Knight, Rook and Princess

by Communist_Egor

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Twilight Sparkle, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Chancellor Neighsay, Sex, Flash Sentry, Cozy Glow
Length: 10067

Flash Sentry asks Shining Armor to transfer to the guards of Canterlot Castle. The guard wants to discuss an important issue with her. What unexpected consequences will this lead to? And what does Cozy Glow have to do with it?

Two weeks have passed since Twilight's coronation. It would seem that the Princess of Friendship has nothing more to worry about. But an unexpected guest from the Crystal Empire disrupts the princess's usual daily routine.

Fanfiction on Russian-language resources:
https://ficbook.net/readfic/018ccee5-3c40-79a8-85a9-92a205203d94
https://ponyfiction.org/story/17546/
Translation performed by:
https://www.fimfiction.net/user/535037/oranzinispegasas
Cover author:
https://vk.com/id600754676

Published 2024-01-09 06:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2024-03-12 00:55:26 UTC

We meet again, princess

Twilight sat at the desk with reports. For two weeks, she had been the ruler of Equestria, and she was already tired. Princess Celestia had ruled Equestria for over a thousand years. The Princess of Friendship loved making lists, but dealing with reports and signing identical documents became interesting only at the beginning. Even negotiations with the greedy and arrogant Canterlot nobles were much better than dealing with paperwork.

"I feel like I've been doing paperwork for an eternity. It would be better to save Equestria a few more times than deal with this," Twilight thought. When Celestia first announced her retirement, the Princess of Friendship was afraid of the responsibility. But now she understood what part of Princess Celestia's job was the hardest.

"Almost everything. Only letters left," Twilight began to go through the mail. Messages from different cities requesting additional funding to repair the damage caused by the latest villains' attack were already annoying her. The material damage due to panic was small, but almost every mayor claimed that all industries in his city had declined. A commission was needed to truly assess the losses suffered by businesses or financial markets in various corners of Equestria.

Copying the same letter of response for each mayor several times, Twilight looked at the letters from abroad. The alicorn was delighted: a letter from the Crystal Empire had arrived from Princess Cadance herself. Quickly opening the envelope, Twilight began to read.

The Princess of Love was interested in how her niece was handling her duties. She also shared news from the Crystal Empire. And at the end of the letter, on behalf of Shining Armor, she asked if there was a place for a guard who requested a transfer to the Canterlot Palace guard.

The tired princess pondered. After the attack of the Doom Legion, a young guard had requested a transfer, and Twilight did not refuse him. So, there was indeed a place for a new guard in the palace.

After writing a response to her aunt, Twilight turned to Spike, and the letter was promptly sent back to the Crystal Empire. The Princess of Friendship and her faithful dragon guard went to sleep in the royal chambers.

The next day,

Twilight sat on her throne and received visitors. Advisers addressed the alicorn with various questions requiring the immediate attention of the Princess. But the last in line was not another bureaucrat; it was a guard, familiar to Twilight.

"Lieutenant Flash Sentry reporting for duty, Your Highness!" the orange unicorn with a blue mane announced.

The princess was shocked and embarrassed. She remembered how she fell head over heels for the human version of the guard in the world beyond the mirror. But with Flash the pegasus, she had only encountered a couple of times in the Crystal Empire a few years ago, and since then, she hadn't even thought about him.

"Why did he specifically request a transfer? And for what purpose?" Twilight pondered. Suddenly, she recalled that the guard was waiting for her response.

"Yes... I'm glad you arrived so quickly. Forgive my curiosity... But may I know the reason for your transfer?" the alicorn asked, stumbling and blushing.

Flash sighed. Even in secret, guards rarely challenged the princesses' decisions. And in all of Equestria's history, no guard had ever stood up for Equestria's enemies. Even if there had been traitors before the sisters' reign, history had forgotten about them. The orange pegasus realized the risk was too great. But if everything he'd heard about the Princess of Friendship was true, then he should try.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle, do you truly believe that turning a foal to stone is a fair punishment?" suppressing his anger, Flash asked.

Twilight, surprised, opened her mouth. She hadn't even had time to think about Cozy Glow. The first time, she was angry with her student for betraying not only her but also her friends and the concept of friendship itself. And she allowed Celestia and Luna to send the filly to Tartarus. But when Cozy returned with Chrysalis and Tirek, attempting to kill them, Twilight didn't hesitate that the pegasus deserved severe punishment along with the other villains.

Then she felt a pang of conscience. Cozy, despite everything, was her student. Why didn't she even consider standing up for her? Why did she brush off the problem without even trying to solve it?

"Princess?" the pegasus guard awaited an answer.

"Understand... Cozy Glow is a genial but cruel filly, thinking only of power. For that, she was willing to kill, putting her on par with Chrysalis and Tirek. So, for the safety of all Equestria, the princesses had to turn her into stone with the others," Twilight replied.

"And do you approve of their decision? Do you believe that Cozy Glow is beyond redemption? Do you even know why she became like this?" the pegasus inquired.

The princess sadly lowered her head and said:

"I don't know... But Princess Celestia believes that Cozy is already saturated with evil. Can I doubt her decision? Even if I give Cozy a second chance, how can I know she won't betray me again? I can't risk it like that," Twilight feared trusting the pegasi again.

"I understand your concern, Princess. But as far as I know, Cozy Glow is an orphan. Yes, she posed a threat to all of Equestria. But I'm confident that Cozy has serious reasons to strive for power. Besides, without evil allies and artifacts, she's just an ordinary pegasus," the pegasus explained.

"Not ordinary, but a cunning manipulator," corrected the alicorn.

"But her cunning is useless now; all of Equestria knows who she is. Even if Cozy escapes, she won't be able to hide for long. Princess, please, give me a chance to convince her that her chances for revenge are zero. And also, find a peaceful application for her strategic talent."

After thinking, the princess asked:

"Flash, why do you care so much about Cozy Glow?"

The pegasus honestly replied:

"I'm an orphan too, Princess. But I was strong enough to stand up to bullies in the orphanage. Cozy, it seems, had to manipulate and seek power to avoid trouble."

"That's why Cozy decided to become the Empress of Friendship and make everyone her friend! And she allied with villains for protection! How did I not realize this before?" exclaimed Twilight.

"I don't blame you, Princess! You were scared, like all of Equestria! And even now, Cozy Glow's release will worry many. But we must not let our fear control us. If there's a chance, we must help the pegasus, not keep her in stone!" confidently replied Flash.

"Maybe I should consult with Celestia and Luna first? And with the girls?" Twilight hesitated. But then she looked into Flash's periwinkle-blue eyes, shining with determination, and the pegasus's confidence transferred to the princess.

