What Once Was Lost

by The Crazed Werewolf


Crime and Punishment Part 1

Rarity wasn't surprised when she entered Principal Celestia's outer office and found both Applejack and Rainbow Dash sitting there with both Applebloom and Scootaloo. Neither of her friends seemed to be able to look her in the eye as she took a seat across from them.

"I take it that you two have learned the truth," Rarity asked politely.

Rainbow looked like she was on the verge of tears, while Applejack looked downright angry.

"Girls," Principal Celestia said as she opened the door to her office, "I know that you wouldn't waste my time if it wasn't important, come inside and tell me what this is about."

The six girls silently followed Celestia into her office. She knew that something was wrong. The tension that hung around the room was heavy with emotion.

"I'm here ta confess," Applebloom said, "I'm Anon-A-Miss."

"So am I," Scootaloo said.

"I was also Anon-A-Miss," Sweetie Belle said.

For a moment Celestia didn't say anything, though the silence spoke volumes. She looked each of the younger girls in the eye. Each of them felt as if they were standing in judgement before some ancient and powerful deity, and in truth they might as well have been.

"So the three of you bullied not only another student, but the entire student population, and framed an innocent student in the process," Celestia asked coldly. The three girls couldn't bring themselves to speak, so they only nodded. Celestia ignored the looks on the faces of the older girls. They had never seen Principal Celestia this furious. Silently, Celestia pushed a few buttons on her phone, "Luna, would you please join me in my office." Celestia didn't wait for a reply.

"Whoa," Luna said as she entered the office and saw the six girls, "it's a bit crowded in here."

"Luna," Celestia said as she pointed out the three younger girls, "I give you Anon-A-Miss."

Luna's expression quickly changed to match her elder sister's. She hadn't considered three middle school students could have been the culprits behind Anon-A-Miss. She had been certain that another high school student had been responsible.

"I want them immediately taken to In-School-Suspension," Celestia said, "and I want your recommendations on wether or not they should be expelled, or wether or not we should contact law enforcement."

"Principal Celestia," Applejack cried out, "isn't that a bit harsh! You didn't do any of those things to Sunset Shimmer, and she ended up destroying the front of the school!"

"I will remind you that Sunset is a special case," Celestia snapped, "Luna and I decided that for both her safety and for the safety of everyone involved it was in our best interest to allow her to remain at Canterlot High. Or would you rather her end as a lab expirament in some secret government facility?"

"I never thought about that," Applejack replied. She hadn't ever given Sunset's status as an alien from another dimension a thought. None of her friends had, except for Rarity.

"I know that each of you have said things to Sunset that drove her away," Celestia said to the three older girls, "but I am positive that if you ask her, Sunset will forgive you."

"I'm sure she would-" Rarity started to say.

"NO," Rainbow Dash nearly shouted as she stood up, tears clearly streaming from her eyes, "I DO NOT WANT SUNSET'S FORGIVENESS!" Rainbow then ran out of the office.

"I'll go check on her," Rarity said as she excused herself from Celestia's office. It didn't take Rarity long to find Rainbow Dash. The polychromatic haired teen was crying in the empty music room.

"Let it all out," Rarity said as she embraced her friend, "want to tell me what is bothering you?"

"I can't accept Sunset's forgiveness," Rainbow cried silently, "until I can forgive myself."