Author's Note

This is just a preview for what's coming next...

I decided to rewrite this chapter because I found the concept of Anon-A-Miss's true identity not being revealed until only a while after her death so much interesting. Plus, there may a few plot twists I may add for good measure.

For clarification, this is an AU where Equestria does exist, but no one in the human dimension (except for a select few) knows this.

This second chapter is inspired by Chapter 4 of "When You Hit A Road Block" (by JaybieJarrett) and Chapter 7 of "Silent Night" (by cerealkiller78)

Chapter 2: "Man Down"

(7:00 PM)

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear that?"

"It must've been my imagination, but I thought I heard a gunshot and someone screaming."

"From the school? Yeah, man, it was definitely your imagination. You're not Superman, you know." The janitor handed his custodian colleague a mop and gestured him to follow him to the cafeteria, "Come on, we need to clean up that mess."

Two hours earlier. . .

As for this mess...

Apple Bloom was still stuck in her silent standstill following Sunset's apparent suicide. Her hands were still clamped over her mouth when she realized that the ear-splitting scream projected was her own. A moment later, she finally find it within her to take at least a few steps forward. Because she was a young child, the concept of "death" was naïve to her. At first, she believed Sunset was pulling a cruel prank on her, much as she herself did to her. Oh my God... Did she do this...because of me? Not just me, but the others as well... Willing herself to walk her way, Apple Bloom stopped in front of her bleeding corpse and crouched down to its level, proceeding to prod it in unwitting desperation.

"Sunset... Sunset? Please wake up. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. It wasn't you...it was me. It was me, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. I was wrong and you were right. We created Anon-A-Miss because we were jealous of you stealing our sisters from us. We saw and took it the wrong way. I'm sorry for accusing you of this. Just please...wake up."

When Sunset didn't, Apple Bloom wiped any building tears and hugged her body. She remained in this position for a few minutes before she realized that at any moment, the police could come knocking on the front door, considering she instructed the landowner couple to contact them. All reluctance to part from her was set aside to hide the body before the authorities could ever find it. With all her might, she hoisted up and placed the body in the nearest place she could find: an upstairs janitor's closet, which she closed and locked the door of. Afterwards, she noticed the blood of her victim on her hands – the harsh reminder of the suffering she instigated and a subtle foreshadow of the tragic events that would follow. She felt sick to her stomach and like vomiting.

Which is exactly what she did...right on the spot.

Apple Bloom upchucked yesterday and the day before yesterday's lunch for a full minute before the discomfort ceased. Breathing heavily, she wiped any remnants resembling that of saliva with her coat sleeve and slipped both hands into both mittens, which she slipped into both pockets as she headed downstairs. When she reached ground level, her eyes laid on an all-too familiar and equally distasteful object of mass destruction: Sunset's discarded Beretta 92FS. Picking it up and examining it down, she then turned and headed back upstairs to check whether or not she herself carried additional ammunition, her suspicions confirmed when she found five additional cartridges in her jacket. Before she closed the door, Apple Bloom noticed that her eyes were still open and, out of instinctive respect, shut them for her.

I'm sorry I did this to you, Sunset... I hope you can forgive me...

With that, she left the scene and a somber atmosphere behind her.

"Where did you last see her?"

The assembly went smoothly as Principal Celestia practically roared (and even cursed) her way into the initially hostile and cocky students, effectively tearing them a new one in the process. She called them all out for not bothering to stick up for Sunset Shimmer in spite of every crime she committed and inflicted upon them. Trixie, Gilda, Dumbbell, and Pokey Pierce were among the few students to dare offend her; Flash Sentry, Soarin, Derpy Hooves, and Coach Spitfire were among the few students to dare defend her. The remainder of the assembly consisted of a 90-minute documentary about the effects of bullying and the consequences it had on the victims. Everyone in the auditorium was becoming increasingly uncomfortable; ore than a few students had to leave, one of whom being a silently sobbing Fluttershy. As the Crusaders (minus a still missing Apple Bloom) watched and flinched at the parts about cyberbullying and rumor spreading, the funeral of a teenager around Sunset's age was depicted in such a realistic manner that many of them began tearing up at the idea of them provoking Sunset herself to kill herself. The teenager's parents described their daughter as depressed and eventually suicidal because of the online rumors that spread.

To think that all of this may have occurred to Sunset...had they not ceased their actions in time. Oh, how the haughty were broken. No, broken... Shattered.

"I honestly have no idea," the landlady shook her head as her husband watched on, "aside from the fact that she moved out two weeks ago."

"Did she say the reason why?" Vice Principal Luna approached Celestia, who was in the progress of interrogating the landowner couple who called the police.

"Her parents received a job offer in Manhattan," the landlord took his place beside his wife, "but I didn't know who her parents. We knew better than to ask."

"We should've. If we did just asked the dear a few more times, then she would've told us both."

