The Real Anon-a-Miss
It is a new day in Canterlot, and the school day starts off much differently than usual.
A sudden assembly is called in the gym. Every student has been summoned, and despite their grumbling, none refuse to attend.
The stage was sparsely decorated, with only a table of to the side with a school laptop on it connected to a projector pointing to a white screen. In addition to that, a pair of microphones had been connected and placed in the center of the stage.
All the students gathered show confusion, curiosity, boredom, and in some cases, delight to be able to skip a few minutes of classes.
Lyra, Bon Bon, Octavia and Vinyl sit together and, like everyone else, pass the time talking as they wait for the assembly to start. Lyra looks at her companions and asks openly. "Does anyone know what this meeting is about?"
Octavia and Bon Bon shrug. Vinyl does not hear her due to the music audibly blasting in her ears.
"It was very sudden," Bon Bon said curiously. "When I got here, everyone was saying that we had to come to the gym."
Octavia crosses her arms and looks straight ahead. "I hope they announce that they improved the heating. This cold is annoying."
"Oh, now who’s the little girl griping about the cold?" Lyra says snidely.
"I know what I said, but that does not mean I like it," the cellist replies. "If they gave me a choice, of course I’d prefer to get away from the cold."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," Lyra says, unconvinced.
Their conversation quiets as the last students enter the gym, the Rainbooms among them.
Hugging herself and looking down, the shyest girl in the group is led by her chromatic friend to the seats. Pink—... Diane enters behind them, displaying the same emotional state, or lack thereof, as the previous day as she walks without haste behind the first two.
The farmgirl and the dressmaker are the last, both wearing expressions of defeat. Their concern for their friends is obvious, but neither knows what to do.
For several more minutes, everyone gathered distracts themselves with conversation or focuses on their own affairs, until finally, the principals themselves enter the gym. Their arrival silences all the voices as each student turns to watch them walk up onto the stage.
The sisters observe all the students for a moment, seeing their looks of doubt and interest. The older sister, taking her role as principal of the school, takes the microphone and begins to talk.
"First of all, I thank everyone for coming," Celestia says, but her voice does not denote the encouragement and joy that is usually associated with her. On the contrary, her voice is very grave. "I know this assembly is sudden, but there is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately pertaining to Anon-a-Miss."
That got everyone’s undivided attention. The Rainbooms, including Diane, start in surprise. Lyra and Bon Bon looked worriedly at each other, while Octavia elbows Vinyl to get her to take off her headphones and pay attention.
Celestia waits a second, as if letting everyone process the warning, then takes the floor again. "Over the last month, an anonymous user has been exposing everyone's secrets and personal issues on MyStable."
One of the students, Crimson Napalm, mumbles, "'Anonymous user', my foot. It was obviously that bitch Shimmer." The comment, although quiet, wins a series of nods from those around him.
Celestia, despite not hearing anything, can easily imagine the comments among the students. "I know well that all have been a victim of this user’s actions and that this has brought more than one consequence to the school."
The Rainbooms can almost feel the principal’s gaze on them, or maybe it is their mind torturing them again. Either way, they lower their heads in guilt.
Celestia allows herself a few seconds to properly organize her words. "Today, I would like to inform you all that the identity of Anon-a-Miss has been revealed."
There does not seem to be much surprise in the students. Many were even annoyed. One student, Fuchsia Blush, comments sarcastically, "That witch Shimmer confessed her crime? Blessed be the Creator."
The students’ volume begins to rise as they comment among themselves about the matter. Celestia continues, "Silence, please. I am aware of the accusation towards Sunset Shimmer in these acts. However, as I have already repeated to all who have come to me, there is, and never has been, any evidence incriminating Sunset in this."
The muttering turns to shouting as the students start protesting and complaining. The vice principal, angry, takes the second microphone and shouts at the top of her voice, "SILENCE!"
Immediately, every student shuts up, frightened.
Calming down, Luna continues talking. "Returning to what has been said, although she has been blamed by everyone, there was never any evidence to associate Sunset Shimmer with Anon-a-Miss. Sunset Shimmer has been telling the truth; she is innocent of all charges. She is not Anon-a-Miss. "
Although there are no words, the skepticism is obvious on almost every student’s face.
"The real person behind Anon-a-Miss has been revealed," Luna announces, "and today, everyone will know who the culprit really is."
The atmosphere is charged with tense energy. The Rainbooms collectively gulp, fearing what was about to happen.
