Letters to Cozy Glow

by Fluttercheer

A Letter from a Hurt Friend

Author's Note:

Before you continue to read, please take some time to read the blog entry that I linked below. It explains important things about the nature of this story.

https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/857357/letters-to-cozy-glow-a-few-explanations-and-clarifications-about-the-nature-of-the-story

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Dear Cozy Glow,

my name is Moondancer and I heard that you are very angry lately, so I want to help you. I know a thing or two about being angry at another pony and let me tell you that it's nothing wrong. You are right with the way you feel about Princess Luna.

Cozy Glow lowered the letter in her hooves, a dumbstruck expression appearing on her face. She needed a moment before she continued reading and spent this time with staring out between the bars of her cage, not particularly focusing on anything.

When we are angry, we sometimes say or do things that we don't mean. But we always react angry for a reason.
I used to be friends with Princess Twilight once. We are friends again now, but there was a time when we weren't because she disappointed me.

“Disappointed, pfft.....” Cozy Glow held a hoof at her lips and stiffled what otherwise would have become a loud and enormous laugh. “Do you expect me to feel sorry, Moondancer? You should have known better, friends will always disappoint. You can't trust them!”

It wasn't always easy for me to be friends with others. I was shy and scared of other ponies. Twilight was the only pony whose company didn't make me shake. When I began to trust her, I invited her to my birthday party. But she didn't show up. It happened just when I started to think that she will never disappoint me.

“Told you!” Cozy showed her teeth and smirked.

But she did and I WAS disappointed. I felt so hurt by her neglect. And I was so mad. I forgave Twilight, but even now it still hurts to talk about it.

Cozy scrunched her face.

I could only forgive Twilight years later, when she came back and begged me to forgive her. But not before I screamed at her. Not before I showed her all the pain she caused me and how she made me feel in those years. I screamed and almost punched her with a stick even.
But I did not regret it and I still don't regret it. When somepony causes you trouble and hurts you a lot, especially if it's a friend, then it's normal to react mad because of all the hurt.

Cozy Glow's ears faltered and folded in as she reached the end of the sentence. She did not notice.

And that's why your reaction was okay, Cozy. Princess Luna said something that hurt you and it's normal to get mad because of this. And nothing you did means that you are insane. Reacting mad doesn't make you insane and what you did in Twilight's school does not either.
We all have our reasons for what we do and getting mad just means to get rid of the things that hurt so you can feel better again.

It was at this point that Cozy felt a sudden, strong urge to stop reading. She put the letter down, then dropped it where she sat. Her eyes had no shine in them.
Tirek noticed. “What's wrong? Longer sentence?”
“Golly, nothing like that,” Cozy responded, but the usual fake cheer wasn't in her voice anymore. “I just need to sleep now.”
“In the afternoon?” Tirek questioned.
Cozy did not answer. Not paying the centaur more heed, she lowered herself and rolled in on the cold floor of her cage. The letter she didn't finish got covered by her tail.

Comments

[Bronycommander]

A important lesson you Show, moondancer. Its Part of Life, difficult to Control.

[Yosh-E-O]

Very nice. I am particular fond of the line of how we lash out in anger as a result of wanting to purge ourselves of an ill-feeling. This opens a lot of possible doors for Cozy Glow.

The first could be her own parents. They didn't know what to do with her and just sent her to Twilight's School Of Friendship to 'fix her'. Her age may make her think her parents, or parent, got tired of her and felt she was just being dumped on someone else so they didn't have to put up with her anymore.

Perhaps, and I doubt Hasbro would go in this direction, Cozy may be on the Spectrum? Lots of parents with children on The spectrum tend to not do so well in accepting, working with, and/or finding ways to help a child like this.

I had a father lash out at me for trying to be friends with his son on the spectrum because, for simplicity sake, he noted how he had to "Deal with this for X years". What kind of parent says "Deal" with their child? It makes it seem like being a parent is a chore.

Cozy could be a Spectrum Pony and, as a result, not have the right internal wiring to be like other ponies. She sees things differently as, in lots of Spectrum situations, the one on The spectrum can't help how they perceive the world. People can help to show acceptance along with better ways to interact with mainstream society. However it isn't going to happen without support and there could be a lot of resentment if Cozy felt like she was just tossed due to her parent(s) not wanting to "Deal" with her condition?

Being on The spectrum could also explain cozy's ability to learn and remain hyper-focused. Many I know on The Spectrum are amazing when it comes to absorbing material that they find interesting. Cozy caught onto friendship super-ultra-mega fast. She then may have thought putting herself in a position of power would ensure that she'd never be judged as a result of how society sees those on The Spectrum? If every pony is your friend, even if through fear / over-reaction to maintain what has finally been achieved, you can feel safe. You can 'control' your environment and ensure routines you rely on are as they should be.

Now I'm really thinking there is a possibility to see Cozy as being a Spectrum Pony. Some of her behavior and mannerisms could easily put her there. This isn't bad as, honestly, we need more positive, albeit they made her villain, examples of Spectrum.

Those with special needs, be they physical and/or mental, are often perceived by a stereotype that is far from the honest truth of the individual. Perhaps Cozy always had non-societal norm behavior and, rather than working with her, she was shipped away to be 'fixed'? I don't know many, if any, humans on The spectrum who feel they need 'fixed' or 'cured'. They want accepted and understood.

The above could be what brought Cozy to lash out and continue to be who she is. She wants to fit in but she is always acting a bit 'different' based on the situation and goes a bit crazy when things aren't going as she would like them.

I'll stop here. It's just a thought this chapter made me think on.

[howard035]

It's definitely an interesting extra factor having Tirek there. I don't know if he would deliberately sabotage any progress, but it feels like his presence will make it much harder for her regardless. One of the reasons juvenile hall was originally created was the idea that putting in kids with career criminals in regular prison just turned the kids into more hardened criminals than when they went in.

[Blast]

How about that. Somepony got through!

[Fluttercheer]

9635595

Great comment again! This time I can't comment much on it without giving something away, but very nice thoughts!

9635791

I think with all that happened, Tirek could hardly make it worse. But who knows, maybe his presence alone could hinder progress..... We'll see.

9637286

It seems like that, isn't it? Just how far through is the question.