Anon-A-Miss.

That was a name everyone at Canterlot High School recognized. It was the name of one of the darkest hours in the school’s history. And that’s saying a lot. This was a school that had been through things like she-demons destroying the front of the school and sirens using their singing to turn everyone against each other.

But Anon-A-Miss didn’t need any kind of dark magic to leave one of the darkest marks on the school. What had happened was one day, just before the winter holidays, an anonymous MyStable profile appeared and began posting personal secrets about some of the students. As time went on, other students began sending their fellow students’ secrets to Anon-A-Miss, asking for them to be published, which they were.

At first, circumstantial evidence pointed to Sunset Shimmer being the one behind Anon-A-Miss, which led to the entire student body ostracizing her and treating her like a pariah. But in the end, it turned out that the mastermind, or rather, masterminds, behind it were the three members of the Canterlot Movie Club. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, to be specific. They started the profile to frame Sunset in retaliation for her inadvertently taking attention away from them, getting in the way of time the three girls wanted to spend with their sisters. They kept the profile up as others started asking them to post secrets, thinking that the popularity of the profile would further their goals.

However, it didn’t take long for the girls to realize that their actions had gone way too far. They saw Sunset being pushed further and further into despair, almost to the breaking point. They also saw the rest of the students ready to tear each other apart, accusing each other of giving their secrets to Anon-A-Miss.

Eventually, they couldn’t take it anymore. The CMC made a full confession to Sunset, their sisters, and the rest of the older girls’ friend group. They gave up their motives and made a heartfelt apology for what they did. Obviously, they were punished for their actions. The school gave all three of them six months of detention. And they were also given individual punishments from their parents or guardians.

But the girls held their heads high through it all. They accepted their punishments without resistance, getting through them without complaining once. They also publicly deleted the incriminating profile and went out of their way to make amends with everyone that had been wronged by Anon-A-Miss. Particularly Sunset. They practically offered to become the bacon haired girl’s slaves if it would make things right with her. Many students saw the efforts they were making to atone for their crimes. These students also knew they had little room to be enraged with the CMC when many of them had willingly submitted secrets about their peers to Anon-A-Miss. With all this in mind, most of the students and faculty at CHS were content to just put the whole unfortunate affair behind them and move on with their lives.

Unfortunately, not everyone was content to just forgive and forget.

Apple Bloom’s older sister, Applejack, had been infuriated when she found out her sister and her friends had been the ones behind nearly destroying the school and framing an innocent student. A friend of hers, no less. When the CMC made their confession, Applejack had gone off on them, ranting about how stupid it was to nearly ruin Sunset’s life for petty reasons like not being invited to a sleepover.

“Are ya really so bull headed to do something this stupid because ya felt a little left out?! Ah don’t suppose ya could’ve, oh, Ah dunno, talked to me about it?! But no, yer first instinct was to humiliate me and make it look like one of my closest friends did it! What in the hay was goin’ through your head, Bloom?! Or was anything at all goin’ through that skull of yours? Right now, Ah don’t think anythin’ was!”

That was one of the nicer parts of the rant Applejack had given her sister and fellow CMC members following their confession. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo tried to assure Apple Bloom that in time, when Applejack had a chance to calm down, she would accept her little sister’s apology.

The two girls had grossly underestimated the legendary stubbornness of Applejack. The same stubbornness that convinced her to try and harvest every apple tree on Sweet Apple Acres once when her older brother, Big McIntosh, was laid up with a few broken ribs, even though she had clearly passed the point of exhaustion. The same stubbornness that forced her friend Rarity to need to drag her to the spa in order to take a day off from her farm chores. The same stubbornness that wouldn’t let her let go of her anger towards her sister for the Anon-A-Miss incident, even after several months had passed. With each passing day, Apple Bloom felt herself falling deeper into sadness over her sister’s open refusal to reconcile.

