I will hurt you for this. I don't know how yet, but give me time. A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you'll know the debt is paid.
George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)

The rest of Sunset’s week flew by faster than she thought it would. Since it was the holiday season, her neighbors had much longer lists and therefore more shopping trips for Sunset to make. Thankfully, Flash’s father had given her the motorcycle early, which expedited her chores and allowed her to get more work done faster. Sunset even picked up a small pine tree, a few tiny ornaments, a wreath and a few other decorations for her flat. She was going to invite the girls over for hearths warming and sent out a group text.

SS- Hey, u guys wana com ovr 4 hearths warming
SD- YES!!!!!! :D :D :D :D <3 <3 <3
AD - Sounds like fun. I shall attend as well.
AB- whatever not lik i hav anythng betr 2 do
SD- well brng food 2!!!! Ooooo & gifts!!!!
AD - What time should we arrive?/u]
SS-hw abut 2:30pm?
AD -That will be just fine.
SD-cnt wait!! :) :)
AB- fine
SS-great c u 3 sat
SD-3 days til Christmas!!!!

Sunset put her phone away with a large grin on her face before heading off to work, she should be getting her holiday bonus today. She felt lighter than she had since before the holidays had started. Things seemed to be looking up for her until she saw Rarity coming out of her work place. It caused her to feel a sinking sensation in her gut and a sense of dread creeping up her spine. Sunset held her head high and hoped for the best but was certain Rarity had been up to no good.

With a sense of caution, she walked into the restaurant and spotted her assistant manager behind the counter preparing the sushi. She also noticed that he was looking at her rather sternly. “You’re wanted in the office,” he told her in a gruff manner. Sunset nodded and headed for that way. Upon her arrival, she knocked on the door and a another gruff voice told her to come in, an instruction to which she complied.

Upon walking in, she saw her boss sitting at the desk with his fingers laced under his chin. He told Sunset to have a seat, and followed through with his request. She sightly begged for a simple reprimand a warning to behave herself, a second chance. Sure she had money coming but since she was going to college every little bit would help. Besides she was loth to depend entirely on her family’s money. Sure it was technically her’s but it had come from her father. She waited while doing her best not to fidget. If she was fired, it wasn't her bosses fault as he was doing his job as they had to take every complaint seriously and the customer was always right. It would be Rarity's fault.

Her manager, Steel Resolve, came in only a few minutes later. He had steel-silver hair that was slicked back and dark blue skin. “Ms. Shimmer,” he said with concern, “we recently received a frankly disturbing complaint about you.” Sunset sighed to herself and allowed him to continue. “I can’t say whether it’s true or not, but the customer in question demanded that you be fired immediately. As you know the customer is always right, you were a hard worker and will be missed. Here is your last paycheck and your holiday bonus, please wash and turn in your uniform by Monday.”

Sunset accepted the check and nodded before asking, “Did the customer say why I should be fired?” She felt it prudent to know exactly what happened so that she could confirm her suspicions.

Steel then put his hand to his chin before responding, “Something about verbal abuse towards her and her friends. I’ll be honest, I didn’t believe it when I heard it but we have to take every complaint seriously. Where ever you choose to work next I will put in a good word for you. We will miss having you around here.”

Sunset sighed and stood up from her seat before thanking Steel for being a good boss and telling him to say hi to his uncle Iron Will for her. She then walked out sadly and found herself in the food court of the mall. She couldn't believe this, Rarity actually had her fired. Sunset wondered what else was going to go wrong. She was definitely grateful they at least never found out where she lived. Who knows what they would have done had that been the case. Later she would be pissed, later she would rage and burn with fury. Right now however she wanted to wallow in misery for just a little bit. Tomorrow she would find a new job, perhaps something close to campus or at the very least far away from this mall. She knew where the three usually hung out and which stores and restaurants they prefered.

With a sigh, Sunset got changed and headed to her bike. When she got there, she tried to get it to start, but nothing happened. She took a look at the engine to find that her spark plugs were missing and her tires had been slashed. She then noticed that her seat was covered in a sticky, rancid substance. It had been snowing out mixed with a bit of rain so she had assumed that was the reason for the wet seat. She should have been paying attention to her surroundings and not lost in her own thoughts. Sunset gagged form the smell as she identified it as sour apple juice. ‘Oh god!’ she gagged, ‘Who knows how old this shit is?’ Stepping away from the smell, Sunset quickly texted Flash.

