//------------------------------// // Chapter five // Story: The Ghost of Cozy Glow // by SapphireRose87 //------------------------------// Apparently there’s been trouble brewing in the Land do the Dead ever since I was born. The Icebreakers predicted that I was going to be the last Death Walker ever conceived. Who are the Icebreakers you ask? Well, the Icebreakers are a group of beings that can predict the past, present and future. And well, without even thinking they predicted me like it was second nature.  I’ve alway been trying to figure out myself as a person/ pegasus and who I’m meant to be. Now I have to deal with a Ghost following me around who just so happens to go by the name Cozy Glow. And here’s the kicker, she’s my relative. (And don’t forget she’s also an enemy of the Throne.) Little did I know Princess Celestia finally died, but her job was not over with. Princess Celestia found  another job in the afterlife. She wasn’t the ruler Heaven, or the ruler of Hell. Those two dimensions have their rulers and they play by their own agendas. What I‘m about here is that Princess Celestia is now the Manager of the middle ground. (no she is NOT a ruler, but a Manager, there’s a difference. And the middle ground is the computer. I know , you probably keep wondering about that computer and what it’s there for. I’ll explain more of that throughout the story. Just, bear with me please. Let’s return to the story, I think we’re getting off track here.   As I said,  in the afterlife there’s been breakouts from a place called Hell. At least that’s what Princess Celestia told me since my last conversation with her through a medium named Scarlet Harmony.  The last time I went to Scarlet Harmony, she could tell that I was having trouble. I kept getting this feeling in my gut that something bad was coming down the pipes, and my gut feeling usually wasn’t wrong. And Scarlet Harmony told me through Princess Celestia that I was a Death Walker, in which I had no clue what that was. So today I was going to get more answers from her today.  “I see you have something on your mind, young one.” Scarlet Harmony said. “What is it?” “Well,” I said, “I have questions for you and I want answers.”  “I think I have an idea as to what your questions are Betty.” Scarlet Harmony said.  “Well,” I said, “I was wondering, what is a Death Walker?” “Ah,” Scarlet Harmony said, “I can explain that. You see, have you ever heard of a Dream Warden?” “Yes?” I said, not sure of where she was going with this. “A Dream Warden is a group of Bat ponies that help control dreams.” Scarlet Harmony said. “Well, Death walkers are like Dream Wardens but they go to the Land of the Dead to keep things in check. And the Death Walkers can do so while still being alive. And if I recall correctly, you did this a couple nights ago to talk to Princess Celestia right? Oh, and if I were you I wouldn’t tell anybody about this, right Cozy Glow?”  “Er, right?” Cozy Glow said, looking surprised. “You  can see me?”  “Well I am a Medium silly,” said Scarlet Harmony, “though I’m not a Death Walker I can still see things.”  “Oh,” said Cozy Glow and she shrugged her shoulders, “that makes sense.”  And with that Scarlet Harmony took out her crystal ball and smiled at me. “What?” I said.  “I thought you might want to see this,” Scarlet Harmony said, “it’s a recording of the afterlife I made earlier.”  “You can do that?” I asked in surprise.  “Why of course,” Scarlet Harmony said rolling her eyes, “I am a Medium yeah and I can do just about anything. How many times do I have to keep reminding you of that? It’s like you don’t believe in me or something?”  “No,” I said, “it just weirds me out, that’s all.” “That’s fine,” Scarlet Harmony said and she sat the Crystal ball on the table. “I understand….” “Well I uh..” I said not knowing what to say next.  Scarlet Harmony then tapped the Crystal ball and an image came up on it. The image that was on the screen was of Princess Celetia staring at the back of Hell like she was waiting for something. Then suddenly there was a loud explosion and guess who came walking out from behind the rubble, Queen Chrysalis and Tirek.  “Tirek…” Princess Celestia growled. “How you got this far is beyond me. You should be in solitary confinement.” “Well I’m here, “ said Tirek, “and I’m ready to settle the score.” “You won’t get away with this Tirek.” Princess Celestia. “And where have I heard those words before?” Tirek laughed.  “I still don't know how you got this far..” Princess Celestia said. “Bribe a guard here and there,” Queen Chrysalis said, “threatening a gaurd with losing their powers works too.”  Princess Celestia growled and took a fighting stance. “I think the Princess wants to fight.” Tirek laughed.  Suddenly without warning, Queen Chrysalis charged up her horn and Tirek and they disappeared. * * * “Boy,” I said, “where’s the afterlife Guards when you need them?”  “Yeah no kidding,” Cozy Glow said, “it seems like Princess Celestia wasn’t prepared for that one.”  “Well,” said Scarlet Harmony, “she’s not really a Princess anymore now that she is dead.” “I know…” I said.  