I rest my head in my left hand while my elbow rests on the arm of my computer chair. Meanwhile I am reaching my right hand forward as I use the mouse to sift through e-mail after e-mail filled to the brim with flaming letters railing hard against the Shadow Queen. These are supposed to be mission reports on objectives I gave them earlier, only now they've turned into statements that basically are telling me that they quit, that they've already confessed the information I had over them, and for me to basically go to hell.

So . . . let me get all of this straight.

I set up this grandiose network of minions just to cause the downfall of Diamond Tiara only to discover that she basically already caused her own downfall. So, before I can extract my true revenge against her, I have to build her up first. I succeed with that objective, perhaps even too well, only to find out that I've now lost my means to attack her.

What the hell happened? For every day that she got stronger, I strangely grew weaker in every possible way. My minions have turned on me and I have even gotten dumber over these past few months. Still bright enough to be impressive, but nowhere near as jaw-dropping as a supervillain.

I sigh deeply as I lean back in my seat, now resting my right arm on my chair as well.

All of this has been strangely felicitous. Diamond Tiara truly is my foil. She is my human counterpart that is both similar and opposite to me in just the right ways. The one person I've targeted and revolved so much of my life around has become too identifiable. I had once set myself on a course to understand her and I might have succeeded too well.

So much of my current situation reminds me of a stage play I've seen many years ago back at the orphanage. It was part of a charity event to help entertain the kids, but the show they presented wasn't one I would have expected back then.

The show was called, “Two Stupid to be Villains,” and the usage of the word meaning the number “two” instead of “too” was no accident.

The premise is about a pair of bumbling thieves who try to do something evil but they are so stupid and incompetent at their job that they accidentally end up as heroes.

The tone of the play was largely slapstick physical comedy reminiscent of “The Three Stooges,” which did well to hide the darker undertones of the plan of a greater villain that the idiot thieves ruined.

Back then, I used to find the play so amusing, but now . . . it feels too familiar.

How did all this happen? How have my resources and my mental acuity decayed so rapidly these past few months?

Dark King: Do you really have to ask yourself that?

I blink at the unexpected text message and window that pops up on my computer screen without warning.

Dark King: I've been trying to warn you about this since the beginning.

Dark King: You grew too emotionally attached to your target in addition to another threat that you should have carelessly discarded.

Dark King: I WARNED you!

I roll my eyes then start to reach forward to the keyboard in order to respond.

Dark King: Don't bother!

Dark King: You do not have to resort to such primitive tools in order to communicate with me.

Dark King: In fact, you don't even have to speak at all. Just “think” aloud to me, and I will hear it.

I lean back in my seat again and raise an eyebrow at this.

So, you really are in my head? I think aloud to the entity.

Dark King: One would think we were well past this.

This is certainly interesting. I'm seeing text messages pop up on my computer that are responding to my very thoughts. How spooky.

Of course, maybe there isn't truly any text popping up on my computer. Perhaps this is just another hallucination.

Dark King: You disgust me!

There is a five-second pause before the next message pops up on my screen.

Dark King: You used to be so impressive. I even thought you had the potential to be my long sought after Queen.

Dark King: But ever since I first started to observe you, you've only made one stupid mistake after another, and all over some pathetic woman!

If I disgust you, does that mean you'll finally go away and leave me alone?

Dark King: No. Of course not.

Dark King: My plans for you may have altered a bit, but that doesn't mean I've abandoned them entirely.

If I lost your respect, what other plans could you possibly have for me?

Dark King: I still need slaves. That has never changed.

Dark King: But for you, I have even greater plans.

I raise an eyebrow at my computer screen as I think aloud, Care to share those plans with the rest of the class?

Dark King: What fun is there in that?

Dark King: There is so much more fear to be garnered in mystery.

Dark King: One can draw in so much more terror from that which is unknown.

Dark King: That said, it should be obvious.

