“What’s going on?” I asked the unicorn stallion as I walked up.
He showed me the newspaper, and I took a moment to read it over.
‘Cozy Glow: What Is Her Goal?’
‘Recently, Cozy Glow has been spotted in Sire’s Hollow assisting with the Winter Festival. Her caretaker, Pale Vestige is nearby, but seems to have little involvement in the matter. Odd when one considers his status as a loose cannon officer, you’d assume that it would have a bad influence on the young mare. But apparently, she’s actually functioning as a normal member of society...for now. At the moment, we like the effort she’s putting in to improve and she should continue to be monitored as she makes her way. Is she after a regular life with a career? Or something more? Stay tuned.’
Well that was quite the interesting article. But it seemed as if the public had actually warmed up to Cozy while they still looked at me with judgement. Honestly, that was a pretty fair assessment. After all, she had taken great lengths to ensure that she would be treated fairly among the population while I was still seen as a questionable figure. Regardless, I chose to maintain a positive attitude.
“I see. Well hey, so long as they’re seeing her efforts to become a better pony, and separating the two of us, I could care less what the media thinks.”
Shining turned the article back to himself, and read it over. “I suppose...but even I have to admit, I had the wrong idea about you at first.” He put the paper down, and looked at me. “When I first met you, you...unnerved me.”
Now that was something I had never been told before. Just how could I, a regular pony, instill fear within someone else? “I did?” I asked as I raised an inquisitive brow, “Just how did I accomplish that, pray tell?”
“It’s kinda hard to explain,” he went on as he scratched the back of his head. “When I came across you, and heard about the fact that you wanted to set Cozy Glow free, I was...afraid, honestly. Afraid that you were trying to incite some sort of rebellion that could put us all at risk. And so casually. You came off as creepy to an extent.”
Well now, it was hard to deny that my first impression was very rocky. Even I have bad days where things just don’t work out. “I see. What about now? Has your perception of me changed since we’ve met?”
He took a moment before he answered. “Now I can see that you’re...just doing what you feel is right. I don’t agree with all of the decisions you’ve made, but I can give credit where credit is due. You don’t back down from your own ideals and yet, you’re open to criticism of those ideals.” He cracked a smile. “You’re alright, sir.”
What an interesting complement. Could that even be called a compliment? I didn’t think too hard on it. “Thank you, I suppose. But I’m not too heavily invested in how others perceive my actions. So long as I know what I’m doing, and Cozy can get to where she wants in life, it’s all fine to me.”
“Are you sure? You’re not worried that your reputation will sink Cozy’s?” he asked.
“I’m not, because it won’t,” I stated boldly, “Anyone with a decent amount of common sense will realize that the media is filled to the brim with bias against those whose beliefs and values differ from their own. It’s not worth wasting any time worrying about. If you hate all whose opinions vary from your own, you’ll hate everyone eventually.”
It took a moment for him to respond. “...That’s a...cryptic way of putting it.”
I rolled my eyes. “In addition, I have the support of everypony else around me that I’ve come to know after so long. I’m sure you know what that’s like, Sir Armor.”
He chuckled at that. Use of his official title must have caught him off guard. “Haha...that’s not necessary. But I understand what you mean. Ponies like us have to work extra hard since more eyes of judgement are upon us as heads of families. It can be a difficult position to maintain.”
As much as I didn’t enjoy to speak of it, he had a point. To manage home life alongside work life was a bit of a rough time. It left almost no room for rest. And even when there was room, it was extremely brief. I couldn’t imagine how stressed out a pony like Pinkie Pie must have been, for example. Dealing with a bakery and a family with Cheese Sandwich and her child was probably murder on her stamina. Or maybe not. But I’m sure some parts of her mindset had to change in order to accommodate her new challenges in life.
“Somewhat, yes,” I replied with a casual glance out of the nearby window, “But in the end, I bet it’s more than worth it once you watch your family grow and prosper alongside you.” I turned my head back to the unicorn. “I won’t really know what that’s like since I didn’t really raise Cozy from birth, but I bet it’s a satisfying thing to watch Flurry Heart grow older, isn’t it?”
“Oh, for sure,” he said with a nod, “She’s become quite the model leader--taking after Cadance and I fairly well. The Crystal Ponies of the Empire already see her as a valid individual to follow even after we step down. Though I am curious about…” He paused, and shook his head. “Meh, nevermind.”
Well damn. You couldn’t exactly do me like that. Especially not a detective such as myself. When you tell someone not to worry about something, chances are, they would still worry regardless. “What’s the matter?” I asked as I took a step closer, “You can tell me. I have an expressly important philosophy behind confidentiality.”
“I’m just concerned about who she intends to marry is all,” he went on, “Pound Cake--the pegasus stallion from Ponyville seems like a good guy and all. But like it or not, he’ll have to leave his life behind and stay beside Flurry one day if he intends to marry her.”
Ah. The old princess and pauper situation. It would indeed be a test of their character to see if they could manage living with, and around each other despite one who came from a rather conventional life as a common pony, and the other an alicorn princess. But from what I gathered so far, they seemed like a nice pair.
“I wouldn’t worry too much,” I replied with a confident grin, “Both of them seem like they’re more than capable of solving conflicts with each other.”
Another chuckle, and Armor would shake his head again. “Hah. Ever the valiant one, aren’t you? Since Hearth’s Warming is almost here, I may as well take more time to get to know you better. Let me buy you a drink.”
That was certainly a surprise. But I was in no position to refuse. This entire vacation was for the sake of my mental health after all. “Sure, why not? I’m free.”
Good thing, too. Now we wouldn’t be bothered by our mares.