Celestia slammed her hand down onto her desk. “Do not try to pin this on others, just because you have bad blood!” She was getting frustrated with the three in front of her, especially Scootaloo’s insistence that Diamond Tiara was involved. “There is nothing that points to Tiara being a part of this! Sure, I can’t disprove that she probably sent in some secrets, but at this point, at least half the school’s guilty of that!”
“I swear! She was getting dirt on the other students for us!” Scootaloo scowled, “Just look at the messages, she sent in the one about your sister!”
“I have. All of them were sent in anonymously! Anyone could’ve grabbed my sister’s records, given that they’re online.” Celestia scowled, “But the fact that you three decided to post them was entirely your own choice!” Sweetie was sobbing at this point, unable to say anything. Apple Bloom was silent as well, simply not having the will to argue when she had been the one to give them up. Scootaloo was just digging their graves even deeper by arguing like this.
“We were being blackmailed by Tiara!” Scootaloo said.
“Just give it up, Scoots.” Applebloom sighed. They had been used, pure and simple. Tiara had left no trace of being involved, and they just looked like assholes for trying to drag her down with them. At this point, Applebloom didn’t blame her.
“But…” Finally, Scootaloo hung her head. “Daaaamn it.” She groaned.
“I just don’t even know what to say to you girls.” Celestia shook her head, “I will make sure that your punishment will be handed down not just here at school, but at your homes as well.” The crusaders said nothing. “There will be a direct school board meeting that you three will have to appeal to, there they will decide what to do with you all.” Her intense frown shifted downwards further into a full blown scowl, “And you will write up an apology letter to all of your followers on MyStable using your exact names as who are behind the account before closing it down for good. Do you understand me? Vice-Principal Luna will be looking over you as you do so.” They all traded nervous, guilty glances at each other, and Celestia knew why. Luna was going to have a field day with them for what they might’ve cost her. “Your parents and guardians will be waiting to take you home. Now, get out of my office.” She scoffed finally, waving them off.
“Principal Celes-”
“-OUT!” The normally composed woman snapped, and the three scurried out without another word.
She watched them go, clenching her teeth as she did so and sinking into her chair. “Raven. I’m taking a lunch break.” She said into her phone, preparing her things to go out and clear her head. Besides, everyone was waiting for her.
She went over and knocked on Luna’s door, “Sister? Come take a lunch with me.” She smiled as it opened, and Luna’s sad smile met her.
“You’re done with the Crusaders, then?” Luna scoffed, shaking her head. “Oh, they are going to be as miserable as possible when I’m done with them.” She frowned, and Celestia could nearly see the tears welling in her eyes. “...Do you think I should just quit, sister?”
“Quit?” Celestia scoffed, “Why would I ever think that?”
“You saw the comments on that post, Tia… The students hate me.” She sighed, shaking her head, “I never really feel appreciated here.”
Celestia smiled brighter, “Actually, I don’t think they do.” She opened the door to the Teacher’s Lounge.
“SURPRISE!” Pinkie exclaimed, teachers and students alike pressed into the lounge. A giant blue ‘We love you, Vice-Principal Luna!’ banner across the table in the back with various cookies, cupcakes, and drinks across it. The students cheered and chanted as Luna came in, unsure of what to say.
“Wh-what?” Luna choked on her words, and a freshman ran up and hugged her tightly.
“Thank you, Vice-Principal Luna! You do a lot of work to make us feel safe here.” The party planning committee freshman said with a smile.
“We just wanted to make you smile.” Pinkie agreed, “Even after this stupid Anon-a-Miss thingy. It doesn’t really matter to us anyways.”
The faculty and students cheered and clapped as Luna wiped her eyes. “I-I needed this so much… Thank you. Thank all of you.”
Celestia nodded her thanks to Pinkie, who just smiled in return. Slowly, the Wondercolts would heal from this. Slowly.
---
Diamond Tiara smirked, leaning back in her chair, feeling fully self-satisfied as she watched the final Anon-a-Miss post pop up:
‘To all the Anon-a-Miss readers and victims,
We, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, are so very sorry for the trouble we all caused you for these past few weeks. We were jealous of the attention Sunset Shimmer was getting from our idols and older sisters. Instead of talking to any of them about it, we decided to take it out on her, and all of you.
