> Journey Back Beneath the School > by OliverSparkle > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Cozy’s Return > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- At the School of Friendship, inside the headmare’s office of our favourite Princess of Friendship, Twilight was talking to a pinkish gray pony with pale, light grayish arctic blue and light arctic bluish gray mane and tail with a castle chess piece cutie mark on her flank, and goes by the name, Cozy Glow. The cute fooling evil filly was put in Tartarus years ago for making all the magic disappear, with the help of Lord Tirek, just for power and ruling the school as empress. Celestia decided to try to gave her a chance to turn over a new leaf and go back to the School of Friendship to see how things go, and if she doesn’t change her ways, she’ll be going back to Tartarus. Right now, Twilight was giving Cozy Glow a warning before she sends her off to start the day back at school. “And if I hear any troublesome from you or anything that’s evil, dangerous or anything like that,” she said in a serious tone, “You'll be expelled from the school again and back in Tartarus. Do I make myself clear?” Cozy Glow nodded in understood while trying to give an innocent look at her. “Yes, Headmare Twilight. I’ll make sure I won’t do any evil stuffs or do any like that ever again.” She then placed her right hoof on her cheek and let out a cute look. But Twilight didn’t fell for the cute trick. “And I’ll have none of that cute look. I won’t fall for that again, and neither will the others. Not after what you did. Now, go to your lessons.” She pointed towards the office door as Cozy got off the chair she was sitting on and walked towards the door. Once she was out of the office, she started to walk around the school before the day starts. As she walked around the place, she smiled and waved at the students that she went past, but they gave her an angry glare at her since they’re not happy that she’s back, nor have they forgotten about what she did a long time ago. And they all wished Cozy Glow was still in Tartarus. But she didn’t care, cos she was planning to get respect and power again once more, but in secret so she doesn’t go back again. When she walked towards the stairs, she then saw Fluttershy nuzzling a dark blue colt with green mane as she then kissed the little one. “Have a good day Lightning sweetheart,” Fluttershy said, “I’ll see you later.” “See you later, Momma. I love you,” replied Lightning. “I love you too, sweetie.” Fluttershy gave her son one more kiss before walking off to join her friends. This made Cozy Glow confuse but also wonder. Did Fluttershy just adopted a little colt? And how long was he in this school? She then hid near the edge of the stairs so she can spy on the Lightning as she saw what happened next. Lightning walked towards the gym where he and his friends would meet. Some of the students smiled at him and gave him a wave as he waved in return before stopping a few miles away from the stairs. Ever since Fluttershy adopted him and rescued him from his father at the Grand Galloping Gala, his life has gotten better. He has a new home, a new family, new friends, a girlfriend which is a dragon and a better school to go to. Lightning let out a happy sigh before saying, “This is the life. My daddy’s gone, I have a new Momma, made great friends, got a good school to go to. My life just got better and better.” He smiled. Suddenly, he felt something stroking his back, he thought it was just a fly and it would fly away soon. But it wasn't stopping as he then began to giggle. “Someone’s stroking my back.” He turned round and then let out a gasp of happiness as he saw none other than Silverstream who was stroking his back with her right talon claw and also had a big grin on her face as if she was really excited to see him again. "Nothing’s better than my stroking surprise!" She sang sweetly. “Silverstream!” He shouted, but not too loudly, as he then hugged her as she hugged him back and also nuzzled his cheek. “How’s my favourite cute little Pegasus?” She cooed while still nuzzling. He blushed and giggled before asking, “Do you always have to call me that?” “Of course I do,” she replied as they broke the hug, “I mean, you really are cute, and also my favourite Pegasus in this school.” She then nuzzled him on the nose as he smiled at her. Lightning then felt a tap on his shoulder as he turned round and saw his five other friends who were smiling at him. “Hey, where’s our friendship hugs?” Gallus asked as he opened his claws out. Lightning went over to them and hugged them one at a time before he hugged Smolder as she gave him a kiss on the cheek making him blush once more. Smolder giggled as she then carried Lightning over to Silverstream and gently placed him on her back since he enjoys riding on Silverstream’s back and she was still okay with it. The two then let out a laughter as Silverstream then let out her wings and flew off carrying Lightning on her back with the five following them as they let out a laughter as well. Cozy Glow was now in shock as she saw