The Lost Prince

Once the Three Sirens had left the bedroom chamber, Grogar and Tirek were alone. The old ram checked to see if any of his female singers had left their germs on the coat of his apprentice. Turns out, there weren't any germs, except there was a kiss mark at the left side of Tirek's cheek. Grogar wiped the kiss mark off of his apprentice's face before he stopped grooming and cleaning him.

"Are you alright, Tirek?" Grogar asked. "Did they lay a hoof on you?"

"A little." Tirek answered. "Thanks for saving my life again." he said.

"Do not mention it, my boy." Grogar replied. "I do apologize for my female students. They do have their own little instinct." he said.

"Instinct? They tried to force me to--" Tirek's dialogue was cut off when Grogar looked straight in his eyes.

"It won't happen again, I assure you. Remember what I've taught you, Tirek: the female mind is weak but you never know when they might try to seduce you or...to put you under their spell." Grogar told him.

"Grogar? When you came to my rescue, you mentioned the name 'Erebus'. Who is he?" Tirek asked.

"Erebus...is the Lord of Tartarus. He was born from the first Draconequus, Chaos, before he went to the Pit of Tartarus where he mastered the elements of deep darkness, shadow and flame." Grogar said. "I sold my soul to him in exchange for immortality and unlimited power."

"Master?" said Tirek.

"Yes, my apprentice?" Grogar said back.

"How did it make you feel...when you gave away your soul?" Tirek asked.

Grogar paused before he replied, "It felt like I was being torn apart; The pain was unimaginable." he said.

"Did it felt like a near-death experience?" Tirek asked.

"Yes." Grogar answered. "Please try to understand that I've suffered a lot more pain than you have." he said.

"What do you mean by that?" Tirek asked.

Grogar was about to answer when he stopped to think before he decided to show his apprentice of what he meant. The old ram took the young centaur to the round table where he showed him the crystal ball that he mentioned. Tirek sat down right next to his mentor and father figure before Grogar spoke in Tambelonian language for the crystal ball to work.

"What are you doing?" asked Tirek.

"Shhh! Don't interfere." Grogar hushed. "I want to show you my past and how I came to be." he whispered.

Tirek was confused, but he listened. The crystal ball began to stir before it showed him horrific images of Grogar's past: it was full of tragedy, loss, confusion, ambition, betrayal, pain, misery, hatred, sorrow, vengeance, insanity and dark magic. Tirek felt so overwhelmed by what he was seeing that he tried to leave, but Grogar ordered him to stay until the crystal ball stopped showing him flashbacks.

"Now do you see how I came to be like this?" said Grogar.

Tirek panted with a horrified expression on his face. "Why did you show me that?!" he asked.

"Because it's been a year since I've brought you in...and I wanted to share my pain with you." Grogar replied.

"Master...what will become of me when my training is done?" Tirek asked.

"Oh, Tirek." said Grogar. "So young, so strong and so full of questions. When you're older and your years of training are over, I will take you over to the Pool of Miracles where you will be rewarded for your hard working efforts."

"But I want to be like you, now!" Tirek complained.

"Patience, boy." said Grogar.

"Don't call me boy!" Tirek raised his voice. "I am a full grown centaur and you know that!" he said angrily.

"Ahh, you have a temper! I like it." Grogar replied, admiring the attitude of his apprentice. "You still got a lot to learn under my supervision until you fully understand what it takes to truly become an overlord of all nations. This, I promise you." he said.

"But why choose me of all creatures besides the Three Sirens?" Tirek asked.

"Because the truth of the matter is: I don't have children of my own. Adagio Dazzle, Sonata Dusk and Aria Blaze were lost and alone after their mother had been killed across the seas." Grogar explained. "I brought them in only as my singing pets. But you---you were my magical success! I want a nice boy like you who would follow into my hoof steps...and you shall carry out my legacy and be the rightful king of Equestria when I am gone."

"Then I will not fail you, master." said Tirek. "Someday, I will conquer Equestria and fulfill my destiny!" he declared.

"That's the spirit! Come, my son. Your future awaits." Grogar said.

And so Grogar continued to build Tirek up into a muscled brute, a skilled warrior, an absorber of magic, a conqueror and a destroyer. As for Adagio Dazzle and her sisters, they soon became jealous of Tirek for he was Grogar's favorite pupil and foster-son, but despite their jealousy, they would rather let their master stick to his evil plan while they go out to feed on the negativity of others for as long as they kept singing their hypnotic songs together. Unfortunately, when the Three Sirens went to feed on the negativity of ponies in Canterlot, they were never seen or heard from again. Eight years have now passed, Lord Tirek has fully changed from a determined centaur into a fearsome beast.

