Spike whimpered slowly looking from Gilda to the Principals and then to Twilight.
Twilight and the Principals gave Gilda a queer look, before turning their collective gazes to the Rainbooms causing them to tense up more so than when they were all at Sugarcube Corner.
"What does she mean?... Girls, what does Gilda mean when she says you know?" Twilight demanded, her tone cold as she made her way to the girls. The girls flinched, not daring to make eye contact with the princess. The Rainbooms shifted uneasily, words failing to form as they tried to think up excuses and ways to prevent what was sure to be likened to a nuclear explosion of anger and other raw emotions.
"W-well you see..." Pinkie Pie begins and fails to continue, followed by Rarity trying to come to the rescue.
“Look Twilight Darling. we are simply trying to keep a lid on--
“Keep a lid on it!? Are you shitting me!?” Twilight shrieked as she practically threw herself at Rarity. “After everything that's happened you’re protecting her!?” Twilight shouted, several things around the room vibrating, her voice sounding more like thunder than a princess, let alone one that looked like a teenager.
“Well dear, we are simply trying to handle it before things get out of hand.” Rarity answered.
In an instant, she was on Rarity, pinning the fashionista to the table.
“You will tell me who Anon-A-Miss is right now!” Twilight shouted as she held Rarity down who was struggling against the princess.
“Darling calm down--”
“Calm down!? How can I calm down!?” Twilight yelled, her grip tightening. “I find out you and the whole school not only backstabbed Sunset but you, her friends, are protecting the one responsible?!” she hissed, her grip getting even tighter.
“Twilight! You're hurting me!” Rarity said wincing as she felt her nails starting to dig into her shoulder. Spike looked up at Twilight whimpering loudly as he watched her anger grow. Celestia and Luna watching with interest ready to jump in if things got any more out of hand.
“Oh, I'll do a lot more than hurt you if you don't tell me who she is right now!” Twilight shouted, a few objects flinging themselves off the tables and walls. The Principals moved to pull the princess off Rarity but were beaten to the punch by Gilda. Gilda easily pulling Twilight off of Rarity. Twilight thrashed in her iron grip. Gilda could feel something pressing against her body, that same feeling she got when she put 2 magnets that didn't agree with each other together. only she felt it through her entire body. She shrugged it off and placed the princess down. Twilight tried to run back to Rarity but Gilda planted herself firmly between them.
“Cool it,” Gilda demanded making Twilight growl at her. “You need to cool it or this shit show is going to get shittier.” Gilda said pointing at the girls. “They know we know, so don't strangle the diva,” she said turning to Rarity. “At least not yet. if they won't tell us then I'll beat it out of them,” Gilda promised, those words felt like dirt in her mouth. She didn't show it, however. She merely glared at Rarity before popping her knuckles loudly. Rarity merely gave a soft glare before mouthing “thank you” to the large teen.
“Frankly I have half a mind to throttle her myself,” Luna said earning a surprised look form the students. “Oh don't give me those looks. Anon-A-Miss has turned this school upside down and has made our lives a living hell,” she hissed biting her thumb in anger.
“I frankly want to know why you're defending her. I'm assuming Fluttershy and Applejack know who she is as well?” Celestia asked. The fact none of them could look her in the eyes made her sigh. “I have so many things to say, but right now I only have one question. Who is Anon-A-Miss?” Celestia asked with a steely gaze, that made the students flinch.
“Principal we’re trying to fix this--”
“You can start by answering the question, Miss Diane.” Luna interrupted the teen, taking note of the dull faded colors and the gloom the teen seemed to radiate. Twilight was starting to boil, her teeth slowly being ground into dust. She sat on one of the tables watching the Principals try to muscle out who the girls were protecting. She sat up suddenly having waited enough.
“Twilight?” Spike whimpered feeling the situation get worse and worse.
“Gilda if she doesn't start talking,” Twilight hissed pointing at Rarity, “I want you to hit her. Hard,” Twilight instructed, pointing to her eye. Rarity visibly flinched covering her eye Gildas’ eyebrows practically flying off her face. Flash stepped up glaring at Twilight which had an almost immediate effect on her. She looked down at the floor.
