//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Grasping for Hope // by Haoryu Changer //------------------------------// Cozy blinked. “Huh. That is cheating,” she surmised. “Good cheating,” Spike said with a smile, staring at Canterlot City. The two that floated above the treehouse stared at the revived city for a few quiet moments. They calmed themselves as they took in the peaceful silence, hearts returning to their normal pace. There was no screaming, insanity, or even the sound of magic. Just the flaps of their wings and nature returning to normal. Looking down at the treehouse, Cozy saw it was perfectly fine. She also saw a shining light coming from within. Nodding at each other, the two of them flew down to it, landing in the main room of the structure. Floating in the middle was a normal pegasus colt, Sky Shard, his body beaming bright with a calm white aura. It illuminated the middle of the room, but the corners were dark. In a flash of purple light, the projection of Twilight Sparkle appeared before them. Flashing Cozy a warm smile, it turned its head towards Sky. Cozy Glow glanced at Spike, who only nodded at her with a smile. “I’ll be right here,” he said. She turned back to Sky Shard, taking a step forward, and doubt spread across her face. Sky was conscious, and he was looking directly at her. But then he smiled. It wasn’t a sadistic smile. It wasn’t joyful or aimless either. Just a regular, calm, friendly, sorrowful smile. One Sky always used to wear. His eyes weren’t tainted with insanity either. They were gentle and caring, just like they used to be. “Sky Shard?” she whispered out to him. Sky continued to smile at her. “Cozy Glow.” His voice wasn’t ear-piercing. Like his eyes and smile, his voice was so soothing to hear like it used to be. It was a welcome reminder of when she would see him back then. To hear his voice was a blessing. To witness his smile made her spirits soar. And those eyes always managed to calm her nerves. Feeling her eyes becoming moist, she took much faster steps forward and hugged him around his chest. Sky wrapped his hooves around her, being still as the small filly sobbed into him. “I’m so sorry!” she cried. He nodded, replying in a gentle tone. “I know.” They were like that for a few seconds, with Cozy crying into his shoulder. “I’m so proud of you, Cozy.” She choked. “H-how can you say that? I messed up everything! I’m such a piece of shit! You deserved so much better than me!” He shook his head, pulling her closer. “You’re the best friend a colt could ever ask for. I forgive you, Cozy. So please don’t be too hard on yourself.” “But I-” “You got hurt more than I did. If anything, this is my fault. I should say sorry for dying.” She pushed him off, holding his shoulders and glaring at him. “Don’t say that!” He managed a small smile. “Nopony saw this coming. You lost your only friend, and you wanted him back. Nopony can blame you for that. I sure don’t. We were only kids. Heck, we still are. “And for what it’s worth. I got to talk to you one last time, at least.” His body began to fade in and out. Cozy widened her eyes and looked him over. It was as if his form was unstable. Sky held up a hoof towards her, holding the seal to the Space Between Worlds. With hesitance, she reached over and took it from him. At first, she stared at it, then at him. “So…” she started, not wanting to complete the sentence. When she did, her voice cracked. “This is goodbye then?” He gave her a small smile before biting his lip. Cozy knew this habit of his. He was doing everything he could to act strong and not break down. “I wish I could stay by your side,” he said. “I-I don’t want to leave you.” He blew out a shaky sigh. “But things can’t be that way. I can feel it in my bones. I’m just too… tired.” Cozy felt her throat burn as tears came to Sky’s eyes. “I won’t be able to be by your side, but I’ll still watch you. So please, become the best pony you can be, Cozy. You deserve to be happy, too.” She sniffed, wiping the tears from her eyes and giving him a look of determination. “I will! I promise!” Sky chuckled. “You were always stronger than I was, so I know you can do it.” He peaked around Cozy, looking at Spike standing behind her. “Spike, take care of her, please?” He knew he didn’t need to ask but felt it was right. Spike smiled at him. “I’ll do my best.” “I know you will.” Sky returned the smile. “And thank you for everything. I wish I could’ve become your friend, too.” Right after he said that his form slowly rose, slipping out of Cozy’s hooves. “I’ll see you again, right?!” she yelled, extending a hoof towards him. Sky laughed. “Don’t rush your way up here. If you do, I might have to… push you off the clouds.” Through her tears and glistening scarlet eyes, Cozy Glow smiled. “I