">"

>Sometimes she really did remind you of Princess Celestia

>That tone was uniquely hers, no one else could come close to it

>It was firm, but tender, it told of all the disappointment Celestia felt in you and how it hurt her to be so let down because she could see you had so much more potential

>You hadn't heard those words since you left Equestria

>Now you're reminded of the dread they brought you

>A chill settles over your shoulders like a phantom of your past placing a cold cloak over your back

>Though it is a herculean task, you eventually find the strength to lift your head

>Principal Celestia watches you with a neutral look that belies what sits behind her gaze

>Her disappointment was clear, but what else? Anger? Contempt? Maybe even shame?

>"I'm going to be blunt with you Sunset, when you brought this to me, I had honestly hoped it was a... a sick joke"

>Definitely some contempt

>At least, as much as a teacher was willing to feel for a student

>Not that you didn't deserve it

>This has been... messy, to say the least

>You've spent so long trying to undo all the bad things you did in the past

>And this was probably the worst thing to undo

>It's taken all your emotional and mental strength to not buckle under the stress

>Well, that, and your friends have kept you afloat

>Hopefully you'll still have them after today

>Several months of going through various government channels

>Interviews with police

>Amending statements

>A court hearing or two

>The one silver lining in it all is that Principal Celestia agreed to keep things under wraps

>For as long as she could anyway

>But now things are coming to a head

>"I hate to bring this sort of thing up, usually I find it to be pointless, but in this situation I feel the need to make my feelings clear."

>The principal hides her own nervousness about the situation well, but she has her small ticks, straightening her jacket, running a hand through her hair.

>"To be blunt, had it not been for what I've seen you go through with my own eyes, the Dazzlings, the Friendship Games, Camp Everfree, had I not seen you truly showing a willingness and earnest eagerness to change, you'd already be expelled."

>That makes the rock in your stomach sink to your feet

>"But I have seen you change, and I get the feeling that the new you is going to be tormenting herself enough that any punishment I give would hardly be more than a drop in an ocean." You hear the shuffle of a metal chair on carpet, and the sound of footsteps coming around the desk, but still jolt at her hand on your shoulder. "I'm collecting him in an hour, and we’ll be back by third period."

>"Meanwhile, I," the deeper tone of Vice Principal Luna cuts through the air like scissors through silk, "will be calling in students to inform them of the situation."

>Great, just when you'd gotten to a point where everyone's forgiven you, they're gonna have a new reason to hate you

>A soft touch holds your chin, and for a brief moment, you allow yourself to believe it's the hooftip of your old mentor

>An instant later and your mind registers the individual sensation of digits on skin as you look up to Principal Celestia again

>"This will be difficult for all of us, Sunset, but I believe we can get through this." She takes a knee as her hand comes down softly on your shoulder. "I believe you can get through this."

>Though the weight doesn't leave your stomach, somehow, miraculously, it feels lighter

"Thank you-" you barely manage to eke out the words before swallowing the lump in your throat, "Principal Celestia, and... I'm sorry"

>"I'm not the one you need to be apologizing to." She says it so simply, so matter-of-factly as her hands go behind her back

>If you had a bit for every time you've heard that

>Principal Celestia looks you over for a moment before her face falls. "You... haven't told your friends yet, have you?"

>You can only hug yourself as you shake your head, tears pricking the edge of your vision, threatening to burn your cheeks

>How were you supposed to tell them?

>They'd already forgiven so much

>This was too much

>It was like dropping a bowling ball on a bridge made of glass

>Still, you knew you had to

>It had to come from you

>They deserved that much at least

>You had planned to tell them when this had all started months ago

>When you'd first come forward with your biggest lie and began the slow slog through bureaucratic hoops to have it undone

>Then you told yourself you'd get through the first month before telling them

>Then you told yourself you'd wait until after the battle of the bands

>With Equestria's Twilight you might have had an easier time telling them

>But the simple truth is you were a coward

>You waited and waited and waited

>Day by day

>Week by week

>School, the place where you usually felt the greatest shame became your escape

>The girls became your escape

>You could deal with all the awful truths behind closed doors, away from even Pinkie's prying eyes

>Then when you walked through the doors of CHS you could cling to your friendships like driftwood to help keep you afloat

>But time waits for no one, pony or otherwise

>Now you were out of time

>And either you'd tell them, or Luna would

"We," you pull your head out of your thoughts to look between the principal and vice principal, "we're gonna be meeting in the music room, like we usually do. I'll... I'll tell them then."

>"I'll take your word for it, Sunset Shimmer." You didn't like how Luna used your full name, it felt like you'd already started to lose what you've tried to rebuild. "I'll expect them to be informed and not tell them myself. But should you fail to apprise them of the situation, then they may learn the truth from the source"

>Anonymous

>His face flashes in your mind and it's enough to form a crack in the dam as you bury your head in your hands

>You really were the worst

>Celestia rubs circles in your back

>She still cares, but you can feel the apprehension too

>You force yourself upright and wipe what little had leaked from your face

>There was no time to feel sorry for yourself

>You didn't have, nor deserve, the luxury of self-pity

>Today was a day of consequences, and dealing with them as best you can

"Thank you, both of you." You say with a glad smile as you stand

>It hurts when they can't fully return the smile with their curt nods

>You and Celestia leave the office, while she diverts towards the faculty lot, you continue through the halls of the school

>"Amethyst Star, please report to the Principal's Office." Vice Principal Luna spares no time in calling through the tannoy system

>You pass Amethyst as she makes her way towards where you'd come from

>"Hey, Sunset." She says with a warm smile and wave

>You try your best to return the gesture, but it feels forced

>What's she going to think of you when she learns the truth?

>What's everyone else going to think?

>You can already imagine what's on Anonymous' mind

>He's probably been waiting for his vindication for all the time he's been away

>You make a quick detour into the bathroom

>The swirling bile you've felt for yourself agitates your stomach and you can't tell whether you want to throw up or not

>Planting your hands on the smooth marble of the sink's countertop, you steady yourself

>Running the cold water, you splash yourself a number of times, but the burning shame never seems to cool

>Eventually you give up the futile task and take a few paper towels to dry yourself

>"Will Aqua Blossom please come to the Principal's office."

>Another name

>Another tick of the clock

>You glance over and the clock hands ticking down feel like the slow lowering of an axe to the executioner's block

>And your head's fit to roll

>With legs less steady than they were before you keep your pace towards the music room

>You're not sure how long it takes you to get there, or how many people you've passed and ignored as you're stuck in your own head

>Time is counted in names called more than minutes for you now

>Big McIntosh

>Blueberry Cake

>Brawly Beats

>Bulk Biceps

>Half a dozen names called before you finally stumble through the door of the music room

>"SUNSET!?" A different half dozen voices call your name in worry

>You can immediately tell it's Rainbow Dash and Applejack looping your arms around their shoulders as they lead you to sit down

>They talk, but you don't respond

>You can't

>It's like your jaw's welded shut as every muscle’s drawn taut

>If you weren't panicking, you'd see the irony in everyone but you talking, when the opposite is why you came here

>"Sunset, darling, whatever's the matter with you?"

>"Yo, Sunset, you in there? Cause you're starting to freak me out"

>"She's lookin' green 'round the gills, you think she's sick?"

>"Dilated pupils, hyperventilation, sweating, shaking- I think she's having a panic attack!"

>"I- I'll go get Principal Celes-"

"NO!" Your voice booms through the clamour of your own mind and their voices and for a moment you feel a tense peace. "No- no, no Celestia- she- she's not even here."

