“...”
“Oh no...Yes, I’m Cozy Glow. Are you Captain Bladeshine?”
“...”
“I’m really sorry. It is a pleasure to meet you, but is there erm a mare I could talk to? You see, my issue was caused by erm…”
“...”
“Yes sir, stallions.”
“...”
His face looks so angry right now!
“I didn’t mean any offense, I...”
“...”
“Yes, sir. I’ll wait here.”
“...”
Juice box? I didn’t even notice. He was so thoughtful! I feel horrible, I need to make sure he knows it wasn’t him.
“Thank you for…”
He’s gone. What have I done? He was just trying to help and...Wait the door’s opening who is...Is that Twilight?
“...”
“Princess Twilight I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to…”
“...”
“He already knows? But he was so mad and…”
“...”
“He has a daughter of his own, my age?”
“...”
Oh wow, I can see why he would get angry thinking about it. For a father to imagine his daughter going through what I did; no wonder he looked ready to kill.
“...”
He not only recognized how talking to a stallion makes me shudder, he actually left just to make me feel more comfortable with discussing my situation?
“He really did that for me? So he wasn’t mad at me, that’s a relief, at least.”
“...”
“Well of course I care how he feels! What kind of heartless, inconsiderate filly would...oh.”
“...”
“You’re right. 200 years ago, I wouldn’t have thought twice about the feelings of another.”
“...”
I don’t know what to say. She isn’t wrong, she isn’t wrong at all. I was horrible, I was inconsiderate and I even lashed out at others who tried to be my friends. That isn’t me anymore. That isn’t me anymore…
“That isn’t me anymore! Please, Princess Twilight, you have to believe me! I am so sorry. Please, forgive me for my past actions. I was so wrong!”
That stern look on her face...I understand. If it were me I wouldn’t forgive me either. She’s so silent, what is she thinking?... Say something! Anything! Curse at me, rage at me, just please say something!
“...”
“Proud of me, but why?”
“...”
The most powerful enemy you ever fought was admitting your faults? You’re proud of me for admitting mine? Wait. What she said back then. Just tell us you were wrong, Cozy Glow. If you admit your fault, we can help you! Just tell us you were wrong, please let me help you!...Those words, back then at the trial. I finally understand. She really did care.
“...”
“I’m not crying, I'm just...crying. I’m sorry. I need a moment, Princess.”
“...”
Here for me? Even now, she isn’t yelling. Just hugging me at the first sign of pain. She doesn’t care what I did back then, she let it go long ago. Nopony cares about what I did. The only thing she cares about is helping me start over. Celestia damn it! How can I have been so blind?
“...”
This hug, her feathers feel so warm against my fur. What a foal I’ve been. All this time, all that time. If I had just mared up, and accepted I was at fault. I’ve lost so much because of my refusal. Everypony I knew, gone. The world I knew is gone. All of it snatched from my hooves. And yet, I’ve been given something creatures never get, a second chance to do it over. I can't let this opportunity go to waste.
“...”
“Celestia’s mane, I was such an idiot back then. Please forgive me.”
“...”
“You’re too kind, your Majesty.”
“...”
What did she just say? She knows who the colt was, what happened to them? What’s that in her hooves?
“...”
What is this? A folder? So then who...No way...This note here...Private Shining Armor returned to the Castle to inform me of a young filly and how she had been held captive by my Captain of the Royal Guard. He explained that he was the last surviving member of his unit. I cannot believe such an affront occurred under my nose. This will not be tolerated. I told him that he was to immediately find her, I need to make sure she’s okay. Signed, Celestia.
“...”
“It says that after searching for five days, though he was unable to locate said filly, for his act of Heroism in the face of Immorality, he was promoted to the Captain of the Royal Guard and awarded the Magical Cross of Valor.”
“...”
“Your brother...was my savior?”
“...”
The record was sealed after he left to rule the Crystal Empire with Cadance. But he actually spent 5 days looking for me, just to make sure I was okay?
“I never knew. So that’s what happened to him, and Celestia didn’t just brush it off. All this time, my hatred has been so misplaced. Finally, I can leave that moment in the past. I finally understand. I finally have the whole picture. Finally, I can bury the past.”
“...”
Huh? What’s next for me? I don’t know. Wait, what is she giving me? What is this?
“A form for adoption? Why did you give me this?”
“...”
“Requested by Princess Flurry Heart, huh? Wait, my name is on this!”
“...”
A mother...to me? She wants to be...mommy? My mom? I...
“...”
She can’t have any foals of her own...that’s got to be rough, but what does she see in me?
“Something to consider?”
I never knew my birthmare, and the one who attempted to raise me, was never really there when I needed her. Flurry Heart has been nothing but supportive to me, refusing to give up on me. She’s home-cooked all my meals, she bought me my school uniform. She even spends time with me, daily; leaving the throne a few hours a day, just for me. She even tucks me in every night. She wants to be a Mom...She wants to be my mommy?
“...”
"You’ve given me a lot to think about, your Majesty.”
“...”
Another hug? This warmth, this gentleness. So much to consider, so much information. So much I never knew. Will these tears ever stop?
“Twilight, thank you, thank you for everything.”
***
One week later
“...”
“Cozy Glow.”
“...”
“8 years old, ma’am.”
“...”
“My current residence is with Princess Flurry Heart.”
“...”
“Yes ma’am, the Crystal Empire’s Crystal Palace.”
“...”
“Yes, ma’am. Room 106 of the left-wing.”
“...”
“Yes ma’am. I have been arrested and charged for three separate crimes in my past. “
“...”
“My crimes were stealing the magic from Equestria, resulting in a sentence of Grand Treason and imprisonment in Tartarus. I broke free of my bindings as well as aiding and abetting a known criminal inmate; Tirek. With the help of Chrysalis, and Tirek I overthrew and threatened the lives of the Royal Princesses; Celestia, Luna, Twilight Sparkle, and Cadance. For this crime, I was entombed for 200 years within a statue within the Royal Square, along with my co-conspirators.”
“...”
“The regret of my previous actions is immeasurable. If I could change the course of history I would. I cannot change what I have done, but I will work to be the best I can be for the future.”
“...”
“Yes ma’am. I fully recognize Princess Flurry Heart as my mommy and legal guardian. I accept her feelings and desire to help me grow and mature. I will adhere to her rules and shall remember any act by me is a reflection of my own family.”
“...”
“Yes ma’am, I swear before the court my willingness to abide by the rules of court and country. As a citizen of the Crystal Empire, member of the Royal Family, and as the daughter of Princess Flurry Heart.”