Chapter 8: Frenemies
In Grogar's lair, Grogar looked through his orb as it revealed a bluish bell with a printing of an eye on it, in which it was his bewitching bell.
Suddenly, Grogar heard a throat clearing and he turned to Cozy as she hovered over to him.
"I don't want to tattle on my good friend Tirek, but…" " Cozy said with a fake innocent smile before stating annoyingly. "...you might like to know he left food out. Again."
"I'll deal with it when I'm done." Grogar said sternly and then Cozy walks off the goat turned to the orb again.
"Don't trust anything that nosy little Pegasus says!" Tirek angrily said, appearing as Grogar turns to him now looking irritated.
"I don't trust anything any of you say." Grogar said annoyingly as Tirek leaned slightly back a bit before he recomposed himself.
"Hmph!" Tirek angrily huffed as he walked off bitterly.
Grogar then turned back to the orb, but then Chrysalis' hoof appeared over it.
"Are you planning on attacking anypony anytime soon?" Chrysalis asked with an impatient look. "If not, I don't know why I'm wasting my time here. I am a queen, you know?"
She flew off and then Grogar angrily snorted. Chrysalis flew to a room where Cozy and Tirek are. It didn't take long for a few seconds as Grogar entered the room.
"I'm leaving, since it's impossible to accomplish the work I need to do here." Grogar said. "I suggest the three of you come to some kind of accord."
Cozy, Tirek and Chrysalis started arguing, but then Grogar shot magic at their mouths, sealing them shut.
"I don't care how, but you must learn to work together!" Grogar said. "Only then can we accomplish what you so greatly desire - the defeat of Twilight Sparkle, Chase Young, and their friends!"
But then he noticed that they were one pony short.
"Where is Dark Chase?" Grogar asked the three sternly, looking around the room for any sign of the clone alicorn stallion.
"Right here." Dark Chase's voice was heard as they turned to see him joining them.
"And where have you been?" Grogar asked Dark Chase sternly.
"I've been meditating to clear my head from all of the annoyance those three have been making." Dark Chase responded back, making Tirek, Cozy, and Chrysalis glare at him angrily.
Grogar simply smirked.
"Meditation for our invasion I see." Grogar said slyly before he glared at Dark Chase. "Next time, tell me where you will be if you want to be my second in command."
Grogar then turns to leave as Dark Chase simply glared at him before he smirked deviously.
"Indeed we shall see." Dark Chase said to himself as he walked away.
*Main theme*
Sometime later after Grogar left, Cozy was setting something up which was a banner and she hangs it up.
"Nothing says "teamwork" like an inspirational banner." Cozy beamed and the banner
has the entire group with smiles. "When Grogar sees this, he'll realize there's no way he could survive without me!"
Cozy Glow couldn't resist giving herself a smug smile when she heard Tirek grunting, and she flew over and saw him lifting weights getting himself ready for when the day arrives to attack.
"You're gonna have to exercise a lot to get as big as you were when you absorbed the life force of all those ponies." Cozy said next to him, but Tirek ignored her and continues lifting as the pegasus filly sat on the bar.
"Anywho, Grogar wants us all to work together, so I've scheduled a team meeting." Cozy said. "Doesn't that sound fun?" She turned to him and Tirek is now losing his patience. "And since Grogar left me in charge..."
"No, he didn't." Tirek protested angrily. "We all know that he left Dark Chase incharge!"
Of course, Cozy pretended she didn't hear that as she giggled.
"Someone's a real grumpy-taur today." Cozy said as she patted his forehead. "If we aren't meeting, I guess I could just stay and offer positive and inspiring-"
"Fine!" Tirek shouted as he gave out and sets his weights up. "I'll join your meeting. Just leave!"
"See you soon!" Cozy said and she flies off.
(Scene changes)
It was long when Cozy went down a staircase to meet with Chrysalis.
"It's been weeks, and Grogar's done nothing and neither has Dark Chase!" Chrysalis' voice was heard in anger as she was talking to herself and Cozy saw the former changeling queen's shadow looming on the wall. "It's not healthy to hold on to all this rage!"
Cozy peaks behind a corner as Chrysalis was discussing with the log that had Twilight's color, which was the same one she used to make the clone of the alicorn mare.
"I could lash out at any moment." Chrysalis said, almost losing her patience. "I still say that Dark Chase should follow my lead instead of him giving the orders! I created him!"
"And how are you doing this fine-?" Cozy said as she approached Chrysalis, only to get cut off.
"How do you think I'm doing?!" Chrysalis snapped in the filly's face. "I'm ready to exact my revenge!" She then turns back to the small log. "See what I mean?"
"Being cooped up with nothing to do is the worst!" Cozy said innocently as she flew in front of Chrysalis. "You know what you need? A team meeting!"
"I don't do meetings." Chrysalis bitterly said.
"Grogar left me in charge instead of Dark Chase." Cozy said.
"No he didn't." Chrysalis protested and turned to her. "And even if they did, Chrysalis obeys no one. Dark Chase doesn't even deserve to be in the group with us since I made him."
"There'll be cupcakes." Cozy said singsongly as Chrysalis turned to her annoyingly.
(Scene changes)
Later, they joined with Cozy at her meeting.
"Grogar wants us to work together to defeat our enemies." Cozy explained standing on three crates on each other. "Which means we need to trust each other."
Chrysalis chews on a cupcake she's eating as Tirek starts absorbing her magic.
