“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!” Rainbow Dash cursed as she paced around her room, her friends watching her with worry. “We can’t let her get away with this, we gotta go back to that orphanage and tell them the truth!”
Sunset Shimmer had once again outsmarted them.
"Rainbow, anything yah say would just make yah look bad! Sunset played us and manipulated us into making her look good, again." Applejack reminded her.
"But it's bullshit!" Rainbow spat.
"Ah know but Sunset genuinely made those kids happy. Even dressed up as Santa to cheer em up. Look, maybe we should just take a step back. Our usual style of running headfirst isn’t working anymore. Sunset's playing by new rules now." Applejack said, Sunset is easily manipulating them into doing whatever she wanted.
"I enjoyed seeing those kids smile," Pinkie chimed in.
"So did I," Fluttershy confessed.
"If her 'evil' plan is to make people happy, we should just let her," Rarity sighed. “It’s pretty obvious that Sunset knows when we’re following and no offense, darling but Sunset can easily read you.”
“You guys think I’m predictable?” Rainbow demanded.
“No, but Sunset was able to manipulate us into breaking up because she understood our flaws. Now, she has a better understanding of us to use us to her advantage instead,” Rarity explained. “She knows we couldn’t make a scene in those places, lest we suffer retribution. Making trouble in a hospital and an orphanage does not make a good image.”
“It goes back to what Pinkie Pie said,” Fluttershy spoke sadly, remembering Sunset’s description of what her element is. “We don’t know anything about her.”
“Wait a minute!” Pinkie Pie said, jumping off of Rainbow Dash’s bed. “We may not know more about Sunset but I bet her mom does!”
“What gave yah that idea?” Applejack asked.
“When Rainbow Dash mentioned Sunset’s mom back at the orphanage,” Pinkie reminded her.
“Ah hate to burst yer bubble Pinkie, but Sunset’s mom is from the same world Princess Twilight an’ Sunset came from. And the only way to contact Twilight to ask about her is up in flames.” Applejack reminded her pink-haired cousin.
“Oh yeah,” Pinkie Pie said sadly, her earlier enthusiasm vanishing.
The room got quiet as the girl contemplated how to properly handle the situation going forward.
Over the next few days, Sunset has continued her charity work. Organizing canned food drives, collecting toys for children, volunteering in soup kitchens, delivering meals to the elderly. Her efforts have earned her praise from not only the event organizers but her classmates at school where Sunset is helping them with tutoring, helping organize school events for charity, helping reform the students who sent secrets to Anon-A-Miss. Students were so moved by Sunset’s selfless acts that they volunteered to join her.
The Rainbooms except for Applejack and Rainbow Dash have decided to observe Sunset’s actions and look for any sign of ill intent, Rainbow still insists on meeting Sunset head-on in the hopes that she’d slip up or become annoyed by her persistence. But Sunset met Rainbow’s headfirst mentality head-on as well, she even managed to get her and Applejack to wear dresses to a dance competition for charity where she’s their partner. Applejack and Rainbow were becoming increasingly frustrated with each failed attempt, often arguing with one another.
Sunset is sitting at a lunch table with her followers, normally she would be spending lunch in her throne room but decided to make a public appearance as her mother would put it. She was going over in her mind about Anon-A-Miss’ identity when she noticed Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon approaching.
“Hello, Sunset.” Diamond Tiara greeted the older girl.
“Hello, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon.” Sunset greeted the two girls. “Do you need help with something?”
“Not exactly, we want to join your group.” Diamond Tiara said with a smile.
“Why do you want to join my group?” Sunset asked, her tone professional.
“You’ve inspired us to be better and I want to do my part to not only help those in need but make it up to those I wronged,” Diamond Tiara explained.
“Does she speak for you, Silver Spoon?” Sunset asked, she wanted to make sure that the girl was joining her of her own free will.
“Yes, I want to help make a difference.” Silver Spoon said with conviction.
“In that case, welcome my newest subjects,” Sunset said as she ponied up, her cutie mark appearing on the girls’ shirts.
“Thank you, your majesty.” Diamond Tiara bowed.
“You won’t be sorry,” Silver Spoon said as she bowed before her queen.
