At the same time as Cozy was laughing over her apparent victory, back in Tartarus, “Cozy Glow is behind all of this?!” Twilight asked in utter shock as she stepped backward and tripped to land on her rear in other disbelief.
Inside the cage, Tirek fell to the floor and started roll as he laughed at the sight. He was right, the irony was delicious. After about a minute of that he sat back up, “I'm not usually a fan of you Mysticans,” he admitted, “but draining your precious world of magic so she could trap the six of you was inspiring!” he declared praising Cozy before he laughter started a new before it was cut short with a series of coughs.
Spike was about to correct Tirek, but he had spent enough time with Twilight and company to recognize a pointless cause when he comes across one. It was a second later that he noticed Twilight running down the stairs in a panic and everyone joined her, “I knew we shouldn't have left!” she declared as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
“But Starlight's in charge at the school and she can call upon Flash as needed.” Applejack said as she matched Twilight’s pace. “If anybody can stop Cozy Glow, it's her.” she tried to calm Twilight down.
“Cozy Glow outsmarted the six of you!” Tirek shouted while he didn’t hear but more or less surmised what was said. “I doubt this Starlight stands a chance!” he continued to laugh and started to cough as he continued to mock the lot.
“We have to get out of here.” Twilight declared as they all ran toward the gate. “If Tirek is right our students can't handle Cozy on their own.” Twilight surmised her fears as she realized she was played like a fiddle.
Rainbow stopped running and started to fly after she fell back and flew dead on the door making a Sonic Rainboom only to collide with the gate with an otherwise bone break thud. Rainbow slide to the ground, “ow” she groaned “that didn’t work.” she whimpered as Applejack and Fluttershy were weaving healing spells on her.
Rarity placed her hand on the door as she looked at results on the wall from Rainbow’s bold attempt. She sighed as if anything Rainbow’s action made the gates stronger. She turned to the group, her focus on the recovering elementalist, “I am sorry, Dashie, while there are many things that can be done through brute force, but this is not one of those things. We need magic to escape.” Rarity said as she surmised how they were going to get out of the prison.
Pinkie stepped to be next to Rarity as the two looked at the gate. Pinkie stuck her tongue out and thought. After about a second as a light bulb went off, “Maybe there's a way to get out without magic.” she pointed out. She then started to look around the gate, “Like a secret lever or a secret button,” She paused as she looked at Rarity and batted bedroom eyes, “or a secret admirer who knows a secret about you but is all, "Your secret's safe with me because I put it in Tartarus and I have a key!"” she offered.
“Sorry darling,” Rarity said with an eye-roll.
Twilight sighed and looked at the door as she placed her hand on it, “Only the most powerful villains…” Twilight trailed off as she looked around and had to correct herself, “well villain and monsters of all time are trapped here. And without our magic, so are we.” Twilight sighed as she turned away from the door only to see Kerberos arrive next to them and whimper, sad that Twilight was not where she belongs. Twilight placed her hand on the hound’s leg. “Thanks, Kerberos for your concern. But unless we can borrow some of your magic we’re....”
“Look a light bulb!” Pinkie declared as she pointed to what hovered over Twilight’s head.
Twilight turned back and looked at Fluttershy, “These creatures might not be able to use their magical abilities or powers but there is a make that makes their forms. If we can borrow some of that we can get out.” Everyone looked at Twilight in utter bewilderment including Kerberos and all the caged monsters.
Around the same time, Cozy knocked and let herself into Twilight’s office, “Uh, excuse me? Um, Chancellor Neighsay?” she asked politely as she walked to the desk as Neighsay was going over all of Twilight’s notes and commentary on how the school was running.
Not once looking from the task he was performing, “You might as well get used to calling me Headmaster Neighsay. I plan to be here for quite some time.” he said as he place the last sheet of paper he was reading into an office box with Applejack’s aura mark on it and began to write something down, “A real-world manual labor approach, excellent for building and defining teams and great practical experience, Applejack’s curriculum meets M.E.A standards.” he more or less muttered.