"If we are to trust one another, perhaps inform Lord Tirek to STOP TRYING TO ABSORB MY ESSENCE!" Chrysalis shouted angrily as Tirek halts the process and spits it on a cupcake.
"I wasn't doing anything of the sort!" Tirek lied as he pointed at the former changeling leader. "How dare you!"
"How dare I?!" Chrysalis angrily said as she got into his face. " Do you know to whom you are speaking?"
She then picks up the cupcake with the spat out energy and eats it before she leans back.
"How could I not?" Tirek said, pointing at Chrysalis' log as she hugged close to her. "You tell your lizard every five minutes."
"This is why Grogar left me in charge." Cozy said sternly.
"NO! HE! DIDN'T!" Tirek and Chrysalis yelled angrily, getting into her face as they were really annoyed with her manipulation before they sat back down.
Cozy angrily growled when Dark Chase entered the room.
"Well, isn't this a nice meeting." Dark Chase mocked, gaining the three's attention. "Instead of bickering, you are all sharing pathetic treats."
"Hey! These cupcakes are good!" Cozy Glow shouted angrily as Dark Chase looked at her sternly.
"You honestly think Grogar left you incharge? None of you are fit to be a leader. In fact, none of you have the skill to take the lead." Dark Chase said to the three, making them angrier.
"How dare you insult your queen!" Chrysalis shouted as she jumped in the center, facing off against Dark Chase with her horn lit. "You watch your tongue with me! You know nothing of being a leader."
Dark Chase simply chuckled at this since he found it amusing to mock Chrysalis.
"Do you take me for a fool? After you lost your hive to those ponies, you failed to achieve your goal of ruling Equestria. You've become weak! All of you have" Dark Chase said mockingly, causing Chrysalis to lose her temper violently and even Tirek and Cozy were starting to get furious.
"THAT'S IT!" Chrysalis shouted as she fired multiple beams of magic at Dark Chase, but in an instant the cloned alicorn stallion dodged each and every one of them without ease.
He then charges at Chrysalis in a flash, punching her in the stomach brutally as her eyes popped out and her mouth form a circle as Dark Chase sent her flying against a wall, making her grunt in pain.
Suddenly, Tirek lands in the center as he slams his fists to the ground two times and charges at Dark Chase, who stood on his hind legs, lit his horn, and aura hands replaced his front hooves.
Tirek tries to punch Dark Chase, but the cloned alicorn stallion blocks his attack with both his arms before he grabs the centaur, spins him around a bit, and tosses him into Chrysalis, knocking them both out.
Cozy was left as she saw Dark Chase coming at her and she became scared. Dark Chase landed a solid front kick to her chest, causing the pegasus filly to land on her back next to Tirek and Chrysalis.
Dark Chase landed on all fours as he stopped using his magic and smirked at the three gloatingly.
"I knew you two wouldn't stand a chance against me." Dark Chase said sternly as the three glared at him angrily and got up.
"You only won against us because you know all of Chase Young's moves!" Chrysalis retorted angrily.
"And yet you failed to defeat him since your plans never succeeded from your own incompetence." Dark Chase remarked slyly, causing Chrysalis to glare at him angrily.
"At least he knows what you failed to do." Tirek said mockingly to Chrysalis, but Dark Chase turned to him as well.
"And what's your pathetic excuse? You failed to impress your father King Vorak?" Dark Chase said tauntingly as Tirek gasped in surprise before he glared at the alicorn stallion furiously. Dark Chase then turned to Cozy. "And you never wanted a home and a family since you barely made a fool of yourself in front of the Lucky Filly Orphanage."
Cozy glared at Dark Chase angrily as she snarled viciously.
"Well, looks like you all agree on something. You hate it when failure gets to you." Dark Chase said with a smirk.
"We do not!" Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy said angrily before they glared at each other. "Well, I did not fail myself! You let Chase ruin everything!/ Ah, you never know what failure looks like!/ Oh, you think you're so cool just 'cause you're a queen!"
Dark Chase glared at them irritatingly as the three continued to argue when Grogar came back.
"ENOUGH!" Grogar roared loudly, which Cozy, Chrysalis and Tirek cringed as they turned to him while Dark Chase glared at the goat. "I had hoped by now you would've resolved your differences, but apparently not."
"Perhaps if we knew what the plan was, we would be better able to prepare!" Chrysalis angrily said.
"Assuming you even have a plan." Tirek said to Grogar, wanting to get it over with.
"Of course I have a plan!" Grogar retorted sternly.
"And what would that be?" Dark Chase asked while glaring at Grogar.
"I have located an object of power, and it occurs to me this is the perfect test." Grogar explained as Tirek pushed Chrysalis into Cozy innocently, which the pegasus filly pushed them back a bit as they glared at each other. "The three of you and Dark Chase will work together to retrieve it. Against this item, those ponies won't stand a chance."
"I have come close to ruling Equestria several times." Chrysalis said. "Perhaps I should be the one to lead us."
"I nearly drained all the magic of Equestria!" Cozy retorted while she pushed Chrysalis aside. "That was good!"
"I absorbed all the magic of Equestria!" Tirek said as he pushed Cozy aside. "I could feel it flowing through my body as I grew!"
He, Chrysalis and Cozy started arguing as Dark Chase glared at them.
Grogar growled impatiently yet angrily before his horns glowed and then a magical black shock wave pins the three onto the wall.
