Grogar

Grogar is a ram and the underlying antagonist of the ninth and final season of Friendship is Magic. He was first mentioned in A Flurry of Emotions in a children's story read by Twilight Sparkle before making his first physical appearance in The Beginning of the End - Part 1. He is an ancient tyrant who forms an alliance of villains to defeat the Mane Six and take over Equestria.

Development
Grogar is based on the Generation 1 villain from the series My Little Pony and Friends.

Depiction in the series
Grogar is first mentioned in A Flurry of Emotions as the antagonist of a children's storybook called Gusty the Great, which Twilight Sparkle reads to a group of sick foals in Ponyville Hospital. In the story, Grogar battles a group of unicorn warriors led by Gusty the Great, but the outcome of their battle is not revealed.

In The Beginning of the End - Part 1, he is revealed to be real when he summons Chrysalis, Lord Tirek, Cozy Glow, and King Sombra to his underground lair. As the villains explain to Cozy Glow, who is unfamiliar with Grogar, he is a legendary tyrant who once declared himself the first emperor of a young Equestria, creating foul monsters to wreak havoc across the land until Gusty the Great took his mystical bell and banished him, leaving him weakened.

Having spent the past millennia recovering his strength and observing his fellow villains' defeats, Grogar proposes that they work together to overcome the Mane Six and conquer Equestria. When Sombra objects to this alliance, Grogar makes a proposition: he can either retake the Crystal Empire on his own, or inevitably fail and suffer the consequences if he still refuses to submit.

In The Beginning of the End - Part 2, Grogar witnesses Sombra's demise at the Mane Six's hands from his crystal ball, which he shows to the other villains as a warning to secure their loyalty to him.

In Frenemies, "Grogar sends his legion of doom on a mission to become allies. Unfortunately, his plan works too well and they almost become friends."

Magic
Grogar is a wielder of incredibly powerful magic, capable of transporting creatures to and from seemingly any location, including the depths of Tartarus, and bringing King Sombra back to life after his body was obliterated by the Crystal Heart. A small sample of magic from his collar is presumably equal to that of Equestria's unicorns combined, for both quantities are capable of rejuvenating Lord Tirek into his second form. He is known in legends as the "Father of Monsters", having allegedly created dangerous beasts that plagued ancient Equestria. However, the true source of his power is a mystical bell that was taken by Gusty the Great, which weakened him for millennia. He also possesses a crystal ball resembling a goat's eye that allows him to observe anything from inside his lair.

According to the storybook Gusty the Great, Grogar gained power through the fear of others, which allowed him to free himself from a beam of magic stronger than a thousand armies. However, whether or not this is accurate to his actual power is unknown.

Depiction in comics
The G1 version of Grogar appears in another world on My Little Pony: Nightmare Knights Issue #1 page 12.

Personality
Grogar is a power-hungry tyrant, described in A Flurry of Emotions as "treacherous", with a desire to claim dominion over all that he sees dating back thousands of years. His creation of violent and evil monsters also indicates a cruel nature. He is a cunning and patient strategist, preferring to work behind the scenes in his plans for conquering Equestria. He is also somewhat vain, evidenced by his displeasure when Cozy Glow fails to recognize his name.

Although he disdains ponies and any villain defeated by them, Grogar acknowledges the power of the Mane Six's teamwork and does not underestimate them. In fact, the ponies' strength in unity is what inspires Grogar to forge an alliance with other villains, demonstrating a unique insight towards his enemies that most of his fellow villains lack. Despite this, he is domineering in his ways of commanding his allies, securing their obedience through fear and intimidation rather than loyalty and trust.

Quotes
"I have been away too long if my name no longer strikes fear into the heart of one so tiny. Perhaps a demonstration of power is in order?"

- To Cozy Glow, The Beginning of the End - Part 1

"Where one is weak, another is strong, and thus unified, they are a formidable force! But we shall use their own strategy to defeat them."

- The Beginning of the End - Part 1

"Such confidence. Go! Try to take back your kingdom. I shall send you there myself. If you prevail, you may keep it. But when you fail, you will submit to me!"

- To King Sombra, The Beginning of the End - Part 1

"I'd say he gambled and lost! But at least he can serve as a warning to those who doubt continuing with my plans. Unless any of you have doubts."

- The Beginning of the End - Part 2