16 - Sleepover at Flurry's

>"It's your move, Cozy!" groaned Flurry Heart.
>"I know that! Don't you think I know that? Of course, it's my move!" shot Cozy.
>"Then move already!"
>Flurry Heart lay on her belly in front of the chessboard by the crystal castle fireplace. The warm flames cast dancing shadows of the pieces across the floor. Cozy sat on her bottom, leaning forward as she studied the board, hovering her hoof over her pieces one at a time as she carefully decided which piece to move where.
>"Pass," said Cozy, flatly.
>"What? You can't pass!" shouted Flurry.
>"Can too, just did!" proclaimed Cozy.
>"Not-ah!"
>"uh-ha!"
>"Well I pass too."
>"You can't do that!" exclaimed Cozy.
>"Can too!"
>"No!"
>"Mom!" shouted Flurry.
>"Play nice, girls," echoed the voice of Cadance from somewhere down a hall and around a corner.
>"Fine!" huffed Cozy. "I put my alicorn next to your CozyMark."
>Flurry sighed, "It's not named after you, you know."
>"Well I don't see your cutie mark anywhere on the board," retorted Cozy.
>"I'm the alicorns! This whole set was hoof-crafted just for me!"
>"Whatever! It's your turn now."
>"I know it's my turn! Can I think about it?" asked Flurry.
>"A real chess player doesn't have to think," said Cozy, smugly.
>"Oh, is that why you take so long to move that I have to remind you?" winked Flurry.
>"Oh, ha-ha. You know, alicorns can fly, but I don't need magic to make all these other pieces fly too."
>"Yeah, Yeah," said Flurry. She picked up her rook and moved it away from Cozy's alicorn.
>Cozy rolled her eyes "Wrong way, Dummy. I was wide open for a check and one move away from mate."
>"I know what you're doing here."
>"And just what might that be?" asked Cozy as she leaned forward again, studying the board.
>"You're trying to lose."
>"I could say the same thing about you too!" Said Cozy, placing her alicorn one move away from check again.
>Flurry playfully gasped, "How dare you!" She studied the board for a moment before placing her own alicorn one move away from check. "Well, two can play at this game!"

>>34974705
>"Duh! It's a two-player game!" said Cozy. She moved her dragon bringing Flurry a number of moves further from check.
>The pieces were well mixed at this point, yet each and every one was still present and accounted for. The game had been going on for well over an hour, and no pieces were claimed by the opposing side.
>"You're not giving away your dragon that easy!" said Cozy as she moved her own dragon into the perfect kill box. Flurry would surely have to take it this time.
>"Oh. No?" asked Flurry, moving her dragon into a spot that protected Cozy's alicorn from any angle of attack.
>"Pass."
>"Pass."
>"Pass."
>"Pass."
>"Stop it!" yelled out Cozy.
>"Then move!"
>"Fine!" Cozy hops her alicorn away from Flurry's dragon into the only spot available for it. "Your, move."
>Flurry furrowed her brow. "That's not legal, is it?" She looked the board over, replaying the move in her head.
>"Sure is. You only have one move available, and then we both lose."
>"But... how did this happen?" Flurry started going over all of her pieces on the board. none of them could move, except for one, and there was only one spot for it. She slowly picked up her Griffin.
>"Yes..." said Cozy, slowly.
>Flurry slowly moved her piece into position.
>"...That's it."
>"How did you..." Flurry set her piece down.
>"Locked."
>Flurry blinked and stared at the board, astonished.
>"And since you had the last move, I guess I lose even more."
>"This has never happened, like ever," said Flurry. "How... Why?"
>Cozy crossed her arms proudly, "'cause beating you would have been too easy! I'm just that good."
>"Not-aw! Beating you would have been too easy. That's why I tried to lose on purpose."
>"I knew you were trying to lose too, so I tried even harder to lose. Don't be a sore loser!"
>"You don't be a sore loser!" said Flurry as she lept up, tackling Cozy to the ground, tickling under her wings.
>"Hey!" laughed Cozy. She tried to push Flurry off but Flurry had a slight size and weight advantage on Cozy.

>>34974748
>The two fillies tumbled around the room, fluttering their wings, each trying to carry the other into the air.
>Flurry won with little effort. It was more like a predator carrying its prey off to the nest.
>Cozy struggled to no avail. She turned her head and put her mouth Flurry's leg, resting her teeth just above the hoof, threatening to bite down.
>"Ack!" yelped Flurry, releasing her grip.
>Cozy bit down just a little bit to hold on.
>"Oh no, she's got me!" Flurry took flight out of the room and down the hall, Cozy hanging on firmly with her teeth.
>Guards on patrol halted and saluted the od display as Flurry flew by, Cozy in tow.
>Flurry flew around another corner, and up a flight of very wide stairs to another large room on the next level.
>"No horsing around inside, girls!" said Cadance as they flew right by her.
>"Yes, mom," replied Flurry as she used her magic to open another door before flying through. Cozy flailed her hooves and wings wildly causing all sorts of turbulence for Flurry's flight plan.
>On the other side of the door was a balcony. Flurry and Cozy were now outside.
>"Ok, is that the way you wanna play?" asked Flurry with a twinkling in her eye. "Let's play!"
>Cozy's eyes grew large as Flurry took to the sky straight up, at speed. The castle below suddenly grew smaller and smaller. She finally let go, "Ok! Ok, you got me!" She fluttered her wings as hard as she can, but she was already too high up for her tiny wings to hold the air and began her descent struggling to hold stable.
>This was going to be tricky. There were no clouds to land on in the Crystal Empire, not within the protective dome anyway. Cozy could try and angle her approach and right herself, but there was a rather large castle in the way that was rapidly approaching. She tried her best to catch the air, but along with no clouds from the protective dome, it also meant no updrafts or wind currents. Flying within the empire proved much more difficult than one might have thought.

>>34974869
>...High flying, at least.
>A magical field enveloped Cozy, guiding and carrying her to the balcony.
>"Ok, time to come on in. It's getting late," called out Cadance as she brought Cozy down gently onto the balcony.
>Flurry swooped in for a landing. "Aw, mom!"
>"You girls need to wash up and get ready for bed. Don't you have a big day planned for tomorrow?"
>"...Yes, mother," said Flurry as she lowered her head to sulk past Cadance.
>"Move along, now!" said Cadance, smacking Flurry in the flank with her wing.
>Flurry and Cozy trotted off giggling and laughing.
>Cadance shook her head. "Those girls. Still, it's nice to have my little pony home for once, and happy."

>"Tada!" announced Cozy as she hopped out from behind the dressing partition screen. Her bedclothes were loosely fit, sleeves (or were they legs?) just a bit too long and bunched up.
>Flurry laughed, "I told you they would be too big for you! Here try these ones on, they don't fit me anymore." She threw another matched outfit to Cozy. The pegasus caught them and once again ducked behind the screen.
>A silhouette of Cozy could be seen kicking off Flurry's old set of clothes, and trying on the next.
>"These are really soft!" said Cozy. She hopped on out, modeling for Flurry Heart. "How do I look? Like a princess?"
>"Hmm," Flurry rubbed her chin. "No."
>"No?"
>"Princesses look a lot smarter, but your clothes look like they belong on a princess."
>Cozy stuck her tongue out at Flurry.
>"Hey, I'm just saying! Plus, you need a horn to go with those wings to be a princess."
>"I had a horn once. I don't see what makes yours so special."
>"Well, I was born with mine. We could see who's is better, but oh, that's right, you, -had- one," smiled Flurry.
>"I could get one again. Just you wait!" smirked Cozy.
>"Why wait?" asked Flurry, growing a mischievous grin.
>Cozy narrowed her eyes at Flurry.
>Flurry narrowed her eyes back at Cozy.
>The two stared each other off for a moment before bursting into laughter.

>>34974937
>"Hey Flurry?"
>"Yes, Cozy?"
>"Why did your mom tuck me in too?"
>"I don't know. Maybe that's just what moms do."
>"Not even Astral tucks me in," Cozy laid in the guest bed quietly staring up at the glowing stars on Flurry's ceiling. "...It was, nice."
>"...Yeah, I guess so."
>"Hey Flurry?"
>"Yes, Cozy?"
>"I had fun today."
>"Me too."
>"I would have beat you at chess if I really wanted to."
>Cozy and Flurry laid quietly, staring up at the glowing stars on the ceiling.
>"...No, you wouldn't have," replied Flurry.
>A small bit of light shone in from the hallway through the crack under the door. Sounds of the two fillies breathing could be heard. Other than that, the room was dark and quiet.
>"Hey Flurry?"
>"Yes, Cozy?"
>"Phbbbt!"
>"Oh Celestia... was that real or was that just..."
>Cozy giggled, "I guess you'll find out soon!"
>"well you know what I say to that?"
>"What?"
>"Phbbbt!" Flurry cleared her throat and then began to giggle.
>"Impossible! Princesses don't..."
>"Oh, you'd be surprised what all princesses actually do, sometimes."
>"Really?"
>"Yup."
>"So... Princess Twilight... Phbbbt?" giggled Cozy.
>"More like Phbbbbbbbbbt!" laughed Flurry.
>Cozy broke into laughter as well.
>The door to the room burst open, Cadance stood in the light of the hallway, "Girls! Settle down and-" Cadance coughed, "Oh, my... Do I even want to know which one of you..." She cleared her throat again, cracking open a window with her magic, "Ok, whatever. But don't complain to me tomorrow when you're too tired to get up early! Good night!!" she said, closing the door behind her, taking a deep breath out in the hallway.
>The girls laughed.
>"That was you!"
>"No, it was you!"

>"Hey Flurry?"
>
>"Hey Flurry?" Cozy waited but Flurry did not respond. "...Thank you."

>>34975031
>It was quiet. Of course, it was quiet. It was the middle of the night. No. It was too quiet.
>Cozy opened her eyes. It was dark. She could see the light from out in the hallway under the crack of the door. It had a faint tint of green to it. Her eyes adjusted and she was able to start making out shapes.
>She sat up and looked around. Flurry's bed. The Window. The Closet. "Flurry Heart?" whispered Cozy.
>No answer. No sound at all.
>Cozy slowly got up, dragging her blanket to Flurry's bed. "Flurry? I don't want to sleep alone..."
>She pat Flurry's bed gently. It was cold. On further investigation, Cozy discovered it was also empty. "Flurry?" said Cozy, louder.
>The light changed as a shadow passed in the hallway. Somepony was up. Maybe it was just a guard.
>Pee.
>Cozy got a sudden urge to find a restroom. She dropped off her blanket at the guest bed and made her way to the door.
>The door creaked softly as she opened it slowly, peeking out.
>The hallway was empty.
>"Hello?" called out Cozy. "Anypony?"
>The toilet didn't flush. Embarrassing. She was glad she at least kept herself well hydrated. No water in the sink either. She won't tell if nopony else tells on her not washing her hooves.
>'Where is Flurry?' she thought to herself. 'Where is anypony?'
>Cozy crept down the hall, carefully peeking into the various living spaces as she passed them. Was the castle completely deserted?
>"Hello?" she called out, louder. Not even her voice seemed to echo.
>Her hoofsteps were light, muffled by the footie (hoofy?) PJs that Flurry had lent her as she continued carefully down the hall towards the source of the greenish tinting of the light.
>Before bedtime, Flurry and Cozy practiced running and sliding down the halls on the soft fabric of the hoof coverings of their bedwear.
>The green of the light deepened as she moved down the hall. She began to hear a faint slow rhythmic tapping. 'what is that?'
>She knew the path she was on. She was headed to the throne room.

>>35002330
>*tap-tap*, *tap*. It got louder as Cozy continued down the hall.
>"Hello?" she called out once again.
>She was almost there. There had to be guards there at least. There were always guards in the throne room.
>*tap-tap*, *tap*. 'What is that?'
>The smell of sewage wafted through the air. 'maybe there was a leak or something, and they turned the water off. Is that what's tapping?'
>"Where is everypony?" asked Cozy out loud.
>*tap-tap*, *tap*
>Just around the corner, and she would be there. The light was mostly a sickly lime green now. The stench of sewage was strong.
>Cozy had to start breathing through her mouth. She thought she could almost taste it, but knew it was all in her head; because if it wasn't, well she couldn't dare think that it was getting in her mouth.
>*tap-tap*, *tap*
>*Squish!* Cozy stepped in something wet. A puddle. It soaked into her PJs. "Eww..."
>She rounded the corner and stood in the large open doorway. The Throne room.
>It was the source of the puddle, the stench, the green light, all of it.
>*TAP-TAP*, *TAP*
>Dripping.
>The throne was empty. There were no guards.
>Her fur stood on end as the fear began to grip her as she hesitated to look up. She had to. She was afraid of what she was going to see. She already knew. She had to look anyway. She couldn't. She was frozen stiff.
>*TAP-TAP*, *TAP*
>Run. Where would she go? What was behind her? If there was a trap set for her, she knew she was already well within its clutches by this point. 'Don't look up.'
>'Look up. No!'
>The dripping. It surrounded her.
>*TAP-TAP*, *TAP*!
>'Close your eyes'
>'No, don't close your eyes.'
>Cozy closed her eyes tightly.
>'Don't you dare open them.'
>"Go away," uttered Cozy. Her voice was dry, strained and barely audible.
>*TAP-TAP*, *TAP*!
>She knew she wasn't alone. She could feel the presence of another, and it was close.
>It was very close. She could budge in the wrong direction and might bump into it. 'Don't open your eyes. Don't move a muscle.'

>>35002580
>Her. Not "it", Her. Cozy knew. She had seen the clues before. The smell, the coloring, the dripping.
>*TAP-TAP*, *TAP*!
>She knew where she was going to find Flurry Heart, Cadance, the guards. All she had to do was look up. She couldn't. She didn't want to. She had to keep her eyes closed. Maybe it would go away. She knew it wouldn't, but she had to believe something.
>Her breath was heavy, shakey.
>Her wings were shakey. Her whole body shivered out of fear.
>She could feel the presence of Her moving around her as she stood quivering.
>Breath in. Breath out. Breath in... Breath out.
>Her breath was hot. She could feel it on her face. She could feel it bouncing back onto her face, that is. Bouncing off of...
>Cozy held her eyes closed even tighter. The stars were brighter than ever. That didn't matter, she was face to face with a piece of her past she'd rather forget about.
>"Go, away," tried Cozy. Her voice barely squeaked out.
>*TAP-TAP*, *TAP*!
>She gritted her teeth, tears being squeezed out of her tightly shut eyelids. Her body was not cooperating. She couldn't will it to do anything but stand there and shake.
>Run, jump, fly, do something!
>'I can't.'
>Open your eyes.
>'No. She's waiting.'
>Do it.
>'It's the only thing keeping the attack away.'
>Do it.
>'No.'
>*TAP-TAP*, *TAP*!
>"Go Away!"
>Cozy opened her eyes.

