The End and The New Beginning-A Cozy and Twilight Story

by Saiyan Cartoon Champion

Rating: teen
Tags: Suicide / Self Harm, Cozy Glow, Violence, Twilight Sparkle, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 5561

Cozy Glow's dreams look to be finally come true. She's won. All but one of her enemies has been crushed, she has all the magical power she could ask for, the world is hers! Just one last purple princess to take care of...

Cozy Glow's dreams look to be finally coming true. She's won. All but one of her enemies has been crushed, she has all the magical power she could ask for, Equestria and the world is hers! Just one last annoying, purple princess to take care of and she'll have everything she's ever wanted! (She does want this? Of course! Why wouldn't she? Where'd that thought even come from?) And that princess should arriving shortly...

But something's off... about Twilight. She's not acting how Cozy would expect she would. Givin the circumstances. But it's of no consequence! This is her hour of victory. Or so it seems. But things may not be as they seem.

My entry for the fifth annual Cozy Glow short story contest.

Prompts: Cozy Glow vs. Twilight

I also considered having Cozy's Nightmare as a prompt. But that was labeled under horror, which I guess you can make an argument this fits, but I didn't feel like it quiet fit.

Published 2024-10-13 11:50:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-10-13 11:50:00 UTC

The Final Chapter In One Life...

Cozy Glow hummed happily to herself while sipping on a cup of hot cocoa, in a mug held in her red aura as she skipped over a dead guard. One of many that, alongside all the rubble that surrounded Princess Celestia’s former throne. Which was currently covered in a small mountain of pillows and stuffed animals.

On top of which, Cozy took her seat. And looked down to the other end of the throne room, where the hornless heads of the royal sisters and former ruling princesses rested on top of pikes on either side of the walkway leading up to the alicorn filly’s new throne. Their horns having been yanked off, along with their wings, by Cozy herself after their defeat. Before removing their heads, of course.

She admired her work, as she finished her coco and levitated up a cloth napkin to wipe her lips gently. Before shoving it into the mug, which she flung behind her to shatter. And letting out a cute little evil cackle. “You two should have really just smashed that statue while you had the chance,” she said to the clearly dead heads. “I mean, I understand wanting to make a pony suffer, but I’ve learned to have my fun and make sure my enemies can’t come back for revenge.” She let out a giggle. “Too bad you two couldn’t learn that lesson.” She rolled around her pile of stuffed animals, laughing uncontrollably till she cried.

After finally regaining her composure and wiping away the tears, Cozy decided to indulge herself further and flew up Celestia’s severed head. “You know, I have your oh so faithful student to think for this Celly,” she said putting on her faux-innocent inflection. “I mean, if Twiwight didn’t start to feel sowwy for me and get it into her head I can be hewped, I might have some good in me, I might have never gotten free.” She got in close and threw a foreleg around the pike handle, like she was throwing it over a friend’s shoulder. “But now, thanks to her, I’m free!” She said, throwing her front hooves in the air while fluttering backwards. “And I’m about to have everything I’ve ever wanted.”

She chuckled to herself as she conjured a mirror. “Everything you’ve ever wanted,” she said to her own reflection with a wide evil smile. Though the reflected Cozy Glow didn’t return the smile. Instead, she looked… scared.

The Cozy outside of the mirror huffed at that and tossed the mirror aside. “This is what you want and then some,” she told herself with a shake of the head. Before hopping back on her throne to await Princess Twilight’s arrival.
And as it happened, she did not have to wait long. As The Princess of Friendship came barreling in from above, where there had once been a ceiling. And landed on her hooves hard enough to shake the room.

“Princess Headmare Twilight!” Cozy called out from her throne excitedly while clapping her hooves together. “I'm so happy you could make it!”

Twilight looked up at her former student without a word. Her eyes, while obscured slightly by blood leaking from a head wound, had an almost uncharacteristically cool look to them.

