A new fic: Critical Condition · 3:23am Jul 17th, 2017
Berry Punch was a college student. She was also an alcoholic. She loved drinking a little bit too much. That was why she was so smashed when she exited the bar. She took out her car keys and unlocked her car to drive home.
Normally, the smart thing to do was to call a cab or a friend to drive her home. But Berry Punch had dropped her phone in the toilet earlier. So, there was no chance of her using it. She decided that she was OK to drive and started the engine.
XXX
Sunset Shimmer was a student at Canterlot High School. Tonight, she was doing some Christmas shopping for her friends. She managed to save up to get each of them the perfect gift.
Sunset Shimmer smiled warmly. She used to believe that she could only get everything she could ever want by using force. She thought power was everything. But then she was made to realize there was something better than power.
Friendship.
It was bumpy at first, awkward really. No one had quiet forgotten what she was like as the school’s Alpha Bitch, but she was still making an effort to change; to be a better person.
“Here you go, miss. All of them gift wrapped.”
“Thank you.”
Sunset Shimmer paid for her purchases and carried the bags out of the store.
As she was heading home, she did not notice Berry’s car speeding up behind her.
XXX
The next morning, the Rainbooms were gathered in front of Sunset Shimmer’s locker. They all looked pretty upset.
Anon-a-Miss had struck again. This time she had posted photos from their last Slumber Party. Every embarassing picture, every embarassing secret, all up on MyStable for everyone to see and comment on.
The comments were pretty hurtful.
And they all knew who it was that had done this. It was Sunset Shimmer. All the pictures came from her phone.
So they waited for Sunset Shimmer to arrive to confront her and give her a piece of their mind.
XXX
The next morning...
“Thank you. Goodbye.”
Celestia put down the phone and dropped onto her chair in shock. She was shaking but she calmed down. She needed to do her job.
She turned on the P.A. system to make an announcement.
XXX
The students filled the gym for an emergency assembly. Celestia stood in front with Luna. The vice-principal looked as stern as ever. Her job was to maintain discipline.
The students filled the seats, wondering what this assembly was all about. The Rainbooms were seated together. They had waited for Sunset Shimmer but she had not turned up. She was not even answering her phone or returning their texts.
“Students, I know you are looking forward to your Christmas vacation. I was too. However, this morning, I received an urgent call. One of our own, Sunset Shimmer, was in an accident last night. She is currently in critical condition in Canterlot General Hospital.”
The students were speechless, the Raimbooms themselves were even more shocked by the news.
In her own seat, Apple Bloom’s hands trembled around her phone.
“Hopefully, she will recover soon. But until then she will be in the hospital in intensive care. If you wish to visit her, please do, and wish her well.”
XXX
The Rainbooms gathered together at lunch, sitting at their usual table. After processing what they had heard at the assembly, worry and shame were shared by the group.
Shame for ever thinking Sunset Shimmer, their friend, was Anon-a-Miss. Worry for their friend.
“We-we should go see her, after school,” Fluttershy suggested.
“Yeah, we owe her that much,” Applejack agreed.
Rainbow Dash just hung her head. Pinkie Pie’s hair was flat as she poked at her food.
“What I do not understand is how Anon-a-Miss got their hands on those pictures,” said Rarity, bringing everyone’s attention to the matter of the infamous MyStable account.
“The pictures came from Sunset’s phone, we all know that. But since she’s in the hospital...”
“She couldn’t have posted them,” Pinkie Pie finished. “The post about us was put up just this morning. Since Sunset Shimmer has been in the hospital since last night, there’s no way she could be Anon-a-Miss.”
“And her phone must’ve been broken in the accident,” continued Rarity. “That’s why she hasn’t returned our calls or replied to our text messages.”
“So, Sunset isn’t Anon-a-Miss,” said Applejack. “So, who could it be?”
“Hey, AJ. Who else knew about the ‘piggly wiggly’ thing before Anon-a-Miss blasted it all over MyStable?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Applejack frown bitterly at being reminded of that nickname. The students had given her a hard time about it, oinking in her presence.
“Well, my family knew and then I told you girls,” Applejack said. She realized what Rainbow Dash was getting at. “Wait, do you think...”
“Well, if Sunset’s not Anon-a-Miss, then it could be one of us,” said Rainbow Dash, looking at her friends. “Or...”
Applejack really did not want to consider the possibility, but besides her friends, only her family knew that nickname before Anon-a-Miss put it up on MyStable.
“So, the photos came from Sunset’s phone, but she’s in the hospital so she couldn’t have posted them. Which means...”
“Someone took her phone and downloaded the pictures,” Pinkie Pie finished.
“And in our last slumber party, who else was at your house, Rarity?” Rainbow Dash asked the fashionista.
“My family,” Rarity answered.
The Rainbooms shared looks of comprehension as they connected the dots. Applejack looked angry and Rarity also looked mad.
“Girls, I think I know who our mysterious Anon-a-Miss is,” Rarity said.
XXX
The Crusaders gathered in the bathroom. They checked to see that it was empty.
“How could this have happened?” Apple Bloom wondered out loud. The plan was to post the pictures. The evidence would point to Sunset Shimmer. Then their big sisters would leave her.
Sweetie Belle had made the posts before school started. They then waited to see what would happen once Sunset Shimmer showed up.
But she never did.
Then Celestia told them why. She was in an accident last night. With the posts put up earlier this morning, nobody, not even their sisters, would believe Sunset Shimmer was Anon-a-Miss, especially since the girl was in critical condition in the hospital.
