Canterlot High was in total chaos. Instead of a usual friendly atmosphere, the school was filled with hate and despair. Many students were bickering back and forth, blaming and accusing each other from within the hallways. Some were having screaming matches, some either shoved or glared at each other out of spite as they passed each other in the hallways. It was all because of one individual from MyStable who caused all this mess in the first place, Anon-a-Miss.
A few days ago, a user named Anon-a-Miss posted Applejack’s “secret nickname,” on the webpage, and poor Applejack ended up being mocked and humiliated by other peers. But overtime, more and more secrets were posted online, humiliated and angered other students in the process. Because of that, many trusts were broken and students were in an all out war with each other everyday. It was worse than the time the Sirens took over during the Battle of the Bands. It was even worse than the days when Sunset Shimmer ruled the school with her iron hand.
Speaking of which, poor Sunset was in the center of it all this drama. Yesterday, she was accused by her now former friends for going back to her old ways as Anon-a-Miss despite her pleas that she wasn't. Then things are starting to get worse for her as many students not only hated her again but also bullied her for the things she didn't do. And now they all surrounded the sobbing Sunset as they threw insults and glares at her direction.
While this was going on, another student witnessed it all from around the corner and partly in the classroom. Unlike the others, instead of feeling any anger or atrocity towards Sunset Shimmer, this person felt... torn.
That person... was Apple Bloom, Applejack younger sister.
Normally, she's at class right now, but she chose to skip it because she did not want to be in a crossfire from her angry classmates. She also took an opportunity to follow Sunset Shimmer to see how she was doing from the Anon-a-Miss fiasco. To Apple Bloom's shock and horror, Sunset didn't do so well as she was on the ground, ready to have an emotional breakdown. All because of the damages Anon-a-Miss had done to both the school and Sunset.
The damages that she had done to Sunset.
Apple Bloom quickly head back into the classroom, not wanting to witness the scene anymore. She thought back to the events from less than a week ago. After getting denied from her sister to hang out with them at a sleepover for Sunset's benefit, Apple Bloom was furious. It was bad enough that her sister forgave the former bully (even though she doesn't deserve it), but lately they hang out a lot to the point that her sister didn't spend time with her anymore. In her anger, Apple Bloom created Anon-a-Miss page on MyStable and then posted Applejack’s secret to make Sunset Shimmer look bad. With the help from her CMC friends, they posted more embarrassing secrets of almost every student online while framing Sunset Shimmer. At the time, Apple Bloom thought Sunset deserved whatever torments that's coming here way, but now, after witnessing Sunset's misery from other students a few times, Apple Bloom wasn't so sure anymore. Instead of feeling any satisfaction that the former bully received just deserts, Apple Bloom felt no satisfaction whatsoever. In fact, she felt... something else. Something unpleasant and awful feeling from the pit of her stomach.
And her heart.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the classroom door opened behind her and then she heard someone let out a loud gasp.
“Apple Bloom?”
Apple Bloom turned and her eyes widened in surprise. There stood another pre-teen girl about the same age as Apple Bloom. She wore a pink diamond necklace, black shirt with a yellow coat with a white fluff collar. She wore a short black shorts that were slightly torn from the bottom with a grey skirt over it. She also wore yellow boots with white cuffs and black ribbons with a diamond jewel near the bottom of the boot. And she had a long purple and white striped hair with a tiara hairclip on the side of her head.
Apple Bloom blinked. “Diamond Tiara? What y’all doin’ here?”
Diamond Tiara used to be a longtime bully to her and her friends, teasing and mocking her whenever Diamond had a chance. Until a couple of months ago after the Battle of the Bands, the CMC discovered Diamond's home life that she kept hidden from everyone, including her best friend. Diamond was emotionally abused by her mother and was the one who "taught" her to act like what Diamond had become in the first place whenever Mr. Rich wasn't around. To make a long story short, Apple Bloom and the others got involved and helped lead Diamond to a right path, no longer following her mother's footsteps. And after the divorce between Mr. and Mrs. Rich, Diamond was much more friendly and became friends with the CMC, even if she still acted sassy from time to time.
Diamond Tiara stared back at Apple Bloom with her confused expression. “I was… looking for someone,” Diamond replied before entering the room. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you hang out with your CMC friends?”
“It’s… my free period,” Apple Bloom said slowly, not meeting Diamond's eyes. “The others still have class left so Ah figured Ah’ll wait until their classes is over.”
Diamond deadpanned. “You know, even for someone from the Apple Family, you're a terrible liar.”
“What!? I ain’t lying!” Apple Bloom snapped while glaring at Diamond.
Diamond crossed her arms. “You were supposed to be in Cranky’s class. I should know… we’re both in the same class!”