"Each of you failed to defeat Twilight Sparkle, Chase Young, and their friends!" Grogar roared as he raised his left hoof at them threateningly, making his magic glow brighter and the three cringed from the tightness it gave them. "My power is greater than all of yours combined. This is but a fraction of it! Understood?!"
Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy nervously nodded before Grogar released them as they dropped to the ground.
"More importantly, Dark Chase will lead you three to find the artifact." Grogar said sternly as the three villains glared at Dark Chase, who smirked back at them gloatingly. "Now you shall retrieve the rest of it."
Grogar then brought the subject back as the bells on his collar glowed, and then black and yellow magic loomed over them.
"Thousands of moons ago, the self-righteous Gusty the Great, unable to best me face-to-face, stole my Bewitching Bell." Grogar narrated his story of being defeated when Gusty the Great stole his bell from him, placed it inside a cave on Mount Everhoof, and magical winds prevented anyone from getting to the top. "A tailsman containing much of my own magic. The Bell cannot be destroyed, so Gusty hid it in a place it has taken me millennia to discover - an enchanted cave high atop Mt. Everhoof, protected by magical winds that prevent anypony from reaching its peak. There, the Bell has remained until now."
The story ended as Grogar glared at the four.
"Scale Mt. Everhoof." Grogar ordered. "Bring me back my Bell."
"We will." Dark Chase said with a slight bow before he added to himself bitterly. "And make sure you won't be here forever."
That was only to himself since the four didn't hear him as Chrysalis laughed.
"The ease of this task is laughable." Chrysalis said, thinking this won't be a problem.
(Scene changes)
The next day, Dark Chase, Cozy, Tirek and Chrysalis stood in a forest with Mt. Everhoof a few miles away.
"Well, it sounded easy." Chrysalis uttered, regretting to open her big mouth as the four looked at the distant highest point of Equestria.
"Scale the mountain..." Tirek said.
"...retrieve Grogar's Bell..." Chrysalis added.
"...together!" Cozy finished beaming, wearing a purple coat and hat as she brought out scroll of paper. "I drew up a detailed plan with several visual aids to show how we can..."
Then Chrysalis, Tirek and Dark Chase headed off in separate ways. Chrysalis went on her own as she flew off while Tirek and Dark Chase walked together in a different direction.
"...ditch each other and do it alone." Cozy finished upset before she smirked. "Maybe when I'm waiting for them at the top, then they'll appreciate me."
Cozy then drops the scroll and begins the long trip to Mt. Everhoof's summit.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Chrysalis was all ready far away, but soon the wind grew harder to fly through. Soon she decides to make the rest of the trip on foot and flew down to the forest floor.
She began hiking as several eyes watched her. Suddenly a shadow appeared with red eyes as Chrysalis smugly glanced back, and then quickly turns as she hissed loudly at it.
It was enough for the shadow and other eyes to flee in terror.
"As if anything on this mountain is scarier than I." Chrysalis smugly said and chuckled while making her way to the mountain.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Tirek and Dark Chase looked at the distant mountain as they saw the clouds that spiral around it.
Tirek grabs some dirt and blows it in the wind. But then it came back as the dirt hits him in the face as he coughs and spits some of it off.
He noticed that Dark Chase was heading into the forest and he follows him close behind.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Cozy was hiking on a trail up the mountain and then noticed a house ahead and then an elder Earth Pony with a red brown coat, red brown eyes, white and gray mane with a cloak and bucket on his head appeared.
"Halt! Who goes there?" He said and then he saw Cozy. "A pony? There ain't been ponies around here in I-don't-know-how-many moons!"
Cozy soon saw him, and had an idea as she then fake cries herself and approaches him.
"Oh, golly, good sir." Cozy faked whimpered. "I'm just a poor lost pony looking for help."
"Aw, don't fret, little filly." The Earth Pony assured. "Ol' Rusty Bucket here, at your service."
"I'm so glad I found you." Cozy said with a fake smile. "I need help getting to the top of the mountain."
"Uh, no can do, ma'am." Rusty denied shaking his head.
Hearing this, Cozy's expression lowers to an angry look, likely that was the first her innocent advantage way failed.
"WHY NOT?!" Cozy shouted angrily and then distant rumbling was heard.
"Shhh! Not so loud!" Rusty said with his voice lowered. "This here's avalanche territory. I'm the guardian of this here mountain. It's my job to keep ponies from heading up. Nothing at the top but dangerous snow, dangerous ice, and dangerous wind. Basically, it's dangerous."
But Cozy wasn't about to give up just yet with her way.
"It must get lonely all by yourself." Cozy innocently said. "Maybe I could be your friend?"
"Aw. I'd love a friend." Rusty said, touched.
"So, now that we are friends, you could help me up the mountain." Cozy said.
"Hmm, uh... a real friend wouldn't ask me to do something I'm not supposed to do." Rusty said as he brought out a Friendship Journal that Twilight and Chase published a while back. "Says so right here in the Journal of Friendship, written by Twilight Sparkle, Chase Young, and their friends."
Of course it didn't help out as Cozy angrily tense up.
"ARE. YOU. KIDDING ME?!" Cozy furiously shouted at the top of her lungs.
Her shout echoed and sending birds flying off and was heard for miles near and around the mountain.
"Shhh!" Rusty hushed her and then Cozy turns and leaves.
"I didn't want to be friends anyway." Cozy said with her nose slightly in the air.
"Awww..." Rusty sadly groaned.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Chrysalis was still making her way up the mountain. She begins to walk across a frozen lake, and then she slips over the ice but manages to get a footing.
