Twilight Sparkle was in her bedroom, pacing around because princesses announced their retirement, and she was the one to be their successor. But that wasn't her only worry.
Her thoughts were also on the magic disappearing incident that happened a month ago and discovering who was behind it.
How could Cozy Glow do this to me? Or to her friends? We all trusted her, she was even my assistant, and that's how she pays back?!
Soon, she was trying to figure out why could make her do such a horrible thing
No! There must be something more about her - I know that
Twilight all of the sudden shouted "Spike!"
"What is it Twi?"
Twilight ordered - "Write a letter to the Elements, Celestia, Luna, and Starlight to come to the Cutie Map room. It's urgent"
Spike didn't have to be told twice - he sat at the desk and started writing letters to mentioned ponies with his quill.
20 minutes later
Her friends were gathering in the Cutie Map room, only Starlight hadn't arrived yet.
"Twilight, if there is something more you need to know about ruling Equestria, then just tell us" - Celestia said, worried about her.
"It's not about that"
"Then what?" - Luna asked
"I will tell you everything, but Starlight also has to be here"
After 5 minutes, Starlight appeared in the room
"Phew! Sorry for being late, but things in school are hectic because of final exams"
"Alright! Since everyone I asked is here, we can proceed" - Twilight spoke - "It's about Cozy Glow"
Princesses winced slightly at the mention of this pegasus' name.
"Ugh! What 'bout her, Twi?" - Applejack asked angrily.
"I know you may not like it but putting her in Tartarus was too severe in my opinion, even after what she has done..."
"Twilight, with all the respect, but she tri-" - Luna tried to convince her to stop thinking about it, but Twilight cut her off
"Wait, let me explain" - she took a deep breath - "Cozy Glow is too young to be locked up in Tartarus despite her crimes against Equestria - Tartarus is not an appropriate place for ponies, especially that young, trust me - I've been there myself. Besides, her mind is also young and she still learns new things about the world and herself - what if we show her a better way? I believe that she can be reformed, just like Discord or Starlight, all she needs is some guidance in friendship"
"She doesn't seem to be reformable darling" - Rarity said
"How do you know that? How do we know if she's not just some misguided filly? I knew something was wrong with her after failing her test on purpose, but I ignored it. I partially feel responsible for what happened that day with magic vanishing"
"Twilight" - Celestia spoke softly - "It is not your fault - you couldn't predict Cozy's betrayal"
"Yet again - I could have done something, like talk to her when she was feeling down, or maybe even control her more when she became my assistant, so she wouldn't try to steal all the magic from Equestria"
"But...what are you going to do" - Fluttershy asked
"We all will go visit her in Tartarus and talk to her. Something tells me she's not a lost cause"
Everyone was shocked by Twilight's idea. Princess Luna knew this purple alicorn was up to something, but she certainly didn't expect this. She was unsure and afraid her idea might get out of hoof, but she knew Twilight and her friends were facing bigger threats during their adventures,
"Art th...I mean - are you sure this is a good idea?" - Luna asked
"I am" - her expression turns into more stern - "By the way, Luna. From what I've heard you put Cozy Glow in a cage near Tirek. Do you think this is a good idea to put her close to someone who taught her step-by-step how to steal magic?"
Luna thinks about it for a while
"It was not the best idea when you put it like that" - she facehoofs herself - "Fine, I admit it - I messed up..."
"So what do you say?" - Starlight asks Luna
"I guess it is worth trying" - she said - "but let me ask you one more thing, Twilight"
"What is it?"
"Why do you even want to reform Cozy Glow?" - Luna asked - "Um...it's not like I don't like your idea, but I want to know your motive"
"Since Celestia sent me to Ponyville, I've been learning friendship with my 5 best friends" - she smiles warmly at mentioned ponies and resumed speaking - "but often we were teaching others about friendship and show villains that there's a better way than serving the Darkness. Sure - some creatures were rotten to the core and so - irreformable like King Sombra, Tirek, or Chrysalis, but Cozy's different. If we can reform powerful creatures like a time-traveling dictator" - she points at Starlight, making her look away in embarrassment - "or even Discord - the god of chaos, then I'm pretty sure we can handle little pegasus filly"
Twilight glances at Celestia and looks at all of them again.
"Princess Celestia sent me to Ponyville to learn friendship. We solved many problems and made Equestria way better place than it used to be before Nightmare Moon returned from her banishment and we got Princess Luna back when Nightmare Moon was gone. So, if I'm the one to take their place, I want to show that I've got what it takes to spread the true message of friendship"
Everypony in the room felt very touched by her words, especially Princess Celestia. They all remained silent until Starlight spoke.
