Chapters NSL/Anon-A-Miss: Our Past Is Not Today
Sunset Shimmer just sighed and dredged through another school day after having her friends pretty much cast her out and accused her of being behind the infamous 'Anon-A-Miss' account; having students and some staff of the school giving her the evil eye and watch the latest posts of the account cause the student body of Canterlot High to really tear into eachother apart. No Dazzling magic this time; this was all of them just letting the posts get the better of them.
Sure she was a real manipulative bully before and she could understand and forgive any bad feelings left over but after all she did to help the school against the Dazzlings; she thought that she could at least be heard out and given the benefit of the doubt. She thoguht that she had earned the trust of the student body and her group of friends.
Guess it was all wishful thinking.
After school she went out to the mall to shop for groceries and supplies; the odd job and discarded money that she had found helped her get by ever since first arriving in the human world. But now she had a roommate to get supplies for so she made her way back to her cheap rundown apartment home.
Having to deal with the busy shoppers during this season and the traffic on the streets on her way back; she decided to get her mind off it and play her music after popping in her headphones. Off course she had to choose to listen to music that she had recorded along with the Rainbooms.
"....Few things last, that's all I know but friendship carries on through the ages.... " Sunset listened to and then laughed bitterly at the stupid irony; her friends talked about her being one of them and being like family but when push came to shove, they showed just how fragile their trust in her actually was.
Granted she didn't know how Anon-A-Miss got those pictures off her phone but how they just went and believed the worst of her.
She came into the apartment and shouted out "Lincoln; I'm home! I hope you like microwaved chicken and I got some comics for you!!!"
There was Lincoln the younger guest in her apartment who smiled and greeted her coming up with a deck of cards. She remembered that just at the end of November she found him trying to find change in an alleyway. She was concerned and brought him to her apartment; giving him some warm blankets as he looked dirty and scared as he had a bag filled with his posessions.
He told his story that one of his sisters dragged him to her game and then accused him of being bad luck after she lost a softball game; just for some personal time to himself he kept the lie going but did admit that he was being selfish and did break one of his sisters' gold clubs for the act but soon he was excluded from everything and not even allowed in the house.
He thought that he deserved it and decided to move away; leaving behind a note for his best friend and his journies had brought him to Canterlot by this time.
Sunset reacted with all sorts of shock and disbelief but couldn't find any lie in him. He was sure that this was blown out of proportion but ended up letting the small kid stay with her; she knew that she should have reported about this runaway kid but she guessed that she felt lonely with so much time by herself that she wanted a roommate for a while.
She then found the news report soon all the way from Michigan which confirmed Lincoln's story much to her shock and she got a bit angry upon reading about it; the Loud family were regretting their decisions and only realised their mistake when the sister who started it all Lynn lost her big softball finals. Sunset thought about telling Lincoln but he started to grow bad feelings towards his family and Sunset thought that she would make the call after the sleepover.
Thinking that Lincoln's family could patch things up with him and the mere fact that she let Lincoln be home with herself while she attended her sleepover was all the reason why Sunset was no ideal candidate to look after any child.
However then the Rainbooms kicked her out and running home crying and it was Lincoln who comforted her when she told him the story; the one who understood what it was like to be cast aside by loved ones. Sunset lost any intention of calling it in now; losing possibly the only friend that she had left besides Twilight who was doing her best to offer advice in the journal entries.
"Hey Sunset; check out what I have been practicing..." Lincoln told her as he showed his magician's top hat that Sunset had gotten him and put his deck of cards in it and out came a full house of cards. Sunset clapped smiling at Lincoln's joy at one of his activities being appreciated.
From what Lincoln had told her; his sisters weren't supportive much of his hobbies and i interests like games and comic books. Sunset however despite being a top student at a school for gifted magical unicorns; here she was being excited to watch what was really a not really magical illusion but it was impressive that Lincoln could pull this off after practice.
Sunset saw that her journal was lighting up with a new entry from Twilight; her only other friend. The one who gave her a chance after defeating her evil demon self when she would have every reason to just leave her aside; when she first saw her and even when she was a bully, she still found Twilight pretty. Her kindness and the general feeling of butterflies in her stomach when she got a new message from her.
"You got a new message from your girlfriend." laughed Lincoln and then Sunset jokingly glared at him as she went and got the journal.
"She is not my girlfriend...." Sunset retorted opening the book up.
"Oh yeah... It's fillyfriend or marefriend or whatever it's called in your pony world..." Lincoln joked and Sunset tackled him as she ruffled his hair good naturedly with him laughing; seeing him laugh and smile like this brought a smile to her face. She could get the feeling that it's been a while since he was able to bond with one of his sisters like this.
Well if those girls then didn't want the job of being his sister then she will take it.
Sunset could also get the feeling that Lincoln didn't totally believe her about being from another magical world despite the magically appearing text in her journal but didn't say much about it. Whatever; Sunset then started reading:
Sunset, I am so sorry that things haven't got better as I was so sure that you all would have patched things up by now. I have given this some thought and decided that if you truly believe that there is no fixing this or if you find nothing more for you in the human world then you are welcome to return to Equestria. I am sure that Princess Celestia would be willing to welcome you back. I know that you have thoughts about leaving behind Lincoln and I truly hope you are only exaggerating what you have said; he is welcome to join you in coming here.
Your friend Twilight
Sunset had thought about just returning to Equestria but the thought of leaving Lincoln all by himself with no one else stopped her thoughts from becoming serious. She looked his way and asked "Lincoln... Hey.... Do you think that there is much hope of you here if you plan on just being a runaway from your family for your life?"
Lincoln sighed and shook his head as Sunset took a deep breath; "You know... Twilight has invited me back home and how about I show you around and you can start a new life?" Sunset asked and Lincoln's eyes widened unable to believe the offer. "How about this... I fix us some lunch and then afterwards we go to the Sweet Shoppe one last time and if we are still sure about this then off to Equestria. We can bring our stuff and there are definitely arcades, comics and I can show you real magic as I am sure that you would end up becoming an unicorn..." Sunset told him and he was quite literally speechless.
Author's Note
I know that these type of fics for both chapters are played out and done to death but I just wanted to try it after remembering the story Of Secrets & Superstitions and then recently finding The Sunsister and The Snowbrother.
NSL/Anon-A-Miss: Our Past Is Not Today
The Sweet Shoppe or 'Sugarcube Corner' as nicknamed by various patrons was known as the top confectionary place in all of Canterlot and a local hangout for various youths. Right now at their table Lincoln and Sunset were sitting at their table waiting for their oder. "You are saying that this Princess controls the Sun itself with her magic? Doesn't that mean that she could use this to basically have the other kingdoms bow to her rule? Be like..... Do as I say or else I will have all of your people burn to death in nonstop heat.... " Lincoln asked as Sunset struggled to keep her laughter in.
"I never thought about it like that but I suppose that if Princess Celestia was an evil tyrant then yes; she could very well use her own control over the Sun to make the other kingdoms submit to her rule..." Sunset said as Mr & Mrs Cake brought their order to their table; a large ice cream sundae with two fo their best milkshakes with them savoring over it. "Thanks a lot Mr & Mrs C." Sunset said gratefully paying over their orders as Lincoln started to tuck in.
