Chapter 1: A Scary Discovery
Twilight sat at her desk and tapped her hoof onto the desk. She breathed in and closed her eyes.
“Today is the day,” Twilight decided. “I have waited long enough.”
Twilight got up. She walked over to a door that separated hers and Starlight Glimmers’ offices. Twilight Sparkle knocked a hoof against the door and considered what she was going to say. Starlight Glimmer opened the door and greeted her friend. “Hi, Twilight.”
Starlight grew puzzled and then asked, “Do you need something?”
Twilight Sparkle walked back behind her desk. “I am going to need for you to be the principal for the next few hours. I have a project that I need to get done.”
Starlight Glimmer rolled her eyes. “Why are you locking yourself in your office this time? Ya going to organize your cupboard?” After a brief pause, she stated, “Again?”
Twilight hovered a small cardboard box of things out from under her desk. Gently she turned to Starlight Glimmer. “I have been putting it off too long. I need to go through the few things that Cozy Glow owned.”
Starlight Glimmer sighed. “Twilight, it has only been 3 hours.”
Twilight stated, “That is three hours that Tirek could have used to corrupt Cozy Glow’s innocent mind.”
Starlight Glimmer said cheerfully, “Oh, so you are thinking of a way to get her out?”
Twilight sighed. “I just sent a bucking 8-year-old to Tartarus. I am not going to rest unless I can prove to the princesses that she deserves a second chance.”
Starlight Glimmer nodded. “Well, if anyone can, it would be you. You have a thing with second chances.”
Twilight stated, “To do this, I need to get in her head.”
Twilight pointed a hoof into the cardboard box. “Maybe something in here can help me figure out why she tried to destroy all the magic in Equestria.”
A portal opened up in the corner of the room. Princess Luna walked out of it and hovered an apple infront of her muzzle. She took a big bite of the apple and then walked up to Twilight’s desk. Luna reported back. “I just finished the paperwork.” She took another bite of the apple. “Cozy Glow has been sentenced. She is officially a member of the population of Tartarus.”
Twilight sighed. “I hope that, someday, we can let her out. For a normal filly, it would be terrifying to be next to those monsters. What if Tirek is a bad influence?”
Luna looked at Twilight, “I understand your concern, Twilight, but we can’t let her get away with what she did. On the danger level, she is one of the most dangerous ponies that I have seen. I can’t imagine what Equestria would do without magic.”
Luna hovered a banana near her face. She ate the banana peel and threw the banana into the trash. “I mean, the only thing more dangerous would be messing with time.”
Starlight nervously laughed, “Yeah... Good thing that never happened.” She then sarcastically responded, “Ha Ha Haaaaa.”
Starlight leaned over and whispered into Twilight’s ear. “Does she know?”
Twilight shook her head no.
Starlight breathed out a sigh of relief. Starlight Glimmer then trotted into her office and shut the door, leaving it open just a sliver.
Twilight sighed, and then she used her magic to pull more belongings out of Cozy Glow’s box.
It was Luna’s turn to sigh. “She needs to be punished. Let her be punished and give her back her junk when she gets out.”
Twilight hovered a few picture frames out of the cardboard box. After some examination, Twilight observed that they were all of Cozy Glow in various poses. Twilight said. “If I am going to redeem Cozy Glow, I need to figure out why she tried to get rid of all magic. Maybe somepony with magic hurt her.”
Luna looked at the picture frames and responded, “There is not too much you can learn other than that she only really loved herself.”
Twilight pulled out string puppets that looked like her and her friends. “Where do you even get these?”
Luna laughed, “ I have a Luna mug, so this makes sense. Why wouldn’t there be products of you and your friends? You are heros in Equestria.”
Twilight looked shocked. “Where do you find mugs of yourself?”
Luna shrugged, “Mostly eHay.”
Twilight held the puppets up. “But puppets?”
Luna snickered. “Maybe she liked the idea of pulling your strings. Little puppet master.”
Starlight yelled from her office, “You mean marionettist.”
After a few moments of silence, Starlight yelled back. “Getting back to work.”
Twilight pulled a unicorn horn out of the box. “This is just bucking wrong.”
Luna responded, “What is it now, Twilight?”
Twilight hovered a unicorn horn out of the box. “What is this doing in here?”
Luna tapped her hoof to the floor. “Twilight I took her to Tartarus. Can I leave now?”
Twilight shouted, “Luna!!! I just found a unicorn horn in the box. How can you be so calm?”
Luna rolled her eyes, “A common ingredient in many potions from the Zebra kingdom.”
Twilight asked, “But where is the foal that it belonged to?”
Luna shrugged.
Twilight gasped and dropped the box on the floor. Luna responded, “What is it now, Twilight?”
Twilight held up a pony skull, “Please tell me this is fake.”
Luna tilted her head to the side and hovered the skull away from Twilight. Luna stated, “Now this is interesting. Maybe thou should have gone through the box sooner.”
Luna investigated the empty sockets of the skull. “I am afraid to tell you that he is authentic.”