"Thou art right! We must help her! Flash, dost thou have a plan?" Twilight trusted Flash.

"When did we switch to 'thou'?" the guard wondered, but he didn't voice his surprise to the princess.

"Yes, my princess! To distract Cozy from her world domination plans, we must show her how she can delight others with her strategic talents. Specifically – we'll get her interested in a career as a chess player."

Here the pegasus pulled out a chessboard from his saddlebag and began explaining the details.

Second chance

Twilight and Flash walked through the Royal Garden, heading towards the stone statue of villains. The Princess of Friendship, despite her preparation, was anxious. She was about to free the villainess, who had twice challenged all of Equestria, capable of betraying everyone for the sake of power without remorse.

Of course, all safety measures had been taken: a secure room had already been prepared for the filly, guarded round the clock. All artifacts from the Canterlot Castle vault were sent to the Crystal Empire. And everyone was warned about Cozy Glow's release. The little pegasus had no chance of escape.

But Twilight hesitated.

"What if she charms the guards and, despite all orders, they help her escape? What if she finds a way to steal magic from all of Equestria again? And I'll be solely blamed, as her liberator!" the princess addressed the pegasus.

"Calm down, princess! Cozy's escape is impossible. Moreover, I'll be working with her all day and staying in the adjacent room overnight. Everything will be fine!" Flash reassured Twilight.

"But what if she outsmarts us again? Pretends to reform, and when we grant her freedom, she escapes and starts preparing for revenge. How will we even know if she has truly reformed?" the princess asked.

"Do you not know the spell that compels truth-telling?" the guard wondered. "Perhaps its usage is deemed unethical, but it's the only way to know when Cozy genuinely abandons her villainous plans. And I am confident that sooner or later, it will happen!" The pegasus's confident gaze pierced Twilight, instilling confidence in her.

"Yes, indeed! Thou art right, Flash. We have nothing to fear!" the princess calmly replied. At that moment, the couple approached the statue of villains.

Twilight sighed again and prepared a spell to release Cozy Glow from the stone.

"Alright, let's go!" and a magical beam struck the pegasus frozen in stone. Cracks appeared immediately, and within seconds, Cozy Glow was free.

Clearing her throat, the pegasus looked at the princess. The entire spectrum of emotions played on her face: from fear and astonishment to contempt and hatred. While Cozy pondered how best to start the conversation, Twilight addressed her former student:

"Cozy Glow! Thou hast committed numerous crimes, betrayed friendship, and all of Equestria. But, despite all thy misdeeds, there are kind ponies who care about thy fate.

"Wonder who stood up for me? Perhaps the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" Cozy thought.

"Therefore, I have decided to mitigate thy punishment: thou shalt be under house arrest in one of the palace rooms. Thy future depends on thy behavior. And do not attempt to escape: the windows and doors are protected by spells. Even if thou findeth a way out of the room, guards shall await thee outside. "

Suddenly, Cozy burst into laughter.

"Golly! Now it's clear why thou kept me in stone for so long. Thou art afraid! The mighty alicorn, Princess of Friendship, hero, and ruler of Equestria – fears a little filly!" And Cozy continued to laugh.

Twilight was taken aback, but Flash came to her aid, stomping a hoof near the pegasus:

"Silly filly! Such safety measures are necessary to appease the public. And the princess could have used tracking spells to thwart thy escape," the pegasus nodded to the princess. And Twilight confidently continued:

"And even if thou were to escape and return with new dark powers and villainous allies, the magic of friendship shall still stop thee!" proudly declared the Princess of Friendship, spreading her wings.

Cozy decided to change her strategy.

"Alright, I understand everything. Well, considering my reputation, it's not surprising why ponies are so afraid of me. But I have no artifacts or villain friends nearby. Fearing me now is just foolish. Anyway, I've come to terms with defeat and become a good little filly!" she assured, fake-smiling.

"Thou canst no longer deceive me, Cozy. Through the truth-compelling spell, I can check whether thou hast truly reformed," replied the princess.

"Then what art thou hoping for, Twilight? I'm grateful that thou hast deigned to release me from cold stone imprisonment, but I shall never give up my revenge plans!" Cozy was angry.

Twilight sighed.

" 'Tis thy choice. I have tried to teach thee friendship, and thou hast understood naught. If thou dost not renounce thy futile revenge plans, thou shalt spend thy entire life behind bars. Ponder upon it, Cozy Glow! "

The pegasus lowered her head but said nothing. The princess turned to the guard:

"Flash, escort Miss Glow to her room."

"Yes, Princess!" replied the pegasus and gestured for the filly to follow him.

Soon, Cozy was confined within the palace. Although freed from the stone, she did not rejoice in her new confinement. "I will find a way to escape anyway! And when I return with new powers, I will show everyone what it's like to be a statue!" the pegasus dreamed of revenge. Then, in a fit of anger, she flew onto the bed, jumping and tossing the pillow and blanket.

"As I suspected, she needs time to cool off," Flash confirmed, watching the enraged filly through the keyhole.

First Spark

Evening, throne room. The Princess of Friendship, having completed all her tasks for the day, paced back and forth, awaiting the guard. She dismissed all the guards outside the door as she decided to discuss Cozy with Flash alone to avoid rumors.

Finally, the doors swung open.

"Your Highness, I have returned!" announced Flash.

Twilight nodded to the guard.

"How is Cozy doing?" she asked.

The pegasus was surprised that the princess, ignoring all formalities, immediately got down to business. However, he chose to overlook it.

"As expected, she is angry, Princess," replied Flash.

"Strongly?" Twilight inquired.

"Enough."

"Oh, it's my fault. I should have set aside anger and resentment and defended my student a year ago. But I allowed the princesses to send Cozy to Tartarus instead of understanding her motives and helping her. Why did I give Starlight a second chance but refused the foal? Am I worthy of being the Princess of Friendship after this?" Twilight asked the guard, holding back tears as much as she could.

Flash was embarrassed. Instead of the proud and strong ruler of Equestria, confident in her decisions and destiny; instead of a fearless hero and guardian of the magic element, he saw a distraught mare in need of support. "In Tartarus, all rules, I must calm her down immediately," Flash decided, confidently approaching Twilight.

" Princess, it's not your fault! Everypony was angry at Cozy! And no one believed she could still learn friendship!" the pegasus, against all norms, embraced Twilight with his wing.

"But you listened to your heart and gave Cozy a second chance, even though she wanted to kill you. You care about her even though she hates you. I was afraid that you saw Cozy as nothing more than a threat to all of Equestria and would refuse to free her. But now I see how you want to right your wrongs and help your former student. Thank you for that, Princess!" Flash released the alicorn and bowed low.

