Tartarus… The deepest abyss in Equestria. A dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked; a prison for the most dangerous creatures in Pony history. The place where the souls are judged and the wicked receives divine punishment. Nothing of this land could be described as ‘beautiful’, the arid heat reflected off the abyss magnified the treachery of Equestria’s underworld. All that can be seen in this dreary land is pain and misery…
That’s exactly what Twilight Sparkle saw before her eyes, while her mind raced over how she had been led into such a vile place. Her head faltered with shame and embarrassment, reflecting back on what brought her and her friends before this forbidden place. Only one reason for being here came to her mind, and she still could not believe it…
Cozy Glow, one of her youngest and most trusted students at her ‘School of Friendship’. A filly whose attendance truly turned her school into the very beacon of friendship as it became today. Only now, all that was tarnished and cast aside like garbage… As it was Cozy Glow, for whatever reason, who turned against them. Twilight… Her best friends… Every pony… The childlike, innocent filly Twilight had seen was all a lie as she now saw her for what she was…
Cruel… False… Evil…
But it wasn’t just Twilight Sparkle and her friends who were seemingly trapped forever in Tartarus. Lord Tirek, one of Equestria’s infamous enemies, stood inches away and locked inside a cage. Yet he stood there in an aura of unbelievable arrogance, even under the circumstances. His fiery marble eyes gaze through the bars of his cage, eyeing the very pony he fought in fierce combat with ages ago.
“I told you… You are all but helpless,” Tirek said, with a brilliant grin. “Try to run all you want… There is nowhere to hide!”
“We refuse to surrender against you, Tirek!” Twilight barked. “No pony or creature will stop us!”
“Wake up and face the reality, princess! The magic has been sapped from your world; her plan was perhaps as brilliant as mine! What could you ponies possibly do to stop her?!”
“… I don’t know! But I will find us a way!”
In that time, the six ponies, collectively known as the ‘Mane Six’, approached the only entrance to Tartarus. Their only way to even get into this dreary place, now it was sealed shut with no means of escape. Despite her attempt to be brave, the girls could see Twilight was very upset. She did not want to admit it, but Tirek was right… He was right about Cozy Glow and he was right about their circumstance. Her own body felt withered away, so empty. No pony could physically open the massive gates, in or out.
All around them, Twilight saw majestic creatures locked away just the same as Tirek himself. Many of them, like the Chimera, just as vile as Tirek. But then, the more Twilight Sparkle thought about it, which she hadn’t considered before… It seemed so easy for Princess Celestia, her own mentor, to act as banisher. Sending anything away which constitutes a threat to her subjects be it intentional or on pure instinct.
Yet before Twilight’s very eyes, all she could see were cages piled together. The basic duty of Celestia so clear… For a thousand years, perhaps even longer, she banished so many creatures to Tartarus. Even Princess Luna, Celestia’s own sister, met such a fate… Except marginally different compared to the dark, cruel land Twilight and her friends set upon. Through it all, though she’d never ask, the thoughts crossed Twilight’s mind:
“Had all these creatures deserved it?” Twilight thought. “What would Fluttershy think?”
Twilight Sparkle turned toward the Yellow Pegasus in question, the young mare sat on the ground with her wings folded. The Princess of Friendship could catch a gleam of her tears trickling down her eyes. Twilight had no need to ask, Fluttershy’s expression answered for her. As Twilight looked on, Applejack, one of the two Earth ponies of the group, approached her friend.
“What’s gotten into ya, Twi?” Applejack implored. “I ain’t seen you this out of it since Tempest Shadow captured ya.”
Twilight Sparkle shuddered, thinking of her former enemy turned friend. It had been so long since she had seen or heard of her.
“Tempest…” Twilight spoke softly. “I wonder how she is fairing; has she lost her magic too?”
“Sadly, I doubt any of us escaped this dreadful circumstance,” Rarity said sadly. “Whether it be us, the princesses at Canterlot, Tempest, Starswirl, or even Radiant Hope… Who could possibly stop this disaster now?”
“After everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been through, we end up no more than just another addition to this horrible prison,” Twilight sighed. “I feel so lost…”
“Hey, don’t sweat it,” Rainbow Dash stepped in. “These are the most dangerous creatures in Equestria; Princess Celestia had us defend the ponies from them for a reason. We were right to do it.”
“Are we truly?” Twilight sighed. “… Did we?”
All Twilight Sparkle could do was observe these ‘dangerous creatures’, as Rainbow put it so plainly. Most of whom did nothing but chew on the bars surrounding them, others merely walked in circles languished in silence. Some could speak; some could not. And even those that couldn’t, Twilight knew Fluttershy could speak to them knowing that every creature, big or small, has just the same feelings as any pony if some pony took the time to listen. Every creature has their reason to live… Most ponies just don’t listen…
<>
Neatly arranging her desk, Cozy Glow assumed her new authority as Head Mare of the School of Friendship. Not far away, the usually defiant Chancellor Neighsay sat in the corner, speechless… His authority deemed worthless. Neighsay, a crippled shell of his more confident self, beaten by a mere child, a child whose beautiful curls took more time and effort than it took to put together the EEA rulebook. The things they’d say when the ponies reflect on their history.
