The Truth in your Eyes

Applejack sat down heavily at her desk. Class was winding down for the day, and she was glad of it. The day had been emotionally draining, and she was looking forward to heading home.

Pulling her hat down over her head, she allowed the thoughts that had been stewing through her mind to come to the surface. Sunset, you bitch. How could you do this to us? We were your friends! After the chance we gave you, why would you throw it away?

Applejack pulled out her phone. She knew Rainbow might enjoy yelling at Sunset through her device, but all she wanted to do was cut Sunset out. As she scrolled pas the Anon-A-Miss page, her anger grew. She was done with Sunset. Done with backstabbing, jerks. She switched over to her contacts page. Done with the lies, done with....

She froze. Above the name she'd set out to delete, and erase from her life forever, was another name. Rainbow's contact name, placed just above Sunset's stared back at her. Unbidden, her mind traced parallels between this moment and a similar moment a year earlier.

She'd been in this room, in fact, when she'd received the first text messages. Messages from Rainbow Dash, insults and slurs which angered her to the point of rage, and drove her to cut Rainbow out of her life. The messages hadn't been from Rainbow, though- Sunset had sent them, after hacking Rainbow's phone.

Deleting Rainbow's name from her phone had been the last thing she'd done before cutting ties off completely, a decision that kept her apart from her friends for a whole year before the arrival of Twilight Sparkle. She'd realized her mistake then, and since then, had found the friend she was certain she'd lost forever. She'd missed Rainbow Dash, even when she'd thought the girl had decided to be spiteful, but she'd buried it.

And I regretted it, didn't I? If we'd talked, if we'd shared notes, if I'd listened when she said she didn't do it...

Applejack looked down at her phone again, then narrowed her gaze. The question she'd thought back in her head resounded again, this time without the scathing note. Why would she throw it away? The parallels seemed obvious, but certainly only Sunset could have know what went up on the Anon-A-Miss page.

You were certain about Rainbow too. And Rarity, and Pinkie Pie...

Sunset got nothing out of doing this, and risked losing everything. She was about to lose her friends, lose her family. Why would she do this?

What if she didn't?

Sunset staggered out through the school doors, her head hung low. All day she'd endured the spite of the other students. Traitor. Demon-bitch. The old Sunset's finally back.

She closed her eyes. She couldn't take it anymore. I t might have only been fifth period, but she was leaving. If she left during the rush, when every student would be able to follow her... She shuddered.

"Sunset!"

Sunset froze. Someone was calling her name, and she recognized that voice. Fear blossomed in her chest, and she move a little quicker, feet digging through the snow.

"Sunset, please!"

Applejack's voice cut into Sunset's ears, and she stopped. Almost against her will, she croaked "What do you want?"

"Sunset I, I need to..." She heard a boot stomp the ground behind her. "Dammit, Sunset, look at me!"

Hesitantly, Sunset swung her head around. Applejack stood, back straight, arms crossed over her chest. Just like before, she looked like she was going to hand down a summary punishment, a casting out.

But her eyes were different. Instead of anger, a note of something else changed the contours of her face. She looked... hesitant.

Applejack spoke softly. "Sunset... please. Are you really Anon-a-miss?"

Sunset hung her head. She spoke softly "No. Please you have to believe me, I'm not..."

She expected more yelling, condemnations. Instead, she heard a half-choked sob. Looking up, Sunset caught Applejack gripping her forehead with one hand, her entire demeanor changed. Shoulders tucked in , free arm clutching herself, hat covering her eyes.

Applejack looked up. "Sunset... Ah'm sorry. I... Ah nearly made..." She flinched and said. "No, Ah made the same mistake I did last year." She looked down at her boots. "Can we talk? Ah know you don't wanna go back to school, but my van's right over there. I... need to apologize. And we gotta talk about what's gonna come next."

Applejack leaned forward in the driver's seat. She pressed her head into the top of the steering wheel, as Sunset watched silently from the passenger seat.

"Last fall," Applejack began "I got a few texts from Rainbow Dash. Spiteful little things. It's what drove us apart."

Sunset choked out a response. "I'm sorry I did that." She sniffed. Her composure had shattered with Applejack's declaration, and she was crying a little every time she spoke.

"Yeah, I shoulda remembered that. Both that you were sorry, that you'd confessed everything- and the texts themselves." Sunset looked at Applejack questioningly. "What I was going to do to ya- was exactly what I'd done to Rainbow. Get mad, cut off talking, and erase your name from my phone. Exactly the same." Applejack leaned back, and glanced down at her hands. "When I was about to, I remembered how mad I was at myself after Ah found out the truth. I hadn't talked to my best friend for a year because of some lies. And if we'd actually talked..." She shook her head. "Maybe I wouldn't have spent a year alone."

"And then Ah thought why you would do it. What I never bothered to think about Rainbow. Why you'd throw us away. There ain't no reason. And I did the same to you what I promised I never would; I threw away family." She sobbed. "Ah needed to know. And as soon as I wasn't angry, as soon as I had time to think... Ah realized how stupid ah was being."

She looked up at Sunset. Tears pooled in the corners of green eyes, matching similar tears in teal eyes staring back. "Ah made myself a liar. I promised you were family- and then hung you out to dry. All I needed to see the truth was hear you say it. Sunset- ah don't know for certain if you are Anon-A-Miss- but I wouldn't turn on a real family member, even with proof- and I don't have none." She paused. "I need to make this right. Please, Sunset- can you forgive me?"

Author's Notes:

I've always had a little bit of a temper problem, and have often planned out elaborate guilt fics within the confines of my own mind. However, in the end, the rage passes, and I've always wanted to see the wounds healed.

Wrath is a primal sin- one that drives the rejection of Sunset in the Anon-A-Miss story. My question is- what if we paused to reflect on the reasons for our rage, rather than allowing the rage itself to justify our actions?

That perspective helped me avoid destroying my friendships in the past. Maybe here, that same reflection- and the myriad thoughts that come with it- can help heal the wounds before they scar for poor Sunset.

This isn't your typical Anon-A-Miss fic. We have to face our reflections alone- and each of the humane five will face their choices alone, as well. In most other fics, the group comes to the conclusions as one body, or acts in concert... but here, with their own thoughts for company, each will come to different realizations.

Please, commentary is encouraged. Expect guilt slinging, drama, and revealing of old scars.

Trust in Family

The road to Sweet Apple Acres was pitted and worn. Generations of Apples had brought bushels of apples into the city to be sold. Many times, the road had seen tired members of the Apple clan coming home.

Today, one Apple brought a new family member home.

Sunset opened her eyes as they neared the farmhouse, then bolted upright in her seat. After Applejack's apology, she'd nearly collapsed, sobbing out every few seconds that she was grateful, that she was sorry, that she hadn't done anything... All the old guilt, fresh pain, and buried fears brought out by the offered hand.

Exhausted, she must have dozed off. She remembered Applejack hugging her, and her friend shifting her into the passenger's seat. She looked around, glancing at the girl in the driver's seat.

"Why are we here? I need to go..."

"Back to school?" Applejack looked back at Sunset, brow furrowed, lips tight. "Sunset, I said the truth- I'm not certain you're Anon-A-Miss or not, and I was wrong to accuse you like that." She turned her key in the ignition, and slumped back in her seat. "But I don't have proof that you're innocent, and the whole school's turned on you. I don't know if I can convince any of the others you're innocent, but I know Granny and Mac ain't gonna judge ya."

Sunset blinked. "Why not?"

Applejack snorted. "Mac's been real quiet whenever I talked about it earlier this week. He thinks the whole thing's stupid- both the secret telling, and the secret keeping." She grinned. You may have noticed he don't talk much. He don't hold with keeping secrets, though- says it's always better to get stuff out there. And Granny? She's... well, she's gonna have words with you and me both about what's going on."

Sunset looked confused. "But why are we here. I mean, I was heading..."

"Home?" Sunset looked startled at the sarcastic drawl Applejack had twisted into the single word. "Do ya really think ah haven't noticed? I don't know if the others have, but..."

"Noticed what? I mean it I really need to get..." Sunset started then trailed off at Applejack's glare.

"Yah never talk about parents, or foster families, or your apartment. Ah've never seen your house, or seen you wear much more than one or two outfits- more since Rarity started making stuff for ya, but not much more." Applejack looked forward at the house. "Once I heard from Twi where you were from, I got to thinking. I asked Granny to talk to the principal."

"Where's home, Sunset?" She shook her head. "I've known you- the real you- long enough to tell when you're dodging the truth. You just were about to say "home then you stopped. You're hiding something." She suddenly looked stricken. "Shoulda seen you weren't hiding nothin' when we confronted you..."

Sunset shoook her head. "You were angry, and you say really stupid things when you're angry." She looked down at her feet. "I should know..."

"Doesn't excuse what Ah said, Sunset." Applejack glared at her. "We can talk about that later. Ah say again; where's home, Sunset?"

Sunset looked down.

"You don't have one, do ya?" Applejack asked.

"No."

Applejack shook her head. "Well, ya do now." Sunset's head shot up, but Applejack kept talking. "Where's your stuff, anyway?"

Sunset hesitated, then softly said "An old factory, downtown. Close enough to get to school, far enough no one would bother following me." She squeezed her eyes shut. "I used to get food and money from the students, enough to keep myself in good shape, but since I've stopped bullying..." Tears she tried to hold back beaded in the corners of her eyes. "Do you mean it? I can stay here?"

Applejack nodded. "Granny found out from Celestia that you didn't have any real paperwork. She wasn't gonna come after you herself- you've been real good at avoiding attention outsida school-but she's been saying that we needed to bring you home."

Applejack's door swung open, and a weathered voice entered from outside. "Ah also said that if she was this "Anon-A-Miss" gal, it was cause she needed a real family to keep her out of trouble." Granny Smith leaned into the van, glaring at first, Sunset, then Applejack. "And if she wan't we needed to support her. Considein' Bloom called and said we wouldn't be seeing her around again, Ah assume you did something stupid?"

Applejack gupled. "Yes ma'am."

"Then started usin' that brain of yours? Went back and tried to fix it?"

Applejack nodded. "Yes ma'am."

"Good." She turned her glare back to Sunset. "So. You been gossiping again?"

Sunset gulped. "No, Ms. Smith."

Granny's glare deepened, and seemed to catch what she was looking for, then relaxed. "Good. I'm glad my granddaughter came to her senses. Ya don't abandon someone who needs help 'less they've done something unforgivable, and nothin' on that web page was." She glared at Sunset again, giving her a once over. "Land's sakes, girl, what do you eat? You're lean as a stray cat!" She shook her head. "You come in, now- Apple Bloom also told me she's got somethin' going on with her little pals tonight, and that gives us time to talk."

Applejack pulled her stuff out of the back and started walking up tot he house. Sunset followed, looking shell-shocked. "Wait, what? you're just gonna believe me?"

Granny looked back at Sunset. "Of course. Jackie fergot the first rule about trust- ya gotta give it to get it. You gave her yours, and now I'm giving you mine, and I hope you've given yours to her." She snorted. "Yah gotta put your trust in family- and don't forget it." She turned back to Applejack as she ascended the porch steps. "Ain't the fist time this family's taken in someone with a checkered past, yah know."

Applejack turned, her eyes widening. "Granny? Who? Ah mean, I don't know..."

Granny looked at Applejack- then burst out laughing. "Jackie, did I never tell you about how I came into the family? On the run from a nasty man, hid out in the barn, got found by your grandpappa?" She shook her head. "Past don't matter unless it keeps being repeated- and Ah haven't seen any sign of the old Sunset for a while."

Applejack stared at her grandmother then a look of dawning comprehension crossed her face. "Is that how you know how to work the still?" Granny turned and entered the house. "Granny, wait!"

Sunset watched as Applejack followed Granny inside. She turned and looked over the snow-covered orchards. It was so peaceful here. Maybe she could really find a family...

"Where was your place again?"

Sunset jumped, then looked behind her at the towering, sandy haired man who'd somehow snuck up on her. "Big Mac? how'd you.."

He shrugged. "I heard ya'll talkin'. Now, what was the address?"

Sunset hesitated, then rattled off the location. As he started down towards the truck, a rucksack over his back, she spoke up "Why do you ask?"

"You gotta talk with Granny. Applejack needs to talk with her too. So I gotta get your stuff." He shrugged.

Sunset looked him over, then said "Okay... and how are you gonna get in? I climb in through a window, and I don't think you'd fit."

He raised an eyebrow, then reached into his sack and pulled out a pair of bolt cutters and a crowbar.

Sunset coughed. "You do know that's breaking and entering, right?"

He nodded. "Granny taught me some tricks." He got in the van, then leaned out he window. "Yah trust me with your stuff?"

She paused. Did she? Then she thought back over Granny's words, and knew the answer.

"You have to trust family right? Then I'll trust you." she replied, only a crack in her voice showing the emotions within.

Big Mac grinned, then nodded once, starting the engine. "See yah when Ah get back... sis."

As the truck roared away, Sunset heard footsteps from inside. Granny came out to stand behind her. "Ah got the full story from Applejack. If she'd come home after that stunt without you..." She shook her head. "I wouldn't have said nothin' to her. She nearly made a mistake Ah made a long time ago. Least she learned it faster than Ah did. Now come, in; we've gotta talk about what's gonna happen the next few days."

Sunset followed her inside. Maybe things would get better soon, but at least one friend was willing to give her a chance.

Rustling could be heard behind locked doors as a young fashionista rifled through her scrapbook. Many of the photos which clunked into a nearby trashcan had only one person in them- a particular red-and-gold haired girl.

Fuming under her breath, Rarity removed another photo from her collection. This one showed Sunset and Pinkie pie at a bakery, frosting a cupcake. Rarity scowled at the obviously false smile upon Sunset's face. Lying to us this whole time! I won't be humiliated a third time. This time, no second chances. She angly deposited the photo into the trash can. Here was another one of Sunset helping train Rainbow Dash, a third of her giving Fluttershy some help at the animal shelter, several more helping Rarity model clothes.

But as further photos clunked into the trash can, Rarity's scowl waned. She stopped removing photos, and started flipping through the collection, picking up a separate book as she finished the first. At last she stopped leafing through photos, and removed her day planner for the year from her satchel.

The scowl vanished, replaced by a thoughtful frown. When was the last time Sunset asked me to do something for her? Asked any of us?

Rarity was no stranger to manipulation. She had been tricked by Sunset a year ago- which had cost her the Sophomore Fall Formal- but Sunset hadn't been the first to fool her, nor was she the most recent. Every time, they wanted something.

What has Sunset gained from all this? Why would she fake our friendship- and then throw it away?

She'd asked for nothing from any of them- even the clothes Rarity had given her were items Rarity had had to push to get Sunset to take.

And if she wasn't using us to get something... What if she hadn't used us at all?

Apple Bloom frowned as she looked down at her phone. The plan seemed to have worked, but Applejack had left class early. So had Sunset, but that was understandable, considering the whole school had turned on her.

Serve her right, for stealin' mah sister...

But as she looked over the new material that had been submitted to Anon-A-Miss by the other students, she couldn't help but wonder what would happen next. Behind her, her friends looked over the material, choosing stuff to post. Sweetie Bell wanted to get more attention, and Scootaloo thought of this as a big prank, but Apple Bloom was having second thoughts. What was too far to go?

And why did she feel guilty about giving Sunset what she deserved?

Author's Notes:

I know the early section might be... suggestive, but I have no plans to make this a ship-fic between Applejack and Sunset (Sunjack?). Or SunMac, for that matter.

I've always imagined that Granny Smith has a really interesting past she never talks about. In Equestria, her counterpart somehow won land from Celestia, survived the Everfree forest, and managed to keep Ponyville from going under some stupid noble's hooves. I don't know what she did before settling down, but I imagine it involved firearms, smuggling, and hard likker. Never mess with Granny.

Apple Bloom's reactions and actions are going to be twisted in a far different direction by the nature of this fic. She's going to have what she did painted differently long before the old reveal.

The Truth in the Past

Sunset turned over, happy that the last few years had been a nightmare. She was laying in her old room again, with a warm blanket over her and an actual pillow beneath her head, not the bedroll and foam pad of the factory apartment. She sighed and dug her fingers into the pillow-

Fingers?

Her eyes jerked open- revealing three things. First, that she had cursed out Celestia, fled through the mirror portal, turned evil, been hosed down by a friendship laser, and then abandoned by her friends. Second, that Applejack had apologized, she'd had a good dinner (her first in weeks- school lunches were fine, but going to bed with a full stomach was wonderful) and was in an actual room she could call her own.

Third, that she'd never bothered to set her alarm clock, and it was now (according to the apple-themed cuckoo clock in the corner) 7:30.

Starswirl's Beard, I'm late!

Dashing down the stairs, Sunset nearly ran headfirst into Granny Smith, who was just about to start up. "Whoa there! Glad to see you awake, Sunny. Was just about to come getcha."

"Yeah, I know I overslept. Where's Applejack? I know she drives to school, and I'm sorry I'm making her late, and..."

"Sunset." Sunset froze- Granny had put her second-best "No nonsense" voice into that phrase. "Jackie's already left for school. You, on the other hand, are going to sit down and have a nice breakfast."

Sunset gaped at her. "She's already left? But I need to-"

Granny wheeled on her and stared her down "I've already called Ms. Celestia. She knows you won't be in today." She humphed. "School's a toxic place for you now, Sunset- from what Jackie told me, Anon-A-Miss posted more gossip n' secrets last night, and half the school's fighting itself. Most of the rest want your scalp on a plate." She snorted. "You didn't even touch our computer last night, and yer phone's sitting on the counter over there, so Ah know you're not sendin' that gossip everywhere. Still ain't proof enough for Jackie to clear you, but she's pretty sure you ain't behind it."

Sunset blinked. "So, I'm staying here today?"

"Yep. As'm I, though they don't use me 'cept for a substitute lunch person these days." She looked back at Sunset. "Jackie's gonna try to see if any of yer other friends are willing to listen- and suss out if anyone's planning to do something stupid." She shook her head. "From what I hear, this sounds like a red hunt- everyone wantin' someone to blame- proof ain't needed. If she can convince all the girls to stand by you, maybe you can go back on Monday- but not today."

Sunset nodded ruefully. "I guess. I wish they'd trusted me more though." She shook her head. "Not that this isn't unexpected; I was pretty bad back before Twilight. Anything I can do to help out today?"

Granny smiled softly. "Sunset, Ah said you're family." Sunset's smile died as Granny's smile morphed into a massive grin. "And family helps with the farm. Ah wasn't plannin' on having you help today, but since you're offering," She pulled out a handwritten list, "We do have a few chores that need doing- after breakfast of course."

Applejack sighed as she moved through the halls. Granny's decision to keep Sunset at home was looking better by the moment. Everywhere Applejack looked she saw students bickering and yelling. More than one argument broke apart with both parties storming in opposite directions, and as she passed by Sunset's locker, she wasn't surprised to find a rather... nasty note scrawled across it in sharpie.

She'd already seen Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Pinkie was desperately trying to get people to stop fighting, and Fluttershy had retreated into a corner. Pinkie's efforts were not helping, though- trying to make people laugh when they were that hurt wasn't the right idea. What's worse, she knew trying to convince them to ease up on Sunset was pointless. Both had got an angry glint in their eyes when she'd brought up Sunset. Both had said the same thing- who else was there to blame?

You ain't even sure yourself, are ya? After last night, you're pretty certain it ain't her. She couldn't know I'd take her home,
and she woulda needed to plan ahead to send those messages out last night. Still- they'd want proof. Proof I ain't got. And I'm not certain enough mahself to make a convincin' argument.

Applejack shook her head. She wasn't going to be able to tell anyone where Sunset was at this rate. She'd already seen Gilda and Lightning Dust looking for "The Demon Bitch," and she knew Sunset wouldn't be safe. She didn't think Dash would do something stupid, but...

We all did, yesterday. So angry none of us had our heads on right. I got snapped out of it- but if even Fluttershy's still mad,
Dash is likely still furious.

She turned and walked into the music room, then stopped in shock. Rarity sat at one of the empty desks, looking up at a poster of the Rainbooms. Someone had already defaced Sunset's face, but Rarity's expression was rather... melancholy.

"Rares? What's going on?"

Rarity turned to Applejack and frowned. "Just... trying to reason through something." She turned back to the poster, and her eyes narrowed. "Jacqueline? Have you thought about why Sunset was false to us? Why she pretended to be our friends?"

Applejack paused, then responded "First of all, it's Applejack or Jackie, Rarity. I ain't puttin' on airs anymore. You know that. And second, no, Ah hadn't." She frowned. "Though, now that you mention it, I can't see a good reason for her to turn on us."

"It's just... I'm having trouble understanding her actions at all." Rarity said. "If she was just pretending she would have asked for something. Look at all these!" Rarity pulled out a sheaf of pictures, some held together with tape after having been torn in half.

Applejack looked through the photographs, frowning slightly. "These are all from times Sunset hung out with us. What's wrong?"

Rarity shook her head. "Exactly. Times she hung out with us, darling. No times where she asked us for anything. She alwys went along with what we wanted- never took time for herself." She looked back at the pictures. "I've dealt with manipulators before- the old Sunset, Suri, Ms. Stitch... All of them wanted something. When Sunset was breaking up our friendships before, she wanted control of the school- she had a goal. Anon-A-Miss? What does she get out of it?"

"And far worse," Rarity's voice trembled for a moment, "If Sunset was faking her friendship to use us, why didn't she ever ask us for anything? Why would she throw away four months of work for nothing at all? Why would she do it?"

Applejack looked closely at Rarity. She was staring at the pictures, trying to find a reason, and coming up short. Applejack took a long breath in and made a small gamble "And what if she didn't?"

Rarity glanced up at Applejack, a few tears brimming in the sides of her eyes. She gulped. "Yes. But I don't..."

"You're not sure." Applejack said flatly. Receiving a nod in response, she continued, And if she didn't... what does that mean?"

Rarity hung her head, and Applejack saw her choking back a sob. "I'm supposed to be generous. But I never asked what she wanted, or needed. And I guess I never really gave her a second chance." She drew a breath in and spoke clearly. "The only reason I could see Sunset doing this is if she thought we weren't really her friends- to test us. And we failed. And if it wasn't a test..."

Applejack watched Rarity slump, then said softly "Ah didn't think about it like that, when I talked to Sunset after school yesterday."

Rarity bolted upright. "You... what?"

Applejack nodded. "Ah was thinking about what she did a year ago. You and me were never really that close, Rares, but Rainbow and Pinkie were my best buds before she came at us." She looked away. "And the more Ah think about tit, the more I realize that this whole... Anon-A-Miss stinks the same way."

Rarity grabbed Applejack by the shoulders. "You don't think she did it, do you?"

"Ah got no proof. But... if it ain't Sunset... maybe it's someone playin' her game. Trying to drive us from her." She looked up at Rarity, her eyes flinty. "Yah want a motive? Maybe someone's trying to push us from Sunset... like she tore us apart."

"And we let them do it." Rarity replied bitterly. Her mascara ran from one eye, but the fashionista was used to keeping her composure. "Even if she did do this, I owe her an apology for not being a better friend. And if she didn't" Her voice cracked. "Do you know where Sunset is? I... I need to talk to her."

The purple haired girl was angrily staring at her pink slip when a second girl burst through the apartment door behind her. "Aria! Adagio! I have good news and good news and fun news!" Sonata Dusk crowed as she danced through the doors.

Aria looked up at her sister, a snarl on her face. "Can it, Sonata!"

Sonata stopped and looked back at the piece of paper. "Ouch. Temper problems again?" She smiled. "The first piece of good news should cheer you up! I got tacos!"

Aria growled "Sonata, you know I don't..."

"And a bean burrito and queso for you, Aria" Sonata chirped. "I don't know why you hate tacos, but I'm not going to make the same mistake a third time!"

Aria's face relaxed a bit. "...thanks Sonata."

Adagio stepped out of her room, pulling off her headset. "What's the rest of the news, Nata?"

Sonata smiled back at Adagio. "You know that anonymous thing? It's causing more strife than we ever did! I swung by the school, and we could feed like crazy!" She paused, and her face sank. "...if we still had out pendants. Right."

Adagio sighed. "At least that Shimmer bitch is getting what she deserves." She frowned, as Aria looked over her shoulder, munching a cheesy chip. "But what was the fun news, dear?"

