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// Party Harder Than Pinkie Pie 
// Story: Cutie Mark Challenge 
// by Touch the Sky 
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"What is that pony doing in there?" said Applejack. She was standing with Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash outside the Apple family's barn. Pinkie was inside, supposedly preparing for the party competition. But they were hearing the strangest sounds... what sounded like a chainsaw revved into life, there was a lot of clanging, and finally the unmistakable sound of sticky tape being stretched out. Then there was the sound of bolts sliding back, and Pinkie poked her head out.

"Okay! You can come in now!"

Cautiously, Applejack strode in, followed by the others. They were surprised by what they saw. The barn had been split into seven equal sections. divided by lines of duct tape which stretched across the walls, floor and even ceiling.

Six of the areas contained a table and an oven. The seventh was piled with all manner of things; there was a hill of cookery ingredients and equipment, and a separate mountain of decorations; card, paper, ribbons, fabric, tablecloths, streamers, packs of balloons- everything. At the very top of the hill was a beautiful, crystalline disco ball; Rarity's eyes went starry just looking at it. In the seventh segment, there was also a sink and electric mixer.

"Okay!" Pinkie said. "This is how we're gonna do this." She looked very serious. "You have until sunset to prepare a party- that means food, invites, decor, everything. Then all of Ponyville will come here and experience your parties. They'll then vote for the one they think is the best. The party with the most votes wins.

You each have an area to work in. You are not allowed to sabotage each other's areas. In fact, you are only allowed in anypony else's area if you are passing through to get to Area 7. Area 7 is no-pony's-land, we're all allowed to go there. There you will find everything you could ever need for your party. When I blow my whistle, we all run to Area 7 and grab everything you can. Once someone has picked something up, it's theirs- no snatching! But if they let it go in Area 7, it's fair game. The electric mixer and blender are included in that- you can grab them if you want them. 

When you've picked up everything you need, go to your area. There should be a name on each table indicating whose area it is. Just make sure you know where your area is. Now, before we begin, are there any questions?"

"I have a question." Rainbow waved a hoof in the air. "Can we use wings and magic?"

"You can use everything. Magic and flying are both allowed. Just- um- don't blow up Applejack's barn, or she might get mad."

"Yes. Ah'd like to add a rule." Applejack stepped forward. "Unless ya're confident that ya can use yer magic safely, don't use it. Ah don't want no holes in mah barn."

Rainbow shrugged. "Whatever. I can get by with just my wings."

"Any more questions?" No one spoke, so Pinkie lined them up on the start line. "On my whistle, run and grab."

Rarity's eyes were fixed firmly on the crystal disco ball. Pinkie was looking at the food pile. The other four had all set their sights on the electric mixer.

There was a loud phweeeet and all hell seemed to break loose.

Rainbow's wings flew open, hitting Applejack in the face. Fluttershy had set off running, but Twilight was gaining with every step. Rainbow blasted upwards, leaving Applejack to spit out blue feathers.

Fluttershy and Twilight reached the electric mixer at the same moment; just as Rainbow swept down from above to try and carry it off. Twilight swiped at it, but Fluttershy was quicker; she snatched it milliseconds before Rainbow swooped past, cursing. Smugly, Fluttershy carried her prize back to her area, just as Applejack skidded up. Before either Twilight or Rainbow could get their bearings, the orange pony seized the blender and bore it away.

While this went on, Rarity had been scaling the pile of decorations. She was almost at the top when she saw Twilight's eyes alight upon the crystalline globe too; the alicorn princess began to rise up on her wings.

Rarity screeched in anger and began to hurl objects at the alicorn with her magic; while also trying to scrabble up the hill. After a smaller, less fabulous disco ball missed her head by millimetres, Twilight decided Rarity was serious, and also that she didn't really need that crystalline disco ball anyway. She wheeled around to snatch up the one which had almost hit her, only to see Rainbow scoop it up.

Rarity finally reached the top and seized the object of her desires. She slid gracefully back down the hill, to place it safely in her area before heading back to Area 7.

While Rarity and Fluttershy had focussed on individual objects, Applejack and Rainbow had been collecting a vast array of objects which might be useful. Meanwhile, Pinkie was working in her area, mixing something in a bowl with a wooden spoon. A set of scales and a small pile of ingredients sat on the counter, while the oven was preheating behind her. A circular cake tin waited on top of the oven.

Applejack and Rainbow were engaged in a tug-of-war over a sack of apples; suddenly the sack tore and apples rolled everywhere. Both ponies eyed each other suspiciously, then, as Fluttershy approached the apples, grabbed as many apples as they could carry and made a run for it.

Rarity was sorting through tablecloths with her magic, mumbling to herself. Twilight was digging frantically in the decor pile for a disco ball. Fluttershy had begun to prepare her cake, tossing butter and sugar into the whirring electric mixer as Applejack glared jealously. Rainbow was having difficulty making paper chains.

Soon the whole barn filled with the mouth-watering smell of cake. Pinkie's first cake was baking, while she poured the second lot of batter into a smaller tin. Another, even smaller tin stood by; Pinkie was making a layer cake.

Rarity, having finally chosen a lovely embroidered tablecloth, folded it up in a corner of her area and started sorting through the ingredients pile in Area 7.
Applejack was filling a pastry crust with stewed apples, preparing her best apple pie. Rainbow was still wrestling with the paper chains; she had been so focused on arranging them in a rainbow pattern that she hadn't noticed their enormous length.

