> The Return of The Terror
>  by Vanilla Mocha
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter One
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Can you believe it? It's been half a year already, and I feel like I've known you since foalhood!" Vanilla Mocha smiled as she sat down a coffee in front of Joy. The earth pony looked up at her and smiled. 

"Crazy how time flies, isn't it?" The reformed changeling responded. 

Vanilla Mocha ran a coffee shop in Ponyville, and during last year's Nightmare Night party, she and her friends had been pushed to the limits with daring tests and evil creatures. Joy, previously known as The Terror, was happy to be her own pony. No longer stealing identities to receive untrue love, she was calmly living her new life as a real pony. 

"Hey," The bell above the café's door rang as a dark blue winged stallion entered, "Mocha, there ya are! And hello there, Joy!" 

Mocha smiled. "Hi, Galaxy!"

Galaxy Nebula was one of Mocha's foalhood friends. He had short and fluffy black hair for his mane and tail, and had deep brown eyes. He and his friend, Quillton Brooks, were scientists: and even time travelers. Though not many ponies believed in their perilous adventures, they were indeed true. 

Sitting down beside Joy, Galaxy smiled. "The Summer Sun Celebration is in a week! I'm excited for the all-nighter!" 

"Summer Sun Celebration?" Joy asked, puzzled. 

Vanilla Mocha smiled. "Being a Changeling, I assume you didn't celebrate Equestrian holidays." 

As Mocha explained the holiday to her friend, Galaxy eyed something -- or somepony -- outside. Looking out of the window, he gasped. 

"That sounds so cool!" Joy grinned with excitement. 

"Oh, it is!" Smiling widely, an idea flew into Mocha's head. "I should invite everypony for an all-nighter here! That way we can all have one big party together! Galaxy, whaddya think?" 

Galaxy shook his head. "Uhm... What?"

Mocha looked at him. "Galaxy, did you hear what I just said? I had an idea for the Summer Sun Celebration."

"Oh, yeah, that. That's cool." 

"Galaxy?" Joy asked, "You... Seem different. Are you okay?" 

Galaxy sighed. "No... I'm not. You see, I saw a pony outside... And they seemed... Weird... I, I don't know... It just kinda made me have déjà vú... Like as if I knew that pony."

"You are a time traveler." Mocha elbowed him. 

"Yeah... But..." 

The door opened again. Quillton ran in, covered in sweat. "Galaxy!" His British accent called, "Galaxy, where've you been? I've been looking for you!" 

The white furred earth pony had a light orange mane and tail and light blue eyes. 

"Yeah, Quillton? I'm sorry..."

"No time for apologies!" Quillton trotted over to him. 

Standing up, Galaxy smiled sheepishly. "So... What happened?"

"Sunset has completed the calculation we've been needing for over two months, now! It reveals all the secrets of the dead universe we were trying to uncover! It's not dead, it's hidden! That's why it was so hard to find!" 

"Wait, so she found out..." Galaxy's eyes widened. 

Quillton smiled widely. "Yes, she has! And now that we know the number of-" 

"Uhm... Hi." Joy interrupted. 

Quillton turned his head to see her and Mocha. "Oh, hello dearie, and good day to you too, Mocha." 

Vanilla Mocha waved in reply. 

"Well, that's great, Quillton." Galaxy said. 

"My marefriend, err, girlfriend, has such talent." He smiled and closed his eyes, admiring Sunset Shimmer. 

"Hey! So is mine!" Galaxy laughed. 

"Yeah, she's nice too. Hey, oughta bring her along with us sometime." Quillton winked. "I think she'd enjoy the scenic route."

Galaxy chuckled. "Alright!"

"Hey, um, Galaxy, about that pony you saw just a few minutes ago..." Vanilla interjected. 

Galaxy stopped chuckling. His smile faded and he became physically worried. "Oh... Yeah. Gosh, that gave me the chills!" 

Quillton tilted his head. "What happened?"

"A few minutes ago, I looked out the window, and a pony was standing outside!" 

Quillton burst out laughing. "Of course, Galaxy! That is what ponies do, we go places! Gotta stand outside to get there!"

Galaxy facehoofed. "Not like that," he cleared his throat, "that pony... Looked like a pony I know. Not knew... But know." 

"Then it might be," Quillton said, "We are time travelers."

"But... That pony... Is in this room." 

Vanilla Mocha gasped. "What did they look like?"

"White fur, earth pony..." Galaxy mumbled, afraid to speak. 

"I'm a white furred earth pony, Galaxy. That was probably just me trotting over here." Quillton said. 

"...It was a mare." Galaxy looked up at Joy. 

Joy's eyes widened. 

"Now, wait a minute. There's lots a mares, that are earth ponies, with white fur. How do you know it was Joy?" Mocha asked. 

"B-because, she looked exactly like her! Straight black and white mane and tail, orangey eyes, even a two-way heart in the colors of black and white!"

Quillton put his hoof to his chin. "Are you sure it wasn't, say, a reflection?" 

"I swear, it wasn't!" Galaxy responded. 

"Galaxy, maybe it was your imagination. Let's be honest, from a long day of work, you need a break. Go home, take a nap. It happens to me all the time." Quillton said.

Galaxy nodded. "Good idea. Bye, guys." He waved and flew out. 

"Bye, Galaxy!" The others responded in return.

Mocha sighed. "That was really weird."

"It's his imagination, I bet. Don't think too hard about it." Quillton Brooks sat down. 

"Anyways..." Joy smiled sheepishly, "Mocha had an idea for the Summer Sun Celebration." 

Vanilla nodded. "Yep. I was thinking of inviting all of our friends from the Nightmare Night party to this one," Mocha smiled, "Like when we met Joy. All of us haven't hung out together since then. And since it's tradition to stay up all night, I think it'd be nice for everypony to come over."

"Sounds great!" Quillton smiled. 

"Hey, mind spreading the word?" Mocha smiled sheepishly.

"Not at all." Quillton Brooks responded. 

"Thanks," Mocha replied, "I remember last time; I was up to my neck in invitations at the last minute!" 

Joy smiled. "I'm going to go home. See you ponies later!" She waved, and picked up her coffee. As she left the café, Quillton sighed. 

"What's wrong?" Mocha asked.

"I... Can't stop thinking about what Galaxy said."

Mocha chuckled. "You just told us to not worry over it."