No matter what Apple Bloom tried over the next few months, from apologizing extensively, to doing favors without asking, to trying to give her a heartfelt birthday gift, nothing worked. Applejack either ignored her sister’s existence entirely, or treated her like a no-good, two-bit varmint that was just waiting to commit her next crime. Many times, Apple Bloom tried to talk to her grandmother, Granny Smith, over what Applejack’s attitude towards her.

“Don’t fret none, young’un’. She’ll come ‘round once she gets her head clear.” Granny Smith said every time Apple Bloom brought her concerns over her older sister’s behavior forward. But every time Granny said it, she said it with less conviction and certainty.

By the end of May, as the school year, as well as the CMC’s six-month period of detention, was coming to an end, Applejack still held her little sister in contempt. Around this time, Apple Bloom was walking through the halls of Canterlot High, heading home after another after school detention. As she headed towards the front of the school where Granny Smith was waiting to take her home, she saw one of the school’s teachers, Mr. Cranky Doodle, putting a flyer up on one of the walls. Curiosity overtook Apple Bloom as she approached the flyer and read what it said.

Student Exchange Program Signup

This got Apple Bloom interested. Reading the rest of the flyer, she saw that it was an announcement for students to sign up to spend half of the next school year at a high school in Manehattan. One student would be selected, and that lucky student would get to travel to Manehattan and see how their school system works. That student would study at a public school in the big city from the beginning of the school year all the way to winter break. New experiences, new memories, new friendships, all of these were perks listed on the flyer to try and draw students in.

“Anyone interested should get an application form from Principal Celestia.” Apple Bloom finished reading the bottom of the flyer.

The gears in Apple Bloom’s head began turning. A chance to go to school in Manehattan? That sounded like it could be fun. She had always wanted to go to the big city and see what it had to offer. Plus, she knew she had relatives up there she could stay with.

Speaking of relatives, how would the ones she had here in Canterlot react if she were to sign up? And her friends for that matter? Granny Smith and Big Mac would probably be sad to see her go, but it would only be for a few months. The same could probably be said for Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Then there was the big one. How would Applejack react?

The first thought that went through Apple Bloom’s head was that Applejack would probably be relieved to be rid of her little sister for a while. But Apple Bloom quickly shook this thought away. Surely that wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. Maybe she just needed a chance to realize this by being separated for a while. That would make Applejack come to her senses.

Right?

Apple Bloom shook her head again. None of this would matter if she didn’t get the application form. With that, she continued on her journey. On her way to the main door, the farm girl made a detour to the principal’s office. She saw the multi hair colored principal sitting at her desk doing paperwork.

“Excuse me? Principal Celestia?” Apple Bloom called out.

“Apple Bloom? What are you still doing here? I thought your detention was over. Isn’t your grandmother waiting for you?” Celestia asked, looking up from her paperwork.

“She is. But before Ah go home, Ah wanted to ask something. Ah saw a flyer in the hallway for a student exchange program and…”

“You wish to sign up?”

“Yes ma’am. Ah do.”

“May I ask what brought this on?”

“Nothin’ much. Ah just thought it sounded interestin’. That it may be fun to spend some time in Manehattan. See what there is to see, y’know?”

Celestia could tell there was more to it than that. That Apple Bloom wasn’t telling her everything. The principal also believed that she knew the real reason behind Apple Bloom’s decision, even if the farm girl wouldn’t admit it to herself. Still, it wasn’t truly her place to get involved in family affairs. She only hoped whatever was going on between the Apple sisters would get resolved soon.

“Very well then. Hold on a moment while I get the application form.”

Celestia opened a drawer on her desk and handed Apple Bloom a sheet of paper.

“You and your guardian, in this case Granny Smith, will need to fill this out and have it returned to me by the end of the week.”

“Ah understand.”

“Good. Now hurry on. I’m sure your grandmother is waiting for you.”

With one last nod, Apple Bloom turned tail and made her way out of the school. She saw Granny Smith waiting beside her beaten old pickup truck.