>>35002672
>Cozy stepped back. "No, you're..." She glanced around frantically, backing up.
>"Free?" replied Chrysalis with anger and determination in her voice. "No, thanks to you, Cozy."
>Cozy looked up, and it was just as she feared: Flurry, Cadance, the royal guards, all were trapped; cocooned and drained of life-giving love. They dripped with the essence of Changeling. *tap-tap*, *tap*
>"Oh, do you like what I've done with the place?" asked Chrysalis. "There was so much love here, getting my energy back was a breeze. If only this place had returned sooner, my brood would have been unstoppable! Soon..."
>"No!" uttered Cozy as she turned to gallop out of the room.
>Chrysalis was quick to catch her, "And where do you think you're going?" she asked, beginning to turn Cozy over in her hoves, wrapping her in green slimy ribbons of changeling silk. "Home?"
>She flew Cozy up to the ceiling, attaching her upside down with the others. "Now that sounds like a good idea."
>Cozy watched and protested as Chrysalis transformed into a mirror image of her self. "I will destroy you!" threatened Cozy.
>"Oh, golly!" said changeling Cozy, pressing her hoof to her cheek. "That doesn't sound very nice! I better go tell Astral and Starlight back in Ponyville about this!" She fluttered back down to the ground, looking up at Cozy and the others. "You know, that really is a nice little town. Just a little pocket of love tucked nice and cozy just south of Canterlot. Tee-hee, Cozy! You know, I think I could use a little snack!" Her eyes flashed a changeling color as she grinned malevolently at Cozy.
>Cozy struggled to get free but to no avail. She was helpless and could only watch as Chrysalis gleefully trotted out of the room in her stolen form.
>She had to stop her, but she couldn't budge. She felt paralyzed, only able to breathe and move her eyes. Try as she might, she was unable to will her body to move. Panic trying to set in. What was happening? She closed her eyes, wishing it away.

>>35009723
>Cozy let out a pitiful whimper as she cried on the inside. With all of her efforts, it was the most she could do to make a sound. She began to feel a familiar cold overtake her. This is bad, isn't it?
>She opened her eyes but nothing changed. Endless darkness surrounded her. Sound itself seemed to disappear. She was losing her senses, once again trapped in her mind. This wasn't how it was supposed to be.
>'Astral. Boots.' All she could do was think of them. 'Chrysalis.' How could she warn them?

>'How long has it been? Is it already too late? What's that?'
>A presence began to surround Cozy from behind. She struggled to fight it, but the more she resisted, the tighter it gripped her. This was different. It was warm, soothing. Cozy reluctantly relaxed. She could feel the warmth. It had a heartbeat; it was also warm and soothing. It had a breath that flowed through and over her mane; also warm and soothing. She felt as if she could melt right into its protective cover; she wanted to. If she never saw the light of day again, it wouldn't be so bad as long as she could remain within the grip of whatever held her.
>Slowly, her senses returned. She could hear its breath; light, gentle. She more clearly felt it's grip around her; soft, warm. A dim light barely filled the room. She held still, glancing around the room with her eyes, barely able to make out the shapes.
>Flurry's room.
>She was in her bed, covers kicked off. But then what had her? Cozy carefully rolled in its grip as it slept.
>It had a horn. She felt it had wings. It cooed lightly, voice giving it away.
>Flurry Heart.
>Cozy sighed quietly in relief. She suddenly felt so much better. The only thing that was real throughout her whole ordeal was the safety and comfort she now felt. She reached back feeling around and found her covers, pulling them over both her and Flurry. She draped her foreleg over Flurry, returning the embrace and closed her eyes, a light smile growing across her mouth as she felt herself drifting off once again.

>>35009795
>"Flurry?" Cozy opened her eyes.
>She and Flurry Heart were still sharing a warm embrace. The morning light snuck in from behind the drapes covering the windows and doors leading out to the balcony.
>"Flurry," she said again. "Flurry stop!"
>Flurry Heart did not wake but instead continued munching with her eyes closed, a happy look on her face as she pulled Cozy in closer.
>"Flurry!" yelled out Cozy, trying to push away from Flurry Heart. She beat lightly on Flurry's foreleg.
>Flurry Heart finally opened her eyes and stopped.
>"You're chewing on my ear! It's all slobbery now." said Cozy in a huff, pulling her ear out of Flurry's mouth.
>Flurry Heart smiled sheepishly. "I had a dream. I was eating taffy. It was cotton candy flavored. It was so chewy."
>Cozy sat up on the edge of the bed, cleaning her ear off, "Well it wasn't!"
>Flurry chuckled, saying with a light-hearted sarcastic tone "Well good morning to you too! Are you hungry? Breakfast should be waiting for us by now."
>"I know you are!" replied Cozy.
>Flurry Heart rolled over and laughed.
>"It's not funny!" yelled out Cozy, causing her to laugh even harder. Cozy turned and shoved her off of the bed. Flurry Heart hit the floor with a thud and muffled laughter as she pulled the blankets off of the bed on top of her in a failed effort to keep from falling. Cozy followed it up with a barrage of pillows.

>The breakfast table was long and narrow. Cadance sat at one end while the two fillies sat across from each other in the middle. The seat at the far end was vacant. A large assortment of fresh fruits and pastries were arranged on the table, presented on fancy dishes. Cozy just stared at it all, eyes wide and mouth open and drooling.
>"This is nothing, Cozy," said Flurry Heart. "You should see the royal breakfast Auntie and Spike get!"
>"What's that dear?" asked Cadance from her end of the table.
>"Oh, nothing, mom!" called back Flurry Heart, their voices echoing in the vastness of the oversized room.

>>35029104
>There were smiles all around as the three ate.
>"So what are you two girls going to do today?" asked Cadance.
>"What, mom?" called back Flurry.
>"Your plans! What are they?" asked Cadance, louder.
>"Oh! I thought we'd do some exploring maybe," replied Flurry. "On our way back to Ponyville."
>"That sounds nice, dear! Maybe you could find someplace neat on your way back to Ponyville."
>"That's what I said!"
>"What's dead?"
>"Nothing, Mom!"
>Cozy watched the distant exchange between the two. "Flurry, why don't we just sit closer?"

>"Now you girls stay out of trouble!" encouraged Cadance.
>They were standing on Flurry's balcony, getting ready to take off for the day. Flurry had donned her dark hooded cloke and traveler's saddlebags. Cozy had saddlebags of her own, each was packed with various supplies they might want or need throughout the day.
>"I'll try mom."
>"Your dad is probably on his way back by now and will be home soon, so you better get going if you want to leave now."
>Cozy looked from Flurry to Cadance and back.
>"Yes, mom." replied Flurry.
>"And remember, you're still a princess. You represent the Crystal Empire, and us as a family and as leaders. It's important you behave yourself out there!"
>"Yes, mom..."
>"I love you!"
>"I love you too, mom."
>"And Flurry?"
>"Yes, mom?"
>"Have fun!"
>"Yes, mom."
>"You too, Cozy. It was very nice having you over. Please feel welcome anytime you are invited."
>Cozy smiled and replied, kneeling lightly, "Thank you."
>"Can we go now, mom?" asked Flurry, impatiently.
>"Just one more thing!"
>"What is it, mom?"
>Cadance scooped Flurry up in an all-encompassing hung, wrapping her up with her wings. "I love you!"
>"Mom!" yelped Flurry. "I love you too..." she said quickly in a low voice.
>Flurry teleported out of her mother's grasps and appeared beside Cozy. She had one last nuzzling with her mother before turning to Cozy, "Ok, let's fly!"
>They took to the air and off for the day they went flying side by side over the terrain.

>>35029177
>The two touched down in the snow just outside the protective layer surrounding the settlement.
>Flurry folded her wings back, with two cloth flaps sewn onto the back of her cloak draping over and hiding them well.
>"Here again?" asked Cozy.
>They stepped through the force field, out of the cold and into the outpost settlement proper.
>"Yep!" said Flurry, enthusiastically. "I never take a trip without stopping here first!"
>Cozy looked around. It looked very different during the daytime. Without any passing storm, it was also quite warm on the 'inside' as well.
>Travellers roamed around while others had set up tables to display their wares. It was a mix of all types: ponies, griffins, dragons, hippogryphs... each coexisting in peace and trade.
>"First things first," said Flurry.
>"Pay our dues?" asked Cozy. "I didn't bring any bits with me."
>"It's ok. This trip is on me!"
>They walked to the fountain in the center of town. Some of the regulars recognized Flurry, offering a polite nod and a smile, others vocalized their welcomes with delight.
>Cozy watched as they walked. "They know who you are?"
>"Oh, yeah. Just about everypony here knows."
>"And they don't bow?"
>Flurry waved the notion off with a hoof. "Nah. We're all equal here."
>They reached the fountain. Cozy looked over the edge into it at the scattered bits laying on the bottom as they cast a golden reflection through the water up onto her face.
>Flurry tilted her horn forward, giving the fountain a charge as the protective shield it emitted began to glow brighter and brighter.
>A settlement pony called out to them, "Easy there, Ms. Flurry! You don't want to make it so strong nopony can get in or out, now!"
>Flurry abruptly cut her feed to the fountain with a sheepish giggle. "Sorry!" she called back.
>Cozy looked up at Flurry, "I think some of us are more equal than others."

>>35067948
>Cozy and Flurry walked together through the marketplace area. Every now and then, Flurry would stop at a vendor and sort through the pile of items on the table, or bins.
>"So, what do you like coming here for?" asked Cozy.
>"The food!" replied Flurry.
>"In dusty old boxes?" asked Cozy, scrunching up her nose as she turned a few trinkets over, a small cloud of dust puffing out of the box as the items inside mixed.
>"Oh! No. Here I'm just looking for little interesting things and stuff. I meant like that jerky stuff the Griffins sell or the bowels of stuff like we had last time. Doesn't it just hit the spot?" said Flurry, poking at Cozy's side close to her belly.
>"It does," replied Cozy.
>"Ahh!" said Flurry, pulling out a small amber gem. It was wrapped around the ends with wire as if to contain whatever it may hold. She cupped it as best as she could in her hooves, peaking at it with an eye up close.
>"Does it glow?" asked Cozy.
>"I can't tell. I want it." She put the gem aside and continued to shuffle through the box, exciting more dust in the process.
>Cozy sneezed. "What will you do with it?"
>"I don't know."
>Flurry pulled out a small wooden box. It was very dark in color and intricately carved with highlights decorated in gold leafing. There was a simple latch on the front with a wide hinge on the back. Inside was thick red felt padding. It could be a treasure chest, or even a coffin of sorts, were it quite a bit larger. She held both the box and the gem up to the vendor.
>He looked the items over before announcing to Flurry, "Three bits."
>Flurry frowned, countering "Two bits!"
>"Four bits!" replied the vendor.
>"Ok, three bits then," agreed Flurry, dejectedly.
>"Three? I said Four," corrected the Vendor.
>Flurry felt a tugging on her cloak. She looked down to see Cozy shaking her head at her. "It's ok, Cozy. I got this."
>Cozy shook her head at Flurry harder. "Just walk away," she whispered to her.
>Flurry hesitated before putting the items down.

>>35068091
>They walked out of view of the vendor's stall.
>"What wrong, Cozy? I really wanted that box and that fancy rock. They weren't that expensive."
>"Gimmy your bits," asked Cozy.
>"Why?"
>"I can get you a better deal," replied Cozy.
>"You really don't have to. Four bits really isn't much to a pony like me."
>"I know that. But he knows that too. It's not about the bits, it's about the principle, now," Cozy held her hoof up to Flurry.
>Flurry grabbed a hoof full of bits from her stash.
>"I just need two."
>"That's all? What are you going to do?"
>"My thing, of course!" smiled Cozy, getting into character.
>"You're not going to threaten him, are you? You don't want enemies in a place like this."
>"Golly, no! Just wait here. I'll be right back." Cozy took the bits and trotted off back to the vendor.
>A short while later, Cozy returned with a wire-wrapped gem in her teeth and small intricately carved box balancing on her head.
>"What? How'd did- What?" blinked Flurry.
>Cozy smiled as Flurry took the items. She placed the gem inside the box and put the box in her saddlebag.
>"I have a way with words, and with ponies too," smiled Cozy. "Here, I also got you this," she said as she reached in her own saddlebag, pulling out a pouch of empty corked vials.
>"What are these for?" asked Flurry.
>"I don't know," replied Cozy. "It seemed like something you would want from here."
>"Yeah. How did I miss them?"
>"You didn't. I made him sweeten the deal, so he pulled those from the back where he keeps his new stuff he hasn't gone through yet."
>"All that for two bits?"
>"What can I say? I'm good." Cozy was beaming with pride.
>"Yes, you are," agreed Flurry as she pat Cozy on her head. "You know what? I think it's food time!"
>"Ok!"
>"Come on, there's a Hedgehog out here that sells something called 'mocetta' or something. I don't know what it is, but you gotta try it!"
>"You don't know what you're eating here?"
>"Yeah. Never ask what the food here is. If it's good, it's good."

