“Soarin! How are we doing so far?” Nitpick spoke through his portable radio.
“Somewhat good to be honest, boss!” Soarin answered enthusiastically. “Our Crystal teammates are a little stubborn with us but we are managing to get along! Lightbulb is the one we must thank for that!”
“Great! What about Bon Bon?”
“She just left as you instructed to aid Dancer and Lyra in the orphanage!”
“Excellent! Thunderbass?”
“Everything is fine in the retirement home! Rarity is having a hard time dealing with someone called Suri, but we are managing to keep everything in order!”
‘Damn you, Polomare!’ Nitpick thought. “Okay! Keep me informed! Dancer?”
“Lyra and I are doing just fine with our team members so don’t worry! Also, thank you for sending Bon Bon here!”
“And thank you for supporting me! If there is something you can’t inform me on the open channel because of circumstances, text or call me. Understood?”
“Sure.”
“No problem!”
“Do your best, Beasty!”
The young man sighted in relief. “No big problems on my end...for now. How about you, Sugarcoat?”
“Fine, but it could be better! Zap and Lemon Zest are leading the other institutions just fine! And Gilda over here is surprisingly working well. She is proving to be more dependable than she thought!”
“I know, right? You still want her to take my mantle?”
“Yes… for a time!”
“You really believe Cinch will allow me to go back.”
“She will! I’m sure of it!”
“What are you planning?”
“It’s a surprise, so don’t ask!”
“Okay, won’t ask any further!”
Making sure that everything was in order in his current position in the complex, Nitpick Bittersweet wondered, ‘how long could this peace would last?’ He wasn’t so sure if things would work out as good as he planned for CHS. He took from his pocket a little pamphlet that the Vice-Principal gave to him. The contents were the following:
‘It’s important to deliver quality care with compassion, dignity and respect to the unfortunate. That’s our job. Our responsibility. We, as human beings, must deliver to the pitiful, fellow people the protection and well-being that the privileged enjoy. Especially if they have being affected by the illness of third age, have an inability to see, hear or talk. That’s why society has created special homes for those people in need! That’s why we need you, young one, to help us out in this noble task!’
“And you can help us achieve harmony for the next Thanksgiving ceremony this next November, twenty-seven…“ Nitpick finished reading the event’s information for the fifth time. “What a shit load of responsibility we have, Sugarcoat!”
“At least we are working together! But I can’t stop wondering if CHS is bothered with our methods! Some of them look somewhat unsatisfied!”
“It’s not our fault that we are receiving the short end of the stick, you know…” Sunset joined their side with Twilight and Sunny Flare.
“Do you have a better idea on how to do improve our current progress?” Sugarcoat immediately asked her with an upset expression. “I’m open to suggestions!”
“What about we start treating each other in equal ground?”
“Isn’t what we are doing right know?” Sunny Flare said. “Nitpick chose three students from your school, have radios like ours and are exerting their authority within your community with no strings attached!”
“Yes, but I feel I don't have a saying in here!”
“Perhaps you are just angry because we aren’t doing things your way, Shimmer!” Sugarcoat expressed bluntly. “We are equal, for now! As soon as the second stage begins, your school will see the difference in power against mine!”
“This is not right… We are supposed to work together!”
“Deal with it, Shimmer! This is what you get for cheating your way during the games!” Nitpick said while updating their progress in his notebook. “Don’t worry! I’ll accept any suggestions you have to offer as long as they are reasonable and we follow the rules! Hate cheating… did once with Cranky’s essay and that left me with a bitter taste in my mouth!”
“At least give me a radio to help you out!” Sunset argued. “What use I am here if I can’t communicate with my teammates?”
“Use your cellphone.” Sunny Flare replied.
“Besides, they are Crystal Prep Property!” Sugarcoat added.
“But Nitpick and the others aren’t from that school! Why they can have radios, but my team and I can’t?”
“Bittersweet bought that radio with his money and it wouldn’t be fair if he didn’t use it! Also, I decided to lend him the remaining three we had to the people he trust and my companions didn’t complain about it!”
“I still can’t believe that the hall monitors lent you those, Sugarcoat! Moondancer and the others can be stingy with their tools!”
“Moondancer and I have our share of favors! She is a nice acquaintance if you give her the chance, Bittersweet!”