“Why didn’t you tell me Sunset was messing with me again?!” Rainbow Dash shouted at Applejack, she and the rest of the Rainbooms were all gathered in their club room.
“How was ah supposed to know?!” Applejack shouted back. “She had me fooled too!”
“How are we supposed to stop her if she keeps stringing us along?!” Rainbow Dash demanded, getting close to Applejack.
“Maybe if yah would stop to think fer a minute yah could’ve seen the wool over yer eyes!” Applejack argued, getting close to Rainbow’s face.
“Are you calling me dumb!?” Rainbow Dash shouted, glaring into Applejack’s eyes.
“Girls, enough!” Rarity raised her voice as she separated the two of them. “Can’t you see that arguing with each other isn’t helping?”
Rainbow Dash and Applejack turned their heads away in annoyance.
“I think you two need to take a little break from investigating Sunset,” Rarity suggested. “You’re becoming obsessed.”
“Yeah, it’s not healthy.” Pinkie Pie added, she is very worried about her two best friends.
“Fine,” Rainbow grumbled as she took a seat and crossed her arms.
Applejack took a deep breath and then exhaled in an attempt to calm herself down.
“Ah’ll be right back,” Applejack said before she exited the clubroom.
Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy watched Applejack leave with sadness, this whole situation with Sunset is straining their friendship.
“Rainbow, darling. Do you want to talk?” Rarity asked as she approached her friend.
“What’s there to talk about?” Rainbow asked, not looking at Rarity.
“Well there’s your investigation into Sunset’s plans for one,” Rarity said as she sat next to her friend.
“I’m just pissed that Sunset can predict every move we make,” Rainbow Dash confessed, turning her head to finally look at Rarity. “There’s gotta be more to it than that.”
“Suppose there is more, how do you think she’s getting her information?” Rarity questioned.
“You know, Sunset does have a lot of followers now.” Pinkie Pie brought up. “You don’t suppose she could be using them to spy on us?”
“Pinkie, you’re a genius!” Rainbow said excitedly as she stood up.
“I know, right?” Pinkie Pie smiled cheekily.
“That’s how Sunset has been staying ahead of us, she’s got her little followers stationed everywhere and they report back everything!” Rainbow Dash concluded.
“That certainly does make sense,” Rarity agreed, Sunset’s followers were certainly everywhere now.
“I better tell Applejack what we just found out!” Rainbow Dash realized as she dashed out of the room.
“We better go after her,” Rarity said as she got up from her seat. “If Sunset is indeed using her followers to spy on us then we need to make sure to not let Sunset know that we know.”
Rarity noticed Fluttershy’s glum disposition.
“Is something the matter Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy looked at Rarity who noticed the hesitation in her eyes before the shy girl finally decided to tell what was on her mind.
“I’m just really confused about all this,” Fluttershy confessed. “Sunset betrayed us but is helping people, on the other hand, she’s causing Rainbow and Applejack to fight.”
“I know this must be hard for you Fluttershy,” Rarity said as she laid a comforting hand on the shy girl’s shoulder. “Sunset has us all baffled, I must confess that I’m having a hard time making sense of her actions.”
“What if we ask her?” Fluttershy asked. “She did say that if we simply asked, we could’ve used her journal.”
“I suppose it couldn’t hurt,” Rarity said. “What do we have to lose?”
The girls left the clubroom and went to look for Sunset, as they rounded a corner they saw Rainbow Dash and Applejack confronting Sunset and her followers.
“Here comes the rest of the gang,” Sunset mocked as she noticed Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie.
“What’s going on?” Rarity asked as she stood beside her friends.
“Nothing really,” Sunset shrugged as she moved around the girls.
“Sunset wait!” Fluttershy calls out.
“Yes?” Sunset asked as she turned to face Fluttershy.
“Fluttershy, what are you-“ Rainbow Dash started to say but was cut off by Fluttershy.
“Um, what are you planning to do now that Anon-A-Miss is gone and you have a lot more followers?” Fluttershy asked nervously.
“I’m glad you asked, first off I’m narrowing down Anon-A-Miss identity. Secondly, I’m continuing to help others, especially our fellow students who suffered from Anon-A-Miss.” Sunset explained.
“Is that all?” Rarity asked.
