//------------------------------//
// Episode 18: Sweet Justice with a Bitter Aftertaste 
// Story: Life at Canterlot High 
// by Down with Chrysalis 
//------------------------------//

Our triumphant getaway came to an end as Rainbow dropped us off in front of Sunset’s house.

“Alright you two, keep your heads down until school Monday and the video will take care of everything,” she instructed as we got out.

“And if anyone asks you about us?” I questioned like a teacher.

“You were nowhere near that gallery,” she answered with a roll of her eyes.

“Good,” I nodded at her ability to listen for once. After dressing up the douche like a hot dog, we really didn’t need any concrete proof that we’d been there outside of his testimony.

Try suing us with no video proof you prick, I thought with malicious glee.

“Also, it’s not as if anyone would believe that I’d give her a ride in my car,” Rainbow laughed while pointing at Sunset. The yellow and red headed girl had been riding that same triumphant high as I’d had, but at Rainbow’s words, her face became more sullen.

“R-Right…” she said awkwardly but the speed demon didn’t appear to catch on. “Well you best get out of here then before someone sees.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Dash said as she shifted gears.

“Thanks Dash,” I said while closing her door and she looked at me surprised.

“Whoa, did you actually just thank me?” she said in mock surprise.

“Don’t get used to it,” I rolled my eyes.

“Too late, already have!” she jeered and stuck her tongue out me before flooring the pedal and racing off into the night.

“Oh yeah, that’s great! Just leave skid marks in front of my driveway! That’s very helpful!” Sunset yelled out angrily at the quickly retreating vehicle and I chuckled.

“Alright, cool your fiery head. Let’s get inside before our cover story gets exposed by some pissed off neighbor,” I said gesturing for her door.

Tearing her gaze from the long gone Dash, she turned to me and nodded.

“Good point. I’ll think about what to do to her car later as payback,” she said as she walked up to her porch and unlocked her door.

“The lady just acted as your getaway driver and you’re wanting vengeance?” I asked incredulously.

“Oh please, as if you wouldn’t if she peeled out in your driveway,” she scoffed and walked inside.

“…Alright yeah, you got me there,” I admitted begrudgingly and entered as well. “But still, I know it’s hard for you, but maybe only something light? I don’t want her getting pissed and squealing on our whole operation.”

“What? Afraid that rich boy is gonna send you a bill for ruining his suit?” she teased.

“Oh please, if anything I made that overpriced tarp look better. I’m more afraid of still getting suspended even after proving our innocence because you assaulted a guy,” I shot back and she looked at me in disbelief.

“Hey, you’re the one who said that he wouldn’t even try to rat us out after embarrassing him so badly,” she countered.

“Yeah, because that prick’s pride and reputation is already lost thanks to the stream,” I nodded. “And the last thing he’s gonna do is admit we made him a eunuch and splattered him with burger sauce.”

“Then why would-“

“Because if Rainbow is the one to snitch, she can probably sway the others,” I interrupted. “Trust me, you damage the car, she will pull out all the stops.”

“…Yeah alright, I can see that,” she nodded. “Alright, so nothing with the car.”

“I’d say just take a marker to her locker and call it even,” I instructed and she looked satisfied with that answer.

“Good enough I guess,” she shrugged. “Besides, I’m a bit tapped out on anything major for the next few weeks.”

“A kick in the pills is what you consider major?” I asked with a smirk. “I mean, I know we set up all the entrapment and stuff, but I’m sure you could aim higher.”

To that she gave me an even more wicked grin.

“What do you take me for Bacon? Someone who doesn’t go all in?” she chuckled as she lifted her foot onto the kitchen counter. And it’s there that I got a good look at her footwear.

“S-Steel Toes?” I sputtered in surprise and she smirked again.

“I always have the right gear for the job,” she bragged and a bark of laughter escaped me.

“H-Holy hell Shimmer! That poor bastard’s gonna be looking for his fun sacks for weeks!” I struggled to say.

“That is if I didn’t completely burst them!” she chortled. And like that, both of us lost to the laughing fits again.

I usually wasn’t one to take such delight in someone’s suffering, especially since it was an injury that any man would feel sympathy towards, but in this instance, I couldn’t help it. The pained expression on his face, the total comeuppance and retribution, it was absolutely hilarious. Perhaps it was because this was the first large scale retaliation I’d ever accomplished, or maybe it was because I was just relieved after a week of uncertainty, or maybe it’s because there was someone else with me sharing in and feeding the exact same jubilation. Whatever the reason, I felt satisfied.

After a few moments, our laughter subsided and things got quiet and awkward. Sunset quickly gave a fake cough into her fist before giving me a clumsy glare as she barked out,

"Anyway, enough chatting Bacon! Hurry up and pack up your crap so you can leave already!"

"Yeah yeah yeah, whatever you say Shimmer," I grumbled out as I followed her up the stairs to collect my things.

Over the days of our investigation, I’d left a few things in her room like notebooks since it’d been more convenient to do my homework while we planned instead of doing it afterwards. It also helped that she’d had the same assignments as I did and we were able to complete them faster, which is why some of my other things ended up there as well. But now that we were victorious, there was no reason to set up base in her room anymore.

I’m just glad that she’s allowing me to even grab my stuff now that this truce is over, I thought in surprise. Kind of figured she’d hold them ransom to keep me in line and threaten to call the police saying I was a home invader. Maybe she’s still riding that vindication high?

Whatever the case, my paranoid thoughts went unnoticed by the girl as she opened the door for me and led me inside.

“Alright, clean up and make sure you’re thorough. Anything left behind I’m either gonna throw away or sell,” she threatened and I rolled my eyes.

“She says as if she wouldn’t keep them for herself,” I taunted as I held aloft my custom-made controller and she frowned. “I saw you eyeing it more than once.”

“Well, maybe it would have given me enough cash to get my own,” she excused lamely and looked away causing me to chuckle. Grabbing my backpack, I gently placed my prized electronic inside, before moving onto the rest.

Geometry and History textbooks? Check. Various chips and snacks? Check. Gaming headset? Check. 3DS and manga? Check. Yep, that’s everything, I thought in satisfaction before realization came over me. I really didn’t bring anything useful to this investigation. This is all just stuff from our break times.

Even after getting the others involved, Sunset and I didn’t just investigate and do homework, we’d go a few rounds in several fighting games to ease the pressure we’d felt while under the gun. In fact, the supplies I’d just packed were eerily reminiscent of what I’d bring when Mom dragged me on vacation, though Sunset’s set up was a thousand times better than any hotel TV.

I closed my bag and looked back to her rig where just the night before I’d been handed an L, and a competitive grin came across my face.

Next time I'll be sure to kick her ass. Now that I'm used to her style I'll pay her back tenfold next ti-wait no! I mentally shouted as my thoughts registered and I frowned. Snap out of it! There is no next time! This partnership is over!

"Oh, is the sore loser remembering how I owed his ass in Xenoverse 2?" Sunset mocked as she misread my facial expression. This snapped me out of my mental scolding and I turned to glare at her, only receiving a taunting eyebrow raise in return.

"Hey, we both know you only won because you used your Avatar against me. If you had chosen another character you’ have gotten your ass kicked twice over, no question about it!" I declared to her smug face.

"Oh please, I bet I could choose a Saibamen and still beat you without breaking a sweat even if you had your own 'best' Avatar with you,” she challenged.

"Skill and combos beat spamming power moves any day! Not that I expect you to know anything else but that given your so called 'skill' couldn't beat a newbie who just got the game." I countered defiantly.

This time she did glare at me as she growled out,

"Well your 'skill' couldn't even beat the Beerus AI with all your fancy items and health capsules!"

"His AI is ridiculously tough and you know it you combo spammer!"

"Item abuser!"

"Button smasher!"

"Dipshit!"

"Bitch!"

"CONDIMENT HEAD/CHICKEN SAUCE!" we shouted at the same time. Our little back and forth left us both breathing heavily as we glared heavily into each other’s eyes, which held nothing but malice and contempt…until her eyes shut and she began giggling again.

Unlike our earlier victorious guffaws, this was the same natural sounding laughter I’d heard every once and awhile from her. No matter how many times I heard it, it still had a habit of taking me a back.

Why don’t you laugh like this all the time? I thought for the thousandth time. Normally, it wouldn’t fit you at all, but when you’re smiling like that it seems…I don’t know.

Again my thoughts could not rationalize it, and before I knew it I was laughing alongside her again due to it’s infectiousness. It was here that I started to feel a strange sensation, something that eerily felt like warmth and relaxation. It was foreign and unpleasant in it’s pleasantness, and I knew I was letting my guard down and that it was time to leave.

“Okay, heh heh, okay, that’s enough cackling for now,” I said, forcing myself out of the fit. “I’ve got all my crap so it’s time to bounce from this lair before you grow horns and a tail at midnight.”

She blinked owlishly, slightly confused by my sudden mood change, but the insult did register after a moment.

“Really? Calling me a demon? That’s so last year,” she asked with a roll of her eyes.

