"PARTY FAVOR!!" "You're back!" "Oh, don't you look so grownup!" "And handsome too, especially your friend here..."

Needless to say, the circus troop was ecstatic to see Party Favor again as they crowded him, speaking excitedly, and somewhat making the cotton candy blue unicorn a tad uncomfortable yet was happy to see them again as well.

"Uh- Thanks, everyone, it's good to see you all as well," Party Favor raised his voice, "but can you give me a little room, please?"

"Oh sorry, hon," said the dance choreographer, Light Step, the circus's head dancer and acrobatics expert, an earth pony with a coat of spring green, a mane of pale yellow like magnolia that was shaved at the sides while the rest grew down from the top into a flowing ponytail at the nape of the neck, and eyes colored aquamarine, with a skintight colorful dance suit concealing Light Step's cutie-mark.
"But honestly, dear, it's been so long! Oh, but where are my manners?"

The... stallion? Mare? Cheese could exactly tell which, as the pony approached him and said, "You can only be the famous Cheese Sandwich! The troop and I have heard about your partythrowing expertise from many places we've performed at! I take it... you and our little Party Favor are here because you somehow got wind of a party we're planning?"

"Uh- Yes! As a matter of fact," Cheese pulled Party Favor over, "My Cheesy Sense was a'tingling and Party Favor asked to come along to help me throw a party that I sensed was being planned here in Sire's Hollow! We had no idea your circus would be here, though."

"Well that's fantastic, darlings!" Light Step clapped hooves before getting pushy, "Although I have a feeling you probably want to talk to a certain somepony..."

Party Favor and Cheese shared a look before the former asked, "If that's okay...?"

"You'll find ol' Ponyacci in his wagon," Light Step made a shoo-shoo motion, "Go on, we'll be right here when you get back."

"Thanks, Light," Party Favor nodded as he and Cheese moved along.

When he was sure they were out of earshot, Cheese reluctantly brought up, "Uh, Party? About Light Step..."

"Dude or gal?" Party Favor guessed with an amused chuckle and Cheese nodded, looking uncertain. "Relax, you're not the first to be uncertain of Light Step's gender and you won't be the last. Light Step doesn't identify as a stallion or a mare. Light Step identifies as Non-Binary, as in neither, so when you refer to Light Step, you use the singular they."

"No kidding!" Cheese Sandwich was honestly surprised. "Huh... I've met all kinds of ponies and other creatures who identified or swung one way or the other, Light Step might be a first for me. Do you... know what their physical gender is?"

"Honestly, no!" Party Favor shrugged with a laugh, "As far as I know, nopony in the troop does! Light Step has never revealed their biological gender and they don't care to. They behave so genderfluid that nopony can guess for sure. Now enough about Light Step, there's Ponyacci's wagon."

Up ahead was a colorful wagon with Ponyacci's image painted on one side and a private tent that extended off the other, and as they got closer they hear a splashing. Quietly, they walked around and saw the clown who was Ponyacci, still garbed in his costume but obviously washing off his makeup. He must have had good ears because he said, "Be right with ya in a moment..."

"Ponyacci?"

The voice had changed but the clown recognized it just the same. He stood up straight, revealing his cream orange coat, his short white balding mane, and turned around to reveal his amber eyes wide with growing recognition, which made the age lines around them all the more apparent. He was tall and skinny, like Cheese Sandwich, although he was a tad heavier, presumably his age making it harder to maintain a healthy figure, and as he removed his costume, he never took his eyes off Party Favor though he did notice Cheese Sandwich as well, and gave them both a fatherly smile.

"Hey boys, still helping others to laugh and smile I hope," he welcomed them kindly.

"Hiya Ponyacci," Cheese Sandwich stepped forward, Party Favor following, as they gave their old mentor a warm hug for a long and tender moment before they broke apart and Cheese sadly said, "We, uh... we caught the show."

"Yeah, I expect you did," Ponyacci nodded with a sad smile, "So you also caught my announcement, I take it."

"You're really gonna retire, Ponyacci?" Party Favor asked sadly, "But- You love performing! There's no clown or even another party pony quite like you! I would never have become a party pony if it weren't for you!"

"Me either," added Cheese Sandwich.

"Well boys, it's like I said in my announcement," sighed Ponyacci as he soaked his rainbow-dyed tail to wash it out, "I've been a clown for a very long time. Why, I was treading the boards before either of you were born. Traveling from town to town, performing night after night... I love being a clown - I love making ponies laugh because that's the party pony way - But even for a young pony, it's hard work, and like I said before... I haven't been a young pony in a very long time."

Ponyacci tilted his head back as he wringed his tail dry, "All I want to do in life is to make ponies laugh. Comedy is even in my cutie-mark."

