PART(ie) Hard

It seems like it has taken forever for Pinkie Pie to reach her dorm, despite working as fast as her brain and tongue will allow to convince Rarity of her on-the-spot plan. But thankfully she went with it. She was reluctant, and while Pinkie Pie feels guilty about what she convinced Rarity to do she knows it is for the greater good. Now all she has to do is convince her other two pawns to obey her kingly status on the chessboard and go along with her completely amazing spur of the moment plan that will in no absolute way backfire.

So here she stands, in her dorm, by her table where Applejack and Trixie are. Both are reading, but Applejack is reading her Aura book and has a notebook scribbled with notes and Trixie is still reading her phone catalog.

“Okay, so here's the gist of the situation,” says Pinkie Pie. “That night when Discord barely got away from us he took a bunch of gems with him.”

Applejack turns a page in her Aura book, humming dismissively.

“Now Discord has a whole bunch of gems and unless we -as a well working team of amazing girls- stop him he will wreck havoc on the city and a lot of people are going to get hurt,” continues Pinkie Pie.

“Uh huh,” says Trixie absentmindedly.

“So as your team leader -who is in no way doubting her abilities whatsoever- I am ordering us to begin Operation: Find Discord and Beat The Crap Out of Him Before He Does Terrible Things To The City.”

Applejack and Trixie stop reading and both look at Pinkie Pie with various levels of bemusement, and she smiles back at them, squeeing.

“I'll pass,” says Trixie.

Trixie resumes reading her catalog and Pinkie Pie's smile falls to a frown like a man wearing cement shoes in a river.

“Trixie, it doesn't work like that,” says Pinkie Pie. “You're supposed to be: 'Of course I'll help because I'm a great team player'. And then you help me and Applejack and Rarity nab Discord.”

“I'll pass,” repeats Trixie.

“Wow, you're team player levels are really low.”

“And your leadership levels are lower.”

Pinkie Pie's eye twitches. She knows Trixie is telling the truth, but her words still felt like a swift stab to the gut that will inevitably lead to her pride bleeding out. Not that there is much there to begin with, but still. Pain. Very much pain.

Pinkie Pie slumps to her seat and stares ahead, eyes dying and hair flattening, and Applejack sighs and puts her book down, looking at Trixie sternly.

“Come on, now, don't be harsh,” chides Applejack. She then puts her focus on Pinkie Pie. “Look, Pinks, I know you wanna do the right thing, but ya gotta think about this for a second. Ya ain't got a plan and Discord ain't exactly the easiest of opponents to deal with.”

“But I do have a plan,” says Pinkie Pie, blinking tears away. “It is a great plan that will work. I know it will.”

“And what plan is that?” says Applejack, her chin resting on her fist and her gaze expecting gold.

“Well, it is a multi-person plan, first of all, and Rarity is already working on her part.”

=====OOO=====

In the Team DAFT dorm, Rarity sits next to Astro on a bed covered in thick textbooks of various science fields. She has squished her legs up close to her and is leaning against him so her chest is pressed against his arm and her hand on his thigh. Across from the duo is Thorn, who is resting against his headboard with his legs stretched out and weaving a bracelet out of yarn. Then there is Drake who is pumping his arm with a 100 pound barbell. Lastly there is Fluttershy and the radish head -whom Rarity has learned in Zepher, Jr.- and they are sitting on Fluttershy's bed full of stuffed animals and pillows, playing the role of spectators.

“I've always had a fascination with intellectuals,” says Rarity.

“Really?” says Astro, blushing slightly.

“Yes.” Rarity sighs provocatively and caresses Astro's leg as she gazes upon him with sultry eyes and an inviting smile. “There's just something I find attractive with big brains over big brawns.”

Thorn stops weaving his bracelet to look at Rarity dubiously, and Drake shakes his head in disgust while Fluttershy and Zepher stare at the pair whimsically.

“Oh, well-” Astro coughs into his fist turning his hot red face away. “Um, this is weird.”