won’t. I’ll take my time and make you proud!” He grinned again before his body finally glittered, turning into sparkles of light, rising to the air, and fading away. Cozy lowered her hoof, standing on all fours. “Goodbye… my friend.” Projection Twilight walked up to Cozy, placing a hoof on her shoulder, and grabbed her attention. They gave her a gentle smile as well before they, too, disappeared. Moments later, the room returned to its normal level of brightness. Spike walked up to Cozy, giving her a tight hug. She had already stopped her cries but needed this, thanking him for being such a great dragon. They lost track of time, not knowing how long they stayed there like that. It felt like hours to the two, even though it was mere minutes in real-time. Eventually, Cozy pulled back, giving a little smile. “We should go and free everyone.” He nodded. “You gonna be okay?” As soon as he asked the question, he knew it was stupid. She nodded. “I think I will. For you and him, I have to be.” “Don’t forget yourself too.” “I know.” Together, they flew back to the Castle of Friendship in minutes. Cozy healed Antlerius and Nylar there, surprising them and saying it was over. She then restarted the draining spell and, with the four combined, broke the spell on the seal in less than an hour. They all stood there and gazed as multiple wisps of light escaped the seal, flying out of the windows and landing all over Equestria, no doubt putting creatures back where they originally were. Spike went closer to Cozy, saying, “Hey, uh, I’ll probably be a bit busy for the next few days getting everything sorted out, so…” trailing off the awkward sentence, he cupped her head and leaned in. Their kiss was much longer than a peck this time as the sun began to rise, filling the throne room with sunlight. The two kept the kiss going, pushing their lips into each other as if they could somehow get even closer. From their perspective, the entire world was non-existent. It was simply a void, as they were the only things to exist at that moment. Due to the lack of air, they pulled back, panting heavily. “W-wow…” Cozy muttered. Spike was in the same daze. “Y-yeah. That was…” She giggled. “Messy? Wet?” “I was going to say ‘fucking amazing,’ but yeah, that works too.” He chuckled back. The town was brighter than ever. Many familiar ponies looked around, slowly realizing they were back. In the middle of town, a certain group of creatures, including a purple princess pony, came into existence. Spike offered a claw to Cozy Glow, the filly taking it without a word. Holding each other, they went down to the castle’s exit, stepping out the front door. Antlerius and Nylar followed behind. Once outside, the two of them stood off to the side. Soon, a bunch of creatures arrived one by one. The first one was Twilight, who had the luxury of teleportation. “Spike!” she yelled, running over to him. He let go of Cozy’s hoof and took off, flying into her chest and holding her close. “You did an amazing job out there, Spike. Thank you.” “Thanks, Twi,” Spike said, squeezing back. “I missed you so much! I couldn’t have done it without Cozy Glow.” Twilight nodded, her response surprising him. “You’re both heroes.” Cozy watched on with a smile. But soon after, a horde of creatures rushed up to her and pulled her into the middle of a group hug. The group consisted of her past classmates and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They threw her constant thanks and compliments, as well as apologies. “You were so cool out there!” Gallus said, with Sandbar agreeing. “Thanks for coming back for us!” Silverstream held one of her forelegs tight. “We’re so glad you’re okay!” Sweetie Belle and Ocellus yelled with some moisture in their eyes. Cozy widened her eyes, her ears perking up as she focused on Gallus’s words. Spike pushed Twilight back to look her in the face. “You saw everything?!” She nodded, looking towards Cozy Glow. “Ever since we were sealed away. I don’t think Antlerius and Nylar knew either.” Two tall alicorn sisters dropped to the ground, one white and the other blue. Spike watched as they ignored him and Twilight, heading straight for Cozy Glow. Even though he trusted them, his heart still thumped with nervousness. Cozy also noticed them, wondering how they felt about her as the group surrounding her stepped aside. Celestia and Luna stared at her for a brief second before lowering their heads. Cozy didn’t know what to say. She stared at them as they bowed with her mouth slightly agape. “I’m sorry, Cozy Glow,” Celestia said. “For not noticing your cries for help.” Luna spoke up next. “For throwing you into Tartarus without a second thought as well. It was too rash. And you didn’t merit such treatment.” Though her head was lowered, Celestia tilted upward. Cozy