Anon-A-Miss: Anguishby CapNTilfyChaptersPrologueTormentAdmissionsIn the HallwayCrime and PunishmentFriendship EmergencyEpiloguePrologueAuthor's Note "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves." -Confucius Prologue Apple Bloom entered the cafeteria and glanced around in the hopes that her follow Crusaders would be around. She cupped her hands to her mouth. "Scootaloo! Sweetie Belle!" Nobody came, and she began to worry... Sweetie Belle scanned the cafeteria, then saw Apple Bloom looking worried. She hurried over to her friend. "Apple Bloom!" The farmer turned, gasped, then hugged Sweetie Belle with a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness!" Sweetie Belle broke the hug. "You haven't seen Wallflower around, have you?" Apple Bloom shook her head. "Y'all seen Scoots?" Sweetie Belle shook her head, but she understood the implication of her friend's question. All three of them needed to be together. "No splitting up, then." "Correct. We should look for her together." The pair walked off in search of their fellow Crusader. Scootaloo entered the cafeteria, fueled by her adrenaline spike. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had to be nearby... She grunted in frustration. All of this noise was making it hard to focus, but she had to push through it. The other girls needed to know they were being used! Trixie strolled into the cafeteria, eagerly anticipating the impending mob. She even surprised herself with this genius plan! The expression on Sunset Shimmer's face would no doubt be priceless! The illusionist grit her teeth, recalling the night that her rightful victory was stolen from her. Damn her! Trixie was glad she joined forces with Wallflower Blush. They made a pretty great team! Her phone buzzed, and she smiled widely. The trigger had been pulled! Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle took out their phones, and their eyes widened in horror. The two glanced at each other, disbelief on their faces. All of the students gradually stopped shouting at each other, causing Scootaloo to feel dread in the pit of her stomach. "Wh-What's going on?" She took out her phone, read the message... Then in her shock, uttered a word she rarely said. "Fuck." Wallflower Blush looked around, and a smile slowly formed on her face. Students began to get up from their chairs, glaring daggers in Sunset Shimmer's direction. Her friends were likely going to get caught in the crossfire, but that would be a small price to pay. It was their fault for not believing her, after all. The gardener ran a hand through her hair as the shouts of anger had began anew. She noticed the rest of the Rainbooms form a circle around her foe. It was almost heartwarming, really. Trixie folded her arms and watched as the Rainbooms tried to protect Sunset Shimmer. She knew Wallflower would have her back if they were ever in a situation like that. She found the sight to be touching, if only mildly so. And yet, something in the back of her mind began to gnaw at her... Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom stared in awe at the mob that began to descend upon their sisters, then shook their heads and snapped out of it. "We've gotta do somethin'!" Apple Bloom tugged at a student's shirt, only to be gently pushed away. She tried again, with the same result. The farmer looked at Sweetie Belle, who simply stood there. "Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo rushed to her two friends, finally reuniting with them. "There you are," Apple Bloom exclaimed as she got off of the floor. "Guys," Scootaloo said. "There's something you need to-" Scootaloo was cut off as a near-deafening shriek pierced her ears. Trixie watched as a student broke through the Rainboom's defenses. Oh god... What were they going to do to Sunset?! Before she had further time to think, a shriek echoed throughout the lunchroom. Wallflower ran around the cafeteria in an effort to get a good view of Sunset Shimmer's fate. The mob of students drew closer, and closer... Suddenly, a scream stopped everyone in their tracks. It was unlike anything Wallflower had ever heard before! A barely audible thud soon followed, along with the Rainbooms in a panic. The gardener tried to listen in... "...tarnation happened?!" "Sunset!" "Please be okay..." "...unconscious..." The students started moving away from the scene, parting to make room for something. "Get the fuck out of our way," yelled Rainbow Dash. The athlete, along with Applejack, carried a motionless Sunset Shimmer out of the cafeteria as the rest of the girls followed. Wallflower Blush gasped at the sight. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stared as their sisters and their friends carried Sunset off. There was something haunting about seeing someone limp and seemingly lifeless, and the scream she had uttered played through their heads. The trio flinched. Trixie shuddered as the Rainbooms passed her by. The sound of Sunset Shimmer's shriek and fainting played in her head, causing her to shudder again. It was at that moment that the illusionist came to a realization. ...Oh god. I'm horrible... Sure, Sunset needed to learn not to upstage her... but she didn't mean to make her scream like that! What had she done?! Wallflower flinched as she felt a pang of guilt. She thought Sunset would just freak out and flee from the cafeteria, not have some sort of psychotic breakdown! The gardener grabbed her head with a yelp as the scream and thud replayed in her mind. She figured turning the whole school against each other... Wallflower paused. She... She turned the whole school against each other. Just to make her feel better about herself. For revenge.... ...Just like Sunset. Tears began streaming down her face upon her revelation. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Trixie. "Hey," the illusionist said quietly. Wallflower shot over to her friend and burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. Trixie flinched and stood still for a moment, then hugged Wallflower as she felt tears of her own begin to fall. "...What..." The illusionist turned her head in the direction of the voice she heard to see Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo standing together, their expressions a mixture of anger and confusion. "What did you do to her," shouted Sweetie Belle. Wallflower was still beside herself, unable to answer the question. Sweetie Belle sighed heavily. "Fine," she said angrily. "You stay there, then." "Where are you three going," Trixie asked. "Ain't it obvious," Apple Bloom asked. "We're going to tell the girls everything!" Wallflower shuddered, then looked at the Crusaders. "No... I will." Trixie broke the hug. "Me too." "Guess we're gonna do this together, huh," Scootaloo asked. "Sure looks that way," Sweetie Belle said. The five girls made their way to the nurse's office. TormentSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.AdmissionsThe room fell deathly silent as the Rainbooms stared at Wallflower and Trixie expectantly. The illusionist tightened her grip on Wallflower's hand. "Yeah," she said quietly, averting her gaze. "It's us... we're Anon-A-Miss." Rainbow Dash got off her chair again, only to feel a strong hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see Applejack shaking her head. The athlete grumbled and sat back down, glaring furiously at the duo. Sunset Shimmer stared at the two, her expression unreadable. Wallflower tightened her grip on Trixie's hand. "A... A-Aren't you going to say something? A-Aren't you angry?" The Rainbooms looked to Sunset, who had kept her expression. The rocker sighed heavily. "Yes. I'm angry," she said in a surprisingly calm tone. "I can't remember the last time I've been this pissed. There are so, so many things that want to say to the both of you." Trixie and Wallflower closed their eyes, as though they were about to be struck by an invisible force. "...But I won't." Everyone gasped. "What," Rainbow Dash roared. Sunset looked at Rainbow. "Don't misunderstand me," she said, then turned back to the duo. "If were to say what I really, truly wanted to say, I would just be kicking a dog while it's down. And as justified as I'd be, as cathartic as it would feel... it would only make you feel worse." She sighed and looked away. "That's what the old me would do. But that's not who I am." She got up off of the bed. "Not anymore." "I-I don't understand," Trixie said. "Why are you letting us off so easy?!" Sunset began to walk towards the two. "In case you've forgotten," she said with a sad smile. "I've been where you two are." Wallflower teared up. "S-Sunset..." she let go of Trixie's hand and began walking towards her. "Stop," Sunset said as she held out a hand. "I'm not in the mood for hugs." Wallflower back off a couple of steps. "I understand," she said with a defeated look. "Yeah, that's fair enough," Trixie said. "You're going to be given a lot of crap from the student body, though... I should know." Sunset sighed heavily. YOU'RE A MONSTER! Sunset yelped and nearly collapsed on the floor. "Sunset, darling," Rarity said worriedly as she and Fluttershy picked her up. "Guess ya shouldn'a got out of bed," Applejack said. Sunset returned to the bed as a wave of dizziness swept over her. "Are you okay," Pinkie asked. The rocker took a deep breath, then heaved a sigh. "I don't know." she shook her head. "But maybe talking about it will help." she flinched as her head began to hurt. "Don't push yourself," Rainbow Dash said. "No," Sunset said. "I think I should have told you the night that it happened." Trixie and Wallflower exchanged confused glances, then looked back at Sunset with the same expressions. "The night that what happened," Wallflower asked. "The night of the Fall Formal. When I was on the other side of the rainbow." Sunset looked her friends. "I'm going to need your support for this. It'll explain what was happening to me today..." "Oh, my..." Fluttershy paused for a moment. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Sunset smiled warmly. "I've got you guys by my side. I'm going to be just fine." You're a monster! The rocker flinched again, then took a deep breath. "When I was engulfed by the rainbow, I had visions of my life here in the human world... the worst parts. I-I almost died of starvation my first month here." She shuddered. "Time flowed normally, so I couldn't tell that I was still at the Fall Formal. Speaking of which..." You're a monster! Sunset grabbed her head and yelped. "It's okay, Sunset," Rainbow said reassuringly, despite the panic she felt. "We're here for you, darling." Sunset choked up and mentally braced herself. She had done the easy part... "Wh-When I-I had the sledgehammer at the portal, I s-said I w-wasn't a..." tears streaming down her face as she let out a sob. Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack hugged Sunset, letting their warmth comfort her. Sunset shuddered again. "I... said I wasn't a monster. My demon form appeared in f-front of me and..." You're a monster! The rocker spasmed and grit her teeth, then looked up to her friends. "We've got you, Sugarcube," Applejack said as tears flowed down her cheeks. "And y-you've got this," Pinkie said as she barely contained a sob of her own. Sunset gulped and took a deep breath. "Every terrible thing that I did..." she glanced at Wallflower and grunted as a pang of guilt hit her. "Every thing that I did was shown to me. All of the powerlessness. All of the rage. All of the sorrow. All of it was channeled into me." She shuddered again. "I had never been in such pain before." The rocker sniffled. "I had to resign myself to the fact that I was, indeed, a m-monster." Silence again reigned in the room, save for Sunset's muffled sobs as Rarity handed her a box of tissues. "T-Thank you," she said. A moment later, Sunset continued. "I was so sad and confused. I turned down Twilight's offer and went home." She blew her nose. "That night I didn't get any sleep because I was haunted by what I felt and saw." The rocker knew what she had to do next. She had no doubt in her mind it would be painful for everyone, but it needed to be done. Sunset Shimmer looked straight at Wallflower Blush, who looked as though she was on the verge of bursting into tears. The rocker took a deep breath, then exhaled shakily. "Th-The next day, I saw you, Wallflower. I felt so, so terrible... th-that I ran up to the roof of Canterlot High... and I jumped off!" The rocker broke again, sobbing uncontrollably. Wallflower stood still and sniffled. "O-Oh god," she whispered. It would be several more minutes before Sunset calmed down with a heavy sigh. She looked at the gardener and the illusionist. "Is there anything you need to say before you go to Principal Celestia's office?" Wallflower took a deep breath, then sighed and looked at Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack. "We got your sisters involved... they're just outside the door. We were going to use them as fall guys." "What," Rarity bellowed in fury while Applejack and Rainbow Dash exchanged confused looks. "Scapegoats," Sunset explained while folding her arms. Applejack's expression soured quickly. "...Y'all were gonna frame mah sister?!" Rainbow Dash stood still, quivering with rage. "Leave. Now," she said quietly. "Unless you want me and AJ to put you both in these beds the hard way." Wallflower and Trixie made a hasty exit as Rainbow Dash grabbed a pillow and punched it as hard as she could. "Motherfuckers..." She took a deep breath, then sighed heavily, staring at the ground until an idea came to her. "Pinkie? Flutters? Why don't you take Sunset home so she can get some rest?" "I like that idea," Sunset said. "But what are the rest of you going to do?" "We're gonna talk to our sisters, of course!" In the HallwayApple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stood out in the hallway. The trio shuffled uneasily, nervously awaiting their sisters. The expressions from Wallflower and Trixie's faces as the they both left the nurse's office did nothing to assuage their concerns. Within minutes, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack exited the nurse's office and entered the hallway. The Crusaders ran up to their respective sisters, then bombarded them with questions. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Rainbow held her arms out. "One at a time, please," Rarity said, gaining the younger girls' attention. The Crusaders glanced at each other, then nodded. "Is... is Sunset okay," Apple Bloom asked, wide-eyed. Applejack hissed through her teeth and looked away for a moment. "She's been better..." "But don't worry," Rainbow interjected. "She's in awesome hands!" "Indeed," Rarity said. "We'll make sure she'll be back to her old self!" "A-Are we in any trouble," Sweetie Belle asked as she wrung her hands nervously. "Not at all! Wallflower and Trixie told us everything." The Crusaders heaved a collective sigh of relief, visibly relaxing themselves. "But if it's all the same to y'all," Applejack said. "We'd like to hear your side of things." The Crusaders proceeded to tell their sisters everything, from their run-in with Wallflower up to the present. Once they finished, Rainbow smiled warmly and placed a hand on Scootaloo's shoulder. "Scoots... I get why you did what you did, but sometimes you have to know when to stand up to your friends if you think what they're doing is wrong." The young daredevil grinned sheepishly as she looked away from Rainbow Dash. "You could have simply communicated with us rather than conspire with Wallflower and Trixie," Rarity said. "Yeah," Applejack chimed in. "We woulda understood your feelings. We coulda sorted things out and avoided this whole mess." Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle blushed in response. The door to the nurse's office slowly opened, and out came Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, then the Crusaders paled as the haggard form of Sunset Shimmer followed. The rocker's normally vibrant hair had lost its luster, the red and gold colors faded. Her face was as pale as the girls'! She slowly turned her head to gaze at the Crusaders, and the trio flinched upon hearing her scream in their minds. Sunset grimaced at the sight before her. How many more people was she going to hurt?! She shuddered, then covered her eyes. "I-I'm s-sorry..." she sniffled. "Don't say that, Sunset," Sweetie Belle exclaimed. "P-Please!" Sunset backed up until she bumped into a wall. "I just... need some space." Rarity walked over to her sister and held her tightly. "Do not worry," she said softly, stroking Sweetie Belle's hair. "None of this is your fault. Sunset's been going through a lot lately... and from the looks of things, so have you three." Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nodded in unison as Sweetie Belle shuddered in her sister's arms. "If'n ya want, we can call your folks so you can go home early too," Applejack offered. The Crusaders looked at the farm girl eagerly, and Rainbow Dash took advantage of their distracted states. She turned her head towards her three friends, then mouthed the word "Go.". Pinkie, Fluttershy and Sunset nodded in understanding, then walked away as the Crusaders each accepted Applejack's offer. "Great," Applejack said with a smile. "I'll go make the preparations!" "While you go do that," Rainbow said. "There's something I gotta take care of." "What are you going to do," Scootaloo asked. "It's a secret, Scoots," Rainbow said with a wink, then headed down the hallway. Scootaloo shrugged, then turned her attention back to Applejack. "How soon can they get here?" Wallflower Blush and Trixie continued holding hands as they walked up to Principal Celestia's office. A bead of sweat fell from the gardener's forehead. "Y-You aren't thinking about backing out now, are you," Trixie asked as she gazed worriedly at Wallflower. "No!" Wallflower gasped, surprised at her tone. She then sagged and sighed. "No, I'm not. I'm just scared." Trixie smiled sadly. "I am, too, Wallflower. I am too." The gardener took a deep breath, then heaved another sigh. "I've got this nagging feeling that the worst of this is yet to come." "You and me both." Wallflower looked at Trixie. "We're in this together. All the way." Trixie smiled and nodded. "Let's go in already, then." "Yeah..." The gardener knocked on the door, then gulped. "Come in," The weary tone Celestia had only made Wallflower