"It's not what you think, Fluttershy," Sweetie Belle defended.
"Please don't tell the others!" pleaded Apple Bloom, clasping her hands together hopefully.
"This is all your fault, Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo added to the argument, staring knives into her friend. "I told you it was a bad idea!"
"My fault? We were all in this together!"
"It's a Christmas party! You should've known we were gonna get caught!"
Fluttershy stood amidst their angry shouts, watching the scene unfold in a state of shock. Of anyone she'd expect to be 'Anon-a-miss', these girls were not one of them. Or at least, not at first.
It all made sense now. The posts, the pictures, everything. They were the only other people capable of getting the sleepover pictures and Applejack's story. How had it slipped her mind for so long?
Fluttershy stepped into the attic, grabbed the laptop from in between the girls, and scanned the screen, intent on getting answers. Her eyes flickered wide as she read their most recent post, written no more than two minutes ago.
Christmas party? Ha! These losers can't get along for even ten seconds!
Attached was a photo of her four friends arguing in the kitchen. She squinted at it, still unable to believe what was going on. The whole time, she'd known Sunset would never be responsible for such a thing, and she'd been right.
"We never meant for it to go this far! Honest!"
Fluttershy's head snapped in their direction. "Do you girls know how much trouble you've caused? It's affecting more than just us; you've turned the whole school upside-down!"
"Fluttershy, we really are-"
"It'll take a lot more than an apology for you to fix this one." Fluttershy's disapproving glance cast darkly upon them, the anger that she felt bubbling inside her leaking into her words. The girls gulped as they nervously stepped away, off-put by Fluttershy's change in attitude and certain that they'd never hear the end of it.
"There you girls are. I've been lookin' all over for ya!" Applejack was standing on the top stair, a somewhat relieved look on her face that soon disappeared when she processed the situation. "What's goin' on here?"
Fluttershy didn't speak. Instead, she handed the laptop to Applejack, crossing her arms expectantly as she read through.
"Fluttershy, I know 'Anon-a-miss's' posts probably upset ya," Applejack said when she had finished, "but there's really nothin' we can do about it. For some reason, Sunset-"
"It's not Sunset."
"What?"
"Sunset's not 'Anon-a-miss'. Your sister and her friends have been framing her this whole time," Fluttershy explained.
"But...how could they? Sunset was the one who took all those pictures; my sis n' her friends weren't even there." Good point, Fluttershy thought as she turned back to them, raising an eyebrow.
Apple Bloom sighed. "Alright, alright. We did it, ok? We'll admit it. It's just...whenever you called on that first night, Applejack, it made me frustrated that...that you were spending more time with Sunset than with your family, 'specially 'cause of what she'd done In the past. So I created 'Anon-a-miss's' profile, hoping you'd kick 'er outta the group or somethin'. I had no idea all of this would come from it."
"...Scootaloo and I felt the same way," Sweetie Belle began. "When you all slept over at Rarity's, I stole Sunset's phone and downloaded her pictures and videos. Before we knew it, though, word had spread to the whole school. People started sending us other things to post, and it spiraled out of control from there."
"If ya'll were jealous, why didn't ya just come talk to us? It's a heck of a lot better than lyin'!" The three hung their heads in shame, unsure how to reply and worried that anything they had to say would only get them in more trouble.
Fluttershy carefully laid a hand on Applejack's shoulder, whose face softened as she sighed and said, "Look, girls. I know ya'll just wanted some attention, but what ya did ain't right, an' I'm sure Principal Celestia won't be too happy when she finds out." Their eyes widened nervously. "Now I want ya'll to get downstairs and tell everyone else the truth, ya hear?" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle nodded as they shuffled out of the attic. Their older sisters were waiting for them in the kitchen.
"Alright, somebody tell me what's going on here," Rarity demanded, crossing her arms. She wore a rather agitated expression on her face and tapped her foot expectantly. Though the question was directed at all of them, her gaze was on Sweetie Belle.
After the story had been explained a second time, it was visible that everyone in the room felt remorseful and just as surprised as Fluttershy had been. "How long were you going to keep this from us?" Rarity asked, causing the girls to fidget anxiously. They had obviously never planned on them finding out at all.
