//------------------------------//
// The Sum of our Parties 
// Story: Partyquest 
// by R5h 
//------------------------------//

The date was August 14th.

The banner read “Pie Sisters Party-Palooza!”

The dance floor that Pinkie'd set up outside the Pie farmhouse was filled with everyone Pinkie knew, except for the ones who were getting drinks—and even they didn’t stay for long. The drinks tables, which had been formed from marble and limestone chunks, curved to form a sort of vortex around the dance floor, directing people back to the center.

Almost like someone had planned it that way.

In fact, there was only one alcove for people to stand in, and three Pie sisters were occupying it.

“Holy shit,” Limestone said, after chugging her beercan. “Maud's actually dancing.” She pointed at the floor, where Maud was nodding her head to the beat, otherwise motionless.

“Wow,” Marble agreed, and sipped her juice pouch.

“Hey, don't interrupt the story! This is the best part!” Pinkie said, draping her arms around Limestone and Marble. “I said to myself, 'Pinkie, if the other Pinkie's right about us being different, then there must be something I can do that she can't!' And I figured it out! Watch this!”

She bent down and took a hunk of rock candy, big as a softball, in her hand. “Twilight!” she yelled across the floor, and tossed the rock.

“Got it!” Twilight called from the drinks table. She concentrated, the pendant around her neck glowed, and the rock flew skyward. “And... now!”

Pinkie snapped her fingers, and the rock exploded like a firework, in a burst of pink color. The crowd below looked up and gasped, then applauded.

“Ta-da!” Pinkie jumped for joy, making her own pendant bounce on her chest. “I can make sugar explode with my mind! Take that, Pinkie Sr.!” Then she looked over to see Marble cowering. “Um, was that too much?”

“No,” Marble said, lowering her arm from her face. “S'fine.”

“And the party?”

“Great.” Marble smiled. “Doctor says… should do more of this. Exposure therapy.”

“Awesome! Hey,” Pinkie said, swirling around to face Limestone, “that reminds me for no reason at all, did you get back into school yet—”

Limestone shoved a hand over her mouth. “Pinkie,” she said, eyes narrowed.

“Mmph?”

Limestone took a deep breath, chugged the last of her beer, then tossed it over her shoulder. “Thanks,” she said, looking Pinkie in the eye and releasing her hand.

“For what?”

“For the party. And....” Limestone shrugged and looked away. “For... being there.”

Pinkie squinted. “But I wasn't actually—”

“You dumbass.” Limestone groaned, and then grabbed Pinkie in a hug. “Marble, help me hug the dumbass.”

Pinkie felt another pair of arms wrap around her from the back. She tensed, then let herself relax. “Thanks for staying here for me, too.”

“Okay.” Limestone let go in a decisive movement. “Touchy-feely time over. Is this a party or what?”

Pinkie laughed, grabbed her sisters, and pulled them into the throng.