Author's Notes:

Author's Note: These characters are mostly OCs. Also if you have any questions or feedback, please post them in the comments below.

"Illusion Blaze! You replaced my cleanser with bubbles!" Moonlight Dusk screamed, the soapy white mixture blanketing her face. It looked exactly like her cleanser.

Really. The day that they would leave for their first day of middle school. Her cousin Illusion, son of Princess Celestia and Discord the lord of chaos, was always pranking her. Sometimes it was replacing her skincare with maple syrup, other times it was prank-calling her at 4 AM when she was sleeping. Even though she was half bat pony, she still needed her 4 hours.

"Ha ha ha! Gotcha there! Didn't suspect a thing," Illusion laughed then trotted into her room. "Here's your real cleanser," he passed it to her using his gold magic.

"Gee, thanks," she hissed in annoyance, revealing her sharp fangs. Illusion was the only pony (not counting her mother) who wasn't freaked out when she did that. She then finished up her skincare, and brushed her long, dark blue mane, streaked with deep purple. She hoped that she would make some new friends. Maybe ponies would be nicer. Maybe they wouldn't judge her so harshly.

"Moonlight! We're leaving, are you ready?" her older brother Astral Dusk poked his head in, then flew off.

"Yes," she hastily grabbed her suitcase and ran out the door with her knives. She would still be able to practice knife-throwing in the school's weapons training room, which was a relief. She sped down the stairs and into the throne room, where her mother Princess Luna, father Specter Dusk and Astral were all waiting. Next to him stood Celestia, Discord, and Illusion, who was grinning cheekily. Meanwhile, her 10-year-old brother Moonstone was prying something green and gooey out of his hair. Illusion again, she thought. Moonstone's twin Delilah fluttered over to Moonlight and hugged her. "I'll miss you sis! Goodbye!" "Have fun, see you soon," Moonstone joined the hug, along with Astral.

"Be careful, Moonlight. And.....please don't throw those knives or hiss at anyone. " Celestia affectionately touched her cheek, then went to kiss Illusion goodbye. Even though parents were supposed to go drop their kids off at the boarding school, then attend a few talks there, Celestia was staying behind. Luna and Cadence were already going. They were the princesses, after all, and couldn't just ditch Canterlot whenever they wanted. Even with Twilight there, you could never be too careful.

--1 hour later----

Moonlight Dusk sat on the hovercraft, reading her new spellbook while polishing her knives. A few seats behind her, Illusion Blaze was filming another video for his PonyTube channel.

"Hey guys, it's your bro Illusion Blaze, and welcome to another video! Today we're on our way to Ravenwood Prep! Moonlight Dusk, say hi!" Illusion shoved his ipad in front of her face. "Hi vlog. It's Moonlight," she waved, then went back to reading. Technology had developed over the past 20 years. Before that, they barely had TVs or phones!

The shadows on the train drew closer to her. This was natural. Being half bat-pony, she had a special ability: Shadowbending. The creepiest and one of the rarest abilities. It was technically dark magic by pony standards. The only other bat-pony shade she knew of was locked away in Tartarus.

She could control the shadows around her to some extent, but because there were no books on shadow bending that she could find, she could only go so far with this ability. Her father's was mind control, and her brother's was temporarily taking away one of the five senses for as long as he could maintain focus(his record was 10 minutes, an amazing feat) . Her younger siblings hadn't found their abilities yet. The hovercraft slowly descended. They had arrived.

Moonlight stepped out of the hovercraft, holding her luggage. "Look!" Illusion pointed up at the huge structure towering above them. It was a small castle, but beautifully crafted and the turrets were tipped in gold. Created of translucent crystal, it glinted in the sun, almost glowing with pride.

"Ayeeee! Hi Moonlight! Hi Illusion! " A mass of pink fur rammed into Moonlight. The scent of a distinctive rose perfume filled her nostrils. On top of her was a light pink alicorn with teal eyes and curly dark pink mane streaked with purple and blue. "It's so good to see you, darling," Diamond Rose hugged her. She looked like her mother, Princess Cadence, and her father, Shining Armor. A few feet away, her older sister Flurry Heart was already asking Astral questions about Junior year.