>"Then what the hay's going on, Sunset?" Applejack sits beside you a firm hand on your back keeping you grounded

>Rainbow’s scratchy voice chimes in next. "Yeah, today's been super weird, I mean you haven't been responding to our texts or calls, we don't see you all morning, then you come stumbling in here like you just walked out of a zombie movie."

>"Not to mention Vice Principal Luna calling everyone one by one into her office-" A joyful gasp leaves Pinkie Pie as no doubt a thousand ideas fill her head. "Oh! Is she inviting all the students to do a big surprise party while Principal Celestia's gone? Cause that'd be totally fun! But, wait, it's not her birthday."

"No, no it's not, Pinkie." You hug yourself again as you look at all your friends

>Rainbow idly rolls a football under her foot, you can imagine the sort of tricks she'd show off with all the time, ones she'd probably been doing while they were waiting for you

>Fluttershy is hugging her not so subtly snuck in animals as she looks between the others and you

>Twilight is watching you with an analytical eye, clearly trying to piece together the puzzle and figure out a solution to the problem before you can even say it

>Applejack and Rarity share a worried glance between each other before turning their gaze to you again

>Even Pinkie is feeling the weight of the room, her usually endless energy simmering beneath the surface but kept in check

>You just take it in

>Perhaps the last time they'll look at you this way

>It's nice

>With a shuddering sigh, you stand, and put a small bit of distance between you and them

"Do-" The words feel like bricks trapped in glue with how much you struggle to wrench them from your throat. "Do you guys remember Anonymous?"

>A series of gasps ripple through the group

>Fluttershy hugs her bag tighter

>Pinkie, somehow, deflates a little

>"That rotten jerk?" Rainbow Dash stomps her foot against her ball

>"I was really hopin' not to hear that name again." Applejack seems to share Rainbow's surge of anger as she clenches her fists

>Rarity scoffs in disgust "And the fact you're bringing him up doesn't fill me with the greatest confidence, darling"

>Everyone except Twilight reacts to the name

>"Who's Anonymous?" She asks somewhat timidly, clearly feeling how she's stepping on thin ice, but wanting to sate her curiosity

>"Why that low down snake done went and-"

"Applejack!" You cut her off before she can unintentionally spread your lie further

>Your tone and whatever look is on your face gives everyone pause again

With a sigh, you run your hand down your face. "Anonymous... is- was... an old classmate... who-"

>"Who's in juvie, and hopefully prison soon-"

"Rainbow!" You cut off the prismatic girl who seems more apologetic that she interrupted you, rather than for what she said

>You try to steady yourself as you try to figure out how to word it

>"Juvie? What did he do?" Twilight presses, her eagerness for details replaced by concern for what those details might be

>"Well, darling, to put it lightly, imagine what the single worst crime that one could commit, short of murder. When one's self is a boy and your victim is..." Rarity turns her head slightly to you as she explains then trails off

>Twilight's jaw drops as she looks at you with a mix of pity and horror

>"You mean he-"

"NO! HE DIDN'T!" You finally yell, and all the shame and disgust in yourself comes tumbling out. "HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO ME! THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU!"

>The words are finally out, but the weight has never felt heavier as you drop to your knees

"He didn't do anything..." The words leak out, weak and weary as you're barely able to make out the others through your tears. "Just- …when did he get arrested?" It’s a rhetorical question, but it will help them see

>"Well how could we forget. It was near a year ago, just before the.... Fall... Formal..." Applejack's voice drops and you can almost hear the collective pieces click into place in their mind. Then, "No," you hear the sound of a boot stepping back, "you didn't..."

>"What? No- come on- this- this has gotta be some misunderstanding, right Sunset? I mean, you wouldn't-" Rainbow tries to defend you, but you cut her off

"I would... and I did..." You've heard of ripping the band-aid off, but this feels more like prying the wound open. "I've... I've had to spend the last few months talking with... the police."

>Each words feels like a hammer blow to rock, breaking and cracking you into jagged pieces, but revealing what you hid behind it all

"They didn't believe it at first either... but I've had to... amend statements, confess to falsifying- everything... everything..."

>No one talks

>It's as if the world outside the room has stopped turning

>You're only reminded it hasn't by the occasional scratch of the tannoy on your ears as Vice Principal Luna calls in another student to tell the truth to

>"What... the fuck, Sunset!?" Rainbow has grabbed you by your collar and forced you back up to your feet. You can almost hear her knuckles crack as they tighten their grip. "I swear to god this had better be some messed up prank or-!"

"It's not a prank, Rainbow!" You yell back into her face as you grab her wrists. "It's just-"

>Your grip goes slack and you let your arms hang limp at your sides

>You're not going to defend yourself

>Not from this

"It's just a lie... I lied... I lied about that too..."

>"I didn't- I never-" Applejack stutters out. "I know you told lies back then, Sunset, but I figured if there was one thing you wouldn't lie about, it'd be that. I- I-" Her face goes red as she stomps over to you too. "I helped you when I heard what happened! I helped you- you- you-!"

>You don't know what vitriol coated insult she has for you, but you brace yourself for it nonetheless

>But it never comes, instead she fumes and growls to herself, clearly stuck between wanting to hit you and not believe you

>Honestly, it's worse than being insulted

>The others aren't holding up so well

>Fluttershy's tucked herself into a corner, on the verge of tears, denial possibly being the only reason she hasn't broken down

>Shooting another glare at you that falters to disbelief for an instant before hardening again, Rainbow goes over to Fluttershy to try and comfort her friend

>Pinkie's curled into a ball and is rocking herself while Rarity consoles her, the fashionista shooting uncertain looks at you

>You're not sure if this is going better or worse than you expected

>Twilight's just confused

>She clearly understands the situation

>But it's just not registering properly

>"Everything!" Applejack snaps. "After everything you done did, after- after every ugly lie of yours you dug up, I didn't for ONE. MINUTE. Think that was one of 'em. Why!?" Applejack says, face to face with you again

>You're not sure what 'why' she's asking

>Why did she never think to ask if it was a lie?

>Why did she never think it was a lie to begin with?

>Why did she ever think you could change?

>Why tell a lie that bad in the first place?

>Why wait until now to tell the truth?

>The horrible truth is you don't have an answer for any of them

>At least, not one that would matter

"Back then..."

>You cast your mind back to before the Fall Formal

>Despite it being your own mind, thinking those old thoughts, feeling those old feelings is like moving through an alien world

>One that's all too familiar

"Back then he was the only one who would get in the way... the only one who wouldn't... budge."

>Anonymous had a lazy air about him almost every day, but he also seemed to have as good an eye for reading people as you did

>He clocked your every move, saw your every lie

>He wasn't as socially graceful as you, so he couldn't always prove you were lying

>But knowing you were was enough

>He never let his guard down around you and what was worse to you back then, he had a handful of students almost convinced of what he saw in you

>Nothing you did could get him off your back

>No lie you spun

>No threat you made

>He either disproved you, and whatever he couldn't disprove he weathered and then kept getting in your way

>All you could think of was how to get rid of him

>Then you had the vile idea of what crime to place on him

>While you couldn't get to him, you'd gotten into nearly every other facet of his life

>It took months of careful planning

>He knew the entire time you were up to something

>But he was so focused on you he didn't see the small things you were setting up along the way

>Getting a little physical with him here

>Making him angry there

>Small, seemingly unrelated, seemingly innocuous things

>All came down on him hard with the judge's gavel

>The worst part is you smiled as he got taken away

>In your mind, just a persistent thorn in your side dealt with

>Now you have to try and circumnavigate his return, if at all possible

"I just..." You cast a look over the faces of people you hope you'll still be able to call friends. "I just wanted him out of the way..."

