Tirek and Cozy Glow arrived at the outskirts of Canterlot, scanning the town for any signs of activity or a way sneak in. Grogar had sent them to retrieve the Bewitching Bell, but they had no idea where it was last seen or what happened to it. So they assumed it might be stored deep in the Canterlot Archives that only royalty can access. And that will require sneaking in, which would be easy if Chrysalis was around.
"Well, what now?" asked Cozy Glow, who was fluttering in mid-air.
"Honestly, I'm not quite sure," replied Tirek, stroking his chin.
"Well, can't you just cast a spell on us that turns us into Royal Guards?" suggested Cozy.
"Weeeell..... I'm not good with that magic," Tirek shrugged, "That's Chrysalis' specialty."
"Well news flash, Chrysalis ain't here," Cozy pointed out, "If that wily old goat had sent her as well, the heist would be a breeze."
And as though Grogar had heard it, his voice spoke up, "And who are you calling 'wily old goat'?"
"Gah!" they both screamed, backs against each other and eyes turning towards the source of the voice.
But there was no one here. It was just the two of them and a black bird perched on a tree nearby.
They soon relax, but were beginning to question what just happened.
"Did you hear that?" stammered Cozy Glow.
"I sure did, but I don't see him," confirmed Tirek, who was scratching his head in confusion.
"Maybe somepony is playing a trick on us?" she guessed.
"Or some goat? A bird maybe?" Grogar's voice suggested.
"I don't think I see a goat around, maybe that black bird, yes. Gah!" she yelped.
Both of them turned towards where the bird is. The bird is a common blackbird and it just spoke to them.
"What's wrong? You look like you have seen a ghost," said the blackbird.
"Wha? How?" stuttered Cozy Glow, "How is this possible?"
"Allow me to explain," said the blackbird, as it flies towards Tirek's shoulder.
"Do you notice something off?" it asked.
Tirek, who's closest to the bird noticed a very morbid detail about it. "By Sendak's Arcane, what happened to your eye?!"
On it's left eye or where it used to be is not a normal eye but a miniature crystal ball that Grogar had in its place.
"Excellent observation, you see, I casted a spell to send out a miniature duplicate of my crystal ball to possess any creature I see fit," Grogar explained, "After the possession, not only do I control the creature's mind but also be able to see what it sees on my crystal ball back at my base."
"And also communicate from it?" Cozy queried.
"Yes, that too, but only if I want to of course," he replied.
"Interesting," said Tirek as he stroked his chin, "does it work on 'sentient' creatures?"
"Yes, care to experience it?" Grogar asked viciously.
"Oh no, I'm good, thank you," Tirek croaked nervously.
"Good, now what seems to be the problem?" inquired Grogar who was speaking through the bird.
Both Cozy and Tirek explained about the defenses set up in Canterlot, about how the doors require a special medal, the strong windy mechanism, the anti-magic field made from the remains of Chrysalis' throne, blocked secret entrances and the gaggle of geese as the alarms.
"I see, you sure you didn't made the last part up?" questioned Grogar.
"Nope, that is actually a thing that they did," Cozy shrugged.
"Well in that case, if nothing else, this is child's play," affirmed Grogar.
Tirek snickered upon hearing the phrase, much to Cozy's chagrin.
Grogar, controlling the blackbird, fly towards the city's capital, stopping short near the castle. From there, the orb dislodged itself from the bird's eye, returning it's actual one back and letting go of it's mind, which left it confused at what happened. The orb then floated towards a nearby, unaware guard, forcefully lodging itself into his right eye and taking control of his mind. With his new victim in possession, he then made him walk towards the main castle door.
"Halt! Soldier, where do you think you're going?" asked another nearby guard, who spotted him.
"Sir! May I request permission to visit the Canterlot Archives?" the soldier responded while under Grogar's influence.
"And what for?" the guard responded back.
"I need to make sure the Bewitching Bell is still in safe hands."
"The.... Bewitching Bell?" faltered the guard, "I'm sorry, the bell isn't in the Canterlot Archives."
