Valerium's front door slammed shut as the last pony left. The only one who stayed behind was Galaxy. He sat next to Mocha, a sad look on his face.
"I swear, this isn't a joke..." Vanilla sniffled.
"Mocha, I believe you. But some of us don't... All the evidence points to you. I mean, look at it, it's all too coincidental to be random, isn't it? On a holiday? Changelings? Your friends?"
The white mare didn't reply.
"All you need to do is disprove everything, that's all. I saw the evil Joy, too, remember? I'm surprised ponies haven't been hammering me down as well." The stallion sighed, "I think that we should go with our friends back to my house. I can help you find counter arguments along the way."
Vanilla smiled. "Thanks, Galaxy." Standing up, she added, "I'm going to check on my coltfriend before I leave."
She trotted to his room and opened the door slowly. "Valerium?" She whispered.
The batpony sat up. "Hey, Mocha."
"I thought you were sleeping."
"I tried to." Valerium shifted around in the covers, "It's alright though. I don't want to get off track with work and all."
Mocha sighed. "Speaking of which, you've been working ridiculous hours."
"I kinda need to, Mochy." Valerium smiled. She'll know why later...
Vanilla Mocha sighed softly. "I have to go..."
"I know."
"I love you." Mocha kissed her coltfriend's cheek, "I'll be back soon, promise."
"Okay, I love you too."
Galaxy Nebula waited by the door. He saw Mocha and smiled. "We need to hurry. I have a feeling that we've missed a lot already."
The two ponies ran out the door and down the street.
~~~
"I know what happened!" Shadow Wing shouted. Everypony, except for Vanilla, Valerium, Joy, Breeze, and Galaxy of course, were at Galaxy's house, being supervised by Quillton and Crystal.
"Your coltfriend had better come back, Crystal. I mean, this is his house." Sunset sighed.
"He's coming back, I know he is. He's never gone for too long." Crystal smiled back assuredly.
"I can prove how Valerium is in this!" Shadow added, standing up tall. All eyes fell upon him. "He was in the hospital, right?"
Heads around the room nodded.
"Yeah, so?" Jinx Parody asked.
"Well, Paradise... You were there, yes? You saw what hit him?"
The pegasus replied, "Sorta. Not exactly, but I did see a white and black blur."
Shadow grinned. "Now, that could be Joy. But, you know who else it could've been?"
"Who?" Tacitus asked, his eyes not blinking.
"Valerium himself!"
Garfield facepawed. "How does that make any sense?"
"It's actually more easily explained and understood than Joy turning evil and getting him."
"How?" Daffodil lifted an eyebrow.
"Paradise didn't see anything hit him. Just a blur. Valerium and 'evil' Joy have the same color scheme, right?" Shadow grinned wider, "It only makes sense that the couple would blame it on their Changeling friend to get attention."
"But why'd Mocha and Valerium ever do that?!" Redsopine narrowed his eyebrows.
"He does have a point," Charming Thunder interjected, "It counts for the evidence, and the lack of evidence."
Thunder Knight hugged his marefriend, Pony Pint. "But I don't think a couple would do that... I mean, two ponies that love each other would know what kindness is better than anypony, wouldn't they?"
"I agree with Knight." Quillton said in his British accent, "He has a point. Not to mention they're nice anyways. It's out of character."
Shadow sighed. "You're just against me, aren't you? Right from the start, you, Redsopine, and all were just against me."
"No, not really." Sentinel cut in, "They just disagree."
"Look, it's obvious that Mocha and Valerium are using us! They don't care, Mocha just wants us to spend money in her shop and Valerium wants... I don't know what he wants, but it's nothing good! We saw what happened at Nightmare Night, now at the Summer Sun? No thanks, count me out." Shadow made his way to the door.
"Shadow, if Mocha is your friend, trust her-" Quillton began.
"He did make some sense, now that I think about it." Jinx said.
"What?" Quillton's eyes grew larger.
"Plus... He did have a good argument." Film Reel added.
Frost facehoofed. "Please, he has it all wrong!"
"I've had it!" Shadow Wing flew open the door and ran out towards the setting sun.
"Great, look at what you've done!" Charming Thunder exclaimed.
Redrose sighed. "Right before the eve of the Summer Sun, too. Good thing it's tomorrow and not tonight." She glanced up at Quillton.
He sighed and opened his mouth. Before he could speak, Galaxy and Mocha entered.
"Hey, why's Shadow in such a hurry?" Galaxy asked.
~~~
"So that's why." Tacitus finished talking. He had explained the whole night to Galaxy and Mocha.
"That's terrible..." Mocha said quietly.
"I have to find Shadow. This is stupid, running away from an argument. We should all be ashamed of how we all acted." Galaxy nuzzled Crystal and headed towards his front door.
"You're leaving... Again?" His fiancé asked.
"Yes, I have to. It's the right thing to do." Galaxy then blew her a kiss and left.
"Great, just great! Galaxy's gone, Shadow's mad, and half of you think Mocha did this, and the other half are just confused as heck!" Quillton sighed. "I'm going home. Sunny, let's go." Quillton and Sunset left moments later.
"Mocha," Film Reel stood up and trotted to her, "You can be honest."
"I... Am."
"I mean, you can say Shadow's right. You don't have to hide anything from us."
Mocha began to sweat. "But I am being honest!"
Paradise patted Mocha's shoulder. "I'm one of your best friends, Mocha. But even I doubt you at times, it's only natural. What Shadow claims as a theory is really, really, realistic. I mean, I didn't see anything hit Valerium. Who knows if anything hit him to begin with?"
"Paradise?" Mocha began to tear up.
"I'm your friend. But it doesn't mean I can't doubt you at times. I'm so sorry, Mocha..."
By now Tacitus, Daffodil, Frost, Pony Pint and her coltfriend, Redrose, and Jinx had left.
"I... Need to go home." Paradise said as she walked out.
Garfield purred. "Don't fret too much, Vanilly. I think you're telling the truth."
Mocha smiled at the cat. "Thanks, Garf."
"You're welcome. It's getting late, though. I'm following the crowd on this one... See ya tomorrow." Garfield ran out of the door.
"Goodnight," Mocha called to him.
Sentinel and Redsopine stood beside Mocha. "Hey, it'll all be alright. They're just nervous and stressed, that's all." Sentinel smiled.
"I can find Joy for you," Red added, "To help prove your innocence."
"Thanks, guys." Mocha smiled, "I really appreciate it."
"No problem!" Thunderbolt Sentinel responded.
Redsopine nodded. "Of course, Miss Mocha. In fact, I'll start looking for her tonight. I'll look all over Ponyville all night if I need to."
~~~
Just...a little... More... Galaxy Nebula looked at the sky around him. His wings were tired, and it was growing darker. "I have to find Shadow... It's what friends do!" He muttered to himself.
Suddenly, a large wind came out from what seemed like nowhere. Catching Nebula off guard, it whacked him from the side. He whirled through the air, unable to keep his balance.
Crack! Wham! Thud!
"Ow..." Nebula didn't know what happened. He looked around him and realized he was on the ground. Standing up, his whole body ached. Then, a sharp sting of pain shot from his left wing to his brain and back. "OWW!" He shrieked.
His right wing stood up straight, while his left wing dropped at an abnormal angle.
"Oh my Celestia..." His eyes widened, "I'm lost... At night... With a broken wing!"