Reactions (follows on from One Truth Prevails)
The New Year brought much change to Canterlot, but not necessarily for the better. Anon-a-Miss was still raw in everyone's mind, and the incident - in particular, the fact that the culprit had gone after Sunset Shimmer and then framed the Crusaders for no reason other than petty spite - had rocked the school to its very core.
However, the treatment of the Crusaders had been appalling, and the consequences were severe. Both Celestia and Luna were gone, having been fired for breaching their duty of care and failing to report abuse. So too was Granny Smith for misconduct, and Applejack was suspended for her treatment of Apple Bloom. As such, a subdued mood hung over the school as the students returned from the Christmas break - a depleted number, as many of them were serving suspensions for attacking either Sunset or the Crusaders.
"I just wanted to check how you three were getting on."
Principal Cadence smiled at the three students who sat in chairs opposite her desk. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked at each other, before Scootaloo spoke.
"It's certainly better than it was," she said, "Most of the student body are avoiding us though, it's a bit awkward."
"Several of them have come to see me," Cadence replied, "If it's anything to go by, most of them are massively ashamed about how they assumed that you were guilty."
"The memory of how we were treated is still raw, though," Sweetie Belle said, "I mean, it's like with Rarity. I don't want to hate them, or hold a grudge, but it's going to take a long time to fully heal."
"If it's any consolation, Sweetie Belle," Cadence responded, "I had Rarity in here yesterday, crying about how she'd been such a terrible big sister. I can understand that things might still be raw, but if you truly want to forgive her, you'll have to make the first move."
Sweetie Belle nodded.
It seemed as if a dark cloud hung over Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack looked out of her bedroom window at the sky, then back to her room, which was now devoid of electronics.
She'd already been in enough trouble for spanking her sister in contradiction to her parents' orders, but learning the bitter truth had been absolutely crushing. In retrospect, she was lucky. It was only thanks to Apple Bloom requesting leniency that she and Granny Smith had been given suspended sentences instead of actual ones.
Assistant Superintendent Lofty, on the other hand, had not been so inclined to show leniency. Applejack was currently serving two weeks of suspension, which would be followed by two weeks of in-school suspension, and then detention for the remainder of the academic year.
That, however, was small change compared to how her parents had reacted. Both of them had been furious with her - Applejack had not realised that either of them could get that angry - and had told her how her going behind their backs had almost cost them custody of Apple Bloom, and that she'd had no business increasing her sister's punishment. Not only was she grounded for the rest of the academic year, but she would be doing Apple Bloom's chores as well as her own. In addition, she and Granny Smith had been bluntly told that Apple Bloom's request for leniency from the courts would be the only Christmas present that they'd be getting. They'd both had to watch the rest of the family open theirs - including Apple Bloom getting what would have been Granny Smith's severance package as a donation to the Everfree Forest Railway.
But the worst part was knowing that she deserved it. She'd failed to realise that her sister had been telling the truth, something that she should have picked up as the element of Honesty, and had opted to take the easy option. She'd failed as her element and as a sister, and it would likely be a long time before Apple Bloom could forgive or trust her again, even if she wasn't being hostile.
Mrs Cake sighed as she handed Ditzy and Dinky a muffin each, before putting the money in the cash register.
She wondered why she hadn't heeded the presence of One Truth and High Kick when they'd entered Sugarcube Corner with Cheerilee; she knew them well enough to know that they wouldn't stand for any nonsense. She also wished that she'd laid down the law and kicked out the mob that had tried to attack Cheerilee. The judge had said that had High Kick not been there to block everything, it would have been a whole lot worse. One Truth had called the police, and everyone involved had been charged with attempted assault. Each of them had been given suspended sentences, as well as being named and shamed in the local paper. Not only had Sugarcube Corner been ordered to pay Cheerilee damages totalling $50,000, but for the next year anything the Crusaders and Cheerilee ordered would be on the house. It was fortunate that they weren't ones to abuse it.
Rainbow Dash and Sunset walked through the mall, although neither of them felt any need to buy anything. Their group of friends was depleted due to Rarity and Applejack's lengthy groundings.
"The sad thing is," Sunset said, "If everyone had applied a little bit of common sense, Rarity and Applejack wouldn't be grounded and Celestia and Luna would still be at Canterlot High."
"Tell me about it," Rainbow Dash replied, "I mean, as disappointed as I was in Scoots when I thought she was guilty, acting like Applejack did would only have made things worse. In my view, it was up to Cheerilee to deal with her and I wanted to leave the door open for future healing. And then I found out she was innocent, and it was a relief - not just that she was innocent, but that I hadn’t done anything rash and it would be easy to repair things. I just hope that Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle will eventually be able to forgive their sisters.”
The two of them noticed the three girls in question, as well as Rumble, Pipsqueak, Button Mash, Cozy Glow, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, occupying a table and handing out leaflets, and went over to have a look.
“Hey guys,” they said, “What are you up to?”