“Twilight!? What the hell!?” Flash shouted standing in front of Rarity. “I want to find Sunset too but assaulting people is only going to make things worse!” he scolded making the girls stare at him. It wasn't a big secret that the teen had a major crush on the princess. Gilda slowly backed away.
“I'm just going to be over here.” she said moving away from the Principals and Mr. Perfect.
“Well someone's not getting laid tonight,” Gilda said underneath her breath.
“What does laying down have anything to do with this?” Spike asked. Gilda nearly lost her footing quickly looking down at the pup who was staring up at her with a quizzical look. she bit her lip wishing spike would stop looking at her with those stupidly cute eyes of his. Rarity placed a hand on Flash’s shoulder stepping forth.
“Twilight, darling, you need to understand. If it was anyone else we wouldn't even bother protecting them. They made a mistake. a very big one but...we need to protect them.” Rarity explained looking down shamefully while Gilda felt relieved that she didn't have to explain the horizontal tango to a kid. Twilight stomped up to her ready to rip her a new one. Something in her mind clicked.
“They?” she asked staring down Rarity. The fashionista covered her mouth. “There's more than one person involved?” Twilight asked giving Rarity hard stare. Rarity shook slightly trying to think of something. Twilight's brain went into overtime. so many things clicking into place. How it spread so fast. how it was so hard finding her-them.
“Who are they! Why would you be protecting them--” Twilight began to shout but went silent suddenly, something else clicking. “No…” she said, her arms slumping to the side. She looked at each of the girls. While Pinkie looked heartbroken she paid extra attention to Rarity and Rainbow. Heartbreak was there, but she also noticed something that was missing from Pinkie.
Shame.
“No...” Twilight said, all her strength leaving her body as she clutched back into her seat. After a moment of silence, she held out her hand. “Phone,” she said her body shaking. No one moved not wanting to go anywhere near the princess.
“I. said. Phone!” she demanded loudly. Pinkie Pie swiftly moved to give her phone before backing up.
“What's up Twi?” Spike asked making his way up to his friend, looking up at her concerned while she tried to angrily work the phone.
“I know who Anon-A-Miss is,” she stated, the room grew still, the Principals perking up at that, the tension growing thicker. After another failed attempt the phone worked showing a black home screen. She took a moment to look at the screen before pushing the small pink phone icon. She bit her lips at the amount of contacts Pinkie had on it but was relieved when the one she was looking for was at the very top. Pushing the button she heard the phone begin dialing, another press of the button and the whole room could hear it. After the third ring, it clicked.
“Ah said, git! we’ll be having words later! Hello Pinkie?”
“I think I've come full circle AJ. I should be in a blind rage but you know what?” Twilight asked shaking slightly. The line goes silent, they could hear the shaky breath on the other line.
"What Twilight?”
“I can't stop laughing!” Twilight suddenly started to laughing loudly, nearly losing her grip on the phone.
“You five backstabbed Sunset! You ran her out of her home! You made her an outcast! You even drove her to go into hiding!” Twilight laughed, tears running down her face. “And it was your own damn sisters! HA!” Twilight howled, doubled over as she clutched her stomach. The others didn't get what was so funny, shifting awkwardly as the purple princess laughed at them.
"Twi--”
“It's hilarious! You might have driven out one of the few good people at this school! The more I think about it, the funnier it gets! you five just keep digging yourselves deeper and deeper!” She yelled into the phone her knuckles turning white.
"What ya mean?”
“Oh, it's simple, AJ. You see, the more I hear, the more I'm convinced this can't be fixed. So when we find Sunset, I'm bringing her back to Equestria and sealing the portal for good,” Twilight said, giving a few weak chuckles. The Principals were chatting among themselves making plans on how to deal with this. The sinister look Luna gave made a chill run down Rarity's spine.
“What if... you can't find her?” Rainbow Dash asked suddenly, making Twilight's laughter come to an abrupt halt. She quickly cut the call before giving the phone back to Pinkie.
