First Canto: HopeView OnlineDevotion's EndFirst Canto: HopeI. Once upon a day of rest A filly stepped into a cage On crystal bars were carved the crest Of Love herself who played the sage Council gave she to the Stars That mercy, kindness, and reform Must balanced be with all the scars She could inflict if freed from stone Prudence won their hearts that day And so the traitor was condemned Within a statue, so to stay 'Til safely she could be redeemed Endless darkness stoked the flames Of vengeance, hate, and enmity Encased in rock, she doled out blame To those who brought this tragedy All these thoughts and more were plain To she who braved her family The Child of Love did see her pain And seized the opportunity "Who amongst you has not erred? Nor given clemency to sin But justice was for her deferred Now let at last her trial begin" Such was posed to four wise mares The Sun, the Moon, the Stars conferred Until a Mother did speak fair To daughter now she did refer "Danger lurks along this path This mare knows naught but treachery I can't protect you from her wrath Her silver tongue speaks sorcery" "History I've studied well," The snowy mare did give reply "But love is strong enough to quell The greatest storm to lullaby." "Faith I give you, child of mine And pride enough to fill my heart For now I see how bright you shine" With trust the four then did depart. II. Thus she stands before a mare Returned to stone, then left to rot And now condemned into her care Until she has all that she sought Magic from her horn unfurls To shatter chains of arcane light The stone unravels, colours swirl And with a flash, a mare gains sight Fall from grace, into her arms! The atrophy within her bones Is mirrored not by mind alarmed At sight of alicorn unknown "Who are you, accursèd beast? I see the wings and horn you sport The price you seek for my release Do not attempt from me extort" "Flurry Heart, my name from birth But name alone tells not my tale For long ago was my rebirth From my domain Devotion hails" Scoffs the mortal at reply So plainly given yet unwise "Devotion is the greatest lie That traps the fool within your vise" "Loyalty you've yet to learn For faith is succour to the soul" A hoof is offered in concern "So I shall feed you, tired foal" "Foal!" she cries, the hoof denied "In Tartarus my soul was forged And now I see my toil decried By one whom mother's milk hath gorged?" "Suffering is all you've known And loneliness that's drunk in kind I know the ways that you have grown Another life you could not find" Flurry speaks upon release Of prisoner to leave at last "If you should wish this all to cease Then step outside, towards your past "But I offer you a cause A life to live, a seed to sow For I can see beyond your flaws To your potential, Cozy Glow" III. Freedom beckons, yet gives pause "A chain you offer, nothing more And why should I support your cause? There must be something else in store" "Cunning suits you well indeed" The alicorn a smile affords "Should you accept my righteous creed A kingdom come be your reward" Scornful frown she does return "A kingdom come, beneath your rule? The thought of it makes stomach churn Deny I shall to be your tool" "Tool of mine, yet also Queen For I have no desire to rule From alicorns we must be weaned An end to infancy so cruel" "Cruelty?" she whispers soft "You dare to speak against your kind? The ones who hold your world aloft You would not leave all that behind" "Time moves onwards," she replies A cloud of wrath within her tone "But they would see us ossify So vow I will to break their throne" "Trickery, your words must be," Accuses traitor of the god "Deception that I clearly see For I have walked the path you trod" "Risked you once the world's demise And now you've nothing to your name So much to gain, if you reprise Your role in this upcoming game." Long she stands there, pondering Refuse she can and trot away But Flurry speaks the truth that stings That she has no one left to sway "Very well," does Cozy say Acidic tone to match her heart "But when I'm Queen, without delay Your head I'll place on pike to start" Hoof extended, pact is made And though one enters two return Angelic countenance displayed To those who one day they will spurn IV. Celebration, bring the feast! For feted daughter has emerged Victorious, she tamed the beast And proved that Love could evil purge But the four were not yet fooled For they had heard this filly’s screed Time again they sought to prove That she was nothing but a weed Cloaked in shadows, in her dreams A mare of night takes