“For the time being, but I’ll be sure to let you girls know if I need your assistance,” Sunset answered with a smile. “Is there anything else you would like to ask?”
“No, thank you for answering our questions.” Fluttershy thanked the former unicorn.
“You’re most welcome,” Sunset smiled before turning around and resuming her way to her throne room.
“Hey, Shy? Why did you ask Sunset that?” Rainbow Dash questioned.
“I just wanted to know what her plan was,” Fluttershy answered.
“Seriously?” Rainbow Dash questioned, raising an eyebrow. “You know she’s going to lie right?”
“She could also be telling the truth,” Fluttershy sighed. “But because she’s got us so confused, we can’t tell what’s a lie and what’s the truth anymore.”
“Argh, I hate this!” Rainbow Dash said as she ruffled her hair.
"Are you sure it's fine to let them go, your majesty?" Lightning Dust asked as she walked beside her Queen.
"They're not a threat. Besides, I see no reason we can't coexist." Sunset answered as they approached the clubroom.
Gilda picked up her pace so she could open the door for her queen.
“Thank you, Gilda.” Sunset thanked her loyal follower as she entered her clubroom, she took a seat on a folding chair and focused her magic. She ponied up before snapping her fingers and transforming the clubroom into her throne room. With that done, Sunset snapped her fingers again and an image of Rarity and Applejack appeared.
“Piggly Wiggly.”
Snips covered his mouth to stifle a laugh.
“The slumber party photos.”
Sunset’s eyes narrowed, going over the clue in her mind and trying to find a connection. Her eyes widened when she figured it out.
“Of course! Why didn’t I realize this sooner!” Sunset facepalmed.
“Did you figure it out, your majesty?” Gilda asked.
Sunset didn’t answer, but the sinister smirk on her lips told Gilda all she needed to know.
“Those no good..” Sunset trailed off, her anger building up. “It all makes sense, Applejack’s nickname and Anon-A-Miss appearing the following day after she told me.”
Sunset then started laughing which unnerved her followers.
“And it just so happens that I’m paying Applejack a visit today,” Sunset said, her sinister smirk returning.
“Ah’m home!” Applejack called out as she entered her family home, the school day was done but she still had things to do.
“Welcome home, dearie.” Granny Smith welcomes her granddaughter home as she sips on her tea.
“Hi, Granny.” Applejack greeted her grandmother as she made her way to her room. “Ah’ll get started on mah chores in a bit.”
“Don’t worry, Applejack. Ah know there’s a lot to be done considering Big Mac is out with his girlfriend, that’s why ah got yah some help.”
“Really? Thanks, Granny!” Applejack called out from her room, she placed her backpack on her bed before going back downstairs. “So where’s the help?”
“She’s tending to the horses, they took a liking to her rather quickly.” Granny Smith said.
“Got it,” Applejack said before she made her way out of the house and towards the horse stables.
Applejack noticed that the snow had been shoveled leading to the stable, now that she thought about it, the front of the house has been shoveled as well.
“Ah gotta thank her fer that,” Applejack said with a smile as she approached the stables.
“You’re really enjoying the hay huh?”
Applejack’s eyes widen at the familiar voice, she picked up her pace and when she got to the stable she was shocked to see Sunset Shimmer feeding the horses.
“Maybe I should have a taste,” Sunset said as she held some hay.
“What are yah doing here?” Applejack growled, she is not happy to see Sunset here.
“Didn’t your Grandmother tell you that I am going to be helping you around the farm?” Sunset questioned.
“Yer the help?!” Applejack couldn’t believe what she just heard. “Why would Granny Smith ask a snake like yah fer help?”
“That’s funny, she doesn’t think I’m a snake.” Sunset said with a grin. “Maybe it has something to do with me being a helpful and dependable pony.”
Applejack balled her fists in anger, there was no way she was accepting help from Sunset.
“I’m done feeding the horses, I also took the liberty of brushing them and cleaning their hooves,” Sunset said as she petted the horse, she made some neighing noises to which the horse responded. “Apple cinnamon tells me how your family takes very good care of her and her friends, she wants me to say thank you.”
“Wait, yah speak horse?” Applejack questioned. “Ah thought only Fluttershy was able to speak to animals after we got magic.”
