" He wonders on her definition of odd.
She pauses for a moment before admitting, "W-When I get nervous, I fall back on what I've learned from books and tell them an interesting fact about physics or fun facts about technology, which they either tune me out or even just walk away. Guess I'm just looked at as some sort of nerd or even condescending, but..."
Ren listened to her story and summarizes it as 'a lonely genius' sort of deal. Although, some of it sounds similar to his friend Makoto who was student counsel president at Shujin when he was there. Curious now, he then asks:
"Are you in any clubs or part of the student body?"
"No, I don't bother." She admits, "I doubt they would accept me anyways."
"Have you tried to?" No response, which pretty much shows her little dilemma. "I see. Then let's make a deal."
Sunset was confused at first before shifting to intrigue, "A deal?"
"Yes. I'm rather new around these parts, so it would be nice to have someone who knows this place rather well. In exchange, I can show you how to improve your social skills to help you connect better with others. How about it?"
His terms were rather hard to decline as it mutually benefits both sides either way. With a small smile on her face, she answers:
"Very well. It's a deal." She said before reaching out her hand, "Nice to work with you."
"Same here." He returns the gesture as the two shook on it.
The school bell then rang, signaling the beginning of classes as Sunset gets up from her seat. "You better keep your end of the bargain. I'll see you around."
Ren simply nods before she left, leaving him to his own devices as he starts with his research.
CHS, Morning (Y)
The two has just finished with the streamers as they are now taking a small break, having a conversation in the meantime.
"So, you have this sense that lets you know what others don't?" Yu is rather curious of her 'special abilities'.
"Yep! You probably know it as a 'fourth wall break', but it's very helpful when it comes to expositions!" Pinkie answers, "Which by the way, it'll save you a headache if you don't question it."
"I'll keep that in mind." He casually said.
The two then heard the school bell ring, signaling the beginning of classes as Pinkie sighs. "Oh, I lost track of the time! I'll see you around, Yu!"
"Same to you." He also realizes the time that flew by as she took her leave.
Being alone again, he looks around at the work they've done up until he looks out the window to see the morning sun. Getting a closer look at the outside, he then sees what looks like a person lying next to the statue he saw before. Worry starts to emerge as he goes to exit the gym to the outside, going around the building to the courtyard.
Upon entering said courtyard, he calls out to her. "Hey, are you all right?"
The girl began to stir upon him reaching her, then seeing a puppy next to her stirring at the same time.
"Ugh... that wasn't a fun ride." He didn't expect said pup actually speak as he stood up before his eyes saw Yu, "Uh... Hi?"
"Hi there." Yu greets the pup before seeing the girl move, "Are you hurt?"
"N-No, I don't think so..." The girl answers before looking upwards and recoils in shock upon seeing him, landing on her posterior.
Seeing her appearance better, she looks at him with violet eyes that match her pale orchid skin and dark sapphire hair that has a purple and raspberry streak next to each other, wearing a light blue blouse with a pink bow under a purple jacket, a dark blue backpack, a purple skirt that has a pink six-sided star with blue leggings underneath, and purple ankle-high boots.
"What's wrong?" He questions her reaction.
"N-Nothing, you just surprised me." She answers before seeing Spike, "Spike? Wha- why are you a dog now?"
Yu had more questions forming in his head as the pup named Spike looks upon himself, "I don't know, but I think the better question is what you are."
"What I am?" The girl repeats in curiosity.
Yu steps in to answer that, "You're human."
She looks at herself and saw her new form. While she knew spells that change the castor's or target's form, she was rather intrigued by such a form that didn't exist in her home world. She then sees another hand that Yu was holding out to her:
"I'm Yu Narukami. You are?"
She hesitantly holds her hand out for him to grab, helping her up to her feet. "T-Twilight Sparkle. And that's Spike."
"Nice to meet you two." He said before shifting the topic a bit, "I don't mean to assume, but is there a chance you're not from around here too?"
"...Um..." Twilight was really hesitant to answer that.
"Considering your talking dog and all." Yu adds, gesturing to Spike.
"That's not normal around here?" The latter wonders.
"As far as I'm aware." The former still doesn't know much about this world he finds himself in.
"Wait, too?" She picks up on, "Are you also not from this world?"
"That's right." Yu honestly answers.
"Really!? What was your form!? Were you also a pony!?" She suddenly bombards him with questions, which is the opposite of her hesitant self.
"Honestly, my world is closer to this one than yours." He answers before repeating, "Wait, you're a pony? Like, a small horse?"
"Looks like both sides have some explaining to do." Spike points out.
And done! This took a bit to figure out, as I wanted to change things up while still doing something similar to the original. To elaborate:
1. Yu and Ren are still our protagonists, but I decided not to include Morgana this time as he didn't really do much in the original. Don't worry though, I still have plans for him in particular, but that isn't until later.
2. This still follows the main plot of the first Equestria Girls, such as the crown and the Fall Formal, but I want to expand upon Sunset's character while she's in her antagonistic role as I think they could have done more than just a typical school bully.
3. This is also why Ren is separated from Yu this time, as it'll help me have room on the new stuff without going too off track.
4. Same rules still applies from the original about extra characters/personas. I'll only add in those that'll have a story significance.
5. As I've said before, this timeline takes place after Royal AND Strikers. Both can be seamlessly integrated, so that's what I'm doing.
I think that's about it, as far as I'm aware. If you have any questions, I'll try my best to answer as I appreciate the feedback. Other than that, thanks for reading and I'll see you next chapter!