Apple Bloom handed Sunset a leaflet, on which was a picture of Spirit of Everfree and the caption “Everfree Forest Railway - The Final Push”. Sunset leafed through it, intrigued.
“It's amazing to think that a group of kids like you could achieve all that," she said.
"Well, you know how the song goes," Scootaloo replied, "Little Engines can do the biggest things."
"That's certainly true," Sunset agreed, "Best of luck, and I look forward to the grand opening."
"See you around, squirt." Rainbow Dash said, as the two of them headed off.
As they made their way through the mall, they could have sworn that they spotted Luna in a security guard's uniform and Celestia behind the counter at a diner.
90293 stood on the disposal road at Canterlot Engine Shed with its smokebox door open, having worked a slow goods from Cloudsdale. Rarity stood in front of it, gloomily raking out ash from the smokebox. The WD 2-8-0 was one of many locomotives that she'd cleaned out, and it gave her plenty of time to think about her actions. Child services had stepped back after Christmas (although they were still keeping an eye out), but the knowledge that she'd been an awful sister wouldn't step back.
She coughed as a cloud of soot rose from the pile of ash that she'd cleaned from the engine, and groaned, "So filthy…"
"Goods engines tend to be," came a voice. Rarity looked around to see Sweetie Belle watching from the cab of a Great Western "Large Prairie", which Button Mash was coupling to four Collett "Sunshine" carriages.
"Oh, er, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said, “I didn’t know you were here.”
There was a rather awkward pause, before Rarity spoke again.
“For what it’s worth, Sweetie Belle...I’m really, really sorry about how I treated you. I should have let you give your side of the story, or at least asked Celestia if she'd heard your side of the story.” She sniffed, and continued, “Even if I’d left the door open like Rainbow Dash did…”
Sweetie Belle hopped down from the footplate, walked over, and wrapped her arms around her sister, who hugged her back.
“If it’s any consolation, Applejack has it worse,” she said, “Apple Bloom told me about how she could hear her parents giving her and Granny Smith a massive ear-bashing.”
The tender moment was interrupted by a high-pitched whistle as a Standard Class 4, with Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo on the footplate, passed by on a local to Halfway.
“We've got the road,” Button Mash called, as the shunting signal cleared.
"Better go - can't keep Sunset waiting," Sweetie Belle said. She returned to the cab, and the train moved to the platform that the Halfway train had just vacated, ready to work a stopping service to the outskirts of Canterlot.
Rarity smiled, wiped away the tears that had been forming in her eyes, and went back to work. It had been an awkward hug, but it had been a hug nonetheless, and she could finally see a light at the end of the tunnel that wasn’t the headlamps of an onrushing train.
Author's Note
Applejack and Granny Smith's punishments were scaled back slightly following a PM conversation, although they still got punished quite heavily.
I had several options for Celestia and Luna - I thought about Scootaloo hearing that they'd moved to Ireland - but I decided on them ending up with menial jobs. Luna ended up as a security guard because, for whatever reason, I was thinking of Simon Pegg in Run, Fat Boy, Run when I wrote that section.
It won't be overnight, but Rarity and Sweetie Belle have begun to mend fences.
The next two sections will feature Celestia and Luna getting chewed out by the superintendent post-chapter 10 (but won't be related to this one), followed by one where Celestia and Luna quickly realise that the Crusaders are innocent when the attempt to frame them is posted.
One Truth Prevails (takes place during Chapters 5 and 6)
One Truth prided himself on having solved every case he'd come across as the school detective at Canterlot High School. He was recognisable as much by his snappy suit as he was by his keen eye for detail and the effortless way he dismantled any lie. Some felt that his outlook was far too black and white, but his response to that was that mitigating circumstances were a matter for attorneys, not detectives. Unsurprisingly, his favourite media concerned detectives - although he was quite envious of The Shadow, who could make himself seem invisible if necessary.
At present, however, he was facing his toughest case yet. About a week or two ago, a Mystable account called "Anon-a-Miss" had started spreading secrets and lies and generally wreaking havoc. The account had tried to make it look as if Sunset Shimmer had been the perpetrator.
One Truth had considered that an insult to his intelligence.
Since its inception, he'd been tracking the account as closely as possible. His refusal to back down from his position that Sunset wasn’t Anon-a-Miss had led to a heated argument with Applejack.
“Why can’t you just accept the truth!” Applejack had yelled, as their discussion had disintegrated into a furious slanging match.
"What concrete proof do you have that it's really Sunset?" One Truth had fired back, his patience fading rapidly, "If you aren't going to listen to reason, I have nothing more to say," he'd concluded, and walked away, although not without audibly muttering "Some element of honesty you are,".
Since then, Applejack had taken a disliking to him, although he didn't bother with her. As far as he was concerned, if she wanted to be an idiot, that was her problem. Although, seeing how everyone else was convinced that it was Sunset, he wondered if he was the only person at the school with a functioning braincell. He therefore continued to track the account, waiting for the perpetrator to slip up.