Once the two made it home, Apple Bloom took out the Exchange Student application form and explained what it was and why she wanted to sign up. Much like Principal Celestia, Granny Smith could tell there was more to it than what Apple Bloom said. The plump green skinned woman looked over at her blonde granddaughter, who was continuing to pretend Apple Bloom didn’t exist.

‘Maybe some time away from each other will help these gals get their thoughts in order.’ Granny Smith thought.

With this in mind, Granny filled out the form with Apple Bloom. The next day, the redheaded farm girl gave it back to Principal Celestia, who placed it in a drawer. A drawer that was quickly filled with all the other applications of students that signed up.

At the end of the next week, one of these applications was pulled at random. The student whose name was on this paper was the one who would spend half of the next school year in Manehattan. Celestia looked it over and saw the name written clearly at the top of the form.

Apple Bloom

Celestia was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t often that the first one to sign up was the one who was chosen in a random drawing like this. Apple Bloom was called into the principal’s office shortly thereafter and told that she had won the drawing. The young farm girl was also given a folder containing everything she would need to know for her upcoming temporary transfer to another school. Granny Smith and Apple Bloom spent the next few days going through everything, making sure the younger girl knew what she needed to know once she got to Manehattan.

The last few weeks of school and summer vacation passed by relatively quickly. With the new school year starting in just a little less than two weeks, it was decided that it was time for the youngest Apple to head up to Manehattan. Granny Smith had made arrangements for Apple Bloom to live with her Aunt and Uncle Orange for the duration of her stay. The day after Apple Bloom had packed as many of her belongings as she could fit in the family’s largest suitcase and saying goodbye to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, the family made their way to Canterlot International Airport. Except for Applejack, that is. She explicitly refused to go to the airport and see her sister off. She didn’t even say goodbye when Apple Bloom walked out the door.

Once at the airport, Apple Bloom had her luggage checked and made her way to the security checkpoint. Just before she got in line, she shared her final goodbyes with her family.

“Alright, now. This here’s yer plane ticket. Don’t you lose this ‘til ya make it to Manehattan.” Granny Smith said while handing Apple Bloom her boarding pass.

“Ah won’t lose it, Granny.” Apple Bloom promised.

“Good. Now there’s just one last thing. Gimme a hug, young’un’!”

Grandmother and granddaughter embraced in one last tight hug, tears prickling the corners of their eyes.

“Ah’m gonna miss ya, Granny.”

“Ah’ll miss you too, child. Now don’t forget t’have yer aunt and uncle gimmie a call when you get there. Ah wanna know ya made it safe and sound.”

“Ah promise, Granny. Goodbye.” Apple Bloom said with one last hug.

After breaking away from her grandmother, Apple Bloom turned towards her older brother.

“So, ya gonna miss me while Ah’m gone?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Nnope.”

Big Mac topped off his one-word statement by giving his youngest sister a good-natured hair ruffle before pulling her into a hug.

“Take care now, y’hear?” Big Mac said.

“You too, Big Mac. Ah’ll see y’all in the winter. Oh, and tell Applejack that even if she’s still sore at me, Ah’ll miss her too.”

“We will, Bloom. Now you best be goin’. Don’t wanna miss yer plane, do ya?” Granny asked.

“That’s right. Goodbye, y’all. Ah’ll miss you.” Apple Bloom said.

“Goodbye, Apple Bloom. We’ll miss you too, right, Big Mac?”

“Eeyup.”

With that last round of goodbyes done, the family went their separate ways. Granny Smith and Big Mac headed for the exit to the airport while Apple Bloom got into the line that led to the security checkpoint.

After she got through security, Apple Bloom made her way to the gate where her flight would be taking off from. The subsequent wait for the plane and flight to Manehattan were relatively uneventful. When she landed and grabbed her luggage, she found a driver holding a sign with her name on it. Aunt and Uncle Orange had hired a driver to take their niece to the penthouse they were living in. As she was being driven to her temporary home, she looked around at all the Manehattan had to offer. All the bright lights, tall buildings, and famous landmarks she read about in school. She couldn’t wait to see it all up close.