gawked as wet tears dropped down Celestia’s cheeks. “You don’t have to forgive us,” she continued. “But you’ve earned our utmost gratitude, Princess of Hope.” “I-I’m not-” “The Treehouse of Harmony chose you and Spike,” Celestia continued, cutting her off. “They called you both the Symbols of Hope. While he didn’t change, you’ve ascended from that false alicorn form.” Just then, something came to mind for Cozy Glow. Ever since she absorbed the magic inside the Bewitching Bell, a very minor feeling came with it. Different from Sky Shard, the magic always seemed to try to escape her body, as if it never wanted to be in there in the first place. She had long gotten used to it, but it was still there and noticeable. However, ever since the Treehouse of Harmony first called her a Symbol of Hope and returned her horn, the magic felt… at home. It was hers. It was earned. Her attention snapped back to the two bowing alicorns. Everyone around stared at the scene in awe. Cozy cleared her throat awkwardly, saying, “You don’t need to do all that. But, thank you.” They rose and wiped the wetness on their cheeks. “You have my prayers for your happiness,” Celestia said. “For as long as you live.” “Thank you. I don’t think I need them, though,” she replied, looking at Spike. They nodded with a smile at that, knowing what she meant, before turning to Spike. “You should be very proud of yourself, Prince Spike,” Luna said, giving him a warm grin. He blushed and chuckled at that, rubbing the back of his neck. With a head turn, Celestia took in Antlerius and Nylar, who stood at the side with patience. Frowning, she took some steps towards them. “I was unaware of what Mother did to your parents,” she said. “For that, I apologize for my ignorance.” Antlerius replied, “We were in the wrong just as much as your mother. We should have spoken to Princess Twilight first. Though she would be understandably unknowing as well.” “And her bias lies with you, I’m afraid,” Nylar said. Twilight held Spike close as the four ancient creatures spoke to each other. She knew it would be a matter of time before she had to step in, being the current Ruler of Equestria and all. “You alright, Spike?” she asked. “Yeah, what do you mean, Twi?” “You were pretty…” She paused for a moment, recalling the recent memories. “You know, angry when you thought Cozy died. Angry’s probably an understatement.” Spike frowned. “Oh, yeah, I… I think I’m good. I’m sorry you had to see me like that.” She smiled down at him. “I don’t blame you one bit, Spike. You took it better than I would’ve. If I were in your position, and I thought Cozy or one of you guys got murdered, I would have probably broke.” Spike nodded, knowing Twilight better than anyone. “Don’t sell yourself short, Twilight. You can keep a cool head when you put your mind to it. Then, he realized another thing Twilight would have seen. “Oh! And sorry for swearing.” He looked a little ashamed. “It’s alright, Spike. It’s like Cozy said, they’re flavor words.” “It’s not alright!” a voice cut in. A pair of white hooves swooped in and scooped up Spike. The next thing he knew, he was being held tight by Rarity. All the rest of Twilight’s friends gathered shortly after. “Spike’s a gentledrake,” Rarity said. “And he knows swearing is uncouth. Isn’t that right, Spikey?” Floating above them, Rainbow Dash shot a deadpan stare at her. “Shut the fuck up, Rarity.” “Uh, Dash?” Applejack pointed a hoof behind her. She turned tail, and there stood Scootaloo, standing behind her with an innocent twinkle in her eye, along with a slight smirk. As Rainbow Dash cried to Scootaloo not to repeat that word, Tirek and Chrysalis joined the fray. Tirek immediately went to Cozy Glow and grabbed her with his hands, bringing her to his chest, his beard brushing against her. He didn’t even speak, simply bawling his eyes out. Taken aback, she hugged back. It was awkward. Never would she have imagined Tirek acting in such a sentimental way. “Sorry about him,” Chrysalis said. She put a hoof on Cozy’s back to join in. “He’s a softie.” “Chrysalis!” Cozy said, staring at her new lustrous form. “Spike told me you reformed.” “Yes.” She smiled. It resembled that of Celestia’s. “It’s grumpy ol’ me. This old centaur seems to have a soft side to him. But to be fair, after what we saw, this is… warranted.” She rubbed her back slowly, whispering, “I’m glad you’re alive.” Tirek sniffed. “Now I just feel,” he sobbed. “horrible for how I treated you as an ‘annoying brat.’ Maybe I could have found a way to help you the entire time.” Cozy smiled a little against his chest. “I did enjoy our little moments if it makes you feel better. Besides, you wouldn’t have cared back then.” “Maybe-” He sniffed. “Maybe you’re right.” Abruptly, Discord appeared in a flash of light. “Oh, hey, Discord.” Cozy gave one last grin to Tirek and pulled away from him. “Or are you still going by ‘Grogar’ nowadays?” He sputtered for a second before coughing into his paw. “I’m, er… sorry about that. I should have seen your friend inside your head.” She waved a hoof. “You didn’t know. Besides, whether you meant to or not, you gave me a way out. Thanks for that.” Her vision blurred. Right then, she suddenly felt drowsy as she floated in the air. Her head spun for a second, and her flying was uneven. Shaking her head, she caught herself in the air. Spike, who stood next to Twilight, also had the same reaction. He nearly fell forward face first. “You two deserve to rest,” Twilight said to both of them. “We’ll handle everything from here.” Spike nodded with droopy eyes. “Alright,” Cozy said, dropping to the ground. She looked over to Tirek and Chrysalis. “We’ll talk later.” “Why, of course—” Tirek said with a slight bow. “—Princess of Hope.” Chrysalis grinned and followed suit. “Princess.” Her smile widened at that. The two were teleported to Spike’s room in the Castle of Friendship with Twilight’s magic. Just like that, it was quiet again. They looked at each other and, knowing everything would be alright, gave each other a loving smile. They’ve been doing that so much more in the past few minutes. It was a good feeling they couldn’t complain about. Spike led her to his bed, which was big enough for both of them. Before they could get in, however, Twilight appeared with a spark of magic. “Hey, you two!” she said. “I know, I know, you’re pretty tuckered out. But I just wanted to speak with Cozy Glow.” “Oh,” Spike said, “I’ll leave you guys to it then.” “No, stay,” Twilight said. “You’re important to Cozy. And I want you to hear what I want to say.” With her magic, she lifted the two exhausted children to sit on the edge of the bed, taking a seat beside them. “First off, I want to apologize,” Twilight began. “I failed you, Cozy Glow.” Cozy opened her mouth but had no words to say to that. Still, she felt a little guilty for making Twilight feel responsible. “As your headmare at the School of Friendship, I failed you. I should have been able to help you.” Cozy shook her head. “It’s not your fault, Twilight. How could you have known.” “But you were right. We did throw you into Tartarus without even trying to pry for anything from you. It was unheard of, a filly trying to rule Equestria. When I searched for your background history and saw nothing, I should have known something was off. But I didn’t try. For that—” she sighed heavily, looking at Cozy in her tired, scarlet eyes. “—I’m so sorry.” “I’ll forgive you if you stop feeling so bad about it.” Twilight gave a sad smile. “That’s not how things work, unfortunately.” She sighed again, finding the floor more interesting. “If there was any way to bring Sky Shard back, Cozy, I-” Cozy placed a hoof on Twilight’s leg, stopping her there. “It’s fine, Twilight,” she said with strong eyes. “I need to move on. It’s what Sky wants.” Twilight nodded. “Everyone had a part in this, I guess,” Cozy continued. “You, Celestia and Luna, Discord. Even Spike blames himself.” Spike nodded. “And while I believe I’m the most to blame, we just can’t stick to that forever. I have to face it. What’s done is done. I can never go back and change things. Even if we have magic spells that can do that. At that point, it’d all just be a lie.” “Yeah,” Spike said. “And you have no idea how such a small change can alter the future.” “You can say that again.” Twilight laughed at the memory. Cozy chuckled, looking at Spike. “You both went time traveling? You better tell me this story.” Spike grinned before yawning. “Maybe after some rest?” Twilight stood up, turning to him. “Spike, I have an official Royal Order from myself.” He sat up straight, suddenly interested in what she had to say. “Uh, sure! What is it?” “You must stay by Cozy’s side to keep her safe.” She shrugged. “Something you would have done anyway, but now you shouldn’t feel bad for leaving my side as Royal Advisor.” He widened his eyes in surprise, staring up at her. “Besides, Cozy’s going to be declared a princess to the public soon, and you’re a prince, so you’ll be close by in the castle.” Twilight took a few steps, leaning down at Cozy’s level. She took her hooves into her own, holding them. “We’ll find the best therapy for you. And we’ll do everything we can to handle your alcohol issues.” Spike smiled. His next lines grabbed Twilight’s attention. “We’re already doing great on that! Cozy hasn’t drank since we first met!” Twilight turned from Spike to Cozy, expecting the filly to admit something. Cozy lowered her head, refusing to look into either of their gazes. He stared at the two momentarily before frowning towards the younger