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?