//------------------------------// // Chapter 42: Harbinger // Story: Filly Eyes // by Betty_Starlight //------------------------------// I stare at the green alicorn filly sitting across from me at the kitchen table as she magically sips some coffee from her white mug, “Oh, golly, so, that didn’t work! I don’t think any of us really had any strange dreams about the prodigal ghost filly now did we?” The coffee mug sets down on the table in front of Jessi as she stares back at me with her large orange pupils and it stops glowing as she says, “Nope!” Misty suddenly chimes in from my left, “I dreamed about ice cream!” “Ugh!” I sigh as I squint my eyes and enlarge them to the green filly and state the obvious thing that’s been in my mind since it came down from wake n bake earlier, “That’s not the point! I feel like part of me is now missing and I just don’t know what to do?” Jessi frowns at me, “Well, what are we supposed to do?” I look skyward, “I don’t know that either, okay?” I stare back down at her. “But we can’t just sit on our haunches!” Jessi takes a long slow breath in through her mouth before finally staring into my eyes and saying, “Twinkle, I think it might be time to move on? I don’t think there’s anything we can do right now?” Misty pipes up from her seat again, “Can we continue to snuggle in Twinkle’s room, though? That was fun!” Jessi moves her eyes to the blue unicorn, “Oh, absolutely Misty! I loved snuggling you two!” I narrow my eyes at this dark-green filly and say to her, “Alright, but Misty is the center next time!” Misty chimes in again, “Hooray!” I sigh, “I just wish there was something we could do for poor Cozy?” “Well, who exactly is Cozy Glow, Twinkle Shine?” I stare back at the alicorn, “Well, she’s a part of me from long ago… She’s who I used to be but I later decided that I didn’t want to be like that anymore…” Jessi blinks, “Okay, so now she’s gone away and how is this a problem again?” I stare at her, “It’s a problem because I’m incomplete without her, okay? It’s a problem because I realized earlier that I can’t be full without her in some way and now that she’s fading, I don’t feel whole anymore…” Jessi breathes in deeply through her mouth before looking at me deeply in my eyes, “What choice do you have?” Misty finally pipes up, “Uh, actually!” I turn my neck left to the blue unicorn… She continues, “The Zephyr Heights Archives has some spells written deep underneath! I know because Opaline has disguised me as a pegasus in the past to get me there!” she frowns. “Too bad we don’t know anypony with the necessary magical power to transform me again so I could get there? I’m sure I can find something about dream magick?” I move my eyes to the alicorn filly across the table from me, “Uh, actually, we do know somepony with that level of magick…” Jessi frowns at me, “What?” <*****> Oh, golly gee! I...don’t belong… I… I thought I could get power once! I thought I could make them like me! Notice me! I thought I could be the star! Just once… It was a stupid idea I know and I’d rather not talk about it! I just don’t know what else to talk about? It’s all that’s been in my head this whole time... I’m laying here on a slab, deep inside Twinkle Shine’s mind now… I can hear the wind blowing leaves of grass outside the cave above me, but I don’t want to go out there now… I just want to stay in here… I just want to sleep! Why can’t I just sleep some more? Ugh! You know, this is really frustrating! I remember that earth filly too… Little Snack… She was really funny and I liked her a lot! It was so wonderful to not be alone! Even though it was only a few minutes, it sure was swell! But, she acted like she knew me, though and it’s strange, because I felt like I should know her, but for whatever reason those fragments just weren’t there anymore? Uh, the fragments that knew her I mean! Oh, golly! I’m actually explaining my meanings to myself now! Am I losing it? Uh, I think if I can just remember who I am? Uh, my name is Cozy Glow! I tried to take over Equestria twice and I’m a bad filly! And… And… I’m evil! I’m...the evil Cozy… (I lose consciousness...) <*****> As I felt the new wings forming on my sides while the teal green alicorn lowered her head and forced her horn to glow bright yellow as she squinted her eyes and gritted her teeth in concentration, I screamed! “AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!” Jessi widens her orange eyes at me and says, “Wow! I didn’t know I could do that!” I stare at her, “Really? So why did you try?” Jessi sighs, “Well, what’s the point of having new power if I don’t use it, right?” I nod as I extend my new appendages out at my sides, “Well, right! So, you’ll just hide yours and my horns and we all go at this together, to Zephyr Heights?” before concentrating like I used to, to