>>35068122
>"Golly!"
>"I know! Right?"
>Cozy and Flurry sat on a log near the edge of the outpost settlement, eating a bowl of ...something. They weren't quite sure of what exactly it was, they just knew it was the best bowl of chunks of stuff in a thick soupy carrier they ever had.
>"So Flurry, what are we doing today?"
>"I don't know. Maybe explore a cave I heard of. It's somewhere deep in a forest near Ponyville.
>Cozy slurped the last of the contents from her bowl. "The Everfree?" asked Cozy, wiping her mouth with the back of her hoof.
>"Oh, no. Just a regular forest. One where the brambles are thickest," said Flurry. She looked up in thought trying to remember the stories she's heard.
>"Yeah?" asked Cozy, setting her bowl down as she curiously looked to Flurry.
>"Yeah. I think I might have found a use for these vials you got me."
>The sudden blaring of a loud horn sounded through the settlement briefly, gaining the attention of everypony present.
>Flurry quickly turned her head towards the center of town. "Oh no," she whispered.
>"What? What is it?" asked Cozy.
>Flurry hopped up, leaving her bowl on the ground by the log. She motioned for Cozy to be quiet, and follow her as she carefully approached a narrow gap between two vendor tents and peeked through.
>"Flurry. What was that sound?" asked Cozy quietly. She was beginning to worry.
>"Trouble," whispered back Flurry, not looking away from the small gap.
>"Trouble?!?" asked Cozy in a loud whisper.
>"Yeah, now shush!" hissed Flurry. Cozy shut her mouth, crouching as low as she could, squeezing her way under Flurry while also trying to get a peek at what was going on. "Visitors, and not very welcome ones too."
>"Who?" asked Cozy, quietly.
>"I don't know yet. I can't see them."
>The settlement was eerily quiet. Several of the vendors had hastily wrapped up their entire displays into tight bundles and stashing them away onto their carts or locked into their caravans, leaving the tents empty and deserted.

>>35089834
>Flurry spotted at the edge of her view a crystal pony, armored in gold trim. There were two of them she could tell as they slowly walked their way through the aisles. They were flanked by a white unicorn with a blue mane, and lighter blue streaks; a starred shield for a cutie mark.
>Cozy felt Flurry's body tensing up. "What is it? What do you see?" she whispered.
>"It's... It's..."
>The ponies stopped in full view of Flurry from her hiding spot while the Unicorn stepped up, loudly announcing to everypony, "I have come for my beloved daughter, Princess Flurry Heart. For too long have I turned a blind eye to the existence of this place and her frequent visits on her many... outings."
>"...Father," uttered Flurry, so quiet that Cozy almost didn't hear it.
>Shining Armor continued, "It would be very unfortunate if I were to hear that one of you might be hiding her from me."
>"You don't rule here!" called out a pony, hiding behind cover.
>Shining snapped his gaze towards the direction of the defiant voice. "That may be true, but neither does any of the governing bodies that rule the different lands that you all come from. This place isn't even on any map. Nopony knows it's here. I did not come to cause trouble, but I hear in a place like this, that once ignited... trouble, tends to spread like wildfire."
>Flurry looked down at Cozy. She could feel her shaking as her wings rubbed on Flurry's belly. "We gotta get outta here," she said. "I've put them all in danger."
>The various vendors kept their heads down, not daring to make eye contact with Shining, while some travelers looked on and others quietly going on about their business.
>Shining stopped right in front of Flurry's gap, looking around. Flurry held her breath; she could nearly smell him, he was so close. He put his eye up to the gap, just a couple of feet higher than the top of Flurry's horn. He only saw into the campgrounds, where a couple of crystal guards poking through tents and sleeping bags.

>>35089913
>Shining poked his hoof through the gap to widen it, barely missing the tip of Flurry's horn.
>"Sir!" shouted a guard.
>"Yes, what is it?" replied Shining, pulling his hoof back and turning away from the gap.
>A guard was holding a small artifact over the fountain. It glowed brightly, change color as he held it closer to the structure. Shining approached.
>The guard turned to Shining as he approached, "She's definitely been here. Very recently."
>Shining smirked before turning to face the vendors, speaking up. "Flurry Heart, dear. It's time to come home. Your mother worries and I miss you. This is no place for a young princess."
>There was a flash of Pink light from behind the marketplace area followed by a poofing sound.
>"Very well. We will talk later," said Shining in a low voice. He cleared his throat in preparation to make one final announcement, speaking up, "You all will be wise to be more careful who you choose to welcome so freely. You never know when it could mean trouble."
>Shining bucked hard at the fountain, crushing some of its more intricately detailed features, and knocking it over. The protective shield it was providing abruptly ceased and dissipated into the atmosphere.
>A chill immediately set into the air as light snow began to fall.
>Shining nodded to his guards and began to stroll out of the settlement towards the Crystal Empire. A guard blew a whistle, calling the others in from throughout the area, signaling that it was time to go.
>The townsponies watched in silent anger as Shining and his guards went off into the distance. A few of them rushing up to the fountain and inspecting the damage.
>They quickly worked to fix the fountain's centerpiece upright. In doing so the protective shield returned, but it was much weaker than before.
>"Hopefully it's just lost charge and can be refilled." said a pony.
>"Poor mare. I wish her well," said another.
>"We all do," said yet another.

>>35089991
>Cozy and Flurry popped into a large cave. It was dark and cold. Flurry transferred her magic to an assortment of glow stones positioned around the room. A soft aqua light covered the space revealing its contents.
>The cave was filled with all sorts of items collected over the years. Cozy looked around in wonder. "Here?"
>"Yeah. I just needed to... I mean, I just..." Flury said as she fell back on her haunches.
>"Flurry, are you ok? What was that all about back there?"
>"It's just... Father." She used her magic to levitate a large boulder into the spot where they appeared. It was covered in a mystical cave moss that illuminated softly with its own shade of aqua similar to the glow stones that lit the room.
>"Are you in trouble?"
>"He doesn't really like you. He doesn't want me hanging out with you. But Mom, she sees things, sees you differently."
>"Oh," frowned Cozy. "What are we going to do?"
>"It'll be ok. He won't come after us. He was just on another one of his power trips back at the outpost. Still... I think we should not go back there for a while. I don't want anything to happen to them. Who knows what father might do. He never really liked that place either, so close to the empire and all. He thinks it only attracts pirates and outlaws. That's why the train doesn't stop there. It just blows on by on the other side of the hill where you can't even see it."
>Cozy sat in front of Flurry. They both looked down at the same spot on the ground in front of each other not speaking.
>"Hey!" said Flurry, breaking the silence. She reached her wing over to nudge Cozy. "Cheer up! Today is supposed to be a fun day! Let me worry about home. Let's do something you want!'
>"Golly. I don't know what we should do for fun today."
>"Really? Can't think of anything at all?"
>Cozy thought for a moment, "Well. I had this dream last night. I wasn't really a dream. It was a nightmare. I need to, I mean I really want to..."
>"Yeah?"
>"There's something I have to check on."

>>35111734
>Twilight led Cozy and Flurry through the statue garden. "Castle gardeners keep the grounds looking nice all year."
>"When was the last time they made their rounds?" asked Flurry.
>"Oh, they're always working every day. They take it in sections. The one we're going to I think was worked just last week."
>"Just last week, hmm," said Flurry.
>Cozy walked alongside silently, keeping her head low as she thought and worried to herself.
>"Tell me, Cozy. What is it that makes this trip an urgent one? Things have been quiet around here for quite some time now."
>Cozy continued to trot along quietly.
>"Cozy?" asked Twilight.
>Flurry nudged Cozy with her wing.
>"Huh?" startled Cozy.
>"What could possibly be the matter?" asked Twilight, patiently.
>"Oh. I just... have a bad feeling about something. I'm just, worried."
>"I promise you, Cozy, you will never be made stone again."
>Cozy shook her head, "No, it's something else."
>"We're almost there, right?" asked Flurry.
>"Yeah. Just around the corner right here, in the very ba-" Twilight stopped short, giving Flurry a face full of royal flank.
>Cozy looked up and also stopped. "...No."
>"Flurry, bug?" said Twilight, an uneasiness in her voice. "I want you to go home right now. Please. Do not fly, do not stop anywhere. Teleport straight to your parents, and tell them what you see here."
>"Are you crazy?!? I can't pop that far!"
>"You can! I'll help," assured Twilight. "Concentrate your magic."
>Flurry's horn ignited in a warm pink glow.
>"There you go. Think about them, picture it. Imagine yourself there. Do you have it?"
>Flurry nodded, eyes tightly closed.
>Twilight smiled warmly, "You've got this." Twilight ignited her horn, sending a charge to Flurry in a blinding flash of purple aura. "Now go!"
>A shockingly loud poof and a cloud of pink essence and she was gone.
>"Cozy, I'm taking you home now."
>Twilight scooped Cozy up in her wing, and once again ignited her horn. In a poof of purple cloud, they were also gone.

>>35117498
>Poof!
>"Cozy? You're home early," said Astral, surprised. Standing in the kitchen, she looked up from Cozy approaching her, "Princess Twilight! Um... Welcome to our home. Please, make yourself comfortable," she said making her way around the corner and bowing down to Twilight.
>"Thank you," said Twilight. "Please forgive the sudden intrusion and for not first knocking. Unfortunately, I come on more serious matters."
>Cozy jumped up, hanging off of Astral's neck in a hug.
>Astral rose up, a small pinkish-salmon colored Filly hanging off of her. "Oh. Cozy's not in trouble, is she?"
>"Oh no," smiled Twilight. "Well, I guess you could say all of Equestria might be in trouble," she then said worriedly.
>Cozy shifted and climbed from Astral's neck to her back, still hanging on tightly. Astral could feel the tension and fear in her.
>It was in Cozy's body language, the way she held on, the ever so subtle shivers, but also in the essence of her thoughts.
>Every pony bled their emotions. The less one with themselves they were, the more that leaked. It was Astral's magic that could pick up on it so easily; the first thing she could do when her special talent first manifested. It wasn't always so clear. Astral first had to master her own emotions, learning what was what; things like putting a name to anxiety. She then had to master decerning her own emotions from others as it all felt the same to her in the beginning. For a while at first, she thought she was going crazy.
>And of course, with practice, the emotion you bleed could be faked, or at least altered to mask how you truly felt. It involved dedicating your mind to a lie that you would tell yourself, easier said than done for most ponies. Cozy was an exception. There was a lot that Astral had learned about Cozy and a lot that Cozy had learned about herself in the time that they spent together, but Cozy's mind, like most other ponies, was an iceberg with so much submerged, it could never be fully explored.

>>35117610
>Astral knew without a doubt what she felt from Cozy was genuine, however. "It's ok, Cozy. I'm here," she assured Cozy, nuzzling her face.
>"I had a dream, Astral. It wasn't good," said Cozy. "I knew something was wrong, I just knew it. I went to the garden. You know, the one where we first met. I had to check on something. I had to see for myself..." Cozy's voice began to quiver.
>"Hey, it's ok," comforted Astral, "Whatever it is, we can work at it together. We always have. I'm here for you, Cozy. You're my favorite little trouble maker, do you know that? I can't let anything happen to you, I won't. I promise." Astral continued, "I've told you, you don't have to try and be the big mare all the time. You have friends now, and being here for each other is what friends are for."
>"She's right," confirmed Twilight.
>"See? You have nothing to worry about," said Astral. She looked back to Twilight, "What sort of trouble is it, exactly? How can I help?"
>"By protecting Cozy and keeping her safe, you are already helping a great deal. I can keep and protect her in the castle back in Canterlot, surrounded by guards, but I know she will feel the safest and most comfortable with you."
>"Thank you," said Cozy in a soft voice, not looking at anypony in particular.
>Twilight smiled at Cozy, trying to put her at ease. "You may use my old castle if you like. Both of you. There's plenty of room and it's fortified." She turned to leave and paused, "And if worse comes to worst, in the event of an emergency, upstairs is a machine I built that you both can escape through. Just follow Starlight. But I must warn you, it's for the absolute emergency last resort. I am going to see Starlight now and have her shut down the school and send everycreature home, I'll let her know you might be visiting her in the castle, and to be prepared."
>"What's coming?" asked Astral.
>Twilight turned to Astral with a serious expression.
>"Chrysalis," whispered Cozy as her grip on Astral tightened.

>>35117613
>Sunburst stood on the throne room side of the door, "That should do it, I think."
>"Is it on?" asked Starlight. She stood on the outside of the room, helping Sunburst.
>"It should be," he answered. "As long as the crystal remains part of the structure as the keystone, it should always be on."
>"Ok, Ocellus. Give it a try!" called Twilight from the map table.
>"Will it hurt?" worried Ocellus.
>"No?" doubted Sunburst. "I don't think so." He exchanged shrugs and glances with Starlight. "It shouldn't."
>"That doesn't seem very reassuring," said Ocellus.
>"I'll be honest, Ocellus," started Starlight, "It might pinch a little. Or a lot. Maybe you if you hurry on through, it'll be over that much faster."
>"Ok... Here I go, then."
>Twilight Sparkle approached the door, nervously examining the frame and threshold. "Here goes nothing!" she said as she stepped through, instantly reverting back into a changeling.
>Ocellus shook off a sudden chill, now on the throne room side of the door. "Oh! It tingles. Kinda in a... good way," her cheeks began to blush. She smacked her lips together a few times, "Why do I taste apples?"
>"Apples?" asked Applejack. She sat at her assigned spot, along with the rest of the mares. Only Twilight opted to stand. She had taken to the habit of pacing around the table during discussions of important matters.
>"I don't know," shrugged Sunburst.
>"Well, at least we know it works," said Fluttershy.
>'so many apples...' thought Ocellus.
>"Well Girls, and Sunburst," said Twilight. "I think as a safety measure, we should all step through and back. You can't be too careful. I know who I am, so I'll go first." She stepped through the door, leaving the room. A faint squeak and moan quietly escaped her muzzle. A bright red coloring filled out her cheeks. She quickly cleared her throat, regaining her composure before turning to face the others through the door. "Oh! Apples!!"
>"I told you!" exclaimed Ocellus.
>"What kind of apples?" asked Applejack.

>>35121777
>Witnin moments, everyone had left and re-entered the room.
>"Oh my..."
>"It's simply Divine."
>"That was... kind of awesome!"
>"I can't wait to bounce on through again!"
>"Ah don't know, y'all. There's somethin' wrong with them apples."
>"Yowzers!"
>'I need to try this door again tonight when nopony is around.'

