//------------------------------//
// Chapter Seven 
// Story: The Ghost of Cozy Glow 
// by SapphireRose87 
//------------------------------//

That night I went to bed and tossed and turned, I didn’t go back to the Land of the Dead anytime soon. 

“What’s wrong?” Cozy Glow said. 

“Everything…” I said. 

“Everything?” Cozy Glow asked. “Wow, that is bad.”

“Don’t make fun of me!” I said.

“Oh sorry,” Cozy Glow said. “So what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know.” I said.

“Why are you so relied up?” Cozy Glow said,

 I sighed, not wanting to answer Cozy Glow. Instead, I went to the window and looked up at the stars. 

 “What happened to the days when life was simple?” I thought. 

I thought that all I had to worry about was Marble Sprint and getting along. But it seems that I have  one problem after another.

 “Um Betty?” Cozy Glow said.

“What?” I said. 

“There’s some pony standing in the doorway.” Cozy Glow said. 

I turned around to see Fluttershy watching me with a concerned look on her face.

“Is something wrong Fluttershy?” I said. 

“Oh no,” Fluttershy said, “I’m more worried about you. Are you okay?” 

“I’m not sure…” I said. 

“You wanna talk about it?” Fulttershy said. 

“At the moment no,” I said, “It’s best for me to deal with it on my own.” 

“Well,” said Fluttershy, “I think that you have nothing better to do right now.” 

“Fine…” I said.

I then got dressed and followed Fluttershy out the door. 


*	*	*


“So what did you want to talk to me about?” I said.

“I guess I just wanted you to talk to me that’s all…” Fluttershy said. 

“I thought you have something else on your mind,” I said, “you’re thinking about something else, so tell me what is it?” 

“Okay,” said Fluttershy, “you got me. I guess I just want to ask was that are you having trouble going back to the Land of The Dead? Because Princess Luna and Princess Celestia need you help.” 

“Yeah,” I said, “And I care because?” 

“Because,” said Fluttershy, “you’re the last Death Walker! Isn’t that an honor to you?” 

“Well no not really right now,” I said, “It’s a lot of pressure because I’m still just a kid, trying to grow up.” 

“I know,” said Fluttershy, “I was young when I got the responsibility of a Death Walker. When the Icebreakers named me a Death Walker. There moto is to give the ability to give responsibility while they’re young. Then when a Death Walker grows up they come to make an informed decision about what they want to do.” 

“Right now,” I said, “I don’t want it. Not now…”

“I just thought of something.” Fluttershy said. 

“Really?” I said.

“Yes,” said Fluttersy, “I think that you should be looked after as the last Death Walker.” 

“Oh I’m so grateful…” I said. 

I sighed and went back to the window and looked up at the stars. When Princess Luna and Princess Celestia were about my age, they had the responsibility to rule a whole country. Now they’re in the Afterlife and older too. But I’m not there yet, not even close. I’m still just a kid that needs to grow up first. 

“Oh well,” said Fluttershy,”You do with it what you want, the choice is yours.” 

“Autcally,” I said, “I don’t think I have a choice. But, okay…” 

Fluttershy then yawned, “Well it’s time for me to go to bed. I have to help a bear catch fish  tomorrow. You can stay up as long as you want. You’re on a break anyway.”

“But what about Princess Luna and Princess Celestia?” I said. 

“You don’t have to get to them right away,” said Fluttershy, “when you can fall asleep you’ll get to them.” 

Without another word Fluttershy turned around and left.


*	*	*


It was in the morning when the sun was in my eyes that I woke up. That was because I had slept outside looking up at the stars. When I woke up there someone standing over me. It was  Scarlett Harmony. 

“I must’ve slept here all night.” I thought.

“Well hello there,” said Scarlett, “did you sleep here all night?” 

“I guess so…” I said. 

“I have something to talk to you about.” Scarlet said.

“If you're talking about this whole Death Walker thing,” I said, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay,” said Scarlett, “but this just came for you this morning.” 

“What?” I said.

Scarlett then handed me a note that was written by my mom.

Dear Betty,

Please come home, there’s something I need to talk to you about.

Sincerely,

Mom

“Yeah,” I said,”like I’m going to fall for that one.” 

I then balled up the note and handed it back to Scarlett. 

“Okay then,” Scarlett said, “I do however, want to talk about this whole Death Walker thing.” 