Celestia speaks again. "But before proceeding, I want to welcome someone important to everyone here."
The doors of the place open. Astonishment, surprise, murmurs and more than one gasp come from the students as Twilight Sparkle, walking with a grace worthy of a princess, approaches the stage and stands next to the principals. Her face is at the same time serene and serious.
"Twilight?"
"Is that Twilight?"
"Of course, it's her!"
"What’s she doing here?"
"She must have come for Shimmer."
"She’ll fix this mess."
Many similar comments are shared among the students, but the Princess of Friendship does not seem to pay attention to them as she keeps her straight posture, her eyes closed.
Celestia gives a microphone to Twilight, who, after thanking the principal, brings it to her lips. Everyone quiets down, anxious to know what their twice-savior has to say.
Twilight takes a final breath and says, "I'd like to say it's a pleasure to be here again, but that's not true."
The atmosphere suddenly begins to feel tense.
"More than a month ago, I heard out about this incident, about 'Anon-a-Miss', and about the accusations that were made towards Sunset, blaming her for being behind everything. The truth is that, at first, I wasn’t worried; I thought that the school could easily overcome this conflict. But, I was wrong."
The silence persists. All those present remain strongly focused on the princess’s words. The Rainbooms feel the weight of guilt fall on them again, and the once-hopeful Diane returns to her cold countenance.
"The first thing I will say," continues Twilight, "is that Sunset is innocent and always has been innocent in this situation, and I'm surprised that this school was so quick to blame her for these actions."
Now the murmurs erupt again, although not as intense as before. It is obvious that the students don’t believe either the principals or Twilight.
Unintimidated, Twilight continues to speak. "The real Anon-a-Miss has confessed, and to show you the truth, I will introduce you to them here and now."
As if that were a signal, three girls—Apple Bloom, Sweetie Bell, and Scootaloo—enter the gym, their heads low and expressions full of guilt. Their sisters have to forcibly resist the urge to run up to them protectively. All the students look with amazement as the three girls stand next to the princess and the principals, not daring to look up.
Lyra, like so many others, is bewildered. "Is this a kind of joke?" she whispers. Even Vinyl raises an eyebrow behind her glasses.
"Canterlot High School," announces Twilight in a voice of conviction, "I present to you Anon-a-Miss, better known as Apple Bloom, Sweetie Bell, and Scootaloo."
There is no response; the astonishment and confusion are too great. It is as if time itself stopped.
Finally, Amethyst Star asks the question on everyone's mind. "What the hell is this?!"
Twilight responds, "They created the Anon-a-Miss account, and they took charge of spreading all the students’ secrets."
Cloudy Kicks gets up, frustrated. "That's not true! It was Sunset Shimmer!"
Before the princess could say anything, the leader of the Crusaders, overcoming her fear, takes the microphone and says, "It’s true! We started everything! Ah created the account, and Ah published my sister's nickname... and Ah designed the page to incriminate Sunset."
Not wanting her to go down alone, the other two step forward.
Sweetie says, "I was the one who stole Sunset's phone, and I published those photos of my sister and the others!"
Scootaloo is not far behind. "And I learned everything about Rainbow during my soccer practice. We’re Anon-a-Miss!"
Celestia takes a deep breath; seeing the girls confess alleviates her stress a bit.
Captain Planet suddenly shouts, "I don't believe you! Sunset’s the culprit. She is the only one who could have known everyone's secrets."
"That's not true!" claims Apple Bloom.
Sweetie Belle seconds her. "We did know everyone's secrets, because you all sent those secrets to the account for Anon-a-Miss to reveal."
If the students thought nothing else could surprise them today, they were wrong.
Gasps, widened eyes, and even looks of concern quickly filled the room and everyone’s faces. Crimson Napalm shouts, "That's ridiculous! You three are lying!"
The three girls look at the school principal. Celestia gives a nod and allows the girls to approach the laptop.
All students watch curiously when the projector displays on the screen the same image seen on the computer, that is, the homepage of MyStable. Everyone can see how the Crusaders access MyStable and sign in, and soon, the page of Anon-a-Miss is in view of everyone.
Once the session is open, Apple Bloom takes the microphone again. "Here it is. We recovered the Anon-a-Miss account. You can see it for yourself. We’re Anon-a-Miss."