Twilight looked admirably at the brave guard. The princess never expected Flash the pegasus, like his human counterpart, to rush to comfort her. He was an exemplary guard, and she was the ruler of Equestria. No guard in the history of Equestria had ever allowed himself such familiarity. And the alicorn's heart skipped a beat.

"Thank you, Flash! And please, call me simply Twilight!" The princess hugged the guard herself.

"Uh… alright, Prin… Twilight," the embarrassed and surprised pegasus did not expect such a reaction.

Finally, the princess remembered that she was hugging the wrong Flash and released the guard.

"Sorry if that was unexpected! I'm just too excited!" Twilight began to apologize, blushing with embarrassment.

"No… problem! I'm… glad I could help you!" Flash replied, stumbling and blushing.

"And I am glad to meet you, Flash! I am sure that by working together, we will help Cozy mend her ways!" Twilight smiled at the guard.

At this point, the princess remembered the time: in a minute, she had to lower the Sun below the horizon. Trying to conceal her panic, she turned to her new friend:

"You can go now, Flash."

"Yes, Your Highness! Good night!" bowed the pegasus and left the throne room.

As soon as the door closed, Twilight took out the medallion and concluded this day.

"Am I falling in love with Flash Guard? Or am I just missing my friend from the human world?" The princess couldn't figure out her feelings for Flash the pegasus yet.

"Enough thinking about it! Princess Celestia and Luna have entrusted me with their power. And I have accepted it. This means that I must give up personal relationships and dedicate myself to Equestria! I have no time for romantic relationships! I cannot be with any Flash! I will rule Equestria for a thousand years alone! I must forget about love!" Twilight convinced herself. Like the princesses, she believed she had to give up personal happiness for the sake of the country. But tears still flowed from her eyes. "I must forget about love!"

Reaching her chambers, the princess removed the Royal regalia, adjusted the blanket for the already sleeping Spike, and lay down on Celestia's former bed, burying her face in the pillow. "I will have to ask Luna to replace me: today, I am not able to fight the nightmares," Twilight decided, heading into the realm of dreams.

Meanwhile, in another wing of the castle, one guard couldn't fall asleep. "What happened today? How dare I hug the princess? Why did she hug me back? How could we break all the norms and rules? Do I like her? Does she like me?" Flash pondered.

The pegasus got annoyed and smacked himself on the forehead with a hoof. "Enough already thinking about all this nonsense. She is the Ruler of Equestria, destined to live for thousands of years. And I'm just a regular guard. Under no circumstances can we be together. I came here to help Cozy, not to think about the princess at night. That's it, time to sleep!" Flash ordered himself, throwing all thoughts out of his head, and eventually drifted off to sleep.

New game

The sun's rays infiltrated the room of the young pegasus. At first, she sweetly stretched in the soft bed. But then Cozy remembered where she was, and immediately threw the blanket and pillow on the floor.

"Grogar damn it all! Twilight really thought of everything this time: windows, doors, and even the walls are protected by a magical spell. No sharp corners or objects that can be used as weapons. Guards are everywhere outside. They might as well have sent me straight to Tartarus," Cozy muttered as she glanced at the discarded pillow.

"Well, sleeping on a real bed is nice. Okay, I better not anger Twilight unnecessarily. Maybe if I behave well, they'll let me into the royal garden, and there, more opportunities," Cozy said, lifting the pillow and blanket, and neatly making the bed.

"Although, what are my chances? The guards are like tin soldiers: no swearing, no crying, no pleas for help attract their attention. They don't let maids near me; they themselves bring food indifferently. Simulating illness is useless – instead of a doctor, Twilight will come. There's no chance of recruiting anyone. Whether it's a cell in Tartarus or a room in the palace, the outcome is the same – escape is impossible right now.

The only hope lies in external allies. They must eventually convince Twilight to meet me, right? Then I can play on their sympathy. I won't even lie: I'm really being held captive, and I have no plans for revenge. After the interview, I'll have more freedom, more contacts, more sympathetic ponies, and strong public pressure. Relaxing the security, even to the point of being transferred to a shelter for troublemakers. It's possible to escape from there. But why bother if they'll be searching for me both in Equestria and beyond its borders? It's better to gain the trust of the naive public with exemplary behavior. And upon reaching adulthood, they'll grant me freedom.

Afterwards, I'll start writing my memoirs not only about the cruel punishments of the princesses, but also about how the Elements of Harmony abandoned me. Being the victim will allow me to win the sympathy of all the ponies. And when everyone turns their backs on the main six, it won't be hard to stage a coup and finally become Empress of Friendship! " Cozy dreamt as she opened the door, bringing her back to reality.

"Miss Glow, your breakfast!"

Cozy was surprised that the guard spoke to her.

"Are you allowed to speak to me?" the pegasus asked the guard.

"Of course. Although words are your weapon, I'm not afraid they'll strike me."

"And you're wrong!" thought Cozy. But smiling, she said aloud,

"Oh, thank you, mister..." Cozy tried to find out the pegasus' name.

"Lieutenant Flash Sentry at your service!" replied the guard, even bowing, shocking the mare.

"Flash, I really appreciate your work! I'm sorry you have to guard me because of cowardly ponies. But rest assured, I won't cause you any trouble!" promised Cozy to the guard and sat at the table, already set with breakfast.

"I believe you, miss! A smart filly like you won't do anything foolish."

Cozy's eyes widened in surprise. Despite all her villainy, the royal guard just complimented her? The pegasus couldn't believe her luck. The last time she heard praise was a year ago when she was still studying at the School of Friendship under the guise of a cute and innocent filly.

"Thank you, sir!" Cozy smiled sincerely. "Everyone around fears my brilliance, but I had given up hope that someone would acknowledge it out loud. Let's be friends?"

"Not so fast, miss! You'll have to convince me that you want to be friends for real, not for personal gain."

Cozy sighed,

"Yes, you're right. It's dangerous to trust me. But I don't even plan to escape. What's the point if the whole world will be looking for me?"

"In any case, friendship must be earned. But I'm willing to give you a chance. Anyway, miss, we've digressed: your breakfast is getting cold."

"Oh! Thanks for the reminder, sir!" the pegasus thanked the guard and began to eat.

"You can resist, but you're already on my hook, guard. The key is to manipulate carefully. And then he won't even notice how he becomes my pawn!" Cozy anticipated her first success.

Half an hour later, the mare finished her breakfast. The guard was about to leave with the dirty dishes, but the pegasus distracted him.

"Sir, I'm so bored! I'm not a little filly; I'm not interested in plush toys and children's tales. Could you bring me some scientific books? Please!" Cozy looked at the guard with the most innocent eyes in the world.

"Alright, miss!" The guard bowed and left the room.