bring them into my side… Jessi smiles, “Right! We’re in this together!” Twinkle then points out from my right, “You know, we could just ask Zipp to see if these spells are there?” Jessi turns her neck left to the pink filly, “True, but then we wouldn’t have an adventure!” I turn my neck right towards Twinkle too, “Yeah, let’s go on an adventure!” Twinkle narrows her eyes, “So, we all break in at night like a bunch of thugs, take what we need, and leave?” I smile, “Yeah, that’s pretty much it!” Jessi adds, “Took her long enough!” I turn my neck back left towards the alicorn, “I know, right?” Twinkle narrows her eyes, “I’m gonna go smoke a joint… Then I’ll be ready!” <*****> The scarred old zebra frowns and stares at me with his yellow and red eyes, “Okay, you intended to find spells at Zephyr Heights, I see! But why have you then come to me?” I nod and smile at the shaman as I feel my long pigtails caress my back and say to him, “Well, that’s when Jessi mentioned that she knew you and that we should all teleport to your ziggurat the next morning instead!” I blink. “Or at least, that’s what she told me? Uh, she said you might have some dream magick… “After breakfast!” Misty chimes in from my left. “And wake n bake!” Twinkle says from my right. “And don’t forget coffee!” Jessi says from beyond Twinkle. The zebra blinks and shakes his head, “Well, yes! I do have a ceremony that could help your peculiar situation, but first there must be a conflagration!” he smiles. “The bowl of my pipe is where the fire will be in! For we all must get stoned before we begin!” I widen my eyes, “What?” The zebra’s smile lowers, “I mean, we must all get high dear Little Snack! The weed helps the elevation of the mind, and that’s a fact!” Misty pipes up and flutters her wings, “But I don’t smoke!” Twinkle says, “I do!” Jessi pipes up, “I do too, sometimes!” Twinkle turns her gaze slightly right towards Jessi, “You split a joint with me just this morning!” Jessi vibrates slightly, “Oh, yeah!” The zebra rolls his eyes, “You don’t have to do it regularly as I and some of your friends. But you should do it at least once, if you are to find this ghost and make amends!” Twinkle turns her neck to me and Misty, “Look! If you want, it can just be me and Jessi! I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to!” I stare at her and say in sincerity, “N-no Twinkle Shine! If it’s for Cozy,” I nod my head and feel my mane caress my back again. “then I’ll do it!” She turns her head left towards Misty and asks her, “And Misty! Do you also want to smoke?” Misty stares at Twinkle and ruffles her wings obsessively again, “I already got these! How much weirder could it get?” she turns her head slightly right towards Jessi, beyond Twinkle. “How long does this last, anyway?” Jessi stares back at her, “Beats me? Could be until the next morning? Might be two weeks?” “Okay, but if these are still here tomorrow, we’re definitely going flying later!” “Oh, golly!” The shaman clears his throat, “If we are done discussing the finer details, shall we retire now so I can show you what the rite entails?” <*****> I open my eyes. I don’t know how long I slept? You know, it’s really hard to tell without a clock in here! I still see the faint light coming from the ramp on the other side of the cave leading up to the surface, but I still don’t wanna go up there… Why can’t I just sleep forever? Why do I have to be awake? Why do I have to be here? I think to myself as I close my eyes in a cringe… I slowly open them again… I sit up on the slab and stare around inside the cave… It seems different now, somehow? The light isn’t blue anymore, so much as a more greenish tint now and the shape isn’t the same anymore, either… At least, I don’t think it is? I honestly and truly wish I could just end it all… I think to myself as I listen to the wind continuing to howl above me… I close my eyes, Why can’t it just be over? I no longer see the glowing cavern walls at this point and I just think to myself that if only I could find a way out? If only I could destroy myself? I widen my eyes to see the lights again when I remember that that other me, Twinkle Shine once tried to do just that! I smile dimly when I think of that little dope-smoking miscreant who looks like me… Well, we share the same body! And then my smile lowers when I think about what she took from me earlier and it’s weird too, you know, cause I’m actually not mad! No, I really just wanted to be done then anyway and I’ll admit, at first, I was happy with the field! I didn’t mind being here at all! It was so peaceful and tranquil! But after eight months… You know, it’s so strange too. The sun never sets and it’s never seen behind those heavy clouds up top… It’s been raining on and off, but I don’t think it’s happening right now? I look