Dark King: At least it would have been if you still had your wits about you.

I sigh as I shake my head.

I know. These days I've even grown to be disgusted at myself. I used to be so powerful. So perfect, but lately everything has fallen apart.

My nemesis, Diamond Tiara, is closer than ever before. I know intimate details about her life now, and she trusts me . . . just as I had once planned years ago.

But now many of my minions have turned on me. This can't all be my fault.

Dark King: Isn't it?

Dark King: Who inspired them to develop a backbone in the first place?

Dark King: Who danced and sang “pretty” little songs with them?

Dark King: Who reached down and picked up her nemesis from the dirt and grime?

Dark King: You might as well have been there with her in the shower itself, working like a pathetic serf to scrub off all of her dirt.

Dark King: And for all of your efforts, who got dirty as a result of all of this work?

I know! I KNOW!

I cover my face with my hands to hide my shame.

Everything has been going downhill since . . . God, I don't even know anymore.

I lost my PARENTS because of her, and now I have to share my new mother?

Worse, she's starting to recover a bit of her old family relationship on top of that! That's something I've never done! My birth parents have still never contacted me.

“'Where you only see a threat, I see opportunity!'” I hear a menacing multi-voice speak out in my room.

Startled, I lower my hands from my face and peer back at my computer screen. There I see, not the text message window anymore, but a faint image of a dark cloud with menacing red and green glowing eyes giving me an icy stare.

That same entity that I had in my nightmares several months ago.

“I actually respected you when you first told me that,” the Dark King went on. “I could forgive such brazen boldness from you while addressing a KING with such disrespect, but you said it with such calculating genius that I could not help but admire.

“In that moment, you reminded me of myself. In some ways, you even surpassed my intellect.

“But look at you now! WEAK! PATHETIC! Clinging tightly to her skirt like a frightened and frustrated little girl. This is not at all the formidable monster I first got introduced to.”

“SHUT UP!” I screech aloud as I slam a hand on my computer desk. “You have no right to judge me!”

The Dark King narrows his eyes at me as he says, “Use your mind, you simpering dolt, or have you grown so dull that you don't even know how to think anymore?

“Need I remind you that, if you speak aloud, there are others that might hear you in this household?”

You don't know what I've been through! How much Sunset Shimmer meant to me! She's one of several that pulled me out of the gutter. I owed her more than you can possibly imagine, and I repaid all of her kindness with treachery.

“Exactly, because she was a threat,” the Dark King argued. “If she wasn't that, if she truly was a harmless target, then I'd look down upon you for attacking her indiscriminately. All of our victims should have a reason and purpose to be destroyed. Without that, it's just a meaningless expenditure of resources.

“But Sunset Shimmer was a threat, wasn't she? Princess Twilight could have warned her about your transgressions in my home world, so you took care of that threat. You destroyed the portal to prevent both crossings and communication. That was an efficient response given the circumstances.

“But even without the portal or its communication method, Sunset herself was a threat directly. One touch from her while she used her magic crystal and it's all over.

“Believe me when I say I know something about crystal and mind magic. There can indeed be a lot of power with that kind of knowledge and resources.

“You did what had to be done. If you had just left it at that, you would have still been on track with your revenge course.

“But noooooooo! You had to bring your disgusting human feelings and emotions into this. That didn't just sidetrack you, you totally smashed the tracks with a maul. You have nobody to blame but yourself. I even tried to warn you on multiple occasions.”

Why? I narrow my eyes at him. What do you get out of all of this? If I assume, for a moment, that you are not just a product of my imagination and that there is something going on that involves Horse-Land magic . . . then what exactly do you gain by trying to help me?

“I respect the fact that you distrust me. We think alike in that regard.

“As for what I would have and will gain . . . you'll see . . . in due time.

“Right now, however, that's neither here nor there. The important question is how are you going to put your agendas back on track?”

Do you have a suggestion?

The Dark King narrows his eyes at me again, but this time accompanied by a sinister smile.