Then just as soon as I said that. I blanked out...  * * * When I came to, I wasn’t in Scarlet Harmony’s booth, but I was in the afterlife and had a really bad headache to boot. As I was getting my bearings and trying to move around a dark blue hoof with a silver shoe on it,  reached out to help me out, so I could get up.  “Princess Luna!” I said excitedly as I got up. “Oh, forgive and my manners.”  I then bowed to Princess Luna and Princess Luna put up a hoof to stop me.  “None of that now,” said Princess Luna, “just call me Luna and Luna only. No more Princess because first of all I’m retired from that and second of all I’m dead so that gets rid of my title automatically.” “Oh,” I said, “sorry Luna. So, what did you want to talk to me about?”  “Oh right…” Luna said. “I want to talk to you about something, actually I wanted to warn you about something. Did Scarlett Harmony show you that clip of the afterlife I gave her?” “Yes,” I said, “yes she did. And I saw what happened and it seemed that Celestia was off her guard that day.” “True,” said Princess Luna, “But it wasn’t that she was off her guard that day. I think something is wrong with her!” “Why do you say that Luna?” I asked. “Well,” said Luna, “Celestia is usually on top of things like this and they don’t ever happen. No not with Celetia in the leading positions. I think she saw this coming and wanted this to happen? Whatever her reasons are, I think are really stupid. And I’m usually her (Yes pony),  which means I say yes to everything to keep from hurting her feelings. This time I disagree.” “So what are your feelings on this?” I asked.  “That the ponies who locked away in Hell, should stay in because they’re there for a reason. And the ponies that have freedom in Heaven, should keep the peace. The breakout in Hell should not be allowed to break out at any time. No way, no how…” Luna said.  “Oh..” I said because I didn’t know what to say.  “I see you’re troubled by this.” said Luna, “What’s wrong Little one?”  “A lot is wrong…” I said. “Let’s start with the Ghost of Cozy Glow.” “The what?!” Luna said obviously in some state of shock. “Yeah that’s right,” I said, “I said it!” “Okay, Okay, “ said Luna, “no need to be defensive. I understand what’s going on here. The reason Cozy Glow’s ghost is hanging around you, is because she has some unfinished business with Equestria. Where do you see her?”  “Um,” I said looking down, “ever since I smashed Cozy Glow’s statue and tried to kill myself, that’s when she started following me around. It’s like we’re attached at the hip.”  “Well,”  said Luna, “that makes sense, it’s because you broke her statue and she was not in the process of moving on just yet. When a creature is turned into stone, they tend to live longer for some reason. Which is why Celestia and me would check the statues just to see if they have or haven’t moved on yet. And they have moved on, then we destroy the statue, and it’s no harm, no foul.”  “Oh okay…” I said. “But how do you know they’ve moved on?”  “That’s a long day which you’ll find that one day, but not now.” Luna said. “Now I see you’ve been talking to Scarlett Harmony, I’ll let you get back to that and Cozy Glow.” “Okay,” I said. “Was there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?”  “Ah no Little one…” Luna said, patting me on the head with a hoof. “You may go now.”  “Goodbye Luna…” I said, and before I knew it, I was back at the Fairgrounds and in Scarlett Harmony’s booth.  * * * As I came to, I tried once again to move around, and after a few minutes I could move. “Thank Celestia…” I mumbled.  “Humph,” said Scarlett Harmony with a look of concern on her face, “I didn’t know that was still a term of endearment.”  “You didn’t?” I said. “What rock have you been living under?” It didn’t take long for Scarlett Harmony to realize what I was talking about and she laughed at it. She then put the Crystal ball in its case underneath the table. “That’s all I needed to show you.” Scarlett Harmony said. “Oh, and we saw your conversation with Princess Luna. Just wanted to let you know.”  “Well that’s an invasion of privacy...” I said.  I then heard a voice some from behind me. It was Silver Whiskers and he was looking very fond of me. I looked over just to Cozy Glow make a gagging motion.  “Um hi Betty,” Silver Whiskers said, “you know it’s a short spring break because we go back to school on tuesday. I was wondering if there was something that you wanted to do together?” “I know of something you two can do together.” Scarlett Harmony said.  “What?” I asked. “There’s a really good Princess Celetisa impersonator that’s just around the corner from my booth. You should go see her.” Scarlett Harmony said with a smile.  “Well,” Silver Whiskers said, “what do you think?”  “Sounds like a good idea.” I said. I then heard a coughing noise from behind me. It was Cozy Glow being very dramatic. “Oh, and one more thing Betty,” Silver Whiskers said, “Who's that behind you? Cause I know that’s not Scarlett…” “Oh…” I said. I could think of nothing else to say. I knew right then and there that Silver Whiskers could see Cozy Glow’s ghost as plain as day.