//------------------------------// // Chapter Eighteen // Story: The Ghost of Cozy Glow // by SapphireRose87 //------------------------------// I could feel being carried by Dae to Fluttershy’s cottage and could vaguely hear voices off the distance. “So,” said Fluttershy, “how did it go? You guys catch him?” “Actually,” said Dae, “Betty caught him by herself!” “What?” Flutteershy said. “That’s amazing! I’m so proud!” I couldn’t remember much as Dae carried me upstairs. “Awe,” said Fluttershy, “she looks so cute asleep!” When I woke up the next day, I felt like I had been run over by a bus. I groaned, “What happened? I feel like I’ve been run over by a bus!” “Well,” said Dae, “you did have a boulder drop on you, so I think that might equal a bus, maybe?” Dae and I then exchanged a look and couldn’t stop laughing. There was a knock on the door and Fluttershy had the biggest smile on her face. “You have a couple of visitors!” Fluttershy said. “At this time of day?” I said. Fluttershy nodded and in came Mystic Diamond and Scarlett Harmony, they looked at me and Dae and smiled. “Are we interrupting something?” Scarlett said. “Ah no,” said Dae, “actually I was about to go, I have something to take care of.” Dae then gave me a kiss and Scarlett and Mystic laughed at the display of affection. I rolled my eye at both of them. “I’ll be back.” Dae thought. Dae then disappeared and Mystic and Scarlett smiled. “What?” I said. “So,” said Mystic, “I heard about your capture of Tirek. How did it go?”  I rolled my eyes, “If you must know, I’ll tell you the story.” *    *    * Of course Pinkie Pie wanted to throw me a party, I walked into Sugarcube Corners and wasn’t surprised that the lights were off. I the walked over and turned on the lights. “Surprise!” Pinkie Pie said as balloons and confetti showered down on me. This time my eye twitched because Pinkie Pie was right in my face examining me. “Your eye is twitching,” said Pinkie Pie, “I thought only Dae made you do that.” “Actually,” I said, “if anyone’s going to make eye twitch it would be you right now.” “Oh come on,” said Dae, “lighten up will you?” “This reminds me of the time I threw a party, when Princess Twilight first came to town!” Pinkie Pie said. “You’re kidding?” I said with a raised eyebrow. “Nope,” said Pinkie Pie, “she got so mad that she accidentally put hot sauce in her drink! Then of course she went up to her room and didn’t come out. That was when she lived in that stuffy old library.” “Wow,” I said, “I knew Princess Twilight loved books, but I didn’t know she liked them that much!” “Yup,”said Spike munching on a cupcake, “when I was younger for my birthday Twilight would give me a book as a gift. That’s all I got, until we moved to Ponyville.” “Well,” I said, “that must’ve been nice…” Spike laughed, “Nope!” *    *    * When I got back to Fluttershy’s cottage, I was actually happy with the recent turn of events. I seemed to forget, all about the trauma that happened before that. “Did you have fun?” Dae said. “Yeah know what?” I said. “For once I actually did.” “Well that’s good…” Dae said. I looked at Dae and he was giving me a really funny look. “What?” I said. For some reason my stomach felt tight like it was about to drop anytime soon. I noticed I never felt this way even with Silver Whiskers, and for some reason my wings spread out involuntarily. “Well,” I said, “that happened…” Dae laughed, “I wonder what that means?” “I have no idea..” I said.  Dae was still giving me a funny look, before I knew it, we fell over onto the bed with Dae on top of me. *    *    * I woke up the next morning and noticed that I was sharing my bed. I then realized that it was Dae that I was sharing the bed with and we were both naked. “I was wondering when you were going to wake up.” Dae said. “Did we do what I think we did?” I said. “Uh-huh…” Dae said. Dae was still holding me in his arms when Fluttershy knocked on the door. “Good morning!” Fluttershy said. Fluttershy then looked around the room and then looked at the two of us. She looked like she was shocked and ran out the room. Dae and I then shared a laugh. “Well she is married,” I said, “I would think she would know