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Cozy looks up at the Mailmare expectantly, who then scoops her up and promptly delivers her to Twilight with her letter, Ditzy knocks on the door and Twilight answers saying "Yes Ditzy?" Ditzy hand the note saying "Here's a filly and a note mailed to you. Was I helpful Twilight?" Twilight nods her head.
Ditzy smiles and turns around clumsily dropping her work she says "Oops." and as she is cleaning it up Twilight turns to Cozy asking "Cozy Glow? Why would you mail yourself?" Sitting, Cozy says "Headmare Twilight, as your top student. Well the note explains it." Twilight brings her inside.
Once inside Cozy watches Twilight open the note and read it "Dear Twilight, I thought you'd want to know my parent situation. After all they never show up ever and you've asked before, plainly I don't have parents. Yet I'm not a orphan either, after I was born I was left to fend for myself." Twilight frowns at this note.
But she isn't done, she reads the end "Whoever they are doesn't matter to me, your friendship school was more of a home than anyplace else. As for why I wasn't put into an orphanage, well my parents spent just enough time with me to stop that but left me once i avoided that fate." With the note finally finished she says "Wow, Cozy. I'm so sorry you had such unfaithful, unloving parents." Cozy looks up at Twilight.
If she is being honest, she is starting to see Twilight as her mother not that she'd admit it out loud so instead she says "Golly, Twilight. Thanks for that, I needed to hear it." Twilight puts her hoof on her head "Why of course, now then since we both have to get to the school want me to teleport us?" Cozy makes a face like she's considering it but she replies "Yes please." and in a flash they're at the school.
Now she heads to history which funny enough is being taught by Twilight who tells the tale of how friendship beat Tirek, starting with "Today, I want to tell you just how strong friendship can be, when Lord Tirek was attacking Equestria for the second time me and my friend defeated him." Everyone listens with great interest.
She hears Smolder ask "Uh how? He ate up all the magic." Twilight nods her head "He did but that's the lesson, Friendship is the most powerful magic that as long as you have friends you can overcome all." Now it's her turn to ask a question "Golly Twilight, just how did you beat him?" She waits patiently.
Getting her answer is easy, as Twilight replies "Well that's the lesson but here's how. At the base of the tree of harmony was a box... Together! I think we have to do this together!" Quickly explaining the keys were magic based, how everyone powered up, she recounts how Tirek shouted "How is this possible?! You have no magic!" And her words "You're wrong, Tirek! I may have given you my Alicorn magic, but I carry within me the most powerful magic of all!" How he was zapped, screaming as he was sent to Tartarus, shocking all especially her.
Quickly she stops paying attention, in her mind all she can think is 'Friendship was able to defeat many villains, from Nightmare Moon to Alicorn powered lord Tirek, if friendship was able to do that then friendship is power, I think I need to ask him about his defeat.' with her mind made up she pays attention again and thankfully it's the end of class.
Today's school day went pretty normally despite her earlier thoughts, only for after school to be quite surprising for her when mum Headmare Twilight asks "Since you don't have a place of your own, would you like to stay the night with me?" Cozy is so taken aback she actually sputters, shaking her head clear she replies "Well, Golly, how can I refuse such a kind offer?" Following Twilight and Spike here for a second day in a row.
As soon as she says it, the teleportation is quick to follow, once there the day is spent explaining to Cozy the room she may take and where everything is in the castle, looking around she makes a bold move and waits for Twilight to sit down so she can curl beside her, Cozy leans into Twilight's sitting form and slowly gets into a laying position to sleep close to her authority figure.
Waking up the next day she finds herself in a bed with a note that says what she did yesterday was cute and that reporting to the school should be here priority when getting up since Twilight is making sure to check the borrowed items for a class today.
Having the time now, she gets out of the bed she was put in, and after looking finds a pen and quill writing a note that she whispers aloud to make sure she gets right, "Hello, Lord Tirek, I'm Cozy Glow. I'm writing to ask of your defeat at the hands of Twilight Sparkle and her friendship beam, I've come to the idea that if true friendship is power." Cozy adds her name, heads to Ponyville's mail office and hands the letter which thankfully is approved without anyone checking it's contents.
Turning towards the school, she rushes to make it class just in time for Twilight to walk in with a chest which is set down and Spike opens it inside are objects that Twilight levitates in front of her, saying to the class "Who can tell me what these are?" Cozy listens to the reactions around her like Sandbar saying "Whoa..." Gallus in awe "Me likey..." Yona seeing the polish "Shiny!" Smolder answering "Treasure?" And Ocellus getting it correct "Nope! They're all legendary magical artifacts!" Causing everyone to look at Ocellus.
