Sunset Shimmer sits on her throne, her loyal subjects knelt before her.
“What is your bidding, your majesty?” Gilda asked.
“Today we’re putting a stop to Anon-A-Miss’ supply of secrets,” Sunset informed everyone, smiling confidently.
“How are we going to do that?” Lightning Dust asked.
“I’m glad you asked, I’ve looked at the secrets and realized that these secrets are only known to a few students including myself,” Sunset explained. “So the students are likely sending secrets to the blog themselves.”
“That’s crazy!” Dumbbell said in shock.
“It isn’t so crazy once you think about it, the students sending them to Anon-A-Miss want to get a laugh, and seeing as I’m the top suspect, no one will suspect them,” Sunset said, her anger rising.
“How dare they!” Gilda was outraged.
“They’ll pay for this!” Dumbbell said in anger.
“And they will,” Sunset rose from her throne. “We shall catch those students in the act and expose them.”
Her followers cheered as Sunset descended from the throne, a sinister smirk on her lips as she walked past her followers who followed close behind her.
A student with short red hair was checking his phone as he was taking out his books from his locker, he was currently typing a secret that he was going to send to Anon-A-Miss when his phone was snatched from his hand.
“Hey! What gives-” he turned to confront whoever took his phone but was shocked to see Sunset Shimmer with her group.
“Good morning,” Sunset greeted casually as she checked his phone. “What do we have here?”
“I-it’s not what it looks like!” he pleaded, fear evident in his eyes.
“Really? Cause to me it looks like you're sending Anon-A-Miss a secret,” Sunset said before narrowing her eyes at him. “If I recall, you were one of the students who accused me of being Anon-A-Miss.”
The student started to tremble, he had been caught and there was no way for him to talk his way out of this. He tried to make a break for it but he was caught in Sunset’s magic.
“The coward finally shows his true colors,” Sunset said with disdain, as her followers grabbed on to him. “Time to expose the rest of the cowards.”
Sunset and her group marched down the hallways of CHS, confronting those Sunset knew posted secrets and catching them red-handed. The students watched in horror and confusion as Sunset continued to round up more and more students, some students tried to deny the accusations and flee from Sunset, only to be swiftly captured. Other students just gave up and accepted their fate, the group marched towards the Principal’s office when they were confronted by the Rainbooms.
“What vile thing have you done Sunset?” Rarity glared at the former unicorn.
“If you must know, I’m cutting off Anon-A-Miss ’supply of secrets,” Sunset explained, crossing her arms.
Sunset and the Rainbooms had a staring contest that was broken when Principal Celestia opened her office door.
“What is going on out here?” Principal Celestia asked, having heard the commotion.
“Principal Celestia, Sunset is up to no good again!” Rainbow Dash warned. “She’s rounding up the students for her evil plan!”
Principal Celestia raised an eyebrow before turning to Sunset.
“Sunset, what is Rainbow referring to?”
“It’s simple, Principal Celestia. I’ve caught these students sending secrets to Anon-A-Miss and here’s the proof,” Sunset explained as she showed the Principal all the phones she has confiscated with the secret that is about to be sent to Anon-A-Miss.
“I see, thank you Sunset. You and your group did a great service for CHS,” Principal Celestia thanked the former unicorn, her eyes narrowed at the guilty-looking students. “Please step inside.”
Sunset watched with a smirk as the guilty students entered the Principal’s office with their heads bowed.
“I’ll be seeing you girls later,” Sunset winked at the Rainbooms before turning to leave.
The girls watched in silence as Sunset and her group left, Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth before turning around.
“Let’s go,” Rainbow Dash spoke softly, her bangs covered her eyes as she walked past her friends.
The rest of the Rainbooms followed, Fluttershy having one last look at Sunset before joining the others. Pinkie Pie’s words from earlier echoed in her mind.
Girls, from all the time we spent with Sunset, can you honestly say you know her?
The Canterlot Movie Club are in their clubroom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are in shock as Applebloom has informed them of what Sunset has told her and Diamond Tiara in the interview.
“We’re so screwed!” Sweetie Belle said in a panic. “Sunset’s going to catch us!”
“What are we going to do Applebloom?!” Scootaloo frantically asked the farm girl.
“We shut down Anon-A-Miss!” Applebloom quickly responded. “We delete the account as well as all the secrets that we received!”
“Do you think Sunset will stop when she sees that the account is gone?” Sweetie Belle questioned.
Suddenly, they hear a commotion outside their clubroom and when they went to check it out, they saw Sunset and her followers rounding up students.
“What’s going on?” Scootaloo asked.
“Sunset’s rounding up the secret leakers.”
The CMC turned to see a girl with yellow hair talking to her friend.
“It serves them right,” the friend with orange hair said with spite, her secret having been posted because of a so-called friend.
“I hope Sunset makes them suffer,” the yellow-haired girl said, her tone filled with anger.
“She did what she said she would,” Applebloom said in shock.
“We have to delete the account now!” Scootaloo whispered urgently to Applebloom.
The girls went inside the clubroom and logged into the Anon-A-Miss account, but just before they could delete the account, a student burst into the room.
“Please! Don’t do this!” the blue-haired male student begged.
“Did you give any consideration to the student whose secret you posted?” an angry Sunset asked as she walked in the room.
The student didn’t reply, instead, he chose to try to use the CMC as a shield but Sunset quickly acted and pinned him to the wall.
“Just how low can you sink?” Sunset growled as she took the student outside. “Sorry for the commotion girls.”
The CMC watched in stunned silence as Sunset took the student away, as soon as the door closed they quickly got back to deleting the account.
“She’s gone!” Pinkie Pie said in shock, she was checking Anon-A-Miss when the account was suddenly deleted. “Anon-A-Miss is gone!”