“Want to say hello to Princess Celly over there?” Cozy asked with a hoof pointed behind Twilight. But the purple alicorn didn't respond. “What? Nothing to say princess?” The evil filly asked with a hint of disappointment. Before popping a piece of candy into her mouth and slumping back slightly. And waited for Twilight to respond. Though the other alicorn did not. “Twilight, I have Celestia and Luna's heads on pikes. Right behind you. Are you not even going to look? I mean, Golly Twilight, I put a lot of work setting that up for you. You could at least acknowledge it.”
.
“Please, Cozy Glow, it doesn't have to be like this. You don't have to be like this.” Twilight said simply. To which the evil little alicorn cocked her head in confusion.

“Uh, it's a little late for that Twilight,” Cozy responded. Blinking her eyes as she did so. “I mutilated Celestia and Luna, leveled Canterlot…” A wicked smile suddenly formed on the filly's lips. “killed your precious friends.” She stood as tall atop her throne as her little legs would allow her. Looking over the older alicorn and waiting to see her reaction.

“Did you now?” Twilight asked plainly.

“Uh, YES!!!” Cozy yelled alongside a stomp of her hoof. “I destroyed everything you cared about! Why are you acting like you didn't even notice?’

Twilight looked over the pink alicorn filly. “I think you're just lashing out and trying to say whatever you think will hurt me.”

“Yes! I'm trying to hurt you! Why are you-aurrghh!” She shook her head. “You're just trying to get into my head!” She pointed a hoof at Twilight. While her horn was enveloped by a violent red aura.

Twilight readied her own horn. “Please, you don't have to do this.” She said sorrowful. “This doesn't have to be who you are.”

“What are you even-” Cozy shook her head again, this time more angrily than the first. “Fine! Let's just do this!” She shouted as a blood red aura of power coalesced around her. Before it was unleashed on the pony before her.

Twilight brought up her forcefield just in time to intercept the beam. The collision sent waves of magical energy around them. Causing the stone walls to begin crumbling away. While red lightning danced around Twilight's shield where Cozy's blast was pushing against it. Though she and her barrier started to be pushed back by the force of Cozy's attack, her hooves leaving cuts in the stone floor as I did as they tried to stay planted in place, Twilight's forcefield ultimately held firm. And Cozy had to relent her attack.

The filly alicorn glared down at her former teacher from her throne, while panting. “It's still not too late to stop this,” Twilight said evenly. To which Cozy defiantly fired another, albeit less concentrated, beam of red energy. Though this time Twilight simply sidestepped it. Cozy followed up with a series of rapid fire blasts that Twilight continued to casually dodge. As if she could see them all coming. Until Cozy realized it was time for a change in strategy. So she bursts up from her throne. Into the air and through a hole in the ceiling.

From the air, she could see so much smoke rising from the ruins of Canterlot, that one could hardly make out any real details of the city below the castle. Just a hellish red glow editing a smoky blackness. Though she couldn't care about that in the moment. As she immediately focused her magical might on the building she was just in. And forced what remains of its walls and ceiling to collapse around her enemy. Before unleashing another powerful blast of energy onto the resulting pile of rubble. Smiling at the thought of her enemy being trapped and helpless, before meeting her end. Just like she was…

“Was it really worth it Cozy?” Twilight called out from behind her. Causing the filly to wheel around and see The Princesses of Friendship herself floating there, none worse for wear. “Was all this,” she said sadly while pointing her hoof to the destruction on the ground. “Really worth throwing away the happy and peaceful life you could have. Is this what you've really dreamed of? What you really want?”

Cozy answered her with another beam of energy. Which was intercepted by the princess's shield. Which she cited without even having to look up from the burning city. Something that just infuriated Cozy further.

“You know, sometimes I still wonder what made you turn out the way you are? I never found out the first time around. And now,” as Twilight continued to speak, Cozy lunged forward, attempting to skewer Twilight on her horn. But the princess dodged her attack before continuing. “And now, I'm not sure I ever will.”

