After returning my tray and dishes to the cafeteria, I spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the school, wrapped up in thought. No, that's not entirely correct. It's more like I was trying not to think. I left my bag—and cloak after transferring the medallions and wallet to my jacket pockets—with Luna, along with instructions to write "Help!" in the journal if something happened when I went to meet Anon-a-Miss with the other three, and I didn't come back.

Call me paranoid, but finding out that the bitch that sucker-punched me had been caught and suspended, pending expulsion, hadn't really eased my nerves all that much. As much as it felt like she deserved what was coming to her, I also felt that making an example of her—even if she'd been in fights before and was on a last warning—was only gonna make her more volatile. She wasn't just a victim of her own hubris; Anon-a-Miss was the piper playing the tune, and emotionally volatile teenagers could make some of the most unfortunate, potentially deadly weapons.

Sure, the school's general emotional state was finally starting to simmer down but there was this feeling in the back of my mind that something bad was going to happen. Even if the account had gone radio-silent since the call-out over the PA, there were still a number of people angry and hurt by all of his—Sunset most of all. Honestly, it felt like the days leading up to my kidnapping all over again.

In the end, I just ended up wandering up and down the halls of the school, peeking in on the occasional classroom, waving to anyone who noticed me. The expression on Wallflower Blush's face when she saw me peering in was priceless. Rainbow, on the other hand grinned and shot me the thumbs up. I could practically imagine what she was thinking: We've got this! I even ended up helping Coach Iron Will with another stuck ball, to the cheers of students who didn't want their game of kickball to end so soon.

In the window in the door to the art room, I spotted three familiar girls in matching dark hoodies making something with paper mâché. Their apparent fear of me nagged at the back of my mind. At the time, I'd have liked nothing more than to ask their teacher if I could have a moment to speak with the three. I just wanted to assure them that they have nothing to fear from me, and try to help out if Anon-a-Miss had done something to hurt them.

As I watched them, a stray thought crossed my mind. 'I'd look at the kids in the middle school program. Even if she didn't really target them, they've all probably been told stories of her reign of terror from their friends and family, or witnessed the results.' That's what Wallflower Blush had suggested, and the human Cutie Mark Crusaders—What did this trio even call themselves?—definitely seemed to be the right age. Plus, in the journal, Sunset had suggested it could be friends or family within their peer group...

An icy chill gripped at my heart, and my stomach felt as though I were on a roller-coaster. Those three would have access to a lot of personal stuff others wouldn't, and it's entirely possible that they might have been present at times where Sunset received certain information. One probably wouldn't act without the other two supporting though... I turned away from the door and shook my head. Sure, they have the means, but what's the motive? For that matter, would they have it in them to hurt their sisters and friends in order to... do what exactly? What's the end goal?

Backing away from the door, I sighed. Maybe they're being blackmailed by Anon-a-Miss, I wondered. But what could three middle school students have on them? The more I thought about it, the less I understood. It didn't help any that I knew that, deep down, I was being blinded by cognitive bias. The Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo of my world were some of the sweetest fillies I knew, and while they took a bit to warm up to me, they were good kids.

I can't assume that these three are the exact same, because they probably grew up in different ways... If only my interactions with AJ, Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie didn't reinforce the opposite. Although those girls might have been awful to Sunset, nothing in their behaviours and mannerisms really stood out to me as contrary to their Equestrian counterparts. After all, I knew firsthoof from my experience getting my shit slapped by the farmpony that people do stupid shit when stressed and hurt.

My biggest problem, I think, was that I was rationalising. The thought that it could be the CHS Crusaders scarred me. If it really was these three, and they were pretty much identical to my friends, then it would mean that my friends were capable of straight-up organising the straight up mass ostracism of another being... Worse, it meant that they seemingly didn't care that their cruelty drove someone to self-harm and/or attempted suicide. I don't wanna believe that my first friends 'my own age' could be this sociopathic.

I was saved from my thoughts when I noticed the trio all simultaneously get up. I knew from all the clocks I'd passed that there was still quite a bit of time left in this last period of the day, but it looked like they'd all put their projects away in their bags and had all packed up. Before they had an opportunity to spot me I chose to beat feet down the hallway. If they're innocent in all this, and they see me creeping on them, they're just gonna be even more scared. I can talk to them when this is all done.

