Conflicted Counsel

The short journey here passes before I even realize. My thoughts have been wracked with how exactly I plan to get Cozy Glow to open up. I’ve basically been walking on auto-pilot. A pair of guards lead me to my room through the winding castle halls. It’s strikingly similar to where I stayed last time I was here. Frankly, I wouldn’t be able to tell you if it was the same room or not. I was to stay here for the weekend to talk to Cozy, then I’d return to Ponyville to continue my work at school.

I throw myself onto the welcoming sheets of the regal bedding, letting my body sink in, the threat of relaxation striking my every sense. I roll over into a lounge, staring at the ceiling. Twilight would be knocking at my door any second, and I didn’t have anything even resembling a plan. I can’t bring myself to believe I’ll be any more successful than a total stranger. If Cozy doesn’t hate me, then at best, she’s indifferent to me. On one hoof, I did sort of see where Twi was coming from, but still...

There’s a knock at my door. Speak of the princess. “Come in!”

The door opens to reveal the young monarch herself. She looked almost relieved to see me here. I wish I could share an ounce of her enthusiasm. Wearing that gentle smile of hers, she asks, “Are you ready?”

I sit up and smile back. No, I wasn’t.

Living in the crystal castle gave me a knack for mental mapping. Based off where Twilight’s been leading me, we’re heading to the opposite end of where I’m staying. I wonder if that was intentional. In my head, I always pictured Cozy’s new prison to look like... well, a prison. Dark basement, cobwebs, chains, the whole works. But that doesn’t seem to be anything like where we’re headed. This all just looks like palace.

As I’m pondering things that aren’t my current mission, Twilight speaks up, “I’m sorry it’s such a long walk. I’m now certain Celestia and Luna got all the exercise they could ever need just navigating this place,” she finishes with a laugh.

I thought about proposing teleportation, but I remembered I could actually use the exercise myself. “Security seems pretty low. I know she’s just a filly, but are you really ready for if she escapes?”

Twilight gave a sheepish laugh, which did nothing to make me feel better. “The truth is... she already has, once.”

I gaped.

She may not have been looking at me, but I’m sure Twilight could feel my shock. “D-don’t worry, she didn’t get far! We’ve made the necessary cautions since then. Who would’ve thought a pony her age would know how to pick a lock?” She laughs again, so she must’ve found the humour in this that I couldn’t. “But seriously, everything’s totally safe. She can’t leave her room, and even if she did, we’d know about it in an instant.”

“If you say so.” I decided to take her at her word, otherwise I’d be even more paranoid during the visit.

We turn a corner, and see guards stationed before an honestly unassuming door. Otherwise, it’s a dead end, which means...

“We’re here.”

I truly was surprised. If it weren’t for the guards on stand-by, it would appear to be any ordinary room, just like all the others we passed. This was where they were holding one of the greatest threats to Equestria?

...Matching that description to Cozy Glow’s face still felt ridiculous.

“Are you ready?” Twilight pulled me out of my stupor.

“As I’ll ever be,” I replied. I couldn’t feel less ready. It’s been months since the girls, backed by a nation and then some, faced off against that disastrous trio. That was the last time I ever saw Cozy not encased in stone, and then she was an alicorn standing next to my nemesis and a soul-sucking centaur. It really didn’t feel anything like one of my former students was behind that door. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel once I saw her again.

Signaled by Twilight, one of the guards nodded and opened the door. I was somewhat thankful I still couldn’t see her from here.

As I gulp and move to step in, Twilight rests a hoof on my shoulder. “Remember, we’re just trying to learn where she comes from. It’s not on you to totally reform her on the spot, nor is the fate of all Equestria resting on this. Just relax, you’ll do fine.”

She offers me a smile, and I return it in earnest. That really did help. I guess she wouldn’t have made a very good mentor if she couldn’t give a halfway decent pep talk.

I take a deep breath, and walk inside.

I hear the door shut firmly behind me. I turn my head.

There she is.

Her eyes are turned towards the floor. I’m unsure if she’s noticed me. She’s seated in front of a small table. She... doesn’t look happy. I couldn’t really tell if she was sad, or angry. Despondent, maybe? I feel the sting of empathy from looking at another pony wearing such a sullen expression, but I have to keep in mind who I’m dealing with.

