Spade Conby Joshua CrapoChaptersTeaser/Cold OpenAct 1Act 2Act 3Teaser/Cold OpenWay to return from dinner. My cutie mark is glowing so I won’t be able to clean up like I usually do, which Chrysalis is more than happy to help with. Lorien accompanies me while I race to the throne room to meet Aita, where she is slackjawed from the map finally calling me… I think. “Aita! What’s going on? Where’s the mission?” The hologram of my cutie mark floats far above the map. Aita and I notice a hyped scream coming from the hall as another holographic cutie mark of a tiara joins mine. We turn around to see one of the fillies from Ponyville Schoolhouse… Diamond Tiara, Aita said her name was. “I’ve NEVER had the map call ME before!” Diamond Tiara elatedly shouts, showing her glowing tiara cutie mark. “What a neat effect!” When I show her mine, which is still glowing, she gasps. “No way! I’m going on a friendship mission with Organizer Cozy Glow?!? Who could possibly need our leads?!?” So, our cutie marks answer that by hovering over a city south of my hometown along the east coast: Baltimare. “The Baltimare Convention Center? I sure hope the map knows what it’s doing,” Aita cautiously says. “Cons tend to be pretty seedy environments where I come from, especially when the name Zack is involved.” “Aw, come on, Aita,” I reply in a cuter tone. “Equestria isn’t anything like Wisconsin. I sure hope you can let us go just this once.” Aita laughs. “I wasn’t gonna say no. If the tree of harmony says that’s where you’ll go, I shouldn’t object. Besides, the closest mission I had to one like this was being called to WBHQ, and that worked out just fine. Just… try to be careful, you two.” Diamond tiara wraps her hoof around Aita. “Sure thing, princess! You have our word!” Aita, Diamond Tiara and I turn to Lorien as he wags his tail and sniffs me. “I’m so sorry Lorien,” I tell him. “But this is a map mission. You’ll have to stay with Aita and Chrysalis while I’m gone.” Lorien lies on his belly in disappointment. “Maybe he won’t,” Diamond says. “Don’t you remember when you confronted Discord? Lorien was the first to step forward! If he can immediately tell someone did something wrong, maybe he can join us! I’d love to see your fox in action!” She steps closer and lowers her voice. “Besides, didn’t Aita tell us to be careful, in case conventions are anything like where she comes from?” I look at Aita, who’s really impressed with Diamond Tiara’s logic. “Well… would you mind, Cozy? Diamond?” “Not at all, Aita! I promise Lorien will be in good hooves with us!” I declare, making Lorien laugh, wag his tail, and zoom around the throne room. So Aita gives me and Diamond the fox leash, which Lorien jumps right into. She also gives us some money in case we want anything while we’re away. Now that preparations done, Diamond, Lorien and I make our way out of the castle. Act 1After a long road trip, Lorien, Diamond and I spend the night in a stable in Baltimare. And in the morning, we wake up to a nearby rooster crowing at the sunrise. As we walk out with Lorien behind, we spot the convention center across the road from our stable. The intercom siren close by starts a feedback that makes us cover our ears. Good morning to everypony visiting the Baltimare Convention Center for Spade Con day one! We really hope you enjoy your time! Diamond and I recover with a yawn, and we and Lorien head into the convention center. Just inside, convention guide pamphlets sit on two magazine shelves made of thin, silver wire. I hover in the air and take one. Where we’ve entered, the vendor hall is entered by a single door on our left. And the six panel spaces occupy the rest of the L-shaped corridor. There also appear to be two other entrances: one on the other end of the corridor and one across the vendor hall. “So, Spade Con… did the map know an event was happening here?” asks Diamond. “Well, why else would it call us? It was a good thing too. Aita and Rarity shared a couple of their favorite stories from the Adventures of Shadow Spade when I first moved to Ponyville.” Diamond stops in her tracks by the vendor hall entrance, letting me and Lorien pass her. “Shadow Spade? Aita reads that? W- hey! Wait up, Cozy!” She hurries back to my side after realizing I turned the corner. I look at the layout on the directory, mapping out where each of the panels take place. Lorien takes us to the farthest door ahead, which will house the Q&A panel today with the two authors of the Shadow Spade books. Lorien’s nose is in the air the whole time, sniffing out any potential friendship problem… I’m not sure if foxes can smell that kind of thing, actually. With Lorien’s lead, half of it coming from the sound of his claws clicking on the tile floor, Diamond Tiara and I take the aisle between the hay-pile seats to the stage table, which is currently empty. Lorien puts his paws on the table and looks around, then focuses on two ponies as they enter from backstage, making him pant. The first to enter the room is a pegasus stallion with a cyan coat, a brown kiss-shaped mane and tail, tan eyes and an atom cutie mark. The second is a unicorn mare with a green coat, a blonde mane and tail - the mane tied in a pony tail, green eyes and an inkwell cutie mark. When the unicorn notices Lorien, she smiles and looks to me. “I thought I heard clicking. Aren’t you Princess Aita’s organizer? Cozy Glow?” I nod excitedly and pick up Lorien in the air. “Yessiree! Diamond Tiara and I got called here on a friendship mission! Oh! And Lorien wanted to tag along too!” The pegasus comes close to me, allowing Lorien to sniff him. “Ah, so he’s become a royal fox, huh? Neat. I’m Atomic Archive, and this is Timeless Tale.” Timeless Tale, the unicorn mare, flashes a blink-and-you-miss-it glare at Atomic Archive, but then giggles. “So have you found any friendship problems yet? I sure hope Lorien could help you with that if you didn’t.” Lorien growls at Timeless, then briefly gekkers to Atomic as if amicably conversing with another fox. “I don’t think we have. We happened to hop here since Lorien led us to you,” Diamond says. “When’s your panel start?” Timeless raises her hoof to start her answer, but is interrupted by Atomic. “An hour and a half.” I set Lorien down as we make our way back to the corridor, looking back at Timeless and Atomic. “Alrighty! We’ll see you then!” I say, waving goodbye. The moment Timeless and Atomic disappear from all our views, Lorien turns around and attempts to push me with his head back to the entrance of the panel hall Diamond notices immediately that we aren’t following her. “Where are you going?” she asks, but then sees Lorien as she herself turns around. “Oh, I see. Lorien looks like he wants you to listen in on those two, Cozy.” I nod and take off my saddlebag in front of Diamond. “Okay. You take the bag and get us some breakfast… maybe also some fruit for Lorien.” Without another word, Diamond takes the saddlebag and runs off, leaving me and Lorien to return to the entrance. As I look at Lorien, his ears point straight up, listening for anything in the panel hall. When I try to pet him in reward, he bites my hoof. “You’ve been really helpful on this- OW! Okay! I’ll focus!” Every time! Every time, you do this, Atomic! Timeless yells from across the hall. Why can’t you let me answer our fans for once?!? Hey, come on, Timeless, Atomic nervously says. I let you answer questions asked to you, don’t I? No you don’t! You’re too eager for input to let me get a word in edgewise! Timeless grunts and storms off backstage, Atomic reaching out a hoof for her. He hangs his head and starts heading out of the hall, causing me to panic on the inside, so Lorien and I run away into the adjacent hall to hide. Once Atomic passes by, Lorien follows him silently. As they leave my view, I return to the Q&A panel hall, where I go backstage, a dark, narrow strip of the hall in the back with a lone desk occupied by Timeless Tale, who is calming down with deep breaths. She sits up straight when she hears me. “Um, Timeless Tale? You okay?” “Unfortunately not after that, but I do appreciate the concern, Cozy. What’s up?” she asks, curiously walking up to me. “And where’s Lorien?” “I think he went with Atomic. But, um, Lorien and I noticed the altercation earlier. What happened between you two?” Timeless