Dear Cozy,
It’s been six months, just like we said. Six months of space, of thinking time. I’ve thought a lot, and — and I can’t see any way around it.
So this is me promising that this time, it won’t end. I’m ready now, to commit — and to introduce you to my parents. Heck, you can be crowned Princess Consort next week if you want to. Okay, that might be rushing it a bit, but you see my point, right?
I want to try again. How about a game of chess, to talk it over? Just like old times.
Stars, I hope you’re not away on one of those mountain retreats or anything. I — this was a difficult letter to draft. I think this might be like the eighth, actually? Anyway — can you write back?
I can’t wait to hear from you.
Yours hopefully,
Flurry.
Flurry —
Have you any idea how long you’ve kept me waiting? How long I — how many letters I wrote you? I mean sure, I burned them all, but shouldn’t you have known? What good is being a demi-goddess if you can’t read my mind once in a while?
I’ve missed you. I’ve missed you so much.
I’ll meet you anywhere you want. I’ll play chess, I’ll play anything you like. I’ll let you win. I won’t even put up a fight.
I’ll face Cadenza for you. Shining Armour. Celestia, Luna, the whole Sun and Night Courts at once, if that’s what it takes. Maybe…maybe even Twilight Sparkle. Maybe not. But when I think about the possibility of getting you back it makes me feel pretty damn brave.
I’ve missed you.
—Cozy.
To the Princess —
Your proposal is amenable. The old spot? Friday.
—Cozy.
As she watched the train with her daughter pulling away, Cadence’s lips thinned to a narrow line. “I don’t like this. I don’t like it. There must be another way to heal the Heart.”
“There isn’t, Cady.” From his customary place beside her, Shining Armour shook his head. “We’ve tried everything. The heart wants what the heart wants — and our Flurry is in love. She can’t help that.”
“But to gamble the Empire on it—!”
“It’s not about the Empire. This is about Flurry. What she needs.”
Cadence’s eyes still followed the train, fright oozing from her every pore. “But if she gets this wrong, if it gets worse, it could mean—”
“—It might not get worse,” he interrupted, still gentle. “We need to trust our daughter, Cady. She’s a grown mare, and she’s been frightened away from relationships her whole adult life, for the sake of the Heart. This is the first time she’s ever even come close, and we have to encourage it.”
At the sound of that name, Cadence let out a soft moan. “But why did it have to be her? Of all the ponies in Equestria.”
Shining Armour worked his jaw. “I don’t like it either, but for whatever reason, Cozy Glow is the first pony that has broken through those walls. It’s either encourage Flurry to mend things with her, or we watch the Heart crack in two. Watch our daughter crack in two.”
“I know, I know,” Cadence said impatiently, turning to look him in the eyes for the first time. “What do you think I’ve been feeling from her for the past six months? I know exactly how much this is hurting her. But perhaps with time — she might have healed.”
Shining shook his head. His daughter was like him. She loved hard — and she would love but once. Once her heart was lost, there was no going back.
Exactly like it had been with him and Cady, all those years ago.
“She wouldn’t have healed. Nor would the Heart. If it hadn’t broken, it would have withered and died either way. Just slower.”
Cadence lowered her gaze, defeated. “And the Empire with it.”
“And the Empire with it.” He nodded.
They both knew what was on the line here.
“This is our only option.”
Flurry gazed into the eyes of the mare she loved, and she felt the cracks in her heart healing just as surely as the cracks in the Crystal Heart must be healing too.
“I love you,” she whispered, and this time there was no hesitation.