Apple Bloom grimaced for her forgetfulness, but then quickly changed back to her glaring expression. “Well shouldn’t you be in class too?”
“Don’t try to change the subject Apple Bloom!” said Diamond, narrowing her eyes. “Why are you really here?”
Apple Bloom scoffed. “Ah don’t have to answer to you Diamond!”
Diamond frowned. “C’mon Apple Bloom, I thought we’re friends now!”
“Only recently!” Apple Bloom added. “You’ve been a bully to me and my friends for years! Even after we become friends, you still act so snarky every now and then!”
Diamond huffed. “Look, I’m still learning, okay? And I’ll admit, I’m not proud for the things I've done in the past. But this isn’t about me, we’re talking about you!”
“Ah don’t have time fer this!” Apple Bloom snapped as she made her way towards her desk to get her book.
“This is about Anon-a-Miss, wasn’t it?” Diamond asked bluntly.
Apple Bloom stopped halfway but kept her back towards Diamond.
“And not only that, this is also about Sunset Shimmer?” Diamond pressed further.
Apple Bloom just stood for a moment before she picked up her book. “What’s there to talk about?” Apple Bloom said in her nonchalant tone. “Sunset’s Anon-a-Miss!”
Diamond raised her eyebrow. “Oh really? Sweetie Belle told me earlier how you guys put together Anon-a-Miss webpage and then spread secrets around just to frame Sunset Shimmer?”
“WHAT!?” Apple Bloom shrieked, turning back towards Diamond with wide eyes. “She told you!? Why did she do that!?”
Diamond smirked. “She didn’t. You just told me.”
Apple Bloom growled and inwardly cursed herself for easily falling into Diamond’s trap, causing the rich girl to chuckle.
“Even after we became friends, I haven’t lost my touch!”
Apple Bloom’s eyes narrowed. “So ya knew it was us this whole time?”
“I had a hunch,” Diamond admitted with a shrug. “After my… argument with my best friend,” she began with a glare, causing Apple Bloom to flinch a bit. “I went to MyStable to give Sunset a piece of my mind when I couldn’t find her! But then… I took a long, good look at Anon-A-Miss’ webpage. I realized… something about that webpage seemed… off. That’s when it hits me!” Diamond crossed her arms. “Even during her days when Sunset ruled this school, she still hid in the shadows and managed to not get her hands dirty. After all, she fooled your sister and her friends to split apart without revealing herself. But on Anon-a-Miss’ page, the way it was put together, including the color pallets, the avatar image and bio, it all seemed… too obvious to be Sunset Shimmer. Almost as if someone was trying to... frame her. And after I checked Anon-A-Miss' first couple of posts, specifically about yours and your friends sisters, I put two and two together."
Apple Bloom tighten her fists and her expression darken. “What do ya want Diamond? Are you goin’ to expose me? Are ya goin’ to blackmail me? Are you gonna use me and the others to attack more students?”
Diamond frowned, offended from Apple Bloom's words. “Apple Bloom, I’m hurt that you still thought ill of me, even after I reformed. I told you that we’re friends now. I mean sure, I’m very upset at you for what you did but, as your newly appointed “friend”, wasn’t I supposed to check on you out of concern?”
“You had a funny way of showin’ it,” Apple Bloom mumbled.
Diamond clearly heard Apple Bloom to chose to ignore it. “So, why did you and the others do it? Why hurting everyone with their secrets… including me?”
Apple Bloom flinched from Diamond's accusation tone but she stood strong. “We did it because… we wanted to teach Sunset a lesson.”
Diamond scoffed. “A "lesson"? A lesson to what?”
“For… being the biggest meanie,” Apple Bloom answered timidly.
Diamond sighed and shook her head. “Really? Granted, I was weary about her too. But after she helped your sister stopped those Sirens from the Battle of the Bands, she earned more than enough of my forgiveness. I figured you felt the same too from that day, but clearly I was wrong.”
“Yeah well, it’s hard fer me to forgive her fer putting my sister so much pain!" Apple Bloom snapped angrily. "And even after knowing what she had done, my sis decided to let her hang out with her and her friends daily, leaving little time for me!”
Apple Bloom's eyes widened and slapped her hand over her mouth after realizing what she said. Diamond then formed a sly smirk.
“Ooooooooooh! I see how this is!”
“S-see wat?” Apple Bloom stammered nervously.
Diamond smirked further. “You’re jealous of Sunset Shimmer!”
“WAT!? A-ah ain’t jealous of her!” Apple Bloom denied terribly.
Diamond shook her head. “Deny all you want Apple Bloom, ever since Sunset Shimmer joined your sister’s group, they pretty much hang out together all the time. I can also bet that it wasn’t just Sunset Shimmer you’re mad at, you’re also mad at your sister for excluding you and your friends on every social activities. And here I thought I’m the petty one!”
