Cozy Glow grinned down the barrel of her shotgun.
It was a nice view. Two long, lethally simple pipes of metal ending with a helpful little post between them that made aiming her latest pull of the trigger deliciously easy.
The screams were nice, too.
Her ballgown followed as she spun in angelic circles around the gala hall, the boom and splatter of her selfish destruction acting as crescendos to the thrumming, nonstop melody of violence playing through her head.
The click and clack of her glass slippers added another tinkling beat to the song, as did the shouts and cries of those around her, those trying to stop her or merely run away. It didn't matter to her. They were all going to end up in the same place; on the ground, forever unable to put a stop to her play time.
Ducking and dodging, sliding and swooping, she flowed through the hall like a ghost, a serpent, a tendril of stinging acid. Her motions were nigh otherworldly in their smoothness, each one flowing into the next without pause. It was a dance she'd gone over a thousand times in her head, and now that she's begun it in earnest, it will take place a thousand times more.
It felt nice to finally let go.
It felt right.
It'd been a bit awkward smuggling the simplistic firearm into the event, stuffed somewhat clumsily beneath her big, elaborate gown and kept snuggled up against her left leg. The lavishness of the dress made the possibility of a bulge a non-issue, though. Her awkward gait? Just her adjusting to the luxurious clothing.
The quick release straps had torn away so easily when she finally reached under to grasp the weapon's stock. It came out just as it had throughout her practice sessions. Smooth and not getting caught on any of her outfit.
Her latest dancing partner sat in pieces somewhere nearby. Cozy didn't even know their name. They'd been fun to dance with for a while, but like with most of her toys, she quickly grew bored of them.
Her wings flared out as she took another ballerina's twirl across the polished, and now very stained, floor. The second shot exploded from her best friend with a satisfying kick to her shoulder that would've knocked her on her butt a few months back when she first came upon this gorgeous piece of destructive engineering. Now, though? She had the shotgun reigned in. She knew how to handle it, how to lean into the kick, how to brace herself. It was second nature to her at this point, an extension of her body, as comfortable to use as a horn atop a unicorn's head. It was truly amazing what a little forged steel and some powder could do when put together.
Another party goer down, their insides turned into outsides as easily as if Cozy had simply cut them down the middle with a blade. Blades were nice, too, very personal, but they couldn't quite match the grandeur of what some high velocity lead could do.
Another spin and a hop brought her out of range of the latest guard attempting to clumsily put her fun to and end with a spear. She whipped it across his skull with the barrel of her shotgun as she twirled, sending his helmet flying off his now very messy head. She brought a hoof down on his neck for good measure. The crack was beautiful.
Another crack came as she wrenched her weapon open. Empty shells hit the ground with a sound so pleasing it redoubled the grin upon her face. Fresh shells came out of her gown's many pockets with a flourish, delicate fingers slotting them into place with perfect, finessed grace. One then two, then came the metallic snap as Cozy closed the double-barrel. A duo of dance moves loaded.
She took flight as more guards rushed in, her enchanted gown negating their attempts at magically grabbing her. She was as untouchable to spells as she was to sadness in that moment. Her wings flapped hard, bringing her high, giving her a bird's eye view of the guards beneath. Flipping upside-down, she aimed her friend downward. First trigger pull took out the nearest of the latest group, splashing his skull's contents across the rest of the crowd, while the second shot blew out the guts of a guard trying to reel back his spear for a throw. They all went down in a heap.
Almost serenely, Cozy went through the reloading ritual again, letting the spent shells fall into the gory puddle beneath her.
Snap.
While she didn't mind the advantage being up in the air gave her, it did take away from the excitement of the game. It was like burning ants with a magnifying glass instead of crushing each one by hand. It was satisfying, sure, but not in the same way.
So, with a graceful whoosh of her wings, Cozy descended back to the ballroom floor, crystalline shoes clicking against the marbled slabs of stone that made it up. She then took off towards the next cluster of guards like a charging minotaur, shotgun held across her chest like a beloved doll. They met her head on.
With a screaming, cackling laugh, she engaged in a brawl. Of course, she was faster, smaller, more agile, even in her elaborate gown.
As she twirled, the hems of her dress rose, their bladed edges slicing through limbs and torsos alike, leaving bloodied chunks in her wake.
The gala hall began to burn around her, the world outside dark with the rising smoke her apocalypse was bringing. And here she was at the middle of it, bringing about the end of harmony one glorious dance move at a time.
Nothing could stop her.
She was untouchable.
A spin upon one delicate shoe, another spent shell. A guard's spear met her shotgun's oncoming butt with a clang. She deflected the blade, smashed her opponent's knee with a kick, and sent shards of his cranium spearing into the far wall with a point blank blast to his face.
Up she flung, one hand propping herself against the headless guard's shoulder and using it as a vaulting point to heave herself into a midair somersault, weapon held in her free hand, one eye closed as she looked down the pair of barrels one more time.
Cozy wasn't even sure who it was. A guard, a guest, a princess, a friend. She didn't care in that moment. Nothing mattered but the next pull of the trigger. The world ceased to exist beyond her and her firearm.
Whoever it was died with a shriek that got Cozy's feathers tingling.
The hall was still full of playthings. They weren't running out. She could do this forever.
Up onto tables, swinging from candelabras, dancing across the floor, Cozy was a fanciful blur of death. Nothing got in her way for long and what did was swiftly, justly struck down. Some ponies even joined in her spectacular performance, twirling with her hand in hand for a few moments before they too betrayed and bored her. They went the same way as the rest. Gone in a flash, replaced by more intoxicating smoke.
Everything around her was fire. The building was crumbling. The very ground beneath her fractured and gaped open, fire spewing forth while the air turned ever more into red mist. It was an awe-inspiring sight, one that would be burned into the psyche of everypony in Equestria.
This was Cozy Glow's time to shine. This was her reckoning, her contribution to the world. This was going to be her legacy.
Twilight Sparkle stared up at the statue of Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow while Starlight Glimmer stood silently at her side, the two of them quietly observing the unmoving visages of their defeated enemies.
"What do you think goes through their heads up there?" Twilight asked, looking at Starlight.
"Who knows. Maybe they're sorry? Mournful? Maybe they regret what they did? Or maybe I'm just being hopeful," Starlight replied with a shrug.
"Think we should ever let them out?" Twilight asked, looking contemplative.
"Maybe Cozy. Seems like the least dangerous of the three. I bet she's scared, honestly." Starlight looked pained, guilty.
"Scared? Possibly. I guess we'll know when we finally crack this thing open."
Author's Note
Again, I just wanted to write some edgy nonsense. This story was inspired by HARLEQUIN! by Vana.
I don't expect this story to do very well, but the idea was so vivid in my head that I just had to write it.
Enjoy.
