Chapters To Be a Clown or Not to Be?
Chapter One: You're Fired!
Ring! An alarm clang woke up a grumpy stallion up one early morning at his expected time. He groaned and slammed a hoof on his alarm clock. The stallion in question tried to go back to sleep, throwing the covers over his head, promptly ignoring the call to start the day. However, knowing better, the alarm clock rang for a second time Ring! This time, he roared, taking a hoof and slamming it on the alarm clock again. This time, he was quite disgruntled, slowly getting up reluctantly and the stallion had an angry face at seeing the sun rising through his window by Princess Celestia and yet he still didn't want to get up from his comfortable bed as he grumbled, ""can I get a few more minutes, please?!" He pitifully bargained with the disc in the sky.
He then rolled his head to his bed and saw that it read six A.M and mumbled, "I better get up." he finally relented, the pony named, He looked around the fancy well-kept studio apartment he was renting out with it is well furnished and very conservative with jewel statues, some gold candlesticks, a dark blue carpet, and an elegant light fixtures overhead.
However, once again, the tired stallion rolled back in his bed mumbling. "I can get a few more minutes." He amended, and then He began to fall asleep again, but only a few minutes later. A third ring came from his alarm clock and slammed a hoof on it as expected. The grumpy stallion then slowly got up and dragged himself towards a mirror. Looking into the glass with his gold eyes, and gazed reluctantly at the now-familiar image with his light yellow coat, a glossy blue mane, and tail, his cutie mark was a silver platter was sticking on his rump along with a clean-shaven face. There wasn't a trace of any humor, or excitement on his face with his disgruntled image, with his bed head mane and with bags under his eyes staring back at him; he was quite depressed. "Ugh, I can't wait to go through another dreadful day." He drawled sarcastically with seeming practice.
The stallion grumbled irritably as he slowly walked towards his bathroom and went to his shower and started to scrub himself clean. He felt odd in his new physique was way sturdier than his old one, for lack of a better word. Where he used to continually twitch and gitter with anxious excitement in his early days, he could now stand still unmoving for hours at a time and ready to assist in a heartbeat. He continued to scrub himself diligently, making sure that no dirt of filth was still clinging on his coat And after his shower, the stallion then began to shave his stubble beard professionally and waxed his kept, then brushed his teeth until they were pearly white; not that pony would ever really get the chance to see. Moving on, here poured himself a cup of black tea, with sugar and milk, accompanied with an everyday piece of toast with some butter on it, as conservative exciting as it gets for him. After he ate his meager breakfast, he grumbled and walked over to start getting dressed in a fancy looking tuxedo complete with a white front shirt, black coat with lapels and a bow tie.
Along with a pair of white elegant shoes sparts, he looked at himself in the mirror from ears to hooves placing a name tag on his right side of his coat with Silver Platter printed on it with beautiful calligraphy. The well-groomed and well-dressed stallion, quickly wouldn't look out of place amounts Canterlot's elite noble ponies proud serving staff looked at himself and with disdain and the stallion gave a deep sigh, "time to get this over with." He then slowly walked off, looking down at the ground miserably; once again, not looking forward to another drudgery at his new job and career.
As Silver Platter came out his apartment a bell hopper, who he knew worked at a nearby hotel, much to his dismay, was getting up as well hopping out of his apartment with a cheerful smile on his face, ready to face the day with excitement. The still teenage looking colt had a disgustingly bright orange coat, wearing an equally brilliant and well press red bell hopper uniform and cap with Sunshine Smiles written on his name tag, sporting a giant poofy ginger red mane and he had big yellow puppy love eyes with a big smiling sun holding a suitcase for his cutie mark. The bell hopper bounced right over to the hoof dragging still awakening Silver Platter seeing that he wanted to cheer his neighbor up and make him smile and shouted, "hello my fellow neighbor! How are you this fine morning?" he asked with a guileless smile.
Silver Platter rolled his eyes to see him; it was always too early to put up with the still colt-ish looking stallion; out of all the ponies that he had met recently, he was the most obnoxiously annoying pony he's ever met! The irritated waiter snapped back. "Look I have a lot going on today so can you just leave me alone?" He lamented having to put up with his cheerful this early in the morning like he thought every morning since he moved in this building last month.
It wasn't so much that he was all up on him in excitement every time he saw his still acne riddled face, or at how his unruly mane was inconspicuous as a road pilon, though he would just add that at the long list of grievances of the colt merely just existing, but there was a pang of envy, and dare he reminded himself, of a longing lost.
The Bell Hopper chuckled as he hopped alongside the miserable-looking waiter not wanting to give up until he can make the waiter crack a smile. "Oh, come on! Today is going to be amazing! Another day another bit, I always say."
Silver Platter just rolled his eyes at the idea of looking forward to today he was expecting more of the same with his job, cleaning the silverware, the tables, and the floor as well as serving the same snobbish nobles who are never satisfied and scoffed, "more like half a bit." He grumbled more to himself, then his thoroughly unwanted companions.
Sunshine snickered as he stomped a hoof and chuckled, "That's hilarious! Half a bit!"
Silver Platter eye twitched a little as he started to get annoyed with his asinine dribbling and snapped back. "I wasn't trying to be funny, now can you please leave me alone." In equal part pleading and groaning
Sunshine was persistent in annoying Silver Platter as the two continued to walk off down the streets of Canterlot with him always laughing referencing Silver Platter's silly comment. The waiter was feeling particularly moody today. However, he continued onward with head drooping downwards and was grumbling irritably. Many ponies gave him an odd look while some even moved on the other side of the road. Silver Platter didn't care as Sunshine continued to pester him with nonsense questions he was muting out from his mind. However, a few school foals came bounded over towards them all shouting, "Sunshine!"
They all ran straight into the bell hopper's hooves, making him fall onto his rump as he ruffled their manes and laughed, "Hey! I'm so happy to see you!"
Sunshine Smiles continued to play and nuzzle the foals as Silver Platter looked down at what was happening with disdain and growled, "I can't believe you can stand those little brats." He couldn't help but be even further annoyed with more youths near him clamoring for attention.
Completely ignoring the foals all gasped as did Sunshine Smiles who responded, "oh come on Silver Platter go and tell them that joke…"
A school colt just scoffed. "Silver Platter can't make jokes, let alone crack a smile." jeering at him...
The stallion gave the colt a cold glare. "You better keep that mouth shut before I shut it for you."
He eeped and stepped back as Sunshine Smiles scoffed, "well he has a point Silver Platter come on and tell us that joke."
The stallion gave a deep sigh and grumbled, "fine! Sunshine Smiles mentioned another day another Bit, while I responded with more like half a bit."
The foals around him all just snickered and Sunshine Smiles was the only one rolling on the ground laughing. "Oh, that was great! I'm going to tell that to everypony I meet!"
Sunshine then jumped and exclaimed, "now you foals go run along!"
They did just that waving goodbye as they ran down the road. Silver Platter shook his head as he can't stand being around foals. "How can you be around those annoying brats is beyond me."
Sunshine Smiles landed a hoof on the annoyed waiter's shoulder. "Oh, stop that! You are just being grumpy and need to cheer up! Now I need to get going to work! see you later, my favorite neighbor!"
The overenthusiastic bell hopper bounced off as Silver Platter shook his head and grumbled, "where does that guy get all that energy!?" reluctantly making his way to work.
Silver Platter continued on his way down the street trying to avoid contact with any more ponies, by sticking his muzzle up in the air snobbishly and giving a disdainful look at anypony who came near him. The stallion eventually came upon the restaurant he works at. It was a simple-looking building with "The Delightful Brunch" the sign was quite fancy, as was the inside through the large windows with the giant golden chandeliers overhead, tables with crisp white tablecloths draped over them, there were other waiters and waitresses all going about cleaning and prepping things for the day. Everything seemed nice and clean, but it was empty as they don't open for another few hours, and he still had a lot to do before then...
He slowly went through the doors as the head chef he was a big chubby stallion with a grey coat, silver eyes, a black flowing mane with a white apron tied around its belly. The giant of a stallion who everyone called Iron Kettle gave him a cold glare and snapped at him. "Hey, Clown! I need you to start wiping down all these tables and mop the floor. We have Fancy Pants and a lot of high nobles coming for a giant brunch!"
