Yosh rested in his bed. The plushies of Starlight Glimmer, Cozy Glow, and Snowdrop laid respectively so that he could snuggle one no matter which way he was laying.
“But I can’t sleep,” he moaned. “Why can’t I sleep?”
He sat up and clutched the Snowdrop plush close.
“It’s because you still are mourning the loss of your eyesight,” she replied. “You valued it a lot when you had it and there have been a lot of reminders as to how you are missing out now that you’re totally blind.”
“But you are okay,” replied the dino-duck while clenching the plush of his equine role model. “You don’t get all upset because you can’t see.”
“I still do,” Snowdrop replied. “And it’s okay as I’m allowed to feel unhappy over not being able to see the world as every pony else does.”
The Starlight plushie moved closer.
“There’s only so much we are in control of,” she said. “Letting yourself get worked up is only going to make you unable to sleep and not sleeping will make you not feel good when it’s time to wake up and be at your best.”
Yosh picked up the Starlight plush.
“But I want to sleep,” he pouted. “I just can’t.”
“You need to,” she insisted. “You need to fill that head of yours with happy thoughts.”
The dino-duck sighed.
“I’m trying,” he insisted. “I just keep waking up and can’t get back to sleep.”
“Maybe I can help?” the Cozy Glow plush inquired.
Yosh brought her up and sat her on his lap.
“I had trouble staying asleep, too,” Cozy said. “I woke up so many times because I was scared I’d fail.”
“I remember you saying something about that, Cozy,” added Starlight.
Yosh felt Cozy smile up at him.
“Starlight told me that, if I couldn’t sleep, I should just get up for a bit,” Cozy continued. “Go someplace and read a book, trot around, or get a drink of water.”
“I don’t understand?” asked Yosh. “I want to sleep. Not be awake and moving around.”
“That’s the funny part,” giggled Cozy. “I actually felt like sleeping after I moved around a bit outside of bed.”
“Trying to force sleep when it isn’t coming to you naturally can be quite stressful in itself,” Starlight stated. “So maybe you should take a little walk? Maybe plop down on the couch and think of some fun stories? Grab a glass of juice?”
The more the dino-duck thought on it the better he felt.
“Okay,” he said while clutching all three plushies close against his chest. “Then maybe we can cuddle with the pillow and blanket on the couch?”
All three plushies hummed in agreement.
***
Yosh felt himself grow more comfortable leaving the not-so-comfortable bed and waddling out to the couch. The living room felt very different when it was just him sitting in the dark with no other sounds than the fan.
“How are you feeling?” asked Snowdrop.
“Actually,” smiled the dino-duck as he leaned back into the couch. “Better.”
“But…,” Plushie Starlight continued.
Yosh lowered his head back down as he snuggled the trio of plush ponies.
“I still have so many things going around in my head,” he said
“Such as…?” pressed Cozy.
“You miss that feeling of someone close,” stated Snowdrop. “You miss having some pony by your side during Luna’s nights.”
Yosh slumped.
“Golly,” stated Cozy Glow. “I know I miss having friends. I did a terrible thing but I know it was terrible and would do all I gee-golly could to make things peachy with every creature again.”
Yosh held Cozy up to his beak.
“I think we both know that is easier said than done,” he replied back. “Especially when you know from the one you miss that it will never be again.”
Cozy sighed.
“Jeepers,” she said in a low tone. “More than a friend, huh?”
The dino-duck nodded somberly.
“I often wonder if Counselor Starlight could ever forgive me?” the curly-haired, pink Pegasus filly plush asked.
“I do,” Starlight replied genuinely. “Just as I know everyone in your life forgive you, Yosh, for not being able to keep her from leaving.”
“Loss is really hard,” stated Snowdrop. “For all I ever saw in my mind I always dreamed of seeing my mom, my friends, and so many other ponies outside of my dreams.”
“That’s how I see now, too,” lamented Yosh while snuggling all the plushies.
“But you can get through it,” assured Starlight. “And we’re here for as long as you need us.”
“Uh-huh,” agreed cozy. “Let’s stop worrying so much and spend more time being super pals and special helpers!”
“You’ve been through a lot,” added Starlight. “I know it has made you feel many awful things, too. However, as I have come to learn, there is a place for you and ponies who care. More importantly ponies who will see you for your present and future instead of those rough patches in your past.”
“However,” stated Snowdrop. “You also have to be able to let go of all those bad feelings and memories. I know I couldn’t have proven I can have my own special place in the world if I allowed myself to be stuck in the rain clouds all the time.”
Yosh said nothing as he reached for the blanket and fell sideways down onto the pillow.
“Thanks,” he said with a quacking yawn. “I think I can rest now.”