Chapters There's More to Magic Than Friendship
Twenty Moons Later
"Hot Chocolate! Extra chocolate! This instant!"
"Yes, Empress Cozy Glow!" Applebloom said with a bow before quickly leaving the room in a hurry.
The Empress leaned back into her throne with a very familiar star cutie mark at its head, accompanied by six other thrones and their respective symbols. Well... they would have been there, but Cozy had destroyed them so long ago, not wanting to be reminded of the annoying ones she defeated.
With a sigh, she sat there waiting patiently for her hot chocolate, and it was then she noticed a chill coming from somewhere.
Shivering a bit, she glared at the open window, where some light snow was falling through. She flew over to the window and looked outside.
"It's my week." She said out loud, and lit up her horn, lowering the sun, and of course, raising the moon... with two ponies drawn onto its surface, one light, and the other darker.
She smiled cheekily at her work. "Perfect!" And smirked at the moon, more notably the two figures shown on it.
It wasn't, 'perfect,' however, but she didn't really care. Celestia and Luna always made sure the sun and moon gradually rose and set. But the filly didn't really have care about that. Whenever it was her week to raise and lower the sun and moon, she did it when she felt like the right time. Nine PM felt right today. She would always smile whenever she would notice the only other two that would be able to doing the same, or not caring at all.
She, Chrysalis, and Tirek split apart after defeating Twilight Sparkle and succeeding in being the first evil creatures to ever conquer Equestria. Before they did, however, they had a long talk, more like a meeting, where they discussed who gets what, who does what, and all that.
One of the things they agreed upon, was that the sun and moon still had to be moved, no matter how annoying it was going to be. Cozy was optimistic about her sleep and had a history of struggling to fall asleep during the day. Chrysalis and Tirek agreed with her after a quick thought and decided it would be best to lower and raise the sun and moon in Celestia and Luna's place. With their newfound power, it should be easy for them.
They settled on taking turns, none of them wanting to have chores integrated into their new lives, but decided not to fight about it. Acting both as foals who didn't want to do the dishes, and mature adults, they decided to switch every week, taking turns to do the job.
This week was obviously Cozy's, evident by the calender she had one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who were now her top servants, highlight every third week neatly with a highlighter.
It was a little pretty when she lowered the sun, she had to admit. Ponyville with white graceful snow gently falling and creating a giant white sheet floor with the various lamps and house lights illuminating the dark town.
Closing the window gently, she made her way back to the throne, her throne, and she sat down and sighed, stretching her hind legs out a bit.
After a moment, Applebloom rushed in with her steaming hot chocolate, being careful not to drop it for Cozy to get mad.
"Here ya go, mam." She said, trying to sound enthusiastic but failing horribly, her eyes still colorless from getting her magic drained by Tirek years ago, and mane still frizzled from the stress of being forced to be a servant to the one filly she feared most.
The filly on the throne furrowed her brows in frustration. "No!" Cozy yelled, slamming her hooves on the Friendship Map, which was now noticeably darker. "Not mam! Not, Princess, Lord, or Queen either! It's Empress! " She shouted in the Canterlot Voice she attained, shaking the entire room.
Applebloom shook, looking terrified, and said in a shaking voice while shivering. "S-sorry, Empress Cozy! I'll never call yo-"
Cozy picked her up with her magic, locking her forelegs to her sides, making sure to hold the hot chocolate with her magic as well, and brought traumatized filly close to her face. "Mess up one more time, and I'll make sure there's one less crusader wandering about. And I don't necessarily mean you ."
Applebloom thought she was used to her threats by now, but that one made her eyes widen and gulp. She really learned a thing or two from hanging out with Chrysalis back when "Grogar" was a thing.
Cozy released her magic grip, dropping her to the floor. She picked herself up, shakily and with a few tears, and galloped out of the throne room as fast as she could.
Sighing, Cozy took her hot chocolate, and went back to her throne, relaxing a bit in the pillow cushions.
The throne was changed, long ago. One day Cozy simply realized she wasn't comfortable sitting on a chair made out of hard crystal, even though it looked like something even a Canterlot noble would dream of.
"Their wealth means nothing now." Cozy whispered to herself at the thought, smirking on her fluffy cushioned throne.
Why did the stupid tree even think that was a good idea? What pony liked to sit on hard crystal? The alicorn filly thought of one mare related to Pinkie, but that was it. Instead, Cozy asked around for the best pillows a filly could buy, er... rightfully take. When asking Sweetie Belle, the filly explained her sister always told her about the luxurious cloud pillows from Cloudsdale, and they were known to be the best pillows on the market! Because her best friend Tirek absorbed all of the pegasi magic in her kingdom, she was forced to go to Cloudsdale herself to retrieve the pillows reserved for the best.
After a grand entrance, cute looks, and maybe a silent threat or two. She got some of the pegasi to show her where new pillows were, and after getting them to bring them back to Ponyville, and adding them to her physical Subjects List, she made the throne ten times better with the clouds that only the rich could afford!
And one of those same ponies entered the throne room.
"Stop!" Another filly's voice said behind the stallion entering. The filly ran in front of him and blocked his path, eagerly trying to get him to turn around. "You have to have an appointment scheduled to-" Sweetie Belle was cut off as the stallion's hoof pushed her muzzle away from his side.
Cozy raised a brow, looking unimpressed and bored, still holding her hot chocolate.
"Cozy Glow!" The stallion boomed.
The pink filly took a sip of her hot chocolate and rested her head on a hoof, looking unamused.
"I am Prince Blueblood! Nephew of Princess Celestia herself!" He said, the pride and snootiness basically reeking off of him.
Cozy didn't reply, still holding her bored expression. She hated these types of Ponies. They were like worse versions of King Sombra, at least he was a cool dude. Most of the rich only cared about themselves, they only had their eyes on money and power. Always thinking they're so much better than others, and what made it worse was that most were born into rich families, like Blueblood, and they didn't have to work for any of their wealth they were boasting so much about. The ones who worked hard to get rich weren't any better. If they used their brains so much for money they absolutely could have also used them for kindness or generosity. Too bad Fluttershy and Rarity could never teach this particular snob anything.
But the one thing Cozy hated most about these rich snobs, was that it reminded her so much of her own dad.
Blueblood continued. "After you destroyed our homes in Canterlot, the higher class ponies, such as myself, were forced to move here with you lower-class ponies! I demand new houses that even mildly satisfy Canterlot's ponies to be built, the roads to be flattened and polished, and a properly working equestrian economy so I can have the power you stole so rightfully returned to me once more! This instant!"
*Zap*
"It's 'Empress Cozy Glow'." She said casually.
After getting hit with a pink beam, Blueblood was turned to stone. During that whole rant, the once rich stallion prince didn't notice Cozy charging a spell with her horn.
The spell in question wasn't an easy one to cast, but with time, Cozy learned how to use it, even if it used a lot of magic and had to be on a less powerful pony.
"...And why is he asking me to fix stuff?!" She yelled, glaring at Blueblood who was now a statue. "Shouldn't a stupid prince know how this works?!"
"Well, uh... Empress Cozy Glow." Sweetie started. "Royals used to be the ones to use their wealth to fix Canterlot all the time. I guess that's where he's coming from my Empress."
"Meh." Staring at the now stonecold Blueblood, Cozy got up from her throne and flew in the air, looking at her servant. "Sweetie Belle, would you kindly take that stupid colt out of my throne room?"
Sweetie bowed, not entirely caring for Blueblood but still being horrified at the sight. "Right away, Empress Cozy Glow."
The Empress turned and fled to the back of the throne room and up the stairs, leaving the nearly finished hot chocolate on the Cutie Map table and Sweetie Belle struggling to push Cozy's new statue both physically and magically, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo rushing in to help the small unicorn shortly after.
The Empress, meanwhile, went to her bedroom at the top of the castle, intending to rest for a bit.
Before doing anything, the alicorn filly cast a spell, a spell that wouldn't let her get assassinated. It became a routine after she was forced to send Daring Doo and Dr. Caballeron to Chrysalis's new hive. One night while she was sleeping she had been woken up when she heard the two on a lower floor when Caballeron knocked over a glass of water someone left lying around. When she confronted them they had some kind of sleeping potion. She knew it was for her, so she simply defeated them in battle. It wasn't difficult, she was now an alicorn after all.
The spell would jolt her nerves whenever something entered her room or the hallway outside. It didn't have the greatest radius, since creating a huge one would use a lot of magic, even for her. But it was still better than nothing.
With her spell complete, she reminded herself to cast a simple shield spell around her fur later before heading off to bed.
Cozy only had a few options for rooms in the Friendship Castle. The master bedroom, which was most definitely Twilight's, was okay, but a little too nerdy and boring with all the bookshelves. Most of the other rooms were empty, so she took the best one left off, not really caring enough to move everything to Twilight's room.
But before sleep, she eyed a certain book on the bookshelf to the left of her bed. Taking it in her magic, she plopped onto the bed and got herself comfy. She read the cover, "Power Ponies," and turned to the page she was last at, marked by the purple and green bookmark.
Last she remembered, the heroes were all caught when their sidekick tripped an alarm in the main antagonist's home.
"Hum Drum really needs to get his head into the game." She whispered to herself, before starting to read.
Hours passed, faster than usual for Cozy. And soon enough, it was two hours past midnight.
She was at a great part of the story, where the villains from different issues all decided they enjoyed each other's company and had just started to work together. Cozy wasn't oblivious to the fact that the same song was being sung with her Tirek and Chrysalis.
After the three split apart, she slowly started to get lonely, but never realized it. She was too busy ruling over the residents of Ponyville and Canterlot with an iron fist to notice. She had actual power, along with responsibilities now. She never thought of it before, but ruling all alone wasn't the greatest thing one could ever dream of. In hindsight, she wouldn't have minded at all if she ruled along Chrysalis and Tirek: like the two heavily denied they ever wanted to do. Or... she would even admit she wouldn't resent if she hadn't taken the position as Empress after all, and instead decided to hang out with the other two more often as good friends. But she knew that would never be possible. She didn't know the full truth for their reasons, but Chrysalis and Tirek would never want that. The Queen didn't want to be tainted with the disease called "Friendship." And The Lord had once told her that his brother betrayed him long ago. Cozy suspected that had an impact on his trust issues.
She noticed the time on her clock, looking away from her comic, after her thoughts dwindled, and found herself yawning.
"Golly, I better get to bed." She smiled with lidded eyes, she really loved having no one telling her when her bedtime was.
After putting her comic away and getting into her silky sky blue nightgown, she snuggled up in her blankets and tried to let slumber take her.
Unfortunately, somepony was running in the halls interrupting the silence.
Glaring at the ceiling, Cozy shouted, "You have to try harder than that if you want to take me down!" She charged her horn and jumped out of bed, flapping her wings full of adrenaline, her nightgown flowing.
The door was slammed open by the 'intruder', and Cozy stopped glaring when she noticed it was another one of her friends.
"Empress!" Scootaloo yelled, here eyes also lost of color and mane frizzled. She looked distressed and horrified. "There's an Ursa Major heading towards Ponyville! You have to stop it before somepony gets hurt!"
"I swear, if this is some trick-" Cozy was interrupted by a loud roar from outside, shaking the entire castle and room the two were standing in. The shake was powerful enough to rattle and toss a vase with some scented flowers on one of Cozy's nightstands, shattering it and spilling the water and flowers from inside. "Oh..." She said, shocked that something was actually happening for once. "Huh, would you look at that." She smiled. "Have no fear! Your Empress will take care of this!" Then she flew off out the window after tossing her nightgown off, missing Scoot's eye roll, but coming back to quickly tell the pegasus to clean up the broken vase. It wasn't a surprise that Cozy was this excited, the last fun thing she ever got to do with her alicorn powers was defeat the rest of the Equestrian ponies that posed any sort of threat.
Cozy saw it as soon as she left the castle. Huge, as big as the Friendship Castle itself, standing under the falling snow with purple space skin, long sharp claws and teeth that looked dangerous, with a star in its forehead.
She dodged and flew fast past buildings, a bit blinded by the snowfall, and slowly hearing the cries of ponies closing in. She saw the beast roar at the retreating ponies, all running away fearfully from the beast.
"Don't worry everypony! Your Empress has arrived!" She boasted, landing in front of Derpy and Dinky, and barely projecting a shield in time to block a claw coming down on the two helpless ponies, confusion the Ursa Major.
As she kept the shield up, she looked behind her to see the two she just saved looking at her in shock and awe.
"I know, I know. Alicorns are awesome!" She said before suddenly glaring. "Now get going before you're eaten alive!"
The two didn't complain and ran off as fast as they could, leaving Cozy and the Ursa Major alone in the Ponyville Town Square.
"Finally! I get to do something!" Cozy said happily before her shield was shattered and the Ursa Major reached out to her.
Dodging its claw with a flap of her wings, she rose high in the air and after spinning elegantly, she fired a beam at the Ursa Major's chest, pushing it far back away from the town square and more towards the edge of the small village.
Under the dark sky with beautiful stars, the alicorn filly shot forward with a burst, decreasing the distance between her and the beast, who was knocked off its legs from the previous magic beam.
She fired another beam, this time aiming for its head, but this time the Ursa Major blocked it with a claw.
Pushing the beam aside, the Ursa slapped Cozy away like a fly, sending her into the side of a building, breaking part of the wall in a small pony shape.
Gritting her teeth and sounding frustrated. The filly blasted the wall she came crashing into with her magic. And growled as she flew back towards the beast.
The Ursa also roared, looking equally as angry as the tiny filly, and pounced forward, intending on grabbing her.
Cozy flapped her wings once again, this time going downwards, dodging the Ursa's claw which uselessly grabbed air, and landing below its feet. She knew the creature was far too heavy to lift with her magic, so instead, she counted on using a different kind of force. Charging her horn once again, she blasted the beast from below, sending it soaring high in the air. She chased after the beast, who was now roaring in anger.
She caught up to him in seconds, all thanks to the flight training to be nearly as fast as Rainbow Dash but not quite. The only reason a filly like her could be as fast as one of the best flyers in pony history was of course of Grogar's bell. It made her wonder what sort of things it did to the other two that had used its power.
Now under the beast, who by now noticed her tiny form, she dodged another swipe from its right claw and landing on it, giving her wings a rest by galloping up the beast's right arm.
The Ursa used its left claw to try and flick Cozy off himself, but to no avail. The filly blasted the left claw away and took flight once again after a hop, getting to be above the creature. She twisted her head back, magic surging through her horn, and with no remorse, she blasted the Ursa Major back down to the surface, snow flying from the impact, creating a large crater and smokescreen one would think a meteor would have caused at the edge of Ponyville.
At the edge of the crater, Cozy gently landed and shook the snow off her body as a pet dog would. She watched the large hole surrounded by snow, satisfied with her work. She couldn't see the Ursa Major because of the smokescreen though, so it had a chance to grab her without her reacting fast enough, pinning her to the bottom of the crater, making cracks as it did so.
Growling, with a lot of drool coming out of the furious kaiju's mouth, it angrily but more so hungrily stared into the trapped filly's eyes.
Cozy tried to shake out of the stern grip but did not escape. Lighting her horn, the tried to escape once again, but the Ursa Major was smarter than she initially thought and flicked her horn to stop the magic being formed. It then took a hold of her horn with two fingers, now trying to snap it off.
A surge a pain entered Cozy's forehead as she screamed in agony. Her horn was close to snapping, and if she weren't an all-powerful alicorn at that moment, it would have.
Turning her pain and newfound anger into power she lit up her horn again, blasting the Ursa's claws away, and then creating a shield around her body. The claw smashed against the new defense, not yet cracking it.
Picking herself up slowly, Cozy groaned and shook her head, shaking when a claw smashed down at her shield again. Turning to glare at the creature, she expanded the shield, making it grow slowly. First, it surpassed the size of a tall stallion, then the size of a little hut, and soon the Ponyville buildings. The shield also changed shape, into an alicorn, and now, it was the same size as the Ursa itself, with the being who cast this new form floating in the center.
Meanwhile, the Ponyville residents stared at the scene in front of them. Some wanted the Ursa to win, while others could admit they didn't want the Empress to die, but everyone had the same opinion when it came to what Cozy just pulled with her huge projected alicorn. It was frightening to see how little they were compared to her. All hope to take back Equestria for themselves were slowly dwindling down.
Cozy once again put her magic into use, punching the air to make her alicorn projection punch the enraged Ursa, stunning it for a second. Then, with magic flowing in the projection's horn, she beamed the creature straight forward, but this time, the creature couldn't push it back with it being too big, so the magic beam pushed the Ursa far into and past the Everfree forest, until it could only be seen as tiny if one looked close enough.
Panting heavily, still in her projected alicorn, Cozy beamed. "Did you see that Tirek ol' buddy! I destroyed that thi-" Then she realized what she was doing. Looking around, she stared at the various Ponyville debris under the night sky, some burning in flames almost dead, and the ground with some mini craters along with the huge crater made by the Ursa Major.
Laughing sheepishly, she said out loud with a shaking voice. "Oh yeah... he's long gone." Before her magic dissipated, making her let out a soft sound when she started to fall.
Slowing her decent, she landed in front of the crater. Dropping on her rump, she sighed in peace. "That was fun." She then heard several hoofsteps behind her.
Getting up and turning around. She yelled at the crowd, consisting of ponies from both Ponuville and Canterlot, creatures that were apart of Twilight's School of Friendship, and some other creatures weren't apart of the school, "Don't worry, everypony! Your Empress has saved you!" Looking prideful, she waited for the cheers of her 'friends,' but none came.
The crowd just stared at her for a few seconds, before some started to leave, causing the rest of the crowd to slowly journey back to their own homes as well.
Scootaloo even whispered loud enough for the crusaders beside her to listen, although it was only thoughts spoken out loud. "If only you could save us from yourself." She harshly said.
"Oh come on! Have a little appreciation of me!" She shouted at the crowd, to which no one turned their heads to.
She dropped on her rump again, shivering when it hit the snowy ground. She was once again alone with only the aftermath of the great battle she had around her. Sighing, she finally realized it, and finally admitted to herself that she was alone and that she missed some creatures she wished she could see again. "Heh." She laughed, with a sad smile.
She's always been alone, even in her act when she was apart of Twilight's friendship school. Even when she was pretending to be friends to everyone for power. The only time she could remember not being alone was before her father finally...
"...Well," She said, breathing through her nose. "I can't complain of ruling a quadrant of Equestria now can I?"
She felt really tired. Picking herself up, she trotted back to her castle, intending on catching up on sleep.
There's More to Magic Than Friendship
"This way!"
Gallus and Sandbar sprinted through a thick forest home to none other than the badlands. They dodged trees and branches as they ran through the natural obstacle course, the pony carrying a passed out Smolder covered in green changeling slime.
"Come on! Hurry!" Gallus said, gliding above the sprinting Sandbar.
"No offense to her or anything, but she's kinda heavy!" He yelled. "And I thought I told you not to fly! She can spot you easier."
"I thought I told you that I'm not fast on my legs!" Gallus said with a smirk. "We just need to head to the mountains past this forest! It'll be harder to find us!"
A large shadow was then cast over them, and they looked up to see what was blocking the sun. They briefly saw an eagle hovering above them and before they could anticipate anything, the animal dove down and landed on its claws in front of their tracks, blowing dust away from below, making them stop.
The eagle lifted its head and glared at the equally angry pony, griffin and unconscious orange dragon. Slowly stalking towards them with its claws scratching the dirt ground. As it walked, green flames slowly started to appear around it on the ground, circling around the carnivore.
"Of course it's her..." Gallus said gritting his teeth.
Its wings turned from feathery to silk green with holes, its beak turned into a maw with a sadistic fanged grin and its claws turned into black holed hooves. Then finally, a bright green crown formed with a sharp green-edged horn on the forehead.
"Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Queen Chrysalis laughed.
Gallus looked at Sandbar with a blank face. "Starlight did say she liked evil laughs."
"Oh, she said that?" Chrysalis mocked in gratitude. "What a very nice compliment. I should reward her."
The two students glared at her.
"I was just going on about my day when one my changelings tell me that there's an apparent breakout of my harvest. I just had to see for myself this pitiful excuse for a rescue. But it seems you only managed to snag only one of your dear friends, how unfortunate."
"What did you do to her?" Sandbar snapped. "We took her out of the cocoon hours ago! She should be awake now!"
Chrysalis laughed again. "Using my new powers, my spit, or rather my cocoons' 'goo' as you call it, now makes all non-changelings slumber if exposed to it for too long. Unless you get rid of every single bit of the remains of the cocoon, she'll be asleep for a while." She said with a smirk. "But you won't get the chance to do that!" She charged her horn and hissed.
"Get out of here! You wanted to see Yona again, right?" Gallus said, flying forward to attack Chrysalis.
"I'm not going back without you!" Sandbar yelled back, dropping Smolder on the ground, intending to charge at Chrysalis himself. But as soon as he put Smolder on the dirt ground, Gallus landed next to him with a black-marked smoking chest.
"I'd suggest you stand down, Sandbar." The Queen said. "You wouldn't want to end up like your friend now would you?"
