When Comet and the camaraderie of mares reached Ponyville, he turned to face them.
"Listen... I think I'm going to explore on my own. I know where to find you all, so I'll come get you if you need anything." Comet hoped he didn't come off as rude. All this talking and socializing was starting to make him queezy, and it wasn't that he didn't like a good crowd as much as the next colt, it was just high time he got some of him to keep for himself. A bit put off, the group disbanded, leaving Comet with his bags and case to explore Ponyville. He could feel his own excitement begin to overpower his rumbling stomach and swimming headache. It was probably his nerves, he thought. Middle of the afternoon, good weather, a new town all to myself. Where to start? He thought to himself. He did feel kind of bad for shrugging off all his new friends, so he felt it would be a good idea to see where they each individually spent their days, in time. For now, some amenities needed to be taken care of.
After wandering a little less than aimlessly for a good twenty minutes or so, Comet found a respectable-looking restaurant. When he found a table, he put down his things, and a waiter was practically their waiting for him. It was the middle of the afternoon, after all.
"What can I get you sir?" The waitress was neat and polite. Comet was surprised the service was better than what he got in Manehattan.
"Just some hay fries and any news about the town you can give me. Do you have alfalfa?" The waitress nodded, and Comet grinned. "Can I get some alfalfa and diced carrots over those hay fries? Can you do that for me? I'll pay extra if it's necessary."
"It's no trouble sir," The waitress was eager to get some business. He brought some waters and shot the wind with Comet while his hay fries cooked. "I've heard there's a new pony in town. Some colt nobody's heard of before."
"Really?" Comet decided some fun was due and pretended to be surprised, "What have you heard?"
"That's the thing," the waitress sat down across the table, "Nobody's heard anything, and word spreads fast around here, as you know." Comet nodded in as if in agreement. "They said he's from Manehattan. Some librarian or something." After a few shouts from the kitchen, the waiteress quickly got up from the table, embarrassed. Comet's food was in front of him in a flash. Over his late lunch, the waitress filled Comet in on some of the little questions he had about his new friends. He found that Pinkie Pie used to live with a rock farmer and now works at the baker's, Applejack did live in Manehattan, but only until she decided to move back to Ponyville, and that Twilight Sparkle was from Canterlot. The last fact was apparently a bit too obvious, apparently. "What did you say your name was?" The waitress hadn't asked before this.
"I'm Comet," Comet finished up and payed his check. He was glad he didn't have much that he spent what little money he got from working for his mother on while in Manehattan. "And my mother's a librarian. I just worked for her. Thanks for the fries and some of your time." He tipped her a gold coin on the way out. As she watched him leave, he couldn't help but feel mysterious and exotic. He stood out like a sore thumb and he loved it. For once he was the buzz, and it was a rush. Now that his stomach was satisfied, Comet decided some exploring was finally in order.
Everyone was so cheerful in Ponyville. It was almost as if nothing could go wrong in this, his little town. He did his best to memorize faces and streets. Every star needed to be recorded. On one street corner in particular, Comet found Applejack and one of the smaller fillies from the barn. What was her name again?
"Howdy, Comet." Applejack wore an apron with pockets that jingled with money. A cart with assorted apple-affiliated treats drew his attention. "Jus' trying to make some extra spending money. How comes the explorin'?"
Comet nodded and smiled. "I had some lunch at a restaurant a few blocks over. Chatted with the waitress about the town. Do you have any frozen apples?"
"Frozen? You can eat an apple frozen?" A little voice came from behind Applejack. The red-haired filly with a bow watched him through Applejack's legs.
"Of course. It's my favorite summer treat. And you are?"
"I'm... Applebloom." She seemed shyer than Comet remembered. Did he say something wrong?
"Ah'll have to look into that, Sugarcube. Have you stopped by the bakery yet? Pinkie Pie was looking for you." Applejack sold a pair of caramel apples mid-conversation.
"Alright, I'll stop by. I'll talk to you later, Applejack, Applebloom." Comet felt like a million gold coins. Head clear, still good to go. Hopefully Pinkie Pie would be a little more relaxed now that the excitement was over. Searching his memory, Comet figured the shortest path to the bakery was through a back way. In between a pair of houses. As he squeezed past a pair of barrels, he found a trail of streamers following his same path. Odd, he thought to himself. What in the world are these streamers for? Curious, but not curious enough, Comet shrugged them off and headed for the bakery. The windows were dark, and it was empty inside. The sign in the window said "OPEN", so why was it dark?
Comet poked his head through the partition in the door. "Hello? Anybody here? I was told Pinkie Pie was looking for me..." Silence. There was nopony inside. Not interested in trespassing on his first day, Comet turned and walked away. Weird. Maybe this is some kind of pony game. As Comet wandered around, he found the streets were much emptier than a few hours ago. The sun was still up; it wasn't late. Comet found his way over to Applejack's cart, and found her packing up. "Hey, Applejack."
"Well, howdy---" Applejack turned and found Comet. This took her by surprise, "--- Comet.... Ah thought you went to the baker's?"
"It was so weird. I got there like you said, but it was totally dark inside. I think they closed early or something. I can see why. Do you know where everyone went?" Applejack made a face like she ate something sour.