Rainbow Dash was scowling. "I can't believe you'd do this, Scoots! Not after I'd considered you my honorary sister. I don't think you even deserve that title anymore."
"B-but Dash, I-"
"I don't want to hear it." She turned away from the now-quivering Scootaloo.
There was an obvious tension in the air as a silence settled into the room, but it was soon replaced with sadness. No one spoke—they didn't need to. Each of them were thinking the same thing.
Eventually, Applejack cleared her throat. "It's late; we should get some rest."
The girls, suddenly aware of the exhaustion that the past week's events had brought about, went to the coat rack near the front door to grab sleeping bags, pillows, and anything else they might need for the night. According to Pinkie, it was imperative that they each slept with one of the many stuffed animals that she had brought.
Fluttershy grabbed her backpack from the rack and pulled on the zipper, but it didn't budge. Confused, she tried again, yet it still refused to move. It must be stuck on something, she thought and tried it once more.
The zipper practically flew out of her fingertips as it unzipped itself. An undecipherable pink-and-brown object darted out of the backpack and whizzed past Fluttershy's head, causing her to shriek in surprise. The object wasn't in the air very long, though. After slamming into a wall on the far side of the room, it came to a stop and fell into a large box of apples. Sharing a bewildered look with one another, the girls ran over to the box and peered inside.
The cover of a worn, leather book stared back at them, the decal of a red-and-yellow sun glowing in the light.
"Fluttershy," Rarity said, "why do you have Sunset Shimmer's book?"
I was wondering about when the next chapter was coming and it was good
suggestion have twilight write them back about how disappointed she is with them
And the bad times are coming and they f up badly. Now for the holiday fireworks.
7850192 Thanks! I'll definitely take your suggestion into consideration!
7850213 be sure to give me credit
7850220 Of course!
"Effect" is not a verb.
7850226 Could you point out where I used it as one.
Edit: Never mind, fixed.
7850237
You wrote "effecting". It should be "affecting".
7850247 Yep, found and changed. I'm terrible when it comes to knowing whether to use 'effect' or 'affect'.
7850226
...Yes, it actually is. Author should've used "affect" in this case and was grammatically incorrect, but technically effect can be either a noun or a verb.
Here's a good explanation: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/usage/affect-or-effect
This better not end in a big 'hug it all out and talk about our feelings' sort of ending. Sunset should just straight up not talk to them or anything. Have the Human 5 go above and beyond to earn her trust back.
7850262 Yep, I wasn't planning on having Sunset forgive them just like that.
The first domino falls...
7850285 why could/would she? they just assaulted her character broke her heart!
7850335 Exactly.
So, is this story going to have every chapter alternate between Sunset and The HuMane 5? It also looks like Fluttershy is about to tell everyone there where she found the book and what she thinks that means. Unfortunately, school won't start again until after the holidays... I think. So, it will be some time before the CMC face school consequences. I hope whether or not that Sunset forgives them, she chooses to stay in Equestria.
I would love to read how Midnight Sparkle is stop if there is no Sunset Shimmer.
7850536 Thank you!
can't wait for more
7850550 Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it.
The bill of consequences comes due for them.
Wheeeew... they got found out, now... what next?
well the cmc are a problem to be frank the entire group is at fault here and I do hope the guilt devours them, sunset should just stay in equestrian and let them deal with the guilt for there actions.
All I can say is HA! Now they are going to get whats coming to them. Between the guilt and the backlash of the other students once they find out.
Seriously though when Sunset was a bully she at least didn't spread every secret she got a hold off but kept it and used it for blackmail. But what the CMC was way way worst and they could have stopped but no they kept going. All because they felt just a bit neglected by their sisters.
Someone needs to slap them and tell them to grow the f*ck up. Talk to them and understand that things will come up and he between them and their family/friends. But that's life.
Anyway I hope you make the Human 5 really really work for Sunset's forgiveness.
Is it wrong to want the CMC to suffer? I don't think so. Because they're just selfish brats. And not just them ether, nearly every student in CHS are brats as well simply because they gave CMC the secrets they didn't want others to know and blamed Sunset for it cause they didn't want to own up to letting it out. The CMC may have started this madness but everyone else decide to join it. So in the end every student who sent a secret to Anon is guilty like the CMC.
