Before the Friendship Games: Sugarcoat

Sugarcoat left her first period class and sighed. Yep, she thought. That was boring. She took a can of soda out of her backpack, chugged it, then put it back in her backpack. Fuck that guy, she thought. Goddamn prick. She looked behind herself and slowly opened her backpack. She scanned her environment carefully. "If I hear a single word out of you, the next can I toss at you's gonna be filled with hardened concrete!" When she received no response, she nodded in satisfaction and left for her second period class.

Neon left his first period class and checked his phone. I wish I had time to meet up with Crystal and Sugar, he thought. At least then I'd probably know what to do, or what I'm supposed to do. He sighed. Well, they can fill me in later tonight. He made a sputtering noise. Well, staring at my phone's not going to do me any good. He pocketed his phone and walked to his second period class.

Sugarcoat left her second period class and yawned. Slow day today, she thought. I wouldn't mind if things got a bit more eventful around here. Less stuffy people, more fun people. At least I have the afternoon to look forward to, she thought with a grin. Neon won't ever forget what I've got in store for him! She blinked, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She exhaled with a sigh. Don't get too turned on, Sugarcoat, she warned herself. Save it for after school. She took another deep breath, exhaled, then went on to her third period class.

Neon left his second period class and checked his phone again. He slapped the palm of his had to his face and sighed. Calm down, Neon. If there's something you need to know, you'll be notified. He growled in frustration, then put his phone back in his pocket. Why am I freaking out over this? Okay, you know what? Let's try this... He took a deep breath, then exhaled. He repeated the action until he calmed down. "Okay. Much better." I just hope this sticks. He walked on over to his third period class.

Neon left his third period class and sighed heavily. "Goddammit," he muttered under his breath. "That tears it." He sent a message to Sugarcoat.

Can you calm me down?

Sugarcoat left her third period class and felt her phone buzz. She checked it and raised an eyebrow in concern.

Is everything okay?

I don't know. - Neon

I'm just getting jumpy. - Neon

Like I'm waiting for a call to action and I can't stop checking my phone. - Neon

Sugarcoat smiled warmly.

Don't sweat it, hot stuff.

I was just like you on my first day.

Antsy, afraid I'd get caught.

You know, standard secret organization shit.

Neon barked a laugh.

That makes me feel a little bit better.

But seriously.

I think I'm getting paranoid or something.

The warning bell for fourth period rang.

We'll talk later, hon. - Sugarcoat

Hang in there, okay? - Sugarcoat

Will do, Sugar. Will do.

Neon and Sugarcoat went to their fourth period classes.

Neon left his fourth period class and finally found the willpower to abstain from looking at his phone. He heaved a sigh of relief. Thank you, Sugarcoat, he thought. That was driving me fucking crazy. He smiled and wandered the halls, which were filled the chatter of students.

"Tomorrow!"

"So hype!"

"Kick their asses!"

Can't blame them all for talking about the Friendship Games, Neon thought. It feels good to win, that's for sure. The image of Sugarcoat's betrayed face reappeared in his mind, causing him to flinch. But sometimes the cost outweighs the victory. He sighed. I just hope nobody else around here learns it the hard way. He made his way to his fifth period class.

Sugarcoat left her fourth period class and walked the halls. She listened in on some conversations as she passed various students.

"Gonna crush Canterlot High!"

"What events will there be?"

"Victory party at my place!"

Everybody's getting into the spirit. No surprise there, Sugarcoat thought. I just hope Vice-Principal Luna's right about the Friendship Games being the turning point towards the change that Crystal Prep needs. She cracked her neck, then her knuckles. Well, can't dwell on the future all the time, she thought. For now, I should just get to my next class.

Neon left his fifth period class and made his way to the cafeteria. Maybe I can talk to Crystal in person and get this whole thing figured out, he thought. I'd just have to scarf down lunch and hope I don't puke in the middle of the hallways. He shuddered at the thought. God, that'd be embarrassing...

Neon grabbed his lunch and ate it as fast as he could, then made his way to Crystal's office. He was about halfway there when he was stopped by a voice.

"Neon Lights?"

Neon turned about to see Sour Sweet. "Yes," he asked.

"Principal Cinch has tasked me with getting the team together so we can all formally meet. I'll take you to the room I chose." Sour Sweet said.

Neon Lights shrugged. "Eh, sure. Why not?" So much for that talk with Crystal, he thought.

"Great," Sour exclaimed with a smile, then led him to her chosen room. "I'll be back with the others."

"Okay," Neon said, then took out his phone.

