It was early one morning in Ponyville, and a rather fancy-looking waiter was trotting through the streets. He had a white colored coat, a slick dark blue mane, and a tail with a striking red bow tie around his neck. His name was Silver Platter, was a fancy waiter who was once a party clown until an incident where he was suddenly turned into a butler. His life since then has been somewhat tricky since his new "cutie mark" made him pretty good at serving fancy foods, and he worked in Canterlot for over a month. But he despised his new job as he constantly dealt with snobbish nobles who complained about his service or the food. The stallion was fed up with this work and wanted to return to being a party clown to make foals happy at their birthday parties. Silver Platter would give anything to return to that life, so he contacted the best party planner in Equestria. Eventually, he found his way to Sugarcube Corner, where he knocked on the door. The stallion waited patiently for the door to open there. Mrs. Cake was there with a smile. "Oh, hello? Who are you?"
The waiter cleared his throat and said, "My name is Silver Platter; I'm the party clown Pinkie Pie hired."
Mrs.Cake was somewhat astonished as he looked anything but like a party clown with a fancy tuxedo and his slick black mane. "Um…are you sure you have the right address?"
"Oh, don't worry, he's a party clown!" Pinkie Pie chirped as she bounced over towards the stallion and then explained, "Hey, Silver Platter! It's so good to see you here!"
The stallion bowed and said, "Good morning, Pink-eep!"
"First lesson in becoming a clown! Skip the formalities; hug me!" Pinkie Pie chirped as she wrapped her hooves around the stallion and hugged him tightly. His cheeks flushed red. He knew Pinkie Pie was eccentric, but he wasn't expecting that. Mrs. Cake chuckled, " All right, the birthday party starts at noon. So I'll leave you two to prepare." She then took her foals and put them in a stroller as she set off for a walk.
Pinkie Pie turned her attention towards Silver Platter and said, "ok, now to turn you back into a clown; we're going to get you a new outfit; that suit is just not going to do!"
The stallion adjusted his suit and replied politely, "Right; I apologize for not dressing appropriately; this used to be my old clown outfit."
Pinkie sighed, "I'm sorry; first, let me apologize. Rarity had this crazy episode where she was going nuts! She must've turned you from a fun circus clown to some boring butler!"
Silver Platter gave a chuckle seeing she called him a butler, and said, "Well, first off, I'm a waiter; secondly, I read about what happened in the Canterlot Daily, and I understand she apologized for her behavior."
"Yes, luckily, we also learned the mariachi band we hired wasn't turned into a fancy orchestra; they just got swapped! Surprisingly the only casualty in this mess was you and Rainbow Dash, as some ponies did catch her flying around in a dress. Speaking of which, I think Rainbow Dash likes that dress. I saw it in her closet the other day when she invited me over to plan some pranks."
Seeing that Pinkie Pie would rabble one, Silver Platter interrupted her and said, "I see; well, let's get me back into a clown outfit!?"
"Right! Just give me one sec!"
Then in a whirlwind of pink, she ripped off his tuxedo and replaced it with a motley colored suit complete with pink polka dots splattered all over it and a set of giant yellow baggy pants covering his waist, along with his fancy shoes having been replaced with overly long rubber ones. Pinkie Pie then took out a blow dryer and blew it over his hair, making it poof out, and then splattered his hair with paint, turning his once slick blue tail and mane into bright rainbow-colored poufs of hair. She added the final touch, a giant rubber nose, and then exclaimed, "You're all set!"
Silver Platter looked at a mirror and saw that he looked much like his old self and couldn't help but feel abit nostalgic.
"Um, one question?"
"Yeah, what's up?" Silver Platter asked as he turned to face Pinkie Pie; she skipped over and asked, "What's your real name? Since you were a birthday clown, I don't think it was always Silver Platter, right?"
"Of course not," He blushed as his name was something he wanted to reveal to her as it would come as a surprise. Then an idea came to him, and he suggested, "How about this? I'll tell you if you get me to become a clown."
"It's a deal!" Pinkie laughed as she added, "Alright, let's make a Pinkie Promise!"
"What's that?" the waiter asked as he scratched the back of his mane.
Pinkie threw her hooves in the air and exclaimed, "Cross my heart and hope to die; stick a cupcake in my eye!"