about stuff like this.” “Maybe she thinks you need to be married first?” Dae said. “The look on her face was shock horror.” I couldn’t help but laugh at the look on Fluttershy’s face. *    *    * When I finally got downstairs, Fluttershy was making breakfast. “So…” Fluttershy said. “So what?” I said drinking a cup of juice. “I take it you’ve never had the talk yet?” Fluttershy said. I just about spit my drink out on Fluttershy. “I think it’s a little bit late for that don’t you?” I said. Fluttershy stared up at the ceiling, “I remember when I had my first time. I was actually younger than you! You want to hear the story?” She said that after I took another drink and it went down the wrong pipe. I punched my chest and coughed, “No thank you! I’m good!” I guess Fluttsershy couldn’t help herself because she was on her back laughing until she had tears in her eyes. Fluttershy stopped laughing, “Oh by the way, your brother Norman is coming over since he’s on break. He wants to hear all about your capture of Tirek!” As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. I guess Flutteershy wanted to torture me some more, “Oh yeah, don’t worry about it, I can give you the talk later!” I gave a nervous laugh, “Like I said, it’s a little bit late for that.” Fluttershy then walked away laughing. *    *    * “What’s this I just heard about the talk?” Norman asked as soon as Fluttershy left. I gave another nervous laugh, “Ah Fluttershy just likes messing with me that’s all.” “Yeah know,” said Norman, “mom gave me the talk when I was sixteen. I had my first time a year later. Let me guess, you just had your first time didn’t you?” I rolled my eyes, “Can you please not tease me about that!” “So,” said Norman, “how was it?” “As if you need to know.” I said.   Norman cleared his throat, “I’ve already heard the story about your capture of Tirek. There’s some guy bragging about you at Sugarcube Corners, I was told he’s your new boyfriend? I take it that was your first time?” ”I said don’t tease me about that!”  I said, “And let me guess, tall guy in black clothes, that be Dae.” “The King of Hell?” Norman said. “You actually got together with him?” “It’s a long story…” I said. “If we hurry,” said Norman, “I can finally get to meet him for a change.” “What’s the rush?” I said.  “Your blushing right now,” said Norman, “is that because I’m talking about him? That’s so cute!” “Wait!” I said as Norman grabbed my hand and we ran towards Sugarcube Corners. *    *    * “Ah,” said Dae, “there’s the woman of the hour!” I practically dug in my heels as Norman was pushing me in the door.  “Come on sis,” said Norman, “everyone wants to see the hero that captured Tirek!” I could feel myself turning beat red and I wanted to go hide under a rock. I saw Dae looking at me and I couldn’t look away for some reason. Of course I heard a chorus of “awe’s” that  sounded throughout the room. “Could you please not do that!” I said. “Seriously!” “The story was so awesome!” Rainbow Dash said. “You captured Tirek all on your own!” Applejack said. “Now I’m a strong pony but you actually broke through a boulder! Not even I can do that!” “It was nothing really…” I said. “Oh don’t be so modest darling!” Rarity said. “Yeah,” said Rainbow Dash, “take credit where credit is due!” By this time I seriously really wanted to hide underneath a rock. “Ah you look like Princess Twilight did before she became ruler of Equestria!” Pinkie Pie said.  I then felt something tug on my shirt and looked down only to see a foal looking at me. She had a smile on her face and had an autograph book opened to a blank page. “Can I have your autograph?” The foal said. I paused not sure of what to think. “Oh go on,” said Rainbow Dash, “she really admires you!” “Yes,” the foal said, “I want your autograph right next to Rainbow Dash, she was a hero once too!” “What do you mean once?” Rainbow Dash said. “Rashbow Dash!” Rarity said. I looked at the foal and sighed, “Sure kid, who do I make this out to?” “My name's Ditzy Do!” Ditzy Do said. “I’m Derpy’s sister! Derpy works in the mail department right under Princess Twilight just like you!” “Okay…” I said and signed the book. “Thank you so much Betty!” Ditzy Do said. “Well,” I thought, “it couldn’t get any worse.” Out of the corner of my eye I could see Dae trying to stifle a laugh. Ditzy Do then put her book in her bag and left excited. I really wanted to hide underneath a rock and fast.  “You’re really getting a kick out of this aren’t you?” I thought. “Yup!” Dae thought. “Okay, okay!” Rainbow Dash said standing in front of me as if she were about to push people out of the way. “As Betty’s personal BodyGuard, she’s not taking anymore autographs at this time! And no pictures! Please give the girl some space!” “Actually Rainbow Dash,” I said, “I don’t think I need a bodyguard, I’m good.” Rainbow Dash stood proudly, “I think you do! Every famous person needs a bodyguard!” “I don’t think so,” I said, “as long as I don’t have anyone stalking me, I think I’m good.” “Awe come on!” Rainbow Dash said. “Don’t you feel a little bit worried?” I was so ready to leave at that point. “No Rainbow Dash,” I said, “I’m good!” “Okay fine!” Rainbow Dash said.  *    *    * That night, I went to sleep and was summoned to the Land of the Dead and I was greeted by Celestia. “I’m so glad to see you again!” Celestia said. I looked at Celestia, “I think I’ve enough  embarrassment for one day, please don’t do anything embarrassing.” “Well…” Celestia said. “I want to commend you on a job well done with catching Tirek and the rest of the escapes! I’m so proud of you! Word is you caught Tirek all by yourself! I’m impressed, is that what the embarrassment is coming from?” “You guessed it.” I said. “And let me guess,” said Celestia, “Pinkie Pie wanted to throw you another party?” “Yup,” I said, “and I had to sign an autograph.”  “What’s so bad about that?” Celestia said. “I have no intention of being a celebrity.” I said. “It can’t be helped,” said Celestia, “it comes with the territory. On that thought, Princess Twilight agreed that upon your recents achievements, that you should get this medal! We wanted to give you a big celebration but maybe a private celebration would be better. Don’t worry, the medal will go back with you the Land of the Living. Now, go ahead take it!” Celestia then took a box that she had gripped in her magic and floated over to me. I opened the box, staring at it in disbelief. On the medal was angel wings and a devil's horn on it. It also had the words, “Thank you for protecting us!” They were engraved at the bottom of it. I was in shock staring at the medal and couldn’t believe my eyes. “This must be some sort of bad dream or something…” I thought. “You okay?” Celestia’s said. I just gave her a look and couldn’t think of anything to say.  “Well,” said Celestia, “that’s all I wanted to do. I have other things to take care of at the moment so I shall take my leave.”  *    *    * When I left Celestia’s office I took a deep breath, I still couldn’t believe what just happened. I kept thinking that wasn’t in the Land of the Dead and really thought it was some sort of bad dream. “You are in the Land of the Dead by the way.” Dae said. I looked at Dae in disbelief, “I shouldn’t have this.” “Why not?” Dae said. “I shouldn’t have this,” I said, “because so many people died under my watch.” “You’re still carrying around that guilt? Didn’t you hear a word  Princess Twilight said?” Dae said. I looked down at the ground, and had no answer for him. “Let it go,” said Dae, “it wasn’t your fault. The report said they got ambushed, and not to mention they didn’t get a good look at the enemy. So you have to let this go.” “I’ll work on it…” I said. *    *    * I woke up and I was the Land of the Living and looked down to see the medal hanging around my neck. I then looked over to see Dae with a look of concern on his face. “Get dressed,” said Dae, “I’ll be waiting outside.” I got dressed and went outside. Dae then took my hand, “I have something to show you.” Dae then took me to the local Graveyard on the outskirts of Ponyville. “Look around,” said Dae, “what do you see?” I looked and saw exactly 25 new tombstones and all of them had the Equestrian flag on them.  “If it’s any consolation,” said Dae, “23 of your teammates went to Heaven and only two of them went to Hell.”