Chapter 2: Opening Ceremonies

Sugarcube Corner. Home of the best milkshakes and cupcakes in town. Back when he was still working for the school newspaper Cloud Cover would pop in here every day to unwind and piece together the notes from his interviews. He hadn't been in months after what had happened, but it was definitely a place filled with fond memories, and he was glad to visit now and then, even when he wasn't on "business."

A bouncing pink ball of energy, practically, no, literally humming in his ear, reminded him that he had never been big on the service back then either.

"So how did you like the smoothie, Mister..."

"Cirrus, and yes, it is fantastic, Ms....Ponk?"

"PINKIE!!!" She practically screamed her name into Cloud Cover's ear; if he hadn't gotten used to it by now he would surely have spilled the whole thing on himself.

"Yes, my apologies. But seriously, thank you, this is the best shake I've ever had."

Pinkie Pie slumped a bit, and Cloud could swear he could see her hair deflate slightly.

"But you always say that...you wouldn't lie to me, right?"

Cloud managed to control his panic and keep a straight face; he had seen "Pinkamena" show up only once before, and he was hoping to avoid seeing it twice. Having someone like...that...present would present complications he just didn't need yet...or ever, for that matter.

"Oh, never," he stage whispered with a smile as fake as the chocolate in the ice cream. "It's just every shake you make gets better and better, it's like a fractal of yumminess!" It took everything Cloud had not to open his wrists as he said it.

His patience was soon enough rewarded, however, as the pink hair became even poofier than it was before and the sugar high baker did an honest-to-god backflip back over the counter, grin wide like that of a child, and legitimate too.

"Just wanted to be absotively posilutely sure, Mr. Sierra Mist!" Pinkie Pie was back in the kitchen so quickly that he could have sworn she teleported. Maybe she had. She was nothing if not resourceful.

Cloud Cover felt the traces of a real smile cross his features, and the memory of what that used to feel like made him wince. Back in the old days Pinkie Pie was damn good at making him smile, legitimately smile just like she did. She had that effect on everyone, really.

Cloud wondered sometimes why he hadn't asked Pinkie Pie out instead back then. Sure, she might have said no, but she would have let him down...easily, if not gently due to her nature. She wouldn't have laughed at him like Sunset did. She wouldn't have called the police, like Sunset did.

Hindsight is a bitch.

Cloud Cover felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. 2:45, about what he expected. With a flick of his wrists he donned his sunglasses and pulled his hood up over his head, shifting his seat so that his back was against the back corner. When Pinkie Pie had asked him about why he did it - which only happened once, much to his confusion - Cloud had explained that he was sensitive to light.

When he had asked her why there was a wooden stake in her skirt the next day, Pinkie Pie had called it insurance. As with most things related to Pinkie Pie, Cloud was not too sure whether to be relieved or deeply troubled.

With a sigh, Cloud Cover leaned back into his seat and turned his eyes to the door. When he had set this plan into motion it had been remarkably simple. He knew Sunset had very few people she interacted with regularly, and none that would miss her. The issue back then had been less "get Sunset alone" and more "get Sunset in a place nobody would be looking."

He had planned to wait for her to get drunk or hide out somewhere, and he would simply snatch her up, to be counted among any number of the disappeared homeless in town. For that reason he had followed her for months, learning her patterns, figuring out where she went most often. He would wait for her to break her routine and simply vanish into the night, never to be seen again.

But by the time he was prepared to make his move the situation had drastically changed. And what was to be a remarkably simple plan had become remarkably complicated.

The door to the bakery opened, right on cue, and Cloud slinked down into his seat, whipping out his copy of the film novelization of Atlas Shrugged to conceal his face. His friends back in school had gotten it for him as a joke; his review of the film in the school paper had become something of a running gag back then and they enjoyed messing with him.

The movie still sucked, but the book had its uses.