“A year I thankfully wasn’t around for,” I pointed out. “So yeah, you satisfied I haven’t sullied your precious room anymore?”

"That depends, do I need to frisk you to make sure you only grabbed your stuff?" she insinuated with hands on hips.

"Oh please, like I want any of your knickers. I’m not some perverted deviant,” I scoffed and once more she was taken aback.

“…I was talking about my games,” she said sounding disturbed.

“Oh…” I said as it suddenly got awkward. “Well I, uh, rest assured I didn’t take any of those either.”

“…Open the bag up, I’m double checking,” she ordered with a frown.

“Oh for, I didn’t take anything!”

“Like I can trust that! You’re the one who brought up my underwear out of nowhere!”

“I thought that’s what you were talking about!” I defended.

“In what universe would that be what I was talking about you filthy weeb?!” she growled.

“Clichés are all the rage in this stupid city! How am I supposed to know which ones are and aren’t in effect?!” I defended.

“Just open the damn bag!” she screeched as she took a hold of it and began to tug.

“Hey, Hey! Careful or you’ll rip it with your devil claws!”

Eventually I relented and let her look through the bag just to get it over with and to make absolutely sure she didn’t call the police on me. She was satisfied that I hadn’t taken anything, so I left her room, still giving her forbidden dresser a wide berth to avoid any unpleasantness in the home stretch. But even still, she kept uncomfortably close to me as we descended the stares, glaring at me like a hawk.

“You ever hear of personal space?”

"You really didn't think I was just going to let you wonder around my house unsupervised, did you?" she deadpanned as we reached the bottom of the stairs.

“I’m not going to steal anything!” I grumbled as I stomped towards the backyard door. “There’s nothing worth it here anyway.”

“Mmhmm, sure,” she said in that irritating disbelieving voice and I grit my teeth.

“Whatever,” I huffed and reached for the sliding door. “If you try to lie and say I did say something then I swear I’ll-”

"Wait Bacon! Hold on a sec!" she called out and I sighed in frustration and turned around.

"Oh what do you want n-AGH!” I shrieked as she tossed a can at me. My reflexes activated and I caught the cold capsule, noting that it was one of her precious cherry cokes.

“Heh. Nice catch,” she congratulated snarkily as I had nearly fumbled it.

"What the hell Shimmer!? You trying to give me a concussion or something?" I accused and she raised a brow at me.

“From an underhand toss?” she deadpanned.

“A sneak attack’s a sneak attack! You’d be surprised how much damage everyday household items can do,” I stated and she just shook her head at me.

“Right, well that wasn’t a sneak attack brittle skull,” she said while holding up her own can of soda. “It’s our last bit of business together.”

“Business?” I asked at a loss.

“Yup,” she nodded as she cracked the can open. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about Oath 20?”

I’ll admit I was colored surprise by that, especially as I hadn’t played an MMO in years.

“Once a mission is complete all guild members, party members and temporary companions must toast in victory to signify their camaraderie and give thanks to a successful cooperation,” I recited and she smirked at me.

“Bingo,” she said tilting her can towards me. “I know it only really pertains to avatars, but I’d say all the BS we just went through counts.”

I just stared incredulously at her for a few heartbeats as I was once more perplexed by how different and varied her personality could be at the drop of a hat.

Why can’t you be like this all the time? What purpose is there in being a bully? I pondered briefly before pushing those thoughts aside and cracking open my can.

“You know, it’s hard to argue with that logic,” I said with a grin. “Especially after how utterly we destroyed that bastard.”

“I’ll drink to that,” she said with another one of her genuine smiles as she raised her coke in the air. "To a successful boss subjugation!"

Lifting up my own can I followed after her and said,

"To the completion of the mission!"

Then at the same time we both called out in overly exaggerated mirthful tones,

"Too jolly cooperation!"

With the toast completed, we both downed our drinks as much as we could given the carbonation. After a few moments of drinking we both stopped and she let out a sigh of content, while I belched.

“Excuse me.”

“Nah, I don’t think I will,” she snarked before giving her own.

“Well, okay then,” I shrugged as we both crushed our cans and threw them in the bin.

“And with that, I guess our business has officially come to an end,” she said while crossing her arms.

“Yeah, I guess it has,” I nodded. “We cleared our names, took sweet revenge, and now things can go back to normal.”

“Right…normal,” she trailed off on the word as she looked away from me.

“Yeah, normal,” I continued. “You barking at me like an angry chihuahua while I nudge you to the side and threaten to call animal control.”

She frowned at that.

“A chihuahua huh?” she grumbled in a strange tone before scowling at me. “I’d say that if you keep pissing me off you’ll have a St. Bernard on your case.”

“…So a big fat and hairy dog that slobbers everywhere?” I insinuated and her face went red.

“You know what I mean!”

“Whoa, whoa, easy there Cujo,” I chuckled and she groaned.

And the routine starts immediately, I thought mockingly and her face went red.

"Just stay the hell out of my way at school if you know what's good for you!" she huffed and turned away from me. For some reason her threat lacked the usual heat, and sounded pretty half assed, as if she wasn’t giving it her all.

…Maybe she’s getting rusty? Yeah, that’s gotta be it, I theorized.

"Sounds like a good plan, but how about you take some of your own advice and stay out of my way. Don't want your reputation to crumble down any more than it already has after all,” I threatened back…but just like with her words, it felt lacking. It felt more like a jab than a threat, hollow and without bite.

“Yeah…sure,” she said giving me a side glance with a confused look in her eye.

Maybe I’m getting rusty too? I thought perplexed before I shook my head.

“I’ll uh, I’ll just…” I pointed towards the door and she nodded.

“Don’t trip over the step ladder in the dark,” she warned.

“It’s just a ladder,” I responded as I opened the door and walked into her backyard.

Why is everything weird and awkward right now? I questioned myself over the curiously low percentage of hostility that I felt. Maybe the whole vindication is just leaving me in a good mood…yeah. That’s probably what’s going on with her too.

The happy chemicals produced in the human brain can cause all kinds of mood swings, and getting revenge on Jet Set had made us both jovial. We were finally going to get off the hook for something we hadn’t done, so it only made sense that we wouldn’t be as angry.

Not to mention the future smugness we’re gonna feel when we shove it in Luna’s face, I thought with a malicious grin as I stepped up to the ladder. Trying to throw us to the wolves on circumstantial evidence, well now we have real proof and…hey wait a second.

I paused on the ladder as I remembered one of the key reasons why the Vice Principal had decided to hang us out to dry. Over the course of our investigation, that question had never been answered.

“Hey Sunset!” I called out as I turned around.

“Yeah? What is it?” she answered standing in the open doorway.

“The night when the horse got tagged, why were you out driving that late?” I asked, remembering that her car had been caught on camera. She stiffened at my question as her eyes widened.

“Why…why are you asking about that now?” she said as she looked away from me nervously.

“Because I’m curious, it’s the reason we almost went down for this after all,” I accused. She bit her lip at this before she shook her head and scowled.

“Just like with Luna, it’s none of your business!” she answered tersely. “It was something personal.”

“….Just tell me it didn’t have something to do with all this,” I asked with a tired sigh.

“I would have said something if it had,” she said, though her face was flush not from anger, but embarrassment.

“Hey, I won’t judge if you were out buying drugs or whatever,” I shrugged as I climbed the ladder and started descending to my side.

“That’s not what I was doing!” she shrieked and I paused to look back at her.

“It was…” she started before she caught herself and turned away from me. “Never mind, think what you want Bacon. Good Night!”

And with that she shut her door.

“…Okay, drugs it is then,” I said more to myself than anything as I landed in my backyard and made my way inside. “As long as this wasn’t some smoking gun missing piece to the puzzle, why should I even care?”

It’s a question that I couldn’t really answer, and it frustrated me to no end.







Even after a few hours of mindless video game violence, and a hot shower, I was still feeling frustrated.

God this just doesn't make any sense! Was that soda she gave me poisoned or something? I thought grumpily as I continued to dry myself off.

My sense of vindication, hype, and joy I’d felt not that long ago seemed to have just faded into a distant memory for the way I was feeling. Not even the anticipation of telling Luna “I told you so,” was lifting my mood.

I utterly and decisively won! So why the hell do I feel so...unsatisfied about it all!? I pondered as my hands clenched around the towel.

Jet Set hadn’t been the first rich jerk off who thought he could get away with anything that I’d taken down a notch. But the thing was, in all those cases, as with any bully I’d pulled one over on, the self satisfaction and smugness I’d felt had carried me for days and even weeks.

Yet here I am feeling indifferent, when I should be jumping for freaking joy like there's no end to the happy sap. I thought with confused anger as I continued to dry off my hair. Hell with how big of a payoff that prick's confession is bringing I should be over cloud nine, yet...nothing.

But the thing was, I had been in that celebratory mood not even a few hours ago at Sunset’s house, we’d even shared in it, but somehow between then and now they’d faded.

It’s as if as soon as I left her house the joy of victory was sucked out of me or something.

