//------------------------------// // Chapter 32: Good and Evil: Part 2 // Story: The Dusk of Troubled Views // by ScorchingFlamesInc //------------------------------// "I mean, we're reformed," Chrysalis pointed out. "And we already took magic from the bell for the sake of Equestria! And in order for us to gain more power than Grogar and beat him, we need magic!" "But at the same time, this will give us discomfort and guilt," Cozy continued. "Especially me. Do you remember how much I wanted magic from Grogar's bell? I wanted it even more then Tirek! And he was full of powerlust back then." "I'd take offense to that, but you have a point," admitted Tirek. No words were spoken for the next few seconds. Cozy took a deep breath. "We did it before and we were fine," she said. "And we're reformed. So what this gives us discomfort and guilt? Would we rather stay here and ponder our next move until Grogar captures us? Or would we rather take this magic and save Equestria. I mean, sure it's normal for reformed villains like us to feel guilt over our past. But at a time like this, " Tirek and Chrysalis looked at each other. "Cozy is right," Chrysalis said. "We do this, or we allow the end of Equestria and possibly Earth. And at times like this, we need to do what is right, even if it opens the mental door of guilt." "Alright then... it's settled," declared Tirek. "We drain a little more magic from the bell, at least enough for our combined magic to be more powerful than Grogar's." "But wait..." Cozy realized. "If he drained nearly all the magic from living beings, then whose will we get?" "It will have to be something we figure out depending on either how our magic works or who doesn't have magic by the time we return it," Chrysalis explained. "Let's just get this over with..." Tirek said. Cozy returned to her spot between Tirek and Chrysalis, still using her magic to levitate her bell. When she was in her spot, the bell shifted to a spot where it was directly facing Cozy, but the magic beam that would be released would strike all three of the reformed villains. "We remember the spell, right?" inquired Tirek. "I know I do." "I remember as well," Chrysalis said. "I remember too. Oh, hope I don't get Disord's magic if it's in there..." Cozy muttered. Chrysalis and Tirek both charged their horns as Cozy lifted the bell higher that the air. But then a yellow flash of light illuminated in the street, and an object suddenly appeared, landing on the ground with a THUD!!!! "What's that?" Chrysalis queried. Still using her magic to lift the bell, Cozy left her spot and walked over to the object on the floor. A large rock with a note. Cozy pulled off the note. "What does it say?" questioned Tirek. "Let me see..." Cozy muttered. "I know you have my bell. And I know it will be easier for you to beat me if you use the bell. Either you come to the Canterlot throne room and return it. Or else I'll destroy your human friends. And don't even give yourselves any power. I'm watching you." "The humans!" Chrysalis yelped. "We forgot about them! And now Grogar has them!" "We can't let Grogar hurt them!" Cozy declared. "But if we give him the bell, our chances of success are eliminated," Tirek said. "Ok, how about this..." Chrysalis started. "We go to Grogar, as the letter instructs. Let me do the talking." Cozy and Tirek looked at each other. "Chrysalis..." Cozy began. "I may not have an idea of what you're thinking off... but you're our friend... so we trust you." "Alright..." Tirek pounded his fists. "Let's go to the throne room and finally defeat this old goat," Tirek placed his clawed hand on Chrysalis' hoof, causing Chrysalis' confident face to slightly turn pink. Cozy went closer and placed her hoof on Tirek's hand. "Let's do this..." Cozy smiled. And so Chrysalis lit her horn and a green blast of light emitted in the room. POOF!!! When the bright flash was gone, Cozy, Tirek, and Chrysalis could see the dark walls of the throne room. And they heard the sound of struggling. All three of them parted and Cozy turned around, all three of them seeing Grogar on the throne, his horns lit, and a crystal ball levitating next to his left side. Two humans were floating around and still frozen. And a third human levitated on the right side of Grogar, covered in a yellow glow, and struggling as if to break free. "Well, well, well..." Grogar sneered while Leo struggled in his magical grip. "You three came here to make your choices. Though I am intrigued about why Chrysalis wants to do the talking." "No need to be intrigued, Grogar," Chrysalis replied. "I just wanted to be the one to give our decision." "Well you all need to agree on it first..." Grogar snarked. "Ok then..." Chrysalis muttered. "Huddle!" Tirek and Cozy huddled with Chrysalis. "What I am about to do will seem surprising..." she muttered. "But I need you two to trust me. Just like with Tirek earlier, I'm prepared. Once you catch on to my plan, it's an all-out battle. Understand?" Tirek and Cozy nodded. The trio all turned to Grogar. "We will give you this bell..." Chrysalis began. "In exchange for the humans." "Good..." Grogar smirked. But the yellow glow surrounding Leo and the other humans didn't fade. "Aren't you going to let him go?" inquired Chrysalis. "Give me the bell first!" Grogar demanded. "You want the bell?" Chrysalis remarked. Cozy's red magic covering the bell was suddenly replaced with a green glow as Chrysalis levitated the bell. Cozy shared a dumbfounded look, along with Tirek. "You can have it..." And with all of her strength, Chrysalis whipped her head to a nearby window, letting go of the bell. With a CRASH, the bell burst through the window, the whole window shattering to pieces. From a great height, the bell fell, before landing safely on a dirt ground, it's glowing face pointing up to the sky. "NO!!!" Grogar shrieked. Immediately he scowled, lighting his horns and sending a blast of yellow and black light to Leo. "AH!" Leo yelped. But Chrysalis was quicker, igniting her horn, and lighting a green shield right in front of Leo, blocking the beam. For a few moments, the shield held up, before starting to shake and slightly crack. Again, Leo yelped. But then an orange ball of magic appeared above Tirek's head, and an orange shield suddenly formed around the green one, creating a stronger shield. "COZY!" Chrysalis screamed. "GO GET THE BELL!" Doing as she was told, Cozy lifted her alicorn wings, and flew out the broken window as fast as she could. "OH NO YOU DON'T!" Grogar bellowed. He dimmed his horns, causing the magic beam he was firing to fade, and turned his head to Leo. He changed Leo's position, putting his hands at his waist and his feet together. Magic chains appeared around him, securing his arms to his torso. As soon as Grogar flew out, the five frozen humans fell to the ground with a THUD! Chrysalis flew over to the broken window and saw Cozy picking up the bell and beginning to run, before Grogar suddenly materialized right in front of her. Cozy blasts a beam right to Grogar's face before opening her wings and flying away. Grogar deflects the beam and grabs the bell with his magic, starting a tug-of-war with Cozy. Grogar lit his horns and blasts a beam that Cozy managed to dodge. Chrysalis flew over to Tirek. "We need to help her," Chrysalis said. "Wait!" Leo yelped. "What about me?" "It's too dangerous!" Tirek replied. "If we manage to defeat Grogar, we promise to return and free you and your friends." Chrysalis went over and grabbed Tirek's arm, blushing yet again, but also ignoring it. With the light of Chrysalis' horn, the changeling and centaur were gone, leaving Leo the only conscious being in the room. And Leo resumed writhing around to escape the chains.