One morning, he was finishing his breakfast and getting ready for school when his phone beeped, indicating that Anon-a-Miss had posted again. He looked at the post and listened to the accompanying audio track before snorting derisively.
"You'll have to get up much, much earlier than that to fool me," he muttered, before grabbing his bag and getting in his parents' second car. As he drove to school, one thing was on his mind. None of the other posts had been accompanied by audio, so why this one, given that even by CHS recent standards, you'd have to be really stupid to even entertain the idea that it was genuine?
He put it to the back of his mind as he entered the car park and got out of the car. As usual, he'd left himself enough time to get himself a hot drink in the cafeteria before school started. He entered the building and stopped suddenly.
"What on earth happened here?" he asked nobody in particular.
"Well, you're supposed to be the detective," said a voice next to him. He turned to see his girlfriend, High Kick, looking at him with an amused expression on her face.
"At a guess, I'd say that it was a break-in by vandals," he said, surveying the mess of eggs, flour, juice and various other foodstuffs, as well as dents in several lockers and a trail of what looked horribly like blood. The trail of destruction led from the computer room to Principal Celestia's office, which struck him as unusual as he went to the cafeteria. Another thing that struck him as odd was the sight of Applejack storming out of the cafeteria. He dodged behind a locker - he didn't fancy dealing with her this early in the morning, especially not in the temper she seemed to be in. He entered the cafeteria and was greeted by a furious Granny Smith.
"So yeh call yerself a detective, do yeh?" she asked him angrily, "And yet yeh couldn't see who it really was!"
One Truth had a bad feeling about this. Part of him wanted to ask her how she'd feel if he criticised the way she served lunch, but another, more pressing matter, was the need to tell her that, if she was talking about the post, it was a lie that wasn't even trying to look convincing and that nobody with half a brain should fall for it. Before he could do either, however, the PA system crackled into life with its usual burst of feedback, causing him to grimace, cover his ears, and shoot it a dirty look.
"All students are to report to the school hall at once," came Celestia's voice - sounding even angrier than Granny Smith, "All students to the school hall at once."
Now feeling very uneasy, he headed for the school hall, sitting down next to High Kick, who seemed equally perplexed.
"Any idea what this might be about?" he asked her.
"My guess is that it could be about the mess in the corridor and she's telling us what happened," she replied.
"But that doesn't explain Granny Smith having a go at me for 'not figuring out who it was'," One Truth replied.
"They've caught Anon-a-Miss," a nearby student replied.
"Come on, surely no-" One Truth began, but the room fell silent as Celestia stormed onto the stage.
"This morning," she began, "A post went up by Anon-a-Miss which told us who the real culprits were. They were caught on the account on a school computer and their phones were found to be loaded with evidence."
"Excuse me," One Truth said, raising his hand, "But there are a lot of holes in-"
"No questions!" Celestia snapped, before continuing, "Luna, if you please?"
Vice-principal Luna practically shoved three students onto the stage from behind the curtain. High Kick gasped in shock.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were in a terrible state. They'd evidently been attacked, as all of them were covered in the same foodstuffs that had been thrown all over the corridor. In addition, Scootaloo had a bruise on her head, Sweetie Belle had a black eye, and there was a large red mark the size of a fist on one of Apple Bloom's cheeks.
It was obvious to One Truth that their subsequent "confession" had been forced out of them by the principals and wouldn't stand up under any fair justice system, as Celestia then rattled off an outrageously long list of punishments that went far beyond what should have been considered proportionate.
When Celestia finished, there was a pause... before, much to One Truth and High Kick's horror, the three freshmen were pelted with all sorts of objects. To make matters even worse, none of the staff seemed to do anything - a suspicion that was all but confirmed when One Truth began to rise from his seat, only for Celestia and Luna to give him a look that said that he'd have to stay where he was.
It was only when Celestia finally intervened (“Only took you far too fucking long” One Truth had muttered under his breath) that it stopped, and One Truth suspected that the fact classes were about to start had more to do with it.
“They’ve gone mad,” One Truth almost ranted, as he and High Kick sat down for lunch. “Completely insane, both of them. And don’t get me started on the students.”
“It certainly seems that way," High Kick replied.
"Not to mention that those three could have been seriously injured," One Truth continued, "It's a blatant breach of their duty of care, and-"
"Excuse me," came a voice with a British accent. One Truth looked around to see Pipsqueak, Button Mash and Rumble.
"We have reason to believe that that post is an attempt to frame the Crusaders," Pipsqueak continued.
"Oh, thank goodness," One Truth replied, "At least I'm not the only sensible person in this school."
The sound of Sunset Shimmer's horrified voice exclaiming "That's barbaric!" caused One Truth to realise something.
"Does she…"
"She didn't believe it for one moment," Button Mash answered, "In fact, she said it was really amateurish."
"That's just cruel!" Sunset then exclaimed, from the other end of the cafeteria.
