The afternoon sun shone over Crystal Prep Academy. While most of the school property was deserted, save for the athletic fields where the sports clubs were practicing, a place that was usually bare of people was unusually occupied. On the playground five girls had settled on the play equipment: On top of the slide Sour Sweet was resting, stretching her legs out on the steep surface. Sunny Flare was sitting sideways on the climbing frame, her feet pointing behind her. Indigo stood on one of the swing seats, grabbing the bar above her head and swinging herself slightly forth and back. Sugarcoat was standing on the lowest stave of the monkey bars, leaning her back against the ladder. Lemon Zest was lying on the rotating carousel, arms and legs stretched out as if she was making a snow-angel.
The five girls idly chatted with each other, some giggles and chortles mixed into their conversation. A rather light-hearted atmosphere was hanging over the place – most of the time, at least. Regularly the peace was broken by a snide remark or unfriendly comment: Sunny complaining about Lemon’s music, Sugarcoat dryly pointing out someone’s flaws, Indigo getting overly motivated or Sour saying something mean with a kind voice. But in the end, all of that was laughed off, time flying by as they hung around in the sandbox, talking and goofing with each other. While occasionally things were getting grumpy, most of the time all of them were bearing genuine smiles.
During the entire time nobody of them noticed they were being watched.
In one of the windows of the school building a dark silhouette was standing, looking over at the playground. The girls were far away, making it hard to observe what they were really doing. Yet the figure could clearly see they were chatting and laughing, and frowned at their behavior.
“What an ungrateful bunch these girls are!” Principal Cinch scoffed, closing the shutters of her window. The slight hint of brightness vanished from her office, darkness taking over most of it again. “I gave in to Cadence’s sentimental urge and relieved them of their just punishment, so they could enhance their academic and athletic abilities, and what do they do? They waste their time on a playground like little kids! If it was possible I would drag them back into detention for it…”
Her sharp high-heels clapped on the hard floor as she walked over to the trophy shelf. Through the glass plates she stared at the numerous trophies, so clean and polished they even shined in the sparse light of the room. Her eyes were fixed on one in particular, although it was placed slightly off from the others in the background, as if it was not intended to be seen. On the emblem the word “FRIENDSHIP GAMES” as well as the current year were imprinted, alongside a line that made the principal grit her teeth in anger whenever she read it.
AWARDED FOR
TYING WITH
CANTERLOT HIGH SCHOOL
Principal Cinch took in deep breathes, calming herself. Her voice still was seeping with passive fury however as she talked to herself. “I lost my best student to a second-rate high school, and the name of Crystal Prep Academy was humiliated” she spoke, running her hand over the trophy shelf. “Everything I have achieved in all those years, all the sweat and tears I spilled for this institution and its students – all of it is about to fall apart. But I won’t let the work of me and my predecessors be destroyed! The spirit of excellence and academic discipline will prevail at Crystal Prep Academy!”
She took off her glasses. With her bare eyes she stared sternly into her own reflection in the glass plate. “I will defend the reputation of my school, at ANY cost!”