Crystal Heart: After the Swarmby Betty_StarlightChaptersChapter 1: But Before We Really Get Started...Chapter 2: What I Need To BeChapter 3: Yeah, About That!Chapter 4: You See, the Thing About Me Is...Chapter 5: But Seriously, Why is It That...Chapter 6: You Know What, Never Mind!Chapter 7: Seriously, What is REAL Anyway?Chapter 8: So We Finally Just Met In the Middle...Chapter 9: And There I Was, Minding My Own Business, When...Chapter 10: So Then, We Got a Filly!Chapter 11: And I Bribed Her!Chapter 12: And Then, She Finally Started Talking To MeChapter 13: But first...Chapter 14: And Then They All Came By!Chapter 15: And They Started Talking To Cozy...Chapter 16: So Now Cozy's Being Reformed!Chapter 17: And Then We Were Both KindChapter 18: And Friendship Brought HappinessChapter 19: Then Twilight Had this Thing...Chapter 21: And Love Just Broke All the Rules...DenouementChapter 20: And So, Trixie Did the Unthinkable...Chapter 1: But Before We Really Get Started...“I’ll admit that part of me felt sorry for you after the whole Trixie fiasco, but most of me was still focused on revenge!” Starlight frowns from where she sits, tied to the chair by rope and blindfolded, there in the motel room, “Crystal, what are you talking about?” I have her right here… I could end her… But I know I won’t… I’ll continue talking instead, “You see Starlight, I haven’t been exactly truthful with you about my true identity…” “Crystal?” Starlight calls out again! I give out a long heavy sigh from my snout, “No Starlight! Even after all you’ve done to me and everything you’ve taken from me and even though now is absolutely the perfect time, I won’t end you after all! No, the truth is, I much prefer you alive now because I’ve grown rather fond of you… I think I…” “Crystal, who are you and what are you trying to say?” Starlight demands, with the blindfold still over her eyes… At this stage, I don’t believe words are appropriate anymore… And so, I do the unthinkable… I drop my disguise from my pony form and trot to Starlight there, now visibly panicked and I do the one thing I never thought I would do… I kissed her… I kissed her and held my lips there against hers, and noted that her snout and eyes began to relax underneath the blindfold… I removed my lips and whispered to her, “I love you… But I think it’s time to tell the truth…” I then magically lifted the blindfold off her head in a pale green glow and witness her two astonished blue eyes staring back at me… “Why?” She could only whisper at that point… I smile, “Permit me to start from the beginning!” “Do tell?” She sits there, unsure of what to think with a startled expression in her azure gaze. I can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all! She thought we were going to play a new sex game by tying her to the chair and while part of me actually did want to do that, the truth was making love to her truly began to lose it’s flair when I thought about how I’m lying to her… I wanted to make love to her as myself, after all… How odd that sex would carry those connotations? It never did in the hive? I finally began to speak, “At first, I was overcome with pure hatred and rage at you for all you had done to me… I was absolutely consumed with desire for revenge on you…” She frowns, “But your clearly not anymore, otherwise you would’ve killed me by now!” I extend my neck to her and snap! “Not necessarily!” Her frown lowers somewhat, “And the kiss?” I lower the rage on my face to her and soften my gaze, “Ah yes, well, I love you Starlight Glimmer!” “W-what?” Her mouth grows agape. I giggle with a consolidating grin and stare at her with wide eyes! “Yeah! I know! I actually do love you!” Starlight’s expression continues to be wide-eyed bewilderment as her frowning muzzle quivers in visible confusion before she stares at me severely, “Oh, sweet Celestia! We had sex! I ate out your asshole just yesterday night!” I chuckle, “Yes dear, and if you permit me later, I’d be happy to return the favor!” At this point, the unicorn has a startled expression on her face, “The queen of the changelings wants to lick my rump!” I try my best to contain my chuckles at this point as I say, “Oh, do shut up, dear! I’m trying to make a point!” She blinks and adjusts her gaze to me, “And that point is?” I sigh and look back at her, “Well, I had been following you and studying you from a distance…” She nods and gulps, “And that’s why you knew I had that relationship with Trixie!” My eyes widen, “Well, right! I knew you had just gotten out of a relationship with that stage magician friend of yours!” She frowns, “And so, you became my rebound?” I smile and chortle to the right, “I suppose I did, yes?” I put my gaze back on her. “Anyway, that’s when I pretended to be Crystal Heart the earth mare that you had fallen in love with!” “Why are you continuing to use her voice, anyway?” I sigh, “Well, I’ve grown fond of it…” I smile at her. “Mostly because using this voice and speaking this way reminds me of you now…” Her eyes widen, “So uh, you don’t wanna go back to the creepy vocoder voice, like before?” I smile, “I don’t think I want to?” “I still can’t believe you actually stuck your forked tongue in my mouth!” “Well uh, heat of the moment?” I frown, “What?” She looks at me, “I mean, I know you love me, but holy crap! Was really NOT expecting a forked tongue in my mouth!” I furrow my brow in irritation and sigh, “I truly HATE myself now, you know that?” She frowns at me, “W-what?” I give out a long sigh from my snout, “I hate myself because I now love you… I hate how I now adore the one pony who took EVERYTHING from me and I hate how I now love the pony who thwarted me at every turn! I” I blink. “I hate that about myself now, Starlight…” “You don’t have to hate yourself, Chrysalis?” I grimace at this cowardly unicorn, “What would you know?” “I know more than you think! I know what it’s like to rule through fear and intimidation and I know how lonely it can be, especially after you’ve been defeated! Uh, how did you escape, anyway?” I can’t help but smile at the simplicity of it all, “Did you know that Discord was an idiot? Heh, yeah! All one really needs to do to escape stone is develop the correct mindset!” Her eyes widen, “Really?” I giggle, “Oh, indeed! Anyway, you were yammering on about redemption and turning over a new leaf or some other such nonsense?” She smiles, “Hmm, well, I’ll make a deal with you Chrysalis! Call it, a wager?” as she lifts her right eyebrow… My eyes narrow, “Go on?” She fixes her eyebrows and lowers her gaze, “You untie me and we start over… I’ll try dating you and being with you, but we need to do it up front this time… You’re not Crystal Heart! You’re Chrysalis!” I widen my gaze, “But in public?” She sighs, “Well, right! I can’t be walking around Ponyville with an evil looking bug horse, so I guess you can continue to be Crystal Heart, while around other ponies?” I sigh, “As you wish!” “Also, uh Chryssi?” I frown and blink at the startling new nickname, “Uh, yes Starlight?” “Could you please uh, go back to your pony form? Uh, you always unnerve me when you look like that…” I think long and hard about this in the space of just a few seconds… For all of my life, I have been a proud strong warrior who could defeat any enemy in my path… And now, this magenta unicorn who I unfortunately seem to have fallen in love with was asking me to assume a lighter more gentle shape… The absurdity and unmitigated gall of this suggestion! I smile and reply, “Very well, dear!” before going back into the shape of Crystal Heart… The earth mare with a shimmering aquamarine coat and a flowing brown mane and tail with a pale blue diamond-shaped crystal superimposed on a heart for a cutie mark… I thought she looked rather fetching with her green eyes, hence I picked this shape to seduce Starlight… “Chryssi?” Starlight asks me while frowning and still tied to the chair. She comes back into focus of my gaze, “Yes Starlight?” She nods, “I think I get it now. You wanted to seduce me to gain revenge, right? But uh, when did you begin to realize that you loved me?” I realize now that there’s no going back and so I reply, “It was close to the beginning of our relationship, actually… Long before we had sex for the first time, as a matter of fact… Uh, “I shake my head.” It was never about that with you, honestly… I realized that I loved you shortly after our second date, although actually, there was always something about your kisses… And I hate myself for it Starlight, but I do truly love you!” “You don’t need to hate yourself!” I lower my gaze at this obstinate unicorn, still tied to a chair, “Seriously, I absolutely adore the one pony who destroyed me! How could I not hate myself, Starlight?” She stares at me with wide blue eyes, “I don’t have to be your enemy?” I sigh and stare back at her, “Well, no…” She blinks, “Well, we can try a relationship if you like?” “What?” I say with a perplexed gaze at this pony with her ludicrous suggestion. She shakes her head, sighs, and stares at me, “Well, look! Where are you staying?” “I live in a cave, deep within the Everfree. I’ve been coming to town for supplies and to spy on you. Why do you ask?” I say with a confused frown on my face… She blinks, “Well, why don’t you stay in my cottage with me, then?” I frown at this preposterous notion, “What?” She nods, “Y-yeah! You just assume the role of Crystal Heart and it can be like, you’re starting over! With me!” and smiles nervously… “As Crystal Heart this time…” “That’s ridiculous!” She nods again and continues to grin at me, “So you’ll do it, then?” At that point, I can only grimace in annoyance at how well this unicorn knows me, “Of course!” <*****> And so, that’s why I currently find myself standing to the right of the most irritating magenta unicorn in the world, whom I love very dearly in front of our single story beige cottage here near the entrance to the Everfree Forest, with it’s big red door, just north of Ponyville… I take a look at my shimmering aquamarine hooves and wonder if this will one day become my true physical shape? I wonder if it’s possible for a changeling to move past what they were and to become something else? I also wonder again why I’m doing this? When the sweet loving unicorn I’ve come to adore pipes up from my right, “And so Chryssi, here is our new home! What do you think?” I look up at it and think it looks like a dump! “Uh, it looks great baby! I uh, can’t wait to move in! Heh heh…” and smile nervously… (To be continued…) Chapter 2: What I Need To BeAnd so, I woke up on Starlight’s guest bed! I already told her that I wasn’t comfortable sleeping with her right now, after well, the lying… I still wasn’t sure what I was doing, but I saw the sun rising to the east out my window and heard birds chirping as I smelled the fresh morning air in these unusual pony nostrils my disguise had on me… I looked at the clock on the nightstand and saw that it was eight forty seven! I had overslept by about an hour! How unusual? I sighed as I sat there and wondered about a lot of things… I finally shook my head and decided to disembark from the mattress! That’s also new! An actual comfortable bed! My pony hooves go clack as they hit the wooden floor just to the right of the bed with it’s soft pink cotton comforter and downy plush pillows on the end… I look at it and silently thank it for a good night’s rest before beginning my expedition into the foyer from the door… The door quietly shuts behind me and I trot into the kitchen, where I sit my aquamarine pony haunches down into the chair, in front of the round wooden table… I frown while staring from in between two tufts of my brown bed head mane as I wonder if I’ll eventually become this shape, although I did have a conversation with myself about that last night that I suddenly remembered… I had decided that my true form would only be reserved for special occasions, although I couldn’t help but wonder when? Starlight trots in from the kitchen and stops on the other side of the table from where I’m sitting. I stare at her tentatively, “Well, good morning sleepy head! How you doing, Chryssi?” I snap to attention at my new nickname and stare back at her, “What? Oh! I’m doing okay! I uh, “I smile dimly.” didn’t seem to want to get up?” She smiles lovingly at me and I suddenly remember why I’m here, “Well, I wasn’t gonna wake you!” her face normalizes. “How do you take your coffee?” I blink and narrow my mouth, “Black is fine! No sugar!” She trots over to my right and stares at me from there as I turn my head and think, Wasn’t there supposed to be coffee? Before she says, “Chryssi… I uh… I need to know…” I frown at this insane unicorn, “What?” She tenderly closes her eyes halfway and moves her face towards mine to chance a nuzzle… A nuzzle I can’t help but reciprocate as I move my snout to rub hers and smile and giggle at the sudden affection… Then, she did the unbelievable… She kissed me! And as I stared back at her half closed eyes with my own wide ones, and felt her lips locked with mine, I felt a burning passion deep within me… And I hated myself for it, but I truly was growing to love this small magenta horse! She disengages and moves a few inches back to smile warmly at me again while staring deep into me with those piercing blue eyes of hers… “Okay, new rule! No sacred lovey dovey moments, before coffee!” She snickers and grins, “I almost forgot how much you hate mornings!” I widen my eyes at her, “Yeah! I really do! They come too early!” She continues giggling and shaking her head as she exits back to the kitchen on the other side of the table. I think about what just happened as I wait for her to get my coffee… I think about how I’m not used to this place and that this is all new to me, but I don’t seem to mind the ride… I don’t mind because of that pony in there… The same pony who destroyed my life and got my hive to rebel against me… Why did I not destroy her when I had the chance? Ugh! This is madness! Suddenly, the wooden door in front of me swings open and I witness a familiar smiling unicorn with two white cups in her magick floating to the right of her body as she trots towards me with those majestic and elegant hooves of her… Wait, what did I just think about? And the whole time, regardless of my big secret, I can’t help but notice that she still seems happy to have me there as she floats a white cup with a warm black liquid inside it to my front at the table and smiles cheerfully down at me, “Here you go, Chryssi! This should perk you right up!” I growl and grumble as I collect the cup with my forehooves and take that first cautious drink while she looks on from my left side… “I know who you are, so you can use your magick to drink now!” I swallow the hot beverage and stare up at her to frown, “Uh, that’s okay! I don’t mind using my hooves!” She furrows her brow as she stares at me intently… “Chryssi, you know, you’re a changeling and can take any shape you want, right?” I smile dimly at her, “But of course!” She’s silent for a moment before saying, “But you still prefer to be Crystal Heart, the earth mare that I fell in love with…” I blink, “And?” She stares at me intently, “Do you want to be Crystal Heart?” I smile up at her, “But I am Crystal Heart, remember? I made Crystal Heart to seduce you, if you’ll recall.” “I…” She blinks, “I know that, Chryssi… But you like that form and you don’t want to use your magick, even though I know you have it… Do you want to uh, be Crystal Heart?” I giggle up at her, “I am Crystal Heart, Starlight!” and then move my pony muzzle up to hers to chance nuzzle… She giggles, “Quit it! I’m serious, Chryssi! Do you uh, not want to be Chrysalis anymore?” I stop nuzzling her and consider this… I wasn’t exactly reluctant to go back to this form, now that I dwell on it and that is an interesting notion… I stare up into the azure eyes of this concerned magenta unicorn and smile when the words finally strike me, “Starlight, you said I could start over, right? Well, why don’t I try being a pony now?” Her eyes widen, “Despite all your capable of, you’d be content to just be a simple earth mare?” The true gravity of everything I just said suddenly hits me, “Starlight, I think I’m losing my mind? I-I love you and nothing means anything without you, now… I want to be what you want and so I became Crystal Heart, but now, now I don’t think I really want to go back? Just uh, “I shake my head, “just being with youas a pony justmakes me so happy!” She smiles dimly, “Hey Chryssi?” My eyes widen, “Yes Starlight?” She breathes out slowly from her nose, “Why don’t you sleep with me from here on out? I mean, “she blinks. “we don’t have to cuddle, uh, if you’re not comfortable? It’s just that, uh… Having my marefriend here and NOT sleeping with her seems like such a waste? I want you near me!” At this point, I can only frown up at her, “You’re an idiot, you know that?” She grins and snickers, “I love you too, baby!” and leans down to peck me on the lips! “Complete moron!” I add as she continues to giggle at me… Before turning to the warm caffeinated beverage I oh so desperately needed right about now! I begin taking another swig with my forehooves when this infuriating unicorn from Tartarus pesters me once more, “Hey, Chryssi?” I set down my mug quickly in frustration before turning back right to face her with wide curious eyes, “Yes, dear?” She stares at me, gauging me with those blue pupils of hers, “You can be Crystal Heart if you want to be…” I’m silent for a moment… “Okay…” She smiles and leans down for another kiss on my pony lips… She breaks and moves a few inches away, “I love you Crystal Heart!” At that point, I can only concede defeat and say the only thing I can, “So bucking stupid!” and move my face to hers for another passionate kiss… And as I held my snout to hers, I contemplated on identity and what that truly means… My name won’t be Chrysalis anymore, but Crystal Heart… I know my magick and true form will never really go away, but I seem to be fine without them now? She breaks and moves back a small bit to gaze at me and smile, “So, would you like that? To be Crystal Heart?” I smile up at her and finally repeat myself, “My name is Crystal Heart!” “I noticed you haven’t fed recently? Don’t you need love?” I blink and stare forward blankly when it suddenly occurs to me that I actually haven’t fed in weeks now! I just wasn’t hungry! I look up at her and frown, “I uh, I don’t think I need any right now, actually?” Her eyes widen when she suddenly realizes, “You’ve been feeding off my love, haven’t you?” My eyes widen at this prospect, “I uh, I guess so?” Her mouth goes agape, “Chrysalis! I reformed you! Uh, “she shakes her head. “Crystal Heart! Sorry! But you’re reformed now!” I frown as my eyes widen again, “I am?” She smiles and nods excitedly, “Yes Crystal! Love reformed you!” My mouth narrows, “It was love that defeated me in Canterlot all that time ago and now, this love has done this to me?” I breath out of my mouth. “Sometimes, I don’t think it’s a good idea to mess with love?” She giggles, “Crystal Heart?” I widen my eyes at her again, “Yes?” “I love you!” “I love you too, but I’m gonna need more coffee than this if this is how things are gonna go today!” She grins, and giggles while shaking her head before hugging me… I squeal, “EEP!” and for the third time in the past 12 hours, I wondered exactly what I had gotten myself into? She releases me, and says, “Well, I got honey buns for breakfast, and you already got coffee. Uh, how does a nice romantic wagon ride sound this lovely morning?” I stare up at her as I’m honestly not sure and reply, “That sounds lovely, darling!” She frowns at me, “I think I get it now? I had to keep coming up with romantic things for us to do because you weren’t really romantic before…” I frown, “Not really? I mean, drone comes in, I buck him, he leaves, larvae gets hatched later, and that’s pretty much it!” “Changelings aren’t much for romance, are they?” “Well, back then, they weren’t! I don’t know what modern changelings are like?” She smiles and moves her right forehoof down my chest, “Well, I do know of one particular changeling who’s a genuine love bug!” My eyes widen, “Really? Who?” She giggles and bends down to kiss me and I once more feel electricity moving through my snout and into me and I’m once again reminded of why I’m here… <*****> As I sat there in the wagon as it rolled down the trail that morning, I contemplated on a lot of things as I stared into the azure gaze of this other pony… Wait! Other pony? When did I start thinking like that? I contemplate on what this will mean for the rest of my life… Or rather, the rest of this pony’s life. It occurs to me that I will outlive her and I suddenly wonder what sort of changeling I will be later when she finally passes on? All of these thoughts race through my mind when she suddenly says, “Crystal! You okay?” I blink in startled confusion before adjusting my gaze to her, “Oh, I’m just fine sweetie! We’re all fine here! Everything is just fine! Uh, how are you?” She giggles as she leans towards me to peck me on the lips and smiles with her face a few inches from mine and blue eyes locked on mine… My eyes shimmer with my changeling magick as she says, “You always did think too much, Crystal Heart…” I smile and admit, “Well, yeah…” Her eyes widen, “Relax! I’m here! You’re here! We’re in a nice cozy wagon ride together! This is fun, right?” I widen my eyes and contemplate fun? It was so much easier when I was pretending… “Yeah, of course baby! I’m happy!” “You sure? You’ve been quiet this whole time!” I giggle to the right side with conceded defeat, before staring back into those eyes I’ve come to adore, “Yeah, I just keep thinking about this commitment, you know? I mean, I’m not really a pony! Uh, am I?” She gazes at me intently, “What if I told you you’re all the pony I need? What if I told you that it doesn’t matter to me that you used to be a shape-shifting love-sucking abomination? That you’re Crystal Heart now and that that’s good enough for me?” I stare into the blue oculars of this pony and wonder just how well she knows me by this point? “Perhaps that’s all I need, then?” She giggles and leans towards me so I feel her soft warm breath on my face from a few short inches away, “Perhaps you really do think too much!” before leaning in for another passionate kiss on the lips… She disengages to grin at me from a short bit away as I whisper, “Stupid dumb shit bucking idiot…” She silences me with yet another passionate kiss… I suddenly realize that this identity shall be who I choose to be… I am now Crystal Heart, because that’s what my love needs now… (To be continued…) Chapter 3: Yeah, About That!She sat there on the left side of the wagon smiling at me from her pony haunches and I suddenly remembered that I have the same thing now as I frown at her, “Are you happy, my love?” She studies me carefully and says, “Yes darling, but I want to know more about you…” My eyes widen, “What do you mean?” She breathes slowly, in and out through her nose, “You didn’t really have much before me, did you?” I blink, “Huh?” She breathes out of her snout before staring back at me, “You say you lived in a cave in the Everfree Forest and only came to town for supplies? What did you normally do with yourself?” My frown lowers, “Well, if you must know, I usually liked to hike in the forest and read books…” “Well, okay honey, but, uh…” She gazes directly at me and continues. “I think I made your life better, and that’s why you love me…” At this point, my head shakes and mouth quivers as I become flustered, “Well, yeah! So what?” Her eyes widen, “Well, I’m certainly not saying that was a bad thing!” she smiles and moves her forehooves to my chest, not far from my heart. “In fact, I think bringing you into the light was a good thing, Crystal!” I smile and relax my shoulders, “I-I’m sorry Starlight… It’s just that well,” I blink.” this whole time, I kept thinking of you as a secret enemy or a nemesis that I must destroy and now, well…” I chuckle. “we’re in thisactualrelationship now and things got weird for me!” I half close my eyes as I continue to chuckle… She blinks, “Yeah, tell me about it! I mean, it turns out the whole time, you were an evil changeling queen who really wanted to kill me, and well, now you’re gonna tryactually being the mare I love,even though you don’t have to be, and while it does make me feel good, and” she blinks again, “it truly makes me feel special that I make you want to be better, but uh, well,” her eyes affix directly onto me. “you don’t really see it coming, you know?” I turn to face the driver with his tall gray top hat and matching heavy overcoat and say to him, “You didn’t hear anything!” before fetching two bits from my right saddlebag with my mouth and moving it towards him… The brown stallion turns to face me on his right and takes the gratuity with his right forehoof to the interior of his coat as he smiles at me, “Of course, ma’am!” before fetching his chrome metal flask on his right on the driving bench and taking a swig of it in front of me and my love… I’m not absolutely certain, but I think I smell bourbon at this point? He soon turns back to the front to continue driving the wagon… I turn back to my love on the left side of the wagon and say, “So anyway!” And that’s when things got really bad… That’s when she kissed me passionately! <*****> So then, I sat there, on my brand-new aquamarine pony haunches on the chair, on the outside patio cafe… I grasped my triple mocha latte with my forehooves and bring it to my snout for a mighty gulp! Oh, how I love coffee now! I set it down and stare up at her as she smiles at me from my right side… I suddenly think she was supposed to be on the other side of the table when she grins and says, “I love you!” I gaze at her, “So, that’s it then? I reveal my big secret and we just continue where we left off?” She breathes heavily out of her mouth, “Well, what else can we do?” I glance over at the vacant patio before back at my love, “I don’t know? I mean, maybe start over or?” She frowns, “How?” “I don’t know, okay? I honestly didn’t expect this love to be real and well, it is now and you’re there and I’m here and…” That’s when she moves her right forehoof to my snout to silence me… “What if I told you that you’re identity doesn’t matter to me, Crystal?” I widen my eyes at this preposterous notion, “What?” She smiles wider and giggles, “Because I’ve seen what’s in your soul!” I frown again, “Well, you’ve definitely seen inside me!” She chuckles as she leans towards me for another affectionate nuzzle… “Ah, yes! The romantic stuff!” She grins, “You act like you don’t want to?” “What if I said that I really didn’t?” She leans closer so her nose is touching mine, “Then I’d say that I didn’t believe you!” before moving her lips to mine for another ardent lock… She releases me to a few inches beyond my face and smiles as I grimace in horror at this insane pony, “I can’t win, can I?” “Nope!” She happily replies before kissing me again! <*****> I stare up at the pony across the room from me as I sit on the EZ chair… I picked this spot specifically so she wouldn’t cuddle me anymore! “So uh, I live here now, right?” She snickers back at me, “Well yeah! We did just eat spinach sandwiches with mustard for lunch!” I nod, “Well, right! So uh, what now?” She sighs from her mouth, “Right! You’re not romantic! So I have to keep thinking of things for us to do!” My eyes widen, “I can be romantic!” She giggles, “Oh? Do tell?” and lifts her right eyebrow while continuing to smile at me. I frown as I suddenly wondered what I just said, “I don’t know? I mean, we could uh…” I stare at her and think that since she’s into all the mushy stuff, “maybe cuddle and watch a romantic comedy together? Yes? Romantic? Right?” and smile at her awkwardly… <*****> And so, in a nutshell, that’s why I found myself watching this movie in the dimly lit living room while Starlight loved me from the right by snuggling me affectionately… It’s so weird, but even after all this time, I’m still not exactly used to this! I’m not even paying attention to the movie and I feel trapped in my own head as she nuzzles me from the side and whispers, “I love you Crystal Heart!” I smile back as reality begins to set in once more and whisper back, “I love you too, Starlight!” Then she half-closes her eyes once more and nuzzles me affectionately and I reciprocate. I kiss her on the lips and feel that spark inside me again as I stare at her closed eyes in the dark room… I can’t for the life of me explain it, but this feels good! It seems to make me happy, so I keep kissing her… And then, she does the unthinkable… She slips her tongue into my mouth! She soon breaks and smiles at me from a few inches away before whispering, “You told me that you wanted to be what I needed you to be, right?” My eyes widen when I realize she’s up to something, “Uh, y-yes I did… It infuriates me to no end, but by this stage, I truly do love you, Starlight Glimmer…” She moves her nose up to mind and I feel it there all cold and pony-like, “Well, why I don’t I try to be what you need?” I frown and widen my eyes for the umpteenth time, “Uh, I don’t need anything! Just what are you trying to say?” She giggles and kisses me once more and as her lips locked with mine, time stood still… The movie continued to play on the screen, but I couldn’t tell you what it was about because my world was now magenta and it was sitting right next to me! I nuzzle her back while continuing to smile and stare into her dimly lit azure pupils… When suddenly, I feel her hoof begin to touch me… <*****> Starlight has a sort of glow or aura to her as she sits on her haunches at the table in front of me and uses her blue magick to sip her hot cocoa and smiles happily to herself… I eye her carefully, still thinking about what we just did, “Starlight, we just had sex, didn’t we?” She magically sets her cocoa down to smile at me, “Well, yeah! I was there!” I nod, “Right! But uh, you know I’m a changeling, right?” Her eyes widen, “Well, yeah! But you can be whatever you want to be, you know?” My eyes widen at this prospect, “You don’t want me to be a dog or anything, do you?” She frowns in horror, “Oh, Celestia, no! It’s just that uh…” she glances at me. “What?” She catches her breath and composes herself before glancing back at me, “Well, you said you were happy being Crystal Heart, right?” I frown, “Well, I uh, I am actually… Yes, I’d rather be Crystal Heart than Chrysalis…” She smiles, “So why don’t you just be Crystal Heart, then?” I blink, “Well uh, should we tell your friends?” Her smile lowers, “You know, I never really thought about that?” I suddenly imagined creating tulpa golems of all of her friends before shaking my head thinking that’s probably a bad idea? I stare up at her and say, “Well, why don’t we begin with the obvious choice?” <*****> I stared and smiled at the orange earth pony with her hat-less blond mane, done into a long bun of sorts, behind her… I sat on the other side of the room on the sofa. She seemed to somehow sense that something was up as she unnervingly replied, “Uh, what’s that about Crystal Heart?” Starlight giggles nervously, “Well, uh, baby. Maybe it’s better if you just show her?” I stare at Applejack and say to her quickly, to silence my love, “You agree that honesty is always the best policy, yes?” She looks right towards me and frowns, “Uh, yeah! Always!” I sigh from my mouth and ask her, “Do you believe it’s possible for people to change, Applejack? I mean, truly change for the better?” Her eyes narrow, “Just what are you getting at, sugarcube?” “Do you believe it’s possible to change for the better, Applejack? Yes, or no?” Her eyes and mouth normalize as she seems confused now, “Well uh, y-yeah! I reckon so! Of course! Why do you ask?” I smile, “I’ve decided that this would become my standard shape… But it wasn’t always so…” Her eyes widen, “What?” “I’m actually a changeling, Applejack…” Her mouth goes agape as she repeats herself, “What?” I chuckle, “Yeah… And as I’m sure you can surmise, Crystal Heart was not always my name…” “Oh, wow! So uh, you just prefer a pony form, then? As Crystal Heart?” I chuckle, “Well, yes…” I look over at Starlight Glimmer. “I confess I originally pretended to be a pony to seduce that one, but honestly, I truly love her now and I truly love being a pony, now!” “Uh, alright partner! I mean, I know what you are and as long as you ain’t hurting anypony, I reckon it’s okay… Uh, what was yer original name, anyhow?” At this stage, I smile at the apple horse, much as a deer would gaze at an oncoming train, “Well, is that really important?” She frowns, “Well, probably not, no? Uh, so yer livin’ here now?” (To be continued… ) Chapter 4: You See, the Thing About Me Is...I smile at the orange pony across the room from me, “Of course! I love Starlight Glimmer now and I live with her!” Starlight smiles at Applejack from her hooves in the center of the room, just to my left, “Yeah! I love Crystal Heart!” She responds to me, “So, your name is Crystal Heart, now?” I smile wider and nod, “Yes! Of course!” Starlight adds, “Right!” She adjusts her gaze to Starlight, “Well, I guess this is okay, but uh, I can’t shake this feeling that there’s more you’re not telling me?” At this point, I snap at the earth pony, “Applejack! You say honesty is the best policy, yes? Well, lets put that theory to the test then, shall we? Tell me, what would you say if I told you my original name was Chrysalis?” Applejack stares at me wide-eyed, “W-what? That just can’t be so! I mean, you’re sweet and nice and Chrysalis was, well, she was…” I smile at the cowpony, “Mean and nasty?” “Well uh, well yeah! She was mean and you’re…” “Not!” I cut off the orange pony and raise my right forehoof, “But you also say that people can change for the better, yes?” and lower it again while staring directly at her… She frowns… “I uh, I did, yes… I did say that… So you say you are Chrysalis?” I smile and giggle, “Used to be, dear sweet Applejack! I’m being honest and up front with you, here, but now, I’ve decided to assume the role of Crystal Heart the earth mare and to live with my love here…” “Aren’t ya kinda pretendin’ to be somethin’ yer not?” “Well, I never said that I wasn’t a changeling, now did I?” She nods, “Well, yeah that’s true, but I mean, why do you think you gotta be an earth mare, now?” I frown at her, “The truth is, I didn’t know things like happiness and friendship until I took the form of a pony… Now, I like this shape… Honestly, being Crystal Heart makes me happy… Happier than I’ve ever been…” I smile at her. “I’m a changeling and can take any form I wish… I choose to take the form of a pony…” The earth mare sits dumbfounded, “Wow!” I giggle while leaning forward slightly and widen my eyes, “A lot to take in, yes?” Her view widens as she glances to the right, “Yer not kiddin! Uh,” she looks back at me.”so yer Crystal Heart now? Not Chrysalis?” I giggle, “Oh, it finally sinks in, I see! Yes, dear sweet Applejack! This is the identity I’m choosing for myself, at this point…” She frowns, “Well uh, alright then! I reckon it’s good enough? Yer name is Crystal Heart, now!” and nods… I turn my head left towards my love, still on her hooves and facing the orange earth mare, “See? That wasn’t so hard, now was it?” Starlight turns her head towards me and I see her wide azure eyes are shaky with paranoia, “Uh, of course not, dear! Piece of cake! Yeah!” and she smiles nervously… I get off the red chair and face her on my hooves as I smile, “You always were a terrible liar, you know that dear?” She frowns, “I’ll have you know that I’m the best liar!” I giggle as I trot towards her and embrace her in a tight warm hug, “It’s okay, sweetie… We’re in this together…” Applejack stares at this and comments, “Now, I don’t know about all that identity stuff yer goin’ on about, but I can plainly see that you do care for Starlight here…” she nods. “I reckon that uh, one way or the other, this is a good thing…” I look over at Applejack while continuing to keep Starlight in my grasp, “Thank you for your understanding!” before turning my head back towards Starlight’s shoulder as I affectionately hang onto her and whisper. “Idiot!” She whispers back, “Dumbass!” Applejack giggles, and only then, do I begin to become annoyed… She looks at me and asks, “So, what are you gonna do, now?” I disengage my love and we both stare at the apple horse as I explain, “Well, since we got you now, I guess Rainbow Dash or Rarity is the next step?” She frowns, “You know, I could just convene a meetin’ at the Castle of Friendship, like old times? I mean, if we all just met there, you could explain it to us all at once!” I nod, “This is true, but do you believe such an act is wise?” Her eyes widen, “What?” I smile, “Think about how your friends will react, Applejack. Do you believe it’s better if they’re all together or one at a time, as we’ve done with you?” “You don’t have a lot of faith in ponies, do you Crystal Heart?” I frown and widen my gaze, “Should I?” Applejack begins to smile and shake her head, “Yeah, we’re gonna need ta work on that!” I grimace, “What?” as Starlight turns her neck right towards me and snickers… <*****> “Yes! So I was Chrysalis, but I like being an earth pony now and that’s what I’m choosing to be… Well,” I blink.”most of the time! I mean, I might need to change shape at some point?” I raise my eyes skyward. “Literally just thought about that!” The other ponies at the sky-blue Cutie Map all stare at me while the blue one on the slight right with the multi-colored mane says, “Wait! So you don’t wanna be Chrysalis anymore?” I sigh, “Well uh, no! Not really! You see uh, well,” I smile nervously. “I wasn’t really happy being Chrysalis…” The purple one, just to the left of the blue pegasus says, “So uh, you want to be Crystal Heart now, and not Chrysalis?” “Well, essentially, yes!” I nod… She replies, “Uh, wow! You just don’t see this one coming!” The orange one on the other side of the blue one looks at her and says, “Right?” I giggle nervously, “Yeah uh, Starlight told me the same thing!” Twilight gazes at me, “Well, right! But uh, you’re choosing the name Crystal Heart for yourself now?” My eyes widen and I nod, “Well, right!” Twilight gazes at me carefully before finally replying, “Well, as long as you’re not hurting anypony or breaking any laws, I guess it’s fine?” she smiles at me. “Then you shall be Crystal Heart now, pony or no!” I reply, “Applejack said the same thing!” Applejack looks at Twilight from across the table, “Well, she’s right! I did!” Twilight shakes her head, “Well, right! So uh, what was that about Starlight reforming you?” My eyes widen in shock again, “Oh, she mentioned that, did she?” my eyes move up again, “Probably a good idea, when I dwell on it?” they move back to the purple alicorn, “You see, I haven’t really needed to feed on any love for the past three weeks, or so! Starlight’s love has indeed reformed me! Yes!” and nod. Applejack’s eyes widen, “Wow! I would’ve understood a lot faster if y’all just mentioned that!” I grimace when I realize that she’s probably right? Twilight giggles, “So, apparently, the reformed version of Chrysalis just wants to be an earth mare now and is named Crystal Heart!” My eyes widen and mouth narrows before I repeat myself, “Well, essentially, yes!” Twilight widens her eyes at me, “Well, welcome to the crew, Crystal Heart!” I frown, “What?” <*****> “Yes! Coffee is good! I like coffee!” I emphatically say before taking a swig of the much needed triple amaretto cappuccino they served me at the cafe that afternoon on the patio… The magenta pony I love giggles at me from the other side of the table, while the street to her left stays desolate in the midday sun, and we both sit there shielded underneath the wooden awning, “You needed more caffeine, didn’t you Chryssi?” I set it down and reply, “Um, it’s a strong possibility?” as she giggles more… “Well, I’ll take a coffee junkie over evil queen Tartarus-bent on ruling Equestria, anyway!” I raise my cup and gulp down some more strong beverage before saying, “I’m not addicted! I can quit anytime! I just uh, choose not to! Yes! You insolent twit!” She snickers at me, “Whatever!” I narrow my eyes, “You don’t know me!” and take another swig of the lovely warm caffeinated beverage… She giggles and shakes her head, “I just can’t believe you used to be Chrysalis!” I frown at her, “What? Why?” She eyes me and says, “You’re just so cute! Especially when you’re in denial!” My eyes widen, “I’m not in denial! I’m completely serious, you sniveling worm!” She shakes her head again, “Honestly, I’m not even perturbed by the sudden royal insults, because you’re just so funny!” “Shut up!” I reply in indignation before taking another drink from my beloved coffee… She sighs and takes a drink from her single latte… She always did like those weaker coffees… She smiles at me, “So, now they all know about you!” My eyes widen, “I am just a simple earth mare named Crystal Heart! And nothing else!”* “I already told you that you’re mare enough for me, Crystal, so you’re good! Don’t worry about it!” My shoulders relax and I take another sip from my coffee and slowly swallow as I form the words in my mind, “I’m just worried, okay? I mean, what if Applejack is right? What if I’m just pretending?” Starlight frowns, “Crystal, I want to tell you a story! It’s about a unicorn mare who became upset at cutie marks! She became so enraged that she founded a village far to the west, in Equestria! In this village, she removed all of their cutie marks and got rid of their special talents in the process… They later rebelled against her when a particular group of six ponies intervened… I later came back for revenge on the purple one, and she convinced me that what I was doing wasn’t right… “she blinks. “I came to realize that I needed to change for the better, and I believe that in a way, that’s exactly what you’re doing…” I take another drink of my lovely warm coffee before gazing at her again and raising my right eyebrow, “Do tell?” She sighs and gives her pitch, “Crystal Heart, I don’t think you could really be better as Chrysalis… I think you need a new identity for that…” “And the fact that it was an earth mare named Crystal Heart?” She smiles, “A happy accident! I like you as Crystal Heart!” I frown and eye her carefully, “What do you like about me?” “I just love how goofy and silly you are, especially when you get flustered!” At this point, I can feel my cheeks rising as the heat from them begins to increase and I say to her, “I DO NOT get flustered!” She giggles silently, “Oh, sure!” “Shut up!” I snap back at the unicorn! She just chuckles softly while keeping her mouth closed and I can only grow more annoyed with this mare… Until she said the one thing that made everything ten times worse! “I love you so much, Crystal Heart!” (To be continued...) Author's Note *I am Thrackerzod! A perfectly ordinary unicorn filly! And nothing else! Chapter 5: But Seriously, Why is It That...“Do you think I’m pretending?” I ask the magenta unicorn holding me from behind in her forehooves as we spooned together on the bed… She whispers in my ear, “Remember what we talked about overthinking, right? You’re a changeling and can take any form you want. This is what you choose. Do you need anything else?” I close my eyes, “But uh, I don’t know what’s real anymore?” She holds me tighter, “What do you mean?” “I was living this life as an evil changeling queen… Then, one day, that all gets taken away from me! And the truly bucked up thing is, it was really your fault that it all happened and I really should hate you! But now… But now with all of these new emotions that came up when we first got together…” “Are you okay?” I begin to shake a little bit, “I uh, I don’t know anymore Starlight Glimmer… I don’t know how I am anymore… I mean, remember that first time at the theater?” * Starlight giggles softly, “Yeah… I remember getting that strange note in my office, asking me to meet somepony there… And then, I met you!” “Yeah, I knew surprising you with flowers would be a great way to show you I cared!” “Did you actually care though?” I sigh, “Well uh, not really… Not at first, no… I kept thinking about how I was playing you and how I was gonna get my revenge earlier…” “When, Chryssi?” I open my eyes, “What?” and frown. “When did you begin caring about me?” I sigh, “I don’t know, okay? All I really know for sure is that at first, I was going to stab you in the flanks and destroy you, but now, well, now I can’t do that…” She holds me tighter and I squeal, “EEP!” “The important thing now is that you’re reformed by my love and that you care for me now!” I gasp out wide-eyed, “I do need to breath though!” She releases me and chuckles softly, “Sorry baby!” I’m silent for a moment before finally saying, “This is real, isn’t it?” “Yes! Now do I need to tickle you?” My eyes widen, “What?” “You’re thinking too much again, and so that must mean you need tickles, yes?” I stammer out quickly, “No! Don’t…” But it was too late! She already had her hooves in my front pits and was moving them around madly to stimulate me! “He he he he he! Stop it, jerk! Ho ho ho! I swear, you’re gonna pay for this! Ha ha ha ha!” I chuckle as she does the deed. “You gonna keep thinking too much?” She asks while continuing to torment me with her forehooves. I giggle profusely while snorting and saying, “He he he! Vengeance will be mine one day, Starlight Glimmer! Ho ho ho!” She stops and comments, “You know, if you were saying those things as Chrysalis, it would be different?” I stop for a moment when what she said begins to sink in… “But… But I’m not Chrysalis… Right?” “Do I need to tickle you some more?” My eyes widen in shock, “Uh, no! Not at all! I’m Crystal Heart! Yes! That’s my name! Crystal Heart! Of course!” and nod. She chuckles slightly again, “Right! So, why don’t we get you some coffee?” And seeing my best way out of the tickle bed, I then frantically nod and say, “Yes! Coffee is good! I like coffee!” <*****> I grumble lowly under my breath before taking that first tentative sip of my coffee… I stare up at the magenta unicorn smiling back at me from across the table from underneath my disheveled brown mane and frown at her… “You seem cheery?” Her eyes widen, “Oh, I’m just happy we got everything out into the open earlier… I mean, I know who you are now and feel like we can really help each other!” “Or I could just go back to my cave?” Her smile lowers, “Do you really want that though?” “Not particularly?” I honestly reply before sighing to my slight left and looking back at the unicorn. “I think I just need some time to figure these things out?” Her eyes widen, “Well, if that’s what you need, then that’s what we should get you!” I widen my eyes and nod, “Right! Time! That’s what I need!” And then, instead of dropping it like I was really hoping she’d do, she just made things worse, “So uh, what do you need help with? I got the day off today and we can just relax and focus on things together!” “Coffee shop trip?” She smiles, “Yeah, I saw that coming like a thousand ton asteroid!” <*****> And so, I sat there writing on the paper with my mouth… I looked down my aquamarine snout at the sheet that had the words Identity issues: written on it, with nothing underneath, as it sat there next to my triple mocha in it’s white paper cup with the plastic safety lid on it… I spit the pen out and sigh at what little work I had done… Starlight frowns at me from the other side of the table, just to the right of her own paper cup and says, “It’s just so strange! You have magick, but you say you’re not comfortable using it?” My eyes widen and I grab the dark blue pen with my mouth and write, Not comfortable with magick on the paper underneath the first line and spit it out before staring at her, “I don’t know why? I’m just not okay with that anymore?” She frowns, “Well, lets explore that then, shall we? I did used to be a counselor, you know!” I grimace at this realization, “This is technically true…” Her mouth normalizes, “Well, right! But back to what I was saying! Why no magick anymore?” I sigh and answer, “I don’t know, okay? I mean, I’m Crystal Heart now and not Chrysalis, right?” She frowns and nods, “Well, right! That’s what you say!” I clear my throat, “Uh, right! Well, Crystal Heart doesn’t have magick… She’s an earth pony…” She blinks, “Okay, so since you’re an earth pony now, you choose not to have magick?” “Well, don’t you think that choice is kinda already made for me? I mean, earth ponies don’t have magick!” Her eyes widen, “Of course! And I’m guessing that’s why you no longer use your wings?” My own pupils enlarge as well, “I don’t have wings, remember?” She frowns and is obviously taken aback as she moves her neck back an inch, “Oh uh, right! Of course! Yes!” I furrow my brow and narrow my gaze and mouth at this unicorn, “Are you questioning my commitment?” Her eyes widen and mouth goes agape in shock, “N-no! Of course not, Crystal Heart! I uh, look!” she shakes her head, “I’m sorry, okay? I just uh, didn’t expect you to turn out to be Chrysalis or well, from Chrysalis rather,” she waves her right forehoof in the air casually and sets it back on the ground. “and now when I think about how you used to have wings, well, I guess I just momentarily forgot that you didn’t?” I frown at this impudence! “So that’s it then? I tell you that I used to be Chrysalis and now, you’ll never forget it, right?” She blinks slowly and lowers her shoulders, “N-no Crystal Heart! Listen to me!”** My eyes narrow… She sighs out of her snout, “It’s just new information, you know? It’ll pass! I promise! And I’ll try my best to just uh, forget it, okay?” her eyes widen, “Your past shouldn’t matter, after all! Believe me, if anypony knows that all too well, it’s me!” she smiles. “I’m just gonna forget your past, okay honey? And you should probably do that same!” My eyes widen as I sigh, “Well uh, right! So what else?” She looks at me, “Well, there is the fact that you no longer seem to want flight?” I frown, “Well, no! Not particularly?” She frowns, “Why not?” My eyes widen, “Well, for one, everypony knows me as an earth pony now!” She nods, “Well, right! But you could shift into a pegasus form and have flight, you know?” My pupils enlarge to maximum, “And just what would we tell everypony who saw me?” Her eyes widen when she considers this, “Well, that you fell into a magical pond and that it transformed you! And now you have wings!” “Are you being serious?” “What?” “First off, they’d start asking questions like, where is this pond and can you show us the way, and secondly, that story sounds ridiculous and nopony with more than two brain cells to rub together would actually believe it!” Her eyes widen, “Okay! Okay! I get it! I guess this means you’re just stuck as an earth pony all the time, or at least, in public?” I frown and widen my eyes again, “Did I not already say that I was fine with that? Do you not believe me?” “Well, yeah! Of course I believe you! It’s just that, well, I was wanting to improve your life!” “Starlight, you’ve already immeasurably improved my life and I assure you, you need not do more than you already do…” She frowns, “So you say…” I stare into those blue eyes of hers right then and say, “No, Starlight! You need to hear this!” Her eyes widen as she’s visibly taken aback, “Go on?” I clear my throat with my right forehoof before my mouth and lower it as I look at her again, “Sorry! After years of feeling nothing, it’s so odd to finally actually care! Um,” I blink at my love. “after well, everything and how you helped me realize that I actually am worth something, I just feel very attached to you…” She frowns once more, “Yeah, almost like you love me?” I smile and giggle slightly, “Heh heh, uh, yeah! That! I uh…” I blink at her. “I really do care for you Starlight…” “Why’s it so hard to admit for you?” My pupils enlarge as my aquamarine muzzle glowers, “W-what?” She smiles faintly as her head lowers slightly, “Why can’t you just say that you love me already?” “I say I love you all the time! I said that to you several last night when we were uh, doing stuff together…” “Having sex?” I nod, “Right! That! When we were having sex, I told you that I loved you several times! So it still counts!” as I feel my cheeks begin to enlarge and grow warm… By this point, she’s grinning and snickering gently while I scowl at her, “You impudent worm! Why must you torment me?” She stops giggling and her eyes widen, “It’s fun?” “Ugh!” I roll my eyes. “In all my days of sitting in the palace section of the changeling hive, I never imagined it would one day come to this!” She sighs and stares at me, “I know what you mean! Back when I led my cutie mark cult, I didn’t think I’d be principle of a school later and end up dating and living with a former bug queen!” I can only smirk at this, “Hmm, quite the endearing term!” She grins slightly and snickers through her nose, “I thought so!” I finally decide to take my strong cappuccino in my forehooves from the right of the notepad I was looking down at and take a mighty swig of the warm caffeinated beverage… Her view widens, “Wow! Slow down, baby!” I set it down quickly and sigh, “Sorry love… I kinda needed that… “ “I see…” She says before using her magick to tentatively take a small sip from her disgusting and puny berry latte coffee… I’m still perplexed as to why anypony would ever drink that? I shake my head and stare down at the notepad, “Okay, so we got not wanting magick and not wanting flight! Uh, is that all?” “Well, you did kinda give up on your plans of revenge and ruling Equestria, earlier?” I widen my eyes, “Oh, that! Uh…” I frown. “I sort of did, didn’t I? Why would I do that?” She frowns, “Perhaps you found something better than power and control? Something more worthwhile?” At this point, I can no longer contain it… I scream, “AAAAAAHHHH!!!!” at Starlight! “It makes no sense! You destroyed me! Why do I love you?” (To be continued…) Author's Note *Given I have a tendency to begin my stories on crests, I really should provide better context in the future. **Wait! Didn’t Starlight go through something similar with Trixie back in season 6? Déjà vu! Chapter 6: You Know What, Never Mind!The magenta unicorn stares at me from the other side of the table with a solemn look on her muzzle and in her wide azure eyes, “Crystal Heart! I never destroyed you!” I keep my gaze wide and keep my own snout agape, “W-what?” She smiles gently, “I destroyed Chrysalis… Remember? You are not Chrysalis…” I frown, “I-I’m not Chrysalis…” She nods, “Right! You have no vendetta against me, Crystal Heart!” My mouth goes agape again, “Uh, r-right! I’m not Chrysalis! Well, not anymore!” Her eyes widen again, “See how this works? This is a new life for you! You’re Crystal Heart now! Not Chrysalis!” “But what about my hive?” “You mean the changeling kingdom to the west? What about it? You have nothing to do with that place Crystal Heart!” “I-I don’t?” I ask and frown as I’m not sure what this insane magenta unicorn is babbling about? She smiles wider, “Nope! You just got here! I took you from the forest and now, you live with me! See how this works?” “But where was I before?” I ask her… “You were somepony else, but that’s not important now. What does matter is that now you’re Crystal Heart…” At this point, I can no longer contain myself… I finally crack a grin and start giggling at how absurd everything truly is! I gaze at her with wide hysterical eyes and say, “I’m not Chrysalis anymore! But you’re still Starlight Glimmer! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!” as I giggle like a maniac at this small magenta horse, who just happens to share my insanity! “Crystal! Get a hold of yourself!” Starlight shouts at me with a concerned look in her eyes! I keep laughing at her, “We’re both lunatics, you know that? Completely insane! I lived in a cave, and now I’m in some crazy alternate universe where my name is totally different! Ha ha ha ha he he he he!”