>>35121786
>Shining Armor stood in front of the crystal heart, watching it as it spun around. Its perfect balance was mesmerizing. All the love and adoration of an entire empire purified and concentrated within. Mesmerizing indeed, it drew Shining in closer. He wanted to touch it; any pony caught by its alluring spin would, but he knew he couldn't, not without upsetting its delicate balance. He did not want to have to explain a newly frozen empire to his wife, nor to his sister. He was not sure which he should be more afraid of.
>"Father?" asked Flurry.
>Shining jumped at being startled so abruptly, "Oh, hello daughter."
>"Where is mom?"
>"She wasn't feeling well, so she went to lay down for a while. Is there something wrong, honey?"">I just got back from visiting auntie with Cozy Glow."
>"Cozy Glow, you say? And how is she doing?"
>"Dad, something's happened. We went to go see the statue of Chrysalis and Tirek. Chrysalis... She's-"
>"Oh, I know, Sweetheart. I just came back from an overnight stay with her too. We must have just missed each other."
>"What are we going to do?"
>"We must be very careful who we talk to and who we trust." Shining gestured to the spinning heart, "And we must protect this at all costs. The empire depends on it. I'm glad to see it's full and fully functioning."
>Flurry looked up at the monument. "Can we modify it to keep Changelings out, along with the bad weather?"
>"We could, but I don't think Thorax would be very happy about that."
>"Oh, right."
>"Flurry, deer..."
>"Yes, Father?"
>Shining looked down at Flurry. "Where is Cozy Glow now?"
>"Auntie took her home, to Ponyville. ...Why?"
>"It seems like Ponyville might be in danger soon. But don't you worry about it. Just go to your room for now. I will call you down for lunch."
>"Well... Ok." Flurry turned to go up stairs.
>"Flurry Heart?"
>Flurry stopped and looked back, "Yes, father?"
>"You know I love you, right?"
>Flurry paused for a brief moment, "Yeah... I love you too."

>>35126783
>"Golly!" Cozy's mane, fur and feathers stood up on end. She was visibly disturbed and confused. "Apples?"
>"Yes, Cozy. We all know," said Applejack.
>Astral smoothed Cozy's mane and feathers down. "Cozy told me about her dream and going to see the statue. I figured this concerns her, and me, as much as it does all of you," she announced to the council. "This is the best place to be right now."
>"I think so too," said Twilight. "We are trying to figure out what Chrysalis' plan might be, if she might be targeting anypony in particular or what."
>"Obviously anypony with love to share could be a target," said Applejack. "Do you know anything that might be helpful, Cozy?"
>"Me? No, I sure don't. We might have run together back when Grogar- Discord had us all together, but she always had her own plans. We all did."
>"Let me guess," said Rainbow. "Take over the world type plans?"
>"Well, not exactly. Her big thing was getting her revenge on Starlight." Cozy shrugged.
>Starlight chuckled nervously.
>"She just wants her family back. Could you blame her?" asked Cozy.
>"Astral," said Twilight. "You've gone in and tried to work with her, right? Like you helped Cozy when she was a part of the statue. Is there anything you could tell us about her, about those 'sessions'?"
>Astral thought for a minute. "Well, It's hard to describe. Her mind wasn't like Cozy's. She'd made a whole new reality for herself. I couldn't even tell if she knew she was imprisoned, or if she just forgot over time. Visiting her was like going to another world, one that was always crumbling and decaying, getting worse and worse every time I visited. She didn't believe anything was wrong. When I would try talking to her about what she did and find out why, she always presented it as if she were right, and everypony else was wrong. She had no desire to change. I couldn't find a way to show her that there was a better way." She pulled Cozy in close. "I hate to say it, you all really screwed up with these two."

>>35129440
>"Well, I wouldn't say really screwed up..." started Fluttershy, trying to diffuse a situation before it started.
>Twilight interrupted, "No, Astral is right. We may not have fired the blast that sealed them up that day, but we did nothing to stop it, and for too long, did nothing to correct it." She looked down at Cozy. "Nor did we do right by them in the time leading up to that day."
>"It's ok," said Cozy, softly. "I know I was a bad filly too."
>"How long do y'all suppose she's been free?" asked Applejack.
>"It couldn't have been more than a week," said Twilight. "Regardless, I need to put the guards on alert. I'll send Spike so we can send messages back and forth faster. I'll also get word to my brother of the situation as well." She took one last look at her friends before turning to Astral and Cozy. "Cozy, please, stay safe. And if you think of something that might help, anything, please, let us know. You're both welcome to stay here as long as you want to. I'll tell spike to prepare the guest rooms for you both when he gets here."
>"Thank you," said Astral, followed by Cozy.
>Twilight ignited her horn and popped out of sight.
>"I'm surprised she didn't use the door one last time," said Starlight to nopony in particular.

>>35129663
>"I'll do my best!" saluted Spike. "Oh, by the way. Is Rarity still in ponyville?"
>Twilight rolled her eyes, "Yes, Spike. If you hurry, you might be able to catch her at the castle, in the throne room at the map table. But there's something I gotta tell you about the-"
>Spike turned and immediately ran off on his mission.
>"...door." Twilight sighed and made her way to the castle library, guards straightening up and saluting as she passed by them. "What to do, what to do... Surely there's something somewhere around here that will help."
>Twilight began going from shelf to shelf, collecting books to pour through. "I really need to reorganize this place, again. All these books on changelings should be in one place."
>Stacks of books floated around her in a magical field as she walked up to a table getting ready for an enthralling study session when a small sound made her freeze.
>"Hello? Is anypony there?" She perked up, ears twitching and swiveling to try and catch the faintest of sounds. It definitely came from the shadows. 'note to self, for a library, there sure are a lot of dark places in here. Add more lighting,' she thought to herself as she quietly placed the books on the table, not turning her eye from the dark corner she heard the sound from. She slowly approached it, putting up a magical shield bubble around her for protection. "Show yourself!" she ordered.
>A weak and disheveled pony with eyes of gray stumbled out into view before slumping onto the floor. "...Twili," uttered the white stallion with all his strength. "Protect... the Heart, ...both of them," spending the last of his energy, he closed his eyes and slipped into unconsciousness.

>>35130726
>"Flurry Heart, deer. Come on down now. It's feeding time!" called up Shining.
>Movement could be heard upstairs. The opening of a door, a rush down a hall and the opening and closing of another door.
>"Flurry?" Shining headed upstairs, "Foals, really," he said to himself. "No matter. She'll learn her lesson soon enough."
>"Flurry's door was wide open. Shining peeked inside, but nopony was to be found. A voice and movement could be heard from the room at the end of the hall, the room he shared with Cadance. "Insolent foal," he spat as he marched down the hall, thrusting the door open as hard as he could.
>Flurry Heart stood in the center of the room over a downed changeling pod. She had torn it open, revealing and rousing a dazed and confused alicorn. Flurry looked up and scowled at Shining standing in the doorway.
>A flash of light materialized at Shining's hooves, traveling up his body revealing the form the changeling queen. "So, you've figured it out. No matter. Soon, I'll have regained all my strength and then quite a bit more! With the love of the crystal empire and the Heart combined, I will be able to finally rebuild my empire tenfold! I will crush all who oppose me. First the castle. Then I will-"
>Flurry used teleport. It was super effective.

>>35130728
>"Crysalis doesn't know Cozy's reformed, does she?"
>The mane six looked up from their various forms of fidgeting around the map table at Starlight.
>Sunburst spoke up, "What are you thinking?"
>"I'm thinking we could maybe set a trap for her. Have Cozy lead her straight into it."
>"Me?" asked Cozy.
>"I don't like this," objected Astral.
>"I don't either," agreed Cozy.
>"I think it's a great idea!" said Rainbow. "She's dangerous! The longer she's out there, the more damage she could do."
>"Rainbow's right," said Applejack. "Who knows how many ponies she's hurt already."
>"Even though she might be bad, we don't want to hurt her," said Fluttershy, softly.
>"I do!" countered Rainbow.
>The other ponies flashed Dash a dirty look.
>"Well, just a little. More of an annoyance really."
>Starlight looked up in thought, "Ok, maybe not a trap. But out of anypony here, Cozy might be the one she'll listen to the most what with their history together."
>"But what would I say to her?" asked Cozy.
>Starlight shrugged.
>"You know," started Astral, "When she wasn't being encouraged to be bad under Grogar's influence, I saw that Cozy herself wasn't necessarily bad." She pat Cozy on her head.
>Cozy looked down in shame.
>Astral continued, "I really have no reason to believe Chrysalis herself is bad too. The way I see it, she was only looking out for her kind, to keep them 'fed', as it were. She just didn't have a way to go about that without hurting anypony else."
>"But she did hurt other ponies, a lot of them. It took a while for Canterlot to recover completely after the wedding incident," said Rarity.
>"Fluttershy, a spider's gotta eat, right?" asked Astral.
>"Well, of course, it does."
>"But we don't blame the spider for hurting the fly, do we?"
>The mane six each found a spot on the map table to stare at while contemplating Astral's question.
>"The spider doesn't have any other option for food to live off of," replied Ocellus, quietly. "We, the changelings, do."

>>35137752
>"...So what do we do with her?" asked Applejack.
>"First we gotta find her," said Starlight.
>"That part's easy!" exclaimed Pinkie. "We just gotta wait for the ponies to start dropping, and then follow the trail."
>"Pinkie, no," scolded Starlight.
>"Oh, you know I was just kidding. ...Or was I?"
>The others looked to Astral. "Oh, no. I'm not going in there to find that one out," she said. "Besides. It'd be rude."
>Pinkie smiled at Astral, "You're welcome any time!" she said with enthusiasm.
>"No, thanks," passed Astral.
>"Ok, so we find her, and then what?" asked Applejack.
>"It's just her motherly instinct," chimed Ocellus. "Maybe we can draw it out of her, make her give her love away like Thorax did when he changed. If she gives enough of it at a time, it'll trigger the change that we all went through. She doesn't even have to completely change, just enough to see that she doesn't have to be hungry all the time."
>"I like it," said Starlight.
>"Me too," said Astral.
>The others shared their agreeance.
>"...But how?" asked Cozy.
>"I have an idea," said Ocellus. "But first things first, we have to find Chrysalis before it's too late!"
>"Ponies!" It was Spike, running down the castle hall to the map room.
>Everypony turned to see Spike running in, through the door with a scroll held tightly in his grip.
>"Chrysalis! She's taken Shining Armor back in Canter- What the bucking apples was that!?!"
>"Yeah," explained Sunburst. "The changes we made to the door will take some getting used to. It makes a changeling that might be disguised revert back when passing through by disrupting its magical field."
>"But... Apples!!" exclaimed Spike.
>"We know!" said the mane six simultaneously.
>Spike shook off a chill throughout his body. "The Crystal Empire! She's there, we've gotta stop her!"
>"Flurry!" said Cozy, worriedly.

>>35137807
>"Cozy?" asked Flurry. She looked back to see her trailing behind as they cautiously moved forward. "Are you ok?"
>Cozy snapped out of her daze, vigorously shaking her head. "Yeah! I just- I was just thinking about something."
>"Oh, yeah?"
>"That nightmare I had last night. You know the statue I came from? I think something might have happened. I want to go see it after this. Hopefully, I'm wrong."
>"Oh! Well, try to keep up. I can only make so much light, you know."
>Cozy trotted up to walk beside Flurry. "How did it go again?"
>Flurry slowly recited from memory, "Where the brambles are thickest, there you will find, um,"
>"Um!" teased Cozy.
>"Shut up!" nudged Flurry.
>"Where the brambles are thickest, there you will find, um shut up!"
>"No! A pond for the most twisted of minds?"
>"Gifted at times?"
>"Dumbest of rhymes?" Flurry wasn't sure how it ended. She just knew that ponies have been warned to stay away, so naturally, she had to go explore it.
>They were working their way through the winding tunnels.
>"Hey look! It's opening up!" exclaimed Flurry.
>The tunnel ended in a vast space. It was softly lit by bioluminescent plantlife resembling miniature palm trees. The ground was soft, covered in a blanket of short smooth cave grass with patches of spotted mushrooms here and there. Moss clung to the walls, giving the entire space a musty damp scent of a forest in the rain. A small stream snaked its way from a tunnel on the far end of the space to the center where the water collected into a still pond in the center. Two tiny identical lizards disrupted the surface in a shimmer of ripples as they exited the pond to scurry off behind a large boulder off to the side. There was an aura of magic surrounding everything, even the mushrooms seemed to softly glow with it.
>"This is it?" asked Cozy. "It kinda looks like your filly cave," she commented.
>"No glow stones," observed Flurry. "This one is supposed to be special. The water here. It's different, I hear."

>>35160726
>Cozy peered over the edge into the seemingly bottomless water. The ripples finally settling, allowing her reflection to come into focus. She looked into it, and it looked right back at her. She had seen her reflection before but this one seemed different to her somehow. This one carried a feeling of melancholy. Was this really how she looked to the world? Is this how she felt? Its eyes called to her as they stared into each other.
>"Stop!" shouted Flurry. "Don't touch it!"
>Cozy found herself reaching for her reflection, her reflection reaching for her. She quickly retracted her hoof, stepping back. "I- I don't know what happened."
>"What did you see?" asked Flurry as she approached the pond to take a look for herself.
>Flurry's reflection wore a confident, proud smile, if not the slightest defiant and mischievous.
>"It's... Me. I think," said Cozy, unsurely.
>"Well, of course, it's you!" Said Flurry. She opened her saddlebag, levitating out a few vials with her magic. She uncorked them and carefully dipped them into the pond, until the air bubbles stopped before recorking them and putting them safely away. "Thanks again for these. They came in really useful!"
>"Yeah. ...Sure." Cozy cautiously peeked back into the water, her reflection cautiously peeking back. "Have you ever wondered... If on the other side of a mirror, if it was really just another world, doing the same things we were?"
>"No." Flurry walked around the open space casually examining the walls and stones.
>"Oh. Ok," said Cozy, disappointedly, not taking her eyes from her reflection. She wasn't sure if it would look away when she would. She waved at it, the reflection mimicking her perfectly. She forced a smile at it, it smiled back in its melancholy. Cozy could feel tears in her eyes. Why were they there? She hoped at least her other self would know. She didn't like the thought of there being two lost Cozys in the world.
>It was quiet.
>"Cozy?" Flurry looked around but she wasn't in sight.

