Cozy Glow, Tirek, and Queen Chrysalis traveled the land of Equestria in a motor powered vehicle, carrying their Rainbow of Darkness detecting equipment. Where were they heading? No where in particular. What mattered most was that they got far enough away from their home base, so that they could run the experiment once more. Once they did, they would have two thirds of their map complete. One more, and they would know the Rainbow of Darkness' exact location.
The kicker to this whole approach was that they had to travel all the way to the other side of Equestria. And after several days of travel, some of them were getting impatient.
"I hate long road trips." Chrysalis said.
"Would you rather be catapulted 1,000 miles away by a miraculous force field of love projected out by two ponies, one of which you disguised yourself as, the other, the one you tried to steal their love but in a cruel twist of irony that love is what catapulted you and your army blasting off again!?"
"Uh, not really. Been there, done that." Chrysalis replied.
"For all we know, we may be far enough away already." Tirek said.
"It's hard to know our exact location." Cozy said. "We keep heading East, until night, when the stars come out, I can accurately determine our location, then we'll decide whether or not to keep going."
Tirek looked at the sun, and saw it was still high in the sky.
After a long day of traveling, the three settled down in a little camping area for the night. They were in a forest area, although the air quality was iffy.
Luckily the sky was clear enough for Cozy to look at the stars above, and figure out their latitude and location in Equestria.
"So the good news, we're just about far enough way from the town of TCGC that I feel we could run the test again." Cozy said.
"Finally!" Chrysalis said.
"It's about time!" Tirek said.
"But here's the rub, whenever we do this experiment, it's essential that Tirek is powered up as much as possible. If we don't, we may not detect anything." Cozy explained. "At the village, we were fortunate enough to have a crowd of ponies hand over their magic, but on our travels, we'll have to get more creative."
"Where are we going to find a powerful source of magic in the middle of nowhere?" Chrysalis asked.
"Well, I'm speaking to one right now." Tirek said.
"Forget it! I'm not some vile of magic you can sip whenever you want!" Chrysalis snarled.
"Chrysalis' magic is a good start, but I think we'll need an extra kick beyond that." Cozy said. "Luckily for you two, I studied magic at Twilight's school, so I happen to know a powerful source of magic nearby."
The next day, the three drove through a nearby rocky mountain location. It was a very bumpy ride.
"It's getting too rough for the vehicle to go much farther." Tirek said.
"We'll have to put the car somewhere safe, and continue on foot." Cozy said.
The three found an empty cave. They turned off the car with all the stuff, and rolled it into the cave.
"That oughta do it for now." Chrysalis said.
It was up to them to traverse the land on foot in search of a source of magic. Though the location seemed remote, Cozy seemed to know what she was looking for.
However, they saw the shadow of something flying overhead.
*gasp*
"Get down, let's hide." Cozy said.
They hid in the cover of a pile of boulders.
"Where are we anyway?" Chrysalis asked.
"Why, this is dragon lands. A prosperous land, home to, well dragons." Cozy introduced the area.
"Are you sure this is the dragon lands? I'm seeing creatures of all sorts in these parts." Tirek said.
"Guess Twilight's really made sure to diversify every region of Equestria." Cozy said.
"Never mind that." Chrysalis said. "What matters most is our objective."
"Like I said, we need a powerful source of magic for Tirek for the best results in our test." Cozy said.
"But, dragons typically don't contain much magic at all." Tirek said.
"There's plenty of hipoogriffs. They have the ability to turn into seaponies when they hit the water. There's bound to be some tasty magic in them." Chrysalis said.
"That's too obvious. I have an idea for even more powerful magic, while being more inconspicuous." Cozy said.
"I've read all about the Bloodstone Scepter during my time at Twilight's school, and in this book." Cozy brought along her book from Canterlot library. "It says here, that the scepter grants the user the ability to control dragons. Though, for our purposes, we just need its raw magic so Tirek can sense the Rainbow of Darkness."
"Where are we to find such a treasure?" Tirek asked.
"The Bloodstone Scepter is wielded by the Dragon Lord. The dragon's throne is just over yonder." Cozy pointed.
From they vantage point, they saw Dragon Lord Ember, sitting on her big throne, commanding the dragons.
"Alright, now riddle me this, how do we get that scepter?" Chrysalis asked.
"We don't wanna cause a big scene here. I reckon it best we slip in the cracks." Cozy said.
"Slipping in the cracks is exactly what I do best. Heh heh heh." Chrysalis laughed.
"I don't like when she giggles like that..." Tirek said.
Ember still sat on the throne, waving to her dragons, and commanding their actions. However, she was about to be jump scared by an unexpected guest.
"Excuse me, dragon heroine. I'm expressing great discontent with myself." said a teenage looking dragon.
"Oh, what's the matter?" Ember asked. "Besides your... unusual shape?"