pony. Cozy sighed. “It was only a sip when I fought Antlerius and Nylar.” “And we’re going to take every little drop seriously,” Twilight said. “You may be an alicorn and now a Princess, but you’re still a foal. Drinking can have terrible effects on you long-term.” Cozy sighed again before nodding. Spike scooted a little closer. “We should also check if any of Sky Shard is left in you. Just in case.” “I agree.” Twilight nodded. “Even though I doubt the Treehouse of Harmony would miss anything.” “It would still be relieving to know,” Cozy said, rubbing her leg. Twilight lifted her chin. “I’ll also be at your side to help with whatever you need. No matter what I’m busy with, I’ll do everything I can to come help you. I owe it to you, and so does Equestria.” With that said, Twilight stood up straight and took some steps away. “Alright, I’ll let you guys get some rest. Oh, and one last thing I must mention—” She smiled at them. “—You two are really adorable together.” As blood rushed to the two’s cheeks, Twilight teleported away. Too tired to care, they went over to the bed and snuggled in the sheets. Getting warm, they were on their sides and stared at each other. At the same time, they both leaned in and had a quick kiss. Equestria sank back into peaceful times after that eventful night. Negotiations with Antlerius and Nylar took place. The two ended up being welcomed to stay in Equestria but decided not to stay. Instead, they realized they should create their own memories rather than rewrite everyone else’s. Princess Twilight assured that they were always welcome to visit whenever they pleased. Cozy Glow and Spike became an officially normal couple. Going on dates, holding hooves and claws in public, and much more kissing. They were also declared royalty, with their titles being Hope. Cozy Glow undertook some much-needed therapy. Since she had already patched things up with Sky Shard, it wasn’t long before the healing process began. Spike was always by her side when needed, and the trips to Ponyville and the Changeling Hive helped a bunch. She also gained duties as a Princess, helping others deal with loss. Being new to this, she was under the supervision of Twilight until she got the hang of things. However, since she was Cozy Glow, that didn’t take long. Her alcohol problems were the least of her struggles, to the delight of Spike. Without Sky Shard yelling in her head, she had no reason to pick up a bottle. Even when she turned the legal age, she didn’t touch any drinks for a good while. But years after that, she finally drank again at a party—her and Spike’s wedding party. Amusingly, Spike waited with her, and that warmed her heart, though dragons never got affected by the alcohol, which was something he said was a blessing and a curse. No fun would be had for him. All in all, Cozy was in a much happier place in her life. And she was so happy to have Spike by her side. She couldn’t ask for a better husband. In the middle of a bleak forest sat a large mansion. Inside, an alicorn appeared in a wave of darkness. The stallion’s fur was black, with a blazing red mane and tail. Another stallion, a frail gray and skinny one at that, dropped a water glass in shock. He sprinted up to him and bowed. “Welcome back, sire.” The ‘sire’ whipped his head to get his mane out of his face. He stared down at his servant before him, expecting something else. “Oh, I mean, Dark Heart.” Dark Heart smiled. “Better.” He began to trot down the main foyer of the mansion with a slow stride. “Now that I have returned. It’s time to take my rightful place as ruler of…” He turned to his servant. “Equestria.” “Equestria!” he continued. “And to see my enemies cower before me! Mwahaha!” His servant raised a hoof, grabbing his attention. “Uh, sire, Dark Heart. I’d advise against trying to rule Equestria. At least for now.” Dark Heart turned to him with a glare. “If you think I should be afraid the current powers of these lands, may I remind you of who I am? I am scared of none!” His servant ducked his head. “B-but, sire, it’s been so long since you’ve resurfaced. There’s so much new you haven’t a clue about.” “Then tell me.” He nervously chuckled. “W-well-” “No, wait. Let me guess, Diamond Quasar’s infant daughter? Or perhaps Diamond’s still in rule?” “Er, no. It’s a ‘Princess Twilight Sparkle,’ an alicorn pony and Ruler of Equestria in this age.” “Ah…” Dark Heart sighed. “Her name fits a princess.” “Actually, it’s not her you should be wary of. It’s her brother and sister-in-law.” “No matter. No stallion will be able to stop me from ripping off their wings.” His servant coughed. “He doesn’t seem to be a stallion per se.” “Will you stop leaving information OUT!?” His servant ducked again. “Apologies! Apologies! Princess Twilight’s Sparkle’s younger