And the first thing I latched onto was the nearest thing preventing me from being sucked into the cackling wormhole above us.

I.E. Ember's tail.

"H-Hey!" Sorry Ember! The dragon, meanwhile, had cleverly dug her claws into the ground, holding to dear life along with the other nearby dragons who managed to find something sturdy to grip onto in time. Others, not so fortunate. Behind me teenage dragons were yelling in fright and protest, their voices dying down the second they enter through the pulling hole which eagerly devoured as much as it could.

As this rate, the entire cavern will be sucked into the hole. We need to do something! I certainly don't fancy getting sucked into another dimension! Again! It wasn't helping that I was beginning to feel my grip on the scaly tail slip. [BEEP]!

Concentrate.

What?

Starswirl's voice rung into my ears calmly, a wave of soothing washing over my panicking mind. You can rid of this hole, but only if your concentrate. Embrace your anxiety, but recall a more positive memory of anyone or anything.

...Right.

Balance.

Doing as the aged unicorn instructed, I ignored Ember's vocal protests and the other dragon's screaming to focus. Embracing that fear coursing through my veins was easy enough, but recalling a good memory right now was beyond a piece of cake. Wincing repeatedly at the wind whipping against my fur, my eyes tightened shut. I can do this.

I can do this...

Twilight would have faith in me...

And the image of said mare, smiling in encouragement, helped calm my down somewhat.

Excellent. Now, you must focus that power of unity on the wormhole above you.

Right... How?

Release one hoof, and point it upwards. What?! My eyes almost snapped open, but Starswirl was unfazed, persisting. There is little time Jack, raise your hoof facing it, facing this distortion of balance. ...God dammit. Reluctantly, I let go with one hoof, prompting the other to slip further at the endpoint of the Princess's tail. My released hoof eagerly flung upwards to face the stormy maelstrom, concentrating all my focus on the hole above. Now, grip onto balance. Feel the waves, and calm them.

And how precisely do I... Wait.

Yes, I felt it.

As though my hoof was gripping onto something else physical before me, a bizarre sensation was felt by the palm of my limb. Opening my eyes, I glanced upwards in anxious confusion. Nothing there, but the feeling was... Rough, for lack of a better term. Like a messed up blanket that needed to be straightened out.

Now, close the gap.

And I did just that.

As though by clenching my hoof once, the black hole responded by effectively disappearing- Ow! And leaving to land harshly onto the ground, along with Ember and the other dragons who managed to hold on to something. The harsh winds died out, replaced by a serene cold breeze in the midst of these caverns. Ugh... Groaning slightly, I carefully rolled onto my hooves, dusting myself off.

Ember was doing the same thing, glaring upwards in confusion. "What was that...?" And I followed her gaze, met with nothing but stalactites and a rock ceiling. Your guess was as good as mine, Princess...

"You... You did something!"

Hm?

Shame, the hole didn't take this nuisance.

Pointing accusingly at me, Garble marched over towards us with a fierce glare, trying and failing to look imposing, like any other teenager.

Are you going to take jabs at every teenager you come across?

Only if they make it easy for me.

The red dragon continued with a triumphant snarl. "The second you looked up at that hole-thingy, your eyes turned gold. I saw it!" Gold? Well... That's not the first time that's happened... "You're involved somehow; this is all on you!"

Rolling her eyes, not buying his bull[BEEP] for a minute, the Princess of the Dragons looked at me with a raised brow. "So then, that was you who stopped us from almost getting sucked into that thing."

Seem to be the case. "I did say I was here to help, your Highness."

Whether she appreciated the formalities or not, Ember made no comment. Instead, she nodded, seemingly to herself. "Think you can rid of them again next time they show up?"

"Certainly," I responded immediately, paying no attention to Garble's agape expression. "I have no intention in leaving anytime soon, not when others are in danger."

Ember scoffed. "Save your noble intentions for your kind, 'Warrior.' We don't truly need your help."

"Yeah!" Garble added gleefully, eager to see me shut down. "You're just a pony who happens to have the magic to get rid of these weird holes sucking up all the dragons in the Lands. Big whoop." Ember rolled her eyes.

And I felt like sharing that sentiment, but this was more important. "I'm the only chance you have to saving your whole kind. I ask of you, Princess, to let me assist in recovering all dragon kind and stopping these black holes indefinitely." At her skeptic look, I tried a different tactic. "Your father certainly wouldn't appreciate you turning down reliable help."

Garble scoffed, waving dismissively. "Sure, like the Dragon Lord would accept help from a pony."

Ember scowled. "He certainly wouldn't," She concurred with the joyful red dragon, looking away briefly in contemplation, eyes cast on the watching dragons from nearby, all looking wary and fearful of something. Presumably the black holes and myself. With a sigh then, she turned back to me with a more softer expression, albeit barely. "Don't expect us to welcome you with open arms by helping us."

Treated with respect by the dragon species? Yeah, I can picture that, just like I can picture Fluttershy's deadbeat brother as my best man.

"Wouldn't dream of it." I smiled, inwardly delighting in Garble's expression. Careful, you might catch flies. Offering a hoof, the response I got was more rolling eyes followed by a reluctant hand-hoofshake. That'll do. That said, my expression turned serious again, answers I desired from her. "But first, I need to know everything you know about these wormholes suddenly appearing and disappearing."

"Wait just a second-!"

But one raised blue claw silenced the outraged Garble, amber eyes fixed on me. "Will that help get rid of them?"

"It'd help me understand the situation more clearer. Knowledge is power, my de- Princess."

Ignoring that slip of charm, Ember nodded with a frown. "It all began about a month ago-"

"Oh come on!"

"One more word from you and you'll have another dragon to fear than my father." That had the intended effect. Stepping back, Garble gulped, nodding wildly.

I admire her tactics.

You would-

Another scream.

All heads turned in the direction of that sound, prompting Ember to hiss, "Looks like it's back."

I nodded. "Then let's not waste any time then. Come on!" Hurrying by a stunned Garble and many other dragons, stepping aside from Ember's barking "Move!" Both human and dragon rushed towards the exit of the caverns where another of the species was in danger.