I walk outside while I wait for Sunset to catch up. She lingers behind me, still in the house, saying goodbye to the rest of her friends.

Meanwhile, I am shaking with fear and fury. Since my back is to them, I do not hide my true feelings on my face for the moment. My fists clench and shake to my sides. My eyes narrow as I glare forward with anger.

What are you up to, Twilight Sparkle? Why are you trying to take my mother away from me? What did I ever do to you?

Probably nothing, at least not directly, but Twilight fears that I might do to my mother, or any of her friends, what my counterpart must have done in her own Horse-Land universe.

Whatever it is, I want to deny it but, in truth, I actually do have some dark ambitions in my world. Things that need correcting. Wrongs that must be set right.

If Twilight decides to warn Sunset about her foreboding feelings and Sunset uses her magical mind-reading powers, it's all over. Everything that I've built up for years may be ruined.

I cannot let that happen! Princess Twilight Sparkle must be stopped!

I close my eyes and bow my head as I seethe in anger.

I don't know what it is that has you so worked up about me, Twilight, but I cannot let you interfere with my plans. You think you are afraid of me now? Just wait till you see what I'm really capable of! I'll give you a reason to fear me, and more!

“Okay, then. You ready to go there, Squirt?” Sunset asks in a friendly tone as she approaches behind me.

I open my eyes as I glare forward once again, then that expression instantly wipes away as I turn to face her, replaced with a smile so wide that I close my eyes.

“Golly-gumdrops, Professor! I sure am!” I say brightly.

“Here.” Sunset Shimmer thrusts another helmet at me. In this case, a black helmet with red flames streaming back on the sides of it. “Put this on. I know it sucks considering your hair-do, but it is the law.”

“Yeah. I'm aware of that,” I say a little morosely. Before I accept it, I stare a bit trepidatiously at her hand that's offering the helmet for a moment.

Just one touch . . .

“Um, gee-whiz, Professor, do you still have that pretty little stone on you?” I ask her in a hopeful voice. “I'd sure love to see it again, if you do.”

“Huh?” She tilts her head to her side in momentary confusion, then she realizes something. “Oh! Do you mean my magic stone?”

“Uh-huh!” I nod enthusiastically. “Horse-Land magic fascinates me! After seeing your old friend Princess Twilight, it reminded me of those pretty stones. Can I see yours?”

Meanwhile, before she says anything, I take a split-second to contemplate an excuse to ditch her if she does indeed reveal the stone.

I calm down when I notice Sunset look apologetic, then she says, “I'm sorry, Cozy, but I don't have it on me. As a matter of fact, I'm not allowed to bring it to campus anymore now that I work there as a teacher. It's considered an ethical violation of the students' privacy. Also, many citizens in town are really paranoid about Equestrian magic.

“Look,” she leans down over me a bit, placing her hand, which is still holding her helmet, on her knees in the process. “I love that you are fascinated with Equestrian magic. If it were up to me, I'd teach you everything you want to know about it. Hell, I'd even teach you how to use it if it were possible. Like, say, if you were a unicorn.”

Sunset reaches forward with her free hand and gently pats my head. I try hard to resist flinching at her touch, and I believe I succeed. Sunset doesn't seem the wiser.

“Alas, we can't do that in our circumstances. What with some parents being all up in arms about Equestrian magic or the fact that you are not a unicorn.”

My eyes shift to my side for a brief moment as a jealous pang hits me while I say, “Princess Twilight Sparkle says that my pony counterpart is a pegasus. I guess that means I'll never know magic on that level.”

“That's not true!” Sunset argues.

I look back at her in surprise. “It isn't?”

“Sure, she might be a pegasus, but you can be anything you want to be, Cozy Glow. You are your own unique individual.

“Your soul radiates with your own special light and song. If you want to experience Equestrian magic,” she pressed her free hand firmly into my chest, “then feel it here, inside of you. Magic exists within us all, Cozy, so it's inside you too.

