Holiday Paroleby libertydudeChaptersUnexpected VisitorSkate on ByEmpress of the North PoleSix Straight TruthsUnexpected Visitor“Hey Tirek!” Cozy Glow called. The little filly’s voice carried through the seemingly endless cavern around her. Only the shuffling papers in her hooves accompanied the call, the rest of which were strewn across her cage with little structure or order. While the blackness surrounding the filly seemed infinite, the rock-carved platform she and her cage sat on glowed a soft blue that illuminated the prison well enough. “Hey Tirek!” she called again. A faint form stirred in the cage beside hers. Both the cage and its inhabitant were larger than the filly herself, even if the latter was emaciated to the point of being more akin to a stickbug than a centaur. His body was a dim mixture of black and red, and his eyes sunk so deep into his skull that only pinpricks of flashing gold indicated he even had them. “What?” Tirek grumbled. “Happy Hearth’s Warming!” Cozy said. “And a lousy New Years to you too.” Tirek yawned and stretched his arms out as far as his cage allowed. “Don’t be such a grump! This is the time for holiday cheer!” “Well, pardon me if being in prison for all eternity dampens my enthusiasm.” “Wanna go over the Winter Wasteland Plan again? That one always cheers you up.” “You’ve got eighteen hundred million different plans, you prattling child! I’d be able to memorize more variations of snowflakes than any of your half-baked schemes!” Cozy huffed. “Well, a friend would’ve bothered to learn at least five of them.” “I am not your friend!” Tirek roared. Cozy shot toward the other side of her cage. For the first time since she'd arrived in Tartarus, she showed brief fear. “And a Lord like myself cannot be bothered to learn even a single one of your so-called plans. Whatever scheme you’ve cooked up in that undeveloped brain of yours is nothing compared to the years of strategy and planning I have-“ A strange hum filled the cavern, and both prisoners turned to the sound’s direction. From an area smaller than a grain of sand, a blue flame expanded outwards. The fire spread and opened into a circle of dark green. Thin beams of light rushed inward and outward of the emerald portal, the cerulean flame dancing around the borders like a torch. “Fantastic,” Tirek grumbled. “Another lecture from Luna. Will she never give us peace? I’m starting to miss that pink pony and her accursed singing.” “Don’t worry, Tirek!” Cozy squeaked. “I still have my ‘Corrupt Luna Back into Nightmare Moon, Become Her Acolytes, and Then Betray Her When She Least Expects It’ Plan in motion! I just need a few more meetings with her to implant the psycho-la-mogical triggers that will turn her evil and-“ “It’s psychological, you nitwit!” Tirek screamed. “And that plan is full of more holes than-“ A pony stepped through the portal and landed upon the rocky floor. While tall for a pony, the mare most assuredly wasn’t the Princess of the Night expected. Her dark purple fur contrasted against the blue walls of the prison, and her mane stood upright in a long Mohawk. A golden medallion hung around her neck that shimmered different yellows with each movement of her body. Her visage was hard; not quite a scowl filled her face, but something close. A broken horn sat atop her head and a thin scar traced down her right eye. Tirek looked at the mare in confusion, but Cozy Glow gaped in amazement. “It’s Tempest Shadow!” Cozy squealed. “Who?” Tirek said, eyes squinting. “Tempest! The Conqueror of Canterlot and the Mistress of Distress!” Cozy was practically dancing in her cage, her hooves smacking the papers into even more pandemonium. Tempest winced at the announcement, before her face edged back into its proper stoicism. “Don’t call me that,” she said in a low voice. Tirek sniffed the air, then said: “I’ve never absorbed her magic before. I never forget the taste when I’ve gotten it.” “Oh, you wouldn’t know her, Tirek!” Cozy said, bouncing around the cage. “She didn’t return to Equestria until after you came back, but when she did, she totally took down the Princesses and took over Equestria like a modern-day Neighpoleon!” Tirek scoffed. “Well, she seems to have replicated Neighpoleon’s final fate as well.” He motioned toward Tempest. “Come, Tempest Shadow. Join your fellow prisoners in the Hearth’s Warming festivities of annoyance and unending boredom.” “I’m not a prisoner,” Tempest said, chin thrust upward. “I’m here on behalf of the Princesses.” “Oh right,” Cozy sighed. “She became Twilight’s cheerleader instead of ruling Equestria, Tirek. Turns out she was just evil because she was sad or something.” Tirek slammed his hands against his cage bars. “May Luna’s Moon shatter into a million pieces! That infernal Princess is trying to pull the ‘Here’s What Reformation Does To a Mare’ Scheme! Well, you won’t get anywhere with me, Tempest!” Tirek crossed his arms and turned his back to the unicorn. “Swell, because I really don’t care about you, Tirek.” Tempest’s eyes shifted toward Cozy Glow. “I came for her.” “Me?” Cozy said. “Princess Luna asked me to release you on parole for this Hearth’s Warming. We leave now.” The horn atop her head crackled, and Cozy’s cage shuttered. The cage door swung open with a faint whine. Cozy looked from the open door to Tempest, her face filled with confusion. “Really? I can leave?” “For today,” Tempest said. “Luna has picked a location for you to have a…normal Hearth’s Warming. I’m going to be your chaperone to make sure you don’t get into trouble.” “Or make trouble,” Tirek grumbled under his breath. Cozy stepped out of her cage, her hooves gingerly touching the cold floor. “Where are you taking me?” “It’s a surprise,” Tempest said. Cozy’s eyes narrowed. “The cool kind or the uncool kind?” “The kind that gets you out of Tartarus for a few hours. If that’s not good enough, you’re welcome to return to your cage.” Tempest’s horn crackled, and a ghost of a smile filled her face. “I’m more than willing to help you.” For the second time that day, Cozy felt a twinge of fear. She gulped, then said: “Um, I’ll take the surprise. I mean, it’s Hearth’s Warming, so a surprise gift is expected, right?” “Smart filly,” Tempest said. Her horn’s crackles died down and she motioned toward the still-open portal. Cozy walked toward the blue-flamed circle, still wary of the tall unicorn staring down at her. Just as Cozy reached Tempest’s side, she grabbed the little filly. “Hey!” Cozy cried. She felt something go around her neck, then fell to the ground from Tempest’s grasp. Cozy looked down and saw a small silver medallion hanging from her neck. She grabbed at the metal, then shrieked. A flurry of orange sparks shot off the medallion and lit up the chamber. “A little something Luna gave me, just to make sure you stick around,” Tempest said coolly. She gestured toward her own metallic neckpiece. “The Magnetic Medallions are unbreakable in their bond, even from a thousand miles away. One flick of a hoof and…” She made said motion, and Cozy found herself hurtling toward Tempest. Her scream died by the time Tempest caught her, though the hard look Tempest gave her almost made the scream come back. “So don’t think about running.” She dropped Cozy to the floor and dusted her front hooves. “Or taking it off. You saw what happens if you try.” Cozy nodded, more out of reflex than genuine consideration of Tempest’s words. “What about me?” Tirek said, looking over his shoulder. “What about you?” Tempest said without a hint of interest. “If that infernal runt gets a holiday, why shouldn’t I?” “I’m sure Luna has a few reasons. Besides, I figured you’d like a few hours of peace and quiet.” “Hey!” Cozy said, pausing just before the portal’s threshold. “What’s that supposed to-?” The sentence died on her lips as Tempest gave her a light kick through the portal. Cozy disappeared into the ocean of green and blue, now rippling like a pond in the rain. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Tirek,” Tempest said coldly. She then hopped through the portal herself, which closed a split-second after her form jumped through. Silence once again reigned throughout Tartarus. Tirek gave a light chuckle. “The unicorn may be Luna’s stooge, but she’s right about one thing.” He settled himself down onto his cage floor and yawned. “A few hours of peace and quiet from that pesky filly is about the best Hearth’s Warming gift I could get.” “Ahhhhh!” Cozy screamed. The kaleidoscope of colors swirling by heightened her fear. Faster and faster they whirred until they all seemed to blend into one solid, indescribable blur. Then, as fast as it started, the haze fell away and Cozy found herself face-first in some snow. Tempest came out of the portal a second later, her hooves landing in the snow with a soft pffft. She looked down at the sprawled filly and chuckled. “Get up, Cozy Glow. You’re missing all the fun.” Cozy lifted her head, wiping away the snow on her face. She found herself staring at a large fairground bustling with activity. The various rides all spun and bounced with frenzied speed. Little fillies and colts dashed around the rides, laughing and screaming in delight. Behind the fair sat an entire range of mountains. In fact, the fair and the small town beside it were surrounded by tree-lined peaks. Grey clouds dumped snow everywhere the eye could see and hid the sky from sight. But even the clouds couldn’t contain the mountains, which pierced the snow-dispensers like a knife in butter. “Where are we?” Cozy said, still brushing snow off herself. “Treadwater,” Tempest said, staring out at the landscape. “A town in the Macintosh Moutains, far from anywhere important. Only thing of note is the lake it sits on: Lake Lundy. That, and its yearly Hearth’s Warming Festival, which you are going to attend.” “Wait, you took me out of Tartarus for an amusement park?!” Tempest shot a bemused smile. “Scared? Don’t worry, nopony will recognize you or I. The folks here are so isolated that not even Discord’s return reached them until two years later. And he was actually reformed by then.” “I’m not scared!” Cozy hollered. “I’m disappointed! I thought you were taking me back home, or to get a pardon from Princess Luna! Not some stupid Festival anypony could go to!” Tempest shrugged, her horn crackling again. “I can return you to Tartarus if you’d like…” “No!” Cozy screamed. She soothed the curls in her mane and gave a nervous chuckle. “I mean, we’re already here. Why not do something?” “Good call. Now, I don’t feel like taking you to a hospital for frostbite, so put these on.” She whipped out a blue wool cap and slapped it atop Cozy’s head. Before Cozy could even pull the cap above her eyes, Tempest wrapped a thick red and white-striped scarf around her neck. “Where’d you get those from?!” Cozy gagged, the scarf pulled a tad too tight around her throat. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Tempest said, smiling to herself. Cozy huffed, loosening the scarf and pulling her hat up. “Fine, whatever,” she grumbled. She began to stomp her way toward the Festival. “Let’s just go on some stupid rides and-“ Cozy’s words cut off as the scarf tightened around her throat again. She looked back, expecting to see the cloth caught on a nearby rock. Instead, she found Tempest grasping the cloth. Leaning down and maintaining her death grip upon the scarf, Tempest stared her dead in the eyes. “I’m going to tell you this once, Cozy: Don’t give me an attitude. I’m doing this as a favor to Luna, not the goodness of my heart. If you try my patience one too many times, I’m cutting this parole short and dragging you back to Tartarus pronto. Maybe I’ll even take that ‘Brainwash Luna into Evil’ Plot you had laying on your cage floor back to Luna herself.” Cozy’s eyes opened wide. Tempest chuckled. “You thought I didn’t notice that, huh? Well, I guarantee you Luna’s going to notice it if you push my buttons. And she’s a lot more creative with punishment than I am.” She let go of Cozy’s scarf and tied a silver scarf around her own neck. “Now, why don’t we go see what fun little things Treadwater has in store for us?” “S-Sure,” Cozy said, walking behind Tempest with a nervous step. The duo walked toward the ticket vendor about thirty yards in front of them. A small stallion with a grey beard and a green snowcap looked at them with a smile. “Howdy, folks!” he said. “You here for the Festival?” “Yes,” Tempest said. “Is it just you? Or is that filly who just zipped away with you too?” Without breaking eye contact with the vendor, Tempest reached up and tapped the Medallion. A golden glow emanated from the metal. “Aaaaaaaaaah!” a faint scream in the sky began. Closer and closer the holler came until Cozy burst through the clouds of falling snow, her own medallion glowing a soft grey. Faster and faster she seemed to fall to earth, before landing right on Tempest’s back. “The two of us,” Tempest said, a warm smile on her face. Author's Note Needed to have one scene of Cozy annoying Tirek. It just was required. Also, I needed Tempest to act scary in this first part. Cozy needed to know her travelling buddy wasn't a pushover. Skate on ByCozy stared at the passing rides with a disdainful face. Her body bobbed in time with Tempest’s walk, still glued to the unicorn’s back by the medallions. Nopony gave the duo or their glowing neckpieces even a passing glance. Gritting her teeth, Cozy grasped the silver token. Another sharp pain shot through her hooves, and sparks flew everywhere around her. A few passersby caught sight of the affair, but shrugged and moved on. Most assumed the little filly was just playing with fireworks or some magical Hearth’s Warming token that produced magical flashes. Tempest hid her amusement from the filly by facing forward. “I was going to ask you what you wanted to do first,” she said. “But since you’re deciding to make this little trip difficult, I’m going to pick our first activity.” “Swell,” Cozy muttered, flapping her hooves like they were on fire. The movement was doubly difficult, as the Medallion’s pull kept her barrel virtually glued to Tempest’s back and her limbs seemed to instinctively hold onto the unicorn. She let her hooves fall around Tempest’s midsection. Suddenly, Cozy’s face lit up. The Medallion around Tempest’s neck was just in reach from this position. Were she to slowly reach up from Tempest’s withers to the base of her neck… Inch by inch, Cozy shifted her front hooves up toward the bouncing medallion. She made sure the progression was gradual, unobtrusive to her appointed custodian. Tempest would assume the filly was just adjusting her hooves. One quick swipe and soon, Tirek wouldn’t be the only prisoner to escape Tartarus. The medallion swung just out of reach. Cozy inched herself forward another quarter inch. Just a little more, she thought. Then I can ditch this grump and- A final push forward, and the medallion fell into Cozy’s hoof. “YEOOOOOW!” The filly’s holler was accompanied by the sharp crackle of sparks. A miniature fireworks display went off under Tempest’s chin, yet the unicorn seemed unperturbed. She simply looked down at the last few embers falling off the Medallion, then back to her charge furiously blowing on her front hooves. She likewise caught notice of confused stares from the surrounding fair-goers. “Don’t mind us, everypony,” Tempest said in a cool, authoritative voice. “The little one is just learning why you don’t touch enchanted objects.” Tempest kept marching on, for she knew the explanation would do the trick. Ponies, in her experience, would accept an explanation without question if it were delivered with seeming honesty. Indeed, this perception proved correct as the few gawkers to the lightshow broke away and went on with their holiday. “Ripping-tooting-dad-gum-peevey-weevey!” Cozy cursed from behind. Tempest gave a soft tsk-tsk. “Such nasty language. My whole time as the Storm King’s commander, not one of my soldiers ever cursed that much.” “You put a protective spell on both medallions!” Cozy said through gritted teeth. “Technically, Luna did that. Though I’ll admit it was a good idea. You trying to swipe the Attractor Medallion was my first guess of what you’d do to escape.” Cozy sighed and let her legs fall around Tempest’s midsection again. “Well I guess that plan’s shot…” “Speaking of shots, let’s give ice skating a shot!” Tempest stopped and gestured ahead of her. Cozy looked up to see they’d stopped right at the edge of Lake Lundy. One whole side of the fairgrounds rode the coast of the frozen lake, which stretched out further than Cozy’s eyes could see. The snow added to the difficulty, though the snow-capped mountains on the other side of the lake could be faintly seen through the winter deluge. The only place that seemed unaffected by the oncoming snow was the lake itself. An immaculately clear surface shined up at the two ponies. Vague outlines of fish could be seen through the ice despite its thickness. The reason was soon clear to Cozy; a faint blue aura of magic hovered above the lake surface, dissipating the snow that would’ve otherwise covered the frozen water. This aura continued along the coast and a hundred yards out into the lake itself. Ponies in winter wear and ice skates filled the cleared area. Soft skrt-skrts from skates filled the whole area. The awe of the sight only grasped Cozy for a moment, for she soon stuck out her tongue. “Ice skating is silly!” she said. “Nonsense,” Tempest said, easing her way towards the skate rental stand on the lake’s edge. “It’ll do you good.” “I don’t know how to skate!” Cozy cried. “Then it’s time to learn.” She turned to the mare at the stall. “Two large skates and four small ones, please.” The turquoise mare nodded and produced the skates. Tempest picked them up and walked over to nearby benches. She gave the Attractor Medallion a tap, and Cozy flopped onto the snow. “Put on your skates,” Tempest said, not even looking at the filly struggling to get up. “A little heads-up next time, thank you!” the filly huffed. She hopped on the bench and looked at the little purple skates beside her. White laces looped around each other and gripped the skate’s main body. “Be sure to tighten the laces,” Tempest said, pulling her own hard. “Don’t want to lose a skate on the ice.” “Thank you, Commander Genius,” Cozy grumbled. After a few moments, the skates were nice and snug against her hooves. Tempest walked with just two skates on her back legs, her front legs providing adequate balance to her lithe form. Cozy, meanwhile, could not stop wobbling with every step she took. None of her hooves were free. “Could you c-carry me to the ice?” Cozy said, legs shaking. “Sure I could,” Tempest said. “But I’m not.” “Come on!” “The ice is ten feet away. Use that time to get used to the skates before you get on the ice.” “I’m going to fall!” “Probably. But better to do it on snow than on ice.” With that, Tempest took her first steps onto the ice. Pulling herself forward with her un-shoed front hooves, she took off. “That big, stupid…” Cozy looked down at her skates and sighed. No point in trying to take them off now, she thought. She’ll just find some other way to torture me. With that, Cozy took her first real step in the skates. Her front left leg wobbled like wet spaghetti. Her whole body seemed to shake as she desperately tried to keep her balance. Any second now, she expected to spill over and get yet another face full of snow. Yet her leg held. It still shook hard, but the skate’s blade penetrated deeply enough through the snow to keep her front half steady. Nervously, Cozy took another step forward, this time with her back right leg. Another horrible shake, but her balance still remained true. On and on this process continued, one step at a time. The shaking never truly stopped, but Cozy found that each new step brought firmer balance and made her body less tense. Her steadiness was no longer forced, but natural to her stance. Eventually, the snowy coast of the lake gave way to the lake itself. Cozy gave a relieved sigh. “Made it…” she panted. “Good!” Tempest’s voice called out. Cozy looked up to see the mare bee-lining straight for her from ten yards out. Unlike the rest of the ponies on the ice, Tempest was skating on only her back legs. Her front legs were behind her back, and she bent forward to keep her weight forward rather than directly over her feet. The result was a fierce speed that even Equestria’s most talented speed skaters would’ve been hard-pushed to defeat. Cozy Glow’s appreciation of the skill soon waned, however, for Tempest was speeding directly toward her. “Ach!” Cozy said. She brought her hooves up just as Tempest seemed ready to connect. Cozy felt herself yanked upwards and carried. She opened her eyes to see herself rushing along the ice, hovering above the surface. Tempest carried her with one front leg on her right side. Cozy’s skates were still high enough to not be touching the ice. “Now,” Tempest said over the rushing wind around them, “I’m going to pull you along the ice. Hold onto my tail with your teeth. You keep a good grip and maintain your balance, you’ll be just fine.” “O-Okay,” Cozy said, still gaping at the unicorn’s prestigious skill. “How did you get so good at this?” Tempest’s chuckle could be heard over the wind. “One of the Storm King’s requests was for Ice Troopers, just in case he needed to invade during winter. So I had to learn how to skate in case I needed to lead our army upon frozen ice, and, well…” She looked down at her shuffling back legs, cutting smoothly over the ice, and smiled. “…Practice makes perfect.” Her gaze wandered over to Cozy, still hanging from her leg. Instead of the dismissive scoff or bored expression she expected, Cozy’s face was filled with awe. “You mean…the Storm King made you learn to ice skate so you could take over the world for him?” Cozy said. There was a reverence to her tone that Tempest had only heard in foreign lands when the inhabitants talked about their hallowed gods. “Um…yeah,” Tempest said. Cozy started wiggling. “Put me down on the ice!” she squealed. “I need to learn how to be an Ice Trooper!” “That wasn’t really the point I was-“ “First, I shall conquer the ice! Then winter itself! Not even the Windigos will be free from my power! And then Equestria is mine! Mu-wa-ha-ha-ha!” Cozy Glow gave an ecstatic laugh that echoed across the ice. Tempest’s soft look hardened, and she donned a sardonic smile. “You want ice? You got it!” She kicked her back legs harder under her. At the same time, she dropped Cozy Glow with the skates pointing down at the ice. The impact left Cozy Glow sprawled upon the ice, skidding across the smooth surface. A few colts behind the duo laughed at the display and continued to do so as they passed. Cozy looked up to see Tempest skating around her. “You did that on purpose!” Cozy growled. “Yeah, I did,” Tempest said. “Because if I’m going to teach you how to ice skate, I want you to do it because it’s fun. Not because you could use it to take over the world.” “Fine,” Cozy said, wiggling herself back onto her hooves. “Fine, what?” “Fine, I will learn the art of ice skating for personal enjoyment, not personal ascension to supreme power.” Though her hard face remained, Tempest nodded. She turned her back to Cozy and flicked her dark rose tail. “Now bite onto my tail. And only my tail.” Cozy bared her teeth and chomped down onto the tail's end. “Mmph-kay,” Cozy grunted. Tempest immediately started going, and Cozy’s clutch on the tail seemed to be all that was keeping her steady. The ice below her battered against the skates’ blades, the latter of which seemed ready to snap at any second. But her grip on Tempest’s tail held firm, and the skates did not break. In fact, the momentum seemed to making them slide smoothly over the ice. Woah! Cozy thought. This is actually…kind of fun! Her eyes opened wide. She shook her head. No, no! she thought. First thoughts are on takeover, always! Fun comes later when- Her eyes grew even bigger. Tempest’s tail was no longer in her teeth! The unicorn skated ahead of Cozy by several feet, seemingly unaware that her passenger had lost her tow-line. “Tempest!” Cozy screamed. Her