Twilight gasp, “She murdered a pony?”
Luna laughed, “No, he is very much alive but only through magic. Very dark magic.”
Twilight said, “What are you going to do?”
Luna danced around the desk while looking at the skull. “First, let me find out how I can help my new friend.”
Twilight nodded.
Luna stated, “Next, I believe it would be best if I visit Cozy Glow in her dreams.”
Twilight responded, “Let me help.”
Luna shook her head. “You are the reason she is in Tartarus. She might be more willing to speak to me. Besides, I am the ruler of the dream world. She doesn’t even have to know that I was there.”
Twilight responded, “Please be careful.”
Luna turned to Twilight with the skull in hoof. “I’ve got this!”
Cozy Glow sat in the corner of the cage with her hooves crossed. Her hair was frazzled. What was once a light blue mane with curls was now muddy and nearly straight with several sticks caught in it. Bags were under what was once cute and hopeful eyes and her pink fur was a dirty mess.
Quietly Cozy Glow looked up at the sky and cursed it for the fact that she was in this situation. She looked at Tirek, who, as usual, was seething. Cozy asked, “So what are you going to do today, friend?”
Tirek responded, “Thinking of how many different ways I wish I could end you.”
Cozy Glow let out a nervous chuckle. She whispered under her breath. “Nice talk.”
Tirek yelled back. “And if you call me friend again, I will gut you for breakfast.”
Cozy Glow weakly smiled and spoke through her teeth. “Noted. Anything else…. Um… sir?”
Tirek yelled, “Shut your filthy pony mouth!!!!”
Cozy Glow rolled her eyes, “Gee, ok, mister.”
Tirek yelled out loud, “Between the dog and you, and I am going insane.”
Cerberus whimpered in disapproval.
Cozy Glow laid down on the cold metal of the cage and turned away from him.
Eventually, after what felt like hours, she shut her eyes and fell asleep.
Cozy Glow woke up in a dark hallway. She could hear a faint voice saying, “Cozy.”
Cozy gulped. The only sound that she could hear was the sound of her own clop stomps.
“Cooooooozzzzzzzzyyyyyy.”
Cozy Glow looked around. The only thing in the room was a door in front of her. She turned around to see nothing but an empty hallway with no doors behind her. Cozy Glow looked at the doorknob and debated what to do. Her heart pounded, “Oh great,” she told herself. “Why don’t they just write trap on the stupid thing?”
Cozy Glow gently put a wing up to the doorknob and turned it. She grit her teeth as she heard the metal turn. And she pushed the door open.
“Cooooooozzzzzzzzyyyyyy.”
On the other side of the door was a long hallway with a lone window. A curtain on the window blew in the breeze.
Cozy Glow yelled out. “Oh come on!” Cozy Glow jumped when the door behind her slammed shut. She turned around and tried to open the door only to realize that now it was locked. She sighed, “Guess there is only one way to go.”
Cozy Glow turned back around and looked down the hallway. Her eyes strained to see down the hallway, but it failed due to a lack of light. Cozy Glow’s body shook. From the other end of the hallway, she heard. “Coooooozzzzzzyyyy.”
Cozy Glow breathed out and saw her breath. The cold air felt like it was reaching her spine.
Cozy walked down the hallway past the window. She jumped when she heard a howling sound and felt something touch her, only to discover it was the curtains blowing in the wind.
She quietly walked down the hallway to discover that it was a dead end. Quietly she heard hoof steps coming behind her. She looked back to see a blank wall. Cozy Glow’s eyes widened. “Where is the hallway?”
She turned around to see that a wall formed behind her. The walls were surrounding her.
Just then, behind her, she heard a colt screaming, followed by a loud thump followed by the sound of bones cracking. She nearly ran into the wall away from the sound. When she turned around, she saw a staircase with a red streak going down it.
Cozy Glow looked around. The room started feeling cold, so cold that it hurt to breathe. With no choice, she climbed the stairs. At the top, she found another hallway.
Cozy Glow scoffed, “Well, at least something familiar.”
Cozy Glow looked down the hallway and a door with her old room number on it, “Well, this is new,” she told herself.
She heard the same voice behind it say, “Cooooozzzzzyyyyyy!”
She quietly entered the room to see that a single candle, in a gold candelabra, on the bed dimly lit the room. Cozy trotted up to the candle, and it started to float in the air. Slowly a young colt named Drizzle Rain faded into the room holding the candle. Drizzle Rain’s eyes were shut, and with folded wings, he hovered 3 feet about the bed with his legs crossed.
Quietly he said, “Cooooozzzzzyyyyy.”
Cozy Glow yelled, “What do you want?”
He said, “Save….. Me…….”
Cozy Glow responded, “How?”
Drizzle Rain attempted to speak, but before he could, cracks formed in his coat. He turned to mud that fell onto the bed and soaked the sheets.
Suddenly the door behind Cozy Glow slammed shut. Cozy snapped around to see a stallion with skull face paint standing against the door.