Sighing in confusion, I finished drying my hair and sat down on my bed.

"Maybe she really did poison that soda. Would explain why she was so adamant to make me drink the damn thing." I grumbled softly to myself before quickly shaking my head at the ridiculousness of that idea. "Who am I kidding? She wouldn’t brake the Gamer Code, and Sunset couldn't do subtle if it was laid out to her in an easy six step plan, she'd just force feed me poison while laughing like some mad scientist."

I couldn't help but chuckle at that mental image before I stopped myself and groaned.

"Damn it, thinking about all this is getting me nowhere,” I sighed before glancing at my alarm clock and seeing how late it actually was. “…Maybe there’s a gas leak, I don’t know.”

And with that, I parted my blinds and opened my window for the first time, and took a deep breath of the crisp night air.

…Nope, the air still smells the same, I thought dejected and let out another sigh. My eyes then trailed down to the fence between our properties and the makeshift bridge between it.

“You know, from this high up, I guess I can admit that it’s a step ladder,” I said with a grin before shaking my head. “But I’ll never tell…her…that?”

I trailed off as my eyes widened and my jaw dropped at the view directly in front of me…

And then she did the same.

“SHIT!” I yelped as I scrambled to close my blinds, my face burning bright red. In my mad dash to close the blinds, I fell to the floor and started panting as my heart beat at a million miles per minute. I then promptly hid beneath my window and proceeded to question my life choices.

Oh god I'm so screwed! I thought in blind panic. Before I had been feeling apathetic, but now I was terrified because I felt like Sunset would actually kill me.

If it weren’t for the fence, she and I would have been able to look right into each other’s kitchens, and as I just found out, the second story was the same with our bedrooms. Although my timing couldn’t have been more disastrous in figuring that out.

She’d been standing in her window.

With wet hair.

Wrapped in a bath towel…

And nothing else.

It was a sight both tantalizing and dangerous, and there I’d been in only my underwear as we both saw each other.

“She’s definitely gonna kill me,” I panted, remembering how red she’d started to turn before my mad scramble.

*Bzz Bzz*

“EEE!!!” I screeched as the buzzing of my phone sounded off on my desk.

Calm down man, it might not be her! There’s plenty of others that could be texting you at midnight! I thought without any real conviction. Because unless it was my mom or my cousin calling with bad news, I knew exactly who it was.

“Please oh please let it just be Pinkie sending me some stupid meme,” I prayed as I picked up my phone. My prayers went unanswered though as I looked upon the text message from Sunset Shimmer.

What the hell do you think you're doing you creep!?

Below her message were some dots indicating she was writing something else, but before she got a chance to finish I quickly responded back with some damage control.

Nothing! I didn’t see anything!

Or at least I attempted to.

Like hell you didn’t! I saw you staring!

It was an accident I swear! I was just getting some fresh air! I explained truthfully, but even I would have had a hard time buying that.

You expect me to believe that you pervert?! You never open your window!

You never open yours either! I retorted, never having seen her pull the blinds back all the times I’d been in her room. So maybe you were looking at me!

WHAT?! Why would I want to look at your scrawny ass?! She responded back.

Exactly! So why were you looking out your window?!

It took a bit longer for her message to come back, but she responded.

It’s hot in my room!

There you go! So I say it’s safe to assume it was an accident! Neither of us were intentionally peeping!

It took even longer for her next text to appear, and I began to sweat bullets in anticipation, but finally got a response.

This. Didn’t. Happen. Got It?!

Yup! 100% Saw Nothing.

And if you ever breathe a word of this, or I catch you doing this again, not even a mortician will be able to recognize your face from your ass when I’m done with you!

Despite being in text form I could feel the intimidating aura coming from her and I shivered in dread.

I won’t, I wrote simply, and she didn’t respond back.

Cautiously I got up and closed and locked my door, just in case she changed her mind about killing me. I then lay down on my bed and turned out the light.

That was too close. If she wanted to, she could ruin me with this. Who would believe that I wasn’t intentionally looking at a pretty half naked girl? No one that’s who!

These thoughts of dread and worry filled my mind, but so too did the image of just how tightly that towel had clung to her wet form and emphasized certain assets.

Suffice to say, I had a hard time falling asleep that night for a number of reasons.








MONDAY


The rest of the weekend passed in an awkward, groggy state as I attempted to not be near any windows or doorways in my house. Thankfully there weren’t any other incidents between me and Sunset and neither of us tried to contact the other. On the plus side, this did help with the whole, staying out of the spotlight plan while the DJ girl’s video gained views.

Really, aside from the check up texts from Pinkie, Rainbow and Twilight, the only other communication I received was from Mr. Distorted. All he sent me was a selfie of him smiling brightly with his cheek pressed against Vice Principal Luna’s, who looked absolutely miserable.

Justice has been served Mr. Sauce. Come Monday, prepare to laugh.

I dared not respond to his cryptic post because 1. I was a bit apprehensive by what he had planned, and 2. I’d never given him my contact info.

How the hell do people keep getting my number? I had grumbled.

But with no answers to be gained, I powered through the weekend, avoiding all other social media until it was finally time to go to school again.

The bus ride to school on Monday was anything but quiet, and no one was really trying to be subtle with what they were talking about, which made sense considering they were all talking about the same thing.

"Hey, did you watch Vinyl's stream?"

"You’re kidding right? Practically anyone who’s anyone has seen it. You'd have to be a real sad sack to miss a stream like that."

"I thought it was going to be a drag since it was some lame art show, but damn was it worth waiting till the end!"

Now normally I would have been annoyed by such loud gossiping early in the morning after two nights of troubled sleep, but this morning was an exception. Behind my manga I was pretending to read, and if they’d looked, they’d have seen a grin on my face to rival Pinkie’s.

"I knew those Crystal Prep jerks were trouble, but I can't believe they would go so far as to mess with our mascot like that!"

"I know right!? Those jerks take their school pranks way too far, but this time takes the cake!"

Vinyl's stream went above and beyond my expectations and the outcome couldn't be any better than I hoped. Jet Set's frame job was out for all to hear, and hearing him get dissed by those around me was like music to my ears.

"I wish I was there to see that snob Jet's face in person when he got busted!”

"Man I totally made his shocked face my screen saver! I can't stop laughing every time I open my phone!"

"With how pale he was I thought he was going to pass out for sure, but I guess running with his tail between his legs like the coward he is was pretty funny too."

He wasn’t pale for long, he had a nice shade of red and yellow last I saw, I thought with a slightly sadistic grin as I continued to eavesdrop on those around me. But the fact that they aren’t saying anything about that means he didn’t come forth with it…

Of course, even with this satisfactory good news, there were some that just took the fun out of it.

"I can't believe Shimmer and her boyfriend didn't do it! I thought for sure those jerks were behind everything."

"I knew those two...well I knew Bacon was innocent from the start. You guys should really listen to me more often."

"I feel awful for blaming them so quickly. You think we should apologize to them?”

“Maybe? I mean, they may be mean, but they are still apart of Canterlot, and an attack on them is still an attack on us.”

Bunch of hypocritical mindless sheep. Ready to claim they were on our side the minute it benefits them so they can look better than everyone. Screw you and your meaningless apologies! I thought heatedly as my grin disappeared. My thoughts were interrupted though as the one sitting next to me tapped me on the shoulder.

“Hey, I know they might be a bit crass, but the plan did work Mikey. You’re a free man now,” Pinkie said in a rather calm manner.

“Yeah, no duh,” I deadpanned as I looked back at my manga. “And really I don’t care what they think, it just pisses me off when they pretend that they thought something was up. Fricken flip floppers.”

“Well the key thing to take away is that they believe you now,” she encouraged. “So things are looking up for you for sure.”

“Uh huh, keep telling yourself that,” I dismissed. “Their ire is just on someone else. If they really cared they wouldn’t gossip about me while I’m right next to them.”

Pinkie frowned at that and took a look around the bus to all our chattering classmates before looking back to me.

“I kinda think that many of them don’t even realize you ride this bus,” she said plainly and I looked at her incredulously.

“Seriously?”

“Well, for the most part you’ve always got your face in a book and don’t talk to anyone, and while this whole thing was going down, you either walked home or left with Sunset,” she explained.

“…Okay, I guess I could see that,” I relented.

“Want me to announce that you ride this bus?”

“Don’t you dare!” I grunted, giving her the stink eye and she giggled.

“Just joking,” she laughed. “But come now Mikey, there’s no need to frown, this is a good day for you. And I know you’re always on the fence about them, but I have a party idea that-“

“No party,” I said plainly and went back to 'reading.'

“Aw, but it’d be a great one,” she pouted. “I even came up with a name. It’d be the ‘Proven Innocent and Free of All Charges While Showing That Crystal Prep Jerk Who’s Boss' party! We could make it a jail break theme and make a Jet Set piñata!"

To that I just lowered my book and looked at her.

"Seriously Pinkie, you need to work on your naming skills. Would that even all fit in one banner?"

