Childish Hope

Since Spike was next on the chopping block, there wouldn’t be a siege at the villains lair. It was too dangerous if it meant Spike would—very likely—be killed before they even reached the castle in the event of an attack. So no attack would go underway there.

However, that didn’t mean they couldn’t attempt to get Spike. It would be very, very risky, but a risk worth taking if it meant they could surprise attack their enemies a week in advance before any horrible battle went down.

How they’d get Spike was simple. They’d break him out under the cover of darkness using an invisibility spell cast by Twilight. However, they had to bring Cozy Glow along so they could locate Spike, if he even was alive.

The trip there took about ten hours, and it was almost night fall when they arrived. On the way there, Cozy Glow, strapped to a seat with her wings bound together, got to chat with Twilight about her… wise words.

They were riding in closed carriages, and Twilight sat with Cozy Glow. Other carriages held guards and equipment, and they were in the air for quicker travel, being led by Pegasi.

Cozy Glow had been giving Twilight a quick glance every now and then, and the princess seemed to have been in a world of her own, with a far away look in their eyes.

Twilight, finally snapping out of it, saw that Cozy Glow was uncomfortable with the mask on her muzzle; she squirmed a little in her chair, too, but she wasn’t going to get out of that until they landed. So, Twilight let her get some air. And get a word in.

“You don’t need this cap thing over my mouth,” Cozy Glow complained. “I’m not gonna go ballistic again.

Twilight gazed at the now set sun (it was winter time so it had gotten dark just then, and pretty early). She held the mask in her left hoof, and turned her gaze to the filly in the straight jacket.

“We do need this over your mouth,” Twilight replied. “There’s no point in arguing that you won’t start acting crazy again, saying someone is telling you to say things you don’t mean. You aren’t well, so why would we trust your word?”

“Because it’s true,” Cozy Glow argued. “I mean, not that I killed Spike and Starlight. They’re fine, I think.”

Twilight flashed Cozy Glow the mask. But Cozy Glow rolled her eyes.

“Alright, don’t listen to me,” Cozy Glow went on. “I’m gonna die tonight and no pony cares.”

“You’re not going to die,” Twilight groaned.

“You’re the one who poked holes in my wings and sliced open my ears,” Cozy Glow shot out. “And you tell me I’m not gonna die? Not like you’ve been enjoying killing me slowly.”

Twilight and Cozy Glow remained silent for a long moment, not talking to one another. But Cozy Glow could tell Twilight had been hurt by the accusation.

Cozy Glow turned her gaze to Twilight with her most serious expression. “Please believe me,” Cozy Glow went on. “I’m not crazy. I know I’m not, because I didn’t know that capsule was in hoof—because the Tantabus told me it was a tracker—and I got told by it what it was before you even clarified. How do you explain that?”

“You were lying,” Twilight reckoned. “Pretty simple. You knew what it was and it’s possibly part of some big plan. Heck, this might be one big trap!”

Cozy Glow sighed. “If I end up disappearing at around midnight, know my ribs are probably being eaten by the Tantabus,” she regarded.

“The Tantabus is back, I know,” Twilight went on. “But I don’t think it wants anything to do with you. From what I know, you came here to spy on me.”

“Oh for fuck sakes,” Cozy Glow groaned. “The Tantabus told me to say that too. I really came here because I’m reformed.”

“No pony believes you,” Twilight said. “Especially now.”

Cozy Glow went quiet. She didn’t know how to argue, until a thought hit her.

“What happened to Luna and Celestia?” Cozy Glow blurted out.

Twilight glared at Cozy Glow. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“What?” Cozy Glow whispered.

“Oh, stop the act,” Twilight replied. “You don’t care. It’s who you are.”

“It’s who I was,” Cozy Glow whispered.

Twilight huffed. “We don’t know. They escorted most of Canterlot’s residents to the Crystal Empire and never came back. Will that satisfy you and your master?”

“I’m not working for anyone!” Cozy Glow yelled. Not a second later, Twilight slammed the mask over her muzzle to avoid her making more comments.

Cozy Glow quickly accepted that she had been silenced, not throwing a muffled fit or attempting to squirm out of her mask—as one would expect of her before she reformed herself.

They stared at each other for a while, and after a long time, Cozy Glow got bored and decided to try to sleep. However, Twilight snapped her out of it quickly when she had an interesting idea.

“Why don’t we play a game?” Twilight asked.

Cozy Glow perked up at hearing this. Her heart started to pound. The idea of ‘playing a game’ sounded like more knives and hooks disrupting her fragile figure.

