Blaze laid and watched as Ostri started playing with Cozy Glow at her request. She watched with interest. Murk sat down beside her, and joined in watching the spectacle. Cozy sat down eventually, her mane and tail were loose and sweaty, and covered in dirt. The little filly adorably sat down in front of Ostri, facing away from him, as the stallion’s body moved on its own. Ostri started working his tongue through Cozy’s mane while he brushed her tail with the brush Chrysalis typically used.

“So Cozy Glow is just traveling with us,” Rainbow pointed out. “And she followed us all the way from Ponyville.” She looked at the rest of the girls. “Don’t you think that’s a little odd?”

“I wanted to know where my professors were going,” Cozy said. “Something was clearly going down, judging from what the newspaper was saying,” she pulled a newspaper out from under her wing. Blaze and Murk worked in tangent, looking out of Cadance and Shining Armor’s eyes respectively. Using Ostri’s ability to read, they started smiling. The griffins had announced how they weren’t aiding Equestria during the war, especially after hearing about what Princess Luna was doing to her consort.

The Storm King just took Appleloosa, and there was…

A bounty for Ostri. Apparently he didn’t get off scot free from taking out the main invasion ship for Canterlot, or Baltimare.

“Blaze, Ostri was reading it, we could’ve just processed what he was reading,” Murk pointed out.

“...” Blaze sighed. “Dangit,” she shook her head.

“You know,” Ostri mused. “The griffins may offer me sanctuary from that stupid bounty; the king said he wanted to speak with ‘that one fast, yellow pegasus’ in the last article.” Ostri shrugged. “Most ponies probably won’t go after me either.” He mused. “I could turn myself in, get the bits for travel money, and fly out pretty easily.”

“Ostri, you know that the last person that did that, ended up dying,” Blaze pointed out.

“True.”

“You know,” Cozy spoke up. “I told Mayor Mare to go ahead and evacuate Ponyville, since the Storm King was going to go there next. They’re all heading up towards Griffonia, and subsequently onto a train to the Crystal Empire,” Cozy said innocently. “They all were leaving Ponyville, including all of your families,” she added. “Zecora too.” The topic of Cozy Glow suddenly traveling with the group was dropped by the Element Bearers almost in a heart beat. To them, it felt as though an invisible anvil's been lifted off their chest; they now knew that their families and family were going to be safe.

“Hoo-boy,” Apple Jack sighed. “That solves that problem at least; everypony we know is going to be safe and sound.”

Rainbow nodded. “I suppose… Though why didn’t you leave with the rest of Ponyville?”

“Where in Equestria would be safer, during a war, than with Headmare Twilight Sparkle? She’s with all of you, Discord is on our side, there’s an old war hero you’re traveling with,” Cozy gestured to Ostri. “Shining Armor and Princess Cadance are both very capable with magic, and then there’s those two,” Cozy nodded to the two magical foxes. “A kitsune and a kumiho. Those two alone could obliterate an army, and just the kumiho could easily keep us safe. Nopony would even need to do anything.” She said, eying Murk.

“She wants to somehow soul bound with you,” Blaze noted. “She is sorely mistaken-”

“Most creatures on Equus don’t know about soul binding,” Murk interjected. “She knows way more than she’s letting on, and her intentions are not very good despite her ‘sweet’ little facade she’s putting on. Ostri clearly adores her, and has some sympathy for the ‘poor girl’ because they’re both orphans.” Murk sighed. “I don’t know how we’re going to tell him; he already loves that girl, or at least, what she’s pretending to be.” They watched as Cozy finally settled under Ostri’s left wing, and nuzzled into the shoulder right after. She pretended to sleepily blink while staring up at the pegasus after he had started to start focusing on a word search that Ocellus had made for him.

It was actually a comprehensive book of crosswords, word searches, and other things that Ostri seemed to actually take some good enjoyment in. Chrysalis was watching over his shoulder, helping him with a crossword the two had just started on.

“She knows that he finds her adorable,” Blaze shook her head. “I would as well, if it weren’t for all the ‘ideas’ she has in mind for him once he is no longer useful…”

Chrysalis and I had successfully cleared one more crossword, it was actually kinda difficult. Ocellus watched with intent, as she had just asked us how we liked it. “C’mere, Ocellus,” I patted the spot next to me. “You made this whole, thick book full of puzzles, word searches, and whatever you could think of… yesterday?” I asked, I’m genuinely impressed.

“Yeah… Do you like it?” She asked again, hoping for a confirmation. “I… don’t know if you would or not, but I figured you could use something extra to do while you’re on the road.” Ocellus soon found herself under my right wing, and I was nuzzling her. She was sitting there, bug eyed.

“I love it, Ocellus. I couldn’t imagine coming up with this within a week, and you did this in the span of an afternoon. You’re fuckin’ smart, kid. You’re gonna go far, kid. Keep it up.” I patted her on the head, before rolling over to simply hug her. The little changeling eped again, before setting in for snuggles. Changelings, as I have found out during my time here in the Hive, are excellent cuddle buddies. I looked to my left to see if Cozy was still there, only to see her with Blaze, happily trying to cuddle with her.

Then, Blaze picked Cozy up and hopped into the wagon.

