> Anon-A-Miss: Another Way
>  by King_Again
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> I~The Bridge
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Bridge

Secret-stealer!

We trusted you!

Did our friendship mean nothing to you, bitch!?

How could you!?

Yer not welcome here!

The wind blew cold as words began echoing in her mind, almost taunting her. They always found their way back into her mind these days. Even if she tried her hardest to push them away, they always found their route back in. It didn't help with the way her former friends kept looking at her with anger, betrayal, and all things bad. They did nothing to help her because they thought she was the one behind the lastest school-taring act. 

Anon-A-Miss.

So deadly it would rip away friendships before they even got a chance to grow. Everyone knew someone had behind it, and who did they think about first? Her. Yes. Everyone thought Sunset Shimmer was back to her old tricks, even after she fought so hard to prove she wasn't that type of person anymore. But everyone thought she was because hello, Anon-A-Miss was pushing everyone apart. 

Sunset had tried so many times to make them all see she wasn't. She didn't even know the account's password when her former friends tried to make her delete the account! She had even shown them she was blocked out of it because of the many times she failed to enter the password. But no. They still didn't believe her. They all thought she was back to no good and refused to listen to her.

What made matters worse was Rainbow Dash had Gilda and some of her friends ambush Sunset. Right after school, Rainbow texted Sunset to meet her behind the gym to talk, and foolishly, Sunset thought that maybe Rainbow saw the errors in her ways and wanted to amend things with her. No. It was anything but. Sunset didn't even have time to react before the first punch hit her stomach, then her face, and so on. By the time it was over, Sunset couldn't even stand, but she was alive. Somehow. Gilda and her lackeys left before anyone else could see them, leaving Sunset alone in the shivering cold. 

From that moment on, Sunset didn't speak. 

When she did speak, it was only to teachers, the Cakes in placing her order for something to drink or eat, but that was it. Nothing else. There was one last time when she spoke to the Rainbooms. That was in Sugarcube Corner. Sunset had just gotten a drink when Rainbow and the others walked in to see her and they got angry. She didn't know why. She was just getting something to drink. 

The Cakes, of course, intervened. It was their business at stake and they wouldn't allow a fallout to happen right in the middle of service. They chewed the living hell out of the Rainbooms for attacking a customer, and then gave Sunset a new, free, drink to go before Sunset walked out of there, not coming back while the Rainbooms were there at all. Which would be some time considering they were always there.

Days passed, and it got worse each time. 

It ended at the point where Sunset began cutting. Up her arms, thighs, and on her stomach. Anywhere people wouldn't see. On her arms, it was higher up, so if she wore short-sleeved shirts, they wouldn't see them, but that never happened. It was Winter for crying out loud. The thighs were self explanatory, no one would even dare to see her thighs. Her stomach... she didn't know why on her stomach. It just came to her and she began going at it because her mind wasn't straight, and neither were her actions at the time. She just felt... numb.

Sunset felt nothing. 

Not a thing.

Now, after today's school, she was standing at the tallest bridge she could think about. It was a good height. Perfect for jumping off. Her mind was shut off. Despite how hard her heart was begging her to head away, because someone would either see her or just think she was looking out at the water blow, but mostly because her heart didn't want to stop flowing blood just yet. 

It wanted her to keep on living but her mind was yelling at her otherwise. Her mind was throwing out the big stops. Words of anger from her former friends and classmates, flashing to all the horrible moments, and it was working. Her mind was doing this to get her to end it all.

One side was doing more than the other.

We trusted you!

Did our friendship mean nothing to you, bitch!?

How could you!?

Yer not welcome here!

Ah, yes. Applejack's words. They hurt the most. Sunset, at one point, really thought the Element of Honesty could see she wasn't lying. But no. Even the most honest element of harmony couldn't even see when the truth was being told and when a lie was throwing at them. 

Perhaps she should've thrown backs at Applejack to hurt her more than she was being hurt, but she didn't. She couldn't. Why? Because it would prove they were right. People would love that though, wouldn't they? 

To know Sunset was still her old self.

"Jumping is the stupidest way to go." 

Sunset jumped at the sudden voice. It broke her deep thoughts as she whipped her head around to see a girl standing right there, behind her. A stachel swung over her shoulder, a Shadowbolt uniform with a deep blueish(maybe purple) jacket fit for a winter's day, white and very light blue hair thrown into two ponytails, and a fitting pair of orange glasses.

"S...Sugarcoat?" Sunset whispered out her name, having to met the girl at the last set of Friendship games. The girl didn't look impressed at all. "What... what are you doing out here?" 

"Walking home." Sugarcoat replied in her usual tone. "Like I said, jumping is the stupidest way to go."

"How do you even know I was jumping?"

Sugarcoat walked towards her more and looked out at the water. "You had that look," She replied. "The whole 'kill me now' look." 

Sunset shifted awkwardly as she thought about Sugarcoat's words. "I didn't," She stuttered out, crossing her arms to keep herself from shivering from the cold. "I was... just looking at the water. That's all."

"Without a jacket?" Sugarcoat questioned, noting the way Sunset didn't have a jacket on. 

"I'm not cold."

Sugarcoat didn't buy it.

"You're shivering, and you're 'not' cold?" She clicked her tongue. "Lier. Here." Sunset watched as Sugarcoat pulled out another jacket from her stachel. "I always keep a spare jacket in my bag."

"You have two jackets, Rarity?"

"Of course, darling! I'm not an animal! Who knows when you need a spare jacket?"

Sunset pushed the thought back and took the jacket from Sugarcoat. It was soft and fuzzy. Perfect for keeping out the cold, and she gave the Shadowbolt a grateful smile. "Thanks." 

"What were you jumping for?" 

"Wow, you are not subtle are you?" Sunset joked, and Sugarcoat shook her head. Sunset cleared her throat and shifted nervously once more. She didn't know if she should share this or not. "Just... it's life, y'know? It's hard to explain and it'll take a really long time."

"We have plenty of time."

Sunset gave a sigh, seeing her own breath in the cold winter's air. "You're not letting this go, are you?" She asked quietly.

"No, I'm not," Sugarcoat replied. 

"I rather not talk about this, Sugarcoat." 

Sugarcoat crossed her arms, and gave Sunset a hard glare, and Sunset swore it could match and rival AJ's own glare. "Well, how do I know you're not going to try this again if I leave?" Sunset blinked, and Sugarcoat went on speaking. "Last time I left, the one I saw jumped the second I turned around and took a foot off the roof."

"Wait... you've seen someone die before?" Sunset asked, voice barely above whisper.

"I have. They were pretty bad at hiding their feelings, but no one seemed to notice but me. Now, tell me." 

It took Sunset two minutes of silence before everything began pouring out. How it all started, what happened the day Gilda ambushed her, and how the fallout in Sugarcube Corner went down despite getting another free drink, and the best part of this rant? Sugarcoat stayed silent. She didn't once interrupt the Wondercolt's rant of anger about how she was wrongfully accused.  

When it all ended, Sunset had to take a few deep breaths. One look at Sugarcoat's unmoved expressionless face told her that maybe her words went in one ear and out the other until she heard Sugarcoat give off a deep sigh and look towards the Canterlot High School. What idiots. 

Who said Crystal Prep Academy was bad at friendship when Canterlot High was so quick to accuse someone who didn't get a right to explain their side of the story?

"They're idiots," Sugarcoat finally said. "A bunch of idiots."

"Sugarcoat...?" Sunset whispered out as Sugarcoat went on a rant. Each word becoming more and more known with anger and Sunset didn't think she saw this side of the usually calm girl. "Sugarcoat!" She finally shouted, mid-rant. "Enough! I know you're mad from the way you're yelling but-"

"But what?" Sugarcoat growled. "They're morons for not allowing you to speak, who judge too quickly, and I know at my school we're like that but we give a chance to explain! Who says CPA is bad when it's clearly CHS who's even more worse at friendship than us!?"

Sunset gulped, "I know... but Crystal Prep does have a reputation for beating Canterlot High's ass in the Friendship games, surely you can get your anger off by practicing?"

"No." Sugarcoat shook her head. "Practice doesn't start until Spring." 

"That explains the whole level up..." Sunset whispered under her breath before shaking her head, offering her hand to the Shadowbolt but lowering her hand when Sugarcoat gave her a look. "Let's go get something to drink at Sugarcube Corner. My treat for saving me."

Sugarcoat rose an eyebrow, "Isn't it suppose to be my treat? I literally saved your ass." 

Sunset laughed, "Fine, fine. It's both of our treats. Just different reasons."

"Fine. But I'm paying for yours."

"And I'm paying for yours."

It didn't make much sense, but it was a start. Perhaps by talking with Sugarcoat, she could finally make it out of there alive until Winter Break was over and this whole thing could be finished. After all, there was no way it would go on over Winter Break!

Anon-A-Miss surely mustn't have that much free time on their hands.
> II~Sugarcube Corner
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sugarcube Corner

When they arrived at Sugarcube Corner, they had done like they said. Sugarcoat paid for Sunset's treat while Sunset paid for Sugarcoat's treat. Of course it looked like they had paid for their own drinks, to them, they didn't. That was okay. They sat down at the table a couple footsteps away from the door, and just talked. They had taken off their jackets to feel the warmth of the cafe's air. 

Then the moment was ruined between the possible new friends when the door opened and shut. Rainbow's clear voice rang out like the fallout and Sunset winced, ready to leave before Sugarcoat stopped her and shook her head. No. She wasn't going to allow Sunset to show off weakness because she was just afraid of her former friends and what they might do to her. Besides, she had a shadowbolt on her side, she shouldn't be feeling scared. Certainly not of Rainbow Dash, despite the ambush being set up by the girl.

"Do you have to be everywhere we go!?" Rainbow growled out, crossing her arms. "I thought it was made clear we couldn't be here at the same time!"

"We got here first," Sugarcoat replied, deadpan. "You can leave."

"And now you're hanging around a Shadowbolt!?" added RD. "Are you trying to make a fool out of yourself?"

"The only fool is yourself." Sugarcoat added onto her sentence. 

Sunset could almost sense the anger boiling back up in Sugarcoat and she wasn't sure if she should stop the girl or allow her to go on. On one hand, it would be nice to see the Rainbooms get what they deserved, but on the other hand, this could get Sugarcoat banded on Sugarcube Corner and she didn't want that at all. 

"Pardon me, Sugarcube," Applejack said, ignoring Sugarcoat's look, "Yer just gonna waste yer time with this secret-stealer here. She ain't nothin' but a troublemaker."

"Only because you labeled her like that." 

Rarity held back a roll of her eyes, "Darling, believe us, we're trying to save you!" 

"From what? A pointless argument that you're not going to win?" Sugarcoat asked.

"Okay! That's enough!" Rainbow slammed her hands down onto the table, trying to keep her gaze away from the two owners at the front counter. "You're just going to get betrayed if you hang out with Anon-a-bitch!" 

"Hmm... Which way? The way you pushed her away the moment you thought she was the one spilling out every little secret known? Or the way you don't trust her enough to share her side, therefore you think she betrayed you by putting on an act of being your friends to learn secrets about you so she could go back being alone? Which way?" questioned Sugarcoat.

That shouldn't have been a surprise, honestly. Sunset knew Sugarcoat could be blunt. Really, truly, blunt. She didn't hold up to what her name meant, no, instead she just says what she sees. But the way she was up and defending Sunset was truly a shocker. To the Rainbooms, and to Sunset herself. Why was the girl even going through all this trouble for her? They were school rivals, and nothing else. 

But... Sugarcoat was protecting and defending her like a friend should. 

She didn't want to jinx it, but she really hoped she could have an ally within Sugarcoat at this point in her life. After all, Sugarcoat did manage to save her before she jumped off the bridge to end things.

"You...!" Rainbow began to say before Fluttershy placed her hand on her shoulder. Then, Rainbow pointed to the door and closed her eyes tightly. "Just go."

"We were here first. You go." replied Sugarcoat, sipping her drink.

"We'll go," Fluttershy quiet stated, taking her best friend's hand and began walking away. Her eyes shifted towards Sunset, who didn't even lock eyes with her and she sighed heavily. "We're sorry to bother you."

"Whatever," Sugarcoat shrugged, moving her head back towards Sunset.

The last thing Sunset saw before locking eyes with the Shadowbolt was Rainbow's angry glare.





Rainbow hated how Sugarcoat, a Shadowbolt of all people, stood up for Anon-A-Miss. But no more than she hated how Fluttershy dragged them back out into the cold winter air. The whole group turned to the soft pink haired girl as Fluttershy hid behind her hair again, avoiding their gazes. 

"What was that?" Rainbow spoke up. "Why did you drag us out of there!?"

"She was right," Fluttershy softly said, "They did get there first."

Rarity huffed and crossed her arms, "Yes, well, it was Anon-A-Miss, darling! She can't have everything, now! We could've made them leave our hang out place! With no fights," here she turned to gaze at Rainbow Dash, "--we're lucky the Cakes didn't intervene like last time." 

"Ah reckon it was because of Sugarcoat," Applejack sighed. "She follows rules."

"She's also bluntly honest!" Pinkie chimed in, eating away at a cupcake. The group had long since learned not to ask where Pinkie managed to get these things without them knowing. 

"But why as she defending the bitch anyways?" mumbled Rainbow.

"And why do ya care?" asked Applejack. "You hate the Shadowbolts. Especially that girl, Indigo Zap."

Rainbow shrugged angrily and kicked some pretended dirt. "I just do, okay? They always kick our butts at the Friendship Games and I always lose to Indigo Zap!" She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "She was always so close with Sugarcoat too."

"Hold on," Applejack waved her hands, "Sugarcube, are ya sayin' you like Sugarcoat?"

"No!" Rainbow shook her head. "I'm saying I wished me and Indigo were better friends, okay?! We used to be close until Sugarcoat came along. Then, Indigo up and changes her personality to a bitch. Just like my falling out with Gilda. All of my childhood friends, minus Fluttershy, always leaves me in the dust." 

"Glad to know you don't like Sugarcoat," Rarity rolled her eyes. "I'm surprised you didn't chew her out because you missed Indigo's friendship status with you."

"I can't now, can I? There's more important things to worry about, and that bitch is one of them. Besides, I've long since forgotten about the whole trouble with Indigo." 

There was a silence between them for a good few minutes before their phones chimed. Another Anon-A-Miss post, and when Rainbow looked into the window, she saw Sunset on her phone, and growled. She knew it was her! The bitch. The backstabbing bitch of the century! She was so dead once she was alone.

Maybe Gilda and her lackeys could beat the living crap out of Sunset once more? Maybe that would teach her not to mess with them again.

Fluttershy's eyes widened when she realized who the post was about, "Zephyr?" she whispered. "My brother? How? What? How does she know his secrets?"

"He's gay?" Pinkie asked. "I mean, it's a picture of him kissing Sandalwood." 

"No, he's not," Fluttershy whispered under her breath. "Unless he is but never said anything about it! I'll have to ask him when I get home tonight."

"But if Sunset did post this, how did she know?" Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rainbow bite her lip. "I dunno. But I did see her on her phone when the post was made, so it must be her!"

But that's not what Sunset was doing. She wasn't even logged onto Mystable.





"This is your number, right? I got this down right?"

Sugarcoat looked over Sunset's phone and then back to her phone, and nodded, "Yes. It's right." 

Sunset smiled and then told Sugarcoat her own number and watched as the Shadowbolt type in her number without asking twice for another number. When she was done, she showed off her phone and Sunset nodded. It had been Sugarcoat's idea to exchange numbers, that way, Sugarcoat could check in on Sunset whenever she thought something was going on or needed an update.

This would be helpful for Sugarcoat when they were at their respective schools, and at the Friendship Games, they could stand next to each other, and talk then. 

"You understand this?" Sugarcoat asked, narrowing her eyes. "If they approach you, talk bad about you, or anything like this, you text me. I'll text back regardless what class I'm in minus gym." 

"I understand," Sunset laughed. "Thanks for everything, Sugarcoat."

"I'm not about to allow someone who's been wrongfully accused to be pressured into suicide again," Sugarcoat replied, shrugging, drinking the last of her drink. "Call me whenever you actually need to hear my voice."

"That might a lot of calls," Sunset admitted, rubbing her arm. "They just won't stop."

Sugarcoat frowned and thought for a moment. It was starting to be clear Canterlot High wasn't a safe haven for Sunset, would she be able to create a new name for herself in Crystal Prep? She doubted it, but she was wanting Sunset to try. The question was; would Sunset be able to handle the hardship school?

After all, Crystal Prep was known for their high grades and tough students who didn't like to lose.

"Did... did you ever think about switching schools?" Sugarcoat asked, leaning back.

"... A little," Sunset admitted with a sigh, "But I never went through with it. I thought this would be gone by the time I worked up the courage to even make my way to the office and ask."

"You should've."

Sunset smiled weakly at Sugarcoat. "Yeah, I should've, huh?" 

"Ask tomorrow. It's not safe for you there."

"I'll... think about it." Sunset replied. "I promise."

Sugarcoat nodded, but deep inside, she knew Sunset wasn't going to head to the office. So, tomorrow, she would go to Principal Cinch's office and tell her that she knew good student who would be a perfect student for Crystal Prep if Sunset agreed to the idea, of course.

She wouldn't do anything without Sunset's thoughts on it.
> III~Just Another Day In A Hellish Life
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Another Day In A Hellish Life

"She-Demon."

"Witch."

"Secret-Stealer."