Cozy Glow spun around as her own momentum continued to create space between the two of them. Before using her magic to conjure up dozens of red, spear-like constructs. And flung them all at Twilight at once.

But the older pony just flew forward. Dodging one or two dozen of them, before just teleporting past the rest. Some of which seemed to be inches from piercing her flesh when she did.

Cozy spun in circles, scanning the skies, trying to locate her. Until she heard a voice behind her.

“In hindsight, I should have made more of an effort to keep you with me after you first showed your true colors…. I'm sorry I didn't.” Cozy once again fired a blast of energy at her. And Twilight one again summoned her shield. But this time, Twilight’s magical barrier had the added effect of bouncing Cozy's attack right back at her. Striking the filly hard, knocking the wind out of her, and sending her tumbling away.

But once again, Twilight appeared behind her. This time catching the smaller pony in her forelegs. “Maybe if I had, things would have turned out differently.” She finished like she hadn't been interrupted by Cozy attacking her. While the smaller pony instinctively tried to force her way out of the mare's grasp. Her flailing had little effect. “Though all and all, I can't say I hate how things turned out. At least in the end. So far.” She added as Cozy regained enough sense to just teleport free of her grasp. And turned around, ready to continue her attack… until Twilight's words sunk in. And she was left dumbfounded.

“Wha-what!?” She shouted egregiously with her hoofs thrown in the air. “You don't hate how things turned out? I destroyed Canterlot! I KILLED YOU PRECIOUS MENTOR!!! I KILLED YOUr STUPID FRIENDS!!! I'M ABOUT TO KILL YOU!!!!!” Have you just lost your mind!? Do you even know what you're talking about!?”

Twilight seemed to look over her quizzically. Before giving her an answer. “No. Part of you still just wants to do those things. But you don't have to let that part win.” Twilight tried to fly over to the filly. But Cozy took the opening and fired another blast of energy. This one, hitting Twilight dead center. Sending the older pony careening away.

And while she was recovering, Cozy once again concentrated her magical might. But instead of focusing it into an energy blast, red lightning and winds began flare and swirl around the small alicorn. Before expanding outward.

By the the time Twilight recovered, she found herself being pulled into a massive, redstreaked tornado! Her instinctual attempts to fly against the winds, doing nothing against the overwhelming force. While the the red lighting repeatedly singed wings and body. While the cackling of the maniacal child at the center of it rang in her ears.

Unable to think between the winds, the electricity, and the cackle, Twilight forced to brute force her way out. Focusing all the magical energy she could muster, before unleashing it in a gigantic purple explosion! Which overwhelmed the power of the twister and sent Cozy flying away. But left Twilight raged and struggling to catch her breath.

As she regained her senses, Twilight scanned the skies for Cozy Glow. Until she was met by another energy beam striking her side! Knocking the wind out of the already battered princess. Before Cozy teleported right infront of her with a furious glare on her face, that soon shifted into sadistic smile.

Not wanting her to get away, Twilight congered a magical, crystal bubble around the other alicorn. Before attempting to fly up to her. "Cozy..." She began, but was cought off guard when the filly just phased through her barrier like wasn't even there. Then faded away, just before Twilight's side was run in by Cozy's horn from below. Forcing them bothbfurther up in the sky as she did so, before dislodge from her and teleporting away.

Twilight was reeling in pain and clutching the underside of her barrel, where blood was ozzing out, when she was struck by another energy blast from above. Sending the princess hurdling towards the ground.

Continuing her offensive, Cozy bolted down after her. Slamming into her with all the force her small body could muster. And riding her to the hard ground. Where she looked over her defeated enemy with a cruel smile on her face. The world around her seeming to fade away, as she slammed her hooves repeatedly into Twilight’s body. Causing the older alicorn to cough up blood. Though though blood on her face, she looked more sad than angered, scarred, or even pained.

