A hole sprouted from the outside grounds of the School Of Friendship and soon a giant mole had dug out of the ground with Sandbar, Yona, Gallus, Smolder, and Silverstream on it’s back, all tired and charred before it turned back into the reformed Changeling we all know as Ocellus.
Though they were able to bring most of Equestria’s magic back, there was one thing that was on all of their minds.
“S-She didn’t… oh Celestia, she didn’t actually get sucked in, did she?” Sandbar began panicking.
“Sandbar, I hate to say it, but I saw it happen too.” Ocellus rubbed her front right hoof sadly.
“Yona can confirm.” Yona nodded frantically.
“Counselor Starlight… actually got sucked into a portal…” Gallus’ eyes were wide with shock.
The students didn’t know how it happened, one minute they were helping evacuate students from the catacombs so they could get the artifacts to save the magic of Equestria, and the next second, Starlight is screaming for her life and getting sucked into a portal to another dimension. They tried to save her by using the artifacts but all they could do was bring back the magic.
Starlight was gone.
“At least magic is back.” Silverstream tried to brighten the mood but she could not have chosen a worse time.
“Yeah! But at what cost?!” Smolder said angrily, “How are we gonna explain this to Headmare Twilight!”
“You ruined everything!” Cozy Glow’s voice was heard from behind them, mane and tail with their tips burnt, “Now Twilight and her ridiculous friends can escape from Tartarus.”
Right on cue, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Spike all appeared, glaring furiously at Cozy Glow when they saw her which caused her eyes to go as wide as saucers before putting on a phony smile, “I mean… yay. All my friends are safe.”
“You can drop the act, Cozy Glow! Your pen pal Tirek told us all about how he helped you suck up all that magic!” Applejack lectured furiously.
“But I still don’t understand why.” Twilight said, hurt and betrayed by the child’s actions.
Cozy Glow growled before smirking, “Why?! Because friendship is power! You might be the Princess of Friendship, but as headmare of this school, I can collect even more friends than you!”
Twilight sighed sadly, “You're the one who doesn't get it, Cozy. Friendship is powerful, but power isn't why you make friends. I'm sorry I couldn't teach you that.”
“You definitely taught us though.” Gallus said reassuringly, after all, he might as well soften the eventual blow that would soon come.
“You can’t one bad apple think you failed.” Silverstream added kindly.
“Besides, we couldn’t have stopped her if it weren’t for what you taught us about friendship.” Sandbar pointed out.
“Oh yeah. Well what’s the point of friendship when you don’t HAVE all your friends with you?!” Cozy Glow snickered malevolently.
The Young Six immediately widened their eyes at this, they knew exactly what she was talking about, while the Mane Six and Spike were confused.
“What are you talking about?” Rainbow Dash asked angrily, already annoyed with the psychotic filly.
“Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Do you not realize one of your bestest friends is missing when it’s right in front of you?! You’re more idiotic than I thought.” Cozy Glow said with nothing but pure joy.
It took a few moments for Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity a bit to figure it out but to Twilight and Spike, it hit them immediately.
“Starlight!” Twilight gasped in horror.
“What did you do to her?!” Spike asked, nostrils flaring with rage, Starlight was not his bestest friend but they were very close, if Cozy had hurt her, he would not hesitate to advocate for a harsh punishment from Celestia.
“Oh, all I did was trap her in a magic orb that sucked her into another dimension, nothing TOO serious.” Cozy Glow said not so innocently.
“You did what?!” Fluttershy said, shaken from the core at what she just heard.
“Where is she?!” Spike asked incredulously.
“Heck if I know. I just knew the magic of Equestria would go somewhere.” Cozy Glow shrugged uncaringly.
Twilight felt her life flash before her eyes when she heard that. Starlight Glimmer, her former pupil and one of her best friends in Equestria, was gone.
Why? Why did she not see through Cozy Glow sooner? Why did she leave Starlight alone with her? Why?!
“I see you’re speechless. I guess I got something out of my plan.” Cozy Glow snickered malevolently to which Spike breathed fire at her to make her back away.
“Shut. Up.” Spike said lowly, fists forming with his knuckles shaking furiously.
“Oh, and what are you going to do? Claw me to submission?” Cozy Glow said tauntingly.
However, her bravado soon faded as Celestia, Luna, and Chancellor Neighsay made it to school grounds while royal guards flew everywhere and restrained Cozy Glow, much to her protest as she was led away from the premises.
Celestia was the first to notice Twilight’s tearful gaze and softly approached her.
“Twilight? Are you okay?” Celestia asked carefully.
“I’m-I’m fine. I… need a minute.” Twilight smiled, though it was clearly forced as she teleported away from the scene and into her castle bedroom.
Twilight then let herself cry, tears flowing from her eyes as she put her hooves over her face.
She didn’t care that she left her friends on the field, she didn’t care if she looked unprofessional in front of her students and the princesses by leaving so suddenly, and she didn’t care for what would happen to Cozy Glow.
All Twilight cared about was the loss that she just suffered.
“She’s gone. She’s gone and it’s all my fault.” Twilight said sadly.
Starlight didn’t know where she was, but all she knew was that it was dark and blurry. She tried using her horn to emit some light but all she got was a small bit of light.
When her vision finally cleared, she realized where she was. She was in some sort of dark room with suitcases and a bunch of stuff everywhere.
“Wh-Where am I?” Starlight whimpered to herself, she had no idea what was happening.
She then thought back to moments earlier, she was trapped in Cozy Glow’s magic orb and the students came to save her. And then….
She fell in a portal.
Starlight gasped, she was in another dimension? No, this couldn’t be right? This just couldn’t?!
“Twilight! Spike!” Starlight called out in desperation as she ran across the room, she doubted she would find them but a gut instinct told her she could. She had to.
“Please. Is any creature here?” Starlight begged quietly before letting herself break out into silent sobs, it finally dawned upon her.
She was alone. Just when she was finally getting her life back together, she was back to where she began.
All alone.
Suddenly a gruff voice was heard speaking, “Who’s in here?”
The door soon opened and out came a tall dark and muscular man dressed in a chef’s outfit. Starlight knew this was a human from her experiences in Sunset’s world but this human did not look like others. He too, was shocked by Starlight’s appearance.
“A unicorn?” The man asked in shock, “I thought they were a myth.”
“Who are you?” Starlight asked fearfully.
“You speak too. Well, I’m Chef Norbert Hatchet, but my friends call me Chef but enough small talk. You’re coming with me.” The man known as Chef said angrily.
“No wait, please. I can explain, I just need you to-“ Starlight began before Chef took out a pole and shot out a dart, hitting Starlight’s neck, making her woozy.
“Calm down.” Starlight yawned before plopping on the ground, unconscious.
Chef looked down at the sleeping mare and felt a bit of sympathy for her, the girl was clearly confused about what was going on and something told him that she wasn’t from here.
“I gotta speak to Chris about this. He’ll wanna know about this… unicorn.” Chef said, clearly weirded out by the situation he was in.