The ride to the Jester's Court led out of the city down a long winding road to the base of the mountain that housed Canterlot. Party Favor's head hung low as they wound their way below the tree line which muted the suns bright rays. It wasn't until the first notes of what could only be circus music hit his ears that he looked up.
In the distance sat the largest tent he'd ever seen surrounded by a tall fence. Its faded black and white harlequin design had seen better days. Yet, the more Party Favor watched the tent the more it moved as if it were breathing slowly and painfully. The cart slowly crawled toward it and Party Favor gulped loudly as the music grew louder. Typically the sound of classical circus music would have made Party Favor smile. This time however, something about it was different. Notes that should have pop and life were distorted and unworldly. Party Favor's eyes widened as he whispered "The Jester's Court," to the guard.
"No," he replied, "That's Party Jail. It's not all it appears."
"Then where is," began Party Favor as the cart veered toward, what appeared to be giant spider. The blue unicorn gasped and pressed against the side of the cart away from the monstrosity.
The tall guard cocked his head then rolled his eyes. "That is the Jester's Court," replied the guard, "If you look closely you can see it resembles a cap and bells."
Party Favor gulped as the cart pulled up and the tall guard led him out of the cart toward the stone building for processing. He gazed at the building for a few moments before closing his eyes tightly until they were inside. Once there, he was processed. Photos and hoof prints were taken and paperwork was filed. Eventually he was given an orange jumpsuit to wear while he waited in one of the holding cells.
The cells were filled with all manner of performers, college students, pranksters, no-goodniks, and several clearly intoxicated individuals. Party Favor wasn't quite sure what exactly any of them were doing there but, kept his mouth shut just the same and sat against the wall.
After what felt like years Party Favor heard it. From out of the shadows in the cell across the hall a low deep voice whispered the word, “Party.” He ignored it at first and watched the rather animated discussion his cellmates were engaged in about a recent buckball game until the voice began to repeat the word. Slowly Party Favor looked over toward the darkened cell across the hall and noticed a clown waving at him. Party Favor reluctantly returned the friendly gesture and when he did the clown quickly came to his cell door and said, "Hi Party!"
Party Favor cocked his head as he looked at the pony dressed as a clown. His red wig left the top of his head without a visible mane. His face was painted in bright white while his nose and lips were as red as cherries. Party Favor wondered if he had ever hired this particular clown before as he looked him over.
The clown's smile widened as he gazed at Party Favor. "Well aren't you going to properly say hello?"
"Do I know you from somewhere," asked Party Favor.
"Maybe," replied the clown playfully.
Party Favor shrugged off a drunken frat pony that had begun to shout through the bars of the cell at the guards. "What's your name," he finally asked over the din.
"I'm Ruble Smart the Happy Clown," he proclaimed thumping his chest, "And you're Party Favor the planner who got a bum rap."
“How…”
“It’s written all over your face Party. Plus, I’ve seen your work.”
Party Favor sighed and looked down, "I guess that makes sense,” Party Favor sighed as he looked down, “So much has happened and now they're saying I might go to Party Jail."
"Is that so," asked Ruble Smart, "Well, if it makes you feel better it's not so bad in there."
Party Favor shook his head, "No, it looks bad. Heck it feels..."
"Off?"
"Yes."
"Well that's just a trick," replied Ruble Smart, "Ancient unicorn magic, nothing to worry about. Heck I’ve been there and when I’ve been there I like to work on my act for the kiddies!"
"Which is?"
Ruble Smart slowly backed into the cell and in spite of the bright white face paint disappeared into the shadows. When he finally reappeared he had a large piece of paper which he promptly began to fold. After a few seconds the clown revealed he'd turned the large piece of paper into a rather impressive looking clipper ship. "Ta da."
"That's really good," replied Party Favor with a smile, "I'm pretty good with balloons myself."
"There's just one problem," said Ruble Smart as he looked at the boat.
"What's that?"
Ruble Smart's gaze shifted back to Party Favor. When it did his eyes began to glow as he held up the boat, "They sink. They all sink in there. And if you go there you'll sink with them!" Ruble Smart began to laugh maniacally as he glared at him, his eyes shining with a wicked light.
