Scenes From a Life (Post-Villainy)

by Jade Ring

First published 14th of February, 2020

Glimpses into the lives of Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow after they settle down in Saddleburg.

The moments of our lives are fickle things. We never really know what moments we'll remember years down the road, and we surely have no idea how significant some moments can be until they're already long past.

For three former villains, a great number of moments occurred between their fateful meeting with the former Princesses of Equestria and their ultimate revenge on two callous ponies from Manehatten. Some moments were tiny, still others enormous, but there was one thing they all had in common; for this odd little family, they meant the world.

Step back and peer through the window at these moments, these scenes, in the lives of three creatures who united to destroy, but were bonded together forever by love.

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A collection of small scenes in the lives of Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow between the events of the first and second chapters of 'the Ending of the Beginning.' They'll be written in no particular order as I have no idea how far this story will go.

Got an idea, request, or suggestion for a scene? Comment below or message it to me!

Cover art borrowed from Flutterthrash

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Villain-Tines Day- "Tirek and Chrysalis have their first Hearts and Hooves Day."

Rules for Dating Our Teenage Daughter- "Tirek and Chrysalis have a heart to heart with one of Cozy Glow's suitors."

Mother (Figures) Day- “Cozy Glow has some questions about how Chrysalis really feels about Mares Day.”

Sixteen Tons- “Tirek gets a job.” Suggested by Animation Crusader

Pick On Somepony Your Own Size- “Cozy Glow gets some unexpected back-up when dealing with a bully.” Suggested by Ember Shroud

Upcoming Chapters;

The Imitation Game- “Chrysalis has mixed feelings about Cozy Glow’s choice in Nightmare Night attires.” Suggested by Vaguely Demented

We Need to Talk About Cozy- “Tirek and Chrysalis attend their first parent-teacher conference.” Suggested by Animation Crusader

Sleepovers 101- “Cozy Glow has Lily Vine and Mustard Seed over for her very first sleepover. Tirek and Chrysalis are unsure what to do.” Suggested by Green Cuppa

Decisions, Decisions- “Cozy Glow can’t decide what university to attend. Tirek and Chrysalis have an idea, but it comes with a heavy price.” Suggested by Wisp_of_a_Willow

And Many More - “Cozy Glow celebrates her first birthday with her new family.” Suggested by Penguin_Lord

Neigh-Borhood Watch- “The family’s neighbors debate their true intentions.” Suggested by ppg1998

The Sound of Little Hooves- “Chrysalis has something very important to discuss with her husband.” Suggested by K9Thefirst1

Progress Reports- “Chrysalis starts getting mail from an unexpected source.” Suggested by Frustration in Excelsis

Villain-Tines Day

Chrysalis shut the front door, shed her Shutterbug disguise in a flash of emerald fire, and stared incredulously at her husband. Normally when she returned from a photo-shoot, she would find him in the gym or catching an afternoon nap. Today he was standing in front of her, like he'd been waiting for her to arrive. And his hands were full. “What exactly am I looking at?”

Tirek cleared his throat and gently shook the offered box. “Chocolates.”

“Chocolates.” Chrysalis repeated. Her gaze slowly drifted to the object in the centaur’s other hand. “And these?”

“Roses.” Tirek’s smile was too wide, too toothy. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead.

“Roses.” Chrysalis nodded. “And why, pray tell, have you met me at the front door with chocolate and roses?”

Tirek shrugged. “I, uh, was told that it was the custom for Hearts and Hooves Day to give your loved one gifts. Specifically, flowers and candy.”

Chrysalis, who was far more familiar with the Equestrian holiday than her husband, couldn’t resist a small smile. “And who told you this? Cozy Glow?” Before Tirek could answer, she noticed the clouds of black smoke drifting from the direction of the kitchen. “Did she tell you there was anything else you needed to do? Traditionally speaking, of course.”

Tirek’s eyes flickered toward the kitchen. Another bead of sweat appeared. “She informed me that it was appropriate for the husband of the relationship to prepare a romantic dinner for two.”

“And then she left you in the kitchen to fend for yourself while she took off for a friend’s house. Didn’t even offer to help, even though she knows you’re more useless at cooking than I am.” Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “Honestly, I’d be irritated with her if I wasn’t so blasted proud of her.” Before Tirek could do something foolish, like apologize, she leaned forward and took a deep whiff of the roses. “They’re lovely. Thank you.”

Tirek visibly relaxed. “Not as lovely as you.”

“Did Cozy tell you to say that?”

A pause and the tenseness returned. “Not specifically, but...”