“I guess she wised up,” Rainbow Dash said.
“Yeah, but we still got another problem," Applejack reminded her Rainbow haired friend. "Sunset's in control now so she doesn't need Anon-A-Miss anymore."
“That is rather vexing,” Rarity said. “But it begs the question, why did she need Anon-A-Miss if she could’ve done this from the start?”
“Maybe she wasn’t strong enough?” Pinkie guessed.
“But how did she get back her strength?” Applejack questioned.
“Don’t you remember that she stole our magic?” Rainbow Dash asked, raising an eyebrow. “That’s how?”
“Ah meant before, Sunset was strong enough to get an army of students to be completely loyal to her.” Applejack clarified. “An’ another thing, how come Sunset didn’t steal our magic before? This doesn’t add up.”
“We could really use Princess Twilight’s help right about now,” Rarity said dejectedly.
“We screwed that up,” Rainbow Dash said, crossing her arms. “We’re on our own.”
“No, we’re not on our own.” Rarity said with determination. “We have the magic of friendship, so Twilight is always with us.”
“How do yah think she’ll handle this?” Applejack asked.
“Together,” Rarity answered as she looked at her friends. “But we can’t do it if we have doubts, which is why we have to spy on Sunset to uncover her true intentions.”
“What if she pulls the wool over our eyes?” Applejack asked.
“Then we’ll just have to be extra vigilant,” Rarity answered.
“Boss!” Snips called out to Sunset as he rushed to her side.
“Yes?’ Sunset asked as she handed over another student to her followers.
“Anon-A-Miss deleted the account!” Snails said urgently as he showed Sunset his phone.
Sunset took the phone from him and saw for herself that the account was gone.
“They’re on the run,” Sunset said with a smirk as she handed Snails back his phone.
“What are you going to do now that the blog is deleted?” Snails asked.
“Simple, by eliminating the source of her secrets we’ve also narrowed down our suspects,” Sunset explained. “Using the same method of knowing who knows who’s secret, we’ll narrow down the suspects further until we have who we’re looking for.”
“You’re a genius, your majesty!” Lightning Dust praised her queen.
“Let’s finish up rounding the last of these cowards!” Sunset declared.
Her followers cheered as they did what their queen ordered, screams of the guilty students echoed down the halls as Sunset and her group apprehended them. The other students watched with fear as Sunset marched down the halls with the captured students, flinching as Sunset laid eyes on them. Two days ago, Sunset was in their shoes but now the tables have turned and she loved it.
During fourth period English, Sunset sat with Trixie to discuss their plans for the hospital, knowing full well that Rainbow Dash was listening behind them.
‘Attention everyone, this is a special announcement.’ Principal Celestia’s voice can be heard through the school’s intercom system. ‘As many of you are aware, the school has been in turmoil the last couple of days due to a Mystable blog called Anon-A-Miss. Fights have been breaking out daily and an air of hostility is hanging over everyone, worse yet is that all of you seem to blame it on Sunset Shimmer. Let me tell you right now that Sunset Shimmer has nothing to do with this.’
The students in the classroom looked at each other in confusion, Trixie looked at Sunset to see her smiling gratefully. Rainbow Dash wasn’t buying it for a second.
‘Sunset Shimmer has been working hard on not only proving her innocence but stopping Anon-A-Miss, and today she has exposed the source of Anon-A-Miss’ secrets.’ Principal Celestia said, her tone hardening. ‘I can’t begin to explain how disappointed I am that not only did these students actively participate in slandering their fellow students, but did so knowing what kind of damage it will cause. They will all be properly punished and will issue an apology to all of those they have wronged during an assembly later this afternoon.’
The students glanced at Sunset Shimmer, her actions earlier started making much more sense now.
“So those she rounded up are the ones spilling our secrets?” a female student with blue hair asked her friend.
“So Sunset wasn’t Anon-A-Miss after all,” a male student said with regret, he was one of the students who accused Sunset of being Anon-A-Miss.
‘If there are any students who have willingly submitted a secret to Anon-A-Miss that have not been apprehended by Sunset, then I strongly advise you to turn yourselves in.’ Principal Celestia urged before she turned off the intercom.
"It's just another ploy," Rainbow Dash growled, she couldn’t believe that everyone was falling for this.
Sunset glanced behind her and winked at Rainbow Dash, annoying her even more. The bell rang and Sunset bid farewell to Trixie as she made her way to her next class. The hallways had gone quiet as she walked by, students looked at her with fear and a bit of regret. Students in Sunset’s path quickly backed away, not daring to incur the Queen’s wrath. Except for one student who happily stood in her way.
“Hello, Sunset Shimmer.” Diamond Tiara greeted.
“Hello to you too, Diamond Tiara.” Sunset returned the greeting.
“Thanks again for the interview yesterday, here’s your copy of the School’s newspaper.” Diamond Tiara thanked Sunset as she handed her CHS’s newspaper.
“Path of Redemption,” Sunset read the title, looking at Diamond Tiara with a bemused smile.
“It’s a fitting title,” Diamond Tiara said simply.
Sunset opened the newspaper to the page of the article and started reading.
‘The road to redemption is never easy, and no one knows that better than Sunset Shimmer. She ruled CHS with an iron grip and enslaved everyone when she turned into a demon, but she was defeated by Twilight and the Rainbooms. Having seen the error of her ways, Sunset worked to make up for her past mistakes.”
Sunset cast a glance at Diamond Tiara to see her smiling.
‘But her efforts were met with disdain as no one would give her a chance, the wounds of what Sunset had done to them running deep. Sunset faced an uphill battle, but she refused to give up.’
The mention of wounds caught her attention.