Fluttershy's carrot cake was already cooking, and the distinctive cinnamon aroma made every other pony's nose twitch. Now Fluttershy drifted lightly around her area, neatly hanging ornate paper butterflies and streamers around the walls.
Pinkie shoved the last cake in the oven and huffed, before trotting over to join Twilight. 

Twilight was still burrowing in the decorations pile for a disco ball. She had almost buried herself in the stack. Pinkie smiled a devious smirk, looking around to check the others were all occupied, and then stomped as quietly as she could up the pile, triggering an avalanche of stuff which swept down to bury the alicorn completely.

Twilight popped her head out to survey an innocently smiling Pinkie suspiciously, but then her eyes lit up. The slide had unearthed a disco ball- Twilight raised her wings to struggle out, only for Pinkie to squeal happily and grab the disco ball.

It was unclear what happened next, but Pinkie found herself surfing down the side of the pile as Twilight rose up behind her. In a scrabbling panic, Pinkie let go of the disco ball, and Twilight gleefully pounced on it as a chupacabra pounces on a goat.

Pinkie shrugged, and then threw herself at the pile, emerging a moment later with another disco ball. Twilight frowned as Pinkie trotted back to her area.

Rarity was prancing around her area, scattering sequins and glitter over the table, when the oven timer beeped. In a fluid motion, Rarity pulled the door open and levitated three cakes out, each smaller than the last. Pinkie glared sullenly at the unicorn, puffing air into a balloon before letting it go; the balloon shot away as it deflated, hitting Fluttershy in the head.

Applejack, Rainbow and Fluttershy were all having trouble tying balloons with their hooves, while Pinkie's dexterous hooves, so used to such work, had no problems. Twilight tied balloons with her magic, and Rarity didn't even need or want any balloons anyway.

Very little sabotage went on, though after watching Applejack struggle for ages with a balloon, Rainbow subtly flicked a cocktail stick at it. The balloon burst, and Applejack was back to square one.

Finally, as the sky outside turned orange with the sunset, Pinkie blew her whistle. Rainbow looked over from where she was rummaging in Area 7, Rarity and Twilight paused in the spells they were casting, Fluttershy quickly pressed a final decoration onto her cake and Applejack placed her apple pie in pride of place on her table.

"Attention ponies!" declared Pinkie. "Preparation time is now over. You must now wait at the entrance to the barn and hand out your invitations."

Rarity levitated a stack of glittery cards over to her, Twilight carefully straightened out a pile of dark blue papers, Applejack and Fluttershy gathered up some envelopes, while Rainbow just put a hoof to her head. She knew she'd forgotten something.

Pinkie just strapped on a silly outfit.

They stood outside as ponies began to filter in; they spread out over every area, nodding appreciatively or sometimes shaking their heads.

Rainbow's area was completely carpeted with cotton wool to mimic clouds, while the walls were adorned with rainbow-coloured paper chains. A disco ball hung above, slightly out of place.
A large cake, uniced, sat on the table. It was cleverly streaked with rainbow colours, but upon biting into it most ponies shuddered; the taste of food colouring was overpowering. Other objects on offer included a respectable blueberry punch and toffee apples.

Applejack's area still bore the barn feel; she had replaced the neat table with a bale of hay, and the floor was littered with straw. However, balloons hung on the walls and the delicious scent of apple pie filled the area. Lively rodeo music set the mood. Beside the delicious pie lay a dish of crystalline strawberry and apple punch, made smooth by the blender, as well as some fresh apple cider. This party was very good as far as most visitors were concerned, simple but effective.

Fluttershy's area was somehow homely and gentle; paper butterflies fluttered loosely on strings, and streamers were neatly hung around the walls. The carrot cake was almost competition for Applejack's pie, and it was accompanied by fresh orange juice and apple juice.

Rarity's party was stunning; clever magical light illuminated the hard-earned crystal disco ball, casting lovely flashes of spectrum over the glitter and sequins, much more beautiful than Rainbow's rather garish colours. A spectacular layer cake reared over the scene, covered in white icing and decorated by purple lilacs which matched the tablecloth perfectly. The cake wasn't quite up to the standard of Applejack's pie, but all who beheld it agreed it was stunning. The sparkling lemonade and delicate canapes which accompanied it just seemed to fade into the background in contrast.

Pinkie's area was a typical Pinkie party; streamers, balloons, sweets, cake- Pinkie's layer cake, though tasty, could not compete in looks with Rarity's. It was decorated with pink icing and piped white edges. Many tasty cupcakes and snacks were crammed onto the table so that it groaned under the weight.

Twilight's area didn't look anything special; it was hung with ribbons, streamers, a few balloons. But as soon as one set hoof over the tape border, the soul filled with delight and felt like dancing to the joyful music coming from a seemingly invisible speaker. The food was actually rather tasty, and soon a large crowd had collected in Twilight's area.

Each pony cast their vote, and Spike took the box and counted the votes, before returning to announce the results.

"The winner is... Twilight!"

Twilight smiled. The others cast a few surprised glances, but then waited for the rest of the results.

"In second place... Rarity. Third is Pinkie, fourth is Applejack, fifth is Fluttershy, and sixth is Rainbow."

A few of the contestants looked put out, but Pinkie perked them out by shouting, "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's PARTY!"

The ponies danced and celebrated until Luna's moon was high in the sky, and then retired to their beds, with the promise of a dressmaking contest the following day.