There he sat as the truth dawned on the arrogant chancellor: That Neighsay truly was a shortsighted pony. A fool who put all his effort to stray ‘creatures’ away from the borders of Equestria rightfully belonging to ponies. But now he could see that not even the most powerful Yak or the most brutal Griffin could possibly challenge her power… That even his ‘own’ kind can be dangerous, and he refused to believe it.
The hour was nigh. Now with Princess Twilight out of the way, Cozy Glow was free to do whatever she wanted. Equestria was now her new kingdom; a land to control for all eternity!
Better yet, Cozy Glow had successfully captured the one pony she knew could stop her… Starlight Glimmer, her most heated rival. What conflicts a young Pegasus pony would have over a close friend of Twilight Sparkle and the Counselor the students could approach for advice? The question did not matter, just to see how helpless and weak she was had given the filly resounding pleasure.
She remembered how she left Starlight, who tried in vain to break out of her own imprisonment. But Cozy knew, try as she might, Starlight Glimmer would never escape the clutches of the power emitted by the artifacts of Equestria. It was planned all too well and came together magnificently.
Cozy Glow left the office and entered the mezzanine. Earlier that day, as Head Mare, she authorized the emergency rules of which all students were required to follow. She flew over the large mass clustered there. The entire student body assembled, every pony whispering amongst themselves.
“Attention every pony!” Cozy cried out. “I am here to address rumors of wrongdoing going about the school. Firstly, these acts of discredit will not be tolerated at the School of Friendship. As Head Mare, I will remove these students if need be if this continues.
A stallion tentatively raised his hoof, drawing the Head Mare’s attention.
“Yes?”
“Ma’am, what happened to some of our classmates?” He asked. “We haven’t seen Yona or the others anywhere.”
Cozy flashed a sweet smile the moment this group came to question.
“Ah yes, some of our… foreign… friends left to visit their homes. They’ll be gone for a while.”
“Have you received any word from Princess Twilight?” A mare asked.
“Don’t worry, they are just taking longer than expected. But for now, we all have to take care of our own duties. You may be students… But with Equestria in this state, you are all as important as royal guards. We are Ponies… And we… Are… Viligant!”
All the ponies cheered her on, in support of the absurdity in their unfound role in the new world still to come. And Cozy Glow was enjoying every moment of the praise and adoration.
Just then, she heard a sound, like something sneaking around. She looks up toward three tiny shadows hidden amongst the rafters. She knew who it was at once, the devious intentions she had in mind made her lick her lips.
“Oh, students…” Cozy called out. “There’s trespassers at hoof! Above us now, the villains prowl. You know your duties! Now go! Search the upper floor! Do not return until they are found!”
Her angry words forced a vengeful scowl, yet the students were unfazed. The ponies were too devoted to follow their Head Mare, not a single one questioned her demands. All at once, they raced up the stairs, intent on hunting down the ‘villains’ and bring them to justice.
<>
It’s funny how life works… Just a day ago, the Cutie Mark Crusaders shared a word with Twilight Sparkle, the true Head Mare of the school. She was so busy assuming her newfound position, dealing with letters from the parents, drafting new plans for the semester, and keeping her own head on straight, even the Princess of Friendship failed to see things were falling apart all around her.
The truth is: The School of Friendship was anything but cohesive and some students weren’t as they seem. The CMC slowly suspected Cozy was up to no good; yet it wasn’t until they returned to the school on that one day. When they found out Starlight Glimmer was supposedly ‘searching for Twilight’, they began talking to the other students. In particular, they spoke with the students from ‘out of town’, all of whom had pretty strong opinions on the matter, even the reluctant Changeling.
Overall, they were right to suspect Cozy Glow and the truth broke their tiny hearts. Ever since Apple Bloom and her friends saw Cozy for the first time, they felt a kinship with her and assumed they had done everything right. Teaching her right from wrong, explaining the important of the Elements of Harmony, and all the times they got her out of trouble. Yet, this filly, with the bouncing pretty blue curls, proved to be more trouble than they ever imagined.
The sound of stomping hooves were approaching fast; the girls knew there’d be no talking their way out of this. The Cutie Mark Crusaders quickly ran like their lives depended on it.
“Hurry, Apple Bloom!” Scoots shouted.
“Where’s the exit?!” Sweetie Belle cried out.
“Up there, by the balcony!”
The shouts from the mob prevented any of the girls from asking further.
“Get them! Don’t let them escape!”
The three fillies sprinted ahead of the charging hooves, so many ponies in hot pursuit. They quickly ran into a nearby storage closet in the castle, blocking the door handle with a shovel. Hooves started bucking against the door, leaving little time for the CMC to believe what was happening. The friends they shared lunch with only yesterday had no acted like animals, all to appease a blue-haired filly they were willing to call their friend.
“They’re breaking down the door!” Sweetie Belle squealed, frightened. “What should we do?”