"Anon-A-Bitch!"

"Anon-A-Miss."

Sunset kept her head high as she walked through the halls. She didn't want to show she was scared, scared to be bumped into at very turn, and scared to even lock eyes with other students. She remembered how she had Sugarcoat's number and she could text her whenever, maybe even call her if she needed to hear her voice to calm herself down. At this moment, she was debating if she should call up the Shadowbolt, but she didn't know Crystal Prep's schedule, so Sugarcoat may very well be in class right now.

Everyone was staring at her, either with glares of hate or glares of plain annoyance, and at this moment, she found herself not caring anymore. For whenever she walked into Canterlot High, her entire body became numb. Nothing could hurt her, nothing would hurt her because she couldn't feel the pain anymore. 

She heard the whispers of the same old insults, she didn't commented anything anymore. She didn't even try to tell them otherwise because they wouldn't listen. The only one who would listen to her was Sugarcoat, and she attended CPA, and everyone would call her a traitor if they knew she was friends with a Shadowbolt because they all hated CPA, despite their ways of trying to be friends with them. No one could come close with Principal Cinch leading the Academy with an iron fist. 

Arriving at her locker, she saw the words 'She-Demon' painted on her locker and she sighed before locking it. Her eyes landed on the book she used to talk with Twilight. Her heart twisted. Maybe she should tell Twilight she finally found a friend within this hell? 

Screw it. 

What did she have to waste anymore? After all, Twilight did say to find her family. Sugarcoat was the closest thing she had to a family at this point.

Sunset took out her pen and opened the book to a blanket page and began writing. The message was short, but it was okay, it said enough for Twilight to understand.

Dear Twilight,

I finally found what could be a friend. We met yesterday, but so far, she's shown me only compassion and listened to all I had to say, I think she truly understands me, Twilight. She, by far, is a better friend than those Rainbooms.

Your friend, Sunset.

She placed the book back, and slammed her locker. She had all she needed and she began slowly walking towards her first class, dragging her feet as this class held Rarity and Applejack. Next class held Pinkie Pie, the class was with Fluttershy, and finally gym had Rainbow Dash. This day was hell. But, now everyday was hell because of this Anon-A-Miss act. No doubt everyone would try to make her life a living hell more than it already was.

The teacher saw her walk in before everyone else and sit down at her desk, and opened her book to read the next chapter. He smiled sadly. He had heard all about Anon-A-Miss, and how could his best student be the one who's up to this? It made no sense to him. Perhaps this would all pass soon and they could all get along once more.

"Good morning, Miss Shimmer," The teacher greeted. "How is your day?"

"Like every other day," Sunset replied. 

He frowned, "Just keep your head high, Miss Shimmer. It'll pass soon. Whoever is behind this must realize this is all for nothing. What do they have to gain out of this?"

Sunset shrugged and looked down at her book. "To make my life a living hell," she whispered under her breath as she heard the bell ring. 

As students began pouring in, Sunset allowed her gaze to wonder to see Applejack and Rarity coming in second to last and her gaze fell as it rose. She didn't want to look up at her former friends, it always made her stomach turn whenever they gave her glares, even if she was numb when she took a step inside of this place. It seemed like the only glares which could hurt her belonged to her former friends. 

Applejack huffed and sat down next to Rarity, ignoring everyone's look towards them, snickering and whispering her nickname, while they whispered about Rarity, making the girl lower her gaze downwards a bit. 

"Don't pay attention, Rares," Applejack whispered. "You did nothin', remember?"

"Yes, well, it still hurts, darling," Rarity replied. "All these looks of hate! Towards me, of all people!"

Applejack rolled her eyes. "They ain't looks of hate, Rares. They're looks of mockery."

"I never wanted those looks, darling!"

"And ya think ah did?!" 

The teacher gazed up from the board and frowned at the duo. "Is there something you'd like to tell the class, Miss Applejack, Miss Rarity?" Everyone was staring at them now, minus Sunset.

"No," Applejack sighed, "Ah'm sorry."

"Me too," Rarity apologized. 

"Very well, just be quiet from now on," The teacher gave them a shaky smile before returning to the board, hearing snickers behind his back as he went on writing.

The very most, Sunset was feeling like she needed to text Sugarcoat. 

"Psst, Anon-A-Bitch," Sunset winced at the nickname. "I got some gold for you to post on those two girls over there! They're sure to be the target for weeks!"

Yeah, she really needed to text Sugarcoat.





{ Sugar, I need to talk with you...

Whatever they did, ignore it. }

{ Kinda hard to do so when you have ALL day with them

All day? You're really bad at avoiding those Rainbooms. }

Sunset laughed weakly and typed her reply. Sugarcoat was honest, yes, perhaps better at being honest than Applejack. She wondered what could happen if Sugarcoat was the element of Honesty for the Elements of Harmony instead of the farm girl whom she once considered family. 

The day had gone much faster than she expected, and right now she was down for getting another drink from Sugarcube Corner, but knew the Rainbooms probably beat her to the shop so they wouldn't have to walk out after just getting there, so maybe Sugarcoat was up to meeting somewhere else for a drink? Maybe they could try that shop which just opened up a week ago?

Her phone buzzed with a text from Sugarcoat, and Sunset eagerly read her friend's text.

I walked past Sugarcube Corner. Rainbooms are there. I'm at the bridge with some hot chocolate. }

Her stomach turned at the thought of the bridge.

{ Why the bridge?

 Just come. }

Her feet took their sweet time walking towards the place where she sought to be a good place to jump. When she arrived, she saw Sugarcoat there, looking out at the water, a cup of hot chocolate sitting there on the ledge, being held by her free hand, and she smiled softly before walking up to her friend and tapping her on the shoulder. 

Sugarcoat gave her the drink and watched as she sipped it with a hum of happiness. At the very most, the hot chocolate must've made her forget everything she went through at school today.

"Why are we here?" Sunset asked after a while. "Why the bridge?"

"Because I needed to give you something," Sugarcoat replied.

"Wasn't it the hot chocolate?"

"No." 

Sunset rose an eyebrow, "Then... what is it?"

"Here," Sugarcoat answered, handing her a piece of paper. "I know you might not want to, but it'll be safer there than at the whiny school you're currently at."

Sunset nearly dropped her drink when she realized it was a transfer request to switch from Canterlot High to Crystal Prep. At the bottom of the page was the signature of Dean Cadance and right next to it was the signature of the most strictest principal of them all. Principal Abacus Cinch.

"How...?" whispered Sunset, "How did Principal Cinch agree to sign this? She hates Canterlot High."

"I merely stated true facts," shrugged Sugarcoat. "Dean Cadance was more than happy to show a new student around and to help you fit in, of course, I also stated I would catch you up on every subject as you'll be in my classes."

Sunset's eyes trailed down the page, reading over the information she needed to fill in, and there was two spaces for Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna to sign. "They'll try to change my mind," She explained, "They can't lose a student to CPA..."

"But they rather lose one to Anon-A-Miss?" 

Sunset winced. The two adults didn't really do much about this. They allowed her to be bullied and beat up. It was like they didn't care. Maybe they did but just wasn't showing it. She didn't know.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Sunset asked, voice barely above whisper.

Sugarcoat gave her a look, "Look, just because we're rivals doesn't mean I can't be nice to you." She explained. "Also, you are my friend. Aren't they supposed to be nice to each other and help one another?"

"I mean... I guess so..."

"Look, just go see them and get their signature if you want to transfer, I told them you weren't so sure, and they said you could take as long as you like but it has to be before Winter Break, which means you have exactly four days to decide this. I'll even stick with you on your first day. I'll introduce you to people you can actually call friends," Sugarcoat explained.

Sunset nodded. "Okay, I'll let you know."

Her eyes slowly moved back downwards to the page as Sugarcoat went on talking about her horrible day at Crystal Prep. Her heart was telling her to leave it blank and not give up on the Rainbooms while her mind was telling her to fill it out, get the last two signatures and leave the hellhole forever and be with Sugarcoat on the winning side. 

But which side to go with and trust?

This was just another day in her hellish life.
> IV~Sign
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sign

Sunset walked towards the office, her heart felt heavy in her chest as she thought this over once more. She filled out the necessary information, and now all she needed was the principals' signatures. Her mind was racing, trying to calm her down while her heart was begging her to turn back now and just head to class instead of skipping. No. She had to do this. How else would she escape this hell if she didn't? Besides, Sugarcoat did tell her she was going to help her out in any way she could. 

All of her classes were going to be with Sugarcoat and she had Principal Cinch's signature. Not many people could say they managed to allow Cinch to have them join Crystal Prep Academy. But Sugarcoat managed to do so for her.

With a deep breath, Sunset rose her hand and knocked on the door. After a few moments, she heard Principal Celestia call her in and she was thankful to see Vice-Principal Luna there as well. That made it easier than facing them one on one, and she gulped down her fears before sitting down.

"Ah, Sunset, what can we do for you?" asked Principal Celestia.

Sunset reached for the papers in her bag, and gave them a firm expression and she placed the papers down in front of them, allowing them to look over it for a moment. "I want to switch schools," She said, "You can probably guess which one by the signatures at the bottom."

"Crystal Prep?" Vice-Principal Luna whispered out, her hand not even shaking as she held the papers. "Are you sure? That school is very strict..."

"I know," Sunset nodded. "But it's the second best place for me. Actually, no. It's the best place for me."

"The best place?" Celestia asked, holding back a gulp. She didn't want to lose one of her best students, but now it seemed like there would be no choice in this matter. "You'll crack under stress there."

Sunset held back a nod. She understood this. Sugarcoat already told her what could happen, all she needed to do to keep her cool was breath and everything would be okay. "I know, but I think I can handle it. Please, this is what's best for me! All I need is your signatures." 

The two sisters shared a look before Luna moved to grab a pen so she could sign. Sunset smiled at her and then looked at Celestia, who was giving an unsure look. Her heart sank. She managed to get Luna's signature, but not Celestia's? Did the principal not want her to have a better life at Crystal Prep where she actually had a friend willing to help her out?

A minute passed and Luna still held the pen, even after she moved to hand it over.

Two minutes...

Three minutes...

Four minutes...

Still nothing when it struck six minutes, and Sunset shifted. Why wasn't Celestia taking the pen? Her heart was twisting and turning, her stomach throwing up butterflies in nervousness, and Luna stared at her sister.

"Sister, take the pen," Luna said calmly. "I see no reason as to say no, and CPA has given the go ahead."

"I can't." Celestia sighed heavily. "Sunset, I just don't think you'll be happy there. Is there any other school you wish to attend? Please, you won't survive Crystal Prep."

Luna shook her head. "You have to sign. That's not a good enough reason to not sign it."

"Principal Celestia, please, sign it," Sunset pleaded, standing up. "I'll be okay! I already know someone who goes to Crystal Prep, I'll be better off there! Anon-A-Miss takes too much out of me to be here anymore. Principal Cinch has said I have until Winter Break to get this signed. I want to go to Crystal Prep Academy."

"But..." Celestia tried once more but was cut off by Luna's glare and she finally sighed. "Fine. Luna, give me the pen. I'll sign it, but I don't like this."

"I don't either, but I see no reason not to sign it," Luna admitted, "It'll be fine, sister."

"I wish you luck at Crystal Prep," Celestia mumbled as she signed the papers. "Luna, mail this to Crystal Prep so they know they'll be receiving a new student after Winter Break." 

Sunset stood up and thanked the principals before leaving the office, she quickly pulled out her phone and texted Sugarcoat saying the papers were signed, all the info filled out, and they would be classmates after the break. A few minutes later and Sugarcoat replied with one word saying great. 

It wasn't what Pinkie would reply with, but it was better than nothing.

She gripped her bags tightly as she got to her locker and unlocked it. There wasn't much in her locker, but it was better to start now than wait until the last possible moment. She placed her binder in her bag, anything she didn't need in the garbage, and she took up the book with her cutie mark lastly and flipped it opened to check if there was a reply. 

There it was. The reply to her last message.

Dear Sunset,

That's great! But, are you sure you won't try talking things through with the Rainbooms? I know they didn't listen to you the last few times, but you should keep trying before you do something you'll regret. Please, Sunset, I'll try to get there as soon as I can.

Just hold out a little longer before I'm able to come to help!

-Twilight.

She frowned. A little too late for that. Sunset grabbed her pen and placed it on the page, and began writing away.

Dear Twilight,

A little too late. I'm switching schools. No use coming here if I'm done with Canterlot High, now is there? I'll let you know how I am once I'm settled in Crystal Prep, okay?

-Sunset Shimmer.

She closed the book tightly, never to open until she was settled down in Crystal Prep for good. She would get used to the uniforms, the strict teachers, and the high expectations. But she knew she could do it with Sugarcoat helping her out until she was fairly confident to be on her own.

The locker clean out went on until the bell for break rang and in a few minutes, students began filling in the hallway which was once empty, a few students stopping to gaze at her with hate and a tad bit of confusion.

"Watcha doing, Anon-A-Miss?" A student growled.

"Cleaning out my locker," Sunset replied expressionless.

"Why?"

Sunset sighed and gazed at the student with annoyance. "Why the fuck do you care? I thought you would want to punch in my guts at this moment?" The student open his jaw before closing it, stomping away.

The familiar sound of jumping each her ears and she knew who it was. Pinkie Pie. Which meant the Rainbooms were coming closer. Well, it made sense. AJ's locker was right next to her own. But it also meant another fallout with the Rainbooms, and Sunset really didn't want to that at the moment. Not when her day brightened by getting the needed signatures.

The jumping stop and the footsteps did too.

"Great, it's the bitch," Rainbow whispered.

"Rainbow Dash, calm down," Rarity sighed, "She's at her locker."

Rainbow narrowed her eyes. "Doing what?"

Sunset sighed heavily and slammed her locker door shut, and gave them all a glare, "Cleaning out my locker for fuck's sake. Calm your fucking tits, Rainbow Fuck." 

"What did you say!?" Rainbow growled, slamming Sunset onto her locker. She rose her fist. "Watch your fucking tongue!"

"Vice-Principal Luna is behind you." Sunset said, deadpan.

"Good joke but it won't-"

"What won't work, Miss Dash?" Luna's voice broke in and Rainbow froze up as well as the rest of the Rainbooms, and the rainbow haired girl gazed over her shoulder. "Do not try to lie to me, from what I saw, you attacked an innocent student who was just cleaning out her locker for Winter Break."

Sunset and the rest of the Rainbooms watched as Rainbow followed weakly behind Luna towards the Vice-Principal's office, and the victim gazed at the group before gripped her bag and walking towards the doors. She didn't plan on staying for the rest of the day. 

What would have it offer her anyways?

A possible black eye from Rainbow Dash when she got of the office of Luna, that's what it had to offer her. Plus, if she left now, she could snag Sugarcube Corner for her and Sugarcoat.
> V~Grudge Against Sugar & Indigo
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grudge Against Sugar & Indigo

Rainbow Dash sighed as she was finally allowed out of Luna's office. Her parents were called, had a note sent to her final teacher of the day about why she wasn't in class, and was giving a very serious warning about attacking innocent students. When she tried to convince Luna she was attacking Anon-A-Miss for the good of the others, Luna frowned and growled at her saying  she had no physical proof of Sunset being Anon-A-Miss expect for accusations. They didn't truly know if Sunset had the Anon-A-Miss page open on her Mystable account at the time, as well as logged in on the Anon-A-Miss account.

When she told her friends, they all thought for a moment. They didn't have physical proof but shouldn't Sunset's pass be enough to convince the principals Sunset was Anon-A-Miss? Apparently not considering how both Luna and Celestia had seen Sunset change her ways after the Battle of the Bands.

"It fucking sucks," Rainbow huffed as she slide down into her spot at AJ's house. "I mean, who else could be behind it anyways? Sunset is the damn user and everyone knows this."

"But Vice Principal Luna is right," Fluttershy spoke up. "We don't have physical proof expect for an account, and they could all look on Sunset's account and see if we're right or not." 

"Ah agree with Fluttershy," Applejack nodded.

Rarity rose an eyebrow as she searched Mystable. "I do hate to break this up, but look!" She showed her friends her phone and she was opened to a Shadowbolt she followed, Fleur De Lis. There was another account Fleur followed; Indigo Zap, Lemon Zest, Sour Sweet, Sunny Flare, Sugarcoat, and... Sunset.

"Why are you showing us who she follows?" Pinkie asked. "We all know the Shadowbolts follow each other!"

"Yes, but, they're all following Sunset now," Rarity explained, "--and Sunset isn't a Shadowbolt at all!"

Rainbow blinked, confused. "So what? They're probably following her so they dig info up on us. What about it, Rarity? It's what the Shadowbolts do when they have to beat another school to the dust."

"Darling, there's this picture of Sunset with Sugarcoat, and a caption saying 'Welcome new Shadowbolt.'" Rarity finished, clicking on the new posted picture. It was indeed of Sunset and Sugarcoat. The two girls looking happily at each other, and Rainbow's jaw dropped when she saw it was Indigo Zap who posted the picture.

All the following comments praising the new Shadowbolt for getting out of an abusive Canterlot High, and how Principal Cinch made a wonderful choice in allowing the girl to join them. All of them made Rainbow's blood boil and she sighed heavily before running her hand through her hair.

"Great... Indigo strikes again," She mumbled.

Fluttershy gazed at her best friend, "What do you hate about Indigo Zap anyways? It sounds like you have a lot of hate towards her and Sugarcoat."

"Really wanna know?" 

