Before the Friendship Games: Twilight Sparkle

Later that day, after dinner, Twilight Sparkle stared at her computer. She was paralyzed. She simply sat there, gritting her teeth. It had been ten minutes since she sat down, why hadn't she started? She sighed heavily, knowing all too well the reason why.

It was just so wrong.

Twilight forced herself off of her chair, and began to pace her room. She knew who she was doing this for and why, but she couldn't bring herself to do it! Maybe it was because she was alone. When she was with Lemon, she understood that things are better when you're with someone...Spike! Of course!

Twilight ran downstairs and found Spike. "Her there," she said softly. "I'm going to need you tonight." Then she leaned in, just in case someone was within earshot. "For emotional support," she whispered, then gently picked him up. As she carried him up the stairs, it occurred to her that this was more than likely going to be a long night. Reaching the top of the stairs, she set Spike down. "Stay here," she said, then went back downstairs. Within minutes, she returned with a metal canister full of coffee. "All right," she said to Spike as she opened the door. "Let's go." She put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on her doorknob and closed it.

Now inside her room, Twilight set the canister of coffee away from the keyboard, but not so far that it would be out of reach. She then picked Spike up and set him in her lap. "Okay," she said. "First things first." She opened her internet browser and went to the Crystal Prep Academy website. Surely they'd have the roster for the Friendship Games team..."Aha!"

Friendship Games Participants

Indigo Zap
Jet Set
Lemon Zest
Neon Lights
Royal Pin
Sour Sweet
Sugarcoat
Sunny Flare
Suri Polomare
Trender
Upper Crust

Twilight kept her browser open for reference, then minimized it. She began to guide her cursor over to her hacking program, then stopped. She was paralyzed again. She took her hand off of the mouse, then closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, then envisioned Lemon Zest. She remembered everything they had been through. The laughter, the tears...then she remembered the conviction she felt after school ended. She wanted to do this. She had to do this. For Lemon. For her friend! Twilight looked down at Spike and pet him gently. Her eyes narrowed, and she found the will she had been searching for.

"No turning back now," Twilight muttered under her breath as she grabbed a pen and a pad of paper. With a grunt of exertion, she forced herself to open the hacking program, and began her grim task. She was almost immediately struck with guilt, but she pushed on. Her fingers danced and raced across the keyboard as she focused on making her friend happy.

Several minutes passed, and Twilight was in. She took a deep breath, then exhaled. She knew her...targets. She felt terrible using the term, but she pushed on. She navigated the database swiftly, then found the permanent records. She gulped, then referred to the team roster. She wasn't looking for their grades or anything, just some knowledge that Lemon could use against them if things got tough.

Indigo Zap was first alphabetically. Guilt struck Twilight again, but she pushed past it as she accessed Indigo's file. She skimmed through until she found the psychological notes.

Indigo Zap

Psychological Notes
Indigo Zap has Asperger's Syndrome, but doesn't feel comfortable telling others about it. She likes to keep people guessing her intentions. Prone to moments of disruption in and out of class.

Twilight clenched her teeth, then moved on.

Jet Set

Psychological Notes
While generally standoffish, Jet Set will do absolutely anything for his girlfriend, Upper Crust. Once suspended for beating a student unconscious when said student accosted Upper Crust. Supported her during a recent pregnancy scare.

Twilight hissed through her teeth, then pressed forward as she skipped Lemon's file.

Neon Lights

Psychological Notes
Once had an emotionally manipulative girlfriend. Neon Lights is currently dating Sugarcoat, but recently suffered a falling out with her.

Twilight looked down at Spike, who was still in her lap. He tilted his head slightly at her, calming her slightly. She reached for her coffee and took a sip, then continued.

Royal Pin

Psychological Notes
Royal Pin is homosexual, but suffers anxiety whenever anyone but his friends or family talk about it with him. He strives to be a decent man, which is commendable.

Twilight took a deep breath, then exhaled. She began to feel dread creep up on her as she opened the next file.

Sour Sweet

Psychological Notes
Sour Sweet is Bipolar. She has what she refers to as a "Sour Side", which manifested itself as a defense mechanism to cope with her abusive parents.

Twilight gasped and put her hands to her mouth. With considerable effort, she continued.

Sugarcoat

Psychological Notes
Sugarcoat is, for lack of a better term, a nympho. There are very few boys in Crystal Prep that she has not slept with. Recently began dating Neon Lights, but suffered a falling out.

Twilight took another sip of her coffee as she felt a lump in her throat.

Sunny Flare

Psychological Notes
Sunny Flare suffered a miscarriage in her Sophomore year. Recently lost her boyfriend, Rutherford, to a drunk driver. Healing process expected to be long.

"Oh, god," Twilight whispered. She struggled to keep her emotions in check as she continued forward.

Suri Polomare

Psychological Notes
Suri has a tendency to lash out when she feels like she can't control the situation she's in. May have anger issues. Suggest medication if behavior escalates.

Twilight felt a stray tear fall from one of her eyes, unable to imagine how much hardships these people have had to endure. She pressed on.

Trender

Psychological Notes
Trender is a borderline narcissist. He shows little compassion or empathy towards others and will do anything for approval. Hoping for a breakthrough soon.

Twilight sniffled, then held onto Spike as she opened the last file.

Upper Crust

Psychological Notes
Upper Crust is dating Jet Set. Her recent pregnancy scare with her boyfriend has given her a fear of intimacy, and she feels useless in the relationship because of it.

Finished, Twilight broke as she hugged Spike. Never in her life would she ever do something so heinous again, even if it benefited a friend! All of that information was meant to be confidential, and she was going to give that to her friend as a weapon she could wield in defense. She had never felt so bad about anything in all her life!

Once Twilight had no more tears left in her, she gently pet Spike, who gave her a couple of puppy licks. She smiled warmly. "Thanks for being there for me." She looked up at her computer screen, then sighed. She exited out of the permanent records, then blinked. Something seemed a little off. There was a dead pixel in the upper-right corner of the hacking program's window. That wasn't there before. She moved her cursor over it, and the dead pixel was overlapped.

Twilight furrowed her brow and cupped her chin. Curiosity overtook her guilt at the moment, and she clicked on it. The screen went black for a moment, then a new window popped up.

PASSWORD

Twilight raised an eyebrow. What was this? She went back into her hacking program and turned on the password cracking function. This would take a while, so she got up and stretched as Spike leaped off of her lap. She smiled. She had yet to come across something that could repel her hacking skills. She cracked her neck and noticed Spike in front of her door. She smiled. "Thanks again," she said softly, then let him out. She yawned, then took a sip of coffee. She heard a beeping noise coming from her computer, then she looked at the monitor.

PASSWORD
AMORE

Twilight blinked. Amore? Before she could think further, the window disappeared, and a new folder appeared.

S.M.I.L.E.

Letting curiosity get the better of her, Twilight clicked the folder. For the first time in years, she didn't sleep that night.