>Applejack grabs you and rears her fist back

>You flinch and brace for the impact

>But it never comes

>Instead, you feel something cold and wet hit your hand

>You open your eyes and feel ice grip your heart as you see Applejack crying

>"I believed you..." She just barely mutters out the words

"AJ-" You almost instinctively reach a hand out to her that immediately gets swatted away

>"Don't you dare call me that! Only my friends call me that!"

>The ice that had gripped your heart feels like it just pierced it with a cold knife

>"Applejack..." Rarity cautiously offers her friend a hand before Applejack wheels to face her

>"What!? Are you all really gonna stand there and say you can be friends with her after this? This...? This...? This is sick!" She stomps away from you and towards the door

>"Applejack, where are you going?" Rarity calls after her

>"Anywhere away from her-!"

"He's coming back today..." You force the words out, they deserve to hear everything. "They... they haven't been able to get in touch with his family so Celestia's bringing him here."

>Applejack squares her shoulders, still stood by the door, not facing you

>"Why are you still here then? Shouldn't you be where they put him?"

>A fair question, and everyone else turns to you again, some have more difficulty looking at you than others do

"Because he's not pressing charges against me... I don't know why..."

>Applejack doesn't look at you as she finally forces the door open and leaves, slamming it behind her

>The silence is heavy as the echoes of her boots fade down the hallway

>"Come on, Flutters." Dash says softly as she helps the shy girl to her feet

>Dash shoots you a glare that seems harder for her than for you

>Fluttershy gets a brief look at you before breaking down as the two leave

>Rarity helps Pinkie up and follows behind the others

>Finally it's just you and Twilight

>Some part of you wants to reach out to her, to explain your side more, to try and excuse yourself, to beg for her not to leave

>But you do nothing but hold your own arm in shame

>She scrutinizes you for a moment, then another

>Then, she stands to her feet and heads to the door

>"I... I just need some time to think. We all do." Is her only comfort to you as she leaves, and the door sliding shut seems like a gunshot

>Finally, you break

>The dam bursts and you allow yourself to sob and cry to no one as you're left alone

>You'd clung to them like driftwood while you worked to undo your worst lie

>And now you're left to drown

<>

>The road beneath you glides along rather smoothly

>Surprising, considering how old the roads are

>More surprising considering how old Celestia's car is

>Teacher's wage, you guess

>Speaking of your old principal, she's barely said anything to you other than her tense greeting at the juvenile hall she picked you up from

>You'd been in that place for nearly a year due to logistical bullshit

>Initially you'd been in there for a few months, and you were about a few days away from being moved to where you were supposed to serve your sentence when word came down

>Your "victim" as everyone liked to call her, confessed

>All the bullshit she'd poured, the trap she put you in

>All fake

>Sadly because they had to amend records and take the same statements from you that you'd given when the circus of justice started you were stuck there for a few more months

>Back when it all started even your faggot lawyer didn't believe you

>Kept telling you to take the plea deal and plead guilty

>It did feel good to make him and the feds squirm when you kept reminding them how much they fucked up

>Then again, it's not like strangers would have reason to believe you

>But what was everyone else's excuse?

>The teachers

>Your friends

>Your parents

>They all danced like puppets for her

>Sunset Shimmer

>The name still makes your blood boil

>You really hope you don't get the urge to kill her when you see her next

>You'd rather not go back to jail

>But, then again, killing the girl who almost ruined your life almost seems like a fair trade off

>Probably not though

>You still missed damn near a fucking year of school

"So, am I gonna be in the year I should be in? Or am I gonna find Apple Bloom and her friends to be my classmates?"

>Celestia jolts, as if remembering you're in the car with her

>Going to school straight out of juvie wasn't ideal, but you've stopped caring

>Your parents didn't come to pick you up

>Celestia did

>So if you have to wait at the school for your folks to get off their asses then so be it

>"Oh- uh- no, Anonymous. You'll be in your appropriate year. I've also instructed the faculty to give you extra tutoring so you can be up to speed with your classmates."

>You clench at your eyes and drag your hands down your face

>You've got to do a year's worth of school work in who knows how little time just so you don't flunk?

"Can you turn around and take me back to prison?" You grunt out the words with derision

>She lets out a half chuckle that becomes slightly uneasy

>"I, uh, see that your time away hasn't changed your sense of humour"

"It's gotten worse, actually." You might have been set up by Sunset, but everyone else you met back there was there for an actual reason, and they had some fucked up thoughts they were all too happy to share with you

"So, how many people still think I raped her?"

>Your bluntness is enough to catch Celestia off enough that she has to correct as a car coming your way takes too sharp a turn

>Honking horns fade in the distance rapidly as Celestia calms down and shoots you an unappreciative look

>"No one. All the faculty have been informed, as have all the students. You'll be welcomed back with open arms."

>That is enough to get the first genuine laugh you've had in months, and you slap your knee to emphasize your point

"It's priceless that you actually believe that, teach"

>"Anonymous, please. I understand things will be... difficult for you going back, but please, try to keep an open mind. A lot has changed at CHS since your... unfortunate circumstances"

>The snide part of you wants to throw bluntness at her like a brick through a windshield and remind her that you got fucked over by Sunset Shimmer and she let it happen

>Well, her and everyone else in your life

>But there's little point to antagonizing someone offering you an olive branch

>Shit, Sunset's acting in the court was so good she almost had you questioning if you were guilty or not

>Still, you'll be damned if you cut anyone in that damned school any slack

>'Changed' your ass

>Everyone there is still just looking out for themselves

>You can feel it

>"If... you'll indulge my curiosity, Anonymous?" Celestia asks carefully

"Got nothing better to do" You say, nodding to her

>"Why... didn't you press charges? Against Sunset" She clarifies

>You stare out the window as the familiar town starts to wind around you

>Flickering in between the alleyways you pass, you see it

>Canterlot High

"I wanna see her squirm." Is your only answer

>You also want to ask her why

>The car's tires wheeze to a halt in front of the school

>Luckily you don't have to walk out in prison clothes

>Still, you feel like you're wearing something wrong

>The air around the school isn't the same as it used to be

>Ah, well

>C'est la vie

>"I'm going to park in the faculty lot, Anonymous. If you need anything today, stop by my office." Celestia calls to you from her car

>You wave her off with a grunt as you trudge towards the school's entrance

>No classes for today at least

>For today you're allowed to walk your old stomping ground to refamiliarize yourself with it

>So long as you don't disturb the classes

>Meaning you're gonna be alone most of the day

>Though you'd probably be alone anyway

>Some students see you and take a moment to remember you and look like a deer in the headlights

>They don't come at you with pitchforks and torches

>So at least Celestia was right that they've been told everything was a lie

>Some seem like they want to approach you but don't know how

>Others pretend they don't notice you

>Not that you're interested in any of them trying to make amends anyway

>"H- hey Ano-"

"Fuck off."

>Case in point

>You stroll through the halls as students give you an awkwardly wide berth as they filter to and from their classes

>When the last echoing squeak of rubber sneakers on polished concrete fades and the doors are closed you allow your shoulders to sag as you sigh

>Just like you feared

>It doesn't matter if they tell everyone it was a lie

>It doesn't matter if proof of the opposite is clear

>It doesn't matter if your slate gets wiped clean

>The lie stains you anyway

>You can't even make your life from the ground up cause everyone here knows who you are

>Now you've got to slog through the rest of your school life with that lie hanging over you

>Unless you can find a winning lottery ticket and afford to go to Crystal Prep, change your name and get facial reconstructive surgery

>A few more years at school with no friends

>Prison almost seems appealing by comparison

>A new squeak of shoe on floor hits your ear before something very light collides with your back

>You don't even stumble

>"I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! I knew it, I knew itIknewitIknewitIknewitIknewitIknewit- I knew it was a lie!"

