Natural Born Alicorn

by Austere

Rating: mature
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Drama, Luster Dawn, Flurry Heart, Suicide / Self Harm, Cozy Glow
Length: 10143

Flurry Heart tries to find the meaning of her life while attempting to reform Cozy Glow.

For eighteen years, Princess Flurry Heart has been nurtured by her loving family with the idea that she is the future of the Crystal Empire. She has been prepared to be the Princess of "Hope" for her subjects. She has been programmed and her destiny has been predetermined.

She has been the center of attention for so long, some thoughts have started to itch in the back of her mind. Is she good enough to rule an empire? Does that even matter? Her mother, like every other alicorn, is immune to aging. Why bother follow her family's steps then? These ideas have revolved in her mind and she wonders if there is more in life than being a leader or a good example.

As Flurry has come of age, her parents decide it is time for her first Royal task:

Reform Cozy Glow.

Cover: edited screenshot—from MLP: FiM Season 9 Episode 26—by me.

Published 2024-07-25 06:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2024-08-28 03:21:56 UTC

Prologue

Author's Note

In case anyone thought about the title of the story for more than a second, it's a reference to Natural Born Killers (1994 movie). Not really inspired by its plot, just letting the reader now.

Prologue

Flurry Heart hadn't had a heartwarming day at school. It wasn't like she ever had a great day in that place, not even on the last day before graduation. She appreciated that her parents had allowed her to attend regular classes at the Crystal High School, but she wished that for once she would feel regular herself. She couldn't concentrate with all the looks and the whispers, and to make matters worse, the pressure from the teachers. As an alicorn with immeasurable potential, she was always expected to be top of the class, to the detriment of her peers' opinion of her:

Who does she think she is? A goddess?

Such a teacher's pet, she must really love authority.

She can't help to feel superior, can she?

Are we supposed to praise this royal parasite?

She's not invited to the party, of course.

Flurry remembered some of the gossip, but couldn't raise a hoof at anypony. The other fillies and colts were her peers but also her subjects. It wasn't her role to argue with them, but to rule them one day. She just needed to do what had already been established during Princess Amore's reign: to protect the Crystal Heart and embrace the Crystal Empire's traditions. Or at least those were her parents' wishes.

Ever since she understood her role in life and how different she was from most ponies, there were thoughts of whether she would ever be emotionally strong enough to succeed her parents and be what the crystal ponies needed. Those thoughts would never leave her, no matter how hard she tried to clear her mind.

Flying back home from school, Flurry's eyes scanned the Empire from above. She could see the reflective beauty of the crystal houses and streets under the summer sunset. She was trying hard to focus on that landscape and not her own thoughts.

In no time, she reached her home, the Crystal Castle. She decided to land on a balcony of the massive crystal tower. She landed close to a guard, who promptly saluted her and opened the balcony's door for her. In response, Flurry just briefly smiled and nodded at him before walking inside the castle. And that part of the castle was her own bedroom. She didn't blame the guard for being right outside, but she wished she could dismiss him and have some privacy. Instead, she opted to put her school saddlebags down and go through the other door that led to a hallway within the castle. Again there was another guard standing beside the door. There was a salute and Flurry smiled back.

Flurry continued down the hallway, looking down at the pace of her own hooves. She had walked down a spiral staircase and was on the first floor of the Castle. She was nervous to meet her parents since school was officially over. Even worse, she still had to assist to the Crystal Prom: an event held by the school for graduating students. Alone.

She couldn't refuse to attend it, could I? Not even being an adult mare already. She depended on her parents after all. I guess being a princess means I'll just leech from the Empire's wealth till the day I die, she thought as she followed the purple carpet's trail.

Flurry finally reached the doors to the throne room, which were more austere in design if compared with those of her bedroom. One of the two guards standing at them rushed to open the door for her with his hooves. As always, Flurry reciprocated their salute before entering the room. The door was closed behind her.

"Welcome home, sweetie!" Cadance greeted.

"Oh, hey sweetheart," Shining's voice followed.

Flurry squinted her eyes to look towards the throne that was far away from the door. With her eyes feeling tired from looking at all the reflective crystal structures around for the whole day, she could see the two blurry but familiar figures of her parents.

"Hi mom, dad," Flurry said and started approaching them. She blinked her eyes rapidly for a second and the images of Cadance and Shining became clear to her. They were sitting close to each other on the large crystal throne, smiling at her. When she was about a few steps away from them, she stopped her hooves. Looking at them, Flurry sniffled and cleared her throat. "Today was the-"

"Last day of school, yeah! We're so happy for you, Flurry!" Cadance almost jumped from the throne and rushed to hug her daughter tightly.

"Couldn't be more proud of my filly." Shining had also got up and joined the hug.

"Uh..." Flurry frowned at their words but maintained her warm smile while being hugged by her parents. "Why proud, dad?" She broke the hug to exchange glances with both Cadance and Shining.

"Well, let's just say your final grades were teleported to us earlier and... " Shining turned his head towards his evidently excited wife.

"You're top of the class, Flurry!" Cadance said, letting out a whinny. She couldn't hold back her emotions and, spreading her wings, pranced in place for a couple of seconds. Then she stopped to breathe and giggled at her own actions.

Flurry chuckled, listening then to her parents' shared laughter. "It's not that great, really," Flurry commented. She saw both her parents become silent in reaction to her words. Almost immediately, she looked away, pressing her lips together.

"Flurry, what do you mean?" Cadance said, slightly frowning and looked at Shining, who scratched his mane looking back at her.

Flurry lowered her head, shaking it. "Sorry, never mind that. I meant to say that there are many other students with excellent grades as well." She raised her head and gave them her best smile. Pretend for them, please. At that moment in her head, she only wanted to have a last meal and then fall into an eternal sleep.

And so, Flurry's stomach growled. "So um..."

"Oh, Sweetie, you must be starving!" Cadance's mother instincts took over her. "How about we head out for dinner?" She exchanged glances with both Flurry and Shining.

"Whatever my filly decides, I'll agree on." Shining nodded once with a smile, raising a hoof and playfully shaking Flurry's shoulder a couple of times.

Flurry inhaled and licked her lips. "Well, uh, yes. But could it be fast food, maybe? There are just some things I really need to talk with you two about."

"Of course, sweetie. And your father and I also have things to discuss with you," Cadance replied. She started walking towards the door and Shining followed. "A thing, specifically," she finished, already a few strides away from Flurry.

Flurry stood there, looking at her parents moving away. She was pressing her forehooves against the fine carpet. Her nerves were getting the best of her. "Please don't tell me it has to do with the Crystal Prom." She gulped and her body was shaking. She looked down and slightly moved her hooves to see the circular marks she had left on the carpet. "Because I won't go." Her pupils contracted, realizing what she had said. She couldn't believe she had refused to do something, to her parents.

