> The Price of Freedom
>  by kahnac
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Meeting in Tartarus
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been almost a year since Twilight had arrived at the gates of Tartarus, itself. In that time, she had returned the straggling gate-keeper, Cerberus, to his post in the dark domain. It was a rough journey, but it seemingly paid off in the end. Unfortunately, due to the present crisis of their world losing magic in all its forms (all living creatures, followed by all magical artifacts), she found herself returning to this infernal domain once again.

But thankfully, she was not alone this time.

Thanks to a suggestion brought up by the young pegasus filly, Cozy Glow, who was made her friendship assistant, Twilight Sparkle made the decision to go back to Tartarus, and after analyzing the situation with the princesses, decided to bring all of her friends, minus Starlight Glimmer who was left in charge of her school, to help her. The plan was simple: go into Tartarus, and make sure Tirek was still in the dark realm. And if he was, interrogate him for information. It would be an interesting endeavor, given this would be the second time Twilight would actually enter the cavernous prison. Thankfully, she wouldn’t have to go in alone.

And despite a harrowing walk to the Gate, involving a lack of magic bringing up some inconveniences, the seven friends soon arrived. Standing in the side of a mountain, up a single flight of stairs, a huge pair of stone doors bearing glowing, red glyph’s towered over the group like a giant monolith. In front of them, sticking in the doors like some manner of cork was a square-shaped slab with four smaller squares on each end, in a diamond-shape position. The material itself looked like a pale aqua circuit board, bearing a gaping hole on the bottom. Seeing it brought a great sense of relief to the princess. “This is the only door to Tartarus. The good news is the seal isn’t broken. So we know Tirek didn’t escape....” she trailed off, raising a hoof to her chin in thought. The other friends knew this meant there was something else she was about to mention.

“Lemme guess: you got bad news, too.” Applejack inquired, as if she expected this from her friend.

“The last time I was here, I had to use magic to get in, according to Starswirl, all unicorn magic was gone by yesterdays sunset.” Twilight answered, looking dejected.

Wanting to be at least a little helpful, Rainbow suggested, “Maybe he was wrong.”

Though she had her doubts, Twilight knew it could be possible. And it was at least worth a try to get inside. So she did her best to produce her own magic, giving a strained groan as she made the attempt. But she sighed in disappointment when all she could produce was an inkling of a magical spark. Before she could say anything, Pinkie went up to her side, and said, “Don’t worry, Twilight. I got this.” With such confidence, right before she posed as a pizza delivery pony crossed with a mascot wearing a pizza slice over her head, and a hair net. She even produced a pizza box from the satchel on her side as she knocked on the huge door. But she got confused when no answer came. “Huh. Always worked before. Oh, well.” She said passively, tossing the box away.

“Did any a y’all pack anything that could actually help?” Applejack asked. A good question, which earned the response of the ponies all searching in their satchels for anything be of benefit. At first, it din’t appear as if anything would be any help at all. Even Rarity admitted as she pulled out her sewing materials, “These all do magic - but not the kind we’re looking for, i’m afraid.

Suddenly, Spike found something in his bag that he never noticed before. “Hey, how about this?” What he brought out was an aqua, and gold cone with a ring held at its round base.  Twilight’s expression brightened as he actually recognized the item in question. “The Key of Unfettered Entrance! Where did you find this, Spike?”

“In your bag. Cozy Glow must have packed it for you.” Spike said, handing it over to a happy-faced Twilight. “She really did think of everything. “

“Um....what does it do?” Fluttershy asked.

“It can magically open any door. And since artifacts like this haven’t lost their power, yet.....” The key was quickly placed in the hole of the lock, proving a perfect fit. As soon as it was in, it hummed while transferring its energy to the lock, giving the item a bright, blue glow which filled all of it up, including the other squares. All four began clicking, and turning in a full 180 degree angle, and unlocked the Gate. Both doors swung wide open to reveal the dark, and foreboding inside of the cavernous prison. But when Twilight went to reach for the Key in the hopes of using it again to exit the prison, it completely shattered on impact, and turned to dust to the ponies and dragon’s surprise. “I guess it only works once.” said Twilight, with a clear hint of confusion, and concern in her tone. But she, and the others pressed on, knowing they’d worry about departure later. Once all seven of them were inside, the wide-open gate immediately shut on them. All of them left in a state of perpetual darkness without any magic to light up their way. Which is how they got easily startled by a hissing Cockatrice appearing in their sights. All of them exclaimed in fright, and shut their eyes as tightly as possible.

“Cockatrice!” Exclaimed Applejack.

“Do something, Fluttershy!” Rarity exclaimed, too.

“Don’t look at it! It’ll turn you to stone!” Rainbow Dash also exclaimed

All of them unaware of Pinkie Pie nervously smiling as she foolishly stared at the avian monster. But after 10 seconds of looking, followed by the animal’s roar, Pinkie noticed how unaffected she was. Even hopping up and down with her usual flair upon realizing she was safe. “I don’t feel like stone.......unless it’s really bouncy.” After Pinkie’s funny statement, everypony began to get their nerves back, and dared to also look at the stone-making monstrosity. When they did, all they saw was the Cockatrice in a cage, slithering in circles in a depressed, and rather bleak manner that showed it had lost its own flare. Fluttershy, feeling sympathy for the creature, gently rubbed its side, saying, “Maybe he’s lost his magic, too.” Right before the sound of other animals moaning caught their attention. “All the creatures here must have.” Light suddenly began to appear in the domain, and unveiled numerous mythical beasts in cages. The Bugbear, a Yeti, Chimera, Manticore, Malworth and numerous others sat in cages. All of them dejected, and sad because of their weakened state adding to their imprisonment. The pitiful sight only earning them sympathy from the visiting ponies. “Starswirl said that would happen on the second day.” Twilight said, growing more and more concerned for the situation.

“I know it should make me feel safer, but.....it just makes me sad.” Spike admitted, feeling for the poor creatures in the cages. “We gotta fix this!”

Twilight looked to the creatures one last time. She knew Spike was right, and that they had to do something to end this nightmare. Without magic, their world would truly become despondent, and eventually fall to ruin. So she, and the others continued on with new determination. As they walked, Pinkie went up to a horned beast, and attempted to make it smile while saying, “If all these monsters lost their magic, getting past Cerberus should be easy-peasy!” Only to be disappointed when the poor thing slumped back into its depression. Suddenly, the sound of heavy foot-falls approached the group, and Rainbow Dash was first to notice the approaching goliath. “LOOK OUT!” All of the girls screamed as Cerberus ran past them, after almost stomping on them, and began moving around in a restless manner. It appeared the 3 headed dog had grown bored and was attempting to entertain himself by sprinting around the prison. Unfortunately, he ended up becoming an obstruction by doing this. Fortunately, they had Fluttershy to help settle him down. “I’ll talk to him.” She said, flying up to the 3 heads - the left, and middle growling at her, while the right had its tongue hanging out. When she spoke, however, they paid her actual mind. “Um, excuse me, puppy!” She said in a high, friendly tone which she used to talk to, and play with any young animals she cared for. “You are a very good guard dog, yes you are!” she baby-talked, rubbing the middle heads muzzle, and gaining satisfied growls from the beast, as all heads focused on her. “But, um, we were wondering if we could get by to check on Tirek?” she asked nice, and sweetly.  Cerberus growled in confusion very briefly....but then he began lapping her up with his 3 tongues, now fully remembering the pink maned mare from the last time they met. “That looks like a yes.” Aj said, feeling relieved, though the group almost got hit by random slobber from the massive hound, still licking the giggling pony.

“I’ll get you a towel, darling!” Rarity said loudly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After Fluttershy had her fun, Cerberus guided the entourage to the narrow path leading the prison peak which held a large, iron cage. The very cage they had created when the power they used to vanquish Tirek banished him back here, after ripping his stolen magic away. The path was a bit of a climb, as the peak stood high above them. Admittedly, the girls, and Spike, were a little nervous to do this, given how their last encounter with the prisoner they were about to face was their most harrowing experience to date. He almost brought all of Equestria to ruin, and would have almost succeeded in his conquest, and reign of destruction had they not found the power to stop him. But he was a weak, and frail creature now, based on what they remembered of his defeat. And since they, themselves, had no more magic in them, he couldn’t use it to escape. By all means they were safe from the wizened old centaur.

But when they finally reached the summit of the peak, and saw the shadowy silhouette of the demonic centaur, they began to notice something odd. He didn’t seem to be as thin, and weak as they recall. In fact, he was standing up tall, and strong with his arms crossed behind his back. The bull-horns he had in his second, and final form were visible to them, which was confusing given his relative size hadn’t changed. He even seemed to have a flow of hair hanging from his head instead of a mohawk streak. He also seemed to be wearing something in his cell, based on the curved things resting on his shoulders. It was all too clear something was up. He soon noticed their approach, and turned around to face them. His yellow eyes no longer pin-pricks in empty sockets, but fully encompassing his eyes with no pupils at all. And when he spoke, his voice was deep, brisk, and powerful. Just as it was when he regained his strength, and youth.

”Well, well, well: the Princess of Friendship here for a visit?” he mock bowed, holding the end of some manner of cape on his left hand while draping it over himself. “And what have I don’t to earn the honor of you, and your entourage’s company?”

“We want answers, Tirek! Magic is disappearing all across.....Equestria........” Twilight’s words died in her throat as she, and her friends gaped at the imposing figure of Tirek. While he retained the size of his older, weak form, his form itself was anything but. His skin a bright red, and his fur a pure black. The white hair that made up his beard was a few inches longer, and on the top of his head was a full mane of white hair instead of that hilarious mohawk resembling a guard’s helmet. Directly in the middle of fully extended, razor-sharp bull horns that almost touched the roof of his cage. And his eyes were completely yellow, with absolutely no pupils at all, which only added menace to the knowing, fang-filled grin he was showing. Yet what was more odd, and striking was the onyx armor he wore on his torso while a pair of curved Spaulders pointing upwards in their horn-shaped visage rested on his shoulders. Hooked by a golden lace was a short black, and red cape which hung behind him with a hint of wind flowing through it. He also had a waist guard lined with grey metal, along with shin guards for his legs. And on both arms were a pair of silver gauntlets which seemed to shimmer, even in this dark cavern. It was unbelievable seeing Tirek like this, and only added further fuel to their suspicions......as well as their growing concern, since they were unsure how strong the centaur was.

“I know!” Tirek said with wicked glee, picking up on the group’s nervousness. “And it’s such a waste of-” he slurped his lips as he hungrily hummed. “delicious magic!” he then flailed his rather large tongue out of his predatory maw, hissing like a reptile, to the girls, and Spike’s discomfort. It only took a moment before Tirek addressed the obvious elephant in the room. “Tell me, though: do you like my new appearance? A bit rustic for my normal taste, but for some reason the suit speaks to me. Almost as if I wore something like this in another life.” he hummed.

“Well, let me tell you something, Tirek.” Rarity actually spoke up, giving her own thoughts to Tirek’s attire. “Gothic armor is so passe’ this time around. You’d be better off wearing a rugged hoofball uniform to make your appearance even come close to appealing!” she stated, trying to insult the great centaur.....not wanting to admit that the armored look he had seemed to fit his appearance. Instead of annoyance, Tirek showed amusement through a brief chuckle he had. “And you must be the “Rarity” pony Discord last mentioned. He did say you were an influence over his love of “good accessories”.” He then smirked. “A shame it was an abysmal influence from a tasteless mare.” That got the reaction he wanted, and Rarity actually stammered in abject shock and anger. “Tasteless?!” she almost shrieked. “Why you uncouth, brutish-!”

“Simmer down, Rarity.” AJ said to her fashionista friend, trying to keep things as settled as possible. “Don’t let ‘im get ya riled up. That’s just what ‘e wants.” She cast a brief glare at the centaur, who continued smirking his evil smirk, and held his arms behind his back. Twilight, however, wasn’t interested in any games the centaur wanted to play, and addressed the issue he brought up further. “Explain yourself, Tirek! How is it you look like this when we took away all the magic you stole? We all saw you go back to an old centaur!”

“And i’m sure you’d love to see me in such a weakened state, wouldn’t you?” Tirek inquired. “You princesses always enjoy  lording over those weaker than you, and my being an elder would only add to that incredible obsession.” Seeing the mare only continued to glare, he sighed, and answered. “Yes, I WAS reduced to an old, and withered state following our last encounter. And it was anything but an amusing experience. I probably would have stayed like that forever......had I not been given a special gift of a mystical persuasion.”

“So you are behind the magic disappearing!” Rainbow accused. “That’s why you look all buffed up, isn’t it?”