>You look over your shoulder

>Pale green skin, dark green hair and a familiar pale brown sweater

>For the first time since walking through the doors, you're pleased to see someone

>You turn and pull the invisible girl of your school into a tight embrace that she clings to

"Hiya, Wallflower, miss me?"

>She chuckles and lightly smacks your arm as she continues the hug

>Scratch that earlier thought

>A few more years at school with one friend

<>

>Your time with Wallflower was all too short

>She'd used the classic bathroom excuse to wander the school out of her class to find you

>Apparently more than you expected has happened since you've been gone

>She was barely able to tell you anything before she had to hurry back to class though

>With her gone, you didn't have much of any reason to hang around the halls, so you made your way up to the roof

>It was hardly comfortable, but it was peaceful

>As you sit at the edge, overlooking the town you call home, you go over what Wallflower tried to tell you

>Her words were going a mile a minute but you caught some of it

>Something about magic

>Maybe Trixie's gotten better at her magician's tricks

>You briefly wonder if she still wears that wizard hat around the school

>It was kind of cute

>Sadly almost any pleasant memory you have of this place or the people is almost immediately soured by recent memories

>One day, everything was normal

>You hated Sunset for being a lying bitch

>She hated you for never falling for her bullshit

>Everyone else was nervous whenever you and her would butt heads

>The next day, everyone was looking at you like you'd committed murder

>Some of the girls you knew straight up ran screaming from you

>You got chased through the school by some of the guys threatening you for "what you did"

>Then, the click of cuffs and you were being roughly shoved into a police cruiser by the local cops

>Sunset sobbing her crocodilian tear ducts dry as she clung to Principal Celestia

>Interrogations

>Accusations

>A trial

>A loose bit of gravel on the roof finds your hand and you force all your anger into the throw

>It's not nearly enough to make you feel better

>All the stone does is ineffectively bounce off that stupid horse statue in front of the school

>You look down and see more gravel

>If nothing else, target practice might help you waste away the day

>With stones in hand, you aim your throw at the statue again, and imagine Sunset standing there instead

>The clack of stone colliding with stone gets loud enough to echo back up to the roof

>Head

>Head

>Eye

>Body

>Legs

>The throws get more forceful each time, they're too small to do any actual damage to the statue, but your imagination does the work

>Weirdly, after imagining Sunset bruised up by the hail of stones... you don't feel any better

>You almost hurt yourself with how much you clench the remaining stone into your hand

>Where the hell was she anyway?

>What hole has she crawled into?

>It's not like you didn't expect this, of course she's hidden away to concoct her side of the story

>She gets you out of prison, and somehow she's going to spin it so that she's the good guy

>Because she always did

>And the students and faculty at this school will believe her

>Because they always did

>It was maddening sometimes back then

>Even when she tried to rule the school with an iron fist, no one seemed to care

>They just let her get away with everything

>She'd even manage to tear apart friendships that you thought were made to last

>All because those girls were never willing to simply talk to each other

>You almost had your friends other than Wallflower convinced about Sunset

>At the time, you'd figured if you could convince them, maybe you could convince more people

>With enough of you, you could have put a stop to her

>It might have seemed dramatic at the time, but you could see the writing on the wall

>For all the small things she did, it was only a matter of time before Sunset actually did something to hurt someone

>Ironic that you ended up being the one that got hurt

>Foolish as you were, you never realized until it was too late

>She'd been so careful about it

>You were used to her usual tricks, so when she'd started confronting you more and more through the school, you were able to handle it, you were able to handle her, cause you knew all her tricks

>At least, you thought you did

>And that was how she got you

>In the open, she baited you, classrooms, hallways, before school, after school, it was everywhere and near non-stop

>But you didn't let your guard down around her because you knew she had to be planning something big

>And it was because you were so preoccupied with keeping your guard up around her that you failed to see what she was setting up in the background

>The times she shoved you into janitor closets to have screaming matches with you

>Getting on your nerves by being touchy feely with you

>You never wanted to give her more ammunition than she already had, but you'd begun to physically grab her wrists and shove her off you

>She never stayed around after you pushed back, so it seemed like a decent way to get reprieve away from her at the time

>But you never took note of how she'd spend more time after classes with the teachers

>You waved off rumors of hearing about her being in Principal Celestia's office more often

>When your friends mentioned her being nice to them, you laughed it off, and reminded them who they were talking about

>And when your parents tried to bring her up, you just tuned them out

>Then it all came tumbling down

>Everything she'd set up

>The day she pushed you to blow up at her

>You'd fucked off to calm down for the day

>No one knew where you went

>Which meant no one knew what you were doing

>That meant you had no alibi

>Then Sunset did what she did best, she acted like the victim, and you were dragged kicking and screaming through the justice system for your trouble

>The days wind through your mind like sickly black vines, strangling the memory of better days that came before

>Everytime you got Sunset to back off of one of the other students

>All the times you warned your friends to not trust a word out of her

>When you'd tried talking to your teachers and parents about her

>All of it

>For nothing

>You didn't even get any visitors beyond Wallflower a handful of times at the start

>Even when in juvie you didn't want her to suffer from Sunset like you did

>So you told her to keep away, for your sake, if not for hers and that was enough to convince her

>The bell rings for lunch and tears you away from your trip down memory lane

>For all the damage control that Celestia's allegedly done, you wonder how much you're actually going to put up with in this school

>Then again, it doesn't matter

>Everyone may have fallen for Sunset's bullshit, and maybe they'll say they're sorry to save face

>But now you're back

>And it's everyone else's problem

>You’ll make sure of it

>Like before, the students give you a wide berth as you trek back through the halls

>Clearly your name's spread like wildfire through the school

>Whereas before students looked at you with shock and disbelief, now they're watching you, maybe they're waiting for you to do something and they're not sure what that is

>Honestly, you're not sure either

>Maybe sitting down and talking with Wallflower will help clear your head

>At least it would if you didn't collide with some blind jackass

"Hey, watch where you'r-"

>"Hey, watch where you'r-"

>You'd recognize that blue hair anywhere, even if it's in an even stupider cut that it was before

>Seriously, Flash looks like he took a razor to his head while drunk

>"Anon?" He balks as he takes you in

>Your jaw sets as you turn to face him

"Look who it is, Sunset's favourite toy." He averts his eyes at your words. "What's wrong lackey? Figured you'd be hanging off her coattails- where is the bitch anyway?" You ask no one in particular as you glare across the hall, hoping to catch sight of red and yellow

>"Me and-" Flash begins, weakly, you note. "Me and Sunset broke up actually. A... a little after you- well-"

>You let his words hang in the air

>The silence gets awkward, fast, and you let it fester, you wait until he pulls his gaze up to look at you and see how little you care

"Boo. Hoo." You see a twinge of something cross his face at your mocking tone

>Annoyance?

>Anger?

>Maybe he can join the party

>You've been feeling all that and more for a year

>Still, if Sunset wasn't here, Flash would do

>He was second on your shitlist after all

"Hey, Flash." Your sharp tone clearly puts him on edge as he regards you. "Do you remember the day I got arrested?" He clearly does, you can see it in his eyes, you refuse to let him pull his eyes from you as you continue. "Do you remember what you said to me that day?"

>"Tha- that if I-"

"You said that if you saw me again, I'd be dead, right!?" You hold your arms out expectantly, invitingly

>You don't know what the hell Sentry's game is, but you're already sick of it

>This meekness

>The fact he's barely willing to look you in the eyes

>You know Flash

>You have for years

>His confidence was annoying in an endearing way once upon a time

>The kind of guy willing to jump on a table and play a new guitar riff he had, whether it got him any applause or not

>The Flash you knew would have met you the second you set foot out of Celestia's car and told you whatever the fuck was on his mind

>And this bullshit he's pulling is pissing you off cause he thinks you'll buy it, but it won't work

"Well!?"