"Is that new perfume?" Moonlight Dusk asked, trying to make small talk.

"Yes. From my new makeup line. It's called Love, Diamond," she beamed. "So glad you asked!" Diamond then looked around nervously, but sighed a breath of relief.

"You ok? You just looked like there were spies who've been stalking you for a week planning to kill you on the spot from all directions, " Moonlight noted.

"Moonlight. That is a) way too morbid, and b) a terrible metaphor. But I'm ok, just worried."

"Why? Are you worried about making friends? Because you're pretty, sassy, nice, and everyone's going to want to be your friend. Your grades are good, you have a super popular makeup line, and your hairstyle tutorials are viewed by half the girls in Equestria. If you're worried about your safety, this school has high security and I can always teach you how to throw knives."

"Haven't you heard?" Diamond Rose bit her (perfectly glossed) lip as they ventured into the school.

"Heard about what?" Moonlight asked, and grabbed one of her knives. It helped her calm down. A few students casually backed away.

"Shadow Obsidian."

"Excuse me?"

"Just one of the incoming students. He's always hanging around the Crystal Empire . Some people say he's the son of King Sombra. But that's just a rumor. I wouldn't put it past him, though."

They walked through a wide hall, and after dropping off their luggage (which would be sent up to their rooms), a teacher directed them towards a huge set of double doors. All the conversations abruptly stopped as everyone noticed Equestria's royalty enter. Moonlight swore she heard a camera click. Half the boys were ogling Diamond Rose, and the girls were trying to get her attention. The only noise was Illusion (still filming) and narrating. "Now we're entering Ravenwood Prep. So, this must be the welcoming room for 7th graders. EVERYONE SAY HI TO MY VLOG!"

Three agonizingly long seconds passed before all the students yelled "Hi Vlog!" Then their eyes all shifted to Moonlight. They took in her bat wings, her bat-like ears, and her fangs. They examined her knives sheathed at the belt she wore. Whenever her penetrating dark blue eyes fell on them, they would immediately look away. She couldn't blame them for staring. Most of them had never seen an alicorn bat pony before. And not to mention, she was Moonlight Dusk, Princess of Shadows (her shadowbending ability had gained her this name). She actually admired their curiosity.

Moonlight remembered she was still clutching one of her knives, the tip glinting in the light, only emphasizing its lethality. It would easily take out most of these students on any given day. Her shadows frisked around her, not sure whether to stay by her side or listen in on conversations. She didn't have full control over them. Unless she found a mentor, she never would.

"Is she gonna throw that?" A buttercup yellow pony asked his mom hesitantly. Moonlight turned towards him, stroking her knife. "Only if you make me," she replied in her husky, dangerously soothing voice. She then gave him a small, mysterious smile, showing her fangs. She didn't mean to be threatening or anything. She was just being perfectly honest. Most bat-ponies would tell her she was being too passive.

"I-I-I wont' m-make you!" He squeaked. "I don't mean to do you any harm! Ever."

"Thank you," she dipped a perfect curtsy. Another young stallion whistled admiringly.

Meanwhile, a few girls wearing Love, Diamond makeup were waving Diamond over to their little clique. She strutted over, happy that she was getting attention. Illusion had finally finished part of his filming, so he went to make small talk with a group of young stallions. Astral and Flurry were nowhere to be seen, probably off with the juniors and seniors. Their parents were all mingling with other mares and stallions, so that left Moonlight by herself. It was her turn to analyze these students. Most were hanging out with each other, a couple stuck close to their parents. An aqua colored pony whispered something to the young mare next to her, still looking at Moonlight.

How come the presentation hadn't started yet? There must be another pony or so who was a bit late. As if on cue, the double doors opened, and the room fell deathly quiet. Two ponies walked in.

King Sombra. And the pony behind him was definitely his son. Moonlight Dusk could already guess who it was. The pony Diamond told her about. Shadow Obsidian.