//------------------------------// // No Laughing Matter // Story: The Young Prince // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// Dusk was feeling a little low. Rarity and Orion had taken Dazzle to visit Orion's parents for the weekend, and he wasn't exactly relishing the thought of being apart from his marefriend for so long. The young prince decided to cheer himself up by visiting Pinkie Pie and Cherry Fizzy's combination party supplies/practical jokes store (and also home), "Fun n' Puns". The pair had started their business not long after marrying. The place was guaranteed to put a smile on anypony's face. As he entered, he was met by Cherry Fizzy. "Hi there, Dusk!" He waved. "Hello, Mr. Fizzy." Dusk smiled. "Got anything new in?" "Indeed we do!" Cherry chuckled. "Check this out!" Cherry took out a small box, from which he extracted a single pink strip. "Bubble gum?" Dusk asked. "Not just any bubble gum." Cherry smirked. He popped the strip into his mouth, and started chewing. When next he spoke, it was in a ludicrously high-pitched voice. "Magic gum! Makes your voice all squeaky!" "Not bad!" Dusk snickered. "I'll take a couple of packs. Maybe I can trick Gold Chain and Silver Plate into trying some... By the way, is Purple home?" "She's right upstairs." Cherry nodded, his voice returning to normal. Tilting his head upwards, he yelled "Purpledora Luanne Punch! Could you come down here, please?" "Don't call me that, dad." Purple cringed as she trotted down the stairs, toting fully-loaded saddlebags. She hated it when ponies used her full name. "Sorry, honey-pie." Cherry teased. "And don't call me that either." Purple sighed. "Hey, Purple." Dusk smiled. "Hi-de-hi, Dusk!" Purple cheered, regaining her usual perkiness. "What's up?" "Nothing much." Dusk shrugged. "Wanna hang out?" "Love to, Dusky-lusky." Purple smiled. "But I can't. I have a comedic emergency to take care of." "Huh?" Dusk tilted his head quizically. Just then, Pinkie Pie burst through the door. "I'm baaack!" She hopped over to Cherry. "Did you miss me, my big Cherrychimichanga?" "You know I did." Cherry chuckled. "Things are always so dull when you're not around." "Aw, go on!" Pinkie blushed. "I'm going out for a while, mom." Purple declared. "See ya later." "Aren't you forgetting something, silly filly?" Pinkie smiled. "Oh, right." Purple trotted over and hugged her mother. "Love ya." "Love ya too, Purple-nurple." Pinkie beamed. Purple was released from the hug, and went outside, Dusk following. "So, what is this 'comedic emergency', anyway?" Dusk asked. "We have a new neighbour." Purple declared. "Sour Lemon, his name is. Mom tried to throw him a welcome party, but he wouldn't let her." "Sounds like a real nice guy." Dusk said sarcastically. "Nah, he just needs a good laugh." Purple smirked. "And that just happens to be my speciality." Dusk suddenly had a very good idea of what was in Purple's saddlebags. "You're serious?" Dusk asked. "Of course." Purple nodded. "Comedy is a serious business." "Technically, it's not." Dusk pointed out. "More technically, it is." Purple insisted. "Just watch and learn." Purple stopped at what was presumably Sour Lemon's house. She knocked on the door, which shortly after opened to reveal a yellow-coated, green-maned middle-aged stallion with gray eyes and a lemon slice Cutie Mark. "Hi, Mr. Lemon!" Purple smiled. "I'm your neighbour, Purple Punch!" "Nice to meet you." Sour said gruffly. "Now go away." Sour made to close the door, but Purple held it open. "I have a little gift for you." She smiled. "The gift of laughter!" To emphasise her point, Purple pulled a variety of comedy props out of her saddlebags. "No thanks." Sour grimaced, slamming the door. "That wasn't supposed to happen." Purple said, crestfallen. Nopony had ever turned down one of her comedy shows before. "Boy, what a grouch." Dusk declared. "I'm not giving up that easy!" Purple declared, knocking on the door again. "Go away!" Sour yelled through the letterbox. "Leave me alone, kid!" "But I just want to make you laugh!" Punch pleaded. "I don't care!" Sour growled. "I told your mom, and now I'm telling you: Beat it!" 'If Dazzle were here, she'd say "How uncouth"...' Dusk thought to himself. 