Guilty Conscience

(7:00 PM)

To say everybody was horrified beyond words would be the understatement of the century.

Well, more than a few words were actually exchanged, but they were lost amidst the confused and terrified screams of the crowd. Whatever they thought of Sunset Shimmer, they weren't asking for a rotting corpse in her place. Indeed, the occupants in the auditorium were appalled to learn that accused tormentor for approximately two and a half weeks was found dead (rather anticlimactically) by what Principal Celestia described as "natural causes"...and what Detectives Stardust and Emerald described as a "gunshot wound". Celestia had broken down again and was subsequently hugged by her sister; she cursed herself for abiding by the students rather than her daughter figure who she took in after her own parents abandoned her. She was dangerously close to believing that she had gone back to her old ways, but the truth revealed and the lies exposed was much worse than she expected. Luna wasn't doing any better, but there was no crying involved; there wasn't any since the day of their parents' funeral. She was the only one besides the select few of students who truly believed that Sunset was innocent beyond a reasonable doubt. She was more than distraught at the news, she was downright devastated. As of this moment, she made a vow: No matter how long, no matter what happened...

Anon-A-Miss was dead on arrival.

Speaking of the "select few", out of those students who were saddened by the news of Sunset's untimely demise, Flash Sentry was the one hit with the most disheartening gut punch. Guilt instantly washed over him like a land-wasting tsunami bent on wiping away everything in its sight. To himself, he felt responsible for all this madness. He didn't feel like he treated Sunset well (not that he was abusive, mind you) and lead her down the right path. He thought that leaving with her in the company of five trusted friends of his would be the perfect starting point to this path. He thought right. It was the perfect starting point...to the imperfect breaking point. He trusted them, she trusted them, they both trusted them.

So what the fuck happened? Absurd accusations came rushing toward the forefront...that's what the fuck happened.

Meanwhile, the two detectives watched everyone with a keen eye to detail. Emerald seemed to notice the lack of concern held by his partner Stardust, but then took notice at his hands balling into fists. He solemnly sighed as he turned his attention towards the principal and her sister, the vice principal. It was made crystal clear that the moment the dam of tears burst, those two cared deeply for Miss Shimmer and were completely devastated by her passing, especially the principal herself. The vice principal, on the other hand, seemed like she was about ready to murder someone. Okay, someone you need to look out for...in case a roaring rampage of revenge commences.

As two of the three main instigators, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo felt the worst out of any of the people in the room. Much like a thriller movie that builds its suspense before letting it erupt, their conversation started as small talk and gradually climbed up the hill of big screaming:

"She's...she's dead?"

"Yes, Scoots.... Sunset's dead."

. . .

"Because of us...?"

"Because of us."

. . .

"We need to tell them."

"Sweetie Belle, Sunset is dead! You said so yourself! Do you what would happen if they found it was all us? Unlike you and Apple Bloom...I don't have a sister! Rainbow Dash is the closest thing to it, and I can't lose her! Not right now!"

. . .

"Alright then. But sooner or later, they will find out."

"You're right. We'll tell them...just not yet."

. . .

"Where's Apple Bloom?"

"... Really? You just realized she was gone?"

Indeed, Apple Bloom had not yet returned to the school, instead preferring to wander aimlessly around the city. She spent the minutes' majority glancing worriedly back and forth for any sign of the police showing up at any moment. Paranoia was beginning to get the best of her, the choice of taking Sunset's Beretta being instantly regretted upon. However, taking a fully loaded weapon from a deceased person was the least of her problems. Framing said deceased person of a truly unforgivable crime which led to the death of said person was something that she could never take back. Blackmailing a friend who stood by her since the beginning of the school year two years prior most certainly didn't help matters.

Insanity seemed to be aiding her paranoia, too, as she began to hear an eerily sounding song played all over Canterlot. It was called...well, she had forgotten the title, but not the chorus:

I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun

Rule of symbolism, I suppose?

The second electronics store she passed by broadcasted a certain news report which made her stop dead in her tracks. A crowd of civilians that gathered around the flat screen were clearly horrified at the footage played, but not as much as Apple Bloom. As she was the murderer of the girl in said footage, she had every reason for her horror to play out like said footage:

"This just in: A young girl has been found dead in an abandoned warehouse that was burning outside the city limits. The girl has been identified as 17-year-old Sunset Shimmer, the so-called bad girl of Canterlot High. However, her reputation seemed to lift a burden off her shoulders after saving the school's concert from a trio of troublemaking delinquents known as the "Sirens". This has been since overshadowed by a social media scandal which its evidence point to her as the main suspect, a suspicion confirmed when a confession video starring her was posted just two hours before her death. So, was it a case of suicide or homicide? More information when we get it. For now, I'm Shandra Jimenez, a real reporter, reporting from Canterlot City News Headquarters."

Apple Bloom felt that sickening feeling swirling in her stomach again and ran off with teary eyes. Thankfully, nobody had noticed her fleeing the scene. Nobody except...

The young country girl wiped away any incoming tears and slowed to a stop in front of the local church. Doubting that anyone besides the minister would idle around at late hours, she entered inside and took a front row seat. Clasping her hands up and bowing her head down, she began to testify against the crime she committed:

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. I have...killed someone. I framed her for something unforgivable when she was innocent. Like me, she was suffering as she never found her true family and who they are. In the end, it didn't even matter, as she killed herself as a result of the torment she suffered. Unlike me, she found peace within the afterlife. I didn't mean for her to take her own life. It was an accident, a really terrible accident that I can't take back. What do I do?"

"There's nothing you can do, actually."

Apple Bloom jumped out of her skin upon her ears perking up at the voice behind her. She turned around to find a boy her age closing the door behind him. He had white hair and black eyes...with all-black clothing. Black coat, black suit, black dress shoes: everything was painted black.

"You could, however, tell the truth and pray that your judges, juries, and executioners show mercy on your soul. Your older sister is the Element of Honesty, right?"

"... What?"

"I know what you did, Apple Bloom."

"Um, what are you talking about?"

"I may seem insane, but I'm not stupid. Sunset was framed for a crime you committed. And don't give that 'I don't know what you're talking' bullshit. I clearly heard your confession play out like a fucking fiddle."

Apple Bloom was beginning to become more and more confused and terrified by the mere presence of this abnormal boy. She doubted that he witnessed the entire confrontation between her and Sunset, but she also doubted that he would be kidding himself if he had any incriminating evidence that could place the three of them in some very hot water. The boy himself was beginning to lose his patience.

"Hey! Don't go daydreaming on me, you hear?"

"Right! Right!" Apple Bloom shook her head while backtracking away from him.

"You're going to tell them the truth, do you understand? That was not a suggestion, that was a command. Whenever you want to them is up to you."

The boy smirked and began to walk away, but stopped when Apple Bloom called out to him: "Wait! Who are you?" He briefly glanced over his shoulder before turning away to respond:

"Just someone...who cares deeply about you."

A confused-more-than-ever Apple Bloom watched the boy exit the church as a cold breeze entered. That cold breeze reappeared behind her, prompting a full glance behind. This in turn caused her to notice the fast-falling snow outside and frown to herself: Why did he leave? Doesn't he know that the weather outside is frightful...?

The look of realization soon crossed her face: Wait... I didn't know, either...

Which gave way to terror as she turned back to the entrance and gasped in that very emotion: Oh, no! The others... Before taking off towards the school.

She failed to notice the shadow watching.