This was wrong, and we know that we hurt many of you. We are so sorry for this, and ask for your forgiveness.
This will be the last post of Anon-a-Miss. Please stop sending in secrets and instead be kind to those around you. Only that way can we truly heal from this.
Thank you and sorry again,
The Crusaders’
“Heh. Shows them. No one spills my secrets and gets away with it.” Diamond grinned even wider as a message appeared in her inbox.
‘So, looks like Anon-a-Miss has been caught. Did you get away?’ Came Sour Sweet’s message.
‘Heh, yeah, Celestia tried to pull me into her office, but she couldn’t prove anything.’ Diamond chuckled aloud. ‘I hid the evidence of my involvement all too well~!’
‘So… Metaphorically speaking, how deep in the shitter would you be if you had been caught?’ Sour asked.
‘Pretty deep, considering the secrets I leaked. I mean, grabbing Vice-Principal Luna’s file from the online criminal records? Talk about an easy way to make Celestia pissed. Getting out of it was incredibly easy, I just had to let her see my phone. Heh. I’m a genius.’
‘Alright then, genius. How do you think everyone will feel if these get out?’
Diamond jolted up in her chair as the two screenshots popped up in their chat room, one of their first conversation when she had asked for Sour Sweet’s help, and one of her previous confession. ‘You’re fucking with me…’
‘Oh, no I’m not. And it’d be so easy to get these pictures to Celestia’s desk, unless you do exactly what I tell you.’ Sour then took it a step further, deciding just for the insult to add to that reply. ‘;)’
Diamond walked over and slammed her fist into a pillow on her bed.
‘Don’t take it personal, kiddo.’ Sour Sweet said on the other end of the message board. ‘Or do. I don’t really care. I just think having two schools under my thumb will be oh so satisfying. Wouldn’t you agree, Tiara?’
Diamond only ground her teeth as the other girl’s smug comment rubbed salt in her wound. Either way, she was in deep shit. Especially if her parents linked the secret to her mother's case files...
‘What, did you think I was going to just help without asking anything in return? That’s not how these things work. Welcome to the High School games, sweetheart. Hope you learn a thing or two.’
Tiara was nearly pulling at her hair at this point. How the hell had she been that careless, after everything she’d been through? It was official, though. Sour Sweet was next on her shitlist.
---
Sunset finished retelling her group what Celestia had told her as they watched their own phones for the account’s closing.
“...And that’s when she set up an urgent meeting with the school board. They’ll be meeting on Wednesday for the hearing, and Celestia has more than enough evidence against the Crusaders.”
“Geesh.” Fleet shook her head, “Well, nice to know our Principal isn’t an idiot.”
“I think the thing with Luna sent her overboard.” Sunset said with a shrug, wiping down the counters of the shop, “Who knows?”
“All I know is that I’m still a bit angry about the whole ‘whore’ thing. I’d be frothing at the mouth if they tried going after Charger, too, after what they did to us.” Misty agreed.
“Well, I'm sure that they'll be feeling left out of quite a few things for a while," Soarin said casually, "And I don't feel sorry for them in the slightest."
“What happened to forgiveness, Soarin?” Sunset asked, a sly smirk on her face.
“Oh, that.” Soarin nodded, “I’d forgive them if it were me, but… They targeted Shadey.” He stressed, brows furrowing, “It’s a whole different animal when you go after my sister.” He huffed. “After all the trouble they've caused? They'd better not set a foot in this shop again."
“Right.” Sunset chuckled. “Well, uh, good luck with that. I’m just happy it’s all over with.”
The group nodded in agreement and continued to lay back and enjoy their afternoon. Spring was on the horizon, as was a major sporting event between two certain schools, and the Wondercolts were just enjoying each other’s company.
“So, Sunset, how’s the new jacket treating you?” Surprise smiled at her.
“It’s been great. Thanks, Surprise. I, uh, I guess I should give you yours back, huh?”
Surprise laughed, “Yeah, that’d be great.”
“Alright, I’ll get it to you later.” Sunset nodded.
“You gonna drown it in hand sanitizer before you wear it again?” Misty asked Surprise from the couch.
“Uh, no!” Surprise responded, almost offended, “The dry cleaners will do just fine!”