"So...when do you want to go?"
"We can go now if nopony has anything to do. This shouldn't take long. Do you want to go there now?" - she glanced at princesses, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie - they all nodded. Twilight turned her head to Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Starlight - they also nodded.
"Alright. I will teleport us to Tartarus."
With that being said, Twilight lit her horn up and enveloped all her friends with the magenta glow. Soon, they all disappeared from Cutie Map room and were standing in front of Tartarus' gate.
Princess Celestia used her magic to open the gate and everyone stepped inside.
When they were trotting towards the island where Tirek and Cozy were imprisoned, Cerberus blocked their way and stared at these 9 ponies, but he quickly stepped aside.
Tirek was first to spot his enemies walking towards them.
"Cozy look! We have visitors" - he informed, making her look at them - "What do you think they want?"
"Who knows? Maybe we'll have a new inmate..." - she replied
Two villains remained silent. When Twilight and her group approached Cozy's cage, princess Luna greeted her with a cheerful tone.
"Hi, Cozy Glow! How art thou doing today?"
Little pegasus gave the night ruler the death stare, then turned around and looked at the ground.
"What do you want?! Gonna bully me again?!" - she asked bitterly
"Bully...?" - Twilight repeated and looked at princess Luna with a confused frown
"Again...?" - now it was Celestia, who looked at her younger sister with a raised eyebrow - "Luna, what is she talking about?"
Princess Luna didn't answer her sister's question - "Cozy, I know you hate me and us all, but please listen"
Cozy Glow turned to her visitors with a less angry expression on her face - "Whatever"
Twilight approached her cage and started talking
"Cozy, what you have done was terrible and you put Equestria in great danger-"
"Oh this again..." - Cozy said annoyed, Twilight ignored what she's just said and resumed
"-but I'm sure there's some good in you and deep inside you're at least a bit sorry for your deeds" - her expression turned to more serious - "Cozy Glow, you are to be reformed"
Cozy didn't say anything trying to process what her former headmare said
"However, it depends on you - if you don't want to change, then you will simply stay here - I won't punish you for refusing my help"
"Reformed? Is this a joke? If so, then it's not funny at all!" - she snarled and glanced hatefully at princess Luna before looking down at the floor
"I assure you this is not a joke, little one" - Celestia said with a kind gaze and a smile
"Why do you insist on reforming me now? I'm not a powerful magic wielder like Discord, Starlight, or Luna - I'm a mere pegasus, so I have no use for you to reform me"
"It's not about having magic or not - you're jumping to conclusions. We really want to reform you"
"How come?"
"Because we all were wrong. Tartarus is not a place for ponies - I've been here on my own, yet I let princess Luna lock you up here"
She looked at other visitors, all of them smiling warmly at her.
This was a completely new experience for evil Cozy Glow. These expressions, which used to be nothing more than fake smiles of contempt, were now filled with love. This made Cozy more at ease.
"If you want to reform me then I want you to do so"
"Great!" - Twilight exclaimed. Then she used her magic to open her cage and walked inside.
"You'll see - being good pony is not that bad - it's way better than trying to dominate the world and manipulating others" - she said and put her hoof on Cozy's back
"What's the catch?" - Cozy asked suspiciously
"Only one - you will have to cooperate with us" - Twilight informed
"Fair enough" - Cozy said smiling. This was the first time she seemed to be happy after Twilight's group visited her.
Starlight also stepped inside Cozy's cage - "Alright Cozy, let's go. There's a lot of work ahead of us"
"Oh how sweet" - Tirek taunted
Shortly after that, Cozy was freed from her cage and walked with them towards the exit. But Tirek told them.
"So ponies get a second chance, but a centaur doesn't - that's unfair"
Princess Celestia turned around to give him an extremely harsh glare.
"Don't you remember that it was you who taught Cozy how to steal magic? Or when you stole my, Luna's, and Cadence's magic and then put us in here? Or when you destroyed Twilight's old house? Forget it - you're staying here for all eternity."
"But...the magic of friendship!" - he mocked
"Are you deaf? No means no!" - Rainbow Dash scolded, clearly fed up with Tirek's behavior and even his presence, making him quiet.
When they all made their way outside, Cozy took a deep breath, inhaling fresh air into her nostrils and sighing.
"It feels nice to be outside. I don't wanna go back to Tartarus."
"Then be nice and you will remain on freedom" - Twilight said softly
"I promise I will be good from now on"
To be continued...