"Hooray! How fortunate I am that Flash is not a tin soldier, obediently following the princess's orders. It's much easier to manipulate sympathetic ponies. Beware, Twilight: your guard is already my friend! And then, who knows, the whole country might be on my side!" Cozy dreamed, awaiting the arrival of the guard.

***

The door to the room opened again.

"Your book, miss!" Flash give a thick volume to the Pegasus.

"Excellent!" the mare joyfully grabbed the book but then looked puzzled at the guard. "Is this a chess textbook?"

"Yes, miss! I noticed that your cutie mark is a rook. And I thought you might be interested in chess."

"Well, I do like chess. But it's just a game! "

" Is it much more interesting to control live ponies? "The pegasus asked, glancing at Cozy.

The filly shyly looked away and remained silent.

Then Flash took a chessboard from his saddlebag and started setting up the pieces.

"At what level do you play chess?"

"I'm a pro at this game! Although the shelter didn't have a chess textbook, I had enough time to practice. Besides, my talent is also related to developing strategies: even without a textbook, I can see all your plans. You stand no chance against me!" Cozy proudly declared.

"Are you so sure of your victory, miss? Well then, let's start the game! I'll even let you play as white," the guard said, taking the black pieces.

"You'll regret it!" replied Cozy and sat across from the guard. The game began!

[Note: Queen (Q) – mage, King (Kg) – princess. The notations are as follows: colon (:) for capturing a piece, + for check, X for checkmate. The games are based on a video and follow the first two games: https://dzen.ru/video/watch/617a8535f30bcd66b6225fb6]

e2–e4...e7–e5

Ng1–f3...Ng8–f6

"You're not defending the pawn?" Cozy exclaimed.

"No," replied Flash.

"That's foolish," and the Pegasus took it, unsuspecting.

Nf3:e5...Nb8–c6

"Why did you move the knight? I'll just double your pawns!" Cozy couldn't understand her opponent's tactics.

"That's my strategy," calmly replied the Pegasus.

"If you want to lose, go ahead!" said the mare, and the game continued.

Ne5:c6...d7:c6

Nb1–c3...Bf6–c5

Bf1–e2...h7–h5

"You moved the rook's pawn? You're giving up the initiative!" Cozy commented on the guard's move, but Flash remained silent.

0–0...Nf6–g4

h2–h3...Qd8–d4

"You're already attacking my princess? It's hopeless!" the mare glanced at the Pegasus, but he was focused on the game. Cozy realized her words didn't bother her opponent. And, staying silent, she decided to concentrate on the game.

Be2:g4...h5:g4

d2–d3...g4:h3

Bc1–e3...Qd4–d6

Qd1–f3...h3:g2

Qf3:g2...Bc8–h3

Cozy began to worry. Flash launched a serious attack on the Pegasus princess, and she couldn't prevent it. "Why does his silly strategy work?! I can't lose!" panicked the mare, but she still didn't give up, defending with all her might.

Qg2–g5...Bh3–g4

Be3–f4...Bg4–f3

Cozy was about to take Flash's mage but suddenly noticed an attack on her own princess.

"Checkmate in three moves," Flash announced. "Surrender, Cozy!"

"Never!" replied the Pegasus and decided to defend with all her might. But the outcome of the game was already predetermined.

Qg5–g2...Qd6–g6

Bf4–g3...Qg6:g3

Qg2:g3...Rh8:h1X

"Checkmate! Stanford Gambit allowed me to develop my pieces, and your careless play brought your defeat closer," explained the guard.

"You just got lucky! And besides, I haven't played in a long time! Let's play again!" demanded the mare.

"Please! I'll even let you play as white again."

Cozy didn't reply. "This time I'll definitely win! I, the princess's conqueror, can't lose to some guard!" the mare motivated herself.

The pieces were set up on the board again. This time, Cozy decided to fully concentrate on the game. "You think I don't know anything about chess theory? I'll show you the Princess's Gambit!" And a new game began.

e2–e4...e7–e5

f2–f4...d7–d5

e4:d5...e5–e4

d2–d3...Ng8–f6

Nb2–c3...Bf6–b4

Bc1–d2...e4:d3

Bf1:d3...0-0

Qd1–f3...Rf8–e8

Ng1–e2...Bc8–g4

Qf3–g3...Bg4:e2

Nc3:e2...Bb4:d2+

Ke1:d2...Qd8:d5

Ne2–c3...Qd5–d4

Ra1–e1...Nb8–c6

Re1:e8...Ra8:e8

Rh1–e1...Re8:e1

Kd2:e1...Qd4–b4

Qg3–h3...g7–g6

Qh3–c8+...Kg8–g7

Qc8:c7...Qb4:b2

Nc3–b5...Qb2–c1+

Ke1–e2...Nf6–g4

Ke2–f3...h7–h5

Kf3–e4...Qc1–e3+

Ke4–d5...Qe3–e6+

Kd5–c5...b7–b6+

Qc7:b6...a7:a6+

Kc5:b6...Nc6–e7+

"Alright, I surrender!" Cozy saw that her position was hopeless. She had already lost the mage and was tired of constantly protecting her princess from check. Winning against an experienced player like Flash in her situation was impossible.

"How did you defeat me this time?"

"I stuck to Albert's counter-gambit. But the game was even until you gave me the initiative, opting for the second rook exchange. An unsuccessful counterattack and a mistaken move with the knight allowed me to attack your princess, bring her onto my half of the board, and win the mage."

"Did I lose again? And not to princesses, but to some guard in a strategic game? Maybe he's not a guard at all but a chess grandmaster invited by Twilight to humiliate me?" The mare suspiciously looked at the guard.

"Is your cutie mark by any chance a chess piece?" Cozy asked, pointing her hoof at the part of Flash's armor covering his flank.

"No, I have no special talents related to chess or strategy development," Flash removed the back part of his armor and showed the cutie mark – a blue shield with a yellow lightning bolt in the center.

"Chess is more like my hobby. But studying the theory of chess strategies and regular practice allow me to play at a master level."

The mare sadly lowered her head and closed her eyes.

"Again, I suffered defeat twice, even though I initiated the attack first. Is this my fate – to lose?" Cozy wanted to cry, but the proud mare held back her tears.

"Don't be upset, miss! You played excellently for your age! You closely followed the game and defended well. In the second game, you could have won if I hadn't noticed the move of your archmage, Qg3–h3, threatening to checkmate my princess in combination with the bishop," the guard praised the Pegasus.

"I still lost!" Cozy replied sadly.

Then Flash approached the little mare and hugged her.

"Cozy, I see that you're as talented in chess as you are in manipulation. If you take chess seriously and study the theory, I'm sure you'll become a grandmaster."