Apple Bloom turned around and spotted a nearby window. Climbing on a set crates, Apple Bloom quickly unlatched the window and lifted it up till there was enough room to peek her head to the outside.
“We just take a leap. Simple as pie.”
“Seriously?!” Sweetie Belle shouted, wide-eyed. “From the second floor?”
“Got any better ideas?” Apple Bloom asked.
Squeezing in, Scootaloo stuck her head out to look over the landscape.
“It’s all right, Sweetie,” Scootaloo said. “There’s a bush just underneath us; that’ll give us some padding.”
“Then, there’s no time to waste!” Apple Bloom declared. “C’mon, let’s go!”
Both fillies practically had to drag Sweetie Belle by hoof, up along the top of the pile of crates.
“Every pony, ready?! On three!” Apple Bloom said.
They could hear the door start to give way; the other students were trying to push their way through the door. The grunts and groans can be heard as the CMC turned back briefly.
“THREE!!!” Scootaloo shouted.
The three fillies jumped out the window, which was just wide enough for all three. They flailed their arms and yelled the whole way down. Truth be told, it didn’t take long to land onto the bush, but it was still a scary fall especially for a certain Pegasus who couldn’t fly. Their heads peek out of the bush, their manes messed up and full of leaves, but otherwise they landed unscathed. The poor unicorn ended up brushing leaves off her pink curls.
“Okay, next time… We NEVER… Do that… Again!” Sweetie Belle demanded.
“Sorry, Sweetie,” Apple Bloom apologized. “But these are extraneous circumstances right now.”
“You mean ‘extenuating’.”
“Whatever…”
Suddenly, they could hear shouts as the students were making their way out of the school. The fillies made a break for it, as all the brainwashed students emerged at once. They scoured the grounds, intensely searching for the CMC. The three fillies ducked around every corner, found every possible means to cover themselves and hide. It was a cat-and-mouse game at this rate.
Just then, Scootaloo nudges Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, motioning toward a nearby shed not far from their current hiding spot in a bush. They quickly rush toward the shed, closing the door behind them after they entered one-by-one. Dust fell around them in the dark, making Scootaloo cough and scratch her muzzle.
“It’s so dusty in here,” Sweetie Belle replied, lighting her horn. “What they hay do they use this shed for?”
“I dunno,” Apple Bloom shrugged. “Gardenin’ or somethin’.”
The fillies cautiously checked the place out, careful not to make any noise. As they explored the shed, Apple Bloom discovered something along the filthy floor. Sweeping the floor with her tail, Apple Bloom reveals a secret hatch.
“Quick in here!” Apple Bloom said. “We’ll hide out until the students stop lookin’ for us.”
Opening the hatch, the Cutie Mark Crusaders go inside one-by-one and sealed the door behind them. With Sweetie’s horn as their only source of light, they pressed onward. To their surprise, the doorway hid a secret tunnel of sorts beneath the school. Venturing down the tunnel, going as deep underground as possible, they eventually stop before a steel door. The girls pull on the door, but it didn’t budge.
“It won’t open!” Apple Bloom shouted.
“Must be locked from the other side!” Scootaloo observed.
“But that can’t be!” Sweetie Belle cried.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders desperately try to tug the door open with all their might, but there was no denying it. The door was locked tight. They grunt and groan, pull and tug, not wanting to chance turning back the way they came.
“Hello? Hello?!”
A tiny voice, a childlike voice, called out from the other side of the door. It sounded feminine, like that of a little girl. But it was difficult to tell, so the girls leaned their heads against the door.
“Hello?!” Apple Bloom shouted. “Any pony in there?”
They waited for a while… Until the voice called out.
“Yes… Can you please let me out? It’s so dark in here!”
From what the CMC could tell, it sounded like another filly was locked behind the door. Again, it was difficult to know for sure, but the voice sounded vaguely familiar.
“Don’t worry!” Sweetie Belle assured. “We’ll get you out of there in a jiffy!”
The three fillies search for anything that could help open the door. During their search, Scootloo’s hoof hits against a rock which turned out to be fake. Just beneath where the rock was, there was a single key.
“Huh… Now that’s convenient,” Scootaloo replied.
Taking the key, Scootaloo sticks the metal key through the lock and gives it a good twist. They could hear the lock click and cautiously open the door. Peeking their heads inside, the Cutie Mark Crusaders found themselves bathed in a room filled with bright light. As their eyes tried to adjust, a figure steps toward the girls.
“What the…?” Apple Bloom spoke.
They step back as the figure slowly emerges out of the room, revealing a frazzled blue-haired filly. To their shock, this filly happened to be the very same pony seemingly commanding the students to do her bidding. Yet there she was, so filthy and confused.
“Cozy Glow?!” The CMC gasped.
“Oh… Oh thank Celestia you girls came!” Cozy Glow sighed. “I thought no pony would ever find me!”
“What are you doing here?!” Apple Bloom spoke.
“How is it possible?” Scootaloo asked.