“You're a very special girl, Cozy, and you're going to make an amazing woman someday. When the world sees what you can really do, the light that shines in your heart will brilliantly beam for all to see!”

“You really mean that, Professor?” I ask her hopefully.

Sunset stands up straight as she says, “Absolutely! I mean that with all of my heart!”

Okay, this is why Professor Sunset Shimmer is considered one of the coolest professors in Canterlot High. There really is a magical quality to her presence and her absolutely genuine, radiant smile she passes onto others that makes people feel like they can fly too.

Just like a pegasus.

She offers the helmet to me again, but does not insist. She does not press it against me, it is merely held in front of me. It is just a choice.

I take the helmet.

“Thank you, Professor, for believing in me. I mean that from the bottom of my fuzzy-wuzzy little heart,” I happily and sincerely express to her. “You make us all feel special, which is exactly what's special about you.”

“Hey! It's my job to inspire young minds to be their best, and I know you're going to continue to be amazing! It really is an honor for me to watch you grow up, Cozy Glow.”

I smile at her very warmly.

“Not to mention,” she thumbs to my house behind her, “there is the fact that you make my friend here overwhelmingly happy and proud of you every single day. That alone is a big plus in my book. You really do complete her, Cozy. I'm so happy to see that!”

“I feel the same way,” I say as I lower my gaze to my feet and shuffle them a bit. Being hyper sincere always bothers me for some reason, almost as if it is a sign of weakness or makes me vulnerable somehow.

“I know you do,” Sunset agrees. “Which is why I'm so happy to see you together whenever I can.

“So come on! Let's get to school together and see what else we can learn today.”

For a brief moment I look up at her with sadness and regret, but I quickly wash it away behind a semi-fake and bright smile. “Sure thing, Professor!”

* * *

My glasses are not a computer unto themselves, but it can connect to one. Via that link, I am able to see any information that my cellphone has on it. While I ride with Professor Sunset Shimmer, however, I grow content to just listen to music instead. Not only can my glasses reveal hidden information only to the wearer of them, but it also sonically vibrates the ear canals just above the ear. Because of that, I could intensely hear what the glasses projected, but no one else has a chance to.

I blink twice rapidly. That made the glasses engage eye tracking mode. During that time, I see a red dot directly on whatever menu I happen to be staring at. Just like a mouse, blinking my right eye during this mode does the equivalent of a right mouse click while blinking my left eye does a left click. Using this method, I navigate to one of the earlier songs recorded by the Dazzlings, then I left “blink” at it in order to play it. Once that is done, I blink twice to turn eye tracking mode of the glasses back off.

“(Sung by all three Dazzlings): Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh

You didn't know that you fell

Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh.

(Adagio only): Now that you're under our spell.”

I close my eyes and imagine dancing in front of the Dazzlings, except they are my backup dancers and singers. Meanwhile, I am the one swaying my hips and posing in front of an enthralled, cheering crowd.

“(Adagio): Blindsided by the beat

Clapping your hands, stomping your feet

You didn't know that you fell

(Dazzlings): Oh-whoa-oh . . . oh-oh

(Adagio): Now you've fallen under our spell.”

I feel the beat and continue to sway my hips hypnotically in front of the crowd in my mind. The crowd falls under my spell, leaving me with the thrill of feeling in absolute control. The wills and minds of the crowd are mine to command, ready to be molded like clay. If they are all going to be stupid, mindless sheep anyway, then they might as well be led by someone who can bring them greater prosperity in the long run.

Just like the lead singer Adagio Dazzle, my mental projection slowly and seductively waves my hands in front of the crowd. As I do so, I behold that the crowd is enchanted as they look upon me and the Dazzlings behind me. I can feel my ego swell as the welling of power rises up from the pit of my stomach.

“(Dazzlings): Oh-whoa-oh . . . oh-oh-oh.

We've got the music, makes you move it

Got the song that makes you lose it

We say 'jump', you say 'how high?'