"Of course silly! Its all about proper text size usage and finding the right font for the job!"

Somehow I highly doubt that. I thought snarkily with a shake of my head.

"Besides it distracted you from whatever was making you frown, so it doesn't really matter how long the name is!"

"Say what now?"

"I didn’t say anything," was the overly happy response I got from the crazy pink girl which caused my eyes to roll.

“Okay, whatever. No matter the theme, still no parties for me,” I waved off.

“Okie dokie lokie,” she sighed. “I guess knowing that you were happy the night of is good enough for now.”

“Thank you,” I nodded. She was then silent for a spell while I continued to eavesdrop on the gossipers, but then she decided to break that blessed silence like she always did.

“So, are you and Sunset closer now?”

I about choked on my own tongue as she brought that out of the blue.

“What?! No! What did you hear?! Because it’s not true!” I sputtered as the impromptu peep show flashed through my mind. Pinkie flinched back at my response and said,

“Wait, really? Dashie said that the two of you were laughing and high fiving and stuff when she drove you away.”

“Oh, that!” I chuckled nervously. “Yeah, we did do that. But that doesn’t mean anything. It was all just post victory bliss.”

“Oh…really?” Pinkie asked, sounding disappointed as her hair seemed to droop.

“Yup! That’s all it was. We still hate each other and are glad to not stare at-I mean see one another,” I explained while coughing into my fist.

To that, she looked even more disappointed and just sighed.

“That’s a shame. The way Dashie described it, it sounded like Sunset was like how she used to be. Back before…” she trailed off and her eyes looked sad and distant, which unnerved me.

Oh right, that incident when she made you cry that Hindsight was talking about, I thought as she blinked rapidly and shook her head.

“But I guess that was just wishful thinking,” she said solemnly. Just like when she called me after ‘The Party’ her tone just felt all kinds of wrong to me. She was supposed to be annoyingly optimistic, not gloomy. It made me feel all kinds of awkward.

“Y-Yeah, well, Condiment Head isn’t exactly built for friendship,” I said trying to end that conversation.

“I guess so,” she sighed again before glancing at me. “But I guess in her own way she was happy too to be let off the hook.”

“Yeah…she was,” I nodded, remembering how all the laughter she’d done that night had been the natural sounding variety. I must have sounded strange with how I said that because Pinkie gave me a quizzical glance, but thankfully something else caught her gaze. Leaning over me, she pressed her face against the window so hard I thought she would crack the glass.

"What the hell you pink psycho! How many times do we need to go over what 'personal space' means!" I growled out with my face red in anger and embarrassment as she was practically in my lap.

As expected my words merely flew through Pinkie's ears as she excitedly pointed rapidly at something outside the bus window and started giggling like a loon.

"Oh Mikey, *giggle*, you have got to see this!"

Before I could get a chance to respond, she grabbed my head and forced me to look through the window. Any words of rebuttal or anger I had died as my jaw dropped.

We had arrived at the bus stop at school, and once again there was a crowd of students surrounding the Wondercolt statue. This time however, it wasn’t because of any damage done to the evil cannibalistic horse, but rather to the stage in front of it.

A banner above the stage read “Volunteers Wanted For Renaissance Festival.” Sitting on a prop throne in the middle of the stage was Mr. Distorted, dressed like a king and holding a scepter, and below him was Vice Principal Luna. She was handing out flyers dressed in a baggy jester’s outfit that was every color of a disgusting neon rainbow. Even her face had been painted up, and though there was a drawn smile on her face, she looked absolutely miserable.

As everyone else on the bus began to notice the spectacle, my slack jaw morphed into a manic grin and I began to laugh in genuine glee.

Oh Mr. D, you crazy crafty bastard you. Justice indeed, I thought as I remembered his cryptic text.

“Oh boy! The Renaissance Festival! I love those jousting tournaments!” Pinkie chirped excitedly. “One time Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy got picked to do the guest joust and Dashie absolutely destroyed her, but then we all bought her a spinach dip bread bowl so it was all good in the end.”

“That’s nice,” I said having not really listened as I made my way off the bus and towards the stage.

As I got closer, I could make out Distorted’s words.

“Come now you peasant children, your lord and master King Discord needs plenty of volunteers for the upcoming festival!” he announced holding aloft a bag of popcorn. “I know some of you desperately need that extra credit after the last tests. And let’s be fair, any volunteers will be a lot more competent than Grand Court Jester Lunapop here!”

Many students laughed at that as the painted clown of a Vice Principal just took a deep breath and continued to hand out fliers. Around her neck was a sign that said,

'Discord Rulez, Luna Drools.’

“Isn’t that right Lulu? Isn’t your head just empty of all rationality?” he teased.

“My Lord Discord speaks the truth, I am highly incompetent and can’t even read,” she monotoned as a vein pulsed on her forehead.

“Yeesh, and she can’t even do comedy justice either,” Distorted cat called and everyone laughed again.

“I should see if the girls wanna sign up. Fluttershy and Applejack would be great in helping out for the pony and camel rides,” Pinkie said conversationally.

“You go do that,” I told her as I continued to watch the spectacle as that elation from the other night stopped by to say hello once again.

“Okie Dokie Lokie! See ya later Mikey!” Pinkie said as she bounced off to her friends, and I just absentmindedly waved at her.

Distorted on his high throne spotted my beaming form and he held his bag of popcorn towards me as if toasting with a wine glass and gave me a wink. I merely looked at him with my grateful grin and just nodded slightly in appreciation, before giving him a two finger salute and making my way inside the building.

“Come on you unwashed masses! Do you want those Crystal Prep Snobs to out due us this year? Step right up to the painted nincompoop and sign up!” he continued to chant.








LATER, HISTORY CLASS


Thanks to that wonderful display I saw that morning my mood was pretty chipper during my first class. I'm pretty sure Ms. Harshwhinny thought I was on something since the shit eating grin stayed plastered on me. Rainbow for her part let me bask in my smugness, knowing full well why I was happy, but everyone else nervously thought I had something planned and avoided eye contact.

That just honestly increased my mood as it kept them from talking about me above a whisper and made them think I hadn’t forgiven them (which I most certainly hadn’t.) After all the best revenge is to not do anything at all. If you let their paranoia and fear be their downfall, then you’ll never have to lift a finger.

So yeah, first period was a breeze and the student body avoided me like I was a ticking time bomb. Rainbow even got held back by Harshwhinny over one of her assignments, so I was walking hassle free. Then the cherry on top, the History class was completely empty, so I was able to get to my desk and get a little reading in before the rest of the leeches showed up.

"Mr. Bac-Michael, we need to talk."

Or at least I would have if Twilight hadn’t also decided to show up early and make her way towards me.

Well this can only end well, I thought in annoyance before responding dryly,

"Look Purplesmart I’m in a good mood right now, so before you ask, the answer’s Berserk.”

“Berserk?” she asked, looking thrown for a loop.

“Yup,” I nodded. “Since you’ve really gotten into Bloodborne and the other Souls games, read Berserk. It’s the main inspiration for most of those games anyway, but just be warned, it’s a pretty brutal manga.”

“Oh…uh, well I wasn’t coming to ask you about that actually,” she explained after composing herself.

“I’m pretty sure you were, otherwise my good mood might just evaporate,” I warned before sitting down and pulling my books out.

“I…” she trailed, blinking owlishly before coughing and standing up straighter. “Be that as it may, I’m still going to speak with you.”

“Oh joy,” I grumbled and sure enough the elation started scattering. She flinched at my tone before taking a deep breath and powering through it.

"I wanted to apologize for allowing myself to believe those Dazzling's rumors about you and Sunset. I should have known better, and I should have had more faith in my friend even if he can be a bit too abrasive sometimes."

Twilight's tone was eerily similar to both Pinkie's and Rainbow's when they ambush ‘apologized’ to me at Sunset’s place. She certainly sounded regretful and that got me to look up at her. "I know you won't accept my apology easily, or at all really, but I just want you to know as your friend that I-"

“Yeah, yeah, I already heard the same spiel from Pinkie and Dash a few days ago, so you can save your breath,” I cut her off and she went rigid in surprise.

“What do you mean by th-“

“Pinkie’s your little ringleader, so she already covered you and the others. Her apology counts as yours so you don’t have to go through the motions, it doesn’t really matter,” I waved her off.

"It means something to me,” she said so softly that I almost confused her for Flubber. Honestly, I was surprised I even heard it. I looked back up at her again and saw some wetness around her eyes.

Oh god, not this again! Your whole group is nothing but actors in the Overdramatic Theatre! I mentally grumbled as she leaned closer to me.

"Michael, I didn't have that many friends, real friends, before I met Pinkie and the others." Twilight started to say with a soft, yet determined tone, "Ever since then I've been absolutely terrified of losing them, or any of my friends.”

It’s like talking to a brick wall with you girls! Why won’t you stop harping on that?! I’m not your therapist!

"I know you won't accept my apology, and there's nothing I can really say to make you believe I mean it." Twilight continued on, oblivious to my thoughts. "That's why I decided to do this, as a way of showing just how sorry I am for doubting you." And with that, she reached into her bag.