And even though I hate to say it, you can't completely blame the human 5 for what they did. All evidence pointed at Sunset, but they should have realize that there was too much of it for Sunset to be responsible. We're talking about Sunset Shimmer. A girl had control over a entire school. Someone who was a bully but someone who was also smart enough to get away with it without being caught for years. If they would've thought of how she used to bully others then they could've easily found out the truth. But in the end it was just easier to just blame her for it.
Also can't wait for the next chapter.
7850285 Good. Deal with the consequences Human 5! You have a big mountain to climb in order to fix the mess you've made!
7850764 Thanks, and I totally agree with you there.
I just had to think of this when I read Rainbow Dash's line:
7850803
Yay! Another chapter I really enjoyed reading this and can't wait for the next one, well done!
7850852 Thanks!
Nice!
7851009 Thank you!
So many arguments can be made as to why the CMC didn't realize what they were doing was harming so many. Dragging someone through the mud can indeed, harm them. What they don't realize is how dark and deep the wounds on the others become. They've shared personal things online to hurt someone out of jealousy.
What happens after all, if Rarity and Applejack get into such a huge fight that they don't want Sweetie Belle and Applebloom to see each other anymore? After all, 'She's HER sister. I don't want you associating with that high fa-looting persnickety fashion head, period. Do you understand me, Applebloom?"
That's just on the side of AJ after all. Twilight said it best during The Battle of the Bands. When friends argue, the Magic of Friendship becomes something else. The CMC even if they do meet in secret, won't be able to do anything together afterwards openly.
AJ may even insist on breaking up the CMC completely as it would be much easier to blame others for the anger and shame that's felt.
A good point to bring up for this part on Dash talking about deserving it- This is Scoots idol and for hurting Sunset, she hurt Dash. Now that the truth is out, Scoots may have lost something deep. Who knows what else she may have lost if she wasn't found out now?
Though we have yet to see how deep this runs with the school, time will only tell how much danger the CMC themselves are in.
I can't wait to read what happens next, Fluttershy going to remember where she found the book and come rushing back to her.
More Guilt for them to deal with and the CMC, Celestia should address the students express her disappointment in them for taking thier anger out on Sunset, and being hypcrites, they raging towards one they thought spread thier secrets.
BUT Who were the ones who gave the secrets in the first place? did the CMC hack into thier phones? NOPE!
They all sent the secrets and info and got all mad plaing the site and Sunset, so half the blame goes to the CMC the rest goes to the ones who sent the info.
I hope the resentment and anger last till the Friendship games seeing Poor Sci Twi would give Sunset someone to help and befriend...and love.
Help her move on.
There's all you guys talking about how badly the CMC and Sunset's friends are going to get owned, and I'm just sitting here by myself wondering if there will ever be an Anon-A-Miss fic about anything other than giving Sunset revenge.
There are just so many of those. Straight-up forgiveness and feels, sometimes as well, but those are rarer. And I've yet to see a single one that's anything other than a means to deliver those endings. I've seen those girls get their just desserts so many times, and I just want something more...
Ya know?
7851641 I got tired of the 'punish everyone but Sunset' thing after the second of these types of fics I've read. All the characters are usually just as out of sync with the movie's as the comic's (which at least got plenty of flak for that being the case) and it's usually the same 3 or 4 plotpoints retread over and over.
It's a weird theme that seems to have developed in these stories that EVEN Sunset, who people believe was wronged and are getting their thinkpans in a twist over, usually ends up in a worse place in these stories than in the comic and usually doesn't really achieve much herself and is hence, with the help of the authors' overusage of descriptors meant to induce pity, painted as some sort of dainty damsel. Rather, the CMC are revealed by the author manipulating improbable things like 'luck' or guilt (deciding that NOW is the time to remember character traits) and punishment is meted out by usually improbable, if not just unrealistic, and extreme ways.
Furthermore whenever any forgiving is done on Sunset's part, it is usually done just to make every other character feel terrible and paint her even more into a martyr role (Something that I at least feel is out of character. I just can't imagine Sunset essentially guilt tripping others for the rest of her life. She's got more pride than that).