Silver Platter rolled his eyes. He hated his boss as he constantly nagged about everything and made his job harder than it needed to be and sighed, "yeah alright, anything else I should know."
"Yeah! Please don't mess anything up; I know you were once a stupid birthday clown before so please don't screw anything up. When they come, serve the food and only speak when spoken to understand?"
Silver Platter gave a disgruntled nod and was doing everything in his power to keep his emotions in check being reminded of his past and responded, "Sure, that's fine."
He went about going about cleaning off the tables, thinking about his old life. He used to be a clown named Button Nose. He used to perform as children's birthday parties and at one particular party, he was turned into a fancy waiter. Afterward, he was unable to make jokes or be funny and was quickly fired from his old job. Despite his new personality and his more serious demeanor, he daydreamed going back to being a clown.
The stallion seems to be lost in thought while cleaning he turned to see a newspaper that reads. "Pinkie Pie Destroys the Classical Trio after Rarity's strange bursts of magic?"
Silver Platter looked down at the newspaper with an odd look. "Hmm, the Classical trio? Wait that was the mariachi band that was turned into classical musicians!"
The headline brought him memories of learning that it was Rarity one of the elements of harmony did this to him! He got so angry, thinking of the mare who took his old life away and was going to tear the newspaper apart! However, as he took it with his hooves. But he got a little curious and continued to read the article.
The Three once known as the Classical Trio was a kids mariachi band in Ponyville when a strange magic turned them into the best trio of artistic talent in Equestria. However, it seems they were miserable despite all the fame and praise they received. Pinkie Pie, the element of Joy, decided to help them and had reverted the three to now a silly band that plays music for foals at birthday parties once again. We appreciate the fact she helped them find what they loved, but we lost the talent of some good classical music as well. On another note, one of the trios was turned into a mare that looked a lot like Octavia and renamed herself Viola, and she is now marrying the violinist Resin. As odd as it is, we wish them the be st.
Silver Platter's heart stopped Pinkie Pie that silky pink earth pony fixed them! But...how!? Is it possible, maybe just maybe...Could he be fixed too?
"Hey! I don't pay you standing around reading newspapers get to work!"
Silver platter shouted back at his boss. "Alright!" He growled taking the newspaper and shoving it into his coat wanting to read it more later. The water went about the restaurant making sure things were ready for their wealthy patrons. However, his mind drifted to thinking about how he was once a clown and how miserable his life was now. He had to shake his head and growled "I need to concentrate that's all in the past now. I'm Silver Platter a simple waiter in Canterlot. I'll probably never be happy again."
A few hours go by, and the restaurant finally opened with Fancy Pants, and dozens of his friends started strolling in all of them laughing.
The head chef came out with a nervous smile. "Welcome to A Delightful Brunch! Please make yourselves at home!"
Fancy Pants gave the chef a delightful smile as he was trying to get him out of the way to continue his conversation. "I thank you for your hospitality now friends go on and let's continue this conversation once we settled with some good food in our bellies."
They went about and sat in the restaurant. The chef turned around and shouted, "Hey, Silver Platter! get your rump over here!"
The stallion sighed trotted over to the chef who handed him a tray filled with cups filled with tea and coffee. Silver Platter gave a deep sigh still being many about his situation as he then walked among the tables and started hoofing out the rich ponies didn't even look over at him and taking their orders and going with their conversations.
The meal dragged on as dishes of fried eggs, veggie bacon, fruit salads, small pancakes, and waffles were served among them. Silver Platter seemed engrossed in doing his job to care until that it he then heard Fancy Pants tell a joke, "so I was out on the town the other day after seeing Celestia raise the sun and a thought occurred. If the sun can be raised because of a cutie mark on your rump then maybe I can raise more bits if I had that on my rump!"
The rest of the nobles laughed and chuckled at the lame joke, and it was apparent a lot of the laughter was forced.
Silver Platter was sweating a little as he thought about the article again thinking he maybe could be a clown again. He wanted to try telling a joke. so he gulped and stammered, "so..um...well wouldn't it be more hilarious if you had a house for a cutie mark and every time you lifted it, one would appear?"
All the nobles just coughed with only one laughing Silver Platter feeling quite awkward of only getting one wit from his lame attempt as a joke, quickly skirred off with a sheepish smile, shameful or embarrassing himself and for just a moment, hoping that he could manage to crack an actual joke again. Only then he spotted some uneaten apples on one of the tables and got an idea, and desperate and ill-advised plan, but anything to find the glory of his old self again. Silver Platter thought maybe if he wasn't good with jokes, but maybe, just maybe, his juggling skills were still there somewhere inside of him. He then went about throwing the apples in the air and squeaked as the apples hitting some nobles in the head and splattering on the ground. He squealed and began to quickly clean things up the chef who was at the bar setting down more trays and shouted, "Silver Platter get your sorry rump over here!"
The waiter quickly walked over, cursing at the ground, knowing he was going to get chewed out.
The chef bent down and whispered, threateningly, "What are you doing! are you trying to embarrass me!?"
Silver Platter shook his head as the stallion placed another tray on his hoof. The chef snapped, "Just go out there and serve food you're not a clown anymore."
This hurt as the stallion slowly walked over and continued to serve the noble ponies feeling quite mad at himself. Why was he taking this? Why couldn't he find the courage to tell this chef that he never wanted this! Why did he have to deal with this! He wanted to be a funny clown who could crack jokes, juggle, and make balloon animals!
The stallion peered up at the noble ponies were now snickering at him, and he knew that they were laughing at him! Something snapped in Silver Platter's mind yes he still had the mindset of a boring waiter forced to serve these fancy ponies, but he wanted to prove he could be funny!
He saw that there was a special meal flaming shish kabobs on one of the platters on the bar with various fruits he took them into his mouth and tossed them in the air and started to juggle them! The noble ponies watched in disbelief seeing that this waiter was actually pulling it off! He was juggling the shish kabobs like a pro. Soon they started to clap and began cheering him on. Fancy Pants stood up, clopping his hooves on the ground "bravo! Bravo!"
Silver Platter still with a serious face was starting to sweat from concentrating, but he was feeling a tiny bit happier than he had in a long while. But it all ended as Silver Platter suddenly tripped and gasped in horror seeing his flaming shish kabobs landing on the tables and having them burst into flame. The fire spread throughout the dining room as the nobles began screaming and running to the exits. The rest of the staff all tried to stop the fire by pouring water on it. Iron Kettle himself got out a fire extinguisher, but the fire was already climbing up the walls and onto the ceiling. Silver Platter stayed behind trying desperately throwing water onto the flames, but as the fire had now consumed the entire building, he had no choice. The waited and out of the restaurant and into the streets. A fire carriage was already on the scene with them using fire hoses to shoot at the flames. Silver Platter stood there, shaking in fear as he watched the building consumed by flames eventually being smoldered by the firefighter's efforts. Soon his boss burst through the front doors with his face now a bright red with steam seething from his nostrils shouting, "Silver Platter you're fired! You're finished! You'll never work at another restaurant as long as you live!"
Everypony turned to the angry and disgruntled Silver Platter who ripped off his tuxedo with bravado sending pieces of black cloth and buttons to fly all over. He slammed it on the ground and gave the tuxedo a few stomps with a hoof grinding his fancy clothes into the ground and exclaimed, "Fine Fire me! I'm done trying to be a stuck up waite I'm going back to being a clown!"
Silver Platter turned around with a humpf! He then ran off towards his apartment with a bright smile on his face. For the first time in a long time, he was feeling happy and excited as he planned to leave Canterlot tonight!
To Be a Clown or Not to Be?
Chapter Two: Lunch with Rarity
After his previous and final argument with his boss, Silver Platter was now back at his apartment, packing everything he needed slowly and methodically, going about folding all his suits and tuxedos, that he somehow accumulated after becoming a waiter, into his rather small suitcase. The butler was quite busy trying to make sure everything he packed was packed neatly and perfectly folded into an all too small compartment, which was threatening to buckle under the sheer volume of clothing that he was trying to fill up in its creaking protests. The stallion for his part was trying to think about only bringing what he felt was essential, which didn't seem to correspond to his suitcase's definition, for what he hopes will be a one-way trip, while jumping up and down on the cover in forcing everything to fit inside. From his apartment's door He then heard clopping noises from behind, and, fortunately for him, it wasn't the city guard coming to arrest him for his unintentional act of arson at his previous place of employment. Thankfully he turned only to see that it was his annoying next-door neighbor Sunshine Smiles who slammed the door burst open into his apartment with his usual stapled big happy smile on his face, which always irked the cream-colored pony since he first met him, and chirped out, "Hey! I heard what happened with the restaurant, Are you alright?" his concerns seemed only like an excuse to see him as much as Silver though on him as far as he was concerned.