The earth pony grunted, before sitting on his haunches and giving up.
"See? This is what happens when you foolish ponies start using your brains. No one gets hurt."
"You say that but when we give mercy to you or stand down, you still hurt those who oppose you," Gallus said in a strained voice.
"Grampa Gruff really has been light on the griffins hasn't he?" She insulted. "Mercy is nothing but weakness! It's the sole reason why Twilight and Starlight we defeated. I certainly don't need Friendship. And I don't give mercy to anyone!"
"Is that why the changelings are all like that now?" Sandbar asked with a frown. "Because they didn't agree with you? How can you call yourself a leader, let alone a Queen!"
"What are you going to do about it?" She asked with a smirk, lighting up her horn and magically slamming him to the ground by the neck. "All you can do is grovel on the ground and beg. There is no one left that can stop me and the only ones who can are being tracked down by Lord Tirek at this very moment, if not found already." The large changeling frowned at the two. "I'm growing bored of you. I'll let you know that this has been a bit fun, and I would tell you to bring others to increase the fun, but I can't just let you leave now can I? The two of you show tons of love for the dragon, this will be a very good meal."
Gallus and Sandbar gulped as Chrysalis licked her lips.
In the middle of the badlands, sat a hive. But not just any hive, it was the most dangerous hive in all of Equestria, and some would definitely argue in the entire world.
There was no sign of life in the area, so it was a wasteland with the holed hive in the dead center, with a forest circling around it.
Currently, inside the hive, the Changeling Queen, surrounded by non-reformed changeling guards, was carrying three cocoons containing a pony, griffin, and dragon. She was currently in the harvest chamber, where all her prey with the love they formed were being kept. There were three levels to this chamber, and as of right now she was on the third one, where she kept the most important ponies and leaders that currently existed. Well most of them anyway.
She magically placed her three cocoons, two of them with new owners, right next to three others, two of which were empty, and the third with a young Hippogriff.
"That makes four out of six for this display, or would you like to be the fifth one right now?" Chrysalis said, turning to a non-reformed changeling.
"No my queen!" The little bug said in a high pitched voice with fright all over her face.
"I was merely joking." The Queen said, lifting her subject's chin with her hoof. "Your punishment for running off to Twilight's little School of Friendship is to be my second-in-command changeling for the rest of your miserable life, my dear little Ocellus." She said so casually but with so much malice Ocellus nearly fainted while shivering. "All I need now is that yak to make this set complete. Then, once Lord Tirek brings back Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor, along with their child, my entire collection will be complete." She said with an evil laugh.
"This is what you wanted to show me, my Queen, right?" Ocellus said timidly. "If that's all, I think I'll be going to my chambers i-if you don't mind." But before she could scurry off, Chrysalis took her in her magic and brought her to her face. The tall changeling didn't look angry, but Ocellus could see she had something on her mind.
"You don't think I'm stupid, do you? Your classmates come in here uninvited and try to rescue another one of your classmates, in something none other than a changeling hive, a hive that no one but a changeling can traverse through?"
"I-I-"
Chrysalis dropped her to the floor and stomped on the ground, shaking the room. "As of right now you are only one of three changelings that move with their own free will. If I catch anything like this again, I won't be bringing them back here to the hive, and you will take their place! Do you understand?!"
Ocellus nodded quickly.
"Then return to your chambers and don't try to pull this again."
The young changeling ran off, back to presumably her pod.
She passed many changelings, they stood stone still, with blank expressions, their eyes all lime green like Chrysalis's new crown, and if one would look closely at their eyes, it would seem eerie. The Queen knew she wouldn't be able to force her hive back to her side, the Magic of Friendship had 'tainted' her changelings, and it was too late. But it wasn't too late to use an ancient spell created by past changeling queens to control them.
Chrysalis humphed and made her way back to her throne room, but not before admiring the cocoons holding the various ponies, griffins, dragons and other creatures in the harvest room.
She sat down, now in her throne room, sighing in bliss. It was hard to believe she was finally a proper Queen again, with subjects, prisoners, plenty of food, and a hive. She thought back to the time when she had first declared victory with Lord Tirek and Empress Cozy Glow. How they quickly defeated the rest present with any sort of threat. How the three of them split apart after the endeavor, and how she slowly built back her hive with her changelings at her side once again.
She noticed her thoughts kept drifting to the two that helped her take over Equestria, and soon it became annoying. For the past few weeks, she's had them on her mind. In dreams, while feasting, or simply wandering around. She would always think about them, and she always wondered why.
She shook her head, she was doing it again, thinking about... them.
She didn't need to think about them anymore. They didn't matter to her. They were practically strangers to her now.
But even she knew deep down that wasn't the truth.
Leaning back on her wonderful lime green changeling throne, she called her servant. Another changeling, with purple eyes and mane, hurried over to her when the Queen clapped her hooves twice.
"I require some entertainment," To distract her. "Fetch me one of those colorful books Cozy Glow keeps sending me."
"Right away." The changeling said with a bored tone, before walking off to the storage pod.
Chrysalis hummed in annoyance. She kept reminding her to say 'my Queen,' like a proper subject. But she didn't bother doing anything about it, instead, she just waited patiently for her to retrieve her book.
Minutes passed, and the purple changeling returned with the book in hoof. She gave it to the Queen and stood at the side.
"Power Ponies." She read out loud. "What's so great about this I wonder."
"If you want to know, it's about a group of ponies with superpowers defending a city or something. I never really got into it."
"I never really asked," Chrysalis said, turning a page.
The purple changeling rolled her eyes.
Just then, another changeling with purple eyes and red mane and tail fluttered in, bowing in front of Chrysalis. "I've searched the perimeter with my personal squad of drones, my Queen." He saluted. "There were no other sightings of any intruders."
Chrysalis tossed her book away. "Excellent work, Pharynx. You may do as you please until your next mission. We must find the remainder of the changelings so I can have my army at its highest potential, then, we can-"
"You're going to invade Cozy's empire? Aren't you."
Chrysalis stopped her speech at the statement made with a deadpan tone and turned her head to the other changeling in the room. "What makes you say that?"
She shrugged. "I dunno. It seems like something you would do. Backstab her when she isn't expecting it."
"No! I wouldn't! She's my... uh... ally. If anything were to happen when I would need her again, I would gladly take her help."
"Yup! Because she's your-"
"Don't say it," Chrysalis cut her off in a dark tone, lighting her horn and aiming at her.
"Or what?"
"I'll destroy you!"
"So?"
"I'll destroy one of your friends!"
"And I'd rather them be killed than to be trapped here until you don't need them."
"Be quiet!"
"Why, it frustrates you so much?"
"Stop talking smart, you filth!"
The purple changeling smirked. "Is it because you're so undeniably stupid you can't understand what I'm saying?"
Chrysalis hissed.
"It wasn't Ocellus that tried to free her friends, it was me. Just making it clear."
"Why, you... little..." Her horn got brighter, magic now overloading and surging.
"You said I have to be your servant to make sure you didn't hurt any of them in your cocoons. I guess they just followed me to the cocoons and back to the exit without me noticing them." She said with a smile, undoubtedly being sarcastic. "I should have really kept an eye out. They were very sneaky."
"Starlight Glimmer, I swear-"
"The only reason I even work for you is that you said you wouldn't hurt any of them. Not like I had a choice. So are you going to break your promise?" Starlight said with a mocking tone.
"You're forgetting you have no power over me." To Starlight's surprise, Chrysalis actually calmed down and her horn stopped glowing in magic. "Turning you into a changeling was enough. If you continue to annoy me, I'll simply take control over you and be done with it." She said with a grin, loosening up on her throne once again.
Starlight frowned with her fangs and fluttered her wings a bit in annoyance.
"Uh, my Queen?"
Chrysalis turned to Pharynx.
"I was wondering if you were still considering letting me visit my brother, Thorax? I know it seems suspicious and you wouldn't want to take any risks, but in the end, he's still my brother and I miss him. I understand if you don't agree."
"Such honesty," Chrysalis said. "Pharynx, you have shown nothing but loyalty ever since my victory over Equestria's princesses. And I do recall you being the only changeling other than myself who didn't immediately get tainted with the Magic of Friendship when your brother assumed my position as his own. If you continue to be loyal to me, I'll consider letting you visit that traitor."
Pharynx smiled and bowed. "Thank you so much! It's my pleasure serving you."
"Now, go along, I have no need for you." She said, and the changeling left. She then turned to Starlight, stared for a second, and frowned. "Get out of my face. Go eat your leaves or something."
Starlight rolled her eyes and saluted. "Right away, your majesty ." Before fluttering her new wings, and flying off. She's gotten better at flying with her new wings over the time since Chrysalis won, one of the plus sides of becoming a changeling. But she'd still prefer being a pony again, no doubt.
The Queen sighed, and sat in the silent room, not knowing what to do. It was the same thing every day; eat, try to delight herself, and just find herself not being able to find anything so she would just sit on her throne until the day passed. The comics she received weren't her taste of entertainment at all. Queen Chrysalis had to admit, as months went by, the more bored she got. Before her victory over Twilight Sparkle, she used all her time to scheme plans of attack, if not trying to survive in the wilderness. And after that, she had Cozy Glow, Tirek, and Grogar to keep her company when the all-mighty villain took them in. In fact, all she could remember was using her time to make plans to defeat Equestria. Even before she lost her hive to Thorax, the only thing she had was her hive. Now she's simply controlling them, it wasn't the same, although she would think Sombra would have something to say about it. She even thought back to her quest to invade Canterlot during the royal wedding with Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor. That plan took years of precise study of the castle, the caves underneath, and the bride and groom. If only Twilight Sparkle hadn't stopped her back then, she probably wouldn't have met Tirek and Cozy Glow, or if she did it would be under other circumstances.
She wondered what it would be like if she hadn't met them like she did. She was forced to work with them because of Grogar, no, because of Discord. She actually might have fought them needlessly because of her own foolishness and destroyed them when she could have used them, or even get defeated by Tirek's magic stealing ability with the aid of Cozy Glow. She wouldn't have teamed up with them to succeed in her plans, and she wouldn't have her hive back and be stronger than ever with the power of Grogar's bell. She might have failed in one of her many plans and would have been sent to Tartarus with them for all she knew.
She wondered how the other two met, she knew Tirek was imprisoned in Tartarus, but how did he get to know Cozy Glow, who was just a random filly she had never met before. She was really intrigued, they really didn't seem all that friendly when they were together, but she remembered Cozy explaining to her that Tirek was some sort of a mentor when she was just starting the whole 'take over Equestria' thing. Perhaps she wrote to Tirek, but did Tartarus even have a mailbox? She might have to ask them herself-
She was doing it again.
She was thinking about them again.
Queen Chrysalis care nor involve herself with others. Queen Chrysalis doesn't have friends.
Sighing, completely by herself in her quiet throne room, Chrysalis waited for any signs of the two returning. When she got none, she got off of her throne, lit up her horn and shot her royal seat with a lime green magic beam. The throne shook a bit, then glowed bright green, before flashing and becoming transparent, outlined lime green. Behind it revealed a staircase going downwards, and Chrysalis proceeded to go through the transparent throne and down the stairs. A few seconds after she left, the throne went back to normal, as if nothing happened.
She walked down the set of spiral stairs, and when the staircase ended she entered the deep underground where a large room sat, with black support beams keeping the room collapsing.
In the middle of the room sat a large green cage, with a very familiar being inside.
"Of course. I haven't seen you in almost a year and when I find you you're sleeping." Chrysalis blankly said.
The creature, formerly King Thorax, still reformed, was sound asleep on his side in the middle of the cage, snoring, and mumbling.
The Queen slammed a hoof on the cage's bar, rattling the whole thing and making a loud sound travel throughout the room, waking up the King.
Thorax was startled when he awoke and scrambled to his chest. "Oh," He started before picking himself up. "It's you, Chrysalis."
"I'm surprised you look so well, Thorax. " She spat. "I thought you would have starved by now."
"I don't need to eat love anymore." Thorax frowned. "I'm sharing it with everyone, including you. I guess you still don't understand that after all these years. That's pretty sad in my opinion."
"I don't need your love nor your opinions!" Chrysalis snapped.
"Why are you visiting me then?" Thorax asked. "To gloat? I think I've heard enough now, Chrysalis. It's getting to the point where it's more annoying than intimidating."
"Hmph." Chrysalis sat down. "I guess you could say I was bored."
"And the changeling you come to talk to is me," Thorax stated, sitting himself down on his haunches. "I've been pretty bored too, sitting in this cage and all. And while I've been begging for a break of being the King of Changelings, this isn't what I had in mind."
"Perhaps you should have given me back my hive when you had the chance," Chrysalis said with a smirk.
Thorax laughed. "Never in a million years." He said, not trying to sound like he was joking.
His laughter slowly died down, and his smile faded. He looked up to Chrysalis and stared her in the eyes. "It's not too late you know."
"For what?" Chrysalis raised a brow.
"I may be leading the Changelings in the right direction-"
"I doubt that."
"-but you were definitely a better leader, I do have to admit."
"..." Chrysalis didn't know what to say about this compliment.
"I would have loved to see what would have happened if you actually reformed with us. I can still see that happening, but only you can make that choice."
"What makes you think I will?" She asked. "I already have everything I've ever wanted. I have my hive again, the magical prowess I once thought I could only dream of, and you and Starlight in my clutches."
"Yet you're still bored."
Chrysalis stopped talking at that statement and stared at Thorax.
"Chrysalis, the only thing that's stopping you is the fact that you're afraid of change. You think there's only one way of doing things and that just isn't true. It's really ironic if you think about it. Changelings were made to change, yet you won't let yourself change, to evolve even. You lost sight of what was needed and all that was in your vision was revenge on Starlight ever since she and I stopped your plans."
"Stop that! I don't regret anything I've done up to this point."
"You're missing the point, Chrysalis. It's not that you don't regret your actions! Your revenge clouded your mind, you didn't want to accept the truth and you didn't care about the hive anymore!" Thorax told.
"That isn't true! Everything I've done, all that I've accomplished was for the hive!"
"And now you forcefully control them. You can't call that a hive, that's called slavery."
Chrysalis stood up and hissed at Thorax but the kinder changeling didn't stop. "The Changelings were so happy once I became their leader, no matter how much you deny that, it's the truth! We weren't starving anymore, we had more allies and friends, and we were stronger than ever! It makes me wonder if you ever cared about us. When we invaded Canterlot, and when you kidnaped all of Equestria's protectors, were your intentions really for the hive, or for yourself?"
"Of course it was for the hive-"
"Maybe because when something benefits the hive it indirectly benefits you more?"
Chrysalis roared and fired a blast through the bars of the cage and towards Thorax. The Changeling King used his magic to block the attack. "I may not be strong enough to defeat you, but I can hold my own. In fact, I could break out of here any time I wanted."
Chrysalis laughed. "Even if you broke out, I have pretty much all of the most powerful beings in my clutches, and those who aren't are either being tracked down by Lord Tirek or already sealed away where no one will ever find them!"
"Hm... That seems to be the only reason why I'm not free yet." Thorax agreed. "How are your two friends anyways."
Chrysalis hissed a tad. "They aren't my friends."
"Alright, then how are they anyway?"
She paused. "I don't know. I haven't spoken to them since we won. They probably forgot all about me." There was a hint of sadness in that statement.
"Sounds to me like you miss them."
"Of course I don't you fool!" Chrysalis said, snapping out of it. "They were merely allies with the same goal as I."
"People who are simular usually become friends," Thorax said. "It's like I said, you're forcing yourself not to believe it. But they were your friends at one point."
"Allies." Chrysalis corrected.
Thorax shook his head in shame, and Chrysalis's eye twitched as she glared at the other changeling through the bars of the cage. "Allies, friends, pals, they're all similar. I truly hope you understand one day Chrysalis, I really do."
"For what? So I'll let you out because you're my friend? "
Thorax shook his head again, "Not even for my sake, but for yours. You may not realize it yet, but when you do it'll come crashing down on you."
"Realize what?"
"That you'll be alone, no matter how much you follow this path you currently believe in."
Chrysalis cackled. "Alone? That's what I'll realize? You're a fool if you think that will bother me." She continued to laugh at Thorax as she got up and left the room up the stairs, leaving the fallen king to sigh to himself.
"You'll either stay alone forever, or one day finally realize it." Thorax said sadly as he sat down and watched his former Queen leave the room.
"I hope its the latter."
There's More to Magic Than Friendship
Everywhere was silent.
Appleloosa, Somnambula and Dodge Junction. These desert lands only had the sounds of winds and tumbleweeds passing by, while looking like ghost towns, with no pony or any other creatures aside from tiny rodents or bugs crawling around.
Manehattan, Baltimare, Vanhoover, Applewood, and Fillydelphia. All of these cities' windy and cracked streets were empty instead of the normal hundreds of ponies wandering around. Newspapers flew around with the heading, "Dangerous Centaur on the loose." Their many buildings were also heavily damaged; Glass broken, structures toppled and lights off. There wasn't a pony in sight or any creature for that matter.
Rainbow Falls, Sire's Hollow, and Our Town; Unlike Ponyville which was ruled by an alicorn filly, these villages and towns were quieter than they ever have been since they were created. No one was at their stands now filled with spoiled food and accessories, outside was untidy, the grass was not conditioned in a long time and there was garbage here and there.
Even in the sky, Cloudsdale and other homes were brought down to Equestrian ground when the clouds holding the buildings were blasted away.
Hippogriffia and Mount Aris, Yakyakistan, Griffonstone, Klugetown, the homes to creatures other than ponies, they were all mostly empty as well. But there was a little hint of life when a creature came out of hiding every now and then.
Even the Crystal Empire, once bright, was now a shade darker, with its, smoking buildings, destroyed castle, and shattered Crystal Heart that failed to protect them.
One should not be fooled though. These cities, towns, villages and most importantly homes were not empty. All the residents, visitors, and tourists were all in hiding. In fear of the same Centaur in the newspapers or even his friends if they were so unlucky for them to visit instead.
In every shelter, basement, of every building, there were creatures in hiding for survival. Even if they knew he was long gone, not finding what he was searching for in their homelands, the strength, power, and tenacity of that one ancient being were frightening enough to scar the helpless. They wouldn't come out of hiding any time soon unless there was a light of hope that would guide them. Young or old, strong or weak, it didn't matter. Against Lord Tirek, there wasn't a thing anyone could do.
In the middle of the Celestial Sea, the ground shook every second.
Other than the ocean, and the shaking steps this ancient being took, the only other sound was the rattling of an old powerful bell hung from a string around his neck.
Lord Tirek had the ocean split and pushed aside, creating a path that he was currently walking through, each of his hooves rumbling the ground with every step. If there was any part of the ocean floor that was too deep for him to walk through, he would create his own floor using his magic.
It was a boring journey throughout the years. Heading to each civilization in search of the last threats that posed him. Sure, he had a blast hunting down the last of the ponies to snack on their magic, but other than that, all it was, was walking. He was surprised his legs weren't tired yet. It was severely boring.
The last piece of land to search on his mental list was the dragon lands. There were multiple reasons he was coming here last, but the biggest one wasn't that he was worried that the dragons could defeat him. Instead, he thought it was going to be a waste of time. The dragons were never on friendly terms with the ponies, and as far as Tirek knew, they wouldn't want to protect the ponies risking themselves. They were greedy and selfish beasts.
As far as he knew, anyway.
The thought of the ponies allying with different species made him think back to his own.
King Vorak. The last time Tirek heard his father's name was when Discord was mocking him. The Lord of Chaos's voice was the only way he could hear his father's name now, essentially ringing in his head. His father wasn't the kindest soul on the planet, not in a long shot. But he surely cared about Tirek, didn't he? When he thought about it, his good old dad didn't even attempt to rescue him. Just like his brother, there were no letters in the hundreds of years he was locked up in Tartarus. Even when he escaped, twice, not even a hint of him nor his brother was present.
His mother was different though. Queen Haydon was very kind to everyone, of any race, species, and age. If she didn't reach out to her son, she surely had a good reason. Perhaps King Vorak wouldn't let her, or maybe she was unable to visit Equestria. Princess Celestia and Luna probably prohibited her, maybe scared she would attempt to release Tirek herself and escape. The princesses didn't know how powerful she was, they didn't want to take the risk. Perhaps she thought he was deceased, she probably has been mourning for years, begging to see him again. Or maybe she didn't care after all. It's been hundreds of years, she's either already passed away, or long forgotten Lord Tirek, her son.
Then there was his brother. The one who betrayed him. He snarled at the thought of his brother. He thought of him as a weakling, making friends with Starswirl, who he defeated with the pillars by his side as if it was nothing. He made friends with a weak, old, pony .
At that word, one filly flashed in Tirek's mind.
He shook his head, nearly bringing the ocean down upon him by accident.
Cozy Glow. Out of the hundreds of years he was locked up in Tartarus for, he only had one companion, and only for a month or two. She should be more forgettable. She was so annoying, such a brat, and certainly manipulating. She was a pony, his enemy. Sure, they had the same goals. Sure, they were working together at one point. And sure, he didn't mind the company she gave. It made him feel like he had an annoying sibling again, only this time, she wasn't Scorpan trying to persuade him not to conquer Equestria. This time, she was urging him to continue and succeed. Like a friend would. Like a proper sibling would. Like...
