//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Griffon the Brush Off // Story: Twilight’s Little Comet // by GoebelTron //------------------------------// Comet walked into the library after playing with Apple Bloom. He’s been having a lot of fun with her. He even got to meet Twist, who was a friend of Apple Bloom. She got to know Comet as much as Apple Bloom did. But, Apple Bloom had to go back to the farm for her chores, and Twist had been called home for something. So, Comet had to go back to the Library. When he went inside, he saw Twilight working on some potions. “Hey, Mom,” Comet said. “Hey, Comet,” Twilight said. “Right now, I need to focus on this potion.” She then started writing something down on a piece of parchment. But when she turned away, the writing somehow disappeared. Twilight was busy pouring a green potion into a blue potion, until it then turned purple. Twilight then went back to the parchment, but she was now surprised that there was nothing written on it. Twilight was surprised, “Huh?” She was beginning to wonder what was going on until the potion behind her went poof. She then looked over at Comet and asked, “Comet? Did you...” Comet shook her head and said, “No. The stuff you wrote down just vanished.” He then thought about it. “Like... disappearing ink.” “Disappearing ink?!” Twilight asked. “I don’t have any...” She was then interrupted by the laughter of two of her friends. She looked outside and saw Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie laughing. Rainbow Dash was holding up a container of disappearing ink. Twilight smiled at their prank and walked away from the window. “That makes sense.” “That’s still a classic, even back on my world,” Comet said, looking out the window. “Yeah, it’s a classic here as well,” Twilight said. “But, I chose not to do anything fun. I didn’t even want friends. Until... well...” Twilight was hesitant about telling Comet about Nightmare Moon. “Until Princess Luna came back as Nightmare Moon?” Comet asked. "Yeah, I know,” Twilight said. “I also read the book,” Comet said. “I even read about how the princess who controls the night became Nightmare Moon, and was banished to the moon by the Elements of Harmony, and then I remembered how you and your friends stopped her. After all, it did happen, right?” “I guess,” Twilight said, looking away. “But, now, I gotta retry my experiment.” “Okay, mom,” Comet said. He then headed upstairs, but was suddenly interrupted when Spike came through the door. And he was hiccuping. “Whoa, Spike, are you okay?” Spike laughed, but still hiccuping, and said, “Oh, I’m *hiccup* alright. I just need *hiccup* some water. Hopefully this *hiccup* will go away soon. *Hiccup*” Comet thought about it and asked, “Was it Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash?” “Yep,” Spike said, before letting out one last hiccup. Comet then snuck behind Spike without letting him see him. Spike was still hiccuping, but then from behind, Comet jumped and roared at Spike, making him run towards the other side of the room. “GAAAAAAAH!!” Spike leaned towards the wall, putting his claw to his chest, and breathing fast. He then recovered and said, “Why did you do that?!” “From what I heard, one of the things to stop the hiccups is to scare them away,” Comet said. “How do you feel?” Spike checked himself. He waited a few moments. Then he smiled and said, “Hey, you’re right. Ya scared the hiccups out of me.” Just then, Spike belched out some flames, and a bunch of scrolls came out, burying the two of them. The two of them popped their heads out of the pile of scrolls, and a sticky note was attached to Comet’s horn. Then the two of them looked at each other. Spike grabbed the sticky note, and read it. “'I believe you sent these by mistake.' Well, I gotta send her a note explaining what happened.” Spike walked through the pile of scrolls. Comet was walking through the streets of Ponyville. Most of the ponies there were looking over at Comet, smiled, and just went back to their business. They were now getting to know him more, and maybe wanted to ask him a few questions. Comet came around to where Sugarcube Corner was. He was trying to get over what happened with Pinkie Pie the