on the form Of one familiar to glean The purpose true of her reform On an altar she does lay In front of Cozy, whilst a blade Of ice most pure, does then display While alicorn is bound and splayed "Cozy Glow, 'tis Flurry Heart Defenseless, scared, and vuln'rable Will vengeance take you and depart?" Is asked to filly damnable "Princess Luna." Cozy bows "You honour me with your misdeed But I was taught to pierce the shroud That you have donned to test my creed" Smiling still, she speaks at length "I could have falsely answered you But now I see in truth is strength So I will give you answers true "Vengeance did I seek at dawn When stone was rendered into flesh But Flurry offered me a crown If I could heal these wounds so fresh "Now I'll learn her ways of Love And earn the role I'm meant to play For cause was given from above To prove you wrong, and make you say "'It is right to give her praise!'" Triumphantly her case is made With righteous flame does Cozy blaze The sword discarded, unafraid Laughter echoes through the skies Surprising she who pled her case Then Luna doffs her failed disguise And speaks reply with royal grace "Honesty I hear you crow Yet cunning too within your words Immortal wisdom I’ll bestow Beware of love, the subtle sword "Lest it rend your heart in twain" With this she vanishes to mist Awakening from sleep arcane A filly whom deception graced V. Seeking out their spellbound cove Where secrecy is paramount She shares the visit from above By one who sought a case to mount “Bold are you for speaking true” Is Flurry’s answer to her tale “But bolder still, to carry through There’s time enough to yet turn tail” “Kingdom mine I still await Now teach me how Devotion sings That I might quench my thirst for hate Until the time of reckoning" “Know you well the strength of Friends For many overcome the one And those who'd die to friends defend Will give up more than those who'd run" Here is Flurry radiant As cutie mark with purpose glows "But Faith is coin that Friendship spent And with belief do mountains grow" Unperturbed, the mortal says "So you have said, and it is so, That I know of the price to pay By fools whose lives away they throw" "Fools, yet wiser than thee still, For souls of theirs are satisfied The emptiness you try to fill The faithful never did abide" "Save your breath for one who cares," Demands the mare to princess fair. "I'll learn of faith, so to ensnare My future servants, to the mare" "Acquiesce for now I shall." Says princess bowing, taking flight "But one day you shall find your call And happiness will be your blight" VI. Seasons changing, Winter, Spring Routine established, morning, night Complacency is just the thing To soothe the worries and the fright Daytime sees the palace guest Engaged in lessons on the law And politics, she aced the test On statecraft, using sword and plough Nightfalls lands and she retreats To sanctuary does she fly With open arms does Flurry greet And two defy their destiny "Artifacts to sap the soul, And spells to fell the strongest mare Though both we must have knowledge full Support of ponies can't compare "Both are vital to our goals" Does Flurry say, and Cozy frowns "Do not assume me as the fool For I have studied for the Crown "Lessons that shall help me claim The hearts and minds of ev'ryone For when I climb that throne acclaimed They shall reject the lies you've spun" "Only you have spun a lie Continue to apply your mind As I too learn of magic's might And what we seek we both shall find"
Second Canto: LoveView OnlineDevotion's EndSecond Canto: LoveVII. Thus the pair continued so The months turned slowly into years As time went on, so both did grow And Flurry preached to all who'd hear "Faith shall set you truly free A cause to die for gives us life So find what makes you come to see The joy that outlasts any strife" Soon enough she'd then become The apple of the people's eye The lost would seek from her a home And council she would then apply "What do you love most of all?" She'd ask the ones who did not know And then she'd help them to recall What lit the fires in their souls Reputation spreads afar As all across the world they came And youngest princess turns to star While giving purpose all the same At her side does Cozy stand Advising alicorn when asked So her renown spreads through the land As one who overcame her past But in private she does rail Against the one she rose beside "Is it your wish that your plans fail? These ponies that you choose to guide "Loyal servants would they be But you instead have them take flight A