Panting, Cozy looked down at her broken enemy. Her face covered in malevolent glee. But suddenly, she felt an odd pang in her heart. And for some reason, tears began to form around her eyes. But she shook them off. And prepared the killing blow…

Cozy Glow shot up from where she lay, panting heavily. Her fur matted and sweaty. She looked around, but the room was dark.

Except for a dimly lit red night light in the shape of her rook cutie mark, that stood at her nightstand. The sight of which instantly calmed her, as she breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back into her soft cloud-filled bed.

“It was just another nightmare,” she told herself. “That's all.” She clutched a nearby stuffed dolphin, one of many stuffed animals she had piled on her bed and around her room. And hugged it tightly as she laid in bed. Not wanting to even try going back to sleep. While her bedroom was eased open.

“Cozy Glow?” A gentle voice called out. Catching the filly's attention.

Cozy turned to see the owner of the voice. A tall lavender alicorn with a worried face that was lit up by the aura around her horn.

Instantly, tears started to well up in Cozy's eyes. Before leaped forced herself out from under her blanket and leaped at the alicorn. Wrapping her tiny forelegs around her chest the best she could.

“Mama! I'm so-so sorry!” The pegasus said, struggling not to cry. While Twilight shushed her and rubbed her back soothingly with her hoof.

Eleven Years Ago

An asylum in Canterlot

Cozy Glow laid completely still in a bed much too large for a filly her age and size, in a modest size white room. Across the room was a small table with some art supplies on it. The walls were covered in cutesy crayon drawings as well as two framed photos of Cozy Glow with others. There was a desk in one corner with a decently sized bookshelf full of various books and board games nearby it, and on either side of her bed, were two nightstands that had been covered in flowers. And even a few get well cards. Though conspicuously, her door seemed weirdly sturdy for a child's room and did not have a knob or any other way of opening it from her side. But did have a small hatch roughly level to where a full grown pony's head would be while standing.

But the filly wasn't paying attention to any of that. Right now, her eyes were locked on her fore legs. Where one could see two long, red, and somewhat jagged scars running down the length of them. Just now starting to be obscured by her regrowing, light pink fur.

She could not say how long she was doing this, when she heard somepony fiddling around with the locks on the other side of her door. Breaking her out of her little trance. As the door opened and one Princess Twilight Sparkle stepped in. Looking her over worriedly.

Cozy tried to avoid making eye contact while shoving her forelegs underneath the thin white blanket. As Twilight trotted over to her.

She didn't want her pity… she didn't think. Maybe if she still had any hope or care to manipulate the stupid alicorn, she would have made sure Twilight got a good look at her scars. Talked in her most pitiful voice about how hard she had tried to do what her teacher said and make amends, only to be so heartlessly rejected by her former “friends” and the rest of Equestria. While insisting it's her own fault and nopony else's. Milking Twilight's pity for all it's worth.

But no. She realized now that while she could get sympathy out of ponies like Twilight and a few others, none were dumb enough to give her anything more for her efforts. Not anymore. And with nothing to gain from their pity but marginally better treatment as their prisoner, the damage to her pride had begun to outweigh the benefits of being pitied.

So she hid the scars and tried not to meet Twilight's condescending gaze.

“Cozy Glow?” She asked gently. “How are you feeling? Are… are you ok?”

She had half a mind to make some snide remark to admonish the alicorn for the stupid question and the other half didn't want to talk to her at all. But she knew she would have to get this over with.

“Oh, I'm just peachy Twilight. How are you?” She responded while putting on a big and fake smile, as she looked up at the alicorn. Who smiled back at her in return. Though neither actually bought it.

“I'm sorry I couldn't stop by in the last few weeks. I've just been too busy with my duties as ruling princesses, as well as… other things… But! I have asked for regular reports on you as often as I could!” Twilight proclaimed happily. As if that alone was supposed to raise her spirit.