"Really?" the Pegasus asked sincerely, looking at the guard with big eyes.

"Yes! Being a villain is not your destiny," Flash replied.

Cozy started to cry.

"Why are you so kind to me? I'm a terrible pony, I betrayed all my friends, princesses, and all of Equestria! I conspired with dangerous and horrible villains! And almost killed the heroes of Equestria, embodying the Elements of Harmony! Why don't you hate me?" the crying mare asked.

Flash stroked the Pegasus's mane.

"Because you're not a villain; you're a little hurt girl. You need protection and care. I come from a shelter myself and know that life there is not rosy. I know how hard it is to live without a family. Neither princesses nor Twilight can understand our pain. And I can understand why you became so cruel."

" Flash, how did you become a Guard? Were you adopted? " Cozy asked, calming down a little.

" No. One day I saw some bullies hurting a girl in the junior group. I stood up for her and beat the hell out of them. That's how I got my cutie mark and decided to dedicate my life to protecting others. "

The filly sighed.

"And I had to teach those thugs in a different way. Instead of being a victim, I joined their side. Through lies and setups, I destroyed their group from within. And now, the thugs are bullying each other. That's when I got my cutie mark and believed that manipulation can defeat anyone. My talent is hardly related to chess," Cozy confessed sadly.

"That's not true!" the Pegasus argued. "You probably had to develop a whole strategy to win. Building plans is your talent. And chess is an excellent application for it. No one will say a word if you sacrifice all your pieces to win the game. You can also use your manipulation skills to try to unsettle your opponent: the trick you tried in the first game. If your bragging is accompanied by a dangerous attack, the opponent may start to worry and make mistakes."

"Golly! You're right! Chess is what I need!" the mare imagined herself defeating Starlight, Bearded Star Swirl, and even Twilight Sparkle herself. Then everyone would see that she is the smartest pony in the world, worthy of ruling Equestria.

"Thank you, Flash! I will study all the strategies, and next time, I will definitely defeat you!" Cozy promised the guard, smiling cheerfully.

"And I look forward to our next game, miss!" The Pegasus extended his hoof to the mare. Cozy was surprised but immediately joyfully bumped it with hers. With a sense of duty fulfilled, Flash returned to his post, while the mare opened her chess textbook.

Cold heart

While Flash was playing chess with Cozy, Twilight was receiving important visitors. As much as the Friendship Princess wanted to meet Cozy, apologize to her, and talk about everything, she had to wait until evening.

"Come in!" Twilight invited the next visitor. The gates opened, and there stood... Chancellor Neighsay! Seeing his stern expression, Twilight immediately understood: the meeting would be difficult.

"Princess! I'm sure you already have an idea of why I've come," the unicorn immediately got down to business.

The princess sighed heavily.

"You're here about releasing Cozy Glow?"

"Yes, Princess! As you know, I am not only the head of the Equestrian Education Association but also the leader of the Council of Magical Safety of the country. And we are all outraged that you did not heed our advice and released one of the three most dangerous villains in Equestria's history!" the chancellor exclaimed.

"Chancellor Neighsay! Before making such an important decision, I discussed it with my friends, as well as with the rulers of other countries and former princesses. Everyone, like you, was greatly surprised. Almost no one believes that Cozy can be taught friendship, as she sees it only as a means to gain power. But despite some risk, my friends trusted me. Trust me as well!" Twilight extended her hoof to Neighsay, but he refused to take it.

"For nothing! The council believes that your decision is unacceptable, and Cozy Glow should become a statue again! She's not just a disobedient filly. Miss Glow is an evil genius with excellent knowledge of psychology, ready to commit any crime for power. The council is sure that she is the brains behind the Legion of Doom. Cozy earned the respect of the other two villains to the point that they even shared Grogar's power with her. She almost killed you and your friends! And after all that, you want this monster to be free?!"

"No one in my presence dares to insult my students!" The angered princess thundered with her royal voice. "Yes, Cozy decided to use friendship to gain power. Yes, she doesn't think about others. Even a difficult childhood in the orphanage doesn't justify her actions. But I cannot call myself the Princess of Friendship if I do not exert all my efforts to help my former student and friend. My friends and I will do everything to teach her true friendship! And I believe we will succeed! She will never be a stone statue again! Furthermore, after her final rehabilitation, she will have full freedom! This is my final decision!" declared Twilight.

"Then, I am forced to take radical measures! There is an old law that allows overturning your decree. The Council of Magical Safety considers your decision dangerous for Equestria. Therefore, as its representative, I have the right to challenge you to a duel – any competition testing your abilities to defend the country. In the event of my victory, you will be obligated to fulfill the council's decision – to return Cozy Glow to stone," the unicorn pulled out a thick volume of Equestrian laws from his saddlebag and showed the article "On the reasonable limitation of princess power."

Reading the law, the Friendship Princess realized that the unicorn was right.

"And what if I refuse both the duel and the execution of your decision?" Twilight clarified.

"A princess afraid to stand up for her decisions cannot rule the country!" The unicorn pointed to the article on the "Forced deprivation of princess power."

"'Unjustified refusal of the princess to execute the decisions of the Council of Magical Safety of Equestria in case of defeat in the duel or refusal of it gives the council the legal right to limit the princess's power or relieve her of her duties. An attempt to disband the council and/or oppose its decision deprives the princess of all legal rights to power and will be considered treason,'" the princess read with horror.

"Chancellor Neighsay, if Cozy Glow is so dangerous to you, why did you allow Princess Celestia to give Discord a second chance?" Twilight protested angrily.

"Firstly, Princess Celestia has ruled Equestria for over a thousand years. She has earned our respect and trust. Secondly, your predecessor explained why we should try to teach Discord friendship: if the spirit of chaos escapes from the stone in a thousand years, he will no longer play with us, destroy the Elements of Harmony, and plunge Equestria into chaos. The risk was justified then, and not in the case of Cozy."

"So, the life of a filly means nothing to you?" the princess asked in anger.

" Cozy is not just a mare, but a cruel, ingenious villain, threatening all of Equestria twice. You defended against her deception with a truth spell. But what if Cozy finds a way to bypass it? Can you survive her new betrayal? Aren't you afraid of another stab in the back? "

" No! I believe that everyone deserves a second chance! I have devised a plan that will allow my student to learn true friendship. And I am ready to face you! " the alicorn's horn gleamed.

" Oh, princess, did you think I would challenge you to a magical duel? " the unicorn smiled cunningly.

" Didn't you? Do you really want to challenge me in a sports discipline? " the princess was surprised.

" Almost! We will play chess! "

" What?! " Twilight asked in shock.