Chrysalis chuckled as she took the chocolates in her magic, placed them on the table beside the door, and started for the kitchen. “Well, I suppose we’d better see what we can salvage from all this. Can you put those in some water?”

“Aren’t you going to eat them?”

She gave him a withering look over her shoulder. “Ponies eat flowers. Do I look like a pony to you?”

“Not at the moment.” Tirek smirked. “But eventually…”

“Oh, how incredibly witty.” She shook her head as she entered the kitchen and took in the disaster that had overwhelmed her normally pristine cooking space. She scanned for any clue as to what Tirek had been attempting to cook. She spied a pot of burnt sludge on the stove and a tray of ashen vegetables beside it. A platter of fresh fruits sat whole and unattended by the sink, evidence of a panicking centaur becoming distracted from his task before they could be peeled and cut. She heard him join her and looked back again, this time with a much gentler smile. “You could’ve just ordered out. I wouldn’t have minded.”

“That was my exact thought after the soup caught fire.” Tirek muttered as he placed the vase of roses on the counter. “But you try finding someplace that delivers this late on this blasted holiday.”

Chrysalis giggled as she disengaged the burners and began dumping the burned remains of food down the garbage can. “Honestly, you didn’t have to do any of this. I’ve never really cared for Hearts and Hooves Day. Never had much time for it.”

“Why’s that?”

She shrugged. “It was the hive’s best hunting time. Easiest day of the year for us to sneak into some town, infiltrate a date or two, and drain some love. I’d always mock our prey’s devotion to this whole idea of being especially romantic on one given day…”

“So…” He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms about her, hugging her close. “Would you have preferred if I did nothing? Simply let the day go by as though nothing special was happening?”

She relaxed into his embrace with a sigh. “I probably wouldn’t have noticed if I’m being honest. Was there some reason you felt compelled to go through all of this?”

“Only that it seemed appropriate. We’re trying to lead normal lives, after all.” He leaned down and kissed the place where her horn met her mane. “This is the day where normally someone in my position needs to remind the one in your position how much you, and your love, mean to me.”

Chrysalis felt the familiar warmth of his love flow through her and she shuddered as her transforming flames once more washed over her, this time with no conscious decision on her part. In a flash, it was her creamy white reformed visage that Tirek held tight. “Ugh, I hate when you do this to me.”

“I know, but it’s like I always tell you; you look amazing to me no matter what form you hold.” Tirek gave her one last squeeze before releasing her and looking around the kitchen. “Alright, so; where do we begiAHHH!” He cried out as his wife tackled him and dragged him to the tiled floor. “But dinner!”

“It’s Hearts and Hooves Day.” Chrysalis leered over him and licked her lips. “And I want my dessert first.”

“…You left the chocolates in the other room. Should I fetch them?”

Chrysalis cut off his prattling with a hungry kiss. When they parted, she pressed her forehead to his and smiled. “I love you. Did you know that?”

Tirek returned the smile and brushed a strand of mane away from her face. “It’s nice to be reminded from time to time.” He pulled her in for another kiss, this one much slower. “Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Chryssy.”

“And to you, my darling.” Her face grew serious. “Now take me to bed before I take you right here.”

“As my queen demands.” He chuckled as he stood up, holding Chrysalis bridal style. She snuggled into his chest as he hurried down the hall to their bedroom. The door quickly shut once the pair had entered.

A moment later, the door cracked open just barely enough for a sock, bathed in green magic, to float out and wrap itself about the outer doorknob.

It was Hearts and Hooves Day, and Chrysalis was taking no chances.

Rules for Dating Our Teenage Daughter

The clock on the wall ticked steadily on, the only sound in the living room. A teenage earth pony stallion and a pegasus mare of the same age sat on one side of the coffee table. On the opposite side sat an adult unicorn mare of lime green and an enormous red centaur.

The elder pair glared daggers at the youth.

The young mare glared right back.

The young stallion was trying desperately not to cry. He was visibly terrified, his poor attempt at a brave face betrayed by his quivering lower lip and trembling hooves. His eyelid occasionally twitched, nearly in perfect time with the ticking clock.

The centaur’s gaze was impassive, calculating. Centuries of practicing deception (and several months of anger therapy a few years back) allowed him to hide his emotions so well that passing acquaintances often had no idea what he was really feeling at any given time. “How long have we known each other, Onyx?” Tirek sat back in his chair and crossed his enormous arms over his chest, peering at the silver stallion over the rim of his spectacles.

Onyx Bolt chewed his lip slowly. “Uh… almost ten years? Ever since you started helping out on the rock farm.”