“I’m not gonna hurt you,” Twilight assured her. “I don’t like it but I’m almost numb to the sadness it brings.”

It slightly settled Cozy Glow, but she still wasn’t sure she’d never be tortured again. Or worse.

“Blink once for yes, twice for no. If you answer yes three times, I’ll take the mask off your face so you can speak again,” Twilight explained. “If you don’t answer yes three times, don’t worry about it. This isn’t authorized by law. This is authorized by me. Understand?”

Cozy Glow blinked once. She understood.

“Good,” Twilight said. “That one doesn’t count.”

After a moment of hesitation, Twilight began her weird game.

“Were you with anyone when you came here?” Twilight asked.

Cozy Glow blinked twice. She hadn’t come with anyone—besides the Tantabus, but she didn’t know when exactly they came to Canterlot.

“Are you a spy?” Twilight asked.

Cozy Glow blinked twice. She truly wasn’t here to spy on Twilight.

“Have you lied to me before?” Twilight asked.

Cozy Glow just stared, unblinking. She wasn’t sure how to approach the idea of coming clean about having lied to Twilight.

“There’s gonna be no consequences if you tell me yes,” Twilight reassured Cozy Glow. “So be honest.”

Cozy Glow hesitantly blinked once. She knew she’d lied to Twilight, but about what exactly Twilight wanted to know was beyond her.

“Did you lie about Spike and Starlight? About you killing them?” Twilight asked.

Cozy Glow blinked immediately.

“Good,” Twilight went on. “One more honest yes and I’ll let you speak.”

Cozy Glow nodded.

“Is the Tantabus infiltrating your thoughts?” Twilight asked.

Cozy Glow looked stunned. Twilight asking that question wasn’t something she personally saw coming.

“Just be honest, Cozy Glow,” Twilight asked.

Cozy Glow slowly blinked once.

Twilight, on cue, sighed. It seemed Cozy Glow had disappointed her.

“So you’re a schizophrenic,” Twilight concluded. “That explains a lot.”

Cozy Glow shook her head in denial. She knew the Tantabus was legitimately messing with her, but she just couldn’t prove it. She looked crazy sharing it before. She’d need cold facts to prove the Tantabus is messing with her mind, not just wild claims.

Twilight wouldn’t remove the cap from over Cozy Glow’s lower face. She hadn’t believed Cozy Glow told her an honest truth.

However, she did believe that Cozy Glow was hearing a voice.

“When this is all over,” Twilight began, “I’ll get you diagnosed. See what’s up with you.”

Cozy Glow yelled something, but it was inevitably muffled down by the mask. The Princess thought Cozy Glow was crazy, but she wasn’t—or at least Cozy thought that she wasn’t.

A few minutes passed. The cool, crisp air of the Winter night blew a steady current into the cavity of the enclosed carriage as the royal guards soared through the darkness.

Alas, they started to descend. Twilight perked up upon feeling the drop in elevation, and it was evident that far in the distance were Macintosh Hills—where Cozy Glow had said the base was located.

The landing was smooth, practically gliding on top of the grass. Where they had landed was about five miles out from the base, or where Cozy Glow said it would be. From the sky, they couldn’t quite see a base; the mountains and hills disallowed much view, and so did the light snow fall.

Twilight used her magic to float Cozy Glow out of the carriage, and as she promised to Cozy Glow once they landed, some guards came over and undid her constraints. In a matter of a few minutes, Cozy Glow was on her hooves again, the only constraint left being the muzzle-cap used to silence her. Cozy Glow gaze Twilight an expecting look, and the mare rolled her eyes.

“Cozy Glow,” Twilight began, “I’m not gonna take off that muzzle cap.”

Cozy Glow went wide eyed.

“It’ll assure you cooperate more,” Twilight confided. “You understand, right?”

Cozy Glow did very much so, but someone wanted her to say so either way when her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar but discomforting voice.

“Nod yes if you know what’s good for you,” the Tantabus warned.

Cozy Glow nodded yes, letting herself relax a little visually whilst her heart rate spiked upon hearing her soon-to-be consumer direct her. Twilight walked away to a group of guards, letting Cozy Glow be as alone as anyone would allow. Guards watched from afar, and of course, Cozy Glow still couldn’t fly very well. If she tried, her wings would ache and pulsate, and the bleeding would continue in her wings. That wouldn’t be suitable for flying and get her wings sticky and stiff once the blood would dry, as one could expect. Flying away would be foolish, and against the wishes of the Tantabus.