" Chess is a strategic game. In war and in peace, a princess must make decisions several moves ahead, considering all risks and situations. Like me, you have the title of chess master, so our battle will be on equal terms! " declared the unicorn.

Chess was Twilight's favorite game. Recently, she even managed to defeat her idol, Star Swirl the Bearded. Twilight hoped her skills would be enough to defeat Chancellor Neighsay. "Otherwise, I'd rather relinquish power than reject Cozy again," the princess decided.

The unicorn took out a clock, a chessboard, and set up the pieces from his saddlebag.

" We will play four games: two as white, two as black. Each of us has ten minutes. If, after all the games, it's a draw, we play a fifth game. Since I issued the challenge, I start the first game as white, " the chancellor explained the conditions. And the first game began.

[First game: https://www.chess.com/games/view/11349]

" I surrender! " Twilight saw that she couldn't stop the chancellor's pawn.

" Don't be upset, princess. You played excellently too! But victory is mine! " Chancellor Neighsay smiled menacingly. " Now it's your turn as white! "

[Second game: https://www.chess.com/games/view/15765769]

Twilight remained silent. The chancellor sacrificed mage and delivered a beautiful checkmate with a knight and a bishop.

" You might as well surrender, princess. You lack practice. And you have to defeat me twice in a row to reach the fifth game! " the chancellor was already anticipating his victory.

" Never! " Twilight replied sharply but then caught herself.

'I have to keep myself in check. Neighsay is trying to intimidate me. I lost the first two games. But I can't worry; I have to concentrate and play very cautiously. The fate of my student depends on our battle. If I don't win the next two games, I will disappoint everyone: Cozy, friends, Celestia, myself. I'll have to relinquish power because I won't be able to turn Cozy Glow back into stone. But the chancellor and his council will do that. I cannot allow it!' The Princess of Friendship decided to fight to the end, recalling all possible chess strategies.

[Third game: https://www.chess.com/games/view/14684]

" It seems I got carried away, " the chancellor saw that his position was tough. Although checkmate was far away, Twilight had an extra pawn. Neighsay thought about how to draw the game, but in a couple of minutes, the timer rang again.

" Your time is up, chancellor! You lost! " declared the princess.

" I admit, this game is yours. But the next game, I just need to force a draw to win! " replied the chancellor, preparing to play a positional game.

Twilight decided not to respond and started the fourth game.

[Fourth game: https://www.chess.com/games/view/15751411]

" Check! And your time is up! " Twilight announced when the chancellor's timer rang again.

" Well, princess. So, everything will be decided in the fifth game! " Neighsay replied, giving Twilight a menacing look.

After the draw, Twilight ended up with the white pieces. ' For Cozy, for Celestia, for friends who believe in me - I must win! ' the alicorn decided. And the final game began.

[Fifth game: https://www.chess.com/games/view/127494]

" No! I lost again! " Neighsay admitted his defeat. However, no matter how he defended, checkmate was inevitable.

Twilight sighed with relief and said to the chancellor:

" That concludes our dispute! I passed your test, Chancellor Neighsay. And now the Council of Magical Safety must obey my command and leave Cozy Glow alone! Now leave the throne room: you've already taken up enough of my time! " ordered the princess to the unicorn.

" Yes, your highness! " bowed the unicorn, restraining his contempt. " But mark my words: you won the battle, not the war. You'll see, princess, freeing Cozy Glow will ruin all of Equestria! " confidently declared the chancellor, turned, and proudly walked away.

'Oh! I didn't expect Neighsay to turn out to be such a jerk. How can someone fear and hate a securely locked little pegasus so much? Perhaps he still remembers how she tied him up in school. Just to imprison the filly in stone, he was even willing to overthrow me! For Cozy's safety, I must figure out a way to get him out of office!' Twilight decided, returning to other matters.

Renew friendships

The princess's arduous day was nearly over. The meeting with the chancellor had drained Twilight of much of her strength. Nevertheless, the Princess of Friendship had decided to have a serious conversation with Cozy Glow today.

At the appointed time, the doors of the throne room opened, and in walked Flash.

"Good evening, princess!" bowed the guard.

"Hello, Lieutenant! Our plan: did it work?" Twilight asked with excitement.

"Yes, princess! Cozy got hooked on chess."

"Please, just call me Twilight, Flash. We'll have to work on Cozy together for a long time, so let's communicate without unnecessary formalities," the alicorn suggested.

"But... I shouldn't address you like that. You're a princess! And I'm just your guard," objected Flash.

"Not just a guard! You stood up for a filly even I had lost faith in. If it weren't for you, my former student would still be trapped in stone. The duties of the School of Friendship director and later the princess of all Equestria didn't leave me any free time to think about Cozy Glow. As a result, she became even more wicked with other villains. It's my fault! But thanks to you, I can correct my mistake!" Twilight smiled at the guard.

"You're not to blame! Both times, the decision to punish Cozy Glow was made by Princess Celestia and Luna," Flash pointed out.

"And yet, I could have defended Cozy and shown her the true purpose of friends. But I didn't. Now she probably hates me," the princess sadly lowered her head.

"But it's not too late to fix everything! I know it will be hard to mend things with Cozy, but as you once said, friendship is worth fighting for! And I believe that one day you will reconcile with her, miss!" Flash confidently smiled at Twilight.

The princess gazed at the guard with loving eyes. She saw in him not just a guard from the Crystal Empire or even Flash from another world but a real hero and defender. The princess realized that she was falling for Flash the Pegasus. Of course, they weren't meant to be together. 'But we can be friends! ' Twilight decided.

"Thank you again for everything, Flash! You can't imagine how much your words mean to me! And... I want to offer you my friendship!" blushing, the princess extended her hoof to the guard. 'This is madness! He won't accept such an honor! ' thought Twilight, feeling anxious.

Indeed, the guard was so surprised by the alicorn's offer that he even held his breath. Offering friendship to the Princess of Friendship, the Harmony Element, the hero and ruler of all Equestria – it felt beyond his worth. But the princess's smile, her large purple eyes sparkling with hope, enchanted Flash. Even if death threatened him, he wouldn't dare refuse Twilight's offer now. And Flash accepted her hoof.

"Being your friend is a great honor for me, Princess Twilight!" the Pegasus replied, smiling shyly. For a few seconds, the princess and the knight looked into each other's eyes.

"Please, when we're alone, feel free to address me informally! Like a friend!" Twilight suggested, blushing even more.

"As you wish!" the lieutenant replied, smiling.

The princess smiled back at the guard. And then she remembered the purpose of their meeting.

"Flash, what thinkest thou: can I talk to Cozy? At least to apologize," inquired Twilight.