‘Eventually, during the battle of the bands' Sunset and the Rainbooms rallied together to defeat the Sirens who had everyone under their spell. Since then, Everyone has acknowledged Sunset’s efforts and started giving her a chance. Sunset has offered to tutor those that need help with any subject, she’s organized fundraisers, meetings, trips, and special events. Sunset has become a student to which everyone at CHS can depend on and look up to, embodying the virtues of Generosity, Kindness, Laughter, Loyalty, and Honesty that the Rainbooms have taught her.’
‘But just when it seemed that she had redeemed herself from the person she used to be, all her efforts came undone by the blog Anon-A-Miss. The Rainbooms accused her of exposing their secrets and cast her out, the students have quickly forgotten her good deeds turn on her. Sunset was back to square one, but this time without her friends to support her. Alone and with the students blaming her for spreading their secrets, as well as the added pressure of finding the true identity of Anon-A-Miss and clearing her name was unsuccessful, Sunset was losing hope.’
Sunset’s grip on the newspaper tightened, Diamond Tiara noticed and feared that she might have upset Sunset.
‘However, with the help of Princess Twilight, Sunset was reminded of who she was which reignited her drive to find Anon-A-Miss. But she did not turn a blind eye to what was happening to our school, and with a heavy heart realized that the only way to save CHS was to become the bully she used to be and bring the school back under her rule. Essentially proving everyone right that she hadn’t changed at all, and it paid off. Fights died down and Sunset even offered her services to council students whose friendships have been negatively affected by Anon-A-Miss.’
‘Despite this difficult ordeal, Sunset has stayed true to who she is and continues to do her best to help those in need.’
Sunset smiled as she looked at Diamond Tiara.
“Not bad, you certainly get the full picture,” Sunset complimented.
“A great reporter makes sure to uncover the truth,” Diamond Tiara said with a smile. “You’re not Anon-A-Miss Sunset, anyone with a brain can see that this isn’t your handy work. You’re too clever for that, and given your display of power and authority, everyone should realize how easily you could take over without the need of exposing secrets.”
“Well said,” Sunset said with a smile before she went on to her next class.
During lunchtime, the whole lunchroom was abuzz about Diamond Tiara’s article. The students are now doubting whether Sunset is Anon-A-Miss after all, looks of shame and guilt were on some of their faces as they realized that they were quick to pass judgment on someone who has helped them before and especially now.
“Can yah believe this?” Applejack asked her friends as she looked at the school’s newspaper, specifically the article about Sunset Shimmer.
“Quite, this article makes Sunset look like a hero.” Rarity said, frowning at the article.
“Hey, Applejack. Can’t you tell your sister to do something about this?” Rainbow Dash asked as she threw the paper on the table.
“Why? She didn’t write this,” Applejack said.
“Isn’t her girlfriend the one who wrote it?” Rainbow Dash questioned. “Can’t she ask her to stop the presses or something?”
“I believe you mean retract the article, darling.” Rarity corrected.
“That’s wrong, Rainbow Dash. Just cause ah don’t like an article doesn’t mean ah get to use mah sister’s influence to change it, that’s somethin’ Sunset would do.” Applejack said as she crossed her arms. “Ah aint stooping to her level.”
“But this is wrong,” Rainbow Dash said as she listened to the students voice their doubts. “This is making everyone forget what a horrible person Sunset is!”
“Is it?” Fluttershy questioned. “The article acknowledges Sunset’s mistakes and how difficult it was for her to make up for what she’s done.”
“She did have a hard time,” Pinkie Pie said sadly, remembering how down Sunset was whenever she failed to make it up to those she hurt.
“Seriously? You still think she’s innocent?!” Rainbow Dash questioned, her frustration getting to her.
“Everyone else seems to be thinking that,” Rarity pointed out as she overheard the students from the table across from them how they might have made a mistake.
“We’ll show everyone how wrong they are,” Rainbow Dash vowed.
Sunset stared at her phone as she sat on her throne, with the Anon-A-Miss blog deleted, the students who sent them secrets captured, and the article about her in the school’s paper casting doubt on her guilt; she had defeated Anon-A-Miss in just two days.
“Hmph, if only I did this sooner,” Sunset said with a smirk as she looked at her kneeling subjects. “But something is still off.”
“Is it finding out who Anon-A-Miss is?” Snails questioned.
“There’s that,” Sunset said as she waved her hand, and images of her friends appeared before her. “The first secrets she posted were Applejack’s nickname and the photos from Rarity’s sleepover that were only on my phone.” the images of Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy faded leaving only Rarity and Applejack. But before she can dig further, her throne room echoed with the sound of someone knocking on the door.
“We have someone here to see you, your majesty,” Gilda announced from the entrance.
“Let them in,” Sunset ordered as she dismissed the images of Applejack and Rarity.
Gilda did as she was told and stepped aside to allow Photo Finish and her two companions to enter.
“What can I do for you Photo Finish?” Sunset asked politely.
“Hold that pose!” Photo Finish suddenly said as she took out her camera and started taking pictures of Sunset. “Yes! So powerful and fierce! Yet kind and gentle!”
Sunset raised an eyebrow but knew from experience with Rarity that Photo Finish was probably in “the zone”.
“Photo Finish, I hate to interrupt but perhaps we should get down to business?” Sunset questioned.
“Of course! I, Photo Finish, need your help organizing a photo shoot.” Photo Finish explained.
“What kind of photo shoot?” Sunset asked curiously.
“It’s for the local animal shelter,” Photo Finish explained. “It serves to help promote the animals and help them get adopted.”
“Why do you need my help with that? You’ve done events like these before.” Sunset pointed out.
“Yes, but your presence will give photos...za magicks!” Photo Finish said.
"Hm, I do like da magicks," Sunset rubbed her chin and it was good publicity. "Very well, Photo Finish. Set up a time so we can get to work."
“Wonderful!” Photo Finish said, she was silent for a minute before speaking. “I go!”
