♪♪
Magic is disappearing all across Equestria.
Didn't we learn about a creature that eats magic?
Somepony should investigate.
We'll go.
I thought Starlight Glimmer
was going to be temporary Head Mare.
With Equestria under attack, Ponies must stand together!
I need the Cutie Mark Crusaders! My friends are in trouble!
It seems my little protégé's plan worked after all.
The future empress of friendship!
Hahaha!
Cozy Glow is behind all of this!?
Ha ha ha ha!
I'm not usually a fan of ponies,
but draining your precious world of magic
so she could trap the six of you was inspiring!
Ha ha ha ha!
Um... there's seven of us.
I knew we shouldn't have left!
But Starlight's in charge at the school.
If anypony can stop Cozy Glow, it's her.
Tirek: Cozy Glow outsmarted the six of you.
I doubt this "Starlight" stands a chance. [cough]
We have to get out of here.
Our students can't handle Cozy on their own.
Then I guess we'll just have to bust our way out!
[yell]
[crash]
[groan] That didn't work. [groan]
Not everything can be solved with brute force.
We need magic to escape.
Maybe there's a way to get out without magic.
Like a secret lever, or a secret button,
or a secret admirer who knows a secret about you, but is all,
"Your secret's safe with me because I put it in Tartarus
and I have a key."
I'm afraid not.
The most powerful villains and monsters of all time
are trapped here.
And without our magic, so are we.
[slurp]
Unless...
...These creatures might be losing their magical powers,
but there's still a magic that makes up what they are.
Maybe we can borrow some of that!
[hiss]
[tapping at door]
Uh, excuse me?
Um, Chancellor Neighsay?
You might as well get used to calling me
Headstallion Neighsay.
I plan to be here for quite some time.
Gee, it sure is a relief to have somepony in charge,
what with the magical crisis going on,
and we're all so grateful to you for taking care of those..
non-ponies, but doesn't the EEA need you?
What the EEA needs is somepony to protect this school
from the threats at Equestria's borders
instead of gallivanting off on adventures beyond them.
Twilight didn't just run off willy-nilly.
She left ME in charge.
I'm her right-hoof-mare!
Another in a long list of mistakes
the "Princess of Friendship" has made.
Rest assured, from now on this school shall be run
according to strict EEA guidelines...
the way it always should have been.
Well, that sounds just peachy...
[slam]
...Headstallion Neighsay!
Sweetie Belle: Cozy Glow did all of this? How? Why?
I don't know, but come on, y'all.
We gotta get Starlight out of there before she comes back!
Sandbar: Wait!
[roaring sound]
[scream]
Sweetie Belle!
HELP!
♪♪
That's gotta be what's sucking up all the magic in Equestria!
But if that's true, then Twilight and the others
went to Tartarus for nothing.
And if all of Equestria's magic is getting sucked up in there,
there's no way for them to get back!
We need to get help!
But Starlight's trapped here,
and there's no way to get word to Celestia or anypony else!
I guess we're on our own...
[struggling]
[thud]
Still locked, huh?
We've gotta at least try to get out.
Why? If Sandbar's turned his back on us,
every other pony probably has too.
Sandbar not turn his back!
Sandbar is our friend.
Uh, Did you miss the part where he said he didn't want
anything to do with us?
Maybe he just said that so one of us could be free to snoop
around and figure out what's going on!
[window opens] Sandbar: I don't know...
That sounds too clever for a pony to come up with.
Ya ha ha ha!
Yona knew Sandbar was still our friend!
We all are.
Except for Cozy Glow.
That pony is NOT who we thought she was.
She's the one draining magic out of Equestria!
WHAT?
We'll explain on the way, but right now,
we've gotta get to Chancellor Neighsay.
Huh?
I know he doesn't like non-ponies,
but if we tell him what's going on, he'll help.
I'm sure you're all concerned about the magic situation,
but I want to assure you that this institution is safe,
despite the absence of your Headmare.
As your new Headstallion, let me be the first to say
that the reign of Princess Twilight is OVER!
From now on, this school will adhere to EEA doctrine
as it should have from the start!
[alarmed murmurs] [Cozy clapping]
Thank you, Chancellor Neighsay, for that rousing speech.
I know you're a stallion who truly believes what you say.
And when you say this school will be run
according to EEA doctrine, I know you mean it.
And.. when you say there won't be any more lessons
from the Princess of Friendship at the School of Friendship,
I guess you mean that too.
[murmurs]
That's not exact--
But! Twilight decided to run her school
outside of the EEA guidelines.
And even though you tried to stop her,
Princesses Celestia and Luna trusted her enough
to support her.
[murmurs]
Well, I wouldn't say--
So since I know you mean what you say,
my question is really for the students.
