"-And that's why he can't return the book yet." Spike told Comet, his mouth full of scrambled eggs.
"I don't know what's up with him. The most skilled scientist in Ponyville and he doesn't know that you can renew the loan?"
"Beats me." Replied the reptile after rinsing what he had in his mouth with a big sip of black tea. "Have you sent her a letter?
Uncertain silence hung in the air.
"If you promise to stop bugging me about it, you won't have to do dishes today." Replied Comet.
Spike giggled "I'll be quiet as a mouse.
Suddenly someone started knocking at the door.
"I bet ten bits it's Time Turner with another reason why he can't return the book on time." Said Spike smugly.
"It may also be Thunderlane. He borrowed a few books about managing a team."
The knocking repeated itself.
"Coming!" Comet announced loudly and walked to open the door.
Nothing could prepare him for what he saw.
It was a lavender unicorn mare with dark purple mane with highlights.
"T-T-Twilight?"
"That is indeed my name. I thought you would've remembered by now." She said with a cheeky grin. "Normally I would complain that you weren't waiting for me at the station, but this stallion was enough of a gentlecolt to tell me where you live."
Comet leaned his head out of the door to see a dark gray pegasus with a mohawk.
"Thunderlane?"
"This kind lady wanted to know where you reside and what a better way to make sure that she doesn't get lost than to walk her directly to your home."
The unicorn mare giggled. "I think Twilight suits me just fine, but thank you for the courtesy."
Thunderlane smiled back. "No problem, I'm usually in the vicinity of the main square or at the eastern edge of the town. If you want to ask anything, don't be shy."
She gave him a smile. "I surely won't ,now that I know such nice ponies live here."
Comet couldn't understand why but their interactions made him feel somewhat upset. He couldn't put a hoof on it though.
"The whole weather patrol team will train today near the Sweet Apple Acres. You and Comet are free to come and say hi." Thunderlane spread his wings.
"Bye you two."
"Bye!" Twilight waved to him.
With that the stallion flew off.
"So are you going to invite me inside?" Asked Twilight teasingly.
Comet thoughts returned to the present moment.
"Uh, yeah. Sorry."
They both went in and Comet closed the door.
"Sweet Apple Acres?" Twilight seemingly asked herself while reading the wooden sign.
"I know, it has a nice ring to it, right?" Said Spike.
"Listen I know you'd probably have gone for some Hayburgers and fries so I brought you here. Your dad and Shining will probably be grateful to me for this." Explained Comet
She rolled her eyes. "I must admit you're starting to sound like them."
Comet grinned. "What can I say? It's obvious Night Light had influenced me. He has always been like a second dad to me."
"Not that you had one in the first place." He thought to himself gloomily.
"Howdy Comet!"
Both unicorns turned their heads to see Applejack. "Who's that lady friend o' yours now?"
The lavender mare stepped forward smiling. "Hi, the name's Twilight Sparkle and-"
Applejack took her foreleg and started shaking it with more force than the unicorn expected.
"Howdy, Miss Twilight! We sure do love seein' new faces 'round here on Sweet Apple Acres."
"That's… great." she said, trying to break her hoof free from the grip.
"Reckon you've brought us another guest for supper, ain't ya?"
The protege turned to see no one else but smiling Braeburn.
Comet sighed. "Yeah kinda awkward but Princess sent me a second assistant to surprise me. Is ist cool if she joins the table besides me and Spike.?"
"Sure thing, partner! There's plenty o' food to go 'round, and any friend o' yours is a friend o' ours." Replied Braeburn.
Soon enough all of the Apple family plus Comet, Twilight and Spike were sitting at the table digging into their hearty vegetable stews.
"I hope a mare from Canterlot like yourself don't mind this kinda down-to-earth grub." Applejack said to Twilight.
"Not at all. My mom comes from rhubarb farmers from the edge of Vanhoover, she cooked all the matter of rustic food that reminded her of home."