Family.
The centaur almost started to regret wasting his time hunting Princess Cadance and Shining Armor all this time. He could've been home by now, possibly finding his parents, and maybe brother once again. Possibly forgiving him if he found it in himself, probably not. Maybe have his family back. But he remembered he came to Equestria to prove himself. Prove that he was the strongest being even the real Grogar would fear.
And that was what he was going to do. Even if it took him all this time, he will prove to his dad that he is worthy to be next in line for the throne. Even if he took a thousand years.
And even if he had to betray some past comrades.
"Ah, finally." Tirek released his magic when he was finally out of the ocean, letting the water settle back in place. He stared at the volcanic island with a greedy look on his face. "The Dragon Lair. It's been too long."
He started to trek forward, and after minutes of walking, he spotted some dragon, flying about. He stood in a gorge and looked around, particularly for any ponies.
It took a couple of seconds for any of the dragons to notice him, before a few of them perched on the edge of some rocky cliffs to stare down at him from above. Tirek didn't notice some of the other dragons retreating.
The centaur smiled. "I am Lord Tirek!" He shouted. "I come from a distant land, seeking for the magic that belongs to me. The magic of the Ponies of Equestria! If there are any hiding in your lair, it would be best if you handed them over to me."
"Or what?" A voice yelled back.
Garble flew, coming in from a direction Tirek wasn't looking at and landed in front of the red lord.
Tirek laughed and charged his horn in his red glowing magic. "Things could get very ugly. You dragons wouldn't want to hurt yourselves over some measly weak ponies, would you? Dragons don't have any magic to take. Just give me any ponies that are hiding in your lands, and we can part ways."
"What are you going to do once you take them?" The red dragon asked.
"Take their magic, of course! Then take them back to Queen Chrysalis's hive in the changeling kingdom so they won't be any more trouble." He said with a smirk.
"Is that so?"
Tirek nodded.
"Dragons have the upper claw on you, don't they? Against ponies and other powerful creatures, you have the advantage of taking their powers and turning them into your own. But you're unable to do that to a strong species like dragons."
"I might not be able to take anything from you, but I have more than enough power within me to take you down."
"Even hundreds of other dragons?"
"If I must."
"Is that a threat?"
"Depending on the circumstances."
The two paused the conversation. Tirek turned his head and looked at his surroundings, noticing more dragons perched up above him, most of them looking angry.
He knew they must have been preparing for his arrival. But it didn't matter, he was far too strong for them to handle him. He simply had to keep his distance, watch out for lava and their fire breath, find who he was looking for and get out.
There were mostly adult dragons in different colors, with some teenage dragons like Garble in the mix. They weren't much taller than Tirek himself. With his magic, they couldn't hurt him. Even if they were strong. The only thing he couldn't deal with properly was their flight, having no way to do so himself. But he could manage.
"They told us, you know?" Garble said, carrying Tirek's attention back to the small red dragon. "A small pony, about the size of Spike the Dragon, a Changeling Queen, more vicious than any dragon I have ever met, and you. "
Tirek grinned.
"More greedy than any dragon ever conceived. Who only cares about himself and no one else. You three were the first villains who were finally able to take over Equestria. Trapping everyone, including my sister who I haven't seen in two whole years because you have her captive somewhere!" He yelled.
Tirek laughed, "Yes, I do believe there were a couple of drago-"
"And my daughter!" A voice boomed.
The centaur snapped his head up to see an enormous dark scaled dragon flying in circles above, before coming down and landing in front of a shocked and slightly scared Tirek and behind the smug Garble.
The largest dragon Tirek has ever seen, so heavy it must have been impossible to stand on two legs like the smaller dragons. He wore black armor around his chest, with holes that allowed his orange wings to stretch out. He wore a crown made out of red crystal sitting on his head with two long protruding orange horns pointing down and outwards, above his slit angry orange eyes.
"D-dragon lord Torch..." Tirek said in shock. He started sweating, he completely forgot about Torch. "H-how long has it been, my friend." He said, gaining back his composure quickly after calming down.
"Enough!" Torch yelled. "Where is my daughter, Tirek? I will not ask again."
Tirek secretly put his hand behind his back and charged some magic in it. "I don't know what you're talking about. The only dragon I've seen in Equestria was one of the princess's friends!" He said.
Torch glared at Tirek. "That brave dragon, named Spike, is very close to Ember and Smolder. Who were both headed to Equestria when they had suddenly disappeared without notice according to my fellow dragons."
The other dragons agreed, asking Tirek all at once where their Dragon Lord was.
Torch bent down to glare at Tirek even closer, who was beginning to frown. "If you do not tell me where she is, I will have you for lunch and find her myself."
Tirek stared back at him with a frown, before smiling and saying, "You wanted me to come here, didn't you. Otherwise, you would have come to find your sweet little daughter two years ago. You're scared, I can see it. Deep inside you know that not only I but the other two currently ruling Equestria are too powerful for even you to handle. That's why you waited for me to come to you, so you could use your numbers against me." Tirek closed his eyes. "The dragons were once a respected species, now you're all friends with a bunch of colorful ponies."
"Don't get it wrong, it's not friendship," Garble said. "It's because Ember equally respects the ponies as they respect us. So it isn't weakness to help one another. A certain drake taught us that. We have been stronger than ever." Garble said. "
"Friendship. It's pathetic. You're all pathetic."
"The only one who's pathetic here is you." Torch said with a growl. "I've had enough of this, I'll send your regards to King Vorak myself!"
Torch attempted to reach forward with a claw to grab Tirek, but the red tyrant threw a magic beam at Garble, which sent the red dragon hurling into the larger dragon's claw. To his surprise, Garble pushed him back with a huge force.
The other dragons, teenage and adult, roared to the skies which forced Tirek to cover his ears with scrunching eyes. The horde of mighty dragons then inhaled before blow mass flames towards the centaur from all directions.
Casting a magic sphere barrier, he blocked the flames with a bit of struggle. Grunting, he pushed back the flames with a burst of magic.
The group of dragons shielded their faces from his magic with their wings, before descending on him trying to swipe him with their claws.
Tirek dodged a few claws, then blocked a couple more. Then, before any more dragons could attack him, he jumped up with his powerful hooves to one of the higher levels of the gorge. With his mighty magic, he fired at the dragons from above.
He hit a few, sending them crashing down. After missing some shots, he felt the ground shake behind him. Turning around he barely had enough time to shield himself from Torch's fire breath, on a completely different level than the other dragons, his breath expanding into the size of the interior of Canterlot's throne room. Pushing the fire to the side with his a swing of his arms and his magic, he began charging more magic in his curved horns.
He and Torch both shot magic and fire, the two clashing in the middle, however, Tirek's magic was overpowering the flames of the ex-lord. Dragons began circling the two, before most, including Garble and Fizzle, helped Torch by adding their own fire or taking a chance to get Tirek from behind. The efforts from the ones behind the centaur proved futile when they noticed he was simply blocking their fire with his magic, so they went to help with the beam struggle in the middle.
The dragons were winning the quick projectile fight but soon began to be pushed back when they started to lose their breaths.
Tirek chuckled before giving it one last push and winning the clash, blasting the group of dragons opposing him and blowing them away like a group of bowling pins. He gave a quick laugh and said, "The dragons are certainly a worthy foe, but they're still no match for me ." He began charging more magic and aimed at the area with a pile of dragons. "From one Lord to another I will commend you. It was an honor fighting and defeating you. I'll find the rest of the ponies without your help."
Then he fired the massive magic beam at them.
But before it hit the out-of-breath dragons, Torch stepped in front of them and faced his back against the beam, tanking it.
He roared in pain, the beam beginning to break his armor around his back and wings.
"Dragon Lord Torch! What are you doing?" One of the dragons asked him in complete shock.
Torch grunted, giving everything he had to keep standing and shielding the dragons. "She needs... a kingdom to come back to." He said, as more of his armor continued to break.
He kept protecting the smaller dragons, blocking the powerful magic beam and roaring through the sheer intense pain from the attack to his back.
Tirek chuckled. "I guess dragons aren't so greedy after all. I'll make sure to tell all the dragons I see about your selflessness, Torch." He was about to release more magic, but then a blue shield projected around the giant dragon, amazingly blocking the magic beam.
Then pink magic appeared around Torch, and his wounds disappeared slowly. The large dragon sighed in bliss.
Stunned for a second, Tirek barely noticed a small pink form jump on top of the dragon before magic came from it, knocking him backward and stopping his magic for the moment.
"Are you alright, Dragon Lord Torch?" The pink alicorn in front of his face asked.
He looked at Princess Cadence and smiled. "Thanks to you, princess."
Cadence smiled, and Shining trotted next to her. "Sorry, we got here so late, we were on the other side of the Dragon Lands."
"It's nothing to worry about. We held him off long enough for you to arrive. Now we can finally end this." Torch said.
The two nodded before a filly came down from on top of Torch's back and landed in front of them. "I got him in the face!" Flurry Heart said. "No one hurts, Uncle Torch!"
Cadence and Shining giggled, before getting serious once again.
"Remember the plan, and what we're after," Cadence said. "If our plan works, it'll be a huge step in taking back Equestria."
"We have to watch out too though," Shining put in. "If Tirek uses the bell or his powers on us our chances of victory severely drop."
"Leave that to me. That bell doesn't do a thing to a dragon." Torch put in.
Cadence put on a look of concern. "He's more powerful than when he entered Canterlot Castle all those years ago when he teamed up with Discord. Yet he's not as big as he was... It's frightening."
"It's the bell." Shining Armor said. "Remember the plan, that's all we have to focus on right now."
"Right," Cadence said with a smile.
"What if it doesn't work mommy?" Flurry Heart said. "What happens to us if we lose?"
The taller pink alicorn put on a sad smile and bent down to her daughter, pecking her on the forehead. "We won't. I promise."
"But if we do, we'll be sent to Queen Chrysalis's hive to be fed upon," Shining said before Cadence slapped him on the head.
"We're not going to lose." She said. "We can't. We do this for aunt Twilight, Celestia, and Luna. For everypony." Then she looked up at Torch and coughed. "And dragon."
Torch chuckled, before turning to Garble, flying next to his ear. "Go and take everydrake and the eggs east!"
"What?" Garble said dumbfounded. "But we have to help!"
The large dragon shook his head. "If we fail here, Tirek will endanger everything in the dragon lands. You must go and keep the next generation of dragons safe."
"But what about you?"
Torch laughed. "What does this old dragon have left to do? Go! Now!"
The smaller red dragon looked conflicted, staring at the other adults with a look that was trying to ask if they should disobey his orders, then looking back at Torch that was now turned and staring towards where Tirek was. Gritting his teeth, he flew to the other dragons and told them to trust the wise and strong ex-dragon lord.
"Princess Cadance! Prince Shining Armor! Princess Flurry Heart! After all this time I have finally found you! And I will finally have your magic!"
"Here he comes..." Cadence said, staring at Tirek stalking towards them from afar. "It's been two years. We've been preparing for this moment."
Shining grabbed his wife, before plunging her in a deep kiss.
Flurry Heart giggled and hopped in place at the sight.
The older pink alicorn smiled and stared at her husband questionably.
"For if we do fail." He answered. "One final kiss."
"Keep talking like that and we just might." Cadence trolled, before flying forward.
Tirek stopped walking when he noticed the Crystal Empire Princess approaching. She landed not too far away from him, on a high rock so she was standing at half his height.
"Princess," Tirek greeted with a sinister smirk.
"Lord Tirek," Cadence said back with a frown.
"We've never had any personal quarrels have we, Cadence? When I was first imprisoned, you were never in power."
"Is that all you care about? Power?" She asked with a glare. "When will you be satisfied? Once you've taken every piece of magic of every being on the planet?"
"Who knows?" He shrugged.
"Does that include Queen Chrysalis and Cozy Glow, like how you betrayed Discord?"
Tirek started to chuckle... before it turned into a full hysterical laugh. "You've read my mind! Once I'm done here, I'll be on my way to taking their magic as well."
"Of course you would," Cadence said. "You're a fool."
"Fool, am I?" He asked with a laugh as Shining with small Flurry Heart hiding behind him entered the scene. "Perhaps I'll let them keep a little of it. At least Chrysalis, that way she can make sure none of you ever get the chance to make some epic comeback."
"Then what?" Shining asked. "You have all the power in the world, what would you do then? Who do you think you're impressing with your greed?"
Tirek frowned, cutting off his laughter. But before he could retort, Cadence cut in.
"If you want to know something, Princess Celestia told me that King Vorak wanted you to be freed all those years ago, but she refused to."
King Vorak. Her saying that name made Tirek grunt in anger.
"He's the only one I could see you wanting to impress. But it seems he gave up on you." She said. "He hasn't tried to get you back ever since."
Tirek glared at Cadence with more hate than Chrysalis could ever muster towards Starlight. "Stop. Speaking."
"So I'll ask again, what do you want with so much power?" Shining asked.
"None of your business!" Tirek yelled before firing a beam at the three.
Shining lit up his horn and blocked the attack.
Tirek raised a brow before stopping his attack. "A shield stronger than even Princess Twilight. Impressive."
Cadence stepped up. "Who do you think taught their little sister?" She then sprinted forward, firing a quick beam to Tirek's chest, which knocked him back a bit but didn't do much damage.
Flurry Heart flew up above her dad and fired a beam as well, but this time Tirek smirked and activated Grogar's bell with his magic. The bell magically chimed, entering everyone's eardrums and pointing towards Flurry's beam. Before the bell could do anything else however, a fireball appeared from above and Tirek was forced to dodge it by jumping back. He looked up and snarled at Torch. Flurry's beam was still traveling forward and hit him in the shoulder. Shining followed suit, with another beam, this one did little damage, but everything mattered.
The filly flew forward firing a couple of beams while dodging a few easily. With the size difference, it was easy to hit her target while avoiding his blasts.
Cadence circled to his right and fired from that direction, hitting him in the side a few times.
With him distracted, Shining ran up and hit him in the chin with another beam.
Growling, Tirek stomped a hoof on the ground, cracking it slightly, and with great force pushed the three away with winds alone.
Flurry had it the worst. Now spinning, she was being flown higher in the air and losing control. The centaur saw her as an easy target and fired at her.
While spinning she could see the beam coming towards her every time she rotated. Bracing for impact, she was barely saved when Cadence flew up and snatched her away just in time.
"Thanks, mom!" She said, taking flight after a quick hug.
Tirek glared at the two floating in the air and was about to fire again when Shining shot from below, hitting his chin once again.
Stunned briefly, Torch had the chance to grab the red centaur with a claw and slam him into the ground, holding him against the surface. While restrained, Tirek blew the dragon's claw away with his magic, but with quick thinking, Torch used his other claw to pick him up and throw him into a nearby mountain.
Flurry teleported her dad and mom onto Torch's back and the great dragon flew after Tirek, who was back on his hooves quickly.
On both sides of the fight, they threw magic and fire respectively, resulting in another clash. They were even, but Tirek's tenacity was much stronger due to all the magic he absorbed. Combine that with the fact that Torch was running out of breath, and it was the reason why Tirek was beginning to win in the struggle.
But before he did, the clash exploded in the middle, throwing everyone away from each other and creating a massive dust cloud.
Tirek coughed and fanned the dust with a hand. He looked down to see none other than Flurry Heart. He grinned and said, "'So small and still couldn't speak.' Chrysalis told me."
"Now look at you, all grown up and stronger just for me to take your magic. How tragic."
"Mommy and daddy told me all about you." Flurry said frowning. "They said you were really evil. All the stuff they told me, it almost sounded like a fairy tale."
"It's the sad truth, young one," Tirek explained. "Not everything is just a story."
"I don't understand, though. Why even do all of this? Just for magic, you're hurting everyone!"
"It's hard to understand when you're this young." He said with a smirk. "I don't blame you."
"Well, I don't like it!" The filly yelled before firing at Tirek, who caught the magic beam and tossed it into his mouth to eat it.
"Just a waste of time." He said.
But then for a split second, he caught Cadence trying to swoop in from the side. He stepped back and barely managed to evade her.
The pink princess skidded to a halt after landing, looking very frustrated.
Tirek simply raised a brow, wondering what she was attempting to do by slamming into him. Although, he looked down and widened his eyes at the sight of his bell.
"That's what you're after?!" He said in worry, before dissolving that emotion into calmness. "You can't use it, so what's the point? We've already taken the only book about the bell in Canterlot Castle's library." He said as he walked towards Cadence, Shining Armor and their daughter landing next to her. "You might as well surrender now before you regret it, you cannot defeat me."
"Not a chance," Cadence said.
"We'll never let you get away with this!" Shining said.
"Yeah!" Flurry said.
Torch tripped Tirek over with his tail from behind, and the three royal ponies ran up with a warcry, but before anything else happened, Tirek waited for them to get closer before taking Flurry in his magic and bringing her to him quickly, then blasting Torch away.
Cadence and Shining gasped but their daughter was saved when Tirek let go of her after a fireball hit him from the opposite direction of which he sent Torch flying.
Garble flew through the smoke his fire made and grabbed the bell! Then swiftly turned to Flurry Heart's direction.
Tirek was enraged and yelled before firing a beam at the teenage dragon, but Flurry teleported herself and her dad in front of Garble and Shining procured a shield, blocking the magic attack. "Give that back!" He screamed.
Before Tirek, or anyone for that matter could react, Crystal Empire pony guards and dragons came rushing in towards Tirek from all directions, and even as he tried pushing them all away, the sheer amount of them allowed them to slowly pile up on him and pin him down momentarily.
Garble gave Cadence the bell. "Hurry! Go back to Equestria and save my sister, we'll hold him off!"
Cadence looked unsure, but when she looked at Garble's determined eyes she nodded with the same amount. "Right. Shining! Flurry! Come on let's go!"
"Here's your supplies, my Prince!" A Crystal pony with three saddle bags said, giving one each to the three royals.
"Let's go already!" Flurry said, flying in the air without patience, and they immediately started running and flying in a certain direction.
Under all the Crystal Ponies and dragons, Tirek could see through a claw and hindleg, the three running off. He was about to mentally call them cowards, but then a realization came in. The direction they were running towards was very clear to him.
They were running right to Ponyville. Straight towards Cozy Glow.
There's More to Magic Than Friendship
*Click*
The button to a tape recorder was pushed, and now the device was recording freely. It was set down on a small wooden desk with a single picture frame holding a picture of a family including four ponies and a dog. A large red pony gently sat down next to the table and leaning against the wall, eyeing the room with two makeshift beds with only thin blankets to let one know they were for resting on.
Big McIntosh sighed, silently enough for it not to be picked up on the recorder.
"Log Date... Day number Six Fifty-Eight." He started. "We're still trying to keep up the morale for the few number of creatures that are left with us, but it's proving difficult each passing day. The others haven't fully realized it yet, but food and water are slowly, but surely running out. Soon enough some of us are going to be forced to go out and gather more. It'll be hard and frightening considering the monsters out there, but we already have some volunteers, including me."
"Still no signs of my sister Applejack. My granny is still most definitely in Ponyville if the varmint hasn't already sent her to the Changeling Hive. However..." He stopped and looked out of his room through the doorway, eyeing some fillies.
Sweetie Belle groaned and plopped to the floor, her head was pounding from all the magic she was using today. She and the other crusaders sat in the foyer of Cozy's castle, all tired and anxious for some dinner when they got home.
"Hopefully she takes a long bath today. I need a break." Apple Bloom said, Scootaloo nodding in agreement.
Suddenly the doors to the front of the castle barged open, and a familiar brown mare fluttered in.
"Spur?" They all say in unison.
"That's me." Spur said with a sad smile. "How have you all been holding up?" She asked.
"What are you doing here? Don't you know how dangerous it is?" Apple Bloom asked, ignoring her question.
Spur put on a knowing look at the ceiling, her brows furrowed. "Where is she?"
They all went silent, but in a small voice, Sweetie answered. "She's taking a bath at the moment."
Spur looked at the Cutie Mark Crusaders for a moment and sighed. "I'm going to talk to her."
"Why in Equestria would you do that?" Scootaloo exclaimed.
"Because..." Spur sighed through her nose. "Because Cozy Glow is my sister. "
Three gasps were heard, and Spur looked at the Crusaders who had utter shock written on their faces.
"I thought you would react like that." Spur said with a sad smile, before frowning. "You all don't understand! She's a victim in all of this too!" She tried to convince.
"How!" Apple Bloom spat, coming out of her shock. "How can that evil filly worse than prime Diamond Tiara ever be a victim!" She yelled, the other crusaders frowning as well.
"Let me explain." Spur said. "Back when Cozy and I lived together, we lived in Fillydelphia with our father in a rich home. We never knew our mother, and only had our father and some of his butlers."
"Just like Diamond Tiara, except for the mother part." Apple Bloom deadpanned.
Spur ignored her. "Cozy wasn't a spoiled brat. She was the most loving thing in the whole world to me. She was always polite, knew her manners, and always looked to do the right thing. The problem was our father."
