Lemon paced around her room, dreading the conversation she knew was going to precede her punishment. She decided to text Twilight.

Hey. Did you tell your parents? - Sent by Lemon Zest

Of course I did... - Sent by Twilight Sparkle

Did you? - Sent by Twilight Sparkle

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. - Sent by Lemon Zest

Same here. - Sent by Twilight Sparkle

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

I'll probably lose access to my lab for two weeks, and that's just me being optimistic! - Sent by 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. - Sent by Lemon Zest

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

There was a knock on Lemon's door.

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

You too. - Sent by Twilight Sparkle

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Lemon slowly walked down the stairs, her anxiety increasing with each step as she reached the main floor. She walked into the living room, where both of her parents were waiting. She could feel herself sweating, trembling even...but she knew she had to accept whatever punishment her parents had in store for her. She slowly sat down on the couch and faced Florid and Citrus.

Her father mercifully broke the silence. "Lemon...what happened to you?" he asked. "You've always been a good kid. A good student. Your mother and I know you've been under a lot of stress lately, so we like to think we've been lenient."

Lemon nodded slowly.

"Now," continued Citrus. "It was bad enough that you and Sour Sweet got into not just one, but two fights." her father's tone was shifting from calm to upset. "And it wasn't even bad enough that both times, you drew blood." Citrus took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "But blackmail?!" Her father was nearly shouting. "Lemon Zest, your mother and I raised you to be better than that!"

Lemon flinched.

"I don't care what Sunny Flare said or did to you, you shouldn't have stooped to her level!" said Citrus. "You are grounded for a month."

"I understand..." Lemon said, almost whispering. She took off her headphones and gave them to her mother.

"And your computer." said her father. "No headphones until the Friendship Games, then after that you go a week without your own music."

Lemon blinked. "Wait...what?"

"You heard me, Lemon Zest! I want your computer down here now." her father said sternly.

"But...what was that about the Friendship Games?" Lemon said, confused.

"Punishment or no, the Friendship Games are too important to Crystal Prep Academy for even one of their top eleven to miss." said Florid.

"I...I don't understand. Why are you punishing me so severely but still letting me go to the Friendship Games?" said Lemon.

"Your mother just said that they're too important for you to miss." said Citrus.

"But...that doesn't make any sense to me." said Lemon.

"Lemon...just bring your computer down here." said her father.

Lemon Zest walked up the stairs, confused and unsure of how to deal with the situation at hand.

Once she was out of earshot, her parents leaned towards each other.

"Are you sure that was the right thing to do?" asked Florid.

"I may have been a bit rough on her, but you know me. I never have and never will condone behavior like that." said Citrus.

"No, I mean letting her go to the Friendship Games despite the punishment." said Florid.

"Only under dire circumstances are we to keep her from the Friendship Games." said Citrus. "Those were the orders from the First, Second, and Third."

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After Lemon brought down her computer, she had a silent and awkward dinner with her parents. What is with the Friendship Games and leniency towards its participants? I should probably get Twilight to look into that sort of thing. If they'll let me see her again. I'm worried they'll think of me as a bad influence after all this. Lemon sighed as she finished her dinner and went straight to her room as per her parents' orders.

So. How bad was it? - Sent by Lemon Zest.

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

Ouch. - Sent by Lemon Zest

What about you? - Sent by Twilight Sparkle

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

Only one way to find out. - Sent by Twilight Sparkle

Fair point. - Sent by 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. - Sent by Lemon Zest

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

Why are they still letting you go to the Friendship Games? - Sent by Twilight Sparkle

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

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

I know, right? - Sent by Lemon Zest

Maybe we could look into it together tomorrow. - Sent by Lemon Zest

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

Yeah. What about them? - Sent by Lemon Zest

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

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? - Sent by Lemon Zest

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

Night, Twilight. - Sent by Lemon Zest

Lemon then plugged her phone into the wall to charge it, then went to sleep for the night.