It was a gusty day in Ponyville. All the Pegasi were setting the clouds in their proper place for the big storm that was scheduled that afternoon. Pinkie looked out from the bakery window at Sugarcube Corner. Dark, heavy clouds made her depressed. She pondered why that was. Was it the subdued color? Was it that she didn't like thunder that seemed to accompany these kind of storms?
“Pinkie, can you lend a hoof and pull out the fresh batch of cookies for the ovens? We're almost out of chocolate chips, so I'm heading out to get some.” Mrs. Cakes called out from the other room.
“On it!” Pinkie called back cheerily, for the moment, forgetting about the storm brewing outside. “OH, while your out getting chocolate chips, can you pick up some cinnamon too? I was thinking of trying a new recipe that I just thought up, like, five minutes ago!”
She could hear Mrs. Cakes chuckling in the next room. “Sure thing dear. Anything else I can pick up for you?”
Pinkie thought for a split second. “No, that's all. I'll make some scones after the cookies are done.”
“Make some more muffins instead. Derpy is going to be having an after storm party for all the Pegasi who are helping today, and she wants to treat them all to some muffins. You know how that filly is about your muffins.”
“Muffins in general.” Pinkie laughed, coming into the oven room, seeing Mrs. Cakes off. “WAIT!” Pinkie jumped, like she'd gotten a static shock. “Derpy is hosting a party? And she didn't invite ME?!”
Mrs. Cakes gave her a frown. “She did mention it was for the Storm Crew, and she wanted it to be a small little celebration.” But Pinkie was already planing in her head. Muffins? Of course she'd make muffins. She'd also need confetti, lots of confetti, party hats, a cake would be good too, OH and some little party pranks, like— “Pinkie,” Mrs. Cakes interrupted the thought process. “It's Derpy's first party she's throwing for her friends. I know how much you love parties, but let her have this one. We can throw our own party latter, but leave this one be, hmm?”
“What?!” Pinkie blinked. “And miss the fun? How can you have a party without the party pony herself?”
“Pinkie, dear,” Mrs. Cakes walked up to the pink mare and put a hoof on her shoulder. “You are exceptional at throwing parties, and you should be. After all, that is your cutie mark, but a party is no fun if one pony hogs it all and makes it about herself. I know you really want to join, but just make the muffins. When Derpy put in the order this morning, she was positively glowing with excitement over this.”
With a sigh, which was uncharacteristic for herself, Pinkie had to admit that Mrs. Cakes was right. Derpy deserved to have a chance to throw her own party. The idea of throwing a different party was entertaining, but she knew she shouldn't upstage the Pegasus with her own antics.
“I really don't know these kind of thunderstorms.” Pinkie admitted.
Mrs. Cakes gave her a worried look. “Why not? Are you not feeling well?”
Pinkie shook her head, her poofy mane bobbing back and forth. “No, it's just...I don't know why, but the dark clouds seem to suck the happiness and fun right out of me. I don't know why.”
Mrs. Cakes patted the pink mare's head. “It's normal my dear. Even the happiest pony doesn't feel happy all the time.”
Pinkie nodded, turning to the large bakery ovens to pull out the chocolate chip cookies to cool and get some muffins ready.
“But I don't want to be normal.” Pinkie muttered to herself, feeling anxiousness eat at her stomach. “I want to be happy all the time. I don't like this feeling.”
The bell over the door chimed. Pinkie turned, expecting to see Mrs. Cakes coming back in, having forgotten something, but it was a gray Pegasus instead.
“Hi Pinkie.” Derpy said, a smile spread across her face. Clearly Derpy had put a lot of work into the party she was going to throw, which gave Pinkie a pang of jealousy. She wished that she could go. It might give her good ideas to use at her own parties after all. Hey, she could get in on the ploy of 'research' for parties.
“Hi Derpy.” Pinkie smiled back. “I heard you're throwing a party for the Storm Crew.” Pinkie gave one of her signature giggle laughs. “Sounds like fun, I wish I were on the Storm Crew.”
Derpy's grin waned as she suddenly became more interested in the display of new cookies than the pink pony herself.
“Yeah,” Derpy said, uncomfortably. “I-it's just a little get together with some of my friends, I wouldn't call it a party, compared to what you can throw.”
Pinkie immediately felt bad. Without thinking, she had said the right thing to ruin Derpy's day. She and Derpy were friends, but Pinkie forgot from time to time that her friends had other friends too.
“You know what would liven up the party?” Pinkie asked, searching around in her head for a why to patch up her mistake.
Derpy shook her head, looking more down.
'GREAT!' Pinkie thought to herself. 'Two in a row. Boy don't I feel like the jerkiest jerk in jerkyville.'
“Some party muffins.” Pinkie suggested. “I'm making them right now. If you want, I can make you the most winsomest, tastiest, most uverdelicstastic muffins in all of Ponyville and you'll be the best host ever!” That will solve it, right?
But Derpy looked like she's gotten slapped across the face. Her eyes welled up with tears. “I'm sorry.”
Pinkie blinked. “For what?” Pinkie said, putting on a fake smile. She did want to go to the party, and not being invited stung more than just a little
“For not inviting you.” Derpy replied. “I was so excited about throwing my own party, and for the Storm Crew too. This was such a big job. We had to search for miles to get these kinds of storm clouds. I wanted to give them all a good time for a job well done. I forgot about inviting you, and once I did remember, I already made it for the Storm Crew only. I feel bad.”
Pinkie just looked at her friend. For a moment, Pinkie wished she'd never knew about the party, she wished that Mrs. Cakes asked her, Pinkie Pie, to go get the needed ingredients instead of tending the shop. Pinkie shook her head, walking around the counter and hugged her friend.
“Don't be. After all, I'm making the muffins. I get to help out there.”
Derpy nodded, sniffling a bit as she whipped her hoof across her eyes, drying up her tears. “Thanks Pinkie.”
Pinkie smiled. This time, her smile was truly genuine, for the pink pony could never see on of her friends sad or unhappy. It was then that she discovered that a party isn't fun because of the games, or the food, or even because of the practical jokes ponies could pull on one another. A party was fun because if you took all that away, you had friends together with friend. That was the true heart of the party.
“So, how many muffins do you want?”