Sunshine illuminated the cheerful, pastel interior of Pinkie’s Cheese Party Bakery and Cafe. Surprisingly harmonious improvised song rang through the bakery as the Love Sandwich family prepared to open for the day.

Pinkie wiggled her fluffy pink tush to the beat of their working song as she washed the dishes.


“I feel a feeling~

It’ll be a sunny day~”

Cheese Sandwich bobbed his head cheerfully as he prepped several different bowls of batter of varying flavors and color,


“I feel a feeling,

That we’ll make a sweet parfait~”


Cheesecake trotted about the storefront, sweeping and dusting as he sang.


“I feel a feeling,

That we’ll throw a cute birthday~”


Party Favor made balloon animals, one being a particularly large giraffe, and placed them around the store. His newborn son Linzer Torte was strapped comfortably to his chest as he worked.


“Ohhhh, I feel a feeliiiiing~

That happiness is here to stay~!”


With the conclusion of the verse, Party Favor unlocked the door to the store. Using his magic, Party Favor carried a couple chairs and a table to set up the outside dining area. As he walked back into the café to grab more chairs, he noticed the mail basket was full.


“Oh, what do we have here?” He smiled, picking up the letters and flipping through them. “Bill. Gas bill. Water bill. Ooh, look at that: another bill. Who says self-employment comes cheap?” Party smiled and he held his cheerful demeanor until he beheld the last letter: a non-descript cream-colored envelope with a blood-red seal that he recognized instantly.


“AAA-!” He started to scream but clamped a hoof over his muzzle so he wouldn’t wake up Linzer Torte. The sound did not go unnoticed.


“Party?”


“Did you scream?”


“Are you okay, dad?”


Party Favor stared at the letter, holding it as if it were some rabid, wild animal. Gradually, he opened the envelope and pulled the contents out. It was a very short note written in beautiful cursive. If his heart could sink any lower, it would have.


Pinkie Pie was at Party Favor’s side in a flash, “Party, honey, what’s wrong?” The rest of Party’s family joined in the concern, soaking in the sudden drama that dampened their lovely morning.


“Its…my cousin Sable…she’s…she’s coming for a visit.”


Stunned silence followed.


Pinkie started the cacophony; “YOU HAVE A COUSIN?”

“AND HER NAME IS SABLE?” The Cheeses were also at Party’s side now, pressed up to him to get a closer look at the letter.


Party Favor gulped nervously, “Y-yeah…it’s been years…I can’t imagine what this is about…unless Aunt Ivory died.”

“PArtyyyyy!! I didn’t know you had a FAMILY!” Pinkie protested, waving her forelegs emphatically.


“What? Did you guys think I was a virgin birth?”


“Maybe a little bit. You’re just so pure.” Cheese Sandwich kissed Party Favor’s cheek, trying to calm him down. “Who is this cousin Sable? And why does she make you yelp in terror? She sounds like a hoot!”


“Well…my parents were never on the best terms with my aunt’s family.”


“UGH! You have PARENTS. PARTY PERIWINKLE FAVOR!” Pinkie Pie scolded, “You’ve met Cheese’s and my family and it never occurred to you that WE wanted to see YOUR family?”


“Trust me…you wouldn’t want to meet-“


TING-A-LING. The cheerful door chime betrayed him. Either it was one of their early bird customers or an agonizing family reunion. Party Favor did not dare to look up.


A tall, hooded bat pony stood in the doorway. The armor on her wings glinted in the morning light. A stray cloud covered up the sun behind her, darkening the entire store. Once the sun was covered, she pulled the protective hood off of her face, revealing the vampire bat pony beneath.


Pinkie Pie skipped forward, greeting the vampire. “Hey-LO, friend! Welcome to Pinkie’s Cheese Party! My name is Pinkie Pi-” As Pinkie held out her hoof, the stranger pushed passed her into the store. “Oh.” Pinkie deflated a little but held a friendly smile as she followed the pony into the café.


Cheese Sandwich came forward, almost meeting her height. He also attempted to greet her. “You’re Sable, I presume?”


The stranger reacted with snobbish indignance and contempt for this lowly Earth pony. “I am not Sable to you. I am Lady Dragonstone, heir to the Dragonstone fortune.” She flourished, spreading her membranous wings dramatically.


Cheese doesn’t really know what to do with this information. “O…kay.”


“Hmph. You’re lucky I had a big breakfast.” Sable snorted, neatly tucking her wings to her sides. She glanced around, looking for her target who had escaped behind the counter. But alas, his fluffy blue tail stuck out and Sable addressed him in a calm but commanding voice. “Prescott Dragonstone. Front and center.”


Party Favor did not move, which frustrated Sable to no end. She advanced. “Now is not the time for your disobedience! I have something important-”


Seeing their husband trying to hide in terror, Pinkie and Cheese Sandwich leaped in front of her. “Now hold on missy! I don’t know who you think you are, but if Party Favor doesn’t want to see you, he doesn’t have to.”


“No scary bat pony is going to get anywhere near my Party Favor.” Cheese growled, donning his scary parenting voice.


Sable flared her wings, sneering. She spoke through a very sharp set of teeth. “Out of my way, Earth ponies. This is family business.”


“Well you’re in a family business, and until you learn some manners, you are not welcome here.” Cheesecake stood with his parents, speaking in a similarly low tone to his father’s.


Sable was about to snap back, but Party Favor spoke first, “It’s okay, everypony. The sooner we get this done, the sooner she leaves.” His legs shook as he approached her. He was trying his hardest not to shy in her presence. The tiny foal strapped to his chest stirred as the tension in the normally cheerful storefront rose.


The bat pony was surprised and a little hurt by Party’s cruel tone. “Is it objectionable that I visit my dearest cousin?”