“How is what possible?” Cozy Glow asked. “I don’t know anything… One second, I was putting books away in the library—”
But Scootaloo was in no mood to listen to Cozy’s story. She grabs the filly by the shoulders and the blue curled Pegasus squeaks as she finds herself flung toward the tunnel wall. Scootaloo glares toward her, as if she were trying to unravel some form of disguise.
“We’ve had enough of your lies!” Scootaloo shouted. “What’s the scheme, Cozy Glow?! You have us run out of the school, intentionally draw us into your secret hide-out, to trap us and leave us here to starve!”
“Yeah, what’s the idea Cozy Glow?!” Apple Bloom asked. “If that’s even your real name!”
“No, no, no, no!” Cozy Glow plead, squirming. “I am Cozy Glow; please believe me!”
“Why are you even down here?” Sweetie Belle asked. “We thought you were back at the school!”
“No, that’s not right. I’ve been locked in these tunnels for gosh knows how long.”
“What?!” Scootaloo gasped, in disbelief. “But how?! We saw you—”
“No please… It wasn’t me! It was some pony else. Someone… Copying me! I don’t understand it either; please, please don’t leave me down here!”
Apple Bloom studied Cozy Glow suspiciously, studying the filly from head to toe. She even took a close look at her scared face trying to see if she was being sincere or if this was an act.
“You know girls, if wut she’s sayin’ is true,” Apple Bloom thought. “I have a feelin’ this has happened before!”
“You’re seriously expecting us to believe her?” Scootaloo asked. “This is the same filly who made Twilight think we set her up to fail her during that Friendship Exam!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Cozy Glow insisted.
“Don’t give us that! ‘Five Turtlenecks and a Cheese Grater’? ‘Your mom’? Any of that ring any bells!”
“That can’t be right! I never got a chance to take that exam! Like I said, I was in the library doing some extra reading… Then something emerged from this hole in the floor and dragged me underground. Next thing I know I wake up here!”
“Hmm… You know Scoots, maybe Apple Bloom’s onto something,” Sweetie Belle said. “Princess Cadence was kidnapped, and her identity was stolen so every pony would think it’s her. I think that’s just what’s happened with Cozy Glow! And that story must add up because I overheard Twilight’s other students mentioned something about a hole in the library that one day.”
“But that still doesn’t answer the question,” Scootaloo points out. “If what Cozy says is true, who would do such a thing?”
“Can’t say for sure,” Apple Bloom replied. “But we’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders. It’s our job to not only help ponies find their destiny, it’s our job to help a pony in dire need of friendship help. The only way to find out if Cozy Glow is telling the truth is to find the culprit ourselves!”
Although reluctant, the other girls turn toward each other then back toward Apple Bloom to nod. Scootaloo released her hold from Cozy Glow, who stumbled forward. The dazed filly must’ve been locked for so long, she could barely move on her own. The Cutie Mark Crusaders took a side. Apple Bloom on the right, Scootaloo on the left, and Sweetie Belle from behind. Eventually they made their way into the fresh air, after making sure the coast was clear.
Leaving Cozy Glow under Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle’s watchful eye, Apple Bloom makes toward the streams along the castle grounds. With a bucket from the shed, she scoops up some water and carries it over toward Cozy Glow, who quickly gulps it down.
“Aah… Thank you so very much,” Cozy Glow sighed, gratefully.
It was during this time The Cutie Mark Crusaders had a good look toward Cozy Glow. They could see the bags under her eyes, no doubt the brightly lit room kept her from getting much sleep during her confinement. Apple Bloom forms a small smile seeing Cozy Glow recover.
“No problem…” Apple Bloom nodded.
“Now come on, we don’t have much time,” Scootaloo said. “If Princess Twilight hasn’t come back yet, we need to figure out what that fiend at the school is up to before it’s too late.”
“Cozy Glow, is there anything you remember?” Sweetie Belle asked, gently. “Anything you know can be very useful right now.”
“The last thing I remember… I was in the library, as I said,” Cozy clarified. “Maybe we should search there.”
“It’s a start,” Apple Bloom nodded. “Come on, girls!”
The Cutie Mark Crusaders, staying as close to Cozy Glow as possible, quickly made their way toward the library hoping to find the answers they’ve been looking for.
<>
Inside the library, all was dark and empty. All four fillies, the Cutie Mark Crusaders and ‘Cozy Glow’ strolled into the room quietly so as not to let the other students know they’re here. Inside this library, what was once filled with lively students, studying everything there was to know of Equestria and all its unique creatures, now a completely different atmosphere filled the library. Papers spilled all across the floor, the books were scattered everywhere they looked… Overall, the library was a complete, utter mess. Even Cozy Glow was appalled at the ugly state.
“Whoa!” Scootaloo gasped. “Twilight’s going to catch a fit when she sees this.”
“… This is all my fault,” Cozy Glow spoke. “I knew it was a bad idea coming to this school; I’m always causing trouble… Just like with mom and dad.”
“Don’t feel that way,” Apple Bloom assured. “When we find the real bad guys behind this, we’ll fix everything.”
“Cozy, do you remember exactly where you said the hole was?” Sweetie Belle asked.