Both of her parents had stopped their paces and turned around. Shining was looking away and back at his wife and daughter. From years of experience, he had realized that sometimes it was better to remain silent and let his wife do the talking. On the other hand, Cadance was walking back to Flurry. Unlike her husband's, her eyes did not move away from her daughter. It wasn't either a cold or warm stare, simply a neutral one.

"It's not that, dear". Cadance inhaled and stopped walking. Standing in front of Flurry, she raised a hoof and caressed the side of her daughter's muzzle. "Let's talk more about this with full bellies, okay?" Cadance smiled at her.

Flurry's lip was shaking. You know I'm not okay, mom. She could barely hold eye contact with Cadance; with her own mother. She was so close yet so far from her. Flurry knew she could break down there and cry; maybe hug her parents with all her alicorn might. To what avail?, she wondered. Nothing would change. She would still remain in the same path; with the same destiny. She decided to just shut up her inner voice once again.

"Okay, mom", Flurry said, almost whispering. Crestfallen, she walked next to her mother and later also to her father as they were leaving the throne room. Shining opened the door with the bright cerise magic coming from his horn. The mares walked through the exit first, greeting the guards with nods and following the hallway that would led them outside the Crystal Castle.

Chapter One: Before The Meeting

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter Two: First Impressions

Author's Note

If preferred, the content of this chapter can be skipped till the horizontal rule (—***—).

Chapter Two: First Impressions

"How's it possible that Cozy and I are the same age?" was Flurry's first question the moment the four of them entered the Canterlot Castle's hall, just after the doors were closed behind them by the guards outside. She was looking at Twilight, who led the group towards a wide staircase at the back of the hall. She could also hear Cadance and Shining chatting among themselves, in a low voice; and their words sounded like a foreign language to her.

"I'm glad you ask, Flurry. And no, it's not due to an age spell," Twilight explained as she looked forward, confidently walking through one of the many hallways of the Castle. "She's naturally eighteen years old. Since she was released from stone containment at the age of fourteen, she's aged four years, three months..." Twilight, still walking, looked at the ceiling with her eyes moving rapidly. "And twenty-eight days, to be precise," she completed, exchanging a glance with Flurry before looking back forward.

Flurry frowned with her mouth agape, having listened to Twilight's words. She rushed her pace until they were walking side by side, and turned her head towards her. "You said four years?! Au-Auntie! If you couldn't reform her in that long, how could I even dare to try doing that myself?!" Her pupils contracted; she noticed Cadance and Shining had stopped their own conversation after she spoke.

Oh no, you've lost it again. Shame on you. The four of them had stopped on their hooves. With three pairs of eyes on her, Flurry lowered her head. "I'm sorry." Her eyes welled up. "I didn't mean to yell at you, Aunt Twilight."

Twilight turned her body to the side, placing herself in front of Flurry, and looked at her with a gentle smile. "It's okay, niece of mine." She raised a hoof and caressed her head. "I can also relate to 'losing your cool' sometimes, as I believe some stallions would call it". Smirking, she turned her head and glanced at Shining—who immediately looked away, with his white face starting to redden.

Cadance chuckled at her husband next to her. "Your aunt's right, sweetie," she said, looking back at her daughter. She walked a few steps towards Twilight and Flurry, facing the latter. "Nopony, alicorn or else, is perfect." She exchanged looks with Twilight and Shining before looking back at Flurry. "That's why we, your family, are here with you, Flurry. To support you". She raised a hoof and wiped the tear from her cheek.

Flurry rushed to her mother and hugged her tightly; wrapping both her forehooves and wings around Cadance, standing on her hindlegs. Cadance responded to the embrace by placing her forehoof—beneath one of the wings—on Flurry's shoulder. She shushed gently at Flurry's weak sobs, closing her eyes.

Selfish brat. Put yourself together. Flurry broke the hug a few seconds later. "We should hurry, right Auntie?" She sniffled, slightly stepping back from the other alicorns while looking away.

Twilight sighed, and shook her head. "You know what, Flurry? No. I think those diplomats can wait a little longer for my presence." She raised her alicorn-long foreleg and with her hoof ruffled Flurry's mane. "Besides, I believe Spike can handle them in the meantime." She turned her body and resumed walking, in a more leisurely fashion, down the Castle's hallway; being closely followed by the Crystal Family. "It's not like our little brother could trigger a war with the Griffonian Empire, right Shining?"

"Of cour- I mean, no-yes! Uh..." Shining blinked his eyes rapidly; frowning with his mouth ajar, he turned his head to the side and looked at Cadance with a help me! written on his face.

Looking at her husband, Cadance pressed her lips tightly together in a smile. "Shining means that such thing is very unlikely to happen, Twi."

Flurry giggled for a second, having listened to the conversation, but quickly shook her head. No time to act like a foal, she thought.

After a couple minutes of wordless clopping of hooves, Flurry noticed that Twilight turned towards a familiar set of stairs. "Auntie? Don't these stairs take us to the Bedrooms Floor?" She exchanged glances with her parents as well, and they turned in the same direction.

"That's correct, Flurry," Twilight said, going up the stairs. "We're going to meet Cozy Glow in one of the rooms where she's been staying."

Flurry's jaw dropped ajar. Walking next to Twilight, she looked down at the red carpeted steps, frowning. "Doesn't that make it easier for her to..." She could already feel her heartbeat racing.

"Easier for her to escape, you mean?" Twilight completed. She turned her head to the side and glanced at Cadance, who was behind her, then looked at her niece. "Well, Flurry the answer is that she's magically restrained from doing so. For the same reason the three of you couldn't teleport directly inside the Castle." Twilight reached the end of the stairs first and stopped her pace; followed by Flurry, and then Shining and Cadance. She turned her body towards them and looked at Shining. "Brother, do you remember how you improved the Castle's magical defenses?"

Shining nodded once, closing his eyes with a cheeky smile. "Not to brag about it, but I gave the idea to Star Swirl, may he rest in peace, about recycling Chrysalis's throne-shards; which to this day, they protect the building's perimeter with an anti-magic field." He opened his eyes after his side was softly nudged by Cadance, and he cleared his throat. "That basically means, nopony can enter or leave this Castle by magical means," he finished, exchanging glances with both Twilight and Flurry.

"But Cozy's a Pegasus..." Flurry frowned, looking at the long hallway ahead; which was illuminated by the sunlight coming through the windows on one of the walls. She squinted her eyes and saw, near the end of the corridor, a couple of Royal Guards standing at one of the many doors, on the opposite side of the windows. "Couldn't she just fly away through one of the many windows?" she asked, turning her head back towards the purple alicorn.