Misty and Sunset chuckled to each other, and Surprise rolled her eyes with a grin.
Then, Misty sat up with a frown, “Trouble coming.” She said suddenly, looking directly at Sunset.
“Huh?” Sunset looked over to the front door and sighed loudly as the group of five with a certain three entered the shop. Dash was narrowing her eyes at the orange freshman that she was nearly dragging inside. “Ohh boy.” Sunset agreed. “Hey, uh, girls.” She said awkwardly.
“OUT.” Soarin’s voice cut through the pause. Sunset looked over. Soarin was shaking, gripping the counter until his knuckles paled. “Get those three out of my shop!” He snapped. Even Rainbow couldn’t help but flinch a little.
“But, Soarin, we-” Scootaloo spoke up, immediately biting her lip as she was cut off.
“-I don’t care!” Soarin said firmly, using his large frame to stand menacingly over behind the counter, “Nothing you girls could say could ever take back what you did to my sister!”
“B-But we didn’t-” Scootaloo attempted to stutter out a response.
“-Soarin.” Sunset cut in, “I need to have a few words with them anyways. Can they stay just for that?”
Soarin paused, looking over at Sunset’s stern expression, and backed down. He folded his arms, sneering at the aggressors that had spilled his sister’s secret. “Alright. Fine. But after that, you three are banned from this shop. For good. Got it?” He growled.
“Ye-yes sir.” Applebloom swallowed hard.
“Now, you three were saying?” Sunset asked them.
Sweetie Belle sighed, “Thanks, Sunset, we-”
“Oh,” Sunset scoffed haughtily, “You shouldn’t be thanking me.” Nearly everyone in the room knew that tone in her voice, but Sunset didn’t care. Bitchy Shimmer would never leave, and she didn’t think she wanted it to. “Seriously, you girls better come up with something good to tell your sisters and I as for why you starting this shit.” Rarity and Applejack stared at their sisters expectantly.
Applebloom’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “Well… We, ah…”
“We were jealous about how much extra time our sisters were spending with you, Sunset.” Scootaloo said with a sigh, “So we set up the account to split you all up. That’s what it was. Then Diamond Tiara came in and blackmailed us to keep posting worse and worse secrets like Vice-Principal Luna’s. We’re really sorry, Sunset. Really.”
“THAT’S IT?!” Applejack exploded, pointing her rage at her little sister. “That’s yur reason for turnin on yur own family, Applebloom?!” Applebloom shrunk away. “What in hell’s bells happened ta talkin’ to me?! Then ya go and try to lie to Celestia like that in fronta me and Granny! Ah can’t believe you!” She snapped.
“H-hey! Sweetie Belle’s the one who stole Sunset’s phone!” Applebloom backed away quickly, nearly tripping on her own two feet.
“What?!” Sweetie’s pupils shrunk.
“Tha-huh-wha-SWEETIE!” Now, it was Rarity’s turn to fume. “YOU’RE the one who posted those pictures?!”
“Um, yes.” Sweetie admitted, pressing her index fingers together.
“Ooooh!” Rarity’s face lit aflame, “THAT’S IT! After this, you have packing to do!”
“P-Packing?” Sweetie asked, eyes wide, “You’re kicking me out of the Boutique?!”
“That’s right!” Rarity crossed her arms. “If you cannot respect me, or be mature enough to respect my friends, you can just go back and live with mother and father!”
“Th-that’s not fair!” Applebloom jumped in for Sweetie, who was rendered speechless.
“Don’t get involved!” Applejack snapped, “And yur lucky I don’t break that damn phone ah yurs, Applebloom!”
The three continued to yell and fight, meanwhile, Scootaloo looked up at the stern-faced Dash. She did nothing but stare back down in silence. Scootaloo bit her lip, wringing her hands.
She looked over to Sunset, “W-We’re still so sorry…”
“Alright. That’s enough.” Sunset spoke, and the fighting slowly quieted down amongst the group. “No.” She looked over at Scootaloo, “You’re not sorry. You’re sorry that you got caught. I know you wouldn’t have outed yourselves to save my reputation on your own, would you?” The three said nothing, and finally, Sweetie broke down into sobs again. “You would’ve let me suffer until this quietly faded away eventually, which probably would’ve been after your sisters and I graduated.” Her eyes glanced at the elder 5, “And you all fell for it hard. Hook, line, and sinker.”
