After Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Silver Spoon got out of school that day, they headed over to my house to pick up Diamond and me. Apple Bloom also joins the party since she is curious what is going on.

Once we are together, we head out to the mall to do some clothes shopping for Diamond. My mother had handed me some money for this purpose. Despite this, it is Silver Spoon that ends up donating the lion's share of the shopping budget.

At the mall, while I wait for Diamond to try on a new outfit, Sweetie Belle shows me her phone while mentioning that her sister, Rarity, is a little insulted that Sweetie did not immediately come to her for clothes shopping. The text message from Rarity also promises a very generous deal if we switch to her.

After reading Rarity's text sent to Sweetie, I realize the same thing that Sweetie also notices. We both read between the lines of Rarity's text. It is enough to realize that Rarity is most likely aware of Diamond Tiara's dire straits. My mother is the most likely suspect who tipped Rarity off to that fact.

Sweetie Belle asks me for advice about what to do about the text, especially since we haven't purchased anything yet. I tell Sweetie we can continue with the shopping for today. Rarity's offer is likely to remain on the table for a while to come. We can probably raise more funds later on. By then, Rarity's offer stood a good chance to steadily become more generous as time goes on.

For the most part, Sweetie agrees with me, except she adds there tends to be a different kind of price for her sister's generous offer. Sweetie says that her sisters' clothes tend to be of high quality and, above all, very fashionable. But, as an artist, she also has a tendency to experiment. Those who agree to her “generous” offer may be used as a guinea pig for a while. Sweetie adds that her sister can get pretty invasive with her measurements. The subject would likely also spend many hours dressing and redressing from one outfit to another until Rarity finds one that is “perfect”.

I ask Sweetie what is wrong with that. Perfection, after all, I see as a noble goal.

Again, Sweetie partially agrees with me, but also says that Diamond has suffered a great deal of stress recently. A day with Rarity, especially when it comes to anything related to fashion, is likely to be an exciting and/or stressful day. Sweetie believes that a casual day with friends while Diamond does things at her own pace might be better for the moment.

After listening and weighing what Sweetie told me, I remind her that we do not have to change our plans for this particular day. Later on, we can also extend Rarity's offer to Diamond and let her decide when she is ready. In the long run, Rarity’s ultra generous deals combined with super high quality is likely to pull us into her shop eventually.

Sweetie mulls over my rebuttal, then smiles while nodding enthusiastically. She tells me that she agrees.

We spend a solid four hours shopping for clothes at several different stores. In the end, Diamond settles on twenty different outfits, and I know that is just the beginning. We may have exhausted most of our daily budget on this one activity, but I figure we'll be back before too long.

We also ate at the mall at two different times of the day and two different places, or three if I count the lemonade stand.

While we ate our meal the first time, the group decided to fill Apple Bloom in more fully about recent developments with Diamond Tiara's permission.

Apple Bloom feels much better to be included in the loop about what is going on. She says that she's glad that Sweetie finally confessed what has been bothering her lately. Apple Bloom grows alarmed to notice how serious the situation is and was. Upon conclusion of the recap, Apple Bloom felt as much sympathy for Diamond as she felt anger to Spoiled Rich.

Apple Bloom also practically insisted that Diamond, Silver, and I join the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Sweetie Belle excitedly reports to Apple Bloom that we basically already agreed to that, but Silver Spoon follows up that report with a question of her own. Silver asks, as a new potential member of the Crusaders, just what do Cutie Mark Crusaders do as a club?

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all took turns answering that question.

As an outside observer to this situation, it is eerie to watch them finish each other's sentences as smoothly as they do, or sometimes say the same thing simultaneously. It seems as if, when they are together, they share a close wavelength so strongly that I start to suspect they have a sort of hive mind syndrome.

Anyway, the short version of their explanation is the Cutie Mark Crusaders pretty much do whatever they want to do, which they mostly do together as friends. They say they dabble from activity to activity. Sometimes they take requests, sort of like mercenaries. They also tell us (the newly indoctrinated members of the Crusade, that is), that the most important rule of the club is to have fun together.

After hearing a fuller explanation, Diamond tells the original members of the CMC that they are really lucky. After saying that, Diamond laments her past bullying activities against many others and the Crusaders in particular. Diamond adds that if she was fully aware of what the Crusaders do before, and if her mother's pressure wasn't on her back, she might have joined the club a long time ago.

