A soft evening shone in through the windows of the single-room dwelling, gently filtered by the window shades providing just enough light for a quiet comfort. The sky outdoors had been overcast all day, leaving Ponyville in a lightly de-saturated mood for most of the ponies who where out to experience it. Cozy sat on the edge of her bed, quietly brushing Sandra's mane in the dim light faintly highlighted by the haze of still cabin air.

The silence was broken as the front door opened. In stepped Astral, "Oh, hi Cozy, finally out of bed, I see." Peeking out of her saddlebags worn over her back were an array of various produce items bought fresh from the market.

"...Yeah," said Cozy, softly, not taking her attention from Sandra.

"How are you doing?" asked Astral as she shut the door behind her.

Cozy just silently shrugged.

Astral moved on from the entry way, past the beds and on to the kitchen to put her groceries away. "I stopped by the school, today. They miss you. Boots wants to see you."

"Tenderhoof," replied Cozy, quietly.

Astral looked back at Cozy from the fridge in the kitchen, "What was that?"

"His name is Tenderhoof," said Cozy, speaking up as she continued brushing.

"Oh. I thought you called him Boots, because of his boots."

"I call him boots. Nopony else."

"Oh. I see. Well, he misses you too."

Cozy nodded lightly.

"I miss you."

Cozy stopped for a moment, setting the brush down beside her, gazing past Sandra, in the direction of the window. The shade had been pulled mostly down, but there still existed a gap large enough to see to the outside from just the right angle; one that Cozy currently had the perfect vantage point of. Nothing of any particular interest was visible to her, though.

Astral came around from the kitchen back to the bed to stand in front of Cozy with Sandra in between them. She pulled one last item out of her saddlebag. "Check out what Twilight gave me." She held up a jar in her magic. Inside was a blue cloud of sparkling dust that seemed to swirl all on its own.

At first, Cozy didn't take her eyes from the window. It wasn't until Astral floated the jar obnoxiously closer that she finally looked up to see what she was showing. "...A jar of dust?"

"It's a Pony. Or will be. Or something," shrugged Astral. "Twilight wanted me to keep it company while they work on another part of it at the lab at the school of magic. I don't know. Strange, isn't it?"

Cozy shrugged, turning her gaze back to the window.

Astral put the jar up to her cheek. "But feel it. It's warm! All on its own."

Astral floated the jar back over to Cozy. Without looking, she lightly reached up a hoof and felt the side of it, "Yeah. Warm..." with about as much interest in the jar as she had in doing anything else. Cozy slumped over onto her side, rolling to face away from both Astral and the window.

Astral went to her nightstand to set the jar down. "I think it glows on its own too. But I don't know why it needs company. The lab is new. It wasn't there when I used to attend the school back when we met."

"Mmm-hmm," mumbled Cozy.

Astral sighed, moving to sit on the edge of Cozy's bed. She stroked Cozy's back with her hoof. "Cozy..."

Cozy didn't answer.

"She didn't die, you know?" continued Astral. "She just went home. To whatever friends and family she had that probably missed her."

Cozy just laid there, breathing but otherwise motionless.

"Cozy, that's a good thing."

"...I know." she finally said, softly.

"She saved a pony-- You saved a pony."

"Yeah."

"Not just any pony, an alicorn, a princess!"

"...Yeah."

"Your friend. You just made friends with an entire empire when you did that."

Cozy nodded, pulling a pillow in for a body hug. "Yeah, I know..." she said as she wrapped all her legs around the pillow.

"...Shining Armor likes you now after he saw your sacrifice."

"It wasn't for him," Cozy's voice now muffled.

"Yeah, I know. It's still a good thing, though."

The two just existed quietly for a while; Astral stroking Cozy's back, Cozy hugging a pillow, her eyes closed.

Astral finally broke the silence, "They're doing some kind of presentation this weekend. Twilight will be there too, she's part of it. Flurry wants you to be there for it too. Even if I have to just pick up the bed-sheets and wrap you up while you're laying here."

Cozy mumbled quietly into her body pillow, "Ok."

"I'll do it. You know I will. I've done it before."

Cozy lifted her face up, away from the pillow and spoke up louder with annoyance, "I said ok!". She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before burying her face back into the pillow, "I will sleep now," she mumbled.

"...Ok. There's food when you're hungry. I always make it for you." Astral felt sad and powerless. She leaned down and gave the filly a kiss on her mane before getting up, and going to her own bed to sit and stare at the new jar on her nightstand.

