“All quiet on the starboard side, dear! Port-to-centre, aft-to-bow… from the crow’s nest, can you see if ‘land ho’ be our destination?” A pink pegasus with a somewhat curly orange mane eagerly regaled her husband, who stood just above the mast.
“I told you before, darling… you know I don’t understand all that fancy ship speak. And by the sound of it, neither do you.” The good-humoured greyish earth pony clambered down from his vantage point, to join his beloved on the deck. “This might be our boat, but I hardly think we’re experienced enough to start talking like a pair of grizzled old sailors just yet.”
“I know, but it’s just so exciting! And after spending years on that distant island researching the flora, fauna and wildlife there, I can’t wait to reconnect with civilisation again!” The pegasus unwittingly revealed the reason for her eagerness, as if her partner didn’t already know.
“Now now, darling. You knew our work was essential to the preservation of all natural life. I told you we might be away for a while.” The stallion offered an interjection by way of simply stating facts.
“Yeah, yeah. ‘If we didn’t carry out this invaluable service, who knows what rare fungi and seaweed might be on the brink of extinction in the near future’.” His wife did an impersonation of him at his most monotone, and for all accounts it was a pretty good one. “I understand. And for what it’s worth, I totally agree with our goals. B-But when I think of what I might have missed out on whilst I was gone… the ponies I left behind… the sacrifices I made…”
“U-Um…” The stallion paled slightly upon seeing his usually jovial love on the verge of tears. But that was just her nature, changing moods on the flip of a bit in the blink of an eye. “O-Oh look, we’re nearly there. Well, wherever ‘there’ is, anyway. Let’s check the chart: we sailed past the Ghastly Gorge about an hour ago, and that large forest over there should be the Everfree. So all those houses over there probably means we’re nearly at…”
“...‘Ponyville’! I love it already! Coz, you know… we’re ponies and ‘ville’ rhymes with all kinds of cool words! You know, like… ‘thrill’, ‘brill’, ‘krill’... we saw a lot of them on our little island, didn’t we, Ocean Glow?”
“We sure did, Cozy Nights.” The stallion nodded smilingly at his gushing wife. Slightly bipolar ways aside, he couldn’t have wished to marry a more charming, thoughtful mare.
No matter what his stuck-up family might say to him.
Which they did. Repeatedly.
Unlike Cozy Nights, relocating somewhere far away for years had come as a blessed relief for the much put-upon conservationist.
Just to get away from them.
“Ready to disembark, me heartie? Women and children first. That means me, for your information!” Cozy Nights snapped Ocean Glow out of his temporary daydream with a friendly nudge to the withers. “What’s the matter, darling? Nervous about meeting creatures without fins or flippers for the first time in ages? Don’t worry… I’ll hold your hoof. And even do all the talking, If you like. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m pretty good at that.”
Well, at least she knows her skillset… Ocean Glow pondered with a wry grin. I wouldn’t have her any other way.
………………………………….
“Hang on, are we sure this is Ponyville? I kinda thought they’d be more… ponies around.” Cozy Nights wondered aloud, as she and her partner trudged aimlessly around the abandoned streets.
“Hmm… yes, it is a bit strange that everything is so quiet.” Despite her often flippant nature, his wife did make the occasional good point. “There must be a reason behind all this emptiness. Maybe there’s some kind of big event scheduled that we’re not aware of? After all, we have been gone for a while now.”
“Hmph! Who do they think they are… leaving town the very second we come ashore?!” Cozy Nights exclaimed in annoyance, as though taking the desolation personally. “Don’t they see how far we’ve travelled to get here today? Don’t they know how long we’ve been away? At the very least, I expected a conversation with another pony that wasn’t you for a change, but I suppose even that’s out of the question. No offense, dear.”
“None taken, I assure you. And, if you don’t mind me saying so darling, I think you’re being a trifle unfair. What did you expect to be waiting for us… a full welcoming committee? We’re not that well known around these parts... h-hey, where did you go?!” Ocean Glow suddenly realised he was talking to thin air, and glanced about frantically to try and locate his absent wife.
Not that he was too worried. Going walkabout at randomly inopportune moments was quite normal behaviour for her.
“Coo, would you look at this!” The stallion finally tracked his errant partner down a few feet away, where she gazed up in awe up at a giant stone monolith. “This has to be the most terrifying statue I’ve ever seen! Just staring at these three ghoulish faces brings me out in goosebumps: I must know who the sculptor is. Maybe we can commission him to do one of your mother…”
“Very funny, my love.” A smirking Ocean Glow half-heartedly chastised his wife, but notably he didn’t correct her. “Let’s see… there’s an inscription here. I’ll read it aloud, shall I?”