"Ah, Tirek. Look at how much you've grown!" said Grogar. "You are as fascinating as I hoped you to be."

"Indeed, Master Grogar." Lord Tirek replied. "Because of your wisdom and guidance, I am no longer a weakling nor am I a royal outcast anymore; From now on, I am Lord Tirek: The Dark Centaur, The Absorber of Magic, The Future Ruler of Equestria and...The Son of Grogar!" he boasted.

"I am proud of you, Tirek; You are a fine warrior. You are like the son I've always wanted." Grogar said.

"Thank you, sir." Tirek replied. "Now where can we find this...Pool of Miracles?" he asked.

"We'll need to go Southeast from here to where we can find it." Grogar told him. "Follow me." he said.

Lord Tirek followed Grogar outside the caverns and across the desert. They traveled for twenty miles until finally, they made it to their destination at the Dark Mountain. The centaur followed his master up the mountain until they went inside a tunnel which lead them to the entrance of a dark and ancient temple. Soon, they came across a group of elderly creatures dressed in black cloaks. Grogar then tells his apprentice to wait while he greets them.

"Wait here." Grogar said to Tirek.

"Master, who are they?" Lord Tirek asked.

"These creatures dressed in black are the Servants of Erebus." Grogar replied. "We have arrived to their council of dark worship; But fear not, they will not harm us for they are on our side." Grogar reassured.

"But I thought that we're going to the Pool of Miracles." said Tirek.

"We are. But before we can make our way there, we'll need to deal with the cult first." Grogar replied. "Allow me to have a word with them, then I will introduce you to them. Once our meeting is over, meet me at the Pool of Miracles and I will let you know when its time for your reward." Grogar instructed.

"Okay, master." Lord Tirek agreed.

"There's a good lad." Grogar said in approval.

Lord Tirek stood back and waited while his master heads over to greet the Servants of Erebus. The hooded figures were elderly creatures: satyrs, minotaurs, harpies, goblins and dark mages. The crooked satyr, Elder Medus, was the cult leader. When they saw Grogar coming forward, they recognized him before they welcomed him.

"Brother Grogar! Thou hast returned." said the cult leader, Medus.

"Yes, Elder Medus." Grogar replied. "I have returned to the Council of Erebus with my faithful pupil and foster son."

"Pupil? Foster son?" the cloaked figures said.

"What endues thee here to our temple?" Medus asked.

"The answer is quite simple, Elder Medus." said Grogar. "I have found a way to conquer all of Equestria."

"How? Is it truly possible to taketh over such a kingdom did fill with charm?" Elder Medus said, puzzled.

"Everything is possible." Grogar replied. "My apprentice has grown under my supervision and now he wishes to see the Pool of Miracles with me, the one who saved his life." he explained to the cloaked elders.

"Who is this apprentice dost thou speaketh of?" Elder Medus asked.

Grogar turned around to summon his protégé. "Tirek! You can come out, now." he called.

Lord Tirek trotted out of the darkness to reveal himself to the Servants of Erebus. Elder Medus and the other cloaked figures were surprised for they never thought that one of their members would build a young centaur up into a dark warrior of brute force.

"Elder Medus? This is my apprentice: Lord Tirek." Grogar introduced.

"We see you have brought a centaur here...only to baptize him at the Pool of Miracles." a harpy dressed in black said.

"Yes, my friends." Grogar replied. "What you have guessed is true; The time has come for my faithful protégé to be blessed and rewarded...with eternal life!" he said.

Lord Tirek was very surprised with what his master just said. "Master! You didn't tell me..." he paused, feeling a bit speechless.

"I wanted it to be a surprise." Grogar explained. "If I told you about it earlier, it wouldn't be a surprise now would it?" he said while being sassy.

"Brother Grogar, art thou certain that this young centaur shalt succeed?" Elder Medus asked.

"I am certain, your grace." Grogar answered. "I assure thee that my plan for vengeance will work! We ask only for thy permission to enter within the caverns and into the Pool of Miracles." he said.

"So be it." said Elder Medus. "But best be careful at which hour thee wend to the caverns with thy apprentice; the Pool of Miracles offers life and death." the old satyr warned. Grogar slowly nodded at him, letting him know that he understands the situation.

Suddenly, Grogar and the group heard the sounds of sword fighting and male shouting coming from somewhere in the mountain. Tirek had no idea where the noise was coming from, but Grogar and the Servants of Erebus knew what it meant: something was wrong and the guards were fighting some kind of intruder. Elder Medus told the group to quickly protect the entrance to the Pool of Miracles and then he told Grogar to find out what's going on while Tirek stays.