"I know," the stallion cracked a smile, "but I can't help but think about it. I know he has a wild imagination, but he is pretty good at determining reality from day dreams." 

~~~

Vanilla Mocha sighed. She finally had a moment to herself from a long day of work. Well, herself, and her coltfriend. Valerium, a pale white bat stallion, trotted up behind her. The two ponies were in Mocha's living room. 

The black haired stallion nuzzled Mocha from behind. "I missed you today..." He whispered. 

Looking back at him, Mocha smiled softly. "I missed you too..." Looking up at his red eyes, she smiled wider. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Vanilla turned to face him. Suddenly, a panicked knock sounded from her door. The couple looked up. "I didn't know you invited anypony else." Valerium said. 

"I... Didn't." Mocha whispered. There was another knock. 

"I'll get it." Valerium smiled. He cantered to the door and opened it. 

Joy stood outside, looking worried. She ran inside. "Close the door!" She screamed. 

"Uhm... Okay." Valerium closed the door. Joy ran back to the door and locked it. "There..." The earth pony sighed. 

"Joy... What's wrong?" Vanilla asked. 

"I-I'm-" Before Joy could reply, a loud crash sounded. Around the three ponies a bright white light arose, blinding them. 

"I'm back!!!" A familiar voice yelled. One Mocha and her friends hadn't heard for months. 

Moments later the light died down. Mocha glanced up to see one of the windows by her door was shattered. Joy stood there, breathing heavily. Her eyes were bright red, and her mark had a jagged line between the heart: it looked like a broken heart now. 

"Joy?!" Vanilla yelled in shock.

"I'm not the Joy you know." With that, the mare jumped out the window, and ran away. 

Valerium and Mocha looked at each other, then back at the scene in front of them. 

"Did... Her mark just change? And her eye color?" He asked. 

"That's impossible! I mean, I'm not Princess Twilight or anything, but I know for certain that I've never seen it before! And I've seen quite a few things in magic school." 

Valerium gasped. "You don't suppose... The Terror is back, do you?"

Mocha gulped. "I... Hope not."

> Chapter Two
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Listen!" Galaxy yelled. 

He, Mocha, Quillton and Valerium had gathered all of their friends that knew Joy from last year's Nightmare Night party. All twelve friends were in Mocha's coffee shop, discussing what had happened yesterday. The room became silent and all eyes fell upon Galaxy. 

"Thank you," smiling, he began, "As I know you are all aware of, Joy is nowhere to be seen. We all know is what happened to Vanilla last night, and Valerium was there to prove it."

"He'll take up for her no matter what, he's her coltfriend!" Breeze, a bat pony, pointed out.

Mocha raised an eyebrow. "Don't you trust us?" 

Breeze smiled. "Yeah, I do. But what I don't get is that Joy would do that. Look at her name! Her mark! She's good now!" 

Valerium sighed. "Her... Mark changed. It's a broken heart."

Garfield grinned. "Broken heart? I like that." The orange cat crossed his arms in satisfactory. 

"Garfield!" Mocha shook her head, "Stop being Grumpy Cat, this is serious."

"I am being serious," the feline responded, "I just don't care for all the lovey-dovey friends-forever stuff." 

Galaxy chuckled. "We can tell," sitting down, he glanced up at Quillton. "Quillton, do you have any ideas?"

"Perhaps what we thought had happened was really just the impossible fooling us." Brooks replied quietly.

"Huh?" Mocha asked. 

"She's a Changeling. Born that way, will die that way. She can't change her species because she feels like it."

"She has a cutie mark, though." Paradise Oasis, a ginger maned pegasus, pointed out. "Not to mention she really has changed in her personality." Daffodil Spark, an orange earth pony, added. 

Professor Tacitus raised his hoof. "Ahem."

Everypony turned to face the brown furred stallion. 

"I believe that Quillton is on to something," he began, "Changelings are known as shape-shifters and transformers. Her whole life as a Changeling is to act, steal, and deceive. There has never been a Changeling in all of history to become good: or any creature to change species, for that matter."

Charming Thunder blinked. The red stallion scratched at his chin, then argued back, "What about when Princess Twilight Sparkle became an alicorn? She changed."

"Not in species," The professor explained, "That would be like her becoming a Griffon, or a dragon. But not an alicorn. That's a race."

Mumbles arose around the room. 

Frost looked up. "B-but... What if she did change? Not into a new species, but as a Changeling with a cutie mark and full fur color? She was a white furred Changeling, after all. Different from the rest."

"Possibly." Quillton Brooks answered. The time traveler closed his eyes, thinking. Opening them, he sighed. "This is very confusing."

Shadow, another bat pony, stepped forward. "I say we go find Joy and see what really is wrong with her!" Everypony made their way toward the exit. 

Galaxy Nebula clapped his hooves together. "Wait," he shouted, "I have something to say!" 

All of the friends stopped. "What?" Paradise Oasis asked. 

"We need to make a plan, first of all." Galaxy sighed, "And... I saw the pony that Mocha and Valerium saw last night."

Intrigued, everypony sat down. 

"I... Saw Joy standing outside yesterday. With a broken heart cutie mark, and red eyes. It was so creepy... It looked just like her. After I went home, I concluded that it was a reflection... But she was in the coffee shop, just like we are... She was completely normal." He began sweating, "It was so creepy..."

Quillton patted his shoulder. "We do need to be cautious of our imaginations and real life."

Mocha nodded. "So, about a plan?" 

Paradise smiled. "How about that pony from last time, Red? He could help us."

"And Sunset Shimmer might need to come along." Quillton added. 

"I have an idea," Frost said, "How about the adventurers, Galaxy and Quillton, work out a plan. We all meet back here later. They're the most experienced, anyways."

Vanilla Mocha nodded. "That's a good idea. Let's meet back in..."

"Two hours." Galaxy finished. "That should give us enough time." 

The ponies left, except for Galaxy, Quillton, Vanilla, and Valerium. 

"I have to go," Valerium said quietly, "Work today. I'll visit you tonight, promise." He kissed Mocha on the cheek softly. 

"Alright, I love you." Vanilla nuzzled him, smiling. 

"Love you too." 

Galaxy glanced up at Mocha as her coltfriend left. "Are... You two ever gonna get married?"

Vanilla Mocha blinked. "Well, yes. I want to marry him, anyways. But I won't rush him."

Quillton looked at Galaxy. "I know you were fast to propose to your fiancé, but give 'em some time."

Galaxy grinned. "Speaking of which, when'll you pop the question with Sunny?"

Quillton's eyes widened. "I... Will. Work has kept me busy, dearie. Also, it's a bit hard when your girlfriend is in another dimension." 

Galaxy laughed. "That's true."

Mocha smiled. "Not to mention that I'm traditional. He's gonna have to be the one to ask me." 

Quillton chuckled. "I couldn't imagine Sunset asking me."

Mocha opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Paradise threw open the coffee shop door. "Vanilla! Quillton! Galaxy! Heeeeeeelp!" 

~~~

"No, no, no, noooo!" Vanilla Mocha wailed. She sat beside her coltfriend, whom lay in the road. Slowly, but surely, he was breathing. Tears in her eyes, Mocha didn't budge. "Please be okay... Please..." 

Galaxy had contacted the hospital, which was on their way with an ambulance. 

"Thank you for letting us know, Paradise, dearie." Quillton said quietly. 

"Not a problem. I just so happened to have seen something out of my peripheral vision, and when I looked up, there he was. I wasn't sure how long he had been there..."

"He left the shop not even five minutes before all of this, so hopefully he won't have too much damage." Quillton looked down at Mocha and Valerium. 

Galaxy smiled. "There's the ambulance. Mocha, wanna stay with me for a while, then go back up there and see him? I wanna keep you calm."

Vanilla turned her head to face the pegasus. Her face was red from crying. Shaking her head 'no', she walked into the back of the ambulance with Valerium, who was now on a stretcher being lifted into the vehicle. 

Paradise faced the two stallions. "I'll go with Mocha and help to keep her calm. You two, get the group together and figure out the plan."

The three ponies watched the ambulance drive off. And a pair of red eyes watched those three ponies. 
> Chapter Three
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Breeze closed the door to the hospital as she entered. Beside her was Paradise, Tacitus, Daffodil, and Garfield. 

"I sure do hope they're okay." Daffodil Spark said as the five friends walked down the hall.

"Mocha'll be alright, trust me. And Valerium, he's pretty tough." Garfield replied. As they rounded the corner, they saw Valerium's room. Vanilla Mocha was sitting next to the bed, as close as she could get. 

"I don't think so..." Paradise Oasis whispered as she caught sight of Mocha's face. She was still crying. 

Tacitus knocked on the door, even though it was open. "Miss Vanilla Mocha..." 

The unicorn mare looked up. "O-oh..." Wiping tears from her eyes, she forced a smile. "Hello."

Breeze flew in. "Whoa, he got hit hard, didn't he?" 

Mocha sniffled. 

"Breeze!" Paradise elbowed her. 

"Oh! Um, I mean, at least it wasn't too hard. Hey, he's alive, right?"

Mocha didn't respond. 

"...right?" Breeze smiled. 

"Right." Nurse Redheart walked in and sat down a clipboard. "He's gonna be alright. Just asleep for right now."

Daffodil sighed a sigh of relief. "That's good to hear. When will he be better?"

The nurse glanced over to the stallion in bed. "Not too long of a wait. I'd say about a few hours until he can leave the hospital, depending on when he wakes up."

"What happened to him?" Tacitus asked. 

Redheart picked up the clipboard again. "He was hit over the head pretty hard, at least according to the readings." She looked up. "Luckily you brought him over here when you all did. If that ambulance hadn't been called in time, who knows if he'd still be sleeping."

Mocha sniffled again. 

Paradise hugged her. "It'll all be okay, 'Nilla." The pegasus gave her a reassuring smile. 

Vanilla smiled back. 

"If anypony knows what hit him, it'd help. Knowing the weight and size can help determine how long he'll be out." The nurse added. 

"Paradise, you saw it. What hit him?" Daffodil asked. 

"I only saw it out of my peripheral vision. When I turned my head, he was laying there. It could've been anything." The mare replied. 

"Didn't see anything? At all?" Nurse Redheart questioned. 

"Hmm... From what I can recall, no." Paradise put her hoof to her chin. "Oh! Wait, no, I remember something!" 

The group smiled at her as she spoke. "I saw a black and white blur. That's what made me look up- it was like something in grayscale flew past me. 

"Wait... Black and white?" Mocha's eyes widened. 

"Yeah, why?"

"That's... Joy's color scheme!" 

"Joy?" Nurse Redheart was puzzled. 

"Nunya business!" Breeze said. 

Nurse Redheart huffed. "Fine, then." She trotted out. 

"Breeze..." Paradise facehoofed.

"Actually," Tacitus interjected, "That was a smart move. It wouldn't be good to let others know about a Changeling on the loose, especially if she did hurt Valerium."

Breeze grinned. "Oh!" She exclaimed, "Galaton wanted me to tell you about his plan!"