* * *

Dawn. The sky was still overcast, but no rain had been scheduled. It wasn't nearly as cloudy as it had been the day before as color had seemed to fully return to the town. Still, the shadows were mostly soft, save for the intermittent spots of sunlight that would sneak through from time to time.

Having been awake for some time, watching the spots of light come and go as they were cast onto the window shade, Cozy finally sat up in her bed. She had been tucked in nice and snugly in her sleep again. It was nice, but her back was beginning to ache, her stomach rumbled almost continuously and her bladder was full. She wasn't quite sure what she needed to do first.

She looked over to Astral's bed. It was empty. No matter, Cozy had more pressing matters at hoof:
Toilet. Definitely toilet first.

Cozy threw off her covers, spread her wings and quickly darted through the air into the restroom through its open door, not bothering to close it (nopony did in that house), not even stopping to turn on the light as she threw the toilet lid open and slammed her flank down onto the cold plastic seat.

She slinked down and slouched as the waves of relief washed over her through the sounds of endless tinkling. A satisfied moan escaped her, followed by a chill that quickly ran up her spine.

"Glad to see you decided to get up today," said Astral, with a light splash to Cozy's side.

Cozy flinched and yelped, forcing just about the rest of the piss out of her body in surprise, quickly turning her head to see Astral in the tub.

Mountains of foamy suds covered every inch of water and all that was submerged. Astral's head was an island lost at sea in a dense fog of bubbles.

With the lights off, the only light available shone in through the open door, but as Cozy's eyes adjusted, she could also see a faint blue glow throughout the overfilled bath.

"Astral!?!" shouted Cozy.

"Good morning, Cozy."

Cozy squinted and looked closer at the blue-lit tub, "Are you- Are you taking a bath with that jar?"

"It keeps the water warm!"

Cozy blinked and just stared for a moment. She didn't know what to say, and instead opted to just slowly reached up and pull the shower curtain across until all she could see was a blue-tinted blur on that side of the bathroom. She quickly finished up, washed up, and went back into the main room, closing the door behind her.

"Cozy?" sounded Astral's voice from within the bathroom.

Cozy just continued on to the kitchen table keeping a look of disturbed confusion on her face as she tried to process what she had just witnessed. Her attention then shifted to the next priority of the morning:
A bowl of fruit that was left out at the spot where she normally sat for her meals.

It was an invitingly fresh assortment of brightly colored berries and slices of different melons in a small white bowl. She sat down and sorted through the bowl, picking a fruit and munching on it. Still cold and juicy, it was bright and fresh with a gentle sweetness that pleased the pallet. She continued to munch through several fruits until her belly was full.

Satisfied, the filly got up from her seat, giving her body a shake, listening to her meal sloshing around happily inside her. This brought a small smile to her face. It wasn't much, but her mood did lighten some. She actually felt like she could even do something somewhat productive that day. ...Maybe. She didn't know what, but she knew she was tired of being in bed.

On her way back to the main area of the living space, she heard from the bathroom, some splashing and the water draining from the tub.

Cozy had just made it back to the edge of her bed to sit and figure out what to do next when she heard a bit of distress from behind the closed bathroom door.

"Oh, no no no no no no!"

"Astral? Is everything okay in there?" asked Cozy.

"No! Nothing's okay in here!" panicked Astral.

Cozy quickly jumped up and made her way to the bathroom, opening the door and turning on the light.

Inside, she saw a dripping wet Astral kneeling by the tub, with her head over the edge inside. She was using her horn to illuminate the space while also trying to peer down the drain. Her fur was stained with a glowing blue tint.

Sitting next to her on the edge of the tub was an empty glass jar, missing its lid.

"Astral, what did you do!?!"

"I lost it!" she cried. "Twilight's gonna kill me!" Astral slumped over the edge of the tub with a heavy moan.

"There's still some on you," noted Cozy. "Maybe we can get what's left back in the jar. Maybe it'll be enough." She shrugged.

Astral sighed, pulling herself back up on all fours. She used her magic to open the cabinet and pull out her scraper. "...might as well," she said defeatedly.

An hour of thorough pony scraping later, with Cozy's help, the jar was about a quarter full of cloudy blue water, with purple hairs suspended throughout.

Astral's coat however, was smooth and shiny, with a noticeably healthier glow than normal to it.