"We have an intruder!" a guard reported.

"Stay here, Tirek, while we find out what's going on!" Grogar ordered Tirek.

"But master, I want to help you!" Tirek protested.

"I understand. But if you wish to help me." Grogar paused before he answered. "Then please, do as I say and wait! I'll summon you in case I am in need for your protection." he promised.

"Okay, Master Grogar." said Tirek. "Please be careful, my friend!" he thought.

Grogar rushed with the cult members to search for the intruder while Tirek stayed put. The full grown centaur waited for twenty minutes, yet he couldn't help but feel concerned for his mentor and father figure. Tirek never wanted anything bad to happen to Grogar because he was more supportive than Sendak the Elder was. When Tirek heard a cry for help, he galloped through the tunnel and then he went upstairs where he came across a scene that made him feel shocked. It was Grogar alright and he was fighting against an elderly centaur with golden armor, a royal robe, a crown and a long sword. Tirek recognized the old centaur: it was his father, King Vorak!

"I won't allow you to corrupt him any further!" King Vorak said while using his sword to fight against Grogar and his dark magic.

"SILENCE!!! He belongs to me, old one! I am guiding him towards his destiny!" Grogar replied as his horns glowed red with dark energy.

"Father?" Tirek said as he couldn't believe his eyes.

King Vorak heard the voice of his long-lost son before he looked at him. "Son!" he said out loud.

"Tirek! This elder is the intruder! He--" Grogar tried to say before King Vorak punched him in the face.

Tirek was scared when his master was knocked down before his eyes before King Vorak trotted towards his son. The elderly centaur almost didn't recognize his firstborn son, yet he could not believe that after years of searching, the king thought that his eldest child was dead and lost forever. King Vorak went closer before he raised his hand to touch Tirek's face and he was overwhelmed by sadness and joy while Tirek was overwhelmed by sadness, fear, guilt, anger and shock.

"Tirek. Is it really you?" King Vorak asked as he looked at his long-lost son.

Tirek was speechless at first before he tried to answer with a lie on his tongue. "I--I'm not who you think I am! I don't know who you are." he stammered.

"Tirek...it's me, your father; Don't you recognize me?" said King Vorak. "All these years, your mother and I have been searching for you until we assumed that you were dead and lost forever. But now, look at you! You're all grown up." he said as tears ran down from his eyes.

"No...NO! You can't be my father! I am not your son nor am I your blood!" Tirek cried out in denial.

"Tirek, look at me! Your lies will not serve you anymore." King Vorak replied. "You have allowed this...Necromancer to twist your mind and now that I've found you, come home with me and your real family will call out in celebration for your return." he said.

"Don't listen to him, Tirek! If he takes you away from me, you will be beheaded by your own kin!" Grogar shouted as he regained his strength.

"Tirek! Do not stay focus onto him, do you hear me?!" King Vorak lectured Tirek. "This is your only chance for you to return home and to redeem yourself!" he said.

Tirek hesitated to choose before Grogar immediately attacked King Vorak like a crazed animal. The old centaur struggled with his attacker, then he used his sword to draw blood. Vorak didn't want to kill Grogar, but he wanted to make him pay for corrupting his firstborn son and keeping him away from his family. Tirek watched in horror as his master fought against the old centaur. Tirek couldn't believe that this intruder was his own biological father, but he also couldn't believe that he had been away from home for so long that he nearly forgotten who he was. Grogar tried using his red lightning to shock King Vorak, but the old centaur deflected it with his sword before he pinned the demonic ram to the ground. King Vorak then pointed his long sword at his foe.

"TIREK!!!" Grogar shouted. "You must choose, now! Don't let him kill me, please! Help me!--HELP ME!" he pleaded. "You need me more than your father needs you!" he said.

"Don't listen to him, Tirek!" King Vorak said to his son while keeping his eyes on Grogar. "This...terrorist cannot be trusted!" he panted.

"You dare to call me as if I were the villain!?!" Grogar said in an enraged tone. "You hired me from my countryside to save your beloved wife and child and this is how you repay me after all I have done for you?!!" he said.

"Silence! We've been told about your schemes and I will not allow you to use my son to conquer Equestria!" King Vorak replied before raising his long sword. "You will be stopped." he said.

"Father, stop!" Tirek raised his voice before attacking his biological father with his magic.

Grogar used his dark magic to heal his scars and bruises before he got himself up to witness a fight scene between father and son. The old ram was frightened on the outside, but on the inside he was filled with relief and villainy. He knew that Tirek would learn to be his own bodyguard.