looks off to the side. “Oh. We’ve been writing the Shadow Spade books for a good while. The one that put us on the map in Equestria was the Stop & Go mystery with Goal Post.” Goal Post? They appeared in Aita’s favorite entry. “So to capitalize, Atomic and I started going to conventions here. That’s when the conflict started happening. The Q&A’s always ended in some sort of disaster because he’s so eager to answer even the most loaded questions you could think of! Is Goal-Shade canon? Is Shadow Spade real like Daring Do is? Will Radish Field be released from prison in future installments? Those kinds of questions. It’s like he’s putting words in my mouth.” When Timeless lists her examples of “loaded questions”, the first one makes her shudder, implying the pairing is a clearly disturbing one, like Goal Post isn't even eligible for the Wonderbolts yet. I do get an idea though. “Why don’t I go get Atomic. Surely, with your history with’m, you could talk things out.” In the middle of the crowded vendor hall, I put two wrapped griffonscones in Cozy Glow’s saddlebag when Atomic Archive meets me. “Oh! Atomic! Already done setting up?” Atomic shakes his head. “I just need some space away from Timeless for a moment.” In looking to the side, he finds Lorien behind him. “Lorien?” “I thought you were with Cozy Glow,” I say to Lorien, prompting him to kiss Atomic in the leg. “Feeling for Atomic? Well that’s really receptive of you. What happened?” “Timeless kind of called me out for earlier. At least this time we weren’t asked questions about ships, fictionality or canon this time around, especially Shadow-Post.” Atomic’s explanation leaves me a bit surprised. “Well that’s good. While your example might be a different story, seems to me Timeless was just overreacting. Nothing you couldn’t solve with a conversation.” Lorien tilts his head out of question for what I say. “What? It worked with me and Cozy.” A tap on the shoulder turns me around, Cozy Glow coming into my view. “Atomic! Diamond! She said to meet her backstage!” Lorien’s ears twitch at Cozy’s announcement, making him growl before he zooms off gekkering back to the panel hall. “Lorien! Wait!” I call out. “You two keep watch. I’ll go after’m. I just need my breakfast first, okay Diamond?” I nod at Cozy and toss her griffonscone in the air, which she catches into her mouth and runs off with. Atomic and I trot to the entrance of the vendor hall and watch as Cozy races into the Q&A room. Shortly after, Lorien runs the other way with a sports cap in his mouth, taking a left to the entrance we took when coming into the convention center. The cap in question has a little decoration on the front “My hat!” exclaims Atomic when he sees. “Lorien! Come back!” Cozy shouts as she comes back into view with Timeless Tale right behind her. Atomic and I join them as they run outside to catch Lorien. Act 2With me, Diamond Tiara, Atomic Archive, and Timeless Tale outside, we catch Lorien trying to pull out the decoration off of Atomic’s sports cap. He notices us and promptly tosses it behind him in an attempt to bury the cap, or maybe more likely, the decoration latched to the cap. Timeless floats it to her and dusts it off for Atomic to wear. Lorien looks up to me, worried about what might happen to him now that he’s surrounded by us ponies. But I never once lower my eyebrows, in fact, I’m not even remotely mad at him, just disappointed. “Lorien… what’s gotten into you? Why did you steal and try to destroy Atomic’s hat?” On his stomach, Lorien now shifts his sights on Atomic, growling at him. “I noticed he was trying to get rid of the artifact in particular,” says Timeless. “Good thing we were hot on his tail, so no casualties. And hey, there’s always next time too, right?” Atomic nods in agreement, but then looks at me and Diamond, the “artifact” as Timeless calls it glowing when we see only the front of it. The trinket itself represents an eye with three golden feathers below on each side. Diamond and I are overcome with a growing bout of drowsiness, and the last thing visible to us is Lorien attempting to snatch Atomic’s cap again as he takes it off and flies away. So much for attending the Q&A panel. After what feels like forever, Diamond and I wake up to the same rooster from before at the same stable. Lorien is by our side again, so at least he never went anywhere. Diamond and I yawn, only to be alerted by feedback from the siren next to the convention center. Good morning to everypony visiting the Baltimare Convention Center for Spade Con day one! We really hope you enjoy your time! The announcement confuses me and Diamond. “Wait. Day one?” I say. “Wasn’t that yesterday?” “Yeah,” replies Diamond. “Didn’t some pegasus fly off before lunch or something?” The three of us enter the convention center once again, and I look to the magazine shelfs that contain the convention guide pamphlets. “Huh, didn’t see one of these in the stable,” I remark as I grab one of the pamphlets. Once again, Lorien leads us to the Q&A hall at the other end of the main corridor, where Atomic and Timeless soon after walk up to us from backstage, Timeless taking note of Lorien before looking at me. “I thought I heard clicking. Aren’t you Princess Aita’s organizer? Cozy Glow?” Diamond and I look at each other. “It is Spade Con day one!” we exclaim together. “But- b-but that means all that progress was wasted!” I add. “Was that why Lorien stole Atomic’s hat? To prevent that?!?” All my babble leaves Atomic and Timeless stunned in a perplexed speechlessness. But that does give Lorien an idea from the looks of it. He silently walks under the table as well as Atomic to reach backstage. Timeless rapidly shakes her head to regain focus. “Um, are you two okay?” “I think so,” answers Diamond. “But we were close to actually solving the friendship problem!” “It might sound crazy,” I add. “but we remember being here yesterday morning…” I pause for a moment as Lorien passes by with Atomic’s hat. “At least until that hat incident happened. Atomic, Timeless, I’ll be back.” Atomic spots what I’m talking about, as Lorien dashes through the hall, and puts his hooves on the table. “I’ll go. It is my hat after all.” While I do let Atomic fly off for his hat, I join him anyway, but not before leaving Diamond with my saddlebag again. “And Lorien is my fox!” We arrive outside to see Lorien throwing the hat behind him. “And there he is, trying to take the artifact out of the picture. Which one even is it anyway?” Atomic swiftly swipes the hat before any soil can land on top of it as Lorien attempts to bury it. He dusts the hat off and puts it on backwards. “It’s a replica decoration of some artifact that loops time, just with different behavior. I think it’s called, like, something-twirler… so, you have memories from another version of today?” I nod to Atomic. “Okay, Cozy. Then let’s head back to the panel hall and inject this today into another. Start you on the right hoof.” In the corridor, Lorien and I stay by each side of Atomic as I talk to him. “So Atomic,” I start, getting his attention. “How’d you and Timeless start the Shadow Spade novels to begin with?” “That? I’m not sure myself where Timeless got the inspiration, but we were in college when she wrote the first book. She got me involved when she needed some input when including the murgese falcon. I even wound up writing the dark room scene. Our classmates loved the final cut of it, so Timeless made copies for the whole campus, then eventually published it for real.” “Well that’s fascinating. Probably enjoyed reaching out like that, huh?” He confirms my assumption with a nod. So, with the second time the artifact activating on me and Diamond, we awaken at the stable once again with Lorien. Diamond Tiara takes a quick yawn. “Okay, Cozy. So what did Atomic say last time?” “When I asked about him and Timeless’ series’ inception,” I say as I sit up. “he couldn’t say where Timeless got the inspiration, but did manage to explain its upbringing.” “Do you think that might be our opening?” asks Diamond. “Not necessarily. Atomic’s hat will remain backstage until either he retrieves it, or Lorien steals it.” Diamond and I cover our ears while Lorien hides in the stable corner when the feedback from the siren fires up to the same voice announcing the same day. At