Cozy flew to be next to Neighsay, “Gee, it sure is a relief to have someone in charge, what with the magical crisis going on. And we're all so grateful to you for taking care of those…” Cozy trailed off as she tried to find the right phrase. “non-Mysticians.” she settled on. “But doesn't the MEA need you?” she asked hoping that Neighsay would have some sort of ‘eureka’ and leave.
Neighsay only started to read the next batch of papers and began to place them in the office desk box with Rainbow’s aura mark on it. “What the MEA needs is somebody to protect this school from the threat at Mystica's borders instead of gallivanting off on adventures beyond them.” he said before he stopped at particular passage on a page and gave a massive groan, “How in all that’s pure and good in this world did she even pass the Wonderbolt history examine.” He covered his face and wanted to weep, “she’s not even qualified to be an assistant coach for a first-year buck-ball team, how is she a professor.” He then took out a pen and other paper and dictated as he wrote. “An insult to the academic standards of not only Wonderbolt Academy but for Mystican education overall. Rainbow Dash’s lectures must be overhauled and her membership into the Wonderbolts should be terminated.”
After he sighed as he rubbed his forehead, “You know Princess Twilight didn't just run off willy-nilly.” Cozy point out as she stepped on to the desk. “She left me in charge. I'm her right-hand person!” Cozy pointed out with great cheer.
Neighsay only rolled his eyes and looked away, “Another in a long list of mistakes the Princess of Friendship has made.” After he took a breath he looked squarely at Cozy. “Rest assured, from now on, this school shall be run according to strict MEA guidelines,” he said as he placed his hand on his medallion and used it to open the office’s door. He then pointed to the door. “The way it always should've been.” he finished.
Cozy happily flew out of the office and with a massive joyful grin on her face, “Well, that sounds just peachy—” she was cut off as Neighsay used the magic of his medallion to closed the door in her face. “...Headmaster Neighsay.” she hissed as she headed to her room. Day was a few hours away and she needed some sleep.
Back under the school, at the circle that Cozy used to draw the magic out of the world, Sandbar and the CMC looked at the circle and the items used as focal points, “Cozy Glow did all of this? How? Why?” Sweetie Belle asked as she was about to touch the circle only to hear a faint scream of ‘NO!’ from Flash and Starlight from within the orb.
“Can you tell us anything?” Sandbar asked Flash and Starlight as he pulled Sweetie Belle back from the circle. Flash held up his hands and started making a wide array of gestures, Sandbar was at a lose. “Um… do any of you know what’s he doing?” The youth asked the CMC. However, as he turned he saw the CMC utterly shocked. “Um… care to fill me in?”
“It’s standard Mystican sign language,” Scootaloo said as she stopped. “Flash was trying to say that Cozy is using those artifacts, The Dawn Amulet,” Scootaloo said as she pointed to the necklace-like artifact that looked like it was made of silver with sapphire that seemed to look like an eye.
“Amulet of Aurora!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle corrected.
“The Illusionary Talisman.” Scootaloo continued as she pointed to a specter with a massive scarab motive with an orange gem in the mandible.
“Talisman of Mirage!” her fellow CMC corrected again.
“The Helm of Yksler, The Crown of Grover, Knuckerbocker's Shell, Clover the Clever's Cloak,” Scootaloo finished listing off as she pointed to an old worn ork battle helmet, a crown with a series of rubies on it with griffons rendered on it, then to a large conch shell and finally to a green clock upon which appeared to be a spectral blue clover with seven leaves.
“She got four out of six.” Apple Bloom said as she turned to Sweetie Belle with a weak smile.
“That’s still not a passing grade.” Sweetie Belle deadpanned. She then turned back to Sandbar, “What Flash was sighing is that Cozy is using these artifacts to make a vortex to draw the magic of this world into the ether.”
