“Well, that went great. Not only did we not get a smile from her, but she was reduced to tears.” Lyra said angrily as she paced back and forth in Bon-Bons room.
Bon-Bon sat on her bed, stroking her pet cat that had decided to sleep on her legs. “... I still can’t believe you wrote Cuntshit Shitter on her locker.”
Lyra groaned and stopped pacing. “Can we please discuss that another time? That’s all you’ve been talking about since we left Sugarcube Corner.”
“I’m sorry, but I still can’t get over that my girlfriend would write something so vulgar and insulting. No wonder Sunset’s mad at you.” Bon-Bon stopped petting her cat and looked to Lyra. “You’re the nicest person I know and you wrote that, I can only imagine how much worse everyone else treated her.”
“Nicest person?” Lyra said in a confused tone. “What about Derpy?”
Bon-Bon sat quietly for a few seconds. “Ok, second nicest person I know.”
Lyra gave an amused smile then went back to pacing. “Ok, so, how are we both going to make Sunset feel better and earn her forgiveness?”
“I imagine not mentioning we want her forgiveness would be a good start, it didn’t exactly end well when I brought it up.” Bon-Bon suggested as she watched Lyra pace back and forth.
“Probably. She seems to associate that with us just wanting to get rid of our guilt… but she doesn’t trust us either, so she’ll think any attempt to make it up to her is inherently selfish.” Lyra placed her right hand under her chin. “Before we left Principal Celestia's office, she told me to think about what Sunset did to earn my forgiveness.”
“Saving the world?” Bon-Bon tilted a head, wondering how exactly they were gonna pull that off.
“Not unless you have magic powers I don’t know about.” Lyra said with a small chuckle. “Plus, you can still be angry and resent someone who saved the world. The school demonstrated that perfectly.”
“Well, for me personally it was when Sunset made that pretend Fall Formal for us. I think I truly forgave her when she crowned you the rightful Fall Formal Princess and replaced her picture with yours.” Bon-Bon couldn’t help but smile at the memory.
“Yeah, that probably took a lot of effort to pull off.” Lyra paced for a few more seconds before stopping again, her face lighting up.
Bon-Bon looked perplexed. “Lyra? Sweetie, is everything alright?”
“I think I have it.” Lyra said with a bright smile. “Do you know the five love languages?”
“What? Yes, Lyra, we took the quiz together.” Bon-Bon lifted her hand up, not sure what Lyra was implying.
“Well, there’s something similar called the five apology languages.” Lyra began listing them off on her fingers. “Genuinely repent, request forgiveness, make restitution, accept responsibility, and express regret.”
“So? What’s your point?” Bon-Bon asked, growing tired of Lyra not giving her a straight answer.
Lyra frowned at her girlfriend. “Think about it. What was the thing Sunset did to get you to forgive her?”
Bon-Bon looked away in thought. “Uh… make restitution. She indirectly fixed the night she ruined and gave you what was yours.”
“I’m willing to bet that her apology language is making restitution. Words mean nothing if you don’t back them up, that was part of why she was an effective bully and manipulator.” Lyras smile grew as realization crossed Bon-Bons face.
“That… makes sense. I do remember hearing about her bending over backwards to make it up to people she hurt after the Formal.” Bon-Bon looked back to Lyra. “You might be onto something.”
“We can ask around to confirm, but I really think this’ll work.” Lyra sat next to Bon-Bon.
“One problem, she’ll get tired of everyone doing something for her everyday, and if we start the trend she’ll blame us.” Bon-Bon pointed out. “Plus, what exactly is our restitution gonna be?”
Lyra hummed in thought, quiet for a full minute before responding. “Well, what about the entire school doing something for her?”
“Like?”
“She wants us to prove we’re sorry and that she can trust us right? Well, what better way to do that than voting her princess of the Spring Fling?”
“What If she associates it with her past victories? She could just see it as us pitying her at best, fearing her at worst.”
“Not unless she has real competition. We could have ten, maybe twenty, of the most popular girls in school run against her.” Lyra grabbed Bon-Bons shoulders. “And then we’ll have most, if not the entire, school vote for her.”
“That sounds nice Lyra, but that’s an awful lot of unity between the students to pull off, and after Anon there’s not a lot of that.” Bon-Bon grabbed Lyras hands and squeezed them lightly. “Plus, it probably won’t work if Sunset finds out.”