He was loath to admit it, but the group of friends Sunset had found were an interesting bunch. The one named Rainbow Dash was first, of course, sliding in through the door with an agile grace that was no fit for her personality and sidling up to the counter to place her order. Unkempt hair with all of the colors of the rainbow hung limp on her shoulders, sweat staining her workout clothes and accentuating her athletic figure. Coach Zebra had always bemoaned how Rainbow Dash was in better shape than half the guys on Varsity, and Cloud had to agree with him on that.

The familiar click of custom stilettos introduced Rarity, and Cloud sunk even further into his seat when she entered. Her purple mane of neatly coiffed hair - no extensions, to his surprise - belied her frustration as she gripped Rainbow Dash by the ear to drag her back to the main party, and most certainly masked her shrewd gaze around the room. Rarity was thicker around the hips than Rainbow was by far, but there was a lot of muscle in her legs and he had seen firsthand what it could do. He did not want any of them involved more than necessary, but Rarity was the absolute last person he wanted to find out about his actions.

Fluttershy and Applejack walked in next, and Cloud managed to relax just slightly. Truth be told, he had always found Fluttershy to be more annoying than Pinkie Pie with her self-denigration, but she wasn't a bad sort, and she had been the only person to try and help him out during his initial suspension. The fact that she always wore ill-fitting sweaters over her ample rack didn't hurt, either. Cloud Cover tried not to think about what effect these next few weeks would have on her; she'd probably be able to cry a sweater of tears. The poor dear said nothing, and quietly slinked into the seat furthest from the door; if he hadn't known her he might have thought she was scared of them, until she started speaking to Applejack about some issue with her herd animals.

Applejack was the only one of Sunset's friends Cloud had a hard time getting a bead on. It wasn't that she was a good liar; far from it, she was absolutely terrible. And that was the problem. He was so used to dealing with liars and ladder climbers that a legitimately honest person was not something he knew how to handle. Combine that with her imposing physique and she was just as much a threat to this plan as Rarity. But she was also exceptionally stupid, and could be easily dissuaded from looking into certain details, which played to his advantage.

With Pinkie Pie stepping out from behind the counter, that accounted for five of the six people he'd be spending the next two weeks dealing with. He HAD heard of a sixth friend...Twibright something or other...but she so very rarely appeared that he didn't have much information on her. All he knew was that when she showed up, Canterlot High was on the news due to some kind of monster attack and Sunset Shimmer became basically untouchable due to the attention she received. Twibright's presence was the reason this plan had taken so long to implement and had so many revisions; she was a walking talking x-factor.

So now...he was waiting for the main event.

Pretending to scratch his head, Cloud Cover slipped a discreet listening device into his ear and turned towards the group of misfits he had come to associate with Sunset. This stage of the plan would require their assistance, whether they knew it or not, and they would give him everything he needed.

"So are we going to get this thing going, or what?" Dash leaned in so that anyone coming into the conversation would have difficulty hearing them. "Sunset's birthday is in two weeks and..."

"...and Sunset has also never had a proper birthday party, dear." Rarity's voice was as smooth as silk as she sipped on her cherry shake. "We can't just drop a surprise party on her head like it was confetti. We need to handle the situation gracefully."

"But surprise parties are so much fun, Rara!" Pinkie Pie's response was expected. "Sunset's been so dumped in the downs lately that she needs a GOOD surprise for a change! Between that whole Gabby Gums Anon-a-Miss thing..." - Applejack coughed uncomfortably, making Cloud Cover grin - "...and not knowing about Twilight being back, she could use a good pick up! "

Applejack leaned in suddenly, as if to prevent Pinkie Pie from bringing up her sister's mudslinging any further. "Actually, Ah was gonna ask about that. Where IS Twilight stayin' when she gets here next week? Ah know we can't have her at Sunset's and Sunset's liable to visit all our houses..."

Cloud Cover's ears perked. If Twilight -THAT was her name, he grumbled to himself - was here, he needed to know about it.

Barely audible, even with the device, was Fluttershy. "Um...why not have Twilight stay with Sunset? I...I don't think we should wait for her birthday...it'll make Sunset so happy..."

