'Light (Not That One)

The next few seconds have become quiet. While Tim’s haste to enter Cool Beans was never anything to worry about, me and Sophie’s stride appears to have embarrassed him to some degree. As Sophie grabs her menu on the table, I clear my throat silently.

“Apologies for earlier, Tim,” I start. “Perhaps our stride may’ve been a little mean-spirited in the moment.”

“Thanks, Chrysalis,” Tim replies. “So, I guess now that we’re all settled in, do you wanna go first? Tell us what you’ve been up to lately?”

Sophie sets down the menu she was reading from. “Yeah, how’s it been living with Aita?”

Before I can answer, a waiter stops by and takes out a notepad in front of us. “Good afternoon, and welcome to Cool Beans Café. How can I help you three today?”

Sophie is the first to order. “I’ll have the number five: extra strength, whipped cream surface, and a cherry on top.”

That must be the cocoa she recommended I have, at least barring the extra customizations.

“I’d like the number two,” Tim announces. “Just cream for the coffee, and I’d like the egg scrambled.”

I watch while Sophie and Tim order as our waiter writes down their order. “I’ll just do a number five, only with the extra strength.”

Once the pen finishes its strokes, the waiter recaps our order. “So, two strong hot chocolate beverages; one with whipped topping and a cherry, and a coffee-egg combo?” We all confirm with a nod. “Will there be anything else?”

“We’re good now,” Sophie answers.

“Alright, your order should be in about five to ten minutes from now.”

As our waiter leaves to stick our order in the queue, I turn back to face Sophie and Tim. “So what were we talking about again?”

“You were about to catch us up on your time in Equestria?” Tim guesses.

“Right…” I whisper before returning to a more audible tone. I turn to Sophie. “Well… Sophie, do you remember Cozy Glow?” She nods to me. “She lives with us now, and together with me and Aita, the three of us took in a tod that we named Lorien.”

With my announcement, Sophie and Tim become surprised.

“A t-tod?” stammers Tim. “A-as in a fox?”

“Mhm… Lorien followed Aita home one night when Cozy and I were exhausted from Discord’s REM antics. That fox has contributed quite a bit to solutions to our troubles e’er since.” Holding their expression, Sophie and Tim face each other, then back to me. “I’m well aware it is a big responsibility, but Lorien’s care flows between the three of us.”

“It’s not the responsibility…” Sophie says. “We’re surprised he had no qualms living with you, like at all.”

“Well, I did help save Equestria, so maybe that has something to do with it,” I muse. “Anywho, I did notice Aita admitted to not caring for conventions when Cozy and Lorien got home from Spade Con in Baltimare. I wonder what that was about.”

When I mention Aita’s attitude, I notice Sophie’s face flush. Something must’ve happened in the real world that made Aita think that way.

“Yeah, there was apparently some amber scandal on the east coast the month before you moved in with Aita,” Tim announces. “A security guard-”

“Okay,” Sophie awkwardly interrupts, shoving a hand onto Tim’s trap. “Moving on… did Cozy get any memorabilia at Spade Con?”

At least now I know where Aita got her insensitivities from. “Indirectly. A personal copy of the latest Shadow Spade book came in the mail when she and Lorien arrived.”

When I return to Ponyville, I notice from overhead that the entire track for the Running of the Leaves is set up. Otherwise the flight home is uneventful, a far cry from what happens in response to knocking on the front doors of the castle.

The entrance opens not to Aita, Cozy Glow or even Lorien, but Firelight of all ponies.

“Chrysalis!” he ecstatically exclaims, hugging me.

“Firelight? What a surprise to see you. Are you visiting?”

“Just figured I’d spend some time here with two of my youngest friends while you were away in the real world.”

“You sure it’s just Aita and Cozy?” I inquire. “What about the newest resident?”

As if on cue, Lorien appears by Firelight’s side and starts laughing.

Firelight looks down to him. “Well this is news. How’s he been?”

“Lorien appears to be fine around you. Have the others given you a tour of the castle?”