Tirek nodded slowly. “I’m forever in your father’s debt, you know. If he hadn’t given me that job, it’s unlikely that we would have stayed in Saddleburg. You would never have become friends with Cozy Glow. We would have avoided this situation entirely.” Tirek’s reached over and lifted a foil package from Cozy Glow’s saddlebag and placed it on the coffee table’s surface. “That debt, by the way, is the only reason you’re still breathing right now.”

Onyx Bolt actually wasn’t breathing at that moment. He forced himself to begin breathing manually and did his best not to break eye contact with Tirek.

“Don’t let him scare you.” Cozy Glow rolled her eyes and shook her head. “He wouldn’t actually kill you. Probably just steal your magic and leave you as a husk.”

Onyx gaped at her.

“You know, that’s not a terrible idea…” Tirek scratched his chin as a familiar spell manifested over his head.

“And how would you explain that to his father?” Shutterbug asked her husband, her eyes still locked on her daughter’s.

Tirek huffed irritably, but the magic faded all the same.

“So.” Shutterbug curled her lip. “You’re dating now.”

“That’s one way of putting it.” Cozy Glow smirked. “Hey, here’s a question; should I start hanging socks off my doorknob now?”

Onyx blinked at his special somepony. “What does that have to do with…?”

The stallion might’ve been in the dark, but the young mare’s mother’s eyes flashed emerald with rage at the statement. “Young lady, if you think you can just start raising your tail in this house, then you’ve got another thing coming!”

“Dear-heart.” Tirek took his wife’s hoof in his hand and squeezed. “The issue here isn’t that Cozy and Onyx have… er, progressed to the next stage in their relationship.”

“It isn’t?” All three ponies said at once, staring at the centaur in shock.

“Not at all.” Tirek lifted the foil wrapper and examined it. “Fascinating devices you ponies come up with. This one little piece of rubber, and your chances of infection and accidental pregnancy drop exponentially. It’s genius, really.” He looked at his daughter warmly. “If anything, we should be proud that Cozy is being so responsible.”

Cozy returned the smile. “Thanks, papa.”

Shutterbug gaped at her husband. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, but I am.” His gaze hardened, letting his daughter know that she wasn’t quite off the hook just yet. “The issue is that she kept this a secret from us.”

Shutterbug jumped up and pointed an accusatory hoof at the two teenagers. “So we’re just going to be okay with this?”

“Of course.” Tirek shrugged. “They’re of age, and you know as well as I do how ponies get when the hormones start surging. We couldn’t stop them if we tried.”

Shutterbug’s eyes flashed again, this time with a bit of fire. “Can we at least try?”

“It would be fruitless. Cozy would simply find a way to outsmart us. Wouldn’t you, sweetie?”

“Yup.” Cozy nodded sagely.

“But from now on, you need to be honest with us. No sneaking around. No lies. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.” Cozy Glow shrank slightly. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“That’s quite alright. Isn’t it, dear?”

Shutterbug’s mouth crinkled with distaste, but ultimately she nodded. “It would be… hypocritical of me to stand between you and your development. Emotional or otherwise.” She settled back on the couch and sighed. “What you do with your body is your own business.”

“So long as you’re smart. And safe.” Tirek added.

“Y’know…” Cozy Glow gave her parents her best puppy dog eyes. “The safest place for Onyx and I would be here at the house…”

Onyx, who had been watching this entire exchange with a kind of detached horror, finally broke out of his trance. “Cozy, what are you…?!”

“You’re right, of course. But keep it contained to your room. And don’t make a mess.” Tirek flicked the wrapper to Cozy who caught it easily.

“And try to keep it down when your father and I are home.” Shutterbug sniffed.

“Psh, that’s rich coming from you.” Cozy Glow smirked at her mother.

Shutterbug glared… then returned the smirk. “Fair point.”

Tirek clapped his hands together. “ Now that this has all been settled, there’s just one final piece of business.” He turned his attention back to the young stallion. “We need to speak with your special somepony. Alone.”

Cozy Glow pouted. “Do you really have to?”

Tirek and Shutterbug nodded solemnly.

Onyx gulped.

“Don’t be scared.” Cozy Glow kissed his cheek and headed towards her bedroom. She looked back at her parents. “Don’t be scary.”

Tirek waited until he heard her door shut, then reached up and removed his glasses. “You’re the luckiest stallion in town. Do you know that?”

“Indeed.” Shutterbug stared a hole through the shivering stallion. “Our princess is one of a kind.”

