Cozy stared out at the scenery on the side seat of their open air chariot as it headed south. The train ride ended at Hounduras, and now they were taking a chariot up the Yucatan Ponynsula, currently passing the only natural Zap Apple grove on the continent, aside from the orchard at Sweet Apple Acres. She saw the rolling hills begin to give way to steeper cliffs and forests.
Accompanying her on this trip was Doctor Graymare, the two chariot drivers, and Starlight Glimmer, effectively her chaperone for the day. The School of Friendship's headmare had likewise complimented her new manestyle, and was happy to see that their combined spell had resulted in some progress.
What everypony had remained mum about so far, was what they were doing all the way out here. Honestly, it didn't really matter where they were going or what they were visiting; as nice as the tower was, she was grateful to be out of Canterlot for once. Her thoughts also frequently went back to the box that Doctor Graymare had given her last night after Twilight had left. Part of her wondered what was inside, but at the same time, she wasn't sure if she was ready to see, not just yet. So she had let it be for the night.
The designated path came to and end as the trees and shrubs made travel with a vehicle rather impractical. Starlight, Graymare, and Cozy hopped out.
"Gentlecolts, you can head back to Hounduras, if you like. We'll meet you back there when we're finished here." Starlight told the two chariot drivers, who saluted in response, and got the vehicle turned around and headed back the way they had come, leaving the trio to continue through the brush alone.
"Who exactly is all the way out here?" Cozy asked Starlight.
"It's not too much farther, you'll see." The headmare replied.
True to her word, it was only another couple minutes of weaving between plants and trees before they came to a cliffside, which presented them with a magnificent, lush clearing, with all manner of plant life. Near the center of all this colorful flora was a towering stone structure, before the continent gave way to the Sparkling Sea.
"The changeling hive?" Cozy asked as they started hopping their way down the cliff. If she was visiting an old friend, what did Ocellus want?
A light breeze moved through the plants, making the entire area feel alive. They were about halfway through the clearing when a dark cyan, horned changeling came up to them.
"Hey there, Starlight. Nice to see you again so soon. Who are your friends?" The guard asked.
"Hey, Pharynx. These are the ponies I told Thorax I'd be bringing today." Starlight replied.
"Yeah, he told me to expect somepony. You must be Cozy Glow. Nice to meet you." Pharynx said, before turning and shouting behind him.
"Hey, Chrys, your friends are here!" He called.
Back a few dozen feet, well camouflaged behind the shrubs she was attending to, a tall changeling female with a single horn stood up and looked towards them. She opened her wings, and took flight as she momentarily floated over to the changeling guard.
"Great to see you again, Starlight. Hello, Cozy Glow." She greeted.
Cozy hadn't recognized her at first, but when she heard the voice, it immediately hit home.
"C... Chrysalis?" She asked. The former changeling queen nodded. She had taken on a warm peach gradient to her chitin, and everything about her, her wings, horn, and legs, looked considerably more... Whole.
"It's nice to see you again, Cozy. Your mane looks great." Chrysalis replied.
"I'm Doctor Graymare. I've been helping Cozy along these past few weeks." Graymare introduced himself, offering his hoof in greeting.
"Well, I can tell she's in good hooves." Chrysalis replied, accepting his hoof, and the two shook.
"We'll let Chrysalis show you around, Cozy. Pharynx and I can give Graymare the two-bit tour."
Starlight, Graymare, and Pharynx went towards the main entrance to the hive, and left the changeling and pegasus outside among the flora.
"So, they were able to help you too, huh?" Cozy asked, as they started walking.
"I was... Quite reluctant at first, but yes. After a couple weeks of being accepted back here, I began to see and feel the light and love of friendship."
"So you rule here again?" Cozy asked.
"No, no. Thorax is still in charge, and I think that's for the best. I've found my role as the hive's gardener."
"So you're responsible for all this?" Cozy asked, feeling the petals of one of the more exotic looking flowers.
"Not all of it, no. But I have begun gathering and cataloging various seeds, and I've replanted the favored foods of Dread Maulwurfs on the outer edges, so it doesn't come closer looking for more. I remember when this place was desolate and barren, and now, with my help, our surroundings are more lush and vibrant than ever before."
"That's great that you've found your place here." Cozy told her.
"Thank you. You're not the only visitor I'm getting, either. Somepony called Mistmane wants to come down and help me plant some crystal flowers, whatever those are. She claims they'll resonate with the love of the hive." Chrysalis told her.
