Sunset takes a deep breath and starts talking. "Almost two months ago, an anonymous user under the name of Anon-a-Miss began to attack Canterlot High School, spreading secrets, gossip, and lies about many of you."
The Crusaders were not far away, watching from one of the first-floor windows. The three girls look down in guilt.
"This user incriminated me," continues Sunset, "and everyone fell for the lie, accusing me of being responsible for the account." She turns to see the Rainbooms standing behind her. "Even my friends believed it..."
The five girls look down, shame written on their faces, but they’re not the only ones. The gazes of everyone in the school are filled with guilt and regret, knowing that they all were responsible.
"Besides accusing me, everyone started attacking me, and nobody ever let me explain or prove my innocence. No one wanted to listen to me... Or at least, almost no one..."
Her gaze goes to Flash, who is still standing on the stairs. Then she looks around, seeing Vinyl and Ditzy Doo in different places.
Sunset takes a breath before continuing. "In the end, when I saw that I had no one to trust in school... I decided to leave, to try to find a place to escape from all that."
Celestia seems extremely affected by that memory.
"I left... but I couldn't get away," the girl admits, looking down a little. "Somehow... my past always came back and prevented me from leaving it behind..."
Nobody seems sure of what to think, but everyone keeps silent. Even her Crystal Prep buddies wait for her to finish talking, interested in where Sunset’s going with this.
"Almost all of CHS turned its back on me and hurt me." Sunset doesn’t dare look up. "I went looking for my own benefit, and I never thought about what would happen to this school after I left."
That turns several students’ despair into confusion. Is she feeling… guilty for leaving?
"I left because I was innocent, because I had never hurt anyone, but when I left... I ended up hurting everyone..."
Many at this point were sniffling or openly crying, Celestia included. The Rainbooms themselves struggle not to run to their former friend. Luna is the exception, the woman smiling with satisfaction and pride.
Sunset feels her eyes hurt, but she resists it and, forcing her voice not to break, finishes speaking. "I hurt the school... I hurt everyone... All of you were right: In the end... I was Anon-a-Miss." Sunset closes her eyes. "I'm sorry..."
Everything is silent. Everyone in CHS is surprised, and Crystal Prep's students are mostly baffled.
After a still moment, Sunset looks up and walks toward Flash, pulling out her journal from her backpack and handing it to him.
"Sunset..." Flash tries to speak.
"Save it... please..." she asks in a soft voice.
He doesn’t say anything. His eyes betray his sorrow, though he tries not to show it. He takes the journal and looks at his friend with concern. Sunset looks back at him, her eyes glazed, aching, but a grateful smile on her lips.
After that, she turns around and walks without stopping to look at anyone.
"Sunset, wait...!" Applejack suddenly exclaims.
Sunset stops, but she doesn't turn to look at them. "I'm sorry. I have a lot to think about..."
"We forgive you!" Rarity exclaims with despair. "If that's what you want to hear... then we forgive you...!"
Rainbow takes a step forward. "You didn't do anything wrong! We... We..."
"We can forget this," Fluttershy speaks in her soft voice, just loud enough to be heard. "Just…"
Applejack drops her own voice when she speaks again. "It's not the same without ya..."
Diane dares to take a few steps and speaks in a sullen but hopeful voice, "Please, come back…"
There is no answer for a moment, but Sunset eventually mutters, "I'm not ready... not yet..." With that said, she resumes her pace, accelerating a bit.
When she goes beyond the statue, Twilight is the first to follow her, running to reach her, extremely worried. Sunny is the next to do it, and half a second later, Indigo and Lemon also follow.
Sonata takes a step, but she turns to her sisters. The older one gives her a nod, and the middle one only crosses her arms but gives her a calm look. Feeling resolute, the youngest siren runs to reach her friends.
Lightning Dust watches everyone walk away, before looking down and following them with a hurried pace.
Jet Set stands in his place, looking towards the base of the statue. After giving a malicious smile, he departs, as well.
Adagio and Aria look at the school and the students. They exchange glances, seeming worried, but they decide to leave as well.
All of CHS is still, just watching as their old friend and classmate disappears after getting on a bus.
