The Shadow Queen

My vision focuses back to the ceiling in the present.

I walk a fine line between hate and love, hero and villain, creation and destruction. My great talents, ambitions, genius-level calculations, observation, manipulation, and strategy approach the levels of perfection, or at least they used to.

But, for all my logic and countless strategies, it turns out life is a lot more complicated than I anticipated.

These past three months have been a great example of that. Really, though, I've been off my game for a lot longer than that. All the sacrifices it took to get this far . . . I used to be cool with that, but sacrificing Sunny was like cutting into a major artery in my system.

Things used to be so much easier when everyone in my life were just faceless chess pieces on a virtual chessboard, but now I can't help but imagine their faces. I am lost in their smiles and tears. Maybe that is why I can't focus on my internal chessboards anymore.

I look at my computer monitor. Since I currently have the screen off, I see my own reflection better in it despite the black.

Cozy Glow . . . what have you become?

You used to be like a goddess among pathetic mortals. A supervillain among weak and pathetic creatures.

Now look at you!

Weak!

Pathetic!

Sometimes helpless.

Giggling like an idiot girl. You might as well start blowing bubbles like Derpy because you're just a hair off from becoming her.

I wouldn't have a problem with any of this as long as it served some greater agenda. I can fake any emotion I want, but genuine feelings are a big no-no. That is poison! It knocks me off my game.

And, damn it, I've been off my game for quite some time, and I have had enough of it!

No more distractions! No more delays!

I had a goal set out for myself, and I've dragged my feet for too long after I achieved it. Diamond Tiara is more than ripe for her big fall. Her tower is built right up again except it now has a massive bomb in its new core foundation, ME!

I put on my smart glasses and activate my wrist motion tracking.

It's a little too risky to use my computer anymore for my hack jobs when a new “sister” of mine can barge into our room at any time, so I'll need to hide my work more carefully even when I'm home.

First thing’s first. To unravel Little Miss Prissy's new network of friends, I'll start with the most fundamental one, Sweetie Belle.

I'm sorry, Button Mash, but Sweets has become too instrumental to my plans. Not only is she a source of Diamond's support, but she's the only one that took it to the next level. If I'm going to destroy Diamond, I have to attack her greatest support beam.

The Shadow Queen: Hello, Clarice! We meet at last.

I tap my foot as I wait for Sweetie Belle's response from her cellphone. Since this is the first time I'm contacting Sweetie using this identity, I'm not sure how long it will take her to respond.

It turns out its twelve seconds.

Sweetie: wat do U want?

Hmm. I am used to chicken scratches from various people's text responses, but at least she has the courtesy to end her sentence with punctuation. Good girl!

Sweetie: y u bother me? What did I do to you?

I frown as I read that virtual text. I can feel her fear and pain through that text, and it is stabbing me in the heart a bit.

Man, I'm losing my touch! See, this is what happens when I get too “cozy” with my god damn minions!

The Shadow Queen: You know why, or at least you should. You've gotten awfully chummy with a certain target of mine, and THAT is going to stop.

The Shadow Queen: Take a look at this.

I send her a link in the next text. Within it, it has a bunch of videos and pictures of Sweetie Belle and Diamond getting very chummy with each other.

In every instance that I have observed, Diamond is the one putting the moves on Sweetie. For quite a while, Sweetie was merely reacting to this confusing thing happening to her, but lately she seems to melt with pleasure into it more. It seems to me Sweetie was on the fence with this one for quite some time, but she recently started to embrace it more. Maybe she even asked for it. I'm not sure. I am not constantly spying on her.

They know about my “Eye in the Sky” drone, too. I hope Sweetie doesn't make that connection. Sweetie Belle can be pretty academically smart as long as she's not too emotionally distraught, but she seems quite naive other than that. I may have severely underestimated Rarity, but I still truly don't think Sweetie is wise enough to connect all the dots.

At least, not on her own.

I rub my lips with a finger.

Risky. Very risky. My game has been much more challenging lately. I'm out of touch with many of my minions, and there are a lot of holes in my knowledge accordingly. Usually I have a much more solid plan than this, but today this feels like a guided shot in the dark.

Damn. I hate to think it's pure emotion that's causing me to rush this, but I honestly can't reject that possibility.

I'm human too, as much as I hate to admit it.

Sweetie: u ben SPYING on us?

I grin at her response slightly.