Photo Finish and her two companions quickly left Sunset’s throne.
“Hey Boss, doesn’t Fluttershy work at the animal shelter?” Snips asked.
“What of it?” Sunset questioned dismissively.
“Won’t there be a problem if you attend?” Snips asked, a little worried. “Fluttershy's friends will probably be helping her out.”
“I do not doubt that the rest of the Rainbooms will be helping her,” Sunset said with narrowed eyes. “Before I was betrayed, the Rainbooms and I were going to help Fluttershy. I see no reason why I shouldn’t keep my word.”
“What if they start something?” Snips asked.
“I doubt they’ll risk ruining the photo shoot, but just in case a certain someone gets a little rowdy, I have a plan to save the photo shoot,” Sunset answered, she fully expected Rainbow Dash to act rashly.
“Your, Majesty. We have someone who requests your aid.” Hoops said as he ushered in two male students with guilty looks.
“How may I help you?” Sunset asked as she got to work helping these two.
"Well, goodbye Anon-A-Miss!" Pinkie Pie beamed brightly, skipping ahead of her friends as they walked down the hallway towards the auditorium. "Now everything can go back to normal!"
“Pinkie, darling. Things can never go back to normal with Sunset in power.” Rarity pointed out.
“But with Anon-A-Miss gone, everyone’s secrets are safe!” Pinkie Pie said happily. “And Sunset did us a favor and caught the meanies who gave Anon-A-Miss the secrets.”
"No, that can't be it!" Rainbow Dash snapped.
"Ya heard Principal Celestia. Other kids were sending in secrets," Applejack said.
"That's just what Sunset wants us to think! It's all part of her plan!" Rainbow Dash desperately said.
"So she planned to make everyone hate her again?" Fluttershy asked, raising an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like a very thought out plan, a very Sunset plan.”
“Sunset has always remained elusive, but she’s bound to slip up. All the villains eventually do.” Rarity said.
“Um, Rarity? Ah don’t think that’s how it works in real life.” Applejack pointed out.
“Just like the magic, otherworldly pony princesses and demons?” Rarity smirked as she raised an eyebrow.
“Good point,” Applejack acknowledged, scratching her cheek bashfully.
The Rainbooms filled into the auditorium and found some spare seats, strangely there were 5 empty seats lined together. The girls took their seats and waited for the assembly to start, Principal Celestia stepped up to the mike and gathered everyone’s attention.
“Good afternoon, everyone. Without further ado, there are a group of students who would like to say something to all of you.” Principal Celestia said, getting straight to the point as she motioned the students to come up to the stage.
The students nervously walked on to the stage, some of them had the decency to look ashamed. The students in the auditorium glared at the ones responsible for making them laughing stocks of the school, some of which are now their ex-friends. The guilty students lined up and faced the audience of angry fellow students.
“I’m waiting,” Principal Celestia said, her eyes narrowed at those who helped fan the flames of A on-A-Miss.
“We’re so sorry for what we did!” The group said in unison.
Principal Celestia looked towards the crowd and saw the furious looks on their faces, they were ready to tear them apart.
But before she could say anything, Sunset Shimmer walked on to the stage. The anger left the students as they focused on Sunset. Sunset decided to say something as she addressed everyone.
"You all heard Principal Celestia. These students were sending secrets and all of you have a right to be angry at them but they're not the only ones who are guilty. All of you are guilty too for following Anon-A-Miss. You wanted to see the secrets they posted, wanted to laugh and make fun of others but without feeling any guilt, as if there were no consequences. But you encouraged Anon-A-Miss by following them. Nobody forced you. That was your choice." Sunset narrowed her eyes at the crowd of students, some had looks of shame. “Friendships were ruined because of Anon-A-Miss and now I’m doing damage control and bringing this school back into working order.”
Sunset turned to face the students who are responsible for sending the secrets, she felt her anger rising and they felt afraid when they say the murderous look in her eyes. Principal Celestia noticed this too but waited to see what Sunset will do before responding.
“Principal Celestia, do you mind if I keep an eye on them during their punishment at school?”
“I suppose it is alright,” Principal Celestia agreed, she trusted Sunset to not seek revenge.
“Thank you,” Sunset thanked the Principal as she gathered her magic which caused her to pony up, with a snap of her fingers her cutie mark appeared on the students’ clothing but it had no colors. “Welcome recruits, let me be the first to tell you that you will be treated fairly unlike how you treated everyone else and you are to report to my club room for further instruction on how you will proceed with your punishment. Do I make myself clear?!”
“Y-yes, Sunset!” the students said with fear.
“What was that?” Sunset narrowed her eyes at them.
“That’s her Majesty to you!” Gilda said from the corner of the stage, out of sight from the auditorium.
“Yes, your majesty!” the students correctly said.
“Good,” Sunset said with a smile.
“Great, she’s got more people serving under her now.” Rainbow Dash grumbled.
“Her influence just keeps growing,” Rarity said with concern, as she frowned. Pretty soon, everyone would be drinking the Sunset Kool-Aid.
Rainbow Dash could not let that happen.
The assembly was soon over and everyone made their way out of the auditorium, Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna were on their way to their offices when their names were called.
“Principal Celestia, Vice-Principal Luna?”
The two Principals turned around to see the Rainbooms.
“May we speak with the both of you for a moment?” Rarity asked.
“Of course, what is it you want to speak with us about?” Principal Celestia asked, smiling kindly.
“It’s about Sunset,” Applejack said. “We believe she’s up to no good.”
“What makes you say that?” Luna questioned.
“She’s taking over the school again!” Rainbow Dash blurted out.
“How is she taking over the school?” Principal Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow.
“She has an army and is oppressing everyone!” Rainbow Dash raised her voice.
