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// A Letter meant to cheer me up... 
// Story: Letters to Cozy Glow 
// by Fluttercheer 
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Cozy Glow lay in her cage, sleeping. Fitful breathing lifted her small chest. She whimpered and moaned in her sleep and her hindlegs seemed to kick at something invisible. It was in this moment that Cerberus approached the cage and that he dropped a letter inside, which landed on Cozy's hindlegs. As the paper touched it, Cozy's eyes shot open. A short, but all the more intense, scream left her throat and she sat up instantly. Frantic, Cozy Glow inched into a corner of her cage and leaned herself against the bars. Her eyes were closed as she kept whimpering and she pressed her face at the bars like she could squeeze her head through them.
Her whimpering slowly became weaker as the reality of her surroundings began to kick in. As she remembered again where she was, Cozy opened her eyes. They were bloodshot and the coat under them was wet. In a sedative manner, Cozy Glow moved her face away from the bars and brought herself in a more convenient sitting position. Her forehooves hang limb in front of her stomach and she looked at the cage floor with an absent, tired expression.
She remained like this for a minute, then her expression changed. A deep and loud growl rang out from her throat and she began beating the metal bars around her. Cerberus returned. He looked down at her sternly and knocked with his paws against the cage ceiling, but to no avail. Cozy Glow kept trashing and kicking her prison, until her forehooves and her hindlegs hurt from the violent outburst. She sat down, limp, and breathed heavily. A few new tears trickled down from her eyes as she rubbed over her aching legs. Cerberus stayed for a few seconds longer, staring down at her, then the beastly guard walked away.
Cozy sniffed. Finally, she noticed the letter. Feeling the need for distraction, she picked it up with her wings and opened it. The hoofwriting and the address on the envelope were familiar to her. They felt strangely etched into her memory.




Dear Cozy Glow,



Sweetie Belle here. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are here, too, but for now, it looks like I'll be the one talking with you.


Cozy Glow sniffed, wiped over her nose and continued reading.


We were asked to write you again now, because the others seem to think you aren't feeling well and... I am actually not sure why they asked us. I said we would write you again and that we will give you a chance and that is still true. But I don't understand why they want us to cheer you up. Neither do Apple Bloom or Scoots. They don't want to talk with you right now.
You made us think we are friends, but then you only hurt us, Cozy. So why would we be the right ones to cheer you up when you feel bad? After you made us feel very bad... We don't get why they chose us. None of us feels like we can cheer you up right now, even if we wanted. But they didn't let go and kept insisting, so, here we are, I guess.


A few tear drops fell on the letter, soaking the paper right at the end of the sentence Cozy just finished reading. She paused for a moment to dry her eyes. Gulping and with shaking wings, she searched where she had left off as she was done.


So... how are you doing? I guess it could be better, it probably isn't very cozy down there in Tartarus. Scoots says that was a terrible pun. She's probably right. Apple Bloom is snickering, though.
Scoots says I should ask you about cutie marks. You know we help ponies with getting them, right? I don't remember if we told you. Those are our special talents. What's yours, I wonder? A rook cutie mark is pretty unique, I think. So, are you good at playing chess? That you are and we were the pawns on ya chessboard!
And that is how Apple Bloom feels. But not really different from how we all feel. But you know that already. So... I actually don't know what else to say. We were only asked to write this letter, it wasn't our own decision. So, did this cheer you up? I hope it did, because writing this letter is very hard.
So, I think that's it. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom have nothing to add. Maybe write back, if you want.



Sweetie Belle




Cozy Glow sniffed again. Wordlessly, she cast a shy glance out of the cage, at Cerberus. Cozy folded the letter, now sniffing continuously, and placed it in the corner on top of the others as neatly as she could with her shaking hooves. She looked at Cerberus again and, in a weak voice, asked for something to write.
Provided with the necessary material, Cozy Glow brought the quill down on the paper. After scribbling a few lines, she shoved the finished letter, alongside the quill and the ink bottle out of the cage.
Cozy Glow lay down flat on her stomach, staring and waiting while tears glistened in her red eyes.