this point, I forego the pamphlet once inside, having memorized where everything is in the convention center. We just need to make the right move in order to solve the friendship problem… wait a minute… I turn my head back to Diamond. “So how do we go about this? Lorien stealing the hat didn’t work; distracting Atomic and Timeless didn’t work…” “Does this really have to do with stopping memory farming? This is supposed to be a friendship problem after all.” “Of course, Diamond, but I think I know how to break this loop. Why don’t we tell them our stories?” My suggestion leaves Diamond slightly puzzled, judging how she stops just by the first door on the right on the long end of the corridor. “Our stories? I’m not sure I follow…” “We have similar upbringings, and one of ours is going to inspire one of them enough to give us the hat, rather than Lorien! WE could reset the day on Atomic that way and give him a taste of his own medicine!” “Okay, but I have the next loop, okay, Cozy?” I nod at her. “So the pony getting that hat should be you. All I have is donating my money for a new playground at the school back home… but YOU… you have a streak I can only sit back in amazement to! It inspired Chrysalis and Aita after they ran off, and it inspires me too. Hopefully tomorrow, we’ll be done with the loop. In the meantime, let me see the bag so that I can get us all some breakfast.” “Sure thing, Diamond.” I take off the saddlebag and put it on Diamond. “And take Lorien too when you head out, okay?” “Wouldn’t dream of anything else.” Diamond, Lorien and I continue down the corridor into the our target panel hall. Lorien’s claws striking the ground with their signature click attracts the attention of Atomic and Timeless. “I thought I heard-” Timeless starts before I interrupt. “No time for that right now. My friend, Diamond Tiara, here wanted to take one of you guys out for breakfast. Atomic Archive I believe the name was.” Diamond smiles as I turn to Lorien and pet him. “And won’t worry about my fox, Lorien. He normally doesn’t leave your sight if he accompanies you without me.” “So he’s coming with us?” Atomic guesses as he approaches me. I confirm with a nod. “Okay. Wait here while we’re at the vendor hall. Sound good?” “Golly!” I lightly exclaim with delight. “If you say so, Mister Archive! I promise to keep Miss Tale company in the meantime!” Diamond, Atomic and Lorien leave the hall with grins on the ponies’ faces. I turn to Timeless in the silence of the room, broken by her. “That was… really impressive, Cozy Glow. How did you manage to do that in one go?” “What can I say? I’m an organizer because Aita believed my skills could be used for good. Though truth be told, Diamond and I were subjected to two other versions of today while on a friendship mission between you and Atomic, so…” I hover and put my forehooves on the table. “What did you figure out?” asks Timeless. “Well, Diamond and I split up both times and came to the solution of him experiencing the loop with us to gain some perspective.” Timeless’ jaw drops before she puts it back with her hoof. “So wait… Atomic has been sending you back to the beginning of the day? Why?” “I dunno… maybe he just doesn’t want things to go so haywire like they did for him the last two times. He does tend to carry the Q&A sessions from what I heard.” Timeless’ irises shrink. “H- how did you know?” “Honestly, I kind of know what it’s like, not only because of the result of my old class incorrectly guessing why I planned field trips with the school board, but also a recent nightmare I had; it depicted what I would’ve done if Chrysalis and Aita were never in my radar, and one of those plans I laid out was almost ruined by Chancellor Neighsay hijacking a friendship school that Twilight left behind… just… I know you won’t remember it the next loop, but at least I got to tell you something I can relate with you guys.” “Don’t worry about it, Cozy. I think I know how I can help.” I tilt my head as Timeless momentarily goes backstage and comes back with Atomic’s hat. “With your explanation, I realize you have a powerful skill set. I never heard of a student that plans her classes field trips. I certainly did not expect a fox to accompany you and Diamond. And nopony would ever expect a filly could execute such an elaborate plan with no benefit to her. It’s very inspirational. Go with your plan and give Atomic some much needed perspective. Okay, Cozy?” I beam and jump in the air with a salute. “You got it, Timeless!” I hurry through the corridor into the vendor hall, where I immediately see Diamond Tiara paying for some fruit for Lorien, with him and Atomic right behind her. Looking at the back of Atomic’s hat, then back to Diamond and Atomic, I’m presented with a mental dilemma. I could very well make Diamond and Atomic lose out on breakfast this loop if I do this. Should I really send them and myself to the next loop at that cost? Though this is for Atomic’s own good, and this might even be the only way to solve the friendship problem. What did the tree of harmony say about me when talking to Chrysalis before we moved in with Aita? She has given back to her student body back home, led to the acquisition of Trace Light’s cutie mark, and selflessly used her double-edge skill set for the good of her friends… If all that was true, which it was… it’s the tree of harmony… then I should’ve dismissed my reconsideration; backing out here means we lose our only chance at solving the problem, which is something the map is counting on. I fly over and tap Atomic on the shoulder. When he turns around, he looks straight into the front face of his own artifact. With him falling asleep, Diamond Tiara jumps on top and follows suit. When it’s my turn to send myself back, I feel a twinge of guilt, but pull through and land on my side, tossing the hat onto the floor around us. Act 3Back at the stable, I wake up to Diamond Tiara and Lorien standing halfway on my bed by my side. The only thing I can do here is stare. “Are you okay, Cozy? Lorien woke me up because he noticed something was wrong.” Lorien jumps up fully and starts purring as he lies on his stomach right in front of me. “I… I don’t know…” A tingling roll of mane causes me to examine it with my hoof, finding evidence of salty water just below my ivory bow. Examining the pillow tells me a similar story with its casing. Was I crying in my sleep? I realize now, I was dreaming about the previous loop. “Huh… last time loop, I was having second thoughts about going through with our plan, but I did it anyway because I knew I couldn’t let the friendship problem go unsolved, but I also felt bad about going through with it.” Diamond Tiara flashes a warm smile. “I understand. Sometimes there are some really tough decisions you have to make, and the result isn’t always what you’d like it to be, and it can even be disastrous. Hopefully my role will go smoothly like yours did though. You look like you could use some time alone with Lorien anyway.” “Thanks. And I hope that goes well too… your time with Atomic and Timeless that is.” So, Diamond leaves me in the stable with Lorien, heading towards the convention building. Unfortunately the same feedback announcement on the siren from before scares him as he jumps down and hides under the bed. Kind of feels lonely going through the corridor without Cozy Glow and Lorien. But she’s been through quite a bit. I should seriously let the loneliness just slide for now. I only need to talk to Atomic and Timeless. In front of the Q&A panel hall, the adjacent entrance to the outside opens, revealing Atomic and Timeless to the right with restless expressions, the former more distraught. The latter is the first to enter. “Diamond Tiara…” Timeless pauses. “W-we need to talk.” Backstage, Atomic lays his head between his hooves at the desk in the corner while Timeless and I are met where the two curtains to backstage meet. “Okay,” she starts. “Would you care to explain to me why Atomic here is so delusional?” “Sure thing. Cozy Glow essentially bonded with you enough to receive Atomic’s hat in order to reset the time loop herself and take Atomic with us so that we could solve a friendship problem the map sent me and Cozy on.” Timeless stops silent momentarily to process what I just said. “What?” “What did Atomic say