‘THIS MONUMENT TO DISHARMONY IS CURRENTLY ON TOUR ALL OVER EQUESTRIA, REMINDING EVILDOERS AND VILLAINS ALIKE THAT THE SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP WILL NEVER BE CONQUERED. MAY FUTURE GENERATIONS LEARN AND NEVER REPEAT THE MISTAKES OF TIREK THE TERRIBLE, CHRYSALIS THE CRUEL AND…’ “a-a-and…”
“What’s the matter, dear? Your stammer hasn’t come back again, has it? I told you to try those breathing exercises before opening your mouth, but you never listen to me, do you?” Cozy Nights frowned at her gibbering husband, having no trouble expressing herself at least.
“L-l-look a-at t-the…” Ocean Glow was quite unable to say any more, so simply gestured with one trembling hoof at the uppermost figure of the statue, just above the changeling queen and centaur.
“Okay darling, I get it. Geez, it’s only a little pony. Why are you acting so s-scared…” Cozy Night’s nonchalant mood was quickly dashed upon closer inspection of the small figure laid out before them, it’s face forever twisted into a grotesque mask of terror.
The plentiful dimples were all exactly in the right places.
The curled hair was just like she’d used to perm it.
The cutie mark was new, some kind of obscure chess piece…
Aside from that, there was basically no doubt…
This was the baby they’d lost years ago…
All grown up, looking very hard, and very grey.
“Cozy Glow?!”
……………………………….
Later, several hundred miles away in Canterlot...
“...Testing, testing...1, 2, 3…” A very dapper-looking Spike stood onstage, reciting a mantra of words and numbers into an oversized microphone lowered specifically for him. “Oh dragon, my dragon…”
It was a matter of minutes before the climatic moment of Twilight’s ceremonial coronation was about to start on that special sunny day in Canterlot, and completely against expectations everything so far had proceeded quite smoothly.
Which, if you’ve any idea of the ponies’ history of messing up big events, can be classified as a minor miracle.
Rarity had outfitted all the major players for the function, showing off her full range of sartorial talents… Applejack’s catering menu made up for taste what it lacked in variety (guess what the main ingredient was?)... Rainbow Dash’s pre-show aeronautics display featuring all the Wonderbolts had gone down a treat… even Fluttershy’s performing animals had stayed on stage and not tried to run off upon hearing the raucous crowd noises.
It was a tough act to follow Cheese Sandwich and Pinkie Pie’s one-off performance together (particularly as, at the end of thirty minutes of relentless frivolity and fun, they’d announced their romantic relationship together which’d really brought the house down) but Spike was determined not to be outshone. Even if his duties mainly consisted of introducing the day’s special guests…
...And a fuzzy mike reception wasn’t exactly helping matters.
“Oh darn it, I can’t get the right settings on this thing!” The irritated dragon growled, fidgeting around with the device to no avail. “I sound like I’ve got a frog in my throat! If everyone hears me like this, it’ll ruin everything! All the preparations, all the pomp… wrecked because I didn’t test the equipment properly pre-show! I knew everything was going too well!”
“Psst, Spike… What are you doing? Why are you still fiddling around with that thing?! I’m ready to go up any second and I’ve told you a million times already: I don’t want to wear this dress, beautiful though it is, any longer than I have to!” An understandably nervous Twilight peeked her head out from the curtain behind the scaly emcee, her movement noticeably more constrained than usual.
“Oops, sorry Twi. When I gave Rarity your measurements last week, I didn’t realise they were from when you were a unicorn! I was so busy arranging my own speeches for this evening, I completely overlooked the difference!” Spike finally understood the old Weather Pony saying: ‘It never rains, but it pours’. “...And now, I can’t even get this stupid piece of junk to work! I bet you regret giving me such an important role now. Y-you can be honest, I don’t mind.”
“Nonsense, Spike! Nocreature could do a better job than my Number One Assistant of making tonight a success! I won’t hear you talk yourself down like that anymore, either!” Despite feeling like her insides were being crushed a little with every step, Twilight bravely staggered forward to envelop the sniffling Spike in one of her comforting hugs. “Rarity also didn’t catch on, probably for the same reason you didn’t… putting too much pressure on yourselves to make everything perfect! Well, I happen to think perfection is overrated! Do you remember the first Grand Galloping Gala me and the girls attended, soon after we arrived in Ponyville?”