Twilight, looking at her niece with half-lidded eyes and a gentle smile, inhaled. "No, Flurry, because Cozy Glow cannot fly while wearing her Flight-Restrictor necklace," she responded, taking a couple of steps back from the group. "Allow me to elaborate on what that is".

"I understand. And auntie... you really shouldn't bother," Flurry said weakly, raising a forehoof but quickly dropping it back.

Standing still, Twilight closed her eyes and her horn illuminated. Then, a bright cerise-color hologram appeared before the group:

Represented to scale, it showed what it seemed to be a wide chair; with sharp edges, long spikes and dozens of holes on its back. The three-dimensional image was slowly rotating, exhibiting all of its details. "This was Queen Chrysalis's throne before she was overthrown," Twilight indicated, opening her eyes. She raised a hoof to point at the hologram. "The moment she was, it shattered violently."—And so did the magic projection, exploding into pieces—"You already know what we did with its shards." With a gesture of Twilight's hoof, most of the virtual debris vanished from existence—except for a tiny bright dot. "However, we kept a few samples to study them further." The floating dot was zoomed in; amplified to the size of a pebble, it was only different from one by being flat and serrated. Twilight moved it horizontally and closer to Flurry, illuminating her face. "This is what nullifies Cozy's ability to fly; which is, in essence, a magical action done by the Pegasi," she finished, with the light of her horn fading away, along with the hologram.

Flurry's brain was feeling numb, having listened to Twilight's explanation. She lowered her head and raised a hoof to massage her forehead. "No more questions for now, auntie."

Finally in that morning, having thought the time would never come since she was told the previous night, Flurry was a few steps before the only barrier left between her and the infamous Cozy Glow: a wooden door of a bedroom in the Canterlot Castle. Her heart was pounding in her chest; and the thoughts flooded her mind:

Worst mistake in your life was accepting this task.

Your aunt, the Princess of Friendship, was deceived by Cozy.

And you're not better than Twi.

In fact, not even equal; probably ten times more naive.

You're going to mess it up somehow, putting all of Equestria in danger.

Why are you still here?

Can't you see you're a mistake of nature itself?

You useless, naive, antisocial, piece of...

Flurry flinched, having felt a hoof placed on her withers. She turned her head to the left, wide-eyed, and saw her mother. She looked at her with dot-like pupils, soon with them slowly dilating back to normal. Then, she did a mental effort to not lower head or let out a sigh: At least don't act weak in front of the guards.

"May I have your saddlebags before you go in, sweetie?" Cadance asked, lowering her hoof from Flurry's back. After her daughter nodded once, Cadance's horn illuminated and a bright cyan aura enveloped the two bags on Flurry's back and lifted them.

Flurry breathed deeply, feeling the weight leave her back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Twilight walking until she was on her right side.

"I'm coming in with you, briefly," Twilight said. Then she stepped forward, towards the door. "Current status?" She inquired, stopping between the two guards at the door, and casting glances at them.

"Subject hasn't been allowed to be out of the bedroom since you ordered, Princess," confirmed one of the Royal Guards, standing still with a straight face.

Twilight nodded once. She turned her head to look behind, at Flurry. "Are you ready, niece?"

Flurry swallowed, staring at the door. When she was lifting her heavy hooves to walk, her ears perked up to the familiar sound of a stallion's voice, behind her:

"You got this, my filly," cheered Shining, approaching his daughter, who had stopped on her hooves, until he was to her side. He exchanged looks with her, and raised a hoof to softly pat her shoulder twice. "I'll be right outside, in case of anything."

Flurry nodded, giving him a half-smile. Then she looked forward, at her aunt and the door. "I'm ready, aunt Twilight," she confirmed, walking forward.

C...R...E...A...K...

The door was opened by one of the guards, who had taken the star medallion from his chest-armor and pressed it against the doorknob. The creaking noise of the wood was followed by the distinct sound of magic being casted, and then by the noise of drawing curtains. After that, Flurry noticed the magic on Twilight's horn faded.

The dark bedroom became illuminated by the late-morning light; although only partially visible to Flurry, who was standing behind Twilight on the threshold. From that angle, she assumed that the plenty of sunlight inside the room was coming from a window on the perpendicular wall to the one of the door. Looking down, the chess floor tiles were the same as the ones of the hallway, reflecting everything on them: a tall closet on one side of the room; a desk with books spread over and a chessboard; a wooden short stool before the desk; and a few water bottles scattered around.

Scanning every detail Flurry could, her eyes stopped at the reflection of a figure on the other side of the room: Somepony was sitting on the queen size bed, rubbing their eyes, just before jumping out of it.

"Well, golly, I hadn't seen so many princesses together in a while," Cozy Glow said in a hoarse voice, which was followed by a yawn as she took a few steps away from the bed. Then she stopped her hooves and stretched her body: first by raising her hips while lowering her upper body; and then by doing the opposite. She cleared her throat. "Hm, this looks serious... Am I in trouble?" she asked, standing in the middle of the room, facing the doorway.

"No," replied Twilight, and strode into the room. "Cozy Glow, I'd like you to meet my niece, Princess Flurry Heart."

When Flurry heard her own name, she blinked twice, standing on the threshold. She was still looking at Cozy's reflection on the floor. She walked into the room, slowly, and her eyes rose; first meeting the warm, light pink hooves connected to a set of forelegs; and these to a slim chest and narrow shoulders. At that point, Flurry could already tell Cozy was not only a lot shorter than her, but significantly so than the average adult mare.

Then, Flurry's gaze paused on Cozy's neck: A tiny, dark teal-color stone shard hung from it, on a thin black string. Tell me that's her Flight-Restrictor, she hoped mentally. Then, perhaps as a nervous response, she bit her lower lip for a couple of seconds.

"My eyes are up here, Princess Flurry," Cozy said, raising a hoof to gesture up.

Flurry swallowed, blinking her eyes rapidly as she approached Twilight, who snorted in response to Cozy's words. She stopped on her hooves close to Twilight's side. Her eyes hadn't left Cozy's body, and she inhaled before finally looking at her face. She met a pair of intense, orange-red eyes, getting caught in a mutual stare. Below Cozy's eyes, Flurry noticed a tight-lipped smile.

Cozy was somewhat different than what Flurry remembered from the pictures she had seen in her History of Equestria class: Besides the fair increase in body height; her curly pastle-blue mane had grown to her shoulders, with no bow to be seen anywhere on her head.

"Hi! I'm Cozy Glow and... I mean, is this really necessary?" Cozy broke eye contact with Flurry, turning her head towards Twilight. "Everypony here already knows who I am", she finished, raising a hoof to point towards the open door:

Shining and Cadance were standing just beyond the threshold with serious faces—their eyes followed every move Cozy was making.