"Uh, ok?" The stallion was abrasive to the dance as he mumbled the lines. She shook his hoof and then exclaimed, "Alright! Let's get to making this place look like a party!"
It only took a few hours, but the entire parlor within Sugarcube Corner was decorated with streamers and confetti. There were pinatas set up with a large boombox blasting music. It looked like the party was all set and ready to go. Silver Platter started to feel that he was prepared to try being his clown-like self, and he hoped this would work with all his heart.
"Alright, the foals will start arriving any minute! Before we start, I'll help you get into the mood!"
She then shaped a balloon into a dog and said, "ok did you see how I did that?"
Silver Platter gave a longing look at the balloon-shaped dog in her hooves as he recognized the technique. But when he took the tube-like balloons and attempted to make a balloon animal himself. However, when he finished, the tube-like balloons became tangled.
Pinkie Pie groaned, then said, "ok, let's just try to make some snacks!"
She then took Silver Platter to the kitchen, where she baked cupcakes for the party. She then turned to see the stallion making finger sandwiches rather delicately as he placed them neatly on display.
Pinkie Pie brushed a hoof over her mane and said, "I don't think the foals will touch those."
The waiter bowed his head and replied, "Sorry, this damn new cutie mark makes it almost impossible to get into my old clown mood or do anything that isn't proper."
Pinkie sighed disappointedly, seeing her efforts to teach Silver Platter weren't going so well, then said, "I understand." She bounced over and asked, "Maybe your clownish mood will kick in when the foals arrive?"
"Yeah, hopefully," the stallion mumbled under his breath. He felt less confident than before and only hoped that with all the foals running around, that would change his cutie mark.
Not long after, the foals did start arriving at the pastry shop with the foals playing games, chasing easter, dancing, and generally having a good time. Pinkie Pie was already engaging with the foals handing out cupcakes, and talking to them. Apple Bloom appeared, who was there with her friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. The two fillies turned to see a circus clown trying to engage with the foals. But he seemed unable to connect with them, offering them finger sandwiches and trying to be overly polite. But he was mostly being ignored or getting mean looks from the foals.
Apple Bloom was the first to notice how awkward he was and asked, "Um, is that supposed to be a party clown?"
They all turned to watch how much of a terrible job he was doing seeing a foal ask for candy, and he gave her a finger sandwich which she threw away and shouted, "Yucky gross!"
One foal went up and asked if he could tell a joke, and he made a comment about how Princess Celestia's cake addiction makes her look rather plump. Which just got groans from the foals. One even threw a cupcake at him, and it didn't take long for others to join in, and he had to run off as the poor stallion was being bombarded by cupcakes.
Watching the poor butler running for his life, Scootaloo chuckled under her breath, then said, "Have you seen this party clown? He seems pretty bad at his job."
Sweetie Belle looked over, saw his cutie mark, and then groaned as she slammed a hoof to her face. "Oh no, I know this pony."
"Who is he?" the other two asked in unison.
Sweetie Belle sighed as she explained, "ok, when my sister was going crazy a few months ago, he was a party clown that got zapped by magic, then he went from a party clown to some fancy waiter."
"Really!?" The other Crusaders exclaimed.
She nodded, then continued to explain, "Yeah, I saw it happen and tracked him down after they cleared up the rest of Rarity's mess. We should help him.
"Yeah, we can't let him live with that cutie mark if he hates it!" Apple Bloom shouted as she placed a hoof over her chest, then proclaimed, "It's our job as the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"
The three then ran over to the clown. He noticed the fillies approaching as he cleaned off the cupcakes with a napkin and grumbled, "You three want balloon animals or something?"
Apple Bloom peering upward at her, asked, "Hey, what's your name?"
"Silver Platter," he mumbled, seeming to be somewhat downtrodden. Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle came over and said, "Hey, mister, I apologize to my sister for what she did to you a few months ago."
The party clown put a hoof to his chest, bowed, and said, "Yeah, I understand she was possessed with dark magic. It's all water under the bridge; I forgive her."
Sweetie Belle sighed in relief and said, "ok, but that's not why we're here; we want to help you get your cutie mark back!"
"Yeah!" Everypony shouted in agreement.
The waiter nodded as he was rather excited to see what they came up with and asked, "Ok? What's the plan? Because so far, nothing's working for me."
