//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: A Blossoming Star // by Blood_rose_doll //------------------------------// Comet Flower took a deep breath to try and steady her beating heart. With a sharp breath she ruffled the mane hanging in her face. Her tail swayed through the dirt which she did when she was nervous. The light pink of the bottom her tail was turning brown but she didn’t even bother to look. As her tail and mane went up it turned into a dark rose pink in a slow ombre. She heard a rustle of leaves behind her and she spun around her bats wings flying open in shock. Though the second she saw the bright pink of her mom’s mane she relaxed. The light grey unicorn had a white steak that ran her face and all the way down her belly. She had an old-school unicorn tail to boot. The one thing that stuck out was the wings at her side. She looked at Comet with gentle red eyes. “You don’t have to go little bud,” she said in her gentle tone. Comet rolled her lilac eyes. “I wish you would stop calling me that mom. I’m not a foal anymore,” Comet replied with a frown. Daisy Field ignored her daughter though and walked closer. She gently swept her hoof over Comet’s dark purple coat that was speckled like the night sky and also with dirt. She smiled softly as she brushed dirt out of her coat slightly. Comet knew it was meant as a comforting gesture but she shied away. Daisy gave a soft sigh at that. “You really aren’t a foal anymore are you? No matter how much I wish you would never grow up, you have. And if this is what you have decided as a grown mare then I can’t stop you,” she said with sad eyes. Comet flicked her tail softly, hating that she was upsetting her mom. “I have to do this mom. I can’t live here my whole life. You and dad lived out there. Star Echo went out for a day and said he won’t go back. I want to see the world not the inside of some perfect snowglobe for the rest of my life,” Comet said with determination. Daisy nodded sagely at that. “I know you’re ready for this but I still worry as your mother. Night Rain and I will always welcome you back home as well,” Daisy said with a small kick to the dirt as she said the name. “Whenever I am too serious I always just call your father by his name and he hates it.” Comet chuckled softly at her mother. With a deep breath she stood tall and turned back around to the magic barrier. She looked back at her mom over her shoulder. “I’ll be back. I’ll have plenty of stories to tell,” She said with a smile. She looked back at the barrier and raised her bat wings. They gave a soft pink glow as Comet’s magic flowed through them like a unicorn’s horn. The magic barrier in front of her opened like a waterfall being split and she stepped through. As it closed behind her she snuck one last look at her mom who gave her a huge smile. Comet shook her head softly just as the barrier closed. She looked at the empty space in the air and stuck her back hoof backwards. Nothing happened and Comet nodded with a smile. She had done it. She opened and closed the barrier on her own for the first time. She was gonna be fine. Looking around at her surroundings she was a little surprised to find herself in a forest clearing. With a small shrug though Comet raised her wings and they glowed softly again. In a flash she was somewhere new. She had no idea where she was but she smiled anyhow. This was the start of her adventure. Comet spread her wings to take off when she heard something faintly. Her ears twitched as she tried to pick it up and then she heard it again a little louder. It was somepony’s voice. She flapped her wings and took to the air. From her new vantage point she could now see a pony in the distance with a cart. With a big smile Comet flew over. As she neared she realized they were talking to somepony else. Before she could make out who though the pony pulling the cart turned to look in her direction. The pony she now saw was a colt with a green coat and grey mane. He smiled up at her. “Well, howdy there young filly,” he said in an accent that made Comet’s eyes go wide. She landed in front of him in slight wonder. She had never heard anypony with an accent before. It was kind of cool. “I haven’t seen a bat pony around these parts in quite a while. What brings you out this way?” Comet shook her head softly to focus. “I’m exploring the world,” she declared with a soft smile. The colt chuckled lightly at that. “Well that is a mighty nice idea young one. My world trotting days are behind me but I can at least show you around town. What do ya say?” He said with a tilt of his head in the direction he was heading. Comet nodded eagerly and with a smile he started walking again. “Name’s Apple Core and the one in the cart is my faithful pooch Ditch. Whose company do we have the pleasure of today?” He asked just as dog popped his head up from inside the cart. “I’m Comet Flower. Why did you name him Ditch?” Comet asked with a head tilt. “That’s where I found him. Wasn’t gonna name him that at first but he loves