"No need to thank us Sunset dear; you seem bright and such a big order.... I sense a special occasion; did you and the girls make up?" Mr Cake asked hopefully as the Cakes never believed the stories that Sunset was going back to her old ways and was waiting for them all to make up; Sunset frowned and shook her head.
"No Mr C; in fact I think that it's safe to say that the bridge is so burned that there is no salvaging it. This is to say goodbye as I have decided to just return home with Lincoln coming with me; nothing left for me here but I am super grateful for all of your support." Sunset answered honestly and the Cakes looked saddened by this but gave her a smile.
"Well you two take care now and good luck." Mrs Cake said leaving them by and Sunset decided to take out her phone for a photo to mark this occasion.
"One last photo...." Sunset said putting her phone out selfie style as she put her arm over Lincoln's shoulder with them smiling as it was taken. They had a look as Sunset posted it on MyStable; her final post on that stupid platform.
"If we are tying up loose ends then better text Clyde one final time..." Lincoln spoke taking out his phone and feeling guilty about leaving who was practically his brother back in Royal Woods. He had told him about him leaving and it seemed that Clyde while saddened; was going by his word to keep his mouth quiet about it. He then got the strength to make the post:
Going away one final time to somewhere that I think I can start anew. I will miss you buddy and tell my family that I am safe and for them to take care. If they notice that I am gone and ask I mean.
After Lincoln posted his text; Sunset had logged out of MyStable for the final time and put up her milkshake glass and asked Lincoln "How about a toast to new beginnings?"
"To new beginnings!" Lincoln replied as they put their glasses together.
Royal Woods, Michigans and the Loud family got real unpopular once word got around about Lincoln's disappearence and the reasons behind it; they barely noticed that he wasn't there only after the school called about his abscences. They were beginning to rethink the whole luck business when Lynn Jr ended up losing her big softball finals without Lincoln there to blame as a bad luck charm. Soon they realised their treatment and wanted to make it up to him but they couldn't find him and only then did they realise how long it had been since they had seen him.
The police weren't impressed when they filed that missing person's report, the sisters' friends were upset with them but helping to look out for him, Pop-Pop was giving them the silent treatment and even Clyde and the McBrides refused to talk to them.
The sisters were bummed after another day of fruitless searching with the Christmas season approaching; "You know Bobby told me about how Ronnie Anne has been going about the house angry and blaming us and Lincoln himself for running away.... Wondering why he never said anything to her, Bobby said that she is just trying to cope in her own way..." Lori spoke in a low voice as ever since all this started; Bobby ended up putting them on a break and would only come with a full decision after Lincoln had been found safe and sound.
Lucy just sighed as in actually sighing; not just saying the word; the parents were busy trying to calm Lily who was upset ever since her only brother went missing.
"Sisters! Parental units! I believe that I have found a lead!" Lisa called from the top of the stairs and the family all ran to her room as she showed off her computer. "I have been cross examining Lincoln's picture through the database and there is a new match on a new post from some social media service local to the city of Canterlot called MyStable." Lisa explained and she brought up the photo of Lincoln and Sunset together; they all looked to see Lincoln with this weird looking girl with them both smiling.
Made the sisters feel guilty and jealous.
The caption read:
Final post before a new beginning.
"Canterlot? That's like in another state... How did Lincoln get there?" spoke the father Lynn Loud Sr confused as his wife Rita shook her head.
"We can worry about that later; we should see about travelling there and hope that the trail hasn't gotten cold by the time that we got there." Rita told them and they were determined to make it up to Lincoln when they found him.
With their stuff in their bags and wearing their jackets; Sunset had taken Lincoln to Canterlot High walking through all the snow and to the statue; they took a deep breath and Sunset stopped before reaching the statue as she took out her phone. "Don't need this anymore." she said simply before dropping it on the floor and Lincoln and then gave Lincoln a look silently asking if he was ready and he nodded.
"SUNSET! WAIT!!!!" yelled five voices at once and they looked behind them to notice Sunset's formers friends running towards them; looking like they were in a hurry and wanted to stop them.
"Sunset listen... We know that you ain't Anon-A-Miss... The culprit or should ah say culprits confessed... Please; hear us out...." pleaded Applejack and Sunset's eyes widened wondering if she should hear them out; find out who did frame her but she realised that it didn't matter. They threw her away and how could she trust them not to do it again.
"Sunset; what do you want to do?" Lincoln asked as Sunset turned back to the statue looking serious.
"Nothing's changed; they have nothing that I want to hear." Sunset said simply and she led Lincoln through the portal.
Sunset felt herself on her two hooves as she landed in a library through the mirror portal and went back on her four hooves; been a while. "Sunset! You came! I got your message and I was waiting for you!" Twilight exclaimed with glee pulling Sunset into a hug with Sunset's cheeks reddened as she returned the embrace. "You must be Lincoln..." Twilight greeted Lincoln after they let go; Lincoln had tumbled down clealry not expecting to be on his hind legs after being transformed into a young pony.
"Yep Lincoln my new kidnapped brother figure and Lincoln this is Princess Twilight who has helped me when I needed it the most." Sunset introduced them to eachother and Twilight smiel ddown at Lincoln who looked around him in awe and then his reflection in the mirror to see that he was now a young white mained and orange furred unicorn with his Cutie Mark being a magical top hat.
"Wow; you really are from a magical pony world and.... I'm a pony now? A bit relieved since I was dreading that I was rooming with a crazy girl...." Lincoln muttered in shock as Sunset giggled as Lincoln looked up to Twilight. "Nice to meet you Princess.... Wow both wings and a horn... I think I can see what Sunset sees in you...." Lincoln greeted her with a bow thinking that it would be the thing to do before royalty. Twilight looked embarrassed and so did Sunset.
"Sunset; are you back yet..." Spike spoke entering the library and Lincoln yelled as he hid behind Sunset at the sight of the dragon.
"Don't worry Lincoln; Spike is friendly. Spike this is Lincoln who is the colt who will be joining Sunset here in the castle." Twilight assured Lincoln and looked at him encouragingly as the new unicorn hesitatingly.
"Hi; I'm Spike and I'm Twilight's number 1 assistant! Do you like comic books as not a lot who does here in Ponyville...." Spike greeted with a smile as Lincoln blinked.
"A dragon who likes comic books? Isn't that awesome? I think that I am going to like it here!" Lincoln told his invisible audience as Spike and Twilight stared at him in confusion with Twilight trying to see who he was talking to.
"Yeah Lincoln does this; you learn to get used to it...." Sunset laughed.
Author's Note
I don't hate the Loud family at all; I know most of the time they are loving and mean well but this infamous episode takes their treatment of Lincoln to the worst example. I am following that example to show some consequences and how despite regret; sometimes things can't be fixed. On my Fanfiction profile; I do write the family better with NSL not brought up or just as an unfortunate incident in the past.
NSL/Anon-A-Miss: Our Past Is Not Today
Twilight showed them to the outside of the castle and Sunset and Lincoln were in awe at the place; Lincoln did his best to steady himself as he would have to get used to walking on 4 hooves. "This is amazing... You really live here Princess?" Lincoln asked hardly able to believe that he was in a place like this or such a place would even exist. Twilight nodded and Lincoln then asked "you really are saying that we get to stay here in this castle? I mean getting to stay in this fancy royal castle that has a dragon... I don't think that anything like that would be possible had I stayed on Earth..."