In all honesty I'm starting to think that all this is some kind of weird torture fetish some people on this site seem to have.
Of course this is all just like, my opinion, man.
I agree with most of the reviewers here. The Humane 5 and the CMC should not be forgiven so easily. The Mane 5 refused to listen to her, believing that she was a traitor or hadn't changed while the CMC were sweet little angels that could do no wrong.
The CMC? They were just as bad as the old Sunset: They manipulated the school, broke up friendships, and only cared about getting what they wanted. They knew they would be humiliating their sisters, but just didn't care about that: In fact they wanted their sisters hurt so they would be more likely to kick Sunset out.
7851641 I was thinking about that. I wish someone would write like...Sunset proves her innocence early on but only the Human 5 believe her so they all investigate who Anon-a-miss is. I think that would be interesting.
7852927
CMC..., Mini-Dazzlings would be more appropriate
7854808
More like mini bad Sunsets...Do you Remeber Sunset breaking up the Humane 5?
7854866 oh yeah and it took Twilight to bring them back together as I should point out
7854867
I doubt Twilight will be too helpful for the Humane 5 getting Sunset back
1: Sunset has been hurt greatly by the CMC (using her as a scapegoat to ruin her life), the school (refusing to trust her and hating her) and the Humane 5 (showing they never trusted her by turning their backs on her right away). Sunset will most likely believe they will just hurt her again, and will never truly accept her. That isn't healthy for anyone to be in that sort of environment, feeling like everyone still hates you and won't trust you.
2: Sunset was able to return home and reunite with Celestia. She may even start up a new life for herself, as the CMC ruined her old one, and become happy again. Making Sunset give that up just to clear a guilty conscience would be wrong and selfish.
3: By abandoning Sunset, the Humane 5 have spat on Twilight's wishes to watch over her, just to protect their own pride. That shows they can NOT be trusted to watch over Sunset, even with Twilight around. They have shown time after time, they will each put their indivual prides over their own friendships with each other.
7854986 it was Twilight who helped them reconcile
7850764 I can blame the Humane 5 if Sunset manage to pull off what she did for years without getting caught means she is too smart to let it be clearly pointing to her.
7851707 maybe sum do but consider that Sunset easily got them apart in EG1 to begin with and then MDW and 28 Pranks Later shows this is possible.
7855480 And I agree with you. However when I said I don't completely blame them I was taking into account that they were victims of Sunset's bullying, and the fact she was able to ruin their friendship with a few well timed texts. But that doesn't excuse them for kicking her to the curb like they did without solid proof, beside the 'who else but Sunset would do this, because our families would never betray us.'
From what I gather from EG1. Sunset bullies others by blackmail, framing, and intimidation. The Humane 5 should've realize it wasn't Sunset simply by the fact Anon was spilling secrets left and right. Something Sunset wouldn't do, simply because of the backlash of all those students wanting her head and letting those secrets out without getting something for it isn't like how she use to be. Sunset was someone who used everything she could get her hands on to get what she wanted.
Also love your stories.
7856250 thanks i will be takign a differnt rotue with this concept in my Born for Loyalty Story.
Twilight is going to be rip-roaring-furious with the human Mane 6 when she finds out, I think. I've seen REALLY angry Twilight, and it's not good.
It may take time for Sunset to recover from the recent trauma ... quite some time.
Probably 'all hell will break loose' in the next chapter, in the school. Blame and anger, possibly ... especially when they find out that they've traumatised Sunset so much that she's gone back to Equestria.
Sunset needs a lot of comfort and kindness at the moment. I think that Twilight could help with that a lot because she's gone through a similar thing. (See Canterlot Wedding snubbing incident)
7853413
So, one like Anon-A-Miss With a Twist
So, the CMC have been caught in their lies, the truth has come out, and the only way to apologize is by a magic journal.
I'm going to call it right here... there's a snowball's chance in hell* that the Humane 5 will get Sunset back.
* Keep in mind, according to Dante's Inferno, the worst circles of hell are frozen; I'd give a snowball a 2 in 9 chance of lasting more then ten minutes.