//------------------------------// // Sixth Chapter - The Edge of Equestria // Story: The Friendship of Evil Grows // by Zizi Tachyon //------------------------------// It was the third day of their journey. Continuing westward at a leisurely pace that Cozy could keep up with on hoof, they had found their way out of White Tail Woods on the day before. Beyond the railtracks leading to Las Pegasus that unceremoniously marked the edge of the forest, the scenery was flat and considerably plainer. The deciduous trees that had given such a warm color to the lands reduced to a rarity and evergreens made their way into the landscape. Of the tiny, picturesque villages that they sighted in the forest there were none more; the only mark of civilization was the primitive dirt path they treaded on. Another day's journey brought them to the Lunar Isthmus, the broad strip of land that connected Equestria to the Undiscovered West. The mountains gradually re-emerged from the earth and flanked both sides of the land bridge, hiding the North and South Luna oceans behind their snowy white peaks. The open space in-between was wonderfully fertile and teeming with life, much in contrast to what the two had experienced the day before: the grass grew tall and provided safety for the indigenous bunnies. Flowers of many colors that were scattered all over the valley attracted bees, and various birds circled in the skies. "So this place is called the Valley of Dreams. It’s is so pretty, as if we've ended up in a kind of paradise!" Cozy Glow exclaimed as she marvelled at the landscape before her. In her excitement she flew ahead of her companion, who ventured along at an ever steady pace. Tirek had to raise his voice somewhat to have his words heard by Cozy. "I remember resting here when Scorpan and I came to Equestria. This valley is inhibited by fireflies which come out when it's night, even I must admit it's a gorgeous spectacle to behold." "Golly, I definitely wanna see that!" An idea popped in her mind. "Hey, why don't we set up camp here?" "I thought you wanted to get to my kingdom as quickly as possible," Tirek said with deliberate indignation. "It's best if we continue our path without digress." "I said that? Well, I guess I can wait more day to become Empress of Friendship again," Cozy replied hastedly. A nearby wild berry bush caught her eye. "This place seems to have plenty of berries, flowers and mushrooms that we can eat and there are streams of fresh water, too. Since we are getting low on supplies, it would actually be very convenient if we stayed here a little longer, wouldn't you say?" Anticipating the centaur's approval, she sat down in front him, symbolically blocking the way and claiming her territory. Tirek conceded, "I suppose it would be wise to restock. And if it doesn't bother you to extend our journey, then it doesn't bother me either." After examining the area for a convenient site to set up their camp, they settled at the foot of the northern mountain ridge. The site was located nearby a freshwater stream and provided a view of almost the whole valley. It was in stark contrast to the previous days, on which they didn't prepare for the night until dusk, that the sun was still high in the sky when they were finished. They were also done faster than usual thanks to Cozy Glow putting in significant effort. With still several hours left until sunset they set out to forage. Because of her smaller posture, Cozy had an easier time picking out the plants, berries and other foodstuffs than Tirek, who was furthermore troubled by the unwieldy size of his hands. "We're making good progress. My saddlebags are quickly being filled," she chirped, and tossed another mushroom in. "This valley is so bountiful, we will have enough for the coming days as well," Tirek said plainly, meticulously scouring the grass in another direction. "Beyond the mountain is the Luna Ocean, right?" Cozy asked suddenly. "If my map is anything to go by, it should be visible from the top." "What? Do you want to climb to go and see it?" She smiled, "I think it would be fun!" "The terrain up there is rough, will it be no problem for you?" "Of course not!" she sputtered, and spread her wings, "I can fly! Come on, let's go!" Cozy took off and fluttered her way up the mountain. She was rather swift despite the load on her back and Tirek cantered to keep up with her. But after a minute, when she was two-thirds up on the mountain, the altitude gain started putting a strain on her wings, and she had to land to catch her breath. "This mountain is taller than I thought it would be," she uttered between pants. Tirek caught up with her. He snickered, "You should have taken those heavy saddlebags off before going up. Now you are too tired to fly." "It's no big deal!" With one burst of power