At Opaline's castle, she and Misty were recouping from their recent run in with Sunny Starscout and friends, and the villainous trio from Equestria's past.
"I'm sorry your plans didn't go the way you wanted, and you were attacked like that, Opaline. Good thing I was there with a jar of dragon fire to save you." Misty said.
But Opaline merely chose to laugh, as she held the Unity Crystal in front of her.
"In spite of the sticky situation back there, I think things are going to turn out just fine." she said. "Whether or not that centaur follows me or not is irrelevant. What matters is that he's doing his job. I have the majority of Equestria's power right here, and he's out there collecting Equestria's remaining magic."
Opaline used her magic to activate her magic pool, and used it to project and gaze at what everypony else was doing. She observed Lord Tirek rampaging through Equestria, and stealing the magic from ponies.
"Right now, Lord Tirek is wandering through Equestria, stealing magic from any pony that he sees. He's doing exactly what I want, which is gathering their magic." Opaline said. "And from the looks of it, it seems those other two are also starting to find their footing here too."
Opaline used her spell to observe a lost and confused Queen Chrysalis. Although upon closer examination, it seemed as though she was crafting a plan. And Cozy Glow was under tight watch from Zipp Storm and Pipp Petals.
"Soon all the magic will end up under my control." Opaline said.
"T-that's good, Opaline." Misty said.
Opaline tapped the Unity Crystal with her hoof, but it did not glow or respond. It seemed to be completely dormant.
"Now if only I knew how to use her magic. Seems her crystal has gone into hiding out of fear. Hm. Misty! I have a job for you!" Opaline said.
"Do you need more dragon fire?" Misty predicted she was going to say.
"I need that dragon itself! Mere drip feeds of dragon fire won't do at this point. I need plumes of dragon fire to ignite the crystal, and protect myself from those fiends!" Opaline explained.
"The fiends you chose to unleash?" Misty asked.
"The ones who chose to disobey me. But that's fine. I should still be able to get what I want from them, but dragon fire is a must!" Opaline said.
"What am I supposed to do? They saw me with you. I can't just walk up to them and have another sleepover. Besides, how do you know dragon fire is going to activate the cryst-"
The more Misty rambled on, the angrier Opaline got.
"I mean, I won't let you down again!" Misty said, raising her hoof up.
"Come back with the dragon!" Opaline demanded.
It was mid-day. Sunny Starscout, Hitch Trailblazer, and Izzy Moonbow were on their way to pick up Sparky Sparkeroni, who was being babysat by Posey. Pipp and Zipp had taken Cozy Glow to the Crystal Bright House, and they would all meet in a short while.
"Wow. Chasing down an evil alicorn is not how I expected to be starting the week." Hitch said.
"Life comes at you fast, Hitch, so we have to be ready for anything." Sunny said.
"A little too fast for my taste. What do we do now that that terrifying alicorn has the Unity Crystal?" Hitch asked.
"It's not going to stay that way for long. We're getting that crystal back." Sunny said, determined.
"That's the spirit! A little payback for messing with Equestria!" Izzy added.
"Let's just be grateful we still have our magic in spite of that." Hitch said.
Hitch lightly tapped his magic hoof onto the ground, to see if he still had his earthpony magic. Izzy's horn still glowed with magic.
"Even without the Crystal in the Crystal Bright House, I wonder how the magic is still able to propagate through Equestria." Sunny said.
"I'm sure Zipp might be able to figure something out. But before we meet with Pipp and Zipp, let's see how Posey's doing with Sparky." Hitch said.
Hitched opened the door to his office, and he, Sunny, and Izzy all gasped at the sight of a very messy sheriff's office.
"What happened in here?!" Hitch exclaimed.
"I don't know! I followed the checklist point to point, and he's just been out of control this whole time." Posey said.
"Ooh. See there's your problem. Sparky Sparkeroni no likey list-a-roni." Izzy said.
"How was I supposed to know that?! You left a checklist on the desk." Posey exclaimed.
"Yeah... Izzy taught me that lists weren't everything, and I meant to put it in the suggestions box." Hitch said.
Hitch leaned down to Sparky.
"Now Sparky, say you're sorry to Posey." he said.
Sparky made sad baby dragon noises, and then suddenly, he felt a rumble in his tummy. Then suddenly, he spat out a great burst of fire onto Posey's mane.
"AH!!" Posey exclaimed.
"Posey!" Sunny and Hitch exclaimed.
