Chapter 1: The Trip Begins
Sunset sighed as she stared out the window of the bus, thinking about the past week. Ever since she made friends with Trixie and the Dazzlings, things had been pretty uneventful. The only thing of real note happened last night, when she had a weird dream.
"Sunset, are you ok?" Trixie asked, breaking Sunset's train of thought. "Oh, it's nothing," Sunset responded. "You know, it's ok to talk to your friends about your problems, right?" Trixie responded with a caring tone. Sunset, thinking about it for a bit, said in a calm tone, "You're right."
"Now, what's the problem?" Trixie inquired. "Well, I had a weird dream yesterday," Sunset responded with a calm tone. "Dream?" Trixie asked out of curiosity. "Yes, and for the past week, I keep seeing my pony self out of the corner of my eye," Sunset answered keeping the tone she had before.
Before Trixie could speak anything else, the bus came to a stop at Camp Ponyville. "I guess we should go," Sunset said reluctantly, getting up from her seat. Trixie got up to follow Sunset, thinking about what to tell her when they got settled in.
After getting off the buses and getting settled in, Celestia called all the students to the camp lunch hall. The students started to converse amongst each other when they arrived and Luna got their attention.
"Now, all of you might be wondering why I decided to take a field trip here. The reason why is because we have an opportunity to explore the Everfree Ruins located near here," Celestia announced in a cheerful tone.
Almost immediately, most of the students looked and whispered amongst themselves when they heard this announcement. "Now before you start asking questions, let me clarify that any rumors that you have heard about the ruins are not true," Celestia clarified, with a comforting tone. The students, while not being reassured, did quiet down.
"Now, all students will be separated into groups, and the groups will be determined tomorrow. For now, all students will report back to the dorms for the night." Celestia announced, in a calm voice. With that announcement, all the students got up and went to the dorms to sleep.
While all the students slept, Celestia and Luna were discussing the activities for the students when Wind came into the room. "Hello, how's it going Wind?" Luna inquired, with a curious tone. "Good, I'm glad that I volunteered here, the work is exhausting thought," Wind responded in an exhausted voice. "Hey, remember the job is only temporary," Celesta commented in a motherly tone.
"Out of curiosity, do you know who are the students that I'm going to watch over?" Wind inquired with a curious tone. Celestia, in response, handed Wind a paper with some names on it. After reading the paper, Wind smiled and asked, "Did you assign me these five girls on purpose?" "It might seem like a weird decision, but I know you can help these five," Celestia answered in a caring tone. "I just hope the activity isn't too draining on them," Wind commented in a concerned tone.
Sunset woke up with a start, sweating in complete terror from the dream that she just had. "Wh-What was that?" Sunset thought in a panic. Looking at the time, Sunset got up from her bunk and went to the bathroom to get ready for the day. When she got to the bathroom, she stood over the sink and thought back to her dream. "I don't want to believe that dream, but what was that shadow?" Sunset thought, still trying to calm down.
After taking a bath and getting dressed, Sunset went to the lunch hall to get some breakfast. When she got there, she noticed that there were a few students that were wearing different colored armbands. When Sunset sat down with her breakfast, Principle Celestia came over and gave her a red armband with the word "Sacred" on it.
"What's with the armbands?" Sunset inquired in a curious tone. "All you need to know for now is that they're part of picking the teams," Celestia answered, putting the armband on Sunset's arm. After getting the armband on, a camp counselor came in to the lunch hall. "All campers with armbands, report to the forest after breakfast!" the counselor announced.
As some of the students got up and left, Sunset looked at Celestia out of nervousness. "Don't worry, you'll be happy with your team," Celesta reassured Sunset in a motherly tone. "If I know you, Ms. Celestia, it will be," Sunset responded with a teasing tone as she got up. Celestia smiled as Sunset left with the other students and went to find Luna and Wind. Unknown to her, a small red car went out of the lunch hall and followed Sunset into the forest.