The stallion’s eyes opened to reveal green glowing eyes. He cynically said, “Sorry cozy, but you are not going anywhere.” He slid toward her like his hooves were on ice. Skeletons of various ponies and other creatures started coming out of the walls as if the walls were water. The skeletons rattled and clanked as they crawled almost mechanically towards her.
Cozy Glow fell backward to the ground and put a hoof in front of her. Cozy Glow screamed, “Stop! Please wake up!”
The stallion with skull facepaint grinned, “Oh, it is not going to stop. You used my potion on your friend. I am here to collect my fee.”
Cozy Glow yelled, “Nooooo!!!!” as the ground opened up. Fire burst from the floor, and giant heavy chains wrapped around her ankles and started to pull her toward the fiery pit.
The stallion gave a sinister laugh. “The bill always come due, little girl. You should know nothing is free.”
Cozy Glow started to tear up. Her hooves and limbs started turning skeletal. “Make it stop. Make it stop! Please, I will do anything.”
The stallion in the skull facepaint laughed, “You are pleading to the wrong person.” He twirled a top hat around. It landed on his head, “This is only the beginning. You and Drizzle Rain are going to serve me for ETERNITY!!!” He then laughed insanely.
Tears flowed down Cozy Glow’s face. She could feel the fire burn the bottoms of her hooves. Cozy Glow started feeling dizzy from lack of oxygen. She fought, and with the last bit of air in her lungs, she screamed, “Take me, just let Drizzle Rain go.”
“STOP!!!” the canterlot voice echoed through the room.
The stallion in a top hat started to turn to dust. He grinned evilly at Cozy Glow. “I will be back.”
The ground sealed back up, and the skeletons retreated into the walls.
Cozy Glow gasped for breath. Her lungs hurt as she felt cold air rush into her empty lungs. The room became lit, and a warm feeling entered Cozy’s body. She slowly opened her eyes and wiped her tears.
Cozy Glow looked up to see Luna standing over her.
Cozy Glow cleared her throat. “We gee golly thanks for helping me, Miss.”
Luna looked lazily at Cozy Glow. Luna rolled her eyes and took a sip from a teacup. “You can drop the act, my little pony. I know who you are.”
Cozy Glow yelled, “In that case, why didn’t you do that sooner?”
Luna shrugged, “I wanted to see where that would go.”
Cozy Glow said, “What!!!? Legend says you protect ponies from nightmares.”
Luna responded, “Yup.”
Cozy Glow smacked the cup with a wing. It hit the ground and shattered, “So why didn’t you stop it?”
Luna created a teacup out of the either and started drinking from it. “Because that was not a nightmare.”
Cozy Glow’s eye twitched. She knocked the cup to the ground and it shattered just like the last one. Cozy Glow screamed, “Well then, what was it?”
Luna took a sip of hot cocoa. “It is delicious. Do you want some? It might help you calm down.”
Cozy Glow smacked it to the ground.
Luna giggled. “I have all night. Keep doing it if it makes you feel better.” Luna waved a hoof to create another cup and start drinking from it.
Cozy knocked it to the ground. “Stop it! I asked you a question. Now answer it.”
Luna responded, “Why? If you think you can scare me? You can not. This is the dream world. Nothing can hurt me here. Not even a ghost like that.”
Cozy’s ears perked up, “Ghost?”
Luna took a sip. “You are correct.”
Cozy Glow said “FINE!!!” and then grabbed the cup from Luna. Luna smiled.
Cozy Glow drank from the cup until it was empty. She then asked, “What is a ghost doing in my dream?”
Luna responded, “It means that your past is haunting you. Or, more specifically, somepony is haunting you.”
Cozy Glow took a sip. “Gee, this does taste good,” Cozy Glow cheered in surprise. “Thanks. you really are the best princess ever!”
Luna responded, “You are doing it again. Your cute act does not work on me.”
Cozy Glow responded, “Just go with it. I have two modes; cute, and you don’t want to see my other mode.”
Luna shrugged, “Yeah, you can act cute in that case. At least I can finish my coco.”
Cozy Glow asked, “Now who in all of Equestria would ever want to haunt a cute little thing like me?”
Luna said, “Why don’t you ask him?”
From behind Luna walked a familiar blue unicorn. He said in a quiet voice. “Hello, Cozy Glow.”
Cozy Glow responded with a rather rough voice, “What is Drizzle Rain doing here?”
Drizzle Rain started to cry. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Please don’t be mad at me.”
Cozy Glow crossed her hoofs. “Well, I am mad.”
Cozy Glow looked confused, “Why would you haunt me anyway?”
Drizzle Rain said, “I am sorry. It has been so lonely. You are the only one I can talk to. I was trying to warn you when he was not watching me.”
Drizzle Rain fell to the ground, “I want to go home. I want to pet my dog. I want someone to fix me. I need someone to save me from the stallion in the skull facepaint.”
Cozy Glow looked up at Luna, “You found him? In my things?”
Luna nodded. “Indeed. He told me everything.”