solider lost with each one freed By finding cause beyond your sight" "None should bind themselves to me All worshippers I shall but spurn," With calm does Flurry repartee "For I wish not their faith to earn "Freedom is the cause I choose From tyranny of alicorns To use the faith I have let loose Myself would I have naught but scorn" "Foolishness shall be your fall" Says this and more by Cozy Glow But secretly is she enthralled For Flurry's will respect bestows VIII. Time does pass, until the day Atop a hill two ponies sit A game of chess they both do play Diversion as they chat and chit Often do they both engage In games of skill, and games of chance Today, however, seething rage Does cloud this intellectual dance "Queen takes rook," a gambit made As Flurry fights to keep her calm But slip of tongue she can't evade As acrid query shows her qualms "Would you kindly please explain Your tantrum earlier this week Our diplomatic ties are strained With Maretonia peace we seek" "This I know." So Cozy shrugs "But more than peace the duke would see With kiss upon your hoof he wrongs Your royal hospitality" "'Tis your move," reminds her foe "And I had plans to make him pay For know we both he fancied more But it was not your place to say" "I am your advisor first" A piece she moves in enmity "My rook takes queen, my heart did thirst To safeguard royal dignity" "Know you well I always have And you had more than pride to sate Or else you would not fail to stave Distraction off and miss this mate" Cozy swears; her king is trapped And Flurry sees too well her heart But not so well to know she kept A secret that she'll now impart "Fie on you, who art so fair! If truth you seek, then choke on mine For I have fallen past repair And now my heart is wholly thine" Silence stretches 'cross the board As Flurry reckons with the lie They both have guarded in their hoards A single word she speaks now, "Why?" "Why, she asks, the perfect mare Who saved me from eternal sleep With wit and will I can compare And beauty that makes angels weep "Long have I admir'd your cause Though fool I still believe you be But admiration grew to house A love for you that you now see" IX. Sweeping board and bounds aside The princess steps towards the mare "A secret I as well did hide And in return I shall now share "But before I doom us both A warning I will give you once To love me is to swear an oath That you will be what sorrow hunts "Destiny I chose myself Will not be swayed by love alone My cause I'll see until my death Regardless what my heart hath known "Knowing this, I shall now say That longer still I loved you back As even 'fore that fateful day When cage of yours I went to crack "Study you I did at length And chose you for my rightful heir Because of courage and the strength Displayed when you faced down those mares" Passion blazed between the gap That separated two from doom With one swift step did Cozy trap Herself into a life of gloom "Even now, your beauty shines The strength of will to hide your love Is proof of quality divine That I have sought from stars above "With this kiss I seal my fate An end for one, a start for two Your warnings have come far too late A princess now becomes my due" Lips meet lips, and tongue now dance As sacred union has been forged The spark ignites a fiery trance And lust the pair does plainly gorge Once they part, regret slides in But quickly is it purged again And so a chapter new begins As Cozy, Flurry, are now twain "What shall we to tell the world?" Asks Cozy after doomèd kiss "And what of our goals deferred Or current friendship that exists?" "Nothing changes," is reply "The alicorns will fall as claimed And you shall be the queen on high To usher in an age untamed "But if you would have it so Until the reckoning is nigh I would not want us to lay low When all the world could see us fly" "Let it be so, as you've said" Agrees the other mare with glee "Another kiss will tie the thread That binds our hearts for all to see" X. Kisses shared, and vows remade As era new dawns on this day A courtship broadcast unafraid As hoof in hoof without delay Princess and her trusted steed Atop the world, on balcony Announce that they have both agreed To serve the people honestly By this time the princesses Have learned to trust the pegasus So she their blessings does possess For now until she breaks their trust Tangled legs in summer heat Sweet nothings whispered in the night Caresses shared beneath the sheets Suffused in everlasting light Afterwards, in afterglow When face-to-face on pillows deep Conspire still as