Anon-A-Miss Aftermathby badassgruntChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 1Fluttershy stared at Sunset's empty chair. Nobody had seen Sunset Shimmer in a few days now, though most of them didn't care. Fluttershy shouldn't either, but couldn't help but be worried. She kept thinking back to how Sunset left Sugar Cube Corner in tears after they refused to listen to her. "Wh-why won't anyone believe me?!" Fluttershy hurt when she heard that line. Fluttershy didn't really pay attention to the lesson. Thankfully this was the last one, and the bell couldn't ring soon enough. She sighed, not really wanting to talk to her friends. She quickly went home. Her response to her parents asking how the day went was "Good." Fluttershy was quiet during dinner and went to bed early. She was quiet during breakfast too. She sighed as she stepped out the door. She avoided her friends, still not feeling like talking. After the first class, she sighed and went to her locker. Fluttershy was looking down at her feet, so the first thing she noticed that indicated that something was wrong was how quiet the crowded hall had become. She looked up and her eyes widened at what she saw. Sunset was back. Sunset walked in the parted halls, seeming ignoring the hateful gazes directed at her. She looked tired. Bags were around her eyes and she limply clutched the book that she and Twilight used to communicate. Fluttershy wondered if Sunset told Twilight what had happened. As Sunset neared, Fluttershy saw something on her neck. Were those...bruises? How'd she get bruises there? She couldn't have....no, she couldn't. Did she? Fluttershy put her hands to her mouth in shock as she got a better look at the bruises. They were definitely rope burns. Sunset tried to kill herself. Fluttershy gulped, "S-Sunset?" Sunset didn't say anything as she walked past Fluttershy. Fluttershy stared as Sunset turned the corner. Fluttershy needed to tell someone. As Fluttershy went off to find one of her friends, Sunset continued walking, staring blankly ahead. Her eyes caught something. A trash can. Sunset slowly looked down at her book. Something cracked and broke in her. Sunset started to smile, and gave a chuckle. She ignored the looks, now tinged with worry as she went to the trash can. She threw the book in the trash, just like her so-called friends had done to her. She grinned, a huge weight lifted off of her shoulders. She was happy. The happiest she felt in a long time. ~~~ Fluttershy managed to find one of her friends, Rarity. Rarity knew something was wrong as she saw tears in Fluttershy's eyes, "Fluttershy, dear, what's wrong?" "I-it's Sunset." Rarity's face darkened, "What did she do now?" "She...she..." Fluttershy broke down in tears. Rarity hugged her friend, "There there. We just have to ignore her, that's all." "I-it's not that..." Rarity blinked and drew back, "Then what's wrong?" "S-Sunset tried to...k-k-kill herself!" Rarity's mind went blank as she tried to comprehend what she was just told, "Wh-what?" "Sh-she had bruises on her neck. I-I think she tried to hang herself." Rarity stared at Fluttershy before shaking her head in denial, "N-no, that can't be true. Y-you must have been seeing things." "I didn't see things!" yelled Fluttershy, causing Rarity to flinch back, "She tried to kill herself! Because of us!" Rarity felt her legs go weak. While she didn't want to see Sunset anymore, she didn't want her to kill herself. Maybe...maybe they were wrong to be so quick to judge. They should've giving Sunset a chance. Rarity desperately didn't want to the be the reason that made Sunset try to kill herself, "I...w-we need to tell the others..." Fluttershy sniffed and nodded. The two hurried off to find their friends and tell them about this new development. Unbeknownst to them, Sweetie Belle heard them. She felt sick. She didn't want Sunset to kill themselves. This thing had gone to far. She needed to tell the others. Sweetie Belle ran and found her friends. She pulled them in the bathroom. Applebloom and Scootaloo looked at her, worried. Applebloom spoke, "Whut's wrong, Sweetie?" Sweetie Belle drew a breath, "We...we need to stop Anon-a-Miss. We need to tell our sisters." "WHAT?!" yelled Scootaloo, "Are you out of your mind!? We'll get in so much trouble!" "Ah hafta agree wit' Scootaloo, 'Belle. We can't tell 'em we're Anon-a-Miss." "Sunset tried to kill herself!" The other two took a step back in shock, "Wh-what?" asked Scootaloo, "A-are you sure?" "I overheard Fluttershy tell Rarity about it," Sweetie Belle stayed silent for a moment. She walked past them. "Where are ya goin'?" asked Applebloom. "To tell our sisters. I won't say you were involved. I'll say it was all me," said Sweetie Belle somberly. "No," Sweetie turned back to Applebloom, "If yer goin', then so are we. We're all ta blame, aren't we Scootaloo?" Scootaloo nodded, "We all go down as one." "Thanks, girls." As one, they raced out of the bathroom. Asking around, they quickly found Rarity and Fluttershy. They just caught up with them