“Of course I do! If you really wish to ruin Diamond Tiara, then you must attack her heart! Use the knowledge you have fought to gain. What is Diamond Tiara's greatest fear?”

Going back to her mother, I mentally answered. Losing her new friends.

The Dark King tilts his head a bit as he said, “Those are fair assessments, but you need to look deeper!

“Betrayal is what she fears! Betrayal by the very sources of her newfound strength. In other words . . . you, but you are not the only source of her strength. Besides, you don't want to overplay your hoof just yet. Save that card for your final reveal.

“I've been on the receiving end of that disgusting power of friendship more than once, and believe me when I say it leaves a bitter aftertaste.

“However, I also happen to know that it is also a source of strength that has weaknesses. If 'friendship' is the power which she now draws upon, then that is what you must attack!

“Make her friends betray her . . . exactly how you originally planned!

“You might be a simpleton now, but you can at least remember your old plans back when you were brilliant, correct? Then you already have your blueprints! All you need to do is follow them.”

How? Using what resources?

“I'll admit, your resources might be damaged for the time being, but they are not completely without value. What this situation requires is precision. STRIKE HARD at just the right targets. Attack the support beams that hold up this house of cards. Every structure must have a foundation.”

I think hard on this for a moment, then widen my eyes at the phantom image of the Dark King on the computer screen.

Sweetie Belle! I think with triumphant realization. Diamond now loves Sweetie Belle!

“That's it!” The Dark King agrees with me encouragingly. “But you already tried to attack that support beam, and she was the first to resist you.

“However, there is more than one path line into her heart. As a fellow 'emotional' creature, you should know there is more than one heartstring you can exploit. As you said once to yourself, no past relationship ever truly closes.”

I look at my cellphone as I think back to Button Mash.

“You know what you must do,” the Dark King tells me encouragingly before fading away on my computer screen.

Button Mash . . . right. Sweetie's old former boyfriend. That might not have ever been official, but those two still had feelings for each other once. I'm not a fool enough to believe that it only went one way, even if Sweetie recently came out of the closet enough to express her interest in another girl. Not every relationship can be dropped that easily. Life is never that easy.

I should know.

I lean back into my seat and twist both of my wrists hard to activate both motion tracking devices. I then call up a virtual keyboard in my smart glasses and use its connection to my cellphone to contact Button Mash before I lose my nerve.

The Shadow Queen: How about you, Button? Have you forsaken your Queen too? You know what the penalty would be.

The Shadow Queen: Most of the others have some selfish goal to protect, but not you.

The Shadow Queen: Your actions are for the sake of protecting another.

Button: I wont agree 2 anyting yet, {butt emoji} I'll hear u out

The Shadow Queen: I only have one request, and believe it or not, it is my LAST request.

The Shadow Queen: As you have surmised, Diamond is, and always was, my true objective.

The Shadow Queen: But I'm not going to demand you to attack her directly.

The Shadow Queen: Instead, I'm redirecting your attention to another.

The Shadow Queen: I want you to regain Sweetie Belle's affections. Get her attention again, but this time, I want you to secure it so hard that you'll pull her away from Diamond.

Button: so let me get dis strate u want me to be {bell emoji} boyfriend again I thot u wanted me to focus on cozy

The Shadow Queen: Cozy's network is just a bit too secure for us to attack right now.

The Shadow Queen: Whatever plans I have against her, I'm sure she'd think at least ten steps ahead of me.

That comment made me inwardly giggle.

The Shadow Queen: With her, I need to be patient and strategic.

The Shadow Queen: To get to Cozy, I have to weaken her resources first.

The Shadow Queen: That's where Diamond comes in. Diamond is Cozy's rook.

The Shadow Queen: To get to Diamond, I have to get to Sweetie Belle.

The Shadow Queen: and to get to Sweetie Belle, I need to get to you.

