In the previous chapter, Cozy's plan for domination continued to unfold. Her plan to fool Twilight Sparkle and make it seem that Luster Dawn was betraying her was going according to plan. With the power of Grogar's bell by their side Cozy Glow (in Luster's body), and Amber Glow (Cozy's identical twin sister), were both alicornified, and ready to take on the mane 6.
Cozy Glow and Amber joined together and charged their magic together. They leaped into the air and shot a blast of magic.
*zap*
*BOOM*
Twilight Sparkle withstood the impact with a magic shield. The other members of the mane 6 were there, and leaped into action. Cozy Glow hovered in the air above, while Lust Star hovered lower. Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared next to Cozy.
"Surprise!" Pinkie exclaimed, holding a party launcher.
But Cozy Glow suddenly appeared behind Pinkie.
"No, YOU!" Lust Star spun the canon at Pinkie.
*BOOM* "AAH!" Pinkie cried.
The party canon fired at Pinkie Pie, causing her to fall to the ground. Rarity caught her just in time. Applejack roped her lasso around Cozy, but Lust Star came to her aid, and unleashed a fire spell, and the rope burst into flames.
Rainbow Dash flew up, but Lust Star was quicker.
"So Rainbow Dash, I hear you're pretty fast." Cozy smirked.
"But I bet you can't out pace THIS!" Lust Star exclaimed.
*ZAP*
They blasted Rainbow Dash with a bolt of lightning.
"Nothing can go faster than light." Lust Star said.
Every blast of magic Twilight fired, was easily blocked by Lust Star. Cozy and Lust Star retaliated with another powerful blast. They twirled around each other and
*PEW*
*BOOM*
*yawn* "Haven't you guys learned no new tricks since your last run with Cozy Glow!?" Lust Star exclaimed.
"Yeah, this is almost exactly like our last battle!" Cozy exclaimed. "At least, I'm pretty sure..."
The mane 6 were worn out from the battle already.
"We're getting our flanks handed to us!" Applejack exclaimed.
"I'm rusty. Give me a break!" Rainbow Dash cried.
Despite the tough situation, they weren't ready to give up, and they were still determined to win.
"Golly, you guys are are getting mangled! Now would be a good time to unleash your Rainbow powers!" Lust Star said.
"Unless your friendship has weakened all these years later and your friendship is gone!" Cozy added.
"The friendship between us runs much deeper than you think." Lust Star grinned. "Why, we're closer friends than you guys are to each other!"
"That's what you think, but our friendship runs forever!" Twilight exclaimed. "Come on girls.
The 6 of them joined hooves. They all started to glow, and however in the air. Cozy and Lust Star watched with glee, and not a hint of anxiousness.
"True friendship is the power of when friends unite and it's more powerful that can stop any force." Twilight exclaimed.
"Have you been to the doctor lately, Twi? You seem to have problem with complicated sentences." Lust Star smirked.
The 6 were almost ready to fire their blast.
"Oh no. Twilight of Sparkle is going to blast us with her rainbowy friendship spell. Whatever are we going to do?" Cozy wept sarcastically.
"I'll show you, my student." Lust Star smirked.
Lust Star confidently cocked her head, and suddenly, the mane 6 stopped glowing!
"What the?!" Twilight exclaimed.
Lust Star had grabbed Fluttershy with her magic, and broke the chain, and their glowing and floating stopped.
"FLUTTERSHY!" they cried.
"Let her go! NOW!" Twilight snapped.
"You guys are like a weak chain. Break one, link, and the entire chain crumples!" Lust Star exclaimed.
"Luckily for us, our cooperation is optional." Cozy said.
"We're each completely self sufficient-*THUD*
Rarity flung a giant boulder at Lust Star. It was a direct hit. Lust Star's magic wore off, and Fluttershy escaped, only to be caught by Cozy's magic instead.
"Rarity! That's still my student! Don't kill her!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Sorry, I kind of got too heated there." Rarity said.
"Don't worry, I feel just fine!" Lust Star exclaimed.
*BOOM*
The boulder exploded, and the Lust Star was nearly unscathed. She withstood the hit like it was nothing.