when they reached Applejack. Rarity opened her mouth but Sweetie Belle spoke first, "We did it." The three girls turned to the other three. Applejack raised an eyebrow, "Ya'll did whut now?" Applebloom hesitated before speaking, "W-we're Anon-a-Miss." The three older girls stared at them before Applejack burst out laughing, "That was a good one! We all know it was Sunset Shimmer. Right girls?"Applejack looked to see that Rarity and Fluttershy staring at them in shock, "Girls? Whut's wrong?" Rarity ignored her, "P-prove it." Applejack looked at her sister and the other two in confusion as Scootaloo pulled out her phone. That confusion turned to shock as Scootaloo proceeded to sign out of Anon-a-Miss and signed back in, "Wh-whut?" Applejack shook her head, "N-no! That can't be true! I-it has to be Sunset! Sh-she's Anon-a-Miss..." "Sh-she tried to kill herself," said Fluttershy quietly. Applejack turned to Fluttershy in shock, "She tried to what?!" "She almost killed herself because of us..." Rarity said, trailing off before putting a hand to her mouth. Applejack turned to her sister with tears in her eyes, "H-how...? H-how could ya'll do somethin' like that? How could you do that to Sunset...oh no." "Oh dear God," said Rarity, having the same thought, "Sunset." The three girls ran out to find their other friends. Applejack turned and glared at the other trio, "We're gunna have a talk later," she said before running to catch up with Rarity and Fluttershy. They found Pinkie and Rainbow Dash by texting them. Once all gathered, they told the two what had happened. Rainbow Dash shook her head, "Y-your joking...Y-you have to be joking..." "I don't think they're joking," Pinkie quietly said, looking ill. Rainbow grasped her hair and pulled at it, "We...we gotta find Sunset, now!" By sheer luck they quickly found her, "There ya are! We've been lookin' everywhere fer ya..." Applejack trailed of at the sight of Sunset. While the black eye and bruises around her neck were worrying, that wasn't what made Applejack and the others pause. Sunset was smiling. It wasn't a nice smile either. There was no warmth in it. It was like one would see when one played a very cruel joke on somebody. And enjoyed it. Sunset's grin widened, "Go on, Applejack. Whatever did you need to speak to me about?" "Th-those are some pretty nasty bruises on yer neck...whut happened?" Sunset continued to smile, "Oh, I tried to hang myself," The girls' eyes went wide and paled in horror at her confirmation. Sunset continued, "Unfortunately the rope snapped." "H-how is th-that a b-bad thing?" stammered Pinkie. Sunset looked confused, "That's what you girls wanted, right? To me be gone from your life forever? What better way than to kill myself?" The girls looked visibly ill. Applejack gulped but continued speaking, "W-we jus' came by ta say how sorry we are...We were wrong. Wrong about ya. We shouldn't have abandoned you like that." Rarity stepped forward, "There is no word for how sorry we are. How ashamed we are." Rainbow Dash stepped forward too, "I'm...I'm sorry I was such a...bitch." Pinkie Pie sniffed, "W-we didn't mean for you to try to k-kill yourself." Fluttershy was too busy silently sobbing to say she was sorry. Sunset didn't say anything, just continued to smile that cold smile. Applejack steeled herself and continued to speak, "Ah know we don't deserve it, we screwed up big time, but will ya ever forgive us? We can still be friends again eventually, right?" Sunset stayed silent for a moment before bursting into laughter. Applejack and the others flinched back at the outburst. She doubled over, hands on her knees before wiping a tear from her eye, "Oh wow. That's rich. It really is," she said. Applejack realized that something was wrong with Sunset Shimmer, "A-are ya...alright?" Sunset continued to chuckle for a few moments before managing to calm down, "Perfect actually," Sunset seemed to enjoy their confused looks, "I'm surprised as well. After all, the entire school and most of the surrounding business places not to mention my closest friends," she spat out that last word, causing the girls to flinch again, "turned against me. I'm just peachy." "Uh..." started Applejack, that uneasy feeling in the back of her head growing. "I find it funny, real funny, that you think I would ever want to be friends with you ever again," At this, Applejack's and the others hopes of being friends again were crushed. Sunset continued, "Still, I have to thank you girls, though." Applejack blinked through her tears, "Wh-why?" "Thank you for proving I was right all along. Friendship is useless," The girls took a step back, "Thank you, girls, for showing me the truth: it's every human for themselves," her face turned dark, " Thank you for bringing the old, true Sunset Shimmer back." The girls paled in horror at this. Sunset turned on her heels and started to walk away. Rainbow started to go after her, "W-wait!" Sunset's only reaction was to flip them off. She turned the corner, smirking back at them before disappearing from