"It's not our fault, honey. It was no one's fault. It was her own choice not to tell us."

The personal secretary of Celestia, a young woman by the name of Raven Star, approached the group from backstage. "Principal Celestia, the credits have started rolling. What now?"

"I'll be right out," Celestia nodded in understanding. As she left for upstage, the two girls and the two tenants were left backstage, chattering worriedly amongst themselves.

"We didn't mean it..." Scootaloo wiped away tears, "We were going to stop it when she was gone..."

"And what happened then?!" Sweetie Belle swiftly turned to face her friend, "I told you both this was a terrible idea! WHY?! Why did you post that thing about Rainbow Dash?!"

"We..." Scootaloo nearly backpedaled in alarm of her friend's newfound anger, "We...we weren't thinking straight, Sweetie Belle! We just got carried away!"

"We shouldn’t have done it in the first place," Sweetie Belle growled in utter anger, "Sunset Shimmer was hurt by those people out there, both emotionally and physically. You think a simple "I'm sorry, Sunset" is going to make things better for us and her? She could've died, Scootaloo!"

"Well, I didn't see you try to do anything that would've stopped us a lot sooner, let alone slow us down!"

"You think I didn't want to?! Do you think Apple Bloom using my crush on Button Mash as bait to keep my head in the game was easy for me?!" Sweetie Belle never gave Scootaloo the chance to reply, as she swiftly turned around and crossed her arms in contempt, "Some friends you girls are..."

Scootaloo wanted (no, needed) to apologize to Sweetie Belle, having realized her mistake. Before she could, though, her ears perked up at the mention of Sunset's penalties:

"And so, the proper punishments will be handed out. The cyber laws will have her prosecuted for her hacking actions and I'll have to inform the police. I will give her a two weeks suspension when she returns from Christmas break and seven months of detention when you come back. I'm also personally placing a ban on her using the school’s computers for anything not school-related unless she is under the supervision of an adult and bringing electronics for the rest of the school year. She will use the school's phone for emergencies and emergencies only. Does that sound fair?"

Of course, being a jerk jock, Dumbbell made the idiotic decision to open his mouth again. "Yeah, it's fair to her, but not to us!"

"She didn't ask for your opinion, you juvenile delinquent."

Everybody in the auditorium turned to/glanced towards the entrance to find, making their way towards the stage, two presumable male members of authority. The first was a 36-year-old with dark brown hair with a white streak, medium sky blue eyes, a shaved mustache/goatee, a black overcoat above a dark-and-light blue suit, a navy blue scarf with leather gloves, and a pair of black leather business shoes. The second was a 41-year-old with light brown hair (light grey hair at the temples), light brown eyes, no mustache/goatee (or any other facial hair in sight), a black leather jacket, a brown zip-up sweater, a blue-and-white long-sleeved checkered shirt, rugged blue jeans, and brown leather business shoes. Both worn a stoic yet underlining forlorn expression on their respective faces, though it was only slightly in the former's case.

"All right, everyone. My name is Detective Stardust Balance and this is my partner Emerald Skyarrow. We need to speak with a Celestia...damn the person who dared write this in chicken-scratch."

"Detective Stardust, was it?" Celestia called from afar, "I'm Principal Celestia. How may I help you?"

"We need to talk with you and your sister, ma'am, in private." Emerald responded for his partner...not that he needed to.

As she and Luna left the stage, Raven Star was left in charge of everybody. Everybody did not include a not-yet returned Apple Bloom, who had not yet returned to the school and remained backstage as she "listened" to every word spoken:

"Dangflabbit, where is Apple Bloom? I swear to Christ, I'm gonna raw her hide so hard – "

"Watch your tone there, missy! You're not innocent in this, either!"

"Granny Smith's right, Applejack. We didn't listen to and protect Sunset."

"You were the first to turn, Rainbow Dash, so stop making a point that's already been made."

Suddenly, a noise that resembled a scream of heartbreak and trauma blared throughout the auditorium, terrifying and disoriented the occupants. Raven Star immediately recognized who the scream belonged to and bolted towards the entrance, the students catching a glimpse of a red-eyed Celestia hugging an equally solemn Luna in the process. Many murmurs were prompted in the crowd, all wondering what it was that prompted their normally levelheaded and well-intentioned principal to abnormally break down into tears. Eventually, she and her silent sister made their way into the auditorium and towards the stage. Taking up the microphone, the gut-wrenching message she gave was truly disturbing as it was tragic. Both women couldn't think of any way that this day could get any worse than it already was...until they did.

"Forgive me, students. I know that the last few weeks have been...unkind to you. You clamored for actions to be taken, and yet my staff and I did nothing. I would like to apologize to you for not properly handling this situation beforehand. However...I have received news that will bring light to this state of affairs. All of those who have wished for the accused to be punished accordingly...may rest well tonight as you have finally received your wish. Sunset Shimmer...has died."