//------------------------------// // Expanding Interests // Story: A True Princess // by bahatumay //------------------------------// Flurry wandered into the kitchen, and just as she’d predicted, she found Cozy there, putting the finishing touches on a three-tier cake, decorated with the cutie marks of the royal family. Flurry winced. Cozy was a skilled baker, but she was getting a little tired of eating so many sweets, and a part of her wondered how her body would handle the excess of sugar if she were not an alicorn. She tapped a hoof on the table, alerting Cozy to her presence. “Baking again?” she started gently. “I have to do something,” Cozy said, a hint of desperation in her voice, her hooves squeezing around a piping bag. “I’m so tired of reading, and if I spend another day in the library by myself, I’m going to crack.” “Yeah, it’s not my favorite place, either,” Flurry said. Try as she might to get Cozy more involved with her classmates, it seemed that Cozy was always reading or baking or doing something all by herself. But she wasn’t sure what to do. The last time she’d tried to help Cozy set something up, nopony had shown up to her chess tournament, and that had hit Cozy so hard Flurry hadn’t dared ask her to try again. “I’m sure we can find something else you like to do,” she floated. “I guess,” Cozy said, her ears drooping. Flurry slid into a seat and looked around, trying to think of somewhere else to take this conversation. “It’s kinda quiet now that they’re gone,” she tried.  “Yeah,” Cozy said, setting the bag down. “Are your parents disappointed?” Flurry huffed,. “Probably. I still don’t think they trust you.” “Yeah, I can’t blame them,” Cozy said sadly. She brightened. “Want to try some of my cake?” Flurry’s smile grew a little forced. With a sweet taste still lingering in her mouth that she thought she might never be rid of, Flurry walked down the hallway, trying to think. There had to be something they could do with Cozy to help show that she was reforming. She needed a win, something specific she could point to, to show that change was happening.  Maybe she could convince her parents to give Cozy another shot? As luck would have it, she spotted Shining, walking the other way, carrying a rough-sewn saddlebag that she knew contained multitudes of dice and myriad rulebooks. Her ears pricked. “Hey, Dad,” she started. “No,” Shining said shortly.  “What?” Flurry defended herself. “You didn’t even know what I was going to say.” “I am not teaching Cozy Glow Ogres and Oubliettes,” Shining said firmly. “The last thing I need is to give her more ideas on how to take over Equestria.” Flurry huffed. “You’re not being fair.” “Ooh, and you fail your Persuasion check,” Shining said airily, walking away again. Flurry stuck her tongue out at his departing form.  Having struck out with her father, Flurry decided to ask her mother. Of course, with her being against this idea from the beginning, she didn’t have much hope for this course of action; but she was determined to try anyway.  Cadence exhaled slowly. “Yes, she helped out with that whole law thing, and she’s made… so many cakes… but that doesn’t mean she’s reformed.” “Then help me think of something she can do.” “You mean besides going back on that pedestal?” “Mom,” Flurry whined, but Cadence’s expression was clearly unrepentant, so Flurry dropped it. She thought for a bit. “Can we get her a job around the castle?” Cadence inhaled, as if to say no, but then swallowed it. “What did you have in mind? Is there something Cozy wants to do?” “Nnnno,” Flurry admitted. “Just… shaking the hopper, seeing what shines.” She brightened. “The cleaning crew is always looking for more ponies.” “The cleaning crew,” Cadence said coolly. “So, working for most of the day with minimal supervision and receiving keys to any room in the castle not blocked by magic?” Flurry scowled. Well, when she put it that way… “Tending the gardens?” “Pruning shears. Chainsaws. Shovels and wheelbarrows.” “She’s a natural in the kitchen.” “She’s also a child and not only can she not legally work the full shift, she isn’t tall enough to reach things without flying, which is a contamination hazard.” Flurry huffed. “Are you going to shoot down everything I say?” “Only if there’s an obvious issue that you haven’t noticed,” Cadence said gently. “I understand this is important to you. Really. But this is not a game. Cozy Glow is dangerous. I don’t want you or anypony else getting hurt.” “Please. She’s surrounded by guards 24-7. Has she even tried anything?” Flurry challenged. “There haven’t been any reports,” Cadence said guardedly, like she was choosing her words carefully. “See? If anything, we’re stifling her.” “I’m not relaxing the guard requirements, Flurry.” “Work with me here,” Flurry whined. “What kind of hobby can you do by yourself but still let everypony see you?” Click. Cadence’s eyes flicked over to Shining Armor, mostly to gauge his reaction. He seemed a little confused, mostly because his mouth was full of his breakfast. The thought that somepony would want to take a picture of food instead of just eating it was foreign to him. In fairness, this might have been a holdover from his army days. When there was food, you ate it, and fast, or there wouldn’t be any. Still, Cozy was having fun with her new photography hobby. She adjusted some of the settings on the camera and took another picture.  After breakfast, Flurry sidled up to her mother. “So…?” she prompted. “You did it,” Cadence conceded. “You found her a fun, harmless hobby. Besides, she’ll be in a darkroom for most of the time, so she’ll still be easy to keep track of.” Flurry huffed irritably.