Flurry lets out an exasperated sigh as she lay bored on her bed having nothing else to do. Now that would be an understatement regarding her being a princess but her parents thought her a child and were quite overprotective of her so wouldn't let her out unless a guard escorts her.

One day, she snuck out of the palace and could feel the air of freedom slapping her face. She let out a contented sigh as she breathed into the cool air. Then, when she stepped onto the platform, a victorious smile took place. The train arrived and she tucked her wings before stepping on the moving platform. She sat her haunches down and brought out a book to entertain herself during the ride.

Having an aunt that loved books, it would be pretty strange how that trait wouldn't pass down to her. After all, Twilight would always have a way to get other ponies to like books. Flurry smiled, thinking about what her aunt told her about her getting Rainbow Dash, her non-egghead friend, to like books.

Soon, Flurry's train of thought screeched to a halt as well as the train in front of Canterlot train station. She got off and walked towards the palace. She figured she shouldn't tell Twilight about her sneaking out otherwise she'd tell her parents so she digress.

“Now,“ Flurry said, glancing at the noble ponies in the street. “Where should I start?“

She already knew her place around Canterlot. It was her second home next to the Crystal Empire. She figured she could visit the gardens to learn more about Equestria's history and what her aunt and her friends had been through.

Flurry directed her snout up as she walked along the road, ignoring the gawks and stares received from ponies. When she arrived, she looked around to see grey marble-stone statues. One of them was a statue of an earth pony, unicorn, and pegasi to symbolize unity.

“Boring,“ Flurry whistled as she rolled her eyes. She then caught sight of a statue that had two heads, one a tiger and one a goat, with a snake for a tail. “Ooh, now that's interesting.“

She looked around for a bit more, for a good long while, until she came across a statue. Somehow she was very familiar with it, almost like she had seen them before. That's when it clicked.

“Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow!“ Flurry recalled. She remembered these were the creatures that Twilight and her friends had defeated before her reign.

She eyed the statue. Tirek had looked quite like the one in her history book, while Chrysalis looked quite different to the changelings she's met but she knew that changelings had looked different before they reformed. However, there was one creature that had captured her attention, and it was the filly itself.

Flurry wondered if Cozy would've aged or stayed the same. She felt bad at the fact that a child was turned to stone instead of living freely like other foals her age.

Maybe she and I could've swapped places, Flurry muttered inwardly.

Then she shook her head.

No. I should be grateful for the life that I have. Not many ponies have the opportunity of living as royalty, especially being born as a first-ever alicorn.

Flurry examined the filly once more. The still-yet adolescent had looked petrified. No wonder. Flurry wondered why she was the way she was. Why had she tried to drain magic? Why did she want to turn her back on her own species? But most of all, what caused her to be like this?

Maybe she lost her parents? Maybe she wasn't getting the attention she deserved. Flurry shook her head; it has to be something much greater than that. Or maybe...she's just like that. Flurry shook her head once again. No, there has to be a backstory or a reason. At least, that's what her aunt always used to say.

If Flurry did the math, which she wasn't very good at, Cozy was a filly when the battle took place and Flurry was a foal making the latter a few years younger.

That's when Flurry got an idea. What if she cast a spell to free Cozy? Only if it's just temporary. She could get the answers she and Equestria needed. But who's to say Cozy would even oblige? It's always worth a try.

Flurry stood firm in front of the statue as she hardened her gaze. She lit up her horn with an immense glow as she concentrated on the filly alone. Flurry floated mid-air for a second as she used up all her willpower, her magic glowing brighter.

Soon, yellow light enveloped the statued filly until it pierced through the hunk of rock, melting from her head to her torso.

Flurry approached the ground, her magic fizzing out as she stared when the filly dropped to the ground and rubbed her head due to slight agony.

“Argh...where am I? What happened?“ Cozy asked.

“Are you...Cozy Glow?“ Flurry questioned cautiously, just to make sure.

“And you are?“ Cozy raised an eyebrow.