After what seems like an eternity, the students begin to disperse, each returning to their classrooms. Some seem thoughtful, others only sad, and some feel as if a heavy weight were taken from their shoulders.
The Rainbooms hug each other briefly before returning to class.
Flash is the last to enter. For a moment, he doesn't take his eyes off the book Sunset has just given him. In the end, he puts it in his backpack and enters the school.
Meanwhile, in the principal's office, Celestia sighs and feels her sister rub her back.
"I think it is over now," the younger says.
The elder doesn’t respond, simply letting her head and shoulders fall. Eventually, she gets up and opens a drawer in her desk. She takes the half-empty bottle from it and drops it into the trash can.
*S*A*S*
The bus stops right in front of the school, and Crystal Prep's students get off, approaching the building.
"So... are you really an alien?" Indigo asks. "You were pretty cool before, but now you're forty percent cooler!"
Sunset sighs while still walking. "Thank you,"she mumbles.
"Do you have powers?" Indigo continues. "Can you levitate things? Turn apples into oranges? Shoot laser beams!?"
Sunset takes a while to answer. "I could, but when I got here, I lost my horn."
Indigo is somewhat confused, but in the end, she shouts, "Awesome!"
"Indigo, please!" Sunny Flare reproaches. "Sunset has a lot on her mind now."
Twilight approaches her best friend and looks at her with concern. "Sunset, are you alright?"
"I'll be fine," Sunset replies somewhat hurriedly. "I just need to take a breather."
There is a short silence until Sonata speaks in a somewhat fearful tone. "Um, Sunset, what will happen now? Should we worry?"
Sunset thinks for a moment, but before she can speak, Jet Set is heard from behind. "Worry? Why should we?" Everyone turns to look at him. "Our legacies are guaranteed!"
"What are you talking about?" Indigo questions.
Jet takes a while to respond, but in doing so, he smiles strangely. "Dimensional doubles? Portals? Alternate worlds?! This is the greatest discovery in history!"
His attitude confuses the others and worries Sunset.
"Imagine what we can achieve if we expose this to the world!" His gaze becomes dreamy but at the same time sharp. "Fame! Glory! Oh, the recognition we would gain if we show the world the entrance to a different reality! So many possibilities! We will be immortalized in history!"
His good mood doesn’t spread to anyone else.
"Why do you have those faces? What?! You need me to explain it to you with drawings?! This is big! Really big!"
Indigo speaks with some doubts. "Yeaaaaah, they're also big problems for Sunset if this is discovered. Who knows what they would do to her?"
Lemon puts a finger on her chin. "Maybe it’ll be like the movies; they’ll kidnap her and chain her to a dissection table, and then, they’ll… uh, you know…"
"Thank you, Lemon. I didn’t already have enough to worry about," comments Sunset, sarcasm oozing from her voice.
"Who cares about that?!" Jet exclaims. "We could be rich, famous, powerful!"
"I’ll be famous when I’m a sports star, " Indigo says nonchalantly. "The portal and stuff are cool, yeah, but it’s not something I wanna be famous for."
"I still wanna make it big with my band!"Lemon exclaims enthusiastically. "The magic and the ponies are fine, but rock is better!"She plays air guitar as she finishes as if to emphasize her point.
Sunny moves her hair from her eyes. "I haven't interest in getting Sunset in trouble. I can make myself a place in history without removing her from my life."
Sunset is too surprised by their answers. "Guys..."
Jet Set huffs with annoyance at what he hears. "Do what you want. It's more credit and recognition for me." He starts walking away, thinking out loud. "I'm going to retrieve that book, start researching, call labs, and—Woah!"
Before he can finish his sentence, Lightning Dust yanks the collar of his shirt, glaring at him. "Tell anyone about this, and I'll beat the shit out of you. Got that?"
"What?!"
Jet Set is not the only one surprised. Everyone watches with mouth agape.
"I said that you’re not gonna tell anyoneabout all this!" Lightning exclaims with anger.
"What?! But this was your idea!"
"My idea was to learn about the book. And I did. Just drop it!"