"Stop drop and roll, Posey!" Izzy exclaimed.
Sparky ran around the office, and played hard to get. Hitch and Posey chased him around.
"Sparky, come back!" Hitch exclaimed.
"Sparky! I said STOP!" Posey exclaimed.
Posey's eyes lit up, and she stomped her hooves which activated her earthpony magic. Except in this instance, her magic was much stronger than normal.
Huge plants grew from everywhere, and the entire office was covered in vines.
Everypony, and even Sparky was frozen in disbelief at how powerful Posey's magic suddenly became.
Posey shook her head, and the flames dissipated away.
"Uh... sorry Hitch, I didn't know I had it in me." Posey said.
"So then how'd you do it?" Sunny asked.
"I-I don't know. Something about my mane being on fire, felt like a whole fire was coursing through my veins." Posey said.
Hitch looked at his cute baby dragon, but also realized that there was much he still needed to do with his friends.
"Say, I know it's probably quite a bit to ask, but if you could watch Sparky for a little while longer?" Hitch requested.
Sparky looked at Hitch, and made sad baby dragon noises.
"Sorry, little guy. We're in the middle of a deep operation, and I just need to focus." Hitch said. "There'll be plenty of time for dragon play time later."
"Don't worry about a thing, Hitch. I think I'm starting to get the hang of this dragon sitting thing." Posey said.
"Thank you guys so much." Hitch said.
"Hey, Posey. I appreciate that you've been doing more favors for the community lately." Sunny said.
"Yeah... I felt bad about being all selfish and wanting less from unicorns and pegasi. But now that I have earthpony magic, it feels like I have something to contribute, it feels good to work with them rather than against."
"That's the spirit, Posey." Sunny said, cheerfully.
"It's all about working together, hoof to heart." Izzy added.
The three left Posey alone to clean, but she was soon greeted by yet more company.
"Are you alright!?" Windy shouted, busting through the door.
"Windy?" Posey asked.
"I heard some commotion and saw this huge spell you did in here!" Windy said, frantically.
"I think it had something to do with Sheriff Hitch's dragon." Posey said.
"D-dragon?" Windy asked.
"Yeah. Guess you haven't seen much of little powerful Sparky here." Posey said.
Posey tapped Sparky's nose, and made him laugh.
"Say, you're not busy, are you?" Posey asked.
"Not one bit." Windy said, eager.
"Would you mind helping me to watch little Sparky Sparkeroni?" Posey asked.
"I don't know anything about dragons, but I'd be delighted to help!" Windy said.
Misty was already in Maretime Bay, watching the three leave the Sheriff's office. She was wearing dark shades with thick silver frames. She had to stay hidden now, and figure out how to get into the sheriff's office, and dragon nap Sparky without being noticed. Not helping her cause, she noticed that Hitch recently put up wanted posters for her and Opaline. Misty ripped down a wanted poster, but then she realized that if anyone had noticed that any wanted posters were missing, it'd raise suspicion, so she attempted to put it back up, but the poster was already torn. She panicked as she tried to put it back the way it was, but then suddenly she was greeted by someponies.
"Hey you." said a high pitched voice.
"AH! Don't incarcerate me!" Misty panicked.
Misty turned around, and it was only three fillies.
"Oh, you're just three little fillies." Misty said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Aren't you a member of the Filly Four?" Glory asked.
"Um... former member of the Filly Four." Misty replied. "They got tired of pushing me around, so I heard they just replaced me with a literal punching bag. Heh heh..."
Sunny, Hitch, and Izzy had arrived at the Crystal Bright House, where Zipp and Pipp were getting to know Cozy Glow.
Cozy Glow was seated on a big couch, while Sunny and gang sat directly across from her. It made for an awkward setting. One filly facing five older ponies. It was a lot to take in at once.
"Okay, now the key is to not overwhelm her with too many ques-" Sunny started.
"Who are you?"
"What are you?"
"Where are you from?"
"Who were those creatures who ran off?"
"How do you get your mane to do that?"
Many different questions echoed through the room in rapid fire succession, and multiple voices overlapping too. It was too much for one filly to take in.
"WAH! One at a time, please! You're overwhelming me..." Cozy said, in a wimpy tone.
"We're sorry. We're sorry." Sunny said. "Color us curious I guess. It's so surreal to actually be face to face with a pony from such a long period of time ago."