"Well, you know you wanted to watch out for Shimmy's place, figure out when we might do something to mess her up? Well, last night I saw a guy I recognized hauling Sunset's costume out of an old factory."

Adagio blinked. "So, someone's helping Shimmer hide? Interesting; a few people were trying to figure out where she lived online. Who was it?"

"I dunno his name, but he was driving a van with "Sweet Apple Acres" on it. Think that will be enough?" Sonata said.

Adagio's grin threatened to split her face. "Nata, that's all we need."

Author's Notes:

Sunset herself understands wrath quite well. She was driven by misplaced wrath to flee through the portal, and refused to accept her mistake for a long time. I wouldn't blame her, even with her new friends, for wishing the whole catastrophe was a nightmare. Still, at least reality's treating her a little better this morning. I say a little, because Granny is introducing Sunset to Apple family life the hard way- just as her husband introduced her.

Here, we see the crux of understanding. None of the Rainbooms are approaching the situation the same way- each has their own reasons for lashing out at Sunset. Thus, as we see with Rarity's revelation, each will recognize the holes in their own arguments, and their own flaws, the same way.

A special thanks to Wanderer D, for their story, Gunsmoke. Their observations about Sunset's interactions with the Humane Five are what inspired this section. Please give their stuff a read- they're a better author than I am, I suspect.

The laws of Chekov's guns require me to make use of both the Sirens and Big Mac's shopping trip Thursday night. I have plans that go beyond this story- or rather, I have more ways to use this setting.

Hopeful Gifts

The drive to Sweet Apple Acres was silent again. That in and of itself wasn't unusual- Applejack often drove alone, or with Big Mac (who tended to enjoy the quiet time when there was nothing to do) or Apple Bloom. (who would either be chattering away or silently staring at a book or her phone.)

Today, however, Applejack found herself in focused on the road with little to say. Rarity sat in the passenger's seat, her head hanging low. The sketchbook on her lap wasn't as neat as it normally was, and had been open earlier to be filled with words, not images. Applejack had stolen a glance at the last red light on the way out of town, and had noticed the crumpled pages inexpertly smoothed, taped back into the book. Images of a tall, proud, red-gold haired girl.

The words scrawled on the last blank page had been drafts, each I'm Sorry and Sunset, can we talk attesting to the difficulty the normally dramatic girl had with her current predicament. Rarity had given up trying to plan her apology, however- the fashionista was having trouble finding the right words.

When Applejack had explained her revelation about Sunset's home life, Rarity had been aghast- and then had started berating herself yet further. Her shock and dismay had turned into a fervor as she hashed out plan after plan to make things better for Sunset, only to have her plans toppled when Applejack explained what she'd done to fix things between them. Rarity had also dismissed a gift- she needed to make this reconciliation without something as overt as a bribe. But that left her bereft of her normal tactics; drama nor giving would help in this instance.

Applejack looked up at Rarity as they pulled into the driveway, and pulled the car to a halt. The freckled girl glanced at her friend, whose shoulders had hunched forward as they approached the house. Rarity may not be having her normal histrionics, but her anxiety was clear. Applejack hesitated, then nudged the fashionista. As Rarity glanced up, Applejack offered the only advice she could.

"Just say what yah mean, Rares. Sunset was willin' to listen to me. She'll hear ya out."

Rarity stared at Applejack for a moment, then squared her shoulders. She opened the door and stepped out into the sun, moving briskly towards the front door. Applejack killed the engine, and followed her out.

Rarity moved up to the front stoop, then stood beside the door, her stance firm. She motioned to the door. "You first darling. Please." Applejack nodded, then swung the door open. From inside, the clatter of a spoon on a mixing bowl could be heard.

Granny's voice echoed through the room. "Now, Sunset- yah gotta beat dough rougher than that. It's gotta stay cool long enough to put over the pie. Gimmie a minute to see who's home and I'll-" Granny left the kitchen, her voice cutting off as she spied Applejack and the girl behind her. Her gaze narrowed for a moment. She glanced at Rarity's face, then turned back to the kitchen. "Sunset? Someone's here to talk to you, Ah reckon."

Sunset emerged from the kitchen, flour dotting the simple shirt and apron she wore. The trepidation on her face was joined by a hint of fear as she walked out into the hall, catching sight of Rarity. Both girls looked nervous, silence hanging between them. As Applejack opened her mouth to speak, Granny grabbed her elbow.

"Leave em' be, Jackie. Come on, we got pie to make."

"But, Granny-"

"This is something she's gotta do alone- both of em'." She turned her glare to Rarity. "Speak your mind, girl- Ah can tell you've got somethin' important to say." She dragged Applejack into the kitchen, and the door closed behind her.

Rarity stood in silence a moment longer, her composure briefly broken. She pressed her lips together, then exhaled. "You know, when Applejack told me about her realization- about how someone might be trying to drive us apart- that thought hadn't crossed my mind."

Sunset looked up and said softly, a bitter edge to her words "Yeah? So she convinced you to give me a second chance?"

"No, darling. I thought you might have been testing us. And we'd failed." Sunset looked shocked at the revelation. "I've been thinking, darling; thinking about past times I was... exploited." She looked up, her expression somber. "You- last year at the Fall Formal. Suri- she wanted my work to win the contest. Quick Stitch, my first teacher, used my time and talent to reduce her workload. But..." She looked down again. "You've asked for nothing. And that set me thinking."

Sunset followed Rarity as she walked into the family room nearby. "Since the formal, you've never asked for anything- or taken anything." She hesitated, then continued, "You've helped us a lot, but never asked for anything in return- not even a home." Her voice cracked on the last words, and she sniffed. "When Anon-A-Miss started, I thought this was another manipulation- but there's no payoff, is there? No gain for you, at any rate."

She turned back to Sunset, and spoke quietly "And even at your worst, you've always been driven."

Sunset spoke for the first time in a while. "Driven to do wrong..."

"Perhaps, darling. But always working towards something. It's... the one thing I admitted to myself to admiring about you, before the Fall Formal." Sunset's gaze snapped up, even as Rarity stared out the window. "Your ambition... it shone through. It made you more, darling. The whole school knew you were great, knew you could do great things- and we knew it, too." Rarity looked down. "It wasn't the best motivation, but you wanted respect. And nothing you did worked against that."

"But Anon-A-Miss? There's no gain for you there. The only thing I could think of was that you were testing us." She sobbed, a few tears retracing old paths down her face. "Four MONTHS! Four months of living alone, on the STREETS, and I never realized what you needed, never thought what you might want- what I could afford to give." She spun, and in her eyes Sunset could see the tears pooling in her eyes. "If you were faking it- if you weren't trying to really be our friends- you would have asked! But you didn't. You never took advantage of my generosity."

"And if you weren't faking it... maybe you wanted to see whether we returned your friendship." Rarity collapsed into a couch, her mascara running, her hands clenched. "If you were testing us, I don't care anymore. We failed you as friends long before this started. And if not, I ruined a friend whose drive I respected, over gossip that doesn't really matter. Please Sunset-" she looked up, seeing eyes whose tears matched hers -"I need to say I'm sorry. I need to make this right."

Applejack had moved to the door when she'd heard Rarity shouting, and glanced in then she heard no response. She was greeted by she sight of two girls sobbing in each others' arms, Rarity whispering apologies while Sunset cried.

She softly shut the door. Rarity had messed up, but her guilt was genuine. Sunset would choose whether to accept her apology or not. But at least Rarity had come to her senses.

And what she had to say made sense. Sunset ain't got a motive for doin' this... Question is, who would? Applejack snorted. Heh. Half the school has a grudge on Sunset. Good thing she's here- and I can probably get Rarity to stay silent.

She heard footsteps climb up to the front door, and a small, bow-capped head came in. Applejack turned around, and watched her little sister walk through the door.

She might be a bit more difficult, though.

Back in town, a rainbow haired girl took out her rage on a punching bag, occasionally taking glances up at a poster on the wall. The six Rainbooms- FIVE Rainbooms and Sunset Shimmer- smiled back at her. Stupid Sunset. Stupid Dashie, for trusting her. Stupid Dashie, for letting her...

Rainbow Dash froze. Stupid Dashie... Stupid, stupid Dashie... where have I head that before...

And why do I feel like I've forgotten something important?

She glanced around the room, then looked back up at the poster. Her eyes settled on Sunset, but her snarl died as she saw a second face peering over the bacon-haired girl's shoulder. Fluttershy's gaze peered at Rainbow Dash, and she felt her heart lurch. Fluttershy! Oh man, if I'm this mad, she's gotta be...

A cool feeling settled into her gut. Stupid Dashie. Forgot about Fluttershy as soon as you got mad again, huh? Dammit. Last time it was so obvious she didn't have anything to do with it...

Obvious. Rainbow Dash frowned. It hadn't been obvious that Fluttershy had had anything to do with the falling out. It also hadn't been obvious who the texts had come from. Anon-A-Miss was obviously Sunset.

But when was Sunset ever obvious? The old Sunset would never pull something like this. But... the fake.. new... augh REAL Sunset wouldn't do it at all!

Rainbow ditched her gloves and moved to her laptop. Maybe I need to have another look at Anon-A-Miss' page...

Author's Notes:

We'll resolve Rarity in the next chapter. You can probably tell Sunset's going to accept Rarity's apology, but Rarity's going to be carrying some guilt for a while. Sunset's really good at hiding truths from others, but Rarity's attention to detail could have picked her stories apart if she'd had the mind to.

In the meantime, the first of the crusaders is about to run into a hard dose of reality- while a second undergoes her own crisis of faith. And the Dazzlings have had Sunset's location for a whole day now- I wonder what will happen next?

And then there's Dashie. You may have noticed that all three of the Crusader's kin are the first three to have their minds turn- there's a reason for that, but it doesn't lie with them. It lies with the remaining two- and why they turned as easily as their more headstrong compatriots.

...I'm looking forward to your reactions. This chapter is relatively free of reversals of the norm, but I have plans upcoming...

Sworn Promise

Apple Bloom's jaw dropped as she stared at her sister. She can't have said what Ah thought she said... "Sunset Shimmer's here?" she squeaked out.

Applejack arched an eyebrow. "Yeah, she's here." She opened her hand. "Phone. Now."

Silently Apple Bloom pulled her phone out of her pocket and handed it to her sister. Oh lord, she's gonna kill me... "How'd you figure it out?" she whispered.

"That Sunset ain't Anon-A-Miss? I haven't. Not yet, anyway."

Apple Bloom looked stunned, then burst out "But if you don't know-"

"And Ah don't know if she is, either." Applejack turned and looked at Apple Bloom, her sister's phone in her hands. "Sunset's family, Apple Bloom. Ah've said it to you before. And Ah..." She looked to the side, then squared her shoulders. "Ah nearly abandoned her on suspicion and anger. Hell, Ah did abandon her, if only for a bit. And even if she was Anon-A-Miss..." She went down on a knee to look in Apple Bloom's eyes and said, "And she needed a home."

Apple Bloom was a bout to say something more, then froze as the last words crashed home. "Wait, was Sunset..."

"Livin' in a factory downtown. No heat, no runnin' water, no family..." Applejack shook her head. "And she needed one." She rose from her crouch, then turned away. "So she'll be staying here from now on."

Apple Bloom trotted to keep up. She felt terrible, but she still had questions. "Wait, why does it have to be here? And why'd you take mah phone?"

Applejack looked back at Apple Bloom, then smiled. "Well, we ain't gonna put her in the system- she ain't got no papers yet, so they'd probably send her off somewhere. And of all her friends," her words went bitter for a moment "We've got the most room. As fer your phone, I'm gonna keep it until you've talked with Granny, and we've set some ground rules. Ah know you trust your friends, Bloom, but there're some people out there who wanna hurt Sunset, and if they knew she was here..."

Her voice trailed off as she marched forward, not hearing Apple Bloom's footsteps. She turned around to see Apple Bloom had stopped dead in her tracks, staring at the floor. For a moment Apple Bloom just blinked, then looked up at Applejack in horror "Hurt her? What..."

Applejack shook here head. "Lighnin' Dust and Gilda were lookin' for revenge on the "demon bitch", an' I'm thinking they meant violence. Ah don't think they'd try anything while she's here, but yah don't invite trouble when it ain't necessary. So, until we talk over it with Granny, I just wanted to make sure yah didn't dash off and tell your buds about where she's at."

Apple Bloom nodded, but he pit in her stomach was growing wider. People want to hurt Sunset? But... it's just gossip, right? No one gets hurt by a little gossip... Right? Ah mean, we managed to break up their friendship like Sunset did to them, but-

Her blood ran cold as Applejack walked into the kitchen. Chaos in the school. Friends turnin' on each other. Just like August, before Twilight came... She looked up at a picture hanging on the wall, and for a second, her reflection had red-and-gold hair Have we gone too far?

Sonata Dusk walked out through the snow, skipping softly. Adagio had been really happy about the information she'd managed to pull up on the Rainbooms. Apparently, they'd had a real falling out when the whole Anonymous thing had happened at Canterlot high (Sonata sighed at that thought. She missed Equestria...) and none of them were speaking to Sunset.

But Dagi had a plan. One, there were a lot of people reeaalllyy pissed at Sunset (though Dagi had taken one look at the Anon-A-Miss site and started laughing at the frame-up.) and wanted her hurt.

Sonata slowed for a moment, thinking about that. She wasn't that mad about losing to the Rainbooms- being a 14 year old for a thousand and a half years hadn't been fun, and she was finally growing up a bit. Aria was mad (when wasn't she?) but she wasn't looking for revenge either. Still, Adagio wanted some payback, and if it made Dagi less of a grumpy pants, then she'd help out a bit. So, second, they knew where Shimmer was.

Even Sonata knew what one piece of information plus a second piece of information meant. Step three: connect one with the other!

Problem was, the Dazzlings couldn't do it online. There were a lot of people out there looking at that stuff, and if they'd posted the info online- anywhere online- some do-gooder or brown-noser would've posted it all over. Then Shimmer could've moved and hid, and nothing would happen to her, and Dagi would be mad.

Problem two- it was six o'clock. School was out, and that meant no slipping a note into a locker, or something easy. But Sonata knew that a girl in a Wondercolts jersey went jogging out here most nights, and it would be easy to spread the word to her.

And right on schedule, Sonata watched that girl round the corner. Short hair? Check. Monogrammed CHS hoodie? Check. Angry look on her face?
Check!

Perfect.

Sonata cupped her hands over her mouth and yelled "Hey, girlie!"

The athlete stopped running, then turned to face her. As soon as she saw her, the girl got madder- if that were even possible. "Hey, you're one of the Dazzlings! Whaddya want?" She sank into a crouch and looked left and right, obviously expecting an ambush.

Sonata was really glad she was across the street. "Just wanted to let you know I saw a friend of yours around. Thought you might wanna see her?"

The girl came out of her crouch, then made a rude gesture her way, turning to resume her run. "I can find my friends myself, you-"

"Even Sunset Shimmer?"

The girl stopped dead, then practically flew across the street. Within seconds, Sonata found herself with her back against the wall, pinned by a pair of arms and two angry eyes.

The fury in the girl's voice had hardened into rage "You know where Sunset is? Talk."

Applejack emerged from her discussion with Apple Bloom and Granny much later than expected. Apple Bloom had been rather distracted, and had a lot of questions. She'd seemed real subdued at the end of their talk, and had been real quiet all through their dinner. After eating, she'd gone up to her room with a half-muttered goodnight. Sunset hadn't shown yet- when Applejack had glanced in on her, she'd been dozing on the couch, her head slumped over Rartiy's snoozing form. Both had worn themselves out with crying, by the looks of things.

Just as she was considering going and getting her friends up, she heard footsteps from the family room. Sunset walked out, followed by Rarity. For once, the fashionista's elegant curls were mussed significantly, but her earlier outpourings of emotion appeared to have left her too drained to have another fainting fit. Sunset seemed more at ease than she had been the night before, but Rarity still drooped just a little.

"Everything all right now?" Applejack asked.

"Sunset nodded. "We talked for a bit after we woke up. I think I can understand where Rarity was coming from." She turned a questioning eye towards Rarity. "But seriously- you thought I was testing you girls? That seems... strange, even for us."

Rarity absently ran a hand through her hair. "It was the only reason you might do it that I could understand- especially after I figured out just how little we'd really tried to get to know you, darling." Her voice was hoarse, but she sounded relieved. "Applejack's theory makes much more sense- but even if it was you, it wouldn't be enough to drive me from you now." She shivered slightly. "So close to making the same mistakes... I'm just glad you accepted my apology."

Sunset smiled softly. "You guys understand what you did wrong- and more than just "I messed up." You've both looked at why you made your choice. I'm hoping that..."

Whatever she was hoping was interrupted as her stomach growled. Rarity looked agog at Sunset for a brief moment- before her stomach gave off an unladylike rumble as well.

Applejack glanced back and forth between the two girls. "Well, you missed dinner, but Ah've got leftovers and pie in the kitchen. Follow me, willya?"

As they made their way into the kitchen, Rarity glanced up at a wall clock and froze. "Six thirty? Oh dear. Applejack, would you be a dear and drive me home?" Then she paused, and looked out the window at the snow falling outside. "Oh..."

"Yeah. Not driving tonight, Rarity." She shook her head. "Not at night in the snow, anyway." Applejack looked downcast for a moment, then rallied. "Can't your parents come pick you up, or something?"

Rarity shook her head. "Mother and father are busy until much later, darling. Oh, I should call Sweetie Bell, let her know I'm here, and probably will be for the night." She went and rummaged through her purse, returning a few minutes later. Before she dialed, she looked up at Applejack. "I assume you want me to... refrain from mentioning Sunset?"

Sunset frowned. "Wait, why are we hiding where I am? Granny mentioned that some of the people at school might be upset, but..."

"More than upset, darling. Applejack only revealed where you were after I said I needed to apologize. Some of the more... brutish of our peers are looking for a little... oh what's a good word for this-"

"Lynchin'." snarled Applejack. "Ah don't think they got many that think like them, but Lighnin' Dust and Gilda were looking for a pound'a flesh- and I ain't to sure they were talkin' metaphor."

With that cheerful thought vocalized, the three girls set to dinner, after Rarity let Sweetie Bell know she'd be out for the night.

Apple Bloom lay on her bed watching the clock. She'd begged off being tired after a night up too late with her friends to Applejack and Granny, but her thoughts were stewing too much to fall asleep.

We've become like Sunset, haven't we? We all wanted somthin' and we did what we thought was okay- but now it's started spillin' over. She shuddered. Ah wanted Sunset out of mah life... but Applejack and Granny were planning to help her.
and I- I might have ruined it. Or worse- gotten Sunset killed.

She couldn't confess. None of them could- the whole school would be after them. But she could stop the madness- keep it from getting worse.

She turned over in ther bed and reached for her phone- only to find it absent. With a shiver, Apple Bloom realized that she'd left her phone downstairs with Applejack- and she didn't think an excuse why she had to use her phone, even on a Friday night, would be able to fool her sister. I'll just have tah hope Sweetie Bell and Scoots don't do somethin' stupid.

Turning to look at the clock on her wall, Apple Bloom shivered. Eight o'clock and sleepless, with nothing to do but wait. It was going to be a long night...

Downstairs, the girls were just finishing up dinner when the pounding at the door began. Applejack stood up suddenly, and loked down the front hall. Sunset looked at Rarity, and said "I thought your parents wouldn't be able to pick you up?"

Rarity gulped. "They couldn't. And I didn't hear a car pull up. Applejack, please tell me that's your brother getting home?"

Applejack shook her head. "Nah, he always spends Friday nights with is girlfriend."

Rarity's eyes lit up "Big Macintosh has a girlfriend!? Oooh, details darling, de-"

"Later, Rarity." Applejack walked up to the front door, and called through it, "who is it?"

"Is Sunset there?" came the voice from outside.

The voice, muffled by the door and hallway, echoed strangely to Rarity and Sunset, who glanced at each other worriedly.

Applejack had another response. Her eyes widened, and she yanked the door open, to cries of alarm from behind her.

Miles away, in another house, a short girl typed away at a computer screen, and eyed the Anon-A-Miss page. Scootaloo frowned as she glared at her brother's laptop, looking through the gossip and stories people had sent in to share. Most of the fun or mischievous stuff had been posted already, but she wanted to put up something more.

However, as her finger hovered over the "Submit" button, she frowned. Posting gossip had been enough to give that bitch Shimmer what she deserved. But she'd heard what Gilda had said in the hallway.

No way. Not gonna do this on my own. If Bloom thinks it's okay to post maybe, but...

Some of this stuff was just wrong. Revenge was one thing- but getting Sunset blamed for putting some of this stuff out there...

She glanced up suddenly s the door to the back porch opened, and a blue-haired man walked in. Quickly logging off the page and setting the laptop aside, she looked up at her brother. "Hey, Flash. Why're you in so late?"

"Hey, Scoots. Band practice was a disaster, really." Flash Sentry put his guitar case off to one side, brushing snow off his coat. "Everyone was at everyone else's throats, some really embarrassing stuff. And Rainbow Dash came by in the middle- ran in, actually."

"Rainbow Dash came to talk to you? Did she mention me?"

"Yeah, she said to give you her best." Flash sat down and pulled off his boots. "She was asking some questions- about MyStable. Probably about Anon-A-Miss, though."

"Oh." Scootaloo fidgeted in her chair, then looked back at Flash. "Sunset's really causing trouble this time, isn't she?"

Flash looked back at Scootaloo, then shook his head. "Whoever framed Sunset. I don't think she's Anon-A-Miss."

Scootaloo paused. What?

Applejack stared at the lone figure shivering on her porch. "Rainbow Dash, why- HOW are you here?"

"Ran here. Needed to talk to Sunset, found out she might be here." Dash shuddered, whether from emotion or cold, Applejack couldn't tell. "Could you let me in? It's a long story."

Applejack hesitated. Rainbow looked back at her, then raised her hand. "I promise I'm not here to hurt her. I... I messed up. Twice. Maybe more. I need to make it up to Sunset, then I need some information from her. Please." Rainbow's eyes were firm, but her voice held a note of uncharacteristic desperation.

Applejack looked back at her, then asked "You promise?"

Rainbow Dash nodded. "I promise."

Author's Notes:

Writers, as far as I can tell, love different reactions out of their audiences. Some writers love the salty tears of their readers. (George Martin, for example.) Others, love the squees of their audience as a ship is complete or cute happens, or the bitter tang of existential fear and dread. Me? I love the smell of subverted expectations, that sweet, sweet moment where the audience goes "Wait, WHAT?"

Have a plot twist. Have two. Or three- who knows at this point?

It was tricky, figuring out a way to disarm Apple Bloom of her phone while still keeping her secret. In case you're confused, Apple Bloom thought Applejack had figured out who was really behind Anon-A-Miss, which is why she capitulated it so quickly.

Rainbow, by the way, will be the last of the members of the humane five who will be finding holes in Anon-A-MIss. Thus, a question emerges- why were Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie- the most empathetic of the girls- unwilling to be the voice of reason?

The Truth of Self-Loathing

Rainbow Dash staggered inside, shaking slightly. The first thing Applejack noticed- now that she had a moment- was that Rainbow Dash was really under dressed. Her hoodie and sweatpants were soaked through, and her normally blue complexion- was still blue, but much paler than it should have been.

As Rarity and Sunset watched, jaws agape, Applejack let out an exasperated sigh. "Land's sake, Rainbow- why did you run here?"

Rainbow Dash glanced up at Applejack, then chattered out "Found out where Sunset was from one of the Dazzlings. Figured out Sunset wasn't Anon-A-Miss. Had to come check on her, and didn't have my phone on me to call for a cab."

Applejack's words died on her lips at that proclamation, and Sunset froze stock still. Rarity, however, let out a startled yelp and immediately bustled forward. "RAINBOW DASH! That is unacceptable! If there is anything I would like to think I could have taught you-"

Rainbow looked shocked. "Rarity, what are you-"

"DO NOT interrupt me, Rainbow Dash. As I was saying, if there was one thing I would like to think I could have taught you , it was the times when different types of clothes are practical! We are going to get you out of those clothes, right this instant!"