everything. She couldn’t believe that every student in the school liked that little colt and he was friends with the Young Six who stopped her and ruined her plans. She then grew an angry look on her face before saying, “So, that little colt thinks he can be friends with those that ruined my life?” Her angry suddenly changed to an evil yet nasty grin. “Oh we’ll see about that.” > Lightning meets Cozy > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- During break time, The Young Seven were in the library reading some books while Lightning was sitting next to Silverstream drawing something. The hippogriff was reading a book on water pipes until she saw Lightning drawing. She smiled at him before closing the book and asked softly, “What are you drawing, cutie?” Lightning looked at Silverstream as he put his pencil down and showed her his drawing. It was drawing of him with Sandbar, Gallus, Yona, Smolder, Ocellus and Silverstream around him smiling together with words on top of the paper saying “My friends”. The others saw the drawing and smiled at him. “Aww…that’s really sweet, Lightning,” said Ocellus softly which made the colt blush a bit. “Thanks,” he replied, “Hope you’re all okay with me drawing this.” “Oh don’t worry, kid,” said Sandbar, “We don’t mind at all. We’re your friends, we’re happy for you.” “Yona thinks little pony’s good artist,” said Yona. Lightning smiled at Yona’s comment. He was really happy to have friends that really cared for him, especially his special somedragon Smolder. Just then, they heard a voice that The Young Six recognise. “Well, well, well....” The Young Seven turned to see it was Cozy Glow who said it as she walked towards them. The Young Six got away from the table and glared at the filly. Lightning became scared of the way Cozy Glow was walking with that grin on her face as he then hid underneath Silverstream and behind her talon arms. “Look what we have here,” she said as she stopped near the group, “If it isn’t the six friends that ruined everything and sent me to Tartarus after everything I did to make sure the school was still in shape.” “You again?!” Smolder said in both shock and anger, “Why aren’t you in Tartarus after what you did to the magic?!” “Oh Princess Celestia decided to give me another chance to start over,” she answered, “And I thought I start by seeing the six students that ruined everything for me.” She grew a grin on her face as the Six looked at her angrily. “We ruined everything?!” Ocellus shouted angrily, this was the first time she ever shouted or be really angry with somepony, “You’re the one that decided to make all the magic fail just for power, bring the whole school to your hooves, trapped Starlight and made every student believe we were the ones who did it when it was YOU who did it!” “Who is that mean pony?” asked Lightning who was still scared and hiding underneath Silverstream. “Cozy Glow,” answered Sandbar, “She was a student here before she was sent to Tartarus for making all magic fail.” “What mean pony want with us this time?” growled Yona. “Well I’ve heard that you six have made a new friend while I was away,” Cozy said, “And I thought, since I’m now back, I should introduce myself to him.” “Yeah, we have made a new friend while you were gone,” said Smolder as she crossed her claws, “But that doesn’t mean we’re gonna let you go anywhere near him if you’re planning on threatening him.” “So you better stay away from him,” warned Silverstream angrily, “Otherwise you’ll have us to deal with!” “Oh don’t worry,” Cozy said as she then giggled, “I just wanted to get to know him since he’s with you and is hiding underneath the hippogriff.” She then pointed at Silverstream as the hippogriff and the other five looked down to see Lightning trying to hide himself away from her. Lightning nervously peeked out from underneath Silverstream a bit and in between her talon arms. Cozy Glow grinned at the colt before walking up towards him making him even more scared. “So you’re the little colt that came into this school while I was gone, huh?” Cozy asked still grinning at him. Lightning gulped nervously as he nodded his head. “We haven’t met before.” She held her hoof out to him while introducing herself, “Cozy Glow.” Lightning slowly placed his hoof with hers, but didn’t shake hooves. “Forgive me,” she said before pulling Lightning closer to her which made him shake in fear. The Young Six weren’t liking this as Cozy Glow moved one of Lightning’s wings and saw the bruises on them. “So it is true. You did have a bad life, especially from the stallion that treated you like dirt.” “Cold Wind made his life like a living Tartarus,” said Gallus crossly as he moved Lightning away from the filly, “He was nothing but a bad father who was never a father in the first place.” Cozy Glow glared at the griffon. “How very brave of you to mention his father in front of him,” she said, “Or, perhaps very wrong if he doesn’t like hearing his father being mention.” “He can mention him,” said Lightning still scared, “He’s not upsetting me by mentioning Daddy. He’s my friend, and so are the others.” “Your