Party Favor and Cheese Sandwich looked upon their mentor's flank and saw the white comedy mask with a purple shade they were so familiar with. Its simplicity somehow made its meaning and the life's purpose of the pony whose flank it was on so perfectly clear. Ponyacci was a clown and a party pony through and through! Sure, he didn't plan parties all that much, but a party pony's purpose in life was to make others laugh and smile, and Ponyacci had done that a thousand times over to the thousandth power!

Cheese remembered the mere three weeks he'd spent learning about clowning and joking and performing from Ponyacci. Brief as it had been, it'd left a lasting impression from which he continued to draw inspiration to this day. His folks had gotten him those private sessions with Ponyacci and they'd been time well spent, as Cheese had learned so much from his old mentor.

As for Party Favor, it hit him rather harder. He hadn't even known he'd run away from Nickerlite and his family on a circus train that had just been passing through to stock up on coal and supplies. It was a remarkable surprise to wake up in one of the boxcars to Ponyacci smiling kindly down at him, asking the young colt where he'd came from. Party Favor had been hesitant to talk about his hometown and family apart from how miserable they'd made him. He even refused to acknowledge his birth name, Basalt Pie. So Ponyacci had cheered up the colt with a few jokes and silly tricks. It'd been the tricks that involved balloons that had enthralled the colt and somewhere along the line Ponyacci gave him a new name, and Party Favor held onto those memories as fondly as he did with his Grandma Pie.

"But being a clown is draining, and I just can't keep performing like I used to," Ponyacci said sadly, "So, I've decided to retire."

The two younger party ponies shared a sad look before Cheese asked, "Are you sure about this, Ponyacci?"

"I'm afraid I'm just too old to perform like I did in my prime," Ponyacci nodded as he moved to the door into his wagon, "After I pack up, I'm going to resign from the circus and find a place to stay here in Sire's Hollow."

Noticing his old students' sad looks, Ponyacci gave them a warm smile, "But it makes me happy to know that Equestria- No, the whole wide world has young party ponies like you both to be around to make sure everyone will be able to laugh and smile, so do an old clown a favor boys?"

"Anything, Ponyacci," Cheese and Party Favor nodded.

"Keep clowning, and maybe inspire others to follow in our hoofsteps so that there's always cheer and laughter," Ponyacci couldn't hold back the bittersweet tear as he entered his wagon while saying, "As for me, well... Every performer needs to know when to leave the stage."

The door closed behind Ponyacci as he entered his wagon and the two young stallions shared a troubled look before Party Favor said, "We have to do something."

"Well, I don't think we can change his mind, Party," Cheese hated to say, "My dad taught me a lot about performing but he can't do half the stuff he used to nowadays. I'm sorry to say, but age catches up to everyone no matter what we do or think or say."

"Then we have to make sure Ponyacci gets a party worthy of the inspiration and happiness he's given his entire career!" declared Party Favor. "We're gonna help the troop put together a par-tay that Ponyacci will remember for the rest of his life!"

"You're right! Let's go talk to Light Step and the troop," Cheese Sandwich gestured and they started headed back to the Big Top.

"...Cheese?" Cheese Sandwich looked to Party Favor as they trotted. "Would it be okay if... I took the lead here? I know the troop, I have some ideas, and it'd mean a lot to me."

"Oh sure, bud!" Cheese Sandwich smiled at Party Favor as they stepped into the large tent, "This one's all you! I bet you'll make a party that Ponyacci will remember so well he won't be nearly as sad about retiring!"

"Thanks, Cheese," Party Favor smiled gratefully when they saw the troop ahead, all looking anxious to hear about what happened. Putting on his game face, Party Favor exclaimed, "Let's do this!"

The next morning, Ponyacci was checking over his things, making sure he'd packed everything. Today, he was going to check with the Sire's Hollow real estate office, hoping there was a house for sale. If he didn't have enough money saved he planned to sell his wagon, which was another depressing thought. Looking around, he saw his boxes, labeled 'Wigs', 'Costumes', 'Exploding Things', Rubber Chickens', and so much more, and the very thought of them all being left in storage to collect dust?

He was on the verge of shedding a tear when-

"Letter for Mr. Ponyacci!" Ponyacci turned to see an excited-looking Party Favor, dressed up like a mail-carrier, holding a letter in his aura, which he kindly offered to the old clown.