"I believe thou can. Cozy did vent all her anger on soft toys and pillows yesterday. However, today, after our discourse, she hath devoted the entire day to perusing a chess book and engaging in strategic positions on the board. I opine that even if she doth not fully accept, she will, at the very least, lend an ear to thy apologies. In any case, I rejoice that thou art willing to extend thy apologies to Cozy!" affirmed the guard in support of the princess.

"Thank you! Well, I'll go to her. Good night, Flash!" Twilight released the Pegasus to rest and hurried to visit Cozy before bedtime. She knew that her former best student liked to stay up late studying. This time was no exception.

***

Cozy was studying the book. She didn't even suspect that there were so many chess strategies. Of course, back in the shelter, Cozy learned a couple of chess openings from the adults. And that was enough to win all the candies from those who considered themselves too smart.

In the breaks between physical exercises, Cozy sometimes agreed to play with Lord Tirek. He quickly learned to resist Cozy's attacks and fought honorably, but the filly always emerged victorious.

And when Cozy lost to the guard in chess today, whom she always considered dim-witted, the Pegasus decided to seriously take up chess. Not only to get her revenge on him but also to defeat Twilight in this way.

Suddenly, a knock on the door distracted the filly.

"Cozy, hello! May I come in?" Twilight's voice came from behind the door.

Cozy got irritated and was about to be rude to Twilight, making sure she wouldn't even attempt to give her friendship lessons. But then she remembered that she had decided to behave well to gain as much freedom as possible. Gathering herself, she sweetly replied:

"Oh, Princess Twilight! I'm glad to see you!" Cozy smiled at her guest, feigning warmth.

Twilight wanted to make a remark, telling the filly not to pretend to be kind, but she changed her mind.

"Cozy, I know it's not true. And... I came to apologize."

"Apologize?" the Pegasus was taken aback.

Twilight nodded:

"You are my student, Cozy. And I should have stood up for you a year ago when you nearly drained all of Equestria's magic. Yes, you betrayed all your friends, you betrayed Equestria! But you were my student and a friend. I should have stood up for you and shown what real friendship is. Then I trusted Princess Celestia's decision to send you to Tartarus, and I forgot about you. Forgive me!" Twilight silently lowered her head and closed her eyes.

Cozy's anger surfaced.

"Forgive?! After thou allowed them to send me to Tartarus and then turned me into stone?! Thou forgot about me! And thou wouldn't have remembered if kind ponies hadn't stood up for me! Thou say friendship is not for power, but thou wear the crown of Equestria! Thou art a liar and a hypocrite! Thou..." Here, Cozy suddenly realized she had been rude to the princess.

'Now it's clear: Twilight deliberately angered me with her apologies to later show everyone how evil I am. And I fell for this stupid trick! ' Cozy realized with horror that tomorrow she would join her 'friends' again.

"Oh, Twilight, forgive me, I didn't mean to be rude to thee. Just don't turn me into stone again, I'll do anything!" the filly began to plead, almost crying.

The Alicorn was surprised by such a reaction.

"Oh, Cozy, I swear: thou will never be a statue again!" Twilight decided to reassure the Pegasus and even hugged her. "At least not until thou try to seize power and harm someone again!" the princess warned.

"I promise I'll be a good filly!" Cozy smiled again. Then she remembered Twilight's apologies.

"Um, Princess? Are you really ashamed that you didn't stand up for me when I stole all of Equestria's magic?"

"Yes. I don't know why thou art so eager for power at any cost, but I should have helped thee instead of silently agreeing with the princesses' punishment. Forgive me if thou can!" Twilight asked again.

Cozy was pleased. On the one hoof, she was no longer threatened with being turned into stone. On the other hoof, the compassionate Twilight could release her on her own after some time. 'The main thing is not to plan a power takeover before being released, behave well, be friends with Twilight without hidden thoughts so that the truth spell couldn't detect anything. And then I'll quickly regain my freedom! ' the cunning filly planned, and, making a sad face, said:

"I don't hold a grudge against you, Twilight! Because of Grogar's magic, I became so evil that I almost killed you. And I'll never become the Empress of Friendship when everypony around either fears or hates me. Besides, I have no chance of revenge. So, I'm ready to try learning true friendship again!" declared Cozy.

Twilight had strong doubts about the sincerity of the filly.

"Cozy! Considering your past, it's hard for me to believe you."

"You can check my intentions with the truth spell!" Cozy herself suggested, deciding to take a risk.

"Really? Okay, then I'll ask a few questions," and Twilight applied the spell (it works as a lie detector).

"Cozy, do you plan to befriend me to get out of captivity as soon as possible?" Twilight asked directly.

Cozy just giggled foolishly.

"Well, Twilight, I can't reform so quickly! Besides, nobody likes being locked up. And I'm ready to learn true friendship!" Cozy fired back, deciding to believe her own words for a moment. And, fortunately for the Pegasus, the spell didn't work.

"I'm glad that you're truly willing to give real friendship a chance! From now on, Cozy Glow, you are once again my student! To begin with, you'll need to apologize to the friends you betrayed. And then, we'll see! " decided Twilight.

" Thank you, Princess, for believing in me! I'll try not to disappoint you! " Cozy honestly replied.

" Good! Goodnight, Cozy! " Twilight bid farewell.

" Goodnight, Princess! " wished the Pegasus, and the door closed.

'Phew! I'm so glad that if you believe your own lie for a moment, you can also deceive the truth spell. For now, I'll have to play by thy rules, Twilight. But sooner or later, I'll get what's rightfully mine!' lying in bed, Cozy dreamt of revenge against her teacher.

CMC to the rescue

So, it's been a week since the "reconciliation" between Twilight and Cozy. During this time, Flash, who regularly played chess with Cozy, earned the trust of the mare (you could say they had already become friends, only Cozy didn't admit it), while the Princess of Friendship and her friends worked on a plan to rehabilitate the pegasus.

"So, let me get this straight: you want to grant the most dangerous manipulator a second chance, despite the fact that she betrayed friendship itself, endeavored to seize control of Equestria with the most dangerous and evil villains in history, and hath nearly brought about our demise? Do you truly believe she is not plotting revenge at this very moment?" protested Rainbow Dash.

"Sugarcube, I’m sure Cozy can still be influenced? It seems like she's just obsessed with manipulation and power-grabbing, and friendship to her is just a tool for satisfying personal ambitions. As soon as she gets the chance, she'll stab us in the back. Cozy is an incorrigible liar!" Applejack backed up the rainbow pegasus.

"Plus, Cozy didn't spend much time in stone. We're already too merciful, allowing Cozy to be under house arrest in the palace room," Rarity added.