"I'm sure you'll make it absolutely beautiful."
"So what about you?" The former queen asked.
"My journey has been considerably... Rougher. When I was first released from stone, it came with a spell that granted me a conscience. To say that it's been a struggle would be an understatement. I spent the first month alone with my thoughts in a cell, and luckily, Doctor Graymare was able to talk Twilight out of that method when I got deathly ill. My living conditions have since improved, but I'm still struggling with what I did in the past."
"I'm sure you'll find a way to deal with it." The changeling reassured her.
"I'm not so sure. Chrysalis, I set my family's apartment on fire to get away from them, my mom and little brother didn't make it out, and I don't know if that was on purpose or an accident. I'm having a really, really hard time dealing with it. My dad doesn't want anything to do with me because of that, and I can hardly blame him. So, if I have changed, and if I do find a way to move on... I mean, what then? What do I have to look forward to?" Cozy asked.
"Absolutely everything. Even in these first two minutes, I can tell how much you've changed. If the hive can go from a desolate wasteland to a lush prairie, and if I can go from a dethroned queen whose lust for revenge brought on borderline dementia, who talked to a piece of wood for companionship, all the way to this, then I'm sure you'll find a way through your change too. You're no longer the manipulating, conniving little brat I had to put up with in Grogar's lair." Chrysalis said with a bit of a chuckle. "Hopefully you'll see that for yourself someday soon. Because no one can tell you, I'm afraid. I guess that's one of the advantages I had as a changeling; my metamorphosis quite literally showed me when I had crossed that bridge. You're going to have to see it for yourself, on the inside."
Cozy smiled, came forward and hugged the changeling.
"Thanks, Chrysalis. It's nice to know I have another friend."
"Same here, Cozy. Now let's go find the others. Don't want them to start lunch without us, now do we?"
The sun had set by the time Cozy and Doctor Graymare had stepped back into their tower at Canterlot. They headed down to the basement.
"I know the changelings gave us quite the big lunch, but I can fix us up something before we head to bed if you like."
Cozy only passively nodded as Graymare headed to the kitchen, and he hadn't notice that her eyes hadn't turned away from the oak box on her desk since they had set foot down here. His attention was on the fridge until he heard her take a seat and pull it towards her.
"Cozy...?" He asked, setting the bread and refrigerated daffodils on the counter.
"I'm ready. I don't want to be afraid anymore. I have to face it, because I've changed. Everyone has told me that."
Graymare didn't say anything else as he stepped out of the kitchenette, and stood at her side, as she took a deep breath, let it out, and slowly opened the top, the lid squeaking lightly in the otherwise silent tower.
Cozy felt her throat tighten as a pair of glass vials were unveiled, each containing ashes, resting on a folded cloth. She opened the box all the way, and felt hot tears spill down her cheeks as she took another shaky breath, before leaning over and wrapped her hooves around Graymare, who had come in for a hug, but said nothing further as she quietly wept.
There would be no great revelation of what her past self had intended to do, no sudden answers that would clear her conscience. The only thing she could do was decide where to go from here.
"D-Do..." She choked out. "Do you think we could take a trip into the city tomorrow? I want to go see a florist shop." She sniffled.
"As soon as I have your sandwich made, I'll go ask Twilight. I have to check with her on something before she retires for the night anyway." Graymare answered, lightly rubbing her back.
"Thank you." Cozy said, taking another deep breath before wiping her eyes, gently pushing the box back to the rear of the desk, but kept the lid open, and opened her journal again, getting a quill and inkwell ready for use as Graymare returned to the kitchen counter to prepare a small dinner.
Princess Twilight was the last to exit the town hall with a yawn as she filed through the last of her paperwork. Why wasn't there a way to make these things shorter?
"Princess?" She heard as she looked up from her paperwork, feeling a twinge of annoyance after a long day, before quickly letting it go when she recognized the familiar voice.
"Doctor Graymare. Uh, good evening. Anything I can help with?" She asked, yawning again.
"Yes, Princess. Two things. First, Cozy wants to know if we can make a trip into town tomorrow to see a few florist shops. After visiting the changeling hive, I think she wants to start a small garden on the lawn outside the tower."
"Certainly. You two can go whenever you're ready. What was the second?" She asked.
"The second is... Much more substantial. I have a very significant proposal I'd like you to hear..."