Chapter Text
It had been a day since magic had started to disappear, the Mane 6 had gone to Tartarus to speak to Tirek, and they left Starlight Glimmer in charge of the School of Friendship. Cozy eagerly accepts this task and takes Starlight to plan out her schedule as the temporary headmare. Little does she know the Cozy was up to something.
Cozy Glow had addressed the school students and assumed the role and responsibilities of temporary headmare. When asked why Starlight isn't in charge as announced, she explains that Starlight left a note saying she went to help Twilight and the others on their mission and left Cozy in charge during their absence.
Smolder then gets suspicious about Starlight's sudden departure, Cozy accuses her of not trusting her teachers enough, and assigns her extra homework. The rest of the Young Six side with Smolder and demand that they be assigned extra homework as well.
That evening, Sandbar overhears some students talking about what a great headmare Cozy Glow is, and he meets his friends in the school library for a homework party. Gallus is suspicious about Cozy Glow's efforts to get the students to like her, but Ocellus thinks she's just trying to keep everyone's minds off the disappearing magic.
Just then, the Young Six notice Cozy Glow coming out of the floor grate that they discovered in What Lies Beneath, and they decide to see what she is truly up to.
They follow Cozy Glow to the headmare's office, where Chancellor Neighsay sits in Twilight's chair with a grin on his face.
Chancellor Neighsay: "So, they bought the story you told them."
Cozy Glow: "They sure did, Papa."
The Young 6 thought to themselves, "Papa?"
Chancellor Neighsay: "Great, now there won't be anypony who will stand in our way for the next phase of the plan."
Cozy Glow: "What should we do with our master once we're done?"
Chancellor Neighsay: "He'll come later. If he isn't a pony, then we'll destroy him like the rest."
They hear a creak at the door and catch the Young 6 spying on them outside Twilight's office door. Neighsay uses his magic medallion to tie them up in chains.
Gallus: "Can I quickly just ask how you are, her papa?"
Chancellor Neighsay & Cozy Glow: "Adopted."
Chancellor Neighsay: "Shortly after the attack of the Storm Army, I found this little filly with no parents, saying they perished in the tornado. I decided to take her in."
Neighsay pats Cozy on the head with Cozy Glow, blushing from that.
Suddenly, Sandbar speaks up and sides with the Chancellor and his views, and his friends are shocked by his betrayal. Neighsay is pleased by Sandbar's change of heart and lets him go, and the two lock the rest of the Young Six inside the student dorms.
Sandbar's betrayal turns out to be a ruse, however, and he goes to Sweet Apple Acres to get the help of Apple Bloom and the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
Elsewhere, the Mane 6 are traveling to Tartarus without magic to shield them from bugs and rainfall, or keep their snacks from spoiling. Applejack provides her friends with apple balm to ward off the bugs, Fluttershy finds a blueberry bush, and Rainbow Dash gathers some clouds together to protect them from the rain.
When they reach the gates of Tartarus, Twilight notices the seal is still intact, meaning Tirek has not escaped. However, she is unable to open the doors without her unicorn magic. Luckily, Spike finds an object that Cozy Glow packed for them: the Key of Unfettered Entrance, the magic of which can open any door.
Twilight uses the Key to open the way into Tartarus, but it shatters as soon as it is used. Inside, the ponies find several creatures in cages, including a cockatrice, all of whom have lost their magical abilities as a result of the disappearing magic. They run into the Tartarus guardian Cerberus, and Fluttershy convinces him to let them pass and talk to Tirek. The Mane Six approach Tirek in his cage and accuse him of being involved in Equestria's magic crisis.
Lord Tirek: "Well, well, well. If it isn't the illustrious Princess of Friendship, descending from on high to mingle with the commoners. To what do I owe the honor of your... company?"
Twilight: "We're here for answers, Tirek. Magic is disappearing all over Equestria, and without any trace."
Lord Tirek: "I know."
He slurped his lips hungrily.
Lord Tirek: "And it is truly such a waste of so much...Mmm, delicious magic."
He chuckled darkly.
Rainbow Dash: "So you ARE behind it!"
Lord Tirek: "Silly filly. If indeed I were in control of all that succulent life essence, do you think I would still be locked in a cage? But... I MAY know something about it."
Twilight: "Then tell us what's going on, Tirek! Why is magic disappearing from Equestria?"
Instead of answering, Tirek merely stroked his beard and chuckled in delight.
Lord Tirek: "Maybe if you let me out of this cage, I could be inclined to remember."
He then leaned threateningly close to Twilight with that sickening grin of his.
Lord Tirek: "What do you say, Princess? You scratch my back, and I scratch yours?"
Rainbow Dash pulled his face to hers while holding his beard.
Rainbow Dash: "How about you tell us, or else you'll be trapped here forever because we're all out of magic, and nopony can open the door?"
This got the girls really startled.
Rarity: "Oh, my. I never even thought of that."
Spike: "You mean we're just as trapped as Tirek?"
Lord Tirek: "What a tragedy for you... Sheer delight to me. It appears my apprentices indeed heeded my advice, and their plan ended up working after all."
Everypony and Spike gasped in complete shock before Applejack stepped forth.
Applejack: "Which little apprentices?"
Lord Tirek: "Actually, we've never met in person. I spoke to them telepathically. They asked me to take them on as an apprentice, and, in return, they would work to gain the means of exacting revenge against all of my enemies. The stallion even had his own plans, and I told him that I could make it happen. How could I possibly resist the opportunity to take on my own students? They had such a studious mind, even the filly had a quick study. I was able to teach them all that I could for what they were capable of doing. They both had so many questions revolving around the power of draining magic."
Pinkie Pie: "And you answered them?"
Lord Tirek: "Well, I was bored. And it's an enticing thing having apprentices of your own. Two to mold and shape in your own image. So I did only what was natural, taught them everything they now know, and then pointed them in the right direction. And best of all, they weren't even aware that they were talking to me!"
Fluttershy: "Can't you just tell us your pen-pal's names? I mean, since we are stuck here anyway?"
Lord Tirek: "Oh, why not? The irony is just too perfect! You really want to know who they are? The answer is simple."
The group got closer to hear what he had to say, while a look of genuine betrayal appeared on his muzzle.
Lord Tirek: "Their names... are..."
Sandbar and the Crusaders track Neighsay and Cozy Glow into the catacombs under the school library and find an elaborate crystal chamber. There, they find Starlight Glimmer trapped in a sphere of magic, contrary to Cozy Glow's earlier claim that she left to help Twilight and the others on their mission.
Chancellor Neighsay: "Enjoying yourself in there, Starlight?"
Cozy Glow: "I'm sorry I had to push you in. But what else could I do? You were going to ruin all our plans."
Sandbar and the Crusaders are shocked to discover that they were the ones responsible for stealing Equestria's magic. Neighsay and Cozy Glow circle around her.
Chancellor Neighsay: "All this magic needs time to drain from Equestria before it all gets sucked into those gemstones... and we will be the only ones with magic!"
Cozy Glow: "You know, you ponies got it all wrong. Friendship isn't magic. Friendship is power!"
Chancellor Neighsay: "Once we have all the magic, we will send all the non-pony races to extinction. And with Twilight and her lackeys out of my way, all of Equestria will bow to me! The future Emperor of Equestria! With you, Cozy Glow, being a princess."
Cozy Glow: "And that is something I can live with."
They both let out an evil laugh.