GRIM POV, TARTARUS

Walking through the depths of Tartarus brought back many feelings. The cages reminded me of my anger and the creatures inside, some of them my own creations, of my humiliation. I remember being in one of those cages. It wasn't long but long enough to engrave itself in my memory for the next 10,000 years. The suffering that comes with loss, with defeat. However, after a century of planning in my mind, witnessing my several hypothetical defeats, these feelings do not harm me. That was what lead me to Tirek.

"What are you doing here?" The former tyrant was a mistake the first time around. When I was too inexperienced to ever use a pawn such as himself. With the power to absorb magic, I could have achieved my dream so easily, so long ago. However, he was too power-hungry and tried to take my power. I had no choice but to release him to the wolves, let him fend for himself against the princesses and his brother while I started over from scratch. This time it will be different.

"Don't worry, you shrivelled, old fart. I haven't come here for you. I have come for your abilities."

Tirek laughed before breaking into a fit of coughs "And we both know what will come of it," Tirek tried to laugh once again but to no avail.

"True. However, I believe we are talking about different abilities. You think I am after your power to absorb magic but I tell you now, you are not as special as once thought," I showed him pictures: one of Chrysalis and one of Noire "I have found others that can absorb magic or emotions, which in itself can aid me in my goal. Either of these two can be my vessel." Tirek was silent at first but he spoke up once again with more fear in his voice.

"So... what do you want from me?" He asked, his legs beginning to shake. That was good, that was how I loom ever closer into his mind. I broke the cage around him and before he could even think of fleeing, I bound him with my shadow hands. With one of them, I tilted his head up so his forehead was completely exposed. He was panting heavily as my own hand grew closer to him.

"... A distraction..."

"aaAAGHH!"

NOIRE POV

As soon as we got on the ship we introduced ourselves to the captain, Captain Seahoof. He was an old, but muscled, earth pony with blue fur and a white mane. When he shook my hand, I thought the stallion was going to rip off my arm. Celestia had informed us that we would have to finish our trip in under two weeks as our ship was only allowed on foreign lands for that amount of time. Any longer and we may be attacked for betraying their agreement. So before we knew it, we were already taking off to the Dragonlands. I took the time away from a desk or battlefield to relax. While the others were talking amongst themselves, I snuck away to the back of the airship and gazed at the water below us. Within that moment of relief, Windy's words wormed their way into my head once again.

"However, what I suggest for you is that you stop getting in WAY over your head,"

"Am I?" I said to myself "I mean, isn't this what I was summoned here for? To protect others?" A large hand pulled me from my thoughts.

"What's got you back here when you could be at the deck with your friends?" He asked. I turned to face him.

"Just thinking about things," I responded, gaining a chuckled from the veteran. I raised a brow in confusion, which Seahoof quickly picked up on.

"I apologise but the way you were staring back at the ocean reminded me of how I used to look when I was missing my wife more than anything in Equus." I turned beet red "Hohoho! Don't worry, you young whippersnapper, you'll see her again." I wondered how Cadance was doing without me. I imagined she was doing just fine without me causing her so much stress. I turned back to the sea, my only distraction from my thoughts.

"Yeah. I only wish I had left her on better terms." I could feel Seahoof frown at my remark but not for long as his cheery expression returned.

"If you are head over heels for this mare then it'll solve itself soon. Maybe you'll find a way to make up with her in the Dragonlands. They do have a lot of jewels. Could make her a fancy necklace or even better-" he drew closer and whispered "A ring."

"W-we haven't been together for that long!"

"Sometimes it doesn't matter how long it takes, true lovers will always find each other." He patted my shoulder and left me to my thoughts, which were now buzzing with thoughts about if proposing would be the best way to make things up with Cadance. The ocean was not going to distract me from thinking about Cadance anymore, let alone Cadance in a wedding dress.

I was startled from my daydreaming by what could only be described as a wave of dread "What was that?" I asked myself, looking back at the small visage of Equestria from our airship. As soon as the sensation appeared, it had vanished like a bolt of lightning in the distance, as if I had imagined it. However, I shook myself free from the thought "I can't be getting paranoid. Everyone will be fine," I reassured myself as I returned to the front of the deck where Twilight and Tidal were chatting, with Spike copying everything Tidal was saying. Tidal looked back to me and smiled.

"So, you finally decided to join us, Mr Loner," she teased "Get over here. We need to talk about what we'll be doing once we arrive in the Dragonlands. This won't be as simple as other diplomatic meetings." I obeyed and walked over to the three of them. Once we had found seating at a nearby set of lounge chairs "Now, once we arrive at the Dragonlands, the most logical approach would be to seek an audience with Torch."

"I'm hearing a 'however'," I interjected.

"However, for a 50-foot dragon, he's pretty elusive. Only showing himself when and if he wants to. Nopony or dragon knows where he sleeps or keeps his horde so we can't just go around looking. We're going to have to grab his attention somehow."
This mission was already proving to be a challenge.

"Should we ask around? Maybe someone close to Torch would know where he is or at least how to get his attention" Twilight asked.

"Guys." Scratch, scratch, scratch.