"Yes!" All of them cried, sick of hearing Rainbow bitch about the two Shadowbolts. 

Rainbow took a moment to take a deep breath before going into her story about the three of them. How she and Indigo met in Elementary, later following into Middle School, they had met Sugarcoat, whom Indigo took a liking to right away. Somewhere in grade seven, Indigo had confessed she liked Sugarcoat and the two dated for a year or so before agreeing the worked better as friends. Nothing too serious until the last month of grade eight when they all had to choose a high school.

At first, Rainbow had thought they were going to the same one; Canterlot High. Indigo had even promised they would go to the same high school, including Sugarcoat. But that wasn't the case. Both girls had lied from what Rainbow had heard from her fellow classmates. Both of them had applied to Crystal Prep Academy for a challenge and to get away from Rainbow's apparent ego. 

"Apparent?" Applejack asked, trying to hide her laughter. "Sugarcube, there is no 'apparent'. You do have an ego. A massive one at that, but we're all still here because we know ya don't mean those things you say when yer mad."

"Yeah, well, they were fed up with it," Rainbow mumbled. "They always lied to me when they said they would come to my soccer games. Well, mine and Indigo's. The only reason why Sugarcoat even showed up was because at the time, she was coming to support Indigo as a friend. Not me."

"So, your friendship with them as a lie?" Fluttershy shyly asked.

"Yup."

Applejack frowned and crossed her arms. "Is that why ya hate 'em so?"

"Basically yeah!" Rainbow nodded. "I mean, what would you do when you found out your apparent best friend just put up with you until the moment they saw an escape route? How would you react when they finally told you the truth on the day you got to know what place you're going to?" 

"The same way, ah guess," Applejack shrugged. "But, sugarcube, ya were just kids. Surely ya should've forgotten all about that, right?"

"Never left my mind since."

Rarity sighed. "My, are you feeling now? We found out that apparently the real reason why Sunset was cleaning out her locker so early was because she was getting ready to leave Canterlot High?"

"Mad, glad... fuck! I dunno!" Rainbow shouted, standing up. "I'm mad that they get someone I care-cared about! I'm happy the get the bitch! But... I'm not at the same time. Shit! How am I supposed to feel? Tell me, Rarity, how!? Pinkie!? Any idea how the fuck I'm supposed to feel about this?"

"RD," Applejack stated, "Put a comment on the photo."

"What? Are you mad!?" Rainbow said, jaw dropping.

AJ shook her head. "Text 'em. Text Indigo and Sugarcoat. Right now, RD. Get it all out." Rainbow blinked, not moving an inch towards her phone in her pocket. "Now, ya won't feel better if ya don't get it all out."

"I don't want to talk with them. We're done. Our friendship isn't anymore." replied Rainbow. "Just like my friendship with the bitch."

"Who's now a Shadowbolt," reminded Pinkie Pie. "Who's now going to be up against up in the Friendship Games! Who's now going to be on the winning team! Who's going to get all glory while we mop about being the losers once more! Anyways, she's always going to win no matter what."

"And, because she's moved schools, Crystal Prep will be put into better light," Fluttershy said. "Principal Cinch could use this to her advantage."

Rainbow groaned loudly and rubbed her temples, mumbling about how they one upped them once more. That wasn't the case on Rarity's mind at the moment as she saw another Anon-A-Miss post, but when she checked Sunset's account, another post was made at the same time but it only showed the Shadowbolts. Indigo Zap, Lemon Zest, Sour Sweet, Sunny Flare, and of course Sugarcoat. 

They were out at the mall, having a good time while the Anon-A-Miss post showed two Canterlot High students. Her jaw nearly dropped but didn't. 

A single thought crossed her mind, and it made her stomach turn in realization. 

She's not Anon-A-Miss!

But who would believe her? No one because they all thought she was Anon-A-Miss. Good god, what kind of a friend was she when she couldn't see how Sunset was telling the truth the whole time?

"Rarity?" AJ's voice broke her thoughts. "Ya okay, sugarcube?"

"Ahem, yes, I am," Rarity nodded, putting her phone away. "Just simply looking at a post about fashion."

"Of course," AJ rolled her eyes with a smile. "Ah think ah know what to get ya now."

Rarity whacked her arm with a nervous laugh which AJ didn't seem to notice, "Oh hush, now. I'll love whatever you get me." But she would love to apologize to Sunset for thinking it was her the most.
> VI~Shadowbolts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shadowbolts

Sunset had been dragged out here by Sugarcoat’s demand to meet her new classmates. At least in one of her classes, she would have Sugarcoat’s friends who would be hers. She wasn’t sure of it but Sugarcoat seemed sure of this, and she was going along with Sugarcoat’s judgement considering how not once did they drop her. Which was far better than the Rainbooms for sure, so what could go wrong?

Nothing.

Sugarcoat said these would be better friends, and she was going to make sure of it by giving them all pieces of advice to what to stay away from and what topics they could approach for now.

When Sunset looked, she could see four girls sitting there, waiting for them to arrive. The first girl she saw had pink and augaish hair with purple eyes. The second girl had purple and pink hair with pinkish eyes. The third girl had green hair and yellow eyes. Finally, the last girl had blue hair with yellow eyes as well. But the two final girls could be argued to have amberish eyes. Just a lighter color amber.

All of them in their uniforms, but with winter jackets, scarves, and mittens. Sunset gulped and placed her hands into her pockets and Sugarcoat called them out and they all waved and smiled at Sunset.

“Heyy!” The blue haired girl smiled. “There’s the newest member of the Shadowbolts! When ya coming to CPA?!”

“After Winter Break,” Sunset replied. “What’s your name?”

Sugarcoat rolled her eyes and went over their names. “That’s Indigo Zap, Lemon Zest, Sunny Flare, and Sour Sweet. They’ll be your new friends, and the ones to always come to help when you need it. Just do not go to the nerd and you’ll be fine.” Sunset noted how they all cringed at whoever the nerd was.

“Um, who is the nerd?” Sunset asked shyly.

“No one you need to know,” Sour Sweet replied and then went mean, “And someone you never will know because you’ll be with us!”

Sunset was taken back by this and it didn’t go unnoticed by Sunny Flare.

“Don't mind Sour,” she commented, “She has a personality disorder. She’s sweet one moment and the next, sour. Hence her name. A perfect fit.”

“Bite me, Sunny!” Sour growled.

Lemon Zest jumped to put her headphones on Sunset. “Dude! You gotta hear this!” Sunset jumped at how loud the music was and Indigo laughed behind her hand before patting Sunset’s shoulder. “Cool, right!?” Lemon asked as she took her headphones back.

“Very, and loud,” Sunset replied, sitting down next to Sugarcoat.

“That’s Lemon for ya,” Indigo replied, leaning back in her seat. “Want something to drink? I’m going for a refill.” 

Sunset gave her a smile, “You don't have to pay for me. I brought money with me.”

“No!” Indigo waved her hand, “We’re friends now, and I’m paying for you. My treat. Now, whatcha want? Or can I surprise you?”

“Surprise me, Indigo,” Sunset replied with a challenging smile, and Indigo smiled back before walking off to the counter. Sunset gulped, suddenly doubting that choice. “Er…” she turned to the others, an unsure look on her face, “I didn’t just allow myself to get poison, did I?”

Sunny shook her head, “No. You would’ve if Sour offered.”

“Again, bite me,” Sour growled.

Sunset rubbed her arm as she laughed along with Lemon and cleared her throat, shifting in her seat. “So, uh, do you always wear your uniforms after you get out of school?”

“Mostly if we’re hanging out afterwards,” Sour replied, “But if we aren’t, we go home and change. But that’s only if we plan to hang out later in the day, not right after. But Sugar demanded we come here right away as she got our newest classmate.”

“How good are you at math?” Sunny asked.

Sunset smiled happily. “I think I’m good. I was at the top of my class back… there,” she gritted her teeth, “I always got out of class early enough to walk around until lunch if the class was before lunch.”

“Ah, I see,” Sugarcoat spoke up. “Canterlot High switches the order of classes every week?” Sunset nodded. “Crystal Prep doesn’t. It makes things easier and if we do, it’s only for the end of the semester.” 

“To see if we know where we’re going,” Lemon sighed, “It’s stupid.”

“Cinch’s orders,” Indigo said as she came back with her, Sunset’s, and Sugarcoat’s drinks. “Gotcha a shake, Sunset.” Sunset smiled and took a sip before humming happily. “Your usual, Sugar,” Indigo winked at her friend and Sugarcoat flushed up.

Sunset took a sip before swallowing. “Are you two dating?” she prayed for a no and she didn’t know why.

“We did,” Sugarcoat replied, “We decided we’re better as friends.”

“Er… isn’t it awkward to be friends with your ex?”

Indigo sighed. “It was,” she answered, “Not so much now. It’s way less awkward now. But there are moments when it can get awkward again. But we find our way around it, right, Sugar?”

“Yes.” Sugarcoat agreed.

After a couple of minutes, Sunset watched as Indigo took a picture of her and Sugarcoat and posted it to Mystable with a caption of ‘Welcome newest Shadowbolt’ and smiled. She liked the comment and right away got requests to be followed by her new friends and she accepted them all before requesting the same thing. In five minutes, they were all following each other and Mystable and posting away on theirs about their newest Shadowbolt and friend.

Sunset didn’t even notice Anon-A-Miss posted at the same time as her.

But she did notice Indigo’s frown and she rose an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?” she asked slowly.

Indigo growled, taking everyone back. “The bitch is back,” she said and showed her phone to Sugarcoat and Sunset watched as Sugarcoat rolled her eyes before saying something similar in her own words.

“Wait. Who’s the bitch?” Sunset asked.

“A Wondercolt,” Indigo mumbled. “Something you won’t be in a few days.” 

Sunset thought long and hard before swallowing. “Rainbow Dash?” She guessed and Indigo nodded. “She said something about having a grudge against you two. What happened?”

“Something stupid,” Sugarcoat replied. “Completely boring and stupid.”

Sunny frowned. “I didn’t know you two knew Wondercolts, well, minus our newest Shadowbolt, of course.” She added.

“Back in Elementary,” Indigo answered, “I met her. Then, in Middle School, we met Sugarcoat. We dropped her in grade eight after a falling out and she lost more friends too. Only shy girl reminded.”

“Fluttershy,” Sunset said. “They’re best friends.”

Sunny smiled, “Man, I think we’re going to have a great rest of the year with you.” 

“And I look forward to it,” Sunset replied with a smiling laughter.

Sour looked between the two and smirked. “If you two kiss, I’m vomiting all over this table right now,” she joked and Sunny hit her. “Dyke.”

“Am not!” Sunny growled. “You’re the dyke.”

Sunset laughed as the two fought over the most stupidest thing ever and leaned back with happiness as she shared a look with Sugarcoat and smiled widely at her friend.

Maybe this year’s Christmas was going to be a happy one after all. And it was all thanks to the Shadowbolts, her new friend group.
> VII~Rainbooms Vs Shadowbolts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbooms vs Shadowbolts

“Rarity, are you sure she’s around here?” Fluttershy asked as they walked through the mall, trying to search for their friend. 

“Yes, darling, I’m sure,” Rarity replied as she looked at every angle and store in the mall. “Her Mystable said she was here with her new ‘friends’ after all.” 

Applejack crossed her arms. “Why are we here anyways?” 

“To find Sunset,” Rarity answered, “I told you this before, didn’t I?” 

“You did,” Rainbow growled. “But why? The bitch is probably moping around as she can’t prove she’s innocent while we all know the truth of Anon-A-Miss. She’s the one who’s behind it, why are you so into finding her now?”

Rarity gazed back at Rainbow and frowned heavily at her friend’s words and rolled her eyes, “Because I simply wish to talk with her, Rainbow Dash. Am I not allowed to do so? I recall you not being the one in charge. You’re only in charge of the teams at school.” 

“I’m trying to protect you,” Rainbow growled. “You’ll be leaving in tears.” 

“Now, I know Sunset would be happy to have someone listen to her, darling. I think she won’t leave me in tears as you say. She’s put those ways behind her, hasn’t she?” Rarity questioned as she gazed over to another area and beamed brightly. She pointed over to where Sunset was. “Ah! There she is.”

Rainbow was quick to get in front of Rarity. “Rarity! Listen to me! Nothing good can come out of listening to the bitch. Even talking with her will kill you inside.”

“Please, it’s just a little talk,” Rarity pushed Rainbow out of the way as she walked over to her friend, stopping when she saw the Shadowbolts. She knew Sunset was hanging out with them, but she didn’t think she would look so… happy while doing so. It put her off a little. “Sunset?” She called out as she walked up to them. “May you spare a word with me, darling?”

Sunset looked at her before down at the table, almost wincing when she saw Indigo’s hand slammed down onto the table, and growl out at the Wondercolt. Rarity jumped at the sudden movement but didn’t show it. She wanted to make sure she was calm so she wouldn’t yell but even that seemed unlikely. 

Before Indigo could even get a word out, the other Rainbooms appeared and Sunset froze up. She hated how Rainbooms managed to find her here, and perhaps this would be another fallout between them… maybe more fighting would happen.

But what really happened was Indigo and Rainbow were staring each other down with equal glares, while Sugarcoat looked away, barely gazing at her old friend.

The other Shadowbolts gave each other a look, as well as the Rainbooms. This was going to be awkward. No doubt about it.

“So, uh, this is awkward,” Sunset whispered out, getting nods from the two groups except for Indigo and Rainbow. “Err… reunion of old friends?”

“No!” Both Indigo and Rainbow shouted. 

“It’s not a reunion of old friends,” Indigo growled. “She ended the friendship a long time ago.” 

“Me?” asked Rainbow. “I think you mean you two ended it!” She pointed at both Indigo and Sugarcoat. “You were the ones who ditch me to another school because you wanted to get away from my apparent ego!”

“Apparent?” Sugarcoat echoed. “There is no apparent! You do have an ego, and you always boosted it to us whenever you won a game. We just got tired of it, so we changed our mind about which school we were going too. It didn’t mean we wanted to end the friendship. We just wanted a break from your ego.”

Rainbow didn’t think she could be any more angry than she already was, but somehow, she managed to be more mad than before. “Fuck you,” she hissed out.

“No thanks, but thank you for the offer,” Sugarcoat spat back, getting a few giggles from her friends, including Sunset. “I’m not into you at all.”

Indigo laughed and crossed her arms at her old friend. “What the fuck do you Rainfucks want?” Sunset smiled weakly at how her new group was standing up for her. Maybe this could be her new family.

“I wanted to talk with Sunset, not them,” Rarity said. 

“Fine, what do you want?”

Rarity turned to the quiet girl and took a deep breath before opening her mouth to give out a blowing blow. Her confession blew Sunset away, as well as the Rainbooms and Sugarcoat. But it had left the remaining Shadowbolts confused out of their minds.

“I know you’re not Anon-A-Miss.”

“What!?” shouted the Rainbooms, blown away.

“What?” whispered Sunset while Sugarcoat just blinked.

Lemon waved her hands quickly and cleared her throat, pushing down her headphones off of her ears and rested them on her shoulders, “What’s Anon-A-Miss?” she asked.

“The online secret revealer I told you about,” Sugarcoat explained. “Those five idiots believed it was Sunset along with the rest of Canterlot High.” 

Sunny leaned back in her seat and glared at the Rainbooms, Sour growled lowly and crossed her arms, Indigo hissed, and Lemon just stared at her newfound friend and sighed heavily before shooting a death glare at the Rainbooms. Sunset just shrunk back into her seat and didn’t know what to think by this point.

She didn’t want to know what to do.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Indigo pinched her nose. “Let me guess, Rainbow Fuck, you just assumed it was her like you always do when something doesn’t go your away? Push the blame to the person who didn’t do shit?” Rainbow remained silent. “Good to know you haven’t changed one bit since our last meeting.”

“Hey! You didn’t even know her a few days ago!” Rainbow growled, crossing her arms. “You would’ve assumed the same if it happened at your fancy school!” 

“No, I wouldn’t!” Indigo hissed back, moving towards her. “At least I would’ve given the chance for the guy to explain unlike you. How do I know this? Sugar told us!”

Sunset blinked and looked at Sugarcoat. “What? What else did you tell them?” she asked.

“Nothing else,” Sugarcoat assured. “Only what you told me when we first met. Just the important things. Nothing private has been revealed, and it doesn’t have to be.”

Rarity shifted on her feet. “Sunset, darling, please--”

“No,” Sunset sighed heavily. “Just go. I don't want to see you guys anymore. Try again when I ‘forgive’ you for all you’ve done to me. Oh, and Rainbow, see if Gilda is up for another of beat up the weakling.” 

Sunny stopped sipping her drink, mid sip and stopped a bit too quickly, before coughing a bit, punching her chest before taking a few breaths. Her face looked shocked.

“What?” She gasped. “What’s ‘beating up the weakling’?” 

“Should you tell them or should I?” Sunset asked, a bit of a smirk on her face, and Rainbow shifted uncomfortably. The Rainbooms even looked surprised like Sunny did.

“RD?” Fluttershy asked quietly. “What does she mean?”

Sour looked between her friend and enemy, suddenly feeling angry when she got a good idea on what happened. Beat up the weakling… did Sunset mean she was beat up or…? 

“Are you saying you were the weakling?” Sour asked in a pissed off tone. “Is that what you’re saying, Sunset?”