Put your hands up to the sky.”

The song repeats some of the lyrics in my head, vibrating on me due to the glasses. As the song continues, so does my daydream.

The daydream later breaks somewhat when we reach a red light. Since my head is turned to the side and looking to my right, I behold a reflection of us from a window on a building. I marvel at the image of myself hugging Sunset Shimmer from behind. As I gaze upon that reflection, I feel pleasure because of how cute I actually look while holding her that way. At the same time, the imagery reminds me of how much I love her.

There is an irony to the fact that I identify so much with the songs, feelings and power of one of Sunset Shimmer's numerous enemies, and yet I am hugging this woman who defeated the Dazzlings for real, and I am doing it with all sincerity. I admire Sunset for her earlier victories because I also respect her opponents in this case. They were powerful. In order to beat them, it must have taken incredible willpower, but Sunset managed it. That is how strong old Shimmy really is.

And now I'm holding her. Hugging her from behind. It makes me feel so happy!

I momentarily squeeze Sunset in loving appreciation. In response, she looks over her right shoulder at me. From her angle, she probably barely saw the edge of my helmet, but as I look back up at her, I see that same warm and friendly smile that always sets my soul ablaze.

* * *

Sunset Shimmer drops me off a few blocks from school. I climb off her motorcycle and hand back the helmet she loaned me. While she secures the spare helmet on her bike, I pull out my cellphone from my purse, the very same cellphone that my glasses have a bluetooth connection to.

The cellphone itself has a rubber case around it that makes it look like a Care Bear with the cellphone screen being the belly of the beast. Once I activate the screen, I enable camera mode and direct it inward towards the user of the phone. That, in turn, gives me a sort of mirror to work with as I pat my head in an attempt to assess the damage to my curly hair, maybe even repair some of the damage.

“I'm sorry to drop you off here but, since I'm not your mother, it might not look too good if I drive onto campus while hauling a student from our school. It might give others the wrong impression,” Sunset explains as an apology.

“Oh, I know, Professor. That's why I didn't ask.”

I tilt my head from side to side and also turn my head left and right. It surprises me to find that very little damage control is necessary for my hair. It seems we got lucky this time.

Looks good.

Finishing, I return my cellphone back to my purse then regard Sunset Shimmer who is still in front of me as if waiting for something. Hell if I know what.

“You okay, Professor?”

“I was wondering about you.”

I tilt my head at her in confusion. “Really? Why the concern, Professor?”

Sunset shook her head. “I don't know. It's just a feeling.”

At first she is looking down, then focuses on me with a bit of a grin. “I bet it was radical to see two versions of your mother sitting in the kitchen this morning.”

I take a deep breath then release it slowly, hissing through my teeth in the process, then I say, “Yeah. I'll admit that one caught me off guard this morning, but I was aware of the existence of the pony version of my mother for years now.

“This sure is swell, like something out of a fairy-tale. My mother is a princess in another magical land of horses? I didn't believe it at first but, when she gave me evidence, I felt more than a little giddy at this discovery.

“My mother already felt so dear to my heart when she adopted me. It felt like overkill to discover even more evidence of why she's so special. I don't know why she chose to accept me into her home but I am infinitely grateful.”

“She accepted you because you're special too, Cozy!” Sunset assures me warmly. “Take heart in that because it's true.”

“Oh golly! Gee-whiz!” I fold my hands behind my back and tilt my body slightly, now leaning more on my left foot and partially aiming my left shoulder at her. From there, I sway slightly. “Thanks, Professor! You really are the coolest teacher in the world aside from my mother. I really mean that!”

I really do.

“It's the truth,” Sunset said casually with a simple shrug, then she realizes something. “Uh . . . I mean about the part of you being special . . . although the other thing you said is also true. I am pretty darn cool, aren't I?”

“Yes indeedy!” I cheer so brightly that I close my eyes for a brief moment.