happened?” I ask. “Well, he said he was hanging out with you and Lorien - whoever that is - in the vendor hall when Cozy used his hat. He thought he was in a nightmare!” “He really wasn’t alone on that one. I thought the same thing at first when I woke up when Cozy and I looped the first time… but it was real.” Timeless is left even more confused. “Looped the… first time? What is this? Beaver Day?” “Since Cozy and I were here, Atomic took us back to the beginning of the day twice, both times because Lorien, Cozy’s fox, stole his hat. We thought we could provide some unique perspective for Atomic, but maybe Cozy’s conscience was right.” As I explain further, I push the curtain closer to me out with my hoof, but releases it when Timeless pulls me back with her magic with a serious but compassionate expression on her face. “Hey now… nopony should be thinking like that. You and Cozy did what you had to do, Diamond Tiara. And don’t let the here and now distract you from that fact. Now that I know the truth, why don’t I go talk to Atomic and you can lead us to your stable.” Timeless walks away from me, over to her and Atomic’s desk. “Okay, I got the full explanation,” Timeless says to Atomic, making him look at her. Her expression progressively sours as she goes on. “However, Diamond Tiara says you used that artifact on her… and Cozy. Were you going to do that again even though Cozy tried to stop you and got racked with guilt as a result? Because if we’re to believe Diamond, and I do believe her, we have a little filly in the nearby stable to apologize to in addition to her!” Atomic looks Timeless in the eyes. “But I didn’t do anything to them.” “No, but the you from previous loops did,” she retorts, holding up the hat in a way that faces the artifact away from them. “But why? Why would you send little fillies through a time loop like that?” “Why would I immediately answer questions you wouldn’t feel comfortable answering?” Atomic’s response puzzles Timeless. “Honestly, who would ship children?” “So… that was for both of us?” He nods at her question. “Atomic, it’s not that I’m not comfortable with the seedier parts of Q&A - my discomfort is not a factor in your actions; if the question’s for you, go ahead and answer, but when our audience needs reining in, I can handle that.” Timeless detaches the artifact from the hat and crushes it with her magic before throwing it away. As she walks back to me, Atomic sighs and joins her. “Okay. Thanks for letting me know, Timeless. Now let’s head on over to the stable to talk to Cozy Glow. Lead the way, Diamond.” While I wait for Diamond Tiara, Lorien and I run around the stable and play, me laughing as he, at one point, chases a toy I hold that Aita put in my saddlebag from before I left. Compared to when Lorien wanted me to focus on the friendship mission, his play bites are actually perfectly harmless. Multiple times he catches my hoof and I don’t even flinch. After approximately an hour, we hear a knock on the door during one of Lorien’s play bites, so he promptly lets go for me to answer. I fly up to open it, allowing him to sniff our visitors, who turn out to be Diamond, Atomic and Timeless. “Oh! Diamond! You’re back with Atomic and Timeless!” I exclaim in surprise. Timeless nods. “Yep, and I believe somepony has something to say to you.” “Um Cozy?” Atomic starts as he approaches me as I face him. “I just wanted to apologize for you and Diamond Tiara’s experience here. I know I don’t remember the previous versions of today, but Timeless told me the loop before was the result of my actions, so regardless of my memory, I’m sorry.” Diamond Tiara walks up to me with a confident smirk. “See? It all worked out in the end… and you thought we would hit a snag.” I hug Diamond and look Atomic and Timeless’ way. “Thank you all. I guess my conscience was really impacted by the thought of my actions from my nightmare, and that plan hit too close to home for me. At least all my friends are safe.” When I let go, I hover over to my saddlebag and put it on. “Now how about we all get some breakfast: on me.” When I land though, Lorien stops me before we can leave. “What is it?” As I look at him, I notice my glowing cutie mark. Looking to Diamond Tiara reveals hers is glowing too. “Yay!!! We completed the friendship mission!!!” I cheer with my hoof in the air, much in the same way I faked in my nightmare, specifically when Twilight and her friends returned from Tartarus. I fly right past Diamond, Timeless and Atomic, racing to the vendor hall in the convention center, and they all chase after me, including Lorien. “Cozy! Wait up!” Diamond Tiara calls out. In the vendor hall, I buy us a griffonscone each, except for Lorien, who I buy fruit for instead. When the vendor gives us the wrapped griffonscones, Timeless floats hers and Atomic’s to them while I give one to Diamond Tiara. Me and Diamond’s cutie marks are still glowing. Timeless is the first to talk as we head back to her and Atomic’s panel hall. “So, do you two plan on staying the entire convention?” I shake my head. “While I could stay, Diamond Tiara still has school to attend. At least that’s what I remember.” Diamond confirms with a nod. “Here’s hoping your panel goes well this time though.” Lorien comes up to my saddlebag and sniffs for the fruit, so I take out a slice of apple and give it to him. “Glad to hear that,” says Atomic. “Thanks for your help, girls. There’s no telling what I would’ve done if the map never sent you.” “Oh, you’ll find out eventually,” I reassure him. “I know I did with me.” Timeless looks to me with a mild beam. “So, would you like to stay for today at least? We could improvise you onto the stage if you’d like. And I do have something to send you to reward your solution to our problem.” Back home that night, Lorien watches as I greet Aita and Chrysalis with a hug at the foot of one of the foyer stairways. “So how was Space Con?” Aita asks me. “It was great! I got to partake in the Q&A panel with Atomic and Timeless!” Just as Chrysalis and Aita drop their jaws in response, Muffins drops by through a nearby window, stumbling forward slightly, but otherwise sticks her landing. “Greetings, Muffins!” Chrysalis greets while Muffins takes out a package out of her saddlebag with her mouth, Lorien meanwhile coming up and laughing after sniffing her. “What do you have for us today?” Aita tries to take the package in her magic, but Muffins doesn’t let go, shaking her head and walking up to me. “For me?” Muffins nods to me. I take the package and perfectly pull a strip of it off to reveal a book, allowing her to fly off. “Shadow Spade and the Collar Caper?” Aita comes by my side and turns over the front cover; there’s a note on its back. Dear Cozy Glow, This novel’s been in development since you became organizer. We don’t normally give out early copies save for reviewing purposes, but because you and Diamond Tiara helped us understand each other more, we’ve sent a freshly completed copy for each of you. It was also neat to see Lorien tagging along; he really is a good royal fox, isn’t he? Tell your friends and family we said hi. Someday, we will visit Ponyville and see them in the flesh. For now though, just remember us by this note on your copy of Shadow Spade and the Collar Caper. We hope you love the story. Yours truly, from the authors of this novel, Timeless Tale & Atomic Archive. After I silently read the note with Timeless’ voice in my head, I close the book with my muzzle and hold it in my chest while my eyes begin to water with joy. “Thank you, Timeless, Atomic.” Lorien sits beside me and leans on my side. “I guess you were spot-on when you said conventions here were nothing like where I come from,” Aita remarks. “I might actually open up if that keeps hap-” Chrysalis shushes her. “Let Cozy have this moment.” She comes up and we hug. “I look forward to meeting those authors. They sound like wonderful ponies we could easily befriend.” Lorien wags his tail while facing Chrysalis, giving me the impression his sentiment was the same was mine: she has no idea. “So Cozy, wanna give the novel a read?” asks Aita. “Of course! And there’s no better way to experience my first read of this series than with my best friends! Come on! Let’s go to the library!” So with that, Chrysalis, Aita, Lorien and I make our way upstairs toward the library.