"Galaton?" Garfield lifted a brow. 

"Galaxy and Quillton. I combined them into one." Breeze smiled. 

Daffodil giggled at that. 

"Anyways," Breese sat down by Mocha, "They decided on a buddy system, first off. No pony goin' solo." 

"That's a good idea." Garfield said. "Does that count cats?"

"I'd say so." Paradise winked. 

"Not to mention..." Breeze trailed off, explaining the plan to Mocha. 

~~~

"...after we figure out the buddy system, we'll need to figure out what we're actually doing. Mocha can't just close down her coffee shop. So, we'll have to go instead. We need to be back for the party, though. Can't let down our friend. She really wanted us to be with her for the Summer Sun Celebration." Nebula addressed. 

Quillton, Sunset Shimmer, Crystal (Galaxy's fiancé), Shadow, Frost, Thunder, and Redsopine were all gathered in Galaxy's home. 

"I can help hunt down that demon!" Red said, pounding his left hoof into his other hoof.

Quillton shook his head. "No pony alone. Besides, she is a Changeling. We don't know if she has been lying to us this whole time just to spy on us. We need to be cautious."

"I agree." Frost said. 

"What we need to do..." Shadow began. "Hmm... How about we get more help?"

"Like from Princess Twilight?" Charming Thunder asked. 

"Maybe from more friends. We don't need many ponies involved, but maybe if we had more of us, it'd help out." Crystal suggested. 

Sunset nodded. "That could work. I've come to learn that friendship really is magic. The more friends, the better off we might be." 

"Then we need to sort out the buddy system and find more ponies to add." Galaxy pulled out a piece of paper and began writing on it. 

"Shadow," Quillton addressed, "We need somepony to find Joy, or at least attempt finding her. We need to keep her under supervision, at all times."

Shadow nodded. "Hey, can Thunder come along? And Red?" 

"Of course! Buddy system." Quillton smiled. 

The three stallions trotted out. 

"Frost," Sunset waved her hoof, "You can hang out with Crystal and I if you'd like. We're going to help Galaxy organize groups."

Frosted Shard smiled softly. "Alright, thanks." She walked over and began helping them. 

~~~

"Hello?" Joy called out. All she could see was darkness. "Where am I?" 

Lightheaded, she carefully stood up. A fuzzy green light appeared in the distance, though the room remained dark. Then, a red light, smaller in size, began to glow. They seemed to float in the air. 

"H-hello?" She called out again. 

The red light faded, and the green one expanded. Then it completely disappeared. 

Moments later, a familiar voice answered her from within the darkness. "Welcome home, daughter."
> Chapter Four
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Shadow, Thunder and Redsopine ran through town in search of Joy.

"So they say she looked like her cutie mark broke and her eye color changed?" Red asked. 

"Yeah, it seems really odd." Thunder replied. 

Shadow stopped running. "Ya know..." Making eye contact with the other two stallions, he suggested, "Maybe this is all just a hoax." 

Red tilted his head. "Whaddya mean?"

"Well, remember last year's Nightmare Night party? We had that big fiasco to help save Mocha. Now it's Valerium that's hurt. And their little Changeling friend had a big role in it too." 

"Shadow, are you saying that... It's all an act?" Charming Thunder asked. 

Shadow sighed. "I dunno, but it seems that way. I mean, why at a holiday? Why at a party? Why the same ponies? Both times? It's too coincidental to be real."

Red blinked. "You do make a lot of sense. But, why would Mocha do that?"

"Let's see, she can't throw a party very well... Maybe by sending us on these fake quests and stuff she's getting the attention she wants. I mean, look, she goes to Magic School taught by Princess Twilight Sparkle, whom went and saved the world with her friends... Doesn't it seem like she's copying what her teacher did?"

Thunder and Red gasped. "That... Explains a lot!" Thunder exclaimed. 

Shadow turned around and began trotting away. 

"Where are you going?" Red asked the bat pony. 

"Home. I ain't looking for something that's not even there, it's all a hoax!" He said, not even turning his head. 

"Well... Me neither!" Thunder huffed. "Shadow Wing's right, what, does Vanilla and Valerium and Joy think we have nothing better to do?!" 

"Are you two sure?" Red asked, "Mocha doesn't seem like the kind of pony to do that."

Thunder nodded. "I'm sure." The unicorn trotted away. 

Redsopine sighed and ran off, back in the direction he came.  

~~~

Crystal Harmony tapped on the paper in front of her. "I think we should change this group." 

Sunset Shimmer leaned over and glanced at the group. "Hmm... Well, what do you have in mind?"

"How about we take out Garfield and put Daffodil in there instead? It'd create more balance, and plus, I think Daffodil would like a group with Paradise and Garfield in a group with Valerium." 

Frost nodded. "That seems good." 

"But, just because certain ponies... And cats... are in a group doesn't mean they can't interact with others. The groups are in place so that we can keep each other safe and on task." Quillton Brooks said in his accent, approaching them. 

Sunset looked up at him and blushed lightly, smiling widely. "I put the four of us in a group. Frost, you don't mind being in Paradise and Daffy's group, do you?"

Frosted Shard smiled. "I don't mind at all. I know them, and I consider them friends. That pegasus is real caring and funny, and the blonde mare is super nice." 

"Great." Quillton responded. He nuzzled his marefriend, Sunset Shimmer. 

Suddenly the front door to Galaxy's home swung open. Red ran in, breathing heavily. 

"Red!" Crystal shouted, worried. 

Galaxy trotted over quickly. "Red, c'mon, sit down. What happened?"

Red followed Galaxy Nebula's instructions. "Thunder... Shadow... Ditch..." He continued to breathe, "Joy's a hoax... But we don't know..."

"Thunder and Shadow are in a ditch?" Sunset raised an eyebrow. 

Crystal gasped. "Are they hurt?"

Red shook his head. "N-no... They... Ditched me... They think Mocha and Valerium are messing with us... Using Joy..."

Crystal blushed. "Oh..." 

Galaxy smiled. "Silly Crystal~" He whispered to her. 

The five ponies surrounded Redsopine. "Red, we need to know what happened. Those are your buddies, your group. Where are they, and what is this about a... Hoax?" Quillton asked. 

Red looked at the three mares and two stallions around him. Taking a deep breath of air, he began to explain what Shadow Wing and Charming Thunder theorized. 

~~~

"Mmm, this is amazing!" Garfield sat at Valerium's dining room table, a piece of chocolate fudge cake in front of him. Tacitus accompanied him.

"Thanks," Paradise said, "Got it at Sugarcube Corner." 

Daffodil walked in from the hallway. "Well, he seems to be doing alright." Chuckling, she said, "He really likes the cake." 

Paradise smiled. "That's good."

Daffodil Spark nodded. "Yup. Hey, he got out of the hospital pretty fast. Almost... Too fast, don't you think?"

"Well, I don't know. He didn't need any medical treatment because it wasn't too bad of a hit... Just one to the temple to knock him out for a while. Not like he needed surgery or meds or anything." The pegasus replied. 

Garfield licked his lips. "Pary has a point."

"Hmm, but still... He got out in less than two hours." 

"That's a good point." Garfield pointed his fork at Daffodil. 

"Who's side are you on?" Paradise asked the orange cat. 

The cat shrugged. 

Tacitus stood up from the same table, holding an empty plate in his magic. "This was excellent. Mister and Misses Cake always do their best." 

Garfield nodded in agreement. "Very!"

A loud knock sounded from Valerium's front door. 

"I'll get it," Tacitus said, setting his plate down. Opening the door, he saw Galaxy standing outside. 

"There you are! The hospital said he went home." The pegasus said. 

"Hello to you too, Mr. Galaxy." Professor Tacitus chuckled. 

Galaxy stepped closer to the unicorn. "I assume Mocha's here?" 

Tacitus nodded. "You need her?"

"No, not exactly. I need everypony except her. And Valerium, and Joy... Say, Joy isn't here, is she?" He whispered. 

The brown stallion shook his head. "No, she isn't. And Mocha is with her coltfriend in his bedroom."

"O-oh..." Galaxy's face turned red. 

Tacitus' eyes widened. "No, no... I mean, she's visiting him, helping him to feel better."

Galaxy laughed. "I know, just havin' fun."

Tacitus chuckled. "Anyways, come on in. You said you needed to talk to us?"

"Y-yeah... We're not sure if any of this is... Real." Galaxy choked. 
> Chapter Five
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"I'm so glad you're alright." Vanilla Mocha smiled as she looked into her coltfriend's bright red eyes. 

Valerium chuckled. "Me too. But hey, free cake, and a day off from work."

Mocha lifted an eyebrow. "I'm going to reimburse Paradise, and not to mention now we've got a hospital and ambulance bill."  