The Shadow Queen: I do, indeed, keep close tabs on targets of interest, and I'm fully aware of your merry little band, too. I've pulled the strings of your “precious” Cutie Mark Crusaders from the very beginning.

Sweetie: wat do u want from me?

Straight to the point. I like it.

In fact, I prefer it. Of all the minions I've attempted to toy with, Sweetie feels among the most innocent. I really don't enjoy toying with her, so I will indeed get straight to the point.

The Shadow Queen: Very well, Sweetie, I'll cut right to the chase with you. I DEMAND you break up with Diamond Tiara, or I'll destroy you both!

The Shadow Queen: I also want you to convince her that you've changed your mind regarding her. That you can't go on being so close to her.

The Shadow Queen: Tell her that you'd rather see someone else right now. Button Mash, for example.

I wait quite a while for her to respond. I figured it would take quite some time. She has to process and internally digest my request. I know it won't be easy for her, but I'm giving her no choice.

Sweetie: y r u so mean to me?

Sweetie: wat did I ever do to u?

Again, I frown. I hate hurting Sweetie like this. She's such a nice girl, even to me.

But this is necessary to advance my revenge plot. We both have to bite the bullet on this one.

The Shadow Queen: You personally did nothing against me specifically other than getting close to persons of interest.

The Shadow Queen: That's the FIRST thing I intend to change.

The Shadow Queen: Break it off with Diamond. That's an ORDER from your Queen!

I thin my lips. Am I pushing this too hard? Maybe I don't have enough leverage on her to get her to cooperate. Usually I feel more prepared.

Sweetie: u'r not MY queen!

Sweetie: I'd nver obey som1 as EVIL as u!

Sweetie: u hurt my dear friend shimmy too!

Sweetie: I will NEVER forgive you for that!

I frown.

The Shadow Queen: I'm not asking for your forgiveness. Instead, I am DEMANDING your obedience.

The Shadow Queen: Break it off with Diamond, and make sure it HURTS her!

Sweetie: NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

The Shadow Queen: Do it, or I'll expose you both!

I let that hang for a moment, then press on.

The Shadow Queen: Do you think you can live with that, Sweetie Belle?

The Shadow Queen: Imagine it, everyone at school talking about you and Diamond.

The Shadow Queen: Every girl in the locker room will be afraid to associate with you both because they'll fear you'll hit on THEM, too!

The Shadow Queen: But they won't just ignore you! Oh no! Those are only the NICE ones, like you!

The Shadow Queen: Some don't run in the fight or flight response. Some will instead choose to ATTACK, and they'll do it constantly!

The Shadow Queen: And it won't be just YOU! Diamond Tiara will also suffer the same fate.

The Shadow Queen: Can you live with that, Sweetie Belle?

The Shadow Queen: If you cooperate with me, at least you'll restrict the damage to only Tiara. Why must you both suffer instead?

I pause for five seconds. After that, I was going to type something else but Sweetie beat me to it.

Sweetie: B'cuz, {diamond emoji} is my friend!

Sweetie: anything u do to her, you do to ME too!

Sweetie: THAT'S how friendship WORKS! Not that a MONSTER like you could ever understand!

I notice how she's using full sentences now. She's really taking the time to make her message clear.

As for what she's saying, I feel stunned!

Sweetie: My sister, Rarity, will expose you!

Sweetie: Even if she doesn't, my friends and I will!

I narrow my eyes at her virtual text, then quickly type.

The Shadow Queen: You overestimate your sister AND your merry little band!

The Shadow Queen: I have you BOTH right where I want you, in my little pocket.

It only takes four seconds for Sweetie to respond.

Sweetie: LIAR!!!! LIIIIIIIIIAAAARRR!!!

Sweetie: MY SISTER WOULD NEVER WORK 4 SOMEONE AS EVIL AS YOU!

Sweetie: My sister is a hero!

Sweetie: She has STOPPED villains like you many times b 4, and she will do it again!

The Shadow Queen: Villain and hero are just a label the winners of any story get to choose at their own discretion.

The Shadow Queen: I couldn't care LESS about how you judge me!

Now that is a bald-faced lie!

Even a painful one.

The Shadow Queen: All I need to know is are you in, or out?

Ultimatum delivered. Now I'll just have to see how Sweetie responds.

Quite a while passes in silence. After thirty seconds, I test the waters again.

The Shadow Queen: Sweetie?

But immediately I get a message that the other user is offline.