Teaser/Cold OpenWay to return from dinner. My cutie mark is glowing so I won’t be able to clean up like I usually do, which Chrysalis is more than happy to help with. Lorien accompanies me while I race to the throne room to meet Aita, where she is slackjawed from the map finally calling me… I think. “Aita! What’s going on? Where’s the mission?” The hologram of my cutie mark floats far above the map. Aita and I notice a hyped scream coming from the hall as another holographic cutie mark of a tiara joins mine. We turn around to see one of the fillies from Ponyville Schoolhouse… Diamond Tiara, Aita said her name was. “I’ve NEVER had the map call ME before!” Diamond Tiara elatedly shouts, showing her glowing tiara cutie mark. “What a neat effect!” When I show her mine, which is still glowing, she gasps. “No way! I’m going on a friendship mission with Organizer Cozy Glow?!? Who could possibly need our leads?!?” So, our cutie marks answer that by hovering over a city south of my hometown along the east coast: Baltimare. “The Baltimare Convention Center? I sure hope the map knows what it’s doing,” Aita cautiously says. “Cons tend to be pretty seedy environments where I come from, especially when the name Zack is involved.” “Aw, come on, Aita,” I reply in a cuter tone. “Equestria isn’t anything like Wisconsin. I sure hope you can let us go just this once.” Aita laughs. “I wasn’t gonna say no. If the tree of harmony says that’s where you’ll go, I shouldn’t object. Besides, the closest mission I had to one like this was being called to WBHQ, and that worked out just fine. Just… try to be careful, you two.” Diamond tiara wraps her hoof around Aita. “Sure thing, princess! You have our word!” Aita, Diamond Tiara and I turn to Lorien as he wags his tail and sniffs me. “I’m so sorry Lorien,” I tell him. “But this is a map mission. You’ll have to stay with Aita and Chrysalis while I’m gone.” Lorien lies on his belly in disappointment. “Maybe he won’t,” Diamond says. “Don’t you remember when you confronted Discord? Lorien was the first to step forward! If he can immediately tell someone did something wrong, maybe he can join us! I’d love to see your fox in action!” She steps closer and lowers her voice. “Besides, didn’t Aita tell us to be careful, in case conventions are anything like where she comes from?” I look at Aita, who’s really impressed with Diamond Tiara’s logic. “Well… would you mind, Cozy? Diamond?” “Not at all, Aita! I promise Lorien will be in good hooves with us!” I declare, making Lorien laugh, wag his tail, and zoom around the throne room. So Aita gives me and Diamond the fox leash, which Lorien jumps right into. She also gives us some money in case we want anything while we’re away. Now that preparations done, Diamond, Lorien and I make our way out of the castle.
Act 1After a long road trip, Lorien, Diamond and I spend the night in a stable in Baltimare. And in the morning, we wake up to a nearby rooster crowing at the sunrise. As we walk out with Lorien behind, we spot the convention center across the road from our stable. The intercom siren close by starts a feedback that makes us cover our ears. Good morning to everypony visiting the Baltimare Convention Center for Spade Con day one! We really hope you enjoy your time! Diamond and I recover with a yawn, and we and Lorien head into the convention center. Just inside, convention guide pamphlets sit on two magazine shelves made of thin, silver wire. I hover in the air and take one. Where we’ve entered, the vendor hall is entered by a single door on our left. And the six panel spaces occupy the rest of the L-shaped corridor. There also appear to be two other entrances: one on the other end of the corridor and one across the vendor hall. “So, Spade Con… did the map know an event was happening here?” asks Diamond. “Well, why else would it call us? It was a good thing too. Aita and Rarity shared a couple of their favorite stories from the Adventures of Shadow Spade when I first moved to Ponyville.” Diamond stops in her tracks by the vendor hall entrance, letting me and Lorien pass her. “Shadow Spade? Aita reads that? W- hey! Wait up, Cozy!” She hurries back to my side after realizing I turned the corner. I look at the layout on the directory, mapping out where each of the panels take place. Lorien takes us to the farthest door ahead, which will house the Q&A panel today with the two authors of the Shadow Spade books. Lorien’s nose is in the air the whole time, sniffing out any potential friendship problem… I’m not sure if foxes can smell that kind of thing, actually. With Lorien’s lead, half of it coming from the sound of his claws clicking on the tile floor, Diamond Tiara and I take the aisle between the hay-pile seats to the stage table, which is currently empty. Lorien puts his paws on the table and looks around, then focuses on two ponies as they enter from backstage, making him pant. The first to enter the room is a pegasus stallion with a cyan coat, a brown kiss-shaped mane and tail, tan eyes and an atom cutie mark. The second is a unicorn mare with a green coat, a blonde mane and tail - the mane tied in a pony tail, green eyes and an inkwell cutie mark. When the unicorn notices Lorien, she smiles and looks to me. “I thought I heard clicking. Aren’t you Princess Aita’s organizer? Cozy Glow?” I nod excitedly and pick up Lorien in the air. “Yessiree! Diamond Tiara and I got called here on a friendship mission! Oh! And Lorien wanted to tag along too!” The pegasus comes close to me, allowing Lorien to sniff him. “Ah, so he’s become a royal fox, huh? Neat. I’m Atomic Archive, and this is Timeless Tale.” Timeless Tale, the unicorn mare, flashes a blink-and-you-miss-it glare at Atomic Archive, but then giggles. “So have you found any friendship problems yet? I sure hope Lorien could help you with that if you didn’t.” Lorien growls at Timeless, then briefly gekkers to Atomic as if amicably conversing with another fox. “I don’t think we have. We happened to hop here since Lorien led us to you,” Diamond says. “When’s your panel start?” Timeless raises her hoof to start her answer, but is interrupted by Atomic. “An hour and a half.” I set Lorien down as we make our way back to the corridor, looking back at Timeless and Atomic. “Alrighty! We’ll see you then!” I say, waving goodbye. The moment Timeless and Atomic disappear from all our views, Lorien turns around and attempts to push me with his head back to the entrance of the panel hall Diamond notices immediately that we aren’t following her. “Where are you going?” she asks, but then sees Lorien as she herself turns around. “Oh, I see. Lorien looks like he wants you to listen in on those two, Cozy.” I nod and take off my saddlebag in front of Diamond. “Okay. You take the bag and get us some breakfast… maybe also some fruit for Lorien.” Without another word, Diamond takes the saddlebag and runs off, leaving me and Lorien to return to the entrance. As I look at Lorien, his ears point straight up, listening for anything in the panel hall. When I try to pet him in reward, he bites my hoof. “You’ve been really helpful on this- OW! Okay! I’ll focus!” Every time! Every time, you do this, Atomic! Timeless yells from across the hall. Why can’t you let me answer our fans for once?!? Hey, come on, Timeless, Atomic nervously says. I let you answer questions asked to you, don’t I? No you don’t! You’re too eager for input to let me get a word in edgewise! Timeless grunts and storms off backstage, Atomic reaching out a hoof for her. He hangs his head and starts heading out of the hall, causing me to panic on the inside, so Lorien and I run away into the adjacent hall to hide. Once Atomic passes by, Lorien follows him silently. As they leave my view, I return to the Q&A panel hall, where I go backstage, a dark, narrow strip of the hall in the back with a lone desk occupied by Timeless Tale, who is calming down with deep breaths. She sits up straight when she hears me. “Um, Timeless Tale? You okay?” “Unfortunately not after that, but I do appreciate the concern, Cozy. What’s up?” she asks, curiously walking up to me. “And where’s Lorien?” “I think he went with Atomic. But, um, Lorien and I noticed the altercation earlier. What happened between you two?” Timeless looks off to the side. “Oh. We’ve