"It's no problem about you being welcome at the castle as my guests; there is plenty of room and please just call me Twilight. No need for formalities Lincoln." Twilight answered him and then thought of something. "Should I contact Princess Celestia to let you know that you have returned Sunset... Or are you not ready..." Twilight asked as Sunset became tense at the question and shook her head vigerously as she was not ready for that at all.
"Isn't she the ruler of this place and I wanted to ask but why is she a Princess and not a Queen?" Lincoln asked as Twilight just shrugged her shoulders along with Sunset as Lincoln thought of something. "Wait.... Since I am now a pony; does that mean I have to eat grass or hay instead of meat?" Lincoln asked groaning wishing that he had thought of that.
"Don't worry Lincoln; Equestria has plenty of sweets and there are meat food available but they are mostly intended for carnivore animals and the griffins and creatures like those." Sunset assured him with a hoove on his shoulder as Sunset used her magic to telekinetically pick up all of their bags. Lincoln looked on in awe as Twilight motioned for them to follow her outside; "I am appointing myself as your magical tutor to help you with basic magic like this since you are now an unicorn." Sunset told him as Lincoln was excited as they were following Twilight and Spike out.
They got to the main part of the castle when there was party decorations up and a banner that said WELCOME TO PONYVILLE!!!! with all sorts of ponies there much to Lincoln and Sunset's surprise. Pinkie Pie bounced towards them with Sunset looking tense upong realising who she was with her excitedly saying while bouncing up and down on the spot "you must be Sunset Shimmer the former meanie who had stolen Twilight's crown but turned all good and helped her beat those meanie Sirens! Twilight told me that she had invited you here after things turned soured with her friends and that got me real sad! My Pinkie Sense told me that you arrived and I realised that I had to make this party extra special so I invited lots of ponies so that you can have lots of new friends! I'm Pinkie Pie and were you surprised; were you?"
"Luan drinking 5 cups of strong coffee and a hundred bucks worth of sugary sweets could only hope to have the energy of this pony..." Lincoln told his invisible audience as Pinkie was now in his face.
"Twilight also said that Sunset's young friend was also invited; I'm Pinkie Pie... What's your name?" Pinkie asked excitedly as Lincoln took a moment to gather himself.
"Out of nowhere... Like Lucy only with more in your face..." Lincoln muttered to his audience and then faced her. "Nice to meet you Pinkie... I'm Lincoln Loud..." Lincoln introduced himself. Pinkie had her tail dragged backwards by Twilight.
"Remember what I said Pinkie? How I told you all about how it would feel like at first facing you 5...." Twilight glared at Pinkie who took a big realisation face.
"I am super sorry Sunset; I will be out of your way and I am super sorry for what other me may have done..." Pinkie told Sunset apologetically and Sunset sighed looking at her.
"Thanks; I appreciate it but you don't need to apologise for what you haven’t done... The party is thoughtful but... Just give me time to adjust..." Sunset told her simply with Pinkie nodding sadly apologetically.
"I will let you enjoy the party and I will keep my distance but I realised that Lincoln as a young colt should have a chance to meet some new friends his age." Pinkie said showing where there was a group of colts and fillies. Then Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo came over. "This is Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle & Scootaloo or the Cutie Mark Crusaders as they call themselve!" Pinkie explained giving them space to introduce themselves to eachother.
The 3 fillies excitedly look to Lincoln and Apple Bloom asked "so nice to meet yah; oh what does your Cutie Mark mean?"
"My what?" Lincoln asked confused with the CMC having their eyes widening as if they were asked what was breathing.
"The marks near our flanks; it's a special magical mark that a pony gets when they discover their special talent. I think that your's shows about your talent with stage magic." Sunset explained as Lincoln looked towards his.
"A mark that shows our special talent... That's dumb..." Lincoln muttered not keen about the idea that he wasn't special compared to his sisters being shown on his rear. The CMC looked as if Lincoln was out of his mind at his statement.
"Give Lincoln some space; where he is from they don't have Cutie Marks and he was a different species known as a human." Twilight explained to the 3 with Lincoln going to his bag to take out his phone; but he ended up dropping it and looked frustrated as he tried to use his hooves to pick it up. Spike picked it up for him and Lincoln told him of the passcode to open it as there was a photo of Lincoln there.
"That's what humans looked like? Weird hairless monkeys?" Scootaloo asked as Lincoln glared at them.
"2 of you are Applejack and Rarity's sisters aren't you? Plus Scootaloo do you hang around Rainbow Dash as well?" Sunset asked remembering with a sigh reminding themselves not to let their counterparts influence her impression on them.
"Oh yeah; seen you 3 about or your counterparts..." Lincoln managed to say remembering seeing them while he was sitting at the Sweet Shoppe or going about the streets. Lincoln ended up thinking "Never talked to them but I wonder what the other them are like...."
Back in the human world; at the home of Applejack & Apple Bloom there were the local counterparts of Apple Bloom, Sweet Belle & Scootaloo with their heads down as they sat on the sofas in silence. Guilt and bad feelings about their stupid scheme; they really did believe that Sunset changed for the better after the mess with the Dazzlings but their jealous of their sisters (or sister figure in Scootaloo's case) spending so much time with her caused them to cook up this scheme and succeeded in tearing the school apart.
The guilt was too much and they went to the 5 and came clean about it and even showed the Anon-A-Miss profile logged in as proof. After an explanation and yelling later; the 5 realised that they had to make the mother of all apologies to Sunset but then they got an alert from MyStable. From Sunset's profile as they had yet to unfriend her.
It was a photo of Sunset smiling with that boy that she was seen with; they had before planned to see if they could somehow corner the poor boy that they had thought that Sunset had roped him into her claws so that they could warn him. They had forgotten what her smiling looked like.
They saw the caption:
Final post before a new beginning.
Their eyes widened as they realised what this could mean. The three regretful children were told to stay put as the 5 then ran to the school to see if they could catch Sunset just in time.
Said 5 teenagers came back in looked sad with their heads down; "Did you find her?" Sweetie Belle asked as their heads went back up.
"We found her alright but we couldn't get close enough before she and that Lincoln kid got through the portal. Spent 5 minutes trying to go through so it's now closed to us for now at least if not forever. Could be that we will never get the chance to say sorry..." Applejack said fighting back tears and the 3 children looked worse than before.
"We are sorry Applejack..." Apple Bloom spoke as the teenagers glared at them.
"We know that you are sugarcube but some things you can't fix with a sorry; Sunset is now lost to us it seems and there is still everything your posts caused at the school! You know that you are going to admit to everyone and take whatever punishments that you get right?" Applejack told them and the 3 gave no protest.
"Not that we don't deserve our fair share of the blame; we let ourselves fall victim to this and didn't let the poor dear plead her case... Why would she ruin her own reputation with such an obvious cover up; we lost a friend thanks to our fault..." Rarity sighed with them not arguing her point.
"Along with Twilight; she no doubts knows from that book that Sunset has to communicate with her and if not then she would know when Sunset tells her after getting back to Equestria. You think that she would want anything to do with us now?" Fluttershy brought up and that made them feel worse.