“I'm...Flurry Heart, the daughter of Princess Cadance and Shining Armour.“

Cozy raised her eyelids in surprise. “Ah...so that would make you Princess Flurry Heart. What are you doing here? Hold up. Were you the one that freed me?“

“Don't get any funny ideas about it. I only freed you temporarily because I wanted to...ask some questions.“

Cozy's raised eyebrow came back. “You mean you want to obtain some information from me.“

“No, no!“ Flurry said quickly. “I meant I just wanted to ask about why you've chosen to live like this and what caused you.“

“And that's it?“

“Uh-huh.“ Flurry nodded effusively.

“Then...what?“

Flurry blinked. “Pardon?“

Cozy visibly relaxed, looked up at the statue behind her then back to Flurry. “I mean after I've told you, what are you going to do? Surely you would be in trouble for freeing a villain?“

Flurry nodded slowly. “That's what I was worried about. I'm going to have to stone you again after the questioning. Sorry.“

Cozy shrugged. “It's no big deal. I've gotten kind of used to in there. Tirek and Chrysalis are chill to hang out with.“

“If...you don't mind me asking. What is it like?“ Flurry asked.

“Well, numb I guess. My body was really stiff but that didn't stop me from hearing things, and my partners and I could echo our voices to each other. Like one time, that weird friend of Twilight's, Professor Pinkie, jumped in front of our statue and went all like 'who wants tacos? Definitely not you meanies!' then Chrysalis was like 'well fuck you too, we didn't want them anyway'.“

Flurry snickered. “if you ask me, it doesn't sound all that bad. I thought getting turned to stone meant your mental and physical state gets sent to oblivion. Although being stuck in one place while the world passes before your eyes must not be a very pleasant experience, especially for a filly.“

Cozy shrugged. “I guess.“

“And I guess it doesn't really affect your age either,“ Flurry pointed out.

Cozy Glow had looked nearly the same as during the battle. The only difference was that her face was slightly smoother and more mature, her wings had even grown a bit. Her mane was a little loosened out of the dreadlocks, gentle curls focused to the tips.

“I guess not,“ Cozy said. “So about your questions.“

“Right.“ Flurry cleared your throat. “Firstly, why did you join Princess Twilight's school?“

“I joined Twilight's school because I knew with an incredible mind like mine I could be able to manipulate all those easy-to-brainwash creatures into my army so I could conquer Equestria. I mean have you SEEN your aunt's friends? They are TOO easy to brainwash!“

“So your plan to conquer Equestria was before you joined the school?“

“Why else would I have joined a lousy friendship school? My acting was top-notch!“

“Moving on, why did you wanted to conquer Equestria?“

“'Want',“ Cozy corrected. Flurry raised her eyebrows. “I was merely correcting you because I still want to conquer Equestria.“ Flurry rolled her eyes. “But anyway, it's because...let me start off with a rhetorical question; why wouldn't you? Manipulating and enslaving ponies would be fun! I mean isn't that what Princess Celestia did?“

“My aunt did not! And no one would! Only you because you're- you're-“

“Because I'm what?“ Cozy raised an eyebrow.

“Nevermind.“ Flurry shook her head. “Why would you want to manipulate and enslave creatures and your own kind?“

“Like I said, because it's fun.“

Flurry groaned. “Okay, well, what caused you to be like this? What would your parents think of you?“

“Oh golly, my parents were actually cheering me on.“ She sighed. “I still remember the smiles on their faces, them saying 'that's my little deathjoy'. I miss them.“

“What a quaint relationship you have with them.“ Flurry's eye twitched. And I thought my parents' relationship with me was bad. I'm never underestimating my life again. “Well, it seems like all you need is a friend.“

“Oh golly yes I need a friend. Tirek and Chrysalis are great but it would be nice to have a pony trying to conquer Equestria with me, one that is a princess no less, so I wouldn't feel so left out. I mean only unicorns have tried to conquer Equestria.“

“Okay. First off, those unicorns only tried to because they had a tragic backstory. Second off, I wasn't trying to conquer Equestria with you.“

“You weren't?“ Cozy's lips made a pout. “Aw, what a bummer. I was really looking forward to an alicorn partner. Oh well, the position's always available if you're ever interested, like when you're in an argument with your family or ponies are looking down at you...“

