ESF: The Terror of Crowley

The whole event started on an ordinary typical day in town. It wasn't typical and ordinary today though. Everypony knew Galaxy was MIA, and started to worry. Hell, even I did. Galaxy was my best friend since we met one day at an elementary school. Since then, we became the best of friends. 'The two geniuses of Ponyville' we were called. That was true, in fact. These days Ponyville was lifeless, almost empty. I barely saw anypony on the street, including my own friends. Sunset and myself were walking toward's Mocha's cafe one afternoon, still worried. Mocha heard the door and gave us a small smile. "Anything?" She asked me. I shook my head. Her ears dropped.

"Still no word from Galaxy. I'm starting to worry, and I'm not the worrying type." I admitted. Mocha sighed, and used Twilight's breathing technique to calm her nerves.

"OK. Maybe he's just in another town or something?" Mocha asked questionably. "I mean, if I needed to cool off and clear my head, I'd go to either Fillydelphia or Canterlot. Galaxy always did love Canterlot, didn't he?" She added. I nodded. Sunset stepped up.

"Well, one thing's for sure. Luna and Celestia know something is up. Sadly, they won't tell us." Sunset said. "Neither will Twilight, either." My wife added. Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Luna was taking her mid-day nap. She tossed and turned before entering her dreamworld. She gasped when she saw what she was standing on.

"Where am I?" The Night Princess demanded. She heard a laughter, and her face twisted in seriousness. "I know that laugh. Show yourself, you coward!" She shouted into the void. A small rift opened up, with the laughter again. Soon, a grey pegasus who's eyes and irises were both crimson red, with a black mane and tail, and a red tie around his neck was standing in front of Luna.

"Well, look who's finally here." The pegasus chuckled. "Princess Luna, my favorite princess! Come to see little ol' me again?" He asked. Luna sneered.

"Crowley." She spat with distaste. Crowley was not amused.

"Oh, come on, Lulu! Where's the love?!" He asked. Luna was still sneering. "Anyways, onto business. I'm sure you know why I'm here." The grey pegasus said. Luna nodded.

"Yes. To throw Equestria into a never-ending inferno of Hell and unleash all of your demon subjects." Luna replied. Crowley chuckled.

"You know me so well, Lulu." He laughed. "You know, it's funny how dumb some of you ponies are." Crowley smirked. "Oh, about little ol' Galaxy, he's alive, but, he's not going to last much longer where he is." Crowley chuckled.

"So you've had Galaxy Nebula!" Luna growled. "Why would you take him?" She demanded. Crowley laughed.

"You didn't think I would let Mr. Nebula try and stop me like he did some of my clients, did you?" Crowley inquired. "No. So, what's a demon got to do? I kidnapped Galaxy and brought him to Tartarus with me. He's been keeping me company until I'm strong enough to return, which will be soon, Lulu." The red-eyed demon explained. Luna growled.

"Begone, Crowley! You have no place in our world!" She ordered. The grey pegasus made a growling noise.

"Maybe not yet, princess, but things are about to change!" Crowley shouted before Luna woke with a start. Her heart was thumping hard in her chest as she tried to settle her heart-rate down. It was nighttime, time for her to be out and about.

"I have to find Quillton Brooks and tell him where Galaxy is. Only Galaxy and his friends can fight Crowley." Luna said as she threw off her covers and flew towards my cottage. She knocked on the door three times. No answer. As soon as she began to walk away I opened the door, rubbing my eyes.

"Princess?" I asked. Luna turned to me. "Is everything OK, your highness?" I asked her. Luna shook her head.

"No, everything is not OK, Quillton Brooks." She told me. I cringed.

"I'm sorry, princess, but Galaxy's still MIA at the current moment." I replied. She groaned in defeat.

"That I know. However, I may happen to know where he is." She told me. My heart did a full leap.

"You do?" I asked her. She nodded. "Well, then we better talk tomorrow. I'm heading back to bed, princess. If you like, you are welcome to stay with me and Sunset until whatever it is that's going on is over." I offered. She smiled.

"Thank you, Quillton. I would like that very much." Luna said. Meanwhile, in Crowley's prison, a familiar blue pegasus could be seen, a long chain clasped around his neck. Galaxy's eyes snapped open, and he struggled against the chain.

"Come on, come on!" He growled. The chain didn't budge. "Damn it!" He sighed. "How am I supposed to get out of here?" He asked no one. Galaxy's eyes adjusted to his surroundings, trying to grasp the view of the predicament he was in. "Captured by a red-eyed demon who wants to throw my home into a never ending inferno." He muttered to himself. "I just hope the guys are doing alright without me." He wondered. Then, Galaxy's ears shot up as he heard a noise that sounded like a laugh. He gasped as Crowley took shape and his shadow loomed over the blue pegasus. Crystal woke with a start and panted heavily.

"Just a nightmare, Crys." She told herself. Crystal didn't want to believe it was real. A knock came from her bedroom door and Melody Note walked in, concerned.

"Mom? Is everything OK? I heard you wake up like something startled you." Melody said. Crystal nodded.

"Everything's fine, sweetie. Mom just had a nightmare, is all." The purple pegasus told her daughter. Melody hugged her mother and walked back to her room. Crystal looked at the picture of her and Galaxy at their school's senior prom. "It wasn't a nightmare, was it?" She asked herself. "I need to find Mocha and Quillton." Crystal said as she threw off her covers and headed into town. OK, let me stop you guys right here for a moment to say that this is all true. This whole adventure really did happen to us. Oh, you don't believe me, do you? Well, then sit your impatient flanks down, shut your muzzles, and pay attention to the story. Are we all seated? Good. Now where was I? Ah, yes! Crystal was heading to Mocha's cafe with urgent news. Fortunately for her, Luna had the same piece of news, so she wouldn't have to do a lot of explaining.