1 - Close Encounters with the Pink Kind
Iridescent Gloom visibly grimaced as the pink blur assaulted his ears. Had he not been on a most important mission, he would have turned back and left the fastfood joint, but alas warm tea was the proper way to start a creative binge for any aspiring artist in the city of Canterlot, and a creative binge he was on. Princess Celestia has commissioned his school to decorate part of Canterlot with a mural celebrating the return of Princess Luna, and of all the ponies in his art class, he had been selected to lead the project!
As he waited, he had made several attempts to block out the cotton candy colored pont in front of her thus far, but thinking loud thoughts could only get him so far in the way of ignoring the squeaky pink mare that had invaded his favorite fastfood-slash-coffeeshop. The same pink mare that was currently holding up the line as she rapidly fired away questions about the pastries inside of a glass display.
"Wow Mister Barista! Lotsa yummy stuff in here, but I gotta ask are the donuts gluten free? I mean I don't really neeeeeeeed to ask cuz I'd eat them anyways! Dashie wouldn't though and that's why I'm asking--"
He had recognized the pink mare, anyone in Equestrian borders would, as Pinkie Pie, one of the Elements of Harmony. He also recognized the barista behind the marble counter, the two shared a couple classes after all, and he was somehow a bigger geek than Gloom. Comet Flare was very visibly shaken, not knowing how to react to the mare. "Look lady, I'm just the coffee colt! I don't know what we bake these with! I don't even know if we bake them! I never see anybody in the kitchen and-"
Iridescent Gloom didn't like to rush ponies. He had always held the belief that whatever a pony did, they did it for a reason. Which was why he desperately hoped the mare in front of him held the same view as he began to speak. "For Pickaxo's sake, order something and let the next pony in line get their tea!" He made sure to name off his order, knowing Comet would get it done as Pinkie rambled.
Comet leaned to the side and waved at Gloom hesitantly only to be repaid with a deadpan stare and an annoyed gleam in his chocolate hued eyes. Pinkie turned around deflatedly, the sad look in her eyes leaving Gloom feeling somewhat guilty. "Sorry for holding you up mister. I'd normally be in and out, but I gotta order for five other ponies! And a dragon! Speaking of which, do you got any gems-"
Comet snapped to the mare, his silvery blue eyes wide and panicked. "DID THIS JUST TURN INTO A ROBBERY?!"
Iridescent Gloom couldn't take anymore, and he turned around and left.
~~~~~
The streets of Canterlot were relatively cold this time of year, and as he sat outside the coffee shop he wrapped his black and grey striped scarf tighter around his neck. He shivered, and glanced to the door. The handle turned, and Gloom reached into his saddlebag to pull out a hoof full of bits.
It wasn't Comet stepping out to give him his coffee however, it was Pinkie Pie pulling a cart of fresh pastries and coffees. In her grasp was a paper cup, which she handed to the stallion. "I'm really sorry I held ya up Mister..."
"Gloom. Iridescent Gloom."
"Huh, I expected somethin' like 'Painter Schmainter' or 'Hushy Brushy', but it's nice to meet ya Eerie Gloomy! I'm Pinkie Pie!"
Gloom internally facehoofed at the nickname, but kept his face blank.
"Anyways, I gotcha some tea to make up for it! I didn't know what kind you liked so I kinda sorta got all of them mixed together!" The mare smiled wide as Gloom took a sip. It was disgusting. The clashing flavors of at least six different kinds of tea fought for his tastebuds, leading to a flavor akin to mud with a hint of citrus. He reluctantly swallowed and gave Pinkie a half hearted smile. The mare's smile widened further, and she began to bounce. "DO YA LIKE IT, HUH? IS IT GOOD?"
"It's awesome!" He lied, hoping that under no circumstances would Pinkie Pie order him tea ever again. He was grateful, yes, but after work tea was meant to be relaxing. "So you said something about feeding six ponies and a dragon? That's gotta be somethin'."
The mare unhitched herself from the cart, and reached into her mane. The way she tugged away at the hair looked painful, but she just maintained a puzzled expression. "I know it was in here somewhere..."
'Wait what.'
"Aha!" She exclaimed, and from her mane she pulled out a pink and purple checkered blanket. One that most certainly would not have fit in her hair. Gloom couldn't quite piece it together, but as Pinkie tried to cover the cart he shrugged it off and helped tie down the corners of the checkered blanket. "But yeah, lotsa mouths to feed! I gotta get back to the castle!" The mare began to hitch herself back to the cart, but looked to Gloom. "You can join if you'd like. I'm sure my friend's would love to meetcha!"
Gloom smiled, but shook his head. "I'll have to take a raincheck on that, but if you're ever back in town, I'd love to hang out with you." Where his own offer had come from, he didn't exactly know, but he didn't have time to take it back before Pinkie Pie let out a shrill "Yaaay!" And trotted off.
"What did I just do?" The stallion shook his head again. Surely it'd be fine, right? If anything, he'd just have to spend a few hours with the hyperactive ball of pink fluff, then he could call it a day.
Yet he had a feeling it wouldn't be that easy. He turned back to the shop, and pushed the door open. He needed more tea. This time, his own order. Comet was half asleep behind the counter, a paper cup next to him steaming. He groggily looked up at Gleam. "After that mess--" He pushed the cup across the counter. "--It's on the house. I actually was gonna try to have her take your order out to you, but she just dumped it in a cup with like six other kinds of tea! What kind of pony does that?!" Comet grumbled for a moment, but then looked to the clock above the exit. "I still got an hour too. Anyways, what are you up to buddy?"
Gloom took a sip of the warm tea and smiled. This was just what the doctor ordered. "I'm thinking about continuing work on the Princess Luna commemorative mural the princess commissioned. I just...think I should plan out my next step. I want it to be perfect!" He looked to the windows at the front of the shop. Soon the sun would set, and the moon would light the city in a beautiful pale glow. Surely the night sky would serve as the perfect inspiration?
"Whatever you do Iridescent, you'll do great. Seriously though, can you believe that we've had a princess living on the moon this whole time? And how Princess Celestia must have felt all these years?"
"Yeah...I can only imagine." The two of them talked for a while, and soon enough the sun passed below the horizon. "I'll see you in school next Monday Comet."
"Right, see ya later!"
And with that, Gloom turned around and exited the shop, once again tightening his scarf as he ventured out into the cool night air...