A pink pony with a poofy pink mane suddenly popped out in front of the three with a big smile on her face. Something about her seemed familiar, but Shining Armor could not quite place it.

"Surprise!" the pink pony squealed. "Hi. I'm Pinkie Pie and I threw this party just for you. Were you surprise? Were you, were you? Huh-huh-huh?" As she spoke, Pinkie Pie bounced up and down. At one point, she actually bounced up into the air and over Shining Armor.

"Very," Shining responded, looking at all the faces surrounding.

"But libraries are supposed to be quiet," Twilight stated. Her ears pinned back against her head and face scrunched up as she narrowed her eyes at Pinkie Pie.

"That's silly, filly," Pinkie said, "What kind of welcome party would this be if it were quiet? I mean duh! Booorring!" Her face was incredibly animated, shifting with every word more than any other pony Shining had ever seen. Even those big blue eyes of hers seemed very expressive.

She also talked very fast. Shining Armor was able to catch most of what she said, but it all seemed to be coming from her at once. He barely had time to process what she had said before she had continued. He managed to get the main idea of it all, luckily. Pinkie Pie was the pony who gasped and ran off when they first arrived, which she did because she realized they were new to Ponyville. So she decided to throw them a party to make new friends, and invited every pony in town.

Somehow, during the conversation, Shining Armor had ended up beside a table full of refreshments. Also at some point, Pinkie Pie was joined by Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity.

"And now you have lots and lots of friends!" Pinkie Pie concluded, grinning proudly.

A lot of question went through Shining Armor's mind: How did you know where we were staying? How did you arrange all this so fast? How in Equestria did you convince everpony in Ponyville to show up?

"Thank you?" he said instead, looking around.

"Aww." Pinkie Pie moved forward, giving Shining Armor a hug. "You're welcome Shiney hiney."

"...Please don't call me that..."

"Too late. The author likes it as is going to keep using it." After giving him one last grin, Pinkie Pie seemed to suddenly disappear from next to him and reappear next to some other ponies.

"Is... Is she always like that?" Shining Armor asked, turning to the pony closest to him.

"Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow Dash asked before shaking her head. "Nah." A big grin formed on her mouth. "Sometimes she can be weird."

"Now don't you worry sugarcube," Applejack added. "Pinkie might seem a bit odd, but she's a good pony who just wants to make as many ponies happy as possible. Ah'm sure you'll like her once ya get to know her, and I know you ain't gonna find a friend that'll do more to try and make ya happy."

"Did she really get everpony in Ponyville to show up?" he asked, looking around. There were a lot of ponies here. It did not seem very plausible that every pony in town should be able to fit in the library.

"Well," Rarity interjected "I wouldn't go so far as to say that they all showed up. There are those who wish to spend it with their families, and others who still have to prepare for the celebration after all. However, I am quite certain that Pinkie would extend the offer to all of them just the same."

Shining Armor felt a little trapped. He had been hoping to to have some peace and quiet before the celebration. Now he had dozens, maybe even hundreds, of ponies around. Kicking them out was not an option, unfortunately. That would be rude, and if his mother found out, she would tear him a new one.

He let out a sigh.

"Let me get these two in bed for a while," he said, "and then I'll be right back."

"Shiney, can I have a cupcake?" Twilight asked, looking up at the concessions on the table.

"You both can," the stallion answered, taking two off the table to give one to Twilight and the other to Spike. Twilight took hers and started eating it right away. Spike caught his as well, but did not really seem to notice it. Once more, the young dragon was caught up in the sight of the white mare with deep purple mane.

After waiting ten minutes, Shining started leading the two upstairs.

"Come on. You two get ready for bed and get some sleep. I'll wake you up in time for the sunrise."

"But what about The Elements of Harmony?" Twilight whispered once they were away from the crowd.

"I can't look it up right now, Twiley." Shining looked back at the other ponies. "I guess we'll just have to hope that Princess Celestia's right and it is just an old mare's tale."

Once again, Twilight's ears pinned back as she scrunched up her face and narrowed her eyes. She looked at her brother like that a moment before letting out a sigh.

"Okay." She turned and started up the steps. "Night Shiney."

Shining Armor watched her go, and chewed his lip. She was willing to trust his judgement and believe in him. Now if only he felt as confident about this whole thing as she did. Hopefully, everything would work.

That was when he noticed Spike was still behind him. With a small snort of frustration, the stallion levitated the love-sick dragon up the stairs, causing Spike to regain his senses as Rarity disappeared from his sight. That was when he noticed the cupcake and tossed the whole thing in his mouth.

"Night Shining," the dragon said as he now continued at his own volition.

"Night you two," Shining Armor shouted up the stairs before adding more softly "sweet dreams." With the two headed off to bed, the stallion turned back to play host to all the ponies in the library.