Something is going on. Cozy can feel it in the back of her mind. A question and a theory that would not be silenced.
On the surface, her activities with her friends, Cheese Pie and Flurry Heart, seem innocent enough. All they are doing is having a fun slumber party through the night before Cheese and her take off the next day. During that time, they perform all the classics. Pillow fights, putting on make-up, brushing their manes and tails while coating them in sparkling glitter, putting on a mini fashion show using everything that fits within Flurry's enormous trot-in closet, drinking hot cider and cups of cocoa, talking about their feelings, laughing and giggling together as friends. The whole nine yards. Basically everything that is expected in a slumber party, to which they literally follow a check-list of activities straight out of a book called, “Slumber 101”.
But as the night wore on, Cozy starts to notice that their activities feel especially girly, and she can't help but feel like there is an agenda behind that because their night activities have an especially intense edge to them. Behind Flurry's warm and giddy smile, Cozy senses an edge of desperation in her friend.
Cozy wants to dismiss it, but considering what happened before, such as her theories or a quasi-visit from Sombra within her body, she can't help but suspect that Flurry is pressing towards all these especially strong feminine activities as if to remind them both that Cozy is really a girl in this life.
Cozy never forgot that fact, and the truth is she has no qualms with these activities either. They’re fun, and doing them makes her feel especially giddy and bubbly, but she also couldn't help but notice that everything they are doing this night are things King Sombra definitely wouldn't do. The things they are doing seem designed for the purpose to remind her of that fact. It's as if Flurry felt scared that she was losing her friend to some other foreign entity.
Eventually, Cozy decides to confront her friend about her theory during a game of truth or dare. Cozy does not press that question immediately. She passes on that question for a while just to give them time to settle and enjoy themselves, but after a while, Cozy gathers her courage and asks what's really on her mind to Flurry.
When she does, Flurry looks stunned for a while, but then she looks down sadly for a moment as she admits that she did feel nervous that she could be losing Cozy to something she is not, or at least not anymore. She goes on to say that that life, if it is indeed real and part of their mutual history, was very painful and it ended in tragedy. Flurry did not want to go through that again. Instead, she wants a life of innocence and fun. She just wants to be with her friend and truly enjoy life this time.
As she said this, Cheese felt quite lost in this explanation because she did not hear of Cozy's earlier theory about their mutual history in a possible past life.
When Flurry finishes her explanation, there is a long pause of silence, and then Cozy declares that she does not want to play this game anymore. She's done.
There is an awkward and uncomfortable silence that follows that. In an effort to break that sudden frigid ice, Cheese Pie spontaneously breaks out into a song to which both of her friends knows the words. As she sings, she passes her friends an encouraging smile. Sometimes she even shakes them as if to say, “Come on! You know you want to do it. Sing! Sing a song.”
Gradually, they do manage to join in on the song. When they do, their depression melts away. It does not take too long for them to return to smiling, laughing, and giggling again.
While singing, Cozy flashes her yellow hide and pink-maned friend a very proud smile. Cheese’s often very foalish attitude tends to hide the fact that, behind those bright green eyes lies a very old and wise soul. It really is uncanny how often she says and/or does just the right thing to settle disputes and motivates everypony to get along. Her efforts aren't perfect but she clearly has an advantage over most average ponies when it comes to that affair. Because of her attitude, similar to her parents, it's so easy to write her off as just a goofy clown or a fool, but Cozy eventually notices how it heavily underestimates Cheese’s remarkable talent and gift.
So onward their largely pleasant evening continues. Hugging dolls, trading stories, eating delicious cookies, and drinking enough milk to give them all a milk mustache which they, of course, tease each other and giggle about. They also have warm and gooey hot fudge brownies that are sprinkled with oats and nuts.
Cozy is the last to have her make-up applied. The other girls went on to other activities after passing Cozy their traditional round of compliments for the new look.
After they left, though, Cozy's attention lingers on her reflection. She gazes at the shiny bows with tiny gems in them that help to hold her hair curls. She gazes at her mane that is coated with sparkling glitter. She gazes at her make-up which is a much better attempt on her face compared to the other two. Cozy's strategy turns out to be wise to wait to be the last one while her friends practice and make their mistakes upon themselves. The third time is the charm because, this time, their work is far more subtle. She only has just a few light colors and highlights around her face. Such touches are especially strong around her cheeks and eyes.
