I woke up the next day with new determination. It had been way too long since I did what I do best! The whole place was lacking in laughter and cheer, and I was going to fix that right up! I mean, sure, they're turning or turned into ponies without asking, but that doesn't mean we have to be all depressed about it.

We had each other.

We had friends to support us, and we had to remember how lucky we were to be surrounded by others that cared about us. Even strangers were brought together by this. We'd become something of a family together.

I walked out of the wing and saw a human guard and our new pony friend. They looked at me curiously and I saluted them. "Hey there! I'm going to work up a special something for later. When are you done with your shift?"

The pony pointed at himself. "Me? About four hours."

"Great!" I bounded past them with a springing bounce. This was going to be so fun! It occurred that I needed to invite everypony. I detoured towards the supply rooms and stopped in front of the guards there. "Excuse me, can I have some paper." I held out my hooves. "It only needs to be this big or so?"

One of them shrugged. "Will post-it notes work? Was it true you wrestled a man to the ground while he was armed?"

I made a face. "Well, yeah, but that wasn't any fun."

The other smiled. "It was very brave, and maybe a little foolish. You may not be a soldier, but you have the heart of one, being willing to throw yourself into danger like that."

I blushed a little. It wasn't my kind of compliment, but it was clearly a compliment. "Thanks! I didn't want him to hurt anypony else."

One looked curious. "Just ponies?"

That caught me off guard. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just a... Anyone! Human or pony, neither wants to be shot, or should have to."

One of them nodded. "Don't get yourself killed trying to save everyone. Now, what did you need papers for?"

I reared up onto two legs. "I need to give out invitations! I'm going to host a party so big every...one will forget to be sad."

The other looked bemused. "Ponies only, I gather?"

I flopped back to all fours. "I'd love to invite everyone, but I don't want anyone to turn into a pony without wanting to, and while we're having fun at the party, a mistake could happen and that'd be bad." I frowned a little. "Twilight said she knew how to make ponies not do that... but I don't know how!" That was so frustrating! If only Twilight was there!

One of them nodded. "Fair enough. Here." He vanished into the room and came back with a small stack of notes with sticky backs. I could use those!

"Thanks!" I tucked the notes in my mane and moved to bounce off. "Have a great day!"

Next stop, the kitchen! I looked around, doing a quick inventory before I move for the fridge.

"What are you doing?" One of the chefs on duty watched me.

"Preparing a party!"

He shook his head. "Food's on strict rationing. We have to make it last."

I frowned at him. Didn't he know this was important?! "Who said so?"

He hiked a thumb out of the room. "The captain of supplies. I wouldn--"

I was already gone, seeking out the captain. I'd convince him just how important it was. We were dying of sadness. What does it matter if we keep some food if we just flop over and 'live' on as sad sacks. That's hardly living! I found a door with captain written on it and knocked on it with a hoof gently. "Excuse me?"

The door swung inwards, revealing a distinguished looking human. He seemed surprised to see me. "What are you doing here?"

I put a hoof on my chest. "Hi, I'm Pie Pinkie. Are you the captain in charge of supplies?"

He shook his head. "Captain, yes, supplies, no. A pleasure meeting you, Miss Pie. Now kindly inform me why an infectious pony is in this area of the hospital?"

I tilted my head at him. "Oh, I'll be extra careful. Just talking doesn't hurt anyone. I want to host a party for the other ponies, to cheer them up."

"For morale?"

I bobbed my head. "Exactly! There are so many sad ponies. Everyone could be way happier. We just need to remember there are still things worth being happy about. I'm sure I can turn them all around."

He looked mildly intrigued, but thought quietly a moment. "Is this something of a specialty of yours?"

I hopped up to two legs and nodded quickly. "Actually, I used to be called the Element of Laughter. I know I can turn all those frowns upside down, but I want to make some nice snacks and they won't let me. Can you help or should I keep looking for the supply man?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm willing to give this a try." He pulled out a pad of his own and quickly scribbled something. Japanese sure had a lot of... It was a fancy language, especially written down. He held out the note towards me. "Give this to the kitchen staff, and don't make me look foolish giving it to you."

I accepted the note, letting it stick to my hoof. "Results guaranteed! We're going to turn this around and bring smiles back to the ponies." I bowed to him like I saw other Japanese people do, then bounced away with a grin. While I went, I looked at the note.

Please provide the holder of this note with sufficient supplies for a morale booting event.