* She frowns soberly, “Why, what do you mean? You’ve always been Crystal Heart?” I stop giggling abruptly, “W-what?” She smiles, “Sure! You were Chrysalis before, but hey!” she waves her right forehoof in the air. “That doesn’t matter at this stage!” “Wait! I thought you said I’d always been Crystal Heart?” “You have!” I frown again, “I’m confused!” She snickers, “Okay, it’s like this Crystal! You were somepony else…” “Some-changeling!” I correct her. She nods, “Right! You were an evil changeling queen earlier, but now, you’re starting over! This is another life for you, get it?” “I think so?” I continue frowning as I lie… She giggles, “You know all of that horrible nasty crap from earlier, when you were bad or whatever, Crystal?” My eyes widen although I still don’t know where she’s going? “Uh, yes I do, but what is your point?” She smiles brighter, “That that doesn’t matter anymore! This is a new you! You’re Crystal Heart now! A fresh start!” I’m silent for a moment… “You know what? Let’s just call me Crystal Heart and be done with it!” before using my forehooves to collect the white cup of precious warm blond liquid and sipping some of it down my throat… She starts to giggle, “See? You get cranky sometimes, but I know how to calm down my Chryssi-poo… I look up at her and snarl, “GRR!” before sipping some more coffee with my hooves… “I’ll go make us some lunch and then, we’ll continue our little project here and explore your feelings some more!” “Don’t forget your nasty berry coffee!” I tell my love… <*****> And so, I sat on my back on the blue couch, staring up at the perfect light-colored ceiling as the fan made it’s familiar woosh woosh noise and the magenta unicorn sitting in the red EZ-chair on my left asks, “So, you don’t want power anymore?” I sigh from my mouth, “That is what I said, is it not?” She nods, “Well, right! Lets explore that then, shall we?” “How about not?” I lowly reply under my breath… “So, when exactly did you notice a change?” I stare up at the white ceiling so clean above my head, “I didn’t exactly notice it, Starlight… The truth is, I just realized one day that it wasn’t there anymore…” She nods, “Okay uh, now tell me about that! Why do you suppose that is, Chryssi?” I grimace as this obstinance as I know precisely what she’s after, “You’re trying to get me to admit it, aren’t you?” She frowns, “Admit what?” I raise my voice, “Don’t you admit what to me, Starlight! You want me to say that your love got me to change, right? That’s it, isn’t it?” “I thought we’d already figured that out?” I nod, “Right! And you just love for me to admit it, yes?” She sighs, “Well, if you’re reformed, that means that you’ll behave better and won’t do bad things like try to take over Equestria!” I widen my eyes when I realize that she’s right! “Well, right! So that just naturally falls to the wayside and has nothing to do with you!” “But I was the one who reformed you?” “Yes! Of course! Not that that has anything to do with it!” I say as I hope in futility that she misses the enormous hole in my logic… She smiles, giggles, and shakes her head… “What?” I ask her… She stares at me and says, “Maybe the why isn’t important?” “Huh?” I frown. She nods, “I mean, even if we did know why you want to make these changes and are perfectly happy this way, what difference would it make?” I widen my eyes, “Well, we could hypothetically undo everything and turn me back into an evil bug queen?” She chuckles some more, “We’re DEFINITELY not doing that, Crystal!” I start as I reply sardonically, “Oh, come on! It’ll be fun!” She shakes her head, “Right!” and turns it to me. “So, we’re just going to let this mystery go then, and just continue our lives? As Starlight and Crystal Heart, right!” I nod, “Yes! Blindly hoping that said secret does not bite us in the flanks later!” She’s silent for a moment, “That seems oddly specific?” I widen my eyes when I realize that she’s right again! “This is also true!” and then, hoping to change the subject, I say. “So, you were talking about lunch earlier?” <*****> As much as I hate to admit it, my magenta love, sitting there eating her daisy and mayonnaise sandwich was right… I truly had found something better than power and control… For only when I realized that I should relinquish that futile struggle for dominance, did I begin to understand that surrender also had it’s beauty… And then, she farted… I smile because I’ve got her now! “I thought we agreed on no propane language?” She stares up at me, “Profane language uh, “her eyes widen when she catches my quip and she smiles and chuckles before saying. “um, excuse me!” I giggle, “So, I guess you’re comfortable around me again?” She sets her sandwich down, “Well, yeah! I mean, the whole Chrysalis thing was a bit of a shock, but once I came to understand that you still love me, I kinda figured I should just let it go, you know?” she smiles. “Like I already said, I know all about forgiveness and second chances!” “Honestly, I still can’t believe it was you and that it all happened like this?” She sighs, “I know, right? I mean, revenge attempt, I could see Chrysalis doing! But uh, turning into well, you was unexpected!” I widen my eyes, “You don’t think I’m shocked?” She frowns, “You mean, it wasn’t intentional?” her eyes go skyward, “Well, why would it be intentional? I mean,” they go back to me. “this wasn’t your original plan at all!” “Great! We’re finally on the same page now!” Her mouth normalizes, “Well, like I said, it’s a shock!” “How do you think I feel?” She frowns, “Well, do you need a security blanket or empathy cocoa?” I can’t help but giggle slightly when I realize what she’s doing, “I’m not one of your idiot students, Starlight! I can manage on my own!” “You ever think maybe that’s your problem?” I frown back at her, “What?” She nods, “I noticed you have a tendency to do this earlier in our relationship! You never want help! Now you just sit right there, Crystal! I’ll go make you some empathy cocoa and get a nice security blanket for you! Oh, and I’ll also give you a Rainbow Dash plushie for comfort!” “Wait what?” I say as she gets out of the chair and starts to trot back towards the kitchen to leave me… I blink and think about what just happened… I said I didn’t need comfort or security, but she’s just going to give it to me anyway… Great! Then I frown and think, Why Rainbow Dash, anyway? <*****> And so, I sat frowning with my aquamarine snout there still on my back on the blue couch once again, as the magenta unicorn sat in the red recliner… Only this time, I had a red blanket around me and a small blue pegasus plushie at my side with many colors in her mane and tail… “You’re an idiot!” I said as my cocoa continued to steam on the long wooden coffee table… She smiles and giggles, “I love you too Crystal! So uh, how do you feel about me, anyway?” I sigh and honestly answer, “I think you’re the most wonderful pony in the world… And that sickens me…” “Why would it sicken you, Crystal?” “Oh, you know why!” She sighs, “Yes, well then I guess this means that you just need to move past it?” My eyes widen, “What?” “Well, sure! The part of you that still hates me is the old part! But if you haven’t noticed, we’re snuggling and kissing in bed now, so I don’t think you hate me?” I sigh, “Not particularly, no!” She giggles, “Right! So that means that we just need to keep going then!” “Great! Can we stop talking about it now, please, finally?” Suddenly, the door behind me opens and Rainbow Dash trots in from the left to stare at me, wrapped up in my red security blanket with a plushie of her, “Hiya Crystal Heart! I was wondering if you were busy! Uh, hey! Cool plushie!” I irately reply, “It’s called knocking you rainbow maned dufus!” She giggles while keeping her head craned right towards me, “Yeah, but then I’d miss the fun! Hey, I was wanting to hang out today! Uh, you’re a really a changeling and can grow wings, right? Wanna go flying?” “No, Rainbow Dash, not really…” She frowns, “Well, why not?” “Because Dash, I’m not comfortable with that anymore…” Starlight turns her head right towards Dash while sitting on the chair, “She’s been like this! I know she has magick and flight, but she just prefers not to use it now… I don’t know why?” I say, “I’m right here, you know?” Rainbow turns her head back right towards me, “You know what? It doesn’t matter! We’ll just do something on the ground! Uh, whatever you wanna do is fine Crystal! I don’t mind!” I stare at her intently, “You really wanna be my friend?” And so, that’s how I got Rainbow Dash to buy me a coffee! (To be continued… ) Author's Note *Welcome to being transgender! Chapter 7: Seriously, What is REAL Anyway?The blue pegasus smiles at me from the other side of the patio cafe in downtown Ponyville as we both saw ponies coming and going on the street at my right, “So, you’re Crystal Heart now?” I smile and nod, “But of course!” before staring down at the double mocha… “I realized that I was much happier this way…” Her smile lowers, “So, this is how you want to be then?” I stare at her once more, “Yes, Rainbow… I very much like being Crystal Heart now… I don’t want to think about Chrysalis or the before-time anymore…” I grasp the cup in my forehooves for a good sip. Her smile lowers, “It still seems weird! I mean, you have magick, but you just uh, choose not to use it?” I stare at the pegasus blankly, “Do we need to convene the council again so I can explain that to everypony concerned?” She starts as her magenta eyes widen and her muzzle balks, “Uh, no Crystal! That’s okay! Just uh, tell me and I’ll shoot a mass text to let everypony know! Yeah!” and nods. I sigh, “Great! I tell the truth and now everypony is talking about me!” before collecting my coffee with my forehooves and taking another, more powerful sip… She frowns, “No, it’s not like that Crystal! You’re uh, a special case! I mean, you’re a changeling that wants to be a pony, right?” I sigh and stare at acutely, “Well, I like to think that I’m as much of a pony as I need to be and furthermore, this shape simply makes me happy… And it’s also the one Starlight Glimmer came to love…” She’s silent for a moment… “This is real to you, isn’t it?” I smile, “It’s as real as it needs to be, yes… I choose to be Crystal Heart now and not Chrysalis anymore…” I widen my eyes. “Surely you’ve noticed the marked improvement in my behavior?” * Her eyes widen, “Oh, yes! You somehow went from being a mean and nasty insect queen to uh,” she blinks and adjusts her gaze. “you!” I lower my gaze, “So you’ll agree that this is a good thing then, yes?” She begins to stutter, “Well, I mean uh, yeah! I’d rather this than the evil Queen Chrysalis, that’s for sure!” “Then there is no problem, is there?” “Well um, no!” I nod, “Very well then!” before taking another swig of my coffee… Her eyes widen, “Wow! You’re uh, really convincing!” I smile as I suppress a giggle, “And you’re a worthy adversary!” I say sarcastically, before. “So, what did you wish to do after this?” She looks off past my shoulder and then back to me, “Well, we should probably go back to Starlight’s house?” I narrow my eyes, “Why? What’s waiting for me there?” She starts as her eyes widen, “I, uh, er…” I sigh, “What is it Rainbow Dash? Why did you just look at the clock tower behind me and why do we need to go back to Starlight’s house?” She facehoofs and says, “Ugh!” before lowering it and saying, “You caught me! Pinkie Pie wanted to welcome you to Ponyville with a big party!” I roll my eyes, “Ugh! I should’ve known!” before adjusting them back to Dash. “But I’m finishing my coffee first!” and add lowly under my breath, “Jerk!” Her eyes widen as she leans towards me, “What was that?” I look back at her, “Nothing, you sniveling twit!” and grasping my coffee with my forehooves for another mighty gulp… She frowns, “Wow! It’s almost like you don’t want a party?” I set my coffee down and widen my eyes at her, “You think?” “Well um, why not Crystal? Don’t you want to be loved and accepted?” I frown at this audacity, “What? Why, I can get all the love and acceptance I want, Rainbow Dash! I’ve been doing it for some time now!” “But as Crystal Heart?” I breath in deeply when I realize that the pegasus has a point… If this is the identity I’m choosing for myself, then it makes sense that I make it authentic… I look at her and say, “Very well! I’ll go and I’ll even pretend to be surprised, to save your sorry flanks! But we’re going it my way and you owe me!” She stares back blankly, “Done!” I nod, “Right! But first, coffee! Finish up your puny latte now and we’ll be on our way soon, worm!” She blinks, “Uh, just call me Dash, please!” I sigh and roll my eyes, “Whatever! Drink your cowardly coffee now!” <*****> We walk into the darkened foyer from the outside… As I cross the threshold with the blue pegasus behind me, the lights suddenly and brightly turn on and Pinkie Pie, surrounded by a bunch of earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi of many bright pastel colors all yell, “SURPRISE!” My eyes widen, “Oh, my! I wasn’t expecting this!” Pinkie Pie stares at me with a big cheerful grin from 15 feet away in the living room with a sizable entourage of maybe 15 ponies all gathered in the room around us now as she says, “Were you surprised? Huh? Were ya? Were ya?” I gulp, “Oh, yes Pinkie! That was uh, most startling!” She frowns and narrows her gaze at me, “You don’t seem surprised? Don’t tell me Rainbow spilled the beans again!” Time stopped for me at that moment as I thought about how I actually was lying, and yet, for some reason, this pink mare saw right through it? She saw what was really happening! Suddenly, Rainbow Dash trots around my left side to stare at the pink earth pony, “Hey! It’s not my fault! Crystal Heart here is a mare who knows how to chat up ponies for information!” Time stops again as I think about how Dash just described me as a mare… It’s beginning to become clear that this is real now… Pinkie furrows her brow, “Yeah, but I know you! You can NEVER just keep anything to yourself!” I look at the pink mare, smile, and say, “She wasn’t terribly obvious, in her defense, although she’s far from a good liar!” Pinkie stares at Dash grumpily, “I know!” Rainbow shakes her head and giggles, “Now we’re wondering how good I can lie!” I then say to Pinkie while keeping the grin on my face, “But seriously, don’t be too hard on the feather-head! She did her best! She’s not that good!” Dash turns her head right to me on her other side, “Hey!” Pinkie looks at Dash and smiles while giggling, “Yeah! I know! We really should’ve picked somepony else!” I widen my eyes, “Right?” Dash turns her head left towards nopony in particular, frowns, and narrows her eyes, “I’m gonna get some punch!” before turning around and trotting towards the table at the wall to my far left with the bright pink cloth over it and a punch bowl and many assorted snacks and treats laid out on it… Pinkie widens her eyes to me, “So yeah, Crystal Heart! You’re new in town and so I thought I’d throw you a big party! So now, you have lots and lots of friends!” I smile, “Great!” She frowns, “Something wrong?” My fake smile lowers somewhat, “Oh uh, do they know or?” Her eyes widen, “About what?” I normalize my mouth completely and say at a lower volume, “About my past?” “Oh, that! Uh, yeah! I didn’t tell them! You’re just an earth mare now, right?” I smile at the pink mare, “Yes I am! Thank you Pinkie Pie!” Her right eye squints while her left eyebrow raises, “Well, it’s not something I can just tell anypony about?” I sigh and agree, “Most assuredly not, no!” She stares at me intently, “So, you’re okay now, Crystal?” I sigh, “I believe so, Pinkie Pie…” I stare at her as I realize that I might as well just have a party, whatever that means… “So, what do we do next?” Suddenly, the magenta pony I’ve come to adore trots up at my right, “Next, we get this party started!” I smile at her once my neck is her direction… Over the course of the next few hours, I played many games, such as pin the tail on the pony, darts, and even hide n seek… I fraternized with these other ponies almost as if I was one of their own… I sometimes felt fake though… Like I was just pretending… I couldn’t actually be a pony now, could I? Being this way makes me happy, and yet, it felt off, but I tried my best to be one of them… They all seemed to enjoy me? I had many interesting quips with Pinkie Pie and we even ragged on Dash again at one point. When later in the night, I was approached by a yellow pegasus pony… Fluttershy smiles at me from maybe 7 feet as we both stand in the living area, “Hi Crystal Heart! I just wanted to say that you’re really brave for telling us all about um, you know? Where you came from…” I widen my eyes to her, “Oh?” She nods, “Oh, yes! If I had a secret like that, I don’t think I could tell anypony?” I frown, “You value honesty, yes? Well, I was truthful!” Her eyes widen, “Oh, well, yes! Um, of course!” I narrow my gaze, “Are you okay Fluttershy?” She blinks and stares at me wide-eyed, “Oh, well, that is to say, um…” My eyes normalize, “What?” “Um, I have to go now! Enjoy your party Crystal Heart!” She says before turning and trotting the other way towards the half-empty punch bowl on the pink table… I sigh as a familiar fuchsia unicorn trots over from my left and cranes her head towards me, “How you doing, baby?” I look at her, “I think I’m okay?” She frowns, “What do you mean think?” I blink, “Well, I just think about what I’m trying to do and how this just makes me happy… And yet, Fluttershy over there is obviously afraid of me! I uh…” I close my eyes… “Oh, Fluttershy is afraid of everypony until she actually knows them! Don’t worry about it!” I open my eyes to Starlight, “Are you sure?” She waves her right forehoof in the air, “Of course I’m sure! She’s scared of her own shadow! Don’t freak out!” Suddenly, a purple alicorn trots up to the right of Starlight in my gaze and looks at me, “Well, now you know we’re all friendly, Crystal Heart! You’re safe here, I promise!” I turn my neck right towards the timid looking yellow pegasus pony staring at everything wide-eyed in her azure gaze underneath her pink mane locks as she cautiously sips punch from her cup at the table with her right hoof… “I’m sure I am…” <*****> As Starlight holds me from behind and we spoon on the bed, she whispers to me, “See? We’re all friends here and we don’t care where you came from!” “Fluttershy is afraid of me… “I respond blankly… Starlight sighs, “I know Crystal! But well, she just learned that about you and she’s just gonna have to get used to this new information…” “I don’t like that, Starlight… I don’t want them to see me differently…” I close my eyes and snuggle into the warm embrace of the pony I love… “I know sweetie! I know! Uh, you want me to talk with her?” I open my eyes quickly, “Uh, no Starlight! That’s okay! I’ll uh, deal with her myself…” “Okay Crystal, but you know I always have your back!” I smile and cuddle into her, “I know that Starlight… I know…” and slowly drift off to peaceful rest… (To be continued…) Author's Note *Well, on hormones, I’m no longer drinking heavily, snorting things up my nose, or abusing my body, so there is that! Chapter 8: So We Finally Just Met In the Middle...I stare at the small cottage on the edge of the Everfree forest and smirk, “Okay, pegasus number two of the crew, Fluttershy!” as I stare and wonder about the death waiting for me behind that wooden door there… I sigh and reach up with my right forehoof to wrap on the door. BAM BAM BAM! My hoof goes and I hear a feminine voice from inside squeak, “Hang on! I’ll be right there!” She opens the door with her right hoof and I see it swing inward to the left to reveal her blue eyes staring at me before starting with shock as she says, “Oh! Uh, C-Crystal Heart! What brings you to my uh, humble abode?” Before a large nervous grin on her face begins to form… I smile back, “Hi dear Fluttershy! I’m just getting to know all of the ahem, associate’s of my sweet love Starlight and you are among them, are you not?” She blinks skittishly, “Oh, um, y-yeah! That’s true! I’m a friend of Starlight! Um…” “But of course, dear sweet Fluttershy! And so, now I think we should get to know one another? Perhaps during a social activity of some sort?” Her eyes widen at me, “Oh um, I’m much too busy right now! Y-you’ll just have to try again later! I’m just too busy! Yes!” before her right hoof slams the door in my face… I blow the strand of my brown mane that just swept over my face before saying, “Well, that was a bust!” <*****> (Two weeks ago…) I stare at the magenta unicorn underneath the light in front of her red front door as she smiles at me, “Thanks for such a wonderful time, Crystal! Honestly, I didn’t know what I was gonna do! I’m really just glad to get out of the house!” I smile back, “You said it, love!” Her eyes widen, “Hey uh, you wanna come in?” This has never happened before, so I’m a little hesitant at first, “Well uh, only if you insist?” or maybe not? She turns her neck back right towards her door and magically opens it before trotting inside and I follow behind her, and use my left forehoof to close it before I follow her down towards her hallway and say to her, “Where are we going?” She says, “I’m going to bed and I want a snuggle buddy!” as she continues trotting through her dimly lit foyer… I say back to her while mere hoofsteps behind her, “Wait! You never asked me!” She giggles slightly while continuing to trot, “You’re not gonna say no, are you?” I keep trotting when I think that one infuriating thought… She’s right! I actually would very much like to snuggle her to sleep! “Uh, you don’t know that!” She walks into her hallway and I follow as she says, “Yeah I do! You’re still following me!” She stops in front of her door and turns her head left towards it before using her magick to open it out to the right as I say, “Well, I don’t HAVE to!” She walks into her bedroom and I follow just a few hoofsteps behind, same as before, “Maybe not, but you want to…” She trots over to her bed while I stand in the doorway with my neck craned left towards her, “You don’t know that!” She slides in under her soft pink velvety covers while saying at a slightly lower volume, “Yeah I do! Now come on baby! I wanna hold you!” I gulp and stare at this sight… My mortal enemy, Starlight Glimmer, there underneath pink silken blankets on her warm soft bed, ready to hold me and love me as we slumber… “Uh, hang on! This is still kinda new…” I say as I begin to trot her direction… She impatiently starts to bounce on the bed, “Come on! I wanna snuggle!” I blink before I begin slipping into bed… “Scoot back closer, baby!” I begin scooting back into the danger zone as I notice her hoof sliding in on my left before it wraps around me lovingly and holds me… I say back to her, “Do you normally snuggle on second dates?” “Shh!” She blows through her lips to silence me… She holds me tightly and affectionately from behind as we both begin to drift off to sleep... <*****> (Present day…) Starlight frowns at me from the red sofa in the living room, “Well, Fluttershy is just the uh, shy quiet type and she opens up slowly, okay?” I sigh from the blue chair, “Well, I know this Starlight, but that’s not the problem!” Her azure eyes widen, “Oh? Well, what is the problem?” “The problem is, she knows now, Starlight! She knows who I am and that’s why she keeps her distance. This is more than just her regular shyness…” “How can you tell, though?” I stare at her carefully, “Tell me Starlight Glimmer, do you know what fear looks like in another pony’s eyes?” She blinks, “Well, I kinda do, yeah?” “That’s what I see, Starlight! I see genuine terror and dread at me! And…” I sigh…” I don’t like it…” She frowns, “You’re really worried about this, aren’t you?” I widen my eyes at her, “Well, shouldn’t I be? Think on it, Starlight! I was Chrysalis, the most feared changeling in all the land and now I…” I close my eyes… “I don’t want to be…” I breath in slowly through my mouth and open my pupilsonce more. “So it’s imperative that we make miss Shy see me for what I am now and not whom I used to be…But first!” “Coffee!” Starlight interjects! I smile, “Indeed!” <*****> I start when I suddenly forget what I’m doing and Starlight at my right wraps on the door with her right forehoof, BAM BAM BAM! We both here a familiar skittish feminine voice say from the inside, “Oh uh, hang on! I’ll be right there!” a few moments before the door opens and her blue eyes widen! “Oh uh, Crystal and Starlight! H-how can I help you?” And an uneasy grin forms on her muzzle. I widen my eyes, “We have a kitten!” with a small sleeping gray tabby kitten on my back… Starlight widens her eyes, “Um, yes Fluttershy! We need some of your expert advice on how to handle Crystal’s kitten!” She turns her neck right towards me as her mouth goes agape, “Oh! I didn’t know you had a kitten!” My head raises, “Yeah, me neither!” Her eyes enlarge again, “What?” Starlight interjects, “Uh, what Crystal Heart means to say is that she just got a brand-new kitten and that she wants your advice on how to care for the animal!” I nod and say, “Yes! That!” Her blue eyes widen with shock and excitement as she squeals, “Oh, that sounds lovely! Uh, come in! I’ll get you everything you need!” before she turns around and begins to trot further into her cottage… Starlight looks over at me and whispers, “Go in and follow her!” “Ugh!” I quietly groan beginning to trot behind the yellow pegasus mare as she trots into her wooden abode with various creatures and animal items strewn about her foyer floor as I trot behind her anxiously… I’m also very aware of the warm fuzz-head currently snoozing on my back… She speaks up, “Yes, Crystal Heart! You’ll need to learn about proper litter maintenance as well as feeding, and playtime!” “Wait, I need to play with this little fur-ball?” I say as I continue to trot behind her. She nods as she goes into her hallway in the back, “Oh, yes! Playing and interaction is very important between you and you’re cat!” “Oh, great! Kitty playtime!” I sarcastically say as I trot into the hallway as she heads towards the room in the back. She trots to the back of her wooden room and I follow as this gray tabby thing continues snoozing on my back… She smiles as she looks down into a box, “Okay! Here’s your litter box, cat food dish, and some cat food and kitty litter to get you started! Oh, and a scoop for the box!” I turn my head right towards her, “Wait! What am I gonna be scooping?” <*****> Two nights later… “I’m scooping cat poop!” I exclaim as I use my right hoof to operate the gray plastic poop scoop to get the offending log inside the litter box and bring it into the paper bag on my right… Starlight snickers from my left, “Well, you wanted a cat!” As I reach into the box for another foray into the wonderful world of feces removal, I respond to my love, “Well, dogs are gross! They slobber and they jump on you! Cats are much cleaner!” “Until you gotta clean the litter box!” “I didn’t think I’d need to do this on day two! I must say, he’s a little pooping machine!” I say as I reach into the box for another scoop… Starlight chuckles, “Well, he’s a growing kitten!” The tabby kitten rubs up against my right hind leg before it begins to prance forward and I stare into the box and whisper, “Idiot!” under my breath at the furry little troublemaker before reaching in with my right forehoof for yet another scoop into the bag… <*****> So the next morning, Starlight left me to sleep in as she always does. Not without some cuddling and kissy time, but that’s beside the point! Anyway, I was asleep in our big silken magenta bed when I hear a wrapping on the window on the other side of the room! I’m annoyed at this point, “Huh, what?” I open my eyes and look down my new aquamarine snout down at the window to see two bright blue eyes staring back at me from underneath a pink wavy mop of a mane… My eyes widen, “Fluttershy?” as I make my way to the left of the bed and hit the floor with my hooves to make a resounding clack and then, turning my body around towards the window and trotting over to it slowly before finally, opening it with my right hoof, “Uh, yes Fluttershy?” “Oh um, hi Crystal! Uh, how have you and your kitten been doing?” And she smiles nervously… My eyes widen, “Um, he’s doing alright! He was just cuddling me on the bed, actually…” I say as my eyes dart back to the snoozing ball of gray fluff on the fuscia blankets behind me. “Why are you asking me this from the other side of the window?” “Um, well…” She clears her throat. “I kinda uh, need some help wrangling a cat and well, this particular kitty is already kinda set off by me due to some neutering issues earlier and I just uh, need somepony gentle and kind to get this cat for me, so I can take her to the vet?” At that point, time stopped as I considered this… I thought this pony was afraid of me? Now, she said she needed somepony gentle and she came for me? Did I perhaps misjudge the situation? The truth is, by this point it had been wearing on my mind and I really needed to clear the air… I finally cleared my throat, straightened my pony head to this other equine and said to her, “Fluttershy! Can that wait a bit? Uh, we need to talk! Would you come in for coffee please?” <*****> I smile at Fluttershy, “How is the coffee?” She sits at her end of the table and grins at me anxiously, “Oh, i-it’s fine! Thank you!” before staring down at her cup… I frown at this sight, “Is something wrong?” She pops back to attention and stares up at me with her wide eyes, “O-oh uh, nothing! I’m fine!” and smiling at me like I was about to eat her head... I finally just stare at the yellow pegasus from the other side of the wooden kitchen table as both our white cups steamed in front of us and widen my eyes, “I am not a monster!” Her azure pupils enlarge as she starts from my right at the table, “W-what? I never said you were, Crystal Heart!” I sigh, “Fluttershy, why must you lie? I know what I see in your eyes and I truly do not wish for you to be afraid of me!” She squeaks back, “Um, w-we need to get the kitten to the vet! We don’t have much time!” “Fluttershy, you already told me and we need to be there in just under an hour... I can get that cat anywhere in Ponyville in about ten minutes... You’re not getting out of this! Tell me now, why do you fear me?” “Um…” She visibly swallows a big gulp in her snout before looking at me tentatively, “I-I always thought Chrysalis was well, you know? Scary! And now, I-I see her when I look at you… “she blinks. “I’m trying, Crystal! I really am! Th-that’s why I wanted to do this cat thing with you so, maybe I can get past this?” I blink and am silent for a moment, “You really are trying to work past your fears, aren’t you?” She sighs and smiles and me… “Yeah… Baby steps…” I giggle at the adorable little display of courage, “Alright, Fluttershy! Let’s finish up our coffee so we can go meet this cat!” Her eyes widen as her mouth is aghast, “Oh? You wanna meet the kitty?” I smile, “Sure, Fluttershy! Why not?” (To be continued…) Chapter 9: And There I Was, Minding My Own Business, When...I stared into the blue eyes of my love and sincerely said, “So yes, that’s why I now have two cats…” Starlight frowns from the left side of the red couch, “Are you sure you’re ready for that?” I frown from my own side, “Fluttershy already wondered! Why does everypony keep asking me that? I assure you, I can already take care of one cat and taking care of another won’t be that much harder!” “You’ll have to scoop twice as much poop…” My eyes narrow and I solemnly reply, “I’m prepared for that…” She eyes me carefully… “You really love your cats, don’t you?” I blink and scowl when I realize that she might be right? “Absolutely not! My heart is filled with hate and darkness!” She smiles and giggles, “Oh, sure! Hate, darkness, and love for a magenta unicorn and two small felines, right?” I sigh… “I’m taking care of two cats and living with my lesbian marefriend, aren’t I?” Her eyes widen and she nods, “Well, yeah!” I sigh, “It just seems so weird? I mean, just a few minutes ago, I was the leader of a changeling hive and we were a fierce tribe of warriors! Now I’m snuggling kittens and the unicorn I love under soft warm covers and… And I’m actually happy about it!” She smiles warmly, “I hear you! I used to think I couldn’t be happy without ruling Equestria with an iron hoof and forcing everypony to conform to my cutie mark philosophy,”she says while playfully holding her right hoof in an angry position in front of her. She lowers it, “but now, I’m just principle of a school and living with you and that just seems to be enough!” as she smiles at me. I hoof my white cup of blond coffee to my snout for a strong swig and then set it back down with my neck as I swallow the warm caffeinated liquid and smile up at her, “I love you!” She smiles down at me, “I love you more!” I raise my neck, “Impossible!” “Is so!” She angrily replies! “Is not!” I irately retort! She furrows her brow, “How long is this going to continue?” I put my hooves on the table, “As long as it takes!” We’re both silent for a moment before we simultaneously erupt in hysterical giggles! <*****> I trot towards the Carousel Boutique’s round light blue two-story building with it’s two ornate front windows with yellow awnings over them and pink roofs… I sigh as I think that I’m about to introduce myself to a white unicorn inside as I trot up the grassy path to the front door… Suddenly, a pink blur intercepts me from the left! I suddenly see an excited pink earth mare on my right talking quickly to me and nodding her face while staring at me with her blue eyes that sort of pop out of her head! “HeyreadytogotoSugarcubeCornerwithmeforatreat, okayletsgoCrystalHeart!” She says at a lightning fast rate before grabbing my mane with her teeth and dragging me off to the left with her! I stammer out, “B-but Rarity! Wait! I was!” as we both continue moving the same direction, although only one of us is actually trotting and willing as my hind hooves scratch the ground and leave small ruts in the dirt. She abruptly stops dragging me in front of the glass doors of a pink one-story building next door and I soon regain my footing and turn my neck left to look inside before back at her, “Uh, what’s in there, Pinkie Pie? I’ve never been inside…” Her azure colored eyes are now wide as saucers, “WHAT? You’ve NEVER been to Sugarcube Corner?” I frown at the other earth mare, “Uh, no! Should I have?” She smiles at me jubilantly, “You’re gonna learn today, Crystal Heart!” “Learn? Learn what exactly?” <*****> Later, I’m leaning back in the chair with my tongue out the right side of my mouth as it stays agape and I can only mutter, “Chocolate! Caramel! Nougat! Frosting! Cherry swirls! Cordials!” She stares at me after I had just devoured my first real sugary treats in I’m not sure how long with a concerned frown on her muzzle, “Uh, you okay Crystal Heart?” I adjust my gaze back down to her when I realize that she’s still there! “Uh, yes Pinkie Pie! I’ll be just fine! Thank you for your concern!” She nods, “Well, yeah! Uh, so I guess I’ll ask the obvious question… Of all the pony races, why an earth pony anyway? I mean, you got magick and flight, right?” I smile, “Starlight also asked me about this one! The truth is, I’m no longer interested in power… I’ve decided that if I truly am to become reformed, then I have no need of it… Four hooves and a tail is fine…” She nods again, “Yeah, but I mean, I’m an earth pony and I always wondered what it would be like to you know? Lift things with my mind and teleport and to be actually able to fly on my own power! Like, “her eyes go up, “I don’t need one of those machines I build, you know?” they go back down to me…”With my own wings…” “And you’re perplexed as to why I would willingly give all of that up, is that correct?” “Well, mostly?” Her mouth frowns before she leans closer to whisper. “I mean, you can still do those things! You just don’t want to!” My eyes narrow, “No, I do not…” Her eyes widen again, “Well, what happens if we have need of your power then?” I smile and giggle, “Well, when Tirek returns or Sombra starts messing with ponies’ minds again, I’ll become Crystal Heart Super Alicorn! But until that point…” She smiles and giggles, “Right! You could’ve flown to Carousel Boutique, but you chose to walk towards it with your hooves!” My smile lowers and brow furrows, “Wait! You knew I wanted to see Rarity?” She frowns, “Well, gosh! I saw where you were going, but I only have so long on my lunch break and I wanted to give you a treat!” I frown in irritation, “But of course!” She blinks, “Something wrong?” I stare at her and consider my words carefully here… I finally smile and reply, “Uh, not at all dear sweet Pinkie Pie! I’m fine!” She perks back up as she smiles and giggles, “Well, alright Crystal Heart! Hey, my lunch is almost over now and I gotta get back to work! I’ll go pay and catch you later!” before trotting around the table on the right and hugging me before I can react! “EEP!” I squeal in her hooves before she releases me and turns right to begin to trotting towards the front counter to pay… I sigh and look up before deciding to make my exit before she crams any more sugar down my throat! <*****> I groan as I slowly trot towards the tan cottage where I stay with Starlight and I wince as my stomach aches… I look up at it as I begin marching towards the front of the door when I see a message on it! I look at the brown door to see written in Starlight’s hoof-writing, Dear Crystal Heart, There’s been an emergency at the school. I came back to eat with you, but since you weren’t here when I had lunch, I assumed you already ate. Love ya! Starlight I remove the letter with my right forehoof and put it in my mouth as I use my head to force open the door after operating the nob with my left hoof… I trot in slowly as my stomach continues to churn… I slowly close the door behind me and set the note down on the side table… I trot towards our room in the back where I lay down on our sky-blue queen-sized bed together and settle my head down on the pillow… I sigh again before silently vowing to never again eat that much chocolate! I close my eyes and lose consciousness. <*****> I awaken on the same simple red bedroll in the cave, where I’m hiding with the other villains… I blink, Was it just a dream? “Oh, golly Chrysalis! It’s not really that easy, you know?” I stare at the pink pegasus filly on my left and address her same as always, “What do you want now, you sniveling twit?” She smiles up at me while staring at me with wide brown eyes underneath her neatly arranged bluish-white curls, “You can’t get away!” I frown as I bring my holy black legs to the surface after rolling off my back from the bed to stare down at the filly, still looking up at me with her enormous pupils and wide mischievous grin, “Precisely what in Equestria are you talking about?” “Crystal Heart!” I hear a familiar feminine voice calling to me from somewhere. I open my eyes and I’m back in the blue bed and there’s now a magenta unicorn in front of it staring at me… “We need your help at the school!” I shake my head as I stare up at her from the pillow, “What is this regarding?” She blinks, “Cozy Glow just escaped, like you did earlier! We need to know where she might be heading?” I sigh, “How would I know? I went to the Everfree Forest, past the outskirts north of the school. That is most likely where Little Miss Glow went as well, since it’s the fastest way to become relatively safe, given her unique situation…” She breaths out heavily through her mouth, “Thanks Crystal! We’ll send search parties that direction! Maybe we can cut her off? I frown, “That would depend on when she left…” “This morning!” I nod, “Good luck Starlight! Is there anything I should do?” She sighs, “Uh, nothing you can do Crystal! Just sit tight and I’ll be back later this evening! Dinner is in the fridge!” before trotting around the bed on the left to my side and looking down at me and smiling, “I love you Crystal! And nothing Cozy Glow does is going to change that!” I widen my eyes as I actually hadn’t considered that until just this point, “Well uh, thank you very much Starlight… I love you…” “I love you too baby!” She says before leaning down to plant a big kiss on my muzzle… She removes her neck and normalizes her stance before saying, “I’ll see you later, Crystal!” and then, disappearing in a blue flash of light… I sigh, “I’m still not used to that!” before getting out of bed off to the side and trotting towards the door on the other end to start the rest of my lonely day…” When suddenly, I see two furry little bodies begin plodding their ways up the hall towards me… I smile when I think that perhaps I was not exactly done sleeping… <*****> “Oh golly, Chrysalis! Kittens? Really?” I hear a familiar squeaky voice say to me from the side of the bed… I open my eyes and crane my neck left off the bed as my two furry friends make their way to the foot to hop down and begin walking out the now open door and I see a small smiling pink pegasus filly with a neatly arranged bluish-white curly mane and tail. “YOU! How did you find me?” She smiles and giggles, “You know, just because I’m stone doesn’t mean I can’t see and hear! I saw you trotting around the courtyard earlier with Twilight and your new love Starlight Glimmer!” she snorts. “Best show I had in years! I like how well you’re pretending Chrysalis, but you don’t have to when you’re with me… “ I stare down at this filly and smile when I realize what I’m about to do… I smile because I know that on some level, I’m really going to enjoy this… <*****> I appear in Starlight’s office in a white flash! Papers fly off her mahogany desk as she stares at me with wide blue eyes from 12 feet away at my front, “C-Crystal! You teleported!” I furrow my brows and lower my gaze as the papers float to the ground and desk, “Yes, my love! I know I said I wouldn’t do all that I am capable of doing, but this is a special circumstance." She blinks, “Crystal! I’m very busy! Can this wait?” I smile at her, “No, Starlight my love! I think you really want to see this!” (To be continued…) Chapter 10: So Then, We Got a Filly!The purple alicorn stared at the tied up pink filly in the chair and asked me at her right, “Uh, why do you own a ballgag?” I look at her and smile, “Well, Starlight is a bit of a freak!” My love looks at me from the other side of the Twilight, “Hey, it was your idea!” I grin in Starlight’s direction, “I didn’t see you objecting?” The alicorn shakes her head, “You know what? Never mind! I don’t wanna know why you have a ballgag!” she stares back at Cozy there, currently gagged and tied to a wooden chair and staring up at her with two enormous brown eyes. “Well, since two of you got free, this probably means we should put Tirek away somewhere safe, so if and when he escapes, he’ll already be contained?” I nod at her, “It would be wise, yes!” I turn my head to the tied up filly. “I suppose we should see what she has to say?” Twilight frowns at Cozy, “Well, if you really want to? I mean, she’s probably just gonna heckle you and tell you you’re not really changed though?” as the filly’s eyes widen all the way while staring up at her… I sigh as the filly turns to me with her big pupils, “Probably? Still, I think we should see what she will say,” I lower my gaze at her, “I owe her that much at least…” before trotting over to her and removing her gag with my right forehoof… She stares up at me, “So golly gee! You really want to do that, huh? Be an, an earth mare named Crystal Heart?” I smile down at her, “This is what makes me happy Cozy Glow… And so, it’s what I’m choosing for myself at this point…” She scowls up at me, “You IDIOT! Why would you give up power?” “What good is power if it doesn’t make me happy?” Her eyes widen, “What? Why wouldn’t power make you happy, Chrysalis?” I giggle, “I had an entire kingdom under my command once, Cozy… We reigned supreme all over the Northwest section of Equestria… None could oppose us there… But I was never happy with that, now was I?” Her brown eyes glare deeply into me before her muzzle finally replies, “You wanted more, huh?” I smile, “Indeed, Cozy! And you know what? Even if I ever did get that, that would eventually not be enough for me either… No Cozy, I find a peaceful existence to be far more satisfying…” “I uh,” she shakes her head, “look, Chrysalis er, Crystal Heart… You know, the thing about being trapped in stone is, it gives you a lot of time to think…” she blinks. “I don’t think I’d be totally opposed to learning a new way?” My gaze lowers as I glare at this desperate filly, “And just what are you trying to say?” She flinches as her muzzle grimaces, “Oh, golly! Do you really want me to spell it out for you? I’m saying I think I might want to become reformed!” “And how do I know I can trust you?” “I uh,” she blinks, “well uh, I guess you don’t, huh? But look!” she furrows her brow. “I’m telling the truth and I’ll do anything! Honest!” I smile at the filly, “Anything?” <*****> The foal stares up at me with her large brownish eyes, “So, why am I not allowed to leave the room or see other ponies?” I sigh at her, “Well, you were very manipulative and we don’t know if you can be trusted?” Her view raises, “Aww! You don’t trust me?” “Would you?” She lowers it, “Okay! Point made!” and then, she re-lifts her neck. “But I do have another question… Why am I kept at Starlight’s house?” “Well, it’s the best way for me to keep an eye on you!” “Does Starlight know about this?” “Well uh,” I stammer. “she might?” “She doesn’t know about this, huh?” “Well, uh,” I cough.”no, not exactly…” She gazes at me very carefully with her auburn eyes… “You want a filly, don’t you?” My own eyes widen as I honestly hadn’t considered that! “Uh, well I just need to make sure you’re taken care of!” “Oh, golly! You couldn’t lie to me before and you still can’t lie to me! You wanted a filly and this is your weird way of getting it, huh?” I close my eyes and shake my head to compose myself before finally staring back down at the small miscreant pegasus and saying to her, “Look! You said you wished to be reformed! Is that not so?” She nods, “Well, right! But I never said anything about becoming your filly!” I glare down at her, “Well, look! I honestly can’t think of a better arrangement!” “I could!” “Oh?” I look down at her. “Do tell?” “One where I don’t become your foal!” I raise my left eyebrow, “Would you rather a prison cell?” Her eyes suddenly widen, “Okay uh, I guess I’m your new foal then?” before she smiles widely up at me while baring her pearly white teeth… <*****> I look up from where I’m sitting on the red couch with my magazine held in my forehooves and think that I hadn’t checked on Cozy in awhile and I really should at least see how she’s doing! I gave her some puzzles and coloring books from the school to keep her busy, but we don’t have any toys for her yet and I need to make sure she’s properly stimulated… I set the magazine down on the coffee table before me and begin crossing the foyer after turning left to head towards the spare bedroom, across from me and Starlight’s room… I hear only silence and the clopping of my hooves on the surface as I turn left to open the door with my right forehoof… And I see Cozy there, standing on her hind legs and attempting to open the window! She turns her head left back towards me and smiles, “Oh, hiya Crystal! I just wanted to get some air in here!” My eyes narrow, “Cozy, drop the act!” She sighs and goes back to her hooves with her body facing towards me and she scowls before saying, “I don’t wanna be here!” I smile, “I know Cozy…” She frowns, “So why are you forcing me? I thought we were friends?” “Cozy, I’m still your friend!” “Could’ve fooled me!” “Cozy, do you know what you need right now?” Her eyes widen, “Yeah! I need to get out of this house so I can escape and start plotting my next move!” I snicker, “No, you don’t know what you need…” She stares at me carefully as I see her quivering brown eyes sizing me up, “Okay, lets just say hypothetically that you’re right and I need parental guidance or whatever! What makes you think that you and Starlight would be good at it?” I giggle down at her, “Well, you already have a history with both me and Starlight and so there is that? And we both volunteered to do it?” Her gaze lowers, “No, YOU volunteered to do it! She never did no such thing!” “You don’t know that she’ll say no?” She retorts, “You don’t know that she’ll say yes, either!” “She won’t…” Cozy stares up at me again as the filly considers all of this… “So, assuming you’re right, you think you two are perfect for the job, huh?” My eyes widen, “Now she gets it!” Cozy finally gives a consigned sigh of defeat off to her right before adjusting her eyes to me and saying, “Well, I guess I can give it a shot, maybe? But uh,” she blinks up at me and raises her view. “there is one thing I’d like about now?” <*****> I sigh as I use my head and teeth to set down Cozy’s empty plate into the sink in front of me… I wonder where Starlight is as she’s usually back by now, but Cozy said she was hungry, and so I fed her dinner a bit early… I want to be kind to this filly after all… She said she didn’t wish to talk and only ate in silence… I could only ponder what was going on in the filly’s mind as she devoured her spiced hay cakes and drank her cider in silence… Suddenly, the front door in the far room to my right opens up and Starlight bursts forward towards me as she quickly trots across the foyer, “Where is she? Is she in her room?” she says as she comes into the kitchen beyond… I turn my gaze to my love, now standing wide-eyed and frantic a mere 5 feet from my side, “Yes dear! Twilight told me to keep her locked and contained for now!” Starlight nods, “Okay, but is she speaking with you at all? What is she saying?” I sigh, “Well, not exactly? She only says simple things and is always polite and courteous… Still, I can’t help but feel like she’s keeping me and everypony else at a distance?” Starlight frowns, “Well, put yourself in her hooves! How would you feel? You just escaped stone and you find out one of your only friends switched sides! You think maybe she feels hurt and confused?” Suddenly, we both hear an angry squeaky voice from the other room suddenly yell, “I’m not hurt!” My mouth normalizes as I stare at the magenta unicorn, “I think she’s eavesdropping on us!” Starlight attempts to suppress a grin as she stares towards the ceiling and says, “Cozy! We know you’re there! Come on out and say hi!” Suddenly, the wooden door to my left and Starlight’s front swings open to the left and out steps a small pink pegasus filly with a neatly arranged curly bluish-white mane before she stops maybe 7 feet shy of both of us on the other side of the table and stares up with wide brown eyes, “Oh, golly! Am I not supposed to listen in on your conversations? I’m really sorry about that!” Starlight turns to her, “Okay, first rule: can the act! We all know you’re not an idiot!” She sighs and stares up at Starlight, “Well, I guess you do huh?” she blinks. “Do I have to start calling you both mom now?” Starlight eyes the filly carefully, “Well, what are you comfortable calling us?” Cozy frowns, “Well golly, if I’m being honest, I’m okay with calling you Starlight and uh,” she turns to me and gauges me carefully. “Crystal Heart for now, anyway?” Starlight smiles down at her, “Then that is what you shall call us until you’re more comfortable!” She stares back at Starlight at her left, “Wait! So you’re not forcing me into this? I don’t have to become your foal?” I look at the filly from Starlight’s right and interject, “Cozy! Listen to me! You’re still a filly, right?” She turns her head back towards me and nods, “Well uh, yeah!” I smile and nod, “Right! So, that would infer that you need parental figures and guidance during this early period in your life. Now, assuming you weren’t behaving properly earlier, and I don’t think we’re going to debate that now, we can deduce that your viewpoints on the world are skewed, yes? So, it stands to reason that you be given that guidance so you’ll understand how to behave from here on out!” “Oh, golly! You really do wanna become my mommy!” “You haven’t said no, yet?” Her eyes widen, “I didn’t think I’d have to!” I grin down at her, “Well, do you have a better suggestion to ensure that you get the care and guidance you need?” She stares up at me and frowns for a moment before finally conceding, “Golly right! My new homo mommies!” I giggle, “Come on Cozy! Let’s get you settled in with a nice book so you can relax while me and Starlight here…” “My other mommy!” Cozy cuts in! I nod, “Right! Your two mommies can eat and you’ll have something to do in the meantime! Then, we can all have family game night!” She stares at me carefully, “You planned this, huh?” I snicker, “Well, kinda, yeah!” She frowns up at me… “Well, it’s still better than stone, right?” Her eyes quickly widen as she starts, “Okay, I’m gonna go get washed up and pick out a good book for now!” before smiling up at me with her big teeth… “I’ll be back later for uh, family game night! Yes! Golly right! That! Of course!” as I stare down at her and snicker… (To be continued…) Chapter 11: And I Bribed Her!As I closed my eyes while being held in the hooves of my love, I thought about the peculiar game night I had just had with this dejected little pink pegasus filly. I whisper back to my darling, “She was very good at gin!” Starlight whispers back, “Yeah, she was…” I open my eyes to sigh, “That means she can be very deceptive…” “Well, that doesn’t mean she’s being deceptive all the time, now does it?” I smile when I realize I should give the filly the benefit of a doubt, “Yeah, you’re right Starlight… Good night! I love you!” She kisses the nape of my neck and whispers back, “I love you too Crystal! Goodnight!” Suddenly, we both hear a knock knocking on our bedroom door, across from the bed! I widen my eyes when I think that I could’ve sworn I secured Cozy and Starlight whispers to me, “Uh, didn’t you lock her up?” I can only be honest when I whisper back, “I thought so?” before getting out of the bed and turning my body parallel to it, towards the opposite end of the room to begin trotting that direction in the dark… Suddenly, I trip on a cloth something on the floor and lose my balance as I say, “Oh, crap!” under my breath and I jerk forward, before I catch myself in the dark with my front hooves… I stare at the door in the dark, maybe 5 feet away from me as I say lowly, “Hang on!” and begin trotting that direction again… I open the door inward to the left with my snout and I see a wide-eyed small pink pegasus filly there, standing on her hooves and staring up at me with enormous brown eyes! “U-um, Miss Crystal Heart! I-I was having trouble sleeping…” I frown at this obstinate foal, “So? What has that got to do with me?” Starlight says from the bed, “I think she wants to sleep near us so she has a sense of security?” Cozy stares up at me with her wide auburn eyes and smiles weakly… I widen my eyes as my mouth scrunches and I realize suddenly what has to be done. “You never needed comfort at the lair?” She starts before nodding her head, “Well, at the lair, I had a stuffed bear to snuggle! And uh, besides! I don’t think Tirek or Chrysalis would’ve been very nice?” “Stuffed bear? You never told us you had a bear!” Starlight pipes up from the bed, “Come on baby! Let her sleep near the edge and give her a blanket and pillow so we can all go back down again!” I raise my head to speak while continuing to stare at the filly, “Starlight! This filly needs a stuffed bear!” Cozy stares up at me with wide-eyed curiosity and a frown, not sure what to think… I smile, “And we’re gonna make sure she has one!” Her mouth goes agape, “Golly! R-really Crystal Heart? You mean it?” I look down at her, “Absolutely! You are now my foal and you will have any and all amenities you may require, up to and including comfort! Come now child! Lets sleep with your new mommies!” <*****> Later the next morning… I held my smartphone in my right hoof and used it to communicate with the filly I left home: Queen_Awesome: I’m at the store now Cozy! What sort of bear do you require?” BRAT: Oh, golly gee! I like BIG bears that just SWALLOW me up when I snuggle them! They’re just so SNUGGLY! Queen_Awesome: Then you shall have the largest bear I can find! You shall also have a special treat upon my return! BRAT: I can’t wait! YAY! <*****> And so, the friendly tan unicorn shopkeeper used his magick to move the enormous brown stuffed bear into the room… And there it sat, on the wooden coffee table as the adorable curly-maned