Sunlight and Flurry arrived back at the castle, completely out of breath. They stopped in the middle of the hall outside the throne room and took one look at each other. They were about to confess their dishonesty to their family and friends for a second time, but this time it was crucial. They knew they would accept whatever punishment that Twilight and Flash decided to give them.

"Ready?" Sunlight asked.

"Ready," Flurry said with a determined nod. They ran into the throne room, expecting to find everypony there. They found just Flash and Twilight, who were giving them intensely stern looks. The look Flash gave them was so filled with disappointment and anger, that it caused Sunlight to shrink away from her father. She had never done that before. Normally, she would run and jump on him and squeal and laugh with delight.

Flash walked over and faced the two dishonest fillies. "Sunlight, I just don't know what I'm going to do with you," he said, "you've always been such a good little filly. I don't know where this late string of deception has come from, but it's got to stop!"

Twilight stepped forward, giving her niece and daughter the same look. "Don't think you'll get any sympathy from me, young fillies!" She said sharply, "you could've been hurt or even killed. It's an incredibly dangerous situation!"

"But you don't even know where we were," Flurry protested. She found it unfair of her aunt and uncle to judge her when they didn't even know the full situation. But Flash gave her an even harder look. "Don't get smart with me, Flurry Heart! One magic horn call to your parents and your little vacation here gets cut short! Do you understand, young filly?"

Now, it was Flurry's turn to shrink away. She had never known her uncle to be so angry about something. She didn't realize that his anger came from a good place. He loved his niece and daughter with all his heart, and he didn't want them to get hurt or worse. While he put on a stone visage outside, inside he was trembling with fear at the unknown. What would he do without his dear little Sunlight or his favorite niece, Flurry?

"We know exactly where you were," Twilight said sternly, "we know you two have been sneaking out to investigate the cemetery. Now, for the last time, leave it to the Ponyville Police!"

"But, Mommy," Sunlight said softly, "last time we did this, we caught Sharpshooter."

"You two got very lucky last time," Twilight said, "and I was so happy that you caught that evil witch that I forgot to give you your punishment. I don't like dishonesty in ponies. It kills friendships and it goes against the very code of the Elements of Harmony."

"But…"

"No buts, Sunlight!" Twilight said, "I don't want to hear another word. Now, Flurry, come here."

Flurry walked over with her tail drooping. "I'm afraid you'll have to go back to The Crystal Empire."

"But, Auntie Twily, you said I could watch The Summer Sun Celebration from here! Mom and Dad agreed to it! You aren't being fair!"

"Watch your tongue, young filly," Flash said sternly, "you may not be as young as you were, but you aren't fully grown yet. You have a lot to learn."

"Yes, Uncle Flash," Flurry said as she gave Sunlight a sad look. They had never missed watching Celestia raise the sun on that all-important day. They always watched it together. But this year, it looked as if their dishonesty had gotten them into more trouble than they could have imagined. "I'll go pack my things," she said as she turned to walk out.

But then she suddenly turned. No, she said, we have important evidence that they need to see. She walked up to her uncle and dropped the grey feather at his hooves. "Here, Uncle Flash," she said, "we found this." Then she turned and dragged her way out of the room, devastated at the thought of being separated from her beloved cousin.

Flash picked up the feather. He turned and looked at his wife. Her purple eyes were almost unreadable. Was she happy that they had this new evidence, or was she still distraught at the dishonesty of their daughter? Man, he thought, even though her expression is off…she's still the most beautiful sight I've ever laid eyes on.

Then he turned back to his daughter. Her own blue eyes were filled with tears. She threw herself on her father and began sobbing. "I'm so sorry, Daddy!" She cried, "please don't make Flurry go back! Please! We always watch Celestia raise the sun together! Please don't take that away!"

"Oh, my precious Sunlight," he said as he bent down and tenderly picked her up in his wing. He cradled her as her tears continued rolling freely. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, but this is the way it has to be. You two broke a rule, and when you break a rule, a punishment is what happens. What I'm more upset about is that you lied to your mother and me."

"We just wanted to help…"

"I know you did, but there are other ways to help than by lying and willfully putting yourselves in a dangerous situation. Now, you need to be punished as well."

Sunlight sniffed a bit and nodded. She accepted whatever was coming her way. She was already mentally berating herself for going along with Flurry's little investigation plan. But her sense of excitement, wonder, and adventure had gotten the better of her and now she was paying the price for it.

Her father set her down and led her over to one of the thrones. "Bend over," he commanded. Her eyes welled up a bit once again. She knew what was coming. She had been spanked before, but thankfully her father had always been merciful and spared her as much as he could. But this time, she had broken a big rule and she didn't know if that same compassionate nature would make itself known.

Flash quickly began swatting her with his hoof. She cried at each sting, but she never blamed her father for anything. She was pleasantly surprised when the punishment ended after four hits. She turned around and her father embraced her. He allowed her to cry freely into his shoulder.

"You know this hurts me more than it hurts you, right?" He asked her. She nodded and bent back to look at him. "I'm so sorry, Daddy," she said through a thick voice.

"You're forgiven, Sunlight Dawn," he said tenderly, "and I want you to know that you'll always be forgiven. Your mother and I love you dearly. That's why we punish you. We want you to grow up to be the best mare you can be, and good adult ponies are honest. You know better than to lie to us, Sunlight. That's why we got so upset with you. I know you lied to try and help catch somepony that was doing something wrong, but, as Celestia once told your mother, the truth is always better than a well meant lie."

Sunlight nodded and smiled at her father, who smiled right back. By this point, her mother had joined the embrace and the two parents cradled their filly between them. Sunlight's heart warmed at the idea that her parents did love and care for her so much. She figured that they didn't punish her because they wanted to, but because they cared enough to. Bad parents would have let her go right on doing what she was doing.

But she had one question for them. "Does Flurry really have to go back?"

Twilight nodded. "Yes, darling, she does. When we say something, we mean it. I just had a magic horn call with Aunt Cadance, and she was furious with Flurry. She agreed that she should return home. I'm sorry, dear. You'd probably better go say goodbye. She's leaving on the next train." Sunlight drooped a bit. She loved her cousin so much and wanted to celebrate the Summer Sun with her. But she accepted her mother and father's decision. So, she turned and left the room to bid her cousin farewell.