It was just a nightmare...
Ough! Wait! Am I in a stone? If yes, then how am I able to think, shouldn't I be, like, frozen? But even if it's possible to think while being a statue, then why do I feel a splitting headache? Or...warmth? Or the softness of something?
What...happened?
Cozy Glow's inner thoughts were interrupted by sudden and tender touch and tapping on her forehead and soon something going across her mane. At the beginning, she mumbled drowsily and unwittingly smiled, because whatever was touching her felt so smooth and soft. Then she heard faint sound of calling her name. She let the things be until her mind began to piece together what exactly was touching her. Shortly after that, she realized it was almost certainly a hoof.
Wait a sec, a hoof? She thought
Her eyes started slowly and gradually opening. She could feel her body being oddly numb and also felt this thing to stop touching her.
Her vision, at first, was blurred and all she could see was blinding light, then, when blinding effect lessened, she was able to see colours. Except for white, she saw something purple that was close to her. It was Twilight Sparkle who was looking at her with a small, worried smile.
She noticed one more thing - she was in some huge room, with walls made of crystal. It was Twilight's Castle.
Cozy yelped startled and used her hooves to shield away from Twilight.
"I-I am so so-sorry, headmare Twilight. P-p-please f-forgive me!" - she stammered
"Shhh, Cozy. Everything's fine, don't worry!" - Twilight soothed
"But-but why was i freed from stone?" - Cozy asked, now she noticed that she was lying on the bed.
"Actually - you were never turned into stone. Or thrown into Tartarus. You neither have teamed up with Tirek or Chrysalis after being brought back by Discord in 'Grogar' disguise" - Twilight explained - "you're wondering how do I know about it. Princess Luna wrote me a letter about your nightmare you weren't able to wake up from. She was worried about you too...well, not like me, but it worried her enough to want to have a conversation with you"
Cozy was dumbfounded. It occurred that almost 3 months she thought she was a villain, then teamed up with Tirek and Chrysalis to meet her end in stone prison were just a fiction. She also wasn't sure anymore that it really was 3 months. If so, then she has a huge backlog in assignments and in headmare's assistant work.
"Wait, where am I?" - Cozy asked
"You're at my castle. You know - that giant crystal tree-like castle nearby School" - Twilight explained
"So, what really happened that day when magic was disappearing from Equestria" - she asked
"Well, first of all, let me explain one thing before we move on - I cast a spell I've recently mastered with Starlight and Starswirl the Bearded, so I know what exactly happened when I and my friends were absent. Second - you were right about who was responsible for magic vanishing. Tirek really escaped from Tartarus and when we got to its gate, the seal on it was completely broken and even one door of its gate was broken off the hinges"
"Then what?" - Cozy asked
"Then he began stealing unicorns' and other magical creatures' magic to gain enough power to activate the magic-absorbing device. He built it underneath the school because the power of the Tree of Harmony would help him in this scheme. I sadly can't reveal the way he broke into school unnoticed and entered under it"
"But, what happened to me" - she was curious
"When he got outside the underground after activating the device, he started destruction spree - whatever got in his way got wrecked and whoever was there, would be attacked. Tirek quickly found Headmare Office, and because you were the only one in there, you became his target. He grabbed you and threw you onto the wall with brute force. You're really lucky you only got a concussion and several bruises."
"Twilight, shortly after you and your friends left the school, some students were looking for Starlight, but she was nowhere to be found. What happened to her?" - Cozy was worried
"Tirek lured her to the underground and threw her into the orb all Equestrian magic was stored"
"How long was I like that, you know - not aware of anything?" - Cozy asked
"Almost 2 days, now everything seems to be fine once again. Damages caused by Tirek were repaired and we got back our magic"
"So...you're not angry at me for sending you to Tartarus?" - Cozy continued asking
"Not at all. We had to go there to check up on Tirek. It was just a coincidence that you were right."