"If I can't find her? If I can't find her..." Twilight started. The words seemed to sink in for a moment, her eyes losing all light. "Then I'll have failed. I'll have failed you girls, Princess Celestia, and worst of all, I'll have failed Sunset." She finished looking back at the group. She gave a weak chuckle.
"And whatever comes for the school next...” Twilight sighed. “well, you got yourselves into this mess. You and the whole school can get yourselves out.” Twilight said in a cold tone.
"But we need Sunset to use our magic!" Rainbow exclaimed throwing her hands up in the air.
"Should've thought about that before pushing away the one person who could save you." Twilight hissed glaring back at the girls. "You've got your wish. You deal with the consequences," Twilight cautioned before something else clicked. “Rainbow Dash. Why do you think you need Sunset to use your magic?” she asked.
Rainbow Dash just fidgeted in place. “Well, it takes 6 people to use it right? So we need Sunset to… turn it on?” Rainbow Dash stated making Twilight glare at her harder.
“When?” Twilight asked the glowering expression getting stronger.
“When what--”
“I am not in the mood Dash. When did you try to pony up? Answer quickly,” Twilight demanded. The athlete bit her lower lip feeling her heart rate rise.
“Well I umm--”
“I said quickly!” Twilight growled making Rainbow Dash gulp.
“About...3 days after the Anon-A-Miss stuff started. I was practicing but...nothing happened,” Rainbow Dash said making Twilight sigh.
“And you didn't think to mention this to anyone else? Maybe wonder why the magic isn't working?” Twilight asked slowly and carefully. Rainbow Dash only gives an uneasy smile.
“Well no? why does that matter--”
“It means your magic left you, you idiot!” Twilight shouted getting in her face making her fall to the ground.
“Did you think for a second that the two things were connected?!” Twilight screamed her wrathful gaze making Rainbow Dash shrink away from the princess. She spun on the rest of them. “And let me guess. you two can't either?” she demanded. Rarity and Pinkie pie looking at each other before slowly nodding. Twilight shouted something it only came out as a gargled choke, slamming her fists on the table a few times.
“Great, just great! Even if we get Sunset back you won't be able to use magic to defend this school.” Twilight said the acid in her tone making Rarity flinch.
“Whatever do you mean dear?” Rarity asked making the princess scoff.
“Simple. You lost your magic when you chose to turn on Sunset. All of you. And if you ask me, I don't think you're getting it back,” Twilight groaned running her hands through her hair. “Not that you deserved it anyway,” she huffed making the girls sink lower than before. Twilight pinched the bridge of her nose before turning to the Principals.
“Do you have some money? I need whatever this can get me,” Twilight said pulling out a gold coin from her pocket. “I need something sweet or I'm going to throttle something,” she said handing it over. Celestia looked at it before promptly pushing it back in her hands.
“Errmmm keep that. Our treat.” Celestia offered even after Luna made an attempt to say otherwise. Twilight nodded following behind them.
“Can you get me some cheesy claws please?” Spike asked from his spot on top of the chair. Twilight waved at him leaving the room with the Principals.
“Oh and girls. when I get back, we are going to finish this,” Twilight declared stopping at the door.
“How?” Rainbow Dash asked daring to glance at the princess. An icy glare quickly made her look back down to the floor.
“By you bringing me Anon-A-Miss. If you won’t, I'll go knock on every door in this city till I find them. And I will find them,” Twilight threatened before slamming the door behind herself. The room went silent for a moment before the teens quickly gathered.
“What are we going to do!?” Rarity hissed angrily. “We can't let Twilight get her hands on them! Who knows what she would do to them!” She gulped looking to her friends for help.
“Yeah! I mean she could banish them or lock them up in a dungeon,” Pinkie pie started. “Or! Maybe lock them in a dungeon and then banish them!” Pinkie pie theorized drawing a worried look from Rarity.
“Well start from the beginning. What the hell happened?” Flash demanded the 2 girls look at each other before going into details. Rainbow Dash swiftly made her way to the door and slipped out. Gilda noticed this and cursed under her breath quickly slipping out with her, no one in the room noticing the girls leave, or the curious gaze of the little purple puppy.