“My wife and I have granted you quite the gift.” Tirek put a fist to his palm and cracked his knuckles. “And a gift like this should be treated with the utmost care.” He repeated the action with his other hand. “You will treat my daughter with respect, I trust?”

Onyx nodded slowly, noticing now the emerald sparks dancing at the end of Shutterbug’s hooves.

“Of course you will. And you won’t abuse the trust that we’ve placed in you, will you?” The flames licked their way up Shutterbug’s legs, leaving black exoskeleton in their wake.

Onyx shook his head quickly.

Tirek leaned forward, his immense red bulk filling the stallion’s view and making him shrink back into the couch. “That’s very good. Because if you ever hurt her…”

A black nightmare materialized on Tirek’s shoulders and hissed at the terrified teenager through razor sharp fangs. “We’ll hurt you!”

Onyx’s paralysis broke and he bolted from the room. Before he could reach the front door, Cozy Glow blasted out of her bedroom and tackled the panicking stallion. She flapped her wings and carried his twitching body towards her room, glaring at her parents. “I said don’t be scary!”

Tirek and Chrysalis shared a look.

“Were we scary?” Tirek asked, putting his glasses back on.

“Of course we weren’t scary.” Chrysalis chuckled as she once again assumed the shape of Shutterbug. “How scary can we possibly be? We’re reformed.”

The pair laughed together as they started for the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Mother (Figures) Day

The door to the room of the spa that held the mud baths finally clicked shut, and Cozy Glow cracked open an eye. Ensuring the coast was clear, she looked over at the room’s sole other occupant. “Alright. You’re good.”

No response.

The young mare, barely out of fillyhood, sat up slightly, shifting the warm mud-like mixture in which she sat. “Mom? You can change back now.”

“Hmm?” The mare called Shutterbug stirred in her own mud bath and used her magic to lift a cucumber slice from her eye. “Oh, sorry. I nearly dozed off there.” The mud bubbled like boiling water as emerald flames coated the mare. When they faded, the former Queen of the Changelings sank further back with a sigh. “I really needed this after that last batch of school pictures…”

Cozy Glow arched an eyebrow as she noticed which form Chrysalis had chosen. “Wow, you really are relaxed, aren’t you?”

Chrysalis’ magic once again lifted the (now slightly singed) cucumber slice from her eye and grimaced as she beheld the creamy white of her purified form.

Cozy Glow giggled as she settled back into her own mud bath. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell Papa.”

“You’d better not.” Chrysalis floated the vegetable slice into her mouth and chewed slowly. “It would be terrible to have to kill you on Mares Day.”

The two former villains shared a laugh before sliding into a relaxed silence. After a while, it was Cozy Glow who sat up again. “Mom?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you remember our first Mares Day?”

Chrysalis smiled wistfully. “How could I forget? You brought me that card you made in class, your father brought me breakfast in bed…”

“...Followed by the two of you kicking me out of the house for an hour…” Cozy Glow muttered.

Chrysalis continued like she hadn’t heard her. “And then you told me about the Mares Day special at the town’s new spa.” She sighed as she shifted in the mud. “So it’s been for the past two years. It looks like we accidently created a family tradition.”

“Well, I don’t see why part of the tradition has to be me having to entertain myself for an hour after I make you breakfast.”

Chrysalis smirked as her mind was filled with images of bulging red biceps. “You have your way of showing appreciation on Mares Day, and your father has his.” Something clicked and she sat up, barely catching the remaining cucumber slice. “Wait. You make me breakfast in bed?”

Cozy Glow rolled her eyes. “You really think papa knows how to make heart shaped pancakes? Papa? Who somehow manages to set fire to juice?”

Chrysalis glared as she plopped the slice into her mouth. “And all this time he’s been bragging about how hard he works on those pancakes…”

Cozy Glow giggled as she raised a hoof from the mud and examined it. “Can I ask you something?”

Chrysalis, who really just wanted to sink back into the mud and plot her imminent vengeance on her deceitful husband, swallowed her cucumber and nodded. “If you must.”

“Why has this place become our Mares Day thing? I mean, the mud bath and the massage, I get. But why do you bother with the hooficure? Or getting our manes done?”

“I can’t enjoy getting my mane done?”

“Well, sure you can. But it’s not your actual mane. You’re disguised the whole time.” Cozy Glow shrugged. “I guess I don’t understand why you spend bits on something that’s just an illusion.”

Chrysalis was quiet for a moment. “You… you stopped calling me ‘Mama.’”

Cozy Glow looked over sharply. “What?”

“You still call Tirek ‘Papa,’ but for the past few months I’ve just become ‘Mom.’”

