Childish Hope

Cozy Glow unwillingly approached her closet. The Tantabus—somehow—was right in her room, in Canterlot. It was beyond her how the Tantabus got in, but they happily answered her telepathically.

“I can use the shadows to travel. I am a figment of Luna’s guilt, and have gained power by feeding off her guilt. One of my powers is to become an ink blot in the darkness, my natural form, and now that I have escaped her mind, I can exist anywhere I want to.”

Cozy Glow gazed at the door to the hall. She then shot the Tantabus a look, thinking hard about what to do.

“I can read your thoughts, you know. If you scream, which you won’t, I’ll happily steal you now and eat your soul. Now come.”

Cozy Glow felt a magical force on her mouth, muting her from screaming. She was sure the Tantabus had no intention of murdering her, but nonetheless, Cozy Glow was super nervous about following the Tantabus into the closet. Something was up.

Reluctantly, Cozy Glow followed the Tantabus into the vast darkness. Yes, vast—because the closet ceased to exist, and instead there was a giant chasm shrouded in blackness.

“You’re in here with me now,” the Tantabus spoke aloud. “No one can hear you scream. And you can’t run for help, not unless I let you go. And I have no intent of doing so yet.”

“What’s going on?” Cozy Glow asked, now allowed to speak.

“I can’t give that away quite yet. But I need you breathing and in decent shape you little cunt,” the Tantabus explained.

“But why? What do you need me in good condition for?” Cozy Glow was getting more nervous about this by the second.

“You’ll see soon enough,” the Tantabus spoke, not answering her plea. It wouldn’t let on to what it wanted with her, but whatever it was couldn’t be anything good.

“Why are you telling me this if don’t want me to know?” Cozy Glow questioned.

The Tantabus remained silent, processing her question like a broken facts machine.

“You and I share one little thing in common,” the Tantabus explained. “We are avid partakers in the idea of entertaining evil. And I enjoy this, quite a lot in fact.”

The Tantabus started walking towards Cozy Glow. “And besides,” it rambled on, “I need to guide my meal in the right direction.”

Guide my meal? The statement shook Cozy Glow.

Cozy Glow stepped back, disallowing the Tantabus to get too close for comfort.

“Your soul isn’t ripe yet. Luna’s was, but she wouldn’t let me take more control… however, you’re no goddess; you’re a mere child,” the Tantabus said, hunger in its voice.

“Are you some kind of changeling?” Cozy Glow asked, frightened but wanting to make a stand.

“A changeling? Oh, I’m much more than that,” it explained. “If you compared me to a changeling, then they’d practically be extinct. If I were a changeling, they’d think I was their god. But our similarities end in disguise and hunger.”

“Gotcha,” Cozy Glow murmured, trying to keep the fear out of her voice. “Can I go back to my room now?”

“In a moment. I have an assignment for you tomorrow. Twilight is going to take you to Everfree Forest for you to show her where the outpost is. They’re going to bring an attack, and if they find out you’re lying, you’re going to be tortured again,” it explained.

“Oh, my,” Cozy Glow gasped. “What do I do?”

“Follow my lead tomorrow,” it continued. “I’m going to guide you to a trap where I will be waiting to slaughter all the guards.”

Cozy Glow stared in shock. “You’re going to murder the guards?”

“It’ll get her off your ass about the outpost, and give you more time for you to grow… ripe,” the Tantabus finished.

“But I can’t do that!” Cozy Glow yelled.

“But you will,” the Tantabus said. It wasn’t a question. It was a demand that she did as told.

“What if I don’t?” Cozy Glow asked.

“Well, you’re still due for a punishment for revealing our attack date,” the Tantabus reminded her. “Consider this a sample size.”

Immediately after hearing this, Cozy Glow started to fall to the solid black floor. She felt a roaring pain in her head. It felt like a hammer had been lodged into her skull and she was bleeding out acid, only she couldn’t scream; a spell bonded her lips shuts. She couldn’t scream, but she needed to scream. The only sound concerning her agony was the whimpers that could weakly be heard from her.

“That’s what’ll happen if you decided to not cooperate again,” the Tantabus warned her. “The only difference being that it’ll hurt all over and be amplified to a thousand.”

The pain was then extinguished, and Cozy Glow started to relax. The memory of the pain would be hard to forget, but Cozy Glow couldn’t be bothered to think about it. She needed to get out of there.