Cozy Glow snapped at Luna. “Why do you care?”
Luna responded, “I gave in to my own hatred and anger over a thousand years ago. It cost me my love, My son, and a thousand years from my life. The same feelings you have right now about regret I let control me until it manifested in creating a creature named the Tantabus. In my own guilt, I almost released the Tantabus into the world.”
Cozy Glow calmed down.
Cozy Glow responded, “If I could, I would save him, but how can I?”
Luna spoke, “You need to stop the evil that turned him into a skeleton. Without the stallion in the skull facepaint, Rain’s spirit will be free. Once you defeat him, then you can get Rain a new body created from mud.”
Cozy Glow yelled, “Great! So, Luna, can you let me out of Tartarus so I can cure my friend?”
Rain perked up and wiped his tears. “Do you mean it?”
Cozy Glow blushed, “Anything for my first friend.”
Rain ran up to Cozy Glow and hugged her. Cozy Glow winced, and her body tensed up. After a few moments, Cozy Glow hugged him back.
Luna responded, “I am sorry, but I have to leave you in Tartarus.”
Cozy Glow dropped Rain and yelled, “What? Then why did you do all of this?”
Luna took a sip of coco. “To help you.”
Cozy Glow said while gritting her teeth, “Then….. Let…. Me…… Out…..”
Luna said, “A punishment is what you need.”
Cozy Glow responded, “And what about Rain? Does he deserve this?”
Luna said coldly, “No, but you did it to him.”
Cozy Glow grit her teeth. “I hurt Rain, and now I am going to fix it.”
Luna laughed, “Good luck fixing it in Tartarus.”
Cozy Glow screamed, “That is why I want you to let me out!”
Luna rolled her eyes. “You tried to destroy all the magic in Equestria. You need to think about what you did wrong.”
Cozy Glow yelled, “Let me out.”
Luna stated, “You were sentenced to 5 moons in prison.”
Cozy said, “I have been in here longer than five days.”
Luna laughed and created another drink, “It has been three hours.”
Cozy Glow whined, “I am going to waste away in Tartarus.”
Luna took a sip of coco. “A moon is a little shorter than a month. You can spend five months in Tartarus.”
Cozy Glow knocked the coco to the ground. “Luna responded, “So we are back to that,” Luna sighed, “again,” She looked down at the shattered cup, “I see.”
Rain looked at Luna and pleaded, “Can you let her go now. I want to go home.”
Luna looked at Rain and explained. “She needs to think about what she did.”
Rain grew frustrated, “but Luna, it is so boring being just a skull. What am I suppose to do?”
Luna smiled at Rain, “now that I found you, we can do many things.”
Rain looked confused at Luna.
Luna continued, “I can take you to the castle, and we can watch the Maredalorian or Star Horse the space movie with the Millennium Stallion.”
Rain whined, “I can’t wait to play with my dog again.”
Luna grinned, “Then I can take you to his dreams. And you can play with him there.”
Rain Cheered, “That sounds fun.”
Luna walked toward the window. She looked down at Rain. “Then I trust that you will leave Cozy Glow alone for now?”
Rain nodded, “I will.”
Rain nodded, and then he faded from the room.
Luna looked at Cozy Glow, “Rain being kept alive with very dark magic. I would be foolish to send a filly to defeat the creature that did this without a plan.”
Cozy Glow responded, “How do I start creating a plan?”
Luna pointed at Cozy Glow’s chest, “You have everything you need. Think back to the day that you met the stallion with the skull facepaint, and you will discover what you need to do.”
Cozy Glow tilted her head, “What does that mean?”
Luna started to fly out the window. “Good night Cozy.”
Cozy Glow yelled, “I hate you.”
Luna opened her wings and started to flap them. She then stated, “I know you don’t mean it. Good night Cozy. Get some sleep my little filly.”
Luna faded from the room. The moon glowed brightly through the window. Cozy Glow looked up at the moon and then breathed out in anger. She yelled out the window, “Thanks for nothing.”
Cozy turned around and stomped away from the window. She kicked a tall bookcase until it wobbled and then fell toward her. Cozy Glow stood there and watched it fall toward her. “Oh horseapples.”
Cozy Glow felt a burning all over her body. She opened her eyes and flew up to the top of the cage. She looked over to see that Tirek was sound asleep and snoring rather loudly. It sounded like buzzsaws which made Cozy Glow ponder if she was going to get any more sleep. Cerberus looked at her and wagged his tail. Cozy Glow looked at the giant dog and sighed. Cerberus licked Cozy Glow through the bars of the cage and covered her in drool.
Cozy Glow dripping in drool landed on the ground. She shook some of the spit off of her body and whispered under her breath. “I will get out of here and save Rain.” Cozy squinted in the dark and looked at the sleeping dog guarding the entrance of Tartarus. “no matter what it takes.”
Cozy Glow then laid on her side and started thinking of a plan to get out of Tartarus.
Author's Note
There will be another chapter to give this short story a good ending and too set up a much larger story involving cozy glows adventures to cure Rain.