Cozy stares at herself, feeling a little transfixed because she wonders if this is the first life she's been born a girl. There isn't much to the contrary, but this does feel new.
She looks into her eyes as she recalls the fact that she often used her charms and feminine wiles to attempt to lie, cheat, and steal as she strategizes her path to victory, whatever that goal might be. There is a learning curve to that process. Among that process is becoming aware that every target reacts differently to her attempts, even from moment to moment, but she is very cunning so she adapts fast. It is such a thrill for her when her efforts bear fruit because it helps to validate her faith in herself and gives her confidence. It tells her, “I can win! I don't need to be big, strong, and tough. Instead, I can be smart and subtle. Why waste all of my energy when I can get others to do it for me? In time, I'll make them lick the dirt off my hooves as I compel them to bow before me!”
But every time she lays on the charms, there is a part of her that shrivels with panic as that part of her mind asks herself, “What if this doesn't work? Other than my charms and wits, I don't have much to fall back on naturally. I guess I can fly. Maybe that will help me escape from my troubles.”
The reason she feels so desperate for success and validation in her life is because of her struggle to keep from feeling vulnerable. It has been an ever-pervasive problem in the depths of her subconscious.
Relying on others so much feels like a gamble because their free will might say no. Even if they say yes, there is still no guarantee that they'll succeed. By watching a knight in shining armor fight for her in a desperate effort to defend her, she winces at every blow he suffers because it means she's that much closer to becoming the aggressor’s next target.
There is a gut-wrenching uncertainty to rely upon others all the time. The trouble with that is manipulating others is her primary gift. At least she has the wits to lead them well when and if they choose to follow her.
But Sombra didn't have to do that. His power alone could crush any opposition in his way. The fact that he could use those same powers to control others on top of that feels like overkill. Whenever he did that, he didn't need to take a chance that they'll say no. He says screw it and forces his subjects to become like living dolls who are absolutely mindless and obedient. There is so much confidence that can be derived from such a perfect solution because it leaves no chance for errors. Free will cannot offer a potential threat of rebellion if it is squashed mercilessly and completely right away.
There is no denying it. Cozy Glow is definitely jealous of that talent.
But is it enough? He seemed miserable, especially now. He acts like his mere existence is constant torture. For that very reason, he constantly longs for rest.
Cozy's life certainly isn't perfect, but there are plenty of moments of levity like this when she can bask in the simple joy of being alive and sharing this experience with her friends.
Even at a very young age, ever since she was rescued by her first true friend, Cozy became addicted to friendship because it is a source of power. The more pawns she has, the more she has to manipulate into doing whatever she wants. Each friend extends the reach of her influence and increases her odds of success at the same time.
It all starts right here, with this cute and adorable face. That's the core resource she has to work with in order to build up everything else. It's the one thing that cannot be taken away from her, so it's the more reliable and trustworthy thing she's got. This is square one. This is her foundation.
It's pretty good, but she wishes she has more to work with, like Sombra once did. It may be that the reason she longs for that kind of power so much is because it used to be hers, and she became accustomed to relying upon that power until this life rolled around. After that, not only does she start from scratch again, but she has to build herself up differently this time because she has different tools to work with.
It's so hard for her to avoid comparing herself to another pony which she might not really have a connection to. Maybe it is just wishful thinking, but it feels right and the circumstances surrounding them keep driving them together in very uncanny ways. If this is destiny, is it because they always did have a deep connection?
“Equestria to Cozy Glow!” Cheese calls behind her. In response, Cozy focuses past her shoulder in the reflection to see her yellow friend waving at her to approach. “Come in, Cozy Glow! We don't have all night, and we still have a lot of stuff to do, so come on!”
Cozy sighs and shakes her head as she inwardly decides that Cheese is right. She can dwell on this another time. Right now she has limited time with both of her friends, so she should make the most of it.
“Right.” Cozy pushes herself from the make-up station using both hooves. “I'm coming.”