view... Chapter 2The classes passed agonizingly slowly. As soon as the bell for lunch rang, the Mane 5 rushed to the cafeteria. Sunset Shimmer was already there, sitting alone at the table and ignoring the glares sent her way. Rainbow went to sit next to her before feeling a hand on her shoulder, "Ah don't think that's wise right now," said Applejack. Rainbow Dash shrugged her off, "Why the hell not?! Look at her!" "We gotta think of a plan on how to fix this before we do anythin'." Rainbow wanted to argue, but reluctantly saw the logic in Applejack. They sat down at their table. Rainbow Dash sighed, "So, any ideas?" They thought for minutes on end before Applejack spoke up, "We gotta talk ta Twilight. Ah'm sure she can fix this," The others seemed to agree with that plan before Applejack sighed, "Problem is, it's most likely wit' Sunset. Now who's gonna go talk ta her?" "I-I would," started Rainbow Dash, "B-but I don't think she'll listen to me. Or any of us." "She listened to Applejack. Beside, you two were closer than any of us before...all of this happened. Maybe that'll come in handy," said Pinkie. Applejack gulped. What Pinkie said was true: Applejack and Sunset were close. Sunset helped Applejack on her farm multiple times, "A-alright. Ah'll go talk ta her." "Um, girls..." started Fluttershy, pointing. They followed where she was pointing at and saw a student rapidly approaching Sunset. Before they could do anything, the student spilled Sunset's lunch on her lap and sneered. Rainbow stood up, fuming, "Why that no good little..." she trailed off as she and the girls saw how Sunset reacted. She smiled. Just smiled coldly at the student, which unnerved said student. He wasn't expecting that kind of reaction. None of them were. Sunset slowly stood up and whispered something in the student's ear. He froze up and paled. They heard him quietly say, "Y-you wouldn't..." Sunset just tilted her head at him, "Try me." The student immediately backed away, slightly shaking. Sunset got out of her seat and quietly went to the bathroom. Applejack saw this as good a time as any to talk to Sunset. She reached the bathroom and saw Sunset staring in the mirror. Applejack took a deep breath and walked to her, "Sunset, we needa talk." Sunset turned around and looked at Applejack in feigned interest, "Whatever is the matter, Applejack?" Applejack winced but continued onward, "Th-the girls an' Ah needa talk ta Twilight. Now, Ah know ya don't like us anymore, an' Ah cant fault ya fer that, but maybe Twi could fix this whole thang. Wouldn't ya want that? M-maybe we can even go back ta bein' friends?" Sunset tapped her finger on her chin, "Hmm...nah." Applejack flinched, "C-c'mon, Sunset. Twilight can fix this, I promise." "Even if I still had it, I wouldn't give it to you." Applejack's stomach grew cold, "Wh-whut do ya mean by that? Whut happened ta th' book, Sunset?" Sunset grinned, "I burnt it!" At Applejack's horrified face, Sunset burst out laughing, "Oh man, that was too easy! Nah, I just threw it in the trash where it belongs." That didn't make Applejack feel any better, "Wh-where did ya throw it out?" Maybe the book was still there. "In one of the school's trash cans. Don't even bother looking for it. It's probably in a land fill by now." Applejack stared at Sunset in shock, "Why?!" she yelled, "How could ya cast Twi aside like that?" "You mean like you did to me?" Sunset seemed to enjoy Applejack's hurt expression, "Simple. I realized Twilight lied. There's no use for friendship in this world. Maybe in Equestria, but not here." "Y-yer wrong! Friendship is a good thang!" "Unlikely. After all, just look at your 'friends'." Applejack swallowed, "Wh-whut do ya mean by that?" "Are you really sure they're your friends? What if they're just tolerating you like you did with me, waiting for the chance to throw you out." Applejack shook her head, "Th-that's a lie!" "Is it? Think about it. They're probably going to go to college, leaving you behind at your dirty little farm. Speaking of dirt, you smell. I'm surprised that they are able to stand your stench. Plus, you're dumber than the dirt you farm." "S-stop!" Applejack had tears in her eyes. This wasn't the Sunset they knew. This wasn't even the old Sunset. This was worse. They hadn't hurt her this much, had they? "Nah, I got a few more reasons to point out that they aren't really your friends. Rarity hates your fashion sense." "Th-that's not true!" "Want me to prove it?" Sunset pulled out a recorder device and pressed play. Her fashion choices are dreadful. Absolutely horrendous. Applejack's eyes went huge, tears starting to leak out. Sunset continued, "Pinkie Pie thinks you smell." And I'm like: peee-uuu, does that girl need a bath. Applejack's breath started to shudder, trying to keep from sobbing. Sunset grinned cruelly, "And Rainbow Dash thinks you're stupid." Wow, she got a worse grade than me. Applejack fell to her knees, starting to cry, "Fluttershy just doesn't like you." Why does she always have to be near me? Applejack sobbed into her