Ocellus nervously replies "Heh-heh. I've read ahead in Equestrian Cultures and Camaraderie: Volume Seven." Cozy rolls her eyes, focusing back on the lesson "You're right, Ocellus. This is the Amulet of Aurora, the Talisman of Mirage, the Helm of Yksler, the Crown of Grover, Knuckerbocker's Shell, and Clover the Clever's Cloak." Spike brings up "And the gems are real! Eh, not that I... tasted them." She lets out a small laugh.
listening to what is said next, Cozy wonders 'These seem powerful, I wonder how useful they are.' when Twilight continues speaking "Princess Celestia gifted these to our school, since they each represent one of the cultures our students come from. And we'll learn all about them in a Spell-venger Hunt!" Tuning out now, this is something that is expected of Twilight, when is thinking of her letter and how she'll sneak the reply when she hears a gasp.
Twilight's flank is glowing, that's surprising but Cozy ignores it caught up in her own thoughts, mostly thinking of how Fluttershy had a singing part of her class and praised her for having a great singing voice and how she has to make more letters to Tirek if he responds favorably.
She would ask Twilight but she's busy and so now Starlight is temporarily Headmare, and the day off has been given until everything is set up it's all lined up perfect so she won't disappoint anyone for who she contacted, at the Castle of Friendship her letter arrived and she takes it outside to a tree, whispering he words to herself "Cozy Glow, yes I assure you I was defeated by friendship. Good observation by the way, friendship is power and you should learn that lesson. I'd say if you could somehow remove magic you'd gain the power all for yourself - signed Tirek." Cozy frowns.
Never had it occurred to her that she might be able to have it for herself, now she makes a letter of her own "Hi Tirek, Have you heard of the artifacts of the creatures Yak, Hippogriff, Griffon, Changeling, and Dragon? And thanks for answering me, you know the magic removal and taking friendship is a idea I didn't think of, you're smart." She signs her name.
Once again she rolls up her scroll and has a brilliant idea since Spike is still around he can send it and be none the wiser, she finds Spike and asks "Hi Spike, can you use your fire breath to send this letter for me?" Spike nods his head "Sure thing, Cozy." He breathes out the fire and a couple minutes later spits out a new one, Cozy says "Thanks Spike." And runs off.
Thankfully Tirek has the capability to return the letter via dragon, she sits back down under a tree and reads "Oh Cozy, flattery doesn't work on a villain. But yes, I know of the objects you speak of. Your welcome I answered you because you had such a wonderful idea, that and I don't get many letters it's lonely here. Back on track, I believe you could even use those to erase magic by linking them together and when it's gone you could make all the friends in the world and be unstoppable." The thought makes Cozy grin.
Friendship all hers, a power unlike any other that would work even if magic is gone as proven by Twilight and her friends, Tirek might be onto something here, she feels bubbly when she's hit with a thought what would mum Twilight think she thinks to herself 'Get a grip Cozy, Twilight Sparkle isn't your mother. Even if she makes you feel homely, she's not related to you so no need to feel upset doing this to her.' reasoning to herself.
She still isn't sure this is a good idea, doubting if she could pull it off, but Tirek felt confident enough to share the idea, she looks at the ground saying to herself "Perhaps he's right. He wouldn't have shared it if he didn't think I could pull it off." She reads the letter again, then whispers "I'll bide my time for now. I'll keep in contact with him but I won't rush anything." Plans solidified she returns back to the castle to sleep.
The next few days go by, Discord causing chaos in the school, but it does give more time for her to make her letters, Tirek keeps reassuring her and instructing her upon learning the keys to erase it where at he school itself, she coming around to the idea.
But nothing can last forever, Twilight and friends come back apparently Discord faked the friendship mission which is kinda funny, now making and sending her letters will have to be more sneaky, at least until Twilight can get her a place to stay for herself.
Cozy thinks back to the day she befriended the CMCs, and how they could be a useful tool in her plans she is carefully acquiring everything she needs according to Tirek, when Twilight is getting closer so she quickly exits the room after hiding everything.
Once she sees Twilight she asks "What can I do for you?" Twilight tells her "Finally got a place for you to stay." Cozy breathes a sigh of relief the plan she and Tirek came up with won't go to waste although to Twilight it probably looks like a sigh, she puts on a smile replying "Wow Twilight, thanks! You've done so much for me." The thought hurts weirdly enough, Twilight nods her head "It's fine Cozy, that's what friends do." She goes to get her things.
