//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: Memories 
// Story: The Night Janitor 
// by Knox Locke 
//------------------------------//

[1 1/2 Years Earlier]

Knox had been having late night conversations with his new friend for months now. About three times a week, he would hear a now all-to-familiar rustling of tiny pegasus wings emanating delicately from the library. He would take a break from his nightly chores and help Cozy with reorganizing the library books yet again as they talked. Most of the students hardly ever put their library books back on the shelves in the right spots, but it seemed that Cozy didn't mind the extra work. The janitor liked to think Cozy Glow simply enjoyed their long talks as much as he did. It had been a long time since Knox had made a friend he could regularly make pleasant conversation with. As an added bonus, Cozy was quite mature and well-educated for her age. She was able to carry conversation topics easily, even when Knox wasn't even sure he understood what they'd been talking about. And at the end of every one of their talks, the little filly would fly to Knox and give him a big hug. He hugs were so warm and soft, but they were brought upon you with such force that it could actually make you wince. It was kind of like being hit by an adorable, warm, fuzzy cannonball.





Knox's eyes opened abruptly. He'd had that same nightmare again. Well, it was almost sunset anyways. Time to get to work.




[1 Year & 2 Weeks Earlier]

Cozy Glow seemed startled when a charcoal-colored hoof landed gently on her shoulder. She turned around to look at the culprit and saw the familiar face of her friend, the janitor, looking back at her.

"Oh," she breathed, "It's just you."

She sounded relieved, though Knox didn't know why. Cozy seemed very on edge tonight for some reason. Only then did Knox notice the large, bulky object his friend had dropped on the floor when he'd accidentally scared her.

"What've you got there?" he asked. "It looks like some sort of yak helmet."

"It is," replied Cozy hurriedly, "The Helm of Yksler, to be precise."

"What're you doing with a magical artifact?"

He felt like he might not want to know the answer, but he had to ask.

"Good golly, I'm just taking it back to the vault," she paused. "Twilight needed it for one of her magic lessons earlier."

Knox sighed a breath of relief.

"Well," said the perfectly harmless little filly, "I'll see you tomorrow, then!"

"Night, Cozy," he hollered in response as he turned the corner.

As soon as Knox was out of sight, she fluttered her way into the school library with the first of six stolen magical artifacts.