>He's still quiet

>So is the entire hall

>Then, he slowly raises his head

>"I'm... I'm sorry, man-"

>Sorry?

>He was one of the ones who chased you through this school that day on a god damn witch hunt

>He'd whacked you in the back with his guitar, and you don't know what else he would have done if the police hadn't separated you to drag you away

>And he's sorry

>Well, you're happy to repay that cheap guitar shot with a hit of your own

>It's quick and clean, your arm cocks back at the shoulder and elbow, then you drive it forward like a piston

>It slams into his face, and pushes it back into a nearby locker

>Your anger floods you, and your body runs hot from adrenaline

>Some part of you nags you to keep going

>To keep hitting

>But as he crumples to the ground, he just looks at you, hurt in more ways than physical

>It should make you feel better

>For fuck's sake you've literally dreamed of doing that in juvie

>So why don't you

>A growl rips up your throat as you throw another wild haymaker into the metal of the locker above him before crouching down

"Fuck your apology, Flash." You stand sharply, then shoot one last sneer over your shoulder at him. "And nice haircut, it suits you."

>If they gave you a wide berth before, the students part like the Red Sea now as you storm down the hall, leaving Flash behind you

>Maybe you'll feel better when you've got Sunset like that

>If you can ever find her

>Seriously you should have heard the rough squeak of that stupid cheap leather jacket she wears by now

>Maybe you'll find her sitting like the Queen Bee she loves to pretend she was in the cafeteria

>Not to mention you're kind of hungry

>Like everywhere else you've walked before, the room goes quiet as soon as you enter

>Students shuffle on their seats, some looking ready to eject themselves from their spots if you get too close

>Despite being away for a year, the process is almost automatic

>Take a plastic tray, slide it on the metal shelf at the counter, wait your turn

>You wait and you wait

>Because these idiots won't move

>"Would you lot quit stallin'!?" A familiar, old southern twang cuts through the air. "He don't bite no more than this here food does, and it'll be gettin' cold if'n you don't hurry up."

>Granny Smith

>You allow a faint trace of a smile to tug at the corner of your lips at the familiar voice

>Thankfully her words kick the other students into gear and eventually you manage to get a lunch for yourself

>Just as you're about to turn to find somewhere to sit, you feel a cold, wrinkled touch tug at your sleeve

>Looking back, Granny Smith is giving you a sorrowful look

>It reminds you of the one Flash gave you

>But this one doesn't fill you with as much anger, or any at all really

>It just sort of makes you feel hollow

>"Look, Ahnon, I'm- I'm real sorry 'bout what happened sonny. It- I can't do nothin' to right what done went and went wrong between you and everything. But- but if'n you think I can help somehow, you just let me know, okay?"

>It was earnest

>It was genuine

>It was Granny Smith to a T

>She hadn't changed

>But you don't know how to respond

>Do you say "thanks"? Thanks for what?

>Do you smile? Hearing what she said didn't make you happy

>The hollow feeling just creeps through you more and leaves you feeling cold

"Yeah..."

>That's all you can say as you turn away, and tug your sleeve from the surprisingly firm grip of the old woman and go back into the swathe of students and tables

>Your eyes immediately magnetize to a table that's been mostly ignored, with a lone occupant

>Seems Wallflower still hasn't learned how to be seen just yet

>You slide in next to her, and for the first time in a few hours you let the tension go and relax your muscles

>As you begin your lunch, the two of you sit in a comfortable silence

>At least, as comfortable as it could be with every other table shooting glances at you every other second

>"Hey"

>It's such a simple greeting

>But it's enough for a ghost of a smile to form on your face

>It was strange to think about how it was the simplest things you really missed most while you were away

"Hey"

>There's another pause as you both chew through your food

>"This sucks"

>That actually makes you chuckle

"No one knows that more than me."

>"Where'd you go?"

"The roof. You?"

>"Had class with Mister Cranky."

>You nod absent-mindedly in response

>After today you're going to have to do extra lessons and homework

>You can't even begin to think of how many cram sessions you're going to have to do to catch up

>It doesn't fill you with excitement, but at least you'll probably be able to study with Wallflower, so that should be helpful

>A thought strikes you as you glance at the green girl

"Hey, you know I just realized I haven't apologized yet" Your words are half-teasing with a lackadaisical smile as she turns to you, confused

>"For what?"

"For not taking you to the Fall Formal like I said I would"

>She almost chokes on her food as a blush rises to her cheeks, and you allow yourself another chuckle

>"That- that's not something you need to apologize for-"

"Wall, how many years did I spend convincing you to give the Formal a try?"

>She pauses in thought, then shrugs, the number of years clearly too many for even her to remember

"Exactly. I finally convinced you, then I had to take- well, a year-long rain check"

>"It's fine, really" You can see the conflict in her eyes

>On one side, she genuinely does get that you didn't have a choice in the matter

>On the other, you can see the disappointment that you failed

"Speaking of the dance, weren't you saying that that's when some of the weird shit started around here?" You asked, waving your plastic fork around, generally indicating to the school

>"Oh. Yeah, so there was this new girl, Twilight Sparkle, by the way, it's gonna get confusing, cause she's not the Twilight here now but-"

>Wallflower is cut off by the cafeteria door slamming open

>Glancing up, you see familiar faces in an unfamiliar way

>Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity and some new girl

>The new girl makes you pause

>Why is a Crystal Prep girl here?

>It's not their uniform but-

>And why are those girls all together?

>They wouldn't be caught dead in the same room together, certainly not within breathing distance of each other

>Applejack rapidly turns her head around, scouring the hall, until it lands on you then does a double take before quickly moving over to you

>Well, if nothing else, her approach is refreshing compared to everyone avoiding you like you're a leper

>Your eyes briefly glance over to Granny Smith

>The old woman just looks too tired to interject

>Clearly she wishes her granddaughter would use some more tact in her approach, but also knows even she can't stop her once her mind is set on something

>You catch Wallflower tense out of your peripherals

>You're not exactly feeling calm yourself

>Though while you imagine Wallflower is feeling nervous, you're more agitated

>As Applejack approaches her initially confident pace slows as her face shifts to a more unsure glance

>You briefly wonder if she'd thought this through, then you remember who Applejack is

>When she finally reaches your table, any words she might have had in mind die on her lips as she swings an arm in that way she does to greet people

>"Uh... howdy... Anonymous?" She looks back at the other girls, as if willing them to takeover the conversation before its even begun

>You hold your stare on Applejack for a moment, considering her

>Considering if whatever this conversation was going to be was worth it

>It isn't

>So you turn your gaze away and go back to your food

>You don't expect Applejack to appreciate you ignoring you, but you're surprised when it's Rainbow of all people who confronts you

>She slams her hands on either side of your tray

>"Hey! Applejack's trying to talk to you-"

"As if you care, Rainbow! Why are you even here!?" You demand, slamming your own hands down as you shoot to your feet to meet her at eye-level

>"Of course I care! I-"

"Really!?" You press. "Because last time I checked, you two couldn't stand each other." You say, pointing at the two.

>The two take a moment of pause, look at each other, then something like realization flashes in their eyes for some reason before they turn from each other

"Hell, last time I checked, none of you liked each other." You say, turning to look at the other three, who also don't meet your gaze

>"Um, I-" The new girl begins before you cut her off

"And why the hell is a Crystal Prick in our school?" You ask, holding a hand out to indicate to the purple, spectacled girl

>"Crystal what?" She asks indignantly

>Rainbow chuckles awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head. "That, uh- that might have been what some of us nicknamed Crystal Prep before everything was cool... sorry"

"Coo- cool!? Since when have we been cool with Crystal Prep?"