Although my instincts were screaming that this was suspicious of them, and that I should follow them, I went against that instinct. Out the back door to the parking lot I went. Without my cloak on, I had only my track jacket to keep my upper body warm, and the skirt was still pretty breezy, so in the end I decided to fish out the fire medallion to warm myself while wandering about the parking lot. After all, it felt good to keep moving, if only to keep the circulation going.

If I'd had gloves, pants, and proper boots, I might've thought about making a snowman—and blasting it for target practice—but in lacking that, there wasn't much to do. That's how I ended up playing 'Which car is Rarity's?' There were plenty of choices. Personally, I expected it to be the white mid-range sedan with the vanity plate reading F45H10ND1V4. Another likely one was this grey SUV with D4PR1NC355 for a plate. There was also some pink equivalent of a Miata in the far side of the parking lot, but since it was a compact sports car, I imagined that wasn't it, unless me and someone else were riding on someone's lap, which would be a huge traffic violation.

Once I got bored, I found a spot near the doors, used my fire to dry a ledge along the stairs to sit on, and waited. It didn't take long for the bell to ring, and not long after, students were filing out the door. Dismissing the fireball, I chose to just sit there as students went past. Spitfire even stopped by to make sure I'd received Rainbows message, as if there'd be some other reason I was loitering outside in the cold. Nah, to be fair, in their eyes I am an interdimensional pony whose thought processes are alien to them.

"Emerald, er Anon, darling," came Rarity's familiar faux-posh accent as she approached. "Wherever is your beautiful cloak? You must be freezing."

Shrugging, I held up the medallion seated in my right hand, while holding the left one palm up and channelling some mana through the engraved runes just long enough to show a small burst of flame. "I've got means to fight the cold," I explained, sliding the clay disc into my pocket. "But even without that, I managed to survive seven years living on the move; honestly, this isn't even the coldest I've felt. It's usually much worse this time of year up in the Arctic circle."

Applejack and Rainbow Dash weren't far behind Rarity. "Eeyep, Ah got a cousin what lives up thataway," said Applejack as she zipped up her own parka. "Crab Apple says them month-long polar nights get mighty cold."

"Mom and Dad took me on a 'survivalist excursion' up in Coltorado Springs last year in the middle of winter," added Rainbow, shivering slightly as she pulled on some gloves. "If you dealt with cold like that all the time, you're some kind of crazy."

Rather than dignify that with a response, I simply hopped off the ledge, brushed off the back of my skirt, and inclined my head toward the parking lot. They got the hint, and started walking. "Any idea why Anon-a-Miss wants to meet us off-campus?" I asked, following behind them. I winced as a pale guy in a basket-ball jersey perked up and started watching me—at least, I think he was; I couldn't see his eyes through the curtain of long brown hair hanging in front of his face. "They know you guys are likely smarting from being manipulated into alienating and isolating, and I'm certainly pissed—" Rarity turned to look at me, and I could almost hear the word language forming in her mouth, but I just raised an eyebrow at her. "—off that I have a concussion because of them, among other things."

Applejack was the one to speak up when we reached the white sedan with F45H10ND1V4 plate. Fucking called it. "Ah cain't rightly say, sugar," she said, climbing into the front passenger seat, while Rainbow took the one behind Rarity. "Might wanna simply say their piece 'fore they turn themselves in. Might want us ta turn them in ta make good with Sunset."

~ 29 ~

The entire ride to Donut Joe's was filled with an uncomfortable silence. I honestly couldn't blame them for not wanting to talk more. After all, they'd apparently turned up nothing since yesterday afternoon, only for Anon-a-Miss to contact them and request a meeting. They couldn't even help Sunset on their own terms. They probably felt bitter that, no matter what they did, their choices kept getting taken from them, and the only choice they had gotten to make in all of this was to hurt their friend.

It was kinda surprising that the place wasn't more packed on an afternoon when a bunch of teenagers were all getting out of school at once, but maybe they all preferred this world's Sugarcube Corner. After all, a doughnut shop seemed more like a cop hangout and a meeting-place for adults, rather than a dine-in bakery/sweet shop. Then again, maybe that's why they wanted to meet here; so their peers would be less likely to recognise them. Still, the parking lot was almost empty.

I don't like this, I thought as I undid my seat belt. That earlier feeling of dread had returned, and the thought that this might be some sort of trap returned. An empty, out of the way place... As I exited the back seat, I could feel the anxiety and barely-disguised fear from the three young women with me.