“Yes it is,” grumbles Rarity, looking at the floor.

“What?”

Rarity smiles. “Nothing!”

=====OOO=====

Pinkie Pie nods and looks at the table, trying to fight off the poisonous doubt. “Yeah, she's got her in end in the bag. But that brings up my next part of the plan that will without a doubt shine light on Discord's nefarious scheme.”

“And what is that?” asks Applejack.

“We use Octavia's connections to the criminal underworld to find and expose Discord, then we converge on him take him down like a pack of wolves on an old elk!” She fakes a wicked grin and slams her fist into her. “Easy peasy.”

Applejack merely shakes her head and goes back to reading her Aura book, and Trixie stands up and places her hands on the table as she leans towards Pinkie Pie, staring harshly at her, forcing Pinkie Pie to shrink in shame.

“Okay, dear leader, since you're being stupid Trixie is going to use the thoughtfulness of her heart to remind you that: A) Octavia is a poser who has no contacts and even if she does she would not use them to find Discord. And, B) You died last time you faced Discord,” says Trixie.

Applejack briefly looks up from her book. “Yeah, the doctors had to pump you with Dash's blood, remember?”

“That's because we were dumb last time,” says Pinkie Pie. “But we don't actually have to fight Discord. I mean, we can always go the boring route and figure out where he's stashing the gems, do an anonymous call in and watch the show from a safe distance. It'll have no satisfaction, but whatever bakes the cake.”

“I can't believe you want another swing at him,” says Applejack, returning her full attention on Pinkie Pie with concern and annoyance burdening her features. “Even though last time he tore us apart without so much as a sweat on his brow.”

“Applejack, relax,” says Pinkie Pie. “You won't be there physically since you're in a wheelchair, so when we fight Discord it'll be me and Trixie. But mostly me.”

Trixie holds up her hands and reels back. “Whoa. Whoa. Pinkie, no! I'm not fighting Discord!”

Pinkie Pie looks at Trixie. “What are you complaining about? I said it was mostly me.”

Applejack rolls herself in front of Pinkie Pie and grabs her wrist.

“Pinkie, stop this, all right?” says Applejack firmly. “You don't have to do anything. You don't have to fight Discord. You don't have to go hunting for stolen gems. You have to be here where its safe.”

Pinkie Pie jerks her arms out of Applejack's grip and steps back, clenching her fists.

“How safe are we going to be when Discord uses those stolen gems to do whatever it is he's going to do? He already hurt you, Rarity and Pinprick once and I won't let him do it again!” says Pinkie Pie.

Applejack slams her fist on the arm of her wheelchair. “And he killed you!”

Pinkie Pie and Trixie flinch, and Applejack looks down, sniffling and wiping tears from her eyes. When she looks up, her lips are trembling and her hard gaze cracks from the flow of tears soaking her eyes.

“He killed you right in front of me and I couldn't stop him,” says Applejack. “I couldn't protect you then and I can't protect you now and you want to go after him by yourself.”

“And me,” adds Trixie.

Pinkie Pie and Applejack snap a glare at Trixie and she shrugs meekly.

“I mean, she did say 'Trixie and me' earlier... just saying,” says Trixie.

Pinkie Pie sighs, sits in on her knees front of Applejack and grabs her hand, smiling reassuringly.

“Applejack, I know you got the jitters, but we won't be going at it alone. Team Flash will help us out,” says Pinkie Pie.

“And how is Team FORT involved?” asks Trixie with a cocked brow.

Applejack frowns and places her other hand on Pinkie Pie's, sniffling and blinking while locking her eyes on her cousin's. “Yeah, that's a good question. Flash's team's also got them tracker cuffs and their weapons are locked up like ours. They ain't gonna be helpful for this idea that you ain't gonna do.”

“I'm glad you asked.” Pinkie Pie slides away from Applejack and cracks her back as she pulls out her chair, just so she can put one foot on it. “We use Octavia-”

“You already said that,” says Trixie, fist in her cheek and her eyes drooped.