“All I see is a girl trying to bring her life back under control,” Vice-Principal Luna argued. “And is doing her best to help the school improve after the mess caused by Anon-A-Miss.”
“She’s Anon-A-Miss!” Rainbow Dash shouted.
“Do you have any evidence, Ms. Rainbow Dash?” Principal Celestia asked. “And please keep your voice down.”
“Her image’s on the profile!” Rainbow Dash said, her voice slightly less loud.
“That can be easily done with photoshop.” Principal Celestia said.
“She knew Applejack’s nickname!”
“So do you.”
“She put videos and pictures of our slumber party online!” Rainbow Dash said. “Videos that only she had on her phone!”
“Phones can be hacked remotely these days.” Vice-Principal Luna said, narrowing her eyes at Celestia as she recalled her hacking her phone to pull a prank on her.
“Rainbow Dash, I don’t understand what’s going on. This girl was your friend. She helped you all defeat the Sirens. Why do you insist that she’s guilty?” Principal Celestia asked. “Or have you never considered that she might have been framed by someone holding a grudge?”
“And it seems to me like you’re the one holding a grudge,” Vice-Principal Luna added. “And you decided she was the obvious suspect.”
“Hey! Whose side are you on?!” Rainbow Dash questioned, feeling offended.
“We take no sides, Rainbow Dash,” Luna assures her. “We want to make sure we have our facts straight before passing judgment.”
“If you truly believe that Sunset is guilty without a shadow of a doubt, then you need to provide us with proof.” Principal Celestia tells them.
“Of course, we are already in the process of doing that.” Rarity assures her principal.
“Just make sure that it isn’t biased,” Vice-Principal Luna warned. “You girls are too close to this matter and your personal feelings towards Sunset might affect the evidence.”
“I assure you, Vice-Principal Luna, that we will not let any personal vendetta we have with Sunset affect our findings.” Rarity assured her.
“Yah have our word,” Applejack also assured the principals.
The Rainbooms said goodbye to the Principals’ and headed to their classes.
“Are you sure we should have let them investigate this?” Vice-Principal Luna questioned as she looked to her sister.
“If they investigate Sunset, then perhaps they will see that she is innocent.” Principal Celestia answered.
“Isn’t that wishful thinking?” Luna asked.
“Perhaps it is, but it is my sincere hope that the girls see the error of their ways before it's too late.” Principal Celestia said with concern.
“One can only hope,” Luna said before they both resumed their way to their offices.
The account is gone......but I still want to know what Sunset has planned for everyone else.
CMC you fucked up royally.
Good job Sunset, i'm proud of you.
Run all your like CMC. You run. You could try. But you can't hide!
Perhaps this is just cause of how well you're writing this but...I can't tell you increasingly frustrated I get at Rainbow's stubbornness; she's suffering hero syndrome, isn't she. Her ego can't stand being in the wrong against the so-called 'villain'. I'm honestly waiting for the others, particularly Pinkie & Fluttershy, to reach the point of being fed up with her and joining Sunset's side.
...and Fluttershy might do that at the animal shelter.
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Thanks!
I know about the pride before the fall metaphor, but this fall is gonna be as high and with the impact of Sephiroth's supernova.
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You know what? That's it, I'm done with myself in this story. I...just don't care anymore. This is clearly not me and just some wannabe loser who can't for once use one iota of her brain pretending to be me at this point just because she wants to be the one to "save the day". Whatever Fate has in store for her, she 100% DESERVES IT!
10601235
Speaking of, were you excited when he got announced for Smash Ultimate?
This is just getting better and better! :D
Yeah, Sunset HAS to be evil because if she isn't they screwed up, and they can't handle that thought right now.
This is going to get nasty before it gets better. Rainbow doesn't seem worth making the attempt to try again.
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It isn't just Rainbow Dash, but there are others that are some who will be complicated.
I think Rainbow as been hit way too many times in the head with a soccer ball, cuz I've had it up to HERE with her shenanigans.
Seeing as Fluttershy seems to have the most doubts, I'm hoping she's the first to go, followed by Pinkie.
10601247 I like Final Fantasy 6 better...
Rainbow dash is too stupid to understand and she will suffer for that or maybe Tiamat will teach her a lesson.
Honestly I'm worried about Rainbow, she's so hung up on believing Sunset's evil(thought Sunset seems to like stringing her along in believing so, why I dunno)she's setting herself up for some really nasty heartbreak once the true culprits are revealed and it turns out Sunset's innocent.
Hell yeah another chapter great job.
10601739
Thanks! Expect another in 2021!
10601386
It's not stupidity. It's pride. She's knows Sunset is innocent, but she doesn't to admit she was wrong.
That bridge is still available and I'll even throw in a holiday discount.
I can tell you why you lost your magic Rainbooms: you flipped your virtues. That's also why Sunset now has wings, she's become the Alicorns of Empathy. She's embraced her Virtue and Element.
nice work looking forward to more
She's starting to piece it together.
This would sound more like her with "za" instead of "da".
Tell 'em again Fluttershy.
Pretty soon? I'm "pretty sure" we're past that point.
Man I'm honestly getting excited now. The Rainbooms (mostly Rainbow) keep grasping at straws and the world as they knew it continues to crumble around them.
Rainbow and co are starting to fray at the edges.