first instinct was to slow down, so she dug her skates into the ice. However, she soon realized the folly of this, for without the momentum to keep the blades cutting along, her balance began to wane. “Help!” Cozy cried out. Her hooves danced over the ice in desperate flailing. The blades stabbed for some kind of hold, but it was all in vain. Cozy would be flattened upon the ice in no time. Then, without warning, Cozy found herself pulled forward. Her dancing feet stiffened as they glided over the lake. The momentum restored her balance and she continued forward. Cozy’s confusion doubled as she saw the medallion around her neck started to glow once more. Looking up, she saw Tempest in front of her, skating backwards to look down at her. The Attractor Medallion glowed its amazing yellow hue. Tempest gave a wry smile. “Turns out this thing can actually help you.” She slid beside Cozy and kept her front legs on her back. “I’ll help you balance from here on out. Though you were actually doing pretty well by yourself.” “Really?” Cozy said. “Really. Though you could’ve just let go of my tail. You didn’t need to shake it.” Cozy gave a small grimace, then focused on the oncoming ice. Author's Note I really liked the idea of Tempest being able to ice skate, given how athletic she was in the movie, so I whipped up this scene as a way to demonstrate that. Empress of the North PoleThe rest of the duo’s skating session was remarkably untainted by incident. Tempest guided Cozy along for most of the period, only occasionally letting go and letting the filly skate on her own. These brief moments of independence proved fairly fruitful to Cozy. Her balance largely maintained, and she found the right rhythm to keep her momentum going. Only once did she seriously risk a fall, but Tempest quickly grabbed her and prevented the catastrophe. After their skating was done and the skates returned, the two set off into the fair. Tempest did lead at first, but Cozy always seemed to overtake her and dash toward a new excitement. The filly seemed to bounce around the fair like the festivities lay within a ginormous pinball machine. Each new attraction was a new fascination to be discovered and enjoyed. Finally, Cozy came to a stop at one particular attraction. The area in question was an open area flanked by other stands and vendors. About fifty feet by fifty feet, no vendor or carnie stood at the entrance to the place; indeed, nothing filled the place but snow covering the ground and the odd snowpony created by long-departed colts and fillies. Above the entrance was a limply hung banner that read: CREATIVE SNOW AREA ALL AGE-APPROPRIATE SNOW CREATIONS WELCOME PARENTAL ACCOMPANIMENT ENCOURAGED, BUT NOT REQUIRED “Golly!” Cozy said, zipping into the open space. “Nopony seems to be here but us!” Tempest stepped into the area, eyes scanning the whole place. “Indeed,” she said in her low voice. “Do you want to play here?” Cozy stuck her tongue out. “Playing is for silly fillies! I want to create!” Tempest flung her hoof out at the empty area. “Then create!” Cozy zipped over to the nearest batch of snow and got to work. The general forms of ponies began to take shape from the powder. Though there were no rocks or sticks to give them eyes or props, Cozy found ways to mold the snow so that the differing designs could be made out. For several minutes this process went on until six snowponies stood before Tempest. Three were colts and three were fillies, all around the same size as Cozy Glow and each with their own touch of individuality. One of the colts bore a dapper top hat molded atop his head. The most notable of the snowfillies bore a large Mohawk for a mane. “Taking inspiration from somepony?” Tempest’s voice tried to sound serious, but was unmistakably amused. Cozy gave a sheepish grin. “Um…” “Don’t worry, I’m not mad. Actually, I’m pretty impressed you managed to sculpt that much detail.” “Thanks! I learned to do it back home from my-“ Cozy’s mouth clamped shut and she turned away. “I mean, back at the Friendship School. You know, before I…” The words drifted off into the wind. “Okay,” Tempest said, breaking the quietude. “I understand.” Cozy nodded quickly and got back to her snow ponies. The touch-ups were unnecessary, but Tempest gave no protest. She simply watched Cozy Glow work until the amicable silence was broken by the filly’s contented sigh. “There!” she said, taking in her finished creations. “My Friendship Army is finished!” “Army?” Tempest said, eyebrow raised. “Um, I mean, uh….Friendship Squad. Yeah, Squad!” Cozy Glow said with a smile just a tad too wide. “Uh huh.” Tempest crossed her front hooves. “And just what does this Friendship Squad do?” “They, uh…spread friendship! With absolutely no usage of excessive force or for military objectives!” “That’s good. And what are their names?” “Names?” “Names. Surely you wouldn’t have so many friends without knowing their names.” “Um, I…I didn’t really think about that. They were meant to be just, you know…” “Soldiers?” “Yes.” Cozy’s eyes grew wide. “I mean, no! I mean, maybe in like a metaphorical sense, but not actual sol-!” “I know what you meant, Cozy.” Tempest’s face returned to its default hardness. “And what were these metaphorical soldiers and you going to do?” Another silence reigned among the Snow Creative Area. The jubilation of other guests around the Festival echoed over the wind. Tempest broke the vigil: “You were going to take over Equestria with them, weren’t you?” Cozy gesticulated with her hooves. “Well, not literally, but-“ “In your mind, right?” Cozy hemmed and hawed for a moment, before giving a defeated nod. Tempest sighed. “I should’ve known you had an ulterior motive.” “Tempest, I-“ “I go through all this trouble to give you a good time, and you’re still trying to take advantage of me.” “I…” Cozy felt smaller than she’d ever had before. “There’s only one thing left to do now…” Tempest growled. Cozy slammed her eyes shut. She knew the portal to Tartarus would open any second. If she was going to fall through that horrible passageway again, she wasn’t going to look at those terrible colors and- POW! Cozy tumbled backwards upon the snow. Her eyes shot open to blurred vision. She shook her head, causing snow to fall off her face. The image of Tempest looking at her, snowballs in her front hooves, greeted her. “I am not a mare to be trifled with, Cozy Glow,” Tempest said, tossing a snowball up and down in one hoof. “Your crimes of felony fibbing have earned you a spot on the Snowball Sandwich list.” She caught her tossed snowball and grinned. “And you look like a filly who wants seconds.” For a moment, Cozy didn’t move. The whole event was too fast, too unbalancing to grasp in a split-second. Only perplexion filled the little filly’s face, her blue curls bobbing the last bit of snow off the top of her head. Then, Cozy gave a fiendish grin. “I declare war on Commander Tempest, General of the Snowball Alliance!” she hollered. Tempest gave an equally menacing sneer. “And I declare war on Empress Cozy, War-Mistress of Tomfoolery!” At these declarations, both ponies zipped sideways from each other. Cozy quickly gathered up the necessary snowballs and launched her barrage at Tempest. The unicorn moved too fast, however, and the balls whiffed harmlessly overhead. “Stay still!” Cozy called, dashing away from Tempest’s own onslaught. “Never!” Tempest said, smiling. “No rest until total victory!” “Then eat snow!” Cozy gave another snowball a heave, but the toss was thrown with a limp wrist and little power. But its intention of making Tempest duck was successful. With this temporary reprieve, Cozy zipped along the ground and packed the snow into balls. So swift was her flight that Tempest had barely straightened before she saw Cozy flying overhead with a dozen snowballs in her grasp. The filly gave a maniacal grin, her wings flapping furiously. “Snow drop!” Immediately, all the snowballs fell from her hooves down toward Tempest. “Aaaaaagh!” Tempest screamed as the payload struck home. A puff of snow filled a twenty foot area around where Tempest had once stood. “Ha ha!” Cozy laughed, landing close to the blast zone. “I win!” Her laughs soon died down, for the pile where Tempest had been remained unmoving for several seconds. More and more snow poured from the sky and seemed to build an even bigger heap than before. “Tempest?” Cozy Glow said. She took a nervous step forward. “You okay?” No response came from the unmoving mound. “Tempest?” Cozy repeated. She trotted over to the mound. “Can you hear-?” “Raaaah!” The mound burst into a hundred pieces as Tempest shot out. Cozy didn’t even have time to react before the unicorn had grabbed her and wrestled her to the ground. “The Snow Alliance shall triumph!” Tempest mightily proclaimed, her back hoof perched upon Cozy’s belly and her front hooves posted on her hips in a heroic stance. Far from the fear Cozy had previously shown, the filly let out an ear-piercing giggle. So heavy was her laughter that her whole body convulsed upon the ground. Tempest looked down at her, grinning. “Do you surrender, Empress? Or do you need another Snowy Bushwhack?” “I give up!” the little filly laughed. “I give up!” Author's Note I thought about deleting this scene, but I felt it was needed to show both Tempest as able to be a goofball and the carefree little girl Cozy Glow must've been at one point. It's the first real moment they're on the same page. Also, the chapter title is a play on the movie Emperor of the North Pole. It's about a hobo played by Lee Marvin and a conductor played by Ernest Borgnine fighting over a train. One of the manliest movies of all time. Six Straight TruthsThe rest of the day seemed like a hazy dream. Part of this came from the change in the snowfall, which went from a constant downpour to a softer powder. This milder weather held seemingly endless snowflakes that shimmered in the sunlight. The effect made the entire Hearth’s Warming Festival sparkle. To what degree this change in weather affected Cozy and Tempest’s moods was indiscernible. What was noticeable was the vigor Cozy Glow seemed to approach each and every stand that she came across. Food vendors for snowcones and funnel cakes got a good amount of her attention, though she did eventually ask Tempest for something a tad more filling in the form of a hayburger. Tempest made no disapproving glares or scoffs at these requests, merely producing the necessary bits for the thankful vendors and looking on as Cozy gorged herself on the treats. The game stands likewise earned Cozy’s attention. Slovenly carnies barked their challenges to the crowd, each with more arrogance than the last. Tempest merely rolled her eyes at the boasts, but Cozy Glow seemed to light up at each dare and rush forward. The Snowy Slingshot game was her first attempt. A simplistic firing game, the goal was to use a snowball slingshot to knock over a group of evergreen trees dashing across the opposite wall. Cozy played three times before she managed to finally land a hit, but the filly gave no indication of frustration. Instead, she bounced back over to the watching Tempest and squealed her delight. “Very good,” Tempest said. “You might become a Snow Empress yet.” “Thanks!” Cozy said giddily. A multitude of other games soon followed, each eliciting a similar feeling of joy from the ever-more energetic filly. But the vigor started to fade the more the sun settled toward the horizon. Each new activity seemed more like a chore, and the unmistakable expression of drowsiness began to fill Cozy's drooping eyes. “Want to go on one of the rides?” Tempest asked. “That might wake you up.” “Not really,” Cozy said, stifling a yawn. “I don’t like fast rides.” “What about the Ferris Wheel?” Tempest pointed toward the center of the Festival grounds, where the circulating structure turned at a leisurely pace. Yellow cars hung and bobbed from the ever-rotating circular frame. “Okay,” Cozy said. “It’d be nice to sit down for a bit anyway.” Tempest led the way, Cozy half-stumbling through the snow to follow. They came to the Wheel and its