//------------------------------// // Invitation // Story: A Star Pony Tale // by BlondeSky //------------------------------// Chapter 28 Invitation When Astro awoke the next morning she couldn't have been happier to get to school. The thought of getting to invite her friends over was practically causing her heart to burst from the excitement. She could hardly wait to announce this event to all of them. She was standing ready to go before Sail even arrived to take her to school. She rushed the whole way there in her hurry to reach them. With how long it had been she had just about given up on the fact that it might happen. While she had faith in Sail she knew that it wasn't an easy thing to do. She could hardly believe that it was even going to happen. There was no hiding her smile as she walked up to the school after bidding Sail goodbye. Both Spot and Ink who were waiting waved as she approached. She returned the gesture still beaming with joy. It didn't take long for the two to notice her enthusiastic grin. "You look really happy!" Ink began excitedly as she reached them. "Yeah." she agreed, "But I'll wait to say anything until everypony gets here." "Aw, does it have to wait?" Ink asked in a disappointment. "I just want everypony to hear the news at the same time." she answered truthfully. "If it has to wait then that's okay." she replied. "Thanks." she said gratefully in response. "I'm excited to hear." Spot chimed in. "Excited to hear what?" Diplo inquired having already entered the circle discreetly. "I have news." Astro announced proudly still wearing her wide smile. "Really?" he queried intrigued. "Yeah, really good news too." she confirmed. "Then what's the wait?" he questioned wanting to hear it. "Well, Kara isn't here yet." she answered simply. "But she isn't going to be here until the bell rings." Spot reminded her. "And then we'll have to wait until lunch." Diplo added. "Lunch it is then." she said with finality. She was not intent on leaving the first friend she'd made there out, especially considering the nature of the news she was to give them. If that meant waiting a few hours longer then that was fine by her. It did end up being the complete few hours as Kara, as per usual, arrived basically exactly when the bell rang. Still when she arrived at lunch all of them were waiting excitedly to hear the news. She sat down and found all eyes turned to face her. They all were dying to hear what she had to say. "So, this weekend," she began beaming excitedly, "I am able to host a sleepover at my place!" Both Ink and Diplo seemed slightly confused at her announcement, but Kara and Spot's reactions were nothing short of shock. The two completely astonished ponies had known her significantly longer and understood better the weight of the news. For as long as they'd known her she'd never visited any nighttime events and they had noticed the pattern, but never questioned it. This invitation to an overnight occasion caused both of their jaws to drop. Diplo looked her in confusion, "That's-" "A huge deal!" Kara cut him off, "I'm so there!" "Yeah, definitely! Me too!" Spot chimed understanding the importance of the event. "It's kind of short notice, but I'll ask my parents." Ink contributed slightly befuddled by the obvious weight of the sleepover. "Same." Diplo agreed with her. "Oh, okay. Well, I hope that you two can make it." she said honestly. While they didn't get it she understood perfectly well that it would be a one time event. "Yeah well you've got a definite plus two!" Kara promised excitedly. "But you haven't asked your parents yet." Astro argued. "I am going to be there." she promised with certainty as she punctuated every word. "Me too." Spot agreed. "Awesome." Astro finished gladly. A silence fell during which the two foals that were newer to the group looked on in bewilderment. The silence however was broken as the class that the two colts belonged to left the lunch room. Astro was slightly disappointed at Ink and Diplo's lack of appreciation for the importance of the event. She did understand that they hadn't known her as long and therefore couldn't grasp the importance of the sleepover the way that Kara and Spot could. Still, I'll know tomorrow whether or not they can come, she told herself, and I already know that Kara and Spot will be there. I won't be by myself and I know that, she reassured herself. Her excitement still persevered even if it was dampened slightly. She was happy to get what she could out of it even if it was nothing more. This is going to work out, she promised herself, even if not perfectly. She found herself doodling absentmindedly as she thought. "This means a lot to you doesn't it?" Ink asked her quietly. She was shocked to find the filly to be engaging her in conversation. She had never done so in a lesson before. "Yeah, it's pretty important to me honestly. If you can't go though I won't hold it against you. It's not your fault that it's short notice, or if your busy." she reassured her. "Okay. I'll do my best to make it though. Promise." she replied. "Thanks." she said gratefully. "No problem." she finished before again looking up towards the teacher. -/|\- "What's such a huge deal about a sleepover?" Diplo asked once the two were inside the classroom. "Whenever anything happens that even might last until after dark she can't be there." Spot explained to him. "Every time?" he asked skeptically. "Without fail." he promised with certainty. "Really?" he queried still not completely believing him. "Yeah. For as long as both Kara and I have known her she's never been out after dark. Now she's purposefully inviting us over to spend the night. It's kind of a big deal. It's also obvious that she's ecstatic. I'm not missing it. If I were you I wouldn't either. This might not ever even happen again." he answered seriously. "You think so?" he questioned. "Yeah." he answered assuredly. "Then I'd better try and be there." he replied simply. "Definitely." he agreed. With that the conversation ended as they took their seats in the class. -/|\- Kara went back to her classroom alone absolutely ecstatic. Nothing was going to ruin her day in that moment. Astro's having a sleepover! The words repeated incessantly in her head. Her smile stretched practically from ear to ear in her joy at the announcement. There was no way no how she was going to miss it. Nothing was going to stop