“Twilight showed us that if we work towards a common goal, the school will unite no matter what it’s facing.” Lyra squeezed Bon-Bons hands back. “We united to take Sunset down, now we’ll unite to bring her up. We’ll kill two birds with one stone, just in time for the Friendship games.”
“That’s… optimistic, but I suppose crazier things have happened.” Bon-Bon gave an amused snort at the memory of a demon being taken down by a rainbow. Couldn’t get crazier than that. “But what if Sunset finds out?”
“She’s not going to find out. She doesn’t interact with anyone and is always talking to the princess, so it’s unlikely she’ll overhear anyone discussing the plan.” Lyra explained. “And we’ll put a social media blackout, we’ll stress the importance of keeping this a secret.”
“Hm, seems you have this all planned out. I’m proud of you sweetie.” Bon-Bon said with a smile on her lips as she tucked Lyra's hair behind her left ear. Her smile however disappeared, replaced with a frown. “There’s just one snafu with your plan.”
“Yeah? What’s that?” Lyra didn’t seem too concerned, she had just beaten every one of Bon-Bons arguments, surely she’d do it again.
“Sunset is banned from the Spring Fling, remember?”
Lyras face immediately dropped, her smug look disappearing in a second. “Oh…”
‘Stupid!’ The punching bag was sent flying backwards. ‘Stupid!’ It didn’t even get a chance to swing all the way back before Rainbow Dash delivered a left hook.
Yes, Rainbow Dash had found herself spending hours punishing her Punching bag without remorse ever since the truth came out about Anon-A-Miss. She just had so much anger inside her.
‘Scootaloo used you!’ Towards Scootaloo. ‘How could everyone fall for such an obvious lie!’ Towards her fellow students. ‘We were supposed to be her friends!’ Towards her friends.
‘And you!’ But ultimately. ‘You’re the element of loyalty! But when Sunset needed you most, you abandoned her!’ Toward herself.
The chains holding the bag in place snapped clean off after Dashes final punch, sending the bag into the wall, sand leaking out.
“Shit!” She yelled angrily. “That’s the third one this week, dads gonna stop buying these if I keep breaking them.” She huffed and marched over to her dresser. She removed the bandages wound around her fist, looking at her bruised and bloody knuckles.
There was a knock at her door. “Dash? Is everything alright in there? I thought I heard something crash into the wall.”
“Yeah mom, just broke another punching bag.” She sheepishly explained.
“Another one?” Her mother said exasperated. “Dash, you can’t keep breaking those, they’re expensive.”
“I know, I’m sorry mom. I’ll be more careful next time.” That was a lie. She’d probably have to chip in for when she broke the next one, which seemed fair.
“Alright honey.” Windy Whistles didn’t sound like she believed it either. There was a distinct lack of her mothers footsteps walking away, which could only mean one thing. “Dash, Scootaloo is here to see y-”
“Tell her to go away.” Rainbow snapped angrily. “I don’t want to see her.”
“Dash, I know you’re angry, but if you just-”
“No!” Dash scolded herself for yelling at her mom. “Not right now, I don’t want to see her. Just… just tell her to go back home.”
“Dash, honey, she really wants to see you. She’s practically crying.” Her mother pleaded.
Rainbows hands clenched against her dresser, blood oozing from her knuckles. She didn’t want her sister to cry, especially because of her, but after everything she did... “Give her a candy bar or something, I don’t want to see her.”
Windy Whistles sighed. “Alright Dash.”
Rainbow stood there for a moment, waiting till her mother’s footsteps faded away. When she was sure her mother was gone, her face scrunched up and she collapsed onto her bed, her body convulsing as she hid her face in her hands and sobbed quietly.
‘Stupid... stupid.’ She kept repeating in her head as she thought about the events of the last month and a half. What she wouldn’t give to go back and fix everything. Or at the very least, not harass Sunset the way she did. There was no way Sunset was getting over that, it was always going to be a rift between them. “And it’s all my fault.” She whispered, causing her to break down even more.
She didn’t know how long she remained like that, only pulling away when her phone began ringing. Dash picked it up and saw it was from Applejack, quickly cleaning her face with her sleeve and taking a moment to compose herself before answering. “Hello?”
“RD!” Applejack said excitedly, her mood brought down by Rainbow's tone. “Dash, have yah been crying?”
“No!” Rainbow said defensively, getting up. “I-I wasn’t crying, you’re crying!”
Applejack merely rolled her eyes, she should’ve known she wasn’t going to get a straight answer from her friend. “Listen, Ah have some news” She was quiet for a moment. “About Sunset.”