"Son, listen to me! It doesn't have to be like this!" King Vorak said before being attacked again.

"Why not, father dearest?!" Tirek smirked. "Was it because you never told me the truth? Or was it because I never behaved like a real prince!?!" he scowled at his father.

"Tirek, there's no need to fight me!" King Vorak said with a worried expression on his face.

Tirek chuckled evilly. "You are so right, father. After all, you mistreated me with nothing but fear and hate!" he said.

"I was wrong to be a terrible father, Tirek!" King Vorak replied. "Forgive me!" he begged.

But Tirek had already let go of the past and he knew that he never wanted to return home. For once in his lifetime, the power-hungry centaur looked down at his father with a grudging expression on his face before he used his evil power to levitate the old centaur off the ground, then he brutally tossed him around like a rag-doll. As Grogar witnessed the scene where King Vorak gets magically beaten by his own son, he smiled evilly at the sound of armor shattering, robes ripping, legs breaking and painful shrieks. After hurting his father in a brutal way, Tirek tossed King Vorak over to the edge of the highest tower that they were on. King Vorak, with his equine legs broken, quickly held onto the edge and then he struggles in pain and fear to pull himself back up for his life. Then he sees Tirek looking down at him as if he were the one that deserved better punishment.

"Yes! YES!!!" said Grogar. "Go on, Tirek. Finish him off."

“Tirek, please! Son, I can’t move my legs. Help me!” King Vorak pleaded.

“Destroy him, Tirek.” said Grogar. “He never really cared for you. Go on, finish him!” he ordered.

"No." Tirek murmured.

"What did you say?" Grogar asked.

"I said, 'no'...I believe it's best to forsake him." Tirek said to his mentor.

Grogar was full of surprise, but when he read Tirek’s mind, he then grinned evilly. "That's my boy." he crooned.

“Goodbye...father.” Tirek said to King Vorak.

King Vorak gasped in horror, "No! NO!!! Not my son!" he cried.

"Please, call me Lord Tirek." Tirek replied.

A ball of dark magical energy glowed at the top of Grogar's head between his ram horns. Tirek assumed that he might've gotten into his master's nerves, but the demonic ram wasn't aiming at his apprentice, but rather his former parent. Grogar shot a red electric laser bolt at a pillar right next to King Vorak, then the area starts to crack and crumble before King Vorak loses his grip and falls down from the tower. When he shouted, Tirek was ready to run to see his father one last time, but Grogar catches him with his dark magic before he pulled him away from the crumbling edge to safety. King Vorak's last sound of shouting was heard before it faded into an echo. Tirek couldn't believe his own ears, but he resisted to tears for once in his life to show no remorse. Grogar moved forward to his apprentice.

"That was a smart move, lad." said Grogar. "I'm so proud of you."

Tirek lowered his head down. "The king has fallen...and I am free!" Tirek echoed.

"Yesss." said Grogar.

"What should we do now, my master?" Tirek asked.

"Follow me and I will let you bathe into the Pool of Miracles." Grogar replied. "Once that is done, we will come up with a plan to rob Equestria of its magic." he said.

Tirek clenched his fist. "Then we shall rule it together, just you and--"

"No, Lord Tirek, no." Grogar interrupted. "I'm afraid that it won't be easy for us, even with our strength and power combined." he said to his apprentice.

"What!?! But you said that we could work together as a team!" Tirek protested.

"We are a team, but nopony must know of my return...yet." Grogar said.

Tirek didn't know what his master meant to say, but he showed some respect towards the elderly ram with red eyes before he followed him to the Pool of Miracles. The young centaur was already built into a muscular warrior, except he wasn't blessed with long life. Just as soon as the duo made it through the caverns, they found the Pool that glowed with life energy and ghostly aura, then Grogar ordered Tirek to jump into the lake. At first, the centaur was anxious and when he dipped his hooves into the water, Tirek could feel the life energy clinging onto his leg and then, he trotted into the Pool of Miracles, thus gaining eternal life. Tirek had never felt more alive than ever and the life energy in the water was refreshing for him.

After bathing in the Pool of Miracles, both Grogar and Tirek came up with a plan to take over Equestria. The first thing they have to do is to find someone to join their group. Someone who'll might be of use to them. The Servants of Erebus were unaware that a gargoyle knight had witnessed the fall and death of King Vorak before he flew all the way back to the kingdom where he told Queen Haydon about the demise of her husband just as he gave her majesty the crown and the longsword. Everyone in the kingdom, including Scorpan, became heartbroken. That day, the gargoyle queen mourned the death of her husband while her son went outside the castle to grieve over the loss of his father. Eventually, Queen Haydon died of a broken heart soon afterwards. After the King and Queen had been buried, Scorpan was now alone without a family and soon he became the new king of the castle. Meanwhile, Grogar and Tirek went to the Nether Lands where they stopped to find a castle that used to be Tirek's home.