operator, a thin stallion with a goatee and a long blonde mane. He sat at a little podium with his front hooves grasping both sides of the stand. “You and the little one going for a ride?” he said. “Yes,” Tempest said, tossing him the necessary bits. “Hard day. Need to sit down.” “I understand,” he said. He flipped a switch and the Wheel stopped. “Working all day can be hard work, but having fun all day can be even harder.” He winked at Cozy Glow. “Know what I mean?” “Um…yeah,” Cozy said, stepping uneasily past him into the waiting compartment. Tempest followed and the two sat down. It was then that both Cozy and Tempest noted the strong metal wires lining the car. The top and bottom of the car was merely yellow plastic, but the open-air middle section was choked by chain-links that stretched from top to bottom. Only insects would’ve been able to squeeze through the spaces left. “Sorry the car’s all boxed up,” the operator said. “They were open for several years, but we kept getting a bunch of pegasi colts who dodged the fee by just flying into the cars. You can see the view just fine though.” “That’s alright,” Tempest said. “We’re not claustrophobic.” “Good,” he said. He shut the door, whose thin windows shook with the impact. “Have a fun ride!” he called, breath fogging the glass. A moment later, the car groaned and began to lift upward. Cozy looked out the window to see the Festival stretched out in all its glory. The shimmering snowflakes filled every inch of what she could see, and the added light of the rides seemed to make the twinkles ever more brilliant. So enveloped was Cozy that she didn’t feel the pressure pulling against her neck until it was too late. She looked down and gasped. The Medallion was gone. Cozy looked across the car to Tempest, who held both Medallions in her hoof. “I figured you’ve been good enough to get this off,” Tempest said. A small grin sat on her face, and she twirled the Medallions in her hoof. “Oh…okay,” Cozy said. “Besides, you’re not going anywhere.” “Because the car’s all chained up?” Tempest cocked her head. “Is that why you think I did it?” “Yeah.” Tempest chuckled. “You’re right. The second we get out, you’re putting it back on.” Cozy huffed. “I should’ve known you still wouldn’t trust me.” “Should I?” “Yes! I mean, I only tried to escape three times today!” “Only three?” “Yes! If I really wanted to escape, I would’ve kept trying all day!” Tempest shrugged. “Maybe you were biding your time. Maybe you were trying to butter me up to get me to drop my guard. Maybe you swiped a magical chisel to work on your cage in Tartarus.” “No, I-!” Cozy turned away, looking back at the open countryside. “I was just having fun. I mean, I thought about escaping for that first hour or so, but…” She gave a mighty sigh. “I started having such a good time that I forgot all about escaping.” “Forgot, or just didn’t want to anymore?” Cozy stayed silent for several moments. The fair echoed its merriment as the Wheel passed near the ground again. “It doesn’t matter,” Cozy said, sitting down and crossing her front legs. “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you the truth.” To Cozy’s surprise, Tempest didn’t react in shock or anger. Instead, the unicorn crossed her own front hooves and stared defiantly. “There might be a way to convince me,” Tempest said. She had that wry smile on her face again, and Cozy couldn’t help but shiver at the gesture. “Yeah? How?” “We play a little game. Just like the ones you were playing down there.” Cozy unfolded her hooves. “What kind of game?” “It’s called Three Truths in a Row. You’ve know Truth or Dare, right?” Cozy nodded. “Well, the game we’re going to play is like that, only there’s no Dares. Only Truths.” Cozy furrowed her brow. “What’s the catch?” “The catch is that both of us have to tell three truths in a row. We ask the questions to each other, and you have to answer no matter how awkward the question is. If one of us lies or refuses to answer, we have to start all over again.” “How will we know if the other is lying?” “We’ll know,” Tempest said. Her eyes gleamed with a wolfish intensity. “So…first pony to tell three truths in a row wins?” “Normally, yes. This time, however, we’re going to do a Perfect Run. That’s when the game isn’t over until both of us have told three straight truths. So I guess you could call it Six Truths in a Row.” “Is there a prize?” That sharp gleam filled Tempest’s eyes once more, and Cozy couldn’t hide her nervous gulp. “Yes. If I win, you put that Medallion back on and I take you back to Tartarus. No screaming, no crying, no escapes. If you win…” Her eyes wandered to the shut door of the car. “If you win, I open this door and let you escape.” Cozy stared at Tempest like something was growing on her face. “You’re…you’re serious?” “As a Yak playing a Yovidaphone.” Cozy shuffled in her seat. Her face locked into a pondering trance for several seconds. Tempest stared at her with unblinking eyes. The Wheel turned them round and round all the while. “Okay,” Cozy finally said. “I go first though.” “Sure,” Tempest said, leaning back on her seat. “Have you ever…?” Cozy’s face filled with a devilish smirk. “Have you ever kissed a stallion?” “Yes,” Tempest said without hesitation. “Several.” "Oh..." Tempest chuckled at Cozy’s consternation. “You’re not going to embarrass me that easily, little one. My turn.” She leaned forward. “What’s your favorite food?” Cozy’s face filled with even more confusion. “Um…waffles, I guess.” Tempest nodded. “Now me. Do you miss being a Commander?” “Sometimes. Power is a nice thing to have and a lousy thing to lose.” Tempest shrugged. “But it’s better some ponies don’t have it.” “Hmm,” Cozy murmured. “What’s the highest you’ve ever flown?” “Uh, about five thousand feet. It was somewhere outside Ponyville.” “Very cool.” “Last question. Um…do you want to be my friend?” Tempest leaned back into her seat and took a deep breath. The wind rushed by them while the Wheel turned upwards once more. “Depends on what kind of friend you mean. Do you mean a friend like the ones you made at the Friendship School? The ones you manipulated in order to become Empress of Friendship?” Cozy looked away. Tempest leaned forward. “Or do you mean an actual friend? One you care about because you can and want to?” Cozy scratched the back of her head. “I had a lot of fun today.” “Answer the question.” “You were a big part of it, okay? I appreciate all-” “Answer.” “I don’t…” Cozy sagged into her seat. “I don’t know.” Tempest shook her head. “That’s a lie. It wasn’t your question though, so we don’t have to start over. Ask me another.” Cozy looked at Tempest. Her face twisted into disgusted anger. “Were you always a big meanie?” “No,” Tempest said. “I was a happy little filly until I ran into an Ursa Minor. Then I lost my horn and my friends abandoned me. Hard to come out of that with a sunny personality.” Cozy scoffed. “I can’t believe I used to look up to you. You were never a cool conqueror. You were just a sad sack compensating for a lost horn.” “And what’s your excuse, girlie? Lose your puppy? Get mad at your mommy and daddy and run away?” “It doesn’t matter.” Tempest smacked her hooves together. “Now that’s a lie. We’re starting over.” Cozy slammed her hooves on her lap. “I don’t want to play anymore!” “Tough. Next question: Where are you from?” “Tartarus.” “Your actual home.” “Some small town. I don’t remember the name.” Tempest stared long and hard. “Alright. You’re lying about the name, but you did come from a small town. I’ll let you slide with that one.” Cozy sneered. “My turn. All those stallions you kissed. Did they leave you because you were the biggest jerk in the world?” If there was any emotion detectible upon Tempest's face, she hid it well. “No, Cozy, they didn’t leave me. I left them because I was such a…what did you call me? A sad sack.” Cozy huffed. “Figures.” “What made you go to the Friendship School?” “Because I wanted to learn about Friendship.” “Don’t be a smart aleck. Little fillies like you would have regular school or parents or somepony to keep them occupied. Why did you really go to the school?” “I…I wasn’t wanted anymore. Where I was originally, I mean.” Tempest nodded. “I suspected something like that.” Cozy crossed her arms. “Now it’s my turn. Do you feel bad about all the ponies you hurt? When you were in the Storm King’s Army?” “Who said it was just ponies?” Tempest waited a few moments for a laugh that never came. “Yes, I feel bad about it. And I’m trying to fix it however I can. Maybe it won’t ever be enough for the creatures I’ve hurt, but I’m still going to try." She gave a small wave of her hoof. "That’s all you can do.” Tempest looked off at the fair still bustling below. “What was your favorite part about today?” Cozy stared off at the distant mountains. “Dunno. The snowball fight, I guess.” She shot a look toward Tempest. “Final question: Why did Luna send you to do this?” “She didn’t.” Cozy’s eyes shot open. “At least, not entirely. I wasn’t lying when I said I owed Luna a favor. I did turn her into a statue for a while. And she was the one who gave me the Medallions and opened the portal to Tartarus. But it was me who thought of taking you here. Giving you a regular Hearth’s Warming for once.” “Why?” Tempest wagged her hoof. “That’s another question.” “Just tell me, Tempest! Please...” Tempest smiled. “Because I saw a little bit of myself in you, Cozy.” The filly stared at her in confusion. “Think about it. Little filly lost in the world, angry at something they can’t control. Unloved, or at least thinking they aren’t loved. Starting a campaign to take over Equestria because they think they’ll get what they always wanted if they do.” Tempest put her hooves behind her head and closed her eyes. “That’s why, Cozy. Because I think whatever it is that’s missing from your life, whatever’s driving this whole ‘Take Over Equestria’ mindset you got, it’s not something you need to keep. You can have friends who care about you for who you are. Not the power you offer, but just you. You, Cozy Glow, the goofy little filly who builds the greatest snowponies in Equestria and is learning to ice skate.” She opened her eyes and looked at Cozy. “That’s the pony I wouldn’t mind being friends with.” Cozy looked down at the floor. Her lips were pursed and her hooves fidgeted with her scarf. The Wheel stopped for a moment, their car directly at the top. Passengers below swapped with new riders. THUNK! The car door sat open. Tempest’s hoof kept it from sliding shut. “We both answered all three of our questions truthfully. You’re free to go.” Cozy stepped toward the open door. The entire Festival and wilderness stretched out before her. Her wings buzzed instinctually when the wind hit her body, practically begging her to take off. “One more question,” Cozy whispered. “Mmm?” Tempest said, lounging. “If I stay and go back to Tartarus…would you take me here again next Hearth’s Warming?” Tempest stared long and hard at the little filly. Her lips opened and shut like words were supposed to come out. Below them, the operator closed the door for the new riders. “Yes,” she finally said. Cozy shot toward the unicorn. Wrapping her arms around her neck, Cozy dug herself into Tempest’s fur. So fast was her dash that Tempest’s leg pulled back and let the door slide shut. “Then I’ll stay!” she cried. “I’ll stay in Tartarus if that means I'll have you!” Her tears were already streaming down her face. Tempest wrapped the filly in her own hug and patted her back. “It’s alright, Cozy.” “Visit me every Heath’s Warming!” Cozy bawled. “Every holiday you can!” “Yes,” Tempest said soothingly. “I will.” “Thank you! Thank…” The words devolved into incomprehensible sobs and sputters. Tempest continued patting the filly’s back, rocking her back and forth in a firm rhythm. She remained there in the car until the sun was set and the Festival ebbed as the other visitors began to leave. Then, when the filly in her arms began to breathe the deep gasps of sleep, and the Festival glowed with unmatched beauty, she signaled to the operator for their ride to end. Author's Note Sometimes love really is all you need.
