Apple Bloom yelped as she was shoved into the lockers. She grumbled as she rubbed her left arm, trying to soothe the pain away.
"Hey! Come back here you little-" Scootaloo started walking towards Apple Bloom's assailant, only to stop when Apple Bloom put a hand on her shoulder.
"Let her go Scoots." Apple Bloom demanded.
"We can't just let her get away with that!" Scootaloo turned around, pointing at where the girl disappeared off to. "We need to tell a teacher! People can’t just throw you around like that."
"Then how about we tell them about the paint balloon earlier, hm?" Apple Bloom's arm was lifted up as Sweetie Belle pulled back her sleeve to look at her shoulder. "Ah noticed the paint in yer hair. Those art kids are still hassling yah aren’t they?”
"That's different. It was a harmless prank, not assault. She could have broken your arm!"
"Well, she didn't." Apple Bloom pulled her sleeve back down when Sweetie was done inspecting her arm. "And as long as she isn't going after yah and Sweetie, Ah can take it."
"There you go again with your martyr complex.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes in annoyance. “You don’t need to protect us, you know. We can handle ourselves” Sweetie drew into herself and gripped her dress at Scootaloos words.
“Yer one to talk, Ah seem to remember all of us were willing to take the fall for Anon-A-Miss alone. Doesn’t that mean yah have yer own martyr complex?” Scootaloo stuck out her tongue to Apple Bloom who did the same in turn. She finally turned to Sweetie Belle. “What’s the damage Sweetie?”
The girl jumped lightly when her name was called and her eyes darted back and forth nervously. “U-uh, it wasn’t that bad. You’ll probably have a bruise for a few days, nothing major. That won’t affect your farmwork will it?”
“Probably be a little sore doing my chores, but Ah’ll live.”
“Martyr complex, there it is again.”
Apple Bloom shot Scootaloo an annoyed look before pulling out her flip phone to look at the time. “Well, Ah need to get going. Ah'll see yah girls later.”
Scootaloo watched Apple Bloom walk away, a devious smirk growing on her face. “Have fun sucking face with Diamond, I get to be the maid of honor at your wedding right?”
Apple Bloom stopped immediately and snapped her head towards Scootaloo, a bright blush on her face. “Ah am not-!” She calmed herself down and looked around to see if anyone was nearby. “Ah’m only helping her in her garden, we are not… doing... that. Besides, she barely likes me right now after what Ah pulled, there’s no way she’d reciprocate.”
“Surrrreeee.” Scootaloo winked knowingly as Sweetie Belle tried hiding her smile.
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and continued walking away, giving Scootaloo a rude hand gesture as she did which only elicited a laugh from her friend.
As she walked alone through the halls, everyone either glared at her, whispered veiled threats and insults, or threw various debris at her discreetly.
Apple Bloom ignored it best she could. 'Just keep walking Bloom. Don't let them see it affects yah. That’ll only encourage ‘em like Granny said.' She was snapped from her thoughts when she tripped over someone's leg and went tumbling to the ground, groaning when she landed on her left shoulder. ‘Of course, can’t land on the uninjured shoulder can Ah?’
"You should really watch your step." Apple Bloom looked up to see a group of students looking over her, cackling at her predicament. "Anon-A-Bitch."
Apple Bloom’s eyes began to water and she tried getting up, only to be pushed back down by one of the students. "Aww, is Anon-A-Bitch gonna cry?"
"Didn't seem to care when you made Derpy cry."
"Or got my girlfriend to break up with me."
"You expect us to feel sorry for you Anon-A-Bitch?"
The students surrounded her, taunting or mocking her as Apple Bloom pulled her legs into herself and lowered her head as they began throwing things at her.
"Hey! Stop bullying her!" Everyone turned towards the voice, finding Gilda was walking up to them with an angry expression, her hands placed firmly in the pockets of her aviator jacket. "That's my job!" The students' previous gusto vanished and they backed up as Gilda stopped a few feet from them. “Now, I ain’t no snitch, and you have a right to let Anon-A-Bitch have it, so I’ll let you off with a warning.