"Thanks, Cozy. You were a big help. I... I hope it wasn't too important, this jar." She lifted the jar in her magic, tilting it one way, and then the next as she looked at its contents, it seemingly now inert. "I can't take this back to Twilight."

"Aren't we going to see her today?"

Astral gasped. "That's right! The presentation! What time is it?" She galloped out of the room, levitating the murky jar out after her.

The rest of the morning was near chaos as Astral scrambled to get ready.

They were soon out the door and on their way, with the jar left on the counter.

* * *

Cozy sat by the window on the train, leaning on the side as she gazed out watching the landscape pass in a subtle blur of colors. Fields of farms, grass and flowers slowly thinned and emptied as the air grew colder the further north they traveled down the tracks.

'The Crystal Empire?' she thought to herself. The large protective dome wasn't visible, but she knew the path they were on, having traveled it several times in recent days. "Well, at least I get to see Flurry." Her words were softly spoken to herself.

"What was that, Cozy?" asked Astral, looking up from the newspaper she was reading.

"Nothing," replied Cozy, flatly.

Astral quietly folded up the paper, putting it on a passing cart of complementary items for passengers before softly turning to face Cozy. She stroked her back and wings lightly, straightening the odd barbs and strands of hair here and there. "Cozy. I know how you feel. Not many ponies can say that and really mean it. It's not just me trying to be nice. It's both sympathy and empathy."

Cozy kept her gaze fixed to the exterior of the window. "You just couldn't help yourself, could you?" she asked, not particularly caring what the answer would be.

"I wanted to, but only if you invite me. But no. You have a voice, I want to hear you use it. But I know you just don't have the words right now."

Cozy grunted a soft acknowledgment.

"It's on the outside of you. All over. Leaking out the top. ...Like that jar in the bath," Astral’s silly attempt to lighten Cozy's mood had failed to produce any results. She cleared her throat, "I'm like a magnet for feelings and emotions and rogue thoughts. Maybe more of a detector. Whatever. What I'm saying is, I can always sense it on ponies. You especially, I guess since we're so close."

Cozy lowered her eyes, looking down at the windowsill. A ladybug was slowly making its way down the length of it. She watched its journey as she listened to Astral.

Astral continued, "Were so close... I'm not going to force you to talk to me. I won't go into that filly little head of yours and look around at what's bothering you. I just want you to know that you don't have to be alone. I know you think that's what you want at times like this. Maybe it helps a little bit, That's fine. Everypony needs their own cave or grotto to retreat to sometimes, even if it's not really real. Just remember I'm here, waiting for you to come back. Even if you just need to come out for some fresh air, and go right back in, It'll be nice to see the Cozy that I know, again. I miss that little troublemaker." She nudged Cozy lightly. "I've been having to make trouble all by myself lately, I don't know how you do it."

Cozy mumbled a response.

"Huh?"

Speaking up just a little bit, "You try too hard," said Cozy, softly.

The ladybug was at the end of the sill and investigating the wall it had reached.

Cozy related to the small red shell with black spots, legs and a head with searching antennas. Seemingly having reached a dead end after a long and sometimes dangerous journey. No, that wasn't right. She couldn't even understand what it was she had gone through, and why it made her feel the way she did about everything. Were her feelings and the recent events even related?

The ladybug opened up its shell, exposing its wings and flying away.

'Yeah, if I could just fly away from my problems, too,' thought Cozy. 'What problems?' she asked herself. When self-appraised, she thought she had everything she needed. Her feelings should be invalid. She had no reason to feel so crummy, yet here Astral was reassuring her that whatever she would call it once she found the words, was just fine; even normal, perhaps. She thoroughly appreciated the ability to just put the thoughts aside, as heavy as they were. They would still be there, but she was at least able to sort them out on her own time. With that, Cozy let out a heavy sigh.

Astral pulled Cozy into her side, wrapping a hoof around her. She didn't resist but instead lightly nestled into her embrace, once again staring out the window to watch the world pass her by.

There were no more words. Astral knew what she had said had been enough, and was now slowly seeping its way into Cozy's mind, through the tough, guarded exterior.

* * *

A magical wall passed through the car from the front and traveled through to the back, warming the chilly air. The train came to an abrupt stop followed by the doors opening. Passengers were getting up and making their way through the exit.

Cozy sat up and looked around, confused, "This... This isn't the empire."

"Nope!" chimed Astral, also sitting up and giving a little stretch in her seat.