"Your mom cooks for you?" Asked Applebloom confused. "Aren't you from some kind of high-born? Doesn't your family have a cook of their own"
"Well… technically yes, but mom says that sometimes the cooks don't really make it the way it's supposed to be. And a top of that she says she simply likes cooking." Explained Twilight.
"No kidding." Added Spike. "There's no rhubarb pie like Miss Velvet's."
"How'd you two end up bein' friends? A cute and polite lady like yourself, and this here egghead? Don't seem like the usual mix." Inquired Braeburn with a grin.
Twilight blushed slightly at the remark and Comet's unpleasant feeling from earlier returned with double force.
"Now calm yourself, Braeburn! A mare like Twilight? Way outta your league, buddy!" Said Applejack.
The Apples and Spike laughed.
"You ought not crush his dreams like that. He's as much my grandfoal as you are, and I reckon he's meant for some mighty inconceivable feats." Replied Granny Smith.
"Thank ya, Granny. Least one member of this family's got my back!"
Twilight grunted. "To answer your question. We met each other in a nursery school but our Friendship really started in Celestia's School for the Gifted Unicorns."
"Yeah, I was in big trouble and the queen of bookworms here helped me out." Added Comet with a smile.
Twilight laughed at the remark much to her childhood friend's delight. Ever since they were foals, her laughter made his heart grow warmer, he couldn't explain why though.
They continued to talk and joke around till the end of the feast.
"That's the place." Said Comet as he, Spike and Twilight stood in front of the Sugar Cube Corner.
"It looks… unorthodox." Evaluated Twilight.
"Don't judge the book by its cover." Said Spike. "They have the best chocolate cake in town."
"I second that." Added Comet "Plus they're coffee blend is better than I expected. Might even rival a few cafes back in Canterlot."
All three of them entered the facility only to be greeted by a banner saying 'Welcome to Ponyville'.
"News has reached my ears that there's a new pony in town." Said a stallion with brown puffy mane and yellow polo shirt, a giant grin plastered on his muzzle.
"And nopony new who enters this town is safe from a welcome party." Added a pink mare with similar expression.
Comet chuckled. "Twilight, these are our two local party organizers Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich.
"Originally Ponyville was supposed to be a two-day stop for me but the circumstances changed." Said the earth pony stallion with a smile.
"Try this!" Said Pinkie Pie and before anyone could intervene she shoved a spoon full of cake into Twilight's mouth.
Although taken aback, the unicorn masticated and swallowed the treat.
It had a strong vanilla taste.
Cheese Sandwich chuckled.
"I deeply apologize for my partner's behavior. I think we still need to talk over personal barriers."
"That's… fine. I like the taste of vanilla." Twilight said, still slightly intimidated by the pink mare's energy. "You two surely are a cheerful bunch, I'll tell you that much."
"That's the best way to walk through life, Miss Sparkle. With a big grin on your muzzle." Said the polo wearing stallion.
"And a balloon animal or two!" Added Pinkie Pie.
Twilight thought about his words.
"What about the moments when you can't simply laugh something away?" She asked.
Comet could feel she meant something with that comment but decided to keep his mouth shut for now.
Cheese's demeanor changed to a more serious one, but smile didn't leave his face.
"That's the funny thing! Sometimes, even in the darkest moments, just a little bit of joy can turn things around. When my dad died I used to feel pretty down…"
Comet could tell from the stallion's eyes that for a moment the old memories resurfaced.
"But then it was nonpony else but my uncle Roquefort that showed me that laughter can lighten the heaviest heart." He said returning to his usual self.
"Huh, I guess you have a point." Said Twilight. "I guess I'm more used to solving problems with research and organization, though."
Cheese laughed. "There's room for both. Some ponies solve problems with lists, some with confetti cannons. The important thing is knowing when to bring out the right tools."
He waved his hoof. "But enough about me. You two came here to eat the local treats, didn't you?"
Spike and Comet looked at each other knowingly.
"Say, do you still have that triple-layered chocolate cake of yours?"