I widen my eyes in disbelief at this.

That little BITCH! She hung up on me! I can't believe it!

Wow! I guess I didn't know Sweetie as well as I thought I did. I'm so used to her honey that I couldn't imagine the vinegar she could also offer.

I review the text messages we sent to each other as I try to calculate her mindset and intentions. In the end, I hate to admit it, but it looks like she's leaning against betraying Diamond, even though her loyalty will cost them both.

No! NOOOOOOOO!

I put my glasses back on my desk then rub my face.

Damn it, I was bluffing! I really do have the leverage to destroy them both, but using it against Sweetie . . . I'm not sure if my heart can take it, even if it also means condemning Diamond. I was really counting on Sweetie's cooperation so I wouldn't have to hurt her too!

Damn it! That “friendship” issue really is a nasty problem for me!

I hate to admit it, but I've underestimated it too many times.

How many flaws have piled up over these past few months? The mistakes, miscalculations, and errors seem tangled now. I don't know how to unravel it anymore. I don't even know where to start.

How did this happen? Where exactly did everything first go wrong?

As I think back on it carefully, it occurs to me that the first thing to go wrong seems to be the day Princess Twilight paid us a visit.

But, in actuality, that wasn't the first trigger event that caused my downfall.

No.

It was Ghost's message that he successfully got the flash drive that I requested. Right after that, everything seemed to go downhill for me.

I can't believe it! My plans used to be so perfect! So flawless! I carefully eliminated all traces of evidence leading back to me. I even had contingency plans as a backup to every move I ever had, including the less than nefarious ones.

But these days . . . everything seems to be falling apart!

I slowly release a deep breath.

I don't know.

I don't know what to do anymore. This mess is just too tangled now.

I feel so helpless, like the frightened little girl I was in some of my dreams (more often lately) and how I used to be in my past.

Well . . . if worse comes to worst, I need to prepare myself to confess everything, especially to my mom! She, above all, is among those I least wish to hurt. If it turns out I can't avoid that, then the least I can do is go out on my terms.

I turn on my computer screen again in preparation to make a video log. While I do that, I hope to God neither Diamond nor my mother eavesdrop on what I'm about to make.

At least, not yet.

* * *

“ATTENTION! ATTENTION EVERYONE! CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION?” Sweetie Belle boldly cries out in front of my History class.

I look at her in shock.

What are you up to, Sweetie Belle?

Sweetie fully faces towards our very old professor, Cranky Doodle, and bows to him a bit, Japanese style.

“I'm sorry for the interruption, Professor, but I have something important that I need to get off my chest!” Sweetie both apologizes and explains.

Cranky grumbles in a “cranky” way, but waves her off to continue as he says, “Oh, FINE! Just make it quick. I have a class to run, kid!”

“Thank you, Professor! That means a lot to me,” Sweetie replies to the professor before turning to face us. I notice her face burning crimson with embarrassment. Her eyes squeeze shut tight and her face cringes hard. When I see it, I feel a lump get stuck in my throat.

I have a bad feeling about this!

Sweetie Belle opens her eyes, and I feel hurt to see tears in her eyes.

“I . . . have a confession to make,” Sweetie began. She takes a deep breath. She speaks fairly quickly when she begins again as if in a rush to get this painful experience over with. “I've been blackmailed by someone calling herself the Shadow Queen!”

I hear gasps of astonishment from several dozen students in my classroom. I happen to know that they recognize the name because I've secretly blackmailed them, too!

“She asked me to betray one of my dearest friends!” Sweetie goes on as tears now stream from her face. “But I can't do it! I can't betray one of my friends!

“The Shadow Queen threatened to expose Diamond and me with pictures of . . . well . . .” She takes a deep breath, releases it, and declares, “Well, there is no easy way for me to say it, so I'll just say it.

“Diamond Tiara and I are a couple! I’m in love with her.”

More gasps of astonishment sweep the room, but a few do so in recognition. After all, they are among the minions who took those pictures in the first place!

Eyes wide with astonishment, Cranky seems to numbly press a button on the computer to his desk. Shortly later, my mother speaks from his computer.

“Yes? What can I do for you, Cranky?” my mother asks with her usual pleasant demeanor.

“You need to get into my classroom right away!” Cranky demands of her.

“Really? What's wrong?” my mother asks in sudden concern.

“NOW, Miss Sparkle!” Cranky demands again. He lifts his finger off the button then nods at Sweetie to continue.