“Or?” One of the braver students challenged.
Gilda said nothing, merely pulling her hands out of her pockets and smashing her fist into her open hand with a smirk. This had the immediate effect of scattering the group, all of them running in different directions away from Gilda. “Works every time.” She chuckled.
Apple Bloom merely looked up at her nervously, yelping in fear when Gilda grabbed her left arm and yanked her to her feet.
“Relax, I’m not gonna hurt you Anon-A-Bitch.” Gilda rolled her eyes. “I don’t hit kids… often.”
“Then what are yah-” She didn’t get to finish as Gilda began dragging her towards the exit, Apple Bloom wincing in pain.
“Diamond Bratara was apparently getting tired waiting for you. She said she’d pay me ten bucks if I found and dragged you to her stupidly long car.” Gilda explained. “Figured it was an easy ten bucks.”
“Ah was already on my way, Ah don’t need yah to-”
“Think of this as payback for leaking that picture of me and Lightning kissing.” Gilda smirked when Apple Bloom closed her mouth sheepishly and looked down. “See? Having you all regretful and embarrassed is much better than socking you in the face. Though I’m totally doing that next year, aiming to break your nose in fact. Gonna be my proudest detention.”
Apple Bloom glanced up at Gilda nervously, unsure whether Gilda was being serious or was just trying to rile her up. Mercifully they reached the parking lot where Diamond Tiara was standing next to her limo anxiously.
She lit up when she saw Apple Bloom but quickly regained her composure, reaching into her purse and pulling out ten bucks. “As agreed.”
Gilda let go of Bloom and snatched the money from Diamond's hand. “Thanks Bratara, let's do this again sometime.”
“Did yah have to send her to look for me?” Apple Bloom asked as they both watched Gilda walk away. “Was there literally no one else?”
“She was the only person I could bribe to find you without worrying she’d rough you up along the way.”
“Not sure if dragging me out of the school by my sore arm is much better.”
“Did she make it sore?”
“Well, no.”
“Then she did as I asked. Now come on.” Diamond opened the door and filed in, Apple Bloom close behind her. Soon Randolph started the limo and began driving off. “It won’t be too much for you to garden with that sore arm will it?”
“Ah already told my friends Ah’d do my farmwork no problem, Ah’m too stubborn to let some sissy gardening best me. Ah’d never hear the end of it from them after all.”
“How did it happen anyhow? Last I remember your arm was fine.”
“Some bitch shoved me into the locker while she was walking by. The usual.”
“Something tells me you didn’t report them?” Diamonds frown deepened.
“People already don’t like me, Ah’d rather not have them like me less by being a snitch. Ah only care if they go after Scoots or Sweetie, Ah’d rather they just go after me and leave them out of it, Ah was the ringleader after all.”
“Sounds like you have a martyr complex to me.”
“Oh come on!”
“It… it was you?” Lyra felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. There was no possible way this was happening, she was dreaming! It had to be a dream. “Tell me you’re joking right now Bon-Bon.”
“I wish I could say that I was.” Bon-Bon sighed regretfully. “But I’m not. I emailed Anon not too long after Piggly Wiggly.”
“So what you said to AJ earlier was a lie?” Lyras denial was quickly replaced by anger. “You made me look like an idiot to the whole school for a laugh?”
“No! No of course not!” Bon-Bon held up her hands. “I didn’t do it to embarrass you, I was trying to help you!”
“Help me!?” Lyra looked away towards the wall, her eyes filling with tears while her chest tightened in anger. “You have exactly ten seconds to explain.”
“Lyra, come on.” Bon-Bon pleaded. “You were always so scared someone would find out that you believed in Unicorns, that it’d somehow ruin your reputation at school, that no one would take you seriously. But we have a freaking Unicorn running around school! You could rub it in people’s faces that you were right the whole time! There was no reason for you to be afraid all the time, to be ashamed of what you believe in. I just wanted you to be able to express yourself.”
Lyra's parents gave each other an odd look, wondering what Bon-Bon was talking about.