filly slept in the red EZ-chair with it reclined with a simple white cloth blanket around her… I smile at him and fetch a bit for his tip and he grins back and courteously places the bit underneath his navy blue flat cap with his muzzle. He quietly leaves and I shut the door behind him…. I silently trot over and set down the giant fudge pop on the table with my mouth before standing there, proud and smiling at her, with her new bear and delicious treat already laid out for her! I clear my throat, “AHEM!” She opens her eyes and soon closes her snout as she widens them while gazing at the humongous bear on the coffee table! “Uh, oh golly! That bear is HUGE!” I grin at her triumphantly and nod my head, “Indeed Cozy! You said you liked big bears and I will deliver! I also brought you a delicious chocolatey treat!” She looks down at the fudge pop before gazing briefly at the clock on the wall beyond the table and then finally at me at her slight right, “It’s ten thirty-two in the morning!” I lower my gaze to the foal, “I won’t say anything if you won’t!” She eyes me carefully for a moment before finally asking me, “Tell me again why you’re adopting me?” I soften my gaze at this filly, “Because Cozy, I believe you deserve a second chance and you’re not going to get that anywhere else… After what you did, nopony would ever adopt you…” Her eyes widen, “So it’s you, or nopony, huh?” I smile weakly, “I’m afraid so…” She frowns before saying, “Um, nopony isn’t an option anymore, is it?” I giggle, “Not really!” “Oh, gee!” I widen my eyes, “What? I got you a big bear!” She nods, “Yes, and while I appreciate that, I just…” I lean slightly towards the filly, “Just what, Cozy?” She stares at me, “I just don’t think it’s really meant for me, you know?” I frown, “What do you mean?” “Oh, golly! It’s just that, well, you’re just so nice and...and I’m not…” I smile at the filly, “Oh, give yourself some credit, Cozy! I mean, how long has it been since you last tried to take over Equestria?” “Uh, just over four years now!” “See? You haven’t been evil in over four years!” She leans forward while squealing incredulously, “I was in stone most of that time!” “Technicalities!” I start with my head tilted back and waving my right hoof in the air. It goes back to the ground. “The important thing now is that you’re not evil, okay Cozy?” She gazes at the chocolate pop on the table, “You know, I should eat that before it melts!” I nod, “And so you shall, my sweet Cozy Glow, with my blessing! And take your new friend to your room when you are done! I love you!” “Oh, golly!” <*****> I’m playing chess with the filly across the table from me and while she prefers to play black, I’ll admit that she often defeats me quite easily! Of course, this is to be expected from a foal with a red rook cutie mark… I had just suffered my fourth defeat and was using my hoofs to set up the board for round five when the door behind the filly in front of me opens and Starlight trots into the foyer from 10 feet behind Cozy… “Cozy, I like having you around and look forward to uh, raising you or whatever, but you’re a lot of paperwork, you know that?” Cozy turns her body around on the chair to her left and looks over that shoulder at the magenta unicorn, “Oh, golly! Uh, sorry about that! I guess I’ll have to escape from stone differently the next time I’m encased in a statue?” I stare at the back of the filly’s head, “Well, if at all possible, you should try to make it appear as if you never escaped!” She turns her head back to me, “Well, that’s kinda hard, don’t you think?” I smile, “Indeed! Getting out free and alive is quite literally the best to be hoped for!” Starlight trots towards Cozy’s chair and stares at her at the filly’s left, “Well, right! And long ago, you trapped me in a forcefield and tried to take over Equestria! And now, you’re my filly!” Cozy turns her neck left to the unicorn, “Uh, yeah! About that! Uh,” she stares up at Starlight and smiles weakly. “sorry about that, Starlight! I promise that it was just the rush of wanting power and nothing personal, okay? Heh heh! I can’t have you interfering, after all!” her eyes widen. “Whoa! That didn’t come out right! Uh, I guess what I’m really trying to say here is…” Starlight smiles and says, “You’re forgiven, Cozy Glow!” Cozy stares up at her, “Oh, golly gee! Thanks Starlight! That sure is swell! Uh, I uh…” She takes a step towards the filly and embraces her in her forehooves for a tight warm hug! “EEP!” Cozy squeals! Starlight releases the filly and stares back down at her from the side of the chair, “Feel better now, Cozy?” Cozy raises her gaze to the unicorn and widens her eyes, “Oh, golly yes, Miss Starlight! I sure feel better now! Uh, you know, this imprisoning thing is kinda different with the horseshoe on the other hoof!” Starlight frowns, “What do you mean?” Cozy blinks, “Well, the last time, I had you captured! Now, it’s the other way around!” “Cozy! You’re not a prisoner here!” “I’m not? Then why am I locked in my room all the time?” “Because we need to protect you!” Cozy widens her eyes, “Protect me? Protect me from what, exactly, Starlight? I mean, why can’t you just be honest? I’m basically being sentenced to be your foal for what I did earlier!” “You’re not being sentenced to anything Cozy!” Cozy raises her voice and neck, “Then why am I locked up?” Starlight sighs and stares at the filly carefully, “Cozy! You’re fragile right now! We need to protect you!” Cozy sighs, “Again, protect me from what?” Starlight eyes the filly carefully… “Protect you from yourself…” The filly is silent for a moment… “What?” Starlight nods, “You tried to take over Equestria Cozy! It’s obvious that you need guidance and we’re here to provide that…” Cozy cringes, “You have a lot of nerve, you know that? I’ll have you know that I single-hoofedly overthrew the Equestrian monarchy and took over the School of Friendship!” “But was that the correct thing to do, Cozy?” Cozy’s face normalizes, “I uh, I guess not, huh? Golly, I never actually thought about it, you know?” Starlight frowns, “Wait! So you didn’t think taking over Equestria was evil, then?” Cozy giggles, “Oh, I knew it was evil! Golly, Starlight! Give me more credit than that! No, what I mean is, I never thought that those things were incorrect, you know? I kinda uh, thought it was okay to be bad?” “Well, right!” Starlight nods. “But now, you don’t wanna be bad anymore, right? You wish to be good?” She smiles and turns her head back left towards me, “Well, it sure doesn’t seem all that bad, now that you mention it!” Starlight continues, “Right! Well, Princess Twilight says you’re still on house arrest until further notice!” A frown overtakes her face as her brown eyes widen, “Oh, golly!” “Also, after learning about you, she cast a spell to keep you here. Also, she’s coming to dinner tonight!” I widen my gaze at my magenta love, “Are you sure that’s wise, Starlight? I mean, Cozy just got here!” Cozy finally grows visibly flustered at this stage as she shakes her head and stares back at me, “I don’t need to be protected! I uh,” she turns her head back left towards Starlight, “I faced you Starlight! I’m pretty sure I can face Princess Twilight tonight!” she nods. “Um, what time did she say she’d be over?” (To be continued…) Chapter 12: And Then, She Finally Started Talking To Me“I still can’t believe I’m actually doing this!” The filly squealed while staring at me with panic in her brown eyes. I frowned and prayed I didn’t need to help her more as I stood there on my hooves and stared down at her in her room, “Are you alright?” She blinks, “Oh, golly! Um, I think so? Uh, you’ll be there, right?” before smiling up at me hopefully… My eyes widen, “Of course I’ll be there! Why wouldn’t I be?” She blinks and frowns, “Um, right! Golly right! Of course! Yes!” and nods. I stared at the filly blankly, “Um, you’re sure you’re okay?” She starts and stares up at me, “Well, golly right! Why wouldn’t I be? I’m just fine! Yes!” and smiles meekly… I narrow my eyes, “Cozy, what’s up?” Her eyes widen, “What do you mean?” I smile, “You’re scared of Twilight!” She frowns, “No, I’m not!” “You’re scared of Twilight!” I repeat myself. “Am not!” She squeals! I lower my gaze, “Am I gonna have to tickle it out of you?” She suddenly stares at me horrified, “W-what?” I chuckle slightly, “Do I need to tickle this out of you?” Her neck moves back an inch, “Uh, what are you talking about Crystal Heart?” My eyes widen all the way as my neck lowers, “Here we go!” before I leap at this filly with my forehooves sprawled out in front of me to catch her! She giggles vivaciously! “Stop tickling me, you evil pony! He he he ho ho ho ha ha ha!” “Are you still scared of Twilight?” I ask as I dig my forehooves into her front pits! “He he he he, ho ho ho, ha ha ha, I already said I’m not! Ha ha ha, he he he, stop it!” She manages to get out in between giggles of delight at my onslaught! “I don’t believe you!” I say as I continue tickling this helpless filly with my right forehoof while finding stability with my left… “Ahem!” I hear Starlight say from behind the now open door 5 feet behind me. “Good to see you two are getting along!” “Cozy Glow is scared of Twilight!” I yell robotically while continuing to torment the foal. “Am not!” She manages to gasp out in between chortles. “Oh, Cozy Glow! If you’re scared, you should know we’re here to help you!” She says as I hear the clip clopping of her hooves behind me as she walks in. “I, he he he he, don’t need help, ha ha ha ha!” She manages to stammer out… “Stop tickling her already, Crystal!” Starlight finally yells as she trots in the room closer to us on my left… I stop moving my right hoof under the filly’s pits, “Aww! You’re no fun!” and move it back to the floor next to the other one. She stops giggling and shakily brings herself back to her hooves in front of me, “Th-thanks Starlight! Um,” she shakes her head. “I’m not scared of Twilight Sparkle!” I frown at this, “Cozy, I’ll tickle you again!” She lets out a long sigh with her mouth as her face moves forward and eyes widen, and she adjusts her gaze to both of us, “Okay, fine! I’m kinda nervous about meeting Twilight! But uh, I do have one question!” My left eyebrow raises, “Oh? What’s that?” She blinks and stares up at me, “Well, golly gee! I’m an escaped convict! Why didn’t she immediately teleport over the moment she knew I was here? What could be so pressing that it’s keeping her, anyway?” I stare at the filly as I’m suddenly perplexed myself, “I’m uh, not sure? But you should know that you have no need to fear Twilight, okay Cozy Glow?” I smile down at her. “I’ll be right there!” She stares back up at me and gives an unsure smile, “W-well, yeah!” I then trot over to her three paces and embrace her in a tight hug, “I love you!” “Oh, golly!” The filly suddenly squeals before tentatively returning the hug… <*****> “So, Tirek escaped his stone prison!” Twilight Sparkle said from her side of the table as me, the unicorn mare on my left, and the pegasus filly on my right all stared at her. “Oh, golly! And now you don’t know where he went, huh?” Twilight turns her head left and down to Cozy, “Actually, we know exactly where he is! He’s in the containment room I had built!” “What’s wrong with a regular cage?” I ask the purple alicorn. She turns her blue eyes to me and says, “Well, this cage is special! It prevents magick thievery and keeps power contained!” Cozy blinks up at Twilight, “So he’s totally powerless inside there, huh?” Twilight turns to Cozy, “Yeah, pretty much! That was the idea!” “Obviously!” Cozy says before nodding. I sigh, “So, now I guess you want me and Cozy to talk to him about being reformed?” Twilight turns her neck back to me and frowns, “What? No! Why would I want that?” My eyes widen, “Oh? Well, I thought you wanted us to reform Tirek?” Cozy nods at Twilight, “You gotta admit, it does sound like something you’d want us to do!” Starlight finally chimes in, “She’s not wrong!” Twilight stares at all three of us blankly and blinks before saying, “It’s like the ponies around me know me better than me?” I frown, “I don’t know? Probably? So uh, have you talked to him? What is he saying?” Twilight blinks at me, “Well, he doesn’t really know about you or your reformation, and he also doesn’t know about little Cozy here!” Cozy nods, “Right! And you’re gonna keep it that way!” Twilight turns her neck left to the filly, “What?” Cozy frowns, “I don’t want him coming after me, Crystal, or Starlight! The less he knows about us, the better!” I turn my head right towards the filly, “You’re really worried about Tirek?” Cozy turns her head to me and says with all earnestness in her auburn eyes, “Crystal, I’ve stared into the eyes of this monster and so have you! You should know that we don’t want him around here!” I gulp, “Well, right!” Twilight stares at me, “Don’t worry! We won’t tell him anything about you or Cozy Glow! You’re safe!” I smile at the alicorn, “Well, right! What else did he say?” Twilight slowly frowns, “Well uh, he’s kinda depressed now?” My smile lowers, “Depressed? What do you mean depressed?” Twilight stares at me and gauges my frame with her azure eyes before finally uttering, “He wants to die, Crystal Heart…” My eyes widen, “Oh? Well, then it’s simple! Grant him his request and be done with it! Honestly, you made me think this was complicated for a moment there!” Twilight widens her eyes in shock, “What? No! We can’t kill him!” “Who said you have to? Just give him the means and let him commit the act himself! If he truly wishes to die as you say, that should provide ample motivation!” Starlight stares at me with a wide gaze, “Crystal!” while the foal on the other end of the table does the same, but remains silent… Twilight sighs as she takes over, “Look Crystal! We can’t kill Tirek, nor can we, in good conscience, give Tirek the means to end his own life!” This honestly confuses me, “Well, why not? I mean, you’re not killing him yourself!” Starlight sighs, “No, Crystal! We just can’t do it!” I sigh and roll my eyes, “Fine!” and then I stare back at the alicorn. “So, just what are we to do in the meantime, anyway?” She sighs and frowns, “Well, nothing, I guess? I mean, Tirek escaped on his own and knows nothing about you, nor does this really even involve you.” I nod, “Well, right! That does make sense, your highness!” She smiles at me, “Please Crystal, if you’re going to be dating my former pupil, I’d like you to just call me Twilight, okay?” I grin back at her, “But of course!” <*****> I lay there on my left side under the covers in the dimly lit room from the moonlight coming out of the window to the back of me, as the magenta unicorn held onto me lovingly with her hooves from behind underneath the plush red velvet covers as I whispered back to her, “You like holding me, don’t you?” She whispers back, “You’ve yet to say no!” “W-well, I know you like doing it and I love you, and so I won’t deny you this pleasure!” She’s silent for a moment, “You like being held!” “N-no I don’t! My heart is filled with rage and hate!” She giggles, “Of course!” I sigh, “I keep thinking about Tirek… I mean, what happened?” She’s silent for a moment, “Why are you so concerned all of a sudden?” “I don’t really know? I mean, I keep getting the feeling there’s more to this than meets the eye…” “Well, do you want me to talk to Twilight about seeing him later?” “No! Uh, I don’t think that’ll be necessary…” “So are you ready to just trot away and leave all this behind now?” I smile, “Y-yeah Starlight… I think that’s what I should do? Thanks for talking with me about this!” She holds me closely, “That’s why we love each other, baby!” <*****> The filly uses her forehooves to munch her toast, now lovingly smeared with apple butter by yours truly, before setting it down the half slice on top of the other, finishing chewing in her snout, visibly swallowing in a mighty gulp, and saying to me, “Golly, this toast sure is yummy Crystal Heart! Thanks for making it for me!” and smiling at me… I smile back at her, “But of course, Cozy Glow! You need me and I’m going to take care of you!” Her eyes almost close as she squints in a happy grin and tilts her head to the right slightly, “Gee, that sure is swell!” I sigh and narrow my eyes, “Cozy, what’s up?” Her eyes widen as she starts, “What? Oh, n-nothing’s the matter Crystal Heart!” “What did you want to talk to me about?” Her eyes narrow as she scowls, “Am I really THAT easy to read?” I sigh, “You are to anypony who truly knows you…” She sighs and looks up at me, “It’s about Tirek!” My eyes widen, “Well, what about him?” She eyes me very carefully before finally saying, “Well, you know how I usually sleep late?” I nod, “Well, right! Except that one time when you were sleeping with us, you’re not usually up until about nine or ten or so!” She nods, “Well right…” she stares at me again as she carefully gauges me… “I have nightmares… Well, usually!” I frown and stare at this filly intently, “Nightmares? Nightmares about what?” She sighs again and asks, “Well, do I really have to tell you? It’s kinda personal… Um, what I can remember, anyway! You know, it’s almost like my brain doesn’t like to think about it?” I blink, “Well, okay Cozy Glow! But what has that got to do with Tirek?” (To be continued… ) Chapter 13: But first...The filly cleared her throat and began to speak, when suddenly, there’s a knock on the door across the foyer, 20 feet behind me! “Oh, golly!” I see her say under her breath. I look at her and say, “You can explain this to me later Cozy! I need to go answer the door now! Finish up your toast and juice now!” She stares up at me and nods, “Yes, ma’am!” I get off the chair to my right and trot across the living room as the red couch and polished wooden coffee table pass by to my right and the bookcase to my left, I can’t help but wonder who might be showing up in the middle of the morning? I open the door and behold a yellow earth filly with a big pink bow on the back of her red mane, as she stares up to me with wide orange eyes and says, “Hey! We heard Cozy Glow was back! Can we see her please?” before I look around her and notice a small white unicorn filly with a split wisteria purple, and lavender mane on the right and a small burnt orange pegasus with a purple Mohawk mane-cut and little wings standing on the left. I sigh, “Uh, now really isn’t a good time, fillies!” Apple Bloom widens her eyes and frowns, “Well, is something wrong?” Scootaloo nods and chimes in, “Yeah! If something is wrong with Cozy, we can probably help with that!” I frown and eye these fillies for another moment… “Will you wait here please?” before shutting the door with my right forehoof and trotting back to the dining room… Cozy stares up at me from the other end of the dark brown round wooden table, “Uh, who was that?” I stare at her carefully before answering, “It’s the Cutie Mark Crusaders! They want to see how you’re doing!” “What?” I nod and reiterate, “The Cutie Mark Crusaders are here Cozy! And they want to see you!” She rolls her eyes, “Oh, golly!” before getting on top of her chair and squatting to take off in flight towards the door on the other side of the expanse. She lands and opens the door with her right forehoof, “What do you want?” I hear Apple Bloom cheerfully say, “Well Cozy! Despite well, everything, you’re still an honorary Cutie Mark Crusader and when we heard from Twilight that you were awake now, we wanted to come check on you!” Sweetie pipes up, “Yeah! How are you Cozy?” Scootaloo adds, “Sure has been awhile!” Cozy snorts from her snout, "Oh, golly gee! I locked you three in a closet, trapped Starlight Glimmer in a forcefield, and tried to take over Equestria! If I'm still a Crusader, I gotta be the worst Crusader ever in the history of anything!" Scootaloo says in her raspy voice, "Aw, it's okay Cozy! We all make mistakes! Don'tcha wanna be our friend again?" "Those are pretty big mistakes!" Apple Bloom frantically adds, "Come on Cozy! We're bein’ nice!" Sweetie says, "Yeah! We can start over!" I stare across the empty room to see my new filly gazing out the door carefully before saying, "You know, either you three are idiots or I am! Uh, come back in a week!" before shutting the door! I say to the filly across the house, “Cozy! Talk to them!” She turns her neck left to yell at me, “NO!” “Do it!” “I don’t wanna!” “NOW!” She turns her head, rolls her eyes and says, “Oh, golly!” under her breath before opening the door again. “Okay, look! Sorry about locking you three in a closet earlier and I promise not to try to take over Equestria again!” Apple Bloom stares at her from the other side of the door with enormous orange eyes, “But Cozy! We haven’t seen you in a long time and we wanted to see how you were doin?” Scootaloo says, “Yeah! How’s our good friend Cozy Glow doing?” Cozy blinks, “I’m not your good friend, okay? I’m a bad filly! I’m evil and you three need to leave me alone!” before shutting the door again! “COZY!” I yell at her! “Ugh! Fine!” She grumpily sighs and opens the door again! Scootaloo says, “You open and shut the door a lot!” Sweetie adds, “Yeah! We should get on the other side, so she can’t close us off anymore!” Apple Bloom suddenly yells, “Get her!” and poor little Cozy is abruptly knocked over by an onslaught of three other fillies, with Apple Bloom leading the charge and Sweetie on the right while Scootaloo takes the left! I snicker at the adorable filly dog pile now in the center of the room, while Cozy shrieks, “Ah! Hoodlums! Thugs have tackled me! Help! I’m pinned down!” Apple Bloom says, “We’re your friends, Cozy!” Sweetie adds, “Yeah! We’re starting over!” Cozy yells, “I don’t wanna start over! I’m not your friend! You three need to go! Leave me alone! I’m bad and you need to get out of here!” Scootaloo shouts, “NO!” while continuing to hold the other pegasus down with her friends. I’ve finally had enough by this point and so I trot into the foyer and look down at the pile of foals 8 feet in front of me, “Why are you restraining Cozy?” Sweetie balks, “She doesn’t wanna be our friend anymore!” Apple Bloom adds, “Yeah, and we were bein nice!” Cozy manages to squeak out, “You know, I’m not obligated to be your friend, right?” I can’t help but snicker some more before saying, “Cozy, I really think you should talk to them!” “Do I get a choice?” The helpless pink filly barely manages to ask from underneath the others. I grin and giggle slightly, “Well, what do you think Cozy?” Scootaloo says, “Come on, Cozy! It’s not so bad!” Sweetie says, “Yeah! We’re not gonna hurt you!” Cozy chokes out, “You sure about that?” I narrow my eyes, “Seriously! Let the poor filly up now!” Scootaloo gets off of her first to my left before Sweetie removes herself at the right and the exhausted pink filly gets up as I see her now dilapidated curly mane fall down around her ears and she stares at me with her wide brown eyes, “I really don’t want to do this!” I frown, “What’s wrong, Cozy?” “You wouldn’t understand!” She angrily yells at me as the Crusaders all bounce back a few inches with a start. I sigh, “Try me!” as I eye this filly carefully down my aquamarine snout… She stops with a sudden frown on her snout as her eyes widen quickly, “I uh, I did bad things, okay! I did bad things and now, I need to just be alone!” Sweetie leans in from her position at my right, “Well, that’s what we’re talking about Cozy! We forgive you!” Scootaloo at the left adds, “Yeah! I mean, that was kinda the whole point of us coming down here!” Apple Bloom at the center, just to my left leans in and says with enormous orange eyes, “YEAH! Doncha’ wanna start over with us, Cozy?” I smile at the pink filly as she stares up at me with panic and apprehension in her auburn gaze, “Well, how about it Cozy? Would you like to start over?” She says to me, “You know, I take what I said earlier back!” I widen my eyes, “Oh?” She nods, “Yup! I think we’re all idiots!” At that point, the other three fillies all say, “AWW!” in unison as they tackle hug the pink filly who starts and says, “Oh, golly!” <*****> “Ack!” The stuffed pink pegasus blubbers from the red couch as she lays on her back with her hooves in the air. “I can’t move! Why did you make me eat so much cake?” I roll my eyes from the blue chair, “Psh! Cozy, YOU chose the chocolate cake, knowing full well how you get around chocolate!” Her eyes shoot to the ceiling, “You asked me what sort of cake I wanted!” I nod, “And I delivered!” The filly is silent for a moment, “You really love me, huh?” I sigh from my nose, “Have I not made that clear?” Cozy closes her eyes, “I-I’m sorry, okay?” “Sorry for what?” Cozy is silent for a moment before saying at an almost inaudible whisper, “I don’t deserve this!” “Why wouldn’t you Cozy?” She opens her eyes to the ceiling again, “I’m a bad filly, okay? I tried to kill Fluttershy! I tried to take over Equestria so I could burn it to the ground! I was filled with such hate and rage that I would actually team up with a pair of demons and try to overthrow the government! These are not the actions of a nice pony!” I nod, “And now, you’re forgiven! And so what will you do?” Cozy can only stare at the ceiling blankly before blurting out, “I don’t know!” I finally say the thought that had been on my mind since earlier, “Don’t you think you need to forgive yourself Cozy?” She’s silent before finally saying, “Maybe?” “Cozy, do you think of yourself as a bad filly?” Cozy thinks on this before saying, “I don’t know anymore?” I gaze at her blankly, “Cozy, you’re not a bad filly…” She turns her head right towards me and says with straight eyes, “Yes I am!” I lower my gaze, “Well, you do know what we do to bad fillies around here, right?” Her eyes widen at me, “Uh, what?” I grin mischievously, “We tickle them until they’re good!” I cackle as the filly starts and squeaks out, “Oh, golly! No! I’ll be good! Don’t tickle me anymore!” and begins to squirm on the red cushions of the couch. As soon as I contain myself, I stare back at the filly, “So, you were going to talk to me about Tirek?” She sighs, “Well, I knew it was coming up!” I nod, “Yes! And now that the Crusaders are gone, you can tell me what he has to do with your nightmares?” She stares blankly up at the ceiling with her head propped up on the arm of the couch, “Well, I-I’m not sure exactly what he has to do with it? But I can remember thinking about how he was supposed to help me…” “But he didn’t, did he?” She sighs, “Well, golly gee no, not when I really think about it?” her muzzle soon frowns. “You know, the more I think about it, the more I think he was really just using me and my talents back there to get back at you ponies!” I’m silent before saying, “It’s not an easy realization, is it?” When suddenly, I hear my smartphone go off with strong vibrations on the coffee table and I roll my eyes and say, “This isn’t over Cozy! We shall continue soon!” before getting off the chair and trotting over to pick up the phone with my right forehoof and gazing at the screen before bringing it to my floppy blue right ear, “Yes, Apple Bloom?” The feminine voice on the other side squeaks with a country drawl, “Hey, we wanna help with Cozy too! Can we come over tomorrow?” I smile, “That would be fine, dear Apple Bloom!” She responds, “AWW, terrific! We’ll be over after we're done teachin’ at the school!” (To be continued…) Chapter 14: And Then They All Came By!The filly stared up at the ceiling and said, “The funny thing is, I don’t even want power anymore!” I nodded from the chair across the room, “Well, right! But in this dream, Twilight made you Empress of Friendship and rather than destroy and tyrannize, you…” She cuts me off, “I led Equestria to a new golden age!” she sighs… “Did I mention I don’t really want power?” “Do you think that’s possible, though? If you were made Empress of Friendship, do you believe you’d do good now?” “No!” She cuts me off again! “It’s just a stupid dream and doesn’t mean anything!” I lower my gaze, “You’re sure?” “Yes!” “Okay Cozy Glow… So uh, weird dreams aside, how are you holding up?” The filly continued to sit on the couch staring up at the ceiling with her wide brown eyes, “You know I haven’t seen the sun in about three days now?” I reclined on the chair across the room and turn my gaze right to her, “Well, do you miss it?” She frowns, “Not really? No, I think what I miss most is just being free to live my life…” “What do you mean?” She sighs, “I mean, just life, you know?” she smiles. “Seeing friends and doing things and living each and every day…” “Well, what are you doing now, Cozy?” She smiles wider, “Talking to one of my new mommies while on the couch!” “Does that make you feel good?” Her mouth normalizes, “Um, I think so?” “Cozy Glow?” She starts and stares back up, “Uh, yes?” “I love you…” Her smile raises and she giggles and squeals, “Stop it!” I get off the chair and turn my body to her and stare at her, “I love you Cozy Glow!” She giggles some more as she fidgets slightly, “I love you too mom!” I smile as that’s the first time she’s ever called me that and trot over to her and look down, “Yes, my dearest sweet foal! Now, The Crusaders will be over soon! You should prepare…” She stares at me with her enormous auburn pupils as she mouthed the words, “Oh, golly! Uh, mom? Do the Crusaders HAVE to come over? Uh, I kinda just want to be alone right now…“ I frown, “Is something wrong?” She frowns as well, “I don’t think so?” “So, why don’t you want your new friends to come over?” She grimaces, “And just who said they were my friends, anyway?” “Don’t you want friends Cozy?” She blinks, “Well, of course I want friends!” she blinks as she starts in my direction. “But, them?” “Well, why not the Crusaders?” She sighs, “Well, I’m really not sure you’d get it?” “Cozy, the first step to forgiving yourself is to make amends with those you’ve wronged… That includes the Crusaders…” She nods, “I-I know that! It’s just that, um, well, that’s not the problem!” “Well, just what is the problem dear sweet Cozy Glow?” She opens her eyes and stares at the ceiling for a moment before finally saying, “I just don’t know if I’m ready?” By this point, I can tell she’s just stalling, “If not now, then when, Cozy Glow?” She turns her head back towards me, “I don’t know, okay? I just… I just don’t know if I’m ready now?” “Cozy Glow?” She stares up at me with her immense eyes, “Um, yes mom?” I smile down at her, “You’re not alone…” She grins back at me, “Y-yeah… I guess not, huh?” “Absolutely not, dear little one!” I nod as I reassuringly continue. “Now, we’ll take this nice and slow, okay?” Her smile widens as she takes in more air with her nostrils, “Um, o-okay mom! Uh, sure thing!” I continue, “Now, I think we probably have about an hour before they come?” She gazes at me, “Oh, golly! So um, what do you want to do now?” I sigh and finally speak the burning question on my mind, “Well, I kinda wanted to talk to you about Tirek?” She gulps and frowns as she stretches her neck to the left my direction, “Again? Um, okay mom… What about him?” I stare at the filly and say words that I never thought I would utter to anypony, “Cozy Glow, there’s a better way than being bad…” She sighs out her mouth, “Oh, golly gee mom! I already said I was gonna try being good! What more do you want?” I sigh, “No, what I mean is, um, Cozy Glow?” She blinks at me, “Um, yes mom?” “You know what he told you was not correct, right?” She grimaces at me, “Oh, golly mom! I’m not an idiot! I know good from evil!” I smile and nod, “Okay, good! Now, just behave yourself and don’t do anything evil, okay?” She smiles back at me as she snort-laughs through her nose, “Uh huh! Okay! Sure thing, mom! I’ll try my hardest!” Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door! I widen my gaze at the filly, “Or, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are here right now!” Her eyes widen, “You know, that was a really short hour!” as I begin trotting my way to the red door on the other end of the foyer with it’s small windows with radiant sunlight coming out of them onto the path. I open it to the left with my mouth and see a blue unicorn there! She’s wearing a cheesy purple magician’s hat that goes to a bent point, now crooked and pointing behind her with many gold stars and moons and various galactic shapes adorning it, along with a matching cape that neatly flows on her back. Her eyes are violet and her mane a long stringy white as she smiles at me haughtily and says in a smarmy feminine voice, “Is Starlight Glimmer home?” I widen my eyes, “Oh, no she’s at work right now! I’ll tell her you came by though! Who are you exactly?” Her eyes widen as she brazenly declares, “Prepare to stare in awe, dear mortal, for you gaze upon The Great and Powerful Trixie!” and stands proudly on her haunches so that her cape flies towards her back! She then returns to all fours… The name rings a bell and it searches in my mind somewhere desperately trying to find something to connect with as I smile and say, “So uh, Trixie was it? Alright, very well then! I’ll let her know you came by! Now, unless there is something else?” She frowns, “You seriously don’t recognize me, Crystal? Really?” I frown as well before lying, “UGH! Of course I recognize you Trixie! Now, I’m very busy, so if you don’t mind?” She sighs and rolls her eyes, “Very well then! I shall return!” Before reaching into her saddlebags on the left with her mouth and throwing down some smoke bombs from there onto the pavement a foot in front of her and visibly turning around to gallop away as I stand there and wonder exactly when this is supposed to get impressive?” I trot back into the foyer where the pink filly sitting on the red chair beyond me stares at me and asks, “Oh, golly mom! Who was that?” I shake my head, “Oh, nopony important! So, like I was saying, the Crusaders will be here in an hour!” She frowns at me as she eyes me carefully, “Why do I get the feeling that this will be important later?” Suddenly, there’s yet another knock on the door! I roll my eyes and mutter to myself, “For goodness sake!” before adjusting them back to the filly. “Hang on Cozy! I’ll go see who that is!” She stares up at me with her wide brunette eyes, “You know, I could answer the door too, right?” I smile when I realize that my filly wants to help too! “Are you sure you’ll be okay if it’s the Crusaders?” She looks at me carefully, “Well, golly gee mom! I’m gonna face them soon anyway! Why not right now?” I grin wider, “Very well then Cozy! Go answer the door!” She turns her body around to all fours on the couch while saying, “Gee! It’s like pulling teeth!” before squatting and taking off to fly through the foyer and towards the red front door. She lands and trots over before opening it to the left with her right forehoof and staring at the other three fillies on the other side of the door and smiling blankly, as if she was about to get hit by a train, “Oh, hiya Crusaders! Golly, it’s just so swell to see you here! Why don’t you come in?” I hear a raspy foalish voice say, “Is she gonna close the door this time?” And a feminine young sing-song voice say, “Maybe we should jump her again? That was fun!” I notice Cozy’s eyes widen as I hear a young female voice say with a country twang, “Now y’all, we’re tryin’ ta be nice here! We don’t wanna crush her now!” “Um, oh golly! You know, I kinda really want to shut the door again now, but I’m not gonna…” she breathes in and out through her nose. “No, I’m gonna say something important to you three fillies instead…” she smiles dimly. “You know, it’s kinda weird… You’d think the forgiveness of you three would be what’s most important, but now I realize that it’s not… No, what I need to do is to forgive myself… I did a lot of bad things back there and I think it’s time I come to terms with that…” The country voice speaks, “Well, do you need any help with that?” The sing-song voice adds, “Yeah, cause we’re here to help you Cozy!” The raspy voice adds, “You’ll be forgiving yourself in no time! You’ll forgive yourself for things you didn’t even do!” Sing-song voice says, “Isn’t that kinda pointless?” Raspy voice responds, “I don’t know? Maybe?” Cozy stares at them and interjects, “Look! I locked you three in a closet back there because I wanted you out of the way… And now after all this time, I think that that was wrong and that I shouldn’t have done it…” Raspy voice says, “Well, locking us three away was only because of what you were trying to do… You were trying do something much worse…” * Cozy flatly replies, “You mean trying to take over Equestria?” Country voice says, “Well, right! But hey! You’re forgiven and we’re ready put all that ugliness behind us, okay friend?” Raspy voice says, “Yeah, we can totally do this again!” And the sing-song voice, “Whaddaya say?” The pink filly breaths slowly, in and out of her snout, “Well, golly gee! Where do we start? The choices are endless!” The country voice calmly replies, “Well, why don’t we start at the beginnin? Tell us Cozy, why did you want power?” Cozy stares back wide-eyed and gulps, “Oh, golly!” (To be continued...) Author's Note *That extremely awkward moment when I realize that maybe shutting other people out when I’m contemplating and acting on suicidal impulses is probably a bad idea? Chapter 15: And They Started Talking To Cozy...The pink filly stares at us all blankly with her auburn pupils and says, “You know, for most of my life, I never really had any control.” Apple Bloom on the right pipes up as her bow vibrates slightly, “Well, what do you mean? Yer just a filly! You shouldn’t have any power or control or anythin’ just yet!” Cozy smiles at her and replies, “That’s not what I mean! No uh, well, growing up in a Fillydelphia orphanage, you kinda live a very regimented life, you might say? All of my days were planned for me and I would just go through the motions…” Sweetie on the left chirps up in her melodic tone, “Well, what about recess and playtime and things like that? I mean, they got a playground and toys and games and stuff, don’t they?” Cozy turns her neck right towards the white filly, “Do you have any idea how many games of Connect-Five I’ve actually played in my short life?” Sweetie frowns and blinks, “Um, no?” Cozy vibrantly replies as her little body shakes, “Neither do I, but I assure you, it is a very high number! Golly gee, every day is exactly the same! Wake up, brush teeth, eat breakfast, go to class, lunch, recess, homework, alone-time, sleep, and repeat! Over! And over! And over again!” she blinks. “After awhile, you start to wonder, what’s the point, you know? Why should I bother getting out of bed today? Why even continue at class? What’s the point of brushing my teeth before breakfast again? Nothing else was there! It was all I had and I just…” she blinks. “I just wanted another way…” Apple Bloom lowers her view at the pink filly, “And Tirek offered you that, huh?” Cozy looks at her and solemnly replies, “Well, if we’re being honest, not really? I mean, that just got me turned into bird holder!” Sweetie blinks with a start, “You mean a statue?” Cozy nods at her, “Well, right! Whatever!” Apple Bloom asks, “Well, there’s other paths than just what Tirek was talking about?” Scootaloo in the middle finally says, “Yeah! Why didn’t you try to get some friends in the orphanage? I mean, I’m sure it would be easier if you weren’t alone all the time?” “I-” Cozy blinks. “I had friends… They were kind and helped me sometimes but…” The yellow filly on the right leans forward and asks, “But what, Cozy Glow?” Cozy blinks, “But I left… I did what Tirek told me to do and well, I never saw any of them again…” before sighing out her mouth. The violet maned filly in the middle asks, “How did you get out? I guess you were quickly adopted, being cute as you were?” Cozy grins and giggles, “Well, you’d think so, huh? But you see, when you pull pranks and make fart noises and continuously poke them with your hooves and do your level best to be super-annoying, they don’t usually want you anymore!” Sweetie asks, “What? Why would you do that, Cozy? Don’t you want to be adopted?” She sighs, “I don’t think you’d get it? It’s just that, well, nopony could replace them… They were all I had and that rotten fire had to come and…and take them away from me…” and blinks with a blank expression on her pink face… The apple filly on the right says, “Oh, gosh Cozy! I am so sorry!” Scootaloo adds, “Yeah, that’s rough! I” she blinks. “I don’t know what to say?” Cozy nods, “Well, right! So on one hoof, nopony can really replace them! On the other, I have no parents in the meantime! I’m kinda stuck!” Sweetie interjects, “Well, Cozy! That’s not true! You just had to make a choice!” Cozy turns her head to the unicorn, “Yeah! I made a choice! I made the choice to escape and do a lot of bad things after talking with that centaur and that got me turned into a statue!” Sweetie lowly replies, “That’s not what I meant!” Scootaloo adds, “Cozy! I think what Sweetie is getting at is, when you’re stuck like that, you kinda gotta just weigh your options, you know? I mean, you could’ve gotten adopted and yeah, sure! They could never be your original parents! But it’s still kinda, I don’t know what I’m trying to say here? Better than nothing!” Apple Bloom turns her head left to her cohorts, “Now look y’all! I don’t think it really matters anymore what Cozy should’ve done! The only thing that is important is that she’s here now!” she turns to Cozy and smiles. “And about to tell us exactly why she wanted power so badly!” Cozy narrows her eyes, “Well gee, isn’t it obvious? I needed to break free from where I was! I needed out!” Sweetie frowns, “And you thought power could do that for you?” Cozy smiles, “Of course! The Power of Friendship can do anything!” Scootaloo widens her purple gaze, “Um, I don’t think that’s how friendship works?” The other pegasus shudders and stares back at the flightless pony before her, “Well, okay, maybe not! But that’s why I thought I’d want a lot of friends!” The apple filly asks, “Well, what do you want now, Cozy?” She raises her view and asks, “Do you really want to know?” Sweetie replies, “Of course!” Scootaloo nods, “Definitely!” Cozy takes a long breath in through her nose and breathes it out before saying flatly, “I want out…” Sweetie asks, “What do you mean?” “I don’t want to live anymore, guys…” The Crusaders all widen there eyes as Apple Bloom asks loudly, “WHAT?” Cozy smiles, “Well, it’s not that I want to die! I mean, I don’t know what’s gonna happen to me after that! But well, I don’t want my life anymore Crusaders… I just wish it was over now…” Scootaloo asks, “Well, what do you mean? Wasn’t it pretty much over when you were turned into a statue earlier?” Cozy looks at the other pegasus, “Uh, does it look over to you? Golly gee, I’m still here! I’m alive!” Apple Blooms says, “And I think you should celebrate that!” Sweetie adds, “Sure beats being mopey all the time?” Scootaloo cheerfully says, “And we can help you with that too, Cozy!” Cozy stares back at the Crusaders with fire in her eyes, “I don’t want your help!” The red maned filly on the right asks, “You ever think maybe that’s your problem, Cozy?” Sweetie solemnly adds, “Yeah, I mean, you admit that what you did earlier wasn’t correct, right? Well, we can show you a better way!” Scootaloo pipes up, “The friendship way!” Apple Bloom adds, “The wholesome way!” Sweetie smiles and calmly says, “The right way, Cozy…” Cozy stares at these three other fillies with her enormous brown eyes and notices me behind them all, smiling from my hooves on the floor as she finally says, “You fillies aren’t gonna give up until I say you can be my friends, huh?” Apple Bloom cranes her head left to the others and asks, “I don’t know girls? Was that the plan?” Sweetie stares over back at her, “Sounds about right to me?” Scootaloo turns her head left to Sweetie and says lowly, “Not helping!” Cozy grins and giggles, “Alright by golly! Fine! Sure! Whatever! We can try again and start over if it’s really that important to you! Yes! Of course! Now get the hay out of here already! I was gonna do a lot of stuff alone and by myself today!” I raise my gaze towards the pink filly and finally say something right after clearing my throat, “Um, Cozy! You realize they’re here for you, right?” Cozy lowers her view to the three smiling fillies on the other side of the table, “Oh, golly! You are? Gee, you’re not very bright, huh?” I shake my head and roll my eyes, “Cozy! Go be with your NEW FRIENDS!” She cringes, “Ugh!” her face normalizes and she says, “Fine! But we’re doing what I wanna do!” Sweetie cheerfully replies, “Whatever you want Cozy!” Scootaloo adds, “We’re here for you!” Apple Bloom nods, “Anythin in particular you wanna do, Cozy?” Cozy stares at the other fillies intently, “Anything, huh?” <*****> “And so, that’s why Cozy went swimming with the Crusaders in the royal pool at The Castle of Friendship!” I say to my love over the phone… “Oh, gosh! Yeah, I don’t usually use that place unless I’m dealing with royal official business because…” I cut her off, “Because you don’t like the largeness of the castle and the more you think about it, the more it freaks you out?” She lowly replies, “We don’t talk about that!” My eyes widen as I start, “Oh! I mean, because you don’t like large houses and prefer a smaller quieter life! Yes! Of course! That!”* “Thank you!” She cheerfully replies! “Anyway, I’ll be home later! Let me know how everything goes! Love you!” “Will do sweetie! Love you too!” “Love you more!” “Yeah, probably?” I say before I snicker… “Jerk!” “Turd!” I gleefully reply! “I love you so much!” “I know babe! You’re my world!” “I know I am! See you soon!” “Until then, babe!” I hear the phone go click to indicate she hung up the line and set it down with my right forehoof on the table in front of me, as the three fillies on the left all vibrate and stare at me with ecstatic expressions, while the pink pegasus on the right starts to make vomiting noises from her throat. Scootaloo says from the far left, “That was adorable!” with wide violet eyes. The white unicorn filly in the center’s cerulean gaze seems to sharpen on me as she nods her head and says, “I sure am glad Starlight Glimmer has you!” I raise my left eyebrow at the three fillies and say, “You are?” while the pegasus on the right continues to act like she’s regurgitating something… Apple Bloom on the right, towards Cozy says, “Well, yeah! I mean, you’re so nice and caring about her! I think it’s really wonderful!” “Oh, wow!” I reply with a frown. So uh, how did your date at the pool go?” Sweetie smiles up at me brightly and says, “Well, I taught Cozy how to breast stroke!” Cozy looks over, “Oh, golly! I wasn’t that bad!” Scootaloo turns her head left towards the pink filly, “You looked like a wounded poodle!” Apple Bloom turns her head to Scootaloo, “Kinda like a poodle with broken legs?” Scootaloo turns adjusts her neck to the apple filly, “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking! Like a poodle desperately trying to walk, but it can’t because it’s got a broken leg or something!” Cozy pouts, “I still wasn’t that bad!” I giggle at the small pegasus, “But you do admit that you’re better now, yes?” Cozy stares up at me with bright brown eyes and nods while cheerfully exclaiming, “Oh golly, yes mom! Sweetie taught me that timing is the real trick and how you gotta sync up your breathing with your strokes!” Sweetie looks over at Cozy and says melodically, “Right! So you don’t look like an injured chihuahua!” Cozy stares at the music filly, “Wait! I thought I was a poodle?” Scootaloo says, “I said you were a poodle!” Apple Bloom adds, “She seemed more like a Pomeranian to me?” Cozy asks, “Wait! Why am I a small dog now?” I shake my head and giggled at this sight because I knew at that moment, my filly finally had friends, despite her earlier resistance… And then, I began to wonder just what being a Crusader would mean for her? (To be continued…) Author's Note *There! I finally explained it! Chapter 16: So Now Cozy's Being Reformed!The happy pink filly on the other side of the table smiled at me cheerfully with her enormous brown eyes and squeaks, “Oh, golly gee mommy! That oatmeal you made sure was swell!” I smile down at my foal sitting across the table from me from behind my aquamarine snout, which I’m just now getting used to, “That’s good Cozy! Now go get washed up and we’ll take a break before your lesson plan today!” She frowns, “It sure is strange that Twilight Sparkle put you in charge of teaching me!” My eyes widen, “Why is that strange?” “Well, weren’t you also uh, bad or whatever? I mean,” she blinks and leans forward to whisper. “how does she know we’re behaving ourselves?” “Well, she’s got the alarm set to go off if you attempt to leave?” Cozy nods, “Well, right! But remember what happened when they gave Tirek mail privileges in Tartarus?” I frown, “Well, yeah! But who would you talk to?” “I can talk to you?” “But I won’t do anything evil?” Her eyes widen, “So you say!” she blinks and shakes her head. “But anyway, I just can’t shake the feeling that Twilight is watching us some other way. Someway we don’t know about…” “And what if she is, Cozy? What difference would it make? We’re not going to do anything nefarious.” She sighs and nods, “Well, right!” she smiles an enormous toothy grin. “I’m a good filly!” I grin and giggle at this, “Of course you are! Now your hooves! Go wash them!” She salutes me with her right forehoof as she sits at the table, “Yes ma’am!” before squatting on the chair and taking off to fly and buzz towards the kitchen where the sink is… I can’t help but think to myself that this is much easier than I thought it would be? My mind suddenly began to imagine various scenarios. In one scenario: Cozy Glow and Apple Bloom have to sell cookies together and while Cozy is very good at it, Apple Bloom is not and this will cause jealousy and friction between the two of them! I end up having to referee here between the two as they talk about their differences… In another scenario: Cozy Glow and Scootaloo need to compete in a skating contest for some reason and Cozy’s agility and grace make her a natural and Scootaloo is angry because she works so hard, and yet Cozy will find those things easy… I will need to console poor Scootaloo and let her know that her efforts are not in vain… In another scenario: Cozy Glow and Sweetie Belle enter a singing competition and Cozy’s amazing and wonderful voice easily outshines the white unicorn and this upsets Sweetie, and so she does something bad in a fit of jealousy which causes problems between Cozy and the other Crusaders… The other Crusaders will attempt to reason with Sweetie, but I’ll need to make sure things go smoothly… I wondered about my new filly and the adventures that awaited her and I smiled when I realized that I was giving Cozy Glow the thing her life had been missing… An actual childhood! I then thought about my foal and how she might grow up? Perhaps she could be a motivational speaker or counselor? Possibly an ambassador to Griffindor or the Centaur-Lands? Or maybe even an astronaut? Cozy Glow could be the first pony to make contact with alien lifeforms! “Uh, mom? Still with us?” Cozy asks from where she’s now standing, 5 feet away from me on my right while staring up at me with humongous auburn pupils… I turn to face her and smile, “Oh, yes! Cozy Glow! I was just thinking…” when suddenly, there’s a knock on the door behind me! I continue my statement, “that I needed to answer the door right quick before we begin our lesson plan for the day!” I grin at her like a madpony, “Hang on!” before getting off my chair to turn about face to begin trotting across the living room to answer the door… I open the dark blue portal to my right with my mouth and adjust my neck to gaze at the wide orange eyes of this yellow earth filly with a big pink bow on the back of her head! “Hiya Crystal Heart! Is Cozy around? I was wantin’ ta give her some friendship lessons today!” “You’re not selling cookies are you?” She frowns, “What? No! Why would I?” “Okay, good!” I cut her off! “Hang on! I’ll go get her for you!” before turning around and raising my head to yell across the house. “Cozy Glow! Apple Bloom is here for friendship lessons, so your regular school will have to wait!” I see my foal look up from her place on the other side of the table from me, “Oh, golly! Doesn’t she have to tutor at the School of Friendship?” I turn around and stare at the earth filly, “Hey, don’t you have to tutor?” She stares up at me and squeaks, “Well, I got days off y’know? Sides! What do you think I do on the weekends?” I turn around and raise my neck to speak at Cozy, “She’s off today and wants to teach you instead!” “Oh, golly!” Cozy exclaims before sighing and reluctantly getting up on the chair to squat with her hooves and take off with her little wings and fly into the foyer with me, where she lands in the center and trots three paces towards the apple filly on the other side of the door, “So, you’re tutoring me today, huh?” Apple Bloom smiles at her and says, “Well, yeah! Twilight thought it would be a good idea for us three Crusaders ta be givin’ you friendship lessons and teachin’ you the right way! Y’know? Since you didn’t really do so great the last time.” She rolls her eyes, “Oh, golly!” While I turn to face her and smile, “Excellent! Apple Bloom! You will have her back just before lunch! I will then consume nourishment with my foal while asking her about what she learned and how you’re teaching her.” I raise my gaze to Cozy. “You will tell me everything and leave nothing out, yes?” Cozy stares at me with shock in her brown eyes, “Um, y-yes! Of course mom!” I smile, “Excellent! Now come to me and receive your hug, my precious foal!” Cozy timidly trots up to me and I embrace her in a tight warm hug! “EEP!” She squeaks! I release her and gaze down to her as she stares up at me with uncertainty in her auburn gaze, “Good! Now go and have a wonderful time with Apple Bloom!” She quickly turns around to begin trotting away from me towards the apple filly in the doorway… “Goodbye Cozy!” “Oh, gee! Goodbye mom!” She squeaks back! Then, the door shuts and I’m once again, alone with my thoughts… I ponder long and hard on the exciting adventures my foal will soon be having… When moments later, there’s a knock on the door! I raise my gaze to look at it, “Come on in! It’s open!” The door opens to reveal a tall purple alicorn standing there with a frown on her face, “It’s alright if Cozy has Crusader lessons! But you really need to clear these things with me first!” <*****> The purple alicorn sips the white coffee mug in her violet glow before setting it down on the table and saying, “Well, the biggest problem is that everypony knows who Cozy Glow is and they wouldn’t want to associate with her because of that…” she blinks. “I truly want Cozy to have a second chance, but she can’t get that as long as ponies remember…” I frown and stare back at her from my position on the other side of the table, “Well, right! But as long as she’s with the Crusaders, she’ll have a chance.” Twilight nods, “Right! And that’s why I’m letting her out under strict Crusader supervision.” “Crusader supervision?” I repeat her. Her purple eyes widen, “Well, yes! She’s being reformed and I couldn’t think of any fillies more qualified to do it!” “Who said they have to be fillies?” “Well, don’t you think she would do better if she had somepony around her that she could emulate? That she could be like, so she’ll know the right way to behave?” I sigh, “Well, maybe any other filly, but we’re talking about Cozy Glow here! We’re talking about the filly who almost took over Equestria!” “Well, right!” I nod and smile, “Exactly!” I furrow my brow and frown. “She is Cozy Glow and I believe that she needs to be approached differently…” Twilight stares at me as her gaze softens, “Okay uh, what exactly did you have in mind, Crystal Heart?” <*****> I stared down my aquamarine snout at the pink filly across the table from me, “Welcome to your reformation, Cozy Glow!” She stares at me with huge auburn eyes, “I thought I was already being reformed?” I nod, “Well, right! But Twilight Sparkle just made it official! You’re now officially being reformed, Cozy Glow!” She rolls her eyes, “Oh, golly!” I stare back at her, “Right! So, here’s what we’re going to do! Honestly, I think we can both help