"What do you mean?" Sweetie asked.
"Our father taught us that the most important thing in life was power. He told us that the only thing that mattered was power. That it was the meaning of life. At first, Cozy and I didn't agree with him, and we told ourselves we wouldn't follow in his hoofsteps. We continued living like any other normal pony. However, one night, when I was away in school, our father met up with one of his rich friends, who gave him an offer." Spur paused, before breathing shakily. "I should have been there... Cozy wouldn't have turned out like this..."
"What was the offer?" Apple Bloom asked.
"He was offering a bunch of things. Some stock holdings in his large company, more property, positions most ponies can only dream of. But the price was only one thing. He wanted Cozy Glow."
"Cozy Glow was bought?!" Apple Bloom asked.
Spur nodded. "His friend thought Cozy was a very cute filly, he had a son, but always wanted a daughter for himself, but didn't want to adopt a random filly or colt from an orphanage, so he went to my father. And that stupid stallion agreed to the offer. All for power."
"When Cozy found out, she was finally convinced that power did mean everything since her own parent was willing to trade her for it. Apparently, she had ran away from home before I got back from school, and she told me the story herself."
"That's..." Apple Bloom and the crusaders were heavily conflicted.
"Please." Spur begged. "Think about your own families. How would you feel if you were given away for something so meaningless? And wouldn't you want to stick up for your sisters if it happened to them?" She asked.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle thought of their siblings, while Scootaloo thought of Rainbow Dash.
"I'm not asking you to forgive her. What she's done isn't forgivable. But all I ask is for you three to understand her."
"We... could try." Apple Bloom said with a stern expression.
"Thank you." Spur said with a nod. "Now, go."
"Huh?" The three fillies asked.
"Get out of here, even if I can't talk her out of this, I can at least distract her enough for some of you to flee. She and I haven't seen each other in years, way before this all happened."
"Are you sure? What if she hurts you?" Scootaloo asked.
"She won't. Trust me. Deep down, she's still the same sweet filly I grew up with. Now leave, I can't say the same for the three of you."
The Crusaders looked at each other for a moment before nodding in determination. "We hope you'll get through to her." Apple Bloom said before they began sprinting out of the castle, wasting no time. Scootaloo shouting a 'good luck' before the door closed.
Spur flew up the stairs and wandered the halls before halting when she heard Cozy humming in a room. "She's taking a bath." She smiled at some memories before heading towards her direction.
Cozy was humming in delight while playing with a rubber ducky, mountains of bubbles all around her as she relaxed in the warm water. Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. Grunting in annoyance she rolled her eyes and yelled out, "Who is it?"
"Can I come in?"
That voice. Cozy remembered that voice somewhere. Raising an eyebrow, she used her magic to open the door to reveal her sister.
"S-Spur?" Cozy said as she leaned out of the bathtub. "Is that you?"
Spur didn't say anything but put on a bright smile.
Without looking away from her long lost sister, Cozy pulled the drain with her magic and fluttered out of her bath, another wave of magic removing the suds and drying her fur. She stared at Spur for moments, her mouth agape. But suddenly, she furrowed her brows and scoffed. "Oh, I get it. Nice prank, Chrysalis." She sat on her haunches and crossed her arms.
"You've always hated crust on bread and never ate it without cutting it into triangles." Spur simply stated. "You also used to take long baths to waste time so you didn't have to come out of the bathroom to see dad."
Cozy widened her eyes and said, "Chrysalis could have probably known about the bread, but... It really is you." She slowly walked forward towards her sister.
"I see you're now an alicorn. That explains a lot of things." Spur said.
"I've..." A few tears escaped Cozy's eyelids. She jumped up to embrace Spur in a hug with happiness. "I've missed you so much!" Cozy said happily as she nuzzled Spur's fuzzy chest, as warm as she remembered.
"Me too!" She replied with a bright smile, hugging back tenfold, and trying not to be poked by her sister's new horn. "We have a lot to catch up on."
Moments later, and now they were in the throne room, with a new crystal chair conjured up for Spur to sit on. They were playing chess on the Friendship Map table.
"This is so exciting! Now I'll finally have someone to talk to every day!" Cozy said as she moved a rook, taking one of Spur's bishops.
Spur smiled at Cozy and moved one of her pieces.
"Oh! I've got to find a way to give you some powers too! Although I don't know where Tirek is nowadays, maybe he'll know something."
"Powers?" Spur asked.
"Yup!" Cozy said with excitement as she moved another piece. "How else would you rule at my side?" She looked into her sister's eyes and her large smile grew smaller. "That's what you came here for, right?"
"Rule?" Spur said with fright.
"I-if you just came here to hang out, that's fine too."
"Cozy I don't think you understan-"
"It's alright. I know it's a lot of responsibility to rule over a lot of ponies, but I'll let you do whatever you want. Be whatever you wanna be."
"No! Cozy I didn't come to rule or hang out." She told.
Cozy tilted her head, "So... you didn't come over to see me?" She said with a hint of sadness.
"No! I mean- That's not-" Spur sighed, and moved a piece on the board, giving her time to think. She had to be cautious with her words. Any wrong move could cost everything, exactly like a game of chess. "I meant, I didn't come here just to talk, or to rule. Yes, I came here to see you, but..."
"But?" Cozy looked at Spur intensely with curiosity.
Spur gave Cozy a sad smile, and started, "I came to talk about this. " She gestured towards the destroyed thrones, a symbol of Cozy's victory over the elements of Harmony. "And... you." She explained, looking at Cozy's horn and larger wings.
"Uh... what about it?" The pink filly asked.
"Cozy... this is wrong." Spur began. "Taking over Equestria? Teaming up with ancient villains to defeat the heroes of Equestria? Why?"
The filly glared at Spur. "For power of course!" She moved another piece.
"Cozy, a lot of ponies and even other creatures are hurting. Don't you care about their wellbeing?"
"They look completely fine to me!" She yelled, getting angrier by the second.
"They aren't, Cozy. You know that!" Spur said sternly. "You used to care about everypony. You used to be so kind, what happened?"
"You know what happened, Spur. I know you do."
"Yes, but what did he do to turn you against everypony. I would understand your hatred towards him, but the other ponies and creatures didn't do anything to you."
"Didn't papa teach you anything?" Cozy spat.
Spur went silent at the question.
Cozy looked at the board and examined it thoroughly. At first glance, it would seem as if Cozy was trying hard in this chess game, but Spur knew she was doing the same thing she was earlier, trying to come up with some words. Spur knew that could only mean she was contradicting herself, she was lost, but she didn't fully realize it yet.
Spur moved another piece, Cozy cleared her throat and continued. "When he... sent me away. Yes, I hated him from that day on, but I will admit that he taught me more than anything that same day." She went on, moving another piece. "Power is the most important thing. Why else would he sell me for it?"
"That isn't true, Cozy!" Spur said. "Power might feel great, but deep inside you'll be consumed by loneliness!"
"Is that what happened to papa?" Cozy asked. "From what I could tell, he would have been doing so much better if I hadn't ran away."
"Dad was an idiot." Spur said, moving a chess piece. "You don't have to follow in his hoofsteps. I know you're smarter than this, Cozy! You're the smartest filly I know! Please realize that even if you have all the power at your hooves, if everypony is forced to follow you, you'll still be truly alone. No pony wants that! No pony thinks that power is worth more than friends and family!"
"Everypony is forced to follow me, you say? I'm the best leader that's ever lived! It doesn't matter if they are forced to follow me or not, that simply means they don't fully realize that I'm a great leader yet!"
"No, it doesn't!" Spur shouted back.
"Shut up!" Cozy yelled, standing up in her seat. "You weren't the one who was being sold. You were at school learning the wrong things about life, while I was taught the right things firsthoof! When I ran away, I vowed to gain power and shove it into papa's face. Showing him that his sweet little daughter has more power than he could ever dream of, then ripping what little he has left! I discovered that friendship was power on my own, and I nearly won with my first attempt, but after I lost, I forged an alliance with two powerful creatures, and the three of us working together finally succeeded, on top of it being the most fun thing I've ever done it was the first time anypony that opposed to Celestia actually won. And now, I have more power than anyone in the history of time! I took down Celestia and Luna, and even Twilight Sparkle and her friends, if that isn't worthy of being a leader I don't know what is!" Cozy screamed at the top of her lungs, some strands of hair escaping her well-done mane.
Spur looked at her sister in shock.
"And I still plan on doing that to him, for what he did to me." She continued in rage, talking about their father. "His reward for teaching his filly the way life will be the loss of everything he holds dear. Spur, be honest with me, do you agree with me on this one? Are you going to follow me or turn your back on me like everypony else?!"
Spur teared up, before breathing out, "N-no..." She then shouted back. "Please, Cozy! You still have a chance to stop all of this. I can teach you a different way of life, and we can live happily away from dad and live out the rest of our lives in peace, with no pain!" She said while crying a bit. "I just want my sister back..."
"Your sister disappeared years ago when your papa tossed her away," Cozy said coldly, before moving a piece. "Checkmate."
Lighting her horn, she created a portal behind Spur, leading to the Changeling hive.
The portal started sucked up her sister, as Cozy watched heartlessly seemingly without being pulled in herself, her mane still whipping around because of the winds. Spur looked inside the portal, grabbing onto her crystal chair to avoid being sucked up. She looked back and forth, her gaze transitioning between the portal and her sister. She soon lost her grip on the crystal chair and got sucked in, landing in the hive and changelings surrounded her. Before the portal closed up, Spur said, while looking at her sister who stared back at her with cold but wavering eyes, "I'll always love you, Cozy Glow. I'm sorry." Then it closed.
It was now silent in the room. Cozy breathed heavily and took a look at the finished chess game, before blasting it away with her magic in a feat of anger. Then, she started to rant, walking back and forth across the room, mocking Spur and convincing herself that power is everything.
But she couldn't deny herself, like a house flooding in with water, she quickly began to realize that she still missed her sister, and slowly but surely started to regret sending her away.
Big Mac smiled. "However some good news has finally come. My little sister and her two best friends escaped and managed to get themselves found safe and sound. They now live here with the resistance in our base in the caves underneath Canterlot. I was so darn happy to see them, and they told me all what has been happening back in Ponyville. It hasn't made me.... happier, I'll say. But it's not as bad as I once thought."
The stallion then thought about his journey to Mt. Everhoof. "Sometime after the last recording. My wife, Sugar Belle, and old wizard, Starswirl the Bearded, a pony named Fizzlepop Berrytwist that now goes by the name Tempest, and I went to a journey to Mt. Everhoof, with intentions of gathering information about Grogar's bell, since it had come from there originally."
The four ponies draped in warm clothing and saddlebags were far up the snowy mountains and found a wooden cabin. It was the only thing they found in the area, and they were about to inspect it.
Starswirl, his magic still drained from so long ago, knocked on the door. The winds blew the four of them while they waited for anyone.
A couple of seconds passed and an old brown pony with a cape and rusty bucket for a helmet revealed himself. "Howdy, what can I do for you all?"
"Greetings. My name is Starswirl." The wizard said. "May we ask some questions regarding Mt. Everhoof and Grogar's Bewitching Bell?"
"The name is Rusty Bucket! Sure, come on in, it sure is cold out." Once every pony was seated inside his warm house in the living room, Rusty asked, "What seems to be the problem?"
"Everything," Tempest said.
Rusty looked concerned.
"Three villains acquired a magical talisman that was able to aid them in taking over Equestria," Starswirl explained. "Do you know anything of this?"
Rusty instantly got serious, with his expression very hard.
"They took away our families, and forced us away unless we wanted to be under their rule or captured." Sugar Belle said, snuggling into Big Mac.
"Eyup."
"That Centaur, bug and filly did it..." He surmised.
"You've seen them?" Starswirl asked.
"Yes, I met with them years ago. They were my most recent visitors... if you count years passing as recent." He chuckled. "They ignored my warnings that the mountain was dangerous, and I never saw them again when they began to scale it. I thought they were already goners."
"It seems not," Tempest said. "They got the magical talisman, Grogar's Bewitching Bell, and took off."
"That should have been impossible," Rusty explained. "Not only is the mountain nearly impossible to scale, but once you get there there is a magic barrier blocking anypony from getting to the bell."
"They found a way," Starswirl said. "Is there perhaps any other talisman or secret in these mountains? Something that we can use to fight back with?"
"I'm afraid not. However..." Rusty went over to a chest and dug through it. At first, the other ponies in the room thought he was going to pull something out of it, but from the sounds of it, he pulled a lever or pushed a button inside the chest, and suddenly the room started to shake. Acting quickly, Rusty pulled the rug away from the center of the floor, and it was revealed that the floor was opening up. In the middle of opening up, a stand rose from beneath the floor, rising high and holding something.
Rusty took the object from its stand and sighed while holding it to his chest. "I am a descendant of Gusty the Great. I want to ask you, do you know about her true relationship with Grogar?"
The rest of the ponies in the room looked confused, except one.
Starswirl nodded. "They were once friends, yes." He said. "I know the full details, they used to put it in ancient history books back when I was a young colt."
Rusty nodded. "They were once the best of friends, working as a team to gain land and power. Grogar's bell... it is only one part of a full set." He revealed a white absolutely gorgeous sparkling silk that Rarity would die for. "You can wear the bell with anything, but only with Gusty's magical silk will the true potential of the bell will be unlocked. Not even Grogar himself knows this, it's been a secret passed down generations." He gave the silk to Starswirl.
"How does it's potential unlock?" The wizard asked.
"More control. You can directly use the magic inside the bell, whatever left of it there is. Even creatures who can't normally use magic can use it, however, I must warn you that once the bell and silk are put together, the physical toll on the wearer's body will be huge."
Starswirl nodded, and unbeknownst to everypony, Big Mac held his mouth agape only slightly.
"The more the user uses, the bigger the toll." Rusty looked down at the silk and gripped it tightly even as Starswirl held it in his magic. "I didn't know the situation was so dire. I apologize for not realizing sooner. This silk has been hidden and protected by my ancestors for thousands of years, I trust you all to do the right thing, and if you succeed, please bring it back to me."
Tempest held Rusty's shoulder to comfort him. "We will win. And I'll bring it back to you personally."
Rusty nodded, and the group made their way out his door. "Good luck to you all, I'm afraid there's nothing else I can do to help."
"You've done plenty," Starswirl said. "You have my thanks."
"This silk is Equestria's light of hope." Sugar Belle said. "This will give us the chance to make everything right."
Then Big Mac thought about a couple weeks ago, he grumbled and snorted in a wave of anger.
"We're about to have a meeting. Let's head to the planning room." Apple Bloom said to Big Mac, in front of his crystal room.
The resistance's base was located in the crystal caverns below Canterlot, that spanned out across the entire city. The same caves which once held an imprisoned Princess Cadence, and more recently the dungeon that the villain trio used to keep the Royal Sisters, Pillars, Starlight Glimmer, Discord, and the Element Bearer's minus Twilight captive. Now the caves were swarmed with tents, tiny crystal structures that didn't look like it would hold but were used as homes, and other establishments. Unfortunately, species such as the Yaks weren't able to get away from the villains, but ponies, griffons, and other various creatures of different ages not captured by Chrysalis or ruled by Cozy Glow bustled about and did their own things, some creatures teamed up to make and grow food, others that worked together to procure clothing, and even armor, and some others surprisingly making weapons, like spears, shields, and swords. There was an orphanage for the fillies and colts who lost their parents, a small library containing some books from Canterlot's library when someone sneaked in to grab some, and even a small school for the younger creatures. It was a little underground village, created by scraps, but now a home nonetheless.
Big Mac followed his sister and her friends to the meeting room, passing some ponies and changelings. The room was directly under Canterlot Castle and had a secret entrance to the Canterlot Archives within the castle. But no one dared to go into the castle itself, since the last time a cocky griffon did, he was caught by surprise when Tirek was wandering about, and nearly busted everyone underground.
A few makeshift holes in the room served as windows allowed anyone to look down at the landscape, including a little bit a Ponyvile. There, Starswirl, Sugar Belle, Dragon Lord Ember, Sunburst, Yona, and Tempest were seated around a big stone table.
"Everypony is present," Sunburst mentioned to Starswirl, who was writing some stuff down on some paper.
"Let's get started then," Starswirl said.
"Still no sight of Sandbar, Yona?" Ember whispered to her Yak friend.
"No," Yona said simply with a depressed expression. Ember rubbed her back with pity.
With Big Mac and the Crusaders seated, Starswirl cleared his throat. "Now that we're all here, it's finally time to explain our plan of action."
"As you all know, four of us recently came back from a journey carrying Gusty the Great's magic silk, capable of concentrating the magic inside Grogar's bell." Starswirl began. Sunburst, who was one of the few that still had his magic, projected an image of the silk with his light yellow magic, switching the image to correlation with Starswirls talk. "With it, we can undo all the damage Cozy Glow, Chrysalis, and Tirek have done."
"Princess Cadence, her husband, and their daughter are also on a mission of taking Grogar's bell from Tirek," Sunburst said. "If they are successful, then our chances to save everypony skyrocket."
"Then we just wait for them then?" Ember asked.
"Exactly."
"Well, I don't take kindly to that plan. I don't like to just wait around." Ember explained.
"We have no choice," Sunburst said. "Besides, we've been waiting two years for this moment, can't you wait a little longer?" He asked kindly.
Starswirl ruffled his beard.
"You could have came with us to Mt. Everhoof if you wanted to stretch your wings." Sugar Belle said.
"Too cold for a dragon," Ember said simply. "But anyway, what I mean is, I don't like to wait around when we have a chance to do something."
"Hm..." Starswirl looked at Ember in wonder. "What do you mean?"
"While you four were gone I made friends with this Yona here." She gestured towards Yona. "She's one of Smolder's friends."
Yona waved, albeit a bit shyly. She's been really quiet ever since Gallus and Sandbar left to find their friends, and only recently opened up to Ember when she found out she was close to Smolder.
"We were talking, and she told me of an old Yak technique that could be used to combine powers!"
"Combine powers... Could you elaborate?" Sunburst asked.
Instead of Ember continuing, Yona spoke up. "If pony and pony do old dance movements. Then pony and pony combine. If pony and dragon try, no work. If one pony big and one pony small, no work. If one pony strong, and one pony weak, no work."
"So they have to be similar," Sunburst concluded.
Yona nodded.
"Unicorns used a simple spell in the past as well," Starswirl said. "However they wouldn't combine, not physically."
"So... couldn't we combine?" Sweetie Belle brought up, raising her hoof, causing all heads to turn to the three Crusaders, putting them on the spot. It was the first time any of them spoke, so curiosity swept the room. "Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and I. We're all the same size, roughly the same weight. Do different body parts like horns and wings affect anything? O-or the number of creatures?"
Yona shook her head.
"So all three of us should be able to combine!" She said.
"If Yona shows us how to do this technique. It would prove a great asset." Starswirl said.
"However, if we made it into a spell a unicorn could cast, it would prove even better." A new voice said.
All heads turned to the new voice, and Starswirl smiled in seeing a new friend. "Stygian! You've returned!"
The small grey, blue maned unicorn stepped up to the table. "If a technique like that could be replicated into a spell, it would be much easier to use." He said. "I agree with the filly, the only creatures in this room that would be able to combine would be these three. And if it works, they could be more powerful than either of us."
"But what if it doesn't work!"
All heads turned to Big Mac.
"What if something happens to them? What if they can't be changed back? Will I lose my sister forever?"
They all took in his words and thought to themselves, looking at him with sympathy.
"Don't worry Big Mac." Apple Bloom said. "It'll be worth it if it does work."
"And if it doesn't?" He asked.
"We have to at least try!" Apple Bloom said. "I can't stand around doing nothing while everypony is hurting out there. Ember's right, if we can do something why not try? Cozy's still out there as we speak, and I want to stop her! For everything she's done she needs to pay!"
"I don't want to lose you again!" Big Mac yelled, which startled his little sister. "I haven't seen you in nearly two years. Nor have I seen Applejack or Granny Smith. I-I can't lose you again..."
"You won't," Starswirl said. "I can teach Sunburst a reversal spell, in case things go wrong."
"And what if it's not reversible?" The large red stallion asked.
Sunburst raised a hoof. "Starlight has shown me a time-reversal spell. If anything happens I can undo everything in a two-minute span."
"Please... trust them, Big Mac, they're some of the best unicorns that ever lived." Apple Bloom said with a glare, but not towards her big brother. "We need to do this. I need to bring Cozy down."
"Trust us too." Scootaloo put in. "We don't want anything to happen to us as much as you do."
"Yeah," Sweetie said.
Big Mac grumbled. "F-fine... But the moment anything goes wrong, we cancel this plan and wait for Princess Cadence and Shining Armor."
"Of course," Starswirl said as he watched Big Mac start to leave. "Thank you."
Big Mac paused for a second, looked back, then continued after giving Starswirl and Sunburst a pleading look.
"Come you three," Starswirl said after turning to the Crusaders. "Sunburst, Yona, Stygian and I will try to get this Yak technique to work. The rest of you, look out for the Crystal Royals. Do not disturb us unless it's an emergency." The six of them walked out as well, leaving everypony else to do their own thing or watch for Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.