"Where are we?" she asked as they too were getting up, joining the line of travelers.

"You know this place."

"I do?"

"You'll see!" said Astral, excitedly.

"Have you been here before?" asked Cozy.

"No. But you have. Careful now, the platform hasn't been finished yet."

They stepped off the train, down some temporary steps that had been placed by outside rail workers. Cozy looked around and saw that the platform was indeed in its early stages of construction. Ponies further up walked through a wooden archway built in front of a sort of tunnel that had been recently cut into a tall hill blocking whatever it was on the other side of the tracks. A nicely carved wooden sign above it read "Welcome To:"

"To where?" asked Cozy looking up as she and Astral passed under it.

"It hasn't been named yet," answered Astral, with a smile.

The tunnel was short and well lit. A light breeze flowed through it, carrying a waft of inviting scents of cooked foods mixed with the not so inviting odor of trader musk.

Cozy stood on the outside of the tunnel, frozen in place as she looked around with shock and wonder of the familiar sight before her.

The area was abuzz with activity as travelers browsed through a vast open market of tented booths, tables and the backs of wagons and caravans. She knew where she was, and was very familiar with what she was looking at, though she never before saw it nearly as busy as it was today.

A familiar voice called down to Cozy as it quickly approached. "Hey, you made it!" yelled Flurry. She swooped in from above, landing in front of Cozy and Astral with a bit less grace than that expected of a princess.

Tenderhoof came trotting up shortly after.

"Flurry? Boots?" greeted Cozy. "What's going on here?"

"Hi, Cozy, Astral," greeted Tenderhoof.

"The outpost! It's real now!" cheered Flurry.

"What do you mean?" asked Cozy, as if it were a ghost town in the literal sense or something.

"It's official! On the map and everything!"

"Official?"

"Well, will be, after today! Didn't you notice the train stop?"

Cozy looked behind her back towards the tunnel. "Ye- Yeah. What's going on?"

"Oh, just come on, to the fountain. They're about to start soon." Flurry flew away off towards the center of the settlement, out of sight.

"...Hi, Boots," said Cozy. "So you came out here too, huh?"

"Everypony is here! The whole class. It's history in the making. We'll get extra credit."

"History?"

"Come on, we don't want to miss it," tugged Astral. "You're very much a part of it too."

They worked their way through the market space to the fountain. It was much more crowded than usual, ponies of all walks of life were busy purchasing and haggling over wares while others ate the various foods that were being cooked and served in abundance.

There was a large stage that was built to the side of the fountain. A podium was placed in the center of it, decorated with emblems and colors of the Crystal Empire.

"Astral, Cozy! Welcome!" called out Twilight as she approached. "I'm glad you could make it! Especially you, Cozy. You're a guest of honor here."

Astral didn't notice, but Cozy, as a pegasus, could tell that Twilight was hiding something in the way she carried herself; an injury perhaps. It was subtle, hidden with practiced precision, but the hints were there. It was definitely something new. Interesting as it was, Cozy decided to ignore it for now. Instead, she opted to ask about herself, "...I am?"

"Have you thought of a name for this place?" inquired Twilight.

"A name? It's just an outpost, isn't it?"

"Not anymore," chimed Tenderhoof.

Ponies began to gather around the stage as a small crystal marching band began to play a frozen northern version of the parasprite polka.

"Oh! It's almost time. Come with me!" said Twilight, urging Cozy to follow.

They went through a security check, back behind the stage where they met up with Flurry, Cadance and Shining Armor. A table had been setup with refreshments and snacks, as well as another table stacked with what looked like legal documents and scrolls.

"Welcome, Cozy. I'm so glad you could be here," greeted Cadance, warmly.

Shining nodded down to Cozy with what could possibly be a friendly smile. "Welcome, Cozy Glow. I hope your trip here was a good one."

Cozy nodded back to Shining. "Th- Thank you."

Flurry was all smiles. The medley of music had come to a conclusion as the crowd slowly quieted down. "Oh, they're starting! I mean we're starting! I mean we're on!! I mean--"

"Flurry, dear, settle, please," urged Cadance as she followed Shining up some steps and through some heavy velvet curtains.

"Come on!" said Flurry as she followed her mother, beckoning Cozy to join her.

Twilight was next, pausing to look back at Cozy. "It's ok! All you have to do is stand and wave." She winked before motioning Cozy to follow her.