Tirek huffed, and said, “Silly filly: if I had all that incredible magic, do you think i’d still be locked up in this place?” He then knocked on his chest plate, and explained what his armor was. “Although physical evidence would show otherwise, I am no stronger than I was in the second form I took, which lead to my gaining the power to drain flight from Pegasi. Enough to keep me strong, but not enough to let me escape. This armor holds the power to let me soak up the magical essence of the very world around me, and hold it. Since there’s so little here in Tartarus, it was just enough to maintain my present form. All of the magic I currently hold stays in me, protected from any outside forces that could sap it away by the alloy I wear.” He lightly grumbled, “And as such, I remain a hapless captive of this accursed realm. So no, you worthless nag: I’m not behind your magical famine.” The girls gave each other questioning glances. Even though all he said made some sense, they were still unsure if what he was saying was the absolute truth. Unfortunately, there was no way they could be sure.

“But.......I may know something about it.” Tirek openly admitted, grasping the bars of his cage with a knowing smile.

This sparked a hopeful sensation in the girls, and prompted Twilight to ask, “Then tell us, where is Equestria’s magic going, Tirek? What’s making it disappear?” Instead of answering, TIrek merely stroked his beard, and chuckled in delight. “Maybe if you let me out of this cage, I could be inclined to remember.” He then leaned threatening close to Twilight with that sickening grin of his. “What do you say, Princess: you scratch my back......and I scratch yours?”

A rude tugging on his beard drew the centaur’s attention to Rainbow Dash, who was pulling his face to hers while holding his beard. “How about you tell us, or else you’ll be trapped here forever because we’re all out of magic, and nopony can open the door?” The minute she let go of him, the centaur’s lips parted into a beastial snarl - the same kind as a wild predator who was just yanked by the tail. The others noticed, except for Rainbow, who watched as the centaur returned to his full height while glaring at the pegasus......and then punched her right in the nose, and sent her back towards her friends. “Rainbow!” Applejack exclaimed, as they all surrounded the pegasus to make sure she was okay. Luckily, there was no lasting damage aside from her repeated sniffling. “It’s okay, guys, i’m fine - just a real good sucker punch.” She, and the others, returned Tirek’s glare with their own, before he said, “But perhaps you might get something worse the next time any of you lay your filthy hooves on me! I might not be at the height of my glory, but I can still tear you apart from behind these bars.” His arms crossed his chest. “I only refrain from it because there isn’t any point. As they smart mouthed pegasus stated: noone in this room is capable of opening the gate of this accursed prison. Which means there is no way out for any of us.”

This got the girls real startled. “Oh, my. I never even thought of that.” Rarity said.

“You mean we’re just as trapped as Tirek?” Spike asked in a tone which betrayed the feeling of panic he had growing in his heart. Hearing the fear, and worry in their voices only made the centaur chuckle in fiendish delight. He had turned his back on the ponies before, but returned to face them all. His next insulting statement making Twilight glare at him. “What a pity - well, for you. Sweet revenge for me. It already appears my little apprentice’s plan was a success after all.”

Everyone gasped in complete shock, before AJ stepped forth and demanded, “Which little apprentice?”

“Actually, we’ve never met in person: we’re pen-pals. It turns out she knew of me, and of my own mystic prowess. Thus she asked me to take her on as an apprentice, and, in return, she would work to gain the means of exacting revenge against all of my enemies. How could I possibly resist the opportunity to take on my own student?” Tirek chuckled deeply as he said, “And she’s such a studious mind, and a quick study. It appears I was able to teach her all that I could for what she was capable of doing. Each of her letters had so many questions revolved around the power of draining magic.” The menacing centaur ran his claw along one of his cell’s bars. “And even the ability to manipulate Space, itself, to a lesser degree.”

“And you answered them?” Pinkie asked in her high pitched voice, actually hanging onto the bars of the cage, and leaning towards Tirek. Unfortunately for her, he also had no meaning of personal space, and began leaning towards her in a creepy manner as he said, “Well, I was bored. And as I said: it’s an enticing thing having an apprentice of your own. One to mold, and shape in your own image. So I did only what was natural, taught her everything she now knows, and then pointed my little apprentice in the right direction.” Tirek leaned so close to the freaked out Pie, that he caused her to lose her grip, and fall back down as he smiled. He then laughed, “And here’s the real treat: she was so grateful for all that I taught her that she actually opened a one-way portal to my cell with the information I gave her,” his gaze falling on his armor, “that instead of a traditional apple on my desk, she gave me my armor.”

“Hang on a second.” Spike spoke. “This “apprentice” of yours: she was the one who got you that armored suit?” He began scratching the side of his head in confusion. “But.....how did she open a portal directly to you? There’s no way whoever she is could actually make a portal as accurate as that!”

“And yet she did.” Tirek replied with a hint of pride in his voice. “I already mentioned she was a quick study. How else do you think she was able to send this to me? Much less infuse it with a magic spell which returned me to the prime of my youth?” Then he sighed in disappointment. “It’s only a shame the amount she put into this armor is so limited. Then I could have escaped from this accursed dungeon on my own. Oh, well.” He shrugged. “I’m only amazed she was able to make armor comprised of the Changeling’s dark throne.....or rather, its rubble, anyway.” Once again, the ponies were left to gasp in shock. “Chrysalis’ throne?!” Twilight exclaimed. “But that’s impossible! Thorax told me he disposed of its remains after Chrysalis was driven away! And it shouldn’t have any powers left in the state it was in!”

“But the proof is right here, in front of your muzzles.” Suddenly, a familiar, fiery orb of magic appeared in between Tirek’s horns, which then seemed to interact with the armor, itself. Glowing, red runes shining as Tirek seemed to gather some small tint of energy from the very air around him. After half a minute, he sighed deeply while cutting off his spell. “It appears that the material of the Dark Stone goes very well with my own abilities: like Changelings, we are fellow parasites.” He chuckled boisterously. “My apprentice managed to soak up enough magic with the armor she created to give me an energy boost. I was only surprised when I found it had a spell to replenish my original strength from before I came to Equestria. The armor itself has been soaking up what little magic there is surrounding me, and ensuring it never escapes my body. I am actually protected from my protege’s cursed spell, and have enough power to sustain myself. Added to her diabolical plan, I told her I couldn’t be any more proud of her wicked, and devious intellect. My black heart was blessed the day I received her first letter.”

Once Tirek finally ended his monologuing , Fluttershy asked, “Can’t you just tell us your pen-pal’s name? I mean, since we are stuck here anyway?”

“Oh, why not? The irony is just too perfect!” He grinned with vile glee. 

“Her name is.........”

All seven of the friends leaned in closer to hear what he was going to say. Curious to know who Tirek would actually be willing to consider a protege’, and take on as an apprentice. Whoever it was must be a true deviant, or have some reason for doing so. Tirek even leaned closer to the ponies as far as he could reach, letting his lips hang open to appear as though he was about to speak. Seconds passed by, and still he said nothing. Rainbow Dash grew impatient. “Well? We’re waiting, horn head.” Instead of actually speaking, the mouth of the evil centaur closed, and formed a malicious smirk of amusement. “On second thought.....if you idiots cannot figure out the obvious, then I see no reason to indulge you.” he said, turning his back on the group.

“WHAT?!” They all exclaimed.

“Now wait a horse-pickin’ minute!” Applejack said angrily. “We’re already trapped in here with ya. There ain’t no need to throw us fer a loop!”

“Maybe not.....but I choose to do so, irregardless.”

“Oh, yeah?!” Rainbow exclaimed, actually banging on the cage bars in a threatening manner. “Well, how about we bust into that cage, and MAKE you tell us? You’re not as tough as you used to be, so you better quit the tough act, or we-” Suddenly, a familiar, orange glow enveloped the cyan pegasus in midair, forcing her limbs together. With her head darting around frantically, and her friends calling out to her, Rainbow looked to the one responsible for doing this - Tirek, with his right hand in a throttling position as his magic surged in his horns. And on his face was a look of incredible anger. “Already forgetting who has the magic around here, you idiotic nag?! I may not be as powerful as I was when I faced your little princess here - but as you all stand completely powerless in this realm, I still stand as your superior.” He then began to slowly close his fist, making Rainbow feel a squeezing sensation which caused her to grunt in pain. “So I suggest you kindly show me the respect I deserve.......or i’ll do what I should have done when I last had you in m clutches!” He then threw his arm from side to side, and made Rainbow slam into both rocky walls surrounding the cage, much to her friends concern. He then brought her back to the front of his cage, and said, “Arrogance, as i’ve learned, is a dangerous aspect that leads to a crushing experience when one lets it run wild. Best learn that in the future, little pony.” And then he dropped her like a bag of dirt. While the impact did hurt, it didn’t cause any permanent damage. Just left her dazed, and bruised. Now, while the ponies and Spike were happy she was alright, Twilight was anything BUT happy with the way Tirek had just treated her friend. But before she could shout at the oversized villain, he spoke. “Now, if you REALLY want to know who my apprentice is, then you’ll have to actually think. To begin, ask yourselves why you are here in Tartarus in the first place.”

“Pfft! That’s silly! You’re silly, Tirek!” Pinkie giggled. “We already know why we’re here: all the magic in equestria is slowly disappearing, and we have to figure out why it is before-”

“No, not that reason!” Tirek exclaimed in annoyance. “We already know your “prime directive”. The actual question is: why did you come here?”

“Because.....we thought you had something to do with the disappearing magic.” Spike admitted.

“Mhmm. Not bad. Now...why did you all think I was responsible?”

“Cause yer the only one anypony knows who can take away magic.” Applejack said, glaring at the centaur.

“But HOW....did you come to think I had a hand in this? What gave you the idea to begin with?”

Twilight herself began to reflect aloud, “Well, after the incident with our Cloudsdale class, and then the trouble with our own magic, one of my students mentioned you to us, and-” A few seconds later, realization struck. Tirek’s smile grew wider as Twilight’s eyes did the same. “It-...it couldn’t be! That’s impossible!”

“Twilight, darling, what is it?” Rarity asked. “Do you know who it is?”

“She does.” Tirek said with a coy smile. “It’s only the issue of acceptance which prevents her from fully registering the harsh reality which lays before her. Either way, it remains the truth, no matter how much she dislikes it.” The alicorn looked up to Tirek once more. A fearful, hopeful look in her eyes as she feared the answer. “It seems impossible, but....... she was the one who brought it up, and ultimately sent us here. Tirek.....is it really who I think it is?”

“Indeed: my apprentice....is named Cozy Glow.”
> An offer nopony can refuse
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Cozy Glow is the one behind all this?!” Twilight shouted in complete disbelief.

“Surprising, isn’t it?” Tirek asked in a rather smug tone. “I’m not usually all too fond of ponies.....but I must admit, even a coal mine produces a lustrous diamond if you dig hard enough. And stealing all of Equestria’s precious magic in order to trap the six of you down here was truly inspiring!” he laughed proudly, and loud enough to echo throughout the cavern. Spike, however, didn’t appreciate part of his statement. “Uh..there’s seven of us?”

Tirek raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? I didn’t know pets counted.”

SPike growled in anger, but before he could respond, or retaliate, Twilight dashed past him in a frantic hurry. All she could think about was how a filly she had so easily trusted because of how nice, and willing to learn about friendship she seemed to be. It hardly seemed possible she could have been playing them all along. But not that she considered it, even though it came from the mouth of a figurative demon, it all made too much sense. Now she knew they HAD to leave at once. “I knew I shouldn’t have left!”

“Starlight’s in charge of the school.” Applejack consoled while running beside Twilight. “If anypony can stop Cozy Glow, it’s her.”

“HA! PLEASE!” Tirek shouted to the running group, who just passed the causeway of his prison peak. “COZY GLOW MANAGED TO OUTSMART THE SIX OF YOU! I DOUBT THIS “STARLIGHT” STANDS A CHANCE!” And he let loose another bout of triumphant laughter, which instilled a sense of dread, and urgency in the ponies and dragon. “We have to get out of here! Her students can’t handle Cozy on their own!” Twilight said.

“Then I guess we’ll just have to bust our way out!” Rainbow exclaimed, right before taking off to the air, and circling around to charge at the gate. Before any of the others could yell at her to stop, she sped towards the door with a rear hoof outstretched. Fully intending to kick down the massive, stone slabs barring escape. What she got instead was a face full of stone when she slammed right into the door. Slowly sliding back down to the ground like an insect after smashing into a window. She lightly groaned in pain as her friends surrounded her, rubbing her head with a hoof. “That didn’t work.” she groaned again.

“Not everything can be solved with brute force, darling.” Rarity said. “We need magic to escape.” And she helped up the tomboyish pony to her hooves.Suddenly, Pinkie got into an excitable mood, and began to spout, “Maybe there's a way to get out without magic. Like a secret lever or a secret button or a secret admirer who knows a secret about you but is all, "Your secret's safe with me because I put it in Tartarus and I have a key!"!”