The Tantabus telepathically chuckled, revealing a sense of humor. “I like seeing you like this,” the Tantabus said, amused. “Now you won’t be able to scream as I feast on your soul.”

Cozy Glow thought a nasty reply, but the Tantabus didn’t respond. A momentary silence for it but it would be back to mock her helplessness, whether it be outright wild laughter or describing her fate in ways that are designed to make her feel disturbed and uncomfortable.

Minutes went by. Guards scrambled to ready weapons and speedily set up camp, assuming they’d spend the night.

The weapons—mostly spears—were a precaution. They didn’t plan to attack the enemy, but if the enemy attacked them, well, better safe than sorry. Their only true goal was to get spike so they actually could attack the Legion of Doom (as they have been dubbed).

“Let’s prepare to head out,” Twilight announced. “Gather around Cozy Glow.”

One by one, guards surrounded Cozy Glow. All of them equipped spears (once again, a precaution), and Twilight obviously wielded her great power. Again, it was a simple plan: go in, get spike, get out. They’d be invisible, so they wouldn’t be able to be seen if someone approached or if they encountered a villain. And, according to Cozy Glow, you could walk right in; it was a secret base, not a secured base.

So, ten guards, Cozy Glow and Twilight headed out to (hopefully) locate Spike in the castle a few miles out. However, the Tantabus had some unkind regards about their trip.

“Do exactly as they say. They’ll find out soon enough that they’re walking into their own doom.”

The castle loomed in the distance, giving off an eerie sense with its dark crystals (formed of Sombra’s dark magic) barely reflecting light. It was structurally a lot like Twilight’s castle in Ponyville—before it was destroyed in the war.

The group was already under the invisibility spell, but they were able to see each other well enough; the spell works like that. Twilight gave some quick last-minute comments to Cozy Glow.

“Just lead us inside, navigate us to Spike, and you’ll be okay,” Twilight assured. “Please don’t make this hard for us.”

Cozy Glow looked down at the ground. She knew that this wasn’t gonna go well; the Tantabus, and probably the other bad guys, expected them. They knew they were coming, and there’s no way it was gonna go according to plan. Just what was actually gonna happen in the castle was all up in the air, up for grabs by the Tantabus.

In no time, she stood in front of the door, and Cozy Glow was supposed to walk right in, but hesitated. She thought that, maybe, an alarm was in place. Heck, an army could be right behind the from door. But she pulled it open, and it revealed… an empty hall casted in an eerie, dim light. Safe.

“Let’s go,” Twilight whispered. They quietly shuffled into the building, Cozy Glow first and Twilight second. The guards all followed and, slowly, the last guard slid the door shut. They were in, and now Cozy Glow’s purpose here could commence.

Cozy Glow didn’t waste any time. She knew exactly where Spike was, and wanted to prove she was truly cooperating and wanted to help, but she knew that something was up. But what? The Tantabus wouldn’t just out right ruin the surprise.

But she didn’t have to wait long.

After some short walks through spacious corridors and turning corner after corner, Cozy Glow found the door to the room: Spike’s prison, and presumably what could be his coffin.

The door wasn’t locked, but Spike was locked in a cage in the room last time Cozy Glow had been in there. It opened with much ease, and revealed only darkness. A light would be needed.

Twilight let her horn up as she entered the room after Cozy Glow, and it cast a purple glow over the whole scene. The very, very graphic scene.

Blood painted the walls as it tainted the paper on the floor. A struggle had occurred, and there was no sign of Spike aside from the dust imprint where his cage was. The room was barren, or so it seemed—until they looked up.

Twilight and Cozy Glow gasped in unison, and the guards wasted no time joining in. On the ceiling was… them.

The Legion of Doom. But they weren’t conscious, or didn’t appear to be so at the very least. They were trapped in some kind of dark matter of gelatinous consistency, their faces only sticking out of it. It was clearly the work of the Tantabus, who had overthrown the entire legion for—likely—selfish reasons.

“I was hungry,” the Tantabus grumbled out loud.

Twilight jumped and dropped the whole invisibility spell. She scanned the room swiftly, trying to locate the Tantabus. But the Tantabus was nowhere to be seen.

“Sorry about the mess,” it went on. “They barely put up a fight… I had been draining them of magic in their sleep.”

“Show yourself!” Twilight yelled. The guards got in a hunched position, ready to spring at the Tantabus.

Instead of revealing itself, it simply turned the light up. The room was much more revealed now, and it was clear that Spike wasn’t in the mess on the ceiling.