The now-former waiter groaned, feeling a bit agitated as he turned around to see that Sunshine Smiles bouncing towards him and grumbled, "Yeah, I'm doing perfectly fine…" Silver Platter eyed the eccentric stallion, not trusting him to be in his clean and organized apartment that he was going to leave behind.
The chirpy orange coated stallion eyed him up and down, giving him a once-over to look for anything wrong about him before adding "I heard about the restaurant burning down," then switched and asked in a suspicious tone. "Are you sure? I heard you were fired?" he stretched that last part doubting his assertion.
At this point, the waiter was quite agitated enough at the teen bell hopper's antics and snapped back. "Yes! I mean, yes, the restaurant burned down, and I lost my job for it. But this only forced me to finally realize that I have to leave Canterlot once and for all, and cease my crummy life!" He yelled at the uninvited bell hopper as he turned back his up, muzzle at his overstuffed briefcase before continuing. "I can now move to Ponyville and try to be a clown again!" Silver Platter cringed and slammed a hoof to his face at what he just said, realizing the consequences admitting anything about himself could only invite more of Smiles' unwanted attention.
And just he was dreading, Sunshine Smiles seemed to have grown even more excited from the personal admission, as he bounced around the studio apartment and exclaimed, "yeah! It's about time!?" he cried out, "Hey, I can help pack your bags for you! I do it all the time for all the fancy ponies at the hotel!" Before Silver Platter could say or do anything to object, the eccentric bell hopper skipped through the apartment grabbing random assortment of things from his shelves covers and drawers, like books, candlesticks, lamps, literally anything he can get his hooves on, even the kitchen sink, and shoving the random objects into suitcases that weren't previously there before .
"What are you doing! I didn't ask you to do anything!" Silver Platter shouted back in confusion at Sunshine Smiles and began to chase the overexcited stallion who was quite happy and giddy at performing his. He went about throwing the suitcases on his back and started to stack them on top of each other.
"Hey, put that down! Don't touch that! Hey, watch it that's fragile!" Silver Platter snapped and scolded at Sunshine Smiles, futilely still trying to catch and stop him, but he was unable to see that the bell hopper seemed to be a lot faster then he could hope for bouncing around like a rabbit on expresso. Silver Platter was quite confused and getting quite agitated, trying to stop the bell hopper from touching his things, with his bumbling hooves. And at the same time, he was also wondering where Sunshine Smiles got all those suitcases in the first place? It seemed like he was pulling them out of thin air.
After what seemed like forever, but was actually just a few minutes of running around his studio apartment the former waiter was heaving quite heavily, after trying to futilely to dissuade the teenager. At this point, He was now quite exhausted from chasing the bell hopper, the stallion pulled back his mane groaning in exasperation as he exclaimed, "I don't even know why you're doing this?! We have nothing in common and barely know each other! Seriously, what's wrong with you! I don't get why you're obsessed with me!" he cried out in despair, as he wanted nothing to do with that overly cheery orange concentration of mindless optimism, which he just somehow hated from him, that he couldn't explain why.
On those words, Sunshine Smiles suddenly stopped in his tracks as he pushed the suitcases in a corner and stacking them up on a trolley that also seemed to have come out of nowhere. The stallion gave uncharacteristic long exasperated sigh seeming to be reminiscing about something deep in thought, which didn't fit into Silver Platter's image of the spirited youth a split second ago. The eccentric bell hopper turned around to face the former waiter, with a solemn look, and shrugged as he responded, "I don't know! I just want you to be happy. You just seem so miserable, and I want to help you find yourself." His words were cheerful, but it was devoid of any of the expected joyful demeanor from him.
After this unexpected sudden change of mood in the room, Silver Platter seemingly at odds with himself eyed the annoying bell hopper unsure of his true intentions and why he suddenly became so melancholy all of a sudden and remembered his previous objection snapping back. "Seriously! I'm not going to have you come with me to Ponyville! I don't want to deal with you anymore, then I have to!" The stallion was seething and was getting stressed as he got dressed in another of his snazzy tuxedo and went about adjusting the bowtie and combed his mane back into their dignifying manner again.
Sunshine Smiles hopped over with a smile on his face, seemingly forgetting about his previous mood and exclaimed, "You can't stop me! I already asked for the full week off!" obviously unwilling to make Silver Platter life easy for him, seemingly making it his mission in life to annoy and pester the poor suffering stallion any chance he could.
The waiter was quite confused at the bell hopper's statement as he scratched the back of his neck with a hoof. "So...the hotel just let you have a week off without any notice?" Silver Platter asked incredulously, it wasn't like any employer would just allow an employee to take leave on the drop of a hat like this.
Sunshine laughed as he threw his bell hopper suit aside in one swift pull. "Nope, I lied! I actually quit my job! Now come on, we need to get going before we miss your train!" He said before his uniform landed perfectly folded in his own luggage. Silver Platter's eyes widened completely baffled at how Sunshine was able to do that. And in the haze of the constant confusion, he didn't think to ask why he quit his job, other than the express purpose of continuing to make his life miserable upbeat antics.
Silver Platter rolled his eyes and gave another deep, exasperated sigh seeing nothing he would say was going to change this childish pony's mind. The more mature stallion took the one suitcase he packed himself carried it off while he grumbled, "fine, then you can be my personal bell hopper until I become a clown again. Would you mind taking the rest of my luggage onto the train?" Sunshine Smiles might as well be useful if he was going to pester him the whole way, he thought pragmatically to himself.
The orange coated stallion squealed in delight as he took ahold of the trolly and started to push it out of the room as he exclaimed, "alright! But...how are you going to pay me if you don't have a job!?" The stallion snickered under his breath as what he said was clearly just a joke.
The former waiter rolled his eyes as he followed behind the former bell hopper and sighed, "I'll figure something out when we get to Ponyville." He then started to walk off grumbling to himself, and Sunshine Smiles, feeling a bit guilty bounced over next to his colleague and chirped, "that's alright, I was just joking."
The two walked through the streets of Canterlot and headed straight to the train station. The more mature stallion seemed to be lost in thought, looking around and seemed to be thinking about leaving Canterlot. He looked around at the nobles trotting around with their heads in the air and wearing their fancy clothes. The former waiter looked around, seeming to be in conflict with himself; his brain was telling him to stay in Canterlot and try to find another job. All the while, his heart was screaming at him to leave this stuffy city and become a clown again. He was so lost in thought he barely realized he was at the train station when he suddenly heard the engine burst out a loud whistle. He looked over to see Sunshine Smiles skipped off to with the rest of the cargo on the trolley and took it all to the back of the train. Silver Platter looked at the excited orange coated stallion who was bargaining with other train ponies in the back of the luggage car. He watched with an envious smile seeing how happy the stallion was joking with the ponies on the station. Silver Platter then slowly trotted onto the train and took his seat, adjusting his suit and trying to get comfortable. Not long afterward, the train started moving slowly as it pushed itself down the tracks. He looked outside, watching the trees and houses blurring into each other as the train continued to chugging faster. Sunset Smiles bounced inside the train with that goofy smile printed on his face and plopped right across from Silver Platter, who tried to ignore him. The brooding stallion seemed to be going over things in his mind. Silver Platter was lost in his own mind feeling unsure of how things are going to turn out in Ponyville and about trying to change himself to a clown again. Lost in thought, the train continued onward as Sunshine began playing a game of some sort by staring out the window and shouting out, "I spy with my little eye something green!"
"Let me guess a tree or grass." Silver Platter snapped back as he was quite frustrated playing this stupid game.
The former bell hopper was bouncing in his seat as he exclaimed, "yeah, it's both! That was the twentieth time you got it right! How about we go again!"
Silver Platter slammed a hoof on his face and growled, "don't! just don't, I rather have my eyes gouged out then play this game again."