Unexpected Visitor“Hey Tirek!” Cozy Glow called. The little filly’s voice carried through the seemingly endless cavern around her. Only the shuffling papers in her hooves accompanied the call, the rest of which were strewn across her cage with little structure or order. While the blackness surrounding the filly seemed infinite, the rock-carved platform she and her cage sat on glowed a soft blue that illuminated the prison well enough. “Hey Tirek!” she called again. A faint form stirred in the cage beside hers. Both the cage and its inhabitant were larger than the filly herself, even if the latter was emaciated to the point of being more akin to a stickbug than a centaur. His body was a dim mixture of black and red, and his eyes sunk so deep into his skull that only pinpricks of flashing gold indicated he even had them. “What?” Tirek grumbled. “Happy Hearth’s Warming!” Cozy said. “And a lousy New Years to you too.” Tirek yawned and stretched his arms out as far as his cage allowed. “Don’t be such a grump! This is the time for holiday cheer!” “Well, pardon me if being in prison for all eternity dampens my enthusiasm.” “Wanna go over the Winter Wasteland Plan again? That one always cheers you up.” “You’ve got eighteen hundred million different plans, you prattling child! I’d be able to memorize more variations of snowflakes than any of your half-baked schemes!” Cozy huffed. “Well, a friend would’ve bothered to learn at least five of them.” “I am not your friend!” Tirek roared. Cozy shot toward the other side of her cage. For the first time since she'd arrived in Tartarus, she showed brief fear. “And a Lord like myself cannot be bothered to learn even a single one of your so-called plans. Whatever scheme you’ve cooked up in that undeveloped brain of yours is nothing compared to the years of strategy and planning I have-“ A strange hum filled the cavern, and both prisoners turned to the sound’s direction. From an area smaller than a grain of sand, a blue flame expanded outwards. The fire spread and opened into a circle of dark green. Thin beams of light rushed inward and outward of the emerald portal, the cerulean flame dancing around the borders like a torch. “Fantastic,” Tirek grumbled. “Another lecture from Luna. Will she never give us peace? I’m starting to miss that pink pony and her accursed singing.” “Don’t worry, Tirek!” Cozy squeaked. “I still have my ‘Corrupt Luna Back into Nightmare Moon, Become Her Acolytes, and Then Betray Her When She Least Expects It’ Plan in motion! I just need a few more meetings with her to implant the psycho-la-mogical triggers that will turn her evil and-“ “It’s psychological, you nitwit!” Tirek screamed. “And that plan is full of more holes than-“ A pony stepped through the portal and landed upon the rocky floor. While tall for a pony, the mare most assuredly wasn’t the Princess of the Night expected. Her dark purple fur contrasted against the blue walls of the prison, and her mane stood upright in a long Mohawk. A golden medallion hung around her neck that shimmered different yellows with each movement of her body. Her visage was hard; not quite a scowl filled her face, but something close. A broken horn sat atop her head and a thin scar traced down her right eye. Tirek looked at the mare in confusion, but Cozy Glow gaped in amazement. “It’s Tempest Shadow!” Cozy squealed. “Who?” Tirek said, eyes squinting. “Tempest! The Conqueror of Canterlot and the Mistress of Distress!” Cozy was practically dancing in her cage, her hooves smacking the papers into even more pandemonium. Tempest winced at the announcement, before her face edged back into its proper stoicism. “Don’t call me that,” she said in a low voice. Tirek sniffed the air, then said: “I’ve never absorbed her magic before. I never forget the taste when I’ve gotten it.” “Oh, you wouldn’t know her, Tirek!” Cozy said, bouncing around the cage. “She didn’t return to Equestria until after you came back, but when she did, she totally took down the Princesses and took over Equestria like a modern-day Neighpoleon!” Tirek scoffed. “Well, she seems to have replicated Neighpoleon’s final fate as well.” He motioned toward Tempest. “Come, Tempest Shadow. Join your fellow prisoners in the Hearth’s Warming festivities of annoyance and unending boredom.” “I’m not a prisoner,” Tempest said, chin thrust upward. “I’m here on behalf of the Princesses.” “Oh right,” Cozy sighed. “She became Twilight’s cheerleader instead of ruling Equestria, Tirek. Turns out she was just evil because she was sad or something.” Tirek slammed his hands against his cage bars. “May Luna’s Moon shatter into a million pieces! That infernal Princess is trying to pull the ‘Here’s What Reformation Does To a Mare’ Scheme! Well, you won’t get anywhere with me, Tempest!” Tirek crossed his arms and turned his back to the unicorn. “Swell, because I really don’t care about you, Tirek.” Tempest’s eyes shifted toward Cozy Glow. “I came for her.” “Me?” Cozy said. “Princess Luna asked me to release you on parole for this Hearth’s Warming. We leave now.” The horn atop her head crackled, and Cozy’s cage shuttered. The cage door swung open with a faint whine. Cozy looked from the open door to Tempest, her face filled with confusion. “Really? I can leave?” “For today,” Tempest said. “Luna has picked a location for you to have a…normal Hearth’s Warming. I’m going to be your chaperone to make sure you don’t get into trouble.” “Or make trouble,” Tirek grumbled under his breath. Cozy stepped out of her cage, her hooves gingerly touching the cold floor. “Where are you taking me?” “It’s a surprise,” Tempest said. Cozy’s eyes narrowed. “The cool kind or the uncool kind?” “The kind that gets you out of Tartarus for a few hours. If that’s not good enough, you’re welcome to return to your cage.” Tempest’s horn crackled, and a ghost of a smile filled her face. “I’m more than willing to help you.” For the second time that day, Cozy felt a twinge of fear. She gulped, then said: “Um, I’ll take the surprise. I mean, it’s Hearth’s Warming, so a surprise gift is expected, right?” “Smart filly,” Tempest said. Her horn’s crackles died down and she motioned toward the still-open portal. Cozy walked toward the blue-flamed circle, still wary of the tall unicorn staring down at her. Just as Cozy reached Tempest’s side, she grabbed the little filly. “Hey!” Cozy cried. She felt something go around her neck, then fell to the ground from Tempest’s grasp. Cozy looked down and saw a small silver medallion hanging from her neck. She grabbed at the metal, then shrieked. A flurry of orange sparks shot off the medallion and lit up the chamber. “A little something Luna gave me, just to make sure you stick around,” Tempest said coolly. She gestured toward her own metallic neckpiece. “The Magnetic Medallions are unbreakable in their bond, even from a thousand miles away. One flick of a hoof and…” She made said motion, and Cozy found herself hurtling toward Tempest. Her scream died by the time Tempest caught her, though the hard look Tempest gave her almost made the scream come back. “So don’t think about running.” She dropped Cozy to the floor and dusted her front hooves. “Or taking it off. You saw what happens if you try.” Cozy nodded, more out of reflex than genuine consideration of Tempest’s words. “What about me?” Tirek said, looking over his shoulder. “What about you?” Tempest said without a hint of interest. “If that infernal runt gets a holiday, why shouldn’t I?” “I’m sure Luna has a few reasons. Besides, I figured you’d like a few hours of peace and quiet.” “Hey!” Cozy said, pausing just before the portal’s threshold. “What’s that supposed to-?” The sentence died on her lips as Tempest gave her a light kick through the portal. Cozy disappeared into the ocean of green and blue, now rippling like a pond in the rain. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Tirek,” Tempest said coldly. She then hopped through the portal herself, which closed a split-second after her form jumped through. Silence once again reigned throughout Tartarus. Tirek gave a light chuckle. “The unicorn may be Luna’s stooge, but she’s right about one thing.” He settled himself down onto his cage floor and yawned. “A few hours of peace and quiet from that pesky filly is about the best Hearth’s Warming gift I could get.” “Ahhhhh!” Cozy screamed. The kaleidoscope of colors swirling by heightened her fear. Faster and faster they whirred until they all seemed to blend into one solid, indescribable blur. Then, as fast as it started, the haze fell away and Cozy found herself face-first in some snow. Tempest came out of the portal a second later, her hooves landing in the snow with a soft pffft. She looked down at the sprawled filly and chuckled. “Get up, Cozy Glow. You’re missing all the fun.” Cozy lifted her head, wiping away the snow on her face. She found herself staring at a large fairground bustling with activity. The various rides all spun and bounced with frenzied speed. Little fillies and colts dashed around the rides, laughing and screaming in delight. Behind the fair sat an entire range of mountains. In fact, the fair and the small town beside it were surrounded by tree-lined peaks. Grey clouds dumped snow everywhere the eye could see and hid the sky from sight. But even the clouds couldn’t contain the mountains, which pierced the snow-dispensers like a knife in butter. “Where are we?” Cozy said, still brushing snow off herself. “Treadwater,” Tempest said, staring out at the landscape. “A town in the Macintosh Moutains, far from anywhere important. Only thing of note is the lake it sits on: Lake Lundy. That, and its yearly Hearth’s Warming Festival, which you are going to attend.” “Wait, you took me out of Tartarus for an amusement park?!” Tempest shot a bemused smile. “Scared? Don’t worry, nopony will recognize you or I. The folks here are so isolated that not even Discord’s return reached them until two years later. And he was actually reformed by then.” “I’m not scared!” Cozy hollered. “I’m disappointed! I thought you were taking me back home, or to get a pardon from Princess Luna! Not some stupid Festival anypony could go to!” Tempest shrugged, her horn crackling again. “I can return you to Tartarus if you’d like…” “No!” Cozy screamed. She soothed the curls in her mane and gave a nervous chuckle. “I mean, we’re already here. Why not do something?” “Good call. Now, I don’t feel like taking you to a hospital for frostbite, so put these on.” She whipped out a blue wool cap and slapped it atop Cozy’s head. Before Cozy could even pull the cap above her eyes, Tempest wrapped a thick red and white-striped scarf around her neck. “Where’d you get those from?!” Cozy gagged, the scarf pulled a tad too tight around her throat. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Tempest said, smiling to herself. Cozy huffed, loosening the scarf and pulling her hat up. “Fine, whatever,” she grumbled. She began to stomp her way toward the Festival. “Let’s just go on some stupid rides and-“ Cozy’s words cut off as the scarf tightened around her throat again. She looked back, expecting to see the cloth caught on a nearby rock. Instead, she found Tempest grasping the cloth. Leaning down and maintaining her death grip upon the scarf, Tempest stared her dead in the eyes. “I’m going to tell you this once, Cozy: Don’t give me an attitude. I’m doing this as a favor to Luna, not the goodness of my heart. If you try my patience one too many times, I’m cutting this parole short and dragging you back to Tartarus pronto. Maybe I’ll even take that ‘Brainwash Luna into Evil’ Plot you had laying on your cage floor back to Luna herself.” Cozy’s eyes opened wide. Tempest chuckled. “You thought I didn’t notice that, huh? Well, I guarantee you Luna’s going to notice it if you push my buttons. And she’s a lot more creative with punishment than I am.” She let go of Cozy’s scarf and tied a silver scarf around her own neck. “Now, why don’t we go see what fun little things Treadwater has in store for us?” “S-Sure,” Cozy said, walking behind Tempest with a nervous step. The duo walked toward the ticket vendor about thirty yards in front of them. A small stallion with a grey beard and a green snowcap looked at them with a smile. “Howdy, folks!” he said. “You here for the Festival?” “Yes,” Tempest said. “Is it just you? Or is that filly who just zipped away with you too?” Without breaking eye contact with the vendor, Tempest reached up and tapped the Medallion. A golden glow emanated from the metal. “Aaaaaaaaaah!” a faint scream in the sky began. Closer and closer the holler came until Cozy burst through the clouds of falling snow, her own medallion glowing a soft grey. Faster and faster she seemed to fall to earth, before landing right on Tempest’s back. “The two of us,” Tempest said, a warm smile on her face. Author's Note Needed to have one scene of Cozy annoying Tirek. It just was required. Also, I needed Tempest to act scary in this first part. Cozy needed to know her travelling buddy wasn't a pushover.