and Trixie feel worse, but they strengthened their resolve, and opened the door... then shut it behind them. Crime and PunishmentAuthor's Note For those new around here, "Power Symbol" is what I've decided to call Cutie Marks in the EG universe. I just can't see them being called cutie marks if they're not on ponies. Crime and Punishment Wallflower and Trixie entered Principal Celestia's office, still holding hands. The Principal's office had bright yellow walls with gold and brown near the floor, and a medium dark green stripe separating the wall from the office's ceiling. A big green flag stood behind Celestia's desk, as well as a dry erase schedule, filled with appointments and meetings. Bookcases lined the walls, along with a few trophies and diplomas. A large mahogany desk sat near the wall furthest from Wallflower and Trixie. Carvings of the waves of the ocean, a shining sun, and a crescent moon were on its front. Sitting at the desk was a visibly exhausted Principal Celestia. The Principal's hair was frazzled, slightly dulled by the stress evident on her face. Her hands were massaging her temples as she wearily gazed at her computer monitor. Celestia freed a hand, then took a sip of coffee from a mug with her Power Symbol on it. She heaved a sigh, then looked at the duo. "Can I help you two?" Wallflower and Trixie grit their teeth, then walked up to the Principal's desk. The two glanced at each other, sweating in fear. This was it. Their consciences had led them here, and it would be time for their judgment. The illusionist took a deep breath, then exhaled. "We're responsible for all the craziness that's happened recently." Wallflower tensed up until she felt Trixie run a supportive thumb up and down the back of her hand. She took a deep breath, then exhaled. "We're Anon-A-Miss." Principal Celestia's eyes widened as she nearly dropped her coffee mug. Silence filled the room for a good moment, until she spoke. "Is this true," she asked. Both Wallflower and Trixie nodded, then proceeded to tell the Principal everything. From their motivations, to their planning, to recruiting the Crusaders as scapegoats. By the time the two finished, they were shaking and in need of chairs to sit down on. Principal Celestia sat still as she processed all that she had been told. "Both of you," she said finally, causing the two to jump slightly. "Go sit outside while I call your parents and think up a suitable punishment." Wallflower and Trixie nodded again, then slowly walked out of the office. Once in the reception room, they both sat next to each other. The gardener shuddered. "I... I don't think I've ever been this scared before, Trixie!" The illusionist leaned into her friend. "I know how you feel," she said quietly. "I don't know whether I'm going to cry or throw up... but at least we have each other." Wallflower snorted. "Yeah, that's if we aren't forbidden to see each other after all this." Trixie's eyes widened. She hadn't thought of that! With a deep breath, she fought back a fresh wave of anxiety, then hugged her friend as she exhaled. "I don't want to lose you," she whispered. "You're the only friend I have right now." The gardener returned the hug. "Same. And that'll definitely be the case once everyone in CHS gets word of us. And they totally will..." The illusionist gasped as she broke the hug. "Y-You're right!" She paused, the rolled her eyes. "Wait. I'm already pretty much a pariah around here anyway, so what difference will that make?" "That's easy for you to say... hardly anyone around here notices me!" Wallflower sighed. "Well... I wanted to get noticed, but not by the entirety of the student body!" She put a the palm of her hand to forehead. "Dammit, our parents are gonna kill us!" Trixie shuddered. "And if they don't, the students here will!" Wallflower scoffed. "They wouldn't. The staff would keep us out of harm's way." She hugged herself. "Even if we deserve it..." Sunset's scream echoed in her mind as tears began to run down her face. "God, I feel so terrible." The gardener's voice cracked and a sob escaped her lips. Trixie slowly got off her chair, then held the gardener tightly as she cried. "I do too, Wallflower... I do too." She sniffled, then slowly broke down. For several minutes, the receptionist's room was filled with barely audible sobbing as Wallflower Blush and Trixie Lulamoon cried on each other's shoulders. Once they finished, the two stared at each other. "I doubt that's the last of our tears," Wallflower said sadly. "Wouldn't be surprised," Trixie said in the same tone. The door to Celestia's office opened, nearly startling the two. "Come back in," the Principal said, her tone just as weary as before. Wallflower and Trixie obliged, and shut the door behind themselves. Celestia sat back down at her desk and tented her hands with a sigh. She looked at Trixie. "I've been willing to overlook your shenanigans because they were mildly irksome at best, but this is beyond the pale for you." She turned her attention to Wallflower. "And you. You should have known better than to do what you did. Do you both have any idea how hard you made things for not just me, but the staff as a whole? Not to mention Sunset and her friends?!" Wallflower and Trixie nodded simultaneously, trying their hardest not to avoid eye contact with the Principal. "Now... I can tell that you're both repentant, but there are still consequences for your actions." Trixie and Wallflower nodded again. "Your parents are on their way as we speak, so when we finish up here you are to go to your lockers and collect your belongings. Understood?" "Understood," the two said. "As for your punishment, I've decided that you're both to be suspended for a week, followed by six months of detention." Wallflower blanched. "S-S-S-Suspended?!" Celestia glared at the gardener in a rare display of genuine anger, causing her to shrink away. "I-It's okay, Wallflower," Trixie said. "We knew we weren't going to get off easy." Still stunned, the gardener could only nod in understanding. "That will be all," Principal Celestia said. "Leave my office. Now." Wallflower and Trixie departed, knowing that the worst part of the day was still ahead of them. Friendship EmergencyPinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Sunset reached the rocker's apartment. "I can't thank you guys enough for this," Sunset said as she and her friends walked inside. A red and yellow striped rug with blue fringes on the floor greeted their feet, covering the grey hardwood floor. A large flat-screen TV sat on a purple entertainment center just a few feet away with game consoles and a surround sound system. A blue futon with a red and gold diamond pattern on top sat just a few feet away. A set of stairs led up to Sunset's loft and bed. Under her loft was a large desk with two computer monitors, and a mini-fridge and microwave just inches away from said desk. "Are you kidding," Pinkie asked. "You need this!" On their way to Sunset's apartment, Rainbow Dash had sent a text to all her friends, which they sent to their family members in return. It was a simple message, and one they all agreed on. Whenever one of them was in dire straits, the others were to send a message that conveyed the utmost importance: Friendship Emergency. The plan was for everyone to meet up at Sunset's apartment and have a slumber party to keep her company after her mental breakdown. Rainbow, Rarity and Applejack would drop off their sisters, then return with backpacks and sleeping bags. "How are you feeling," Fluttershy asked. Sunset heaved a sigh. "I've been better... but I'm glad to have you guys with me tonight." Fluttershy and Pinkie smiled warmly, then their phones buzzed. The two took out their phones, and the former gasped with wide eyes as the latter squealed in joy. Sunset raised an eyebrow, then checked her phone. No new messages? She shrugged it off. "Rainbow's gonna come back with pizza," Pinkie exclaimed, flailing her arms. Sunset smiled. She'd have to find a way to repay Rainbow for still believing in her. "So... um... what do we do while we wait for everyone?" The sight of Wallflower's face upon being emotionally crushed appeared in Sunset's mind, and the rocker grit her teeth. "You're a monster..." "Dammit... no..." "Uhh, Sunset?" Pinkie peered over Fluttershy's shoulder. "You're a monster..." The demonself's evil cackle reverberated in Sunset Shimmer's skull. The rocker slowly shrunk, then flopped onto her futon and began to curl into a ball with a whimper. "You're a monster!" "H... Help..." Sunset began to shiver as she vividly remembered the seemingly endless cycle of torture the demonself had put her through. Pinkie and Fluttershy ran over to their friend and held her tightly. "You're going to be okay, Sunset," Pinkie said. "We're here for you." Feeling the love and warmth from the two, Sunset stopped shaking. She sat up, then sniffled. "Are you okay," Fluttershy asked. "I... I d-don't know..." There was a knock on the door. "I'll get it!" Pinkie hurried over to the entrance and opened the door to reveal Applejack. "Howdy, y'a-" The farm girl noticed Sunset slouched with her head in her hands, and Fluttershy leaning on her. Applejack looked over to Pinkie