Cozy Glow looked around, searching for anything that appeared remotely familiar. But before long, she quickly spotted the entrance on the floor.
“It’s this way, girls! It has to be.”
Luckily for the girls, the entrance that lead to the caves had been left open. But it was only when they began to descend downwards, once more back into the dark underground, the fairs on their bodies felt electrified. The way the cave seemed to rumble, it felt as if they were walking into a thunderstorm anxiously expecting a bolt of lightning to shoot out at any time. Sweetie Belle, especially, was on the verge of freaking out as if she could sense that danger was coming.
“This is messed up, girls!” Sweetie freaked out. “I mean, I didn’t even know there were caves down here… Now here we are, sneaking around… And there’s TWO Cozy Glows! TWO!!!”
Scootaloo put her hoof over her friend’s mouth, desperately trying to shush her. The young Pegasus would not remove her hoof from her friend’s mouth until she’d keep quiet. That, of course, did not stop Cozy Glow from turning away sadly. As they walked on, only Apple Bloom acknowledged the sad filly walking close by. A part of her felt bad for the filly, wondering just how much she has truly gone through.
Eventually, the four girls found themselves in another room, where several artifacts seemed to be generating a giant sphere, powered by their magic. The intensity of the aura building up enveloped the entire area in light. Crackles of electricity bounced along the surface of the sphere. But what truly got the girls attention: Starlight Glimmer, suspended as if she were inside an egg.
“Starlight!” Sweetie Belle gasped.
Seeing the mare in pain, Sweetie Belle raced down attempting to free her. Starlight Glimmer saw the filly jump down and desperately waved her hooves as if shooing her away. But she could only watch helplessly as the magic somehow sensed Sweetie Belle and ensnared her before she could take another step. Now, before the eyes of the remaining fillies, not only was their Counselor trapped but one of their friends too.
“SWEETIE BELLE!!!” They cried out.
“Well… Well… Well…”
All at once, all eyes turned as the other Cozy Glow, backed by her personal legion of followers, strolled casually into the room. Though, it was more like Cozy Glow floated over while the rest strolled. But the moment the other students saw another Cozy Glow, just like their leader, they started to share a look of confusion.
“It was all a matter of time before you showed up,” The other Cozy Glow spoke. “How convenient… To find you all here in my secret lair! Especially you…”
She referred to the other Cozy Glow, leaning along Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. A look of fear was on her face as she tried to hide herself from the other being.
“I really should thank you, little girl…” The imposter spoke. “I never would’ve found this place… Without you!”
Before any pony could speak up, every pony in the room witnessed a swirl of black churning energy completely consume the imposter’s body. All eyes locked to the center as the blackness proceeded to transform the figure. Her curls broke into streams of hair reminiscent of dark ivy, her tiny body grew as scales covered her coat, holes begin to form along the torso and other areas, and all while a pair of sharp insect-like wings protruded from her back. To their shock and horror, an evil figure cackled in triumph, as a black-forked tongue darted in and out of her mouth.
All the followers witnessing this gasped in shock, some of them even screamed. Before them was the most hated enemy in all of Equestria, standing before the befuddled gathering. When they turned back toward Cozy Glow, who looked on with a fearful gaze, the shock of the revelation made their faces drop in shame. The color from all their faces fade, as the Evil Queen dropped down to the ground, towering overall. For some who knew this creature, it was as if their worst fears were realized. But for some, for those unfamiliar with even her name, it was a completely new experience all together.
“Look at you miserable little foals,” Chrysalis spoke, with a distinct low hum. “How it amuses me that would follow just about any-pony out of fear for your own hides. It’s almost too easy.”
“What… What are you?” A pony asked.
“SILENCE!!!”
Chrysalis slammed a hoof so hard on the ground, the room practically trembled. The impact forced many to cower from her while the remaining CMC stood their ground.
“I… Am Chrysalis! The true leader of a once powerful race in all of Equestria! But thanks to the interference of you miserable ponies, they betrayed me… Left me to rot in the wild! And now, I’m here to exact revenge for what I lost, of what I can never regain again!”
“You’re right about one thing!” Apple Bloom stood up. “The Changelings have been better off without you; they don’t miss ya one bit!”
“Hmph… Doesn’t matter anyway. That foolish Thorax will pay, but I am not deluded to think I can conquer them all right now. I am aware I have been defeated… Twice… By the same tactics! Still, I never imagined using my enemy’s strength against them… The Magic of Friendship… Such power could just as easily be used to my advantage. All things, interwoven in place, a system for my own benefit. With Twilight and her friends out of the way and all the greatest heroes powerless, now I have a means to control Equestria and the lands beyond!”
“But all the magic will be gone if you complete the ceremony!” Cozy Glow argued.
“That’s why I’m not going to destroy all of it, you foal! I only need my enemies out of the way, so that I and ONLY I have the magic to wield for myselg!”
At one point, Chrysalis transformed back to Cozy Glow, floating over the real filly in a mocking fashion.