My eyes darted between the three, considering my options as we all walked into the place. If it comes down to it, do I put priority on my own well-being, or do I buy them time to escape? I'd promised Twilight that I wouldn't intentionally put myself in danger, but at the same time, she'd understand if it meant protecting her friends, right? Even if they fucked up by allowing themselves to be manipulated into hurting Sunset Shimmer, I don't think she'd forgive me if I let them get hurt when I could protect them.

"While we wait for them to arrive, I shall get us something to drink," Rarity offered once we were through the door. "I take it you two want the usual?" I caught a nod from AJ and Rainbow, who were looking around the place with wary eyes. "Would you like anything, dear?"

Part of me wanted to say yes, and to ask her to get me the sugariest caffeinated beverage the place offered. It never hurt to ensure I was replenishing my mana, even if I was able to passively pull in some of this world's stagnant magic. At the same time, though, my stomach was doing back flips, and I could tell that the anxiety would make it next to impossible to keep anything down. "No thank you," I answered, glancing over to a booth far from the exit. "I don't think I could keep it down, so I'm gonna go claim us a booth."

Separating from the group, I let my eyes wander. At a table not far from the exit, I saw that indigo and pink haired girl who'd almost been jumped in the locker room yesterday morning—I think her name was Bon Bon. Sitting across from her was an aquamarine girl with whitish-cyan hair, sporting a shiner and tears in her eyes. Despite being on opposite sides of the table, the pair were holding hands, and I could hear the former saying something along the lines of, "I won't let them ever hurt you again. Mom even said you can come stay with us."

Another table near the bathrooms was occupied by a trio of hooded figures. All of them were wearing dark colours, save for the white masks adorning their faces. Those had poorly drawn smiley-faces that gave off a rather creepy vibe as they sipped sodas through straws and the mouth slits in their masks. Even though I couldn't see their eyes, I could tell they were watching.

Those must be Anon-a-Miss, I decided as I claimed a large corner booth. That sinking feeling from earlier had returned in force as I started to pick up on three familiar emotional presences. I'd felt them several times over the last two days. That same sensation of fear, guilt, and anxiety. Then I was right...

Anger rose in my throat like bile, and I felt my cheeks becoming hot. I wanted nothing more than to just storm over to them and chew them out right then and there. They'd inflicted a special kind of evil upon the world, and I wanted them to know that there was a special place in Hell waiting for them. Still, I needed to remain calm and rational. I was probably going to be the closest possible thing to an impartial mediator when the masks came off. I might even have to hold the other three back. Would I really? They might get pissed, but I can't bring myself to believe they'd actually attack them.

When the others sat down with me, setting their drinks on the table, I remained quiet. I didn't even look at the trio while they worked up the courage to come confess. Instead, took my glasses off, slid them into one of my pockets, and buried my face in my palms. I can't fucking believe his, I groaned inwardly into my hands as I felt the trio start moving in our direction. How should we handle this?

Now that I thought about it, the masks weren't all that bad of an idea. Anyone who might've overheard that we were meeting with Anon-a-Miss wouldn't know who they were. Coupled with the nondescript dark clothes, if we walked them straight into the office still wearing the masks, nobody would know until after they turned themselves in. Why protect them, though? I wondered. They've hurt people... endangered lives. Aunt Twilight's friend was driven to near suicide! I grit my teeth. They deserve whatever they get!

Still, the Tenets of Harmony rose to mind. If the three met vigilante justice, that wouldn't be an honest end. Stopping it from happening might be more kind than they deserved, but it'd be generous to spare them the cruelty of leaving them at the mercy of those they fucked over. Disproportionate retribution would forever steal laughter from their families, and allowing it to happen would betray what I set out to do; I gave my word I'd bring Anon-a-Miss to justice, and I had to stay loyal to my word. It's more friendship than they deserve, but I think it's what Twilight would want.

"Masks stay on, you three," I declared when they sat down across the table from us on the other side of the booth. I hadn't bothered to remove my face from my hands, nor even looked up. "They stay on until you're back at the school and in Principal Celestia's office."

"What?" came the squeaky response that could only have come from Sweetie Belle. "Why?"

"Yeah!" Scootaloo quickly added. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to see in these things?"

Only Apple Bloom remained silent, which was probably good. Based on what I could feel coming off them, the other three at the table were probably in shock, and had she spoken, it might've snapped the group out of it. Then all hell would have broken loose. Hoo boy; I've got my work cut out for me.

"Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, meet Anon-a-Miss," I said, looking up to the ceiling. "I think you've figured it out, but please, don't use their names. You're going to have to explain yourselves, but please keep your voices down." I inclined my head in the direction of the lovebirds by the entrance. It was a bit far away, but I could just pick up the tickle of curiosity. "I think you can figure out why."