Thankfully, the Tantabus was kind enough to let her go then. A hole in the darkness revealed the closet. Cozy Glow scrambled over without hesitation, leaving the weird dimension of darkness behind. When Cozy Glow looked back, it was just a blank, white wall.

She exited the closet, thankful to have gotten out okay. The pain she experienced had done no real damage to her; she had only felt pain and hadn’t been physically hurt at all, though she was mentally petrified whenever she thought about it.

Not too long after Cozy Glow had fully calmed down, Twilight entered the room to talk with Cozy Glow before going to bed.

“Hey, Cozy Glow,” Twilight asked. “Are your wings doing alright?”

Cozy Glow wiped away dried tears. “They’re fine,” she whispered.

“That’s good to hear,” Twilight said soothingly. “Are you up for an adventure tomorrow?”

“What adventure?” Cozy Glow asked.

“Well, we need you to guide us to the outpost where Spike is at,” Twilight told her. “We need your help.”

“Oh, right,” Cozy Glow sighed.

“Get some rest, please. We’re going bright and early,” Twilight said. She turned to leave.

“Wait,” Cozy Glow whispered. Twilight stopped in her tracks and turned around to listen to Cozy Glow.

“You shouldn’t go out there,” Cozy Glow said. “It’s not going to be safe.”

“We know, that’s why we’re bringing a lot of the guards out with us,” Twilight explained.

Cozy Glow felt the sudden urge to tell Twilight the truth about how there was no outpost, and that it was made up because she wanted the guard to not injure her. Since there was no Tantabus telling her not to do so, Cozy Glow began.

“You don’t understand,” Cozy Glow started. “There’s no outpost. I made it up. But there’s going to be a trap tomorrow.”

“Excuse me?” Twilight gasped. “You lied about the outpost? I’ll have you know that we can bring you back to the chamber and get the truth out of you at any moment it’s necessary.”

“I did tell you the truth! But you didn’t believe it, and you were gonna hurt me, so I said a lie that sounded more believable,” Cozy Glow argued.

Twilight stared at Cozy Glow with a blank expression. A sinking hatred filled the room, though not so strongly as it had before. This hatred was aimed at Cozy Glow, and the one aiming was Twilight.

“Have a good night, Cozy Glow,” Twilight said, but definitely not meaning it. She left the room quietly, leaving Cozy Glow with her thoughts.

The Tantabus broke into Cozy’s conscious thought unannounced.

“You’re probably wondering why I didn’t stop you. Well, that was a set up. I knew you’d tell Twilight. And now, she’s starting to hate your guts again. Her negative thoughts on you ripens the flavor, like how Luna’s guilt ripened her for so long. You’re going to taste delicious the more you fuck up with Twilight. We just need you to be in good condition for when you’re ready for them.”

The words ringed in Cozy Glow’s tender ears as she tried to fall into a deep, deep sleep.

The morning rushed by in a blur. Cozy Glow was thankful to have gotten rest, but wasn’t looking forward to the day.

Now that Twilight knew the outpost was a complete lie, she decided to try to get the answer out of Cozy Glow again, but this time by literally asking for directions.

She brought Cozy Glow to where the throne room was. Was, because it’s no longer a room: it’s a balcony. The room had been destroyed in the event of the battle that had happened here two months ago, which resulted in Spike being kidnapped.

Cozy Glow sat at the edge, looking out on the land. It was a strange sight, seeing nothing but air and the city down below where there used to be a mighty throne and amazing architecture, of which Cozy Glow used to admire, but she had sadly destroyed.

Cozy Glow was ordered to point in the direction Spike truly was, and she obliged well, pointing straight ahead but only a little to the left. She had come from that way, and knew she could retrace her steps.

She was given a map of Equestria and was ordered to draw a line to where he was. She knew the base was just outside of Macintosh Hills, and a few miles out from Appaloosa. So, she labeled an area for them to search, explaining the castle design and how highly it was guarded. She also warned them not to attack, or else Spike would be murdered in an instant, which wasn’t news but rather a reminder.

Whilst all of this was okay for them to know by Cozy Glow, they still threatened it out of her, saying that if they returned and found no castle or no Spike, Cozy Glow was going to get a horrible punishment. She didn’t fear it much but the thought of them returning without any evidence of the base existing. The purpose of the trip was to find their base, not to attack it—yet, of course; they had to get Spike out before they attempted anything.