Blaze and Murk casted another joint spell, one that only members of their species, kitsune and kumiho, can perform with soulbound beings; they briefly merged their minds into one as Blaze’s body hopped into the wagon, where Cozy Glow blinked a few times. She looked around, before quizzically looking up at the female fox in question. As much as it probably wasn’t a good idea to use Blaze’s body for this, Cozy has yet to actually touch Murk, and she was a filly. A filly couldn’t do much to a kitsune.

“Why did you take me up in the wagon, is it nap time?’ Cozy asked. She yawned. It was fake.

“Why do you plan on… enslaving my owner?” Blaze asked. “After you get all powerful and all knowing and take over Equus with ultimate power?”

“...What?” Cozy asked. “You know what I’m thinking?!” She whispered.

“You’ve done enough research on mine and my mates’ species to know about soul bonding. You should also be aware that we are both very capable telepaths; it is how we interact with our owner and friend, Ostri.”

“Are. You. Kidding. Me?!” Cozy asked. “So this plan-”

“You could drop the plan, you know, live as a happy little filly that doesn’t plan on enslaving her current guardian because he helped keep her safe and warm,” Blaze interrupted. “Have you noticed just how quickly Ostri’s taken a liking to you? He adores you, and I can tell that, at some point, may start seeing you as his own daughter. You act as a normal, sweet little filly, and continue acting like one, or you can be a conniving little shit and ruin what little mental health Ostri has. Take your choice. Pick the wrong one, and Murk, my mate, will eat you alive by the end of the road you take.”

“Pfft, Ostri wouldn’t let you hurt me. I’m cute and loveable and-”

“He finds you cute and he does think you’re loveable. However, if Ostri breaks, he’ll probably snap and kill you. Or he’ll let us kill you while he wallows in his own despair. You, yourself, basically do not have parents, correct? That they treated you like garbage, so for all intents and purposes, you’ve disowned them?” Blaze asked, tilting her head. “Ostri and Chrysalis could be wonderful parents; Chrysalis has done this song and dance before, so she can help Ostri, and Ostri, again, adores you.”

“Or, I could somehow get soulbound with you, and take over the world,” Cozy grinned maliciously.

“Then allow me to make this clear,” Blaze grabbed the pink, little filly by the head with her mouth. Cozy’s eyes widened with shock before immediately closing on instinct to keep her eyes from touching the suddenly razor sharp teeth within the kitsune’s jaws. “I can eat you alive, right now, and spare my owner the trouble. I can easily bite your head off and let everyone know just how evil, cruel, and awful you can be before doing so. I can let Twilight know of your little plans to make yourself the empress of friendship, which is adorable; even with all that power, an ancient kumiho could come along and ruin those plans in an instance.” Cozy’s body dangled from her neck, while her head remained in the fox’s jaws. Her screams were muffled by a silencing spell Blaze casted on the girl.

“Or,” Blaze spat out Cozy. “I can sense that all you truly want is a friend, but for all the wrong reasons. You could have a friend for the right reasons, and allow Ostri to befriend you. I can be nice, friendly and protect you just as much as I protect my little stallion. You can live a long, happy life before you pass away from old age, or forever if Ostri wants you to be soulbound to us. Though soulbinding doesn’t immediately mean myself and my mate will follow your commands. As it stands, Murk and Ostri are in charge depending on the situation. Their words take precedence over yours.”

Cozy shivered. “You are really, really scary, you know,” the filly grabbed her head to make sure it was still attached to her shoulders. “What’s stopping me from just stabbing Ostri with a knife at night?” Just as Cozy got finished saying that, Ostri hopped into the wagon and waved.

“Yo, Thorax said he came up with a recipe for something called rock soup. It sounds stupid, but it might be good. Wanna…” Ostri trotted over to Cozy and stuck his hoof in her mane. “Why are you covered in slobber?” He asked. He tilted his head.

“Me and Cozy were just having some nice, bonding time, and before you came in, I was kissing her entire face.” Blaze lied.

“Mmm, I can tell you’re lying. What happened?” Ostri said.

“Okay so,” Blaze pointed at Cozy. “She wanted to take over the world and enslave you because you kept her from dying of thirst, so you can get to live by her side or whatever.” She said, truthfully. “I gave her a choice, with some… minor suggestive notions. She won’t be doing that anymore.”

Ostri blinked and slowly started turning his head to Cozy. “Kid, Blaze almost never lies to me, and I can tell when she is because she always stutters in her telepathy when she does it. I’m going to pretend like I didn’t hear any of this happened. I hope you don’t pull through with those plans; I like ya kid, I really do. I’d much rather you be a friend than an enemy. I’d much rather see you grow into a lovely mare rather than possibly get thrown into Tartarus, killed, or whatever ponies do to evil people.” Ostrich went through the storage compartments in the wagon, before he grabbed a tower, wetted it with some water from the large water container, and then started cleaning the filly’s mane out.

“There, all fresh, and brand new. C’mon you two, everyone’s gathering around to get a serving of Thorax’s cooking. It’s apparently really good.” Cozy blinked a few times. Blaze started smirking as the filly slowly began to relax into the stallion’s embrace as he carried her out. A small smile had formed on Cozy’s face the moment he cleaned the slobber off of her, and started cradling her… up until he had to start walking, but the point was, Ostri was starting to grow on Cozy.

Just a little.

That filly is going to probably break Ostri’s heart.

Author's Note

Hopefully, Cozy gets mellowed out. Hopefully. Probably not.