they both sow The seeds of ruin they shall reap "Power grows within my soul" Does Flurry promise with a kiss "Forbidden strength to see our goal Moves closer to us with each miss" "Knowledge of the earthly things I've mastered well, like laws of state" In winged embrace does Cozy speak "And matters royal small and great "When the time should come at last And find you well the magic dark So that the final spell be cast To end them all, and make our mark "Worthy I shall be to rule" To this does Flurry sigh in bliss "Though future may be far too cruel On this we'll fondly reminisce" Day by day, does Cozy change Conquer all, they say love does And so does she fall furthermore In love with she who gave her cause XI. Then it happens, as was feared One night as they lay intertwined And Cozy stares at one revered By more than just the common mind "Finally I understand Devotion's call, the lure of Faith For I have found a cause so grand That I would walk another's path" Flurry stills, her breath cut short Within her eyes a storm does churn Disaster now she might have court With care does she response return "Glad I am you understand The fire that my soul does tend To see a pony take a stand The pleasures earthly do transcend" "Truly does it feel like such The void you spoke of in my heart Denied I did, yet it hurt much And now this flame I can't revert "Ev'ry morn and ev'ry night From dusk 'til dawn, in sick or health My soul is filled with sweet delight By goddess true that is yourself" "Goddess, no! Do not believe That dreadful moniker of me!" Denounces princess fervently "For know you well what I've decreed" "I know well that what you speak Is not the absolutest truth For all my life I knew I'd seek A greater strength that I in youth "Wrongly thought I'd take myself But through these years, I've watched you shine Much brighter than I could in life So Goddess are you, lover mine "Thus I pledge myself to you When time does come for us to rise And all the tyrants we eschew Instead of I, you'll take the prize "Consort only I shall be" A peaceful sigh, a mare content With lover's kiss, to bend the knee To she who taught her Faith's intent XII. But her joy does not impart On Flurry Heart, who turns away Across the bed, yet miles apart With desperation does she say "You must rule once blizzard ends When deed is done, and storms disperse Upon the throne must you defend The freedoms that they have reversed "Alicorn cannot divest From us immortal tyranny Should I become what I resist You'll all do well to turn and flee" "Rule alone, I shall refuse And should you love me as you say Then let me worship as I choose And all your fears I shall allay" Silence then does fill the night As wills of steel clash in impasse The air grows dense, on edge of fight Then Royal voice, as soft as glass "Never you have you played me fair Command that you deny your love I could, and yet, I am aware That would destroy my soul thereof" "Know you best, my guiding light Because of this I tell you true That I shall be the acolyte To you, and you shall not rebuke" Smugness wafts now from the mare Who knows her better than herself At last she has in time ensnared An alicorn, yet not with death But instead with strings of red That binds more tight than any chain For though the path that Cozy treads Is not unique, forsooth, in vain Others tried to serve as well But Flurry saw their love was weak For they did not perceive what dwelled Within her mind, and heart so bleak Only Cozy understood Why Flurry did not want a church And only Cozy knew she would Be most deserving of that charge "I see too well, the flame is lit" A sigh from Flurry as she turns "Within your soul, you cannot quit But I can choose command to spurn" Smirking, Cozy strokes the cheek Of one she'd serve, and one she'd kiss "Obedience I do not seek My faith does not extend to this "But instead I always will Devote myself to serve your needs Above my own, for greater still Are you than I, in word and deed" With a sigh, and sorrowed smile Does Flurry take her lover's lips A kiss is shared, and all the while A princess does rewrite her scripts "Only you would find a way To disobedience define As loyalty to cause you pray For now I can't but make you mine" Argument dissolves in bliss As pleasure overwhelms them both Forget for now, enjoy the kiss For one day they shall test this troth XIII. Once again, the seasons pass On cusp of victory they stand But first does Cozy have one task She must complete before the grand Finale comes at last to claim The throne where they will both reside And