SS-can u pick me up form mall? Brng tow bad bik
FS-wht hppnd
SS-tll lter
FS-k

Sunset noticed a sliver of hay on the ground next to the front tire. She should have remembered her uncles word's sooner. "Pony's see but they rarely observe." She walked back to her bike and quickly grabbed it before stepping away again. She took a whiff of the hay and could smell fresh apples. That combined with the spoiled apple juice on the seat and the fact that her bike had been tampered with pointed to one person. Applejack had done this to her baby. She tried being the bigger person and leaving things be, but clearly that was no longer an option and never should have been in hindsight. She wouldn't mix Flash up in the mess as he was a good guy. Thankfully, she happened to be friends with three former villainesses. Sunset spotted Thunder’s tow truck with Flash in the driver's seat. She quickly flagged him down, thankful he had come and his over exuberant father. Upon seeing her signal, Flash pulled up beside her and stepped out of the truck.

“Hey Sunset, what happened to your bike?” he asked as he stepped closer and got a whiff of the rotten juice. “And what's that god awful smell?!”

“Revenge. Well, more like sour apple juice but it's the same thing in this case,” she said looking over at her beloved bike. “I’m 97% percent sure it was Applejack. A piece of hay and sour apple juice isn't much proof unfortunately.”

“True,” conceded Flash, “so do you want to file a report anyway? So that if it happens again you’re covered?”

Sunset sighed and said, “Yeah, probably a good idea. I didn't want to involve them but it's for the best.”

They got the bike loaded up after they took pictures of the damage. “Don't worry Sunset,” reassured Flash, “we’ll get your bike fixed up in no time at all.”

Sunset sighed and thanked Flash as they got in the truck and drove toward Flash’s place. Along the way, Sunset called the authorities and told them about her ruined bike.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Adagio scrolled through the Mystable account called Anon-a-miss. The central theme of the page seemed to be reds and golds with a silhouette of Sunset. How this measly attempt at a frame job fooled anyone over the age of ten was way beyond her. Not to mention the secrets were laughably mundane. Unfortunately, Adagio hadn’t spent enough time at the school to have a decent idea of who the perpetrator could be since she could hardly remembered anyone's names. After all, what would be the point in making friends with what was essentially going to be your food? However, Sunset was proving to be the exception, especially with how Sonata had clearly gotten attached to her. If Adagio hadn’t known any better, she’d think that Sonata was in love with Sunset. If she had been the type to deny or hide what she felt, the sister thing would be a cop out denial of sorts. If they had enough power, they could enchant the school again to become their and Sunset’s slaves.

Getting back to the task at hand, Adagio continued to scroll through the page reveling in the anger within each post all the while. It made her wish that she had held off on infiltrating the school until now so that she and her sisters could take in the anger being thrown around the way it was. However there were more subtle ways of getting what she wanted.

“Dagi, why are you grinning like that?” a voice suddenly rang out and knocked Adagio out of her thoughts. She turned around and her her blue-haired sister standing behind her with an innocently curious look on her face.

Adagio calmed down and gave her sister a somewhat sinister smile. “Oh nothing much, just planning something,” she said as she turned back to the computer and resumed her scrolling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Applebloom was scrolling through mystable herself checking on the goings with her sister and her friends when she saw a post by Pinkie with Fluttershy tagged in it that simply stated, We believe in Sunset Shimmer.’ She knew it was a matter of time before the others joined in. They had gotten rid of Sunset and they couldn't let her come back. Just in case that people would start looking for the real Anon-A-Miss. She quickly shut her door and pulled out her phone. She then scrolled through her contacts and dialed Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo’s respective numbers. Once she heard them answer, Apple Bloom got straight to the point and said, “Girls, we might be in trouble. Ah saw that fluttershy an’ pinkie are friends with Sunset again.”

Scootaloo gasped and frantically asked, “Oh no! Do you think they found out about us!?”

“Calm down Scoots,” Sweetie Belle reassured, “I'm sure if they knew they would have told our sisters.”

“Sweetie belle's right,” sighed Apple Bloom, “if they knew, we'd be dead or worse, grounded. Alls we gotta do is post a few more blogs.”

“We do have plenty of material to post still. People are still sending in stuff.” Sweetie Belle said before a couple of taps could be heard in the background.

“I guess so, but can we wait until after Christmas? My aunts don't want me on the internet too much right now. Something about spending quality time with them and not the phone,” Scootaloo told them.

“Ah agree,” nodded Apple Bloom

“Same here,” agreed Sweetie

They said their goodbyes just in time as Granny Smith chose opened Apple Bloom’s door and walked in.

“Whatcha doin with the door shut ‘Bloom? Ya only shut it when yer up ta somthin’,” she looked at her with suspicion. “Ya best not be on that new fangled phone thing durin’ family time.”

Apple Bloom gave her an innocent look and said, “Ah was just wrappin’ presents is all. Ah promise not ta be on mah phone.”

Granny Smith still looked at with suspicion but nodded and walked away. Apple Bloom let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and put her phone away.

Author's Note

As always a big thank you to Speculore i couldnt get this far with out u