"Absolutely not! This is an amazing discovery! We can be rich and famous and—"
"Let me make it clear!" Lightning cuts him off. "Either you make sure you never say a word, or I will personally make sure you can’t say a word! "
The gaze she gives him is almost murderous. The boy feels those eyes pierce his head, as if he were seeing a wild beast ready to eat him. The blonde girl, seeing the look of fear, turns around and pushes him toward the school. "Get out of here. And if I find out that a single word came out of your mouth, you can say goodbye to your manhood!"
With a hard gulp, Jet Set departs from everyone and hurries to the school without looking back.
"What a coward. He doesn't even look like a man," the girl complains, crossing her arms. Then, she notices the looks everyone is giving her. "What?!"
Sunset takes a few seconds to say in awe, "You’re... helping me."
"Yeah, so what?" Lightning snaps.
"I thought... I thought you hated me."
Lightning looks away. "Maybe I don't like you, but that doesn't mean I think you're a bad person. You don’t deserve all the crap that’ll happen to you if this gets out."
Sunset is stunned by that, and she is not the only one.
Lightning lets out a snort. "You have a bad habit of sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, and you’re a pain in the ass at other times. But…" She takes a breath. "But you also make a habit of helping others. Even when it's not your business."
Lightning gets ready to walk away, but before doing so, she says, "I’m not planning on being the villain at the end of the story. I wanted to know who you really are, and now I know. I still think there are things you didn't tell me. And believe me, I'll find out sooner or later, but for today, I'm satisfied."
Without saying more, she goes ahead and enters the school.
A stunned silence falls over the remaining members of the group, until Sonata smiles and says, "She’s nice, after all." The others give her a look, not sharing the sentiment.
Sunset herself sighs, smiling tiredly. "Well, this has been an exhausting day. And it’s not even half-over..."
Twilight puts a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe you should go home and rest. I mean... it wouldn't be good for your attendance record but..."
"Actually, a normal class day sounds good to me," Sunset says. Sunset starts to walk, and the girls follow her.
Sonata suddenly says, "You know, we haven't told you, but the truth is I'm an alien, too."
"Sweet!" Indigo says.
"That's cool, Dustie," Lemon agrees.
Sunset smiles and relaxes her shoulders a little. "I need a normal day. One where no one pays attention to me so I can focus on anything else to clear my head."
Sunset opens the door of the school, walking tiredly, but she slows down and eventually stops when she realizes that all eyes are on her. She blinks curiously but has no time to think anything before she hears everyone present excitedly exclaim, "Sunset Shimmer!"
To her surprise and great confusion, the students begin to greet her with lively smiles.
Wherever she looks, she sees smiling, friendly faces, nothing like the usual disinterested looks common from the student body.
"What's going on…?"
*S*A*S*
"What's going on?!"
Sunset repeats her question as she walks down the hall.
"Sunset!"
"Hey, Sunset!"
"What's new?"
"Nice to see you, Sunset."
These and very similar phrases are heard at every step from every boy or girl who passes by her.
"What's. Going. ON?!"
"You didn't know?" Lemon asks with a smile. "Sun-Shim, you're a star here!" she exclaims as she stays in front, walking backward to face her friend.
"Since when?!" Sunset demands.
"Since Sunday," she replies.
"Someone explain this to me!" Sunset demands, stopping her walk.
Sunny stops next to her and looks at her calmly. "Haven't you seen the social networks?"
"I’ve been avoiding those sites. New phobia I developed," Sunset says half-jokingly.
Sonata takes out her phone and shows the former equine the school page. Sunset’s eyes go from side to side as the siren goes from page to page, each full of photos of her in the soccer game against Trottingham.
"Since you won the game, the school has been loving you!" Indigo exclaims cheerfully.
"Me?! I didn't win! The whole team played!"Sunset argues.
"Yeah, but you made the winning point, and that's what counts," the athlete explains.
"It’s not just that, either," Sunny says, showing her phone. On the screen, Sunset watches a video of her band on that big night at the club.
"The music pages are full of videos of you and your band playing," explains the lilac-haired girl. "Just look at the pageviews."
Sunset checks the number. "Holy shit!"
