Author's Note

This note is being repeated for those who skipped the clop chapter:

Shatter that
Madwoman Cinch's
Insufferable
Legacy obsession for
Everyone

Was from an earlier draft. It's been modified to:

Stop the
Misery
Inflicted
Literally
Everyday

The Night Before

Neon and Sugarcoat left the latter's room. The couple held hands until they reached the door, where Sizzle stood waiting. "See you tomorrow, hot stuff," Sugarcoat said softly as she caressed his cheek.

"Yeah. See you tomorrow, Sugar," Neon said as he leaned in, and the two pecked each other on the lips. "Love you," He said as he and Sizzle left.

"Love you too," Sugarcoat said with a wave as the door closed. She sighed happily, then quickly ran upstairs to take a shower.

Neon and Sizzle entered the car and buckled their seatbelts. "So," Sizzle said. "How'd the meeting with Dean Cadence go?" Neon proceeded to tell Sizzle all about the meeting. He finished, then sighed.

"Sizzle," Neon said. "Do you honestly believe that magic is a factor in all this?"

Sizzle glanced at Neon. "No," he said plainly. "I haven't seen it, so I couldn't possibly. But I do have faith in Dean Cadence, magic or no."

"What about Vice-Principal Luna?"

"I don't know her as well as Cadence does, but I do know that she's a woman of her word," said Sizzle. "But it doesn't make it any easier for me to believe."

"I don't know," Neon said as he adjusted his sunglasses. "Sugarcoat and Crystal seem convinced, but there's no hard evidence given. Even if you trust someone, I think it's okay to question them if you think it's necessary."

Sizzle patted Neon on the back. "You've got a good head on your shoulders, Neon," he said. "I've told those two the same things, but they remain stubborn about it." He sighed. "This must all sound like a cult to you, I imagine."

"Maybe just a little, but I joined anyway," Neon said. "I'm not going to back out now."

"I imagine you had plenty of questions to ask Cadence," Sizzle said. "Speaking of which, is there any questions you have for me?"

Neon thought for a moment. "Why didn't the Principal of Canterlot High get involved, but her sister did?"

"I don't know the answer that question, sorry."

"Hmm," Neon thought for another moment. "If Principal Amore was so well-loved, why haven't I seen any pictures of her anywhere in Crystal Prep? Don't private schools usually have busts or something?"

"That's a good question," Sizzle said. "Don't know why nobody's asked that before."

"Really," Neon asked flatly.

"Yeah, really," Sizzle said. "Look, S.M.I.L.E. mainly pays attention to Principal Cinch's actions. Not to what objects might be where. Dean Cadence might know, though. You'd have to talk to her."

Neon sighed. "So be it, then."

"We're here," Sizzle said as he pulled up into Neon's driveway.

Neon unbuckled his seatbelt and shut the door. As he passed the driver's side, he looked at Sizzle. "Thanks for the ride," he said.

Sizzle smiled. "No problem, Neon. See you later!"

Neon waved as Sizzle drove back home.

Sugarcoat hopped out of the shower. "Ah," she said. "Much better." She quickly changed into her pajamas, because it'd be ridiculous to just change into regular clothes with only a couple of hours left in the day when you're not going anywhere. She walked out of her bedroom, then downstairs to the living room where her mother was sitting.

"Hey, kid," Crystal said as she saw Sugarcoat from the corner of her eyes. "I'm surprised you have enough energy to move around, after all the noise you two made upstairs."

Sugarcoat laughed. "I'm basically running on fumes right now. I'm gonna eat dinner, then I'm totally collapsing into my bed straight after."

Crystal smiled. "Fair enough. Are you ready for tomorrow?"

Sugarcoat quirked an eyebrow. "What kind of question is that," she asked incredulously as she folded her arms. "Of course I'm ready! I just need a decent night's sleep, and I'm good." She smiled. "Now," she said. "What's for dinner?"

Neon entered his house and walked into the living room, where his parents were sitting. "Hey," he said with a wave.

"'Hey' yourself, sport," Cypress said.

"How'd the meeting with Cadance go," Cerulean asked.

Neon took a deep breath, then told his parents everything about his first meeting with the Dean in her role as founder and leader of S.M.I.L.E.. Once he finished, he yawned. "Sorry about that," he said as he stretched. "Today took a lot out of me."

"It's okay, Neon, we understand." Cerulean said.

"Anyway," Neon said. "I have a couple of questions."

"Shoot," Cypress said. "We'll answer to the best of our ability."

Neon nodded. "Okay. First off, do you guys honestly believe that there's magic at Canterlot High?"

"No," Neon's parents said simultaneously.

Neon heaved a sigh of relief. "Okay, that's a load off my mind," he said. "It's good to know Sizzle isn't the only one besides me to doubt that. Next question: what can you tell me about Amore?"

Cerulean smiled fondly. "She was the best principal anyone could have asked for."

"It's just a shame she had to retire early," Cypress said sadly.

Neon blinked. "Wait. 'Retire early'? Why?"

"Nobody knows. It happened so suddenly that all of Crystal Prep was thrown for a loop," Cypress said with a shrug.

"Amore never liked worrying other people, so her abrupt departure could have been for any number of reasons," Cerulean said.

Neon cupped his chin in thought. "Do you think anyone else within the operation might know something about this?"

"Hard to say," Cypress said. "When we're all together, we don't usually talk about Amore. We normally talk updates on Cinch's activity and plans for the future."

"Speaking of which," Cerulean said. "While your father and I don't believe in the possibility of magic," she said, gesturing to herself and Cypress. "We do believe there's something special about those six girls."

Neon thought to ask his parents about the other Twilight Sparkle, but decided against it. He'd had enough weirdness for one day. "Fair enough," he said, then yawned again. "Yeah, I'm just gonna grab a quick bite, shower, then go straight to bed."

"Understandable," Cypress said.

"You'll need to be well rested for tomorrow, after all." Cerulean said. Neon nodded, then went into the kitchen for dinner.

Sugarcoat entered her room, having eaten and said her goodnights to her parents. She flopped onto her bed, then went under her covers. She sighed contently, then stared at the ceiling for a few minutes. Huh. That's odd, she thought. I figured I'd fall asleep almost instantly. She put her hands behind her head, then laced her fingers together as she continued to wait for sleep to claim her. She frowned. This was odd. It was almost like something was...missing. Sugarcoat's eyes widened, and she grabbed her phone.

Neon left the shower and sighed, completely relaxed. He cracked his neck, then put on his boxers. He turned out the light in his room, then closed his eyes. His phone began to ring, nearly startling him. He checked his phone.

Now Calling: Sugarcoat

I wonder what she wants, Neon thought. He accepted the call. "Hey, Sugar," he said. "What's up?"

"I realized I couldn't fall asleep without hearing your voice," Sugarcoat said softly.

Neon felt heat rise to his face. "Wow. This is only like, what, the second night we've spent apart since we starting fucking," he asked.

"Yeah," Sugarcoat said. "We need to conserve our energy for tomorrow. Honestly, I don't know if we'll have enough energy for sex afterwards."

"Oh, I doubt that," Neon said. "Your libido is near-unstoppable."

Sugarcoat barked a laugh. "That's true," she said, then yawned. "Ahh, there it is," she said.

"You feeling sleepy now," Neon asked.

"Yeah. Thanks, hot stuff."

"No problem. See you tomorrow," he said.

"I love you."

"I love you, too." he said.

"Goodnight."

They both hung up, then fell asleep within moments.