*Click*
Big Mac stood up and made his way out his room, and decided he was hungry.
It's been weeks since that meeting. His sister and her friends have been practicing since then, and Big Mac wasn't very pleased, to say the least. Every night, before sleep, he would tuck his sister into bed and would stroke her mane as she thought about the future, their future. He wanted to believe it was going to be a bright one, but he knew he couldn't guarantee that. He only had to hope for the best.
Sugar Belle opened the doors to the lounge area in the resistance base with her magic, and took sight of some ponies, Changelings, and other creatures such as griffons and kirins eating and talking. The lounge room was fairly large, looking like a school cafeteria but without an actual store. Food was hard to come by these days and rations were stocked up and taken care of by Starswirl and the other leaders of the resistance, who tried to evenly distribute food among everypony.
She went over to her husband, snacking on some dry grass at a table.
"Are you alright dear?" She asked, taking a seat in front of him.
They could both hear distant sounds of magic coming from another room.
"Nope." He said simple and clear.
Sugar Belle sighed. "I understand why you're moody. I know you care about Apple Bloom."
"I care about all three of them." Big Mac said, taking another bite out of his food, and shivering a bit. He swallowed. "I failed to save them, Applejack and Granny. I don't want to stand aside and potentially watch Apple Bloom and her friends taken away from me too..."
"Big Mac..." Sugar Belle didn't know what to say.
He looked down at his food. "I know the circumstances. I know this will benefit us all if it works. But I just got Apple Bloom back. I don't want to lose her again."
"I understand honey. We all do."
"I was so happy when I saw her again."
"I know, you... haven't smiled so much in so long."
Big Mac nodded.
"But, Big Mac. Didn't you look at their eyes?" She asked. "The fire within them, every time they're finished practicing and training, it's scary! They've all personally dealt with Cozy Glow's fury. They're enraged, they want revenge. Those determined little eyes looked so... monstrous." She explained.
Big Mac looked at Sugar Belle, who had a frightening look staring down at the table.
She looked up at him. "I know you aren't agreeing with this new plan. But only you can talk them down on taking revenge. Do you want your little sister to become a heartless fighter for the rest of her life?"
Big Mac shook his head softly.
"Then you need to explain to them that revenge is not the answer. I doubt that Twilight's way for reforming evil into good will work for Cozy at this point, but remind them to fight for the good of others, not for something as terrible as revenge."
"I... I see your point." Big Mac said. He leaned over and pecked her on the lips. "Thank you, sweetie." He was still frowning, but he knew what he had to do.
"Anytime." She said with a small smile.
Sitting down, Big Mac was now stationed outside the training room. Where only the Crusaders, Starswirl, Sunburst and Yona were currently in, Stygian had left a few days ago for recon work. He waited there for about an hour, listening to magic sparking behind the door that separated him from them. He heard the frustrated sounds the three fillies would make and the encouraging sounds from the wise unicorns. He heard the yak instruct, and every time following her instructions the sounds of them attempting a spell would bring up.
Eventually, the door opened, and the six of them walked out. The frustrated fillies' manes were frizzled, and there were some scratches on them, but otherwise, they were completely unharmed.
Big Mac heard Scootaloo complaining as she walked out. "I can't believe it wouldn't work. We were so close!"
"Relax, Scootaloo. We'll come back to it later." Starswirl said. "The progress we made was excellent."
Scootaloo groaned. "Yes, sir."
"Take a break, we'll start again whenever you three are ready," Sunburst said. "I'm a bit hungry, would anyone like to take a bite with me?"
"No thank you, I'll be on the lookout for the Crystal Royals," Starswirl said.
"Yona hungry," Yona said. "Yona go with pony."
"We just ate, I think we're good." Sweetie Belle said.
Sunburst nodded and they departed, leaving Big Mac and the Crusaders.
"I'm guessing y'all didn't combine?" He asked.
They shook their heads, and Scootaloo growled.
"How are we going to beat Cozy Glow and take back Ponyville if we can't even do the spell properly!" She said sitting on her haunches in front of Big Mac.
"It'll probably take us forever. They said we're making progress but it looks to me like we're heading nowhere." Apple Bloom said sitting next to her.
Sweetie said nothing but sat down aswell.
Then, Big Mac started to chuckle.
Apple Bloom frowned. "I see you're happy that we can't combine big brother." She said bitterly.
Big Mac slowly stopped chuckling and shook his head. "This reminds me of the good ol' days. When y'all would try to get your cutie marks."
The Crusaders widened their eyes.
"If I know you three, and I do say so myself that I do, I know you'll be able to do it. You three have always set your eyes on something and got it done. I've seen it countless times."
"It won't matter if it takes as long as getting our cutie marks," Scootaloo said, kicking a pebble away.
"Maybe, but it's better than not doing anything, right?"
"I thought you didn't want us to combine?" Apple Bloom asked.
"I still don't. But I can't stop you three, I don't think anyone can." He said with understanding.
"Then why were you waiting for us, Big Mac?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"I didn't come to see y'all and try to stop you," He explained. "The three of you are... scaring Sugar Belle... and me."
"Huh?" They raised their brows.
"I didn't notice it at first, but Sugar told me that you three are angry with Cozy..."
"Of course we are!" Scootaloo exclaimed.
"...and I understand that." He continued. "But you're not acting like the sweet innocent fillies I know. I realize that maybe you're not so innocent anymore, but it pains me to see you three so angry and full of hate. It hurts seeing that the only thing on your mind is revenge."
They still had their eyebrows raised, but they looked at each other in concern.
"I get it, Cozy was heartless to you all. She used you as slaves every day and only seemed to care about herself. But wouldn't you rather focus everything on saving your friends and family at home rather than some revenge?"
They stared at him for a second, then looked at one another. Shortly after, they nodded silently in agreement.
Big Mac smiled. "Twilight has always taught us that friendship matters most, and even the worst can change. I know it might be impossible to reform Cozy Glow, her... sister has been long gone." He said with sadness, remembering when Spur had met the resistance, stating that she would try and stop her little sister. "But when you do encounter her, don't fight her with revenge in mind, fight with the intent of saving everypony. That's how Apple Jack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash would want you all to do."
They nodded again, and Apple Bloom got up to hug her brother. "I'm sorry for making you worried, Big Mac."
"I'm still worried. There's a chance this might work, but even if the spell doesn't work, you might not be able to stop Cozy. Anything can happen." He said as he hugged her back tight.
"Yeah, but we can't stop now," Applebloom said with determination.
"I know." He closed his eyes.
"I think we're ready now." Sweetie Belle suddenly said.
"What makes you say that?" Scootaloo asked, looking towards her friend.
"Yona keeps saying, 'Pony mind, like sky.' over these past few days, I think she meant to tell us that we had to clear our minds!" She explained.
Apple Bloom smiled. "That must be why the spell couldn't work! Our minds were clouded with revenge!"
Scootaloo frowned. "But I... still hate her. I can't forgive everything's she's done. It's just... I can't believe she used to be our friend..."
The other two Crusaders looked at her in compassion.
"Maybe she was lying to us the whole time. But that would mean she betrayed our trust and everything! Then she just tortured us every day with no remorse!"
"It's alright to be angry." Big Mac said. "No one blames you for that. I could bet you a million bits that Rainbow has had her fair share of outbursts. You can be angry, just be sure to think about your friends and family as well. I know you have your aunts in Ponyville."
Scootaloo gasped at the mention of her aunts and nodded in determination. She turned to her friends and shouted. "Let's try again girls!"
Sweetie Belle began to sing.
"The three of us will fight the fight."
She did a wonderful spin as she sang, and started dancing.
"There is nothing that we fear."
Apple Bloom bounced her head back in forth as she took Sweetie Belle's left hoof and spun her around more. On contact with her friend's hoof, Sweetie's horn lit up with magic. It seems that Tirek could not steal away the magic of their friendship.
"We'll have to figure out how to save the day..."
They both used their free hooves to throw Scootaloo into the air, who did a flip and flapped her wings.
Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo then all sang the last line together, the pegasus was caught in the air on her belly and stomach.
"Now that our cutie marks are here!"
They started to glow, Apple Bloom was glowing red, Sweetie was glowing purple, and Scootaloo bright orange. They were all enveloped in Sweetie's light green magic, and Big Mac watched as their glowing forms fused into one.
Still glowing, Big Mac saw a pair of pegasus wings spread, and a unicorn horn radiating with magic.
A bright golden eye opened, and the glowing stopped.
Big Mac stared at the colorful alicorn filly that stood before him, in the back of his mind he was so happy that the spell worked. Her legs up to her torso were yellow, like Applebloom's fur, her wings transitioned from yellow to orange, like Scootaloo, and her horn transitioned from yellow to white like Sweetie Belle. Her mane flowed like Celestia's and had curls like Sweetie Belle's, with its colors of red, purple, and pink streaks.
The filly stared at Big Mac for a second, before raising a hoof and looking at it.
"It worked..." She spoke in a new squeaking high pitched voice, like Sweetie Belle's.
"Of course it did!" She said again but in a different confident tone.
Big Mac noticed, but they weren't talking to him. It was like they were talking... to themselves.
"I was right, we did need to clear our minds." She said in a different tone once again, but this time it was more observing.
"So... what's your name?" Big Mac asked.
They looked at him and then put a hoof to their chin. "Hmm, good question."
She thought for a moment, and Big Mac waited patiently.
"Aha! Since we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders who help ponies find their cutie marks, which is a symbol of their future, how about... Destiny."
"Destiny?" Big Mac said. "I like it."
The filly called Destiny squeed. "This is so awesome!" Before staring at Big Mac in determination.
"Now let's save, Ponyville!"
Author's Note
Funny thing is, after writing the part where it describes the look of Destiny, (which the fusion is based on a combination of Steven Universe and Dragon Ball Z,) I searched up "Cutie Mark Crusaders Fusion" and laughed my ass off when I saw my idea in a picture. I thought to myself, "This guy is stealing ideas without knowing it."
There's More to Magic Than Friendship
"Power might feel great, but deep inside you'll be consumed by loneliness! You don't have to follow in his hoofsteps. I know you're smarter than this, Cozy! You're the smartest filly I know! Please realize that even if you have all the power at your hooves, if everypony is forced to follow you, you'll still be truly alone. No pony wants that! No pony thinks that power is worth more than friends and family!"
"Stop..." Cozy has been pacing around the castle in random paths for the past few hours. Those words from her older sister were wedged deep into her mind, replaying like a good catchy song one would enjoy so much. "...I'm not alone. I'm a great leader and my subjects will love me, even if it takes generations..."
Except it wasn't a good song.
"Please, Cozy! You still have a chance to stop all of this. I just want my sister back..."
Cozy whined and held her head with her hoofs. "No... Stop talking idiot! It's too late to turn and go the other way now!"
"You used to care about everypony. You used to be so kind, what happened?"
"I still do!" She held her head tighter and sat on the ground, groaning, and getting a bit frustrated aswell.
"Cozy, a lot of ponies and even other creatures are hurting. Don't you care about their wellbeing?"
"They aren't! They haven't realized it yet!" Her eyes became watery.
"Cozy... this is wrong."
"N-no... it's everypony for themselves, power is everything... Power is... is...!" She gave a cry before slamming her hooves on the floor, cracking it a bit. After her fit of anger, her breaths grew heavy, and she panted while sweat dripped down her face.
Gaining composure, she stood up on all fours, and tried to steady her breaths. "I-I'm a great leader... I am..." She said, attempting to convince "Spur," but more importantly herself. Returning to a memory from the other day, she smiled. "Afterall, I did save the town from an Ursa Major." She wished her smile was a bit less fake.
"I'm not a monster..." She whispered to herself.
Sighing, she looked around and noticed she was in the main lobby of the castle. She went over to a nearby window and looked out to the stary night sky.
"One thing I will give credit to Princess Luna would be her amazing stary skies. Mine aren't nearly as pretty for some reason." Cozy always loved staring at the clear night sky. It never failed to calm her down.
She remembered a time she was a bit angry when she was told by her butlers and her papa that she couldn't have any more sweets one night. Being the innocent filly she was, she only cared about how good they tasted, and she wanted more, not even listening to the consequences of it. That night, to calm herself down, she stared out her window and into the stary night.
Looking at the patterns in the sky, with a bright moon, whether it was full or not, was a great piece of art to her. She begged her papa to get her a painting of the nighttime sky, and he did no problem. Next thing her papa knew, was that he had to get her sweet filly a constellation guide book so she could actually notice them in the sky from then on.
She gawked at it for minutes and before she knew it, time traveled fast. She was settled down on a couch she pulled up just to simply stare at the sky. Soon, she saw a bright shooting star making its way across the canvas.
"Wowza! This means I get to make a wish. Let's see..." She thought for a bit, resting her chin onto her front hooves that were on the base of the windowsill. After thinking quickly, before the shooting star disappeared, she found something. Smiling, she said, "I wish Tirek and Chryssy were here." Her smile turned into a sad one. "It's getting real boring."
She stared at the shooting star some more, and she noticed it wasn't leaving.
Something then clicked in her head. Something was wrong. She had a feeling.
Her ears perked up, and she sat up straight, no longer slouching.
And suddenly, before Cozy had the chance to act, the shooting star got brighter and bigger and dropped right in front of her.
*Boom*
"They what ?" Starswirl shouted in the caverns.
Big Mac flinched a bit at the volume and nothing more. "I couldn't stop them." He informed. "They managed to do the fusion thing then stormed off to attack Cozy."
"This is not good," Starswirl said, pacing around the meeting room of the Crystal Caverns. "If they do not return, we lose so much."
"Yeah," Big Mac took a little offense since Starswirl was talking as if they were only powerful allies and nothing more. "I lose a sister, and two of her friends I also care about deeply." He said with a little attitude.
Starswirl widened his eyes for a moment and apologized. "Sorry if it seemed I felt indifferent about the situation. Of course, losing those fillies will be a tragedy I will hope to never see, but you must see my point."
Big Mac sighed. "Yea, I understand."
"We must go after them. And if we cannot stop them from continuing, we must aid them to secure victory. I must find the others and relay this information."
"No need." A mare's voice said behind Starswirl. "We'll go aid them."
"Hold this for us until we return." A stallion's voice added.
Cozy was blown back by the force, and the wall with the window was also blown off. She flew into the wall on the opposite side of the room. Quickly getting up she regarded the crater outside where the 'shooting star' landed.
"Was it an asteroid?" Cozy asked. "Or maybe my wish did come true and Tirek decided to visit with an entrance." She said with a grin.
Then, the pink filly started to hear steps coming from the crater, but it wasn't big and loud steps like Tirek's, nor silent and deceitful like Chrysalis's. It sounded... like hers. Small and... cute.
Cozy's eyes widened as another filly, her size, with multiple colors along her coat, stepped out of the crater. She was...
"An alicorn?" Cozy asked in shock.
The multicolored filly coughed when dust from the impact entered her throat. "Boy..." She began. "I really need to get used to this power." She then looked over to Cozy and glared.
"Who are yo-" Cozy was cut off harshly. She was blasted by powerful light green magic and was sent through the wall into the other room.
"The end to your horrible story!" The filly yelled in absolute rage. "Destiny!"
Cozy burst out of the other room with a magic pulse and flew in the air, glaring back at her new friend with both anger and confusion. "Destiny? Just who are you! Being both a filly and an alicorn is my thing!"
"No more games!" Destiny yelled with a wave of a hoof and charging her horn. "All that torture you inflicted will now backfire on you tenfold!" She fired a magic beam at Cozy, who fired back with a colorful red beam. The beams were even, but Cozy was acting casual, and Destiny was struggling a bit.
Giving a little battle cry, Cozy pushed back the beam with a little more force, and the momentum was great enough to win the little battle.
Destiny gasped and jumped out of the way of Cozy's counterattack. Since she stopped powering her beam, Cozy's attack continued where she was just standing and destroyed the ground where she once stood.
"Wow, you're really making us sound cooler than usual." She said to herself in a lower tone.
"Uh, thanks?" She said again, in a confused tone.
Cozy raised a brow again and dropped a few feet in front of them. "Wait, that cutie mark..." She has seen it before, yes. The only trio of Cutie Marks with the same main design that she knew of. Except, this one didn't have an apple, music note, or lightning bolt feather in the middle of it. "Orange wings? Yellow hooves, and a w-white horn... it can't be..." She slowly pieced it together. "How did they even..?"
"Whatever! Just focus!" Destiny said to herself louder and shot again.
Cozy stooped and rolled to the right to dodge the incoming powerful beam, which hit the wall behind her since it missed and shaking the room, before gritting her teeth. "Let's see if I'm right." She said to herself through gritted teeth, before charging towards Destiny with a flap of her wings.
Destiny scowled at Cozy before lighting her horn and jumping into the air with her powerful hooves, shaking the ground beneath her and cracking it. Cozy widened her eyes when she realized the other alicorn was about to come back down with the help of her wings and gravity and slam down onto her. She procured a shield around her and Destiny slammed into it, but to her shock, the shield was cracked open and Destiny came through its roof, hitting Cozy in the back and creating a crater below.
"AH!" Cozy yelled as Destiny stood on top of her.
"I owe you a ton of payback, Cozy Glow. You better get yourself ready for it!" Destiny screamed.
"You know, I thought we never met each other at first!" Cozy responded, gritting her teeth. "But I'm sure you have plenty pent up rage, Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Straining a bit and charging magic, Cozy worked her muscles and pushed herself up a bit and blew them off of her with a burst of red magic. She aimed her horn at Destiny and fired, but the fused trio dodged by flapping their wings with ease.
Destiny fluttered again, this time aiming at Cozy with her wings, and generated an airwave every flap that flew towards Cozy.
The pink alicorn was too shocked to react and got hit by the wave made of air. It felt as if she was getting hit back a cart filled with goods. She was slammed against the far wall.
Wasting no time, Destiny flapped her wings repeatedly, blowing four smaller air bullets at Cozy who was standing up again but too dazed by the airwave to dodge, from her left wing, right wing, then both. They hit her side in quick succession, the first hit her right side, the second hit her left and the last two got her in the chest and face.
Cozy was blown away face-first backward, and bounced on the ground and flipped over so her stomach was facing the ground again, then finally landed one more time.
But Destiny wasn't finished yet, she landed on some debris of the castle, closed her eyes and began to sing.
La la la la la la laaaaa~
White glowing music notes outlined in black flew out of her mouth and floated around Cozy, who stood up once more. The notes rotated around her body.
Cozy lifted a leg and nervously looked at the music notes before they collapsed on her and tied her forelegs to her sides, forcing her to balance herself backward and plop on her rump. The pink evil alicorn had scratches all over her body and looked beaten up. Any stranger would probably call any nearby guards and foal protection services. But anyone who knew who she was, and what she accomplished also comprehended that she doesn't deserve such a fine treatment.
Destiny trotted up to her menacingly, with a frown and bored expression on her features. "These past two years have been absolute Tartarus, Cozy Glow."
Cozy chuckled darkly in her restraints. "I've been to Tartarus and back. It wasn't that bad you ingrates."
Destiny ignored her. "How dare you! Who do you think you are, taking away everypony's happiness with no remorse whatsoever? Then torturing those who managed to survive? Are you even a child!?"
"Spur told you about my past, didn't she? I assume so, she's the one who distracted me long enough for you to escape. So you should know I'm just a cute little filly, then."
"You may look cute, but you're a manipulative evil filly," Destiny said. "Because I don't see Spur anywhere around here."
"I may be so, but all of this was just for power. I'm sure you know why."
Destiny growled. "Was it worth it?!" She yelled in question. "Hurting anyone that defies you? Banishing Celestia and Luna to the moon, imprisoning the Elements of Harmony in Tartarus, and turning Discord to stone? Every pony under this shattered land hates your guts and wants you to leave and never return! You force other fillies your age to do slave work! Not to mention who knows what happened to Spur, your sister who you're supposed to love forever! "
Cozy scoffed. "Sacrifices had to be made. I'm a great leader, but you'll never give me the chance," She said with a shake of her head, and looking down to the cracked and destroyed floor.
"We gave you two years!" Destiny yelled, enraged.
Cozy shook her head again. "I'm the best Empress. All I wanted was power, not to be evil."
"No..." Destiny trotted closer and held up Cozy's chin so she was forced to look at her. "You're a monster."
Cozy stared into those sharp golden eyes for a few moments, before turning her face into a frown and using her magic to once again blast Destiny away, destroying the musical note bindings on her.
"I'm not a monster! I'm cute and lovable!" Cozy charged her horn and fired a beam at Destiny quickly, who just barely evaded the attack by jumping to the left.
But as soon as she landed, Cozy channeled her magic and threw a red magical rope matching the color of her magic from the tip of her horn, grabbing Destiny's right forehoof with it. She pulled her head back, and along with it pulled Destiny as well.
"You're stupid if you think I was just being lazy once I grew to power!" Cozy declared, lighting her horn again and this time a red monkey's paw emerged from it, grabbing Destiny who was still flying towards her.