Dash crossed her arms, smirking smugly at AJ, who took her Stetson off of her head before hanging it. Even Fluttershy and Pinkie, who had moved away from the drama to stand next to Misty and Surprise, looked to the floor.
Sunset continued, “You fell for it too, Dash, stop looking so smug.” She paused, looking around the room, “Can I just say how awful it is that almost everyone in this room immediately thought this whole incident was me from the start?” Misty’s eyes widened at the sudden callout. “But unlike everyone else, Misty was able to put that aside for me. She helped me when no one else would. Something you five clearly couldn’t do. It was easy to pin it all on me. It was easy to have a punching bag for your problems, and you all took the chance with ease.” Sunset sighed again, “And you know what? I’m done. I’m done being angry at you all.” She glanced at the 5 specifically. “So, you girls want to be my friend again? Speak now, and beg like you mean it. I’m done holding it over your heads like you held the Formal over mine.”
AJ was the first to step up, “Ah was wrong, Sunset. Ah was blinded by the idea of mah family turnin’ on me, so ah pushed it onta ya. An’ ah shouldn’ta. Ah’m sorry.”
“Me too, darling. I honestly enjoyed the drama until it came to my secret, but I should have seen through it before it escalated.” Rarity said, “I’m so sorry, Sunset.”
“I should’ve listened to my cuz from the start.” Pinkie admitted, “I thought because everyone else was blaming you, I should have too. And that wasn’t fair to do to you.”
Fluttershy wiped her eyes, “I-I should’ve spoke up when I did realize it.” She sniffed, “But I was so afraid of speaking out that I… I…” She cried into her arms, Rarity holding her for support.
“Yeah.” Dash sighed, slumping over, “I said some pretty shitty things to you, and I should’ve thought things through too. You’ve heard all this before.” Dash said.
Sunset just shook her head, “Fine, then. Don’t expect everything to just be okay again. You girls hurt me, and it hasn’t healed completely. But… I want to try to get back there, eventually.” She admitted, “I want to give you girls a chance to make it up to me. It’s just going to take a while.”
“We… understand.” Rarity said hesitantly.
“Good, because it starts at lunch on Monday,” Sunset replied.
“Really?!” Pinkie asked, grinning.
“Don’t get too excited; we’ll see how Monday goes and work from there,” Sunset said.
“Thanks for the chance, Sunset.” Dash put a firm grip on Scootaloo’s shoulder, “But for now… I promised to get this one home.”
“Mmm, yes, Sweetie has packing to do,” Rarity repeated, pushing her sister out.
“And ah’m sure Granny has a few words for ya, Applebloom.” AJ frowned. “Ah’ll take Scootaloo home, Dash, you can hang here.”
“Thanks, AJ.” Dash left Scootaloo’s side, walking over to smile weakly at Sunset before sitting down on one of the couches.
With that, the sibling groups showed themselves to the door, leaving Dash, Pinkie, and Fluttershy with Sunset.
“Finally, good to have that out of my system.” Sunset shook her head as she watched an order pop into the message box of Soarin’s email. “Oh, hold on, I have to write this down really quick.”
“I’ll get it.” Soarin said, scooting over from where he was at the counter, releasing his iron grip, “No worries, Phoenix.”
“...Phoenix?” Sunset asked, giving Soarin a strange look.
“Yeah, Spitfire helped me choose your new nickname.” Soarin nodded, “And you’re stuck with it now, hope you like it~!” He teased in his usual sing-song voice, “Cause it’s gonna be there forever, right Crash?”
“Shut it, Clipper,” Dash responded with a snort.
“See?” Soarin laughed, “I think this is gonna start a-”
That was when the group heard a loud whooping sound from above them.
“YES! I FOUND IT! THE STASH!”
“...Fleet?” Surprise blinked.
There was rattling that followed.
“WHAT THE- WHO PUTS A DEADLOCK ON A FRIDGE ON A ROOF?!” Fleet exclaimed, and the rattling only got louder.
That was when the room erupted into laughter.
“SOOOOAAAARIN!”