been writing the Shadow Spade books for a good while. The one that put us on the map in Equestria was the Stop & Go mystery with Goal Post.” Goal Post? They appeared in Aita’s favorite entry. “So to capitalize, Atomic and I started going to conventions here. That’s when the conflict started happening. The Q&A’s always ended in some sort of disaster because he’s so eager to answer even the most loaded questions you could think of! Is Goal-Shade canon? Is Shadow Spade real like Daring Do is? Will Radish Field be released from prison in future installments? Those kinds of questions. It’s like he’s putting words in my mouth.” When Timeless lists her examples of “loaded questions”, the first one makes her shudder, implying the pairing is a clearly disturbing one, like Goal Post isn't even eligible for the Wonderbolts yet. I do get an idea though. “Why don’t I go get Atomic. Surely, with your history with’m, you could talk things out.” In the middle of the crowded vendor hall, I put two wrapped griffonscones in Cozy Glow’s saddlebag when Atomic Archive meets me. “Oh! Atomic! Already done setting up?” Atomic shakes his head. “I just need some space away from Timeless for a moment.” In looking to the side, he finds Lorien behind him. “Lorien?” “I thought you were with Cozy Glow,” I say to Lorien, prompting him to kiss Atomic in the leg. “Feeling for Atomic? Well that’s really receptive of you. What happened?” “Timeless kind of called me out for earlier. At least this time we weren’t asked questions about ships, fictionality or canon this time around, especially Shadow-Post.” Atomic’s explanation leaves me a bit surprised. “Well that’s good. While your example might be a different story, seems to me Timeless was just overreacting. Nothing you couldn’t solve with a conversation.” Lorien tilts his head out of question for what I say. “What? It worked with me and Cozy.” A tap on the shoulder turns me around, Cozy Glow coming into my view. “Atomic! Diamond! She said to meet her backstage!” Lorien’s ears twitch at Cozy’s announcement, making him growl before he zooms off gekkering back to the panel hall. “Lorien! Wait!” I call out. “You two keep watch. I’ll go after’m. I just need my breakfast first, okay Diamond?” I nod at Cozy and toss her griffonscone in the air, which she catches into her mouth and runs off with. Atomic and I trot to the entrance of the vendor hall and watch as Cozy races into the Q&A room. Shortly after, Lorien runs the other way with a sports cap in his mouth, taking a left to the entrance we took when coming into the convention center. The cap in question has a little decoration on the front “My hat!” exclaims Atomic when he sees. “Lorien! Come back!” Cozy shouts as she comes back into view with Timeless Tale right behind her. Atomic and I join them as they run outside to catch Lorien.
Act 2With me, Diamond Tiara, Atomic Archive, and Timeless Tale outside, we catch Lorien trying to pull out the decoration off of Atomic’s sports cap. He notices us and promptly tosses it behind him in an attempt to bury the cap, or maybe more likely, the decoration latched to the cap. Timeless floats it to her and dusts it off for Atomic to wear. Lorien looks up to me, worried about what might happen to him now that he’s surrounded by us ponies. But I never once lower my eyebrows, in fact, I’m not even remotely mad at him, just disappointed. “Lorien… what’s gotten into you? Why did you steal and try to destroy Atomic’s hat?” On his stomach, Lorien now shifts his sights on Atomic, growling at him. “I noticed he was trying to get rid of the artifact in particular,” says Timeless. “Good thing we were hot on his tail, so no casualties. And hey, there’s always next time too, right?” Atomic nods in agreement, but then looks at me and Diamond, the “artifact” as Timeless calls it glowing when we see only the front of it. The trinket itself represents an eye with three golden feathers below on each side. Diamond and I are overcome with a growing bout of drowsiness, and the last thing visible to us is Lorien attempting to snatch Atomic’s cap again as he takes it off and flies away. So much for attending the Q&A panel. After what feels like forever, Diamond and I wake up to the same rooster from before at the same stable. Lorien is by our side again, so at least he never went anywhere. Diamond and I yawn, only to be alerted by feedback from the siren next to the convention center. Good morning to everypony visiting the Baltimare Convention Center for Spade Con day one! We really hope you enjoy your time! The announcement confuses me and Diamond. “Wait. Day one?” I say. “Wasn’t that yesterday?” “Yeah,” replies Diamond. “Didn’t some pegasus fly off before lunch or something?” The three of us enter the convention center once again, and I look to the magazine shelfs that contain the convention guide pamphlets. “Huh, didn’t see one of these in the stable,” I remark as I grab one of the pamphlets. Once again, Lorien leads us to the Q&A hall at the other end of the main corridor, where Atomic and Timeless soon after walk up to us from backstage, Timeless taking note of Lorien before looking at me. “I thought I heard clicking. Aren’t you Princess Aita’s organizer? Cozy Glow?” Diamond and I look at each other. “It is Spade Con day one!” we exclaim together. “But- b-but that means all that progress was wasted!” I add. “Was that why Lorien stole Atomic’s hat? To prevent that?!?” All my babble leaves Atomic and Timeless stunned in a perplexed speechlessness. But that does give Lorien an idea from the looks of it. He silently walks under the table as well as Atomic to reach backstage. Timeless rapidly shakes her head to regain focus. “Um, are you two okay?” “I think so,” answers Diamond. “But we were close to actually solving the friendship problem!” “It might sound crazy,” I add. “but we remember being here yesterday morning…” I pause for a moment as Lorien passes by with Atomic’s hat. “At least until that hat incident happened. Atomic, Timeless, I’ll be back.” Atomic spots what I’m talking about, as Lorien dashes through the hall, and puts his hooves on the table. “I’ll go. It is my hat after all.” While I do let Atomic fly off for his hat, I join him anyway, but not before leaving Diamond with my saddlebag again. “And Lorien is my fox!” We arrive outside to see Lorien throwing the hat behind him. “And there he is, trying to take the artifact out of the picture. Which one even is it anyway?” Atomic swiftly swipes the hat before any soil can land on top of it as Lorien attempts to bury it. He dusts the hat off and puts it on backwards. “It’s a replica decoration of some artifact that loops time, just with different behavior. I think it’s called, like, something-twirler… so, you have memories from another version of today?” I nod to Atomic. “Okay, Cozy. Then let’s head back to the panel hall and inject this today into another. Start you on the right hoof.” In the corridor, Lorien and I stay by each side of Atomic as I talk to him. “So Atomic,” I start, getting his attention. “How’d you and Timeless start the Shadow Spade novels to begin with?” “That? I’m not sure myself where Timeless got the inspiration, but we were in college when she wrote the first book. She got me involved when she needed some input when including the murgese falcon. I even wound up writing the dark room scene. Our classmates loved the final cut of it, so Timeless made copies for the whole campus, then eventually published it for real.” “Well that’s fascinating. Probably enjoyed reaching out like that, huh?” He confirms my assumption with a nod. So, with the second time the artifact activating on me and Diamond, we awaken at the stable once again with Lorien. Diamond Tiara takes a quick yawn. “Okay, Cozy. So what did Atomic say last time?” “When I asked about him and Timeless’ series’ inception,” I say as I sit up. “he couldn’t say where Timeless got the inspiration, but did manage to explain its upbringing.” “Do you think that might be our opening?” asks Diamond. “Not necessarily. Atomic’s hat will remain backstage until either he retrieves it, or Lorien steals it.” Diamond and I cover our ears while Lorien hides in the stable corner when the feedback from the siren fires up to the same voice announcing the same day. At this point, I forego the pamphlet