The bat stallion sighed. "Yeah..."

Mocha smiled again. "But it's worth it, knowing you're not hurt. I'd go in debt if it meant it'd benefit you." 

Valerium smiled wider. "Why do you love me so much?"

"You know, sometimes I don't know." Mocha said playfully as she picked up his plate of cake with her magic. Using his fork, she cut a piece off and ate it. 

"Hey, Mochy!" Valerium chuckled. 

Vanilla Mocha laughed. "Fine, take it." Giggling, she gave him back the cake. 

"You're in a good mood," His smile faded, "They told me you were crying earlier."

"Well, yeah. I was worried as heck for you." Mocha replied, a look of concern on her face. "But... Now that you're out of the hospital without any injuries, I can be happy again."

Valerium chuckled. "Guess so. I'm pretty tired after getting hit, though. Mind if I sleep now?" 

"Wait... You know you were hit?" Mocha's eyes widened. 

"Um... Yeah. That's how come I'm in bed, and why I woke up in the hospital... I was hit."

"No, I mean, did somepony tell you, or did you already know something hit you?"

Valerium looked puzzled. "I... Saw what hit me, Mocha. Is that what you're trying to ask?"

"You saw what hit you?!" Mocha smiled widely. "This is great! What was it?" 

"It was just a blur of black and white, about the size of a full grown pony." 

Mocha facehoofed. "That's what Paradise said... Anything else?" 

"Well... I remember seeing red before I blacked out. Could that help you?" 

"R-red?" Mocha's pony ears drooped. "As in, the color red?"

"Yeah..."

"Oh no... Joy! She's white, and black, with red now! This isn't good at all... We need to find her!" Mocha stood up. 

Valerium pulled the sheets on the bed closer to him. "Well, you can go do tha-a..." He yawned, "that...and I'll be here sleeping, okay?" 

The unicorn smiled. "Heh, alright. Goodnight." She kissed him and then trotted out, closing the door quietly behind her. She was about to continue down the hallway when she heard loud gasps. 

"So you're saying Mocha and Valerium are behind all of this?" Tacitus' voice was heard. 

Vanilla Mocha stopped walking. What?

"Yeah... I'm not for certain, in fact, I don't even see why she'd do it. But all the coincidences and evidence lead to that theory." It was Galaxy's voice. 

"Look guys," Garfield the cat spoke up, "I don't really care what's going on. Mocha is our friend, as much as cake is tasty." 

"Garfield, stop. This is serious." Daffodil's voice sounded. 

"I am being serious. Mocha is our friend, and cake is tasty. What's not serious about that?" 

Vanilla giggled to herself quietly; Garfield always made her laugh.

"Well, I trust Mocha." Paradise Oasis said. Vanilla smiled.

"I trust her too, like as if she's my sister... But what Shadow said makes a ton of sense. Do I want to believe it... No. But am I considering it?" Galaxy Nebula sighed. Mocha peeked her head out from the hallway and looked around the room. Luckily, nopony noticed her. 

"...Yeah, I am." Nebula finally answered. 

More gasps came from the ponies. 

"Let's just take a minute to ask Mocha, alright? If she's really our friend, she'll tell us the truth, alright?" Daffodil suggested. 

"I agree." Professor Tacitus nodded. 

"Sure," The orange cat said, "Then after this can I get more cake?"

"Okay." Paradise smiled. Glancing down at Garfield, she chuckled. "Fine, just a minute. As long as you're quiet." 

Galaxy Nebula stood up. "Looks like we're doing that, then. Let me go get Mocha." He trotted back to the hallway. 

"Oh, hi, Galaxy..." Mocha stood there, smiling sheepishly. "Um... Valerium's going to sleep now." 

"That's alright, Mocha. We kinda want to talk to you." The TARDIS-blue pegasus responded. 

Mocha gulped. Are my friends going to hate me? I hope they don't... I haven't done anything wrong... "Alright."

~~~

Joy shook from fear. She had been taken to the Changeling Hive, and was in a holding cell, as if she was a prisoner. 

Queen Chrysalis stood before her on the other side of the bars. "Why did you leave for so long?" She demanded to know. Her green eyes starred into Joy's new hazel irises. 

"U-Uhm..." 

"Why do you have a cutiemark?" 

"I...I..."

The Queen slid her foreleg through the bars and put her hoof under her daughter's chin. "You betrayed me..." Snatching her hoof away, she turned her back to the smaller Changeling. "You betrayed me!"

"I-I'm sorry..."

"No you are not!" Queen Chrysalis sighed. Grinning, she lit up her horn and illuminated the room in light green. A white skinned Changeling stood in the back of the room. If it wasn't for her lighter body and large eyes Joy wouldn't have seen her. 

"Princess Masquerade, come here." Queen Chrysalis said. 

"Princess Masquerade?" Joy muttered under her breath. 

The lightly colored Changeling approached the Queen. She had large red eyes and the same exact mane and tail as Joy. Her mark resembled Joy's, but as a broken heart instead of a full one. The only difference is that she looked more like an earth pony instead of a Changeling. 

The princess bowed. "Yes, mother?" 

Chrysalis grinned. "Transform, and meet your older sister." She glanced at Joy. 

Red light filled the room, then bright green. After the long flashes of light went away, what was left in place was a half transparent, half white Changeling with a straight black and white striped mane, no mark, and red eyes. Almost exactly how Joy had been before she was reformed. 

Holes covered her legs, and her partially red bug-like wings covered her back. Her short Changeling horn pointed to the sky, and a small tiara sat on her head. It was black, with a bright red gem in the middle, with an emerald on both sides. 

Princess Masquerade smiled. "Salutations."

Joy looked at her, and her jaw dropped. "U-Uhm... Uhm hi..." 

"You seem shocked," Chrysalis observed, "Did you think you were the only one?"

"You always told me I was." Joy had to get herself together. She lowered her eyebrows and closed her mouth.

"Yes, I did. That was to keep you both safe. When I sent you out on your first mission, it was a test of real world bravery. Apparently you were too cowardly for it. When Masquerade came back, I told her about you, then we had her princess coronation, earning her the name Princess Masquerade for her beautiful shapeshifting skills." The Queen looked at her younger daughter and smiled. 

The princess smiled back. "So you're the one I was always told about. Nice to meet you." 

Before Joy could say anything, a messenger Changeling flew into the room. "Queen! Princess! Important news!" He landed, breathing heavily. 

"What is it?" Chrysalis asked him. 

Gathering breath, he responded, "The attack... It failed...b-but-"

"It failed?!" Chrysalis shouted. Angered, she looked at Masquerade. "How did it fail?!"

"N-now wait a minute..." The princess replied nervously, "We have my sister here, and I did report him going to the hospital after being hit... That's a large enough distraction." 

"Did you hit him on the head, the temple?"

The princess nodded. "Of course."

"Then what happened?!"

"But", The messenger interjected, "Our spies say that due to the accident, and the ponies involved, they are beginning into believe that it's the coffee shop mare and her coltfriend behind everything. They don't even suspect us!" 

Chrysalis stared at him. Then, she burst out laughing. "O-oh, that's-" she laughed harder, "that's the most crazy thing I've heard! Ha! They really didn't suspect us?!" 

"Heh, nope!" The messenger changeling snickered. 

Masquerade forced a laugh. "Haha, yeah... See, it worked out..." 

Joy sat down and looked up at the Queen. I have to get out of here... Save my friends... Tell them what's going on... How could I have a sister? All the Changelings are family... But... I'm abnormal... She is too? Th-that doesn't matter... I need to escape... Sister... Friends... Mom... Friends... Hatred... Love... 
> Chapter Six
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

		Wind slapped against bat pony Breeze's face as she flew through the air. "Aww, yeah!" She flew faster. The hyper pony had always loved the feel of cold air pressing against her fur. 

Looking down, she spotted a tree. Deciding to land on it, she pulled out a notebook piece of paper. "Alrighty, gotta get... Who?" She mumbled to herself. 

Quillton and Sunset had put together a list of ponies for Breeze to talk to. They were also some of Mocha's close friends, and if they knew anything or wanted to help, these ponies were the most likely candidates. 

"First off..." Breeze whispered to herself, "Thunderbolt Sentinel." 

Folding the paper and putting it back where she got it from- where ever that was -she launched back into the sky. "Hey, I know him!" Breeze darted off. 

The yellow pegasus was trotting through town on his way home from work. He is one of Princess Twilight Sparkle's guards. Breeze landed in front of him, causing the stallion to jump back from surprise. "Woah! Hey there, Breeze!"

"What's up?" Breeze grinned. Before Sentinel could reply, she jumped up and did a loop in the air and shouted, "Me, of course! Hey, you know Mocha, right? 'Nilla Mocha, that mare that drinks all the coffee?"

"Yeah, why?" The guard asked. 

Breeze flapped her wings. "Um, you see... There's been a lot of drama. I'll explain on the way there. 

"On the way where?" 

"To the next pony on the list! Just flap those wings and follow." Breeze took off. Curious, Thunderbolt followed her. 