After stuffing themselves with copious amounts of cake and rinsing it with coffee all three of them made their way east to see the weather patrol train.
When they were back near the Sweet Apple Acres, they noticed a huge group of pegasi flying in a coordinated manner.
Comet noticed among them familiar faces. There was Thunderlane, Soarin, Cloud Chaser with Flitter, Blossomforth and-
"Fluttershy?" Comet asked himself.
"Who?" Inquired Twilight.
"Fluttershy. A really timid pegasus that lives on the southern edge. I had no idea she worked in the weather patrol."
"Money got tight for her."
Comet turned his head to see approaching Time Turner. "She told me that when checking up on her automatic bird feeder."
The scientist finally noticed the mare that accompanied Spike and Comet.
"Who's the new friend of yours?" He asked.
An idea popped inside of Comet's head. He grinned maliciously from ear to ear.
"Well it's your lucky day Turner, because in front of you stands Lady Twilight of house Sparkle…"
Blood rushed instantly into the face of the mare in question.
"Daughter of Night Light, lord of Star Hall and Master of the Coin on the royal council, sister of-"
"Alright I think he understands!" Twilight said red as a tomato. Everyone close to her knew that she didn't really like to boast about her background and be in the center of attention.
Nevertheless her embarrassment was more than amusing to Comet.
Time Turner bowed his head slightly. "My apologies miss Sparkle, I didn't know I was dealing with a lady of your status."
He took one of her hooves and kissed it gently, making the blush reappear on her cheeks.
This didn't amuse Comet as much.
"I am Time Turner, the local inventor and a stallion of science. Welcome to our humble abode."
"Stallion of science, you say?" Asked Twilight. "May I ask what branch interests you the most?"
"Ehh I dabble with many things but temporal physics is something I've always found the most enjoyable."
"Any reasons for that?" Inquired the lavender mare.
"Ever since I was a colt I had a fascination with the passage of time. I guess it's my horologist father we have to thank for."
"I see. Time can be a little cruel sometimes can't it?"
"Oh definitely. The memories of my grandparents sagging over the years are not the most pleasant ones.
He paused for a moment. "But that's not the only role of time. It can also connect generations and serve as a reminder of memories."
The stallion waved his hoof "But what about you miss Sparkle? What do you dabble in?"
But before she could respond, something hit the ground with enough force to raise a cloud of dust.
"Am I amazing or am I amazing?" Asked a voice.
All four of them turned to its direction only to see Soarin.
It took a few seconds for the weather patrol pony to notice a new face.
"And just who might you be, missus?"
The mare smiled. "Twilight Sparkle, a childhood friend of Comet's."
The stallion whistled. "My,my a mare from Canterlot. What are you doing here in the nowheresville?"
"I'm assisting this social outcast over here." Twilight said nudging Comet Tail lightly. "I've heard he is here on the assignment to make some friends."
Soarin laughed. "I assure you he already succeeded in that regard."
Twilight looked at them all.
"Yeah I guess, you're right." Although she didn't show it, Comet could sense that something upset her.
"But our friend group can definitely expand. There's pretty much no mares in it."
"I would gladly join." Said Twilight.
"Great now we have only one problem." Soarin chuckled.
"Which is?" Asked Comet.
"Time Turner was pretty much the only egghead in Ponyville. Now we have three."
Twilight giggled. "Is it so obvious for me?"
"I can see from way over here that you have books in your bag. That was kind of a dead giveaway." Soarin said.
Twilight closed her satchel. "Is that going to be a problem?"
Soarin chuckled. "No unless, your attitude is as insufferable as his."
"That is a high bar to reach." Replied Twilight.
Everypony beside Spike laughed out loud at the mare's remark.
With that they went on, conversing in a relaxed atmosphere.
"What a day!" Exclaimed Comet when the trio finally reached the Golden Oak Library. The sky darkened as the evening was approaching.
"I take dibs on the shower!" Shouted Spike and disappeared soon after leaving the two unicorns alone.