“Oh, Applejack. There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” Sunset said with a smile. “Shall we go check on the apples for your family’s famous apple cider?”
“Ah’d rather do that with Applebloom,” Applejack said, her arms crossed.
“She’s busy doing her homework with Diamond Tiara,” Sunset informed her. “So it’s just you and me.”
“Terrific,” Applejack mumbled in annoyance.
As Sunset and Applejack went to inspect the Apples, Applebloom is in her room with Diamond Tiara. The young Apple’s attention was not on her homework but rather the symbol of Sunset’s cutie mark on the front of Diamond Tiara’s shirt.
“Applebloom, do you know how to solve this problem?” Diamond Tiara asked as she looked at the equation in her notebook.
“Huh?” Applebloom’s gaze quickly turned to Diamond Tiara’s face.
“I’m asking if you know how to solve this,” Diamond Tiara pointed to the math problem in her notebook.
“Oh uh,” Applebloom looked over the math problem. “Sorry, Ah don’t know how.”
Diamond Tiara noticed Applebloom’s shifting gaze.
“You’re really bothered by this, aren’t you?”
“Why did yah join Sunset?” Applebloom demanded, looking devastated.
“I’ve already told you why,” Diamond Tiara said, when she arrived earlier, Applebloom saw Sunset’s cutie mark on her shirt and after revealing that she joined Sunset, Applebloom did not take it well. She figured after calming Applebloom down and explaining her reasons that she would be understanding.
“But this is Sunset we’re talking about here!” Applebloom raised her voice. “Did yah forget what she did at the Fall Formal?”
“Did you forget that she saved the school at the Battle of the Bands?” Diamond Tiara raised an eyebrow. “Applebloom, why can’t you accept that Sunset has changed?”
“Because she hasn’t!” Applebloom shouted. “Don’t yah see? She’s bad news, she’s back to ruling the school again! She does all these nice things and suddenly everyone forgets what a horrible person she was, people like her don’t change!”
Applebloom was trembling after her outburst, she was staring angrily at the wall, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
“I was like her.”
Applebloom turned to look at Diamond Tiara who had a blank expression.
“Did you forget that I wasn’t exactly very nice to anyone and especially you?” Diamond questioned.
“No, but-”
“Did you forget how much I insulted your family, your friends, your very purpose?” Diamond Tiara cut her off.
Applebloom could see the pain reflected off Diamond’s eyes as she spoke.
“Sunset turned mah sister and her friends against each other!” Applebloom shouted desperately.
“I turned your cousin against you,” Diamond Tiara said solemnly.
There was an awkward silence as both girls looked at each other with unease, their staring contest was broken by a knock on the door.
“Applebloom, is everything alright?” Granny Smith asked.
“Y-yeah, Granny!” Applebloom responded before looking back to Diamond. “We’re both fine.”
“Alright then, will Diamond Tiara be joining us fer dinner?” Granny Smith asked.
“Not today, sorry.” Diamond Tiara apologized.
“Alrighty then,” Granny Smith said.
Both young girls listened to Granny Smith’s retreating footsteps, their eyes never leaving each other’s gaze.
“Ah’m sorry fer raising mah voice,” Applebloom apologized, finally looking away from Diamond Tiara in shame.
“I get it, you still have issues with Sunset.” Diamond Tiara said in an understanding tone. “Let's just get back to our homework huh?
“Yeah,” Applebloom agreed, the two of them resumed their schoolwork but Applebloom still felt guilty.
“The apples have been sorted, animals fed, snow shoveled, inventory has been sorted, equipment fixed and necessary repairs have been done.” Sunset listed off as she and Applejack are in the kitchen. “Is there anything else?”
“No, that’s it.” Applejack said, glad that she doesn’t have to be around Sunset anymore.
“Then I’ll be going then,” Sunset simply said as she walked towards the door. “See you later miss Applejack.”
“Later,” Applejack said in an annoyed tone.
“Wait just a minute,” Granny Smith said as she walked into the kitchen. “Applejack, is that any way to treat a guest? Sunset, would yah like to stay fer dinner?”
“Thank you for the offer but I’m afraid I have to decline,” Sunset regretfully said, she eyed Applejack before grinning mischievously. “I have to meet with my spies to discuss vital intel.”