hands. Sunset knelt down and put a comforting hand on Applejack's heaving shoulder, "They're not your friends," she said quietly, "They never were. The only friend you need is yourself." Applejack looked up at her, tears streaming down her cheeks, "Ah'm sorry...Ah'm so sorry." Sunset smiled warmly at her, and Applejack thought that maybe Sunset had forgiven her, "Too little, too late." With that, Sunset got up and walked away from the broken Applejack, who had resumed her crying. Sunset smiled as her plan started to come together. Chapter 3By the time the girls found Applejack, Sunset was long gone. They stared in shock at the bawling Applejack. Rarity knelt down to Applejack's level and put a hand on her shoulder, "Applejack, darling, what happened?" Much to their shock, Applejack shoved her hand off, "Go away!" "Never!" said Rarity, "Not like this. We're your friends-" "NO YER NOT!" screamed Applejack, making the girls recoil. "Wh-what are you talking about, silly?" asked a worried Pinkie, "We always have!" "Yer lyin'! Ya'll always have! Ah know ya'll don't like meh! So ya'll can cut th' act. Ah'm...Ah'm not yer friend anymore. Ah never was..." With that Applejack rushed past them, crying. The others stared after the retreating Applejack in shock. Rarity looked back at the others, "What did Sunset say?!" "Don't know, don't care," growled Rainbow Dash, "I know we messed up bad, but that doesn't give Sunset an excuse to reduce Applejack to tears. I'm going to talk to her..." Before they could stop her, Rainbow stormed out, fist clenched. She walked the halls, looking for her former friend. Eventually she found Sunset cornered by Gilda and a few others. Rainbow was tempted to help Sunset, then she remembered Applejack and held her tongue. Sunset glanced to Rainbow Dash and her neutral face turned into a grin. Rainbow felt something bad was about to happen. Gilda stepped forward, "Gonna wipe that stupid smile off your face..." Sunset just smiled at her and Gilda drew closer, "Wouldn't you rather hit the person who caused this?" she said before staring behind Gilda at Rainbow. Gilda blinked and looked to see Rainbow standing there, "Rainbow Dash?" Gilda turned back to Sunset, "What do you mean 'the person who caused this'?" "Do you have friends?" Gilda blinked, "Y-yeah, of course I do. But what does that have to do with any-" "Would they ever betray them in their greatest hour of need? Would you betray them if they were at theirs?" "Of course not, we're friends. That's what friends do, stick together," Gilda unknowingly reminded Rainbow of what she and her friends had done to Sunset. Gilda glanced back at Rainbow Dash, starting to put two and two together. "That must be nice. Too bad for me then. I would never have guessed the people I saved from the Sirens would turn on me in an instant." "Are you saying you aren't Anon-a-Miss?" "Yes. Of course, if you didn't believe me, you shouldn't now." "What do you mean?" asked Gilda slowly. Sunset spread her arms apart, "The old Sunset Shimmer has come back! Y'know, the one who had a dirty little secret on everybody. Even you, Gilda. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about..." Gilda suddenly paled and took a step back, "You wouldn't dare..." Sunset's grin turned ice cold, "Of course I would; I don't have any friends, thus I don't have anything to lose," Sunset coughed in her arm, "Carpet muncher." Gilda's eye bugged out of her head. One of her friends scratched his head, "Did she say 'carpet mucher'?" They all looked at Gilda. "I-I'm not a lesbian!" "Consider that one on the house, courtesy of Rainbow Dash and her friends," said Sunset. Her other friend, a girl who had took a few steps away from Gilda, spoke, "What do you mean by that?" "What I mean, Lilly Flower," The girls turned blanched at her real name, the one she never told anybody, "is that you have Rainbow and her friends to thank for turning me into what I am before you. It's safe to say that it's all their fault. They were the ones who broke my heart and made me realize who I really am...well, gotta get to a class full of people who hate me. Seeya." Sunset strutted past the comatose Lilly and Gilda and past the gaping Rainbow Dash. She leaned in to Rainbow's ear, "Good luck." Rainbow briefly wondered what she meant when the guy crossed his arms, "Really?" "Wh-what?" "This whole thing is your fault! Why didn't you believe her?" "H-hey! All of you are as much to blame as us!" "Yes. Yes it is. But we didn't know her. You, however, were her friends. Friends stick together. Friends trust each other. I used to think Sunset was Anon-a-Miss too, but now? Now I don't. I think something worse has come. You better get out of here before Gilda and Violet rip you to pieces." Rainbow gulped and fled. That wasn't Sunset. I don't know what that was, but it wasn't Sunset. She got back to the girls as quickly as possible and told them what happened. The others glanced at each other. "Wh-what do you think she meant by 'good luck'?" asked Fluttershy. Rarity sighed, "I don't know, but I fear we will soon find out..."