With all the information they could squeeze out of Cozy Glow, a group of sixty or so well-trained guards headed out to see if the base existed or was just a hoax for Cozy Glow to stall for time, which it wasn’t, but they didn’t quite trust her, but have gained a bit of trust in her word after seeing the state she was in after her torture yesterday.

Cozy Glow, Twilight, and the guard staff watched the search party head out from the throne room. Cozy Glow was nervous that something might happen to them, but knew that if the Tantabus were to infiltrate them, it would be clear that they were attacked by the enemy side. The Tantabus could only watch them, or Cozy Glow hoped it could; she didn’t know the extent of its powers.

After they vanished in the distance, Twilight ordered everyone to leave. Cozy Glow was then left alone with the princess.

“You better be telling the truth,” Twilight warned. “If they come back finding nothing, then you’re in for it.”

“What does that mean?” Cozy Glow asked, glancing at Twilight.

“You’re going to be in major trouble. And trust me, I felt bad doing the hooks yesterday, but if you’re lying about this, you’re going to get a wicked bruising,” Twilight counseled Cozy Glow. “So please, tell me right now if you’re lying.”

“I’m not lying,” Cozy Glow confided. “When they come back, they’ll have found it. You’ll see.”

It remained quiet for a moment. Cozy Glow thought about how good it’d be for her if they found the base. It might just be the golden opportunity she was waiting for to convince Twilight she’s changed for the better.

Her thoughts were interrupted when a familiar few ponies approached.

“Hey, Twi,” Rainbow Dash spoke, her voice its typical raspy self.

“Hi, girls. What’s up?” Twilight asked.

Cozy Glow turned to see Rainbow Dash and Rarity standing in front of Twilight, having a brief conversation. She had almost forgotten they were still around, having not seen them since the battle. Cozy Glow wondered why they haven’t seen her, but it was likely because they wanted to stay away from Cozy Glow until further notice. She couldn’t blame them. She’d done horrible damage to the land.

Rainbow caught her staring, and the three all turned their eyes to Cozy Glow shortly after. It went quiet, uncomfortably quiet, until Twilight spoke up.

“We had Cozy Glow help us locate Spike,” Twilight explained. “That’s why she’s up here.”

“What happened to her wings?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Cozy Glow got the weird urge to hide her wings, embarrassed that her old enemies had seen how she had been tortured.

Twilight sighed. “We had to get answers, so I left it up to the counsel to decide how to get them. They saw it fit that we hurt her to get them. They didn’t think she’d willingly cooperate.”

“I would’ve if you would’ve listened to me,” Cozy Glow blurted out. “I mean, I was willing to answers them without the… you know.”

Rarity stepped over and checked out her wings. “You really did a number on them,” she commented.

“The guards did that. I didn’t want to be in the room for it,” Twilight explained.

“They bled into the bandage well,” Rarity went on. “You might want to replace the wrapping soon.”

“I’m having a guard do it this afternoon,” Twilight continued. “I don’t want it getting infected. She deserves to be able to fly again.”

That comment made Cozy Glow feel a little more calm. Twilight seemed to have weird mood shifts with Cozy Glow, and the Tantabus loved the hatred the Twilight could give off because it ripened Cozy Glow’s flavor or whatever. Somehow, Cozy Glow could sense it when it occurred, but she couldn’t pin point why. That was a good question for the Tantabus, assuming it isn’t mad at her for leaking the location of the castle, though it could’ve very well got a sick kick out of it for whatever reason.

It was nice to see positivity to her, even though no one really trusted her. Yes, she couldn’t fly well at all until her wings got better and really couldn’t escape, so she wasn’t much of a threat. However, they were treating her well, and Cozy Glow hoped that’d last—and it would inevitably do so for the remainder of her time, if the Tantabus wasn’t trying to get her new allies (as Cozy Glow seemed them) to hate her guts more than they did during the time she had been truly evil.

“I wouldn’t say she does, but…” Rainbow Dash replied to Twilight, her voice trailing off.

Twilight shot Rainbow Dash a stern look. It definitely meant for her to pipe down.

Okay. So Rainbow Dash wasn’t a Cozy Glow fan, and no one truly was, but of the three mares she was easily the least big on the idea of a, well, at least slightly less than totally evil and powerful Cozy Glow.