Rainbow gulped and looked down at the ground, feeling like this would turn on her faster than she wanted it to. She wanted this to turn on Sunset and make Rarity see she wasn’t innocent but guilty. What proof did Rarity even have anyways?

Nothing!

“I was,” Sunset revealed, “--and Rainbow made it all happen. She set it up with Gilda and her lackeys. She made me think she wanted to speak with me, and I actually thought she believed me.”

Indigo took a deep breath and held back on punching Rainbow in the middle of the mall. She knew if she did, there was no way she would be able to stay without being told to leave before she did anything to make matters worse. But the urge to punch her was stronger than anything she ever felt before. Damnit, why did they have to be in the mall?!

“Leave,” Indigo growled, sitting back down in her spot. “Leave before I do something that could get me banned from the mall because right now, I really want to punch you until you’re out cold, Rainbow.”

“C’mon, RD, let’s go,” Applejack said, pulling her friend away from the Shadowbolts. 

Pinkie followed for a moment before looking back at Sunset, who held a mix between mad and sad. She smiled sadly at her friend. “Bye, Sunset,” she waved softly before running to catch up with her group of friends.

A moment of silence passed between the Shadowbolts.

“This isn’t over, is it?” Sunset asked quietly.

“No,” Indigo shook her head.

“It’s not over,” Sour finished. “It’s only begun.”
> VIII~Not Over
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not Over

Shortly after the fallout at the mall, Sunset had gone home for the day while the Shadowbolts looked for the Rainbooms. They didn’t want to leave things like they did. No. They wanted to teach them a lesson. They just hoped it wasn’t going to be inside a shop or they would have to wait until they were out of the shop and far enough away to have it go down.

Thankfully, the Rainbooms weren’t at any shops, but they were at the park. From what they could see, it looked like they were speaking about the fallout and Indigo rolled her eyes before walking closer to them. Sugarcoat crossed her arms as she heard their conversation. 

They were speaking about the attack Rainbow set up. 

Each Rainboom speaking with anger that Rainbow even thought about that and went ahead with it in the first place. The rainbow haired girl just stared at her hands, not saying anything as her friends glared at her. 

To get their attention, Sunny Flare coughed and they all turned towards them, and they each frowned. Rainbow quickly frowned and gritted her teeth before walking towards them, her arms crossed as she did so. Indigo merely waved her hand, her eyes flashing with anger. But not yet, she would not attack just yet.

It started off easy. No swears, just a few words being exchanged about how much Rainbow fucked up during that part, and how she should’ve handled it without setting up a beat down. Then it got violent without them meaning it too. All honesty, they didn’t want it getting violent but it did. Real fast when Rainbow got the wrong idea, and punched Indigo.

The Shadowbolt rubbed her jaw and glared at her old friend, and grinned a bit. The others moved to form a circle, and held their spots. The Rainbooms could see the Shadowbolts didn’t want to do anything, but once Indigo got railed up, she wouldn’t calm down until she got her turn at whatever upset her. 

And for this; she wanted to punch Rainbow Dash out of her mind.

“Shouldn’t have done that, Dashie,” Indigo said, cracking her knuckles. “I’m surprised you don't remember what I was known for back in the middle. You do remember the boxing club, yeah?”

“Of course I do,” Rainbow replied. “We signed up together and got accepted. We trained together. How could I forget all of that?”

“Glad I signed up,” Indigo beamed. “Because now, I can finally show you how a real fighter does it. And I’ll make sure you’ll be seeing stars after I’m done. Perhaps you’ll blackout.” 

“Indigo,” Lemon called, “--don’t go too hard on her! She doesn’t need to die.”

“She won’t,” Indigo promised. “I just want to teach her a lesson.” 

Sugarcoat rose an eyebrow. “I thought we agreed it wouldn’t be by fighting. You could get arrested for this you know.” 

“She threw the first punch!” Indigo snapped. “She’ll get into more trouble.” 

“Now, ya don't need to get all mad,” Applejack nervously chuckled, trying to step towards her friend but was stopped by Sour Sweet. “Ah know whatever happened and whoever is tellin’ the truth, ya both don't like each other anymore. But do ya really need to fight like this?”

“Yes!” snapped the two girls. 

Indigo took a deep breath. “It’s the only way to settle this.” Sugarcoat blinked and raised an eyebrow. “Alright, what do you want to say? I know that look, Sugar.”

“There’s better ways to settle these type of things,” Sugarcoat explained.

“Well, this is the way we’re doing it,” Rainbow spat out. “Let’s go.”

It didn’t take long before the first hit was landed, and it was delivered by Indigo onto Rainbow’s jaw. The punches went back and forth, as well as other moves,  and it didn’t take long until both girls were panting a bit. Both sides didn’t know what to do as the two fighters didn’t seem like they wanted to back down, and Indigo took a deep breath before smashing her fist down onto Rainbow’s jaw once more, and kicked Rainbow’s legs in, making her fall down onto the ground as Indigo grabbed her collar and raised her fist until Sugarcoat placed her hand onto Indigo’s shoulder and shook her head.

She shook her hand. Rainbow touched her jaw and leaned upwards. She rubbed her jaw as the Shadowbolts moved to tend to Indigo while the Rainbooms helped Rainbow up. 

When Indigo looked back at her old friend, she could see a bit of blood dripping down Rainbow’s nose, and gave her a shaky grin. She didn’t feel like she should be standing right now, but it was good enough to see the so called ‘Great’ Rainbow Dash needing help from her friends.

“Not so great, huh?” Indigo asked, breathless. “Serves you right for setting up an attack.” 

“I didn’t mean to,” Rainbow Dash replied. “I wasn’t thinking.”

“Sure you weren’t.”

“I wasn’t!”

Sunny shook her head and sighed heavily. “Enough,” she said. “Let’s take you home, Indigo. You need rest. It’s going to be awkward explaining this to your parents, and did you forget we have school tomorrow?”

“Fuck it,” Indigo scoffed, “We never do anything on the last day anyways.” 

“She’s right,” Lemon agreed. 

“We should see if Sunset is up for a sleepover at my house,” Sour said as they walked away, but close enough for the Rainbooms to hear her. “We’ll show her what true family means!”

“I’ll go and ask,” Sugarcoat agreed.

“Text us when you find out, Sugar,” Indigo smiled.

“Yes, yes, I will.”





Sunset closed the fridge door as she listened to Sugarcoat’s words. Indigo and Rainbow had a fight. Both took about the same amount of punches and kicks. But Indigo almost punched Rainbow’s face before she was stopped all together. 

Deep down, Sunset almost wanted Indigo to do the same thing again but this time, finish the job. But she wouldn’t admit that out loud, no.

Her attention really perked up when she heard Sugarcoat mention a sleepover at Sour’s house. This would mean she would get to see Sour’s house and get to know the Shadowbolts even more to understand her newfound friends and family. 

“Of course, I’ll pick you up and take you home,” Sugarcoat finished. “But only if you want to come with us.” 

“Yeah, I’ll come,” Sunset agreed. “Beats being alone.”

“It truly does, doesn’t it?”

Sunset hummed happily as she filled up two cups with hot chocolate. Her apartment was small, but it was good enough for the two of them.

“Hey, um, thanks for not sharing everything with the rest of the group,” Sunset nervously said, stirring her drink with a spoon. 

“Of course,” Sugarcoat replied, sipping her drink. “I wouldn’t want that shared either. It’s personal and you should only allow people you want to know about it know.” 

“So, you get it,” Sunset smiled.

Sugarcoat and shifted. “Of course, I do,” she bite her lip. “I’ve done it too. The scars are healed and gone. It was a long time ago. No one knows about it, not even the others. Not my parents. I was always careful where I cut.” 

“Wow…” Sunset whispered. “Out of all people, I didn’t think you would… do something like that. It just didn’t seem like you, Sugarcoat.”

“It never seems like someone,” Sugarcoat sighed. “But people still do it when things get too tough or when they hit the lowest point in their lives, and if they do, they’re just one level above suicide.” 

Sunset winced at the word. She got flashes of the bridge. “I guess so.” She looked downwards at the bridge and Sugarcoat realized her mistake and mumbled out a sorry. “No, it’s okay,” Sunset sighed, “I should be used to it but… I still can’t believe I tried to do that… I should’ve just seen someone to talk about it all.”

“Not everyone knows what to do, and not everyone will. Sometimes, they just need someone to spill it all out. But not everyone will find the one who’ll listen.”

Sunset smiled warmly. “Well, I found one. Well, she found me at the last moment before I climbed up the bridge’s edge to jump into freezing cold water with rocks at the bottom which could snap my neck.” 

Sugarcoat shivered at the thought. “Please don't even talk about that,” she pleaded a bit. “I don't want to think about that.” 

“Sorry,” Sunset laughed. “Couldn’t help it.”

Sugarcoat looked down and grumbled out in what sounded like a cute tone to Sunset, “Never talk about again, I hate thinking about it.” 

“I promise I’ll won’t talk about the attempt again, but because you asked so cutely,” Sunset chuckled.

Sugarcoat flushed up pure red and stuttered while Sunset just giggled at her friend.
> IX~Goodbye Canterlot High
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Goodbye Canterlot High

Sunset had never thought she would enjoy being in Canterlot High for the last time. She had always thought she would hate the last moment, but as of now, she could safely say she was more than ready to welcome the last day of her entire school career here in the school. All of the excitement was leaning towards heading into Crystal Prep Academy to be with her new friends, get her uniform, and meet new people.

She stayed away from all the students for the entire day.

If some were coming up to her, she would dash into a classroom to help out a teacher with marking or helped them clean up the classroom if they had prep. 

She stopped trying to look back at her past and wonder where it all went wrong, stopped looking for a way to make them all see they were wrong; just plainly stopped trying to be a Wondercolt.

Crystal Prep would offer a higher education, finally giving her an outlet to escape this hell.

In the form of friendship the Shadowbolts finally let her have for real.

It started out so hard to fit in Canterlot High after the Fall Formal. She thought the Rainbooms would show her the way into the light but even if they did, they still made fun of her past and always added the same old line of "no offense" to cover up how they really couldn't forget her mistakes. The Battle of the Bands had been a learning curve. She stayed silent as they welcomed Princess Twilight into the band when she could've been a good bandmate, watched as Rainbow nearly revealed herself on stage and stopped her, only to get into a fight with her friends. Only at the very end did they allow her into the band after Twilight had left for home.

Then came the current situation.

At first, she thought it was a joke. How they accused her simply because of some online account posting secrets, and yes, she could see how they thought it was her. But would she really want to go back to those times? No. They should've been able to see how she wouldn't. Yet, they couldn't. 

She was dropped like deadweight.

Yer not welcome here!

Then when it all went dark, at the lowest point into her life, she was saved. Not like how the Rainbooms supposedly saved her, no. It was a different kind of save. At the bridge, Sugarcoat stopped her with her bluntness and helped her see how she didn't need the Rainbooms, because her actual friends weren't in her life yet. Then they were. The real friends whom she spent so long looking and longing for finally came into the light when she transferred; well, signed the paperwork for the transfer. 

She finally felt happy when she met the Shadowbolts, but even then, she felt like they were hiding something. Like who the apparent nerd of Crystal Prep was. Of course, she found it odd Sour said she wouldn't know because she would have them, but she didn't question it because she finally felt happy for once.

How could she give up the feeling of being happy again?

Easy; she wouldn't.

"Thank you for your help, Miss Shimmer," said Mr. Kelp as he placed the last box filled with the old term's works and assignments. It was only a few more moments until Sunset tapped up the final box she was working on and placed it with the others. She nodded happily at the teacher and gave him a smile, "I'll miss seeing you around here," he sighed heavily as he handed her a card to wish her luck at her new school, "You always brought a smile to my face when you were the first and only one to do the homework. Not to mention all the other joyus weeks we've spent together."

"Thanks," Sunset said, taking the card, "I'll miss you too." She looked down and smiled brightly when she saw he remembered her favorite unit of the course. The card was filled with some staff's signatures and a couple of pictures of the unit they did before december rolled around.

She could easily make out the staff's signatures.

Mr. Cranky.

Mrs. Harshwhinny.

Miss Feathers.

Miss Hibiscus.

Ms. Pansy.

And of course, Mr. Kelp.

Those were only some of the signatures, but they were enough to point out because Sunset felt her heart twist. She didn't cry at all but she smiled sadly at him before giving him a hug and placed the card into her pocket. She offered to help him all throughout his prep block. "Do you need help getting these boxes to your car or to the dumpster?" she asked.

"Well, given about how many boxes there are, I'd like some help. We're taking these to my car," Mr. Kelp explained, "Just follow me and we should be done before lunch starts. Then, you can go and say goodbye to the rest of the fellow teachers who taught you."

"Geez, I'll have my hands full then," Sunset sighed as she picked up a box. "Also gotta help Vice Principal Luna out."

"Hmm? Luna too? Why, Sunset, how much did you offer our help? You should be spending the last day here without a single trace of worry."

"Yeah, well," Sunset mumbled, "Kinda hard too when you're the main suspect of Anon-A-Miss but no more! Not after today." 

"Well, I hope you know you're always welcome to come and visit my class any time!" Mr. Kelp beamed happily as they walked into the parking lot with boxes in their arms. "I'm sure next year's round of kids will need someone to help 'em out. And it'd be best for a student who pays attention to come in."

"I'm sure you'll get wonderful students."

"But will they pay attention?"

"You'd have to find out," Sunset laughed as he opened the trunk and she placed a box in. 

"Ah, I'm really gonna miss you around here, kids nowadays don't know how important it is to pay attention and study more often," He said, leaning on his car for a moment. He ran a hand through his hair and smiled at the sky before gazing back down at his student. "Now, let me ask you something. How did you figure out Crystal Prep Academy would be the best choice for you? Miss Cinch is a real toughie, I'm surprised she signed those papers as fast as she did." Sunset rubbed her arm, biting her lip and Mr. Kelp rose an eyebrow. "Something wrong?" he asked and Sunset shook her head before explaining why Cinch signed it quickly.

"--and that's how," Sunset finished, "That's the reason why." She watched as the teacher nodded and hummed. The way Sugarcoat managed to get Cinch to sign the papers reminded him of a similar event. 

"I remember before Cinch was the principal of CPA, and how she and Luna used to be good friends. She did something similar when Luna was... well, a bit like you at her teenage years, of course knock off the magical part." Mr. Kelp explained, chuckling, "Cinch heard about it and offered Luna a chance to come to Crystal Prep, even got the even stricter principal to sign it but Canterlot High's principal, back then, wouldn't do it. Saw Luna like his own daughter."

"Well, what happened?" Sunset asked. "How did Cinch react?"

Mr. Kelp sighed and went onto explaining how Cinch was mad at the news, and Luna tried to calm her down, but it wouldn't work. So, the friendship ended but they could still act like good friends. "Nowadays, Cinch will take great pride in stealing Wondercolts and changing them into Shadowbolts. If it happens, she'll smirk at Luna at the Friendship Games and her eyes will say it all about how another one came to her school and didn't stay in Canterlot." He finished, and Sunset nodded wordlessly.

It really sounded like Cinch missed Luna's friendship but just felt proud she managed to score a new Shadowbolt.





As soon as Sunset walked into the cafeteria, Granny Smith came out and smiled. The kind old lady had heard Sunset was delivering more indgreditions for her, she had been worried it might've been too heavy for the girl but it seemed like the teenager was handling things just fine. It made Granny relax more.

"Now listen here," Granny said, pulling her ear a bit. She gave a softer smile as she explained she wanted to know how she was doing at Crystal Prep the first week back to school, give or take a few days just to be sure. Sunset nodded. 

"Of course," replied Sunset. She knew how Granny thought every kid here was like her family and she could be protective to the ones she really thought to be her family. "I'll let you know when I'm settled down there. It might be the second week though, just to have a few more things to talk about."

"Well, ah want to know how yer doin'! So don't go not callin' me!" Granny said, pulling her cheek a bit before moving her back behind the counter into the kitchen and Sunset followed the box filled with indgreditions. Sunset placed the box down where Granny wanted it before waving goodbye and heading out.

"Sunset," A voice called out and Sunset frowned as she saw Rarity. But she was alone. "Please, I know you don't want to talk with me, but I do have something to say."

"Alright, fine, I'll bite. What do you want to to tell me?" Sunset asked, crossing her arms. "But, you only have a few minutes."

"Darling," Rarity gulped, nervously playing with her hands. She knew Sunset wouldn't want to talk to her and she wouldn't ever forgive her either. It was how the world worked, "I know for the past week or so, you've been suspected as the online account I will not mention by name, and I know we didn't listen to you at all. But, darling, when you were with the Shadowbolts, and posted the picture of you hanging out with them, the account posted at the same time as you. I know for a fact you can't be on two accounts at the same time."

"Rarity?" 

"Look, darling, what I'm trying to say is... I know for you're not Anon-A-Miss, and I'm sorry for saying the name, but I'm trying so hard to make them believe you're not as well but... they're so terribly into the idea that you are," Rarity sighed, she took a step forward, "If it's not too late, and I know it probably is, please forgive me?"

So... now she believes me? After all this time, she believes me now? What a joke... Sunset thought to herself as Rarity waited for her reply. The way her old friend was gazing at her with hope almost, almost, made Sunset guilty and forgive her but she held back. After so many attempts at trying, she was honestly drained of trying and she was sick of the Rainbooms. Even it was just Rarity. 

No way was she forgiving her.

Not this easy.

