//------------------------------// // Professional Party Planner // Story: Twilight Hosts a Party // by Amante //------------------------------// “And finally, Cheerilee.” Spike took a breath and ignited the last scroll. “I do hope they read their letters. My party is designed specifically for 30 ponies.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, but what if some of them can’t come? I should make sure that the schedule can be adjusted for fewer ponies.” Beads of sweat began to form on her face. “Or worse, what if they decide to bring their own guests? Oh, no, no, no. I don't think I can adjust for extra ponies..." She began hyperventilating. Spike rolled his eyes. "Twilight!" Twilight snapped to attention and realized what she had been doing. Again. She smiled at her ever faithful assistant. "Thanks, Spike." "Hey, no problem, that's what I'm here for." He donned a smirk. "So, what's next on your list?" "I'm glad you asked." She pulled out her party list and pointed at their next objective. "Decorations." The library was really coming together and Twilight had just finished putting up her specially made banners. Interestingly, or rather, unsurprisingly, the banners had quotes from some of Twilight's favorite books. Even more fittingly, the streamers placed beside the banners had the bibliography of their respective banners, done in proper MLA style. Spike had brought this up with Twilight who simply dismissed it as being. “In conjunction with the theme of our celebration!” The pair had made their way to the kitchen with the intent of inspecting Spike’s cooking for the party. “So Spike, how’re the brownies going?” Spike held his head high. “Well, I dunno about you, but I think that these have got to be the best brownies this side of Equestria.” Twilight smiled as her assistant brought out three trays of stylized pastries. Since the party banners bore quotes from Twilight’s favorite books, the brownies actually looked like Twilight’s favourite books. “Very nice, Spike. You really got the details right on these,” the pride at her charge’s handiwork evident in her voice. Spike blushed “Aw, shucks, it was nothing.” Of course, it definitely wasn’t nothing. He was able to get most of the details, from the spines to the titles, and even the original author’s hoofwriting. Truly, it was a feat that could only be accomplished by one with opposable thumbs. The sound of quill on parchment was heard. “Alright, that’s another item off the party list. Let’s see here, what’s next?” Spike’s ears shot up. “Did you hear that?” Twilight lowered her list and looked at Spike. “Hear wha-” A loud bang was suddenly heard as something burst through the door, almost through a banner, climbed the stairs, and tackled Twilight, list and all. Once everything was settled, Twilight found herself under a noticeably happy Pinkie. “Hi, Twilight!” When Twilight had finished processing what just happened, she smiled at her unexpectedly expected guest. “Hi, Pinkie, you do know you’re a bit early for the party, right?” Pinkie hopped off her friend and slowly descended back down. “Yup! That’s ‘cause I’m not here for the party, I’m here to help you make the party!” Help? Twilight hadn’t really considered that. She looked to her list, then to the library and finally, to her friend. She considered her offer and let the idea slide around in her head. She made sure to lather it around in there and make it grease up the place. When she felt her brain was lubricated enough, she had her answer. “Well, Pinkie, I could use some help setting up the activities for tonight. Here.” She gave Pinkie a box and a couple of well stuffed manila envelopes. “Each envelope contains the instructions on where they’re supposed to go.” “Okie dokie lokie!” She turned to go back to the main hall. “Hi, Spike!” Spike, who Pinkie just barely missed when she burst in and had stayed out of the way for that entire exchange, greeted her back with a cheerful, “Hi.” The dragon approached the unicorn. “You sure about this, Twilight?” “Well, I don’t see why not. After all, Pinkie is Ponyville’s premier party pony.” She scooped up her list with her magic. “Anyway, since Pinkie’s setting up some of the activities, that gives us time to head to the market for some last minute shopping.” The pair was heading back to the library after getting a few more supplies. There were only two hours left between then and the start of the party. Twilight felt confident that this was going to do it. She’d finally see ponies actually going to the library to borrow a book. The idea excited her to no end, so much so that for the last few minutes Spike had to endure Twilight going on and on about it. “Can you believe it, Spike? We might actually have to start issuing library cards. Oh, I better make sure the camera’s still working! Heeheehee...” Although her venting was starting to be grating, Spike was nevertheless happy to see Twilight happy. “Well at least it’ll be different from ponies bursting in the library screaming, ‘Help! Monster!’ or ‘Help! Disaster!’” “Or better yet, ‘Help! Economic recession!’” The two had kept up their good natured laugh until they reached the library door. When they entered, they were greeted by something they did not see coming. In addition to Twilight’s decorations, there were now many streamers of various colors, a whole bunch of balloons, and it seemed like the confetti had come back with a vengeance. Twilight was flabbergasted. “Wha- wha- wha-” “Welcome back, Twilight!” Pinkie bounced into view. “Whaddaya think? I made a few changes to your party plan, hope you don’t mind.” Oh, she didn’t really mind. After all it’s not like the baby blue streamers clashed with the noir section; or that floating pink balloons looked ridiculous in the horror section; or that stuffed animals crowded the foals corner. Okay, maybe she didn’t really mind that last one, but as for the others, they ruined the atmosphere of the library. “Uh, Pinkie, what did you do?” “You like?” She wrapped an arm around her friend’s shoulder. “I dunno about you, Twilight, but you need more than just a couple of neat-o banners for it to be a PARTY!” For her part, Twilight was still pretty shocked. She did not plan for this. This wasn’t at all how it went in her head. She had to put a stop to this before her party slipped away. But first she needed to find something out. “Pinkie, what happened to the activity stuff I gave you earlier?” “Oh those, I didn’t set them up yet, ‘cause I kinda wanted to talk to you about them Twilight. It’s just that there’s kinda something wrong with them.” Wrong? Wrong?! How could they be wrong? She spent all night formulating those methods. It was clear that those activities would induce the greatest amount of learning possible. She even had the figures and studies to prove that they would do the job best. So how in Celestia’s mane could they be WRONG?! Twilight’s face was blank as she tilted her head slightly. “What exactly is wrong with them, Pinkie Pie?” “Well, I read through the instructions of all of them, I even checked out the stuff you wrote as ‘supplementary reading’ and I gotta say Twilight, your games are kinda… boring.” Twilight’s pupils shrunk to pinpricks. “Boring?” “Yup, boring.” This time it was Pinkie who brought out a list. “But don’t worry li’l Twiley, I think we can make just a few changes to make it more fun. So wanna hear what I’ve got?” Twilight stared at the pink. More fun? She didn’t think so. She knew her games were plenty fun already, and she was going prove it. “Actually Pinkie, that’s okay.” Pinkie was stunned. “Are you sure? I’m sure I could he-” “Really Pinkie, it’s fine.” She grabbed her friend—“Why don’t you come back later?”—and shoved her out the door. “I’ll show you that this stuff is plenty fun.” Pinkie barely had enough time to turn around before Twilight slammed the door behind her. Her eyebrows were creased as she looked back at the door and sighed. She started to bounce back to Sugarcube Corner. “Well, I’m sure Twilight knows what she’s doing. After all, she is a super smart pony.”