“I said no thank you!” I said. 

“Okay,” said Scarlett, “and I forgot, I brought you some breakfast. Don’t worry, it’s human food. It’s an egg sandwich with French toast. How does that  sound? Delicious?” 

“That’s okay…” I said.

As my stomach growled, I took a sandwich and ate some of it. I then gobbled the sandwich down in no time.

“Wow,” said Scarlett, “I guess you really were hungry.”

“So,” I said, “you seriously want to talk about this whole Death Walker thing huh?”

“Well hear me out okay?” Scarlet said. 


“Okay,” I said,”what’s your deal?” 

“I know you think that being a Death Walker is still your choice. But there’s another thing that I wanted to talk to you about. Your Mother my not have Been the nicest person in the world but, don’t you think that you should try and smooth things over with her?”

“Nope,” I growled, “you don’t know what it was like living with her! So you have no idea how it feels!” 

“Yeah but-“ Scarlett said.

“How can you tell me what to do?” I said. “I’m going for a walk, don’t try to follow me. I’ve had enough of this.”

I glared at Scarlett as if to make a point and got up and walked off into the Everfree Forest. 


*	*	*


The darkness of the Everfree Forest didn’t scare me not one little bit. I wasn’t even  afraid of the monsters that Fluttershy had told me about. As far as I was concerned, none of that mattered to me at all. Not before long, I was at the Castle of the Two Sisters.

I sat down in the middle of the Castle and started to think.

“What should I do?” I asked no one. 

I then heard a creepy laughter that seemed to fail the whole place. I knew that who was laughing. It was Discord. 

“Well, well, well,” said Discord, “who do we have here? Why it’s Betty, the very last death Walker!” 

“What do you want Discord?” I said.

“Okay you got me,” said Discord, “there’s a little bit of information that I want to relay to you.” 

“What is it?” I said.

“Well,” said Discord, “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna really need you in The Land of the Dead. Pronto!”

“Yeah,” I said, “and I care because?” 

“Well,” said Discord, “that’s the information I wanted to tell you. I’m out of here. Ta Ta for now.”

Then Discord faded away laughing into the darkness. 

“Great…” I said. “Now what?”


*	*	*


In between my meetings with Celestia and Luna I was meeting up with someone else. This someone else gave me some good advice on Death Walkers. She kind of hinted about why the information on Death Walkers was under lock and key. Her name was Sami. I thought about all the lessons she taught During these meetings we would always sit face to face and in the middle of us was a candle.

“In order to be a strong Death Walker,” said Sami, “you need to have harmony.” 

“Don’t you need friends for that?” I said.

“Not exactly,” said Sami, “harmony needs to be with your mind and body.” 

“Okay?” I said. 

“One way to have that,” said Sami, “you think you might want to patch things up with your mother first?”

“I don’t know,” I said, “I don’t think that’s possible.”

“I know,” said Sami, “I had the same problem with my parents. I was also a half breed when I was alive myself.”

“You were?” I said. “But, you’re fully human! How’d that come to be?”

“Remember that choice I said you might have to make?” Sami said. “But if any case, you’re still just a kid when you grow up a bit then you’ll be able to make your choice.’

“But-“ I said.

“You’re still going to have to be alive for now. You can only help with The Land of the Dead only when you can. Oh and one more thing don’t let Luna and Celestia pressure you into making a choice for you. It might be too soon for you.” Sami said.

“Okay…” I said. “Um, Sami?”

“Yes?” Sami said.

“What should I do?” I said.

“About what?” Sami said.

“Well,” I said, “what if I don’t want to be a Death Walker?” 

“That’s your choice,” said Sami, “oh and one more thing.”

“Yes?” I said.

“Don’t be late for your meeting with Celestia and Luna okay? Sami said.

“Fine….” I said.

Then Sami blew out the candle and then it was time to go.


*	*	*


I kept thinking more about the choice that I needed to make. When another memory came to mind. When I was younger, my mom was very abusive, there was one time that I could remember that Norman dropped a glass of water off the table and it shattered into pieces on the floor. 

“Betty,” mom had said, “you clean this up right now!”

“Why do I have to do it?” I said. “Norman’s the one who dropped it.” 

Then, mom had come so close to smacking  me when Norman grabbed her arm.

“Leave her alone!” Norman said. 

“What did you say?” Mom said. 