Cloud Cover raised an eyebrow. What?

"It was Twilight's idea, I'm afraid," sighed Rarity. "I can only imagine she read some book on being spontaneous in a relationship and thinks this is the way to go about it. Not to mention her fear she couldn't open the door in time. It IS dreadfully romantic, though, isn't it?"

Rarity's airy sigh masked the snort of laughter that Cloud let slip out of his mouth, which he just barely managed to catch. Now THIS was a surprise. It seemed Sunset had gone through more than a few small changes over the past few months.

A warped, cruel smirk flashed on his face for a moment before he could get it under control. This was an interesting development...and served his plans perfectly.

"Oh gag me." Rainbow Dash visibly rolled her eyes before leaning back in her seat. Eloquent as always. "She should just go on a regular date and skip all this "what a shock" crap. If it were me I would have asked her out in ten seconds flat, no mess."

"I'm sure that's not the only thing you'd do in ten seconds flat, darling."

Rarity and Rainbow Dash did tend to get into it a lot, from what he could tell, like an old married couple. They were the sort of people Sunset would have accused of being carpet munchers and had humiliated in public. The irony was almost too much to bear.

"Shut up, you two! She's almost here!"

Applejack had seen her before Cloud could, but he managed to slump as low as he could in his seat, pretending to nap in the corner as the door opened. He could hear the heavy step of leather biker boots on the tile, he had practically memorized the sound. Cloud could feel his heart playing a staccato in his chest as he summoned up enough courage to peek out from behind his book. A swirling torrent of hate boiled up in his gullet as he stared at...her.

Sunset Shimmer.

Even after everything he had been through, all the poverty and exhaustion and rage, Cloud still had to admit she was beautiful. The clump of hair he had stolen from her barber could not begin to compare to the real thing, and set against the afternoon sun her crimson-gold locks almost glowed. Even as demurely as she walked Cloud could still make out the curvy, toned figure underneath her leather jacket, her breasts just slightly bouncing as she walked over to her friends with a warm smile. Her purple skirt hugged the contours of her ass almost perfectly, and as she bent down to speak to her friends Cloud could feel his member swell in anticipation.

"Hey, guys. Are...we talking about something?"

It was so strange hearing her speak like that. In all his memories of her Cloud could only imagine that voice - deep and smoky, like something out of an old noir film - speaking insults and venom. To hear her so demure, so...sweet...

...it was wrong. She was wrong. Her entire existence was wrong. Cloud felt his knuckles whiten as he gripped his book harder than ever. A new boldness came over him as he stared at this beautiful, wretched bitch.

He could accept her before. He had wanted to exact his revenge but at the very least he could acknowledge that was what she was, a cold hearted cunt with no concern for anyone but herself. Back then he had only planned to humiliate her, to rough her up and then let her go.

But then he was thrown out of his house. Then he had to live on the streets for three damning years, selling anything he could make to the toothless, aimless gutter trash of society. He had gone from a man on the road to greatness to one of the poor leeches he had spent all his life looking down on.

And then there was this girl, this...thing, so awful a person that she had turned into a literal demon in front of all of Cloud's old friends and mentors. A monster whose insides matched her outsides at last. That was when he had planned to strike, getting rid of Sunset for good.

And then Twilight happened. Apparently all it took for Sunset to be forgiven was a beam of gaudy light and a stupid speech. Sunset carried on her life like her past had never happened. She made friends. She became loved. She became a fucking hero. And what was her price paid for all that she did before? Just a few months of being shunned and a minor case of cyber bullying. That. Was. All.

Cloud Cover could feel his cock agree with him. He could do it, right here, right now. All he had to do was knock out her friends, close the shop, and he could rape her to death right there in the middle of the room. He wondered what her whore moans would sound like...

No, no! Not yet! Cloud shook himself out of his reverie and fought against the erection. He had to wait. There would be time enough to enjoy himself later. And all that aside...he wanted to see what he could use against her with this new relationship.