"But I have to-"

"It will do you no good to try to apologize to Sunset while you're suffering from hypothermia!" While Rainbow Dash struggled, Rarity managed to strip her out of her hoodie, pants, socks, and shirt, and drag the girl to the foot of the stairs. "I think some of Applejack's things might suit you, although... Sunset darling? Would you mind if I grabbed something of yours? I think you might be a better fit for her." Sunset nodded weakly. "Good. Now, come along, Rainbow." Rarity pulled the half naked girl up the stairs, and vanished into one of the bedrooms.

Sunset looked back at Applejack, who had barely had the presence of mind to close the door behind her. The two girls stood silently for a moment, before Applejack spoke. "Ah should get some more grub out, shouldn't I?"

Sunset blinked back at her. She started chuckling, then laughing, with a near hysterical bent in her voice. "That might be the smart idea. Me? I think you should get out some cider."

"That don't sound too bad-"

"The hard stuff, Applejack."

"...don't have any left right now. The batch from the fall apples is still fermentin'." As she walked into the kitchen, she muttered "Ah woulda already had bottle or two, if we weren't..."

Rainbow Dash (garbed in one of Applejack's old shirts and Sunset's jeans) ravenously devoured the warm food set in front of her. Applejack's eyes were wide. "Dash- did you even have dinner?"

Dash smacked her lips, belched, then looked across at Applejack. "Nah. Long story short, I was already thinking about trying to find Sunset when one of the Dazzlings-"

Sunset made as if to speak, but Rainbow Dash kept talking "-told me they'd seen someone loading Sunset's stuff into a Sweet Apple Acres van. I went and talked to Flash, cause I needed to find out alittle more about how Mystable works, then I ran here." She shrugged. "I guess I was running around downtown for-" She checked the clock and her jaw dropped. "Eight thirty? Shit, it's later than I thought..."

"Rainbow?" Sunset had been quiet since Rainbow had come down the stairs. Now she looked Dash in the face and said "You said you knew I wasn't Anon-A-Miss. Did you find out who it was?"

Rainbow looked down. She pulled in a breath and said softly "No. But..." She looked up at Sunset. "I was thinking about last time. About smooth everything was last time."

Rainbow stood up and started pacing. "When you broke us apart last time, it was.. subtle- right?" She looked at Sunset, who motioned for her to continue. "Yeah- you tried to break us up with those text messages, you made sure that we all thought it was pointed at other people. No way would I have given up on Fluttershy, or Pinkie, or Jackie, if I'd had any clue the messages weren't from them!"

"But this time? This time It was obvious where it came from." Rainbow's hands were balled into fists. "I had everything but your face on it- your color scheme, your silhouette, your style- everything!" She smashed her hand into the table. "It looked exactly like what you did last time!" Her breath heaved, then she started to quiet. "And that's what got me thinking. About how obvious it was. About how easy it was for you to fake us out last time- and how easy it would be for someone to pin this on you." She looked up at Sunset. "You know what makes me mad, Sunset?" Her voice choked a little, even as she put her forehead on the table. "It's how easy it was this time. I swore to myself that I wouldn't let myself be tricked- that I wouldn't abandon my friends." A hard sniff echoed as she lifted her head, then rubbed her eyes. "I guess... I wasn't expecting them to come after my new friend rather than my old."

"I mean, I should've seen it! I can just see them now, all "Stupid Dashie, we'll fool her again!" and I DID!" Dash screamed, coming back to her feet. "I got mad, and they led me by the nose!" Her voice fell back to a raspy whisper. "And this time, it's all my fault. I should've looked, should have asked- but I didn't see it." Her back hit into the wall, and she slid down it, pulling her legs up to her chest. "I was an idiot. Sunset... please, I'm sorry..." She sniffed again. "I'm so stupid..."

Rainbow felt a hand take hers, and looked up as Sunset pulled her to her feet. She looked up, and Sunset said quietly "You were an idiot." Dash hung her head- "But you're not stupid." She looked up at Sunset. "Stupid people don't recognize when they're wrong. They don't try to fix their mistakes. You did." She spread her arms. "I can't just say we'll be cool, but- Dash, can we try again?"

Rainbow looked at Sunset in shock, then launched herself into the hug. "I'm sorry, Sunset... thank you..."

Sunset smiled, tears running down her own face. "Thank you, too. You may not have seen it at first, Dash- but you're learning." Remembering a teacher from her own past, she said "And I'm willing to give anyone a second chance."

"Should've remembered we were giving you one." Dash mumbled into Sunset's shoulder. She pulled herself free of Sunset. "But... there's something else... it's about Fluttershy." She pulled in a breath. "I think I know why she didn't support you- and if I know her, I know what we need to do."

Sunset stared at Rainbow. "...what do you mean?"

"Last time- I never got text from Fluttershy. Never got a message to drive her away. And neither did AJ or Pinkie." She glanced at the fashonista, still watching from the table. "Rarity did you-"

"I don't believe so. But I do remember being quite frustrated with her when she tried... to..." Rarity's eyes widened, even as Applejack sagged. Sunset's own face looked sickened.

"Yeah, I thought so. Sunset- you're the one who made certain we'd turn on her when she tried to play peacemaker between us, didn't you?"

Scootaloo stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. Flash didn't think Anon-A-Miss was Sunset- and he'd told Rainbow Dash. And Rainbow Dash was friends with both Rarity and Applejack- which meant that there was a good chance the other crusaders weren't going to get what they wanted out of their gossip.

And I'm not so certain I got what I wanted, either.

Sunset had lied to and manipulated her brother for six months- six months of barely seeing him, of stringing him along before he wised up. Ever since the Sentry family had adopted her, she'd slowly grown closer and closer to her big brother. And the time right after Sunset's real colors were revealed, at the end of last summer, was the worst she'd seen him in years. He'd been devastated.

At first, she hadn't been able to do anything- Sunset was too strong, and would have shrugged off anything Scootaloo would have done for hurting her brother. And after the Fall Formal, it didn't seem to be necessary.

But then Sunset started to come back, bit by bit. She'd started getting popular again, and that had made Scootaloo furious. When Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell had bad-mouthed Sunset for stealing their sisters, Scootaloo had been happy to help them come up with their payback plan- and if Rainbow spent more time with her afterwards, that would be a bonus.

But Flash doesn't think Sunset really did it- and doesn't want Sunset hurt. Even worse, things are getting out of hand.

She'd been happy to spread the little secrets people sent in- gossip and annoying truths. Anything to make people turn their backs on Sunset. But some of that stuff would really hurt people- not just the target of her revenge.

Apple Bloom had been the vocal voice of reason- especially as the other Rainbooms turned on Sunset. But Scootaloo had been quietly deleting the worst of what got sent in. But now...

Now you're wondering if it was worth it at all. You got revenge- and even that is feeling hollow.

Scootaloo sat up, and pulled out her phone. With a few taps, she deleted the remaining secrets sent in to Anon-A-Miss. Can't delete the page without the others... besides, I think I need to talk with Bloom and Sweetie. Might be time to stop this once and for all.

She lay down, but one thought raced through her mind as she tried to get to sleep. And we'd better do it soon- if they don't suspect Sunset- it won't be long until they start looking for the real culprits...

Most people who entered the home at the outskirts of Canterlot would have thought it normal. Those who entered the room tucked into the eaves at the back of the house would have wondered where the family had gotten a zoo.

Fluttershy lay on her bed, hands absently running over Angel Bunny's back. Normally, this would be one of the most calming moments of her day. School was over, her animals were fed, and she was safe and calm.

Today was not normal, and she was not calm.

Sunset Shimmer had betrayed her trust. But had she really? She'd gone behind everyones' backs, insulting them and spilling secrets. You don't know that. She'd been turned aside. She was crying! This time she wouldn't break her friendships. She wasn't the one who rejected you last time.

This was not okay.

She didn't deserve it.

I don't want to lose my friends again. You may have already lost one.

Angel Bunny hopped off Fluttershy's chest, even as she curled into a ball. Fluttershy remembered the tears in Sunset's eyes, her own words. She remembered the disquiet she;d felt in her heart, seeing that.

And she remembered the last time she'd tried to make peace between her warring friends. And what had happened when she failed.

What should I do? What should I have done?

One last thought echoed through her mind. And why didn't Sunset come into school today?

The answer to the first question and the riddle of the third made her own tears all the more bitter.

Author's Notes:

Fear is often far more limiting than wrath. Wrath drives us to act; fear drives us not to act.
Apologies will be made in two directions when Sunset's group and Fluttershy meet.
As you can see, though the first three revelations were sparked by logic, the last two will be sparked by emotion. I hope the feels quotient will remain high.

On to more pleasant other subject.

I always pictured Rarity as someone who is much stronger than she looks, though nowhere near as strong as Applejack. Rainbow could probably have gotten away from her, but here her skill in dealing with ill-dressed clients, and Rainbow's deadened nerves turned the tide.

Scootaloo is already starting to regret her actions. Although I've never felt bad about her motivations in the main comic and the rewrites, I feel as though it's not necessarily as deep as Apple Bloom's and Sweetie Bell's. Revenge for an older brother seemed like a more... rational is not the right word here... motivation. It also gave me an excuse to put Flash in the story, and to make Flash her brother, which is a bonus.

Oh, and quick FYI- I may not post another chapter tomorrow. I've been really happy on the momentum I've got going on this piece, but the encounters in the next chapter aren't even drafted yet, and I have an event to attend tomorrow night. Don't worry- I'll have another chapter to you by noon on Saturday, if not sooner.

The Truth of Forgiveness

Morning came, and with it, the cessation of the snowstorm of the night before.

Applejack, never one to sleep in, found herself on the front porch, a cup of coffee clutched in one hand. As the sun rose, her thoughts turned to the day's activities.

She heard the screen door claw open and shut behind her, and Granny's voice cut through the silent winter day. "I heard you all up a little late last night," she huffed. "And now, we got an extra. When did Dash get here?"

"'Round eight o'clock." Applejack pivoted on one foot. "Granny- I think Ah made a mistake- an old one, that is."

Granny frowned. "Ah thought you'd made up with Sunset, Jackie?" She paused in thought. Applejack didn't interrupt- she knew that particular face. "And it ain't Dash or Rarity- you'da apologized to them here. Naw- gotta be one of your other friends." Her eyes narrowed. "Can't recall you doin' anything to Pinkie Pie, 'cept listenin' to the old Sunset's drivel..." She paused. "Nor Fluttershy..."

"It was Fluttershy, Granny. And it might be why she ain't spoken a word in Sunset's defense since this whole mess started." Applejack frowned. "Or spoken at all, come to think of it. Horseapples, Ah gotta apologize..."

At Granny's pensive look, Applejack sighed. Rainbow knew Fluttershy better than any of them- she'd have to explain it.

After a brief round of explanations, the five girls (Apple Bloom had walked downstairs at seven, Rarity had awoken at seven thirty and woken Sunset in the process, and Sunset had dragged Rainbow's unconscious body down the stairs at eight thirty) the girls started making plans. Sunset and Rainbow Dash were ready to go seek out Fluttershy posthaste, but Applejack had other plans.

"Look, y'all," she said, working on a stack of apple pancakes. "That siren girl- Sonata, right Dash?" Seeing Dash nod around a mouthful of pancake, she continued "Since she knows about where Sunset is, we got a problem. The fact she told Dash of all people was a real lucky break- but as long as Sunset's staying here, we gotta make certain she don't spread it around."

Rainbow gulped down her pancake. "So, either Sunset's gotta move, or we gotta shut up the Dazzlings. No big deal- Sunset can stay at my place."

Simultaneously, Sunset, Applejack, and Granny all said "NO." The three ladies looked at one another, and Applejack gestured to Sunset to go first. "Dash, if the news gets out, people might come here looking for me. I not going risk them not finding me, and doing something to lure me out. And I don't wanna put your house in danger, either."

Applejack nodded. "We've got privacy out here- if anyone's gunning for Sunset, they ain't gonna find her without help, and everyone here we can trust." Granny was the only one to notice Apple Bloom flinch at that statement. "So, we gotta find the Dazzlings, and give em a reason to keep their mouths shut."

"Besides, girl, Sunset just moved in here. I ain't gonna bounce her no time soon." Granny finished. She took a gulp of coffee, then glanced at Applejack. "Jackie- take the 12, but leave it in the van, and try to be back before dark. No drivin' after sunset, not until the roads'r clear, ya hear me?"

Applejack blanched. Sunset took note of her reaction, then turned to Granny. "Two questions. First, why is it that everyone but me understands why Applejack can't drive us after dark? I've see her do it before. Second, what's a 12, and why does Applejack look so upset about bringing it?"

Granny frowned as the room got real quiet. She pulled in a breath, then spoke softly "For your second question, Sunset, the 12 is mah old model 1200 shotgun. Applejack ain't ever shot anyone with it, and she don't wanna have to start. But Ah ain't sendin' my girl out to the seedy parta town unarmed. As for the first..." She looked down. "After what happened to Bright and Pear, we don't drive at night on snowy roads. Ah lost two kin that way- ah ain't losing any more."

Sunset winced. "I'm sorry, I didn't..."

"Ah know you didn't, dear." Granny looked up at Sunset, a sad smile on her face. "It happened a while back, but you weren't to know any better. 'Sides, you're family now- and that story would'a come up eventually." She stood up, and went to pour herself another cup of coffee. "I'll tell you the full story another time."

Granny walked out of the room, leaving the table in silence for a moment. As the girls pulled themselves together, Rarity spoke up. "While I agree that the Dazzlings must be dealt with, finding them will be a little difficult. After all, they could be anywhere near Sunset's old..." she hesitated for a moment, "Living space."

Sunset shook her head. "I saw Sonata walking around once after the battle of the bands. I followed her back to her apartment. If the Dazzlings are working together, they're probably living together." At the incredulous looks the others gave her, she shrugged "I know it sounds weird that I din't tell you guys, but what was I going to say? That while I was living in a factory, I saw where the Dazzlings were living and trailed them back to their place? Way too much explanation for my liking."

Apple Bloom spoke up "So, you guys are going in to town, right?" At Applejack's nod, she followed up "So, can I come with you guys? Not to see the Dazzlings, but I wanna see Sweetie and Scootaloo."

Applejack shook her head. "Sorry, Bloom, but Ah gotta turn you down. We're going to a bad part of town, I reckon, and I wouldn't feel safe droppin' you in the middle ah nowhere in the snow." She looked over at the counter, then picked up Apple Bloom's cell. "Here; call your friends and set up a time, then ask Big Mac to take you when he gets back from his date. Or ask Granny, if he ain't of a mind."

As Apple Bloom took her cell phone out of Applejack's hands, Rainbow Dash spoke up, her eyes wide. "Wait- you guys own a shotgun? Sunset was living in a factory?" her voice rose in volume. "Big Mac's TAKEN? Why don't I ever hear these thing?!"

Sonata looked up over her bowl of oatmeal. While normally the sweet oats and brown sugar mixture would have kept all of her attention, the knocking at the door drew it like a magnet. She quickly pieced together a few things.

Aria looked up from the couch, where she had absently leafing through a book about dogs and London. Adagio was holed up in her bedroom, and currently finishing up her second session of the day. None of the girls had ordered takeout, not at 10 o'clock on a Saturday, and packages were left at the bottom of the building. So, there was no conceivable reason for someone to have come knocking.

That meant trouble of some kind.

Adagio hadn't expected Sunset to get hurt immediately, but she'd become very worried when no calls for vengeance echoed out over social media, and those that asked for info about where "The demon bitch" might be found were still unanswered. Closer questioning of Sonata had revealed just who she'd given the info to, and at first Adagio had been pleased- until she realized that one of Sunset's former friends might not decide to betray her.

She still thinks like a siren. Echoed through Sonata's head. That's going to get us all in trouble, sometime soon.

Hesitantly, Aria rose from where she was sitting, an walked to the door. "Who is it?" she said, trying not to growl the words. (no need to upset the super, if that who it was)

"Open up, Dazzling." said a raspy voice. "We need to talk for a minute."

Sonata and Aria both frowned, as Adagio walked out of her bedroom. What was Rainbow Dash doing here? How did she find us?

Adagio, on the other had, seemed to see opportunity knocking. "Here about Sunset, dearie? Well," she said, walking to the door, and shoving a startled Aria aside, "we can discuss proper ways on getting back at her, if you'd just come in and-" Her words cut off as she swung the door open, revealing Rainbow Dash, two of the other Rainbooms, and Sunset Shimmer herself.

"Yeah, 'bout that." Rainbow snarled. "We do have something to talk about."

It was a tense group that had gathered in the Dazzling's sitting room. Oddly enough though the place was small, it wasn't nearly the dump the girls had expected. It had been cleaned recently, the lights were working fine, and the furniture, though second hand, was neat.

Seeing their confusion, Sonata broke the ice. "What? You didn't think we couldn't fend for ourselves?"

Everyone looked at Sonata as though she was crazy, and it was Rarity who spoke up. "I had thought, ,without your powers, that you might have had difficulties, darling."

"Of course we have!" Aria shouted. "But let me guess- you thought we'd had everything we'd ever wanted handed to us on a silver platter, right?" Rarity nodded. "Fat chance! There's a reason that Starswirled bastard sent us here, of all places."

Adagio nodded. "She is correct, you know. This city-" she tapped the table for emphasis "-has a greater magical field than almost anywhere on this planet. Our powers were much stronger just from being here- enough to actually begin controlling people again." She paused, then explained. "Most of the power we gathered over the years went into keeping us immortal- and what remained was barely enough to charm the occasional person, with effort. It made things much easier, but we never managed anything like what we were able to pull off at your school."

Sunset frowned. "You're being awfully open about this."

Adagio shrugged. "Unless you've come to bequeath us with a fresh set of pendants, our powers are lost. And I think offering you some useless information in return for what we... leaked... is a fair deal." She smirked. "Although that information we leaked may now be similarly useless. So tell me, Sunset, how'd you convince them you weren't Anon-A-Miss? I can tell a frame up when I see one." She sighed "Brings back memories of Manehatten..."

Sunset shook her head. "They spotted the holes in it themselves. I din't have to do anything, once they had time to think."

Aria whistled. "Well, hunky dory for you, princess." She scowled and leaned back in her chair. "So. Why're you here? And where's the pink-headed duo?" She smirked. "Let me guess- they haven't come around yet."

Sunset's lips tightened, and she was about to reply when Rainbow Dash cut her off. "They don't matter here- you guys do." She leaned forward, her eyes blazing. "You tried to sick me on Sunset. You thought I'd blow up and go and beat her ass." She scowled. "And if you hadn't told me-"

Aria snarled back "Do you blame us? Fine, I'll accept that. But all we were doing was passing along some info- it was up to you to use it."

Sunset interrupted Rainbow's response. "That's true, although my old mentor would have said that trying to get someone else to hurt someone for you was as bad as doing it yourself." She shook her head. "And in the interest of not being beaten up any time soon, we're going to need you to keep that fact to yourself until this issue resolves itself."

"And what's in it for us?" Adagio said, glancing over her nails.

"A second chance."

Six pairs of eyes fixed on Sunset. "WHAT?" echoed five voices in unison- Rarity's only absent because the girl had fainted across Applejack's lap.

Sunset shrugged. "You keep quiet," she said, motioning for her friends to stay silent, "And I'll make certain that you guys can finish classes at Canterlot High."

The room was silent, until Sonata, oddly quiet throughout the whole discussion, spoke up. "Why do you think we want to go back to school? And how would you do that?"

Sunset frowned. "I asked, after you guys left, whether or not you'd actually enrolled. Principal Celestia said you were on the rolls, but were marked absent." She shrugged. "If I put int a good word with Celestia, she'll give you guys a chance- she gave me one, after all. And as to why?" she pulled in a deep breath. "You're now having to do everything without magic. That means holding a job, getting paychecks. And to succeed, you'll need skills you can actually sell. That means a diploma- and a degree, if you want one."

Aria a looked stunned, and Sonata looked blank. Adagio, however, quickly gained control of herself. "We'll take it." Aria and Sonata glanced at her, then looked back at Sunset and nodded.

Sunset stood up, and dropped a notecard on the table. "That has my cell phone number on it. Call me or text me if you want to contact me. One of you should so I can let you know when Principal Celestia wants to see you." The other girls, including an awoken Rarity, stood up and filed out of the apartment. As she turned for the door, she felt a hand clamp down on her shoulder.

"Wait." Sunset turned to see a pair of purple eyes glaring into hers. Aria spoke. "Why are you willing to forgive us? And why would you forgive them? Or the pink one, or the shy one? What do you get out of it?"

Sunset hesitated, then answered in a soft voice. "When I left my mentor behind, I said terrible things, then did something terrible. I made a massive mistake in my anger, and lost everything because of it." She looked up, her gaze firm. "Someday, maybe soon, I plan on going back to her and asking her forgiveness. And if I want her to give me a second chance- after everything I've done- I need to be willing to give one to others." She took a steadying breath. "I don't know if you were driven by anger to do what you did or not- but I've seen that when you're lost in darkness, it takes help to find your way back. Maybe... maybe I can be the friend you girls need. But I have to give you a chance."

Aria released Sunset's shoulder, then watched as she turned and left.

As the four girls piled into the car (Applejack checking under her seat for the 12, then checking the safety again) Rarity spoke up. "I know you said we should follow your lead, darling, but don't you think it's a bit much?" She hesitated and continued, "I know it might be the right thing to do, but is is the smart thing to do?"

Sunset shrugged. "I know, but this is necessary. Worst comes to worst, we can always fall back on hiding me at Dash's place, then going after them with Twilight. We do have a plan B after all."

Applejack started the engine. "Sugarcube, I hope you're right. This seems like it's gonna backfire real bad..."

Adagio looked down at the notecard continuing the ten digit number with a grin. "I would never have expected for someone so clever to do something so foolish. We may have to fake trying to be friends for a while, but this gives us a perfect chance to really mess with Ms. Shimmer..."

"Wrong, Dagi. There isn't a "We" here. If you go for some scheme, I'm not helping you."

Two pairs of red eyes spun to face a pair of purple ones. Aria glared up at Adagio over her copy of White Fang. "I'm taking them up on the offer for real, Dagi, and I hope you and Sonata do the same."

Adagio snorted, and said "And what? Learn to be a better friend? To be a mortal, living with others, cooperating-"

"We are mortals now, Dagi!" Aria put down her book and stood up. "You know me, Adagio. I'll never back down from a fight. Hell, you chose me to partner with you as the second of your little coven because I never stopped trying to be the best!" She scowled, then started speaking, her voice rising in volume as she continued "And we lost. That "pathetic friendship" stuff beat us when we were hopped up on more power than we had in CENTURIES!" She looked Dagi in the eyes. "You don't win by being static. And their power was greater than ours. Now I've got a chance to try it for myself. And I won't let you screw it up." She looked down at the table, then pulled her pink slip off it. "And even if I don't get a chance at friendship, it's better to try then getting fired all the time. I want more than this, Adagio. Sure, we've got a place to sleep and food, but I want to live again. Not just hide here anymore."

Sonata finally spoke up. "Dagi, she's right." Adagio glanced at the blue girl, then motioned her to continue. "We're being given a second chance. You're not a siren anymore- you don't have to prove you're the meanest anymore." She stood up and picked up her bowl of cold oatmeal. Then she glanced up at Adagio and grinned. "Besides, this will give you a chance to try to seduce that Shimmer girl. I know you love girls like her."

Adagio's scowl morphed- briefly- into a startled blush, before it twisted into rage and she began to sputter denials and threats. Aria burst out laughing. Over the chorus of expletives, Sonata just turned and went to reheat her breakfast. Well, that worked out better than expected. I wonder if this will actually work?

Author's Notes:

I know you expected Fluttershy. And you'll see her next chapter. But this chapter took a lot longer than expected to write, and is scraping 3K words. The next chapter will either come late tonight, or early tomorrow.

Here we find Sunset's reasoning behind her forgiveness of the girls- the same sentiment she shows at Friendship Games with Sci-Twi. I thought it made sense when understanding why Sunset would forgive the girls her transgressions- after all, isn't she hoping for the same from her Celestia?

I have one more use for the Dazzlings in this fic. I also wanted to make them viable characters for any follow up fics, so I decided to characterize them a little more. If I do more stuff in this universe, expect an explanation on each of their motivations- and explore their pasts a bit.