Sweetie nods in acknowledgment to Cranky then bravely, and tearfully, faces us again.

Meanwhile, I am so stunned that I can't think straight.

“Somehow . . . the Shadow Queen has pictures and videos of Diamond and me kissing and . . . touching . . . each other.”

Sweetie's face burns cherry red.

“She promised to expose that evidence to the whole school if I didn't cooperate, but . . . I can't! I can't betray my friend, even if it means also hurting me! So . . . if this is going to come out anyway, then I'll confess this on my own terms. I will not be a slave to evil! I will not allow this diabolical villain to hurt anyone else!”

She places a hand on her chest as she admits, “This hurts me . . . so much to admit all of this, but I am strong! I am a brave girl, and I refuse to take a knee to evil.

“So . . . there you have it. Everything I am laid bare. I just hope that you can forgive me for being myself. I never meant for any of this to happen but I had to do my best to support her!

“As most of you know, Diamond's mother wasn't the nicest lady. She made Diamond feel so bad that it nearly drove my friend to suicide.

“When… When I first kissed her, she almost rebelled but then… then she didn’t. She kissed me back.

“As for me, I was confused about my own feelings for so long. Even when I started to acknowledge how good it felt to kiss her, part of me still felt a little guilty and torn. I really had to ask myself a lot of hard questions lately, and the answers I got are something I'm not entirely comfortable admitting yet but . . . the Shadow Queen gave me no choice.”

Sweetie pauses when she hears someone gasping and racing down the school hallway. Shortly later, my mother bursts into the room. She pants so hard that she has trouble talking. She even falls to a knee since her body is so starved for oxygen.

“I . . . came here . . . as swiftly . . . as I could!” my mother struggles to say between her pants. “What . . . What’s up?”

“I was just busy telling everyone that Diamond and I are dating,” Sweetie reports to my mother. For some reason, she did it more easily to my mother than the rest of the classroom, most likely because this is the second time. “A cyberbully by the name of the Shadow Queen threatened to expose Diamond and I with pictures of this if I don't betray her, but I refuse to cave to evil, and I will never hurt Diamond, so I confessed everything myself.”

“WHAT?!” My mother gasps in shock. “You too?!”

“And me!” a boy named Crinkle confesses as he stands up straight. “The Shadow Queen threatened me too! The only difference between Sweetie and I is I was a coward.” He looks at Sweetie squarely. “Sweetie, it was I who took those pictures. At least . . . some of them. The Shadow Queen somehow found out that some of our financial backers in our Kickstarter campaign came from illegal sources. If she exposed them, it could have threatened our project . . . but I really should have taken your feelings into consideration too.

“Sweetie Belle, I'm so sorry for what I've done to you! Can you ever forgive me?”

“I was threatened too!” a girl named Candid spoke up. “Somehow she found out that I've cheated on a bunch of my tests. She threatened to expose me unless I report to her some of my accomplices in my classroom, presumably so she could persuade them to do her dirty work, too.”

Over the next several minutes, several dozen of my other minions confess their crimes too. While that happens, the only thought that’s circling in my mind is, “What is going ON?!”

“Really? All of you have been bullied by this person?” my mother asks in shock, then suddenly looks very guilty. “I've been a terrible principal! I should have noticed and acted upon this sooner!”

“You're not to blame, Miss Sparkle!” Sweetie Belle assures my mother cheerfully. “You did everything you could. These secrets have been boiling for a very long time because everyone was good at hiding them, but your kindness and compassion have shone through in so many ways!

“For example, the way you raised your daughter to be a strong, kind, smart, and morally upstanding woman . . . she inspired me to be brave!”

I widen my eyes at these words.

Oh, you have got to be SHITTING ME!

Sweetie Belle skips over to me happily and takes both of my hands into hers.

“Thank you, Cozy Glow, for all that you have given us!” Sweetie tells me proudly and happily. “If it weren't for your strength, I never would have had the courage to stand up in front of everyone and confess everything. You did it every day that you stood up in front of everyone during your campaign run as Student Council President. I can assure you that I voted for you!”

Many others in the classroom echo that declaration.

“And you have been an amazing friend over these past few months!” Sweetie goes on brightly. “Thank you! THANK you from the bottom of my heart!”

“Oh Cozy! I'm so proud!” my mother declares as she sniffs and wipes tears from under her glasses.

WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING IN MY LIFE!!!???