The students are stunned, except for the Rainbooms, who are instead worried about what might happen next. Several students take out their phones, as if looking for a confirmation that what they are seeing is real. Soon enough, everyone confirms that the Anon-a-Miss page had indeed returned.
Scootaloo approaches the microphone. "And that's not all." Opening the message section, Scootaloo opens several windows, where the assembly can clearly see several users who had come into contact with Anon-a-Miss at some point.
"Many here sent us information," Scootaloo explains, "telling us your friends' secrets, even sending photos."
There is still no response from anyone; all the students gathered are too shocked by what they saw and heard. Suddenly, Octavia stands on trembling legs. "If this is true... I demand that you give me the password! I will see this on my own!"
The demand surprises the three girls a little, but they do not deny the request. Apple Bloom responds, "It’s ‘Crusaders_ABSBSC’."
Octavia is almost surprised that they agreed to her demand, but both she and several other students proceed to close their own accounts and open the Anon-a-Miss account instead.
All eyes are on the phones, or on the screen opposite, as the students read the conversations Anon-a-Miss had with a surprisingly high number of students.
It wasn’t long before accusations started flying as the students turned on one another in light of the revelation. Previously close friendships instantly dissolved as everyone demanded explanations from each other about why they had revealed those things to Anon-a-Miss.
The gym, in a matter of seconds, became a war camp. Students screamed and shouted, disowning each other and threatening to throw themselves at each other at any second.
Luna, finally having had enough, bellows once more, "SILENCE!"
The scream of the vice principal resonates throughout the place like a thunderclap, the speakers creating a deep echo that extends for several seconds after the sharp feedback. Instantly, all the students recoil, holding their ears, and some shrink from the fear.
After several seconds of silence, Twilight says simply and grimly into the microphone, "The identity of Anon-a-Miss has been revealed, and it is not Sunset Shimmer."
Immediately, the students put aside their feelings of betrayal, and instead, they all focus their eyes and blame on the three little girls.
The Crusaders immediately huddle together as they feel everyone’s rage on them. It’s then that Twilight stands in front of them, as if defending them. "But, Anon-a-Miss is not the Crusaders, either."
Everyone freezes in surprise at that. What did she mean? If it had not been those girls who made this mess, who was it?
Twilight takes a couple of seconds, breathing deeply, getting ready for the next thing she'll say. "Anon-a-Miss is each and every one of you. You all betrayed the trust and affection of your friends in order to get a laugh and an excuse to assault an innocent girl."
Silence sets in all over the place as everyone’s guilt begins to weigh on them.
"As far as I can see," the princess continues, "there is only one person who was never part of this, and that is Sunset, whom everyone, in an act of hypocrisy, pointed out and judged as guilty."
The feeling a shame permeates throughout the room.
Twilight gives a sigh. "And all I can ask is, ‘Why?’ What did any of you win with all this? You accused Sunset to the point of breaking her heart and her mind. You all built an imaginary case against her just to justify hating her."
Silence reigns.
"Why?" Twilight repeats.
No answer came.
Celestia lets out a sigh, asks for her sister's microphone, and speaks. "Apple Bloom, Sweetie Bell, and Scootaloo have already received their punishment. They will be in detention and under extreme surveillance for the rest of the year. They will attend a course during the summer, and it will be seen that they do not use any digital equipment on campus without supervision."
"I'm not complaining; it could be worse," Scootaloo says softly, and her friends agree.
Celestia keeps talking. "As for the rest... I don’t think I can do much, although I am tempted to suspend every club and school event." Her voice becomes somber as she finishes, "In one way or another, with the truth revealed, the page will soon be closed, this time permanently, and with Sunset... having been transferred, I hope that this crisis is over for good."
All the students look at each other, unsure of what to say or what to think.
Twilight decides to give one last word. "I thought this school had changed, that you had learned something about friendship. I was wrong... I just hope that everyone is happy with whatever you have gained from this."
She does not say more. She just steps away from the microphone and leaves the gym without even looking at the students.
Everyone watches her go, so many feelings mixed on each face.
Finally, Celestia says, "This assembly is adjourned. You may all go back to your classes."
Without saying more, she leaves the microphone and retires along the same path as the Princess of Friendship.
The vice principal looks at the three girls who had initiated all this and says to them with a calm voice, "Girls, you can go, too. Thank you for coming."
Scootaloo is the first to speak. "We had to do it."