The Shadow Queen: You see how all this works out?

Button: so 2 be clear u dont want me 2 focus on cozy anymore

The Shadow Queen: I'm sorry to burst your bubble, Romeo. Cozy is still a target, but not a priority at the moment.

The Shadow Queen: I DO plan to attack her too, but only when I am able.

The Shadow Queen: Can you do this? Can I count on you? Or must dear old mom AND Sweetie Belle pay the price for your defiance?

I wait ten seconds until Button finally responds. When he does, it is not in the way I hope or anticipate.

Button: I been waiting a long time to say this to you. Go to HELL, your “Majesty”!

For several reasons, I blink in surprise at that. Not only because of the defiance, but also because, for once, Button made a proper sentence using text message.

Button: You tried to threaten Sweetie Belle!

Button: I WARNED you to keep her out of this!

Button: She was brave and stood up to your tyranny.

Button: so I will do no less

The Shadow Queen: But if you cooperate with me, you'll get what you truly want, Sweetie Belle!

Button: shes NOT som prize 2 be 1. all I want is for {bell emoji} 2 be happy

Button: 4 me tat is enof

I gasp at his text in shock while thinking, “Dammit! Not you too!”

There has got to be some way through this! I'm so close to victory. I can smell it. I can taste it! Working with my broken resources now is like trying to hold my balance on shifting sand, but just because it's a challenge does not mean the effort is not worth it. Not when I've come this far and made it this close.

The Shadow Queen: You TOLD me that you confessed your feelings for her!

The Shadow Queen: She turned you down back then, but that does not negate the single most important truth here.

The Shadow Queen: You had feelings for her! Admit it! If you help me, you can finally secure what you want!

This time it takes Button fifteen seconds to respond.

Button: wat makes u tink I still want {bell emoji} u told me to go after cozy and I did

Button: I like her now so FUCK OFF!

Button: she and I have somting specal 2gether

Button: she dold me wat women want that men coud not figure out

Button: dey dont like to be pappered women want to be independent

What?! That is the opposite of what I said to him!

The Shadow Queen: You idiot! I TOLD you that they want constant REASSURANCE!

The Shadow Queen: No matter how strong and independent they wish to SEEM, they always eat that shit up!

The Shadow Queen: So Sweetie must feel the same way.

The Shadow Queen: Tell Sweetie how you really feel and that will get her attention.

The Shadow Queen: If you play your cards right, you can win Sweetie's heart.

The Shadow Queen: As far as YOU'RE concerned, my true motives in this affair doesn't matter!

The Shadow Queen: If Sweetie is an attainable goal, then isn't working with me worth it at any price?

This time I wait thirty seconds for him to respond before I lose my patience and prompt him first.

The Shadow Queen: SAY SOMETHING, DAMMIT!

About ten seconds later he finally does respond. Until that moment, I feared he hung up on me, too.

Button: I don't belive it i didnt want 2 belive it

Button: {butt emoji} i gess its true

Button: I cant deny it anymore

I narrow my eyes at the virtual text window displayed in my glasses, then type out a message.

The Shadow Queen: WHAT don't you believe? Oh, and it's spelled “believe”, asshole! Not “belive”.

Five seconds pass.

Button: Cozy glow

Button: it really was you all along

My heart skips a beat as I stare at his text, stunned.

The Shadow Queen: What nonsense are you talking about now?

Button: im talking abot the fact that U R cozy glow!

I narrow my eyes at his text.

The Shadow Queen: You mistake ME for that little bug? I texted YOU while you were talking to her. You were standing right in FRONT of her! How can I be her?

Button: bekauz I turned my phone off when I had a privat confosatien wit her

Button: I did hat becaz she asked me 2

Button: and u just told me something hat only she should know

Button: I told nobody else about my confession to {bell emoji}

Wait, what? Is that true?

I think back.