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10601778
She might have been more willing to believe that Sunset was innocent if she didn't act like an evil Queen out to conqure the world and doing everything short of out right cackeling about her evil plan around Rainbow every chance she got.
seriosly, smiling sinisterly, openly comanding people, out right saying that she stole their magic and has a plan just so rainbow would over hear that. sunset may be innocent of the charges that Rainbow is throwing at her, but come on, its like she out right needs to evily rub shit in her face... even when she has done nothing evil. hell she insinuates she is up to evil shit all while gaining increasing (and destressing) amounts of power. what is rainbow suppose to think, hell even if she did realize that sunset wasn't anon-a-miss, she would still be working to oppose her because sunset can't seem to not act like an evil villian, framing every action she takes in the obviously awful light it will be seen in.
its like seeing some one in black twirl their mustache, cackle evilly and talk about their master plan while sneering at me, i don't care that he is actually planning a massive fund raiser to save the animal shelter, dude is just asking to seen as a villainy, why the hell wouldn't i when he is doing everything he can to telegraph "Hey I'm a villian, please stop me".
i think whats upsetting is that the ONLY people who seem to notice that sunset is going out of her way to frame herself as the bad guy to the rainbooms... is the rainbooms (and twilight and celestia briefly in the last chapter), and its really frustrating that principle celestia isn't at least acknowledging that sunset really isn't doing herself any favors by openly antagonizing the rainbooms, and acting like a villian even when doing the right thing. i get not trying to get sunset to patch things up with them, but their is not patching things up, and then their is acting like a more competent nightmare moon around them every chance you get. the fact that her followers are slavishly devoted is another cause of concern that only those explicitly against sunset seem to notice.
10601542
at least some one gets it. as bad as rainbow is, she was willing to come to Sunsets defence (as in literally come to help her when she was worried sunset was about to be attacked) before she saw the brainwashed crowd swear to serve their queen, and its been down hill ever since. the whole reason she is so convinced that sunset is evil... is because she has seen what clearly looks like evil shit going on, and just assumed that she really was guilty, not realising that there could be 2 villians going about. the fact that sunset JUST KEEP AT IT, only is reanforcing Rainbows certainty that she is evil
because if she wasn't why would she brainwash a bunch of kids (again mind you) into being her loyal sycophants, conqure the school, mock them about how the power of friendship cant stop her (you know like a villian would), talk openly about how she stole their magic (when she didn't, so she is lying for the sake of.. making herself look worse, setting rainbow up for a trap, destroy the girls life. idk), smile evilly at them constantly while mocking them, is any of this the kinds of things an innocent good person would do? why wouldn't she think sunset has gone back to being every bit the villian she use to be (and clearly always was) and assume she was betrayed when sunset acts every bit the villian she use to be, just better at it.
maybe that's why she is the most against sunset, she feel like sunset betrayed her when she saw her command her brainwashed slaves. she is the element of loyalty after all, and while she may have seriously messed up, that doesn't change the fact that she ran there to save sunset, nor the fact that Sunset has gone out of her way to confirm that she did in fact betray and use them (tho only out right said so around rainbow).
Applejacks word isn't worth much.
10602102
It's even more frustrating because Sunset has planted the seeds of doubt in Fluttershy's head, and those doubts spread to Pinkie Pie, but every time those seeds start to take root and grow (that is, every time Fluttershy or Pinkie tries to stand up to Sunset), Sunset shows up and stomps all over those doubts by acting like a huge jerk. I totally agree with you; why shouldn't Rainbow and the others think that Sunset is a villain when Sunset only acts like a villain around them?
Also, what principal allows a student to take control of her school and get a ton of other students to call her "Your Majesty"? Like, even if you didn't know that Sunset brainwashed half of them...take back control of your school, Celestia. Because Sunset really is taking control of the school, another thing that Rainbow and her friends are right about.
I dunno, maybe this is just dramatic irony since Celestia hasn't seen all the stuff we did, but she and Luna just seem willfully blind. Oh, and Luna insinuating that the Rainbooms would let their feelings color their judgment is rich when Celestia allowed Sunset, the girl whose life was ruined by Anon-a-Miss, punish the students who sent in secrets to Anon-a-Miss.
I think Rainbow Dash is slowly becoming CHS' version of the DC Supervillain, Superboy Prime.
I have a bad feeling that once nature has finally run its' course, she will become BROKEN and lash out which will lead her to become a MONSTER.
You're ruining us !!! You're ruining me !!! You are ruining everything !!!!!!!
10602174
Yes finally some one else saying it like it is. god damn its felt like every one was just ignoring the shit sunset was pulling and bashing the rainbooms, like they are awful people for still being suspicions of her... even tho she has gone out of her way to make it seem like their suspicions are completely on the money.
like i get they were fucking assholes in the original story, but they are becoming increasingly more and more justified in distrusting Sunset. and the fact that she has been going out of her way to both sow seeds of doubt that maybe she is a good person and they fucked up... while acting the villian, makes me wonder what she has planned. im seriously worried she legit has an evil plan for them at this point, that the theory that she has a show with terminally ill kids will be right and her pushing their buttons is all in an attempt to get them to blindly fuck up the show so she can turn every one on them as revenge for abandoning her, psychological destroy them thru peer pressure and guilt, and then take them in as newly broken in followers (which she has hinted at with her comments on them joining her), keeping the pressure on them until they give in and submit... you know like a souless villian.
sunset may not be there yet, but she is hurtling down the path of villainy right now, and is justifying it as being "for the greater good", and i don't have to remind any one of just how many monsters that path makes over time, especially when some one is willing to do increasingly immoral things to accomplish those goal, and only made worse when they are in truth hypocritical (which she will be if the above theory is right), but are deluded to that hypocrisy thanks to their justifications for their actions.
im really hoping that twilight and princess celestia show up soon to intervene before sunset does something she can never take back, and becomes every bit the villian both the rainbooms think she is, and that she has been portraying herself to be in front of them.