"Well, that makes my job a lot easier," One Truth said, "But as tempting as it may seem, don't confront their siblings or the principals. That might make a bad situation worse."
He got out a piece of paper and scribbled something down as Sunset stormed out of the room while Rainbow Dash told Rarity to shut up.
"Here's my mobile number," he said, "If you come across anything that might prove useful, let me know. And don't let anyone bully you into backing down."
He finished his lunch and then got up.
"Where are you going?" High Kick asked.
"Mrs Collins' room," he replied. "I know that we were going to spend the lunch break together, but this is an emergency."
When One Truth got to Cheerilee's room, he noticed her eating her lunch there. That made sense; he doubted that she wanted to be anywhere near Celestia or Luna after how they'd treated her daughter. He knocked, and entered.
"Is this about Anon-a-Miss?" Cheerilee asked.
"Yes," One Truth replied, "Pipsqueak, Button Mash and Rumble filled me in just now - although I wasn't fooled by that post either. What I want to know is what happened this morning."
“Come back after school,” Cheerilee replied, “There’s less chance of us being spied on then.”
One Truth couldn’t argue with that, and so after classes had concluded and the student body had left, he returned to the music room. There, Cheerilee told him about how the Crusaders had been attacked, about how Celestia had refused to listen to them and threatened to expel then if they didn't confess.
"Then Scootaloo asked what sort of principal Celestia was, and yelled that she hated her," Cheerilee continued.
"To be honest, right now I hate Celestia too," One Truth said, looking up from a notebook where he'd been writing everything down, before beckoning Cheerilee to continue.
"Rarity and Applejack then said that they would beat it out of their sisters - literally in Applejacks case."
"And what did Celestia and Luna do in response?"
"Nothing."
"Wait, what?" One Truth asked as his eyes widened.
"Apple Bloom then questioned Applejack’s status as the element of honesty, and Applejack then punched her in the cheek.”
“And Celestia and Luna…”
“Did nothing.”
“So let me get this straight,” One Truth said, reviewing the notes he’d made. “The two principals railroaded your daughter and her two friends for a crime they did not commit, did absolutely nothing when two students said that they would physically harm their sisters and also did absolutely nothing when a student was assaulted right before their very eyes."
He growled, and continued, "You have Superintendent Holiday's number, don't you?"
Cheerilee nodded, then said "But if they find out I reported them…"
"That's a problem," One Truth admitted, "In that case, I'll report them and tell them it was me if they accuse you. As Albus Dumbledore once said, we all must choose between what is easy and what is right. They chose to do what was easy, so we’re going to do what’s right.”
At that moment, Sunset Shimmer entered the room, looking almost frantic.
“I’ve...been...looking...almost...everywhere...for you,” she gasped, plainly out of breath. Cheerilee offered her a glass of water, and she took a massive gulp before continuing, “I need to tell you-”
“It wasn’t them?” One Truth said, “I saw that it was a frame up immediately. Shame virtually nobody else here had any common sense.”
"That's one way of putting it," Sunset said, "I'm not going to speak to those five until they see sense."
"Good for you," One Truth replied.
"But," Sunset continued, "You're going to have to act fast. Applejack and Rarity reacted very badly when I protested at what they had planned. Did you know Sweetie Belle's family sold everything she owns?"
"What!?!"
"And Applejack said that she was going to see to it that Apple Bloom got a spanking."
One Truth swore, his normally unflappable demeanor deteriorating rapidly.
"Right," he said, with grim determination, "There's no time to lose." He began to leave the room.
"Where are you going?" Sunset asked.
"To put those two in their place," One Truth replied, "along with anyone who stands in my way. High Kick should have finished her karate practice by now."
"I'm coming with you," Sunset said.
"No offence, but if they didn't listen to you the first time, I doubt that they'll listen to you the second time."
"Maybe not," Sunset replied, "But I know the way."
"In that case, let's go."
The two of them encountered High Kick near the gym, and they set off determinedly. Near the entrance, they encountered a morose-looking Rainbow Dash.
"Sunset?" she asked, surprised. "Where are you going with these two?"
"To clear a few names." One Truth said.
It took a couple of seconds for those words to click in Rainbow Dash's mind.
"You mean that my Scoots...is innocent?"
"All three of them are," One Truth answered, "But I want to know how that how that picture and au-"
He broke off, as Rainbow Dash tore off towards Cheerilee's room, although Cheerilee and Scootaloo had already left.
“Well, no time to lose,” One Truth said, as he led High Kick and Sunset to his car. “Where should we go first?”
“Sweet Apple Acres,” Sunset replied, “Get there in time and we might be able to save Apple Bloom.”
“In that case, you can ride up front with me and navigate,” One Truth said.
The car pulled out of the student car park and set off as though it was on a mission - which, in truth, it was. They drove past the streetcar stop where Cheerilee and Scootaloo were waiting, when High Kick suddenly shouted “Stop!”