Chrysalis hovers, and then changes into a Cragadile. She falls through the ice and in the water and begins to swim across the lake.
Soon enough she reached the other side and smashed through the ice, before she crawls onto the lake shore. Chrysalis changes into a mountain goat, and begins climbing up the slope covering more ground. She reaches the top of the ridge and saw Mt. Everhoof close by, changing back.
"Almost there." Chrysalis said with a smirk and she continues off.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Tirek breaks off some branches off a tree, gathers some leaves and vines before he gathers them into a pile in a clearing as Dark Chase used his magic to slice some wood in half.
Dark Chase then looked into the direction of Mount Everhoof with a sinister smile.
"As soon as I get Grogar's bell, this world will be mine." Dark Chase said to himself sinisterly as Tirek didn't hear him.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Cozy was still trying to get pass Rusty as she flew over his house, but then she was caught by the strong wind currents and tries to fight them. But she was soon thrown back and hits the snow.
Rusty shook his head with a disappointed look.
(Scene changes)
Later Cozy tries climbing up, but then fell through the snow pile and pokes out.
"Nope." Rusty said as he shook his head. "Not that way neither."
Cozy narrowed her eyes at him as she was starting to get annoyed with him.
(Scene changes)
Later, Rusty stood by the entrance of his house and yawns. Cozy smugly begins to sneak across the side of his house. Suddenly, Rusty stretches and his staff hits some snow over him as some snow comes falling down on top of Cozy.
Cozy's eyes open through the snow and then the snow quickly melts as she sizzles angrily red before she goes up to him, having had enough.
"I TRIED BEING NICE!" Cozy angrily yelled and then distant rumbling was heard.
"Shh-shh-shh!" Rusty quickly said. "Now, just calm down there, filly."
"YOU calm down!" Cozy angrily said. "Ponies are supposed to do WHAT I ASK THEM TO DO! IT'S LIKE MY THING! OKAY?!"
Suddenly some snow was heard as she turned and saw a giant snowball appearing rolling down the hill. Then it lands on Cozy before she even has the chance to move, and the snowball rolls down the mountain as she screams and soon fades.
"Meh." Rusty said as he shrugged and he went back inside his house.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Chrysalis was now near the peak of Mt. Everhoof with only a few miles away.
"Apparently I don't need anypony else." Chrysalis smugly said.
She changes into a Roc and begins to fly to the over the ridge. But then she was struggling through the wind currents and she manages to get a talon on the next ledge. All of a sudden she was flung back before she could get a grip, and hits against a rock with a painful grunt.
Chrysalis got up as she angrily groans and kicks some snow.
(Scene changes)
Hours later at night, Tirek has set together a fire and a chair.
The Centaur placed a log in the fire as Dark Chase was crafting some ice a bit before they saw some bushes rustling. Cozy emerged out panting with some snow on her before she glares at the two bitterly and Tirek laughed at her.
"It's not funny, Tirek!" Cozy shouted angrily as she glared at Tirek.
"Didn't make it to the top?" Tirek asked tauntingly as he smirked. "Surprise, surprise."
"You and Dark Chase didn't make it to the top either." Cozy smugly remarked.
"We didn't try to." Tirek said.
"What?!" Cozy exclaimed in shock.
"It took about five minutes to deduce that Grogar was right." Tirek said as he sat on his chair. "None of us could make it up alone. So, rather than subject myself to the elements, I decided to let you 2 face the danger, take what you learned, and use it to my advantage."
He then laughed as Dark Chase paid no attention while scraping a few pieces of ice off his project.
"I put up with your "I'm smarter than you" attitude in Tartaurus!" Cozy angrily said. "But I'm over it!"
"I'd had enough of you trying to manipulate me with insincere, syrupy sweetness." Tirek said dismissively. "At least now we can see the real you."
"This is not the real me!" Cozy yelled angrily and lost her temper. "I'M CUTE AND LOVABLE!"
"No, you're not." Tirek scoffed in annoyance. Nearby, a large serpent like creature slithers through the forest hearing the argument. "You're annoying, and you snore."
"I do not snore!" Cozy protested angrily as Tirek did a mock snore at the pegasus filly, only for her to make a comeback with a mocking smile. "At least I don't talk to my Gram-Gram in my sleep."
"Don't you dare bring Gram-Gram into this!" Tirek angrily said, getting into her face and pointing at her chest.
Suddenly an Ophiotaurus appeared from the trees roaring at them as they turn to it.
"This is your fault!" Cozy and Tirek angrily said while pointing at each other, only for the Ophiotaurus roared at them as they turn back to it.
The two nervously backed away from the Ophiotaurus as it confronts them before he notices Dark Chase and slithers his way slowly to the evil alicorn stallion, who appeared calm by this. The Ophiotaurus roars at Dark Chase, who simply upper cuts the creature to the chin as it roared in pain and backs up.
All of a sudden, another roar was heard as they turned and saw female Ophiotaurus. Soon the male turns to her and the female bats her eyelashes at him. The Ophiotaurus was soon love-struck, and slithers over to her.
"Quick! It's distracted!" Cozy said to Tirek and Dark Chase, who still didn't pay attention. "Let's go!"
"Wait." Tirek said, stopping her.
"Do not be fooled." Dark Chase said as he watched the two Ophiotaurus.
The female Ophiotaurus roars, and then changes revealing to be Chrysalis. She starts absorbing and consumes the love from the Ophiotaurus as he grows weaker. Soon Chrysalis slurps up the last of the love, and the Ophiotaurus drops to the ground.