"Look Twilight, you don’t have to do this. I mean, I don’t normally turn down cash, but it’s unnecessary to-“

“It’s not money! Friends don’t just throw checks at each other during apologies,” she cut me off before pulling out her quarry and holding it out to me. “They do meaningful gestures.”

In her hands was what looked like a pristine looking volume one of My Hero Academia.

"Um...buying gifts is the same as just giving money,” I pointed out. “Also, I kind of already own this copy, remember? I lent it to you not that long ago.”

A copy that I hadn’t asked to be returned, I suddenly realized. Though to be fair I’d been dealing with a bunch of BS since lending it out.

"Um...this is your copy Michael,” she emphasized while pushing it closer to me.

“I don’t think so, mine’s all worn and stuff and…wait, did you spill water on it and buy a replacement?!" I accused and she looked at me incredulously.

“Of course not,” she said with a roll of her eyes as she opened the cover and pointed to the corner where my signature was scrawled in black sharpie.

“Wait, what?!” I exclaimed as I snatched the book from her hands and looked at the signature more closely, and sure enough, it looked identical to mine.

“And because I know you’re thinking it, no I didn’t forge your signature,” Twilight said definitively with her hands on her hips.

Yeah, I mean, why would you? If you had and it was this great, you could’ve signed out a credit card in my name or something, I thought mesmerized as I began flipping through the pages. The spine, the pages and the cover all looked clean. Every crease, wrinkle, and minor damage that I’d put it through was seemingly gone. Though the one meat stain along the bottom was still there, it was faded and less noticeable.

"Wha...how...this is...what!?" I couldn't keep the awe out of my voice, nor keep it off my face as I stared at Twilight like she was some oasis in a desert.

Twilight blushed at that and started twiddling with her fingers nervously,

"Well...I knew how much you cared about your literature, and since you let me borrow it for so long I figured the best way to apologize to you would be to return it to you as good as new."

"I...how did you do this? I’d had that thing for years?"

"Well...I guess I just applied the same techniques I learned from my grandmother,” she explained while scratching at her ear. “She has a few family secrets when it comes to book restoration and they work just as well with your literature."

“Well your grandma must be a freaking wizard, this is amazing!” I proclaimed. “I’ve got a bunch of other books that could use this treatment, how long does it take?”

“Oh, depending on the size of the book, it could take a few days to a week. Luckily I pulled a few all nighters to restore this one so quickly,” she boasted before I raised a brow at her.

“All nighters?” I inquired and her eyes widened.

“No, no, they weren’t all for that, I’m not that obsessive!” she denied while waving her hands back and forth. “I was already pulling all nighters anyway for class projects, so I just added it onto the pile.”

“Oh…well still, this is pretty awesome Twilight,” I said truthfully.

“Thank you very much,” she said proudly.

“No really, is it like a secret family technique, or can anyone know it?” I inquired and she smiled.

“I could show you my process if you’d like,” she offered and I beamed.

Hell ya! My book shelf is gonna look pristine and clean and-No wait! She’s suckering me in! I realized as my eyes went wide before frowning. You got distracted by the big display, but don’t fall for it!

Coughing into my hand I looked back at her and said,

“Nah, you don’t have to show me. If you wrote it down I’m sure I’d be able to pick it up.” She looked a little crestfallen at that, but my cold gaze didn’t warm.

“Oh…okay then,” she said in a hollow tone. “Though you may have to find some chemicals that are hard to get your hands on, and you’ll need plenty of safety devices and-“

“Am I restoring books or making drugs?” I asked a bit disturbed and she frowned.

“Don’t even joke about that. My brother’s had to deal with lots of criminals like that,” she scolded.

“Wait, what?”

“He’s a detective. So the last thing I’d ever do is become a criminal,” she pouted and crossed her arms.

Her brother’s a cop? I thought in surprise. Or maybe she’s bluffing. Usually family of coppers bring it up all the time to threaten you into doing what they want.

“Okay, fine, you’re not a drug kingpin,” I placated.

“Thank you!” she huffed and I rolled my eyes.

Well your grand gesture is just falling on it’s face now Sparkle, I thought vindictively. The drones like big flashy ‘apologies’ but not when you start huffing and stomping your…wait, where is everyone?

The absence of anybody else in the classroom finally stood out to me. Sure I’d been early, but there was usually a small trickle of people coming in.

And wait, if there’s no one around to see her grand gesture apology then… I thought in bafflement. If Twilight doesn’t have an audience, then why go this far?

Before I could parse the reason why, someone finally entered.

“Hey! The class has…”

And that person just so happened to be Sunset who trailed off when she spotted me. The both of us went rigid, having not seen each other since the incident.

“Bacon,” she said tersely.

“Shimmer,” I responded with a clumsy glare and wished to be anywhere else.

Get a hold of yourself dude! You’ve seen a lot more skin on the internet! Quit being an idiot! I scolded myself, only partially succeeding in gathering my thoughts.

“W-well, what do you need Condiment Head?” I asked stiltedly, not making eye contact. “Lurking around trying to strike fear or something?”

She frowned at that, but didn’t look directly at me either.

“Oh please Chicken Sauce, like I need to resort to lurking to show these idiots who’s in charge,” she said stiltedly as well. “I was just doing some last minute clean up and was heading by and-“

“Oh, so, you’re like a janitor now?” I interrupted hastily. “Didn’t know your financial situation was that bad.”

She just looked at me deadpanned and shook her head.

“I’m not even gonna comment on how bad that was,” she said pityingly.

“Yeah…” I admitted and things got quiet again.

Seriously! I didn’t even see anything major! Calm down brain! I mentally scolded as I still found it difficult to look at her. And what did she mean by clean up? Is she already telling people that the Rejects knew about the sabotage?

"Sunset?" the silence was broken by Twilight’s soft voice, which distracted the both of us thankfully. For a moment, I’d actually forgotten she’d been there.

"What do you want Sparkle?" Sunset growled out, voicing my own thoughts for me though in a much harsher way.

Expectedly, Twilight flinched at Sunset's tone and took a step back from her. I thought for sure she was going to try and hide behind me, but she steeled herself and looked the other girl in the eye.

"Sunset...I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions and thinking you were behind the Wondercolt vandalism. It was wrong of me to assume that just because we've had our problems in the past."

Let’s just say that neither the bully or I expected that from the bookworm.

Why are you apologizing to her? She’s not one of your friends, and I’m pretty sure she hates your guts, I thought in utter bewilderment.

Sunset’s shock was quickly replaced by a suspicious glare, but before she could ask anything, Twilight continued.

"I know how much you care about the school and should have known better. Even you wouldn’t deface the Wondercolt over something as petty as revenge against Michael, and I’m sorry I doubted you,” she said, her eyes never wavering from the befuddled bully.

There were a few moments of tense silence between the two before Sunset turned away with a scoff and made her way back towards the classroom door.

"Whatever Sparkle, just remember your place and don't speak so causally to me again," she grumbled not even looking back at us. As soon as she was gone, Twilight practically collapsed to her knees with a long exhale.

"Oh geeze that was so nerve wracking, I thought she was going throttle me the moment I spoke up!" she squeaked, holding her head like a neurotic mess.

“Yeah, well, she always kind of has that vibe,” I said while looking down at the pitiful girl. “I’m just more surprised you actually said anything with all the lectures you’ve given me.”

“I understand the irony Mr. Bacon,” she said while wiping a sweat bead away. “But the key difference is I was apologizing, not antagonizing.”

“Some bullies don’t know the difference,” I muttered as I pondered over Twilight’s actions. I still couldn’t understand what she had to gain for saying that to Sunset, the girl she’d essentially replaced in Pinkie’s group.

My curiosity would go unanswered as I was not about to open that can of worms, especially when she was still panting on the floor. Sighing, I got up and offered my hand to the bundle of nerves.

“Get up already, you’re gonna make people think I did something to you,” I grunted impatiently. She looked between my hand and my face in shock for a moment before giving a small smile and taking it.

“Thank you Michael.”

“Stop with the thanks already, geeze,” I said uncomfortably as I pulled my hand back. “Now look, I just want to make some things perfectly straight here, are you listening?”

She flinched at my tone but nodded so I continued.

“I can tell from what you were saying earlier that Pinkie or Dash told you about my view on apologies, so there’s really no need for me to accept it,” I told her plainly.

“I thought as much,” she said with a sad frown.

“But…” I continued and she looked at me curiously as I struggled to finish my thought. “But even I’m not that much of a dick to not appreciate what you did for my manga. In fact it’s a pretty cool thing you did, so…”

With a sigh of defeat I held out my hand to her again.

"What I'm trying to say is...thanks. And I guess we're cool...for now at least."

Once more, she smiled pleasantly at me before she took my hand and we shook on it.

"I appreciate that Michael, I really do,” she said before she began to smirk. “But weren’t you the one who just said to stop with all the thanks?”