“Okay…” Cozy Glow wasn’t quite following.

“It’s something I thought I’d be used to by now. My other children… my hive, I mean… when they were tiny larva they’d call me ‘Mommy.’ Then they’d grow, and a few would just call me ‘Mom.’ Before I knew it, I was just ‘Your Highness.’”

“You definitely don’t have to worry about me calling you that.” Cozy Glow offered with a small smile.

“It’s just…” Chrysalis sighed. “I never realized how much I would enjoy actual, real motherhood. Not just being a queen surrounded by drones that just happened to hatch from my eggs. It was my love for you as a daughter that caused this…” She gestured at her reformed visage. “…just as much as my love for your father did. I’ve done my best to be an actual mother for the first time in my life, and I hope I’ve done a good job…”

“You have!” Cozy Glow leaned forward. “You’re the best, Mom!”

“I just didn’t realize how fast you’d grow up. And now all of a sudden, I’m not ‘Mama.’ I’m just ‘Mom.’” She sank into the mud. “I thought I’d have more time…”

Cozy Glow sprang from the mud and crossed the room with a single flap of her wings. She landed in Chrysalis’ tub with a wet splat and hugged her mother tightly. “Do you want me to go back to calling you ‘Mama?’”

Chrysalis returned the embrace and smiled. “I want you to call me whatever you want. And I want to keep coming here every Mares Day. A few bits for a hooficure and a mane cut I could do myself with magic is a small price to pay for a special day with my daughter.”

Cozy Glow pulled back and smiled. “Happy Mares Day, Mom.”

Chrysalis smiled back. “Thank you. I love you.”

“Love you more.” A smirk began to creep across Cozy Glow’s face. “So, you want me to call you whatever I want, right?”

“Within reason.” Chrysalis sniffed. “And please don’t become one of those children who calls their parents by their first name.”

“Whatever you want…” Cozy Glow started to rise from the tub. “…Your Highness.”

“Oh, you little…!” Chrysalis lunged for her daughter, but the filly was already airborne. The changeling gave chase, and soon the two mares were racing around the room, laughing and giggling as mud fell like dark rain to the floor below.

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Tirek looked over the bill in his hand at the pair of mares before him. “It says here that we wouldn’t have to pay this if the two of you had just cleaned up your own mess.”

“Psh, and spend Mares Day cleaning? Where’s the fun in that?” Cozy Glow rolled her eyes. She looked at her mom and winked. “Besides, what’s a few extra bits for a special day with my Mom?”

Chrysalis smiled, her heart full to bursting.

Tirek smiled as well. “That’s a lovely sentiment, and I’m glad you feel that way.” He passed her the bill so she could read the amount. “Because that’s coming out of your allowance.”

Cozy Glow looked at the amount and her eyes shot open. “On second thought, maybe you can put a price on a special Mares Day…”She muttered as she made her way to her room.

Tirek’s grin faltered when he saw his wife’s smile fading as she looked at him. “What?”

“Oh nothing. But we do need to have a little talk later.” Her eyes flashed dangerously. “About heart shaped pancakes.”

The enormous centaur suddenly felt very small. “Uh… I love you?” He felt himself shrink further when her expression didn’t change. “I’m in trouble, aren’t I? And not the fun kind.”

“That depends.” Chrysalis nodded towards the kitchen. “Let’s see what you can cook up for dinner.”

Tirek very nearly galloped from the room, and soon the sound the pots and pans could be heard.

Chrysalis sighed in contentment as she settled back on the couch and closed her eyes. “It’s good to be the queen…”

Sixteen Tons (Suggested by Animation Crusader)

Gray Gravel’s rock farm had been in his family for generations. Sometimes, when he lost control and got too deep into his cups, he’d often brag that Saddleburg had in fact been founded because of the family rock farm. Rock farming was an art, an exact science, and he was immensely proud to be the patriarch of one of the only two rock farming families in the whole of the world.

But it was because rock farming was so difficult that times were getting tough for his little family. Crusher, his strongest worker, had up and left town a month back to seek his fame and fortune in the burgeoning world of professional wrestling, and there were now a number of large boulders on the property that nopony could move. Time was of the essence, and if those boulders weren’t moved and positioned perfectly, the entire harvest could be undone. Gravel had been getting desperate, had almost reached the point of swallowing his pride and sending a request for aid to the distant Pie family.

Then he’d found the note on his door requesting a job interview long after sunset.

Truth be told, he’d had no idea what to expect when he heard the knock on his office door just before midnight. And even with those wide-open expectations, he’d still been caught off guard when the door opened and an enormous red centaur had stepped in and sat heavily in the chair in front of his desk.

