//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Adagio for Cozy Glow // by Owlfonsu //------------------------------// A Pegasus filly was walking through the Everfree forest when she saw a statue near her but she didn't exactly pay it any mind.  “Friendship I need friendship but how do I get it ‘Princess’ Twilight Sparkle is apparently opening up some friendship school. If I can make some friends I can get power, and If I can get power soon Equestria will be mine.” “Aren't you a bit young to be a power-hungry idiot?” The filly panicked and looked around and saw nothing. “Who-Whoose there?” The young Pegasis swore she heard a sigh. “Me.” The voice sounded muffled but feminine In front of her was a statue that looked like a creature she had never. It seemed to have hooves like anypony she’d seen, but other than its face looked like some kind of sea creature, and instead of legs of had a tail. However, the statue looked cracked and ready to fall apart. “Maybe I hit my head, and this is all just a dream.” “I wish.” It was an annoyed voice from the statue. “What are you?” “I’m clearly a statue.” The voice was flat with a hint of annoyance The filly gave the statue an annoyed look “No, really.” “What are you?” “I’m a Wendigo.” The young pony couldn't stand it so in anger she threw a small rock at the Statue.  more cracks have begun to form  “Hah, well now you’re a broken dumb statue.” The filly’s face was a mix of both sadistic and smug One piece of stone where the statue’s eye would be dropped. The previous smug filly gasped as she saw a brown eye glare at her. The statue fully broke away and its occupant was free to move. “Golly!” Taking to the air was a creature similar to the statue with the hooves of a horse, but a tail of a fish, but it was covered in yellow scales and had a red gem jutting out of her body. The creature stopped to get a good look at the small pony, sporting an arrogant grin of its own “Well, I’m not a dumb statue, and you just look like some dumb filly.” ‘This is bad, maybe I can trick her.’ Putting on her most innocent and scared expression. “You wouldn’t hurt a poor defenseless filly would you?”  The yellow-scaled creature smiled in a way that wasn’t reassuring. “Me? Hurt a ‘poor defenseless dumb filly?’” The floating Hippocamp laughed causing the other pony to glare. “Aww you look so cute trying to be so tough. It’s certainly cuter than that dumb act you put on back there.” “What act?” “That whole scared innocent filly act, even if I didn’t hear you before, I know a bad lie when I see it.” “All right then know-it-all, What are you?”  The giant creature turned its head out of pride. “How rude, you're not even going to introduce yourself?”  The two figures said nothing for a time with the larger one almost expecting the smaller one to say something with a mean smile on her face.  The smaller one huffed and kicked the dirt. “I'm Cozy Glow.” The pegasus said in defeat. “See that wasn't so bad now was it?” Gozy just glared at her.  “I am Adiago Dazzle, and I am a Siren.” “From the tales of myth?”  Adiago's eyes went wild for a moment before narrowing in anger. “Myth, We have been regulated to myth? How long has it been who are the leaders of each Pony Tribe? “Pony Tribes? What are you talking about? It’s been more than a millennium since the founding of Equestria, the rule of the Princesses, Princess Luna’s Banishment.” Adiago could hardly believe what she was hearing.  “Princesses? Luna’s Banishment? That pest playing with magic’s students are princesses now?” Adagio sighed, “I'm stuck in some future away from the others and the first creature I meet is some young idiot.” “How am I an idiot? Isn't there power in friendship?” “Friendship? As if. The only true power is in magic.” The Siren paused for a moment. “What would you even do with power? Are you even old enough to relieve yourself outside of your house?” “Shut up! “I could get whatever I want if I had power! If I do things for people they would have to do things for me” The siren only chuckled at this. “Having people help you isn’t exactly power. You need to be able to work with them too.” “What would you know of working with others.” “A lot.” A thoughtful look crossed the siren’s face. “Say did you see other statues that looked like me?” “No.” “They aren’t here.’ Cozy swore she saw an almost concerned look on the Siren’s face appear. “I hope those idiots are okay without me wherever they are.” “What idiots?” “My Partners, we were a trio. Just the three of us causing mischief and gaining magical power. We were even bandmates in some other world.” “So, what were you going to do take over the world with your magic?” The young pony waved her hooves up in the air dramatically as if casting a spell. “Queen Chrysalis and Tirek tried and failed.” “Hmph, at least I’m not trying to rule Equestria, by asking “Would you please, pwetty please be my friend.” Adagio fluttered her eyes, with a tone imitating a small child.  “Whatever.” Cozy Glow turned to ignore the yellow-scaled giant and looked to realize the surroundings weren’t familiar to her.   “Aww are you lost?” The voice was dripping with smug pride. “Shut up!” The filly kept looking around but couldn’t make out anything. “Say, if I do things for you, and you do something for me, that makes us friends by your admittedly dumb idea of friendship right?” Cozy Glow said nothing wondering how could such a threat from Old Equestria be so annoying. “Let’s be friends. I’ll help you get back home, and you help me get access to magic, maybe I’ll help you in your scheme to get friends.” “If you’re so powerful why can’t you do it?” “Being sent back has left me quite weak, and even if I weren’t, I never did get used to a solo act.” “Why do you think I need your help making friends.” “You have the right idea to get them, but your goals are too high. Ruling others requires too much work, and I have no idea what Equestria is even like in this day and age.” “I guess this is better than being lost, somehow. So how do you plan on getting us out of this miserable forest?” Without saying a word the yellow-scaled hippocamp flew up into the air but it seemed exhausting, almost as if it were straining her. Cosy saw her quickly look around before landing quickly. “It looks like there’s a river near here slightly to the west of here.” “That will lead us near Ponyville. I have a cottage there.” “Where exactly is Ponyville?” Adagio had a hint of curiosity that soon turned to a frown I can’t say I’m thrilled by the name.” “Ponyville isn't that far away from here but the sun is starting to go down.” “I’m not exactly raring to go, even if I’ve just been released from that statue.” “That’s surprising. I thought you were just going to say, I sound like some scared filly?” “I would never say that you sound like a scared filly.” “Thanks.” Cozy Glow had a small smile on her face. “You are one.” The hippocamp chuckled, as the smile on Cozy Glow’s face soon was replaced by an annoyed glare. The Blue-haired filly glared “You! You! You’re so annoying I don’t know what to call you.” “How about ‘the worst’?”  “You really are.” The pair continued along the river as the sun was starting to set. “If we are going to stop, how do I know you won’t eat me?” “Unless you’re part shellfish, I don’t think you’d taste too good.” Cozy shuddered. “Thanks, that’s really reassuring.” Cozy looked and saw a small clearing with a large tree nearby. “This looks like a nice place to rest.” The giant Siren lumbered over toward a nearby tree and began to lay down but she had one eye lazily open. “Where are you gonna sleep?” “I-I can handle sleeping on the ground.”  “Why are you shivering then?” The Siren shook her head. “If you’re cold you could just sleep near me. ‘I can’t give that overgrown fish the satisfaction.’ Cozy continued to try and sleep on the comfortable ground but couldn’t  “Ugh fine, I hope I don't smell like fish.” “And I hope I don’t get the hairs of unsightly blue mane, on my scales.”  “Brr.” Cozy heard the siren move, only to find the siren’s large tail curled around her. She felt less cold and could finally start to go to sleep. She shut her eyes, and could only hear the siren’s light snoring before she too fell asleep. A few moments of silence had passed before a small voice uttered out sleepily.  “Mommy, Daddy, please don't leave me” It was morning cozy glow had just woken up, but the siren was nowhere to be found.  ‘That lumbering oaf didn't ditch me, did she? How dare she talk about my mane it’s cute and adorable, just like me.’   Not too long after the shuffling of a stack could be heard. Cozy hoped it would be someone else. instead, the yellow-scaled siren appeared, and with her was a small makeshift sack getting closer she opened it up to reveal a bunch of apples. They seem to be rainbow-colored.  “Here eat up.” Adagio gestured to the apples. “I hope they're passable the tree these things grew on was teeming with magic.”  Cozy ate two of the apples feeling decently fed and ready to travel. The two eventually left the Everfree Forest and reached the banks of a nearby river “So we are near this river, what are we going to do when get close to your home?  I honestly don't know it's just a small cottage and I'm just about to move.” The small filly seemed reluctant to say anymore. “I need to move out of it, actually.” Then what am I supposed to do live out in the woods like some monster of Legend?  but aren't you a monster of Legend?” Czoy’s question had a false touch of curiosity to it. Adagio bared her teeth and glared, as Cozy began to reconsider her life choices.  “First of all brat I'm not a monster and second, I'm very much real.” There's a School of friendship in Ponyville and it would be much more useful to be in Ponyville, so I need to move there.” “A school for friendship. Why do you need an academic study of friendship has Equestria gone insane since the last time I was here?” Adagio threw up her hooves in frustration and confusion. “What about your parents?”  The filly gave her a look that mixed bitterness with rage it didn't tell Adiago much but it told her enough. “I was gonna get some stuff and find a place to go live in Ponyville. Ponyville is getting some new housing, to accommodate new prospective students to the School of Friendship.” “We're really going to have to put some thought into this I can't exactly go around looking like this you know.  Although I can use my magic to change my form, I’m going to have to masquerade as a pony, a pegasus to be exact.”  Adagio seemed to be almost angry when she mentioned being a pegasus. It briefly passed before she realized where she was. “And how exactly are we supposed to live together I'm not exactly all that small.” “We’ll have to hope we can find a large enough place now.” Adagio seemed to shudder. “This is just like that time with High School, am I sure I am not In Tartarus? Sonata, Aria, and I had to go find an apartment at least I won't have to worry about wearing clothes although I will kind of miss the fashion.” “What’s a high school?” Adiago only facehoofed realizing that Cozy wouldn't understand a lot of what she experienced in that other world. “If your plan was to just simply move to Ponyville and enter into this ‘Friendship School’ it's going to be a lot more complicated If I am involved in this, and if we have to go live together. I have to get a job, I hope it isn’t fast food.” “How bad can fast food be?” Cozy Glow was met with a stare of pure horror. “Okaay, what do you look like as a Pegasus?” A mystical Green Glow had engulfed the siren. “Golly.”  