>>35160854
>The world came rushing back to Cozy as her lungs burned. She was Dangling in the air from her tail, suspended in Flurry's magic.
>"Breath, Cozy!" cried Flurry.
>Cozy coughed enchanted water out of her lungs through both her mouth and nostrils. "What happened?!"
>"You went in, you crazy filly!" shouted Flurry with relief. She shook the water off of Cozy in the air.
>"Hey! Woah!! Stop that! I'm gonna be sick!"
>"Oh. Sorry," said Flurry, gently setting Cozy on the ground. "You scared me! You weren't floating, you just kept sinking. I had to find you with my magic and pull you out with it."
>Cozy shook her body one part at a time, ridding herself of excess water droplets before sitting and wringing out her tail. "I... I was trying to get closer. And then the ground broke. That's all I remember." She looked over to the pond, to the spot where she previously stood.
>"What does it taste like?" asked Flurry.
>"It tasted like... Like water," replied Cozy. "Refreshing, in a magical sort of way."
>"You girls shouldn't be in here," warned Maud.
>Cozy and Flurry jumped, looking behind them. Maud stood quietly, expression seeming to be as neutral as ever.
>"This is an enchanted place. If you're not careful, there could be trouble, you know. Lots and lots of trouble. Just ask my sister." Maud's voice was smooth and monotone. "You didn't pull yourself out, did you?" She asked Cozy.
>"I pulled her out, with my magic," answered Flurry.
>"Hmm," said Maud, looking them over.
>"Hmm?" asked Flurry.
>"Hmm," replied Maud.
>"We should go now," suggested Cozy.
>"Yes. You two can follow me back to my place, there are stairs to the surface. As for anypony else," She said, glancing around the cave. "Hmm..." Maud started down the far end of the space towards her own cave.
>Cozy and Flurry took one last glance around before catching up to Maud, following her out.

>>35161015
>"A mirror pool? You mean like in the legend?" asked Flurry.
>"Not like. Is," replied Maud.
>Cozy, Flurry and Maud sat around the central living space in Maud's home. Maud had offered Cozy a towel to dry off with before they headed on their way.
>"So it's real..." said Cozy with astonishment.
>"Yes," said Maud, flatly.
>"So how come there aren't two Cozy Glows now?"
>"She didn't do it right," said Maud, looking over to Cozy. "According to Nana, the saying goes: 'Into her own reflection she stared, yearning for one whose reflection she shared, and solemnly sweared not to be scared, at the prospect of being doubly dared.'"
>"Oh," said Flurry.
>"Were you yearning?" Maud asked Cozy.
>Cozy looked up in thought, "Um, no, not really."
>"Were you scared?" Flurry asked Cozy.
>"I don't know. It all happened so fast."
>"My sister reached in and pulled herself out. You went all the way in, and then Flurry pulled you out. So that's different."
>"Oh," said Cozy. "So what happens now?"
>"I don't know," said Maud, flatly. She turned to Flurry, "Did you touch the water?"
>"No. Not with my hooves," answered Flurry. "I just used my magic to find Cozy and pull her out."
>"Hmm..." hmmed Maud.
>"Hmm?" asked Cozy.
>"Pinkie said her doubles always seemed undercooked. I think it's because she pulled them out before they were ready. I've been doing experiments with Boulder."
>"Boulder?" asked Flurry.
>"It's ok. He volunteered. He has lots of friends now." Maud motioned to the corner, filled with a pile of rocks. The longer they stay in the pool, the more developed they become. Tell me, Cozy, what happened yesterday?"
>Cozy detailed her visiting Flurry the previous day, the chess game they both lost, and even the train ride she took to the Crystal Empire.
>"I'm pretty sure you are you," said Maud.
>"Pretty sure?" asked Flurry.
>"Mostly pretty sure. You two should get going, now. I need to see something and then talk to my sister. Tell Twilight I said 'hi'," said Maud as she got up.

>>35166837
>The peaceful silence of the cave was disrupted by a light-pink flash of light. Near the center, by the water appeared Flurry Heart, standing alongside her mother, who was laying on the ground.
>Flurry quickly charged the glow stones around the cave with a small burst of magic.
>"Flurry, sweetie..."
>"Shh, it's ok. You're safe here," comforted Flurry.
>"Queen Chrysalis. She's..." said her mother, weakly.
>"I know. I had to get you out of there. Are you ok?"
>"I think I will be. I'm just, tired, weak."
>"It's ok. You can rest for now." Flurry levitated over a clean bowl with which she gathered some water from the pond to offer to her mother, "Here, drink. This water, it will help. It has an energy to it, almost healing."
>Cadance slowly drank from the bowl. Already she could feel the energy seeping back into her body. She looked around, "Where are we?"
>"It's my place. It's ok. It's a safe place. We have everything we could need, here."
>With her magic, Flurry yanked the top off of a storage barrel and knocked it over to its side, spilling its contents. Using her horn as a conductor might direct a symphony, Flurry sifted through the pile until she found a sealed package of rations, bringing it over to her mother. "Here, this will speed up your healing."
>Cadance cautiously nibbled on the compressed dried foodstuff, "Where- Where did you get these?"
>"They come from outside the borders of Equestria. Travelers will trade them for Equestrian goods and stuff. These ones are the rarest, most expensive ones I've seen. I've been saving them for emergencies."
>"Does your father know about... about all of this?" asked Cadance, her energy quickly returning.
>Flurry shook her head. "How are you feeling, mom?"
>"I'm feeling better. Thank you." Cadence abruptly paused, eyes going wide. "The Heart! We must get word to Twilight!"
>"Auntie knows already. She took Cozy to Ponyville. I think she's going to work on a plan with the rest of her friends."

>>35166847
>Cadance, having finished her rations, slowly got to her hooves. "Then it's up to us, for now. We must go back, and protect the heart!"
>"But... What if we fail?" asked Flurry.
>"Since when has failure been something my daughter has been afraid of?" asked Cadance, nuzzling with Flurry, following it up with a gentle boop.
>Reaffirmed, Flurry stood up straight with confidence. "You're right. If you're ready, I'm ready. Let's show that bug we won't go down without a fight!"
>"That's my girl! Now..." Cadance looked around, "How do we get out of here?"
>"Oh! I got this," said Flurry as she wrapped a wing around her mother, lighting her horn. A flash of light once again brilliantly lit the cave as they popped out of sight.

>The crystal heart quietly spun undisturbed, radiating the protective love and admiration of the empire. Cadance and Flurry appeared just to the left of it, quickly going up to examine it.
>"It looks ok, mom."
>"Good. If Chrysalis were to get her hooves on this, it would spell doom for the empire, not to mention the power it could give her."
>"Why hasn't she taken it yet?" Asked Flurry.
>"Because the sudden surge could kill her," said Twilight as she came running in. "Flurry, Cadence... I'm glad you are both ok."
>"Guards!" shouted Cadance.
>Within moments, a collection of guards rushed in from every entrance. They stood at attention, circling Flurry, Cadance and Twilight around the crystal heart.
>Cadance addressed them, "Queen Chrysalis has escaped, and has even breached the security of the castle here. She could be anypony," she said as she got uncomfortably close to her guards, making each one sweat just a little, one at a time. "She could even be..." Cadance spun around to meet face to face, bumping noses with Twilight. "You."
>"Me?" asked Twilight, nervously as she stepped back.
>Cadance stepped forward, keeping her nose pressed to Twilight's. "Especially you!"

>>35166853
>Twilight stammered, "I- I just came from my castle to warn you, to check up on you." Twilight continued to walk backward, Cadance keeping pace, "When we found out, I sent Flurry here and I took Cozy home, to Ponyville, you gotta believe me!"
>The guards looked nervously to each other, unsure of how to respond to the two princesses confronting each other.
>Cadance continued to push forward, she spoke slowly in the most serious of tones, "Sunshine, sunshine."
>"W- What?" asked Twilight.
>"Sunshine, sunshine," repeated Cadance as she pressed forward, eyes locked onto Twilight's.
>"Uh... L- Ladybugs awake?" answered Twilight as she began to sweat. Her flank hit a wall, there was nowhere else for her to go.
>"Clap your hooves," said Cadance.
>"And..." Twilight rubbed her flank on the wall, "Do a little ...shake."
>Cadance held still, her nose firmly pressed on Twilght's as she narrowed her eyes, staring into Twilight's wide panicking eyes.
>"Mom?" asked Flurry with concern in her voice, having watched the whole thing unfold.
>Cadance backed off before turning to Flurry, "It's ok, sweetie. It's safe."
>Twilight took a big sigh of relief, rubbing her nose. "Phew. For a minute there, I thought you were going to attack me."
>Cadance turned back to Twilight, "Oh, I was. You can't be too careful, you know?"
>"I do know. It's scary when you don't know who your friends are," said Twilight.
>"Indeed," agreed Cadance.
>"So what's the plan?" asked Flurry.
>"We protect the heart!" said Cadance and Twilight simultaneously. They nodded to each other.
>"I will put my guards on patrol, three to a group," said Cadance.
>"Good," said Twilight. "Us three can guard the heart directly, in shifts. When Shining recovers, he can help. I'll go first, she offered.
>"No. Flurry, you will be first to guard the heart," demanded Cadance. "Twilight will guard it second, and then I will get the third shift."
>Twilight was taken by surprise. "Um, ok, then. Your kingdom, your rule."

>>35166867
>"Starlight, can you pop us all to the Crystal Empire or how will that work?" asked Cozy, pressing her hooves to her cheeks.
>"Wait, all of us? Um. No. Not by a long shot," denied Starlight, flatly.
>"I bet Flurry could do it..." grumbled Cozy.
>"Flurry is an Alicorn, Cozy. I never got to be a princess," defended Starlight.
>"Well we can't keep wasting time sitin' 'round here, we need to go, now!" said Applejack.
>"But how will we get there in time? The next train won't be for a few hours and it'll take too long to ride it all the way there," worried Fluttershy.
>"She's right," said Ocellus.
>"Well," started Starlight. "There is something I've been working on, in my free time. What do you think, Sunburst? No better time to test it out than now."
>"I don't know about this," said Sunburst, nervously. "We still don't know where that big bushel of apples went."
>"The ones you borrowed? You lost them?" asked Applejack. "Just what in the hay are y'all going on about?"
>"Yes, Darling, do tell," said Rarity.
>"Well, ever since the Tree of Harmony was destroyed, the Map table's never worked again, right?" said Starlight. "At least, for what it originally did for us."
>"Go on," urged Rainbow.
>"Sunburst and I have been doing some tests and experiments on it since Twilight left the castle for me to take care of. ...And this table is part of the castle and all."
>"Ooh, sounds fun! What kind of experiments?" asked Pinkie.
>Sunburst spoke up, "We discovered that there was still a bit of magic stored in the table, laying dormant. Locational magic. It's what the table used to point out locations that the tree sensed there to be a need."
>"Sunburst and I got the idea that maybe if we reversed the flow of magic through it, and tweaked some existing spells just right... The table can become a portal to anywhere on the map!"
>"Oh, like when you went back in time and kept dragging me and Twilight with you, right?" asked Spike.
>Starlight laughed nervously, "Um, not so much."

>>35180661
>"This would only take you there, similar to Neighsay's talisman, but instead of just the pony using it, we all, in theory, should be able to go through. It's a one-way trip, though, and no time travel, maybe," disclamed Sunburst.
>"...Does Twilight know about this?" asked Spike.
>"Not really, no," said Starlight, nervously.
>"But I think we finally worked all the kinks out," offered Sunburst.
>"Well what are we waiting for?!" shouted Rainbow.

>Flurry paced back and forth diligently in front of the crystal heart monument. "Who goes there?" she asked, freezing in place, wings spread out to block the view of the spinning heart.
>"It's me, dear, your mother," answered Cadance. "Have you heard from Twilight?"
>"She's late," said Flurry. Her stomach growled loudly, "Auntie's late and I'm hungry."
>Twilight popped in with a flash of purple aura, "I got here as fast as I could." She glanced around the room and at Flurry and Cadance, "Good. The heart is still safe."
>"No pony else has been here since I started guarding it. It's your turn to protect the heart, auntie."
>"Yes. That's what your father said. I wanted to let you know, he'll be just fine. He's just resting but will be back as soon as possible."
>Flurry nodded to Twilight.
>"So, what's the plan?" asked Twilight.
>"What do you mean 'what's the plan'?" asked Cadance.
>"My shift is over and I'm going to go eat something. You're late for your turn to guard the heart," said Flurry, stepping down.
>"I'm terribly sorry for the wait. I too was finishing up a quick meal before--" said Twilight as she rounded the corner entering the room. She paused as she looked up and saw Flurry Heart, Cadance and Twilight Sparkle looking back at her.
>A sizable vortex opened up next to Twilight Sparkle and Twilight Sparkle. Out stepped Twilight Sparkle, followed by her six closest friends, Spike, Sunburst and Cozy Glow.
>Just before the portal closed, Cozy Glow jumped through as well. "Flurry! We're all here!" she exclaimed.

>>35180663
>Ocellus transformed, "What do you think? Did I get it right?"
>"You look just like her!" said Spike.
>"Are you sure that's a good idea?" asked Applejack.
>"Are we sure any of this is a good idea?" asked Fluttershy.
>"No time. We need to move now!" urged Rainbow.
>"Before you go..." said Maud, stepping through the doorway, seemingly unphased. "There's something I think you should see."
>"Golly..."
>"Golly..."
>"This day can't get any stranger. Let's just go already," said Spike, palming his face in his claw.
>Sunburst and Starlight looked at each other, then aimed their horns, giving the table a magical charge. "Here goes nothing..."

>>35180678
>The map table went quiet. Everypony had gone through, leaving Maud alone.
>She turned to the doorway and winked, "Well hello there, apples."

>>35180696
>The crystal heart room was getting crowded.
>"Twilight?"
>"Cozy?"
>"Twilight?"
>"Cadance?"
>"Starlight?"
>"Sunburst?"
>"Twilight?!?"
>"Flurry?"
>"Spike?"
>"Cozy?"
>"Girls!"
>"Oh my..."
>"Discord?" they all asked unanimously.
>"Oh, don't mind me, I just heard there was some fresh chaos-a-brewing and I just had to come see for myself. Do continue!"