Flurry shook her head. “You can't manipulate me that easily, Cozy.“

Cozy's face dropped. “Golly.“

Flurry sighed. “Haven't you ever considered the possibility of living a normal life like the other foals?“

Cozy formed a grin. “Where's the fun in that?“

“Okay. Well, have you considered that you may have an antisocial personality disorder?“

“I was diagnosed, yes. Why bring it up though?“

“Nevermind. If I told you I could give you something much greater than taking over Equestria, would you take it?“

“Depends on what it is. If it's your daily dose of cringey...“ Cozy shivered, “...friendship, then no.“

“I was thinking of something more along the lines of food.“

Cozy's face dropped. “...Food?“

“Yes. Food. Who wouldn't like food?“ Flurry asked.

Cozy stared. “You sound like Pinkie Pie.“

“Is that a compliment?“

“No.“

“I'll still take it since she was the one that drove me to destroy the crystal heart when I was born.“

“You...what?“ Cozy's eyes widened.

Flurry gave a malicious grin. “Oh yeah. It was quite a hectic day.“

Cozy's mouth was dawdled. “You, I, what?“

“Anyway, time's up. How about the next time I free you (if there is a next time) we go out to get some food of any sort?“

Cozy blinked. “You mean like a date?“

Flurry's face blushed a bright red. “S-Sure.“

Cozy's face was neutral at first, studying Flurry's face making the latter nervous. Eventually, she responded with, “yeah sure whatever. You're cool anyway.“

Flurry let out a breath of relief. “Well, it was nice talking to you, Cozy.“

“It was nice talking to you too...I guess.“

Flurry smiled. “I hope we see each other again. On much greater terms that is.“

“Yeah, hopefully, you give in and we create some sort of plan to-“

Flurry loudly cleared her throat, tossing Cozy an unimpressed look.

Cozy sighed. “Or just you know, hang out.“

Flurry's smile reappeared before igniting her horn. Her eyes remained on the pegasus filly, not closing for a second so she wouldn't fly away. Instead, her magic got larger and larger, brighter and brighter, until eventually, yellow light circled around Cozy and levitated her back to the same position on the statue but taking on a new expression, as the stone covered her whole.

Flurry floated back to the ground and sighed once her magic dissolved.

“Great. Now I gotta go back home before Mom and Dad scold me.“

From then on, Flurry would sneak out of the Crystal Empire and visit the Canterlot Gardens every few months to free Cozy and get to know her better.

When she turned her back to stone, in front of her appeared the Lord of Chaos himself also known as her aunt's friend's husband.

“Hello, Discord,“ Flurry said with a smile. She was quite fond of Discord, in fact, he had to be one of her favorite uncles alongside Spike as he would always get her to laugh. “What are you doing here?“

Discord's usually jovial expression switched to one of all seriousness.

“You mean what are you doing here?“ he asked, pointing a clawed finger to her chest.

Flurry sighed, then looked up. “You know, don't you?“

“Mhm-hmm.“

“You're gonna scold me and tell my parents, aren't you?“

“Now why in Equestria would I ever do that?“

“Because you-“ Flurry paused when she looked at him puzzled. “What?“

“Don't get me wrong, Flurry. I absolutely love the way you backstabbed your parents like that but it's also wrong to as I am reformed. But the fact that you're actually trying to befriend a villain is exactly what all of us want. We just didn't expect you to be the one to do it.“

“So...you're not mad?“

“Mad? I'm thrilled! And I bet others would be understanding. Tell you what, when you keep this going, we'll allow you to free her for longer but don't tell her so we can see she really has changed.“

“That's a good idea. Thanks, Uncle Discord,“ Flurry said, smiling.

“No problemo! I really hope to see what doors you can open with her.“

“Huh?“ Flurry asked confused.

Without another word, Discord snapped his fingers as he teleported out of sight, his goofy grin lingering behind like Chesire Cat's. Flurry stood there puzzled.

Should I continue and make this a romance?

This seems rushed. It was just an experiment.