from her fatigued wings she leapt into the air and landed gracefully on the centaur's back. "I'll just let you do the rest of the climbing." "My ancestors would be ashamed if they saw me like this," Tirek mumbled to himself, but loud enough for Cozy to overhear, "has the great Lord Tirek been turned into a glorified pony ride?" "Aww, don't be so hard on yourself," Cozy said pathetically, "you're good at so many other things! Conquering lands, breaking through forcefields, being a packing mule… just not so great at collecting berries—" Her motivational speech was interrupted as Tirek dashed off and galloped to the peak of the mountain ridge. Cozy had to readjust and grab on to what she could and nearly fell off in the process, but just as she managed to secure herself and got into a comfortable position Tirek came to a halt. Shaken and disoriented, she got back up on her legs and then she witnessed the North Luna Ocean. She felt a refreshing breeze blow through her curls, and for a brief moment she was speechless. The ocean before her seemed infinite, stretching all the way to the horizon in unperturbed peace. The surface was a dark, imposing shade of blue, almost like a starless night sky. As for the shores, they were exclusively lined with moss, grass and other small plants that could survive on the rocky bedding. Tirek, too, was captivated by the vast body of water before him. He was caught off-guard and felt as if he were standing before a sleeping giant, one so big that it makes one feel puny and insignificant in comparison. It was an impression that he hadn't felt in ages. Sure, he had long acknowledged that Grogar was his superior in terms of raw strength, but he always figured he could get his hands on the means to overpower him. Indeed, even if he were kept in bondage in his weakest state—like how he was kept in Tartarus—he wouldn't have considered the warlock ram more than an obstacle to a delayed but unstoppable conquest. He was born with a prodigious affinity for magic, a potential unlike that of anyone in the land of centaurs. Wandering into the foggiest parts of his mind, he recalled the plot against him. His father, King Vorak, was keenly aware of Tirek's prowess. Believing his mentor, the hermit Elder Sendak, to be a bad influence on him, and worried about his kingdom, he neglected his son and tried to keep him away from the throne. Thus rejected he began visiting Elder Sendak in secret. it was out of jealousy that Vorak did this, the hermit used to say; the throne rightfully belonged to Tirek and if Vorak wouldn't give it, it would have to be taken by force. When Tirek learned that Elder Sendak had ponynapped a stallion from the far-off Equestrian nether-lands in order to absorb its magic and use it for himself, he stole that power and left Sendak behind. Together with Scorpan he set off to Equestria. Every bit of magic he drained from the local ponies exhilarated him, he needed more and more. Not much later he even forgot about reclaiming his right to the throne. His own kind had nothing to offer anymore. He was stronger than any creature in the world and thought himself invincible. Even when he was jailed in Tartarus after being betrayed by the one creature he had ventured to trust, this sense of ultimate supremacy never went away. "I told you this trip would be worth it!" Cozy interrupted his thoughts. She smiled brightly, but Tirek, having spent plenty of time with her and having seen her mask slip several times, could by now detect the underlying motive. She had caught him daydreaming and wanted to call him out on it. "It is quite beautiful," he said, just to give a proper response. "You seemed awfully silent, Tirek. Why don't you tell me what's on your mind?" she asked, exactly as he predicted. He sat down beside the filly, and sighed. "I was just thinking about what it is that brought me to Equestria the first place." He related to her all the things that had just come back to him. "So you left because you wanted to claim the throne, and then wanted to stay for the greater source of power that you found here?" Cozy asked the dispassionate centaur curiously, "I don't think there's anything more logical in the world than that. If only you had been better friends with Scorpan he wouldn't have betrayed you and you wouldn't have ended up in Tartarus." She scooted over to him and tapped him affectionately on his back with her hoof. He groaned and gritted his teeth. "Yes, yes, I know that. I've made some mistakes, and I've paid for it." They sat in silence for some time again. The sun was soon going to set; as it approached the horizon it scattered a brilliant orange light through the atmosphere. "Now that you know my story, tell me yours." Tirek said finally. "How did you become so interested in power? You're just a