"Mmmm... So much love." Chrysalis said happily. "I haven't eaten this well in ages."
"So gross." Cozy gagged in grimace and disgust.
"Just so we're clear, I didn't save because I like you." Chrysalis said, turning to the three sternly. "I did it because... because I..."
"Neeeeeeed us?" Cozy asked with a teasing smile as she flew over to her.
"Yes." Chrysalis said bitterly gritted.
"Clearly Dark Chase and I were right to wait." Tirek said. "Now tell us everything you learned today. Leave nothing out."
(Scene changes)
Later, Chrysalis had the Ophiotaurus wrapped in a cocoon and she crawled around it. Cozy, who was roasting a marshmallow, turns to her.
"Why are you doing that?" Cozy asked. "Didn't you already drain it of love?"
"I always save a little for the next day." Chrysalis said and sat down on a log.
"You cocoon all of your... meals?" Cozy questioned.
"Of course." Chrysalis answered.
"So when you pony-napped Twilight and the others, you cocooned them." Cozy said about the To Where and Back Again events of her round 2 attempt.
"Yes." Chrysalis answered. "Until that sow Starlight Glimmer, Chase Young, Jade Young, Sunray Steel, Antonio, and Trini freed them, corrupted my subjects, and stole my hive!"
"Those ponies have weaknesses." Tirek said. "I used that turncoat Discord. Tricked him into helping me capture his so-called "friends"."
"Discord was really something until friendship ruined him." Chrysalis sighed disappointed.
Dark Chase, on the other hoof, didn't say anything as he was busy working on a small ice sculpture with one of his swords.
"You should've seen Chase and Twilight's face when their friends appeared in bubbles around me." Tirek said, referring to the moment to exchange them for the Alicorn magic. "Twilight was all..." He then messed with his face and pulled an exaggerated groan before he added. "And Chase was all angry about it."
Cozy and Chrysalis laughed while Dark Chase just rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"She's so stressed out all the time and Chase is always keeping the girls in line." Cozy said.
"When I posed as her former foal-sitter, I thought she was going to implode and I almost drained Chase's love from her, along with beating him down to a pulp!" Chrysalis said referring to the Canterlot Wedding events of her round one and two attempts.
The three laughed while Dark Chase didn't join in on the fun as he was busy doing his project as it was revealed to be a small ice model of Grogar.
"I wish I could've seen her face when I nearly erased all the magic from Equestria to the Netherworld." Cozy said. "Especially having the Elite Ninja thrown out."
"All magic was a little excessive, don't you think?" Tirek said.
"Eh, I think big." Cozy said as she shrugged. "Besides, it would've been worth it just to see Twilight and her friends bow down to me!" Then she changed her smug grin into a glare. "But if Chase and his siblings hadn't gotten in the way, that wouldn't have happened!"
"Indeed it would and wouldn't because of them." Tirek said in agreement with her. "Who wouldn't love to see those prissy ponies realize they lost everything?"
As if thinking what they were discussing, Chrysalis changes to Twilight.
"I'm a pathetic pony princess!" Chrysalis said mockingly. "I made a detailed list of all the ways I'm a failure!"
Cozy and Tirek laughed while Dark Chase just glared at the ice model of Grogar as Chrysalis changed back.
"You know, working with you three may not be the worst thing." Tirek said.
"Perhaps..." Chrysalis said, slightly agreeing. "...as long as it results in the complete destruction of our enemies."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Cozy said. "Do the pathetic princess thing again!"
Then Chrysalis changed back to Twilight, and did mocking things as Tirek and Cozy laughed. Dark Chase, meanwhile, was not joining with them still as he continued to look at Grogar's model with a glare.
Cozy turned her attention to Dark Chase as she said right before Chrysalis turned back to her original form.
"Hey, Dark Chase! Why aren't you joining in on the fun? Seeing Chrysalis making a mockery of Twilight is fun!" Cozy gestured.
Strangely though, Dark Chase didn't say anything.
"Hmmp, seems like you have a nice admiration of Grogar's old days." Tirek said with a satisfied grin as Dark Chase still glared at the ice model of Grogar. "So what do you have against Chase Young since Grogar brought you here?"
Then Dark Chase lit his horn to make an aura hand appear in his right hoof while holding the ice model of Grogar. Suddenly a cracking sound was heard coming from the ice model before…
SMASH!
Dark Chase crushed the model in his magic hand as the three villains gasped in shock at what he did. Dark Chase then drops the pieces on the ground.
"Everything he did to me." Dark Chase finally said as he turned his attention to the three shocking villains. "Every single thing Chase, Twilight, and their family have done to me long ago!"
This made them look at him in confusion.
"I am so sorry, Dark Chase." Cozy apologized, not understanding. "But if you already know what Chase and Twilight did to you, what makes you say you hate them so much when you were created by Chrysalis?"
Hearing this made Dark Chase stomp his front hooves in front of the fire, creating a dangerous large dark magic spark in front of him as the three shouted in surprise while being thrown to the ground as the flames turned purple.
"There is no Dark Chase." Dark Chase said with a glare as the flames' light gave him an intimidating appearance. "I'm not who you think I am. I've known Chase Young, his family, and his friends before any of you combined. And more importantly, I'm not that cursive clone of that alicorn stallion."
"But if you're not Dark Chase...Then, who are you?" Tirek asked with a frightened, but skeptical look as Chrysalis and Cozy looked at the alicorn clone, understandably confused and scared by this.