Gravel swallowed hard. “You… Ahem. You sent the note, I take it?”

“I did. Or rather, I had my wife drop it off for me.” The centaur smiled uneasily. “She’s able to blend in with you ponies more easily than I.”

“Strange… I think I would recall seeing a lady centaur traipsing across the fields.”

“Oh, she’s no centaur. Just a normal pony.” He chuckled lowly. “Sometimes.”

Gravel, who had no idea what could be amusing about the sentence and was still considering the possibility of running screaming from the room, forced a few small chuckles of his own. “Well, I’m here. And what is it I can do for you, Mister…?”

“Tirek. Lord Tirek.” The centaur reached out a huge hand.

Gravel barely swallowed the scream, got hold of his nerves, and extended his hoof. They shook carefully, and Gravel audibly sighed in relief when his appendage was free of the iron grip of the monster before him. “Lord?”

“Well, not anymore. I suppose it’s just Tirek now. That’s going to take some getting used to.”

“Well, the question stands; what can I do for you, Mister Tirek?”

“I need a job.”

The statement sounded so absurd, so comical, coming from the imposing beast before him that Gravel very nearly burst into laughter. He caught himself, turning the first giggle into a cough. “A job?”

“Yes. A job.” Tirek sat back in the chair, apparently not noticing the audible creak as it strained under him. “My family has recently relocated to Saddleburg, and I need to bring in some bits while my wife gets her business going.”

“And her business is…?”

“Photography. She’s quite good. I have little doubt that she’ll do well once word gets around, but we will need money before then.”

Gravel nodded slowly. “And what is your skillset, Mr. Tirek?”

Tirek only raised an eyebrow… and flexed his arms.

Gravel considered, then nodded. “Alright, I’m listening.”

“I’ve been watching your farm the past few days. I’ve seen some large boulders that neither you nor any of your farmhands are able to move. I can move those boulders, Mister Gravel. Those, and more. Any kind of heavy lifting on your rock farm, I can do with ease.”

“An interesting thought.” Gravel leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling. “I don’t suppose you’d intend to work in the daytime, like the rest of the hands?” He looked back at Tirek and smiled. “You’d make quite the spectacle. I reckon the Pies don’t have a centaur workin’ for them.”

“I’d prefer not to.” Tirek actually looked somewhat embarrassed. “My family and I, we… we’re trying to lie somewhat low. I’d hate to attract any unnecessary attention.”

“…Are you in some kind of trouble, Mister Tirek?”

Tirek bit the inside of his cheek. “I… we… My family has done some… bad things in the past, Mister Gravel. We can’t change that. All we want is a fresh start, the chance to build something new.”

“And what’s that?”

“A home. Surely you can understand that.”

Gray Gravel did understand. “So you’ll wanna work at night. And I suppose you’ll also want me to pay you under the table.” When he saw the uncomprehending look in the centaur’s eyes, he smiled. “So there’s no paper trail.”

Tirek returned the smile. “Yes, that would be preferred.” He leaned forward. “So… does this mean I have the job?”

Gravel thought about the possible loss of the harvest. He thought about the ponies who depended on him, from his family to his field hands. He thought about acting in a borderline illegal way in order to pay an apparent fugitive from justice.

He thought about how much courage it must have taken for this powerful being to throw himself down to this level, just to provide for his family.

Gravel extended his hoof once again, and this time there was no hesitation. “Let’s give it a shot.”

Tirek grinned shook the offered hoof gratefully. “You won’t regret this, Mister Gravel.”

“Please, call me Gray.”

“Only if you call me Lord Tirek.”

Gravel froze.

“I’m kidding.”

The two shared a laugh and spent the next few minutes hashing out the details; hours of work, rate of pay, and the like. Once everything was sealed with another shake, the two stood and made for the office door. “So your wife’s trying to be the new town photographer. I’m sure that’ll work out. Ya’ll have any kids?”

“One.” Seeing the question on Gravel’s face, he answered it before it could be asked. “She’s a pegasus. Adopted.”

“School-aged?”

“Yes. That’s a major reason we decided to settle here. Your school system is quite superb.”

“I’ll be sure to pass the compliment to my cousin, seein’ as how she’s the superintendent.” Gravel opened the door for his new employee. “My youngest, Onyx Bolt… I’m sure he’d love to show her around once school starts back up.”

“I’m sure Cozy would enjoy that.” Tirek paused at the door and looked at his new employer. “Thank you, Gray. Not many ponies would take a chance on… on someone like me.”

