It had been weeks since Sombra’s failed attempt at a solo attempt to conquer Mystica, Grogar was looking into his orb as he was divining something. He was focusing his breath until he heard the clearing of the throat. He clenched his fist and turned to his right to see Cozy hovering just above the table. “I don’t wanna become a tattle-tail, especially on my bestie Tirek,” the Skyborn started. Grogar gave a stern pout, “but he left food out. Again.”
Grogar gave a silent groan, “I’ll deal with the matter when I’m done.” he stated as he tried to remain calm. Cozy nodded and then flew on. Grogar took a breath and looked into his orb and again tried to divine his target.
“Don’t trust anything that Skyborn says!” Tirek protested as he arrived in the part of the castle.
Grogar gave a bemused frown to the spellthief, “I don’t trust anything that any of you say.” he then turned back to his orb as Tirek gave a hump and walked away.
After a second the faintest of an outline of something started to be revealed in the orb. Grogar smiled. But this was short-lived as Chrysalis’ hand was placed on the orb. Grogar raised his gaze to see the deposed changeling queen. “Are you planning on attacking anybody anytime soon?” she asked getting down to the brass tacks. “If not, I don’t know why I’m wasting my time here. I am a queen you know,” she added as she looked at her fingernails in boredom.
Grogar snorted as the elf walked off. “That’s it!” he shouted, getting the three’s attention. “It is inescapably clear that the possibility of me accomplishing my work here is nonexistent. Therefore I’m leaving. During my absence, the three of you will come to some kind of accord.” The three then started to bicker and argue. Grogar knew that they were saying something, but at this point, he had master filtered hearing from the three. That being said, the old ram had lost his goat. “ENOUGH!!!” he shouted as he set a beam of magic that was a black field with a yellow outline from his horns that covered each of their mouths. “Frankly I don’t give a damn how, but you three must learn to work as a coherent team! Only with that mastered can the deal we made be accomplished, my return as Emperor and what you three most desire - the defeat of Princess Twilight Sparkle!”
About two hours or so after Grogar left, Cozy was in the main room of the satyr's lair and putting up a banner with the faces of each of the four with smiles on their faces. “Nothing says "teamwork" like an inspirational banner,” she commented to herself as she landed. “When Grogar sees this, he'll realize there's no way he could survive without me!” she added before she flew off to find the other two. She found Tirek in the area that he had made his room on the bench, bench pressing as he looked at a portrait of himself when he had the power of Discord and the, at the time, four demigods in addition to all of Mystica’s populace. The spell thief grunted before he placed the bar in the safety rack before he slipped out from under it and sat up.
“You're gonna have to exercise a lot to get as big as you were when you absorbed the life force of all those Mysticans.” Cozy commented as she sat down. Tirek rolled his eyes as he picked up his bottle of water and drank from him. Cozy either didn’t notice or care that Tirek wanted nothing to do with her, “Anywho, Grogar wants us all to work together, so I've scheduled a team meeting. Doesn't that sound fun?” she asked. Tirek responded by getting up and walking over to another set of weights. “And since Grogar left me in charge…” Cozy started and then trailed off.
“No, he didn't.” Tirek protested as he started to lift the weights.
Cozy giggled as she got up and flew up to Tirek, “Someone's real grump today.” she stated.
“Don’t patronize me, little girl,” Tirek said as he dropped his weights. “I can drain you of every Fenton-Joule of power you possess,” he said as he grabbed Cozy by the collar of her shirt and brought her to his face.
Cozy was not phased by this act, “Well, if you don’t want a meeting, I guess I could just stay and offer positive and inspiring—”
Before Cozy could finish, Tirek released his hold, “Fine!” he shouted cutting her off. “I'll join your meeting. Just leave!” he said as he pointed to the doorway.
Cozy then flew out, “See you soon!” she shouted as Tirek went back to his exercises.