“That post made no mention of Sunset! They made me look like a wacko!” Lyra took a step forward. “They said I didn’t believe in Narwhals!”
“I didn’t know they were going to phrase it like that.” Bon-Bon defended. “I thought they were just going to present it as it was, that you thought Unicorns were real and that’s it. This was before they started editing things to make people look bad.”
Lyra grumbled angrily and crossed her arms before looking back at Bon-Bon. “So, when Octie proposed kicking Derpy out and confronted her, you just stood there knowing she was innocent and did nothing?”
“Hey, I tried defending Derpy, remember?” Bon-Bon huffed. “I argued she was innocent and tried to dissuade Octie from splitting the group apart. I even hugged her when she was crying after the fact because I felt so bad. Not even you did that.”
“But you could’ve prevented this to begin with.” Lyra pointed out. “You could’ve confessed when Octie accused Derpy, could’ve confessed when we confronted her, could’ve confessed any time over the past month. But you didn’t! You’ve been lying to all of us, lying to me, this whole time and acting like everything was totally fine!”
“I-I wanted to, so many times. I’ve felt awful for everything that’s happened because of my mistake, for betraying your trust and humiliating you by accident... But I was scared… scared I could lose you... I can’t imagine you not in my life anymore.” Bon-Bon laced her fingers together pleadingly. “I’m so sorry.”
There was a long silence between the two girls. “You did.”
Bon-Bons breath hitched and it was her turn to feel her heart shatter in a million pieces. Her eyes welled with tears and she began shaking.
“Get out Bon-Bon.”
“Lyra-”
“I said get out!” Lyra straightened her posture and pointed toward the door.
Nobody moved as Bon-Bon stood there as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. “Bon-Bon.” Bon-Bon looked over to Lyra's mom. “I think it’s best that you leave.”
The girl's face fell and she began crying profusely. She whipped toward the door and practically ran out in tears.
When she was gone Lyra lowered her arm and glared at the ground. “Honey-” Lyra marched up the stairs and slammed her door shut. A few seconds later, the entire house could hear her crash onto her bed and cry into her pillow.
Midnight Music sighed and shared a look with his wife.
“Wow!” Both parents looked to Summer Spark, who was eating a packet of gummies he must’ve been keeping in his pocket. “It’s like a soap opera in here.” Both of his parents gave him disapproving looks. “What? What'd I say?”
11157404
She tried, but not as much as she probably could’ve and Lyra and Octie were too stubborn without any other suspects. She was also too cowardly to join Derpy and pressure Lyra and Octie when she could’ve despite everything.
I like to think she ultimately did after the CMC confessed. After all, what was to stop them from thinking Derpy was guilty regardless of who Anon really was?
Bon Bon is an idiot. Instead of trying to reason with Lyra she submits her secret to Anon-a-miss thus potentially ending their relationship. The other students aren't any better since they'd rather bully the crusaders than acknowledge their own roles in this whole mess (namely submitting secrets and using Sunset as a scapegoat).
11150186
Well technically we know she's from Canterlot.
11157422
Probably would’ve saved all her friends quite a bit of grief.
Maybe all of them didn’t submit anything (unlikely), perhaps they’re innocent in submitting secrets.
Honestly tired of Bloom being hurt so much.
I mean she posted secrets the students sent to Anon A Miss.
I wish she stop with the martyr complex and report them already.
I remember a Anon A Miss fic aftermath was when Celestia found out she was FURIOUS!
She sent a message over the speaking stating on the bullying she heard o and had it!
She told every student who ever sent in secrets to come into the office to be punished, she already knew who they were.
turn themselves in get a decent punishment, don't then get EXPELLED, she said.... "Think I'm bluffing...Try me"
That needs to happen in this fic.
11157423
I thought that might’ve been because she was at Celestias School for Gifted Unicorns.
11157426
It’s probably gonna continue for a while, especially if Bloom doesn’t report anyone. Hopefully Sunset will snap her out of it.
I actually read that one.
