//------------------------------// // 1 - Banishment // Story: What You Deserve // by DarkHooves //------------------------------// Cozy Glow fell through the portal with a thud. Twilight Sparkle stepped out seconds later. Sparing a single glance at the little girl on the ground, she addressed Sunset. ”Are you absolutely sure you want to do this, Sunset?” Sunset nodded. “I said I wasn’t going to change my mind and I haven’t.” With that confirmation, Twilight turned to the girl. “This is your last chance. And I truly mean it, Cozy Glow. The only reason you’re here is because Sunset asked me so if you don’t want to join Chrysalis and Tirek in the Royal Gardens, you better not waste it.” “Oh, believe me, Princess! I won’t waste this opportunity,” Cozy Glow spat back. “One day you’ll regret ever showing me mercy!” Twilight opened her mouth to retort, but Sunset interrupted her. “Twilight!” She glared. “Please leave.” Twilight paused at the look Sunset was giving her, but eventually nodded. “I’ll leave her to you then. Just remember to be careful and contact me if anything happens.” “Count on it,” Sunset replied. Twilight didn’t catch the sarcasm in her voice. Once Twilight had returned through the portal, Sunset kneeled next to Cozy Glow. “Are you alright?” she asked. Cozy Glow was in varying stages of panic. She hadn’t really thought much when Twilight had told her she would be banished from Equestria and placed in somepony else’s care. Not even when they had brought her to the mirror. But they hadn’t told her that her body would be transformed… “Cozy Glow, listen to me! You need to calm down!” “I can’t feel my wings anymore…” Her voice cracked and tears began dripping down on the asphalt below her. Sunset crouched down and gave her as tight of a hug as she dared. “I know, I know,” she whispered and began stroking her back. It took her a while to calm down enough to start processing her new situation. “What am I?” she finally managed to croak out. “You’re a human,” Sunset replied and started moving away. “They’re the dominant species in this world. The only one in fact, which is why the portal transforms you into one.” Her expression turned sorrowful. “Unfortunately, they don’t have wings or magic.” Cozy let loose a broken laugh at that. No magic. So that’s why they sent her here… She gave Sunset a quick look over. “And who are you?” “My name is Sunset Shimmer,” she said and smiled. “I used to be a pony just like you. I’ll help you get sorted here.” So this was her new jailor. If she’d been tasked by the princess to look after her, she’d already know the things she’d done to get sent here. That meant there was no need to get coy with her. She got up onto her hands and knees, quickly noting that her hind legs were twice as long as her front ones. She needed to get upright somehow... “Here. Let me help you,” Sunset said and reached out a hand which got swatted away by the girl. “I don’t need your help!” She spotted a nearby bench and started crawling towards it. Using it for support, she managed to get up on her new legs. “You’re doing great, Cozy!” Sunset cheered as she walked up to her. “Walking on two legs is tricky to get used to. Just let me--” “I said I don’t need your help!” She moved to take a step forward, but not knowing how to properly distribute her weight caused her knees to buckle and she collapsed into Sunset’s arms. “I hate this! Why did you have to change me into this thing? Why couldn’t you just let me rot in that stupid dungeon!?” Sunset hugged her a little tighter. “Don’t talk like that… You’ll get through this. I know it’s a lot to take in all at once, but I’ll help you.” Sunset moved to stand beside her. “Just follow my movements slowly. I’ll hold on to you until you get the hang of it.” Keeping a steady grip on Sunset’s arm, she slowly began to move her legs. Each stumble she made was quickly parried by Sunset. Slowly, they made their way from the statue and onto the street. “My apartment is awhile from here, but we’ll take it slow and steady,” Sunset explained. “No need to rush.” Cozy nodded and focused on getting used to this new way of walking.