//------------------------------// // Chapter 17 - Progress Report // Story: Glimmer & Glow // by Yosh-E-O //------------------------------// Starlight found herself in a very chaotic environment. All around her were ponies giving her glaring stares as incoherent, yet harsh sounding, statements could be heard. “I know,” she shrank in on herself. “I know. It’s all my fault. I caused all this pain and I deserve to feel this misery.” FWOOSH “That’s quite enough!” boomed a regal voice. The Unicorn looked up to see Princess Luna coming down towards her. “Another dream?” she guessed. “Correct,” replied the Princess Of The Night. “Though this one comes during the day as you have fallen into a deep sleep after taking back much of what you had stored into Cozy Glow.” Starlight lowered her head. “I can’t believe I was that evil,” she pouted. “I definitely deserve all that this dream had brought to me.” “This is not true, Starlight Glimmer,” added Luna as her mane waved elegantly against the violet-hued landscape. “I, too, once felt I deserved to be punished for my past. However you, like I, have met some very special ponies who showed me that the path to foregiveness is foregiving yourself.” Starlight slumped. “Why can’t I ever believe that?” she inquired. “I feel like my past actions are always going to haunt me forever.” “Well…,” trailed Luna nervously. “It doesn’t help how ponies do tend to bring it up more frequently than they need to.” The Unicorn laughed nervously. “Oh…,” she replied. “I suppose I dream about that, too.” Luna just nodded. “So what do I do?” inquired Starlight. “My sister and I are quite aware of your progress,” noted the midnight-blue colored Alicorn. “As with the troubles between my sister and I, I believe you are trusting your gut and will succeed in your mission.” Starlight bowed. “Thank you, princess,” she said humbly. “Now!” called Luna. “Awaken!” *** “I’M AWAKE!” shouted Starlight as she shot out of her bed. “Woo-hoo!” gleed Cozy Glow as she bounded onto the bed. “My peachy pal is rising and shining!” “Whoa!” gasped Starlight. “Some pony’s in a good mood!” “Sure as jam I am!” beamed the filly. “How’s my peachy pal?” Emerald and Minky walked into Starlight’s room. “I see our lil’ glow worm found you?”” Minky giggled. “You sure did a great job helping her feel better,” Emerald added. “You also helped me learn my special talent, too.” “Oh…?” baffled Starlight. “And what’s that?” “No, no, no,” dismissed Cozy. “Cutie Mark’s are not peachy-keen.” Emerald sighed and Minky nuzzled him. “Sorry, honey,” she said softly. “She just hasn’t felt the same towards me since I got my Cutie mark,” he responded. “It’s like I’m some sort of monster, or she doesn’t see me as the same pony. “Cozy,” said Minky. “Your father would really like to-” “-He’s not my dad,” the little filly interrupted as she narrowed her eyes and crossed her hooves. “And, even if he was, he has a Cutie Mark and thinks he’s better than every pony else.” “But, sweetie,” cooed Minky as she approached the grumpy filly. “You have a Cutie Mark.” “Not the same,” she replied while turning her head. “Guidance counselor, Starlight understands.” Starlight put a hoof to Cozy’s mane. It no longer had all the curls it had earlier. It was now in little pigtails that were much like how Starlight herself had them as a filly. “You know,” she said with a thoughtful smile towards the pink Pegasus. “How would you like to take another trip on the train to see my hometown?” “Sire’s Hollow?” Cozy asked. “Gosh, I’m not so sure. Just thinking about it gives me butterflies.” “It’s okay,” added the Unicorn while rubbing through Cozy’s mane and playing with her pigtails. “It’ll make you feel lots better and, uh…, you can meet my dad!” “Dad?” baffled Cozy. “Gee-willickers! I don’t know much about him except he was never home.” Starlight blushed. “Let’s not mention that when we get to Sire’s Hollow,” she said while patting Cozy on the back. “Okay?” “Can it just be us?” Cozy asked while giving a really cute look towards Starlight. The Unicorn looked towards Emerald and Minky before returning her focus to Cozy. “Mama Pajamas and Papa Ebon will be coming with me, you, and Trixie,” she said. “It’ll be fun.” Cozy looked towards Emerald Ebon. “He’s not just going to leave?” she asked with a hint of disbelief. “Do we really need some pony who thinks he is better than every pony else and steals friends?” Starlight went to lift Cozy up into her lap but ended up flinging herself back into the bed’s headboard. “Whoa!” she cried. “You seem a lot lighter, Cozy.” The little Pegasus fluttered her wings. “Because I feel peachy-keen because you care about me oh-so much!” she cheered. “You really took a weight off my haunches.” Starlight smiled but had a bad feeling about the notable weight loss Cozy Glow had experienced. “Could much of her being be only those emotions I filled her with?” she pondered. “What will happen when I take her back to where it all began to finish what I’ve started?” “Starlight!” called Trixie from another room. “The great and powerful Trixie is ready for a delicious and nutricious dinner before we go, or do, anything!” Starlight looked to Cozy Glow who seemed to be beaming. “What do you think, Cozy?” she asked. “Are you up for some dinner?” “Golly, yes!” she answered. “Let’s go, guidance counselor, Starlight!”