Apple Bloom trotted around him, and she seemed to think that something was missing and asked, "Well, um…as a clown, it seems you're lacking in some things?"
"Like what?"
"Well, a unicycle for one!" Apple Bloom chirped.
Scootaloo clapped her hooves and suggested. "Maybe some bowling pins? Clowns juggle, right!?"
"Yeah, maybe some cream pies!" Sweetie Belle added and got a "yeah, sounds great!" snicker from the stallion as he flashed them a smile admiring how creative the foals were. The stallion knew foals could be cruel and could bully others. He's not naive, but sometimes their genuine nature shines through, and he appreciates that about them.
"Yeah, those are great ideas!" Pinkie Pie cheered; she came bounding over, providing all the items, putting Silver Platter on a unicycle as he tried to juggle bowling pins. All the foals at the party were now looking toward the clown and applauding the show he was putting on. The waiter started to feel much happier, seeing that he was beginning to feel like his old self. Still, he somehow lost his balance, slipped off the bike, and threw the pins everywhere, knocking things over. The stallion then slammed onto the table, smashing into the cake; he collapsed onto the ground with birthday cake splattered all over himself and his face.
As he got up onto all fours, the foals pointed their hooves at him and jeered at him. All of this made him feel like a school foal again being bullied. Then his anxieties and doubts carpet into his mind, despite all of Pinkie Pie's efforts and those fillies. He felt as if he was never going to be a clown again! Despite his worries and doubts, the stallion tried to remain professional as his new cutie mark still made him act dignified even in his gaudy outfit. He then got up on all fours and gave a polite bow with tears in his eyes as he said, "Pinkie Pie, thank you for trying to help me, but I won't be a clown again."
He then fled from the shop as Pinkie Pie bounced over and shouted, "Hey! Come back!"
But Silver Platter was no longer listening; he ran towards the train station while throwing off the clown attire. He felt that there might be a chance. Still, he couldn't do anything like he used to, ride unicycles, make balloon animals, or even interact with foals! His new cutie mark has got rid of all the skills he once dear to his heart. Deep down, Silver Platter always knew no matter what he did; he would probably never be a clown again.
A few days later…
It was late one night, and Pinkie Pie was now at some fancy garden party at the Canterlot Palace. The place was quite lovely, with a bunch of rich royal ponies chatting or drinking tea amongst each other in the moonlight. She continued to look around, with many guests giving her odd looks. She eventually spotted Silver Platter in a tuxedo and slick back mane among the fancy ponies looking bored and somewhat depressed. Pinkie Pie narrowed her vision, hopped over, and shouted, " Hey, Silver Platter!"
The stallion turned towards the pink party pony bounding towards him and was somewhat surprised to see her and stammered, "Wh…what…are you doing here?"
Pinkie Pie bounced right into his face and shouted, "No! The question is, what are you doing here!?"
"My job."
"Really!? I'm pretty sure you're a clown!"
The stallion looked away and snapped, "Not anymore."
"So you're giving up!?"
The stallion bowed in shame, then said, "You did your best, Pinkie Pie, but my clown days are over. It's best I maintain this job so I can pay my bills."
Pinkie Pie slammed a hoof down and said, "Hey, if I ran away from my screw-ups, I wouldn't be the greatest party pony ever!"
"Yeah…but you never had your cutie mark removed."
"I have!"
Silver Platter was taken aback by this revelation as he turned towards the pink party pony as she continued her story, "It was only for a day, but I had my cutie mark replaced with one of my friend's Applejack, and it was terrible! It was one of the worst experiences of my life, so I can't even imagine what you're going through. Seeing you've been doing something you hate for months! I can't just leave you like this!"
The waiter bowed his head and said, "Yeah, it sucks…I don't get why you're doing all of this for me.
Pinkie Pie rolled her eyes and then said, "Duh!? Because we're friends, silly!"
"You…you consider me a friend!?" Silver Platter stammered, surprised by this.
"Of course!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she gave them a smirk looking around the fancy party. "Ya know…I might have a way to get your old cutie mark back!"
Silver Platter eyed her, then asked, "ok, how?"
"I saw a group of foals nearby. How about this? Make this party exciting for them instead of these snobs!"