Are we going to give the pony who already tried to wreck
Twilight's school once another chance to do it?
[disagreeing shouts]
I guess things will have to stay the way Twilight wants them,
which includes leaving me in charge.
All: Yeah!
Neighsay: I can-
[door opens]
OK, so maybe we need a new plan...
♪ [dramatic music] ♪
Oh, oh, not too tight.
We don't want to hurt the Chancellor.
[clink]
I'm sure Twilight will know what to do with him
when she gets back.
Now, back to class everyone.
We've let the EEA disrupt our friendship studies long enough.
[door closes]
[grunt]
Why are you doing this?
I thought you wanted to have somepony
in charge of the school.
Oh, I do! You just aren't the pony I had in mind.
[clunk]
I can't very well have the EEA running the school
if I want to run it myself.
Of course, that's just the beginning.
You see, if there's one thing I've learned here,
it's that friendship is the most powerful thing there is,
and as Headmare of the School of Friendship,
nopony will have more friends than me!
Making me the most powerful pony in Equestria!
[evil laugh]
[gulp]
[soft giggling]
Hey, Cozy Glow. What's so funny?
Are you just happy to be running the school?
Oh, I'm just keeping Twilight's seat warm.
Still, it's pretty impressive!
Is there anything we can do to help?
We can hang out with you all day if you want.
You know, there is something I need help with.
Yay! Whoo-hoo! Awesome!
[door opens]
[banging]
[rattle]
Oh. Wonderful.
I suppose you've all come to gloat.
Actually, we've come to undo all these chains and free you!
But.. why?
Now that nasty pony met even nastier pony,
maybe nasty pony not be so nasty.
[clinking]
[crash]
Also, we'd kinda like to stop Cozy
before she drains all the magic from Equestria.
She's behind that as well?
I must get word to Celestia and Luna.
How? Without magic, it'll take forever to get to them.
While it's true that unicorns have lost their ability
to cast spells, the most potent magic in Equestria
is housed in our... artifacts!
The EEA medallion allows me to travel throughout Equestria.
Its magic worked when I chained you up,
perhaps it still has enough to send me to the Princesses.
[zap]
[whooshing]
I hope he makes it.
I hope he doesn't come back and lock us up again.
If he comes back.
Everything's gonna be fine!
Twilight and the others are probably already on their way.
[growl]
[cerburus whining happily]
Are you sure there's magic in Cerberus?
Clarissa the pig has two tails,
and while her singing voice is lovely,
I don't think it's magical.
We need to try everything if we want to get out of here.
I don't know; Tartarus isn't so bad.
I could hang out here for a while.
[whoosh]
[crunch]
Eh. Maybe not forever, though.
Tirek: But that is just what it will be!
If my protege has followed my instructions, by sunset tonight,
every last vestige of Equestrian magic
will disappear into the ether.. FOREVER!
Have you even thought about what losing magic would mean?
It means the six of you will be trapped here, like me!
Spike: Seven!
Exactly.
It means you're trapped here.
Forever. With US.
Ahh.. I hadn't thought of it like that...
So what do we do, Twilight?
Dash and Applejack nearly have Cerberus tired out.
If Rarity pitches in, I think they can get him to sit still
long enough to try what I have in mind.
I'm sure I can get the other monsters to help.
Besides, I would NEVER call them monsters.
What about Tirek?
He's probably got some magic too, right?
Leave him to me.
Dooowwwn...
OK, everyone!
Time to show Equestria that you aren't "monsters"
You're wonderful, mystical creatures!
♪ I know it's not your birthday so, ♪
♪ you get a party even though, ♪
♪ we'll sing and dance from one to ten, ♪
♪ and then we'll do it all again! ♪
More tea, Princess Pudding Rock?
"Oh, don't mind if I do!" Heh heh.
I can do this all eternity.
FINE! I'll help you leave.
Just please stop!
Tirek's in!
It's just so excitin' to have a foal our age runnin' things.
We should have an ice cream social every day!
That's a splendid idea, Apple Bloom.
But to tell you the truth,
the thing I need help with most is cleaning.
Say no more. Just take us around the school
and show us everything you want cleaned.
Well, actually, you can start right in here.
It looks pretty clean already.
[slam]
Do you three think you can fool me!?
I know a diversion when I see it.
Uh. Why pony lead us back down here?
We obviously can't handle Cozy on our own,
but we can't just sit around and wait for help.
So, there's one more prisoner I think we should free.
Ooh! I guess Starlight. Is it Starlight?
♪ [dramatic music] ♪
Counselor pony come out!
We need help with nasty pony!
[magic buzzing]
She can't talk to us from in there.
We'll have to figure a way to get her out.
♪♪
Hey! This is just like chapter twelve in
Kanthaka's Facts & Artifacts, from Twilight's class.
What? I've been studying.