"So yeah.... Two bridges burned now..." Rainbow Dash muttered ready to kick something.
Lincoln and Sunset ended up enjoying the party with Lincoln looking at the young ponies invited by Pinkie and noticing a shy one by herself; a filly pegasus with a black mane, orange bow and a red star for a Cutie Mark. "Hi... I'm Lincoln Loud and new to Equestria.... What can you tell me about the place?" Lincoln greeted the filly who looked her way.
"Equestria is great but I am new to Ponyville myself; haven't yet to make any friends here... I brought some carrot sticks if you want some since Pinkie Pie told me that this party was for you and Sunset..." the filly explained showing her carrot stick bags with Lincoln doing his best to hold one carefully with his hooves together with the filly giggling at it. Lincoln managed to eat it and looked back at Sunset talking to Twilight; Lincoln hoping that his big sister figure can have the courage to go after her crush then turned to the filly. "You're funny Lincoln Loud. I'm Stella." the filly giggled as Lincoln laughed along with her.
NSL/Anon-A-Miss: Our Past Is Not Today
After the party...
"Just concentrate and you can do it Lincoln...." Sunset told Lincoln as she had helped him set up in his room and decided to show him how to use his new unicorn horn to do basic telekinesis. Lincoln closed his eyes and focused hard on Bun-Bun but he ended up being able to pick him up in an orange glow and bring it forward to him on the bed. "You did it Lincoln; I knew that you could!" Sunset cheered and Lincoln seeing that he had done it was looking at his stuffed rabbit with glee.
"Thanks Sunset! Thanks for being there for me; giving me a place to stay and being a good teacher and friend!" Lincoln told Sunset gratefully embracing her and Sunset embraced him back with a smile.
"I will be sure to show you some more tricks but you rest here while I set things up in my room. Take care!" Sunset told Lincoln with a wave that he returned and she went to the doro and closed it behind her. "To think that I actually thought about reporting that I found him; that family of his gave him up and put crocodile tears when explaining things... Wasn't the first time that things were unfair for him in that house and I have no doubt that they would pull another stunt... Well I am saying that he is MY brother now all but officially and if they have the misfortune of seeing me in person then I will commence with my own personal Sister Fight Protocol in which I act as a sister and fight those that hurt him and made him think that he deserved what happened to him..." Sunset muttered as she ran into Twilight.
"Lincoln has been through a lot such as yourself Sunset." commented Twilight as Sunset sighed.
"Yeah; I get if there are still lingering bitterness over my past deeds but... Honestly you should worry more for Lincoln as he definitely needs the help as he's just a kid." Sunset replied as Twilight put her hoove on Twilight's shoulder.
"You're my friend Sunset and I will worry for you both; your own treatment was unfair but you're right about Lincoln needing help. Thankfully he had you to look after him when he needed someone to." Twilight replied as Sunset smiled at the response.
"Thanks Twilight and ditto on the other end; I had him as a friend when I needed one in person... I still had you but you know what I mean." Sunset said sounding grateful for both Twilight and Lincoln.
"Let me help you set up things for your room." Twilight offered and Sunset took her up on the offer. As Sunset followed Twilight; her eyes lit up as she said "Oh; I just realised... I need to help you get Lincoln signed up for school! Would he able to catch up and I would need to do paperwork to have him registered as your legal ward here..."
Sunset hadn't given much thought to that; "I think Lincoln will be able to catch up just fine if needing help on the magical and history side; he's a smart kid." Sunset assured her but thought of something. "Can I ask you about a hypotheticial question... Say Lincoln ends up bullied in school and I decided to deal with it in my own way; would you as a Princess be willing to pardon me for the totally justified but not by the rules justice I would exact?" Sunset asked with a fake smile and sighed as Twilight just glared at her direction.
Back in the human world in a special basement lab the local Twilight Sparkle was looking over her data so far on the strange readings of Canterlot High School while her dog spike and best friend/girlfriend was nearby. "If discovering this school's secrets doesn't get me into Everton then nothing will..." Twilight told herself as her girlfriend then put her arm around Twilight's waist and her other hand hanging a mistletoe above her head.
"Worry about that stupid school later; you will have plenty of time to see what those losers are keeping secret... Right now I am in the mood for some holiday cheer and I can think of nothing better for cheer for me than this..." the girlfriend smirked as she then kissed Twilight's cheek.
"Sunset...." Twilight giggled before giving in.
Back in the castle Lincoln woke up in the morning with a sigh and checked his surroundings and saw that it wasn't a dream; he got out and managed to find the bathroom with no line which he could get used to. After he used his basic telekinesis magic to get through he went downstairs and found Sunset, Twilight and Spike at the table to greet him.
Then Lincoln found himself jumping as he was faced with a floating grinning lips and then appeared was the body of Discord. Then music started playing as Discord started singing "What's a nice kid like you.... Doing in a place like this? "
"What... Are you?" Lincoln asked as Sunset teleported in front of him looking serious and protective as she aimed her horn up at Discord.
"Stand back Lincoln; this is Discord the embodiment of chaos and disharmony! He has dangerous wicked powers and he ruled Equestria before Princess Celestia stood up to him and turned him to stone!" Sunset explained as she stared defiantly at Discord. "I don't know how you are not stone but you touch one hair on...." Sunset warned as Twilight came over.
"I haven't even brought out the Fred Flintstone & Barney Rubble caterpillar yet..." groaned Discord shaking his head with his arms folded.
"Sunset stop! Discord is a friend now.... We have reformed him and he is just a trickster now who is mostly harmless now..." Twilight told her and Sunset gave her a look. "I didn't tell you; did I?" Twilight realised and Sunset shook his head.
"Would have been nice to know beforehand; what next are you telling me that Grogar is around and nice as well?" Sunset asked as Discord laughed.
"I heard that Twilight invited Celestia's previous pupil and a young colt here from the other world. Nice to meet you and I like that fire of you already Sunset Shimmer." Discord told her and then looked to Lincoln. "Are you ready for some chaos young Lincoln Loud is it?" Discord asked as Lincoln shook his head.
"I doubt that anything you can cook up can match what I have put up with most of my life; especially on April Fool's Day." Lincoln told him confidently as there were blinks at this.
"Oh; I am going to come up with something special for you..." Discord swore as he disappeared.
"Did you really do that? You were asking for trouble!!!!" Spike shouted shaking his head.
"I bet I can handle him...." Lincoln said confidently as Sunset smacked her face with her hoove.
"I am definitely going to need to keep an eye on you Lincoln to make sure that you survive here..." Sunset muttered shaking her head as Twilight sighed.
NSL/Anon-A-Miss: Our Past Is Not Today
Canterlot in the human world that afternoon and the local Twilight Sparkle was convinced by her girlfriend the local Sunset Shimmer to go out down town with her while also taking Twilight's pet dog Spike out as well. Sunset with her black vest, dark purple skirt (all hidden by her long winter coat) and hair in a ponytail whistled as she held Twilight by her arms. "You know as much as your folks don't entirely like me; they certainly are grateful that I am able to convince you to go out and act like a normal girl." Sunset teased as Twilight sighed.