“You have hall monitors in your school?” Sunset asked surprised.
“Yes. You don’t?”
“No! We don’t need them!”
“And that’s why cheating happens!” Sugarcoat bluntly stated.
Sunset was clenching her fist, focusing all her anger in the pressure of her fingers. The only consolation that was keeping Sunset away from an insufferable fit of rage was that Twilight Sparkle was giving her a tender smile that soothed her rage.
There were three groups of twenty students for each organization. Right now, Sunset Shimmer, Nitpick Bittersweet, Candie Sugarcoat and Sunny Flare were the leaders of the event from their respective schools. Zap was supposed to be Sugarcoat’s second in command but she decided to join a smaller group with Lighting Dust for the time being. Twilight was quietly following the quartet a few steps behind them. She had a very special job: Being the Restrained Follower. Another way for Sugarcoat to say, ‘You aren’t blowing anything to oblivion this time!’
The three institutions were located in the Greenfield district of Crystal State, better known as the ‘The lung of the city’. Surrounded by beautiful parks and a neighborhood that matched the peacefulness of the best streets of the suburbs, this was a truly place of rest for such organizations. It was also a luck that the institutions were nearby each other.
There were three stages to their ongoing event: The third and final stage was about organizing a big celebration to the residents of each institutional organization. The second stage was about getting to know the residents in a partial level, making sure to get attached to none of them… for Nitpick, though, that would be a hard thing to do thanks to someone.
And the first stage, the one most students were doing now, consisted of exploring and memorizing the layout of the buildings. For the next two weeks, when possible, they would aid with burning youth and vigor to the staff of each place in their menial tasks. Cleaning the good clean.
In other words…
“Why are we doing the chores of this place again?” Gilda asked using her radio.
“Because it’s our job!” Sugarcoat exclaimed through hers. “You should consider shutting your mouth instead of wasting battery power with your useless complains!”
“I DIDN’T ASK FOR BEING A STUPID JANITOR!” Gilda raged.
“DEAL WITH IT!” Sugarcoat commanded. “If you were a full pledged Champion leader, you would have leaded a squad instead of doing the busy work!”
“Being a leader is even busier, you little shit!”
“Then shut your mouth and keep cleaning, you stupid oversized brute! Be glad that I trust you enough to give you a Walkie-Talkie!” Sugarcoat said while grabbing a broom nearby. “Grab your gear, Bittersweet and Flare! Let’s aid them with the cleaning!”
They didn’t think twice to do as she said. Twilight and Sunset did the same in helping their peers with the chores. Everything was fine… for a brief moment.
“I’m so tired!” A random CHS student said.
“You have only been working like ten minutes, wimp!” Gilda said with a tone that scared her companion.
“Calm down, Gilda! You are making a ruckus over nothing!” Rainbow Dash said to her ex-friend.
“Oh yeah? Just like the ruckus you made over that stupid prank that the pink fucker played on me a few years back?”
“APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT YOU SAID TO HER!”
“MAKE ME, BITCH!”
“Rainbow is right! That was rude and you should apologize!” Another CHS student exclaimed.
“And who are you to tell her what to do?” A Crystal student gave them the mean look.
“Everyone please calm down! You will cause trouble to everyone around here!” Sunset put herself in the middle as quickly as she could.
“Why should we listen to you, CHS gal?”
“Because is the right thing to do! Besides, I’m one of the leaders of this group so I ask of you the cooperation we expect from everybody!”
“You don’t have power over Crystal Prep community, Shimmer! I suggest you remember that!” Sunny Flare spoke behind her. “SPARKLE! I can’t believe you haven’t finished mopping your part of the corridors!”
Sunset's switch was flipping. "Hey! Don't speak to her like that!"
"Then do something about her incompetence!"
“I’m so sorry! I’m doing my best to keep up with your pace!” Twilight said apologetically.
“Pathetic as always, Twilight. Come here and let me teach you how to use the mop correctly!” Sour Sweet scolded. “You know, for all your academic genius, you are kind of incompetent in everything else!”
“I’m sorry…” Twilight said saddened.