“Right... There is also Flash-”

“He sucks,” interrupts Trixie.

“And Rainbow Dash-”

“She also sucks.”

Pinkie Pie points at Trixie impatiently. “You need to shut up. Now, there's also Twilight and I have no idea what she does, but if she is a four time champion of a high stakes competition and a mascot of cereal she must be epic and can really help us out.”

Trixie nods. “Yeah, Twilight is a demon in a cute body.”

Pinkie Pie and Applejack look at Trixie, and she looks at both of them, confused.

“What?” Seconds later, Trixie's eyes expand and she slouches in her chair. “Oh. Wrong idea. I'm an arrow.”

“Right... Well, I'm going to talk to Team Flort about my amazing idea. I'll be right back,” says Pinkie Pie, now speed walking towards the door.

“What idea? You didn't tell us any ideas,” says Trixie.

“Pinkie, ya ain't doing anything! You're gonna stay here and study!” says Applejack, wheeling after her.

Pinkie Pie opens up the door and looks at Applejack defiantly. “You aren't my mom!”

And then she slams the door shut, forcing Applejack to slam on her wheelchair breaks, thus assaulting her's and Trixie's ears with screeching rubber. Once stopped Applejack slaps the arm of her chair, growling.

“Dang nabbit, what am I going to do with that girl?” says Applejack.

Trixie opens her phone catalog. “She does have a death wish... Do you think I should go retro with a flip phone or get another smart phone?”

Applejack face-palms.

******

Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie takes two giant skips to get to Team FORT's door and when she is in front of their door she takes a moment to ruffle up her hair. Her fingers claw at her scalp until her hair puffs out like cotton candy, and after shaking off loose strands of hair she knocks as fast as her two hands will allow. Once the door opens she smiles sweetly at a very unhappy member of FORT.

“Hi, Twilight, can I come in?” asks Pinkie Pie.

Twilight slams the door shut and Pinkie Pie's smile pops out of existence with a huff, and she knocks again.

“Twilight.”

She knocks again.

“Twilight.”

She knocks again.

“Twilight.”

She knocks again.

“Twilight.”

Twilight yanks the door open. “WHAT!?”

Pinkie Pie's fist remains in the air and she meets Twilight's red faced, teeth grinding, seething display of annoyance with wide eyes and scrunched lips.

“I just want to talk to Flash real quick,” says Pinkie Pie.

“Why? So you can get him arrested again?” accuses Twilight.

“No. I actually need his help, your help, Dashie's help, and Octavia's help. It's super important, like a twenty on a scale of one to ten.”

“Oh, you're funny.”

Twilight then tries to slam the door shut, but Pinkie Pie blocks it with her foot and presses her shoulder against the door. Both girls grunt and growl as they push against each other, and as they battle for dominance Pinkie's bracelet beeps... and then someone taps on her shoulder.

“Uh, Pinkie, what are you doing?” asks Flash.

Pinkie Pie stops struggling and she looks over her shoulder to see Flash. In his hands are plastic bags filled with snacks and school supplies, and after Flash orders Twilight to let go of the door, he and Pinkie enter the dorm. Pinkie Pie and Twilight exchange harsh looks, but when she turns around to face Flash she has a sweet smile.

“So, how are you doing?” asks Pinkie Pie.

“Fine,” says Flash. “What are you doing here?”

“Wow, that's rude.”

“Sorry, I'm just wondering why you're here. Do you need help with something?”

“Actually I do.” Pinkie Pie looks around. “Where's Octavia and Rainbow Dash?”

“They're out doing something. Not really sure what, though.”

=====OOO=====

In the school cafeteria, Rainbow Dash sighs and rubs her forehead, and sitting next to her is Octavia, who is becoming slightly aggravated. With them are trays of recently consumed food, crumbled wrappers and plastic wares.