"Yes?" Comet blinked. What in the world... Applebloom came around the corner, dragging a crate.
"I can't wait to pack up and get to Pinkie Pie's for the...." She saw Comet and ducked behind the cart.
"Why is everyone being so weird all of a sudden? What's the deal?" Comet was starting to get irritated.
"Look, Surgarcube. Let's just go back to Pinkie Pie's together and we'll check it out." Applejack was talking abnormally fast.
"But I was just there. It's dark."
"Are... you sure you went to tha right place? New place and all?" Applejack grinned sheepishly.
"Alright, I'll bite. Let's go." Applejack heaved a sigh of relief.
As they walked, Applebloom followed loosely behind. Comet was starting to wonder if this was the same filly as this morning.
"You seem quieter than I remember Applebloom." Comet heard some mumbling from behind him. He assumed it was Applebloom.
"Speak up, Sugarcube. Why y'all so quiet today? Getting sick?"
"No..." Applebloom was starting to remind Comet more of Fluttershy.
When they arrived at the bakery, Comet was satisfied to find it that he had his directions right, only the bakery was still dark. The sign was changed to "CLOSED" some time between him leaving and coming back. Something was definitely fishy.
"Well thas odd..." Applejack strolled up as casually as she could, "Ah could have sworn she was here waiting for you, Comet." It seemed as if she was talking into the open partition. "Let's go inside and check it out."
"Are you sure? It says it's closed. I don't think it's a good idea."
"You aren't in the city any more, Sugarcube. C'mon in." She took his hoof and led him inside, with Applebloom keeping up the rear.
Suddenly, the little bakery exploded in a fit of lights and color and sound. There were ponies everywhere, with Pinkie Pie at the front of the pack. There was a sign hanging from the ceiling that said "WELCOME COMET". The surprise knocked Comet on his rear, forcing Applebloom to dodge out of the way. She quickly joined her friends at one side of the room.
"What... what is all of this?"
"When you said you wanted to move in, I knew there was only one thing to do and that happened to be the one thing I do best which is throw a party because I love parties and I hope you love parties too and if you don't you will because I'm the best at parties!" Pinkie Pie's words were accompanied by a blur of pink and bounce.
"This is..." Comet's eyes had difficulty taking in everything at the same time. "This is...." Candy, punch, streamers, cake, music, people, food, games... Comet's head started spinning. Head pounding, Comet fell to the floor.
When he came to, there was a crowd of people gathered around him. "Did everyone enjoy the party?" He said with a sheepish grin. There was a round of laughter and some pony helped him up. "How long was I out?"
"You only went down for a minute or two. Does that happen... often?" Twilight Sparkle seemed worried.
"Just some syncope. No big deal. Can I get some of that punch?" Comet parted the crowd and took a swig of the cold fluid. The fruit flavor was vibrant and delicious.
"Synco-what, Comet?" Applejack spoke this time.
"I faint. It happens. If I get scared, or stressed, or excited, I just kind of... take a short nap." Comet did his best to explain it simply. His mother would relate it to his ear, somehow, whenever they talked about it.
"Like.... THIS?!" Rainbow Dash burst out of the sealing rafters making the scariest face she could. Comet froze up for just a split second, and then collapsed on the floor. Rainbow Dash found it hilarious, but the crowd was not amused. They stared in silence. Comet arose in much less time. He gave a shake of his mane, which still clung to the back of his neck in odd curls, and looked back at the rest of the crowd, who watched dumbstruck.
"Does it... hurt?" Fluttershy spoke for the first time. Comet laughed at this.
"No, not unless I hit something on the way down. Oh, that looks good. Do you mind?" He gestured toward the buffet. Nobody said anything, so he went and had some fruit.
"Is there something we can do?" Rarity appeared mortified at the idea of spending so much time on the ground. Comet shook his head.
"Nope. Don't worry about it, I'm fine. I thought this was a party?" Comet went through the LP's and found one he recognized. He put it in and hoped everyone would stop staring at him. Slowly the party came back to life, and ponies moved on, although they treated Comet a bit more delicately than he would have liked. The festivities ran well into the evening, and Comet felt he got the chance to get to know everyone a bit better. At the end of the night, everyone said their goodbyes and their welcomes and went about their way, leaving Comet with the awkward question of where he was going to sleep tonight. Twilight Sparkle, pulling Spike out of another punch bowl, decided it would be okay, considering she was the only one with an extra bed (according to the claims of the other five, who hastily found reasons varying from broken frames to simply missing beds at all).
Too tired to take in the dark library, Comet found the nearest bed and slid in. A familiar hoot greeted them when they came into the room. "Hey, Owlaroo. Seems like you got ahead of me by a night or so." The owl flew over and perched on Twilight. Comet gave a resigned laugh. "Alright, Owlaroo. I don't care. I don't have a house to keep you in right now anyways." All the while Twilight Sparkle continued getting ready for bed. After the last light in the tree was extinguished, Comet's voice could be heard in the dark.
"Twilight?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for letting me stay here, with you."
"...It's no problem, Comet."
"...Hey Twilight?"
"Yes, Comet, what is it?"
"I'm really glad to have met you."