“You got it all wrong Diamond Tiara!" Apple Bloom argued. "Unlike you, I did for a good reason!”
“Good reason!?” Diamond yelled in disbelief. “You call humiliating every student in school just to destroy one person’s life was a “good reason”? Even I wouldn’t go that far!”
“I just want to give Sunset the proper punishment!" Apple Bloom yelled angrily. "It’s not fair that all she gets for bullying everybody, including my sister was a slap on the wrist and hangs out with my sister like nothin’ happened! If no one is going to do a dang thing about it, then… me and mah friends will have to punish her with our own hands!”
There was a moment of tense silence until Diamond’s eyes narrowed. “You think that they would agree with your methods if they’re still around?”
Apple Bloom frowned in confusion. “Who?”
“Your mom and dad. I bet they’ll be so proud of you!”
Diamond’s harsh comment apparently struck a nerve to Apple Bloom as she suddenly hurled a book at Diamond as hard as she could. Luckily, the book missed Diamond for about a few inches and it slammed against the wall, barely leaving a dent. Despite nearly get hit by Apple Bloom’s book, Diamond herself hardly even flinched while baring a stone faced expression. Apple Bloom breathed heavily with a look of pure rage on her face.
“GET OUT!” She screamed. “GET OUT AND LEAVE ME ALONE!”
Diamond remained emotionless for a moment, angering Apple Bloom further. Finally, Diamond sighed and turned towards the door.
“Fine. If that’s what you want, I’ll leave!”
Diamond was halfway out the door but she stopped and partly turned her head at Apple Bloom.
“But before I go, I want to ask you something, but I want you to answer to me honestly!”
Apple Bloom seethed but looked away. “What is it?”
Diamond fully faced Apple Bloom with her serious expression. “Was it worth it?”
Apple Bloom blinked and turned backed to Diamond. “W-what?”
“Was it worth it?” Diamond repeated.
Apple Bloom’s anger diminished somewhat and her face was slowly changed to her confused expression. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean Apple Bloom!” Diamond pressed, as she rolled her eyes. “From what I’ve gathered, you and your friends did not truly forgave Sunset Shimmer for what she had done to your sister and her friends, even after she apologized from the fall formal. And then after they forgave her and let her join them into their little group, you three, especially you Apple Bloom were jealous that your sisters spent more time with Sunset Shimmer than you. Of course, you could’ve just talk to your sister about that, but you probably figured that she wouldn't listen and that Sunset somehow had fooled them. So you decided to get back at Shimmer and punish her with your own hands by posting so many secrets of your sister and her friends on MyStable and make it look like it was her. Sure, you ended up hurting your sister from all the ridicule she has to go through, but you figured as long as you make them believe that it was Sunset, that’s all that matters. You know, “for the greater good”."
Apple Bloom was starting to tremble, but Diamond pushed on. "But that wasn’t enough, was it Apple Bloom? Maybe exposing your sister’s and her friends’ secrets wasn’t enough to convince everyone, or maybe you just wanted to torture Sunset some more. Whatever the reason, you three decided to keep going with other students to the point that our hallways is like a war-zone everyday, all while Sunset Shimmer suffered in the process. You know, if I was still a bully to you three, I would’ve been impressed. Because no one, not even me, heck, not even Sunset Shimmer had ever been this cruel!”
“STOP!” Apple Bloom shouted as she clenched her eyes shut, preventing any tears from leaking out. “J-just… stop!”
“Why? Was it because I’m wrong or was it because it was the truth?” Diamond asked coolly. When there was no response from Apple Bloom except the sounds of her sniffles, Diamond continued. “Face it Apple Bloom, no matter how you look at it, you and your friends are even bigger bullies than Sunset Shimmer ever was!”
“But what about when she turned into a she-demon?” Apple Bloom cried desperately.
“That doesn’t count and you know it!” Diamond shot back. “She was corrupted by that crown’s magic and wasn’t herself at the time. But even with that, what you three did to this school within a week was still worse than what Sunset had done during her three years of bullying!” Diamond waved her hand towards the classroom door where the sounds of bickering and shouting coming from the other students from the hallway. “And now here we are, the school is now in chaos, many trusts were broken, your sister and her friends disowned Sunset, and Sunset herself is now all alone, crying and suffering in the middle of the hallway with angry students surrounding her. All before Christmas no less!”
Apple Bloom turned away in shame, refusing to face Diamond again now that she couldn’t hold back her tears anymore.
Diamond narrowed her eyes at the quivering girl. “Now I’m asking you again… was it worth it?”