“I’m afraid not.” Twilight sadly said, turning back to the gate. “The most powerful villains and monsters of all time are trapped here. And without our magic, so are we.” A whine from Cerberus earned Twilight’s attention. And as she observed the massive canine, she began thinking of something: unlike the other monsters in their cages, and aside from Tirek, Cerberus was the only creature who was fit, and had his strength. Maybe it was due to the magical nature of his being, but he was still going strong, even with Cozy Glows’ spell occurring. Thinking about it sparked an idea in the alicorn’s mind, and sparked hope for her, and the others. “Unless... These creatures might be losing their magical powers, but there's still a magic that makes up what they are. Maybe we can borrow some of that.”

Tirek heard everything Twilight said, watching as the other ponies grew more positive. It appears the girls now had a means of escaping this infernal prison. But instead of getting angry at the idea of his apprentice’s plan to trap them failing, he appeared to be......smiling? “Oh, how I love when everything goes according to plan.” he chuckled.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A while later, and the girls somehow produced a bouncy ball in order to play with Cerberus. Undoubtedly produced by Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rainbow were busy keeping the 3 headed canine occupied and happy, while she began preparing to set her plan in motion. Fluttershy, however, had some small feeling of doubt surrounding the plan. “Um, are you sure there's magic in Cerberus? Clarissa the pig has two tails, and while her singing voice is lovely, I don't think it's magical.”

“We need to try everything if we want to get out of here.” Twilight said with determination, and resolve.

“I don’t know.” Pinkie said, holding a marshmallow on a stick right next to the Chimera. “Tartarus isn't so bad. I could hang out here for a while!” At least she thought so, before the goat head shot a torrent of flame which almost burned off her head. Instead, her marshmallow ended up roasted - before the goat head promptly chomped it in one gulp. “Eh. Maybe not forever though.”

“Unfortunately for all of you, it appears to be that way.” Tirek said aloud. “If my apprentice has taken my teachings to heart, then by sunset tonight, she will have cast the spell which has drawn in Equestria’s magic, and use it to banish it into the either forever.” The way Tirek spoke surprised the mane six, and Spike. They expected him to sound alot more gloatful, and happy about this plan he keeps mentioning. But for some reason, he remained reserved, and with little enthusiasm. Still, Twilight couldn’t help but be bothered by the plan he, and Cozy Glow had set up, and flew up to his cage to inquire about it. “Have you even thought about losing magic would mean?”

Tirek knew what she was inquiring, but he indulged her, anyway. “Of course: it means Equestria, and who live in it are weak, and powerless with no means of defending themselves from danger. And the six of you will remain trapped in here....just like me.”

“SEVEN!” Spike shouted.

“NOONE CARES, PET!” TIrek screamed back, earning an angered scream from the little drake.

“Exactly: It means you're trapped here. Forever. With us.” Twilight smiled, confident she had gotten one up on him.

Unfortunately, he surprised her yet again when he smiled, and laughed. “And is that supposed to intimidate me, or something? In case you forgot: I HAVE magic, still. And thanks to my armor, it’s not going anywhere. I escaped from this domain once before - and I have the patience to do it again. If it means I have to wait a little longer to do so, and spend some time with you idiots, then so be it.” Twilight couldn’t help but groan in frustration. “But HOW are going to do that while in there? If you have as much magic as you claim, you should have at least been able to teleport out of there by now.”

Tirek’s smile went away, “Don’t patronize me, princess. Or don’t you think it was the first thing I attempted to do so the moment I regained this power? The cage is reinforced with some kind of magical barrier which prevents teleportation, and i’m not at the right level to either break open the bars - or open a portal on my own.”

“In other words, you’re still stuck here with us, Tirek. Just admit that you didn’t think this plan of yours through, already.”

“It’s not my plan, princess: it’s Cozy Glow who thought all of this up. I merely provided her with the knowledge to see it realized, and have been along for the ride.” He grinned again, “But the idea of Equestria’s protectors trapped in eternal imprisonment, while the land and ponies they cherish dearly stands at risk from any number of perils is amusing to me. And i’m sure the very idea is enough to make each of you suffer.......knowing someone you care about will be threatened without any of you there to keep them safe. And that even if you escape from here, you’ll still be powerless to stop Cozy Glow, much less protect Equestria.” Seeing the now distressed looks on the ponies faces instilled a great deal of triumph in the centaur. Just the notion that he’d gotten under their skin, and made them feel helpless was more than he could have asked for. Now that they were in this state, it was time for him to throw out his bait. “But.....perhaps it doesn’t have to be that way, my little ponies.”

“W-what?” Twilight asked in legitimate surprise.

“To put it simply, while I admire Cozy for her devious thinking, and her skilled execution of a dastardly plan......I already find it is NOT to my liking.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Applejack asked.

“I willingly taught Cozy all about draining magic, and utilizing portal magic in the hopes she would use this knowledge to aid me in escaping this domain. Though one-way, the portal for the spell she casts even now could send the stolen magic anywhere in existence. But instead of sending it all to me in order for me to gain even greater strength, and free myself, she’s sending it all to another realm entirely to disappear for good.” His eyes narrowed in anger. “That power is rightfully mine. And i’ll not see it taken away from me because of a pony who’s clearly allowed megalomania to cloud her judgement, and bite the hand which fed her.”

Twilight hummed in understanding. “So you really DIDN’T consider everything, then.” She smugly smiled.

“Watch your tone, little equine......because your only hope of escaping this infernal prison lies with me.”

The ponies, and Spike, looked rather confused as they eyed each other. “Um, excuse me?” Fluttershy asked. “Are you....offering to help us?”

Once more, Tirek crossed his arms over his chest as he said, “No. I never said any such thing. I would never willingly help you infernal equines - for free, anyway. Like I said: scratch my back.....and i’ll scratch yours.” His smile was met with a scowl from Twilight. “Forget it, Tirek! There is no way any of us are letting you out of that cage. Being locked up is the least you deserve after what you did.”

“Oh, I see: afraid i’ll do worse damage than what I did before? That reminds me: how’s that library of yours? Still a pile of ash?” Tirek laughed wickedly, and caused Twilight to growl in anger. Even after all this time, the loss of her library home was something that still weighed down on her. But she would not give the monster responsible the satisfaction of  showing he was getting to her anymore. Sighing heavily, she turned her back on Tirek, and flew back down to her friends. Both of whom were concerned for her. “Are you alright, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” Twilight felt a bit calmer, now that she was away from the centaur. “Let’s just get back to focusing on our plan.”

“So what do we do, Twilight?” Spike asked.

“Dash and Applejack nearly have Cerberus tired out. If Rarity pitches in, I think they can get him to sit still long enough to try what I have in mind.”

“I'm sure I can get the other monsters to help.” Fluttershy said, before whispering to Spike, “Besides, I would never call them monsters.” And she flew over to face the other creatures, while Twilight considered all her options. “I just hope it’ll be enough for my idea to work. They probably only have so much magic at the moment, and i’ll only get one shot at this.”

Though he was a little reluctant to ask, Spike still said, “W-well, what about Tirek? He’s got alot of magic to spare, doesn’t he?” That question made Twilight feel a bit uneasy. Especially when she turned to see the centaur in question, turning his back on the group as he seemed to be in a pondering state. “That’s the problem, Spike: Tirek has more than enough magic right now, but......at his current level, we can’t force him to do anything. Without our magic, we’re at a disadvantage. And besides, I don’t want to risk provoking him into doing so-”

“Leave him to me!” Pinkie said absent-mindedly, trotting over to where Tirek’s cage was, to Twilight’s concern. “No, Pinkie! Stay away from him! He might-” But Pinkie’s nonsensical la-la’s blocked out Twilight’s pleas. And she watched as the party pony made her way to the VERY dangerous individual who was barred from harming them directly - unless they got too close. Meanwhile, Cerberus had finally gotten tuckered out from all his playing with AJ and Rainbow Dash. Now Rarity decided to ease him further by making him lay on his belly for a nice, big, juicy bone. The 3 headed hound easily complied, and was rewarded with his treat. All the while, Fluttershy began rallying the monsters in cages, encouraging them to help the ponies, and dragons in their hour of need. “Okay, everyone! Time to show Equestria that you aren't monsters! You're wonderful, mystical creatures!” The creatures understood, and were greatly flattered by the kind ponies complimentary words. They were more than willing to help out the nice pony.

Now all that remained was Tirek, for better or worse. While his back remained turned, Pinkie slunk her way into his cage, and immediately began barraging him with a silly, annoying song to get on his nerves. Even throwing in a him-styled birthday cake to add to the fun-based torture she was attempting to inflict upon him in order to force his cooperation. She was quite confident he’d easily crack under such annoying pressure.

”I know it's not your birthday, so
You get a party, even though
We'll sing and dance from one to ten
And then we'll do it all again!”

Tirek was already getting annoyed with this idiotic, pink blob of an equine. He had no idea how she put a party hat on his head without his notice, nor how she produced a birthday cake -much less made in his image. But the fact she was so close to him, and physically touching him, that was putting her on thin ice. Her blowing a party favor in his ear didn’t help in the slightest. Nor did her moronic play at hosting some kind of child’s tea party. “More tea, Princess Pudding Rock?” She then actually reached her hooves down to his mouth, and pulled them open to make it look like he was speaking. All the while screeching in a horrid, highpitched voice, "Oh! Don't mind if I do!" Which was her bid at mocking him by making it seem like he spoke. Her bubbly laugh making a vein visibly throb on his forehead. He was this. close. to throttling this insolent pony dead.

“I can do this all eternity.” Pinkie all but whispered in his ear in a cute attempt to be threatening.

She backed away with a proud smile on her face. Unaware of the low, beastial growling emanating from his throat. And his body shaking with rage. In her mind, however, it looked like he was completely shaking in fear from being driven crazy by her antics. And the growling? His stomach growling after seeing her delicious cake. A few seconds passed before she said, “Well, big guy? If you want, I can bring out my special party streamers, too. That should get ya in the party moo-EEEGH!!!” The pink pony suddenly gasped as a big, red hand grabbed her neck. Her head bulging in the most exaggerated manner, as if she were a squishy toy. It would have been hilarious were it not for the fact she was in the clutches of an enraged, demonic centaur.

“Pinkie!” The other ponies, and spike exclaimed when they saw the display.

Tirek ignored the others as he continued growling. He brought Pinkie close to his face, with his eyes glowing in full, eerie gold light. Even without pupils, the murderous intent was all too clear. And by now, Pinkie was beginning to understand her situation as Tirek spoke. “It appears you are even dumber than the rainbow maned nag if you willingly came this close to me, pink one. Even moreso if you think i’d fall for your childish attempts at what I assume is torture - that was an irritant at worst. But if I told you once, i’ll tell you a thousand time: Keep YOUR FILTHY HOOVES OFF MEEEEE!!!” He roared ferociously throughout all of Tartarus, frightening some of the creatures, along with Fluttershy. The force of his voice caused Pinkie’s mane to stretch out like taffy, and then fall to the side once he finished. She then squirmed to say, “So is...that a no.....on the party streamers?” The centaur’s eye twitched a few times. He just couldn’t believe how idiotic this pony was. With an even more ferocious growl, he decided to teach this pony a proper lesson: by wrapping her mane around her body like some kind of taffy-based net, and then hang her by the bars on the ceiling of his cage with her tail. In her much more rounded state, Tirek began to box her like she was a little punching bag. She even bounced back and forth with every quick-paced strike he delivered. It’d been a long time since he had any exercise, or a means of venting some anger. The pink pony was just nice enough to volunteer to provide him with both.

The others watched in absolute horror, before Rarity angrily shouted, “Stop that at once, you wicked brute!”

Tirek laughed, “Why-ever would I? I can do this all eternity!”

“Not if we can help it!” Rainbow exclaimed, speeding her way towards the caged centaur, and the entrapped pink ball. Just before she could get closer, he raised a hand and roared “STOP!” The pegasus halted in the air, mere inches from the cage. “If any comes closer to me....” The same hand was then leveled with Pinkie, whose eyes were now poking out of the round mass that was currently her own body, and produced a ball of intense fire. “and we’ll see if this little one melts like candy.” Pinkie was now sweating profusely even in her current state, and began pushing “Help me” signs out of her rounded mass. The ponies, and Spike, looked fearfully at their friend. All of them unsure of what they should do now. If he wanted to, none of them could stop Tirek from seriously hurting Pinkie Pie. He had them at his mercy, and they showed that with their hesitance. And the monstrous villain knew he could finally get his way. “So, Princess, are you finally willing to hear out my proposal? I AM willing to help you leave, but all I want is something in return. I honestly don’t see the problem with hearing me out.”

Applejack grit her teeth, “Not when ya’ll ‘re holdin’ our friend hostage like that!”

“What can I say? I’m merely covering my bases.......and making sure you take me seriously. So what’s it to be, Princess?” 

Twilight turned to all of her friends. They all had uncertain looks which made it clear they had no idea what to do. Not to mention that they didn’t trust the centaur in the slightest. But with their friend in a semi-literal sling, she found she had no choice. It was the final key incident all over again, only this time there was no way out of this scenario. They were in HIS hands now. With a regretful sigh, she flew up to Tirek’s cage, and landed right in front to face her adversary. “Alright.” She said somberly. “You win, Tirek: tell us what you want.”

