//------------------------------// // Afterthought // Story: One Mistake // by ManicQuill //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash was putting her guitar away after the first performance of the new Rainbooms featuring Sunset Shimmer. Rainbow Dash couldn't help but admire how Sunset looked in the (and she knew Pinkie would laugh about this) Sunset glow. The red and yellow haired girl looked away from her own guitar to Rainbow Dash with a grin. "What? I got something on my face?" She joked as the two were the last ones in the room. Rainbow shook her head then laughed. "No, it's just." She smiled as she blushed. "You look good is all." Dash mumbled as she carried her guitar case over to the hero of the day. "T-thanks Dash. That means a lot." Sunset Shimmer said as she scratched the back of her head. Sunset quickly locked her guitar in it's case then lifted it up, she turned to Rainbow Dash then kissed the athlete's cheek. "I mean it." She said rushing out of the room. It was at this moment, looking at the door to the music room that Dash began to make a plan for a Christmas surprise for Sunset. The slamming of a door brought Rainbow Dash out of her stupor as two police officers walked over to the table Rainbow Dash sat at. While one of the officers sat in front of Rainbow the other stood next to their partner, holding a file in his hands. "Rainbow Dash I'm Detective Black Light and this is my partner, Detective Night Stick. Can you explain to us how Sunset Shimmer is currently in a coma at Canterlot General, while also in Manehattan with her parents and brother?" The detective asked as he studied Rainbow Dash. "I-I don't know. Maybe you have your info wrong." Rainbow Dash said, looking away from the officer. Detective Night Stick pulled out three pictures from the folder, the first one was of the girls with Princess Twilight summoning the Alicorn spirit to fight the sirens. The other showed the sirens themselves using their magic as they floated in the air. "Want to try again kid?" Detective Night Stick said as he glared at Rainbow Dash. "Look, we got the statements from your friends and video the Cakes were more then willing to supply. All of that would put you in a heap of trouble. But because this girl is from another world, that complicates things." Night Stick spat out the words like a foul substance. "What do you mean?" Rainbow Dash asked as she looked worriedly at the two. Detective Black Light sighed as he picked up the images. "We're under strict orders to keep anything regarding residents of Equestria secret." Black Light explained to Rainbow Dash. "So as it stands. This is being treated as an unfortunate accident. So congratulations, your getting away with attempted murder." Night Stick stated bitterly. This surprised Rainbow Dash as she remembered Sunset's unconcious body laying on the ground. "You can't be serious." Rainbow Dash said stunned, Detective Black Light pulled out a cellphone from his pocket, Rainbow's phone, sliding it onto the table while Night Stick spoke again. "By the way, we were informed about this Anon-A-Miss situation, thought you ought to know they sent out another message when Sunset Shimmer was sent to the hospital." He said almost mockingly as Rainbow looked at the post. 'Looks like somebody has problems. Here's Gilda leaving Anger Management. Isn't it a little late for that?' the post read as it showed Gilda hugging a woman leaving a building. Dash put the phone away as she placed her hands on her head. "No. She was telling the truth." Rainbow whispered to herself as she stared at the book sitting before her. She quickly lifted her head, looking to the officers. "W-what happens now?" "Now, your parents are going to take you home. Again, since Sunset Shimmer was the one hurt, our hands are tied. Until someone else get's hurt or the culprit is found, we can't do anything." Night Stick said as Black Light put the pictures in the folder, he then walked to the door, opening it for Rainbow Dash. "But I hurt Sunset! I deserve jail time, or community service! Something." Rainbow Dash growled as she growled at the officers. "I agree, but that decisions been taken from us." Night Stick growled back. "Now, get the hell out." He ordered, pointing to the door. Rainbow Dash hung her head as she stood up slowly, trudging to the door. "Miss Dash." Black Light called, causing Rainbow to look back. "You  seem like a good kid who just made a mistake, but it might be best for you to get your anger in check." He said as