"What the?!" Rarity exclaimed.
Lust Star cocked her head, and it made and eerie bone cracking sound.
"Heh heh. I feel no pain!" she exclaimed.
Fluttershy was struggling to free herself of Cozy's magical grip.
"Do you mind doing something about Flutterpie here? I'm sick of baby sitting her." Cozy said.
"With pleasure." Lust Star replied.
*poof*
Fluttershy disappeared.
"There. Out of sight, out of our way." Lust Star said.
Rainbow Dash came zooming in. She flew into the air to build up great speed.
"Alright, A.G., like we practiced." Lust Star said.
Cozy nodded, and flew in front of Twilight.
"Hey, Twilight. I betcha can't catch this!" Cozy exclaimed, and slapped her flank. "Come and get a piece of this!"
Twilight flew into the air, and chased Cozy around the room, while Lust Star dealt with her friends.
Rainbow Dash was coming in fast, but Lust Star appeared suddenly with magic, and literally flew circles around her.
"So, Equestria's fastest flyer? I don't see it." Lust Star said.
Lust Star's wings grew huge, and gust powerful winds at Rainbow. The force of the wind made her lose control and she fell to the ground.
"I guess they don't call you Rainbow Crash for nothing." Lust Star said. "Lightning was right, you are a fraud."
*poof*
With a quick spell, Rainbow Dash was gone.
Who's left. she thought.
Besides Twilight, there was Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity.
Applejack wasn't ready to let them get away with this. She tucked her hat down, which meant this was serious. Lust Star chased Applejack around the room as she did leaps and bounds off damaged infrastructure.
"You got lots of dexterity for an older pony." Lust Star commented.
Applejack tossed her lasso onto a piece of debris hanging from the ceiling. She held onto to the rope and swung from it. It was an elaborate web like trap, and she tied Lust Star down.
"Expert knot tying skills, master AJ." Lust Star said.
Her horn glowed, and in a bright flash of light, the ropes were absolutely lacerated! The alicorn ginned and walked forward.
"DEMONS BE GONE!" Applejack crossed her hooves.
Lusty grabbed Applejack with her magic.
"Sorry, but your superstitious beliefs won't stop me!" she said. "If you ever see the light of day again, please do us all a favor and allow for free market to operate unimpeded." Lust Star said.
*poof* AJ was gone.
"Who's next?!" Lust Star exclaimed.
The only ponies left were Pinkie Pie and Rarity.
Pinkie built a makeshift fort of rocks. From behind, she chucked a fast barrage of pies at Lust Star.
*oof*
But Lust Star was too strong, and she apprehended Pinkie Pie.
"You're not too bad, Pinkie Pie. Dropping a giant cupcake on me was funny in hindsight." Lust Star said.
"What? I think you got it a little mixed up." Pinkie said.
"Oh. I mean, Cozy Glow. It was funny in hindsight when you dropped a giant cupcake on Cozy Glow. Not me, I wasn't born yet! I don't think. Say, Pinkie. How old am I?" Lust Star said.
"Well, let me count the number of birthdays I've celebrated for you. I've celebrated every one of your birthdays, so let me reminisce. I believe it was your latest birthday party where you accidentally turned Twilight into a frog. And the year before that you-" Pinkie went on and on and on.
"I don't have time to reminisce! I'm looking forward to the future." Lust Star said.
Luster's horn lit up and was about to strike.
"Don't hurt me! I have a child!" Pinkie cried.
Lust Star was surprised, and flipped her mood.
"Golly, why didn't you say so?" Lust Star pushed her hoof to her cheek. "You get Lusty's care package for hardworking mothers. Now be off."
*poof* Pinkie Pie vanished.
Next, Lust Star turned her attention to Rarity.
*PEW*
Lust Star fired a magic blast, but Rarity blocked it with a magic shield.
"You've got quite a strong magic shield considering what you are. A rundown mediocre peasant fashion designer." Lust Star said.
"Great ponies can come from anywhere. And apparently, the worst ponies can too." Rarity said, pointing to Cozy, being chased by Twilight.
"Yeah, she's the monster. Not Luster, of course. Do you even know where Cozy came from?" Lust Star asked.