Dash perked up at this. “News?” She leaned against her phone. “Uh, w-what kinda news?”
“Apple Bloom told me earlier that Sunset offered to help at the farm this weekend.”
Rainbow's eyes widened. “She did? What brought this on?”
“Ah don’t know, but Apple Bloom said Sunset was hoping we would eventually get to talking while we worked.”
“Did she... Uh, say anything about the others?” Rainbow asked with a hint of hope in her voice.
“‘Fraid not, but the fact she came of her own volition is a good sign.” Applejack could practically feel Rainbows smile from the other end. “If this goes well, which it will, this could open the door for Sunset rejoining us and making it up to her.”
“I just… wonder how I’m gonna make it up to her. She’s angriest with me.” Applejack wanted to argue with her, but she couldn’t help but agree. Dash had not only betrayed her element, but had also been the most hostile and vengeful of their group. It made sense Sunset would hold the biggest grudge with Rainbow.
“We’ll work on that together, RD. We won’t give up until she’s friends with all of us again. Especially you.” Applejack had no idea how they were going to do that, but she knew it was what Rainbow needed to hear.
“Well, hope it goes well.” Rainbow smiled. “Tell me everything that happens when you’re done, k?”
“Will do. You have a nice night now RD.”
“You too AJ.” Rainbow pulled her phone away and disconnected from the call. She laid back down on her bed, resting her head against her hands.
And for the first time in a long time, Rainbow Dash wasn’t angry.
Two chapters in two days? Sweet!
Hmm... Lyra's plan seems like a good idea... if not for that roadblock. Wonder how she'll pull off?
While it's tough to see Rainbow Dash blaming herself for hurting Sunset, she got herself to blame for causing a rift between them. And it looks like there's a rift between her and Scootaloo too. This would take a while before either of them will make amends with each other.
I hate the fact Scoota crying, breaks my heart, but....maybe it best she doesn't see Dash right now.
Dash too torn up, and may react really badly to her.
And Sunset banned from the Spring fling...sighs..... even if they talked to Celestia and Luna which can see them unbanning her after what happened to her.
It just be a major red flag to Sunset, unless they do it....just right....
Im loving this story, keep it up, must have more
Keep it up. I am enjoying this stories dynamics.
11054542
I'm not familiar with the term.
11054573
I never said she did. I just feel it neccesary to point out that at most schools, including the one I went to, her actions would have led to expulsion. Then again, I did go to a private school, so things may have been different in the state sector.
11054573
That’s light compared to what would really happen.
11054889
Do you know what a Stan is?
11054734
The problem a lot of people have with the comic is that it makes little sense where it is placed in the timeline. According to comic writer Ted Anderson, it was supposed to take place between EG1 and EG2. Having the characters turn on Sunset quickly would make sense in that context. However, Anderson was instructed to hastily rewrite the comic to fit after EG2. This produced numerous continuity errors, including Sunset saying the slumber party in the comic is her first (she went to one in Rainbow Rocks), and the students turning on Sunset after she saved them from certain death. The journal was also thrown into the story for some reason, despite serving no real purpose.
A lot of fans dislike it as well for handling the theme of cyberbullying badly, as well as being a comprehensive character assasination of the CMC. Whilst similar to Ponyville Confidential, in that case the CMC kept going due to blackmail and a misguided sense of how to get their cutie marks, whereas in the comic it was out of spite. Even this doesn't make sense, as the CMC are clearly on good terms with Sunset if the ending of Rainbow Rocks is anything to go by.
Finally, the comic was rendered non-canon by the opening of Friendship Games. Sunset is on positive terms with her friends, with no signs of a nasty breakup in sight, and states in her letter to Twilight that nothing has happened since the Battle of the Bands.
11054903
I'm afraid I don't.
11054891
The funny thing is that if you go to most anon-a-miss stories they usually have the cmc going to jail. People get upset about the things in anon-a-miss being unrealistic, but they fail to realize nothing in eqg is realistic. It really shows the hypocrisy that most fail to see.
11054906
Think of them as people who would defend a character no matter what.
It seems no one's learned the lesson yet.
Applebloom still using deception.
Applejack blindly believing what her sister says which is surprising all things considered.
I can only hope this plan works out, because if it doesn't...
11054907
That they do. Usually with no trial beforehand.
11054929
I see.
11054954
Yeah, and notice how many fanfics having sunset going to jail.
11054955
Have you seriously never heard those terms before?