“Of course!” Firelight laughs. “Those two are excellent hostesses!”

A smile grows upon my face in response as Firelight and Lorien lead me back to the throne room. “Pleasure to hear. I do find it thoughtful of you to visit while I was away, disregarding the lack of necessity.”

Coming into the throne room, I notice Aita and Cozy laughing with their backs on the floor. Lorien runs ahead of me and Firelight and gives my castlemates humorous kisses in the face, making them laugh even harder.

“I certainly hope we’re not interrupting anything,” I say, instantly replacing their laughter with pleasant surprise.

“Chrysalis!” Aita exclaims. “How’d everything go?”

“The visit was fine, just mostly a blur. I see somepony’s finished with helping out in the setup for the Running of the Leaves.”

Cozy Glow nods. “Everything was a breeze, especially when Firelight tagged along!”

“They even swung by and invited me out for cookies!” adds Aita, hovering across the room.

“Evidently so,” I deduce, judging by how uncharacteristically quick Aita’s motion is. “I can’t remember the last time you and Cozy had sweets together.”

I turn around to a knock on the throne room door from behind. When I open it, the local mailpony is revealed, holding a letter in her mouth.

“Ah, Muffins. You came at the right time,” I tell her before levitating the letter toward my left wing.

Muffins nods, and promptly leaves to perform the rest of her duties, as do I to read the letter for me.

The room I sleep in now was originally where Twilight Sparkle slept before moving out. In there, I sit down on my bed and float the letter in front of me and unfold it.

FRIENDSHIP ADVISOR CHRYSALIS
Mailed From: Cliptalk, Fillydelphia, Equestria 19116
Destination: Ponyville, Equestria 67430

Dear Chrysalis,

Great to hear you’re doing well. We heard Cozy Glow recently attended a Shadow Spade related convention down south from where we live. What was that like for her? We’re not sure if we’ve told you this already, but after your visit last fall, Cozy showed significant improvement while living with us. She began to understand and appreciate the smaller gifts she’d received after she befriended you and Aita, and she started talking to us a lot more.

Unfortunately, we found out about what happened on Nightmare Night during the meeting with Heavenly Luck by comparing what was said there to the letter you sent us before the convention. Though when writing to Aita about it, she clarified you weren’t feeling well when the meeting was supposed to take place. We’d love to meet you for real someday regardless. Hopefully this revelation won’t hinder our correspondence with you and it continues to be upheld.

Yours truly,
Amber Glow and Tight Knit.

I sigh with relief about how Cozy Glow’s parents took their findings from during my insomniatic episode almost two weeks ago. “Looks like they can still talk.”

Trotting across the room, I set a piece of parchment and a quill onto Twilight’s former personal desk. And I begin writing.

Dear Amber Glow and Tight Knit

You have no idea the relief that swept over me reading your letter. It’s good to know I still have personal friends around Equestria especially long after my actions during my first reign as queen. As for Cozy Glow and her trip to Baltimare, she was actually sent there by the tree of harmony to help out the authors of Shadow Spade, Atomic Archive and Timeless Tale.

I do appreciate your willingness to let Aita’s actions slide under the pretense of covering for her castlemates. Of course we can still correspond, as long as you two agree to do so. I look forward to see you in person.

Sincerely,
Chrysalis Bagley-Handy.

As soon as I roll up the letter and tie it, that is with a ribbon emblemized with an image of the Castle of Friendship, Lorien enters my room with a walk of curiosity.

“Oh, Lorien! Come on in,” I politely encourage, prompting him to race up to me.

He momentarily holds my forehoof in his mouth. As he lets go, he sits and starts panting happily. “If this is about my visit to the real world, it actually went well, all things considered.”

Lorien starts laughing, some of the breaths intermittently rumbling. Meanwhile he also starts to walk back to my door, as if I should follow him.

“Huh. Okay. I was about to head out anyway. This should be interesting. Lead the way, Lorien.”

The fox chipperly follows my command, leading me out of the room.