The journey up the steps, though short, seemed like a long one. Cozy knew the stage was on the other side of the curtains. What she didn't know was why she needed to appear on it. She looked back at Astral and Tenderhoof who smiled back encouragingly as she reached the top of the steps. They turned and headed back around to the front of the stage as Cozy turned and nuzzled through the soft velvet curtains, into the spotlight. It brushed her body as she passed through, looking around to see where exactly her place should be.

Cheers and applause and a roar of stomping rang out as the royal family began to appear on stage.

The stage looked smaller than it did from the ground. Hanging above it was a sign similar to the one on display above the tunnel, with the words "Welcome to:", with a nicely carved, blank board hanging below it.

Shining Armor stood at the podium with Cadance to his side, standing regally with her wings up. Flurry was beside her, also in a similar royal pose.

Twilight guided Cozy to a spot next to Flurry before taking her own position next to Shining Armor.

Cozy forced an awkward smile and waved lightly to the crowd as she looked around desperately searching for a familiar face. She was beginning to panic as she searched without finding anypony she knew.

Just then, a calming voice entered her head, "I'm here. It's ok. You got this!" It was Astral. She was close.

Cozy began to relax. She put her waving hoof down and continued to scan the crowd. 'Where are you?' she thought back.

"In front, by the guard on the side close to you."

Cozy focused her search to that general direction and spotted Astral and Tenderhoof waving back. Her awkward smile transformed into a slight genuine one as she waved back to them.

Cozy looked over to Flurry, standing next to her. "Uh... Hi."

Flury side-eyed Cozy before clearing her throat and re-fluffing her wings, maintaining her royal pose as she gazed back out into the crowd.

"Oh!" said Cozy, straightening her posture, looking forward.

Flurry cracked a smile and giggled as she took on a more casual posture, bumping her wing against Cozy's side, "I'm just kidding! Relax."

Cadance smiled, folding her wings back as she turned to Cozy, "It was Flurry's idea, I'm sorry."

Cozy nervously chuckled, "Um, ok." She still found it difficult to relax, however.

The sounds of the attending ponies quieted down into random murmurs here and there as Shining cleared his throat into the microphone at the podium, commanding their attention. "Greetings, and thank you all for attending. As you all may or may not know, this little piece of Equestria is really much more than Equestria. It is not of any one property as it were, but instead, a combination of all the lands surrounding this nation. Yet for too long has it existed outside of any one border. Many would fail to acknowledge this place, even when it's right in front of them; associating it with outlaws, criminals and a shady underworld of danger to be despised. There was a time when I thought the very same thing," Shining briefly paused to glance down at Cozy with a smile. "But no more!"

Cozy listened carefully as she was learning just what was going on along with the rest of the ponies in the crowd.

Shining continued, "While the land on which we stand, and surrounding developments have always fallen under Equestrian and Canterlot jurisdiction at the topmost levels while at the same time also ignored by it, we: Princess Cadance, Princess Twilight and I, have decided that it is has earned a legitimate place both on the map and in the Equestrian economy. This village, so to speak, too small to be its own city, let alone state or country, will now fall under the protection of the Crystal Empire, BUT, be allowed to operate on its own outside of the Empire's borders. Neither I nor Princess Cadance will gain control of the laws of this town." Shining lowered his voice slightly, "Celestia knows we have enough to deal with as it is," he chuckled, looking over to and winking at Flurry and Cozy. A few small supporting laughs came from the crowd.

Shining continued, "Princess Twilight, Princess Cadence and I have worked closely with the elders of this very place, the details of proper leadership, and have decided that such special responsibility shall fall on the withers of its most welcome visitor. Not only has this visitor for some time now ensured the strength of its protective force field against the elements, but also has done well to support the local economy allowing it to grow into what it has become today. Stallions, Mares, Fillies and Colts: My daughter Flurry Heart." Shining stepped down from the podium.

Flurry stepped up to the podium, taking her father's place and adjusting the microphone to her height, "H- Hello? Hi." A small amount of feedback rang out. "There we go."

Shining walked over and took Flurry's spot on the stage. He glanced down at Cozy and smiled, whispering to her, "This is your place, too."

"Mine?" asked Cozy.

Shining nodded.