when the spark ignites the flame So future come, the past elide But before that reckoning A final trip into the past As Cozy leads in trespassing And takes her love where die was cast Perfect was the day as planned A day of rest, where both enjoyed Together roaming ‘cross the land In carefree travels was the ploy After taking in the sights And then enjoying modest meal Of bread and wine, did Cozy lead Her love towards the doors concealed Gasped in outrage Flurry did When recognition lit her brain “Accursèd place that I do bid You leave behind this fount of pain” “Leave in body, long ago Did I, and yet, my soul had dwelled In part within these walls of woe Comes now the time my pain is quelled" Stolen key slips into lock And icy chill creeps up two spines The first to enter, slowly walks Into the prison so confined XIV. Once again within the cage Does Cozy beckon paramour To join her up atop the stage Where did begin a love so pure "Anger trapped me in this stone A cause to kill for kept me sane But now I do not live alone For you have shown me your domain" Bending knee, her faith renewed "My goddess true, I come to you In worship and in servitude To ask eternity that's due" Hidden box, beneath her wing Now opens up, to one in shock To see a perfect diamond ring Held close in hoof, that jeweled rock Glistening beneath the sun Portending naught but misery And Flurry, helpless, can not spurn The future queen’s cursed inquiry “Marry you, I can't refuse Your heart I did not mean to win But company of yours suffused These years of toil with joyous grins" Love's embrace in Death's cold shade As fates are sealed with just a kiss The celebration unafraid Lasts 'til the morn, and end of bliss
Third Canto: FaithView OnlineDevotion's EndThird Canto: FaithXV. Sound the wedding bells at once! On ev'ry corner, cry in joy! Beloved princess hath announced A union that all played coy For they always did agree That matrimony can't be staved Their love was obvious can be Now let the final trials be braved Cakes and dresses, line them up Measure twice, and then again Ensure there’s wine in ev’ry cup And music systems, watch that gain! Now the revellers arrive In droves to see the nuptials With gifts aplenty, commerce thrives And ev'ry room is booked in full Morning comes on day ordained A kiss as Flurry wakes her bride "I'll see you when it’s time to claim Reward for all our swallowed pride” “On the 'morrow we shall be United in the eyes of law There is naught else I wish for me Than moniker of ‘wife’ to call” With reply replete in love Does Cozy part from Flurry Heart Attendants ev’rywhere above Descend upon the two apart First the dress, of finest silk Sends shivers as it slides past wing And then the jewels; white as milk The pearls surround her neck in strings Next the preening, do hold still The pain will only last a skosh Then makeup too, applied with skill And finally, bouquet of rose Bride of Crystal, mise en scene Reception where they all await The princesses, who all are then Sequestered in the tower great Cold seeps into revelry As guests complain, a guard draws near To Cozy is delivery Of news most grim, sowing fear "Lost all contact have we now" He warns her as the ice creeps in "With all five princesses somehow And just outside the air grows thin" XVI. Frozen fractals lace the walls An icicles descend from high Beyond the doors, the wind does squall Unnaturally Nature cries "Take me to her room at once" Commands the next surviving heir She's led through halls in ice ensconced As Winter's touch corrupts the air At the doors, it's hard to breathe And Cozy tells the guards to leave With all her courage now unsheathed She calls to one who starts to grieve "Open up, my one true love! I know the patterns of your spell" So slowly, heav'ly, door does move And Cozy trots through blinding hail Storm now pulls her dress from clutch A string of pearls is wrenched away As howling wind and chilling touch Attempt this sacred bride to slay Calm asserts itself in time When Cozy finally tumbles out Into the eye of storm sublime And sees her lover free of doubt "Welcome, Cozy, to the end" Serenity exudes the mare As from above she does descend To grace the saviour too aware Of the horrors now unleashed "The princesses were no great match Surprise was all I had to pierce Defenses then at once dispatch "Foes for which we've sought for long To fell and start a golden age The throne to you alone belongs Your pride and anger now assuaged" Round the princess, chains of light Lock others in an icy cast Above the one who ended fight