Sunshine continued to hound him seeming to not really care that Silver Platter was annoyed with him the entire time. Luckily for Silver Platter, the train eventually came to a stop at Ponyville were dozens of ponies started getting off the train. The two stallions went out into the dirt road that lead out into Ponyville, and his eyes went wide, seeing how different things were then at Ponyville. It was apparent to his unwanted refined taste that the ponies here were more uncouth walking about and talking and laughing. Ponies here seemed to be less stuck up more free to do as they please unbound by rules of high-class society. Silver Platter turned to see that Sunshine was now pushing the trolley full of his luggage, and he chirped, "so we heading out now!?"
Silver Platter fixed his suit and responded curtly. "Yes, we shall go out and find a mare named Rarity first. We need a place to stay, and she...well to put it simply she owes me." The stallion looked down and felt quite angry with his nostrils seething and trying to control himself as he was feeling quite upset and anxious, but he wanted to keep his composure as he tried to be as couth as possible. As for the reason of him being angry, it came from the fact that he was transformed into a waiter by a strange magic Rarity possessed over a month ago.
The two continued down the road with his single suitcase while Sunshine was lugging all the rest of his Silver Platter's luggage on a trolly huffing and wheezing with his face a bright red from the physical strain. They eventually made it to Carousel Boutique, and Sunshine was quite confused about why they were there and asked, "so...what, are we doing here again?"
"Like I said before, we need to talk to the mare that lives here." Silver Platter growled, feeling quite angry for having to come to the place where Rarity lived with her being the one who ruined his life.
The former waiter then fixed his bowtie before he stomped into the Boutique as Sunshine slowly followed behind him. With the ringing of the bell, they walked through the dress shop filled with fancy gowns and other quaint designs like suits, bridles, and shoes. The two eventually made it to the register to find an elegant white-coated mare with a purple color corkscrew mane named Rarity who was looking over with a bright smile seeing the fancy-looking stallion with his head stuck up in the air. The mare noticed him as he looked at what looked like a stallion from Canterlot immediately and came up to him in getting to asked, "how may I help you, darling? If I may ask, are you from Canterlot?"
Silver Platter fixed his bowtie again before he responded curtly, "yes, I am My name is Silver Platter, and you probably don't remember me, but we met before." He then gave a small bow and lowered his head in politeness.
"You do seem familiar...were you in Ponyville a few months ago?" Rarity asked suspiciously, looked the stallion over tapping a hoof to her chin, trying to see if she could recall where she met this stallion before.
Sunshine Smiles snickered as Silver Platter was still quite angry at this mare he also still need to keep his composure and fixed his suit before he growled, "I'm here to tell you that you ruined my life, and made me a miserable waiter, I spent the last month thinking nothing about how to get back at you!"
Rarity gulped, feeling a bit nervous now and whispered, "w...a.what darling? I'm sorry that happened to you, but...but I still don't remember you?" This made Silver Plater snort in frustration as he clopped his hooves on the ground feeling outraged that Rarity still couldn't recall what she did to him.
She turned to the orange coated bell hopper standing next to Silver Platter and asked, "don't tell me we met before as well?"
The former bell hopper blushed and shook his head, taking out a hoof and exclaimed, "no, my name is Sunshine Smiles, and I'm Silver Platter's assistant!" This made the former waiter roll his eyes at the notion of Sunshine being his assistant.
Rarity blushed, seeing a lot of Pinkie Pie in this stallion and shook his hoof as she replied, "well, it's nice to meet you, darling." Sunshine held onto her hoof and continued to shake it for some time, then they got into a conversation about hotel standards. Silver Platter's eye twitched, seeing this mare didn't remember anything about what happened when she made him this way along with Sunshine Smiles being annoying again. Being quite angry and enraged, he needed to do something to alleviate his anger. He walked over to the back of the shop to Rarity's kitchen. Both Sunshine and Rarity were quite confused and followed the waiter as he opened the fridge and began pulling out bread, cheese, lettuce tomatoes, and a basketful of daisies. The mare was quite stunned and asked, "I..I don't mean to be rude darling, but what in Equestria are you doing with my pantry!?"
The stallion went about pulling out a long knife and went about cutting up the lettuce and tomato into slices as he went about trying to alleviate his frustration, so he didn't lash out. After going about finishing cutting up the produce as he snapped, "Now what do you want on your sandwich?"
Rarity, who was quite confused, asked, "w...well, I guess a daisy sandwich does sound delicious as I'm quite famished from all the work I did."
Sunshine raised a hoof like a foal as he bounced around and shouted, "can I have one! I want one with lots of daisies, please!"
The former waiter gave a small nod concentrating on his work fixing the sandwiches by cutting off the crust of the bread and light placing mustard on both sandwiches before taking out a kettle and placing it on the stove as he felt that a proper sandwich needed a nice hot beverage to go with it. Rarity blushed as she asked, "darling, you don't have to make tea. The sandwiches are quite enough."
"Yeah, seriously! This is a lot considering nopony asked you to do any of this." Sunshine added in as he scratched his head.
Silver Platter didn't seem to care waiting patiently for the pot to boil and poured three cups of tea. He then went to the table and grabbed a clean white table cloth and placed it over while lighting a candlestick in the middle of the table the last touch as he took out a record player and placed the needle on it, and classical music started to play throughout the kitchen. Rarity was stunned as he then took her by the hoof and lead her to the shop where he skimmed through the gowns and dresses. Rarity was confused and asked, "I have to ask why are you doing this? I mean, I'm flattered, but this is too much."
Silver Platter eye twitched and grumbled, "I'm not trying to be kind, I'm trying to calm myself by doing what I know best, which is being an expert in fine dining and you need to look more proper before you can eat. "
He went about taking out a fancy purple gown that shimmered and glistened. With lightning speed, the stallion then went about slipping the dress over her body without even the chance to react, which he hardly then went about fixing her mane brushing it and curling it around her face. Rarity was feeling both nervous and confused about this as she asked, "If you're so angry with me darling, why are you doing this?"
"I told you before this isn't for you. I'm trying to calm myself, so be patient and don't move." The stallion explained as he then went about applying eyeshadow under her eyes and slowly applied makeup on eyelids with a makeup brush. Silver Platter then went about applying a velvet colored lipstick to her lips and then finished the makeover by applying a light blush to her cheeks. The stallion stood back and responded in a calm demeanor. "It is done my lady."
Rarity looked at herself in the mirror and gasped in complete amazement. "How were you able to do this! I mean, have you done a mare's makeup before?"
"Yes, I have for dozens of mares who were in a rush and didn't have their makeup ready or aren't properly dressed." The former waiter responded curtly as he looked at the fashionista's reflection, making sure his makeover was perfect. He was still angry at the mare, but he would not let his personal issues override his professional demeanor and respect for a mare's looks.
Sunshine Smiles then came bounding into the shop, curious about what the other ponies were doing. But before he could do anything, Silver Platter was on top of him as he went about dressing Sunshine in a tuxedo, pulling up a nice set of black pants while fixing a white dress shirt around his chest and a black suit jacket. Sunshine blushed to feel uncomfortable as he was dressed up by the former waiter who chuckled, seeing this childish stallion finally looking proper for once as he chuckled, feeling like he got one over the annoying stallion. "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist coming in to see what's going on, so I had a tuxedo prepared just for you."
The bell hopper smirked looking at himself in the mirror across the room and scoffed, "Well, I have to say I do look good in a tux."
"Yeah, but you would look better if you lost some weight. I would suggest you stop eating so many sweets and eat more greens." The more mature stallion snapped as he went about tying a black bow tie around his neck, then he began brushing and grooming the bell hopper's mane. He then escorted two to the table and sat her down first, then sat. Sunshine Smiles across from her. The former waiter then went about and placed the plates of sandwiches next to each of them. They began munching on their sandwiches as Rarity eyes went wide with disbelief at how good the sandwich tasted and exclaimed, "my goodness that..this is the best sandwich I've ever had!"
"It's like you got the best ratio of all these ingredients mingling in one!" Sunshine exclaimed as he was quite surprised at his own sandwich as well.
Silver Platter bowed and responded respectfully. "Thank you for the compliment now please enjoy your meal." He was starting to feel less frustrated and was seeming to calm down.
They went about eating their sandwiches and drinking their tea as Rarity asked, "so..your less angry now? But, I'm starting to think I do know you, were you ever actually a clown before darling?"