“I said,” said Norman, “back off!”

“Why you little-“ Mom said.

“It’ okay Norman,” I said, “I’ll clean up this mess, honest!”

“Fine!” Mom said and then Norman let go of her arm. After mom left I cleaned up the mess.

“Yeah know,” said Norman, “you need to stand up to her.”

“But how?” I said.

“You will know,” said Norman, “when the time comes.”

As that memory faded out of existence I opened my eyes.


*	*	*


By the time I finished thinking about things, I looked up at the sky and it. Was almost nightfall. I got up and started running towards Fluttershy’s cottage. When I got home I opened the door only to see Scarlett and. Fluttershy talking. I knew what they where talking about. It was me, I glared at Fluttershy and Scarlett. My eye also twitched. 

“I know you guys a talking about me,” I said, “what do you want?”

“So, “ said Scarlett, “you’re really not going back to the Land of the Dead anytime soon. Are you sure about that?” 

“No,” I said, “but as Sami said I need to make my own choice. If you don’t let me, then you’ll live to regret it.” 

“But-“ Scarlett said.

“I said leave me alone!” I said.

“Okay…” Scarlett said.

“Oh, and another thing,” I said, “maybe it’s better that we don’t be friend’s anymore.”

“Why?” Scarlett said. 

“Because I know you’re going to push me into this,” I said, “and the choice is mine.” 

Scarlett was about to say something when Fluttershy put up a hoof to stop her. 

“Just let her go,” said Fluttershy, “she’s probably pretty tired anyway. Bid her goodnight won’t you?”

“Huh…” said Scarlett, “Goodnight Betty…”

“Goodnight!” I growled. 

I went upstairs and slammed the door shut.


*	*	*


At night I tossed and turned then I finally went to sleep. In my dreams, I was running from something. What it was I didn’t know. As I running I kept hearing voices.

“Leave her alone.” Fluttershy said.

“I’m sorry,” said Celestia, “but it can’t be helped.”

“But she doesn’t want to-“ Fluttershy said.

“Stop it Fluttershy, “ said Luna, “just let her rest for now.”

 “No,” I said, “leave me alone!”

I then kept running until I could no longer run. When I finally woke up, I realized where I was. I looked around only to see Luna at my bedside. I sighed, because I realized where I was, it was the Land of the Dead.

“I guess I have to face it.” I said.

“Face what?” Luna said.

I shook my head, “Nevermind…”

“Okay,” said Luna, “now that you’re here, we can get down to business.”
 
“So,” I said, “what do you want? Discord told me that you needed me here pronto!”

“Yes,” said Luna, “we need you to stay here, for now.”

“Fine,” I said, “so you need my powers or something?”

 “Well duh,” said Luna, “why do you think we called you back so soon?” 

“Listen Luna,” I said, “I don’t know what kind of powers I have as of yet. So you’ve got things backwards. And you’ve also got wrong Death Walker right now!”

“Well right now,” said Luna, “ think we do have the right Death Walker. With the right training you can figure it out. Oh and you’re going to be here for at least a month.” 

“A month!” I said. “Don’t you know I have school soon?” 

“I talked to Princess Twilight,” said Luna, “and she over wrote your classes for the time being.”

“You’re really gonna push me into this am I right?” I growled.

“Your hands are tied right now,” said Luna, “so I have the upper hand here. You couldn’t get out of this even if you wanted to.”

“Yeah,” I said, “that’s not what I was told.”

“Well they were wrong!” Luna said. “As soon as you were born, you’ve been given this duty put on your shoulders. And it’s time to deal with your destiny! You don’t get it don’t you?” 

“No,” I said, “and I don’t care!”

Luna sighed, “You’ll start your training in the morning and one more thing, I have guards posted at the door, so you couldn’t run even if you wanted.” 

“Unbelievable…”  I said. 

“Listen,” said Luna, “you’ll understand sooner or later that everyone has a sense of duty to follow. You will understand someday.”

I looked down and saw my school bag and saw that it had a whole bunch of books. I got so angry, I picked one of my books and threw it at Luna.

“I hate you!” I said. 

Luna sighed and walked out the door.


*	*	*


The next day or night, I didn’t care whatever it was, I decided to stay in my room. I thought that if Luna was going to keep me here, I was going to fight her every step of the way. Just as I  made my choice when Luna knocked on the door. 