I didn't need to be able to see properly to know that everyone was nodding in reluctant agreement. "Well, Ah s'pose y'all're angry, wonderin' the big question," murmured Apple Bloom after a moment of silence. "Why? Why'd we go an' do such a thing? Why'd we go so far? Why call ya out here an' not just turn ourselves in."

"You have no idea," Rainbow growled out, gripping the edge of the table until her knuckles turned white. Thankfully, she was between Applejack and myself, so we were both able to hold her back.

"I would have to agree," added Rarity in a cold voice. "I can't even begin to express how disappointed I am."

Once applejack had thrown in her own terse "Eeyep," I took my glasses back out of my pocket and slid them back on. Looking from one to the next, I shook my head and clicked my tongue to express my own displeasure. "I thought I knew your counterparts back in Equestria," I stated in a flat voice. "In fact, those three were my first friends since my rebirth, so please, help me understand what drove you three to do such a thing... so I know what to watch out for when I go back."

The surprise of all six filled the air at my statement, and three fresh blooms bursts of guilt. "We saw how close Sunset was getting with you all," Sweetie squeaked out in a shaky voice. "How she was starting to monopolise your time!"

That elicited a nod from the one across from me and Dash. "Sure, we were a little jealous 'cause you weren't spending as much time with us," Scootaloo admitted, fidgeting her gloved hands and fretting with the sleeve of her hoodie. "More than that though, we were scared for you... about what would happen when the other shoe dropped and she went back to her old ways!"

"We remember how awful she was to ya," concluded Apple Bloom. "We didn't want her breakin' ya up again and breakin' yer hearts."

"Girls, why in the Sam Hill would ya'll think she was gonna turn on us after all we been through?" Applejack hissed, rage bubbling up out of her. "She's a changed woman!"

Scootaloo slammed her palms down on the table, and stood up, startling the others. Even Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom recoiled. "Because bitches like her don't change!" she snarled. "We used to think Diamond Tiara changed, but then after Sunset Shimmer was out of the picture, she started acting no better than Sunset had. It was only a matter of time until she reverted too."

I nodded. Normally, I'd have agreed. People like that usually don't change, and if they do, relapse isn't out of the question. "I get your reasoning," I said, keeping my voice flat. "If not for the purification Aunt Twilight said the six of them put her through, you might've even had a point..." I rubbed the bridge of my nose and shook my head, giving the Dash a sidelong glance. "Unfortunately, you all forgot a big part of Sunset's M.O. when you framed her. She never did anything that didn't benefit her, and didn't do anything to attract the police. You're lucky the police aren't involved yet, and this scheme definitely didn't benefit her in the least."

Over the back of the booth behind the three Crusaders, I saw that Bon Bon and Lyra had gone back to minding their own business. "Ponies are much more open to same-sex relationships," I continued, letting out a sigh. "Comes with the gender ratio being all outta whack—five mares to every stallion. Two girls in love? That's just a Tuesday back home, so outing that girl? Wouldn't have made sense for her."

A glance over at Rainbow, Rarity, and Applejack revealed that they were itching to have words. "I'll let you three explain just how evil their actions really were," I said, resting my head on one palm and closing my eyes. "You can hash out their punishments on your side of things, and then we can get them back to the school for their official punishments." As everyone got out of the booth and moved to separate tables, I added. "Poke me when you're all ready go."

~ 29 ~

I spent the remainder of our time there just resting my eyes and trying not to listen to the others hash things out. After all, there's only so many times you could hear someone say "How could you?" before it grew to be an annoyance. Since I was basically loitering in the shop, I decided to order up something after taking care of some bathroom needs. Just a little french vanilla latte with extra sugar was enough to tide me over.

That said, I did get some insight into the goings-on. The first post had been Apple Bloom's contribution, taking an embarrassing childhood story and nickname that Sunset had been exposed to over a phone conversation when she was at that first sleepover. Sweetie Belle had apparently planned on getting some embarrassing videos off of Sunset's phone from that second party, but had been unable to get in thanks to the password I'd encouraged her to set. Instead, she went through Rarity's phone and found some risque photos that she'd sent Sunset as instructional images on how to measure for undergarments and assuring fits. Even if it was done with underwear over the clothes, who does that to their sister!? From there, Scootaloo had revealed that Dash was going to be held back a year if her mathematics grades didn't go up, something she'd overheard at a practice. That was to say nothing of the other information they gathered before people started sending in each other's dirty laundry.