“Okay, we'll try this again,” says Rainbow Dash with weighted patience. She clears her throat and speaks in a deep voice: “Hey, good looking, wanna go to the dance with me?”

“Depends. Do you know how to pick locks?” asks Octavia.

Rainbow Dash throws her hands up and slides out of the chair. “Forget it. You're going to be single for the dance.”

Octavia shrugs. “Fine.”

Rainbow Dash walks away. “Fine.”

Octavia grabs a plastic knife from her tray. “Fine.”

Rainbow Dash is now by the door. “Fine!”

Octavia starts sharpening her plastic knife. “Fine.”

=====OOO=====

“I'm sure they'll be back any minute,” says Flash. “So, what's up?”

“Oh... well...” Pinkie Pie rubs the back of her neck. “I kinda need your guys's help to track down Discord before he uses all of the gems he stole to wreck havoc on the city and I figured that Octavia can use her shady contacts to find him, Twilight and Trixie can act as the muscles since they're champions and you and Dash can use whatever cool stuff you guys got to help me nab Discord and I got Rarity helping me out with the trackers on our ankles so we won't be tracked by the school and use our aura to beat up people if we have to so does that sound like a cool plan or will I have to beg and do favors?”

She finishes with a smile and squee and Flash meets her smile with confusion while Twilight looks annoyed.

“Can't help,” says Twilight.

“Why?” asks Pinkie Pie.

“Because my BBBF is in town and Flash wants to meet him, plus I'm already on a short leash because of what happened last time we helped you,” says Twilight. “I will not let my record get tarnished any more than it already is.”

“BBBF?”

“Yes, my BBBF.”

“Who's your BBBF?”

“A very important man within the Remnant government.”

“Oh... He sounds boring.”

“He's not boring!”

“Right~ Anyway.” Pinkie Pie butts Twilight out of the way so she can rub up next to Flash and gaze up at him with theatrical desperation glowing in her eyes. “Will you pretty please with a cherry on top help me with this very, very, very, very important mission?”

Flash's eyes flick between Pinkie's smile and Twilight's hard stare, and after some seconds of unsure humming he gently pries Pinkie Pie off of his arm and guides her to the door.

“Pinkie, I would love to help you, but me and Twilight got a sparring session and I got to meet her BBBF,” says Flash.

Pinkie Pie grabs Flash's arms tight as she locks eyes with him, but he keeps guiding her to the door.

“But, Flash, you don't understand, Discord's got tons of gems!” she says frantically. “He stole those gems from the pier and now he's going to use them to spread chaos and nobody's gonna be safe because he's Discord, please help me out here, pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease!”

As Pinkie Pie rambles, Flash reaches around her, opens up the door and carefully forces her into the hall. When she is outside her hair has deflated and her bracelet beeps as she cries hysterically and stomps her foot.

“Are you even listening to me!” screams Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie, stop!” snaps Flash.

Pinkie Pie recoils and brings her balled hands to her mouth, her hair flat once more. Her eyes water and her fingers tap anxiously against each other while Flash sighs and runs his fingers though his hair, not looking at her. When he does look at her, his expression is softer, and he puts a hand on her shoulder.

“Just... stop. Whatever is going on with Discord, leave it to the professionals, okay?” says Flash. “We're only students. We can't fight him. You can't fight him. The only thing you can do is stay here where it is safe and not do something stupid.”

“But something bad's going to happen. I can feel it,” says Pinkie Pie quietly.

“Which is why you have to leave it to people who know what they're doing.” Flash's hand slides off of her shoulder and steps back. “But you got to go now. Me, Twilight, sparring, and BBBF stuff.”

Pinkie Pie lowers her eyes, nodding. “Right... I'll leave you two alone.”

“Yeah... Bye...”

“Bye.”

Flash closes the door, and Pinkie Pie huffs, kicks at the carpet and head to her dorm. She stops halfway, huffs again and then sulks to the elevator. She punches the down arrow and scratches an itch in her scalp while the hums of the elevator fill the silent hall. Though, when it dings and slides open her gloomy eyes burst to sunshine and rainbows from the gift that the universe has bestowed upon her.