"You really want to know who I am?" Dark Chase asked stoically before he smirked. "Perhaps this will clear it up."
Suddenly, dangerous sparks of purplish orange magic appeared around him as he began to change. First his unicorn horn disappeared along with his fur coat replacing it with black skin as he stood on his hind legs as he replaced his front hooves with four large claws and his eyes were replaced by a pair of orange and white pupiless.
Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy watched in silent shock and surprise as Dark Chase twitched in pain before he exploded into a dark purple smoke cloud.
Then rising from the smoke in his place was none other than a very familiar Quinkan leader in armor while looking down at the three shocked villains with an evil smirk.
Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow gasped in complete shock as they instantly recognised who this Quinkan was.
"No." Tirek said in dread.
"It can't be." Chrysalis added.
"Emperor Zhao?!" They both asked in disbelief and horror.
"Dad?!" Cozy Glow asked, stunned.
Zhao continued to smirk at them as he stood tall. In addition to his appearance, the right side of his face is partially burned and disfigured, such to the extent that he now has very little vision left in his right eye as it is now iris white. His spikes on his shoulder and knee armor were also bent a little.
"I don't get it." Tirek said with a look of great surprise. "I thought you were gone. I heard the final event happened in the Netherworld after Chase stabbed the Sword of The Shadows in your chest, destroying you completely."
"That may be true, but not completely, Tirek." Zhao said as the three villains stood back on their hooves while looking at the Quinkan King. "Truthfully, I found an escape portal and returned back to Equestria undetected along with disguising myself as Dark Chase. But not long before I infused the power of my prized weapon into myself. As you can see, I'm much more powerful than any pony or creature or even you."
To prove his point, Zhao opened his right hand and used his dark magic to spark up powerful dark electricity before he shot it at a tree as it exploded into splinters, making Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow flinch in surprise.
"W-W-Well, ahem, I commend you on your escape along with getting your prized weapon's powers and your brilliant cover up, your majesty." Tirek recomposed himself before he bowed to Zhao in respect as Chrysalis followed in pursuit while Cozy still looked frightened a bit by her father's sudden appearance.
Zhao then stopped using his magic to look at the three while standing before them and turned his attention to his adopted daughter.
"Um, hi, Dad." Cozy said with a nervous chuckle. "I didn't recognise you there for a second. And, uh, I like the new look on your face. I guess you might have known that I was only, uh, keeping your army under control since you were gone."
Zhao stared down at his adopted daughter as she nervously smiled.
"Out of ignorance. Not loyalty." Zhao corrected her before he gave her a slight smile. "Still you have been proving yourself worthy as my daughter, Cozy Glow."
"So, uh, what exactly is it you have in mind to help Grogar in stopping Chase, Twilight, and their friends?" Cozy asked with a meek smile as Chrysalis and Tirek stood back on their hooves.
To their surprise, however, Zhao glared as he clenched his sharp teeth.
"You fools!" Zhao said with a growl as he stepped forward a bit, making the three back up a bit. "I am not doing this to help Grogar, I am doing it to get rid of him! His source of magic in his bell holds the key to my plan of total destruction to Chase, Twilight, their friends and their families! If this old goat thinks he is in charge of orchestrating an epic attack on them, I will beat him to it and make him suffer with unimaginable pain. He and all of Equestria will finally learn to respect my superior glory!"
"You want to betray Grogar?" Chrysalis questions in shock. "But you have no idea what he is capable of."
Hearing this, Zhao leaned forward to her with a glare.
"If that's how it's going to be like that, I require assistance from you three. If not, you may have no future at all." Zhao said, sternly.
"What are you saying?" Chrysalis asked again.
"I'll give you three a perfect reason for what I'm saying." Zhao said with an evil smirk. "Join me and together, all of us will be unstoppable to rule the world with my army of the Quinkan." Then he said with an angry look as he extended his blades from his right gauntlet, making Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy stand back in shock with widened eyes as he pointed the tip of his blades at them. "Or refuse, end up in the same fate as King Sombra did and I will see to it that there will be no way for you three to escape alive to see another sunlight."
Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow looked at one another as if deciding they would either follow Grogar and get destroyed or team up with Zhao to rule Equestria. Finally, Cozy made her decision.
"Uh, well, when do we start, Daddy?" Cozy asked with a nervous smile as Tirek and Chrysalis did the same.
(Scene changes)
The next day, the four hiked up the trail with Zhao wearing a black hood to hid his face and soon they were near Rusty's house as he came out. Zhao points his left hand out and fires a beam of dark electric magic at the cliffs.
It triggered an avalanche and Rusty was soon buried under the snow.
Cozy, Tirek, and Chrysalis laughed at that while Zhao smirked evilly as they headed upward and then Rusty popped out of the snow.
"I'm okay!" Rusty exclaims happily, but the four villains didn't hear him.
(Scene changes)
The four continued up the mountain as Zhao knocks a few trees down and he saw a trail. He smirked evilly as he and the other three villains followed it.
(Scene changes)
Later as they continued hiking, a log was in their way and Chrysalis changes to an Ursa Minor, moves the log out of the way.
(Scene changes)
Soon they were climbing up a slope, and then Cozy slipped, but Chrysalis got her hoof in a hole in her hoof as she pulled her up.
(Scene changes)
Eventually, they made it to the ridge where Chrysalis got to yesterday.