Party Favor's eyes widened as he sat frozen in the clowns gaze. The more the clown laughed the harder his heart pounded as he tried to slide toward the back of the cell and break contact with him. His lower lip quivered. While the building and the tent had been scary enough this was more than he could handle. Not since the time he'd fallen into that nest of daddy longlegs had he felt so helpless and fearful.
"Hey," shouted a voice from behind him, "You're that clown. You're the one that tried to rook my father for eighty bits and scared my baby bro with that laugh and those stupid shiny lenses of yours!"
"Am not," replied Ruble Smart defensively.
Party Favor turned his head and was surprised to see a griffon standing behind him. He was taller than the ponies he'd met. The tips of his normally white feathers were dyed blue as were the tips of his talons. The back half resembled the body of a dark gray lion and all of it was trained on the clown in the other cell. "Yes you are dude," shouted the griffon, "I never forget a cackle!”
“Prove it!”
“Let me tell you something dude, when my dad gets hold of you you’re going to wish I did!"
"Word," said the diamond dog behind him as the clown slowly backed his way from the door.
Party Favor turned to the griffon and grasped his talon in his hooves and pumped it rapidly before hugging him trembling "Oh thank you so much! I never..."
"Yeah he's a jerk, “replied the griffon as he slowly pried the pony off of him. He’s third rate accountant who enjoys scaring folks. You just gotta know how to handle 'em."
"Well, you seem pretty good at it."
"Gotta be bro. Folks’ll always try and test you and get away with stuff,” said the griffon. “Oh, where are my manners. I'm Kyle Purple Sage and this,” He said pointing to the diamond dog next to him, "Is my bro. Dominic Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Bonekowski. But we at Lambda Omega Lambda just call him ‘Boner.’"
Boner was slightly taller than Kyle but wider and appeared to be the sort who lifted weights regularly. His chocolate brown fur stuck out of a large buckball jersey. He smiled politely and asked, "You?"
"I'm Party Favor."
"Cool," replied Boner.
"Pleasure's ours bro," replied Kyle as he wobbled a bit and eyed Party Favor, "So, like what did you do to get in here? You don't seem the type to be in a holding cell."
Party Favor sighed, "I'm not. See I had this customer come into my store looking for someone to throw her a party and things got out of hoof."
"You fight," asked Boner as he threw a mock punch.
"No, I mean … she was rude and weird.”
“Sounds like you need to start at the beginning bro,” said Kyle as he leaned against the wall and rubbed his temple, “A story might help clear this hangover.”
Party Favor sighed and told his story. He told them about his morning and how Whey Stead came in and offered curt responses and the call for the medics. He even spoke briefly about the lunch he’d had before running into the guards outside of his shop.
“Gold or gray,” asked Boner.
“What do you mean?”
“Their armor. Gold or gray,” repeated the diamond dog.
“Well, gray I mean. They were guards.”
Kyle sighed, “City guard bro. What are you in for?”
“They called them PFs.”
“What in the name of Discord’s dangle is a PF?”
“Party foul. What’s a dangle?”
“That fluff at the end of his tail,” said Kyle as he made his way to the bars with a confused look on his face. “Pike! Yo Pike! I need the book I need the book on city law bro!”
“Shut up Kyle,” shouted the tan stallion at the end of the hall, “Public drunkenness is a crime. You know this and you’re not getting out of this one.”
“Dude, get me the book or I’ll tell Sassy you were smooching on Sally two nights ago!”
“You have no proof that that was who I was….”
Kyle smirked, “Just sort of admitted it bro. I’m going down to that boutique as soon as I get out and we’ll see who was smooching who.”
After a few minutes Pike appeared dragging a large book behind him and set it on the cell’s tray. “Choke on it Kyle.”
“Thanks Pike I owe you one!” Kyle took the book and beckoned Boner over. They flipped through the book quietly as Party Favor watched. After a few minutes and conferring among themselves and after the word ‘overreach’ was stated several times, the griffon looked up, “Tell us exactly what they told you and don’t skip out on anything.”