once inside, having memorized where everything is in the convention center. We just need to make the right move in order to solve the friendship problem… wait a minute… I turn my head back to Diamond. “So how do we go about this? Lorien stealing the hat didn’t work; distracting Atomic and Timeless didn’t work…” “Does this really have to do with stopping memory farming? This is supposed to be a friendship problem after all.” “Of course, Diamond, but I think I know how to break this loop. Why don’t we tell them our stories?” My suggestion leaves Diamond slightly puzzled, judging how she stops just by the first door on the right on the long end of the corridor. “Our stories? I’m not sure I follow…” “We have similar upbringings, and one of ours is going to inspire one of them enough to give us the hat, rather than Lorien! WE could reset the day on Atomic that way and give him a taste of his own medicine!” “Okay, but I have the next loop, okay, Cozy?” I nod at her. “So the pony getting that hat should be you. All I have is donating my money for a new playground at the school back home… but YOU… you have a streak I can only sit back in amazement to! It inspired Chrysalis and Aita after they ran off, and it inspires me too. Hopefully tomorrow, we’ll be done with the loop. In the meantime, let me see the bag so that I can get us all some breakfast.” “Sure thing, Diamond.” I take off the saddlebag and put it on Diamond. “And take Lorien too when you head out, okay?” “Wouldn’t dream of anything else.” Diamond, Lorien and I continue down the corridor into the our target panel hall. Lorien’s claws striking the ground with their signature click attracts the attention of Atomic and Timeless. “I thought I heard-” Timeless starts before I interrupt. “No time for that right now. My friend, Diamond Tiara, here wanted to take one of you guys out for breakfast. Atomic Archive I believe the name was.” Diamond smiles as I turn to Lorien and pet him. “And won’t worry about my fox, Lorien. He normally doesn’t leave your sight if he accompanies you without me.” “So he’s coming with us?” Atomic guesses as he approaches me. I confirm with a nod. “Okay. Wait here while we’re at the vendor hall. Sound good?” “Golly!” I lightly exclaim with delight. “If you say so, Mister Archive! I promise to keep Miss Tale company in the meantime!” Diamond, Atomic and Lorien leave the hall with grins on the ponies’ faces. I turn to Timeless in the silence of the room, broken by her. “That was… really impressive, Cozy Glow. How did you manage to do that in one go?” “What can I say? I’m an organizer because Aita believed my skills could be used for good. Though truth be told, Diamond and I were subjected to two other versions of today while on a friendship mission between you and Atomic, so…” I hover and put my forehooves on the table. “What did you figure out?” asks Timeless. “Well, Diamond and I split up both times and came to the solution of him experiencing the loop with us to gain some perspective.” Timeless’ jaw drops before she puts it back with her hoof. “So wait… Atomic has been sending you back to the beginning of the day? Why?” “I dunno… maybe he just doesn’t want things to go so haywire like they did for him the last two times. He does tend to carry the Q&A sessions from what I heard.” Timeless’ irises shrink. “H- how did you know?” “Honestly, I kind of know what it’s like, not only because of the result of my old class incorrectly guessing why I planned field trips with the school board, but also a recent nightmare I had; it depicted what I would’ve done if Chrysalis and Aita were never in my radar, and one of those plans I laid out was almost ruined by Chancellor Neighsay hijacking a friendship school that Twilight left behind… just… I know you won’t remember it the next loop, but at least I got to tell you something I can relate with you guys.” “Don’t worry about it, Cozy. I think I know how I can help.” I tilt my head as Timeless momentarily goes backstage and comes back with Atomic’s hat. “With your explanation, I realize you have a powerful skill set. I never heard of a student that plans her classes field trips. I certainly did not expect a fox to accompany you and Diamond. And nopony would ever expect a filly could execute such an elaborate plan with no benefit to her. It’s very inspirational. Go with your plan and give Atomic some much needed perspective. Okay, Cozy?” I beam and jump in the air with a salute. “You got it, Timeless!” I hurry through the corridor into the vendor hall, where I immediately see Diamond Tiara paying for some fruit for Lorien, with him and Atomic right behind her. Looking at the back of Atomic’s hat, then back to Diamond and Atomic, I’m presented with a mental dilemma. I could very well make Diamond and Atomic lose out on breakfast this loop if I do this. Should I really send them and myself to the next loop at that cost? Though this is for Atomic’s own good, and this might even be the only way to solve the friendship problem. What did the tree of harmony say about me when talking to Chrysalis before we moved in with Aita? She has given back to her student body back home, led to the acquisition of Trace Light’s cutie mark, and selflessly used her double-edge skill set for the good of her friends… If all that was true, which it was… it’s the tree of harmony… then I should’ve dismissed my reconsideration; backing out here means we lose our only chance at solving the problem, which is something the map is counting on. I fly over and tap Atomic on the shoulder. When he turns around, he looks straight into the front face of his own artifact. With him falling asleep, Diamond Tiara jumps on top and follows suit. When it’s my turn to send myself back, I feel a twinge of guilt, but pull through and land on my side, tossing the hat onto the floor around us.
Act 3Back at the stable, I wake up to Diamond Tiara and Lorien standing halfway on my bed by my side. The only thing I can do here is stare. “Are you okay, Cozy? Lorien woke me up because he noticed something was wrong.” Lorien jumps up fully and starts purring as he lies on his stomach right in front of me. “I… I don’t know…” A tingling roll of mane causes me to examine it with my hoof, finding evidence of salty water just below my ivory bow. Examining the pillow tells me a similar story with its casing. Was I crying in my sleep? I realize now, I was dreaming about the previous loop. “Huh… last time loop, I was having second thoughts about going through with our plan, but I did it anyway because I knew I couldn’t let the friendship problem go unsolved, but I also felt bad about going through with it.” Diamond Tiara flashes a warm smile. “I understand. Sometimes there are some really tough decisions you have to make, and the result isn’t always what you’d like it to be, and it can even be disastrous. Hopefully my role will go smoothly like yours did though. You look like you could use some time alone with Lorien anyway.” “Thanks. And I hope that goes well too… your time with Atomic and Timeless that is.” So, Diamond leaves me in the stable with Lorien, heading towards the convention building. Unfortunately the same feedback announcement on the siren from before scares him as he jumps down and hides under the bed. Kind of feels lonely going through the corridor without Cozy Glow and Lorien. But she’s been through quite a bit. I should seriously let the loneliness just slide for now. I only need to talk to Atomic and Timeless. In front of the Q&A panel hall, the adjacent entrance to the outside opens, revealing Atomic and Timeless to the right with restless expressions, the former more distraught. The latter is the first to enter. “Diamond Tiara…” Timeless pauses. “W-we need to talk.” Backstage, Atomic lays his head between his hooves at the desk in the corner while Timeless and I are met where the two curtains to backstage meet. “Okay,” she starts. “Would you care to explain to me why Atomic here is so delusional?” “Sure thing. Cozy Glow essentially bonded with you enough to receive Atomic’s hat in order to reset the time loop herself and take Atomic with us so that we could solve a friendship problem the map sent me and Cozy on.” Timeless stops silent momentarily to process what I just said. “What?” “What did Atomic say happened?” I ask. “Well, he said