Arrival

Chapter Two: Acceptance

When Comet awoke he found himself in his room, he was also confused. He half expected a jail cell or ground but not his own room. ‘Something isn’t right. Where’s mom?’ the former changeling thought his mind fuzzy and a mess. The black unicorn colt climbed out of bed before collapsing to the floor. Hoofsteps approached as the dark grey maned colt shook his head still trying to figure out what was going on.

“Are you alright?” a stallion’s voice asked and Comet looked up to see red eyes staring at him as the colt was lifted off the floor. “How much do you remember?”

That was when everything hit Comet causing him to choke. The silence was the answer the dark grey unicorn sighed before placing him back in bed.

“The Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, told me that you need your rest.” explained the red eyed unicorn as he glanced around the room. “Do you have school?”

“Don’t know if they’ll accept me back.” grumbled the former changeling causing the other to sigh. “What’s your name? I never got that and you will return to school.”

“Midnight Sun.” the black maned stallion replied before heading out. ‘This is the friend that mom always talked about? Well his personality hadn’t changed since those embarrassing foalhood stories. Now I won’t be able to look at Sweetie Belle since he is forcing me to go to school.’

Midnight Sun sat in the lower area looking at the cooking supplies that he did not know how to use. There was a light tap at the door and the dark grey stallion walked up to the door opening it with his magic.

“What?” he snapped not in the mood to greet the other ponies only to come face to face with a tan unicorn levitating a box. “Who are you?”

“Inkwell, is Comet here?” the green and pink maned unicorn questioned seemingly unfazed. “He wasn’t at Sugar Cube Corner for our weekly get together.”

Midnight Sun’s eyes narrowed as he observed the unicorn before standing to the side allowing him in. Inkwell walked passed him glancing at the unicorn thinking. ‘Where is Aqua Star? He is kind of scaring me.’

The tan unicorn hurried upstairs carefully bringing the box with him as the red eyed stallion watched him. Inkwell opened the door to see the black unicorn colt staring out his window with a forlorn look on his face. The writer looked at the box before levitating it over to the former changeling who looked surprised.

“Inkwell?” he asked looking confused. “What are you doing here?”

“Well you didn’t come to Sugar Cube Corner for our get together so I decided to check on you.” explained the tan stallion with a smile on his face as he set the box on the bed. “Princess Twilight explained what happened to Ponyville. Everypony is either very worried about or trying to lie in order to deny any interaction with you.”

“Thanks for being worried.” Comet admitted with a small smile. “What about the Cutie Mark Crusaders?”

“Well they want to see you but since they are at school at the moment so they couldn’t.” Inkwell explained as the black colt struggled to open the box. The tan unicorn sighed before opening the box for him.

“Thanks.” grumbled the smaller unicorn as he took out a cupcake. “Vanilla again?”

“What? They’re my favorite!” Inkwell replied as he took a cupcake out for himself and eating it. “The Princess really didn’t explain what was going on. What happened out there?”

“I... I met the Changeling Queen who wanted me to complete my task and betray everypony I knew.” confessed Comet looking out the window. “I couldn’t do it so she... took away my powers. I would have been fine with that if mom hadn’t... I don’t know what she did. One moment her body cracked before she shattered. Midnight Sun thinks she’s dead and I....”

“What does your heart tell you?” the older colt asked his brown eyes watching the young colt carefully as he replied. “She’s alive. I don’t feel the emptiness as I should. So that means she’s alive right?”

“One can hope.” assured the tan unicorn with a smile and Comet smiled back. “Well how did you teleport back if you’re just a regular unicorn and a young one at that?”

“I don’t know.” the black colt sighed as he ate his cupcake. “I wonder if Midnight Sun is going to take Aqua Star’s place at the Grand Galloping Gala if she isn’t back by then.”

“Well we’ll just see.” Inkwell said patting the colt on his head. “After all it is coming up soon. Three weeks pass by quickly when you’ve got nothing to do.”

“Well I doubt anypony will create a outfit for the gala.” sighed Comet before thinking. “Maybe Midnight will invite somepony else.”

“To what?” asked the voice of the dark grey stallion who was standing in the doorway with a salad in a bowl on his back. “I got something healthy to eat. Took me a while to find the lettuce, who stores the greens in a box that is cool on the inside?”

