Chapter 13:
Chaos At Sweet Griffon Apple Acres
Meanwhile, back at Sweet Griffon Apple Acres, things weren't doing so well as Skybeak came along with Terramar with a sign, a hammer, and other things to prepare for the auction, even if he didn't want to. After getting everyone ready, Skybeak moved to the fence and started hammering a sign saying, "Public Auction, all land property, and resident, Thursday, Sept 24" to the ground.
After he was done hammering the sign in, Skybeak sighs and sadly walked by Thorax, Ember, and the Crusaders as they watched the sheriff made his way to the building and they each looked like as if things weren't going good.
Being unsure why Gallus, Smolder, and Ocellus aren't back yet, Applebloom asked in confusion and said, "I don't understand. Aren't Gallus, Ocellus, and Smolder suppose to be coming back?".
"Thorax, Ember, what's gonna happen to us if they don't come back?" Scootaloo asked.
"Don't worry, they're coming back. Everybody comes back after their mission," Thorax said, trying to light up the mood.
"Oh, come on, Thorax! We all know they're never ever comin' back!" Grampa Gruff said as he came out of his home. He was always the one to be a downer.
"What?! Ooh! Ooh!" Rarity exclaimed in worry and alarm.
"You don't know that, Gruff," Ember said, growling in anger.
"Of course I do. Everybody knows that we Griffons are the most intelligent and craftiest animals in the West. It doesn't take a few kid griffons to figure out the problem. They just saw the writing on the wall, and flown the coop while the getting was good," Grampa Gruff stated when he came over to the others.
"What?!" Thorax, Ember, and the Crusaders asked in unison, looking at Gruff with skeptical looks. They would hate to think that their young friends abandoned them.
"Oh no! They tricked us! And deserted us!" Rarity exclaimed in panic and despair.
"No, no, Ra-Rarity," Thorax said, trying to calm Rarity down.
Soon everyone started panicking and running around the place at the thought of the Young 3 leaving them.
"Excuse me, Excuse me," Thorax shouted, trying to get their attention, but to no avail.
Rolling his eyes and having about enough, Thorax turned to Scootaloo and said, "Scootaloo. Do your thing,".
"Excuse Me!" Scootaloo screamed loudly. She was quite loud for a little Hippogriff.
Everyone stopped and froze as they turned to her and the others. Seeing that Scootaloo's scream caught their attention and everyone was quiet, Thorax was the first to speak and said, "Look everybody, I know we're all a little scared. But let's not forget who we're talkin' about here,".
"Thorax is right. Rarity, remember when Ocellus helped you and me figure out that fashion pattern?" Sweetie Belle asked as she turned to Rarity, who seemed to remembered.
Scootaloo turned her attention to Gruff and said, "And Grampa Gruff, Smolder knew just what to do when your head got stuck in that spittoon,".
"Hey! Get off my case!" Grampa Gruff said angrily as he glanced away.
"And Gallus said that he'll make us all winners," Applebloom said, reminding them.
"So you all see, as long as we have hope in them, I truly believe that there ain't nothing those 3 can't do," Thorax further encouraged them, still having hope in those kids.
Then they saw Skybeak walking by with a box and he gently placed it down and opens it revealing 4 chicks. The box lid was written, "Buy one. Get three free".
"Oh, dear," Rarity said, staring at the chicks with a broken heart. It was sad to see the chicks like that.
"I just hope whatever they're gonna do, they better do it soon and quick," Garble said with concern.
Skybeak went over to Pearl, who was right by the fence, and said, "I'm really sorry, Pearl. It's a real shame. It is,".
As Skybeak walks off, Terramar, who came along to help his dad, went over to Pearl and asked, "Hey, Aunt Pearl. You okay?".
"Oh, Terramar, I don't know what's worse. Losing my shelter to the highest bidder, or knowing that Gallus, Ocellus, and Smolder are lost and alone out there," Pearl said, looking between the sign and the wilderness as she brushed her hand against the top of Terramar's head while Terramar stood by her side offering what comfort he could.
They both looked out to the land and saw storm clouds were beginning to gather in the distance.