“Y-Yeah…” Spike wiped a stray tear away before nodding, though he’d actually spent most of the night at the bar. “Kinda.”
“We put too much emphasis on trying to have a foolproof evening, instead of just letting our manes down and having a good time. And, you know what…?“ Twilight proffered her intently listening subject with a subtle wink. “It was absolutely terrible. An unmitigated disaster. If we’d just relaxed and not taken it so seriously, I’m sure it wouldn’t have turned out half as bad. You see the lesson here now, don’t you?”
“E-Er… I think so?” Spike scratched the bottom of his chin thoughtfully, before responding with a question of his own. “But, didn’t Celestia like how it ended? Didn’t she say it was a nice change of pace, from all the stuffiness from years past?”
“We got lucky. I don’t think she’d accept that level of unbridled chaos every gala. Her name isn’t ‘Discord’, after all.” Twilight dared sneak a peek in the VIP section at one of the two illustrious rulers she’d soon be stepping into the horseshoes of. She was laughing at something her sister had told her however, and so paid their future successor no mind. “Hmm, since when did Luna get so funny? I hope they’re not gossiping about me…”
“Hmm? Twi? Did you say something else?” Spike was still pondering the moral of his mentor’s tale when he saw her agitated face. “Uh-oh. I know that expression. You’re about to ‘Twilight’ again, aren’t you? Do I need to fetch the rest of the girls again, to give you another pep talk about how everything’ll be alright and why all your problems are just in your head?”
“W-What do you mea… no, I feel fine! It’s all fine!! Seriously! Don’t worry about me!” Twilight spun around at light speed to reassure the dragon, but her uncontrollably twitching left eye told a different story. “Why is it, whenever I try helping you out with a difficulty, you end up teaching me something valuable as well? You’ve noticed that too, right?”
“I guess that means we compliment each other well.” Spike shrugged his shoulders by way of a response. “You, the neurotic librarian destined to be a great leader, as crazy as it sounds. Me, the snarky ‘sidekick’ who’ll grow up to be your most valued and loyal adviser. I learned to fly already, so it seems the most logical step, don’t you think(!)”
“Oh Spike, don’t ever change. I mean, you might get bigger one day and your voice may sound different with age, but as long as your loving heart stays the same, I don’t think any of that matters.” Twilight went in for another hug, and this full-on embrace involved her wings too… so when Spike eventually replied, his voice sounded somewhat muffled.
“Hey, when it comes to size, I have a feeling both of us are gonna go through some slight… modifications in the future.” Spike said smugly through the feathers, based on the maturation process of the other alicorns he knew. “But don’t worry… even if I didn’t have all the future perks of a top job in the royal court to look forward to, like free lava baths and all the gems I can eat, I’d still stay by your side ‘til the bitter end. After all… isn’t that what ‘True, True Friends’ do?”
“Wait. Your contract doesn’t state anything about…” Twilight exclaimed, before a cheeky grin from her scampish companion cut her short. “Oh, you! Well, I’ll see what I can do. Wouldn’t want to show any excessive favouritism to anycreature, would I? Even if they did deserve it. At least you’ve just demonstrated that you paid some attention to my friendship lectures over the years. And there was me thinking you just snored through most of them…”
Listen? I helped edit most of them! Thousands upon thousands of pages thrown away! It’s a good job I know where the recycling bin is! These were Spike’s initial thoughts just then, but he wisely decided this was a debate for another day, now that the ‘big moment’ was swiftly approaching.
“Anyway, are you sure it’s okay if I sound a bit weird through this mike? I mean, I don’t want to detract from the occasion.”
“Spike, did you see anycreature else here bothered when you introduced our friends to the stage? I know this is a bit rich coming from me, but try not to let small things like that get you down, ‘kay?” Twilight finally disentangled herself from Spike’s personage, but not before giving him a firm pat on the back for good luck. “You got this. You’ve carried out your role impeccably so far, and I see no reason why that can’t continue. Go get ‘em, champ!”
‘Champ’?! What’s that supposed to… But Spike had no more time to dwell on Twilight’s strange choice of words. She’d popped back behind the curtain, Octavia’s orchestra was in full voice, the mixed crowd went silent with anticipation and he realised one of the defining moments of his short life was now here.