Zhao lowers his hood and points both of his hands in the center as they spark up dangerously with dark magic. His powers were enough to stop the wind from blowing the four away.
He points his left hand to the bottom as boulders and rocks were hovering in the air from the ground. Then Zhao creates a bridge out of them so that he and the three can make it to the bell.
"Okay, now I'm definitely glad he came along with us." Tirek said to Cozy and Chrysalis as they nodded in agreement before Zhao walks across the bridge with the three following him.
They made it to the other side as Zhao slams his fist on the bridge, shattering it into a million rocks as they fall down.
(Scene changes)
A few minutes later, they finally made it to the cave where Gusty has hidden Grogar's Bell. Chrysalis flew towards the cave to get the Bell, but then was zipped back by a source of magic.
Tirek and Cozy near the spot as the centaur placed his hand out and was zipped.
"Can you absorb it and make it go away?" Cozy asked.
"I can only absorb magic from living beings." Tirek stated as he turned to Zhao, who glared at the magic. "Now that you've gain your powers, what do we do?"
"Allow me." Zhao said as he approached the shield. "Netherworld magic is the strongest source of power to weaken Equestrian magic in this realm. With one touch of it in my hand, and it becomes my power."
With that said, Zhao places his right hand on the shield and digs his claws into it, making it spark dangerously as it turns purple. Some of the electricity flew off as Cozy hides behind Tirek in fear while he and Chrysalis watched in awe.
The shield then becomes a ball of purple magic as Zhao absorbs it whole with an evil smirk on his face.
"Perfect." Zhao said, sinisterly before he walks inside the cave while Cozy, Tirek, and Chrysalis watch with anticipation.
Soon enough, Zhao comes out with the bell in his right hand as he joins the three with an evil smirk as he gazed at the artifact.
"Finally. After all these years, the bell is finally mine." Zhao said deviously.
"Wow, now that is impressive." Tirek said in amazement as Chrysalis nodded in agreement.
"Oh, um, now that we have the bell, Dad." Cozy said as she silently approached her father from the side. "Maybe you could give it to me…"
But Cozy was cut off when Zhao hits her head with a magic beam, making her freeze in place and moaned in pain while clutching her head. Tirek and Chrysalis were both visibly shocked by what Zhao was doing to his adopted child.
"It's never easy for a father to punish his daughter." Zhao said as he stopped with a stern look.
"Ah!" Cozy cried out in pain as she lowered her hooves and looked at her father with a scared look. "I guess I'm not going to get past you now."
"Do you really think I am a fool?" Zhao said sternly. "I know betrayal when I see it."
Cozy joined Tirek and Chrysalis again as the three looked him at full attention.
"So, now we're all in on it, the only question remaining is: Who's side are you three on?" Zhao asked Cozy, Chrysalis, and Tirek as they felt silent by his words. "Yes, Tirek, Cozy, and Chrysalis. Loyalty is a most valued asset in this regime. An asset you have yet to demonstrate."
"You can't take the word of a stranger over the word of your daughter. I'm with you, Dad, all the way." Cozy swore at the bottom of her heart to never betray her father..
"You had better be. Family or not, no one gets in my way." Zhao warned his daughter sternly.
Chrysalis and Tirek knew what Zhao was talking about. If they try to betray him, they will get what they deserve. In an instant, the two made up their minds as they were in agreement with Cozy.
"You're right. I've spent too long in the Everfree Forest waiting for the moment to destroy Twilight and Chase. But all my efforts from the past have been nothing but failures. The Magic of Friendship is like a disease. An infection that spreads to those around you! I watched it infect my hive! I will not let it get me!" Chrysalis said angrily.
"Same." Cozy added in agreement with Chrysalis.
"Obviously." Tirek said in acknowledgment before they turned to Zhao.
"From now on, I pledge my loyalty to you and your army… Master Zhao." Chyrsalis said as she bowed to Zhao with outmost respect.
"As do I." Tirek added as he bowed to Zhao in respect as well with Cozy, making the Quinkan leader smile at the sight.
"Good. As of now, you will obey me and only me." Zhao said firmly and sinisterly. "And you will do as you are told when I give you an order to obey it. Is that clear?"
"We understand, Dad." Cozy replied back as the three got back to their hooves before the pegasus filly remembered something. "But... Grogar said we have to work together. And since we're obeying you, what should we do with him?"
"If Grogar thinks he is too powerful, then we will make sure he knows where his place is at soon enough." Zhao replied back, looking at the bell in his right hand with a sinister smirk. "In the meantime, we will hatch my plan."
"Ooh... I love a good backstabbing!" Cozy smugly said.
"After that, we can go back to trying to destroy each other!" Tirek said.
"In the meantime, what do we do with this?" Cozy asked about the bell as Zhao smirked evilly.
"I know the perfect way." Zhao said sinisterly as the three turned to him.
(Scene changes)
Later that night, they all returned to Grogar's lair.
"You failed to retrieve the bell?!" Grogar angrily roared and stomped his hoof with three bowing to him in fear while Zhao, now disguised as Dark Chase, stood upright without moving an inch.
"W-W-We're sorry, almighty Grogar." Cozy apologized.
"We worked together as you asked." Tirek said meekly.
"We just aren't powerful enough as you." Chrysalis said with a nervous look. "But at least Dark Chase was able to lead us there. Just not all the way up to the mountain."
Grogar's horns glowed heavily as he shouted and fires a blast at a wall leaving in it with a hole.