There was a reason Cozy Glow once hated Flurry Heart with a passion, and to this day some of it still lingers. Cozy was born in squalor and slavery. From the beginning, she was treated to the worst things life had to offer. From that awful starting point, she fought her way to the very height of power. It took a long time and a lot of scheming, but for a short while there, she was an alicorn, the pinnacle of perfection for pony kind. This is as close to god-like as the Equestrian race can get. Not only do they have all the advantages of each of the three breeds, not only did they have greater talent in those traits than each of the three breeds apart, but they are naturally ageless. Then, the icing on the cake, they usually have some special magical talent that sets them apart from other alicorns. It's almost like having a second cutie mark, or becoming especially good at the first talent.
Cozy had that advantage in her hooves for a short while, and it was wonderful! It felt so good that all of that effort and suffering finally paid off.
But then she lost it. Not only that, she lost what she had before. She once lamented her lack of freedom before, but then it became so much worse! She had all of her efforts and schemes backfire so heavily in her face. It made her wonder if that was her true calling in life all along; to simply be a victim who was literally born to suffer.
But Flurry Heart . . . Oooo! That selfish little snobby princess . . . she was literally born with it all as an alicorn. This means she has all the best advantages of each race. On top of that, she's a princess as well as having the most perfect, fairy-tale-like parents in the world. It was nothing but sweet kisses, the best foods, and a warm and comfy bed. There was no need to struggle. No need to worry about anything. No need for a challenge. Just poof! Instant win from the moment of conception.
Cozy is not really complaining about the existence of such advantages, but it should have been hers instead. To see somepony else with it when she was born with so little makes this a vicious taunt. As a result, it used to be that, whenever Cozy saw Flurry Heart, she wanted to slap that snobby little princess so hard that Flurry's head with spin and probably make a cute squeaking noise.
Aside from the fact that so many others pressed her to give Flurry a chance, Cozy also realized there is strategic value to this relationship. She already had a horse-shoe in on Canterlot thanks to her newly adopted “mother”, but gathering a relationship with Flurry means extending her range of influence to the Crystal Empire as well.
It feels so ironic to her that she once struggled for all of these advantages, lost them all, then suddenly these ponies are hoofing her all of these gifts to her on a silver platter. At first her reaction is to blink in a stunned way, but in time she just shrugs and says to herself, “Well . . . okay. Keep 'em coming! More power for me, I guess.”
For quite a long time, it felt revolting to force a fake smile on her face and “pretend” to be Flurry's friend. But, in time, Flurry's affections gradually wore her down for real, and yes . . . Cozy also understood that every reason she hated Flurry Heart was over circumstances Flurry could not control. Only recently has that point come into question again, but it still feels moot.
It also honestly surprised Cozy to discover how much they had in common after all, especially in an emotional context.
As Cozy played with her friends during that night, it still stings a little to receive all of those reminders of why she felt so bitter earlier. This moment is great and it feels so nice to try on all those comfortable and adorable clothes, but deep down Cozy still seethes with rage at the reminder that all of these neat things are not hers, they are Flurry's. Allowing Cozy to wear them is nothing but a temporary indulgence that is delivered on a whim, and can be taken away just as quickly. It grated on Cozy's nerves for Flurry to offer for Cozy to keep some of the outfits she wanted because they “fit” and “look so good on you”, but Cozy did not want the pity or charity.
Besides, she does have enough cute outfits in Canterlot as it is. There is no reason to add any more.
Despite the bitterness that Cozy feels deep in her heart against one of her friends, there is affection too.
It's so annoying how both of her friends can empathically pick up on that, but it keeps their relationship fairly honest which kind of is a big deal for Cozy. It feels scary to be forced into an authentic relationship, but in the long gallop . . . she has to admit it feels kind of nice because it meant that her friends really know her for who she really is. Not only are they aware of that, but they accept her and even love her for it.
Although the night is fun, there is also a desperate edge to it. Not only has the day’s events really rattled them, Cozy and Flurry especially, but there is that uncertainty of when they can do this again. Considering the fact that Cozy may go on a journey soon to lands unknown, no pony could know if Cozy (or Cheese for that matter) will ever return from that journey. Despite the precautions they are bringing with them, nothing can be certain with the life of adventure.