An orb of magic holds them fast "What of you, O Goddess cold?" Though power burned throughout the room The pegasus does stand so bold And questions she of finest plume "Victory, I see you've won And though this day was marked for us Commend I must this ploy you've spun To score this win without a fuss "But condemn your secrecy I also must, for I would fain Agree to yield to clemency On this, the day of our domain" "Sorry, truly, I do mourn The loss of greatest vow in life But better now than morrow's morn No mare should have to kill her wife" XVII. Silence reigned as Cozy balked "You surely cannot think that I Would raise a hoof to one who walked Beside me when I sought to flee "Now we rise and fall as one The throne we seize will seat but two" Around the mare, the blizzard spun A whirlwind trapping her into Icy death should she remain "Enough of this!" the princess screams A blade of ice she forged arcane Presented as was in the dream "Do your duty, servant mine! If you believe yourself are bless'd As acolyte of one divine Then drive this sword into my chest" In the maelstrom, silence reigns Except for tinkling as the blade Fell onto floor, 'til Cozy deigns To take the crown, so price is paid "Truly did I swear to serve A greater power than myself And for that vow, you do deserve To live, to love, the greatest wealth" "Useless then, you are to me" The air grows denser, colder now As power glows for her to see "If thou abandonest thy vow "Death shall set you free as well" Ice infects the wings of both As jagged shards make lungs to swell The chill finds bone, the mare does cough But she's made of sterner stuff In Tartarus, in stone, in flesh The ice cannot her fire snuff And so she takes up sword and leash "Cause you gave me, cause to live And cause to die for too, you see" The hooves do tremble, but she gives A smile to one who set her free Stunned by beauty so divine The princess watches as a mare Takes to the skies, with wings so fine And sheathes the blade with utmost care XVIII. Far and wide, a flash of light Illuminates the eve'ning sky Cacophony as all delight That Death the princesses deny! Question next that they do pose If wedding still will carry on A look of sadness, they disclose Festivities, their time is gone Somber is the mood that night As five do gather 'round a bed Where mortal mare for life does fight Against the wounds from which she bled Then it happens, as the spark Departs one mare forevermore A gasp of horror as her mark Does now fade out, and is no more Six to five, who all look up Disturbance in the stars they sense Relief as Aether uncorrupt Does beckon one to guide commence "Go to her," the Eldest says To one who tried to end her life With heavy heart and no delays The youngest leaves to see her wife Stars surround the one who gave Her life to save another's soul "Is this what sits beyond the grave Am I to wander without goal?" One of many lights transforms And takes the form of alicorn "My love, who braved the greatest storm I come to you, deserved of scorn “For we both can't but agree Was greatest sin that ever lived Corrupting faith did I to thee Forgiveness I implore you give” Sorrow plagues her as she kneels Before the one she has so wronged Upon her chin, a touch that heals From one who smiles with peace prolonged "Who among us have not erred? You gave me clemency from sin And now is judgment long deferred Delivered unto one who grins "For before the price I pay A chance to love did I receive To die for self, a most sad way To die for love, I do believe "Is better than to live with hate" A kiss then shared in astral sea As reconciliation sates The guilt that makes both want to flee "So is this the last goodbye?" Does Cozy ask with tear-filled eyes "When I am gone, will you still try To fight until your last demise?" Smiling, Flurry then replies "An end for most this would have been To strike a spell with sword of ice The blast did break your body then" Magic glows around them now "But in an act of sacrifice Did you prove true to be allowed An honour that I can't suffice" Transubstantiation starts As arcane forces now consume A mortal mare who did depart Too far before her time to bloom XIX. In the night, a star descends So bright that all can see as day Before the Crystal Heart it bends And lands in front, where dirges play From the light, a mare steps out With wings and horn, it's all too clear What she's become, there is no doubt The other princesses draw near Front and center, Flurry stands With horn aglow she then declares That privacy they do demand The spell