~~~

"What?" Pony Pint asked. Pint is a pale yellow unicorn mare with red and orange hair for her mane and tail. She looked at Breeze. 

"I want to know what's going on, too." Thunderbolt rolled his eyes. 

"Wait," A red stallion with brown hair and eyes asked, "If this means protecting one of my marefriend's friends, can I come along too?" 

"Sure, I guess. Uhm, what's your name?" Breeze asked. 

"Thunder Knight," the earth stallion replied with a smile.

"Great. Hey, is your sister's name Redrose Heart?" Breeze glanced down at her list, then back up at Pony Pint.

"Yeah, why?" The unicorn responded. 

"We need her, too."

~~~

"So that's why I gathered ya'll, okay?" Breeze tiredly huffed as she walked down the road to Galaxy's house. 

The six ponies behind her nodded. A red mare earthling, named Jinx Parody, was found next. She has a black and white striped mane and tail with her left eye orange and her right one green. Then the five had found Film Reel, a blue unicorn stallion with blue eyes, and red mane and tail, and glasses. 

"Great... Now... Galaxy..." The batmare knocked on the door. 

Quilton answered it. "Gala- oh, hi Breeze." 

"Galaxy... Yes... Where?" She could barely keep her eyes open. 

Sighing, the stallion replied, "Still at Valerium's, I presume." Looking past her, he saw the six ponies and smiled. "Hello, I'm Quillton Brooks. Please come in."

The six ponies entered, leaving Breeze outside. 

"Can I clock out now?" Breeze wheezed. 

Brooks chuckled. "Sure." 

"Thanks, oh, and I explained to them what's happening." Breeze flew off. 

"Thank you, dearie." Quillton shut the door behind the last pony in. Turning around, he looked at the group. "I am afraid that there's even more unfortunate news that Breeze didn't tell you, mostly because she probably didn't know."

Quillton told them the theory of Mocha being behind her whole attention-seeking shenanigan, but then followed up by stating he personally did not believe it to be true. 

"Not to mention Valerium." Crystal Harmony spoke up. 

Frost nodded. "Yes, and Joy."

Sunset sighed. "The Summer Sun Celebration is coming up soon. We need to get all of this drama out of the way as soon as possible. I came back from my other world to celebrate it with my coltfriend, Quillton. I don't need Mocha messing this up, or Joy, or whoever."

Everypony nodded. "I will do my best to help." Redrose smiled. 

"So will I. I talk to Mocha a lot, and she's not mean like that theory says." Film Reel added. 

"I know how to use the Force. Being taught by Master Yoda, I will try to maintain peace unless fighting is a complete need." Jinx commented. 

"Alright, sounds great!" Quillton smiled. However, if he had known what was about to happen, he would have been shaking due to the confused state of being in both fear and excitement. 

> Chapter Seven
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Wicked laughter sounded through the dark and cold chamber of the Changeling hive. Joy couldn't tell who it came from, but she knew that it was, in fact, familiar. Glancing up, the reformed pony spotted the queen and her younger sister. 

They had left to attend a meeting, and though it had only taken less than an hour, they were already back. Chrysalis was the one laughing. 

"Oh, yes... That was hilarious! I wish you could've seen it yourself." The Changeling ruler hackled. 

"Sounds very funny, yes..." Masquerade forced a wide smile, "Mind if I just talk to my sister alone? Please?" 

The queen looked at the princess. "Well, I assume that you wouldn't be crazy enough to let her out. I trust you." Her bright green eyes locked on Joy's hazel irises as she said those three words. Turning around and walking back up the stairs on which they came, the mother disappeared.

Masquerade sighed after the queen left. The smile faded as she looked at her older sister. "Hey."

Joy was taken back by this. Hey? "Uhm... Hello, Princess." Standing up, she bowed.

Masquerade sighed again. "You do not have to do that, sister." Her voice was a little higher than Joy's, but more buggier sounding, like their mother's. 

"O-oh... Alright." Joy blinked. 

Masquerade sat down beside the cell. "I bet you're worried, aren't you?"

Joy's heartbeat increased. What is she doing? 

"I won't hurt you." Masquerade added, "In fact, I admire you." Her voice was quieter as she said that last part.  

Joy stood up taller. "What do you mean, you adm-"

"Shh," Masquerade's eyes widened, "Quieter, so that nochangeling hears."

"Well..." Joy whispered, "I was going to ask what you meant by that... That you admire me?"

Masquerade nodded. "Yes, I admire your bravery and courage."

Joy lowered her eyebrows in disbelief. "I'm still confused."

Masquerade stood up to be level with her sister. "You think you had a hard time being different, don't you? You think that I didn't? Why do you think I sent Queen Chrysalis away? Do you know what she would do to me if she heard I admired your escape?"

Joy gasped. "Y-you..."

Masquerade nodded slowly. "I wanted to run away and get rid of my fears and doubts. But, I was just too much of a pushover, so I stayed and listened to mother instead. I...I want to know what real love is."

"Real love?" Joy raised an eyebrow. This seems fishy...

The princess smiled. "Changelings don't know what love is, of course. We steal it from others. I want to be a pony... Like you."

"What?"

The Princess Changeling huffed. "I want to be like you, sister," She looked at Joy in the eyes, "I have felt the same pain you have. The sadness, the fears... I haven't felt happy here. We're different, but together, we're the same. Until you became one of... One of them... A pony... I-I want to... Too..." 

"Well, it didn't just happen overnight." Joy blinked, "Actually... It did. But you know what I mean! It... Wasn't the easiest process."

"How'd you do it?" Masquerade's muzzle and forehead leaned against the cell bars. 

Joy smiled. "I, well, I learned about friendship-"

"Friendship, hmm? You have friends, pony friends?"

"I, uh, yeah. I do have friends, as a matter of fact."

Masquerade gasped. "That's so cool! What're they like?"

"Well, one pony's name is Paradise, she's really sweet. Then there's Tacitus, and he's super smart. There's Frost, a really nice but shy mare, and Galaxy, who goes on crazy adventures with his friend Quillton... Then there's Daffodil, who is really good with fillies and colts, and my friend Mocha that owns a coffee shop..."

Masquerade nodded, taking in all the information. "I see, well, that's a lot of friends."

"Oh, that's just barely scraping the surface!" Joy smiled wider. 

The red color-schemed Changeling grinned. "Hey, I bet now that you're an Equestrian citizen, you do their customs and celebrate their holidays, right?"

Joy's eyes widened at the word 'holidays'. "Yes, in fact, my friend Mocha was going to have a huge party for a lot of us at her coffee shop for the Summer Sun Celebration... And I've gotta get back!"

Masquerade's grin widened. "I think I can help with that... When, exactly, is this Summer Sun Celebration?"

"Well, the Eve of The Summer Sun Celebration is tomorrow..." 

Masquerade nodded in understanding. "Perfect! Mother wanted me to have a dance soon -- a Masquerade Ball," she giggled, "And I think that when none of the Changelings are looking, we can escape! You can make me into a free pony like yourself, while you go back to your friends! Happy day for everychangeling, am I right?"

"Wow, Masquerade, that... that's amazing!" Joy clapped her hooves. 

"I know! This has been so great, uh..." Masquerade's smile left her face, "Forgive my lack of manners! Please, tell me, what's your name, my sister?"

"Joy, my friends named me Joy when I became a pony." The earthling smiled. 

"I like that name. Joy... Joy. Such a pretty name." Masquerade began to walk towards the door, "Remember, this is our secret." She winked and trotted up the stairs and out of the prison. 

"Yeah... It is." Joy smiled. 
> Chapter Eight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

       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!"
> Chapter Nine
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Mocha sighed. Her café was full of ponies, most of them being her friends. But she didn't want to talk to them. No, not after the events of yesterday. Tonight is the Summer Sun Celebration, and Mocha is determined to change things around for the better. However, she is not even sure how everything turned around for the worst, to begin with. 

Crystal Harmony trotted up to the unicorn mare. "Um...Excuse me, Vanilla?" 

Mocha looked at her and smiled. "Oh, um, hi Crystal."

"Yeah... Would you know where Galaxy is? He hasn't been back since yesterday."

"I thought... Wait... He left to go after Shadow, didn't he?" Mocha gasped, "That was the last time I saw him."

"Uh...huh. Are you sure?" She lifted an eyebrow. 

"Oh no, you too?" Mocha's smile faded. 

Crystal shook her head. "I honestly don't know who to believe. All I want is to have my Galaxy back... He's everything to me."

"I understand..." Mocha looked at her, "But yes, yesterday when he left after Shadow... That was when I last saw him." 

"Thanks, anyways." Crystal walked away. 

Mocha turned around and let out a heavy sigh. Why doesn't anypony trust me? What did I do that was so terrible?

The door to the coffee shop opened. Valerium walked in, with Shadow by his side. Mocha's eyes brightened when she saw her coltfriend, but who he was with caused a heavy feeling in her chest to fall towards her stomach. 

The pale batpony approached his marefriend. "Hey, Mocha..."

Vanilla Mocha didn't reply. She looked at him, waiting for him to continue talking. 

"You know... If you had never helped that Changeling, nothing would've ever happened." 

"Valerium... You don't... You don't think I did all of this, do you? Shadow thinks you're in it too!" Mocha stammered. 

Valerium held up at hoof. "Shush, and no, I don't think you did it. But what I do think is that Joy is behind all of it."

Vanilla smiled. "Oh, thank Celes-"

"If you didn't help her, none of this would've happened." His red eyes stared at Mocha. 

The mare blinked. "What do you mean?" 

"Well, Shadow brought up an interesting point. If you hadn't ever forgave her, we wouldn't have, and then she would've gone back home instead of gaining our trust she didn't deserve." 

"So it's all my fault?" Mocha huffed. 

"No, it's just that is the reason why so many ponies are blaming us. Sweetie, don't-"

"That's not what it sounded like, Valerium. It sounded more like I'm the only one responsible."

"You... Kinda are."

"No, I'm not." Vanilla frowned, "Valerium... What's gotten into you?"

"Me? You think I'm the one that's messing up around here?" Valerium's tone of voice changed. He sounded annoyed. 

"I was only trying to help her-" 

"No, Mocha... You shouldn't have helped her. Changelings are evil, they're bloody monsters that will always be evil! You were the one to help her become a pony, now she's taken advantage of that crazy transformation that I bet was a hoax the whole time! She's not reformed, Mocha, she's just lying to you!" 

"But...she didn't lie... We both know her, she wouldn't have done that..." The unicorn whispered softly. 

"Now I am beginning to think you're behind this. You don't want to admit it, do you? Shadow and Charm were right, Mocha; all you want is attention! Well, ya know what, until you admit it, I won't give you any!" Valerium snapped, turning away from her. 

Mocha was breathing heavily, scared by her coltfriend's sudden change in attitude and opinion. Tears watered in the corners of her eyes. "Shop's closed!" She darted to the back room. The ponies that were her customers, and not her friends, left the cafe. However, all of Mocha's friends stayed behind. 

Valerium sighed. He slowly walked over to a table and sat alone. 

Quillton glanced out the window and saw Vanilla Mocha trotting towards the direction of her home. She was crying. "Valerium, why did you..." Turning his head to face him, he saw Paradise Oasis sitting with him. "Oh, Celestia..."

"Paradise, can you not? I want to be alone..." The stallion laid his head against the table. 

"Aww, but I really wanted to hang with ya, ya know?" Paradise smiled, "I just wanted to ask you something... Since you're not giving anypony else any attention." 

Valerium shuffled in the seat. 

"I really liked that idea you had, that it all comes back down to 'Nilla helping reform Joy-"

"Paradise, can you just stop talking about her?"

"Joy...?"

"Mocha!"

"Oh... Geesh, sorry. Don't have to yell." The mare sat back in her seat. 

Breeze flew over to the table. "Oooh, Paradise! Are you doin' what I think you're doin'...?" She grinned. 

"Shush, shush shush shush shush!" Paradise giggled. 

Valerium looked up. "What...?"

"Paradise li-" 

"What Breeze is saying, is," Paradise interjected, "Is that me and her and you are going to be good friends, but that you and I are going to be great friends."

"Uhm hmm..." Valerium put his head back down. 

Paradise smiled widely. "Now that Mo- err, that barista, is outta the way, you might as well get to know us better! By us, I mean me, most of all." She nudged Breeze's side to push her away. 

Breeze trotted around to behind Valerium. "Hey, want my number? I'd give you Paradise's too, but I don't think she'd appreciate incoming calls from a stallion that's too good for her." 

"Too good for me?! Well, don't get me wrong, you're an amazing stallion, but I am more than I appear!" Paradise smacked the table. 

"Hey!" Quillton stood on the side of the table, between Paradise, Breeze and Valerium. "Breeze, come on. Paradise, don't mess with him. He obviously wants to be alone." 

Paradise sighed and leaned back in her chair. 

"Where are we going?" Breeze asked excitedly. 

"You are going to find Galaxy." Quillton trotted towards the door. 

"What about you?" Breeze asked the ginger maned earthling. 

"I," he said, "Will stay here. Help Mocha."

"Hey, where is she?" Breeze looked around. 

"She 'closed shop'. Ran home, tears all over her face. She was planning a party for tonight, for the Summer Sun Celebration. The rest of us... That wanna help... Will decorate the cafe for her. You and all of them," he pointed at the ponies near the door, "will find Galaxy. He's been missing for about twelve hours looking for Shadow, who is obviously right in here."

"Will do!" Breeze saluted him. 

The group of ponies near the door consisted of Film Reel, Thunderbolt Sentinel, Thunder Knight and Pony Pint. The five ponies left the cafe and began their search for the pegasus stallion. 