Oh, and Adagio has a thing for (former) bad boys and girls, intelligence, beauty, and manipulative prowess. A little narcissistic of her, but we all have out types. Hers just happens to appear in whatever mirror she looks in.

Old Wounds

Apple Bloom watched the front drive despairingly. When Big Mac had returned in the truck, she'd taken one look at his face- happy but tired- and had known immediately that there would be no lift into town from him today. Granny, meanwhile, was working on some paperwork on the desktop, something involving Sunset. She didn't have time to drive today.

Apple Bloom squeezed her eyes shut. Ah have a new sister- and Ah might have gotten her hurt if I'd had mah way. It was only now sinking in just how petty her revenge-driven actions had been- and how much damage they might have caused.

Apple Bloom looked down at her phone. When she'd first looked at the Anon-A-Miss page, she'd been a little frightened. The backlog of stories and secrets she'd deemed unfit to publish had been emptied, and for a moment she'd feared that Scootaloo or Sweetie had just escalated the situation without knowing what was going on. Then she'd checked, and found the files deleted, not published, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Checking her messages had found Sweetie wondering what was going on, and Scootaloo calling for an emergency Crusaders meeting. Messages exchanged with Scoots had further emphasized the collapse of the house of cards they'd built. When Scoots had been told of Rainbow's presence at the farm that morning (And how had she gotten here at eight o'clock?), she'd relayed her own brother's suspicions- and who he'd shared them with. As long as the Rainbooms turned on Sunset, no one would've supported her. Now, with half of them back on her side, and Flash pushin' from the other direction, people are gonna start lookin' for a new scapegoat. Best we can hope is that it all dies down and people forget. But that ain't likely- not one bit.

Sunset looked up at the flashing lights of the police cruiser sitting behind the van. She slouched back in her seat and sighed. "Applejack?"

"Yeah, sugarcube?"

"How can someone smart enough to get straight Bs, clever enough to think on her feet in a soccer match, and determined enough to run all the way to Sweet Apple Acres in a snowstorm..."

"Be so thick-headed?" All three girls- Rarity joining in from the backseat- watched as Rainbow Dash was nearly crushed to death in her mother's massive hug. Firefly had, upon hearing nothing from her missing daughter for eight hours after dark, called in a favor at the station to have an all points "eye-out" for a particular poly-chromatic hairdo. No sooner had Rainbow poked her head out he window to stick her tongue out at a passing officer than the squad car's lights had come on, and Rainbow had been informed that under no circumstances was she to be allowed to leave until her mom had checked on her.

"Why didn't she just borrow one of our phones?" Sunset groaned.

Rarity absently filed her nails. "Well, darling, you must remember that Rainbow has had... other things on her mind. To be fair, I barely remembered to call home myself- and I only remembered because I needed to let Sweetie know where I was." Her eyes flickered over her nails, and she glanced up- then squealed, tucked her file away, and ran comb through her hair. "Ooh- look that stud of an officer! He seems-"

"Rares, now is not the time for flirtin'." Applejack said. She glanced at Sunset, who was pensively tapping her chin. "Whatcha thinkin', Sunset?"

Without responding, Sunset got out of the van and ambled over to the officer, who was finsihing speaking into his walkie-talkie. He looked up as his hand dropped, and straightened with a bland expression. "Hello, ma'am." He tilted his head. "Do I know you, Miss..."

"Shimmer. Sunset Shimmer. And, maybe? I don't think we've met, but I may have shown up in a report or two. As a spark of recognition passed through the officer's eyes, she nodded. "Was I right? Anyway, you remind me of someone I... heard about some time ago. You wouldn't happen to be Shining Armor, would you?"

The man straightened, and replied "Why yes, I am." His head came up straight, and he spoke crisply. "Sunset Shimmer, there's actually been many reports on you- mostly negative, though that's changed in recent months. But I am curious; why do you think you might know me?"

"I've actually heard about you in relation to your younger sister, Twilight Sparkle." As Shining's eyes widened, she followed up with "She doesn't go to our school, but her name gets around a bit."

"I should hope so," Shining replied. "Smartest student at Crystal Prep, hands down." He glanced over Sunset's shoulder, then motioned behind her. "Since Ms. Firefly has finished her interrogation, I think your friends are ready to head on their way. I hope I don't see you in less... pleasant circumstances."

Sunset nodded, then turned to the van. Halfway there, she heard a guttural "a-hem" emanate from behind her. Turning on her heels, Sunset found herself caught in Firefly's gaze. "So. Rainbow tells me that she thinks you're innocent of this latest smear campaign." she raised an eyebrow, then said sternly "And that you're going to see Fluttershy. Is that right?"

Sunset nodded, and stood motionless as the intimidating woman gave her a once-over. "You know... when Rainbow stopped talking to Fluttershy, I knew better than to push the two of them back together. That would have pissed off my daughter- just like it would piss off me." She glared at Sunset. "You're the one who caused the two of them to separate in the first place, so I figure whatever... issue Rainbow needs to apologize to Fluttershy for was indirectly caused by you." She shook her head. "I think you really have changed, Ms. Shimmer- but old wounds take time to heal." Her glare hardened. "I only hope you're not going to rip them open again to make Fluttershy, or my daughter, more pliable."

Sunset's worried gaze hardened. "That's the last thing I want, ma'am. The girls are my friends- and I hurt Fluttershy more than I knew. We're going to go to her, to help her heal- not to make her suffer."

Firefly's gaze softened. "Hmm. A little fire there. You didn't have that a few months ago, after that dance that went sour. Good to see you have that back, at least."

Sunset blinked. "Was that a test, ma'am?"

"Just a small one. Now get going- my daughter's looking impatient."

As they pulled up to the house, Rainbow looked across the group. "Guys... how should we do this?" she rasped out. Looking down at her shoes, hesitantly said "-should Sunset go first, or..."

"She needs to hear me apologize." Sunset said firmly. "I already apologized for bullying her but..." Her voice trailed off. 'Your mom, Dash- she understood. I need to give her a chance to explain, and let her know it's okay."

Rarity looked at Rainbow Dash. "Darling, we'll step in once Sunset measures Flutter's mood." She looked down. "We all need to apologize, but if we gang up on her..."

Dash groaned, and sank back in her seat. "Yeah, she'll clam up, agree with whatever we say, and we'll get nowhere. We've been over this, Rarity." she looked down. "Not that I like it..."

Sunset allowed the conversation to fade away behind her as she got out of the car. She steadied her shoulders, and walked up to the front door.

After waiting for several minutes as the sound of the doorbell echoed through the house, Sunset finally heard footsteps approaching the door. She expected to see one of Fluttershy's parents, or her brother. Instead, her eyes met a pair of blue eyes beneath a head of pink hair.

Silence reigned for a few moments, then Fluttershy spoke softly. "Sunset?"

Sunset grimaced. "Hey, Shy. Listen, I need to..."

She'd barely gotten the words out when the other girl moved towards her with frightening speed. Sunet tensed for impact- and let out a whoof of air as Fluttershy wrapped her in a tight hug.

"...I thought you'd hate me." Fluttershy murmured after a moment. "I thought- when you didn't show up to school on Friday, when I thought about it last night..." She shuddered. "About what some people wanted to do..."

Sunset smiled, but it quickly faded. She carefully disengaged from the hug, looking Fluttershy in the face. "If you were concerned for me yesterday... why didn't you speak up on Thursday? What changed?" Her soft voice trembled a little, and Fluttershy looked away, seemingly distressed at the words.

Sunset drew in a breath. "Is it because of what happened last time?" Shy hesitated, then nodded a tiny bit. "Because of what I did?"

Fluttershy looked up. "You... you didn't do it. It was the old you-"

"No, Fluttershy. Just because I'm not that person now doesn't make me less culpable. And I knew exactly what I was doing." Sunset pulled in a breath. "I need you to tell me what happened, from your perspective, back then. Please."

Fluttershy glanced up, then nodded. She stepped forward, and sunk down to sit on her front stoop. "...everyone started fighting- saying they'd insulted one another. Then they stopped talking." She sniffed. "I wanted to make it better, help them make up- but when I went to help-"

"They turned on you." Sunset hung her head. "When I started planning on breaking up your group, figuring out what massages to be sent was easy. Playing off Rarity's vanity, Pinkie's mania, Rainbow's aggression, and Applejack's stubbornness. I figured out how each would react if I sent the texts, and made certain that each would interpret the others as having been the real sender. Except you." She looked up, her face tight. "You would never have sent any of those messages, or gotten angry over what was sent. You would have asked why they sent them- calmly. You would have ruined my plan. So I didn't try."

Fluttershy's eyes were wide as Sunset continued. "I had my lackeys watch you- and sent more messages to rile the other girls up even as you went to each of them. You tried to get them to go back to one another at their angriest- and they shouted you down." Her voice cracked. "Just as planned. And once you were alone, I singled you out. Bullied you to keep you from trying again. And you didn't." Her voice got really soft. "I taught that lesson too well."

Fluttershy was quiet for a few minutes. When she spoke, her voice was tight, holding back tears. "Do you know what the worst part was? I was knowing I 'd lost my friends. That there wasn't anyone to support me." She pulled in a long breath. "And then last night- I thought the same thing. That I wouldn't let you drive my friends away again. But... then I realized what happened to me was happening to you." She looked up, horror and pain writ upon her face. "Why didn't they listen to me? Why didn't we listen to you? I was scared! I shouldn't have been, but I didn't want them to push me away again but then I thought I'd lost you and I'm so sorry..." Her voice trailed off into wracking sobs. "I don't want to be alone again- I'm sorry..."

Sunset's own tears ran down her face. She pulled Fluttershy into a hug. "I'm sorry too. I know I apologized after the formal, but... I'm sorry. I didn't realize how bad it was for you- I don't think I wanted to."

There was a loud honking sound. Fluttershy looked up and eeped quietly as Rarity blew her nose on a handkerchief. Applejack was looking at the ground, her hat in her hands. Rainbow was far less reserved. She crouched down and dragged Fluttershy and Sunset into a crushing hug. "I'm sorry too, Shy. If I'd known..." she tensed, then continued "Sunset may have set it up, but I never even tried to come back to you. None of us did." Her own tears ran into Fluttershy's shoulders. "If you ever feel like this again... please, tell us. I won't let you get hurt again."

Fluttershy sniffed "Promise?"

Rainbow nodded into Flutttershy's shoulder. "Promise."

Principal Celestia hung up the phone and massaged her brow. Luna looked up from her seat at the couch. "Well, sis? Which one was it this time?"

Celestia sighed, and reached for her coffee mug, gone long cold. Pulling a long gulp, she replied, "Fleetfoot's mother. Her daughter was crying in her room today- her grades from last month's history test got posted. Apparently, Spitfire's mad at her- if she can't pull her grades up by the end of the semester, she'll be ineligible to be on the team in the Spring, and that test doesn't help."

Luna looked up, a frown crossing her face, and paused her game. "That's the third call today. We need to get a handle on this soon, sister. They've already crossed the line of cyber-bullying, and disrupting the school while they're at it."

Celestia nodded. "I know, Luna- but we don't know who it Anon-A-Miss is. And our most promising suspect is currently being watched by Esmeralda. Sunset hasn't done it, and that only leaves a frame-up."

Luna looked dark. "We knew Sunset's home life wasn't normal- what with her not being from "around here"-" making air quotes around the words, "- but I had hoped she had found employment. If Ms. Smith thought she had to be taken in..."

Celestia nodded, then started dialing. "I've already started on the remaining paperwork she asked for. In the meantime, we need to start tracing down who the real culprit is. Thankfully, with as many parents as have called, we can push for more cutting search techniques." She pulled the phone to her ear. "Hello, Superintendent?"

Luna watched her sister speak, then got up from the couch. She pulled out a trio of thin files, and looked down at the face of Adagio, Aria, and Sonata attached to each one. While her sister dealt with the big problem she'd deal with getting this complication squared away. Sunset's request had been strange, but... Sister gave her a chance, and it turned out for the best. I can't say I'm enthusiastic about this, but enrolling them might be a good idea regardless. She reached over and picked up her soda. This is going to be a long day...

Author's Notes:

This was a hard chapter to write. All the other girls were (or will be, in Pinkie's case) easy to write. Fluttershy? I knew exactly why she didn't speak up in Sunset's defense, but articulating it was more difficult than I'd hoped. I think I got it out properly here, but it took time to come together, which is why it's been three days since the last update. And real life means I won't have the next one ready until lat Wednesday night, or Thursday. Hopefully no later than Thursday, though...

Don't expect me to be done with Fluttershy. All five of the reunited girls are feeling pretty distressed right now, and I'm panning on having Fluttershy rake over her three old friends with the Stare before the story's done. More importantly, it's only Saturday in-story, and we've got a day to burn before Monday, and the confrontation with Pinkie Pie.

One of the upshots of the de-escalation of Anon-A-Miss' campaign is that there haven't been nearly as many out-and-out brawls over the secrets as I can imagine happening in the actual comic or other fics involving this incident. As someone who has worked in, with, and against school bureaucracy, I know that balancing student's rights against maintaining order is a difficult task. Celestia needs to wait for things to get bad before she can legally start taking drastic measures- in this case, multiple parent calls on the issue.

In other news, families! Fluttershy's family will be as canon in my world, though I have no plans to use any of them. Rainbow Dash's family is... not. I have nothing against Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles, but I'd prefer more... nuanced parents in my stories. So, Firefly and Rainbow Blitz will be holding down the fort. Other parents will remain the same, though.

The police segment came to me while writing this chapter when I realized A) Rainbow often doesn't think clearly when upset B) doesn't have her phone and C) went to Applejack's house without telling her parents... anything. So, a little comedic interlude, plus a chance to put in a sequel hook in the form of Officer Shining Armor. (All the cool kids are putting sequel hooks in their stories- so I will too!)

I have few plans for Saturday evening and Sunday. Monday will see it all end, though...

New Family, Old Questions

Sunset watched Fluttershy, mute surprise writ large upon her face. She'd expected much the same as she'd encountered with the other girls, especially considering Fluttershy's demure nature. What she hadn't expected was the all encompassing Stare Fluttershy was projecting onto her friends.

After their confrontation, all had seemed well. Fluttershy had drawn her friends inside, and served them hot tea (Rainbow Dash forcing Zephyr Breeze to take cover in his room) and a few snacks. However, Fluttershy had then asked for an explanation- one which, as each girl explained her revelation, had made her quiet more and more. All the girls, including Sunset, had thought the tensing of shoulders and the closed eyes to be a sign of guilt, and as Rainbow finished her explanation, they'd waited for her to break the silence. She did in a spectacular fashion. After standing, she had opened her eyes, locked gazes with her three friends, and held them spellbound, beginning a lecture that would make any mother proud.

"...what we did to Sunset was irresponsible, wrong, and cruel. None of us should have needed to have reasons to trust Sunset, and yet we all abandoned her to the rest of the school. I know I was wrong, that we have to trust Sunset. And you still need proof? We're still not supporting her openly? NO. This ends now. This will take time, but..."

Sunset sat back and listened to Fluttershy work. She knew full well why Fluttershy was so upset- the shy girl empathized with everyone, and had to have been torn apart by the feelings of her companions. Her old anger over the way they'd treated her at Sunset's manipulation was still sore, and she was not going to let wounds like that fester.

Sunset reached over, and pulled the bowl of popcorn onto her lap. I'll let her talk for another five minutes. She glanced up at the clock. ...might be able to spare ten.

It was hours later, at the Sweet Apple Acres that Sunset finally had a few minutes to herself. After Fluttershy had calmed down and Rainbow and Rarity had been dropped at their respective residences, Applejack and Sunset had gotten home right before dark, and eaten dinner with the family. However, exhaustion had settled upon Sunset's shoulders. Four of her friends had come to their senses, but her problems weren't nearly solved. What she had done to Fluttershy had left far deeper wounds than she'd expected... or intended.

What did I do to Pinkie that she's still so hostile? How am I going to prove my innocence to the rest of the school? She looked out the window into the snow-covered fields, sitting on the plaid loveseat in the sitting room. She looked accross the room, scattered paraphernalia from a dozen Apple family members adorning walls and shelves. Do I even belong here?

That was a question which had haunted her since the Battle of the Bands. After that, she'd found herself drafting apologies to Celestia, and requests for magical textbooks and newspapers from Equestria to Twilight. She hadn't had much here, after all, except her friends.

And then Thursday had happened. She'd almost asked Twilight if she could just go back to Equestria right away, but the little stubborn voice inside here hadn't agreed with running- even if it had seemed like the best option. She'd gotten some advice from Twilight, though, which in retrospective, had made sense. Though I many not have found my family. It seems to have found me, instead.

She made a mental note to get the journal, and let Twilight know all that had developed. Still, was this where her family was? She could forgive Applejack and the others for doubting her, but the fact they'd turned on her so quickly was unsettling, to say the least. Applejack's quick apology and their follow-ups from Rainbow and Rarity, as well as the revelations surrounding Fluttershy, gave her hope. But uncertainty still gnawed at her gut.

"Finally thinkin"?" a deep basso voice rumbled out from behind her.

Sunset turned, and saw Big Mac approaching, a tray held in his hands. he set the tray, which contained two steaming mugs, a few almond cookies, and a brown bottle, on the coffee table, then sat down on one of the armchairs nearby. He tilted his head, waiting for her response.

"Yeah, I guess. You startled me a little." she said after a moment's surprise.

He nodded, then picked up one of the mugs, and poured a measure of liquid from the bottle into it. He sat back and took a long sip. At Sunset's questioning glance, he gave a small smile. "Brandy." He paused for a moment. "Medicinal."

Sunset frowned. "Why are you drinking brandy? Do you expect me to have any?"

"Naw." He took another sip. "Help me talk a bit. You're havin' second thoughts, and I don't talk easy. This helps." he said, taping the mug in his hands.

Sunset reached over, and picked up the unspiked mug. She took a long draw, and found it to be mulled apple cider, served hot. She looked up at Big Mac, who was studying her closely. He spoke softly. "Granny was a gang member."

Sunset's eyes widened. "What?..."

"I won't tell her story. It ain't mine to explain. But she did some bad things before she came here. Applejack ran away from home. I beat a man half to death once for tryin' to hurt my boyfriend." He shrugged. "We all do things we regret. None of us have clean hands. You're wondering if you can trust us. Well, believe me; Applejack knows you're tryin' to change. She thought you'd slipped." He put his mug down, and looked Sunset int he eye. "She forgot what we do for family, is help catch em'. Like I woulda caught her, if she'd held her anger long."

Sunset's eyes were wide with shock. "You had a boyfriend?" Upon looking at Big Mac's droll look, she shook her head. "Yeah, I know that's not really important, compared to the other stuff. So... why didn't you step in to help her with Rainbow? When I broke them up the first time?"

Mac snorted. "We all assumed they'd get over it. And by the time we realized what was goin' on, trying to get her to let go of her anger wasn't gonna happen. She's stubborn. Get's it from Granny, so far as I can tell."

"But you would've done it for me?" Big Mac nodded. "Why?"

In response, Big Mac turned to look out the window. He pulled in a long breath. "You'rw off a lot worse than she was. Ah saw where you were livin'. We knew you didn't have a home, but we weren't sure how bad it was. When Applejack was feudin' with Dash and Pinkie, she was only hurtin' herself. S'what hate does. Even self hate." He nodded at Sunset. "You had some of that after the Fall Formal. Bled it out over the last few months. If it had come back, you woulda been freezin' from without, and pulled apart from within." He shook his head. "I woulda said something, if Granny didn't beat me to it. No one deserves to suffer like that."

"And that's why we're takin' you in." He looked back at her. "We may not be the right family for you, but at the very least, we're gonna be good hosts. And I know that if you stay long enough, you'll be family if you leave or not." He smiled at her. "You deserve a family- but more than that, you need a home. Let us be that for ya, for now, at least."

Sunset got quiet, then nodded. "Thanks. I... I never expected this. It's... a nice feeling." She turned and looked out he window, pale moonlight reflecting off a few solitary tears.

After several minutes of sipping cider in silence, Sunset turned back to Big Mac. "So... bro. I heard you have a girlfriend."

"Eeyup."

"Does she know your barn door swings both ways?" she said teasingly.

"Eeyup."

Sunset got very quiet, then muttered "Lucky lady."

After that, there was only the clatter of mugs and the crunch of cookies to be heard from the darkened room.

Author's Notes:

For lo, my thoughts wandered to the land of what might be and could be and once was. And I realized the truth of the Apple Family. And lo, did a scene with the silent Apple and the reforming Sunset appeared before me.

My inspiration for this piece came to me earlier this evening. My earlier thoughts on what should happen felt entirely too much like filler. This is much better. I t did mean that I'm posting this far later than I would have liked, but I prefer quality over quantity. Big Mac has always struck me as a being (pony or human) of silent wisdom- much good and quiet thoughts behind unassuming eyes. Here, with a tiny bit of brandy as a lubricant, we get a glimpse of that wisdom. And yes, Big Mac in this world is bisexual. Are you going to tell him he can't be?

Saturday draws to a close. Sunday will see our focus shift to our secondary characters- the Crusaders, the Dazzings, the Administrators, and the bullies. It won't be a very substantial chapter, but don't worry; the chapter after that will be a doozy. And the one after that.

Quelling Furor

Sweetie Belle yawned as she staggered down the stairs. Her head was fuzzy, so for a few seconds, she didn't realize the significance of the purple-haired girl sitting at the kitchen table, a grapefruit and square of toast beside her. However, after blinking her eyes for a moment, she broke into a wide grin.

"Good morning Rarity!" Sweetie Belle sang as she moved up to the breakfast table. "Is Applejack feeling better?"

Rarity paused, seemingly disoriented by the non-sequitur. "Applejack? What would have been wrong with Applejack, darling?"

"Well, mom said you were taking care of a friend Friday night, and Applejack dropped you off last night. So, it must have been Applejack that needed your help!" Sweetie grinned. Maybe she was comforting Applejack over some of the stuff we posted. At least I'll get to see her more, now...

"Well, to answer your question, Sweetie, Applejack is doing much better since we figured out what we're going to do about Sunset." Yes! They're finally kicking her out! Now I'll get Rarity to myself for a- "After all, we had treated her horridly." -What.

"What?" Sweetie squealed. "But- but she's Anon-A-Miss! She's been spreading your secrets around!" Didn't they have a fight? Weren't they already on the outs with one another?

"I thought she was too, Sweetie. But I realized she had nothing to gain from betraying us like that, unlike Ms. Stitch or that horrid Suri." Rarity nearly spat that last name. "After I had some time to think, I went to talk to Applejack. Rainbow Dash joined us for the conversation, and we figured out Sunset's almost certainly not the culprit."

Sweetie felt a tingle of fear run down her spine. If Applejack and Rainbow don't think Sunset's Anon-A-Miss anymore... Is that why they want us to stop posting stuff? Out loud, she spoke up. "So... what're you going to do?"

"Well, I haven't had the chance to play detective in a while, Sweetie. I'm going to enjoy figuring out who's been framing Sunset. After, all what reason could they have? She's apologized and started making up for all her past wrongs- and whoever is doing this is hurting far too many other people for my liking." Rarity frowned down at her phone.

Sweetie beat a hasty retreat to the pantry, shut the door, and slid down to the floor. Hurt more people? I never thought about that. It's just gossip- right?

She shuddered as she remembered some of the things she'd wanted to post, but hadn't. Not all of it was. There was that suicide attempt, those two boys kissing, the girl who was scared of dogs after that- She cut off her thought there. If Apple Bloom and Scoots hadn't stopped me-

All I wanted was Rarity back! I thought this would do it- thought she'd go back to like it was over the summer.

But- she has other friends, too. Ones outside the Rainbooms. How many of them have we hurt?

Was there a better way?

In the darkness of the pantry, Sweetie sought her phone, and glanced down at Apple Bloom's last message. 2 o'clock- I have to talk it out with them. Then maybe we can figure something out.

Principal Celestia looked up over her folded hands at the two figures in front of her. One, an orange-haired girl in a Wondercolts jacket, was looking typically nervous for a student who had been pulled into her office. The other, the white-haired girl in the bomber jacket, looked oddly nonchalant, but the sight of her tapping her long nails on the arm of her chair betrayed her tension. Neither girl looked happy to be in her office, which was understandable- Celestia herself wasn't happy that she'd had to come into work on Sunday, or ask the janitor to unlock the front doors for these two.