Right. This is it, Spikey Wikey. No running away. No backing out. No hiding under the covers with a flashlight and a heap of special edition comics. It’s time to show them the old Spike, the one who never took anything seriously and made sardonic comments about everything and everyone is long gone. This is the new me. Strong. Resilient. Ready to take on my new responsibilities and run with them. Get ready world, you’re not gonna know what’s hit you…
The passion and commitment were there. The things he needed to say were clear in his head. Everything was set up so well…
The optimism lasted all of half a second.
“H-hi…” Was all the determined dragon was able to squeak out, before he was unceremoniously bundled to the floor by a diving pegasus.
Cozy Nights stood unapologetically over his dazed form as she took possession of the microphone, her pleasantly smiling moon Cutie Mark in direct contrast to her angry words.
“What have you ponies done with my daughter?!”
I understand, the story isn't what you wanted, edits cannot fix it, so start all over again
10422004
Well, I was only a few thousands words into it, so it wasn't that much of a sacrifice. Anyway, this is the first and hopefully only time I'll ever do something like this. Hope people don't mind, and this new and improved version will be more what I intended in the first place.
I'm confused. Are they in a sailing ship or an airship? Ponyville is nowhere near a coastline, yet they definitely seem to be in a sailing ship.
10422044
Yes it's a sailing ship, and they took one of the inlets so they ended up there or close by.
So far, so good!
Now all that's left to do is wait for this comment section to blow itself up... again.
10422069
Shh. Don't go tempting fate...
Poor guy. He should have had a full-time position at the friendship school from day one, with five weeks paid holidays and complimentary gems. He probably knows the curriculum better than anypony else.
Also, I want to see where this story goes; it looks interesting.
10422078
Spike deserves so much more credit. This is a certified fact.
Glad you're interested so far. Thanks for reading!
I thought your previous iteraton of this was good but I feel this one is a little bit better. Hopefully Cozy's parents can ensure her a happier ending. I also liked the Spike moments. Its always nice to see him get treated well.
First they petrify them without trial when they gave Starlight and Discord a second chance and now they make an example out of them. Btutal and hypocritical.
Lost? Does that mean that this isn't like Scootaloo's situation and their seperation from Cozy is an accident?
Poor Spike. This should be quite the doozy.
10422145
Thank you for your kind remarks. I'll try my hardest to ensure this story is worth reading. The show didn't really give us much of a clue regarding Cozy's parental figures, which gives writers like me a great chance to 'fill in the blanks' with our own headcanons.
In terms of Cozy's fate when she got separated from her folks, 'lost' can have quite a few meanings. Needless to say, the truth behind their parting will soon become clear...
10422047
I was wondering about that too, but I see it on the map. I guess they didn't want to stop at Los Pegasus? Or just missed it and decided to keep going?
10422167
Not everypony likes gambling...
A very interesting take regarding Cozy's fate after *Ending of the End*events, looking forward to see what happens from here on out! 😉
Also love that part with Spike & Twilight, the little guy never got enough credit on those first 3-4 seasons of the show, glad that changed for the better from S6 onwards!
10422246
Thought you might say that, looking at your username.
And, stay tuned. The best is yet to come...
deadpansnarker
nice first chapter
10422306
Cheers. Hopefully the second chapter will be even better.
10422325 okay and yeah
No but she does love her mayhem and destruction, least when it comes to Grand Galloping Gala. (Best Night Ever, Make New Friends But Keep Discord)
Your right Spike. It does sound crazy.
Well it honestly didn't bother me that much. Rarity's fussing and Discord's narration feel very in character which was a big part of the more successful parts of the show. Consistent characterization in the midst of stressful situations. Still be interesting to see what you come up with, even though I was looking forward to the original myself.
10422336
The narrator wasn't meant to be Discord in the original, if it's any consolation. And the surreal narration would've been too much of a distraction from the more serious tone I wanted to convey, so I don't regret scrapping it. A little Mood Whiplash is okay, but a lot can be a major detriment. In any case, I hope you enjoy what lies ahead.
I wondered, where this story went...
10422644
...And now it's back, in a new and improved form! That's what I'm striving for, anyway...
I swear! Cozy Glow better get reformed in the season 10 comics!
10422679
Oh yes, it’ll be interesting to see how things work out in that particular format....
Wow, to be a parent so out of touch with your child you don't even know she went on a campaign of global destruction, got locked up in Tartarus for it and then tried to take over the world the moment she got out.
As a parent, Cozy Nights deserves an explanation. As a parent, she also very much should give an explanation.
10422915
I think most reasonable people would agree with both of your last points.