Silver Platter's eye twitched, feeling a new wave of anger take over as he slowly came up behind the mare, wanting to slam the table or scare her. But instead, the stallion started to massage the mare's back easing the pressure on her back and shoulders. She moaned and rubbed her body against his hooves, feeling so relaxed as he performed his relaxing massage hitting all the tension in the mare's back. No matter how frustrated Silver Platter felt, he somehow always ended up doing something that went along with fine dining and performing his duties as a butler or waiter. He simply gave a low grumble and muttered under his breath in a volatile tone. "I am trying to relieve pressure by performing my duties bestowed by my cutie mark as it's telling me to perform this procedure on you."
Rarity mpphed as she loved this odd pony who was clearly a butler of some kind who knew how to treat a mare. She flashed him a coy smile and cooed, "honestly darling, how can I repay you for giving me this lovely lunch and relaxing massage?" Her body was now so relaxed as it melted in Silver Platter's hooves as she seemed to be in such a good mood. The former waiter stopped the message and went about taking her hooves dainty and began to manicure them. "I was once a party clown named Button Nose, and you turned me into this a month ago when you were possessed by some dark magic. I need a place to stay while I'm getting help from Pinkie Pie to be turned back into a party clown."
Rarity felt a little guilty for his supposed grievances against her and despite not remembering this pony. The fashionista remembered what she almost did being possessed, and it wasn't out of the question she was responsible for changing the fate of this stallion. She then bowed her head and responded in an apologetic tone. "well, I do apologize for what happened to you. I feel obligated to accommodate you while you stay in Ponyville, but you don't have to work for me, darling."
"No, I have to work for you, I can't just live here without paying rent or working in some sort of capacity." The waiter snapped back as he was quite an adamant feeling that it was professional to not live off another pony's generosity and not pay them back.
Rarity slowly got up and looked at the stallion with a smile and cooed, "well, if you want to darling, you are quite the gentle pony, and I would love to have you stay around." She eyed him seeing how respectful and handsome he looked the mare was hoping they could go out on a few dates before he left.
The former waiter bowed and replied, "Thank you, I appreciate your generosity for letting me stay here."
She flashed her long eyelashes at Silver Platter and cooed, "Well, I am the element of generosity after all."
"I'm assuming you're staying here as well?"
The fashionista asked and then turned her attention to Sunshine Smiles with a smile who was busy munching away on his sandwich.
She was hoping this bell hopper would stay seeing he was also kind of cute, and she wouldn't mind trying to date him as well.
Sunshine Smiles hopped over as he took out a hoof. "If that's ok? I lost my job in Canterlot too."
Rarity waved a hoof and gave a playful response. "Of course, darling, now come along. You two can have the spare bedroom upstairs."
Sunshine Smiles picked up all of Silver Platter's luggage and started to carry it all up the stairs with a big smile on his face, seeing it as an opportunity to show off his bell hopping skills. While Silver Platter himself begrudgingly followed behind seeing that Rarity and the bell hopper engaging in more lighthearted banter laughing at a joke.
They all went up the steps, and they came into Rarity's spare bedroom. The room was quite simple without many trappings, but Sunshine Smiles was already hopping about unpacking the suitcases and throwing things left and right, lamps, books, candlesticks. Rarity and Silver Platter watched astonished at Sunshine Smiles's work seems to be taking all kinds of objects that couldn't possibly fit-out of the suitcases and helped organize the room. It was now looking more furnished with a bookcase, a few candles, a throw rug in the middle of the room, and the spare closet in the bedroom was now filled with his suits. Raised his hooves and exclaimed," there all unpacked! Told you it wouldn't take that long!"
Silver Platter was a bit concerned, seeing that the room was nice. However, there was only one bed as he asked, "I'm sorry, miss Rarity, I don't mean to be rude but is this the only room available? As nice as this, I rather not sleep in the same room with another stallion; it is rather inappropriate seeing were both adults. Also, even though I don't see anything wrong with it, I am not a homosexual."
"I'm so sorry darling, this is the only spare room I have." Rarity apologized and bowed her head a little, feeling a bit uncomfortable about how straightforward this butler-like stallion was being.
Silver Platter groaned as Sunshine squealed, clapping his hooves together. "Oh yeah, it's gonna be like a sleepover!"
Silver Platter shook his head, rubbing his hoof down his face feeling agitated again and grumbled, "It looks like I don't have a choice; at least the room looks nice. Now I need to get going and introduce myself to Pinkie Pie and seeing she can turn me back into a clown."
"Oh, can I come along! Please! I always wanted to meet Pinkie Pie!" Sunshine exclaimed excitedly as he bounced over.
The former waiter waved a hoof and grumbled, "Alright, come on, then I doubt there's anything I can say or do that'll make you change your mind seeing how you love to follow me ever.
Silver Platter turned his attention to Rarity and gave a bow as he replied, "we shall be back within the hour."
Rarity blushed, seeing how serious this waiter was being and replied in a relaxing tone. "Of course, darling, take your time. You're not on the clock."
The stallion gave a bow before strolling out of the room with Sunshine skipping off alongside him. Rarity looked behind her and felt terrible for the stallion seeing it was her fault he was in this predicament, but she also saw how sexy that stallion looked with his rump swaying from side to side. Rarity couldn't help but watch with a coy smile. "Even if he can't become a clown again he's quite the catch just as he is right now."
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To Be a Clown or Not to Be?
Chapter Three: Welcome to Pinkie Pie's Clown College
Along the long dirt road, Silver Platter was slowly trotting through the pastoral town alongside Sunshine Smiles, who was bouncing alongside him, being as usual obnoxious self, much to his annoyance. While Sunshine went about waving at ponies along the way and being rather perky as usual, chirping out a "good afternoon" passerby now and again. Silver Platter however found himself had tended to lowered his gaze to the dirt-packed ground as he walked around the familiar streets spotting many ponies he recognized which seemed to be another lifetime ago for him, and who gave him odd looks as they seem to recognize him by the way they tilted their heads quizzically at him, as maybe a pony they might once knew, shrugging off before going back on their way; that or is unwanted companion was just too much of an odd sight even for a place like Ponyville. Barely a few minutes in the main thoroughfare, he was still felt quite uncomfortable and out of place being back in his hometown, with his high hoity-toity standards of high society ingrained into him, he felt ashamed of associating with these ponies that once knew who were now beneath his notice as much as his shameful sense of nostalgia gave him a sense of at home again. Of all the ponies walking about, he squeaked in fear upon spotting a brown coated stallion, with a dark brown swept back mane and azure colored eyes, known as Dr. Whooves strolling around with a grey coated dopey looking mare looking wife was named Depry. Dr. Whooves of all ponies was quite intelligent, and almost matched the high standards Silver Platter himself has adopted. Still, on top of that, he also had a long memory, and would probably recognize him as the former clown "Button Nose" immediately, which he hope that wasn't going to be the case. The former waiter quickly turned his gaze away, hoping the "doctor" didn't see his face, while Sunshine Smiles, who keenly saw this, as an opportunity to introduce himself to some more ponies gleefully waved a hoof and shouted in a friendly tone. "Good Afternoon!" at the two of them. The couple waved back and continued their conversation as they walked off, not noticing the prim and proper earth pony, who signed in relief of avoiding the encounter.
With his brow dripping with sweat from the anxiety of being noticed, the nervous stallion known as Silver Platter saw an opportunity to get away for the familiar couple without being seen, and he leaned down at the ground. He quickly trotted off, trying not to be noticed by any more of the local county ponies. For Sunshine Smiles, however, he saw how shy and withdrawn his companion was being and hopped over next to him, like a road pylon, and was going to ask a question to a blue-coated stallion with a light blue frizzled mane named Pokey Pierce came prancing down the road with a big smile on his face. Seeing the incoming pedestrian, the former waiter groaned, trying to keep his face downwards, knowing all too well that who he was as well as how he and this party pony had once planned many parties for foals and that at the time he was hoping the party pony wouldn't recognize him. Pokey Pierce blinked owlishly in surprise upon seeing the fancy-looking stallion and , by the way he was squinting his eyes at him and then widen, it seemed to have sparked something within I remember an absolute clown that he used to work with him, as he waved a hoof and asked, "Hey, do I know you?" he as quizzically at the butter-yellow pony actively avoiding his gaze "I'm sure you were a party clown I worked with before."
