A Comet's Tale

by Parakalo

Chapter 1 - Comet's Shower

The morning and afternoon of that fateful day were something of a blur to Comet. They happened, of course, and if asked, Comet could probably recall such events as the greens he had for lunch or how the children's section at the library was positively a mess from the school field trip, but this was all dwarfed in comparison to the fact that Comet was going to take off into the night and find a living in the stars and sky like he'd dreamed. For the first time, Comet was bubblier and more excited than his mother, Dancer. On two occasions she had to stop him from tipping over a pile of books he had just made and sorted.

In all honesty, Dancer wasn't at all surprised. This was something that Dasher had seen coming for a long time, and if anyone could understand Comet, it was his own father. His mood was not unlike Dasher's when he first came to Manehattan, now that Dancer had thought about it. In retrospect, that didn't surprise her, either. It did dismay her, however, that her youngest son had so very little to pack. A saddlebag of his possessions and his prized telescope in its case was all he had in terms of his own belongings. Her motherly instincts were mad with disapproval, but she knew better than anyone that a colt like her husband could not be dissuaded when rared to go.

In Comet's eyes, the evening could not come fast enough. He was a whole pony-length ahead of his mother the whole way home, and every step of the way he had the fantasy that would soon come to reality unfold. How he would find a small place to build his observatory, how he could use his talents to make a living and new friends and explore new places on his own time. It was constantly buzzing about in his head and he couldn't get it to leave him alone for a second. In all honestly, Comet would put it down for a second. When they got home that evening, Comet rushed upstairs to make sure he was ready.

"Owlaroo, could you get the..." he looked about his room to find his owl's perch was empty. "Owlaroo?" A cool evening breeze greeted him from the nearby open window. "I guess Owlaroo has... 'flown the coop'?" He laughed at his own cleverness as he got out his prized telescope and book. As he worked, he couldn't help but remember the cutie mark on his side he discovered so many years ago: a trio of comets. His mother had found them when he was reading The Astronomical Astronomer's Almanac to All Things Astronomy, This was his first time ever seeing actual meteors (besides the pictures and references he had copied, of course). As he watched the Pegasi work to reveal the starry sky, he couldn't help but feel that this meteor shower was somehow meant for him. It was a sign he couldn't explain but could not ignore or distrust. The twinkling stars (on the off-chance he got to see them) had always been his closest companions and friends. Unwavering, beautiful, and always there to bring a smile to his face, Comet couldn't help but feel at home watching them twinkle wherever he was. Comet focused his telescope on Croupiter. It's purple hew was brighter than normal. He took that down in his notes. Surely, it must mean something. Tonight, he would go out and find that meaning.

It was then that Comet had realized that he was not unlike a star himself. Or any of the other ponies in Manehattan, or all of Equestria, for that matter. They are all different shapes and sizes, and all shine in their own, brilliant, special way. The relationships they make with each other can make them even more beautiful as they form pictures and share stories throughout the whole sky that blankets the night. Tonight, he would literally be a comet; taking off across the sky for a new home and to form new constellations in a place away from this small galaxy he was raised in. This revelation inspired him, and Comet quickly made sure it was all noted before he packed it up in his saddlebag and carefully disassembled his precious telescope.

Comet ran downstairs, his saddlebag and telescope in place, to find his friends and family all waiting outside for him. His mother and father, his sister and brother, Blitzen, whom he'd come to like in the past few days, were all there to make sure that he was off safely. It disheartened him that Cupid, his only friend from school, wasn't able to be here. She disappeared a long time ago. He didn't let that distract him, however. He was sure to exchange goodbyes with all of them before he left, but most importantly, his parents. He was confused to find the expressions on their faces were the complete opposite, but meant exactly the same thing.

His father, who seemed just as proud and excited as he was, roughed up his youngest son's mane one last time before seeing him off. "You get out there and make yourself known. Go out and shine like the stars you know so much about."

His mother could hardly hold back a hiccup of tears, "You know you could come back home anytime you want. We will always have a place here for yours."

"Of course, Mom."

"Will you promise me you'll be okay? You are so young...."

"I promise, Mother. I'll be fine, and do my best."

"Honest? Honestly?" His mother smiled at the fact she knew exactly what her youngest son would say.

"Honest as the stars."

Comet paused for only a minute when a flash arced across the sky. It was time to go. Meteors began arcing across the sky leaving brilliant flares of burning gas in the sky. It was more beautiful than anything Comet had ever read about in any book. He gave one last grin to his closest friends and family, and was off into the night. He chased his friends as fast as he could, bounding through grass, down roads, through glades, and once accidentally into a river. They knew the way, and Comet knew his only chance at finding his own true happiness was with those meteors. The comets danced across the night and lit the way over hills and through valleys for him long into the cold night air. He pushed until his hinds burned and tears watered his eyes from exhaustion or excitement, he was unable to tell which. When the night sky calmed, Comet continued to push. The heavens had pointed the direction for him to go, and he wouldn't stop until he found the place they knew would be his. Unsure what time of night it was, Comet's eyes began to grow heavy. He searched the horizon for anything that seemed like a village. Suddenly, there it was, plain as the nose on his face. A little place in a valley looking up at Canterlot off in the distance. It was perfect. Comet gave the last of his energy to push himself as far as he could to his new home. Comet wandered his way into a forest, and collapsed with his things in a comfy grove.

Everything was so new and so clean smelling that Comet couldn't wait to explore everything that he could. In the morning. His hooves would carry him no further tonight. The grass was soft and the tree he had found, inviting. Tomorrow, Comet would find his new beginnings in the village he found. As he quickly sunk into slumber, his thoughts still buzzing like bees, the last thing he could take in was the pleasant smell of the apples overhead.

Comments

[Dee Bee Doo-wop Cooper]

Hmm apples...forshadow much?

[Dee Bee Doo-wop Cooper]

Whoops spoilers sorry Para