10422924
what did you mean exactly about what you said about my comment? You're not one of those ungrateful cads who despise Cozy are you!?
10422942
What? I said I'd be interested to see how she was handled in the S10 comics that are coming out, if she's mentioned at all that is. And I hardly 'despise' Cozy, considering the thousands of words I've already written about her. She's a fascinating character, with a big hole where her past should be... basically, great for fanfiction.
10422145
To be fair, Chrysalis did receive the offer.
10424496
Fair, but it was still the bare minimum and both Starlight and Discord got second chances which they rejected beforehand. Still, Tirek and Cozy got none and neither of the three got a trial though.
10424859
Technically, Discord only got a second chance after they turned him to stone for a season and a half...and that was completely without a trial mind you. The trio were treated exactly the same way. Since we didn't see them after the time-skip either as a statue or walking around, just about anything could have happened to them in the meantime.
Guess I'll be tracking this one from now on. Curious to see where this will go. Cozy is by far one of my favourite villains in the show, and it is nice to see something that expands on her character.
Though I do hope you're not trying to make her seem too sympathetic, as I'm kinda tired of people giving her the leather pants treatment. Making her more three-dimensional is one thing, but I've read way too many fanfics that gloss over her crimes or write her as a completely different pony than the one we saw in the show, and it's kinda getting old by now.
Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing how this story handles her.
You know, if you had went the original route which contained "comedy". How would it have gone?
10425072
True, but in Discord's case he was a powerful being who most likely couldn't be contained or defeated in any other way. Thats why I'm not too angry at Tirek not getting one (although his depowered state could make it possible if you can stop him from stealing magic). Cozy meanwhile, is just a filly who along with her cohorts have been completely depowered by the friendship beams (which funnily enough petrified Discord) meaning a trial could have easily been doable.
And considering that Discord proved that major villains could be reformed before at least School Raze and he got forgiven without punishment after everything he pulled after he was released for reformation (which he clearily didn't want and was forced to participate in) it makes the trio's treatment in comparison have a bad taste in my mouth.
10425090
Turning them to stone did prevent them from escaping and starting over again...at least until they figure out what to do with them. Despite Discord's line of them staying 'together forever', it's very unlikely they're actually gonna stay a statue forever. After all, Discord was gonna be contained forever when they defeated him, but they changed their minds later. Plus, it's not up to Discord whether Twilight wants to unfreeze them later or not.
Whether they'll be reformed, escaped, thrown in Tartarus, locked away somewhere else, it's all in our...derpicdn.net/img/2018/5/27/1742767/large.gif
10425081
It'll be a difficult balance act, explaining her motives whilst not diminishing the scale of her acts, but one where I relish the challenge. If writing was easy, it wouldn't be this much fun would it?
10425088
A silly 'narrator' popping up at random intervals, to offer his observations whilst being chased by ponies who hate him for some reason. I'm glad I got rid of him, some ideas work better in your head than in reality....
Well, Cozy Glow's parents just had a rude awakening. Gonna say right now that while Cozy Glow is ultimately responsible for her actions, the lack of any sort of parental authority does raise some red flags.
10425216
Still if this had been Discord it would've made a lot of sense, and shown that he hadn't got off entirely free for The Ending Of The End (unlike every other time he totally got off free).
10425095
The problem with that is that they only reformed him because Celestia wanted to use his magic. That's literally the only reason given.
None of the trio have talents that would make it worth it for them to be pulled out of stone and reformed, especially given that such a punishment isn't liable to improve their opinion of the ones who put them there. Cozy was put in prison next to Tirek, a guy they never bothered to check up on for nearly a thousand years, so it's unlikely reformation was ever on the table for either one of them. The ponies stoning them alongside Chrysalis (largely because of her input) doesn't bode well for the three of them, with or without Discord's line.
10425382
Sounds like it could be interesting, but it's probably an idea for a standalone fic. It certainly wouldn't fit in with the story I have planned now, anyway.
10425408
Fair enough.
10425338 Long time no see! Thanks for reading.
10425517
No problem. Work's been keeping me busy, so I haven't had a lot of time for reading fanfic. Trying to fix that, though.
10425090
I mean, yeah. Chrys and Cozy were not inherently hugely dangerous, compared to a magic eater and the actual literal god of chaos.
Nicely done! I always wondered about cozy, how a filly is able to do this. Not showing a background was wasted potential for me. Same with lightning and rivals for life
You know, this is not as depressing as I was expecting. Even Cozy and Glow's reaction was amusing in a morbid sort of way.