~~~

"So, whaddya think happened?" Film Reel asked the group. They had just got done searching Ponyville, and were about to enter the uninhabited area between Ponyville and Dodge Junction.

"Whatcha mean, Filmy?" Breeze asked. 

"About Mocha, and Joy." The pony with glasses replied.

"I for one think Shadow's making up stuff." Thunderbolt Sentinel responded. 

Breeze stopped. "Woah, Bolt! What makes you think that?" 

"Uhm," Sentinel looked at her, "Let's see, Mocha's our friend, she hasn't lied to me, and it's all just a theory."

Breeze grinned. "Wanna know why I believe Shadow?"

Everypony nodded.

"Because, Shadow's my friend, he hasn't lied to me, and it's a really good theory with a ton of backed up evidence!" She smiled. 

"I do have to agree with Breeze." Film Reel said. 

Pony Pint's eyes widened. "What? All she did is reword everything!"

"Very true." Thunder Knight added. 

"Listen, I don't wanna start a fight. I just want to know why everypony is arguing back there." Film said quietly. 

Even though he had said it at almost the volume of a whisper, the four ponies around him seemed to have heard him, because they all quieted down.
> Chapter Ten 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	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. 
> Chapter Eleven
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Hey, where's Redsopine?" Charming asked. He looked around.

Everypony stopped arguing, but not for long. Professor Tacitus sighed. 

"It would help if we knew why anypony was doing anything anywhere, right now." The stallion replied. 

"Just pointing out that he's not here." Charm mumbled.

"You know, he's probably comforting Mocha." Thunderbolt Sentinel suggested with a shrug. 

Frost smiled. "That's a good idea, actually. Some of us should trot over there and see if she's okay." She said quietly. 

Jinx nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that sounds good. I wanna help her."

"Why? Shadow's right." Paradise said. She still sat across from Valerium, whom had his face buried in his hooves.  

Redrose tilted her head. "Some of us still think our friend wouldn't lie to us."

Paradise Oasis shuffled her hooves. "Well then, do whatcha want, then. Don't come back crying, sayin' I was right, though."

Daffodil huffed. "Pary, c'mon, don't be that way." 

"I'm just saying that Shadow makes more sense than Mocha does. I'm still her friend, just comforting her coltfriend," She winked to Valerium, "and agreeing with Shadow."

"Why'd you wink to him?" Film Reel lifted an eyebrow. 

"Let's just hurry up and go help Mocha!" Garfield, the orange and black striped cat, interjected. He ran up to the front door and opened it. The four ponies, Frost, Daffodil, Jinx, and Redrose, walked out and began to make their way to Mocha's home.

~~~

Vanilla lay on her sofa, her house silent. She was quietly crying, her hooves clutched onto a gallon tub of chocolate ice cream with chex mix stirred in. 

"I'm a terrible friend... And marefriend..." She mumbled to herself, using her magic to pick up another spoonful of the chex mix covered ice cream. She stopped herself. "This is gross... I'm gross! But it tastes so... Good..." Mocha sniffled. 

A knock sounded from her door. 

Vanilla sniffled again, and stuck the cold treat in her freezer. Wiping her face with a tissue, she answered the front door. 

"Hey, Mocha. Feeling alright?" Jinx Parody asked. 

Mocha stood there, then a few long seconds later, shook her head "no".

The five friends walked inside and began to help her. Soon, about a half hour later, they walked back out again. Frost turned to face the door. "Mocha, are you sure you're not coming back?"

Vanilla smiled weakly. "No, I am. Let me just get myself together, you know, fix my mane and all. I do meet all my customers, after all. I don't think they'd appreciate a messy looking barista." 

The group smiled. "Good choice, Mocha." Daffodil Spark smiled. 

"See you in a few minutes!" Redrose called. 

Mocha waved to her friends and walked back inside and began to get ready for work. Her friends quickly returned to the coffee shop and began to tell everypony else that Mocha was coming back. However, more arguments arose. 