It did not, but Cozy tried to look happy about the news that her teacher, turned hated enemy, turned sort of teacher again was at least still taking reports about her deteriorating mental state. While Twilight’s gaze drifted downward to where her hooves were hidden under the covers. The alicorn’s mood dimmed as she started to gently, magically pull the blanket down to expose her forelegs.

Cozy desperately wanted to resist or at least protest in some form, but she knew it was pointless. So she let the alicorn see what she came here to see. Cozy got an unpleasant feeling in her gut, as the alicorn looked over her forelegs. The growing look of sympathy, no, pity on her face made her sick.

Twilight just looked her over for a long moment, before finally asking; “Why did you do this?”

“What do you care?” The filly asked bitterly. What little care she had to maintain a cheerful facade fading away. As she rolled onto her side to face the wall.

Though she felt like she shouldn't be surprised by Cozy's response, Twilight was still taken aback by it.

“Cozy… how can you say that? Of course I care about…” She tried to say while reaching a hoof out for the filly.

“You didn't care when they sent me to Tartarus!” The pegasus shot back while swerving in her bed. Shoving Twilight's hoof away as she did so. Her little wing instinctively fighting against binds, keeping them folded down to her body, trying to Flare out. “You didn't care when your benevolent masters turned me to stone in front of everypony!!! Nopony did!!! THEY CELEBRATED!!!!” She felt a tears fighting to get free at that point. But she tried to force them back as she stood up on the bed. While Twilight backed up slightly.

“And I wouldn’t even care about any of that,” she added, though deep down, she was unsure if that was true or something she had to tell herself. “But you,” she said while pointing an accusing hoof at Twilight. “those stupid crusaders, half of those bucking lackeys you call your “friends”, and even one of those other damn alicorns that were happy to lock me away before, had to suddenly start acting like you care what happens to me! Why!?” She stopped to wipe off tears that she was just now realizing were there. “What does it matter if I just get myself out of everyponies’ hair once and for all? Would you rather just keep me here to rot away, so you can feel good about yourself for not leaving me to rot in a worse prison? So everypony else knows how benevolent and merciful you are?”

She shook her head and laughed pitifully to herself. Twilight tried to reach out a hoof to her again, but Cozy hunkered further away from it. So Twilight opted to climb onto the bed beside her. Looking around the room in silence as she thought of what to say.

Her gaze eventually fell upon the two framed photos on the wall. One was a group photo of Cozy Glow and her friends and classmates at The School of Friendship before… before all that unpleasantness with Equestria's magic being drained occurred. Twilight had actually been surprised when Cozy had (very reluctantly) asked her for a copy. And when the alicorn asked why, Cozy had simply insisted it was for “sentimental value” in a tone that made it hard to figure out if she was being sarcastic or not. And Twilight had wondered if it was just a ploy to think the friendship she shared with Twilight's other students was more genuine than it seemed. Or even just to personally destroy it. But to her surprise, she had attempted no such thing as far as Twilight recalled. And months later, she still kept it hanging in her room. Despite having moved rooms several times since then.

The other was a more recent photo. From about a month ago. Specifically from Cozy Glow's thirteenth birthday. Showing Cozy sitting at the end of a table, surrounded by a small group of other. The same ones most of the flowers and cards around the bed had come from. Including Twilight herself, who was standing close behind her on right, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity who stood further away on her left, the only other of the adults who knew Cozy Glow that Twilight could convince to come. Spike and Sweetie Belle, the only one of the CMC to show up (Applebloom and Scootaloo were willing to give her a chance, but were ultimately forbidden from coming.), were seated on either side of her. And Silver Stream and Ocellus, the only ones of Cozy's former classmates who were hesitantly willing to give her a chance were also at the table. Certainly not the largest showing for a birthday party. But Twilight thought it went fairly well, all things considered.

And in the photo, just as Twilight remembered in person, Cozy had a smile on her face. Not the wide and glowing grin she put on to manipulate others. Or the evil smirk or manic glee that was uncomfortably etched into Twilight’s memory. But a smaller, more subtle, and seemingly more genuine smile. And Twilight thought she was finally making progress after nearly a whole year of trying.