"No, you must be quite mistaken!" Silver Platter said, eyes darting every which way but his speaker and start sweating bullets" Now please, leave me be I have a crucial meeting to get to!" Silver Platter quickly snapped back, and he scampers off before anypony could react to what just happened.
Sunburst shoved a hoof and watched his companion run off he felt terrible for his friend's rude behavior as he slowly walked over to the befuddled Party Favor with a sheepish smile and apologized, "I'm sorry for my friend, he's a little cranky we just got off the train, and he didn't get that much sleep."
For his part, The blue-coated party pony chuckled, seemingly not having his feelings hurt and casually waved a hoof and responded in a cheerful tone. "It's alright, and I can understand how those long train rides can leave a pony cramped and angry." The stallion paused as he turned his gaze to the fancy looking stallion running off at a distance down the road he pressed his press chin as he somehow knew this stallion before and whispered under his breath, "it's just well...I think I've seen that pony before?"
Sunshine shrugged, as he was unsure of his companion's origins as he responded, "I think he came from Ponyville, but I'm not sure he usually keeps to himself and never talks about his past. We aren't exactly friends, though, so it's not like he would share anything about himself to me."
Pokey Pierce turned his attention to Sunshine Smiles with a smile awkwardly at him, seeing that he was trying not to appear uncomfortable about everything and chirped out. "If you can, could you ask that ritzy stallion that if he does know about my friend Button Nose, please? Have him give a message that I miss him, and I would love it if he came back," he asked with a plea.
The blue-coated stallion then skipped off merely on his way, with a grin still printed on his face, but he was feeling a bit more solemn being reminded of a friend he lost. The orange coated stallion was now intrigued by Pokey Pierce's questions, and he had to ask Silver Platter if he knew about his clown named "Button Nose." He then skipped over to the downtrodden former waiter, still looking down at the ground. The stallion walked over and asked, "hey? I don't mean to pry, but it seems that these ponies knew you at one point. Are you originally from Ponyville?"
Silver Platter didn't want to be asked this question and stomped a hoof on the ground forming a giant cloud of dirt to explode outward and snapped back. "Yes, I am, but I don't want to talk about it, alright?"
"Fine, whatever, I was just asking," Sunshine grumbled as he looked away, feeling a bit irritated as he was hoping to get Silver Platter to open up about himself finally.
They continued to walk together in silence as they came upon a building that looked like giant ice cream in the middle of the town with a cupcake shaped tower rising over it. Silver Platter was quite nervous being seen in such an uncouth place with his reputation on the line and feeling like he shouldn't be seen in an area that looked like a five-year-old foal designed it as he stammered, "I'm not sure about this...I mean, I'm a professional waiter who has high standards..t...this is the most uncouth thing I've seen since coming to Ponyville."
Sunshine Smiles turned to his friend with a glare as he was quite agitated with his companion's behavior and attitude. The usually happy stallion got severe for once with him and snapped, "why? You need to do this! Come on, if you don't, then why come all this way here? At least try to meet with Pinkie Pie before throwing in the towel. I mean, what's back inCanterlot for you anyways? You already burned down the last restaurant you worked at."
Silver Platter fixed his bowtie on his suit with sweat coming down his face he was still torn between his want of retaining being a fancy waiter and his hidden desire to be a clown again. He stood there thinking it over and eventually mumbled under his breath, "fine, I'll try…"
"Good! Now come on and go in Sugarcube Corner before you change your mind!" Sunshine Smiles exclaimed as he pushed the nervous and sweaty waiter who was grinding his hooves into the dirt, causing a giant trail to form behind him as he was shoved through the front doors of the cafe'. Upon entering the odd-looking building, the two looked around the room filled with ponies eating pastries, drinking coffee, and ice cream float. For Sunshine, this place was a dream come true as he looked around wide-eyed and wanting to talk to everypony. While for Silver Platter, he looked around the room with his body quivering all over as he looked around at the colorful cakes and piles of ice cream the various ponies around quite a busy gorging on their sweets. He then noticed a couple of school foals drinking some ice cream floats. He watched them laughing and talking about their day. It made him feel more unsure as it brought back memories of him performing at many birthday parties before he became a waiter, and this made him long for doing something like that again. But he was still unsure if he wanted to be a clown back at the same time.
"Oh, hello! You must be Silver Platter! Pinkie Pie has been talking non-stop about you!"
The two stallions were surprised, trying to see who suddenly greeted them, and they turned their attention to a giant portly blue-coated mare wearing a yellow apron with pink frills outlining the fabric. Her distinctive tall cream swirl style mane made her was very very distinctively goddy, and was giving the prim, and proper stallion's refine sensibility a near-stock at just looking at the thing.
The mare in question was Mrs.Cup Cake, who gave them a loving smile as she asked the former waiter in a sweet and lovely tone. "So, your Silver Platter, correct?"
"Wait, she was expecting me!" Silver Platter exclaimed nervously, being quite surprised at being expected, seeing he didn't tell anypony he was coming to Ponyville. But he did vaguely remember that the mare rumored to had some sixth sense being able to not only see events in the future with her "pinkie sense."
Sunshine Smiles bounced over in excitement as he was anticipating to meet Pinkie Pie with a big smile on his face and asked, "was she expecting me too!?"
"Of course, I was! I was expecting both of you!" Exclaimed an eccentric pink coated mare with a big poofy darker pink mane who seemingly bounced out of nowhere towards them with a big smile on her face making both of the stallions leap up in surprise.
Pinkie Pie took out her hooves and grabbed the two stallions and took them into a giant bone-crushing hug, shouting, "oh, I knew you would two you come! I was going to throw a party, but I had a feeling that we're going to be doing something way more exciting!" She then took out two-party hats and slammed them on the heads of the two stallions. The eccentric pink coated mare then turned her full attention to Silver Platter and in her excitement, knowing that he wanted to be a clown as she exclaimed, "So I heard you wanna be a clown again!"
The stallion gulped as he fixed the bowtie on his suit, being still quite nervous about what he wanted and slowly nodded as he whispered, "yes, very much so."
Pinkie Pie walked around Silver Platter, inspecting him with a keen eye while he stood there still sweating nervously. She then suddenly got into the former waiter's face pressing her muzzle into his nose as she explained in a cheerful tone. "From that frown and those fancy clothes, I can already tell that this is probably going to be hard for you! You're going to hurt a lot of silly bones, you'll be bruised from juggling all kinds of bowling pins and giant plastic balls, and you'll probably have a few pies thrown in your face you ready for that?"
Silver Platter now had beads of sweat going down his face with Pinkie Pie was still pressing her muzzle into his nose and making him even more nervous with this mare making him feel like he had to say something to get this mare off him as he stammered. "A..A...Alright, I'll do it."
Pinkie Pie took out a long scroll from out of nowhere and placed it down on a table she was quite excited and shouted, "Well then, you're going to get the Pinkie Pie's funny clown college program! But, you're going to sign some forms just in case if things get too out of hoof!" Silver Platter eyed Pinkie Pie as she snickered and waved a hoof. "Oh, don't worry, I don't mean you're going to be hurt or maimed in any way! It's mostly just in case of some embarrassing experiences that might become public!"
Silver Platter sighed, slowly taking out a quill and looked down at the forms with his heart thumping in his chest. He wasn't sure about this; still knowing wants he signed these forms, his life will change everything about his former more structured life. He paused for a good few moments as he looked back at some foals drinking milkshakes and talking about their school day. The stallion then became more resolved, knowing deep down he wanted to bring joy to foals and that he wanted to become a clown again. He then placed the quill down on the scroll and went about signing forms Sunshine Smiles turned to the pink coated earth pony with a smile. For as long as the stallion could remember, he always wanted to talk to Pinkie Pie, but he was quite nervous as he suddenly exclaimed, "Pinkie Pie! You were always a role model of mine, and I want to ask you something!"
"Oh! Really!? I'm so happy to hear that!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed in her overly excited tone as she hopped over and hugged Sunshine Smiles in another bone-crushing hug.
The stallion just melted in her hug as he hugged back, nuzzling her as she then peered into his soul with those big blue eyes as she asked in her usual cheerful tone. "So, what did you want to ask me?"