“And like I said,” She spoke, in Cozy’s face. “It was you, silly filly, I should thank. If you had not discovered this place as we instructed you too, as Lord Tirek to tell you, I never would’ve uncovered this place for myself. Now, why settle for just absorbing love when friendship is what builds love to begin with? Soon, I shall consume a near infinite supply of love and be powerful enough to over Thorax… And ALL who stand before me!!!”
The pony-disguised Changeling loomed over Cozy Glow, watching the tears stream down her eyes.
“Now… Be a good girl… And bow! Bow like the pathetic, worthless little wretch you truly are. A pony who can ‘never’ grasp friendship if it had handles on it!”
“You’re wrong!”
Chrysalis, changing back into her true identity, faced Apple Bloom with an intense glare. As scary of a situation as this was, Apple Bloom refused to back down.
“Cozy Glow is not worthless!” Apple Bloom stated. “Every pony deserves a chance at friendship; even the ponies who have a harder time than others! You may be all big and powerful, but this is our home! We’ll never stop fightin’!”
Chrysalis was not amused as she lowered her head, angling it till she was face-to-face with Applejack’s little sister.
“You pathetic ponies can never compare to me! I am the Queen of Changelings; I reign supreme!”
“A Queen that should really chew a breath mint once in a while!”
“Why you wretched little~”
But before Chrysalis can do anything, a small grunt causes her to turn. Amidst the confrontation, Scootaloo raced toward one of the artifacts trying to pry it away.
“NOT SO FAST!!!” Chrysalis shouted.
With a bolt of magic streaming from her horn, Chrysalis fired and struck the filly, casting her aside as she bounced like rubber. The little Pegasus laid upon the ground, groaning in pain. A deep gash formed along her cheek from the crash and bruises began to form around her body.
“SCOOTALOO!” Sweetie screamed, though her cries were muffled.
Apple Bloom and Cozy Glow raced toward Scootaloo’s aid. But while Apple Bloom was ahead, Chrysalis grabbed Cozy Glow by the tail and dragged her back toward her. Cozy Glow squealed as the Changeling stood over her.
“And now that I have the means to rid Equestria of its heroes for good… I don’t need you anymore!”
Cozy Glow folded her tiny hooves over her face, preparing for the worst. Before Chrysalis can stomp the filly with her mighty hooves, multiple ponies, those who came to their senses, pounced atop of her, trying to drag her down pushing all their weight atop of her. As Chrysalis struggled to break free, swinging left and right, Cozy Glow turned as Apple Bloom stood by Scootaloo, comforting her wounded friend. Then she faced Sweetie Belle, who was trapped in the orb along with Starlight Glimmer, looking very scared. A new feeling began to form, as her fear slowly dropped to fierce anger.
Just as Chrysalis whisked a pony off her face, a screaming filly clasped onto her face as Cozy Glow began throwing her tiny hooves against the Changeling Queen. As if all the rage that had built up inside, from all the time spent thinking of a comeback for being locked away for so long, had all been unleashed. And while Cozy Glow lacked in strength, her relentless assault, and the way she kept going at it was truly starting to annoy Chrysalis.
“ENOUGH!!!”
Suddenly, in a mighty rage, Chrysalis hurled Cozy Glow and all the ponies off her, suspending their frozen bodies in the air. Even Apple Bloom and Scootaloo found themselves trapped by the magic, unable to break free.
“After all these years, I am NEVER losing to ponies again!” Chrysalis growled. “I’m going to reign as your unquestioned leader if it’s the last… Thing… I… DO!”
Before Chrysalis could relish the moment, a powerful force slammed straight into her body, sending the Changeling Queen flying toward a wall. The impact knocked the wind right out of her, as she fell to the ground and clutched her side in pain. As the ponies regained control and Apple Bloom got back on her hooves, she was comforted by a huge ball of scruffy hair which could belong to one creature: Yona, one of the ponies’ new Yak friends.
“Oh, little Apple pony… Yona missed you!”
“Yona!” Apple Bloom gasped.
“And that’s not all!”
A male voice draws every pony toward the side as all of Yona’s friends arrived. Following closely behind, a rather startled Chancellor Neighsay. To say he was beside himself would be a bit of an understatement.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Neighsay shouted, turning toward Cozy Glow. “And you… What is that monster? Your pet?!”
“No, Chancellor!” Ocellus cried. “That’s no pet; it’s Chrysalis!”
“Sweet Celestia!” Silverstream gasped.
“She’s the real enemy!” Cozy Glow added. “She locked me up and used her powers to impersonate me!”
“It’s true, Chancellor!” Scootaloo called out. “And my friends and I were all wrong to doubt her too!”
“Urgh, we have no time for this!” An exasperated Smolder groaned.
“She’s right, we got friends to save!” Gallus spoke.
“Come on, every pony!” Sandbar shouted. “We must remove stop these artifacts before it’s too late!”
The Student Six banned together, and one-by-one they tugged and pulled against the objects binding the magical sphere in place. Chrysalis slowly recovered to her feet, despite the fierce pain to her side. She turned to the group with blazing fury, her horn cracked from the crash, and her face screaming ‘revenge’.