filly, not even old enough to travel alone." "That is true, I am just a little filly," Cozy said sheepishly, as if she were taking some pride in the fact. "I guess it had to do with my upbringing. Pappy was an important political figure in Fillydelphia, he taught me from a young age that it's important to have as many ponies on your side as possible. If the ponies near you depend on you and the ones further away believe your lies you are tremendously powerful. That's what he always said. But then one day… when I wasn't home…" She choked on her words. "What happened then?" Tirek asked discreetly. Cozy wiped away the tears that were beginning to form in her eyes and continued, "I wasn't at home when it happened. The police ponies say it was a cooking accident but I don't know. Anyway, a fire broke out… and it quickly spread through our house… and my parents couldn't escape…" She couldn't hold her sobbing in any longer. Tears streamed down her face as she dug into the centaur's lap. Tirek, unsure what to do, stroked her back in an attempt to comfort her. Cozy calmed down after a few minutes. She lay there and after a while perked her head up. Tirek noticed the relief in her eyes. "It's getting cold, let's go back to the camp." Without further ado the two went down the mountain. Cozy chose to walk by herself; she had to be careful where she put her hooves, now that the sun had set beyond the mountains. Tirek followed closely behind, so he wouldn't accidentally lose her. Neither of the two travelling companions wished to perturb the melancholic atmosphere with senseless small talk, so they made their way to the camp in silence. Not long after first setting hoof in the grass again, Cozy Glow heard the sound of crickets. She looked ahead and understood what Tirek meant with the beauty of the Valley of Dreams. Never had she seen the stars twinkle so brightly in the sky as here. The softly waving grass reflected their light with a marvelous purple luster, like a unicorn's magical aura. The flowers, which were bright and colorful at day, had turned shades of fluorescent blue. Owls, bats and other nocturnal animals had woken up and were lurking in the shadows, where they couldn't be seen. And, exactly as promised, here and there were small swarms of fireflies, performing their mysterious dances in hypnotic synchrony. "You weren't overselling it for me when you said this place would be pretty," Cozy finally remarked when they reached the camp. Her voice was still a little choked up. "Are you saying that centaurs don't have a sense of beauty?" Tirek retorted sarcastically. "Oh no, I just mean that you were right all along." She took off her saddlebags and lay down on the blanket that was spread out before her tent. "Going on this journey was a good idea after all. If it weren't for you convincing me to come along I would never have seen such wondrous places. I bet tomorrow will be even better than today!" Tirek sat down and rested in the damp grass. "That may very well be. Say, you've been curiously open today." "Gee, am I not always like that? Well… I don't tell my life story to ponies everyday. I guess that means I trust you now." She yawned contently and wrapped her blanket around herself. "I've never been so tired in my whole life, I'll probably fall asleep the second I close my eyes. Sweet dreams, Tirek." "Sweet dreams, Cozy." Not even a minute later he heard a gentle, rhythmic snoring coming from the filly, and soon dozed off himself. The next morning Cozy and Tirek had a big breakfast made of the foods they had foraged; their impromptu detour had left them exhausted, and they hadn't eaten yet. With sated bellies they left the Valley of Dreams. "Welp, it seems we've reached the end of the map. We're in no pony's land now." Cozy said, and she put the map away. "Speaking of…" The notion struck her as she observed the new environment, and a cold shiver ran over her spine. They had gone beyond the frontiers of Equestria, where the weather is controlled by pegasi; whereas just a few moments ago the sky was only partially clouded, it was now densely overcast with ominous grey clouds. As a matter of fact, everything—the rocks, the dirt, the trees—had a lifeless, ashen grey color. Cozy adjusted her pace to trot beside the centaur and stammered, "Do you think we're still going the right way? This place is creeping me out." "Definitely," Tirek replied, himself wholly undaunted by the forest's uncanny appearance, "If we keep following the path we will reach the end of the forest before nightfall." "Getting out of this scary place, sounds like a plan to me!" she exclaimed with frail optimism while nervously bouncing her curls with one of her hooves. "The faster the better. If we suddenly get attacked, I wouldn't know what I would do." "I don't think there