"With the magic I have now, why waste it on simple spells when I could grow even stronger!" She squeezed Destiny's torso in her hold and glared at her. "Every week, I took some time learning spells from the same books your precious Twilight read."
Destiny yelled in the tight hold, feeling her forelegs being pressed against her sides painfully.
Cozy smirked. "I'm stronger than I was when we first declared victory. I'm stronger than the Princesses. I'm stronger than Chrysalis and Tirek. And I'm stronger than you !" She cackled at the sky madly.
A beam came out of nowhere from outside.
"Wah!" Cozy brought up a shield, in turn, her hold on Destiny came apart and blocked the attack from the unknown person.
Destiny dropped to the ground and groaned.
But Cozy wasn't focused on them, her center turned to the newcomers. Princess Cadence, Shining Armor, and their young daughter, Princess Flurry Heart. She examined them for a few moments and chuckled. "I see you've managed to avoid Tirek all this time. It's nice to finally meet you." She said with a bow.
"The feeling is not mutual, Cozy Glow," Shining said, sending a scowl towards the small alicorn, who rose back up. "Your reign of terror is over!"
"When did I ask?!" Cozy smirked and threw three magical ropes towards her new opponents, catching Cadence and Shining but missing tiny Flurry Heart who jumped high to dodge.
"You heard my dad!" Flurry Heart yelled and took to the skies, circling halfway around Cozy. "Buzz off! Monster!"
"For the last time! I'm not a monster, just a pony in power!" Cozy yelled at Flurry while turning to Flurry's direction and pulling on her ropes and Cadence and Shining, slamming the two into their daughter, the three of them landing on the ground.
Cozy laughed for a second before flying up and out of the room, Flurry got up and chased after her with haste, Cadence following. Shining instead went over to Destiny and help her up to her hooves, "Are you alright, Crusaders?" He asked worriedly.
Destiny figured Big Mac or somepony else told Shining and the other two about her newest appearance. "Yeah! Let's go chase after Cozy Glow!"
"Right behind you!" Shining said with determination.
Cozy and the other two pink alicorns flew across the big hallway that led to the throne room. She descended and kept her height low to the ground through gliding.
Cadence and Flurry surrounded her at her sides, matching her altitude. The mother and daughter stared at each other for a moment and nodded towards one another, lighting their horns.
But Cozy noticed this and used her magic to procure some more apes hands like before, grabbing them in mid-air and forcibly throwing them through the crystal doors to the throne room.
"Ah!" They both screamed, and landed on the hard floor.
Cozy entered the room and immediately flew up to the ceiling, spinning once before shooting a giant beam at the two.
Cadence had noticed it first and made a magical shield that braced against the powerful attack. For a moment the Princess of Love struggled against the attack, trying her most to keep up the shield against one of the most powerful attacks she's ever encountered. The shield started to crack, but Flurry stood next to her mother and helped with the defense. But it wasn't enough, Cadence knew that and before it shattered she grabbed Flurry and dove to the side, the explosion pushing them against the wall, which Cadence took on as well.
"Mom!" Flurry said, getting up and checking on Cadence.
"I'm fine." She said and got up with a fair bit of difficulty.
Cozy cackled as Shining and Destiny entered the room. "This is the most fun I've had in ages!" She yelled with a grin, landing on the floor and spreading her wings. "Come on, I'll take all of you from your little resistance!"
Destiny shook her head, one of her wings was bent in the wrong way. "And you say you aren't evil?" She scoffed.
Cozy laughed again and looked around the room, preparing a monologue. "That's right! I'm just a filly who... who..." As she spoke her sentence, she noticed one of the broken pieces of the crystal doors on the floor beside her. She trailed off and stopped speaking once she regarded her reflection in it, showing a picture of a filly who had the most disgusting expression on her face. An expression of no remorse, an expression of evil.
A look of a monster.
She stepped back from the broken piece of crystal holding her reflection, now anything but evil-looking. Replaced by a troubled and timid appearance. "No..." She peered back up at her confused enemies, "I-I'm not..." She looked back down.
That was a mistake, as Destiny took the chance to fire at her, who was too dazed to notice.
When the beam hit her, she put her forehooves up to try and block some of the raw energy, but to her avail, Flurry quickly began to assist by firing a laser herself, combining her magic with Destiny's. She wasn't given any chance to charge her horn, the attack was too pressuring.
Shining and Cadence looked at one another, wondering if this what right.
"Don't let up!" Destiny said. "She's taken so much from us!"
"No..." Cozy said weakly with a wail, "Stop!"
With one quick thought of Twilight, Celestia, Luna, and the rest of the ponies, Shining and Cadence charged their horns...
"No. You need to stay here and protect Flurry Heart. If we don't... If things don't work out, she's Equestria's last hope."
...and fired as well.
Cozy's forehooves felt like they were burning, and soon she couldn't feel them. But still, she stood proud and straight and took on their attack, trying to push it away with her bare hooves.
"..."
"Papa!" You trotted into your enormous wealthy living room, with three large couches and tables accompanying them, a single bookcase, and chandeliers. You instantly spotted your pegasus papa, and ran over to him, hopping up on a couch and sitting next to him.
"Hello, there my little princess. What's seems to be the trouble?" The red stallion asked through his mustache.
"There's nothing wrong, I'm just happy that you're home!" You said, snuggling up to him. You've been waiting for him to return home from his job ever since he left this morning.
He laid back against the couch and pulled you into a side hug with his wing, he was really warm and soft. "Sweet Celestia, I'm so tired after a long day at work!" He said, his voice even sounding tired.
"It's okay, now you can relax," You responded, and offered, "Want something to drink? I'll go ask a butler!"
He smiled. "You're so thoughtful, Cozy! I would love a beverage."
So you went off to go get a butler to, in turn, fetch your papa a gift.
Later that night, Clout Glow read Cozy Glow a bedtime story.
"How did everything change... It was so perfect... Life was perfect..."
You sat under the table in the dining room, hidden to everypony else, peaking through from below and watched your papa, another unicorn stallion you didn't know, and a professional-looking unicorn mare with glasses you also didn't recognize.
The dark blue mare with a light grey stylish mane was using her light blue magic to hold a clipboard with a bored expression but was just staring at it next to the orange stallion.
The unknown stallion smiled and said, "So? What's it gonna be? Do we have a deal? Your filly will be mine?"
You gasped and looked over to your papa in shock, who had wide glowing eyes that instead of its usually calm brown were the same color as that mare's magic.
"I-I can't..." Your father struggled to say in a monotone. He looked as if he was resisting something.
"Five-Million." The orange stallion said.
"U-uh..."
"Very well then, twenty-million, and I'll even add in ten percent of the shareholdings of my largest company!" The stallion bid.
"D..."
You stared at your father, whimpering.
"Deal..." He breathed out in a whisper.
"Excellent!" The orange stallion said with delight. "Just sign here!" The mare held out some papers with her magic, and your papa didn't hesitate. He took out a wing and signed the contract with an ink and quill, legally allowing the stallion in front of him to adopt his daughter. You.
"You've spent a lot of bits sir." The mare said, pushing up her glasses.
"We have to make it believable. Great job, by the way."
"Thank you, sir." She bowed.
"Make sure you get to his other one as well."
"Of course."
You were too young to understand back then. Your young self ran out of under the table and yelled at your papa with tears rolling down your eyes.
"How could you?!" You yelled at him. The stallion you thought would love you forever.
His eyes stopped glowing, and he snapped his head towards you in shock. "C-Cozy I-"
"I thought you loved me!"
And that's where this memory stops.
But this time something is different. This time you're older, stronger.
So when you recollected these memories, you understood everything.
That mare.
That stallion.
What they did to Spur, and what they did to you. They made you both think...
Your papa was a monster...
The powerful explosion shook the entire castle and half of Ponyville. The magic beam aimed at Cozy Glow destroyed the throne room. The alicorn filly stood where she took on the attack, but with bruises and marks all over her body, both her wings burnt and broken.
She gave one last look at the ones who defeated her, her eyes could see nothing, just a blur as if she needed prescription glasses, and the ones who did the deed noticed that her eyes looked empty, unlike the usual colorful radiating pony eyes.
Without a word, she closed her eyes and fell forward, and since half the floor was gone, she fell to the first floor of the castle from the third floor, gravity gave her landing no mercy.
The crystal royals and Destiny flew down to Cozy Glow, Shining with the help of their magic. They landed next to her.
The colorful, loud, and obnoxious filly was now just a shadow of her old self, laying there on the ground cold and not responding to anything.
Cadence sighed. "She's unconscious."
Destiny bent to the ground and groaned, holding her sides, then defused. Her body glowed gold and it separated into three figures, then when it stopped glowing the figures were now Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo once again.
"Wow..." Sweetie blurted out, opening her eyes and staring at Cozy's form.
"We did it!" Scootaloo stated.
Apple Bloom walked up to her and just gazed down at Cozy's unmoving body. "...What now?" She asked.
"We-"
The wall was broken in by a giant red being by the name of Lord Tirek, who had an enraged look on his face.
The Crusaders yelped and hide behind Cadence and Flurry as Shining put up a blue shield, ready for any attack.
But Tirek's eyes weren't on them, it was set upon the small frail alicorn. He wasted no time, and grabbed her with his hand, before turning tail and sprinting away.
The ponies left in the castle looked dumbfounded for a second.
"No... no!" Scootaloo screamed.
"He's getting away!" Flurry yelled and was about to beat her wings to chase, but Shining stopped her.
"No, this is good. We must head back to the Crystal Caves and group up with everyone else!" He explained.
"But isn't that the direction Tirek is going?" Apple Bloom asked.
"There's no need to panic," Cadence said. "Think about this, if Tirek really intended to defeat us he would have stolen Cozy's magic and done so. He must be taking her somewhere for shelter. He's not a complete moron, he wouldn't charge straight into our base when his ally can possibly get hurt."
"Besides, I doubt he knows we have a base there, otherwise he would have attacked us already," Sweetie said.
"Exactly."
"We don't have much time," Shining said, taking a few steps towards their base. "We must group up with the others if we are to win this fight."
The rest nodded and they left the destroyed Friendship Castle.
Tirek entered Ponyville in a gallop, sweat dripping down his head. For once in his life, he could actually admit the one thing on his mind wasn't stealing magic or defeating his foes. No, for once in his life he wasn't worried about himself. That his plan, his power, his freedom, and everything else was going to be taken away from him. This time, when he felt the ruptures from a battle taking part, and he burst open into the side of the Friendship castle, spotting Cozy Glow on the ground and the weakest he's ever seen her, his heart for the first time ever, was racing for someone's wellbeing other than himself.
That's why he didn't think to fight the ponies that stood before them. He wasn't focused on their magic he could steal, Grogar's bell, or revenge against Cadence and Shining Armor for outsmarting him earlier. Instead, he tactically retreated back to the abandoned and demolished Canterlot Castle, the same way they left it after their victory those years ago.
Entering the throne room of Canterlot Castle, he gently put down the wounded filly, he looked at her exactly like a father would look at his sweet little girl, worried sick with widened eyes, examining every part of her. Internally, he was surprised at himself for how he was behaving. Just not too long ago, he thought he wasn't going to betray this little one and the bug living in her new hive. Perhaps he did indeed miss them, even if he denied it so.
He bent down to her broken and battered form, alone in this ghost of a castle.
She was barely breathing quietly.
He thought of giving her some of his magic, but magic wasn't the issue here, her physical body was. He knew there was a medical center somewhere in the castle, but he never learned to treat injuries, let alone on a little filly.
"Some rest should do." He said out loud and was about to scoop her in his arms.
"Wait!"
Tirek looked at the ceiling, and with a shocked expression watched Chrysalis flutter down and land next to Cozy Glow.
"What are you doing here?"
"Saving one of the two only beings who..." She trailed off and continued to look over Cozy Glow.
Tirek would have smirked, but the situation the filly was in currently made it impossible for him. The winds of the night coming through the giant hole they blasted years ago made him shiver a bit but was no trouble. However, he realized it would be trouble to the one pony in the room without her winter coat.
"We must take her to a warmer room," Tirek said. "If you are truly here to help her."
"Agreed." She looked over to him with a hurt frown. "And... I am. Really."
Chrysalis told Tirek to grab her gently with his hands, and the two took her to the top of the castle that wasn't obliterated, Celestia's bedroom.
Now laid down on the bed, Cozy was inside a cocoon Chrysalis made.
"Aren't those for your... meals?" Tirek asked, feeling a little disgusted.
"Normally, yes, but they also have hyper healing factors so the creature stays alive. In a changeling's case, we use them in our hives to recover."
"I see."
She looked at Cozy with a sad look. "The last time I've used, or seen a cocoon made to treat a changeling, or anything in that matter, was since the Canterlot Invasion five years ago."
"How long will it take to heal her?"
"For changelings? About half an hour, but I'm not sure how long for a pony such as Cozy Glow."
Tirek sighed. "It's... been a while, hasn't it."
"Yes, it has. I've... missed you both." She admitted, closing her eyes.
The two were soon on the balcony of the bedroom, giving Cozy some space. They both looked outside at the wonderful scenery of Equestria under the moon and night sky.
"I thought you were happy in your new hive?" Tirek asked Chrysalis, who just stared out the window.
"I was! At first... Then I slowly began to realize without you and I arguing about simple things like: who ate the last of my leftovers, or: who's turn was it to dump the trash into the river. And Cozy with her attempts to get us to work together. It was... so silent in my new hive. All I had was my prisoner Starlight Glimmer and Pharynx, but every changeling I have there is just being controlled by me, like puppets that can never speak. It... got lonely pretty quickly." She explained, then chuckled to herself. "I know, pathetic, right?"
"Perhaps..." Tirek started, and Chrysalis couldn't help but snarl a bit, but he continued. "But I feel the same way." He said.
Chrysalis smirked. "The all-powerful Lord Tirek? Lonely?" She teased.
Tirek smirked back at her. "Walking around searching for Princess Cadence and Shining Armor all around Equestria was getting pretty old, finding nothing at all most of the time."
"I could see that." Chrysalis nodded.
"Then when I did manage to find them, it was more annoying than anything." He breathed through his nose and looked at Chrysalis in the eyes. "They have the bell."
Her eyes widened. "They what!?" She yelled.
He held onto the railing of the balcony with one hand, leaning forward a bit. "Unfortunately, Dragon Lord Torch and the other dragons took their side and they managed to outsmart me. I was too confident." He gripped the railing harder because of his frustration.
"Dragon Lord Torch... That explains a lot." She says with a hoof to her chin.
"It may not sound... alright to say at the moment. But with Cozy in that condition, and the bell in the ponies' hooves, we are at a major disadvantage."
"We still have my army of Changelings back at my hive. If I bring them here, they can search for those pests. We can find and take back the bell, and imprison those who are left that oppose us."
"And then...?" Tirek asked with a raise of the brow.
She looked back at him quizically. "...What?"
"What do we do after we win? Do we go our separate ways once more?"
Chrysalis opened her mouth to speak, promptly about to say yes, but stopped herself and contemplated for a bit.
"Could there be a chance... we stick together?" He proposed.
Chrysalis gagged, not to Tirek, but in general. "As friends?"
"No, no." Tirek waved his hands in front of him. "Of course not. We'll call it, being companions."
Chrysalis gave a warm smile. "Companions. I... I'd like that." She said, before frowning. "But what if we lose?"
Tirek laughed. "And how do you suppose that happens? The only way that could even be an outcome is if we give up at this point."
Chrysalis looked at Tirek and stared into his glowing eyes. "I'm serious. Listen to me, Tirek. I've lost not only once, nor twice, but three times to those icky ponies."
"You have?" He asked, crossing his arms.
"The Canterlot Wedding, the day I lost my hive, and... let's not talk about the last one." She explained. "My point is, there's a chance . I had Princess Celestia in a cocoon, Cadence weaker than you were in Tartarus and Shining Armor in my grasp at the wedding, and their love still defeated me. I had them all trapped in my hive with no magic, including Discord, and Starlight Glimmer managed to defeat me by merely talking to my changelings, and she nearly got me as well."
"But look at us now!" Tirek said. "We're all extremely powerful, and Cozy Glow is even an alicorn that could take on the princesses now."
Chrysalis looked at Tirek in a deadpanned stare. "You had all the alicorn magic in Equestria, remember? The news got to me, and somehow you still lost." She noted, making Tirek's face drop. "And I'm assuming Twilight Sparkle and the rest had to do with it?" She finished.
"I-I guess so, but there's three of us now." He said, a little less confident.
"We're down one member, we don't know where they are, and they have the bell." She said, silencing Tirek. "All I'm saying is that there's a chance."
"Okay fine," Tirek said, crossing his arms. "Also something to take note, they don't know how to use the bell, we got rid of the book that contains the spell, remember?"
"We did, but they have the legendary Starswirl the Bearded because I don't have him in my hive so unless Cozy or you dealt with him he's still out there."
Tirek growled under his teeth. "Starswirl is one of the most dangerous of all of them. His knowledge could be our downfall."
"So back to the question, what do we do if we lose?" The queen asked.
"Well, it depends." Tirek began, leaning against the banister and looking over at the peaceful looking Cozy Glow in the green cocoon. "If we lose, we'd probably be sent to Tartarus."
"Or worse," Chrysalis mentioned. "The both of you have escaped Tartarus. Twice for you."
"Cerberus left his post the first time, and Discord got me out of there the second." He said with a shrug.
"The fact that you, for whatever reason, escaped twice is enough to scare the Princesses," Chrysalis explained. "Because they know if you manage to escape by any means you're a threat to them. And now that includes us as well."
"So I guess we'll be companions lost in time and space then," Tirek said jokingly. "But I propose a better outcome. One where if we lose, we... disappear."
"What do you mean?" Chrysalis asked.
"We escape, and ditch this land. Leave Equestria forever." He explained.
"So we... give up?" She asked.
"Well sure, why not?" Tirek said with a smile. "We left the ponies in peril for years, longer than any other evil has, including Discord and the real Grogar."
"We would be legends!" Chrysalis realized. "The three of us would be in the history books as the greatest monsters that have ever existed! And lived to tell the tale!" She said excitedly.
"The ones who've overtaken the princesses and caused depression across Equestria!" Tirek added. "The most powerful changeling queen that was ever conceived!"
Chrysalis smirked. "The mightiest Centaur to roam the lands!"
They both turned to Cozy, stupidly waiting for her to continue.
They got quiet.
Tirek closed his eyes. "Now we just need to wait and see if that brat agrees." He jokingly said in a quieter tone, pointing to Cozy's direction with a thumb and giving a little chuckle.
"Then it's settled between you and me then," Chrysalis said with a smile. "The moment we realize it's doomed we'll make our escape. We'll ask Cozy on this matter when she wakes up. I might as well be companions with the two of you if we're going to be free outside of Tartarus."
"Agreed," Tirek said.
"My controlled changelings should be here in a couple of minutes," Chrysalis said. "We must find that bell!"
Down below many levels, the Crusaders, Shining Armor, and the other two alicorns sneakily entered the Crystal Caverns. They wasted no time and met up with the rest of the resistance in the meeting room. Yona was the first to greet them.
"Ponies back!" She said happily, grabbing the three crusaders plus Flurry Heart and pulling them close in a hug.
"We missed you too." Apple Bloom said.
"Yona worried." She said, a little sadder. "Ponies no disappear like Sandbar!"
They patted her on the shoulder.
Big Mac came up to his sister and her friends and scooped them all in a warm loving embrace. "I'm so glad you're all okay."
Princess Cadence walked over to the rest of the group, consisting of Big Mac, Sugar Belle, Starswirl, Stygian, Ember, Sunburst, Yona, and Tempest.
"You have returned! Excellent!" Starswirl said.
"And with great news," Cadence said. "We have defeated Cozy Glow."
Everyone's hearts in the room jumped.
"That's..." Sunburst looked a tad disturbed but wasn't complaining. "Is she...?"
"Sadly, Tirek got to her before we could do anything more," Shining said. "She's out of the fight for now at least. Unless he finds some way to heal her."
"Still better than nothing," Tempest said. "We are now at an advantage. We must abuse it!" She turned to the table, where two ancient objects lie. Grogar's Bewitching bell, and Gusty the Greats magical silk.
"Yes, I agree," Stygian said. "With one of them out of commission for the time being as well as the bell within our reach, we must act swiftly.
"However..." Tempest started intensely. "Rusty Bucket told us that to use the silk and bell together would require a lot of strength."
Big Mac snapped his head towards Tempest, no one noticed except the crusaders. He stopped the embrace and stood up, looking towards the rest of the group.
"It could very well destroy any one of us who tries to use it."
Cadence lit up her horn. "Very well then."
"Magic won't help." Big Mac said, walking forward. "Rusty Bucket said that, did he not?" He said to everyone.
"Mac?" Apple Bloom said worryingly, before trotting up to him and standing next to him in front of the table. Sugar Belle shut her eyes tight and looked away.
"He said it required physical strength, not magical. Grogar might have been physically fit as well I reckon."
"Alicorn's may look slim," Cadence said. "But we are as tough as some stallions."
"I know." Big Mac said. "...I lost to Princess Celestia in a hoof wrestle." He explained, which made the other creatures who knew Celestia, eyes widen. He didn't say it with grief, but as matter-of-factly.
