While Emperor Grogar and King Sombra were building their forces for war against Equestria, in the dark confines of Tartarus, two strange bedfellows in two separate cages were continuing to make themselves acquainted with one another. The centaur in the larger cage was forced to become neighbors with his cellmate in the small cage, a Pegasus filly with a cutie mark in the form of a chess piece. They had only been together for a short time, yet somehow could understand each other perfectly.

"Cozy Glow," said the centaur, looking over at the Pegasus filly. "I can't help but wonder, why are you so silent all of sudden? You want to be friends with me and yet, you don't want to speak to me."

"It's not that, Tirek," replied Cozy Glow, looking back at the centaur. "It's just that, with every time I think about escaping, I always come to the thought that I would get foiled again."

"That's because you want to accomplish your goals alone and look where it got you, a spot next to me with only Cerberus for company. Yes, I know you want to accomplish your goals, but we can't do it alone. We need help to accomplish our respective goals."

"You mean, if I am to become the Empress of Friendship, I need to have help from an Emperor?"

"Of course, my protégé. Grogar has often been considered a role model for me and I am sure he could be just as big of a role model for you as I am."

Cozy Glow considered this option. But, at the same time, it was also a revelation inside of her. Tirek was right, she couldn't accomplish her goals alone. She wanted to do whatever it took to finish what she set out to do to begin with.

"How…how can we contact him? We're in Tartarus, and it's likely the guards aren't going to let us make any contact with anycreature in Equestria."

"Yea of little faith," chuckled Tirek. "You still have so much to learn in such a short amount of time. Watch and learn."

Trying activate whatever power he had in his horns, Tirek attempted to cast a communication spell to Grogar. But, tried as he might, he felt too weak to do it.

"What's wrong, Tirek?" asked Cozy Glow, worriedly glancing at her mentor.

"I'm…I'm too weak, Cozy Glow," gasped Tirek, panting loudly. "It's been a long time since I had consumed any magic of any kind."

"Well, why don't you take some of the magic from the other prisoners? I am sure that Twilight and her friends used the same tactic when they escaped from here."

Once again gaining another idea, Tirek turned over towards the creatures that were also caged below him and Cozy Glow. Taking a deep breath, he aimed at the various creatures and slowly absorbed their magic. The creatures growled and roared as they felt their powers being drained from their merged bodies. Once drained of their magic, they were reduced to being the creatures that they were formed from.

Having consumed their magic, Tirek felt himself grow slightly. But it wasn't enough.

"Is it enough?" Cozy asked.

"No," Tirek answered, his voice slightly deeper. "I need more magic in order to escape. I need pony magic."

Just then, Tirek and Cozy noticed several of the pony guards walking by, only to have their attention caught by the sight of the drained creatures.

"What happened here?!" cried one of the guards, but before they could react, Tirek again activated his magic draining abilities and drained the unicorn pony guards of their magic, causing them to fall over, powerless. Seeing this before her eyes made Cozy Glow squeal with delight.

"Now, my protégé," laughed Tirek. "Shall we make our way out?"

Nodding in reply, Cozy watched as Tirek ripped the bars off of his cage, letting out a loud roar in the process loud enough for all of Tartarus to hear. Hearing his roars, several pony guards attempted to investigate and immediately went into battle mode upon seeing the freed Tirek. Letting out a loud roar, Tirek drained the guards of their magic, also causing them to collapse.

"Yes, lets!" laughed Cozy Glow, the bars of her tiny cage being ripped out by Tirek. Storming through the cells of Tartarus, Tirek and Cozy Glow attempted to make their way towards the exit, only to have Cerberus standing in their way. However, much like all the others, Cerberus was also drained of his magic, being reduced to three separate dogs.

With all their obstacles quelled, Tirek and Cozy Glow broke through the doors and escaped Tartarus.

…

Meanwhile, back in Tambeleon, the doors to Grogar's throne room opened as Proxima Midnight came in with a pair of donkey warriors, dragging them by their ears. The demonic goat looked down at the two donkeys and gave a disapproving glance at them.

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.

"These pathetic soldiers are slow to keep up with the others," Proxima explained, throwing them at Grogar's feet.

"So, you say," Grogar remarked getting up to his feet and walking down towards them. "Explain yourselves."

"Sire, please hear us out. We've been out of practice," pleaded the first donkey. "And we aren't as strong as we used to be."

"What he said," added the other donkey, but Grogar was having none of it. "Please, give us more time and we will…"

"SILENCE!" Grogar roared, stamping his front left hoof down hard. "You idiots are supposed to be getting stronger, not weaker! All your fellow donkeys are in fighting shape, yet you are not like the rest."

"Please, give us time…"

"QUIET!" Grogar roared again. "I have spoken."

The two donkeys whimpered with fear as Grogar looked down menacingly at them.

"I will not tolerate slackers and only those who are in fighting shape can earn the ability to stay alive. You two lack that ability, so now you must pay for your stupidity with your lives."

Shaking with fear, the donkeys watched as Grogar rang his bell and with a low growling sound, Scarface emerged from the shadows, slowly advancing towards the donkeys.

"Scarface," laughed Grogar, pointing over to the donkeys. "Time for dinner."

Letting out a loud roar, the savage Grizzly Bear leapt onto the donkeys and with Grogar and Proxima Midnight watching devoured the two donkeys, their screams for mercy drowned out by the bear's loud roars. Once their corpses had been devoured, Grogar activated yet another spell that caused their bodies to disappear.

"Worthless fools," muttered Grogar, he and Proxima unfazed by what had just happened. "Any donkey who isn't in fighting shall the suffer the same punishment, Proxima. Is that clear, Proxima?"

"Yes, my emperor."

"Good, now go, you are dismissed."

Saluting her emperor, Proxima left the throne room as Grogar turned his attention towards Scarface.

"How was your dinner, my pet?" he laughed with Scarface acknowledging his master with a small growl. "Very good, you shall grow even stronger with every pathetic creature you devour."

Just then, the sounds of footfalls came towards the throne room and a donkey soldier came running in.

"My emperor," he said, bowing to Grogar. "There has been an escape from Tartarus."

"Who has escaped?" he asked.

"Lord Tirek and his protégé, Cozy Glow."

Hearing this made Grogar laugh with delight. To him, this was another chance to grow his alliance. He already brought Sombra to his ranks and Tirek would be the latest.

"Bring them to me at once," he ordered. "And tell Sombra to come here at once."

"Yes, my emperor."

"Very soon, my pet," Grogar said to himself as he walked over to Scarface and rubbing his head against him. "We will wage all out war on Equestria and I will achieve my ultimate goal of making Equestria a part of my kingdom."

Grogar then proceeded towards a glass case with a metal gold glove inside with shapes on it in the shapes of the Elements of Harmony themselves.

"Very soon indeed," he laughed loudly. "Very soon indeed."

…