“I really wish I could go, too,” Flurry laments as the three of them start to grow too tired to remain awake, yet despite the fatigue, they are fighting harder than usual to remain awake. “The journey you are about to embark upon feels extremely important. You mean so much to me, Cozy, so I want to be part of your life during its more critical period of transformation. I say this because I deeply care for you. This life we share together feels like a second chance after so much misery and tragedy. I don't want to waste a second more now that it’s finally going good.”
“There probably were good moments before,” Cozy figures with uncertainty. “Very rarely is anything perfectly black or white.”
“True,” Flurry agrees but with a sad sigh. She lowers her ears and droops her eyelids as she looks down.
“You have an important purpose here in the Crystal Empire,” Cozy reminds Flurry. “I know you care for me, but don't you care for these ponies too? You are an important part of their life, Flurry. You are the heart and soul of the Crystal Heart, and that artifact is exactly what is protecting this Empire from being covered in a blanket of ice and snow.”
“I know,” Flurry agrees while maintaining a glum expression, “but you are both important to me, too. I don't want to choose. I want you all in my life.” She sniffs as she wipes a tear from her eyes using the tip of her left wing. “I know it seems like I'm being selfish, but I can't help how I feel. My emotions have always dominated my life.”
Even though some bits of this conversation is going over Cheese's head, she holds her silence other than sneaking another cookie into her mouth. The only sound she makes is the crunch of the cookie. While she does that, she keeps shifting her eyes back and forth between Cozy and Flurry because the only part of this conversation she understands is the fact that they are unloading important baggage between them as well as the fact that Flurry will miss them.
“Any part of me that's still him understands your important role in the Crystal Empire,” Cozy expresses. “He loved this land, but he also loved you too. Both of you built this kingdom together on the edge of a desperate hope. He doubted her, but she never gave up hope that this reality was possible, and you know what? She was right. She won! Everypony that followed her won.
“This place needs you, Flurry Heart. If you followed me instead, some part of me will always feel vulnerable that you're leaving the most precious gift we ever built together undefended.”
“It's not undefended!” Flurry argues. “The Crystal Empire has plenty of defenses. My own father, the prince of this country, was a former Captain of the Royal Guards. He knows how to organize a security force.”
“The Empire needs more than just muscle to keep it thriving, Flurry Heart,” Cozy argues. “It needs its heart, and you are that heart. You literally are the heart and soul of the Empire. Do you deny this?”
Flurry does not answer. She just continues to look down with a frown.
“Then remember this,” Cozy urges since Flurry did not argue with that point. “Remember because it’s important.” She places a hoof on her chest as she says, “Part of my heart and soul will always dwell here, too. You'll feel it in the Crystal Heart itself, along with any other pony who ever donated energy to that artifact.”
While her face remains directed downward, Flurry's eyes look up at Cozy while glistening with a few tears.
“And it's not like she's going to be proceeding alone,” Cheese chimes in. “I'll still be with her, and hey! Guess what? We also got these new nifty crystal-things that will help us keep in touch from a distance.”
Cozy Glow and Flurry Heart momentarily panic when Cheese tosses one of those crystals high into the air, but they don't have time to make a sound when the crystal lands and vanishes within Cheese Pie's puffy pink mane.
“Don't worry! I'll keep it close and safe,” Cheese assures, then crosses her hooves over both sides of her chest as she says, “Cross my heart, and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake,” she suddenly produces one and slaps it into her right eye as she finishes saying, “in my eye.”
“That's disgusting!” Cozy complains to Cheese. “I wish you'd stop doing that.”
“Do what?” Cheese asks innocently as cupcake frosting now drips from her right eye. Absently she also licks some of it up as it drools down like a cupcake frosting teardrop.
“Literally slap a cupcake in your eye! That's disgusting,” Cozy elaborates. “You don't have to go that far. You can just say it as any normal pony would.”
“Are you accusing me of being a 'normal' pony?” Cheese questions Cozy with a tilt of her head before extending an overly long tongue out her mouth and licks up the remains of the cupcake from her eye, which is yet another sight both of her other friends squint and cringe at the sight of. “Excuse me, but I am not a normal pony! Where in the world did you ever get that impression? My family laughs at your silly little logic and your pathetic laws of physics, so to that I say ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha-HA!”
