//------------------------------// // Chapter 23: The Challenge // Story: The Night Janitor // by Knox Locke //------------------------------// "You know, Cozy," Trixie said, "I've noticed something." Cozy was at her weekly therapy session, and they were almost out of time for the day. "What's that?" asked Cozy nervously. "You've been free for almost a month now," began the counselor, "and you haven't reached out to any of your friends. You know, from before." "What?" Cozy almost sounded offended, "What about Knox? And Pinkie?" "You were legally required to reconnect with Knox, and you didn't seek Pinkie Pie out," Trixie replied bluntly. "Knox did. Besides, I'm referring more to friends your own age." "What are you trying to say?" asked Cozy cynically. "I'm saying I have a challenge for you." "A challenge, eh?" Cozy's tone was now one full of intrigue. "It's simple, really. Choose somepony you used to be friends with... somepony closer to your own age... and become actual friends with them." "What?" Cozy almost screamed. "How am I supposed to do that! They all hate me!" "Well, I suppose you could turn down my challenge," Trixie interrupted tauntingly, "if you don't think you can do it, that is." She ended her taunt with a mischievous grin. She knew she'd won in spite of Cozy having not responded yet. "What? Of course I can do it," Cozy yelled angrily. "Fine! I'll do your stupid little challenge!" The little pegasus flew out of Trixie's office in a huff. A few moments later, she peeked her head in through the door again with a stern expression. "Don't think I don't know what you did there." She left the office behind her once again as she pondered what to do. "Which of my old friends do I want to be my new friends?" she asked herself as she flew down the hallway. Her thoughts first drifted to Ocellus, Silverstream, and the other non-pony students. They were always such great friends to each other, oftentimes to the point where Cozy was jealous. However, they'd also been directly responsible for her first defeat, and she'd left them all to die in a giant sphere of magical energy. That ruled them out... for now, at least. She decided to think back further, looking for moments when she'd felt a bond with somepony. [Approximately 2 Years Ago] Cozy was in real trouble. If things didn't change for the better soon, she could forget about her aspirations of taking over the school she'd recently been enrolled in. Not that any part of that plan was actually figured out yet anyways, but still. She'd been struggling in Headmare Twilight's classes, and you can't overthrow the Princess of Friendship if you're bad at friendship! She'd only made one friend since she'd been in Ponyville, and he hadn't even been at the school last night when she'd really needed a friendly shoulder to cry on. Something about a molting dragon burning all of his cleaning supplies to ash. So here she sat, feeling alone in the world, bawling her eyes out and sobbing uncontrollably under the shade of a tree. Now she'd never reach her goals! Now she'd never be crowned empress! Now she'd never have... "Hey, are you OK?" Her thoughts were interrupted by an unfamiliar voice. She looked up and saw three fillies standing nearby. "Oh," she replied. "Thank you for asking. But no. I'm having real trouble with... the School of Friendship." [Present Day] "Yes," she said, a wicked grin on her face, "They'll be perfect!"