Author's Note

Three days until the Friendship Games.

A Day with Zest

Twilight woke up, still pleased with her small victory from the previous night. Smiling, she got into her uniform and brushed her teeth. She opened the door and Spike ran in, yapping with his tail wagging. She smiled as she pet him, then leaned down for several sloppy loving puppy licks. Giggling, Twilight gently pushed Spike away and got back up to her full height. "That's enough of that," she said with a smile, then went downstairs.

Twilight passed the living room, where her parents were sitting. "See you guys later!"

"Have a good day at school, sweetie," Velvet called out.

"See you later," Night Light said.

Twilight smiled as she left home, then made her way to the bus stop and boarded once it arrived.

Twilight got off the bus and stared at Crystal Prep. Well, here we go. Another day. She took a deep breath, then exhaled. She walked inside with a smile, and walked the halls.

"Whoa!" A familiar voice snapped Twilight out of her thoughts.

"Sorry about that, Lemon. I was engrossed in my own little world." Twilight laughed sheepishly. She looked at Lemon, who seemed concerned about something. "You look like you have something on your mind."

Lemon put the palm of her hand on her forehead. "Twilight...remind me to never play poker. With anyone."

Twilight blinked.

"Nevermind." said Lemon.

"So what's on your mind then?" asked Twilight.

Lemon sighed heavily. "I had a dream that Sour attacked me. I thought hugging her would be a good idea...but she ended up melting into a puddle of blood." Twilight's eyes widened. "I know, right," Lemon said as she looked away. "Anyway, I woke up screaming bloody murder and I kinda bawled my eyes out afterwards."

"Wow." said Twilight. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I'd react the same way too!" she said.

"Yeah, but have you ever had someone else's blood on your hands? And not just figuratively?" asked Lemon.

"No...I can't say that I have. And no offense, but I plan to keep it that way." said Twilight.

Lemon smiled. "None taken." she thought for a moment. "Hey, you're one of the smarter students around here..."

Twilight blushed at the compliment.

"You wouldn't happen to know any way of getting the nightmares to stop, do you? I'd rather try to avoid them in the future if I can help it." said Lemon.

"I'm sorry, I wouldn't." Twilight frowned. "I haven't quite studied dreams as often as I study scientific subjects." She stroked her chin thoughtfully. "So much to study, so little time..."

"Isn't there such a thing as sleep science?" asked Lemon.

"No, I think that's a brand name for memory foam mattresses." said Twilight.

Lemon made a sputtering noise. "Wait." she said, giving Twilight a confused look. "How do you know that?"

"I stumbled upon that when I used a search engine and typed up 'sleep science'. Honestly, it's kind of ridiculous that in the pursuit of knowledge I often get directed to commercial websites."

Lemon simply stared at Twilight.

Twilight laughed from embarrassment. "I kind of got off track there...sorry I couldn't be of more help." said Twilight.

"Don't worry, Twilight." Lemon smiled. "Your willingness to help is help in and of itself."

Twilight smiled. "Well then, glad I could help!" she said as the bell for the first period of the day rang. "Oops! Time for class! See you later, Lemon!"

Lemon waved. "Later, Twilight!" And the two went to their first period classes.

Twilight left her first period class, when she heard her name from down the hall.

"Hey, Twilight!" Lemon said.

"Hey, Lemon." Twilight said as she walked towards her.

"I've been wondering...why do you seem to want to check out Canterlot High when you don't even want to compete in the Friendship Games?" asked Lemon.

"Well...it's kind of scientific and sorta complicated." said Twilight.

Lemon raised an eyebrow. "Okay, try me."

"Okay, but you asked for it." warned Twilight. "From what I've gathered, the grounds of Canterlot High have been the focal point of several fluctuations in the measuring devices that I have in my laboratory. Now I don't quite know what it is that's being measured. It's a kind of energy that I've never seen before. The implications are staggering to say the least!" she finished excitedly.

Lemon laughed. "Maybe it's magic."

Twilight scoffed. "That's preposterous."

Lemon shrugged. "Meh." Her eyes widened. "Hey, do you think there's any truth to the rumors?"

Twilight looked confused. "Rumors?"

Lemon nodded. "About the strange rainbow that just appeared in the sky at night then shot downwards, creating...for lack of a better phrase...a reverse tornado rainbow vortex!"

Twilight smiled and rolled her eyes.

"The other rumor," Lemon continued. "Is that during the climax of Canterlot High's musical showcase it was taken over by special effects that were so realistic, it was like there were real sea creatures in the sky!"