Cozy then floated to the area that Chrysalis had made her own, which wasn’t hard as she hard the deposed queen’s voice, “It's been weeks, and Grogar's done nothing! It's not healthy to hold on to all of this rage!” Chrysalis said to a piece of wood, talking to it like it as if it was listening intently. “I could lash out at any moment.” the changeling declared.
“And how are you doing this fine—?” Cozy started to ask as she flew up towards Chrysalis.
Chrysalis turned on a dime and grabbed Cozy by the Skyborn’s shoulders. “How do you think I'm doing?!” he shouted her rhetorical question in Cozy’s face. “I'm ready to exact my revenge!” she shouted as she dropped Cozy before she turned her attention back to piece of wood she was talking to before Cozy’s arrival. “See what I mean?”
Cozy scowled but then smirked. “Being cooped up with nothing to do is the worst!” she projected as she tried to show she agreed with the elf queen, “You know what you need?” she asked as she more cautiously approached Chrysalis, “A team meeting!” she answered with a cheer.
Chrysalis turned to Cozy and scoffed, “I don't do meetings.” she retorted and turned back to the plank of wood.
Cozy rolled her eyes, but continued, “Grogar left me in charge.” she tried to assert a sense of primacy.
Chrysalis turned back to Cozy, “No, he didn't.” she then turned away and started to walk away, “And even if he did, Chrysalis obeys no one.” she added as she stuck up her nose.
“There'll be cupcakes,” Cozy said in a sing-songy voice. Chrysalis turned around and rubbed her chin. About an hour later, the three were gathered at the table with the cupcakes that Cozy promised Chrysalis on a platter in the center. Chrysalis and Tirek were sitting opposite each other. Cozy clear her throat before she spoke up, “Grogar wants us to work together to defeat our enemies. Which means we need to trust each other.” she started as she looked to her cohorts.
Chrysalis was eating a cupcake but stopped as she saw that Tirek was attempting to drain her magic from her, “If we are to trust one another, perhaps inform Lord Tirek to stop trying to absorb my essence!” she shouted as she threw her cupcake at Tirek.
Tirek stopped and spat the magic he absorbed and slide the cupcake as if he tried to sneak it to Chrysalis. “I wasn't doing anything of the sort! How dare you!” he lied and challenged the accusation.
“How dare I?!” Chrysalis retorted slighted at Tirek’s denial and challenge. “Do you know to whom you are speaking?” she compounded as she thrust her finger towards Tirek’s chest.
Tirek rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms, “How could I not?” he asked rhetorically. “You tell your log every five minutes,” he said as he pointed to the log that Chrysalis
Cozy sighed, “This is why Grogar left me in charge.” the Skyborn declared as she tried to gain control of the two.
“No! He! Didn't!” Tirek and Chrysalis shouted together as the emphasize each word and reminded her that.
Elsewhere, just outside the lair, Grogar was divining in his crystal orb. Now that he couldn’t be interrupted by the other three. Soon his orb showed what he desired. This brought a smile to his face and a chuckle. “Yes,” he said as he vanished the image. He then turned to his lair. “Looks I finally have something for those three to do.”
“Now we've got a better way to be baaaaaad!”
With the song over, Cozy turned to the other two, “Hey! You stepped on my cue!” she accused and as if by clockwork the three were at each other’s throats in the verbal lashings.
Grogar entered the room.
The satyr tried to take a deep calming breath, but it was a fruitless endeavor. “Enough!” he shouted as he stomped the floor causing a small quack that forced the three to lose their balance. “I had hoped by now you would've resolved your differences,” he started his lecture with a facepalm, “but apparently not.”
Chrysalis then flew up to Grogar, “Perhaps if we knew what the plan was, we would be better able to prepare!” she challenged the satyr, basically blaming him.
Before Grogar could get a word in, “Assuming you even have a plan.” Tirek added in protest of inaction the four have had since Grogar called them and the departed Sombra to form this coalition.
Grogar took a deep breath as he stepped to be closer to Tirek and Cozy, “Of course I have a plan! I have located an object of power, and it occurs to me this is the perfect test. The three of you will work together to retrieve it. Against this item, those Mysticans won't stand a chance.”