Still, this had to be done. If she didn't reign these two in now, their actions might cause far more pain than either of them would have expected. Especially considering the legally fragile nature of their target.

"Gilda Wildeye. Lightning Dust. I know that this is an inconvenience, coming in on a Sunday, but we really do need to discuss a few things." Celestia's voice was level, but he hard eyes she directed at each of the girls booked no nonsense.

At this point Gilda decided to activate the "disdain for authority" clause which made up a part of her reputation across the school. "What could be so important that you had to call my mom just to get me to come in?" she growled unkindly. (Mistake no. 1, if we're keeping track.)

"Well, Ms. Wildeye, it concerns some online correspondence which I've noticed over the past week. Or rather, a particular webpage... and your responses to the information shared on that webpage." Celestia said coolly.

"You mean Anon-A-Miss, right? What about it?" said Gilda. Lightning Dust, on the other hand, had frozen. Easily the quicker thinker of the pair (if not necessarily more intelligent) she could see where this conversation was going. Gilda, on the other hand, did not, and kept talking. "Demon-bitch is back to her old ways. What about it?" (Mistake no. 2)

Celestia's glare made Gilda's attitude shake for a moment. "First, do not swear in front of me, Ms. Wildeye. I can't control how you speak to your friends, and I understand you're upset over your grades which were posted by Anon-A-Miss, but swearing in front of your principal is unacceptable. Second, if you have proof that Sunset is the culprit behind these events, I would be happy to see it, then take appropriate action. Which brings me to number three." Celestia reached to a small folder sitting next to her, removed several sheets of paper, and placed them in front of the two students. "Third is that these," she said, motioning to several MyStable chat logs "are unacceptable."

Lightning Dust held her tongue. Gilda did not, glancing over the messages she and Dust had sent. "Yeah, these are ours. What about them?" (Mistake no. 3)

"So, you are not disputing that you were trying to elicit allies and information to "Teach that Shimmer-Bitch a lesson?" You do not dispute that?" Celestia said. Internally, she was seething with anger and disbelief. the first for what Gilda was planning to do, the second for her total disregard for the consequences.

"Yeah. She needs to be taught a lesson. Four months after she got blasted at the formal and she's already turning into a bitch again. (Mistake no. 1 redux) And if you ain't gonna do it properly..." (Mistake no. 4. Oops.)

Gilda stopped talking as Lightning Dust frantically grabbed her elbow. The white-haired girl finally shut up and actually looked at Celestia...

...and the visage of barely-constrained rage on her face.

Gilda's verbal missteps cannot be entirely laid out at her feet. It was 10 o'clock in the morning, she hadn't had her coffee, and her anger had been screaming at her to take action. However, despite these limitations, even she should have seen the warning signs long before Celestia had reached her breaking point. At this point, however, with the wrath of her principal about to break, Gilda's brain finally engaged. Oh crap...

"Gilda." Celestia's voice nearly shook with cold fury. "Do. You. Have. Any. Evidence."

"...no?" the girl said, her voice now approaching a squeak.

"Do you know what the proper punishment for someone who commits cyber-bullying is? Do you understand that I am fully aware of who Anon-A-Miss might be, and how much worse it would be for everyone if anyone- even the proper culprit- was beaten because of what amounts to slander and gossip?"

Gilda finally clammed up. Too little, too late, but at least she could learn.

"And do you realize how idiotic it is to post your plans on a public forum? How WRONG it would be to carry through with those plans?" Celestia's voice had hardened into cold iron.

Both the girls in front of her were stunned and terrified. This was the first time they'd seen Celestia mad, and both were thoroughly cowed.

Celestia leaned back in her seat. "I called you in here because your threats, as nebulous as they might be, are hardly uncommon among the school body at this time. You've done an excellent job at riling everyone up, and I approved of Sunset taking a leave of absence on Friday to avoid an incident. However, this cannot go on indefinitely, and she will be coming back to school tomorrow." Her face tightened. "If Sunset- or whomever Anon-A-Miss turns out to be- is attacked by anyone- you, your allies, strangers who just happen to be hanging around the school grounds... I have enough evidence here" she tapped the damming chat logs "to see you both expelled. And I will do that on my way to punishing everyone else involved with that violence. Do I make myself clear?"

Lightning Dust squeaked "But- but we can't control the others! We're not the only ones to want-" she cut herself off as Celestia turned her gaze upon the Wondercolt.

"I expect the two of you to spread the word of what I just told you both. If you can't convince others of how seriously I am taking this, I can still expel you both. This-" she held up the logs "- is cyberbullying. Just like Anon-A-Miss. You both have enough infractions on your record that you cannot afford to have this one added. You want to stay here?" She leaned forward, over her desk. "Do not let this escalate from gossip mongering to violence. Last warning."

She leaned back, and switched back on her normal smile. "Any further questions?" At the sound of silence, she waved her hand. "Go home, girls. And let your friends know I won't let violence stand."

Gilda and Lightning Dust did everything but run as they fled the office. From behind Celestia, she heard the sounds of slow clapping. Turning, she saw Luna had entered from the records room behind her. "Damn, Tia- I thought I knew how to play bad cop. You really tore into them, didn't you?"

The tension left Celestia's shoulders, and she slumped over her desk. "I'm more effective at it than you are, Luna- you're always pretty straight-laced. Me? When I get serious, it throws them off. Still, that was the easy meeting today." She looked at the next set of files in front of her, then smiled disingenuously up at Luna. "Could you please deal with this meeting? It would mean a lot to me."

Luna looked at her, then quirked an eyebrow. "You want me to deal with them? Hah! You're on your own, sis." She moved past Celestia and towards the front door. On her way out the door, she pivoted on one foot long enough to smile back at her sister. "Say hi to the Dazzlings for me, Tia. I'm going to handle Anon-A-Miss."

Celestia groaned, and glanced at the clock. At least she had some time to prepare...

Pinkie bounced towards CHS. After everything that had happened, she REALLY needed to get a party fix. Applejack hasn't been answering my requests, Rarity's been busy, and Rainbow's been angry. ShyShy needs space. So if there's gonna be a party, I'm gonna have to find it myself!

Pinkie hopped up on the front steps. And there's going to be new students! I can find out all about them, get the party ready, make certain that everything's just fine!

Hearing footsteps on the front steps behind her, Pinkie spun around. "WELCOME TO-" then her words cut out. Three girls she definitely recognized were standing there, watching her with either interest, annoyance, or exasperation.

Aria Dazzling stood at the head of the group, tapping her shoe against the base of the steps. "We've been here before. Still, this is a better welcome wagon than we got last time."

Sonata sniggered. "I think Dagi would prefer our old guide, wouldn't you?"

Adagio glared at Sonata. "I told you to let that go!"

Pinkie gaped like a landed fish. "But- how are you here? You tried to take over the school!"

"So did Sunset." Aria said, glancing at the document in her hands. "Celestia let her stick around. Hell, if we'd known about that, we might have stayed here after we failed." She shrugged. "Celestia's giving us a second chance- and your buddy Sunset's vouching for us." She looked over her shoulder, where Adagio was trying to noogie Sonata into submission. "Oh come on you two- Sonata, drop it. We've gotta go meet the Principal." She breezed past Pinkie, followed by her sisters.

Pinkie Pie looked at the back of the retreating Dazzlings, her whole body motionless. The retreating figures vanished inside the school as she watched. Sunset helping the Dazzlings?

But- she's a meanie-pants secret stealer! Why would she do this? Why would she give them a chance, they tried to take over the school... They don't like her- so she's not just getting new lackeys.

The pink mop of hair atop the pink girl's head slowly sank, even as she remained frozen in place.

Why is this so hard? Why is this so confusing? She did it again, right? Trying to break friendships. But she isn't! She's doing what Twilight would... What Twilight did for her.

And Twilight would never be a meanie-pants...

Author's Notes:

The middle Section of this Chapter was fun to write. Angry Celestia is a rarity (no pun intended) in the main canon- so we get to customize her rage as we see fit. Her actions here will pave the way for Sunset's return to school on Monday- and her encounter with Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie, meanwhile, is difficult to write. Next time, I think I'll chug three cans of red bull and smoke a joint to get the right mindset. Or maybe not- I may be able to think like Pinkie then, but I wouldn't be able to write like me. As for how Pinkie knew here would be new students at the school on a Sunday- remember the mantra: It's Pinkie Pie- don't question it.

This is the last we'll see of the Dazzlings until after the main plot has wrapped up. They won't be attending CHS until after New Years, and are only coming in today to file paperwork.

Oh, and FYI- I finally finished figuring out how many chapters are going to be in this story. Expect six more after this one- and the Epilogue. That's if my muse doesn't clock in overtime or go on vacation. Then all bets are off.

Meetings of Minds and Hearts

Normally, a meeting between the three girls gathered in the basement of Scootaloo's house would have been backed by the sounds of meeting minutes, plans, and animate discussion. It wasn't often, for instance, for Sweetie Belle to remain silent in the presence of her friends, and Scootaloo herself could always be counted on to break the silence to suggest something "awesome", something terrifying- or usually, both.

Today, however, the small circle of friends were quiet. Each had come to their own realization of the magnitude and ill-advised nature of their actions a week past, and each was wrestling with what to begin the conversation with.

Apple Bloom broke the silence. "Ah assume that none of us want to continue Anon-A-Miss?" At a pair of hesitant nods, Apple Bloom looked down at her feet. "Ah guess I'll go first, then. Sunset's been hurtin', girls-" As Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo opened their mouths, guilt twisting into indignation, she cut them off. "-worse than we thought. Scoots, Ah know you heard about what Gilda and Dust are plannin'- right?" As Scootlaoo nodded, she continued "The reason they couldn't find her home is cause she don't got one- she'd been livin' nearly on the streets for the last five years."

Sweetie Belle's face contorted with horror. "What? But, shouldn't she be in foster... care..." She cut out her voice and glanced at Scootaloo.

Scoots shrugged. "Yeah. Being homeless sucks, but at least you have control of your life. When I was still in foster care..." she shook her head. "I don't think Sunset would have been able to put up with someone else controlling her life like that." Scootaloo's eyes widened. "Wait, does that mean she would've been alone for Christmas?"

"If we'd succeeded? Yep." Apple Bloom shook her head. "Applejack knew, too. Over winter break, Sunset's gonna stay with us. And if we'd had our way..."

Sweetie Belle looked troubled, but Scootaloo shivered. She'd spent a year on her own, running from a particularly bad foster care situation until she'd been picked up by Officer Sentinel Watch, Flash's father. He'd taken her to the local foster care center, but had made certain to keep tabs on her- and eventually, adopted her into the family. Scootaloo remembered the single, cold winter she'd spent on her own- she never wanted that to happen to anyone. She gulped and spoke up. "My reason's stupid, compared to yours."

Sweetie Belle glanced up. "Really, Scootaloo? I think we were stupid right from the beginning." She looked back at her feet, slouching forward in her chair. "I wanted Rarity to myself, like it was back when Sunset was in charge- she didn't have any friends outside the fashion club and the drama club, and she wasn't hanging with the drama club because she was avoiding Pinkie Pie. But I realized it earlier today- she's still friends with Applejack, and everyone else. It's not like she's gonna stop hanging out with them because Sunset wasn't her friend anymore."

Apple Bloom winced. "Yeah- I really just wanted her to stop draggin' Applejack away from home so much. I don't know whay Ah thought pullin' her away from Sunset was enough..."

"Wait, seriously? Those were your only reasons?" Both the other girls glanced up at Scootaloo, who had an incredulous expression on her face. "At least I actually thought through what I wanted."

"Scoots- what do you mean? Didn't you just wanna spend more time with Rainbow Dash?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Nah, that was just a bonus. I wanted revenge for what she did to my brother." Scootaloo looked downcast. "Except- Flash doesn't. He's not happy about what happened to her, and he's upset about the who school going crazy again. He figured out it's not Sunset, and told Rainbow Dash."

Sweetie looked startled. "Wait, Dash knows? And if Applejack and Rarity know too-"

Apple Bloom spoke up. "Worse than that- they're tradin' notes and talking to others. Last I heard, they were gonna start gettin' more people on Sunset's side, and find the real Anon-A-Miss." She gulped. "The girls went to talk to Fluttershy yesterday. She lit a fire under them, made em' promise to go and help her. We ain't gonna pin it on Sunset for much longer."

"The whole school turned on Sunset when she though she'd gone back to being a bully." Scootaloo's voice was soft. "What'll they do to us?"

"Not as much- ah think." Apple Bloom sounded uncertain. "They were really mad at Sunset cause they though she was going back to her old ways- we might be left alone." She paused, and each of the girls thought about it for a moment. That seemed... unlikely.

"Why don't we just delete the page, then hope it blows over?" Sweetie glanced between her friends. "Then we can-"

"No." Both girls looked at Scootaloo. "We messed up. I wanted revenge for something that was already forgiven. You girls wanted your sisters back. We had stupid reasons, and did something that could still hurt a lot of people. We can't just let it go."

"She's right." Apple Bloom stared at her clenched fists. "And that ain't the only reason we gotta confess. A lot of people sent in stuff that wasn't just gossip- that was downright wrong to tell. We didn't post a lotta stuff."

"Dad taught me better than to spread stuff about families," Scootaloo growled. "No one needed to know about Silver Spark's parents, or Derpy's mom. That wasn't right. We have to let the principal know who sent in stuff to us."

Sweetie started to protest, then paused. "...Dust and Gilda might've really hurt her, wouldn't they?" She looked around the guilty faces of her friends. "You're right. Ooh, Rarity's going to hate me for this..."

"Yeah, Flash is gonna be real disappointed..." Scootaloo sighed.

Apple Bloom saw her friends hesitate, then spoke up. "Applejack's gonna be mad at me, too. But Ah have an idea." Both the other girls looked up at her. "We see how things look at school tomorrow. If things've calmed down, we just delete the page. No problem. If things are still bad, we turn everything over to the principal- or we just post a list of everyone who sent stuff in to Anon-A-Miss- and add our own names. A last post that spreads the blame across everyone." She looked around at her friends. "Deal?"

Both the other girls nodded. This might actually work...

Celestia groaned as she walked through the door. Collapsing on the couch, she looked up at Luna, who was typing on the laptop at the kitchen table. Luna looked back at her, then resumed typing. In a bored tone, she said "So, sis. How was you time with the Dazzlings?"

"Draining." Celestia put her hands on her forehead. "I was expecting Ms. Blaze to be the most problematic of the three, but she seemed determined just to get the paperwork over with. Ms. Dusk reminds me of a self-centered Pinkie Pie- bubbly, but not helpful."

Luna paused, then looked at Celestia. "and Ms. Dazzle- the one whose name is actually Dazzle, anyway. What was wrong with her?"

Celestia muttered something, and Luna motioned at her to speak up. Celestia drew in a deep breath. "She kept hitting on me."

Luna blinked. "Say that again?"

"She was flitting with me the entire time we were going over their paperwork!" Celestia yelled. "I mean, it's inappropriate for someone to flirt with their principal! We got the paperwork done, but I was so flustered by he time we were finished. I had no decorum left at all... "

Luna's eyes were wide for a moment, then she stated chuckling. Within moments she was laughing out loud. "Oh dear, Tia- the first person to hit on you in months, and she's a former supervillain, and your student to boot!" She calmed herself, then grinned at Celestia. "Did you take her up on it?"

"LUNA!"

"I kid, I kid!" Luna's grin dropped away as she turned back to her computer. She glanced over the information in front of her. "Mixed news on my end, though. I've managed to get the admins of MyStable to put a block on deleting the Anon-A-Miss page and begin an investigation, but they can't take it out of circulation or hand any data over. While there's a clear case for cyberbullying, this isn't a police matter yet. As long as they're not involved, we can't order them to reveal the users behind the page directly. So we just have to put them under watch for now." She sighed. "Why couldn't this be easy?"

"When was dealing with stuff like this ever easy?" Celestia came up behind her sister, and peered at the user data in fron of her. "What's that?"

"Gilda and Lightning Dust's message traffic. I wondered if they might have been the culprits behind Anon-A-Miss, and were just using it as an excuse to hurt Sunset. They're not- but they have been yelling across the message boards, calling off their friends. Looks like your plan worked there, at least."

"Good." Celestia felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. Anon-A-Miss is bad, but if someone had been beaten because of their actions, there would have been extreme consequences. I'll need to make certain Sunset's watched while at school- no one will ambush her after my display to those two idiots, but they might do something less overt.

Still, at least Winter Break will give things time to cool off. But only if there's no Anon-A-Miss waiting to rile things up after the kids come back.

We need to catch whomever this is- that's the only way we can solve this.

Celestia pulled out her phone, and called a particular number. "Hello, Mrs. Smith? Yes, this is principal Celestia..."

Author's Notes:

Hey- is anyone on here a lawyer? Does anyone know if a high school principal could ask someone like Facebook to reveal their users without a court order? If so, I may need to change that last section.

One of the things that has been averted with the changes to canon is that the CMC haven't sparked any fights yet- and have been withholding the worst stuff that might allow Celestia to involve outside forces, like the police. So, the CMC actually have a better chance of getting away clean than a normal Anon-A-Miss fic.

Not that I'm going to let them.

In other news, the CMC have realized just how bad it could have been, and are moving to correct their mistakes- kinda. We also see the holes in the CMC's logic regarding pushing Sunset out of the Humane Six- after all, they'll still have each other, which might continue to cut into their sibling time...

I almost considered having Apple Bloom call Scootaloo out for having "Revenge" as her reason for Anon-A-Miss, but then realizing hers was just as trite. I think this turned out better.

As for Adagio, I suspect she was hitting on Celestia just to unnerve her. Fifty percent sure. Maybe less. If she was hitting on Luna, though...

Next- it's back to school for Sunset, and her encounter with the pink menace...

The Truth of Friendship

Sunset gulped as Applejack parked her van outside the school. Apple Bloom clambered out first, leaving the two older girls to stare at the equestrian statue situated above the portal. Applejack looked at Sunset, and watched her a moment. As Sunset refrained from exiting the van, she broke the silence. "Sugarcube? You nervous?"

Sunset finally tore her gaze away from the statue, and grimaced. "Yeah, I think so."

"Principal Celestia told Granny it'd be fine for you to come today. Rarity said she's managed to beat down the rumors a bit- she just had to get the biggest gossips in the school to start spreadin' other rumors. The whole "framin' you" thing's juicy enough that once she got em' goin', half of them were willin' to change their tunes. And Rainbow managed to get the sports clubs off your back. Ain't no-one gonna hurt you."

"It was never about getting attacked, Applejack." When Applejack's brow arched, Sunset shuddered. "Remember how everyone treated me after the Fall Formal? I was afraid of that happening again, not someone punching me in the face. I know just how bad emotional damage can be- I was really good at causing it, if you recall." She chuckled mirthlessly. "Even if most of the school isn't certain anymore, I'm still the scapegoat. This is gonna be bad."

Applejack frowned. After the Fall Formal, the girls had made certain to give Sunset some cover, but thinking back on it, none of them had really stuck their necks out to protect her. They hadn't let anything terrible happen, but it had taken a month before they'd really brought her into the group. And even then, it was only after the Battle of the Bands that she'd really been accepted fully. And we were willin' to toss her back to the wolves over a buncha rumors. Dammit- Ah-m glad most of us came to our senses.

That last thought had unpleasant connotations, though. Applejack spoke in a low voice. "That ain't the only thing you're afraid of, though."

Sunset nodded. "Pinkie. After hearing through what Fluttershy said, it got me thinking. Pinkie wasn't a target like Fluttershy was, but I've never heard her talk about what it was like for her during my... reign." She swallowed. "I'm going to see her today- and I have no idea what will happen. What she'll say- or what I will."

Sunset grabbed her bag, then opened the doors to the van. "We've got to move forward, though- don't we. Let's get this over with."

Apple Bloom moved through the hallways, her eyes open. All around her, squabbles kept breaking out. It ain't as bad as when the sirens were here, but there don't seem to be much magic of friendship goin' on. She swallowed as she watched two students get into a yelling match over some secret she couldn't remember. And this is without the bad stuff we kept back. Horseapples- we didn't post anything yesterday, and they're still goin' at it!

She rounded the corner, and moved to stand beside a pensive Sweetie Belle. Sweetie was watching the crowd, a frown on her face. When she saw Apple Bloom, she gave her a guilty glance, then looked away. "Rarity was conversing with some of her friends last night, telling them Sunset wasn't to blame. I thought it might have calmed people down, but..." Her voice trailed off as she watched the hostile glances thrown through the pack of students. "They're still fighting. I just wanted..."

"Yeah, me too." Scootaloo had moved up beside them as they'd been watching. "No one's calmed down yet- and the bullies left after everything that's happened are having a field day." She lowered her voice until it was barely audible to the other crusaders. "I got a message last night from MyStable- to the Anon-A-Miss account. They're investigating it for charges of cyberbullying, and won't allow us to scrub the page from their system until a week has elapsed, or they've figured out whether our actions count or not. We can hide the page from outside viewers, but beyond that..."

Apple Bloom's mouth pulled into a thin line. "So no cuttin' and runnin'. We either gotta leave it up, release the names, or confess." She watched two boys get into a shouting match. "I don't think this is gonna blow over, do you?"

The silence from her two friends was all the confirmation she needed.

Sunset looked over her locker. Even freshly scrubbed, she could still see the marks of graffiti smeared over the paint, although she couldn't make out any words. Behind her she heard a loud cough. She ignored it instead moving forward to put in her combination.

A voice rose behind her. "And what does the demon-bitch think she's doing, ignoring the Great and Powerful Trixie?"

Sunset sighed as she popped her locker open. Rifling through her stuff, she responded without looking over her shoulder. "Trixie, what do you want me to say? That I didn't do it? That I never posted any secrets, that Anon-A-Miss wasn't me? That I'm sorry the Dazzlings sabotaged you in the Battle of the Bands, that I'm sorry for everything I did before the Fall Formal?"

"Your words are not enough, especially when they are as obviously false as they are! Trixie demands you confess, and if you will not, she demands that you- oh!"

Sunset pivoted, frowning. Behind Trixie, with his hand on her shoulder, was Flash Sentry, a look of exasperation on his face. A crowd had gathered around the three teens, watching evens with anger, interest, or confusion. Trixie turned to face him, a wide smile spreading there. "Flash, if you wish to join me in accusing the bitch-"

"No, Trixie." Flash cut through Trixie's tirade with a shake of his head. "If you really think she's responsible for this, you aren't thinking straight."

Mutterings and low gasps punctured the crowd, bu otherwise silence reigned. Trixie's face contorted- whether in anger, indignation, or shock it was difficult to tell. "And what makes you say that? Are you still wrapped around her finger, Flash? Still believing she's a perfect angel?"

Flash shook his head, ignoring the few supporting cries in favor of Trixie. "I'll admit she had me fooled for six months, but that's because nothing she ever did could be traced back to her. None of us- including you- really realized what she was doing until the end of last summer. Anon-A-Miss is way too obvious a ploy for her to have done- if she had really gone back to what she was before."

Trixie scowled, and opened her mouth- then froze. Her face contorted for a few moments, then she huffed and took a step back. "Well, stick up for the bitch if you must! You will see the truth before too long! Trixie shall reveal who is responsible, and find proof of Sunset's involvement!" In order to have the last word, Trixie immediately dropped a smoke bomb, then fled into the crowd, her back held high.

The crowd dispersed, confused muttering echoing through it. Though most were still convinced who the culprit was, uncertainty wove its way through the individuals moving to their classes. Sunset sighed with relief as she found herself in an empty space, left alone save for Flash Sentry.

Flash watched her carefully, then hazarded a small smile. "You know, four months ago, if someone said I'd be defending you, I would've socked them in the nose."

Sunset grimaced. "Yeah. I can understand that." As Flash turned to go, Sunset spoke up. "Hey, Flash?" He stopped and turned. "Thank you. And... I'm sorry."

Flash frowned. "Sorry for what? Unless you really are Anon-A-Miss, you've got nothing to be sorry for."

"Not recently, no. But- I've been talking with the girls. Found out why some of them abandoned me on Thursday." Sunset looked at the floor. "I hadn't realized just how hurt some of them were by what I did, and I realized..." She looked down a the ground. "They weren't the only ones. I led you on for half a year, Flash- I can't apologize enough for what happened. I don't know why you're willing to trust me again."