"Okay, what is it?" Asked Comet
"Hmm?" Replied Twilight snatched from her thoughts.
"Something has been bothering you throughout the whole day. I can see that."
"You're seeing things."
"You have the exact same face you had when you accidentally burned one of Shinning's most precious comics."
The mare kept avoiding his sight.
"What was the fifth point of the B.F.F codex?" Comet inquired.
Now she started looking at him but still clearly down.
"I-I don't remember." She replied unconvincingly.
"Liar."
She sighed. "When something's got you really down, share it with your B.F.F, that's what they're here for."
"What kind of gifted unicorn would you be, if you hadn't adhered to the rules you have set out for yourself?" Comet said encouragingly.
She sighed again, took a deep breath and looked him directly in the eyes.
"Why didn't you write to me?" She asked, her demeanor changing.
Out of all the questions she had to ask that one.
"I…" His eyes started wandering around the room. "Are you sure you want to talk about this."
"Yes." She said instantly, a hint of anger in her voice. "My best friend is sent away for more than a month and he didn't even bother to write once. Have you forgotten my address?"
Now it was clear that the mare was genuinely angry.
"Twilight, I think you might need to calm down a little." Said Comet Tail trying to alleviate the collateral damage.
"No, I don't need to calm down. I need some answers!" She raised her voice and stomped her hoof on the wooden floor, almost making a hole.
"I thought to myself, maybe he is working so hard that he doesn't have time for that. I get in the town and what do I see? He spending all this time hanging out with five ponies he just met!"
He didn't know how to respond.
Suddenly Comet heard a sniff. Looking at Twilight he saw some wetness in her eyes.
"Is that what I am? An acquaintance that you go to when you don't know the material on the next test? A daughter of one of the most influential ponies in Equestria? A step by which you can climb to the next social class, maybe." Tears started dripping from her cheeks.
"You are my friend." He replied firmly. "My best friend forever in fact."
"You don't act like one." She said accusatory.
He sighed and walked forward.
"Boy I messed that one up, didn't I?" The stallion asked himself mentally and put a hoof on his friend's shoulder.
"You're right. I haven't been acting like your friend for a past month. I've hurt you and I am sorry."
She didn't say anything.
"But… what if I told you, I've done this because I care so much about you?"
Twilight looked at him. Her eyes showed the mix of anger, sadness and confusion. "What?"
Comet took a deep breath. "Ever since we've met I always admired your wisdom and determination to study. Hay, I had no idea why a filly as smart as you wanted to hang out with someone as mediocre as me."
"Because I liked you."
"I know, but it doesn't change the fact that this relationship didn't go both ways. I've studied and improved because of your help but it didn't benefit you. You had to put me up so many times while all I did was slow your growth."
Comet looked her in the eyes.
"That's why you didn't receive any letters. I didn't want to diminish any chances you might have at becoming the best version of yourself."
That was half-truth. He thought to himself it was still better than lying.
She looked at him with an emotion Comet couldn't decipher.
"Is the moment when you crack something on my head?" He asked in tongue-in-cheek manner wanting to lighten up the atmosphere.
Then something unexpected happened. Twilight hugged him.
Although initially taken aback, he soon joined in by wrapping his hooves around her.
"You're a moron, you know that?" She asked.
"Am I? I think my train of thought is quite clear."
She gave a smile. Something that he pleasantly welcomed.
"You've never slowed my growth. You've accelerated it. I don't like to think about the world in which we were never friends."
"What if you were the protege of Celestia in that world?"
She thought about it for a moment.
"Then I probably wouldn't have as great of a friend as you."
Great. He liked that word.
"Can I ask you something?" Said Comet.
"Always."
"Don't tell Shining I made you cry. I don't I could survive that."
Twilight started laughing so hard, it soon turned into snorting. Comet amused by the situation, joined shortly after.
Unbeknownst to them someone was watching the from the stairway. Someone purple and scaly who were supposed to be using bathroom.
Little drake smiled at the sight. He wondered if there would be a day when he finally tells her.