https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm0sToWtatw

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A soft roar of raindrops pattered against the grassy streets of Ponyville, descending downwards from the dark and dreary clouds above. The skies were black and ominous, the moon barely shining through the thick layer of thunderstorm clouds as they rolled over the landscape. Outside Sugarcube Corner, the rain overflowed the gutters and spilled out the sides, cascading onto the soft wet ground below. It was nearly midnight, and everypony was asleep in their beds except for one.

Pinkie Pie lay facing upwards, covered by a soft, cozy quilt decorated with drawings of balloons and cupcakes. A flash of lightning silently illuminated the room from a window on the far side, quickly followed by the dull roar of distant thunder. But her eyes were already open, as they had been for a decent while. Unable to fall asleep, she lay in bed contemplating all things from cotton candy to the meaning of life itself. Rain pelted softly against the window as she continued to lay in silence, listening to the gentle sounds of muffled raindrops outside.

These sorts of nights happened all too often. She didn't have anything to be particularly sad about, by any means, but she often found herself with simply too much to think about, and not enough time to think about them. Most ponies slept through the whole night, but being a baker, Pinkie Pie often arose early to tend to her profession of culinary confection. Which, of course, only made it harder when she found herself wide awake at hours which nopony should be.

She sighed, trying her best to stifle the endless stream of thoughts and ideas. It always felt like such a shame to let them go to waste. So many new things to try, or find, or create. Regardless of the travesty that was her predicament, Pinkie Pie sighed again and pulled the blanket over her, burying herself in the soft, warm fabric.

The raindrops continued to pelt against the glass for several more seconds, dripping downwards like tiny rivers as they meandered towards the bottom. She watched them slowly slide down the glass, her eyes just barely wide enough to see anything. Still, she could not calm her thoughts. For whatever reason, her mind simply wouldn't allow it tonight. Just as Pinkie Pie was beginning to feel her mind drift away, another flash of lightning illuminated her room and a crackle of thunder filled the air. Her eyes went wide as an idea came to fruition.

There would be no sleep tonight.

Pinkie Pie blasted out from beneath the covers, leaving the blanket strewn over the side of the bed as she trotted hastily towards the kitchen. If she couldn't drift peacefully to sleep, she would utilize this precious time for something productive. It was decidedly so. As the rain continued to fall in torrents outside, Pinkie Pie began to rummage through drawers and cabinets, grabbing pots and pans, sugar and flour, cinnamon and sprinkles and an assortment of other ingredients. If she couldn't sleep, she would bake.

In a storm of her own, Pinkie Pie mixed the ingredients, stirred bowls of batter and placed pans of delicious confectionery mixtures into multiple ovens, all while amidst the sounds of rolling thunder and the pitter-patter of raindrops on the silent streets outside. The kitchen was abuzz with life and energy as she zipped to and fro, tending to one thing here, and another thing elsewhere. As she maneuvered throughout the kitchen, almost on auto-pilot, the thoughts that ran through her mind in bed were given the proper attention they deserved.

Pickle pies? Those were a bad idea. Jelly-infused cupcakes? Good idea.

As long as she had something to do, and something to occupy her body and mind, the thoughts flowed freely like the rivers of water that streamed down the sides of the window outside. As the goods began to bake, the air filled with warm, pleasant smells. That was always Pinkie's favorite part. Most, of course, would think that eating the treats was the among the most favorable aspect of baking, and it was, but there was something about the moment in which something turned from a simple idea into a reality that was magical. And that moment was when the sweet smells of sugar and flour permeated the air with a thick, moist scent of deliciousness.

Pinkie Pie licked her lips subconsciously. Time passed by in the blink of an eye, and the rain from the storm outside continue to provide a steady downfall of rain. The smell from outside meandered into the kitchen in a chaotic mixture of warm and cold. It was now so late that she didn't dare look at a clock. If anything, knowing just how late it was always seemed to make it that much harder to fall asleep. Another flash of lightning and crackle of distant thunder filled the air with light and sound. The thunder appeared to be getting softer, and the sounds of the rain became a gentle roar. After baking and cleaning up for several more minutes, Pinkie Pie removed the plentiful assortment of cake and treats and placed them somewhere they could be accessed for later.

Suddenly, she found herself feeling much more tired and restful, her mind completely at ease and without a thought in the world. Her eyelids drooped heavily as she stumbled up the steps to her bedroom. She walked across the floor and slid effortlessly between the mattress and the quilted blanket. Almost immediately after getting comfortable, she felt her eyes gently close shut and her mind drift off to sleep. The raindrops dripped against the window, effortlessly slipping down onto the windowsill below. The storm had passed and the night skies became clear once more. And as the clouds dispersed the moon was allowed to cast its rays, lighting up the ground below. Sleeping soundly in her bed, Pinkie Pie dreamed of everything that filled her thoughts beforehand.