//------------------------------// // Shouting, Migranes, and the Internet // Story: Consequences // by shallow15 //------------------------------// “Are you sure you want to do this?” Applejack asked Sunset. The two of them had arrived early at school and were on one of the computers in the library. “Principal Celestia said Agent Shadow was going to be interviewing students today. If I were in her position, I'd talk to the other students here before talking to us. See how well everybody's story holds together. This is the fastest way to contact as many people in school as possible and make sure it's relatively untraceable.” “Not everybody might see it that way. There might be other people who ain't willin' to help. People like Firecracker.” “Maybe. But we're just going to have to have hope.” Sunset smiled at her friend. “I got reminded of that the other day. I don't think anyone at this school really wants to see us hauled off by the government, even if some of them still hate me.” “All right,” said Applejack. She reached into a pocket of her skirt and pulled out a slip of paper. “As long as you're sure. Here ya go.” Sunset took the paper and entered the word written on it into the website's password box. “Let's see if this thing can actually do some good this time around.” “All right, Mr... Biceps, is it?” “YEAH!” Tempest winced before she could stop herself. She blinked and looked at the burly student sitting across from her. Bulk Biceps sat there with an amiable grin on his face. “And what exactly can you tell me about what happened at the Battle of the Bands last year?” “THE RAINBOOMS DID SOME REALLY COOL LASER EFFECTS! GIANT SEA MONSTERS IN THE AIR! IT WAS AWESOME!” “The yelling isn't necessary, Mr. Biceps,” said Tempest, resisting the urge to rub her temples. “SORRY!” Tempest's hands clenched briefly then she took a breath. “So you didn't see anything unusual outside of the special effects?” “NOPE!” “And what about the Friendship Games?” “WE WERE GONNA WIN UNTIL THE STATUE BLEW UP!” “How can you be so sure?” Tempest asked. “WE HAD THE BEST TEAM! GO WONDERCOLTS! YEAAAAAAH!” Tempest closed her eyes and rubbed her left temple. God save me from school spirit. She regrouped and continued. “What happened when the statue exploded?” “FIREWORKS WENT OFF EVERYWHERE! THOSE CRYSTAL PREP KIDS REALLY MESSED UP!” Tempest wasn't sure, but she thought her ear might have started bleeding. “So the Crystal Prep students blew up the statue?” “PRINCIPAL CELESTIA SAID IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!” “Uh-huh. And what else did Principal Celestia say?” “SHE AND THE OTHER PRINCIPALS SAID THE GAMES WERE A TIE AND WE WERE ALL WINNERS!” Tempest refrained from rolling her eyes. Of course she did. God forbid anyone actually deal with the consequences of their actions. “One last thing, Mr. Biceps. Have you ever seen anything strange or unusual happen at this school? Something you can't explain?” “Hmmm.” Bulk put his hand on his chin and assumed and expression of great concentration. Tempest leaned forward. “Mr. Biceps?” “NOPE!” The sudden exclamation made Tempest leap back in her chair, which rolled away from the table and crash into the wall behind her. Bulk leaped to his feet and dashed over to her. “ARE YOU OKAY?!” “YES!” Tempest snapped. “THAT WILL – ahem – that will be all, Mr. Biceps. Thank you for your help.” “NO PROBLEM!” After Bulk left the conference room, Tempest glared at Luna, who had been sitting without comment through the interview. “That went well, I thought,” said the vice principal. “Could you please page the next student,” Tempest said, politeness oozing out of every word. “And, if you don't mind, some ibuprofen?” The students of Canterlot High were surprised to get the notification on their phones. It had been months since any sort of activity had come from that particular account, but there it was, clear as day. And when they opened the app it came from, they got a second surprise. A message composed by Sunset Shimmer. The message outlined the situation with Agent Shadow. Not the full scope of the problem, but enough to make it clear that the STORM agent was looking into the events of the last couple of years at CHS. It also included Principal Celestia's cover stories for the Fall Formal, the Battle of the Bands, and the Friendship Games. For good measure, it also included a synopsis of what Gloriosa Daisy and Timber Spruce had told Tempest about the events at Camp Everfree. The final paragraph contained Sunset's plea for the student body's help in keeping the existence of the magic a secret from the agent, as she was certain confirmation could lead to dire results for herself, her friends, and possibly all of the other students as well. For the most part, the students of Canterlot High were willing to help. The cover stories were dutifully memorized and several groups of students contacted each other to aid in the process. By the time the first bell had rung to begin the school day, the student body of Canterlot High was ready to be questioned by Agent Shadow, and the post on the long defunct Anon-A-Miss MyStable page had been deleted. Everyone knew what they had to do, and they were ready and willing to help protect Sunset Shimmer and her friends. Well, almost everyone.