Chapter 1Fluttershy stared at Sunset's empty chair. Nobody had seen Sunset Shimmer in a few days now, though most of them didn't care. Fluttershy shouldn't either, but couldn't help but be worried. She kept thinking back to how Sunset left Sugar Cube Corner in tears after they refused to listen to her. "Wh-why won't anyone believe me?!" Fluttershy hurt when she heard that line. Fluttershy didn't really pay attention to the lesson. Thankfully this was the last one, and the bell couldn't ring soon enough. She sighed, not really wanting to talk to her friends. She quickly went home. Her response to her parents asking how the day went was "Good." Fluttershy was quiet during dinner and went to bed early. She was quiet during breakfast too. She sighed as she stepped out the door. She avoided her friends, still not feeling like talking. After the first class, she sighed and went to her locker. Fluttershy was looking down at her feet, so the first thing she noticed that indicated that something was wrong was how quiet the crowded hall had become. She looked up and her eyes widened at what she saw. Sunset was back. Sunset walked in the parted halls, seeming ignoring the hateful gazes directed at her. She looked tired. Bags were around her eyes and she limply clutched the book that she and Twilight used to communicate. Fluttershy wondered if Sunset told Twilight what had happened. As Sunset neared, Fluttershy saw something on her neck. Were those...bruises? How'd she get bruises there? She couldn't have....no, she couldn't. Did she? Fluttershy put her hands to her mouth in shock as she got a better look at the bruises. They were definitely rope burns. Sunset tried to kill herself. Fluttershy gulped, "S-Sunset?" Sunset didn't say anything as she walked past Fluttershy. Fluttershy stared as Sunset turned the corner. Fluttershy needed to tell someone. As Fluttershy went off to find one of her friends, Sunset continued walking, staring blankly ahead. Her eyes caught something. A trash can. Sunset slowly looked down at her book. Something cracked and broke in her. Sunset started to smile, and gave a chuckle. She ignored the looks, now tinged with worry as she went to the trash can. She threw the book in the trash, just like her so-called friends had done to her. She grinned, a huge weight lifted off of her shoulders. She was happy. The happiest she felt in a long time. ~~~ Fluttershy managed to find one of her friends, Rarity. Rarity knew something was wrong as she saw tears in Fluttershy's eyes, "Fluttershy, dear, what's wrong?" "I-it's Sunset." Rarity's face darkened, "What did she do now?" "She...she..." Fluttershy broke down in tears. Rarity hugged her friend, "There there. We just have to ignore her, that's all." "I-it's not that..." Rarity blinked and drew back, "Then what's wrong?" "S-Sunset tried to...k-k-kill herself!" Rarity's mind went blank as she tried to comprehend what she was just told, "Wh-what?" "Sh-she had bruises on her neck. I-I think she tried to hang herself." Rarity stared at Fluttershy before shaking her head in denial, "N-no, that can't be true. Y-you must have been seeing things." "I didn't see things!" yelled Fluttershy, causing Rarity to flinch back, "She tried to kill herself! Because of us!" Rarity felt her legs go weak. While she didn't want to see Sunset anymore, she didn't want her to kill herself. Maybe...maybe they were wrong to be so quick to judge. They should've giving Sunset a chance. Rarity desperately didn't want to the be the reason that made Sunset try to kill herself, "I...w-we need to tell the others..." Fluttershy sniffed and nodded. The two hurried off to find their friends and tell them about this new development. Unbeknownst to them, Sweetie Belle heard them. She felt sick. She didn't want Sunset to kill themselves. This thing had gone to far. She needed to tell the others. Sweetie Belle ran and found her friends. She pulled them in the bathroom. Applebloom and Scootaloo looked at her, worried. Applebloom spoke, "Whut's wrong, Sweetie?" Sweetie Belle drew a breath, "We...we need to stop Anon-a-Miss. We need to tell our sisters." "WHAT?!" yelled Scootaloo, "Are you out of your mind!? We'll get in so much trouble!" "Ah hafta agree wit' Scootaloo, 'Belle. We can't tell 'em we're Anon-a-Miss." "Sunset tried to kill herself!" The other two took a step back in shock, "Wh-what?" asked Scootaloo, "A-are you sure?" "I overheard Fluttershy tell Rarity about it," Sweetie Belle stayed silent for a moment. She walked past them. "Where are ya goin'?" asked Applebloom. "To tell our sisters. I won't say you were involved. I'll say it was all me," said Sweetie Belle somberly. "No," Sweetie turned back to Applebloom, "If yer goin', then so are we. We're all ta blame, aren't we Scootaloo?" Scootaloo nodded, "We all go down as one." "Thanks, girls." As one, they raced out of the bathroom. Asking around, they quickly found Rarity and Fluttershy. They just caught up with them when they reached Applejack. Rarity opened