"According to the princesses, Torch doesn't have close companions. He's a strong believer in the 'friendship is for weaklings' argument. Any other ideas?" Tidal responded.

"Guys." Scratch, scratch, scratch.

"What about causing a commotion? Dragons do like fighting, right?" I asked.

"No. Dragons don't involve themselves in conflict if their land or horde is not at risk."

"Guys! A little help!" Spike pleading from behind us. We turned around to find that the baby dragon, glowing and scratching every inch of his body. He looked really distressed "I tried to hide it when we got on the airship but it's out of control now!"

I went over to help Spike but the ship suddenly shook violently. Tidal went to the bow of the ship to see what was going on "A dragon hit us! A big one!" She yelled as we were hit again. I left Spike to Twilight and went to the side of the ship. As I thought, another dragon hit us and by the hole left in the ship, it was pretty rough. Seahoof was already trying to land the ship as safely as possible. Before anyone could respond, we were overcome with a petrifying, sinking feeling. We were falling.

"Hold on to something! This is going to be a bumpy ride!" Tidal and I grabbed onto the side of the ship, however, Twilight and Spike weren't so lucky. As soon as they were about to grab the mast of the airship, another dragon slammed against the side of the ship, jerking it to the side violently and throwing the unicorn and dragon of the ship.

"Twilight! Spike!" I yelled. Without even thinking, I jumped off the ship after them.

"Noire!" I heard Tidal scream from the distance. I reached my hand out to Twilight, who was out of her mind with panic.

"Twilight! Reach for my hand!" I yelled at her. She stopped her screaming and reached for my hand while trying to keep a good grip on Spike. Our hands were inches apart but the sea was growing closer and closer. Before we hit the water, I barely managed to grab her and pulled her close to me. I closed my eyes waiting for the impact.

Splash.

TIDAL POV

Noire!" I yelled but he had already jumped "Faust, we've haven't even started and this already going wrong." I teleported to Seahoof "Captain. We're abandoning ship." Seahoof looked at me, disgusted.

"A captain never abandons his ship. You go on without me! This old man stays!" I wanted to slap him but I was taught to respect the elderly.

"This is a private ship, property of Princess Celestia. Therefore, this is NOT your ship. Now let's go." I grabbed Seahoof's hand and jumped off the ship. Before we hit the ocean, I made a water bubble to protect us. When the crashing waves from our impact cleared, I moved over to Noire, who was carrying an unconscious Twilight on his back and an unconscious Spike under his arm.

"Well..." he sighed "This could have gone better..." I took Spike off his hands while he lifted himself and Twilight onto the makeshift magic raft. Once we were all aboard and had recovered, Noire and I used telekinesis to move onto the shore while Seahoof tried to wake up Twilight and Spike. As we were closing on the shore, Twilight began to gain consciousness.

"Ugh... what happened?" she asked between coughs.

"Well, from the giant, glowing dragons that passed us moments ago, I'm going to assume they are going through the same thing Spike was, whatever that was," Tidal answered "They probably were using the ship as some kind of scratching post. Assholes..." Seahoof managed to wake up Spike before we made to the shore and in seconds, Spike was glowing once again and scratching all over his body.

"Somepony help, please!" he pleaded. Everypony was confused about how to help but Noire decided to step forward. He placed a hand on Spike's shoulder and pink lines began to glow on his arm which spread until it reached Spike's shoulder.

"He's being called. By Torch." We all went silent.

"Are you sure?" I asked. I knew I shouldn't have doubted Noire's capabilities but the convenient timing left me a bit sceptical.

"Yes," he responded "I can hear him. He's saying "All dragons, return to Shatter Mountain. The next Dragonlord must be chosen."

"Well, that's good for us. We've got a location. All we need to do is find it," I looked back to Seahoof, who, looked incredibly confused "We should also ask for another ship for Seahoof. Can't be having some old man in the Dragonlands,"

"Excuse me!" he exclaimed "I may be old but I am far from defenceless! If anything, I should be worried about your arrogant behind! I swear is she always like this!?"

"Eh, you get used to it...eventually," Noire answered "Anyway, it would be better if we brought him with us. We can't exactly leave him here or wait until a new ship arrives. Plus, he'll be guarded by a general or the unicorn corps, a code avatar and Princess Celestia's student."

"And a dragon!" Spike included.

"And a dragon. He'll be fine," Tidal opened her mouth to argue but couldn't find the words. She sighed and brought the raft onto the shore. The Dragonlands were exactly as I expected it to be. barren lands with cracked rocky surfaces and baked soil everywhere, volcanoes painting the horizon and the overwhelming scent of ash invading my nostrils. The roaring of dragons could be heard in the distance, alerting us that the dragons were already meeting. "We should get going. I have a gist on the direction we need to go," I said, motioning for everyone to follow me. With that, we were on our way to Shattering Mountain but once again I felt an alarming shock. "I hope everyone's doing okay," I thought as I continued leading the others.

Author's Note

Yes, the plot of My Little Pony will be changing A LOT from this moment on. Events such as Tirek's rampage and Twilight's ascension will be very different from how the show did it because of the original plot clashing with my plot very often. I hope this doesn't take away from your reading experience.