Twilight inhaled deeply. "Cozy Glow, let's start over, okay?" Her horn illuminated and, out of thin air, two large cushions enveloped in magic poofed into the room. "I'd like you and my niece to sit down, on these. Then I'll explain to you what the purpose of this meeting is." She placed the cushions in the middle of the room, on the floor; closer to each other than Flurry would have wished.

Chapter Three: "Hope"

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter Four: Change of Custody

"G-Good evening Crystal Graduates and their families!" said an ochre-orange stallion wearing a cloak. The unicorn was standing on a tall platform under heart-shaped arches. He was facing a crowd of ponies, a few yaks and loose tiny ewes. Behind him, not many strides away, was the spinning Crystal Heart.

The cloaked stallion cleared his throat and fixed his round glasses using the magic from his horn. "I, Sunburst, the once Crystaller of many now young mares and stallions present tonight, would like to congratulate each one of you—" Sunburst took a pause from talking loudly with a volume-spell. Soon, he received brief ovations, mostly from parents, who applauded with hooves striking the crystal street below. He chuckled and then inhaled. "—for this very special change in your lives. Each one of you has been awarded a diploma, although it would've been totally okay if some of you had dropped ou—Ahem!" He twisted his head away from the crowd and looked at the Crystal Family—Shining, Cadance and Flurry—downstairs, behind the platform. "C-Citizens, allow me to present you: the Crystal Best Graduate of this year, Princess Flurry Heart!" He finished, raising a hoof to point behind.

In response to Sunburst's announcement, more cheering came from those few in the crowd at the Crystal Castle Square.

Flurry's heart was pumping blood thrice as fast as it normally did. It beat so heavily that it pounded in her ears. She was standing in between her parents at the bottom of the stairs. She breathed deeply and slowly, looking vacantly at the steps in front of her. A few seconds had already passed since Sunburst called her name.

"Dear, they're waiting for you." Cadance placed a hoof on Flurry's shoulder. After she spoke, there was silence, only interrupted by murmurs being shushed within the crowd on the other side of the platform.

Flurry flinched slightly, feeling the cold metal of Cadance's shoe against her bare coat. She exchanged looks with her and Shining. "I-I'm sorry. I just..." She inhaled deeply. "Sh-Should I make a statement about... her?" she asked, raising her head and looking up.

On the balcony of the Castle—above the royal platform—dimly illuminated by moonlight and crystal glow, Flurry could see a pair of fidgety, warm-pink legs sticking out from the railing.

"Don't worry about that now, sweetheart," Shining assured. "You just need to remember the speech. Right, honey?" He looked at Cadance.

"Mhm! Now go, sweetie!" Cadance pressured.

Flurry sighed, shutting her eyes tightly for a second. Then, she lifted a hoof and placed it on the first step of the stairs.

36 hours earlier

The doors of the Canterlot Castle were opened. The early morning light illuminated the group walking through them.

"... And please forgive Spike's absence. He had to leave for an urgent matter in the Dragon Lands," said Twilight. She had walked first through the doors and turned around the moment her hooves touched the outside dirt. Her lavender coat shone against the sunlight. "Now everypony, pay attention, please."

"Lemme guess, little sis," Shining said, wearing a smirk. "You wanna give us some cheesy farewell words?" A second after asking, he winced and covered his side with a hoof. He snorted, looking at Cadance next to him—who snickered at him, lowering her foreleg.

"Cheesy?! Ew! Not at all!" Twilight chuckled, gesturing with a hoof from side to side. "I just wanted to give some final recommendations before they bring her outside."

Flurry gulped, standing beside her mother on the threshold. "W-Wait a minute, auntie. We're all going to the Empire... in the same train together?" she asked, looking at Twilight with narrowed eyes.

"Very perceptive of you, niece," Twilight said, smiling gently at Flurry. "Even though I would have preferred to teleport her there after the three of you returned first, that's not possible due to the current magical restrictions on her body."

Flurry nodded once and exhaled. She raised a hoof to rub the back of her neck, however she immediately dropped it when her foreleg was uncovered from the sleeve of her shirt.

"Oh, dear, you're sweating," said Cadance, looking at Flurry's back. "You sure you don't want to take off the shirt?"

Flurry's pupils contracted upon hearing Cadance's question. "N-No, I'm fine! I-It's just the saddlebags, really." She lowered her head. Then, her ears perked up at the clopping of hooves coming from behind.

Cozy was walking down the stairs at the back of the entrance hall. She was being escorted from side to side by Gallus and another royal guard. She carried saddlebags on her back and her mane was tied in a messy, bushy bun at the back of her head.

"Please, family, let's step outside now," Twilight said, for a moment looking beyond the crystal family still on the threshold. She took a step to the side at the doors and the rest imitated her by moving to the opposite side. Standing still, all of their heads were turned towards the inside of the Castle.

Cozy and the guards were already halfway from the stairs to the exit of the Castle. At that point, Gallus got ahead of them and trod quickly towards a Twilight. "Awaiting further orders, Princess," he said, saluting her with claws raised to his temple.

"At ease, Captain." Twilight nodded. She looked beyond Gallus, at the other guard. "Signal your subordinate to stop as well."

Gallus complied, twisting his head and gesturing at the other guard, who in response stopped his hooves. Cozy did as well. The two of them were standing not many steps away from the doors.

"Cozy Glow, you may keep walking towards us," Twilight granted.

Before lifting her hooves to walk, Cozy glanced at everypony in her sight: first at the grim-faced guard beside her, then at Gallus, Twilight, Shining, Cadance, and finally at Flurry; her eyes were a second longer focused on the latter. She walked a few steps forward but stopped her hooves just on the threshold. She looked at Twilight. "Princess, I'm not the fearful kind but..." Raising a hoof, she tapped the dark stone on her Flight-Restrictor necklace. "You sure this thing won't blow my head off the moment I step outside?"

Twilight shook her head, looking at Cozy severely. "Negative." She inhaled deeply. "You're physically safe to leave the magic field around the castle. Although unrelated mental states like anxiety episodes could happen after breaking from a long-term captivity."

"Just anxiety, huh?" Cozy chuckled and looked at Flurry. "You might wanna close your eyes now... and maybe your lips as well, friend."

Flurry, who had her wide eyes fixed on Cozy and her mouth open ajar, swallowed dryly. She took a slight step back from Cadance's side.

"Cozy Glow, step outside at once," Twilight ordered in a monotone voice.

Cozy rolled her eyes. "Gosh, can't a pony enjoy the suspense? Fine." Closing her eyes, she lifted her forehoof and, slowly, took it from the threshold and placed it on the dirt outside. That motion was followed by her other hooves and in a matter of seconds, her body was completely under sunlight; her warm pink coat seemed pale under the natural shine. She opened her eyes, wearing a smile. "Well, I'm still alive. That's good, right?" She turned towards Flurry, who was crestfallen and taking deep breaths.