'I bet she could talk this guy into coming out...' "But-" Purple stuttered. "Leave!" Sour said harshly. Purple stepped back, her feelings hurt. "Maybe I should just go..." She mumbled. "Don't give up, Purple!" Dusk suddenly stepped forward. "You've never cancelled a show before, and I won't let you start now!" "Thanks, Dusk." Purple smiled. "But... why are you suddenly so invested in this?" "Because you're my friend." Dusk declared, before quailing slightly under Purple's disbelieving glare. "Well, that, and I really need something to get my mind off Dazzle." "Fair enough." Purple smirked. "So... you gotta plan, Stan?" "Kinda." Dusk declared. He trotted over to the door and knocked softly. As he anticipated, the softer knock made Sour more ready to open the door. "Yes?" Sour asked. "Hello, sir." Dusk put on his best smile. "And welcome to Ponyville, I may add." "Thanks." Sour retorted. "Hey, you're that prince Dusk kid, right?" "Yes, I am." Dusk smiled. "And I have a request, Mr. Lemon." "Which is?" Sour asked. "Will you please watch my friend Purple's comedy show?" Dusk pleaded. "And what if I say no?" Sour asked. "You gonna have your parents throw me in a dungeon?" "Of course not." Dusk shook his head. "Look, Purple really likes making ponies laugh. Just watch her show, and she'll never come near you again." "I won't?" Purple gasped. "She won't." Dusk declared. "Okay, fine." Sour groaned. "Come in, why don't ya?" "Yes!" Purple cheered. "Way to go, Dusk!" "Thanks." Dusk smiled. "And now, it's all you, Purple." The inside of Sour's house was drab and dull, with lots of grays and browns. "Somepony really needs a laugh..." Purple whispered. "Okay, kid." Sour sat down in a chair. "Give me your best shot." "You got it!" Purple nodded. Rifling around in her saddlebags, she pulled out a wind-up Griffon toy. "Why did the griffin cross the road?" "Why?" Sour asked dully. "Because it was too far to fly!" Purple explained, setting off the toy's flapping wings. "Ah-ha-ha!" Sour looked like he had just eaten his namesake. "That was your best shot?" He asked. "J-just a warm-up!" Purple said nervously. Looking through her saddlebags, she pulled out a rubber saw. "What do you call a saw with glasses?" "What?" Sour asked. "A see-saw!" Purple chuckled. "Real funny, huh?" "Meh." Sour shrugged. "Oh." Purple deflated. Things went downhill from there. Purple used all her best routines, and Sour barely reacted. "I don't know what I'm doing wrong!" Purple whispered to Dusk during "intermission". "It's like that pony has no sense of humor!" "Don't give up yet, Purple." Dusk whispered back. "You can still get to him." "With what?" Purple asked. "I've used up all my best gags." Dusk suddenly had a flash of inspiration. "Then try one of your dad's." He said, handing her a stick of magic gum. "Thanks, Dusker!" Purple grinned. "I owe you one!" Purple turned back to Sour. "We're about to get back into the fun!" She declared. "But first... gum, Mr. Lemon?" "Sure, why not?" Sour sighed. "It's bound to have more flavor then your act." Sour started chewing on the gum. "How is it?" Purple asked, barely stifling a giggle. "Not bad." Sour squeaked. "Wait, what happened to my voice?" Dusk and Purple burst out laughing. To their surprise, Sour followed suit. "Great gag, kid!" He chortled, his voice gradually getting lower. "Never even saw it coming!" "Well, you did it, Purple." Dusk smiled. "You made him laugh." "With a little help from my friend." Purple chuckled. "Thanks, kid." Sour told Purple. "I'm flattered you went to all this trouble, just for me." "It's no trouble." Purple shook her head. "Making ponies laugh is what I'm all about." "Well, don't take it the wrong way, but I'm not much of a 'laugher'." Sour told her. "I'm not what you'd call a 'social pony'. I prefer a little solitude. I like peace, quiet, and a good book." "Oh, I see." Purple hung her head. "And here I was, thoughtlessly blundering in, trying to force you to have fun my way." "Don't beat yourself up, kid." Sour smiled. "It was kinda fun." "Really?" Purple smiled. "Really." Sour nodded. "Those jokes of your's weren't half bad. But like I said, I'm not a laugher, so they don't really work on me." "Oh, okay." Purple nodded. "I thought I was losing my touch." "We'd better get moving." Dusk declared. "It's almost time for dinner." "You're right!" Purple gasped. "I gotta get home! Mom's baking her special tuti-fruit-cuti cake tonight! Gotta go, Mr. Lemon!" "Feel free to visit anytime, kid." Sour told her. "You mean it?" Purple asked. "Yeah." Sour nodded. "Being around you kids has made me feel more alive then I have in years." "Thanks." Purple gushed. "You're welcome, kid." Sour smiled. After leaving Sour's house, Dusk and Purple trotted down the street. "So, how d'ya you feel?" Purple smirked. "Still missing Dazzle?" "Yeah." Dusk nodded. "But not as badly as I was before. Thanks for the diversion, Purple." "Any time, Dusker." Purple nodded as she turned into her home. "Later!" As Purple went inside, Dusk kept going towards his own home, musing on how important laughter could be. A single bout of chuckles seemed to have completely turned around that grouchy stallion's disposition. 'If only all the world's problems could be solved that easily...' He thought.