at the light maybe 20 feet in front of me and blink as I briefly consider going outside again and sniff the moist air coming from the opening above… I sigh when I remember that there’s really no point… I lay back down and close my eyes… (I lose consciousness again…) <*****> I stood there on the stepping stool and looked down at the enormous wooden pipe there with its bowl, maybe 6 inches in diameter and several inches deep attached to a long wooden stem with the mouthpiece on the other end, about 20 inches I’d say… “Oh, golly gee, you know, I was gonna roll us a blunt, but since you got this!” The zebra standing on the left side of the enormous pipe below me, next to the table, extends his right forehoof, currently holding the green plastic hoof lighter, ignites it, stares up at me from my left and says, “Hit!” My eyes widen, “Oh, golly!” before lowering my face to the mouthpiece where I clamp my lips and inhale to bring the flame into the bowl where it ignites the dark green herbs there and I see smoke rise as I puff from the stalk before clamping down for one big inhale! It’s actually much harsher than most of the weed I’ve ever smoked before and my eyes widen as I begin to gasp and cough! “I should’ve warned you, this is not weak! Inhale slowly for the effects you seek!” I cough and sputter as another small cloud of smoke exits from my snout, “Oh, golly! Now you tell me!” Misty widens her eyes from the other side of the table, “We need to smoke that? Oh gosh!” Little Snack just beyond her widens her own green eyes and vibrates, “This is gonna suck!” Jessi beyond them turns her head left to stare at the other two fillies, “Just take it easy and take your time! It’ll be okay!” The zebra ignites the lighter over the bowl again, “Hit!” I blink and bring my mouth back to the pipe for another inhale, but slower this time… I taste the earthy flavors of the herb on my tongue now as the smoke hotly rolls down my throat and into my lungs. Misty turns to the shaman, “How many hits do we each get?” The zebra turns his head left to the unicorn, “You are not large, this is true! I think six hits will probably do?” I exhale smoke and stare down at the zebra, “Can I have eight?” The zebra looks up at me and smiles, “But of course! We want to make sure you’re out for the rite, in sorts...” I nod, “Also, can I buy some of this stuff from you?” “If you desire some of my weed, I’ll be happy to sell you a baggy for your needs!” Jessi turns her head right towards Misty, “Did Twinkle just get a new dealer?” Misty turns to Jessi, “I think so, actually?” The zebra nods and looks at me, “But of course, Twinkle Shine! Would you like your six other hits now, or in due time?” <*****> I, I think I’m starting to lose it again? Okay! Golly yes! I’m Cozy Glow! I’m the evil filly! Yes! Uh, maybe I could see better if I opened my eyes? Okay, uh, wow! Why is the glow green now? Golly, that’s creepy how it keeps changing color like that! I don’t think it did that before? But uh, I’m actually not sure? Wait! I think I hear somepony calling my name outside? Uh, that can’t be right? Nopony can reach me. I’m safe, uh, r-right? I think I hear it again? I blink as I gaze at the light shining from above at the ramp in front of the slab where I’m laying on my back… I finally decide to move my body after all this time… I don’t know how long it’s been, but my muscles kinda ache! “Ugh!” I grunt as my legs hit the floor off the slab to the right with a clack! I hear the voice again, calling faintly, “Cozy Glow! You down there?” Now at that point, I really thought about it… I recognize that voice… I could go further into the cave… To where nopony but Twinkle Shine has ever ventured… Or, I could come out and see the new filly I befriended… <*****> My new blue love, magically sips some orange juice in her blue glow and stares up at me from the table with her wide red eyes and her face visibly brightens as she smiles and says, “Hiya, baby! Did you sleep well?” I shake my head as I trot into the kitchen and take a seat opposite to my love, “Uh, yeah! I’m still not used to you being there, but it is kinda nice!” as she magically pours me a cup of orange juice from the clear glass picture that’s now, maybe halfway full of the orange pulpy liquid as it lowers to the table and the cup floats towards my side… Izzy smiles at me jubilantly as her head tilts to the left, “I’m so happy to hear you say that, Sunny!” I stare up at the unicorn and frown, “Uh, why? Where’s Twinkle and the other fillies?” Her head normalizes before she leans forward with excitement in her eyes and a happy grin on her muzzle, “They all went to the park for the morning, which makes this perfect for what I had in mind!” My eyes widen as new fear begins to rise within me, “What did you have in mind?” (To be continued…)