>>35180718
>"Guys, I'm here too, you know," voiced Astral from somewhere behind everypony.
>Twilight Growled at Twilight and Twilight before leaping at and tackling Twilight to the ground.
>"Hey, knock it off!" yelled Twilight as she jumped in and joined the struggle, trying to separate Twilight from Twilight.
>"Golly!" said the Cozies as they watched, holding each other.
>"Wow, everypony is here. What's going-" said Shining as he entered the room, pausing to see his sisters rumbling and wrestling around in a cloud of dust. "Twily? Woah... That's kinda hot."
>"Shining... That's your sister!" scolded Starlight.
>"Only one of them is..." he said, glassy-eyed.
>"Shining! Your protection spell!!" shouted Cadence.
>Shining snapped out of his trance. "Oh, right!" He fired off his spell at the Twilights, pinning two of them against the wall, forcing them to revert back to their normal forms.
>Chrysalis hissed and struggled against Shining's forcefield.
>Ocellus strained but didn't fight it. "Chrysalis, this isn't the way!"
>"It's Queen," snapped Chrysalis. "Traitor! All of you!!" she said to Ocellus as she struggled to break free.
>Castle guards swarmed around the two changelings, aiming their spears. Shining dropped his spell allowing Chrysalis and Ocellus to slide down the wall to the floor.
>Twilight went up and retrieved Ocellus, "It's ok everypony, she's with us."
>"Thank you," said Ocellus.
>"You have a lot of nerve, showing your bug-eyed face here!" said Flurry, stepping through the line of guards to face Chrysalis. She turned to Ocellus, "Um, no offense."
>"No, that's exactly offense!" said Ocellus, her feelings hurt.
>Fluttershy rubbed Ocellus' back.
>"Chrysalis saw the hurt on Ocellus and gritted her teeth at Flurry, "You're going to pay for that!"
>"Flurry, dear. Stand down. Let the grownups handle this," said Shining as he approached.
>Flurry grumbled to herself, stepping back to the pony side of the guard line.

>>35190632
>Discord floated down and quietly whispered in Cozy's ear.
>Cozy perked up at Discord's words, looking at him with stress in her eyes. "Golly. Must I?"
>"It's your choice. It always is. Will it be you to make the good one? I've just simply allowed you to make it an informed one," Discord said aloud, stepping back. "Toodaloo!" and with that, he winked at Fluttershy and backflipped into a swirling spiral, disappearing from sight in a bright flash.
>"What did he say to you?" asked Cozy.
>Cozy didn't respond, furrowing her brow in deep contemplation. She began to pace a small circle.

>Ocellus shouted to Chrysalis, "You care! I know you do. There is good in you. It doesn't have to be this way!"
>"Doesn't it?" asked Chrysalis, lurching at her.
>The guards raised their weapons at Chrysalis, forcing her back.
>She stared the guards down. "I've lost everything. What more could you take from me?" scoffed Chrysalis, knocking a spear tip away from her face.
>The guard quickly put the spear back into position.
>"Oh, I'm sure we could think of a few more things," said Shining as he approached the line of guards.
>"No!" shouted Ocellus to Shining. She turned her attention to Chrysalis, "Thorax, our family, your family, we thrive! We're never hungry anymore. Isn't that what you want for us?"
>"Impossible!" shouted Chrysalis.
>"It's true! You must believe her," said Starlight.
>"Rest assured, I will not be following any of your orders, Starlight Glimmer," hissed Chrysalis as she charged her horn.
>Cozy saw and gasped before beginning to push through the forest of hooves and legs. 'I'll never make it in time!' she thought to herself.
>A blastwave emanated from Chrysalis sending everypony back. "I will have my empire back. I will have my revenge!"
>Guards scrambled to their hooves as Chrysalis blasted a hole through the ceiling to the outside.
>Chrysalis took to the air towards the new hole, "Starting with you!" she shouted firing a green bolt of magic at Flurry.

>>35190636
>"Flurry Heart!" shouted Shining as he charged towards Flurry. He was never going to make it, but he had to try.
>Flurry countered with her own bolt of magic right at Chrysalis. In that instant, she had deemed it more important to stop her than to stop the oncoming attack from hitting its mark.
>Chrysalis' attack hit first, sending Flurry back into the wall behind her, doubled over, not moving. Her wings had spread out and now lay motionless, keeping most of her covered.
>Flurry's attack hit, throwing Chrysalis' flight off. She struggled to right herself.
>A barrage of spears and magical bolts went into the air at the changling as she made her escape out through the hole she made.
>Twilight took flight through the hole after, followed by Rainbow and Ocellus.

>The room went quiet as the attention was quickly turned to Flurry.
>"Baby!" cried Cadance as she galloped up to her. Shining was quick to follow. "Please be ok!"
>Shining held Cadance tightly.
>Cadence cried as she gently nudged Flurry.
>Flurry did not respond.
>Everypony, gathered around, watching the events unfold.
>"Don't just stand there, you fools!" Shining shouted to his guards. "Get the castle Doctor, NOW!" he ordered.
>The guards quickly scrambled off to their urgent mission.
>"Hang in there, daughter, my little Flurry," said Shining softly.
>Cozy slowly broke the line around them and approached quietly. "Flurry. Please. Be ok."
>Shining began to silently fume internally. He did not care for Cozy, the 'reformed' villain in the slightest. He wanted to push her away from his daughter. He wanted to do a lot of things. He could take it out on her. But he knew he shouldn't.
>Cozy gently nuzzled her face on Flurry's, "Please wake up."
>"Cozy..." said Shining, using every ounce of his strength to remain civil towards her. "Cozy, please..."
>Cozy could sense Shining's disdain for her. She looked up at him with tears streaming down her face and slowly backed off. Astral came up and held her tightly.

>>35190645
>Cozy and Flurry continued to sit in front of each other in the privacy of her filly cave.
>"What do you want to check on?" asked Flurry.
>"It's in the garden. The statue garden," answered Cozy.
>Flurry rummaged through her saddlebag, digging out the small carved box from the outpost they just came from, examining it closely.
>"The castle garden. Yeah. Mind if we stop somewhere on the way? It's a cave that's been sealed off, broken into, and then re-sealed, so that means we have to go see it."
>"Yeah. That's fine, I guess. As long as it doesn't take too long," shrugged Cozy.
>Flurry nodded while turning the box over in her magic. She carefully opened it with her magic, levitating the wire wrapped gem out of it.
>The gem rang out with an almost musical characteristic to it as it pulsed with amber light. Surprised, Flurry dropped both the box and the gem onto the cave floor.
>Cozy and Flurry gasped at the new development.
>"That's new," observed Flurry.
>"What do you think happened?" asked Cozy.
>"I don't know," answered Flurry, poking at the now unresponsive gem with her hoof.
>Cozy also poked at the gem, "Try lifting it again."
>Flurry gently applied her magic to the gem and it began to glow and softly hum.
>They both watched in awe.
>"What do you think this is?" asked Cozy.
>"I don't know. But there are two ponies I know that might," answered Flurry. She gently put the gem back in the box and moved the box to the side. "But maybe another day. Your mission sounds important."
>Cozy nodded.
>Flurry sighed softly.
>"Flurry?"
>"Yes, Cozy?"
>Cozy hesitated to ask, "Does... Does your dad hate me?"
>Flurry hesitated to answer.

>>35195091
>Cozy looked down at the ground.
>"Well," said Flurry, pausing to think. "I wouldn't say 'hate'..."
>"He wishes I never came back from stone."
>"No. Well, I don't know. You shouldn't be worrying about stuff like that. I'm the one that has to live with him, not you."
>"I know. I just, my past, isn't it?" said Cozy, looking up at Flurry.
>Flurry sighed, "Yeah. Because you were... well, I mean..." Flurry tried to sugarcoat the truth.
>"Bad," said Cozy, softly.
>"...Yeah."
>Cozy nodded softly.
>"It's not you specifically. Just what you did. I don't know. You, and when you were together with Tirek who humiliated him, and Chrysalis who stole mom from him. When all the magic disappeared that one day, the crystal heart even stopped working. Ponies died, Cozy."
>Cozy nodded softly as her face began to contort, her eyes welling up.
>"I'm not trying to be mean, Cozy," said Flurry as softly as she could. "I'm your friend. I know all of this, and I choose to be right here with you, to welcome you into my... sanctuary." Flurry stretched out a wing to rest on Cozy's back.
>Cozy took a few calming breaths, soothing her emotions, blinking some tears out, wetting the ground.
>Flurry softly lit her horn. "Mom is teaching me," she said as she closed her eyes to focus. "My magic. Part of it is hers, part dad's... part crystal, who knows what else." The magic aura around her horn began to take shape off of it in the air in front of her. "There's magic that comes from the mind and body, magic like Auntie and Starlight use. Astral too, maybe." She opened up her eyes to look at the swirling ball of magic in the air as it softly glowed. "...And then there's magic that comes from the heart. Like mom's." She lightly strained, squinting at the magic, forming it into a heart shape before floating it to cozy, booping her in the nose with it.

>>35195098
>The heart splashed onto Cozy, dissipating as it absorbed into her body. She let out a shuttered breath as the raw feeling of love washed over her, something she was so unaccustomed to. She didn't know how to cope with it. She shook and whimpered.
>All Flurry had to do was spread her forelegs and wings in a welcoming gesture.
>Without a word, Cozy leaped into Flurry's warm embrace, bawling syllables and fragments into her chest.
>"I know... I know..." said Flurry. "Let it all go. You carry too much with you."
>All manner of un-composed muffled vowel sounds came from Cozy. Flurry's fur and feathers were getting messed up, but she didn't mind it.
>"Cozy, you did those things. But that's in the past. That's not who you are anymore."
>Cozy turned her wet face to the side to try and get some shakey words out in between deep sobs, "Ev- Every... Everypony keeps... Keeps telling me that."
>"And we'll keep telling you that, you silly filly, until you believe it, because it's true."
>Cozy still didn't want to believe it as she shook her head, burying her face into Flurry for another round.
>"It's true, Cozy. Everypony new who's lives you touch, you've helped in some way. You might not see it right now, but we all do. Nopony but you is calling you bad, Cozy," comforted Flurry. "Well, maybe my dad, but he just hasn't seen the good that you can do, the good that's in your heart."
>Cozy pushed away from Flurry, shaking her head, "There's no good in my heart."
>"There is, Cozy. Want to know how I know? How I am so sure of it?"
>Cozy looked to the side, wiping her face on her foreleg, sniffling.
>"Because my heart magic worked on yours," answered Flurry, proudly. "Mom's magic only works on good hearts; even lost ones that need saving. So don't give me that! You are a good pony. Say it."
>Cozy mumbled something barely audible.
>"What was that?"
>Cozy mumbled again, slightly louder this time.
>"Say it!" shouted Flurry.
>"I'm a... good pony," said Cozy, flatly.
>"Louder!"

>>35195104
>"I'm a good pony," repeated Cozy, at almost a speaking volume.
>"Louder!"
>Cozy began to get annoyed. "I'm a good pony," she said, firmly.
>"Louder!"
>Cozy furrowed her brow at Flurry. "I'm a good pony!" she began to raise her voice at her.
>"What?"
>"I'm a good pony!" said Cozy, louder still.
>What?"
>"I'm a good pony!" shouted Cozy.
>"Again!"
>"I'm a good pony!" a fire could be heard igniting in Cozy's voice.
>Again!"
>"I'm a good pony!" Cozy's voice echoed all around the cave.
>"Again!"
>"I'm... A... Good... PONY!!" Cozy's voice cracked as she huffed and puffed.
>Flurry smiled brightly at Cozy, before reaching up and pulling her down from the air. She scooped her in for a tight hug. "You better believe it soon enough."
>Cozy let out sounds that floated in between laughter and cries. "I'm a good pony," she softly whispered.
>"You better believe it," said Flurry. "Come on. Let's get cleaned up and go check out that cave."

>>35195111
>Cozy wormed her way out of Astral's grasp, running back up to the downed Flurry Heart. Astral called her back, but she ignored her.
>Shining lifted a hoof as Cozy squeezed by. "Cozy!" he said, beginning to anger.
>"No! She's ok! I just know it!" Cozy cried out, shaking Flurry by the withers. "Wake up! Wake up, Please!"
>"Cozy..." said Cadence with a kind softness. "Cozy, please."
>Cozy continued to shake Flurry.
>Starlight stepped up, putting a hoof on Cozy's back. "Cozy, stop..."
>Cozy turned around and glared at Starlight before pushing her back.
>Starlight tried reasoning with Cozy, "We're all feeling the same thing. But... But I think you just have to face it. She's-"
>"Don't Say it, Starlight!" shouted Cozy. "Don't you dare say it!!" She pounded on starlight's legs and hoves.
>"Cozy..." said Astral, trying to grab hold of Cozy.
>Cozy would not be restrained.
>The others looked on over the commotion in sadness.
>Flurry Heart groaned softly.
>Everypony froze in place.
>"...So much noise. Just five more minutes," moaned Flurry, keeping her eyes closed.
>Cozy ran back to the young alicorn. "Flurry, you're alright!" she said as she gave her a shake.
>Flurry lifted her head, opening her eyes. "Yeah. I'm sore, but I'm ok. You worry too much," she said, turning to face Cozy. "Chrysalis can sure pack a punch."
>"Flurry, baby! Oh, I was so worried about you!" cried Cadence.
>"But, how? I saw her magic, she intended to kill!"
>Flurry folded her wing back revealing a devastatingly injured Cozy Glow.
>Flurry frowned, "Oh. I guess it's you that packs the punch, Cozy."
>The injured Cozy groaned and coughed. Things did not look good for her at all. She looked up at Cozy. "I did it. I did the most good. But... I think it's time for me to go, now."
>"Golly, no!" said Cozy.
>"It's ok. I'm just glad I got to see that..." She stopped to cough magical sparkles, "Yeah, that's bad, I think."
>"Got to see what?" asked Cozy.
>"Got to see that your world, it's the good one."