“Heh. I thought you’d see it my way.” Tirek said, giving one more mild punch to the still stuck Pinkie, before he held her firmly in his magic. “What I want, my dear, is obvious and simple: my freedom.” This only made Twilight growl in anger. “But I don’t know HOW! Even if I wanted to, I don’t have the key to your cage, and I don’t have the power to bust through it. So I don’t know how you expect me to help you with that.”

Tirek smirked. “Ah, but you will have the power.  Thanks to my armors magic spell, i’ve managed to contain a very good amount of magic within my body. Combined with the magic you’ll draw in from the other abominations here, you will have more than enough strength to open the gate.........and destroy the cage holding me here.”

“And you think it’ll work?”

“It was meant to hold my own powers at bay so I couldn’t blast my way out - doesn’t mean it can withstand an immense output of magic.” Tirek pointed out. “All you have to do is channel as much of your borrowed power into breaking the seal, and destroying this cage. If you are careful, you should have enough to open the doorway, and get us ALL out.” Twilight wasn’t actually sure of this plan of Tirek’s, and was quick to voice it. “That sounds risky. How do you expect me to channel, and focus an offensive spell without completely depleting the reserves?”

“When I transfer my magic, i’ll also add in a focusing charm to aid you.” Tirek said. “It should help give you enough of an aid to prevent any unneeded expenditures.” He then saw the look of suspicion arising on her face, and sighed. “You’ve nothing to worry about from me, afterwards. Although my armor will keep me in peak physical condition, i’ll be no stronger than any of those worthless animals in the cages. I’ll literally be putting everything I am into this transfer, and will be in the same boat as you.”

“That isn’t reassuring.” Twilight said, sounding unconvinced. Tirek himself sighed in indignation, due to how stubborn the equine princess was. She certainly knew better than to trust him after his actions in his last encounter with her. Further convincing was clearly needed. Luckily, an idea sprung to mind - and would ensure he would get what he wanted. “Then allow us to make a binding pact, your highness.”  At he snap of his fingers, a brightly glowing, yellow contract appeared in front of him. Unfurling to reveal its contents, which Twilight couldn’t fully read due to it being in a different language she didn’t know. But Tirek was willing to fully explain its context. “This contract, deprived from an ancient, and powerful magic of the Eons Past, will ensure that the deal we make is completely unbreakable - even by the power of your treacherous chaos bringer of a friend. I went to the trouble of crafting it during your time here, and only now got it ready.” Pinkie’s sign said “Is that convenient, or just fishy?”, while Twilight looked it over. Still unsure of this thing, and with no idea how it worked. But she knew Tirek was making an official deal. So she went with it, and said, “Alright: then tell us what the terms of this contract are.”

“Nothing major.” Tirek said. “It’s just a written version of the deal i’m about to offer. If you’re willing to hear what it is.”

“You just said you want to get out of here, and you’d help us to do it.” Rainbow said in a huff. “Did you really need a magical contract to get the point out?” Tirek sighed in annoyance, before flicking her in the nose, and sent her reeling backwards. “If there are no further interruptions, then allow me to make you my official deal: free me from the imprisonment I find myself in, with no intentions of reimprisoning me anywhere, and in return I will not only help you escape from Tartarus........but I will help you dispatch Cozy Glow, and in the aftermath I will make no attempts to kill any of your kind for a large amount of time. The contract will bind us both to our words, and ensure we both follow through on our ends - under pain of death.”

Everyone gasped in shock. “D-d-d-death?!” Spike exclaimed.

“How absolutely ridiculous!” Rarity said angrily. “There is no way Twilight would ever agree to do something that could cost her so dearly! Our freedom is not worth such a heavy price!”

“Is it, though?” Tirek inquired. “By my estimate: you have less than half an hour to get out before the sun sets - and magic disappears forever. Any more delays will only lessen your time, and doom your world.” Again he saw the ponies giving each other questioning looks, and uncertain emotions visible to be seen. Twilight only confirmed this when she said, “Oh, celestia, I think he’s right: it was midday when we arrived. And how long have we been here Spike?”

Spike pulled out a small watch he carried in his satchel. And based on his horrified expression, the time was anything but good. “5 and a half hours! Tirek’s telling the truth! If we don’t leave now, then we’ll lose Equestria’s magic in 21 minutes!” The Mares all gasped in shock. No they understood there really was no choice now. They needed to escape, and do it now. If not, then their mission will have been a failure, and all is lost. Twilight turned to face the grinning centaur, knowing he’d ultimately won. With a defeated sigh, she said, “Looks like w have no choice.”

Tirek then stretched out his hand, as a magical flame enveloped it. “Then let us seal the bargain with a simple shake.” Everyone watched with nervous anticipation, waiting for Twilight to accept the offer. She hesitated for a moment, reaching out, but pulling back a few inches. Deep in her mind, she wondered if she was doing the right thing. Was it really worth it to do this? There was no guarantee Tirek was on the up-and-up, or that he wouldn’t betray them. But as she thunk further, she knew it was their only option left. With great reluctance, she reached her hoof out, and shook the centaur’s hand. The fire enveloping her own hoof in the process. A few moments later, and the flame flew off of their unified appendages, and struck the contract signature line. Directly below the fine print, the names “Lord Tirek” and “Twilight Sparkle” stood plain for all to see. With a triumphant laugh, he called the enchanted parchment back to him, and made it disappear into his hand. A vicious grin etched his features as he said, “Now then......shall we begin?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight hated that she was about to do this. Not the borrowing magic from the magical creatures part - the part where she’d also be releasing the most evil, odious, and diabolical villain Equestria has ever seen. In fact, she was almost considering going back on her word, and only taking the creature’s magic as she originally planned. But the more she though about it, the more she knew they needed Tirek to make this work. So after taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she said aloud, “Okay: is everyone ready?”

“Sit!” Rarity gently called to Cerberus, getting him to do just that. “Good boy!” She said, throwing him the giant bone, while whispering to Twilight, “I can’t say for how much longer.”, as the 3 headed dog broke the bone in 3.

“Oh! Before I completely forget!” Tirek said, before he used his magic to release Pinkie from her ball-like state. As expected, she bounced right back into her usually bubbly mood. “Wow! That was an experience! I don’t know what Spike was talking about: being a ball is super-duper fun - though the punching part could’ve been a little less intense, but what can ya do?” While she bounced around the centaur, he shouted down, “Alright! As soon as you’re ready, my little pony!” When Fluttershy also gave her a nod that she was ready, Twilight stood in the center of the chamber, and got ready to receive the magical output. Just as Tirek was about to speak, Pinkie jumped on his back, and said, “There's your cue, you evil centaur, you.” But immediately backed off when Tirek growled at her in the same, beastial manner. The nuisance removed, Tirek cleared his own throat as he closed his eyes, and began to concentrate. The spell he was about to cast was not simply a transference like magical beings could do: he was about to transfer every ounce of his power in a massive burst through an incantation In the process, he would also be giving some of his own knowledge of his magic to the alicorn princess to ensure she got this right. As he spoke, his body radiated with ethereal flame, and a strong wind seemed to circle around him. Causing his cloak to furl as he raised his arms into the air, and began the transfer.

“Centaurus, Unicus, come forth all the powers in me!
Consumptus magicus et motus fromatus! Transfero to thee!”

From both his hands, and his horns, Tirek unleashed all of the power he had inside of his body, and gave it over to Twilight. She was honestly surprised he had so much magic in him, and it almost caught her off guard. Either way, it was the signal for the other creatures to let Twilight draw on their magic, as well. Multiple streams channeled into her horn, as Tirek’s had done before. And once it was done, Twilight had an immense surplus of magic - while to the surprise of the ponies, the creatures who were hyrbrids, like Cerberus, had actually split apart into separate animals - Cerberus merely being comprised of three dogs. It appears that without magic, the beast reverted to a more ordinary state. But it just proved that Twilight’s trick had fully paid off. “That’s it: I think it’s working!” She happily exclaimed, immediately turning to the door, and getting ready to open it. But just before she could unleash it, she felt something off. A strange force which was preventing her from casting the spell. “Wha-?...What’s happening?” Then, she found herself forcefully turned around to face Tirek’s cage. And with a strained groan, fired a single beam of amalgamated magic at the cage - information she never realized was in her mind flashing through. And it was that which prevented her from using too much of the energy, and cut off the flow. In the end, Spike and the mane six watched as the only thing holding their greatest foe seemed to super-heat, and melt into a steaming pile of slag. Its former occupant stepping forward as he stretched his arms high above his head.

Tirek was free.

“Ah, yes! Finally!” He grunted in glee. Stretching his arms, legs, and upper body after spending many months in that infernal cage. Pinkie hastily darting around him while he was busy. “I assuredly do NOT envy Discord for being encased in stone. Immobility is a cramping experience.” When he was done, he saw the strained, but glaring expression of Twilight trying to burn a hole into his very soul, to the further confusion of the others. Tirek merely gave here an annoyed expression before he said, “Well? What are you waiting for? I’m out now, so you can open the gate! Time’s almost up, you know!” Twilight growled angrily at Tirek’s condescending, but knew it wasn’t the time to call him out. She turned back around to the gate, and finished her task: firing a magical beam anchor into the two doors, and then pulling them open. She had to hold both of them open with her own strength, as well as the borrowed magic, and even then it was proving a difficult task. “Come on!” She exclaimed while visibly straining. “I don’t know how long I can hold it!”

The others wasted no time in running towards the entrance. Though Tirek made a large leap over the chasm, and onto the platform when he followed behind. Before leaving, Rainbow tossed the Cerberus puppies a little boulder while calling them a good boy - minding that they were still 3 haves of the same whole - while Fluttershy bid farewell to the normalized former hybrids, promising to return them to their original states soon before Rainbow ushered her out the door. As they ran, Pinkie even thanked Tirek, although he rolled his eyes at her random obliviousness. The group ran out the door just in time before Twilight’s magic faded away. She managed to dart right through the doors just in time, before it was closed for good. Now the group was free to recuperate from the eventful escape.

“YAY!” Pinkie shouted happily, bouncing up and down. “Twilight did it!”

The alicorn smiled at her friends, saying, “I couldn’t have done it without any of your help.”

“Oh, i’m not sure we did!” Rarity suddenly said urgently, pointing her hoof in a specific direction. Said direction was toward the horizon behind them, where the road back to Canterlot lay. The sight which greeted the groups eyes left the ponies, and Spike mortified: the sun was already setting. “No!” Twilight shouted. Tirek, stroking his bear in though, walked up beside the young princess, and said, “I’m afraid so, Princess. As I said in Tartarus: by sunset tonight, all of Equestria’s magic will disappear forever.”

“Without magic, we’ll never reach the school in time!” Twilight said with fearful dread.

“What does that mean?” Fluttershy nervously asked.

“It means we’ve failed!”
> Settling the score
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

None of the mane seven could believe it: all of their efforts to escape had been for naught. The sun had set on them, at last. And with the last rays of light fell any hope of saving Equestria’s magic.

It was over.

And in Twilight’s heart, she knew who was the cause of this. Despair soon began turning to anger, and her expression fell into a feral snarl as she turned to face the towering centaur among them. “This....is all your fault!!!” she yelled, flying up to Tirek in an incredibly threatening manner. “Everything Cozy Glow has done is all thanks to you! Now all of Equestria will suffer, and it’s all because of you!” It was rare to see Twilight so overwhelmed by anger. But when it DID happen, she was quite a fearful pony. Even her friends couldn’t help but look nervous as she heaved angry breaths as she hovered in the air in front of the evil centaur. Unfortunately, he was not all that impressed by her infuriated postulating. All he could think of was how ungrateful she was acting. And frankly, it could hardly be accepted by him.

"How.....DARE YOU?!" Tirek roars, before holding Twilight by her throat in his incredibly large hands, to the horror of her friends. "If it weren't for me, all of you would have remained eternal prisoners of the poor man's version of the Cave of Wonders!' Before any others could react, he tossed her to the ground in a rather rough, and rude way that caused her to roll in a heap. "All of you ignorant ponies: always acting so entitled to all in existence, that you groomed and raised your generations into thinking life owes you everything. So when everything goes wrong in your oh, so perfect lives, who do you blame? Certainly not yourselves for noticing the danger before it could even occur. You all are as much to blame as I am. So in all seriousness, I think a little gratitude is in order." The Centaur crossed his arms, looking at the group with disdain. The others, of course, took a good deal of offense from such a statement.

"Gratitude?" Rarity gasps. "You uncultured ruffian! You dare call us ungrateful after you conspired with somepony to trap us all in that ghastly, gritty dungeon with enough time to drain all of Equestria's magic! You are a ruffian, and a hypocrite, good sir!" She angrily exclaimed, huffing as her nose was raised.