is any reason to be afraid as long as we stay together," Tirek responded half absent-mindedly. Her words sank in a moment later, upon which he raised a suspecting eyebrow. "Is anything the matter, Cozy? I don't recall you ever being so afraid. All the time you were in Tartarus you've never uttered a cry, nor when we scaled Mount Everhoof to retrieve Grogar's bell. You're not playing any tricks, are you?" She winced with meek indignation. "Golly, why would you think little old Cozy would trick you? Is it not normal for somepony as small as me to feel scared in a place like this? This forest is filled with monsters, and I think I saw something in the bushes just now!" She pointed with her hoof to a bush at the other side of the path. Although skeptical, Tirek turned his head and listened for hoofsteps or rustling of leaves, but there were none. It was only their breathing that broke the dead silence. He didn’t see anything remarkable either. They were perfectly alone for all he knew. He wanted to call a bluff, to figure out if Cozy Glow was, for some reason, trying to deceive him. Nonetheless, she was correct that this place was home to the most horrifying of creatures, including some that can prey on such a little pony with perfect stealth—even though these only come out at night—and therefore he figured he'd better play it cool, and challenge her peculiar demeanour on another occasion. "If it scares the likes of you it must have been something truly terrifying," he replied. "Maybe it's Princess Twilight who's hiding there, and she has been following us all this time. Or maybe it's that friend of hers Pinkie Pie; now that would even chill me to the bone." He slapped his thigh in laughter and proceeded walking. Cozy stood there stupefied for a second before breaking out of it and cantering to catch up. "I can't believe you. This is serious!" She said, still slightly stumped. "How would you like it if you were as small and defenseless as I am?" "Oh come, it was only a joke." His voice was dismissive, but not apathetic. "Surely you've heard jokes before?" "Of course I have," Cozy said irritatedly. "Back when I was at the School of Friendship, Pinkie Pie would talk about laughter and jokes for hours. Sometimes her classes were nothing but a stand-up routine. One time she told the story of how she and her friends were in the Everfree Forest and how their laughter saved them from the bewitched trees." Tirek stroked his goatee in amusement. "That's kind of what we've got here, right? That lesson can do you some good." "But it makes no sense," she continued. "How can I be joking around when something is on the line? Something that you've been working on and want to succeed at. It would be as if it just doesn't matter that you lose, or fail, or worse." "I reckon that sometimes being too serious makes things seem bigger than they really are," Tirek pondered out loud. "I guarantee you there is nothing that is following and planning to attack us. Fussing about it will only make our stay here longer. In the worst case you may start to panic and get lost. And besides, maybe failing isn't always the worst thing." Cozy Glow shook her head. "That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. If I want something, I'm going to do my best to get it. Otherwise it you shouldn't even bother. It's that simple and yet, everypony seems so content with losing, it makes me wonder why they pretend to care at all. They shrug and laugh about it, and I cannot stand it, especially not if they laugh about me! It only proves that they aren't worthy of the dreams they are following." She faced Tirek. "Don't tell me you'd rather have this than defeating the ponies and ruling over Equestria?" "Sure," said Tirek, "if it were offered to me like that I would pick world domination. But in reality you need to work for it, and there are always factors you cannot account for. Like those ponies managing to create a rainbow laser when I had already taken all their magic," he added sneeringly. "I'm still not over that… But Grogar stopping us from defeating the ponies wasn't the worst thing. We weren't even banished: we're free." "Free to come up with a new plan and try again, you mean. I've got another chance to befriend everypony in Equestria and rule over them as my pawns!" she added joyfully. "At least you don't seem frightened anymore," Tirek remarked, softly chuckling to himself. The path blended into a natural stairway that led down into a shallow canyon. Tirek descended with careful steps while Cozy opted simply to fly down. Below the air was humid and flyders could be seen swarming here and there. "Hey, what's that over there?" Cozy pointed with at a particularly tall, spire-shaped structure, positioned in the center of the canyon. It had a distinct but subtle, menacing