"Likewise. You guys look all strange, and everything's really confusing. So actually, you ponies don't mind if I ask you guys some questions first do you. Because I haven't the faintest clue what's going on here." Cozy said.
The mane 5 hushed down, and gave Cozy Glow the floor to speak.
"I guess first thing's first. Where am I?" Cozy asked.
"You're in Equestria!" Sunny said.
"I am?" Cozy asked in return.
Cozy Glow looked outside the window. "But it's so much different from the Equestria I remember." she said.
"Well, a lot of time has probably passed, and a lot has definitely changed. But that doesn't mean we can't connect." Sunny said.
Cozy nodded with her eyes closed. "It's true. And if what you said is true, then I was in that stone statue for a really long time. I don't know anypony here. I don't know any of you..."
Cozy Glow started to weep, and put her hooves to her face. Izzy went up and hugged Cozy Glow.
"There there, Cozy-wozy. It's all going to be okay." Izzy said, softly.
"She's just a little lost filly." Sunny said, teary eyed herself.
It was in this heavy moment, that Sunny felt a tap on her. It was Pipp, who seemed quite worried about something.
"Psst. Sunny, take a look at this." Pipp said.
Pipp showed everypony the live feed on her cell phone, which showed footage of Lord Tirek rampaging through Bridlewood, and stealing the magic from everypony who was unfortunate enough to cross his path.
"It's that monster from the temple who escaped. He's stealing more of ponies' magic." Sunny said.
Cozy hovered above the ponies and watched the feed as well.
"Stealing magic? Is that Lord Tirek?" Cozy asked.
"You're asking us who that is? You came from the same statue he did!" Hitch said.
"Oh. Right." Cozy said.
"Well, since you know who he is, can you tell us more about him?" Sunny asked.
"Yes, please tell us all you know." Zipp said, ready to take notes.
*sniff* "Okay, I'll try my best... *sniff* That's Lord Tirek. An ancient centaur who has the ability to absorb creatures' essence, and use it to bolster his own strength."
"But you two aren't the only ones who were there. There was also that big four legged bug thing." Sunny said.
"Is this what you saw, Sunny?" Pipp asked.
Pipp showed Sunny a picture posted onto Ponygram. It was a blurry photo of a large black mass, with green wings.
"That has to be her." Sunny said. "Cozy Glow, who was that other creature that you were trapped in stone with?"
"That would be Queen Chrysalis. Queen of the Changelings."
"Changelings.... changelings." Zipp said, writing down the important details.
"What's a changeling?" Izzy asked.
"Oh dear... Well, changelings are bug-like creatures who feed, err, used to feed on the love essence of other creatures for their own survival. Chrysalis was the mother to all of them. But then somepony came along and swiped away her subjects' loyalty, leaving her bitter and out for revenge." Cozy explained.
"How do we stop them? They're putting Equestria at dire risk.." Sunny said.
"If you want to defeat Lord Tirek and Chrysalis, you're going to need my help." Cozy said. "Take it from me. They're from the same time period as I, and I know how to exploit their weaknesses."
"That sounds great, Cozy Glow." Sunny said.
"Um, Sunny. A word with you?" Zipp asked.
Zipp pulled Sunny away from the group, and spoke with Sunny in private, whilst Pipp showed Cozy Glow how her phone worked.
"What up, Zipp?" Sunny asked.
"Doesn't this seem a bit odd, Sunny?" Zipp asked. "She was in stone along with those two. She already admitted she's from the same time period as them, so why was she imprisoned alongside them?"
Sunny thought about Zipp's question. It did seem awfully strange, and it was hard to come up with a good reason.
"If they were in stone for a reason, don't you think she was in stone for a reason too? How do we know she's so innocent? How can we trust her?" Zipp asked.
They looked at Cozy, and she was just being an absolute sweetheart to Hitch, Pipp, and Izzy.
"I admit, you do have some points. But please give her the benefit of the doubt. She seems nice, and she may be able to help us." Sunny said. "And I'll leave you to do your best to make some observations and solve all these mysteries, Detective Zipp."
Zipp and Sunny heard Cozy crying, and turned their attention back to everypony else.
*sniff* "I'm so thankful that you ponies are helping me out like this. You're so much nicer than those no good ponies who turned me to stone." Cozy said.
"It's the least we can do for a little kid in need like yourself." Hitch said.
"What exactly do you ponies even do in this new world?" Cozy asked.