"Do you recognize this place, Lord Tirek?" Grogar asked.

"Yes, master. This used to be my home." Tirek replied.

"Yes." Grogar nodded. "Now, you must meet your brother, Scorpan, and ask him if he would like to join you. As for me, I must return to my lair."

"But I thought we were going to take over Equestria together! Why should I ask my brother to join me?" said Tirek.

"Because he might be of good use to you." Grogar replied. "You will go into the castle and ask your brother to join you. If he agrees to follow you, you will go to Equestria and then you will absorb all the magic from every pony you see in order to become stronger. Once you have succeeded, we shall dominate the world of Equestria and you shall rule it...as it's god!" he promised.

Lord Tirek smiled wickedly for he liked the sound of becoming a god. Tirek promised Grogar that he will not fail his mission in conquering Equestria before the muscular centaur went to find his brother while the demonic ram went back to his secret hideout. Inside the castle, Scorpan was weeping while sitting on his father's throne when he heard the sound of heavy hoof steps as the earth began to shake. Then, something broke through the castle gates and stormed into the throneroom. It was Tirek! The guards tried to fend off the centaur, but he used his magic to move them out of the way. Scorpan couldn't believe his yellow eyes.

"W-Who are you?!" said Scorpan.

"Oh, Scorpan. Don't you recognize your own brother?" Tirek replied.

"Tirek? Is it really you? I thought you were dead." said Scorpan.

“I can assure you, I am not dead yet.” replied Tirek. “Besides, you know the old saying: ‘Only the strong can survive while the weak perish.” he said.

“Brother, what has happened to you?! You look so...big and powerful!” Scorpan exclaimed.

“Oh, this? Don’t you find this new form to be fascinating, Scorpan?” asked Tirek.

“Um, I, uh...” Scorpan stammered. “I think you look...glorious.” he said with a frightened look on his face.

"Did you miss me while I was gone, little brother?" Tirek asked. "Well, I've come back this time for a little family reunion!"

"What do you want?" Scorpan asked.

"I want you to join me, Scorpan." Tirek replied. "We are going to a place called Equestria and we're going to conquer it!" he said.

"Conquer it? No--no! I can't join you." Scorpan replied.

“Why not, Scorpan? I thought you like to go somewhere with me.” said Tirek. “Besides, don’t you miss the good old days where we were raised together, where we both played together and that we fought together? I would like you to follow me once again.” he said to Scorpan.

“But Tirek, what would mother and father say if they were still here with us?!?” Scorpan cried. “Our mother died mourning the death of our father and she told me to be in charge of this kingdom so that our subjects wouldn’t fall in great suffering!” he said.

“So...you’ve become the new king, have you?” Tirek said softly.

“Yes.” Scorpan said as he nodded. “I bear the weight of our father’s crown. It is my responsibility to lead this kingdom through peace and prosperity.”

“And would you rather be a great leader than to be my follower?” Tirek asked his brother.

Scorpan nodded. The people inside the castle were frightened as Tirek looked down at his brother with envy in his eyes. He was even more jealous than before since the last time he saw his younger sibling before he ran away from home. As a teenage centaur, he wanted to come up with a plan to prevent Scorpan from becoming the newly crowned king of his father’s kingdom, but he didn’t know what to do. Tirek had always been cruel and rebellious when he was young and even now as a full grown centaur, he wanted to rule his father’s kingdom so that he would finally be respected and that he would watch his adoring subjects as they all bow down before him, but most of all besides that...he wanted to gain power. Tirek made an evil chuckle as he clenched his fist and swift his silver tail before he responded.

"Very well, Scorpan. If you wish to be king then so be it, then!” he said. “If you will not join me, brother, then I will TEAR THIS CASTLE APART!!!" Tirek threatened.

"No, wait! Stop! I will follow you and I’ll do anything you say." said Scorpan. "Please, don’t destroy our home. I'll do anything!" he begged.

“Anything?” asked Tirek. “You didn’t accept my proposal and now you beg for my mercy?” he said sarcastically.

Scorpan gulped in fear before he replied, “I promise that I’ll come with you, brother. I...will obey your every command.”

"That's better.” Come with me, Scorpan." said Tirek. "Our destiny awaits."