"Twilight Sparkle", Celestia began. "I am extremely disappointed in you, since you have failed Equestria".

There was a moment of silence in the Canterlot castle. None of the Mane Six could process what Celestia had just said.

"But... WHY, PRINCESS!?", Twilight screamed. "I helped save Equestria so many times already!"

"No, you have not", Celestia continued. "The defeats of Nightmare Moon and Discord were technically my doing, not yours", she said condescendingly. "And the defeat of Queen Chrysalis was done by Shining Armor and Cadance, the defeat of King Sombra was done by Spike and Cadance, the defeat of Lord Tirek was technically Discord's doing, and his brother Scorpan before him. Finally, the defeat of Cozy Glow was your students' doing while you were busy interrogating Tirek in Tartarus. So technically, you haven't really done anything for Equestria, and for that I will no longer be making you Equestria's new ruler", she finished.

"Okay, Princess Celestia. You are being WAY too biased and you are leaving out WAY too many details here", said Rainbow Dash.

"SILENCE!", screamed Celestia.

"No, Princess Celestia. Rainbow Dash is right. I WAS the one who reverted Nightmare Moon back into Luna, I also was the one who turned Discord BACK into stone. And Queen Chrysalis' defeat at the hooves of Shining Armor and Cadance? That was because I freed Cadance from the Canterlot caves. Tirek's defeat was caused by me sending him back to Tartarus. And finally, for Cozy Glow's defeat, my students said that they couldn't have defeated her if it wasn't for me, and I had personally confronted Cozy Glow following her defeat. I was also the one who defeated Sombra once more when he was ressurected", insisted Twilight.

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY OF IT!", screamed Celestia in her Royal Canterlot voice. "You are not becoming the new ruler of Equestria and that is final! Now leave my sight or I will send you to Tartarus!"

Twilight began to cry.

"Yes, you're right, Princess. I'll leave", Twilight sadly said as she and her friends left Canterlot castle, though not before the rest of the Mane Six directed an angry glare at Celestia.

What they didn't know, however, was that "Princess Celestia" was actually a disguised Queen Chrysalis, who is conspiring with Lord Tirek and Cozy Glow to take over Equestria.

Still disguised as Celestia, Chrysalis smirked evilly after the Mane Six left and flew off.

That evening, in Grogar's lair, Chrysalis, who has resumed her true appearance, has brought an unconscious Luna, whom she had also lifted onto her back.

"I never thought I'd say this, but... congratulations on your success, Chrysalis", said Tirek.

"I knew I could count on you!", said Cozy Glow as she giggled happily.

"It was a piece of cake", said Chrysalis arrogantly.

Not long after, Luna was also imprisoned in a cocoon by Chrysalis, next to Celestia. She woke up and soon understood what had really happened.

"This is great, but how will we deal with the "Celestia and Luna are gone" issue? Twilight and her friends will likely come searching for them, and only we know where they really are", said Tirek.

"I can solve that. I'll transform into Celestia during the day and Luna during the night, since ponies don't usually see Luna during the day and vice-versa. I stole a magical amulet that Celestia and Luna possess that will help me raise the sun and moon", said Chrysalis as she showed Tirek and Cozy the amulet.

"Can I try using it?", said Cozy Glow exitedly.

"No", Chrysalis said bluntly. "But anyways, time for me to go back to the Canterlot castle, and the two of you can begin stealing magic. The real Celestia and Luna would try to find a way to stop you, but not me."

Chrysalis then transformed into Luna and flew out of Grogar's lair. Tirek and Cozy Glow turned towards the imprisoned Celestia and Luna.

"Soon, every creature in Equestria will bow down to me!", said Tirek triumphantly as he and Cozy Glow engaged in evil laughter once more.

"Okay, Tirek. It's time to start stealing magic", said Cozy Glow as she and Tirek left Grogar's lair, leaving Celestia and Luna all alone.

The next day, in the Castle of Friendship, Twilight remains heartbroken over "Celestia"'s denouncement of her while Spike and Starlight were comforting her.

"I don't understand why Princess Celestia would say all those awful things. Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack have lended me all the support they can, but it's still not enough", said Twilight as she continued to cry.

"You're right. That doesn't sound like Celestia at all. Wait a second...", Starlight came to a horrifying realization. "Twilight, how did Chrysalis' first defeat came to be?"

"I became suspicious of her behavior, since she, while disguised as Cadance, acted nothing like the Cadance I knew and love", replied Twilight.

"And the Celestia from yesterday, who expressed her disappointment in you, acted nothing like the Celestia you know and love, so I think that she was actually a disguised Chrysalis! After all, Chrysalis isn't imprisoned in Tartarus unlike Tirek and Cozy Glow", said Starlight.

"Starlight, you're RIGHT! Though I have to enlist the help of Luna and Starswirl the Bearded to determine whether or not the Celestia who expressed her disappointment in me yesterday is the real Celestia", said Twilight, unaware that Luna had already been captured by Chrysalis.

"Let's go!", said Spike.

That evening, Sandbar, the only pony of the Young Six, was walking through an alley all alone when he saw Cozy Glow and Tirek in front of him.

"Cozy Glow!? LORD TIREK!? Why aren't the two of you in Tartarus!?", yelled Sandbar.

"Golly, it's a long story", said Cozy Glow as she giggled happily. "But you'll find out soon enough", said Cozy Glow again as she smiled evilly at him.

Sandbar tried to run, but was caught off-guard when Tirek began draining his earth pony essence.

"I am Lord Tirek, and I am back!", said Tirek as he finished draining Sandbar's essence.

A weakened Sandbar just laid there, helpless to do anything, as Cozy Glow and Tirek walked away while laughing at him.

Author's Note

Before you ask, Sandbar knows Tirek from the School of Friendship.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Chapter 4 will take a bit longer to do, but it will inevitably come, so stay tuned!