They wanted Sunset Shimmer to go away, but not like this.
“I feel really bad now...” confessed Scootaloo.
“I just wish Sunset Shimmer will be OK,” said Sweetie Belle.
“Let’s just delete the account,” said Apple Bloom. There was no point in continuing with Anon-a-Miss now.
They stepped out of the bathroom together, leaving the matter behind.
And then ran right into their big sisters and their friends.
“Apple Bloom,” Applejack said sternly, hands on her hips. “We need to talk with you and your friends.”
Apple Bloom began to sweat under the intensity of Applejack’s glare.
“Yeah, Applejack? What about?” Apple Bloom asked nervously.
“We’re going to talk with you about Anon-a-Miss.”
Oooooh!
4603879
So, if anyone is interested, let me know.
4603884
You ain't gonna be a dick and insult me in the comments like last time
4603901
Yeah, I wasn't insulting you. That was me writing Sunset Shimmer's response. She was calling her 'friends' the 'r-word'. But anyway, whaddya think? Should I do this?
4603906
First off: next time do it in a different color cause I took that literal.
Second: yes write it
Definitely write this please.
The Rainbooms walked the Crusaders into the music room. It was currently unoccupied, which was ideal for what was to happen. They were going to need their privacy.
The Crusaders had nowhere to run, and running would be the same as admitting their guilt.
“Take a seat, girls,” said Rarity sternly. Unable to argue, the three younger girls complied. Scootaloo shook nervously in her seat and Sweetie Belle could not meet the gaze of the other girls. Apple Bloom tried to maintain her composure.
Applejack took the floor, arms crossed, eyes narrowed and brows furrowed. She locked eyes with her little sister.
“Alright, Apple Bloom. I’m going to ask you something and I want the truth,” Applejack started. “Are you Anon-a-Miss?”
Apple Bloom gasped and averted her eyes. Applejack took that as a sign of guilt.
“Well?” Applejack prodded. “ Are you or aren’t you Anon-a-Miss?”
Apple Bloom remained silent, as her eyes brimmed with tears.
Applejack sighed.
“So, it’s true. You are Anon-a-Miss, and you got your friends to help,” Applejack concluded.
“Sweetie Belle,” Rarity started next, causing her little sister to flinch at the clipped tone. “Is it true? Are you all involved in Anon-a-Miss?”
“...Yes,” Sweetie Belle confessed.
“And you, Scoots?” Rainbow Dash her adopted little sister. The girl could only nod in response.
Applejack removed her stetson and let out a sigh.
“Damn it. Guess it wasn’t Sunset after all.”
“Sis, please...I-we can explain,” Apple Bloom started.
“Explain what?” Applejack spat. “Explain how you wanted us to think Sunset was the culprit? Now I know why you told me it could be her when the story about me got spread on MyStable. Well, now I know what you think of me.”
“Applejack,” Rarity said in a placating tone. “Girls, please tell us, why did you do this?”
Sweetie Bell sniffled.
“We...we just wanted to spend more time with you...so...we thought...we thought if we made it look like Sunset Shimmer was Anon-a-Miss, then things could go back like the way they were...”
“Well, looks like your little scheme did not work.”
“How did you figure it out?” Scootaloo asked.
Rainbow Dash looked ashamed for a moment then ran her hand through her hair.
“Well, you see, we all thought it was Sunset, but then Principal Celestia called the assembly and told us what happened to her. Since the latest post was put up earlier today, there was no way it could’ve been her.”
“Took a while for us to process what happened,” added Pinkie Pie. “If it could not be Sunset, then who could it be? So, we thought about who else knew Applejack’s secret and who else was in Rarity’s house while we had our Slumber Party there.”
“Sweetie Belle, you took Sunset’s phone and got the pictures off it, didn’t you?” Rarity asked. Sweetie Belle silently nodded.
“You know, Sunset getting into an accident might be a blessing in disguise. Now we know she ain’t Anon-a-Miss, but she’s hurt really bad,” Applejack remarked. She was told that things happened for a reason, that God worked in mysterious ways. Was this his doing?
“Looks like you three got your wish then,” Fluttershy said. She had been silent the whole time, but now she wanted to speak.
“Wait, we didn’t want this to happen!” Apple Bloom cried out in denial.
“You wanted Sunset Shimmer out of the way, and now she’s in the hospital. If we had not figured out you were Anon-a-Miss, would you have told us?”
The Crusaders did not answer. How could they?
They felt remorse.
“You realize what you’ve done is considered cyberbullying, right? You know how illegal that is?” Applejack questioned.
“Illegal...?” Scootaloo paled.
“Yeah, it’s illegal. Who knows what could’ve happened to Sunset if you continued,” Rainbow Dash continued.
“She might be pushed over the edge and commit suicide,” Fluttershy finished.
“Su...suicide...?” Sweetie Belle trembled.
Now they were beginning to see how terrible it might’ve been.
“Guess the Christmas Party is cancelled, huh?” Pinkie Pie asked. They were all going to have a Christmas Party, but with Sunset in critical condition, such plans would need to be put on hold until she recovered.
Pinkie Pie cancelling a party was also a first. But even she understood how serious things were.
“What are you going to do with us?” Apple Bloom asked nervously.
Applejack gave her sister a pointed glare.
“You’re going to delete the account and everything on it,” Applejack ordered. “And after school, we’re all going to visit Sunset at the hospital. If she wakes up, you’re all going to apologize to her.”
The Crusaders had no room to argue and nodded.
“Should we tell Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.
I shared the finished draft to my usual beta reader.