“Alright then, have a safe trip home.” Granny Smith said as she turned around and walked away with a confused look on her face about what Sunset said about spies.
Sunset winked at Applejack before walking towards the front door, Applejack eyed her suspiciously as she opened the door and left her home. As soon as the door closed, Applejack pulled out her phone and called Rainbow Dash.
‘Hello?”
“Dash, Sunset was just at mah house.” Applejack informed her.
‘What?!’ Rainbow Dash shouted.
“And as she left, she said somethin’ about meetin’ her spies,” Applejack said.
‘So she did have spies!” Rainbow exclaimed in outrage.
“Dash, remember what ah told yah about jumping to-” Applejack didn’t finish her sentence as she caught sight of Diamond Tiara, more specifically Sunset’s cutie mark on the front of her jacket.
‘AJ? Hello, are you there?’Rainbow asked.
“Ah’ll call yah back,” Applejack said before hanging up, she watched Diamond Tiara hug Applebloom and then wave goodbye to her before she exited the front door. She noted her sister’s sad expression.
“Applebloom.”
Applebloom was startled by her name being called and turned around to see her big sister staring at her.
“W-what is it, Applejack?” Applebloom asked nervously.
“Can ah ask yah, why yer girlfriend is wearing Sunset’s logo like the rest of her followers?” Applejack asked calmly.
"Well…” Applebloom trailed off, Applejack wasn’t going to like the answer.
“Well, what?” Applejack questioned, as she crossed her arms and gave Applebloom a leveled look.
“She an’ Silver Spoon joined Sunset’s group,” Applebloom finally answered.
Applejack’s eyes widened in shock, she then recalled Rainbow Dash’s warning earlier and what Sunset said about her spies. Her mind put together all the pieces until she realized what had been happening since Anon-A-Miss first started.
“It was Diamond Tiara all along.”
"What? What are yah talkin’ about, sis?" Applebloom asked curiously.
"Applebloom, ah forbid yah from talkin’ to Diamond Tiara," Applejack ordered, her tone stern.
"What!? Applejack, yah can't do that!" Applebloom was shocked, she was not expecting her sister to say this.
"She's bad news, like Sunset Shimmer. She'll stab yah in the back." Applejack warned.
"She wouldn't do that!" Applebloom defended.
"She used to bully yah, didn't she? People don't change." Applejack pointed out as she approached her little sister, placing her hands on her shoulder. “Trust me, Applebloom. Yah’ll be saving yerself the trouble."
“She’s not Sunset!” Applebloom raised her voice as she backed away from Applejack. “Diamond Tiara is mah girlfriend, she’s changed! Ah know so!”
“Ah thought the same about Sunset,” Applejack said, her voice gentle. “But she was just usin’ us and now yer girlfriend is wearing her symbol.”
“That’s because Sunset has her fooled too!” Applebloom defended. “Just like everyone else, Sunset fooled Diamond Tiara into thinking she’s good!”
“Yah may be right, but we can’t take any chances.” Applejack said, her tone serious as she spoke her next words. “Until ah know fer sure that Diamond Tiara is not spying on us fer Sunset, yah are forbidden from seeing her.”
“But that’s not fair!” Applebloom cried out in outrage.
“Ah’m sorry, sugarcube. But it’s fer the best.” Applejack said she saw the devastated look in her sister’s eyes which reminded her of Sunset’s the day they broke off their friendship with her. “Yah can call her to break the news, but after that no more contact okay?”
“Okay,” Applebloom said dejectedly.
Applejack watched her go to her room, she felt bad for her but a little pain now is better than the heartache of a betrayal.
“Better let the girls know,” Applejack said as she sent a group text to her friends.
Applebloom closed the door to her room, she leaned her back against it as tears well up in her ears. She took in a shaky breath before pulling out her phone and dialing Diamond Tiara’s number.
‘This wasn't fair!’ Applebloom thought bitterly. ‘This is all Sunset’s fault!’
‘Miss me already?’ Diamond Tiara jocked as the dial tone gave way to her voice.
“H-hey,” Applebloom nervously answered, she didn't know how to tell her girlfriend that she wasn’t allowed to see her again.
‘What’s wrong?” Diamond Tiara asked with concern, detecting the nervousness in her girlfriend’s voice.