I wonder if cozy glow is going to figure out how to save Rain?
This is a loose sequel to my other story. You do not need to read it but if you want to you can check it out here. https://www.fimfiction.net/story/476106/cozys-first-friend
Twilight paced back and forth. Her mind was full of different thoughts and worries. To her, it felt like it had been many moons since she spoke to Princess Luna. In fact, it had only been several hours. She had been trotting long enough that a groove started to form in the stone floor. Starlight leaned back and reclined in Twilight’s office chair.
Twilight stopped for a few moments and looked at Starlight Glimmer. “What if Cozy Glow trapped Luna in her dreams? What if Luna decides that Cozy Glow cannot be redeemed? I hope Cozy Glow made a good impression.”
Starlight sat back in Twilight’s chair and looked out the window to see that the sun was starting to rise. She glanced at Twilight and said, “Hey look, the sun is coming up.” Starlight slammed her head back and sighed, “It looks like you have been up all night.” She looked at the deepening groove in the floor and said, “Twilight, there is not much you can do about it right now. You need to get some sleep.”
Twilight galloped over to Starlight Glimmer and spoke with a crazed look in her eyes, “I can’t sleep at a time like this when either Luna and/or Cozy Glow could be in danger!”
A portal opened in the office. Luna walked out of the portal and into the room. Her eyes were full of sleep, and she had bags under them. She let out a loud yawn. Luna looked at Twilight and said, “We need to talk.”
Twilight stopped pacing and asked, “What is the matter? Is Cozy Glow safe?”
Luna grinned slightly and yawned. “Twilight, I can answer all your questions. Just please ask them one at a time.” An apple appeared next to her.
Twilight demanded, “Then what have you found out?!”
Luna hovered an apple and took a bite. “About what?”
Twilight’s eyes started to twitch. “Well, for starters, what did you find out about the skull?”
Luna responded, “The skull belonged to a colt that used to go to this school. He also liked Star Horse and Video Games. He also wanted to beat Buttons Mash, but I know he is not going to. For not even I can beat Buttons Mash at Coltnite.”
Twilight sat down. Her ears started to fold to the sides of her head. “Is he.. you know... gone?”
Luna said. “Fear not, young Twilight. He is still alive. However, the magic that is keeping him alive is the darkest I have ever seen. Only Nightmare Moon used magic this dark.”
Twilight asked, “Is he safe?”
Luna responded cheerfully. “Yes, Twilight. Rain is safe back at the castle and watching Star Horse. He seems to be a fan of Luke Skytrotter. He is feeling much better and hopeful that Cozy Glow can find a cure.”
Starlight commented, “Well, that raises five different questions.”
Luna took a bite of another apple. She turned to Starlight, “Like what?”
Twilight shouted, “How could you eat at a time like this?”
Luna sighed, “So now I am not allowed to eat my dinner?”
Starlight changed the conversation, “Why is Rain at the castle?” She gave a wave of the hoof, “And I don’t know with his parents.”
Luna answered, “He is a skull. As much as I want to tell his parents that their colt has been found, it would only bring them sadness until we can fix this,” she let out a long and loud yawn and put two hooves into the air making quotes, “condition.”
Twilight responded, “Well can you fix it?”
Luna said, “That I don’t know. I need to check the library in Canterlot.”
Twilight looked at her bookshelf. “Between the library in my castle and Canterlot, we can find the cure. I am sure of it.” Twilight turned to Luna and asked, “What about Cozy Glow?”
Luna responded, “I have talked with Cozy Glow. She says that she is going to help cure Rain.”
Twilight responds with, “So when is she going to be released?”
Luna let out a big yawn. She hovered a pineapple in the air. “Twilight, I have many things I need to consider first.”
Twilight said in a panic, “When are you going to let her out of Tartarus?”
Luna responds with, “I am not sure.” She ate a hole in the side of the pineapple through its skin.
Twilight begged, “But you have to let her out.”
Luna looked at Twilight, “Cozy Glow said that she would cure Rain.” Luna sighed, “I have to consider that she may be lying to get out of Tartarus.”
Twilight responded, “If there is a chance that Cozy Glow is telling the truth, shouldn’t you take it?”
Luna said, “She is a master manipulator. She fooled you and your friends once. I have to make sure that she does indeed want to help cure Rain.” She then ate what was left of the pineapple including its leaves.
Twilight responded, “But Cozy might be able to cure him?”
Luna responded, “Maybe.”
Twilight continued, “If she is out of Tartarus.”
Luna sighed, “She would have to work very hard to prove to me that I can trust her.”
Twilight said, “I am a princess. Don’t I get a say in what happens to Cozy Glow?”
Luna asked. “Ok, what is your vote?”
Twilight responded, “I declare that Cozy Glow should be released.”
Luna responds. “My sister and I both voted to send her to Tartarus. So two against one. You are outvoted.” Luna took a bite of an apple and smirked.
Twilight said, “What about Cadence?”