“And you are still the same weak-willed brat from middle school! No wait! I believe you have become even worse than before! Now, the trick is in using your wrist like this in this part of the stick… NO! Too high… now is too low… let me help you position your hands… and done! Now, you do the following motion!”
While almost all of the residents of Angel’s Grove nursing home took a little tour to the city and enjoyed their life for a little while, the youngsters were cleaning the place in their behalf. Eventually, with some agreements to work in silence and somewhat far away from one another, the arguing ceased. The students resumed their activities quietly.
Crystal Prep was too harsh for the likes of CHS, especially to Twilight and Sunset. They were watching them closely to every single move they did, waiting for any anomaly in their characters or a kind of transformation to manifest upon them.
It won’t happen. The girls won’t Pony-up. They shouldn’t. They couldn’t… not like this. Not when Principal Celestia’s reputation and well-being depended on it. It was suffocating for them. Pressuring. If it weren’t for Sunset’s continuous support, Twilight would have succumbed to her old self during her days at the academy.
In a way, both were strengthening the bond born from the adversity they were facing…just like the first time they met.
“Have you ever worked as a janitor in your life before? Have you ever used a broom like your life depended on it and swept through countless empty rooms, only to get a pat on your back and a thank from your teacher? Have you ever felt the bitter sensation of chlorine fume burning through your eyes and making your skin itch as the time passes when you mop the stupid floor? Well, fuck it! It’s shit!” Nitpick passionately said in poesy while looking at the ceiling.
“Stop reflecting your poor excuse of human existence in my presence, you poet scum!”
“Bitch.”
“If you won’t stop, at least do it in your head and spare me your crappy poetry!”
“Says the perfectionist fucker that enjoys bossing everyone around! That’s even crappier than my crap!”
Sugarcoat raised her hand and gave him the middle finger. He laughed at that. Sugarcoat soon followed. Even so, they were on edge with the current situation.
“Well… ’Sigh’, we’re finally done in this room!” Sugarcoat said somewhat pleased with the results while cleaning her sweat with a tissue.
“Finally! Let’s go to the other one and finish this quickly! It’s the last one, I believe!” He said in relief while they walked to the next room.
“We still have to go to the orphanage and the retirement center after this, remember that! No doubt we’ll work in those places as well!” Sugarcoat commented while preparing the last batch of water with chlorine.
“Good luck with that one!”
She gave him the mean look, forcing him to keep working with her commanding finger.
“I wonder how the royal pain and our princess are doing in their task.” He said curiously while gathering the trash. “I hope their groups are able to work with them in a civilized fashion.”
“Do you really think that they’ll even touch a clean trash bag with their bare hands? Those two barely know how to deal with us! I fear the worst, to be honest!”
An opera tune rang from Sugarcoat’s phone… she wasn’t amused.
“DAMN HER!”
“What does it say?”
“Just forget about it and keep cleaning!”
Nitpick looked at the floor for a moment and then put an annoyed face.
“I didn’t sign for this shit!”
Sugarcoat was masterfully sweeping the place while he complained. “I’ll accept nothing less than perfection from our partnership! If I clean, you clean!”
He matched her pace. “You exaggerate, but fine! I’ll please you this time!” He crankily said.
“Like you always do… my brother.”
A serene wind engulfed the room as they took their sweet time on finishing their chores… it was harmonious. Even pleasant. It’s been a while since they had some task to work on together. It was… nice for them.
“Uh, we have a problem!” Gilda said neutrally while joining the duo.
“A big one!” Soarin exclaimed at her side.
“Now what?” Nitpick asked.
“I received a call from Mystery Mint and she said that Rarity is having a fight with someone called Suri Polomare!” He said in panic.
“Why?”
“Something about their cleaning methods. It seems that Rarity isn’t happy about some of the Crystal students hiring a cleaning service to do the shores for them.”
“They are complaining that they are cheating with that!” Gilda added without a care.
“Heavensbane, Soarin! Keep the students in check with Sour Sweet and Dash while we eradicate the mayhem from Rarity and Polomare in the retirement home! If anything happens, I’ll make the call to summon you!”
“You can count on us!”
“If you say so, Sug…”
“I know you hate Dash, but please help me in this!” Sugarcoat said unexpectedly gentle. Gilda only answered with a thumps-up.