~~~

The sun was setting. The last day of spring was almost done, and the Eve of the Summer Sun Celebration was approaching quickly. Princess Masquerade and Joy trotted through town nonchalantly, heading to Mocha's cafe. 

"What are your friends like again?" Masquerade grinned. 

Joy smiled back. "They're amazing. So thoughtful, so caring. You'll love them." 

"Yeah... I think I will love them." Masquerade quietly said, her grin growing wider. 

Joy stopped walking. "That, right there," She pointed a hoof out, "That's Mocha's cafe."

"And... How do you know all of your friends are there?"

"Before you kidnapped me," Joy rolled her eyes, "She was talking to her friends about doing a party for the celebration. I'm pretty sure they're all inside, talking nicely, having a great time. Gosh, I miss 'em."

Masquerade smiled sheepishly. "Sorry about the dramatic way of imprisoning you. Mother requested it... Another reason why I want to leave the hive so, so badly..." She smirked. 

"Let's go meet my friends, okay?" Joy stepped forward. 

Masquerade grinned. She leaped in front of Joy, and kicked open the cafe's door. "Behold, your new lord!" 

"Masquer-!" Joy screamed. A changeling guard flew in from nowhere and picked her up. 

The princess grinned wider. Just perfect... 

Everypony, except for Mocha, was in the cafe. They were all arguing and fighting until Masquerade had interrupted. They were silent now; gazing up at her with worried expressions, the group of 'friends' remained quiet. 

"I will now steal all of your love, and there is nothing you can do about it!" The Changeling paused. "That's so cliche... Oh!" She looked at them, her red eyes sparkling. "You will never get away from the deadly grasp of my power! I will feed off of your love, and provide all of it to my subjects! You silly, stupid, ponies! Your little friend Joy didn't fool me, yet I fooled her: remember this day as your last, because I am Princess Masquerade, and I will avenge my hive!" Masquerade broke into psychotic laughter, standing on her hind legs. 

Then, the unexpected happened. Masquerade gasped loudly, suddenly searching for breath. She landed on all four hooves, then collapsed to the ground. Her eyes rolled back and closed. Due to all of the arguments, there was no true friendship or love in the building, and Princess Masquerade had a heart attack. 
> Chapter Twelve
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Shadow gasped. Thoughts rushed through his mind, then he began to smile. "I knew all along it was Mo-" 

"Hey, guys..." Vanilla Mocha trotted in from the back. She had dried all of her tears away, though her eyes and nose were still pink. She wore a light green apron. 

Everypony turned to face her, their facial expressions becoming even more shocked. When Vanilla saw Masquerade on the ground, her jaw dropped.

Masquerade weakly lifted herself off the wooden floor. Her chest ached with pain, but she couldn't let it defeat her. Not now. 

"Mocha? Is that... What?" Shadow whispered. 

The unicorn turned to face him. 

"What... Is going on?" He asked her. 

Masquerade exhaled heavily. "I'll tell you what's going on..." She looked into everyone's eyes before continuing, "I am Princess Masquerade, and I will succeed in destroying you all... Your little friend Joy isn't here to save you, either!" 

"Princess... Masquerade?" Mocha tilted her head in puzzlement. 

"Don't act dumb, Mocha. You know that's Joy, you know you're behind all of this!" Shadow's friend, Charm, said. 

Valerium stood up. "No," he trotted towards his marefriend, "She doesn't know." He hugged her tightly. "I missed you..." He whispered. 

Mocha hugged him back, even tighter. "I missed you, too..." Glancing up at the Changeling, she gritted her teeth. "I know you!"

"Oh, do you?" Masquerade lifted an eyebrow. 

"You... You are the one that stood at my front door, weren't you? You're the one Galaxy saw outside my window, you're the- you're evil Joy!" Mocha snapped. Then, her eyes widened and she gasped. "So Joy really wasn't really evil..."

"Right you are, barista! But what good will that do you now?" Closing her eyes, Masquerade's red fog filled the building. "There's no escaping!"

"You look a bit young to be a Changeling Princess and fighter, even younger than Joy, if I must say." Quillton interjected, "And Joy is a lot younger than us." 

The Changeling looked at him. "Well, yes, I am her younger sister. Just because I'm not a full grown mare it doesn't mean I still can't avenge my family!"

"What exactly did we do to you?" Frost asked quietly.

Daffodil nodded. "Yeah, like, all we did is sit here."

"The breath from your lungs was enough to make me hate you!" Masquerade wheezed. She was still hurting inside from the heart attack.

"That's just rude," Jinx Parody commented. 

Thunder Knight and Pony Pint nodded in agreement. 

"Wait, Joy is your sister?" Breeze asked. 

Masquerade rolled her eyes. "Nah, she's totally unrelated to me."

Breeze grunted. "I was just asking."

Paradise Oasis put her hoof to her chin. "Hmm, where is Joy?" 

"Do you really think that I'd tell you?" Masquerade yelled. "There's no finding her! I am the Princess of Changelings, and what I say goes! Got that?!"

As if on cue, Redsopine ran in from the front door. Standing behind Masquerade, he had somepony on his back. It was Joy. 

Everypony in the room gasped once more. 

"I was watching in the bushes earlier. Saw 'em walking. When they got closer, Masquerade had a servant fly in and attempt to take Joy back. Luckily I beat him up and rescued her." Redsopine said. 

"Joy?!" Shadow exclaimed, "B-but how?! That's Joy!" He pointed to Masquerade. 

"No, Mocha was right all along," Film Reel whispered, "W-wow... Mocha, we're sorry."

"Yeah... Sorry about trying to prove you wrong, Vanilla. It all just seemed so coincidental and convenient to be true." Shadow Wing replied. 

Vanilla Mocha smiled. "It's alright, I forgive you. It's not the first time about half of my friends turned against me, after all. No harm done." 

Masquerade grinned. "Are you sure about that, barista?" 

"Masquerade...?" Joy interrupted. She trotted forward, "What are you doing?"

"What all Changelings do, of course." The masked princess smirked, "What did you think I am here for, a pretty pony dress-up tea party or something?" 

"Eh, I dunno, maybe." Galaxy's finance, Crystal, said. 

Masquerade growled at that. 

Tacitus chuckled. "You're not so scary, Masquerade."

"Maybe she's just upset about something." Sentinel suggested. 

Garfield smiled. "Yeah, like maybe she's hungry. I know I am."

"I could help you feel better if you'd like, Masquer-" Redrose began. 

"I'm not trying to be scary and I feel fine!" She snapped back, cutting off the pink pony. 

Joy began to cry. "I... I trusted you, sister..." Tears rolled down her cheeks. 

"It's so sad that you're a pony, isn't it? Didn't even know I was feeding off your love the whole time in the cell, did you?"

"You... Did?" Joy cried softly. 

Masquerade nodded. "And I'm hungry for more..." She turned to face the ponies and cat in front of her, and grinned. 
> Chapter Thirteen
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The room was cold and dark. The air was light, though it seemed to be dead. There was no breeze of any kind. The wooden floor chilled the hooves of the ponies, and the paws of Garfield the cat. Silence filled the cafe, leaving the only noises to be heard to be the slight inhaling and exhaling of the nervous group of friends. 

Princess Masquerade's red eyes shone from the other side of her mask. Her irises seemed to make her white and black color scheme fade together into one solid gray mass. 

Her sister, Joy, was shaking. From both the cold and fear, her knees wobbled and her teeth shivered. "I trusted you!" Joy shouted, breaking the silence, as tears began to form in her eyes. She was already lightly crying, but everypony knew it was just the beginning. 

"I can't believe you didn't see that it was all planned!" The younger Changeling laughed. 

Joy sniffled. "What do you mean?" 

"If you had only read between the lines," Masquerade stood up taller and blew her mane from her face, "If you had only not been so naïve to judge by first impressions."

"What is she suggesting?" Jinx asked, leaning over to Breeze. She whispered very quietly. 

Breeze sighed. "I'm not exactly sure."

Daffodil leaned in. "Perhaps she means that because she's a Changeling, you should be careful about who you trust."