"Oh...I see..." - she muttered
Twilight could feel that something's on Cozy's mind. She decided to continue the talk
"Cozy - there's one thing I want to know about you. It somewhat worries me"
"Yes?" - Cozy replied unsure what Twilight is up to
"I've noticed that you're really trying to make others happy, even at your cost. Of course it's good thing to be nice to others, but it seems you're trying your utmost to do it. Also, if something goes wrong and you disappoint someone, even slightly, you break down and cry after school. What does make you like that? Or what made you think the princesses would put you in Tartarus, or turn you into stone?"
Cozy Glow looked down at the ground, struggling to say a word. After 10 seconds, she started explaining, but her eyes were getting watery
"Because...because I don't want to disappoint anyone. I-I am trying so hard to be good and make others happy, so no one would leave m-me..." - she clenched her eyes - "...just like my parents did"
Twilight gasped. She thought she knew almost everything about her assistant, but she was wrong. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Cozy. She snapped from the shock, sat near her assistant, and wrapped her wing around her
"I-I didn't know that, Cozy. Sorry to hear that. But trust me - your friends will not leave you - we'll go through this together." - Twilight tried to lighten her mood
Cozy looked up at her headmare, still sobbing a bit, with tears flowing through her cheeks. But soon she smiled and wiped her tears.
"R-really, you also won't leave me?" - she asked with a hopeful tone
"I won't - I promise. Why would I even leave such a good student and even better friend?" - Twilight said
"And if I make a mistake and disappoint you" - Cozy asked, but her voice was still a bit cracked
"I won't leave you either. If you mess something up, we will go through this together, because that's one of main premises of friendship - forgiveness and helping each other" - Twilight said
Cozy didn't say a word, trying to procees what her headmare has just said.
"So...I'm still a student in your school and your assistant, right?"
"What do you think?" - Twilight murmured at Cozy, who was still looking at her uncertainly - "Of course you are!" - she exclaimed, making the filly jump from being startled. Twilight couldn't help but chuckle at Cozy's reaction. Then, she used her magic to take the watch to check the time.
"I have a plenty of time before I have to go." - she said to herself then turned to Cozy - "Do you feel good enough to go to school, or do you need a day off to recover?"
"I think I can go" - Cozy replied with a bit meek voice
"Alright! Then follow me."
When Cozy Glow was following her headmare, she asked about one more thing
"Do you mind me asking what happened to Tirek?"
Twilight stopped walking and turned her head to the filly - "Do you know Tartarus has special places for most dangerous creatures that look like mountain-islands protruding from the abyss? Deep below the surface, inside each island is a cage that makes escaping even harder than on the surface. He's locked up in one of these cells and he won't escape that easily like then"
Cozy didn't say anything and just walked with Twilight.
**TIME SKIP - School of Friendship**
As soon as Twilight and Cozy Glow entered the school, they met Starlight and 6 students and close friends - Gallus, Silverstream, Yona, Sandbar, Smolder, and Ocellus. They all smiled at Cozy.
After a short moment of greeting, Cozy was called by the guidance counselor - Starlight Glimmer.
"Cozy, I'm glad you're fine. You have no idea how worried we all were" - she said before using her magic to levitate Headmare Assistant's medallion to give it to Cozy
"Nice to see you too" - Cozy replied, putting a medallion on her neck.
"By the way, would you come to my office for a moment? It's urgent - someone wants to see you"
"Um...okay..." - Cozy said unsure what does Starlight want from her
After two minutes, they both walked into the guidance counselor's office. There was another surprise for Cozy Glow. There was somepony that wanted to see her - Princess Luna, who approached her as soon as she entered the room.
"Welcome Cozy Glow." - she greeted
"P-princess Luna?" - Cozy said bowing to the princess - "I-i-it's such an honor"
"We haven't had the opportunity before to meet, but there are some things Twilight and I want to know about you - mostly Twilight, but the nightmares of yours that I've seen in dream realm even shocked me." - Princess Luna explained her visit's reason
Then she resumed speaking - "I would like to talk to you in private, can you go with me? It will not take long"
"I...I cannot. There's a lesson with professor Fluttershy in a moment and I already have backlogs in my studies" - Cozy replied somberly
"Don't worry, Cozy! You can catch up with it later. There aren't important subjects today anyway" - Starlight reassured
"Oh. If so, then I can go with you, princess!" - Cozy said
With that being said, Starlight led Cozy Glow and princess Luna to empty classroom, so the princess can have a talk with Twilight's assistant in private.