Not that Twilight's family hated Sunset or anything like that but she was a girl that didn't care about what people thought of her; gotten in Crystal Prep on a scholarship thanks to her grades and made no secret of how she viewed her students including the ones that she had seen as only getting in thanks to their wealthy parents. Twilight's parents knew that they were both happy with eachother and Sunset wasn't trying to encourage Twilight to break the rules, laws or partake in using bad substances and it wasn't that Sunset was mean.
She just had an air of superiority about and while letting those that take a chance to see the warmer and nice girl inside (who wouldn't think to bully kids just because) but also that she appeared to be any parents' worst nightmare of who their darling child would bring home and Sunset saw no reason to make an effort to correct that impression of her. Didn't help that if you did succeed in getting on her bad side then she could be sneaky, cunning and vindictive.
She had absolutely no involvement of the scandal that forced Principal Cinch to resign with her precious reputation forever tainted and still had her being investigated to this day over cheating and sabotage in competitions along with alleged embezzlement of school funds. Nothing that could link Sunset to this.
The fact that Cinch had threatened Twilight to ruin her future prospects if she didn't break up and cut ties with the 'bad influence' Sunset with Sunset having caught the meeting while hiding; with this happening just before the entire scandal was just purely coincidental.
Sunset did take a chance now and then to check out the zoo to see Cinch at her new job cleaning out the habitats while bitter over everything she had lost including her now frozen 401K.
"They like you just fine Sunset and aren't you curious about what is going on at that school?" Twilight replied and it was Sunset's turn to sigh and shake her head.
"Not particularly; whatever happens at that school is their business and if they are up to anything that blows itself up then I will check it out and see what can be scavenged to study. Until then; I don't see any need in wasting brain space thinking about it or the rivalry that the preps that we have to share the hallways with take so seriously... Like that stupid Friendship Games..." Sunset retorted shaking her head.
"Well I have been doing some research..." Twilight said and glared at her girlfriend as she gave a face that basically silently asked 'what else is new'. "I have found out that something going on the school recently; a profile sharing secrets by a MyStable user only going by 'Anon-A-Miss'. The outline of the user icon resembles you a bit with your hair down even if the inside of the shape is blank." Twilight then finished explaining.
"Uh social media... Brings out arguments and stuff... Not to mention finding out that someone already has a profile with your name..." replied Sunset remembering that Twilight's old babysitter and school dean turned Principal Cadance had talked them both into signing up for MyStable in her attempts to encourage them to make more friends in the school.
Finding out that there was already a 'Sunset Shimmer' signed up so she had to with 'Sunny Shimmer' with the name.
They passed by a teenager who looked apologetic at Sunset with them confused; "Hey Sunset and Twilight... I am so sorry Sunset and I hope you can forgive me..." said another teenager passing by as their confusion grew.
"I wish I never checked out that stupid profile; I am sorry and I promise you that things will be better Sunset..." pleaded another teenager coming up to them and they just passed.
"You ever seen those guys before Twi because I sure as hell never did..." Sunset asked Twilight and she shook her head. However they were spotted by a family that had checked in at a hotel nearby and were checking out the stores.
"Were is my brother..." snapped a smaller younger girl coming up into Sunset's face and Twilight checked on her as Sunset pushed her off.
"Be grateful that I don't want to hit kids you brat because if you were my age; you would be nursing a sore eye right now!" warned Sunset at the kid.
"Lynn!" chided the girl's family as they came over and looked over at Sunset. "So sorry about our Lynn here... Are you Sunset Shimmer?" asked Lynn Loud Sr and they blinked and Sunset nodded.
"We are looking for our bro and we are hoping that you could help us as haven't you been hanging out with him?" Luna said showing the profile and the picture on her phone with Sunset and Twilight having their eyes widened at this picture with what looked like Sunset with her hair down and instead of her vest was a leather jacket.
"Looks like me... Could it be the girl that took my name as a profile?" Sunset muttered but shook her head. "That's not me if you can believe it... That's my name and look if different but... I can tell you where that place is and perhaps you can go from there but I have never seen that kid before in my life!" Sunset ended up saying and gave them directions to the Sweet Shoppe. "Bye and keep that girl under control!" Sunset yelled at them as they left.
"Well that was weird and what are the odds of there being another girl that looks like you with your name Sunset..." Twilight told Sunset only to see her staring at him.
".... If you cloned me or duplicated me then would you tell me Twi?" Sunset asked as Twilight blinked. "I am just saying that I bet I could come up with a reason or two why you would want another copy of your beautiful girlfriend..." Sunset smirked as Twilight just lightly punched her on the arm.
Twilight had found Sunset and Lincoln and told them that she had managed to get papers fast tracked with Sunset now being Lincoln's legal guardian and they could get a meeting at the schoolhouse to start having him signed up to join the class. She had taken them there as they went through the snow in their winter wear (with a big winter jacket and a big scarf for Lincoln). Lincoln was warmly welcomed by the teacher Cheerilee.
"We would be more than happy for Lincoln here young our class and he is more than welcome to sit in with his future classmates. Including today for we have 2 special guest speakers all the way from the Crystal Empire: Prince Shining Armor & Princess Cadance!" Cheerilee explained to them with Twilight grinning and Sunset impressed.
Howver Lincoln looked perplexed; "Shining Armor?" Lincoln asked batting an eye.
"Yes; the best captain of the guard that Equestria has had in a long time as well as my...." Twilight but Lincoln started snickering as eyes were on him.
"Sorry but it's a little on the nose... Plus his parents must have had high hopes for him; I mean what would it have looked if he ended up as a cleaner or something?" Lincoln asked as Sunset was struggling to hide her own laughs as Twilight shook her head and Cheerilee was open mouthed. There was a fake cough and they saw that entering was Shining Armor looking dignified as can be as well as Princess Cadance trying her best to hide her laughter under her breaths.
"Let me guess..... You're...." Lincoln muttered as they came over and Twilight went up to them and shared a dance and rhyme with Cadance much to her confusion.
"Princess Twilight is the sister of Shining Armor and was foalsat by Princess Cadance herself." explained Cheerilee to Lincoln as Sunset was surprised as well by this.
"Wasn't expecting that.... Wait how do surnames work in Equestria?" Lincoln asked his invisible audience as Sunset laughed at the more confusion at this.
Author's Note
Please don't expect daily chapters to be normal and next chapter is Lincoln's first unofficial class here in Equestria.
NSL/Anon-A-Miss: Our Past Is Not Today
Twilight and Sunset had left with Sunset telling Lincoln that she will pick him up from class later and to wish him good luck with his first unofficial class in Equestria. The other young ponies started to fill into the class and Lincoln was directed to an empty seat and smiled upon seeing that he was sitting next to Stella.
"Welcome back class; I know that you are all excited for our super special guest speakers but first I think that you will find with a new face among us. he is sitting in while we will have him checked in to join the class so please give a warm welcome to the new student Lincoln Loud!" Cheerilee said as the class politely clapped their hooves and Lincoln nervously looked around him and waved with his hoove.
"Thank you class and now please give as much a warm welcome to our guest speakers all the way from the Crystal Empire: Prince Shining Armor & Princess Cadance!" Cheerilee introduced and the class clapped fiercely as entering the schoolhouse waving with warm smiles were Cadance & Shining Armor with Lincoln joining in hoping that they would forget their introduction to him.