Twilight cleared her throat, standing diagonally behind Cozy. "Now, remove your saddlebags for a search, Cozy Glow."

A minute later, Gallus had emptied Cozy's saddlebags by flipping them over and letting the objects—a book, a small folding chessboard, a bottle of water, cream-white ribbons, a comb, and a few other self-care items—fall onto the dirt. Cozy was packing them back up under the eyes of everypony around her.

Flurry inhaled deeply and took a step forward from Cadance's side. "M-May I help you, Cozy?" she asked, approaching her with a tiny smile.

"That's sweet of you, Flurry, but no thanks." Cozy raised her head and turned it towards Flurry, smiling gently. Without looking then, she used her forehoof to pick up the objects from the dirt and place them inside her saddlebags. Her eyes lowered and focused on Flurry's shirt—it was gray and had the word UniKorn printed in white letters on the front. "Nice shirt, by the way. Love their song 'Pony on a Leash'. I can relate to it sometimes, you know?"

Flurry's eyes widened and so did her smile. "Th-That's my favorite song by them!" she said and giggled. However, a second later, she dropped her smile and lowered her head. "Sorry, I shouldn't find that funny." She looked at Cozy's cursed necklace.

Cozy glanced at the severe faces of Twilight, Cadance and Shining. She chuckled and shook her head, facing Flurry. "It's okay. Please, don't be sorry." She grabbed her saddlebags and placed them on her back. "Besides, I think that laughing at other ponies' misery can sometimes be—"

"Ahem," Twilight chimed in, taking a couple steps towards them. "Niece and Cozy Glow, I'm glad to see you two are starting to get along," she said, exchanging looks with both. "However, I must remind you that"—Her eyes fixed into Flurry's, and a gentle smile appeared on her face—"more than a simple friendship, it's a commitment. You, Princess Flurry, are Cozy's guide from now on." She raised a hoof to caress Flurry's muzzle. "Are you ready for this task, dear niece?"

Flurry blinked her wide eyes rapidly, looking at Twilight. "I..." She turned her head towards Cadance and Shining—who were looking at her, smiling warmly and holding each other's forehooves. Then, she looked at Cozy: at her bright, warm vermilion eyes above her shiny, toothy smile; she noticed the wink of her eye. She gulped, looking back at Twilight. "Y-Yes, I am, aunt Twilight."

"Admirable." Twilight leaned to plant a kiss on Flurry's forehead. Then, she straightened her body and turned towards Cozy; her smile was gone. "Cozy Glow—"

"I know you despise me with all your might, Princess Twilight," Cozy chuckled. "But you know what? I'm always grateful to you, princesses, for freeing me from stone." She turned her head slightly and looked beyond Flurry. "I remember you were there too, Princess Cadance," she finished, looking at her with a warm smile.

"Huh?" Flurry twisted her head towards Cadance. She looked at her, blinking her eyes rapidly. "Mom, you were?"

Cadance pressed her lips together in a straight line. She exchanged glances with Shining and broke their hoof holding. "Yes, Flurry. I magically assisted in reverting the stone spell cast on the Legion of Doom."

Twilight inhaled loudly, frowning at Cozy. "Listen, Cozy Glow—" She waited for Cozy to look her in the eyes before continuing. "—I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, hereby declare you're no longer under my custody." She glanced at Flurry, who was next to her. "From this moment until being considered a reformed pony, you are under Princess Flurry Heart's protection. Is it clear?"

"lt's crystal clear, Princess." Cozy bowed before Twilight, closing her eyes and smiling slightly.

"Good." Twilight looked at Flurry. "Niece, there's another important change." She turned her head towards Gallus, who was diagonally behind her. "You already know Captain Gallus." She nodded once at him, who in reaction approached her promptly. "Your parents and I have agreed that he'll be your designated guard for as long as it takes to reform Cozy Glow," Twilight explained, looking back at Flurry.

Gallus walked and stopped before Flurry, saluting her. "Captain Gallus of the Royal Guard," he introduced himself. "At your service, Princess Flurry."

"Uh, hi..." Flurry said, slightly raising a hoof to wave at him. She looked at Twilight to her side. "Auntie, I-I thought he was your private guard?"

Twilight nodded, smiling gently at Flurry. "Mhm, but given the fact that Captain Gallus knows her from back then,"—She glanced at Cozy, who was patting the dirt off her saddlebags with a hoof—"we consider he's the fittest for the task than any other guard," Twilight explained. Then her eyes went up to the sunny sky, reflecting the lone circle of fire. "Oh! Your train is leaving in less than thirty minutes! All of you must go now!"

The Crystal family, in company of a curious Cozy and a vigilant Gallus, walked with haste through Canterlot, from the Castle to the train station. On their way, the citizens made way for them after receiving polite warnings from Gallus, who moved diagonally behind of the group. On the other hoof, Cozy's eyes went in all directions. She would let out a 'Golly!' more than once and comment on the simplest, everyday things—like tourists taking pictures and posing before the statue of six famous ponies—she saw. Flurry remained silent, walking next to her with ears perked up.

Once at the train station, they headed to the royal wagons—the first three after the engine—of the Crystal Express. They all entered through the same automatic doors: First did Shining and Cadance; then Flurry with her head turned, looking behind; and finally, Cozy being followed closely by Gallus. The doors closed behind them and the gentle horn of the train was heard.

"Dear," Cadance called, looking at Flurry. She had sat near the door, next to Shining. "How about three of you go to the other wagon?"

Flurry inhaled deep and nodded twice in response. She raised a hoof and pointed to the inter-carriage door. "P-Please, this way," she said, looking behind at Cozy and Gallus.

Once the three of them were in the other lonely wagon, Flurry magically removed her saddlebags and placed them under the wide seat in the middle section; she hopped on the same one and sat close to the windows—which showed a landscape blurred by the train already moving at highspeed. Gallus remained standing at the door they had walked through. And Cozy, slowly, paced down the aisle.

"So tell me, my new mistress," Cozy said, smirking and batting her eyes at Flurry, "what's the plan?" She had stopped her hooves and turned her body, standing in front of Flurry's seat.

Flurry looked away with her face reddening. "Uh w-what?"

Cozy giggled. "I mean your plan to reform me, my new friend." She raised a hoof and placed it on the free portion of the seat. "Oh, and mind if I sit here?" she asked and without awaiting an answer, she hopped on it and sat beside Flurry.

Flurry exhaled heavily. "I-I don't... Uh..." She was looking down at her own body. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the cutie mark—a red-orange rook—on Cozy's haunch. "I don't have one yet. I'm sorry." She sighed, closing her eyes and raising a hoof to rub her forehead.

