Rarity stood confused for a moment after they received their instructions. She repeated the rhyme:
“Parties suit you both after a fashion. Infact one might even call them your passions. Though profound differences there are, in how each pursue them thus far. Now Pinkie must must turn her prescient eye to the elegant by and by. Rarity must ignore her stylish instinct or run the risk of the fun going extinct. Fun and form sometimes clash but you ponies can balance this bash.” Rarity contemplated. “What does it mean?” She wondered.
Pinkie Pie replied cartwheeling around Rarity, “Isn't it obvious? We're each going to throw a party! Only instead of doing what we’d do naturally, I have to throw a stylish and dignified party, and you have to throw a less restrained fun party!”
“Oh my, that might be difficult.” Rarity said considering the notion.
“What makes you say that?” Asked Pinkie.
“Well I am good at the stylish, dignified party, you are extraordinary at making parties fun, we are each likely poor at the other.” Rarity observed.
Minuette walks in, “Thank Celestia you two are here, we're running out of time for set up for these parties. Rarity you are working a children's party in the east ballroom. Pinkie, you have a garden party in the South garden...wait that can’t be right”
“It’s right” Rarity and Pinkie said at once.
“Okay, I have another party in the north lawn. See you two later.” Said Minuette, turning back the way she came.
“Oh my goodness, what are we gonna do? I have no idea about how to throw a fancy shmancy party!” panicked Pinkie Pie.
“Just calm down. The key to any high society event is to keep it clean and keep the conversation going. Ponies attend such get togethers to mingle” said Rarity.
“Ooooh, Thanks! The key to a fun party is to keep it moving and make sure ponies have lots of fun activities to choose from.
With worried and hesitant glances back towards each other, Rarity and Pinkie Pie went their separate ways to put their parties together. Neither were very confident in their ability to do what was before them. They both reminded themselves to ask themselves what the other would do if they became unsure.
Pinkie Pie left the corridor and exited the Castle into the garden. Looking around, she knew first she’d need some decorations. Her first instinct was balloons and streamers. But she stopped and asked herself how would Rarity decorate for a garden party. She came to the conclusion she would opt for clean white linen tablecloth covered tables with tasteful flowers and lanterns for when it got darker. Next was the food. Some tasteful and less messy hors d’oeuvres would be the way to go. Pinkie’s thoughts drifted to Discord and she remembered he had just taught her his cucumber sandwich recipe. “ Oo, those would be perfect” she thought out loud and rushed to the Castle kitchen to get to work on them.
Meanwhile Rarity was having a much harder time getting started. She began to panic as she imagined the little colts and fillies darting about with nothing to do. Then she asked herself, what Pinkie would have at most children’s parties. “Games!” She decided out loud. “I need games.”
Rarity immediately set about setting up a pin the tail on the pony game. First she drew a large poster sized stylish picture of a tailless pony. Then with her discerning eye she chose the ideal color to cut out multiple tails from. She found some pins and posted the picture on a wall and used the rest on the tails.
“There one activity down. I wonder where I could find a piñata in Canterlot? Ooh, and I mustn't forget the candy and cake. I never see a Pinkie style party without cake!” Rarity thought to herself as she headed to the market.
Pinkie Pie finished her refreshment preparations and stopped to consider what else her garden party might need. “Ordinarily I'd make sure there were games and fun stuff to do, but what kind of games could I have?” Thought Pinkie. “Rarity might know surely we can at least get the other’s advice.” She thought deciding to head to the ballroom where her children's party was.
She found the ballroom empty. “Rarity must be out getting some things.” She thought. Pinkie looked at the pin the tail on the pony game Rarity had already done. “She’s going to need a few more games than this for all these fillies.” Pinkie thought looking around and began to work.
At the same time Rarity had decided to drop by the site of the garden party Pinkie was supposed to be putting together. She saw the decorations Pinkie had prepared as well as her refreshments. “Oh my, Pinkie has been busy. I wonder where she got off too?” Thought Rarity. “I was going to ask her for some more activity ideas… Oh that floral arrangement just won’t do.” She thought as she started to fiddle with one of the decorations.
At once the two mares found themselves back in the same corridor they began in with Minuette rounding the corner towards them.
“Oops” they said together.
“Thank Celestia you two are here, we're running out of time for set up for these parties. Rarity you are working a children's party in the east ballroom. Pinkie, you have a garden party in the South garden...wait that can’t be right” said Minuette.
“It's right, we'll get right on it. We know where we're going, thanks Minuette!” Said Pinkie waving her on.
After Minuette had left Pinkie began, “I'm so sorry it's my fault, I went by your party to ask some advice and started doing stuff.”
“I am afraid I am guilty of the same thing” confessed Rarity.
“Okay, horseshoes, a ball to buck around and a piñata or two.” Advised Pinkie hurriedly. “What activities can a setup for the fancy ponies?” She asked Rarity.
“Croquet, horseshoes would be fine, and ballroom music to dance to. Anything else you can tell me?” Answered Rarity.
“Cake and cookies!” Yelled Pinkie galloping away.
In a whirlwind of activity they each set up their respective parties, careful not to receive too much help from the other.
Rarity felt very pressed getting the piñatas, the cake, and all other materials she needed. Rarity raced to set up the games, pin the tail on the pony, mini hoofball, and two piñatas. She worked as hard as she could and barely finished hanging the last streamers and balloons before the fillies and their parents came in. With a sigh of relief, Rarity realized the kids were all having fun and relishing the sweets. “So far so good.” She said to herself.
Pinkie had devoted all her energy and talent into her preparations this time around. She picked colorful arrangements to serve a centerpieces on round tables with crisp white tablecloths. Croquet and horseshoes waited for the Canterlot elite to play. Discord's cucumber sandwiches, a batch of cupcakes from her favorite Canterlot bakery, and several pots of tea waited for the guest to arrive. Fancy Pants and his guests entered moments after Pinkie came in with the live string quartet. “I’m sorry, I just got them here they’ll need a few moments to get situated.” Pinkie apologized to the crowed.
Fancy Pants replied, “Fret not my dear, you have done a splendid job. All the right elements are in place, I can take it from here. You should go relax, perhaps check and see how miss Rarity is faring.”
Rarity left the ballroom just as Pinkie arrived. She held to door open for Pinkie to peek in. Pinkie saw fillies and Colts chasing each other around covered in chocolate and frosting giggling. “Looks like you party is going well” said Pinkie.
“I take it yours goes well also.” inquired Rarity.
“Fancy Pants took charge once he and his guests arrived.” Answered Pinkie.
“I wonder how we'll know we’ve finished.” Said Rarity as the two faded down the hallway.