Twilight scoffed again. "Sounds like nothing more than hearsay and conjecture to me. If something like that did, in fact, happen, where's the evidence? Why didn't people use their phones to record these phenomena?"

Lemon raised a finger, then dropped it. "Huh. I suppose you have a good point."

"Precisely!" said Twilight, pleased with herself. "Magic." she snickered. "Come on, Lemon. You're smarter than that."

"If magic doesn't exist, then how am I friends with Sour Sweet now?" asked Lemon.

Twilight laughed. "You're not seriously suggesting that friendship is magic?"

Lemon shrugged. "How else can you explain two people at each others throats for days, then bawling over closure the next?"

Twilight smiled. "Willing to change, psychological rehablitation, endorphins..."

Lemon smiled and rolled her eyes. "Damn, Twilight. You're taking the fun out of this conversation."

They both laughed.

"But that makes me want to ask another question." said Lemon. "Before me, why did you think friendship was unnecessary?"

"I think I told you this already, but I already have a family that loves and supports me. Before I met you I just thought of it as a burden that would hold me back from my studies." said Twilight.

"But you and I are friends, and we still get the same grades." said Lemon.

"Hmm. I suppose that's true."

"Precisely!" said Lemon.

They both laughed again.

"Well, I should get going. This was a most enlightening discussion, Miss Zest." Twilight extended her hand.

"Indeed it was, Miss Sparkle." Lemon said, shaking Twilight's hand.

They both laughed as they went their separate ways.

Lunch rolled around, and Twilight walked over to a lunch table where she saw Lemon Zest. She smiled. "Hi, Lemon!" She noticed another familiar person, and froze up momentarily. "Uh...hi...Sour."

"Hey, Twilight!" said Lemon. "How's it going?"

Twilight stayed silent, pulling at her hair.

"Oh, Twilight. You don't need to worry. I don't bite." said Sour Sweet. "Unless you give me a reason to!"

"Eek!" Twilight flinched.

"Go easy on her, Sour, she's a friend too." said Lemon.

"If you say so." said Sour.

"So...um..." Twilight said nervously.

Lemon smiled and placed a reassuring hand on Twilight. "It's okay. There's no reason for her to be hostile towards you."

Twilight calmed visibly, but still seemed nervous. Lemon glanced at Sour. Sour simply shrugged, causing Lemon to roll her eyes.

Sour then sighed. "Okay. I won't be hostile towards you." Sour said. "At least not for today!" She blinked. "Dammit, Sour Side!"

Twilight simply stared at Sour. "Are you...okay?" she asked.

Sour sighed again. "I'm...bipolar."

I'd better choose my words carefully. This sounds like a sensitive subject for her... thought Twilight.

Sour smiled at Twilight. "It's okay. You're not walking on eggshells here, it's no secret."

Twilight let out a deep breath she didn't realize she was holding. "That's a relief. But I wouldn't be surprised if it's a sensitive subject for you."

Sour shrugged. "Eh, I'm used to it."

"Before we go any further..." said Lemon, becoming visibly tense.

Sour looked at Lemon. "Is something wrong?"

Lemon took a deep breath and exhaled. "Sour. I told Twilight everything."

Sour's expression became blank. "You told her...everything." she repeated. "What do you mean by 'everything'?"

"I mean everything. Even..." Lemon could feel tears coming, fearing the aftermath of her next few words.

Sour slowly got up from her seat. "Even...even what?"

"Even what happened at the session with Radiant Hope." Lemon said. "I'm sorry I haven't told you everything, but I was just so excited about what happened that I didn't think of how it would affect you and our new friendship."

"You told...Twilight." Sour said, her tone surprisingly neutral.

Twilight looked at Sour, then at Lemon. Oh dear. She began pulling her hair slowly.

Were it not for the other students eating and speaking in the cafeteria, the silence between Sour Sweet and Lemon Zest would have been deafening. They both stood motionless, looking at each other for what seemed like ages. Sour, still trying to process what she'd heard and Lemon, afraid for one of her two only friendships.

"You told Twilight. That I had no friends. That I was lonely." Sour said as she finally broke the silence. "That I have no family."

"Sour..." said Lemon.

"You told Twilight about my self-loathing...that I cried out my tears while fighting with you." continued Sour.

"Sour, I-" Lemon said, sniffling.

"You told Twilight fucking Sparkle that I tried to kill myself?!" said Sour, shedding tears of her own. "Lemon Zest...I told you those things in front of Radiant Hope because I trusted you. That it would just be between the three of us. You, me, and Radiant Hope."