“Of course,” I said, “it just had to be you…”

“Stop playing games Betty,” said Luna, “you can’t stay in your room forever.”

“Just watch me!” I said.

Luna then picked me up in her magic and dragged me out to the arena for training.

“Now,” said Luna, “let’s see what powers you possess.” 

“Yeah whatever,” I said, “you know, if you keep me here any longer, I will fight you every step of the way!”

“I don’t care.” Luna said. “I’ll be your sparring  partner for now.” 

“Humph,” I said, “”I doubt you beat me!”

“Oh yeah?” Luna said.

“Yeah!” I said.

“Very well,” said Luna, “I’ll draw out your powers sooner or later…” 

“Careful what you wish for!” I said.

“Okay,” said Luna, “let’s begin!”

Luna then charged up her horn and then shot her attacks at me. 

“Is that the best you got?” I said. “Don’t make me laugh!”

“Luna,” said Celestia, “stop this foolishness right now! She’s still got one foot in the Land of the Living! You don’t want to kill her! She’s still just a kid, Let her grow up first!”

“No,” said Luna, “we don’t have that kind of time!”

“Actuality,” and Celestia , “we can manage the breakouts on our own!”

“Ha,” said Luna, “that’s what you say!”

Luna then attacked me again and I was able to dodge them easily. 

“How?” Luna said.

“Remember the last argument you and Celestia got into?” I said.

“Oh yeah,” said Luna, “you were able to stop us.”

“Well duh!” I said.

“Hey!” Luna said. “Don’t you dare mock me! I am the Princess of the Night!”

“Oh really,” I said, “I thought that when you die, the Princess title is in void right?”

“Why you little-“ Luna said.

“Me little what?” I said.

“Betty and Luna stop!” I heard a voice say.

I looked down only to see that Princess Twilight had grabbed us both in her magic.

“What the-“ I said.

“Fluttershy told me what was going on,” said Princess Twilight, “I didn’t expect this be another screw up!”

I then saw Fluttershy waving at me with a concerned looked at me with a concerned look on her face.

“I was concerned, “ said Fluttershy, “your body was under too much strain. Your body was grabbing at your chest. Luna then handed me potion that I knew was bad, so I rushed over to Princess Twilight at once.”

“And we have another screw up!” Princess Twilight said. “Betty, go grab your things and you’re going to the Land of the Living pronto!”

“Yes Princess…” I said.

Luna growled and tried to grab me in her magic and Princess Twilight blocked her.


*	*	*


When I woke up, I took a deep breath and realized my chest hurt. I looked around and realized that I was back at Fluttershy’s cottage. I then felt a searing pain in my chest again and felt like I had the wind knocked out of me.

“Welcome back!” Fluttershy said. “I’m glad you’re awake finally.”

“Is she awake yet?” Princess Twilight said.

“Yes,” Fluttershy said, “and she doesn’t look so good.”

Princess Twilight then lit up her horn and frowned.

“Yes,” said Princess Twilight, “and it’ll take at least six months to recover.”

I choked on those words, “You’re kidding right?”

I said. “Luna!”

“Now, now,” said Fluttershy’s, “you need to lay down and rest.”

 I took another deep breath and grabbed at my chest again.

“What’s wrong?” Fluttershy said.

I felt like I had ran a mile and my heart was about leap out of my chest.

“I’m fine…” I said.

“You don’t look fine.” Fluttershy said.

“It’s just as I feared.” Princess Twilight said.

“What?” I coughed.

“I’m afraid there’s been a build up of fluid in your lungs.” Princess Twilight said.

“Why?” I said.

“If she was to do that,” said Princess Twilight, “she could’ve killed you and then you would’ve become a permanent resident without your consent. And Luna sent to Hell for good. What was she trying to pull? It’s a good thing I stopped her in time.”

“Um,” I said, “what are you talking about?” 

“Um nothing,” said Princess Twilight, “Fluttershy, get Betty to the Hospital now. I’ll deal with Luna myself.”

“Right!” Fluttershy said.

“No!” I said. “I’m not going back there, I can heal fine by myself.”

“Nope,” said Princess Twilight, “you need help, this is something you can’t deal with by yourself.”

“Okay…” I said.

“I’ll send word to the Medical Unicorns at once.” Fluttery said.

Then before I knew it, I was rushed to Hospital