a warning. Rainbow Dash shook her head before leaving the room into the busy main room of the precinct, seeing her mom and dad standing on the other side of the wooden gate leading to the exit. Her parents were silent as they left the building. They remained that way for a few moments in the car, but only a few. "Sweetie. It was an accident, right?" Rainbow Dash's mother, Windy Whistles asked. Rainbow Dash was looking out the window as she listened to her parents speak. "Of course it was. This is Dash we're talking about. Our daughter is not a murderer." Her father, Bow Hothoof stated. As her parents continued to defend her mistake it only fueled the fire of guilt inside of her. "...Dash, did you hear us?" Rainbow discovered her father was asking her a question. "Huh? What?" She asked as her mom looked back. "We asked what actually happened?" Her mom said, giving a nervous laugh. "I mean come on, you get into fights sure, but you've never wanted to kill anyone...right?" It was there, that tone, that crack of fear in her mothers voice that set off something in the tomboy. Your a monster, Rainbow Dash. The voice whispered darkly in her mind as tears began to fall. "I didn't mean to." She whimpered as the voice had truly frightened her. "I just stopped thinking as I yelled and then after the second shove I realized I pushed her to the ice. I realized she could have slipped and hurt herself. I was gonna apologize and then..." Rainbow paused as bile threatened to leave her throat, her father saw this and parked on the side of the road with enough time for Rainbow to open the door before vomit left her mouth. Rainbow laid her head and cried as her mother rubbed her back. Later that night, Rainbow Dash was trying for the fifth time to write to Twilight about what happened when she recived a phone call from Pinkie Pie. With a sigh, Rainbow Dash picked up the phone. "Hey Pinks." Rainbow anwsered the party planner. "Dashie, your on a conference call with the others. Are you okay?" Pinkie asked missing the normal energy in her voice. "Pinkie Pie, how could you ask that? After what just happened I don't think any of us are okay." Rarity's voice stated in a somber tone. "You girls ain't gonna like this, but Sunset's karma did this to her. She was the one spreadin' everyone's secrets." Applejack stated coldly. "She didn't." Rainbow said emotionlessly. "While I was talking to the cops Anon-A-Miss posted again." Rainbow was crying as the words left her mouth. A loud thud could be heard from one of the phones as the girls could hear weeping. "So, now what do we do?" Pinkie asked amid Fluttershy's crying. "We gotta find the real Anon-A-Miss then." Applejack growled, it was clear she was angry. "That dirty snake tricked us! I'll be damned if we let her get away with it while Sunset is in a coma!" Applejack shouted. "Shouldn't we tell Twilight about this? I mean she must be worried sick about Sunset." Rarity questioned the group. "I got that covered. Look guys, I gotta go. We'll talk more about this tomorrow." Rainbow said, wanting to just get off the phone. "We'll talk to ya later Dash. Just remember, we're on your side." Applejack stated before Rainbow hung up. Hypocrite. Did you hear what she said before? The voice spoke again, startling Rainbow Dash. That Apple bitch is such an assholes. Rainbow Dash was looking around for the voice when she discovered something weird, her reflection in the full body mirror was off. Her hair had a darker tint to it, her eyes a darker shade of red with dark smoke billowing out from the sides. The oddest thing however was in the reflection she had wings, they were larger than when she normally ponied up and were darker. Boo. Rainbow Dash jumped back as she watched her reflection stay in the exact same place, an evil grin on her face as she watched the real Dash. "W-what the hell are you?" Rainbow asked as she looked around her room. I can be a lot of things Dash. For this instance, I like to think of myself as your redemption. The mirror image said as she crossed her arms. "I don't understand." Rainbow said as she walked closer to the mirror. That's okay, just remember this. You'll keep trying to get justice for what you did, it won't. If you want to truly get justice for her, you'll say yes. The mirror Dash bellowed away like smoke, leaving a confused Rainbow staring at herself. Deciding to ignore that as her nerves, Rainbow walked over to the journal and began to write. Dear Princess Twilight, something bad happened to Sunset Shimmer.