After walking for about twenty minutes, Sunset, a few other students with red armbands, and a camp counselor arrived in a clearing. "Okay, now that we're here, it's time to start the first camp activity," the counselor told the students. He handed each of the students a paper with four different colors and a word matching the one on their armbands, a map of the area, and a compass. "Your teams have already been chosen, but this activity is to find your teammates," the counselor announced in a calm tone.
When no one spoke, the counselor said, "When you've found your teammates, head back to the camp, any questions?" "How many member are there per team?" Sunset responded in a curious tone. "There are six per team, five students and a counselor to watch over you," the counselor answered. When no one asked any more questions, the counselor looked at his watch and waited for a few minutes. When it was time, the counselor gave the signal for the students to start.
"Why can I never remember the layout of this forest?" Sonata pondered, as she walked through the Everfree Forest. Sonata, at the moment, was trying to navigate the forest she had visited several times before. "I just want to find my teammates and get out of this forest." Sonata thought, as she walked over some roots. After looking at the map, she heard a noise that shouldn't be in the forest. Looking around for the source of the sound, she saw a green toy garbage truck by her feet. "A truck?" Sonata questioned aloud, picking up the toy truck. Looking at the car, she noticed a symbol on the back.
Suddenly, the truck gave Sonata a slight shock, causing her to drop it. "Ow, did that that toy just give me a shock?" Sonata said in a surprised tone. "Sorry about that, I needed to see if this worked," a female voice responded in a calm tone. Thinking she was going insane from a lack of magic, she looked around to find the source voice. "Down here," the voice called. Looking down she saw the toy truck and, thinking this was a prank, picked it up again.
"H-Hello?" Sonata spoke in a nervous tone. "Hello, nice to meet you," The toy truck responded. "Wah!" Sonata screamed as she tried not to drop the truck in surprise. "A good pair of lungs you got there," the truck commented. "W-What are you?" Sonata asked in a trembling voice. "I am a Shift Car," the truck responded. "S-Shift C-Car?" Sonata inquired, now both scared and curious. "Yes, you could call me a hidden hero or protector," the trucked answered in a proud tone. "W-Well, what are you called?" Sonata questioned, more curious than afraid. "Shift Technic, but you can call me Technic," the truck answered in a polite voice. "M-My name is Sonata Dusk," Sonata told Technic, now more comfortable than before.
Technic was about to speak when she felt four signals coming from the forest. "W-What is it?" Sonata inquired, a little nervous again. "Don't worry, I'm just getting the signals from 4 of my friends," Technic responded in a calming tone. "Are we going to meet them?" Sonata questioned, now a little excited to meet new friends. "Yes, just follow directions I give with my headlights," Technic answered, flashing her headlights in a direction for Sonata to go. Sonata, getting the idea walked in the direction.
"Hey Tech, can I ask you something?" Sonata questioned after a few minutes of walking. "What is it?" Tech responded in a casual tone. "Who are your friends, more Shift Cars?" Sonata inquired, now very egger to meet them. "Well, the signals I'm sensing are from Shift Speed, Shift Wild, Shift Deadheat, and Shift Formula," Tech answered. "What were you and your friends doing out here anyway?" Sonata inquired. "Well, I would tell you, but I think it's better you find out yourself," Tech responded. Sonata, in order to soothe her curiosity, started to hum a tune to herself. "This Tune..." Tech thought, recognizing the tune.
After another ten minutes, Technic felt the four signals getting closer to a clearing, checking her internal map. "Ok, the signals are about to meet up ahead," Tech commented in a comforting tone. "O-Ok," Sonata responded in a nervous tone. "Scared?" Tech inquired. "A little," Sonata replied, her voice trembling slightly. "Don't worry, I know you'll be very happy," Tech reassured her in a motherly tone. Sonata swallowed and took a step forward into the clearing.
When Sonata walked into the clearing, she saw a familiar person in the clearing. "Sunset, is that you?" Sonata called out, hiding Technic from view. Sunset, hearing the call, turned around and saw Sonata heading towards her. "Get me close enough do I can touch her," Tech whispered, hidden from sight. Sonata pondered the request, but then remembered when she first picked up Tech. "Sonata, what are the chances that we see each other?" Sunset called in a surprised tone. "I should be asking why you're standing in a clearing," Sonata responded in a carefree tone. Sunset, realizing the meaning of the statement, rubbed the back of head in embarrassment.