"Yeah!" shouts Lemon with even more enthusiasm than usual. "Tons of students have been begging me to upload our songs for them to download!" The emotion of the girl is almost palpable. "Can you believe it? Just one concert and we’re already famous!"Lemon's eyes become stars as she finishes.
Sunset is speechless for a few seconds. "It's crazy..."
Twilight decides to take out her own phone. "In fact, even the blog that defamed you is now empty."
Looking at her friend's cell phone, Sunset sees the blog that was once dedicated to flinging mud at her is completely barren, no one bothering to even visit the page.
"Everyone has forgotten about that," Twilight says with a small smile.
Sunset still seems unable to wrap her mind around it. "I can't believe this is happening to me... Are there any other surprises?!"
The answer, surprisingly, comes in the form of the voice of Principal Cinch from the loud speakers.
"Sunset shimmer, report to my office immediately."
Sunset is speechless, looking at nothing. "Me and my big mouth..."
"Wonder what she wants," Indigo says, curious.
"What did you do?" Lemon asks, equally surprised.
"At this point, what haven’t I done?" Her comment is somewhat sarcastic but carries that tired tone that betrays her fatigue.
*S*A*S*
The group stops at the door of Cinch's office
"Are you sure you don't want us to go with you?" Sunny asks, somewhat worried.
"She called me, and it's not worth it for you to explain why you're not in class," Sunset replies without looking away from the door. "I'll see what she wants and I'll get out fast. Stay here."
The five watch Sunset knock on the door. Cinch's voice is heard from the other side. "Enter."
Sunset opens the door and, without looking back, enters the dark, almost sinister room. But she is not intimidated.
"Miss Shimmer," comes the principal’s voice. The back of the chair is turned, so Sunset can't see her. "Please, sit down."
Sunset obeys, sitting on the wooden chair under that dim light.
There is silence for a moment. Sunset just keeps calm and silent, waiting for the woman to speak. And she does so after a while.
"Miss Shimmer," Cinch starts. "Do you remember our conversation about this school on your first day here?"
Curious about the question, Sunset thinks about it for a moment. "About you accepting me as an exception and what would happen if my qualifications don’t meet the requirements?"
"And what else?" the principal asks.
Sunset was not sure. "Um, then, that Crystal Prep is a prestigious school and proud of its students?" she answers in an insecure tone.
"Precisely." Cinch turns her chair to face her newest student with a serious expression. "Crystal Prep Academy seeks to train the most influential young minds and guide them towards a promising future."
Sunset releases a small sigh through the nose. "Something told me that a rather serious—and annoying—speech was coming."
Neither Sunset nor Cinch realize that through the small crack below the door, Indigo Zap uses her phone's camera to see inside. The device’s screen is observed by the entire group.
"I don't think this is allowed..." Twilight says nervously.
"Of course, it isn't," Sunny snaps. “Indigo, knock it off!”
"I can hardly hear," Lemon complains. "Indigo, can you turn up the volume?"
Indigo acquiesces, turning the volume up.
"Crystal Prep has a reputation to maintain,"Cinch stresses, placing great emphasis on that word. "Every student who has graduated from this institution has become successful and renowned."
Sunset keeps her eyes fixed on the woman, but the truth is that her gaze feels tired and listless.
Luckily, Cinch doesn't notice.
"A school earns a reputation for its students, and students gain a reputation for their school. It is a vicious and endless cycle which Crystal Prep has been maintaining since its early years after its foundation."
"Um... yes, I understand that..." Sunset says, trying not to look too disinterested.
"Oh, do you?" The woman speaks in an almost sarcastic tone while maintaining her seriousness. "May I ask why you have been missing your classes, then?"
Sunset looks away and crosses her arms, keeping silent for a moment. "I'm sorry about that. I had important business to take care of."
"More important than doing your work at our school?" Cinch questions calmly but with a hint of protest in her voice.
Sunset forces herself to swallow a sigh and thinks to herself, "Well, it's not that I haven't imagined this situation." She changes her gaze to one of regret. "I'm sorry, Principal Cinch. I have no excuses, really. I will accept whatever punishment you give me."
"Punishment? No, Miss Shimmer, I'm afraid you're wrong," the principal says, removing her scolding tone. "Our institution rarely needs to take such measures."