Ember stepped in. "If you want to see who's stronger, we could just test it-"
"Cadence is as strong as I am physically," Shining said. "And Big Mac is stronger than I am, so..." He faltered.
"N-no!" Apple Bloom said, looking to everyone. "W-what if he gets hurt!"
Then, Big Mac laughed.
Apple Bloom looked at her older brother perplexed.
"Oh have the tables have turned," He said. "Just now, I was the one worrying about y'all three." He put a hoof on his little sister's shoulder and put on a serious look, and spoke in his usual tone. "I'm doing this for Granny and Applejack, and also for the rest of the family and all of Equestria."
"But-"
"It's my choice." He shook his head. "I'm sorry."
Her ears drooped, she closed her eyes and a couple of tears dropped. "Me too." She sobbed.
"How do we know you'll survive?" Tempest asked.
"We don't." He said simply, making Apple Bloom shudder more, focusing on the items he was about to wield. "But I'm your best shot."
"So..." Sunburst said. "This is it then."
"Yup." Big Mac took hold of the silk and carefully thread it through the bell's crown. Once it was, the bell shook and the cracks of age were repaired, and the bell looked brand new.
"Are you absolutely sure Big McIntosh?" Starswirl asked.
"Yes, I am." He said bravely.
The old unicorn stared at him in the eyes for a while, before lamenting and saying. "Very well then," Starswirl began. "Before you put it on, we should summarize what you need to use its power for. You may only have one chance to use it."
"The Princesses trapped on the moon," Shining said.
"Our sisters in Tartarus." Sweetie Belle said.
Big Mac remembered visiting the doors to Tartarus and seeing Chrysalis's guards.
"Yona's friends in scary hive." Yona said.
He had memories of venturing to that things entrance as well.
"The magic inside the bell should be returned to its owners as well," Starswirl told.
"Unpetrifying Discord," Sunburst mentioned.
"But we don't know where his location is, I think you should only focus on those whose general location you have knowledge on," Stygian said.
"Alright."
"You'll be fine." Sugar Belle said, trotting up to him and pecking him on the cheek. "I know it."
Big Mac sighed. This was it, the moment that the sum of nearly three years came up to. All up to this, bringing back everyone's friends and families.
"Stand back every creature," Starswirl said. "This might shake the entire cave."
"Shouldn't we worry about everyone being caved in?" Ember asked. "Dragons like to have their caves, but..."
Starswirl nodded at Sunburst, and the unicorn lit his horn and many support beams made out of the crystals found in this cave erupted out of the ground.
"And the innocents outside this room?" Cadence asked.
"Evacuated with the royal guards. It's only us down here." Tempest said.
Big Mac took in a big breath and exhaled, doing his best to relax. His heart was beating fast. "Everypony comes home." He sat on his haunches, and with his forehooves, took both ends of Gusty's silk. He brought them behind his next, and being an expert at it due to farm work, tied the silk together.
Immediately, he felt a painful surge of power around him and he yelled while squinting his eyes.
"Big Mac!" Apple cried with teary eyes and was about to sprint over to him but was stopped by Sugar Belle, who was also tearing up.
The red stallion gave a manly cry and slowly rose up to the ground with a little struggle. Lighting and yellow magic surged around the bell and the silk, including his chest and neck.
"Are you alright!?" Tempest asked.
He groaned some more and nodded, and giving one more long cry, thinking about his sister and granny, Twilight Sparkle and the other princess, and of course those around him now who he couldn't afford to disappoint. Rising up to his full height, a misty yellow horn appeared on his head, and with a final scream, he channeled magic into his horn and a giant wave of yellow and black magic pulsed from it, expanding around him and the room and then suddenly gaining speed and escaping the room.
Chrysalis and Tirek, with his arms crossed, stood on top of the highest spire of Canterlot Castle, watching and listening coldly to the giant ring of magic pulsing all the way across Canterlot as a circle, then reached the distance of Ponyville and kept going until it retreated over the horizon.
Chrysalis grunted. "I guess they know how to use the bell then."
"I still can't believe you don't know how to use shielding magic, it's a really powerful spell in combat!" Tirek said, speaking about their previous conversation about their strategy.
"I told you I never had a need for it. Changelings aren't so... upfront." She waved a hoof.
"Well be glad we had that quick lesson, you may find it handy."
"If I remember to use it."
Tirek chuckled and stopped crossing his arms. "Cozy's shielded, I'll sense if anything tries to disrupt her," Tirek said, magic surging between his horns. "Shall we begin?" He said with a smirk.
"She'll be angry we started without her," She said, lighting her horn. "Let's."
Big Mac fell to the floor, and everyone rushed over to him in worry. His neck was a darker shade of red and was smoking a little.
"Stand back!" Sunburst conjured some magic and shot a gentle beam onto the large stallion, covering him in his light magic. "I can't heal him, but this spell will stop the pain and any further injuries."
Apple Bloom sat next to her brother, who had his eyes shut as if he was asleep. "Cmon Mac!" She cried. "Say something! Anything!" Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sat next to her to comfort and support her.
Big Mac murmured and groaned a little, making everypony a little more relieved.
"M-Mac?" She shook him a bit.
He opened his eyes a little. "Did it... Did it work?" He managed to say.
Then suddenly, every pony in the room heard multiple explosions... coming from above. The room shook like it was an earthquake.
"Everyone get down!" Starswirl yelled, diving to the floor.
Big Mac sat there, feeling disoriented, but still felt the vibrations of the explosions.
He closed his eyes, couldn't help but rest for a bit. He hoped that everyone would be alright.
There's More to Magic Than Friendship
Sweetie Belle stumbled a bit as the ground shook one last time. Groaning, she stood up and attempted to look around with droopy and blurry eyes, dizzy from the impact above. Her ears rang, and her heart was pounding along with her head.
Rubbing her head, she saw that Apple Bloom, Sugar Belle, Big Mac, and herself were still together underground but could also notice some of the night sky from above. It seemed the others were separated from them. The caves were a little caved in, but there was still enough space for someone as large as Big Mac to traverse through.
Apple Bloom and Sugar Belle were still conscious, holding their heads the same as the small unicorn because of the recent impact. But Big Mac was still on the ground unconscious from using Grogar's bell along with Gusty the Great's magical silk. Other than that, he was unharmed.
Apple Bloom, after checking her brother, and seeing he was alright, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Wha... what happened?" The younger Apple sibling strained out.
"I think we were attacked." Sugar Belle said, getting on her hoofs.
"Where are the others?" Sweetie asked, looking around for any sign of them only to stare at rocks and stone with traces of crystal as well.
"They could be anywhere in the cave." Sugar surmised. "One of you, help me carry Big Mac, the other should go forward and look for any others, including the enemy."
"Got it!"
"On it!"
Above the caves, Flurry Heart was unharmed, but she was struggling to get a crystal off of her.
"Agh! Come on, you!"
After a few seconds of attempts, her body suddenly felt lighter when her mother lifted the crystal off of her using her magic.
Panting a bit and looking up at her, the alicorn filly thanked her.
"No problem, honey," Cadence said with a smile, before signaling her to follow with a hoof.
The two walked past some debris, and find Shining, standing in one of the many new entrances to the caves below, and looking on at the debris, some of which on fire.
They went to his side and looked around as well. The many buildings that made Canterlot City were now more flattened than ever, and only a few still stood half as tall as they originally did than in the past. Looking to her left, Cadence noticed realized what her husband was staring at. Or the more correct definition of his expression, glaring at.
Chrysalis and Tirek stood not too far away, staring back at them and nothing else.
Keeping her eyes on them, Cadence spoke to Shining. "Are the others alright?"
Shining breathed through his nose. "They're somewhere under this debris."
"And what about Grogar's Bell?"
"That too. Luckily, we aren't the only one unknown about its whereabouts." He says, signals towards the two monsters.
"As long as they don't have it."
"So now's our best chance to beat them once and for all." Flurry said, looking up at the two with a determined look to which they nodded.
Tirek noticed they were finally making their way towards them. Smiling, he uncrossed his arms and relaxed them at his sides.
The three slowly walked forward, with Cadence and Shining ever so slightly walking to the left where Tirek stood, while Flurry Heart pathed towards Chrysalis.
"Careful, Flurry Heart. Chrysalis is as powerful as Tirek." Shining said to her.
"I know."
"All the running, and we still end up back here." The centaur said.
Shining glared at him.
"Canterlot, the center point of ponykind." Chrysalis added, giving a grin.
"Now tainted by pure evil," Cadence said.
"Pure evil?" Tirek asked with a smirk. "We had our purpose. Call it 'selfish' if you will. But I would never say pure evil."
"I don't see how any of this is okay to do." Flurry said. "Seems evil to me."
"And that is what we call being a naive little child," Chrysalis said, staring down the filly.
Charging up her horn, Cadence shot a blast at Tirek, and her daughter did the same to Chrysalis. The two evils blocked the attacks with magic shields, and so the fight began.
Giving war cries, the two sides of good and evil charged at one another.
Starswirl and Scootaloo traveled across the debris when they began hearing powerful magic in the distance.
"It seems the battle has begun." The wise unicorn said.
"There's not much we can do to help," Scootaloo said.
"Indeed." He said with a nod, knowing he was drained of his magic from Tirek. "Instead we must find and help the others. Especially Big McIntosh, since he has The Bell."
"Gotcha!" Scootaloo said with a determined but serious look.
The two continued on.
"If they get their hooves on the bell, all will be lost."
Stygian crawled through the caves, looking back for a second, he called out after some rumbling was caused by the battle from above. "Are you alright Ms. Yona?"
"Yona okay!" She said, squeezing through a small gap.
"We must hurry and regroup with the others. Quickly! I think we're nearly out." He said, continuing on with Yona behind him.
Not too far from them in another section of the caves, Apple Bloom and Sugar Belle carried Big Mac, while Sweetie walked a little in front with the tip of her horn lit up for some light.
"I wonder who's fighting." Apple Bloom said.
"Hopefully they're alright." Sugar Belle said.
"We have to find Scoots so we can fuse again," Sweetie said to Apple Bloom, looking left and right in the tunnel they were in.
"Yea, then we can help out."
*Thud*
Shining her light towards the sound, which came from behind her, she saw that Grogar's Bell fell from Big Mac's neck, causing Apple Bloom and Sugar Belle to pause for a second.
Picking it up with her hoof, Sweetie took the lead once again.
"Be careful with that thing, Sweetie." Sugar Belle instructed, remembering very well what it did to her love just a few minutes ago.
The unicorn nodded.
With a roar and a clench of his fists, Tirek fired a magma magic beam at Cadence. Shining rolled in front of her and procured a blue magic shield, blocking the attack. Taking flight in the air, Cadence fired a couple of pink blasts at Tirek with had a direct impact, making him stop his beam before it broke her husband's shield.
Growling, Tirek shrugged off the attack and fired multiple blasts at the two, but the married couple dodged them, proceeding to sprint towards the titan of a being.
Flying around Tirek, Cadence shot some more beams at him, to which he blocked with his hands.
But him being occupied created an opening for Shining, who slid under the tall centaur and shot a beam from below, which caused Tirek to growl once more.
He stomped his giant hooves down, aiming for the unicorn. But missed as Shining ran out of his reach. In the side of his vision, he saw Cadence about to fire at him once more. Quickly turning, he fired a blast at her, to which she put up a shield. However, the shield wasn't enough, and the impact of the blast completely shattered the shield. She didn't take an injury to the attack but was knocked back by the force.
Turning back to Shining with a glare, Tirek made fists with his hands and slammed the ground, making pillars of the ground come up towards the Prince.
Trying his best to avoid the pillars being created, he sprinted in the direction away from the centaur and dodged them left and right. But soon, one was made in front of him and he didn't have time to react and ran straight into it.
Tirek fired a beam at the disorientated Shining Armor with a grin full of malice, but before the beam hit Cadence flew down and grabbed her husband before diving to the side to dodge it.
Meanwhile, with the fight against Chrysalis, Flurry Heart was doing her best dodging the Queen's attacks but not having enough time to send her own back.
"Don't think for a second you belong in this fight!" Chrysalis boomed to the filly, firing a blast right behind her trail, the force knocking her forward.
"You should have run south until you were safe." She continued, landing behind the filly on the ground who just now turned over on her back to stare up at the Changeling. "Not stay here and try to avenge the fallen kin you've never met."
Before she could do anything, however, Chrysalis pinned her down with her hooves. "Equestria isn't a place for a young foal like you anymore!" She said proudly as she held Flurry down and was just beginning to wrap her in a cocoon.
She barked back, straining against Chrysalis's hold. "That's why I'll turn it into a safe place for everyone!"
"Innocent dreams will never change, will they?" She said with a smirk, putting her face directly into Flurry's.
*BAM*
Chrysalis was blasted away by magic that sparked like electricity and was thrown into some fallen houses. She quickly stood up and looked at the cause in Flurry Heart's direction.
None other than Tempest landed on her hooves in front of Flurry Heart, not taking her eyes off the changeling for a millisecond.
"Woah~," The filly said in awe.
Still not breaking her line of sight of Chrysalis, the unicorn said, "Nice comeback, kid."
"Brave... but foolish!" Chrysalis zipped towards her.
Charging her broken horn, Tempest channeled some electro-magic and made a sparkling ball. Dropping it in front of her she kicked it towards Chrysalis, just as she did towards the Alicorn Princesses with the orbs that could turn one into obsidian statues.
Unable to dodge it, Chrysalis was blasted backward but got up once again after regaining her footing.
Tempest did a flip and kicked another spark ball directly at Chrysalis's face as Flurry looked on with amazement.
Then she kicked two more, both landing direct hits knocking her head backward.
Hissing, Chrysalis flew sideways this time, deciding a different approach.
But Tempest was quicker, she jumped high in the air and kicked another ball downwards, slam-dunking the Changeling backward and towards the floor.
The broken unicorn charged forward, and jumped once again, this time directly above Chrysalis. And flip-kicked another ball of her magic directly south, hitting the queen in the carapace.
However, being unable to fly meant she was a sitting duck as long as she was in the air, and the great fighter quickly realized her attacks were barely doing anything against the powered-up changeling queen.
Chrysalis, more angered than ever, flew up to Tempest with magic surging through her horn and grabbed her in a hold. And before Tempest could charge her own magic, the large changeling blasted her point-blank, sending Tempest flying into some debris.
Flurry Heart was in the middle of flying towards Chrysalis but looked left to where Tempest made her landing. "Ms. Tempest!" She yelled in shock.
Chrysalis turned to Flurry and fired a beam, to which the shocked but ready alicorn did the same.
For a couple of seconds, the beams clashed and pushed against one another, but before a result could occur, two figures crashed into Flurry Heart; Shining Armor and Cadence.
The three of them rolled onto some rubble next to Tempest.
Flurry groaned and found she was on her back, she rolled over and stood up slowly, her parents doing the same. They could hear Chrysalis's laughter as she fluttered closer to them, standing tall on a fallen building.
"It seems this is the pathetic extend of your little resistance ." She boasted.
Cadence struggled to stand, and after a moment of attempting to, she fell back on her side, supported by her husband.
"It seems your struggles weren't enough," Tirek said, crossing his arms with a smirk. "You all stood no chance against us."
"And to think, we don't even have our third," Chrysalis said. "Without the 'Magic of Friendship' carrying your lives, you were always inferior to us."
Cadence was about to retort, but then the four of them noticed something that made their eyes widen in shock. They felt their muscles tense and couldn't move at the sight before them.
To the south-east, and right behind Chrysalis and Tirek, an army of Changelings marched forward, stopping when Chrysalis commanded to and standing straight.
There were hundreds, no, thousands that arrived. The unreformed changelings all stood behind their queen. Immediately, the married couple could tell that there were more changelings here than there were at the invasion during their wedding.
"Impossible... there shouldn't be this many changelings..." Shining said.
"Now then, for your final moments, you will witness my hive scour and locate your remaining allies. Then, finally, there will be no one left who oppose us."
"I think we should head to the dragon lands afterward, and give them a little payback for assisting you," Tirek added. "After that is said and done, once word spread that we brought down hoards of all-mighty dragons, fear alone will conquer the lands."
"That's a wonderful idea, Lord Tirek. We shall enjoy ourselves." Chrysalis fluttered down, now standing on the same level as the fallen heroes. "Such a shame. All of your hard work just for naught. You even managed to snatch Grogar's Bell. It seems you didn't know how to use it after all. Now I hope you realize your struggles were futile."
As she stood in front of them, grinning evilly with complete confidence, and her form with a backdrop of her army, the four ponies could do nothing but stare back at Chrysalis, the hope in their eyes slowly diminishing.
Everypony but one.
Flurry Heart slowly and shakily stood up, much to the shock of the others. Cadence had her mouth agape, while Shining tried to reach out to her and failed to utter words. Tempest meanwhile looked on in astonishment, feeling a little proud for the little but courageous filly.
She weakly trotted forward a few steps, and stood up straight, staring down Tirek, Chrysalis, and their new army.
"When I was a baby, my aunt said I was Equestria's hope..." She said.
Chrysalis laughed at that.
"I'm not going to let her down."
A spark of magic was then heard by Flurry Heart, it was behind her.
Cadence and Shining gasped... in happiness.
"It warms me to hear that from my niece."
Chrysalis's eyes sharpened and Tirek huffed.
Flurry Heart was a bit startled, her wings unfurling and standing on ends. She turned around and looked up. A tall pure white alicorn mare stood with a glistening rainbow mane. Her eyes sparkled as she stared into the eyes of another member of royalty.
"Wait." She said. "Your niece?" She asked questionably before something clicked in her head and her eyes widened. "Y-you must be..."
Celestia warmly smiled down at her and walked past her to stand in front and towards Chrysalis, who could only glare. "It seems your struggles weren't as futile as I thought."
The tall princess moved her eyes across the fallen buildings. "It pains me to finally witness what has occurred while I was banished to the moon," She said, looking around. "The city is nearly falling off the edge of the mountain, how horrible."
Tirek jumped down and stood beside Chrysalis. "We did some renovations. We weren't aiming for your approval."
Celestia glared at the two. "It is time to put an end to the torment you produce to this land."
The two laughed. "You and what army?" Chrysalis asked.
It was then another teleport spell spark was heard behind Cadence, Shining, and Tempest.
Then another.
Then a bunch more.
The villains watched as ponies, griffons, yaks, and many other creatures appeared in bright blue sparks of magic.
The dragon hoard, complete with a bunch of medium-sized dragons, including garble and his gang. They helped Ember out from some rubble.
The yak tribe, standing ready with their leader Prince Rutherford. They noticed Yona and Stygian climbing out of the ground and assisted them.
The Hippogriff guards, with Princess Skystar and Queen Novo to boot.
The strong members of earth ponies, including the Apple and Pear families.
Experienced unicorns, including Chancellor Neighsay, Sunburst,
Fast flyers, including the Wonderbolts, and the Washouts.
Daring Do, with Ahuizolt and Dr. Caballeron.
A bunch of royal guards of Canterlot Castle.
Luna teleported next to Celestia. "I see you were successful in stalling them, sister." She said with a smile.
"I told you Chrysalis loved to keep a conversation going," Celestia said back, which Chrysalis heard, making her grit her teeth and causing Tirek to frown at her, unamused.
Yona climbed out of the tunnel she and Stygian escaped out of. When she heard some more teleportation spells coming from her right, she turned. She gasped in joy when she realized who they were.
The missing members of the Young Six.
The Young Six noticed Yona sprinting at them.
Running up to them with teary eyes, the yak tackled them to the floor.
"Everyone okay! Yona so glad!" She grabbed them all and pulled them into a big hug.
They smiled at their big friend and hugged back as tight as they could.
"We missed you too, Yona," Sandbar said.
"We're never going to leave you again, Yona," Silverstream said. "We promise!"
The others agreed.
But there was still someone missing.
"Wait... where's Ocellus?" Gallus asked towards Yona, who only gave a somber look in response.
"Oh." He said in understanding, knowing she's still with Chrysalis.
"Smolder!"
The orange dragon had no time to react as a red figure swooped down and grabbed her, pulling her into a caring embrace.
"Gar-Gar!" Smolder held him tight.
"I'm so glad you're alright! Everyone back home was worried sick!" He said, holding her by her shoulders.
"Well, I'm in one piece. And now I'm finally free and ready to go!"
Ember had her fists resting on her sides as she watched in happiness. Her most recent friend in Yona finally getting to see her friends again, and two of her own clan reconciling. It could even melt her burning heart.
Stygian stared at the scene with a tender smile. He caught Starswirl in the corner of his eye. The wizard did the same, and was about to go meet up with him, but the two old but wise ponies saw a large flash in the middle of the two of them.
Appeared were the missing pillars.
They smiled and ran to them, eager to speak to them once again and to fill them as to what was going on. They knew they would be helping out in the fight, even with their magic still drained from Tirek.
A few more flashes were heard, and Celestia smiled brightly. "You're all alright. Thank goodness." She flew over to the Element of Harmony bearers, sans Twilight, who was looking a little confused.
