The Night Janitor

by Knox Locke

Chapter 19: Necessary Risk

Cozy had a plan. One that would get her exactly what she'd always wanted. To make it work, though, she'd have to take some risks.

[Cozy's Perspective]

Cozy had just gone to bed, and she was pondering ways to further her plan when her thoughts were interrupted by Knox.

"Did you remember to take out your hairpins?" he asked.

A couple weeks ago, Cozy had accidentally left in the pins that held her adorable mane curls together. One of them had gotten stuck on her pillowcase, binding it to her thick locks. It took quite a while and a lot of painful pulling to remove the pillowcase from her head, and Knox had been reminding her every night ever since. She wasn't sure why he was asking tonight, though. Her mane lay straight on her head. Not a single curl remained. Obviously she'd removed the pins.

Nonetheless, she gestured halfheartedly to the neat stack of hairpins that lay on the table beside her bed, and she proceeded to fall asleep.

---

A couple hours later, Cozy bolted awake with a scream. She was breathing heavily and trembling under her covers. Her eyes were held firmly shut, but they jerked open when she felt something touch her shoulder.

"Cozy, are you OK?" Knox was now beside the bed, comfortingly stroking her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Cozy replied quickly, "Nothing!"

"Cozy..." Knox was obviously prying for the truth.

Well, this was one of the risks she had to take. If she was going to keep her master plan on track, she had to open up to Knox.

She sighed heavily before she spoke again.

"I had a nightmare," she said softly. "I've been having it every night."

"I know what that's like," Knox said. "Trust me."

"In the nightmare, I'm turned to stone, but when they release me, you aren't there. Neither is Twilight. All that is there is some scary shadow-thingy. It tells me to do such horrible things. Then, when I refuse, it jumps inside me and starts controlling me like a puppet. That's when I always wake up."

"Hmmm..." Knox seemed to be contemplating something.

"You know, Cozy," he finally continued, "you shouldn't let nightmares rattle you like that."

"I know, I know... They're not real."

"That's not it at all," continued Knox.

Cozy perked her head up a bit. She hadn't expected more in the ways of an explanation.

"You shouldn't be afraid of nightmares," Knox resumed, "because nightmares should be scared of you! I mean, you're Cozy Glow! You almost took over Equestria... Twice!"

Cozy giggled at that last part. She enjoyed the way Knox just accepted what she'd done. He didn't act like it had never happened. In fact, he embraced it.

"Any monster foolish enough to show his face in your nightmares has no idea what he's in for."

Cozy smiled in a half-elated, half-maniacal way that she hadn't previously known was possible.

"Thanks, Knox," she said.

"Any time, kid. Any time."

She gave him one of her cannonball-like hugs, and she had a bright smile on her face as he left the room. There was only one thing Cozy had ever wanted more than power, and that conversation had just gotten her one step closer to it.

Author's Note:

In The Next Chapter: Actually, it should say 'In The Next THREE Chapters,' because I've written a three-part Hearts & Hooves Day special that I'll be posting on Valentine's Day!

Comments

[Yosh-E-O]

Way to keep the suspense going. Is Cozy going to betray Knox... twice? Or is there something more that she's trying to achieve that goes beyond her aspirations of being Empress Of Equestria?

I did like your reference back to the sprinkle-shakers in the previous chapter. I also thought you were making a little hint at the one line in the MLP extended theme with the title of "Easy As Pinkie Pie".

This tale is certainly not what I'd ever expect. You have a very lonely pony who desperately wanted a true-true friend. However that friend was Cozy Glow and she ended up doing some really bad stuff. Though, as with life, someone is always willing to offer foregiveness to those they are close to.

I also like the 'nightmare' of a shadow 'jumping into her'. Perhaps she is possessed by an evil presence? Princess Luna didn't become Nightmare Moon without something taking hold of her body. We also have Daybreaker as the dark potential for Celestia.

[Knox Locke]

10083829
Yosh-E-O, you are correct about the "Easy As Pinkie Pie" title being inspired by that line. Also, I must say that I thoroughly enjoy reading your insightful comments and predictions.

[Wild Stallion]

I've written a three-part Hearts & Hooves Day special that I'll be posting on Valentine's Day!

I shall eagerly await your posting.