Nitpick called Sunset, Sunny and Twilight to join him. Sugarcoat took the lead and they walked behind her to their destination. As they arrived to their point of interest in the retirement home, some students from both schools were clashing with one another. At the lead of the assault from CHS, Rarity stood firmly against Suri Polomare.
“You know, for a school that accuses us of cheating, you aren’t showing any kind of good sportsmanship with this act of yours!” Rarity said skeptically.
“We didn’t ask for those spoiled brats to hire those guys to do our job! Unlike you, we of Crystal Prep Academy work with pride and honesty in all competitions!”
“That doesn’t seem to be the case today, is it?”
“Look at all of us, Rarity! Do we look like slackers to you?”
Polomare and the Crystal students were sweating drops from their hard-labor. Marks of chlorine, detergent and dirt were seen in their clothes.
“I can say the same for CHS, darling! We are even dirtier than you! My shirt is ruined by all that dirt!”
“This is another proof that justifies that we are the cleaner and far more organized community between the two of us! Also, horrible selection of clothes! Greek, whitish-blue cotton and purple, plain skirt? Ha! So last century!”
“At least I’m not wearing some grandma shorts that make me look fatter on the waist!”
“Long shorts are the IN on this season! You just have a terrible sense of fashion!”
“Excuse me? Since when a bucklinghton shorts style was even considered fashionable in this century? Only people without a sense of taste would wear an abominable style like that!”
“What did you say, plain-looking gal?”
“Do you want to get your hands dirtier with me, darling?
Both of them took a fighting stance, ready to cause heavy damage to one another. There were people who were going to stop them if things got out of control… others just thought if they should just laugh, let them fight and go back to work.
“Want me to bring some popcorn for the cat fight we are about to see, Sugarcoat?” Nitpick said with amusement. Sunset was displeased by his comment.
Sugarcoat released a small chuckle. “Although I’m tempted to accept the offer of free entertainment and snacks, we can’t let them fight. Not here at least” She put a serious expression again. “Let’s stop them.” She stepped forward. “Both of you! I see you have rested long enough this past few minutes! If you have energy to spare in discussing pointless chatters, I suggest you use it to do your remaining tasks, now!”
“But she started! This CHS gal is accusing us of cheating, Sugarcoat!”
“That’s a lie! We only pointed out that your cleaning methods weren’t acceptable! We are the ones that are supposed to do the job, not hire external sources to do it for us!”
“All of us are doing our jobs as demanded! I suggest we go back and continue to do the same!” Sugarcoat said.
“You can’t leave things as they are!” Sunset said before Sugarcoat could walk away. “We are doing our best to fulfill your conditions and it would be unfair of you if you do nothing about this problem.”
“Yes, you are right.” Sugarcoat said reasonably. “Rarity, has your partner from Crystal Prep been helping you in your task before he decided to hire those guys?”
“No! I don’t even know who he is! That cleaning service worker just showed up and did the job with me!”
“I also don’t know who my partner is!” Octavia said with modesty. “Like Rarity, a young woman came and did the cleaning with me!”
“I, too, had a cleaning service gal who helped me in these boring chores!” Mystery Mint added. “I don’t mind her help at all to be honest!” Some of her friends gave her a look of disapproval while she released a playful smile at them.
“I received a called from Bon Bon and she said that there are two missing people from Crystal Prep as well!” Thunderbass added.
Sugarcoat sighed in frustration, rubbing her eyes stressfully. “Excuse me for a moment.” She walked to her friend while dialing up to one of those royal pains. “You better give me a good reason for your absence… What do you mean you won’t do it? … … … … … I DON’T CARE! … … Rosaline and her companions don’t count! … … … If I suffer, you WILL suffer! … … If none of you come here with the rest, I will- … … Excellent!” She hung up the call. ”They had a sort of delay and one of them sent his personal maids instead to compensate for their brief absence!”
“They are maids?” Rarity asked in awe. “You mean the real deal and not a normal cleaning service?”
“Correct. Now, get back to work! We have lost enough time already with this useless chatter! For those who are done with their task, you can aid your companions or stay here and enjoy the view. Your choice. Come, Bittersweet! Let’s do the part that corresponds to us in this place!”
Nitpick followed Sugarcoat and they finished their part of the chores sooner than expected. Twilight Sparkle, on the other hand, was looking at the window with a tired face.