"Well, it's good to see you finally believe, after all this time," Sunset growled lowly as she held her head high. If she wasn't so upset and was actually sad about leaving Canterlot High than maybe, just maybe, she would have forgiven the first Rainboom to apologize to her. But as of now, there was no room left for them in her heart or her life. She didn't bother to give Rarity any hope, "But," she kept saying, "It's way too late. There's no way I could possibly forgive you after everything, and maybe one day I'll find it in me to do so." She turned away and took a step forward, "Rarity, do me a favor and stay away from me. Maybe if you're really sorry, you'll respect my wishes. You won't try to contact me, won't try to find me in public, and... you'll just frankly stay away from me all together."

"Of course, darl... Sunset," Rarity replied, stopping herself from saying her usual nickname for everyone.

"Thank you, and have a good Winter Break," Sunset smiled weakly before leaving the cafeteria. Her mind still in a bit of a shocked state to know it was Rarity of all Rainbooms, of everyone, to apologize to her first handedly before anyone else. But at least someone believed her other than Sugarcoat.





The package was left in Principal Celestia's office, and Sunset was thrilled to know her uniform at arrived at least. Principal Cinch was there herself to greet her new student, and the two talked about Sunset's strengths and weaknesses, and of course all throughout the talk, Cinch would just ask simple question before saying she wanted a detailed answer and Sunset tried her hardest to answer with detail. The principal had only nodded her head while Celestia and Luna watched before seeing a slight smile on Cinch's face and both managed weak smiles.

"It seems you'll fit in just nicely," Principal Cinch beamed. "Do, try on the uniform and let me know if you need a different size. You'll have the uniform before the start of your schooling career at Crystal Prep either way."

Sunset just nodded wordlessly and took the package, moving to try on the uniform. She was happy to know Cinch liked her, and was welcoming her to her school. She sighed heavily as she took one last look in the mirror in the bathroom of her old clothes. Her eyes moved to the unopened package holding her brand new uniform, and gulped slightly. This was it. No more Canterlot High after this moment. 

She would be a Shadowbolt.

No longer a Wondercolt. 

She would be on the winning side where the sun was bright and she could be happy.

She wouldn't be sad and on the losing side, she would be free and happy. She would be with her friends and Sugarcoat. She would be with Sugarcoat.

There was no doubt as she opened the package and slipped out of her old clothes, putting on her Crystal Prep uniform, rolling up the selves a bit. She hoped Cinch wouldn't mind, but she liked it the idea of having her selves up a bit and she smiled before slipping on the shoes and moved back to the office, her old clothes in her bag, which was around her shoulder as she carried the box with her.

"What do you think?" She asked shyly as she came into the office, putting the box down along with her bag. 

Cinch looked her up and down before smiling brightly at her, clapping her hands together. "You look stunning, like a true Crystal Prep student," She shook Sunset's hand. "Tell me, is the uniform the perfect size?" Sunset nodded. "Good, well, I'll take my leave. It was good to meet the newest student, and I'll enjoy seeing you at the school, Miss Shimmer. I hope Miss Sugarcoat will help you out until you're ready to be on your own."

"Goodbye, Principal Cinch," Sunset replied as her new principal left and she turned to face her old ones as the bell rang, signaling the end of the day. The end of Sunset's time at Canterlot High and she sighed heavily before making her way out of the office, gazing over her shoulder at the two sisters. "Goodbye Principal Celestia, and Vice-Principal Luna."

"Goodbye Sunset," responded the two sisters.

When she was outside, she barely looked back as she walked away from her former school.

"Goodbye Canterlot High. I will never miss you."
> X~Winter Break(1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Winter Break(1)

It was the first day of Winter Break and Sunset was already feeling refreshed. Memories of yesterday flashed through her mind, and brought a wide, huge, smile on her face which used to be expressionless. 

Her eyes went from left to right throughout her entire apartment, but they fell own a certain blade on her bedside table and she gulped. She hadn't touched that since. Her body ached at the horrible memories of the blade slicing across her skin, feeling blood run down her arm as she cut higher up, even running down her stomach. 

She hated those memories.

Yet, at the same time, at the time, it gave her escape. Escape from hell, escape from everything. A part of her wanted to do it again, for whatever reason she had left to do so, but the other part didn't want to even touch it again, even it was to rid the blade from her apartment.

Before Sunset could even touch it, her phone rang. 

"Hello?" said Sunset as she picked up her phone.

"Sunset, hi," Sunny replied, a few shifting noises from the other line. It gave Sunset the impression that she had just gotten out of bed and was moving towards her closet. 

Sunset could barely hear Sunny's words as she picked up the blade, looking over it before checking out her old scars. Her stomach turned and she held her breath as she finally broke back into reality. Sunny was still talking.

Wait... how did Sunny get her number anyways?

"Sunset, did you hear me?"

"Oh! Sorry, no... could you repeat that once more?"

"I asked if you were still down for the sleepover at Sour's, she called me last night and double checked with everyone." Sunny repeated her question. "Oh, and, Sugar gave me your number if you're wondering."

"That explains it," Sunset laughed. "Yeah, I'm still down." 

Even though it brings up unpleasant memories of my time with the Rainbooms... 

"Oh yeah, Sugar wanted you to call her, something about... gifts." Sunny said, pulling out some clothes to wear for the day. 

"Thanks, I'll call her later."

"Great, see you there," Sunny replied, "It's on Christmas Eve."

When she hung up, she traced her fingers over the blade, her reflection shining back at her and she sighed deeply. This wouldn't be good. She should get rid of it. 

But she didn't.

Instead, she took a deep breath and felt numb once more, she placed the blade on a long healed scar and closed her eyes tightly before slowly dragging it across her skin. Holding back a wince as she felt blood slowly start to drip down her arm and took a few more deep breaths to calm herself down.

This was bad.

She hadn't cut in so long, at least a week or so, and she was sure she wouldn't do it again, yet, here she was. Cutting away at her skin like no tomorrow. She was really risking everything right now. What would her friends say if they found her doing this?

"I should call Sugarcoat," Sunset whispered to herself, reaching for her phone despite the sprung of pain. "She wants to talk to me anyways."

The phone rang a few times before a sleepy voice echoed from the other line.

"Hello?"

"Sugarcoat, you wanted to talk with me?" Sunset asked, trying to keep her voice calm. 

"At eight in the morning? Are you mad? I was thinking ten, at the very most," Sugacoat replied.

Sunset smiled. "Tell Sunny that. She was the one who called me early in the morning, telling me to call you as you wanted to speak with me."

"Of course Sunny told you that. She was always the one for a teaser." 

"What do you mean?" Sunset asked, confused.

"I mean, she's always trying to..." Sugarcoat trailed off. "Nevermind. It's not important."

"Are you sure?"

Sugarcoat nodded. "Yes, I'm sure."

Sunset rubbed the back of her neck as she got up, placing the blade down where it belonged and walked towards the window to look outside. Snow covered the ground as the sun shining brightly through a few clouds in the bright blue sky, and she smiled. "Well, what did you want to talk about?" 

"We're all getting each other gifts," Sugarcoat explained, "I wanted to ask if you wanted to shop with me so you can get the girls something."

"But how will I get yours?"

"Go with Sunny or Indigo," Sugarcoat shrugged.

Sunset could only smile. She would have to make a call later.





Indigo wasn't so sure when Sunset called her and asked to meet at the mall, but from the way Sunset greeted her, she could only guess this was about Sugarcoat's present. There was a few things Indigo could think Sugarcoat might like, but she also wanted to see what Sunset thought about it.

Sure she knew her ex a lot better than Sunset, but the newest Shadowbolt seemed so into this, Indigo held back on commenting on any item Sunset thought she might like.

"Sooo," Indigo said picking up an item, checking it out before placing it back, "A gift for Sugar, huh?"

"Yup," Sunset nodded. "I figured it'd be best to get her gift first, ya know?"

Indigo shrugged, "Sure." 

"Anyways, what do you think about this?" Sunset asked, holding up a possible gift.

"Na, Sugar isn't really into video games," Indigo shook her head. "I mean, yeah, she'll play 'em with us, but she isn't into it like me and Lemon are. She's more... like a bookworm, like the nerd."

Sunset stopped. "You never told me. Who is the nerd?" she asked. "Just tell me now so I don't have to find out when I come to Crystal Prep. Please, Indigo?"

"Fine, but don't let the others know," Indigo sighed, putting her hands into her pockets. "The nerd of Crystal Prep is Dean Cadance sister-in-law and Shining Armor's little sister. Twilight Sparkle." Sunset's eyes widened. This world's Twilight! She would be at the same school as her. "Everyone, and I mean everyone, doesn't like her."

"Why?"

"There's a lot of reasons. But I think the main one is because she's able to finish all her tests early and she has her own little lab or whatever. She's also Principal Cinch's prize student." Indigo explained. "She'll be able to graduate earlier than everyone else."

Sunset sucked in a breath. "And I shouldn't befriend her?"

"Unless you want the entire school disliking you too," Indigo answered. "Look, just stick with us." 

Sunset nodded numbly, but silently promised to meet this world's Twilight and try to be her friend. If her friends caught her and 'saved' her, she would wait until after school to try it. Or at least until her friends weren't watching and weren't with her at the time.

"Okay."

Indigo picked up a book and smiled. "Here," she threw it at Sunset, who caught it with ease, "Sugar might like that book. I don't think she has it."

"Thanks! I'll go buy it." 

Indigo watched as she paid for the book before leaning against the counter and smirked. "Ya know... I think I know she might like something else for Christmas... that is if you're willing to get her something else..."

Sunset gazed at Indigo, tilting her head. "What is it?"

"Well... it's this," Indigo smirked before leaning into to whisper into Sunset's ear and watched as Sunset's face light up with a pinkish-reddish color and laughed while Sunset looked at her, jaw dropped. "What? I know she'll like it."

"Wha...? We're just friends!" Sunset hissed. "If anything, someone else has a better chance."

"Name one person." Indigo challenged.

Sunset thought for a moment before answering with, "Sour Sweet."

"Sour has a better chance than you with Sugar?" Indigo hummed. "Well, I mean, I can see it. But let's be honest, I think you got the better shot than Sour does. She'll try to confess but, uh, it probably won't go well."

"Do you even know how Sour confesses? I mean, sure, I don't, but do you?"

Indigo shrugged and walked out of the store, Sunset following her.





"Another post..." Applebloom said as she stuck out her tongue, typing away at her phone's keyboard before attaching the photo and pressing post. "Done!"

"How many is that now?" Sweetie Bell asked.

Scootaloo hummed as checked the account number of post. "It's about... forty now. Maybe forty one with the incoming post AB just posted."

The farm girl leaned back on the bench and blinked when she saw Sunset walking with Indigo Zap. The girl looked flushed up while Indigo laughed about something and her ears picked up one part of their conversation. It was something about Sunset's apparent crush on someone, and it looked like her friends heard it too.

"Hey, Sunset's got a crush?" asked Sweetie Bell. "That's soo cute!"

"Ah know, but we can't go postin' it," Applebloom sighed. "It'll ruin our hard work."

"Do you mean our hard work that made our school hell?" Scootaloo questioned, crossing her arms. "I'm amazed no one has noticed our secrets haven't been posted."

Sweetie Bell sighed, "Tell me about it. Rarity doesn't seem to notice Anon-A-Miss anymore, even though it was the topic of dinner for the entire week when we did start up the account. She was soo focused on her secrets being online that she didn't question about my secrets not even seeing the internet."

"Should we post one of ours? Just to make it look like we're not possible suspects if someone figures out it's not Sunset."

"Ah guess," Applebloom sighed, "But not somethin' extreme."

"Oh! I know!" Sweetie Bell piped up, taking Applebloom's phone and typing one of her secrets. 

It would save them from getting exposed, but it would also serve Anon-A-Miss' popularity.
> XI~Winter Break(2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Winter Break(2)

Well, that writes Sweetie off of the possible real Anon-A-Miss list...

Rarity sighed heavily as she looked up to find her friends deep in their original conversation for a new song. She hadn't done much to contribute as she was more busy into looking at her phone, trying to figure out the real Anon-A-Miss. She, at first, thought it could be Sweetie Bell but one of Sweetie's secrets had just been posted, so that was a no-go.

She snapped out of her thoughts when Rainbow snapped her fingers in front of her.

Goodness, I hope they didn't notice... 

She payed more attention as Rainbow explained the new song idea, what lyrics, and what tone would come with the song. Fluttershy had already began writing out the lyrics, Pinkie helping her out in anyway she could. 

Rainbow had finished explaining the entire song when Fluttershy asked her about one set of lyrics, and Rainbow moved to see what she could do. Applejack, on the other hand, kept looking at her phone as well. Probably texting away with Big Mac and Applebloom, having her siblings on a group chat so they could always know what their grandmother wanted from them. 

"Applejack, what do you think about the new song?" Rarity asked as she took her cup and sipped it lightly.

"It's good," replied Applejack.

"Oh? You always have something to say about a new song being written. After all, you are the honesty element of our group, perhaps you tell us what you think," Rarity said.

Applejack sighed and put her phone away before grabbing the sheet when Fluttershy offered and she took a few minutes to look over each line and began mumbling the words. A small smile appeared on the farm girl's face as she handed the paper back and nodded.

"Ah like it," Applejack smiled. "It's good."

"Ooh! We should talk Christmas now!" Pinkie piped up, jumping a bit in her seat. "Who's place are we going to stay at!? And ooh! What should we get each other!? We should make groups to see what team can get the better gifts!"

Rainbow laughed. "Pinkie, firstly, we're at AJ's." To which Applejack agreed. "And secondly, who cares what we get each other?" 

"I do!" Pinkie said, smiling. "I wanna get you all the very best gifts!"

"Ya always go all out," Applejack laughed, shaking her head. "Do what ya always do, Pinks. We'll love 'em anyways."

The Rainbooms laughed before grabbing their items and leaving Sugarcube Corner, ready to head over to Rarity's place for the day before they left for their own homes. They all agreed they wouldn't see each other until their sleepover arrived, giving them enough time to buy and wrap the gifts.

When Rarity got home, she noticed her sister with her own friends and smiled at them before heading up into her room. She prayed her parents would be home in time from their vacation in time for Christmas this time, they had always been at work or away around the time of Christmas, leaving Rarity to take care of Sweetie Bell.

Rainbow sat down in Rarity's chair. 

"When are your parents coming back?" She asked. "When was the last Christmas when they were even home anyways?"

"I believe... it was three christmas ago," Rarity replied, "And I hope they'll be back before Christmas. Sweetie will be thrilled to know our parents are back for the holiday."   

Applejack sat down on her best friend's bed. "Ah bet they will be. But aren't they always off on a vacation?"

"More or less," Rarity sighed. "Sometimes it work."

Fluttershy played with her hair. "Is Sweetie going to be spending Christmas will her friends too if they're not back?"

"Most likely."

No one seemed to notice the CMC gazing into the room by the small crack in the door before vanishing into Sweetie Bell's room to talk more about their plan to ensure they weren't found out.





The next day, Rarity took Sweetie with her to the mall to buy their friends presents. While Sweetie was finding her presents with ease, Rarity was taking a bit longer than she normally did, and it didn't go unnoticed by her little sister.

"Rarity, what's wrong? You're just staring at the piece of clothing, you're usually buying it or you're moving onto another piece," Sweetie said, worrying masking her voice.

Rarity sighed. "I don't know what's wrong, Sweetie." 

"Are you going to buy Fluttershy the shirt or are you going to get her something else?" 

"I might as well buy her the shirt. I know she'll look good in it, and if I decide otherwise, I'll just make her one myself. A much better version now that I think of it." 

Sweetie smiled softly as they left the store, and headed towards the video game shop to buy Rainbow's present. "I'm going over to Scootaloo for Christmas Eve with Applebloom, okay?" 

Rarity nodded. "Alright, Sweetie. It seems like we're both staying with our friends, yes?"

"Yup."

Rarity was quick to buy the game Rainbow wouldn't stop talking about during their schooldays. She looked over the back to see what it was about and snickered. It seemed like a game Rainbow would enjoy and she hoped she would be able to have fun with the game before suddenly being done with it. 

Rainbow always did go through her video games quickly.

After buying Rainbow's gift, they moved onto the gifts for Applebloom and Applejack, and then to Pinkie's gift, and finally to Scootaloo's present. 

When driving home, Sweetie asked next to her in the front, and Rarity bite her lip as she kept gazing back at her little sister and took a few breaths before speaking up as she turned right. 

Time to test something out...

"Sweetie, may I ask you something?" asked Rarity.

"Uh... okay," Sweetie nodded slowly. "What is it?"

Rarity gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles began to turn even whiter than they already were. "Anon-A-Miss hasn't posted anything today, and they haven't posted anything about Applebloom and Scootaloo... weird, isn't it? One of your secrets have been posted, but it isn't too bad unlike everyone else."

"Y-Yeah, I noticed," Sweetie gulped. She had a bad feeling.

"Any idea as to why your secret that was posted wasn't bad like all the other students? Any idea at all?" 

Sweetie shifted, and gazed around. "No." She shook her head. "I have no idea... maybe it's all they could find out about me?"

"But they managed to dig up dirt on everyone else to the point of humiliation," Rarity pressed, "Yet all they could find out about you was some uninteresting secret. I expected much more from Anon-A-Miss than that secret. Maybe something more like everyone else's secrets."

"Rarity... where are you going with this?" asked Sweetie, almost afraid to know the answer.