"I'm not particularly curious." Rarity replied.
"Well, I just lived through my *I mean* her life, so I don't feel like reexplaining." Lust star said.
Rarity was actually pretty darn decent at using her magic in combat, but she was no match for Lust Star, and the sheer power of the bewitching bell and Grogar's magic.
Lust Star's magic overcame Rarity, and she collapsed to the ground.
"Don't hurt me! I-" Rarity cried.
"You what? What's your excuse, Rarity? You don't have a family. You're a lone wolf! You've lived alone and you'll die alone!" Lust Star exclaimed. "Oh, and by the way, Suri Polomare is a better designer than you."
"NOOO!" Rarity cried. "Wait what was that last bit?"
Lust Star threatened her glowing horn against Rarity.
"AAHHH!-*POOF*
Rarity disappeared.
*oof*
Twilight caught up to, and pinned Cozy Glow down.
"I got you, Cozy!" she exclaimed joyfully. "Alright girls! I got Cozy Glow down! How's-*gasp*
Twilight looked around, but no friends to congratulate her.
"You and what army? Twily?" Lust Star asked.
"You don't seem so confident without your friends, Twily." Cozy said.
"What did you do to them?!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Don't worry, they're in good hands." Lust Star said.
Cozy escaped Twilight's clutches, and appeared next to Lust Star.
The two rogue alicorns inched forward, threatening Twilight.
"I don't get it! What could have possibly motivated you, Luster Dawn, to trot a path of treachery? You were always so eager to learn friendship, and were such an excellent student!" Twilight exclaimed.
"It's nothing personal, Twilight. Friendship is power!" Lust Star replied.
"What's gotten into you, Luster?!" Twilight asked.
Lust Star cocked her head in the direction of Cozy Glow.
*Heh heh heh* Lust Star giggled.
Cozy joined her and started to laugh too.
"HA HA HA HA!" they laughed together.
"Oh, Twilight. You'll get a kicker out of the explanation." Lust Star said. "But first."
Lust Star and Cozy Glow lit up their horns.
"Time to kick every last smidgen of willpower out of you!"
They both charged up a powerful magic spell.
"Cozy Glow! Please, stop!" Twilight pleaded.
"Is this how Princess Celestia when her prized student Sunset Shimmer betrayed her?!" Cozy exclaimed.
Lust Star and Cozy Glow fired magic beams at Twilight, and she braced for impact.
*boom*
A magic shield protected her. But it was not hers.
Suddenly, a team of unicorns appeared besides, featuring Flurry Heart, Starlight Glimmer, and Trixie.
"Now that everypony is safely evacuated, we're here to fight along side you!" Flurry Heart said.
"Cozy Glow! This ends now!" Starlight exclaimed.
"Trixie's here to save the day!" Trixie declared.
The two evil alicorns were not intimidated, however.
"So, your actual useful friends have arrived." Luster said.
"Doesn't matter! We're still gonna whup your plots!" Cozy exclaimed.
Cozy charged up her horn and fired a blast of magic.
*boom*
"What?"
Trixie blocked the blast by her self.
"You're not the only ones who can power up!" Trixie exclaimed.
Trixie pulled out the alicorn amulet and put it to her neck. Her eyes and horn glowed red.
Twilight, Starlight, Trixie, and Flurry Heart fired beams of magic at Lust Star and Cozy Glow. The two evil alicorns fired their own beams of magic. The beams of magic intersected in a four versus two beam battle. The four 'corns were having an edge, and their magic was creeping up on Cozy and Lust Star.
Cozy needed the edge, so she saw an opportunity.
She used her magic to grab a plane of glass, and flung it at the other side. One of the 'corns used a reflector spell, and the glass pane bounced the other way and headed towards Cozy and Lust Star.
"Sister, look out!" Amber cried.
Amber flew forward to stop the glass.
*SHATTER*
She rammed head first into the heavy glass pane, and it shattered in the air, sparing Lust Star.
(Names revert to what they really are).
"No! Not again!" Lust Star cried (aka, the real Cozy Glow).