After they two entered the classroom, princess Luna used her magic to close the door.
Starlight simply returned to her office.
To be continued...
Author's Note
Instead of making another story being a sequel to this, I will simply make another chapter.
But it won't be quickly because of my exams.
UPDATE - spelling and grammar fixes (it still might be bad)
Interviewing the troubled filly
When Princess Luna and Cozy Glow were in the classroom, they both sat - Luna on the teacher's chair and Cozy at a school desk, in front of the teacher's desk, facing the princess.
"So, Cozy Glow. I did not ask you to talk in private without any reason. The nightmares of yours I have seen in the dream realm were really alarming. The vision of a very young pony - you - getting imprisoned in Tartarus, by me for that matter, then being brought back with other vile creatures by Discord and then becoming a stone statue is not something to ignore."
"Y-you see, your Highness, I..." - Cozy Glow started, but was cut off by Luna
"No need to be so formal - just call me Luna" - she said, giving the little pegasus a small smile
"You see, Luna" - Cozy resumed - "I'm just scared of being left behind and becoming a bad pony. My parents already abandoned me and I don't want to be left behind again"
Princess was shocked by that.
"O-oh! That's awful - could you tell me why did they do that? If you don't mind of course."
Cozy's frown deepened and she looked like she would burst into tears at any moment. Luna somewhat wished this question was never asked, but the pegasus filly started explaining.
"I will start by giving some background - my parents were very demanding and wanted me to be the best I can, so I could work in business when I grow up. Of course, it's good, but some methods of ranking up were just mean. I didn't want to be businessmare. I wanted to go my own way and go to School of Friendship, but my parents didn't like this idea."
"Then what?" - Luna was curious. Cozy's eyes were filling with tears.
"They gave me a choice - either I do what they want me to do and become businessmare with their full support to achieve that, or I go my own way to this school, but have to take care of myself. I-I just couldn't believe they would do this to me, but I thought if they are like that, they don't really care for me and just want me to be their puppet. After I made a choice where I want to go the way I want, they simply kicked me out and said I could come back, but I'd have to be what they want me to be"
Princess Luna didn't say a word. Somehow, tears poured from Cozy's eyes even more and her face had the most heartbroken frown that anyone could imagine. She kept talking, but her voice was getting more cracked and raspy
"E-Even tho-though...they did w-what they did, I-I miss them a-a-and want to b-be w...with them s-sometimes. It's j-just...that...I-I..."
Before Princess could react, Cozy covered her face with forelegs, then leaned forward the desk and began wailing. Seeing a pony like this made her really sad and she couldn't help feeling sorry for her.
She stood up from the chair and walked to Cozy. Then she reached her forehooves, picked still-crying Cozy Glow up and embraced her in order to console her, with Cozy's face pressed against Luna's chest.
"It's okay Cozy Glow, let it all out." - Luna soothed, patting her back with a hoof and stroke the back of her head
Cozy's stormy crying lessened to whimpering and single hiccups in nearly two minutes.
"T-thank you, Luna. I'm sorry..." - she whispered, still in Luna's grasp
"But you have nothing to be sorry for"
"I do - you surely have your princess work and here I am, wasting your time..." - she said in a somber voice
"It's a part of my princess work - to comfort ponies, mostly in the dream realm, but in real-world too"
She let Cozy out from her forelegs and was standing in front of her. Cozy wiped tears from her eyes and cheeks.
Princess Luna wanted to talk about the nightmare she saw in her dream realm. She had a feeling she needs to say it
"And about your nightmares" - she started - "I want to say, that there is a law that makes imprisoning underage criminals in Tartarus absolutely forbidden. Also, if Discord did the thing I have seen in your other nightmare, he would be the one turned into stone. I and Celestia are not hypocrites to let villains be punished by someone who brought them together."
"I just didn't mean anything. I couldn't control that" - Cozy said remorsefully.