Rarity took a huge breath before keeping her eyes on the road, trying to make it seem like nothing was wrong. It was clear her sister was uncomfortable, and it made her think twice about her sister being off the list.

"I'm not going anywhere with this. I'm just confused."

"I am too. I expected more as well, but... they didn't go more with my secret."

"When we get home, I'll help you warp your friends' presents and then I'll do my own, okay? Then, we'll make lunch together, alright?" Rarity offered and Sweetie nodded.

She didn't miss how Sweetie was quick to pull out her phone.
> XII~Christmas Eve(Shadowbolts)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christmas Eve(Shadowbolts)

It was fortunate for Sunset when Sugarcoat arrived to pick her up in her car, giving her enough time to think over Indigo's words for a second Christmas present. Throughout the ride, Sunset was feeling nervous because no doubt would Indigo set up the perfect moment for her to go through with the plan. She didn't know how Indigo somehow found out how she felt towards Sugarcoat but she did.

It might've been because Indigo had been in a relationship with the blunt girl before, so she knew the signs. Strangely, after Indigo's suggestion, she didn't feel embarrassed and suddenly found herself actually liking the idea. But that didn't stop her from feeling nervous now.

Following Sugarcoat into Sour's house, Sunset saw the others and waved at them happily. Sour's parents were out for the holiday, giving them the entire house minus Sour's little brother. However, he didn't bother them at all, just staying in his room playing his video games, only coming down for dinner and if Sour wanted to see him. 

All presents were placed underneath the tree, and Sour had made them all drinks and placed their cups down in front of the right person before sitting down next to Sunny. In a few short minutes, they were all chatting away, laughing at the most random things, and they began playing some games Sour managed to get from her brother's room, of course, she had to take him to the Gamestop to get a new game in exchange for the set of games she wanted to borrow.

Sunset could only manage what it was like living with him twenty four seven until she was able to move out, but from what she could see, Sour truly did love her little brother. 

They barely noticed how much time had passed, and before she knew it, they had ordered pizza.

While eating away, they had invited Sour's little brother down to join them in a round of Mario Kart, and he smiled widely before picking up a Wii remote and joined up. He faced off with Indigo and Lemon, and nearly won until Indigo beat him at the last minute, and he huffed before asking for a new round, and this time Sunny joined in. 

This had to be better than all those sleepovers with the Rainbooms. In fact, Sunset didn't think she ever had much fun before and she loved it. However, she kept thinking about what Indigo said about this world's Twilight. She went to Crystal Prep, was disliked by the entire school, and they wanted her to stray away from the poor girl. She wanted to make sure Twilight had at least one friend, but she also didn't want to lose the Shadowbolts as her friends. 

By the time the clock struck nine, Sour paused the game, despite her brother's groans, and smiled before telling him they could continue the game once they all opened their one present. That got her brother happy and jumped up to race to find his own present, and picked out the one Sour got him. 

Once the others all got their own present, Sunset watched as the others opened it up before gazing down at her's. It didn't say who it was from, which got her a bit nervous. 

She didn't realize all eyes were on her now.

"Oh, uh.... sorry," Sunset sheepishly smiled. "I was distracted."

"It's okay," Lemon smiled brightly. "Open your gift!"

"But... who's it from?" asked Sunset.

Sour smiled sweetly. "From all of us," her smile turned into a frown, "Even if we did have a huge fight on what we were getting you!"

Sunset held back a laugh. "You all had a huge fight?"

"We couldn't agree," Sugarcoat shrugged. "We finally managed to decide on a gift yesterday."

"But!" Sunny protested. "Best for last."

"Best for last?" Sour's brother asked, raising an eyebrow. "Sour, you stayed up all night trying to convince them on the gift idea you wanted. Plus, you hate last minute gifts."

Sour smacked her brother on the head. "Shut up, Hawkthorn." 

"Ow!" Hawkthorn rubbed the back of his head. "This is why I usually don't talk to you unless I have too or unless we're playing a video game together."

Sunset laughed before opening up the box, and picking out a picture frame. Inside the frame was a picture of all of them, having to be taken by Sugarcoat's father, under Indigo's request, and she smiled sweetly. "You fought about this...?" she asked. "I mean, yeah, it's awesome and I love it, but you fought about it?"

"Originally we thought about getting you some boring old clothes or maybe a video game," Lemon explained, "But after some time we decided against it. We fought about the new idea until we finally agreed on the picture. Sugarcoat said she could print it out, making sure it was in color if we got the frame."

Indigo smiled. "Annd, we made sure the frame was painted with our logo."

It was true. The frame was in the colors of the Shadowbolts and had the logo.

"I love it," Sunset whispered. "Thanks."

Hawkthorn picked up his remote, "Can we continue our game now? I'm so close in beating Indigo!"

"You wish," Indigo smirked. "Sour, unpause the game."

"This'll be interesting," Sunny whispered to Sugarcoat, who nodded in agreement.





Somewhere in the night, Sunset had woke up to find they were all still out in the living room, blankets scattered across the floor, along with pillows. The Shadowbolts and Hawkthorn were peacefully sleeping. She was the only one awake now, and she sighed heavily. 

She grabbed her jacket and pulled out the one thing she wished she hadn't taken with her. The blade. She had cleaned it up to make sure there were no dry blood, and she thought about this twice before deciding. Carefully, she stepped over her friends and made her way to the bathroom, flicking on the lights before rolling up her pajama sleeves. 

Her arm hadn't been touched in a few days, allowing her scar to heal but she couldn't take it anymore. Cutting always made her feel a bit better, and she knew she shouldn't do it anymore. What if the Shadowbolts found out about this? 

What would happen if Hawkthorn saw this?

He wasn't old enough to know what cutting meant, but he would surely learn it in school and would ask Sour what cutting actually was when you did to yourself. Which would help them figure out why Hawkthorn was asking. 

Pushing those thoughts out of her mind, she placed the blade on arm and slowly moved it across, feeling blood run down her arm once more before she moved onto the next scar she made. It went on for a few minutes before she moved to her other arm.

Before she could even start, the door opened and Sunset jumped and whipped her head around to see Sugarcoat standing there. Her eyes wide behind her glasses and Sunset gulped before nervously shifting.

"How long?" Sugarcoat asked.

"Huh?" Sunset replied.

Sugarcoat crossed her arms, her night shirt moving a bit. "I asked you how long you've been cutting for. I thought you stopped after the bridge event."

"I did!" Sunset said. "But... I started again recently.. it's been a few days since."

"Let me see your arm," Sugarcoat sighed. "I need to clean it up."

"But you didn't do anything..."

"I know, but you won't clean it very well, not with one hand. Just let me clean it up, okay? The others won't be happy to know about this. If they find out."

Sunset sighed and held out her arm. "I was more worried about Hawkthorn finding out..."

"He knows about this," Sugarcoat mumbled, "His friend did this once too. Sour told us, and she was dead scared. She thought Hawkthorn might start doing it so she removed any sharp objects from his reach, only giving it to him when he asked and gave the reason. She had to be there just to be sure."

"Geez, how old was his friend?"

"Thirteen." 

Sunset nodded slowly. "I mean... his friend was a teenager, so... I guess I understand... but... how did Hawkthorn find out?" 

"Saw him in the school's bathroom," Sugarcoat explained, "He told Sour and she went mad but made sure his friend was okay. I don't want her seeing this. No one needs to see this."

"I'm sorry for doing this..." Sunset mumbled, gazing down. 

Sugarcoat nodded without speaking before finishing cleaning Sunset's arm up. "There, all cleaned. Where's the sharp object you used? I'm getting rid of it." Sunset handed the blade over and Sugarcoat placed it in the garbage. "Promise me you won't do it again."

"I promise..."

Somehow, Sugarcoat didn't believe it, but she trusted Sunset on her word for now.
> XIII~Christmas Eve(Rainbooms)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christmas Eve(Rainbooms)

"Have a wonderful time at Scootaloo's, Sweetie." Rarity smiled as she watched Granny take the two girls up to their friend's house while she went back inside to see her friends chatting around the tree, sitting on the couch and loveseat.

"They gone?" Applejack asked as she helped Pinkie bring in some snacks and drinks. "Applebloom has been talkin' about going to Scoots for awhile, glad she's finally off to have some fun."

"Yes," Rarity agreed, "Sweetie had done the same thing..."

Rainbow rose an eyebrow upwards. "Something wrong?"

"Oh! No, I'm fine," Rarity chuckled, waving her hand. 

"You've been spacing out a lot..." Fluttershy noted, playing with her hair. "You barely spoke to us during our facetime two days ago."

"She's right!" Pinkie agreed, looking closely at Rarity. "There must be something wrong!"

Rarity shook her head and laughed nervously. "I'm fine, really! There's nothing to worry about. I'm just thinking about next semester is all. Now that's Sunset is a Shadowbolt, we'll have to face her in this year's Friendship Games. That is, if she joins the team, and we're in the right grade to sign up."

"We'll totally beat them!" Rainbow beamed before noticing her friends' looks. "What?"

"We always lose. How are we going to beat them? And why are we talking about this now?" 

Rainbow shrugged. "Rarity brought it up."

Rarity sighed and shook her head, taking her cup and sipping lightly before thinking back to how quick Sweetie had reached for her phone when they shopped for the presents and frowned. She normally never did that. She would give it a few minutes at least, and judging by the fast reaction, there was something not being told. Rarity had always told Sweetie to be truthful to her, and she could sense there was lies being played out now.

The others didn't seem to notice how the CMC would be a bit awkward around them now, but she understood they were hiding something, they just wouldn't admit it.

"Yo, AJ, got any games?" Rainbow asked, standing up. "We shouldn't just keep on talking."

"Ah think we've got some games," Applejack nodded. "C'mon, RD, let's take a look and pick out one."

Fluttershy gazed over to Rarity and noted how she was on her phone. "You're on your phone a lot now, Rarity." She said, shifting. "Is something going on?"

"I'm sorry, I just keep refreshing Sweetie's Mystable account." Rarity explained.

"Why?" Pinkie asked, chewing on a cupcake.

Rarity sighed, "She's been acting strange." 

"How strange?" 

"When we went out to get your presents, I asked her about her secret on the Anon-A-Miss account, and she got nervous," Rarity explained. "Her secret wasn't as bad as everyone else. Didn't you noticed that?"

Fluttershy nodded slowly. "But why bring it up?"

"She acted nervously, Fluttershy," Rarity sighed, crossing her arms. "Do I need to be more blunt?" 

Pinkie's jaw dropped. "Are you saying it might be her?"

"Why else would she act nervously?"

Before Fluttershy and Pinkie could respond, Rainbow and Applejack returned with a box of old Wii games. The two didn't notice how Fluttershy and Pinkie looked, having to be a bit uncertain about Rarity's claims. But it would explain how Scootaloo and Applebloom's secrets weren't revealed.

Did Rainbow and Applejack even notice that?

Surely not as they didn't seem to notice the others uninterested in playing the games. 

"Applejack, dear, might I ask you something?" Rarity asked.

"Sure," Applejack nodded, leaning back on the couch to look at her friend. "What's up?"

Rarity shared a look with Fluttershy and Pinkie before looking at Applejack. "Did you notice how Applebloom's secrets weren't revealed? And Scootaloo's, Rainbow?" 

"Where are ya going with this?" Applejack asked. "Ah rather we not talk about Anon-A-Miss."

"At least, not now," Rainbow sighed.

Rarity shook her head. "No, we're talking about this! Sweetie's secret wasn't bad!"

"She's right," Fluttershy agreed. "I saw Sweetie's secret, it wasn't bad at all. Scootaloo and Applebloom's secrets weren't revealed, which is odd because everyone's secrets minus theirs and Sunset's weren't revealed."

"Ah don't know why yer asscuing Applebloom! She ain't done nothin'!" growled Applejack. Rarity huffed before grabbing her phone and thrusting it in Applejack's face, earning a confused look from the farm girl. "Rares?"

"Call them then," Rarity hissed. "Call them, and ask about why their secrets haven't been revealed. Or should I? Three seconds to decide right now."

One second passed.

No one answered, not even a sound.

Two seconds passed.

Nothing came from the reply.

Three seconds.

Rarity could see how Applejack was testing her to see if she was actually serious, and taking the challenge, Rarity placed down AJ's phone and picked up her own, hitting the speed dial and calling Sweetie. AJ and RD shared a look before gazing back at Rarity, their faces slightly pale.

When Sweetie answered, Rarity kept her voice calm despite feeling a bit angry.

"Hello, Sweetie, can you put this on speaker? I want to ask you and your friends a few questions..." Rarity said, trying to keep calm.

"Er... sure," Sweetie nervously tugged at her collar before hitting the speaker button. "You're on speaker."

"Now, where to start..."





At first, they had just been drinking their pop while watching a few movies, but then it had been Scootaloo's idea to post a new secret on the account, pulling out her Anon-A-Miss email to show a number of emails from many students. A few new one popped up and they had searched through the emails, trying to pick out a good one.

They knew it was almost pointless by now, they could just end it now. Delete the account and watch everyone settle down, and see how they treated Sunset in the halls. 

"Found one," Scootaloo beamed widely. "What do you think? Post one about Flash?"

"Maybe," Sweetie shrugged. "Remember, Rarity almost caught us."

"That's only because you slipped up!" Scootaloo growled. "You should've been more calm when answering her questions."

"The ride home was silent but I could tell she wanted to ask more, Scoots! Don't go blaming it on me! We should've made it more... interesting."

"But we didn't," Applebloom sighed. 

Sweetie ran a hand through her hair. "We gotta be more careful now. She'll be on our case until we post more secrets about us, making them more interesting than mine."

"But how? We don't want to go making us a laughing stock," Scootaloo replied. "We can't be like the others."

"I don't see how we're going to avoid it otherwise!" Sweetie groaned, rubbing her temples. "We have no choice. We have to post our deepest secrets." 

Applebloom shared a look with Scootaloo before gazing back at Sweetie, biting her lip unsure. 

"Ah don't like this, but Sweetie's right, we gotta," Applebloom agreed. "We'll post mine."

"Or mine," Scootaloo sighed, giving in. 

"No," Sweetie shook her head. "We post Flash's before we go onto ours tomorrow." 

Scootaloo's jaw dropped. "Tomorrow!?" she squeaked. "We can't post tomorrow, Sweetie! Everyone wants a peaceful Christmas, and we should wait until Boxing Day."

"And everyone wanted a peaceful week before Winter Break," Sweetie spat back, "And look how that turned out."

Agreeing, Scootaloo logged into the account and clicked for a new post. She began typing away before Sweetie's phone began ringing with Rarity's ringtone. The three stopped and shared a look before Sweetie answered, looking pale and nervous as ever.

They prayed it wouldn't show in Sweetie's voice.

"Hello?" Sweetie asked slowly. "What do you need, Rarity?"

"Hello, Sweetie, can you put this on speaker? I want to ask you and your friends a few questions..." Rarity replied, trying to keep calm. It made Sweetie nervous, but she nodded.

"Er... sure," Sweetie nervously tugged at her collar before hitting the speaker button. "You're on speaker."

"Now, where to start..."

They could see this going downhill.
> XIV~Christmas Day(Shadowbolts)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christmas Day(Shadowbolts)

It had been Hawkthorn to wake up first before grinning ear to ear and jumped on Sour, who woke up with a glare at her little brother, before rolling over to shake Sunny awake, who woke up Lemon. Of course Lemon just yelled out Christmas, waking up Indigo, Sugarcoat, and Sunset. 

Indigo groaned loudly before rubbing her eyes. "The fuck Lemon!?" she growled, ignoring Sour's glare for cursing. "It's literally, like, six in the morning. Can't it wait until, say, eight?"

"Nope!" Lemon shook her head. "Not today, dude!"

"Jesus," Sunset whispered. "You'd make a good alarm clock for how loud you can get, Lemon." 

"Thanks." Lemon smiled.

Sunny rolled her eyes before stretching her arms. "That's Lemon for you, always taking things as a compliment, unless she can tell it's an insult, then you'll get her all silent before she unleashes one right back at you." Lemon threw her a thumbs up.

"Yup!"

Sunset laughed before rubbing her arm, catching Sugarcoat's gaze before gulping, giving a nervous smile. "Anyways, should we get breakfast before opening up presents? Or should we jump right in because Hawkthorn is eyeing his presents like there's no tomorrow."

"I'm just seeing which one's bigger!" Hawkthorn protested, puffing out his cheeks. 

Sour patted her brother's head. "Sure you are."

"Let's do presents first," Indigo commented. "It's what I've always done." 

"Presents than breakfast, sounds good!" Lemon replied.

A few minutes later, wrapping paper was on the floor, breakfast was made and everyone was chatting away, Hawkthorn playing his new video games for the girls to watch as he created his character of an High Elf, and everything was good and joyful. Like a christmas should be until Sunset felt her phone buzz and she groaned. 

Another text of hateful names.

But, it wasn't that at all.

Her eyes widened when she realized it was a handful of texts apologizing for thinking she was Anon-A-Miss, and she quickly went onto MyStable to see Sweetie Bell, Applebloom, and Scootaloo confessed they were Anon-A-Miss, a bunch of replies cursing at them, along with threats. 

But they surely wouldn't confess out of the blue, would they? Who caught them?

"Watcha looking at?" Indigo asked, peering over her shoulder to see the post. "Those three? Hey! Ain't Sweetie Bell the one with the post of a makeup fail? I saw a lot of comments about how cute that was for an freshman. But, she looked like she was eight in the picture."

"But who solved it?" Sunset questioned. 