Silver Platter raised an eyebrow at the nervous orange coated stallion, seeming to wonder if meeting Pinkie Pie was the real reason why he came with him to Ponyville. Sunshine Smiles still had sweat coming down his brow as he asked, "you know I don't want to be a clown? But I would love to learn about being funnier from y...y...y."
"From yaks? They're not that funny from what I heard." Pinkie Pie chirped at the stallion with a giant smile plastered on her face.
Sunshine chuckled nervously, seeing that Pinkie was trying to be funny, but this was still quite nerve-racking for him as he continued to stammer. "Y..y…yo"
"Yarn? Yams? Yahtzee? Yankee Doodle? I'm not sure any of those can make you funny." Pinkie Pie blurted out, having some fun.
"I meant from you! I'm a huge fan of yours!" Sunshine Smiles shouted out in a nervous tone.
Pinkie Pie bounced right over to the bell hopper and exclaimed, "you're just my stallion! You'll be getting my fun time assistant Party Pony package! You'll learn how to be funnier and goofier from the one and only me without having to be a full clown!"
The mare then slammed some more forms out of nowhere on the table in front of him, making Sunshine Smiles cheer. He went about singing them one by one with a quill that also seemingly came out of nowhere as he exclaimed in unbounded excitement. "Thank you, Pinkie! I can't wait to start!"
"Yeah, no problem, you big cutie!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed in a newfound excitement as she turned her attention to the former waiter who was struggling to write down his name on the form as she shouted, "I knew my old friend Button Nose was going to return eventually!"
"Yo...you remember me!?" Silver Platter stammered nervously as he was both surprised at how Pinkie Pie was able to recognize him easily. He was also scared of his old identity being revealed feeling nervous about being a clown still and still felt unsure about having that being exposed to other ponies.
Pinkie Pie bounced up and down, getting excited to see her old clown friend again as she chirped, "yeah, of course, I do! Heck, when you were a birthday clown, you helped me with the foal day festival we planned for weeks. On top of that, you attended so many birthday parties we held here? Come on, don't tell me you forgot all that!?"
The stallion gave a deep, exasperated sigh and looked at the ground as a flood of memories went through his mind of him hosting parties with pink coated party pony and him making balloon animals, and making foals laugh. He went about and fixed his bowtie as he mumbled, "yeah...I remember...it's... it's just since I turned into a waiter I've been unsure of..this...well..all these embarrassing things I'll be doing…" He looked down at the scroll and pointed a hoof to a few lines and feeling quite awkward about the things are written there as he read out loud, "like here, it says I must wear mismatched clothes, learn how to ride a unicycle, wear face paint…"
Pinkie Pie suddenly burst into fits of laughter as she rolled on the ground laughing," Seriously! You did all that before and so much more! Gosh, I remember when you used to juggle pies while riding a unicycle and making jokes about my name all at the same time! It was so hilarious and awesome!"
Silver Platter cringed as the memory of that day. It was about a year back when he and Pinkie Pie worked at a foal's birthday party for the first time together went through his mind. The stallion recalled how she kept cracking jokes and making him laugh. Then later that evening, while doing his standard birthday clown routine, he decided to throw pies into Pinkie's face and cracking terrible pie puns at the same time. Silver Platter stomped a hoof and fiercely shook his head, feeling quite frustrated at being reminded of his past and snapped back. "As you can see, I'm no longer the pony you remember Pinkie Pie. I do wish to return to being a fun birthday clown, but I'm still not comfortable doing all these uncouth activities.
The pink party pony flipped up and booped the cynical stallion in the nose, making him cross-eyed for a second as she responded in a cheerful tone. "Trust me were going to make you a clown in no time. But you have to get out of your comfort zone, and I can't force you too!"
Sunshine and Pinkie Pie both turned their attention to Silver Platter, who was sweating nervously again, looking down at the bottom of the scroll where it read. "Sign here, and you will be stuck in Ponyville until your a clown again! Pinkie Promise!"
The stallion gulped as he slowly placed the quill down and signed the form with a quick flourish. Once he finished signing his name as Pinkie Pie snatched the form from the table and gave it a quick read, and then she shoved it into her mane as she exclaimed, "alright looks like everything is in order! Welcome to Pinkie Pie's clown college! We'll start by getting you into a proper clown outfit because that boring suit has to go!"
"What did I get myself into?" Silver Platter groaned as he slowly rubbed a hoof down his face as he was still uncomfortable about signing himself up to attend clown college.
It wasn't long until Silver Platter was now sitting in a swivel chair nervously looking at himself in front of a giant mirror. From the surroundings in a large, mostly blue and white tiled room filled large hot baths and ponies getting massages. The poor stallion was smack dab in Ponyville's day spa run by Aloe and her sister Lotus Blossom. It would be embarrassing enough for a proper stallion being in such an effeminate place. But, it wasn't even bad enough as the stallion knew he wasn't getting any ordinary makeover he was here to get what Pinkie Pie called a "Clown style Makeover," Just the thought of what that eccentric pink party pony was going to do to him made him quiver in fear. The pink coated pony in question did eventually arrive wielding a big pink bag filled with who knows what as she exclaimed, "you ready Silver Platter!? because we're going to be turning you back into Button Nose!"
The former waiter closed eyes who still was regretting his decision to agree with this and grumbled under his breath. "Just get this over with."
Pinkie Pie smirked as she reached into her bag and pulled out a giant can of white paint, slammed her hooves into the paint. He then started to smear his face painted with a pasty white face cream. The stallion groaned, feeling the thick face paint getting rubbed into his fur and skin. After she finished making sure that Silver Platter's face was covered entirely in the white face paint, she went about taking hold of the stallion's tuxedo and exclaimed in an excited tone. "It's time to go out with the old!" She tore that tuxedo from his body with a loud rip.
"In with the new!" Pinkie shouted and then went about throwing a gaudy rainbow-colored striped suit with a polka-dotted bow tie over him. The pink pony then went about ripping his black trousers from his body and slid on some big baggy rainbow polka-dotted pants over him. She then went and strapped rainbow-colored suspenders over his shoulders to keep his new pants from falling off his body. The pink party pony tapped a hoof to her chin, looking the stallion over who was now wearing his gaudy and baggy clown costume and mumbled to herself, "I feel like something is missing."
Sunshine was standing beside Pinkie Pie, and he was also trying to think of what could be added. Then it all suddenly an idea hit Sunshine like a pile of bricks as he started to bounce up and down and exclaimed, "I think that he should have a clown's afro!"
Pinkie Pie slammed a hoof to her face feeling so stupid for not thinking of that as she exclaimed, "silly me how could I forget the most important part of a clown's outfit!"
She then took out a spray-can be labeled "Clown mane spray." The mare went to work spraying his dark mane with the can until his mane was bright and multi-colored, not unlike that of a rainbow. Pinkie Pie then took out a curling iron and went to work, creating the afro for the stallion frizzing up his mane going over it a few times until it was a giant poofy rainbow-colored ball of fluff. The stallion still had his eyes closed, grumbled in an irritable tone. "Please tell me you're done."
"There is one other thing we forgot!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed in an excitedly and bounced over to the stallion and plopped a giant red foam red nose on the tip of his muzzle and chirped, "There now I'm done! Go ahead and give your new makeover a look!"
Silver Platter slowly opened his eyes and gazed at his reflection with a look of horror. His face was now covered in the white makeup, his old tuxedo was replaced with the gaudy multi-colored suit and wearing those embarrassing baggy pants held up by suspenders, but what made him more furious was his mane! His well kept simple black colored mane was now a giant ball of rainbow plastered on his head looking like Celestia's mane that went through a blow dryer. The stallion stood there shaking all over in anger; unable say to a word as Pinkie slowly came over as she saw he seemed not to like his new makeover and nervously asked, "so? Do you like it?"
Silver Platter took a few deep breaths as he stood up from his chair and walked around a little getting used to his new outfit and then placed Pinkie Pie in the chair as she squeaked in surprise. Fancy Pants began massaging the mare's shoulders, and the mare was quite taken aback from what Silver Platter was doing and asked, "it's nice and all? Why are you massaging my shoulders?"
