"Where'd the girls go?," Aria asked the five remaining girls. Aria could see shock and horror in their eyes, and she could tell that Fluttershy had been crying and Pinkies hair was unnaturally straight. Rarity looked up from her phone and hesitated before handing it over to Aria.
"Some, monster," Rarity said in a voice filled with rage, "posted this about Sunset." Aria looked at the screen. Somebody calling themselves Incognito, had posted a death threat against Sunset, and had gone into vivid details about what they would do to Sunset if the found Sunset alone one night.
"This is disgusting." Aria said. Scootaloo tried to take the phone away from Aria, but Aria was to fast for the younger girl. "You really shouldn't see this."
"Adagio and Sonata went to comfort Sunset," Rainbow said, "I swear, when I find this Incognito person, they will regret it."
"I agree with you there Sugarcube," Applejack replied, "Sunset may have done many awful thing in the past, but even she doesn't deserve this."
Fluttershy read the post for the umpteenth time and started crying again. The post made her so angry she could scream. Sunset was her friend, and Fluttershy knew in her heart that Sunset was innocent of all the nasty things that people were saying about her.
Aria knew that whomever this Incognito person was, it wasn't one of the three younger girls.
"Has my mom or Aunt Celestia seen this?" Aria asked.
"If they haven't, they soon will," Applejack replied, "it was a public post."
Aria pulled out her phone as she handed Rarity's back. Growling as she ignored her most recent notification, she dialed a number.
"Aunt Tia, it's Aria," Aria said into the phone, "we need to talk. No, I'd rather not say right now, is it ok if I come over?" After that, Aria hung up her phone. Looking at the six girls with her for a moment, her eyes settled on Fluttershy.
"Could you give Scoots and I a ride to Celestia's house?" Aria asked. Fluttershy only nodded as she stood up and pulled her keys out of her pocket.
Whenever Aria had caught a ride from Fluttershy in the past, the ride had been practically lethargic. Not today. Today Fluttershy seemed to drive like a bat outta Hell. She was certain that Fluttershy managed to get her car airborne at times. Both Aria and Scootaloo tumbled out of Fluttershy's car when they arrived at Celestia's house.
"Ground," Scootaloo said, "sweet, sweet ground!"
Having recovered enough to stand up Aria began to go inside the house, though her legs still felt like jelly.
"SUNSET,'" Aria called out as she and Scootaloo entered the house. Instead, Celestia looked up from where she was seated reading a book."
"She isn't here," Celestia said with a look of concern, "I thought she was with you girls."
"There was an incident," Aria said. She was about to explain further when both Adagio said Sonata entered the house. Both of them were clearly out of breath.
"Is Sunset here?" Adagio asked between breaths.
"I thought she was with you," Aria answered.
"We lost her when she went through the farmers market." Sonata said worriedly.
"Could someone please tell me what is going on." Celestia ordered. The three triplets looked at each other before Adagio nodded. She took out her phone and pulled up Icognito's post before silently handing the phone her aunt. Celestia looked like she was going to be sick as she read it. There was also an intense look of anger in her eyes. After several tense silent minutes she spoke, "find my daughter, bring her home to me."
The three Dazzlings moved as one. Adagio and Sonata both began sending urgent texts to their friends. Aria meanwhile called Flash Sentry and informed him of the situation.
"What can I do?" Scootaloo asked quietly. Celestia was about to answer when Aria cut her off.
"You stay here," Aria snapped. The look in her eyes told Scootaloo that she had already done enough. Scootaloo knew that she was right. This was her fault. Celestia grabbed Scootaloo and gave her a big hug.
"They'll find her," she told the newest member of her family before looking at her sister's three daughters, "bring her home."
The three of them simply nodded as they shuffled out the door.
"You were a little harsh on the squirt." Adagio told Aria.
"I have my reasons," Aria replied, "now let's go bring Sunset home." It was at this point that their friends arrived. Adagio began barking orders. Pinkie and Sonata would scour the blocks around Sugarcube Corner. Rainbow and Applejack agreed to search Canterlot High. Rarity and Fluttershy would search Saddleback Park. Adagio would call Cadence and the two of them would search the mall. Everyone took off in the direction of where they would look, leaving Aria standing in Celestia's driveway. She wasn't standing there long before a black sports car with blue and yellow trim pulled. Without saying a word Aria climbed into the passenger side of Flash's car.
"What's the plan?" he asked after Aria was inside the car.
"Are you familiar with the old shopping center over on 23rd Avenue." Aria answered.
"Yeah," Flash said looking at the clock on his dashboard, "not someplace to be after dark."
"Then let's get going.' Aria ordered.
After a very detailed grid search by Pinkie and Sonata, they hadn't found Sunset. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cake had agreed to keep an eye out for Sunset and that they would call Celestia the minute they saw her.
Rarity and Fluttershy didn't have any luck looking for Sunset in the park. And Applejack and Rainbow arrived at the school to find it locked up for the weekend. Neither Adagio or Cadence had seen any sign of their missing cousin as they searched the mall. They all met up back at Celestia's house. After a moment Adagio pulled out her phone and dialed a number. She didn't know why she had though of this earlier.
"Who're ya callin'?" Applejack asked.
"Sunset." Adagio answered.
"It can't be that easy." Rainbow said with disbelief.
"Adagio? This is Aria," Adagio heard her sister say over the phone, "she isn't here, but it looks like we just missed her."
Adagio hung up the phone. "Sunset abandoned her phone."
"How do we find her now?" Fluttershy asked as fear overtook her.
Aria put Sunset's phone in her pocket and looked at Flash.
"Any ideas?" She asked. Flash stood there looking around. He couldn't understand why Sunset would come here. He knew that Sunset had nothing but bad memories of this place.
"None," he answered, "I'm trying to figure out why she would come back here."
"What do you mean?" Aria asked.
"This is where Sunset used to live," Flash replied, I promised her that I would keep her secret, but I was relieved when she told me that Celestia had adopted her."
"Sunset lived here" Aria said mostly to herself. Then her eyes caught sight of something. The old bus station. Aria quickly sprinted across the street to the terminal, her sudden movement caught Flash by surprise.
The bus station had several transients sleeping on the various benches. But Aria found Sunset trying to hide behind the vending machines.
"Sunset," Aria said as she held out her hand, "let's go home."
"Why should I," Sunset said as she fought back tears, "everyone wants me dead for something I didn't do."
"Dagi, Nata, and I don't want you to die, neither does your mom or ours," Aria said calmly, "I'm sure that our friends want you to stay in their lives."
"And who will watch over Scootaloo." Flash added. He didn't notice the look in Aria's eyes when he mentioned the younger girl.
"You sure," Sunset sniffed.
"Positive," Aria answered, "my sisters and I owe so much, I doubt that we'll ever be able to repay you."
Sunset slowly took Aria's hand and stood up. Quietly the three of them walked to Flash's car. Flash helped Sunset into the back. Aria noticed that Sunset was fast asleep by the time Flash pulled out of the parking lot.
The first thing that Aria noticed when they approached Celestia's house was the number of cars parked out front, including her mother's Camaro.
"Sunset," Aria said softly, "we're home."
Flash again helped Sunset get out of the car and both he and Aria helped her to the house. When they entered the house they were greeted by all their friends. Sunset was helped to a seat on the couch.
"WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE!" Aria said angrily when she caught sight of Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, "they're the ones responsible for this mess!"
"Aria, darling," Rarity asked, "what are you talking about?"
"We're Anon-a-Miss." Scootaloo answered to the shock of those gathered.