"Rarities right, horn head!" Rainbow challenged. "If anypony should be grateful, it's you to us for not leaving you back there when we had the chance! You deserve so much more time in there than over a thousand years! And if you keep acting all high, and mighty, we'll show you just how ungrateful we can be!"

"Is that right?" Tirek questioned with an eyebrow raised. "And how do you plan to do that? Buck me into next century equestria, or whatever it may be called in the future? I assure you, you couldn't even make me budge a single centimeter across the ground if you actually tried - not that i'd put it past a pride-haired tomboy to be that idiotic, and rash."

Rainbow snarled, "Oh, yeah?!" And attempted to charge at him, only for Applejack to yank her back to earth by her tail. "That's enough, Rainbow! We ain't got time for finagling fights!" Spike flew up beside her, and said to Rainbow, "Yeah. Tirek's just trying to mess with your head. Remember how he messed with Discord, and tricked him into betraying us? The guy knows how to press all the right buttons, but you gotta ignore the jabs he makes."

"Heh. Spoken from a reptilian whelp who does nothing but TAKE jabs, because life doesn't favor you in the slightest." Tirek snidely remarked, earning a glare from the smaller dragon. "You take that back, you big meanie!" Pinkie exclaimed, getting in Tirek's face once again. "Nobody messes with Spikey-Wikey, and gets away with it! So you better say sorry, or-" Once again, the pink party mare found herself in the grip of the larger centaur, who was increasingly annoyed by her mere presence. "I believe I warned you about invading my personal space, you insufferable nag. Now, it's time for the remedial course in Lord Tirek's school of utter misery." His magic ignited between his horns, and allowed him to form an orb of similar magic in his right hand. Pinkie having her eyes turn increasingly wide as saucers as she saw it, before sweatily smiling an apology to the grinning centaur. Before he could, however, Twilight finally got back up with Flutterhy's help, and shouted, "Enough!", garnering everyone's attention. "Tirek, please: put her down, now!" She spoke with as much authority in her tone as she could muster, in order to intimidate her adversary. 

Tirek growled in defiance, and even pointed his open hand with the growing magic in it at her, showing he was not intent on obeying a mere alicorn novice. Yet despite the increasing energy he mustered, Twilight remained unperturbed. She was through allowing this evil monster pushing her around, and she was not afraid of him, though her friends concern was extremely high. Tirek could see the resolve in her eyes, and the unwillingness to give in to his intimidation display - and in turn, submit to him. Though he sneered at her stubbornness........he soon found himself chuckling as he allowed his magic to cut out. "Alot of spirit in you, I see, Princess." He then tossed Pinkie over to a nearby tree, where she slammed completely into it, and was reduced to a living accordion. She quickly popped back to normal, and was back beside her friends, who were happy she was okay. Tirek, unconcerned with his enemies wellbeing, said, "And on the older subject, do not forget that it was only thanks to MY magic you were able to open the doors, and in doing so, secure all our freedoms - even when I had no motivation to do so after that pink nuisance attempted to torture me. Without my stored reserves, all of you would indeed remain co-prisoners with me for all time."

"Still doesn' change the fact ya worked with Cozy Glow to make all this happen." Applejack stated indignantly.

Tirek merely sighed as he rubbed his temples. "No, once again, I only provided my protege' ideas for an interesting scheme. I honestly had no idea what it was until you six came along.....though I admit, her requests in learning how to drain magic enlarged my own suspicions, which you six confirmed for me."

"GRR! IT'S SEVEN!" Spike roared while jumping in the air.

"Pets still don't count, dragon."

"AAARGH!"

"Either way, it doesn't matter: we made a legal, binding, and unbreakable contract that got all of us what we wanted. Now we are free of that accursed prison, and in one piece." Before Tirek could say anything else, Rainbow flew up to him, and said, "Who cares? If anything, you still kept all of us busy by wasting time any way possible! So it's your fault we couldn't get out in time!"

"Perhaps if you had agreed to release me from my captivity sooner, then so much time might not have been wasted." Tirek smirked, making Rainbow growl as she backed off. "But enough of the idiocies displayed! You might have the drive to play the blaming game until our hooves are sore, but I don't think your precious students have all that much time with Cozy Glow still in action." The reminder caused Twilight to gasp, as she said, "He's right! We got so caught up in our feelings that we wasted even more time! We have to get back to the school, and keep Starlight and the other students safe!"

"But, Twilight," Fluttershy said gently, "we still don't know what else Cozy Glow might be doing at the school. For all we know, she might have some kind of trap waiting for us, just in case!"

"And we don't have the the magic to aid in avoiding any dastardly moves that wicked little mare may have been plotting." Rarity stated. "Oh, I can't believe we all feel for her goody-goody sweet act! Living with Sweetie Belle, I should have been able to tell she was only attempting to suck up to us."

"Same here, an' involvin' Applebloom." AJ admitted.

"Girls, listen." Twilight said reassuringly. "I know things seem bleak right now, but we can't let that stop us. We might still have a chance to make things right if we make it back before things get worse. As long as we're together, we can overcome whatever comes our way: magic, or no magic."

"But.....how will we get there fast enough?" Rainbow questioned. "If magic is really gone, then my top speed might not be what it used to be, and you and Rarity can't just teleport us there." She cast an angry glare back at Tirek, who was still smiling at them with arrogant mirth as his arms remain crossed. "And there's no way we're asking him for help again."

"I agree with that idea." Fluttershy shuddered a little, with Spike nervously agreeing.

"There's no choice." Twilight said. "Even if we might not be at our best, those of us with wings can still carry those without, and then we soar as fast as we can back to the school. Maybe then we can find a way to fix what's happened."

"Or we can just wait a few minutes for all of those sparkly, glowing wisps flying all over the place to come over, and give us our magic back." Pinkie suggested, with her gaze being turned opposite her friends, who were quite confused by her words, and the absurd randomness of them all. "Uh, no offense, Pinkie.......but are you feeling alright?"Spike asked with concern. "Because I think that tree slam might have given you a concussion, or something. If you're seeing a bunch of lights, that might mean-"

"Concussion?" Pinkie said, before going 'Pfft!' "That's silly! Concussion sounds like the more serious cousin of Percussion. I wonder if they hang out on mondays, and share musical interests while eating minty-chocolate pudding? Mmm......... puuudiiing!" Pinkie said in a goofy smile, and with crossed eyes, before smiling and saying, "But actually, I was talking about those things over there." Though it actually took over 10 seconds, the group managed to overcome their confusion, and observed in the direction Pinkie pointed. And what all of them saw astounded, and amazed each of them.

The night sky had filled entirely in a rainbow of shooting stars, that were not actually shooting stars. Somehow, they could sense them for what they were. And all of the orbs of stolen, equestrian magic were imminently swarming, and flaying across the heavens to return to their own rightful hosts. Some of the multi-colored orbs floated down like snowlflakes, as though they were podlings ready to seed the earth. The rest were of living entities who held magic inside of them. Three primary cases being Twilight, Rarity, and surprisingly Pinkie, though noone noticed. Even Rainbow Dash, and Applejack could feel their natural, elemental connections re-entwining with the flow of Equestria's own magic. The girls and spike were thrilled, because they knew that it meant that somepony, somehow, had released all of the stolen magic taken by Cozy Glow, and returned it to their world. With great haste, Twilight immediately teleported herself, and her friends back to the Friendship School.

And in their excitement, completely forgot about the armored centaur who had only been observing all that happened. At the moment, he could only chuckle in amusement at the idea of the girls getting so excited to have their magic back, that they instantly forgot about him. Not that he could completely blame them, since magic always has an effect like that. Something he knows from personal experience. Even now, as he observed all of the invigorating wisps of magic, and life-energy zipping through the sky like wasps, his own lips were licked in hungry anticipation. He quickly noticed the familiar auras belonging to the creatures in Tartarus phase through the gate, and already knew the hybrids were being restored. He knew only his own magic was left to arrive - and it didn't take long for black, and orange energy of his essence to appear. At the sight of it, TIrek's grin grew wider, and his arms opened to welcome it, like it was his own child. With impressive strength, it actually knocked him on his back as he gripped it, and allowed it to flow back into his own ancient form. The feeling of old strength returning was also invigorating, even though he'd not been parted from it all that long ago. It, nevertheless, was a welcomed sensation........and the proof that his greatest power had returned to him.

Once on his feet, and his gaze turning to the orbs still falling, the demonic centaur decided it would be best to enjoy himself with a late night feast before completing his contract.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pandemonium had all but engulfed the school, as students ran around in a frightened frenzy. The immense explosion, an dispersal of magic sent them running, and it almost seemed like they wouldn't stop. Amidst the chaos of the moment, a familiar aqua light flashed, and saw Starlight Glimmer and the Student Six deposited back to the school grounds. The six were briefly disoriented, but once Yona saw their student councilor, she couldn't hold in her excitement, and jumped towards her to glomp, laughing, "Councilor Pony-" before Starlight quickly caught her in her magic, and gently let her back down. Though briefly startled, Starlight regained her smile as she stood back up, seeing the student six together. "It's good to see you again, Yona."

"I guess this means magic is back." Ocellus stated proudly.

"You ruined everything!"

To the group's shock, standing just behind them was the singed form of the little pegasus mare responsible for all of this trouble, Cozy Glow. Her curly mane was in a frazzle, small scorch marks covered parts of her fur, and her yellow bow had been especially singed. It actually complimented the fillies angered expression, and emotional state rather well. "Now Twilight, and her ridiculous friends can escape from Tartarus!" She screamed as she threateningly walked towards the group, who readied to deal with her. But it was no longer an issue when Twilight, and all her friends appeared right next to all of them. To the hidden worry of Cozy, the seven of them held extremely unhappy looks directed at her. But being the smarmy wretch that she was, Cozy attempted to gain an advantage with her insincere, syrupy sweetness, and gain her 'teacher's' favor. "I...mean....YAAAAY! All my friends are safe!"

"You can drop the act, Cozy Glow!" Applejack was the first to speak, and she was probably angrier than the others for getting manipulated so thoroughly. "Your pen-pal, Tirek, told us all about how he helped you suck up all that magic!"

"But, I still don't understand why!" Twilight asked desperately, the distraught of suffering such a betrayal evident in her tone. She had hope that there was a reason behind Cozies actions, and that maybe, somehow, she could help her out. Perhaps provide leniency for her actions, and give her a chance to redeem herself. Unfortunately, Cozy got robbed of the last vestiges of patience she had, and with a ruthless growl, she angrily and crazily shouted, "Why?! Because friendship is power! You may be the Princess of 'Friendship', but as headmare of this entire school, I can collect more friends than you!" Unfortunately for her, the other pony students had arrived to check on things, and heard her declaration. And now were beginning to realize she had also manipulated them, as well. Twilight, however, just couldn't help but feel pity for the young mare, as she said, "Friendship IS powerful. But power isn't why you make friends. I'm sorry I couldn't teach you that."

"Well, ya taught us!" Gallus proudly said, as he and his friends stood beside their headmare, making her and the other teachers smile proudly. Especially when Silverstream said, "You can't let one bad apple think you failed."

"Andwe never could have stopped her if we hadn't learned what you taught us about friendship!" Sandbar added, with great enthusiasm, and a warm, gentle smile.

"Honesty? Loyalty? Generosity? Blah, blah, blah!" Cozy said in a rude, and dismissive tone, as her mad look mixed with a triumphant one. "I can make more friends without using ANY of them. And if I can't do it here, i'll just do it somewhere else!" She immediately took off into the air, and made a beeline straight to the exit. But before she could get away, several of the pegasi students flew in front of it, and blocked her path while the land based ponies covered the ground.  "Yeah, I don't think so!" said a green furred, orange maned pegasus mare with a purple bow.  With the main entrance out of reach, much to her annoyance, Cozy went for another route right past the nearby pond bridge. But to her increasing worry, The Princesses and Chancellor Neighsay appeared via teleportation and portalling in respectively. She backed away, and got ready to take to the skies, until she noticed the dozens of Royal Guard flying above, and slowly closing in. But even so, she refused to back down, and kept herself at a distance from the guards that were marching towards her. Her eyes darting everywhere to see if there was at least one way out. A fiendish smile formed when she saw a nearby grate, leading underground. And in her current circumstances, she rather would take her chances with the tree roots, and tunnels than whatever was intended for her. She zipped on over before anypony could catch her, and found herself mere moments away from escape.

But then, to everyone's shock, and incredible fright, a fiery, red portal appeared between Cozy, and the catacomb grate - with a now much bigger Tirek stomping on through, with a commanding presence surrounding him. All of the guards gasped, and backed off in fear. The pony students eyes bulged with terror, with the student six overwhelmed with absolute shock. Dread falling over Celestia, Luna, and even Neighsay as they recognized the figure now before them. Only the mane six seemed surprised, rather than shocked, but more worried about what was about to happen. Sadly, it made no difference, as the cat was slipping out of its bag, and inevitably broke out as soon as the centaur's gaze fell on the shocked filly caught in his massive shadow. Based on her isolation, the presence of Royal Guards, and her rather messy appearance, a smile formed on his muzzle as he deduced who this pony was. "Nice to finally meet you......pen-pal Cozy."