each other get ahead here...” before smiling intently at my wonderful new foal… She stares back at me, “This involves Tirek, doesn’t it?” My eyes widen in shock! “What, no!” my gaze turns left slightly, “Kinda…” and then back to her. “Okay, it does…” She nods, “Well, golly right! So uh, what did you have in mind?” (To be continued...) Chapter 17: And Then We Were Both KindThe centaur stood in the cage with his scraggly beard and black eyes with their distinct yellow pupils as he stared at me, pointed with his claw, and asked, “Who is this other pony? And…” his eyes widen when he sees the grinning pink pegasus filly on my right… “Oh no! YOU! NOT YOU!” Cozy widens her eyes, “Oh yes, Tirek! You got me!” His eyes narrow as his claw lowers, “I refuse to talk to you!” Cozy’s eyes normalize, “I don’t know if you noticed Tirek, but you don’t really get a choice here. I’m here, and you can’t get away!” “And if I refuse?” Cozy widens her eyes again, “That wouldn’t be very smart Tirek, cause then I get to annoy you!” Twilight smiles from my left, “And I’d let her too!” He sighs, “Fine! Let me guess! You’ve reformed the demon filly and now, you want her to convince me to be reformed too, right?” he glances to the left, “Chrysalis’s whereabouts are still a mystery,” he turns back to us and raises his gaze. “but that isn’t important now!” I smile, “Oh Tirek, I think it’s a lot more important than you realize…” He glares back at me, “What do you mean? Just who are you, anyway? Why are you here?” I lower my gaze, “You really don’t recognize me, do you?” He frowns, “Not really, no!” Cozy finally pipes up, “You know, she used to be Chrysalis!” His eyes widen at me, “WHAT?” I giggle slightly under my breath, “It’s true! But I’d much rather just be an earth mare now… “ His enormous eyes gaze at me as I am now something he no longer comprehends, “And give up power?” “Power isn’t necessary to live a rich full life Tirek! In the end, I came to understand that it was more of a liability… That’s why I don’t want it anymore…“ “You’re insane!” “Really Tirek? Cause think about it! What did all that power really get me? A miserable life with you and the brat in the dilapidated house where we were hiding out in? Hiding the bell from Grogar and hoping to Tartarus that he doesn’t find it? Running around always wanting and needing to expand my empire in order to keep the love flowing? No Tirek, that’s no kind of life and definitely not the way I wish to live anymore…” I smile at the miserable old centaur. “I’m happy as an earth mare now… My new name is Crystal Heart…” He adjusts his gaze left towards the filly and he points at her with his left claw, “And you Cozy! Just how did they reform you, anyway?” Cozy stares up at him, “Well golly gee, I’m a pony you know, and so I kinda already have friendship in me!” she smiles wider, “All they really had to do is to convince me that it was there and worth exploring!” her eyes go skyward as her smile lowers, “Well, that and learning how to forgive myself,” her eyes go back down to him, “but these things take time!” she smiles again. “Oh, golly gee Tirek! Won’t you just try being reformed? It sure is swell!” “I’d sooner die!” Cozy turns her neck left to me, “Is that an option? Can we kill him?” Both me and Twilight stare down at her and say in unison, “NO!” Cozy turns her neck forward and stares blankly, “Oh, golly!” I stare at the centaur, “Tirek, look! Just try it out, okay? I mean, consider your other option is being frozen back in stone?” He looks at me with those unnerving black eyes of his, “Actually, that’s my preference! And do me a favor and smash my statue to rubble this time, please! Heh, I’d much rather not return!” Cozy stares at him with her enormous eyes, “Golly! That’s bleak!” I turn my head left to the purple alicorn, “Twilight, he’s clearly not ready! I don’t think there’s much we can do now?” She turns her neck back towards me and huffs through her nostrils, “I think you’re right? Well, we captured him when he broke the statue, and now we have him here.” I nod, “Obviously! So at least he’s no longer a threat at this stage!” She smiles at me, “Right!” Tirek bellows, “Oh, why even bother? Just kill me like I keep telling you to and be done with it! I’d rather not be alive anyway and it would save you so much trouble!” Cozy stares forward blankly, “Uh, I don’t know if I should comment on this?” I turn my head back right towards the pink filly and crane down to her, “Don’t Cozy! Tell Tirek what you came to say!” Cozy stares up at the centaur, “Tirek! I needed to say something to you, but you’re probably not gonna like it!” He stares down at the filly, “Oh, what is it now? Are you going to call me out for using you to get revenge on these ponies?” he throws his arms to the sides. “I’m evil! It’s what I do! Bad things!” She smiles up at him, “You know, I thought you might say something like that! And so, I thought I should just thank you!” His eyes widen in astonishment, “Thank me? What on earth for?” She giggles, “Well, gee! Before you, I had lost my parents and my cottage and I was a homeless orphan! And now, in part thanks to your bumbling stupidity, I got a family now and a wonderful home with two mommies!” He frowns, “Lesbian mommies! Did not see that one coming!” Cozy continues to grin at him, “Well gee, it sure beats life in a cage!” I smile at my foal, “So I take it you’ve accepted me and Starlight as your new parents?” Cozy smiles up at me, “I think I have, mom?” Tirek’s eyes go skyward, “Ugh! That’s fine! Great! Chrysalis is an earth pony now and Cozy Glow is still a little twit! I don’t care! Just get out of here and leave me be!” Cozy giggles and smiles widely, “Sure thing Tirek old buddy! I just wanted to say goodbye!” “Yes, finally!” The centaur replies with obvious relief in his voice. Twilight cranes her neck right to look past me at the foal standing on the floor, “What are you saying Cozy?” Cozy stares at the alicorn, “I’m saying that I’m done with Tirek… I’m saying that that time of my life is over now and I’m, “she blinks, “I’m ready to start all over now…” she smiles. “I’m ready Twilight… I want to be a good filly…” <*****> “So wait! What exactly happened back there?” The magenta unicorn asks me with her right eyebrow raised. I smile at her from my side of the table, “Cozy rebuked Tirek and now she’s free! By doing that, she will begin to unravel his dogma from her mind. It’s a psychological thing!” She frowns, “I didn’t think an evil changeling queen would know so much about psychology?” I giggle, “You’ve obviously never been royalty! It’s essential with things like political manipulation and coercion. Before I became absolute ruler of my hive, there were some discrepancies with the existing changeling monarchy there…” I look to her and smile. “And as an added bonus, Princess Twilight was there and witnessed what Cozy Glow did! In so doing, Cozy’s standing will undoubtedly improve!” “You really thought this through!” I chuckle again, “That’s just the icing on the cake baby! The important thing now is that we have our foal all to ourselves!” Suddenly, Cozy Glow appears in the doorway 12 feet behind me as it opens to the left. I adjust my gaze to her over my right shoulder while Starlight glances over her way, “Oh, golly gee! We gotta do something to cheer up Tirek now!” “What?” I ask with a confused frown on my muzzle. She smiles, “Yeah! He’s all sad and depressed and we gotta snap him out of it!” “What in Equestria for?” She adjusts her gaze to me, “Don’t you think we at least owe him that much?” I sigh when after thinking about it in my mind, I realize that she’s right! “Very well then, Cozy! What did you have in mind?” <*****> Outside the cage room, I stared at the two wooden double-doors there with their brass knobs before staring back down at the pink filly, currently with a cardboard box on her back, “Cozy, why are you doing this for Tirek?” “Because” Cozy said to me as she glanced off to the left slightly. “I’m a good filly and I won’t leave anypony behind…” I stare down at her intently, “But he’s evil!” She glances back towards me and smiles, “You know, he hasn’t really done anything bad in about four years, right?” “Oh, you are good!” She grins up at me, “I know!” before turning her neck back right towards the door and reaching up to turn the knob with her lips and then, release her body from it so the door glides right and opens for us two ponies… We see the lonely old red centaur standing there and staring back at us as he says sarcastically, “Oh, wow! The brat and former changeling! How delightful!” Cozy begins trotting in as she says, “First off, it was really rotten of you to trick me into doing your bidding like that!” and begins to make her way into the room… His black ovals widen, “Oh, yes! But, you already told me this! Do you have anything new to add?” Cozy smiles at Tirek, “As a matter of fact, I do! I just wanted to cheer you up and so I brought you a care package!” “A what?” Cozy’s body shakes slightly as she responds, “A care package! It’s got cookies and some chocolate and fun things to read and do and…” “I don’t want it!” Cozy stares at Tirek with her big eyes, “But Tirek! I-I made it just for you!” “I don’t care!” Cozy’s bottom lip begins to quiver, “B-but you’re really sad and I want you to know that we care about you!” “That means nothing to me!” I finally can’t take anymore and stare at the wretched old monster, “Tirek! You listen and you listen good! Cozy Glow is a good filly now and she made you something! You will accept it graciouslythis instant!” “Or what? You’ll get mad at me again? I don’t care! I just want out! I want to die and you ponies won’t even grant me that!” My eyes narrow, “Cozy! Leave the room!” She turns her head left to look at me curiously, “Mom?” “Now Cozy! Wait for me outside! I’ll be there in a few minutes!” She blinks and gulps, “Y-yes mommy!” before turning around with the box still on her back as she trots out the room and quietly shuts the door… Tirek widens his eyes, “Oh, what now Chrysalis? Or uh, Crystal as you’re calling yourself! Are you going to get upset at me?” I smile at him, “Tirek, tell me something… What do you really want?” His eyes widen, “What do you mean? Have I not already made that abundantly clear? I want you to kill me! I want to die!” I nod, “So you say! But lets just say that death was not an option. Lets just say that you had to live! What would you really want to do?” “Why are you asking me this?” “Because Cozy’s goal was to make you happy and so, I just want to know what that’d take?” “Why?” “Because that’s what Cozy wanted!” His eyes widen, “H-happy? Nobody has ever actually cared about my happiness! Why are you suddenly doing this?” I widen my smile, “Well, it all began when I met this yellow pegasus pony…” (To be continued…) Chapter 18: And Friendship Brought HappinessHis eyes go skyward, “Oh, yes! Butter-shy or whatever her name was!” I continue to smile and say, “Close! Uh, you never answered my question though… Exactly what do you really want…” His eyes widen at me, “Do you really want to know?” By this point, I must confess that I’m growing a tad annoyed as I widen my eyes, frown, and say, “Well, yes!” <*****> I widen my eyes, “Bungee jumping! Did not see that one coming!” as I stood there on the dam, while the small pink pegasus filly stood to my right and the aging centaur stood in front of me. His eyes widen, “Well, if you’ll recall, when I still had power, I was an impressive bodybuilder! I liked doing extreme things like this from time to time, just because it always made me feel alive…” they go to the heavens. “I haven’t done anything like this in so long that just the thrill of the wind in my face as I’m free-falling towards the ground sounds magical to me!” “I still think you’re insane!” Cozy turns her head left towards me, “You know, I got wings! If something goes bad on my drop, I can just fly back up!” I turn my neck slightly towards her, “This is true!” She nods, “Right! And you can still shapeshift! Why not grow a pair of wings? You know, just for right now?” I adjust my gaze to the centaur and think to myself that he would probably see that as a sign of weakness? “No, I believe I’ll be going wing-less this time…” I smile. “Since I’m going to jump anyway, I might as well make it interesting!” Tirek finally speaks again in his raspy voice, “Are you sure?”he raises his claw, “I mean, if I turn into pizza from this, I assure you, I won’t mind in the least! But you might actually want to keep on living?” and lowers it. I nod, “I’m positive! I want a thrill!” Suddenly, I hear the magenta unicorn speaking from my right, “Crystal! That’s nonsense! You should transform into a pegasus now, so you’ll have wings if anything goes south!” I turn my head towards her and widen my eyes in desperation, “But Starlight!” She lowers her gaze and says, “I care a lot more about you than some silly thrill!” Tirek makes a whoop-pow whipping noise right before Cozy visibly chuckles to herself silently… I narrow my eyes at the centaur, “Fine! Let’s just get this over with! Do you wish to jump first or should I?” <*****> I stood there on the edge of the dam and I gaze back over my right shoulder to ask the centaur behind me, “How do I know you didn’t cut my line so I’m about to fall to my death?” before fluttering the feathered new aquamarine appendages at my sides… Tirek logically explains while raising his right claw, “Why would I do that Crystal? What have I to gain by it?” before lowering it… “Besides! You have the wings now, remember?” I nod, “Okay, you make a point!” before adjusting my neck to the drop in front of me on the edge of the dam… I look down and see that it’s a long fall… I gulp and stare at this giant chasm I’m about to leap into… “Crystal! Are you going to leap?” I hear the grizzled old centaur ask from behind me… I take a deep cleansing breath in through my nose and let it out my mouth before replying, “In good time, centaur…” before looking down again and thinking to myself that this won’t be so bad. I mean, it’s not that far, r-right? I gulp again as I hear the filly whispering to the centaur, “She’s getting ready!” “I know that!” Tirek whisper back… I widen my eyes and snap to attention, “Going down!” I say calmly as drop from the ledge to go screaming towards the ground as the wind blows through my mane at faster and faster speeds! I must admit, the feeling of adrenaline is incredible as I suddenly feel the line snap and pull while tied firmly around my right hind legs and I feel the tug of the line as itpulls me back up and my body and weight suddenly reverse direction to go back skyward! I feel released and light as a feather as my equine body is thrown up in the air before I feel gravity beginning to take hold of me once more and I again begin to plummet… And for the second time, I see the bottom of the chasm beginning to grow larger as I stared wide eyed and screamed at the sudden rush and excitement of what I was doing! <*****> After the stallion had unhooked me from my bungee gear, I watched the centaur fall from the balcony on the other end of the dam… I saw his quadruped form fall with the rope attached to his back right leg and I suddenly saw it suddenly grow taught and snap back up as his body once again, began to ascend from the chasm… I saw these things and I heard something I’ve never heard before… I heard Tirek screaming in amusement! “He seems to be having fun, huh?” The pink pegasus at my left says to me from her hooves. I turn my neck to her and look down at her, “Yes he does! Do you suppose we did a good thing here?” She nods, “Well, golly! He’s had nothing for all this time between this, being in stone, and Tartarus earlier! And now, well, he finally has a thrill!” before looking over to where the centaur flew up and down as a raspy voice screamed in fun! I frown at this sight, “I see… Why did we do it again?” “Because I’m better than that now, Crystal…” I turn my head back to the filly… She lowers her gaze slightly, “I know he just used me and I know I should never trust him again… “she raises and widens it. “But I also know that I’m a good filly now and that I just want to make everypony happy!” before smiling her toothy grin… “What about you Cozy? What would make you happy?” Her eyes stop with a start as her snout goes agape, “Uh, what?” I smile, “Yes Cozy! Let’s make you happy now! What would it take to make Cozy Glow happy?” She stares at me blankly, “Um, I don’t know…” “What do you mean, you don’t know?” Her eyes go to the sky, “Well golly gee, mom!” and back down to me. “I never actually thought about it, you know?” “Remember when I hugged you and gave you your stuffed bear earlier?” She blinks, “Yes!” “Where you happy then?” She frowns, “I think so?” I smile, “And you needed no power or control to get that way, now did you?” She smiles back, “No, I did not mommy! Just snuggling my friend and eating my chocolate was good enough!” I nod, now sure that I’ve reformed the filly! “Right! So what do you want to do now? We can do anything you want, Cozy?” Her eyes widen as a frown forms on her snout, “Anything, huh?” <*****> Cozy stares at the Crusaders in out living room, “So, anyway, I thought that since we’re starting over or whatever, that we should do it proper and begin by us just hanging out together and doing activities and stuff!” The burnt orange pegasus on the left nods her head as her purple mane goes up and down, “That makes sense!” The yellow redheaded filly with the pink bow on the back of her head in the center nods as well, “Well, gosh Cozy! That’s what were tryin’ ta do this whole time!” The white unicorn filly with the split mane on the right interjects, “Yeah, Cozy! Lets do it!” Cozy smiles, “Right! And I’m sure that’s why my new mommy will oh so generously give us a party with cake and games and stuff!” Scootaloo widens her violet eyes, “Oh, really? You think so?” Cozy finally turns her neck right towards me, where I’m standing on my hooves in the living room and visibly and cutely pouts with a the most sullen look ever on her face, “Well, I’d like to believe she would, but…” I narrow my eyes, “I see what you’re trying to do here!” “Well, golly mom! I just wanted to have some fun with my new friends!” Scootaloo adds, “Who happen to be your old friends!” Apple Bloom whispers to her, “Shut up Scootaloo!” “How about it mommy? PLEEEEEAAAASSSEEE?????” She says while pouting cutely… <*****> “So wait, what do I do?” The frowning pink pegasus asked with the white blindfold neatly wrapped over her eyes… Scootaloo says from her right with her raspy voice, “Well, you gotta pin the tail on the pony with your mouth!” “Oh, golly! But I can’t see anything with this thing over my eyes!” “That’s the point Cozy! Now just trust me, okay?” “I don’t know if I’ve ever trusted anypony like this? Well, not since my parents died!” “That’s fine Cozy! Uh, you ready?” “Oh, golly!” Scootaloo uses her mouth to pass the fluffy blue pin to Cozy’s snout, which promptly bites down onto it before she runs slightly right and goes trotting slowly towards the wall with the big brown pony poster on the wall, missing the tail… Scootaloo yells at Cozy, “Lefter Cozy! You want more to the left!” Sweetie Belle finally pipes up from behind the orange pegasus, “Further forward Cozy!” From Sweetie’s right, but still behind Scootaloo, Apple Bloom yells, “Go forward Cozy! You’re not at the wall yet!” “Oh, golly!” My foal curses between her teeth as she stumbles towards the wall and almost bumps into it. Apple Bloom excitedly shouts, “Stop Cozy!” Scootaloo chimes in, “To the left!” Sweetie Belle adds, “Just a little! Not a whole lot!” Cozy finally just rears her neck back a few inches before moving her snout to the wall to pin the tail on it… She uses her right forehoof to remove the blindfold from her eyes that soon widen at what they see! “Golly! I was only about half an inch too low! I was almost there!” Scootaloo adds, “And just a hair to the left! Pretty good shot I’d say!” Sweetie Belle adds, “That’s probably the best we’ll have all day?” Apple Bloom cranes her neck left to the white unicorn, “Well, do you suppose I should play?” Sweetie Belle smiles, “I think that would be okay?” Cozy finally just blurts out, “Stop rhyming!” Sweetie Belle sees this and turns her head back right to the apple filly, “Do you suppose we should?” She replies, “If only we could?” Scootaloo finally turns around and adds, “Honestly, I just hope we’re understood?” By this point, the pink filly can’t contain her chuckles… “Oh, golly! That’s enough! Just knock it off already!” <*****> The pink filly collects her fork with her right forehoof and sinks it into the big slice of chocolate cake on the little plate in front of her before staring at the other three fillies at the table. She soon brings the morsel to her lips with the silverware and closes her muzzle onto it to bite and begin chewing shortly after removing the fork… I look down at my foal from the right, “So, you got friends now!” She finishes chewing and stares up at me, “Well, yeah! But I mean, really?” she blinks. “F-friends? After well, everything I did?” I smile, “Of course Cozy! This is a fresh start!” Scootaloo pipes up from Cozy’s right and grins, “A clean slate!” Sweetie Belle looks at Cozy from across the table and smiles, “A new beginning!” Apple Bloom looks at Cozy and smiles herself, “A brand-new chapter!” The pink filly stares forward blankly, “And golly gee, wouldn’t you know? I’m hearing everything in triple now!” I nod and suppress giggles, “So, how was pinata time?” She swallows her bite and stares up at me, “Well, I wasn’t able to break it at first!” I nod, “Right! And that’s when Apple Bloom had her turn!” The apple filly smiles up at me from the left, “Didn’t stand a chance!” Cozy looks at her, “Golly! I couldn’t break it, but you did, huh?” Apple Bloom stares at Cozy, “Well, that’s what friendship and teamwork are all about, Cozy! I mean, you broke it part of tha’ way, but then I came in and finished tha’ job!” “Am I gonna be learning about this now?” I smile down at the filly, “What do you think you’ve been doing all day?” Cozy frowns up at me and is silent for a moment before finally muttering shyly, “So um, did I do good mom?” (To be continued…) Chapter 19: Then Twilight Had this Thing...“What do you mean Tirek is considering being reformed?” I asked the purple alicorn sitting on the throne in front of me… Twilight Sparkle nods, “That’s exactly what I mean! It seems Cozy’s act of caring the other day really made him reconsider a lot of things…” I frown, “Wow!” She nods, “Yes! But that wasn’t the only thing I wanted to speak with you about…” My eyes widen, “Oh?” “Yes!” She says before nervously glancing around the empty throne room. She leans closer to me and says in a lower volume. “Uh, how do you know if um, you’re you know, gay?” I frown with an astounded look in my now very open eyes, “Uh, well it’s one of those things inside you, you know? I mean, if you’re attracted to other mares, don’t you think you’d know that?” She frowns, “I don’t know? Maybe?” I eye the princess very carefully now, “Why are you asking me this?” Her eyes widen, “Well uh, that is to say, I uh…” I cut her off, “Do you think you’re gay?” Her mouth goes agape as she quickly responds, “N-no! I like stallions! That is uh, I think?” I frown at this, “Twilight… Have you ever had sex before?” “What? Yes! Of course, I’ve had sex! I’ve had plenty of sex! All kinds of sex! Why would you ask that?” She quickly retorts before grinning widely at me… I frown, “Well, you seem pretty uncertain about who you’re attracted to?” She sighs and stares down before adjusting her gaze back up to me, “Crystal, I think I’m bisexual?” “You weren’t bisexual before?” She frowns and widens her eyes again, “What? No! I mean, I probably was? Why does everypony always say that?” I stare at the other mare intently, “Well, you just seem like, that type, you know?” She frowns, “What do you mean, that type?” I widen my eyes again, “I’m just saying, it looks like the door swings both ways here!” The alicorn is silent for a moment… “I see…” I nod, “Well, right! So, everypony kinda assumes this about you and now you’re telling me that it’s probably true?” She sighs from her nose, “Well, if everypony already thinks that about me…” I nod, “Right! Then it’s no harm and no foul! You’ll have a marefriend in no time!” “Or a stallionfriend!” I nod again, “Or a stallionfriend with a huge penis!” Her eyes widen, “Crystal!” “Or it could be an average penis? I don’t know what you like you know, when you’re doing that…” She silently frowns at me for a moment… “You have done that before, yes?” Her eyes widen, “Oh yes! Of course! Lots of times!” I eye her carefully again, “Can I go now?” <*****> I trot out the throne room where a curly maned pink pegasus filly sudden turns her neck left towards me in the blue stone hallway, “Oh, golly mom! What was that about?” I eye her carefully, “I’ll tell you when you’re older…” She stares up at me, “Is Twilight having some kind of sexual problem?” At that point, I can’t contain it anymore and I’m squinting while desperately trying to suppress a smile on my face in futility, “Well, uh, nothing she shouldn’t be able to figure out in good time!” Her eyes widen, “Oh, golly! Is she gay!” I eye this pegasus foal intently as she stares up at me with her wide brown eyes, “Well, bisexual, she thinks?” She frowns, “You know, there’s really only one way to find out, right?” I nod, “Yes, and we’ll talk about that when you’re older!” “You mean the sex talk?” “U-um, yeah that!” And then, my foal said something that quickly and suddenly made me feel at ease, “So um, what’s for breakfast mom?” I smile, “Well, how about oranges before we take a morning stroll around the park, honey?” I she smiles up at me, “Oh, golly gee mom! That sure sounds swell!” <*****> The magenta unicorn widens her blue eyes to me from across the table, “Why didn’t you tell me Twilight Sparkle was bi?” “She just told me today and you literally just got home!” She nods, “Right! But you couldn’t call me?” I frown, “I didn’t think it was that important?” Starlight sighs, “Well okay, granted, you probably didn’t realize this, but Twilight has been talking to me now!” My eyes widen, “Talking to you now? About what?” She frowns, “About being gay!” My eyes widen, “Why does everypony keep whispering that?” “Well um, homosexual!” I nod, “You know what? I was an evil changeling queen bent on Equestrian domination for eons! I’m sure I can be a homosexual!” and suddenly get up from the chair to trot to the backdoor where I open it to the right with my mouth and trot into our yard. I look up at the neighborhood houses and shout at the top of my lungs, “Everypony! We’re lesbians! We’re being all gay in here and Twilight Sparkle is probably bisexual!” before trotting back into the kitchen as the unicorn on the other side of the table stares at me in wide-eyed bewilderment. I smile. “See? Nopony cares!” At that point, Starlight’s composure began to deteriorate and I saw her grinning and giggling before saying, “You know something? You’re right Crystal Heart! It’s not a big deal!” I widen my eyes, “That’s what I’ve been trying to say this whole time! I even told Twilight that it’s okay to be bisexual! I mean, we’re all different!” Suddenly, the door behind Starlight opens to reveal a small pink pegasus filly behind it who says, “What was that about being bisexual?” I look at Cozy, “I was trying to show Starlight here that nopony cares that Twilight’s bisexual!” She frowns, “Oh, golly! I don’t care either! I just came for juice!” before beginning to trot across the kitchen on my right from the table to the fridge. Suddenly, there’s a purple flash of light in the room and Cozy jumps back and screams towards the fridge! “AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!”* Then, we all see a smiling tall purple alicorn say, “Oh, hello sexually diverse ponies who happen to be my friends! What’s happening on this beautiful sexually diverse day?” before her right eye twitches slightly… I stare at her carefully, “Twilight, is a mare currently trying to get between your hind flanks?” Her eyes widen, “What? No! Why would you think that? Heh heh!” before she smiles nervously again… Starlight nods, “You gotta admit, all this sex talk is pretty sudden and I’ve kinda been thinking the same thing!” her eyes widen as she leans forward. “Now come on! Who’s the ambitious pony! Who wants to be with Twilight Sparkle?” She frowns, “Well, that is to say, nopony in particular? Uh, I kinda well, don’t think I should tell you?” and soon trails off with her wording… I finally interject, “Come on! Who is it? Which mare dares to want you?” She stares at Starlight intently… Starlight, who quickly blurts out, “It’s Trixie, isn’t it?” Twilight’s eyes widen, “Well uh, that is to say um, maybe?” before smiling widely and nervously… I finally just say the obvious, “You know she’s only using you to get back at Starlight, right?” Twilight stares at me, “What makes you say that?” Starlight adds, “Well, she’s done it before?” Twilight nods, “This is true! But she changed!” I say, “So I’m told?” Starlight says, “So I guess the real question is, how much do you trust Trixie?” Twilight widens her eyes, “Well, she seemed pretty sincere?” I ask, “Has she kissed you yet?” Twilight’s eyes widen with a start! “What? No! Okay um, maybe?” I smile and giggle, “Twilight had a lesbian kiss!” Starlight giggles at Twilight as the purple alicorn’s cheeks grow puffy and red and she stammers, “She came onto me!” I nod, “Well, right! So uh, how was your first kiss, anyway?” Her eyes widen as her cheeks slowly begin to return to normal, “What? What makes you think I haven’t been kissed before?” “Because you’re you!” Starlight adds, “You gotta admit, Crystal makes a valid point!” “I can kiss ponies!” Twilight defends herself! Me and Starlight are both giggling as the purple alicorn suddenly appears very sullen and annoyed… “So uh, yeah! Trixie kinda suddenly kissed me the other day and said she liked me before leaving in a hurry…” she widens her eyes. “It’s like she didn’t want me to respond right away?” Starlight says blankly, “That’s a good strategy!” I look at her and nod, “I thought so too!” Twilight stares at us, “What do you mean?” I look at Twilight, “Well, think about it! You’re you, right? So you’d probably say no unless she gave you time to think about it!” Starlight nods, “Well, that’s what I’d do!” “I wouldn’t say no right off the bat!” Twilight says while defiantly stamping her left hoof. Starlight says, “I’m still pretty sure you would!” I add, “Yeah, me too!” Twilight pouts and sighs, “So uh, yeah! Cat’s out of the bag now! Trixie came onto me and it’s probably not to get back at Starlight… More than likely… “ I look at Starlight, “Do we trust Trixie?” She looks back at me, “Well, Twilight Sparkle is my friend! She would never do anything against me, no matter who she’s with!” I nod, “This is likely true!” Twilight finally says, “So you’re not mad?” to Starlight. Starlight looks at Twilight, “Of course not! I moved on, just like Trixie is allowed to do! If she says she wants a relationship with you and you’re interested, I take no fault with either of you!” Twilight visibly sighs, “Oh, good!” before straightening her neck as her shoulders finally relaxand stares at us, “I was worried for a second there! Uh, look lesbians! I gotta run!” before disappearing in another blinding purple flash! I look back at the magenta horse I fell in love with, “She just teleported to Trixie, didn’t she?” Starlight eyes me carefully, “Totally!” Cozy finally turns her neck back left towards me sitting at the table, “Can I get my juice now?” I stare at her, “Well gee Cozy! Nopony is stopping you! Just remember you got that thing with Scootaloo in an hour!” She smiles, “Yeah, I know!” I stare at my foal intently, “Just uh, try not to embarrass Scootaloo with your spectacular and amazing scooter moves!” “Oh, golly! Mom! I’ve never been on a scooter before in my life!” I widen my eyes at her, “Um, of course! I’m sure you’ll do just fine sweetie!” Starlight stares at me, “So uh, think we’re gonna hear more about Twilight and Trixie?” I stare back at her, “Yeah, probably!” (To be continued…) Author's Note *Of course, my story just isn't complete without poor Cozy Glow being traumatized at least once... Chapter 21: And Love Just Broke All the Rules...I furrow my brow at the alicorn, “Okay, for the last time, I just want you to clearly and concisely explain to me why I have to help you plan your wedding and why I have any business being here?” Twilight smiles, “Well, you’re good because nopony knows you!” My eyes widen, “Why does that make me good?” Cozy adds, “I’m not flying with another banner! I hate those things! The wind drag is awful!” Twilight smiles and lowers her gaze, “Because you’re the perfect example of how my reign over Equestria changes things for the better!” I frown and widen my eyes, “But you had nothing to do with my reformation?” Twilight flips her right forehoof in the air, “Technicalities!” Cozy says, “Seems to be a lot of that going around?” Twilight turns her head to the filly and raises her eyebrow, “Oh?” Cozy shakes her head before staring back, “Uh, never mind!” she lowers her gaze. “So, exactly how are we going to help you with this wedding?” I turn my gaze right to the filly, “Cozy! You don’t have to!” She turns back towards me and says vehemently, “Mom, I’ve read the same fairy tale four times already and put together my 500-piece puzzle ten! I’m bored and have nothing to do!” I mimic her speech patterns, “You know, you could just ask me for more books and puzzles?” She blinks, “Um, of course! I knew that! But uh…” “You just want something new to do, don’t you?” Her eyes widen, “Um, yeah okay, maybe!” and she smiles at me with a big toothy grin… Twilight gazes down at the filly, “I don’t know if I should trust you?” “Oh golly gee, Twilight! Give me a break! I haven’t been evil in about four years now!” Twilight widens her eyes, “But you were a statue!” Cozy stares blankly at the princess, “Technicalities! That was another one!” before adjusting her gaze. “Oh, come on! What’s the worst that could happen?” before smiling widely at the princess. Twilight lowers her gaze, “Well, while all the wedding things are going on, you could in theory, steal the artifacts from my safe where I keep them in my office and use those to drain the magick in Equestria again!” Cozy’s eyes widen, “See? I didn’t even think of that! I’m totally reformed now! You can trust me!” before smiling her cheesy grin once more… “You didn’t even know the artifacts were kept there until I just told you!” Twilight’s eyes go skyward. “I should probably move them now?” Cozy sighs, “How about this then! Just put a spell on me that keeps me from entering your office! Would that work?” before frowning in agitation at the large purple superior… <*****> “Why can’t I go into the castle now?” The pink foal asks me as we both stood in front of the large red front door to the castle. I sigh, “Because Twilight cast a spell on you to prevent you from entering!” “Well golly gee, the artifacts are just in her office! Is it REALLY necessary to block off the whole castle?” “I guess that’s what Twilight thought was best?” She nods, “Well, right! But you know the artifacts aren’t in the castle anymore right?” “You don’t think so?” She scoffs, “Oh, please! The shield she put over is just a dead giveaway! She wants me to think they’re in there, but they’re probably actually in the Crystal Empire or something!” I nod, “Actually, you’re probably right?” She sighs, “Well, obviously! But golly gee, how am I gonna get to the wedding now!” and stares up at me with enormous brown eyes. I frown, “Well, I guess I could ask her?” my eyes go up. “Actually, I have an idea!” <*****> I look at the large alicorn, currently wearing a gorgeous white wedding dress, “Twilight, we know the artifacts aren’t here!” She widens her eyes as her neck comes out of the V-shaped top of the sequined white dress, with the slight fringe along the bottom… “Oh? I thought I was sneakier than that?” I smile, “Cozy already knows that since you blocked off the whole castle, that you’ve obviously moved them somewhere else… Can she please come into the ceremony already?” She stares at me blankly before a small smile begins to form on her muzzle… <*****> “Mom?” The pink pegasus filly asks me from below… I look down at the adorable filly as she stares up at me with her brown eyes underneath neatly arranged bluish-white curls, “You know, I told you that I didn’t want to fly while carrying a banner, right?” I nod and try to suppress a smirk as I know the filly is gearing up for another tirade, “This is true!” Her eyes widen right before she irately shouts! “Then why, in the name of Equestria, am I now flying while carrying five streamers?” I try not to giggle while saying, “Well, it’s not a banner!” “How is this better than a banner? There’s still gonna be all kinds of drag!” “Well uh, wind can go in-between the streamers now?” She grimaces in annoyance, “So what? A lot of it is still gonna catch and I’m gonna have to work extra hard with my wings just to move and maneuver!” I frown when sudden inspiration hits me, “Well, it’s either that or being in the crowd and having to make nice-nice with everypony?” Her face normalizes when that sudden thought enters her mind. She glances back at me, “Uh, you know what? I’ll do it for about thirty minutes… After that, I’m flying home!” I smile at my filly, “Deal!” before trotting to her and embracing her in a tight warm hug!” “EEP!” She squeals before saying to me while in my embrace. “You know, I keep thinking about who you used to be, and I’m still not used to that!” <*****> The large congregation gathered in the large stone reception building in the pews there... There was a large aisle with a red carpet neatly draped through it and two smaller aisle’s on either side, so more ponies could easily get into the massive auditorium… Soon, music started to play… The organ sound reverberates through the auditorium as an older brown earth stallion operates the keys with his hooves overhead and Trixie soon emerges from the right side in her white sequined wedding gown with a big smile on her face, underneath a slightly off-white veil, so her white mane doesn’t hide it… She slowly trots down the main aisle until reaching the central aisle leading up to the podium… She turns right to begin trotting that direction… I must admit, for a second-rate former magician, she certainly looked stunning and oddly happy… Next, Twilight emerges from the left side of the aisle and slowly trots as the organ musical fanfare continues to play and resound throughout the room… What I saw in Twilight at that moment, I’m not exactly sure? She seemed happy, but her lips betrayed hesitance… She slowly and graciously trotted down the aisle before curtly turning left to begin trotting down the central aisle… She soon reached the pulpit… Then, the older gray earth stallion in his ceremonial black robes began to speak, “Fillies and gentle-colts! We are gathered here today to witness a most peculiar union! The union of Princess Twilight Sparkle and her consort, Trixie Lulamoon!” Suddenly, Twilight speaks up, “I-I’m sorry! I need to uh…” before turning and spreading her wings before squatting to take off flying inside the auditorium overhead! Ponies stared up aghast as they witnessed the Princess of Friendship, now flying above in her white wedding dress and heading towards the window just to the left! “UGH!” I roll my eyes before I take off in a hurried gallop to the outside through the large double-door entry. I exit just in time to turn my head to the right and witness her heading into a particular tower over Canterlot in the distance… “Gotcha!” I say to myself before I begin to shapeshift and grow a pair of aquamarine pegasus wings at my side and through my pale pink bride’s mare’s dress and squat before I take off flying towards the tower I saw her fly into… Now, please note that I am used to flying with insectoid wings… These feathered wings I was now attempting to fly with behave very differently and I needed to flap slower and with more force in order to gain any altitude! This annoyed me at first, and yet I scrunched my brow and frowned in iron determination! I don’t know what’s wrong, but I think I need to fix it? After some flying, I finally reach the tower window parapet and I land on the balcony there… There’ a railing that I needed to fly over though, and so I of course, landed with a skid! “Ouch!” I say to myself as my right front hoof strains. Doesn’t matter! I need to check on Twilight! I trot inside the small room at the top of the tower… There’s a staircase spiraling downward on my right and a small wooden table there, as the purple alicorn stood there in her wedding dress, with the train, still somehow immaculate and now sprawled across the floor behind her… I look at this and say, “Okay Twilight! Tell me, why in the name of pony did you suddenly decide to get married to this other mare you’ve only been seeing for maybe a few days?” Twilight stared back at me solemnly, “Tell me Crystal. Have you ever talked to somepony who just got you?” I blink, “As a matter of fact, I have… Her name is Starlight Glimmer and we’ve had many intimate late-night conversations while snuggling one another…” Twilight smiles, “Yeah, it’s like that! We actually started talking, you know? I mean, not just official stuff, or idle banter, but actually talking and well, she told me a lot about herself and her life and I’ll admit that while I did feel sorry for her, I also admired her strength and resilience… And you know what she told me? She was jealous of me! ME! Can you believe that?” I smile as I imitate my foal once again, “Gee! Her being jealous of the most powerful and successful pony in all of Equestria? How could that possibly be?” Twilight giggles slightly, “Okay! Maybe I kinda am really successful?” I raise my right eyebrow, “Kinda?” She sighs as her eyes widen, “Okay, yeah! I can see how she might be jealous of me!” I nod, “Okay then! You both admired each other!” She starts before continuing, “Well, right! And like I was saying, we just started talking and well, we really connected, you know?” “Not just sex?” She smiles and giggles, “Well, yeah! That part was kinda nice!” I smile back, “Right!” “Especially when Trixie got back there and put her face inside and I put my face down and let her…” “Okay, Twilight! I get it! You two are passionate and loving! So what’s the problem?” Her eyes widen as her smile lowers, “Well, honestly, I’m scared…” I stare at her as inspiration once again, strikes me! “You’re the Princess of Equestria! Literally nopony could grant an annulment faster than you!” She frowns, “You know, I didn’t think of that!” I nod, “So right! Since you have this connection or whatever, why not explore it? Just try it out and see if you like being married to this mare? If you don’t like it, just annul it and forget about it!” Her face slowly normalizes as she considers my words, “That’s another really good point!” I nod again, “See? It’s cool! You’re Princess of Equestria and can easily get out of a marriage!” “Ugh! Right!” She sighs… She soon spreads her wings and lowers her body somewhat before staring at me and saying, “You ready to head back to the ceremony, Crystal?” I nod, “Right! Because that’s not an abuse of power at all.” before frowning, “Well, I already broke my no shapeshifting rule? Might as well go all out?” before widening my eyes to her, “Allow me!” and we’re suddenly both enveloped in a blinding pale green flash! (To be continued…) DenouementStarlight stares at me from her side of the table as her coffee cooled in it’s big white Best Counselor Ever mug, “She’s only been married for two days now!” I nod and correct her, “Well, not quite two days! In two more hours, it will be…” She widens her eyes, “Well, right! How many letters have you gotten from her?” “Three!” She stares at me and frowns, “How have you gotten three letters from her in only two days?” “Mail travels pretty fast when it goes by dragon!” “And you just magically send these notes back to her?” I stare at her before I slowly say, “Maybe?” “Doesn’t that kinda go against your no magick rule?” “Probably?” “Crystal!” “Well, look! I figured it’d be a good idea, since I really should try to be buddy-buddy with the current ruler of Equestria!” She raises her right eyebrow, “And this had nothing to do with you wanting to hear from her faster?” My eyes widen, “Well, if I heard from her faster, that sorta speeds things along, doesn’t it?” and then I smile… I hope I don’t look weird? “Oh wipe that goofy grin off your face! You just wanted somepony to talk to while I’m away at work!” Goofy? I’ll take it! The smile lowers, “Well, it is kinda interesting to talk to somepony who isn’t you, you know?” She sighs and looks off to the side, “Well, on the plus side, she doesn’t seem to want to turn you back into stone at this stage?” I nod, “Right!” Suddenly, the front door 20 feet behind me in the foyer bursts open to reveal a giggling pink pegasus filly! She stares at me with enormous brown eyes while hanging out the open side of the door, “Oh, golly gee mom! Me and the other Crusaders were just having fun playing hide n seek in the forest!” I stare at her, “So you enjoy being a Crusader now?” She suddenly frowns, and her eyes freeze as she suddenly realizes how she’s been acting, “What? NO! I don’t like being a Crusader!” I smile at her and narrow my eyes coyly, “Is that so? But did you not just have a swell time with the three Crusaders in the forest?” and mimic her speech. “N-no!” She stammers out… Suddenly, a yellow earth filly pops into view from the right side of the door, above Cozy, “She had a great time!” A white unicorn comes from the left, “A wonderful time!” An orange pegasus foal appears above the unicorn, to the left of the earth filly, “It was awesome!” Cozy then smiles at me timidly… I giggle slightly under my breath, “Cozy, it’s okay for you to be a Cutie Mark Crusader now!” Her eyes narrow as she says under her breath, “Okay, fine! It was maybe, kinda, sorta swell…” My eyes widen, “I’m sorry! What was that, Cozy?” She closes her eyes and blindly yells, “I said I had a good time!” Scootaloo looks over at her from the left, “See? Was that so hard?” Sweetie Belle adds from the other side, “Yeah! It’s okay to have friends, Cozy!” Cozy stares back at them, “Friends I once used to try to take over Equestria?” Apple Bloom smiles As she stands next to Scootaloo, “Yeah! It’s a redo, remember? I mean, yer not gonna try to take over Equestria this time, right?” Cozy widens her eyes like a deer looks at a train before shaking her head no, “Oh, golly uh, no ma’am! Uh uh! I don’t wanna try to take over anything!” Apple Bloom nods, “Well, right! So don’t you think this might be time and be our friend agin? Doesn’t that sound like fun?” I lower my gaze as it occurred to me that the apple filly just used Cozy’s own wording on her as well, as the pink pegasus filly timidly replies, “Well uh, I g-guess we could start over?” Scootaloo finally cracks a smile, “Great! Now, how about we take over a fridge somewhere, huh? I’m starved!” <*****> “You know, I somehow always pictured Tirek being my father!” The pink pegasus filly says before she takes another bite of her spinach sandwich, with mayonnaise… We couldn’t find mustard… I smile solemnly down at my foal, “You are not disappointed, I hope?” She chews the morsel in her mouth and swallows as she looks up at me, “No no! It’s fine! I mean, Tirek was a jerk, anyway!” Starlight finally chimes in from my left, “And so, you got me, the mare you imprisoned for three days!” She turns her head to the other mare and smiles, “Yeah, sorry about that again, mom!” “Dog food! You fed me dog food!” Her eyes widen, “Um, at least I fed you?” Starlight’s eyes narrow to the foal and I smile as I can’t help but find this amusing… “Well, that’s technically true! I didn’t starve!” Cozy grins wider, “See? I did care about you! Uh, sorta?” Starlight’s eyes close and she says, “Dog food!” to herself lowly… I then turn my gaze left towards the other three crusaders… I see a white unicorn filly on the left with her face scrunched up, a russet pegasus foal with her eyes wide, and a yellow earth filly on the end with a big frown on her face… I can tell I should break the tension! “So, what are you four going to do this afternoon?” Apple Bloom turns her head to the far right and asks, “I don’t know, Sweetie? What do you wanna do?” Scootaloo turns her head right as well, “Yeah, Sweetie! What’s the plan?” Sweetie Belle turns her head left, “What? Why do I always have to decide what we do?” Apple Bloom says, “Because you’re really good at it!” Scootaloo adds, “Yeah!” Cozy finally says, “Yeah! Uh, you’re good at it! Yes!” and smiles nervously, as she begins to try to fit in with the group. Sweetie frowns, “Well, we could always go swimming?” Apple Bloom says, “Yeah, but we just ate!” Sweetie nods, “Oh, right! So I guess that’s right out?” Cozy looks at her and asks, “How about we go for a walk at the park?” Apple Bloom looks at Cozy, “Yeah, that could work?” Sweetie adds, “There’s a park in Ponyville” Scootaloo looks at Sweetie again, “Yeah, it’s right by the skating rink!” Sweetie looks over at Scootaloo, “There’s a skating rink, too?” At that point, I could only smile and cuddle up to my wonderful marefriend, now at my side… I came to realize that despite where I came from, I could indeed forge a life for myself here and be whomever I wanted to be… I turned and looked at her staring at our foal and her three friends with interest in her blue eyes as she smiled, because she knew our foal also had friends and a life now… I had finally made a home for myself, after all the wrong I did earlier and my time spent in stone… (The end…) Author's Note Thank you so much for reading my story! It's obviously a transgender metaphor, but I think this section of the story is pretty much played out. I was thinking about maybe writing a sequel from Cozy's point of view later, as she takes Crusader lessons though? Let me know what you think! Chapter 20: And So, Trixie Did the Unthinkable...“So, why are you coming to me with this?” I ask the blue mare on the other side of the door as she stood there with her white mane draped over her shoulders and in magician’s attire. She smiles at me, “Well, as you’re undoubtedly aware, Princess Twilight Sparkle and, “she poses on her hind legs and raises her voice, “The Great and Powerful Trixie” she gets back to all fours. “are now an item and I wanted your insight into something?” I frown, “Why my insight? Don’t you have friends?” Her eyes widen, “Well, I would talk to Starlight about it, but…” I cut her off, “Say no more! That’s why you came over while she’s away at work, isn’t it?” She frowns and stares off to the side, “Um, yes…” I nod, “Okay, so why me? I guess Discord wasn’t the best choice for this, huh?” Her eyes squint while her mouth scrunches in annoyance, “NO! We’re not doing that!” they normalize and she smiles at me… I stand there awkwardly, “So wait! What did you want again?” <*****> I trot in through the front door and turn my head skyward, “Ugh! Horn ring shopping is SO BORING!!!!!” before looking down and sniffing the air to smell something burning… I also hear giggling coming from the kitchen… It sounds like… FILLIES! I trot into the kitchen just in time to see Sweetie Belle banging on a pot with her hooves like a drum. BAM BAM BAM! Scootaloo looks over right at her from where she is in the middle, “Okay SB! Knock it off already!” before raising her neck to speak to the ponies in the kitchen. “We call this unofficial Cutie Mark Crusaders meeting to order for the re-admittance, “she looks down at a sheet of paper on the floor in front of her, “re-acceptance, re-education, responsible-ness, reciprocity… re-plicated” she stumbles to say the last word before looking back at Sweetie Belle to the right. “Did you just eventually start listing re words?” Sweetie Belle looks over to Scootaloo at her left from her position seated in front of the pot and smiles meekly, “Maybe?” Scootaloo adjust her gaze back forward, where a small pink pegasus filly is standing and smiling nervously in her direction and sighs with her eyes skyward, before adjusting them back down to the foal before her, “Cozy Glow! This is an unofficial CMC meeting and you’re now a Crusader again, if and only if you accept! Do you agree to be a Cutie Mark Crusader and to follow our guidance and to be a responsible member of society or whatever?” Apple Bloom turns her neck from Scootaloo’s right and finally says, “That’s a bit watered-down, don’t you think?” Scootaloo turns her neck back towards the apple filly, “Well, I don’t have my notes and it’s the best I can do!” Apple Bloom frowns, “Your memory sure is bad, Scoots!” Both fillies turn back to the pink filly who says, “Golly gee, I sure do! Being a Crusader sure sounds swell, although,” she frowns. “I’m still not sure why you’re doing this? I mean, being so nice and giving me another chance?” Scootaloo frowns, “Well Cozy, we think you just got some bad advice and need a little coaching is all!” “That’s some pretty bad advice!” Cozy comments blankly. The other Crusaders giggle as Sweetie says, “Well, that’s behind us now Cozy and we all know that you can do better!” Apple Bloom nods and adds, “Sure can!” Scootaloo smiles, “You bet!” At this point, my filly’s eyes are growing misty as tears begin to form in them, “Gee, you guys are, just so swell! You’re the best!” “AWWWWWWW!” The other three Crusaders say almost in unison before charging the young pegasus for a big hug! I finally trot in and comment, “That is so sweet and cute!” The fillies all disengage to stare at me in a mass of small ponies now on the kitchen floor as Scootaloo says, “We’re not that cute!” Sweetie excitedly comments, “We’re adorable!” while her little body shakes! Apple Bloom says to Sweetie, “Shut up, Sweetie!” <*****> I’ll admit that I found it odd that Trixie would call my cell and ask for my daughter. I did ask her why and she said not to worry about it and that Cozy would not be harmed… I decided my filly could make her own judgments as she stood there with my Ponysung Universe phone crooked on the right side of her face with her floppy ear over the top of it… “Okay, but what has that got to do with me?” She asked the magician pony on the other end. Trixie is speaking with Cozy as Cozy nods and says, “Yeah! Uh huh! Okay!” And then she stares up at me and asks. “Mom! Can I help Trixie seduce Twilight Sparkle?” My eyes widen as I use my right hoof to snatch the phone and bring it to my right ear, “What are you asking my child to do?” “Well, The Great and Powerful Trixie, awesome as she is, does need a little help in the romance department. And so I ask you, what’s more adorable than fillies?” I frown, “Well there’s puppies! Kittens! You might try flowers and chocolate?” Trixie angrily replies, “No no no! I want to do something different! And well, Cozy can fly and there are just so many things we could do with that!” I stare down at my filly who smiles at me with a big toothy grin… <*****> My filly sits at the table in front of her juice, “That was dumb! Flying over the park with a big banner like that! And watching Trixie and Twilight kiss was just gross! MEGA GROSS!” before sticking her tongue out in disgust! She returns it to her mouth, “Grosser than even you and Starlight!” My eyes widen, “Wait! They were kissing?” Cozy blinks at me, “Well, yeah! That’s one of the things ponies do when they’re going out like that and well…” she closes her eyes. “I don’t like to think about it!” I smile and giggle, “Well, maybe one day you won’t mind?” She opens them again, “I doubt it!” My smile lowers, “Still, this could only mean they’re getting closer… “ Cozy stares up at me with her brown pupils, “So what does that mean for us exactly?” I stare down, “Well, theoretically, nothing! But…” <*****> Starlight stares at me from the red EZ-chair on the other side of the living room and says, “So, Twilight has been asking me about Trixie!” I enlarge my view, “What?” She smiles dimly, “Yeah, it seems the Princess of Friendship is somewhat lacking in the romance department! I swear, her and Trixie at least have that in common!” I nod, “Okay, but how did she ask you?” “She teleported in! She’s an alicorn princess! How else would she do it?” I decide not to inform my love that phones and letters exist and nod instead, “Okay, so what did she ask you?” Starlight frowns, “Well, mostly basic information sort of things? Like what her favorite foods are, what she does for fun, her sense of humor and things like that!” “You know she’s keeping a notebook on this right?” Starlight sighs and looks at the ceiling, “Well, obviously!” I nod, “So uh, both Twilight and Trixie stink at romance? They must make quite the pair!” Starlight lowers her eyes to me with a naughty while smiling devilishly, “Yeah! Not like my baby at all!” I nod again and smile,”Of course! Ready to go to bed baby?” Starlight continues grinning at me as she gets up off her chair, “Well, not just yet, no…” My eyes widen when I realize what we’re about to do on the couch… <*****> I’m talking to Starlight with my phone perched at my right ear, “What do you mean, I’ll never guess where you are? Where are you?” She says from the other end, “I’m at the courthouse…” I frown, “Wait, what? Why are you at the courthouse?” “Well, they perform certain ceremonies there and…” I’m silent for a moment,“So Twilight finally screws somepony and then they get hitched?” Starlight is quiet herself, before saying, “Well, that’s a pretty blunt way of putting it?” I frown, “But I’m right though!” Starlight sighs, “Well, yeah… So, what do we do now?” “Well, live our own lives! What else can we do?” Starlight is silent, “I just don’t want Twilight to get hurt…” “Yeah, me neither… Odd that I’d be saying that about her later on!” “Well, I’ll talk to you later sweetie! I love you!” I smile again, “I love you more!” “No way!” “Yes way, my Starlight snookum pie bear!” “I gotta go!” And then the call cuts with a click… Suddenly, I hear gagging coming from my right and I adjust my gaze just in time to see a pink pegasus filly remove her forehoof from her mouth and stare up at me, “So uh, since they made out and stuff, I’m guessing Twilight said yes?” I eye this filly carefully, “What?” Cozy nods, “Well, the banner said, Will you marry me and since they made out and everything, that means Twilight and Trixie are gonna get married?” “Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?” Her eyes widen, “Oh golly gee, I didn’t think it really mattered? I mean, what does Twilight and Trixie have to do with you?” I blink, “Maybe nothing… Maybe… Anyway, they’re married now!” “Really? I figured Twilight getting married would be a huge ceremony or whatever?” Suddenly, there’s another blinding purple flash right next to my foal! Who promptly stares at it wide-eyed and screams, “AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!” she shakes her head and furrows her brow. “You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?” Twilight stares at the filly, “Actually, I’m really not! You’re just very unlucky!” before adjusting her gaze to me. “Crystal, you gotta help me! We need to plan a wedding!” (To be continued…)