"Who cares? Everyone knows you're innocent!" Indigo beamed. "But they ain't going to get the chance to properly tell you they're sorry because you're at Crystal Prep now... which reminds me, what about Sugarcoat's final present?"

Sunset flushed up. "Do we have to do this right now?"

"Yup! Look, I'll set it up," Indigo offered. "I'll tell her you wanna say something in private. Use the hallway."

"No, I'll..." Sunset took a deep breath before standing up. "I'll do it myself." 

Indigo nodded. "Go get her tiger!"

Sunset rolled her eyes before tapping Sugarcoat on the shoulder and telling her she needed to speak with in private, and Sour told them to speak in her bedroom, giving them enough space to talk, and Sunset thanked her before pulling Sugarcoat's hand towards Sour's bedroom.

Inside the bedroom, Sunset rubbed her shoulder and took a deep breath before speaking.

"Look, I know this might sound awkward and weird..." Sunset started, nervously tapping her fingers together, "But, look, you were the first person to ever listen to me during this whole mess, and yeah, I could talk back and forth with one of my other friends who lives... in a different state, but even she couldn't do much..."

Sugarcoat rose an eyebrow. "Where are you going with this?"

"I'm... I'm trying to say that, you might not... you know, feel the same... but I know that..." Sunset gulped, "I know I feel this way for you and I never really realized it...."

"Are you trying to say you like me?" Sugarcoat asked, getting to the point. 

"Yeah, I am."

Sugarcoat took a moment. "And you thought to confess this way by yourself?"

Sunset laughed, rubbing her neck. "Well, actually, Indigo gave me the idea when we were shopping for your presents, and she thought it would be a good final present for you..."

"And here I thought she'd be the one to confess," Sugarcoat smiled. "I know she still has some sort of feeling towards me, but to be honest, I'm glad she didn't."

"Really?" Sunset asked, eyes wide. "So... you'll have me? You're okay with me?"

Sugarcoat nodded. "Yes, I'm willing to give it a shot."





The rest of the day, the group had went out for a walk. It wasn't the best thing in the world, but it was another way to spend time together. At one point, they went to the park and started to have fun there. Lemon rolling around in the snow with Indigo, while Sunny and Sour started up a snowball fight.

Sugarcoat and Sunset just sat down to speak, Sunset wrapped an arm around Sugarcoat's waist to pull her closer. As much as Sugarcoat didn't like the idea of public affection, she didn't mind it. As long as it didn't go overboard, wanting affection every few minutes.

"Anyone want some hot chocolate?" Sunset asked as she and Sugarcoat stood up. 

"Me!" Indigo and Lemon said at the same time.

Sunny nodded. "Sure."

"Alright, why not?" Sour agreed.

Sunset smiled and nodded. "We'll go get them, just stay and have fun."

They headed into Sugarcube Corner and grabbed the order of hot chocolate, and while Sunset paid for the order, Sugarcoat sat the cup holder down on a table to adjust her jacket a bit before hearing the door opened, and one look told her this wouldn't end well.

The Rainbooms stood by the doors and they looked guilty, expect for Rarity. That's when Sugarcoat saw a trio behind them, looking equally, maybe more, guilty than the Rainbooms did and she frowned. Surely this would be a good sight to see, but she could tell Sunset wouldn't be happy.

Sunset turned back to her girlfriend after paying. "Let's go..." She stopped when she saw the look on Sugar's face. "Er, Sugar, what's wrong?"

"Sunset!" Pinkie's usual voice piped up and Sunset paled. "We need to talk with you!"

"And I don't want to talk with you," Sunset replied, taking Sugar's hand and the cup holder in her other hand. "Now, if you excuse us..."

"But we really need to talk with ya," Applejack pleaded. "Just give us a few moments."

"No," Sunset shook her head.

Rarity bite her lip. "Please, Sunset, we have the real Anon-A-Miss with us..."

Sunset sighed heavily and shook her head, "I know. I saw the post." She glared at the trio of freshman and growled deeply, narrowing her eyes. "Little fuckers, messing up my life so badly... but you did do two good things for me."

"We did?" Sweetie asked. "What's that?"

"You helped me meet Sugar," Sunset replied, kissing Sugarcoat's head. "That's one, and the other is you helped me meet my real friends through Sugar. So, I thank you for that."

Rainbow rubbed her neck. "It's... like, too late for sorries?"

"Way too late," Sunset frowned, "Now leave me alone."

They left before the Rainbooms could get another word out.
> XV~Christmas Day(Rainbooms)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christmas Day(Rainbooms)

Rainbow groaned as the two left the shop, and slide down into the usual table before slamming her head down hard. The rest of the group following suit, minus the head smashing, and the CMC shifted silently, sitting by their respective sisters, not once gazing up. 

Worst Christmas ever.

But in the end, they did this to themselves. They pushed her away and would never get her back. The only thing came out of this was losing Sunset to the Shadowbolts, losing their friendship with her, and never to have a good Christmas again. At least, not for a good while. What made matters worse was their sisters had done this. They pulled a wall up to mask their identity and placed the blame on Sunset. They deleted the account, of course, right after Rarity's phone call. 

Now the freshmens lost their phones, any internet connection unless it was for homework, and they would have to prove themselves they were trustworthy. Applebloom would help out in the fields everyday after school, of course she would finish her homework first and chores; Sweetie Bell would help Rarity, do extra chores, do her homework, and whatever needed to be done in the house; Scootaloo would do the same two things with chores and homework, but would have to help her aunts in the garden, and do whatever it took to prove herself.

Not mention they were all grounded.

"She's dating a Shadowbolt," Rainbow mumbled. "Of all people, a Shadowbolt!"

"Ah don't think that's the problem right now, RD!" Applejack snapped, having to be more on the edge than ever. "She ain't gonna forgive us and she's at Crystal Prep now. Thanks to three certain someone's." She glared at the CMC, who shrank down in their seats. 

"She'll be better there," Rarity replied. "She looks much more happy now."

Scootaloo nodded sadly. "At least... she's got friends to help her right? And she's in a happy relationship." Rainbow huffed and looked away.

"Shut it, Scoots," Rainbow growled. "If it weren't for you three, we wouldn't have lost her!"

Fluttershy shifted. "Can we not talk about this?" She looked heartbroken. "Please?"

Rarity moved a hair out of Fluttershy's face and gave her friend a sadden look. But it was filled with love either way, showing she showed concern for her. "Darling, what's the matter?"

"Nothing," whimpered Fluttershy. 

"Don't seem like nothin'," Applejack huffed. "What's eatin' at ya?"

"I'm already missing Sunset, I wish she didn't transfer to Crystal Prep. How are we going to explain this to everyone who's expecting to apologize to her?" 

Pinkie looked down, her hair fell flat. "We can't," She whimpered. "She's not going to accept any apologies. Especially not ours." 

"Shit... how are we going to explain this to Twilight?" Rainbow asked, biting her thumb. 

"Yes, how are you going to explain this to me?"

All of them jumped at the sudden entrance of the princess and gazed at her. Her eyes full of hate and anger, it made the Rainbooms and the CMC shrink at the sight. Applebloom grabbed a hold of AJ, who held her tightly despite being mad. Sweetie was pulled into Rarity's side, and Scootaloo shrank further down, knowing Rainbow wouldn't hold her. 

Twilight crossed her arms, and huffed before storming over and slamming her book down, showing off all her and Sunset's conversations, including the last one of last week. The Rainbooms read them and gulped before giving shaky smiles but wiped them off when Twilight growled lowly.

"I trusted all of you," Twilight growled. "But you throw her away the second you thought it was her!"

"We thought she turned on us again..." Rainbow weakly protested. "We thought she was up to her old ways because it seemed so much like her. We weren't thinking, Twilight! It's what humans do! We don't think when we're angry, and yeah, we fucked up!"

"No, you didn't 'fuck up'," Twilight sighed, sitting down. "You very much fucked up! You screwed up a girl's life! Someone who trusted all of you and saved your behinds at the Battle of the Bands! How do you think she felt when you suddenly kicked her away? I'll give you a hint, it's what your feeling right now. Loneliness. Hurt." She turned to the CMC, and growled. 

She didn't even bother with them, not yet.

Rarity nodded. "I understand, Twilight." Twilight gazed at her friend, allowing her to speak. "We did throw her away the moment we thought it was her. No chances to explain, but... she'll be much more happy at Crystal Prep with her new girlfriend and friends. Ones who'll actually show her friendship."

"Sunset's got a girlfriend?" asked Twilight. "Since when?"

"As of today," Applejack explained, "We tried saying sorry, but she didn't accept it, which ah understand, and she told us the only other good thing comin' out of this mess was meetin' her girlfriend, Sugarcoat."

"Only other?"

Pinkie nodded. "Yup! The other good thing is her new friends, the Shadowbolts!"

Twilight pinched her nose and took a few deep breaths. As much as she hated the Rainbooms right now, she wanted to see Sunset and speak with her. As well as meet her new girlfriend and friends. She had to make sure Sunset would be alright with them. 

"Where is Sunset?" asked Twilight. "I need to know."

"We don't know," Fluttershy admitted. "But I think she left in the direction of the park."

"Ya want one of us to go with you?" Applejack asked slowly. 

"No. I'll find her on my own," Twilight replied. "I'm sure I'll be able to find her."





The Rainbooms sighed as they walked around the block, trying to push their minds off of Sunset and Twilight's sudden arrival here. They knew it was to be expected if Sunset reached out for the princess, but they didn't think it would actually happen. But what else could they expect anyways?

Pinkie didn't even seem to add the usual jump to her walk as she was feeling just as sad as the others did. If only she had listen to her friend, then none of this would've happened. Sunset wouldn't be at Crystal Prep, and would still be a Wondercolt with them.

Not a Shadowbolt, and she wouldn't be dating Sugarcoat.

Maybe if they stuck with her, then she would be dating someone else, and she would be happier with them, like she was with the Shadowbolts. But it couldn't be. 

It would never be.

"What do we do?" Pinkie asked. "We can't leave things like this!"

"We gotta," Applejack sighed heavily, shaking her head, "Sunset ain't gonna talk with us. She told us to leave her alone. She saw who it was online like everyone else."

"How'd you figure it out anyways, Rarity?" asked Rainbow Dash. "You were on top of it after... thinking she might be innocent."

Rarity smiled weakly. "It was easy," she admitted, "I went back on the account, and checked everyone's secrets. Yes, she knew Applejack's nickname like we did, yes she knew your grade because you share a class with her, and she knows ours because she was our friend. But it made no sense with some of the others. She barely knew them."

"At the time, it looked like she had her old ways back," Fluttershy added. 

"Of course, darling, but some of them, she didn't even know," Rarity answered. "Yes, she could've asked about them, but why would she want to go back to her old self? At the time, we didn't think, but the more it went on, the more I think I began to slowly realize it couldn't be her. The post on her account on Mystable timed with the Anon-A-Miss account made the nail come into place."

Rainbow slowly nodded, crossing her arms. "What hit the nail on the head?"

"Sweetie's little makeup fail secret," Rarity explained. "At the time, it was cute to see. But... the picture made me think. Sunset didn't know that, and I certainly didn't tell her, nor did I email it to her. Not even Sweetie's friends knew. That hit the nail on the head, but when I spoke to her about it, the nail went deeper." 

"And we all know how the phone call went," Applejack sighed, hating that memory. 

"Oh, we do." Pinkie agreed.





Back during Christmas Eve, the phone call went like this;

"Now where to start..."

The trio stayed quiet as Rarity thought before dilvering the first blow of the call, and they all winced. This was it. Their undoing because they saw no way out of this.

"Applejack's nickname," Rarity began, "Only her friends and family knew. But, we didn't know about it until you, Applebloom, revealed it to us. At first, it was funny, yes, and we teased her about it. But it was friendly. Sunset wouldn't think about putting online unless she phrased it differently, and she wouldn't reveal the nickname." 

"How do ya know?" Applebloom asked.

Rarity was frowning. "Because whenever she teases us, she's never does reveal it. She always puts, 'just learned something new about...' and an laughing emoji. Never did she reveal what it was learned. The picture was of us laughing, along with the person she was posting about."

The trio shifted nervously, sharing looks.

"And yet, Anon-A-Miss posted what nickname it was," Rarity finished. "Secondly... Rainbow's failing grade." 

Scootaloo bite her lip. "She's in a class with Rainbow."

"But she helped Rainbow study," Rarity countered. Rainbow backed it up with a nod, and a few words of agreement. Rarity went on, "However, she didn't know about Rainbow's failing grade in that class."

"What do you mean? Of course she did!" 

"No," Rainbow sighed. "She didn't sport. I never told her. That makes no sense on how she got it without me knowing."

Rarity then went through their secrets, labeling what Sunset knew and what she didn't. And when she finally got to the CMC, she was biting her lip hard. She didn't want to do this, and she prayed she was wrong, but the way those answers they were giving her got more and more nervous, told her everything.

She was right. 

Now to finally place down the nail into the coffin for good.

"Then there's you three..." Rarity trailed. "Applebloom and Scootaloo, you're secrets were never revealed, which gave me the impression that Sunset didn't want to hurt you, but then I realized, she knew nothing about your secrets. No one does expect for your families... Sweetie... your secret isn't bad at all...."

No answers.

"Tell me... are you the ones behind it?" Rarity asked softly. "Did you frame Sunset...? For whatever reason you might have, and do not give me because you think she didn't change and faked it."

"The truth, gals," Applejack sighed. "Nothin' but the truth."

The trio shared a look before shifting began shaking and cried silently, Applebloom gulped, and Scootaloo didn't look upwards, her hair falling into her face.

It was Scootaloo who answered the dreadful question.

"Yes..." She whispered out, loud enough for the Rainbooms to hear her. "We did it all..."
> XVI~Twilight, Sunset, and The Shadowbolts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight, Sunset, and The Shadowbolts

"You're friends with the nerd!?" Sour Sweet asked, angrily.

"Why does... she look like the nerd?" asked Lemon, cocking her head to the side.

"She isn't the one you know," Sunset replied. "She's another Twilight, not the one you know!"

"Jesus, I can't tell them apart!" Sunny muttered. "They look so much alike it's scary!"

"The fuck is this shit?" Sugarcoat mumbled under her breath, feeling everything burn into confusion. 

That had been the reaction that came out of the Shadowbolts when finding out there was another Twilight had been greeted with the sound of confusion and shock. Nothing else but confusion came from the Shadowbolts, and it seemed like they might actually take the news well after calming down to let Sunset explain, until Indigo allowed out a very loud yell of "What the fuck!?" that is. With the help of Twilight to explain, it seemed to cool down but Sunset swore all of them were muttering the exact same phrase under their breaths. 

As they remained quiet throughout the entire story, Twilight had taken it up to tell her side of the story when Sunset finished, going through every little detail to the point where the Shadowbolts looked bored out of their minds. Lemon confirmed it when she said how much she acted the same as this world's Twilight, well to them at least.

When the story was over, silence greeted them. At this point, Sunset thought her friends would laugh, saying it was cute they made up another world but it didn't come. They just stared, mouths dropped wide open, and it was Lemon who shouted out how cool it was to have an actual unicorn turned human as a friend, and asked if she could do any sort of magic, to which Sunset laughed and shrugged.

Yeah she knew she could, but she didn't want them knowing just yet.

"So... let me get this straight," Indigo said, waving her hands. "You two are ponies. You're an Alicorn, and you're a unicorn... Both of you come from this 'Equesteria' world, and you two met by Sunset stealing your 'crown' and coming into this world where you met the Rainbooms. Then! Bunch of shit happens, you tell the Rainbooms to show her friendship, Battle of the Bands kicks in a few months later. Anon-A-Miss pops up, and the area is hell, you two talk back and forth, Sugar shows up and shit happens once more. The area comes to an end, and here we are now."

"Don't forget about the magical princesses," Sunny snickered. "Fairytale."

"We're not lying," Twilight sighed. "I'm really the princess of Friendship."

Sour nodded, not convince. "Right! We totally believe you!" She frowned heavily. "Not!"

Lemon blinked slowly, "I mean, yeah it's cool, but c'mon! It's a bit... unreal as well."

"Sugar?" Sunset asked her girlfriend. "You believe me, yeah?"

"It's crazy," Sugarcoat sighed shaking her head, "But I believe you. Can't say it's the weirdest thing I've heard in my life."

"Wait," Indigo mumbled, gazing at her friend, "Are you serious? You believe that they're ponies?"

Sugarcoat sighed and nodded, "I do."

"You're dating a horse then," Sunny snickered. "Have fun with that!"

Twilight gave Sunset a look to see her friend laughing lightly, and she smiled weakly. She wanted to talk about the current situation with the Rainbooms, but she sensed Sunset wouldn't even dare to mention anything about it. Her eyes trailed to Sugarcoat and saw how much she looked flushed up and gazed away in embarrassment when Sunset locked eyes with her. Twilight could tell she really did love Sunset and vice versa.

It made her happy to know Sunset was in a good relationship.

"Sunset," Twilight took a deep breath, "I need to talk to you about Anon-A-Miss, and I know you don't want to, but we need to, okay?"

"Why now?" whined Sunset, crossing her arms. "Why now of all times?"

"Because you need to tell me everything," Twilight pushed. "Go through everything that happened. And now you met Sugarcoat and her friends."