His name was underneath it. Nice and to the point. I wasn't used to calling a party a 'morale boosting event', but I guessed that's what they were, in the end. Happiness generators!

I gave the note to the chefs and they didn't argue when I went to the fridge that time. A little of this, and a little of that. I wasn't trying to use up all their things, so I kept it modest, relatively, but I had a few trays of sweet things. They barely used the sugar anyway. I tucked it all away and bounded back to the pony hallway. I started throwing up streamers and decorations everywhere I could, much to the confusion of the other ponies.

"What are you doing?" asked the little colt that had come with us.

I threw a leg around him and hugged. "I'm getting ready for a party, and you're invited!" I thrust an invitation towards him.

He took the note even as he flopped onto his haunches. "Why should we? I mean... What should we celebrate?"

I pointed towards the entrance to the hall. "We have a new friend, and each other. Even if some sad things happened, we have to remember all the things we do have. Besides, it'll be fun!" I smiled at him, but he still looked uncertain. "Look, just be ready to have a good time, and give it a chance." I pat him on the back, then got back to preparing. Soon the hallway was looking downright cheerful.

More ponies had come as I worked. I gave each the invitation and they began whispering to one another. It was like they'd never seen a party before? Or maybe they forgot what one looked like? Either way, I was just in time!

I saw the guard pony coming off of his shift and grinned. It was time. I unleashed some streamers as I landed in front of him. "Surprise! Welcome to your 'You're a pony now and we're sorry you didn't get much choice in it but welcome to our family!' party!" He jumped about a foot back as I closed with him. "This is all for you!"

He paused in his retreat and looked around slowly. "Why?... I was one of the ones staring at you like you were..."

I threw a leg over his neck and hugged him close. "The past is the past. We learn from our mistakes and we're better for it. No more pouting. It's time to celebrate!" He seemed embarrassed, but a little happy to be hugged. Aw, poor thing just needs more of those. I happily gave him another. "This way, this way!"

I officially started the party, and helped draw the ponies from their shells. We introduced ourselves to each other, even if everyone already knew me. We ate our little snacks and I got a game of pin the tail on the pony going. They were talking, and they were smiling. They were alive again, and I felt...

I was back in my element!

Aiko slid up beside me and sat down. "Pinkie..."

She sounded upset. What could be wrong? "What's up, Aiko? Just tell me and I'll help!"

Aiko's ears folded back. "Everyone keeps staring at me, and when I ask for anything, they trip over themselves getting it. Why am I being treated like a celebrity?"

Aiko's coltfriend settled beside her and nuzzled her snout. "Because they see how radiant you are. I saw it first, but even a blind person is eventually aware of it."

Aiko flushed darkly. "You're a darling... but it's still unnerving. You don't do it, Pinkie. What's going on?"

I tapped my chin thoughtfully. "We should conduct an experiment. That's what Twilight would do." I pointed to a pony standing alone. "Go order her to join the game."

Aiko looked uncertain, then trotted over to the mare and smiled. "You should join in the festivities."

The mare looked confused at first, then nodded. "I should. That's a great suggestion." And off she went to join in a dancing circle that had started up on its own.

Aiko returned, looked baffled. "I never spoke to her before, but she just accepted my advice without question. This doesn't feel natural."

Aiko's coltfriend nuzzled under her chin. "Everyone accepts your ideas."

Then it hit me. I clopped a forehoof against my head. Why didn't I see it earlier?! "You're a princess!"

Aiko looked even more confused. "Princess of what?"

I pointed at her. "Ponies. You're a princess of ponies, so they do what you suggest."

Aiko frowned. "What if I say to do something terrible?"

I shrugged. "Don't do that. Be a good princess."

Aiko slowly nodded. "And why aren't you affected? You don't have to do what i say." She paused a moment, then pointed over to the last remaining snack tray. "Get me a snack."

I looked over at it. She could walk over to it just the same as I could. Even as I thought about it, her coltfriend bolted for the tray and returned with it, smiling. Oh, a test!

Aiko accepted a treat from the platter. "See, you're immune."

I nodded. "I already have a princess, three even. There's Celestia and Luna and Twilight. I'm sorry but I don't really need a fourth princess." I hugged her. "But I'm here to help! You can be a great princess."

Aiko gave an unsure smile, but it was a smile, and a real one. "I'm glad you're here, Pinkie." She paused to bring up a hoof and scratch at her back awkwardly. "It still hurts. Do you know what that means?"

