Nighttime had followed the rather eventful day for Cory (who was still in his pony form). He had found himself in a meditation chamber he had made for himself in a spare room within the castle. Surrounding him were neatly aligned scented candles, each with a different smell to them. He kneeled in a lotus position with his forelegs stretched out, and his eyes firmly closed.
"Inner Peeeeace..." He exhaled. "Inner Peeeace..."
Suddenly, he heard a rather faint, but noticeable flapping sound to his right.
"WHOEVER IS FLAPPING OUT THERE..." He shouted "PIPE DOWN!!!"
The flapping stopped, and he went back to his breathing.
"Innner...."
The silence was replaced with a loud thud. Annoyed, he turned around to see a familiar face with some cleaning supplies.
"Oh Spike. It's you." He said in relief. "I forgot you have wings now."
"Oh, Sorry Cory." Spike replied as he got up in a daze. "...I'm still learning how to use them. I'm just doing some wash up on the ceiling. I'll be out of your way soon."
"That would be great." Cory Replied. "Thank you."
At that moment, Starlight came into the room, much to Cory's annoyance.
"What's with all the noise down here?" She asked with a yawn.
This clearly irritated Cory as he angrily trotted down the steps of his meditation chamber and stared at Starlight in the face.
"I am trying to rid my mind of any bad memories that may still be creeping in my head, thank you very much." He stated. "And I can't concentrate with all this noise."
"Well there's no need to get mad over a little disturbance." Starlight stated. "Unless of course we were in real danger."
"Oh Starlight." Cory said in exhaustion. "If only you could understand my brain. Each day I am confronted with things I do not wish to discuss that trigger my sad past."
"Geez, I never realized you've been so sensitive lately." Spike commented.
"Well, it's not really you." Said Cory. "It's just me. I've been lately having these backwards memories of... things that are unpleasant for me."
"Well everypony has those kinds of moments." Said Starlight. "I've had those for about as long as I can remember."
"You should be lucky with your memories Starlight." Cory said calmly but sternly. "It's not filled with an empty existence and abusive parents."
"You're not the only one with annoying guardians." Said Starlight. "I mean, my dad treated me like a child until I moved out of the house and..."
"I WOULD HAVE SETTLED FOR THAT FATHER ANY DAY!!!" Cory shouted as he pressed his snout against Starlight's.
It was then the whole room fell into a deafening silence. Spike and Starlight just looked at each other with their eyes, both stunned and worried.
"A father who treats you like a child," Cory explained. "is a thousand times better than one who treats you like garbage. You wouldn't understand that."
After a sigh of exasperation, Cory blew out his candles, put his meditation items in a box nearby and headed towards his room. Starlight and Spike just stared at him as he dragged his hooves to the door.
"Cory." Said Starlight as she tried to place her foreleg around his shoulder. "We're very worried about you."
"Why should you be worried about anything Starlight?" Cory asked as he shoved her away. "You're practically indestructible."
He then walked down the hallway and blankly looked at the door to his room.
"AND PLEASE CONTROL THE VOLUME OF YOUR VOICE!!" He shouted once more, and with that, he slammed the door behind them.
"Is my voice really that loud?" Starlight asked.
"Eh," Spike replied. "Depends on who you talk to."