“NO!” Chrysalis shouted. “I will NOT be humiliated again!”
Chrysalis desperately used her magic to levitate the Student Six into the magical prison along with Starlight and Sweetie Belle. Seeing the effects of her work at hoof, a wide smirk grew across her face.
“Why do I ever bother having an army to do my work?!” Chrysalis cackled. “Only fools relies on others when I can succeed on my own! NO pony and NO creature can stop me!”
Suddenly, the orb began shooting out sparks as the ground began to shake. When Chrysalis faced the orb, she realized too late things didn’t go as expected. A greater power, the same which upset her plans in the Everfree Forest, emerged with magical ferocity as if the spirit of the Tree of Harmony has heard their cries and came to help. All Chrysalis could do is watch as all the students, including Starlight and Sweetie Belle, were freed by a will she could not comprehend and the artifacts pulled from their place, quickly destabilizing the magic.
As the power of the Tree of Harmony was at work, Neighsay stood awestruck and watched the tree’s power lift the students free. Before his eyes, he was starting to truly see these creatures as anything more than just beings beyond their borders, for a higher power has deemed them worthy to be saved. True, they could have run and saved themselves, abandoning their pony friends… But seeing them rush to help in Equestria’s time of need… All thoughts he had of their capability to betray with false comradery… They were all wrong.
The pure truth was there before his very eyes; no longer did he deem these creatures inferior. These creatures understood friendship, just like the ponies… In ways he hadn’t considered before. Rallying the other ponies behind him, the chancellor lead all the students and the fillies out of the school as they ran for safety. As the sphere itself began to collapse, Starlight Glimmer used her magic to quickly teleport the whole group to the safety of the school grounds, as the Earth quaked and shook due to the eruption of the orb.
Blown from the ground, landing painfully, Chrysalis appeared… Barely alive. Her wings cracked, her horn split down the middle, and a bit of blood hung loosely down her jaw. She slowly turned toward Starlight Glimmer, pure hatred seething from her gaze. Once again, a seemingly invincible mare stood over her… And ironically, it wasn’t even her who beat her this time.
Speaking of which, Starlight Glimmer stepped in front of the students, standing in defense as if willing to throw her life on the line. Chrysalis struggled up to her feet, as if she were determined to put on one final fight. But as if the return of the world’s magic didn’t herald her final defeat, all her enemies appeared from all directions. From Twilight Sparkle and her group of friends to the scorn from the eyes of Princess Celestia.
It was moments like this she would rather die rather than facing her enemies… But there was no such luck. Nor was it possible for her to escape, not with her broken wings and horn. All she could do was release a defeated sigh before turning her gaze toward Starlight Glimmer, the pony never taking her aggressive eyes from the Changeling Queen.
“Nice work, oh brave and glorious Starlight Glimmer,” Chrysalis mocked. “You beat me. Now… What punishment do you levy against me in your moment of triumph?”
“Chrysalis… I offered you a chance to reform; I offered a hoof in friendship. Instead, you ruined so many lives and disrupted our world over and over again. I want nothing more than to make the call, to see you punished for all your crimes…”
Then, to Chrysalis’ confusion, Starlight’s aggressive face relaxed.
“But I’m afraid it’s not my call,” Starlight continued, turning to Cozy Glow. “My time dealing with you is over; I know when to step back.”
Cozy Glow looked up toward Starlight Glimmer, confused as to why her eyes were on her.
“So… Cozy Glow, what should her punishment be?”
“Me, Miss Glimmer?” The filly asked, startled.
“Yes, Cozy Glow. If any pony can know what it is like, when a villain turns the tables on them… You do. It’s all up to you now.”
As much as it pained her, Cozy Glow knew a decision has to be made. She turned toward Chrysalis, and she just stared back… With pure hatred. From what she knew of Chrysalis, time and time again she was offered friendship. And a dozen times more, she squandered every chance at redemption. It was clear she has willing to stay on this path until time itself stood still, it all the more made Cozy Glow’s decision slightly easier to make.
<>
Much time had passed since that event…
For her bravery and taking part in defeating Queen Chrysalis, Cozy Glow was vastly rewarded, and word of her actions spread all around Equestria. The Cutie Mark Crusaders earned their role as true friendship ambassadors, not only for helping a young filly understand the true meaning of friendship but defending the nation during its darkest hours. As for Chancellor Neighsay, he apologized for his past prejudice and went to great lengths to make amends for nearly putting Twilight’s school out of business. Despite everything, Princess Twilight enjoyed his visits.
It was the subject of Twilight Sparkle herself that led Cozy Glow to her one day. She was just passing through the halls, having finished offering directions and advice to some of the new students at school. Twilight Sparkle, the Head Mare of the School of Friendship, was in her office organizing her papers when Cozy Glow entered. She watched the little filly come into the office.
“Hello Cozy Glow,” Twilight greeted.
“Oh, hello Principal Twilight,” Cozy Glow replied.
“Have a seat.”
Twilight gestures to a chair just in front of Twilight’s desk. Cozy Glow flutters her way toward the chair and makes herself comfortable.