“It’s to keep them fresh.” chuckled Inkwell earning a raised eyebrow from the red eyed unicorn. “It’s hard to explain.”

“I see.” replied Midnight Sun before walking over to the bed and setting the bowl in front of Comet. “Back to my earlier question.”

“Oh the Grand Galloping Gala, it’s a huge party thrown in Canterlot.” explained the tan unicorn munching on another cupcake. “Aqua Star was sent some tickets but she isn’t around and had invite Comet to be her plus one we thought you might take her place.”

Midnight was quiet for a bit as he thought about it before nodding his head saying. “Of course, I would be honored to take her place.”

“Now we just have to find somepony willing to make some outfits for us.” groaned Comet and Inkwell thought for a moment before mentioning. “Well how about instead of somepony, some griffon.”

“Huh?” both Comet and Midnight Sun were confused so the author decided to show them instead of explaining.

“And here we are.” Inkwell announced as they arrived at a large cave blocked by a door. The tan unicorn approached the door and gave it a short tap. The door opened to reveal a griffon that Comet recognized.

“Gilda?” the former changeling asked looking a bit confused. “Why are you at Gryph’s place?”

“I’m just visiting my friend since Rainbow Dash decided to become a loser.” scoffed the griffon ruffling her feathers before noticing Midnight Sun raising an eyebrow. “Who’s he? I don’t remember seeing him at the Equestria Games.”

“This is Midnight Sun, he’s new to Ponyville.” explained Inkwell smiling before walking over to Gilda. “Is Gryph in?”

“Cha... I mean yeah he is.” the female griffon pointing a claw inside. “I’m gonna fly around a bit. Need to stretch my wings.”

The brown and white griffon took off quickly and the group of male ponies headed inside the cave.

“Greetings my pony friends!” Gryph called lounging on a couch watching the ponies with gold eyes. “I assume you need something.”

“Yeah.” Comet groaned thoroughly embarrassed as he was carried by both Inkwell and Midnight Sun. “We need new outfits for the Grand Galloping Gala.”

“I see.” the white griffon said stretching as he got off the couch and walked over to them. “Are you going as usual Inkwell?”

“Yeah I am.” sighed Inkwell rubbing his mane with his hoof. “Hopefully it will be as fun as last year.”

The tan unicorn sighed as he remembered the very interesting Gala that happened the year before. Midnight Sun raised an eyebrow before shaking his head not wanting to know.

“Will both of you be attending?” Gryph questioned as he stared at Midnight tapping a claw to his chin.

“I will be attending as a chaperone for this little one.” the dark grey unicorn explained pointing a hoof towards Comet. “After all Aqua Star had invited him.”

“Maybe a friend of mine will help.” mused the male griffon before looking at Comet. “Perhaps Miss Rarity can be of assistance. She has such a brilliant eye for fabric quality, though it is a shame that she only makes dresses. Well except for that one time she made an outfit for Spike and bow ties.”

“Perhaps I can go with you, apparently Comet needs his rest.” Midnight Sun sounded like he didn’t believe that statement. “I have noticed that this is a predominantly mare run society. I’ve seen more mares than stallions walking around the streets.”

“You’ll get used to that.” Inkwell said before levitating the black colt onto his back. “I’ll get him back home. You guys should talk to Rarity about the fabrics.”

The red eyed unicorn watched the brown eyed one walk off before looking at Gryph. The white griffon glanced over at him raising an eyebrow before showing him out.

“Have you gotten a tour of Ponyville yet?” questioned the griffon and Midnight Sun shook his head. “I will give you one then.”

“Thank you.... Gryph.” it took a while for the dark grey stallion to remember the white griffon’s name.

“You are very welcome.” Gryph replied waving his talon towards the door and the two left.

Rarity sat there sewing the new gala dress for Rainbow Dash. ‘There is no way I am going to let my friends go to the Grand Galloping Gala with old gowns. They need brand new gowns for the Gala!’ thought Rarity looking at the dress. ‘This will sure to impress Soarin. Heavens know that colt likes her. Nothing too tight but something slimming, perhaps flowing and light like clouds.’

The white unicorn almost did not notice the bell to her shop ring.