brother, who is a dragon, also wields powerful magic. There’s also three other princesses, the sister-in-law who lives with Princess Twilight and the other two in their own empire.” “Hmph!” He walked off, heading for the exit of the mansion. “Be it four members of royalty or one, I am above all of them! MUAHAHAHA!” Dark Heart lay on the floor, groaning as quietly as an ant. Two adults, a dragon, and a pink alicorn, stood at the same height, courtesy of a “pausing growth” spell for the dragon, who would surely be taller than the ceiling by now. They stared at him, blinking twice. “So when Twilight returns from Ponyville, what do we tell her?” Cozy Glow asked. Spike shrugged. “I don’t know. The fight was too quick to be, well… threatening.” Cozy aimed her horn in the air, casting a portal spell. A rift appeared, with Tartarus on the other side. Spike lifted Dark Heart with his magic, sending him into the prison. “Keep him there for now,” Cozy said. “We’ll tell Twilight to try and reform him later.” She turned to a few guards standing around. “Send someone on a food run for our latest guest.” They nodded before walking off. Just then, her eyes flashed bright for a moment. “That’s me,” she said in a sadder tone with a small smile. “A twenty-year-old griffin just lost her twin sister.” Spike nodded, giving the same sympathetic look. “I’ll see you at dinner with Flurry Heart and Cadence?” “You sure will!” They both leaned in and pecked each other on the lips. Then, Cozy teleported away as Spike walked off to do some paperwork. Cozy sighed, lying on her haunches on the gentle grass. She stared at the stone in front of her, the name “Sky Shard” chiseled in. She sat there for a while, letting the winds fill her ears. It wasn’t the sunniest of days, with more clouds than usual covering the sky. That wasn’t a bad thing, she thought. A spark of magic was heard behind her. She didn’t turn her head. Small steps drew close before Spike sat next to her. He had a pretty blue flower in his hand. Reaching forward, he placed it on the grave right before the tombstone. There wasn’t a casket with a body to bury, but the message was still sent. Without a word, Cozy leaned onto Spike’s side. They sat there for a while, letting nature’s music vibrate their souls. Eventually, she lit her horn, and a magic violin appeared with her magic. Now, beyond needing the real instrument, she began playing a soft tune and pondered many things. For the past few years, she had contemplated when it would be her time to go. She may be an immortal alicorn, but those around her weren’t. She couldn’t stay in this world forever, even if she wanted to. She didn’t. Even Spike, a dragon, had a finite lifespan, much longer than any normal pony. He, too, would go one day, leaving her and Twilight behind. She wondered if Twilight thought about these things. Well, Twilight was a known thinker, so that was a dumb question. It scared her to think about dying. And despite helping others come to terms with it, the thoughts kept her up at night. How ironic. These thoughts started five hundred years ago when Celestia and Luna appeared at Twilight’s doorstep. They told her that they were finally going to “ascend.” Twilight, obviously, was upset at the thought. But by the end of the day, she understood and came to terms with it. Luna even joked that she would wait one thousand years to make up for the time she lost them as Nightmare Moon. That inevitable day would come for her at some point. Would it be when Spike passes on? Or when the world ends? But if the world ends, then what happens to the afterlife? Or would Twilight hand over the mantle of ruler to her? Nah, she wouldn’t have accepted the offer anyway. Perhaps she should take her own advice. She shouldn’t worry about the end of her life but instead live it to the fullest. Still, it was difficult as a four-thousand-year-old alicorn to not think about those things. Or maybe she was thinking about it all wrong. She should be excited to see Sky Shard and all her other friends when she finally heads off. If the afterlife existed anyway. And there it was. Always second guessing things. Being worried about the inevitable. It was complete stupidity, yet it made sense at the same time. “You okay?” Spike asked, reaching up to hold her cheek. Cozy just stopped playing her music all of a sudden. She smiled at him. “I’m fine.” Leaning on his side, her head on his shoulder, she made her violin disappear and cuddled beside him. Being with Spike always helped. Whether it was one of their dates, joking around, sweaty bed sessions, or just relaxing like this. It took her mind off things. And until that stopped, this is just how things are supposed to be. She will know whether she accepts it until her time comes. And that thought relieved her.