previous day. Pinkie said that Rainbow Dash’s old friend, Gilda, was being a grump when Pinkie Pie was trying to hang out with the two of them. Twilight thought that Pinkie Pie was jealous of Gilda, and Spike said that she was green, or rather, pink with envy. Twilight gave Pinkie an idea to improve her attitude. That didn’t go so well, and Pinkie left frustrated. Comet then saw Pinkie sitting at a table outside of Sugarcube Corner, drinking a milkshake. Comet then started to walk towards Pinkie. “Hey, Pinkie,” Comet said. “Are you feeling okay?” “Not so much,” Pinkie said. She sighed and said, “I just want to be alone. Dashie’s probably off somewhere with that griffon friend of hers.” “Still not over being jealous?” Comet asked. “No, because I wasn’t jealous!” Pinkie nearly shouted, startling Comet. Pinkie sighed and said, “Sorry. I just really wanted to hang out with both of them, but she told me to back off.” “Are you sure you’re not over... what was that word again?” Comet asked, putting a hoof to his chin. “Overreacting?” Pinkie guessed. That made Comet nod. Pinkie Pie then sighed and said, “I guess you’re right. I just need to get to know Gilda more. But, she doesn’t want me to get close.” Just then, there was the sound of wings flapping. Pinkie ducked below the table, while Comet looked up. Flying over their heads was Rainbow Dash and her griffon friend, Gilda. Rainbow Dash was somehow laughing, “That was sweet. Ugh, I gotta take care of a few weather jobs around here. Shouldn’t take long. Just, uh, hang out in town and I’ll come find ya.” “That’s cool, I guess,” Gilda said. “I’m gonna go chow down.” “Later,” Rainbow Dash said, as she flew off for her weather duties. When Rainbow left, Gilda looked around, then smirked. She walked over towards a cart, which Applejack’s grandmother, Granny Smith, coming towards it. She was smelling the produce in the cart until Gilda’s tail came into view of her, scaring her. Granny Smith screamed and shouted, “A rattler, a rattler! Run for the hills! Everybody forsake yourselves!” Granny Smith ran as fast as she could, which was just as slow as a sloth. Gilda laughed a little bit, but a pony looking at her was surprised at Gilda’s behavior. Then Gilda said, “This stuff ain’t fresh, dude.” Gilda then walked away. Pinkie and Comet were shocked to see what Gilda just did. “Aw, poor Granny Smith, she didn't know it was a joke!” Pinkie Pie said. Comet then said, “That... was... so mean!” “You’re right, Comet,” Pinkie said angrily. "That was clearly too mean to be a prank.” Pinkie then shook her head and said, “No, no. I can’t misjudge her. Maybe that was a one time thing.” Pinkie and Comet looked back over at Gilda. Gilda was passing by the cart which had three ponies surrounding it. She snuck her tail over towards it, grabbed an apple, and ate it. That made Pinkie Pie gasp and said, “I did misjudge her! She’s not only a meanie mean-pants, she’s also a thief!” Pinkie Pie held herself back and said, “No no no no no, she might give it back. It’s just a joke.” “That’s not possible to return an apple that’s already been eaten, Pinkie,” Comet said. She then turned her head and saw Fluttershy escorting some ducks, walking backwards. “All right little ones, this way, this way. Mama duck, you’re free and clear.” Before she knew it, she accidentally bumped into Gilda, with the griffon saying, “Hey.” “Please excuse me,” Fluttershy said, politely. “I’m walkin’ here,” Gilda said, rudely. That made Fluttershy turn her body, making her body face towards Gilda. “Oh, um, I’m sorry. I-I-I was just trying to...” Fluttershy tried apologizing, but was getting scared of Gilda. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Gilda said, mockingly. She then snapped, “Why don’t you just watch where you’re going, doofus?” “B-b-b-but I... I...” Fluttershy tried apologizing, but then Gilda inhaled, and roared at Fluttershy, making all of the ponies shocked. Fluttershy then turned around, crying, and flew off. Gilda looked around and said, “Ugh, please, all these lame ponies are driving me buggy.” She then prepared to fly. “I gotta bail.” She then took off. “That... that griffon is such a jerk,” Comet said. “How could she do that to Fluttershy?” “I know, right?!” Pinkie shouted. “She has been nothing but a grump, a thief and a bully! That’s the meanest kind of mean meanie-pants there is!” She then puffed her chest out and said, “I can take it, but no one treats Fluttershy like that. No. One.” Pinkie then gave off a devious smile and said, “This calls for extreme measures, Pinkie Pie style!” At Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie hosted a party for Gilda, in hopes to teach her a lesson. She greeted the ponies who entered the place, “Welcome, welcome. Welcome!” “Who’s this Gilda I’ve heard nothing about?” Applejack asked Rarity. “I hear she’s an old friend of Rainbow Dash. A griffon, so rare,” Rarity replied. “You’ve met Gilda, right? What’s she like?” Twilight asked Fluttershy. “Oh, um, well, I’ll tell you later, Twilight,” Fluttershy replied. Pinkie Pie kept greeting more ponies as they entered, “Welcome. Welcome.” “Um, Pinkie Pie, about this party for Gilda. Umm... do you really think it’s a good idea? I mean—” Pinkie Pie then cut Fluttershy off to calm her down, “Don’t worry your pretty little head about mean old Gilda. I’ve got it all taken care of.” Pinkie Pie suddenly saw Gilda in the building, “Gilda! I’m so honored to throw you one of my signature Pinkie Pie parties, and I really, truly, sincerely, hope you feel welcome here amongst all us pony folk.” She then reached out her hoof for a handshake, but as Gilda placed her claw onto it, she got a shocking reaction. Pinkie Pie laughed as she had a joy buzzer on her hoof. Rainbow Dash laughed along, “Oh Pinkie Pie, the old hoof-shake buzzer. You are a scream.” “Yeah,” Gilda chuckled nervously. “Uh, good one, Pinkie Pie.” “Come on G, I’ll introduce you to some of my other friends,” Rainbow Dash said, trotting over to more ponies. “Right behind you, Dash!” Gilda replied, before she glared at Pinkie Pie. “I know what you’re up to.” Pinkie Pie just smiled, “Great.” Gilda growled, “I know what you’re planning.” Pinkie Pie giggled, “Well, I hope so. This wasn’t supposed to be a surprise party.” Gilda then furrowed her eyes at the pony, “I mean, I've got my eye on you.” Pinkie Pie then got closer to Gilda’s face, and said, “And I got my eye on you. Everyone, I’d like you all to meet Gilda, a long-time, dear friend of Rainbow Dash. Let’s honor her and welcome her to Ponyville.” The ponies cheered, as Gilda nervously smiled. “Please help yourself,” Pinkie Pie said. “Vanilla lemon drops. Don’t mind if I do,” Gilda said, before she took one, and ate it, but she suddenly breathed fire, as Pinkie Pie roasted a marshmallow with it. “HOT!” Rainbow Dash then exclaimed, “G, the punch!” Gilda kept gasping and began gulping her drink, but she suddenly saw it dribbling onto her chest, “Huh?” The ponies laughed like it was funny. “Well, whaddya know, pepper in the vanilla lemon drops, and the punch served in a dribble glass!” Pinkie Pie said. “Ha! Priceless, priceless!” Rainbow Dash laughed. Gilda gulped her drink, and gasped for air, “Yeah, hilarious.” “Hey G, look! Presents!” Rainbow Dash said, as Comet held one for her. Gilda snatched it from him and spitting snakes came out with a pop like confetti as she opened it. The ponies laughed again. “Spittin’ snakes. Hah, somepony pulled that prank on me last month,” Applejack said. Gilda sarcastically laughed, “Ha ha. I bet I know who that was.” “You do?” Pinkie Pie asked. The ponies were chatting, and birds were singing with Fluttershy conducting the choir. Pinkie Pie suddenly came in, “Cake time, everypony!” “Hey, can I blow out the candles?” Spike asked. “Why don’t we let Gilda blow out the candles, Spike? She is the guest of honor after all. Gilda then elbow bumped Spike out of the way, “Exactly.” She then gasped and blew out the candles, until they lit up again. She then blew them out again, before they lit up once again. The ponies laughed at the prank, as Gilda continued gasping and blowing, before she ran out of breath. Spike laughed, “Re-lighting birthday candles, I love that prank! What a classic.” “Totally!” Comet said, as he and Spike made a high-five. “Now, I wonder who could’ve done that,” Pinkie Pie said. “Yeah, I wonder,” Gilda said rudely. “Mmm, who cares. This cake is amazing,” Spike said, crawling