"Thanks, dad," started Flurry. "So, um. Yeah! This is my town. I mean... It's you're town too. I just get to rule it. Isn't that cool?" Flurry looked around at the smiling faces. "As my first decree, Dues will no longer be required. If you want to support this awesome community, buy something! Tell your friends! Like and subscribe?" The settlement bell rang at the turn of the hour as Flurry gestured towards the fountain to the side of the stage, "The fountain will remain to remind us all of where we came from, and with some upgrades, continue to provide protection to the area. You can still throw your bits in, I guess. Make a wish or something." Flurry shrugged. This was her first public royal speech.

Twilight stepped up next to Flurry to help out, "Princess Flurry Heart, what will the name be that we will all look for on the map when we speak of this place?" she asked briefly before stepping back down, giving Flurry room to speak.

"Oh!" said Flurry. She stepped down momentarily to pull Cozy up with her. Speaking into the mic while looking at her friend, "Cozy Glow, I want to share this place with you since you make my visits here so much more enjoyable. What should we call this place?" She hugged Cozy in closer and pushed the mic over for her to speak into.

Cozy froze with nervousness having unexpectedly been put on the spot. She looked around wide-eyed at the seemingly millions of faces staring right back at her. In reality, it was only in the hundreds, but she was still getting light-headed.

"Well?" encouraged Cadence with a smile as she looked over at her two favorite fillies at the podium.

Cozy leaned in, her voice booming over the sound system as it echoed through the settlement grounds, "Um... G- Golly."

Flurry repositioned the mic to herself while shouting excitedly into it, "Welcome to, Gollytown!"

Shining immediately turned around and blasted the blank board hanging behind them with magic, carving the town's new name into it.

The crowd looked at each other for a moment before roaring out in cheers and stomps.

"Gollytown?" Asked Cozy, her voice drowned out by thunderous applause and cheers. She had the sensation of floating as the sound of the crowd muted and muffled into an ambient noise. She pinned her wings to the side to make sure she wasn't actually flying as she took in the sensory overload.

The royal family was smiling and waving and bowing. Without thinking, Cozy took it as her cue to do the same before following them back through the curtains and down the steps off of the stage.

Astral and Tenderhoof had come back around to meet them all. Hugs and congratulations were passed around.

Cozy was now fully informed, but still lost and confused.

Flurry went up to Cozy. "Yay! Now we can visit any time, and it doesn't even have to be a secret! Just work. For me, anyway."

"Work?" asked Cozy.

"Yeah, I have responsibilities now. But the outpost elders, I mean... The elders of Gollytown will handle most of it," said Flurry while nudging Cozy with a wing. "I'll just be needed for the bigger things and decisions and stuff."

"Flurry Heart, dear. Please come over here for a moment." Cadance was waving Flurry over as she stood at a table with some official documents laid out next to a quill and ink well setup.

Cozy watched as Flurry bounded over and began excitedly signing paper after paper. For most of them, either Shining or Cadance would also sign after Flurry. Cozy would later find out that formally, the outpost did in fact now belong to the Crystal Empire, at least until it was time that Flurry was fully capable and eligible to take on proper sovereignty herself.

"Gollytown..." said Cozy to her self. "...Golly." She turned and bumped noses with her booted friend.

"I like it!" said Tenderhoof.

Cozy jumped with a start as she hadn't noticed her friend standing right beside her. Whatever he wanted, she wasn't quite ready to have a conversation with him at the moment. Instead, she scanned the area for Astral as she rubbed her nose, spotting her talking to Twilight off to the side, Twilight was looking slightly disappointed. "Yeah..." she said softly, walking off towards them, not even looking over at him.

Tender stood and watch as Cozy walked away, "It's a nice name!" he called out. He looked around, now standing all by himself, back stage. "...Okay. I'm gonna get some more free food then," he said out loud to Cozy's direction. "I'll be over here, at the food."

Twilight stopped to greet Cozy after spotting her walking up, "Hi, Cozy. You did great up there!"

"Hey, Cozy," said Astral. "I was just telling Twilight about the jar, and how it suddenly went bad on its own."

Cozy blinked at Astral before turning to Twilight, "...Yeah."

Twilight put a hoof to her chin, "That's so strange that it did that!" she said, puzzled. "I wonder if the soul preservation spell I cast wore off."

"Soul, preservation?" asked Astral.

"Oh, yeah. It's something Starswirl was working on a long time ago, but magic wasn't so well developed back then. He gave me his notes on it, and I picked it back up, in my free time."

"That jar was alive?" asked Cozy.

"Yes!" said Twilight, excitedly. "Well, not the jar so much, but the cloud inside. I can't tell you much more about it, not until we successfully complete the experiment, at least."

