Pinkie Pie skipped along down the road. Today seemed just as good as any other, the sun shining, the birds singing. She giggled a little. “Today seems like a PERFECT day for a party!” She said gleefully. As she turned the corner, she noticed a white pony wearing a gray shroud.

“Zecora, why are you wearing you’re shroud again?” She asked the shrouded pony. As she gets closer, however, she begins to realize that this is NOT Zecora. “I’m sorry,” She says. “I totally thought you were someone else, ‘cuz I know another pony that wears a shroud, but she hasn’t worn that shroud since we helped her make friends here! Welcome to Ponyville, my name’s Pinkie Pie! What’s yours?”

The white pony responded with a low growl and galloped off. “Wow, he seems a little grumpy…” Pinkie muttered. “I know! I’ll throw him a party!” She then galloped off to begin the preparations.

Later that day, Applejack was returning from her break. “Alright, back to work!” She said. She then noticed the same white pony strapped to one of her apple carts. “What the hay are you doing?” She asked. “Get away from my apples!” She then chased the white pony away from Sweet Apple Acres. “If you want my apples, you gotta pay like everypony else!” She then trotted back to her cart and resumed the harvest.

The morning after that, Rarity entered her boutique to find the same white pony holding some of her fabric. “Stop, thief!” She yelled. The white pony then ran out the front door with the fabric, with Rarity following close behind. “Give back that fabric! It’s mine!” The pony then let out a loud bellow and increased his speed, effectively outrunning and losing Rarity. “Why would he steal FABRIC, of all things?” She asked.

The next day, the Mane 6 had a meeting.

“He tried to steal some of my apples!” Applejack  exclaimed.

“You, too? He stole some of my fabric!” Rarity yelled.

“I THOUGHT he looked mean!” Pinkie Pie said.

“I’m sure there’s a reason for his behav-” Twilight started.

“Are we just gonna sit here and let him do this?” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m gonna go fight him!” She then bolts off to go find the white pony.

“Hey, where’s Fluttershy?” Pinkie Pie inquired.

At this moment, Fluttershy was enjoying nature out in the meadow on the outskirts of the Everfree Forest, which, on days like this one, is exceptionally beautiful. “I wonder what cute, sweet, adorable animals I’m going to get to see today.” She said.

I am useless… Pathetic… Weak…

“Hmm? Who…?” Fluttershy looks over and sees the white pony sitting atop a hill. She flies over to him, and notices that tears are streaming down its face. “Umm, excuse me… Is something wrong?”

What does it matter? You can’t hear me, anyway…

“But I CAN hear you…”

The pony stops crying, and begins blushing. What? You… you  can… hear… me?

“Yes, I can… I’m… I’m…” The last word is unintelligible.

Hmm? Fluttershy… did you say?  She nods. Well, it’s… nice… to… to meet you… My name… is… Solar Ray…

“Why were you saying all those horrible things about yourself?”

Well…

Later, Rainbow Dash approaches the meadow and sees Fluttershy talking to Ray. “Hey!”Rainbow Dash yells. Ray looks at her. “Get away from Fluttershy!” She then rams into him, and the two begin fighting.

“Rainbow, Ray is my-” Fluttershy starts.

“You got him, Dash?” Apple Jack interrupts.

Rainbow Dash has Ray pinned to the ground. “More or less!” She calls out. Ray flips over on top of her, and raises his hoof.

“Ray, don’t! That’s my friend!” Fluttershy yells.

Ray looks over at Fluttershy, then back at Rainbow Dash, and then dismounts.

She attacked me in cold blood…

“You’re the one who’s been stealing stuff from my friends!” Rainbow Dash says.

Wait! You just responded to me?

“Yeah! So?”

“Uh, Rainbow, who ya talkin’ to?” Apple Jack inquires.

“Wait! Who AM I talking to?” Rainbow Dash asks.

The guy you just tackled from out of nowhere, that’s who!

“Wait, you can’t hear him, Apple Jack?” Rainbow Dash asks.

“No, can’t hear a thing…” Apple Jack answers, turning to Ray. “Who ARE you?”

“His name is Solar Ray, and he’s my new friend…”Fluttershy answers.

“You’re friends with this thief?” Rainbow asks.

How dare you! I am NOT a thief!

“Ray, I think we should find my other friends before we start explaining all of this…” Fluttershy says.

“Am I the only one who can’t hear him…?” Apple Jack asks.

“From what I understand, no.” Fluttershy replies. Ray nods in agreement. “From what Ray has told me, Rainbow Dash and I are the first he’s met aside from his aunt that can actually understand him…”

“That doesn’t really explain why he’s been goin’ around stealin’ things…” Apple Jack says. Ray growls.

“He says he didn’t steal anything,” Fluttershy translates, “and he’ll explain later…”