But then, she had to make the mistake of insisting that Cozy try writing to the others she had hurt. Telling her that if those few that showed up for her party were willing to give her a chance, maybe others would too if she tried to reach out and apologize.

That had turned out to be a mistake. As while most had simply chosen not to write back and some even wrote back, if only to be polite, others were less kind to the former young villain. Causing her mood to sour. And on top of that, she and Spike, the only ones that could be called close, for lack of a better term, to Cozy Glow that live close enough to visit her regularly. But had been too busy with other matters of late to check-up on her. At least till Twilight got the news about what Cozy tried to do…

Twilight looked over to the filly next to her and cautiously, put a foreleg over her back. Which Cozy noticeably tensed up at. But she didn't try to fight it this time. “Cozy, I'm sorry for not trying to help you sooner. I was so hurt by what you did, I didn't question Princess Celestia and Princess Luna on it at the time. And I was too caught up in everything else going on at the time to give it any more thought.” Cozy's ears flicked at Twilight's words. But she didn't give her any further acknowledgement.

“But I'm trying to make this right now.” She pulled the little pegasus in closer. “But I can't help you if you don't let me try.” Still no real response. Leaving Twilight to have to figure out another angle to come at this at.

“What do you want, Cozy? Do you really want to be reformed and make amends? I… I promise I won't be mad if you say no.” This finally got some sort of reaction out of the little pegasus. Who looked up at her skeptically. “I just want to know what you really want. No offense, but I kind of get mixed messages from you on how much you care about others feelings. Even when I think you're not being dishonest. So is this, being reformed and trying to make amends and make friends what you really want, Cozy Glow? Again, I promise I won't be mad if it isn't.”

Cozy looked her in the eye for a moment, before saying “I don't believe you.”

“I mean it. Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a cupcake in my eye,” she said with all the appropriate hoof gestures. To which Cozy raised an eyebrow.

“You think Pinkie Pie's little song will convince me?” She asked dismissively.

“You have no idea how seriously Pinkie takes that little song.”

Cozy sighed in defeat before finally answering the alicorn's inquiries. If only to get this over with. “I don’t know, alright! I wanted to be loved by and/or have power over ponies. But now… I.. I have no power over anypony and they either hate me or pity me like you!” She pushed herself out herself our of Twilight's embrace with a surge of anger. Only to hunker back down beside her as it subsided.

She turned her eyes to the photo of herself and her classmates at the School of Friendship. “I had the love and trust of the school. But that wasn't enough. So I just used it as a stepping stone for more. But that failed. And now they hate and distrust me. And I have no hope of getting anymore trust from them ” She began to sob. “And now (sob), I just want to have that back! To go back to being the innocent and helpful little filly that everypony loved! But it's too late!” She finally just broke down crying. While Twilight pulled her back into her embrace. And waited for her to get it all out.

She sniffled as she pulled her head from Twilight's side. But otherwise remained in the princess’s grasp. “So yeah, if that counts as wanting to be “reformed” to you, then yes. That’s what I want." She burried her head in her hooves as she finished her little rant. Not wanting to give Twilight the pleasure of seeing any more of her tears than she already had.

While Twilight mulled over what Cozy said. Not quite with satisfied with where her little student and former enemy stood in her rehabilitation. But still knowing she's at least made enough to realize how thoroughly she burned bridges with others and admitted how it's negatively affected her own life. Even if she only feels bad about it for selfish reasons. It certainly wasn't ideal, but if not for... the unfortunate incident, Twilight would have been satisfied enough with what progress Cozy was making to keep going forward with as things were. Confident that sooner or later, it would all work out. They did have a few years still, before Cozy Glow was a legal adult and Twilight wasn't exactly lacking for years in the foreseeable future. So she thought she could afford to be patient.