Cozies eyes turned into saucers as she leaned her tiny, little neck as far back as she could to meet the centaur's piercing, yellow eyes. "Wait........YOU'RE Tirek?!"

"Surprised? The gift you gave me worked wonderfully in restoring me to my prime." Tirek explained, flexing a little bit just to boast. "Though it only contributed to the immensity of my greatness, and indomitable might." He quickly stopped as he observed the menagerie surrounding the two of them. And as he placed his hands on his 'hips', his head began nodding, with an impressed smile. "An entire witchhunt, and for one diabolical little filly - and all I got was the average rainbow laser to the face, and a one-way ticket back to Tartarus. Now, if only I had this much attention brought to me when I was on the loose. You truly must be something if you garnered this much attention, eh, Cozy?"

"Uh.....y-yeah." Cozy said, trying to think of how to use Tirek to help her escape.

"Guys.....who is that?" Silverstream asked in a low, nervous voice. "He's even scarier looking than The Storm King...and he feels ten times more evil. I didn't even know that was possible!"

" 'fraid it is, Silverstream." Sandbar answered, with his voice mirroring Silverstream's nervousness. "That's Tirek! The guy our teachers went to talk to about the whole magic-draining craziness."

"Wait: THAT'S Lord TIrek?" Ocellus asked. "The ruthless centaur who escaped Tartarus when Cerberues abandoned his post, eluded Equestria's attention for an entire year, and then tricked the Lord of Chaos himself into helping him steal all of the magic he could drain from any creature with magic?"

"Looks like." Gallus said, trying to hide his nervousness. "Though I have to admit: he looks alot different from the pics our teachers showed of him in history. Must be the armor, or something."

"Who cares how creepy he looks?" Smolder said, keeping her own voice low. "I think the better question is how he even got out again? Unless........." Smolders eyes widen. "No way. I know they can mess up sometimes, but even Headmare Twilight wouldn't do something that crazy?"

"Do what? Yona not understand." Yona said nervously.

"You know," TIrek said, stepping past Cozy, and the guards who were too afraid to act, approaching the six students he had just startled into huddling protectively in a group, with Twilight spreading her wings out defensively in front of them. The centaur humming as he began stroking his white beard. "A pony, yak, griffon, draggon, hippogriff, and changeling - together? Rarely could the though ever occur to any creature in my time. Things really have changed in the new era, haven't they?" Before he could get any closer, a beam of magic struck his arm, and wrapped a familiar sealing chain around it. To Tirek's surprise, it actually began pulling his arm in a single direction: towards the black maned, grey furred unicorn stallion in a red robe, whose horn glowed with magic, and appeared to be straining to pull on the much larger centaur. "You will not take another step towards those students, monster!"

"Ah, so you're the EEA pony Cozy told me about in her letters." Tirek said, sniffing with contempt. "You're even more overblown than I imagined - especially if you think you can actually stop me."

"As head of the EEA, it is my duty to ensure the safety of the students within the education system! That includes the young creatures who saved us all this day! I may have made a grievous error in judgement concerning them....but I WILL ensure nothing happens to them so long as I still stand!"

"Hmph. Admirable." Tirek then grabbed the chain with his right hand, and broke it with ease. Making Neighsay grunt in pain, and the chain dissipate into nothing. "But foolish. In case none of you have noticed, I have business here with a group of six individuals concerning Cozy Glow." Every pony, and creature grunted in fear, and Tirek's gaze upon the gathered Mane Seven and Student Six, who were standing ready to fight, if necessary. Just as Celestia, and Luna were ready along with their guard - even Neighsay was willing to fight to the best of his abilities if need be. Cozy, however, was absolutely elated by Tirek's  statement, and with triumphant laughter, flew beside his head to gloat at her enemies. "Yeah, that's right! I told you can make friends easily! And with Tirek helping me, it won't be long before all of Equestria bows down to the future Empress of Friendship! HAHAHAHAHAAAH!"

"Small dilemma with your plan, little pegasus." Tirek said, earning an inquisitive look from the filly. Suddenly, to the shock of everyone present, Tirek immediately drained Cozy Glow of all her magic. Her cutie mark vanished entirely, and her body weakened to the point she fell like a rock. The centaur hummed in delight as he took in the sweet essence he consumed. All while a confused Cozy stared at her pen-pal, and 'friend' with confused, hurt, and grey-filled eyes. "Wha-....why did you do that? I thought we were in this together?"

"We were.......until you thought it was a good idea to send all of Equestria's magic into oblivion instead of sending it to its rightful, and only true master - ME!!!" TIrek roared in rage, almost shaking the area as fear instilled itself into Cozy Glow while she tried to worm her way out of this. "But I.......I was only...following your instructions, Tirek! I made the sigil, and the marks like you said, and used the six artifacts to act as the magnetic pull for magic, just like you said! I did everything you asked!"

"Hmph. You're crafty: me. You're smart: me. You're cunning, and know how to manipulate: me." Tirek checked off each thing with a hint of intrigue, before his tone turned to disdain. "But if there is one thing I NEVER taught you.....it's how to properly lie. That's why you aren't as good at it as you think, and have to rely on your 'insincere syrupy sweetness' to get your way. It may work on ponies.......but I am superior to all of them combined, and can easily smell a traitor when I see one. And just through your letters I could smell your intent to double cross me by leaving me to my eternal torment while you remove my true source of power in this world. Did you think I wouldn't realize?" Tirek hissed, before a guttural growl was sounded out to accompany the menacing glow of his yellow eyes. "Did you think I would forgive?" Cozy actually shook in absolute terror as she found herself lifted off the ground, and in his magical grip. Her eyes meeting the fiery haze of the demonic entities eyes. Eyes filled only with anger, and hate. And lust for endless power, and control. And further in, she saw something she should be far too young to ever consider at her age.

In his eyes, she saw Death, itself, standing in the fiery flames of Hades.

"Release her this instant, Tirek, now!" Celestia's voice cut in, breaking the silence that had fallen over the school, along with the tension between the two figures. Both princesses horns ignited as they were ready to do battle with the centaur, with Luna declaring, "No matter what the fillies crimes, if you harm a single hair on her head......then I promise you will be made to endure an eternity of endless suffering as you rot away in Tartarus." Her voice carried a strong, and heavy air of intimidation, as he aura of intent alerted everyone here that she had every intentions of making good on her threat. Tirek, however, didn't seem all that effected as he gave her a long, uninterested glance, before turning back to Cozy Glow. Breaths held, and the tension in the air only grew as anypony could only guess at what might happen. 

Tirek surprised everyone when he immediately, and boisterously laughed. So hard that he wrapped an arm over his stomach, and almost seemed about ready to fall to his side. Needless to say, all were baffled by this sight, and even Pinkie seemed dumbfounded. It was interrupted by Tirek tossing Coy to the ground and into the crowd of guards, wiping his eyes free of tears before he caught his breath, and began speaking. "Now THAT has to be the most hilarious thing i've actually heard in over 5000 years. And they say you aren't the funny one, Princess Luna. Especially if you think," Tirek's tone suddenly turned threatening as he growled, "that the memory of your corrupting the only family I ever had - the very concept of my own brother betraying me was not an eternity of endless suffering for me? That every day, since that moment, I found out just how incredibly alone I truly was when the only being I believed in, trusted in, turned against me? And for what? For the attention, and adoration he briefly absorbed while enjoying your lands? Pathetic!"

"It's not like that, Tirek!" Twilight suddenly spoke up, feeling she knew how suitable she might be for the subject matter. "I'm sure it hurt your brother to turn against you to protect Equestria. But he saw that there was a better way than seizing power! He saw what the magic of friendship had to offer. In fact," she beamed towards her six students, "you could say he was the first non-pony to know friendship, and became part of my inspiration for creating this school. He found that there was a better way than using force, and intimidation to get what you want. If different hearts can open to each other, and understand that there are no differences between us, then our lives will be all the better for it." Though his expression remained neutral, Twilight took Tirek's silence as permission to continue. "And maybe.....if you're willing, even you can learn to do the same, Tirek. Learn from your brother's example, and the example set by my own students who worked together, despite their differences, to save Equestria." The student six, of course, bustled with feelings of accomplishment, and pride, while Tirek's expression seemed to lessen. His head lowered as the shadow of his hair, which was flipping over his forehead, covered his eyes. Twilight felt like maybe she was getting the elder centaur to at least think about a change of heart - and maybe, end this with Equestria gaining a new ally like Discord, and Starlight. "I know deep down that you have similar feelings. Scorpan meant the world to you, didn't he? That's why you kept his medallion after so many centuries, isn't it? That despite what you told Discord, it really was a gift from someone close......and the only happy thing which held that memory alive for so long."

Everyone looked at Tirek, wondering what his response to that would be. The centaur himself almost appeared lost in thought, as he raised a hand to his chest. The bare place where his brother's amulet once hung around his neck. He'd gotten so used to wearing it, that its absence had left phantom impressions of it. The ghostly feeling of a lost piece of weight he no longer bore. After a while, a heavy sigh escaped his maw. "In many respects, you might be right." He spoke in a low voice of melancholy. " A long time ago, that trinket Scorpan gave me did indeed serve that exact purpose. The only reminder of the bond I thought we once had when we were young, and innocent. Even when our father pushed me away with his favoritism of younger Scorpan, I held him with care, and he rarely left my side. And every time I looked into my own reflection, I remembered each, and every one of those good, old fashioned happy-days. It truly was wonderful." A small smile formed on Tirek's face as he spoke. And for a while, it appeared that maybe he was beginning to see things in a better perspective. Twilight, and even Celestia were actually quite hopeful, despite his past misdeeds, in that they could show him a way to reclaim that lost happiness, and steer him down the right path. With just a bit more convincing, maybe he-

"Then you equine peons took him away."

Tirek's voice deepened, and became hard as stone as he began speaking again. All the while, to the growing concern of everyone there, an aura of killing intent began emanating from the armored centaur. His own body beginning to wrap itself in red, and black miasma as his head rose. Gone were the neutral expressions, and the small smile from before. Now, to the horror of all who observed, there stood the furious eyes of an archdemon, whose growing presence was beginning to swallow them all. "Your kind took him away from me! Poisoned his mind, and turned him against me with honeyed words, and meaningless promises! You talk of working together despite having differences.....but I know what your kind is like: spineless, bigoted, prejudice, and greedy things who hold yourselves above all others! And completely isolate those who are different from you - or at the least, tame them into becoming faithful pets who either conform to your ways, or are only enemies meant to be punished!"

"N-no!" Twilight meekly shuddered. "Th-that's n-ot true! We-"

"But look at all of you!" Tirek said in a demonically amused tone as he saw all of the figures (minus the Princesses whose wills matched his own) cowering, and gazing in fright at this unholy beast who merely smiled at them. His huge, fanged teeth glinting in the dark night sky as he looked down on his lessers. "So small, and so frail in the face of your superior. Even as a young centaur, faced with my first pony, I could tell all of you value magic above all else. Magic is power, and your kind uses it for frivolities, and pointless activities.......when it is capable of so much more! Jealously you horde, and hold power until your dying breath, never understanding the true might you wield. I knew that magic is something that must be cultivated! Harnessed from something far grander than parties, and silly idiocies of casting measly spells. One who understands what true power is capable of, and who holds the will to control, and wield it to govern the cosmos itself! With all magic united in the body of one who may master it, that being can become a source of Absolute Power!" His aura of killing intent erupted, and swept through the crowd like a tidal wave. Many ponies crying, and shrieking in fear at this unholy sensation that was beyond anything they could imagine. Most even saw their own ends passing in front of them, at the hands of this God of Evil.

They even swore they could see the shadow of a horned devil in the shroud, glaring down on them all with its crimson eyes, paralyzing them all where they stood.

But to the relief of all present, it went, and was gone as Tirek recomposed himself. Needless to say, there were many teenaged ponies, and a few guards, who were forced to empty their insides one way, or another after such an horrific display of bloodlust, and hate. "As I told the draconnequus before, the medallion was worthless to me - had been ever since Scorpan abandoned me to my fate. I only kept it so that I would never forgive him for what he did. So that one day, I would not only finish what I began all those centuries ago, and claim the power of all the magic of this world.........I would also hunt him down to the dusty domain that is the Netherlands, and raze it to the ground. If he, and my father still lived, both would watch as i end their beloved Kingdom with fire, and stone bringing down the very foundations of their home. Then, I would abandon them in the ruins of their beloved kingdom they cherish so dearly. Just as Scorpan did me, I would leave them with nothing - not even whatever magic flows their them - to comfort them, as their sin forever brands them. There are things far worse than death to be afraid of, little ponies." Tirek grinned, unnerving the crowd deeply. This certainly seemed to satisfy the demonic centaur, because what he said next drew a collective gasp from all but Twilight, and her six friends.