When she looked at her sister, Amber Glow, laying bloodied and bruised, it reminded her of her own past, being flung out a window, and almost dying.
"I've become my father..." she cried.
Tears of Cozy started to pour from Luster's face.
"Please, oh please..." Cozy wept.
"Sister?" Amber struggled to say. "I'm sorry I messed up..." she said lightly.
"No, you did nothing wrong! You tried to save me!" Cozy cried.
Cozy tried to hide the emotions and stay in character.
In the middle of their arguing, Starlight had noticed Luster appeared to be weeping.
"Luster Dawn, are you okay?" she asked.
*RING*
The bell had appeared, and it completely sapped Amber of all of her magic. She plopped to the ground when her magic was drained.
Cozy got back into character and pretended again to be Luster.
"Cozy Glow?" Twilight asked.
"Take a closer look." Lust Star said.
Lust Star nudged Cozy and rolled her over.
"Notice anything off about this filly?" Luster asked.
"For one, she's dead." Trixie replied.
"Trixie!" the unicorns scolded.
"You don't know for sure. She's probably fine." Flurry Heart said.
"Anything BESIDES THAT!?" Lust Star exclaimed.
"That's definitely Cozy Glow. What are you getting at, Luster?" Twilight asked.
"Come on, Twilight. Use that big brain of yours." Luster said, tapping her head. "I know you haven't seen Cozy Glow up close in lord knows how many years, but what about this filly isn't correct?"
"I think I see it. Despite being drained of her magic, Cozy still has a horn!" Flurry Heart observed.
"But she hasn't got her wings." Starlight added. "She's also got a blank flank."
"Ding ding! You're getting warmer." Lust Star exclaimed.
"This little filly sure looks a lot like Cozy, but all these subtle differences make you think, huh?" Luster said.
"So if that's not Cozy Glow, then who is it?" Flurry Heart asked.
"And where is the real Cozy Glow?" Twilight asked.
"Golly, headmare Twilight. I'm disappointed it's taking you this long to figure it out." Cozy said. "You're right about one thing, Luster wouldn't betray you, Twilight. At least, not unless she's under the influence."
Twilight and the others did some deep thinking, and suddenly came to the realization.
*gasp* "No... It can't be!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Cozy Glow is mind controller Luster Dawn!" Flurry Heart exclaimed.
"Ding ding! We have a winner! Congratulations Flurry Heart, my love. You solved the mystery of Cozy and Luster's alliance!" Cozy said.
"This filly here, NOT Cozy Glow. In fact, I haven't fully wrapped my head around her existence, but she's here! Well, at least, she was!" Cozy explained. "And the real Cozy Glow has been in control complete of Luster Dawn this whole time."
"You've been controlling my student this whole time, Cozy Glow?" Twilight asked.
"Uh, duh. Isn't it obvious? Luster's not as smart as me, and never would have come up with such a clever scheme to conquer the world!" Cozy said.
Cozy's story was crazy, and very hard to believe.
"This is all sounding very dubious!" Starlight said.
Twilight however couldn't help but buy into this narrative. She simply couldn't imagine Luster Dawn betraying her like this. So she had to be under some kind of control. But was this mysterious Cozy lookalike really a different pony?
"If what you say is true, Cozy Glow, then release Luster Dawn at once!" Twilight demanded.
Oh, Twilight. Feeling sorrow for your student, but not your mortal enemy. Cozy thought. Not one of them extended a hoof forward to try to help you, Amber. It's a shame you had to suffer because of their vendetta against me.
Cozy picked up Amber with her magic.
May you rest peacefully, sister. I promise your lose won't be for naught.
*poof* Cozy cast a spell, and Amber Glow disappeared.
"If you want your precious pupil, Twilight." Cozy started.
*poof* The bell appeared besides Lust Star.
"Then come and get her." she finished saying.
The two unicorns and two alicorn princesses opposed Cozy Glow. The four charged forward towards Lust Star Cozy.
Lust Star held the bell close to her.
One way or another, Cozy's legacy ends now. Cozy said in her head.