her from being there. She didn't care if it ended up that she was the only one there, she was going to be there. She continued to beam to herself for the rest of the day as she thought of everything that they'd get to do while they stayed there. Her grin was stuck on her face even after they had bid their goodbyes at the end of the day. After they had gone their separate ways at the end of the day Astro went to go and meet Sail. She was waiting for her politely and wanting to hear what had happened with the invitations. She was hopeful that all of them would be able to go, but she understood that sometimes schedules would get crowded. She hoped for Astro's sake that this wasn't the case for her friends. She knew how much this sleepover meant to her. She wasn't a fan of keeping secrets, and this would allow her to get a very large one off of her chest. It was something that Sail felt the filly needed desperately. She also needed a break from everything that was going on around her. Having all four of her friends would make the occasion all the more sweet. When Astro walked up to her grinning she returned the gesture gladly. "I assume that it all went well?" Sail inquired as the two started to walk off towards where they would teleport back into the base. "Yeah, mostly anyways." Astro answered. "Mostly?" she queried frowning. "Yeah. Spot and Kara promised that they'd come, but Ink and Diplo aren't so sure. They are gonna try though." she explained. "Oh. Well, there is still hope right?" she reasoned. "Definitely." she agreed. The two returned to the base in a companionable silence. Astro was simply wondering what she would find out the next day of their attendance. The rest of the day seemed to take an eternity as she waited for the time to pass. She wouldn't know until the following morning and so every second seemed to expand to take the place of twenty. When Sail did finally come in to put her to bed it felt as though a whole twenty-four hours had already passed. She had trouble sleeping as well due to her nagging anticipation. It had been far too long when she awoke the next morning. Not only that, but it was a whole other eon until it was time for her to leave for school. The waiting was growing agonizing when Sail finally came in to take her to school. It wasn't until they were well on their way when the dread started to build up in her. What if they can't go, she thought in fear. She knew that her one and only chance had just been presented to her and it wasn't going to roll around again. If they couldn't go then that was the end of it. Her worry only continued to grow as the school came into view. She trusted Kara and Spot when they promised that they'd come, but Ink and Diplo hadn't given much of anything solid aside from a promise to try. She did believe that they would try as well, but that didn't lessen her anxiety as they continued to approach the school. At least I'll know soon right, she reasoned as they reached the building. She quickly bid her goodbye to Sail before heading over to her two friends who were already waiting there. They both smiled to her as she approached and waved in greeting. She returned the gesture if not with entire sincerity. She only had one thing on her mind and that was the R.S.V.P. "Hey." she greeted them as she arrived next to them. She felt bad being so blunt, but she cut to the chase after they had finished greeting her. "So, um, can you go?" she questioned. The question was directed more towards Ink, but Spot answered first, "Yeah, I talked to my mom and she said that I could." "Great!" she replied happily, but she had already bet on that answer. She looked over at her other companion to find her staring at the ground with a frown on her face. It wasn't hard for her to figure out what that meant. "Oh." she said quietly in disappointment as her stature sagged slightly. She looked up at her sadly, "I'm really sorry, but-" "It's fine. I'm not mad, I promise." she reassured her as she felt herself weighed down slightly by the dejectedness she felt. "Thanks." Ink mumbled gratefully. There was no denying that the response had greatly depressed her mood as she heard it. Still, I know that I have at least one attendee, she reasoned as she looked over at Spot. "It's not like the whole thing's ruined. It's too bad that you can't come, but it'll be fine." she promised her, however she was more reassuring herself. She straightened herself back up and in doing so noticed Diplo approaching them. She looked over at him and smiled slightly as he walked over to them. While she was doing this however she was also preparing for her mood to take another dive. He was the other pony who wasn't sure if they could go and she was ready for him to report, what was in her mind, the worst. They all greeted him as he entered the circle and again she went straight to the point of it. She didn't want to wait any longer than she had to for an answer. "So, can you go to the sleepover?" she asked after the initial meet and greet was over. He frowned, "Sorry, I talked to my parents, but they said no." She was glad that she had taken those few moments to prepare herself, "Oh, ok. That's fine." She noticed that Spot shot him a look that he didn't return and instead looked towards the floor. She sighed silently to herself in disappointment, but reminded herself not to show her sadness. Her dejectedness was momentarily thrown away however to make place for shock. All of them were slightly surprised as Kara pulled into their circle smiling proudly. "Guess who's early today guys!" she proclaimed smugly as they all looked over at her. "And, I got here just in time to make my announcement. That I am going to be going to your super amazing sleepover." she finished dramatically as she draped an arm around Astro's shoulder and pulled her into a side hug. "Awesome!" she replied laughing slightly. "So is it gonna be a full house?" she asked looking expectantly over at the others. "No, it's just you me and Spot right now." she answered her mood dampening. "Really?" she inquired frowning. She then snorted nonchalantly and readjusted her arm around Astro, "Whatever. Now it'll just be the three of us like the good old days." "Yeah, that's right." she agreed glad that she had Kara there to cheer up like always. With that however the bell rang and their conversation was cut off as they were all herded indoors.