"Oh, I see... Um, is that normal?" Cozy's voice said.

"Huh?" Flurry opened her eyes slightly, looking at Cozy.

"Do princesses get their roles hot-branded on their coats or something?" Cozy asked, wide eyed, looking at Flurry. She had turned her seated body completely towards her. "I mean... it says 'hope' there, on your leg, doesn't it?"

"Wha—" Flurry pupils contracted; the tiny dots shifted focus from Cozy to her own foreleg—raised to shoulder height—that was then uncovered from the sleeve of her shirt. She was petrified in place. For half a second, both her lungs and heart refused to work. "N-No..." She saw the dark maroon scabs belonging to the cut-wounds, on the reddened skin of her foreleg. "NO! DON'T LOOK AT IT! PLEASE!" she begged, quickly lowering her limb and using her magic to pull down the sleeve. She shrank on her seat, pressing her body against the crystal wall of the train. She shut her eyes tightly with her wings wrapped around her body.

"Princess!" Gallus rushed in Flurry's direction. Upon reaching her seat, with a clawed-hand, he grabbed Cozy by the bun in her mane and pulled harshly. "GET AWAY FROM HER!"

Cozy fell backwards to the aisle floor with a loud THUD.

Chapter Five: Under The Same Crystal Roof

"Princess, are you alright?" Gallus asked in a gentle tone.

"Y-Yes, I am! Please let her go!" Flurry implored, jumping out of her seat in the train. She was breathing heavily, looking at the scene. "She didn't do anything!"

A few steps away from her, standing in the aisle, Gallus was holding Cozy against the floor, with his clawed-hand on the back of her neck. "Aye Aye, Princess." He loosened his grip.

Slowly, Cozy straightened her legs to stand up. She winced, stretching her neck by tilting her head to the side.

"Cozy! Are you h-hurt?" Flurry approached her until she was in front of her.

"I'm fine," Cozy looked behind at her squashed saddlebags on the floor. "I had a soft landing."

"I'm so sorry this happened." Flurry's vision became blurry. She sniffled, lowering her head.

Cozy chuckled, wearing a slight smile. "Oh, it's okay. Maybe I deserved it for being too curious." She glanced at Gallus, who had backed away a few steps with his severe gaze fixed on her. "Still, I can't help to wonder... Are you hurt, friend?" Cozy inquired, looking into Flurry's teary eyes.

"I..." Flurry exhaled deeply. She rubbed her eyes against her shoulder, wiping the tears away with her shirt. Then, she straightened her posture. "C-Captain Gallus?" she called, turning her head.

"Princess, what are your orders?" Gallus asked, standing at attention.

"Please, uh... could you leave us alone?" Flurry raised a hoof and pointed behind Gallus. "I mean, it's okay if you just go back to the door."

Honesty

Gallus had followed Flurry's command, turning around and returning to his post by the inter-carriage door. With her magic, Flurry had lifted Cozy's saddlebags and placed them next to hers under the train seat.

Flurry hopped on her seat and sat down. She inhaled deeply and looked at Cozy standing in the aisle. "W-Would you like to sit next to me?" she asked, wearing a tiny smile.

"Um, with all due respect..." Cozy briefly twisted her head to glance at Gallus's eagle-eyes, fixed on her from half a wagon away. "Are you sure you're not gonna go loco in the coco again?" she asked, looking back at Flurry.

"I won't. I promise." Flurry nodded energetically.

"Okie dokie." Cozy hopped on the free portion of the seat, sitting down. She turned her head and smiled warmly at Flurry. "Now, feel free to tell me everything. Get it all off your chest."

Flurry gulped. "I-I thought we could just, uh..." She looked down at her own seated body, gazing at her forelegs covered by the sleeves of the shirt. "C-Could we just forget about it, please?"

"Oh, I understand. That seems a bit too intimate to talk about... yet," Cozy said. "Then, how about a little context on this?" She raised a hoof and tapped the dark stone on her necklace, making a slight clack sound.

Flurry pressed her lips together, looking at the necklace. "Uh, that's your flight-restrictor." She sniffled and then looked away, turning her head towards the train window.

"Well, yes, I figured that the moment I couldn't fly anymore," Cozy said, inhaling deeply. "I suppose you know how to remove it, my friend?"

"I-I..." Flurry was breathing heavily. Her forehead was boiling; tiny beads of sweat appeared on her forehead and around her horn. She twisted her head forward, looking at Cozy out of the corner of her eye. "I'm not supposed to... uh, I mean..." Her gaze shifted towards the empty seat in front of her, getting lost in the void somewhere beyond the crystal structure:

"Auntie, is this...?" Flurry had asked the previous night, at the Canterlot Castle. She had looked wide-eyed at Twilight while holding a tiny dark crown with her magic.

"Yes, that is Queen Chrysalis's crown." Twilight had told her in a calm tone.

"Oh my..."

"I know, niece. Worry not though. It is not dangerous. Well, it's not as long as it remains in its special case."

"What?! Auntie, why didn't you tell me that before I opened it?!" Flurry pupils had contracted. She quickly had grabbed the empty case on the dressing table nearby.

Twilight had let out a chuckle in reaction, shaking her head. "No, niece. Please, take it easy. This crown, a magical device of changeling nature, is never a threat to us unless it falls into the wrong hooves."

"Oh, okay. Sorry." Flurry had sighed heavily. "W-Why are you giving me this?"

"Because it has the power to both cast changeling spells and undo them," Twilight had explained. "Furthermore, if combined with the magic found on Chrysalis's throne shards, a pony can perform yearlong-lasting spells that can only be reverted by the same method."

"Like the one cast on Cozy's necklace," Flurry had concluded.

"Yes! An impressive deduction from you, niece! Twilight had raised a hoof and placed it on the side of Flurry's muzzle, smiling widely at her. "Now, before you go to sleep, make sure to shut the crown's case securely, and place it inside your saddlebags. Again, securely." She had leaned to smack a kiss on Flurry's forehead. "Good night." She had turned around and walked towards the door.

"Wait! Auntie!" Flurry had left the small case on the table and then rushed to a leaving Twilight. "How and when am I supposed to revert the flight-restriction spell on Cozy?"

Twilight had stopped her hooves, looking at Flurry with a gentle smile. "Undoing her curse simply requires holding the bare crown, while removing the necklace from her. All done with simple telekinesis. She had turned her body and raised a hoof, placing it on Flurry's chest. "As for when to do it, niece of mine, that will lie upon your judgement, both as a responsible princess to her subjects and as a caring friend to Cozy Glow."

"Hello? Equus to Flurry..." Cozy called, seated next to Flurry on the train seat. She had rotated her body towards her.

