Welcome to Gaia! ::

Dude Food wasn’t surprised Royal We screamed, it wasn’t pleasant but it did have the benefit of partially deafening him so that his mother’s ire was just a ringing in his ears.

How foolish he had been and he certainly couldn’t blame his mother for being worried. Not that he really thought he deserved whatever punishment she would have in store for him. Probably dishwashing at Cloud 9 for a week. Dude Food wasn’t sure whether to bury his face in his hooves or reach out and make sure Royal wasn’t having a panic attack. In the end he did neither, merely sat and blinked at his mother.

Pink Lemonade looked fierce and bedraggled, her hair plastered to her head. “Alright, both of you out,” she snapped. “We’ll take your friend home first.”

Dude Food grabbed his backpack, slung it over his shoulders and thought as quick as his usually lazy mind could, the words tumbling out, “he can’t go home yet.” No, he wasn't trying to save Royal from returning to a ladybug infested house, he was trying to buy himself some time. PL would be a lot less harsh with company around and once they got home his dad would be there to calm her down.

Pink Lemonade’s eyes narrowed. Thunder rumbled overhead.

Dude Food gulped. “He uh, doesn’t know the way home? He got lost.”

She didn’t look convinced but nodded once, sharply. “He can call his parents from our house.” Then something occurred to her and her voice lowered, slightly kinder, attention on Royal, “do you have parents, sweetheart?” Because that wasn’t always a given. Not in Phonyland.

Dude Food was grateful. Not just for Royal’s reassuring presence at his side (it was good to have an ally of sorts when his mum was on the warpath) but for the softly murmured and wholly unexpected apology. He also felt a tiny bit smug and almost wanted to point at the terrifying pink mare and shout, ‘see!’. Royal We seemed to get it anyway and Dude Food grinned, bumped his hip against his friend and rumbling back, “I’ll take you up on that. I promise I’ll scare off all the ladybugs.”

After that there wasn’t much time to talk, Pink Lemonade set them off at a brisk march, intent on getting them out of the rain as soon as possible. Once they reached their home, Dude Food realised his tactical error. Just because Royal We was there did not mean his mother would lessen her reign of terror and Dude Food got chewed up and spit out and sent to his room almost as soon as they were inside.

With a long-suffering sigh Pink Lemonade offered Royal We the phone. “He worried me sick.” She tutted softly. “Now call your parents and let them know you’re alright.”