"Hey, mind if I see your armband Sonata?" Sunset requested in a curious tone. "Sure, I wonder if you're on my team," Sonata commented in a cheerful tone. Sunset walked over to see Sonata's armband and secretly pulled out something from her back pocket. When Sunset got close enough, she checked Sonata's armband and was happy to see that Sonata was on her team. While she checked the armband, Sunset reached her arm holding the item and touched Sonata with it, Sonata doing the same to her. Both of them felt a shock, surprising Sunset and Sonata.
"What was that?" Sunset inquired, in a panicked tone. "I have an idea," Sonata responded, showing Sunset what she was holding. "You have one as well?" Sunset inquired upon seeing the Shift Car and showed that she had her own. The one Sunset had looked like a motorbike, side car combo. "Where did you get yours?" Sonata responded, in a curious tone. "I found it a few minutes ago on the ground," Sunset responded in a shaky tone. Before Sonata could respond, the two of them heard some of the trees rustle. "W-Who's there?" Sonata called in a nervous tone.
In response, three people came into the clearing. "Adagio, Aria, Trixie?" Sonata called in a surprised voice. "Sonata, Sunset, what are you two doing here?" Adagio called back in response. Adagio, along with Aria and Trixie, walked towards Sonata and Sunset. "Wait, assuming Sonata found me with that Shift Car, then I wonder if..." Sunset thought, as she hid her Shift Car and walks towards the others.
After talking for a bit and finding out that they were all on the same team, Sunset noticed something. "Hey, is it me or is this all too convenient?" Sunset questioned, in a curious tone. "Sunset, what are you talking about?" Adagio inquired, curious to the question Sunset was asking. "Think about it, how exactly have us five meet each other so quickly?" Sunset responded in a cautious tone. Adagio and the others stayed silent, unsure how to respond to the question. "I figured none of you would have an answer," Sunset explained with a sigh. "Well, do you have an theory, Sunset?" Trixie asked in a curious tone.
"Better, I can show you something," Sunset responded in a cheerful tone, reaching into her back pocket. "What is it?" Sonata inquired, reaching in her pocket for Shift Technic. Sunset and Sonata both revealed that they had a Shift Car. Adagio, Trixie, and Aria were surprised to see what Sunset and Sonata were holding. "What about you three?" Sunset questioned in a confident tone.
Adagio, Aria, and Trixie looked at each other and nodded a signal, knowing what they needed to do. Each of them their pockets took out a Shift Car. Adagio held a Shift Car that looked like a red sports car. The one Aria held looked like a black dune buggy. Trixie's Shift Car looked like a blue formula one car. "How did you figure it out?" Aria inquired in a curious tone. "My Shift Car told me that there were four other signatures coming my way, three of which were together," Sunset explained in a calm tone. "So did you know when you saw Sonata?" Trixie questioned in a curious tone. "Not exactly, I started thinking about it when you three arrived," Sunset explained in a casual tone. "Your suspicions were confirmed when you saw that were were all on the same team, right?" Adagio inquired in a curious tone.
"Exactly, and to be sure I checked with Deadheat," Sunset responded, keeping her casual tone. "Ok, would you like to introduce us?" Trixie asked in a kind tone. "I will, but I think we should get back to camp first," Sunset responded. "Um, which way is camp again?" Sonata asked in a worried tone. "I honestly don't know," Sunset responded in a nervous tone. When no one said anything, Adagio's Shift Car flashed it's headlights. "What's your Shift Car doing?" Aria inquired in a curious tone. "Apparently, it's downloading a map of the forest from its database," Adagio responded in a intrigued tone. After a minute, Adagio put the Shift Car on her shoulder and turned to the rest of the group. "Follow me, Speed will tell us where to go," Adagio told the group. With that the five of them headed back to Camp Ponyville.
