Friendship Castle, meeting place of the Elements of Harmony, and home to the Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle. Also the setting to the start of our story.

It was a warm yet humid day in the town of Ponyville, the kind of day that made a pony want to go outside and enjoy the sunshine, and for the seven mares currently lounging on the terrace of the tree castle's highest branches, they intended to do just that.

It had been roughly a month since Canterlot was sieged by the invading forces of the Storm King, and had been roughly four weeks since their most prominent defector had settled into the peaceful little nation of Equestria. Fizzlepop Berrytwist, formally known as Tempest Shadow, was laying on her stomach in one of the terrace's many lounge chairs. Around her the six other mares that made up the Elements of Harmony were doing much the same, the only difference being some of them were wearing sunglasses and others were holding drinks. Fizzlepop, for her part, only sported her own purple coat and light red mane, she having disposed of her armor sometime ago. She had a glass of clear fizzy soda sitting next to her on a small table, easily reachable by her hoof. She'd needed it to be, considering the stub on her head was good for nothing else except firing beautifully colorful explosions into the sky. Much was the fate of a hornless unicorn.

She heard one of her new friends beginning to stir in their seat, drawing her attention. It was Rarity, the white unicorn she remembered most for how fussily she acted throughout the entire invasion. She lifted her stylish red rimmed sunglasses up and onto the base of her horn and addressed the mare. "So how well would you say your adjusting to life in Equestria, Fizzle?" The glamorous unicorn asked. "I can only imagine how different it must feel living here, when comparing it to your old life under the Storm King's employ." She seemed to shutter a bit after saying his name. "Ugh, such a nasty creature."

Fizzle chuckled slightly, agreeing with her opinion of her old master. "It wasn't really all that bad before, Rarity. The Storm Kingdom may have been a bleak barren landscape of rocks and endless rain, but it was... passible." She stated all too tacitly. "The Storm King's barracks had all the amidases we needed to survive and stay strong, and I even got my own room separate from the rest of the army because of my rank." She looked down at the crystalline floor of the terrace serendipitously, it wasn't really that bad a life when she really thought about it. She was praised by the other soldiers, and even her own king, for the accomplishments she had achieved while being part of the Storm King's army, even despite her deformity. She was feared and respect, and commanded a presence wherever she'd go. She may not have had any friends during that part of her life, but she definitely felt like she had a purpose. Unlike the way she currently felt now.

The other mares began to stir away from their relaxed positions and all began to stare worriedly at Fizzlepop. Apparently, her expression had changed into something far more dour and worthy of their concern.

"Is everything alright Fizzy?" Pinkie Pie asked in much more saddened tone then was normal for the usually peppy mare.

Fizzlepop grimaced. She still didn't fully like that nickname. With a short sigh, she quickly answered the other mare. "It's just that I've been struggling to find my place ever since the six of you defeated the Storm King. Not many ponies are willing to hire me after some of the things I did."

Fluttershy placed her hooves over her mouth and gasped slightly. "Oh no, I so sorry." She said sorrowfully.

Fizzlepop only shook her head in response. "It isn't your fault. After working for the Storm King for so long, it's only natural that some ponies don't openly trust me right away."

She suddenly felt a hoof wrap around her shoulder, then turned to see Twilight standing next to her. She was giving her a rather consoling smile. "They will learn to accept you, Fizzlepop. You just need to give them time and opportunities to do so."

Fizzle smiled at the princesses reassuring words. "Thank you Twilight. I will."

Applejack suddenly raised an eyebrow. "Wait a minute, if ya currently don't have a job, how are ya earnin' any bits?" The farmer mare questioned. "Don't tell me yer homeless?!"

The other mares all adopted similar shocked-like expressions as they turn to look at Fizzlepop. With a slight chuckle, she quickly waved off their worry. "No, no, I'm not homeless. Grubber and I actual own a small cottage on the east side of Equestria. I pay for part of it with the bits I earn from some odd jobs I do for a vineyard in my town, and Grubber plays the rest with the bits he collects at his job at the bakery."