Before long, Apple Bloom had made it to the penthouse building. It didn’t take her long to take an elevator to the top floor and find a door with a pair of oranges painted on them. She knocked on the door, which was opened by a middle-aged woman with pale, light greyish olive skin and amber hair. Standing behind her was a man with light gold skin and pistachio green hair.

“Aunt Orange Slice! Uncle Moseley Orange! Thank y’all so much for lettin’ me stay!” Apple Bloom chirped as she walked in.

“’Y’all’.” Aunt Orange said with a slightly snooty sounding laugh. “Isn’t she just the living end?”

“How quaint.” Uncle Orange agreed.

“Don’t worry. We’ll have you acting like a true Manehattanite in no time.”

“Indeed, my dear. But until then, why don’t I show you to your room and let you unpack? You must be weary after your travels.”

“That’d be nice. Thank ya kindly, Uncle Orange. Oh, and Aunt Orange, Granny Smith wanted me to tell ya to call her when Ah got here.” Apple Bloom said.

“Indeed, she did. I shall make that call while you settle in.”

While Aunt Orange made her way to the telephone, Apple Bloom followed her uncle to the guest room of the penthouse. As soon as the door opened, Apple Bloom’s eyes widened. The entire bedroom was almost as big as the living room of the farmhouse at Sweet Apple Acres.

“Alright, dear Apple Bloom. Unpack your belongings and make yourself comfortable. We shall be having dinner in approximately one hour.” Uncle Orange said.

“Thanks, Uncle.”

Apple Bloom dragged her suitcase over the king-sized bed before sitting down on the bed. She instantly felt herself starting to sink downward towards the floor. The bed was twice as large and three times as soft as the one she slept in back home on Sweet Apple Acres. She almost thought she was lying on a marshmallow, that she would sink down like she was in quicksand.

Apple Bloom tried to push these thoughts down as she got off the bed and unzipped her suitcase. After spending the better part of an hour putting all her clothes in the closet and setting up the rest of her belongings, she was called into the kitchen for dinner. Apple Bloom was shocked to find that the plate she was given had much smaller portions of food than she was used to, not that she said anything. She didn’t want to seem ungrateful to her relatives for letting her stay.

Her mood didn’t improve much when she went to bed shortly thereafter. She had grown so used to sleeping in the relative silence and darkness of a farm, with only chirping insects and the occasional hooting owl being heard, and the only light being from the moon and stars. Now she had to deal with constantly honking cars and bright lights coming from several stories below her.

‘Maybe comin’ here wasn’t the best idea, after all.’ Was the last thought to go through Apple Bloom’s head before sleep managed to claim her.

Her thoughts on the matter weren’t changed much when she was woken up by an alarm clock rather than the crowing of a rooster. Still, she tried to make the best of her new situation over the next week. Before long, it was time for the school year to start. She hoped that now, things would truly change. Or at least she would have something else to occupy her mind. On the first day of school, Apple Bloom’s Aunt and Uncle hired the same driver to take her to and from school each day.

‘A truly proper Manehattanite doesn’t ride an average school bus.’ They had said.

Once she had been dropped off, Apple Bloom looked up at the building that would serve as her school until Winter Break. It was fairly standard looking, as far as school buildings go. The yellow skinned farm girl looked around some more before her eyes landed on a sign at the entrance to school grounds.

“Craig McCracken High School, huh?” Apple Bloom read.

“That’s right.”

Apple Bloom looked behind her. Standing right behind her was a young woman with pale yellowish-green skin and dark blue hair.

“My school was named after a great man. A master of his craft, really. And he was married to a woman that I, personally, believe everyone in the world owes something to.” The woman said.