her mouth but Sweetie Belle spoke first, "We did it." The three girls turned to the other three. Applejack raised an eyebrow, "Ya'll did whut now?" Applebloom hesitated before speaking, "W-we're Anon-a-Miss." The three older girls stared at them before Applejack burst out laughing, "That was a good one! We all know it was Sunset Shimmer. Right girls?"Applejack looked to see that Rarity and Fluttershy staring at them in shock, "Girls? Whut's wrong?" Rarity ignored her, "P-prove it." Applejack looked at her sister and the other two in confusion as Scootaloo pulled out her phone. That confusion turned to shock as Scootaloo proceeded to sign out of Anon-a-Miss and signed back in, "Wh-whut?" Applejack shook her head, "N-no! That can't be true! I-it has to be Sunset! Sh-she's Anon-a-Miss..." "Sh-she tried to kill herself," said Fluttershy quietly. Applejack turned to Fluttershy in shock, "She tried to what?!" "She almost killed herself because of us..." Rarity said, trailing off before putting a hand to her mouth. Applejack turned to her sister with tears in her eyes, "H-how...? H-how could ya'll do somethin' like that? How could you do that to Sunset...oh no." "Oh dear God," said Rarity, having the same thought, "Sunset." The three girls ran out to find their other friends. Applejack turned and glared at the other trio, "We're gunna have a talk later," she said before running to catch up with Rarity and Fluttershy. They found Pinkie and Rainbow Dash by texting them. Once all gathered, they told the two what had happened. Rainbow Dash shook her head, "Y-your joking...Y-you have to be joking..." "I don't think they're joking," Pinkie quietly said, looking ill. Rainbow grasped her hair and pulled at it, "We...we gotta find Sunset, now!" By sheer luck they quickly found her, "There ya are! We've been lookin' everywhere fer ya..." Applejack trailed of at the sight of Sunset. While the black eye and bruises around her neck were worrying, that wasn't what made Applejack and the others pause. Sunset was smiling. It wasn't a nice smile either. There was no warmth in it. It was like one would see when one played a very cruel joke on somebody. And enjoyed it. Sunset's grin widened, "Go on, Applejack. Whatever did you need to speak to me about?" "Th-those are some pretty nasty bruises on yer neck...whut happened?" Sunset continued to smile, "Oh, I tried to hang myself," The girls' eyes went wide and paled in horror at her confirmation. Sunset continued, "Unfortunately the rope snapped." "H-how is th-that a b-bad thing?" stammered Pinkie. Sunset looked confused, "That's what you girls wanted, right? To me be gone from your life forever? What better way than to kill myself?" The girls looked visibly ill. Applejack gulped but continued speaking, "W-we jus' came by ta say how sorry we are...We were wrong. Wrong about ya. We shouldn't have abandoned you like that." Rarity stepped forward, "There is no word for how sorry we are. How ashamed we are." Rainbow Dash stepped forward too, "I'm...I'm sorry I was such a...bitch." Pinkie Pie sniffed, "W-we didn't mean for you to try to k-kill yourself." Fluttershy was too busy silently sobbing to say she was sorry. Sunset didn't say anything, just continued to smile that cold smile. Applejack steeled herself and continued to speak, "Ah know we don't deserve it, we screwed up big time, but will ya ever forgive us? We can still be friends again eventually, right?" Sunset stayed silent for a moment before bursting into laughter. Applejack and the others flinched back at the outburst. She doubled over, hands on her knees before wiping a tear from her eye, "Oh wow. That's rich. It really is," she said. Applejack realized that something was wrong with Sunset Shimmer, "A-are ya...alright?" Sunset continued to chuckle for a few moments before managing to calm down, "Perfect actually," Sunset seemed to enjoy their confused looks, "I'm surprised as well. After all, the entire school and most of the surrounding business places not to mention my closest friends," she spat out that last word, causing the girls to flinch again, "turned against me. I'm just peachy." "Uh..." started Applejack, that uneasy feeling in the back of her head growing. "I find it funny, real funny, that you think I would ever want to be friends with you ever again," At this, Applejack's and the others hopes of being friends again were crushed. Sunset continued, "Still, I have to thank you girls, though." Applejack blinked through her tears, "Wh-why?" "Thank you for proving I was right all along. Friendship is useless," The girls took a step back, "Thank you, girls, for showing me the truth: it's every human for themselves," her face turned dark, " Thank you for bringing the old, true Sunset Shimmer back." The girls paled in horror at this. Sunset turned on her heels and started to walk away. Rainbow started to go after her, "W-wait!" Sunset's only reaction was to flip them off. She turned the corner, smirking back at them before disappearing from view...
