04 - Don't Call me Crazy Glue

[another fic involving an Anon, so not necessarily canon to my other Astral writings. This one is inspired by a drawing of Cozy Glow, with the caption "Don't Call me Crazy Glue!"]

"I don't even get it, Anon," ranted Cozy. She sipped her late-night coffee.

It was quiet on the porch. The sounds of crickets and frogs in the distance filled the air while fireflies danced low in the yard.

"You're not crazy, Cozy," said Anon.

"I'm not sticky either!" exclaimed Cozy.

"That's not what they mean by the glue part, you know."

Cozy thought for a moment. "No, I don't know."

"Well... Where did you think glue comes from?" asked Anon.

"The factory, duh!" said Cozy, condescendingly.

"No, Cozy. I mean," Anon paused for a moment to think.

Cozy took another sip before placing her mug down to look up at Anon. "It doesn't?"

"No, it does. But, well, let me ask you this: Have you ever seen any pony grave-yards?" asked Anon, carefully.

"Pony what? I don't understand." Her big eyes began pleading into Anon's soul.

"You're right. The factory. Crazy ponies work there, but you're not crazy, and you're not sticky. I am."

Cozy giggled at Anon, "No you're not, silly!"

He pat the little filly on the bouncy curls. "Yes, I am. I'm crazy about being stuck on you."

Cozy blushes a little, "Oh. Golly."

* * *

"Don't stay up too late. You have school tomorrow," called down Anon as he went upstairs to his room.

Cozy sat in the dark corner of the living room, illuminated by the soft cozy glow of the monitor as she clicked between PonyTube, PonySpace, and whatever else foals were up to these days.

"I won't!" she called back up before Anon closed the door. "Good night!"

"Good night, Cozy."

* * *

A whimper. Was it? No. A dream. Stil half asleep, Anon listened to the darkens carefully. Nothing. Anon checked the clock. Just a few more hours until morning. He closed his eyes and waited for daylight.

* * *

The sun began to breach the horizon, illuminating the clear blue sky. Birds outside the window began to sing their morning tunes while the townsfolks shuffled out of their dwellings to start their days. Anon stretched and washed up before making his way down the hall to Cozy's room.

"Cozy?" said Anon as he knocked lightly on her door.

There was no answer.

Anon knocked louder before slowly opening the door. "Cozy? It's time to wake up!"

Her bed was empty, freshly made as if it hadn't even been used. Anon looked around. Cozy's school saddlebags were missing.

Anon thought to himself "Hmm. she must have gotten an early start. I hope she packed a good lunch."

Breakfast was the usual: Honey Bunches of Oats, some juice; something both Anon and Cozy agreed they could eat together and also agreed was quite tasty, though Anon could swear the bacon was disappearing faster than he knew he was cooking it. Hay food only made his stomach bleed and his teeth dull.

With the dishes cleaned, it was time for ANon to sit down and check his e-mail. The computer was still on, which Anon found strange, though, Cozy did have a habit of forgetting to turn it off after all; Anon would need to remind her when she got home.

ANon brought up a browser and begin to type: G-

-glue
-glue factory
-glue supply
-glue ingredients
-glue, safe to eat?
-glucose

"Oh, Cozy, no. What did you do? What did you see?"

-glue from horses
-my little gluestick
-where do we go when we die?
-how to make glue
-how to tell when somepony is not your friend
"Cozy, I'm so sorry."

Alt+S > Show All History

Anon's heart sinks as he scrolled through the list of URLs and search queries. Why did she never ask him? Would he have had the answers she was looking for? Anon spent the better part of the day sorting through the browser history, putting together Cozy's path of discovery in hopes of determining her plan of action.

-what is crazy glue?
-how should friends talk to each other?
-schools for ponies
-schools in equestra
-schools in Equestria
-how far is Equestria
-how to get to Equestria
-Equestria, Ponyville
-school of friendship, Ponyville

-what could friendship be?

This was never a town for her. Anon knew where she belonged, he only wished he could have taken her there instead of her going off on her own. Anon was sure she was already well on her way.

No.

She's Anon's Cozy. This is her home. He is all she needs, he provided everything she ever needed. Anon opened a new e-mail and began to type.

To: headmare@schooloffriendship.ponyville.equestria.edu
Subject: incoming student, please deny/return
Body:

...

No.

Anon froze. She was his Cozy, but this could no longer be her home. He are not all she needed. The ponies here in the outlands were no good for her, he just hoped their influence hadn't yet taken.

Letter by letter, Anon begin backspacing, and one heartbreaking click at a time, typed what he knew to be right, the best thing for everyone.

Subject: incoming student, please accept

* * * [END] * * *

11 months after the nationwide magic outage, a record number of foals were born; Astral being one of them.

"Honey, the Magic is out."
"I'm a pegasus."
"I know, but I'm a unicorn. What are we going to do?"
"We could... make our own magic, in the bedroom."
"Ooh, yes! Let's do it like earth ponies!"