All the while, I kept an eye on the comings and goings from the store. A pair of adults came to collect Bon Bon and Lyra after about twenty minutes. A familiar looking cop stopped by not long after, apparently getting coffee and donuts to split with his partner. Dunno why, but I would've figured Shining Armour to have taken a military career track rather than a simple beat cop. Then he was gone.

Things got problematic not long after the cops left. That dude from the school—the one with the fringe haircut and the basket-ball jersey—was standing outside in the parking lot, talking to two other guys. Both had darker palettes and similar eye-hiding hairstyles. The only difference was that the one with the black hair was short and fat wearing a football jersey, while the blond-haired one was absolutely jacked and wearing a muscle shirt despite the weather. Normally that wouldn't have caused me any distress, but for the fact that basket-ball guy kept pointing at Rarity, AJ, Dash, and the kids behind Anon-a-Miss.

Then, just as I was getting ready to tell the others we needed to get going, a beat-to-hell pick-up truck pulled in. Out of the driver's seat hopped a tawny young woman with a white fauxhawk with purple frosted tips, a few facial scars, and a punk leather jacket, looking every bit a street-gang member. The passenger, however, was none other than Lightning Dust, and she looked fucking pissed. While the boys went over to the bed of the truck alongside the criminal looking girl to take out what looked to be planks of wood, chains, and a bat, Lightning just went to the nearest window, pointed at me with a manic look, and mimed a throat slitting.

"Bad news, everyone," I said aloud, hopping to my feet as the group gathered by the exit. "Looks like the word's gotten out."

Everyone stood up and looked to the sole entrance. All colour drained from their faces, and the crusaders instinctively hid behind their sisters and Rainbow Dash. Even with the masks hiding their faces, it wasn't hard to guess what was going through their heads. We're so fucked.

Rarity's car is only a sedan, so there's not enough space for all seven of us without violating some traffic ordinances. I could feel my hands beginning to tremble as I subconsciously started moving toward the door. This is such a stupid idea "Joe, do you have a back door they can use?" I asked the shopkeeper in a shaky voice, gesturing at the others with my thumb over my shoulder. When he nodded, I continued, "Could you let those six use it?" Again, he nodded.

Casting a glance over my shoulder to Rarity and Applejack, I called back, "I'm going to go buy you guys some time. When you hear the signal—you'll know it when you hear it—make a break for the car," I instructed, putting some steel into my voice. "Get them back to the school, and then tell Luna to send the message; she'll know what it means."

"Anon, no!" Rainbow called back. "That's Gilda out there with them! She's in a gang, and she might kill you!"

I didn't give them time to respond further. I rushed out the front door, with my hands in my pockets. Despite how scared I was, and how stupid I was being—totally breaking my promise to Twilight—the bitterness of the cold air didn't bug me all that much. My right was clenching the strength amplification spell medallion, while the left held the air bullet. Without so much as a moment's hesitation, I triggered the amp as I stopped between Lightning's group and the door.

Apparently, the sight of a girl barely in her teens trying to stand up to a group of five was humorous to them. They all took a step backwards as one, before breaking out into mocking laughter. "Just get out of our way and give us Anon-a-Miss," Lightning Dust demanded, slamming a fist into her palm. Lightning was in front of me, Gilda was to her right, while the trio of boys were to her lined up left. "I know you're hiding them in there, and if you move now, I might not put you in a wheelchair for costing my ticket to Canterlot U, fuckin' freak. No way they're gonna take me now!"

I pretended to consider her offer. "That's fair," I agreed, with a bob of my head. "I do rather enjoy the use of my legs, after all." Let's see, these three are the most likely to get in the way of the others, since Rarity's car's off to the right. My right hand came out of my pocket, and I pointed at each of them in turn, stopping at the furthest boy's chest. "Counteroffer: go home and I can guarantee you'll still be capable of playing sports." When the sneers from the group intensified, a sigh escaped me. "It's a really fair deal, but if you're not going to take it..."

The boy in the football jersey watched as I lowered my hand to point at his knee, especially with my thumb held outward making the angled finger-gun gesture. "Sorry boys," I murmured as I pumped three bursts of mana through the air bullet medallion. Even as the air capsule slammed into his knee, buckling it the wrong way with a crunching sound only masked by the burst of the capsule, the recoil directed my finger to point at basket-ball jersey boy. As the former owner of a pair of testicles, I cringed as the second capsule struck him in the groin. I couldn't tell if he was better or worse off than the first.