"Speaking of baking, where is he and Spike with our lunch." Rainbow Dash stated. "They should of been done by now."

As if on cue, the door connecting the terrace and the inside of the castle was suddenly kicked open before Rainbow Dash could even get down from her chair. In the doorway stood Grubber and Spike, both of whom were carrying equally large silver platters with large domed lids on top of them. The two exited the tree castle at almost exactly the same time. The doorway was big enough accommodate them both, but the two needed to press their sides together in order to make it through. They kept this close proximity as they made their way towards the mares, marching almost in tandem as they took every individual step. They growled silently at each other as they finally finished their approach.

Spike broke away from Grubber's side, before presenting his tray before the mares. He lifted the lid, revealing to the them seven assorted sandwiches. "Daisy sandwiches for everypony!" He stated with pride. "...And don't worry, I got everypony's favorites." He shot a prideful sneer at Grubber, earning an irritated growl from the hedgehog.

He began sorting out the sandwiches. "Toasted sandwich with spicy mustard and cheddar cheese;" He tossed the sandwich to Rainbow Dash. "Whole-grain wheat bread with extra cucumber and no mayonnaise;" He handed the sandwich to Rarity. "White bread with Applewood-smoked haybacon and apple vinaigrette;" He gave the sandwich to Applejack. "Alfalfa and beansprouts on wheat bread;" Fluttershy took her sandwich. "Extra mayonnaise and extra mustard with extra daisies;" Twilight blushed slightly before taking her sandwich "...And cherry jam, vanilla frosting, and cabbage leaves on a sesame seed bun." He tossed the sandwich high into the air and watched as Pinkie caught it in her mouth. Spike then walked over towards Fizzle. "And here's your daisy sandwich, Tempest."

Fizzlepop half-smiled at the dragon' s slight mistake, but took her sandwich without question. She began to open it up and look inside. Spike blinked perplexedly at her. "Is something the matter?"

"It's nothing, really." The mare said while trying her best not to sound rude. "It's just... I don't really like mayonnaise, or daisies for that matter." Spike frowned at the mare's admittance.

"Oh..." He stated embarrassedly. "...I'm sorry. I guess I should of asked before-"

The dragon suddenly felt himself being booted out of the way by Grubber's hip. With a smirk the hedgehog stated, "I thought ath much." Spike glowered up at him from his current place on the floor. Grubber reached his free hand behind his back and pulled out a dinner plate with another freshly made sandwich on it. "Here'th your daffodil thandwich, Fizzlepop Berrytwitht." He said her real name with a lot of emphasis, hoping to rub in Spike's face that fact he had forgotten. "It'th jutht the way you like it; no mayonnaithe, and thuthtituted with margarine."

With a complacent smile, Fizzlepop took the sandwich. She didn't agree with the way Grubber was acting towards Spike, but at the same time didn't want to oust him in front of their new friends, they already were getting enough of that from the ponies back home. Reluctantly, she replied. "Thank you Grubber."

The smile he gave her next was genuine, and for a brief moment she felt happy that she could brighten up his day a little bit more then it already was. Unfortunately, the cocky smirk he gave Spike afterwards was just as genuine, and made the young dragon look visibly frustrated. Spike could feel the floor of the crystalline terrace being dug into as clenched his claws in anger.

Grubber soon sauntered over towards the center of the group of mares and place his metal trey on a small table an equal distance away from each of them. "I made thomething too, to go along with the thandwicheth." He grabbed the top of the lid and removed it to reveal a spongy-looking pink dessert with white frosting. Pinkie Pie practically squealed in elation.

"STRAWBERRY SPONGECAKE!!!!!" Without hesitation, Pinkie pounced on the unsuspecting dessert with predator-like vigor. The mares, dragon and hedgehog all watched in shock and horror as Pinkie violently ripped an preemptively sliced piece of cake from the whole and mowed it down like a timberwolf would an innocent baby bunny. But as she chewed on the destroyed delicate pastry, her smile slowly began to vanish and soon was replaced by a discussed grimace.