Chrysalis then challenged Grogar and at the same time seemed to assert herself as the leader of the three, “I have come close to ruling Mystica several times. Perhaps I should be the one to lead us.”
Cozy laughed, “Yeah, that’s cute and all, but I nearly drained all the magic from Mystica!” the Skyborn challenged. “That was good!” she added with a pat on the back.
Tirek had an even more verbose chuckle at that, “Nearly doesn’t cut it, shrimp. I actually absorbed all the magic of Mystica!” he pointed out his success. “I could feel it flowing through my body as I grew!” Once Tirek finished his boost the three were once again squabbling.
Grogar tried to take calming breaths but it was futile and in his wrath, he sent a beam of his magic that forced the three to the wall behind them and had them restrained to the wall at their wrists and ankles. They grunted as they tried to break free, but it was to no avail. “Each of you failed to defeat Twilight Sparkle and her friends!” Grogar stated as his anger boiled over. “My power is in its weakened state if far greater than all of yours combined,” he said as his spell held them with ease. “All the magic I have used to this point since I prepared to summon you and Sombra here to take part in my endeavor is one percent of the power I have and that is one percent of my true power! Understood?!” he asked as his vented out the last of his wrath, or rather enough of it that he could calm himself slightly. The three all nodded in fright as they seemed to finally grasp the situation they were in. Grogar then ended his hold spell and they all fell to the floor. “Finally, we have reached an understanding, it took you three long enough,” he muttered.
“Now you shall retrieve the rest of my power,” he announced as from him orb a project was made. It was an outline of woman, “Milliema ago, the self-righteous Gusty the Great, unable to best me face-to-face, stole my Bewitching Bell.” Grogar said as the woman seemed to slip into Grogar’s lair and took what looked like an ancient bell. “This talisman contains much of my own magic,” Grogar added as the projection showed the woman leaving the lair with the bell in her hands. “The Bell cannot be destroyed, so Gusty hid it in a place it has taken me millennia to discover –” Grogar continued the projection showed the outline of Gusty arrived at a cave, “an enchanted cave high atop Mt. Everfoot, protected by magical winds that prevent anyone from reaching its peak. There, the Bell has remained until now.” as Grogar spoke the projection showed the difficulties in play that kept the bell out of his reach. Grogar then ended the projection and turned to the three. “Your task is simple, scale Mt. Everfoot and bring me back my Bell.”
Chrysalis laughed at that command, “The ease of this task is laughable.”
Months later, after traveling on foot, incognito, often sticking to the woods and traveling at night, the three (dressed in winter gear) arrived not far from the foot of Mt. Everfoot, the tallest mountain in Mystica located at the end of the same central mountain range of Mystica. Above the three there was the echo of an eagle’s screech. Tirek and Cozy both turned to Chrysalis with scowls. “Well, it sounded easy.” she protested.
The three then turned their focus back to the mountain, “Let’s see, we’re to scale the mountain…” Tirek trailed off at the sight of the trek ahead of them.
“...retrieve Grogar's Bell…” Chrysalis added as she too trailed at the near Sisyphean task that they were about to tackle
“...together!” Cozy finished. She then reached into her coat pockets and pulled out a few scrolls, “I drew up a detailed plan with several visual aids to show how we can…” she trailed off as she realized that the other two had left her. “ditch each other and do it alone.” She took a breath and looked at her plans. A smile grew on her lips, “Maybe when I'm waiting for them at the top, then they'll appreciate me.” she said before she proceeded on her path.
Up ahead going along the mountain's southern ridge, Chrysalis flew but after several seconds she was forced to land and walk. As she traveled through the forest, many creatures opened their eyes watching from the tree. One of the largest seemed to generate shadows only revealing it’s large red eyes. It growled at Chrysalis as it prepared to attack her. Chrysalis only smirked before she turned around and hissed back after transforming into what could only be described as an eldritch abomination. The creature whimpered and fled. Chrysalis transformed back into her normal form and chuckled, “As if anything on this mountain is scarier than I.” she stated before continuing her trek.