"For now, though, it is no longer of consequence." he said, turning once again to Twilight, "because now that my ex-protege has been dealt with, our bargain is almost complete, Princess Twilight."

All eyes were on the princess of friendship, who was afraid of this moment, even with her friends there to support her. Starlight was the first to ask, "Twilight? What is he talking about? What deal?" Looking nervously to all of her friends, Twilight faced her former student, and the others and sighed remorsefully. "The journey to Tartaurus was a malignant trap set up by Cozy Glow. She left us a magic key that opened the gates, but disappeared as soon as it was opened. Once we were inside, that was it: we had no way of escaping from that place. We learned from Tirek how Cozy Glow somehow shared letters with him to learn the magic spells that let her drain Equestria's magic so that she could take over."

"But it was too late by then, and we were all stuck with him!" Spike spoke up next. "Twilight figured out a way we could actually escape, and it was going great." Then his expression soured. "Unfortunately, we needed Tirek's power to make it work. Thanks to Cozy giving him that magic-storing armor, he had all the magic we needed for Twilight's plan to work. But he refused to help, and even threatened us until we agreed to a deal."

Celestia, and Luna shared worried glances before the former sternly asked, "What sort of deal?"

"The one from which we both benefited: The Unbreakable Oath!" Tirek declared, flashing forth the ethereal, yellow contract which bore his, and Twilight's names on the bottom. Much to the dread of the alicorn sisters. "By the stars! It cannot be!"

"Oh, but it is, dear Luna." Tirek said smugly.

"Your majesties?" Neighsay asked. "What is this "Unbreakable Oath" the demon speaks of?"

Celestia glared at Tirek as she explained. "The Unbreakable Oath is an ancient, forbidden spell that links two souls together in a pact. A pact overseen by the very forces of the universe, itself. Until both sides complete their end, the oath cannot be broken........without ending the lives of those who invoked it in the first place."

"Yet never in all my years could I imagine some-creature as depraved as you would utilize such a risky spell as this, Tirek." Luna said with disdain towards the centaur.

"When you live as long as I have in eternal isolation, you learn to take any manner of chances to get your way." Tirek stated, folding the magical parchment, and flipping it around in his hand like a baton. "And since all the aces were in my deck, I simply waited until I could play my hand. Thanks to my little pen-pal here, it was easier than I imagined - otherwise, I fear I would not be here now."

"Yeah, well are you just gonna keep talking about it, or are you actually gonna explain this so-called deal of yours?" Gallus questioned, finding some of his nerve returning to him. Though his friends, and teachers were quite concerned when Tirek cast his gaze on the young Griffon. But some relief sprayed on them when he merely smirked, and said, "Griffons. Always the most spirited of creatures, which i admire. To answer your question, for the mild amusement offered, it's quite simple: in exchange for Princess Twilight not only releasing me from the confines of  imprisonment, and guaranteeing my freedom, I would aid in her escape, deal with the threat of Cozy Glow, and would afterwards refrain from attacking ponykind for an extensive period of time."

"And they just agreed to that?" Smolder questioned.

"Of course not, Smolder darling!" Rarity exclaimed impatiently, before her tone turned to shame. "But....the fiendish brute gave us no alternative."

"If Twilight didn't agree, he would'a turned Pinkie Pie into an ACTUAL Pie!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash.

"Though....I might actually taste good as a pie." Pinkie said without thinking, absent-mindedly liking her leg to taste, only for Fluttershy to stop her by saying, "Pinkie Pie, please. I really don't think you should try, and find out something like that." Pinkie simply shrugged her shoulders, and returned her attention to Twilight, who was now looking to the approaching Celestia, with Luna and Neighsay following behind. "I'm sorry, Celestia." Twilight said in great shame. "I should have found another way. If I only had more time, then-"

Princess Celestia hushed her gently with a hoof to her lips, and softly said, "Do not blame yourself, Twilight. You did what you needed to protect your friends, and Equestria. You prevented a grievous situation from occurring, and found a means of escape. At least take some comfort in the fact you, and your friends are alright." Twilight smiled after a few moments, and thanked Celestia for once again giving her comfort, and reason when she felt failure.

"Touching as the 'exquisite' moment is, i'm quite certain i've overstayed my welcome." Tirek said with mild annoyance. "Without magic, Cozy Glow will not be so intellectually formidable as she proved herself to be. Nor will she be making any quick getaways without her wings. I have ensured her capture is assured. Now, it is already past time I was on my way, now." Just as soon as Tirek took a step, however, Luna signaled the guards to ready themselves for combat. Though many were still nervous, they were still willing to fight for their leaders. "And what makes you think we will simply allow you to leave unabated, Tirek? You are as guilty as this filly for nearly bringing Equestria to ruin - even moreso, since she learned everything she's done from you! The only destination awaiting you is a new cell in Tartarus where you belong."

Though his glare was brief, Tirek's bout of laughter lasted several moments, to Luna's irritation. "Already forgotten about the contract made by me, and Princess Twilight? The one that gives me assured freedom after fulfilling my obligations? For shame!"

"That contract was made between you, and Princess Twilight Sparkle!" Luna shouted, raising her volume to near RCV (royal canterlot voice) levels. "We are not obligated to give you anything but what you deserve."

Tirek's brow raised. "Really? Even when it means certain death for said princess?" This got Luna to back off, as she suddenly remembered that this was the Unbreakable Oath. "Now you're back on track, princess!" Tirek said, clapping his hands when he saw the recognition on her face. "If it allows you any comfort: I am bound not to harm anypony for a single year, as your princess of friendship is bound to allow me my freedom." His eyes glowed as his features narrowed once again. "So unless you intend for the death of your sisters prodigy, your savior from darkness, and this world's first line of defense, I urge you to honor her decision." Luna's own glare matched his for a long time, making those present quite nervous. Only faltering when she turned around to her sister, and friend who gave her a look that said "let him go", although it was regretful. Sighing wearily, she had the guard stand down, and ordered them to back off as she did.

"Thank you for seeing reason." Tirek said in a mocking tone. "And now, my victory is truly complete. I bid you all adieu', farewell, auf wiedersehen, arrivederci, and goodbye................until next time, when I finally exact my revenge." he chuckled darkly, unnerving some, while making our heroes growl in anger. Turning towards the entrance, Tirek fired a beam of his magic straight ahead. A portal leading to an unknown, forested region appeared in a swirl of flame, and the centaur was already making his way toward it. Just as he was about to get closer, he felt something small tug at his leg. He looked down, and saw the despair-filled eyes of his pony protege' Cozy Glow, wrapping both arms around his front leg. Sniffling as she seemed on the verge of tears while staring up at him. Her voice cracking as she asked, "P-please...... just tell me something: I did good, didn't I? After everything you taught me, did....did any of it matter? Did I have any role to play in any of this?"

"................No."

The pegasus filly only squealed in despair as her tears fell. And her grip on him fell. Many who were watching couldn't help but feel bad for the little filly. It seems, just like Discord, she was only ever a means to an end for the mad centaur. And now, the chest master had just had her entire board tossed aside by the true game master, who left her in the dust to wallow in misery. With a stern glare that merely held contempt, and hate, Tirek marched towards his unknown destination, as all those who were present could only stand, and watch. All of them unable to do anything to stop him - as much as they wished him punished for his role in the recent mayhem he had instigated. In the end, it was he who had the last laugh, and was the other victor of the day. As he stepped through the portal, one thing was clear.

Equestria's future was now uncertain.
> The Price of Freedom
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chancellor Neighsay sighed with relief as he said, "I'm glad you're back in charge of the school, princess." His horn lit up, and opened the doors to one of their inventory stores. Just a check-up to ensure nothing else was stolen by Cozy Glow for some hidden back-up agenda. Once it was clear all was in place, Neighsay spoke with hints of regret in his tone and expression, "It's clear to me now that there is no pony better suited for the job." Both princesses smiled at the genuine meaning of such a statement, and were happy the Chancellor would no longer be in opposition to The School of Friendship. What the trio were not expecting was to see the young student six, heroes of the school and presently of equestria, standing single-filed in graduation gowns as Spike puffed out a graduate's degree to each of them. "What's going on?" Twilight asked as she approached the group.

"Hi, Headmare Twilight!" Silverstream waved to the alicorn. "We're just practicing for graduation!" All the while, Spike continued his magical belching, and handing out degrees to the other students. "Graduation?"

"Now that we've saved Equestria, we figure we're done with school." Gallus said with a strong hint of pride in his voice. However, to the surprise, and confusion of the six young students, Gallus' evident viewpoint on recent matters amused both Twilight, and Chancellor Neighsay as the two laughed together. "Saving Equestria is nice, but I'm afraid it'll take more than one semester to learn all there is to know about friendship."

"Told ya." Said Spike, as he let out another belch, while the students, now armed with the knowledge that their school time has yet to fully end, gave a simultaneous "Aaaaaaw!" of disappointment. The kind only children could give when they learn their semester has yet to end.

"Your headmare is right." Neighsay said, his expression turning to one of remorse, and understanding. "I thought friendship was something only ponies should share with each other. But you all taught me how wrong I was." He smiled at the students with gratitude, and said,  "I suppose true friendship can take a lifetime to understand."

"If it were easy to learn, we wouldn't need a school." Twilight said, good naturedly.

CRASH!

Suddenly, the Cutie Mark Crusaders broke out of the broom closet they had all spent the majority of the day locked up in. All three of them were quite frantic, after the amount of time they had to be in there. "We held her off as long as we could!" Applebloom yelped.

"But she locked us in this closet!" Scootaloo exclaimed, getting a small broom out of her mane.

And once she got the bucket off of her head, Sweetie Bloom frantically asked, "What happened?! Is everything all right?! Where's Cozy Glow?!"

A moment later, everyone except the CMC began laughing together. It was almost an inside joke to the group, given only they in the room were aware of what actually happened. The three fillies were even more confused at this point. But Twilight was willing to alleviate their worries. "Everything worked out just fine."

"As for Cozy Glow, I can assure you — where she's going, she won't be causing any more trouble." Princess Celestia said in good faith, and with confidence. But while the others might have been reassured, Twilight couldn't help but get this.... ominous feeling. That maybe putting Cozy Glow in her new holding place wasn't such a good idea, and could lead to something bad happening. She couldn't be sure, but for now she would savor their victory.

Even if his presence in Equestria might have made it a hollow victory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Down in the dimly lit depths of Tartarus, Cerberus sat all alone, sulking next to the malformed remained of a humongous cage that had once housed an evil force too dangerous to ever be released. And yet through craft, and intimidation, that evil force had garnered the previous pony visitors to release him in exchange for helping them escape. The plan worked all too well, and now Cerberus' most dangerous charge was gone. All three heads worried at how badly they might end up being punished for what happened. The same inmate who had escaped two years ago had once again escaped his confinement - and on the three-headed hounds watch this time. Worse was that he had been reduced to a diminutive state, and couldn't stop him from escaping. He shouldn't have even been able to escape in the first place. But now he was free again, and Cerberus was left alone with the other imprisoned creatures of magic.

And needless to say, he began to see just how boring things were going to be.

But then the 3 headed hound received a surprise in the form of Princess Luna, emerging from the ever familiar blue portal generated by Chancellor Neighsay, with an escort of pegasus guards. The heads couldn't see at first, but could hear the sound of a cage being locked, before the adult ponies moved out of the way, and into the portal. To the hounds shock, Tartarus had just been delivered a prisoner. Only it wasn't the one who had escaped previously.

It was a pegasus filly with bright pink fur, aqua blue curly hair, with adorable freckles on her face to compliment the little bow in her mane.

"Hey there, doggy!" Cozy Glow said in her insincere, syrupy sweet-laced voice she always used as she grabbed the bars of her cage to face the gigantic beast. "Wanna be friends?" she asked, with an undertone of sinister intent, as her own expression turned to that of a scheming villain already plotting something. The dog/s had absolutely no idea if they should be alarmed, or not, but it wasn't as if they could do anything about it. If this was who they were to guard now, then that's all there is to it. No reason to change that, as far as Cerberus was concerned.

And yet, it appeared that change was about to arrive sooner than imagined when a new portal emerged. This one, opposite of the one  that gave Luna passage, was fiery red. A ring of demonic flame that appeared right in front of Cozy Glow's cage. The filly, for a moment, grew nervous at this unexpected development. But she also felt curiosity at what this was that she was being witness to. When she saw the figure who emerged, she now wished that she didn't feel that was. Even Cerberus grew on edge at the familiar visage of the familiar-looking centaur who had just appeared. Dark fur on the horse-half of the body, bright red skin of muscular distinction, an onyx suit of armor with a cloak split triangular up the middle, and the devilishly horned head of a white-haired, yellow eyed centaur was all the proof either needed.

Lord Tirek had just returned to Tartarus.

