//------------------------------// // Chapter Ten // Story: The Return of The Terror // by Vanilla Mocha //------------------------------// So...hungry... Galaxy Nebula sat down on the ground. It hurt too much to move, his broken wing made every other activity painful. The heat of what would soon be the summer sun blanketed over him. His mouth was dry and his eyes were heavy. I'm gonna die out here, aren't I? He lifted his neck to see Breeze flying towards him. Yup, I'm dying right now... "Hiya, Galaxy!" Breeze called out. Goodbye world... I knew I should've been a better pony... Now the ghost of Breeze will be my eternal punishment... "Galaxy! There you are!" Wait...that's not Breeze's voice... He glanced up to see Thunderbolt Sentinel standing above him. "Let's help ya out, buddy." The guard scooped up Galaxy. "Th-thanks..." Galaxy choked. "Looks like you've been here quite a while." Thunder Knight said as he stood beside his marefriend, Pony Pint. Nebula nodded. "All night... Broke my wing." Pony's eyes widened. "I'm so sorry! That must've hurt, terribly!" Galaxy Nebula nodded again. "Yeah, but don't worry... I'm alright." He tried his best to smile. "I'm going to take you to Mocha's coffee shop. There'll be something there you can eat while we find you medical help." Sentinel directed. "Great idea. Except for one thing." Breeze narrowed her eyebrows, "The first half of the idea. You can't do it. He can't eat at Mocha's shop because she closed it." "Yeah, he can. He's one of Mocha's best buds. Besides, if she's not there, I bet that almost every other pony there can cook. Maybe Paradise or Daffy will make him something to eat." Knight replied. "Yeah... That can work, too." Breeze smiled sheepishly. "What happened? Why did Mocha close her shop?" Galaxy questioned. "Well... There was an argument." Film Reel began. ~~~ Jinx Parody hung up bright yellow and red streamers across the inside of the door frame of Mocha's Coffee Cafe. Daffodil and Frost went to the back room to find decorations while Redrose and Garfield took down the old decorations. Shadow sat at a booth with his friend Charming Thunder, discussing different things. "Quillton, everything we did a few days ago... That was such a waste of time." Sunset Shimmer said as she approached her coltfriend, who was slumped against a box of decorations. "We didn't know it would be like this, then." He sighed. "I know this is stressful... It is for all of us. But we need to forget it and just work on having a good night tonight. After the big celebration I'll have to go home. Let's make the most out of it now while we can, okay?" She sat down next to him and smiled. "The buddy systems, the proving of Mocha's innocence... In a long while, that'll all be forgotten. But not our emotions from this night." Quillton Brooks glanced at his marefriend and smiled. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, a certain orange furred cat interrupted him. "When's lunch?" "Garfield, you're asking when lunch is? Seriously?" Quillton replied unamused. "No, I'm asking about dinner. Yes, lunch." The cat folded his arms. "And I am being serious about it. I don't joke around with food." Sunset giggled at that. "Well, hmm... I dunno, do I choose what you do? Am I your father?" Garfield blinked, then began to purr. "Could you adopt me? And feed me?" He asked, his eyes large. "Uhm..." "Or at least just feed me...?" Garfield meowed. Quillton sighed. "Fine, but nothing gross like beans and carrots. No, we need something that you're guaranteed to eat. Fish sticks and custard it is, for you." Garfield smiled. "Yay!" Sunset Shimmer continued giggling. Crystal glanced over at Quillton, Sunset, and Garfield. Why are they all eating... Fishsticks and... Is that... Custard? Ew, gross! Across the room, Valerium was still slumped in his seat. "I'm a terrible coltfriend... Aren't I?" Paradise smiled warmly. "No, I think you're being an amazing coltfriend." "But I... I made her cry..." He sighed, "I don't even know why I yelled at her." "Who are you talking abo- oh, the barista. Uh, huh..." Paradise Oasis looked down. "I know that I was talking to Shadow, but he didn't say anything to me. Besides, I was just in a bad mood..." Paradise's blue eyes looked up at him. "Any way that I can help you feel better?" She blushed. "No... Not really. I don't feel so well... I've been working ridiculous hours for extra bits that I don't even need... Sorta... And I did just get out of the hospital. I guess I'm just stressed out by too much stuff to do and not enough time..." "Wait, you've been working extra?" She lifted her eyebrows, "Ooh~ I like stallions willin' to work overtime. Business stallions are smart! Do you carry a briefcase to work? Wear a suit and tie?" "No..." He glanced up at her with a puzzled expression, "Why?" "Just wondering, that's all." Oasis sighed. Tacitus trotted over. "Valerium, I saw what happened. Are you alright?" "No, I'm not..." He buried his face in his hooves. The front door to the cafe swung open. Thunder Knight walked in, and directed Sentinel towards an empty chair. The guard sat Galaxy up while Pony Piny and Breeze hurried to the kitchen. Film Reel contacted the hospital. Everypony else looked up at them and noted their teamwork. Soon, Galaxy had a bandage around his wing. Nurse Redheart had told him that it wasn't broken, but it was sprained badly. Crystal hugged him tightly, avoiding his left wing which was covered in thick bandages. "I'm so glad you're back..." "Me too." He smiled. ~~~ "Welcome, my dearest subjects, to the greatest party of the hive this year!," Queen Chrysalis announced from her throne, "The Masquerade Ball!" She stood in the middle of her castle's throne room, the ball room right below her. Thousands of Changelings stood below her, in different disguises of pony celebrities. Chrysalis could see about five variations of Princess Celestia, six or seven Lunas, a few Cadences, and quite a lot of Twilight Sparkles. Hundreds of disguised Changelings talked, danced and ate the night away. Princess Masquerade sat next to Queen Chrysalis, smiling and waving. She wore a red mask over her eyes. Leaning towards her mother, Masquerade whispered, "I... Think I am ready to give the crowd what they want." Chrysalis, who was wearing a soft green dress, smiled. "They're waiting." Masquerade stood up. "I'll... Be a bit slow, at first. Be right back." She trotted out of the throne room, and darted past the dance floor. The princess cantered down the stairs and entered the dungeon. "Joy?" The pony lifted her head. "You did come back," she smiled, "I thought you'd ditch me. Sorry, just... Changelings and ponies don't get along." Masquerade smirked. "I'm not a normal Changeling, now am I?" She unlocked Joy's door and let her sister out. "Thank you so much!" Joy smiled widely. "Don't thank me yet. We've gotta find your friends, remember?" "Oh, yeah, that's right. They're the nicest, most loving friends you'll ever meet. You'll have a great time." "Yeah... I will." Masquerade grinned wider. "Nice and loving friends are the best kind to have." ~~~ "See, they have teamwork." Quillton pointed a hoof at Knight and his group. "That is what everypony else here lacks!" "Oh, yeah, like as if we didn't work together to put up the decorations like you order us to, Mr. Brooks? Boss? Master?" Daffodil Spark replied, rolling her eyes. "Not everypony helped," Sunset eyed Shadow and Charm. "Stop, you two are just upset because they don't agree with you." Jinx said. "And this is why Mocha left!" Valerium shouted.