Tirek elected to travel around the mountain to the western side. All the while he surveyed the mountain, staying a fair distance away. He picked up some dirt and threw it into the air only for it be blown back at him. He shrugged his shoulders and started to gather wood.
Along the eastern side of the mountain, Cozy trekked. About an eighth the way up the mountain, there was a fairly large cabin. Cozy smiled at the sighed especially as the door opened. An earthborn man with gray hair in an antiquated version of the Mystican ESM armor with a long red and patched-up cloak. On his head was an old rusty bucket that was made into a helmet. He stopped as he seemed to have spotted Cozy. “Halt! Who goes there?” he asks. He squinted as he couldn’t exactly make out what he was looking at “A person?” he asked. “There ain't been people around here in I-don't-know-how-many moons!” he declared.
Cozy smiled to herself before she shut her eyes and started to whimper as she opened them again large and sad. As she got closer to the man and his cabin, “Oh, golly, good sir. I'm just a poor lost girl looking for help.” she cried before she hugged his leg.
The man gave a small frown, “Aw, don't fret, little lady.” he said. “Ol' Rusty Bucket here, at your service.” he declared as he wiped Cozy’s eyes.
Cozy sniffed and smiled, “I'm so glad I found you.” she said. “I need help getting to the top of the mountain,” she stated.
Rusty shook his read, “Uh, no can do, ma'am.”
Cozy’s happy expression changed to one of wrath and her pupils squinted and shouted, “Why not?!”
There was a massive rumble from the mountain, “Shhh!” Rusty said once the rumble stopped. He lowered his voice and tried to speak softly, “Not so loud!” he stated. He then pointed to the mountain, “This here's avalanche territory.” he pointed out. He then pointed to himself, “I'm the guardian of this here mountain. It's my job to keep people from heading up. Nothing at the top but dangerous snow, dangerous ice, and dangerous wind.” he informed as he listed off the points of concern. He then looked at Cozy, “Basically, it's dangerous.”
Cozy wanted to scowl and pout, but she knew better. “It must get lonely all by yourself.” she pointed out. Rusty nodded. “Maybe I could be your friend?” she asked as smiled.
“Aw. I'd love a friend.” Rusty said with his own smile.
Cozy’s smile grew, “So, now that we are friends, you could help me up the mountain,” she requested.
“Hmm,” Rust said as he rubbed his chin. He then looked back up the mountain then to Cozy, “uh...Don’t you think a real friend wouldn't ask me to do something I'm not supposed to do?” he asked. “I think it’s stated in the Journal of Friendship, written by Princess Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkamena Diane Pie…” he listed off.
Cozy puffed out her checks in a pout before she shouted, “are. you. kidding me?!” which echoed along the ridge. Once the echo died Rusty “Shhh!” ed her. Cozy gave a humh before she turned away with her nose up, “I didn't want to be friends anyway.” she said and walked away. Rusty could only give a sad ‘awww…” before he returned to his cabin.
Chrysalis continued her trekked until she came across a frozen lake. She tried to walk across but almost slipped and feel. She transformed into a massive cragadile and broke through the ice. She same until she neared the far shore and smashed through the ice again. Once there she took a couple of breaths before she transformed into a goat and continued to climb like a goat leaping the way. After getting halfway up the peak she transformed back into her normal form. “Almost there.” she declared.
Cozy returned to Rusty’s cabin and tried to fly over it. “Nope,” Rusty said as he spotted her. However Cozy elected to ignore only to be blown back. She then tried to climb along the ridge, “Not that way neither.” he commented only for Cozy to groan and stomp off. A few minutes later Cozy tried to sneak around the other side of the cabin only for some of the snow to fall off it and land on her.
After she dug herself out she walked to the front of the cabin, her face red in anger, “I tried being nice!” she shouted.
There was a loud rumble, “Shh-shh-shh!” Rusty pleaded. “Now, just calm down there, girl.” he requested keeping his voice soft.
