I can barely stand, what is this? Where is the grassland? This concrete at my hooves...The prison. Discord! I will smash him, I...This cannot be. My arms are limp, my muscles, gone. This is not how the son of King Vorak should be.
“I am Lord Tirek!”
Do you hear me, father? I am not weak! I am not...weak. If that is true, then why did Cadance, Princess of the Crystal Empire, not even flinch? Is it my feeble voice? This isn’t right! I am a Centaur of Noble birth! Yet she sits there, with that look in her eyes. Mocking me! That same pitying look Scorpan had! How dare she look down on me! I am Lord Tirek, Son of King Vorak, Pride of the Centaur Army! I am not weak!
“I will devour yo- what?”
Why is she pointing at that brat on the throne...She can’t be serious. Is that tiny little thing her successor?
“I am Lord Tirek! I have lain waste to thousands! I will not bandy words with such a weak individual...Stronger than you? That child?...Princess Flurry Heart? I could devour her magic in an instant!... You dare challenge me, so be it! Come here, brat!”
Ha! That was easy...Too easy. The guards haven’t moved a muscle and her own mother seems unconcerned. No matter, I’ll steal her magic and...Nothing’s happening. She is just smiling at me almost like she’s happy. What is this?
“Why can’t I steal your magic?... Not part of the Harmony? Hope?...Grrr. Well, your mother is under no such protection...Urghh!”
That hurt! I flew at least twenty hoof-lengths. How is this possible? She barely kicked me, how could the Princess of Love cause so much pain? I, Lord Tirek, brought to kneel before lowly ponies? How can this be?
“200 years since we last fought?... I see. You’ve made some magical advancements since then. Then why...Your daughter...A room for me?... So be it, Princess. I shall comply, for now.”
***
No doubt, I’ll be locked away in a cage again; like some common criminal. What is this? A feathered bed? A nightstand? Even a radio?... Is this some trick? Am I not a prisoner?
“...Is it to my liking? I...Not bad, though I wonder why...A guest? Do you think me so pathetic?... Yes, strength is important to me...You would set up a special area for me to train? For what purpose?...Because it makes me happy? I...What is this?... If I get hungry, just ring this bell?... You’ve instructed your staff to treat me like a royal guest?... Alright. Tomorrow we can talk. I grow weary, and I am quite tired. Good night, Princess.”
Does she think me a fool? A guest...Clearly an attempt to get me to lower my defenses. I am not so easily distracted, child. I’ll break free and slaughter you all, the second I get a chance. I am Lord Tirek! Not some weak-willed pony.
No doubt she has guards outside this wooden door. I shall expose this farce...There’s nopony here. No guards, nothing stopping me from leaving...A Maid! I’ll drain her of her magic and...Why aren’t I grabbing her?
“What?...towels? No, I have enough...Am I hungry? I suppose I could...Anything I desire?... The Princess said anything...I-
Grab her! Drain her magic, escape! What am I doing?
“I- One double-decker hayburger with the works and a bowl of strawberries...Thank-that’s all. Begone.”
***
These aren’t so bad and that burger really hit the spot. What’s wrong with me? Why couldn’t I do it? Why didn’t I drain that Earthpony?
This bed feels great, soft and warm, like that child's smile. That child, She didn’t leave any guards...Was that brat serious when she said I was a guest? What if she really isn’t trying to deceive me? I am Lord Tirek! I am no ally to ponies, but then...why couldn’t I do it?
“Urgh! I am Lord Tirek!”
I’m just tired. That’s all. I care not for these comforts provided by ponies. I’m just using them to recover. Nothing more. This pillow feels nice and cool. Maybe after a little rest, I can think more clearly about my escape. She mentioned a training area.
“I am...Lord...Tirek.”
What kind of training area does she have in mind, I wonder?
“...zzz.”
Tirek is adjusting remarkably fast, I must say. Soon he'll be joining Celestia and Luna in the retirement home.
Are the trio being released separately? I assume so because they aren't acknowledging each other. I wonder how long it'll be ti'll they finally meet again.
That is quite a bit longer then I expected.
Wow, now he has at least a proper prison cell's worth of commodities!
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Actually, all at once, Cozyglow acknowledges this...however, they never really cared for each other, only the ends to which their alliance could bring them, so like the self-centered individuals they are, they are more focused on themselves and those addressing them, to talk to each other...currently anyway. No spoilers for what may be.
Appreciate your thoughts. Just wanted to clear that up.
Okay, the author turned three legendary Equestria villains into complete degenerates. Class I just don't have the words. Each of them would know perfectly well what she wants from them. Each of them would clearly understand what Flury Hart wants from him. After all, this is exactly what ponies do "infect friendship", this is what they did to Discord and many other villains, and these three are well aware of this.
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I have read your comments, and I feel you missed the alternative universe tag. This was never intended to be exact canon. This is meant to be a story of regret, remorse, self-doubt, and eventual understanding, though eventually a descent into madness is caused by tunnel vision. 200 years have passed since they were sealed. A mindset can change.
now as far as canon is concerned; Chrysalis has a history of self loathing and regret. Take a look at the scene where Starlight reaches out to her and she disregards the offer on the cliffs edge. The look on her face wavers ever so slightly as if she were thinking "Am I wrong?"
Cozy Glow is a brilliant mastermind and actress, true. However, she has the mindset of a true child. She never understood friendship, she simply performed the actions that she was told friendship represented and assumed this was the way to gain power like her idol, the Princess of Friendship. She tried her best to emulate Twilight, she never truly grasped the meaning behind those actions.
Tirek's mindset was purely a result of his father's doctrine, though not explained fully in gen four, Skorpan and Vorad are well expressed in Ponytales. I am fully aware of the canon behind each and every character of MLP:FIM. And it is wonderful you enjoy the canon as well; however, this tale was never meant to be canon, more a what if scenario.