“Are you okay, Twilight?” Sunset asked.
She sighed stressfully. “No… This is not fair!”
“I know! But we must withstand their conditions to help Principal Celestia! We already did some collateral damage to her credibility after the games… If we stay in low profile long enough to convince Cinch that she is innocent, then we will have succeeded!
“Even so… They are so mean!” The young scientist was starting to build some tears. “I thought they changed a little!”
“Oh Twilight…” Sunset caressed her chin. “We must stay firm in this test of courage and show them that we have the greatest power of all backing us up, even without using it!”
“The Magic of Friendship!” Twilight happily said.
Sunset embraced her with a gentle aura. “Come, my student! Let’s join the others and help them in everything we can! We will show to Crystal Prep which is the better school!”
Amusingly, it didn’t take more than thirty minutes for the event leaders to face another problem. Three of the five millionaires arrived in a limousine to the center. At first, it pacified the protest of the students, but soon they found themselves wanting the maids to help them once more. Sadly, they shunned them away and weren’t found anywhere.
“I can’t believe that they don’t even know how to use a trash bin! A PLASTIC TRASH BIN!” Applejack was enraged by her partner’s ineptitude, surprising her peers by her attitude. “FOR THE MOTHER OF LAND SAKES!” She was stomping the floor with all her might.
“You three are the most arrogant idiots that Crystal Prep has ever faced in its halls!” Sunny Flare said with displeasure. “I can’t believe you don’t even know how to use a simple trash bag! You are a disgrace to the shield!”
“You are putting us in shame, for Pete’s Sake!” Jet Set exclaimed furiously. “This is why the second class is known for being a spoiled bunch!”
“Answer the following question!” Sugarcoat said with a frowning face. “You know how to sweep and mop the floor, don’t you?” They answered her petition by doing the act competently in a little space. “Then why don’t you work like everyone else does?”
“We don’t want to deal with an inferior competition like a public school. This is barely worth our time!” One of rich guys said.
“Understand our feelings, Sugarcoat!” Another of the bunch said. “Doing this kind of activities in a competition is barely considered an achievement to the likes of us!”
“Even so, I must punish you for your lack of commitment! If I let this pass, CHS won’t take us seriously!” Sugarcoat said with arms crossed. She cleared her throat and stayed silent for a moment. “HEAVENSBANE! BITTERSWEET!”
From the shadows of hell, an evil entity emerged behind the millionaires’ backs. A big grin was painted in her face while she was looking at them with abominable eyes, enjoying their fears and tremble as if they were cotton candies for a kid…her preys started to believe in the existence of the underworld. She rested her arms in two pair of shoulders, reinforcing her presence to her victims.
“I’m glad you answered my text call so fast, Heavensbane!”
“What can I say? I enjoy this part of the job!” Gilda said with grim pleasure.
“NO, WAIT!” One of the rich gals shouted in terror. “THERE’S NO NEED FOR THIS, CHAMPION SUGARCOAT!”
“WE’LL HELP YOU OUT, MISS CANDIE!”
Sugarcoat suddenly felt irritation. She didn’t say a word or showed a sign of compassion, making only a beheading gesture with her hands.
“Don’t worry… I’ll be gentle!” Gilda whispered frighteningly while winking to each gal.
Soon, two rich students were pulled from their legs. Screams of despair were heard from the helpless students as they were dragged to the laundry room to meet their fate with Mr. Soap. The door closed abruptly and the screams ceased instantly.“NO!” The third one wanted to escape, but another giant choke his neck with his arm and dragged him to the cleaning room to meet Mr. Bucket and Mrs. Mop. The trio was forced to work after a couple of minutes.
“Was that really necessary?” Applejack asked to Sugarcoat while watching the rich guys being ordered to clean mercilessly.
“If you want to enforce discipline, acts like this are necessary sometimes! I too received punishments like this one when I was an incompetent brat during my middle school days!” She said naturally. “Eventually, it helped me out in my personal growth to accomplish my duties on the first try!”
“Things never change in Crystal Prep…” Twilight said weakly.
“And your lack of competence hasn’t diminished either since you left, Sparkle! Ever since I met you during middle school, you have always complained about everything that wasn’t compatible with your comfort zone! Adding salt to the injury, you are spineless!”