One Truth slammed the brakes on and looked back, but High Kick was already sprinting towards a student who was making a snowball. She skidded to a stop right in front of him as he prepared to throw it at Scootaloo.
“Drop. That. Snowball.” she said, in her most dangerous voice.
“And what if I don’t?” the student said, preparing to throw.
High Kick breathed in, then threw a lightning-fast punch. However, she didn’t aim for the student - her fist connected with a streetlight with such force that it was bent out of shape and toppled over a moment later. The student fled in terror, dropping the snowball - which turned out to be a rock covered in snow.
"Remind me never to get on your bad side," Sunset said, as High Kick returned to the car.
“Right, here we are,” One Truth said, as they pulled up at Sweet Apple Acres some time later.
“One question,” Sunset asked, “How are you going to be able to get in? If you say you think Apple Bloom’s innocent, Applejack will likely slam the door in your face.”
“Who said I was going to say that?” One Truth replied, “I’m going to bluff my way in. Being the school detective does have its advantages.”
One Truth could hear voices inside as he made his way to the door (“-now go to your room, I don’t want to see you for the rest of the day.”) and knocked.
“Who are you?” Bright Mac asked rudely, as he answered the door.
“One Truth, Canterlot High School detective, here to question Apple Bloom. Acting on behalf of Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna.” One Truth replied.
“Well, you’re a bit late. She’s already been caught,” Bright Mac replied.
“I’m not here to ask her if she did it, I’m here to ask her how and why she did it,” One Truth said, “And I’m sure Principal Celestia would just love to find out that her investigation is being obstructed.”
“All right,” Bright Mac said as he reluctantly opened the door, “But you’ve got half an hour and no more. Upstairs, end of the hallway.”
“You can’t rush detective work,” One Truth fired back, as he strode towards the stairs. He was almost there, when he was barged out of the way by Applejack, who furiously charged up the stairs. He fell to the floor, and as he got up, he recalled what Sunset had said to him earlier.
“Applejack said that she would see to it that Apple Bloom got a spanking.”
Regaining his balance, he took the stairs two at a time and raced along the hallway - only to be met with a shut door and Applejack saying that if Granny Smith wasn’t going to spank Apple Bloom, then she would. He suddenly wished he’d brought High Kick with him - she’d once encountered Hoops picking on Fluttershy and had given him a first-hand demonstration of some of her karate skills. Hoops had been afraid of her ever since.
If he stormed in and confronted Applejack, however, he'd almost certainly make things worse. Eventually, and after far too long for One Truth's liking, the door opened, and Applejack walked out.
“Now ah’ve made her take her lumps like a woman, you can see her,” she said, as One Truth used up all his resolve not to slam her as hard as he could against the wall and decided to take High Kick with him when he "questioned" Sweetie Belle.
It took ten minutes for Apple Bloom to calm down enough for One Truth to speak to her, and he found her explanation of the dialogue from the audio track to be much more believable.
"And all three of you are in the photo, meaning none of you could have taken it, meaning that Anon-a-Miss is being run by an outside party," One Truth concluded a few minutes later.
He got up, and patted Apple Bloom on the shoulder.
"As for your terrible excuse for a sister, I heard everything and rest assured, I'll be reporting it as soon as possible."
He made his way downstairs and was practically confronted by the rest of the Apple family as Applejack backed him against the wall.
"Well?" She asked.
"I've questioned her," he replied, "And let me tell you, her version of events matches Sweetie Belle's and is much more believable than yours."
"Why you-!" Applejack said furiously, as she drew back her right hand in a fist and threw a punch.
One Truth ducked.
Applejack's fist hit the wall and, with a crunch, her right hand exploded in pain.
One Truth's elbow impacted into her stomach, knocking the wind out of her.
"Basic self-defence move," he said, as he walked out of the house, while Applejack crumpled to the floor with the wind knocked out of her.
"I know Applejack had a temper, but I never knew she could be that violent," One Truth said, as he returned to the car.
"You mean she really-" Sunset began.
"Yes," One Truth replied, "Barged me out of the way to get there first so she could do so. She tried to punch me just now, but one of High Kick's self-defence moves saw to that and she certainly won’t be hitting anyone for quite some time. I also told them that I'd already seen Sweetie Belle, so they won't think of warning Rarity. I just wish I could force them to give Sweetie Belle her stuff back."
"Way ahead of you." Sunset replied.
“What do you mean?”
“Guess who didn’t bother to check who they were selling to,” Sunset smirked.
“Sunset, you’re a genius,” One Truth said, as he drove the car along, whilst contemplating how to put Rarity and her parents in their place. Eventually, they pulled up outside what Sunset told them was Rarity’s house.
“I think you'd better come with me," One Truth said to High Kick as he got out of the car, "I'm not making the same mistake I made at Sour Pear Hectares."
He rang the doorbell.
"Sweetie Belle, leave the table and go back to Rarity's studio," came the voice of who One Truth assumed was Cookie Crumbles.