Sugarcoat left her fifth period class and sighed. Well that was a load of shit, she thought. That aside, I should check in with Neon. See how he's doing. She walked over to the cafeteria and found the table he most often sat at. Hm. He's not there. She searched through the entire cafeteria, then sighed when she couldn't find him. Maybe he's with Mom, she thought, then took out her phone to text her mother.

Suddenly, Sour Sweet sped past Sugarcoat. Sour halted, then turned to her. ""Oh, good. That's one less person I have to look for. Go inside to this room," she said as she gestured to a nearby door. "We're having a team meeting."

Sugarcoat frowned. "You sure it's not an orgy?"

Sour Sweet blinked, then slapped the palm of her face. "Just get in there!" she said, gritting her teeth.

Sugarcoat entered the room and smiled as she saw who was in it. "Hey, bright eyes."

Neon smiled back and walked up to her. "Hey, Sugar," he said softly as he hugged her and ran a hand through her hair. The couple pecked each other on the lips.

"How are you holding up," Sugarcoat asked.

"Better than I was earlier," Neon responded. "Thanks again, I needed that."

"Sure thing," Sugarcoat said. "Sour's going to be back, so we can't talk about much, if you get my drift."

Neon nodded. "Understood."

Jet Set and Upper Crust entered the room and greetings were exchanged.

"I don't understand why Principal Cinch wants a team meeting," Jet Set said. "It doesn't make sense to me." He looked at Upper Crust, who simply shrugged.

"At least she's not being unreasonable. This time." Sugarcoat said. Everyone in the room nodded.

The door to the room opened and admitted Royal Pin, who immediately noticed Neon and Sugarcoat. "Ah, Miss Sugarcoat," he said. "It's so nice to formally meet you at last."

Sugarcoat blinked in confusion. Neon put a hand on her shoulder. "Royal's my oldest and closest friend," he said with a warm smile. "If it wasn't for him, I might not have asked you out."

Sugarcoat smiled and gave Royal a hug. "Thank you," she said.

Royal was initially surprised, but returned the hug. "You're quite welcome, Miss Sugarcoat."

"Wait," Upper Crust said. "You two are an item," she asked Neon, pointing to him, then Sugarcoat. "Since when?"

Sugarcoat broke the hug with Royal, then pecked Neon on the cheek. "Last Friday," she said as she held Neon's hand. Neon simply nodded with a smile.

"Well, good for the two of you," Jet Set said.

Trender and Suri entered the room and exchanged greetings with everyone. They all did their own things while waiting for the rest of the team to arrive.

Sugarcoat took her phone out and sent a text to Neon.

How much have you told Royal? - Sugarcoat

Neon felt his phone buzz and he took out, checking the message he received. He sent one back.

Don't worry, I didn't tell him anything about the operation. - Neon

He only knows that we've been fucking and about the incident from Monday. - Neon

Okay, that's a relief. - Sugarcoat

Neon and Sugarcoat looked at each other and smiled.

Indigo Zap entered the room. "Heyo, peoples!"

Everyone present muttered their greetings, then went about their business. Sugarcoat sighed contently as she leaned into Neon while they all waited for the rest to arrive.

Sour Sweet returned with Sunny Flare, who waved to her teammates, then folded her arms. "All we need now is Lemon Zest."

"And Twilight Sparkle." said Sour.

Sunny blinked. "Wait, what? When did Twilight decide to compete? She's not the type for this sort of thing!"

"I'm pretty sure Principal Cinch 'convinced' her to join." Sour said, rolling her eyes.

"You mean like how Lemon 'convinced' us into playing nice for the Friendship Games?" said Sugarcoat.

Sour sighed. "Lemon might have a point, though. We've always treated each other like crap for the most part. Except for you, Royal Pin. You're all right." she smiled. Royal smiled and nodded in acknowledgement.

"That doesn't justify her actions, Sour." said Indigo.

"Maybe not, Indigo, but did all of you really believe something like this wouldn't happen?" Sour said. "Lemon and I have gotten into a fight in the hallway, everybody seems to like making each other paranoid..." She put her head in her hands and sighed again. "Something had to give eventually and that something was Lemon Zest. Is it really such a bad thing to try to be friends?"

Sunny rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Oh, please. Get off of your soapbox and get Lemon and Twilight so we can all move on with our lives."

"Shut the fuck up, Flare!" yelled Sour, getting in her face. "I don't care what sort of bullshit caused you to be the Queen Mother of all bitches, but if I hear one more goddamn word out of your mouth I swear to god I will find two pairs of the sharpest scissors in this school and jam each of them into both of your lower holes as hard as I fucking can!"