“’Yer school?’” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yes. I am Civil Lecture, the principal of this school. And I take it you’re our new exchange student from Canterlot, Apple Bloom. Am I correct?”

“Yes ma’am, Ah am.”

“Well, on behalf of everyone here at CMHS, allow me to be the first to welcome you to the school. I hope you’ll enjoy your time here. Now come with me. I need to give you your class schedule and go over a few things with you.” Principal Lecture said.

Student and principal then made their way inside the school. As they walked towards the principal’s office, the principal began speaking.

“We here at CMHS take pride in being one of the most civil schools in Manehattan. Where students learn not only things like math and science, but also how to eventually be productive members of society upon graduation. But that isn’t to say we discourage individualism or creativity. It is my view that people who live without those things, without knowing how to enjoy themselves once in a while, become some of the most uncivil people in adulthood. People need to express themselves in order to build proper relationships and experiences. To that end, we offer a wide variety of extracurricular activities. The most in the city. So I encourage you to find some you may enjoy while you’re here. I hope you find great things and learn great lessons to take back with you to Canterlot when the time comes.”

By now, the pair had made it to the principal’s office. Civil Lecture handed Apple Bloom a copy of her class schedule.

“But that can wait until you’ve had a chance to explore the school a bit. For now, you best make your way to your homeroom class. You’ll find it in room 196. Turn right out of the office and go down the third hallway on the left. You should be able to find it from there. Your homeroom teacher is named Mr. Timely Manner. He’ll know who you are. Oh, and a word of advice: Don’t ever be late for class with him. He’s a stickler for schedules, and gets very angry if his students don’t show up in… well, a timely manner without good reason. Speaking of, I’d head out now if I were you. The bell is going to ring in five minutes. Have a good stay at McCracken High.” Principal Lecture finished.

“Thank you.” Apple Bloom said before leaving the office.

Following the directions the principal had given her, Apple Bloom made her way to her homeroom class. As soon as she entered the room, she could feel all eyes turn on her. She supposed this is what it was like to be a new student. She hoped that her new classmates would like her.

“Ah, the exchange student.” The teacher, Mr. Timely Manner, presumably, stated. “You made it only 37.4 seconds before the bell. I prefer all my students be here before then. But I will give you a pass just this once since this is your first day at this school. Now why don’t you introduce yourself to the class? Just make it quick. You now have 21.9 seconds until the bell rings.”

“Howdy, y’all. Ah’m Apple Bloom. Ah’m the new exchange student from Canterlot High. Ah’m lookin’ forward to spendin’ the next few months with all of ya.”

Apple Bloom could tell from the expression on everyone’s faces that they thought something was off about her. She had heard that common Manehattanites weren’t the friendliest of people. Apple Bloom had hoped that was only a negative stereotype, but so far, that didn’t seem to be the case. Still, the teacher tried to alleviate some of the tension for her.

“Well done greeting. Short and punctual.” Timely Manner said.

Right then, the bell rang, signifying the beginning of the school day.

“It is time to begin the first day of school. Miss Bloom, why don’t you take your seat? Go to the open desk near the corner next to Tender Taps.” Timely said.

The red-haired farm girl looked towards the corner of the room, seeing an empty desk next to a shy looking orange skinned boy with two toned purple hair. She assumed this was the ‘Tender Taps’ the teacher had mentioned. When she to her desk, she gave a small smile to the boy sitting next to her, hoping she was coming off as friendly. The boy responded by giving her a shy little wave, before looking away.

Author's Note

Welcome, one and all, to my next story.

This is an idea I've had in my head for some time. I'll openly admit, this is hardly the first 'Anon-A-Miss still has consequences several months later' story. Heck, it's not even the first one where Applejack is still angry at her sister. But I enjoyed the others that I could find, and felt like I could add my own take to that concept. As well as write a story about a ship of mine that doesn't have nearly enough stories about it, while I was at it.

Here's hoping you enjoy it.