>You'd been aware of the history between the two schools, along with everyone else, and you knew that both hated each other

>"Oh it happened during," Rainbow pauses briefly, before continuing with a slightly awkward tone, "the... friendship games"

>Meaning during the time you were away

>You hadn't been fully aware of when what school events were happening while you were away, but you didn't realize you'd missed that

>In fact, you could remember looking forward to this year before your incarceration, you liked the idea of having a chance of rubbing victory into Crystal Prep's face if you got the chance

>"That aside, how did you even know I was from Crystal Prep?" The new girl asks

>"'nonymous here's always been sorta good at getting a read on people."

"For all the fat good it's done me" You say, slumping back into your seat. "Not to mention you stick out like a sore thumb."

>Some of the girls briefly shoot you looks for your words, looks that then fall

"What? I'm not wrong." You counter their looks, and they have no rebuttal. "I still don't know why you lot are all talking to each other."

>"Well, it took a heapin' helpin' of encouragement from Twilight, but we put aside our differences 'round the time of the Fall Formal" Applejack explains

You sit back in your seat as you stare at the southern girl. "And how, exactly, did you get over your hatred of each other?"

>"Well, I think 'hate' is a strong word-"

"Applejack when I talked to you about it you said you'd sooner trust a rattlesnake than Dash," the girl dips her stetson in front of her face and shoots Rainbow an apologetic look, "and would rather get trampled by your own horses before you talked to her if she wouldn't apologize first."

>"I was just-!" Applejack begins, red-faced, either from annoyance or shame. "I was just angry then is all, I weren't thinking clearly"

"And what was so special about this Twilight girl that she could make you talk to Dash when I couldn't?"

>"I-" She begins, then holds her arm as her shoulders go slack, "I dunno... I'm sorry."

>You wave her off and scoff, uninterested

"And I suppose it's the same for the rest of you? Some random girl just came along and made it all better? Is that it?" You ask as you look between the others

>The bake sale

>The animal shelter auction

>Things that split them apart

>Things you knew Sunset had played a part in

>You just couldn't prove it

>And that was enough for them to dismiss you when you tried to suggest they just talk about it

>Now apparently all forgiven

>"Twilight reminded me of you actually," a soft voice speaks up from the group, "you know, sort of... in a way, I mean before everything-"

>Your eyes glance over to Fluttershy who had successfully shrunk into the back of the group

>"I found the crown for the Fall Formal and gave it to Principal Celestia." The others part to let the shy girl step forward a little, which she does. "Sunset... well- got mad about it, and Twilight told her to leave me alone. Sort of like you used to."

>That gives you pause

>You might not appreciate how easily these girls got together from a stranger's help

>But she sounds like a decent person at least

>”Also, um… hi, Anon, and… welcome back?” Fluttershy says awkwardly

“Hi yourself.” You say back with a tiny nod

>For as bitter as you might be at everyone, Fluttershy was naturally difficult to be angry at

>It’s not that you weren’t angry at her at all

>But she was more of a pushover than Applejack or Rainbow

>She had more of an excuse, not much of an excuse, but something at least

>"Twilight's actually responsible for helping a lot of this school become better than it was before." Rarity's graceful voice chimes in

>Rainbow Dash smiles with a sure nod. "You've got that right. I mean, the Rainbooms might not have started if we all weren't together again."

"Rainbooms?" You ask, amused at the name

>"Our killer band!" Rainbow says proudly. "You should hear the seven of us play"

>Your eyes flicker across the group, and only count six

"Seven?"

>"Yeah. Me, AJ, Flutters, Pinkie, Rarity, Twilight and Sunseeeeeeeeet..." Rainbow drags out the last name awkwardly looking at the other than you before awkwardly cutting herself short

Your knuckles go white as you grip the table "Sunset?" You stand to your feet. "As in Sunset Shimmer? She's in your band."

>"It ain't like that, Anon-"

"Then what is it like, Applejack?" You move around the table to get into the farmer's face "Cause from where I'm standing it almost sounds like your friends with that bitch."

>"Don't call her that!" Rainbow puts herself between you and Applejack, faltering briefly after her outburst

You push forward into her. "Or what!?"

>She backs away slightly, conflict clear on her face. "I..."

>"We..." Applejack moves forward, beside Dash. "We've been friendly with Sunset since Twilight left, but, after she told us about you, we've-"

>Your brain feels like cogs clanging against each other, not fitting correctly as you process her words

"I thought you just said Twilight was in your band?"

>"Um- they were referring to me, actually." The crystal prep girl says, stepping forward

"You helped them?" This is making less and less sense

>"No, this is Twilight from Crystal Prep, we're talking about the other Twilight Sparkle." Pinkie interjects

>Honestly, you respect her ability to have kept to herself so long

>Still, she acts like her explanation gave an answer when it just gave more questions

"What the hell do you mean 'other' Twilight?"

>Rainbow pauses briefly before she looks between the other girls

>"Right-! he doesn't know about Equestria"

"What the hell is an Equestria!?" You ask, dumbfounded by Rainbow's words.

>"It's a place full of magic horses that Sunset came from and Twilight- not that Twilight- this Twilight-" Pinkie says, squishing the girl's cheeks, "almost tore reality open to-"

"What the FUCK are you all talking about!?"

>Magic horses?

>Twilight?

>Some other Twilight?

>Sunset-

>That name clicks your brain back to focus

>"Look, Anon, a lot's happened since you've been gone-"

>First Celestia

>Then Wallflower

>Now Applejack

"If I hear one more person say that, I swear to god-" You cut her off.

>You shouldn't have even bothered with this conversation in the first place

>Sunset's already set herself up with friends after what she did

>Of course she did

>What else should you have expected?

>These girls of all people

>Now they're here to what?

>To calm you down?

>To try and convince you of whatever bullshit Sunset fed them cause she knew you wouldn't believe it if she was the one to tell you?

>Not happening

>You've had enough of this anyway

"Where is she?" You ask Applejack

>"What?"

"Sunset! Where is she!?" You jab a finger into her chest and walk forward, backing her up a little

>"Anon, calm down! She was in the music room last we talked, but that was hours ago- we ain't seen her in class since-"

>You tune out the rest

>The music room

>It's a start at least

>You shoot Wallflower a quick look then spin on your heels to the cafeteria doors

>Only to be stopped by Rainbow grabbing your arm

>"Hey! We're not done talking, dude-"

>You wrench your arm up and toward you, bringing Rainbow with it

"Let me go, Dash." You say firmly

>"Not until we're done-" She tries to argue

>You grab her collar and bring her closer

"Rainbow, let me go or I swear I will lay you out like I did Flash"

>The girls all gasp and Rainbow's eyes widen as her pupils shrink as her grip loosens

>"Dude, you did what?"

>With her grip loose you yank your arm free and storm out of the cafeteria

>This place hasn’t changed and neither have they, not really

>Sure they made amends thanks to some bullshit you can’t wrap your head around

>But Sunset’s still managed to worm her way in with them

>She’s still just manipulating everything to her own benefit, and they don’t even care

>You don't know if you'll find Sunset in the music room

>But if she isn't there, and she hasn't been to her classes, you know all the places she used to hide to plan

>She can't hide from you forever

<>

>Misery, misery, misery

>That's what you've chosen

>You are Sunset Shimmer

>Once upon a time, there was a hole in your chest

>A pit

>A void you could never fill

>You poured magic into it. Raw power

>When that didn't fill it, you tried having power over others

>That didn't work either

>So you pushed the utter limits, of your place in the world, and of the patience of those who truly cared about you

>Until it ended in your exile here

>But the pit remained

>You had less magic, but more power, more control

>Then you had magic too

>More than you’d ever had before

>More than you could ever imagine

>All that you could want, and it nearly tore you apart, and when you lost it, it broke you

>For a moment...