Skate on ByCozy stared at the passing rides with a disdainful face. Her body bobbed in time with Tempest’s walk, still glued to the unicorn’s back by the medallions. Nopony gave the duo or their glowing neckpieces even a passing glance. Gritting her teeth, Cozy grasped the silver token. Another sharp pain shot through her hooves, and sparks flew everywhere around her. A few passersby caught sight of the affair, but shrugged and moved on. Most assumed the little filly was just playing with fireworks or some magical Hearth’s Warming token that produced magical flashes. Tempest hid her amusement from the filly by facing forward. “I was going to ask you what you wanted to do first,” she said. “But since you’re deciding to make this little trip difficult, I’m going to pick our first activity.” “Swell,” Cozy muttered, flapping her hooves like they were on fire. The movement was doubly difficult, as the Medallion’s pull kept her barrel virtually glued to Tempest’s back and her limbs seemed to instinctively hold onto the unicorn. She let her hooves fall around Tempest’s midsection. Suddenly, Cozy’s face lit up. The Medallion around Tempest’s neck was just in reach from this position. Were she to slowly reach up from Tempest’s withers to the base of her neck… Inch by inch, Cozy shifted her front hooves up toward the bouncing medallion. She made sure the progression was gradual, unobtrusive to her appointed custodian. Tempest would assume the filly was just adjusting her hooves. One quick swipe and soon, Tirek wouldn’t be the only prisoner to escape Tartarus. The medallion swung just out of reach. Cozy inched herself forward another quarter inch. Just a little more, she thought. Then I can ditch this grump and- A final push forward, and the medallion fell into Cozy’s hoof. “YEOOOOOW!” The filly’s holler was accompanied by the sharp crackle of sparks. A miniature fireworks display went off under Tempest’s chin, yet the unicorn seemed unperturbed. She simply looked down at the last few embers falling off the Medallion, then back to her charge furiously blowing on her front hooves. She likewise caught notice of confused stares from the surrounding fair-goers. “Don’t mind us, everypony,” Tempest said in a cool, authoritative voice. “The little one is just learning why you don’t touch enchanted objects.” Tempest kept marching on, for she knew the explanation would do the trick. Ponies, in her experience, would accept an explanation without question if it were delivered with seeming honesty. Indeed, this perception proved correct as the few gawkers to the lightshow broke away and went on with their holiday. “Ripping-tooting-dad-gum-peevey-weevey!” Cozy cursed from behind. Tempest gave a soft tsk-tsk. “Such nasty language. My whole time as the Storm King’s commander, not one of my soldiers ever cursed that much.” “You put a protective spell on both medallions!” Cozy said through gritted teeth. “Technically, Luna did that. Though I’ll admit it was a good idea. You trying to swipe the Attractor Medallion was my first guess of what you’d do to escape.” Cozy sighed and let her legs fall around Tempest’s midsection again. “Well I guess that plan’s shot…” “Speaking of shots, let’s give ice skating a shot!” Tempest stopped and gestured ahead of her. Cozy looked up to see they’d stopped right at the edge of Lake Lundy. One whole side of the fairgrounds rode the coast of the frozen lake, which stretched out further than Cozy’s eyes could see. The snow added to the difficulty, though the snow-capped mountains on the other side of the lake could be faintly seen through the winter deluge. The only place that seemed unaffected by the oncoming snow was the lake itself. An immaculately clear surface shined up at the two ponies. Vague outlines of fish could be seen through the ice despite its thickness. The reason was soon clear to Cozy; a faint blue aura of magic hovered above the lake surface, dissipating the snow that would’ve otherwise covered the frozen water. This aura continued along the coast and a hundred yards out into the lake itself. Ponies in winter wear and ice skates filled the cleared area. Soft skrt-skrts from skates filled the whole area. The awe of the sight only grasped Cozy for a moment, for she soon stuck out her tongue. “Ice skating is silly!” she said. “Nonsense,” Tempest said, easing her way towards the skate rental stand on the lake’s edge. “It’ll do you good.” “I don’t know how to skate!” Cozy cried. “Then it’s time to learn.” She turned to the mare at the stall. “Two large skates and four small ones, please.” The turquoise mare nodded and produced the skates. Tempest picked them up and walked over to nearby benches. She gave the Attractor Medallion a tap, and Cozy flopped onto the snow. “Put on your skates,” Tempest said, not even looking at the filly struggling to get up. “A little heads-up next time, thank you!” the filly huffed. She hopped on the bench and looked at the little purple skates beside her. White laces looped around each other and gripped the skate’s main body. “Be sure to tighten the laces,” Tempest said, pulling her own hard. “Don’t want to lose a skate on the ice.” “Thank you, Commander Genius,” Cozy grumbled. After a few moments, the skates were nice and snug against her hooves. Tempest walked with just two skates on her back legs, her front legs providing adequate balance to her lithe form. Cozy, meanwhile, could not stop wobbling with every step she took. None of her hooves were free. “Could you c-carry me to the ice?” Cozy said, legs shaking. “Sure I could,” Tempest said. “But I’m not.” “Come on!” “The ice is ten feet away. Use that time to get used to the skates before you get on the ice.” “I’m going to fall!” “Probably. But better to do it on snow than on ice.” With that, Tempest took her first steps onto the ice. Pulling herself forward with her un-shoed front hooves, she took off. “That big, stupid…” Cozy looked down at her skates and sighed. No point in trying to take them off now, she thought. She’ll just find some other way to torture me. With that, Cozy took her first real step in the skates. Her front left leg wobbled like wet spaghetti. Her whole body seemed to shake as she desperately tried to keep her balance. Any second now, she expected to spill over and get yet another face full of snow. Yet her leg held. It still shook hard, but the skate’s blade penetrated deeply enough through the snow to keep her front half steady. Nervously, Cozy took another step forward, this time with her back right leg. Another horrible shake, but her balance still remained true. On and on this process continued, one step at a time. The shaking never truly stopped, but Cozy found that each new step brought firmer balance and made her body less tense. Her steadiness was no longer forced, but natural to her stance. Eventually, the snowy coast of the lake gave way to the lake itself. Cozy gave a relieved sigh. “Made it…” she panted. “Good!” Tempest’s voice called out. Cozy looked up to see the mare bee-lining straight for her from ten yards out. Unlike the rest of the ponies on the ice, Tempest was skating on only her back legs. Her front legs were behind her back, and she bent forward to keep her weight forward rather than directly over her feet. The result was a fierce speed that even Equestria’s most talented speed skaters would’ve been hard-pushed to defeat. Cozy Glow’s appreciation of the skill soon waned, however, for Tempest was speeding directly toward her. “Ach!” Cozy said. She brought her hooves up just as Tempest seemed ready to connect. Cozy felt herself yanked upwards and carried. She opened her eyes to see herself rushing along the ice, hovering above the surface. Tempest carried her with one front leg on her right side. Cozy’s skates were still high enough to not be touching the ice. “Now,” Tempest said over the rushing wind around them, “I’m going to pull you along the ice. Hold onto my tail with your teeth. You keep a good grip and maintain your balance, you’ll be just fine.” “O-Okay,” Cozy said, still gaping at the unicorn’s prestigious skill. “How did you get so good at this?” Tempest’s chuckle could be heard over the wind. “One of the Storm King’s requests was for Ice Troopers, just in case he needed to invade during winter. So I had to learn how to skate in case I needed to lead our army upon frozen ice, and, well…” She looked down at her shuffling back legs, cutting smoothly over the ice, and smiled. “…Practice makes perfect.” Her gaze wandered over to Cozy, still hanging from her leg. Instead of the dismissive scoff or bored expression she expected, Cozy’s face was filled with awe. “You mean…the Storm King made you learn to ice skate so you could take over the world for him?” Cozy said. There was a reverence to her tone that Tempest had only heard in foreign lands when the inhabitants talked about their hallowed gods. “Um…yeah,” Tempest said. Cozy started wiggling. “Put me down on the ice!” she squealed. “I need to learn how to be an Ice Trooper!” “That wasn’t really the point I was-“ “First, I shall conquer the ice! Then winter itself! Not even the Windigos will be free from my power! And then Equestria is mine! Mu-wa-ha-ha-ha!” Cozy Glow gave an ecstatic laugh that echoed across the ice. Tempest’s soft look hardened, and she donned a sardonic smile. “You want ice? You got it!” She kicked her back legs harder under her. At the same time, she dropped Cozy Glow with the skates pointing down at the ice. The impact left Cozy Glow sprawled upon the ice, skidding across the smooth surface. A few colts behind the duo laughed at the display and continued to do so as they passed. Cozy looked up to see Tempest skating around her. “You did that on purpose!” Cozy growled. “Yeah, I did,” Tempest said. “Because if I’m going to teach you how to ice skate, I want you to do it because it’s fun. Not because you could use it to take over the world.” “Fine,” Cozy said, wiggling herself back onto her hooves. “Fine, what?” “Fine, I will learn the art of ice skating for personal enjoyment, not personal ascension to supreme power.” Though her hard face remained, Tempest nodded. She turned her back to Cozy and flicked her dark rose tail. “Now bite onto my tail. And only my tail.” Cozy bared her teeth and chomped down onto the tail's end. “Mmph-kay,” Cozy grunted. Tempest immediately started going, and Cozy’s clutch on the tail seemed to be all that was keeping her steady. The ice below her battered against the skates’ blades, the latter of which seemed ready to snap at any second. But her grip on Tempest’s tail held firm, and the skates did not break. In fact, the momentum seemed to making them slide smoothly over the ice. Woah! Cozy thought. This is actually…kind of fun! Her eyes opened wide. She shook her head. No, no! she thought. First thoughts are on takeover, always! Fun comes later when- Her eyes grew even bigger. Tempest’s tail was no longer in her teeth! The unicorn skated ahead of Cozy by several feet, seemingly unaware that her passenger had lost her tow-line. “Tempest!” Cozy screamed. Her first instinct was to slow down, so she dug her skates into the ice. However, she soon realized the folly of this, for without the momentum to keep the blades cutting along, her balance began to wane. “Help!” Cozy cried out. Her hooves danced over the ice in desperate flailing. The blades stabbed for some kind of hold, but it was all in vain. Cozy would be flattened upon the ice in no time. Then, without warning, Cozy found herself pulled forward. Her dancing feet stiffened as they glided over the lake. The momentum restored her balance and she continued forward. Cozy’s confusion doubled as she saw the medallion around her neck started to glow once more. Looking up, she saw Tempest in front of her, skating backwards to look down at her. The Attractor Medallion glowed its amazing yellow hue. Tempest gave a wry smile. “Turns out this thing can actually help you.” She slid beside Cozy and kept her front legs on her back. “I’ll help you balance from here on out. Though you were actually doing pretty well by yourself.” “Really?” Cozy said. “Really. Though you could’ve just let go of my tail. You didn’t need to shake it.” Cozy gave a small grimace, then focused on the oncoming ice. Author's Note I really liked the idea of Tempest being able to ice skate, given how athletic she was in the movie, so I whipped up this scene as a way to demonstrate that.