"It's so great to meet all of you my little ponies and big thanks to your teacher Ms Cheerilee for having my husband and I." Cadance smiled sweetly to the class after they had gone to the front of the class. "Now I don't think that I will have to explain our home the Crystal Empire but just in case anypony needs a refresher... Can someone please tell the class what they know about the Crystal Empire and it's return?" Cadance asked and there were several hooves up in the air but Cadance looked towards Lincoln. "How about you show us what you know Lincoln since it's your first day?" Cadance suggested pointing to Lincoln who almost jumped out of his seat having not put up his hoove and just looked around nervously at the expected class.
Lincoln looked to Cheerilee's encouraging face and tried to find his words saying "Well it's an Empire of Crystals so it must be made of them or something.... I know nothing about it; first I have heard of the place was when I was in here the first time." Lincoln sighed as it was not among the subjects that Sunset had taught him about Equestria. There were snickers from students and Lincoln just sighed.
"That's alright Lincoln and no shame in admitting how little you know." Shining Armor said and then cleared his breath. "The Crystal Empire a thousand years ago flourished until the evil King Sombra stole their sacred Crystal Heart artefact and took power; Princesses Celestia & Luna stood up to him but he vanished the Empire for a thousand years until he could return. When the Empire returned my sister Twilight, her friend Spike and their friends managed to find the Heart and stop Sombra with us taking rule since then." Shining then explained and Lincoln smiled nodding along digesting all that information.
"You know what Lincoln; no reason to make this visit about us. How about you share something that you do know? We have heard from Shining's sister and the best foal that I had ever foalsit Princess Twilight that you came here through a portal with Sunset Shimmer." Cadance suggested and Lincoln gulped as eyes were back on him and he walked to the front of the class looking nervous.
"Tell us about what it's like being in a world filled with hairless monkeys!" Scootaloo shouted and there were snickers at this but Lincoln frowned shaking his head.
"Humans actually and we have opposable thumbs which I still kind of wish I still had but being able to levitate stuff is kind of cool... We don't really have magic-magic on Earth but there is stage illusion magic that I am practicing myself. Weather isn't controlled by pegasus which don't exist where I am from and is controlled by just the clouds." Lincoln ended up explaining and there was stunned looks from the young ponies and some mutters.
"So your whole world is like the Everfree Forest?" someone shouts and Lincoln not knowing what to do just nodded and it caused some more mutters.
"How about the Sun and Moon? Do they move on their own as well?" asked another pony and Lincoln faced them.
"No; we don't have immortal gods like rulers to control the Sun and the Moon and about them... Technically speaking they don't ever move; it's the planet itself that moves...." Lincoln answered and there was stunned silence from just about everyone. "How about I explain with visual aid..." Lincoln said seeing a globe and doing his best to levitate to him and tried to do the same for models of the Sun and Moon on shelves but there was Cadance doing it for him to help out.
Lincoln did manage to find a small pencil to put on top of the globe; “Just pretend that this represents me... Basically how it works is that the planet moves slowly and we don't notice besides the changing of the skies... Makes a full rotation every 24 hours; we are here and it's day because it's closest to the Sun but as the world moves...." Lincoln explained and managed to move the globe so that the pencil was now facing the Moon. "It's closer to the Moon and so night time and obviously nights and days get longer or shorter depending on the time of the year but that is generally how it works." Lincoln finished and the stunned class began clapping their hooves along with the rulers of the Crystal Empire and Cheerilee as well.
Lincoln smiled at the positive attention he was giving for this mini-lecture; was easy to not notice but Lincoln was considered the second smartest of his siblings behind his 2nd youngest sister Lisa and most of his grades weren't terrible at all.
It was later after school when Sunset came to pick Lincoln up and got a report on how Lincoln did from Cheerilee. "Wow Lincoln; we are sending you to school here but it looks like you took everyone to school today." Sunset told Lincoln honestly impressed at how he managed to wow everyone with Earth science. "Give me five...We don't have fingers but you get the idea..." Sunset said putting her hoove up and Lincoln did so in return and they slapped hooves together.
"Did you get some alone time with Twilight...." Lincoln asked Sunset smirking but she refused to answer as she just walked them both home with her cheeks red and Lincoln laughing. There was Cadance nearby who managed to catch what Lincoln had said and Sunset's reaction.
"Had a good time Lincoln; do you think that I could stop by the Castle some time and you can show me whatever cool stuff is different on your world than here in Equestria?" Stella asked running up to meet Lincoln and he gave her a nod and a smile with her beaming before going to meet with her mother.
NSL/Anon-A-Miss: Our Past Is Not Today
In the human world; the local counterparts of Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity & Pinkie Pie had their heads down as they were sitting down at their usual table at the Sweet Shoppe. They had gone down there not to hang out or enjoy themselves as they usually did but to do the closest thing that they could to drowning their sorrows.
".....Then Sunset said that she was going home and from how she talked, I can only assume that that she meant for good. Taking Lincoln with her; looking after him seemed to be the one thing that kept her going since this mess started." Mrs Cake had explained to them with a disappointed sigh; having been asked by the group of what happened when Sunset was last there with the boy Lincoln.
Hearing that only made them feel more guilty; "Thanks Mrs C." Pinkie said her hair deflating more than it already did at the point with everyone thinking that they had only gotten further clarification of what they had figured out. "So that's it; Sunset is lost to us through the portal, Twilight will no doubt not want to have it opened for us to try and plead forgiveness from Sunset no matter how many times we say sorry with cherries on top?" Pinkie asked and for a minute they were silent at the reality of it now.
"Tis the season to be jolly ...." Rainbow Dash snarked sarcastically as she was about ready to bang the table in frustration. "Sunset; why couldn't you have held out longer since we found out today.... Why couldn't we have gotten to her in time?" Rainbow Dash almost screamed out.
"Would she have listened to us? She didn't seem to want to hear what we had to say when we saw her going through the portal." Fluttershy pointed out causing more sighs.
"Plus I am willing to bet that she had no reason to want to stay any longer." Applejack pointed out.
"Or get out before it could only get worse for her; like if Rainbow Dash decides to let her anger on the posts get the better of her and set her up to be beaten by Gilda and brutes of the school." Rarity pointed out and Rainbow Dash was now open mouthed and glaring at her. "It was just a suggestion darling...." Rarity spoke defensively as they heard the door slamming open and a lot of footsteps entering the establishment.
"Excuse me; can anyone please help us? We are the Louds and we are looking for our son Lincoln seen here." said Lynn Sr showing a phone with the last post that Sunset had done on MyStable.. The five then had their eyes widened as they took a closer look and panic as it was indeed the post.
"So that boy Lincoln is your son? The one with our friend Sunset?" Fluttershy asked as the Loud family all turned their eyes to the five as they grew nervous and hesitant about how this was going to turn out.
"You know the girl? You can help us find our brother?" Lori asked urgently.
"We have been looking for our bro for quite a long while." Luna said sounding a bit relived with her voice.
"I can't wait to see Linky again! We miss him so!" squealed Leni which only made this harder for how they were going to break this for them.