>You had everything you thought could fill the void

>But you were still so empty

>It was enough to drive you to tears

>Then a hand reached out, pulled you to your feet, and offered you some help

>And slowly, but surely, the void got smaller

>It was never gone, but you finally realized what path would let you leave it behind

>For a while it had become a distant memory, some forgotten thing of the past that would never bother you again

>You are Sunset Shimmer

>And the pit is back

>Its almost actualized itself into the room, threatening to consume everything you care about

>Starting with the thing you had helped build yourself. The Rainbooms

>You never felt more complete than when you let the music take you. It could surround you, fill you, and it felt like you could melt into its every beat

>But it never felt better than when you played with the girls, when you shared that same feeling with them. When it felt like the seven of you became one

>Now it felt like at any point, the instruments the girls had left behind could teeter and fall into that void, to be consumed, and never be seen again

>It took all your willpower to not lunge at Applejack's bass to snatch it from the void's apathetic maw like a mad woman

>They already knew you were lying scum

>You didn't need them to think you were a headcase

>Some imagined version of Pinkie is almost able to pull a smile to your lips, you could imagine the jokes she'd make, the impossibilities she'd pull from her hair just to get your lips up one angle higher

>But she wasn't here

>It was just you

>Alone

>For hours

>You didn't have any strength to go through the school

>And it seemed like this was one of the day's where there were no music lessons for anybody, so you'd been left to fester

>Not that you deserved any less

>You yourself had been teetering near the edge of that void

>Half tempted to throw yourself in and see where it would lead you

>But you were a coward, a selfish coward

>A coward because you were too scared of what might be at the bottom, and selfish because all you wanted was for another hand to reach out to you and pull you to your feet again

>Just one more time

>"Sunset..."

>You can almost hear Twilight calling your name again in the hazy fog of this stupor you've been in

>Then your name repeats

>"Sunset."

>But the voice distorts, getting deeper

>"Sunset!"

>And angrier

>A hand grabs you and yanks you up and you nearly fall into the pit until you blink, and the inky blackness is replaced by familiar green hair, now unkempt and long

>"I said! GET! UP! BITCH!"

"Anon!?" You're left stupified to be face to face with the boy you sent away

>You didn't know what level of anger you expected, but you weren't expecting this

>It was pure raw hatred

>He has the look of one of Fluttershy's animals, like he wants to lunge

>And he does

>You almost yelp, but you don't, only whimper

>Whatever he does, you don't want to bring attention to it

>He deserves whatever he does to you

>You're forced back and he looks like he doesn't know what to do, so you simply brace

>Then his iron grip on your shoulders relents as he marches back to the center of the room, always shooting looks over his shoulder at you as he paces, as if he expects you to bolt

>Then you notice he's already blocked the door

>You're trapped with the person who probably hates you more than any other on the planet right now

>But you don't feel any fear, only acceptance

>The words come out slow, but you force them up.

"Hey... Anon..."

>He pauses as he looks at you, and a smile comes to his face as his eye twitches

>Then he chuckles, its a deep, mirthless thing

>"Hey, Sunset. How've you been?" He offers

>You pause, certain he was kidding, but he doesn't continue

"I've been-" You start

>"Great!" He cuts in coldly, with a colder smile. "How've I been!? Thanks for asking!" It feels like his voice raises a decibel with each word "Let's see!" He begins. "I was in juvie for a few months, that was fun. Then I was supposed to go to prison until SOMEONE told everyone she's a lying bitch THANKS FOR THAT BY THE WAY!"

>You almost feel the need to brace against his bellowing

>"Then I had to spend MORE time in juvie cause they couldn't let me go, I got questioned by feds and assholes who couldn't take a fucking hint that I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!"

>He reared on you again, and you didn't even know what to do, the room seemed to shrink as Anon only grew, his presence trapping you, but you didn't even have the wherewithal to run

>"Because, see, there's this fucked up thing, where, for some reason, people think girls like you can't do anything wrong, and even when you CONFESS to doing something wrong, they think you're being pressured, or you're doubting yourself, or that you're not! THE CUNT! YOU ARE!"

>Tears stream down your face freely now and you can only stifle your sobs as he laughs mirthlessly again.

>"I see you've perfected the crocodile tears to an even further degree, bravo. I didn't know you could get worse." He only slightly backs off from you to pace the room as he takes a few breathes

>Yours come in stifled and short

>You try to push down the "crocodile" tears

>But nothing works

>Until you start to hear slow applause from the boy whose life you ruined

>He simply stands a few feet from you, half a smirk, clapping, then raises an imaginary glass to you in a toast

>"I have to admit, Sunset, one thing I'm actually proud of you for." He puts down his glass and waves his hand slightly around himself and you. "Is all that you've done here, I mean..." He chuckles. "Look at this school." He points to you. "You did that."

>It feels hollow

>You know there's something more to it

>But you let yourself, for just a moment, feel an iota of pride, amongst the maelstrom that you were drowning in

>You didn't do it alone

>You didn't even start the change

>For the most part, at the start, you were relegated to even beyond the background

>Others pulled you up to help everyone else

>But some part of you takes comfort in that, somewhere along the way, you DID help

>"I mean, everyone's become the same manipulative scum you are." He finishes with a grin

>The smile one could only have when he didn't understand what he was looking at anymore

>And it makes your heart sink

"What?"

>"Oh don't look so glum, Sunset. It's amazing!" He reiterates. "I mean, everyone here is STILL the same selfish fucking pricks- looking out for number one, just like you."

"Anon, that's not-"

>"But that's not all!" He cuts you off. "Because they're all acting, like they're NOT. Everyone in this school has learned from the best." He jabs your chest and it almost feels like a blade

"Anon, that's not it-"

>"Then how do you explain it, Sunset!?" He yells at you, really yells at you, not at the room, or about the situation, at you directly. "Make it make sense! Cause I feel like I'm in an episode of the Twilight Zone here!"

>You almost see something beneath the anger

>Something familiar

>Floundering, drowning with no driftwood to keep him afloat and desperately looking for some

>You need to get this right

"Anon, I know how it might seem, but all of this, all of it?" You wave a hand out toward the school. "None of it was me." It feels like a confession that makes your heart shrivel. "People finally figured me out, you were right- you always were." You admit and he only tenses. "You can have the school life you wanted. No one wants anything to do with me now, and you're back and-"

>His laugh almost wheezes out this time as he glare at you, almost doubling over as he claps again, briefly

>"You really are an actor, you know that?" He says. "A mastermind really!" He exclaims, its almost manic

>For all you're worried for yourself, you're more worried for Anon

>He really doesn't seem alright mentally

>The part of you that wants to help others tells you to reach out

>To touch him, use your magic, to see in his mind and try and help, but you don't have that right to intrude

>Not on his mind

>Never on his

>"I mean, it's the best long con that's ever been long conned!" He continues. "First- first, and I'm a big fan of this part. You..." He begins slowly. "Shatter THE best friendship I have ever seen. Irreparably." The memories are stirred to life and stab at your heart. "Then, you see me try- and fail- to get them to make amends. Then you send me to juvie, thanks again- I met Stabby Dave there, surprisingly chill guy despite the name." He begins to pace the room as he continues, his eyes almost becoming unfocused, but never fully leaving you. "Then, before I come back, YOU make friends with them." He stops and claps once. "It's a magnum opus, it's beautiful really, when you think about it."