Gravel shrugged. “What you did before you came to Saddleburg ain’t any concern of mine, Tirek. I look at you, and you know what I see?”

“A monster?”

“A husband and a father. Somepony who just wants to do right by his own.” He tapped his hoof against the solid muscle of the centaur’s arm. “Somepony like me.”

Tirek smiled and nodded. “See you tomorrow night, then.”

“Bright and early. Er… or whatever the opposite of that is.” Gravel closed the door behind the centaur and trotted back to his desk. With shaking hooves, he opened a drawer, pulled out a bottle of clear liquid, and took a long, burning drink. The liquor steadied his nerves somewhat, and he breathed out in relief.

He was sure that things were going to work out, and that Tirek fella really did seem like a genuinely good guy…

…but stars above, was he ever intimidating.

Gray Gravel took one more swig, then capped the bottle and put it back where he found it. He hopped back into his chair, opened his ledger, and started making notes.

It looked like the harvest was going to be just fine after all.

Pick On Somepony Your Own Size (Suggested by Ember Shroud)

Cozy Glow gulped as she took another step back. “Look, it’s really nothing special. Just a couple daisy sandwiches. I’m sure whatever you have is better.”

The dark yellow earth pony advanced another step. “It’s not about what the lunch is, pipsqueak. I want it, and that means you give it over.”

The pale green unicorn to Cozy’s left removed her glasses and cleaned them on her coat. “I’d do what she says, new girl. Mustard Seed’s been known to leave little fillies like you smeared in the dirt.”

Cozy Glow grimaced. She’d felt this confrontation coming all day, ever since Mustard Seed had laid eyes on her. She knew her type. She’d dealt with this kind of thing before. Just because some fillies happened to be a little taller than others, they thought they could throw their weight around. Because of her small size and innocent appearance, Cozy always looked like an easy mark.

In the past, this assumption of weakness had been easily rectified. What Cozy lacked in stature, she made up for deviousness. How many would-be bullies had found themselves suspended from school on trumped up charges? How many had suddenly found themselves facing the wrath of their parents after a sudden and unexpected raucous house party?

But that was the old Cozy Glow. New Cozy Glow couldn’t do things like that. She, like her parents, had been reformed, and that meant finding non-evil solutions to every day issues.

Still, a little evil would have been quite useful against the glaring filly that now loomed over her.

Cozy Glow sighed and handed over the bag. This wasn’t worth the fight. Besides, Chrysalis’ cooking was still so subpar, there was a very good chance that the daisies in her sandwiches would still contain dirt from the garden from which they’d been plucked. “Is that it? Can I go now?”

“What? Don’t you wanna watch me eat your lunch?”

“…Not really?”

“Tough.” Mustard Seed chuckled as she went to open the bag. She paused, the laughed again. “Y’know, on second thought, I already ate today.” And, to Cozy Glow’s surprise, she went to hand the bag back.

Before she realized the trap she’d fallen into, the bag was already on the ground. “Wait…”

Mustard Seed brought her hoof down on the bag in one smooth motion, grinding her hoof into the paper and obliterating the contents.

The green unicorn clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Don’t feel bad. We’ve all fallen for that one.”

Cozy sighed and turned to leave. Maybe if she ran, she could get home for something small before lunch was…

“Where do ya think you’re going, pipsqueak?” Mustard Seed growled as she moved to block her path.

Cozy Glow rolled her eyes and pointed at the remains of the bag. “You crushed my lunch. I’m going to grab something else.”

“Why?” Mustard Seed raised her hoof and shook the debris free in front of its original owner. “You’ve still got your lunch right here.”

“I…”

“Eat it.”

Cozy Glow blinked. “…what?”

“I said…” Mustard Seed raised herself to her full height and looked down on the filly. “Eat it.”

Cozy Glow bit the inside of her lip. “…Or what?”

The green unicorn took a step back. “Be smart, new girl.”

“Eat it, or you’ll be eating dirt.”

Cozy Glow had gone toe to toe with the most powerful magic users in Equestria. She’d been transformed into an alicorn. She’d literally wielded the power of a god. And now this simple little pony was threatening her? Cozy Glow’s red eye twitched. Reformation be damned, this filly was asking for it. “You’re gonna make me eat dirt?”

“That’s right.” Mustard Seed raised a hoof to strike. “And after that, you’ll be eatin’ through a straw.”

A familiar smirk twitched at the edges of Cozy Glow’s lips. She wanted this filly to swing. She wanted an excuse, any excuse, to show her just who she was dealing with. She forced away the smirk and put on her best fake pout. “Golly, please don’t beat me up! I’m so small and helpless!”

