Author's Notes:

This chapter takes place eight days before the Friendship Games.

Lemon Zest sat at one of the lunch room tables, deep in thought. She sighed. This place can be a real hellhole sometimes. One minute you have friends, the next you're just a stepping stone to their victory. With 'friends' like Sunny Flare, Indigo Zap, Sour Sweet and Sugarcoat, who needs enemies? She made a sputtering noise. Even when we're 'friends' it only means that we're all on the same team and we want to win no matter the cost. She nearly banged her fist on the table. And it doesn't help that strange feeling inside of me that I've had for as long as I can remember...I just wish I knew what it was and what it means!

"Lemon Zest?" said a voice that brought her out of her thoughts.

Lemon Zest turned her head in the direction the voice came from. "Dean Cadence?" she asked. "What are you doing in the cafeteria?"

Dean Cadence smiled. "I've noticed you've been down in the dumps lately. You seem to be deep in thought. Is something troubling you?"

Lemon Zest blushed. "Is it that obvious?" she asked.

"Not really." said Dean Cadence. "But I've seen it enough times to recognize it." she smiled.

Lemon Zest sighed. "This whole back and forth thing with being friends and enemies is really getting to me. I mean, I get it. We're Crystal Prep Shadowbolts. We always win. 'We have a reputation to uphold!'". Lemon Zest said the last sentence trying to impersonate Principal Cinch. "Sorry. I'm just venting."

Dean Cadence laughed. "I completely understand. Principal Cinch can be a bit...abrasive sometimes, but she only wants what's best for this school."

Best for the school or best for her? Lemon Zest thought bitterly.

"You know that you can always talk to me or one of the guidance counselors if you ever need someone to lend you an ear." said Dean Cadence.

"Thanks." Lemon Zest smiled. "I'll keep that in mind."

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After lunch, Lemon Zest roamed the halls before her next class. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Indigo Zap intentionally bump into her, knocking everything out of her hands. She sighed, bending down to pick her things up. only for Sunny Flare to kick them away from her, sending her supplies sliding on the hallway floor.

"You need to move faster, you're blocking the hallway." said Sugarcoat.

Lemon Zest let out a grunt of frustration. After she finally got all of her possessions in order, she went back to roaming the halls.

"Hey, Lemon." said a voice behind her.

Oh crap, which one is it this time? she rolled her eyes before she turned around. "Hey Sour." said Lemon.

"I just wanted to thank you for playing on my team during gym." Sour Sweet said sweetly.

Here it comes... thought Lemon Zest.

"Until you completely screwed it up!" said Sour.

Yep. Saw that coming. thought Lemon. Despite that knowledge, Lemon Zest felt her anger rise. "You know what?" she said, "Maybe you screwed it up and don't have the balls to admit it!" she said as she put her pointer finger right in Sour's face. "I know saying it makes me a hypocrite, but would it actually kill one of us to not throw each other under a bus every goddamn time we get the chance?!" She fumed. "I am getting so sick of this 'every person for themselves' herd mentality. But you want to know what the worst part of this is?" she said, her voice cracking.

Sour Sweet stared at Lemon Zest, shock on her face.

"The worst part" continued Lemon Zest, unaware of the tears that were falling from her eyes. "is that even though I'm justifiably pissed off, I'll eventually fall right back into the whole 'herd mentality' and it'll be me against the world unless fate is so kind enough to have me on a team so that when they fuck up, I'm the lucky one to throw them under the goddamn bus!" she collapsed and burst into tears, sobbing in the middle of the hallway.

After a few minutes, Lemon Zest felt an arm on her shoulder. Lemon looked up. "Dean Cadence?" she said, wiping the tears away.

"Count yourself lucky I'm not Principal Cinch." said Cadence.

Lemon Zest smiled. "Trust me. That's the last person I want to see right now."

Dean Cadence sighed. "I know you're having a rough day, so why didn't you come see me?" she asked.

Lemon Zest blushed. "I'm sorry. That outburst and rant was from all the crap I've gone through here at CPA."

Dean Cadence smiled. "I understand. If you want, you could always transfer to Canterlot High."

Lemon Zest frowned. "It may be a hellhole here, but I think I'd have an even harder time adjusting there."

"Why's that?" asked Cadence.

"Have you seen how upbeat they all are over there? It'd be like going from one extreme to the other!" said Lemon.

"I can see why you'd think that, but I happen to be good friends with the Vice-Principal there. They're all so welcoming."

"Nah." said Lemon. "Besides, I've heard weird rumors about that place."

Cadence quirked an eyebrow. "Rumors? What rumors?"

"Some people were talking about some kinda magic or something. Like when that strange rainbow appeared the night of Canterlot High's Fall Formal, or when their Battle of the Bands went all crazy with special effects that looked too dangerous."

Cadence stroked her chin. I'll have to talk to Luna about this later. "Well if you're not going to transfer, at least promise me you'll see a guidance counselor or at least talk to me. Judging by that scene in the hallway, you have a lot on your mind."

Lemon Zest smiled. "Okay. I promise."

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After her class ended, Lemon Zest went down to where the guidance counselor's offices were. She went up to the appointment desk. "Hey...are any of the guidance counselors available right now?" she said to the man at the desk. He silently pointed to the one room that didn't have a "Currently in Session" sign on it. "Sweet. Thanks!" she said as she headed to the door.