Damn, that was many months ago. I've been through a lot since then, and organization has not been at my finest since that time. During that time, I had to keep track of so much information which included information to Cozy, information to the Shadow Queen, and emotional information to and from both sources. After this long, it's hard to separate all of these facts.

But . . . it does make sense. Information this personal Button wouldn't just confess to anyone, especially someone as sketchy as the Shadow Queen.

Wait! Now I remember!

Yes. We were at the side of the gym. I told him to go there so we could “hatch a scheme” against the Shadow Queen. I successfully manipulated him into thinking me and the Shadow Queen are not one and the same, or so I thought.

Another piece of information that came up was when I asked why Sweetie Belle and him weren't an item anymore. They used to be so close, so what changed?

Button told me the answer, but it turns out he only told Cozy that answer.

Oh SHIT!!! I just made a HUGE mistake!

God fucking damn it! One-hundred and ninety-seven IQ my ass! These days I'm operating more like I have a seven IQ!

Think, Cozy! Think! If there was ever a time I needed to use what's left of my pathetic brainpower, now is that time! How can I fix this epic blunder?

Button: u wre ther all along

Button: pulling are strings like popets from dhe shadows

Button: u had us all fooled

Button: the shadow queen was right in frotn of us the hole time

Button: y cozy

Button: y u do tat 2 {sun emoji}

I grasp my cellphone in quaking hands, then I chuck it using all my strength at my vanity mirror across the room.

I get out of my chair so fast that it thrusts several feet behind me. I then spend the next several minutes screeching at the top of my lungs while thrashing about randomly, knocking over items from my bookshelf, everything on top of my makeup station, and tear out items from my clothes drawer in a fit of overwhelming rage.

Until my mother checks on me in my room.

“COZY GLOW, HONEY, WHAT'S WRONG?!” my mother asks me frantically when she bursts into my room.

I sink down to the floor with my back against my drawer that formerly had my clothes in it, and my makeup station on top of that. On the floor, I pull my knees close to my face and weep into them.

“Honey, what's wrong?” my mother repeats me in concern as she sinks down beside me and pulls me close for a sideways hug. “Tell me what's wrong!”

I can't speak. All I manage to do is shake my head.

“Is she okay?” I hear Diamond ask in concern. It sounds like she's speaking beyond the entrance to our shared room.

“No, she's not,” my mother answers.

“Wah . . . well . . . is there anything I can do to help?” Diamond asks in further concern.

“I don't think so,” my mother guesses with uncertainty. “Just . . . be here with us. That's all you can do with your fellow sister until-”

“NOOOOO!” I screech passionately! “I DON'T want her in here right now, Mom!”

Although I can't see them because my face is buried in my pulled-up knees, I still feel sudden tension in my mother as she freezes up beside me with unexpected and unwelcome shock.

“Um . . . I guess . . . wait in the living room for us, Honey,” our mother requests of Diamond.

“What did I do?!” Diamond asks in a tone of objection.

What did you DO?!

Oh, I don't know. How about RUINING MY GODDAMN LIFE!!!

“Probably nothing,” our mother answers Diamond. “But this is apparently a sensitive issue. Please do as I have instructed. I'll take care of this.”

There is a moment of hesitation before Diamond answers, “Okay.” After that, I hear her move away slowly.

I shiver with pain, rage, and confusion.

I thought my mother would interrogate me about what was bothering me, but instead she hugged me tightly from the side, rocked back and forth with me in her arms, and sang to me a tender lullaby.

“You are my sunshiiiiiiiine

My only sunshiiiiiiiiine

You make me happyyyyyyyyyy

When skies are greyyyyyyyyyyyyy

You’ll never know, deeeeeeeeeear

How much I love yoooooooooooou

Please don’t taaaaaaaaaaaaaake my sunshiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.”

I melt into her arms.

With her, at least, everything feels right in the world.

I feel safe in her arms, even if it's only for a moment.

Next Chapter: Chapter Fourty: Confrontation Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 19 Minutes