Flash looked at her, then let out a rueful sigh. "We'll never date again, Sunset- I don't think I'll ever trust you that far." he frowned, even as Sunset looked at him questioningly. "But while we were dating I saw glimpses of the real you- and the bully you were hiding from me. I didn't want to believe the second, but I thought the first was real. After I broke up with you, I figured the girl I'd caught a glimpse of was a lie. Then, after the Formal, seeing you so broken..."

He shook his head. "It was confusing. Then the Dazzlings came, and they caused me to say things I really regretted- but they also let me let out the hate that was left, afterwards." He shrugged. "I've seen three different sides of you, Sunset- and I think the one you've been these last few months is the real one. You've got your flaws- but so does everyone else." He pulled a breath in, and gave a smile. "So, yeah- apology accepted." He extended a hand, and after a few moments, Sunset shook it.

Sunset grinned. "Thanks for giving me a second chance- and I don't think I could date you, either. At the look on Flash's face, she quickly clarified, "Not that you're not datable! But, I think I'd want to date someone who didn't have that kind of baggage with me." She caught the look on Flash's face go pensive, then confused, and was about to respond when she realized he was looking past her. Turning, she found herself staring into a pair of searching blue eyes, framed by a pink face and pink hair. She yelped as Pinkie Pie seized her by each shoulder, and moved so quickly the world became a blur.

Sunset found herself behind the stage, in the off wings near the props. She turned, and faced a silent and still Pinkie, who was watching her intently. In a low voice, Pinkie spoke. "What you said to Flash. About being sorry. About regretting it. And about not being Anon-A-Miss. Did you mean it?"

Sunset nodded, a little frightened by the situation. Alone, without her friends, in a space with the last member of her group who hadn't forgiven her- this could be bad. "Pinkie-" she began.

Pinkie cut her off. "And the Dazzlings? Why are they coming back to the school?"

Sunset frowned. "We needed to talk to them- they told Dash where I was staying. And- I thought that maybe giving them a second chance might be worthwhile. Twilight gave one to me- and I didn't want them to be alone. Like I might have been. I asked Celestia to give them a chance." She watched Pinkie for a response.

Pinkie listened dispassionately, for a moment seemingly lost in thought. Her whole body suddenly jerked, and her eyes went dull, fixating on the floor below them, before rising up again. Pinkie's gaze fixed on Sunset's for a moment more, and at first Sunset didn't know what was going on. Then, with a massive sigh, Pinkie's hair flattened over her face entirely, and the pink girl collapsed like a broken puppet.

On the ground, Pinkie spoke softly. "Why is this so hard? Why isn't it easy?"

Sunset took a half step back, then steadied herself. She moved forward and went down on one knee next to the girl. "What do you mean, Pinkie? "

"Friendship." Pinkie replied, looking blankly into Sunset's face. "Friendship isn't hard, is it? It's just, being there and listening, and parties and..." She looked away. "But, it was hard. With you." Sunset tensed as Pinkie continued. "Before everything- Twilight, the Fall Formal- it was so hard to make things work." She shook her head. "Nobody wanted anyone not like them at each other's parties. You couldn't have any people of two different groups at a party, couldn't do something uncool, or silly, or unpopular... friendship was hard. Being happy, laughing at things-" she gulped, "you made it really, really hard."

Pinkie looked up. "And then Twi came, and everything was easy! Anyone could party, we could burst into songs, the whole school came together. And when she asked us to look after you, to teach you friendship, I thought that'd be easy too." Tears formed in Pinkie's eyes. "But... it wasn't, really. You were sad, and it was so hard, forgiving what you'd done. How hard you'd made friendship. And it was easier to smile, and forget it." She looked away, choking out a sob. "And then Anon-A-Miss happened, and it explained why it was hard. You hadn't changed. You weren't a friend. And it was easy, to make one meanie-pants cry so everyone else could be happy again."

Pinkie curled up into a ball. "But one person crying... that's not friendship. It's why I don't do cruel pranks, why when I joke, everyone laughs, even the one I'm joking about. And then the sirens came back, and I knew that would be hard too, and..." She looked up, tears in her eyes. "And you... you didn't do it, did you? No meanie-pants would want to see people forgiven. Not when they'd hurt you. And I didn't forgive you." She coughed, tears running down her cheeks. "I just tried to forget. But you've gotta do both, and now... now it hurts. Cause I made someone cry, and worse, that someone was my friend." She gulped, then looked at the stricken Sunset. "And now, I don't know if I still have her as one."

"And I gave her up because it seemed hard and now..." Pinkie started bawling. "I'm making you cry again and I don't want to! I don't care if it's hard, I want to forgive you, I want you to be my friend again! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

At first, Sunset held still, uncertain of what to do. Then she remembered Fluttershy and Twilight- how they'd been hurt by her. And what each had offered to her despite that. Sunset leaned forward, and wrapped her arms around Pinkie. "I'm upset that you didn't trust me, Pinkie, but I can see why you didn't." She placed her head on Pinkie's shoulder. "You and Fluttershy were both really suffering during my bitch days, weren't you? And I may have apologized, but it never feels like enough, does it?"

Pinkie choked out a brief sentence. "I... I try not to think about it. Makes it hard to smile..."

"Sometimes you can't smile, Pinkie. Sometimes you need to cry. But you'll smile again someday." Fluttershy's voice carried across the weeping pair, and Sunset opened her eyes to find the other pink-haired girl wrapping her arms around Pinkie's shoulders. "Let it all out."

Sunset looked up, to see the concerned faces of her three remaining friends. Behind them, Flash pushed the door to backstage shut, and leaned against it, standing guard.

And, as three more pairs of arms wove into the group hug, Sunset let a small smile grace her face. There's going to need to be healing and more tears before this is all over- but at least we'll face those tears together.

The truth is friendship is hard- but that just makes it all the more worthwhile.

Author's Notes:

Disregard my last post about writing Pinkie Pie. Writing Pinkie Pie without her being hyper is much more difficult than writing a normal Pinkie Pie. Mainly because it can hurt a little, imagining someone so joyful so broken. I came up with this idea before the Fluttershy scene, but I wanted to leave Pinkie for last, for a few distinct reasons, not the least being that I can't see a regretful Pinkie not trying to throw a "Sunset's not Guilty" party- a bad idea for multiple reasons without the weight of the administration and all of her friends behind it.

One of the things I want to bring up here is the concept of empathy- something Fluttershy and Pinkie both have in abundance. High School is a toxic environment to the empathetic on a bad day, and adding a dominating, vindictive queen bully to the mix probably didn't help. But Fluttershy didn't have to fake being happy through it all. She may have internalized her sadness, and desire to be alone, but she had a quiet strength which would have allowed her to bloom again once Sunset was removed from power.

Pinkie, though- Pinkie wants everyone to get along. She couldn't just retreat into herself- she braved the arguments, trying (and often failing) to bring laughter and joy during the few months Sunset really ruled the school. How much can a girl like that take? And what lengths would she drive herself to keep it from happening again?

As for the scene with Flash, that wrote itself. I never intended to include Flash Sentry int he story, but he managed to worm his way into it regardless. Trixie also appeared without warning, but at least she's understandable; at such a dramatic moment, of course she'd show up. Flash, on the other hand, provided a defender for Sunset at a critical moment, who didn't involve the Humane five. That allowed Pinkie to approach unobserved, necessary for the following scenes.

FYI, I have no intention of pairing Flash with Twilight or Sunset. (For now, anyway. We'll see what the muse does, but even she thinks those pairings are too problematic to contemplate for now.)

Anyway, five for five girls back on Sunset's side. Now come the reveals, the endings, the epilogue...
(No, Pinkie, we're not throwing that party yet. Stop it! How did you even get in here? I live in a different dimension!)

Truths Revealed

The six girls sat in a circle, back in their old school hangout. The Rainbooms poster which had been on the wall had been ripped down- as soon as Rainbow had seen the defacement, she'd torn it down, swearing under her breath to put up a new one, "20% more awesome." After the girls had come across Pinkie and Sunset behind the stage, Rainbow had run to speak with Celestia, and every girl had skipped class for the period. Flash Sentry stood in near the doorway, having already shooed away two sets of inquisitive- and one group of angry- students from intruding on the Rainbooms. After hunkering down in the music room, each of the girls had slowly but surely gathered their thoughts.

Pinkie Pie had her head on Sunset's shoulder, quiet hiccups the only sound she made. The party girl looked tired, and her face was covered by her hair- slightly curled locks still dangling around her face. The girl she leaned on looked nearly as bad, though much more alert- Sunset had had an emotional roller coaster over the last four days, and was looking pretty bedraggled. The despair, fear, and pain she'd carried was nearly spent, but she was still anxious- her friends might have been back at her side, but the rest of the school still wanted her head- and she lacked the proof to prove her innocence.

Fluttershy was the most conflicting of the figures in the circle. There was still an odd undercurrent within her- a strength she'd only previously shown when angered beyond reason. But her shoulders were bent forward- she'd released her burdens, and the quiet smile on her face as she petted Angel Bunny showed the relief she felt at finding her equilibrium, lost so long ago. Of the whole group, she seemed the most calm, but it was a spent calm- most of her energy having fled with her outburst Saturday past, or expended in calming the near-hysteric Pinkie.

Rainbow Dash's posture was stiff, and she was gazing into the distance, still muttering under her breath. A stranger would have thought her expression merely stoic, but the other Rainbow Dash across the portal, and her friends around the room, knew the truth. Each smack of Rainbow Dash's palm into her other hand spoke of anger at herself, her mutterings were of impotent threats against an invisible enemy, and her lack of action spoke of her rage at the situation. Rainbow was pissed, but lacked a proper target for her anger.

Rarity scribbled in a notepad, not her ordinary sketchbook. The scratching of her pen only paused when she gripped her temple, and the red marks starting to form on her hand and forehead spoke of her concentration. There was no drama, no fainting in the face of the situation this time- she seemed to be more concerned with figuring out the next move than her normal histrionics. No clothes would solve this issue- Rarity's design skills were being pulled in a different direction.

Of the group, only Applejack seemed normal. Having been the first to realize her mistake, and the one whose revelation had shook her the least, she'd come to terms with her demons long before the others. Although the last week had been stressful, she'd already relegated the situation, in her mind, into the category of "Family Troubles"- and as an Apple, she was well versed to handle those. Her brow was furrowed slightly, but her thoughts rested on problems, not guilt or wrath.

Rarity was the one to break the silence, snapping her notebook closed.

"Girls, I've gone over the facts. Rainbow Dash" she motioned to the athlete, whose head rose at her gesture, "pointed out that although the web page bears Sunset's silhouette, it does not have any of the wit nor subtlety we expected from the old Sunset. Applejack recognized it as the tactic we'd seen her use before, turned back upon her. I recognized the conflict of why Sunset would do this- there's no purpose to Anon-A-Miss beyond petty vengeance."

Applejack looked across at Rarity. "What are you gettin' at, Rares?"

"Sunset had the means, opportunity, but no motive. We've recognized that, as we know Sunset's old plans and her real self well enough to know why our current troubles make so little sense."

Rainbow scowled, coming to her feet. "No one else knows her well enough to know the truth easily, though- no offense, Flash." He nodded in assent.

"Umm..." Everyone turned to look at Fluttershy. "If Sunset's been staying with Applejack these last few days, couldn't we just have the Apple family say she wasn't posting secrets? I mean, she didn't have access to a computer for a few days, right?"

"Three problems, Fluttershy." Everyone turned to look at Flash, who was frowning at his phone. "First, Dash and I talked about that Friday night. It's possible to queue up posts to be published later. Second," He frowned even more. "Anon-A-Miss' posts slowed down on Saturday, and they didn't post anything on Sunday. I don't know why, but it looks like whoever it was just decided to stop being Anon-A-Miss- or like Sunset was hiding her activities." She shrugged off the glares directed at him. "I'm not saying she did, just saying it could look like that. Third, most of the school's not exactly rational right now- they want someone to hate. I don't think we could convince everyone she's innocent without help- or the actual culprit."

"Wait, we?" Rainbow spoke up. "Flash, don't get me wrong, I'm glad for the help. But why are you including yourself in this?"

Flash shook his head. "Sunset and I talked earlier. She doesn't deserve this- and as soon as the real culprit is found, and their reasons are aired, we can finally put things back to normal."

Outside the room, three heads listened to what was going on inside. The CMC listened to their older siblings debate what should be done. As one, the three girls turned to one another.

"Ah know what we should do," Apple Bloom began "But it ain't my decision alone. You heard what they're sayin' in there. We all know just how bad it's gotten. So- what do we do?"

"Will coming forward really fix the problem?" Sweetie Belle spoke next. "I mean, the secrets are already out there. Stopping Anon-A-Miss might not add any more fuel to the fire, but..."

"Can we hide it, though?" Scootaloo spoke next. "Can we live with it if we never tell- if something happened to Sunset? Or even if nothing happens, can we stand what we've done? Can we fake innocence around Rarity, around Rainbow, around Applejack, and Flash?"

"We gotta decide. Do we tell our families, tell Celestia, and own up to what we've done? Or do we hope they never find out th' truth?" Apple Bloom finished.

The girls stood silently for a moment, then each looked at each other. Each made their choice.

The Rainboom's debate ended with a knock at the door. Flash glanced out, then frowned. He swung the door open. "Scoots? Apple Bloom? What are you doing here?"

"Cause... we gotta confession to make. A couple, really, but I- we- need to say this." Apple Bloom looked around the room, at six confused faces- and Sunset's look of dawning realization.

Applejack spoke, puzzled. "Bloom, what are you-" she was cut off by Sunset's throat clearing. Looking behind her, she saw the red-and-gold haired girl shift Pinkie off her shoulder, and motion for Apple Bloom to continue.

The redhead cleared her throat, and continued. "A little over a wee ago, we were meetin' in Flash's basement. Sweetie and I were talkin' and we got upset about how you weren't spenin' as much time with us." More and more of the faces around the circle were beginning to shift from puzzlement to understanding, and then to anger, or in two cases, disappointment. "We knew some stuff, and Sweetie got pictures of Sunset's phone. We put what we had together... and we made the Anon-A-Miss page."

Rainbow, predicably, was the first to break the silence. "Scootaloo! Why would you- just to get more time with-"

"No. I wish it was that simple." Scootaloo's voice was tight, even as she felt Flash's glare bore into he back of her head. "I... wanted Sunset to..." She cut her voice off.

"Payback for what I did to Flash." Sunset guessed, pinching the brow of her forehead. "And petty jealousy. That's it? That's why you tried to ruin my life?"

"Ah'm not sayin' we were being smart- or had a good reason." Apple Bloom said softly, her voice thick with guilt. "But that's why we're here." She looked up, guilt evident in her eyes. "Sunset- Ah'm sorry. Ah didn;t know what you were goin' through, but Ah shouldn't have done it anyway." She looked away. "Ah hurt both mah sisters- and nearly lost one before Ah got to know her. Yah might never forgive me, but-"

"Save it, Bloom." Applejack's voice was harsh. "We're gonna have a long talk about this- and Ah know Granny's gonna have somethin' to say to you."

Rarity's voice cut through the end of Applejack's speech. "And where is my sister?" Her voice crackled with a hard anger. "I see she isn't with you. Is she not willing to face me?"

Scootaloo spoke up. "Yeah- but she's got a different job. She didn't want to talk to you- so she's gonna go tell Principal Celestia."

Sweetie Belle sat in the chair in front of Celestia, who was glaring at her coldly, her sister watching from behind her. "So let me get this straight. You three got jealous, decided to frame Sunset, and started by posting a few secrets. You do know that's cyber-bullying, right?"

"Yes, Principal Celestia." Sweetie Belle glanced down at her feet. "Better that we get in trouble than something happen to Sunset- or worse. We know we're going to get in serious trouble for this."

"Then why come forward?"

"Wait." Everyone turned to look at Pinkie Pie. "So, you took stuff from Sunset's phone and shared around family secrets for the rest. That doesn't explain where you got Bon-Bon's secrets, or Topsy Turvy's. or Soarin's, or anyone else's stuff! Where'd you get all that stuff?"

Scootaloo grimaced. "After we posted a few things, people started sending more stuff in to the Anon-A-Miss page. We posted some of it, because we thought it might be a good way to isolate Sunset."

"That's the other reason we had to come forward, though. We didn't post the really bad stuff." Apple Bloom explained.

Everyone froze. "Really bad stuff?" Rarity enunciated. "Those pictures you posted were horrid! And most of the rest of it was worse!"

Flash spoke up next "What do you mean, really bad stuff, Scootaloo?"

Celestia leafed through the printouts in front of her, her gaze harsh. "This is..."

"I know." Luna watched Sweetie, sitting out in the main office, even as the sisters conversed within the Principal's personal office. "Some of those things are barely gossip, but others..."

"Blackmail material. Putting some of this stuff out there could ruin careers, or ostracize people from the school entirely. But I'm not talking about the secrets themselves." Luna glanced back at Celestia, whose furious visage twisted as she looked over one exchange. "Some of the names here- friends trying to betray friends- or worse- under anonymity."

"So, not just punishment for the CMC?" Luna spoke. "I assume there will be a little clemency, since they came forward on their own accord?"

"Only a little, Luna. They were willing to frame Sunset, cause emotional damage, and put her life at risk. As first offenders, they'll receive limited punishments- but not too limited. They need to be shown- as does the whole school- that this is not acceptable. But theirs aren't the only heads going to roll for this." She looked up at Luna. "I know you want to play bad cop this time. Call an assembly for this afternoon. Give me some time to go through all this, and we can hopefully make certain no one gets passed over for punishment." She looked donw at the documents. "I'm glad we won;t have to jump through any more hoops to find Anon-A-Miss- but we still need to bring this mess to a close. Decisively."

Luna grinned, then turned back to the door. Opening it, she found that Sweetie Belle had been joined by her two friends- and the seven older teens. Rarity was glaring down at her shame-faced sister, while Applejack held Apple Bloom by the shoulder. Rainbow Dash and Flash had Scootaloo between them. As one, the ten students turned to face the vice-principal.

"All of you, come in. We have a lot to discuss." Luna said.

Author's Notes:

Honestly? This may be one of the weaker chapters in this story. There's not much I can do here which hasn't been done before. Still, I've made a few changes.

Other Anon-A-Miss fics either drag these scenes out, or make them far too brief- most focus on Sunset's reaction, or the friends realizing they'd been duped. I wanted the Crusaders to give their piece, apologize, and (try to) start to make amends. I thought this was a nice way to end the reign of Anon-A-Miss.

I wanted the audience, and the CMC to know they could have cut and run, and maybe gotten away scott-free. Instead, they decided to own up to their crimes, and hopefully salvage their relationships with their sisters. Their punishments, and the punishments for the other participants in Anon-A-Miss, will be featured in the next chapter. The crusader's relationships with those they respect the most, and the reactions of those family members, will come in the chapter after that.

There are elements of other Anon-A-MIss fics that will make it into his one- the school wide assembly, the reveal of others who submitted things to Anon-A-Miss, and the reactions of members of the crowd. There are some aspects I want to focus on, though. We'll also see how some of the groups in CHS react to who really shared their secrets...

Still a lot of revalations to go. I chose a nicely poetic name for the next chapter: Facing Reality. Let's see how it goes.

Facing Reality

It's occasionally said that nothing travels faster than the speed of light, save bad news, which obeys its own special laws. Gossip, however, follows similar laws- a feat Rarity had often employed to her own ends. Today, however, the news percolating through the assembled students was not spread by the violet haired fashionista, but instead whispered back and forth through the crowd.

Anon-A-Miss has been caught.

What else could it be? There hadn't been any fights, but rumors persisted. After Sunset Shimmer's rejection by her friends, many had either felt smug satisfaction or fear when she'd failed to reappear on Friday. Some had whispered of suicide or flight by the former bully, and others- stoked by Lightning Dust and Gilda's proclamations- said she'd been hospitalized by an attack, or driven out of town. Her return on Monday- accompanied by Applejack, and later seen in company with the rest of her friends- did little to down the pointed fingers.

There had been those who had doubted her guilt from the beginning, but they'd had little purchase against the tide. Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Melody had rebuffed any attempts to accuse anyone without proof, Vinyl emphatically insisting though loud music that Sunset was innocent. Flash's band and gaming group, as well as much of the AV club, had remained skeptic. Support had also came from surprising quarters- the Diamond Dog gang had refused to accuse Sunset, but only because the whole mess "smelt funny." A good portion of the sports teams had also withheld judgement, considering that they had been hit the hardest by the machinations of the Dazzlings.

None of these groups alone stood up for Sunset. Still, the currents of skepticism had barely pushed aside the wave of anger. Most expected to hear that Anon-A-MIss had been caught. They expected to hear punishment handed down. And they expected to see Sunset Shimmer humbled once again.

They would only be right on two of three counts.

Vice Principal Luna stepped up tot he microphone. "Can everyone hear me? Good." The remaining muttering quieted, and she began her speech. "Less than a week ago, a webpage was posted on the social media site MyStable. the "Anon_A-Miss" webpage was a gossip rag, revealing embarrassing secrets to the entire school. Many here assumed the culprit was Sunset Shimmer." Her neutral expression became a frown. "We will come back to that later."

The crowd's murmurs went from angry to puzzled. Assumed? Who else could it have been?

"Girls, please come forward." Luna spoke into the microphone.

From behind her, in the wings, emerged the CMC, nervous beyond belief. Only Apple Bloom could face the crowd- Scootaloo had her head held high but her eyes shut, while Sweetie Belle was watching her shoes. At first, you could have heard a pin drop in the crowd. Then, a mixture of confused and angry murmurs and whispers started to carry through.

Luna waited until the crowd had begun to reach speaking volume, then tapped her mic twice. "Quiet please." The audience, however, did not respond to such a polite request. As the sounds of the crowd began to mount, Luna pulled in a breath. "SILENCE!"

Dead silence returned to the auditorium. "Thank you. Now, I understand these girls have something they need to say. She turned and handed the mic to Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom swallowed, then spoke to the waiting crowd. "I... I guess I can start with an I'm sorry." She hestitated, then continued. "From all of us. We were angry at Sunset- so we decided to make it look like she was goin' back to being the bully again. But... things started getting out of hand, and-"

An angry yell cut her off, as one student charged up to the front of the stage. Trixie Lulamoon looked incensed. "You- you- why would you share that? Trixie does not need everyone to know about her- how did you even-"

Scootallo took the mic away from Apple Bloom and looked Trixie in the eye. "How did we even know? Someone told us."

At Trixie's stunned silence, Scootaloo continued. "After we set up the page Wednesday, people started sending stuff to us. Secrets like your plushie, or Twist's candy failures, or that picture of Octavia. We posted some of it- but a lot of stuff made me uncomfortable. It was wrong. We were just sharing gossip, but some people got mean!"

While most of the crowd looked confused, some of their members felt cold sweat on their spines. However, Trixie wasn't done yet.

"Trixie saw nothing more mortifying than what you slandered her with, you ignorant little brats-"

"Because we didn't share it!" Scootaloo replied. "I actually deleted a lot of stuff- but Sweetie held on to most of it, even when we agreed not to post it." She turned her gaze to her fellow Crusader. "I still don't know why..."

The smallest of the CMC took the mic from Scootaloo, the walked forward. "Its- it's why we stopped, really. Some of the things that were sent in... It was bad. Really, really bad. No one needs to know someone underwent transition, or is gay, or has a dad who died... You get the idea. Personal secrets, family secrets, crimes..." She shuddered, and suddenly rose to her full height. "And some of you were willing to kill over the little stuff! Over gossip! If we'd shared the bad stuff, what would the school have done?"

In the crowd, Gilda scowled, only to feel a tug at her shirtsleeve. Lightning Dust actually looked a little guilty and made a quick hand motion, asking her friend to talk later. Gilda nodded. The rest of the crowd looked a little shocked at the violence of Sweetie Belle's outburst.

Sweetie Belle continued. "We were willing to make Sunset feel isolated- but we never wanted to start fights! We never wanted anyone to get hurt!" Her head and voice dropped. "But- we didn't think. We started this whole mess, and now it's over. Anon-A-Miss is shutting down."