"Are you sure? Then where is it?" inquired the controlled guard.
"I think it was in the home dimension that the draconequus lived in," he answered, "no one can access that place except for the Lord of Chaos himself."
"Confound it," muttered the guard that was controlled by Grogar.
"Excuse me?"
"Um, nothing! I'll be on my way now!" saluted the victim.
"Well, you're dismissed then," the other guard saluted back.
After a lengthy conversation, Grogar led the guard to a hidden spot where he could dislodge the orb and release control of him. The guard was dazed, and when he came around, he wondered what happened and how did he get there.
The orb floated out of Canterlot and towards where the duo was waiting. Cozy and Tirek upon seeing the orb paid attention to what Grogar has to say.
"Well my fellow compatriots, I've got good news and bad news," begin Grogar.
"What's the good news?" inquired the centaur.
"The good news is you don't have to sneak into Canterlot and be inconspicuous," answered Grogar, "because the bell isn't there."
"How is that good news?!" Cozy shrieked.
"Maybe 'bad' and 'terrible' news would sound better," lamented Grogar, "Anyway, the bad news is, I know where's the real location of the bell."
"Have you gone senile? I think you got both the good news and bad news mixed up," snarked Cozy sarcastically.
"You insolent brat! You didn't let me finish. No wonder your parents hated you," mocked Grogar in response.
"Don't you dare talk about my family life!" she glowered.
"Whatever, anyway the bell appears to be in Discord's dimension," said the ram.
"What?!" cried the duo in unison.
"Are you kidding me?!" shrieked Tirek, "Of all places, and that pesky, annoying Draconequus had to bring it with him. How are we supposed to get there?"
"Well I could teleport you there, but I don't think he likes unwelcome guests," suggested Grogar.
Tirek's ears perked up.
"Hang on, you can do that?" inquired Tirek, "I thought only Discord could access his dimension."
"With Cosmos' help, I could. Turns out Cosmos has the ability to access the Chaos Dimension as well. Being his ex-girlfriend and all," explained Grogar.
"I see...."
"Hmm, I have an idea!" squeaked Cozy Glow excitedly.
"Do tell young one," said Grogar as he listens to Cozy's pitch.
"Alright, so I know professor Fluttershy like the back of my hoof, she knows Discord personally and has a pet bunny, whom I think his name is Angel. Which contrary to his name is anything but an angel."
"And?" remarked Grogar.
"Annnnd? I was thinking if you could disguise us as these two?" she continued.
Grogar put his hoof to his chin and pondered for a bit. "Hmm, very well."
And with that, he casts a spell onto his orb from his end. The orb from the other side rose and from it magic zapped from two sides at the duo.
Cozy felt herself grow big, including her wings while Tirek on the other hand, felt himself shrunk, horns retracting, horse legs and tail growing backwards and ears extending. After a bright flash of light, the duo dropped to the ground.
Cozy was the first to stand up, slightly dazed, and when she came to, she looked at herself and was both shocked and awed at the same time.
"Golly!" she cried, before covering her mouth in realization that she had a different voice instead of her over-the-top cute one.
Tirek stood up next and looked at himself, horrified at his transformation. He wanted to scream but instead let out a squeak. He was literally hopping mad.
Cozy can only at look at Tirek's pathetic state and snicker.
"Golly, aren't you a adorable little ball of fluff?" she taunted, reaching out to him, only for him to bite her foreleg when she did so.
"Ow! Why you-" she recoiled.
"Enough!" yelled Grogar, who was watching the scuffle from the other side, "There, I transformed you into our worst enemy, now can you please get my bell?"
"Y-yes, Mr. Grogar. Right away!" Cozy beckoned.
Tirek only folded his paws.
"Thank you. Cosmos!"
Both Cosmos and Grogar aimed their magic at the crystal ball, and with magic emanating from the other end, created a black portal at the feet of the devious duo, which caused them to fall inside.
"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!"
As they both scream and fall, they hit the ground, which strangely is bouncy and therefore cushioned their impact.