Chapter 2The classes passed agonizingly slowly. As soon as the bell for lunch rang, the Mane 5 rushed to the cafeteria. Sunset Shimmer was already there, sitting alone at the table and ignoring the glares sent her way. Rainbow went to sit next to her before feeling a hand on her shoulder, "Ah don't think that's wise right now," said Applejack. Rainbow Dash shrugged her off, "Why the hell not?! Look at her!" "We gotta think of a plan on how to fix this before we do anythin'." Rainbow wanted to argue, but reluctantly saw the logic in Applejack. They sat down at their table. Rainbow Dash sighed, "So, any ideas?" They thought for minutes on end before Applejack spoke up, "We gotta talk ta Twilight. Ah'm sure she can fix this," The others seemed to agree with that plan before Applejack sighed, "Problem is, it's most likely wit' Sunset. Now who's gonna go talk ta her?" "I-I would," started Rainbow Dash, "B-but I don't think she'll listen to me. Or any of us." "She listened to Applejack. Beside, you two were closer than any of us before...all of this happened. Maybe that'll come in handy," said Pinkie. Applejack gulped. What Pinkie said was true: Applejack and Sunset were close. Sunset helped Applejack on her farm multiple times, "A-alright. Ah'll go talk ta her." "Um, girls..." started Fluttershy, pointing. They followed where she was pointing at and saw a student rapidly approaching Sunset. Before they could do anything, the student spilled Sunset's lunch on her lap and sneered. Rainbow stood up, fuming, "Why that no good little..." she trailed off as she and the girls saw how Sunset reacted. She smiled. Just smiled coldly at the student, which unnerved said student. He wasn't expecting that kind of reaction. None of them were. Sunset slowly stood up and whispered something in the student's ear. He froze up and paled. They heard him quietly say, "Y-you wouldn't..." Sunset just tilted her head at him, "Try me." The student immediately backed away, slightly shaking. Sunset got out of her seat and quietly went to the bathroom. Applejack saw this as good a time as any to talk to Sunset. She reached the bathroom and saw Sunset staring in the mirror. Applejack took a deep breath and walked to her, "Sunset, we needa talk." Sunset turned around and looked at Applejack in feigned interest, "Whatever is the matter, Applejack?" Applejack winced but continued onward, "Th-the girls an' Ah needa talk ta Twilight. Now, Ah know ya don't like us anymore, an' Ah cant fault ya fer that, but maybe Twi could fix this whole thang. Wouldn't ya want that? M-maybe we can even go back ta bein' friends?" Sunset tapped her finger on her chin, "Hmm...nah." Applejack flinched, "C-c'mon, Sunset. Twilight can fix this, I promise." "Even if I still had it, I wouldn't give it to you." Applejack's stomach grew cold, "Wh-whut do ya mean by that? Whut happened ta th' book, Sunset?" Sunset grinned, "I burnt it!" At Applejack's horrified face, Sunset burst out laughing, "Oh man, that was too easy! Nah, I just threw it in the trash where it belongs." That didn't make Applejack feel any better, "Wh-where did ya throw it out?" Maybe the book was still there. "In one of the school's trash cans. Don't even bother looking for it. It's probably in a land fill by now." Applejack stared at Sunset in shock, "Why?!" she yelled, "How could ya cast Twi aside like that?" "You mean like you did to me?" Sunset seemed to enjoy Applejack's hurt expression, "Simple. I realized Twilight lied. There's no use for friendship in this world. Maybe in Equestria, but not here." "Y-yer wrong! Friendship is a good thang!" "Unlikely. After all, just look at your 'friends'." Applejack swallowed, "Wh-whut do ya mean by that?" "Are you really sure they're your friends? What if they're just tolerating you like you did with me, waiting for the chance to throw you out." Applejack shook her head, "Th-that's a lie!" "Is it? Think about it. They're probably going to go to college, leaving you behind at your dirty little farm. Speaking of dirt, you smell. I'm surprised that they are able to stand your stench. Plus, you're dumber than the dirt you farm." "S-stop!" Applejack had tears in her eyes. This wasn't the Sunset they knew. This wasn't even the old Sunset. This was worse. They hadn't hurt her this much, had they? "Nah, I got a few more reasons to point out that they aren't really your friends. Rarity hates your fashion sense." "Th-that's not true!" "Want me to prove it?" Sunset pulled out a recorder device and pressed play. Her fashion choices are dreadful. Absolutely horrendous. Applejack's eyes went huge, tears starting to leak out. Sunset continued, "Pinkie Pie thinks you smell." And I'm like: peee-uuu, does that girl need a bath. Applejack's breath started to shudder, trying to keep from sobbing. Sunset grinned cruelly, "And Rainbow Dash thinks you're stupid." Wow, she got a worse grade than me. Applejack fell to her knees, starting to cry, "Fluttershy just doesn't like you." Why does she always have to be near me? Applejack sobbed into her hands. Sunset knelt down and put a comforting hand on Applejack's heaving shoulder, "They're not your friends," she said quietly, "They never were. The only friend you need is yourself." Applejack looked up at her, tears streaming down her cheeks, "Ah'm sorry...Ah'm so sorry." Sunset smiled warmly at her, and Applejack thought that maybe Sunset had forgiven her, "Too little, too late." With that, Sunset got up and walked away from the broken Applejack, who had resumed her crying. Sunset smiled as her plan started to come together.
