//------------------------------// // A very cozy Hearth's Warming Eve // Story: A Cozy Hearth's Warming // by SoloBrony //------------------------------// I cracked an eye open just enough to see I was back at home, in bed. It took a moment for me to remember what I'd just been through, and another to imagine how I must have gotten here. Then I closed my eye and smiled. I get it, now. I took a deep breath, feeling the energy return to me, and slowly lifted my sore neck up off of the bed. "Cozy!" Luna's voice was swiftly followed by her physical presence, wrapping me in a tight hug. I leaned in to her and hummed in appreciation. This mare gives good hugs, no question. "Cozy, what were you thinking taking on Grogar by yourself like that?!" I groggily leaned back a bit. "Nuh-uh." I cracked my eyes open just enough to see her perplexed expression. It made me giggle. "What?" I leaned back into her and closed my eyes. It took me a minute to work out a response, which came out a bit slurred. "You're not 'llowed to be angry at me. I beat the badguy. Hero... stuff." I yawned loudly, scratching behind one of my ears. Luna scoffed. "I know you did, but that doesn't mean it wasn't incredibly reckless!" I groaned, and smiled despite myself at her concern, and how silly she was acting. "Reckless, heroic, whatever. It was a..." I waved my hoof as I tried to remember what the word was. "... calculated risk. I'd studied Grogar." Luna sounded incredulous. "Studied him? How?" "Mph. Back when I thought Discord was him, I studied how to backstab him properly. Then, when I got books on combat magic, some of them were theoretical ways to combat—" I was cut off by another strong yawn, "—to combat his magic. Seems like some of the old wizards were really into his whole legend." "Well of course they were, he was the greatest villain this land faced for millenia... but Cozy, none of that makes what you did safe, or sensible. Why didn't you wait for us? Why didn't you tell all of us what you were doing?!" I shrugged into her. "I didn't know it would be Grogar. I thought we were up against some two-bit mage or another pony with a weird artifact like Neighsay. Once I realized who it was, I knew I had to stop him. But you're right, I should have told you, and I have been reckless." I leaned into her and looked up at the ceiling as I gathered my thoughts. "I guess I've just been trying extra-hard not to get other ponies wrapped up in what I'm doing because... I want to prove I'm good at it, on my own. That I have value." Luna pulled tighter around me. "Cozy, of course you have value—" "I don't mean to you." That stunned her into silence. Honestly, I hadn't meant to say it out loud. I sighed. "I needed to prove it to myself. Between... realizing how awful, and dumb I was before, and the fact that I was defeated by a bunch of students... knowing ponies will always see me as 'the crazy foal'..." I sighed. "Can we just put off talking more about this for now? I don't want to get that deep in my own head." Luna nodded, which surprised me. "Of course. I was just... very concerned for you. I am glad you emerged triumphant, that you're back safe with me, and this whole nightmare is over. And I'm glad you've awoken in time for the celebration!" I blinked in confusion, and then realized no light was streaming through the window. "Wait, it's night time? It was early morning when I fought Grogar! I missed Hearth's Warming Eve?!" I was equal parts happy and crushed by that realization, but Luna just snickered. "Nay, not at all! You've awoken just in time for the best part!" One quick shower and some cleaning up later, and we were on our way to a huge Ponyville celebration. I was more than a little nervous about how ponies would react to me there, but Luna's presence kept me grounded. So you can imagine my surprise when cheers erupted from everypony when I walked into the Ponyville castle foyer. Dash was in my face before I could even blink. "Cozy! Is it true you took Grogar down by yourself?! You're like the next Gusty the Great!" I chuckled nervously, eyes darting around the room, but I was surprised to see no hostile faces there. "Er, well, Sunset helped. Not only did she help me track him down, she got me out of the way of his first attack. If that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have been able to beat him at all." I spotted Sunset striding up from the side, and she just scoffed and waved a hoof dismissively. "You're being way too modest, Cozy. You're the one who went back and went toe-to-toe with him. So what happened, exactly? All we found were the fragments of his bell and a giant crater; Discord had to check the aether to confirm he was imprisoned again!" I opened my mouth to respond, only to realize the entire crowd had gone silent, listening intently. This calls for some proper exposition. I cleared my throat, and began weaving the epic tale of Dashing Savior's triumph over Grogar to my rapt audience. Part of me liked having the ponies wrapped around my hoof like that, and I didn't worry about that. Some days later, Luna and I had that talk, and I told her that I had realized I didn't have to worry about being good or evil. At some point in the fight with Grogar, I'd realized it, subconsciously; I have habits, I have tendencies, I have thought processes that aren't very nice... But what defines us is the decisions we make. It's what I do with my thoughts and skills that define what sort of pony I am. It's been a few months since the Shattering of the Bell, and I haven't struggled with my own thoughts since then. I've become a lot more comfortable with the pony I am. Starlight's even suggested I come back to her school next semester, and I might just take her up on it. One way or the other, there's one thing that's definitely true, as Grogar could attest: If anycreature tries causing trouble in Equestria, they're going to have to get through me, and my friends!