Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author Note: Hey everyone! Long time no see! Well, it hasn't been that long, but in my opinion it's been too long. Basically this is going to be a collection of one-shots based on songs that I think describe the character's main aspect. :P In other words I used songs that reminded me of the characters and wrote a little something for it. Lol. I hope you guys enjoy reading this just as much as I enjoy writing it. So here goes nothing. :) -TL16

Character: Holly Short

Song: Bad Reputation

(Avril Lavigne cover or the original by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts)

"I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation
You're living in the past, it's a new generation
A girl can do what she wants to do and that's what I'm gonna do
An' I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me"

Holly Short marched into Police Plaza early on the morning of her first day in Recon. Several fairies were unbelieving of what they saw. Sure Holly was there everyday, but what shocked them was the golden acorn pin that marked her as a member of the Lower Element Police Reconnaissance squad. This would mean that she passed the initiation. It would mean that she was the first female in history to make it in.

Holly smirked as she headed towards the commanders office. She was ready to get started with her new job. It was all she had wanted for years and now she finally had it. Yeah everyone would have to get used to it, for they were stuck living in the past, but this….this was a new generation.

She reached out and knocked on Commander Root's officer door and received a gruff "Enter." from inside. She flung open the door and marched in as if she owned the place. Needless to say the Commander did not approve.

"Short. You better watch it. Lots of people aren't so sure about this decision. You're a test case. More business; less cockiness."

She nodded respectively, agreeing with his statement. No guarantees that she would obey however… "Yes, sir!"

Root nodded. "Good. Now as today is your first day on the job, you will be given a brief overview on the expectations of a Recon officer and a tour of special access areas. Meaning only Recon and Retrieval members are allowed. Understand?"

Holly nodded once more. "Yes, sir!"

Root grunted and went back to his paperwork. "Alright then. Your guide should be arriving any minute now. Behave yourself."

Holly was about to argue that she was a grown woman and that she could act as she chose, but there was a knock on the door and a familiar, violet-eyed elf walked in.

He nodded politely at her. "Corporal Short."

"Captain Kelp."

Root barely glanced up. "Kelp. You know what we discussed last night. Go over the rules with her and show her the training area and the Ops booth. No fooling around."

"Yes, sir." Captain Kelp nodded and turned to Holly. "So, you ready?

Holly smiled impishly. "Of course."

After they had quickly and briefly (thank the gods) reviewed the rules, the two made their way towards the Ops booth. When they had reached the door, Trouble paused and looked at Holly.

"So, you ready for this?"

Holly looked at him puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Captain Kelp chuckled. "Oh, you'll see." And with that he turned and knocked on the door.

There was the sound of hooves clicking on tile as someone made their way to the door. The door remained shut, but the fairy on the other side spoke.

"Yes? Who is it?"

"Captain Kelp. I'm giving the new recruit a tour. May we…"

Trouble didn't have to say it twice. Hearing new recruit was enough. The door was flung open revealing a brown-eyed, tin-foil hat wearing centaur.

"New recruit? Are the rumors true? Has Root really…"

Holly stepped forward. "Rumors? Well, it seems that I'm popular here already."

The centaur snickered and adjusted his hat. "Well, I guess it is true then. First female in history. That's quite a feat, if I may say so myself."

Holly held out her hand and the centaur shook it. "Corporal Holly Short, ready for action."

"Foaly. Technical consultant to the Lower Elements Police. And unlike you, I'm irreplaceable."

The elf snorted. "Sure. They won't get rid of me, someday I'll be among the best."

Foaly led the two elves into the Ops booth. "Ah, a little cheeky are we. I'd watch what I say if I were you."

"You have a bit of an attitude yourself, mister."

Trouble's eyes widened in shock, but Foaly was unfazed. The centaur merely shrugged off the comment and adjusted his hat.

"Yes, but not matter how much Root wants to kick me out. He can't. The security system only responds to my voice. If anyone else tries to operate it all it will do is crash. And seeing as the Ops Booth is the center of security and communication, this is not a good thing. Besides, everyone loves me."

And with that he went back to his computer and began furiously typing. Holly took this as a chance to look around. There were various pieces of technology scattered all around the room. Computer screens covered just about every wall.

Holly turned back to Captain Kelp. "He's a bit of a nerd isn't he? Smart aleck too. And what's with the tin-foil hat?"

Trouble smirked and motioned for her to follow him. The two left the Ops Booth and head to the place where the officers did a lot of their training. "Foaly is a bit paranoid, to put it lightly. He's always afraid that the human intelligence agencies are trying to read his mind and steal his ideas. And don't get him started on Opal Koboi. And to answer your other question, yes he is a nerd. A genius in fact. Without him, this place would be utter chaos."

Holly raised an eyebrow. "So he wasn't kidding about being irreplaceable?"

"Nope. Thought sometimes I think Root just might snap and fire him."

The two laughed and before they knew it they had reached the training area. Captain Kelp opened the door and motioned for Holly to enter. He closed the door behind him and the two looked around. It was empty, no one was in sight.

Trouble's purple eyes glinted with mischief. "So, how do you feel about a little match? One on one?"

Holly grinned. "Okay. But, I have to warn you. I'm an excellent fighter."

Captain Kelp glared. "Bring it on."

About 15 minutes later Holly stood over the Captain with her foot on his chest. A crowd had assembled about five minutes into the match and had steadily grown as it went on. Bets had been placed and were now were being exchanged. Seems like the new girl had a lot spunk going up against one of Recon's best. Well, it was worth it.

Holly bent down and looked Trouble in the eye. "See I told you so."

She took her foot off of him and held out her hand to help him up. "Truce?"

He grudgingly accepted her hand and nodded. "Truce, but Short…"

"Yes?"

The captain winked. "This isn't over."

Holly smiled and headed towards the door. "Of course it isn't."

Just as she was about to open the door, there was a loud yell. "SHORT! GET IN HERE NOW!"

Holly looked at Trouble puzzled. "What did I do? I've been with you the whole time."

The elf smirked. "No idea. It's Root. He's incapable of speaking calmly. Maybe he caught wind of the our little match and he's about to tell you off for beating up a superior officer?"

"Ha! You wish."

The fairies nearly jumped as there was another yell from Root's office. "SHORT!"

Holly sighed. Great. Just great. In trouble, no pun intended, on the first day on the job. And as she headed towards the commander's office, she couldn't help but thing that this probably wouldn't be the first time Root would call her out. She just seemed to be a magnet for trouble. But, there was one thing that she new for sure. She was going to do what she wanted, when she wanted. Rules? Who needed them?

Breaking the rules and going by instinct was better in her opinion. It was worth it every time.

"SHORT!"

A/N: So? What do you think? :)

Arty's next! XD Review please!