Chapter 3By the time the girls found Applejack, Sunset was long gone. They stared in shock at the bawling Applejack. Rarity knelt down to Applejack's level and put a hand on her shoulder, "Applejack, darling, what happened?" Much to their shock, Applejack shoved her hand off, "Go away!" "Never!" said Rarity, "Not like this. We're your friends-" "NO YER NOT!" screamed Applejack, making the girls recoil. "Wh-what are you talking about, silly?" asked a worried Pinkie, "We always have!" "Yer lyin'! Ya'll always have! Ah know ya'll don't like meh! So ya'll can cut th' act. Ah'm...Ah'm not yer friend anymore. Ah never was..." With that Applejack rushed past them, crying. The others stared after the retreating Applejack in shock. Rarity looked back at the others, "What did Sunset say?!" "Don't know, don't care," growled Rainbow Dash, "I know we messed up bad, but that doesn't give Sunset an excuse to reduce Applejack to tears. I'm going to talk to her..." Before they could stop her, Rainbow stormed out, fist clenched. She walked the halls, looking for her former friend. Eventually she found Sunset cornered by Gilda and a few others. Rainbow was tempted to help Sunset, then she remembered Applejack and held her tongue. Sunset glanced to Rainbow Dash and her neutral face turned into a grin. Rainbow felt something bad was about to happen. Gilda stepped forward, "Gonna wipe that stupid smile off your face..." Sunset just smiled at her and Gilda drew closer, "Wouldn't you rather hit the person who caused this?" she said before staring behind Gilda at Rainbow. Gilda blinked and looked to see Rainbow standing there, "Rainbow Dash?" Gilda turned back to Sunset, "What do you mean 'the person who caused this'?" "Do you have friends?" Gilda blinked, "Y-yeah, of course I do. But what does that have to do with any-" "Would they ever betray them in their greatest hour of need? Would you betray them if they were at theirs?" "Of course not, we're friends. That's what friends do, stick together," Gilda unknowingly reminded Rainbow of what she and her friends had done to Sunset. Gilda glanced back at Rainbow Dash, starting to put two and two together. "That must be nice. Too bad for me then. I would never have guessed the people I saved from the Sirens would turn on me in an instant." "Are you saying you aren't Anon-a-Miss?" "Yes. Of course, if you didn't believe me, you shouldn't now." "What do you mean?" asked Gilda slowly. Sunset spread her arms apart, "The old Sunset Shimmer has come back! Y'know, the one who had a dirty little secret on everybody. Even you, Gilda. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about..." Gilda suddenly paled and took a step back, "You wouldn't dare..." Sunset's grin turned ice cold, "Of course I would; I don't have any friends, thus I don't have anything to lose," Sunset coughed in her arm, "Carpet muncher." Gilda's eye bugged out of her head. One of her friends scratched his head, "Did she say 'carpet mucher'?" They all looked at Gilda. "I-I'm not a lesbian!" "Consider that one on the house, courtesy of Rainbow Dash and her friends," said Sunset. Her other friend, a girl who had took a few steps away from Gilda, spoke, "What do you mean by that?" "What I mean, Lilly Flower," The girls turned blanched at her real name, the one she never told anybody, "is that you have Rainbow and her friends to thank for turning me into what I am before you. It's safe to say that it's all their fault. They were the ones who broke my heart and made me realize who I really am...well, gotta get to a class full of people who hate me. Seeya." Sunset strutted past the comatose Lilly and Gilda and past the gaping Rainbow Dash. She leaned in to Rainbow's ear, "Good luck." Rainbow briefly wondered what she meant when the guy crossed his arms, "Really?" "Wh-what?" "This whole thing is your fault! Why didn't you believe her?" "H-hey! All of you are as much to blame as us!" "Yes. Yes it is. But we didn't know her. You, however, were her friends. Friends stick together. Friends trust each other. I used to think Sunset was Anon-a-Miss too, but now? Now I don't. I think something worse has come. You better get out of here before Gilda and Violet rip you to pieces." Rainbow gulped and fled. That wasn't Sunset. I don't know what that was, but it wasn't Sunset. She got back to the girls as quickly as possible and told them what happened. The others glanced at each other. "Wh-what do you think she meant by 'good luck'?" asked Fluttershy. Rarity sighed, "I don't know, but I fear we will soon find out..."