Empress of the North PoleThe rest of the duo’s skating session was remarkably untainted by incident. Tempest guided Cozy along for most of the period, only occasionally letting go and letting the filly skate on her own. These brief moments of independence proved fairly fruitful to Cozy. Her balance largely maintained, and she found the right rhythm to keep her momentum going. Only once did she seriously risk a fall, but Tempest quickly grabbed her and prevented the catastrophe. After their skating was done and the skates returned, the two set off into the fair. Tempest did lead at first, but Cozy always seemed to overtake her and dash toward a new excitement. The filly seemed to bounce around the fair like the festivities lay within a ginormous pinball machine. Each new attraction was a new fascination to be discovered and enjoyed. Finally, Cozy came to a stop at one particular attraction. The area in question was an open area flanked by other stands and vendors. About fifty feet by fifty feet, no vendor or carnie stood at the entrance to the place; indeed, nothing filled the place but snow covering the ground and the odd snowpony created by long-departed colts and fillies. Above the entrance was a limply hung banner that read: CREATIVE SNOW AREA ALL AGE-APPROPRIATE SNOW CREATIONS WELCOME PARENTAL ACCOMPANIMENT ENCOURAGED, BUT NOT REQUIRED “Golly!” Cozy said, zipping into the open space. “Nopony seems to be here but us!” Tempest stepped into the area, eyes scanning the whole place. “Indeed,” she said in her low voice. “Do you want to play here?” Cozy stuck her tongue out. “Playing is for silly fillies! I want to create!” Tempest flung her hoof out at the empty area. “Then create!” Cozy zipped over to the nearest batch of snow and got to work. The general forms of ponies began to take shape from the powder. Though there were no rocks or sticks to give them eyes or props, Cozy found ways to mold the snow so that the differing designs could be made out. For several minutes this process went on until six snowponies stood before Tempest. Three were colts and three were fillies, all around the same size as Cozy Glow and each with their own touch of individuality. One of the colts bore a dapper top hat molded atop his head. The most notable of the snowfillies bore a large Mohawk for a mane. “Taking inspiration from somepony?” Tempest’s voice tried to sound serious, but was unmistakably amused. Cozy gave a sheepish grin. “Um…” “Don’t worry, I’m not mad. Actually, I’m pretty impressed you managed to sculpt that much detail.” “Thanks! I learned to do it back home from my-“ Cozy’s mouth clamped shut and she turned away. “I mean, back at the Friendship School. You know, before I…” The words drifted off into the wind. “Okay,” Tempest said, breaking the quietude. “I understand.” Cozy nodded quickly and got back to her snow ponies. The touch-ups were unnecessary, but Tempest gave no protest. She simply watched Cozy Glow work until the amicable silence was broken by the filly’s contented sigh. “There!” she said, taking in her finished creations. “My Friendship Army is finished!” “Army?” Tempest said, eyebrow raised. “Um, I mean, uh….Friendship Squad. Yeah, Squad!” Cozy Glow said with a smile just a tad too wide. “Uh huh.” Tempest crossed her front hooves. “And just what does this Friendship Squad do?” “They, uh…spread friendship! With absolutely no usage of excessive force or for military objectives!” “That’s good. And what are their names?” “Names?” “Names. Surely you wouldn’t have so many friends without knowing their names.” “Um, I…I didn’t really think about that. They were meant to be just, you know…” “Soldiers?” “Yes.” Cozy’s eyes grew wide. “I mean, no! I mean, maybe in like a metaphorical sense, but not actual sol-!” “I know what you meant, Cozy.” Tempest’s face returned to its default hardness. “And what were these metaphorical soldiers and you going to do?” Another silence reigned among the Snow Creative Area. The jubilation of other guests around the Festival echoed over the wind. Tempest broke the vigil: “You were going to take over Equestria with them, weren’t you?” Cozy gesticulated with her hooves. “Well, not literally, but-“ “In your mind, right?” Cozy hemmed and hawed for a moment, before giving a defeated nod. Tempest sighed. “I should’ve known you had an ulterior motive.” “Tempest, I-“ “I go through all this trouble to give you a good time, and you’re still trying to take advantage of me.” “I…” Cozy felt smaller than she’d ever had before. “There’s only one thing left to do now…” Tempest growled. Cozy slammed her eyes shut. She knew the portal to Tartarus would open any second. If she was going to fall through that horrible passageway again, she wasn’t going to look at those terrible colors and- POW! Cozy tumbled backwards upon the snow. Her eyes shot open to blurred vision. She shook her head, causing snow to fall off her face. The image of Tempest looking at her, snowballs in her front hooves, greeted her. “I am not a mare to be trifled with, Cozy Glow,” Tempest said, tossing a snowball up and down in one hoof. “Your crimes of felony fibbing have earned you a spot on the Snowball Sandwich list.” She caught her tossed snowball and grinned. “And you look like a filly who wants seconds.” For a moment, Cozy didn’t move. The whole event was too fast, too unbalancing to grasp in a split-second. Only perplexion filled the little filly’s face, her blue curls bobbing the last bit of snow off the top of her head. Then, Cozy gave a fiendish grin. “I declare war on Commander Tempest, General of the Snowball Alliance!” she hollered. Tempest gave an equally menacing sneer. “And I declare war on Empress Cozy, War-Mistress of Tomfoolery!” At these declarations, both ponies zipped sideways from each other. Cozy quickly gathered up the necessary snowballs and launched her barrage at Tempest. The unicorn moved too fast, however, and the balls whiffed harmlessly overhead. “Stay still!” Cozy called, dashing away from Tempest’s own onslaught. “Never!” Tempest said, smiling. “No rest until total victory!” “Then eat snow!” Cozy gave another snowball a heave, but the toss was thrown with a limp wrist and little power. But its intention of making Tempest duck was successful. With this temporary reprieve, Cozy zipped along the ground and packed the snow into balls. So swift was her flight that Tempest had barely straightened before she saw Cozy flying overhead with a dozen snowballs in her grasp. The filly gave a maniacal grin, her wings flapping furiously. “Snow drop!” Immediately, all the snowballs fell from her hooves down toward Tempest. “Aaaaaagh!” Tempest screamed as the payload struck home. A puff of snow filled a twenty foot area around where Tempest had once stood. “Ha ha!” Cozy laughed, landing close to the blast zone. “I win!” Her laughs soon died down, for the pile where Tempest had been remained unmoving for several seconds. More and more snow poured from the sky and seemed to build an even bigger heap than before. “Tempest?” Cozy Glow said. She took a nervous step forward. “You okay?” No response came from the unmoving mound. “Tempest?” Cozy repeated. She trotted over to the mound. “Can you hear-?” “Raaaah!” The mound burst into a hundred pieces as Tempest shot out. Cozy didn’t even have time to react before the unicorn had grabbed her and wrestled her to the ground. “The Snow Alliance shall triumph!” Tempest mightily proclaimed, her back hoof perched upon Cozy’s belly and her front hooves posted on her hips in a heroic stance. Far from the fear Cozy had previously shown, the filly let out an ear-piercing giggle. So heavy was her laughter that her whole body convulsed upon the ground. Tempest looked down at her, grinning. “Do you surrender, Empress? Or do you need another Snowy Bushwhack?” “I give up!” the little filly laughed. “I give up!” Author's Note I thought about deleting this scene, but I felt it was needed to show both Tempest as able to be a goofball and the carefree little girl Cozy Glow must've been at one point. It's the first real moment they're on the same page. Also, the chapter title is a play on the movie Emperor of the North Pole. It's about a hobo played by Lee Marvin and a conductor played by Ernest Borgnine fighting over a train. One of the manliest movies of all time.
Six Straight TruthsThe rest of the day seemed like a hazy dream. Part of this came from the change in the snowfall, which went from a constant downpour to a softer powder. This milder weather held seemingly endless snowflakes that shimmered in the sunlight. The effect made the entire Hearth’s Warming Festival sparkle. To what degree this change in weather affected Cozy and Tempest’s moods was indiscernible. What was noticeable was the vigor Cozy Glow seemed to approach each and every stand that she came across. Food vendors for snowcones and funnel cakes got a good amount of her attention, though she did eventually ask Tempest for something a tad more filling in the form of a hayburger. Tempest made no disapproving glares or scoffs at these requests, merely producing the necessary bits for the thankful vendors and looking on as Cozy gorged herself on the treats. The game stands likewise earned Cozy’s attention. Slovenly carnies barked their challenges to the crowd, each with more arrogance than the last. Tempest merely rolled her eyes at the boasts, but Cozy Glow seemed to light up at each dare and rush forward. The Snowy Slingshot game was her first attempt. A simplistic firing game, the goal was to use a snowball slingshot to knock over a group of evergreen trees dashing across the opposite wall. Cozy played three times before she managed to finally land a hit, but the filly gave no indication of frustration. Instead, she bounced back over to the watching Tempest and squealed her delight. “Very good,” Tempest said. “You might become a Snow Empress yet.” “Thanks!” Cozy said giddily. A multitude of other games soon followed, each eliciting a similar feeling of joy from the ever-more energetic filly. But the vigor started to fade the more the sun settled toward the horizon. Each new activity seemed more like a chore, and the unmistakable expression of drowsiness began to fill Cozy's drooping eyes. “Want to go on one of the rides?” Tempest asked. “That might wake you up.” “Not really,” Cozy said, stifling a yawn. “I don’t like fast rides.” “What about the Ferris Wheel?” Tempest pointed toward the center of the Festival grounds, where the circulating structure turned at a leisurely pace. Yellow cars hung and bobbed from the ever-rotating circular frame. “Okay,” Cozy said. “It’d be nice to sit down for a bit anyway.” Tempest led the way, Cozy half-stumbling through the snow to follow. They came to the Wheel and its operator, a thin stallion with a goatee and a long blonde