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At the end of the week, Cadance calls Cozy to the hospital cafeteria. The question of "why" is only answered by one of the nurses with "she said you'll find out when you get there".

Naturally, Cozy is suspect. Is this a trap? Is Cadance just playing her heart and leading her on under the guise of "motherly love"? Will she serve her poisoned food for a quick and easy death?

Whatever the motive, she has no control over the matter. Hesitantly, she leaves her room and walks with two nurses to the cafeteria, side-eyeing other ponies with their bodies made of crystal who shrink away from her or mutter amongst each other.

The cafeteria is on the other side of the hospital. By the time Cozy gets there, she feels like she ran the length of an average marathon. Blaming it on her recovery from hypothermia, she looks around, finding it to be populated with only a few medical professionals. Not that she cares all too much, but it beats the only two views she's gotten of her room and the therapy office.

She's led to where Cadance is sitting, at a table near a window. Cadance waves, and Cozy weakly waves back.

"Hello, Cozy Glow!" the princess chirps. "How are you feeling?"

Cozy doesn't answer initially, instead sliding into her seat. She can't make eye contact with Cadance. "Fine," she mumbles.

Cadance frowns. "You don't sound fine. What's on your mind, sweetie?"

If Cozy had been planning to eat something, she sure isn't up to it now. Something about the word "sweetie" makes her stomach flip. Cadance certainly hasn't been using those terms around her before now. But there's a problem that takes priority over that, and it's the fact that she has to tell Cadance something. She isn't fine, but she isn't keen on spilling her guts out. Maybe, though, she could use this to her advantage.

"I'm bored," she laments. "I don't wanna see the same shit in this stuffy little hospital. I wanna go outside. I hate being cooped up in here, doing nothing but watching the world go by outside while I'm just wasting away in bed. I get it, okay? I'm recovering from hypothermia or whatever. But you're telling me that I can't even go outside for a minute or two? You're telling me that I gotta stay in here because, why? Because you're afraid I'll hurt all the doctors? Your subjects? You?!" A snort. "Please. Is this some kind of plan to kill me? Because as much as I hate to admit it, it's working."

It's a ramble that's brought on by an unexpected burst of anger, but it's one that manages to quiet the entire room. Cadance takes a slow sip of her drink, not taking her eyes off of Cozy for even a second. Cozy glares at the two nurses in particular, who stay put and don't falter in their expressions. She almost wants to snap at them to leave, but she knows she'll get told they can't.

Once Cadance sets her cup down, she blinks. "Cozy, I've been meeting with doctors and looking at your medical records. In a few days, you'll be able to go outside."

Cozy grinds her teeth, trying to resist the urge to call the other pink one across from her out on some hefty bullshit. "A few" really means "three", but it's subjective across all creatures. For all she knows, Cadance was telling her she had to stay inside for a week.

"This is not because of your past actions, but because it's still cold outside," Cadance assures. "We want to make sure your symptoms don't worsen."

For a minute, Cozy thinks about this. She's being given a continuation of her second chance at life. If she dies from hypothermia...well, it'll be a really shitty way to go out, if one asks her. Besides, if she's sick, she can't exactly game Cadance into doing what she wants. And she feels like she's on the path to mending.

"Okay. Fine." Cozy crosses her forelegs. "But you're telling me this all isn't because I nearly destroyed Equestria twice? Don't you find some fault with that?"

Cadance takes another sip. "Don't get me wrong. What you did was horrible, and I was fully on board with Celestia, Luna, and Discord turning you, Chrysalis, and Tirek to stone. But I had time to think afterwards, and I came to a conclusion." Her eyes shimmer with hope. "You're a child. Throughout history, Equestria has had very few child villains. As a result, we are unprepared to punish them effectively. And that is what I'm hoping to change, starting with you."

"So why did you chase me to the ends of Equestria when I escaped, then?! We could've saved ourselves both the trouble if you had just, oh, I don't know..." Cozy shrugged. "Hugged me mid-flight or something!"

A shake of the head, which made tri-colored curls bounce almost hypnotically. "Please, Cozy. I'm asking you to trust me. Trust that I know what I'm doing. Perhaps you don't want to reform, but that won't stop me from trying."

If there's one thing Cozy knows about her enemies, it's that perseverance is a treasured virtue that is shared among most. Knowing this allows her to realize that Cadance isn't going to give up easily, if at all. She's giving her a choice -- either reform, or die knowing there was an attempt.

It's a sadistic choice. Still, that doesn't mean she can't give Cadance a bit of a challenge.

Angrily, she raises a hoof and slams it on the table, making the saucer and cup rattle slightly. She glares at Cadance with two layers of fury and resignation, with a glint of smugness in between. "Fine. Go ahead. Try. See how far you get," she remarks. "I look forward to it."

Cadance gives a pleasant smile. "I'm happy to hear that." Her head turns towards the doorway where the cafeteria lays. "Would you like some lunch while you're here?"

Almost immediately, Cozy is prepared to say no. Being called that word has already soured her appetite. But at the same time, who knows when she's going to eat again? She can't challenge Cadance on an empty stomach.

So, trying to rid her thoughts of that word, she responds with, "Sure. What's on the menu?"