Meanwhile, one giant, angry centaur was marching through Equestria. Tirek was full of magic, and trudging through the land, heading for Canterlot, on a mission to find and save Cozy Glow. He wielded the Rainbow of Darkness around his neck, and was prepared to take on any foes that come in his way. But his behavior did not go unnoticed. He was being watched by two mighty deities.
"What is he doing?"
"He is marching to the heart of Equestria, and we can't let him get there."
The original two princesses, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna, approached the mighty centaur, and opposed him. Tirek halted in his tracks to speak to the princesses.
"What do you two want?" Tirek asked.
"So, Tirek. We meet again." Luna said.
"This is your final warning, Tirek. Surrender immediately at once, and tell us where your accomplices are." Celestia said.
"Unless you two are here to give me your magic, then step out of my way. I don't have time for this. I have urgent matters." Tirek said.
I don't know why, sister. But something seems off about Tirek. Luna thought.
He's typically down for any challenge, but he far more serious than I have ever witnessed. Celestia replied through thoughts.
"Whatever mischief you have in mind-" Celestia started.
"-We're here to make sure your plans fall through." Luna finished.
Tirek crossed his arms and tapped one of his hooves. Thought Tirek had with him the darkness, he wondered if now was the time to use it.
"You don't need me yet, you can take these two on your own. Save it for the eleventh hour." Grogar whispered. "Exercise your own raw strength and crush them."
With that, Tirek's mind was made up.
"If it's a fight you want, then I'll make this quick." Tirek said.
Tirek clenched his fists, and charged up his own magic. He fired a fireball at the princesses. Luna flew up, and Tirek chased her the field, while Celestia prepared her trap. Tirek went in for a punch, but Luna cast a magic shield to intersect his fist.
*BOOM* The was a magic-splosion, and they were back on neutral ground. Tirek couldn't help but notice this was so far a one sided fight.
"You aren't even putting up a fight! You are simply evading!" Tirek exclaimed. "This is a waste of my time."
Tirek turned around and was about to leave the scene anyway, when all of the sudden.
"Now, sister!" Luna exclaimed.
Celestia cast a portal, and banished Tirek into Tartarus.
With Tirek and the Rainbow of Darkness now trapped in Tartaurs, he turned around, and banged against the door to the outside.
"LET ME OUT!" he pounded the door with all his might, but it didn't budge enough. Grogar was slightly more optimistic.
"Those fools." Grogar said.
"What are you on about?" Tirek asked.
"Look around, it's a buffet of powerful creatures, and I get the feeling you're rather hungry." Grogar said.
Tirek opened the Rainbow of Darkness, and it consumed all the creatures in Tartarus.
"We shall devour every creature we see."
Shadow magic slowly crept in, and consumed the various creatures inside. From a Cockatrice, the Bugbear, a Manticore, a Maulwulf, and many more. The dark magic consumed them, and they turned into powerful shadow creatures. Cerberus growled, but even they were not immune to the darkness' influence. They darkness consumed, and transformed Cerberus as well.
*boom*
The creatures were so powerful, the cages blew open, and the creatures from Tartarus roamed free.
"Yes! Our army of darkness continues to expand! With an army of the fiercest creatures in Tartarus, we'll be invincible!" Grogar exclaimed.
Tirek couldn't help but notice something unusual at the top of the Tartarus staircase.
Tirek climbed up the stairs to see what was waiting. When he reached the top, he had discovered something horrifying.
"Oh my-... Cozy Glow?"
He found Cozy's lifeless body hanging in a cage. He reached in gently, and grabbed the corpse, and held it close to him.
"No... Cozy..." Tirek wept.
"Tsk tsk. The recklessness of those ponies were her demise." Grogar said.
Tirek however, wasn't in the mod for back and forth banter. He bent his knees, and (unbelievably), he wept for Cozy Glow.
"This is all my fault... I shouldn't have passed her on to Discord. I owed it to myself to try everything in my ability to help her, but I failed..."
"It was a mistake to put any trust into Discord." Grogar said. "Now come, Tirek. We should have more than enough power to escape from here."
But Tirek didn't listen. He was near paralyzed by the emotions rushing through him.
"What's wrong with me?" Tirek wept.