Apple Bloom paused. She thought back from last night when her sister returned home from school. When Applejack told Apple Bloom that she is no longer friends with Sunset Shimmer, Apple Bloom recalled how her sister sounded hurt and angry as she was speaking. But, Apple Bloom also recalled that her sister’s eyes were also sad and pained, which worried her greatly. And later that night, Apple Bloom sneaked by Applejack’s bedroom door so she could check up on her. But when she listened in, the only sound she heard were quiet sobs from her older sister. Apple Bloom guessed it was probably either Applejack suffered from days of mockery from other students or despite her anger towards Sunset, she was secretly upset that she lost her friend or... maybe both. Whatever the reason, Apple Bloom felt incredibly guilty that night because she's the cause of everything.
All because of her jealousy and pettiness.
“…no. It wasn’t.” Apple Bloom croaked quietly.
“...then I think you know what you should do.”
Apple Bloom looked up at Diamond in confusion as tears still running down her cheeks. “Do what?”
Diamond's expression soften somewhat. “C’mon Apple Bloom, I may be new to this whole friendship thing, but even I know when you done something wrong, you have to make things right. It’s what I have to go through after you three showed me the light. Heck, it’s what Sunset has to go through after the fall formal!”
Apple Bloom wiped her face with her arm while looked uncertain. “But… if Ah… and the crusaders confessed… the school will hate us. My sister… will hate me. She’ll throw me out like she did with Sunset.”
Diamond sighed in annoyance. “Once again Apple Bloom, you have no idea how lucky you are! You’re living with the most loving family in this entire town. Sure, your sister will feel hurt, upset or even angry at you for what you did, but I doubt she’ll hate you, let alone kick you out.”
“What about Sunset?” Apple Bloom asked with a look of regret. “After everythin' that happened, I don’t blame her for hatin' me and never forgive me for this... Ah wouldn't forgive mahself.”
“I can’t speak for Sunset, but it’s up to her to decide if she forgives you or not. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if she did end up forgiving you and your friends,” said Diamond.
“What makes you say that?” Apple Bloom questioned.
Diamond shrugged. “Call it a hunch.”
“And the school?” Apple Bloom said with nervousness.
Diamond frowned and furrowed her brows. “That… is a much difficult question to answer. Some people may be willing to forgive you three. Our school is full of forgiving people after all. Then again, there are others who won't forgive so easily, especially with the way they treated Sunset weeks after the fall formal."
Apple Bloom winced at the thought of other students glaring at her as she walked through the hallway or the possibility of them giving her the "piece of their minds" when no one is looking. Seeing Apple Bloom's discomfort, Diamond sighed and spoke in a somewhat softer tone.
"Take my advice Apple Bloom, the road to forgiveness is not an easy one, you just have to take it day by day until the people you've wronged will realize that you’re truly sorry or they decided to just move on and then you can put the past behind you.” Diamond thought for a moment before adding, “Kinda like how Sunset had to go through after the fall formal with the help of your sister and her friends when she’s at her lowest point. Just a food for thought.”
Diamond then turned towards the door. “I won't rat you out to your sister, Sunset Shimmer or Principal Celestia, but if I were you... I would make things right. Now if you excuse me… I need to find and apologize to my best friend from the damage you caused.”
With that, Diamond walked out he door and into the hallway to look for her best friend.
Apple Bloom just stood there for quite some time after Diamond left, digesting all the words she said to her. She let out a long sigh as she walked over to pick up the book that she tossed and then walked out into the hallway. While Apple Bloom could tell that Diamond was mad at her, she was at least trying to help her see the light... in her own way. As much as she hated to admit it, she knew that Diamond was right.
Suddenly, she heard someone running past her. Apple Bloom looked up just in time to see Sunset Shimmer rushing toward the school entrance with a determined look, probably to go look for her friends to convince them one last time that she wasn't Anon-a-Miss. Apple Bloom's guilt returned tenfold for all the things she did to Sunset. She realized that Sunset was alone and never had friends before the fall formal. Her sister and the Rainbooms became friends with Sunset to teach her the things about friendship and to become a better person, only for Apple Bloom to nearly destroy everything.
And nearly becoming the very person that she hated like how Sunset Shimmer was... but worse.
With a somber sigh, Apple Bloom picked up her cell phone to call her friends. It was time to put an end to Anon-a-Miss and will make things right with the school, her sister, and especially to Sunset Shimmer.
Even if her road to forgiveness would be a very long one.
Author's Note
So... yeah. This is my one shot about Anon-a-Miss, but with a story focused on Apple Bloom because... there really wasn't a lot of Apple Bloom centered stories so I thought I give it a shot.
Let me know what you all think. All criticism is welcomed, but please be polite about it.