A small grain of hope rises in Sunset. "Wait... she won't punish me? Is Cinch going to let me go without any consequences? No, that’s impossible."
Cinch keeps talking. "Crystal Prep expects all of its students to meet the standards of responsibility. That includes not only academic performance but also respect for every member of the student body and faculty and compliance with the established schedule."
This time, Sunset could not avoid a sigh at that speech. "I understand that, Principal Cinch."
"And to those who cannot meet these standards…" The woman pauses for a second. "It may not be best for them to be in our institution."
Sunset’s eyes widen into dinner plates. "Does… Does she mean…?" She swallows hard. "Principal Cinch, are you... expelling me...?"The fear is clear in her voice.
Outside the office, the five friends exchange surprised and terrified looks.
To everyone's relief, Cinch responds, "No, Miss Shimmer. A student as promising as you can be very useful to our school." A tinge of pride enters the principal’s voice. "You have shown it in your… basic training."
Sunset calls to mind that hellish week packed with exams. "You’re not saying that… that the exam week…"
Cinch just stares impassively and guiltlessly at Sunset. "It was necessary to know that your academic commendations were real and not simply for show from a subpar school."
Outside the office, the five girls continue to watch the talk from the cell phone screen.
Lemon is the first to speak. "So, Cinch had us take all those exams…"
"Just to test Sunset's ability?" Sunny ends the question.
Twilight thinks for a moment. "That... explains the suddenness of it all. It wasn't an exam period or anything."
Sonata, however, remains confused. "I don't understand... what does the principal want with Sunsite."
Indigo glares at the group. "If you’ll shut up, maybe we can find out."
In the office, Sunset sits stunned. "That's why you also put me in the soccer match, too, isn’t it?"
Once more, Cinch stares unfazed by Sunset’s distress. "Sunset Shimmer, you are a promising student, and I am sure that with the right guidance, you will be able to reach and exploit your full potential and become one of the best students in this school," she says with a tone which almost seems proud.
Sunset stares, silently waiting for Cinch to continue.
Cinch stands up and walks around her desk to stand directly in front of Sunset. "That is the reason why your recent attitude is worrisome to me. I hope and trust that such a situation will not be repeated." Her voice is severe again.
Sunset is still speechless, her face displaying her bewilderment. Even so, her eyebrows furrow a little as she frowns.
"I hope only the best of you from now on,"the older woman says. "Is that clear?"
Sunset looks at the woman, setting her jaw. "No."
Cinch's eyebrow rises at that answer.
Outside, the five girls are left with eyes wide open. Indigo snaps out of it enough to say, "Oh, I’m so recording this." She quickly begins recording with her phone.
Cinch pauses in surprise. "'No'?" she repeats. "What do you mean by 'no', Miss Shimmer?"
Sunset takes a deep breath to calm her nerves. "I didn't come to Crystal Prep to become an exemplary student. I just want to finish high school and move on. I don’t need fame or recognition."
Cinch narrows her eyes as she listens.
Sunset looks at the principal with a calm face. "I'm sorry," she says sincerely, "but if you expect to see me in the honor roll or have a showcase full of trophies that bear my name, you’re going to be disappointed."
Cinch doesn’t say a word, and after a moment of silence on both sides, Sunset gets up. With her head somewhat low and eyes closed, she says with a calm expression and voice, "If that’s all, I’d like to go to my next class."
Sunset turns around and walks towards the door. She takes a few steps before Cinch's voice stops her. "I'm afraid we are not done, Miss Shimmer." Sunset slowly turns back to the principal, who glares back at her severely. "I fear that you have misunderstood me. This is not an optional matter."
There is silence between them.
Outside, the five friends are worried about the seriousness of the principal.
Cinch continues talking. "As I said before, students must follow certain standards, and those who do not meet them must not be here." The woman walks towards her, her step is slow, almost intimidating, but Sunset is unfazed. "If you are not at the level of this school, you will have to leave, but I must clarify one thing."