"But I haven't fini-"
"You heard your mother," came a Male voice. One Truth narrowed his eyes, but rearranged his face to a neutral expression as Hondo Flanks answered the door, before once again bluffing his way in. As he was shown through the kitchen, he noticed that at one place, there was a half-finished bowl of what looked like a very bland soup and a half-full glass of water.
"I'm going to need some food," he said, thinking on his feet.
"But that's for our second helpings," Hondo protested.
"I'm sorry," One Truth replied, "But I was barely able to have any of my lunch before Celestia called me away to do this investigation, and I'm absolutely starving."
Cookie Crumbles reluctantly handed him a plate of what was left and he took it into Rarity's studio, shutting the door behind him while High Kick took up position on the other side. Sweetie Belle began talking at once, but One Truth held his hand up.
"Eat first, then tell me." He said. Sweetie Belle attacked the meal with gusto, before telling One Truth everything.
"...and of course, someone else must have taken that photograph." He paused, then thought of something else. "Were you trying to track Anon-a-Miss down?"
"No," Sweetie Belle replied.
"That can be ruled out, then." He got to his feet.
"Rest assured, I will be reporting this," he said, "Superintendent Holiday will be hearing about all of this, including Celestia and Luna's actions, and as for your stuff...let's just say that Sunset will be giving you the biggest Christmas present you've ever received."
As he and High Kick headed back, they were confronted by Rarity and her parents.
"That didn't sound like much of a questioning," Rarity said.
"Tell it to my mother," High Kick fired back, referring to the most well-known attorney in the city of Canterlot.
When One Truth got back home, he immediately rang up Superintendent Holiday and told her everything.
"...so that's the whole story." He finished.
"That's absolutely appalling," Holiday replied, barely able to contain her anger. "What about innocent until proven guilty? What about their duty of care?" She paused.
"This is a bit of an awkward situation," she continued, "Lofty and I are in Sacramento this week for a State Department of Education conference. We won't be flying back until Saturday."
"Well, we can't do anything about that," One Truth conceded, "But can you round up a doctor, some social workers and some cops when you return? I have a plan…"
One Truth was not the only one who had a plan. Applejack and Rarity were both furious at having been outwitted, but knew they couldn't act without bringing their own misdeeds to light. In addition, Sunset had seen Applejack's right hand in a cast and had bluntly told her that it served her right.
The next few days became a massive battle of wills. With a few exceptions, much of the student body looked to inflict their own punishment on the Crusaders, but were warned off numerous times by the presence of High Kick. In addition, after seeing Granny Smith refuse to serve Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, One Truth had begun to boycott the cafeteria and had started buying lunch for them on his way into school. Sadly, High Kick couldn't be everywhere, and an attempt to report an assault to Celestia got her bluntly told that it was "none of your business". All of which One Truth reported to Superintendent Holiday.
The battle of wills also extended outside of school. The various businesses had been determined to punish anyone who supported the Crusaders, but thanks to One Truth and High Kick, they found themselves very much on the back foot. High Kick had even accompanied Pipsqueak and Button Mash to Sweet Apple Acres and Rarity's house respectively, forcing Big Macintosh and Rarity to back off when they tried to confront them.
However, the fact that the three girls were still supported by their friends had not escaped Celestia's notice (largely because Big Macintosh and Rarity had both ratted them out to her) and Friday saw Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash in her office yet again.
"We're being undermined," Celestia said, "How can we punish those three properly if their friends continue to support them?"
"Don't ya go blamin' us," Applejack retorted, "It's that meddlin' detective and his wannabe Jackie Chan girlfriend. Get rid of them and we'd be home and dry."
"I know that One Truth and High Kick are involved," Celestia said, "But High Kick's mother is the most well-known attorney in Canterlot. Go after those two, and she'll immediately start making trouble for us."
She paused.
"I believe that we need to offer a deterrent. If those three don't back down by Monday, they'll get exactly the same punishment as their friends plus two weeks of in-school suspension. And if any of them so much as returns a library book late, all six will be expelled."
"Sounds good to me," Rarity said.
"Ah'll make sure he gets the message," Applejack said grimly.
"Er, yeah, sure," Rainbow Dash said.
The three of them left the office. Rainbow Dash made sure that the door was shut before shooting it a look which would have curdled UHT milk.
Saturday afternoon saw One Truth and High Kick accompanying Cheerilee as she did her shopping. Cheerilee had initially tried to tell them that it was unnecessary, but had come round when High Kick, by mentioning her mother, had "persuaded" the various businesses to serve her. The three entered Sugarcube Corner and the two students initially hung back as Cheerilee made her way to the counter.
However, Mrs Cake refused to serve her, and One Truth and High Kick made a beeline down the aisle as the jeering started. Then the first items of food were thrown, and One Truth hauled Cheerilee to the ground as High Kick put on the most impressive display of karate he had ever seen, deflecting and blocking everything thrown with numerous chops and kicks, including cutting a thrown muffin in two with a single swipe. It was still a relief to all three when Rumble arrived. As he chewed the clientele and Mrs Cake out, one of them exclaimed, "Her daughter should have been strangled at bir-" but was cut off as High Kick launched herself into the air and delivered a flying kick to his jaw.