friend?!” The filly laughed, “Why would you be friends with them? Those lot are nothing but threats of Equestria who only came to this school to learn about friendship so they can destroy it when that time comes.” Lightning glared at Cozy Glow, but he was still scared. “No, they’re not!” “Yes, they are.” “Aren’t!” “ARE!” Cozy Glow’s glare scared Lightning making him walk back underneath Silverstream as she closed her talon arms together while glaring at her and so did the other five. “I suggest you leave him alone before we get Headmare Twilight on you,” said Sandbar crossly, “And like Silverstream said, you’ll have us to deal with if you don’t leave Lightning alone.” “Hmph! Fine, but this isn’t over just yet.” She then walked away leaving the Young Seven alone again as the six turned to look at Lightning who still hiding underneath Silverstream. “Hey sweetie,” Smolder said as she reached her claw out to him, “You okay?” “I think so,” he said shakily. “Don’t listen to her, cutie,” Silverstream said as she rubbed his back with her claw. “She just thinks she can do whatever she pleases even before she got locked up in Tartarus.” “Yeah Lightning,” said Ocellus, “Don’t let her words get to you.” “Okay,” he said quietly before loud enough for her to hear. Gallus looked at the clock on the wall and saw it was nearly time to return to lessons. “We best be getting going, guys,” Gallus said, “We don’t wanna be late for our next lesson.” The gang nodded as Lightning quickly went to the table and picked up the book he was reading. “I’ll catch up. I just need to put this back.” The six creatures nodded in understood before heading off to Rainbow Dash’s lessons. Lightning flew to the book shelf, that was at the end of the library, and placed the book back in the right spot. He was about to leave, until he heard Cozy Glow again. “Wondered when you’ll be alone.” Lightning turned and saw Cozy Glow standing by the book shelf with a grin on her face. Lightning began to shake again. “How…h-how did you get here?” “Why so scared and why ask such a question like that?” She asked before walking up to him, “I just wanted to see you, with no other creatures around. Besides, you and I are not so different.” “I’m, not like you,” he said, “You tried to make magic disappear, and framed my friends.” “Well, to each their own. I chose my path, you choose the way of being good and accepting friendship is magic. And those heroes found you cute, and accepted you in their lives. But the one thing that stands in a good pony’s way…is fail being a good pony, and even fall. In spite of everything they’ve done for you, will eventually, disappear. Why bother enjoying the new life and let go of the past?” “Because it’s the right thing to do to let go of the anger, hatred and what’s happened in the past,” answered Lightning, “It’s the magic of friendship.” Cozy Glow gave Lightning a pat on the head before leaning on the book shelf and said, “Here’s the real truth. There are lots of ponies and creatures in Equestria. And the true meaning of friendship, is power…but some just can’t see it, except for me. And you, me…” Cozy Glow slapped Lightning’s shoulder, “We’re exceptional.” The filly stood back on her hooves before placing a hoof on Lightning’s cheek making him scared even more. “I could hurt you right now. But I’m offering you a choice. Join me.” Lightning’s eyes went wide open after hearing the two words Cozy Glow just said. She wants him to join her. “Imagine what we could accomplish together,” she continued, “What we could create.” She then moved her hoof away from Lightning’s cheek, “Or we could just destroy all those that stand in our way, and do it again, and again, and again until we’re the only ones left standing. Think about it, Lightning.” Cozy Glow flew away leaving Lightning Twister in both shock, scared and worried. The evil filly wants him to be just like her. Hate all creatures, believe friendship is power, and rule Equestria with her. Lightning didn’t know what to do or say to his friends and family about what just happened. > Back to the Caves Below > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Rainbow Dash’s lesson, Rainbow was teaching the students that being there for friends is always important and what true friends really are. “And that’s why is always important to be there for friends, even if their mind is in the wrong place and they did something they didn’t mean to do,” said Rainbow to the students as she flew in mid air. The students and the Young Seven listened to what Rainbow just said as she continued to talk about how loyalty is important while they were all smiled, well Lightning’s smile was, a bit worried and sad in between. Rainbow quickly took notice of this and stopped talking before flew towards her nephew to see if anything’s wrong. “Hey kid,” she said to him worriedly, “Are you feeling okay? Cause, you don’t look so happy, and now I feel worried about you. Is something wrong? Do you want me to get Fluttershy for ya?” Lightning looked at her Auntie Rainbow as he tried to hold his tears back. The words Cozy has said to him where