Cerberus didn't care how he got here, or why he was here. All three heads growled, and snarled in agreement over one fact: he was an escaped prisoner, and needed to be brought down for punishment. With a roar, the giant beast jumped at the smaller centaur, fully intent on crushing, and then eviscerating him. Yet before he could even reach him, Cerberus felt an aura of magic envelop his body, and make him lighter than a feather. With a vicious smirk, Tirek was holding the 3 headed dog in his grasp. And with a grunt of maximum effort, he spun in a full circle with Cerberus in his grasp, and then hurled him into the stone wall overlooking the chasm behind the humongous pillar the centaur, and pony stood on. The hound was temporarily stuck in the impression his massive body made, and even stunned from the force of the blow. But as soon as his sense returned, all heads yelped in panic as they jolted.

A big mistake.

With that single motion, the guardian of Tartarus howled in fear as he plummeted into the dark, and mysterious depths of the immense prison realm. No living being actually knew what was down in that frightening abyss of Darkness for sure. Some believed it was a direct route to the bowels of the planet, itself. Others even thought it was an actual realm where evil forces beyond imagination dwelt. A den of demonic entities ready to rip asunder the souls of any, and all who came into their dominion. Noone could ever know for sure. Well.....none except Cerberus, who was now taking a deep dive into the abyss. A boisterous laugh escaped from Tirek as he listened to the fading howls of his captor. Much to the disturbance of his filly audience, who was stunned by the swift brutality of what her 'mentor' had just done. But finally, Tirek caught his breath, and triumphantly said, "Ah, how i dreamed of doing that to the overgrown fleabag! After eons of his endless, threatening growls, intentional shedding of fur into my cage, and.....things i am in no mood to recall, revenge goes sweetly with irony, don't you agree, my little pony?"

"Uh......i-irony?"

"Since this domain was first created, Cerberus had been entrusted to be its dominant, permanent resident. Yet despite his long track-record of holding others prisoner here, the overgrown mutt failed in his duty - twice!" Tirek then grinned in amusement. "The irony here is that the one, true resident of this domain, whose reign as warden has run its course, is now more suitable to be a prisoner himself - in the Abyss of Charybdis, where no soul ever escapes. A fitting end for a witless beast." Suddenly, TIrek's horns ignited his magic in the center, and Cozy's cage was elevated until the two were at eye level. His features now stern, and expressionless as the two met face to face. "Now that the ingrate is out of the picture.......let's get down to business."

Cozy was now shaking with absolute fright as she took in the situation she was in. Completely at the mercy of the wicked demon who only used her as a means of obtaining revenge against Equestria, and with no way to protect herself. Tirek's huge hands began reaching up to her, and her eyes completely shut in fear. Little wings shielding her from the inevitability of whatever horrible fate the centaur wanted to inflict upon her now. She hear, and felt the cage bars bending like foil, and knew her time was up. Or so she thought, until she could feel old strength returning to her that she had not felt in hours. Her wings felt renewed strength, her coat brightened, and to her surprise, her chest-piece cutie mark returned to her. All the while, her entire cage melted in her mentor's hands, just as she took to the air. The feeling of her abilities returning - her own flight, and her cunning intellect - were reclaimed, and she was giggling, and laughing in excitement as she flew around in circles around the smiling centaur, whose arms were held behind his back. After a minute of her moving, he called out, "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, golly-gee!" Cozy exclaimed happily. "I feel a million times better than all the bits in the world! I'm never taking my smarts, OR my wings for granted after this!" But then, her excitement turned to confusion as she lowered to match Tirek's eye-level. "But.......I don't get it: why did you give me my magical life force back? Don't get me wrong, cause i'm really grateful you did make me my cute, and lovable self again. But you're the one who put me in that state," he tone then turned to one of restrained anger, "and who said I contributed nothing  to you. So what's you angle, TIrek?"

Tirek's expression turned to annoyance as he said, "It is  LORD Tirek to you, filly. And it appears you have yet to learn the finer details of manipulation." When Cozy demanded to know what he meant, he explained in full detail. "Alright. Allow me to explain in simple detail: all that has happened ever since I contacted you had occurred according to MY design. Our continued communication only ensure all turned to the exact results I desired."

"What do you mean?" Cozy asked. "Wasn't the idea to actually leave Equestria weakened? And weren't you angry about my plans for getting rid of Equestria's magic?"

"And I am a small bit miffed about your treacherous change of plans." TIrek briefly glared, before he smirked while stroking his beard. "But I will admit myself impressed at your ability to improvise - and your desire to ensure no competition could stand in opposition of you. Even your own mentor, who taught you all the means of casting the Mystical Conjunction spell." Cozy chuckled nervously, with a bit of appreciation, before Tirek continued. "But the thing is, Cozy Glow: heroes always arise to defend all that is good in this world. And even with Twilight and her friends imprisoned with me, I knew it was only a matter of time before someone else prevented your plan from succeeding. In a world where good always seems to triumph over evil, no matter how strong and clever it is, I already anticipated your plan to fail."

Cozy huffed, and pouted in indignation as her front hooves crossed together. "Aren't teacher's supposed to have faith in their student's, or something?"

"Ah, but you misunderstand, my dear pupil: you performed your role most excellently!" Tirek said with pride, with his hands clapping together. Cozy, however, was even more confused than before. "What in the hay does THAT mean?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Tirek's brow raised. "The plan was never to trap Twilight, and her friends in Tartarus, nor crippled Equestria permanently." His eyes narrowed, and made Cozy draw back in fright. "You forgot that the magic of this world is MINE! And MINE, alone! Hence my genuine anger towards your ridiculous plan." COzy smiled nervously while she sweat profusely. Only making Tirek sigh in annoyance, before continuing. "The end goal was the simplest of all: to ensure I escaped from this accursed domain once again. After your update on your 'project', and your plan to send the princess and her friends here, I knew I could use it to my advantage. Thanks to your little 'gift'" Tirek indicated to his armor, " any attempts on their end to intimidate me into simply aiding them were made utterly useless." A malicious grin appeared. "And allowed me to force her majesty into making the Unbreakable Oath with me in order to gain my help. I even added a secret spell that would compel her to free me, in case she intended to break her word. Of course, to make things more convincing, I added the conditions that I would both aid in the ponies escape, and thwarting you - in exchange for my freedom."

Cozy hovered in the air, impressed by the complexity of her mentor's plan. "And they just agreed to it? They couldn't actually be that dumb, could they?"

Tirek chuckled in amusement, "No......not entirely, anyway. One added term was that of a sort of truce: so long as I do not harm a single hair on the head of any pony for a certain period of time, they cannot make any attempts to confront, and imprison me. I just never fully stipulated the exact time limit for the contract's conditions."

"Really? So how long do you have to go without hurting anypony?"

Tirek's grin grew impossibly larger as his eyes shimmered. "A week."

Cozy Glow was left in hysterics after hearing that. So much so, she was actually coming into tears, and nearly fell down. Even got into a brief coughing fit in the midst of her laughter, before she finally got a hold of herself, and began wiping the tears from her eyes. "THAT is priceless! Does Twilight even know about it?"

"She was in too great a panic from the magical deadline concerning Equestria's magic to even bother reading the fine print." Tirek chuckled in villainous delight. "Not that she could understand the writing, given it's in an older Netherland dialect undoubtedly older than the Kingdom itself is now. Either way, it all came down to my ultimate victory: my freedom."

"Which I guess Twilight and her nimby friends could consider the price for their freedom." Cozy pointed out. She then grew nervous as she thought about asking something she wasn't sure about. With Tirek's confession, her opinion of him changed immensely, and now she wanted to learn everything she could from the ancient centaur. "So......a-am I still your friend, Tirek?" A glare, and growl were her only answer, until she caught onto her mistake. "Sorry, sorry! LORD Tirek!"

Tirek huffed, "You are still my little protege', Cozy. That is all there is to it." Then, Tirek's features hardened in deep thought. "But it IS now clear that individually, we are no match for the ponies, and their allies. Perhaps you had the right idea in gaining favor from others, Cozy. If we are to overcome Princess Twilight, and those closest to her......we must begin searching for others who are of a like-minded persuasion, and also wish to see her strung by her wings in humiliation, and defeat."

"Oh, goody!" Cozy exclaimed, laughing with equal parts joy, and equal parts malice. "That means we get to look for more friends to join us! You can trust me when I say friendship IS power, Lord Tirek! And once we make the majority of equestria into our friends, we can make ourselves the undisputed Rulers of Friendship, and surpass Princess Twilight! Then use our growing army of friends to overthrow the Princesses, and make us the true rulers of Equestria!" Amidst Cozy's cheerful laughter, Tirek's eyes began glowing with his rising anger, until it finally burst.

"SILENCE!" he roared, smashing one of the stone spikes surrounding the summit, and making Cozy draw back in fear. Tirek then began forcing her back down the stairwell by walking towards her in a threatening manner. All while he said, "I didn't recruit you for such entry-level wickedness. You truly have so much to learn, my dear."



🎵Now I know you've been malicious
Spiteful and a trifle vicious
It's no secret that you cheated and you've lied
And you've done some double dealing
Scheming, swindling, and stealing
You're an amateur, but heaven knows, you've tried🎵

"I answered your call, didn't I? Money, power, stature? 
Only an idiot would ignore such a sweet deal."

"Good foal. And very soon you're efforts will be rewarded." Tirek said, looming above her, while his body peeked out of a new portal. One which he proceeded to drag Cozy through, into an underground, cavernous network that seemed to resemble the crystal-like caves beneath Canterlot. As he went on, Cozy found herself more afraid of Tirek than she thought, and almost began second guessing joining him. Keyword being almost.

🎵You'll develop so much faster
Now you're working with a master
Who will help you cultivate your darker side
You'll discover wicked ways you've never known before
And you'll find that when you're really rotten to the core...

It feels so good to be bad
So delicious to be a despicable cad
It's just so thrilling and so fulfilling
To give somebody the worst time they've ever had
It feels so good to be bad🎵

"Case in point:" Tirek says, showing a bubbled projection of Twilight, reeling in agony as a dark force threatens to throttle her dead. Much to TIrek's cruel delight.

🎵Twilight doesn't know it, but she's in my power!
She's gonna wish that she was never born!
I promise you that in her final hour
All she knows, shall be what she mourns!🎵

"Say, uh.....why can't I try and get rid of her, again?" Cozy asked, earning a brief, dead-panned look from her mentor.

🎵Cause you had your chance and you blew it
I entrusted you to do it
But you BUNGLED it, and threw your chance away
It's a problem you created
If my plans end up mitigated
I'm not naming names, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO PAY!🎵

"Aaaaagh! I really could try again, boss! Honest I could!" Cozy screamed. Terrified of Tirek's unrelenting fury, and demonic killing intent. Tirek, however, rolled his eyes at her insistence, and said, "You'll never get the chance. Now, at this point, Cozy Glow is another in a long line of villainous foes."

"But I'm just a filly!" Cozy hastily said, with a not-so-convincing smile, which only made Tirek grin with glee. "Not anymore! You work for me, now!"

🎵Though you gave me cause to doubt you
There's a loathsomeness about you
That attracts me to you as a protégé
And when you've learned every creepy crummy thing I know
You'll taste the joy that comes when you're the lowest of the low!

He then began turning the entire cavern they soon entered into a raging inferno. With every stomp of his hooves, and wave of his hands, pillars of rock uprooted, and spires of flames erupted. All the while, he engaged little Cozy Glow in a devilish tango amidst the dark chaos that made the scene like something out of Tartarus, itself.

It feels so good to be bad
So delightful to be a deplorable cad
It's so appealing to have the feeling
That what you're doing gets trouble brewing
And drives everybody mad!

At one point, he dropped her on the ground. The impact dazed her for a moment, and only for a moment. She was quickly able to lean back up to face Lord Tirek. Just in time for him to dramatically swing his arms upwards, and then bend towards her. Predatory teeth flashing, and his towering form looming over her like a monolith of evil as flames flared from out of his eyes. He quickly picked her up again to finish the self-made tango.

You've got my guarantee
It feels so good to be bad🎵

Cozy kept exclaiming in Tirek's grasp, as he little body wasn't used to being moved around so roughly. Yet she found it somewhat entertaining after a few moments. Like she was on some kind of ride in an epic amusement park. WIth Tirek, all the while, laughing in sheer delight as he took such enjoyment in his theatrical moment. "So exciting!" He delightfully shouted, tossing Cozy once again, but in a more rehearsed manner that allowed her to flip into the air, and land on her own hooves in  a stylized manner. "Olé, so inviting!"

🎵So good to be bad!🎵

The pair began to reach their climax, as they both danced to the invisible rhythm, back out through the portal leading into the outside world of Equestria. The ponies of Equestria will now need to beware. For on this day, the beginning of the end of their reign of friendship was ending. Evil will unite, stand together, and bring an end to the era of Harmony. Lord Tirek, and his apprentice would see it done!

"Ah-ha!"

The end.