through the cake and eating it. “Spike,” Twilight said sternly. “What? It’s great, try some,” Spike said. Gilda had an angry look, until Rainbow Dash spoke up, “Hey G, you’re not upset about some silly candles, are you?” “No way, Dash. Like I said, I’m down with a good prank,” Gilda said. “Come on then, let's have some cake,” Rainbow Dash said, trotting over for some cake, while Gilda was still angry with Pinkie Pie. “Hey, it is good,” Comet said, eating some of the cake. “Comet, not you too,” Twilight said. “Want some?” Comet asked, offering clean pieces of cake with his mom and godmothers. “Aww, Comet, you’re so sweet. Thank you,” Twilight said, as she and her friends took the cake slices and ate them. As Pinkie Pie took a bite of the cake, Gilda grabbed her by the neck, and said, “Hey, I’m watching you. Like a hawk.” “Why? Can’t you watch me like a griffon?” Pinkie Pie asked. Applejack’s voice suddenly spoke up, “Hey y’all, it’s pin the tail on the pony. Let’s play.” Rarity then picked up the purple tail, “Oh, my favorite game. Can I go first? Can I have the purple tail?” “Well, I am the guest of honor, and I’ll have the purple tail,” Gilda said, snatching the tail from Rarity. “Yeah, Gilda should definitely go first. Let’s get you blindfolded,” Pinkie Pie said, as Spike put a blindfold over Gilda’s eyes, as she spoke, “Hey what— ugh— what are you doing? Rrrah!” Pinkie Pie then spun her around, “We’re spinning you around and around and then you can pin the tail on the pony. Now just walk straight ahead and pin the tail.” Gilda replied mockingly, “Now just walk straight ahead and pin the tail. Hmph, yeah, right. This is another prank, isn’t it? I’m going this way.” “Wait. The poster is this—” Pinkie Pie didn’t finish as Gilda couldn’t see where she was going, but suddenly tripped over a splotch of cake, and bumped into the kitchen, with cake all over her, and with the tail on her beak. “Uh, Gilda? You pinned the tail on the wrong end,” Pinkie Pie said, as the ponies began to laugh again, but suddenly Gilda was now really angry. Gilda then let out a screeching roar, “This is your idea of a good time? I’ve never met a lamer bunch of dweebs in all my life! And Pinkie Pie, you! You are queen lame-o with your weak little party pranks! Did you really think you could make me lose my cool? Well, Dash and I have ten times as much cool as the rest of you put together! Come on, Dash. We’re bailing on this pathetic scene.” Rainbow Dash was not happy at all. “Come on, Rainbow Dash. I said, we’re leaving.” Rainbow Dash suddenly spoke up, “You know Gilda, I was the one who set up all those weak pranks at this party.” Gilda gasped, “What?” Pinkie Pie and Comet found out as well, “Ooh.” “So I guess I’m queen lame-o,” Rainbow Dash said. “Come on, Dash, you’re joshing me,” Gilda said. “They weren’t all meant for you specifically, it was just dumb luck that you set them all off,” Rainbow Dash said. “Plus, you were kinda being mean to all of us,” Comet said. “I shoulda known, that dribble cup had Rainbow Dash written all over it,” Pinkie Pie said to Spike and Comet, who was near Twilight. “No way, i-it was Pinkie Pie! She set up this party to trip me up, to make a fool of me,” Gilda said. Pinkie Pie then explained, “Me? I threw this party to improve your attitude. I thought a good party might turn that frown upside down.” “And you sure didn’t need any help making a fool of yourself,” Rainbow Dash said. “You know, this is not how I thought my old friends would treat my new friends. If being cool is all you care about, maybe you should go find some new cool friends someplace else.” Gilda then just growled, “Rrgh... yeah? Well you, you... you are such a, a flip-flop, cool one minute and lame the next. If you decide not to be lame anymore, give me a call.” She then took off with a hawk screech. Rainbow Dash wasn’t pleased with her attitude, “Not cool.” “Wow, talk about a party pooper,” Spike said, as Comet nodded in agreement with the dragon. “Wow, what was that about?” Twilight asked. The ponies began talking indistinctly. Rainbow Dash then spoke up, “I’m sorry, everypony, for bringing Gilda here. I didn’t know how rude she was. And Pinkie Pie, I’m really sorry she ruined that awesome party