Apple Bloom waves Diamond off and tells her the past is in the past. Instead, the present and future is what she recommends looking towards. Current trends make it seem likely that their future together will be so much brighter than their past. Apple Bloom recommends letting bygones be bygones and, instead, work together to create a happy and friendly future.

Everyone agrees to that plan, even me.

Diamond seems especially desperate to agree with that plan. Not only does she feel guilty for all of her past sins, but she is overwhelmed with gratitude in what they are providing for her right now, especially the emotional support. Diamond admits that she feels very weak inside, but adds that their support could quickly help her to change that. She also says that this is what she really wanted all along. To be happy and enjoy herself with friends.

As Diamond says that, I secretly flash her a cold glare. That all sounds well and good to me, but I feel very irked that Diamond regrets her past sins now after she devastated my life so long ago, and I still haven't heard her apologize to me for that.

The more I study her, the more I realize that Diamond isn't even aware that she ever wronged me.

But that's okay. I'll remind her one day.

If you think you are sorry now, oh boy! Just you wait, Little Miss Prissy!

By the end of the day, we finish up with each other. After that, Diamond and I are delivered back to my home. By then, my feet are killing me! I feel so much better when I finally kick off my shoes. I feel better still when I sink into a warm bubble bath. My eyes practically roll up my skull in pleasure as my aching muscles soak in the warmth of the water.

Within about twenty minutes of this, I grow so relaxed that I think I almost fell asleep until I hear a knock on the door.

“Cozy? May I come in?” my mother asks me kindly from the other side of the door.

“Um,” I sit up a bit as I pull at the shower curtains to surround most of the bathtub. The only part of me now exposed is my head, shoulders, and arms hanging off the sides of the tub. After that, I gladly say, “Sure. Come in.”

“Thank you.”

My mother enters the bathroom. She makes her way to the toilet next to the tub. From there she sits down, then she smiles at me.

“I'm so proud of you, Cozy!”

I look at her with a little confusion. “For what?”

“For taking care of Diamond today for me,” my mother answers. “Both here at home and while you were shopping with her today at the mall. She emotionally sounds much better now. I don't know exactly what you did, but please continue! Whatever it is, it's working!”

You'll choke on those words someday, Mother.

“Sure, no problem,” I lie to my mother. “I just did what you would have done in my place. Also, I kind of sympathize with her.”

“Because of your past,” my mother realizes with a lamenting expression. “Are you starting to remember more about your past?”

“Only small bits and pieces,” I tell her honestly. “Most of it occurred to me while I collapsed in Diamond's bedroom, but I think those memories are twisted into something nightmarish and unrealistic. I had a nightmare about a former stallion from Horse-Land made of black smoke. He had red glowing eyes and wispy, purple trail coming from his eyes.” My expression to my mother turns curious. “Any of this ring a bell?”

My mother shrugs and shakes her head as she says, “No, but I'm not from Equestria.”

“True,” I agree as I look forward at nothing while sinking a little deeper into my bubble bath. “I just thought I'd ask anyway, just in case.”

“It probably was just a dream,” my mother figures. “I doubt it means anything. Still, if this stallion continues to give you problems, I can run a battery of tests on you just to rule out . . . um . . . unusual possibilities. The way my life has gone sometimes, I don’t think there is such a thing as being too careful.”

I close my eyes as I shake my head. “No, but thanks for the offer.” I sigh, then say, “I wonder if Sunny could have offered me more information about this stallion, but then again, like you said, it may have just been a wacky dream.”

“Is it a reoccurring dream?” my mother asks me with worry.

“Don't worry, Mother.” I look at her warmly then reach a dripping wet hand out to her that also has some soap bubbles on it. She reaches back to my hand. We squeeze each other's hand affectionately.

“I'm not a little girl anymore,” I tell her. “I can handle my own problems. Besides, I've always been intellectually more mature for my age.”

“And emotionally less so,” my mother expresses with lingering worry. “I fear that your former upbringing may have stunted your growth psychologically.”

“If that's true, then I'll handle it,” I assure her. “I'll be fine.”

“Not on your own, I fear.

“Honey, you do know it's okay to rely upon others too, don't you? I know you are strong, smart, brave, kind, loyal . . . all kinds of stuff.” I notice how she did not add honesty. “But what is it going to take to prove to you that we are strong enough to support you too? I'm here for you, Honey. You know you can tell me anything.”

