The Rise of Passion

Once they were inside the castle, Cozy was bored of repelling guards, and began sticking the more zealous ones to walls. The ones that were exhausted already didn't take a lot of convincing to play dead. They knew they couldn't beat Cozy with their numbers beginning to dwindle, and were happy to take the out. Others gave up the fight to try and free their trapped comrades or go back and try to open the gatehouse again. It was no matter anymore.

"Here we are," smirked Cozy, walking up to the throne room doors. "No doubt, they've prepared an ambush for us. Shields up, everypony."

As Gallus pulled the door open, no beams were fired at them. In fact, they were allowed to just walk right in, with the door closing behind them. Celestia and Luna were standing next to the throne, glowering at Cozy's smirk as she approached.

"Here to bow to your new ruler?" chuckled Cozy. "I knew you had some sense in you."

"Your reign of terror stops here, Cozy," snarled Luna. "Turn yourself over to us, and we'll go easy on your companions."

Twilight lowered her head. She was ashamed to even be here.

"A stone statue is too lenient a prison for the likes of you," growled Celestia. "What you deserve is nothing short of death. Come quietly, and I may rethink my decision."

"Hmmm... No, I think I'll just take your throne."

A blast from Luna's horn was deflected by Starlight. Having Trixie by her side now that the rear needed no cover, Starlight was steeled in her resolve, and no longer weary of battle.

"Now, that was an unfriendly thing to do, Luna," scolded Cozy, shaking her head. "Very unbecoming of the princess of the night."

"Then allow me," growled Celestia.

As Celestia's horn beam sped toward her, Cozy fired her own back. It was more powerful than that of the princess, and began to overtake her.

"Sister!" shouted Luna. She rushed to Celestia's side and pushed back against Cozy with her own magic.

Cozy was in a real bind, here, against both of them, she could not stand. While it was true that she had more power than they did, they had more practice putting it to use. They had been fighting this way for thousands of years before she had even been born. She hadn't even had a year, so the fact that she was barely able to stand her ground was impressive.

"It's a good thing you both are attacking from the same direction!" shouted Cozy as the magic ripped itself apart. "I don't think I could split my attention between both of you!"

Suddenly, their collective beam faltered, and Cozy managed to overpower Celestia. Luna was reeling, having been struck by the butt of Gallus's spear.

"Gallus, what are you doing?!" shouted Twilight. "You can't fight with Luna!"

"I'm proving Cozy's point," he answered back, having locked eyes with the lunar princess. "If she wants to divide her attention, then let this be a two-on-two."

"Stand down," commanded Luna. "I harbor no animosity toward you, Gallus. I am willing to forgive your treachery."

"And I harbor none towards you, Luna," he smirked back. "Bow to Cozy, and nopony will be harmed."

"If you join with her, you will leave me no choice."

"I already have no choice!" Gallus turned his spear around.

Luna sighed, summoned a sabre to her hoof, and lunged at Gallus. Their weapons crossed and clattered as they battered each other.

Cozy, meanwhile, kept her focus on Celestia, who was now kiting Cozy around the rafters. Celestia, having flown around these rafters multiple times, was doing so backward, keeping her eyes on Cozy and taking the occasional opportunity to fire spells. Cozy, chasing her, had to pay attention to where she was going, as well as what Celestia was doing. Cozy was not returning fire, but instead, preparing something a bit more complex.

While Gallus was more skilled than Luna in martial combat, he was no match for her when it came to magic. As a result, he was very much losing the fight, both from his unwillingness to strike a potentially fatal blow and his inability to repel her spells. She had him on the ropes, and with one final blast, shot him out of the sky.

Until, that is, Flurry flew up to catch him. She only served to slow his descent, however, as her fying ability was diminished. Even so, Gallus did not hit the ground. Yona carried him back to the safety of Sunburst's barrier as Smolder and Ocellus took his place.

Then came the very opening Cozy was looking for. She darted low, and one of Celestia's bolts followed her. Not a second after it left her horn, however, she noted its trajectory, and before she could shout to her sister, Celestia's wrath knocked into Luna's shoulders, knocking her out of the fight.

Enraged, Celestia charged at Cozy, but Cozy just turned to face her. "You've lost, Celestia! Give up, and I'll heal your sister!"

Celestia looked down at Luna, groaning in agony on the floor. Starlight walked over to the fallen princess and put a hoof on her shoulder, holding her down with very little effort. She looked to Cozy. "She would give her very life to protect Equestria."

Cozy smirked. "Would you give her life, then? Would you sentence her to death so you can continue this losing fight?"

"The elements," wheezed Luna. "Gather the elements."

"The elements of harmony serve me," interrupted Cozy. She turned around the room.

"Trixie and Double Diamond." A red aura surrounded them. "Their loyalty to Starlight is impregnable. They will stand beside her forever.

"Gallus and Starlight." They began to glow orange. "Even in the face of overwhelming odds, they have stayed true to their course. Their integrity is unquestionable.

"Gallus's friends," continued Cozy as a blue glow surrounded Smolder, Silverstream, Ocellus, Sandbar and Yona. "They are always happy to see each other, to be reunited. They represent the joy that friendship provides.

"Zecora," the zebra began to emit a purple glow, "with almost no benefit to herself, offered to aid us in our cause, simply because she had been repeatedly mistreated. She offered her services out of the goodness of her own heart, in the hopes that she may yet inspire the good in ours. I can think of nothing more generous than that.

"And let's not forget Sunburst." He wasn't paying attention, as he was trying to tend to Gallus's wounds, but he turned pink, regardless. "It is through his kindness that many of our group is unharmed, including Twilight and Flurry. Were he not around, I may not be inclined to let you live.

"Finally, there is call for a spark to bring about the sixth. I have no sparks, as they have already erupted into a mighty flame of passion." Tiaras appeared on all of their heads, including Cozy's. "Friendship is Magic, and it is fallacious to let it belong to any one creature."

The room was lit up by a mighty blast of rainbow energy, aimed at Celestia, but held back. "You can throw down your crown and be brought to heel with Twilight, or you can die with your sister." Cozy narrowed her eyes. "Make your choice, Celestia."

After a few seconds of thought, staring into the magic of such a powerful friendship, Celestia closed her eyes. "All of Equestria must be kept safe," she said.

"And it will be," smiled Cozy. "Safe and sound in our hooves and claws."

Celestia lowered her head, and with a flick of her ears, let her crown hit the marble floor. The battle was over.