“I don’t give mine out too often egghead,” I explained as I took my hand back and wiped it on my jeans. “Unlike you and your friends, I don’t throw them out like they’re going out of style.”

Rolling her eyes good naturedly she just shook her head.

“Whatever you say Michael,” she giggled and I immediately regret giving an olive branch.

Things would be so much easier if I could just be a full on asshole all the time, I thought with regret.

"Right, so we can put this behind us and move on right?” I asked hopefully.

“Well…there is one more thing, and I swear that’s it,” she said reluctantly and I sighed.

“Alright, spit it out.”

“I was just wondering if it would be okay to come over to your place sometime this week?"

"Just...why?" I groaned as I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration.

“I still don’t have a gaming console…and I’ve looked up some other bosses that are in Bloodborne and I kind of want to fight them,” she explained sheepishly.

I stared at her in abject terror as my jaw dropped.

“You…you spoiled yourself?” I asked offended.

“N-Not very much! I was just curious about what came next,” she said tapping her fingers together.

“…How far ahead did you look?” I all but threatened and she shrank back.

“Just up to Lady Maria.”

“Oh my god! That’s a DLC boss!” I shouted, throwing my hands up in the air.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! But once I started learning the lore, I couldn’t stop!”

“Oh come on!”

“I only looked at a bit of the story for some bosses, I don’t know how their attack patterns or anything!” she tried to placate, but I still felt very disappointed in her.

“Don’t go ruining surprises for yourself Sparkle! Don’t look anything else up till you’ve beaten the game. I won’t allow it!”

“That was the plan,” she pouted. “And I figure I can get in at least 3 days a week ranging from 4-6 hours and still be able to get my assignments done. Which days work for you?”

I stopped shouting as I realized how effectively she’d just cornered me.

You sneaky chess master! I thought both angrily, and a bit impressed.

But before I could tell Twilight to buy her own Playstation and not mooch off of mine, Sunset suddenly poked her head back in the door.

“Hey nerds, quit your squabbling already,” she ordered.

“Ugh, why are you back?” I grumbled uneasily and she suddenly smiled maliciously.

“Well, the two of you babbling earlier made me forget to mention that the Doc moved class over to room 212 today,” she said in a sing songy voice and my eyes widened.

“What?!” both me and Twilight exclaimed.

“Yup. He gave me a pass to go grab any stragglers who didn’t see his message this morning. So if I were you, I’d get a move on,” she said smugly before ducking back out of the door, followed by her hurried steps.

Both me and Twilight just stared at where Sunset had been in shocked silence as her words slowly registered in our heads, and we finally realized why no one else was in the classroom. And that there was only one minute left till the bell rang.

…

"Every man for himself Sparkle!" I yelped as I grabbed my bag and began pushing her out of my way.

"Wha-!? Wait I need to grab my textbooks!"

"Forget the textbooks and move your ass bookworm!"

"*Gasp* you did not just tell me to abandon my textbooks! And language Michael! MICHAEL!"








Chemistry


It was a miracle that me and Twilight managed to get to class on time, and seeing Sunset's smug look as we burst through the door panting did not make it any better. Thankfully the Doc was not a stick in the mud like Ms. Harshwhinny, and just told us plainly to take our seats, despite Twilight profusely apologizing since that was the closest she’d ever been to being tardy. It would have been funny if it weren't for the fact that it looked like she would legit breakdown crying the longer she apologized.

But anyway, after that awkwardness, class just flew by in the blink of an eye, as it always did in his class. And just like in the class before, the others were reluctant to speak with me, though that didn’t stop them from giving short glances whenever they could. It wasn’t just me either, Sunset was getting the same treatment, and from how she carried herself, I knew she was enjoying it just as much as I was.

In no time at all, the bell rang and I scurried on out the door, trying to avoid both Sunset and Twilight for different reasons. Twilight had all but gotten me to allow her access to my house, so I didn’t want to cement it so I could still have some plausible deniability if she still decided to come over, and thus a reason to complain.

Luckily she was caught up with the Doc asking about the project due at the end of the month, and I made my way to the boring mire known as Geometry.

Rarity didn’t say anything to me, but every now and then she would give me a conspiratorially/expectant look throughout class and I realized what she wanted.

She’s really the star of the video that got me off the hook, and one of the only reasons I’m not being hung out to dry so…

I sent her a quick text, thanking her for what she’d done. The minute she read it, she smirked and looked back at me, gave me a thumbs up, then went back to listening to the droning math teacher.

You know, besides maybe Flubber, you are surprisingly one of the more simpler girls of the Pinkie Brigade to deal with, I thought in gratitude. You also pay me when you get up to shenanigans, so there’s that too.

After escaping Math Hell, I entered the Chemistry class, the final period before lunch, and was disappointed to see Applejack already there, and of course, she was glaring at me.

"Alright Jackie, what's on your mind?" I snarked as I sat at the table we were forced to share.

"Oh, nothin' much. Just wanderin if yer happy with what you've done?” she grilled as her scowl deepened.

“You’re asking how I feel?” I asked with a raised brow. “I didn’t know you cared about little ol’ me.”

"You know what ah meant," she growled before crossing her arms in huff..

Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today huh?

"Well to tell ya the truth cowgirl, I am pretty freaking happy!" I responded truthfully, if a little smugly. "Things that were wrong were set right, but I’m guessing since you’re all pissed, you think I shouldn’t be?”

"So yer happy about getting out of some mess you caused, is that right?" she insinuated and my smirk vanished at her tone.

“The hell’s that mean?” I asked and she shrugged nonchalantly.

"All ah'm saying is, that none of this mess would have happened if a certain somebody kept his head down,” she said passive aggressively.

Oh this bitch is not doing what I think she's doing! I thought angrily before taking a deep breath and responding with my own passive-aggressive tone,

"Well maybe if a certain party of petty individuals didn't try to mess with a certain somebody for something they started, then maybe this certain person may not have had to do anything."

"Well maybe if a certain somebody wasn't stirring the pot around here, then maybe things wouldn't have gotten so out of hand!?" Applejack replied more heatedly.

"That probably wouldn't have happened if everyone just left this person alone like they've wanted since the very beginning!"

"If that person just kept their stubborn head down and stopped confronting everyone, then maybe they'd finally be left alone after they finished whining about it all!"

Our heads were practically butting against each other as we continued our 'talk.’

I can’t believe the audacity of this bitch! Did she just want me to get suspended and take it like a good little scapegoat?! Screw that noise!

The both of us were glowering with murder in our eyes, but before I could say anything more, a gloved hand separated us.

"Now now students, I may love some nice reactions but no need to start any volatile ones...at least not before I get my camera up!" Doctor Test Tube's obnoxiously cheerful voice interrupted, somewhat breaking the tension.

Both me and Applejack sent a quick snarl at each other before looking at the teacher and apologizing while ignoring the whispering audience we’d gained.

Great, just what I need. More obnoxious rumors about me, and right after my name was cleared. Thanks you stupid redneck! I thought bitterly while Dr. Test Tube, oblivious to my thoughts, just nodded her head happily as she clapped her hands together in delight,

"Good! Now let’s get today's class started. I know it’s a bit early but hey, you can never be too early for the excitement that is SCIENCE!" And with that, she maneuvered her way to the front and began the roll call.

With her out of the way, Applejack continued where we’d started, though this time she whispered.

"Look Bacon, all I'm trying ta say is that ever since you transferred over you've managed to stir up things that are best left alone. I'm just worried about how this all affects my friends. After last year ah don't think they can handle something that big again..."

With a soft sigh I whispered back to Applejack in a slightly calmer tone,

"And I respect that, I mean it. But I'm not just going to let some jerk or Rejects walk all over me so you and your friends can have the 'perfect' high school experience! I won't be some stepping stone for you and your friends to walk over!"

Applejack was silent at that for a bit before she whispered back,

"And Ah'm not trying to say you should! Ah just don't want ma friends getting mixed up with your little war with those Dazzling varmints or whoever else you decide to rub your horns against."

"Look, I didn't want them involved either but they wouldn't take no for an answer! What do you want me to do!? If they want to help me for some illusion of friendship then you need to show them the light like you told me you would!"

I felt Applejack giving me an offended glare at that shift of blame, but I chose to ignore it to try and make it look like I was focusing on Dr. Test Tube's lecture.

"Dangnabbit, don't you think I've tried?!” she cursed. “They won’t listen to reason no matter how hard I try to hammer common sense into their thick skulls.”

“Well they are your friends, so it’s not that surprising,” I insulted and she grit her teeth. “And sure, I used their help so that I wouldn’t get tossed under the bus. I don’t think even you’re that frigid to let me go down for something I didn’t do.”

“…Ah guess I’m not,” she said after a moment. “But until two days ago, I was certain you had been behind it, despite what they all said.”

“You and the hundreds of other brainless masses here,” I grumbled and she shot me a dirty look. “But hey, if it makes ya feel better, Rarity had to be goaded into helping through vanity, and Flubber is just too scared to do anything, so maybe start with them.”