As Cheerilee invited Rumble to come around and help cheer up Scootaloo, and High Kick went home to tell her mother about Mrs Cake, Rainbow Dash came running up and relayed what Principal Celestia had said the previous day. One Truth narrowed his eyes.
"Right," he said, "This has gone far enough." He took his phone out and dialled Superintendent Holiday's number. He hung up a short while later.
"She's coming on Monday," he said. "I suspect that the future does not look bright for certain individuals."
Monday started the same way the last three school days had started. Three depressed framed students arrived at school, unable to see a way out of their nightmare. Applejack might have broken her right hand, but that didn't stop her from spitefully increasing Apple Bloom's list of chores, while Sweetie Belle was still being forced to model atrocious outfits for Rarity even as her possessions were being kept safe by Sunset. Several students, eager to attack them, slunk away at the sight of High Kick.
The morning dragged on. At lunchtime, One Truth handed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle the sandwiches he'd bought for them before heading off in another direction, winking at them as he did so.
"Have they backed down?" Celestia asked Luna in the staff room. Luna shook her head.
"In that case, let's drag them out of lunch and-" Celestia stopped as the PA system crackled into life.
"Attention, students and staff. This is One Truth speaking. For the last few days I have been tallying up the appalling way that three students have been treated, in and out of school, for a crime they did not commit. All the information has been passed to Superintendent Holiday, who is on her way as I speak. This ends now."
"Forget that for a moment. Using the PA system without permission is a clear case for expulsion." Luna said. The two principals stormed along the corridor to Celestia's office and marched in like angry swans, only to stop dead when they noticed the woman who was in there with One Truth and High Kick.
"S-Superintendent Holiday!" Celestia exclaimed. "How lovely to see you, what a pleasant surprise! How was the conference? How are things in the world of education?"
"You can spare me the platitudes," Holiday shot back, "You two have a lot of explaining to do. But first…" she turned to One Truth. "May I?"
She pressed the button.
"This is Superintendent Holiday speaking. Granny Smith, report to the principal's office at once. As of this moment, you're fired."
She then continued, in a much gentler tone, "Would Sunset Shimmer, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Cheerilee please come to the Principal's office as soon as you can."
Eventually, the office was divided into sections. Celestia, Luna and Granny Smith sat in chairs in a corner, with two police officers ensuring that they stayed where they were, while the three girls gave their side of the story.
When Apple Bloom told Superintendent Holiday about how Applejack had spanked her, Granny Smith shouted about how it wasn't true because they'd decided not to.
"I was stood outside her bedroom door because Applejack barged me out of the way," One Truth retorted, "I heard every strike and lost count after thirty."
Apple Bloom simply dropped her jeans, prompting gasps from several people in the room as they saw the extent of her injuries.
"Sweetie Belle's family sold everything she owns, and starved her," One Truth said.
"Is this true?" Superintendent Holiday asked. One Truth had told her, but she'd hoped against hope that it had been a one-off thing. Sweetie Belle nodded.
"Right," she said, and went over to the PA system before summoning Applejack and Rarity. "Time for everyone to face the consequences."
The framing and subsequent railroading of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had far-reaching consequences. Celestia didn't survive the day as Principal - and Luna went with her. Neither would be allowed to teach so much as a correspondence course ever again, and they both faced an investigation into their conduct over the past few days. Assistant Superintendent Lofty took charge on an interim basis until Christmas, after which Cadence was appointed from Crystal Prep, bringing her sister-in-law with her.
With the exception of Cheerilee, the entire faculty were given a severe reprimand. The detention system was overhauled, with the pointless copying or analysing of quotes or answering pointless questions being replaced by productive tasks such as putting letters in envelopes and checking stationery levels, extra work, or writing lines. Room 101 was repurposed as a spare classroom.
Around half of the student body were given punishments ranging from detention to two weeks of suspension for attacking, or trying to attack, the Crusaders. They also found themselves on probation for the remainder of the academic year.
The case of "C vs Sugarcube Corner" was never in doubt after High Kick's mother took up Cheerilee's case, and it cost Sugarcube Corner $50,000 in damages. In addition, Cheerilee and the Crusaders all received $250,000 in damages from the Department of Education.
Rarity and her parents barely retained custody of Sweetie Belle, but they were kept under close watch by Child Protection Services to ensure that they remained on their best behaviour. In addition, Hondo's workplace put him on a major written warning, and Rarity lost her apprenticeship and was ordered to carry out unpaid work at the California Coast Railroad - who immediately brought out their dirtiest locomotives for her to clean, 8Fs, 9Fs and WD 2-8-0s that seemed to accumulate ash just moving onto the turntable and were all waiting for their numbers to be called in the overhaul queue.
