“Cozy!”
“Whah-huh!” the pegasus mare flopped out from over her bed and slammed cheeks-first onto the wooden floor. “Ow…”
“Cozy?” the pink alicorn peeked her head through the now-opened door, looking around.
“Down here…” Cozy shook herself and stood up woozily.
Fully tried to hide her chuckle, but failed horribly.
“Wow, you look awful. Did you have a nightmare?”
Cozy ruffled her mane with her wings and stood up, cracking her bones in a rattling orchestra. “Urgh… it’s nothing. Just remembering that day…”
“Darn, Cozy, I didn’t know it hit you that hard.”
Cozy walked up to Flurry and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “It’s fine. I’m gonna go see Cheese and Muffin today, anyway. It’s been a while.”
Fully tapped her chin with her hoof and pondered. “Golly, it has been a while!”
Cozy laughed. “Yes, it has…”
Cozy walked through the library door and was struck by Ponyville’s radiant sunlight. For some reason, the sun always shone brightest here. Even the white capital had an aura of shadow and darkness, albeit comforting. Still, it seems like Twilight was always extra kind to this little town. Even if it wasn’t so little anymore.
Despite her last visit way back in the day showing the hustle and bustle, the town was now a haven for country folk and travelers on their way to and from Canterlot. The quaint nature of the town was still there, and while its residents were still just a few, the notoriety of the place (with a little help from time) made it a popular destination. It was no Manehattan (Celestia forbid that hoof traffic), but new faces would show up one day and leave the next. The town had developed a distinct ambient sound, the conversations and chores forming an organic tune unlike any other place.
“Well, if you’re done looking around,” Flurry said as she scooched around Cozy and out into the dirt road, “I actually have something productive to do.”
Cozy gave Flurry a look.
“Say hi to the kids for me, eh? Pfft, well… They’re definitely not kids anymore. And neither are you.” The alicorn gave a wink and popped out of existence.
Later, nerd…
Cozy smiled.
Good ol’ Sugarcube Corner. All the years in the world, and it looked, smelled, and probably tasted the same. Peeking inside, Cozy scanned the seemingly empty and silent pastry shop. Too silent, to be honest. Nothing but rows of donuts, pink foley, and a huge quadruple decker cake—.
“Hmm…” Cozy bounced silently into the sweet abode and snuck up to the counter where the cake was.
This thing is huge! Huge enough to…
“Hey!”
Ready to pounce on whoever was very clearly behind the cake, Cozy turned her head to see a visibly confused Lil’ Cheese carrying a paper bag into the room, followed behind by a towering Muffin Mac. A moment of silence calcified, as Cozy whipped back to a (badly executed) calm pose.
“Oh, hey there Cheesy! Nice big cake, thought you were…”
“Thought I, what?” Cheesy said nonchalantly as she placed the bag down on the same counter.
“Nothing…”
Putting the paper bag on a nearby counter, Cheesy approached Cozy.
“It’s been so long, how’ve you been?” The mare tightly gripped the pegasus.
“Busy as ever, honestly… There’s just so much to do these days! Twilight’s been asking more of me now that we’re exploring more and more of Equestria and beyond. I’ve had to meet with so many weirdos! And the train rides take ages, too! Golly, I wish I had a horn like Flurry does, it’s too convenient. I just got back last night from a sea serpent colony, jeez, they’re so fussy! I’m exhausted, frankly, and—”
Cheesy and Muffin held back a giggle, the stallion then putting a hoof on Cozy. “It’s just funny seeing you all open, is all.”
Cozy felt the hairs on her coat shoot up, and her cheeks burnt up. “Oh, I’m sorry… I’ve just been so overwhelmed with this whole “Friendship Ambassador” thing. *sigh*, I don’t get why the princess would choose me of all ponies to go around the land and contact all these strange races. There are dozens of others who actually like doing that sort of stuff.”
“If you think about it, that’s exactly why she chose you.” Muffin interjected.
“Weren’t you the one to get Tirek and Chrysalis to join you?” Cheesy said.
“And the one who lied to us so well we believed our own parents were changeling?”
“And managed to convince us to the point of traveling all the way to Canterlot with you on a secret we didn’t even know?”
“Almost getting mauled by a Winterzilla in the process?”
Silence befell Cozy.
“Yeah… I guess I am the one for the job, huh?”
“Only you could put up with so much hogwash from every direction, you gotta admit that.” Muffin said.
“I’m sorry for what I did to you guys…”
“We forgave you long ago for that, Cozy,” Cheesy hugged the downtrodden filly-no-more, “we’re glad you did, anyway.”
Muffin joined in, and the three sank into a fuzzy exchange.
Cozy always wanted Equestria to be stronger, tougher, and more resilient. She had broken the status quo to achieve that, but by doing so, she inspired others to unite against her, turning Equestria strong again. It’s funny when you think about it, honestly. She failed at her goal, but by doing so, accomplished it.
Golly… what a mess!
THE END.