"...That must be while it was so warm," realized Astral. "Who is 'We'?" It was the only thing she could think to ask.

"Starlight and I are working together on it," answered Twilight. "Did you manage to communicate with it?"

"It didn't talk," said Astral, still in mild shock.

"With your magic..." nudged Cozy.

It took a moment for Astral to catch on. "...Oh! Oh. Oh, no. No, I didn't think to. Oh, that cloud must have been so terrified," she worried.

"Don't worry about it!" comforted Twilight. "He knew exactly what he was signing up for. All of his affairs had been taken care of before we even started. He even picked where the study's bits should go if it turns out he wouldn't be needing them afterwards; which reminds me: I need to go and make that deposit later, after this. Anywho, It might be a while, but we'll get you another one when we try again."

"Yeah. Ok. I'll be more careful next time." It was Astral's turn to feel lost and detached from reality. 'He was all over me, in every nook and cranny too,' she thought to herself.

* * *

The sun made its way across the sky as it usually did. Flurry introduced all sorts of textures and tastes to her family, Astral and Tender. Cozy was along for the ride, engaging when interacted with directly, but otherwise still sorta lost in her own world.

As the sun approached the horizon, the new visitors for the day thinned out little by little taking the train back to Ponyville and elsewhere, Tenderhoof included. Cozy and Astral were invited to a private after-party back at the Crystal Empire's
Castle, and that's where they ended up.

It was a much more formal affair, quieter with gentle conversations taking place mainly around the crystal heart. The movable walls have been put up once again, enclosing the normally open area, converting it into a sort of ballroom with a fancy spinning centerpiece. A curtain had been hung up high on the wall covering the hole that Chrysalis had make just days before. Fancy treats were passed around on trays balanced on server pony's heads and backs or floated in levitating fields of magic. A pony tickled the keys of a shiny black grand piano off to the side.

Shining approached Cozy. "Are you having a good time tonight?"

"Y- Yes, sir," said Cozy, nervously.

"That's quite alright, Cozy. Look, I know I wrongly mistreated you. I just wanted to properly apologize. I was blinded by your past and who you used to be. I refused to see you any other way. But what you did: Putting your life up for my Daughter's. That one selfless act proved to me who you really are."

Cozy listened as shining spoke to her, not knowing what to say, or if she should say anything at all. "It's nothing... Really."

Shining lowered his body to Cozy's level, making more direct eye contact with her as he continued, "Cozy, guards have to be trained to do something like that. Some won't and don't make the cut. I, Flurry, her mother... we are escorted by them, trusting our very lives to them, but we don't know if we can be sure that's what they'll do if Celestia forbids, it should ever come to that. But I know you will. I have already seen it."

Cozy nodded lightly. "She's... my friend."

"I will never forget what you did for us in this very spot, and I want to make sure that nopony else does either."

Cozy followed his glance upward to the velvet curtain stretched high up across the back wall.

"You two are more than friends, Cozy. You are family." Shining used his magic to pull the curtain aside, removing it completely. He lowered the curtain to the ground where castle staff quickly gathered it up, carrying it out of the room. "I just never saw it until now."

Behind the curtain, shined an elaborately crafted stained glass window depicting a winged black figure with long legs spotted with holes at the hooves, long hair also spotted with holes, and a horn firing offensive magic down at the royal family. Shielding them from the assault, the central and largest detail of the piece shined a salmon pink pegasus, flying strong and determined.

Ponies attending the after-party gathered around under the new window looking up at it in awe and quiet appreciation, murmuring to each other about its beauty.

"I'll never be able to say it enough, Cozy, thank you." He bowed to her as he gently backed off several steps before finally turning and walking off to tell the tale of Cozy the Savior.

The party seemed to be getting stuffy and Cozy needed some air. She quietly stepped out into the cool night. Sounds of the party were muffled, though the piano could clearly be heard through its walls. It played what to Cozy sounded like a somber tune.

She stood alone in the courtyard, closing her eyes to shut out the world around her.

Cozy was surrounded by darkness, standing in her own spotlight, accompanied by the sad tune of a distant piano. She softly spoke out loud to no pony in particular:

"I am just a Cozy Glow. I've made mistakes, you see. For no one knows, how hard it is... to be a filly just like me."

The piano continued on as if tailored to her thoughts.

