While their combined intelligence was below sub-par when it came to classroom learning, the four colts were certified geniuses when it came to sneaking stuff around. They carried the stool toward the tall cabinet without making so much as a sound, though they did get a few odd looks from desk-laiden students. Twilight followed them, trying as hard as she could to avoid thinking about what she was about to do. Maybe if she didn’t think about it, she’d actually be able to do it. That made sense, right? Matter over mind, or something like that.
The colts placed the stool at the base of the cabinet and backed away.
“Alright, egghead, do your thing.” Brash said.
Twilight stared at the stool for an uncomfortable amount of seconds. That it no longer looked like the pure representation of hope and opportunity would be the understatement of the century. Every single splinter of wood on it felt like a chunk of her soul being sliced away from her.
“Well, hurry up, already. I thought you said there wasn’t much time.” Brash said.
Twilight gulped. She looked to the clock. It was 12:53.
Wait… no, it was 12:54.
Her eyes widened as she realized she had six minutes to complete five tests. She didn’t have time to think. She hardly had time at all. She clambered onto the stool, clumsily, and jerked the cabinet handle open with the small amount of levitation magic she had.
And there they were, right next to a bin filled with pencils, the unfinished tests, the ‘oh so important’ tests, the ridiculously simple tests. She rapidly searched through them, one by one, looking at the names until at last, she found the ones she was looking for. She lifted them up with her magic and took a look at them.
As she stared, she began to notice details about the inked pieces of paper that she had never noticed before. The letters were so dull looking, for one thing: so plain and uninteresting, so dark. And the paper: it was so cold, so sterile, so icky. And the tests themselves: they had no color. They were just... black and white. Black and white. Black and white. Black and...
“I can’t do this.” Twilight said, placing the tests back onto the pile.
She closed the cabinet and started her way down from the stool, but a hoof stopped her.
“I don’t think so.” Brash said.
She turned and stared at him. He stared right back and smirked.
“What do you think would happen if I woke up the teacher right now?” he said.
Twilight’s eyes widened.
“W-we’d ALL get in trouble. All of us. You would, too.” she said.
“That may be true, but I’VE been in trouble tons of times. YOU, on the other hoof? You haven’t been in trouble at all.”
He zeroed in on her face.
“I wonder what the teacher would say if someone as immaculate as you were caught.” he said.
Twilight stood there for a moment, hardly able to believe what was happening. She tentatively stepped back up the step stool and opened the cabinet. Her unfinished test lay on the top of the pile, staring directly at her. It looked so wrong, but there was nothing she could do. She magically levitated a pencil from the bin and took a look at the first question.
Joe loves to do honest work, so today he’s decided to help his father collect bottles for recycling. He’s found 32 bottles in his backyard and 53 bottles in the front yard. How many bottles has Joe found in all?
That was easy enough, 85. Twilight wrote down the answer on all five tests. She looked at the next question.
Twane is a very honorable stallion. Everytime he does something wrong, he writes it down in a notepad. At the end of the week, he apologizes to everypony he’s wronged. If Twane did something wrong 4 times each day for 5 days, how many times did he do something wrong?
Also easy, 20. Twilight wrote down the answer. She looked at the next question.
Emily is not very good at taking tests, but she has figured out that she will pass the class if she can get at least 7 questions right on her final. During her final, she only gets 6 questions right, so she decides to cheat to get that last question. How wrong is Emily?
What? Twilight shook her head, blinked, and looked at the question again.
During Emily’s final, there are a total of 10 questions. What percentage of questions does she need to get right in order to pass?
That was easy, too, 70%. Twilight wrote down the answer. She looked at the next question.
Twilight Sparkle is a very studious student who would never think of cheating, but today she has decided to cheat. If she has been nothing but studious for 3 years, how much of a cheater is she?
What the hay!? Twilight shook her head again, and looked at the question.
If Twilight Sparkle cheated on 2 tests everyday for 20 days, how many times did she cheat?
That couldn’t be right. This was… Twilight shook her head again and blinked several times. She looked back at the test.
Twilight Sparkle used to be a studious and honorable pony, but now she has decided to help 4 of her fellow students cheat. There are a total of 10 questions on her test. If she gets 1 point taken off for every question she helps a student answer, how many points will she loose?
Tears formed on Twilight’s eyes.
“Hey, what’s taking you so long up there.” Brash said, “Hurry it up.”
Twilight sniffled and shook her head as hard as she could. She looked at the question.
Tate is a friendly colt who loves to share his toys with others. He always tries to give each pony an equal amount of toys. If he is playing with 4 other ponies and has 40 toys, how much better of a pony is he than Twilight Sparkle?
Without a second thought, Twilight screamed. She screamed as loud as she possibly could and held the scream until her lungs ran out of air. The shrill sound echoed through the room. The few students not curious enough to be already looking at the cabinet shot their heads toward it. The teacher awoke.
“What in Celestia’s name is going on here!” he said.
“I’m… I’m a…” Twilight took a deep breath. “I’m a cheater!”
She burst into tears as the four colts bolted for their desks.
“You four, stop!” the teacher said.
They froze. He stared at them.
“Detention.” he said.
They lowered their heads.
The teacher turned his attention to Twilight, who’s eyes were already red with tears.
“Twilight Sparkle,” He stared at her for a second before sighing. “meet me in my office after school.”