with a concerned expression. "It's pretty bad," she said. Applejack quickly sent a text to Rarity and Rainbow. Y'all better git on over right quick, Sunset looks like she's struggling! The farm girl pocketed her phone, then hurried over to the futon, dropping her stuff on the floor as she went. "Sunset," Applejack said as she took the rocker's hands. "I want ya to know you're not fighting alone. The rest of the girls'll be here as soon as they can!" Sunset looked up, then nodded. She looked to be on the verge of tears! "Stay strong, Sugarcube. We've got your back!" The rocker sniffled again. "I-I don't know what I'd do without you guys," she all but whispered. "And thankfully, ya never will!" Sunset smiled warmly. "There ya go!" Applejack returned the smile, knowing that her friend was in better spirits, if only just slightly. "What do you girls wanna do while we wait for Rainbow and Rarity," Pinkie asked. The four friends exchanged ideas for several minutes, then stopped once they heard knocking on Sunset's door. "I've got this one," Applejack said as she walked towards the door. She opened it, and Rarity strolled in with a suitcase and her sleeping bag. "Terribly sorry I'm late, darlings, but I simply had to bring some essentials!" The fashionista opened the bag and rifled through it. "Chamomile tea, lavender incense, cinnamon incense... all essential things to keep oneself calm!" She grinned wickedly. "Oh yes, and I brought Cards Against Humanity. We could all use some irreverent fun after..." Rarity trailed off, then paused. "After today's events," she finished. "Speaking of late," Sunset said as she got off of the futon, "Where's Rainbow Dash? She's usually the first one here!" "Oh, yes. Well... she called me and told me she was going to get some pizza." Rarity smiled. "You know we almost never have a sleepover without it!" Sunset folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Without asking any of us what we want? That seems a little odd." "We all texted her," Pinkie said. "Don't worry, Sunset. You're covered!" The rocker frowned. Why didn't Rainbow text her? Something seemed off about all of this... Rarity took out the card game. "Why don't we play a few rounds while we wait for her?" Sunset shrugged. Maybe it was just her imagination... Time passed as the girls played round after round, laughing and joking with the occasional moan over a bad pun or questionable choice. By the time another round had started, everyone's phone buzzed, including Sunset's. Almost there! Sorry I've been taking so long. The wait at the pizza place was a bitch! Sunset sighed. At least everyone would be together again in a few minutes, then her night would be complete. Feeling encouraged, she smiled. "How about one more round?" About halfway through the round, there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it," Sunset said. "Rainbow'll probably need help with the pizzas." The rocker opened the door, and was greeted with a tight hug. She closed her eyes with a contented sigh... then her eyes shot open in sudden realization. "It's okay," Princess Twilight said. "I'm here." Sunset Shimmer burst into tears. EpilogueRainbow Dash entered the apartment with three pizzas as Sunset rode out her emotions. The athlete swiftly set them down and smiled as she found a seat. Once Sunset had calmed down, she stared at Twilight. "How did..." She felt a tap on her shoulder. The rocker turned around to see Rainbow wearing her trademark smirk, and holding open her journal. "Friendship emergency! Sunset needs you!" Sunset's jaw dropped. She gawked at her journal, then glanced up at Rainbow. "You might want to have this back," the athlete said. The rocker shot over to Rainbow and hugged her as tightly as she possibly could. "Rainbow," she whispered. "I... I can't thank you enough for all that you've done for me." The athlete smiled warmly, then put the journal down and returned the hug. "It's what I do." She closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth. Once the hug broke, Twilight spoke. "Rainbow filled me in on the way here," she said as she began to pace the floor. "While I'm a little disappointed in you all for initially believing Sunset to be the culprit, I'm proud of you for admitting your mistake and promptly apologizing." Each of the girls nodded, then Twilight turned to Sunset. "...She also told me about your experience inside the rainbow." The rocker looked away. The last thing she needed right now was a reminder of the hell she'd been experiencing. "Nobody should have to go through something as terrible as that, no matter who they are." She hugged Sunset again. "I'm going to stay here as long as I'm needed." "But what about Equestria, darling," Rarity chimed in. "You're a princess!" "That's true," Twilight said. "But I'm the Princess of Friendship, and this is a problem that friendship can solve. Besides, if Equestria needs me, Spike knows how to reach me." "Now that that's settled," Pinkie said before jumping up and executing a flip. "Let's party!" Later that day, Apple Bloom sat still in her room. She had barely left it since Applejack dropped her off. She sighed heavily, then got into her pajamas. This had to have been the longest and worst day ever! Sunset Shimmer's scream echoed in her mind, and she flinched. Apple Bloom roared in frustration, then punched a pillow. She panted with her fists clenched for several moments. If she saw Wallflower or Trixie again, she'd give them the what-for! A yawn escaped her lips, and she crawled into bed. Drained from the day's events, she fell asleep instantly. Scootaloo entered her room after dinner after saying goodnight to her aunts, Holiday and Lofty. Without wasting any time, she brushed her teeth, then put her pajamas on. As relieved as she was that she and her friends weren't in trouble, she was filled with regret. She was against the whole damn thing from the start! What the hell was she thinking, asking herself what Rainbow Dash would have done?! Scootaloo should have done what Scootaloo should have done: stood up to her friends and told them how bad of an idea it was! The Crusader got into bed with a heavy heart, then repeatedly hit her head on the pillow until she felt dizzy. Within moments, sleep claimed her. Sweetie Belle had been downhearted ever since she left Canterlot High. If she never had another day like that at school, it'd be too soon! All the sounds of her fellow students fighting in the hallways replayed through her mind, and she imagined she'd hear them again and again for a long time to come... Sweetie wanted to cry. Unfortunately, she had already cried more times than she'd care to count already. She put her pajamas on and got into bed, then stared at her ceiling. At least she took some comfort in the fact that the day was almost over. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep. Trixie simply stared at the mirror in her room. Her cheeks were puffy, and she looked absolutely miserable. It was bad enough that she and Wallflower were suspended from school for a week. It was bad enough that they both had detention for six months. The Illusionist knew she wasn't going to get off easily when she got home, but to have all of her magical props taken from her for a month and grounded from watching her father's magic shows for twice as long was almost more than she could possibly bear. Trixie walked away from her mirror slowly, then put her pajamas on. She crawled into bed, and as she drifted off to sleep she wondered for the first time in her life... Was all that trouble really worth it? Wallflower Blush felt hollow. She couldn't bring herself to speak once her parents picked her up. The tears in their eyes broke her almost immediately. She had never seen them so angry. So upset. The gardener sniffled, feeling a lump in her throat at the mere thought of them. She felt her punishment of being grounded from gardening until her last detention was lenient. Her parents should've just locked her in her room, leaving her to starve to death. It was the least she deserved after the hell she put everyone through. Not just Sunset Shimmer. Her schoolmates, the staff, the Crusaders... her parents... Wallflower put her head in her hands and broke. As cathartic as this release was, it would hardly make her feel better in the long run. Each sob only made her feel worse about what she did. After a few minutes, she sighed heavily and got into her pajamas. This was a personal hell of her own making, and there was nothing she could do... or wanted to do to escape. She deserved this. With that, Wallflower got into bed and slowly fell asleep. Sunset Shimmer yawned. Everyone else had already fallen asleep at least an hour ago, and the rocker smiled warmly as she looked at her friends. She would always be grateful for them, especially after all that had happened the last couple of days. She opened the journal again and gazed at Rainbow Dash's writing. "Friendship emergency! Sunset needs you!" Sunset sighed happily, then closed her journal and yawned again. She went up the stairs to her loft and got into her bed. As she fell asleep, she felt glad that this whole mess was behind her and that she'd get a good night's sleep. She would soon come to realize that that was merely wishful thinking. To Be Continued in Anon-A-Miss Aftermath