“Where is Spike?” Twilight demanded. The Tantabus only laughed in reply, still hiding in whatever darkness was left in the room now.

Cozy Glow got closer to Twilight, and the Tantabus gave her a stern demand.

“Cozy Glow,” the Tantabus said dreamily. “Don’t get all cowardly on me now. I need you to RUN so I can deal with these guys.”

Cozy Glow stared at Twilight, eyes wide. She didn’t know what to do.

“Cozy Glow isn’t going anywhere,” Twilight announced, and the guards swarmed around her. However, the Tantabus had other plans—and revealed itself.

It spawned in the light, as if being unhidden now from whatever shadow it was in. It took its most common form: an astral appearing mare with no distinct features aside from the outline.

In a flurry of events, the Tantabus yanked Twilight off the floor and swung her into the wall. The guards made a move to attack, but were instantly stopped when they were slapped by a blast of sharp, dark magic. They all crumpled to the floor.

Now it was just Cozy Glow.

The Tantabus didn’t bother hurting her and instead pushed her out of the room, then slamming the door. Cozy Glow was out of the picture for whatever the Tantabus planned to do with Twilight and her guards.

Cozy Glow stood there, stunned by what just happened. In the room could he heard a scramble, and lots of screaming from the guards as they attacked the Tantabus and were attacked themselves. Twilight fought as well, but it went quiet after a minute.

It was no use running for Cozy Glow. The Tantabus could travel around the world in a matter of minutes if it wanted to, or so it seemed. Anywhere where there was darkness was basically free rein for the Tantabus.

Finally, the Tantabus opened the door and stepped out into the hall. It immediately undid the muzzle mask on Cozy Glow’s face, letting it hang from her neck.

“You didn’t stop me,” it said. “How pathetically selfish.”

“Stop saying that,” Cozy Glow murmured. “I couldn’t have stopped you even if I tried my hardest.”

“Who said so?” The Tantabus asked.

“Logic and reasoning,” Cozy Glow huffed.

“Right,” the Tantabus confided.

The Tantabus led the way down the hall. Now knowing the place was entirely empty, and that Twilight was dealt with, left an eerie feeling in Cozy Glow’s heart.

“Please tell me they’re not dead,” Cozy Glow whispered.

The Tantabus snickered. “Oh, they might be, or they might not be,” it taunted. “Telling you would spoil your spice a little.”

“Oh,” Cozy Glow said meekly.

They walked in utter silence, slowly approaching what Cozy Glow knew would be the dining hall by the front entrance.

As they walked in, Cozy Glow saw an extremely unexpected sight. At the throne of the table, where Grogar would usually sit, was a prepared meal.

“Literal seasoning makes your physical composition more pleasant to consume over the course of the few months we spend breaking down your body,” the Tantabus explained, pulling the throne out for Cozy Glow to take a seat. “This dish is a bunch of pills, but all of which have tons of herbs and seasoning in them. I know you ponies can’t handle to swallow it bare, so I made this special for you.”

Cozy Glow nervously sat at the table in the small throne, unsure of what to make of the bowl in front of her. She had orange juice to the side, and the bowl was filled to the brim with red pills, apparently filled with seasoning. The Tantabus sure liked to make its meal taste good, whenever it would get to physically eat her and suck the soul out of her body.

Cozy Glow nervously began to the sip the orange juice. It tasted surprisingly really good, but that was probably because she hadn’t consumed anything at all for the past eight hours.

“You should start with your pills first,” the Tantabus said. It was a command, not a suggestion. So, Cozy Glow picked up a spoon and began to take the pills three or four at a time.

It took about twenty minutes of continuous pill-swallowing before the bowl was empty. Cozy Glow washed the pills down with one fill swig of OJ before continuing on with the night.

The whole event was… nerve racking. The Tantabus was gonna eat Cozy Glow, or in other words, murder her. Cozy Glow was gonna die, and here she was drinking Orange Juice. She was nervous, but didn’t know what to make of her weird situation. Part of her expected Twilight or someone to come bursting in and stop the madness in due time, but it didn’t happen.

Finally, it was time to get moving. The Tantabus led Cozy Glow to the fire place—and a dark portal emerged from out of the black smoke of the crackling fire.

“Where are we going?” Cozy Glow cried weakly.

The Tantabus glanced down at its side at Cozy Glow, who was clearly scared.

“To my place,” the Tantabus said somberly. “I’m having a party.”

The Tantabus and Cozy Glow both stepped into the darkness of the portal.