Sandbar rubbed his chin, “If that’s true…” then his eyes shot wide open, “Headmistress Twilight and the others went to Tartarus for nothing!” he declared as the revelation dawned on the CMC. Sandbar looked at the center of the magic circle where a black hole seemed to form. “And if all of Mystica's magic's getting sucked up in there, there's no way for them to get back!” He said as he looked to the CMC and then to the trapped Flash and Starlight. Flash then started to gesture with his hands again. “Um, can I get a translation?” he asked the CMC.
Scootaloo watched and then turned to Sandbar, “Flash sighed that we need to get help!”
Sweetie pointed back to the orb with the trapped adults, “But Starlight's trapped here, and there's no way to get word to Celestia or anybody else!” she pointed out.
“I guess we're on our own.” Apple Bloom added with a depressed sigh.
Sandbar rubbed his chin and then smiled only to yield to a frown, “Actually there is one person.” He then saw a spider, “and spider.”
About half an hour later, in Gallus and Sandbar’s room, the chain had held the five foreign students had vanished. Ocellus was on Sandbar’s bed and clutched the pillow as she cried into it silently. Smolder, Silverstream and Yona were playing a game of war. All the while Gallus was at the door grunting as he struggled to open the door. “Still locked, huh?” Smolder asked sarcastically as she saw Yona make a sandwich and collected the stack.
Gallus groaned as he turned to face the other, “We gotta at least try to get out.” he countered. As he saw Silverstream raise her hand, “I know the walls aren’t closing in, but I can’t just stay in here!”
“Why?” Ocellus asked as she raised her head from the pillow, her eyes red from tears, “If Sandbar's turned his back on us, every other Mystican probably has, too.” she then started to cry again as she buried her face in Sandbar’s pillow.
Yona huffed as Smolder again took the small stack of cards, “Sandbar not turn back!” the proud young ork challenged. “Sandbar is friend!”
“Uh, did you miss the part where he said he didn't want anything to do with us?” Smolder asked as she rolled her eyes and placed another card down to start the round of their game.
“Maybe he just said that so one of us could be free to snoop around and figure out what's going on.” Silverstream pointed out as she placed a card down.
Just Yona spotted a spider crawl along the wall, “Spindle!” Yona shouted as she got up and approached the spider. Spindle stopped and pointed to the window as they all heard and saw the window open from the outside.
“I dunno.” Sandbar said as he got into the room. “That sounds too clever for a Mystican to come up with,” he said as he looked at Gallus with a smirk.
Yona gasped and laughed as she ran to tackled and hug Sandbar, “Yona knew Sandbar was still friend!” the ork shouted only for Spindle to land on her nose and shake his head as he pointed to Ocellus. “Spindle right. Ocellus and Sandbar first.” she acknowledged with a nod.
Sandbar walked cautiously to his bed and held out his right hand with the palm up towards her. “I am sorry Ocellus,” he said with a fair amount of guilt in his tone.
Ocellus raised her head and after looking at Sandbar, tears started to form in the corners of her eyes. Before they were shed, Sandbar used both of his thumbs to wipe the tears away. After about a second the two shared an embrace.
“I’d say get a room, but dude, seriously can you wait until I am outside before you put a sock on the door.” Gallus joke brought the tender moment to a shrinking holt as Smolder, Silver, and Yona laughed as they were joined by the CMC.
The stopped and each gave a nervous laugh. “Well Sandbar isn’t your only friend, we all are. Although not a friendly as he is with Ocellus.” Sweetie pointed out.
“Except for Cozy Glow. That girl is not who we thought she was.” Scootaloo pointed out or rather informed.
“She's the one draining magic out of Mystica!” Apple Bloom added, shorthand informing what the CMC and Sandbar learned.
“What?!” Ocellus, Yona, Silverstream, Gallus, and Smolder asked in shock and horror.
Sandbar headed to the window, “We'll explain on the way.” he said as his left leg was out of the window, “But right now, and I know you’ll not gonna like it, but we gotta get to get to Chancellor Neighsay.” Sandbar said as he prepared to lower himself. Before he could be questioned, “Yes he doesn't like non-Mysticans. But if we tell him what's going on, he'll help.” Sandbar declared as he let himself slow drop out of the window. Reluctantly the others began to follow Sandbar’s lead.