PrologueAuthor's Note "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves." -Confucius Prologue Apple Bloom entered the cafeteria and glanced around in the hopes that her follow Crusaders would be around. She cupped her hands to her mouth. "Scootaloo! Sweetie Belle!" Nobody came, and she began to worry... Sweetie Belle scanned the cafeteria, then saw Apple Bloom looking worried. She hurried over to her friend. "Apple Bloom!" The farmer turned, gasped, then hugged Sweetie Belle with a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness!" Sweetie Belle broke the hug. "You haven't seen Wallflower around, have you?" Apple Bloom shook her head. "Y'all seen Scoots?" Sweetie Belle shook her head, but she understood the implication of her friend's question. All three of them needed to be together. "No splitting up, then." "Correct. We should look for her together." The pair walked off in search of their fellow Crusader. Scootaloo entered the cafeteria, fueled by her adrenaline spike. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had to be nearby... She grunted in frustration. All of this noise was making it hard to focus, but she had to push through it. The other girls needed to know they were being used! Trixie strolled into the cafeteria, eagerly anticipating the impending mob. She even surprised herself with this genius plan! The expression on Sunset Shimmer's face would no doubt be priceless! The illusionist grit her teeth, recalling the night that her rightful victory was stolen from her. Damn her! Trixie was glad she joined forces with Wallflower Blush. They made a pretty great team! Her phone buzzed, and she smiled widely. The trigger had been pulled! Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle took out their phones, and their eyes widened in horror. The two glanced at each other, disbelief on their faces. All of the students gradually stopped shouting at each other, causing Scootaloo to feel dread in the pit of her stomach. "Wh-What's going on?" She took out her phone, read the message... Then in her shock, uttered a word she rarely said. "Fuck." Wallflower Blush looked around, and a smile slowly formed on her face. Students began to get up from their chairs, glaring daggers in Sunset Shimmer's direction. Her friends were likely going to get caught in the crossfire, but that would be a small price to pay. It was their fault for not believing her, after all. The gardener ran a hand through her hair as the shouts of anger had began anew. She noticed the rest of the Rainbooms form a circle around her foe. It was almost heartwarming, really. Trixie folded her arms and watched as the Rainbooms tried to protect Sunset Shimmer. She knew Wallflower would have her back if they were ever in a situation like that. She found the sight to be touching, if only mildly so. And yet, something in the back of her mind began to gnaw at her... Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom stared in awe at the mob that began to descend upon their sisters, then shook their heads and snapped out of it. "We've gotta do somethin'!" Apple Bloom tugged at a student's shirt, only to be gently pushed away. She tried again, with the same result. The farmer looked at Sweetie Belle, who simply stood there. "Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo rushed to her two friends, finally reuniting with them. "There you are," Apple Bloom exclaimed as she got off of the floor. "Guys," Scootaloo said. "There's something you need to-" Scootaloo was cut off as a near-deafening shriek pierced her ears. Trixie watched as a student broke through the Rainboom's defenses. Oh god... What were they going to do to Sunset?! Before she had further time to think, a shriek echoed throughout the lunchroom. Wallflower ran around the cafeteria in an effort to get a good view of Sunset Shimmer's fate. The mob of students drew closer, and closer... Suddenly, a scream stopped everyone in their tracks. It was unlike anything Wallflower had ever heard before! A barely audible thud soon followed, along with the Rainbooms in a panic. The gardener tried to listen in... "...tarnation happened?!" "Sunset!" "Please be okay..." "...unconscious..." The students started moving away from the scene, parting to make room for something. "Get the fuck out of our way," yelled Rainbow Dash. The athlete, along with Applejack, carried a motionless Sunset Shimmer out of the cafeteria as the rest of the girls followed. Wallflower Blush gasped at the sight. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stared as their sisters and their friends carried Sunset off. There was something haunting about seeing someone limp and seemingly lifeless, and the scream she had uttered played through their heads. The trio flinched. Trixie shuddered as the Rainbooms passed her by. The sound of Sunset Shimmer's shriek and fainting played in her head, causing her to shudder again. It was at that moment that the illusionist came to a realization. ...Oh god. I'm horrible... Sure, Sunset needed to learn not to upstage her... but she didn't mean to make her scream like that! What had she done?! Wallflower flinched as she felt a pang of guilt. She thought Sunset would just freak out and flee from the cafeteria, not have some sort of psychotic breakdown! The gardener grabbed her head with a yelp as the scream and thud replayed in her mind. She figured turning the whole school against each other... Wallflower paused. She... She turned the whole school against each other. Just to make her feel better about herself. For revenge.... ...Just like Sunset. Tears began streaming down her face upon her revelation. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Trixie. "Hey," the illusionist said quietly. Wallflower shot over to her friend and burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. Trixie flinched and stood still for a moment, then hugged Wallflower as she felt tears of her own begin to fall. "...What..." The illusionist turned her head in the direction of the voice she heard to see Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo standing together, their expressions a mixture of anger and confusion. "What did you do to her," shouted Sweetie Belle. Wallflower was still beside herself, unable to answer the question. Sweetie Belle sighed heavily. "Fine," she said angrily. "You stay there, then." "Where are you three going," Trixie asked. "Ain't it obvious," Apple Bloom asked. "We're going to tell the girls everything!" Wallflower shuddered, then looked at the Crusaders. "No... I will." Trixie broke the hug. "Me too." "Guess we're gonna do this together, huh," Scootaloo asked. "Sure looks that way," Sweetie Belle said. The five girls made their way to the nurse's office.
AdmissionsThe room fell deathly silent as the Rainbooms stared at Wallflower and Trixie expectantly. The illusionist tightened her grip on Wallflower's hand. "Yeah," she said quietly, averting her gaze. "It's us... we're Anon-A-Miss." Rainbow Dash got off her chair again, only to feel a strong hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see Applejack shaking her head. The athlete grumbled and sat back down, glaring furiously at the duo. Sunset Shimmer stared at the two, her expression unreadable. Wallflower tightened her grip on Trixie's hand. "A... A-Aren't you going to say something? A-Aren't you angry?" The Rainbooms looked to Sunset, who had kept her expression. The rocker sighed heavily. "Yes. I'm angry," she said in a surprisingly calm tone. "I can't remember the last time I've been this pissed. There are so, so many things that want to say to the both of you." Trixie and Wallflower closed their eyes, as though they were about to be struck by an invisible force. "...But I won't." Everyone gasped. "What," Rainbow Dash roared. Sunset looked at Rainbow. "Don't misunderstand me," she said, then turned back to the duo. "If were to say what I really, truly wanted to say, I would just be kicking a dog while it's down. And as justified as I'd be, as cathartic as it would feel... it would only make you feel worse." She sighed and looked away. "That's what the old me would do. But that's not who I am." She got up off of the bed. "Not anymore." "I-I don't understand," Trixie said. "Why are you letting us off so easy?!" Sunset began to walk towards the two. "In case you've forgotten," she said with a sad smile. "I've been where you two are." Wallflower teared up. "S-Sunset..." she let go of Trixie's hand and began walking towards her. "Stop," Sunset said as she held out a hand. "I'm not in the mood for hugs." Wallflower back off a couple of steps. "I understand," she said with a defeated look. "Yeah, that's fair enough," Trixie said. "You're going to be given a lot of crap from the student body, though... I should know." Sunset sighed heavily. YOU'RE A MONSTER! Sunset yelped and nearly collapsed on the floor. "Sunset, darling," Rarity said worriedly as she and Fluttershy picked her up. "Guess ya shouldn'a got out of bed," Applejack said. Sunset returned to the bed as a wave of dizziness swept over her. "Are you okay," Pinkie asked. The rocker took a deep breath, then heaved a sigh. "I don't know." she shook her head. "But maybe talking about it will help." she flinched as her head began to hurt. "Don't push yourself," Rainbow Dash said. "No," Sunset said. "I think I should have told you the night that it happened." Trixie and Wallflower exchanged confused glances, then looked back at Sunset with the same expressions. "The night that what happened," Wallflower asked. "The night of the Fall Formal. When I was on the other side of the rainbow." Sunset looked her friends. "I'm going to need your support for this. It'll explain what was happening to me today..." "Oh, my..." Fluttershy paused for a moment. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Sunset smiled warmly. "I've got you guys by my side. I'm going to be just fine." You're a monster! The rocker flinched again, then took a deep breath. "When I was engulfed by the rainbow, I had visions of my life here in the human world... the worst parts. I-I almost died of starvation my first month here." She shuddered. "Time flowed normally, so I couldn't tell that I was still at the Fall Formal. Speaking of which..." You're a monster! Sunset grabbed her head and yelped. "It's okay, Sunset," Rainbow said reassuringly, despite the panic she felt. "We're here for you, darling." Sunset choked up and mentally braced herself. She had done the easy part... "Wh-When I-I had the sledgehammer at the portal, I s-said I w-wasn't a..." tears streaming down her face as she let out a sob. Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack hugged Sunset, letting their warmth comfort her. Sunset shuddered again. "I... said I wasn't a monster. My demon form appeared in f-front of me and..." You're a monster! The rocker spasmed and grit her teeth, then looked up to her friends. "We've got you, Sugarcube," Applejack said as tears flowed down her cheeks. "And y-you've got this," Pinkie said as she barely contained a sob of her own. Sunset gulped and took a deep breath. "Every terrible thing that I did..." she glanced at Wallflower and grunted as a pang of guilt hit her. "Every thing that I did was shown to me. All of the powerlessness. All of the rage. All of the sorrow. All of it was channeled into me." She shuddered again. "I had never been in such pain before." The rocker sniffled. "I had to resign myself to the fact that I was, indeed, a m-monster." Silence again reigned in the room, save for Sunset's muffled sobs as Rarity handed her a box of tissues. "T-Thank you," she said. A moment later, Sunset continued. "I was so sad and confused. I turned down Twilight's offer and went home." She blew her nose. "That night I didn't get any sleep because I was haunted by what I felt and saw." The rocker knew what she had to do next. She had no doubt in her mind it would be painful for everyone, but it needed to be done. Sunset Shimmer looked straight at Wallflower Blush, who looked as though she was on the verge of bursting into tears. The rocker took a deep breath, then exhaled shakily. "Th-The next day, I saw you, Wallflower. I felt so, so terrible... th-that I ran up to the roof of Canterlot High... and I jumped off!" The rocker broke again, sobbing uncontrollably. Wallflower stood still and sniffled. "O-Oh god," she whispered. It would be several more minutes before Sunset calmed down with a heavy sigh. She looked at the gardener and the illusionist. "Is there anything you need to say before you go to Principal Celestia's office?" Wallflower took a deep breath, then sighed and looked at Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack. "We got your sisters involved... they're just outside the door. We were going to use them as fall guys." "What," Rarity bellowed in fury while Applejack and Rainbow Dash exchanged confused looks. "Scapegoats," Sunset explained while folding her arms. Applejack's expression soured quickly. "...Y'all were gonna frame mah sister?!" Rainbow Dash stood still, quivering with rage. "Leave. Now," she said quietly. "Unless you want me and AJ to put you both in these beds the hard way." Wallflower and Trixie made a hasty exit as Rainbow Dash grabbed a pillow and punched it as hard as she could. "Motherfuckers..." She took a deep breath, then sighed heavily, staring at the ground until an idea came to her. "Pinkie? Flutters? Why don't you take Sunset home so she can get some rest?" "I like that idea," Sunset said. "But what are the rest of you going to do?" "We're gonna talk to our sisters, of course!"
In the HallwayApple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stood out in the hallway. The trio shuffled uneasily, nervously awaiting their sisters. The expressions from Wallflower and Trixie's faces as the they both left the nurse's office did nothing to assuage their concerns. Within minutes, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack exited the nurse's office and entered the hallway. The Crusaders ran up to their respective sisters, then bombarded them with questions. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Rainbow held her arms out. "One at a time, please," Rarity said, gaining the younger girls' attention. The Crusaders glanced at each other, then nodded. "Is... is Sunset okay," Apple Bloom asked, wide-eyed. Applejack hissed through her teeth and looked away for a moment. "She's been better..." "But don't worry," Rainbow interjected. "She's in awesome hands!" "Indeed," Rarity said. "We'll make sure she'll be back to her old self!" "A-Are we in any trouble," Sweetie Belle asked as she wrung her hands nervously. "Not at all! Wallflower and Trixie told us everything." The Crusaders heaved a collective sigh of relief, visibly relaxing themselves. "But if it's all the same to y'all," Applejack said. "We'd like to hear your side of things." The Crusaders proceeded to tell their sisters everything, from their run-in with Wallflower up to the present. Once they finished, Rainbow smiled warmly and placed a hand on Scootaloo's shoulder. "Scoots... I get why you did what you did, but sometimes you have to know when to stand up to your friends if you think what they're doing is wrong." The young daredevil grinned sheepishly as she looked away from Rainbow Dash. "You could have simply communicated with us rather than conspire with Wallflower and Trixie," Rarity said. "Yeah," Applejack chimed in. "We woulda understood your feelings. We coulda sorted things out and avoided this whole mess." Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle blushed in response. The door to the nurse's office slowly opened, and out came Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, then the Crusaders paled as the haggard form of Sunset Shimmer followed. The rocker's normally vibrant hair had lost its luster, the red and gold colors faded. Her face was as pale as the girls'! She slowly turned her head to gaze at the Crusaders, and the trio flinched upon hearing her scream in their minds. Sunset grimaced at the sight before her. How many more people was she going to hurt?! She shuddered, then covered her eyes. "I-I'm s-sorry..." she sniffled. "Don't say that, Sunset," Sweetie Belle exclaimed. "P-Please!" Sunset backed up until she bumped into a wall. "I just... need some space." Rarity walked over to her sister and held her tightly. "Do not worry," she said softly, stroking Sweetie Belle's hair. "None of this is your fault. Sunset's been going through a lot lately... and from the looks of things, so have you three." Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nodded in unison as Sweetie Belle shuddered in her sister's arms. "If'n ya want, we can call your folks so you can go home early too," Applejack offered. The Crusaders looked at the farm girl eagerly, and Rainbow Dash took advantage of their distracted states. She turned her head towards her three friends, then mouthed the word "Go.". Pinkie, Fluttershy and Sunset nodded in understanding, then walked away as the Crusaders each accepted Applejack's offer. "Great," Applejack said with a smile. "I'll go make the preparations!" "While you go do that," Rainbow said. "There's something I gotta take care of." "What are you going to do," Scootaloo asked. "It's a secret, Scoots," Rainbow said with a wink, then headed down the hallway. Scootaloo shrugged, then turned her attention back to Applejack. "How soon can they get here?" Wallflower Blush and Trixie continued holding hands as they walked up to Principal Celestia's office. A bead of sweat fell from the gardener's forehead. "Y-You aren't thinking about backing out now, are you," Trixie asked as she gazed worriedly at Wallflower. "No!" Wallflower gasped, surprised at her tone. She then sagged and sighed. "No, I'm not. I'm just scared." Trixie smiled sadly. "I am, too, Wallflower. I am too." The gardener took a deep breath, then heaved another sigh. "I've got this nagging feeling that the worst of this is yet to come." "You and me both." Wallflower looked at Trixie. "We're in this together. All the way." Trixie smiled and nodded. "Let's go in already, then." "Yeah..." The gardener knocked on the door, then gulped. "Come in," The weary tone Celestia had only made Wallflower and Trixie feel worse, but they strengthened their resolve, and opened the door... then shut it behind them.