Mustard Seed grinned triumphantly. “Are ya gonna eat it then?”

The pout vanished like smoke. A look of smugness took its place. “Nope.”

The green unicorn’s jaw dropped. “New girl, you’ve got salt.”

Mustard Seed snorted. She drew back her hoof…

“Cozy Glow! Is that filly messin’ with you?” Three heads turned at the sound of a rough Manehatten accent. They watched as a teen mare with a jet black coat floating down from above, her pink and silver accented mane done up in a very expensive haircut. She popped her gum as she landed, sizing up the situation. “Everything okay here, cuz?”

“Cuz?” Cozy Glow cocked her head in confusion. “Who are…?”

The young mare looked back at Cozy Glow and winked… revealing a familiar flash of emerald green.

“Uh… yeah. Everything’s fine, cousin…” Cozy spared a glance at the teen’s flank to check her cutie mark. “Ampersand?”

“Hey, don’t be usin’ my full name like that. You call me Amp, like all my other fans.”

“Fans?” The green unicorn peered at the new arrival over her glasses. “Are you famous?”

“Not yet, but I’m gonna be. When my band takes off, everypony’s gonna know the name Amp… and her cousin Cozy Glow of course.” She rounded on Mustard Seed and loomed over her. “Do you have any idea who you were pickin’ on just now?”

Mustard Seed lowered her hoof and looked away pointedly. “I wasn’t pickin’ on nobody.”

“Good. Because it’d be really bad if you were pickin’ on this one here.” Amp wrapped Cozy Glow in a hug and noogied her mane. “Cozy Glow was the coolest girl in her class back in Manehatten. Toughest, too. One time, a manticore attacked the school and it was my cuz here who sent it packin.’”

“Wow.” The green unicorn whispered.

“A manticore, huh?” Mustard Seed sniffed and shuffled her hooves. “That’s pretty cool, I guess.”

Amp let Cozy Glow down and looked at the smashed bag of food. “What happened here?”

“I offered to share my lunch with Mustard Seed and it fell.” Cozy Glow answered rapidly. “Then it got stepped on. No big deal.” She looked at Mustard Seed and lifted her brows. “Right?”

“Yeah. No big deal.” Mustard Seed nodded.

“Alright. Well if you three are good then I’ve gotta bounce. It was nice helpin’ you and your folks settle in, but I’ve gotta get back to the city.” She spread her wings and looked around. “Nice meeting you, Mustard Seed. And you…” She stared at the green unicorn. “Uh…”

“Lily Vine.” She answered quickly.

“Lily Vine. Nice meetin’ you.” She flapped her wings and lifted off.

“Hey, Amp; can I talk with you real quick?” Cozy Glow flapped her own wings and followed. When they were safely a few dozen feet up, Cozy Glow gave her ‘cousin’ a quick hug. “Thanks for that, mama.”

“You’re just lucky I realized that I forgot to wash those daisies before I made your lunch.” Chrysalis said in her usual voice, the vibrating tones clashing with her disguised appearance. “Speaking of…” Her currently invisible horn flashed and a small sack of bits appeared in Cozy’s outstretched hoof. “I was going to tell you to not spend all that, but…” She spared a quick glance down. “Maybe you should buy something to share with your new friends.”

“Friends?” Cozy looked down to see that Mustard Seed and Lily Vine were chatting animatedly and looking up at the floating pair.

“You just got a coolness endorsement from a band-leading Manehatten teenager. That’s all a pony like Mustard Seed needs to know that you’re alright.” She smiled. “And from what I saw, that Lily Vine was already impressed with how well you stood your ground.”

Cozy Glow looked away. “I… I almost…”

“I know.” Chrysalis reached out and turned Cozy Glow’s face back to hers. “But you didn’t. And that’s what matters.”

The two ponies hugged, and ‘Amp’ flew away with a wave. Cozy Glow watched her leave, then floated back down to the other two fillies.

“Wow, new girl.” Lily Vine looked in the direction the other mare had flown. “Your cousin is pretty cool.”

“Yeah.” Cozy Glow smiled. “She is. And my name is Cozy.” She turned to Mustard Seed and reached out a hoof. “Cozy Glow.”

Mustard Seed hesitated… then extended her own hoof and bumped it with the pink one. “Lily’s right. You’ve got some salt.”

“It runs in the family.” She jangled the bag of bits. “You girls want to get a milkshake after school?”

A chorus of affirmation followed, and the three new friends headed back into the schoolhouse for the second half of the day.