Mister muscles was probably the best off, only taking his air-capsule to the gut—at least, at first. As the other two fell to the ground screaming in pain, dropping a chain and a plank respectively, I lunged forward. Even as a bat swung through the space where my head had been a moment before, I ducked down and slammed my open palm into his jaw and jowls. His mouth slammed shut with a click, and he dropped like a sack of bricks. Good, he's still breathing.

"Dumb-Bell! Score!" Gilda called out, swinging her wooden bat down at me. I just rolled to my right, placing myself firmly between between Rarity's car and the still-standing pair. "What did you do to them, you psycho bitch!?"

Hopping to my feet, I shrugged. "I did warn you," I offered with a tone of faux-sympathy. With their attention wholly on me, they didn't even notice Rainbow Dash watching from the other side of the door. When they stepped forward, I backed away slightly, repeating until they were clear of the door. "I offered you a peaceful alternative, and you all laughed, so I evened the odds. Don't fuck with a pony."

Again, Lightning Dust stepped forward, but when I dipped my left hand into a pocket only to swing a ball of fire past her face, she reconsidered. Tapping her temple, she sneered back at me as I dispelled the flames once more, returning the medallion to my pocket. "You must be retarded," she shot back. "Even with your freaky tricks, it's still two on one."

It was at that moment that Rainbow Dash burst out the door, and slammed into Gilda. The pair went sprawling to the ground behind Lightning in a flurry of fists. I just raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Nah, I think they're just about even," I teased, waving a hand dismissively. "This time, you don't even have the benefit of sucker-punching me like a fuckin' coward."

For the first time, she looked a little less sure of herself. A glance over her shoulder showed Rainbow Dash and Gilda trading blows, rolling around in an almost comical struggle for top position in order to beat down the other. "You insulted my Mom," she growled, as if only just remembering it. "I guess I do get to pay you back for that."

Kinda twisted thinking there. I insulted your mother because you sucker-punched me, bitch! I mused, watching her. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Rarity's car peeling out of the parking lot. Good, they're gone.

She lunged toward me, throwing her right hand out in a hook. In response, I lashed out with an open palm, slamming the heel of my hand against her knuckles. She pulled her hand back with a yelp of pain and surprise. Instead of realising she was in over her head, though, she doubled down; even as she tried shaking the pain out of the one hand, she swung out with the other, only to a meet similar resistance. This played out a few more times like a demented game of patty-cake before she determined that wasn't going to work.

Seeing that punching wasn't going to help, she brought her foot up above her head, bringing it down in an axe kick. Big mistake, bitch, I thought, catching her leg on my hands. My stance quickly transitioned from a brace to a throw as I changed my grip on her leg. Without the amplification of my strength and force, I would never have been able to do this, but now it was surprisingly easy to whip her around by her leg and slam her into the ground with a crack. She cried out in pain, probably because of the way she ended up eating asphalt.

After swinging her back over my head and into the ground again, I released her leg, stepped back and gave a glance back at Dash. She was currently straddling Gilda's chest. The girls were struggling for control of the bat. More precisely, Rainbow was trying to get it away from Gilda before she could do any damage with it, while Gilda was doing her damnedest to smack her with either end of it. Both of them were sporting welts on their faces and a few scrapes.

"You're not finished with me yet!" shouted Lightning Dust, as she struggled to her feet. The entire left side of her face was scraped up and bleeding from tarmac friction, and her left arm, which she'd attempted to cushion her impacts with the ground with, hung limply at her side. Dislocated? Worse, the leg I'd swung her around with didn't exactly look like it could hold her weight, but whether it was due to an injury to the knee, or strain to the ligaments was beyond me.

I shook my head and folded my ears back, turning away once more. "Stay down, Lightning," I said in a soft voice. Despite the adrenaline high brought about by the fight, I really didn't enjoy this all that much. Hurting people isn't who I am... That was his thing. Admittedly, I didn't know which him I was referring to right then. "I really don't want to hurt you, but if you force me to defend myself any further, I will take every precaution to make sure you don't get back up again."

Evidently, turning my back on her was the wrong choice. As considered whether to step in with Gilda, I heard a click behind me. "Don't you turn your back on me!" bellowed Lightning Dust as I turned to face her, just in time to catch her lunging at me once more. A searing pain pierced my palm as up my hands to defend myself, and I watched in horror as a thin length of stainless steel punched through the back of my hand.