mane. He sat at a little podium with his front hooves grasping both sides of the stand. “You and the little one going for a ride?” he said. “Yes,” Tempest said, tossing him the necessary bits. “Hard day. Need to sit down.” “I understand,” he said. He flipped a switch and the Wheel stopped. “Working all day can be hard work, but having fun all day can be even harder.” He winked at Cozy Glow. “Know what I mean?” “Um…yeah,” Cozy said, stepping uneasily past him into the waiting compartment. Tempest followed and the two sat down. It was then that both Cozy and Tempest noted the strong metal wires lining the car. The top and bottom of the car was merely yellow plastic, but the open-air middle section was choked by chain-links that stretched from top to bottom. Only insects would’ve been able to squeeze through the spaces left. “Sorry the car’s all boxed up,” the operator said. “They were open for several years, but we kept getting a bunch of pegasi colts who dodged the fee by just flying into the cars. You can see the view just fine though.” “That’s alright,” Tempest said. “We’re not claustrophobic.” “Good,” he said. He shut the door, whose thin windows shook with the impact. “Have a fun ride!” he called, breath fogging the glass. A moment later, the car groaned and began to lift upward. Cozy looked out the window to see the Festival stretched out in all its glory. The shimmering snowflakes filled every inch of what she could see, and the added light of the rides seemed to make the twinkles ever more brilliant. So enveloped was Cozy that she didn’t feel the pressure pulling against her neck until it was too late. She looked down and gasped. The Medallion was gone. Cozy looked across the car to Tempest, who held both Medallions in her hoof. “I figured you’ve been good enough to get this off,” Tempest said. A small grin sat on her face, and she twirled the Medallions in her hoof. “Oh…okay,” Cozy said. “Besides, you’re not going anywhere.” “Because the car’s all chained up?” Tempest cocked her head. “Is that why you think I did it?” “Yeah.” Tempest chuckled. “You’re right. The second we get out, you’re putting it back on.” Cozy huffed. “I should’ve known you still wouldn’t trust me.” “Should I?” “Yes! I mean, I only tried to escape three times today!” “Only three?” “Yes! If I really wanted to escape, I would’ve kept trying all day!” Tempest shrugged. “Maybe you were biding your time. Maybe you were trying to butter me up to get me to drop my guard. Maybe you swiped a magical chisel to work on your cage in Tartarus.” “No, I-!” Cozy turned away, looking back at the open countryside. “I was just having fun. I mean, I thought about escaping for that first hour or so, but…” She gave a mighty sigh. “I started having such a good time that I forgot all about escaping.” “Forgot, or just didn’t want to anymore?” Cozy stayed silent for several moments. The fair echoed its merriment as the Wheel passed near the ground again. “It doesn’t matter,” Cozy said, sitting down and crossing her front legs. “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you the truth.” To Cozy’s surprise, Tempest didn’t react in shock or anger. Instead, the unicorn crossed her own front hooves and stared defiantly. “There might be a way to convince me,” Tempest said. She had that wry smile on her face again, and Cozy couldn’t help but shiver at the gesture. “Yeah? How?” “We play a little game. Just like the ones you were playing down there.” Cozy unfolded her hooves. “What kind of game?” “It’s called Three Truths in a Row. You’ve know Truth or Dare, right?” Cozy nodded. “Well, the game we’re going to play is like that, only there’s no Dares. Only Truths.” Cozy furrowed her brow. “What’s the catch?” “The catch is that both of us have to tell three truths in a row. We ask the questions to each other, and you have to answer no matter how awkward the question is. If one of us lies or refuses to answer, we have to start all over again.” “How will we know if the other is lying?” “We’ll know,” Tempest said. Her eyes gleamed with a wolfish intensity. “So…first pony to tell three truths in a row wins?” “Normally, yes. This time, however, we’re going to do a Perfect Run. That’s when the game isn’t over until both of us have told three straight truths. So I guess you could call it Six Truths in a Row.” “Is there a prize?” That sharp gleam filled Tempest’s eyes once more, and Cozy couldn’t hide her nervous gulp. “Yes. If I win, you put that Medallion back on and I take you back to Tartarus. No screaming, no crying, no escapes. If you win…” Her eyes wandered to the shut door of the car. “If you win, I open this door and let you escape.” Cozy stared at Tempest like something was growing on her face. “You’re…you’re serious?” “As a Yak playing a Yovidaphone.” Cozy shuffled in her seat. Her face locked into a pondering trance for several seconds. Tempest stared at her with unblinking eyes. The Wheel turned them round and round all the while. “Okay,” Cozy finally said. “I go first though.” “Sure,” Tempest said, leaning back on her seat. “Have you ever…?” Cozy’s face filled with a devilish smirk. “Have you ever kissed a stallion?” “Yes,” Tempest said without hesitation. “Several.” "Oh..." Tempest chuckled at Cozy’s consternation. “You’re not going to embarrass me that easily, little one. My turn.” She leaned forward. “What’s your favorite food?” Cozy’s face filled with even more confusion. “Um…waffles, I guess.” Tempest nodded. “Now me. Do you miss being a Commander?” “Sometimes. Power is a nice thing to have and a lousy thing to lose.” Tempest shrugged. “But it’s better some ponies don’t have it.” “Hmm,” Cozy murmured. “What’s the highest you’ve ever flown?” “Uh, about five thousand feet. It was somewhere outside Ponyville.” “Very cool.” “Last question. Um…do you want to be my friend?” Tempest leaned back into her seat and took a deep breath. The wind rushed by them while the Wheel turned upwards once more. “Depends on what kind of friend you mean. Do you mean a friend like the ones you made at the Friendship School? The ones you manipulated in order to become Empress of Friendship?” Cozy looked away. Tempest leaned forward. “Or do you mean an actual friend? One you care about because you can and want to?” Cozy scratched the back of her head. “I had a lot of fun today.” “Answer the question.” “You were a big part of it, okay? I appreciate all-” “Answer.” “I don’t…” Cozy sagged into her seat. “I don’t know.” Tempest shook her head. “That’s a lie. It wasn’t your question though, so we don’t have to start over. Ask me another.” Cozy looked at Tempest. Her face twisted into disgusted anger. “Were you always a big meanie?” “No,” Tempest said. “I was a happy little filly until I ran into an Ursa Minor. Then I lost my horn and my friends abandoned me. Hard to come out of that with a sunny personality.” Cozy scoffed. “I can’t believe I used to look up to you. You were never a cool conqueror. You were just a sad sack compensating for a lost horn.” “And what’s your excuse, girlie? Lose your puppy? Get mad at your mommy and daddy and run away?” “It doesn’t matter.” Tempest smacked her hooves together. “Now that’s a lie. We’re starting over.” Cozy slammed her hooves on her lap. “I don’t want to play anymore!” “Tough. Next question: Where are you from?” “Tartarus.” “Your actual home.” “Some small town. I don’t remember the name.” Tempest stared long and hard. “Alright. You’re lying about the name, but you did come from a small town. I’ll let you slide with that one.” Cozy sneered. “My turn. All those stallions you kissed. Did they leave you because you were the biggest jerk in the world?” If there was any emotion detectible upon Tempest's face, she hid it well. “No, Cozy, they didn’t leave me. I left them because I was such a…what did you call me? A sad sack.” Cozy huffed. “Figures.” “What made you go to the Friendship School?” “Because I wanted to learn about Friendship.” “Don’t be a smart aleck. Little fillies like you would have regular school or parents or somepony to keep them occupied. Why did you really go to the school?” “I…I wasn’t wanted anymore. Where I was originally, I mean.” Tempest nodded. “I suspected something like that.” Cozy crossed her arms. “Now it’s my turn. Do you feel bad about all the ponies you hurt? When you were in the Storm King’s Army?” “Who said it was just ponies?” Tempest waited a few moments for a laugh that never came. “Yes, I feel bad about it. And I’m trying to fix it however I can. Maybe it won’t ever be enough for the creatures I’ve hurt, but I’m still going to try." She gave a small wave of her hoof. "That’s all you can do.” Tempest looked off at the fair still bustling below. “What was your favorite part about today?” Cozy stared off at the distant mountains. “Dunno. The snowball fight, I guess.” She shot a look toward Tempest. “Final question: Why did Luna send you to do this?” “She didn’t.” Cozy’s eyes shot open. “At least, not entirely. I wasn’t lying when I said I owed Luna a favor. I did turn her into a statue for a while. And she was the one who gave me the Medallions and opened the portal to Tartarus. But it was me who thought of taking you here. Giving you a regular Hearth’s Warming for once.” “Why?” Tempest wagged her hoof. “That’s another question.” “Just tell me, Tempest! Please...” Tempest smiled. “Because I saw a little bit of myself in you, Cozy.” The filly stared at her in confusion. “Think about it. Little filly lost in the world, angry at something they can’t control. Unloved, or at least thinking they aren’t loved. Starting a campaign to take over Equestria because they think they’ll get what they always wanted if they do.” Tempest put her hooves behind her head and closed her eyes. “That’s why, Cozy. Because I think whatever it is that’s missing from your life, whatever’s driving this whole ‘Take Over Equestria’ mindset you got, it’s not something you need to keep. You can have friends who care about you for who you are. Not the power you offer, but just you. You, Cozy Glow, the goofy little filly who builds the greatest snowponies in Equestria and is learning to ice skate.” She opened her eyes and looked at Cozy. “That’s the pony I wouldn’t mind being friends with.” Cozy looked down at the floor. Her lips were pursed and her hooves fidgeted with her scarf. The Wheel stopped for a moment, their car directly at the top. Passengers below swapped with new riders. THUNK! The car door sat open. Tempest’s hoof kept it from sliding shut. “We both answered all three of our questions truthfully. You’re free to go.” Cozy stepped toward the open door. The entire Festival and wilderness stretched out before her. Her wings buzzed instinctually when the wind hit her body, practically begging her to take off. “One more question,” Cozy whispered. “Mmm?” Tempest said, lounging. “If I stay and go back to Tartarus…would you take me here again next Hearth’s Warming?” Tempest stared long and hard at the little filly. Her lips opened and shut like words were supposed to come out. Below them, the operator closed the door for the new riders. “Yes,” she finally said. Cozy shot toward the unicorn. Wrapping her arms around her neck, Cozy dug herself into Tempest’s fur. So fast was her dash that Tempest’s leg pulled back and let the door slide shut. “Then I’ll stay!” she cried. “I’ll stay in Tartarus if that means I'll have you!” Her tears were already streaming down her face. Tempest wrapped the filly in her own hug and patted her back. “It’s alright, Cozy.” “Visit me every Heath’s Warming!” Cozy bawled. “Every holiday you can!” “Yes,” Tempest said soothingly. “I will.” “Thank you! Thank…” The words devolved into incomprehensible sobs and sputters. Tempest continued patting the filly’s back, rocking her back and forth in a firm rhythm. She remained there in the car until the sun was set and the Festival ebbed as the other visitors began to leave. Then, when the filly in her arms began to breathe the deep gasps of sleep, and the Festival glowed with unmatched beauty, she signaled to the operator for their ride to end. Author's Note Sometimes love really is all you need.