"I'm glad you asked, Cozy. Let me show you." Pipp said.
Pipp pulled out her smartphone, and showed it to Cozy Glow. She showed her all the things it could do, which only served to confuse Cozy Glow profoundly. She was astounded to see the image on the screen manipulated in any way Pipp wanted.
"How do you get so many ponies inside this box?" Cozy asked.
"Oh, Cozy. Oh, Cozy Cozy Cozy. You have much to learn." Pipp said. "How does a tour around Maretime Bay sound?"
"Well, golly, sure." Cozy said.
"Wait, wait wait wait!" Zipp said. "You're just going to show her around Maretime Bay?"
"Yeah. Why not, Zipp?" Pipp asked.
"We need her expertise if we're going to find a way to stop those two creatures!" Zipp exclaimed.
"Yeah well, to her, this is a totally new world. Wouldn't it be nice if we helped her become more acquainted to Maretime Bay?" Pipp suggested.
"Sunny, help us out. What's your take?" Zipp asked.
"I um... you know. Pipp has a point. It would be very generous of us to introduce her to Maretime Bay." Sunny said.
"So is our tour still a go?" Pipp asked.
"Yep! Just make sure she doesn't leave your sight. To um... make sure she doesn't get lost of course." Sunny said.
"Then it's settled. Let's take you on a tour!" Pipp said. "Stick with Izzy and I, and you're in for one heck of a good time, Cozy Glow!"
Cozy Glow gave Pipp a warm smile, as she was eager to see more of this exciting new version of Equestria.
"Sounds like a plan. Me, Zipp, and Hitch will stay behind and try to learn more about our shadowy alicorn adversary, and you Pipp, and Izzy, may take Cozy Glow on a tour around Maretime Bay."
"Woo hoo! Sightseeing!" Izzy cheered.
Pipp and Izzy led Cozy Glow out of the Crystal Bright House.
Zipp looked down, but Sunny assured her they were still focused on being productive.
"And don't worry, Zipp. I've got an idea. My dad has a huge collection of memorabilia and such from Equestria's past. If they're from Equestria's past, maybe we'll find some mention of them that can help us." Sunny said.
Cozy Glow followed Pipp Petals and Izzy Moonbow through Maretime Bay. Pipp and Cozy walked, while Izzy cruised behind them in her unicycle full of stuff.
"This is Maretime Bay, Cozy Glow. A town established, and exclusively lived in by earthponies. But that all changed when..."
Pipp and Izzy noticed Cozy Glow was already gone from their sides. They looked around, and then looked up, and were startled.
"Cozy! Don't touch that!!" Pipp exclaimed.
"What? Why not?" Cozy Glow asked, about to touch a power line.
"Those wires up there are what powers our devices! You can hurt yourself!" Pipp said.
"Powerful, but dangerous. Alright then." Cozy said.
Cozy Glow flew back down to Pipp and Izzy.
"Okay, we'll save the history lesson for later. So, Cozy Glow, anything you'd like to know about our lives here at Maretime Bay?" Pipp asked.
"I guess my first question is, what's with that weird glowing brick you're always holding?" Cozy asked.
"This? Oh, of course, this is my cell phone!" Pipp explained.
"Sell... phone?" Cozy asked.
"Yeah, check it out."
Pipp shoved her phone in Cozy's face, and scrolled through her many apps.
"I have Ponygram for sharing photos, Clip Trot for sharing short videos and livestreams, Ponytube for sharing longer videos and livestreams. And Feedbag which doesn't exist I just made it up."
Cozy's eyes got dizzy and her head spun as Pipp rapidly explained her entire Internet routine.
"Woah. You ponies must be so..." Cozy wanted to say distracted, but held back from saying it. "So busy. Where I'm from. The only way for a pony to know about another pony was to meet them, read about them, or through word of mouth, but you just point that brick mirror at your face, and anypony else with one can see you."
"Yyyep. That's the miracle of technology. Busy is one way to put it. But when you do what you love, it hardly feels like hard work."
Pipp showed Cozy Glow her follow count.
"That's the number of ponies that follow you? That sure is a lot." Cozy said, amazed.
"So then, how does it feel?" Cozy asked. "Being adored by so many ponies?"
"Oh, it's just about the best feeling ever." Pipp said. "Seeing that number is one thing, reading comments is another, but being greeted and having so many friends is the cherry on top."