I actually had a fairly good guess what it meant. "All the princesses I knew had big wings and horns. You have the horn, but not the wings."

She paled a little in her nose. "I'm growing wings?!"

I giggled a little. "I'm almost jealous, getting to fly around and stuff."

"This is not something to be jealous of." She pouted a little. "I'm already so... inhuman... Must I grow wings as well?"

Aiko's coltfriend stepped over her and hugged her gently with all four legs. "You're not inhuman. You're a glorious creature, and are becoming more so. You're wonderful."

Aiko colored softly. "Of course you'd say that... but what do other people think? Those that are still human?"

Homer approached with pricked ears. "I think you're pretty."

Aiko smiled at Homer. "You're a dog."

Homer tilted his head left, then right. "You're a pony. You're still pretty."

We had too many people to not draw more over, and they quickly began throwing in their own opinions. It seemed almost everyone thought Aiko was pretty and graceful and majestic and lots of other words that basically meant 'princess-like'.

Aiko shook her head. "While I appreciate your kind words, we're all ponies..."

One pony tilted his head. "We are ponies. We get to decide who is pretty or not."

There was a general agreement in the crowd as one bland looking pegasus stepped forward. "I'm not that pretty, Aiko-Sama."

Another pony nuzzled at the pegasus. "Don't put yourself down. You have very nice feathers."

Opinions began to circulate wildly. What started as a party of festivities quickly became a talking about everyone's self-image. I was so proud of everyone. They quickly jumped at anyone that didn't think they were pretty and told them why they were wrong. We were ponies, and we knew love. I felt... so happy right then.

I joined in with pointing out the positive traits in other ponies around me, even the ones that got kinda stuck, not all the way pony. Everyone had something worth praising. Besides, we didn't have any of the really weird ones, like ponies with more than one head. I really think the compliment sharing went a long way to brightening up everyone.

The guard looked very self-conscious. "What about... me?" He spread his red wings out shyly and raised his head, letting his blonde main fall in a wave. "Do I look... good?"

The crowd was swift to praise him. He was strong and well-built, for a pony. His colors weren't bad either.

The colt pointed at him. "My father was killed trying to protect me... You almost got killed trying to protect Miss Pie..." He glanced away, then back. "Your people killed him, but... You're like a replacement. Karma."

The guard sank to his haunches. "Karma..."

The colt's mother rushed up and gathered him up. "I'm sorry, he shouldn't say such things."

The guard shook his head. "No! I mean... he might be right. I'll try to make up for the wrongs that led to me becoming a pony." He offered a hoof to the mare. "I'm sorry."

The mare looked quite uncertain before she reached her own hoof out and they gently pressed together. "Karma..."

I leaned towards Aiko. "Why do they keep saying Karma like that?"

Aiko spoke gently in return, "They must be Buddhist. Karma is the idea that all wrongs will find their way to be corrected, even if they have to wait until your next life to punish you."

I frowned. "That sounds icky, why are they so happy?"

Aiko gave a little smile. "Because they have found karma within their life. They can make amends now, without waiting."

I looked over to see the guard conversing softly with the mare about something. Both looked very shy, but happy. Karma was some powerful stuff! He was definitely happier than he was before. I could call the party a wild success!

Aiko gave a pained squeak and flopped onto her belly. "It hurts!" All eyes in the room turned towards her as one, my own included.

I drew out my stethoscope and doctoring hat. "I'm on the case. Take dee--" I was paused as my body trembled with the earthquake running through me. The doozie! It was coming! "Deep breaths! Everything'll be alright."

Many of the other ponies began speaking encouraging words, even if most of them had no idea what was going on. They wanted to help Aiko, so they said nice things and pressed as close as Aiko's coltfriend would allow them, which wasn't very close. I was the only one allowed to be beside Aiko.

I reached for the sore spots, where I was pretty sure wings were waiting to come free. They felt tense and rigid. Every time they twitched, Aiko squeaked and shuddered in pain. It was definitely time. I gently rubbed in the area as I whispered, "It's alright. We're all here for you. Let it come out, Aiko. Don't hold it back."

The skin parted with a wet sound, and they began to emerge. With every little whimper, a few precious millimeters came free. It was like delivering a foal... from your back? I kept gently rubbing around the site. "We're all here, Aiko. You're not alone." The other ponies were quick to agree with that, some almost shouting their support, which seemed to embarrass Aiko.