appearance and was seemed somehow darker than the other craggy peaks and cliffs, as if the sun couldn't reach it. They had to circle around to get closer, passing through a hallway lined with rocks on either side that seemed to exhale fumes generated by an invisible source of heat. After turning a corner and climbing a broad set of ascending stairs they saw a large, black gate that was decorated with mysterious crimson patterns. "Look what we've stumbled upon," Tirek said. He smugly put his hands on his sides. Cozy looked puzzled. "Should I recognize this? It doesn't ring any bells." "Of course not, you've only ever seen this place from the inside, after all." She pondered for an extended moment while Tirek patiently listened to the gears turning in her head. Then it struck her. "The gate to Tartarus!" Tirek nodded delightfully with his eyes shut. "Yes, I have seen this before in a book that I borrowed from Twilight. It was when I was coming up with a plan to take over the School of Friendship. I decided trapping her and the others in Tartarus would be good riddance. Then they put me in there!—but I'll make sure I’ll even the score. They can rot behind these doors for all eternity! Ha-ha!" She tapped vigorously  on the gate to emphasize her point. A delightful, galvanizing shudder ran down her spine. "I can already taste the sugary sweet taste of revenge when I put them in the very cage they condemned me to and kick the door closed!…" Tirek just stood there, listening to the tirade of his companion. But while the filly raged on he sensed an almost undetectable grumbling in the rocks, like a distant volcano about to burst. It gradually grew stronger. "…Golly, what a devious picture: little Cozy Glow, the adorable star pupil who just didn't want to be redeemed, for whom the 'Princess of Friendship' had to no other option but to condemn her to the underworld, will give this pretender what she metes out to those that she failed! All hail—" *bonk* "—the Empress—" *BONK* "Cozy!" "—of Friendship!" The gates behind Cozy crashed open with a deafening thud. Tirek only had time to guard his face with his arms. As for Cozy, she was frozen on the spot. The beast that was standing in the entrance produced a tremendous roar, sending another shockwave through the canyon. It locked eyes with the centaur. "Cerberus," it flashed through Tirek's mind. "He must have sensed his escaped prisoners outside and has come to take them back in." Without wasting a moment the three-headed hellhound lunged at its prey. Tirek anticipated the attack and guarded his torso with his arms. When he was within reach he grabbed the two outer heads, and kept them as far away from him as he could. The middle head was still free and was barking and foaming ferociously right before his face. With all of his strength he grappled his foe and tossed him onto the ground. Cerberus shook off the blow and prepared himself for a second strike. He cautiously stepped sideways as if to circle around Tirek, studying his every move at the same time. "What an exceptionally powerful creature," Tirek thought. He figured that the guardian of Tartarus was strong, but he didn't expect him to match him in terms of raw power; he was nopony’s match. He slowly opened his mouth and inhaled to swallow the dog's magic. No effect. He figured it hadn't—he had tried it many times before. It would have to come down to physical strength after all. Cerberus suddenly moved. But instead of attacking, he withdrew and bolted away to where Cozy Glow was still standing awestruck. "Cozy, watch out!" Tirek shouted to her. He rushed to her aid but couldn't compete with Cerberus's hellish speed. He could only stretch out his hand in vain as Cerberus picked the defenseless filly by the scruff and retreated to Tartarus. "Tirek! Help!" he heard the filly scream. With the guardian dog back in his realm, the doors were starting to close. Tirek jumped in. With just a second to spare he put his fingers through the crack and prevented them from shutting completely. They were as heavy as two giant slabs of lead, made to stop even the most powerful of creatures from breaking them open. But he had to get in and rescue Cozy, who knows what kind of fate would await her? He braced himself and pulled with all his might. His teeth were clenched, his back was sweating, his hooves were starting to slip on the rocky ground, but slowly he managed to force them back open. The dark depths of this dungeon was a sight he wished he'd never see again. For centuries he had waited to escape this dreadful place, and he never loathed his imprisonment more than when Cozy Glow joined him. But now, in a twisted turn of events he had to go back in for that very same filly. He had no time to waste. He advanced, and the gates slammed shut behind him.