Luna responded, “Twilight, she has her own kingdom. She doesn’t influence what happens in Equestria.”
Twilight replied, “But it is not fair. Cozy is just a filly.”
Luna said with a sympathetic sigh, “I can not go against my sister.”
Twilight said, “But she is only eight.”
Starlight stomped a hoof as she corrected, “Actually, she’s seven.”
Twilight corrected herself, “But she is only seven.”
Luna explained, “I understand your concern, but there is nothing else I can do.” Luna sighed. “Cozy Glow almost erased all the magic from Equestria. It was decided that to keep Equestria safe, she needed to go to Tartarus.”
Starlight blew air out of her nose. “It is a good thing you and Celestia didn’t judge me.” Starlight stormed into her office and slammed the door.
Twilight fell to the ground and begged, “Luna, please!”
Luna rubbed her hoof through Twilight’s hair. “I understand your feelings, but ifI let Cozy Glow out, then any suffering that she causes would be my fault.” Luna looked through the window at the rising sun. “When you saved me from Nightmare Moon, I told myself I would never let anypony else suffer. I can’t take that chance.”
Twilight responded, “What if I adopted Cozy Glow? Then it will be my responsibility to take care of her. If she does anything bad, then it would be my fault. She deserves a good life.”
Luna raised an eyebrow and said, “You would do this for her?”
Twilight responded, “I would do this for any one of my students.”
Luna stepped away from Twilight.
Twilight looked up and asked, “At least check up on her and keep her safe.”
Luna gave Twilight a weak smile and said, “I have not given up on the filly, but I do need to be careful. If Cozy Glow can be redeemed I will let her out.”
Twilight got off the floor and said, “Thank you. I know there is good in her heart.”
Luna tapped her hoof to the floor. As a result, a portal opened. Luna replied, “I hope you are right.” Luna walked through the pool of energy, and then the portal closed.
Cozy Glow walked through a dark fog and walked out into a circus at night. What once was busy dirt paths were now chillingly empty. The only light came from the flickering lights of various game booths. Discarded wrappers, plastic cups, and an upside down tricycle lined the dirt roads. The tricycle squeaked as the wind blew its big wheel.
Cozy Glow walked around until she came to the spot where she met the pony with the skull makeup. She noticed an old brown suitcase on top of a table where the skull pony was. As Cozy Glow walked up to the suitcase, she heard muffled talking coming from inside it. Carefully Cozy Glow opened the briefcase. A group of puppets that looked like Twilight and her friends jumped out. They hovered in the air and started circling her.
Twilight’s puppet started singing. “Ring around the filly. Lets all get Cozy. Ashes, Ashes. Your soul is now MINE.” The Twilight puppet hovered an inch from Cozy’s face. It said quietly to her. “Join us.”
“No!” Cozy galloped away from the group of puppets and dashed into a tent.
Cozy skidded to a stop when she saw the Skull pony.
The Skull pony smiled, “Hello Cozy. Miss me?”
“Leave me alone!” Cozy wailed before running out of the tent and into another one.
Cozy Glow fell into a large metal bowl. She struggled to keep her balance as It swayed from side to side. Cozy Glow panicked and grabbed the sides of the bowl as a giant crucible started to pour hot iron into the bowl.
The iron slowly flowed up to Cozy Glows hooves. The heat brushed up against Cozy Glows hooves. She bit her lip as her hooves started to burn. Cozy Glow screamed, “Help! I am too cute to get melted.”
Luna flew in and grabbed Cozy Glow by the hooves.
Cozy Glow blew out and sighed relief before looking up at the princess.
Luna dropped Cozy Glow on the ground. Cozy Glow fell on her flank with a thump.
Cozy Glow sat up and said, “Thank you for the rescue but next time, could you be nicer that fall hurt?”
Luna laughed and cackled as her fur turned black. Her teeth grew sharp and a black armor helmet formed on top of Luna’s head. Luna opened her eyes to reveal that her irises turned to slits.
Cozy Glow whimpered, “Golly Luna, you don’t look too good.”
Luna replied back with a mocking tone, “Golly, Golly, Golly This, Golly That. Who is that cutesy act going to fool?”
Cozy Glow gulped and crawled on her back away from Nightmare.
Luna stood over Cozy Glow and said, “You can call me Nightmare Moon. There is only one thing that I can do to a criminal like you.”
Cozy Glow begged, “I have changed. I want to change.”
Nightmare pulled a large Sledgehammer out of the ether. “Sorry, you insufferable welp. I can’t take that chance, for only I can rule Equestria. There is no room for the Empress of Friendship.”
Nightmare swung the hammer. Cozy Glow rolled to the side just as the hammer slammed against the cement. Hot sparks fell onto Cozy Glow’s coat and the air filled with a metallic ring and the hammer nearly hit her.
Cozy Glow responded. “Golly, whatever did I do?”
Nightmare yelled, “There you go again. Drop the act. If you say Golly one more time, I am going to squash you like a bug.”
Cozy Glow responded, “Listen, you old buck, this is a poor way to get anyone to worship the night.”