Thanks to the actions of Granny Smith and Applejack, Apple Bloom was nearly taken away by CPS as well. However, Bright Mac was able to convince them that it was an isolated incident, and that Applejack would be dealt with.
Granny Smith and Applejack both left CHS under arrest (and clapped in irons, even though neither were in the navy). Both were charged with child abuse, but Applejack was also charged with battery. In the end, Granny Smith received eight months in prison, with Applejack being sentenced to four years. However, the sentences were suspended after Apple Bloom requested that leniency be shown. However, Applejack still faced a severe punishment from her parents, as well as Assistant Superintendent Lofty.
As for Anon-a-Miss, Sunset and Sweetie Belle tracked the account to a CHS student named Norman Halford, who received a very rude awakening from the police the following morning. Despite having tracked the account since its inception, One Truth felt it fitting that it was those two who got their tormentor put away.
Omake (If High Kick had accompanied One Truth into Sweet Apple Acres)
Applejack sighed as she pulled down Apple Bloom's jeans.
"The only mistake here is that you were ever born," she said, as she raised her hand to strike.
"How dare you!"
Applejack turned her head to discover High Kick standing in the room, her eyes ablaze with fury. Before Applejack could react, High Kick grabbed her right wrist and wrenched her away. Apple Bloom took advantage of High Kick's presence and dived behind her bed.
"You were going to attack your sister for a crime she didn't commit," High Kick continued, "and you told her that her being born was a mistake? If anyone needs to take their lumps like a woman, it's you! Spank this!"
She drew back her fist and punched Applejack in the stomach. Applejack staggered back as High Kick raced towards her, screaming with rage, and delivered a lightning-fast volley of punches into her stomach, before finishing with an uppercut and a right hook to the jaw.
"WHAT IS GOING ON?"
High Kick turned and saw the rest of the Apple Family, led by a furious Granny Smith, with One Truth bringing up the rear. A furious Granny Smith would intimidate most people, but High Kick wasn't one to be intimidated.
"Hold your wheesht!" she snapped, so angry that she was practically radiating heat, and causing even Granny Smith to step back in fear while she inadvertently quoted an old episode of Thomas the Tank Engine she'd once seen on YouTube. "There's more coming if any of you misbehave!"
She stormed out of the house.
"It would be a very good idea to heed that warning." One Truth said, and followed her out.
When they got to Rarity's, they found her frantically trying to call the buyer they’d sold Sweet Belle’s possessions to, telling them that there had been a terrible mistake, while her parents hastily piled Sweetie Belle's plate with food.
Author's Note
One Truth, High Kick and her mother are based on Detective Conan characters Shinichi Kudo, Ran Mouri and Eri Kisaki (or Jimmy Kudo, Rachel Moore and Eva Kaden if you prefer the dub names). It's safe to say that none of them would have stood for the way the crusaders were treated, and would have been able to act on it with their talents (Shinichi's detective skills, Ran's expertise in karate, and Eri's work as a top attorney.) The chapter title comes from Shinichi's catchphrase in the English dub.
This ended up much longer than anticipated. Initially, it was only going to be only Applejack and Rarity who One Truth went up against, but I then remembered the student who injures Scootaloo and thing ended up snowballing from there.
One Truth's "Sour Pear Hectares" line is a reference to a line spoken by Douglas in Engines to the Rescue.
All the martial arts scenes are adapted from ones in Detective Conan: the streetlight one is based on the sixth episode, with the omake being based on the climax of the fourth film. (As seen here and here respectively, although the second one is slightly toned down from the original.) The scene where High Kick stops the Sugarcube Corner mob's attack on Cheerilee is the exception (although given Ran's reflexes, she probably could pull off something like that), but I wasn't going to give that lot so much as a sniff.
Whilst Applejack's broken hand was self-inflicted, so was her first hand experience of High Kick's karate skills; she was about to physically punish her sister for a crime she didn't commit and told her that her being born was a mistake, within earshot of a karate expert with an extremely strong sense of right and wrong. Engaging a train in a game of chicken is only slightly more idiotic.
For those not familiar with British steam locomotives, here are examples of an 8F, a 9F and a WD 2-8-0, all of which were designed for heavy freight traffic and were almost always dirty. The idea arose from a conversation with The Blue EM2 about making Rarity carry out the dirtiest tasks involving steam locomotives for her treatment of Sweetie Belle. (I suggested cleaning sludge from boilers, he suggested removing limescale-encrusted boiler tubes.
Following a conversation with diablo4000, the references to Apple Bloom being taken away and Applejack and Granny Smith being sent to prison were removed.
It's unlikely that the canon Ran Mouri would say something like "Spank this" before delivering a beatdown, but I liked the line and kept it in.
As for Rainbow Dash, after her encounter with One Truth, she caught the next streetcar to Cheerilee's house and proceeded to hug Scootaloo for the next half hour.
The next vignette follows on from this one, and deals with the aftermath in greater detail.