He gave a deep sigh and explained, "I am relieving my stress and anger by serving you in the only way I can. As for your question about what I think of my new makeover, I think it's the most abhorrent thing that has even been done onto me, and I would love to wash this makeup off, wash my mane until it becomes black again and take these awful clothes off and burn them. But for the sake of becoming a clown again, I'll endure this embarrassment."
Pinkie was starting to feel so relaxed from this massage moaning as she felt her aching muscles melting between this pony's shoulder rubs and sighed, "well, I'm glad you giving it a chance, I'm sure you'll warm up to your new look."
Sunshine Smiles himself couldn't help but snicker looking his colleague over with a smirk on his face seeing how much of a clown he looked now, making him burst into laughter, "yeah! I can see he's ready for his first day of Clown College!"
Silver Platter rolled his eyes as he helped Pinkie Pie down from the chair. Pinkie Pie turned to the big sorry-looking clown, and she couldn't help but pull him into another bone-crushing hug, making him squeal and kick about as she nuzzled him and exclaimed, "Thank you for that wonderful massage! I think it's time we start your training, Button Nose!"
The former waiter eventually pushed Pinkie Pie back a little as he was able to catch his breath and grumbled, "right, well, let's proceed then."
Silver Platter was now on the second floor of Sugarcube Corner in Pinkie Pie's room feeling quite out of place despite being wearing an embarrassing clown costume in a room filled with party streamers, balloons, and a baby alligator staring at him with those big slowly blinking eyes. Silver Platter glared at the alligator as it unsettled him and growled," What is that?"
Pinkie Pie picked her pet alligator up and nuzzled it as she cooed, "His name is Gummy, and he's my pet baby alligator."
She then plopped him on her mane as Silver Platter rolled his eyes not even wanting to now how Pinkie would have a pet baby alligator and being quite irritated and wanting to continue with his training in becoming a clown as he asked, "alright what am I going to do first?"
Pinkie Pie tapped a hoof to her chin as she pondered and talked to herself. "Well, I need to see where you are with your "clown skills," I think we can start with some juggling."
She then suddenly threw him some multi-colored rubber balls at the clown in training. He squeaked somehow, bouncing the balls on his hooves, and he tried to keep his concentration while juggling the rubber balls. As he spun them around in the air for a good few seconds and feeling quite proud, he was able to juggle for quite some time, but he squealed stepping on a balloon, making it pop! Catching the poor stallion off guard as he sent the balls flying and they all ended up falling back down on his head. Pinkie Pie blushed as she should've realized he didn't know how to juggle anymore and whispered, "oh dear, this is going to be harder than I thought, how about you try telling a joke?"
The stallion tapped a hoof to his chin, trying to think of a joke as he stammered, "uh um...why..oh...um…" He stood there, tapping a hoof to his chin, and with sweat pouring down his face, he turned to see Pinkie Pie dancing in place in anticipation, but this made the stallion feel more nervous.
"Why did the chicken cross the road?" Silver Platter replied with a sheepish smile.
Pinkie instantly slammed a hoof to her face and shook her head at the dumb joke and replied," okay forget jokes, why don't you try making a balloon animal instead?" She threw him some deflated pieces of rubber at him. The clown in training then went about and started to blow air into them and tried to tie them together, but every time he tried, they ended up falling apart in his hooves. Silver Platter's eye began to twitch as he continued to try tying the pieces of rubber, getting more frustrated and angry with every failed attempt until he tied them somehow into a big ugly knot and the balloons under the intense pressure exploded in his face with a loud Boom!
"Woah, is anypony hurt?!" Sunshine Smiles opened the door with a worried look on his face.
Silver Platter grumbled as he fixed his polka-dotted bow tie and mumbled under his breath. "Just my dignity."
Pinkie Pie and Sunshine huddled together and whispered to each other with Silver Platter glaring at them the entire time, wondering what they could be discussing. The pink coated mare turned around with a sheepish smile as she felt terrible for the stallion and explained, "okay, so...well according to the practice test, you scored a zero out of a hundred, meaning you lost all capability of being a clown."
Silver Platter growled under his breath, looking down at the ground in defeat. "So, there's no hope I'm going to remain a being depressed cynical waiter forever."
Pinkie felt terrible for giving Silver Platter the bad news exclaimed in her overly cheerful tone. "I don't think so! Were going to have to work hard every day to get you back up to where you were. Please don't give up. I'm sure we can do it."
Silver Platter was quite unsure and shrugged, feeling unconvinced and grumbled, "sure, I guess this might work."
Pinkie Pie clapped her hooves and squealed, "oh, don't worry, now we're going to start at the basics...how about we start with some knock-knock jokes."
After hours of studying jokes, doing some basic juggling, and making a dog out of balloons. Silver Platter was quite exhausted as it was now late in the night, and he was climbing downstairs to the ground floor of Sugarcube Corner. He plopped down at a table as Mrs. Cake waddled over as she wanted to check on the poor stallion and chuckled, "sounded like you were busy up there? You doing okay?"
He rubbed his eyes, feeling quite tired as he sighed," yeah, it was, and I feel like I barely made any progress."
Mrs. Cake then hoofed him over an ice cream sundae with two big scoops of vanilla ice cream with a banana in the middle with both hot fudge and caramel drizzle over the ice cream and two cherries on each scoop. He eyed the ice cream with a look of disdain and made a bleh sound having no desire to eat such typical fair food. Mrs. Cake chuckled, watching Silver Platter's response to seeing the ice cream sundae as she cooed, "oh don't be like that, when you were Button Nose this was your favorite treat, with extra fudge, caramel drizzle, and a banana just how you used to like it."
Silver Platter eyed the ice cream as he was unsure of eating any of this common fare; however, he did ponder it to himself. "I'm already dressed as a clown and didn't have much to eat all day…" The stallion's stomach growled, and he held his belly with a hoof and grumbled, "I'll try this carnival fare this one time."
The stallion then took a spoon and slowly scooped the ice cream into his mouth. His eyes went wide as the ice cream hit his tongue, and it made him moan at the taste. Then he felt some trace memories of eating this ice cream rushed through his mind, and he continued to scoop big spoonfuls of ice cream into his mouth. "Oh, this is so good!"
He continued to shovel the rest of the ice cream into his mouth and stopped as Mrs.Cake was quite happy seeing the stallion enjoying himself and chuckled, "oh, your so cute! I hope you're a full clown in time for the Cake twins' first birthday party."
The stallion blushed as he got up, feeling quite embarrassed. "Oh...well...y...ya know I'm a long ways away I was barely even able to make simple knock-knock jokes."
Mrs. Cake gave him a loving smile and wanted to cheer the poor stallion up as she responded. "Don't worry; I'm sure Pinkie Pie will make you a clown in no time. Just keep at it."
He gave a long exasperated sigh as he scooped more ice cream into his mouth before he responded, "I don't even know if I want to be a clown! I mean, I do! But I still feel stupid wearing this outfit and making dumb jokes! I have an urge to take this stupid outfit off and go back to wearing a tuxedo and drinking a glass of wine."
Mrs cake laughed as she hoofed him over another glass of ice cream and cooed, "you're telling me I could go for some wine if I weren't still nursing the foals. But to be honest, what do you want? Because I don't think you would be wearing that clown outfit and taking classes from Pinkie Pie if you didn't want to."
He snickered as he continued to eat the ice cream and pondered on what the mare said and chuckled, "Yeah, your right? I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could be a clown again...I still feel conflicted between my need for high standards and the want to be a clown again."
The stallion continued to shovel ice cream into his mouth while Mrs.Cake hoofed another glass of ice cream to him. "Well, I think you should do what makes you happy if you were happier with your old life then go back? Nopony is forcing you to stay here."
Silver Platter paused mid-scoop as he thought about what Mrs.Cake said and to be honest with himself. The stallion was quite miserable being a boring old waiter serving ponies that could care less about him. He gulped down some more ice cream and mumbled, "I...I want to be a clown again."
He then groaned, holding his stomach and growled in pain. "How many of these sundaes did I eat?"
He groaned, feeling his stomach as Mrs. Cake cooed," do you need somepony to escort you?"
Sunshine smiles came over with a smirk, "I got him," He took his companion who was quite sick from eating so much ice cream and helped him walk across the town as Silver Platter thought of a joke as he mumbled, "What do you get when Celestia eats ice cream?"
Sunshine chuckled and asked, "what?"
"an Ice cream Sundae."