"They say I'm good, but I don't know. I ask, how can this be?" Her voice steadily grew stronger and stronger as she went on.

"I've been to Tartarus, I've been made of stone. But now I stand here freeeeeeee?" she sang out.

A voice stepped in from behind her. She turned in surprise to see Flurry slowly approaching, joining her secluded spot in the darkness, gaining her own spotlight, "You are Cozy Glow. You're a good pony, and this is what I see: You've made some friends, you've done some good. You risked your life to save me." She sang out.

Flurry continued, "Now in the end, you're my best friend, the best a pony could ever be. The seed's been planted now stretch and grow, like the tree of harmonyyyyyyy!"

The piano began to play stronger.

Cozy countered, "Those thing's I've done..."

"They're in the past," dismissed Flurry.

"But still, they haunt me so."

"Just let it go,"

"How can I, though?"

"Your friends will help you grow!"

Facing each other, Flurry held out her hoof. Cozy took hold, her empty surroundings beginning to fill out with the light of the courtyard.

Cozy nodded to Flurry, "I'll try and try."

"That's all I ask," encouraged Flurry.

"But I worry I still might fail."

"I'm here for you just spread your wing, fly through the air, let's sail!"

Flurry took flight into the sky. With a face of determination, Cozy took off and followed closely behind her.

They sped through the air leaving the party behind, zooming over houses and streets, over parks, trees and lakes. Cozy felt the crisp air flowing through her mane as she drafted behind Flurry. They moved together as one almost as if rehearsed. The Wonderbolts would be impressed.

Flurry looked back and smiled. She slowed down enough to allow Cozy to pull up and fly right beside her. Cozy couldn't help but to smile back. Flight to a pegasus was therapeutic. It could have been the worst day ever, and yet a good solid flying session would still do well to clear the mind.

Without any particular destination, they just flew and flew, circling around, never stopping until finally, they came to rest on their backs, on the roof of the crystal heart room, panting and catching their breath.

"...Thanks," said Cozy.

"For what?" asked Flurry.

"For..." Cozy thought for a while. "For being my friend."

"Thanks for being you," offered Flurry. She rolled to the side and pulled out a familiar wooden box, opening it up, "Here. I want you to have this." Reaching inside, she gently pulled out the small wire-wrapped gem it contained and hoofed it over to Cozy.

"Oh! Really? Thank you!" Cozy took the gem in her hoof and looked it over. She knew just what she was going to do with it.

"To friendship!"

"To friendship," smiled Cozy. She stashed the gem away for the time being and rolled to her belly, pulling herself to the edge of the roof-line. She could see ponies in fancy dress going in and out. The piano inside could be heard playing a jaunty tune.

They spent a good portion of the night on the rooftop just hanging out together, with the occasional chatter and laughter between the two.

The door opened below and a voice called out into the courtyard, "Cozy? Are you out here? It's time to go home." It was Astral.

"I gotta go, I guess," said Cozy, with a yawn.

"Yeah. I figured. It was fun."

Cozy nodded as she got up on all fours, spreading her wings out in a stretch.

"Hey, we'll do this again, some time. Adventure is good for you." Flurry pat Cozy on her back.

Astral stepped out, calling up to the roof, "Cozy? I heard you were up there. Come on, we don't want to miss the last train."

"I'm coming!" called down Cozy. She turned to Flurry, lunging into a warm hug.

Flurry smiled, returning the hug, "Go. Take care now."

Cozy broke off, "I'll see you..." she said as she jumped and glided down to Astral, waving goodbye.

Astral waved to Flurry before they headed off in the direction of the train station.

* * *

Once settled in on the train, Cozy nestled comfortably in her seat against Astral. Her eyes were closed, and a soft smile rested on her face.

Astral smiled as she felt and absorbed the genuine happiness that for the first time in a long time radiated off of the sweet little filly once again.

Author's Note

Finally, it's done! But wait!! There's more!!!

Yes, originally, the story ended here, though the "saga" is far from complete. There's still at least one unresolved scene that will get its closure in the epilogue, so please, wait around for that.

After this, we are all in new territory as I eventually start the next story in the lineup. I only have a collection of ideas and scenes, but that's just how I work. So please, let me know what you think of the story so far, both the good and bad, and what you might like to see in the next installment.

I'm writing this for you guys! So give me your ideas and suggestions and I will gladly read and take them into deep consideration. So until next time, thanks again for reading, and I'll see you all at the end of the epilogue one final time for this story!