There's absolutely zero shame in admitting I screamed out in pain. After all crying out is a natural response to being fucking stabbed in the hand. Strangely enough, it didn't really even compare to the pain I'd felt when Ivory dumped the scalding tea over my head. I didn't even black out this time... although it might've been preferable given the dark thoughts that came with startling clarity. Irredeemable. She just tried to kill me, after I gave her chance after chance to retreat.

Jerking my pierced hand back, knife and all, I cradled it close to my chest, and hissed in pain as tears streaked down my cheeks. "This is your own fault," I whispered as a terrifying calm overwhelmed all of my emotions. Before she could pull back her uninjured right arm, I seized her wrist with my left hand and held it tight in a vise-like grip. "I don't enjoy hurting ponies, but you... you're an insect, barely even human. You'd have to be to have zero survival instinct like this."

My left foot thrust out, sweeping her right leg out from under her. I turned as she fell, guiding her so that she was face-first on the ground. I knew that it just had to hurt, especially when I put one foot down on her back and twisted slightly. "Unlike you, though, I don't pull the limbs off insects," I hissed, squeezing her wrist until it felt like I was holding a bag of gravel, rather than someone's arm. The scream that came out of her before she passed out would probably haunt me later, but the sound she was making was definitely the sound of someone who wouldn't attempt to hurt me anymore. "I'm not an irredeemable monster."

From behind me, there was a cry of pain, and the dull thump of wood on flesh. Then there was the scrabbling of boots on asphalt. "GET THE FUCK OFF OF HER!" That's Gilda! I snapped my head to the side to look to see what had happened to Rainbow Dash. That sudden exertion of force and violence of motion, coupled with the force-amp spell was probably all that saved me from certain death. It did not, however, save my glasses, the right side of which crumpled and shattered, as my vision filled with stars.

For a moment, all I could hear was the ringing in my ears and the splintering of the wooden bat. "Gilda, what the fuck did you do!?" I eventually heard Rainbow Dash cry out as I swayed back and forth, although it sounded pained. Probably got hit in the stomach or ribs herself. Not that I was better off. The world felt all topsy-turvy.

All around me, I could feel shock and fear. That second one was growing, and right about now? It was like ambrosia. There were four points of fear... One was right beside me, the bitch what blindsided me with the bat. The other was a few feet behind her... The other two were on the other side of me... The two boys I'd initially disabled. I just let it flow in and augment the rage beginning to well up inside me.

"You know, studies have shown that traumatic brain injuries can cause heightened levels of aggression," I said, turning to fully regard Gilda. When blood began to trickle from the fresh wound on my temple, a cackle—one that felt alien to my own ears—escaped me. I released Lightning Dust's crushed wrist and snatched the broken baseball bat from Gilda's hand, tilting my head back with a sneer. "Well, I gotta say... I'm feeling pretty fuckin' aggressive right about now."

Without any consideration for my own well-being or pain—I was far beyond that at this point—I dropped the broken bat handle and wrenched the blade out of my hand. Huh, switchblade, and definitely longer than four inches; would've been illegal back home, I mused, examining it. "What a nasty little toy," I hissed, wiping my blood free of the blade on my jacket sleeve. It still seemed somewhat red, but I think that was the blood in my eye. "Not at all suitable for a high school girl."

In one lightning fast movement, I pitched the blade into the windshield of the truck they arrived in. The blade punched through the glass with a loud crack, a spiderweb pattern radiating out from the impact site. Gilda took a step back, and the two conscious boys gasped. "What should I do to you, my scared little bird?" I wondered aloud as I snatched up the two halves of the broken bat from the ground, the handle in my injured hand. "You've no real wings to clip..." Shaking my head, I pitched the broad part of the bat at the windshield, completely ruining the driver's side.

"H-how are you still standing?" she whimpered, retreating again as I stepped toward her. Why's she so scared? Am I that much of a sight? "S-stay back."

I dashed forward and seized her by the front of her jacket, jerking her down to my level until she was practically touching foreheads with me. "I'm really bad at dying," I said with a cackle. Holding up the broken bat handle and prodding her face with a jagged bit of wood. All tension left her body, and suddenly I found myself holding her up. "Hmm, maybe I should make your face a tapestry of scars. You've already got a head start."

A hand came down on my left shoulder, and I almost stabbed Gilda in surprise. "That's enough, Anon," Rainbow said, "Look, she's already wet herself and fainted."