“Hey, Pinkie, what's up?” says Rainbow Dash as she slides her way past Pinkie Pie.

As soon as the sentence is finished Pinkie Pie grabs Rainbow Dash's collar, throws her inside the elevator and hits the emergency close button. The doors slide shut and Rainbow Dash pushes against Pinkie Pie, but her small frame is no match for the rock farmer's build.

“Dude, what the heck?” says Rainbow Dash, grunting as she pushes against Pinkie Pie.

“Take me to your Tavi,” says Pinkie Pie grimly.

Rainbow Dash stops pushing. “...What?”

“Take me to Octavia.”

“Why?”

“Because I got to talk to her.”

“Is it about buying test scores? She ain't cheap, I'll tell you that right now.”

“What? No, I need her help with something. And your help, too.”

“You need her to shank somebody?”

“No.”

“Do you need me to shank somebody?”

“No! Nobody needs shanking. Well, maybe Flash.”

“You want me to shank Flash? That's pretty low.”

Pinkie Pie's demeanor sinks. “That was a joke. Just take me to Octavia, please. I'll explain everything on the way.”

Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes and pushes the elevator button. “All right, all right. You're sure grouchy this morning.”

900 Seconds Later...

“-And that is why I need your help in finding Discord,” says Pinkie Pie, now sitting across from Octavia at the cafeteria, trying very hard to ignore the sharpened plastic knife twirling between the dark haired girl's fingers. But, alas, her eyes keep following the sleek plastic. She does manage to break her eyes off of the cheap blade for a moment to flash Octavia a desperate smile, and Octavia meets her look with a stoic expression meant for a marble statue. Or so it seems. Pinkie Pie can see the gears working in Octavia's mind, and Dash's too, but the former's are going fast and smooth whereas the latter is need of some lube and something to scrub off the rust.

“Why isn't your team helping?” asks Octavia.

“Oh, they are,” says Pinkie Pie. “But I really need your expertise in the criminal underworld since you're you.”

Octavia stops twirling her crude weapon and silently stares at Pinkie Pie intently, not even risking a blink or any sort of break of eye contact.

“Look, Octavia, this is important. Besides, how hard can it be to ask a few questions?” says Rainbow Dash. She is sitting on the table next to Octavia, trying to open a bottle of soda.

Octavia leans forward and digs her plastic knife in the table, staring at her reflection in the black plastic.

“Its a lot harder than you think,” says Octavia.

“Really? You just go up, ask the questions and leave when you get answers, no biggie,” says Rainbow Dash.

“Things are different where I come from. Information is not just given freely. They would want something in return.”

“Like money?” asks Pinkie Pie, leaning forward. “Rarity's got money. I'm sure I can convince her to cough up some dough.”

Octavia shakes her head. “Money is cheap. It is favors they are more interested in.”

“I'll gladly do whatever favor they want as long as they help me take out Discord.”

Octavia looks at Rainbow Dash, and when she receives a nod she exhales slowly and looks at Pinkie Pie, her grip tightening on her knife.

“Fine,” says Octavia. “But when we go you must follow my lead. No exceptions.”

Pinkie Pie grins and flashes a thumbs up. “Thanks, Tavi! You're the best. I don't care what Dashie says about you.”

And then she skips away, shouting her farewell, oblivious to Octavia slowly looking at Rainbow Dash, who is now chugging her soda.

And chugging...

And chugging...

And chugging....

And chugging...

And chugging...

When the bottle is empty she burps and looks between the bottle and Octavia's scrutinizing eyes, smiling innocently when her eyes land on Octavia for the third time.

“I only say good things about you,” says Rainbow Dash.

Octavia quietly leaves in a hurry and Rainbow Dash watches her go, and when the door shuts she sighs and looks at her empty bottle.

“I'm surrounded by weirdos.”