The moment Ponyacci accepted it, Party Favor quickly zipped away, vanishing around another wagon as Ponyacci opened the envelope. It read only three words:

Look This Way

Followed by a yellow arrow pointing to the right, and Ponyacci did just that and saw a big red and yellow box labeled 'SURPRISES'. He went over to check it out and the moment his hoof barely touched the box-

*PFOOOOOOOMMMMM/FWEEEEEEEE*

Out popped Party Favor in a explosive burst of colorful confetti as he blew a noise-maker at Ponyacci and a musical number started up.

"I suppose you and the troop are also trying to convince me not to quit, Light Step?" Ponyacci gave an amused raise of his brow to the choreographer as they and the rest of the circus dancers danced with the music.

"Oh, we're just happy to be a part of this party in your honor," Light Step gave Ponyacci a wave and wink before they said to their dancers, "Step, kick, pivot, kick, walk, walk, walk!"

(Party Flavor rolled out a party cannon and blew it, releasing a burst of confetti, glitter, and streamers, masking some of the chaos already in progress)

*K'KRACK/"AAAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!""LOOK OOOOOUUUUUUUTTTT!!!""It's falling!"*

Party Favor looked around in sudden realization of what was going on! Now that the blast from his party cannon (which had been a gift from Pinkie Pie) had settled, he saw members of the troop running around, trying to calm the animals, others trying to avoid getting charged, the rest running for the opening as the Big Top was coming down, knocking apart the rest of the support poles, ripping out the mooring lines, and more damage resulting.

No... no, no! Party Favor couldn't believe this was happening. This was supposed to be an amazing party, thrown by him, to honor his mentor, the greatest party pony and clown in all of Equestria!

"Party Favor, c'mon!" Cheese Sandwich grabbed Party Favor and led him out of the tent just as it was about to come down on him, and they hurried over to the rest of the troop, who'd gathered at the fringes, while several other circus ponies worked to calm down the animals and get them safely back into their pens.

Party Favor turned around and looked at the collapsed Big Top, parts of it still suspended by the poles that had broken and splintered, ragged streamers blowing askew, and dirty confetti littering down upon the whole situation as loosened balloons began to float away.

As everyone converged, including some of the locals of Sire's Hollow who'd stepped out to see what was going on, a depression fell upon everypony present. Party Favor most of all.

Falling back onto his haunches, he looked speechless and devastated at the ruined party as he felt his heart hurt with shame and disappointment, in himself and in his selfishness. He couldn't stop the tears as he stood up and looked to Ponyacci, who likewise looked just as sad when he noticed his old ward looking at him and blinked with surprise at how the younger party pony was crying... before he ran off.

"Party Favor?! Wha- Hold on there, kid!" Ponyacci almost hurried after Party Favor when he felt a hoof on his shoulder and looked to see a sad Cheese Sandwich.

"I... I think Party Favor needs a little time to himself, Ponyacci."

"...Maybe," Ponyacci sighed as he looked down the way Party Favor had run off, "but he needs somepony to talk to."

Some murmurs and chatters got started before the ringmaster called out, "Alright, everypony, let's get this place cleaned up."

Down at Sire's Hollow train station, Party Favor awaited the next train out, even though he'd already checked and knew it would be hours. He felt so ashamed and awful and stupid and pathetic, but most of all he felt selfish.

I wasn't even supposed to be here... he thought as he wiped the tear stains from his cheeks. This was supposed to be Cheese's gig, I just horned in. I... just wanted...

"Going my way?"

Party Favor flinched but managed to look up and felt his heart sink to see his old mentor. The fact that Ponyacci was giving him a kind smile somehow just made it hurt even more as the old clown sat beside him, but Ponyacci didn't say anything or press him. He was content to wait for Party Favor to get it off his chest.

...

...

...

"I... I just wanted to prove I'm a good party pony." Ponyacci didn't reply, allowing Party Favor to explain himself, "After I left the circus, I was lost. I wound up somewhere I thought would make be happy and feel better, but it was a lie. Cheese Sandwich and my sister, Pinkie Pie, they and their friends showed up and showed me and my friends that we'd been misguided into believing the wrong things.

"And just when it seemed like things were gonna be better, something even more horrible happened. It's how I got this burn scar on me," Party Favor touched the scar that was on the side of his chest, close to his shoulder.
"Pinkie and Cheese's friends, Princess Twilight and Prince Midnight, they gave me and my friends all a new home in Ponyville. It's great place to live, full of friends and good neighbors, but... even though I'm a party pony, nopony there asks me to throw parties for them. They ask Pinkie or Cheese instead, so... as awful as it is to admit, I'm jealous! I'm jealous of my sister and her coltfriend and I just got so tired of being passed over and ignored that I-I wanted for everyone to see me the way-"

Party Favor began to choke up and heave as he struggled in vain to keep calm as he began to sob, and felt Ponyacci put a foreleg around the young stallion's shoulders and gave him a comforting hug, encouraging Party Favor without words to let it all out.