>>35198511
>Cozy went up to Cozy to hold her hoof, "The good one?"
>"Things aren't so bright on my side of the pool." Her energy was fading quickly. She strained to talk. "You wondered... wondered if my eyes looked like yours. Back at the pool. I know. Because... HNGH! Because I wondered it too. But..."
>Cozy was tired of crying, but she just couldn't help herself.
>"Now that I've seen just a little bit of your world, I'm... I'm glad you're the one that gets to enjoy it. I think it's time."
>"Time?" asked Cozy. It was a question she didn't want the answer to.
>"Time to go back," said Cozy, coughing magical sparkles.
>"No, don't go!" Shouted Cozy.
>The guards rushed in, escorting the castle medic with them.
>Cozy looked up from Cozy and saw. "Doc! Here, hurry!"
>Cozy shook her head, waving the doc off with her free hoof. "I... I must go. My ponies need me." She pulled Cozy in close to whisper in her ear.
>"I... I know." said Cozy, tears freely running from her face.
>Cozy slowly nodded at Cozy before peacefully closing her eyes as the primary building blocks of her being began to lose cohesiveness, dissolving into a display of salmon-pink sparkles as they floated up, leaving Cozy holding nothing.
>The mass of magical essence swirled and trailed through the air around everypony before making they're way through the hole that Chrysalis made and out of sight.
>"Where- Where did she go?" asked Fluttershy, wiping tears from her eyes.
>"Back to the pool, to her world, where she belongs," answered Pinkie, mane deflated and straight. "The copies. They don't last long in this world for any reason. When they- they die here, they don't really die, they just go home."
>Several of the others nodded in acknowledgment.
>"Cozy, what did she say to you?" asked Shining.
>Cozy looked up at Shining, hesitating to speak for a moment. "She told me, that I'm a good pony."
>Shining nodded stoically, "...She's right."
>Flurry grabbed Cozy in for a hug, whispering quietly to her, "Told ya!"

>>35198519
>Cozy just cried and cried. The other ponies gathered around her to offer their hugs and support.
>It was a long, quiet ride home. Cozy slept the whole way.
>Astral levitated Cozy off of her back and into her bed, tucking the sleeping filly in snugly. She stood there over her for a while, quietly watching her sleep. "Luna, watch over her," she said softly, finally moving on to her own bed before turning out the lights.

>>35198559
>Cozy sat on the edge of her bed, quietly brushing Sandra's mane.
>The front door opened, and in stepped Astral, "Oh, I see you've finally decided to get out of bed."
>"...Yeah," said Cozy, softly, not taking her attention from Sandra.
>"How are you doing?" asked Astral.
>Cozy just silently shrugged.
>Astral moved on to the kitchen to put her groceries away. "I stopped by the school. They miss you. Boots wants to see you."
>"Tenderhoof," replied Cozy, quietly.
>"What was that?"
>"His name is Tenderhoof," said Cozy, speaking up as she continued brushing.
>"Oh. I thought you called him Boots, because of his boots."
>"I call him boots. Nopony else."
>"Oh. I see. Well, he misses you too."
>Cozy nodded lightly.
>"I miss you."
>Cozy stopped for a moment, setting the brush down beside her, gazing past Sandra, in the direction of the window.
>Astral came around to stand in front of Cozy with Sandra in between them. She pulled one last item out of her saddlebag. "Check out what Twilight gave me." She held up a jar in her magic. Inside was a blue cloud of sparkling dust.
>Cozy finally looked up to see what Astral was showing. "...A jar of dust?"
>"It's a Pony. Or will be. Or something," shrugged Astral. "Twilight wanted me to keep it company while they work on another part of it at the lab at the school of magic. I don't know. Strange, isn't it?"
>Cozy shrugged.
>Astral put the jar up to her cheek. "But feel it. It's warm! All on its own."
>Astral held the Jar out to Cozy. She felt the side of it, "Yeah. Warm..." with about as much interest in the jar as she had in doing anything else. Cozy slumped over onto her side, rolling to face away.
>Astral went to her nightstand to set the Jar down. "I think it glows on its own too. But I don't know why it needs company. The lab is new. It wasn't there when I used to go there back when we met."
>"Mmm-hmm," mumbled Cozy.
>Astral sighed, moving to sit on the edge of Cozy's bed. She stroked Cozy's back with her hoof. "Cozy..."

>>35202000
>Cozy didn't answer.
>"She didn't die," continued Astral. "She just went home. To whatever friends and family she had that probably missed her.
>Cozy just laid there, breathing but otherwise motionless.
>"Cozy, that's a good thing.
>"...I know." she finally said, softly.
>"She saved a pony-- You saved a pony."
>"Yeah."
>"Not just any pony, an alicorn, a princess."
>"...Yeah."
>"Your friend. You just made friends with an entire empire when you did that."
>Cozy nodded, pulling a pillow in for a body hug. "Yeah, I know..."
>"...Shining Armor likes you now after he saw your sacrifice."
>"It wasn't for him."
>"Yeah, I know. It's still a good thing, though."
>The two just existed quietly for a while. Astral stroking Cozy's back. Cozy hugging a pillow, eyes closed.
>Astral broke the silence, "They're doing some kind of presentation this weekend. Twilight will be there too, she's part of it. Flurry wants you to be there for it too. Even if I have to just pick up the bedsheets and wrap you up while you're laying here."
>Cozy mumbled quietly, "Ok."
>"I'll do it. You know I will. I've done it before."
>Cozy spoke up louder, "I said ok!". She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I will sleep now."
>"...Ok. There's food when you're hungry. I always make it for you." Astral felt sad and powerless. She leaned down and gave the filly a kiss before getting up, and going to her own bed to sit and stare at the new Jar on her nightstand.

>>35202042
>Dawn.
>Cozy sat up in her bed. She had been tucked in nice and snugly in her sleep again. It was nice, but her back was beginning to ache, her stomach rumbled almost continuously and her bladder was full. She wasn't sure what she needed to do first.
>She looked over to Astral's bed. It was empty. No matter, Cozy had more pressing matters at hoof.
>Toilet. Definitely toilet first.
>Cozy spread her wings and quickly darted into the restroom through its open door, not bothering to close it (nopony did in that house), throwing the lid open and slamming her flank down on the cold plastic seat.
>She slinked down as the waves of relief washed over her through the sounds of endless tinkling. A satisfied moan escapes her.
>"Glad to see you decided to get up today," said Astral, with a light splash to Cozy's side.
>Cozy flinched and yelped, forcing just about the rest of the piss out of her body in surprise, quickly turning her head to see Astral in the tub.
>Mountains of foamy suds covered every inch of water and all that was submerged. Astral's head was an island lost at sea in a dense fog of bubbles.
>The lights were off but as Cozy's eyes adjusted, she could see a faint blue glow throughout the overfilled bath.
>"Astral!?!" shouted Cozy.
>"Good morning, Cozy."
>Cozy squinted and looked closer at the blue-lit tub. "Are you- Are you taking a bath with that jar?"
>"It keeps the water warm!"
>"..." Cozy didn't know what to say. She slowly reached up and pulled the shower curtain across until all she could see was a blue-tinted blur on that side of the bathroom. She quickly finished up, washed up, and went back into the main room, closing the door behind her.
>"Cozy?"
>Cozy just continued on to the kitchen keeping a look of disturbed confusion on her face as she tried to process what she had just witnessed.
>A bowl of fruit was left out on the kitchen table. It was sitting in Cozy's spot. She sat down and sorted through the bowl, picking a fruit and munching on it.

>>35206196
>She munched through several fruits until her belly was full. The filly got up from her seat, giving her body a shake, listening to her meal sloshing around happily inside her.
>On her way back to the main area of the living space, she heard from the bathroom, some splashing and the water draining from the tub.
>Cozy had just made it back to the edge of her bed to sit when she heard a bit of distress from behind the closed bathroom door.
>"Oh, no no no no no no!"
>"Astral? Is everything ok in there?" asked Cozy.
>"No! Nothing's ok in here!"
>Cozy quickly jumped up and made her way to the bathroom, opening the door.
>Inside, she saw a dripping wet Astral kneeling by the edge of the tub, with her head over the edge inside. She was using her horn to illuminate the space while also trying to peer down the drain. Her fur stained with a glowing blue tint.
>Sitting next to her on the edge of the tub was an empty glass jar, missing its lid.
>"Astral, what did you do!?!"
>"I lost it!" she cried. "Twilight's gonna kill me!" Astral slumped over the edge of the tub with a heavy moan.
>"There's still some on you," noted Cozy. "Maybe we can get what's left back in the jar. Maybe it'll be enough." She shrugged.
>Astral sighed, pulling herself back up on all fours. She used her magic to open the cabinet and pull out her scraper. "...might as well."
>An hour of thorough pony scraping later, with Cozy's help, the jar was about a quarter full of cloudy blue water, with purple hairs suspended throughout.
>Astral's coat was smooth and shiny, with a healthy glow to it.
>"Thanks, Cozy. You were a big help. I... I hope it wasn't too important, this jar."
>"Aren't we going to see Twilight today?"
>Astral gasped. "That's right! The presentation! What time is it?" She galloped out of the room, levitating the murky jar out after her.
>The rest of the morning was near chaos as Astral scrambled to get ready.
>They were soon out the door and on their way, Jar left on the counter.

>>35206202
>Cozy sat by the window, leaning on the side as she gazed out watching the landscape pass in a subtle blur of colors. Fields of farms, grass and flowers slowly emptied as the air grew colder the further north they traveled down the tracks.
>'The Crystal Empire?' she thought to herself. The large protective dome wasn't visible, but she knew the path they were on, having traveled it several times in recent days. "Well, at least I get to see Flurry." Her words were softly spoken to herself.
>"What was that, Cozy?" asked Astral, looking up from the newspaper she was reading.
>"Nothing," said Cozy, flatly.
>Astral quietly folded up the paper, putting it on a passing cart of complementary items for passengers before softly turning to face Cozy. She stroked her back and wings lightly, straightening the odd barbs and strands of hair here and there. "Cozy. I know how you feel. Not many ponies can say that and really mean it. It's not just me trying to be nice. It's both sympathy and empathy."
>Cozy kept her gaze fixed to the exterior of the window. "You just couldn't help yourself, could you?" she asked, not particularly caring what the answer would be.
>"I wanted to, but only if you invite me. But no. You have a voice, I want to hear you use it. But I know you just don't have the words."
>Cozy grunted a soft acknowledgment.
>"It's on the outside of you. All over. Leaking out the top. ...Like that jar in the bath," Astrals' silly attempt to lighten Cozy had failed to produce any results. She cleared her throat. "I'm like a magnet for feelings and emotions and rogue thoughts. Maybe more of a detector. Whatever. What I'm saying is, I can always sense it on ponies. You especially, I guess since we're so close."
>Cozy lowered her eyes, looking down at the windowsill. A ladybug was slowly making its way down the length of it. She watched its journey as she listened to Astral.

>>35210231
>Astral continued, "Were so close... I'm not going to force you to talk to me. I won't go into that filly little head of yours and look around at what's bothering you. I just want you to know that you don't have to be alone. I know you think that's what you want at times like this. Maybe it helps a little bit, That's fine. Everypony needs their own cave or grotto to retreat to sometimes, even if it's not really real. Just remember I'm here, waiting for you to come back. Even if you just need to come out for some fresh air, and go right back in, It'll be nice to see the Cozy that I know, again. I miss that little troublemaker." She nudged Cozy lightly. "I've been having to make trouble all by myself lately, I don't know how you do it."
>Cozy mumbled a response.
>"Huh?"
>"You try too hard," said Cozy, softly.
>The ladybug was at the end of the sill and investigating the wall it had reached.
>Cozy related to the small red shell with black spots, legs and a head with searching antennas. Seemingly having reached a dead end after a long and sometimes dangerous journey. No, that wasn't right. She couldn't even understand what it was she had gone through, and why it made her feel the way she did about everything. Were her feelings and the recent events even related?
>The ladybug opened up its shell, exposing its wings and flying away.
>'Yeah, if I could just fly away from my problems, too,' thought Cozy. 'What problems?' she asked herself. She let out a heavy sigh.
>Astral pulled Cozy into her side, wrapping a hoof around her. She didn't resist but instead lightly nestled into her embrace, once again staring out the window to watch the world pass her by.
>There were no more words. Astral knew what she had said had been enough, and was now slowly seeping its way into Cozy's mind, through the tough, guarded exterior.

>>35210240
>A magical wall passed through the car from the front and traveled through to the back, warming the chilly air. The train came to a stop and the doors opened. Passengers were getting up and making their way through the exit.
>Cozy sat up and looked around, confused, "This... This isn't the empire."
>"Nope!" chimed Astral.
>"Where are we?" she asked as they too were getting up, joining the line of travelers.
>"You know this place."
>"I do?"
>"You'll see!" said Astral, excitedly.
>"Have you been here before?" asked Cozy.
>"No. But you have. Careful now, the platform hasn't been finished yet."
>They stepped off the train, down some temporary steps that had been placed by outside rail workers. Cozy looked around and saw that the platform was indeed in its early stages of construction. Ponies further up walked through a wooden archway built in front of a sort of tunnel that had been cut into a tall hill blocking whatever it was on the other side of the tracks. A nicely carved wooden sign above it read "Welcome To:"
>"To where?" asked Cozy as she and Astral passed under it.
>"It hasn't been named yet," answered Astral.
>The tunnel was short and well lit. A light breeze flowed through it, carrying a waft of inviting sents of cooked foods mixed with the not so inviting sent of trader musk.
>Cozy stood on the outside of the tunnel, frozen in place as she looked around with shock and wonder of the familiar sight before her.
>The area was abuzz with activity as travelers browsed through a vast open market of tented booths, tables and the backs of wagons and caravans.
>A familiar voice called out to Cozy as it quickly approached. "Hey, you made it!" yelled Flurry. She swooped down, landing in front of Cozy and Astral.
>Tenderhoof came trotting up shortly after.
>"Flurry? Boots?" greeted Cozy. "What's going on here?"
>"Hi, Cozy, Astral," greeted Tenderhoof.
>"The outpost! It's real now!" cheered Flurry.
>"What do you mean?" asked Cozy.

>>35210253
>As if it were a ghost town in the literal sense or something.
>"It's official! On the map and everything!"
>"Official?" asked Cozy.
>"Well, will be, after today! Didn't you notice the train stop?"
>Cozy looked behind her back to the tunnel. "Ye- Yeah. What's going on?"
>"Oh, just come on, to the fountain. They're about to start soon." Flurry flew away off towards the center of the settlement, out of sight.
>"...Hi, Boots," said Cozy. "You're here too?"
>"Everypony is here! The whole class too. It's history in the making. We'll get extra credit."
>"History?"
>"Come on, we don't want to miss it," tugged Astral. "You're very much a part of it too."
>They worked their way through the market space to the fountain.
>There was a large stage that was built to the side of the fountain. A podium was placed in the center of it, decorated with emblems and colors of the Crystal Empire.
>"Astral, Cozy! Welcome!" called out Twilight as she approached. "I'm glad you could make it! Especially you, Cozy. You're a guest of honor here.
>"...I am?" asked Cozy.
>"Have you thought of a name for this place?" inquired Twilight.
>"A name? It's just an outpost, isn't it?"
>"Not anymore," said Tenderhoof.
>Ponies began to gather around the stage as a small crystal marching band began to play a frozen northern version of the parasprite polka.
>"Oh! It's almost time. Come with me!" said Twilight, urging Cozy to follow.
>They went through a security check, back behind the stage where they met up with Flurry, Cadance and Shining Armor.
>"Welcome, Cozy. I'm so glad you could be here," greeted Cadence, warmly.
>Shining nodded down to her with what could possibly be a friendly smile. "Welcome, Cozy Glow. I hope your trip here was a good one."
>Cozy nodded back to Shining. "Thank you."
>Flurry was all smiles. The music had come to a conclusion as the crowd slowly quieted down. "Oh, they're starting! I mean we're starting! I mean we're on!!"