Crime and PunishmentAuthor's Note For those new around here, "Power Symbol" is what I've decided to call Cutie Marks in the EG universe. I just can't see them being called cutie marks if they're not on ponies. Crime and Punishment Wallflower and Trixie entered Principal Celestia's office, still holding hands. The Principal's office had bright yellow walls with gold and brown near the floor, and a medium dark green stripe separating the wall from the office's ceiling. A big green flag stood behind Celestia's desk, as well as a dry erase schedule, filled with appointments and meetings. Bookcases lined the walls, along with a few trophies and diplomas. A large mahogany desk sat near the wall furthest from Wallflower and Trixie. Carvings of the waves of the ocean, a shining sun, and a crescent moon were on its front. Sitting at the desk was a visibly exhausted Principal Celestia. The Principal's hair was frazzled, slightly dulled by the stress evident on her face. Her hands were massaging her temples as she wearily gazed at her computer monitor. Celestia freed a hand, then took a sip of coffee from a mug with her Power Symbol on it. She heaved a sigh, then looked at the duo. "Can I help you two?" Wallflower and Trixie grit their teeth, then walked up to the Principal's desk. The two glanced at each other, sweating in fear. This was it. Their consciences had led them here, and it would be time for their judgment. The illusionist took a deep breath, then exhaled. "We're responsible for all the craziness that's happened recently." Wallflower tensed up until she felt Trixie run a supportive thumb up and down the back of her hand. She took a deep breath, then exhaled. "We're Anon-A-Miss." Principal Celestia's eyes widened as she nearly dropped her coffee mug. Silence filled the room for a good moment, until she spoke. "Is this true," she asked. Both Wallflower and Trixie nodded, then proceeded to tell the Principal everything. From their motivations, to their planning, to recruiting the Crusaders as scapegoats. By the time the two finished, they were shaking and in need of chairs to sit down on. Principal Celestia sat still as she processed all that she had been told. "Both of you," she said finally, causing the two to jump slightly. "Go sit outside while I call your parents and think up a suitable punishment." Wallflower and Trixie nodded again, then slowly walked out of the office. Once in the reception room, they both sat next to each other. The gardener shuddered. "I... I don't think I've ever been this scared before, Trixie!" The illusionist leaned into her friend. "I know how you feel," she said quietly. "I don't know whether I'm going to cry or throw up... but at least we have each other." Wallflower snorted. "Yeah, that's if we aren't forbidden to see each other after all this." Trixie's eyes widened. She hadn't thought of that! With a deep breath, she fought back a fresh wave of anxiety, then hugged her friend as she exhaled. "I don't want to lose you," she whispered. "You're the only friend I have right now." The gardener returned the hug. "Same. And that'll definitely be the case once everyone in CHS gets word of us. And they totally will..." The illusionist gasped as she broke the hug. "Y-You're right!" She paused, the rolled her eyes. "Wait. I'm already pretty much a pariah around here anyway, so what difference will that make?" "That's easy for you to say... hardly anyone around here notices me!" Wallflower sighed. "Well... I wanted to get noticed, but not by the entirety of the student body!" She put a the palm of her hand to forehead. "Dammit, our parents are gonna kill us!" Trixie shuddered. "And if they don't, the students here will!" Wallflower scoffed. "They wouldn't. The staff would keep us out of harm's way." She hugged herself. "Even if we deserve it..." Sunset's scream echoed in her mind as tears began to run down her face. "God, I feel so terrible." The gardener's voice cracked and a sob escaped her lips. Trixie slowly got off her chair, then held the gardener tightly as she cried. "I do too, Wallflower... I do too." She sniffled, then slowly broke down. For several minutes, the receptionist's room was filled with barely audible sobbing as Wallflower Blush and Trixie Lulamoon cried on each other's shoulders. Once they finished, the two stared at each other. "I doubt that's the last of our tears," Wallflower said sadly. "Wouldn't be surprised," Trixie said in the same tone. The door to Celestia's office opened, nearly startling the two. "Come back in," the Principal said, her tone just as weary as before. Wallflower and Trixie obliged, and shut the door behind themselves. Celestia sat back down at her desk and tented her hands with a sigh. She looked at Trixie. "I've been willing to overlook your shenanigans because they were mildly irksome at best, but this is beyond the pale for you." She turned her attention to Wallflower. "And you. You should have known better than to do what you did. Do you both have any idea how hard you made things for not just me, but the staff as a whole? Not to mention Sunset and her friends?!" Wallflower and Trixie nodded simultaneously, trying their hardest not to avoid eye contact with the Principal. "Now... I can tell that you're both repentant, but there are still consequences for your actions." Trixie and Wallflower nodded again. "Your parents are on their way as we speak, so when we finish up here you are to go to your lockers and collect your belongings. Understood?" "Understood," the two said. "As for your punishment, I've decided that you're both to be suspended for a week, followed by six months of detention." Wallflower blanched. "S-S-S-Suspended?!" Celestia glared at the gardener in a rare display of genuine anger, causing her to shrink away. "I-It's okay, Wallflower," Trixie said. "We knew we weren't going to get off easy." Still stunned, the gardener could only nod in understanding. "That will be all," Principal Celestia said. "Leave my office. Now." Wallflower and Trixie departed, knowing that the worst part of the day was still ahead of them.
Friendship EmergencyPinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Sunset reached the rocker's apartment. "I can't thank you guys enough for this," Sunset said as she and her friends walked inside. A red and yellow striped rug with blue fringes on the floor greeted their feet, covering the grey hardwood floor. A large flat-screen TV sat on a purple entertainment center just a few feet away with game consoles and a surround sound system. A blue futon with a red and gold diamond pattern on top sat just a few feet away. A set of stairs led up to Sunset's loft and bed. Under her loft was a large desk with two computer monitors, and a mini-fridge and microwave just inches away from said desk. "Are you kidding," Pinkie asked. "You need this!" On their way to Sunset's apartment, Rainbow Dash had sent a text to all her friends, which they sent to their family members in return. It was a simple message, and one they all agreed on. Whenever one of them was in dire straits, the others were to send a message that conveyed the utmost importance: Friendship Emergency. The plan was for everyone to meet up at Sunset's apartment and have a slumber party to keep her company after her mental breakdown. Rainbow, Rarity and Applejack would drop off their sisters, then return with backpacks and sleeping bags. "How are you feeling," Fluttershy asked. Sunset heaved a sigh. "I've been better... but I'm glad to have you guys with me tonight." Fluttershy and Pinkie smiled warmly, then their phones buzzed. The two took out their phones, and the former gasped with wide eyes as the latter squealed in joy. Sunset raised an eyebrow, then checked her phone. No new messages? She shrugged it off. "Rainbow's gonna come back with pizza," Pinkie exclaimed, flailing her arms. Sunset smiled. She'd have to find a way to repay Rainbow for still believing in her. "So... um... what do we do while we wait for everyone?" The sight of Wallflower's face upon being emotionally crushed appeared in Sunset's mind, and the rocker grit her teeth. "You're a monster..." "Dammit... no..." "Uhh, Sunset?" Pinkie peered over Fluttershy's shoulder. "You're a monster..." The demonself's evil cackle reverberated in Sunset Shimmer's skull. The rocker slowly shrunk, then flopped onto her futon and began to curl into a ball with a whimper. "You're a monster!" "H... Help..." Sunset began to shiver as she vividly remembered the seemingly endless cycle of torture the demonself had put her through. Pinkie and Fluttershy ran over to their friend and held her tightly. "You're going to be okay, Sunset," Pinkie said. "We're here for you." Feeling the love and warmth from the two, Sunset stopped shaking. She sat up, then sniffled. "Are you okay," Fluttershy asked. "I... I d-don't know..." There was a knock on the door. "I'll get it!" Pinkie hurried over to the entrance and opened the door to reveal Applejack. "Howdy, y'a-" The farm girl noticed Sunset slouched with her head in her hands, and Fluttershy leaning on her. Applejack looked over to Pinkie with a concerned expression. "It's pretty bad," she said. Applejack quickly sent a text to