//------------------------------// // Party Favor // Story: Double Parties and Glimmering Diamonds: Options and Consequances // by AlexWolfy03 //------------------------------// He abruptly raised his head from the table, startling a pile of papers. The room was dark, only the moonlight, in which dust motes danced, filtered through the narrow windows. Apparently, he fell asleep at work again and woke up only at night. Recently, this has started to happen with such enviable regularity that it has become a very unpleasant habit. KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK! Double Diamond hurried to the door. He was not expecting guests, and it was too late for appeals at this time of day, but he knew perfectly well who his midnight guest was. There could be no other options. He opened the unlocked door. There was living evidence on the threshold that Starlight Glimmer's regime was not at all as ambiguous as he sometimes reasoned, shutting himself off from the rest of the ponies. A living testimony of unbridled cruelty. "Hello," the light gray-blue unicorn with a blue mane spoke from the threshold; his horn was enveloped in a pale pink shimmer, a lamp levitated next to it. "S-sorry, it's so late, I just... well..." he stopped, fixed his eyes on the ground and laid back his ears. However, words were not required. Double Diamond understood everything perfectly. Nightmares. "Sure, buddy, come on in. You know you can come to me anytime. Would you like an apple pie?" The stallion just shook his head, not looking up. Party Favor. A victim of terror, a holiday organizer, a true friend and a phenomenon. He was one of the last to arrive in the town. He didn't tell anyone why he came and why he suddenly decided to join them — even Starlight herself couldn't get this information out of him. It is only known that he used to live in Manehatten. Perhaps because of this understatement Starlight has always treated him harshly. Double Diamond had to punish him more often than all the other residents of the town combined. In total, he had been locked up alone for so long that it was scary to even count. So Diamond couldn't figure out how, after all these horrors, he could become his best friend. While they were walking together to the second floor, the snow-white stallion suddenly felt a pang of guilt: everything remained the same at his home. He was supposed to be the one who would give all the ponies the right example of how to live on, how to show their individuality, but at the same time he didn't even bother to change those terrible gray curtains that everyone once hung. Let alone the fact that he did not hang a single picture, did not change his uncomfortable bed, prickly blanket and pillow, which over the years turned into a flat pancake. He has done absolutely nothing to change this place in any way, as if he… It was as if he was waiting for Her to return. No, no, that's out of the question, he quickly shook his head. This cannot be allowed to happen again. At least for the sake of Party. Here is Party, a paradigm example. On the same day when the mane six helped them get rid of the oppression of the mad dictator, he decorated the whole city with colored ribbons and other festive paraphernalia (having spent all the reserves of the organizing committee in which he was a member). Then it seemed to them that everything was about to get better. It was he who first proposed to demolish the house of their former leader, it was the unicorn who first took out all the books, posters, leaflets about equality that had accumulated there from his dwelling, arranged everything there to his liking — for example, he installed a karaoke system in his basement and filled all the free space with toys and other party paraphernalia (Double Diamond even allocated for this funds from the city budget, thinking that this can be considered as ‘rehabilitation’). Instead of living a new life according to the old rules, he seems to have gone out of his way to distinguish himself and somehow brighten up the everyday life. The ever-cheerful unicorn constantly came up with new festivals for them, did not allow someone's birthday to remain without a party. He often liked to just hand out cupcakes to the townsponies, taking away Sugar Belle's work (however, she didn't mind — Party Favor was also her friend) and generally amused the ponies in every possible way. But then why was everything so sad today? Did he… "You didn't leave your house again today?" "Yeah. Sorry for that…" Damn it… I thought he was getting better. Diamond made a bed for both of them — he had long ago saved a colored blanket and a comfortable pillow for the unicorn. For some reason, the very idea of a