starting to get to him still. “I... I’m f-f-fine Auntie Rainbow,” He said, “I-it’s just.... just...” “Lightning, please tell me, I can help you,” she said now even more worried. That was when Lightning couldn’t hold it any longer, he got up and ran towards his bag that he left near the opened door as he ran out of the classroom leaving every student confuse and The Young Six worried, but Rainbow was worried and confuse at the same time. “Was it something I said?” Rainbow asked if she thought she did or said something that made him run off like that. “Uh, Professor Rainbow,” said Gallus, “There’s something we should have told you before you started the lesson.” Lightning didn’t run too far or away from the school, he was in the school library sitting near a book shelve holding his Bendy plushie, that he often packs in case he was upset and needs something to cuddle for awhile or so. All of an sudden, he heard an familiar voice. “Well, fancy seeing you here.” Lightning turned round to see that Cozy Glow was standing near the end of the book shelve looking at him with a nasty grin on her face. “I was wondering when you’ll show up here.” Lightning began to shake as he fears Cozy was gonna do something to him. “What a-are you doing h-here, Cozy?” Lightning asked shakily. Cozy Glow walked up to him as he got up and moved back a bit to an open drain while holding his plushie. “I just wanted to know what choice you’ve made,” she answered as they stopped by the open drain, “So, what do you say? Are you in, or out?” Lightning still scared of the filly, but he bravely glared at her before saying, “I’m out! I’ll never be like you! I love my friends and family, and I’ll never let the past get to me!” Cozy Glow’s smile turned into an angry frown. “Wrong answer!” She then pushed him as hard as she could as he fell into the opened drain and landed on the ground near the big light blue crystals near the top of the drain while his Bendy plushie bounced towards one of the crystal caves. Lightning got onto his hooves as he looked up as Cozy looked down with a grin on her face. Cozy Glow took the drain plate and placed on the hole, closing it tightly so he couldn’t try to open it to get out. “Enjoy your new home, Lightning,” Cozy said cruelly as she walked away while letting out an evil laugh. Lightning kept looking up to the drain view before looking around seeing if there was another way out. But no luck, there was no way out of the crystal cave. He then started to cry as he cried out the one pony he wanted right now, “M-Momma!” Suddenly, he heard an echoing roar coming from one of the caves as he began to shake in fear once more. He then ran towards the cave to the right side of the crystal cave leaving his Bendy plushie behind. Meanwhile, back in the school library, the Young Six had told Rainbow what had happened with Lightning during break time, Rainbow then asked them to go look for him while she goes tell Twilight and Fluttershy what has happened at break time today. The six were in the school library searching for him since that would be the one place he would go when he’s upset or something like that. “Lightning!” They said together or one at a time as they searched the library from shelve to shelve. “Lightning! Where are you?!” Silverstream called out as she checked under the tables. “Any luck yet?” Gallus asked Yona. “No luck yet!” Yona called out. As Ocellus looked left and right while walking through two book shelves near each other, she saw something in the drain open sides as she got near the drain. She let out a gasp as she saw what it was. Lightning’s Bendy plushie was in the crystal cave. “Guys!” She called out to her friends, “I think I know where Lightning is!” The Young Five rushed towards to where Ocellus was as she pointed towards the drain as they looked through the drain open sides to see that Lightning’s Bendy plushie was in the crystal caves. “You think little pony is in there? All alone?!” Yona asked in scared, shock and worried. “Only one way to find out,” said Sandbar, “Let’s go into the crystal caves and tried to find him.” Gallus and Smolder worked together to open the drain as they moved the drain plate to one side as they went inside the crystal cave, again, one at a time so they don’t get stuck. Once inside the cave, Smolder picked up the plushie before looking around the caves like the others are doing. “Okay,” began Silverstream, “So if Lightning’s definitely in here, where could he be?” “I don’t know,” said Smolder, “But I think we should split up to find him. I’ll go with Ocellus. Sandbar, you go with Yona and Gallus, you go with Silverstream.” The five gave the dragon a nod in understood before they went into the three cave entrances. Sandbar and Yona went into the middle cave entrance, Gallus and Silverstream went into the right cave entrance, and Smolder and Ocellus went into the left cave entrance. Meanwhile, Lightning was walking amount the crystal cave, trying to find another way out of the caves. Just then, he came across a big river near two medium rocks near the river and a big giant and long rock behind