“Listen, Diamond. Ah, don’t know how to tell you this..’ Applebloom trailed off.
‘You’re breaking up with me, aren’t you?’ Diamond Tiara asked, her voice monotone.
“What?! No!” Applebloom quickly said.
‘Then why do you sound nervous,’ Diamond questioned.
“It’s because mah sister told me that ah can never see you again,” Applebloom answered, her voice cracking.
‘What!? W-why would she do that!?’ Diamond Tiara asked, panic in her voice.
“She knows yah joined Sunset’s group and believes yer going to stab me in the back,” Applebloom sobbed, no longer able to hold back her tears.
‘I would never do that!’ Diamond Tiara said, sure she used to bully Applebloom but she’s changed now.
“Ah know, but she said she thought the same fer Sunset and she betrayed her,” Applebloom mentioned.
There was a brief silence before Diamond Tiara spoke.
‘Should I quit being a member of Sunset’s group?’
“Ah don’t think that’ll work, she’ll just think it’s part of Sunset’s plan.” Applebloom pointed out.
‘You’re right,’ Diamond Tiara said dejectedly. ‘What are we going to do?’
“Ah don’t know,” Applebloom cried.
‘What if we find the real Anon-A-Miss?’ Diamond Tiara proposed.
“What?” Applebloom asked as she wiped away her tears.
‘If we find the real Anon-A-Miss and prove Sunset’s innocence, then your sister will let us see each other again.’ Diamond Tiara explained.
“A-ah don’t know about that,” Applebloom nervously replied, Diamond Tiara is the last person she wanted to investigate Anon-A-Miss.
‘There’s no other way, Applebloom.’ Diamond Tiara insisted.
“Applebloom, have yah finished talking with Diamond Tiara?” Applejack spoke from behind Applebloom’s door.
“Just five more minutes!” Applebloom responded. “Listen, Diamond ah was only allowed to talk to yah to break the news. Ah’m sorry.”
‘It’s okay, at least your sister gave us a chance to talk.’ Diamond Tiara said sadly. ‘I promise, I’ll get to the bottom of this.’
“Y-yeah,” Applebloom replied, feeling guilty.
‘Bye, Applebloom.’ Diamond Tiara sadly said goodbye to her girlfriend.
Applebloom, stared at her phone, wondering what to do now. Diamond Tiara was going to try to expose who Anon-A-Miss was.
“Bye,” Applebloom bit farewell to Diamond Tiara before she hanged up. “....Is this mah fault?"
There was a knock on her door.
“Applebloom, can ah come in?” Applejack asked from the other side.
“Sure,” Applebloom said as she wiped the remaining tears.
Applejack opened the door and saw her sister sitting on her bed, she noticed how red her eyes are and realized that she was crying. She walks over to her little sister and sits next to her.
“Yah gonna be okay?” Applejack asked, looking at her sister with concern.
“Yeah, ah just need a minute,” Applebloom answered, looking at her lap.
“Ah’m not doing this because ah want to,” Applejack stated. “But with what’s been going on with Sunset, it’s hard to know who to trust. She’s practically got the whole school on her side now.”
“Can’t Princess Twilight help us?” Applebloom asked, looking at her big sister.
“Ah wish she could, sugarcube. But our only way to talk to her is nothin’ but ashes now,” Applejack regretfully tells her. “Ah’m afraid we’re on our own.”
Applebloom returned to looking at her lap, Applejack saw this and wrapped her arm around Applebloom and brought her close.
“It’s going to be okay, sugarcube.”
“How?” Applebloom asked. “Yah said it yerself, Sunset has control over everyone.”
“She doesn’t control us, right?” Applejack questioned. “Sunset’s not going to get away with this.”
Applejack ruffled her little sister’s hair before standing up.
“Are yah going to ask me to give yah mah phone to make sure ah don’t talk to Diamond?” Applebloom asked, looking at Applejack.
“Don’t worry about it, ah trust yah, Applebloom.” Applejack said as she flashed her little sister a smile before leaving her room.
As soon as Applejack closed the door, Applebloom fell back on her bed and covered her face with her hand.
“How did things get this bad?” Applebloom asked out loud. “Can it possibly get any worse?”