Cozy breathed through her frailing nostrils, “You calm down!” she shouted, “People are supposed to do what I ask them to do! It's, like, my thing! Okay?!” she continued to rant and scream as her voice echoed. This sparked a small avalanche in the form of a large snowball to form and roll down the mountainside, catching Cozy as went. As it descended the mountain her screams faded. Rusty only shrugged his shoulders and went back into his cabin.
As Chrysalis neared the top, about ninety-five percent of the way up, “Apparently I don't need anybody else.” she said before she transformed into a roc and attempted to fly the rest of the way. She managed to fly to be just out of her talon’s range to grab the ground only to be forced back with a thud. She grunted as she picked herself up. She then transformed back to her normal form and groaned before she screamed “Agh!” in frustration.
Later in the afternoon, as Evening started to set in, Cozy arrived not far from where the three started their treks up the mountain. She was panting from sheer exhaustion after getting out of the avalanche she caused. There she spotted three chairs and fire. In one of the chairs, reclining was Tirek, who proceeded to laugh. “It's not funny, Tirek!”
“Didn't make it to the top?” Tirek asked rhetorically, “Surprise, surprise.” he added in mockery.
Cozy took a moment to look at the campsite that Tirek set up, it meant only one thing as far as she was concerned, “You didn't make it to the top either.” she stated.
Tirek smiled, “I didn't try to.” he countered. As Cozy was left stupefied that Tirek ditched her and didn’t even attempt to claim the prize, “It took less than five seconds to conclude that Grogar was right. None of us could make it up alone.” he informed. He then leaned back, “So, rather than subject myself to the elements, like you and Chrysalis, I decided to let you two face the danger, take what you learned, and use it to my advantage.” he laughed proud with his prudence.
Cozy pointed at Tirek, ready to yell at him, “I put up with your ‘I'm smarter than you’ attitude in Tartarus! But I'm over it!”
Tirek scowled at that and got up, “I'd had enough of you trying to manipulate me with that insincere, syrupy sweetness.” he countered as he pointed out that he too had issues with his cellmate. “At least now we can see the real you,” he added with crossed arms as he returned to his chair.
Cozy growled, “This is not the real me!” she protested. “I'm cute and lovable!” she screamed so loud that the whole mountain heard.
Tirek scoffed at that, “No, you're not.” he countered. “You're annoying, and you snore.” he stared at her. Unbeknownst to them a large creature that seemed to have the torso structured like a man but was a bull and lower body of a large serpent crept through the trees towards the two.
Cozy snorted, “I do not snore!” she shouted in protest only for Tirek to mock-snore and pointed at her. Cozy gritted her teeth for a second. But she smiled wickedly, “ At least I don't talk to my Gram-Gram in my sleep.” she called out Tirek’s own sleeping habit.
Tirek jumped to his feet and pointed at Cozy, “Don't you dare bring Gram-Gram into this!” he roared.
Unbeknownst to them, the creature was within striking distance only for it to roar. Cozy and Tirek turned to face it and then back to each other and pointed to each other, “This is your fault!” they accused each other only for the creature to roar in turn. The two started to back away in fear only for any roar from behind them. They turned to see another of the creatures, but its shorter horns and large eyelashes hinting to being female. The newest arrival batted bedroom eyes at the first creature. The beast’s pupils and irises became hearts and moved passed Cozy and Tirek to the female.
Cozy looked around and took Tirek’s hand, “Quick! It's distracted! Let's go!” she pleaded.
Tirek, however, squinted his eyes as if he recognized the female, “Wait.” he whispered.
The female then roared at the beast only to transform to reveal herself to be Chrysalis. She then opened her mouth and a small pink orb appeared in her mouth and soon pink color energy was pulled from the beast’s chest and its energy was drained. After a few seconds, it fainted and fell to the ground with a thud. Chrysalis looked to the sky her mouth open and tongue slightly out as she brought her left hand to her chin and down her neck. She sighed in ecstasy before she shivered in bliss. “... So much love,” she said with a slight drool. “That ophiotaurus was such a romantic. I haven't eaten this well in ages.”