She smiled awkward, spread out on her belly, before another contraction made her whimper, and her wings slid a little further, covered in blood and icky bits. I was pretty sure everything was working the way it should though.

A sudden wail made me jump. Her wings surged out against me and unfolded. They spread wide, already feathered, which must have hurt coming out. They were coated in red, but I pulled out a rag and began cleaning her gently. She collapsed and went still, softly panting. The birth was over, her wings were free.

The other ponies began to bow to Aiko, pressing their heads to the cool tiles quietly. Was the urge that great? I didn't feel any of it.

Aiko slowly pushed up to her haunches, flapping her wings with a great big wince with every movement. "I... hope the soreness goes away."

I nodded quickly. "I'm sure it will. You just need to rest up and soon you'll be ready to fly!"

She looked at me with confusion. "Can they really do that?"

I shrugged a little. "Every other alicorn I ever saw could fly once they learned how. Think how fun that'll be!"

She gave a little smile. "I'll try, but right now, I need to rest."

Her coltfriend hurried in to support her, and they moved to their room.

Hiro pushed through the crowd. "What was that? Is she really a princess?"

I nodded. "Sure is! No doubt about it."

The guard sighed softly. "I apologize for interrupting things, but I do have orders to report if we locate a princess."

I held up my hooves, "Oh, sure, we should, but can we wait for her to get a little rest first? She's all achy and tired. You wouldn't want to be dragged aside and asked a bajillion question just after becoming a pegasus, would you?"

He stiffened a moment. "Right... I'll tell them tomorrow, but I can't, won't, wait longer than that. I'm still a soldier, even if I'm a horse too."

The party ended with a lot of gossip about what it meant for Aiko to get wings like that. Spirits were high. Some even thought she'd somehow fix everything and make the world go back to normal, but I doubted Aiko could just... do that... I mean, princesses are pretty awesome, but there is a limit to what they can do.

Homer suddenly sat beside me. "Is Aiko alright?"

I nodded at him. "She needs some rest, but she'll be just fine. She has a loving coltfriend and a big family!" I threw my hooves out to indicate everypony in the area.

Homer tilted his head. "But she is the biggest bitch."

I looked quite confused. What did he mean by that?

Homer saw my expression. "She's in charge... Alpha?" Oh! "Is she going to start deciding what we do instead of you?"

Oh gosh, was I ever in charge? "If she wants to, sure. Hiro seems to have a lot of good ideas, maybe we should talk to him?"

Homer bobbed his head in agreement. "Hiro is good alpha male. Knows a lot. I'll get him!" He darted off with a clip-clop and returned swiftly from where Hiro had wandered off a short distance. "Here he is!"

Hiro glanced at Homer, than me. "What's on your mind, Pinkie?"

I pointed at Hiro. "You're in charge, right?"

Hiro looked as confused as I had been. "I take charge when it's required, but we, uh, ponies, haven't selected a formal leader. I'm used to keeping people civil and orderly, and it comes naturally, but I think everyone here needs more than that. You did a great thing, giving everyone a chance to get to know one another, and to really come together, as a family. We don't feel so much like a bunch of strangers forced into a tight space."

Aw. "Thanks! I just did what I thought was right, just like you. We both have to try our best, for everyone."

He held out a clawed hoof. "Then let's keep doing that. We're all in this together. We don't have to have one person 'in charge', so long as we keep listening to each other and acting in the best interest of the whole."

I put my hoof between his claws and we shook on it. "Deal!" Working with Hiro sounded like a good idea. "Oh, and Aiko too. She's going to need our support to get into the role of princess, but she is one, and everypony here is going to look to her first for ideas and orders."

He frowned a little. "She will need a lot of prompting. I don't think she was ever in charge of such things, or even knows where to begin."

Homer bobbed his head. "She'll learn from you two."

"Exactly!" I thrust a hoof up triumphantly. "It'll be fun. My friend Twilight stressed out a lot about becoming a princess, but she's a really good one now, and even enjoys a lot of it. We'll get her in the swing of things."

Author's Notes:

I'm back from the convention and back to writing. THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE!

But what should Pinkie be doing now?
1: Work heavily with Aiko to get her up to princess material.
2: Confront the folks in charge to make sure Aiko isn't mistreated for being a princess.
3: Try to get in contact with Equestria. There must be a way!
4: Now that they have a princess, maybe some of the wild ponies outside can be calmed down?
5: The doozie already passed, why do I feel another doozie? And something's going to fall? What could it be?!