i don't know there is a chance that it will be a more benign plan, but with just how hard she is antagonizing them, i just have a hard time seeing it, either she is poisonings the well making getting them back harder, or she is seriously underestimating just how far they might go to stop her, (like she is planning on them showing up to the event so she can guilt them into helping and show that she isn't such a bad person, but instead they destroy the whole event because with they way she is acting, even if they learn its a show for terminally ill kids, they might well just assume she plans to either brainwash them, or steal what remains of their time on earth for her evil plans, and so what was meant to be a happy moment of bonding (and rubbing her good acts in their faces) instead becomes an unmitigated disaster that destroys the rainbooms reputation (and potentially them emotionally if they didn't mean to), all while thoroughly killing any chance at saving that friend ship).
its all weird because when sunset realized that rainbow had shown up out of worry for her getting hurt at the gym, she talks about it being a sign that their friendship is still salvageable, but no seems intent on utterly destroying any chance of understanding or rekindling it, at least in any healthy way. even if she proves who the real culprits are, the rainbooms are either going to press F to doubt hard on the out and out villainy supposedly finding anon-a-miss and it just so happens to be their sisters, or they won't care because that still doesn't forgive all the other evil shit she is doing, like brainwashing people and stealing their magic (which they think she did only because she said she did. like if she didn't do that then they might have come to the conclusion that she couldn't really be evil since harmony made her stronger rather then hurt her)
10602197
if Rainbow does its only because sunset did everything she could to convince rainbow that she is right to think that sunset has gone evil (or worse had never reformed).
edit: the deleted comment was just the above responce to wintervenusskitty, but i decided it was a smarter idea to combine the two into one to avoid clutter... but only after i had sent the message.
10601778
True but as Count Dooku once said, "twice the pride, Double the fall" so Rainbow Dash is going to fall from her high horse
10601162
10602275
It may be the CMC at the base, but you have to admit that it's the girls fault for not sticking with their friend in the end.
In irony, it's the Seven Deadly Sins, the counter for what each Element stands for. Loyalty can be outshone by Pride, Honesty is overpowered by Envy, Generosity can be exchanged for Greed, Kindness for Wrath, and Laughter for Gluttony. Lust and Sloth can be saved for whatever Sunset is and Magic
10602102
No she wouldn't have. The Rainbooms believed Sunset to be the villain right after Anon-A-Miss started. They'd already decided that her being nice was all an act to begin with. If she'd continued being nice, they'd still believe she was up to something, probably even more so.
Playing the villain is the only role available to her. Does it make her look bad? Yeah and she knows it. Rainbow caught the back end of a situation and again, instead of getting an explanation, jumped to the obvious conclusion and ran with it. Trying to convince them otherwise is futile.
Why shouldn't Sunset get to decide the punishment of those students who supplied secrets to Anon-A-Miss? Unless you forgot she's the victim. She got accosted (three times if you include the Rainbooms) because of them. Getting to decide their punishment is the least she could do. And FYI Flash also noticed the students following Sunset, only difference is he asked why and got the explanation. She didn't brainwash them. It was explained why they chose to follow her.
Sunset never claimed to have stolen their magic. She didn't forcefully take it. They chose to try to use it on her and if her confusion at the time is anything to go by, she unintentionally absorbed it from them. Rainbow Dash is the one convincing the others that their magic was stolen. And again, with them having already placed her in the villain role trying to convince them otherwise is futile.
Last comment, I have seen 2 types of endings for Anon-A-Miss, Sunset forgives, or doesn't, so which will it be?
10602102
I see your point. That's the thing though. Everytime Sunset antagonizes the Rainbooms, Rainbow is always present, so it seems like Sunset is antagonizing her the most. We have yet to see the other Rainbooms, besides Rainbow, confront Sunset individually, particularly those who have doubts, like Fluttershy, who Sunset saved from being mobbed, or Pinkie, who seems to think things don't add up.
10602365
As Dr Mysterious Shade pointed out, Rainbow jumped to conclusions too quickly, rather than confronting Sunset, and asking for an explanation, which is what Flash did, who seems to know Sunset better than the Rainbooms, apparently. I mean, he did date her for sometime. It does bring back Pinkie's question of whether the Rainbooms really knew her, and didn't get to know the new her since the Fall Formal and the Battle of the Bands.
So I'll lay off Rainbow as long as Sunset keeps antagonizing her. But I do hope the doubters of the group step up a bit as individuals.
10602362
It's been said that Sunset's element is Empathy, which I think Lust could counter well, as in desiring something without regards to others. Old sunset did have a lust for power after all.
To add to that, both Twilights are hard workers so Sloth could fit for Magic.
10601925
Changed da to za. ^^
10602202
10602174
They already believed Sunset to be the villain, Sunset said it herself from the beginning that she will play the part everyone assumed of her, the tyrannical Queen bitch of CHS. Her evil plan will be revealed in time. ^^
I love everyone's discussions, I can't wait to see what you think of a certain scene in a future chapter. ^^
10602365
Well said, Sunset doesn't want to waste effort in convincing someone who won't listen. She still has hope that she can get her friends back but she's starting to realize that it might not be as easy or simple as she thinks.
10602365
right there. she "took" there magic. while you can say she didn't claim to have "stolen it" mearly "taken it" and there for the assumption that she stole it is bs... that is some obi wan levels of shit right there, she knew how that would be interpreted, and taking and stealing are often used interchangably in the english language, especally in the context of taking without permission. and at no point does she say anything about some higher force letting her have it, or chosing her more worthy so none of that.
she know how rainbow would take it and specifically said that to rile her up.
and again there is trying to mend bridges with people who think your the bad guy, and then there is activly being it. you really don't have to be as bad as every one assumes you to be, news flash thats actually a villain thing to go "then let me be evil"
she could have kept to being a good person and fuck what the rainbooms thought of her, you can be nice and not openly antagonistic and still not trying or giving a shit about overchers of friendship to people. there is a reason in fact why people continue to be nice even in the face of advercity instead of saying "fuck you" and being a dick all the time. its because it the right thing to do, because being a dick even when your trying to do the right thing only makes your work harder because people will resist you, and the fact that she has succeeded in planting doubts into at least Fluttershy and Pinke that maybe they are on the bad side might have been helped along in getting them to realize they had fucked up if she didn't go out of her way to fuck with them.