"Yeah. I um totes agree with that. What with the crowds of people lining up to participate in my arts and crafts business." Izzy said, attempting to fit into the conversation.
"Gee. I wish I could be admired by ponies as fast as you." Cozy said.
"Perhaps you can! Come, Cozy! I'll buy you a phone, and we'll open up your own Ponygram account! And with a freckled face as adorable as yours, you'll be an absolute sensation!"
Pipp went inside the phone store, while Cozy looked at Izzy, nervous.
"So what's your hobby exactly?" Cozy asked.
"Me? I wouldn't call it a hobby. I just take the stuff around me and try to make new stuff out of it. For instance, is this a mane accessory? Or a tail accessory? It's whatever your heart wants it to be." Izzy said.
"So you're a junk rat?" Cozy asked.
"I prefer to call myself a crafter." Izzy said.
"Hmm. I think I'll side with Pipp. No offense of course, I'm sure what you do is lovely. But anything where I can influence a whole lot of ponies is where I'm going to side."
Cozy entered the phone store leaving Izzy outside alone.
"That's fine. I'll just be out here, totally helping the cause... by standing here." Izzy said.
Izzy slouched next to her unicycle.
"Gee. Cozy and Pipp are really hitting it off with this whole influencer thing. Sunny Zipp and Hitch are trying to solve the mystery of how to get back the Unity Crystal, and I'm just... standing here at Maretime Bay."
Izzy used her magic on her puppet, Señor Butterscotch, and used her voice to make him speak.
"Maybe you can help them in their investigation?" said Señor Butterscotch.
"Nah. I don't know how to put two and two together, and come to conclusions. I just put two and two pieces together, and see if they break. I don't analyze. I make junk come to life." Izzy said.
"Don't you want to help your friends?" Señor Butterscotch asked.
"I want to help, I just don't know if they need my help, or if I can help..." Izzy said.
Izzy let out a deep sigh. What Izzy observed next would turn out to be handy after all though. Izzy noticed Misty being followed by Pipp's Pippsqueaks through town.
"It's Misty. I better go see what she's up to." Izzy said to herself.
"But if you're going to talk to her, you're going to need a disguise so you don't scare her away." Señor Butterscotch interjected.
"You're right, Señor B. But where am I going to get a disguise at this time?" Izzy asked.
Izzy looked at her pile of junk and came up with an idea.
Misty was still being followed around Maretime Bay by Pipp's trio of fans, despite her constantly trying to push them away.
"If you're so introverted, how did you join the Filly Four after just meeting them?" Peach Fizz asked.
"Uh... that's all the time I have for this AMA!" Misty said, nervously.
"But what are we supposed to do? Pipp hasn't uploaded or streamed in a hot minute, and Sunny's smoothie cart is still closed." Seashell said.
"I'm sure they'll be back, once we're through these difficult times. Now run along now, fillies." Misty said.
Misty breathed a sigh of relief that she finally had those fillies out of her mane. But no sooner than she could breathe, she was approached by a strange looking unicorn.
"Excuse me, fellow unicorn, you seem like you're in need of some help. That's why I, Señorita Butterscotch, am here to help you!" Izzy said, swearing groucho looking glasses, with a fake mustache and everything.
Misty looked at her confused.
It's working. I think she's buying it. Izzy thought.
Does she seriously think I'm buying that? Misty thought in her head.
"What are you doing, Iz-?" Misty asked.
"-Iz... Is Is... this here is my, errr, Izzy's unicycle of fantastical items, that she let me borrow. Where I- I mean, she taught me to use arts and crafty skills to turn junk items into useful tools!" Izzy explained.
The pile of junk then collapsed and made a mess on the street.
"Forget this. How is any of this junk going to solve my issues?" Misty asked.
"Just think deep down and ask yourself, what's troubling you right now?" Izzy said.
Misty thought deep about everything that was troubling her, and it was quite a list.
"Many... things." Misty said.
"Now close your eyes and imagine all your troubles being miraculously"? Izzy asked.
Misty closed her eyes, and imagined her turning in Sparky to Opaline, and Opaline bestowing a cutie mark upon her flank.
"It'd take a lot to make me happy..." Misty said, looking down.
"I see. Okay, now take this junk, and use it to build something that will help solve your problems." Izzy said.
"You think that's possible?" Misty asked.
"The only limit is your imagination." Izzy said.
Misty picked up a big metal tube, and immediately began thinking about how she could build the ultimate contraption to capture Sparky.