"Oh, this? I'm still figuring out how to copy dragon proportions." Chrysalis confessed.
"What?" Ember asked.
"I mean, I'm at that awkward age where boy dragons make me feel funny!" she said.
"Yeah, growing up does really suck." Ember added.
"I was thinking I could use that Scepter to vaporize those who offend me." Chrysalis said.
"Uh, I'd prefer if you didn't do that." Ember said.
"Then perhaps I could offer you... something else, in exchange for the scepter." Chrysalis gave Ember the eyes...
Cozy Glow and Tirek were back at the mouth of the cave. They had rolled out the vehicle holding their equipment, and were getting everything ready, in anticipation for Chrysalis bringing the scepter.
And fortunately for them, just a few moments later, Chrysalis successfully brought Cozy and Tirek the Bloodstone Scepter.
"Feast your eyes, for I present to you the dragons' most valuable treasure!" Chrysalis said, wielding the scepter.
"Perfect! And not a moment too soon." Tirek said.
"That Ember looked to be a stubborn figure. How'd you get the scepter?" Cozy asked.
Flashback to a couple minutes ago.
"I said, no." Ember said.
"But why not?" Chrysalis asked.
"Because this scepter is very important to me. It's what allows me to be-"
"Dragon Lord Ember!" cried a couple dragons.
"What is it, Fizzle? What's wrong, Vex?" Ember asked.
"Garble's got claws stuck under a rock!" Vex cried.
"What? Again?" Ember sighed.
"Sorry, newbie. We'll have to cut this talk short. They need my help." Ember said.
"Take all the time you need, lassy." Chrysalis said.
Ember flew off with the other dragons.
Chrysalis couldn't help but notice she forgot something.
"Hmm. For as important as the staff is, she didn't seem to mind leaving it here alone with me..."
*whistles This Day Aria* Chrysalis took the scepter.
"It wasn't easy I tell you." she said. "I fought hoof and nail for it."
"Well don't just stand there, help us get everything ready." Cozy said.
There wasn't anything to unload because everything was fully functional while being mounted to the car.
"We have to do the experiment outside for the best reception." Cozy said.
"But unfortunately, it does leave us quite visible." Chrysalis said.
"Which is why we gotta move quick." Tirek said.
"So with no further delays, we need Tirek to absorb the scepter's magic." Cozy said.
But unfortunately there would be further delays, as they were interrupted by a familiar face.
"Hey, all." said a familiar green dragon.
"What the?!" Tirek said.
"Sludge?!" Cozy said.
"Back off dragon! Your scepter is our's now!" Chrysalis said.
"You're the dragon from the village." Cozy said.
"Well, yeah. Why'd you guys follow me here?" Sludge asked.
"We were not following you! You followed us!" Chrysalis shouted.
"Nuh-uh! I've been here for a few days now." Sludge said. "You followed me."
"I don't care who followed who, just stay out of our way while we get everything ready." Cozy said.
"You listen here, I'm not through with you. You humiliated during the town meeting, so I left your dumb town and came home." Sludge said.
"All I'm saying, is that what you did to Spike was pretty messed up. Those ponies had the right to call you out." Cozy said.
"Oh, like you're some kind of saint." Sludge sassed.
"Look, impersonating someone's parent is pretty messed up!" Cozy said angrily. "I know that if somepony did that to me, they'd be lucky to walk again!"
"Cozy! Forget the freeloader. Let's run the experiment so we can find the RoD, become power, then destroy any and all enemies!" Chrysalis said.
However, Cozy didn't seem to listen.
"Cozy Glow?" Tirek asked.
"What are you doing?" Chrysalis asked.
Then, Cozy Glow did something unexpected. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. After she calmed down, she had a rational conversation with Sludge.
"What exactly do you want from us?" Cozy asked.
"A chance to redeem. A chance to prove I can be of use." Sludge pleaded.
"Okay, Sludge. I'll give you a chance." Cozy said. "You can help us in our object by going to Dragon Lord Ember, and making sure she's distracted so she doesn't discover us."
"Finally, an opportunity to prove myself. I won't let you down." Sludge flew away.
"Do you really want to make him an ally?" Chrysalis asked.
"No way. We're totally gonna ditch him when we're done here." Cozy said.
"Then let's conduct the experiment now! So that hopefully we can finish before he gets back." Tirek said.
"I second that. First, we need you, Tirek, to absorb the scepter's magic." Cozy said.
"With pleasure." Tirek said.
Cozy Glow held the Bloodstone Scepter up to Tirek.
*swoosh*
Tirek opened his mouth, and he started to absorb the scepter. The scepter glowed, and it's magical aura flowed into Tierk. The consumption of magic made Tirek grow in size.
"Wait!" Chrysalis exclaimed.