you put on for her.” “Hey, if you want to hang out with party poopers, that’s your business,” Pinkie Pie said. “I’d rather hang out with you. No hard feelings?” Rainbow Dash asked, reaching her hoof out, until Pinkie Pie did the same, “No hard feelings.” They suddenly shook hooves, before being shocked by joy buzzers before they laughed. Twilight walked over to Pinkie Pie for an apology, “Hey Pinkie. Sorry I accused you of misjudging Gilda. Looks like I’m the one who misjudged you.” Pinkie Pie then replied, “It’s okay Twilight, even you can’t be a super smart smarty smart-pants all the time. Come on everypony, there’s still a whole lotta party to finish!” The ponies cheered, as they continued the party and had fun. Twilight and Comet arrived back at the library after an interesting day they had, including the big party Pinkie Pie threw for Gilda. After helping cleaning up the party, Twilight and Comet had some dinner at a restaurant, and headed straight back to the library. “I can’t believe that that Gilda was such a jerk,” Twilight said. “I was really hoping to get some information about the griffons. Now that she showed her true colors, I might as well hold off on trying to find out more about griffons.” “Her attitude was even worse,” Comet said. “Fluttershy was moving some ducks through town, and accidentally bumped into Gilda. Gilda roared at Fluttershy, even though she was apologizing.” “Wow,” Twilight said. “Well, let’s get you to bed.” Both of them yawned and headed upstairs. When they reached the bedroom area, they saw a third bed in the room. Spike was asleep in the room as well. Twilight smiled at the bed. “A new bed?” Comet asked. “Yes,” Twilight said. “It’s yours, Comet.” “M-mine?” Comet asked. “Yes,” Twilight said. Then the two of them walked up to the bed, and both of them got onto it. “Wow, it’s so much softer than I was expecting.” Comet inspected the softness of the bed, as it felt as soft and fluffy as one of the clouds up in the sky. He smiled at it, but it then went to a sad frown. Twilight noticed it and asked, “What’s wrong?” “It’s... it’s so soft,” Comet said. “Soft as my other mom’s skin.” He then started crying. Twilight pulled Comet in, and started rubbing the back of Comet, shushing him. “It’s okay, Comet. It’s okay.” “I... I really miss my old family,” Comet said, putting his cheek on Twilight’s chest as tears began forming. “I know, Comet,” Twilight said. “I know. It must be tough for you. Missing you old mother’s touch. Her voice. Her face. Even everything that you loved about her. It must’ve been so hard for you to lose those closest to you. But as long as you have ponies, or in case, people close to you, the love of your old family will never leave you, and will gain as much from those willing to want to take care of you.” Comet nodded and then snuggled closer to Twilight. Twilight stayed with him until Comet fell asleep. As soon as Comet fell asleep, Twilight placed him under the covers, gave him his plushie until he hugged it, and then Twilight kissed Comet on the forehead, “Goodnight, Comet. I’ll see you in the morning.” Twilight then walked towards her own bed, and got into it. Twilight thought about Comet as she was laying in her bed. He had a bad life before coming to Equestria, and now he was in the body of a colt she gave birth too. Twilight is now hoping that things might light up for Comet pretty much soon. At Canterlot, Princess Celestia received a scroll that appeared in Spike’s magical flame, and then read it. “Dear Princess Celestia, Today I learned that it’s hard to accept when somepony you like wants to spend time with somepony who’s not so nice. Though it’s impossible to control who your friends hang out with, it is possible to control your own behavior. Just continue to be a good friend. In the end, the difference between a false friend and one who’s true will surely come to light. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle” The princess then decided to send a reply to Twilight. “Dear Twilight Sparkle, My most faithful student...” She suddenly saw her writing disappear, and found out she used disappearing ink, “Oh! Heh, wrong ink.” She sighed, then chuckled before using real ink to write her letter back.