Sighing, Twilight replied:

"I know the risk is great. I'll be frank: she still hates Celestia, Luna, and Discord for their punishment. But she's still a pony: I'm sure Cozy can still understand the value of true friendship with the right approach. And Flash has already achieved great success. Even if Cozy plans to manipulate him, she genuinely welcomes his visits. In her heart, there is both love and kindness. We just need to show it to Cozy herself. Will you help me with this?"

Glancing at each other, her friends replied:

"Count on me, sugarcube!"

"Of course, darling!"

"I'm sure my forest friends will help melt Cozy's heart."

"Oh, I'm already prepared to surprise her with a party!"

"If you art confident in thy decision, then I shall give Cozy a chance. Nevertheless, it shall not be simple for her to earn my trust," spoke up Rainbow Dash last.

"Thank you, girls!" Twilight hugged her friends. "So, first things first...…"

***

A knock on the door distracted Cozy from studying chess theory. The pegasus opened the door, ready to challenge Flash with a new strategy she had learned. But this time, her guard friend didn't come alone.

"Miss Glow! You have visitors," Flash announced the prisoner and stepped aside, letting the guests in.

"The Cutie Mark Crusaders?!" Cozy exclaimed in surprise.

"Hey, Cozy!"

"Long time no see!"

"How've you been?" Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo greeted their old friend.

"Golly! What are you doing here?!" the mare exclaimed.

"We came to help our lost friend!"

"Friend?! But I locked you in the pantry and trapped your sisters in Tartarus! Shouldn't you hate me?!" Cozy couldn't understand how the Crusaders could be friendly after everything.

"Well, to be honest, I'm still mad," Scootaloo admitted.

"But our sisters decided to give you a second chance. And we decided that it's not too late to make things right and be friends again. Besides, forgiving our enemies is nothing new to us," Apple Bloom explained.

"Plus, you weren't always bad: when we first met, we helped you learn about friendship, and in return, you helped us become teachers at the Friendship School," Sweetie Belle smiled, reminding Cozy.

"Only, if you weren't manipulating us back then to quickly gain Twilight's trust and respect," Scootaloo voiced her doubts.

Cozy sighed.

"I know it's hard to believe, but I really wasn't pretending. Everyone was out for themselves in the shelter. And even though I already had some skills in manipulating others, I really needed help learning about friendship. You really did help me get into the Friendship School, and I decided to repay you."

"Cozy, but why did you still betray us? Why are you so eager for power? Were you unhappy at the Friendship School? And do you still want to rule now?" the CMC asked.

After some thought, Cozy decided to answer honestly:

"All right, I'll point out the obvious things to you. Ruling Equestria is my destiny. Look at my cutie mark: you'd think I have a talent for chess. But in reality, I got my rook because I outsmarted a bully in the shelter. That's when I was basically recognized as the leader of the group. And soon, through manipulation (scheming, deception, blackmail), I practically became the top mare in the shelter. The more followers I had, the more opportunities I had. And I liked it. So, I decided that my fate was to rule others.

"But why are you willing to do anything for power? The first time, you nearly depleted all the magic, and the second time, you agreed to give 2/3 of the country to terrible villains. Why do you want to rule?" the CMC asked.

"Because I deserve it more than the princesses!" Cozy exploded. "They have everything: strong magical talent, friends, and family. But my life in the shelter was far from sweet until I got my cutie mark. That's when I had a dream: I wanted everyone in Equestria to be my friends."

"You meanest servants?" Scootaloo clarified.

"Same thing. But my plan failed. And then, hatred blinded me. So, I decided to ally with Chrysalis and Tirek. I'll be honest: I wanted to be friends with them, but they were too stubborn," Cozy recalled. Despite their difficult relationship, deep down, the mare valued her allies, although she feared betrayal from them. After thinking, the pegasus continued.

"Perhaps, victory over Equestria would have brought us closer. But in the end, we lost. And now, everyone knows me as a cunning and insane (some even say demonic) mare. My main weapon - words, is now powerless. Running away, seeking revenge, and trying to seize power alone is the dumbest idea. That's why I gave up.

"But you're glad Twilight gave you a chance, aren't you?" Apple Bloom asked.

The question made Cozy think. On one hoof, the mare was angry with Twilight for allowing the princesses to first send her to Tartarus and then imprison her in stone. But on the other hand, she understood perfectly well that thanks to the mercy of the Princess of Friendship (even if she gave her a chance to improve her image), she was free from the bonds of cold stone and not locked forever in her own thoughts.

"Yes, I'm really grateful to her for a second chance. Including the opportunity to apologize and truly become friends with you. Thank you for coming!" Cozy thanked the Crusaders, bowing her head and closing her eyes.

In response, the CMC hugged the pegasus (although Scootaloo reluctantly accepted it: like Rainbow Dash, she still didn't trust Cozy).

"We're always happy to help friends!" Apple Bloom declared.

"Even though you became a villain and tried to take over the world, I always believed that there's goodness in you," Sweetie Belle confessed.

"All right, I'll trust you too. But dare to betray us again, and I'll personally hoof you in the face," Scootaloo threatened.

"I promise that this time everything will be different. So, how about a game of chess?"

***

"So, girls: do you think Cozy really sincerely wants to be friends with you again?"

"Did she threaten you?"

"Did she ask for anything? Did she try to manipulate you?" Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash asked their sisters two hours later in one of the palace rooms.

"Nope, as i expected, Cozy behaved friendly.," Apple Bloom began to answer. Of course, she might try to manipulate us…

"But this time we'll be on guard and won't let her deceive us!" Scootaloo confidently stated.

"Perhaps Cozy really befriended us to gain Twilight's trust and get out of house arrest. But she genuinely seemed happy about our visit," Sweetie Belle said.

"And we had a great time! Although it's a bit unfortunate that we lost to her not only in chess but also in 'Monopoly' and 'Ogres and Oubliettes'," Scootaloo added.

"But most importantly: we understood why Cozy is so eager for power. She believes that her cutie mark means she should rule ponies. But she completely forgets that with her talent, she can help others. First, she got her cutie mark by teaching a bully a lesson. And also, she helped us get into the Friendship School, despite the awkwardness with Twilight," the group leader spoke up.

"So, we decided to introduce her to our friend who can understand her problem - Diamond Tiara!" Scootaloo exclaimed.

"And we're sure she'll convince Cozy that true happiness comes not from power or wealth, but from friendship," Sweetie Belle concluded.

"Sugarcube, Ah, I'm so proud of you!"

"I couldn't have come up with a better plan, well done!"

"I knew you could handle it, little sis!" Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity praised their younger sisters before heading to Twilight.

And so, the Cutie Mark Crusaders began working with Cozy. Hopefully, everything will work out for them, and the cunning mare won't outsmart them again."