“Flubber?” she asked in a confused tone. “Who in the sam hill is-”

“Look, it doesn’t matter who you start with,” I interrupted her impatiently. “Just do what you gotta do. And for the love of god, don’t get pissy at me for being me. I’m trying to scare them off from dragging me into the Cult of Pie, so don’t harp on how I go about it. Okay? End of discussion!”

With that said our 'conversation' came to an end for the rest of the class time, though Applejack continued to give me small glares of anger and for some reason concern throughout the class. I, of course, ignored these looks as I put all my attention on the lecture before me.

Let's just hope there's not another pop quiz or else I'm screwed and it'll totally be Jackie's fault! I thought in slight dread as I tried to write as many notes as I could from the white broad before Dr. Test Tube could erase them forever.








Lunch


With Chemistry finally over I left the classroom as fast and as subtly as possible, leaving the now suffocating levels of tension courtesy of one crossed farmer girl behind. My hunger for food was only secondary though, as I truly sought sustenance from more information, especially in regards to the Rejects.

Outside of the internet, a High School lunch room is the prime hub for rumors and gossip, and as I made my way to the lunch line, I made sure to keep my ears open. And boy was I rewarded for my efforts!

"Did you hear? The girlfriend of the guy who trashed the Wondercolt totally just broke up with him!" A girl with green hair said excitedly to her two friends just ahead of me in the line.

The blonde gave an overdramatic gasp of shock at the news, while the one with a rose in her hair just raised a skeptical brow at that.

"And just how do you know that Daisy?" she asked as said girl rolled her eyes as if it was obvious before shoving her phone in their faces.

"Apparently there are rumors going around that she helped him with the Wondercolt, so I looked her up online and her relationship status is set to 'it’s complicated.' What more proof do you need!?"

The blonde girl once gain gasped overdramatically at that while the other girl just gave her friend a deadpanned stare.

"Or, and hear me out here, it’s because he was flirting with Rarity and is unsure if she wants to stay with the guy or not."

"Oh you poor poor girl, don't you know that 'it's complicated' is just another way of saying a relationship is over?” the blonde said with a sad sigh. “It’s just, like, common sense!"

"Or maybe you two are just over thinking someone else's relationship...again."

"See Rose, this is why you don't have a boyfriend. Your lack of social understanding is really killing your chances," Daisy said with a pitying tone towards the now named Rose.

"Wha-! What does anything about this have to do with me lacking a boyfriend!?"

As the three gossips descended into some back and forth nonsense I couldn't help but give a small smirk at the news of Jet's romantic situation.

And his suffering continues. Take that you cheating prick, I thought with malicious glee and suddenly my soured mood from talking with Applejack disappeared.

As I inched closer to the front, I noticed that the old lunch lady was giving me a small smile.

Well that’s an improvement at least, I thought in relief. Maybe now I can choose my fruit instead of just getting an orange every day.

When I got to the front and held out my tray, the old lady held up a finger, reached under the counter and then plopped something I wasn’t expecting onto my tray.

…Okay, that’s a definite improvement, I thought taken aback.

While everyone else had the standard school food that ranked in quality between prison slop and 3rd world country scraps, I had a freshly baked apple pie in the tin, and cooked potato wedges.

I looked back at the old woman in shock who just gave me that apologetic smile again, before setting a carton of juice next to it.

“Uh…thanks,” I said unsurely and she just nodded and waved for the next person behind me.

With my kingly feast in hand, I began my trek towards the door to mine and Ditzy’s hang out spot. Along the way, I saw the different clicks and factions giving me glances, but no one had the balls to say anything to me, which is just how I liked it. Even better, I finally heard what I’d truly wished to hear.

“Betrayal.”

“How could they hide that?”

“Trying to let the snobs get away with it?”

The rumor mill was in full swing and everyone was whispering about the Rejects and looking sourly in their direction.

Just from body language alone, I could tell they were not having a good time. Adagio was stiff and fuming, Aria was twitchy and looking around, and Sonata just seemed generally uncomfortable with all the negative attention they were getting.

Their misery was just the cherry on top of the good day, and not even Applejack’s bitchiness could ruin it.

Dang Sunset, you really work quick don’t you? I thought impressed as the news spread like wildfire. Speaking of her, I spotted her chilling and enjoying the fireworks with the most relaxed and smug smile I’d seen yet. Adagio glanced her way every now and then, but Sunset didn’t reveal anything to her. I sure hope you didn’t throw Hindsight under the bus, those three will eat him alive.

As if hearing my thoughts, Sunset looked over at me and gave me a conspiratorial grin, which I couldn’t help but nod at. Then I guessed she remembered who she was looking at and she quickly and clumsily sent a glare my way before looking back towards the Rejects.

You know, if we can keep the awkwardness going, then maybe we’ll never even speak to one another again, I thought, trying to find a silver lining. That aside, I looked back to the suffering of the Dazzlings and immediately cheered up again, which is how I locked eyes with Adagio.

I wasn’t trying to hide my smile, and that ruffled her feathers something awful as she looked at me with murderous intent. My smile only widened at her outrage…and then I did something cocky.

Maybe I was riding off the high, or maybe I just wanted to get back at Applejack’s pissy mood, or maybe I just liked poking bears. Whatever the reason, I made my way towards their table. In the corner of my vision, I saw Sunset stiffen and her eyes go wide, and some of the whispers hushed, but I kept my main focus on Adagio and her stupid hair.

All three of them seemed rather perturbed that I was approaching, but I kept plowing through until I was five feet from their table. The queen bee began to open her mouth to speak, but I beat her to it.

“Enjoying the front row seats? I heard they’re non-refundable,” I mocked, bringing up her previous gloating about me getting expelled and throwing it back in her face. She clenched her teeth at that, while Aria frowned and Sonata looked uneasy. I then smiled maliciously as I looked Adagio straight in the eye and said, “Your move, Disco Dance.”

The look of outrage on her face was glorious, but before she could make a scene, I gave her a mock salute and went on my way. Sunset was looking at me incredulously, and so were a few others, wondering what I’d said, but I didn’t give them the time of day as I made my way outside. I gave one last glance to Adagio, and her murderous aura had not dissipated in the slightest, so I smiled again just to get to her.

Closing the door behind me, I felt ten feet tall and exhaled in content.

Watching them squirm like this is nice and all, but... my grin slowly became less manic, this isn't nearly enough to make up for your little 'prank'. Prepare yourselves you Disco Rejects, this is only the beginning!

People treating them like traitors was nowhere near the levels of vengeance I still had planned. When the time came, I swore that they would be wallowing and crying in the dirt for the pain they’d caused me.

Even you Sonata. Even though you nudged Sunset and I in the right direction, it still doesn’t erase your sin, I thought in contempt. As I’d approached their table, she had almost raised her hand to wave at me, before looking at the other two and thinking better of it.

I still didn’t understand her angle, but in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t matter. She’d cry along with the rest of them.

“Hey Michael, what’s with the evil look?”

“Huh?!” I gasped, snapping out of my plans of vengeance to see I’d arrived to Ditzy “Derpy” Do, who was sitting with Hindsight at our spot.

“I said why do you look like you’re planning something bad?” she asked and I pursed my lips.

“I’m not planning something 'Bad.' I’m planning future vengeance, there’s a difference.”

“Um…future vengeance on whom?” Hindsight asked somewhat nervously and I rolled my eyes.

“You’re in the clear poindexter,” I reassured. “But your precious Blaze and friends, not so much.”

“Ugh, do you have to keep bringing that up?” he bemoaned as I sat down.

“Yes. Yes I do,” I said plainly and he sighed. The wall eyed girl had mentioned, or rather demanded that when we completed our mission and things got back to 'Normal' then the tech geek should be allowed to eat with us. Having had more important fish to fry at the time, I had just relented to her request and now here he sat in our quiet place. But truthfully, there could have been worse options.

“Oh knock it off you two, now’s not the time for vengeance. It’s food time,” Derpy said with a bubbly smile as she took a sandwich out of her lunch box.

“Truer words have never been spoken,” I said as I picked up the pie.

“They were serving pie today?!” Hindsight asked in surprise.

“For me apparently,” I shrugged as I took a scoop out of it. “Guess it’s the lunch lady’s idea of a bribe for trying to fatten me up on oranges or something.”

“If that’s an apple pie, then Mrs. Smith made it herself, you’re so lucky,” Derpy said somewhat enviously.

“It’s just a pie guys. Sure it’s better than the usual fair but…” I trailed off as I actually took a bite, and heavenly flavor danced across my tongue.

Wha…what is this? Is this laced with drugs? How could something be so delicious? I thought as I was taken to dessert nirvana.

“…Yup, definitely an Apple Family pie,” Hindsight said in relation to my frozen form.

“Does she have a bakery?! I must know!” I shouted, as I started shoveling pieces of heaven into my maw. “This is by far the best pie I’ve ever had!”

“No, unfortunately they don’t have a bakery, but sometimes they’ll sell baked goods at the farmer’s market,” Derpy explained.