is cast, away with flair In their chambers, much to say But first a hug, and tears to fall For many trials have come this day And many more, beyond recall "Worthy of the throne no more To you since I now have this horn" Though Cozy smiles, the dread is fore As she awaits her lover's scorn "Blind was I, right from the start" The guilt in Flurry's voice is strong "Though horn your sport, within your heart Does matter more than wings or prong "Always was it I alone That was unworthy of the throne For unlike those who are more grown I never earned this coat of down "You, however, like the ones Who came before, did sacrifice The Heart, the Stars, the Moon, the Sun Among the chosen you suffice "Only I was born as such And only I earned not my keep And so my anger was my crutch That cost your life, and so I reap "Seeds of hate that I did sow But you broke free and showed faith true And now to you that I should bow I doff my crown, to give to you" "Once again, I tell you this But selfishness did taint my vow" With utmost urgency they kiss "I wished to serve, so that somehow "You would choose me evermore" With that confession, both grow light As sins forgiven, scars they bore Begin to heal, so they take flight "Much to learn, of Faith and Love For both of us, a road so long Together shall we grow thereof As Hope will never cease Her song" Dance among the stars as one For reckoning has still to come As they account for lies they've spun And purge the darkness they succumbed But for now, their hope shines bright For they've found freedom in their faith Belief gives darkest minds the light To leave their pasts behind to waste
Coda: PeaceView OnlineDevotion's EndCoda: PeaceXX. Dawn breaks o'er walls of steel And arcane wires glowing faint The speakers floating high do peal With melodies of times more quaint Flying constructs high above A grassy hill that's lost to time Atop the mound, a flitting dove Descends on pair of graves begrimed "Here lies two devoted wives Who taught the world a better way And out of love did give their lives To guarantee a brighter day" Smiling softly by the stone A mare does poke her wife in jest "That epitaph has quite the tone Dramatic were we 'fore our rest" "True enough," her partner laughs "And truer still, that we did well To abdicate, and give the cuffs Of leadership with our farewell" "You were right, right from the start, That rule of alicorns must end But glad I am we did not part When time came for us to defend "Cause for which we long had strained" A gentle kiss, a reverie As past recalled, free of pain And princesses no more to see "Thankful am I that you made The sacrifice that I could not To save the world from my crusade Then did not leave me there to rot" "Debt was paid, on fateful day." Does Cozy softly say in turn "And I could never part my ways With such a beauty that I earned" Silence stretches 'cross the hill In quiet contemplation's shade Two alicorns, both standing still As twilight softly, gently fades "So another day begins” Says Flurry as she turns to leave “And much to do, in all this din Before we earn our sweet reprieve" “We have all the time we need To see the sights this city boasts And din, you say, as if indeed We came not for the concert most” “Concert, yes, but that’s tonight For now the streets play lesser fare” As Flurry turns her nose up high So Cozy giggles at her mare “More vacations we should take” The former pegasus replies “If I had known that death would make Us take up jobs as part of prize “Crown I never would have passed” At comment made does Flurry smile For she knows well they’ve both surpassed Their previous lives by many miles “Happiness in toil we’ve found” She says with one last look behind “But truer still our clocks our wound Too tightly still, for we might find “Peace at last if we would just Accept the rest that we have earned As other alicorns suggest Perhaps the next life we’ll have learned” “Years have we until this life Must then be doffed, and yet I doubt That I nor you, beloved wife Would spend a lifetime just passed out” “Maybe so, and yet I see My aunt so happy on the beach With drink in hoof, right by the sea” At this does Cozy then beseech "Do not use her as a guide As we both know that without toil Our minds would wither, and our pride Could not accept such lifestyles spoilt" "Truly," Flurry does concede "But let us not on future dwell When present we have both agreed Has much for us to do as well" Casting spells to hide their wings A pair of unicorns depart From monument to long-cut strings And sacrifices of the heart