It left Tirek, Cozy Glow, and Chrysalis terrified by that outrage while Dark Chase (Zhao) just stayed in place calmly with a glare.
"Obviously!" Grogar angrily said before he settled down for a bit. "At least you finally did as you were told and worked together as well as listen to Dark Chase."
He then angrily heads out, leaving the three alone.
"Of course!" Cozy said.
"Whatever your command!" Tirek said.
"Forget about that old bell." Chrysalis said slyly. "You were right. We're so much more powerful... when we work as a team."
The four glanced behind them as the bell was tucked hidden in a crevice. Once Grogar had left the lair completely, Cozy, Tirek, and Chrysalis turned to Zhao as he returned back to his Quinkan form.
"Impressive, Master Zhao." Chrysalis said to Zhao as he turned to face the three. "You are smarter than Grogar is. I think you deserve to rule this world more than him."
"And that's exactly what I intend to do. As you may know or not, there can only be one ruler of this world." Zhao said with a calm yet evil smile. "When we have Grogar's bell working, we will render him defenseless and powerless. Soon all of Equestria will be mine with you three by my side in the Quinkan army."
That's when it hit Cozy.
"What about our army, Dad?" Cozy asked her father curiously. "When do we meet up with Kai and Tai Lung?"
Hearing this made Zhao smirk sinisterly.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile at Dark Mountain, angry yelling could be heard inside the dojo.
The Quinkan, Tai Lung, Lightning Dust, and Celtic were in the background as Kai was seen punching some boards, boulders, and weapon stands into pieces over the failed attempt to drain all of the magic to the Netherworld.
Kai growled angrily as he approached one of the training dummies.
"Everything… RUINED!" Kai roared as he kicked the training dummy away before going over to a desk filled with the destroyed crystals. "Those ponies will pay!"
He angrily chops the desk in two and swats the weapon stand aside.
"All of our plans have been nothing but failures! We were this close to destroying the Elite Ninja, but they have ruined everything!" Kai shouted angrily as he snarled angrily and turned to his army. "Next time I see Chase, I'm gonna teach him a lesson he will never forget!"
"Kai, we're all out of options. Let's face it, we've lost and failed every attempt we could accomplish against Chase, Twilight, and the others. And they still continue to rise up to foil our plans." Lightning Dust said with a blunt look.
Hearing this made Kai approach her furiously.
"And that is because he has always stood in our way. Well, I will see to it that he won't be around for long." Kai said before he walked into the center of the dojo. "From now on, we will strike at the Elite Ninja as well as the bearers of the Elements of Harmony with a full force invasion and then destroy everything they love to reclaim victory. I, General Kai, now will lead the attack. Let any who challenge step forward."
Just as the members of the Quinkan army were about to step forward, some hoofsteps were heard heading their way.
"Well, that will never do, Kai." Chrysalis' voice said as they turned to see her, Tirek, and Cozy Glow make their appearance.
"Cozy Glow. Queen Chrysalis. Lord Tirek." Kai said with a snarl as the Quinkan soldiers growled at them as well. "What are you three doing here? How did you escape from Tartarus, Cozy and Tirek?"
"That is none of your business, Kai." Tirek said with a glare before he smirked. "But we mean you and your Quinkan army no harm intended."
"In fact, we have come here to let you say hello to the new leader of Equestria." Queen Chrysalis added with an evil smile.
Kai, Celtic, Lightning Dust, and Tai Lung glared at them questionably as the Quinkan soldiers growled at the three evilly. That's when footsteps were heard coming up behind Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow.
"Oh, golly!" Cozy said with a sinister smile. "Looks like he's here."
The three stepped aside as Zhao walked into the light with a sinister glare.
"As for your attempt to lead the invasion, I challenge." Zhao said sternly.
Seeing their master alive, Kai, Tai Lung, Celtic, and Lightning Dust lost their glare as they stared at the leader of the Quinkan in great shock and surprise. But they were also horrified by the burnt mark on Zhao's face on the right side. The Quinkan were also greatly surprised by their leader's return as well.
"His face…" Lightning Dust whispered in fear.
"Master… Zhao." Kai said breathed heavily and shakily.
Zhao stared at them with his sinister glare before he smirked evilly at his now reformed army.
(Scene changes)
In no time, Celtic had replaced Zhao's broken armor off him and rebuilt a new set of armor from the previous one.
Kai, Tai Lung, Lightning Dust, Cozy Glow, Tirek, and Chrysalis stood behind them as Celtic just put the finishing touches on Zhao's armor while welding the shoulder blades.
"Choose the best Quinkan soldiers that have enough strength to find the book to master Grogar's bell. It is the key to destroy Chase, Twilight, their family, and friends that did this to me." Zhao instructed as Celtic finished welding the left shoulder blades as the leader of the Quinkan retracted his left arm away from the unicorn stallion and studied his newly rebuilt armor.
"Yes, Master Zhao. Next, Master, we rebuild the Quinkan?" Kai asked, wanting to rebuild the Quinkan army again.
"Yes." Zhao replied back as he extended his long blades from his left gauntlet while clenching his left fist with a knuckle crack. "And soon… revenge will be ours."
His eyes glowed a dangerous spark of magical energy before the screen turns to black.
Author's Note: Hey guys,
Here's two chapters for you to look at. I managed to get the surprise guest in this chapter too. I did my best on these ones as well, but work has gotten me all hacked up. Anyway, I hope you like these ones. I'll be back to write some more soon enough.
Peace out!