I finally approach, and likewise, she finally turns her head up to look at me.

Her lips curl into a maniacal smile almost immediately.

“Wow, Starlight Glimmer?? That’s who they’re sending to me next!?” She starts to cackle loud enough I’m sure they could hear it down the hall, which was saying a lot for this castle. I wasn’t really sure how to react. “Golly, if they’re bringing in the worst school counsellor in Equestria to try and break me, they must really be getting desperate!”

I frown, my brow furrows, and every drop of empathy I had just a second ago immediately drains from my body. Yep, this is who I’ll be dealing with. “You know, most ponies have to want to be counselled first before we’re able to help them.” Despite my mind telling me to zap her to a fine powder on the spot, I found it in me to continue inside and take my spot at the table. I didn’t get a stool like she did, but considering the height difference and size of the table, it wasn’t necessary.

“Please, I wouldn’t ask for your help opening a pickle jar.” Her laughter seems to peter out finally, but that smug, evil grin she’s wearing appears to be here to stay. “Honestly, do they really think I’d let one of the ponies who ruined my rule of Equestria try to ‘reform’ me? Twilight and her lackeys must be even dumber than I thought!”

I decide to take a good look around the room while she’s sitting there acting pompous. There... wasn’t a lot in here, but it seemed livable. There was a small bed in the corner that could easily accommodate a pony her size. It honestly looked like it might be fairly comfy. Next to it was a nightstand with a small lamp. On the other side was a short bookcase totally filled with reading material. For some reason I wasn’t concerned with it being age-appropriate. By the wall sat a pile of very simple toys, hardly even suited for levitation practice. It was hard to tell if she did anything more than glance at them. Then of course, in the middle of the room, was this table. The decor was overall pretty bright, matching that of the rest of the castle.

As I was looking, I also noticed that her wings were bound, and that she had some sort of ankle bracelet around her left hindleg. I doubt she wore it as any sort of fashion statement, so my guess was that it was somehow related to one of the security measures Twilight mentioned. I certainly wasn’t any stranger to magical bracelets.

“Hey, don’t tell me you came here just to sit there and gawk!”

Her scolding pulls me back to attention, and now she looks annoyed. Better than the usual, I guess. I wonder how long I was ignoring her for. “If you have some nonsense to say about friendship or the good of ponies, then just get it over with so you can leave! I’m not exactly interested in entertaining unwelcome prison-guests.”

She made it difficult not to strangle her. I’ll have to thank Trixie for the practice. “I’m just here to try what the other ponies have been trying. They- Twilight told me they’ve been asking about your parents, right?”

Cozy groans, rolling her eyes. “Not this again. Can’t that stupid princess take a hint?”

If nothing else, that let me know everything I was told was true. Not that I had reason to doubt it. “Just listen. Everypony just wants to help you. You really don’t have any reason to hide anything. If we knew-”

“The reason is because I hate you. Simple as that.”

Ah.

I assumed this much when Twilight told me how stubborn she was being. I can’t even blame her. If somepony turned me into a statue, I’d be pretty difficult with them too.

She’s on me again before I can even respond. “And don’t feed me that ‘everypony just wants to help’ garbage. You’re all just doing this to feel good about yourselves! You didn’t free me because you actually care about me. This is just pity for trapping the ‘poor wittle filly’ in stone like the rest of the villains. ‘Hey, maybe if we can turn her into a good pony, then we won’t have to feel bad about potentially petrifying a kid for thousands of years!’ Golly, isn’t friendship just grand?”

Her sudden rant actually has me reeling. She must have had a lot of time to build up all this anger. I suppose I could relate. I open my mouth to reply, but she still wasn’t finished. “Well if you think I’m going to play along, then think again! I saw the way everypony looked at me after I was caught at the school. You sent me to Tartarus, for pony’s sake! If you all felt that way back then, then there’s no way you actually want me around now, after what me and the others did. And I don’t care about you guys either!”

I was left at a loss for words. In a way, she was right about some things, and I found it hard to argue in our defence. But I needed to have faith in what I stood for, and like Cozy said, I couldn’t just sit around gawking. I found a lead, however small, in that last bit of her tangent. “Is that why you refuse to help? Because Chrysalis and Tirek are still in stone?”

She raises an eyebrow. “Why would that matter?”