Twilight escorted Cozy Glow to her room, where she was given some privacy before sending a guard in to change Cozy Glow’s bandages.

The guard arrived at the strike of noon, and they ordered her to sit on the edge of her bed as they changed her bandages. The guard washed her wings with soap and water, dried them, and then applied disinfectant to her wounds. Then, ever so delicately, they wrapped her wings up with a fresh bandage.

After the guard left, Cozy Glow went to go use the bathroom. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror as she passed it by, and saw that her hair was a bit of a mess. She needed to shower soon, but she quickly fixed up her hair in the meantime.

And that’s when she noticed it. The scar behind her right hoof. She had a similar scar where her horn used to be, and she knew why it was there. But this scar was something different.

The Tantabus must’ve been watching, because it broke into Cozy Glow’s thoughts.

“Admiring my work?” It taunted.

“What did you do?” Cozy Glow asked nervously. “Why do I have a scar there!”

“I did so to follow you. I knew you were heading to Canterlot, but I couldn’t run the risk of you fleeing or getting lost. I need you ripe, and this is so I can’t lose you.”

“What’s in my hoof?!” Cozy Glow cried.

“A tracker,” it explained. “Only a precaution. It’s hard to lose you, but I could let the other villains track you here and possibly siege Canterlot.”

“Don’t do that, please,” Cozy Glow. “I’ll cooperate. Just please, leave us be.”

The Tantabus didn’t respond. Cozy Glow hoped it had listened, and she carried on.

That night, Cozy Glow was due for getting a tracker put into her. However, she already had one, and was struggling to find a way to explain it to Twilight without it seeming like she was sent here as means to find where the heroes of Equestria are residing.

It wasn’t a good look for her, but she had to explain it best she can—and hopefully get it destroyed quickly.

When it came time for Cozy Glow to head down to the infirmary to get the implant, Cozy Glow asked to speak to Twilight alone for a minute. She had to tell her about the tracker, but prayed she wouldn’t lost her shit. To be fair, the Tantabus apparently hasn’t shared her tracking info with the other bad guys, so they were likely fine. But for how long?

Twilight stared at Cozy Glow as she sat in the hospital bed, ready to talk about whatever it was Cozy Glow was gonna share or ask.

“There’s something you should know,” Cozy Glow said.

“Do you puke under anesthesia? Because you were supposed to tell your anesthesiologist about that,” Twilight scolded.

“No, I don’t,” Cozy Glow replied. “But I do have something else important concerning… well, look.”

Cozy Glow turned her right hoof over and revealed the scar.

“What’s this?” Twilight asked.

“A scar,” Cozy Glow said.

“I know that, but why are you showing me this?” Twilight went on.

“I don’t really know how to tell you this without making you freak out,” Cozy Glow started, nervous. “But there’s a tracker in my hoof.”

Twilight went pale. “You’re joking, right?”

“I’m not kidding,” Cozy Glow answered. “It was put into me when I left, and I didn’t know about it until this morning… but they haven’t used it yet, I swear!”

Twilight stormed out of the room. She seemed upset, and it was evident at the sinking feeling of hatred creeping into the room.

“The spicy and tangy flavor of of hatred and guilt is a nice seasoning for the taste of children’s souls,” the Tantabus gushed telepathically.

Another win for the Tantabus. And judging by the Tantabus’s voice, it must’ve wanted Cozy Glow to tell Twilight about the tracker to upset her. And it worked in its favor.

In a flurry of events, Cozy Glow was hurried into the operating room and steadily put under anesthesia. Twilight watched as Cozy Glow drifted to sleep, allowing a feeling of hatred to slowly slip in and out of the room. It was clear Twilight entertained the idea of a good Cozy Glow, but she couldn’t quite get there thanks to the Tantabus manipulating. Or maybe it was because Cozy Glow looked adorable in her state of dreariness.

Whatever it was that made way for this mixed feeling in the room, Cozy Glow slowly slipped into a deep sleep. She didn’t realize it then, but this deep sleep not only meant that there was no turning back since she would forever be under the watch of Twilight with this tracker, but it also meant that she was vulnerable to the psychological mercy of the Tantabus.

As she slowly faded into the darkness of her own mind, the Tantabus transmitted a few words of wisdom.

“You’re gonna wish they cut you open awake when I’m done with you.”