Twilight bought a place for her, now her plan can be more smooth but also she feels hurt, berating herself again she thinks 'I shouldn't feel hurt over a stupid pony whose magic I'm going to steal. Tirek would be so disappointed in me.' she shakes her head, and once she gathers everything she says "Let's go." And flies to the home with Twilight.
Home, her own place and a place for her plan to finalize, she smiles keeping up with Twilight, landing she says "Golly it's just perfect! A perfect home for me." This makes Twilight visibly happy "I'm glad you like it. I'll help you get settled in." Cozy isn't surprised but she has to reject it telling her "No I'll do just fine on my own. You've done enough including buying furniture." Twilight nods her head "Alright then, see you later Cozy." With that Twilight teleports away.
It's all coming together perfectly and now with Twilight out of the way she can focus on her plan, one more letter and she can act on it, which she goes to pick up personally not needing her plans ruined by it going to Twilight instead of her.
Reading the note in her new home, it has all the instructions she needs to set up the magic sucking vortex which will take it to some other magicless realm so it's less like removing it and more moving it.
Heading to the school now, she giggles at how Tirek has thanked her for removing his boredom, thinking to herself 'That's why he helped me, he was bored? Now everything click but it doesn't matter in just four days I'll be the empress of friendship.' she gathers all the artefacts expect one, drawing the shapes needed and bringing them close together.
Finally all she needs now is the final one and it can start on it's own, it's been about a week since Spike met his fake dad which reminds her she's never had one before, she laughs 'Oh well, I don't need parents. After all once I'm all powerful no one will be able to influence me again.' she heads upstairs knowing no one will find her work.
That night she returns home, making a final letter talking to herself "Thanks Mr. Tirek, for everything. Tomorrow is the start of my plan exactly a week after my last letter. Here it is the grand finale of Ponies, you've helped me so much. Thanks for being my penpal." She signs her name and sends it off with some dragon power borrowed from Spike and she gets a letter in return.
Last of the fire flickers away but she doesn't mind, she reads the letter, "Cozy Glow, now delightful I'm greatly looking forward to the results and to see your teachers come to me in a rush assuming it's me. I must assure you for the last time your plan is brilliant and you should definitely go through with it, because no one will figure it out until it's too late. One word of warning that your teachers are a crafty bunch to deceive them you'll need to not just keep playing the role but perfect it so much they trust you with important information. Bye now Cozy, enjoy your victory." She grins.
Being praised feels so good that she can't wait for more praise as Empress, now fully confident it's going to work she must admit that Tirek is so nice to admit her a filly has a great plan, she really has earned her cutie mark if she can play a villain into believing in her, now she heads to bed.
Stretching, Cozy wakes up, she smiles and mutters to herself "Today's the day." She heads to school early to secure the last artifact which is in Headmare Twilight's office, simple enough she just flies in when no one is around and takes it, bringing it down to the magic set up, she puts Clover the Clever's Cloak, where it needs to be.
Watching as the items levitate and join together firing beams to make a small ball that will grow bigger all the time, soon a portal opens and she grins "It begins, now I'll have the power of friendship all to myself within three days. For now I just have to play my part." She heads upstairs and heads to Twilight's office afer being asked there.
Twilight, Cozy learns that she was called for to make her, her personal friendship assistant smiling Cozy thinks 'Everything is going perfectly.' but she audibly says "Thanks, I'm happy to have done enough for you to give me this honour." She puts on the symbol given to her.
After that stupid tree foils her plans and Twilight questions why, she growls "Why?! Because friendship is power! You might be the Princess of Friendship, but as headmare of this school, I can collect even more friends than you!" yet Twilight looks at her saddened "You're the one who doesn't get it, Cozy. Friendship is powerful, but power isn't why you make friends. I'm sorry I couldn't teach you that." Cozy frowns.
The kids who beat her start yapping about friendship but she cuts in "Honesty? Loyalty? Generosity? Blah-blah-blah! I can make more friends without using any of them! And if I can't do it here, I'll do it somewhere else!" But she fails to escape.
Now in that max security prison known as Tartarus, she mutters "I wasn't even given a redemption offer." Huffing, upon seeing Tirek she says "Hey, neighbor. Wanna be friends?" grinning as he helped before, he might help again, now she's dependant on him.