They sat that way for a long while, and when Party Favor finally began to calm down, Ponyacci started speaking.
"I get where you're coming from, son. Everypony wants the chance to be appreciated for their talents and what they have to offer. And despite what you might think, being jealous doesn't make you a bad pony, it makes you equine. It's when you do the wrong things because of your jealousy that it turns ugly, for yourself and for those around you.

"If it helps, your performance was actually excellent."

Party Favor wiped his tears and looked to his old mentor, a little incredulous by Ponyacci's words as the older stallion noted, "Fine singing, good juggling, the balancing you did on that ball though could use a little work. Like... If you inflate it a little more, it'd give you a firmer stance.

"And that party cannon, a Z & R model? Try using two parts glitter to one part confetti, it'd give you a bigger bang. The music you arranged well, though if you had a string section that might be even better. Decent lyrics, except for the oblique rhyme at the end..."

But by this time, Party Favor had begun to zone out from Ponyacci's words as inspiration slowly began to light up his mind that he couldn't help but beam before he gasped, "That's it!"

He pointed at Ponyacci, the older stallion flinching a moment before Party Favor declared, "You don't have to be a clown - You should teach clowns!"

"Teach...?" Ponyacci quickly found the proposal appealing, "Huh! I never would have thought of that."

"Why not?! You taught me back when I was a colt, and you even gave Cheese Sandwich some tutoring," Party Favor pointed out, "Just now, you pointed out how to improve the performance I just gave, apart from the ending... But you could help other ponies become better clowns!"

Ponyacci thought about it more and more and the more he did the bigger he smiled as he said, "I wouldn't have to travel so much... I wouldn't have to perform every night!"

"You could help aspiring clowns come into their own and leave your mark on comedy at the same time!" added Party Favor.

"Party Favor, you're a genius! I can keep being funny without having to perform!" Ponyacci pulled his old protégé into an extra-squeezy hug of warm and happy gratitude, "This is wonderful!"

"You'll be a great teacher, Ponyacci," Party Favor smiled back, "I should know! If I hadn't met you, I don't know what kind of pony I'd have turned out to be."

"Aw, you'd have found your way," Ponyacci assured. "But right now, I think we should go back to the troop and help them out, and give them the good news."

Taking a deep breath, Party Favor nodded and said, "Let's go."

Needless to say, Ponyacci's announcement of teaching was a huge and truly pleasant surprise to the circus troop that the ringmaster offered to help Ponyacci in any way the circus could. Party Favor apologized to all his old friends and to Cheese for how the party didn't turn out well, but was easily forgiven.

"After all, it was all just an accident," Cheese had pointed out how some of the props had accidentally loosened the ropes holding up the Big Top and advised the ringmaster to double-check them from now on to ensure they stayed secure.

The circus was cleaned up and soon the troop was getting ready to pack up and move on. Still, it was most bittersweet that their beloved Ponyacci wouldn't be joining them though they were glad he had found a new way to continue his legacy as a clown and wished him all the best in the world.

At the train station, Ponyacci saw his two old students off before they disembarked.
"I'm real glad you boys came along when you did. Otherwise I'm not sure what I would have done after I retired from the circus."

"We're happy that you'll continue clowning and hope you'll teach your future students just as well as you taught us," replied Cheese Sandwich.
"And I hope you let us know when you've gotten your clown teaching started," Party Favor asked, "What are you gonna do next?"

"Believe it or not, I'm actually thinking of founding my own clown school!" Ponyacci happily declared, "I think I'll call it... Ponyacci's School of Clowning, Japes, and Buffoonery!"

"Sounds good to us!" Cheese and Party Favor smiled in excited approval.

"All aboard for Ponyville!"

"That's our train," Cheese Sandwich noted before he pulled his old teacher and his friend into a hug, "We're really grateful, Ponyacci, for everything you taught us."
"Yeah, and I can't wait to see all the aspiring clowns you'll guide to spread laughs and smiles across Equestria," added Party Favor.

"And you boys keep doing the same," Ponyacci smiled back before telling Party Favor, "and you keep putting yourself out there. Everypony will recognize your talents as a party pony just as they do your sister and Cheese. You boys keep in touch, alright?"

"We will, Ponyacci," promised the two young party ponies before they boarded their train and smiled and waved out the windows, calling, "So long!"

Ponyacci waved and kept waving as the train pulled out of the station and until he couldn't see them anymore in the distance, all the while smiling so happy and proud, wondering if this was what it felt like to be a proud dad.

Next Chapter: 351. A Hearth's Warming Tale Estimated time remaining: 25 Hours, 11 Minutes