"I know. Besides, nightmares almost always show us our biggest fears. Your fear is being alone and becoming an outcast, right?"
"Yes." - Cozy confirmed
"These feelings can make someone frustrated. The Darkness uses these creatures for their own gain. Did you know some of our friends were evil because of these feelings until they were reformed?" - Luna asked
"I do." - she confirmed and resumed speaking - "Counsellor Starlight was stealing cutie marks and nearly destroyed the world by traveling in time because she lost a friend named Sunburst when he got his cutie mark. There was also a young unicorn named Stygian, who was exiled by Pillars of Equestria and became a Pony of Shadows. I also learned about another unicorn named Tempest Shadow, who joined Storm King because she was betrayed by her friends in her fillyhood."
Princess was surprised by Cozy's knowledge.
"Someone was paying attention to history lessons with Twilight..." - she said with a small smile and her eyebrow raised, making Cozy smile a bit
"Yeah, these lessons were interesting."
There was a short moment of silence until Princess began speaking to Cozy.
"But you should not worry about being left. From what I have heard, a lot of students like you, especially those six you always spend a break with."
"That's right - Yona, Gallus, Sandbar, Silverstream, Ocellus and Smolder. I often play chess with them"
"Oh, you play chess? Are you good at it?" - Princess Luna was curious when Cozy Glow mentioned she plays chess, because she, just like Cozy, often played it during her free time.
"I'm more than just good. I've played it in professional matches a lot. My cutie mark is even a chess piece - rook to be specific."
"Really, may I have a look?" - Princess Luna said, her curiosity only increased
Cozy Glow stood up from the chair and turned a bit, so her cutie mark was visible for the princess. Luna's eyes moved to her flank and there she saw an orange rook.
"Well, this is something new. You are the first pony I have ever met to have chess-related cutie mark. Just tell me - how good are you? Did you win any professional match?"
"I'm very good at it. I got my cutie mark when I defeated chess grandmaster - Bishopic Pawner* during a casual game in the park. Some ponies were shocked that an experienced chess player lost to a filly, but it seems no one remembers it anymore. And for your second question - yes, I've won a lot of professional matches, always in Coltsville, because most of the chess events are hosted right there."
Princess Luna was glad she met a pony like Cozy Glow. She wanted to make her an offer
"You are a remarkable pony...and I would love to play chess with you in Canterlot Castle someday if you want to"
Cozy was completely surprised. She couldn't believe that one of Equestria's rulers and ruler of the dream realm would want to play chess with her. She has never felt so special.
"R-really, you would?" - Cozy asked. Luna simply nodded.
"But sadly, not soon. You have school and I have my royal duties. But in the summer, when you have your break and I'm not that busy - it would be a great time for it. So what do you say?" - she replied
"I'm more than glad to accept your offer" - Cozy said.
"Great! Now you shall go to headmare Twilight. I will go with you"
With that being said, both Cozy and Luna left the classroom and headed straight to Headmare's office. When they were trotting there, Cozy occasionally glanced at the princess with a smile - she was so excited.
When they got to the office, Cozy was asked once again by Starlight, because she needed her help with some paperwork. Now Twilight and Princess Luna were the only ones in the office.
Twilight spoke first
"So, how was your talk with Cozy?"
"It went very well. She got all her worries and sadness off her chest and she seems to be in a good mood now. Especially when she said she's good at chess and I made her an offer to come to my castle in Canterlot to play it with me one day."
"Thank you, Luna. I appreciate your help with calming down Cozy" - Twilight said
"My pleasure, just keep an eye on her."
"I will. We are all here for her" - Twilight said, wrapping her foreleg around the princess in a half-hug.
Princess luna returned the half-hug by wrapping her left foreleg around Twilight.
Author's Note
Explanations (or excuses - call it however you please)
So my exams are finally over and I could finish this story with revealing (alternate) Cozy's story
It took me that long, because I've just begun online course, learning another programming language - Python.
This chapter seemed way better in my mind, until I started writing it...
At least I put all things I wanted (maybe that's why this chapter is so chaotic...?)
* - Yeah, that's right - I made a name related to chess and I just couldn't fail it more miserably xD