Nightmare swung the hammer. It barely missed Cozy Glow again. Nightmare yelled, “You will show your queen some respect.”
Cozy Glow said, “This must be why your son left you.”
Nightmare screamed, “You don’t deserve to worship the night.”
Cozy Glow sat in the same spot, “I am done running. Just do it. Anything would be better than wasting away in Tartarus.”
Nightmare grinned, “Your wish is granted.” Nightmare swung the hammer down.
“STOP!!!” The canterlot voice echoed through the circus. A gust of wind blew the hammer away from Nightmare. It landed cracking cement with the handle sticking straight up.
dark shadows reached out of the ground like arms and hands and grabbed Nightmare. Nightmare screamed out loud in pain. The circus filled with the sound of Luna laughing. Nightmare yelled, “You will fear me.”
Luna grew out of the shadows and looked Nightmare in the face, “Why? Because you have the darkness?”
Luna rose off the ground. The wind swirled around her. “You silly foal. You think that you can control the darkness? You only adopted the Shadows. I was born into the Shadows, crafted and molded by them.”
Nightmare squirmed as the hands pulled her toward the ground.
Luna looked Nightmare in the eyes. “You will not hurt this filly anymore.” Luna blew out a gust of air. The hair blew off of Nightmare, revealing the pony in skull makeup.
He said with a deep and gritty voice. “If you think that I am done, you are sorely mistaken.”
Luna squeezed him until his eyes started to bulge, “And what are you going to do about it?”
The skull pony looked at Cozy Glow and grinned, “I will collect my fee when we meet again.” His body turned to dust then blew away.
Luna looked at Cozy Glow. “He is really getting annoying. I think it is time for me to put a block in your head.”
Cozy Glow said, “I don’t want anything in my head.”
Luna giggled, “It is a simple spell to keep him out.”
Cozy Glow said, “You said you would get Rain to stop.”
Luna responded, “I am afraid that was not Rain but someone much worse.”
Cozy Glow said, “He keeps showing up whenever I think of the time I was at the circus with Rain.”
Luna looked around at the circus as she realized, “It makes sense. He must not want you to remember something.” Luna cleared her throat. “Is that really what you think of me?”
Cozy Glow responded, “I don’t know what you mean. It was just that guy messing with me.”
Luna responded, “He is trying to stop you by attacking you with your worst fear. Tell me filly ... do you fear me?”
Cozy Glow blushed and stuttered, “Well, a little.”
Luna looked down, feeling hurt. “Oh. I see. My sister would tell me that I should not be upset by that revelation, but it still does hurt.”
Cozy Glow pat Luna on the back and said, “You know the old me would have used this opportunity to say something to make you feel bad.”
Luna responded, “Well, I guess I should appreciate it if you do not.”
Cozy Glow rolled her eyes and grinned. “I would have taken that opportunity to try to wrap you around my hoof.”
Luna snickered. “I get your point.” Luna asked, “So why aren’t you?”
Cozy Glow raised an eyebrow and grinned, “That is going to have to be my little secret.”
Luna pulled a cup out of the ether and started drinking out of it. “I think we both need some calming tea.”
Cozy Glow looked up at the night sky. “Besides, even if you did let me out, I doubt my grandfather wants me.”
Luna took a sip of tea, “What would your parents think?”
Cozy Glow blushed, “They died when I was young. My grandfather raised me.”
Luna dropped the teacup to the ground where it shattered, “I am sorry for your loss.”
Cozy Glow quipped, “I didn’t break that one.” Luna and Cozy Glow both laughed.
Luna replied, “You seem happier since we last spoke.”
Cozy Glow said, “The nice thing about Tartarus is, after speaking to Tirek, I realized how nice my grandfather was.”
Luna asked, “Would you like me to send him a message?”
Cozy Glow replied, “Na. It is ok. I would be more scared about what he would do if he knew.”
Luna replied, “Didn’t he enter you into the School of Friendship?”
Cozy Glow replied, “He did. I convinced him it would be a good thing. I think he thought it was good too.”
Cozy Glow sat on the grass and gazed up at the stars. “Growing up, I didn’t have any friends. Between bending and selling metal, I guess it is hard to meet foals my own age. When the school opened, I thought it was a chance to finally make some friends.”
Cozy Glow looked down and sighed, “Too bad I am such a disappointment.”
Luna wrapped a wing around Cozy Glow. “You are not a disappointment.”
Cozy Glow responded, “Well, golly Luna, but I only wanted to make friends, and so far, I have hurt more ponies than friends that I have.”
Cozy Glow looked up at the moon. “I have messed up so many things. Some Empress of Friendship.”
Luna responded, “Messing up is a part of life. I would know. All I have ever wanted is for the kingdom to love me as much as they love my sister, yet I doubt that even my pet Opossum Tiberius likes me.” Luna growled. “The only thing I seem to be good at is scaring fillies. Stupid Nightmare Night.”