Well, Celestia is trying to find the students who published secrets and punish them, but it’s slow going. She (And Sunset) also said they wouldn’t allow anyone to bully the CMC, but can’t do much if none of them report it.
Great chapter, but man does this hurts!
It would seem that the bullying towards the CMCs were getting worse. I know that they felt that they deserved it and don't want to be a snitch, but if this continues... I worry that they'll get something much worse than a shove to a locker and a paintball to the face.
And Apple Bloom totally has a martyr complex!
Looks like Lyra and Bon-Bon... are no longer girlfriends.
What Bon-Bon did and reasoning was dumb and Lyra had every right to be angry, but still....
Looks like Lyra and Bon Bon have their own issues to work out before they can try and get Sunset crowned Harvest Queen or whatever the actual title is. Summer has horrible timing, but I have to agree Bon Bon's "I hurt you to protect you" excuse is pretty sitcom-y.
That being said, I'm surprised that it took Lyra a few months to look into who told the CMC about her believing in unicorns and that this was important enough to detail her plans to get Sunset to forgive her.
Speaking of failed friendships, I wonder what Fluttershy is getting up to since she was lied to and thinks that Sunset is warming up to be friends with her again. The more Rainbow Dash and Applejack try to spare her feelings the more devastating it will be in the end.
11157431
Can't the CMC turn in all the stuff on Anon A Miss to them?
Sure some cyver laws were broken, so they can be traced back to the ones whos ent them.
Also that bit on Bon Bon makes sense, she meant well but got dammit it back fired badly.
I hope Lyra able to forgive Bon Bon, but Lyra does have a point she should said something sooner, she could prevented Derpy from being kicked out, then maybe Octi wouldn't screwed her love life so bad.
11157432
Perhaps something really bad needs to happen to give them a wake up call.
Hopefully it doesn’t happen to poor Sweetie.
She totally does.
Remember earlier when I said Vinyl and Octie weren’t the second relationship to be broken up by Anon?
https://youtu.be/oXkF2viFDgU
Whelp that bomb officially went off. Bon-Bon and Applebloom ain't gonna get any sympathy from anyone. Applebloom and the girls knowingly ruined countless people's reputations, relationships and the like so they basically asked for this.
Bon-Bon's reasoning was stupid but you atleast understand some of it since she's right, they have a legit Unicorn in the school proving she was right all along with legit bragging rights for life. Still she should've said something a long ass time ago and she effectively torpedoed that bridge a long time ago. Lyra might forgive her in the future but I very much doubt that's gonna happen.
Also Gilda...Ten Bucks seriously? Diamond Tiara is insanely rich, you could've gotten atleast $100.
11157435
Probably be like Spring Princess or something.
Did I say Sitcom?
Crap, I meant to write Soap Opera. One second.
It’s been a month and she had no other leads after Derpy was found innocent.
It’s not, she just wanted to find out who was responsible and chew them out for humiliating her. It had nothing to do with her plan.
We’re headed for a train crash boys.
11157437
They did, and many students were punished, but some are harder to track and others (like Bon-Bon) were smart and used throwaway accounts.
Or have her friends split apart.
11157443
Does Gilda seem smart enough to realize that? She hears she could get money and she’ll probably jump in no questions asked.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Gilda didn’t notice if Diamond payed her with Monopoly money.
11157439
c.tenor.com/NzQH1JhWvnIAAAAC/my-little-pony-mlp.gif
To quote Josh from Drake and Josh... "EVIL!"
They say every bad deed desirves a punishment maybe a grand awakaning and maybe a lost life mihht be needed for that to happen or a grave body injury could do.
Gonna have to agree with SB, Scoots, and Diamond that Apple Bloom really does seem to have a Martyr complex.
Hey! Not our fault for thinking this is the case with how you wanted to take the fall for the other two!
And... eeeyup... even with her reasons and that it was sort of taken out of context at how it was worded... it was still stupid of Bon-Bon not even telling her group that she was the one who revealed Lyra's secret when everything was falling apart.
And now the relationship is pretty much done unless they eventually make some sort of amends. Maybe starting over?