Chapter 1: But Before We Really Get Started...“I’ll admit that part of me felt sorry for you after the whole Trixie fiasco, but most of me was still focused on revenge!” Starlight frowns from where she sits, tied to the chair by rope and blindfolded, there in the motel room, “Crystal, what are you talking about?” I have her right here… I could end her… But I know I won’t… I’ll continue talking instead, “You see Starlight, I haven’t been exactly truthful with you about my true identity…” “Crystal?” Starlight calls out again! I give out a long heavy sigh from my snout, “No Starlight! Even after all you’ve done to me and everything you’ve taken from me and even though now is absolutely the perfect time, I won’t end you after all! No, the truth is, I much prefer you alive now because I’ve grown rather fond of you… I think I…” “Crystal, who are you and what are you trying to say?” Starlight demands, with the blindfold still over her eyes… At this stage, I don’t believe words are appropriate anymore… And so, I do the unthinkable… I drop my disguise from my pony form and trot to Starlight there, now visibly panicked and I do the one thing I never thought I would do… I kissed her… I kissed her and held my lips there against hers, and noted that her snout and eyes began to relax underneath the blindfold… I removed my lips and whispered to her, “I love you… But I think it’s time to tell the truth…” I then magically lifted the blindfold off her head in a pale green glow and witness her two astonished blue eyes staring back at me… “Why?” She could only whisper at that point… I smile, “Permit me to start from the beginning!” “Do tell?” She sits there, unsure of what to think with a startled expression in her azure gaze. I can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all! She thought we were going to play a new sex game by tying her to the chair and while part of me actually did want to do that, the truth was making love to her truly began to lose it’s flair when I thought about how I’m lying to her… I wanted to make love to her as myself, after all… How odd that sex would carry those connotations? It never did in the hive? I finally began to speak, “At first, I was overcome with pure hatred and rage at you for all you had done to me… I was absolutely consumed with desire for revenge on you…” She frowns, “But your clearly not anymore, otherwise you would’ve killed me by now!” I extend my neck to her and snap! “Not necessarily!” Her frown lowers somewhat, “And the kiss?” I lower the rage on my face to her and soften my gaze, “Ah yes, well, I love you Starlight Glimmer!” “W-what?” Her mouth grows agape. I giggle with a consolidating grin and stare at her with wide eyes! “Yeah! I know! I actually do love you!” Starlight’s expression continues to be wide-eyed bewilderment as her frowning muzzle quivers in visible confusion before she stares at me severely, “Oh, sweet Celestia! We had sex! I ate out your asshole just yesterday night!” I chuckle, “Yes dear, and if you permit me later, I’d be happy to return the favor!” At this point, the unicorn has a startled expression on her face, “The queen of the changelings wants to lick my rump!” I try my best to contain my chuckles at this point as I say, “Oh, do shut up, dear! I’m trying to make a point!” She blinks and adjusts her gaze to me, “And that point is?” I sigh and look back at her, “Well, I had been following you and studying you from a distance…” She nods and gulps, “And that’s why you knew I had that relationship with Trixie!” My eyes widen, “Well, right! I knew you had just gotten out of a relationship with that stage magician friend of yours!” She frowns, “And so, you became my rebound?” I smile and chortle to the right, “I suppose I did, yes?” I put my gaze back on her. “Anyway, that’s when I pretended to be Crystal Heart the earth mare that you had fallen in love with!” “Why are you continuing to use her voice, anyway?” I sigh, “Well, I’ve grown fond of it…” I smile at her. “Mostly because using this voice and speaking this way reminds me of you now…” Her eyes widen, “So uh, you don’t wanna go back to the creepy vocoder voice, like before?” I smile, “I don’t think I want to?” “I still can’t believe you actually stuck your forked tongue in my mouth!” “Well uh, heat of the moment?” I frown, “What?” She looks at me, “I mean, I know you love me, but holy crap! Was really NOT expecting a forked tongue in my mouth!” I furrow my brow in irritation and sigh, “I truly HATE myself now, you know that?” She frowns at me, “W-what?” I give out a long sigh from my snout, “I hate myself because I now love you… I hate how I now adore the one pony who took EVERYTHING from me and I hate how I now love the pony who thwarted me at every turn! I” I blink. “I hate that about myself now, Starlight…” “You don’t have to hate yourself, Chrysalis?” I grimace at this cowardly unicorn, “What would you know?” “I know more than you think! I know what it’s like to rule through fear and intimidation and I know how lonely it can be, especially after you’ve been defeated! Uh, how did you escape, anyway?” I can’t help but smile at the simplicity of it all, “Did you know that Discord was an idiot? Heh, yeah! All one really needs to do to escape stone is develop the correct mindset!” Her eyes widen, “Really?” I giggle, “Oh, indeed! Anyway, you were yammering on about redemption and turning over a new leaf or some other such nonsense?” She smiles, “Hmm, well, I’ll make a deal with you Chrysalis! Call it, a wager?” as she lifts her right eyebrow… My eyes narrow, “Go on?” She fixes her eyebrows and lowers her gaze, “You untie me and we start over… I’ll try dating you and being with you, but we need to do it up front this time… You’re not Crystal Heart! You’re Chrysalis!” I widen my gaze, “But in public?” She sighs, “Well, right! I can’t be walking around Ponyville with an evil looking bug horse, so I guess you can continue to be Crystal Heart, while around other ponies?” I sigh, “As you wish!” “Also, uh Chryssi?” I frown and blink at the startling new nickname, “Uh, yes Starlight?” “Could you please uh, go back to your pony form? Uh, you always unnerve me when you look like that…” I think long and hard about this in the space of just a few seconds… For all of my life, I have been a proud strong warrior who could defeat any enemy in my path… And now, this magenta unicorn who I unfortunately seem to have fallen in love with was asking me to assume a lighter more gentle shape… The absurdity and unmitigated gall of this suggestion! I smile and reply, “Very well, dear!” before going back into the shape of Crystal Heart… The earth mare with a shimmering aquamarine coat and a flowing brown mane and tail with a pale blue diamond-shaped crystal superimposed on a heart for a cutie mark… I thought she looked rather fetching with her green eyes, hence I picked this shape to seduce Starlight… “Chryssi?” Starlight asks me while frowning and still tied to the chair. She comes back into focus of my gaze, “Yes Starlight?” She nods, “I think I get it now. You wanted to seduce me to gain revenge, right? But uh, when did you begin to realize that you loved me?” I realize now that there’s no going back and so I reply, “It was close to the beginning of our relationship, actually… Long before we had sex for the first time, as a matter of fact… Uh, “I shake my head.” It was never about that with you, honestly… I realized that I loved you shortly after our second date, although actually, there was always something about your kisses… And I hate myself for it Starlight, but I do truly love you!” “You don’t need to hate yourself!” I lower my gaze at this obstinate unicorn, still tied to a chair, “Seriously, I absolutely adore the one pony who destroyed me! How could I not hate myself, Starlight?” She stares at me with wide blue eyes, “I don’t have to be your enemy?” I sigh and stare back at her, “Well, no…” She blinks, “Well, we can try a relationship if you like?” “What?” I say with a perplexed gaze at this pony with her ludicrous suggestion. She shakes her head, sighs, and stares at me, “Well, look! Where are you staying?” “I live in a cave, deep within the Everfree. I’ve been coming to town for supplies and to spy on you. Why do you ask?” I say with a confused frown on my face… She blinks, “Well, why don’t you stay in my cottage with me, then?” I frown at this preposterous notion, “What?” She nods, “Y-yeah! You just assume the role of Crystal Heart and it can be like, you’re starting over! With me!” and smiles nervously… “As Crystal Heart this time…” “That’s ridiculous!” She nods again and continues to grin at me, “So you’ll do it, then?” At that point, I can only grimace in annoyance at how well this unicorn knows me, “Of course!” <*****> And so, that’s why I currently find myself standing to the right of the most irritating magenta unicorn in the world, whom I love very dearly in front of our single story beige cottage here near the entrance to the Everfree Forest, with it’s big red door, just north of Ponyville… I take a look at my shimmering aquamarine hooves and wonder if this will one day become my true physical shape? I wonder if it’s possible for a changeling to move past what they were and to become something else? I also wonder again why I’m doing this? When the sweet loving unicorn I’ve come to adore pipes up from my right, “And so Chryssi, here is our new home! What do you think?” I look up at it and think it looks like a dump! “Uh, it looks great baby! I uh, can’t wait to move in! Heh heh…” and smile nervously… (To be continued…)
Chapter 2: What I Need To BeAnd so, I woke up on Starlight’s guest bed! I already told her that I wasn’t comfortable sleeping with her right now, after well, the lying… I still wasn’t sure what I was doing, but I saw the sun rising to the east out my window and heard birds chirping as I smelled the fresh morning air in these unusual pony nostrils my disguise had on me… I looked at the clock on the nightstand and saw that it was eight forty seven! I had overslept by about an hour! How unusual? I sighed as I sat there and wondered about a lot of things… I finally shook my head and decided to disembark from the mattress! That’s also new! An actual comfortable bed! My pony hooves go clack as they hit the wooden floor just to the right of the bed with it’s soft pink cotton comforter and downy plush pillows on the end… I look at it and silently thank it for a good night’s rest before beginning my expedition into the foyer from the door… The door quietly shuts behind me and I trot into the kitchen, where I sit my aquamarine pony haunches down into the chair, in front of the round wooden table… I frown while staring from in between two tufts of my brown bed head mane as I wonder if I’ll eventually become this shape, although I did have a conversation with myself about that last night that I suddenly remembered… I had decided that my true form would only be reserved for special occasions, although I couldn’t help but wonder when? Starlight trots in from the kitchen and stops on the other side of the table from where I’m sitting. I stare at her tentatively, “Well, good morning sleepy head! How you doing, Chryssi?” I snap to attention at my new nickname and stare back at her, “What? Oh! I’m doing okay! I uh, “I smile dimly.” didn’t seem to want to get up?” She smiles lovingly at me and I suddenly remember why I’m here, “Well, I wasn’t gonna wake you!” her face normalizes. “How do you take your coffee?” I blink and narrow my mouth, “Black is fine! No sugar!” She trots over to my right and stares at me from there as I turn my head and think, Wasn’t there supposed to be coffee? Before she says, “Chryssi… I uh… I need to know…” I frown at this insane unicorn, “What?” She tenderly closes her eyes halfway and moves her face towards mine to chance a nuzzle… A nuzzle I can’t help but reciprocate as I move my snout to rub hers and smile and giggle at the sudden affection… Then, she did the unbelievable… She kissed me! And as I stared back at her half closed eyes with my own wide ones, and felt her lips locked with mine, I felt a burning passion deep within me… And I hated myself for it, but I truly was growing to love this small magenta horse! She disengages and moves a few inches back to smile warmly at me again while staring deep into me with those piercing blue eyes of hers… “Okay, new rule! No sacred lovey dovey moments, before coffee!” She snickers and grins, “I almost forgot how much you hate mornings!” I widen my eyes at her, “Yeah! I really do! They come too early!” She continues giggling and shaking her head as she exits back to the kitchen on the other side of the table. I think about what just happened as I wait for her to get my coffee… I think about how I’m not used to this place and that this is all new to me, but I don’t seem to mind the ride… I don’t mind because of that pony in there… The same pony who destroyed my life and got my hive to rebel against me… Why did I not destroy her when I had the chance? Ugh! This is madness! Suddenly, the wooden door in front of me swings open and I witness a familiar smiling unicorn with two white cups in her magick floating to the right of her body as she trots towards me with those majestic and elegant hooves of her… Wait, what did I just think about? And the whole time, regardless of my big secret, I can’t help but notice that she still seems happy to have me there as she floats a white cup with a warm black liquid inside it to my front at the table and smiles cheerfully down at me, “Here you go, Chryssi! This should perk you right up!” I growl and grumble as I collect the cup with my forehooves and take that first cautious drink while she looks on from my left side… “I know who you are, so you can use your magick to drink now!” I swallow the hot beverage and stare up at her to frown, “Uh, that’s okay! I don’t mind using my hooves!” She furrows her brow as she stares at me intently… “Chryssi, you know, you’re a changeling and can take any shape you want, right?” I smile dimly at her, “But of course!” She’s silent for a moment before saying, “But you still prefer to be Crystal Heart, the earth mare that I fell in love with…” I blink, “And?” She stares at me intently, “Do you want to be Crystal Heart?” I smile up at her, “But I am Crystal Heart, remember? I made Crystal Heart to seduce you, if you’ll recall.” “I…” She blinks, “I know that, Chryssi… But you like that form and you don’t want to use your magick, even though I know you have it… Do you want to uh, be Crystal Heart?” I giggle up at her, “I am Crystal Heart, Starlight!” and then move my pony muzzle up to hers to chance nuzzle… She giggles, “Quit it! I’m serious, Chryssi! Do you uh, not want to be Chrysalis anymore?” I stop nuzzling her and consider this… I wasn’t exactly reluctant to go back to this form, now that I dwell on it and that is an interesting notion… I stare up into the azure eyes of this concerned magenta unicorn and smile when the words finally strike me, “Starlight, you said I could start over, right? Well, why don’t I try being a pony now?” Her eyes widen, “Despite all your capable of, you’d be content to just be a simple earth mare?” The true gravity of everything I just said suddenly hits me, “Starlight, I think I’m losing my mind? I-I love you and nothing means anything without you, now… I want to be what you want and so I became Crystal Heart, but now, now I don’t think I really want to go back? Just uh, “I shake my head, “just being with youas a pony justmakes me so happy!” She smiles dimly, “Hey Chryssi?” My eyes widen, “Yes Starlight?” She breathes out slowly from her nose, “Why don’t you sleep with me from here on out? I mean, “she blinks. “we don’t have to cuddle, uh, if you’re not comfortable? It’s just that, uh… Having my marefriend here and NOT sleeping with her seems like such a waste? I want you near me!” At this point, I can only frown up at her, “You’re an idiot, you know that?” She grins and snickers, “I love you too, baby!” and leans down to peck me on the lips! “Complete moron!” I add as she continues to giggle at me… Before turning to the warm caffeinated beverage I oh so desperately needed right about now! I begin taking another swig with my forehooves when this infuriating unicorn from Tartarus pesters me once more, “Hey, Chryssi?” I set down my mug quickly in frustration before turning back right to face her with wide curious eyes, “Yes, dear?” She stares at me, gauging me with those blue pupils of hers, “You can be Crystal Heart if you want to be…” I’m silent for a moment… “Okay…” She smiles and leans down for another kiss on my pony lips… She breaks and moves a few inches away, “I love you Crystal Heart!” At that point, I can only concede defeat and say the only thing I can, “So bucking stupid!” and move my face to hers for another passionate kiss… And as I held my snout to hers, I contemplated on identity and what that truly means… My name won’t be Chrysalis anymore, but Crystal Heart… I know my magick and true form will never really go away, but I seem to be fine without them now? She breaks and moves back a small bit to gaze at me and smile, “So, would you like that? To be Crystal Heart?” I smile up at her and finally repeat myself, “My name is Crystal Heart!” “I noticed you haven’t fed recently? Don’t you need love?” I blink and stare forward blankly when it suddenly occurs to me that I actually haven’t fed in weeks now! I just wasn’t hungry! I look up at her and frown, “I uh, I don’t think I need any right now, actually?” Her eyes widen when she suddenly realizes, “You’ve been feeding off my love, haven’t you?” My eyes widen at this prospect, “I uh, I guess so?” Her mouth goes agape, “Chrysalis! I reformed you! Uh, “she shakes her head. “Crystal Heart! Sorry! But you’re reformed now!” I frown as my eyes widen again, “I am?” She smiles and nods excitedly, “Yes Crystal! Love reformed you!” My mouth narrows, “It was love that defeated me in Canterlot all that time ago and now, this love has done this to me?” I breath out of my mouth. “Sometimes, I don’t think it’s a good idea to mess with love?” She giggles, “Crystal Heart?” I widen my eyes at her again, “Yes?” “I love you!” “I love you too, but I’m gonna need more coffee than this if this is how things are gonna go today!” She grins, and giggles while shaking her head before hugging me… I squeal, “EEP!” and for the third time in the past 12 hours, I wondered exactly what I had gotten myself into? She releases me, and says, “Well, I got honey buns for breakfast, and you already got coffee. Uh, how does a nice romantic wagon ride sound this lovely morning?” I stare up at her as I’m honestly not sure and reply, “That sounds lovely, darling!” She frowns at me, “I think I get it now? I had to keep coming up with romantic things for us to do because you weren’t really romantic before…” I frown, “Not really? I mean, drone comes in, I buck him, he leaves, larvae gets hatched later, and that’s pretty much it!” “Changelings aren’t much for romance, are they?” “Well, back then, they weren’t! I don’t know what modern changelings are like?” She smiles and moves her right forehoof down my chest, “Well, I do know of one particular changeling who’s a genuine love bug!” My eyes widen, “Really? Who?” She giggles and bends down to kiss me and I once more feel electricity moving through my snout and into me and I’m once again reminded of why I’m here… <*****> As I sat there in the wagon as it rolled down the trail that morning, I contemplated on a lot of things as I stared into the azure gaze of this other pony… Wait! Other pony? When did I start thinking like that? I contemplate on what this will mean for the rest of my life… Or rather, the rest of this pony’s life. It occurs to me that I will outlive her and I suddenly wonder what sort of changeling I will be later when she finally passes on? All of these thoughts race through my mind when she suddenly says, “Crystal! You okay?” I blink in startled confusion before adjusting my gaze to her, “Oh, I’m just fine sweetie! We’re all fine here! Everything is just fine! Uh, how are you?” She giggles as she leans towards me to peck me on the lips and smiles with her face a few inches from mine and blue eyes locked on mine… My eyes shimmer with my changeling magick as she says, “You always did think too much, Crystal Heart…” I smile and admit, “Well, yeah…” Her eyes widen, “Relax! I’m here! You’re here! We’re in a nice cozy wagon ride together! This is fun, right?” I widen my eyes and contemplate fun? It was so much easier when I was pretending… “Yeah, of course baby! I’m happy!” “You sure? You’ve been quiet this whole time!” I giggle to the right side with conceded defeat, before staring back into those eyes I’ve come to adore, “Yeah, I just keep thinking about this commitment, you know? I mean, I’m not really a pony! Uh, am I?” She gazes at me intently, “What if I told you you’re all the pony I need? What if I told you that it doesn’t matter to me that you used to be a shape-shifting love-sucking abomination? That you’re Crystal Heart now and that that’s good enough for me?” I stare into the blue oculars of this pony and wonder just how well she knows me by this point? “Perhaps that’s all I need, then?” She giggles and leans towards me so I feel her soft warm breath on my face from a few short inches away, “Perhaps you really do think too much!” before leaning in for another passionate kiss on the lips… She disengages to grin at me from a short bit away as I whisper, “Stupid dumb shit bucking idiot…” She silences me with yet another passionate kiss… I suddenly realize that this identity shall be who I choose to be… I am now Crystal Heart, because that’s what my love needs now… (To be continued…)
Chapter 3: Yeah, About That!She sat there on the left side of the wagon smiling at me from her pony haunches and I suddenly remembered that I have the same thing now as I frown at her, “Are you happy, my love?” She studies me carefully and says, “Yes darling, but I want to know more about you…” My eyes widen, “What do you mean?” She breathes slowly, in and out through her nose, “You didn’t really have much before me, did you?” I blink, “Huh?” She breathes out of her snout before staring back at me, “You say you lived in a cave in the Everfree Forest and only came to town for supplies? What did you normally do with yourself?” My frown lowers, “Well, if you must know, I usually liked to hike in the forest and read books…” “Well, okay honey, but, uh…” She gazes directly at me and continues. “I think I made your life better, and that’s why you love me…” At this point, my head shakes and mouth quivers as I become flustered, “Well, yeah! So what?” Her eyes widen, “Well, I’m certainly not saying that was a bad thing!” she smiles and moves her forehooves to my chest, not far from my heart. “In fact, I think bringing you into the light was a good thing, Crystal!” I smile and relax my shoulders, “I-I’m sorry Starlight… It’s just that well,” I blink.” this whole time, I kept thinking of you as a secret enemy or a nemesis that I must destroy and now, well…” I chuckle. “we’re in thisactualrelationship now and things got weird for me!” I half close my eyes as I continue to chuckle… She blinks, “Yeah, tell me about it! I mean, it turns out the whole time, you were an evil changeling queen who really wanted to kill me, and well, now you’re gonna tryactually being the mare I love,even though you don’t have to be, and while it does make me feel good, and” she blinks again, “it truly makes me feel special that I make you want to be better, but uh, well,” her eyes affix directly onto me. “you don’t really see it coming, you know?” I turn to face the driver with his tall gray top hat and matching heavy overcoat and say to him, “You didn’t hear anything!” before fetching two bits from my right saddlebag with my mouth and moving it towards him… The brown stallion turns to face me on his right and takes the gratuity with his right forehoof to the interior of his coat as he smiles at me, “Of course, ma’am!” before fetching his chrome metal flask on his right on the driving bench and taking a swig of it in front of me and my love… I’m not absolutely certain, but I think I smell bourbon at this point? He soon turns back to the front to continue driving the wagon… I turn back to my love on the left side of the wagon and say, “So anyway!” And that’s when things got really bad… That’s when she kissed me passionately! <*****> So then, I sat there, on my brand-new aquamarine pony haunches on the chair, on the outside patio cafe… I grasped my triple mocha latte with my forehooves and bring it to my snout for a mighty gulp! Oh, how I love coffee now! I set it down and stare up at her as she smiles at me from my right side… I suddenly think she was supposed to be on the other side of the table when she grins and says, “I love you!” I gaze at her, “So, that’s it then? I reveal my big secret and we just continue where we left off?” She breathes heavily out of her mouth, “Well, what else can we do?” I glance over at the vacant patio before back at my love, “I don’t know? I mean, maybe start over or?” She frowns, “How?” “I don’t know, okay? I honestly didn’t expect this love to be real and well, it is now and you’re there and I’m here and…” That’s when she moves her right forehoof to my snout to silence me… “What if I told you that you’re identity doesn’t matter to me, Crystal?” I widen my eyes at this preposterous notion, “What?” She smiles wider and giggles, “Because I’ve seen what’s in your soul!” I frown again, “Well, you’ve definitely seen inside me!” She chuckles as she leans towards me for another affectionate nuzzle… “Ah, yes! The romantic stuff!” She grins, “You act like you don’t want to?” “What if I said that I really didn’t?” She leans closer so her nose is touching mine, “Then I’d say that I didn’t believe you!” before moving her lips to mine for another ardent lock… She releases me to a few inches beyond my face and smiles as I grimace in horror at this insane pony, “I can’t win, can I?” “Nope!” She happily replies before kissing me again! <*****> I stare up at the pony across the room from me as I sit on the EZ chair… I picked this spot specifically so she wouldn’t cuddle me anymore! “So uh, I live here now, right?” She snickers back at me, “Well yeah! We did just eat spinach sandwiches with mustard for lunch!” I nod, “Well, right! So uh, what now?” She sighs from her mouth, “Right! You’re not romantic! So I have to keep thinking of things for us to do!” My eyes widen, “I can be romantic!” She giggles, “Oh? Do tell?” and lifts her right eyebrow while continuing to smile at me. I frown as I suddenly wondered what I just said, “I don’t know? I mean, we could uh…” I stare at her and think that since she’s into all the mushy stuff, “maybe cuddle and watch a romantic comedy together? Yes? Romantic? Right?” and smile at her awkwardly… <*****> And so, in a nutshell, that’s why I found myself watching this movie in the dimly lit living room while Starlight loved me from the right by snuggling me affectionately… It’s so weird, but even after all this time, I’m still not exactly used to this! I’m not even paying attention to the movie and I feel trapped in my own head as she nuzzles me from the side and whispers, “I love you Crystal Heart!” I smile back as reality begins to set in once more and whisper back, “I love you too, Starlight!” Then she half-closes her eyes once more and nuzzles me affectionately and I reciprocate. I kiss her on the lips and feel that spark inside me again as I stare at her closed eyes in the dark room… I can’t for the life of me explain it, but this feels good! It seems to make me happy, so I keep kissing her… And then, she does the unthinkable… She slips her tongue into my mouth! She soon breaks and smiles at me from a few inches away before whispering, “You told me that you wanted to be what I needed you to be, right?” My eyes widen when I realize she’s up to something, “Uh, y-yes I did… It infuriates me to no end, but by this stage, I truly do love you, Starlight Glimmer…” She moves her nose up to mind and I feel it there all cold and pony-like, “Well, why I don’t I try to be what you need?” I frown and widen my eyes for the umpteenth time, “Uh, I don’t need anything! Just what are you trying to say?” She giggles and kisses me once more and as her lips locked with mine, time stood still… The movie continued to play on the screen, but I couldn’t tell you what it was about because my world was now magenta and it was sitting right next to me! I nuzzle her back while continuing to smile and stare into her dimly lit azure pupils… When suddenly, I feel her hoof begin to touch me… <*****> Starlight has a sort of glow or aura to her as she sits on her haunches at the table in front of me and uses her blue magick to sip her hot cocoa and smiles happily to herself… I eye her carefully, still thinking about what we just did, “Starlight, we just had sex, didn’t we?” She magically sets her cocoa down to smile at me, “Well, yeah! I was there!” I nod, “Right! But uh, you know I’m a changeling, right?” Her eyes widen, “Well, yeah! But you can be whatever you want to be, you know?” My eyes widen at this prospect, “You don’t want me to be a dog or anything, do you?” She frowns in horror, “Oh, Celestia, no! It’s just that uh…” she glances at me. “What?” She catches her breath and composes herself before glancing back at me, “Well, you said you were happy being Crystal Heart, right?” I frown, “Well, I uh, I am actually… Yes, I’d rather be Crystal Heart than Chrysalis…” She smiles, “So why don’t you just be Crystal Heart, then?” I blink, “Well uh, should we tell your friends?” Her smile lowers, “You know, I never really thought about that?” I suddenly imagined creating tulpa golems of all of her friends before shaking my head thinking that’s probably a bad idea? I stare up at her and say, “Well, why don’t we begin with the obvious choice?” <*****> I stared and smiled at the orange earth pony with her hat-less blond mane, done into a long bun of sorts, behind her… I sat on the other side of the room on the sofa. She seemed to somehow sense that something was up as she unnervingly replied, “Uh, what’s that about Crystal Heart?” Starlight giggles nervously, “Well, uh, baby. Maybe it’s better if you just show her?” I stare at Applejack and say to her quickly, to silence my love, “You agree that honesty is always the best policy, yes?” She looks right towards me and frowns, “Uh, yeah! Always!” I sigh from my mouth and ask her, “Do you believe it’s possible for people to change, Applejack? I mean, truly change for the better?” Her eyes narrow, “Just what are you getting at, sugarcube?” “Do you believe it’s possible to change for the better, Applejack? Yes, or no?” Her eyes and mouth normalize as she seems confused now, “Well uh, y-yeah! I reckon so! Of course! Why do you ask?” I smile, “I’ve decided that this would become my standard shape… But it wasn’t always so…” Her eyes widen, “What?” “I’m actually a changeling, Applejack…” Her mouth goes agape as she repeats herself, “What?” I chuckle, “Yeah… And as I’m sure you can surmise, Crystal Heart was not always my name…” “Oh, wow! So uh, you just prefer a pony form, then? As Crystal Heart?” I chuckle, “Well, yes…” I look over at Starlight Glimmer. “I confess I originally pretended to be a pony to seduce that one, but honestly, I truly love her now and I truly love being a pony, now!” “Uh, alright partner! I mean, I know what you are and as long as you ain’t hurting anypony, I reckon it’s okay… Uh, what was yer original name, anyhow?” At this stage, I smile at the apple horse, much as a deer would gaze at an oncoming train, “Well, is that really important?” She frowns, “Well, probably not, no? Uh, so yer livin’ here now?” (To be continued… )
Chapter 4: You See, the Thing About Me Is...I smile at the orange pony across the room from me, “Of course! I love Starlight Glimmer now and I live with her!” Starlight smiles at Applejack from her hooves in the center of the room, just to my left, “Yeah! I love Crystal Heart!” She responds to me, “So, your name is Crystal Heart, now?” I smile wider and nod, “Yes! Of course!” Starlight adds, “Right!” She adjusts her gaze to Starlight, “Well, I guess this is okay, but uh, I can’t shake this feeling that there’s more you’re not telling me?” At this point, I snap at the earth pony, “Applejack! You say honesty is the best policy, yes? Well, lets put that theory to the test then, shall we? Tell me, what would you say if I told you my original name was Chrysalis?” Applejack stares at me wide-eyed, “W-what? That just can’t be so! I mean, you’re sweet and nice and Chrysalis was, well, she was…” I smile at the cowpony, “Mean and nasty?” “Well uh, well yeah! She was mean and you’re…” “Not!” I cut off the orange pony and raise my right forehoof, “But you also say that people can change for the better, yes?” and lower it again while staring directly at her… She frowns… “I uh, I did, yes… I did say that… So you say you are Chrysalis?” I smile and giggle, “Used to be, dear sweet Applejack! I’m being honest and up front with you, here, but now, I’ve decided to assume the role of Crystal Heart the earth mare and to live with my love here…” “Aren’t ya kinda pretendin’ to be somethin’ yer not?” “Well, I never said that I wasn’t a changeling, now did I?” She nods, “Well, yeah that’s true, but I mean, why do you think you gotta be an earth mare, now?” I frown at her, “The truth is, I didn’t know things like happiness and friendship until I took the form of a pony… Now, I like this shape… Honestly, being Crystal Heart makes me happy… Happier than I’ve ever been…” I smile at her. “I’m a changeling and can take any form I wish… I choose to take the form of a pony…” The earth mare sits dumbfounded, “Wow!” I giggle while leaning forward slightly and widen my eyes, “A lot to take in, yes?” Her view widens as she glances to the right, “Yer not kiddin! Uh,” she looks back at me.”so yer Crystal Heart now? Not Chrysalis?” I giggle, “Oh, it finally sinks in, I see! Yes, dear sweet Applejack! This is the identity I’m choosing for myself, at this point…” She frowns, “Well uh, alright then! I reckon it’s good enough? Yer name is Crystal Heart, now!” and nods… I turn my head left towards my love, still on her hooves and facing the orange earth mare, “See? That wasn’t so hard, now was it?” Starlight turns her head towards me and I see her wide azure eyes are shaky with paranoia, “Uh, of course not, dear! Piece of cake! Yeah!” and she smiles nervously… I get off the red chair and face her on my hooves as I smile, “You always were a terrible liar, you know that dear?” She frowns, “I’ll have you know that I’m the best liar!” I giggle as I trot towards her and embrace her in a tight warm hug, “It’s okay, sweetie… We’re in this together…” Applejack stares at this and comments, “Now, I don’t know about all that identity stuff yer goin’ on about, but I can plainly see that you do care for Starlight here…” she nods. “I reckon that uh, one way or the other, this is a good thing…” I look over at Applejack while continuing to keep Starlight in my grasp, “Thank you for your understanding!” before turning my head back towards Starlight’s shoulder as I affectionately hang onto her and whisper. “Idiot!” She whispers back, “Dumbass!” Applejack giggles, and only then, do I begin to become annoyed… She looks at me and asks, “So, what are you gonna do, now?” I disengage my love and we both stare at the apple horse as I explain, “Well, since we got you now, I guess Rainbow Dash or Rarity is the next step?” She frowns, “You know, I could just convene a meetin’ at the Castle of Friendship, like old times? I mean, if we all just met there, you could explain it to us all at once!” I nod, “This is true, but do you believe such an act is wise?” Her eyes widen, “What?” I smile, “Think about how your friends will react, Applejack. Do you believe it’s better if they’re all together or one at a time, as we’ve done with you?” “You don’t have a lot of faith in ponies, do you Crystal Heart?” I frown and widen my gaze, “Should I?” Applejack begins to smile and shake her head, “Yeah, we’re gonna need ta work on that!” I grimace, “What?” as Starlight turns her neck right towards me and snickers… <*****> “Yes! So I was Chrysalis, but I like being an earth pony now and that’s what I’m choosing to be… Well,” I blink.”most of the time! I mean, I might need to change shape at some point?” I raise my eyes skyward. “Literally just thought about that!” The other ponies at the sky-blue Cutie Map all stare at me while the blue one on the slight right with the multi-colored mane says, “Wait! So you don’t wanna be Chrysalis anymore?” I sigh, “Well uh, no! Not really! You see uh, well,” I smile nervously. “I wasn’t really happy being Chrysalis…” The purple one, just to the left of the blue pegasus says, “So uh, you want to be Crystal Heart now, and not Chrysalis?” “Well, essentially, yes!” I nod… She replies, “Uh, wow! You just don’t see this one coming!” The orange one on the other side of the blue one looks at her and says, “Right?” I giggle nervously, “Yeah uh, Starlight told me the same thing!” Twilight gazes at me, “Well, right! But uh, you’re choosing the name Crystal Heart for yourself now?” My eyes widen and I nod, “Well, right!” Twilight gazes at me carefully before finally replying, “Well, as long as you’re not hurting anypony or breaking any laws, I guess it’s fine?” she smiles at me. “Then you shall be Crystal Heart now, pony or no!” I reply, “Applejack said the same thing!” Applejack looks at Twilight from across the table, “Well, she’s right! I did!” Twilight shakes her head, “Well, right! So uh, what was that about Starlight reforming you?” My eyes widen in shock again, “Oh, she mentioned that, did she?” my eyes move up again, “Probably a good idea, when I dwell on it?” they move back to the purple alicorn, “You see, I haven’t really needed to feed on any love for the past three weeks, or so! Starlight’s love has indeed reformed me! Yes!” and nod. Applejack’s eyes widen, “Wow! I would’ve understood a lot faster if y’all just mentioned that!” I grimace when I realize that she’s probably right? Twilight giggles, “So, apparently, the reformed version of Chrysalis just wants to be an earth mare now and is named Crystal Heart!” My eyes widen and mouth narrows before I repeat myself, “Well, essentially, yes!” Twilight widens her eyes at me, “Well, welcome to the crew, Crystal Heart!” I frown, “What?” <*****> “Yes! Coffee is good! I like coffee!” I emphatically say before taking a swig of the much needed triple amaretto cappuccino they served me at the cafe that afternoon on the patio… The magenta pony I love giggles at me from the other side of the table, while the street to her left stays desolate in the midday sun, and we both sit there shielded underneath the wooden awning, “You needed more caffeine, didn’t you Chryssi?” I set it down and reply, “Um, it’s a strong possibility?” as she giggles more… “Well, I’ll take a coffee junkie over evil queen Tartarus-bent on ruling Equestria, anyway!” I raise my cup and gulp down some more strong beverage before saying, “I’m not addicted! I can quit anytime! I just uh, choose not to! Yes! You insolent twit!” She snickers at me, “Whatever!” I narrow my eyes, “You don’t know me!” and take another swig of the lovely warm caffeinated beverage… She giggles and shakes her head, “I just can’t believe you used to be Chrysalis!” I frown at her, “What? Why?” She eyes me and says, “You’re just so cute! Especially when you’re in denial!” My eyes widen, “I’m not in denial! I’m completely serious, you sniveling worm!” She shakes her head again, “Honestly, I’m not even perturbed by the sudden royal insults, because you’re just so funny!” “Shut up!” I reply in indignation before taking another drink from my beloved coffee… She sighs and takes a drink from her single latte… She always did like those weaker coffees… She smiles at me, “So, now they all know about you!” My eyes widen, “I am just a simple earth mare named Crystal Heart! And nothing else!”* “I already told you that you’re mare enough for me, Crystal, so you’re good! Don’t worry about it!” My shoulders relax and I take another sip from my coffee and slowly swallow as I form the words in my mind, “I’m just worried, okay? I mean, what if Applejack is right? What if I’m just pretending?” Starlight frowns, “Crystal, I want to tell you a story! It’s about a unicorn mare who became upset at cutie marks! She became so enraged that she founded a village far to the west, in Equestria! In this village, she removed all of their cutie marks and got rid of their special talents in the process… They later rebelled against her when a particular group of six ponies intervened… I later came back for revenge on the purple one, and she convinced me that what I was doing wasn’t right… “she blinks. “I came to realize that I needed to change for the better, and I believe that in a way, that’s exactly what you’re doing…” I take another drink of my lovely warm coffee before gazing at her again and raising my right eyebrow, “Do tell?” She sighs and gives her pitch, “Crystal Heart, I don’t think you could really be better as Chrysalis… I think you need a new identity for that…” “And the fact that it was an earth mare named Crystal Heart?” She smiles, “A happy accident! I like you as Crystal Heart!” I frown and eye her carefully, “What do you like about me?” “I just love how goofy and silly you are, especially when you get flustered!” At this point, I can feel my cheeks rising as the heat from them begins to increase and I say to her, “I DO NOT get flustered!” She giggles silently, “Oh, sure!” “Shut up!” I snap back at the unicorn! She just chuckles softly while keeping her mouth closed and I can only grow more annoyed with this mare… Until she said the one thing that made everything ten times worse! “I love you so much, Crystal Heart!” (To be continued...) Author's Note *I am Thrackerzod! A perfectly ordinary unicorn filly! And nothing else!
Chapter 5: But Seriously, Why is It That...“Do you think I’m pretending?” I ask the magenta unicorn holding me from behind in her forehooves as we spooned together on the bed… She whispers in my ear, “Remember what we talked about overthinking, right? You’re a changeling and can take any form you want. This is what you choose. Do you need anything else?” I close my eyes, “But uh, I don’t know what’s real anymore?” She holds me tighter, “What do you mean?” “I was living this life as an evil changeling queen… Then, one day, that all gets taken away from me! And the truly bucked up thing is, it was really your fault that it all happened and I really should hate you! But now… But now with all of these new emotions that came up when we first got together…” “Are you okay?” I begin to shake a little bit, “I uh, I don’t know anymore Starlight Glimmer… I don’t know how I am anymore… I mean, remember that first time at the theater?” * Starlight giggles softly, “Yeah… I remember getting that strange note in my office, asking me to meet somepony there… And then, I met you!” “Yeah, I knew surprising you with flowers would be a great way to show you I cared!” “Did you actually care though?” I sigh, “Well uh, not really… Not at first, no… I kept thinking about how I was playing you and how I was gonna get my revenge earlier…” “When, Chryssi?” I open my eyes, “What?” and frown. “When did you begin caring about me?” I sigh, “I don’t know, okay? All I really know for sure is that at first, I was going to stab you in the flanks and destroy you, but now, well, now I can’t do that…” She holds me tighter and I squeal, “EEP!” “The important thing now is that you’re reformed by my love and that you care for me now!” I gasp out wide-eyed, “I do need to breath though!” She releases me and chuckles softly, “Sorry baby!” I’m silent for a moment before finally saying, “This is real, isn’t it?” “Yes! Now do I need to tickle you?” My eyes widen, “What?” “You’re thinking too much again, and so that must mean you need tickles, yes?” I stammer out quickly, “No! Don’t…” But it was too late! She already had her hooves in my front pits and was moving them around madly to stimulate me! “He he he he he! Stop it, jerk! Ho ho ho! I swear, you’re gonna pay for this! Ha ha ha ha!” I chuckle as she does the deed. “You gonna keep thinking too much?” She asks while continuing to torment me with her forehooves. I giggle profusely while snorting and saying, “He he he! Vengeance will be mine one day, Starlight Glimmer! Ho ho ho!” She stops and comments, “You know, if you were saying those things as Chrysalis, it would be different?” I stop for a moment when what she said begins to sink in… “But… But I’m not Chrysalis… Right?” “Do I need to tickle you some more?” My eyes widen in shock, “Uh, no! Not at all! I’m Crystal Heart! Yes! That’s my name! Crystal Heart! Of course!” and nod. She chuckles slightly again, “Right! So, why don’t we get you some coffee?” And seeing my best way out of the tickle bed, I then frantically nod and say, “Yes! Coffee is good! I like coffee!” <*****> I grumble lowly under my breath before taking that first tentative sip of my coffee… I stare up at the magenta unicorn smiling back at me from across the table from underneath my disheveled brown mane and frown at her… “You seem cheery?” Her eyes widen, “Oh, I’m just happy we got everything out into the open earlier… I mean, I know who you are now and feel like we can really help each other!” “Or I could just go back to my cave?” Her smile lowers, “Do you really want that though?” “Not particularly?” I honestly reply before sighing to my slight left and looking back at the unicorn. “I think I just need some time to figure these things out?” Her eyes widen, “Well, if that’s what you need, then that’s what we should get you!” I widen my eyes and nod, “Right! Time! That’s what I need!” And then, instead of dropping it like I was really hoping she’d do, she just made things worse, “So uh, what do you need help with? I got the day off today and we can just relax and focus on things together!” “Coffee shop trip?” She smiles, “Yeah, I saw that coming like a thousand ton asteroid!” <*****> And so, I sat there writing on the paper with my mouth… I looked down my aquamarine snout at the sheet that had the words Identity issues: written on it, with nothing underneath, as it sat there next to my triple mocha in it’s white paper cup with the plastic safety lid on it… I spit the pen out and sigh at what little work I had done… Starlight frowns at me from the other side of the table, just to the right of her own paper cup and says, “It’s just so strange! You have magick, but you say you’re not comfortable using it?” My eyes widen and I grab the dark blue pen with my mouth and write, Not comfortable with magick on the paper underneath the first line and spit it out before staring at her, “I don’t know why? I’m just not okay with that anymore?” She frowns, “Well, lets explore that then, shall we? I did used to be a counselor, you know!” I grimace at this realization, “This is technically true…” Her mouth normalizes, “Well, right! But back to what I was saying! Why no magick anymore?” I sigh and answer, “I don’t know, okay? I mean, I’m Crystal Heart now and not Chrysalis, right?” She frowns and nods, “Well, right! That’s what you say!” I clear my throat, “Uh, right! Well, Crystal Heart doesn’t have magick… She’s an earth pony…” She blinks, “Okay, so since you’re an earth pony now, you choose not to have magick?” “Well, don’t you think that choice is kinda already made for me? I mean, earth ponies don’t have magick!” Her eyes widen, “Of course! And I’m guessing that’s why you no longer use your wings?” My own pupils enlarge as well, “I don’t have wings, remember?” She frowns and is obviously taken aback as she moves her neck back an inch, “Oh uh, right! Of course! Yes!” I furrow my brow and narrow my gaze and mouth at this unicorn, “Are you questioning my commitment?” Her eyes widen and mouth goes agape in shock, “N-no! Of course not, Crystal Heart! I uh, look!” she shakes her head, “I’m sorry, okay? I just uh, didn’t expect you to turn out to be Chrysalis or well, from Chrysalis rather,” she waves her right forehoof in the air casually and sets it back on the ground. “and now when I think about how you used to have wings, well, I guess I just momentarily forgot that you didn’t?” I frown at this impudence! “So that’s it then? I tell you that I used to be Chrysalis and now, you’ll never forget it, right?” She blinks slowly and lowers her shoulders, “N-no Crystal Heart! Listen to me!”** My eyes narrow… She sighs out of her snout, “It’s just new information, you know? It’ll pass! I promise! And I’ll try my best to just uh, forget it, okay?” her eyes widen, “Your past shouldn’t matter, after all! Believe me, if anypony knows that all too well, it’s me!” she smiles. “I’m just gonna forget your past, okay honey? And you should probably do that same!” My eyes widen as I sigh, “Well uh, right! So what else?” She looks at me, “Well, there is the fact that you no longer seem to want flight?” I frown, “Well, no! Not particularly?” She frowns, “Why not?” My eyes widen, “Well, for one, everypony knows me as an earth pony now!” She nods, “Well, right! But you could shift into a pegasus form and have flight, you know?” My pupils enlarge to maximum, “And just what would we tell everypony who saw me?” Her eyes widen when she considers this, “Well, that you fell into a magical pond and that it transformed you! And now you have wings!” “Are you being serious?” “What?” “First off, they’d start asking questions like, where is this pond and can you show us the way, and secondly, that story sounds ridiculous and nopony with more than two brain cells to rub together would actually believe it!” Her eyes widen, “Okay! Okay! I get it! I guess this means you’re just stuck as an earth pony all the time, or at least, in public?” I frown and widen my eyes again, “Did I not already say that I was fine with that? Do you not believe me?” “Well, yeah! Of course I believe you! It’s just that, well, I was wanting to improve your life!” “Starlight, you’ve already immeasurably improved my life and I assure you, you need not do more than you already do…” She frowns, “So you say…” I stare into those blue eyes of hers right then and say, “No, Starlight! You need to hear this!” Her eyes widen as she’s visibly taken aback, “Go on?” I clear my throat with my right forehoof before my mouth and lower it as I look at her again, “Sorry! After years of feeling nothing, it’s so odd to finally actually care! Um,” I blink at my love. “after well, everything and how you helped me realize that I actually am worth something, I just feel very attached to you…” She frowns once more, “Yeah, almost like you love me?” I smile and giggle slightly, “Heh heh, uh, yeah! That! I uh…” I blink at her. “I really do care for you Starlight…” “Why’s it so hard to admit for you?” My pupils enlarge as my aquamarine muzzle glowers, “W-what?” She smiles faintly as her head lowers slightly, “Why can’t you just say that you love me already?” “I say I love you all the time! I said that to you several last night when we were uh, doing stuff together…” “Having sex?” I nod, “Right! That! When we were having sex, I told you that I loved you several times! So it still counts!” as I feel my cheeks begin to enlarge and grow warm… By this point, she’s grinning and snickering gently while I scowl at her, “You impudent worm! Why must you torment me?” She stops giggling and her eyes widen, “It’s fun?” “Ugh!” I roll my eyes. “In all my days of sitting in the palace section of the changeling hive, I never imagined it would one day come to this!” She sighs and stares at me, “I know what you mean! Back when I led my cutie mark cult, I didn’t think I’d be principle of a school later and end up dating and living with a former bug queen!” I can only smirk at this, “Hmm, quite the endearing term!” She grins slightly and snickers through her nose, “I thought so!” I finally decide to take my strong cappuccino in my forehooves from the right of the notepad I was looking down at and take a mighty swig of the warm caffeinated beverage… Her view widens, “Wow! Slow down, baby!” I set it down quickly and sigh, “Sorry love… I kinda needed that… “ “I see…” She says before using her magick to tentatively take a small sip from her disgusting and puny berry latte coffee… I’m still perplexed as to why anypony would ever drink that? I shake my head and stare down at the notepad, “Okay, so we got not wanting magick and not wanting flight! Uh, is that all?” “Well, you did kinda give up on your plans of revenge and ruling Equestria, earlier?” I widen my eyes, “Oh, that! Uh…” I frown. “I sort of did, didn’t I? Why would I do that?” She frowns, “Perhaps you found something better than power and control? Something more worthwhile?” At this point, I can no longer contain it… I scream, “AAAAAAHHHH!!!!” at Starlight! “It makes no sense! You destroyed me! Why do I love you?” (To be continued…) Author's Note *Given I have a tendency to begin my stories on crests, I really should provide better context in the future. **Wait! Didn’t Starlight go through something similar with Trixie back in season 6? Déjà vu!