Tirek had never lost any creature he cared about. But every emotion he felt was second nature. He couldn't help but feel extreme sorrow over the loss of Cozy Glow.
"I feel this profound emotions overcoming my head. I've never experienced anything like this..."
"And how does it feel?" Grogar asked.
Tirek clenched his fist, and converted all his sadness into uncontrollable anger.
"I hate this feel! I want it to end! I want everything to end!"
Tirek was over the sadness phase, and was now angrier than he'd ever been in his life.
"Yes, it is tragic. Cozy may be lost, but we shouldn't take this loss sitting down." Grogar said.
The Rainbow of Darkness glowed, and some of the creatures crawled out to speak.
"Make those ponies pay for what they did!" Shadow Polomare said.
"Show those ponies unimaginable power!" The Washadows said simultaneously.
"Make them sorry they ever lived!" all the shadow creatures exclaimed at once.
Dark magic crept out of the Rainbow of Darkness, unprompted, and wrapped itself around Tirek, and absorbed itself into the centaur.
The surge in rage and dark magic transformed Tirek.
"AH! What is happening?"
"I'm just gonna help you channel your anger productively." Grogar said.
The darkness started to consume Tirek, and fill him with even more power.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
From Tartarus, Celestia and Luna watched anxiously as Tirek pounded against the gates of Tartarus.
*BAM* *BOOM*
The force was tremendous!
"Surely no creature can escape, right?" Celestia asked.
"No creature has ever escaped from Tartarus by sheer brute force." Luna replied.
*BOOM* the doors flew open with so much force, they dislodged from their hinges, flew forward and embedded themselves in the nearby mountainside.
"Well there's a first time for everything..." Luna said.
Tirek emerged from Tartarus, cuffing his hands together, as if he was holding something. He marched forward, and the Princesses stood firm. Tirek threw forward a punch. The princesses braced for impact, but his fist stopped short of their shields. His fist opened revealing Cozy Glow's body.
"Is this what you call friendship?! Is this how you treat your own kin?!" Tirek exclaimed.
Tirek held the Cozy corpse in front of the two princesses.
"I assure you this has to be some sort of misunderstanding." Celestia said.
"I assure you this is exactly what it looks like! Take a closer look! She's GONE!" Tirek exclaimed.
"What do you think, sister?" Luna asked.
Celestia closed her eyes and thought deep.
"This is unusual, Her soul is not here with us. She must somewhere else..." Celestia replied.
"This all happened because you all put too much trust into Discord! When he makes a promise, THIS is what he delivers!" Tirek yelled.
"But Discord is the most trustworthy creature I know of. Absolutely nothing can go wrong when making a deal with him." Luna said.
"Are you being sarcastic, sister?"
"This is your fault! You let this happen!" Tirek raged.
"Preposterous." Luna said.
"We're not even real anymore, so we're not responsible for any trouble that you guys stick your noses into." Celestia said.
Tirek opened the Rainbow of Darkness, and his army of shadow creatures crawled out.
"I'm going to make sure that light never shines upon the land again!"
The legion of shadow beasts surrounded the princesses. They were clearly outnumbered, and their power far exceeded their own.
"What do we do now, sister?" Luna asked.
"We've done all we can. We can only hope that balance is maintained..." Celestia said.
"This is no ordinary rage. He grieves for the filly, so perhaps there is a way through to him..." Luna said.
"Twilight's got her work cut out for her, but regardless of what happens, or who does it, friendship always finds a way..." Celestia said.
The creatures all fired a powerful blast at the princesses and-
*BOOM*
It was a mighty explosion. When the dust cleared, the princesses were completely gone!
"WHAT! WHERE"D THEY GO?! AAH!" Tirek exclaimed.
Tirek punched the mountainside where they once were.
*heavy breathing*
"Get over it. They are gone, and out of our way, leaving us free to do as we please with all our shadowy friends." Grogar said.
Tirek clutched Cozy's in his fist, and held it close to his chest. He marched forward and headed for Canterlot.
"I'm going to avenge you, Cozy. I'm going to annihilate every creature who still breathes." Tirek said, marching towards the mainland.
To be continued...