and near the river. Lightning decided to walk towards the river and look at his reflection in it as a sad look appeared on his face again. “Why did Cozy do this to me?” He said sadly, “I don’t wanna be a bad pony and hurt those that didn’t made my life a bad one before Fluttershy became my Momma.” All of a sudden, he heard a growl that made him jump a bit and more scared than ever, he looked both left and right to see what it was before looking at the big rock near the river as he saw what happened next. Four scary looking shadow guards appeared in transformation like somepony putting rocks together to make a tower. This made Lightning shake as he got more scared. A scared shock look on his face appeared as he saw a new shadow appeared on the rock. The new shadow was as tall as the other four shadows, but not too tall, his arms was a bit long with claws, his head has fur around it, a medium long tail and has two pointy horns on the head. Then, two evilly blue eyes appeared on the face. The tall shadow was known as Equestria’s most dangerous threat yet gone for good.... Storm King. Lightning never felt even more scared than his father hurting him, he then hid behind the medium rock near the river as he covered his face with his hooves and shook in fear as he was scared of the shadows while the Storm King shadow continued to growl evilly. He wished his mother was here to save him. “S-Somepony p-please h-h-help me!” He cried as he hoped that one of his friends or family would find him. > Safe At Last > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Somewhere amongst the caves, Gallus and Silverstream walked through the cave as they searched for Lightning Twister. They looked to left and right to see if they can see him, but they couldn’t find him. “Oh I so hope Lightning’s okay,” said Silverstream worriedly, “He might be scared and hungry out here all alone.” “Don’t worry, Silverstream,” Gallus said, “We’ll soon find him.” As they kept on walking, they suddenly stopped as they heard the sound of sniffing and whimpering from a couple of miles away in the cave. “I can hear something,” said Gallus as he placed a claw near his ear so he can hear more and that he’s not hearing things. Silverstream did the same as the sound of sniffing and whimpering became more louder and clearer to make them realise who was doing the sounds. Silverstream let out a gasp before saying, “I know that whimpering. It’s Lightning!” “The kid must be in trouble!” Gallus shouted in shock, “We’ve got to save him! Come on!” They followed the whimpering and sniffing sounds to where Lightning was. Gallus and Silverstream finally reached to where Lightning was as they stopped by a few miles from where he was and saw what was going on. They saw Lightning shaking and covering his face with his hooves by the medium rock before looking up and saw that Lightning was shaking in fear because of the scary shadows on the giant rock near in front of the river, especially the Storm King Shadow. “Storm King?!” Gallus asked in fear before grabbing Silverstream’s left talon arm and tried pulling her away, “Quick! Let’s go find the others so we can all stop him and help Lightning!” Gallus didn’t feel Silverstream moving a muscle as she looked forward in shock to what was going on in front of them which made Gallus look at her in confusion and worried. “Silverstream?” Silverstream looked at both the Storm King shadow growling evilly and Lightning shaking in fear. Her shock face turned into an angry look as she shock in anger and her face turned red while growling angrily. She then walked towards the river. “Silverstream, what are you doing? That’s the Storm King! He’ll destroy you!” “I! Don’t! Care!” She said to Gallus before continuing her way to the medium rock. Lightning continued to shake in fear and hide his face in his hooves while The Storm King Shadow growled making him even more scared. Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice. “All right!” Lightning moved his face away from hooves, showing tears in his eyes, as he looked Silverstream flying above glaring angrily at The Storm King Shadow. “That about does it, Storm King! I have had just about enough of you! You may have taken our magic and made us go into hiding from you! But scaring my cute friend Lightning, that’s gone too far! I won’t have you scaring him and making him cry and feel like no creature will ever save him! So why don’t you take your stupid guards, your ugly look, and leave all the hippogriffs and Lightning Twister... ALONE!!!!” And with all of that said, Silverstream landed on the ground hardly which, again, made the rock build of Storm King and his four guards fall apart like before as Silverstream was now breathing hardly before calmly taking a deep breath in and out. “That’ll show him,” she said feeling proud of herself. Gallus flew up to Silverstream with both shock and amazed look on his face. “Silverstream…that, was amazing!” He said, “You stood up to The Storm King, again!” Silverstream rubbed her right claw in her fur chest proudly with a grin on her face. “He had it coming.” Gallus and