"Agggghhh!!!" Pinkie screamed, before spitting out the already chewed cake onto the terrace floor. She then bolted in the opposite direction of her group of friends and dunked her face into the fountain not but a few feet away, she seemed to be guzzling down as much water as she could drink.

Grubber looked heartbroken, all the while Spike snickered to himself silently. Experimentally, Twilight took a bite of another piece of cake she levitated off the platter. She grimaced just as Pinkie did, but swallowed it to avoid adding anything more to the already existing mess. "I'm sorry Grubber." She stated apologetically. "But I think the milk you used to make your cake has gone bad." Twilight tentatively placed her slice of cake back on the tray, before placing the lid back over it. Grubber's mouth hung wide open in disbelief, while Spike only laughed louder.

With a angry growl and a frustrated tremble, Grubber turned towards the little purple dragon and shouted in his direction. "You jerk!" He exclaimed. "You told me the milk in your fridge was thtill frethh!"

Spike shot an equally irritated glare back at the hedgehog. "...And you told me, Fizzlepop loved daisies and mayonnaise on her sandwich!"

The two began stomping towards each other until their forehead were pressed up firmly against one another's. They glared daggers at each other, both daring the other to make the move first and start something. Spike began to raise his claw, as did Grubber...

...But both were soon pulled away by separate magical auras before either could actually deliver a punch.

"Stop it! Both of you! Honestly, your acting like a couple of foals." Rarity exclaimed in distaste. The frustrated and stern faces of the others quickly told the quarreling duo that the rest of their friends, likewise, didn't have patience for their current behavior.

"HE STARTED IT!!!" They shouted in unison. The dragon and hedgehog began glaring daggers again.

"NO I DIDN'T!!!" They continued to argue.

"STOP COPYING ME!!!"

"STOP IT!!!"

The two paused, and stared at each other contemplatively. Judging by the looks on their faces, one would have surmised they were deep in thought about what exactly they'd say next. It took a few seconds, but both soon responded with an equally absurd statement.

"OOEY GOOEY WAS A WORM, OH WHAT A WORM WAS HE!!!!"

"GAAH!!!"

"Are you looking to thtart thomething, Half-Pint?!" Grubber shouted finally delivering his own statement with hearing the young dragon repeat it.

"Oh look who's talking?!" Spike shouted back. "I'm not the one spiking up my hair because I feel insecure about my stubby legs!"

Grubber raised his hands towards his mohawk, with a clearly hurt expression plastering his face. That expression soon quickly turned to rage as continued the growl at the dragon. "Oh yeah?! At leatht I have hair!!"

Spike's pupils visibly dilated. "What did you just say!!!"

"ENOUGH!" Twilight shouted, slamming her front hoof down on the floor of the terrace. "YOU TWO NEED TO CALM DOWN RIGHT NOW, AND STOP ALL THIS FIGHTING!!!" Both Spike and Grubber started up at Twilight with faces of shock and fear. Neither had ever heard the young alicorn use the royal Canterlot voice before, it definitely demanded a presence and made the two forgo any other lingering thoughts of continuing their argument.

Twilight glanced towards her friends, noticing their equally shocked expressions after stating her authority as a princess. With a begrudging sigh, she lowered her voice back to normal. "Look just... just get away from each other for a while, and calm yourselves down." She explained. "..And I don't want to hear any more arguing after you get back. Do you understand me?!" Both Spike and Grubber nodded timidly and quickly made their way towards door, only fighting a little bit more as they both struggled to get past each other when they entered the doorway at the same time.

"Uggghhh!" Twilight groaned in frustration. She sat down on her haunches and began to rub her soar temples.

"Jeez Twilight, I didn't know you had it in you to go all "angry mom" on Spike like that." Rainbow stated with no hint of hiding how impressed she was.

"Indeed," Fizzlepop agreed. "Even some of the Storm Guards in the army would have hesitated to defy you after a command like that."

Twilight took in a deep breath, before releasing an exhale. "I didn't mean to lose my temper like that, but it's been like this every time you two have come over to visit. Somehow one of them always seems to set the other off, and then another shouting match begins."