Applejack was seeing that it looked like all the girls were siblings and while she had a big family as her reunions could attest to; you didn't have so many of the younger ones being siblings. The group were beginning to mentally debate how to break this gently and with the upmost tact....
"Sunset went home; took the kid with him and you are never going to find him. Best that you forget that he ever existed." Rainbow Dash ended up saying shocking the Loud family and Rainbow Dash had her friends gasp her name. "What? No good drawing it out or give them false hope; better to just rip it off....." Rainbow Dash defended herself to her friends and while they could get her point, the way she just bluntly and carelessly blurted it out...
"Look; we came all the way here and so tell us where your friend took our brother or you will be made into a human pretzel!" Lori demanded pulling Rainbow Dash up by the collar of her jacket; as Dash tried to get Lori to put her down, Dash used her hand to go to a table and grab a spoon...
"She was the one who initiated the violence so this can't be solely squared on me...." Rainbow Dash told her friends shaking their heads at her as both groups had been kicked out and the Louds were tending to Lori as she was nursing an injury in her eye. The 5 then decided to just leave and go their separate ways before the Louds could chase them at the moment.
NSL/Anon-A-Miss: Our Past Is Not Today
Lincoln as a human was out on his knees on the front step outside the door of the Loud House thinking that he deserved being locked out but then found the moon rising high up into the sky much to his confusion. He saw a figure flying out from the moon and then there was Princess Luna.
"I must say that I was not expecting to find you dreaming of your previous form little one; you must be Lincoln the one that Sunset Shimmer brought forth from the other world who has helped her through a tiring time. I am Princess Luna; Princess of the Night!" greeted Princess Luna as Lincoln looked at her as he got up on his feet. "I must say that I am not used to such tall children." Princess Luna said amusingly as Lincoln blinked.
"What was in that dinner that Spike made us that made me dream of this?" Lincoln questioned as Princess Luna shook her head.
"As Princess of the Night; I have the ability to enter the dreaming world to look over my subjects when they are having nightmares. Especially the young ones." Princess Luna explained as Lincoln didn't look quite convinced that she had actually entered his dream.
"If I do believe that; isn't that a big invasion of privacy? I mean I know that your sister has the power of the Sun and could use it to lord it over all the other countries to bow to your authority but spying on children in their dreams? Could you use that knowledge to mould and manipulate them?" Lincoln asked taken aback and Princess Luna sighed looking like she was being quite patient.
"I believe that yes; what you say may have merit but back to your nightmare young Lincoln." Princess Luna spoke going near him. "Quite an unflattering view of what your family did. Yet I don't sense dishonesty or overexaggerating in this dream." Princess Luna spoke raising an eyebrow as Lincoln sighed.
"More of a memory; bad enough that I feel overshadowed by their accomplishments and while I'm not perfect.... I feel like I am on a handicap most of the time and it came to this latest incident that made me run away...." Lincoln spoke as Princess Luna blinked.
"I understand feeling overshadowed by your sisters but surely this is but an exaggeration I can see memories through the dreams...." Princess Luna and Lincoln sighed as he looked away and covered his ears as Princess Luna had them appear as spirits to view the entire incident. Princess Luna when Lincoln glanced at her saw that she looked on in stunned outraged and kept reliving the memory; as if trying to get it to change and that it must be exaggerated.
Soon enough it stopped and Princess Luna looked like she was struggling to keep her emotions in check; "Sorry young one but I must depart or else I risk terrifying you by letting it all out right here after you already went through so much...." Princess Luna said as calm as she could but it sounded terrifying to Lincoln as it sounded like she was keeping back unadulterated rage.
Lincoln ended up waking soon and yawned and was taken aback to find the floor of the room covered in spiders. "Am I still dreaming?" Lincoln asked as he let out a yawn and put Bun-Bun to the side with his magic but then popped in was an exasperated looking Discord.
"Seriously? That was your biggest reaction to that?" Discord asked stunned and Lincoln giggled as he smirked at him.
"Not bad for a prank Discord as it is a little freaky but Luan already pulled off something similar one year for April Fool's. Mostly only got Leni as she is the one super scared of spiders." Lincoln stated as Discord gave him a glare.
"I am going to get you kid; just you wait!" Discord warned as he disappeared with the spiders.
"I heard the voice of that goat bipedal thing; did Discord bother you!" Sunset spoke looking serious in an overprotective older sister voice as she slammed the door open with her magic.
"Just filled the floor with spiders Sunset; that's all. Nothing I can't handle!" Lincoln assured her as Sunset was open mouthed.
"A room filled with spiders is not something that you should say 'that's all' to! Seriously what those girls put you through; that Luan girl sounded like a menace..." groaned Sunset deciding to walk with Lincoln to the table for breakfast and insisting that she checked him over much to his embarassment.
There was Twilight and Spike reading over a scroll; "Get this Princess Celestia sent a letter warning us that in case she can't get her sister to calm down; Princess Luna may end up storming the castle to get to the portal. Something that happened during her peaking into dreams that caused her to want to use the portal as if preparing for war. Princess Celestia is trying to reason with her and the guard have to keep her away from the armoury as she was after an axe." Twilight spoke as Sunset blinked and Lincoln's eyes widened.
"So she does enter people's dreams... Plus I can explain that as I had a nightmare about my last memory with my family before I ran away and she saw it for herself..." Lincoln explained as they just sighed.
Twilight just shook her head knowing how protective of children Luna was when she entered their dreams to help with nightmares; if she did manage to get to the portal to get to Lincoln's family then Sunset as Lincoln's new older sister figure would end up deciding to help her.
Author's Note
Some of my feelings towards Luan got put into the last bit and I am going to be frank: she is easily my least fave Loud sibling. On top of her puns and jokes not being funny, her pranks just get mean spirited and hurtful. Same reason why I don't buy Dash as an innocent victim in that episode with the zombie prank and cookies; it was spelled out to her that her pranking had gotten past funny and was now bullying. Plus hurtful with the biting a brick prank and how she was going to ruin a troop's cookie selling operation. While the zombie prank may have been too over the top; she had comeuppance and a taste of her own medicine coming. Please no arguments about this in the comments as I don't want the comments section to be a thread on this topic especially as for some reason the comments on a previous chapter became a thread about Phineas and Isabella from Phineas & Ferb and I have no idea how that started.
NSL/Anon-A-Miss: Our Past Is Not Today
"Who does she think she is.... Stupid rainbow dyed hair loser......" fumed Lori in the human world still nursing her sore eye as the Loud family had to go back to their hotel room for the time being after the confrontation with the 5 teenagers at the Sweet Shoppe. Trying to get information from the girl Sunset's friends didn't quite work out.
"Well I am willing to bet that they are not likely to want to talk to us again. Our best bet to finding Lincoln again and you just had to threaten her like that. Sigh." Lucy pointed out scaring Lori as she was just behind her.
"Well excuse me; she springs on us that we might as well forget all about Lincoln and we are just supposed to accept that? Besides; she isn't the one having to deal with a spoon being stabbed in her eye!" Lori retorted with a grunt as her parents tried to get her to calm down.
"Thought we were getting somewhere but now it looks to be harder getting what we need; maybe there is something else that the girl who looked like her knows?" Luna suggested trying to think of something.