Sunset keeps her serious expression. The principal frowns slightly, and her voice becomes somewhat cold. "Just as graduating from Crystal Prep can open many doors for students, leaving can close just as many." The woman stays right in front of the girl. As if she had planned it, she manages to have her shadow cast right over Sunset. "Crystal Prep has a lot of influence on the most advanced schooling institutions," The woman begins. "I, as principal, have the push to help students to reach their rightful place in one of them. But... I can also prevent those students from getting into any of them."
Sunset's gaze becomes more severe.
Outside, Sonata whispers. "Um, I don't understand. What is she saying?
Twilight explains, "That if she wishes... she could prevent a university from accepting a student who is waiting for admission..."
Indigo frowns. "Is she threatening Sunset?"
"That's low," says Lemon, "even for ol’ P.C."
"That can't be legal!" Sunny adds, equally angry.
Inside, Sunset's body start to shake. Her head is down, her hair shading her eyes. Her fists are clenched tightly. Cinch watches silently, her lips curling very gently into a victorious smirk.
Suddenly, before Cinch can react, Sunset grabs her lapel and yanks the older woman toward her face, glaring at Cinch with a face full of rage.
"HOW DARE YOU THREATEN ME, YOU WRINKLED FOSSIL?!"
Her scream is so loud that it resonates in the room.
Cinch is paralyzed, her face showing nothing but surprise and more than a little fear.
Outside, the five girls are the same, with their eyes open, mouths agape, watching with terror as the enraged girl holds the principal tightly and aggressively.
Sunset almost growls as she says. "Do you really think you can threaten me? That you can use me to further your preciousreputation?" Sunset takes a step forward to tower over the now-kneeling Cinch. "Do you think you can bully me?" Sunset asks furiously. "DO YOU THINK THAT YOU SCARE ME?! DO YOU THINK THAT I CARE WHAT YOU SAY OR DO?!"
Sunset thrusts her head downward until her eyes are mere centimeters from Cinch’s. "You don't scare me," Sunset says coldly. "I don't care what you do. Want to ruin my higher education? Do it! Want to destroy my hopes of living above lower class? Be my fucking guest! I've seen my life fall piece by piece more times than anyone could bear. Everything I achieved, everything I fought for, destroyed, because of people like you, who think they can push me around whenever they want!
Sunset straightens up, glaring coldly down at the principal with eyes full of hate. "And you know what I did all those times?" she asks. "I got up! Every time the world kicked my ass, I gave it back double! Because I'm stronger than you! Stronger than anyone! No matter what you or anyone else tries to do to me, I will move on! You can call all the schools in the world if you want! Tell them to throw me out! Tell the world to push me aside! I DON'T CARE."
She didn't know when, but soon, the older woman feels her body crash against her desk. Instinct leads her to raise both hands and hold Sunset’s arms, while both look intensely at each other.
"One day I will be above you, and when that day comes, I will make you shine my shoes with YOUR REPUGNANT TONGUE!"
There is a pause between the two as Sunset waits for a response. Cinch can do nothing but clench her teeth, looking at her with a mix of anger and fear.
Sunset sharpens her gaze more. "I'm not your little bitch! You won't tell me what I can and can't do!”
Sunset wrenches her arms from Cinch’s grip and starts walking away, allowing Cinch to get to her feet as she says, "Don't play queen against me, Cinch. Because I will dethrone you."
Cinch only watches her leave with her own gaze full of rage. It takes a few seconds, but she finally manages to speak. "How... How dare you ?!" Sunset doesn't pay attention and keeps walking. "You have no idea of the trouble you’ve just gotten yourself into!"Cinch exclaims, losing her stoic and calm character.
Right in front of the door, Sunset stops, waits a moment, and then turns her head. With a cold and hateful gaze, she looks at the principal. "Oh, I know, but unlike you... I'm not a coward."
She says no more. The door closes as fast as it opens, leaving the principal alone in her office, breathing raggedly with eyes full of fury, she can only slide to the floor, and plan...
Meanwhile, the five friends beat a hasty retreat the moment they see Sunset approaching the door. It’s not long before Indigo crashes into someone. Looking up, she sees Dean Cadence, standing with her arms crossed and a serious look on her face. The five, realizing they were caught, just flash nervous smiles.
Sunset leaves the room, immediately noticing the scene. The five give her a surprised look, and she responds with one of her own. "... What's going on?"