Chapter 6: You Know What, Never Mind!The magenta unicorn stares at me from the other side of the table with a solemn look on her muzzle and in her wide azure eyes, “Crystal Heart! I never destroyed you!” I keep my gaze wide and keep my own snout agape, “W-what?” She smiles gently, “I destroyed Chrysalis… Remember? You are not Chrysalis…” I frown, “I-I’m not Chrysalis…” She nods, “Right! You have no vendetta against me, Crystal Heart!” My mouth goes agape again, “Uh, r-right! I’m not Chrysalis! Well, not anymore!” Her eyes widen again, “See how this works? This is a new life for you! You’re Crystal Heart now! Not Chrysalis!” “But what about my hive?” “You mean the changeling kingdom to the west? What about it? You have nothing to do with that place Crystal Heart!” “I-I don’t?” I ask and frown as I’m not sure what this insane magenta unicorn is babbling about? She smiles wider, “Nope! You just got here! I took you from the forest and now, you live with me! See how this works?” “But where was I before?” I ask her… “You were somepony else, but that’s not important now. What does matter is that now you’re Crystal Heart…” At this point, I can no longer contain myself… I finally crack a grin and start giggling at how absurd everything truly is! I gaze at her with wide hysterical eyes and say, “I’m not Chrysalis anymore! But you’re still Starlight Glimmer! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!” as I giggle like a maniac at this small magenta horse, who just happens to share my insanity! “Crystal! Get a hold of yourself!” Starlight shouts at me with a concerned look in her eyes! I keep laughing at her, “We’re both lunatics, you know that? Completely insane! I lived in a cave, and now I’m in some crazy alternate universe where my name is totally different! Ha ha ha ha he he he he!”* She frowns soberly, “Why, what do you mean? You’ve always been Crystal Heart?” I stop giggling abruptly, “W-what?” She smiles, “Sure! You were Chrysalis before, but hey!” she waves her right forehoof in the air. “That doesn’t matter at this stage!” “Wait! I thought you said I’d always been Crystal Heart?” “You have!” I frown again, “I’m confused!” She snickers, “Okay, it’s like this Crystal! You were somepony else…” “Some-changeling!” I correct her. She nods, “Right! You were an evil changeling queen earlier, but now, you’re starting over! This is another life for you, get it?” “I think so?” I continue frowning as I lie… She giggles, “You know all of that horrible nasty crap from earlier, when you were bad or whatever, Crystal?” My eyes widen although I still don’t know where she’s going? “Uh, yes I do, but what is your point?” She smiles brighter, “That that doesn’t matter anymore! This is a new you! You’re Crystal Heart now! A fresh start!” I’m silent for a moment… “You know what? Let’s just call me Crystal Heart and be done with it!” before using my forehooves to collect the white cup of precious warm blond liquid and sipping some of it down my throat… She starts to giggle, “See? You get cranky sometimes, but I know how to calm down my Chryssi-poo… I look up at her and snarl, “GRR!” before sipping some more coffee with my hooves… “I’ll go make us some lunch and then, we’ll continue our little project here and explore your feelings some more!” “Don’t forget your nasty berry coffee!” I tell my love… <*****> And so, I sat on my back on the blue couch, staring up at the perfect light-colored ceiling as the fan made it’s familiar woosh woosh noise and the magenta unicorn sitting in the red EZ-chair on my left asks, “So, you don’t want power anymore?” I sigh from my mouth, “That is what I said, is it not?” She nods, “Well, right! Lets explore that then, shall we?” “How about not?” I lowly reply under my breath… “So, when exactly did you notice a change?” I stare up at the white ceiling so clean above my head, “I didn’t exactly notice it, Starlight… The truth is, I just realized one day that it wasn’t there anymore…” She nods, “Okay uh, now tell me about that! Why do you suppose that is, Chryssi?” I grimace as this obstinance as I know precisely what she’s after, “You’re trying to get me to admit it, aren’t you?” She frowns, “Admit what?” I raise my voice, “Don’t you admit what to me, Starlight! You want me to say that your love got me to change, right? That’s it, isn’t it?” “I thought we’d already figured that out?” I nod, “Right! And you just love for me to admit it, yes?” She sighs, “Well, if you’re reformed, that means that you’ll behave better and won’t do bad things like try to take over Equestria!” I widen my eyes when I realize that she’s right! “Well, right! So that just naturally falls to the wayside and has nothing to do with you!” “But I was the one who reformed you?” “Yes! Of course! Not that that has anything to do with it!” I say as I hope in futility that she misses the enormous hole in my logic… She smiles, giggles, and shakes her head… “What?” I ask her… She stares at me and says, “Maybe the why isn’t important?” “Huh?” I frown. She nods, “I mean, even if we did know why you want to make these changes and are perfectly happy this way, what difference would it make?” I widen my eyes, “Well, we could hypothetically undo everything and turn me back into an evil bug queen?” She chuckles some more, “We’re DEFINITELY not doing that, Crystal!” I start as I reply sardonically, “Oh, come on! It’ll be fun!” She shakes her head, “Right!” and turns it to me. “So, we’re just going to let this mystery go then, and just continue our lives? As Starlight and Crystal Heart, right!” I nod, “Yes! Blindly hoping that said secret does not bite us in the flanks later!” She’s silent for a moment, “That seems oddly specific?” I widen my eyes when I realize that she’s right again! “This is also true!” and then, hoping to change the subject, I say. “So, you were talking about lunch earlier?” <*****> As much as I hate to admit it, my magenta love, sitting there eating her daisy and mayonnaise sandwich was right… I truly had found something better than power and control… For only when I realized that I should relinquish that futile struggle for dominance, did I begin to understand that surrender also had it’s beauty… And then, she farted… I smile because I’ve got her now! “I thought we agreed on no propane language?” She stares up at me, “Profane language uh, “her eyes widen when she catches my quip and she smiles and chuckles before saying. “um, excuse me!” I giggle, “So, I guess you’re comfortable around me again?” She sets her sandwich down, “Well, yeah! I mean, the whole Chrysalis thing was a bit of a shock, but once I came to understand that you still love me, I kinda figured I should just let it go, you know?” she smiles. “Like I already said, I know all about forgiveness and second chances!” “Honestly, I still can’t believe it was you and that it all happened like this?” She sighs, “I know, right? I mean, revenge attempt, I could see Chrysalis doing! But uh, turning into well, you was unexpected!” I widen my eyes, “You don’t think I’m shocked?” She frowns, “You mean, it wasn’t intentional?” her eyes go skyward, “Well, why would it be intentional? I mean,” they go back to me. “this wasn’t your original plan at all!” “Great! We’re finally on the same page now!” Her mouth normalizes, “Well, like I said, it’s a shock!” “How do you think I feel?” She frowns, “Well, do you need a security blanket or empathy cocoa?” I can’t help but giggle slightly when I realize what she’s doing, “I’m not one of your idiot students, Starlight! I can manage on my own!” “You ever think maybe that’s your problem?” I frown back at her, “What?” She nods, “I noticed you have a tendency to do this earlier in our relationship! You never want help! Now you just sit right there, Crystal! I’ll go make you some empathy cocoa and get a nice security blanket for you! Oh, and I’ll also give you a Rainbow Dash plushie for comfort!” “Wait what?” I say as she gets out of the chair and starts to trot back towards the kitchen to leave me… I blink and think about what just happened… I said I didn’t need comfort or security, but she’s just going to give it to me anyway… Great! Then I frown and think, Why Rainbow Dash, anyway? <*****> And so, I sat frowning with my aquamarine snout there still on my back on the blue couch once again, as the magenta unicorn sat in the red recliner… Only this time, I had a red blanket around me and a small blue pegasus plushie at my side with many colors in her mane and tail… “You’re an idiot!” I said as my cocoa continued to steam on the long wooden coffee table… She smiles and giggles, “I love you too Crystal! So uh, how do you feel about me, anyway?” I sigh and honestly answer, “I think you’re the most wonderful pony in the world… And that sickens me…” “Why would it sicken you, Crystal?” “Oh, you know why!” She sighs, “Yes, well then I guess this means that you just need to move past it?” My eyes widen, “What?” “Well, sure! The part of you that still hates me is the old part! But if you haven’t noticed, we’re snuggling and kissing in bed now, so I don’t think you hate me?” I sigh, “Not particularly, no!” She giggles, “Right! So that means that we just need to keep going then!” “Great! Can we stop talking about it now, please, finally?” Suddenly, the door behind me opens and Rainbow Dash trots in from the left to stare at me, wrapped up in my red security blanket with a plushie of her, “Hiya Crystal Heart! I was wondering if you were busy! Uh, hey! Cool plushie!” I irately reply, “It’s called knocking you rainbow maned dufus!” She giggles while keeping her head craned right towards me, “Yeah, but then I’d miss the fun! Hey, I was wanting to hang out today! Uh, you’re a really a changeling and can grow wings, right? Wanna go flying?” “No, Rainbow Dash, not really…” She frowns, “Well, why not?” “Because Dash, I’m not comfortable with that anymore…” Starlight turns her head right towards Dash while sitting on the chair, “She’s been like this! I know she has magick and flight, but she just prefers not to use it now… I don’t know why?” I say, “I’m right here, you know?” Rainbow turns her head back right towards me, “You know what? It doesn’t matter! We’ll just do something on the ground! Uh, whatever you wanna do is fine Crystal! I don’t mind!” I stare at her intently, “You really wanna be my friend?” And so, that’s how I got Rainbow Dash to buy me a coffee! (To be continued… ) Author's Note *Welcome to being transgender!
Chapter 7: Seriously, What is REAL Anyway?The blue pegasus smiles at me from the other side of the patio cafe in downtown Ponyville as we both saw ponies coming and going on the street at my right, “So, you’re Crystal Heart now?” I smile and nod, “But of course!” before staring down at the double mocha… “I realized that I was much happier this way…” Her smile lowers, “So, this is how you want to be then?” I stare at her once more, “Yes, Rainbow… I very much like being Crystal Heart now… I don’t want to think about Chrysalis or the before-time anymore…” I grasp the cup in my forehooves for a good sip. Her smile lowers, “It still seems weird! I mean, you have magick, but you just uh, choose not to use it?” I stare at the pegasus blankly, “Do we need to convene the council again so I can explain that to everypony concerned?” She starts as her magenta eyes widen and her muzzle balks, “Uh, no Crystal! That’s okay! Just uh, tell me and I’ll shoot a mass text to let everypony know! Yeah!” and nods. I sigh, “Great! I tell the truth and now everypony is talking about me!” before collecting my coffee with my forehooves and taking another, more powerful sip… She frowns, “No, it’s not like that Crystal! You’re uh, a special case! I mean, you’re a changeling that wants to be a pony, right?” I sigh and stare at acutely, “Well, I like to think that I’m as much of a pony as I need to be and furthermore, this shape simply makes me happy… And it’s also the one Starlight Glimmer came to love…” She’s silent for a moment… “This is real to you, isn’t it?” I smile, “It’s as real as it needs to be, yes… I choose to be Crystal Heart now and not Chrysalis anymore…” I widen my eyes. “Surely you’ve noticed the marked improvement in my behavior?” * Her eyes widen, “Oh, yes! You somehow went from being a mean and nasty insect queen to uh,” she blinks and adjusts her gaze. “you!” I lower my gaze, “So you’ll agree that this is a good thing then, yes?” She begins to stutter, “Well, I mean uh, yeah! I’d rather this than the evil Queen Chrysalis, that’s for sure!” “Then there is no problem, is there?” “Well um, no!” I nod, “Very well then!” before taking another swig of my coffee… Her eyes widen, “Wow! You’re uh, really convincing!” I smile as I suppress a giggle, “And you’re a worthy adversary!” I say sarcastically, before. “So, what did you wish to do after this?” She looks off past my shoulder and then back to me, “Well, we should probably go back to Starlight’s house?” I narrow my eyes, “Why? What’s waiting for me there?” She starts as her eyes widen, “I, uh, er…” I sigh, “What is it Rainbow Dash? Why did you just look at the clock tower behind me and why do we need to go back to Starlight’s house?” She facehoofs and says, “Ugh!” before lowering it and saying, “You caught me! Pinkie Pie wanted to welcome you to Ponyville with a big party!” I roll my eyes, “Ugh! I should’ve known!” before adjusting them back to Dash. “But I’m finishing my coffee first!” and add lowly under my breath, “Jerk!” Her eyes widen as she leans towards me, “What was that?” I look back at her, “Nothing, you sniveling twit!” and grasping my coffee with my forehooves for another mighty gulp… She frowns, “Wow! It’s almost like you don’t want a party?” I set my coffee down and widen my eyes at her, “You think?” “Well um, why not Crystal? Don’t you want to be loved and accepted?” I frown at this audacity, “What? Why, I can get all the love and acceptance I want, Rainbow Dash! I’ve been doing it for some time now!” “But as Crystal Heart?” I breath in deeply when I realize that the pegasus has a point… If this is the identity I’m choosing for myself, then it makes sense that I make it authentic… I look at her and say, “Very well! I’ll go and I’ll even pretend to be surprised, to save your sorry flanks! But we’re going it my way and you owe me!” She stares back blankly, “Done!” I nod, “Right! But first, coffee! Finish up your puny latte now and we’ll be on our way soon, worm!” She blinks, “Uh, just call me Dash, please!” I sigh and roll my eyes, “Whatever! Drink your cowardly coffee now!” <*****> We walk into the darkened foyer from the outside… As I cross the threshold with the blue pegasus behind me, the lights suddenly and brightly turn on and Pinkie Pie, surrounded by a bunch of earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi of many bright pastel colors all yell, “SURPRISE!” My eyes widen, “Oh, my! I wasn’t expecting this!” Pinkie Pie stares at me with a big cheerful grin from 15 feet away in the living room with a sizable entourage of maybe 15 ponies all gathered in the room around us now as she says, “Were you surprised? Huh? Were ya? Were ya?” I gulp, “Oh, yes Pinkie! That was uh, most startling!” She frowns and narrows her gaze at me, “You don’t seem surprised? Don’t tell me Rainbow spilled the beans again!” Time stopped for me at that moment as I thought about how I actually was lying, and yet, for some reason, this pink mare saw right through it? She saw what was really happening! Suddenly, Rainbow Dash trots around my left side to stare at the pink earth pony, “Hey! It’s not my fault! Crystal Heart here is a mare who knows how to chat up ponies for information!” Time stops again as I think about how Dash just described me as a mare… It’s beginning to become clear that this is real now… Pinkie furrows her brow, “Yeah, but I know you! You can NEVER just keep anything to yourself!” I look at the pink mare, smile, and say, “She wasn’t terribly obvious, in her defense, although she’s far from a good liar!” Pinkie stares at Dash grumpily, “I know!” Rainbow shakes her head and giggles, “Now we’re wondering how good I can lie!” I then say to Pinkie while keeping the grin on my face, “But seriously, don’t be too hard on the feather-head! She did her best! She’s not that good!” Dash turns her head right to me on her other side, “Hey!” Pinkie looks at Dash and smiles while giggling, “Yeah! I know! We really should’ve picked somepony else!” I widen my eyes, “Right?” Dash turns her head left towards nopony in particular, frowns, and narrows her eyes, “I’m gonna get some punch!” before turning around and trotting towards the table at the wall to my far left with the bright pink cloth over it and a punch bowl and many assorted snacks and treats laid out on it… Pinkie widens her eyes to me, “So yeah, Crystal Heart! You’re new in town and so I thought I’d throw you a big party! So now, you have lots and lots of friends!” I smile, “Great!” She frowns, “Something wrong?” My fake smile lowers somewhat, “Oh uh, do they know or?” Her eyes widen, “About what?” I normalize my mouth completely and say at a lower volume, “About my past?” “Oh, that! Uh, yeah! I didn’t tell them! You’re just an earth mare now, right?” I smile at the pink mare, “Yes I am! Thank you Pinkie Pie!” Her right eye squints while her left eyebrow raises, “Well, it’s not something I can just tell anypony about?” I sigh and agree, “Most assuredly not, no!” She stares at me intently, “So, you’re okay now, Crystal?” I sigh, “I believe so, Pinkie Pie…” I stare at her as I realize that I might as well just have a party, whatever that means… “So, what do we do next?” Suddenly, the magenta pony I’ve come to adore trots up at my right, “Next, we get this party started!” I smile at her once my neck is her direction… Over the course of the next few hours, I played many games, such as pin the tail on the pony, darts, and even hide n seek… I fraternized with these other ponies almost as if I was one of their own… I sometimes felt fake though… Like I was just pretending… I couldn’t actually be a pony now, could I? Being this way makes me happy, and yet, it felt off, but I tried my best to be one of them… They all seemed to enjoy me? I had many interesting quips with Pinkie Pie and we even ragged on Dash again at one point. When later in the night, I was approached by a yellow pegasus pony… Fluttershy smiles at me from maybe 7 feet as we both stand in the living area, “Hi Crystal Heart! I just wanted to say that you’re really brave for telling us all about um, you know? Where you came from…” I widen my eyes to her, “Oh?” She nods, “Oh, yes! If I had a secret like that, I don’t think I could tell anypony?” I frown, “You value honesty, yes? Well, I was truthful!” Her eyes widen, “Oh, well, yes! Um, of course!” I narrow my gaze, “Are you okay Fluttershy?” She blinks and stares at me wide-eyed, “Oh, well, that is to say, um…” My eyes normalize, “What?” “Um, I have to go now! Enjoy your party Crystal Heart!” She says before turning and trotting the other way towards the half-empty punch bowl on the pink table… I sigh as a familiar fuchsia unicorn trots over from my left and cranes her head towards me, “How you doing, baby?” I look at her, “I think I’m okay?” She frowns, “What do you mean think?” I blink, “Well, I just think about what I’m trying to do and how this just makes me happy… And yet, Fluttershy over there is obviously afraid of me! I uh…” I close my eyes… “Oh, Fluttershy is afraid of everypony until she actually knows them! Don’t worry about it!” I open my eyes to Starlight, “Are you sure?” She waves her right forehoof in the air, “Of course I’m sure! She’s scared of her own shadow! Don’t freak out!” Suddenly, a purple alicorn trots up to the right of Starlight in my gaze and looks at me, “Well, now you know we’re all friendly, Crystal Heart! You’re safe here, I promise!” I turn my neck right towards the timid looking yellow pegasus pony staring at everything wide-eyed in her azure gaze underneath her pink mane locks as she cautiously sips punch from her cup at the table with her right hoof… “I’m sure I am…” <*****> As Starlight holds me from behind and we spoon on the bed, she whispers to me, “See? We’re all friends here and we don’t care where you came from!” “Fluttershy is afraid of me… “I respond blankly… Starlight sighs, “I know Crystal! But well, she just learned that about you and she’s just gonna have to get used to this new information…” “I don’t like that, Starlight… I don’t want them to see me differently…” I close my eyes and snuggle into the warm embrace of the pony I love… “I know sweetie! I know! Uh, you want me to talk with her?” I open my eyes quickly, “Uh, no Starlight! That’s okay! I’ll uh, deal with her myself…” “Okay Crystal, but you know I always have your back!” I smile and cuddle into her, “I know that Starlight… I know…” and slowly drift off to peaceful rest… (To be continued…) Author's Note *Well, on hormones, I’m no longer drinking heavily, snorting things up my nose, or abusing my body, so there is that!
Chapter 8: So We Finally Just Met In the Middle...I stare at the small cottage on the edge of the Everfree forest and smirk, “Okay, pegasus number two of the crew, Fluttershy!” as I stare and wonder about the death waiting for me behind that wooden door there… I sigh and reach up with my right forehoof to wrap on the door. BAM BAM BAM! My hoof goes and I hear a feminine voice from inside squeak, “Hang on! I’ll be right there!” She opens the door with her right hoof and I see it swing inward to the left to reveal her blue eyes staring at me before starting with shock as she says, “Oh! Uh, C-Crystal Heart! What brings you to my uh, humble abode?” Before a large nervous grin on her face begins to form… I smile back, “Hi dear Fluttershy! I’m just getting to know all of the ahem, associate’s of my sweet love Starlight and you are among them, are you not?” She blinks skittishly, “Oh, um, y-yeah! That’s true! I’m a friend of Starlight! Um…” “But of course, dear sweet Fluttershy! And so, now I think we should get to know one another? Perhaps during a social activity of some sort?” Her eyes widen at me, “Oh um, I’m much too busy right now! Y-you’ll just have to try again later! I’m just too busy! Yes!” before her right hoof slams the door in my face… I blow the strand of my brown mane that just swept over my face before saying, “Well, that was a bust!” <*****> (Two weeks ago…) I stare at the magenta unicorn underneath the light in front of her red front door as she smiles at me, “Thanks for such a wonderful time, Crystal! Honestly, I didn’t know what I was gonna do! I’m really just glad to get out of the house!” I smile back, “You said it, love!” Her eyes widen, “Hey uh, you wanna come in?” This has never happened before, so I’m a little hesitant at first, “Well uh, only if you insist?” or maybe not? She turns her neck back right towards her door and magically opens it before trotting inside and I follow behind her, and use my left forehoof to close it before I follow her down towards her hallway and say to her, “Where are we going?” She says, “I’m going to bed and I want a snuggle buddy!” as she continues trotting through her dimly lit foyer… I say back to her while mere hoofsteps behind her, “Wait! You never asked me!” She giggles slightly while continuing to trot, “You’re not gonna say no, are you?” I keep trotting when I think that one infuriating thought… She’s right! I actually would very much like to snuggle her to sleep! “Uh, you don’t know that!” She walks into her hallway and I follow as she says, “Yeah I do! You’re still following me!” She stops in front of her door and turns her head left towards it before using her magick to open it out to the right as I say, “Well, I don’t HAVE to!” She walks into her bedroom and I follow just a few hoofsteps behind, same as before, “Maybe not, but you want to…” She trots over to her bed while I stand in the doorway with my neck craned left towards her, “You don’t know that!” She slides in under her soft pink velvety covers while saying at a slightly lower volume, “Yeah I do! Now come on baby! I wanna hold you!” I gulp and stare at this sight… My mortal enemy, Starlight Glimmer, there underneath pink silken blankets on her warm soft bed, ready to hold me and love me as we slumber… “Uh, hang on! This is still kinda new…” I say as I begin to trot her direction… She impatiently starts to bounce on the bed, “Come on! I wanna snuggle!” I blink before I begin slipping into bed… “Scoot back closer, baby!” I begin scooting back into the danger zone as I notice her hoof sliding in on my left before it wraps around me lovingly and holds me… I say back to her, “Do you normally snuggle on second dates?” “Shh!” She blows through her lips to silence me… She holds me tightly and affectionately from behind as we both begin to drift off to sleep... <*****> (Present day…) Starlight frowns at me from the red sofa in the living room, “Well, Fluttershy is just the uh, shy quiet type and she opens up slowly, okay?” I sigh from the blue chair, “Well, I know this Starlight, but that’s not the problem!” Her azure eyes widen, “Oh? Well, what is the problem?” “The problem is, she knows now, Starlight! She knows who I am and that’s why she keeps her distance. This is more than just her regular shyness…” “How can you tell, though?” I stare at her carefully, “Tell me Starlight Glimmer, do you know what fear looks like in another pony’s eyes?” She blinks, “Well, I kinda do, yeah?” “That’s what I see, Starlight! I see genuine terror and dread at me! And…” I sigh…” I don’t like it…” She frowns, “You’re really worried about this, aren’t you?” I widen my eyes at her, “Well, shouldn’t I be? Think on it, Starlight! I was Chrysalis, the most feared changeling in all the land and now I…” I close my eyes… “I don’t want to be…” I breath in slowly through my mouth and open my pupilsonce more. “So it’s imperative that we make miss Shy see me for what I am now and not whom I used to be…But first!” “Coffee!” Starlight interjects! I smile, “Indeed!” <*****> I start when I suddenly forget what I’m doing and Starlight at my right wraps on the door with her right forehoof, BAM BAM BAM! We both here a familiar skittish feminine voice say from the inside, “Oh uh, hang on! I’ll be right there!” a few moments before the door opens and her blue eyes widen! “Oh uh, Crystal and Starlight! H-how can I help you?” And an uneasy grin forms on her muzzle. I widen my eyes, “We have a kitten!” with a small sleeping gray tabby kitten on my back… Starlight widens her eyes, “Um, yes Fluttershy! We need some of your expert advice on how to handle Crystal’s kitten!” She turns her neck right towards me as her mouth goes agape, “Oh! I didn’t know you had a kitten!” My head raises, “Yeah, me neither!” Her eyes enlarge again, “What?” Starlight interjects, “Uh, what Crystal Heart means to say is that she just got a brand-new kitten and that she wants your advice on how to care for the animal!” I nod and say, “Yes! That!” Her blue eyes widen with shock and excitement as she squeals, “Oh, that sounds lovely! Uh, come in! I’ll get you everything you need!” before she turns around and begins to trot further into her cottage… Starlight looks over at me and whispers, “Go in and follow her!” “Ugh!” I quietly groan beginning to trot behind the yellow pegasus mare as she trots into her wooden abode with various creatures and animal items strewn about her foyer floor as I trot behind her anxiously… I’m also very aware of the warm fuzz-head currently snoozing on my back… She speaks up, “Yes, Crystal Heart! You’ll need to learn about proper litter maintenance as well as feeding, and playtime!” “Wait, I need to play with this little fur-ball?” I say as I continue to trot behind her. She nods as she goes into her hallway in the back, “Oh, yes! Playing and interaction is very important between you and you’re cat!” “Oh, great! Kitty playtime!” I sarcastically say as I trot into the hallway as she heads towards the room in the back. She trots to the back of her wooden room and I follow as this gray tabby thing continues snoozing on my back… She smiles as she looks down into a box, “Okay! Here’s your litter box, cat food dish, and some cat food and kitty litter to get you started! Oh, and a scoop for the box!” I turn my head right towards her, “Wait! What am I gonna be scooping?” <*****> Two nights later… “I’m scooping cat poop!” I exclaim as I use my right hoof to operate the gray plastic poop scoop to get the offending log inside the litter box and bring it into the paper bag on my right… Starlight snickers from my left, “Well, you wanted a cat!” As I reach into the box for another foray into the wonderful world of feces removal, I respond to my love, “Well, dogs are gross! They slobber and they jump on you! Cats are much cleaner!” “Until you gotta clean the litter box!” “I didn’t think I’d need to do this on day two! I must say, he’s a little pooping machine!” I say as I reach into the box for another scoop… Starlight chuckles, “Well, he’s a growing kitten!” The tabby kitten rubs up against my right hind leg before it begins to prance forward and I stare into the box and whisper, “Idiot!” under my breath at the furry little troublemaker before reaching in with my right forehoof for yet another scoop into the bag… <*****> So the next morning, Starlight left me to sleep in as she always does. Not without some cuddling and kissy time, but that’s beside the point! Anyway, I was asleep in our big silken magenta bed when I hear a wrapping on the window on the other side of the room! I’m annoyed at this point, “Huh, what?” I open my eyes and look down my new aquamarine snout down at the window to see two bright blue eyes staring back at me from underneath a pink wavy mop of a mane… My eyes widen, “Fluttershy?” as I make my way to the left of the bed and hit the floor with my hooves to make a resounding clack and then, turning my body around towards the window and trotting over to it slowly before finally, opening it with my right hoof, “Uh, yes Fluttershy?” “Oh um, hi Crystal! Uh, how have you and your kitten been doing?” And she smiles nervously… My eyes widen, “Um, he’s doing alright! He was just cuddling me on the bed, actually…” I say as my eyes dart back to the snoozing ball of gray fluff on the fuscia blankets behind me. “Why are you asking me this from the other side of the window?” “Um, well…” She clears her throat. “I kinda uh, need some help wrangling a cat and well, this particular kitty is already kinda set off by me due to some neutering issues earlier and I just uh, need somepony gentle and kind to get this cat for me, so I can take her to the vet?” At that point, time stopped as I considered this… I thought this pony was afraid of me? Now, she said she needed somepony gentle and she came for me? Did I perhaps misjudge the situation? The truth is, by this point it had been wearing on my mind and I really needed to clear the air… I finally cleared my throat, straightened my pony head to this other equine and said to her, “Fluttershy! Can that wait a bit? Uh, we need to talk! Would you come in for coffee please?” <*****> I smile at Fluttershy, “How is the coffee?” She sits at her end of the table and grins at me anxiously, “Oh, i-it’s fine! Thank you!” before staring down at her cup… I frown at this sight, “Is something wrong?” She pops back to attention and stares up at me with her wide eyes, “O-oh uh, nothing! I’m fine!” and smiling at me like I was about to eat her head... I finally just stare at the yellow pegasus from the other side of the wooden kitchen table as both our white cups steamed in front of us and widen my eyes, “I am not a monster!” Her azure pupils enlarge as she starts from my right at the table, “W-what? I never said you were, Crystal Heart!” I sigh, “Fluttershy, why must you lie? I know what I see in your eyes and I truly do not wish for you to be afraid of me!” She squeaks back, “Um, w-we need to get the kitten to the vet! We don’t have much time!” “Fluttershy, you already told me and we need to be there in just under an hour... I can get that cat anywhere in Ponyville in about ten minutes... You’re not getting out of this! Tell me now, why do you fear me?” “Um…” She visibly swallows a big gulp in her snout before looking at me tentatively, “I-I always thought Chrysalis was well, you know? Scary! And now, I-I see her when I look at you… “she blinks. “I’m trying, Crystal! I really am! Th-that’s why I wanted to do this cat thing with you so, maybe I can get past this?” I blink and am silent for a moment, “You really are trying to work past your fears, aren’t you?” She sighs and smiles and me… “Yeah… Baby steps…” I giggle at the adorable little display of courage, “Alright, Fluttershy! Let’s finish up our coffee so we can go meet this cat!” Her eyes widen as her mouth is aghast, “Oh? You wanna meet the kitty?” I smile, “Sure, Fluttershy! Why not?” (To be continued…)
Chapter 9: And There I Was, Minding My Own Business, When...I stared into the blue eyes of my love and sincerely said, “So yes, that’s why I now have two cats…” Starlight frowns from the left side of the red couch, “Are you sure you’re ready for that?” I frown from my own side, “Fluttershy already wondered! Why does everypony keep asking me that? I assure you, I can already take care of one cat and taking care of another won’t be that much harder!” “You’ll have to scoop twice as much poop…” My eyes narrow and I solemnly reply, “I’m prepared for that…” She eyes me carefully… “You really love your cats, don’t you?” I blink and scowl when I realize that she might be right? “Absolutely not! My heart is filled with hate and darkness!” She smiles and giggles, “Oh, sure! Hate, darkness, and love for a magenta unicorn and two small felines, right?” I sigh… “I’m taking care of two cats and living with my lesbian marefriend, aren’t I?” Her eyes widen and she nods, “Well, yeah!” I sigh, “It just seems so weird? I mean, just a few minutes ago, I was the leader of a changeling hive and we were a fierce tribe of warriors! Now I’m snuggling kittens and the unicorn I love under soft warm covers and… And I’m actually happy about it!” She smiles warmly, “I hear you! I used to think I couldn’t be happy without ruling Equestria with an iron hoof and forcing everypony to conform to my cutie mark philosophy,”she says while playfully holding her right hoof in an angry position in front of her. She lowers it, “but now, I’m just principle of a school and living with you and that just seems to be enough!” as she smiles at me. I hoof my white cup of blond coffee to my snout for a strong swig and then set it back down with my neck as I swallow the warm caffeinated liquid and smile up at her, “I love you!” She smiles down at me, “I love you more!” I raise my neck, “Impossible!” “Is so!” She angrily replies! “Is not!” I irately retort! She furrows her brow, “How long is this going to continue?” I put my hooves on the table, “As long as it takes!” We’re both silent for a moment before we simultaneously erupt in hysterical giggles! <*****> I trot towards the Carousel Boutique’s round light blue two-story building with it’s two ornate front windows with yellow awnings over them and pink roofs… I sigh as I think that I’m about to introduce myself to a white unicorn inside as I trot up the grassy path to the front door… Suddenly, a pink blur intercepts me from the left! I suddenly see an excited pink earth mare on my right talking quickly to me and nodding her face while staring at me with her blue eyes that sort of pop out of her head! “HeyreadytogotoSugarcubeCornerwithmeforatreat, okayletsgoCrystalHeart!” She says at a lightning fast rate before grabbing my mane with her teeth and dragging me off to the left with her! I stammer out, “B-but Rarity! Wait! I was!” as we both continue moving the same direction, although only one of us is actually trotting and willing as my hind hooves scratch the ground and leave small ruts in the dirt. She abruptly stops dragging me in front of the glass doors of a pink one-story building next door and I soon regain my footing and turn my neck left to look inside before back at her, “Uh, what’s in there, Pinkie Pie? I’ve never been inside…” Her azure colored eyes are now wide as saucers, “WHAT? You’ve NEVER been to Sugarcube Corner?” I frown at the other earth mare, “Uh, no! Should I have?” She smiles at me jubilantly, “You’re gonna learn today, Crystal Heart!” “Learn? Learn what exactly?” <*****> Later, I’m leaning back in the chair with my tongue out the right side of my mouth as it stays agape and I can only mutter, “Chocolate! Caramel! Nougat! Frosting! Cherry swirls! Cordials!” She stares at me after I had just devoured my first real sugary treats in I’m not sure how long with a concerned frown on her muzzle, “Uh, you okay Crystal Heart?” I adjust my gaze back down to her when I realize that she’s still there! “Uh, yes Pinkie Pie! I’ll be just fine! Thank you for your concern!” She nods, “Well, yeah! Uh, so I guess I’ll ask the obvious question… Of all the pony races, why an earth pony anyway? I mean, you got magick and flight, right?” I smile, “Starlight also asked me about this one! The truth is, I’m no longer interested in power… I’ve decided that if I truly am to become reformed, then I have no need of it… Four hooves and a tail is fine…” She nods again, “Yeah, but I mean, I’m an earth pony and I always wondered what it would be like to you know? Lift things with my mind and teleport and to be actually able to fly on my own power! Like, “her eyes go up, “I don’t need one of those machines I build, you know?” they go back down to me…”With my own wings…” “And you’re perplexed as to why I would willingly give all of that up, is that correct?” “Well, mostly?” Her mouth frowns before she leans closer to whisper. “I mean, you can still do those things! You just don’t want to!” My eyes narrow, “No, I do not…” Her eyes widen again, “Well, what happens if we have need of your power then?” I smile and giggle, “Well, when Tirek returns or Sombra starts messing with ponies’ minds again, I’ll become Crystal Heart Super Alicorn! But until that point…” She smiles and giggles, “Right! You could’ve flown to Carousel Boutique, but you chose to walk towards it with your hooves!” My smile lowers and brow furrows, “Wait! You knew I wanted to see Rarity?” She frowns, “Well, gosh! I saw where you were going, but I only have so long on my lunch break and I wanted to give you a treat!” I frown in irritation, “But of course!” She blinks, “Something wrong?” I stare at her and consider my words carefully here… I finally smile and reply, “Uh, not at all dear sweet Pinkie Pie! I’m fine!” She perks back up as she smiles and giggles, “Well, alright Crystal Heart! Hey, my lunch is almost over now and I gotta get back to work! I’ll go pay and catch you later!” before trotting around the table on the right and hugging me before I can react! “EEP!” I squeal in her hooves before she releases me and turns right to begin to trotting towards the front counter to pay… I sigh and look up before deciding to make my exit before she crams any more sugar down my throat! <*****> I groan as I slowly trot towards the tan cottage where I stay with Starlight and I wince as my stomach aches… I look up at it as I begin marching towards the front of the door when I see a message on it! I look at the brown door to see written in Starlight’s hoof-writing, Dear Crystal Heart, There’s been an emergency at the school. I came back to eat with you, but since you weren’t here when I had lunch, I assumed you already ate. Love ya! Starlight I remove the letter with my right forehoof and put it in my mouth as I use my head to force open the door after operating the nob with my left hoof… I trot in slowly as my stomach continues to churn… I slowly close the door behind me and set the note down on the side table… I trot towards our room in the back where I lay down on our sky-blue queen-sized bed together and settle my head down on the pillow… I sigh again before silently vowing to never again eat that much chocolate! I close my eyes and lose consciousness. <*****> I awaken on the same simple red bedroll in the cave, where I’m hiding with the other villains… I blink, Was it just a dream? “Oh, golly Chrysalis! It’s not really that easy, you know?” I stare at the pink pegasus filly on my left and address her same as always, “What do you want now, you sniveling twit?” She smiles up at me while staring at me with wide brown eyes underneath her neatly arranged bluish-white curls, “You can’t get away!” I frown as I bring my holy black legs to the surface after rolling off my back from the bed to stare down at the filly, still looking up at me with her enormous pupils and wide mischievous grin, “Precisely what in Equestria are you talking about?” “Crystal Heart!” I hear a familiar feminine voice calling to me from somewhere. I open my eyes and I’m back in the blue bed and there’s now a magenta unicorn in front of it staring at me… “We need your help at the school!” I shake my head as I stare up at her from the pillow, “What is this regarding?” She blinks, “Cozy Glow just escaped, like you did earlier! We need to know where she might be heading?” I sigh, “How would I know? I went to the Everfree Forest, past the outskirts north of the school. That is most likely where Little Miss Glow went as well, since it’s the fastest way to become relatively safe, given her unique situation…” She breaths out heavily through her mouth, “Thanks Crystal! We’ll send search parties that direction! Maybe we can cut her off? I frown, “That would depend on when she left…” “This morning!” I nod, “Good luck Starlight! Is there anything I should do?” She sighs, “Uh, nothing you can do Crystal! Just sit tight and I’ll be back later this evening! Dinner is in the fridge!” before trotting around the bed on the left to my side and looking down at me and smiling, “I love you Crystal! And nothing Cozy Glow does is going to change that!” I widen my eyes as I actually hadn’t considered that until just this point, “Well uh, thank you very much Starlight… I love you…” “I love you too baby!” She says before leaning down to plant a big kiss on my muzzle… She removes her neck and normalizes her stance before saying, “I’ll see you later, Crystal!” and then, disappearing in a blue flash of light… I sigh, “I’m still not used to that!” before getting out of bed off to the side and trotting towards the door on the other end to start the rest of my lonely day…” When suddenly, I see two furry little bodies begin plodding their ways up the hall towards me… I smile when I think that perhaps I was not exactly done sleeping… <*****> “Oh golly, Chrysalis! Kittens? Really?” I hear a familiar squeaky voice say to me from the side of the bed… I open my eyes and crane my neck left off the bed as my two furry friends make their way to the foot to hop down and begin walking out the now open door and I see a small smiling pink pegasus filly with a neatly arranged bluish-white curly mane and tail. “YOU! How did you find me?” She smiles and giggles, “You know, just because I’m stone doesn’t mean I can’t see and hear! I saw you trotting around the courtyard earlier with Twilight and your new love Starlight Glimmer!” she snorts. “Best show I had in years! I like how well you’re pretending Chrysalis, but you don’t have to when you’re with me… “ I stare down at this filly and smile when I realize what I’m about to do… I smile because I know that on some level, I’m really going to enjoy this… <*****> I appear in Starlight’s office in a white flash! Papers fly off her mahogany desk as she stares at me with wide blue eyes from 12 feet away at my front, “C-Crystal! You teleported!” I furrow my brows and lower my gaze as the papers float to the ground and desk, “Yes, my love! I know I said I wouldn’t do all that I am capable of doing, but this is a special circumstance." She blinks, “Crystal! I’m very busy! Can this wait?” I smile at her, “No, Starlight my love! I think you really want to see this!” (To be continued…)
Chapter 10: So Then, We Got a Filly!The purple alicorn stared at the tied up pink filly in the chair and asked me at her right, “Uh, why do you own a ballgag?” I look at her and smile, “Well, Starlight is a bit of a freak!” My love looks at me from the other side of the Twilight, “Hey, it was your idea!” I grin in Starlight’s direction, “I didn’t see you objecting?” The alicorn shakes her head, “You know what? Never mind! I don’t wanna know why you have a ballgag!” she stares back at Cozy there, currently gagged and tied to a wooden chair and staring up at her with two enormous brown eyes. “Well, since two of you got free, this probably means we should put Tirek away somewhere safe, so if and when he escapes, he’ll already be contained?” I nod at her, “It would be wise, yes!” I turn my head to the tied up filly. “I suppose we should see what she has to say?” Twilight frowns at Cozy, “Well, if you really want to? I mean, she’s probably just gonna heckle you and tell you you’re not really changed though?” as the filly’s eyes widen all the way while staring up at her… I sigh as the filly turns to me with her big pupils, “Probably? Still, I think we should see what she will say,” I lower my gaze at her, “I owe her that much at least…” before trotting over to her and removing her gag with my right forehoof… She stares up at me, “So golly gee! You really want to do that, huh? Be an, an earth mare named Crystal Heart?” I smile down at her, “This is what makes me happy Cozy Glow… And so, it’s what I’m choosing for myself at this point…” She scowls up at me, “You IDIOT! Why would you give up power?” “What good is power if it doesn’t make me happy?” Her eyes widen, “What? Why wouldn’t power make you happy, Chrysalis?” I giggle, “I had an entire kingdom under my command once, Cozy… We reigned supreme all over the Northwest section of Equestria… None could oppose us there… But I was never happy with that, now was I?” Her brown eyes glare deeply into me before her muzzle finally replies, “You wanted more, huh?” I smile, “Indeed, Cozy! And you know what? Even if I ever did get that, that would eventually not be enough for me either… No Cozy, I find a peaceful existence to be far more satisfying…” “I uh,” she shakes her head, “look, Chrysalis er, Crystal Heart… You know, the thing about being trapped in stone is, it gives you a lot of time to think…” she blinks. “I don’t think I’d be totally opposed to learning a new way?” My gaze lowers as I glare at this desperate filly, “And just what are you trying to say?” She flinches as her muzzle grimaces, “Oh, golly! Do you really want me to spell it out for you? I’m saying I think I might want to become reformed!” “And how do I know I can trust you?” “I uh,” she blinks, “well uh, I guess you don’t, huh? But look!” she furrows her brow. “I’m telling the truth and I’ll do anything! Honest!” I smile at the filly, “Anything?” <*****> The foal stares up at me with her large brownish eyes, “So, why am I not allowed to leave the room or see other ponies?” I sigh at her, “Well, you were very manipulative and we don’t know if you can be trusted?” Her view raises, “Aww! You don’t trust me?” “Would you?” She lowers it, “Okay! Point made!” and then, she re-lifts her neck. “But I do have another question… Why am I kept at Starlight’s house?” “Well, it’s the best way for me to keep an eye on you!” “Does Starlight know about this?” “Well uh,” I stammer. “she might?” “She doesn’t know about this, huh?” “Well, uh,” I cough.”no, not exactly…” She gazes at me very carefully with her auburn eyes… “You want a filly, don’t you?” My own eyes widen as I honestly hadn’t considered that! “Uh, well I just need to make sure you’re taken care of!” “Oh, golly! You couldn’t lie to me before and you still can’t lie to me! You wanted a filly and this is your weird way of getting it, huh?” I close my eyes and shake my head to compose myself before finally staring back down at the small miscreant pegasus and saying to her, “Look! You said you wished to be reformed! Is that not so?” She nods, “Well, right! But I never said anything about becoming your filly!” I glare down at her, “Well, look! I honestly can’t think of a better arrangement!” “I could!” “Oh?” I look down at her. “Do tell?” “One where I don’t become your foal!” I raise my left eyebrow, “Would you rather a prison cell?” Her eyes suddenly widen, “Okay uh, I guess I’m your new foal then?” before she smiles widely up at me while baring her pearly white teeth… <*****> I look up from where I’m sitting on the red couch with my magazine held in my forehooves and think that I hadn’t checked on Cozy in awhile and I really should at least see how she’s doing! I gave her some puzzles and coloring books from the school to keep her busy, but we don’t have any toys for her yet and I need to make sure she’s properly stimulated… I set the magazine down on the coffee table before me and begin crossing the foyer after turning left to head towards the spare bedroom, across from me and Starlight’s room… I hear only silence and the clopping of my hooves on the surface as I turn left to open the door with my right forehoof… And I see Cozy there, standing on her hind legs and attempting to open the window! She turns her head left back towards me and smiles, “Oh, hiya Crystal! I just wanted to get some air in here!” My eyes narrow, “Cozy, drop the act!” She sighs and goes back to her hooves with her body facing towards me and she scowls before saying, “I don’t wanna be here!” I smile, “I know Cozy…” She frowns, “So why are you forcing me? I thought we were friends?” “Cozy, I’m still your friend!” “Could’ve fooled me!” “Cozy, do you know what you need right now?” Her eyes widen, “Yeah! I need to get out of this house so I can escape and start plotting my next move!” I snicker, “No, you don’t know what you need…” She stares at me carefully as I see her quivering brown eyes sizing me up, “Okay, lets just say hypothetically that you’re right and I need parental guidance or whatever! What makes you think that you and Starlight would be good at it?” I giggle down at her, “Well, you already have a history with both me and Starlight and so there is that? And we both volunteered to do it?” Her gaze lowers, “No, YOU volunteered to do it! She never did no such thing!” “You don’t know that she’ll say no?” She retorts, “You don’t know that she’ll say yes, either!” “She won’t…” Cozy stares up at me again as the filly considers all of this… “So, assuming you’re right, you think you two are perfect for the job, huh?” My eyes widen, “Now she gets it!” Cozy finally gives a consigned sigh of defeat off to her right before adjusting her eyes to me and saying, “Well, I guess I can give it a shot, maybe? But uh,” she blinks up at me and raises her view. “there is one thing I’d like about now?” <*****> I sigh as I use my head and teeth to set down Cozy’s empty plate into the sink in front of me… I wonder where Starlight is as she’s usually back by now, but Cozy said she was hungry, and so I fed her dinner a bit early… I want to be kind to this filly after all… She said she didn’t wish to talk and only ate in silence… I could only ponder what was going on in the filly’s mind as she devoured her spiced hay cakes and drank her cider in silence… Suddenly, the front door in the far room to my right opens up and Starlight bursts forward towards me as she quickly trots across the foyer, “Where is she? Is she in her room?” she says as she comes into the kitchen beyond… I turn my gaze to my love, now standing wide-eyed and frantic a mere 5 feet from my side, “Yes dear! Twilight told me to keep her locked and contained for now!” Starlight nods, “Okay, but is she speaking with you at all? What is she saying?” I sigh, “Well, not exactly? She only says simple things and is always polite and courteous… Still, I can’t help but feel like she’s keeping me and everypony else at a distance?” Starlight frowns, “Well, put yourself in her hooves! How would you feel? You just escaped stone and you find out one of your only friends switched sides! You think maybe she feels hurt and confused?” Suddenly, we both hear an angry squeaky voice from the other room suddenly yell, “I’m not hurt!” My mouth normalizes as I stare at the magenta unicorn, “I think she’s eavesdropping on us!” Starlight attempts to suppress a grin as she stares towards the ceiling and says, “Cozy! We know you’re there! Come on out and say hi!” Suddenly, the wooden door to my left and Starlight’s front swings open to the left and out steps a small pink pegasus filly with a neatly arranged curly bluish-white mane before she stops maybe 7 feet shy of both of us on the other side of the table and stares up with wide brown eyes, “Oh, golly! Am I not supposed to listen in on your conversations? I’m really sorry about that!” Starlight turns to her, “Okay, first rule: can the act! We all know you’re not an idiot!” She sighs and stares up at Starlight, “Well, I guess you do huh?” she blinks. “Do I have to start calling you both mom now?” Starlight eyes the filly carefully, “Well, what are you comfortable calling us?” Cozy frowns, “Well golly, if I’m being honest, I’m okay with calling you Starlight and uh,” she turns to me and gauges me carefully. “Crystal Heart for now, anyway?” Starlight smiles down at her, “Then that is what you shall call us until you’re more comfortable!” She stares back at Starlight at her left, “Wait! So you’re not forcing me into this? I don’t have to become your foal?” I look at the filly from Starlight’s right and interject, “Cozy! Listen to me! You’re still a filly, right?” She turns her head back towards me and nods, “Well uh, yeah!” I smile and nod, “Right! So, that would infer that you need parental figures and guidance during this early period in your life. Now, assuming you weren’t behaving properly earlier, and I don’t think we’re going to debate that now, we can deduce that your viewpoints on the world are skewed, yes? So, it stands to reason that you be given that guidance so you’ll understand how to behave from here on out!” “Oh, golly! You really do wanna become my mommy!” “You haven’t said no, yet?” Her eyes widen, “I didn’t think I’d have to!” I grin down at her, “Well, do you have a better suggestion to ensure that you get the care and guidance you need?” She stares up at me and frowns for a moment before finally conceding, “Golly right! My new homo mommies!” I giggle, “Come on Cozy! Let’s get you settled in with a nice book so you can relax while me and Starlight here…” “My other mommy!” Cozy cuts in! I nod, “Right! Your two mommies can eat and you’ll have something to do in the meantime! Then, we can all have family game night!” She stares at me carefully, “You planned this, huh?” I snicker, “Well, kinda, yeah!” She frowns up at me… “Well, it’s still better than stone, right?” Her eyes quickly widen as she starts, “Okay, I’m gonna go get washed up and pick out a good book for now!” before smiling up at me with her big teeth… “I’ll be back later for uh, family game night! Yes! Golly right! That! Of course!” as I stare down at her and snicker… (To be continued…)