Leaning back, I noticed the young woman's eyes were unfocused, and her head flopped back and forth when I gave her a little shake. Yep, that's definitely piss I smell. Gross... Shaking my head, I felt a fresh wave of dizziness wash over me. "Yeah, I think I probably made my point," I mumbled, dragging Gilda over to the hood of the truck and putting her up for all to see. "I wasn't exactly looking forward to putting her through that windshield anyway..."

I stumbled slightly, and turned to regard myself in the shop window. My glasses were ruined, and the only reason they were even still on my face was because the bridge was intact. Not that my face was looking all that better; there was a nasty bruise forming at my temple, but there was also a steady trickle of blood from the split where the bat hit. Worst was probably my eye. The right side of it was completely red, and it hurt to look at. It'd probably hurt if not for the shock.

"Should we, uh, call an ambulance? I think I fucked Lightning up pretty bad." Rainbow shook her head, taking a pair of handkerchiefs—they might've been bandanas—from a pocket in her own jacket. The first she wrapped tightly around my hand, and the other she had me hold against the cut.

"Joe called the cops and the ambulance the moment he saw the boys drop," she said, pulling my left arm over her shoulder. "We need to get you out of here before they get here, or Twilight's gonna have to come get you out of police custody."

I knew that losing consciousness right now would probably be a bad thing, so I just sorta let her guide me back to the school on foot. She kept muttering something about that being the scariest thing she'd ever seen, but it was getting hard to think. At some point, my magic gave out, because I even felt my ears migrate back down the sides of my head. With the shock of getting stabbed wearing off, and adrenaline running out, I started to feel really cold and weak. I think I even faded in and out a couple of times, because the trip didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would.

"I'm..." I tried to voice my thoughts, if nothing else than to stay conscious. But my voice sounded slurred to my own ears. I could tell we were surrounded by onlookers. I thought might've seen Celestia come running—or was that the nurse? It was hard to tell without my glasses and my eye in the state it was. "Scared... 'bow... wan't my sister. I wan' Starlight..."

The moment we stepped in front of the statue in the front of the school, I felt like a puppet with its strings cut. All tension left my legs, and I found myself sliding to the ground in a heap. This probably ain't good, I thought as I looked up at Rainbow. She seemed to be wearing an awful lot of my blood... was I really bleeding that much? What's she saying though?

When I blinked, I found I was suddenly upright, leaned against the base of the statue, with someone else holding my right hand above my head. There was the pretty white not-a-pony nurse with the pink hair, checking my vitals and shining a light in my eyes. Behind her, Rainbow Dash stood with Princess Celestia, talking to Flurry Heart's Dad of all ponies, who was for some reason dressed up like a stripper cop. What's Sunset doing here, though? There was no mistaking her, and while she looked a lot better than the last time I saw her, she looked awful—super pale, like she was gonna, well, pull a me?

I tried to focus my eye good on whoever was holding my hand, but my eye muscles felt weak, so I had tilted my head. I could see a familiar face beside the nurse: Aunt Twilight. I knew it was her because I'd seen her face on that poster. Sure, she had a hoodie on and seemed to be trying to hide her face from her brother for some reason, but she was here! She wasn't the one holding my hand though. I don't think I'd seen the person sitting on the ground beside me before, but I knew a pony who had a purple and aqua mane just like hers. Starlight!

"If you have to take her home through that mirror, you need take her to a hospital immediately," the nurse was saying to Twilight. "She was already concussed from yesterday, I'm almost certain she's got a skull fracture, and she's lost a surprising amount of blood."

Groaning slightly, I heaved out a sigh. "'m sorry Aunt Twilight," I whispered, leaning against Starlight's shoulder. I wanted nothing more than to hug my adoptive sister, but I could barely muster up the strength to talk. "I had to break my promise... It was beyond stupid, but it was the right thing to do."

Starlight squeezed my hand. "We know," she whispered back. She's trying to stay calm, but I can feel that fear and horror. "The others told us what happened, and how brave—and yes, incredibly stupid—you were."

Twilight nodded, kneeling down to rest her hand on top of Starlight's. "We can discuss how we're going to handle all of this later," she said reaching with her other hand to brush my hair out of my eyes. "For now, just leave everything to us. You're safe now, so just hang in there." Knowing that I was safe and just a portal trip and teleport away from help, shut my eyes and let everything slip away.

Author's Note

Five points to whoever can guess which story the Rarity pictures bit is referencing. No, really. I've forgotten the name of it because it hasn't updated in a while.

Edit: Now with Anon's Cutie Mark