“…And in hindsight, I should have released the pink one anyway, because she is the most annoying being I have ever had the displeasure of meeting!”

Ifrit rolled his eyes at his cellmate’s gesticulations. “Yes. I’m sure everyone in earshot is well-aware of Pinkie Pie’s infuriating behavior.”

Tirek stomped over to Ifrit, glaring angrily. “You would not understand unless you heard her voice. It is the squeakiest, most grating pitch I have ever heard, and I have been around for many centuries.”

“As have I,” Ifrit replied coolly. “You are but a child, Tirek, a novice manipulator and, with all due respect, a dumb brute. Were it me against these ‘Elements of Harmony,’ I would have them eating out of the palm of my hand faster than—”

“Oh, so you think yourself my better?” Tirek interrupted, his voice trembling with barely-controlled rage. “Do tell how you came to be locked in Tartarus, then.”

“I am biding my time.”

“Ha!” Tirek pointed a finger in Ifrit’s face, inches from his nose. Ifrit didn’t even blink. “You wish.”

Ifrit chuckled. “Now you’re speaking my language. But I’m afraid my wishes are worthless. I am bound by others’ desires, not mine.”

“Is that so?” Tirek let out a laugh in return. “Then I wish for no more than for you to be away from me.”

Ifrit’s eyes gleamed with magic. “I thought you’d never ask.” With a crack, Ifrit appeared outside his and Tirek’s cage.

Tirek did a double take, then rushed to his prison's bars, gripping them tightly as his mouth worked noiselessly.

“I told you, I was merely biding my time, waiting for someone such as you to escape and learn all about the outside world,” Ifrit explained, flexing and cracking his neck. “It’s much better when you have an idea of what you’re getting into, don’t you agree?”

“You… you tricked me…” Tirek whispered, his knuckles turning white.

“As I said, you’re a child, Tirek,” Ifrit said condescendingly. “Leave conquering Equestria to the professionals next time.” Ifrit turned and began to walk toward Tartarus’ entrance, guarded by a still-somehow-oblivious Cerberus.

“I wish I were free!”

Ifrit’s ears perked, but he didn’t turn around or stop walking. “Nice try, but I’m free to choose which wishes I grant and which I don’t. Farewell.” Ifrit crouched and jumped, turning invisible and zooming up and over Cerberus without eliciting so much as a bark.

Ifrit traveled over Equestria’s countryside for several hours before coming to a halt, looking on from his spot in the air to see a small town in the distance.

From Tirek’s descriptions, that must be Ponyville, Ifrit thought to himself. Curses, I’m still weak... I will have to coerce these ponies to make wishes directly to me at first. Once I gain power from granting them…

Ifrit smiled. It’s time to get to work.

Author's Note

Time for another extended transformation tale! This time I'm going to feature the entire Mane Six changing, and I'm going to try and be a bit more diverse in the transformations I describe. Also, this time around I'd like to focus more on rewriting ponies' histories.

As the prologue doesn't have any transformation, I'm including the first chapter as well, with more soon to come!