"It does seem to be like that, doesn't it." Fizzlepop stated. "I can't help but feel this is partially my fault however."

Applejack look at her quizzically. "What do ya mean Fizzle?"

Fizzlepop sighed. "You remember back during one of our first visits, I was praising Grubber for the amount work he tended to do around our home when neither of us were working?" The other mares nodded. "Well, after that visit, I've been reluctantly allowing him to continue this practice. I believe this may be leading to his current behavior. He may feel like he has something to prove, considering our old military lifestyle, and could be seeing Spike as potential rival biding for his position."

Twilight sighed as well. "It isn't completely your's or Grubber's fault, either. Spike takes his assistant duties very seriously, and most of the time, he hates it when others ponies do his jobs for him. What he does for me and the rest of Ponyville makes him feel accomplished and helpful, it's one of the many reasons I love him so much. But Spike can't handle feeling replaced, and will fight tooth and nail to make sure he doesn't loses the ponies he cares about." She gave a slight chuckle. "I guess he just sees Grubber as another talented assitant that could possibly take his place."

The mares turned silent for moment as they tried to contemplate their situation. Rarity then interrupted their thinking with a statement of her own. "Be that as it may darling, we still can't allow those two sweeties to continue this boorish behavior. Their both liable to get each other hurt."

Fluttershy gasped. "Oh my, I don't want that to happen!"

"None of us do sugarcube, but we don't rightly know right now how to make them stop bein' so ornery." Applejack stated. "Seriously, it's like watchin' a stray dog and an alley cat bark and hiss at each other whenever those two are in a room together."

Rainbow dash began to rub her chin with her hoof as she pondered that thought. "But maybe that exactly what they need right now."

"Rainbow Dash!" Rarity shouted incredulously. "You can't seriously be suggesting we throw my sweet little Spikey-Wikey and poor innocent Grubber into a room together and let them fight it out like, like some wretched cage match!"

"Of course not!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Though admittedly, that does sound pretty awesome." Rarity gave her a death glare. "What I'm actually suggesting we do is hold a competition, and let them finally prove once and for all who is the best assistant in Equestria."

Twilight blinked at the thought, and slowly considered what her rainbow-maned friend was suggesting. "I don't know, Rainbow Dash. What if a competition only makes the loser more frustrated at the winner."

"Come on Twi, think about it." Rainbow said as a rebuttal. "Seven of us, seven challenges. The first one to win four earns the title of best assistant, and Spike and Grubber finally get to see what each other can do. We do this all the time at the Wonderbolt academy, and the ponies who come out of it are always the best of friends afterwards."

"It really isn't a bad idea, Twilight." Rarity stated in agreement. "It will help them get out all their negative emotions, and maybe will help them see the better parts of each other's personalities." The other mares nodded in agreement.

Now feeling outvoted, Twilight couldn't help but comply. "Alright will hold a competition for Grubber and Spike, and see which one is the better assistant. We'll meet back here tomorrow with our challenges in tow and present them to both of them then. But none of the challenges can involve physical contact, understand. I don't want a fight accidentally breaking out because they both couldn't control their tempers. Okay?"

Everyone of Twilights friends nodded in agreement. "Right!" They all stated in unison.

"Okay then, we'll meet back here tomorrow at exactly twelve-thirty. Hopefully with the best challenges we can come up with." Twilight then turned towards Fizzlepop. "Fizzle, you and Grubber can stay in one of the castle's guest rooms while we're setting this up."

"Thank you Twilight." Fizzle stated with a smile. "I'm sure Grubber will appreciate your generosity, just as much as I do."

Author's Notes:

Well here another I'm adding to my work load! (I'm hoping its going to be a short one, I'm aiming for only three chapters this time)

Anyways, you'll never guess what movie I've watched in resent times, and that it has inspired me to write a fic to capitalize on its popularity with the brony community. I hope you guys and girls like it, and as always, please comment and critique on the chapter and tell me if anything can be edited. It is the only way that I'll improve.