//------------------------------// // XI~Winter Break(2) // Story: Anon-A-Miss: Another Way // by King_Again //------------------------------// 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.