Tirek was unphased as Cozy gagged before she spoke, “So gross.”
Chrysalis then turned her focus to Tirek and Cozy, “Just so we're clear, I didn't save you because I like you.” she stated with a degree of anger and resentment in her voice, “I did it because... because I…” she trolled off not wanting to admit something.
Cozy hovered next to her, “Neeeeeeed us?” she asked with a massive smile.
Chrysalis gritted her teeth, “Yes.” she confessed reluctantly.
Tirek decided to sit back in the chair he made, “Clearly I was right to wait. Now tell me everything you learned today. Leave nothing out.” he ordered.
About an hour later, the three had caught up with what Cozy and Chrysalis learned on their treks. They sat around the fire that Tirek made. Cozy turned her focus towards the ophiotaurus that Chrysalis cocooned much like she had her prisoners cocooned when Starlight and her group made it into Caer Sith. “Why did you do that?” Cozy asked utterly perplexed. “Didn't you already drain it of love?” she added to seek a further explanation to Chrysalis’s actions.
“I always save a little for the next day.” the changeling said before she sat down. “And yes, I cocoon all of my meals, even Twilight, and the others.” She elaborated before Cozy could question. The skyborn gagged and shivered. Chrysalis then thought back her failed plan to take over Mystica as a food source for her people. “Until that sow Starlight Glimmer freed them, corrupted my subjects, and stole my hive!” she shouted.
As Chrysalis hissed at her failure. However, she was not alone in frustration as the other two groaned. Tirek was the first to speak after he had some thought, “Well those Mysticans have weaknesses,” he turned to Cozy, “Present company included” he joked. Cozy only rolled her eyes as Chrysalis snickered. “You both recall that I used that turncoat Discord?” he asked, yet before they could answer, “I tricked him into helping me capture his so-called ‘friends’,” he answered his question.
Chrysalis then sighed, “Discord was really something until friendship ruined him.” the deposed queen commented.
Tirek couldn’t help but smirk as he thought about his trade with Twilight for the power of the demigods. He chuckled, “You should've seen Twilight's face when her friends, even that fool Discord, appeared in bubbles around me.” he started. “She was all…” he then pressed and pulled on his face as he gave exaggerated groans. This caused Cozy and Chrysalis to laugh in response.
After the two had their laugh, “She's so stressed out all the time.” Cozy added.
Chrysalis snorted, “You have no idea. When I posed as her former sitter, I thought she was going to implode!” the elf informed and all three laughed for a solid minute.
Once they had collected their breaths, “I wish I could've seen her face when I nearly erased all the magic from Mystica.” commented as she thought to her own plan and pondered how Twilight reacted to the sun setting on the last day of the ritual.
“Don’t you think that all magic was a little excessive?” Tirek asked not unlike an unhappy parent.
“Eh,” Cozy replied and shrugged her shoulders, “What can I say?” she asked rhetorically. “I think big.” she countered. She then looked into their campfire, “Besides, it would've been worth it just to see Twilight and her friends bow down to me!” she declared with a massive wicked toothy grin on her face.
Both Chrysalis and Tirek couldn’t help but grin as well. Tirek was the first to speak after some thought, “Indeed it would. Who wouldn't love to see that prissy princess realize she lost everything?” he asked.
Chrysalis then got up and transformed into Twilight, “I'm a pathetic princess!” she said in Twilight’s voice before she started to hyperventilate in a panic. She then stopped and continued to speak, “I made a detailed list of all the ways I'm a failure!” she added and started to cry. Cozy and Tirek then started to laugh uncontrollably.
After a solid minute, as Chrysalis returned to her true form and joined in. Tirek was the first to collect himself, “You know, working with you two may not be the worst thing.” he said
“Perhaps…” Chrysalis concede begrudgingly as she trailed off and looked away. She then turned back to the other two as a smile formed as she rubbed her hands together, “as long as it results in the complete destruction of our enemies.”