>>35210263
>"Flurry, dear, settle, please," urged Cadence as she followed Shining up some steps and through some heavy velvet curtains.
>"Come on!" said Flurry as she followed her mother.
>Twilight was next, pausing to look back at Cozy. "It's ok! All you have to do is stand and wave." She winked before motioning Cozy to follow her.
>Cheers and applause and a roar of stomping rang out as the royal family began to appear on stage.
>The stage looked smaller than it did from the ground. Hanging above it was a sign similar to the one on display above the tunnel, with the words "Welcome to:", with a nicely carved, blank board hanging below it.
>Shining Armor stood at the podium with Cadence to his side, standing royally with her wings up. Flurry was beside her, also in a similar royal pose.
>Twilight guided Cozy to a spot next to Flurry before taking her own position next to Shining Armor.
>Cozy forced an awkward smile and waved lightly to the crowd as she looked around desperately searching for a familiar face. She was beginning to panic as she searched without finding anypony she knew.
>Just then, a calming voice entered her head, "I'm here. It's ok. You got this!" It was Astral. She was close.
>Cozy began to relax. She put her waving hoof down and continued to scan the crowd. 'Where are you?' she thought back.
>"In front, by the guard on the side close to you."
>Cozy focused her search to that general direction and spotted Astral and Tenderhoof waving back. Her awkward smile transformed into a slight genuine one as she waved back to them.
>Cozy looked over to Flurry, standing next to her. "Uh... Hi."
>Flury cleared her throat, re-fluffing her wings, maintaining her royal pose.
>"Oh!" said Cozy, straightening her posture, looking forward.
>Flurry giggled, "I'm just kidding! Relax."
>Cadance smiled, folding her wings back as she turned to Cozy, "It was Flurry's idea, I'm sorry."
>Cozy nervously chuckled, "Um, ok." She relaxed just a little.

>>35210266
>Shining cleared his throat into the microphone at the podium and the cheers quieted down. "As you all may or may not know, this little piece of Equestria is really much more than Equestria but a combination of all the lands surrounding this nation. Yet for too long has it existed outside of any one border. Many would fail to acknowledge this place, even when it's right in front of them; associating it with outlaws, criminals and a shady underworld of danger to be despised. There was a time when I thought the very same thing, but no more!"
>Cozy listened carefully as she was learning just what was going on along with the rest of the crowd.
>Shining continued, "While the land on which we stand, and surrounding developments have always fallen under Equestrian and Canterlot jurisdiction at the topmost levels while at the same time also ignored by it, we have decided that it is has earned a legitimate place both on the map and in the economy. This village, so to speak, too small to be its own city, let alone state or country, will now fall under the protection of the Crystal Empire BUT, be allowed to operate on its own outside of its borders. Neither I nor Cadance will gain control of the laws of this town. Celestia knows we have enough to deal with as it is." Shining chuckled, looking over to and winking at Flurry and Cozy. A few small supporting laughs came from the crowd.
>Shining continued, "Princess Twilight, Princess Cadence and I have worked closely with the elders of this very place, the details of proper leadership, and have decided that such special responsibility shall fall on the withers of its most welcome visitor. Not only has this visitor for some time now ensured the strength of its protective forcefield against the elements, but also has done well to support the local economy allowing it to grow into what it has become today. Stallions, Mares, Fillies and Colts: My daughter Flurry Heart." Shining stepped down from the podium.

>>35210273
>Flurry stepped up to the podium, adjusting the mic, "H- Hello? Hi." A small amount of feedback rang out. "There we go."
>Shining took Flurry's spot on the stage. He glanced down at Cozy and smiled, whispering to her, "This is your place, too."
>"Mine?" asked Cozy.
>Shining nodded.
>"Thanks, dad," started Flurry. "So, um. Yeah! This is my town. I mean... It's you're town too. I just get to rule it. Isn't that cool?" Flurry looked around at the smiling faces. "As my first decree, Dues will no longer be required. If you want to support this awesome community, buy something! Tell your friends!" Flurry gestured towards the fountain to the side. "The fountain will remain to remind us all of where we came from, and with some upgrades, continue to provide protection to the area. You can still throw your bits in, I guess. Make a wish or something." Flurry shrugged. This was her first public royal speech.
>Twilight stepped up next to Flurry to help out, "What will the name we will all look for on the map when we speak of this place?" she asked.
>"Oh!" said Flurry. She stepped down momentarily to pull Cozy up with her. "Cozy Glow. I want to share this place with you since you make my visits here so much more enjoyable. What should we call this place?" She pushed the mic over to Cozy.
>Cozy froze with nervousness having been put on the spot. She looked around wide-eyed at the seemingly millions of faces staring right back at her; there might have been billions or even trillions. In reality, it was only in the hundreds, but she was still getting light-headed.
>"Well?" encouraged Cadence with a smile.
>Cozy leaned in, her voice booming over the sound system as it echoed through the grounds, "Um... G- Golly."
>Flurry repositioned the mic to herself. "Welcome to, Gollytown!"
>Shining turned around and blasted the blank board hanging behind them with magic, carving the new name into it.
>The crowd looked at each other for a moment before roaring out in cheers and stomps.

>>35210282
>"Gollytown?" Asked Cozy, her voice drowned out by thunderous applause.
>The royal family was smiling and waving and bowing. Cozy took it as her cue to do the same before following them back through the curtains and off of the stage.
>Astral and Tenderhoof were there to meet them. Hugs and congratulations were passed around.
>Cozy was now fully informed, but still lost and confused.
>Flurry went up to Cozy. "Yay! Now we can visit any time, and it doesn't even have to be a secret! Just work. For me, anyway."
>"Work?" asked Cozy.
>"Yeah, I have responsibilities now. But the outpost elders, I mean... The elders of Gollytown will handle most of it. I'll just be needed for the bigger things and decisions and stuff."
>"Gollytown..." said Cozy. "...Golly."
>"I like it!" said Tenderhoof.
>Cozy scanned the area for Astral. She spotted her talking to Twilight off to the side, Twilight looking slightly disappointed. "Yeah..." she said softly, walking off towards Astral and Twilight.
>"Hi, Cozy. You did great up there!" greeted Twilight.
>"Hey, Cozy," said Astral. "I was just telling Twilight about the Jar, and how it suddenly went bad on its own."
>Cozy blinked at Astral before turning to Twilight, "...Yeah."
>"That's so strange that it did that!" said Twilight, puzzled. "I wonder if the soul preservation spell I cast wore off."
>"Soul, preservation?" asked Astral.
>"Oh, yeah. It's something Starswirl was working on a long time ago, but magic wasn't so well developed back then. He gave me his notes on it, and I picked it back up, in my free time."
>"That jar was alive?" asked Cozy.
>"Yes!" said Twilight, excitedly. "Well, not the jar so much, but the cloud inside. I can't tell you much more about it, not until we successfully complete the experiment.
>"...That must be while it was so warm," realized Astral. "We?"
>"Starlight and I are working together on it," answered Twilight. "Did you manage to communicate with it?"
>"It didn't talk," said Astral, still in shock.

>>35210334
>"With your magic..." nudged Cozy.
>It took a moment for Astral to catch on. "...Oh! Oh. Oh, no. No, I didn't think to. Oh, that cloud must have been so terrified," she worried.
>"Don't worry about it!" comforted Twilight. "He knew exactly what he was signing up for. All of his affairs had been taken care of before we even started. It might be a while, but we'll get you another one when we try again."
>"Yeah. Ok. I'll be more careful next time." It was Astral's turn to feel lost and detached from reality. 'He was all over me, in every nook and cranny too,' she thought to herself.

>The sun made its way across the sky as it usually did. Flurry introduced all sorts of textures and tastes to her family, Astral and Tender. Cozy was along for the ride, engaging when interacted with directly, but otherwise still sorta lost in her own world.
>As the sun approached the horizon, the new visitors for the day thinned out little by little taking the train back to Ponyville and elsewhere, Tenderhoof included. Cozy and Astral were invited to a private afterparty back at the Castle, and that's where they ended up.
>It was a much more formal affair, quieter with gentle conversations taking place mainly around the crystal heart. Fancy treats were passed around on trays balanced on server pony's heads or floated in levitating fields of magic. A pony tickled the keys of a shiny black grand piano off to the side.
>Shining approached Cozy. "Are you having a good time tonight?"
>"Y- Yes, sir," said Cozy, nervously.
>"That's quite alright, Cozy. Look, I know I wrongly mistreated you. I just wanted to properly apologize. I was blinded by your past and who you used to be. I refused to see you any other way. But what you did. Putting your life up for my Daughter's. That one selfless act proved to me who you really are."
>Cozy listened as shining spoke to her, not knowing what to say, or if she should say anything at all. "It's nothing... Really."

>>35210383
>Shining continued, "Cozy, guards have to be trained to do something like that. Some won't and don't make the cut. I, Flurry, her mother... we are escorted by them, but we don't know if we can be sure that's what they'll do if Celestia forbids, it should ever come to that. But I know you will."
>Cozy nodded lightly.
>"I will never forget what you did for us in this very spot, and I want to make sure nopony else does either."
>Cozy followed his glance upward to a velvet curtain stretched across the back wall.
>Shining used his magic to pull the curtain aside, removing it completely. He lowered the curtain to the ground where castle staff quickly gathered it up, carrying it out of the room.
>Behind the curtain, shined an elaborately crafted stained glass window depicting a winged black figure with long legs spotted with holes at the hooves, long hair also spotted with holes, and a horn firing offensive magic down at the royal family. Shielding them from the assault, the central and largest detail of the piece shined a salmon pink pegasus, flying strong and determined.
>Ponies attending the afterparty gathered around under the window looking at it in awe and quiet appreciation, murmuring to each other about its beauty.
>"I'll never be able to say it enough, Cozy, thank you." He bowed to her as he gently backed off several steps before finally walking off to tell the tale of Cozy the Savior.

>>35210435
>Cozy needed some air. She quietly stepped out into the cool night. Sounds of the party were muffled, though the piano could clearly be heard through its walls. It played what to Cozy sounded like a somber tune.
>She stood alone in the courtyard, closing her eyes to shut out the world around her.
>Cozy was surrounded by darkness, standing in her own spotlight, accompanied by the sad tune of a distant piano. She softly spoke out loud to no pony in particular:
>"I am just a Cozy Glow. I've made mistakes, you see. For no one knows, how hard it is... to be a filly just like me."
>The piano continued on as if tailored to her thoughts.
>"They say I'm good, but I don't know. I ask, how can this be?" Her voice steadily grew stronger and stronger as she went on.
>"I've been to Tartarus, I've been made of stone. But now I stand here freeeeeeee?" she sang out.
>A voice stepped in from behind her. She turned to see Flurry slowly approaching, joining her secluded spot in the darkness, gaining her own spotlight, "You are Cozy Glow. You're a good pony, and this is what I see: You've made some friends, you've done some good. You risked your life to save me." She sang out.
>Flurry continued, "Now in the end, you're my best friend, the best a pony could ever be. The seed's been planted now stretch and grow, like the tree of harmonyyyyyyy!"
>The piano began to play stronger.
>Cozy countered, "Those thing's I've done..."
>"They're in the past," dismissed Flurry.
>"But still, they haunt me so."
>"Just let it go,"
>"How can I, though?"
>"Your friends will help you grow!"
>Facing each other, Flurry held out her hoof. Cozy took hold, her empty surroundings beginning to fill out with the light of the courtyard.
>Cozy nodded to Flurry, "I'll try and try."
>"That's all I ask," encouraged Flurry.
>"But I worry I still might fail."
>"I'm here for you just spread your wing, fly through the air, let's sail!"
>Flurry took flight into the sky. With a face of determination, Cozy followed.

>>35210499
>They sped through the air leaving the party behind, zooming over houses and streets, over parks, trees and lakes. Cozy felt the crisp air flowing through her mane as she drafted behind Flurry. They moved together as one almost as if rehearsed. The wonderbolts would be impressed.
>Without any particular destination, they just flew and flew, circling around, never stopping until finally, they came to rest on their backs, on the roof of the crystal heart room, panting and catching their breath.
>"...Thanks," said Cozy.
>"For what?" asked Flurry.
>"For..." Cozy thought for a while. "For being my friend."
>"Thanks for being you," offered Flurry.
>Cozy rolled to her belly, pulling herself to the edge of the roofline. She could see ponies in fancy dress going in and out. The piano could be heard playing a jaunty tune.
>They spent a good portion of the night on the rooftop just hanging out together, with the occasional chatter between the two.
>The door opened below and a voice called out into the courtyard, "Cozy? Are you out here? It's time to go home." It was Astral.
>"I gotta go, I guess," said Cozy.
>"Yeah. I figured. It was fun."
>Cozy nodded.
>"Hey, we'll do this again, some time. Adventure is good for you." Flurry pat Cozy on her back.
>Astral stepped out, calling up to the roof, "Cozy? I heard you were up there. Come on, we don't want to miss the last train."
>"I'm coming!" called down Cozy. She turned to Flurry, lunging into a warm hug.
>Flurry smiled, returning the hug, "Take care now."
>Cozy broke off, "I'll see you..." she said as she glided down to Astral, waving goodbye.
>Astral waved to Flurry before they headed off in the direction of the train station.

>Once settled in on the train, Cozy nestled comfortably in her seat against Astral. Her eyes were closed, and a soft smile rested on her face.
>Astral smiled as she felt and absorbed the genuine happiness that for the first time in a long time radiated off of the sweet little filly once again.

The End

last update: 20200416