He smirked as he then went and went to the group of foals who seemed to be bored out of their minds.
Pinkie Pie produced a unicycle, and some bowling pins from her mane, then asked, "Want to give it another go?"
Silver Platter couldn't help but chuckle at the pink party pony's antics, and seeing she made her way here and tracked him down; he might as well indulge her. He shrugged, then said, "Fine, why not."
He then took up the bowling pins and began to juggle and roll around the foals, laughed, and followed him around, chasing him. Silver Platter finally felt like he was in his element; he somehow stumbled over his unicycle, crashing and slamming into a platter of sandwiches and a giant cake once again! With cake now splattered all over the fancy party and some guests, he stood up and saw the foals clapping and cheering.
"See, I tried to tell you before the foals weren't laughing at you for messing up! They just thought it was a part of the act; you're a clown, for Celestia's sake!"
The stallion slammed a hoof into his face and groaned, feeling stupid for overreacting earlier. He then got up on his feet and then went and made balloon animals. He seemed to do better this time, making dogs, elephants, giraffes, and even alicorns! Then he felt tendrils of magic wrap around his body, with his mane turning into a giant poofy afro that was lightly colored purple, light pink, and a buttery yellow, with his tail turning the same color, he had bright blue poofy pants with white polka dots appear around his waist, and his quaint pink rubber nose popped onto his muzzle.
"What in Equestria is going on here!?" A scowling mare asked.
The former waiter turned towards an angry-looking old maid as she pointed a hoof at him. "Silver Platter, what are you wearing, and why aren't you serving guests!?"
"Sorry for the short notice Earl Grey but I quit!" He then threw a cream pie in her face and rolled off laughing as the foals cheered and chased him through the garden with Pinkie Pie bounding alongside him.
The two were now laughing as they were now in the middle of the garden. The atmosphere was relatively calm, with a quiet wind blowing through the air, crickets chirping in the distance, and the moon and stars illuminating the bountiful flowers and trees surrounding the area. Silver Platter looked off into the space for a while, then turned to Pinkie Pie and said, "Thank you for the help."
Pinkie turned towards him and chirped, "Yeah, it's no problem; now that you have your cutie mark back and you're a clown again, what will you do?'
Silver Platter looked up into the night sky, admiring the view as he said, "I'll probably move to Ponyville."
Pinkie Pie clapped her hooves over their mouth and shouted, "Really!?"
"Yeah, it's much more fun to be there, plus I'll be closer to" He stopped mid-sentence then trailed a hoof over his afro.
Pinkie gave him puppy dog eyes and said, "Awww, guess that makes us friends, huh?"
Silver Platter sighed, relieved she didn't catch on; he was trying to flirt with her, then said, "Yeah, I guess that does."
Pinkie Pie suddenly got rather serious and snapped, "ok, now that you got your cutie mark, you have to fulfill the Pinkie Promise! What's your real name?"
Silver Platter turned to face her with a smile, placed a hoof to his chest, and said, "My name is Cream Pie."
"Cream Pie! You're a Pie!?"
The stallion gave the nod, "Yeah!? You hired me a few months ago. I was surprised you didn't know that already?"
"Well, I was rather busy..but that's so cool! Are you a part of my family? Are you related to rock farmers!?"
Cream Pie shook his head. "No," and replied, "Nope, my entire family is made up of clowns and stage magicians."
"Well, Cream Pie, shall we head back to Ponyville!?" she hopped onto his shoulders as he smirked, "Guess there's no train going back this late. Would you mind riding on my unicycle?"
"Of course not! That sound like a great idea! Well, while you ride, I'll play us a song!" She got out an accordion and started to play a tune as Cream Pie rolled along the fields of the castle's garden and then onto the hard cobblestone streets. For the first time in months, he was at peace with himself; many would laugh or despise him for his career choice. This line of work make him rich or famous, but he enjoyed seeing the smiles on the foals' faces when he performed, which will always make his day. This entire experience made him more sure of himself that being a party clown was his destiny, and that was perfectly fine with that.
"Hey, Cream Pie? You never showed me your cutie mark!"
"Well, there's not really much to see. It's just a cream pie splattered."
"Oh wow! Can you tell me how you got it?"
Cream Pie chuckled as he started his tale, "Well, it all began when I was at a pastry shop…."