Early the following morning, as the students gathered for the daily morning announcements. All of the students were surprised that Chancellor Neighsay was there with Cozy Glow. After a few seconds of the students murmuring the chancellor spoke, “I am sure you are all concerned about the magic situation. But I want to assure you that this institution is safe, despite the absence of your headmistress. As your new acting headmaster, let me be the first to say that the reign of Princess Twilight is over!” he finished his a little too much force as he stomped the floor. He then presented a copy of the MEA guidebook, “From now on, this school will adhere to MEA doctrine, as it should have from the start!” he finished and placed the book down on the podium with a thud.
After a moment of silent, the students renewed their murmuring as they were unsure what to do. There was then a sudden stop as Cozy started to clap three times. Once she finished, “Thank you, Chancellor Neighsay, for that rousing speech.” she praised Neighsay, “I know you're a man who truly believes what you say. And when you say this school will be run according to MEA doctrine, I know you mean it.” She said as she stepped to be with the other students and seemed to praise Neighsay nodded in agreement. “And when you say there won't be any more lessons from the Princess of Friendship at the School of Friendship, I guess you mean that, too.” Cozy added as she looked to her fellow students. That caught Neighsay off guard as his eyes widened in shock, all the while the students started to murmur amongst themselves again.
Neighsay then stepped forward, “You’re misquoting me, that’s not what—”
However, before Neighsay could finish his point, Cozy cut him off, “But Twilight decided to run her school outside of the MEA guidelines. And even though you tried to stop her, Princess Celestia trusted her enough to support her.” Cozy continued as she pointed out the brief history of the schools founding. It was a very condensed version of the events, but it did relay the key moments subsequently. This got the students to murmur amongst themselves again.
“That’s not exactly how it hap—” Neighsay tried to counter as he started to get nervous as he could see the room changing against him.
Cozy cut him off, “So since I know you mean what you say, my question is really for the students.” she said as she flew to be in his face and turned to face the students. “Are we going to give the man who already tried to wreck Twilight's school once another chance to do it?” she asked the students in attendance. All the students began to chatter amongst themselves as they steeled their resolve to challenge Neighsay. After all the students seemed to have agreed to not grant Neighsay another shot, Cozy smiled as she turned back to Neighsay as she hovered to be above the other students. “I guess things will have to stay the way Twilight wants them. Which includes leaving me in charge,” she said with a smile. She then nodded and the students started to charge Neighsay.
“This—! I can—! Just—!” Neighsay tried to protest as the student began to carry him away towards Twilight’s office, Cozy leading the way.
As the mass passed, a door opened to show Sandbar et al, “Okay. So maybe we need a new plan.” the youth admitted that his plan had gone astray with a weak laugh.
Inside Twilight’s office, the students chained Neighsay to the chair. “Oh, oh, not too tight. We don't want to hurt the Chancellor.” Cozy said before grabbed a padlock lock and closed it locking Neighsay in place. “I'm sure Twilight will know what to do with him when she gets back.” Cozy then pointed to the door, “Now, back to our exercises, everyone.” she ordered as everyone began to leave. “We let the MEA disrupt our friendship studies long enough.” she finished as the last of the students left. She then shut the door leaving only herself and Neighsay in the office.
Neighsay started to grunt as he attempted to escape his trap. “How?”
“You’d be shocked all you can do if you have hypopituitarism, sure it means you die relatively young, you can’t get a drink or several other niceties of adulthood, but near eternal youth does have its perks. Why do you think Lt. Corneal Sentry is AWAL. He was my kohai during his school days.” Cozy said with a giggle.