"W-where are we?" Rarity asked. "Princess Celestia?"
"No time to explain!" The princess said. "To make it simple and short; the remaining creatures that managed to escape after we failed to stop Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow succeeded in freeing us. We now have another chance to save Equestria."
They all looked at her with widened eyes and looked to each other, soon dawning determined looks.
"We're ready!" Rainbow Dash and Applejack said simultaneously.
"But where's Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.
"She is one of the few beings that we don't know their whereabouts," Cadence said, floating down, with Shining Armor and Flurry Heart in tow.
"Is that Flurry Heart!" Pinkie Pie yelled. "My gosh, she's grown up!"
The little filly gave a sheepish nod.
"Save it for later!" Shining Armor shouted. "We're in the middle of a battle, and we need all the help we can get."
Many others had heartfelt reunions all around the field of fallen buildings. From every creature and race, old and young.
But it was short-lived.
"Charge!"
Everyone snapped their heads to Chrysalis, as her army of changelings obeyed her command and starting making their way towards everyone.
Everyone watched in horror as the changeling army was getting closer. Even then, they all took battle positions, ready to fight.
Thinking quickly, Cadence rose to the air, speaking in a loud and empowering voice. "Everyone! We mustn't harm these changelings!"
Chrysalis hissed and fired a blast at Cadence. However, the pink alicorn didn't flinch as both her aunts rose up and shielded the attack.
"They are all innocent!" She continued. "Being brainwashed and controlled by Chrysalis! We must save them!"
"And how are we supposed to accomplish that, pony!?" A griffon asked from below. "They aren't going to just sit around and let us save them!"
"Subdue them! Pin them down so they cannot fight back! Knock them out if you will! I'm sure they will understand if you must harm them, but please try not to do anything too drastic!"
The changelings were getting closer.
"She's correct!" Celestia said, turning around. "The only enemies here are Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow!"
They all started to transform, copying many of the creatures that had just arrived.
"Oh no! I totally forgot about that!" Pinkie screamed.
Chrysalis laughed maniacally.
"Stay strong everyone! Work together! Fight together!" Celestia yelled.
They got closer, passing Tirek.
"Protect each other at all costs!"
They then passed Chrysalis.
"And let us take back our homeland!"
With that, everyone gave a battle cry and charged forward, clashing with the changeling swarm.
They heard rumbling from above.
"Something big's happening," Apple Bloom said, looking upwards.
"We should hurry! If the wrong creature finds us all will be lost." Sugar Belle said, she and Apple Bloom still lugging Big Mac.
"I think we're nearly there!" Sweetie Belle said, her horn still lit up, providing light and still carrying the horn. "This way!"
"If only Scootaloo were here, we may have been able to fuse and get out of here easier..." Apple Bloom stated.
"We have to group up with her so we can help!" Sweetie replied.
Sugar Belle agreed. "Lead the way!"
"What are these things!?" Garble yelled out, trying to shake off a snake wrapped around his arm.
"They're changelings!" Ember said, helping him get it off. "They can transform into anything using their magic." She pulled the snake off and dropped it to the ground, it transformed back into a changeling who was too dazed to get up.
"Magic is stupid!" Garble said, flying up and breathing in.
Realizing what he was about to do, Smolder flew up and stopped him. "Don't! We can't burn them!"
The red dragon growled in frustration.
"They're good creatures, I should know I'm friends with one! They're just under some sort of mind control!"
"I know, I know!"
"Look out!" Ember yelled, and they dodged an eagle.
"How do we even know who to fight?!" Garble asked in anger to no one in particular.
A bunch of yaks were stampeding through a group of changelings when suddenly a green flame appeared in front of them and three Ursa Majors appeared. The yaks gulped in shock and began to slowly walk backward. But before the changelings turned into Ursas could do any damage, Chancellor Neighsay galloped forward and tapped his amulet. A surge of orange magic flowed into his horn and he shot a laser at the Ursa's, catching them in blue chains. Then, the changelings reverted back into their forms and were free of the chains.
Another seven changelings dropped behind Neighsay and now a total of ten surrounded him.
Sunburst charged forward and whipped his horn around, letting his magic flow around the changelings, forcing them asleep with a spell.
The two unicorns nodded to each other and continued forward, the yaks charging after them to assist.
A bunch of griffons swarmed the air, with a bunch of falcons chasing after them. On top of the falcons were changelings firing magic missiles.
Gilda looked to the battlefield below, then back to the falcons chasing her and her accompanying griffons as the missiles flew past too close for comfort.
"This way!" She yelled, diving right and dodging some magic, everyone following close behind.
She then flew up, doing a loop-the-loop. At that angle, she was a much harder target for the changelings to hit.
While the changelings were distracted, hippogriffs General Seaspray, Sky Beak, and Terramar rush in. They flew swiftly into the changelings on top of the falcon and they fell to the ground, seemingly knocked out.
"Nice work!" Greta said complimentary.
"Amazing bait," Terramar replied.
They smiled and continued forward to the fight.
Celestia fluttered down, blasting three changelings away with her magic, but not too rough as to hurt them. It was then she saw Cadence standing not too far away dealing with some changelings on her own, using her magic to blast some changelings away reluctantly.
"Cadence! Does anyone know where Grogar's bell is?!" She asked.
"It's somewhere below the ground, auntie!" Cadence answered. "The last pony holding it was Big McIntosh, Applejack's brother!"
"We must locate it at once!"
"But auntie, it's too dangerous for any of us to use!" She warned. "You should have witnessed what happened to Big Mac when he used it to free everyone."
"Then when we find it we must get it as far away from here as possible."
Their conversation was interrupted when Chrysalis dropped in front of Celestia, attempting to fire at her.
The sun princess reacted well and flew to the side to dodge the sneak attack.
Cadence, however, was occupied by a few more changelings showing up.
"We're the ones who shall locate it!" Chrysalis told. "Then, once and for all, we shall finally finish the deed."
"You will do no such thing. I won't allow it!" Celestia said, extending her wings to look intimidating.
Chrysalis laughed and fired again. This time, Celestia teleported behind some stone, now out of the bug queen's sight.
"Princess Celestia!" Hearing a voice, Celestia was approached by none other than Spitfire, the captain of the Wonderbolts.
She flew up to her princess and whispered in her ear.
With widened eyes and a shocked expression, the white alicorn turned to her. "Tell, Luna. I will keep Chrysalis occupied."
With a nod, Spitfire flew off.
"I know you're here, Celestia!" Chrysalis asked with a smirk, looking around. "You don't happen to forget what occurred at Cadence and Shining Armor's wedding? I singlehandedly defeated you in power. Now, with Grogar's magic coursing through me, what chance do you have?"
"That may be true," Celestia said, speaking up so she could be heard, closing her eyes. "But I have failed enough times. I may not be able to truly bring you down, but I will stand up and fight." She stood up straight, and came out of hiding, glaring at Chrysalis and standing her ground. "For the creatures of this world, for Equestria, and for Twilight!"
As the battle continued, Tirek marched up and began charging magic between his horns, gripping his fists.
He aimed at a group of dragons handling some changelings along with Luna and fired.
Luna was the first to react and used magic to try and push it back.
However, Tirek's magic was far too strong, and his side of the beam struggle was unrelenting.
But suddenly, Luna felt the attack growing lighter on her magic. With widened eyes, she looked left and right to see some dragons assisting her with their fire breath. Together, they pushed back Tirek's beam some. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to push it back into the centaur, but the beams exploded in the middle of the collision.
Ember dropped down next to Luna, and the two along with a good number of other dragons prepared their fighting stances for a fight against Tirek.
Before anything happened, however, Spitfire landed next to Luna and whispered something in her ear, which did not go unnoticed to the red villain.
The night princess gasped and nodded to the Wonderbolt. She was about to take off, but she was unsure to leave the dragons with Tirek.
Ember must have read Luna's mind, and said, "Don't worry, we'll handle him. Do what you need to do."
"But..." She didn't want to leave and regret it later.
"Go, Princess. I'll help them too." A new voice said.
Luna looked towards the voice and her mouth went agape when she saw Tempest.
"Tempest." She breathed out, then looked back towards the dragons, some of which gave her a thumbs up and encouraging nods.
Reluctantly, she sighed and unfurled her wings. "You have my prayers for your victory!" She said, taking off in flight.
Celestia galloped as she dodged Chrysalis's magic blasts, hitting the ground around her and shaking the vicinity.
The bug queen in question chased after her in a flutter. "The ruler of Equestria fleeing? How feeble!"
Celestia grit her teeth as she ran, seeing some of the battle going on in her peripheral vision.
"Or should I say, the former ruler of Equestria!" She charged her horn with a little more magic and fired multiple magic blasts in a scattered frenzy.
The white alicorn skidded to a stop and lit her horn, putting up a shield to block the onslaught, she flinched when some of Chrysalis's magic hit the ground past her shield.
Chrysalis laughed, but it came to stop when a purple blast hit her from behind. She turned in surprise to see a changeling, one who originally wasn't one.
Starlight glared at Chrysalis and charged her horn. "When you brought your army here you forgot about somepony!" She said.
Celestia gasped, recognizing that spiral purple mane. "Starlight Glimmer?! What has happened to you?!" She asked in horror.
"I'll gladly answer that!" Chrysalis said, smirking. "When acquiring the magic from Grogar's bell, I gained new and powerful abilities. One of which, complete control of my changelings, and another and much more devious, the power to change any creature into one!" She cackled loudly.
Celestia looked up at Chrysalis in pure shock, then back down to Starlight with worry.
Starlight looked at Celestia with a sad smile that said, "I'll be fine."
"Tell me, Celestia. Did you ever ask yourself why there are so many changelings on my side of the battle?" The queen said.
Celestia's heart stopped for a moment. "You're not saying that..."
"I think you have it figured out, but if I may just say it out loud; More than half the changelings in the battle are other species I've captured transformed!" She announced.
"Monster!" Starlight screamed before shooting another blast at Chrysalis, who simply dodged it and grabbed Starlight in her magic.
"The natural-born changelings were easy to control, all but that traitorous Thorax and his brother Pharynx. Thankfully for the latter, he didn't need to be controlled to walk by my side once more. Other than that, I could use my new powers to turn any weak creature into a changeling to do my bidding. With you Starlight, it took some time, but definitely worth the time and energy!"
Starlight hissed at her.
"And what did you think you were going to accomplish coming here? Hm?" She said with a grin. "If I can control the other changelings..."
Starlight gasped and teleported away back on the ground.
"What makes you any different?"
But it was too late.
She lit her horn in green changeling magic.
Immediately, Starlight's eyes glowed bright green, matching Chrysalis's magic, and her face went neutral.
"Starlight?" Celestia called out.
"Now then... why don't you teach your teacher's teacher some proper manners?" The large changeling said, pointing towards the sun princess.
Starlight frowned and rushed towards a shocked Celestia.
Chrysalis laughed as she watched her changeling slave chase the monarch, the tall pony stuck in a hard place, not wanting to hurt the innocent pony now changeling.
Then she turned around. "Now for you... my sweet." She said, looking down at Ocellus, who arrived shortly after Starlight but went unnoticed by the other two, in the eye.
She lit her horn once more, making the little changeling's eyes glow. "Go find your little friends and bring them to me. They are somewhere around here lurking."
Without a word, Ocellus fluttered off.
"Chrysalis!"
Now, the bug queen would have been annoyed that another creature shouted out her name, getting bored and frustrated at everyone who faced her. But the voice she heard didn't trigger any of those feelings, instead, the voice of her one ally made her serious at the second.
The centaur wasn't too far away, but he was busy dealing with some dragons.
Chrysalis rolled her eyes, there was no way a dozen dragons were tough to deal wit-
"The castle!" He yelled and pointed behind her.
She snapped her head to Canterlot Castle and spotted Luna about to enter it.
Gritting her teeth she chased after her.
And the only thing tugging on her and Tirek's minds was but only one thing in the castle; Cozy Glow. Her, and only her were they concerned about.
However, before she got anywhere near Luna, she was stopped by some flames passing her. Cursing the dragons, she whipped her head to where the flames came from but to her confusion she saw no one, much less a dragon.
Once again, flames passed by her, barely touching her chitin, and now making her angrier by the second. She tried as she might to find the source of the fire.
Then she heard a roar, not one of a dragon, but of a bird.
She observed the flames closely and found that the fire wasn't fired by something, but was something itself.
A phoenix.
Philomena, Celestia's cherished pet, soared high in the sky and cried again, causing the owner of it to gaze up and smile, before blocking another one of Starlight's attacks.
Growling, Chrysalis looked to her upper left and saw one of her changelings. "Pharynx!" She yelled, getting his attention. "Chase after Princess Luna! She's heading into the castle, do not let her go around as she pleases!"
"Yes, my queen!" The purple-eyed changeling wasted no time and made his way towards the castle.
Chrysalis didn't have time to do much else before two figures appeared before her.
She smirked at them. "Trying to get some payback for your wedding it seems."
"Oh yeah, totally not for all the evil you've done afterward, just the wedding you crashed years prior," Shining said sarcastically.
"To be honest though," Cadence continued. "That too."
The two charged towards Chrysalis.
Pharynx turned into a griffon and swiftly followed the lunar princess, not keeping her out of his sight until she finally entered the damaged castle through a broken window. But before he got close to the same window, he spotted something in the corner of his eye down below.
Hidden in behind a boulder, were two fillies, a mare, and a large red stallion.
Looking closer, something caught his eye, something they had in their possession.
A bell.
Luna made her way through the cracked hallways as quickly as she could, heading towards the place Spitfire told her.
She knew the castle inside out, as did her sister, making her way around very easily and swiftly. Luckily, there weren't any changelings waiting for her in the throne room when she arrived.
There, in front of the throne, was a stone statue. However, the statue was not normal. One would recognize the statue as Discord, the Lord of Chaos and Disharmony.
But he wasn't alone.
The part of the statue under him also had two other figures. One was the Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, and the other was her Number One assistant, Spike the dragon.
Discord had a shocked look on his face, while Spike had a claw resting on Twilight's shoulder, who had her eyes closed.
Luna remembered very well what had happened that day. Twilight had once again attempted to use the Magic of Friendship to defeat the mightiest foes Equestria has ever faced, but this time, it didn't work.
Twilight had her magic drained, and she fell unconscious to the floor, while her friends and everyone else were stunned.
The three villains had the bright idea to turn Discord back to stone, and it seemed appropriate to do Twilight the same, as they despised her the most.
Unfortunately, right before they turned them to stone, Spike slowly walked up to Twilight and kneeled next to her. When question by his friends, he simply explained that he could never leave her alone, before being zapped and turned to stone.
In the present day, Luna now stood before them. She closed her eyes and brightened her horn. "Hold on you three... This will only take a couple of minutes."
Tirek grew more frustrated by the second. "Will you just stop already!"
As a dozen waves of fire breath soared towards him, he charged his horn and fired some magic back to push back the attack, making the little hoard of dragons split apart to evade his magic.
Unluckily for him, Tempest rushed him from below and kicked a magic electro-ball at his chest, knocking him back.
"Keep pressuring him! We can't let him pass us!" Ember commanded to her out-of-breath dragons, as they huffed in exhaustion. She too could feel the fatigue catching up to her.
Chrysalis had a beam of magic pushing against Shining's magic shield, but the defense didn't budge.
"How annoying!" She stopped her attack and zipped around Shining, now behind him.
She tried once more to attack him before he could react, but the trained soldier was quick as well, putting up a shield once more.
"Your name fits you well," Chrysalis admitted. "Even Twilight's shield shattered uselessly against my power."
"Save it," Shining said, putting down his shield to reserve his magic. "I can do much more than that."
The queen chuckled, "Like what."
He glared, "Keep you talking."
She was blasted behind her, and Cadence stepped into the fray, firing once more, with Shining adding to the mix.
The bug ducked and hissed.
Celestia could only run. Dodging and shielding herself from Starlight's onslaught of magic. The only thing on her mind was how to free the unicorn from Chrysalis' control. She knew several spells she could use to restore any creature from mind control, but there were numerous problems. One, it would take too long to apply the spell this severe. It didn't seem that Starlight was in any sort of control, no hint of her fighting back Chrysalis' orders. She simply didn't have the time to do so. Two, Starlight was using her collection of spells she's learned over the years. Both herself and Twilight could admit that she was a prodigy like the young princess. It would be hard to subdue her and long enough so to try any procedure on her. And finally, she was now a changeling and the Queen's spell was never anything Celestia has ever seen before.
Then, someone flew down in front of Celestia and landed before her. It was none other than Thorax.
"Thorax!" Celestia said with surprise and happiness. "I'm glad you're alright!"
Starlight by now caught up to them and fired another magic missile at the alicorn, who put up a shield in protest.
"I can handle this," Thorax said. "Go and assist the rest."
"Are you sure?" Celestia asked.
The Changeling King nodded. "Starlight's a changeling now, this is more my field." He explained. "I'm far better helping her than fighting with Tirek anyways."
"I understand," Celestia said, spreading her wings and beginning to take flight. "Be safe."
"You as well."
Starlight began to chase after her, but Thorax stopped her by grabbing her in his magic.
She hissed at him, as Chrysalis often did, and fired a blast at him.
"Woah!" He ducked down and evaded it, before looking back at Starlight. "Oh boy..."
They felt their flesh returning to normal.
Luna gasped and kneeled to the ground, panting heavily. Looking up, she saw them all laying on the ground for a moment. Before one by one, they squeezed their eyes closed and groaned, rubbing their heads and getting up slowly.
Discord was the first to notice he was actually alive and standing, as well as Luna standing in the throne room with them. "It sure is harder dealing with being unpetrified without your magic." He said before he noticed Luna's state.
He gasped and ran towards her, helping her up. "Are you alright?" He asked.
"I'm fine. Just a tad winded. Teleporting thousands of creatures and unpetrifying three others sure does a toll on you." She looked towards Twilight and Spike, the smaller one making sure his friend was alright.
"Twilight, we must hurry and get you with your friends!" She said.
Finally standing upright, Twilight nodded and said. "I know. I'll explain later, but we know a lot more than you think." She told.
Luna gave a puzzled look, before regaining her composure and beckoning them. "This way, the sooner we get you back to the other Elements of Harmony the better. At this moment in time, Tirek, Chrysalis and Cozy Glow don't have the bell, the only Magical Tool ever capable of stopping the Element's power."
"As she said, we know all that." Discord said. "Lead the way."
The moon princess nodded and lead them out of the throne room.
In the middle of the next hallway, Luna and Twilight kept sprinting, but Spike stopped and looked up out of one of the many cracked windows of the castle.
Discord noticed him and stopped as well, looking at him curiously. "Spike?" He looked in the direction the little dragon's eyes faced, and the color on his face dropped.
"Spike, I don't thin-"
"Just go with Twilight and Luna. Or hide." He said, starting to walk backward and facing Discord.
"And what about you? Going there is dangerous. Who knows what could happen to you!"
"I'll be fine." He reassured turning towards the opposite direction from him. "Besides, without your magic, you're frailer than I am." He sprinted off, leaving a worried Discord behind.
"You'd better be." Sighing, the draconequus reluctantly let him go and chased after the two ponies.
If one were to stare out the window and look at the same thing they just were, they would have seen another room with a bright green glow escaping the windows.
Author's Note
Can't promise another chapter in the near future but this is a start, right?
There's More to Magic Than Friendship
"This is bad, isn't it?" Cozy Glow said right after Twilight's speech and her magic getting rid of the Windigos.
The centaur, changeling, and pegasus filly only watched as the rainbow friendship bean started its way towards them, no doubt going to stop them for good.
In the blink of an eye, Chrysalis used her magic to bring the bell up front, and with Cozy and Tirek noticing, the three used the spell they learned to activate it. Crossing their non-existent fingers (minus Tirek,) they hoped the bell would work.
The rainbow beam hit the bell, and the bell chimed, starting to absorb the magic.
Twilight gasped, her eyes starting to turn back to normal from glowing white.
Cozy started to laugh. "I told you, Twilight! Friendship. Is. Power! "
With one last chime, the rainbow beam completely incinerated, leaving no trace.
Chrysalis and Tirek smirked. While Twilight just floated above them in total shock.
"Impossible..." Celestia muttered.
Before anyone could break the silence, Tirek faced the bell towards Twilight, and used the spell to take her alicorn magic.
The young princess stopped flying and dropped to the dirt ground, causing all of her allies to gasp.
"Twilight!" Her five closest friends shouted.
"And now, for the rest of you!" Cozy said with an evil smirk.
"Thanks for all gathering together for us." Chrysalis said licking her lips.
"This shouldn't take long." Tirek said cracking his knuckles.
"Twi!" Applejack said with worry.
"Oh no! She's knocked out!" Rainbow said.
"Twilight!" Rarity and Pinkie shouted.
"Oh! You have to get up Twilight!" Fluttershy said, holding Twilight's limp body in her hooves with tears raining down her eyes.
Then Twilight groaned, her eyes visibly straining.
"Twilight?" Fluttershy called with hope. She didn't look up, but from the shakes from Tirek's hoofsteps increasing every moment, indicating the three villains were getting closer.
"Twilight!"