stallion sleeping on the same bedding that they all had to sleep on once seemed to him damn wrong. Maybe he looked happy during the day, but at night all his demons made themselves felt. Double Diamond couldn't bear to see him like this. It simply shouldn't be like that! He was supposed to be cheerful and charge the mood of other ponies, but something broke in him. And it was entirely his, Diamond's, fault... "Do you want us to read something before going to bed?" "Yeah. If you don't mind. You probably want to sleep…" "After a good story before going to bed you sleep better, don't you?" "Yeah, you're right, of course. I will be very happy to read something with you." "Great, I've just got a book lying around somewhere…" The white stallion took a book with a worn cover from the shelf. It was one of the books from Princess Twilight's own library. After her departure, she ordered to bring several boxes of books from her personal library to the town, since there was no library in the town. All the literature was now stored in the basement of his house — probably that's why these books were taken so rarely. Settling himself comfortably in bed, side by side with Party Favore, he began to read aloud. "What is the most difficult thing in the narrative? The end? Perhaps. But no. The most difficult thing is the beginning. After all, your whole story, its whole course, depends on how you start. That's why I always skip the beginning and write from the end or from the middle. But not this time. Who am I? Well, for you, I'm just a Lonely Mare ..." ... "That's how this story ends, and whether it's good or bad — judge for yourself. But I sincerely hope that someday Celestia will forgive us all. Meanwhile, it's time for me to tell this story again. After all, what else should I do? What is the most difficult thing in the narrative? The end? Perhaps. But no. The most difficult thing is the beginning. After all, the whole story, its whole course depends on how you start your story. That's why I always skip the beginning and write from the middle of the story, but not this time. Not now. Who am I? Well, for you, I'm just a Lonely Mare...". Double Diamond closed the book and sighed — he always felt a little sad when good stories like this ended. "Well, how do you like it?" The stallion turned to his friend, but he was already snoring hard, covered with a blanket. Well, my friend. I hope you enjoyed it and you won't have nightmares today. He put down the book, turn off the lamp and perched next to his friend. It seemed to him that the sleep suited Party very well: he was relaxed and had a soft smile on his muzzle. His lush curly mane did not lose its shape, even when he slept with his hooves under his cheek. The fur seemed to become brighter, or else the caring moonlight just fell through the curtains such way. Diamond carefully ran a hoof over the sleeping pony's mane, causing him to twitch his ears in a funny way. Sleeping serene Party Favor seemed to him no less cute than in moments of the most violent fun. He liked spending time with this cute unicorn — not only because he was not afraid of the white stallion at all and offered him his most sincere friendship, but also because in his company he did not have thoughts about Starlight; in his presence he could not even admit the thought that so often gnawed at him alone: 'what if we all made a terrible mistake?' No. There could be no mistake. What they were doing was extremely monstrous — and here it is, the peacefully dormant result of this monstrosity. No, instead of thoughts about Starlight he had completely different ones. For example, how amazing it is to find such a friend. And it's not even that he crippled his psyche with the same enviable tenacity as his ex (??) friend Starlight. The most surprising thing for him was that, after all, he disliked Party Favorite literally from the first minute of acquaintance, he always considered him just a narrow-minded buffoon who could not understand the seriousness of the mission assigned to them. He closed his eyes and plunged into his night visions — and these were definitely not dreams, because after them he 'woke up' completely tired. *** The meager scattering of stars had not yet had time to leave the sky after mother-night, but the sun had barely risen on the horizon and was already reflected in the numerous windows of huge skyscrapers that towered monumentally in this stone jungle called Manehatten. That was the morning here. "Damned wheel!" Double Diamond swore softly, circling around the packed van. He deliberately waited out the night under one of the street awnings instead of spending the night in a motel (he spent the money intended for the motel on an