Rarity and Rainbow. Y'all better git on over right quick, Sunset looks like she's struggling! The farm girl pocketed her phone, then hurried over to the futon, dropping her stuff on the floor as she went. "Sunset," Applejack said as she took the rocker's hands. "I want ya to know you're not fighting alone. The rest of the girls'll be here as soon as they can!" Sunset looked up, then nodded. She looked to be on the verge of tears! "Stay strong, Sugarcube. We've got your back!" The rocker sniffled again. "I-I don't know what I'd do without you guys," she all but whispered. "And thankfully, ya never will!" Sunset smiled warmly. "There ya go!" Applejack returned the smile, knowing that her friend was in better spirits, if only just slightly. "What do you girls wanna do while we wait for Rainbow and Rarity," Pinkie asked. The four friends exchanged ideas for several minutes, then stopped once they heard knocking on Sunset's door. "I've got this one," Applejack said as she walked towards the door. She opened it, and Rarity strolled in with a suitcase and her sleeping bag. "Terribly sorry I'm late, darlings, but I simply had to bring some essentials!" The fashionista opened the bag and rifled through it. "Chamomile tea, lavender incense, cinnamon incense... all essential things to keep oneself calm!" She grinned wickedly. "Oh yes, and I brought Cards Against Humanity. We could all use some irreverent fun after..." Rarity trailed off, then paused. "After today's events," she finished. "Speaking of late," Sunset said as she got off of the futon, "Where's Rainbow Dash? She's usually the first one here!" "Oh, yes. Well... she called me and told me she was going to get some pizza." Rarity smiled. "You know we almost never have a sleepover without it!" Sunset folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Without asking any of us what we want? That seems a little odd." "We all texted her," Pinkie said. "Don't worry, Sunset. You're covered!" The rocker frowned. Why didn't Rainbow text her? Something seemed off about all of this... Rarity took out the card game. "Why don't we play a few rounds while we wait for her?" Sunset shrugged. Maybe it was just her imagination... Time passed as the girls played round after round, laughing and joking with the occasional moan over a bad pun or questionable choice. By the time another round had started, everyone's phone buzzed, including Sunset's. Almost there! Sorry I've been taking so long. The wait at the pizza place was a bitch! Sunset sighed. At least everyone would be together again in a few minutes, then her night would be complete. Feeling encouraged, she smiled. "How about one more round?" About halfway through the round, there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it," Sunset said. "Rainbow'll probably need help with the pizzas." The rocker opened the door, and was greeted with a tight hug. She closed her eyes with a contented sigh... then her eyes shot open in sudden realization. "It's okay," Princess Twilight said. "I'm here." Sunset Shimmer burst into tears.
EpilogueRainbow Dash entered the apartment with three pizzas as Sunset rode out her emotions. The athlete swiftly set them down and smiled as she found a seat. Once Sunset had calmed down, she stared at Twilight. "How did..." She felt a tap on her shoulder. The rocker turned around to see Rainbow wearing her trademark smirk, and holding open her journal. "Friendship emergency! Sunset needs you!" Sunset's jaw dropped. She gawked at her journal, then glanced up at Rainbow. "You might want to have this back," the athlete said. The rocker shot over to Rainbow and hugged her as tightly as she possibly could. "Rainbow," she whispered. "I... I can't thank you enough for all that you've done for me." The athlete smiled warmly, then put the journal down and returned the hug. "It's what I do." She closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth. Once the hug broke, Twilight spoke. "Rainbow filled me in on the way here," she said as she began to pace the floor. "While I'm a little disappointed in you all for initially believing Sunset to be the culprit, I'm proud of you for admitting your mistake and promptly apologizing." Each of the girls nodded, then Twilight turned to Sunset. "...She also told me about your experience inside the rainbow." The rocker looked away. The last thing she needed right now was a reminder of the hell she'd been experiencing. "Nobody should have to go through something as terrible as that, no matter who they are." She hugged Sunset again. "I'm going to stay here as long as I'm needed." "But what about Equestria, darling," Rarity chimed in. "You're a princess!" "That's true," Twilight said. "But I'm the Princess of Friendship, and this is a problem that friendship can solve. Besides, if Equestria needs me, Spike knows how to reach me." "Now that that's settled," Pinkie said before jumping up and executing a flip. "Let's party!" Later that day, Apple Bloom sat still in her room. She had barely left it since Applejack dropped her off. She sighed heavily, then got into her pajamas. This had to have been the longest and worst day ever! Sunset Shimmer's scream echoed in her mind, and she flinched. Apple Bloom roared in frustration, then punched a pillow. She panted with her fists clenched for several moments. If she saw Wallflower or Trixie again, she'd give them the what-for! A yawn escaped her lips, and she crawled into bed. Drained from the day's events, she fell asleep instantly. Scootaloo entered her room after dinner after saying goodnight to her aunts, Holiday and Lofty. Without wasting any time, she brushed her teeth, then put her pajamas on. As relieved as she was that she and her friends weren't in trouble, she was filled with regret. She was against the whole damn thing from the start! What the hell was she thinking, asking herself what Rainbow Dash would have done?! Scootaloo should have done what Scootaloo should have done: stood up to her friends and told them how bad of an idea it was! The Crusader got into bed with a heavy heart, then repeatedly hit her head on the pillow until she felt dizzy. Within moments, sleep claimed her. Sweetie Belle had been downhearted ever since she left Canterlot High. If she never had another day like that at school, it'd be too soon! All the sounds of her fellow students fighting in the hallways replayed through her mind, and she imagined she'd hear them again and again for a long time to come... Sweetie wanted to cry. Unfortunately, she had already cried more times than she'd care to count already. She put her pajamas on and got into bed, then stared at her ceiling. At least she took some comfort in the fact that the day was almost over. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep. Trixie simply stared at the mirror in her room. Her cheeks were puffy, and she looked absolutely miserable. It was bad enough that she and Wallflower were suspended from school for a week. It was bad enough that they both had detention for six months. The Illusionist knew she wasn't going to get off easily when she got home, but to have all of her magical props taken from her for a month and grounded from watching her father's magic shows for twice as long was almost more than she could possibly bear. Trixie walked away from her mirror slowly, then put her pajamas on. She crawled into bed, and as she drifted off to sleep she wondered for the first time in her life... Was all that trouble really worth it? Wallflower Blush felt hollow. She couldn't bring herself to speak once her parents picked her up. The tears in their eyes broke her almost immediately. She had never seen them so angry. So upset. The gardener sniffled, feeling a lump in her throat at the mere thought of them. She felt her punishment of being grounded from gardening until her last detention was lenient. Her parents should've just locked her in her room, leaving her to starve to death. It was the least she deserved after the hell she put everyone through. Not just Sunset Shimmer. Her schoolmates, the staff, the Crusaders... her parents... Wallflower put her head in her hands and broke. As cathartic as this release was, it would hardly make her feel better in the long run. Each sob only made her feel worse about what she did. After a few minutes, she sighed heavily and got into her pajamas. This was a personal hell of her own making, and there was nothing she could do... or wanted to do to escape. She deserved this. With that, Wallflower got into bed and slowly fell asleep. Sunset Shimmer yawned. Everyone else had already fallen asleep at least an hour ago, and the rocker smiled warmly as she looked at her friends. She would always be grateful for them, especially after all that had happened the last couple of days. She opened the journal again and gazed at Rainbow Dash's writing. "Friendship emergency! Sunset needs you!" Sunset sighed happily, then closed her journal and yawned again. She went up the stairs to her loft and got into her bed. As she fell asleep, she felt glad that this whole mess was behind her and that she'd get a good night's sleep. She would soon come to realize that that was merely wishful thinking. To Be Continued in Anon-A-Miss Aftermath