I thought it was obvious, but I elaborate, “Well, they were your allies. If everything Discord told us was true, which, to be fair, is questionable... You must have spent a lot of time around the two of them. Working together.” Cozy’s squints at me. I decide to take a long shot. “Maybe, it’s possible, the three of you were actually... friends?”

We hold a short staring contest, me with a pretty unconvincing smile. At least, I can only assume it was unconvincing, because the next thing that happens is she starts laughing again. “You’re kidding, right? We hated being around eachother! The only reason we even put up with it was because we had a mutual goal: destroying all of you!”

I pout. I thought I had something. Of course, the alternative here probably meant freeing Tirek and Chrysalis again, and there’s no way that would have gone well. She continues, looking at her hoof with disinterest, “We basically agreed to be at eachother’s throats the second you were all dealt with anyway. Good riddance, I say. Now, I can take Equestria all to myself!”

The innocent expression she feigns as she says that puts me on edge. Alright, so that was a bust. What now?

“Gee, sorry your little theory was a waste of time. I guess you should just go home and never come back!”

Well, whatever I had planned next, there was no way I could let this little foal get the better of me. If Twilight was right about anything, it’s that I don’t back down easy. I guess Twilight would probably know that better than anypony. Actually...

Isn’t that exactly why I’m here?

I clear my throat, and Cozy gives me a deadpan stare. I ignore it. “Cozy, has anypony ever actually told you about my past?”

Suddenly, she looks curious, if mildly. Aside from the ponies in my village and our close friends, there aren’t a lot of ponies who know about the things I did before I moved to Ponyville. Certainly none of the students at the school. It wasn’t national news, so most ponies just assume... “What’s to tell? You were one of Twilight’s silly friends so she made you her stupid guidance counsellor at her useless school.”

Yeah, something like that. “Actually, I also almost ruined Twilight’s friend group and nearly destroyed Equestria.”

Cozy immediately scoffs. “Don’t try to mess with me. There’s no way a do-gooder pony like you could have ever-”

“There’s a small, nameless village out east. It’s been showing up on maps the past couple years, I think, so maybe you’ve heard of it. Years ago... That was my village.”

She didn’t look impressed. “So what? Even if you’re telling the truth, that doesn’t mean-”

“I didn’t just lead this village. I ruled it.”

“Quit interrupting me!!” She looked irritated. Made me feel a little smug. “What are you talking about? So what if you ruled over some dumb nowhere village?”

This was never something I enjoyed talking about, but desperate times called for desperate measures. It helped that the filly I was talking to was guilty of crimes at least as horrendous as my own. “I ruled this village through a strict doctrine of total equality. The way I enforced this doctrine was simple: taking away everypony’s cutie marks. I developed a spell that let me rip a pony’s cutie mark right off their flank. Of course, I kept my own.” I felt myself shiver, but continued. “Anypony who refused to adhere to my rule was punished until they submitted. I created a small utopia of false equality that I led with a smile.”

I wasn’t totally sure if she was humouring me or genuinely interested, but Cozy sat quietly and let me tell my story. “One day, Twilight’s... Twilight was alerted to my village’s existence, and she and her friends came to investigate. Long story short, they exposed me and tore down everything I took years building up. I escaped, but I had nowhere to go. Nopony to go to, so I thought.” Sorry dad.

I lean forward, my face hard and serious. It wasn’t just for effect. If Cozy can read ponies like I think she can, then I want her to see the harsh sincerity in my eyes. “So I grew bitter. Twilight took everything from me. It was only fair that I take everything from her. I began to plot my revenge. After months of careful research, I found a way to travel back in time to tear apart Twilight’s closest friendships. And it worked. Everything was going according to plan. However...” I still had Cozy’s attention. This was good. “For each time I changed the past, it brought about a new, grim future. In each one, Equestria found itself at war or under total seige. Some at the hooves of your two pals, if I recall. Twilight took me to see one of the futures. There was nothing. Everything was totally destroyed. Gone. And it was my doing.”

It seemed I had Cozy at the edge of her seat. “...And then? What did you do?”

She was about to be sorely disappointed. With a smirk, I replied, “Then? I became one of Twilight’s silly friends that she made her stupid guidance counsellor at her useless school.”