Leni however went to her phone and began looking at something; "I don't know if it helps but I thought that we could try and see more of the posts that Sunset posted for clues?" Leni brought up and they thought that it could help. They looked over her shoulder as her face fell; "Linky sure looks happy in these pictures...." Leni muttered as there were pictures of Sunset and Lincoln posing together around the city smiling and looking like they were having fun.
It made their faces fell with regret as they remembered the events that led up to this; when was the last time Lincoln had a happy day out with them? Something to fix when they reconcile. "Hold on.... What is that?" Luna asked pointing to a picture and Leni clicked on it.
Their eyes widened as it showed Lincoln and Sunset showing off matching blue hooded jumpers with flames decoration around the words on them. Sunset's said 'BEST BIG SISTER EVER ' and Lincoln's said 'BEST LITTLE BROTHER EVER '.
"I can't believe this! The nerve of her!" Luan said outraged.
"I know! Blue is so not Lincoln's colour!" Leni said and facepalms at Leni's usual slow on the uptake.
"Not that I am disagreeing with you Leni but we mean that this girl is stealing Lincoln from her! We are Lincoln's sisters!" Lori told her shaking her head.
"I don't mean to make us feel worse but if you would adjust your eyes to the caption of this particular photo." Lisa stated and they looked and guilt reared it's ugly head again.
'His sisters didn't want the job so I took it myself. '
"We just need to make it up to him when we find him and show him that we are our regretful real sisters." Lori said optimistically as they thought that they would have to try again the next day.
Rarity had gotten home and was on her bed staring miserably at Sunset's phone that she had claimed after Sunset had just left it there outside the portal at the statue. Her leaving it here was evidence that Sunset had intended never to return after getting through the portal and wouldn't hear her out.
Plus now she and her friends will have to deal with Sunset's friend Lincoln's family for the time being and she bet that the others didn't have any better ideas to explain to them that their brother/son was probably forever lost to them than she did.
There was her door opening and Rarity looked away as there was Sweetie Belle there looking hesitant as Rarity just turned her head away from her direction as she was lying on her bed. "Rarity; you know that I am sorry right?" Sweetie Belle asked slowly and Rarity gave a deep sigh.
"I off course know but unfortunately there are times when sorry can't fix things and this is such occasion. I am sorry myself for my part in treating Sunset but I am unable to even tell her. She even left her phone at the portal so we can't even check if it would work between the worlds." Rarity said simply shaking her head.
"Sunset will be happy back home in Equestria right? With Twilight and Lincoln as her friends?" Sweetie Belle and Rarity gave a nod as this fact was a small comfort. That Sunset would have a better time in her home than she had been here.
"I bet she will do Sweetie. Hopefully she will get the family that we were unable to be for her here." Rarity sighed some more.
"I hope that Lincoln gets the same as well; from what I can tell Lincoln could relate to what Sunset was going through." Sweetie Belle replied ready to leave but Rarity confused got up slightly.
"What do you mean Sweetie Belle?" Rarity asked with curiosity getting the better of her.
"Before we decided to confess we looked at Sunset's MyStable profile and we saw the posts of Lincoln filling the void that was left.... There were captions saying that they were lost souls helping eachother out and it helped made us decide to come clean. Some captions also kind of implied that Lincoln was experiencing something similar back home...." Sweetie Belle explained and Rarity got her own phone to check out Sunset's profile to see for herself.
Rarity had guilt as she looked at the pictures but couldn't help but realise Sweetie Belle's point about the captions. Could looking up about this missing runaway boy help get clarification if it hit the news? Rarity remembered what the Louds said about their surname and where they were from. Searching Lincoln's full name with the name Royal Woods actually got a news article all the way from Royal Woods.
Rarity's eyes widened as she read praying that this was one of those parody news sites but no it all looked official. Now Rarity was regretting telling Rainbow Dash off as she was attacking that girl Lori with that spoon...
NSL/Anon-A-Miss: Our Past Is Not Today
Back in Ponyville; Lincoln was going in the schoolhouse looking at the decorations up for the Hearth's Warming Eve season which he knew to be the equivalent to Christmas back in the human world. "Thank you very much, that's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me.... " Lincoln was singing to himself as Cheerilee was coming in to start the class.
"What are you singing Lincoln?" Stella asked curiously in her seat sitting next to him making him jump a bit and he saw eyes were on him with some snickering. Lincoln took a deep breath before gulping.
"Sorry... Just singing my favourite song from Scrooge a musical version of A Christmas Carol; one of the oldest and most famous Christmas stories in my world.... Christmas being the closest thing to Hearth's Warming that we have in the human world.... Basically Scrooge a rich old grump when he gets taken to the future by a Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come sees the people singing and finds out that they are thanking him for dying...." Lincoln explained but looked awkward at the stares that he was getting.
"Well Lincoln; since it's the season how about you tell us about this holiday story if it's so well known where you are from?" Cheerilee encouraged him and Lincoln got stares at him with him wishing that he hadn't started singing to himself but a nudge from Stella's wing encouraged him to join Cheerilee at the front.
"Well the story goes is that Christmas Eve.... Scrooge gets visited by 3 ghosts that takes him to the past, present and future to show him what made him the man he is and the current life of his remaining family and his poor worker.... The future shows what will happen if he says what it is and convinces him to to be more nicer and generous and to make thigns right with his family and worker." Lincoln explained as he got eyes on him in thought.
"Isn't that just the story of Snowfall Frost only without Windigos and her trying to steal Hearth's Warming?" Scootaloo asked as Lincoln raised an eyebrow.
"What? Are you saying here the Christmas Carol got mixed with the Grinch? Does it have a catchy theme song as well?" Lincoln asked surprised as there were interested looks in that.
"This Grinch story of your's has a song? Can you sing it Lincoln?" Stella asked and Lincoln was unsure but Cheerilee as he looked at her smiled and nodded to encourage him...
"....You really sang the Grinch song with the termites in the smile and the tenderness of a seasick crocodile?" Sunset was asking Lincoln struggling not to laugh as he was telling the story to a nervous Lincoln once he was collected after school. Sunset knew about the uncanny resemblances to the Snowball Frost story to both the Grinch and Christmas Carol stories as she had seen the original Grinch special and some Christmas Carol versions on TV back in the human world.
"Yeah... The one I think was called Diamond Tiara actually looked sick through it and Ms Cheerilee was asking if this really was a song for kids or foals as she said and I managed to soothe it over by saying that the Grinch was touched by the season and his heart grew 3 sizes that day...." Lincoln replied with a sigh hoping that he wasn't going to get a reputation for a weird kid at this rate amongst his fellow classmates.
"If you ask me they do the messages and endings better than the Snowball story anyway; never did like that she was supposed to learn her lesson by saying that without Hearth's Warming then Windigos were going to end life. But to find 2 stories like bout showing consequences of actions as well as showing that it's more than the gifts..." Sunset admitted to him with a smile and Lincoln smiled as well thinking that he had a cool sister figure with him for his first holiday in another world where he was an equine.
"Yes; I know the term 'equines' as I am smart while not 'Lisa Smart'!" Lincoln said facing his invisible audience.
Author's Note
So sorry for the long wait but writers block and other stories I wanted to work on.