Flurry blinked her eyes rapidly. She straightened her posture on the seat. "I-I'm sorry, Cozy." She inhaled deeply, looking down. "I can't talk about that with you," she finished, glancing at Cozy's necklace.

"Oh, okay." Cozy nodded once slowly. "So that's also a 'not yet' conversation."

"I really ho—" Flurry cleared her throat. "I wish you understand," she looked at Cozy with a slight smile and furrowed eyebrows.

"I do. Either way, it's clear to me now." Cozy grinned, looking into Flurry's eyes. "You do know how to free me."

Listening to her words, Flurry swallowed dryly and turned her head away. She took a deep breath, looking out the train window. The landscape outside was barely distinguishable due to the high speed of the Crystal Express. She narrowed her eyes, looking beyond a vast flatland almost devoid of trees. Many leagues away, between massive rock formations flooded with water and mist, there were the Neighagara Falls. At its bottom, the water flowed into the extensive river that separated the Equestrian Midwest from the East Coast.

Then, Flurry remembered once more Twilight's words about the case containing Chrysalis's crown: Place it inside your saddlebags... securely. Her eyes widened and she bent her body forward, looking at her saddlebags under the seat. Then, yellow magic appeared from her horn and enveloped them. She magically lifted them, making them float to the height of her seated body. She opened one of their flaps and looked inside. When she saw her Whammy—her stuffed snail toy—within the bag, she let out a sigh of relief.

"Forgot something?" Cozy asked, looking in Flurry's direction.

"Uh, n-no," Flurry replied, quickly placing her saddlebags back under her seat.

"Gosh, forgive my curiosity, but what was that box inside your bag?" Cozy inquired. She raised a hoof to gesture, tracing a square in the air.

Flurry petrified on her seat, looking at Cozy out of the corner of her eye. "W-What box?"

Cozy let out a soft giggle. "The one with the cool design, of course. Which else?"

Flurry frowned, batting her eyes a few times. "O-Oh, yeah!" A wide smile appeared on her muzzle. "My auntie gave me a dress for my..." Her cheerful expression soon dropped. "Oh, buck." She closed her eyes and exhaled heavily. You should've realized earlier, you foal, her inner voice reproached her.

"Golly! what was that last word?" Cozy asked, looking wide-eyed at Flurry.

"Uh, sorry. I didn't mean to swear." Flurry inhaled deeply, turning her head towards Cozy. "It's just that there's gonna be a party tomorrow, for those of us who graduated from school this year," she explained, slightly raising a hoof to gesture but quickly dropping it back.

"Ooh, that sounds like fun." Cozy tilted her head, smiling gently at Flurry. "Although you don't seem keen about it... at all."

"Yeah, I just..." Flurry looked down and sniffled. "I just don't think ponies my age like me much. Not my former classmates at least."

"Well, I like you," Cozy said. "And we're the same age, aren't we?"

"Uh, y-yeah. Thanks." Flurry chuckled; her pale pink face went red. "I also like yo—I mean, uh..."

Cozy stood on the seat. She met Flurry's wide eyes as she took a step towards her. Even though she was standing while Flurry was seated, the top of Cozy's head only reached the height of Flurry's muzzle. She stopped at the length of a horn away from Flurry's body. Briefly, she turned her head and glanced at Gallus, who was guarding the inter-wagon door. "You can say that you like me. It won't make you a bad pony," Cozy said in a soft whisper, looking back at Flurry with half-lidded eyes and a smirk on her lips.

"I-I..." Flurry felt her heart pounding in every artery of her body; her cheeks burned and the beads of sweat multiplied on her forehead. "I have to use the mare's room!" She jumped out of her seat and walked past Cozy and out into the aisle of the train.

The rest of the ride in the Crystal Express was unremarkable in terms of conversation. Flurry had briefly gone to the toilet area in the next car. Meanwhile, Cozy had remained under Gallus watch—from half a dozen seats away. When Flurry had returned, she found Cozy seated and proceeded to place herself again next to her. However, silence had reigned, mostly ever interrupted by Cozy's spontaneous humming. Flurry had rested her head against the window. Under the spell of Cozy's wordless lullaby and the gentle vibration of the glass, Flurry closed her heavy eyelids falling asleep.

In a total of an hour and a half , the train had covered dozens of leagues from Canterlot to the Crystal Empire. Before reaching the immense Empire's valley—green during the summer—it had crossed high, ever-snowy mountains. The locomotive's horn roared and the brakes on all of the cars were engaged. Finally, the train came to a stop at the crystal station. The five of them—Cadance, Shining, Flurry, Cozy, and Gallus—had already approached the doors and were waiting for them to open automatically.

"Psst, bestie," Cozy whispered, standing next to Flurry.

"Uh, yeah?" Flurry looked at Cozy with narrowed eyes.

"This is my first time coming to the Crystal Empire and I'm just wondering..." Cozy chuckled, glancing at Gallus. "Do they hate me here too?"

"Unlikely, miss Cozy," said Cadance. She was standing on the opposite side to Flurry and next to Shining. "We believe your presence would go unnoticed by most of the crystal citizens. At least before any official statement," she stated, looking at the double doors ahead.

SWOOSH

The sliding doors were opened. Looking out them, Flurry's eyes widened.

Dozens of crystal guards were standing in files between the purple crystal building of the station and the train, facing the latter. Their light grayish-cyan armors shone under the almost-noon sun.

"Uh, dad?" Flurry called, glancing at Shining. "Did you...?"

"Nope. This was not my idea, sweetheart." Shining raised a hoof to scratch the back of his head. He then looked at Cadance. "Was it yours, honey?"

Cadance let out a chuckle. "Well, I didn't expect—"

Trumpets, magically floating, were heard. A red carpet was unrolled from the gap between the lines of guards, all the way to the train doors.

"W-Welcome home, crystal family!" shouted a cloaked unicorn, rushing down the carpet towards the family. "I hope this was enough for the small escort team you asked, princess," he smiled with his brow furrowed, looking at Cadance.

"Mhm, more than enough. Thank you, Sunburst," Cadance replied with a half-smile.

"All quiet on the northern front?" Shining asked, taking a few steps to the outside of the train.

"C-Certainly, sir!" Sunburst twisted his body towards Shining and cleared his throat. "I ordered to double the patrols in the city and the guards around the Crystal Heart. Also, given the special circumstances"—He slightly turned his head and glanced at Cozy—"A curfew was imposed on the citizens last night," he finished, magically fixing his round glasses.

Cadance inhaled deeply. "I can already see you did your best as the Crystal Regent." She smiled warmly at Sunburst, who bowed in response. She nodded once, gesturing up with a hoof. Then, she walked outside and stopped beside Shining. She placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Shiny, could you take it from here?" she asked, sweeping her gaze across the lines of guards waiting for a command.