Silverstream turned to Lightning who was bawling and running towards them. “Silverstream!” Lightning clung to Silverstream’s middle and bawled into her chest. Silverstream gently held Lightning and started rubbing his mane slowly. “Shh, shh…it’s okay, cutie,” whispered Silverstream softly, “I’m here, I’m here.” Silverstream gently picked Lightning up, stood up and walked towards a nearby boulder with Gallus following them. Silverstream slowly sat by the boulder, gently placed Lightning on her lap and continued to hug him and gently rub his mane in comfort. “Shh…I’m here, Lightning cutie. You’re safe now.” Sandbar, Yona, Smolder and Ocellus immediately made it into the same cave Silverstream, Gallus and Lightning were in as they saw the colt in the hippogriff’s arms. “Lightning!” The four said in relief before running up towards them. They gathered round Silverstream and looked at the poor colt sniffling in Silverstream’s fur chest. “What happened?” Asked Yona worriedly. “The shadow of The Storm King appeared and scared the little cutie,” answered Silverstream. They sadly looked at the poor colt as Sandbar then said, “Lightning, how did you get down here? Did somepony trapped you down here?” Lightning continued to hide his face in the hippogriff’s fur chest and nodded his head to answer the Earth pony’s question. “Who was it? Who did this to you?” Ocellus asked. Lightning unburied his face from Silverstream’s fur chest and looked at Ocellus before answering, “C-C-Cozy G-Glow.” “Cozy Glow,” Gallus said, “You sure, kid?” Lightning nodded slowly before burying his face into Silverstream’s fur chest again and continued to cry. The six looked at each other with angry looks on their faces. “We best tell Headmare Twilight about this,” said Smolder with the five nodding their heads in agreement. Silverstream gently placed Lightning onto her back and Smolder give Lightning his Bendy plushie back as he gently took it from her and hugged it. The Young Six began to make their way through the crystal cave, and back to the drain above. They got up through the drain hole one at a time as Sandbar placed the drain plate back into the hole and closing it tightly so nopony else can open it again. They then walked out of the library and towards the headmare’s office. > Comfort from Friends > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cozy Glow was walking across the hall way of the school, ignoring the angry looks on the students’ faces, looking proud of herself after what she did to Lightning. Not paying attention to where she was going, she bumped into two pair of hooves that were standing there as she walked back a bit before rubbing her head to where she bumped. After she had finish rubbing her head, she looked up and saw she bumped into a not so happy Oliver Sparkle as he looked down to her. This made Cozy panic, she figured that he may have known what she did, so she did what any student would often try to do, tell a lie. “Oh Professor Oliver,” she began, “I-I didn’t see there. How are you doing?” She then placed a hoof on her cheek while doing her cutie eyes move. “Don’t act like you didn’t do anything wrong young lady,” Oliver said angrily, “I know what you did to Lightning, and so does the others, thanks to Sandbar and his friends.” Cozy Glow grew a shock look on her face after hearing what he just said. The Young Six were the ones who told Headmare Twilight and the others about what she said and did to Lightning Twister. “My aunt would like to see you in her office right away.” “B-B-But Professor Oliver, I-It wasn’t me that....” “GET YOUR FLANK TO THE OFFICE!! NOW!!” Cozy did what she was told and walked towards Twilight’s office while Oliver followed her, making sure she doesn’t try to escape from going to the office. When she and Oliver got into the office, Cozy saw not only Twilight but also the mane five, Spike, Sunset, Starlight and the Young Six as they were all looking her angrily while Silverstream was holding Lightning in her right talon arm as he then hid his face in Silverstream’s fur chest after seeing her walk in. “Sit down, Cozy,” Said Twilight as she pointed to the chair that was in front of her desk. Cozy went to the chair and sat on before looking at the angry Headmare Twilight who began to speak. “I’m so not happy, Cozy Glow. Not, happy! Ask me why.” Cozy gulped nervously before speaking, “Why aren’t you happy?” “What you did today made me unhappy,” answered Twilight. “All the things you said to Lightning, about how he shouldn’t be friends with other creatures, and asking him to be on your side!” “AND trapping him in the crystal caves beneath this school!” Added Rainbow as she glared at the evil filly. “B-But it wasn’t just me who did it,” lied Cozy Glow, “Some other students helped me trap him in the caves cos they wanted the creatures gone as well.” Making sure if it was true or not, Twilight turned to Lightning who was still in Silverstream’s talon arm. “Lightning, was there anypony else with her even when she trapped you in those caves?” She asked. Lightning unburied his face from Silverstream’s chest as he looked at