additional portion of ink for the machine, because propaganda never dozed). According to his plan, he had to get up early in the morning and leave the city without further delay until all the ponies were out on the street — when the ponies woke up and went about their business, the city was literally crowded. Now all his plans were going down the drain because of some broken wheel! The stallion snorted angrily and started digging in the van. He knew perfectly well that the wheels were by no means included in the shopping list, but he desperately hoped that somewhere under the ink and bags of supplies there was a spare tire along with tools. After all, he had no other choice — the morning was too early, the workshops would not open soon, and he did not want to push through all these hectic ponies and endless traffic jams in the approaching rush hour. He had never liked Manehatten, but with the streets as empty as they are now, he liked it a little more. Suddenly Diamond felt something touching his flank. "Ah!" He jumped out of the van like a bullet and collided with a gray-blue blue-maned unicorn with a strange smile. His gaze was fixed on the white stallion's flank. "Your cutiemark is cool! I like it!" "Um... thanks?" Where did he come from? There wasn't a soul on the street... suspicious. Double Diamond looked at the pony from the hooves to the tip of the tail. Perfectly groomed coat, clean, obviously carefully laid curly mane and combed tail, obviously an expensive watch on the foreleg, a light pink hoodie — and in general it could be concluded that he was quite pleasant in appearance, so it was unlikely that it was a robber or another homeless person. The silence obviously dragged on, and the smiling pony did not move. "Do you need something?" Diamond finally asked. "Yes! Take me with you!" "What?" "To the town where everyone is equal! You're from there, right? Must be from there! I was told that you all have "equal" cutiemarks there. I also stand for equality, look!" The unicorn magically took out a piece of paper with a marker from his pocket, daubed the "equal" sign on it and glued it on top of his cutie mark, which was a kind of animal made of balloons surrounded by confetti. It doesn't work that way, idiot! Thought the white one. Aloud he said: "But how did you find out about us?" "Well, I heard the merchants talking about your town. They said that you guys are strange, but you seem to be happy. And they also said that everyone is equal there and you live in the same houses, and that you are terribly smiling and friendly! "Listen," he barely restrained himself from adding "colt", because the pony looked young enough, "I don't think I can take you with me." "You can’t? But why?" His muzzle took on a sad expression. Because you look like you have place to return. Yes, the duties of Double Diamond, in addition to trading with other cities, included bringing new residents to their town. Starlight trusted him enough to let him guide himself about where to look for ponies ready for a new life. Usually he was looking for those who had nowhere else to go — homeless, drug addicts, debtors and others who had no place in society, who were not expected at home. He liked to think that by doing so he was giving them a chance for a new life in the society of the future. He helped them find their way to Starlight, and she gave them an idea worth living for, and with the idea — a new home, new friends. A new life. But this pony didn't look like he needed a new life. It looked like he was fine in the old one. Most likely, it was another silver-spooner who was looking for adventures on his flank. "We are equal in absolutely everything, including in material means. If you have bits, you will have to hand them over to the needs of our town. And you definitely won't be allowed to wear what you're wearing. Not all of our friends can afford it, so how are you better than them?" "I don't have any bits with me, but..." Pony suddenly pulled off his hoodie along with his watch and threw them aside. "...but if it's better for my future friends, then I don't need it anymore." Damn Discord, he's a pushy one... "Listen…" "Ah! Ah! Ah!" the unicorn jumped several times on the spot. "And I can also do this! Look, look!" The stallion took out an inflatable balloon from somewhere (perhaps from his mane), his hooves moved at the speed of light and after a few seconds he held a wheel in his hooves. Balloon wheel?.. "How did you…" Diamond didn't have time to finish — this mischievous pony was operating if not with the second-cosmic velocity, then with the first one for sure. In a matter of minutes, he managed to unscrew the broken wheel and, with the help of a huge amount of