//------------------------------// // Chapter Fifteen // Story: The Return of The Terror // by Vanilla Mocha //------------------------------// Joy lifted an eyebrow in both frustration and confusion. "That is exactly what you said last time... When I believed you! That is what you said..." Tears formed in the reformed Changeling's eyes, "You tricked me! Betrayed me! Used me! A-and now you're gonna do it to them -- except -- this time you really won't!" Joy's hoof stomped on the floor in anger. Masquerade backed up slowly; nervously. "N-no... I'm sorry..." "Lies!" The older sister yelled. "Where you a liar?!" Masquerade shouted at Joy. Everypony looked at the red themed Changeling, and then at her sister. The ponies (and cat) exchanged glances with one another, taking in the Changeling's words. Redsopine cleared his throat. "Joy had a real transformation, inside and out." Professor Tacitus nodded in agreement. "There was proof of her redemption." "B-but I saw something!" The Changeling Princess stammered, "My mother treated me like the others... She called me a minion, a slave... I thought I was an heir to the throne... I didn't think that was fair." "Fair to you or fair to them?" Paradise Oasis questioned. Masquerade opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. "I..." She thought for a moment, "I guess me... But thinking about it..." Her voice was quiet, "It wasn't fair to them either..." Seconds passed. The tick tock of the clock on the cafe wall made single seconds feel like whole minutes. "When we attacked..." Masquerade began again, "I saw something... You all hugged... Changelings don't hug... That's just nasty... But... It didn't feel that way when I saw it... I wanted to take in your love like my mother asked of me, but... It suddenly lead me down a guilt trip..." Ears and eyes around the room perked up. "I wanted to be like my mother... And now I'm not so sure that's what I want anymore..." Masquerade sighed. Breeze the batpony nudged Joy. "Can we really trust her...?" Quillton Brooks leaned in. "Now, wait a minute... This all seems familiar. Didn't we just go through a trust issue? You know, with Mocha-" "Woah!" Daffodil exclaimed, cutting off Quillton, "M-Masquerade has a cutiemark! B-b-but it's different!" It was still a broken heart like before, but instead, it had a bandaid connecting the two sides together. Over the heart sat a red mask, similar to the kind somepony would wear to a royal dancing ball. The same mask Masquerade wore. It was then noticed that Masquerade's Changeling legs were no longer those of a Changeling; no more holes were visible. Her eyes were shimmering and dark. She was a real pony. "We must've overlooked this when the feud began!" Pony Pint squealed. Jinx stepped forward. "Take off that mask, Massy." Masquerade lifted her hoof to her face to take off the accessory. Throwing it to the ground, she smiled softly. "An earthling, like me!" Joy grinned. "Hey, if you are real, then I guess there's only one more thing left to do!" Galaxy said. Masquerade tilted her head. "What would that be?" "Throw you a party!" The TARDIS-blue pegasus shouted. "And what better night than tonight? It's the Summer Sun Celebration, a two-in-one!" Crystal giggled, nuzzling Galaxy's cheek with her own. Thunderbolt Sentinel flew up a few feet. "Hey, I'm gonna start some music!" "I wanna choose what kind, though!" Shadow followed the guard. "Anypony up for some snacks?" Mocha asked her friends. Charming Thunder smirked. "I'll take something!" "I'm not an 'anypony', but I wouldn't mind having a little snack." Garfield the cat purred. Frost and Redrose talked with Joy and Masquerade while Film Reel and Thunder Knight helped Vanilla Mocha with refreshments. "Welcome to the family, Masquerade!" Redrose congratulated. "Family?" The even newer reformed Changeling blinked. Frost patted her back. "Our friend-family. We'll be best friends in no time, buddy." Joy chuckled as she remembered the events of Nightmare Night. "Trust me." ~~~ "Can I have another latte?" Garfield asked. "Coming right up!" Film Reel smiled. He made the coffee and sat it in front of the orange feline. "Thanks!" The fluffy animal meowed. "You're welcome!" Film smiled brightly. "I'll take one, and another for Quillton." Sunset Shimmer trotted up beside Garfield. Thunder Knight and Film Reel glanced at her. "I thought your coltfriend didn't like coffee too much," Thunder said as Film prepared the drinks. "He'll pass out if he isn't overloaded with caffeine, though." Sunset laughed. Film hoofed over the coffees with a warm smile. "Enjoy!" ~~~ Sentinel flew home and had returned with board games, and everypony was having a blast. Vanilla Mocha, Joy, Valerium, Paradise Oasis, Sentinel, Garfield, Tacitus, and Masquerade played Monopony while Pony Pint, Redrose, Thunder Knight, and Charming played Twister. Some ponies fell asleep, but were awoken not long after snoring was heard. Crystal splashed Galaxy's face with water and Sunset poured coffee down Quillton's throat. Jinx Parody and her friends talked while Redsopine and his gang discussed upcoming events. All the friends talked, ate, and partied throughout midnight. Sharing memories and making new ones had always been something these friends did at get-togethers; but this time it was special. They had a new friend. Someone Joy knew and could relate to -- literally. Everything had worked out perfectly. Everything except for Vanilla and Valerium. "Hey, Mocha, can we talk a second?" The batpony asked his marefriend. Vanilla Mocha faced Valerium. "Of course." He lead her outside, away from the noise. Once alone, Valerium looked at his marefriend. "Hey, I'm sorry." "What?" "I'm sorry about earlier." Vanilla looked happy. "It's alright. If forgive you." She smiled. "Don't worry about it." Valerium sat down. "Heh, thanks." Changing the subject, he said, "Oh, and I won't be working those long hours anymore." Vanilla Mocha sat down beside him. "Hmm?" She looked concerned. "The Terror... The Changelings..." He sighed, his dark red eyes looking away, as if focused on something in the distance. Mocha glanced at him. "What are you trying to say?" "I can't do this anymore, Vanilla Mocha. I'm sorry. It's over." Valerium stood up and shook his head lowly. "V-Valerium...?" Vanilla began to tear up. Valerium spread his wings. "I'm dying, Vanilla. I can't deal with drama anymore. I'm sorry... This life is too busy for me. I've been working a lot to stay away... Maybe you'd think I was a jerk and be the one to end us. I know there's somepony else out there for you..." Mocha sniffled. "I-I..." "Goodbye, Mocha." Flapping his wings, Valerium flew off into the sky. Mocha sniffled loudly, curling up on the ground. As the sun began to rise, the ponies left the coffee shop and made their way to the Town Square for the huge Summer Sun Celebration finale. Mocha soon joined them hours later, her tears drying. Princess Celestia made her entrance and raised the sun, starting the first day of summer. The townsponies cheered, excited. Joy and Masquade clapped and stomped their hooves, celebrating their first Summer Sun Celebration together as pony sisters. Celestia departed, leaving for the next time zone. Soon, all of the ponies went back home and to work. Fillies and colts ran around happily, exploring and playing on their first day without school. Many things had happened that night. Sisters reunited as a new species. Hearts were broken, but they were only being prepared to be healed with love more powerful than the hate that broke them to begin with.