"That seems logical, " Paradise whispered as she joined the conversation, "In fact, that makes a lot more sense now."

Breeze nodded at that. 

"You won't get away with whatever you're planning!" Joy exclaimed, trying to stay strong. At least sound strong. 

"It's too late!" Masquerade's high pitched voice shouted back. 

"What do you mean?" Thunderbolt Sentinel huffed from the crowd of ponies. 

Princess Masquerade smirked wickedly. "All of this was planned; I hope you realize that. Within minutes, my loyal and deserving subjects will accompany me in seeking revenge!", she pounded the hardwood floor with her hoof, "To top it off, my mother, Queen Chrysalis, is on her way as well. I'm not fighting alone, or winning alone either!"

Joy's hazel eyes fell to the floor. "No... They aren't." She mumbled before turning around to face her group of friends. "Alright, I know this sounds crazy, but, you can trust me. If you want to win, this is what we need to do."

Masquerade stood behind her, rolling her eyes. 

"A Changeling's weakness is weakness itself. I know that we all want to be friends again,  but in order to not let them win, we need to keep arguing. I don't want to tear apart your friendship, but Changelings can't survive in a place without love. Even if it's just acting. Look, she had a heart attack the first time... I don't want to harm her. But she'll harm you worse if we don't take action."

The ponies and cat nodded. Shadow grinned. "I still say Mocha's behind all of this." He winked. 

"It's obvious that two Changelings are right in front of us!" Galaxy argued back. He smiled.

"What if Mocha was a Changeling?" Quillton asked. 

Paradise Oasis giggled. "Then we'd have three in front of us!"

"But she's not!" Valerium interjected. 

His marefriend, Vanilla Mocha, smiled. 

"I say that Mocha's food and coffee is really gross. Who wants to argue?" Garfield, the orange and black striped cat, said. Leaning towards the unicorn, he whispered, "Not really."

Mocha smiled to him too. "I know."

"I think her coffee is delicious!" Redrose Heart shouted. 

"Yeah!" Pony Pint added, "And that Rainbow Dash is the coolest Wonderbolt!"

Tacitus decided to join in the argument. "Nope, I'd have to say that Soarin is!"

"I kinda prefer all of them." Shy Frost whispered. 

Pony Pint laughed. "Me too," then, she stopped and narrowed her eyes, "But Dash is best!"

"Who cares about that when you have the whole of space and time to travel and study?" Sunset Shimmer interrupted. 

"Personally, I kinda like staying home." Quillton winked to her. 

"I guess I'll take the TARDIS for myself, then!" Galaxy sneered. His finance Crystal giggled at that. 

"Pfft, what's the point of using a TARDIS when you can fly?" Paradise Oasis flew above them and hovered. "I've gone on plenty of adventures with these two things!" 

"Adventure is my life! I fight enemies like nopony else!" Redsopine interjected. 

Charming Thunder shrugged. "I prefer to relax, myself." 

Pony Pint's coltfriend, Thunder Knight, added, "Relaxation is overrated. That's all ponies want now."

Vanilla Mocha opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Masquerade interrupted her. "Alas! My faithful army has arrived to help conquer the defeat!" 

Changelings filled the streets outside of Mocha's cafe. Queen Chrysalis kicked open the door and trotted inside. Her green eyes found Masquerade, and then Joy. 

"Oh no..." Joy whispered. Everypony became silent. 

The queen grinned widely. "I am very excited to see so many ponies in such a small place," she began, "I can already feel the love!" 

"But we're arguing!" Thunderbolt Sentinel growled. 

"No, you weren't. It wasn't real. Half of you were laughing, anyways." Masquerade mumbled. Even though it was meant to be quiet, everypony could hear her. 

"I will now finish what my first special daughter was sent out to do," The queen glanced at Joy, "I will find food for my subjects! And with the help of my youngest special daughter, the new princess, I have!" 

"I found the food..." Masquerade continued to mumble. 

"We will now feed off of these ponies!" Chrysalis cackled, standing on her back legs. 

"Wait!" Joy shouted. Breathing heavily, she stepped in front of the group of ponies -- and cat. "I will make you an offer."

"Oh?" Chrysalis tilted her head. "Go on."

Joy gulped. Her heart skipped a beat, but that only meant her love was being abducted. "I... I will go back to the hive with you, and do whatever you want me to do, if you spare my friends."
> Chapter Fourteen
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Oh no, you don't!" Thunderbolt Sentinel growled. Joy was about to walk out the door with the Changelings; she was willing to sacrifice herself to keep her friends safe. 

Joy looked back at him and let out a soft sigh. "I have to, if I want to keep the rest of you all safe."

"Do you trust them?" Redrose interjected. Stepping forward, she added, "They lied to you, remember?"

Breeze folded her arms and huffed. "And basically ruined the last few days of your life." 

"Are you sure you can trust the queen, after what your own sister did? Blood is blood... There's no denying it. They're just alike!" Paradise Oasis explained. 

"Listen Joy... You've gotta make a choice. Whatever that choice is... Do it out of brain. Not out of heart. That'll only hurt you worse." Professor Tacitus's voice spoke softly. 

Joy began to sweat nervously. 

"You're my daughter, I wouldn't dream of hurting you." Chrysalis lowered her neck and whispered into Joy's ear. 

Masquerade mumbled something afterwards, but nopony could tell what she said. 

Moments passed by in silence. Joy's face scrunched up as she thought hard about her choice. Then, she let out a heavy breath. "To save my friends, I will go." Joy turned around and began to step out of the cafe. But before she could walk outside into the evening, all of her friends began to hold her back. 

"You don't want to end up like your sister!" Crystal shouted. 

"You're a pony, Joy." Frost stated. 

Galaxy began to hug Joy. "You don't deserve to go back!" 

Before the reformed Changeling could tell what was going on, all of her friends were hugging her. Almost all of them. 

"I'm allergic to hugs." Quillton Brooks narrowed his eyes in disgust. 

Sunset Shimmer frowned. "Then I won't kiss you anymore."

Quillton scratched at his head and sighed. "Fine. This is the only dimension I'll hug in, though." The time traveler tapped his chin with his hoof, "And the only five minutes, too." He stepped forward and stood beside Sunset, joining in on the group hug. 

Queen Chrysalis began to smile widely. "Yes... Yes! Quick, my minions, feed off of their love!" 

Tens and hundreds of Changelings crammed in, absorbing the group's friendship. Princess Masquerade stood off to the side, watching. The twenty or so ponies -- and cat -- stood in the middle of the room, all stretched over Joy. They weren't being commanded do to anything like her siblings were; the ponies just... Did it. 

"Masquerade!" The voice that shouted belonged to the queen. 

The Princess lost her train of thought and quickly looked at her mother. "Yes?"

"I said to go feed."

"You... Only ordered your minions to." Masquerade tilted her head. 

Chrysalis sighed. "You are one of them, aren't you? Just because you're prettier and the heir to the throne doesn't make you not their sibling, now does it?"

Masquerade lowered her head. She lifted a hoof into the air, about to trot over to the group. But then, something happened. 

Joy's hazel eyes lit up with bright light. Blinding all of the ponies and changelings around her, Joy began to levitate in the air. With a loud bang, the glowing in Joy's eyes exploded, creating a large sphere of force and light. It emerged from her body and expanded, pushing away all of the Changelings. 

Her heart rushing, Masquerade jumped into the group hug. In what seemed like a split second, all of the other Changelings were gone. Similar to what happened at the Canterlot Wedding, the bug-like creatures were expelled and banished. 

Rubbing her temples, Joy landed on the ground. Dizzy, she looked up at her sister. "Masquerade?"

The white Changeling's mask had been pushed off of her face and had fallen onto the floor, revealing her face to be covered in white fur, and her large red eyes to be the same of those of a pony. 

"Why are you here?!" Garfield hissed. 

"I-I saw something..." The princess stuttered. 

Thunder Knight rolled his eyes. "Huh, yeah right! What did you see?"

"I saw... All of you."

"Duh! But really, why didn't you get blasted away with your fam?" Breeze questioned. 

"I... Am not sure," Masquerade sighed, "I should go..."

"Wait." Shadow Wing stepped forward, "Don't move. We need to know why you're here. For the while that I've been here this week... I've learned things don't just happen for no reason, randomly." He cracked a smile to Mocha. 

"Well, um, alright..." Masquerade whispered. 

"Now, why are you here, exactly? You jumped in for a reason." Valerium asked. 

The young Changeling sighed. She lowered her neck, looking at the dark wooden floor below her hooves. She gulped, and then glanced back up at the rest of the ponies surrounding her. Her red eyes began to water. "I-I... I want to be your friend." 
> Chapter Fifteen
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	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.