“Everything going along smoothly?” Twilight asked.
“Oh yes, it’s all ship-shape at the school,” Cozy Glow nodded. “Every pony’s so nice…”
Yet the way Cozy Glow worded it out and the way her face translated to her; Twilight Sparkle could just tell that Cozy Glow wasn’t being entirely truthful. She had a feeling something was bothering the little filly.
“Cozy Glow… You know why I called you in the office today?”
“… I don’t know. Maybe?”
“Well… The girls, that being Apple Bloom and her friends, they’ve been talking about what happened between you and Chrysalis. They told me that you had something to do about Chrysalis finding the underground room and of the artifacts. I’m not accusing you of anything, I just want to hear it from you.”
Cozy Glow sighed, her right hoof twirling her curls nervously. She knew at some point this subject would come up but figured with all the chaos it would be forgotten. But of course if she wasn’t going to bring it up with any pony, somepony was going to. No point in denying it nor trying to hide it.
“It’s true, Principal Twilight,” Cozy Glow said, reluctantly. “The girls are right… I kind of muddled the truth… A lot. When I was pen pals with Tirek, when I was writing about this room that the Student Six found and told him of my research with the artifacts, he instructed me to find Chrysalis. She wasn’t easy to find. The plan was for us to use the artifacts and together we’d rid Equestria of magic. But I wanted to back out of it, Chrysalis wasn’t happy… And she locked me up as a traitor.”
“Why did you do it in the first place?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
“Because… I wasn’t kidding when I said I had trouble with friendship. My family and I have moved all around Equestria and it’s always been hard for me to form connections. Not like it mattered where we’d go, my parents were never around. Even on holidays, they’d be off doing other things and I barely knew any pony to hang with. I guess… I was desperate… I know if that doesn’t quite answer the question.”
“Starlight Glimmer did talk to me about your concerns, Cozy. Especially about Chrysalis. Do you still think about what happened?”
Cozy Glow turns toward the nearby window, as if she were expecting to see something appear in the clear blue sky. It was clear she looked troubled; she didn’t have to answer the question aloud. But she spoke anyway.
“I’d think about that cruel monster at night… And I wonder if I was any better,” Cozy Glow admits. “Sometimes, I imagine… If I can redo this scenario all over again, if it were me in Chrysalis’ place and if I were the one responsible for Equestria’s destruction… Would any pony make the same choice that I did? That I should be punished… Even if I am a kid?”
Twilight Sparkle nodded her head in understanding. She knew where Cozy Glow was getting at.
“Did any pony say anything to you?” Twilight asked, curiously.
“Honestly… That’s the one question I haven’t asked any pony else,” Cozy Glow shook her head. “I know better than to ask that to any of them, especially Apple Bloom and the girls. If they hadn’t given me the chance to prove my true self, to prove my innocence, I’d probably be in a worse place than the Queen. I can’t imagine anything worse than Tartarus, yet I do think of it… All the time.”
Standing up from her seat, Twilight Sparkle slowly approaches Cozy Glow. She looks up toward the Head Mare, yet she was neither angry nor disappointed. Instead, she merely offered the little filly the warmest look a pony can offer. It seemed so foreign to Cozy Glow, but that’s just what Twilight did.
“I know this was a hard decision for you, Cozy,” Twilight said. “Sending her away to Tartarus; locking her in a cage like an animal. My friends and I witnessed what happens to all those creatures, it’s just as hard for us seeing them this way too. There’s something about Tartarus that can give any pony or any creature despair.
“But that being said, I want you to know that you did the right thing. Creatures like Chrysalis are fated to be irredeemable; it was her choice to stick to her ways not yours nor any pony else. Tartarus was designed to contain the uncontrollable like Chrysalis, we all understand that. All Chrysalis ever had been a desperate desire to hoard power at all cost. But never forget this, Cozy Glow: Power is not friendship.”
Cozy Glow was silent as Twilight Sparkle spoke, breathing in every word she was saying. Deep down, Twilight’s words rang true and had it been any other way, Equestria would be in worst shape. But then, even Cozy can’t help but think that there’s no guarantee. That no matter what she chose, as long as Chrysalis is still around and plotting, she’ll find a way to come back. And she won’t be alone.
“I wish I can just do it all over again,” Cozy Glow spoke softly. “Back before all this insanity happened, before all the trouble started, when I wasn’t so scared. I wish I can just… Start over.”
“Well… Why not?” Twilight asked.
Cozy Glow looked up toward Twilight Sparkle, who gave her a reassuring smile.
<>
Outside the school, while Ponyville was going through their day, Twilight Sparkle lead Cozy Glow down the road. They stop and Twilight points out, just up ahead the Cutie Mark Crusaders were talking together as they walked down. Cozy Glow turns toward the Princess, who nods her head silently. Taking a deep breath, Cozy Glow flutters ahead until she was inches away towards the group. The three turn toward Cozy Glow, who softly lands upon the grass, shuffles her hoof on the ground, and then looks up.
“Hello, I’m Cozy Glow,” She spoke. “Wanna be friends…?”