"What now?!" Cozy and Tirek said simultaneously.
"I just remembered something. I thought you could only sap magic from living things." Chrysalis said. "But you sucked up the magic from the scepter just fine."
"Huh. You're right." Tirek said.
"Have I identified a major continuity error?" she asked.
"I view it more as we're discovering more about Tirek's abilities." Cozy said.
"So, I couldn't absorb the shield because it was a spell with no artifact or pony source to absorb." Tirek said.
"So now we can add magical artifacts to your list." Cozy said.
"Whatever, let's just do this thing before it makes my head spin." Chrysalis said.
"Like before, Tirek, we need you positioned here." Cozy said.
Tirek sat in the main chair. Cozy's hooked up several apparatus to him. One to his head, the other to his hand. Tirek gave them a thumbs up. Cozy and Chrysalis don't have thumbs, so they just gave affirmative looks.
"Alright, no time like the present." Cozy pulled the lever, which started up the generator which powered the machine.
*Bzzzt*
Tirek fainted, and went subconscious.
Tirek's horns glowed, as it sensed the Rainbow of Darkness' faint but ever real essence. Then, an electric current flowed from Tirek's finger tips to the machine, which the machine recorded as data. The monitor lit up as it detected a faint bleep.
"The signal's not as strong as it was back at the village." Chrysalis said, worried.
"That's fine. It just means we're farther away from it. A result is a result either way." Cozy said.
The machine heated up, and started smoking up.
"It's getting warm again, we could lose power at any moment." Chrysalis warned.
"Just a little more..." Cozy said.
The monitor bleeped and blooped, which means data was still coming in.
"The signal's weaker, so it has to run for more time!"
*hrrgh* Tirek was getting uncomfortable.
A few minutes of data collecting later, Cozy flicked the switch to off, and everything powered down.
"That's all she wrote for today." Cozy said, wiping her hooves clean.
*phew* "Thank the stars." Chrysalis said.
Tirek opened his eyes and awakened.
*phew* "Did it work?" Tirek asked.
"It did. You were still strong enough to sense the RoD, and this baby recorded the data." Cozy said.
"Excellent." he replied.
"Once we have time to print out and read today's data-" Cozy started.
"Then that'll leave just one location left before we know where the Rainbow of Darkness is." Chysalis said, with an evil grin.
"And then once we have the Rainbow of Darkness."
"Twilight Sparkle won't know what hit her, when it hits her with the force of 100 teratons of dark energy!" Cozy beamed.
"Now all that's left is to get out of here and..." Cozy turned around, and saw Ember and the dragons.
"Oh, darn it..." Chrysalis said.
Ember and a group of dragons behind her had discovered.
"Sludge! This is the opposite of what I told you to do!" Cozy scolded.
"Sorry, when Ember asked where the scepter was, it's not like I told her where it was. The truth just sort of... came out." he said.
Cozy face palmed really hard.
"So, the notorious Lord Tirek and Queen Chrysalis thought they could sneak onto our home turf and steal what belongs to us." Ember said.
"Now now, no need to get your dragon tail in a knot. We were going to give you back the scepter when we were done." Cozy said, holding the empty scepter. "Look, I'll prove it to you. Tirek, relinquish the magic back into the scepter." she commanded.
"Why should I listen?" Tirek said.
"WHAT!?" Cozy exclaimed.
"I have the strength and power to take on all of these dragons. If I gave it up, they'd most likely arrest us. We are fugitives after all. I reckon I keep the magic to myself-"
"Dang it, Tirek. Not again! Whenever you absorb too much magic, you become stupid arrogant Tirek!"
"You're always the one coming up ideas. So here's mine, I just pound the guts out of every dragon in front of me!" Tirek said.
"NO! You can have a power so much greater if you just listen to me! Now give up the magic right now!" Cozy exclaimed.
All the dragons looked at her, perplexed.
"What are you all looking at?!" Cozy shouted.
*swoosh*
Tirek let go his magic and it went back into the Bloodstone Scepter.
Cozy took a deep breath.
"Here's your stupid stick, dragon girl." Cozy held the scepter out.
"You know, we still have arrest you.." Ember said.
"Under what authority?" Cozy smirked, retracting the scepter.
"As Dragon Lord, I order-" Ember started, but was interrupted.
"Dragon Lord? I don't think so." Cozy said. "The Bloodstone Scepter has a special connection to the dragon lord. But it doesn't appear like the scepter likes you very much."
"What's she talking about?" Garble asked.
"She's right. Something about the scepter, feels different. It isn't calling to me!" Ember cried.
"What does that mean?" Sludge asked.
"I thought you said you would restore its power!" Ember said.
"I did! I haven't got any dragon scepter magic left in me!" Tirek said.
"Then what's going on with the scepter?" Ember asked.