Tirek nodded silently. “I wouldn't have it any other way.” Cozy agreed, “Especially on our first Hearth's Warming Eve.” she declared as she pointed out the day. She then looked to Chrysalis pleadingly, “Do the pathetic princess thing again!” she requested. Chrysalis smirked and obliged. Cozy and Tirek continued to laugh.
The following morning, the trio arrived at Rusty Bucket’s house. Rusty didn’t notice the three before he had gotten out of his post. Chrysalis then transformed into a yeti and roared so loud a small avalanche accrued and Rusty was buried in the process. The trio laughed as they passed the sentry. “I’m okay!” Rusty said as he emerged from the snow mostly unharmed.
Hours later as the three arrived at the gorge that Chrysalis was not able to fly across. Tirek pulled out the rope he made and tied one end to a lone stone as Chrysalis transformed into a roc. Cozy took the other end before she got into Chrysalis’ talon. Chrysalis then took to flight and got most of the way there before she threw Cozy the rest of the way as she was blown back. Cozy landed and tied the rope off. Chrysalis transformed into a spider monkey and climbed across. Tirek followed suit. Once the two were on the other side, Chrysalis transformed back to her form and the trio continued the last of the way to a small cave near the top.
Around the entrance of the cave were several large rune stones with spirals. Chrysalis flew into the entrance only to hit an invisible force field and was forced back. “Aah!” she cried as she landed with a thud. Tirek then stepped forward and placed a hand on the space that Chrysalis struck and was zapped himself. He groaned painfully as he pulled his hand back. “Can you absorb it and make it go away?” Cozy asked.
Tirek shook his head, “I can only absorb magic from living beings. If I could absorb magic from items and places, I wouldn’t have offered the trade with Twilight because I would have drained all the items in the vaults before I went after the princesses.” he informed.
Cozy then turned to Chrysalis, “Like her?”
Chrysalis jumped to her feet and ready to blast both Tirek and Cozy and run, “Betrayal!” the queen shouted.
Cozy raised her hands as she stepped forward, “Not betrayal.” she countered. She then lowered her hands, “Teamwork.” she presented. She turned to Tirek, “If Tirek absorbs your energy, he might be strong enough to break through.” the skyborn informed.
“And then?” Chrysalis asked as it was clear that she had a great amount of doubt.
“Then…” Cozy trailed before she gave a moment of thought, “he gives it back.” she finished.
Tirek froze in bewilderment, “I do?” he asked in confusion. Cozy nodded with an ‘mm-hmm’.
Chrysalis remained unconvinced of Cozy’s plan, “How do I know you won't take my magic and leave me?” she asked, cutting to the heart of the matter.
Cozy smiled, “Would we do that to you?” she asked the elf. Chrysalis pointed to all three of the group to call attention to the fact that they are all not known for honoring deals. “Okay, normally, yes, we would.” Cozy admitted.
Cozy and Chrysalis turned to Tirek, the spellthief groaned, “I'll give you your magic back.” he agreed.
Chrysalis hesitated for a second, “Do it.” she finally agreed and Tirek opened his mouth and held his hand out, Chrysalis’ focus gem started to glow and a lime green beam went from the gem and was caught in Tirek’s hand. The beam changed to orange in color and within seconds Chrysalis collapsed onto the ground with a grown, her irises had become gray. Tirek, on the other hand, changed to what he was when he drained Shining Armor and Blueblood. “So... much... power!” he declared and kissed his biceps. “Welcome back, baby!” he blustered and took a breath before he sent a beam that opened a hole in the shield around the cave. “It's not big enough for me!” he said as he was not able to get in.
Cozy then slipped by Tirek, “Maybe not you!” she said before she went into the hole and pass the shield. “Keep it open, or I'll be trapped forever!” Cozy shouted before she went into the cave to retrieve the bell.
With Cozy inside the cave, Chrysalis lifted her head and turned to Tirek, “Would that be so terrible?” she asked.