“Why are you doing this? I thought you wanted to have a fellow Mystican in charge of the school.” Neighsay asked as he continued his futile attempt to free himself
“Oh, I do,” she said as she took off his medallion. “You just aren't who I had in mind.” she then dropped the medallion in the trash basket with a clank. She then went to get a box she had in the office and began to place items on the desk, first a picture of herself, then plushies of Princess Twilight and the other Element of Harmony bearers. “I can't very well have the MEA running the school if I want to run it myself,” she said before she pulled out a skull. Neighsay couldn’t tell if it was a fake or real one. “Of course, that's just the beginning. You see, if there's one thing I've learned here, it's that friendship is the most powerful thing there is.” She then hugged the skull before she placed it on the desk. “And as headmistress of the School of Friendship, nobody will have more friends than me! Making me the most powerful person in Mystrica!” she then started to laugh maniacally as Neighsay could only gulp in horror as Cozy began to leave the office. She finished as she exited the office, but couldn’t help but giggle.
This was overheard by the CMC, who made themselves know as Scootaloo spoke up, “Hey, Cozy Glow! What's so funny?” the monk asked.
“Are you just happy to be running the school?” Sweetie Belle asked as the trio walked up to Cozy.
Cozy swiftly turned with a modest smile, “Oh, I'm just keeping Twilight's seat warm.” she said with a wave of her hand as if it was nothing.
“Still, it's pretty impressive.” Apple Bloom said as she stepped to be beside Cozy and placed her hand on Cozy’s shoulder.
“Is there anything we can do to help?” Sweetie asked as she stepped to be on Cozy’s other side.
Cozy had a faint smile and started to lead the way, “You know, there is something I need help with.” She said and the CMC followed her.
As the four left, Sandbar and the others used this to get into Twilight’s office. Once inside they saw Neighsay try to move the chair around the desk to the trash bin. He stopped and looked at the six, “I suppose there is some sort of poetic justice in this, an ironic echo as it were. I shut a door and leave you in chains, you open a door to find me in chains.” The chancellor sighed. “Well, get on with the gloating, I have merited it, and likely worse,” he said as he seemed to reside himself to the mercy of the six and whatever fate they had in store.
Silverstream flew up to him, “Actually, we've come to undo all these chains and free you!
As Silverstream and Gallus tried to break the chain, “But... But why?” Neighsay asked.
“Now that nasty human met an even nastier human, maybe nasty human not be so nasty,” Yona answered as Smolder flew up and used her fire breath to melt a link on the chain breaking and thus freed the chancellor.
As Neighsay stood up as the chair with the chain falling to the floor, “Also, we'd kind of like to stop Cozy before she drains all the magic from Mystica.” Sandbar informed.
“She's behind that as well?” Neighsay asked in utter shock. He then dove for the trash bin and started to reach into it, “I must get word to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.”
“How?” Sandbar asked as he watched Neighsay pull out the medallion the chancellor wore. “Without magic, it'll take forever to get to them.”
Neighsay showed the medallion to Sandbar and then to the others, “While it's true that my fellow Magicborn and myself have lost our ability to cast spells by more traditional means,” he then put the medallion back on, “This medallion doesn’t house my focus gem, but is, in fact, an artifact. As such it houses some of the most potent magic in Mystica.” He took a breath as he if he was also trying to form a plan as informed the six of the what his artifact can do. “The MEA chancellor medallion allows the chancellor to travel throughout Mystica and allow me to cast spells that pertain to my role as chancellor including but not limited to the protection of students.”
“So you’re thinking that since you used it to chain us up, you can use still use it to get to the princesses?” Gallus asked with a raised eyebrow.
“With any luck, I will be able to return with them swiftly.” Neighsay took a breath and prepared to touch the medallion, “I was wrong about you and what I did was also wrong. I pray that I will get back in time, until then, you’re on your own.” He then touched the medallion as a portal opened. “I hope you have another plan you can implement while I am gone,” Neighsay said as he prepared to walk into the portal. He hesitated for a second, “I am sorry.” he whispered, loud enough for them all to hear not just his works but the pain in his voice. He then finished walking into the portal before it closed behind him.
“What do we do now?” Gallus asked before they all saw Sandbar rush to the door.
“Come on. I have another plan.”
“You’re 0 for 2,” Smolder deadpanned.
“Third time’s the charm.” Silverstream countered as everyone but the dragon caught up with Sandbar. Smolder groaned and followed her friends.