"And not a moment too soon." Luna plucked the microphone away from the little girl, and turned to watch the crowd. Though there had been quite a few Anon-A-Miss posts, most had been gossip at worst, and even so most of the school had never sent anything in to Anon-A-Miss. That, in turn, had informed Tia's descision on how to go about punishing the student body. "If people had submitted the information to Anon-A-Miss, then not jumped to conclusions regarding who was the one posting what slander they were too cowardly to spread themselves, I would simply punish the CMC. Nor will I punish those that made a mistake in singling out Sunset Shimmer- provided they sent nothing in themselves."

Her glare deepened, her voice hard. "But some of you still thought it was appropriate. Eighty of you- a full tenth- sent something to their site. Most of it was just gossip. Some was not, and many of you sent multiple secrets." She pulled in a breath. "Your principal and I have decided to give these young ladies behind us three months of detention. They will also be banned from school clubs and have restricted access to the school computer network. However, we cannot punish them without punishing those of you that supported them- in three distinct ways."

She glared a the now-silent audience. "To those of you who sent in something which was relatively harmless- and that ended up posted on Anon-A-Miss- will receive one week of detention, serviceable at the start of next school year. Those that sent in the material deemed unacceptable to be posted will receive three weeks of detention, instead. And to those of you who were stupid enough to state online how you were looking forward to, and I quote, "Break Sunset Shimmer" and sent something in to Anon-A-Miss..." She scowled. "Six weeks."

"Any student who appears on the list above-" behind her, on the projector screen, appeared an alphabetized list of names, "must report to the office sometime during the next week, to receive a note to take back to your parents, and to inform you of the time and date of your detention. If you do not, we will send the note to you- and inform your peers on the targets of the information you tried to spread behind the actions of another. We will also double the time you spend in detention."

"There will be no violence. No reprisals. We are administering the punishment here. Anon-A-Miss is over. That is all."

Trixie glared at the girl in front of her. "Lavender."

Lavender backed up. "Trixie, it was just supposed to be a joke, that's all! It's not like-"

"Trixie trusted you with that information! And you spread it to the whole school!" Trixie huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Trixie is outraged! This is-"

"Ms. Lulamoon." Trixie spun to find Vice-Principal Luna standing behind her. "I understand that you had an altercation with Sunset Shimmer earlier today?"

Trixie stopped suddenly. Now that the truth was out, her actions seemed a little harder to justify. "Um- Trixie was- um-"

"You called Ms. Shimmer a bitch multiple times, threatened to expose the truth about her, and then detonated a smoke bomb in the hallway. Although trying to find out he truth about Anon-A-Miss would have been a useful task, the other two acts in that altercation are unacceptable." She glared at the student in front of her. "During your three days in detention, you can write an apology letter to Ms. Shimmer, which will be reviewed by both myself and Principal Celestia. Do you understand?" As Trixie nodded, Luna smiled. "Good. Now, hand over all of your smoke bombs and sparklers, Trixie. Yes, all of them. Including the ones in your hat."

Lightning Dust stared glumly at the front of Spitfire's desk. The captain of the Wondercolts sighed and looked up at Dust. "Dust, seriously?"

"Captain, I swear I thought it was her. I mean, how could I have known that it was those three brats?"

"It doesn't matter, Lightning Dust. We are Wondercolts- we just don't go and threaten to beat people up over a few spread secrets. Personally, I'm surprised you weren't punished worse for threatening her."

Remembering Celstia's wrath, Dust shuddered. "Yeah- but me and Gilda have to ride heard on all the guys we riled up. If any of them go after those Crusader brats, we're getting suspended at least for not stopping it."

Spitfire's face scrunched up. "And Gilda isn't planning on going after those girls?"

Lightning Dust looked at her incredulously- then gave a brief chuckle "Gilda? seriously? Half the reason she wanted to go after Sunset was because beating up the old queen bully would give her more cred. She told me that "Beating up someone as big as Shimmer would make my rap- beating up three little babies would ruin it." She had no interest in the Crusaders. Side's- last I heard, she was going after the five guys who sent stuff to Anon-A-Miss, then pledged to help her beat up Sunset. She's real pissed at them."

"I see." Spitfire massaged her brow. "Look, Dust, I don't like what you threatened to do to those girls. Still, Wood Sprinter and Quick Dip both quit before I could cut them from the team, and I can't afford to lose a third second stringer at the same time." Her glare intensified. "But if I hear one more word of you getting out of line- any fights, anything online- your ass is grass. You understand me?"

"Understood, captain."

Principal Celestia sat behind her desk, contemplating the two girls on the other side. "Miss Heartstrings..."

"Look, Bonnie had nothing to do with what I sent in. You can't pin anything on her!"

"That's not true, Lyra! I mean, I sent that picture, not you!"

"Don't think you can pin my crimes on yourself! This is an-"

"As fascinating as it is that the two of you are willing to suffer through three weeks of detention to save the other, I'm more curious about the photo." Celestia looked down at the print, then blushed slightly. "I was... unaware either of you were dating one another- or even that you were attracted to girls in the first place."

Lyra and Bon-Bon both blushed. Bon-Bon spoke first. "Well... we really didn't find out until just before the fall formal, and well..."

"We weren't going to go shouting it from the rooftops." Lyra followed up. "I mean, even when Shimmer was a b- jerk, she never called anyone out over their sexuality. But there were plenty of other jerks who did."

Bon-Bon nodded. "I sent in the picture because I was tired of hiding our relationship. This seemed like a good way to reveal it- maybe we'd get a little sympathy."

"Bonnie, that was MY plan, not yours. I'm the one who sent the picture in-"

"Pictures." Both girls turned to Celestia. "You both sent in pictures. The same one, I might add." The girls then turned to stare at one another. She shook her head. "In truth, I'm seriously considering commuting most of your sentences- as long as you come out in a less dastardly manner."

Bon-Bon nodded absently, still staring at Lyra. Without a word, she grabbed the mint-skinned girls' hand and dragged her out of the office. As the door shut behind her, Celestia could hear a slight sucking sound, followed by cheers from the students waiting in the office lobby. Celestia's eyes widened, and she ran to her door. "Girls, please take your kissing outside my office. Girls, I said- Boys, put those cameras away this instant!"

Author's Notes:

This chapter feels a little weak, but this is the fuzzy area for my story. I'm good at managing inter-personal interactions, but I can't write speeches to save my life. Also, the way I decided to handle this is... necessary for the second half of the chapter, but isn't as easy as writing the interaction of may people.

Ah well. This will be the last we hear from Gilda and Lightning Dust. Gilda's busy cleaning house, and LD is currently on probation. It's also the last we'll hear from Trixie- she'll be busy with her detention.

And finally, we discover that at least one couple decided to out themselves using Anon-A-Miss as cover. They'll still get detention, but it seemed too funny of a scene to pass up.

Next time- Sunset talks to the crusaders, the crusaders talk to their siblings, Twilight finally hears back from Sunset, and the school year starts to come to a close.

Trust in Each Other

The noises from the students moving in the corridors outside the music room were different than those that had echoed a mere two hours previously. Furious accusations and squabbling had given way to guilt and apologies- or in a few cases, angry lectures and rants as some students discovered which of their friends had spread their embarrassing, mortifying, or blackmail worthy information.

For the three girls inside the room, however, the noise could have been much worse. The CMC sat in near-silence, each looking over the cyber-bullying pamphlets their principals had handed them. With a groan, Scootaloo dropped hers on her lap and leaned over her legs. "This is boring..."

"Better than being out there." Sweetie Belle glanced at the door. "Until our sisters can make sure we're not going to get attacked by anyone..."

"I know! But still- sitting like this for hours is so boring!" Scootaloo sat back in her seat and sighed. "I get why they took our phones, but this is torture!"

"To be fair, Scoots, we ain't been here hours- just twenty minutes." Apple Bloom looked up at her friends. "'Side, Applejack and the others will make sure we're safe, and then we go back to class. Real simple."

Scootaloo was about to reply, when she realized there was a sudden hush from the hallway, a slow silence which seemed strange compared to the yelling and talk of even a normal day, much less a day like this. Through the the door, she heard a few awkward comments, most with a similar cadence- sounding a little like-

I'm sorry.

The door swung open, and the object of those apologies walked in. Sunset Shimmer still looked pretty frazzled. Slight bags were under each eye, and her head hung slightly. As she walked in through the door, the Crusaders could hear a few more mumbled comments, before the door shut behind her.

Silence filled the room. Without a sound, Sunset dropped her backpack off on a chair, and pulled a second chair around to face the three underclassmen. She pulled in a long breath, but maintained her silence.

Sweetie Belle was the first to speak. "Um- why are you here? I mean, I know Rarity wants to talk to me, and everyone saw us earlier. Don't people want to talk to you?"

"That's kind of the problem." Sunset cut her off. She sounded exhausted. Apple Bloom knew she'd slept poorly the night before, and she had been emotionally drained even before she'd been given the truth about those who had framed her. She continued, "A lot of people are trying to apologize, but I don't want to hear anything from them. Most of them- they were willing to believe your frame-up without any evidence, and are feeling pretty shitty. But some think I set you girls up," she gestured to the Crusaders, who were looking guilty again- "some have been offering to help me "pay you back" and a few think I'm using some sort of brainwashing magic to pin it all on you three." She snorted. "And that's why I came here. I needed to get away from all that, and I needed to talk to you three- alone. Before you're chewed out by your siblings."

"Let's start with you, Scootaloo, because I understand your motivations the most. Did you really think I would be right to get revenge like this? Was it really all about Flash?"

"Not all." Scootaloo hedged, sounding contrite. "I mean- yeah, you got detention after the formal, but you got off light. I guess- I just thought you deserved worse. But- I could've figured something else. And Flash-" her voice stalled, then she continued, "he hated seeing you like that. I don't know why, but even after everything you did, he still doesn't want you hurt. Why?"

Sunset shook her head. "I actually got a chance to talk to your brother before I made up with Pinkie. He'd- caught a glimpse of who I really was, underneath the bully and the mask I wore around him. He liked that Sunset- whoever that is- and thinks I'm becoming who he thought I was."

"Yeah." Scootaloo sighed. "I just- I guess I wanted to see if he'd cut you off again. I don't want him hurt like that again. Didn't work out, though. I'm sorry- I guess I didn't think."

"No, you really didn't. But neither did I." Sweetie Belle spoke up. "I- can I go next?" Sunset nodded, and the little Crusader continued. "Umm... I had a really stupid reason. The whole brainwashing thing?" Sunset cocked an eyebrow. "Well, I didn't really think you were mind controlling anyone- I thought you might have fooled everyone. So I thought- maybe if I framed you- your real plans would come out. But-" she looked upset. "I also half hoped you were still bad."

As both her fellow Crusaders and Sunset stared at her, Sweetie hung her head. "When you were bullying everyone, Rarity was home a lot. She didn't have any friends she was hanging out with, and she stayed home to work on dress designs and stuff a lot. We were able to talk- a lot. But-" Sweetie looked down. "When you lost, she was home less and less. I guess I half thought without you, she might come back home." Sweetie was silent a moment, then looked up. "But I didn't admit that to myself. Not until Rarity started talking about how you didn't deserve any of it, that you got nothing out of faking being her friend. That's when I realized what I'd hoped. And it didn't feel good."

Sunset looked at Sweetie a moment, then narrowed her gaze. "And you didn't just ask Rarity to hang out with you a little more? You were willing to frame me just to test me and try to get her back?"

"She ain't the only one." Apple Bloom spoke up. "Ah felt a lot alike. Applejack spendin' more time with you, and' less for me and Big Mac. Ah never thought you were brainwashin' anyone. Ah really don't have a better reason why mahself." As Susnet stared at her, she shook her head. "Sweetie and Scoots said it would work, and Ah helped em. It was stupid."

Sweetie spoke up then. "You may have had the least reason to help us, Bloom- but I'm glad you did." At Sunset's questioning look, Sweetie explained "Apple Bloom was the one who kept us from publishing the worst stuff when it stated coming in- she said we shouldn't post the really bad stuff. If it weren't for her, we would've really messed up." Scootaloo added her assent. Sweetie stared at Susnet for a minute, then said, "You're not the girl who hurt my sister. You didn't deserve what I tried to do to you- and Apple Bloom kept me from making it worse. I'm sorry, Sunset."

Sunset let that process for a minute, then turned back to Apple Bloom. "I do have one last question for you. When you were talking with the whole group, you called me your sister. I thought I misheard it- but now I'm not so sure."

"Ah meant it." Apple Bloom looked into Sunset's eyes. "You're not evil, not the same girl you were before the formal. I heard you with mah brother, with Rainbow, with Rarity- and I heard what you did for the Dazzlings. I didn't know properly where you'd come from, what your home was- or why you needed help. And- Ah'm sorry." She looked down. "Applejack deserves you as a sister- maybe more than Ah deserve her."

Sunset's expression softened. "I can't say I can call you my sister- not yet. But, if it means anything- I accept your apology. I can't offer my forgiveness- not yet. But-" She stood up and crossed the room and placed her hand on Apple Bloom's shoulder. "If you ever start to doubt your sister- or me- come and talk to us, okay? This has been a bad week for all of us- I think I can try to trust you, if you can trust me."

Apple Bloom looked up, then nodded. "Thank you. And Ah promise, Sunset-" She looked up "- Ah'll make it up to you- somehow."

Susnet's gaze narrowed. "It'll be a long road, Apple Bloom, before we've got trust in each other. But-" she smiled "-it might be worth it to get a little sister. Same goes for you two- if you want to make things right it'll be hard for all of us."

Sweetie smiled. "I thought you'd be more mad."

Susnet frowned, looking at the little Crusader. "Truth be told, I'm too tired to be mad. I might be mad later, though. I mean every word I say right now- but that doesn't mean I'm trusting you guys yet. It just means I'm not going to shut you all out completely. You're part of my friends' lives- I think making things right will be better for all of us." She yawned. "And I wasn't exaggerating about being tired. I'm going to take a nap in the corner."

After another half hour, Applejack had walked into the room, taken one look at the sleeping Sunset, then pulled Apple Bloom out to the van. Apparently, Sunset was going to spend the evening with Fluttershy- the pink-haired girl had been fussing over the supine Sunset, already planning on giving the exhausted girl the care and support she needed.

That had left Apple Bloom and Applejack in the van alone. The ride back to Sweet Apple Acres was tense. Applejack sighed halfway home.

"Apple Bloom, Ah heard why you pulled this stupid stunt. Let me tell you Ah am not impressed." Glancing in her mirror, Applejack caught sight of Apple Bloom's downcast face. "What you did to me an' Sunset was real bad, Sugarcube. Yah tried to rip a friendship apart for a pretty rotten reason. Am I right?"

Apple Bloom nodded. She wasn't looking forward to what was going to happen next.

"I still love you, Bloom. But that doesn't mean I ain't mad. Sunset forgave me nearly betrayin' her- I can forgive you for this." As Apple Bloom looked hopeful, she saw her sister shake her head. "That's gonna take time, though. And I ain't gonna trust you until Ah do. That's the first price of your actions- and dependin' on what Granny says, it ain't gonna be the last."

As they pulled up to the house, Apple Bloom could see Granny Smith waiting on the porch steps. As her sister got out of the car, she sighed. This was going to be bad.

Granny met her granddaughters at the base of the porch steps. She glanced across their faces, then nodded, and pointed at the chairs on the porch. Without a word, Applejack and Apple Bloom went and sat down.

After a few moment of rocking in silence, Granny finally spoke. "Apple Bloom. Ah understand you were a part of this whole loada horseapples from start to finish." When Apple Bloom didn't respond, she continued. "And Ah also hear you turned yourself in." She paused. Then, to Applejack's horror, she said "Commit, girl! If ya gonna do something wrong, either do it and let the consequences happen, or hide it well enough that it don't matter!"

"Granny!" Applejack said, shocked. "What are you-"

"Hush! What she did was stupid and petty- and in this case, the consequences were too much, weren't they?" As Apple Bloom nodded, Granny sighed, frowning. "Girl, you didn't think it through. Heavens know you're young, but when you do stuff like this, you need to think through all the consequences. Some things only hurt yourself. Others can hurt a lot of people. If you can't accept what might happen, ya don't do it, you understand?"

"Uhh, Granny- Ah'm not sure Ah understand." Applejack ventured.

Granny snorted, then looked back and forth between her puzzled granddaughters. "That's cause you ain't done nothin' which can't be fixed by an apology and hard work. Some things can't be fixed, though- lives lost. It's why you turned yourself in, right Apple Bloom? You found out people coulda been hurt by what you did, and realized what you needed to do to fix it. And that's the right attitude, if you mess up. But-" she waggled her finger at Apple Bloom "-it coulda been avoided if you'd thought through the consequences first. Ya get me?" Apple Bloom nodded.

"Good. Now for mah consequences..."

Scootaloo looked down at her shoes. Sentinel Watch and Silver Wing had given her a massive lecture on bullying, responsibility, and the restrictions she would be under for the next month. They had decided that allowing Celestia and Luna to restrict her free time for three months was a good "long-term" punishment, and that they would just cut off her electronics access and mobility for the next month.

Flash, on the other hand, wasn't content with a lecture and punishment dealt from on high.

"Scootaloo, look at me." Scootaloo looked up into her brother's face. "Did you really think I needed you to get revenge for me? Is that really why you did it?"

Scootaloo gulped. "Yeah... I mean, kinda." At Flash's deadpan expression, she elaborated. "You were with her all the time for six months. She had you wrapped around her finger. I mean- if she asked you out right now, now that she's gotten popular again- I was worried you might take her up on it."

Flash shook his head. "That's not going to happen, Scoots. And you could've just said something, or told me how you felt. I would've understood." He looked her in the eye. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do!" Scootaloo exclaimed.

"Good, then listen closely. I want trust you, Scoots, but his got bad. Really bad. You need to trust me when I say I won't abandon you. Okay? You don't need to try to protect me." Flash pulled his little sister into a hug.

Scootaloo sniffed, then nodded. "Okay..."

"Good." Flash stood up straight. "That being said, I'm going to need you to promise me you'll try to think next time." As Scootaloo slumped over, Flash continued "and write an apology note, two pages long, to each of the girls."

Scootaloo's groan at being given more homework was usually legendary. This one was no exception.

Sweetie Belle spread her arms. "Rarity?"

"Yes, darling?"

"Aren't you going to lecture me?"

"Perhaps later, Sweetie Belle. I don't think I can distance myself enough from how... involved I got with my feelings about betraying Sunset until I have a chance to talk it over with Mother and Father."

"So... you're not mad?"

"Of course I'm upset, Sweetie." Rarity looked over the top of her glasses, furrowing her brow at her sister. "The reason I'm not punishing you is because, by all rights, what you did shouldn't have worked. It was our own prejudices that caused us to even believe for a minute what you framed her for." Rarity sighed and resumed using her younger sister as a clothes horse. "And considering my failings in both that way and my own... predilections towards gossip, I don't think I can lecture or punish you without falling into some nasty hypocrisy. I need to talk things over with our parents- or failing that, think before I begin to help you."

"...um, if you don't think you can adequately punish me, why have you been using me to model clothes for the last three hours?"

"I didn't say I couldn't figure out some way to get some payback, Sweetie. Now, turn around, please. I need to stitch up the hem on this shirt..."

Author's Notes:

This turned out longer than I expected, and not as well as I'd hoped.

Getting the tone right between the Crusaders and Sunset was difficult. On the one hand, I didn't want the standard "I'll never trust or forgive any of you." On the other hand, I wasn't going to let Sunset give them carte blanche. I think leaving Sunset open to reconciliation and friendship- while still being wary- struck the right balance.

I guess- one of the reason Sunset isn't as mad at the Crusaders is that she never interacted with them much- it's not a betrayal, because she never really got to know them. Now she will, which will hopefully keep them from trying to do something stupid. Like screaming "Cutie Mark Crusaders Atoners YAY!" at the top of their lungs. Seriously; there's a time and place to begin a new crusade. At the end of a guilt trip is not one of them.

I considered having Granny know about the truth of Anon-A-Miss before being told- maybe Friday night. But that doesn't mesh with other things I wanted to do with these stories. So, Granny was called by Celestia when Apple Bloom confessed.

I think I understand why most authors write the "Consequences for the Crusaders" all in one section- otherwise it just turns into the same accusations and morals hashed out three times. Having the Humane five just reject their sisters based off what they did flies in the face of the theme of reconciliation, but just letting them off scott free- well, I'm trying to avoid the flaws of the original comic.

I tried to avoid that- and put my own spin on Granny Smith's lesson. Granny lives by the rule of always accepting consequences- good or bad- from her actions. She never hides what she does, letting what she does determine what happens. Beyond that, none of the Humane five have any leg to stand on, punishing their sisters without outside help. Rarity said it well- all of them are too close to events, and made one bad choice when it came to family- punishment will fall to their parents to decide. Or at least, that's my take in all this.

One more chapter proper, which will be set a week and a half after these events, on the eve of the 24th.
(And apologies for not publishing Sunset's response to Twilight. I have new plans for that.)

Fires of Friendship/Season's Gifts

Two weeks passed. Each girl composed herself in the days following the confession of the Crusaders. The fist week left little time for healing- midterms and finals for the semester devoured their free time, but soon enough the last bell had rung on the school week. As the first week of winter break unrolled, each girl pursued their own ways of making reparations for their near-loss of Sunset.

Applejack's approach was the simplest- Sunset was her sister. That meant treating her as such, in every way. As far as she was concerned, the best thing she could do was make her feel welcome in the Apple family. She showed Sunset every aspect of the farm, taught her the tricks in the kitchen that had been passed down through the years, and planned her family gathering on Christmas day. Through it all, Applejack was assisted by her younger sister. Apple Bloom was not allowed use of her phone or the family computer, but took these punishments in stride. More important to the little girl was proving to both her sisters that she was sorry- she didn't want her stuff back- she wanted to earn her sisters' trust. Sunset appreciated the small things Applejack did more than the grand gestures, and slowly shouldered her own burden of chores. Before long, the room given to her wasn't just a place to stay- it became hers, and the farmhouse, her home.

Rainbow Dash, normally so aggressive in everything she did, was tentative and reserved in approaching Sunset again. Rainbow, of all her friends, knew just how nasty the sting of betrayal could be, and worked to rebuild and prevent any further collapse of the bonds between Sunset and herself. Between morning runs with the red-and-gold haired girl and introductions of Sunset- long overdue- to her friends on the sports teams and her parents, she drew Sunset fully into her web of support and loyalty. One bond she didn't try to develop was her link to Scootaloo, who she'd only briefly interacted with before the school year had ended. Scootaloo, in turn, didn't see much of Sunset or Rainbow- neither girl was at all driven to see the speedy crusader, and in turn, Scootaloo felt far to awkward to try to seek them out.

Rarity faced a massive conundrum in regards to Sunset. As the second of the girls to approach Sunset for reconciliation she knew that the girl had- or at least was willing to- forgiven her. However, her immediate inclination- to draw Sunset into the boutique and fashion her a wonderful dress as an apology, fell flat in her own mind. Instead, drawing upon the lesson she'd learned, she allowed Sunset to take the lead, and made a few interesting discoveries about her friend on their afternoons exploring the shops of Canterlot together. Sunset loved both classical and metal music (the first sounded like home- the second nothing like it), had no experience with many of the niche cultures present in the quiet corners of the city, and was fascinated at the museums they visited together. As Rarity learned more about her friend, she noted down her likes and dislikes, hoping to never again take her bonds for granted. In between trips out with Sunset, Rarity kept close tabs on Sweetie Belle. Their parents had locked down the little girl to the house, and restricted the use of her phone and computer. Of all the girls, Rarity's relationship with Sweetie was mostly unchanged, as the fashonista recognized some of her more shallow traits within Sweetie's actions.

Fluttershy and Pinkie had more complicated reconciliations with Sunset. Fluttershy had taken Sunset home the first day after school, and had helped Sunset deal with the emotions which had ravaged her emotional endurance. In the process, though, she'd discovered that her bond- and Pinkie's- to Sunset were nearly gone. Having built their friendship with her on shaky ground, neither pink-haired girl had ever really connected with Sunset. However, Fluttershy worked diligently to repair and reinforce what little remained- the emotional maelstrom which had ravaged their friendship had also wiped away the lingering bitterness which had caused it to fail in the first place. Within two weeks, Fluttershy had forged a new friendship with Sunset- each girl admitting their old wounds, and offering succor to the other.