Chapter 11: And I Bribed Her!As I closed my eyes while being held in the hooves of my love, I thought about the peculiar game night I had just had with this dejected little pink pegasus filly. I whisper back to my darling, “She was very good at gin!” Starlight whispers back, “Yeah, she was…” I open my eyes to sigh, “That means she can be very deceptive…” “Well, that doesn’t mean she’s being deceptive all the time, now does it?” I smile when I realize I should give the filly the benefit of a doubt, “Yeah, you’re right Starlight… Good night! I love you!” She kisses the nape of my neck and whispers back, “I love you too Crystal! Goodnight!” Suddenly, we both hear a knock knocking on our bedroom door, across from the bed! I widen my eyes when I think that I could’ve sworn I secured Cozy and Starlight whispers to me, “Uh, didn’t you lock her up?” I can only be honest when I whisper back, “I thought so?” before getting out of the bed and turning my body parallel to it, towards the opposite end of the room to begin trotting that direction in the dark… Suddenly, I trip on a cloth something on the floor and lose my balance as I say, “Oh, crap!” under my breath and I jerk forward, before I catch myself in the dark with my front hooves… I stare at the door in the dark, maybe 5 feet away from me as I say lowly, “Hang on!” and begin trotting that direction again… I open the door inward to the left with my snout and I see a wide-eyed small pink pegasus filly there, standing on her hooves and staring up at me with enormous brown eyes! “U-um, Miss Crystal Heart! I-I was having trouble sleeping…” I frown at this obstinate foal, “So? What has that got to do with me?” Starlight says from the bed, “I think she wants to sleep near us so she has a sense of security?” Cozy stares up at me with her wide auburn eyes and smiles weakly… I widen my eyes as my mouth scrunches and I realize suddenly what has to be done. “You never needed comfort at the lair?” She starts before nodding her head, “Well, at the lair, I had a stuffed bear to snuggle! And uh, besides! I don’t think Tirek or Chrysalis would’ve been very nice?” “Stuffed bear? You never told us you had a bear!” Starlight pipes up from the bed, “Come on baby! Let her sleep near the edge and give her a blanket and pillow so we can all go back down again!” I raise my head to speak while continuing to stare at the filly, “Starlight! This filly needs a stuffed bear!” Cozy stares up at me with wide-eyed curiosity and a frown, not sure what to think… I smile, “And we’re gonna make sure she has one!” Her mouth goes agape, “Golly! R-really Crystal Heart? You mean it?” I look down at her, “Absolutely! You are now my foal and you will have any and all amenities you may require, up to and including comfort! Come now child! Lets sleep with your new mommies!” <*****> Later the next morning… I held my smartphone in my right hoof and used it to communicate with the filly I left home: Queen_Awesome: I’m at the store now Cozy! What sort of bear do you require?” BRAT: Oh, golly gee! I like BIG bears that just SWALLOW me up when I snuggle them! They’re just so SNUGGLY! Queen_Awesome: Then you shall have the largest bear I can find! You shall also have a special treat upon my return! BRAT: I can’t wait! YAY! <*****> And so, the friendly tan unicorn shopkeeper used his magick to move the enormous brown stuffed bear into the room… And there it sat, on the wooden coffee table as the adorable curly-maned filly slept in the red EZ-chair with it reclined with a simple white cloth blanket around her… I smile at him and fetch a bit for his tip and he grins back and courteously places the bit underneath his navy blue flat cap with his muzzle. He quietly leaves and I shut the door behind him…. I silently trot over and set down the giant fudge pop on the table with my mouth before standing there, proud and smiling at her, with her new bear and delicious treat already laid out for her! I clear my throat, “AHEM!” She opens her eyes and soon closes her snout as she widens them while gazing at the humongous bear on the coffee table! “Uh, oh golly! That bear is HUGE!” I grin at her triumphantly and nod my head, “Indeed Cozy! You said you liked big bears and I will deliver! I also brought you a delicious chocolatey treat!” She looks down at the fudge pop before gazing briefly at the clock on the wall beyond the table and then finally at me at her slight right, “It’s ten thirty-two in the morning!” I lower my gaze to the foal, “I won’t say anything if you won’t!” She eyes me carefully for a moment before finally asking me, “Tell me again why you’re adopting me?” I soften my gaze at this filly, “Because Cozy, I believe you deserve a second chance and you’re not going to get that anywhere else… After what you did, nopony would ever adopt you…” Her eyes widen, “So it’s you, or nopony, huh?” I smile weakly, “I’m afraid so…” She frowns before saying, “Um, nopony isn’t an option anymore, is it?” I giggle, “Not really!” “Oh, gee!” I widen my eyes, “What? I got you a big bear!” She nods, “Yes, and while I appreciate that, I just…” I lean slightly towards the filly, “Just what, Cozy?” She stares at me, “I just don’t think it’s really meant for me, you know?” I frown, “What do you mean?” “Oh, golly! It’s just that, well, you’re just so nice and...and I’m not…” I smile at the filly, “Oh, give yourself some credit, Cozy! I mean, how long has it been since you last tried to take over Equestria?” “Uh, just over four years now!” “See? You haven’t been evil in over four years!” She leans forward while squealing incredulously, “I was in stone most of that time!” “Technicalities!” I start with my head tilted back and waving my right hoof in the air. It goes back to the ground. “The important thing now is that you’re not evil, okay Cozy?” She gazes at the chocolate pop on the table, “You know, I should eat that before it melts!” I nod, “And so you shall, my sweet Cozy Glow, with my blessing! And take your new friend to your room when you are done! I love you!” “Oh, golly!” <*****> I’m playing chess with the filly across the table from me and while she prefers to play black, I’ll admit that she often defeats me quite easily! Of course, this is to be expected from a foal with a red rook cutie mark… I had just suffered my fourth defeat and was using my hoofs to set up the board for round five when the door behind the filly in front of me opens and Starlight trots into the foyer from 10 feet behind Cozy… “Cozy, I like having you around and look forward to uh, raising you or whatever, but you’re a lot of paperwork, you know that?” Cozy turns her body around on the chair to her left and looks over that shoulder at the magenta unicorn, “Oh, golly! Uh, sorry about that! I guess I’ll have to escape from stone differently the next time I’m encased in a statue?” I stare at the back of the filly’s head, “Well, if at all possible, you should try to make it appear as if you never escaped!” She turns her head back to me, “Well, that’s kinda hard, don’t you think?” I smile, “Indeed! Getting out free and alive is quite literally the best to be hoped for!” Starlight trots towards Cozy’s chair and stares at her at the filly’s left, “Well, right! And long ago, you trapped me in a forcefield and tried to take over Equestria! And now, you’re my filly!” Cozy turns her neck left to the unicorn, “Uh, yeah! About that! Uh,” she stares up at Starlight and smiles weakly. “sorry about that, Starlight! I promise that it was just the rush of wanting power and nothing personal, okay? Heh heh! I can’t have you interfering, after all!” her eyes widen. “Whoa! That didn’t come out right! Uh, I guess what I’m really trying to say here is…” Starlight smiles and says, “You’re forgiven, Cozy Glow!” Cozy stares up at her, “Oh, golly gee! Thanks Starlight! That sure is swell! Uh, I uh…” She takes a step towards the filly and embraces her in her forehooves for a tight warm hug! “EEP!” Cozy squeals! Starlight releases the filly and stares back down at her from the side of the chair, “Feel better now, Cozy?” Cozy raises her gaze to the unicorn and widens her eyes, “Oh, golly yes, Miss Starlight! I sure feel better now! Uh, you know, this imprisoning thing is kinda different with the horseshoe on the other hoof!” Starlight frowns, “What do you mean?” Cozy blinks, “Well, the last time, I had you captured! Now, it’s the other way around!” “Cozy! You’re not a prisoner here!” “I’m not? Then why am I locked in my room all the time?” “Because we need to protect you!” Cozy widens her eyes, “Protect me? Protect me from what, exactly, Starlight? I mean, why can’t you just be honest? I’m basically being sentenced to be your foal for what I did earlier!” “You’re not being sentenced to anything Cozy!” Cozy raises her voice and neck, “Then why am I locked up?” Starlight sighs and stares at the filly carefully, “Cozy! You’re fragile right now! We need to protect you!” Cozy sighs, “Again, protect me from what?” Starlight eyes the filly carefully… “Protect you from yourself…” The filly is silent for a moment… “What?” Starlight nods, “You tried to take over Equestria Cozy! It’s obvious that you need guidance and we’re here to provide that…” Cozy cringes, “You have a lot of nerve, you know that? I’ll have you know that I single-hoofedly overthrew the Equestrian monarchy and took over the School of Friendship!” “But was that the correct thing to do, Cozy?” Cozy’s face normalizes, “I uh, I guess not, huh? Golly, I never actually thought about it, you know?” Starlight frowns, “Wait! So you didn’t think taking over Equestria was evil, then?” Cozy giggles, “Oh, I knew it was evil! Golly, Starlight! Give me more credit than that! No, what I mean is, I never thought that those things were incorrect, you know? I kinda uh, thought it was okay to be bad?” “Well, right!” Starlight nods. “But now, you don’t wanna be bad anymore, right? You wish to be good?” She smiles and turns her head back left towards me, “Well, it sure doesn’t seem all that bad, now that you mention it!” Starlight continues, “Right! Well, Princess Twilight says you’re still on house arrest until further notice!” A frown overtakes her face as her brown eyes widen, “Oh, golly!” “Also, after learning about you, she cast a spell to keep you here. Also, she’s coming to dinner tonight!” I widen my gaze at my magenta love, “Are you sure that’s wise, Starlight? I mean, Cozy just got here!” Cozy finally grows visibly flustered at this stage as she shakes her head and stares back at me, “I don’t need to be protected! I uh,” she turns her head back left towards Starlight, “I faced you Starlight! I’m pretty sure I can face Princess Twilight tonight!” she nods. “Um, what time did she say she’d be over?” (To be continued…)
Chapter 12: And Then, She Finally Started Talking To Me“I still can’t believe I’m actually doing this!” The filly squealed while staring at me with panic in her brown eyes. I frowned and prayed I didn’t need to help her more as I stood there on my hooves and stared down at her in her room, “Are you alright?” She blinks, “Oh, golly! Um, I think so? Uh, you’ll be there, right?” before smiling up at me hopefully… My eyes widen, “Of course I’ll be there! Why wouldn’t I be?” She blinks and frowns, “Um, right! Golly right! Of course! Yes!” and nods. I stared at the filly blankly, “Um, you’re sure you’re okay?” She starts and stares up at me, “Well, golly right! Why wouldn’t I be? I’m just fine! Yes!” and smiles meekly… I narrow my eyes, “Cozy, what’s up?” Her eyes widen, “What do you mean?” I smile, “You’re scared of Twilight!” She frowns, “No, I’m not!” “You’re scared of Twilight!” I repeat myself. “Am not!” She squeals! I lower my gaze, “Am I gonna have to tickle it out of you?” She suddenly stares at me horrified, “W-what?” I chuckle slightly, “Do I need to tickle this out of you?” Her neck moves back an inch, “Uh, what are you talking about Crystal Heart?” My eyes widen all the way as my neck lowers, “Here we go!” before I leap at this filly with my forehooves sprawled out in front of me to catch her! She giggles vivaciously! “Stop tickling me, you evil pony! He he he ho ho ho ha ha ha!” “Are you still scared of Twilight?” I ask as I dig my forehooves into her front pits! “He he he he, ho ho ho, ha ha ha, I already said I’m not! Ha ha ha, he he he, stop it!” She manages to get out in between giggles of delight at my onslaught! “I don’t believe you!” I say as I continue tickling this helpless filly with my right forehoof while finding stability with my left… “Ahem!” I hear Starlight say from behind the now open door 5 feet behind me. “Good to see you two are getting along!” “Cozy Glow is scared of Twilight!” I yell robotically while continuing to torment the foal. “Am not!” She manages to gasp out in between chortles. “Oh, Cozy Glow! If you’re scared, you should know we’re here to help you!” She says as I hear the clip clopping of her hooves behind me as she walks in. “I, he he he he, don’t need help, ha ha ha ha!” She manages to stammer out… “Stop tickling her already, Crystal!” Starlight finally yells as she trots in the room closer to us on my left… I stop moving my right hoof under the filly’s pits, “Aww! You’re no fun!” and move it back to the floor next to the other one. She stops giggling and shakily brings herself back to her hooves in front of me, “Th-thanks Starlight! Um,” she shakes her head. “I’m not scared of Twilight Sparkle!” I frown at this, “Cozy, I’ll tickle you again!” She lets out a long sigh with her mouth as her face moves forward and eyes widen, and she adjusts her gaze to both of us, “Okay, fine! I’m kinda nervous about meeting Twilight! But uh, I do have one question!” My left eyebrow raises, “Oh? What’s that?” She blinks and stares up at me, “Well, golly gee! I’m an escaped convict! Why didn’t she immediately teleport over the moment she knew I was here? What could be so pressing that it’s keeping her, anyway?” I stare at the filly as I’m suddenly perplexed myself, “I’m uh, not sure? But you should know that you have no need to fear Twilight, okay Cozy Glow?” I smile down at her. “I’ll be right there!” She stares back up at me and gives an unsure smile, “W-well, yeah!” I then trot over to her three paces and embrace her in a tight hug, “I love you!” “Oh, golly!” The filly suddenly squeals before tentatively returning the hug… <*****> “So, Tirek escaped his stone prison!” Twilight Sparkle said from her side of the table as me, the unicorn mare on my left, and the pegasus filly on my right all stared at her. “Oh, golly! And now you don’t know where he went, huh?” Twilight turns her head left and down to Cozy, “Actually, we know exactly where he is! He’s in the containment room I had built!” “What’s wrong with a regular cage?” I ask the purple alicorn. She turns her blue eyes to me and says, “Well, this cage is special! It prevents magick thievery and keeps power contained!” Cozy blinks up at Twilight, “So he’s totally powerless inside there, huh?” Twilight turns to Cozy, “Yeah, pretty much! That was the idea!” “Obviously!” Cozy says before nodding. I sigh, “So, now I guess you want me and Cozy to talk to him about being reformed?” Twilight turns her neck back to me and frowns, “What? No! Why would I want that?” My eyes widen, “Oh? Well, I thought you wanted us to reform Tirek?” Cozy nods at Twilight, “You gotta admit, it does sound like something you’d want us to do!” Starlight finally chimes in, “She’s not wrong!” Twilight stares at all three of us blankly and blinks before saying, “It’s like the ponies around me know me better than me?” I frown, “I don’t know? Probably? So uh, have you talked to him? What is he saying?” Twilight blinks at me, “Well, he doesn’t really know about you or your reformation, and he also doesn’t know about little Cozy here!” Cozy nods, “Right! And you’re gonna keep it that way!” Twilight turns her neck left to the filly, “What?” Cozy frowns, “I don’t want him coming after me, Crystal, or Starlight! The less he knows about us, the better!” I turn my head right towards the filly, “You’re really worried about Tirek?” Cozy turns her head to me and says with all earnestness in her auburn eyes, “Crystal, I’ve stared into the eyes of this monster and so have you! You should know that we don’t want him around here!” I gulp, “Well, right!” Twilight stares at me, “Don’t worry! We won’t tell him anything about you or Cozy Glow! You’re safe!” I smile at the alicorn, “Well, right! What else did he say?” Twilight slowly frowns, “Well uh, he’s kinda depressed now?” My smile lowers, “Depressed? What do you mean depressed?” Twilight stares at me and gauges my frame with her azure eyes before finally uttering, “He wants to die, Crystal Heart…” My eyes widen, “Oh? Well, then it’s simple! Grant him his request and be done with it! Honestly, you made me think this was complicated for a moment there!” Twilight widens her eyes in shock, “What? No! We can’t kill him!” “Who said you have to? Just give him the means and let him commit the act himself! If he truly wishes to die as you say, that should provide ample motivation!” Starlight stares at me with a wide gaze, “Crystal!” while the foal on the other end of the table does the same, but remains silent… Twilight sighs as she takes over, “Look Crystal! We can’t kill Tirek, nor can we, in good conscience, give Tirek the means to end his own life!” This honestly confuses me, “Well, why not? I mean, you’re not killing him yourself!” Starlight sighs, “No, Crystal! We just can’t do it!” I sigh and roll my eyes, “Fine!” and then I stare back at the alicorn. “So, just what are we to do in the meantime, anyway?” She sighs and frowns, “Well, nothing, I guess? I mean, Tirek escaped on his own and knows nothing about you, nor does this really even involve you.” I nod, “Well, right! That does make sense, your highness!” She smiles at me, “Please Crystal, if you’re going to be dating my former pupil, I’d like you to just call me Twilight, okay?” I grin back at her, “But of course!” <*****> I lay there on my left side under the covers in the dimly lit room from the moonlight coming out of the window to the back of me, as the magenta unicorn held onto me lovingly with her hooves from behind underneath the plush red velvet covers as I whispered back to her, “You like holding me, don’t you?” She whispers back, “You’ve yet to say no!” “W-well, I know you like doing it and I love you, and so I won’t deny you this pleasure!” She’s silent for a moment, “You like being held!” “N-no I don’t! My heart is filled with rage and hate!” She giggles, “Of course!” I sigh, “I keep thinking about Tirek… I mean, what happened?” She’s silent for a moment, “Why are you so concerned all of a sudden?” “I don’t really know? I mean, I keep getting the feeling there’s more to this than meets the eye…” “Well, do you want me to talk to Twilight about seeing him later?” “No! Uh, I don’t think that’ll be necessary…” “So are you ready to just trot away and leave all this behind now?” I smile, “Y-yeah Starlight… I think that’s what I should do? Thanks for talking with me about this!” She holds me closely, “That’s why we love each other, baby!” <*****> The filly uses her forehooves to munch her toast, now lovingly smeared with apple butter by yours truly, before setting it down the half slice on top of the other, finishing chewing in her snout, visibly swallowing in a mighty gulp, and saying to me, “Golly, this toast sure is yummy Crystal Heart! Thanks for making it for me!” and smiling at me… I smile back at her, “But of course, Cozy Glow! You need me and I’m going to take care of you!” Her eyes almost close as she squints in a happy grin and tilts her head to the right slightly, “Gee, that sure is swell!” I sigh and narrow my eyes, “Cozy, what’s up?” Her eyes widen as she starts, “What? Oh, n-nothing’s the matter Crystal Heart!” “What did you want to talk to me about?” Her eyes narrow as she scowls, “Am I really THAT easy to read?” I sigh, “You are to anypony who truly knows you…” She sighs and looks up at me, “It’s about Tirek!” My eyes widen, “Well, what about him?” She eyes me very carefully before finally saying, “Well, you know how I usually sleep late?” I nod, “Well, right! Except that one time when you were sleeping with us, you’re not usually up until about nine or ten or so!” She nods, “Well right…” she stares at me again as she carefully gauges me… “I have nightmares… Well, usually!” I frown and stare at this filly intently, “Nightmares? Nightmares about what?” She sighs again and asks, “Well, do I really have to tell you? It’s kinda personal… Um, what I can remember, anyway! You know, it’s almost like my brain doesn’t like to think about it?” I blink, “Well, okay Cozy Glow! But what has that got to do with Tirek?” (To be continued… )
Chapter 13: But first...The filly cleared her throat and began to speak, when suddenly, there’s a knock on the door across the foyer, 20 feet behind me! “Oh, golly!” I see her say under her breath. I look at her and say, “You can explain this to me later Cozy! I need to go answer the door now! Finish up your toast and juice now!” She stares up at me and nods, “Yes, ma’am!” I get off the chair to my right and trot across the living room as the red couch and polished wooden coffee table pass by to my right and the bookcase to my left, I can’t help but wonder who might be showing up in the middle of the morning? I open the door and behold a yellow earth filly with a big pink bow on the back of her red mane, as she stares up to me with wide orange eyes and says, “Hey! We heard Cozy Glow was back! Can we see her please?” before I look around her and notice a small white unicorn filly with a split wisteria purple, and lavender mane on the right and a small burnt orange pegasus with a purple Mohawk mane-cut and little wings standing on the left. I sigh, “Uh, now really isn’t a good time, fillies!” Apple Bloom widens her eyes and frowns, “Well, is something wrong?” Scootaloo nods and chimes in, “Yeah! If something is wrong with Cozy, we can probably help with that!” I frown and eye these fillies for another moment… “Will you wait here please?” before shutting the door with my right forehoof and trotting back to the dining room… Cozy stares up at me from the other end of the dark brown round wooden table, “Uh, who was that?” I stare at her carefully before answering, “It’s the Cutie Mark Crusaders! They want to see how you’re doing!” “What?” I nod and reiterate, “The Cutie Mark Crusaders are here Cozy! And they want to see you!” She rolls her eyes, “Oh, golly!” before getting on top of her chair and squatting to take off in flight towards the door on the other side of the expanse. She lands and opens the door with her right forehoof, “What do you want?” I hear Apple Bloom cheerfully say, “Well Cozy! Despite well, everything, you’re still an honorary Cutie Mark Crusader and when we heard from Twilight that you were awake now, we wanted to come check on you!” Sweetie pipes up, “Yeah! How are you Cozy?” Scootaloo adds, “Sure has been awhile!” Cozy snorts from her snout, "Oh, golly gee! I locked you three in a closet, trapped Starlight Glimmer in a forcefield, and tried to take over Equestria! If I'm still a Crusader, I gotta be the worst Crusader ever in the history of anything!" Scootaloo says in her raspy voice, "Aw, it's okay Cozy! We all make mistakes! Don'tcha wanna be our friend again?" "Those are pretty big mistakes!" Apple Bloom frantically adds, "Come on Cozy! We're bein’ nice!" Sweetie says, "Yeah! We can start over!" I stare across the empty room to see my new filly gazing out the door carefully before saying, "You know, either you three are idiots or I am! Uh, come back in a week!" before shutting the door! I say to the filly across the house, “Cozy! Talk to them!” She turns her neck left to yell at me, “NO!” “Do it!” “I don’t wanna!” “NOW!” She turns her head, rolls her eyes and says, “Oh, golly!” under her breath before opening the door again. “Okay, look! Sorry about locking you three in a closet earlier and I promise not to try to take over Equestria again!” Apple Bloom stares at her from the other side of the door with enormous orange eyes, “But Cozy! We haven’t seen you in a long time and we wanted to see how you were doin?” Scootaloo says, “Yeah! How’s our good friend Cozy Glow doing?” Cozy blinks, “I’m not your good friend, okay? I’m a bad filly! I’m evil and you three need to leave me alone!” before shutting the door again! “COZY!” I yell at her! “Ugh! Fine!” She grumpily sighs and opens the door again! Scootaloo says, “You open and shut the door a lot!” Sweetie adds, “Yeah! We should get on the other side, so she can’t close us off anymore!” Apple Bloom suddenly yells, “Get her!” and poor little Cozy is abruptly knocked over by an onslaught of three other fillies, with Apple Bloom leading the charge and Sweetie on the right while Scootaloo takes the left! I snicker at the adorable filly dog pile now in the center of the room, while Cozy shrieks, “Ah! Hoodlums! Thugs have tackled me! Help! I’m pinned down!” Apple Bloom says, “We’re your friends, Cozy!” Sweetie adds, “Yeah! We’re starting over!” Cozy yells, “I don’t wanna start over! I’m not your friend! You three need to go! Leave me alone! I’m bad and you need to get out of here!” Scootaloo shouts, “NO!” while continuing to hold the other pegasus down with her friends. I’ve finally had enough by this point and so I trot into the foyer and look down at the pile of foals 8 feet in front of me, “Why are you restraining Cozy?” Sweetie balks, “She doesn’t wanna be our friend anymore!” Apple Bloom adds, “Yeah, and we were bein nice!” Cozy manages to squeak out, “You know, I’m not obligated to be your friend, right?” I can’t help but snicker some more before saying, “Cozy, I really think you should talk to them!” “Do I get a choice?” The helpless pink filly barely manages to ask from underneath the others. I grin and giggle slightly, “Well, what do you think Cozy?” Scootaloo says, “Come on, Cozy! It’s not so bad!” Sweetie says, “Yeah! We’re not gonna hurt you!” Cozy chokes out, “You sure about that?” I narrow my eyes, “Seriously! Let the poor filly up now!” Scootaloo gets off of her first to my left before Sweetie removes herself at the right and the exhausted pink filly gets up as I see her now dilapidated curly mane fall down around her ears and she stares at me with her wide brown eyes, “I really don’t want to do this!” I frown, “What’s wrong, Cozy?” “You wouldn’t understand!” She angrily yells at me as the Crusaders all bounce back a few inches with a start. I sigh, “Try me!” as I eye this filly carefully down my aquamarine snout… She stops with a sudden frown on her snout as her eyes widen quickly, “I uh, I did bad things, okay! I did bad things and now, I need to just be alone!” Sweetie leans in from her position at my right, “Well, that’s what we’re talking about Cozy! We forgive you!” Scootaloo at the left adds, “Yeah! I mean, that was kinda the whole point of us coming down here!” Apple Bloom at the center, just to my left leans in and says with enormous orange eyes, “YEAH! Doncha’ wanna start over with us, Cozy?” I smile at the pink filly as she stares up at me with panic and apprehension in her auburn gaze, “Well, how about it Cozy? Would you like to start over?” She says to me, “You know, I take what I said earlier back!” I widen my eyes, “Oh?” She nods, “Yup! I think we’re all idiots!” At that point, the other three fillies all say, “AWW!” in unison as they tackle hug the pink filly who starts and says, “Oh, golly!” <*****> “Ack!” The stuffed pink pegasus blubbers from the red couch as she lays on her back with her hooves in the air. “I can’t move! Why did you make me eat so much cake?” I roll my eyes from the blue chair, “Psh! Cozy, YOU chose the chocolate cake, knowing full well how you get around chocolate!” Her eyes shoot to the ceiling, “You asked me what sort of cake I wanted!” I nod, “And I delivered!” The filly is silent for a moment, “You really love me, huh?” I sigh from my nose, “Have I not made that clear?” Cozy closes her eyes, “I-I’m sorry, okay?” “Sorry for what?” Cozy is silent for a moment before saying at an almost inaudible whisper, “I don’t deserve this!” “Why wouldn’t you Cozy?” She opens her eyes to the ceiling again, “I’m a bad filly, okay? I tried to kill Fluttershy! I tried to take over Equestria so I could burn it to the ground! I was filled with such hate and rage that I would actually team up with a pair of demons and try to overthrow the government! These are not the actions of a nice pony!” I nod, “And now, you’re forgiven! And so what will you do?” Cozy can only stare at the ceiling blankly before blurting out, “I don’t know!” I finally say the thought that had been on my mind since earlier, “Don’t you think you need to forgive yourself Cozy?” She’s silent before finally saying, “Maybe?” “Cozy, do you think of yourself as a bad filly?” Cozy thinks on this before saying, “I don’t know anymore?” I gaze at her blankly, “Cozy, you’re not a bad filly…” She turns her head right towards me and says with straight eyes, “Yes I am!” I lower my gaze, “Well, you do know what we do to bad fillies around here, right?” Her eyes widen at me, “Uh, what?” I grin mischievously, “We tickle them until they’re good!” I cackle as the filly starts and squeaks out, “Oh, golly! No! I’ll be good! Don’t tickle me anymore!” and begins to squirm on the red cushions of the couch. As soon as I contain myself, I stare back at the filly, “So, you were going to talk to me about Tirek?” She sighs, “Well, I knew it was coming up!” I nod, “Yes! And now that the Crusaders are gone, you can tell me what he has to do with your nightmares?” She stares blankly up at the ceiling with her head propped up on the arm of the couch, “Well, I-I’m not sure exactly what he has to do with it? But I can remember thinking about how he was supposed to help me…” “But he didn’t, did he?” She sighs, “Well, golly gee no, not when I really think about it?” her muzzle soon frowns. “You know, the more I think about it, the more I think he was really just using me and my talents back there to get back at you ponies!” I’m silent before saying, “It’s not an easy realization, is it?” When suddenly, I hear my smartphone go off with strong vibrations on the coffee table and I roll my eyes and say, “This isn’t over Cozy! We shall continue soon!” before getting off the chair and trotting over to pick up the phone with my right forehoof and gazing at the screen before bringing it to my floppy blue right ear, “Yes, Apple Bloom?” The feminine voice on the other side squeaks with a country drawl, “Hey, we wanna help with Cozy too! Can we come over tomorrow?” I smile, “That would be fine, dear Apple Bloom!” She responds, “AWW, terrific! We’ll be over after we're done teachin’ at the school!” (To be continued…)
Chapter 14: And Then They All Came By!The filly stared up at the ceiling and said, “The funny thing is, I don’t even want power anymore!” I nodded from the chair across the room, “Well, right! But in this dream, Twilight made you Empress of Friendship and rather than destroy and tyrannize, you…” She cuts me off, “I led Equestria to a new golden age!” she sighs… “Did I mention I don’t really want power?” “Do you think that’s possible, though? If you were made Empress of Friendship, do you believe you’d do good now?” “No!” She cuts me off again! “It’s just a stupid dream and doesn’t mean anything!” I lower my gaze, “You’re sure?” “Yes!” “Okay Cozy Glow… So uh, weird dreams aside, how are you holding up?” The filly continued to sit on the couch staring up at the ceiling with her wide brown eyes, “You know I haven’t seen the sun in about three days now?” I reclined on the chair across the room and turn my gaze right to her, “Well, do you miss it?” She frowns, “Not really? No, I think what I miss most is just being free to live my life…” “What do you mean?” She sighs, “I mean, just life, you know?” she smiles. “Seeing friends and doing things and living each and every day…” “Well, what are you doing now, Cozy?” She smiles wider, “Talking to one of my new mommies while on the couch!” “Does that make you feel good?” Her mouth normalizes, “Um, I think so?” “Cozy Glow?” She starts and stares back up, “Uh, yes?” “I love you…” Her smile raises and she giggles and squeals, “Stop it!” I get off the chair and turn my body to her and stare at her, “I love you Cozy Glow!” She giggles some more as she fidgets slightly, “I love you too mom!” I smile as that’s the first time she’s ever called me that and trot over to her and look down, “Yes, my dearest sweet foal! Now, The Crusaders will be over soon! You should prepare…” She stares at me with her enormous auburn pupils as she mouthed the words, “Oh, golly! Uh, mom? Do the Crusaders HAVE to come over? Uh, I kinda just want to be alone right now…“ I frown, “Is something wrong?” She frowns as well, “I don’t think so?” “So, why don’t you want your new friends to come over?” She grimaces, “And just who said they were my friends, anyway?” “Don’t you want friends Cozy?” She blinks, “Well, of course I want friends!” she blinks as she starts in my direction. “But, them?” “Well, why not the Crusaders?” She sighs, “Well, I’m really not sure you’d get it?” “Cozy, the first step to forgiving yourself is to make amends with those you’ve wronged… That includes the Crusaders…” She nods, “I-I know that! It’s just that, um, well, that’s not the problem!” “Well, just what is the problem dear sweet Cozy Glow?” She opens her eyes and stares at the ceiling for a moment before finally saying, “I just don’t know if I’m ready?” By this point, I can tell she’s just stalling, “If not now, then when, Cozy Glow?” She turns her head back towards me, “I don’t know, okay? I just… I just don’t know if I’m ready now?” “Cozy Glow?” She stares up at me with her immense eyes, “Um, yes mom?” I smile down at her, “You’re not alone…” She grins back at me, “Y-yeah… I guess not, huh?” “Absolutely not, dear little one!” I nod as I reassuringly continue. “Now, we’ll take this nice and slow, okay?” Her smile widens as she takes in more air with her nostrils, “Um, o-okay mom! Uh, sure thing!” I continue, “Now, I think we probably have about an hour before they come?” She gazes at me, “Oh, golly! So um, what do you want to do now?” I sigh and finally speak the burning question on my mind, “Well, I kinda wanted to talk to you about Tirek?” She gulps and frowns as she stretches her neck to the left my direction, “Again? Um, okay mom… What about him?” I stare at the filly and say words that I never thought I would utter to anypony, “Cozy Glow, there’s a better way than being bad…” She sighs out her mouth, “Oh, golly gee mom! I already said I was gonna try being good! What more do you want?” I sigh, “No, what I mean is, um, Cozy Glow?” She blinks at me, “Um, yes mom?” “You know what he told you was not correct, right?” She grimaces at me, “Oh, golly mom! I’m not an idiot! I know good from evil!” I smile and nod, “Okay, good! Now, just behave yourself and don’t do anything evil, okay?” She smiles back at me as she snort-laughs through her nose, “Uh huh! Okay! Sure thing, mom! I’ll try my hardest!” Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door! I widen my gaze at the filly, “Or, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are here right now!” Her eyes widen, “You know, that was a really short hour!” as I begin trotting my way to the red door on the other end of the foyer with it’s small windows with radiant sunlight coming out of them onto the path. I open it to the left with my mouth and see a blue unicorn there! She’s wearing a cheesy purple magician’s hat that goes to a bent point, now crooked and pointing behind her with many gold stars and moons and various galactic shapes adorning it, along with a matching cape that neatly flows on her back. Her eyes are violet and her mane a long stringy white as she smiles at me haughtily and says in a smarmy feminine voice, “Is Starlight Glimmer home?” I widen my eyes, “Oh, no she’s at work right now! I’ll tell her you came by though! Who are you exactly?” Her eyes widen as she brazenly declares, “Prepare to stare in awe, dear mortal, for you gaze upon The Great and Powerful Trixie!” and stands proudly on her haunches so that her cape flies towards her back! She then returns to all fours… The name rings a bell and it searches in my mind somewhere desperately trying to find something to connect with as I smile and say, “So uh, Trixie was it? Alright, very well then! I’ll let her know you came by! Now, unless there is something else?” She frowns, “You seriously don’t recognize me, Crystal? Really?” I frown as well before lying, “UGH! Of course I recognize you Trixie! Now, I’m very busy, so if you don’t mind?” She sighs and rolls her eyes, “Very well then! I shall return!” Before reaching into her saddlebags on the left with her mouth and throwing down some smoke bombs from there onto the pavement a foot in front of her and visibly turning around to gallop away as I stand there and wonder exactly when this is supposed to get impressive?” I trot back into the foyer where the pink filly sitting on the red chair beyond me stares at me and asks, “Oh, golly mom! Who was that?” I shake my head, “Oh, nopony important! So, like I was saying, the Crusaders will be here in an hour!” She frowns at me as she eyes me carefully, “Why do I get the feeling that this will be important later?” Suddenly, there’s yet another knock on the door! I roll my eyes and mutter to myself, “For goodness sake!” before adjusting them back to the filly. “Hang on Cozy! I’ll go see who that is!” She stares up at me with her wide brunette eyes, “You know, I could answer the door too, right?” I smile when I realize that my filly wants to help too! “Are you sure you’ll be okay if it’s the Crusaders?” She looks at me carefully, “Well, golly gee mom! I’m gonna face them soon anyway! Why not right now?” I grin wider, “Very well then Cozy! Go answer the door!” She turns her body around to all fours on the couch while saying, “Gee! It’s like pulling teeth!” before squatting and taking off to fly through the foyer and towards the red front door. She lands and trots over before opening it to the left with her right forehoof and staring at the other three fillies on the other side of the door and smiling blankly, as if she was about to get hit by a train, “Oh, hiya Crusaders! Golly, it’s just so swell to see you here! Why don’t you come in?” I hear a raspy foalish voice say, “Is she gonna close the door this time?” And a feminine young sing-song voice say, “Maybe we should jump her again? That was fun!” I notice Cozy’s eyes widen as I hear a young female voice say with a country twang, “Now y’all, we’re tryin’ ta be nice here! We don’t wanna crush her now!” “Um, oh golly! You know, I kinda really want to shut the door again now, but I’m not gonna…” she breathes in and out through her nose. “No, I’m gonna say something important to you three fillies instead…” she smiles dimly. “You know, it’s kinda weird… You’d think the forgiveness of you three would be what’s most important, but now I realize that it’s not… No, what I need to do is to forgive myself… I did a lot of bad things back there and I think it’s time I come to terms with that…” The country voice speaks, “Well, do you need any help with that?” The sing-song voice adds, “Yeah, cause we’re here to help you Cozy!” The raspy voice adds, “You’ll be forgiving yourself in no time! You’ll forgive yourself for things you didn’t even do!” Sing-song voice says, “Isn’t that kinda pointless?” Raspy voice responds, “I don’t know? Maybe?” Cozy stares at them and interjects, “Look! I locked you three in a closet back there because I wanted you out of the way… And now after all this time, I think that that was wrong and that I shouldn’t have done it…” Raspy voice says, “Well, locking us three away was only because of what you were trying to do… You were trying do something much worse…” * Cozy flatly replies, “You mean trying to take over Equestria?” Country voice says, “Well, right! But hey! You’re forgiven and we’re ready put all that ugliness behind us, okay friend?” Raspy voice says, “Yeah, we can totally do this again!” And the sing-song voice, “Whaddaya say?” The pink filly breaths slowly, in and out of her snout, “Well, golly gee! Where do we start? The choices are endless!” The country voice calmly replies, “Well, why don’t we start at the beginnin? Tell us Cozy, why did you want power?” Cozy stares back wide-eyed and gulps, “Oh, golly!” (To be continued...) Author's Note *That extremely awkward moment when I realize that maybe shutting other people out when I’m contemplating and acting on suicidal impulses is probably a bad idea?
Chapter 15: And They Started Talking To Cozy...The pink filly stares at us all blankly with her auburn pupils and says, “You know, for most of my life, I never really had any control.” Apple Bloom on the right pipes up as her bow vibrates slightly, “Well, what do you mean? Yer just a filly! You shouldn’t have any power or control or anythin’ just yet!” Cozy smiles at her and replies, “That’s not what I mean! No uh, well, growing up in a Fillydelphia orphanage, you kinda live a very regimented life, you might say? All of my days were planned for me and I would just go through the motions…” Sweetie on the left chirps up in her melodic tone, “Well, what about recess and playtime and things like that? I mean, they got a playground and toys and games and stuff, don’t they?” Cozy turns her neck right towards the white filly, “Do you have any idea how many games of Connect-Five I’ve actually played in my short life?” Sweetie frowns and blinks, “Um, no?” Cozy vibrantly replies as her little body shakes, “Neither do I, but I assure you, it is a very high number! Golly gee, every day is exactly the same! Wake up, brush teeth, eat breakfast, go to class, lunch, recess, homework, alone-time, sleep, and repeat! Over! And over! And over again!” she blinks. “After awhile, you start to wonder, what’s the point, you know? Why should I bother getting out of bed today? Why even continue at class? What’s the point of brushing my teeth before breakfast again? Nothing else was there! It was all I had and I just…” she blinks. “I just wanted another way…” Apple Bloom lowers her view at the pink filly, “And Tirek offered you that, huh?” Cozy looks at her and solemnly replies, “Well, if we’re being honest, not really? I mean, that just got me turned into bird holder!” Sweetie blinks with a start, “You mean a statue?” Cozy nods at her, “Well, right! Whatever!” Apple Bloom asks, “Well, there’s other paths than just what Tirek was talking about?” Scootaloo in the middle finally says, “Yeah! Why didn’t you try to get some friends in the orphanage? I mean, I’m sure it would be easier if you weren’t alone all the time?” “I-” Cozy blinks. “I had friends… They were kind and helped me sometimes but…” The yellow filly on the right leans forward and asks, “But what, Cozy Glow?” Cozy blinks, “But I left… I did what Tirek told me to do and well, I never saw any of them again…” before sighing out her mouth. The violet maned filly in the middle asks, “How did you get out? I guess you were quickly adopted, being cute as you were?” Cozy grins and giggles, “Well, you’d think so, huh? But you see, when you pull pranks and make fart noises and continuously poke them with your hooves and do your level best to be super-annoying, they don’t usually want you anymore!” Sweetie asks, “What? Why would you do that, Cozy? Don’t you want to be adopted?” She sighs, “I don’t think you’d get it? It’s just that, well, nopony could replace them… They were all I had and that rotten fire had to come and…and take them away from me…” and blinks with a blank expression on her pink face… The apple filly on the right says, “Oh, gosh Cozy! I am so sorry!” Scootaloo adds, “Yeah, that’s rough! I” she blinks. “I don’t know what to say?” Cozy nods, “Well, right! So on one hoof, nopony can really replace them! On the other, I have no parents in the meantime! I’m kinda stuck!” Sweetie interjects, “Well, Cozy! That’s not true! You just had to make a choice!” Cozy turns her head to the unicorn, “Yeah! I made a choice! I made the choice to escape and do a lot of bad things after talking with that centaur and that got me turned into a statue!” Sweetie lowly replies, “That’s not what I meant!” Scootaloo adds, “Cozy! I think what Sweetie is getting at is, when you’re stuck like that, you kinda gotta just weigh your options, you know? I mean, you could’ve gotten adopted and yeah, sure! They could never be your original parents! But it’s still kinda, I don’t know what I’m trying to say here? Better than nothing!” Apple Bloom turns her head left to her cohorts, “Now look y’all! I don’t think it really matters anymore what Cozy should’ve done! The only thing that is important is that she’s here now!” she turns to Cozy and smiles. “And about to tell us exactly why she wanted power so badly!” Cozy narrows her eyes, “Well gee, isn’t it obvious? I needed to break free from where I was! I needed out!” Sweetie frowns, “And you thought power could do that for you?” Cozy smiles, “Of course! The Power of Friendship can do anything!” Scootaloo widens her purple gaze, “Um, I don’t think that’s how friendship works?” The other pegasus shudders and stares back at the flightless pony before her, “Well, okay, maybe not! But that’s why I thought I’d want a lot of friends!” The apple filly asks, “Well, what do you want now, Cozy?” She raises her view and asks, “Do you really want to know?” Sweetie replies, “Of course!” Scootaloo nods, “Definitely!” Cozy takes a long breath in through her nose and breathes it out before saying flatly, “I want out…” Sweetie asks, “What do you mean?” “I don’t want to live anymore, guys…” The Crusaders all widen there eyes as Apple Bloom asks loudly, “WHAT?” Cozy smiles, “Well, it’s not that I want to die! I mean, I don’t know what’s gonna happen to me after that! But well, I don’t want my life anymore Crusaders… I just wish it was over now…” Scootaloo asks, “Well, what do you mean? Wasn’t it pretty much over when you were turned into a statue earlier?” Cozy looks at the other pegasus, “Uh, does it look over to you? Golly gee, I’m still here! I’m alive!” Apple Blooms says, “And I think you should celebrate that!” Sweetie adds, “Sure beats being mopey all the time?” Scootaloo cheerfully says, “And we can help you with that too, Cozy!” Cozy stares back at the Crusaders with fire in her eyes, “I don’t want your help!” The red maned filly on the right asks, “You ever think maybe that’s your problem, Cozy?” Sweetie solemnly adds, “Yeah, I mean, you admit that what you did earlier wasn’t correct, right? Well, we can show you a better way!” Scootaloo pipes up, “The friendship way!” Apple Bloom adds, “The wholesome way!” Sweetie smiles and calmly says, “The right way, Cozy…” Cozy stares at these three other fillies with her enormous brown eyes and notices me behind them all, smiling from my hooves on the floor as she finally says, “You fillies aren’t gonna give up until I say you can be my friends, huh?” Apple Bloom cranes her head left to the others and asks, “I don’t know girls? Was that the plan?” Sweetie stares over back at her, “Sounds about right to me?” Scootaloo turns her head left to Sweetie and says lowly, “Not helping!” Cozy grins and giggles, “Alright by golly! Fine! Sure! Whatever! We can try again and start over if it’s really that important to you! Yes! Of course! Now get the hay out of here already! I was gonna do a lot of stuff alone and by myself today!” I raise my gaze towards the pink filly and finally say something right after clearing my throat, “Um, Cozy! You realize they’re here for you, right?” Cozy lowers her view to the three smiling fillies on the other side of the table, “Oh, golly! You are? Gee, you’re not very bright, huh?” I shake my head and roll my eyes, “Cozy! Go be with your NEW FRIENDS!” She cringes, “Ugh!” her face normalizes and she says, “Fine! But we’re doing what I wanna do!” Sweetie cheerfully replies, “Whatever you want Cozy!” Scootaloo adds, “We’re here for you!” Apple Bloom nods, “Anythin in particular you wanna do, Cozy?” Cozy stares at the other fillies intently, “Anything, huh?” <*****> “And so, that’s why Cozy went swimming with the Crusaders in the royal pool at The Castle of Friendship!” I say to my love over the phone… “Oh, gosh! Yeah, I don’t usually use that place unless I’m dealing with royal official business because…” I cut her off, “Because you don’t like the largeness of the castle and the more you think about it, the more it freaks you out?” She lowly replies, “We don’t talk about that!” My eyes widen as I start, “Oh! I mean, because you don’t like large houses and prefer a smaller quieter life! Yes! Of course! That!”* “Thank you!” She cheerfully replies! “Anyway, I’ll be home later! Let me know how everything goes! Love you!” “Will do sweetie! Love you too!” “Love you more!” “Yeah, probably?” I say before I snicker… “Jerk!” “Turd!” I gleefully reply! “I love you so much!” “I know babe! You’re my world!” “I know I am! See you soon!” “Until then, babe!” I hear the phone go click to indicate she hung up the line and set it down with my right forehoof on the table in front of me, as the three fillies on the left all vibrate and stare at me with ecstatic expressions, while the pink pegasus on the right starts to make vomiting noises from her throat. Scootaloo says from the far left, “That was adorable!” with wide violet eyes. The white unicorn filly in the center’s cerulean gaze seems to sharpen on me as she nods her head and says, “I sure am glad Starlight Glimmer has you!” I raise my left eyebrow at the three fillies and say, “You are?” while the pegasus on the right continues to act like she’s regurgitating something… Apple Bloom on the right, towards Cozy says, “Well, yeah! I mean, you’re so nice and caring about her! I think it’s really wonderful!” “Oh, wow!” I reply with a frown. So uh, how did your date at the pool go?” Sweetie smiles up at me brightly and says, “Well, I taught Cozy how to breast stroke!” Cozy looks over, “Oh, golly! I wasn’t that bad!” Scootaloo turns her head left towards the pink filly, “You looked like a wounded poodle!” Apple Bloom turns her head to Scootaloo, “Kinda like a poodle with broken legs?” Scootaloo turns adjusts her neck to the apple filly, “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking! Like a poodle desperately trying to walk, but it can’t because it’s got a broken leg or something!” Cozy pouts, “I still wasn’t that bad!” I giggle at the small pegasus, “But you do admit that you’re better now, yes?” Cozy stares up at me with bright brown eyes and nods while cheerfully exclaiming, “Oh golly, yes mom! Sweetie taught me that timing is the real trick and how you gotta sync up your breathing with your strokes!” Sweetie looks over at Cozy and says melodically, “Right! So you don’t look like an injured chihuahua!” Cozy stares at the music filly, “Wait! I thought I was a poodle?” Scootaloo says, “I said you were a poodle!” Apple Bloom adds, “She seemed more like a Pomeranian to me?” Cozy asks, “Wait! Why am I a small dog now?” I shake my head and giggled at this sight because I knew at that moment, my filly finally had friends, despite her earlier resistance… And then, I began to wonder just what being a Crusader would mean for her? (To be continued…) Author's Note *There! I finally explained it!
Chapter 16: So Now Cozy's Being Reformed!The happy pink filly on the other side of the table smiled at me cheerfully with her enormous brown eyes and squeaks, “Oh, golly gee mommy! That oatmeal you made sure was swell!” I smile down at my foal sitting across the table from me from behind my aquamarine snout, which I’m just now getting used to, “That’s good Cozy! Now go get washed up and we’ll take a break before your lesson plan today!” She frowns, “It sure is strange that Twilight Sparkle put you in charge of teaching me!” My eyes widen, “Why is that strange?” “Well, weren’t you also uh, bad or whatever? I mean,” she blinks and leans forward to whisper. “how does she know we’re behaving ourselves?” “Well, she’s got the alarm set to go off if you attempt to leave?” Cozy nods, “Well, right! But remember what happened when they gave Tirek mail privileges in Tartarus?” I frown, “Well, yeah! But who would you talk to?” “I can talk to you?” “But I won’t do anything evil?” Her eyes widen, “So you say!” she blinks and shakes her head. “But anyway, I just can’t shake the feeling that Twilight is watching us some other way. Someway we don’t know about…” “And what if she is, Cozy? What difference would it make? We’re not going to do anything nefarious.” She sighs and nods, “Well, right!” she smiles an enormous toothy grin. “I’m a good filly!” I grin and giggle at this, “Of course you are! Now your hooves! Go wash them!” She salutes me with her right forehoof as she sits at the table, “Yes ma’am!” before squatting on the chair and taking off to fly and buzz towards the kitchen where the sink is… I can’t help but think to myself that this is much easier than I thought it would be? My mind suddenly began to imagine various scenarios. In one scenario: Cozy Glow and Apple Bloom have to sell cookies together and while Cozy is very good at it, Apple Bloom is not and this will cause jealousy and friction between the two of them! I end up having to referee here between the two as they talk about their differences… In another scenario: Cozy Glow and Scootaloo need to compete in a skating contest for some reason and Cozy’s agility and grace make her a natural and Scootaloo is angry because she works so hard, and yet Cozy will find those things easy… I will need to console poor Scootaloo and let her know that her efforts are not in vain… In another scenario: Cozy Glow and Sweetie Belle enter a singing competition and Cozy’s amazing and wonderful voice easily outshines the white unicorn and this upsets Sweetie, and so she does something bad in a fit of jealousy which causes problems between Cozy and the other Crusaders… The other Crusaders will attempt to reason with Sweetie, but I’ll need to make sure things go smoothly… I wondered about my new filly and the adventures that awaited her and I smiled when I realized that I was giving Cozy Glow the thing her life had been missing… An actual childhood! I then thought about my foal and how she might grow up? Perhaps she could be a motivational speaker or counselor? Possibly an ambassador to Griffindor or the Centaur-Lands? Or maybe even an astronaut? Cozy Glow could be the first pony to make contact with alien lifeforms! “Uh, mom? Still with us?” Cozy asks from where she’s now standing, 5 feet away from me on my right while staring up at me with humongous auburn pupils… I turn to face her and smile, “Oh, yes! Cozy Glow! I was just thinking…” when suddenly, there’s a knock on the door behind me! I continue my statement, “that I needed to answer the door right quick before we begin our lesson plan for the day!” I grin at her like a madpony, “Hang on!” before getting off my chair to turn about face to begin trotting across the living room to answer the door… I open the dark blue portal to my right with my mouth and adjust my neck to gaze at the wide orange eyes of this yellow earth filly with a big pink bow on the back of her head! “Hiya Crystal Heart! Is Cozy around? I was wantin’ ta give her some friendship lessons today!” “You’re not selling cookies are you?” She frowns, “What? No! Why would I?” “Okay, good!” I cut her off! “Hang on! I’ll go get her for you!” before turning around and raising my head to yell across the house. “Cozy Glow! Apple Bloom is here for friendship lessons, so your regular school will have to wait!” I see my foal look up from her place on the other side of the table from me, “Oh, golly! Doesn’t she have to tutor at the School of Friendship?” I turn around and stare at the earth filly, “Hey, don’t you have to tutor?” She stares up at me and squeaks, “Well, I got days off y’know? Sides! What do you think I do on the weekends?” I turn around and raise my neck to speak at Cozy, “She’s off today and wants to teach you instead!” “Oh, golly!” Cozy exclaims before sighing and reluctantly getting up on the chair to squat with her hooves and take off with her little wings and fly into the foyer with me, where she lands in the center and trots three paces towards the apple filly on the other side of the door, “So, you’re tutoring me today, huh?” Apple Bloom smiles at her and says, “Well, yeah! Twilight thought it would be a good idea for us three Crusaders ta be givin’ you friendship lessons and teachin’ you the right way! Y’know? Since you didn’t really do so great the last time.” She rolls her eyes, “Oh, golly!” While I turn to face her and smile, “Excellent! Apple Bloom! You will have her back just before lunch! I will then consume nourishment with my foal while asking her about what she learned and how you’re teaching her.” I raise my gaze to Cozy. “You will tell me everything and leave nothing out, yes?” Cozy stares at me with shock in her brown eyes, “Um, y-yes! Of course mom!” I smile, “Excellent! Now come to me and receive your hug, my precious foal!” Cozy timidly trots up to me and I embrace her in a tight warm hug! “EEP!” She squeaks! I release her and gaze down to her as she stares up at me with uncertainty in her auburn gaze, “Good! Now go and have a wonderful time with Apple Bloom!” She quickly turns around to begin trotting away from me towards the apple filly in the doorway… “Goodbye Cozy!” “Oh, gee! Goodbye mom!” She squeaks back! Then, the door shuts and I’m once again, alone with my thoughts… I ponder long and hard on the exciting adventures my foal will soon be having… When moments later, there’s a knock on the door! I raise my gaze to look at it, “Come on in! It’s open!” The door opens to reveal a tall purple alicorn standing there with a frown on her face, “It’s alright if Cozy has Crusader lessons! But you really need to clear these things with me first!” <*****> The purple alicorn sips the white coffee mug in her violet glow before setting it down on the table and saying, “Well, the biggest problem is that everypony knows who Cozy Glow is and they wouldn’t want to associate with her because of that…” she blinks. “I truly want Cozy to have a second chance, but she can’t get that as long as ponies remember…” I frown and stare back at her from my position on the other side of the table, “Well, right! But as long as she’s with the Crusaders, she’ll have a chance.” Twilight nods, “Right! And that’s why I’m letting her out under strict Crusader supervision.” “Crusader supervision?” I repeat her. Her purple eyes widen, “Well, yes! She’s being reformed and I couldn’t think of any fillies more qualified to do it!” “Who said they have to be fillies?” “Well, don’t you think she would do better if she had somepony around her that she could emulate? That she could be like, so she’ll know the right way to behave?” I sigh, “Well, maybe any other filly, but we’re talking about Cozy Glow here! We’re talking about the filly who almost took over Equestria!” “Well, right!” I nod and smile, “Exactly!” I furrow my brow and frown. “She is Cozy Glow and I believe that she needs to be approached differently…” Twilight stares at me as her gaze softens, “Okay uh, what exactly did you have in mind, Crystal Heart?” <*****> I stared down my aquamarine snout at the pink filly across the table from me, “Welcome to your reformation, Cozy Glow!” She stares at me with huge auburn eyes, “I thought I was already being reformed?” I nod, “Well, right! But Twilight Sparkle just made it official! You’re now officially being reformed, Cozy Glow!” She rolls her eyes, “Oh, golly!” I stare back at her, “Right! So, here’s what we’re going to do! Honestly, I think we can both help each other get ahead here...” before smiling intently at my wonderful new foal… She stares back at me, “This involves Tirek, doesn’t it?” My eyes widen in shock! “What, no!” my gaze turns left slightly, “Kinda…” and then back to her. “Okay, it does…” She nods, “Well, golly right! So uh, what did you have in mind?” (To be continued...)
