//------------------------------// // Chapter 51 Cozy's Redemption // Story: Super Stallion // by PioneerofImagination //------------------------------// Grogar, the evil ram of legend, had brought the remaining rogues together to lead them in a master plan to finally take over Equestria. But 1st he'd need his bewitching bell back so he had them get it to teach them how to work together better but they failed, at least that's what they told him. "Grogar is far too powerful to be trusted for all we know he plans to betray us when we're no longer useful to him," Payback said ironically of all the rogues. "But what choice do we have?" Weather Warper asked. "If we try to take over Equestria without his help we'll fail just like all the other times."  "Not with this bell," Scar Flank said. "If we can use its power nopony can't get in our way, not that captain of the guard, not the princesses, not even Super Stallion."  "But only Grogar knows how to use it," Mad Alicorn said.  "But that doesn't mean we can't figure it out," Payback said. "And once we do, Grogar will no longer be useful to us." "Oh I love a good backstabbing," Cozy Glow said.  "That bell could be the key to us finally getting what we've always wanted," Mad Alicorn said.  "And once we do that we can go back to destroying one another," Tirek said.  After a while 3 of the rogues snuck into Scar Flank’s abandoned home, his family collected several copies of books the princesses kept in their private archives. He set out with Weather Warper to watch his back and Cozy Glow who liked the idea of a road trip. When they found it, they overheard that Celestia & Luna were retiring and were going on a vacation. Hearing that Scar Flank figured those 2 would be the perfect ones to test the bell out on when they figured out how to make it work.  "Not a bad idea, we will need to get them out of the way once we're put in charge," Cozy Glow said. The 3 rogues made their way back and soon enough got the bell to work and they all got a massive upgrade.  Tirek grew to his 3rd form, Mad Alicorn got a fiery aura that she could control, and the others became alicorns. "Oh yeah this was worth the wait," Tirek said in his 3rd stage.  "You said it," Cozy Glow said. “Now we just need to test our powers.” *** In the middle of a forest, where what should have been a nice picnic between 2 sisters, Celestia was desperately looking for Luna. While on vacation the royal pony sisters started to get on each other's nerves. While trying to eat they got into an argument and Celestia said something she shouldn’t have, yet again.  “LUNA,” Celestia called out. “LUNA WHERE ARE YOU? I’M SORRY FOR WHAT I SAID!”  “Sorry isn’t good enough,” Luna said, curled up by a tree crying her eyes out. “This vacation has been awful, and it’s all your fault.”  “Luna please,” Celestia said as she got closer to Luna. Only for her to teleport to a different part of the forest. “That’s not fair, face it you’re never happy.”  “Because you don’t want me to be happy. I always have to do everything your way.” “That’s not true, I went to the opera with you.” Celestia then caught up to her sister only for her to teleport again.  “You sat there like a pouty child then made us leave early even though it was my turn. And when I got that new mane style and makeup, you made us go swim. Admit it, you picked it just to wash it off.” “...Yes,” Celestia said as she stopped searching. “I-I’m sorry,” Celestia continued as she started crying herself. “I’ve been so unfair to you this whole trip. What can I do to make this up to you?” “Looks like we came at a bad time,” Payback said. Thanks to Grogar's crystal ball and Cozy Glow's medallion the rogues found the princesses right away. *** Thanks to the Bewitching Bell, the princesses were captured easily. Afterwards they were taken back to Grogar's lair to be held for ransom. The next day quite early in the morning Grogar had returned and was surprised to see 2 alicorns trapped in separate cells bound and gagged. The other rogues then appeared showing their new forms. "Well well it seems you've all been quite busy while I was gone," Grogar said showing no fear but the rogues were certain that would change when they showed his Bewitching Bell. "The bell, you had it all along, why didn't you tell me?" "We're villains duh," Cozy Glow answered. The rogues then prepared to steal Grogar's power, but nothing happened, leaving all of them confused. Grogar then smiled at the rogues and let out a laugh, a creepy fear inducing laugh that echoed throughout the lair. "Why are you laughing?" Weather Warper asked. "Cut it out, you're giving me the creeps."  "Did you ever wonder when Gusty the Great managed to take my bell why didn't she simply use it to take my magic? I charmed the bell to never work on me," Grogar answered and proceeded to laugh more. Weather Warper got so frightened she flew down to the ground as she rubbed her forelegs but Scar Flank went over to comfort her.  "Don't worry he still won't stop us. I have your back just like I always have." "You're right, if we're together we can do anything," Weather Warper replied to Scar Flank before the 2 rogues gave each other a passionate kiss.  "Uh okay that came out of nowhere," Cozy Glow said.  "I always thought they had a thing though," Mad Alicorn said.  "He can't beat us, we got him outnumbered and overpowered," Payback said. "Not for long," Grogar said. Suddenly the bell flew over to him and connected to his collar. "Ah it's so good to have my precious bell back after all these eons." Grogar then made a swirl of magic appear around him and strange creatures flew around the lair.  "Don't panic, he's just trying to scare us," Tirek said. "It's working," Weather Warper said.  "It's about to work a lot better because I know what makes creatures tick right down to their basic impulses, because I know what they're afraid of. That includes all of you." Suddenly Grogar used his Bewitching Bell to take back all of the magic that it gave to the rogues, except Cozy Glow who hid behind Tirek when the strange creatures started flying around and was shielded by the bell.  "No, my magic it's gone," Mad Alicorn said, who was no longer an alicorn. She was a unicorn who couldn't even light her horn, Tirek had returned to his main form as well as Payback, Scar Flank, and Weather Warper who could all barely even move.  "I-I can't fly," Weather Warper.  "Give it back!" Mad Alicorn said now in a pleading position. "Give it back please, I'll do anything!"  "Even try to betray me again?" Grogar asked.  "Please great Grogar, we've learned our lesson," Tirek said.  "Somehow I doubt that," Grogar said. "You were all imprisoned in the bowels of Tartarus until I freed you. And how do you all repay me? With betrayal, for some reason I wish I could be surprised but I learned long ago never to trust any creature. Now that just leaves the question of what to do with all of you." "Wait, you aren't going to put us back in Tartarus are you?" Weather Warper asked. "No, I have something else in mind," Grogar answered. "You know what, go ahead," Payback said. "We've been defeated time and time again but we always manage to come back."  "He's right," Scar Flank said. "We'll endure whatever punishment you dish out so go ahead and do your worst!" "Be careful what you wish for," Grogar said before the creatures swarmed on all of the rogues and trapped them in spheres.  "Where am I?" Weather Warper said as she looked around, she was about to fly out but her wings fell apart feather by feather. Suddenly Spitfire appeared to her shock. "Did you really think you could be a great flier?" "I-I am a great flier. I'm the greatest flier in all Equestria." "If you were great you'd already be a Wonderbolt, you were never great enough to be one and you never will be. And deep down you know that."  In another sphere Tirek saw his father who told him that he uses magic to compensate for the fact he'll never get his approval. "Father please understand." "Understand what? That you could have been a great king but instead you ran away to take what wasn't yours? That the only alley you had to help you abandon you then left you to rot? That I should have just left you at an orphanage the second you were born because you'd grow up to be nothing but a worthless failure?"  In his sphere Scar Flank was having a family problem of his own, he always held his family in high regards but a certain captain of the royal guard was saying otherwise. "Don't you dare talk about my family," Scar Flank said as he tried to attack Stone Wall but he was hardly in a state to fight and was thrown to the ground.  "Oh what a shock you couldn't beat me again," Stone Wall said. "Just like when your family couldn't stop the royal guards from arresting and locking them up. You were just a kid when it happened so you weren't arrested but you couldn't do anything to help them as they all died in prison."  "I was still alive, I swore I'd restore my family to its former rank and glory." "Glory? What glory? They got rich from robbing and swindling others not caring how much they hurt and you didn't care either. You loved the lifestyle you were born into and would do anything to get it back. Because that's more appealing to you than living the life of the average pony."  Meanwhile Payback, saw Princess Celestia of all ponies. "Princess Celestia, what are you doing here?"  "I'm your mother." "What?! You are!?" "No, but I could be, you always wondered who your parents were. They could have been me and a brave powerful knight or perhaps noble ponies that could have brought you into a life much better than the orphanage. Ever since you were old enough to think you envied the rich and powerful ponies around you in Canterlot and hated your parents for leaving you and your sisters. Rather ironic isn't it you resented being abandoned yet that's what you did to them?" "No, that's not what happened…Super Stallion, he, he turned them against me he stopped me at every turn. Every time I tried to climb to the top he smacked me down back to the bottom." "Perhaps that's where you belong," Celestia said. "You wanted to become somepony important so you wouldn't feel like you were worthless. Something you've felt all your life and under all the manipulative planning and relentless backstabbing it all stems from the knowledge that you were born worthless and that you'll die worthless." "NO!" He cried out defensively. "I'M NOT! I'M NOT!"  Finally in the last sphere Mad Alicorn saw her human self as well as memories of her life when she was human as well. There she relived the moments of her rough life with her parents until she decided to run away.  "It feels like yesterday to you doesn't it?" Her human self asked. "You ran away from home thinking living on the street would be better than what you went through at home. After a while you had regrets, at least with school since you had one or 2 friends there. But when you went to see if anyone missed you, you saw that you were replaced. By a different version of you from another world of all things." "Yes I came to this world, I found magic," Mad Alicorn replied. "It was amazing it made me feel like, like-" "You actually mattered," human Sunset Shimmer interrupted. "That's what it's always been about. All you've wanted was to prove to others and most of all yourself that you mattered, that you were worth something. But you never could because you aren't worth anything because you don't matter." "NO!" Mad Alicorn said as she began to tear up. "No it's not true."  "But it is and deep down no one knows that more than you. Everyone was much happier with you gone and the same will be with this world."  Human Sunset Shimmer revealed to be one of the creatures summoned by Grogar who intangible by nature managed to fly right through Mad Alicorn and before she even realized it, half her body became stone. All she could do was scream and watch helplessly as the rest of her body turned as well.  Afterwards the spheres vanished and the creatures returned to Grogar who had each done the same to the other rogues as they did to Mad Alicorn trapping each of everyone in stone.  "My gosh," Cozy Glow said to herself as she watched what happened and that was all she could do as she was frozen with fear. She quickly & quietly flew away but came across the very ram she was trying to get away from.  "Did you think I wouldn't notice that I didn't turn you to stone as well?" He asked and Cozy Glow flew away as fast as she could but Grogar cut her off again. "You know it's sad I actually kind of liked you, that's why I always left you in charge when I left this place."  "Well why change that we can still work together, maybe I could go with you on your next mission or clean the place up a bit."  "Unfortunately for you that's not going to happen to take back Equestria is something even I can't do alone. But I can't have traitors sneaking around waiting to stab me in the back either. Especially when they use magic from my own bell."  "What If I gave the magic back and worked on a probationary period until you decided I could have it back? Or maybe I could just do something really important for you right now to prove my true loyalty to you so I can stay in this form?"  "You really like that new form you've gotten already don't you?" "Uh, yes Mr. Grogar sir, very much in fact." "Then I'll let you keep it while you join your other former comrades." Grogar then prepared his Bewitching Bell but Cozy Glow thought fast and used the medallion to open a portal and jumped through before Grogar could do anything. "Hm clever filly but she won't be able to stop my plans. Though now I'll have to find others to aid me," Grogar said to himself as he made his way to where the royal pony sisters were being kept. "And of course there's the matter of what to do with you 2." ***  Twilight was doing rather well at covering for Luna and Celestia. She and her friends had a problem or 2 along the way, but it was nothing they couldn't handle. Mostly because of Stone Wall because being captain of the royal guard for most of his life taught him how to be organized among other things. Squeaky Clean and Swift Sweep helped her out a bit too; they knew a thing or 2 about cleaning up messes.  "Well things have been a little bumpy but I think all in all I've been doing a rather good job don't you think?" Twilight asked. "Yes I have to agree," Stone Wall answered. "You've made a mishap once or twice but that's to be expected, nopony's perfect kind of reminds me of when I first became captain of the royal guard." "Oh you made a step or two in the wrong direction?" "In a way I suppose. The captain of the royal guard before me was retiring. I was only about 15 at the time but like Princess Celestia, he saw my potential despite my age and awarded me the rank. Quite a few guards didn't like the idea of taking orders from somepony quite a bit younger than themselves." "So what did you do about it?" "Beat up the guards that gave me the most trouble," Stone Wall answered right away. "That doesn't sound like the right way to handle that." "After that my authority wasn't questioned and the rest is history." After that Twilight handled the last of things to do for the day and was ready to settle down and rest when suddenly a guard called out. Cozy Glow had appeared in front of the castle and surrendered to the guards right away, quite a few of whom had some questions.  "What is she doing here?" "How did she become an alicorn?"  "Did anypony else see where I put my spear? What it’s a hoof me down from my father he's gonna be really mad if I lost it."  "GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Stone Wall said and the guards cleared the way to make room for him and Princess Twilight. "So what's the plan Twilight?" Pinkie Pie asked after appearing seemingly out of nowhere something she was quite good at.  "I'll guess we'll just see what she wants," Twilight answered before seeing her with Stone Wall right beside her. Once she saw Cozy Glow who had rope tied around her wings and a magic canceling collar she asked for them to be removed in exchange for helpful information.  "You are hardly in any position to negotiate but if you insist on not talking I suppose I'll have to resort to advanced child psychology." Stone Wall then walked over to Cozy Glow and suddenly pulled on one of her ears. "Talk!" "OW! Okay okay I'll talk just stop please stop!" Cozy Glow then talked about how she and the other rogues were freed from Tartarus by Grogar who turned the other rouges into stone. She decided to go to the castle and tell the ponies there about what Grogar is planning and that Celestia and Luna are being held there against their will.  "Wow that was quite a lot to inform us on," Discord said, who was also helping Twilight at the castle. He then tried to teleport to where Cozy said Grogar was hiding but suddenly he was teleported back. "Something sent me back." "Interesting I've read about spells that cancel out teleportation spells to keep unwanted visitors out. It's similar to how Chrysalis's throne canceled out non-changeling magic," Twilight said. Seems like there's a big chance that Cozy Glow might be telling the truth after all," Squeaky said, who came in with Swift Sweep before Twilight and Stone Wall did.  "Yes she is," Cozy said.  "Don't get ahead of yourself, this still doesn't mean you have our trust," Stone Wall said. "So what do we do?" Swift Sweep asked. "If we can't teleport, I guess I'll have to go check it out the old fashion way," Stone Wall answered, rather shocking everypony. Stone Wall then prepared to set out to where Cozy Glow said Celestia and Luna were being kept if Celestia was in danger Stone Wall wasn't going to stand around and do nothing. Twilight tried to convince him to bring more guards but a smaller group would be harder to detect.  “So what’s the plan exactly?” Cozy Glow asked. "Here's how it works you lead me to Grogar's lair and if it turns out you're telling the truth and we get Celestia and Luna out of there you'll be getting some major leniency on your punishment, but if you're lying I'm teleporting us back here and then I'll spank you so hard you'll have to sit on your head for a month."  "Uh, okay," Cozy Glow replied as she gulped hoping this mission would go well but also not looking forward to running into Grogar again.  "Stone Wall, are you sure you want to do this," one of his guards asked.  "When somepony else is in danger, what I want doesn't really matter," Stone Wall answered.  "For the record I still think this is a very careless idea," Squeaky said. "But I've known you long enough to know that I can't do a thing to stop you when you've made up your mind. Which is kind of most of the time but why can't Swift Sweep and I come along?" "Yeah they're our wives," Swift Sweep added.  "I told you, the smaller the group the better," Stone Wall answered. "Besides this could be some sort of trap to capture more royal ponies." "But what if you get captured?" Squeaky asked.  "If we're not back in 3 days, send a whole army if you want," Stone Wall answered.  "All right then hurry back and also here's a bag of supplies you might need," Squeaky said as he gave Stone Wall a saddle bag. Stone Wall then looked inside and saw several items including the Super Stallion sphere to his surprise. Stone Wall however took out the sphere and gave it back to Squeaky Clean. "Not a bad idea but you keep it. Just in case this is a trap and Canterlot gets attacked." After that Stone Wall headed out with Cozy Glow to rescue the princesses. "Well on the plus side, I get another road trip out of all this," Cozy Glow said as she and Stone Wall took off. Stone Wall stayed close behind Cozy Glow never letting her out of his sight for even a second. Before long the 2 of them made their way to a train that Cozy said would help them get to Grogar's lair quicker. They even got a car all to themselves because the train wasn't very crowded. Stone Wall sat in silence while Cozy Glow walked around a bit to stretch her legs.  "How's he going to do it?" Stone Wall asked. "Huh?"  "How is Grogar going to try and take over Equestria?" "I, I don't know, he never really talked about his plans to us, he was always so secretive. I don't think he really trusted any of us." "I suppose rightfully so."  "Yeah, I still can't believe how horribly our backstabbing plan backfired. Funny thing is I kind of didn't want to do it. I knew he kind of liked me. I kind of wanted to know more about him. Like where he came from and why he had trouble trusting others." "It's because of well, maybe I shouldn't say." "What?" Cozy asked as she approached Stone Wall.  "It's sort of a long story." "Well we're going to be on this train for quite a while," Cozy said as she sat next to Stone Wall. He then explained about his recent travel to a certain isle and how he came across the ghost of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna's mother. As well as how Grogar attacked the isle.  "Wow so she was the very 1st alicorn that's so cool, I wish all history was that fun. Did she say anything else about Grogar?" "Just that he was returning and he just might be the greatest challenge we'll face." After that Cozy Glow and Stone Wall sat together in awkward silence neither one knowing what they should say to break the silence.  "Why is a male sheep called a ram and a female is called a ewe?" Cozy asked, figuring that was as good a question as any. "I suppose it's the same reason we call a male pony a stallion and a female pony a mare, It's just one of those things."  "Yeah I guess." Before long the train came to their stop and the 2 of them continued their journey on hoof. "Look I understand if you don't quite trust me but can you at least get these ropes off of my wings?" Cozy asked after traveling for a while. "My legs are killing me." "Fine," Stone Wall answered after he thought about it for a minute and magically removed the ropes. "But don't get any bright ideas," Stone Wall said while holding the ropes he teleported off her in one of his front hooves. "Oh really," Cozy said as she stretched her recently freed wings and flew up. "Out of curiosity, what are you going to do if I try to fly away?" Cozy was suddenly surrounded in a magic aura and was teleported to right next to where Stone Wall was standing.  "I'd do that," he answered as he stared at Cozy Glow so intensely a chill went up and down her spine multiple times.  "O-Okay," Cozy said, clearly intimidated by Stone Wall's stare. "I wasn't really gonna try and get away, I was just curious that's all." "Right, you just watch your step, got it?" "Yes sir."  "Good that's what I like to hear, now get going we still have a lot of ground to cover and the sooner we rescue the princesses the better."  "Yes sir."  Cozy Glow and Stone Wall continued their journey, Cozy was happy to fly again but she made sure to stay close to Stone Wall. Eventually the sun was setting and Stone Wall decided to look for a place where they could safely sleep for the night. Suddenly a bugbear appeared out of nowhere and attacked him but he dodged its attacks easily. Stone Wall then blasted several spells that nearly knocked the creature on its back. "If you don't want to get seriously hurt I suggest you hightail it out of here," Stone Wall said but the bugbear wasn't going to run away. To Stone Wall's surprise the bugbear suddenly turned around to attack Cozy Glow thinking she was going to be easier to handle.  "What the?" Cozy said as she quickly flapped her wings to try to get out of the way but the bugbear smacked her into a nearby boulder. She managed to get up but saw the bugbear when Stone Wall appeared in front of her. "If you want her, you're gonna have to go through me!" Stone Wall then really let the creature have it and in no time at all the bugbear ran off with its tail between its legs. "Are you all right?" "Yeah, I'm okay, thank you for saving my life."  "No problem, it's what I do." After that the 2 found a nearby cave that didn't seem to have any creature living in it and Stone Wall made camp for the night. As he did that he noticed that Cozy Glow was sitting at the front of the cave and was strangely quiet. "Are you sure nothing feels broken?" "Yeah I'm sure, I guess I just wish I could have done something to stop that bugbear." "There wasn't much you could do, you still have that magic canceling collar on." "Even if I did, I doubt I would have fought against it, Grogar was right about me. I don't have a backbone," Cozy said as she couldn't help but sound almost utterly depressed.  "So are you going to let him be right?" Stone Wall said as he approached and sat down next to Cozy Glow. "Huh?" "If somepony or in this case some ram says something bad about you, the best revenge you can have is to prove them wrong."  "What do you mean?" "Let me tell you a little story about when I first became captain of the royal guard." After Stone Wall told the story he and the filly beside him actually started to bond a little bit.  "Wow you slapped him silly I bet he didn't bother you again."  "No he did not," Stone Wall answered, getting Cozy Glow to laugh.  "Kind of reminds me of the time I stopped a certain nosy Neighsay from getting all up in my business." Cozy Glow then told Stone Wall how when she took control of the School of Friendship. Chancellor Neighsay arrived and tried to assume control but Cozy Glow convinced the students not to let him so they rushed him and tied him up in Twilight's office. "After that I took his medallion and I left him there," Cozy said before she started laughing but stopped slowly when she saw Stone Wall's stare.  "Between you and me kid I never really liked the guy very much," Stone Wall replied with a laugh. "I don't like him at all actually, while I don't approve of what you did I have to say it's rather impressive how you were able to get all those ponies on your side." "Well that wasn't so hard, ponies are supposed to do what I asked them to, it's like my thing." "Yeah, but seriously you wanted to steal all of Equestria's magic don't you think that was going a bit too far." "I think big."  "Didn't your parents ever tell you to set your standards a little lower and then work your way up?" "I never knew my parents, they died when I was just a baby," Cozy answered, becoming sad once again. "I know how you feel," Stone Wall replied. "You do?" "I never really knew my parents either, it made me quite an angry colt to say the least. But 1 day," Stone Wall suddenly stopped as he started to get sad as well. "Well I think it's about time we went to sleep. I want to head out first thing in the morning."  "Okay," Cozy said before Stone Wall put out the fire and the 2 of them went to sleep. Morning came and Stone Wall woke up to find a still sleeping Cozy Glow he couldn't help but find rather adorable. He gently woke the young filly but as he packed up and got ready to head out he saw Cozy Glow had fallen back to sleep so used his magic to gently lift her off the ground and onto his back who woke up again after a while. "Good morning." "It's morning already, I was sleeping like a foal." "How much longer until we get to the lair?"  "I think it should be about this time tomorrow but hey since it won't be long before we get to Grogar's lair, maybe it's about time to get this rather itchy collar off. Grogar is incredibly powerful so you're probably going to need help." "I'll think about it, it rather depends if you can behave yourself today and besides, we probably won't have to fight him. We just need to get to Celestia and Luna then use your or rather Chancellor Neighsay's medallion to get us all out of there." "I do like the idea of us not having to fight Grogar." Cozy then made her way off of Stone Wall's back and walked beside him. "So since it's still going to be a while, do you have any other funny stories?"  "I'm not really known for my sense of humor," Stone Wall answered. As the 2 of them continued to travel they couldn't help but have a bit of fun along the way. Like taking a break by a river and splashing each other or getting some snacks at a rather far off town. They ran into a few more dangerous creatures but Stone Wall made sure none of them so much as touched Cozy Glow. Before they knew it the day came to an end and once again despite being in the wilderness found a safe place to sleep, but first Stone Wall had to fight off a rather large serpent.  "Wow you tossed that thing like it was a rag doll, you're really strong." "I should be for the captain of the royal guard." "You really like being captain don't you? Is it because you like bossing ponies around?" "No, it's because I wanted to make Princess Celestia proud. She was always a beloved princess but some ponies still wanted to do her harm and being captain I could protect from all sorts of things."  "Do you think after all this if we get the princesses back do you think maybe I could stay at the castle?" "Why?"  "Well you know." "No I don't, that's why I asked." "Well, you know I think I'll just turn in. You probably want to get up early again. Grogar's lair isn't far." Cozy Glow then got ready for bed but not before Stone Wall walked over to her and removed the magic canceling collar from her neck. "Just in case I need a little backup, besides you behaved rather well." The 2 then settled down once again and when morning came this time Cozy Glow was the 1st one to wake up and seeing how the sun was already up she woke up Stone Wall and they made their way out after packing up. Cozy Glow led Stone Wall until they were just outside Grogar's lair. "Well there it is, that's where Grogar is and where the princesses are being kept."  "All right then, you got that medallion ready?"  "Yeah and speaking of which do I have to give it back to Chancellor Neighsay?" "Yes it does belong to him after all." "Aw but I like it. I mean it's helped me out quite a lot." "It's still not yours and it's not right to take things that aren't yours like all the magic in Equestria for example." "All right, fine," Cozy said, pouting a little. The 2 of them then made their way inside with Cozy Glow leading the way and before long came across where the princesses were being kept. Still kept in separate cells still bound and gagged but there was something different about them. "There they are, golly this was easy, I thought Grogar was going to show up and-" "I know you're there, reveal yourself," Grogar said, cutting off Cozy Glow who shut her mouth tight from fear. "There's no point in hiding so come out before I force you to," the ram said as he summoned his creatures. Stone Wall was about to jump out and surprise attack him but Cozy gave the medallion to him and flew over so Grogar could see her. "Well well well, you actually came all the way back here." "Yes, and I want you to take me back." "Oh is that so?"  "Yes oh please Mr. Grogar I've learned my lesson I won't betray you again please oh please give me another chance," Cozy Glow said trying everything she could to get Grogar to believe her. Stone Wall meanwhile figured out what Cozy Glow was doing right away and made his way to the princesses while she kept the ancient ram distracted. He opened the cages and freed Celestia then noticed that her mane and tail were motionless & all pink.  "What the heck did he do to you?" Stone Wall asked as he freed Princess Celestia then looked over to Princess Luna and saw her mane was different as well. It along with her mane were also still and a lighter shade of blue. "So you came all this way just to beg for forgiveness?" Grogar asked while Stone Wall made his way to Luna's cage and quickly freed her as well. "Oh yes Grogar but if you want me to leave to do or get something to prove my new loyalty to you I can do that."  "Oh I see," Grogar said.  "Yes, so what's the first thing you'd like me to do?" "I suppose you could start with doing something about that pony that just freed the princesses," Grogar replied. Just as Stone Wall used the medallion, the portal he made was destroyed by the creatures Grogar summoned. "I had quite a few of my friends patrol this place just in case any creatures tried to sneak in." Grogar then teleported away from Cozy Glow to appear above Stone Wall who put a barrier around Celestia and Luna in case Grogar's creatures decided to attack.  "Darn it, we were so close," Stone Wall said to himself. "This is it?" Grogar asked. "I was hoping quite a few would come to try to rescue those 2 so I could take their magic with my bell. You honestly thought you and a forked tongued filly would be enough to rescue them from me?" Grogar then teleported Cozy Glow next to Stone Wall to get all the ponies together. "And did you think you could actually fool me, I know a diversion when I see one. Besides I learned long ago not to trust you ponies ever since a certain alicorn took over my home." "What are you talking about?" Celestia asked as hearing that caught her attention right away. "Long ago my home was what you would call the Isle of the Ancients. We lived simple lives but we were peaceful and happy. Until a small tribe of your kind came along and forced us into servitude, despite our mistreatment 1 pony befriended me. A unicorn that wanted the powers of the pegasus and the earth ponies. Ever since I was a young ram I experimented with various types of magic and she thought I could help her. I did, but she stole my ideas and used them for herself. She used her magic to oppress my kind so I traveled to Equestria to return the favor." "You're, you're lying!" Celestia said, refusing to believe Grogar. "What reason do I have to lie? You talk about friendship and unity but so many times you ponies are controlled by your selfish actions. A younger sister that lets her insecurities and darker natures transform her, her older sister that time and time again hurt those close to her, a unicorn stallion that beat up others to compensate for never knowing his parents, and a filly that uses and manipulates. Tell me something, have you gotten used to your new form?" "Um yes, it wasn't all that hard to adapt to." "Rather fitting isn't it? The newest alicorn being just like the 1st, a liar and a thief." Suddenly Cozy Glow used her magic to teleport away. "And still a coward who couldn't grow a spine if her life depended on it."  Suddenly Cozy reappeared from behind Grogar with a weight ring Tirek used for his bench press she grabbed and hit the ram on the head with. Then in the pain and confusion of it all she covered Grogar's eyes and knocked the Bewitching Bell off his chest.  "Quick get out of here," Cozy said to Stone Wall who had already put an escape plan into action. He used the medallion to open a portal and brought the princesses through allowing them to escape.  "GET OFF!" Grogar screamed as he forced the young filly off of him and was forced to the ground. But suddenly Grogar was struck across the face by a mean punch from Stone Wall that forced him to the ground too. "Why don't you pick on somepony your own size," Stone Wall said. "What are you doing here?" Cozy Glow asked. "What didn't you escape with the princesses?" "And leave you here all alone," Stone Wall replied when suddenly Grogar blasted at him. Stone Wall as always kept his guard up and put a barrier but was sent through the wall. "Ironic isn't it? He didn't want to leave you alone but you ended up anyway, and that's what you fear most isn't it," Grogar said as he used his magic to surround Cozy in darkness. She tried to escape but to no avail. She then saw moments and her life appear in the darkness, her time in the orphanage and her recent mistakes. "So young and already not a friend in the world, but then again who'd want to be your friend." "I could have everypony as my friend but my plan failed and I got locked up." "Yes how sad," Grogar continued, his body unseen but his voice echoing through the darkness. "And it's about to get much worse because like the other rogues you are going to be trapped in your own body with nopony ever coming to rescue you because I'm going to bury this place. I have to find a new place to hide away and plan anyway." "What no!" Cozy cried out as she teared up and her body slowly turned to stone. "No please! I don't want to be alone!" "You're not alone!" Stone Wall said as he made his way back in and somehow managed to break through the sphere destroying it. "I know how you feel. I felt like that too when I was young, but I met somepony that saw through my rough exterior and became my first true friend." As Stone Wall explained this, Cozy's body became flesh and fur again.  "Oh how touching you 2 have bonded," Grogar said in disgust. "This time I'll make sure you won't come back." "Back off or I'll destroy your precious bell!" Stone Wall threatened after bringing it over to him with his magic. "My bell cannot be destroyed, but you can," Grogar said as he used his magic to once again get his bell to come over to him. But when he tried to, Stone Wall grabbed the bell with his magic. But that only slowed Grogar down as he was still pulling his bell closer and just as he was about to get it Cozy blasted it with a magic beam that knocked it away.  "Nice work Cozy now let's take him down!" Stone Wall then fought with the ancient ram and while he got in a few good hits Grogar was undoubtedly the stronger of the 2. Fortunately Cozy was there to help fight Grogar as well at least until he forced both of them back.  "All right, fine you 2 care about each other so much you can be buried together!" Grogar then used his magic and soon the entire lair began to crumble. "I've put off my plans long enough, Equestria will soon be under my rule once again!" "Not if I have anything to say about it!" Stone Wall cried out. "You don't!" Grogar then summoned his creatures once again then brought his bell back before disappearing. But despite it all Stone Wall again with the help of Cozy Glow fought off the creatures and managed to avoid the falling rubble long enough for the 2 of them to find a way out of there just before the lair was buried deep underground.  "We, we did it!" Cozy Glow called out as she jumped for joy. "Yes I think we can call this mission a success," Stone Wall said as he stood up. "Uh maybe you should rest a little longer Grogar gave you quite an ouch."  "I'm fine you can't get rid of me that easily, you did a very brave thing risking getting turned to stone forever so the rest of us could escape. What made you do that?" "Well somepony told me that when somepony else is in danger what I want doesn't really matter." Hearing that Stone Wall patted Cozy a bit. "You're not so bad after all, ready to head back to Canterlot?"  "Sounds good to me," Cozy said as she looked back at where Grogar's lair once stood feeling rather somber that the other rogues weren't able to escape. "Do you still have the medallion?" "Yes."  "Hey before we go back to Canterlot can we stop at that one town and get another snack? I really worked up an appetite in there."  "I suppose you rather earned it, besides I rather worked up an appetite in there as well."  As Stone Wall and Cozy Glow made their way back to Canterlot with the princesses, Grogar left to find a new lair. Not knowing that a mysterious figure was watching him and would approach him for a plan to spread chaos on this world. And many others. ***  Before long Stone Wall and Cozy Glow returned to Canterlot with the princesses. Stone Wall explained to Celestia and Luna all the things Cozy did and how he believed she could be reformed and that he wished for Cozy Glow to be put under his watch. A hearing was put in order and Chancellor Neighsay was even there so Cozy could return his medallion. Despite her pleas for a chance at redemption one or 2 didn't trust her, most of all Neighsay who made his opinion very clear.  "Oh come on you're just mad because I turned the School of Friendship students against you, for the record it wasn't all that hard," Cozy said facing other ponies. "Nopony likes him," Cozy whispered loudly, making some of the guards laugh and Neighsay grunt in annoyance.  "I say let Stone Wall watch her, he can whip anypony into shape," a royal guard said.  "Don't be ridiculous!" Neighsay ordered as he approached Cozy Glow. "Her innocent act is what fooled everypony in the 1st place and if none of you will lock her up in Tartarus again, I will!" Suddenly Stone Wall got in his way and gave him the hardest stare he could.  "If you want her you're gonna have to go through me," he said and Neighsay backed up right when he did. "Um yes perhaps I was too hasty after all my judgment does sometimes make me jump to conclusion."  "I'm surprised to hear and see you act like this Stone Wall," Celestia said.  "She'd already put herself on the way to redemption; she helped me get you 2 away from Grogar. And besides I know how she feels, she did the things she did because she was lonely."  Celestia then looked at Luna remembering all those years the 2 of them were apart. “Taking care of her might be a lot for you,” she said. “Considering all she’s done, it might not be so easy to get her to come around.” “I know she might seem like a lost cause, but I love her.” The guards were quite surprised to hear that last part. “I know that might be hard to understand-”  Stone Wall was cut off when Princess Celestia pulled him into a hug. Surpringing the guards again. “I understand, perhaps more than anypony I understand. Others said the same for you when you were her age, but I couldn't have asked for a better son." "Son?!" Almost everypony in the room said,  "Wow they don't even look all that related," a guard said. "I'm adopted you idiot," Stone Wall said.  "If you care for her that much I trust you, though we may have to discuss certain boundaries." After the hearing Cozy was put under Stone Wall watch who would also be sure to train her since she was still an alicorn and could be quite useful in the fight against Grogar.  "Wow, I never had a house before," Cozy Glow said as she flew around a bit to explore Stone Wall’s house. Squeaky was also there with Stone Wall to help a bit with the unpacking of a few things to help Cozy train, and some toys. "I'm rather surprised Celestia let me take her home with me. I knew she trusted me but it's still a shock," Stone Wall said as he and his old friend finished unpacking.  "Well actually she still had some doubts but I gave you and her a little push." "How the heck did you do that?" "Well let's just say that being her husband I can persuade her to do things in ways you can't." "Like how?…..Never mind I don't what to know."