“Oh Miss Rarity!” a familiar voice called causing the seamstress’ ear to twitch. “I need your opinion on some fabric choices for three customers of mine. Do you mind if I look around?”

“Gryph! Lovely to see you again.” Rarity called knowing she couldn’t step away at the moment. “I am a tad bit busy at the moment so if you don’t mind can you make your way up.”

“Of course.” the griffon replied as he began his trek up the stairs. “Rarity is one of the best dressmakers in town!”

“I can see that.” a familiar voice replied causing the purple maned unicorn to freeze. She knew that dry yet sarcastic tone. Soon the door to her workroom opened and Rarity had finished up with the stitch she was working on. The stallion was looking around with little interest towards fashion.

“Now about those fabric choices.” the griffon said with a pleasant smile on his face. “I was thinking of a long coat and vest for my friend here. You’ve met Midnight Sun, correct?”

“Of... course I have.” Rarity managed out her mind going back to his rude attitude in the castle. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”

“I doubt it.” Midnight replied his eyes shifting towards her. “With the way I treated your precious princess I doubt you find it a pleasure seeing me again.”

The white unicorn knew he had hit the nail on the head several times over with that statement. She took a deep breath and released it calming herself down before she glanced over towards Gryph who was looking at her fabric.

“Don’t you have any fabric at your store Gryph?” questioned Rarity and the griffon looked up replying. “I am just looking for the fabric I need to place a special order for. I do not have the... talent for sewing as you do.”

‘I wish this brute had an ounce of the class that Gryph has.’ the purple maned mare thought as she walked over to look at the fabrics. ‘Though he isn’t a blight to the eyes. Was Sombra this good looking.... Perhaps we should get to know him more before judging him. There might be a reason for his attitude towards the princess.’

“So what do you think of Ponyville Mr. Sun?” Rarity asked as she looked through the fabric trying to get a fair gauge of his personality.

“Interesting to say the least.” the stallion replied examining a dark blue dress on a body form. “I just love how everypony is worried that I have a former changeling in the house I am staying in thinking he still has his powers and is trying to take over Ponyville.”

Rarity froze when she heard that, yes she was worried at the beginning but Twilight’s spell had erased any doubt. ‘What are they thinking? That poor dear has been through enough.’ the white unicorn questioned mentally. Guilt rose up in her heart as she remembered thinking the same thing before the spell.

“Well not all ponies saw Twilight cast the spell so they don’t really believe.” sighed Gryph as Rarity walked up to look at the fabric he was looking at. “Just like how Spike didn’t believe Trixie didn’t vanquish the Ursa Major because he didn’t see it.”

“But she didn’t.” huffed the purple maned unicorn before sighing. “Though I get your point. Not that one, it won’t look good with his coloring. There must be something we can do to cheer him up. IDEA!”

‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this.’ thought Midnight Sun as Rarity looked at him.

“Gryph as a sign of my generosity and as a gift to cheer Comet I will help you make their clothes.” Rarity told him and Gryph smiled. “I will still have enough time to finish up the girls gowns.”

“I’m sure if Comet found that you helped me he would be a little happier that some ponies are treating him the same.” replied the white griffon. “Why don’t you design Comet’s gala suit while I get to Inkwell’s.”

“Oh that would be wonderful!” gushed the white pony before looking at Midnight Sun. “I suppose I can design your outfit as well. Well Gryph and I can.”

“Whatever.” said Midnight Sun before heading out the door. “You two are the fashion designers not me. Now if you will excuse me I have a colt to take care of.”

Rarity made sure that the stallion was out of the room before saying in a huff. “Why I never have a pony speak to me that rudely before!”

“Aqua Star was that rude until you taught her how open up again remember?” Gryph asked and Rarity sighed. “And you never said anything about her.”

“Well, I... oh my I was acting just dreadful just now.” the white unicorn sighed as soon as she realized what she was acting like. “I don’t even know the reason why he acts like that!”

“Well perhaps you should ask him, he might be more willing to share. Now how about this color?” the griffon questioned holding up a black fabric embroidered with a deep green and silver. Rarity nodded her head before replying. “Let's try something different for Midnight Sun, how about this one. Now about Comet....”