Maintaining his focus, Cloud Cover listened in on Sunset, watching her full lips wrap around the words she spoke. God damn.

"So Sunset, your birthday is coming up, right? Got any crazy plans?", squeaked Rainbow Dash.

Sunset shook her head and laughed. "No, not really. I was kind of hoping to just...you know, spend time at home, watch some movies with you guys. Nothing too major."

"Too bad Twilight couldn't be here to spend it with-" Pinkie yelped as Applejack stomped on her foot, and to Cloud's joy Sunset's smile visibly, obviously faltered at the statement.

"Y...yeah. Actually, I was going to ask. You guys haven't heard from Twilight at all, right?"

An awkward pause passed over each of them as they shook their heads. Cloud supposed that was technically true.

Sunset sighed. "It's just...we talk through the journal sometimes, but with all her princess stuff it takes her a while to get back to me. And I can't go through the portal..."

Sunset jerked up in her seat and sported a very shaky smile. Cloud could tell right away it was a fake.

But portals? Journals? Princesses?Could this be part of the magic he had dealt with back in the school, what he had seen this Twilight perform?

"Don't fret, sugarcube," Applejack whispered. "She's probably doing everything she can to get that portal fixed right. That's probably why she can't write as much. Didn't you say Celestia was busy all the time too?"

Sunset nodded, but her smile was as fake as ever. "I know. I just worry sometimes. My Equestria is...a lot different than this one. Being a princess means a lot of things over there that she has to deal with...she doesn't have time for me, that's all."

Applejack and Fluttershy visibly squirmed in their seats, but Rarity placed her hand on Sunset's.

"Sunset, mon cher, I know how it feels. Goodness knows I've had my fair share of...awkward courtiers..."

Sunset blushed, her face turning a bright red. Oh, this was too much. "Wha...Twilight and I aren't..."

"Oh hush, darling, we can all see it plain as day." But as Rarity spoke, each one of her friends slipped in front of her, to her visible irritation.

"Yeah, you guys might as well get a room every time she visits!"

"I'm already planning the wedding AND the reception!"

"You two get along better than a plow in a field!"

"Um...you two are...eeeep, a really cute couple..."

Cloud Cover's eyes narrowed at the stammering, almost luminescent Sunset, her panicked face betraying how close to home they had hit. Relationship nothing, this was a full blown thirst.

Rarity managed to push the gaggle aside in a huff. "Dear God, you'll kill the poor thing! AS I WAS SAYING...Sunset. You love her. You were prepared to lay down your life for her at the Battle of the Bands, and she never gave up on you once. Twilight Sparkle is a complete absent-minded professor and a bookworm of the highest order. If she had forgotten about you, I can assure you would not have heard one word from her ever again. She takes time out of her princess duties, her friends in that world, to talk to you. She has no time for you? Darling, she has MADE time for you, and that says a lot."

Sunset stared down at her drink, hands visibly trembling. "You...think so?"

Rarity clasped her hand and smiled,stopping the shaking. "Darling...trust me...you two were destined to be together."

Sunset said nothing, simply kept staring into her coffee as silent tears started to fall. The group circled around her, in one big hug, and Cloud Cover took the opportunity to slip out through the back door as they were distracted.

Twilight Sparkle...Cloud Cover could feel an elation pour through his body as he stared up into the sky. His plan had been flawless before, but now...now it was bulletproof.

He had discovered Sunset's one true weakness. And he would use it to shatter her very life.

But first, he had to make some phone calls.

"Hello, Apple residence!" The cheerful, familiar voice of Granny Smith sounded on the other line.

"Hello, Mrs. Smith. This is Professor Cirrus, from Canterlot High. Is Apple Bloom home?"

Cloud Cover grinned. He had gone incognito. Now...was the time to go Anon-A-Miss.

Author's Note

Keep your friends close...and your enemies closer.

What is Anon A Miss? Either check out the 2014 Holiday Special comic, or tune in for chapter 3!