digging ditches as much as laying in them so it came naturally. I wasn’t looking for a pet but one was looking for me it seems. Old Ditch was just a pup then. Course I was a might younger then as well myself.” As Apple Core talked Comet noticed the town coming into view. It was not very impressive but to her it was the world. She was finally out in the real world with normal ponies and it felt great. Apple Core cleared his throat gently as they got very close to the entrance. “Welcome to Appleloosa, mare.” Comet was in awe. She never knew that so many ponies lived in one town together and Apple Core told her it was just a small country town. Comet couldn’t even imagine how it could be bigger than this. Seeing the town was almost like she had stepped into a new world. The real world was a lot different then she had pictured. The tour of the town only took 5 minutes and the last stop was the saloon. Apple Core left his cart outside the door and told Ditch he would be back. He stepped through the wooden flaps that Comet was unsure classified as a door. She followed him inside though and it smelled amazing just walking in. The smell of apples was everywhere in town but in the saloon it felt like you had stepped into a giant apple. Apple Core wave a hoof at a pony and motion Comet to follow as he walked over. The pony in question was a colt with a yellow coat and a golden yellow mane. He had on a hat and vest as well. He smiled brightly at Comet and tipped his hat to her. “Howdy. Welcome to Appleloosa stranger. Always nice to see a new face round here,” he said with a smile. Apple Core stepped up next to him. “This here is Braeburn he’s my third cousin. Us Apples have a big family but we all know family. Comet Flower here is exploring the world. Thought you might want to point her to her next stop,” Apple Core said with a small tilt of his head. Braeburn’s face broke into a huge smile at that. “I’ll be taking my leave then miss Comet, gotta get Ditch home. Was great meeting a fresh face.” With a final nod Apple Core walked out of the saloon leaving Comet with Braeburn. As soon as he was gone Braeburn bucked back with glee. “He’s right! You should go and visit cousin Applejack. If you want to see the world she could be a big help. She even has a map of-” Braeburn was cut off as a commotion arouse from outside. He frowned as he headed for the flaps. “What the hay is all this ruckus?” He asked to himself as he disappeared outside. The other ponies were quick to follow and Comet not far behind excited to see what was going on. As she made it out the doors though her face became one of shock. There was no way she was seeing this. Standing in the center of town in glorious fashion was Celestia herself. Comet looked up just as Luna’s chariot came in for a landing. Comet tried to slowly back into the saloon again but there was a pony in her way. Celestia turned to look at her sister but something caught her eye and she turned to look Comet directly in the eye. Comet froze on the spot not knowing what to do. Her wings vibrated nervously and they started to glow faintly. She wasn’t trying to use magic but her defenses were up and everything was telling her to run. Her mother had told her everything about what had happened. Why they lived alone in that snowglobe world and why she was different. Celestia nodded her head in Comet’s direction and guard ponies saluted her. Comet watched as they cleared a path to her and then escorted her to the princess’s hooves. Celestia said nothing at first and the long silence was almost unbearable to Comet. As her nerves increased her wings glowed slightly brighter. Finally the princess cleared her throat softly to draw Comet’s attention. “What is your name young one?” She asked with a dignified voice. Comet had never heard her speak and she was surprised by how beautiful her voice was. With a look around at the ponies too far away for Celestia to mean she took a shaky breath. “Comet Flower.” Celestia nodded to Luna who turned and became giving orders to the guard ponies. Celestia looked down at Comet and gave her a kind smile. “You need to come with us Comet,” Celestia said as she gestures at her chariot with a hoof. Comet swallowed hard and looked around for some kind of excuse to say no. She knew she would find nothing even before she tried though. With a deep sigh Comet stood and boarded Celestia’s chariot. The guard ponies pulling it didn’t even acknowledge her. Celestia joined her on the chariot and with a soft voice said the worst five words Comet had ever heard in a sentence. “We have much to discuss.” Before she could react the chariot took to the air and she knew she was stuck. She thought of her family and wondered if her punishment would mean she could never see them again. She had broken the only rule they had and gotten caught. She was in DEEP trouble with a princess no less. So much for being a grown pony because this whole thing just made Comet feel like a helpless foal again. And this was just the beginning of her adventure.