“Well I know what I’m doing one of these weekends!” I said with my mouth full.

“Heh, if you think that’s good, wait till Cider Season starts. It’s to die for,” Hindsight said with a nostalgic look on his face.

“Cider huh? Well if it’s as good as this then sign me the hell up,” I said with glee.

“Will do!” Derpy said with a sweet smile. “Oh, and speaking of signing up, did you see Ms. Luna this morning?”

I nearly choked on the glorious pie as I laughed in remembrance.

“That sure was a sight to behold,” Hindsight nodded. “The Ren-Fair sure is going to be interesting this year.”

“I’ll say. I’m always amazed about what Mr. D can do,” Derpy responded.

“Well, when you’re sleeping with the principal, I guess you have a little more leeway on things, like humiliating her sister,” I chuckled which got Hindsight going.

“That’s one way to put it,” Derpy said, rolling her eyes at my crassness. “Oh, and before I forget, Ms. Luna wanted to see you and Sunset after school.

And just like that, I nearly choked on pie again.

“Oh she does, does she?” I inquired.

“Yup. Mr. D gave me a text and let me know to tell you two, so I did,” she explained.

“Perhaps she’s going to apologize then,” Hindsight theorized and I smirked.

“You know, I would very much enjoy that…even with Sunset there.”

“Speaking of her…has she been hovering near you guys in the background all day?” Hindsight asked and I looked at him incredulously.

“Huh?”

“It’s just that I kept seeing her as I was walking between classes, glancing at me every so often,” he continued.

“Huh, yeah, now that you mention it, she was doing the same to me,” Derpy added.

“I mean…I wasn’t really looking, but we did have History class,” I said, perturbed by her unusual behavior.

“Well, she did say she would look out for you during the interrogation remember?” Derpy pointed out and Hindsight flinched backward.

“Please let’s not bring that up,” he pleaded, causing Derpy to look sheepish.

“Right, right. But yeah, she and Michael offered protection remember?”

“Oh yeah, we did do that,” I said remembering the good cop, bad cop routine. “And she was going around letting people know that the Rejects knew about the Crystal Prepper’s involvement…”

“She did?” he asked, his face going pale.

“Yup. You should’ve seen them squirm,” I said with glee, but his eyes suddenly became shifty.

“Oh man, I thought I’d have more time. Even if she didn’t say I was involved, Adagio might figure it out!” he panicked, suddenly acting eerily similar to Twilight.

“Well, nothing you can do about it now,” I shrugged. “Just hope that Condiment Head is true to her word in acting like the mob.”

And while Derpy comforted and calmed down the other neurotic mess invading my life, I enjoyed the best school lunch I’d had since I was a carefree and idiotically optimistic grade schooler. And I suppose I was still riding that high, because Ditzy was even able to talk me into sharing a piece of my pie with both of them.

And really, I supposed a piece of pie was more than enough payment for services rendered.








GYM


P.E. had been just as hellish as it ever was, and a belly full of pie didn’t exactly adhere to a workout regimen, but I’d be damned if I was gonna upchuck something so beautiful!

So I took it easy…relatively speaking. Thankfully with Flubber around, I was able to slack off on some pushups and sit ups while Spitfire had her back turned. Flubber herself hadn’t looked all that enthused by the workouts, even if she was still able to leave me in the dust for any physical activity, and she looked like she had something on her mind. She never spoke up though, like usual, and I didn’t try to pry.

Us being quiet around each other was par the norm, aside from that night during the thunderstorm, and I felt no need to change that.

But after awhile of taking it easy, I still started to feel queasy. Luckily, at that moment, Coach got a call on her cell and walked away with only a few minutes left in the period.

“Alright Flubber, I’m making a break for it. If I go any further, I’m losing my lunch. Literally,” I said as I crept towards the locker room.

“Th-that isn’t my-“ she started, but I ignored her as I crept past all the others diligently doing their exercises.

Once in the locker room, I changed back into my regular clothes, and took a few deep breaths to settle my stomach.

Alright, next time no baked goods before gym, I thought pensively, as I grabbed my bag and made a break for the exit and into the hallway.

"And just where do you think you're going private?!"

My body reflexively stopped, turned around and straightened out to attention as the insane coach caught me.

"Ma’am! I was just on my way to my locker then to the Vice Principal’s office ma’am!” I bellowed out truthfully to the stern woman standing by the door.

"Oh really?” she said with an unamused look behind her shades. “You thought you’d skip out early without finishing all your exercises?”

"Ma’am, I did finish all my exercises for the day ma’am!" I lied, which was a mistake. She merely shook her head and made a tsking noise which made me break out in a cold sweat.

"Private…" Spitfire began in a sickeningly-sweat tone, "I could have sworn I mentioned how I would know if one of you maggots skipped out. Didn't I say that Bulk?"

"YEAH!" Yelled an overly buff guy as he exited the locker room behind me and made his way down the hall.

"Thank you Bulk," she nodded her head in his direction before leaning closer to me till I was reflected in her sunglasses. "Now since you knew I would know, what dumbass idea did you get to think you could trick me and then lie to my face solider?"

Oh god I can't feel my legs! How can someone smaller then me be so fricking scary!? I thought in terror, my voice lost to me as the pie threatened to come up again.

She must have taken my silence as her answer as she leaned back away from me with a smug grin.

"Well congratulations Bacon, today's your lucky day!"

"...Huh?" I blubbered and she chuckled grimly.

“Well normally I’d have made a deserter like you run laps around the school with weighted ankle bracelets I got in Japan until I’d felt you learned your lesson,” she threatened, and I knew then and there that she was the devil incarnate. “But I know you’re just feeling too big for your britches since you narrowly got vindicated over what those Crystal Prep Scumbags did, so I’ll go easy on you just this once.”

Why am I still not reassured? I thought with dread.

“Wha…what do I have to do ma’am?” I asked, my tongue feeling dry as a bone.

"Well as you know the town's annual Running of the Leaves marathon is this week, which you are required to participate in I might add," she said in a jovial tone and my face paled.

I’d actually forgotten about that! Great! Just great! I mentally grumbled as she continued.

“But this year’s gonna be special,” she said with wild glee. “Everyone’s all riled up to take down the Preppers after what they did, so much so that we might even be able to take the gold from the Changelings as well.”

What is it with these schools and making everything a freaking competition? Not even my old school district had this much spirit at our football games!

"And because of that, two of my best seem to be more pumped up than usual and are even competing against each other!” she said sounding wistful, right before she gave me that horrifying grin again. “And that's where you come in."

“M-ma’am?” I stuttered.

“Privates Dash and Applejack showed so much spirit and aggression in class today that it couldn’t be contained in one hour, so I gave them permission to use the track field for a little competition. It’s good to keep that fire burning bright!”

“W-wait, Applejack and Dash?” I asked apprehensively.

“That’s right private,” she nodded. “They’re my top recruits, and they need an impartial judge to rate their performances.”

My jaw dropped as I understood exactly what she was getting at.

“Me? But why? I suck at sports stuff!” I complained and she smirked.

“Exactly, which makes you the best to rate them from a layman’s perspective,” she pointed out.

“R-Really? I’m the best?” I asked in disbelief.

“Well, the best I can get within five minutes anyway,” she shrugged. “I was gonna oversee their little trials myself, but my boyfriend called needing my help down at the air force base, so I’ve got to run.”

Air Force Base? Wait, you really are in the military?! I thought in shocked realization.

"But of course I wasn't going to force you into it if you had plans. But seeing as how you skipped out on finishing your exercises…” she trailed off in insulation and I gulped.

“W-Well I do have to go see Vice Principal Luna right now and…” I stammered, never happier to have a reason to go to the office. Or at least I was happy until she got up in my face again.

“And is that going to take all evening private?!” she chided.

“No Ma’am!” I shouted on reflex as others left the locker room and gave us a wide berth.

“Then I don’t see what the problem is,” she said in a dangerous tone and the sweat began to fall. “The VP is just gonna say how very sorry she was for the misunderstanding and send you on your way. But when that’s done, you know exactly where you’re headed right?”

“To…to the track field ma’am?” I guessed and she smiled and nodded.

“Very good private,” she said before leaning back and crossing her arms. “But if I hear that you skipped out, well…those ankle weights go up to 50 lbs…”

The pie remnants were right at the bottom of my throat as dread filled me.

“I won’t Ma’am! I’ll be there!” I shouted and she nodded.

“Damn right you will. Now carry on,” she dismissed.

“Yes Ma’am!” I saluted and hurried down the hallway.

I hate this school. I hate this town. I just...hate everything...soooo much right now! I grumbled as I made my way to Luna’s office, dreading whatever Dash and Applejack had in store.

Well whatever the case, I’ll just declare Rainbow the winner of everything because screw that judgmental hick!

And with that, I went to go seek my final piece of satisfaction from a groveling adult before having to deal with more idiocy.

And since Sunset’s gonna be there too, just avoid eye contact or Mr. D is gonna make a joke about it!