and that brings me to my next problem this schizophrenic response she has, she sees that rainbow even if she still distrusted her over anon-a-miss, without fail came to her aid when she thought sunset was going to be attacked. (and by the way the frick is she suppose to think when people who she thought hated sunset start addressing her as queen and groveling or clutching at her legs like sunset was a fricking life raft),
why help Flutter shy with the bullies if she doesn't care any more and is going to act the villian, and if she did help because she cares, why then go out of her way to be a dick.
tldr; there is no longer expending energy on people that no longer matter, and then there is openly acting every bit the villian they think you are, the first is the action of people making a clean break or having more important shit to deal with, the latter is what villians DO. and its not helped that Sunset has repeatedly made shows of wanting them back as her friends.
10602421
now this is a better point, but it still raises the question of why she goes out of her way to confirm rainbow's beliefs. yeah rainbow didn't ask questions (and she should have), but that's always been the charecters flaws, she reacts, and is rarely a thinker. and Sunset should know this. yeah it would be a bitch proving her innocence's, but she was planning on doing that any way by revealing the cmc. if she just didn't further go and antagonize Rainbow, that would have been the main evil thing rainbow would have against her... and with the reveal and admittance to what really happened and why would have thrown her for a loop and left her open to listening.
and worse is that sunset states that their friendship is savable early on. so why do this then. i guess it just doesn't make sense. sure rainbow fucked up, but if sunset really thinks she can mend bridges then why go out of her way to burn it?
if she just wanted revenge on rainbow for hurting her at least it would be consistent, but that one line throws that out and makes her actions so far inconsistent. she is internally saying one thing while doing the opposite.
10602699
They openly chose to try and use their magic on her despite there being no magical situation. She didn't know their magic would transfer over because she originally thought it had no effect. The only reason she's saying that is because she knows Rainbow Dash is listening. She even signaled to Trixie to play along.
Oh really because it sounds like that's exactly what she's saying.
She already said she's not going to waste time trying to convince anyone who's too stubborn to listen to reason. If she tried acting any way other than what they expect from her, they'd just assume she's trying to perpetuate the lie they believe she's been telling the whole time. That lie being that she'd changed.
There's no point mending a bridge that was burned from the other side. "Mending that bridge" falls on them not her. It wasn't just the Rainbooms who forced her into that role. Originally most of the student body was against her. It's why she got accosted, first by students in the hall, second by Gilda and her group and finally the Rainbooms.
10602699
Guess we'll have to wait and find out
10602699
They betrayed her due to lack of trust. They threatened and openly attacked her. They stole from her in order to do something shady. Now they're spying on her. Who wants to be friends with people who are going to act like that.
Mend bridges? With behavior like that, it's best to leave it in shambles.
10602583
Hey, if a story generates a discussion that isn't whter the story is good or bad (not that there's anything wrong with that), and gets people thinking, I would think it's a sign of a good story.
Sure keeps me wanting more and find out what's next.
10602699
The whole situation is best explained in this correspondence right here between the Rainbooms.
10602747
Indeed, there are more surprises in store. ^^
10602760
It goes a little deeper than that which will be explained later on.
10602744
10602699
Sunset doesn’t keep their magic, she just received a surprise power up and a little spoiler it won’t be the last time. Next chapter is the hospital visit so stay tuned. ^^
10602761
i kind of have to agree, while i can rail against that all i want, the fact that i care enough to do so is commendable. its why fallout new vegas is one of the best video games of all time, because people are still debating the morality of actions and factions and what the best path to take. i think what has made this story as good for me is that while the rainbooms are clearly portrayed as being in the wrong for abandoning sunset, and the shit they done since, Twilight and celestia still pointed out that Sunset trying to fix things by becoming the villian they all thought she was, was also bad.
but i know others have their own interpretations. i guess what i want is for sunset to realize that her reaction to what had happend was still harmful and not a healthy way to go about things. i do think that between the two sunset is still more in the right, since her actions (out side of words around rainbow dash and her strange need to be confrontationally evil instead of just ignoring the rainbooms) have been in general the right thing to do, or at least understandably moraly grey. where as the rainbooms rejected her on flimsy evidence at first, and latter stole her journal (tho granted it was in an attempt to call twilight, which would have actually solved alot of the problems had they succeeded.) in a weird way i actually don't really see a villian here. just kids fucking up (and with they cmc especially they have Fucked up).
that said that doesn't mean people having been dicks of the highest order, and sunset needed to do something to protect herself from the god damn mob.
so yeah im def still going to read the shit out of this
Well, Applejack is not the only one stubborn as a mule, Rainbow and Rarity are not far behind, Fluttershy and Pinkie make their opinion clear that they do not believe that Sunset is guilty, of course still helping their friends and doing what they can so that don't do something stupid, which would be hard watching Rainbow.
But I have a question about something that was mentioned before, the Sunset of the human world, they mentioned it but where is it? Is she an adult? Is she a baby? She's traveling? Is she with her father? Is she in another school? Or is she dead?
I must say that this whole Anon-A-Miss thing reminds me a lot of something similar in a different Fandom, although in that fandom the issue was born due to a chapter in the original series. It makes me wonder where the whole Anon-A-Miss thing came from.
By the way, Merry Christmas, I started reading your story a few days ago and I liked it, and it provoked me to congratulate you even though the party is over.
10603002
Thanks, Merry late Christmas!
*Shakes her head*
Dash, Dash, Dash... Why? Why are you being so stupid now?
This can't possibly end well for them.