Sweetie looks very worriedly at the woman. "Vice Principal Luna, now all the students—"
"You'll be fine,” Luna interrupts, smiling softly. “I'm sure no one will dare to harass you, and if they do, you can come to me."
The three give her their thanks and, trying not to be seen, move away from the place.
Luna observes the rest of the students, still motionless in their own seats, all immersed in their own thoughts. She sighs and withdraws, too.
Slowly, recovering enough to move, the students begin to head to their own classes. Murmurs, whispers, and many laments fill the air while everyone walks away.
As for the Rainbooms, Fluttershy lets her tears flow again as they walk. Rainbow, trying to retain hers, tries to comfort her. Rarity and Applejack support each other, so as not to become mired in their own feelings of guilt. Diane just walks along, her face as cold as the winter air chilling the corridors.
Everyone felt the school grow even colder as they walked.
*S*A*S*
Flash Sentry looks towards the floor immersed in his thoughts like everyone else.
He thought about Sunset, about how she fared in her new school. What would she think if she had been here to see what had just happened?
He thought of Twilight, of her words of how the school, himself included, had contributed to this. Maybe he did not accuse Sunset, maybe he did not contribute to Anon-a-Miss, but... he did not make an effort to help anyone, either. He just... let it all happen...
He felt miserable... a fool, a coward...
Maybe he could not prove Sunset's innocence, but... he could have at least helped her.
"Why didn’t I do anything?" he thinks.
He should have gone to his classroom like everyone else, but his thoughts took him elsewhere.
Without realizing it, he passes by the principal's office. So silent was his surroundings that he can hear the conversation inside.
*S*A*S*
Inside the office, both sisters observe their guest with some concern.
"Are you okay, Twilight? You're a little pale," the elder asks, worried.
"I'm fine," the princess replies, "just tired..." And it shows. Her face is haggard, and her eyelids droop deeply as she struggles even to keep her head up.
There is silence between the three.
"It would be better to take you home," Luna finally says. "You need to rest."
"I'll be fine," Twilight replies. "I can go on my own; I've memorized the way."
"No way," Celestia rejects seriously. "You can't go alone. I'll take you."
"Leave it to me, sister. It would be better if you stay in school in case anything happens."
The discussion could have gone on for several minutes longer but for the knock on the door. Flash opens the door gently and cautiously shows himself before the women.
"Um... Excuse me..."
*S*A*S*
Flash drives his car unhurriedly through the streets, constantly shifting his gaze from the road to his passenger.
"Thanks for bringing me," Twilight says softly, "You didn’t have to."
"Hey, I couldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you," Flash replies.
"Thanks, Flash."
Twilight looks out the window, her normally serene face displaying her weariness and regret. Flash glances at her constantly. Twilight’s face in the window makes him want to talk, but he does not know what to say.
Flash looks at the road, but his mind is focused on so many things. "Twilight," he starts after a few moments, "is there anything I can do?"
The question confuses her a little. She turns to look at the boy. "What do you mean?"
Flash takes a moment, looking back to the road as he organizes his words. "Well, before... I could see Sunset suffering but... I never did anything, never tried to help her..." Twilight sees Flash’s hands tremble a little as he continues, "And now, I'm still not doing anything. Sunset left, and now the school... you... everyone... everything just..."
Flash’s emotions start to overtake him, and he forces himself to stop talking and focus on the road. The tears in his eyes make it difficult. Twilight gently puts her hand on one of his. The gesture seems to calm him enough to keep talking.
"I want to help... both Sunset and you... You two are really important to me," he finishes quickly, as if the thought simply came to his head and out of his mouth.
His words gently warm the princess's cheeks.
The silence returns; Flash does not seem to have anything else to say, so he focuses only on driving, asking again almost desperately, "Twilight... can I do anything to help?"
Now it's Twilight who looks down, trying to think. "I don't know Flash... I don't know..."
Flash exhales a breath which he did not know he was holding. Without wanting to make the situation tenser, he leaves the issue aside.
Eventually, they arrive at the principals’ house. "Thanks again for driving me," Twilight says.
"It’s nothing," he replies. "If you need anything, just let me know. Please, let me know." His tone takes on a desperate edge again,"Tell me if there’s anything—anything—that I can do."
Twilight cannot help but smile softly. "You’re very noble, Flash."
"I just want to help. You're my friend... and so is Sunset."
The smile fades, and Twilight looks down at the ground with watery eyes. "Take care of Sunset. She’s a true friend nobody in her right mind would want to lose."