Chapter 17: And Then We Were Both KindThe centaur stood in the cage with his scraggly beard and black eyes with their distinct yellow pupils as he stared at me, pointed with his claw, and asked, “Who is this other pony? And…” his eyes widen when he sees the grinning pink pegasus filly on my right… “Oh no! YOU! NOT YOU!” Cozy widens her eyes, “Oh yes, Tirek! You got me!” His eyes narrow as his claw lowers, “I refuse to talk to you!” Cozy’s eyes normalize, “I don’t know if you noticed Tirek, but you don’t really get a choice here. I’m here, and you can’t get away!” “And if I refuse?” Cozy widens her eyes again, “That wouldn’t be very smart Tirek, cause then I get to annoy you!” Twilight smiles from my left, “And I’d let her too!” He sighs, “Fine! Let me guess! You’ve reformed the demon filly and now, you want her to convince me to be reformed too, right?” he glances to the left, “Chrysalis’s whereabouts are still a mystery,” he turns back to us and raises his gaze. “but that isn’t important now!” I smile, “Oh Tirek, I think it’s a lot more important than you realize…” He glares back at me, “What do you mean? Just who are you, anyway? Why are you here?” I lower my gaze, “You really don’t recognize me, do you?” He frowns, “Not really, no!” Cozy finally pipes up, “You know, she used to be Chrysalis!” His eyes widen at me, “WHAT?” I giggle slightly under my breath, “It’s true! But I’d much rather just be an earth mare now… “ His enormous eyes gaze at me as I am now something he no longer comprehends, “And give up power?” “Power isn’t necessary to live a rich full life Tirek! In the end, I came to understand that it was more of a liability… That’s why I don’t want it anymore…“ “You’re insane!” “Really Tirek? Cause think about it! What did all that power really get me? A miserable life with you and the brat in the dilapidated house where we were hiding out in? Hiding the bell from Grogar and hoping to Tartarus that he doesn’t find it? Running around always wanting and needing to expand my empire in order to keep the love flowing? No Tirek, that’s no kind of life and definitely not the way I wish to live anymore…” I smile at the miserable old centaur. “I’m happy as an earth mare now… My new name is Crystal Heart…” He adjusts his gaze left towards the filly and he points at her with his left claw, “And you Cozy! Just how did they reform you, anyway?” Cozy stares up at him, “Well golly gee, I’m a pony you know, and so I kinda already have friendship in me!” she smiles wider, “All they really had to do is to convince me that it was there and worth exploring!” her eyes go skyward as her smile lowers, “Well, that and learning how to forgive myself,” her eyes go back down to him, “but these things take time!” she smiles again. “Oh, golly gee Tirek! Won’t you just try being reformed? It sure is swell!” “I’d sooner die!” Cozy turns her neck left to me, “Is that an option? Can we kill him?” Both me and Twilight stare down at her and say in unison, “NO!” Cozy turns her neck forward and stares blankly, “Oh, golly!” I stare at the centaur, “Tirek, look! Just try it out, okay? I mean, consider your other option is being frozen back in stone?” He looks at me with those unnerving black eyes of his, “Actually, that’s my preference! And do me a favor and smash my statue to rubble this time, please! Heh, I’d much rather not return!” Cozy stares at him with her enormous eyes, “Golly! That’s bleak!” I turn my head left to the purple alicorn, “Twilight, he’s clearly not ready! I don’t think there’s much we can do now?” She turns her neck back towards me and huffs through her nostrils, “I think you’re right? Well, we captured him when he broke the statue, and now we have him here.” I nod, “Obviously! So at least he’s no longer a threat at this stage!” She smiles at me, “Right!” Tirek bellows, “Oh, why even bother? Just kill me like I keep telling you to and be done with it! I’d rather not be alive anyway and it would save you so much trouble!” Cozy stares forward blankly, “Uh, I don’t know if I should comment on this?” I turn my head back right towards the pink filly and crane down to her, “Don’t Cozy! Tell Tirek what you came to say!” Cozy stares up at the centaur, “Tirek! I needed to say something to you, but you’re probably not gonna like it!” He stares down at the filly, “Oh, what is it now? Are you going to call me out for using you to get revenge on these ponies?” he throws his arms to the sides. “I’m evil! It’s what I do! Bad things!” She smiles up at him, “You know, I thought you might say something like that! And so, I thought I should just thank you!” His eyes widen in astonishment, “Thank me? What on earth for?” She giggles, “Well, gee! Before you, I had lost my parents and my cottage and I was a homeless orphan! And now, in part thanks to your bumbling stupidity, I got a family now and a wonderful home with two mommies!” He frowns, “Lesbian mommies! Did not see that one coming!” Cozy continues to grin at him, “Well gee, it sure beats life in a cage!” I smile at my foal, “So I take it you’ve accepted me and Starlight as your new parents?” Cozy smiles up at me, “I think I have, mom?” Tirek’s eyes go skyward, “Ugh! That’s fine! Great! Chrysalis is an earth pony now and Cozy Glow is still a little twit! I don’t care! Just get out of here and leave me be!” Cozy giggles and smiles widely, “Sure thing Tirek old buddy! I just wanted to say goodbye!” “Yes, finally!” The centaur replies with obvious relief in his voice. Twilight cranes her neck right to look past me at the foal standing on the floor, “What are you saying Cozy?” Cozy stares at the alicorn, “I’m saying that I’m done with Tirek… I’m saying that that time of my life is over now and I’m, “she blinks, “I’m ready to start all over now…” she smiles. “I’m ready Twilight… I want to be a good filly…” <*****> “So wait! What exactly happened back there?” The magenta unicorn asks me with her right eyebrow raised. I smile at her from my side of the table, “Cozy rebuked Tirek and now she’s free! By doing that, she will begin to unravel his dogma from her mind. It’s a psychological thing!” She frowns, “I didn’t think an evil changeling queen would know so much about psychology?” I giggle, “You’ve obviously never been royalty! It’s essential with things like political manipulation and coercion. Before I became absolute ruler of my hive, there were some discrepancies with the existing changeling monarchy there…” I look to her and smile. “And as an added bonus, Princess Twilight was there and witnessed what Cozy Glow did! In so doing, Cozy’s standing will undoubtedly improve!” “You really thought this through!” I chuckle again, “That’s just the icing on the cake baby! The important thing now is that we have our foal all to ourselves!” Suddenly, Cozy Glow appears in the doorway 12 feet behind me as it opens to the left. I adjust my gaze to her over my right shoulder while Starlight glances over her way, “Oh, golly gee! We gotta do something to cheer up Tirek now!” “What?” I ask with a confused frown on my muzzle. She smiles, “Yeah! He’s all sad and depressed and we gotta snap him out of it!” “What in Equestria for?” She adjusts her gaze to me, “Don’t you think we at least owe him that much?” I sigh when after thinking about it in my mind, I realize that she’s right! “Very well then, Cozy! What did you have in mind?” <*****> Outside the cage room, I stared at the two wooden double-doors there with their brass knobs before staring back down at the pink filly, currently with a cardboard box on her back, “Cozy, why are you doing this for Tirek?” “Because” Cozy said to me as she glanced off to the left slightly. “I’m a good filly and I won’t leave anypony behind…” I stare down at her intently, “But he’s evil!” She glances back towards me and smiles, “You know, he hasn’t really done anything bad in about four years, right?” “Oh, you are good!” She grins up at me, “I know!” before turning her neck back right towards the door and reaching up to turn the knob with her lips and then, release her body from it so the door glides right and opens for us two ponies… We see the lonely old red centaur standing there and staring back at us as he says sarcastically, “Oh, wow! The brat and former changeling! How delightful!” Cozy begins trotting in as she says, “First off, it was really rotten of you to trick me into doing your bidding like that!” and begins to make her way into the room… His black ovals widen, “Oh, yes! But, you already told me this! Do you have anything new to add?” Cozy smiles at Tirek, “As a matter of fact, I do! I just wanted to cheer you up and so I brought you a care package!” “A what?” Cozy’s body shakes slightly as she responds, “A care package! It’s got cookies and some chocolate and fun things to read and do and…” “I don’t want it!” Cozy stares at Tirek with her big eyes, “But Tirek! I-I made it just for you!” “I don’t care!” Cozy’s bottom lip begins to quiver, “B-but you’re really sad and I want you to know that we care about you!” “That means nothing to me!” I finally can’t take anymore and stare at the wretched old monster, “Tirek! You listen and you listen good! Cozy Glow is a good filly now and she made you something! You will accept it graciouslythis instant!” “Or what? You’ll get mad at me again? I don’t care! I just want out! I want to die and you ponies won’t even grant me that!” My eyes narrow, “Cozy! Leave the room!” She turns her head left to look at me curiously, “Mom?” “Now Cozy! Wait for me outside! I’ll be there in a few minutes!” She blinks and gulps, “Y-yes mommy!” before turning around with the box still on her back as she trots out the room and quietly shuts the door… Tirek widens his eyes, “Oh, what now Chrysalis? Or uh, Crystal as you’re calling yourself! Are you going to get upset at me?” I smile at him, “Tirek, tell me something… What do you really want?” His eyes widen, “What do you mean? Have I not already made that abundantly clear? I want you to kill me! I want to die!” I nod, “So you say! But lets just say that death was not an option. Lets just say that you had to live! What would you really want to do?” “Why are you asking me this?” “Because Cozy’s goal was to make you happy and so, I just want to know what that’d take?” “Why?” “Because that’s what Cozy wanted!” His eyes widen, “H-happy? Nobody has ever actually cared about my happiness! Why are you suddenly doing this?” I widen my smile, “Well, it all began when I met this yellow pegasus pony…” (To be continued…)
Chapter 18: And Friendship Brought HappinessHis eyes go skyward, “Oh, yes! Butter-shy or whatever her name was!” I continue to smile and say, “Close! Uh, you never answered my question though… Exactly what do you really want…” His eyes widen at me, “Do you really want to know?” By this point, I must confess that I’m growing a tad annoyed as I widen my eyes, frown, and say, “Well, yes!” <*****> I widen my eyes, “Bungee jumping! Did not see that one coming!” as I stood there on the dam, while the small pink pegasus filly stood to my right and the aging centaur stood in front of me. His eyes widen, “Well, if you’ll recall, when I still had power, I was an impressive bodybuilder! I liked doing extreme things like this from time to time, just because it always made me feel alive…” they go to the heavens. “I haven’t done anything like this in so long that just the thrill of the wind in my face as I’m free-falling towards the ground sounds magical to me!” “I still think you’re insane!” Cozy turns her head left towards me, “You know, I got wings! If something goes bad on my drop, I can just fly back up!” I turn my neck slightly towards her, “This is true!” She nods, “Right! And you can still shapeshift! Why not grow a pair of wings? You know, just for right now?” I adjust my gaze to the centaur and think to myself that he would probably see that as a sign of weakness? “No, I believe I’ll be going wing-less this time…” I smile. “Since I’m going to jump anyway, I might as well make it interesting!” Tirek finally speaks again in his raspy voice, “Are you sure?”he raises his claw, “I mean, if I turn into pizza from this, I assure you, I won’t mind in the least! But you might actually want to keep on living?” and lowers it. I nod, “I’m positive! I want a thrill!” Suddenly, I hear the magenta unicorn speaking from my right, “Crystal! That’s nonsense! You should transform into a pegasus now, so you’ll have wings if anything goes south!” I turn my head towards her and widen my eyes in desperation, “But Starlight!” She lowers her gaze and says, “I care a lot more about you than some silly thrill!” Tirek makes a whoop-pow whipping noise right before Cozy visibly chuckles to herself silently… I narrow my eyes at the centaur, “Fine! Let’s just get this over with! Do you wish to jump first or should I?” <*****> I stood there on the edge of the dam and I gaze back over my right shoulder to ask the centaur behind me, “How do I know you didn’t cut my line so I’m about to fall to my death?” before fluttering the feathered new aquamarine appendages at my sides… Tirek logically explains while raising his right claw, “Why would I do that Crystal? What have I to gain by it?” before lowering it… “Besides! You have the wings now, remember?” I nod, “Okay, you make a point!” before adjusting my neck to the drop in front of me on the edge of the dam… I look down and see that it’s a long fall… I gulp and stare at this giant chasm I’m about to leap into… “Crystal! Are you going to leap?” I hear the grizzled old centaur ask from behind me… I take a deep cleansing breath in through my nose and let it out my mouth before replying, “In good time, centaur…” before looking down again and thinking to myself that this won’t be so bad. I mean, it’s not that far, r-right? I gulp again as I hear the filly whispering to the centaur, “She’s getting ready!” “I know that!” Tirek whisper back… I widen my eyes and snap to attention, “Going down!” I say calmly as drop from the ledge to go screaming towards the ground as the wind blows through my mane at faster and faster speeds! I must admit, the feeling of adrenaline is incredible as I suddenly feel the line snap and pull while tied firmly around my right hind legs and I feel the tug of the line as itpulls me back up and my body and weight suddenly reverse direction to go back skyward! I feel released and light as a feather as my equine body is thrown up in the air before I feel gravity beginning to take hold of me once more and I again begin to plummet… And for the second time, I see the bottom of the chasm beginning to grow larger as I stared wide eyed and screamed at the sudden rush and excitement of what I was doing! <*****> After the stallion had unhooked me from my bungee gear, I watched the centaur fall from the balcony on the other end of the dam… I saw his quadruped form fall with the rope attached to his back right leg and I suddenly saw it suddenly grow taught and snap back up as his body once again, began to ascend from the chasm… I saw these things and I heard something I’ve never heard before… I heard Tirek screaming in amusement! “He seems to be having fun, huh?” The pink pegasus at my left says to me from her hooves. I turn my neck to her and look down at her, “Yes he does! Do you suppose we did a good thing here?” She nods, “Well, golly! He’s had nothing for all this time between this, being in stone, and Tartarus earlier! And now, well, he finally has a thrill!” before looking over to where the centaur flew up and down as a raspy voice screamed in fun! I frown at this sight, “I see… Why did we do it again?” “Because I’m better than that now, Crystal…” I turn my head back to the filly… She lowers her gaze slightly, “I know he just used me and I know I should never trust him again… “she raises and widens it. “But I also know that I’m a good filly now and that I just want to make everypony happy!” before smiling her toothy grin… “What about you Cozy? What would make you happy?” Her eyes stop with a start as her snout goes agape, “Uh, what?” I smile, “Yes Cozy! Let’s make you happy now! What would it take to make Cozy Glow happy?” She stares at me blankly, “Um, I don’t know…” “What do you mean, you don’t know?” Her eyes go to the sky, “Well golly gee, mom!” and back down to me. “I never actually thought about it, you know?” “Remember when I hugged you and gave you your stuffed bear earlier?” She blinks, “Yes!” “Where you happy then?” She frowns, “I think so?” I smile, “And you needed no power or control to get that way, now did you?” She smiles back, “No, I did not mommy! Just snuggling my friend and eating my chocolate was good enough!” I nod, now sure that I’ve reformed the filly! “Right! So what do you want to do now? We can do anything you want, Cozy?” Her eyes widen as a frown forms on her snout, “Anything, huh?” <*****> Cozy stares at the Crusaders in out living room, “So, anyway, I thought that since we’re starting over or whatever, that we should do it proper and begin by us just hanging out together and doing activities and stuff!” The burnt orange pegasus on the left nods her head as her purple mane goes up and down, “That makes sense!” The yellow redheaded filly with the pink bow on the back of her head in the center nods as well, “Well, gosh Cozy! That’s what were tryin’ ta do this whole time!” The white unicorn filly with the split mane on the right interjects, “Yeah, Cozy! Lets do it!” Cozy smiles, “Right! And I’m sure that’s why my new mommy will oh so generously give us a party with cake and games and stuff!” Scootaloo widens her violet eyes, “Oh, really? You think so?” Cozy finally turns her neck right towards me, where I’m standing on my hooves in the living room and visibly and cutely pouts with a the most sullen look ever on her face, “Well, I’d like to believe she would, but…” I narrow my eyes, “I see what you’re trying to do here!” “Well, golly mom! I just wanted to have some fun with my new friends!” Scootaloo adds, “Who happen to be your old friends!” Apple Bloom whispers to her, “Shut up Scootaloo!” “How about it mommy? PLEEEEEAAAASSSEEE?????” She says while pouting cutely… <*****> “So wait, what do I do?” The frowning pink pegasus asked with the white blindfold neatly wrapped over her eyes… Scootaloo says from her right with her raspy voice, “Well, you gotta pin the tail on the pony with your mouth!” “Oh, golly! But I can’t see anything with this thing over my eyes!” “That’s the point Cozy! Now just trust me, okay?” “I don’t know if I’ve ever trusted anypony like this? Well, not since my parents died!” “That’s fine Cozy! Uh, you ready?” “Oh, golly!” Scootaloo uses her mouth to pass the fluffy blue pin to Cozy’s snout, which promptly bites down onto it before she runs slightly right and goes trotting slowly towards the wall with the big brown pony poster on the wall, missing the tail… Scootaloo yells at Cozy, “Lefter Cozy! You want more to the left!” Sweetie Belle finally pipes up from behind the orange pegasus, “Further forward Cozy!” From Sweetie’s right, but still behind Scootaloo, Apple Bloom yells, “Go forward Cozy! You’re not at the wall yet!” “Oh, golly!” My foal curses between her teeth as she stumbles towards the wall and almost bumps into it. Apple Bloom excitedly shouts, “Stop Cozy!” Scootaloo chimes in, “To the left!” Sweetie Belle adds, “Just a little! Not a whole lot!” Cozy finally just rears her neck back a few inches before moving her snout to the wall to pin the tail on it… She uses her right forehoof to remove the blindfold from her eyes that soon widen at what they see! “Golly! I was only about half an inch too low! I was almost there!” Scootaloo adds, “And just a hair to the left! Pretty good shot I’d say!” Sweetie Belle adds, “That’s probably the best we’ll have all day?” Apple Bloom cranes her neck left to the white unicorn, “Well, do you suppose I should play?” Sweetie Belle smiles, “I think that would be okay?” Cozy finally just blurts out, “Stop rhyming!” Sweetie Belle sees this and turns her head back right to the apple filly, “Do you suppose we should?” She replies, “If only we could?” Scootaloo finally turns around and adds, “Honestly, I just hope we’re understood?” By this point, the pink filly can’t contain her chuckles… “Oh, golly! That’s enough! Just knock it off already!” <*****> The pink filly collects her fork with her right forehoof and sinks it into the big slice of chocolate cake on the little plate in front of her before staring at the other three fillies at the table. She soon brings the morsel to her lips with the silverware and closes her muzzle onto it to bite and begin chewing shortly after removing the fork… I look down at my foal from the right, “So, you got friends now!” She finishes chewing and stares up at me, “Well, yeah! But I mean, really?” she blinks. “F-friends? After well, everything I did?” I smile, “Of course Cozy! This is a fresh start!” Scootaloo pipes up from Cozy’s right and grins, “A clean slate!” Sweetie Belle looks at Cozy from across the table and smiles, “A new beginning!” Apple Bloom looks at Cozy and smiles herself, “A brand-new chapter!” The pink filly stares forward blankly, “And golly gee, wouldn’t you know? I’m hearing everything in triple now!” I nod and suppress giggles, “So, how was pinata time?” She swallows her bite and stares up at me, “Well, I wasn’t able to break it at first!” I nod, “Right! And that’s when Apple Bloom had her turn!” The apple filly smiles up at me from the left, “Didn’t stand a chance!” Cozy looks at her, “Golly! I couldn’t break it, but you did, huh?” Apple Bloom stares at Cozy, “Well, that’s what friendship and teamwork are all about, Cozy! I mean, you broke it part of tha’ way, but then I came in and finished tha’ job!” “Am I gonna be learning about this now?” I smile down at the filly, “What do you think you’ve been doing all day?” Cozy frowns up at me and is silent for a moment before finally muttering shyly, “So um, did I do good mom?” (To be continued…)
Chapter 19: Then Twilight Had this Thing...“What do you mean Tirek is considering being reformed?” I asked the purple alicorn sitting on the throne in front of me… Twilight Sparkle nods, “That’s exactly what I mean! It seems Cozy’s act of caring the other day really made him reconsider a lot of things…” I frown, “Wow!” She nods, “Yes! But that wasn’t the only thing I wanted to speak with you about…” My eyes widen, “Oh?” “Yes!” She says before nervously glancing around the empty throne room. She leans closer to me and says in a lower volume. “Uh, how do you know if um, you’re you know, gay?” I frown with an astounded look in my now very open eyes, “Uh, well it’s one of those things inside you, you know? I mean, if you’re attracted to other mares, don’t you think you’d know that?” She frowns, “I don’t know? Maybe?” I eye the princess very carefully now, “Why are you asking me this?” Her eyes widen, “Well uh, that is to say, I uh…” I cut her off, “Do you think you’re gay?” Her mouth goes agape as she quickly responds, “N-no! I like stallions! That is uh, I think?” I frown at this, “Twilight… Have you ever had sex before?” “What? Yes! Of course, I’ve had sex! I’ve had plenty of sex! All kinds of sex! Why would you ask that?” She quickly retorts before grinning widely at me… I frown, “Well, you seem pretty uncertain about who you’re attracted to?” She sighs and stares down before adjusting her gaze back up to me, “Crystal, I think I’m bisexual?” “You weren’t bisexual before?” She frowns and widens her eyes again, “What? No! I mean, I probably was? Why does everypony always say that?” I stare at the other mare intently, “Well, you just seem like, that type, you know?” She frowns, “What do you mean, that type?” I widen my eyes again, “I’m just saying, it looks like the door swings both ways here!” The alicorn is silent for a moment… “I see…” I nod, “Well, right! So, everypony kinda assumes this about you and now you’re telling me that it’s probably true?” She sighs from her nose, “Well, if everypony already thinks that about me…” I nod, “Right! Then it’s no harm and no foul! You’ll have a marefriend in no time!” “Or a stallionfriend!” I nod again, “Or a stallionfriend with a huge penis!” Her eyes widen, “Crystal!” “Or it could be an average penis? I don’t know what you like you know, when you’re doing that…” She silently frowns at me for a moment… “You have done that before, yes?” Her eyes widen, “Oh yes! Of course! Lots of times!” I eye her carefully again, “Can I go now?” <*****> I trot out the throne room where a curly maned pink pegasus filly sudden turns her neck left towards me in the blue stone hallway, “Oh, golly mom! What was that about?” I eye her carefully, “I’ll tell you when you’re older…” She stares up at me, “Is Twilight having some kind of sexual problem?” At that point, I can’t contain it anymore and I’m squinting while desperately trying to suppress a smile on my face in futility, “Well, uh, nothing she shouldn’t be able to figure out in good time!” Her eyes widen, “Oh, golly! Is she gay!” I eye this pegasus foal intently as she stares up at me with her wide brown eyes, “Well, bisexual, she thinks?” She frowns, “You know, there’s really only one way to find out, right?” I nod, “Yes, and we’ll talk about that when you’re older!” “You mean the sex talk?” “U-um, yeah that!” And then, my foal said something that quickly and suddenly made me feel at ease, “So um, what’s for breakfast mom?” I smile, “Well, how about oranges before we take a morning stroll around the park, honey?” I she smiles up at me, “Oh, golly gee mom! That sure sounds swell!” <*****> The magenta unicorn widens her blue eyes to me from across the table, “Why didn’t you tell me Twilight Sparkle was bi?” “She just told me today and you literally just got home!” She nods, “Right! But you couldn’t call me?” I frown, “I didn’t think it was that important?” Starlight sighs, “Well okay, granted, you probably didn’t realize this, but Twilight has been talking to me now!” My eyes widen, “Talking to you now? About what?” She frowns, “About being gay!” My eyes widen, “Why does everypony keep whispering that?” “Well um, homosexual!” I nod, “You know what? I was an evil changeling queen bent on Equestrian domination for eons! I’m sure I can be a homosexual!” and suddenly get up from the chair to trot to the backdoor where I open it to the right with my mouth and trot into our yard. I look up at the neighborhood houses and shout at the top of my lungs, “Everypony! We’re lesbians! We’re being all gay in here and Twilight Sparkle is probably bisexual!” before trotting back into the kitchen as the unicorn on the other side of the table stares at me in wide-eyed bewilderment. I smile. “See? Nopony cares!” At that point, Starlight’s composure began to deteriorate and I saw her grinning and giggling before saying, “You know something? You’re right Crystal Heart! It’s not a big deal!” I widen my eyes, “That’s what I’ve been trying to say this whole time! I even told Twilight that it’s okay to be bisexual! I mean, we’re all different!” Suddenly, the door behind Starlight opens to reveal a small pink pegasus filly behind it who says, “What was that about being bisexual?” I look at Cozy, “I was trying to show Starlight here that nopony cares that Twilight’s bisexual!” She frowns, “Oh, golly! I don’t care either! I just came for juice!” before beginning to trot across the kitchen on my right from the table to the fridge. Suddenly, there’s a purple flash of light in the room and Cozy jumps back and screams towards the fridge! “AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!”* Then, we all see a smiling tall purple alicorn say, “Oh, hello sexually diverse ponies who happen to be my friends! What’s happening on this beautiful sexually diverse day?” before her right eye twitches slightly… I stare at her carefully, “Twilight, is a mare currently trying to get between your hind flanks?” Her eyes widen, “What? No! Why would you think that? Heh heh!” before she smiles nervously again… Starlight nods, “You gotta admit, all this sex talk is pretty sudden and I’ve kinda been thinking the same thing!” her eyes widen as she leans forward. “Now come on! Who’s the ambitious pony! Who wants to be with Twilight Sparkle?” She frowns, “Well, that is to say, nopony in particular? Uh, I kinda well, don’t think I should tell you?” and soon trails off with her wording… I finally interject, “Come on! Who is it? Which mare dares to want you?” She stares at Starlight intently… Starlight, who quickly blurts out, “It’s Trixie, isn’t it?” Twilight’s eyes widen, “Well uh, that is to say um, maybe?” before smiling widely and nervously… I finally just say the obvious, “You know she’s only using you to get back at Starlight, right?” Twilight stares at me, “What makes you say that?” Starlight adds, “Well, she’s done it before?” Twilight nods, “This is true! But she changed!” I say, “So I’m told?” Starlight says, “So I guess the real question is, how much do you trust Trixie?” Twilight widens her eyes, “Well, she seemed pretty sincere?” I ask, “Has she kissed you yet?” Twilight’s eyes widen with a start! “What? No! Okay um, maybe?” I smile and giggle, “Twilight had a lesbian kiss!” Starlight giggles at Twilight as the purple alicorn’s cheeks grow puffy and red and she stammers, “She came onto me!” I nod, “Well, right! So uh, how was your first kiss, anyway?” Her eyes widen as her cheeks slowly begin to return to normal, “What? What makes you think I haven’t been kissed before?” “Because you’re you!” Starlight adds, “You gotta admit, Crystal makes a valid point!” “I can kiss ponies!” Twilight defends herself! Me and Starlight are both giggling as the purple alicorn suddenly appears very sullen and annoyed… “So uh, yeah! Trixie kinda suddenly kissed me the other day and said she liked me before leaving in a hurry…” she widens her eyes. “It’s like she didn’t want me to respond right away?” Starlight says blankly, “That’s a good strategy!” I look at her and nod, “I thought so too!” Twilight stares at us, “What do you mean?” I look at Twilight, “Well, think about it! You’re you, right? So you’d probably say no unless she gave you time to think about it!” Starlight nods, “Well, that’s what I’d do!” “I wouldn’t say no right off the bat!” Twilight says while defiantly stamping her left hoof. Starlight says, “I’m still pretty sure you would!” I add, “Yeah, me too!” Twilight pouts and sighs, “So uh, yeah! Cat’s out of the bag now! Trixie came onto me and it’s probably not to get back at Starlight… More than likely… “ I look at Starlight, “Do we trust Trixie?” She looks back at me, “Well, Twilight Sparkle is my friend! She would never do anything against me, no matter who she’s with!” I nod, “This is likely true!” Twilight finally says, “So you’re not mad?” to Starlight. Starlight looks at Twilight, “Of course not! I moved on, just like Trixie is allowed to do! If she says she wants a relationship with you and you’re interested, I take no fault with either of you!” Twilight visibly sighs, “Oh, good!” before straightening her neck as her shoulders finally relaxand stares at us, “I was worried for a second there! Uh, look lesbians! I gotta run!” before disappearing in another blinding purple flash! I look back at the magenta horse I fell in love with, “She just teleported to Trixie, didn’t she?” Starlight eyes me carefully, “Totally!” Cozy finally turns her neck back left towards me sitting at the table, “Can I get my juice now?” I stare at her, “Well gee Cozy! Nopony is stopping you! Just remember you got that thing with Scootaloo in an hour!” She smiles, “Yeah, I know!” I stare at my foal intently, “Just uh, try not to embarrass Scootaloo with your spectacular and amazing scooter moves!” “Oh, golly! Mom! I’ve never been on a scooter before in my life!” I widen my eyes at her, “Um, of course! I’m sure you’ll do just fine sweetie!” Starlight stares at me, “So uh, think we’re gonna hear more about Twilight and Trixie?” I stare back at her, “Yeah, probably!” (To be continued…) Author's Note *Of course, my story just isn't complete without poor Cozy Glow being traumatized at least once...
Chapter 21: And Love Just Broke All the Rules...I furrow my brow at the alicorn, “Okay, for the last time, I just want you to clearly and concisely explain to me why I have to help you plan your wedding and why I have any business being here?” Twilight smiles, “Well, you’re good because nopony knows you!” My eyes widen, “Why does that make me good?” Cozy adds, “I’m not flying with another banner! I hate those things! The wind drag is awful!” Twilight smiles and lowers her gaze, “Because you’re the perfect example of how my reign over Equestria changes things for the better!” I frown and widen my eyes, “But you had nothing to do with my reformation?” Twilight flips her right forehoof in the air, “Technicalities!” Cozy says, “Seems to be a lot of that going around?” Twilight turns her head to the filly and raises her eyebrow, “Oh?” Cozy shakes her head before staring back, “Uh, never mind!” she lowers her gaze. “So, exactly how are we going to help you with this wedding?” I turn my gaze right to the filly, “Cozy! You don’t have to!” She turns back towards me and says vehemently, “Mom, I’ve read the same fairy tale four times already and put together my 500-piece puzzle ten! I’m bored and have nothing to do!” I mimic her speech patterns, “You know, you could just ask me for more books and puzzles?” She blinks, “Um, of course! I knew that! But uh…” “You just want something new to do, don’t you?” Her eyes widen, “Um, yeah okay, maybe!” and she smiles at me with a big toothy grin… Twilight gazes down at the filly, “I don’t know if I should trust you?” “Oh golly gee, Twilight! Give me a break! I haven’t been evil in about four years now!” Twilight widens her eyes, “But you were a statue!” Cozy stares blankly at the princess, “Technicalities! That was another one!” before adjusting her gaze. “Oh, come on! What’s the worst that could happen?” before smiling widely at the princess. Twilight lowers her gaze, “Well, while all the wedding things are going on, you could in theory, steal the artifacts from my safe where I keep them in my office and use those to drain the magick in Equestria again!” Cozy’s eyes widen, “See? I didn’t even think of that! I’m totally reformed now! You can trust me!” before smiling her cheesy grin once more… “You didn’t even know the artifacts were kept there until I just told you!” Twilight’s eyes go skyward. “I should probably move them now?” Cozy sighs, “How about this then! Just put a spell on me that keeps me from entering your office! Would that work?” before frowning in agitation at the large purple superior… <*****> “Why can’t I go into the castle now?” The pink foal asks me as we both stood in front of the large red front door to the castle. I sigh, “Because Twilight cast a spell on you to prevent you from entering!” “Well golly gee, the artifacts are just in her office! Is it REALLY necessary to block off the whole castle?” “I guess that’s what Twilight thought was best?” She nods, “Well, right! But you know the artifacts aren’t in the castle anymore right?” “You don’t think so?” She scoffs, “Oh, please! The shield she put over is just a dead giveaway! She wants me to think they’re in there, but they’re probably actually in the Crystal Empire or something!” I nod, “Actually, you’re probably right?” She sighs, “Well, obviously! But golly gee, how am I gonna get to the wedding now!” and stares up at me with enormous brown eyes. I frown, “Well, I guess I could ask her?” my eyes go up. “Actually, I have an idea!” <*****> I look at the large alicorn, currently wearing a gorgeous white wedding dress, “Twilight, we know the artifacts aren’t here!” She widens her eyes as her neck comes out of the V-shaped top of the sequined white dress, with the slight fringe along the bottom… “Oh? I thought I was sneakier than that?” I smile, “Cozy already knows that since you blocked off the whole castle, that you’ve obviously moved them somewhere else… Can she please come into the ceremony already?” She stares at me blankly before a small smile begins to form on her muzzle… <*****> “Mom?” The pink pegasus filly asks me from below… I look down at the adorable filly as she stares up at me with her brown eyes underneath neatly arranged bluish-white curls, “You know, I told you that I didn’t want to fly while carrying a banner, right?” I nod and try to suppress a smirk as I know the filly is gearing up for another tirade, “This is true!” Her eyes widen right before she irately shouts! “Then why, in the name of Equestria, am I now flying while carrying five streamers?” I try not to giggle while saying, “Well, it’s not a banner!” “How is this better than a banner? There’s still gonna be all kinds of drag!” “Well uh, wind can go in-between the streamers now?” She grimaces in annoyance, “So what? A lot of it is still gonna catch and I’m gonna have to work extra hard with my wings just to move and maneuver!” I frown when sudden inspiration hits me, “Well, it’s either that or being in the crowd and having to make nice-nice with everypony?” Her face normalizes when that sudden thought enters her mind. She glances back at me, “Uh, you know what? I’ll do it for about thirty minutes… After that, I’m flying home!” I smile at my filly, “Deal!” before trotting to her and embracing her in a tight warm hug!” “EEP!” She squeals before saying to me while in my embrace. “You know, I keep thinking about who you used to be, and I’m still not used to that!” <*****> The large congregation gathered in the large stone reception building in the pews there... There was a large aisle with a red carpet neatly draped through it and two smaller aisle’s on either side, so more ponies could easily get into the massive auditorium… Soon, music started to play… The organ sound reverberates through the auditorium as an older brown earth stallion operates the keys with his hooves overhead and Trixie soon emerges from the right side in her white sequined wedding gown with a big smile on her face, underneath a slightly off-white veil, so her white mane doesn’t hide it… She slowly trots down the main aisle until reaching the central aisle leading up to the podium… She turns right to begin trotting that direction… I must admit, for a second-rate former magician, she certainly looked stunning and oddly happy… Next, Twilight emerges from the left side of the aisle and slowly trots as the organ musical fanfare continues to play and resound throughout the room… What I saw in Twilight at that moment, I’m not exactly sure? She seemed happy, but her lips betrayed hesitance… She slowly and graciously trotted down the aisle before curtly turning left to begin trotting down the central aisle… She soon reached the pulpit… Then, the older gray earth stallion in his ceremonial black robes began to speak, “Fillies and gentle-colts! We are gathered here today to witness a most peculiar union! The union of Princess Twilight Sparkle and her consort, Trixie Lulamoon!” Suddenly, Twilight speaks up, “I-I’m sorry! I need to uh…” before turning and spreading her wings before squatting to take off flying inside the auditorium overhead! Ponies stared up aghast as they witnessed the Princess of Friendship, now flying above in her white wedding dress and heading towards the window just to the left! “UGH!” I roll my eyes before I take off in a hurried gallop to the outside through the large double-door entry. I exit just in time to turn my head to the right and witness her heading into a particular tower over Canterlot in the distance… “Gotcha!” I say to myself before I begin to shapeshift and grow a pair of aquamarine pegasus wings at my side and through my pale pink bride’s mare’s dress and squat before I take off flying towards the tower I saw her fly into… Now, please note that I am used to flying with insectoid wings… These feathered wings I was now attempting to fly with behave very differently and I needed to flap slower and with more force in order to gain any altitude! This annoyed me at first, and yet I scrunched my brow and frowned in iron determination! I don’t know what’s wrong, but I think I need to fix it? After some flying, I finally reach the tower window parapet and I land on the balcony there… There’ a railing that I needed to fly over though, and so I of course, landed with a skid! “Ouch!” I say to myself as my right front hoof strains. Doesn’t matter! I need to check on Twilight! I trot inside the small room at the top of the tower… There’s a staircase spiraling downward on my right and a small wooden table there, as the purple alicorn stood there in her wedding dress, with the train, still somehow immaculate and now sprawled across the floor behind her… I look at this and say, “Okay Twilight! Tell me, why in the name of pony did you suddenly decide to get married to this other mare you’ve only been seeing for maybe a few days?” Twilight stared back at me solemnly, “Tell me Crystal. Have you ever talked to somepony who just got you?” I blink, “As a matter of fact, I have… Her name is Starlight Glimmer and we’ve had many intimate late-night conversations while snuggling one another…” Twilight smiles, “Yeah, it’s like that! We actually started talking, you know? I mean, not just official stuff, or idle banter, but actually talking and well, she told me a lot about herself and her life and I’ll admit that while I did feel sorry for her, I also admired her strength and resilience… And you know what she told me? She was jealous of me! ME! Can you believe that?” I smile as I imitate my foal once again, “Gee! Her being jealous of the most powerful and successful pony in all of Equestria? How could that possibly be?” Twilight giggles slightly, “Okay! Maybe I kinda am really successful?” I raise my right eyebrow, “Kinda?” She sighs as her eyes widen, “Okay, yeah! I can see how she might be jealous of me!” I nod, “Okay then! You both admired each other!” She starts before continuing, “Well, right! And like I was saying, we just started talking and well, we really connected, you know?” “Not just sex?” She smiles and giggles, “Well, yeah! That part was kinda nice!” I smile back, “Right!” “Especially when Trixie got back there and put her face inside and I put my face down and let her…” “Okay, Twilight! I get it! You two are passionate and loving! So what’s the problem?” Her eyes widen as her smile lowers, “Well, honestly, I’m scared…” I stare at her as inspiration once again, strikes me! “You’re the Princess of Equestria! Literally nopony could grant an annulment faster than you!” She frowns, “You know, I didn’t think of that!” I nod, “So right! Since you have this connection or whatever, why not explore it? Just try it out and see if you like being married to this mare? If you don’t like it, just annul it and forget about it!” Her face slowly normalizes as she considers my words, “That’s another really good point!” I nod again, “See? It’s cool! You’re Princess of Equestria and can easily get out of a marriage!” “Ugh! Right!” She sighs… She soon spreads her wings and lowers her body somewhat before staring at me and saying, “You ready to head back to the ceremony, Crystal?” I nod, “Right! Because that’s not an abuse of power at all.” before frowning, “Well, I already broke my no shapeshifting rule? Might as well go all out?” before widening my eyes to her, “Allow me!” and we’re suddenly both enveloped in a blinding pale green flash! (To be continued…)
DenouementStarlight stares at me from her side of the table as her coffee cooled in it’s big white Best Counselor Ever mug, “She’s only been married for two days now!” I nod and correct her, “Well, not quite two days! In two more hours, it will be…” She widens her eyes, “Well, right! How many letters have you gotten from her?” “Three!” She stares at me and frowns, “How have you gotten three letters from her in only two days?” “Mail travels pretty fast when it goes by dragon!” “And you just magically send these notes back to her?” I stare at her before I slowly say, “Maybe?” “Doesn’t that kinda go against your no magick rule?” “Probably?” “Crystal!” “Well, look! I figured it’d be a good idea, since I really should try to be buddy-buddy with the current ruler of Equestria!” She raises her right eyebrow, “And this had nothing to do with you wanting to hear from her faster?” My eyes widen, “Well, if I heard from her faster, that sorta speeds things along, doesn’t it?” and then I smile… I hope I don’t look weird? “Oh wipe that goofy grin off your face! You just wanted somepony to talk to while I’m away at work!” Goofy? I’ll take it! The smile lowers, “Well, it is kinda interesting to talk to somepony who isn’t you, you know?” She sighs and looks off to the side, “Well, on the plus side, she doesn’t seem to want to turn you back into stone at this stage?” I nod, “Right!” Suddenly, the front door 20 feet behind me in the foyer bursts open to reveal a giggling pink pegasus filly! She stares at me with enormous brown eyes while hanging out the open side of the door, “Oh, golly gee mom! Me and the other Crusaders were just having fun playing hide n seek in the forest!” I stare at her, “So you enjoy being a Crusader now?” She suddenly frowns, and her eyes freeze as she suddenly realizes how she’s been acting, “What? NO! I don’t like being a Crusader!” I smile at her and narrow my eyes coyly, “Is that so? But did you not just have a swell time with the three Crusaders in the forest?” and mimic her speech. “N-no!” She stammers out… Suddenly, a yellow earth filly pops into view from the right side of the door, above Cozy, “She had a great time!” A white unicorn comes from the left, “A wonderful time!” An orange pegasus foal appears above the unicorn, to the left of the earth filly, “It was awesome!” Cozy then smiles at me timidly… I giggle slightly under my breath, “Cozy, it’s okay for you to be a Cutie Mark Crusader now!” Her eyes narrow as she says under her breath, “Okay, fine! It was maybe, kinda, sorta swell…” My eyes widen, “I’m sorry! What was that, Cozy?” She closes her eyes and blindly yells, “I said I had a good time!” Scootaloo looks over at her from the left, “See? Was that so hard?” Sweetie Belle adds from the other side, “Yeah! It’s okay to have friends, Cozy!” Cozy stares back at them, “Friends I once used to try to take over Equestria?” Apple Bloom smiles As she stands next to Scootaloo, “Yeah! It’s a redo, remember? I mean, yer not gonna try to take over Equestria this time, right?” Cozy widens her eyes like a deer looks at a train before shaking her head no, “Oh, golly uh, no ma’am! Uh uh! I don’t wanna try to take over anything!” Apple Bloom nods, “Well, right! So don’t you think this might be time and be our friend agin? Doesn’t that sound like fun?” I lower my gaze as it occurred to me that the apple filly just used Cozy’s own wording on her as well, as the pink pegasus filly timidly replies, “Well uh, I g-guess we could start over?” Scootaloo finally cracks a smile, “Great! Now, how about we take over a fridge somewhere, huh? I’m starved!” <*****> “You know, I somehow always pictured Tirek being my father!” The pink pegasus filly says before she takes another bite of her spinach sandwich, with mayonnaise… We couldn’t find mustard… I smile solemnly down at my foal, “You are not disappointed, I hope?” She chews the morsel in her mouth and swallows as she looks up at me, “No no! It’s fine! I mean, Tirek was a jerk, anyway!” Starlight finally chimes in from my left, “And so, you got me, the mare you imprisoned for three days!” She turns her head to the other mare and smiles, “Yeah, sorry about that again, mom!” “Dog food! You fed me dog food!” Her eyes widen, “Um, at least I fed you?” Starlight’s eyes narrow to the foal and I smile as I can’t help but find this amusing… “Well, that’s technically true! I didn’t starve!” Cozy grins wider, “See? I did care about you! Uh, sorta?” Starlight’s eyes close and she says, “Dog food!” to herself lowly… I then turn my gaze left towards the other three crusaders… I see a white unicorn filly on the left with her face scrunched up, a russet pegasus foal with her eyes wide, and a yellow earth filly on the end with a big frown on her face… I can tell I should break the tension! “So, what are you four going to do this afternoon?” Apple Bloom turns her head to the far right and asks, “I don’t know, Sweetie? What do you wanna do?” Scootaloo turns her head right as well, “Yeah, Sweetie! What’s the plan?” Sweetie Belle turns her head left, “What? Why do I always have to decide what we do?” Apple Bloom says, “Because you’re really good at it!” Scootaloo adds, “Yeah!” Cozy finally says, “Yeah! Uh, you’re good at it! Yes!” and smiles nervously, as she begins to try to fit in with the group. Sweetie frowns, “Well, we could always go swimming?” Apple Bloom says, “Yeah, but we just ate!” Sweetie nods, “Oh, right! So I guess that’s right out?” Cozy looks at her and asks, “How about we go for a walk at the park?” Apple Bloom looks at Cozy, “Yeah, that could work?” Sweetie adds, “There’s a park in Ponyville” Scootaloo looks at Sweetie again, “Yeah, it’s right by the skating rink!” Sweetie looks over at Scootaloo, “There’s a skating rink, too?” At that point, I could only smile and cuddle up to my wonderful marefriend, now at my side… I came to realize that despite where I came from, I could indeed forge a life for myself here and be whomever I wanted to be… I turned and looked at her staring at our foal and her three friends with interest in her blue eyes as she smiled, because she knew our foal also had friends and a life now… I had finally made a home for myself, after all the wrong I did earlier and my time spent in stone… (The end…) Author's Note Thank you so much for reading my story! It's obviously a transgender metaphor, but I think this section of the story is pretty much played out. I was thinking about maybe writing a sequel from Cozy's point of view later, as she takes Crusader lessons though? Let me know what you think!
Chapter 20: And So, Trixie Did the Unthinkable...“So, why are you coming to me with this?” I ask the blue mare on the other side of the door as she stood there with her white mane draped over her shoulders and in magician’s attire. She smiles at me, “Well, as you’re undoubtedly aware, Princess Twilight Sparkle and, “she poses on her hind legs and raises her voice, “The Great and Powerful Trixie” she gets back to all fours. “are now an item and I wanted your insight into something?” I frown, “Why my insight? Don’t you have friends?” Her eyes widen, “Well, I would talk to Starlight about it, but…” I cut her off, “Say no more! That’s why you came over while she’s away at work, isn’t it?” She frowns and stares off to the side, “Um, yes…” I nod, “Okay, so why me? I guess Discord wasn’t the best choice for this, huh?” Her eyes squint while her mouth scrunches in annoyance, “NO! We’re not doing that!” they normalize and she smiles at me… I stand there awkwardly, “So wait! What did you want again?” <*****> I trot in through the front door and turn my head skyward, “Ugh! Horn ring shopping is SO BORING!!!!!” before looking down and sniffing the air to smell something burning… I also hear giggling coming from the kitchen… It sounds like… FILLIES! I trot into the kitchen just in time to see Sweetie Belle banging on a pot with her hooves like a drum. BAM BAM BAM! Scootaloo looks over right at her from where she is in the middle, “Okay SB! Knock it off already!” before raising her neck to speak to the ponies in the kitchen. “We call this unofficial Cutie Mark Crusaders meeting to order for the re-admittance, “she looks down at a sheet of paper on the floor in front of her, “re-acceptance, re-education, responsible-ness, reciprocity… re-plicated” she stumbles to say the last word before looking back at Sweetie Belle to the right. “Did you just eventually start listing re words?” Sweetie Belle looks over to Scootaloo at her left from her position seated in front of the pot and smiles meekly, “Maybe?” Scootaloo adjust her gaze back forward, where a small pink pegasus filly is standing and smiling nervously in her direction and sighs with her eyes skyward, before adjusting them back down to the foal before her, “Cozy Glow! This is an unofficial CMC meeting and you’re now a Crusader again, if and only if you accept! Do you agree to be a Cutie Mark Crusader and to follow our guidance and to be a responsible member of society or whatever?” Apple Bloom turns her neck from Scootaloo’s right and finally says, “That’s a bit watered-down, don’t you think?” Scootaloo turns her neck back towards the apple filly, “Well, I don’t have my notes and it’s the best I can do!” Apple Bloom frowns, “Your memory sure is bad, Scoots!” Both fillies turn back to the pink filly who says, “Golly gee, I sure do! Being a Crusader sure sounds swell, although,” she frowns. “I’m still not sure why you’re doing this? I mean, being so nice and giving me another chance?” Scootaloo frowns, “Well Cozy, we think you just got some bad advice and need a little coaching is all!” “That’s some pretty bad advice!” Cozy comments blankly. The other Crusaders giggle as Sweetie says, “Well, that’s behind us now Cozy and we all know that you can do better!” Apple Bloom nods and adds, “Sure can!” Scootaloo smiles, “You bet!” At this point, my filly’s eyes are growing misty as tears begin to form in them, “Gee, you guys are, just so swell! You’re the best!” “AWWWWWWW!” The other three Crusaders say almost in unison before charging the young pegasus for a big hug! I finally trot in and comment, “That is so sweet and cute!” The fillies all disengage to stare at me in a mass of small ponies now on the kitchen floor as Scootaloo says, “We’re not that cute!” Sweetie excitedly comments, “We’re adorable!” while her little body shakes! Apple Bloom says to Sweetie, “Shut up, Sweetie!” <*****> I’ll admit that I found it odd that Trixie would call my cell and ask for my daughter. I did ask her why and she said not to worry about it and that Cozy would not be harmed… I decided my filly could make her own judgments as she stood there with my Ponysung Universe phone crooked on the right side of her face with her floppy ear over the top of it… “Okay, but what has that got to do with me?” She asked the magician pony on the other end. Trixie is speaking with Cozy as Cozy nods and says, “Yeah! Uh huh! Okay!” And then she stares up at me and asks. “Mom! Can I help Trixie seduce Twilight Sparkle?” My eyes widen as I use my right hoof to snatch the phone and bring it to my right ear, “What are you asking my child to do?” “Well, The Great and Powerful Trixie, awesome as she is, does need a little help in the romance department. And so I ask you, what’s more adorable than fillies?” I frown, “Well there’s puppies! Kittens! You might try flowers and chocolate?” Trixie angrily replies, “No no no! I want to do something different! And well, Cozy can fly and there are just so many things we could do with that!” I stare down at my filly who smiles at me with a big toothy grin… <*****> My filly sits at the table in front of her juice, “That was dumb! Flying over the park with a big banner like that! And watching Trixie and Twilight kiss was just gross! MEGA GROSS!” before sticking her tongue out in disgust! She returns it to her mouth, “Grosser than even you and Starlight!” My eyes widen, “Wait! They were kissing?” Cozy blinks at me, “Well, yeah! That’s one of the things ponies do when they’re going out like that and well…” she closes her eyes. “I don’t like to think about it!” I smile and giggle, “Well, maybe one day you won’t mind?” She opens them again, “I doubt it!” My smile lowers, “Still, this could only mean they’re getting closer… “ Cozy stares up at me with her brown pupils, “So what does that mean for us exactly?” I stare down, “Well, theoretically, nothing! But…” <*****> Starlight stares at me from the red EZ-chair on the other side of the living room and says, “So, Twilight has been asking me about Trixie!” I enlarge my view, “What?” She smiles dimly, “Yeah, it seems the Princess of Friendship is somewhat lacking in the romance department! I swear, her and Trixie at least have that in common!” I nod, “Okay, but how did she ask you?” “She teleported in! She’s an alicorn princess! How else would she do it?” I decide not to inform my love that phones and letters exist and nod instead, “Okay, so what did she ask you?” Starlight frowns, “Well, mostly basic information sort of things? Like what her favorite foods are, what she does for fun, her sense of humor and things like that!” “You know she’s keeping a notebook on this right?” Starlight sighs and looks at the ceiling, “Well, obviously!” I nod, “So uh, both Twilight and Trixie stink at romance? They must make quite the pair!” Starlight lowers her eyes to me with a naughty while smiling devilishly, “Yeah! Not like my baby at all!” I nod again and smile,”Of course! Ready to go to bed baby?” Starlight continues grinning at me as she gets up off her chair, “Well, not just yet, no…” My eyes widen when I realize what we’re about to do on the couch… <*****> I’m talking to Starlight with my phone perched at my right ear, “What do you mean, I’ll never guess where you are? Where are you?” She says from the other end, “I’m at the courthouse…” I frown, “Wait, what? Why are you at the courthouse?” “Well, they perform certain ceremonies there and…” I’m silent for a moment,“So Twilight finally screws somepony and then they get hitched?” Starlight is quiet herself, before saying, “Well, that’s a pretty blunt way of putting it?” I frown, “But I’m right though!” Starlight sighs, “Well, yeah… So, what do we do now?” “Well, live our own lives! What else can we do?” Starlight is silent, “I just don’t want Twilight to get hurt…” “Yeah, me neither… Odd that I’d be saying that about her later on!” “Well, I’ll talk to you later sweetie! I love you!” I smile again, “I love you more!” “No way!” “Yes way, my Starlight snookum pie bear!” “I gotta go!” And then the call cuts with a click… Suddenly, I hear gagging coming from my right and I adjust my gaze just in time to see a pink pegasus filly remove her forehoof from her mouth and stare up at me, “So uh, since they made out and stuff, I’m guessing Twilight said yes?” I eye this filly carefully, “What?” Cozy nods, “Well, the banner said, Will you marry me and since they made out and everything, that means Twilight and Trixie are gonna get married?” “Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?” Her eyes widen, “Oh golly gee, I didn’t think it really mattered? I mean, what does Twilight and Trixie have to do with you?” I blink, “Maybe nothing… Maybe… Anyway, they’re married now!” “Really? I figured Twilight getting married would be a huge ceremony or whatever?” Suddenly, there’s another blinding purple flash right next to my foal! Who promptly stares at it wide-eyed and screams, “AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!” she shakes her head and furrows her brow. “You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?” Twilight stares at the filly, “Actually, I’m really not! You’re just very unlucky!” before adjusting her gaze to me. “Crystal, you gotta help me! We need to plan a wedding!” (To be continued…)