Sunset seems to look across the gauges on her motorcycle as if assessing something about it, but I can tell she is thinking inwardly about something else. I have the feeling that whatever information Twilight was withholding from me, Sunset might be aware of it as well.

“Um, Professor?” I bring up very timidly.

“Yes?”

When Sunset Shimmer looks back at me, the look in her eyes momentarily leaves me breathless. She stares back at me with such vibrant passion and compassion in her eyes. I can tell, from the looks of her, that she honestly cares for my well-being, quite likely to the degree similar to love. It amazes me to see. Sunset Shimmer looks so radiant and alive!

I pause a moment and quickly debate to myself. I want to fish for more answers about why Princess Twilight was so reserved and nervous with me, but they probably don't know that I'm on to them. All that can quickly change, however, if I make my concerns evident to Sunset. Whatever she knows, she is likely to report it to her “friends” for “my own good”, as I'm sure they'd phrase it.

I weigh the risks carefully and quickly, then decide it's too soon to reveal my hand. I'm going to let this one sit for a while and see how it goes. Another opportunity may present itself later on when I can surreptitiously gather more information.

“Um,” I close my eyes and lift my left hand behind my neck as I rub it with embarrassment clearly evident on my face. “On second thought, never mind. I'm just being silly, same as usual.”

I peek my eyes open to observe her reaction. I notice that she does not seem to buy my evasive story.

Now it is her turn to debate something with herself. She speaks to me again when she reaches a conclusion.

“Cozy,” she extends her right arm out and gently lays it on my left shoulder. That momentarily causes me to cringe a bit. Despite her telling me she did not have her magic mind-reading gem, I still feel nervous about contact from her. This is definitely not something I can afford to relax my guard around anytime soon.

Thinking of that, it suddenly occurs to me that she should have been a police investigator or interrogator.

“Look at me, sweetie,” Sunset insists.

I hesitantly look up to her eyes.

Damn it! She's catching on to me! I gotta be more careful with her.

With great effort, I force my body to try to relax in order to avoid giving her more cues to give her suspicion about me.

“You know you can tell me anything you want, right?” Sunset checks. “I'm here for you if you need me. I mean it. If anything bothers you, you give me a call. If need be, I'll come riding over to you right away.”

“Gee, Professor! You're acting like you're trying to get me to admit if my mother has raped me or something.”

Sunset's face scrunches up and she shakes her head in denial. “No! I would never think like that about my dear friend Twilight, but I can tell that something is bothering you. I want you to know that, whatever it is, you can tell me.”

Sunset's hand transfers from my left shoulder to my forward chest.

“I also want you to know that I'm not forcing or insisting you to tell me what is bothering you. I don't want to give you any pressure if you don't want me to. It's just-” she sighs for a moment, then resumes, “I just want to make sure that you are aware of that option. I'm here for you, Cozy. Day or night. If you need me, you call me. Alright? I want you to promise me, right now, that you are aware of that.”

Despite my nervousness, I know she's saying this from a place of true compassion. That part deeply touches my heart.

I place my own hands on top of the right hand which is, itself, still on my chest. I gently squeeze her hand reassuringly.

“I promise, Professor, that if I feel I ever need you for anything . . . I'll give you a call right away.”

Hearing that made Sunset smile at me brightly and proudly.

Meanwhile, I am relieved. There is now an eighty-two percent chance she'll drop the subject and move on, especially since we need to get to school soon.

blackrook takes white king . . . checkmate

“Well then, I'm glad that's over with,” Sunset said in equal relief, then she reaches up to lower the tinted wind visor of her helmet. She looks at me one final time as she gives me a two-finger salute. “See you at school.”

Sunset drives off. My gaze follow her.

You really are too good for this world, Professor. You're like an angel who walks among dirty and unworthy mortals, including me.

I slide the shoulder strap of my purse further in on my left shoulder as I start my walk to school.

It may be, however, that us mortals desperately need you among us, despite our unworthiness.

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