"You don't know? I thought you were supposed to be the expert." Cozy said. "I've read about this. Although its power was restored, the scepter's owner has been reset!"
"I've been demoted from dragon lord!" Ember's heart sank.
"Hmm, a reset scepter? Sounds to me like the start of a Gauntlet of Fire." Cozy said.
"She's right!" Garble said.
"What? No! The scepter may be in gauntlet of fire mode, but there is no gauntlet! Just give me back the scepter!" Ember said.
"So... the next dragon who touches this scepter is made dragon lord eh?" Cozy said.
"Yes, now just give it please." Ember begged.
Cozy retracted the scepter, and leaned it in the direction of Sludge.
"No one take a step forward, or else Sludge becomes dragon lord!" Cozy held the scepter very close to Sludge.
*gasp* "You wouldn't!"
"Ooh. I like this deal." Sludge said.
"No no no no no no!" the dragons said simultaneously.
"You want your little stick back? Well take it!" Cozy threw the scepter into the crowd.
"I call dibs!
"It's mine!"
"Stop it! Dragons don't free for all any more!" Ember cried.
"Why do you get to be dragon lord?"
"It's been a long time! I say a new gauntlet of fire is only fair!"
The dragons fought over the right to the scepter.
"They're distracted. Now's our chance!" Cozy said. The other two nodded.
Cozy Glow, Tirek, and Chrysalis jumped into the vehicle. Luckily they never technically unloaded the machine since it's operational while loaded. So they were good to go.
"Let's hightail it outta here!" Chrysalis said.
Cozy turned the ignition key. She stomped her hoof on the gas pedal, and *woosh* they were off!
*VROOM*
"They're getting away!" Garble cried.
"After them-" Ember started.
"Wait, who's got the scepter?" Vex asked.
*sizzle*
A wall of fire halted the dragons. Crackle caught the scepter in their mouth, and they were in charge.
Dragon Lord Crackle, I beg of you. We have to go after them.
*ROAR*
Crackle had other immediate plans for the dragons.
Meanwhile, the three villains basked in the glory of their victory.
"Woowee! We did it!" Chrysalis exclaimed.
"That was such an adrenaline rush!" Tirek said.
"Oh golly golly yes!" Cozy breathed heavily. "The data is stored safely in the machine. Onward, to collect our third data point!"
"Yes! Yes! Aw, you guys are the greatest!" said Sludge, who also happened to be on board.
"What the? You're still following us?" Tirek snarled.
"Would you get lost!" Chrysalis sneered.
"What? I thought we were a team. The way we worked together and almost had the Bloodstone Scepter to ourselves. Shame you gave it back to them." Sludge said.
"I still don't like him." Chrysalis said.
"You may not like listening to him, but I have an idea." Cozy winked.
"Hey Sludge? What was the thing you loved most about Twilight's castle?" Cozy asked.
"Oh, where do I begin? Why, just thinking about it makes me... makes me..." Sludge started feeling drowsy.
"Why is my head getting heavier...-" Sludge fell over and fainted.
Chrysalis had finished absorbing his love force.
"Mmm. He really liked that castle. The thought is almost sickening as the taste..." Chrysalis shivered.
"At least he's quiet now." Tirek said. "Plus, the rest of him will make for a healthy snack for the rest of our journey."
"And no better timing, this is the penultimate push towards greatness." Cozy said.
They traveled for the rest of the day, until the sun came down. It was time to camp for the night again. During the downtime, Cozy Glow had time to interpret the data the collected earlier.
She printed out sheets of data, and Tirek and Chrysalis helped put it all together.
She opened a map of Equestria, and placed it on a flat surface. On it, a circle, with their town in the center. And now, it was time to add another circle to the map.
"So, after putting together all the data, this is our result." Cozy said.
Cozy pinned the dragon lands on the map.
"We performed the experiment here. And based on the signal strength, it tells us how far away the Rainbow of Darkness is."
Cozy drew a large circle around the dragon lands. The circle intersected with the first one.
"Turns out the dragon lands is even further away from the Rainbow of Darkness than our town, which means it recorded a larger radius." Cozy said.
"The Rainbow of Darkness sits somewhere within the region where these two circles intersect." she explained. "Either we search this large area, or we preform one more test for a third circle, which would allow us to pinpoint the RoD's exact location."
"Hmm, we could call it here, forget the science, and just search on foot." Chrysalis pondered.
"Or, we could go through with Cozy's plan. We're so close, we should do this right." Tirek assured.
Cozy smiled when she heard that Tirek was interested in her plan. Her face lit up with excitement when she heard Tirek sound so cooperative.
"I'm glad that you feel that way now Tirek." Cozy smiled.
To be continued in the next chapter...
(Sorry if the continuity is a little confusing, I hope to streamline the chapters going forward)