11157495
Ok, nobodies dying, gonna clear that up now. We’re not going that dark.
The closest is when Sunset gets shot in one of the future sequels.
... oh wait, I wasn’t supposed to reveal that either.
11157503
The other two tried to take the fall for the other two too.
They pretty much all have martyr complexes (though Sweetie is the least of them) and are willing to put up with bullying if their friends are left alone.
11157524
Ah, good point
Oh yeah, Bon. Post a secret your girlfriend told you in confidence to a social media profile that has been talking trash about people, and posting secrets to humiliate them. That's not gonna backfire at all.
Seriously, this is the equivalent of outing someone on a site known for homophobic slurs and insults to prove how loving and accepting people are.
11157538
At the time it was only revealing secrets as they were. The trash talking came later.
I’m looking at you Scootaloo.
Hmm, Diamond Tiara and Applebloom.
Yeah, I can ship it. Granted, EG DT isn't as much of a pita as the pony version.
Bon Bon was out of order and I hope she faces some serious punishments
11157540
"Did you guys know when AJ was a kid she loved playing with her pigs? OMG! She sat in the mud for hours! Her whole family calls her "Piggly Wiggly" cause she loves them so much! What a PIG!"
That's a direct quote from the comic. I don't know about you, but that sounds like trash talking to me.
Sheesh your evil.... and I love it! XD
11157435
Yeah this wasn't a tough love thing no matter how much she wants to believe it. Tough love you do it to help the person who receives it like getting a shot. Not fun but necessary for hopefully better health.
11157432
Applebloom probably wants to make things right but she can't see that there are some things you can't undo or even fix. Unfortunately unless she gets hurt badly or an adult sees what going on she is definitely going to get badly hurt because she won't tell.
11157443
Yes but she should have talked with her girlfriend before telling the world. It might have been nuts even if technically it is true but it wasn't her place to talk about it. It was the two people that effect the most sunset and Lyra. If people believe it it might be dangerous for sunset. The government can be nuts when it comes to possible power. And there have been many times people choose the wrong road for some unknown reasons and cause a lot of pain that didn't need to be there.
11157424
Not all of them submitted secrets, but they still read and enjoyed the blog's postings(as long as it didn't effect them personally) and scapegoated Sunset. They're just as much blame for Anon-a-miss as the crusaders.
Speaking of Sunset, oh man is she gonna be pissed when she finds out Bon Bon was the one who sent in Lyra's secret to the blog.
11157675
But it’s still presenting it as it was. They made fun of her, but they didn’t make stuff up to make her look worse.
That’s what Bonny thought was going to happen.
11157614
You’ll get your wish when Bonny’s parents and Principal Celestia find out.
11157603
Equestria DT mellowed out a bit.
But we basically never saw her after she was redeemed, so that sucks.
polygamy polygamy polygamy polygamy
11157786
I think that part she'll understand, if frustrating. But scapegoating Derpy and doing nothing as their other friendships were crumbling around her over it is what's going to tip that from frustrated to furious. Because that's the real kicker in this mess: it's not just Sunset that was the victim of this, all the other friendships of their group got caught in the blast and Bon Bon just refused to actually do anything to stop it.
Summer is best boy now!
I like reading words of the Canterlot MyStable Cretins being abused. It makes me feel good, I also like the arguing.
Lyra can throw her fists at me.
HELP!
HOW WAS THAT HELPING!!!!!!?
The ponies in the conversion bureau universe are idiots!
But this,THIS IS JUST PLAIN DUMB AND DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!!!!
Lying to her can ALSO MAKE YOU LOSE HER!!!!
11157416
nice dude😑
11157416
11157919
And yes, Bon-Bons reasoning was stupid and there was a better way to handle it. But keep in mind, teenagers aren’t very smart. They’re dumb, impulsive, and don’t think things through. So think of this as Bon-Bon being well intentioned but dumb rather than actively malicious
Should I take offense to that even if it might be true?🤨
I take offense for being called a monkey but I dont hold a grudge against the authors