“Hey! I won’t let you talk to her like that!” Applejack put herself between both girls, confronting the Crystal student face to face.
“Keep spoiling her like that and you will end up harming her more than aiding in her maturity’s development!”
“Perhaps in your school is that way but CHS does things differently! She’s doing fine with our environment!”
“I see. Sparkle, you should consider forfeiting the event! I don’t want to deal with a childish brat in my back! And I specially don’t want to win against a team that was crippled from the start because of you!”
“Sugarcube! Tell her that Twilight is going to help us win!”
Nitpick was confronted by Applejack, hoping from her acquaintance to defend the young scientist.
“Bittersweet agrees with me!” Sugarcoat said with confidence. “If you want to get a shot against us, you must ditch Twilight for someone better-rounded in abilities and confidence, Applejack!”
“I don’t think so… right, sugarcube?” The Cowgirl said hopeful.
“To be honest, Applejack, if she keeps acting like this… she won’t survive the academy’s pressure. She needs to step up her game! This is only the first day and she is acting more anti-social with us than in our days in Crystal Prep!”
The young Cowgirl looked at the floor. Her beautiful visage reflected an expression of disappointment. Deep inside, Twilight couldn’t stop feeling a little betrayed by his words.
“I knew you would tell her the truth!” Sugarcoat expressed with subtle pride. “Come! Let’s continue our duties and show them how to lead a real winning team! You can stay here with your friend if you wish so, Sparkle.”
Nitpick and Sugarcoat joined their brothers in arms in their task once more. They decided to leave Sunny and Sunset in charge of the people while the two of them would work in the courtyard on their own alone.
“Are you angry with me because I'm allowing my companions to be harsh with Sparkle?” Sugarcoat said while removing the dead leafs from the pond.
“A little…" Sugarcoat gave him the mean look. "Well, A lot! Was that really necessary?” He swept the dirt from the pond’s structure.
“I’m surprised you are asking me that! If you really want to help her, sometimes you must choke her hard enough to make her realize things on her own!”
“She is the most fragile girl I have ever met. I thought she was stronger when I met her in CHS again… but it seems that with Sunset’s influence, that’s not the case! I don't know if I can really help her!”
"You can if you make her hate you! Sometimes people must get truly angry with someone to start recognizing their current emotional limitis. Also, no longer infatuated with Shimmer?”
“No.”
“Bittersweet…” She pronounced his name bluntly.
“She is hot, ok?”
“Uhu, what else?”
“…She likes to speak of poetry crap too, you know?”
“Moonlight’s bane! Never invite me to your house after the wedding!”
“There won’t be a wedding, you little shit!”
“Right…” She started to use her radio. “Sour Sweet! Report!”
“All good.”
“Zest?”
“Same!”
“Zap?”
“You are outside of the building, you know?” Zap answered in a jokingly tone. “You can walk in here and I’ll give you a personal report!”
“Very funny!” She suddenly felt someone staring at her. “What?”
“Bossy! Marry me!”
“Bittersweet, do you want me to put this broom in your a-!” Sugarcoat stopped with a face of awkwardness and disbelief.
“What’s wrong!?”
She didn’t answer. Instead, she pointed out to the sky and her friend soon joined her in her baffled expression. A whole battalion of helicopters were flying in a rhombus formation, protecting a single, white and golden helicopter in the middle.
Their lowered their speed and the door of the special colored vehicle opened, revealing a pair of young and elegant students.
“Good morning, my dearest friends! I am ashamed for such delay from our part! But worry not! We will go straight to the orphanage and start our task of today immediately!” A young maiden said through a megaphone. Soon the vehicles made full throttle to their destination.
“GOD DAMNS THEM!” Sugarcoat shouted.
“We better go there immediately before they make a ruckus!” Nitpick suggested and he started persecuting the helicopters.
Sugarcoat started walking. “Heavensbane! Go to the orphanage ASAP! We’ll meet you there!” She accelerated her pace, matching Nitpick’s speed. “Those idiots are gonna screw things up with that kind of arrival!”
“Shut up and keep running!”
“Well said!” Sugarcoat focused her sight on their objectives. “We better hurry!”