Tirek chuckled at the remark. He then started to groan as the shield started to close. “Can't... hold... much... longer!” he strained. “Hurry!” he screamed just before Cozy flew out of the cave and landed in the snow.
Cozy held up Grogar’s bell, “Ta-da!” she declared.
Tirek smirked to himself and then turned to Chrysalis looked to him pleadingly. Tirek signed and sent an orange beam into Chrysalis. After a few seconds the beam dissolved from his hand and it changed to lime green. Chrysalis slowly got back to her feet in shock about what happened. “Me too,” Tirek said acknowledging that both he and Chrysalis weren’t sure if Tirek was going to return the power. “But working together seemed smarter than to continue fighting,” he stated.
Cozy looked at the bell and then to the other two before she got up and flew towards them, “When we helped each other, it felt better somehow.”
Chrysalis gave a sad smile, “I haven't felt like this since before I lost my hive. Having others who will be there for you is…” she trailed off as she tried to find the best word to articulate her feeling, “pleasing.” she settled on as the smile became glad.
Tirek too smiled as he looked to the sky as he thought back, “All of these years taking power from others…” he trailed off.
Cozy was then caught up in the joy of their success and how they worked together and succeded, “When you use your power to help others…” she trailed off.
Chrysalis smiled too and agreed with her cohorts, “Yes, it feels…” she then spotted and screamed “Nooooooooo!”
“Whoa!” Tirek and Cozy shouted as they two took a step back from their ally.
Chrysalis turned her focus to the other two, “The Magic of Friendship is like a disease!” she declared. “An infection that spreads to those around you! I watched it infect my hive! I will not let it get me!” she declared. Cozy and Tirek nodded in agreement.
However, there was another matter at hand, “But…” Cozy trailed off as she pointed out the one that called them together, “Grogar said we have to work together.”
Tirek dipped his head in a nod. However Chrysalis had other thoughts, “Grogar is too powerful.” she pointed out. “Something must be done about that.” she mused. After a second of thought, “Let Grogar think we're his loyal servants. In the meantime, we'll hatch our own plan.” she presented.
Cozy hugged the bell, “Ooh... I love a good backstabbing!” Cozy declared as she gave a shiver of delight.
Tirek then chuckled, “After that, and we conquer Mystica, we can go back to trying to destroy each other!” he offered. The two nodded in agreement.
Cozy then turned everyone’s attention to the bell, “In the meantime, what do we do with this?” she asked.
Much later, as Spring started, Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy where kowtowing towards Grogar shaking. “You failed to retrieve the Bell?!” the satyr roared before he sent a massive beam of magic from his horns into a wall. Once he finished he was snorting through his flared nostrils.
Cozy was the first to raise her head and speak, “W-W-We're sorry, almighty Grogar.” her voice almost broke in terror and horror at the display of power.
Tirek was the next to raise his head, but he went farther up, his stance a genuflection. “We worked together as you asked.” he pleaded, “But Gusty clearly set it up as a decoy.”
Chrysalis was the last to speak and unlike her co-conspirators, she stood on both feet with a slightly dipped head, “We just aren't as powerful as you.” she said in a defeated tone. Grogar once again roared as he blasted another wall with his magic which resulted in a massive boom heard from the far side of the lair. As Grogar was looking away, Chrysalis smirked. She then raised her head, “But as you can see, we have finally been able to work together, and even though we could not bring back your bell, we are able to follow your command.”
Chrysalis then flew up to the satyr. “Your eyes bear testimony to it, we are much more powerful when we work together, and with the power you already possess, you don’t need the bell. Tirek can drain Discord of his magic in his current state and then drain the magic of all the demigods, none making him the juggernaut to plow through these Mysticans, and well the whole role. Cozy knows many of their secrets and can help us further our own bond between us, and I, well I can be anyone or anything.” Chrysalis said as she shifted through the forms of Twilight and her friends, the Princesses, Discord, etc. Grogar gave a small smile and then left the three. Once he was out of sight Chrysalis had a quiet laugh as in her eyes Grogar’s Bewitching Bell was shown.