"We'll see you later, Pinkie! Thanks!" promised the five mares, their heads turned and facing the wide open door to their town's local confectionery, the pink Earth pony smiling at them giving a wave of her hoof to her good friends.

"No, thank you girls! Gummy and I had a gr-r-reat time! Hope you can come to Gummy's After-After Party tomorrow!"

It was Twilight's turn to speak, stopping in her tracks and smiling a sincere smile, "We won't forget! Isn't that right girls?"

A roundabout of confirmation sounded out following the mare's question, and soon, the five ponies disappeared over the horizon, revealing the setting sun, its bright orange and crimson rays shining beautifully and illuminating the entirety of Ponyville in its warm glow.

Watching this spectacle with a look of wonder, Pinkie Pie invited a breath of fresh Equis air into her lungs, closing her eyes and leaning against the wall of Sugarcube Corner, listening to the sweet sound of ponies chattering and trotting about to return to their respective homes. Though Ponyville's Designated Party-Pony was chosen for that single reason, the mare herself was a surprising fan of calm behavior, and if not for her accepted lifestyle, she would be as modest and collected as her light-yellow friend.

Of course, Pinkie wasn't unhappy in her position she had chosen. In fact, it was one of her favorite things about life; parties, smiles, and chocolate rain aside. Slowly opening her eyes, she suddenly gained notice of a presence in front of her. Looking around in curiosity, the pink mare threw her head left and right, turning her body every which way, looking for the source.

Someone cleared their throat directly behind her.

Folding her head into her stomach and peering through the fork in her hind legs, Pinkie gave a gasp and a smile, watching the Cutie Mark Crusaders as they sat obediently on the front steps of her store. Bugging her eyes out and returning to her previous position, the mare clapped her hooves together, "Ohmygosh, come in, come i-i-in!"

The trio of fillies did so, awkwardly following their pink host as she hopped around Sugarcube Corner, disappearing into the a room labelled "Potty Room". As the sound of splashing water reverberated from within, the orange Pegasus waiting by the bit register held a hoof up to her mouth, audibly coughing to clear her throat yet again, "Pinkie Pie," she announced, raising a brow of impatience. Honestly, she was nice, but the mare really got off track sometimes-

"Yes, Scootaloo?"

The filly in question jumped into the air, teeth gritted in a terrified embrace. Eyes wide, she turned her head, finding the pink pony hanging from the ceiling fan, inches away from her face and smiling innocently, "How...how did-"

"..I do that?" Pinkie finished, grabbing a hold of a fan blade with her tail and lowering herself to the ground, giggling like a school filly when she noticed the young Pegasus' slow nod, "Silly filly, I've been here the whole time!" Bursting into laughter and falling onto the floor, she quickly opened her eyes and gave a gasp of realization. Throwing her forelegs in front of her, she rolled around the floor like a barrel, turning and disappearing yet again behind the front counter.

Apple Bloom, walking up from behind her two friends, raised a hoof to speak, but was quickly interrupted as the pink pony suddenly appeared right next to the register, a chef's hat atop her head and flour caking her face, "Oh hey girls! I didn't see you there! Ya here for your cupcakes?"

Sweetie Belle looked toward the other two Crusaders and gave a long shrug, knowing full well that they were dealing with Pinkie Pie. The trio nodded together, growing mildly impatient for their sweets.

"I-I-I-I knew it!" the mare happily squeaked, producing a trio of cupcakes sitting atop a tray, its content's sweet aroma filling the air of the confectionery and causing the inhabitants' mouths to water, especially the baker herself, whose eyes wandered toward the ceiling as she lulled her tongue and dreamily exclaimed, "I just lo-o-ove the smell of fresh cupcakes at night..."

As the fillies in front of her gave her questioning looks, she suddenly snapped out of her cupcake fantasy, producing her trademark smile and retrieving a pair of tongs from the shelf behind her. Beckoning the trio to approach the counter, Pinkie brought the white, purple, and pink cupcake that belonged to Sweetie Belle, and the orange and purple cupcake that belonged to Scootaloo. Sliding them over to their respective owners, Pinkie went to work getting Apple Bloom's out, who waited patiently for her reward.

The yellow and red cupcake in her hooves, the pink pony waved a hoof in front of it, showing its likeness her treat for the night. Beginning to lower it to her, Pinkie suddenly felt an urge run through her lungs.

She coughed, keeling over with the cupcake still in her hoof's grip. Shaking her head with vigor, she returned to a standing position, once again trying to slide the confection toward Applebloom. Once again, her actions were for naught, as she once again began to hack, holding her other hoof in front of her mouth and placing the cupcake onto the counter into the other. As she continued to cough, she held the cabinet to her right firmly as she fell to her knees.

As the pain in her lungs began to fade, she took notice of the three fillies peering over the counter at her, looks of worry plastered onto their faces, with one particularly sad. Looking at Applebloom with an apologetic look, Pinkie shakily rose to her hooves, scooping up the cupcake still on the counter and throwing it into the garbage with a growl of anger. Bending over and reaching into the shelf at her legs, she produced yet another yellow and red cupcake, the exact same look as the previous one.

Giving a smile as she watched the heart-warming sight of the trio high-hoofing with glee, she spoke up, "There ya go girls! Go enjoy 'em!"

The Cutie Mark Crusaders, who began to trot out the door, turned their heads and yelled, "We will Pinkie Pie! Thanks!"

"You're welcome, and thank you for advertising the Corner for me today!" she added with a wave.

As the Crusaders disappeared from sight, she heard a very loud, "You're welcome!" emanate from far away, signifying the trio's response.

Giving a satisfactory sigh, Pinkie Pie took her chef hat off the top of her head, placing it onto the nearby hat rack that lead into the kitchen and beginning to trot up to the front door. Just as she approached it, she felt the same sharp pain run through her lungs, and before she knew it, she was yet again coughing into a free hoof, narrowly avoiding a fall to the floor as she felt for the keys to the door, "Geezy weezy," she sputtered, reaching up to the door knob, "must be Flu-season again."

As she began to place the key into the lock, she began to feel light-headed, and with a heavy wheeze, she fell over, crashing through the open door and rolling down the front steps, landing in the grass below in a cold heap.

Author's Note

This is the first time I've ever written Pinkie Pie, and I'm not quite sure I nailed it.....let me know if something seems off. I'd greatly appreciate it.