I am growing a little suspicious of her. Is she fishing for something specific?

“Huh. Funny. Sunny said the same thing to me a few months ago,” I recall.

“And I'm sure she meant it,” my mother assures.

“No doubt she did.”

“So do you believe it?” my mother presses. “Do you believe we are willing and able to help you?”

“Yes to both questions, but it's unnecessary. You don't have an ordinary daughter under your care. I'm a special case. Instead, it is I who can help you guys out. I've done that so many times.”

“Yes, I know, and I'm proud of you for that too.”

My mother scoots closer, now sitting on her knees next to the bathtub beside me. Using the hand that is still free, she reaches towards my face and strokes it tenderly. I close my eyes and give a pleasant sigh. I even lean into her touch a bit.

God, I love her so much!

“I love you so much!” my mother echoes my thoughts, unbeknownst to her. “My special little girl!”

I squint my eyes open at her just a crack. My gaze to her is blurred with happy, loving tears.

My mother squeezes my hand again.

I calculate high odds that she is going to keep pressing her point until I give her a satisfactory answer.

“I just want to make sure you know that you can rely upon us too,” my mother presses me softly.

“I do know that,” I promise her. “And I have relied upon you all many times. Sometimes it is in subtle ways. Like right now. The emotional support and love you give me helps me to become the strong woman you see before you.

“Thank you, Mother! I owe you everything!”

My mother beams at me through happy tears of her own as she says, “The pleasure is all mine! You make my life complete.”

“Ah!” I bop her nose with a wet finger. “We make each other's life complete,” I correct. “I may have been born from a different woman, but we were made for each other. I am your daughter . . . wholeheartedly and completely.”

As if on cue, I sit up and lean towards her while she leans to me. We hug each other warmly and tenderly, though I lament a bit how I'm soaking her clothes.

But eh! I'm sure she doesn't mind too much. Not compared to what she gains in return. She can always change her clothes and hand her current outfit to one of our cleaning droids.

“There is something else important I wanted to talk about to you tonight,” my mother announces as we pull back from each other. I sink back into the bubble water.

“It's about Diamond, isn't it?” I guess. “You're thinking of adopting her.”

My mother shakes her head. Seeing that causes me to raise an eyebrow and ask her, “No?”

“Legally, I can't,” my mother informs me. “Not with her being in her parent’s custody.”

“Oh!” I widen my eyes as I turn my head to look forward again. “True. That's true.”

“But I was planning on making our relationship a little official,” my mother goes on. “I was thinking of applying to make this a foster home. Then, under those terms, I can have some legal authority over Diamond.”

“Yeah, you don't want to be sued for kidnapping,” I agree. “That probably would risk your job as well. Many parents are currently paranoid about their children going to Canterlot as it is. We don't need to intensify the scandal.”

My mother nods in agreement. “So you do understand.”

“I read the adoption system,” I say as my eyes look back at my mother while my face remains towards the wall at the foot of the bathtub. “I must confess, I had some invested interest in studying the system earlier, so I know what's involved. You can get this house set up for a foster care system way faster than an actual adoption, but that means this house, and you, will have to endure several checks.

“You know, Scootaloo is currently in such a system right now. If you get approved as a foster home, Scoots could move over here too. I doubt she'd take it, though. She seems pretty happy over there.”

My mother gives me a half shrug. “I could accept Scoots if she wanted to come here, but I'm really doing this for Diamond's sake. I have a few friends in the agency as well. I think I could get them to rush my application considering Diamond's current crisis.

“Before I move forward with any of this, though, I wanted to check with you first.

“If I get approved, I would become Diamond's foster parent, but you will still remain my legal child. That's not going to change. What is going to change is you'd sort of gain a new sister in this home. Is that okay with you?”

Diamond Tiara . . . my sister?!

OH GOD! I didn't connect those dots before! It's just hitting me now!

But . . . what a valuable opportunity, too! I'd certainly get a chance to study her closely if she's in my home all the time.

But . . . if I later betray Diamond . . . then my mother is going to get injured too!

Ouch! That is not ideal for me. New circumstances may have to be arranged to navigate the chess pieces where I want them on the board before I make the final kill.

Meanwhile, I think I can work with this unexpected opportunity.

For now.