“You got to admit, she does have a point,” Flurry agrees to Cozy with an amused smirk. “And it does comfort me to know that you're bringing a friend along who can seemingly do anything.”
“As long as it is for comedic effect,” Cheese adds as a stipulation.
“I think you do need some comic relief in your life, Cozy,” Flurry goes on. “Sometimes you are too serious. Sombra was even worse at that.”
To that, Cozy just shrugs.
“How is Sombra involved in this conversation?” Cheese wonders aloud. “Weren't we talking about us instead?”
“Yeah!” Flurry agrees as if she suddenly decided something. “You're right. Sombra isn't involved in this conversation.”
“Was he ever?” Cheese wonders innocently before snacking on another cookie.
Cozy shakes her head as she says, “It doesn't matter, but you see my point, Flurry. Regardless of our history together, you are still very much a part of the Crystal Empire now. Your place is here, and I need to know that. I need to know that this place will continue to have what it needs to thrive.”
“Okay, okay!” Flurry exasperates as she waves both of her hooves back and forth between them. “I get it! You want me gone.”
“DON'T PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH, FLURRY HEART!” Cozy suddenly cries out in fury. “I hate it when you do that.”
“Then say what you really mean!” Flurry pleads. “Admit that you care for me too, and that you'll miss me as well.”
Cozy looks suddenly reluctant as she asks, “Must I? You already know how I feel. You’re a psychic empath, for crying out loud!”
Flurry shakes her head briefly as she says, “Yes, I am, but I still need to hear you say it. Also, I think you need to hear yourself say it as well. You tend to not be an honest pony, Cozy Glow. Not even to yourself. Sometimes you need to face the truth in order to grow and move on with your life in a positive way.”
“Okay, fine! I'll say it if it will make you happy,” Cozy spits in annoyance, then glares at Cheese as she holds a microphone near Cozy's face. The wire of that microphone leads somewhere within Cheese's mane.
“If you don't put that away, you'll be eating that soon!” Cozy threatens Cheese.
In response, Cheese shrugs then proceeds to swallow the microphone herself. Following that, she slurps up the wire as if it is a spaghetti noodle.
Cozy and Flurry both widen their eyes at that sight, then glance at each other, then they both giggle as they shake their heads together.
When they settle again, Cozy resumes. “Anyway, as I was about to say before I was so rudely interrupted,” she growls with a final glare to Cheese, then a much softer and affectionate look to Flurry Heart. “Of course I'm going to miss you, Flurry Heart, but you know I have to do this and you know you have to be here. I have to repay my debt to my counterpart, and I can't stand the thought of her not living her life.” She lowers her head and looks down with a frown. “I know what it's like to live my life feeling trapped. It's not an experience I ever want to repeat again. As long as she is like this, I'll always feel like some part of me is trapped, too.” She looks back up at Flurry. “I know for a fact that she felt the same way when she saw me trapped in stone. That knowledge broke her. She could not take it. She cried on the muddy ground during a scheduled rainstorm as the knowledge of what happened to me tortured her.”
“I'm grateful to her, too,” Flurry agrees with a frown of her own. “If she didn't convince Princess Twilight to let you go, you might not have become my friend later.”
“Or mine!” Cheese passionately chimes in. “So we're all in agreement. Human Cozy is our friend too, and she needs us. A friend in need is a friend indeed, and we will not let down our friends, will we, girls? Loyalty is something we know well.” She pounds her chest hard. “We can count on that.”
“Actually, that is a lesson I'm still struggling with,” Cozy disagrees. “That and honesty, obviously.
“Still, I am highly motivated. Even if my motivations are partially selfish, I know I cannot move on with my life while this injustice continues. I need to do this.”
Cozy extends a hoof between them as she goes on to declare, “And let us make another promise. Let us vow that, no matter how much physical distance there is between us, we'll still be together in our hearts. As friends, let the distance between us remain invisible.”
“Here-here!” Cheese cheers as she applies a hoof on top of Cozy's.
“Friends,” Flurry agrees as she adds her own hoof above the others. “Friends forever!”
Together, they cheer and throw up their hooves.