"Sour Sweet...I'm sorry." said Lemon, who immediately put her hands to her mouth.

"You're...sorry." said Sour. "Given what happened between you, me, and Radiant Hope..." she said, narrowing her eyes. "That was a very, very poor choice of words.", Sour Sweet's voice cracked. "As you said that session; 'That's not going to cut it, and you fucking know that.'"

Twilight stopped pulling her hair and simply stayed still, afraid that any sudden movement would incur Sour Sweet's wrath.

"I trusted you, Lemon. I told you my deepest and darkest secrets that day, and you told someone else. I don't care if she's your friend, you should have at least asked me first." said Sour, now shaking.

"Sour..." said Lemon, her voice quavering.

"No." said Sour. "Not another word. I...I need some time alone right now." Sour said and walked away, leaving her tray of food half-eaten. She stopped after a few steps. "Oh, and Twilight?"

Twilight tensed up as she felt the chill of fear spread throughout her body. "Y-y-y-y-yes, Sour?" she stammered.

"Don't you dare tell anyone about this. If you do and I find out..." she turned around and walked back to Twilight, mere inches away from her face. Her eyes were still teary and puffy. "I will bite. And I will bite hard, Twilight Sparkle. Do we have an understanding?"

Twilight shrank, trembling with fear. "Y...y...."

"That's all I needed to hear." said Sour as she walked away with what little composure she had remaining.

"Sour..." said Lemon, reaching out a hand.

"DON'T." said Sour, her voice quavering. "Don't make this any harder than it already is for the both of us." she walked away from Lemon Zest and Twilight Sparkle.

"Lemon..." said Twilight. "Are...are you okay?" Before she knew it, Lemon shot towards her and hugged her tightly, sobbing into her chest.

Once Lemon calmed down, she gave Twilight a pleading look. "Twilight," she said quietly. "You'll still be my friend, right?"

Surprised by Lemon's question, Twilight's eyes widened momentarily. "Lemon Zest," she said softly. "Of course I will. Why would you even ask me that?" She smiled warmly.

Lemon sighed. "I'm just feeling vulnerable right now."

"I understand," Twilight said as she tightened the hug.

"Thank you," Lemon said.

The warning bell for sixth period rang.

"Are you going to be okay," Twilight asked.

Lemon sighed again. "I don't know, Twilight. I just don't know."

"Well if there's anything I can do, anything, just let me know."

"Thanks, Twi." Lemon broke the hug and the two went their separate ways.

Sixth period ended, and Twilight sent Lemon a text.

Hey.

Just checking in.

How are you holding up?

Still miserable as fuck. - Lemon

Hey now.

I'm sure Sour Sweet will come around.

Can we please not talk about her right now? - Lemon

Sorry.

It's okay. - Lemon

You're trying to cheer me up, I get it. - Lemon

I appreciate it, I really do. - Lemon

But right now, I need some time to myself. - Lemon

Twilight blinked. Lemon was sad about losing her friend, and she needed a friend, but just wanted to be alone for the time being. Surely she understood the irony of the situation. Regardless, Twilight wanted to support her.

I understand.

Keep in touch though, okay?

Will do. - Lemon

The warning bell for seventh period went off, and Twilight hurried to her next class.

Seventh period ended, and Twilight left her class and checked her phone. She sighed. No new messages. She wanted to send Lemon a text badly, but Twilight understood that she wanted some space. She had to keep herself in check. For her friend. Not wasting any more time, she made a beeline to her next class.

Eighth period ended, and Twilight began racking her brains as she tried to think of something. Anything. She looked around the halls and in all of the classrooms, hoping that inspiration would rear its head. Her eyes widened in realization. The library! Of course! Inspiration abounds in there! Smiling widely, she hurried into the library.

Once in the library, she went straight to the computers and did searches on inspirational books. As she began her search, an idea began to form in the back of her mind. She dismissed it almost immediately, because the mere thought of such an act went against everything she stood for. She wouldn't do it. And yet, the idea returned. She tried shrugging it away, but the idea stayed.

The warning bell for the final period rang, and Twilight ran out of the library.

Twilight left her final class of the day with grim resolve. She would do anything to make Lemon Zest happy. Anything. She made up her mind. Later tonight, she would do something reckless. Something wrong. Something so vile that it made her shiver. Tonight...

...she was going to hack into the school's servers and look at students' permanent records.