As they both got to their feet and dusted themselves off, they came to realise that they arrived right in front of a house that's in the middle of nowhere. And given that it's the only house in sight, they presume it to be the home of the Lord of Chaos himself.
Both Cozy and Tirek, posing as Fluttershy and Angel respectively, walked towards the front door. Cozy knocked on the door seven times in a musical fashion. After a few seconds, the door swung open, and the Lord of Chaos presents himself.
"Oh my, what a pleasant surprise!" beamed Discord.
"Yes, um, surprise!" cheered Cozy in faux excitement.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Come in!" welcomed the draconequus into his home.
Cozy and Tirek walked in, inspecting the interior of the house of the trickster. His home is very peculiar to say the least. Most of his furniture is placed upside down, not held by nails, glue or anything. It's just hanging there by itself. The set of stairs is also upside down and seemingly pointless to have as it leads to nowhere in particular.
Discord sat on his couch, the only few things not upside down, and snapped with his fingers to conjure a tea set on the table, which was also set on the ground.
"Tea, Fluttershy?" he asked nicely, as he levitated the teapot towards his cup.
"Thanks, but no thanks," 'Fluttershy' politely replied, "Actually, I have a favour to ask you."
"Shoot," said Discord as he sipped his tea.
"Um, do you have the Bewitching Bell?" she asked nervously.
Discord shot a suspicious glare at her.
"Why yes? Why did you ask?"
"Well, um, Twilight said it would be better if it was in a safer place," Cozy lied.
"Is my home not safe enough?" probed Discord, still showing his suspicious glare.
"Well, if I and Angel can get in, I guess its not?" she speculated.
"Speaking of which, how did you get into my dimension? I thought only I could access it?" prodded Discord, stroking his goatee.
"Oh, um..." stammered Cozy, not sure on how to answer this.
Tirek, who was disguised as Angel Bunny, hopped up and down, trying to get her attention. When she did, she hold her head down to listen to what he has to say. Thankfully, Fluttershy has the ability to talk to animals, a trait that Grogar has apparently replicated during her transformation. After listening to Tirek's proposal, she nodded and turned her head back to Discord. A malicious smile formed on her face as she did so.
"Um, it was the combined might of Starlight, Twilight and Star Swirl, they sent me here to move the bell to a more secure location," told 'Fluttershy'.
"Okaaay, then why is Angel here?" he asked further.
Tirek could only squeak, prompting Cozy to translate it for him.
"Uh, he's here to accompany me," said Cozy in disguise.
"Hmmm, very well," Discord accepted.
"Great! Now where is it?" burst Cozy in excitement.
"Now, now, calm your wings, it's in the kitchen cabinet," Discord pointed.
"Wait, really?" said Cozy, who was taken aback by how simple the answer is.
Discord nodded. Cozy then went to the kitchen and opened the cabinet. Sure enough, there was the bell. Cozy grabbed it with her hooves and made her way towards the front door.
"Thanks for understanding, Discord!" she emitted.
"Anytime, my dear," said Discord with a wave.
"Bleh."
Both 'Fluttershy' and 'Angel' stuck their tongues out in disgust as they exited his home.
"Was it something I said?" he wondered, before materialising a newspaper for him to read.
Ten minutes later, both 'Angel' and 'Fluttershy' peered from the front doorway.
"Um, we could use some help getting back home," asked 'Fluttershy'.
"Hmm?" Discord looked up, "Oh, was it a one-way trip?"
The duo nodded.
"Well, no problem. Where to?" asked Discord, ready to snap his fingers.
"On the outskirts of Canterlot," requested Cozy.
"Why not Canterlot itself?" he queried.
"Because," she began, "Canterlot is reinforced with the remains of Chrysalis' throne. Your magic won't work there, remember?"
"Mmm, fair enough."
And with the snap of his fingers, a portal appeared outside behind them.
"Golly, thanks Discord! You sure are the best!" blurted Cozy, as both Tirek and her strode towards the vertical portal.
"I appreciate the compliment!" cried out Discord, as the portal closed behind them.
After a few minutes, he was hit by a faint realization.
"Why do I sense a feeling of deja vu?"