One part of Crystal Prep Cadence didn't have to change was its cafeteria. Like Cinch, she knew that a good diet was a necessary foundation for healthy young bodies and minds, and neither felt the students couldn't enjoy those meals as well.

"I can't believe you talked me into a bag lunch," said Sunny Flare as she sat at the top students' usual table.

Of course, there were always multiple paths to enjoyment.

"Dude, it's my mom's Harvest Feast leftovers." Lemon Zest extracted a monstrosity of turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, Glitz cracker stuffing, and more besides barely wedged between two slices of rye bread, holding it up like she was showing off a prize for a game show. "A sandwich like this would probably go for thirty bucks at a high-end restaurant."

"I thought you'd get sick of it after having the whole weekend to eat it."

Lemon flinched back as though struck. "One does not simply get sick of Zesty Gourmand's cooking. Its pot lids are guarded by more than just steam—"

Sugarcoat's lunch tray cut her off as it slammed on the table. "I'm not sure what the context of this is, but it's probably stupid."

"Thank you." Sunny happened to look at Lemon. Not to see if she were actually offended; just because. Which meant she saw the smirk. "Oh, don't you start with that again."

Sugarcoat raised an eyebrow. "I know I don't want to know, but I'm still curious."

Lemon shook her head. "Nah, I'd have to start over way too many times. I'll wait until everyone's here."

"Or you could just not say anything," Sunny said as she rubbed her temples.

"C'mon, what fun would that be?"

"I would get some enjoyment out of it."

"Do I even want to know?" said Second Person as he and Sour Sweet sat next to one another.

"No," said Sugarcoat, sparing a smile for Moondancer as she took her seat. "But Lemon's going to tell us anyway."

"It's why you all love me."

Sour Sweet smirked. "Some more than others."

Indigo Zap gave a familiar smirk at the resulting twin winces, though her tone was much calmer than it might have been before the Friendship Games. "You walked right into that one, Lemon."

"Yeah, I did." Lemon shrugged. "So! My little pet theory: We are the dark reflections of Twilight's CHS friends."

Silence reigned as the table considered that for a few moments. "That is moronic on multiple levels." Sugarcoat was, as ever, the regicide.

"At first glance, yes. But actually, from a Harmonious, nonsubjective viewpoint, it's almost not bullshit. You, for example, represent Brutal Honesty."

Sugarcoat drummed her fingers on the table for a few moments. Finally, she said, "I can't dispute that."

"Indigo's what you might call Overzealous Loyalty. Like, disturbingly so. No offense, Gogo, but your 'mistress' deal may be worse than the whole god complex thing."

Indigo shrugged. "You weren't there. I don't expect you to understand."

"Fair. Sour, you're... I mean, at first I was gonna say superficial—"

Sour glared at Lemon as though trying to kill her with her thoughts. And, going by how her wingbow flared, possibly her magic.

"Yeah, that's why I didn't. Unstable Kindness work for you? You know, the kind where you may or may not have Schroandinger's knife behind your back?"

Sour's lips curved up. She exposed her teeth. It felt more like a threat display than an actual smile. "Sure, describe me in two words, one of which you've decided needs to match the only pegasus aspect in that group who isn't Indigo with a dye job. That's not insanely reductive or anything."

Indigo glanced at her. "Isn't that necklace supposed to help with your issues?"

"Oh, it is! I choose to be this angry right now."

Lemon shrugged. "I'll keep workshopping it."

"And how about about Sunny?" said Sour.

Lemon gave her an incredulous look. "Seriously? Flare Bear's easy. She's Grudging Generosity."

The rest of the table exchanged glances.

"After the way she puts up with you?" said Indigo.

"Maybe if Patience were an Element," said Second Person.

"And even then, it'd be Saintly Patience."

The entire group went silent after those words left Moondancer's lips.

Lemon beat Sugarcoat to the punch with a belly laugh. "Oh damn! Who says moonburn's just theoretical?" She held up her hand. "Up top, girl!"

After a moment, Moondancer gingerly completed the high five. "Um... thank you?"

"So, what about you?" said Sugarcoat.

"Please, I'm easy. Inappropriate Laughter, QED. Heck, given how Moony's Twilight 2: Twilight Harder, we even have an even more Academic Magic."

Moondancer raised a finger. "Isn't the sixth element Moderation?"

"Meh. I'm going by Horseworld Elements here."

"I'm noticing a marked lack of Sunset Shimmer analogues," said Sunny.

"She's kind of her own reflection. Besides, do you want to see a jerkass mirror of the Glorious Proclaimer?"

"Point. Inasmuch as any of this isn't ridiculous."

Lemon beamed. "But I haven't even gotten to the best part!"

Sunny tilted her head. "I thought that was it."

"Naw, I came up with something as I was telling you all, 'cause we've got one more element—lowercase e—that really ties it all together." Lemon pointed at Second Person.

The others followed her finger, then looked at each other to see if anyone had been able to follow the Lemon logic. Everyone seemed equally lost. "What about me?" said Second.

"Simple. You're our cute male sidekick who we forget about half the time."

That got a chorus of assent from most of the table.

Second gave an uncertain grin. "I feel both flattered and insulted."

"So nothing you’re not used to,” said Sugarcoat.

"It’s weird when it doesn’t come from Sour."