But now, she realized a change in tactics was in order. And she did have one idea, that while unorthodox, just might have some merit. An idea that may give Cozy Glow a second chance and a happier life in general while also eliminating her a threat to Equestria.

“Cozy Glow, what if I told you you could have a clean sleight? Start over? Be loved by other ponies again?”

The filly's ears perked up at Twilight's words. And she hesitantly looked up at the alicorn. Trying to subtlety wipe away her tears as she did so. Though she didn't say anything. The alicorn cleared her throat as she thought of how to explain her idea and worked up the courage to do so. While Cozy waited for her to continue.

After a moment, Twilight shifted slightly onto her side opposite of where Cozy was. While keeping a foreleg firmly on the filly's back. Exposing her belly to her former enemy. Who gawked in confusion at her.

"You see, Cozy, just recently I got some very wonderful news that's been on my mind even since." Twilight smiled at the filly as she removed her hoof from the pegasus's back and placed it on her own belly. "I'm pregnant," Twilight said happily. To which Cozy stared blankly. Blinking a couple as she processed what the alicorn said.

"Uh, congratulations Twilight!" Cozy said with mock enthusiasm. "That's great news... but what does that have to do with me?" She asked. More politely than she would have honestly liked to ask.

"Well, I've been thinking of what my foal's going to be like and what kind of mother I'm going to be... all that." She said happily. Before quiting down for a moment. While Cozy looked her over. The filly's inpatients growing quickly. "Then I started to think of you and... what I've learned about you. And how your childhood was like and has been like up until now," she said somberly. Just as Cozy was about to voice her confusion. "Especially after... this recent incident. And I thought about if I could give you second chance at life. A chance to start over. And I think I've found a way."

Cozy looked at her curiously for a moment, before asking one word; "How?"

Back in the present

Twilight tucked Cozy into bed with a comforting smile. Trying to ease her daughter's nerves, after she finished recounting her horrible dream. A horrible dream that unfortunately, had been reccurring.

"I'm sorry mama," Cozy said. Still on the verge of more tears.

"Cozy, I've already told you, you don't have to apologize for what happens in your dreams," her mother said while rubbing her head. "It's wasn't real."

"But it felt so real!" The little pegasus countered, breaking free from her quilts. "It... it always does," she said with tears trickling from the sides of her eyes. "And... and I think I enjoyed it," she said fearfully as she curled herself into a little ball. Which her mother wrapped into her hooves as she pulled her daughter in for a hug.

"It's ok Cozy, it was just..." She hesitated on how to finish that sentence. Before sighing. "I think I know why you're having these dreams."

Her daughter looked up at her hopefully. "You do?"

Twilight smiled gently at her daughter. "Yes, but..." her tone turned solemn. "I can't tell you yet, unfortunately."

"What?" Cozy asked in confusion. With an oddly sinking feeling in her heart.

Her mother shook her head. "On your next birthday, I'll tell you," Twilight said. "It's very complicated." She squeezed her daughter tighter. "But I promise, it'll be ok."

Author's Note

OK. There is my very late entry fifth and hopefully, not last Cozy Glow contest.

It's sort of an odd combination of my entries from last year. Though I think this is an overall improvement. Not enough to win, of course. But I think this is a sort of, better version of what I was going for with my entry from last year. And while that one never really went past a one shot, I do plan to make this one of my series that I am working on.

Admittedly it's far from perfect. I wish I'd figured out how to weave in more forshadowing in the beginning, there were two additional scenes I had to cut because they were just meandering and I just wasn't feeling them, the ending is kind of underwhelming in my opinion, and overall, I'm sure it could of used a couple rounds of editing. But I ran out of time and this is what I had. My fault, honestly.

Still, while not a great story on it's own. I'm satisfied with it as a sort of pilot for a series and a just for fun contest entry.

Anyway, I hope someone out there enjoy it. Please, any feed back anyone can give would be appreciated. And thanks for reading.