Cozy Glow said, “Nightmare showing up may not have to do with what I fear. The pony in the Skull makeup always shows up in my nightmares. I wonder if they are both related?”
Luna poured herself some more tea and then teleported the kettle away. A blue aura held the teacup in the air. During that time, Luna asked, “Yes, but how do you think they are related?”
Cozy Glow answered, “Golly ... they both seem to use dark magic. He also seems interested in ponies paying their fees. Do you think he is collecting the fee to pay Nightmare?”
Luna took a sip of tea, “Very interesting. I am surprised that a young filly made that connection.”
Cozy Glow responded, “Well, I had the best princess to teach me.”
Luna sighed, “Yes. Twilight is a good teacher.”
Cozy Glow smiled, “Well Golly, I meant you, Princess Luna. You are the best.”
Luna responded, “Thanks.” Luna took a sip of tea.
Cozy Glow asked, “Can you let me out of Tartarus?”
Luna responded, “Nope.”
Cozy Glow slapped the tea cup out of Luna’s magic. It fell to the ground and shattered.
Luna responded, “Oh we are back to this. Ok, I thought we were beyond it, but, yeah.”
Cozy Glow’s face turned bright red. Steam started pouring out of her ears. Cozy Glow yelled, “How could you? After all that, you still keep me next to Tirek? He yells and makes fun of me for snoring. He also threatens to hurt me.”
Luna said, “Is he in a cage? How is he going to hurt you?”
Cozy Glow yelled, “That is not the point.”
Luna responded, “Do you want to know why I agreed to send you?”
Cozy Glow screamed, “Yeah! Tell the world. Why did you send a seven-year-old to a place like Tartarus?”
Luna responded, “Because you are just like me, my little filly. So full of potential. So smart, and yet the darkness calls out to you.”
Cozy Glow responds, “You know nothing about me.”
Luna said, “You are the way you are because you feel like you are always in the shadow of somepony more liked than you. You crave adoration and never get any. On top of that, your mentor figure of yours gets all the glory and love, and you never seem to be able to escape their shadow.”
Cozy Glow beat her hooves to the floor, “Stupid Twilight.”
Luna placed a hoof over Cozy Glow’s, “It is not Twilights fault. Everything you did, you did to yourself. Now you have to prove to me that I can trust you.”
Cozy Glow stopped and snapped back. “Yeah well, ya genius. How am I going to prove anything in a cage?”
Luna replied, “There is one thing that you can do.”
Cozy Glow grinned, “What do you have in mind?”
Luna mentions. “Tirek likes power. I do not doubt that the skull pony would have offered him a helping hand. Can you find out from him if he knows anything about the pony with the skull makeup?”
Cozy Glow responded, “Why don’t you find out from his dreams?”
Luna answered while her eye twitched, “His best dream is not safe for anypony. You don’t want to know the horrors that he dreams about.”
Cozy Glow giggled then assured, “I will do my best.”
Cozy Glow watched as Luna flew up into the moon. She was bathed in a warm light from the rays of the moon.
Cozy Glow woke up from her sleep. She looked over to see Tirek seething.
Cozy Glow rolled her eyes. Wow. What a surprise. Golly ... is he ever happy?
Cozy Glow thought about what she learned in the letters that she received from Tirek. The only time he ever seemed happy was when he talked about the adventures he had with his... Cozy Glow thought about it. So I identified a point of weakness. Next, how to best exploit it? I could talk to him, but that would fail as has every attempt before.
Cozy Glow grinned as she came up with an idea. Time to try something that fools everypony.
Cozy Glow thought about the saddest thing ever. Tears flowed down her face and formed a pool under her cage. She cried and whined as loud as she could.
Tirek yelled, “Stop that right now!!”
Cozy Glow sobbed, “I can’t.”
Tirek said, “If I could, I would make you stop.”
Cozy Glow whined, “I just miss my brother.”
Tirek sighed, “I know the feeling, but you are just making everything miserable for everyone else here.We all have family that we miss.”
Cozy Glow stopped crying and then sniffed, “Golly. Why? Do you miss any family? I thought you just had your brother.”
Tirek snipped back, “It doesn’t really matter. I am never going to leave Tartarus.”
Cozy Glow said delightfully, “Awww, why so glum, my new chum?”
Tirek shrugged, “Out of everyone here, you are the most likely to leave someday. I mean, what kind of monsters sends a child to Tartarus.”
Cozy Glow grinned, “Golly, Sir, that sure is kind of you.”
Tirek said, “Now calm down and don’t get too sappy or I am going to get sick.”
Cozy Glow snickered to herself. Wow, he sure calmed down. Cozy Glow looked down at her cutie mark, a red rook chess piece. She grinned.
Step one: Get him to open up.
Step two: Get him to like me.
Step three: Ask him about the skull pony.
All is going as planned!!! Before long I will have him as a friend.
It will take time but soon I can say checkmate!
Author's Note
Thank you everyone for reading. The story is finished. I doubt that cozy glow will have any more of those nightmares.
Have a great weekend.