Sunset paled, and Sugarcoat took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. With a small smile, Sunset began telling the entire story of her side. How terrible she felt when it was her being accused, how Rainbow set up an ambush, how she, regrettably, began cutting herself, and how she almost jumped off a tall bridge to end it all. Then, the story changed into a more peaceful type when she got to the part about meeting Sugarcoat, and how she defended her from the Rainbooms, and allowed her to share her story.

She moved onto the part where she met her current friends, how Sugarcoat gave her the transfer forms, getting her Crystal Prep uniform, and finally the confession and sleepover. Regrettably, she also told the part where Sugarcoat caught her cutting and cleaned up the arm, and the Shadowbolts' jaws dropped along with Twilight's. 

"You... cut?" Lemon whispered out. 

"You cut during the sleepover?" Sour gulped. "Jesus, I'm glad Hawkthorn didn't catch you. He doesn't need to see someone else cutting."

Sunset rubbed her arm and slowly nodded. "I did, but I've stopped. Sugar threw out the blade I used to cut myself with. I don't have anything for cutting anymore..."

Indigo narrowed her eyes. "But there's tons of things you could use. How do we know you won't do it with those objects?"

"That is true," Twilight agreed, "There's many objects."

"But I won't use them!" Sunset protested. "Never again will I cut because I'm no longer in hell!"

Sunny crossed her arms, "But you might still do it." 

"If she does, I'll be having a long talk with her," Sugarcoat growled. "Besides, I'm sure my father will be interested in hearing about it if she does."

Sunset paled. "Er... what does your father do?"

"He's a therapist, and he'll go in to help out with the hospital," Sugarcoat explained, "He deals a lot with suicidal clients. I bet he can help you, and he does like you a lot. He wouldn't stop talking about you during dinner one night. I think mother got a little laugh out of it."

"Consider yourself lucky," Sunny added. "It takes a lot to have Sugar's father liking you."

Sunset gulped and rubbed her neck. "I don't know..."

"I think you should try it," Twilight chimed in, smiling. "It'd be good to have someone listen to your thoughts. Besides, her father likes you, so he'll be happy to help you out. Please, Sunset, give it a try to help yourself." 

"But what if he decides he can't?" 

Sugarcoat rose an eyebrow, "When would he ever do something like that? He takes his job seriously. He doesn't laugh at anyone when they confessed their thoughts, even if they sounded stupid and funny. Sunset, I'll be with you. Of course, if you want for me to be with you."

Sunset nodded slowly, taking in her words. Maybe it would be a good idea to see a therapist. If it was Sugarcoat's father, she knew he could remain trustworthy as it would just stay between the two of them. They were suggesting it because they didn't want her to go down that route again. 

At this point, what did she have to lose?

"When can he see me?" Sunset asked.

"I'll ask him tonight," Sugarcoat promised, "I'll text you the date."

"Is there a certain place...?" 

Sugarcoat shook his head. "No, he has an office at home. He uses it for his sessions. It's the main reason why we can't go in there because all the information on other clients are in his desk. We know not to go down into that hallway when he has a client over." 

Twilight placed a hand on Sunset's shoulder. "If you want, I can also go with you."

"No, I'll be fine with Sugarcoat," Sunset replied, and Twilight tried to mask her disappointment, "I'll let you know how it goes though, Twilight."

"Alright, if you're sure," Twilight sighed.

Indigo gave the pony Twilight a long look before sighing heavily. This was confusing. She was so used to seeing the Twilight everyone knew with glasses, hair up in a bun, and she wasn't getting that from this Twilight. When the supposed pony locked eyes with her, Indigo looked away before giving a weak smile.

"I'm sorry!" Indigo snapped. "But... I'm not used to seeing another Twilight!"

"No one is," Sour mumbled. 

"You get used to it," Sunset laughed. "I was really surprised seeing a bunch of ponies I knew but in human form. Luckily, they acted all the same, just... went to high school either as student or staff. It gets easier over time, and I'll be the one trying to process everything when I see this world's Twilight."

At this moment, Sunset wondered how awkward it would be if the two Twilights met.
> XVII~The Session
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Session

Sunset felt her phone buzz as she opened her eyes to see it was a notification for a text message. She grabbed her phone and entered her code to see it was a message from Sugarcoat.

{ Father says he can see you today at ten.

 It'll work... I'll be there at nine fifty five.}

Pushing the send button, Sunset rubbed her eyes before moving to slip into the shower, and did the normal bathroom activities before dressing herself in her day clothes, slipping on her leather jacket before grabbing her apartment keys. She didn't have to be at her girlfriend's house yet so she thought she might grab herself a cup of coffee and a scone before walking to Sugarcoat's house.

Stretching her arms, Sunset yawned before walking into a local coffee shop and paid for her items before heading outside once more, and leaned against the wall as she ate her breakfast and drank her coffee. She checked her phone, and saw how it was only nine. She had a lot of time to kill before her set time. Plus, Sugarcoat's house wasn't that far from the coffee shop, it was more close to the coffee shop than her apartment building.

Deciding to walk around, Sunset tried her hardest to keep her mind off of doubting thoughts. She knew this was for the better, but she also knew this could make her reveal things she didn't want to see light, like her past. Sugarcoat only knew about the Anon-A-Miss area along with where she came from, not her entire backstory. 

There was no way Sugarcoat could know about it.

By the time it hit nine forty eight, Sunset began walking towards her girlfriend's house, somehow arriving about three minutes before the time she said she would be, and gulped before knocking. She was really happy to see Sugarcoat was the one to answer the door. 

Sunset nearly dropped when she saw Sugarcoat's little sibling staring at her, and she waved shyly. Sugarcoat glanced over her shoulder and sighed heavily when she saw who it was. 

"Mint, really?" Sugarcoat sighed, shaking her head. "Go play with Bistro." 

"Your brother is... really..." Sunset trailed off, moving her hand in a circle, trying to find the right word.

"Weird? Annoying? Anything possibly related to stalkerish?" 

Sunset nodded, "Yeah..." 

"You get used to it when you have to live with him," Sugarcoat mumbled, "And if that's worse, try it with two brothers. Same age as well." 

"You must get really annoyed with twin brothers."

Sugarcoat nodded. "Yup, I do."

Moving into the living room, the two sat down on the couch and Sunset looked around. She didn't see Sugarcoat's mother or her father. Maybe her father was setting up for the session? She didn't know.

"Where's your mother?" Sunset asked.

"Work," Sugarcoat replied. "She leaves early. We barely ever see her in the mornings."

Sunset nodded, not saying much else until she saw Sugarcoat's father walking into the living room. He had white and blue hair, pale skin, and amberish eyes. The only thing Sunset saw Sugarcoat getting from her father was the hair color, nothing else. 

"Ah! Sunset," Sugarcoat's father beamed. "Welcome!"

"Hi, Winter Cloak," Sunset replied, waving. "Am I early?"

"Not at all! Come, we'll start right now."

The office was small but it had enough space to fit a nice looking couch, a loveseat, and a desk. The desk was filled with papers, but the middle of the desk was cleared and easy to see. The walls were painted a nice Prussian blue color. Pictures were placed around the room, one of a younger Sugarcoat, and several of flowers. All in all, it had a nice aura to it.

Winter Cloak sat down on the loveseat while his daughter and her girlfriend sat down on the couch, the door was locked and shut, and everything was ready. They could start whenever Sunset was ready.

"Now," Winter Cloak smiled happily, "How are you today?"

"Fine," Sunset replied. 

Winter nodded, "Good. Now, I hear you have some things on your mind?"

"Uh, yeah," Sunset scratched her head. "I do."

"Well, you can tell me whatever you wish, it won't leave this room, and I know Sugar wouldn't dream of telling anyone else about your... misfortunes," Winter responded. He grabbed a clipboard and a pencil before glancing up at her, "Now, why don't we start at the beginning of the story?"

So, they did.

Sunset started her tale, how things seemed to be going good, and how she was finally going to have what she wanted most. To not be alone on Christmas. But then, after a sleepover, an online account popped up, telling everyone's secrets and in a snap of a finger, everyone turned to her and began accusing her. There was no chances to explain, no nothing. In an instant, she was alone once more, after everything she had been through, she was back at square one of showing she had changed and wasn't bad anymore.

Then, she moved onto the part where she fell deep. She explained about how she kept a shard from a broken mirror. The mirror had fell one night shortly before Anon-A-Miss' arrival, and she cleaned it up the best she could, but kept one shard. Well, she was going to throw it away, but always got distracted with her friends trying to get her out of her apartment. At the point of depression, she took up the blade, and rolled her selves up before slicing away.

Doing it every chance she got, and whenever she felt like she might crack and cry away.

She went on to explaining how she not only cut on her arms, but her thighs and stomach as well. Those scars were slowly healing still, they were faint but easy to make out if you looked close enough. 

"On your stomach?" Winter broke in, "Why there?"

Sunset shrugged. "It was the first place I thought of where people wouldn't see. The thigh idea came second. They hurt like bitches just like the arms when I did it."

"I see," Winter calmly stated. "Go on."

So, she did.

She finally got to the part of the ambush and how it was the breaking point. She put up with another day or so, but always felt numb. She didn't react in the halls, and she could sense kids were now noticing it. They didn't do anything though. Didn't up the attacks to actually make her react, to get the pleasure of seeing her on the ground like they did. Then, one day, after school she was out faster than anyone else. 

Her things left at the building, wasn't like she needed them anyways. She ignored anyone in the streets who might want to ask her why she didn't have a jacket, and found the nearest, tallest, bridge.

And that's when she met Sugarcoat, who stopped her before she could even attempt it and actually listened on for once. How she didn't jump to end her life like she planned on doing so.

After the story was finished, Winter cleared his throat, despite how tight it felt.

"I never thought I would have a client like you," Winter admitted, "They're always straight forward. Never giving the reason for their sudden failed or abandoned attempt. They just say 'I'm tired of life' but... I never thought I would have a reason like this given to you."

"But can you blame her?" Sugarcoat asked.

Winter rubbed his temples. "At this moment? No."

"I have to admit, I feel better getting it all out," Sunset smiled at them. "Thanks for seeing me."

"No problem, dear," Winter cracked a toothless smile. "I think you really want to rant at them, don't you?" Sunset nodded fastly. "You aren't speaking to them anymore?" She nodded again. "Good. Keep it that way. If you need to see me again, you're always welcome. Just text me," here he gave her his number, "and I'll set up an appointment."

"Thanks."

As they left the office, Sugarcoat turned her gaze at the fiery haired girl and smiled. 

"How was that?" She asked. 

Sunset gave her a smile. "Not bad. I really am feeling better because of it. I think I'll see him whenever I need to talk to someone. Not saying I won't talk to you!"

"I know what you mean," Sugarcoat scoffed. "He's really happy to help out whenever he can."

Sunset gave her a kiss on the cheek and held her hand as they walked towards into the living room, "He's good on what he does. Keeping quiet like that... it really helps."

"It must."

At least now she had someone else who would listen to her, and would give her advice.
> XVIII~Crystal Prep(End)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crystal Prep(End)

When Winter Break ended, Sunset was nervous.

She had everything ready, with the help of the Shadowbolts, and now she was standing outside the doors to Crystal Prep. Many students didn't seem to notice her, only glancing back to give a look before hurrying along to their lockers before class started once more.

The Shadowbolts had told her to wait outside for them. When they arrived, they all gave her waves and hugs, with a kiss from Sugarcoat on the cheek. It didn't take long for Lemon to go off about how awesome the rest of their time here would be with her around, and Indigo agreed without doubt. Sunny and Sour rolled their eyes while walking into the building, and Sugarcoat merely grabbed her hand, pulling her along.

Inside the school, Sunset saw how big it really looked. Lines of lockers on each side, classroom doors smack down in the middle of the rows, and there had to be at least three staircases. Two for classrooms, along with the school's counselor unless they had a center for the counselor or counsellors. And finally, the office where Principal Cinch stayed. If it didn't have three staircases, then surely the office was on the second floor.

This was nothing like Canterlot High, and yeah, it had a second floor, but it was mainly classrooms. 

Canterlot High or not, she couldn't expect this to be anything like that school. She would have to step up her game, work really hard to get a good reputation, workout a lot more for her gym class, and to make sure she study a lot more for her tests. 

This place had saved her school life and she owed it to them to do her best.

After all, it was what Principal Cinch expected from her anyways, and she couldn't let her Principal down.

Dean Cadance had approached the group, giving her hello's to Sugarcoat and her friends before turning to face Sunset and greeted her. She promised she would be away from her friends for only a few minutes, to get her locker and schedule, as well as the brief tour of explaining where things were in the school.

When that was all done, Sunset moved to her locker and opened it, empty. She smiled happily before placing her bag in and grabbed her binder and books, which Dean Cadance had happily gotten for her as the school's counselor. Her friends were right at her side in mere minutes of placing their stuff away.

Sunset's schedule was the same as Sugarcoat's, much like how Principal Cinch had promised. It made Sunset happy to know she wouldn't be dealing with this alone, besides, she wanted to know at someone in her classes anyways. What a better way than to have Sugarcoat.

"You ready?" Indigo asked, smiling away. "Class is gonna start."

"Yeah. I think I can handle this first day bullcrap again." She replied as she closed her locker.

The bell rang loudly in the student's ears and they all began moving towards their first classes. Sugarcoat grabbed Sunset's hand and pulled her along to their first class, which was Socials. Thank god it wasn't gym. They didn't have that until tomorrow, which gave Sunset enough time to get a gym outfit which Dean Cadance was currently working on. 

Sugarcoat pulled her to a desk and sat her down right next to her before speaking, "The teacher is nice. Though, he's really boring."

"It's alright..." Sunset responded, "There was a lot of boring teachers at CHS too."

"How did you survive?" Sugarcoat joked before going serious, "I always hated boring teachers. They try their hardest to make something fun, but they always ending up failing. They're really bad at it."

"Oh," Sunset mumbled.

Yeah that was sometimes true. Boring teachers could try to make something fun, but failed. Yet other times, they could try and have the whole class having fun. She just hoped the teacher's idea of having fun wasn't pop quizzes. She had enough of that during her Canterlot High career as a student.

"There he is," Sugarcoat whispered pointing to the open door where a thirty year old man stepped in. "That's Mr. Under."

"Under?" Sunset whispered, confused. It was an odd name, but she couldn't really judge someone's last name. All it said about them was what Clan they were form. "He looks nice." Sugarcoat agreed on that, but the real problem was how boring he could be sometimes, giving how the rest of the class looked so tired to be in here.

"Welcome back students!" Mr. Under said as he placed down his notes, ignoring the entire class' groan of annoyance to be back here, he knew they didn't do this in any other classes because he said they could be themselves in here as he didn't like to be strict, only ever being strict if Principal Cinch came in here.

After a few minutes, the teacher had Sunset do what all new students did, tell the rest of the class about themselves. She really didn't mind it, but she sighed as she still had the rest of the day to tell about herself. Sunset really didn't want to, but she knew she would have to. Then, the lesson started and not even four minutes in, and it was already boring, and Sunset sighed heavily.

Now she knew what Sugarcoat meant.

"Is he always like this?" Sunset asked, her voice in a whispering tone.

"Unfortunately he is," Sugarcoat replied, "Just wait until last block if you think he's boring."

Sunset's jaw dropped. "You're kidding. There's another boring teacher?"

"Yes," Sugarcoat nodded. "There is."

"Goddamnit," Sunset muttered under her breath. "Can't wait."

Sugarcoat laughed under her breath, and patted her girlfriend's shoulder, "Don't worry. It'll be fine. Unlike Mr. Under, she actually tries to make her classes fun."

"Goodie," Sunset sighed.

Throughout the entire day, it was the same thing in all start of the classes. Sunset had to tell a bit about herself, and went on learning like normal. It wasn't like she hadn't learned anything from the classes as most of the units of day one had been covered by Canterlot High more early in the year, having to tackle more harder units beforehand. It was nice to know she could have the harder units again.

By the day's end, she had gone through her first day at Crystal Prep, gotten her gym uniform from Dean Cadance at lunch, and had a good time with her friends had lunch. She and Sugarcoat even planned a date for tomorrow after school. Everything was perfect.

Until she noticed a very familiar yell coming from a hallway down from her locker and she frowned.

"Sunset? You coming?" Indigo asked as they walked down towards the doors.

Sunset nodded. "Yeah, I'll be there in a minute, go on ahead." She gave Sugarcoat a quick kiss before watching them head off.

The voice came back and she huffed. It was way too familiar to ignore and she began walking down the hallway and stopped when she saw a familiar dog. She tried keeping herself hidden, and while she watched the dog, her jaw dropped when she noticed a very familiar person running towards the dog.

"Spike! There you are!"

"Spike?" Sunset whispered quietly. "Twilight's assistant?" 

The scene went on until Sunset couldn't take much more and moved out so the girl could see her. 

"I thought pets weren't allowed," Sunset said loudly and the girl froze. "Don't worry, I won't tell. I knew someone who brought pets on school grounds before. I don't think she ever stopped. So, it's cool, I'll keep your dog a secret."

The girl hugged her dog, a bit tight but didn't speak.

"I'm Sunset," She held out her hand. "Sunset Shimmer."

"Twilight," The girl said, using on her hand to push her glasses up so they wouldn't fall. "Twilight Sparkle."

"Nice to meet you," Sunset smiled happily. "Look, be careful with your dog, Twilight. You don't want him being found, do you?" Twilight shook her head. "Well, see you later."

As she walked away, giving this world's Twilight one last smile, she didn't even notice the girl's faintest, but red, blush on her cheeks.