"Sure, honey." Shining turned his muzzle to peck Cadance's cheek. "Not gonna lie, I kinda missed doing these drills." he admitted. Looking forward, his smiling face became a stern one.

"Golly, your dad can be intimidating," Cozy commented, standing next to Flurry still inside the train. They were watching how Shining trotted around and yelled commands to the guards; those obeyed him, turning their bodies all in the same direction at the same time, and began their march.

"Well, uh, he used to be a royal guard himself," Flurry explained.

Then, Cozy poked her head through the opened doors. "Are you sure nopony will question why the whole crystal army was guarding the train station?" She looked at the ponies that had come out of the other train cars and gathered outside, witnessing how the guards left in an orderly fashion.

Flurry closed her eyes, letting out a sigh.

While Shining commanded the marching guards, the rest of the group—Cadance, Sunburst, Flurry, Cozy and Gallus—followed the same path from a few strides behind. They had left the train station, crossing the tracks.

Then, they had passed between tall, twin crystal cairns, which were landmarks at the start of the dirt road that led to the city of the Empire. From half a league away, Flurry could see the colossal tower of the Crystal Castle. Her home.

After a few minutes of moving through the green, low hills on the outskirts, the group set hooves on one of the main crystal streets. Some of the Crystal citizens had come out of their houses or workplaces to watch the unexpected military parade; The older ponies greeted the royal family with ovations and bowed as they passed.

Similarly as Cozy did while walking through Canterlot, she commented excitedly about the things—like the huge crystal statue of a preteen dragon, who was holding a replica of the Crystal Heart—that her eyes caught on the way to the Crystal Castle.

Not long before reaching the castle square, Flurry saw that Shining—ahead of everypony else—led the company of guards into taking a turn on an intersecting street to the one they were, splitting from the original group. She stopped her pace in the middle of the street and watched how they marched away.

"Err, young princess?" a male voice called gently.

Flurry quickly turned her head forward and met a pair of blue eyes. "Oh, hi uncle Sunburst," she said with a tiny smile, breaking eye contact and looking down. "W-What's up?"

"Well,—" Sunburst cleared his throat. He glanced at a wide-eyed Cozy, who was petting a tiny ewe on the street. "—I've just let your mother know that there's a surprise for you at the castle."

"A s-surprise... for me?" Flurry frowned slightly, blinking her eyes rapidly. She glanced at Cadance standing a few steps behind Sunburst.

"Indeed, princess." Sunburst nodded twice, wearing a warm smile. He raised a foreleg to point at the tall castle. "P-Please, after you."

Flurry inhaled deeply. She turned her head to look at Cozy and Gallus standing nearby, and nodded once at the latter.

They continued on their path along with Cadance and Sunburst. When they reached the Square—the open space below the castle—Cozy stopped her hooves, hypnotized by the spinning Crystal Heart in the center. However, her gaze was soon severed by Gallus, who stood in between with his grim-face towards her. Cozy rolled her eyes and resumed following the others to the entrance of the castle. The doors were promptly opened by the guards at them. Once the group entered, they were closed behind them.

Standing on the entrance hall, Cadance's horn illuminated. Her cyan aura enveloped the saddlebags on her back and, in the blink of an eye, they poofed into thin air.

Willing to imitate Cadance, Flurry used her magic to surround her own bags. However, the yellow light faded away before she could make them disappear as well. Don't, a single word in her mind warned. She opted to keep the saddlebags on her back.

Cadance took a few steps ahead of the group and then turned around to face them. Exchanging looks with the group, her eyes finally landed on Cozy. She cleared her throat and inhaled. "Miss Cozy, even though neither my husband nor I are responsible for you, this is our home," she said. "And there are rules that apply for all of those who reside in this castle." Her gaze shifted towards Flurry and a slight smile appeared on her muzzle. "I'm sure my daughter will explain them to you soon."

Cozy nodded once with eyes closed. "Understood, princess."

"Good," Cadance expressed, glancing briefly at Cozy. "Flurry, dear, you may want to go show her the guest's room," she said before turning around and lifting her hooves to walk away along with Sunburst.

Flurry glanced at Sunburst, who was then walking by Cadance's side. "W-Wait, mom and uncle!" she called, trotting after them. "What about the... surprise?"

Cadance and Sunburst had stopped their paces and then exchanged glances.

"Oh, of c-course!" Sunburst chuckled, face-hoofing. "Forgive my short term memory!" He sighed. "It was quite stressful to rule an empire for an introvert pony like me... even if it was just for a day."

Cadance smiled warmly at him. "Even so, we wouldn't trust anypony else for such task,"—She turned her body and bowed before him—"o wise and studious Sunburst, the Crystaller and magic-scholar," she recited, closing her eyes.

Sunburst let out a chuckle mixed with a neigh, looking at Cadance. "P-Princess, please! I-It was my pleasure, really." He twisted his head towards Flurry. "Err, young princess, before I forget again: I told her to wait for you in the throne room."

"Uh..." Flurry licked her dry lips, looking narrowed-eyed at Sunburst. "Who is 'her'?"

"Sweetie, it's a surprise, remember?" Cadance reminded. She had straightened her body and raised a hoof to point at the long hallway ahead. "Go ahead, dear. We'll be right behind you."

Flurry nodded once and swallowed saliva. She glanced at Cozy and Gallus behind her before taking the first step forward. She walked past Cadance and Sunburst. She was then leading the five of them down the hallway. Her heart was pounding and her brain was flooded with thoughts; her hooves became heavier with every step she took. Without stopping her pace, she shut her eyes for a moment, letting the thoughts take the reins in her mind: First it was Cozy... Then it was Chrysalis's crown... And now they won't tell you who this 'her' is... Isn't it obvious? Flurry inhaled deeply and opened her eyes.

After a minute of walking, she and the others finally reached the closed doors of the throne room—with no guards to be seen nearby. With her lower lip shaking, she stood crestfallen before the doors.

Her ears perked up to a familiar voice:

"Sweetie?" Cadance called. She approached Flurry, while the rest of the group stayed a few steps away. Standing close to her side, she raised a forehoof and placed it on Flurry's withers. "Ready to meet her?"

Flurry sniffled and then raised her head. Looking vacantly at the deep-blue doors, she nodded once. "Let's do it."

Upon confirmation, Cadance's horn illuminated. One of the two door handles was enveloped by the cyan aura of her magic. Then, the tall door was pushed open.

The throne room was brightly illuminated, with natural light coming through the many windows and reflecting on the crystal pillars by the walls.

Standing on the threshold, Flurry's gaze scanned the pale purple carpet that stretched across the room. Squinting her eyes, she could see the bubblegum-pink figure of somepony lying down on the crystal throne; their golden mane partially covered their face.

Flurry dropped her lower jaw open. "L-Luster?!"