Adagio’s silhouette began to get smaller and morph until her form eventually changed into that of the size of an average adult Pegasus mare. When the glow disappeared instead of scales she had a yellow coat, with a musical note and red crystal as her cutie mark, where there was a fin on her head she had a brown-reddish mane that was behind a newly grown horn. However her eyes were still brown, and still annoyingly smug. “Well, how do I look?” The fact she could pass as a pony with no one knowing the difference was incredible to the filly, she looked downright amazing considering what her true form was. “Smug as always.”  the siren just gave her an annoyed look. Cozy felt like she would never live it down if she publicly expressed any awe or wonder about what the hippocamp did. “So I have a way to pass among ponies, But wherever we end up getting a place to stay it's going to have to have plenty of space I can't keep this form forever. What do we even need to get from this cottage.” “Nothing much I have a wagon loaded with some things, I didn’t exactly choose for this to happen, who knows with you here maybe I can get at least a table. But how do I explain you? I’m not entirely unknown in Ponyville. You could be a unicorn cousin on my mom’s side.” Okay fine, that can work, this is going to be one absurd plan. I just hope it doesn’t take too long. The pair continued along with Cozy leading the way until they found a small pathway where they stopped. “My home is just up here.” Adiago swore for a moment she saw the young pony’s eyes brighten for a second. The cottage was small and unremarkable and outside of it was a decent-sized covered wagon. “Do you at least have any furniture in that thing?” The siren’s tone was more annoyed than concerned.  “No. I only just started with this a few days ago.” The now yellow-coated unicorn entered the the cottage only to see that some stuff had been taken out, but not everything namely a few chairs and a table. “Well, we should at least get some chairs and a table, it’s not exactly my first choice in home decor, but at least it is something.” The pair had managed to finish loading up a chair and a small table into the wagon before starting to leave the cottage. So how exactly does shapeshifting work are you still as strong as you are in your normal form?” “I honestly I'm not sure my movement feels normal if awkward I've only ever walked on two legs, not four and legs are just weird in general.” Were you transformed into something like a Minotaur?” “No, something much weirder.  but I can talk to you about that later. Can't believe I managed to get out of that place. I wish the others came along with me.” “Hello is anypony there?”  this time it was a new voice Cozy Glow took a deep breath before putting on a smile while Adiago tensed up,  Cozy walked out first to See a familiar mare with blue fur and a cutie mark of a letter with wings carrying a bag over her shoulders and wearing a small hat blue hat.  It was River Breeze a mail pony. “Hello, Miss Breeze.” River's face had a small smile on it.  I'm still so sorry about everything  with your parents I do hope everything goes well in Ponyville.” For a moment  River looked like she was almost about to cry “I wish I could have done more to help you move.”   Thank you Miss Breeze but don't worry I've managed to stumble onto some help.” “Oh, who is it?” “Adiago Dazzle, my big sister.” Cozy said it with all the exaggerated love she could muster. ‘Wait why did I say that?' Ariago only gasped, wasn't she supposed to be a distant cousin? Well, she had to step out there and be personable. “Hello, Miss Breeze.” Adiago said extending a hoof. “I'm so thankful that you were able to help my Cutie Glow over here.” Adiago gave Cozy Glow, a taunting look that was met with hilariously out-of-place indignation. “I didn't want to believe the horrible news and came over here as fast as I could but it was quite difficult I was away, very far away.”  ‘Well, at least you're here now to help your little sister.” “Yeah.” Czoy went up next to her ‘sister’ and ‘accidentally’ swept one of her legs while River did not notice. ”Are you all right Ditzy Dazzle?” Adagio quickly got up. “Yes I’m fine, Cutie Glow. Well, Miss Breeze, me and my dear sister must be off, we are off to Ponyville.” “All right then I'll leave you two to it and good luck, I’ll make sure to tell everypony there about you two coming there.” River Breeze quickly went back on her route toward Ponyville leaving the pony and the siren alone. “We're ‘sisters’ now?” Adagio remarked more annoyed than anything else. “It was an accident.” The young filly responded defensively. “All right, you have to tell me the real reason why You want to become powerful.”    “If I'm powerful I can't get hurt and no creature or thing can stop me.” That look of bitterness returned. “No amount of power can prevent you from getting hurt me and the trio I was with, yeah we were powerful didn't stop us from getting thrown into another universe.” “How big deal so you and your friends got thrown into another world.” Cozy’s face contorted with rage. “You make it sound like you know what it's like to go lose your life as you know it.” “I lost nearly everything but I at least had my magic, Aria and Sonata. Now I'm back in a world I don't know if I'll be able to understand and I don't even have them with me.” So is that it? am I expected to just move on?” Cozy felt almost defeated. "No, but life is never easy. Although I never said to give up on your plans just maybe think it through. Do you still believe friendship is power?” “Yeah, and I’m going to get that power.” “I almost wonder if there's something in the water, with you ponies.” On the road toward Ponyville, a wagon was being drawn by Adagio with Cozy Glow on top of it. Ponyville and Equestria wouldn't know what hit it.