Twilight before shaking his head in response. “No, Auntie Twilight. There wasn’t anypony else with her. It was just her.” Twilight turned back to Cozy as her angry face grew bigger. “Did you actually think that was gonna get you out of this? You should know by now we can’t be fooled by lying, especially since Applejack’s the element of honesty! And another thing, why did you do all that to Lightning when he has done nothing to you?” “Why?” Cozy began to answer, “Why?! Because he’s a freak!” This made everycreature gasp in shock after what she just said as Lightning started to break down a bit and buried his face into Silverstream’s fur chest again as Silverstream began to stroke his back with her left talon arm in comfort. “He’s nothing but a crybaby as well! And he doesn’t understand that friendship isn’t magic, it’s power!” “That’s not true!” Said a voice. Cozy turned and saw it was Lightning who said it. “Friendship isn’t power, it’s magic. And the reason why I don’t believe it’s power, is because power can get me into trouble. And even if I did wanted power, what would it give me? I’ve have everything I could ever want. Somepony that I can call Momma.” Fluttershy smiled at her son as she felt a tear running down her face. “A real family, some friends, and a special somedragon.” That made Smolder blushed, but in a good way. “I never wanted power and get back at my daddy for what he did to me. And even if I did, then I’m the bad pony, not him.” “And he’s not a freak,” Ocellus said, “You just think that, because you think you’re special to any other colt and filly students around different schools and places. And Lightning’s right, power is nothing but trouble, and if he wants to believe that friendship is magic, then that’s his choice!” Everycreature, except for Lightning as his face was buried in Silverstream’s chest again, nodded in agreement. But all Cozy Glow has to say is, “‘Friendship is magic, not power’ blah blah blah blah! Well if I can’t get rid of him or get him to believe in friendship is power, then I’ll just find some other way, even with friends when I get some that speak my language!” She then flew as fast as she could towards the door, but was stopped by a dark golden grasp cage as it appeared out of nowhere. Cozy turned and saw it was John Constantine who just appeared two seconds to stop Cozy from getting away as his right hand was out while dark golden grasp wrapped around his hand keeping her in the cage. “Yeah I don’t think so love,” he said crossly, “Not on our watch.” “Good thing you’ve arrived just in time before she escaped,” said Oliver proudly. “It sure was, mate. Now let’s get you to Princess Celestia, I’m sure she’ll love to hear that you’ve ruined your chance to turn over a new leaf and make up for your mistakes.” He opened up a portal with his left hand as he went through it, with Cozy in the magical cage following him, as it then closed behind him. “And as for the rest of you,” said Twilight kindly as she turned to the Young Seven, “Since Cozy Glow has made you go through what has happened today, we’ve decided to let you all finish school early.” They all smiled at that since they needed a break after all of that. “Now why don’t you all go to Sugarcorner Corner and get yourselves a nice treat,” She suggested. They all nodded as Silverstream gently placed Lightning on her back before they all walked out of the office. As they made their way out of the school, Gallus asked Lightning, “Are you alright?” Lightning slowly shook his head in response. “I d-don’t know, Gallus. I just, can’t believe Cozy Glow would say all of that to me. And now, I’m starting to think I will become like her one day. And I will abandon you guys.” The Young Six stopped walking as Smolder gently picked Lightning up and held him on her claws. “Lightning cutie, she will never be like her, no matter what,” she said as she smiled at him, “You believe what friendship truly means to you.” “Yeah kid,” said Sandbar, “We all feel like we would do the same thing over and over again that we feel like we might go down the wrong path. But thanks to the magic of friendship, we now know we won’t become evil if we continue believing in friendship.” “Besides,” added Gallus, “You’re a great kid with a mother that loves you, Seven aunts, an uncle and us as your friends along with Spike and the cutie mark Crusaders. And you’re great of taking care of animals like your mother does, I mean I saw you during Professor Fluttershy’s lessons, I can’t feed birds with bird seeds in my claws without scaring them.” “You really mean it?” Asked Lightning with a smile on his face. “Of course we do,” Ocellus answered. “And we will always be your friends, forever. No matter what comes next,” Silverstream said. “Yona will always be little pony’s friend!” Added Yona. As Lightning smiled after hearing what his friends said to him, he felt tears of joy rolling down his faces. “Thank you so much, guys.” They all began to hug him all together as a group hug, “Thank you.” While still in the group hug, Silverstream whispered, “You’ll always be in our hearts, sweetie. Always.”