Before the Friendship Games: Twilight Sparkle

Velvet, Night Light and Shining Armor stared at Twilight, their mouths agape. Silence filled the living room for what felt like an eternity until Twilight sighed heavily, slumping her shoulders. She took a deep breath, then told her family what she did last night, why she did it, and how she stumbled onto the secret agency's files.

Silence prevailed again once Twilight finished. After several more moments Night Light spoke up, narrowing his eyes. "Go to your room while your mother and I discuss your punishment." He looked to Shining Armor. "Why don't you go outside and play fetch with Spike or something? We'll call you back in after we're done with Twilight." Shining nodded, then went outside with Spike while Twilight slowly walked up to her room, dreading the consequences of her actions.

Once inside her room, Twilight flopped onto her bed and stared up at her ceiling. She almost felt like crying! She buried her head in her hands, then heard her phone buzz. She grabbed it, read her message and sent a few back and forth texts with her friend.

Hey. Did you tell your parents? - Lemon Zest

Of course I did... - Twilight Sparkle

Did you?

Yeah. It didn't take long for me to crack. - Sent by Lemon Zest

I love my parents too much to lie to them like that.

Same here. - Twilight Sparkle

How bad do you think your punishment will be? - Lemon Zest

I'll probably lose access to my lab for two weeks, and that's just me being optimistic! - Twilight Sparkle

The same'll probably go for my headphones...but hey. If you imagine how much worse the consequences could be had we lied about it, then this won't seem all that bad. - Lemon Zest

I suppose you're right, but that knowledge is little consolation for me. - Twilight Sparkle

Judgment time...hang in there! - Lemon Zest

You too. - Twilight Sparkle

Twilight heard her name being called, and she slowly descended the stairs as she fought against the dread in the pit of her stomach. By the time she reached the living room, she had begun to sweat. Velvet and Night Light sat next to each other, their arms folded. Velvet broke the silence as she sat down, facing her parents. "Twilight Sparkle," she said in a tone that contained both anger and disappointment. "Your father and I understand that you had good intentions, but there were so many other things you could have done instead of...hacking! You're supposed to know better than that!"

Twilight flinched and grit her teeth at her mother's harsh tone.

"And to top it all off, you found out about Crystal Prep's best-kept secret!"

"I'm so sorry," Twilight shouted. "I promise I won't tell anybody!" She sniffled. "I knew it was a secret as soon as I saw the list of people involved, but I just couldn't stop looking until I finished!" She broke as the guilt and shame returned anew, covering her head with her hands.

Night Light walked up to Twilight and consoled her as she cried. Several minutes passed until she calmed down. "Twilight," Night Light said. "How do we know you won't tell anyone? You almost immediately caved when you spoke to us!"

"Maybe I can go to my lab," Twilight said. "I can-"

"No, Twilight," Night Light said, cutting her off. "This little stunt you pulled cost you one month's access."

Twilight's eyes widened in horror. "O-One m-m-month?! But how will I-"

"You'll live. As for you keeping S.M.I.L.E. a secret, we'll figure something out." Night Light walked to the sliding glass door, then called Shining Armor back in. Spike ran inside ahead of him and greeted Twilight with several puppy kisses on her bare feet.

Twilight smiled warmly, then picked Spike up and hugged him. She received a few more puppy kisses, causing her to giggle. "Thanks," she said softly. "I needed that." She gently set Spike down. "So," She said, "Where do we go from here?"

"How about dinner," Shining Armor asked.

"Works for me," Night Light said, then went into the kitchen.

Twilight's dinner with her family felt long and awkward as her recent knowledge made her look at them in a different light. Dinner consisted mainly of small talk, as though her punishment didn't even happen. She didn't know whether to be grateful or worried for a while, then decided on the former. She'd had more than her fair share of the latter as of late, and she didn't want any more of it if she could help it!

Once dinner was over, Twilight cleaned up with her family then went straight upstairs. She got into bed and noticed she had a message.

So. How bad was it? - Lemon Zest.

A month. I'm banned from my lab for a freaking month! - Twilight Sparkle

Ouch. - Lemon Zest

What about you? - Twilight Sparkle

I think you'd have a hard time believing me. - Lemon Zest

Only one way to find out. - Twilight Sparkle

Fair point. - Lemon Zest

Grounded for a month, no computer for a week, no headphones until the Friendship Games, then I go a week without them afterwards. - Lemon Zest

You're right. I am having a hard time believing you. - Twilight Sparkle

Why are they still letting you go to the Friendship Games?

I was just told that they're 'too important to miss for even one of the top eleven to miss'. - Lemon Zest

But that doesn't make any sense... - Twilight Sparkle

I know, right? - Lemon Zest

Maybe we could look into it together tomorrow.

I'm sorry, Lemon...but I already have plans for tomorrow. Remember when I told you about the strange energies from Canterlot High? - Twilight Sparkle

Yeah. What about them? - Lemon Zest

I'm going to investigate them tomorrow so I can get into the Everton Independent Study Program. - Twilight Sparkle

Though at this point I'm having doubts about that too, Twilight thought to herself.

Ooh, that's ambitious of you! - Sent by Lemon Zest

I know, right? - Sent by Twilight Sparkle

It's getting kind of late. I'm going to turn in. Will I see you tomorrow? - Lemon Zest

Hard to say, honestly. Guess we'll know by then. Goodnight, Lemon. - Twilight Sparkle

Night, Twilight. - Lemon Zest

Twilight closed her eyes and fell asleep almost immediately.

Twilight Velvet, Shining Armor and Night Light all sat down. "So," Shining said. "How are we going to handle this?"

"Only one way to handle it, son," Night Light said, then sent a text.

Cadance, my daughter knows about S.M.I.L.E. Will send you details. - Night Light

Understood. - Cadance