Finals are coming up, you know.
Actually, I remember that too!
Cozy must have linked these artifacts
to act like a mystical magnet,
attracting all the magic in Equestria into that orb!
So, we can shut it down
by yanking one of these things out, right?
Sure, though, that would probably cause a magical
feedback loop and destroy the whole school!
Cozy: Destroy the School of Friendship?
Oh, dear...
Chancellor Neighsay was wrong about a lot of things,
but I guess he was right about all of you.
All right.
Is everypony ready?
Siiiit!
Good!
I can't say for how much longer..
[smashing cymbals]
All eternity!
YES, by all means!
Please, just get on with it!
[smash]
Ahem.
There's your cue, you evil centaur, you.
[zap]
♪♪
That's it!
I think its working!
[zap]
[doors creaking]
Come on!
I don't know how long I can hold it!
Good boy!
Bye friends!
Hopefully we'll be able to turn you all back into your normal
wonderful selves soon.
Thanks for the assist, Your Redness!
♪♪
[creaking]
[slam]
Yay! Twilight did it!
I couldn't have done it without all your help.
I'm not sure we did!
NO!
Tirek said all of Equestria's magic would be gone at sunset.
Without magic, there's no way we'll get back
to the school in time.
What does that mean?
It means... we failed.
After everything Twilight's done for you,
why would you want to destroy her school?
WE don't!
You're the one using these artifacts
to drain magic from Equestria.
Me?
We all just saw you with your claws all over them!
[gasp] It all makes sense.
These creatures want magic gone from Equestria
because it's the only thing ponies have that they don't!
Technically, there's a magical component
when Silversteam and I transform.
And Yona's friends' friendship IS magic.
Twilight said!
And you repaid her by sending her to Tartarus
on a wild goose chase so you could destroy
everything she's built!
Ah! They've even trapped Starlight in that.. that thing!
We have to defend the school!
[angry shouts]
No! No! Don't listen to her!
[shouts]
[snap]
Aaaah!
Gallus!
♪ [tense music] ♪
They just sacrificed themselves trying to save their friend...
Professor Dash always says there's nothing
more loyal than that.
Shouldn't we try to save them?
They brought this on themselves.
There's nothing we can do.
That doesn't seem very generous or kind.
Yeah, yeah...
The Elements of Harmony are very important.
They're just not applicable in every circumstance.
And with magic gone from Equestria,
I'm not even sure the Tree of Harmony
will be as helpful as it once was.
[whoosh]
What's happening!?
♪ [majestic music] ♪
They're glowing like the Elements!
I think the Tree of Harmony saved them!
Guess our friendship is pretty magical after all.
Hurry, grab the artifacts!
♪♪
Um... didn't you say that could DESTROY the school?
But if we don't try, we could lose magic forever.
You all better get clear.
[screams]
Wait! Where are you going!?
[scream]
[zapping / chimes / rushing sounds]
[whoosh]
♪♪
[zap]
[laughter]
Counselor Pony!
Uh.. It's nice to see you too.
I guess magic is back.
Cozy: You've ruined everything!
Now Twilight and her ridiculous friends
can escape from Tartarus!
[zap]
I mean... Yay!
All my friends are safe!
You can drop the ACT, Cozy Glow.
Your pen pal, Tirek, told us all about how he helped YOU
suck up all that magic.
But I still don't understand why.
[growl]
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!
[questioning murmurs]
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.
Gallus: Well, you taught US!
You can't let one bad apple make you think you failed.
And we never could have stopped her
if we hadn't learned what you taught us about friendship.
Cozy: 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!
Yeah. I don't think so.
♪♪
[sigh] I'm glad you are back in charge
of the School of Friendship, Princess.
[door opens]
It's clear to me now that there is no pony better suited
for the job.
[belching]
What's going on!?
Hi, Headmare Twilight.
We're just practicing for graduation.
[belch]
Graduation..?
Now that we've saved Equestria,
we figured we were done with school.
[laughter]
Saving Equestria is nice, but I'm afraid it'll take
more than one semester to learn
all there is to know about friendship.
[belch] Told ya!
AWWWWWW!
Your Headmare is right.
I thought friendship was something that only ponies
should share with each other,
but you all taught me how wrong I was.
I suppose true friendship can take a lifetime to understand.
If it were easy to learn, we wouldn't need a school.
[crash] Woah!
We held her off as long as we could!
But she locked us in this closet!
What happened! Is everything all right!?
Where's Cozy Glow?
[laughter]
Everything worked out just fine.
As for Cozy Glow, I can assure you.
Where she's going, she won't be causing any more trouble.
♪♪
[whining]
Of course it's boring here now,
but at least you're not in a cage!
[zap]
[door clangs shut]
Hey neighbour, wanna be friends..?