11054945
Yeah and they are going to be surprised and ticked off at her when the weekend comes. Because applejack is going to be hoping to talk while sunset just there to work. The lie won't be stand up a whole day once they are together. I am glad someone is thinking about make things right and show they are sorry. Everyone in these stories gets off way too easy most of the time. The bond of trust aren't easily repaired.
I like Lyra's insight about the five apology languages, and how in order to earn her forgiveness, they'd have to speak hers.
At the same time, we see just how badly Bloom's plan could blow up in their faces, because the girls are under the impression that Sunset reached out, which might make them think that Sunset wants to make amends. But since that's clearly not the case, if Sunset figures out that Bloom lied to her, it's only going to drive her further away.
I can't wait to see how this plays out.
11055000
Very few, from memory.
11055002
I'm afraid I can't really keep up with all the changing terminology.
11055105
Very few at all.
11055106
Understandable
Honestly both of these plans seem like bombs waiting to blow up in their respective planners faces. Sunset's betrayal isn't something that can just be bought off.
Like Sunset said she spent months trying to earn everyone's trust, endure harsh insults, glares and as we see in this story, a lot worse than that and that's only the stuff we know about. Thinking you can just win her over with one grand gesture is still missing the point. I feel like Lyra is still trying to make herself feel better rather than really understanding how much she and the others hurt Sunset.
I don't know, maybe I'm over thinking this but if Rainbow is this broken up about Sunset imagine how destroyed Fluttershy is or Pinkie. They must be complete emotional wrecks.
11054907
What’re you talking about? No AAM story I’ve ever read has the CMC going to jail. I’ve only ever seen them punished by the school and their families.
They’re also minors, I don’t think they’d go to jail.
11055133
Hm, I had mostly planned for the problems in Lyras plan to be getting the school to work together, convince Sunset to run, and try to keep it a secret from Sunset. But you do bring up some good points, I could also have the two doubt if this would work.
Obviously this isn’t going to fix everything at once, but it might be enough to convince Sunset to open up.
11055134
There are multiple fanfics of the cmc going to jail.
11055160
Honestly I'm amazed Sunset isn't visiting a therapist or guidance counselor after everything she went through.
Nice loving this so far.
I'm dying to know what RD did to sunset.
But I honestly feel like these are all nice actions but it feels like it won't be enough.
Can't help but worry this is gonna blow up in everyone's face, and Applebloom is gonna get into even more trouble for lying to and manipulating people to try and get her way... Again.
11055113
11055113
Yes
(So, Lyra and Bon Bon are trying to arrange an apology... but there is still the matter of, are they doing it because they regret their actions, or do they just want to feel better? I'm still on the fence, I don't know. But they're planning to solve things by making a secret plan that involves a not insignificant degree of manipulation, soooooo... pretty sure that's going to blow up.
And Apple Bloom is using plots and manipulation to get her way... again. And that plan is almost certain to blow up in her face! Again.
And Applejack's taking Apple Bloom's word for it, and being hopeful, and making contacts. Interesting amount of trust to put in someone who betrayed you, manipulated you, and destroyed one of your friendships. Not even second-guessing there huh?
Rainbow Dash is the one I can't really bring condemnation on at this point. She hasn't really learned much either, but she remains appropriately angry at not only herself, but the others who helped bring things to this point, and she's trying to deal with her own anger and self-loathing before moving on to others. In a way, that's the most responsible thing she can do, whether she's got that in her head or not.)
11055519
Sorta.
11055170
11055134
I've read a lot of Anon-a-Miss fanfics on this site, and most CMC punishments are limited to ones imposed by the school, their families, and their own guilt. In Seven Saviors, you get the rare case of punishment happening in Equestria. Can you supply any titles in which the CMC go to jail?
11055567
Really? How?
11055583
I may have to look back at them.
That's a terrible idea.
Having that many people keep a secret could work, but it's just as likely to blow up publicly, especially if the people who still dislike Sunset get involved.
Plus going to such efforts to decive her, will only make it look more like pity, as opposed to outright giving it to her in the first place.
That will totally solve her problems! Good thinking Rainbow Dash!
Uh oh. If Apple Bloom could have heard this it would be the moment she knew she f***ed up, but either way given the name of the next chapter I can see the fallout from here.
Lol! The most Dash thing to say about crying
This won’t end well for anyone
I can't say anything without sounding like I want to kill myself.
I can't be the only one waiting for this whole entire thing to backfire and blow up in their faces because honestly it seems like Applebloom really can't learn her lessons I mean seriously again isn't scheming what got her into this mess in the first place and now what is she doing scheming