“Yes. I haven’t seen you in a decade, and suddenly you show up at my bakery to…what exactly?”


“Prescott-”


“My name is Party Favor, thank you, and you will address me as such Sable Dragonstone.”


Sable stared at him, crimson eyes held higher as she analyzed him, judging his strength. “Very well.” She conceded. “Party Favor.”


Party Favor’s fear began to transform into rage. Using his magic, Party Favor gently plucked Linzer Torte out of his harness and gave him to Cheesecake. “I thought by running away, Night Glider and I made it clear that we didn’t want anything to do with the Dragonstone family.”


“But you are our family, regardless of where you are, and-“


His family jumped when he slammed his hoof hard on the floor and raised his voice. “No, Sable. You don’t understand. I don’t care what you think. I am not, nor will I ever be, a part of your nasty family.”


Sable rounded on him, “How dare you? We took you in when your useless father abandoned you, offered you everything you could ever want and nurtured you, and this is how you thank us?”


“Our dad didn’t abandon us. He had no choice.”


“Really? Then why did he never, not once, visit you?”


Party Favor glared at her furiously. “My father did what he thought was best for us.”


Sable’s rage matched his, but her voice quivered with genuine pain. “Why must you defend him? After everything he did to you, your sister…how his stupidity got your mother killed?”


Pinkie Pie gasped softly, lifting a hoof to her muzzle. The Cheeses stared in horror, and Linzer Torte tilted his head as he watched with wide eyes.


Party Favor sat back on his haunches, curling his tail around his forelegs. He closed his eyes tightly, squeezing out tears he had been fighting. The unicorn shook with gentle sobs.


Sable’s expression softened, and she sighed, realizing she had gone too far and let her emotions get away from her. “Party, I…”


Before should speak further, Pinkie Pie was at Party Favor’s side, holding him close as she glared at Sable. Cheese Sandwich stood protectively between his husband and Sable. “It’s time for you to leave now.”


Sable clenched her jaw but closed her eyes in resignation. “I’m sorry, Party Favor. I didn’t come here to pick at old wounds…I came to deliver this…”


“Whatever you have, I don’t want it.”


“Please. I promise you don’t have to see or hear from us again.” She fished out a parcel from a luxurious bag strung to her side and set it down gently. “On behalf of the Dragonstone family, we humbly request your forgiveness and offer this olive branch.”


Party Favor glared at the parcel, then shifted his gaze back up to Sable.


She continued, her voice pleading, “Ever since you and Night Glider ran away, my mother has blamed herself, a-and us, for failing to protect you. You were her last connection to her sister, and she we squandered it. Mother has few regrets despite all of her mistakes, but hurting you was her biggest blunder. We don’t expect you to respond or come back, nor do we expect you to accept our gift. We only hope you can understand how sorry we are.”


Party Favor’s expression softened as she spoke. He paused, looking at the parcel contemplatively. The silence makes Sable’s heart race in terror, and her heart sank when he shook his head, “Just go home, Sable.”


“O-Of course…” Sable started out, keeping her head low. She didn’t look at the rest of Party’s family who’s stares burned into her pelt. Before reaching the threshold, she paused and took a moment to look back at everyone. She smiles weakly. “You’ve done well for yourself, Party Favor. If you ever see your father again, tell him Ivory wants to speak to him.”


“No, I don’t think I will.” Party Favor snapped, refusing to turn around to look at her.


The vampire covered her face with the hood once more and departed. Just as quickly as she had come, Sable was gone. Soon, the sun shone through the window again as the dark clouds moved in the sweet-smelling, gentle breeze.


Party Favor broke down and found himself in the loving embraces of his spouses and sons. They whispered words of comfort and love in soothing voices. For all these years, he felt he had to be strong for his sister, for Starlight and his fellow villagers, and now for his family. Party never wanted them to know everything about his past. He never wanted them to be hurt by it like he was. Yet, here they were, holding him and telling him that this was a safe place…that he was allowed to cry. And so he did. He cried and cried until he could not cry anymore.

—-

Party Favor awoke some hours later after a much-needed post-cry nap. His eyes stung, and he was thirsty. Luckily, Pinkie Pie had foreseen this and left a pitcher of water on the nightstand. Using his magic he poured himself a glass and sipped at it silently as he sat on the edge of the bed. Next to the pitcher, he noticed the parcel Sable had brought.


Going against his better judgement, he opened it. Inside were some old things from his youth. Toys mainly and the only picture his family took together. He smiled as he remembered the day fondly. It was his mother’s birthday present; she had always wanted a picture of all of them and until then were too poor to get a professional portrait of them done. He swore he could hear his mom laughing as she tried to brush his unmanageable mane, and his father trying his very best to tie a bowtie correctly. Night Glider complaining about how her dress was itchy and pinched her armpits. Party Favor chuckled, almost losing himself in the memory that felt like a lifetime ago. He hugged the photo to his chest.


There were two more things in the parcel: an envelope containing a letter from Ivory he didn’t want to read. Attached to the letter, however, was a bank statement with an account under his name. He almost couldn’t comprehend the amount that was listed. More money than he could ever dream of…all his. Before he could even begin to process that, he noticed one more item: in simple writing on a small card, his father’s contact information.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Just a little more info into what went down in this family. Party Favor was Windy and Violet's second child, born during his mother's birthday party, hence the name. c: Prescott was his very temporary name Ivory gave him that he hated with a fiery passion. This happened before Friendship Grows begins. Party Favor is of course still in contact with his sister, who had since left Starlight's village as well to become a member of Luna's guard with her uncle Nightingale. But he hadn't seen nor spoken to his dad since he was sent to live with his aunt Ivory, so reconnecting would certainly be a challenge.