>His laughter comes back, and aching cackle as he stops to lean on the piano, breathing heavy and hard

"Anon, please, I know this is-" You stop yourself, you don't know anything about this, but his laughter is really starting to make you worry about him. "Anon, this isn't funny-"

>"Yes it is!" He wheels around to you, wide-eyed, half mad. "Of course it is." His fist comes down on the piano keys, letting out a distorted clang of garbled chords. "It HAS to be funny!" His other fist joins in, making more discordant music. "Cause it's all a joke. AND I!" His fists come down. Not just on the keys. But inside, to the strings."AM!" The lid holder. "THE FUCKING!" The hood itself. "PUNCHLINE!"

>His leg sweeps under the piano with the final word kicking one of the legs out from under it and cause the instrument to crumple under its own weight

>The two of you stare at the crumpled heap of the piano, the strings, agitated from the fall, plucking out one last wheeze, like a dying gasp

>He's panting, heavy and hard

>You feel like you should say something

>But everything you've said's just made things worse

>Briefly you wonder how you could make things worse than they are now

>You don't even gamble the possibility

>Anon hums neutrally, more to himself than you

>"That didn't make me feel better." He shakes his head. "The shouting I mean, the- the breaking though- that-" He wags a finger at the piano's broken form, nodding now. "That has merit."

>His head turns and he b-lines towards something

>You feel the breath leave you as he picks up Applejack's bass

"Anon, no!" You call. "That's AJ's, put it down!" You almost bite your tongue at trying to order him around

>He's straight faced as he nods at you

>"I know it is, and why should I? Isn't it funny?" All said with a neutral expression that swiftly tightens as his hold braces the instrument above his head then brings it down like a hammer

"NO!"

>The shout leaves you too late, with a shattering strum, the wood shatters, strings break with a distorted twang and the neck of the instrument lies snapped

>You scramble across the ground, scooping up what scraps and shards you can

>Maybe you can fix it, or maybe magic could or-

>You gasp as the reality washes over you

>"The Rainbooms..." He mutters. "Your crème de la crème ."

>You can hear him doing that stupid chef's kiss thing on his fingers as you still stare at what remains of Applejack's bass.

>"A band... A band! Why didn't I think of that?"

>Your hands close around the wood shards and an apology to their owner sticks in your throat.

>"Now that thing screams Rainbow Dash." He says half-amused

>Your head snaps up faster this time

>Now you're on your feet as he wraps his hand around the neck of the guitar and you grab it too

"Anon, please!" You plead. "You don't hate the girls! You never did!"

>"Never did, past tense." He iterates. "Then Applejack, miss honesty herself, couldn't see the biggest liar in front of her and couldn't smell the horse shit you shoveled, despite being a farmer to boot."

"It's not her fault!" You try to reason, tears stinging your eyes again. "It's mine! It's all mine!"

>He nods. "Oh, I blame you too, don't worry. I just realized they're the same as you is all."

>He's calm, too calm, about all of this, and you don't know how to make him stop

"Please, Rainbow loves this guitar, she doesn't deserve this!" You try desperately to tug it from his hold, but he's unyielding.

>He yanks back and almost drags you across the floor as he does

>"The girl who touts loyalty and then abandons people left and right? Her friends! Me! Now you too seemingly! She doesn't deserve this!?"

>You brace your feet on the ground and heave with all your might, desperate to save at least one of their instruments from your mistake

"Anon! Just stop!"

>"Why should I!?" He shouts back. "You never did!"

>Then the equilibrium convulses, all the counterforce ends as he lets go and you're launched back on your feet

>The guitar is launched by your straining arms, the muscles, once taut now swing loose

>Straight into the stone wall that shatters the guitar in your hands

>You stare down helplessly at the pulverized instrument and drop to your knees

>It happened again

>Even when you did everything you could to try and stop it

>You just made it worse

>You hear Anon hum in something like awe

>Looking up, you see him framing you and the broken pieces of instrument strewn about you between his fingers

>"It's like a painting." He mutters to himself, then looks around the room. "Where's yours?" He asks unabashedly

>You just sag, and point

"In the case."

>You hear the zipper slide across the case, and hear him mockingly hum at the sight of your guitar

>Then, something in him falters

>At least, it seems to

>He's quiet

>Not moving, not talking, not doing anything

>You dare to look up

>He probably wants to make you watch him destroy it

>But he's barely holding it

>His fingers just gracing it as his eyes scan it

>You'd forgotten

>A few days ago, you'd gotten them all to "sign" your guitar

>Jokes that day feel like two and a half eternities ago. About practicing autographs if you all decided to really have a go at becoming a band

>Their names all on your guitar, and messages you could barely remember

>They seemed so simple then, but now you'd do anything to read them one more time before they're gone for good so you could commit them to memory

>One last thing to hold on to before you lost them all

>But Anon doesn't break it

>He doesn't scratch out the messages or autographs, he just puts it back, and stands

>"Get up." He hisses through gritted teeth

>You're slow to your feet, your whole body feels like lead, but you do

>His hand whips forward, and something flashes in front of your eyes

>You flinch back instinctively, hands up, and catch something

>Glancing down, you see your guitar pick in hand

>You'd barely blinked, but Anon couldn't be more different

>Gone was the anger, the mad ranting, the crazed calm

>His eyes are brimming with tears that haven't fallen yet as his chest heaves with barely contained sadness

>The voice that dominated the room, that rang in your ears and echoed through your brain is gone

>You barely hear him

>You're not even sure if he speaks at first

>Then your brain finally catches up as he simply asks

>"...why?"

>A lump forms in your throat and you choke down your own sobs

>"Why me?" He takes a step forward and you see his leg almost buckle as his hands point to himself. "Why THAT?" He pushes, as his hands come down to his sides in fists

>But he doesn't get closer

>You just wince, and tears flow down your cheeks as you look at him

>And you remember all of him

>Anonymous

>The first time you bumped into him at the school

>You fell flat on your ass, and he laughed

>You were so angry at him, you were Celestia's student, you didn't get laughed at

>Then he helped you up, asked if you were okay

>And the questions didn't stop, your name, if you were new, where you were from

>He stuck to you like glue the first day, laughed at you again when you tried to buy a school lunch with solid gold and bought one for you

>The time you realized he wasn't worth your time cause he wasn't popular enough in his tiny clique with the girl everyone forgot and a few randoms from the school as you saw them

>The first time he saw through one of your lies

>The first time he forgave you and offered a second chance

>The second time you lied to him

>The last time he called you friend

>All the times you caught him glaring at you without fear

>Every time he put himself between you and someone else

>The times he'd trip you up

>Figuratively to get you caught

>And literally to snicker at you

>>"Like old times, huh Sunset?"

>He'd jeer

>All the times you saw that glare fade, like he missed the girl who first fell on her ass in front of him

>The times you started weaving your last trap

>How you'd get close to him to get a rise out of him

>The times he'd shove you away and scream in your face

>The final part of your plan as he stormed away

>Then when he got taken away by the police

>Then when he got sentenced and out of your life

>And now he was back

>But all the confidence you knew him for was gone

>You'd broken him

>You'd won

>And it never felt this horrible

"...I'm sorry-" You almost choke on the word. "I'm sorry, Anon... for all of it..."

>Tears burn your cheeks, and you wonder if Anon's tears are burning his

>His shoulder slump, and he sags

>He blinks, and he finally seems to focus again as he looks around the room, and he winces when he sees the shattered remains of the instruments

>Without another word he drags his feet to the door, yanks away what he'd blocked it with, then he opens it

>And he simply leaves