he was hanging out with you and Lorien - whoever that is - in the vendor hall when Cozy used his hat. He thought he was in a nightmare!” “He really wasn’t alone on that one. I thought the same thing at first when I woke up when Cozy and I looped the first time… but it was real.” Timeless is left even more confused. “Looped the… first time? What is this? Beaver Day?” “Since Cozy and I were here, Atomic took us back to the beginning of the day twice, both times because Lorien, Cozy’s fox, stole his hat. We thought we could provide some unique perspective for Atomic, but maybe Cozy’s conscience was right.” As I explain further, I push the curtain closer to me out with my hoof, but releases it when Timeless pulls me back with her magic with a serious but compassionate expression on her face. “Hey now… nopony should be thinking like that. You and Cozy did what you had to do, Diamond Tiara. And don’t let the here and now distract you from that fact. Now that I know the truth, why don’t I go talk to Atomic and you can lead us to your stable.” Timeless walks away from me, over to her and Atomic’s desk. “Okay, I got the full explanation,” Timeless says to Atomic, making him look at her. Her expression progressively sours as she goes on. “However, Diamond Tiara says you used that artifact on her… and Cozy. Were you going to do that again even though Cozy tried to stop you and got racked with guilt as a result? Because if we’re to believe Diamond, and I do believe her, we have a little filly in the nearby stable to apologize to in addition to her!” Atomic looks Timeless in the eyes. “But I didn’t do anything to them.” “No, but the you from previous loops did,” she retorts, holding up the hat in a way that faces the artifact away from them. “But why? Why would you send little fillies through a time loop like that?” “Why would I immediately answer questions you wouldn’t feel comfortable answering?” Atomic’s response puzzles Timeless. “Honestly, who would ship children?” “So… that was for both of us?” He nods at her question. “Atomic, it’s not that I’m not comfortable with the seedier parts of Q&A - my discomfort is not a factor in your actions; if the question’s for you, go ahead and answer, but when our audience needs reining in, I can handle that.” Timeless detaches the artifact from the hat and crushes it with her magic before throwing it away. As she walks back to me, Atomic sighs and joins her. “Okay. Thanks for letting me know, Timeless. Now let’s head on over to the stable to talk to Cozy Glow. Lead the way, Diamond.” While I wait for Diamond Tiara, Lorien and I run around the stable and play, me laughing as he, at one point, chases a toy I hold that Aita put in my saddlebag from before I left. Compared to when Lorien wanted me to focus on the friendship mission, his play bites are actually perfectly harmless. Multiple times he catches my hoof and I don’t even flinch. After approximately an hour, we hear a knock on the door during one of Lorien’s play bites, so he promptly lets go for me to answer. I fly up to open it, allowing him to sniff our visitors, who turn out to be Diamond, Atomic and Timeless. “Oh! Diamond! You’re back with Atomic and Timeless!” I exclaim in surprise. Timeless nods. “Yep, and I believe somepony has something to say to you.” “Um Cozy?” Atomic starts as he approaches me as I face him. “I just wanted to apologize for you and Diamond Tiara’s experience here. I know I don’t remember the previous versions of today, but Timeless told me the loop before was the result of my actions, so regardless of my memory, I’m sorry.” Diamond Tiara walks up to me with a confident smirk. “See? It all worked out in the end… and you thought we would hit a snag.” I hug Diamond and look Atomic and Timeless’ way. “Thank you all. I guess my conscience was really impacted by the thought of my actions from my nightmare, and that plan hit too close to home for me. At least all my friends are safe.” When I let go, I hover over to my saddlebag and put it on. “Now how about we all get some breakfast: on me.” When I land though, Lorien stops me before we can leave. “What is it?” As I look at him, I notice my glowing cutie mark. Looking to Diamond Tiara reveals hers is glowing too. “Yay!!! We completed the friendship mission!!!” I cheer with my hoof in the air, much in the same way I faked in my nightmare, specifically when Twilight and her friends returned from Tartarus. I fly right past Diamond, Timeless and Atomic, racing to the vendor hall in the convention center, and they all chase after me, including Lorien. “Cozy! Wait up!” Diamond Tiara calls out. In the vendor hall, I buy us a griffonscone each, except for Lorien, who I buy fruit for instead. When the vendor gives us the wrapped griffonscones, Timeless floats hers and Atomic’s to them while I give one to Diamond Tiara. Me and Diamond’s cutie marks are still glowing. Timeless is the first to talk as we head back to her and Atomic’s panel hall. “So, do you two plan on staying the entire convention?” I shake my head. “While I could stay, Diamond Tiara still has school to attend. At least that’s what I remember.” Diamond confirms with a nod. “Here’s hoping your panel goes well this time though.” Lorien comes up to my saddlebag and sniffs for the fruit, so I take out a slice of apple and give it to him. “Glad to hear that,” says Atomic. “Thanks for your help, girls. There’s no telling what I would’ve done if the map never sent you.” “Oh, you’ll find out eventually,” I reassure him. “I know I did with me.” Timeless looks to me with a mild beam. “So, would you like to stay for today at least? We could improvise you onto the stage if you’d like. And I do have something to send you to reward your solution to our problem.” Back home that night, Lorien watches as I greet Aita and Chrysalis with a hug at the foot of one of the foyer stairways. “So how was Space Con?” Aita asks me. “It was great! I got to partake in the Q&A panel with Atomic and Timeless!” Just as Chrysalis and Aita drop their jaws in response, Muffins drops by through a nearby window, stumbling forward slightly, but otherwise sticks her landing. “Greetings, Muffins!” Chrysalis greets while Muffins takes out a package out of her saddlebag with her mouth, Lorien meanwhile coming up and laughing after sniffing her. “What do you have for us today?” Aita tries to take the package in her magic, but Muffins doesn’t let go, shaking her head and walking up to me. “For me?” Muffins nods to me. I take the package and perfectly pull a strip of it off to reveal a book, allowing her to fly off. “Shadow Spade and the Collar Caper?” Aita comes by my side and turns over the front cover; there’s a note on its back. Dear Cozy Glow, This novel’s been in development since you became organizer. We don’t normally give out early copies save for reviewing purposes, but because you and Diamond Tiara helped us understand each other more, we’ve sent a freshly completed copy for each of you. It was also neat to see Lorien tagging along; he really is a good royal fox, isn’t he? Tell your friends and family we said hi. Someday, we will visit Ponyville and see them in the flesh. For now though, just remember us by this note on your copy of Shadow Spade and the Collar Caper. We hope you love the story. Yours truly, from the authors of this novel, Timeless Tale & Atomic Archive. After I silently read the note with Timeless’ voice in my head, I close the book with my muzzle and hold it in my chest while my eyes begin to water with joy. “Thank you, Timeless, Atomic.” Lorien sits beside me and leans on my side. “I guess you were spot-on when you said conventions here were nothing like where I come from,” Aita remarks. “I might actually open up if that keeps hap-” Chrysalis shushes her. “Let Cozy have this moment.” She comes up and we hug. “I look forward to meeting those authors. They sound like wonderful ponies we could easily befriend.” Lorien wags his tail while facing Chrysalis, giving me the impression his sentiment was the same was mine: she has no idea. “So Cozy, wanna give the novel a read?” asks Aita. “Of course! And there’s no better way to experience my first read of this series than with my best friends! Come on! Let’s go to the library!” So with that, Chrysalis, Aita, Lorien and I make our way upstairs toward the library.