Silence engulfed the room, save for Sour's heavy breathing after her rant.

"I'm getting Lemon and Twilight." Sour said, opening the door. She slammed it so hard it startled everyone in the room.

Silence followed again until Indigo spoke up. "Holy shit. I don't think I've ever heard her make a threat like that before."

"Indeed." said Royal. "I believe you pushed the wrong buttons this time, Sunny."

"Congratulations." said Sugarcoat. "You've pissed Sour Sweet off even harder than Lemon Zest."

"Fuck you guys." Sunny said. "Fuck all of you." She turned around and wiped a tear from her face and stifled a sniffle.

A moment later, Sour returned with Lemon and Twilight.

"Obviously you know me, Twilight, Sugarcoat, Indigo Zap and Sunny Flare." said Sour as the three girls entered the room. "But here's the other half of the team." She said as she gestured toward six others.

"First off, this is Suri Polomare." Sour said.

Suri gave Lemon a nasty look. "Sunny Flare gave us your message. We all agree to your terms, but once the Friendship Games are over, we're going to make your life hell...okay?"

Lemon gulped nervously. "Actually...about that..." she said before Sour moved on to the next introduction.

"Not now, Lemon." said Sour. "This is Trender."

"Hello." he said. "I don't know how you found out all of our secrets, but I assure you that wewillfind yours...and when we do..." He made a fist with one hand and punched his other. Lemon sighed.

"This is Neon Lights." said Sour.

"You are so dead after the games." he said, snarling.

"This is Royal Pin." Sour said.

Royal Pin scowled at Lemon. "How dare you." he said. "The knowledge you uncovered was meant to be confidential."

Lemon glanced behind herself, then put her hand on Twilight's shoulder. Twilight jumped in response, then Lemon gave her a reassuring smile. "Hey." Lemon whispered. "I've got your back."

Twilight calmed down slightly and smiled back. "Thanks." she said.

"Hey. What are friends for?" said Lemon, grinning.

"Oh get a room, you two!" said Sour. She paused for moment, then put the palm of her hand on her face as she sighed. "Anyway...moving on."

"Jet Set and Upper Crust, Crystal Prep Academy's power couple." Sour said.

"I'd say 'pleased to make your acquaintance'," said Jet Set, "but we all know that I'd be lying, given the circumstances."

"Indeed!" said Upper Crust. "The nerve!"

"And of course you already know me, Sunny Flare, Indigo Zap, and Sugarcoat." said Sour.

"Mark my words, Lemon Zest...we will find out how you got that information. One way or another." said Sunny Flare. And then I'll pay you back. she thought.

"Yeah, Lemon, what the hell? I don't think anyone here's gone so far as to get dirt on other students just to protect themselves." said Indigo.

"That's a new level of fucked up, Zest." said Sugarcoat.

"But as you've heard, we agree to your terms." said Sour. "After the Friendship Games, however, all bets are off!" Lemon nodded in understanding.

"Now that we have all that established...get the fuck out of our sight." said Sunny.

Everyone gradually left the room until only Sugarcoat, Neon, and Royal Pin remained. Royal smiled. "I'll leave you two to yourselves," he said with a smile, then left the room.

Neon sighed heavily. "I didn't like threatening that girl, even if I was pretending. I barely even know her."

Sugarcoat put a hand on Neon's shoulder. "I think she'll manage, babe. It looks like she's got a friend in Lemon Zest, at least."

"Yeah. I guess you're right," Neon admitted. Suddenly, without warning, Sugarcoat embraced Neon and gave him a passionate kiss. His eyes widened, then he sighed happily and gently caressed her cheek.

Sugarcoat broke the kiss, then smiled. "Sorry. I've been holding that one in since I got here."

Neon laughed. "I can't blame you," he said. "But let me return the favor."

Sugarcoat grinned. "Gladly."

Neon ran a hand through Sugarcoat's hair as he gave her a deep and passionate kiss in return. After a couple of moments, he broke it, then they sat against the wall and leaned into each other, holding hands. Sugarcoat nuzzled into Neon and sighed happily. "I love you," she whispered.

Neon smiled and lightly squeezed her hand. "I love you too."

The couple stayed in the room until the warning bell for sixth period rang. They looked at each other and smiled. "See you later, hot stuff," Sugarcoat said, then pecked him on the lips before they both got up.

"Yeah. See you later, Sugar."

Neon Lights and Sugarcoat went to their sixth period classes.