duct tape, put an inflatable one in its place. "Ta-dah!" The pony spread his forelegs joyfully, and then jumped up again on the spot; his muzzle was beaming with happiness. "So what did you do? It's not even a real wheel. How this gonna help me?" "Just try it!" "It's crazy…" The unicorn nudged the van with a hoof, and it... moved! The balloon wheel rotated in exactly the same way as its wooden relatives. "See? I can be useful! Just take me with you!" "Why would you come with me? You seem to have your own house," Double Diamond answered him, harnessing himself to the yoke. "And you are not deprived of abilities. We are all equal, you will have to part with your cutiemark forever, do you understand that?" "Well, that's fine! If that's the price of equality, then I'm all for it! Just take me with you. You don't have to feed me a lot, I can last all day on one cupcake... okay, maybe two. But if you are against cupcakes, then ok! Please give me a chance!" The white-haired pony wandered down the street, dragging the van behind him and trying not to pay attention to the annoying unicorn. Scrolling through the memories of their first meeting now, Double Diamond wondered — why did he dislike Party Favor so much? Yes, he was a nuisance, energy was flowing out of him, but after all, all the other ponies he found — all these drug addicts, homeless, orphans, losers, prostitutes, lonely travelers with an existential crisis — they were much worse. Is it possible that by his alienation and neglect he showed... mercy? Maybe even then, somewhere in the depths of his soul, he suspected that what they were doing together with Starlight was disgusting? Did he, without realizing it, want to save this innocent creature from a terrible fate? Did he really want to give him a chance? Then why didn't he give the others a chance?.. "Please!" The unicorn rushed to the ground in front of Double Diamond; his well-groomed fur was covered with dust. "I-I have nowhere else to go! I was told that no one needs me anymore! I'll do anything for my new friends! I will try hard, really, really! Just... take me with you, please!" The situation was getting more and more awkward. Diamond didn't need to be worshiped by ponies — it was more down Starlight’s alley. Well, Celestia is a witness — he tried to give him a chance. "Okay, okay, you can come with me, but get up!" "Hooray!" The unicorn jumped up on all four of his legs. "Thank you thank you thank you! You're the best! My name is Party Favor, but if such names are forbidden in your town, you can give me any name. What's your name? Wait, wait, don't tell me, I'll guess for myself. You're cute, handsome, fluffy... and also white, yes... you have a very serious muzzle... wow, you're driving a whole van alone, you're also strong. So-o, your name is… Snow Beauty? Strong Ice? Ah! Ah! Beauty Favor! Or…" "Double Diamond. My name is Double Diamond." "Wow, what a cool name! You must be a ski expert, right? I'm barely holding on even on simple slopes, and I'm afraid to approach the double-diamonded ones at all…" It stabbed the stallion to the heart. Skis. He didn't remember his past life, but it was definitely connected with skis. He remembered his first meeting with Starlight, remembered how much he enjoyed skiing… No, he has a completely different life now. He is neither better nor worse than others. "Listen," the stallion stopped abruptly. "I don't understand at all what you're happy about. No one has accepted you anywhere yet. If your parents come for you, we will give you away without a twinge of conscience. If you whine a lot, we'll kick you out. If you talk a lot out of business, we'll kick you out. In any case, Starlight will have the last word. Starlight always knows best." In response to this terrifying speech, the unicorn only broke into another warm smile. "Oki-doki! You won't regret it. It looks like we have a long way to go. Shall we sing a song? Come on, I'll start, and you pick up! Ninety-nine bottles of milk on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of milk! Take one down, pass it around, ninety-eight bottles of milk on the wall!.." He did not listen further — some strange sound similar to sob reached his ears. Someone was crying… Crying? No, it wasn't in his memories, it was… *** Party Favor! Double Diamond opened his eyes. A heartbreaking sight met his gaze. The light-gray unicorn, shrouded in moonlight, curled up and, clutching the blanket, quietly cried with tightly squeezed eyes, periodically sobbing. "Hey, are you all right?.." There was no response. Then he gently shook him with one hoof. The unicorn abruptly lifted his head from the pillow and opened his eyes from which tears were still pouring. He