Without another word, the girl opens the door and, with a gesture of farewell, walks to the house.
Flash looks at her retreating form and feels a pressure in her chest. Unable to take it, he jumps out of the car and shouts, "Twilight!"
She turns around, somewhat surprised by the call.
"I know that Sunset is hurt!" he exclaims from his chest. "But... if someone knows her well, it's me! And I know that... even though she's upset, I know she still sees you as a friend! She feels the same about the others... Just..."
He falls silent. She makes no attempt to stop his words.
Flash thinks, looking for a way to express what he wants to say. "I know she’ll come back... because... I know her." He clenches his fists hard, resisting the burning in his eyes, and tries to hide the pair of tears that escape. "I know..."
He speaks as if he is trying to convince the princess of his words, but deep down, he also seems to be trying to convince himself, too.
Both look at each other in silence. Her face is unreadable, his is tortured. Finally, Twilight looks down, her eyes trembling softly. "I hope you’re right..."
No more words. Soon, Twilight disappears inside the house.
Flash stays in his place for a moment, without moving, without thinking. His mind and body act spontaneously, putting him inside the vehicle to avoid the cold wind. He places both arms and his head on the steering wheel, exhausted.
*S*A*S*
Back at school, Celestia tries to keep her head in her work. But try as she might, she cannot stop thinking about everything that happened that morning and everything that happened even before then.
She remembers the day that Sunset arrived in her office and, with a terrifying confidence, proclaim her desire to leave.
How helpless she felt that day, when Sunset begged her to let her go and be free of that suffering.
Leaning her arms on her desk and hiding her face in them, Celestia continues to relive those memories. "I'm sorry, Sunset... I'm so sorry..."
*S*A*S*
Twilight falls upon her borrowed bed, her mind wandering in her memories of the last time she could see her friend. "Sunset... I hope someday you can forgive me..."
*S*A*S*
Flash is still in his car, still thinking about everything that happened. "Sunset... I'm sorry... I should... I should have..."
*S*A*S*
Celestia, Twilight, and Flash immerse themselves in the image of the girl they could not save. "I'm sorry, Sunset."
*S*A*S*
Sunset looks up with a start, but she only sees the teacher focused on his lesson and all the students taking notes.
She looks around distractedly, but finally, with a gentle shake to her head, she returns to her own notes. "I'm imagining things."
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Damn....
This was so depressing
This is great! This probably has to be your best chapter. Especially with the ending paragraphs there that show all of the characters thinking about Sunset and her phantom feeling of their apologies. It felt so natural. Keep it up!
8908180
I know, right. Man, poor Flash, Twilight and Celestia. Sunset truly means a whole lot more to them than she thinks. Truly, they did not know what they had...until they lost it.
At least Flash was level headed enough this time.
Finally... The Anon-A-Miss era is officially over, but... Nobody won this battle. Sunset is still refusing forgiveness, Twilight is still forever trapped in the EQG-verse, the Humane 5 are still broken as well as beyond repair, & the school is still a ticking bomb! Everyone... Is just all lost...
It wasn't your fault, Flash.
8896505
Pyro: Mmmph mph.
I'm kinda hoping sunset never goes back. Maybe she does forgive them but says "No, I'm not going back"
Sunset Shimmer originally intended to make the students her slave army, personally after having their minds be violated frankly shes lucky someone hasn't killed her after all being brainwashed is far worse than anything that happened to Sunset, Sunset didn't have to worry about being forced to go to war against people that never did anything wrong.
8925839
I'm pretty confident six months of being treated like shit by almost everyone is enough punishment
Captain Planet suddenly shouts, "I don't believe you! Sunset’s the culprit. She is the only one who could have known everyone's secrets."
Noo captain planet! He was the hero that was going to drop the pollution down to zero!
Seriously though I did enjoy the chapter
Hopefully next chapter is the universe giving sunset the almighty dope slap to convince her to forgive twi
9472842
Sunset is angry at Twilight not because of what she did but she is another chain. Sunset is trying to move on, to leave the past dead and buried. She burnt the journal, to leave Equestria behind her as a place that has no more influence on her life.
8908582
Forgiveness for what exactly. She didn't do anything wrong to be forgiven for. She needs to come to terms with the pain of abandonment from her friends before she can forgive them.
8908582
I don't think Twilight's trapped there forever, surely the portal will return to its natural state of being open for three days in every 30 moons.