Pinkie, on the other hand, ran into difficulties. She knew Sunset had done nothing wrong this time- and yet, her time apart from her friends had revealed just how little she really knew about or trusted Sunset. After drawing up and subsequently scrapping eight different "I'm Sorry and Happy you're Innocent" party plans, Pinkie finally decided to approach Sunset directly. That turned out to be the right idea- without the normal loud noises and crowds to distance Pinkie from Sunset, Pinkie was finally able to reconcile her earlier misconceptions about Sunset, and although it took time, came to understand her a little better. In turn, Sunset forgave Pinkie, acknowledging that Pinkie had suffered enough from her actions long ago. Unlike Fluttershy, Pinkie and Sunset started over entirely- each offering the other a clean slate. Pinkie made a promise to Sunset to host the best party she'd ever had- the kind of party Sunset wanted, not just what Pinkie wold do.

Two weeks passed, and bonds were tentatively mended. For the first time since the last day of classes, the six girls gathered once again...

"Darling! You look so well!"

Sunset smiled. "Rarity you saw me just a few days ago. You don;t need to be so melodramatic." The violet-haired fashionista huffed, walking into the Apple family farmhouse once again.

It was the day after Christmas, and the girls were gathering for their (now reinstated) annual Christmas get-together. Originally, the plans were to have the girls meet up the day before Christmas, but Applejack had vetoed that plan- she had to cook for the forty five Apple Family members who had come for Christmas dinner.

Rarity's indignation faded after a moment. "Well, you may not have changed much over the last few days, darling, but I was looking over some of the photos I had of you from before. You've started to fill out a little bit." She looked Sunset over, and her face fell a bit. "Sunset... why are you wearing a plaid shirt? And those boots..."

Sunset grinned. "They're really nice. Granny Smith got them for me."

"Darling, nice is not what I'd call those. Utilitarian, perhaps. Sturdy, almost certainly. But... not nice."

"They're work boots, Rarity. They're not supposed to be fashionable."

Rarity's brow lowered, and she said severely "You really are Applejack's sister now, aren't you?" Her grin returned, and Sunset yelped as Rarity yanked her into a hug. "Ooh, I'm so happy for you!"

Sunset grinned. "Yeah, me too."

A pair of pink arms encircled both girls, and a chipper voice exclaimed "Yeah! Me three!"

As Sunset and Rarity struggled for air, they heard Rainbow Dash's laughter overlaid with a quiet "Oh dear" from Fluttershy. A few seconds later, a pair of gentle hands pulled Pinkie off the squeezed teens, letting air into the desperate lungs of the two girls.

"Pinkie..." Sunset wheezed. "Don't... son't do that, please."

"Okie-dokie." Pinkie said. "I was just so excited! I mean, Christmas was yesterday, and I got new socks, and candy, and a new mixing bowl, and..."

"Pinkie? Why'd you list new socks?" Rainbow said. "I mean, yeah, socks are useful, but they're not worth getting excited over-"

"These socks are!" Pinkie lifter her skirt to reveal a pair of smiling balloon socks in bright orange and green. "See? These are happy socks!"

Rarity's eyes riveted to the clashing colors of Pinkie's new foot apparel. "They're... certainly colorful." Attempting to change the subject, she turned back to Sunset. "Sunset, have you heard anything from Twilight yet?"

"Actually, I heard from her Christmas eve. She was very happy to hear we'd all made up, and was really glad I was able to forgive you guys." Sunset's smile twisted a bit as she led her friends back to the living room, still decorated by a large evergreen tree. "She didn't like that I didn't just try to forgive and forget, though."

Pinkie's hair drooped for a second, but she rallied easily enough. "As much as I'd like that, it didn't work last time..."

Sunset nodded. "I think it might be a psychological difference between ponies and humans. She wants everyone to get along, and ponies are pretty good at just letting go of old problems. Of course, they're also good at forgetting how those problems got started in the first place."

Applejack spoke up from her place on the couch. "So, ponies are friendlier, but tend to forget why stuff happens?"

"Not entirely. But that's true; Equestria prefers to handle problems as they arise, not necessarily treat causes." Sunset shook her head. "That works well when you have magic to solve problems- but we don't."

"We do have the Magic of Friendship. But it's not as easy as it is over there, is it?" Everyone turned to look at Fluttershy. "I mean, Twilight thought it would be easy for us to forgive you and teach you friendship."

Pinkie nodded. "Yeah, but it hasn't been." Her smile brightened. "Still, I think we're gonna do just fine!"

Rainbow laughed. "Yeah, we're too awesome to quit, and too awesome to lose!" Her smile shifted and she pulled off her backpack, revealing several poorly wrapped packages. "Speaking of awesome, I've got some stuff for you guys. Come on! It's time to share the loot!"

Several hours and many packages later, the girls looked around at the gifts sprawled out on the floor. Fluttershy's new animal books lay next to the packaging for a new pair of glasses (Rainbow Dash refused to remove them, even as she tripped over Pinkie's legs). Once each package had been unwrapped, the girls took turns revealing their Christmas experiences with each other. Eventually, the discussion turned towards a rather touchy subject.

"So what do you like best?" asked Fluttershy innocently.

There was a long pause. Comparing gifts with friends is a time-honored tradition, but to do so in the presence of gift-givers is always a difficult task. Do you wish slighting the other gift givers in order to tell the truth? Do you give a non-answer to avoid hurting anyone- and risk offending everyone? Or do you choose your favorite gift based on the gift-giver, as opposed to the gift itself?

Rainbow Dash decided to break the silence and set the tone for the responses of her friends. "My new helmet." Everyone turned to look at Rainbow, who shrugged. "What? I mean, don't get me wrong, I like all this stuff. But the bike helmet my parents gave me is going to be really useful- and it looks awesome. So yeah, it wins."

Rarity smiled, and decided to tell the truth as well. "Well, I think that Fluttershy's gift to me will gain the most use." She looked down at her new bangles. "I had never considered wood and coral as accents- but these give me all sorts of new ideas!"

Fluttershy smiled, then took up the chain. "Umm, well... my favorite gift this year came from Mr. Discord."

"Wait. Discord the janitor? Why would he be giving you gifts?" Sunset said quizzically. "And for that matter, how would he afford gifts?"

"Oh, he actually just works for the school to have something to do. Apparently he made a lot of money shorting website stocks ten years ago." Everyone stared at Fluttershy, processing that revelation, even as she continued. "Anyway, he donated some money to the downtown animal shelter as part of a fundraiser- so long as we painted the building neon plaid." Fluttershy beamed. Rarity fainted.

As Fluttershy hurriedly tried to resuscitate the fashionista (who was mumbling something about fashion nightmares under her breath) Applejack picked up the slack. "Well, Big Mac gave me mah best gift this year- he finally manged to get his hands on some aged cider, and the proper techniques to do it." She grinned. "Ah gotta say- I've only tried one bottle, and it's good stuff. Ah'm lookin' forward to addin' our cider to that market."

Pinkie smiled "Ooh, ooh! My turn! I got a new pet!"

Everyone looked at Pinkie. "Umm, Pinkie is it a pet rock like your sister has again or..."

"No silly! It's an alligator!"

Everyone froze. "Umm, Pinkie... I think those're illegal." Applejack hazarded.

"Yeah, but dad got it from the police department. We're raising it until it can be released into he wild. Someone was going to use him to make shoes!" Pinkie frowned. "I'll give him up when he's a little bigger. But he's small enough for an aquarium right now!"

"Oookaay." Rainbow dragged out. "If your parents are okay with it..." She turned to Sunset. "So, Sunny- what about you."

Sunset looked down. "Everything's been great, girls- but one thing really stood out." She pulled in a deep breath. "Granny has been looking to take me in a long time- and she'd been organizing the paperwork to give me an identity- to make it official. So..."

Sunset's voice left her for a moment, then she looked around the room. "Yesterday, Granny gave me the adoption papers. As of last night, I'm an official member of the Apple family."

From upstairs, Apple Bloom listened to the sounds of cheering, then the impact of four girls slamming into her sisters for a hug. With a small, sad smile. she turned away. While she would have liked to be spending today with her friends, there was still a ways to go before she would be allowed to hang with them unsupervised.

And you kinda deserve it, Bloom. If Applejack had followed through, and cancelled the paperwork 'cause of me...

Apple Bloom squared her shoulders as she moved back to her room. What had happened was in the past- she couldn't change it. Her actions had nearly cost her a sister, and had cost her Applejack's trust. Nothing to do but soldier on, and make things better.

In town, three sirens exchanged gifts for the first time in centuries. Sonata handed her gift to Aria- a pair of padded boxing gloves, while Adagio poured over her new music collection. Sonata's thoughts turned introspective, and she turned to her sister.

"Aria- do you remember them? What used to be, before..."

Aria looked up, and frowned. "Yeah, of course I do. Mindless, all of them." she shook her head. "Hearthswarming killed them- just like they were killing everything else. I'm glad we found a better way." She glanced at her sister. "Why? Is it the snow?"

"Yeah." Sonata looked out the window, her face pensive. Behind her, both her sisters found themselves on either side of her. "They were sill our cousins, though- and they were driven to extinction."

Adagio spoke. "It's why we survived, though- positive emotions don't kill us, and we don't kill those we feed off of. Forget the windigos, Sonata. We're still living. they're not. It's how the world works."

Aria glared at Adagio. "Maybe not he only way, Dagi. Those girls are offering us a chance to try another way. Don't discount that- not yet."

Adagio grunted, and returned to her book. Aria followed her, minutes later. Sonata hesitated, then traced her hands across the fingers of frost on the glass. In a whisper she muttered to herself "Rest well, cousins."

Sunset smiled, curled up before the embers of the night's fire. It was a far cry form this time last year. She'd been a lone, cold, and so angry at the world.

And three weeks ago, I would have thought to see that time repeat. Now look at me!

She smiled, sinking further into her sleeping bag, listening to Rainbow Dash and Rarity snore. A thought crossed her mind, and she reached around to the journal she'd ignored for the last few days. Pulling out her pen, she began to write.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I got your advice about letting bygones be bygones, and although I agree on principle, I'm going to have to clarify my position. There have been a lot of lessons learned these last few weeks, and they remind us that remembering the scars of the past are important.

Applejack learned that remembering past mistakes is the first step to not making them again. Rarity learned that reflecting back on what came before can allow us to reason out why something might be happening now. Rainbow Dash learned that recognizing what she'd lost before would keep hr from losing it again.

And with both Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, we learned that friendship can't be based on forgetting. You have to remember and promise to do better. Pinkie reminded all of us just how difficult friendship can be, and Fluttershy just how important taking active steps to fix old wrongs could be. You can't be passive in friendship- you have to work at it.

Your advice for "finding my family" was just what I needed, but I think family found me instead. I have a family now- and family is complicated. We're going to struggle, and fight, and make mistakes- but we'll learn form them, and keep from making the same mistakes again.

I hope you're having a wonderful Hearthswarming. The fires of friendship needed tending here- but all of us are willing to fan the flames.

Your student and friend,
Sunset Shimmer

Author's Notes:

All that's left o the Epilogue- set around New Years. We'll drop in on our bit players, maybe add some cliffhangers and sequel hooks.

This chapter had a lot riding on it- I wanted to show that things hadn't magically "gone back to normal" with the early sections. Yeah, Sunset's made up with all her friends- but some hard truths have been revealed. No one, however, is willing to just let those truths lie and fester- everyone's trying to forge their bonds anew.

The second section, gift-giving, was simply to add more depth to the world, and to reveal Sunset's adoption. Would you believe that the adoption was the thought which started this whole story? If Applejack hadn't wised up, she would've gone home and cancelled the adoption paperwork- leading to a really awkward moment after the truth came out. If I ever write a "traditional" Anon-A-Miss fic, that's an element I'd include. I won't, so that will never happen.

I figure changelings, windigos, and sirens all have their origins in the same base species, each specializing in a different approach to emotional feeding. I may expand on that idea, too.

I hope you've enjoyed my take on Anon-A-Miss. More to come from me, I hope (I have a lot of ideas.) In the meantime, I'm going to be posting my first blog post after I publish the epilogue- and after that, who knows?

Epilogue: A New Year

Rarity glanced down at her open notebook, a small frown crossing her face. Written below her was a selection of lies, half truths, wishful thinking, and deliberate pandering. She bit her lip. Why was this so hard?

"So, how're your new years resolutions coming along, Rares?" Applejack asked from behind her.

Discarding the notebook, Rarity threw her head back with a loud groan. "Dreadful, simply dreadful, Jackie. I was looking over my resolutions for last year, and I barely managed to accomplish any of them! And my plans for this year are no better."

Rarity perched on a chair in Rainbow Dash's basement, surrounded on all sides by her reclining friends. They'd decided to meet up for New Years Eve at a separate location than the farm- not wanting to fall into a rut. Applejack lay in a fluffy beanbag, Rainbow was busy trying (and failing) to win at ping-pong against Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy was playing cards with Sunset.

Sunset looked up from her card game. "I never bothered to try to write up resolutions. I personally never needed to- or I thought I didn't." She frowned down at her cards. "I should've realized that everyone needs improvement- especially those that say they don't." She carefully played one last card, and then passed her turn to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy frowned down at her own cards, then played three in a row that left Sunset gaping. "Yes well- I don't really know how to say this but... I always complete my new years resolutions. It never really seemed that hard." She looked up to find Rarity's violet eyes burrowing into her face.

"Really, darling? How? How could you...." Her voice faltered and died as Fluttershy Stared into her eyes.

Fluttershy eeped. "Ooh! Sorry, Rarity. You startled me." She pushed the now-frozen Rarity to one side, then continued. "Whenever I thought about breaking them, I went and stared at myself in the mirror for a few minutes. That always convinced me to keep to my resolutions."

Three girls stared at Flutterhsy for a few seconds, until a string of curses from the ping-pong table drew their gaze. Rainbow looked across the way at her opponent, who was idly spinning her paddle through the air above her hand. 'How? Pinkie, you never exercise, you never practice, and you haven't played ping-pong in years! How can you beat me?"

Pinkie grinned. "You know where the ball is, and where it needs to go. What more is necessary?" Her grin widening, she turned to look at Sunset. "So, Sunny- wait to play the next round?"

Sunset looked down at her hand, then studied the cards laid out in front of her. "Maybe after Fluttershy beats me. I need to work on this deck a bit."

"While we're waiting, Applejack can answer a question I've been dying to get out." Rarity cocked her head, and continued. "Tell me, darling- just who is your brother dating?"

Dead silence filled the room, as all five of the other girls turned their attention to the freckle-faced farmer. Applejack frowned, then looked across her friends, whose faces were filled with interest. She drew in a deep breath, then said. "Ah don't know."

Four loud "Whats?" echoed through the basement. Within seconds, Rainbow Dash had closed the distance between her and the farmer. "What do you mean you don't know? I thought you guys shared everything with each other?"

Applejack frowned. "He told us a year ago she wanted to keep things quiet. Apparently, she works in a job where bein' less than perfect can get you in hot water- and she's new there. Until she's really proven her worth, she don't feel comfortable sharin' her relationship with everyone, and heavens know the more people know a secret, the harder it is to keep it." She rolled her eyes. "After Anon-A-Miss, I kinda agree with him. Ah don't think Apple Bloom woulda spread who she is to everyone- but if she had, it might have gotten his girlfriend in real trouble."

Sunset frowned. "Wait, wasn't Big Mac meeting up with his girlfriend tonight? For a combination New Years and Christmas thing?" As Applejack nodded, Sunset continued. "If he's meeting his girlfriend alone, why did he take multiple gifts?"

Big Mac stepped out of his truck, advancing towards the small house in the uptown suburbs. Checking the two packages under his arm, he stepped lightly up to the front door of the house, and knocked three times. From inside came a raised voice, and then the door swung open, revealing a blue haired man in a polo shit and slacks.

"Mac! Welcome, come on in!" Shining Armor exclaimed, drawing the large man into a hug. As he released the larger man, he pulled the door shut behind the two of them, moving into the living room. Scattered across the table were several files and romance novels, with a coral-haired woman examining one of the student files in front of her. With a sigh, she snapped the file shut, then stood and gave Mac a kiss on the lips.

"And how's my other favorite man?" Dean Cadance said with a smile. "Everything work out all right with that new sister of yours?" She grinned. "I know it must have been difficult for her, but I'll bet you were able to ease her in a little..."

Mac grinned. "Eeyup. That advice you gave me- about talkin' to her sooner rather than later- turned out just right. Knew Ah needed to do something- and your suggestion was what she needed."

From behind him, Mac heard a clatter from the kitchen. Shining's voice echoed off several appliances. "Yeah, family can be tricky sometimes. Still, when I met her, she seemed like a good kid." He advanced from the kitchen, a set of appetizers laid out on a tray. "She even knew a bit about Twilight- said she's heard of her before."

Big Mac frowned. "Wait- hold up. Twilight? As in, Twilight Sparkle?" At Shining's confused nod, Big Mac's face grew thoughtful. "Ah can't tell you why- but I think Ah know exactly why Sunset's heard of her before- and it ain't the way you think."

Shining opened his mouth to inquire, but Cadance laid a hand on his shoulder. "Family secret, Big Mac?" As Mac nodded, Cadance smiled. "Then we won't pry." She smiled. "We should probably start dinner, anyway."

As Cadance turned back to the kitchen she felt a hand on her shoulder. Mac's voice held a trace of mockery. "As much as Ah love you, darlin', there ain't no way Ah'm lettin' you in the kitchen. One, you need to rest, since that boss of yours has you workin' on New Years. And two, after that disaster with the curry-"

Cadance swatted Mac's forehead. "Alright, alright! I know when I'm beat. I'm usually a fine cook, you know- the recipe just got away from me. Isn't that right, Shiny?"

Shining Armor glanced between his boyfriend and girlfriend, then turned back to the appetizer tray. "Cadance, I love you. So I'm not going to say anything more."

As Mac walked into the kitchen, Cadance humphed. Taking a seat on the couch, she said, "Getting ganged up by both my men. What is the world coming to?"

Shining looked up, a cheeky grin on his face. "I thought you liked it that way, hmm?"

As the sounds of a pillow impacting Shining's face sounded behind him, Mac turned his thoughts towards the enigma of Twilight Sparkle. What little he'd heard of Shining's sister contrasted with the girl described by his sisters. Both had the same name, and apparently a similar appearance, but little else in common. One came form a world of magic, and one from this one of course- but it seemed a reclusive shut-in would have little in common with a friendly princess.

'Cept for their pursuit of the truth. Sunset said she was a scientist of sorts- and that definitely fits with Shining's sister. Ah wonder what they're doin' now- both of them?

Twilight Sparkle turned, trotting down a long hallway. Canterlot Palace was nearly abandoned New Year's eve, as Princess Celestia always gave the majority of the staff the night off. The only individuals left were a scattering of guards and a few cooks- and the Princesses' party guests.

This year, Celestia had declined to hold a massive banquet or attend any of the celebrations going on throughout the city. The solar diarch had instead held a small, private party, and had enjoyed the company of her closest advisers, Twilight and her friends, and her sister. Now, however, the Princess was missing, a mere half-hour before the end of the old year and the beginning of the next.

Walking up towards the Princess' chambers- where she expected to find her mentor- Twilight instead found a door cracked which had been sealed for as long as she could remember. Well, that's not quite true, she thought, trotting forward, wings rustling. It was open once before- after the first time you came back from the human world.

Entering the chambers of Celestia's former student, Twilight found that selfsame Princess gazing down at a small picture next to an open journal. Twilight had lent Celestia the journal, hoping she could write something to her former student. However, Celestia hadn't been able to find the words. Now, surrounded by the detritus left by Sunset, recently cleaned up and restored, Twilight hoped her mentor had found the strength to write to her prodigy.

However, there was no quill held in her mentor's magic, no fresh ink upon the page. Celstia gazed at the picture held instead, looking at the image of the white alicorn cradling a small, red-and-gold unicorn. Celestia glanced up sharply at Twilight, her expression softening as she recognized who had intruded upon her time.

"Twilight- I apologize for disappearing, I just needed a minute to collect my thoughts." Celestia's voice trembled slightly, even as she glanced back at the entry in the journal.

Twilight walked up to her former mentor, and gave her a brief nuzzle. "Don't worry, Celestia. If anyone deserves time alone, it's you."

"Perhaps." the larger alicorn replied. Frowning down at the journal, she waited several moments before she spoke again. "It says here that she has been taken in by the Apple clan in their world."

She paused a moment, in thought, an old melancholy drifting across her face. "I... wish things had been different between us, you know. I wish I could have seen what she needed." She voice was still soft, but gained a hard edge. "I don't know them, Twilight. I can't help her from here. What if-"

"Celestia, talk to her, please." Twilight spoke up. "If you care about her this much, then ask her. I'm sure..."

Celestia shook her head. "I failed her Twilight. I can't..." Her head drooped. "I know I need to set things right, but- I don't want to have to face her." The hard edge returned. "But it's the least I can do to make certain her new family takes better care of her than I did." Celestia turned and left the room, as Twilight watched her, puzzled.

Twilight Sparkle ran her hand through her dog's short fur, Spike curling up on her lap. Looking out the window at the snowy ground, Twilight felt a small spike of annoyance echo through her mind. She'd rather not be here right now- she'd rather be back at her lab, plugging away at the strange data that had started showing up on her spectrogram. Energy transmissions at a frequency unknown to normal science! She was on the cusp of something, she knew it! And yet Crystal Prep was closed for the break, and her parents weren't going to let her go out and do field research tonight of all nights.

Twilight snorted, leaning back in her chair. Shining Armor had tried to tell her about some girl who'd been asking after her, but none of what he'd described had been very interesting- until the school she attended was brought up.

Canterlot High.

Twilight's calculations showed that the majority of the strange energy signatures she'd detected were focused on mid-town Canterlot, and CHS sat in the middle of that area. If she needed to snoop around the school, maybe this- Sunset Shimmer- might be able to help her.

Still, it was unlikely she knew anything about what was going on. What little imagery she'd garnered of the events which had caused the largest spikes in her data were probably photoshopped. They have to be. What little I saw violated the laws of physics in more ways than I care to contemplate.

Still, whatever the energy was, it was fluctuating more and more. As months past, what had been a curiosity had become less anomalous and more routine.

And the worst part of being here tonight is that I can't analyze the data that showed up three weeks ago. Why were there five spikes in rapid succession? They were smaller than the ones before, but after each one, the background levels kept rising. Now the background levels are almost as high as the first spike!

What the heck is going on around Canterlot High?

Sunset watched as Pinkie finally succumbed to sugar crash, falling asleep atop the pile of beanbags and pillows she'd accumulated int he middle of the basement. Midnight had come and gone, and as the hours passed, more and more of her friends had nodded off. She was the last one still awake.

Yawning, Sunset turned and sank into her own sleeping bag, reaching out blindly for her pillow, thrown across the room an hour before, during the last pillow fight of the evening. She frowned as her fingers caught nothing but empty air. She didn't want to move, but she'd have to find her pillow before she could-

A small spike of pain twanged through her skull, and she winced- even as her fingers closed upon the edge of a fluffy red-and-gold object. With a sigh, Sunset dragged her pillow into her grasp and beneath her head, swearing to be more careful with her cider consumption next time. At least I didn't have to get up to find my pillow.

As she drifted off to sleep, Sunset failed to notice the dim red glow around her hand- or the similar glow which rapidly fizzled out around the pillow which had dragged itself across the floor to meet it.

Author's Notes:

Someone commented that when you have a Big Mac, you have to be willing to share. I took that to its logical conclusion.

In other news- cliffhangers! I'm planning on two side stories, at least, before the events of "Friendship Games" will occur. However, I don't know what I want to work on first, and I need a proper name for the universe I'm starting to build. I'm going to be putting up a blog post with some of my ideas soon- I love getting suggestions, even if I'll probably end up subverting half of them. (Mwahaha!)

Anyway, thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed Myriad Thoughts, and will field any questions you might have about my creative process, decision making, and sanity. Looking forward to writing more later!

Yours,
Tale Swapper

P.S. Did anyone catch who Pinkie stole that quote from?