Cozy was absolutely frustrated. “Ugh, what!? What a waste of time! So you’re just a loser then who gave in to Twilight’s absurd philosophies? Who’s to say if any of that was even real??”

Again, I hardened my expression. “I am. I could tear away your cutie mark right now, if I wanted to. I’ve done it enough times to know it’s a painful process, and if you think you’re miserable now? Just wait until you no longer have the part of you that makes you who you are.”

She seemed a little surprised, but bit back quick. “Yeah, right. Even if I’m still a prisoner, Twilight and her lackeys would never let you do anything to hurt me like that, so nice try, but-”

“They would never have to know. I could give it back to you before I left, and I know enough brainwashing spells that you wouldn’t even be able to tell them what happened.”

“...You wouldn’t. You’re just as goody-goody as the rest of them.”

“Wanna try me?” Even I couldn’t tell if I was bluffing.

We stared eachother down for what felt like minutes, each waiting for the other to back off. My horn began to glow. She must have taken the hint or convinced herself it wasn’t worth testing my bluff, because her face softened and she leaned back. “...Okay, fine. Let’s say I believe you. What was the point of all that? Even if you used to be some big-shot villain like me, what do I gain from that? Don’t tell me you’re trying to relate to me.”

There it is. Now that my (hopefully) empty threats were over, I could also relax and continue with a little more sympathy. “Actually, yes. Not because I think you and I are the same, or because I’m trying to earn your respect; believe me, I already know that road is nothing more than a dead end. I do think, however, that we may have similar circumstances.” Finally, I made it to the point of all this. “I did what I did because of something that happened when I was young. If it weren’t for that, I probably would have been a totally different pony than I am now. I don’t know for sure, but it hurt, and it stuck with me. Cozy...

“Are you sure you aren’t the same way?”

She seemed almost fascinated by what I was saying. With no response, I took the cue to continue. “Look, nopony but you knows what your life was like, or where you came from. But that’s why we’re here. If something happened to you that made you feel like you needed to do the things you’ve done... Well, if you tell us, then we can help. We can make it hurt less. I promise, we’re on your side this time Cozy. Please?”

It looked like she was genuinely thinking things over. Did I actually do it? Was this the right call?

“...Alright.”

I had to keep myself from smiling too wide. I cleared my throat. “What happened, Cozy?”

She sighed, and after a moment, spoke, “When I was growing up, my parents... They weren’t very nice.”

I was afraid of this. All the same, I nodded, letting her continue. “They would hurt me, and punish me, and say mean things about me all the time. I didn’t have any friends, and I just felt so weak and helpless.”

It was worse than I thought. I could see tears forming at the corner of her eyes. I knew this might be painful, but it was progress. That said, I was already starting to feel bad for her. She continued, “After I heard about the Elements of Harmony, I thought that that was the way to become strong. Making lots of friends. So I tried in my hometown, but I couldn’t, because my parents were...”

She seemed hesitant to continue, but I stayed attentive. “Yes?”

“They were...”

What could it be? “What were they, Cozy Glow?”

She took a deep breath, and... “...They were a pair of gullible idiots who thought that I’d open up to them just because they told me some sappy story about how they became a bad pony ‘cuz their foalhood was oh-so sad and terrible! Hah!”

My jaw dropped.

Cozy was in hysterics. She fell off her stool and was rolling around on the floor, holding her stomach. I couldn’t muster anything but quiet sputtering.

“Good gosh golly, you really fell for that one. I can’t believe you actually bought that all the way through! I didn’t think anypony could be that stupid and gullible; not even Twilight would have believed that! You really thought just because you told me about your dumb past that I’d suddenly feel like telling you everything about my life? Golly, you’re a riot.”

I was scowling when she finally found the energy to sit back on her flanks.

“Get real, Glimmer. Who cares if you were once some evil dictator? You’re still the same loser I beat just by acting all sad and innocent, then pushing you into my magic vortex where you had to be freed by those six meddling teenagers. Still one of the funnest things I’ve ever done, by the way.”

I growled. She grinned.

“I really don’t care what you went through or who you used to be. Nothing you say will change how much I hate you and I’m not. Telling you. Anything.”

The door closes behind me. Seems like Twilight was waiting outside the whole time, and she rushes to meet me. “Starlight! How did it go? Did she tell you anything??”

“It could have gone better.”