“Sure, Mother. That sounds swell to me!” I tell her happily with a great big, fake smile. “Oh golly gumdrops, I can't wait to have a new sister-in-law . . . sort of.”

“She would not truly be your legal step-sister,” my mother corrects. “Technically, she is just staying with us for an extended visit, but,” she pats my hand, “I have no qualms at all about you calling her your sister as much as you'd like to. You go right ahead.”

“Neat-o!” I say as I maintain my fake smile. I am fighting hard not to twitch. “I always wanted to have a sister!

“Ooo!” I realize something brightly. “Maybe she can be my partner in the next sister-hood social!”

“There you go! That's the spirit!” my mother cheers. “By the way, change of subject, I heard you hung out with a new group of friends today. I even heard a rumor that you joined the Cutie Mark Crusaders along with Diamond and Silver Spoon. Is that true?”

I shrug a bit. “More or less, yeah.”

My mother squeals in excitement, then says, “Oh, good for you, Honey! You're finally really taking steps to make new friends! I've been so worried about that, but seeing you finally develop close social bonds is easing the concerns I had for you.”

“Do you mean that?” I ask her, feeling a bit caught off guard by that statement.

My mother nods. “Friends are important. Book study can only get you so far. Believe me, I know.

“I heard my pony counterpart used to be the same way. She isn't into technology as much as I am, but she told me she kept her nose in books almost constantly. Long enough to ignore almost everything else, including friends.

“But, by moving to Ponyville and making new friends, she eventually became the Princess of Friendship! I'm so proud of her!”

“And you?” I ask while I raise an eyebrow at her. “Are you jealous of her?”

“Jealous? No!” my mother denies, then rolls her eyes. “Well, maybe a little bit, but my life didn't turn out too bad.

“Actually, she told me that she was jealous of me many times.”

“Really?” I ask in surprise.

My mother nods. “Yeah. She says it's because my life is a lot more simple. I may be busy at work but not as busy as her. Managing Canterlot High is a whole lot less responsibility than managing an entire kingdom. She does have a lot of staff to help her do it, but she also says she misses the company of her friends. They make time for each other on occasion, but not as much as she'd like.

“Though she mostly keeps that to herself.”

My mother looks away wistfully. “When she told me that, it made me realize that I really do have a good life here. I'm happy! I'm truly happy. What more could one ask for?”

She smiles at me lovingly as she says, “You are a big part of that, my dear. You are a major reason why my life is so positive. That truly is an advantage I have over my pony counterpart. Last time I checked, she still isn't a mother in any way, shape or form, unless you count the entire kingdom as her children.”

I look away from my mother as I think back.

“Adopt Cozy Glow? That seems extreme even for you, Twilight,” Starlight had once said in astonishment.

“It worked for my counterpart with her daughter,” Twilight returned. “You don't know this Cozy like I do. My counterpart showered this Cozy with love and affection, and she turned out way better in life than ours ever did. What if that was our Cozy's problem to begin with? What if she simply needed loving guidance to be a better pony?”

Wow! I haven't thought about that memory in what feels like quite some time, but now it hits me like a truck.

I can't help but be curious. Do I dare to hope as well? I wonder what the follow up to that promise is. I thought everyone in that room was spouting a bunch of bullshit to me at the time, but some pieces of evidence verified some of their claims later on.

For instance, what if it turns out Twilight was right about my former parents being abusive? That was the one fact that cast the most doubt on Princess Twilight for me back then, but if it turned out to be true, then what else was she right about? What if she did keep her word and freed my pony self? Is that Cozy living with Princess Twilight as her adopted daughter right now, just like I am with my mother?

The way I exited Horse-Land might have damaged pony Cozy's chances of being freed, but there is no guarantee that they'd totally give up on her. Princess Twilight's conviction seemed so intense that the only reason I doubted her was because of what she had done and what she said about my parents.

Damn it! Now this curiosity is going to haunt me, and I already damaged all chances to communicate with Horse-Land.

Unless my mother repairs the portal. That should be difficult for her, however, without the magical components that I am hiding. She can't just buy that at the supermarket, nor can I risk revealing it to my mother. If I do, that would expose my other crimes to her. I can't risk that!

“Mother . . . would you always forgive me and be my mother . . . no matter what I do?” I ask her with an unsteady voice.

“Of course I would!” my mother replies instantly.

I close my eyes, hold my breath, then sink my head below the water.

I wish I could believe her!

Author's Note