blinked rapidly and tried to focus his lost gaze on something, but to no avail. The white-coated stallion did what seemed to him the only right thing at that moment. He hugged his crying friend with both arms, hugging him as tightly as possible. Party immediately buried his muzzle into the fluffy snow-white chest, making it wet from the incessant flow of tears. As soon as this happened, the unicorn completely lost control of himself — he began to shudder with sobs and clung tightly to Diamond with his own hooves, but the earthpony did not loosen his grip. He slowly stroked his friend's back, paying special attention to the delicate neck. Party was so warm, almost hot. Maybe he was sick? Or were all the ponies so warm up close? And he also was so... soft, like a toy. He wondered if he could fall asleep lying on Party Favor? Surely, this would be the best sleep of his life. It's funny that even at that moment his mane smelled of all kinds of sweets, especially cupcakes and custard. It was as if it was actually made of cotton candy. Maybe that was the secret of always having the perfect shape?.. After a while, the unicorn finally calmed down, but Diamond did not even think of removing him from himself. He didn't want his friend to feel in danger again. He had had to wake him up from nightmares before, but he had never seen him crying. What have he and Starlight done… Party Favor distanced himself a little, so the white stallion had to free him from the shackles of his caring embrace. Then the unicorn slightly extended his hoof, and Diamond without further ado covered it with his one. "I dreamed," unexpectedly for both of them Party spoke in a higher tone than usual, his voice trembling noticeably, "that She locked me up again. It was dark there. I tried to bear it, but I was too scared and sad... and lonely… I heard you guys having fun. You, Sugar, Night, Feather... I tried to call you all, but..." his voice faltered. Diamond held his breath, not daring to move. All he could do was squeeze his friend's hoof tighter. This was the first time he had ever told anyone the contents of his nightmares. "I really tried to keep it together and be good, but I completely lost track of time, I was so scared and lonely… I couldn't help myself and... everyone started laughing at me there, outside the door. I thought that no one needed me, that I would stay there forever, in the basement, that She would never forgive me again…" "Hey, it's just a nightmare, remember?" "But they’re so real! And they’re so often repeated. You know..." Party switched to a whisper. "Sometimes it seems to me that everything around me is not really real, that it's all just a dream. And what if in fact... and what if those nightmares are actually reality, and I'm dreaming now? What if the Princess didn't save us, and She's still in charge? What if you don't love me again? What if... I’m still in that dark room?.." ‘What if you don't love me again?’ Of course. It was foolish to expect that such a sensitive stallion would not have recognized his neglect during all those terrible years. It was obvious, it was inevitable, but... but why did these words cause such pain in his chest? "Listen to me attentively," Diamond squeezed his friend's hoof with all his strength, looking intently into his eyes. "You are not sleeping. Everything that is happening to you now is reality. I am real. Can you feel me squeezing your hoof? Do you think I could do that in a dream? Come on, squeeze mine too. Yes, that's it. Feel it? There, on the street, the tree we planted grows. Me, Sugar, Night are your friends. And we will never let anyone hurt you. Do you hear? Never! She won't get to you, and you and I will throw so many parties that Canterlot will envy! Well, we'll also do something in Canterlot, and in Cloudsdale, and in Crystal Empire. And may Princess Luna kick my ass if I'm lying. Do you believe me?" They looked into each other's eyes for a while. Party's eyes were glistening with tears and... they were so beautiful. Blue as the sky over the mountains. Finally, Favor unclenched his friend's hoof and smiled. "It's impossible not to believe you. Maybe we should go skiing tomorrow? Something tells me that tomorrow will be a wonderful weather." Refusal was impossible. "Of course," Diamond smiled back. "I'll give you my spare ones." Party rolled over on his side, with his back to the white-haired stallion, and then perched closer to him. Double immediately understood everything. He snuggled up to the warm pony and hugged him with one arm, which the unicorn immediately wrapped around with both hooves. "Good night, Diamy. And thank you. For everything." "Good night." Luna accepted both of them into her kingdom.