One day at the School of Friendship, inside the training gym the ninjas along with the Young Six were watching Karai and April spar. Karai was coming at April with katana strikes, while April was dodging and using her tessen to block Karai's strikes.
“Come on, April!” Donnie cheered his crush on.
“You go, Karai!” Shinigami cheered for her best friend.
April after blocking several of Karai's moves went on the offense with a combo of her tessen and tanto blade, “Not bad, April. But it's not over yet!” Karai shifted into her snake form and struck.
“Hey! No special abilities!” April called.
“There are no rules in a fight.” Karai reminded her.
“Alright then.” April used her unicorn magic on Karai and threw her against a wall.
“Lucky shot.” Karai hissed before changing back to normal.
The two girls continued to fight it out, until they saw a glow coming from their backsides and halted their spar. As the others noticed, Casey spoke up, “Girls, you're glowing.”
April and Karai looked down at their respective Cutie Marks being a Bold style number five and the three toed dragon symbol were glowing, “Not us, but our cutie marks.” April noticed.
Karai spoke to April, “That only happens if...” April and Karai caught on as they sheathed their weapons and left the gym with their friends following them.
The two entered the Castle of Friendship's throne room where Twilight and Spike were waiting, “Hey, Twilight!” April began.
“I know. The Map is calling you and Karai for a Friendship Mission.” the Princess explained.
“That's awesome!” Leo said with excitement.
“Yeah. To be called by the map to solve a Friendship Problem.” Donnie added.
“Though why us specifically?” Karai asked, as she and April were confused.
“I'm not sure, but the map has always been right when deciding what ponies are best suited to deal with whatever friendship problem it senses.” Twilight explained.
“So where are we going?” April asked, as the group looked at the map.
They saw Karai and April's cutie marks were hovering above a volcano Southeast of Equestria, “You two are on your way to the Dragon Lands.” Twilight answered.
“The Dragon Lands?” Bebop asked.
“Yeah. It's where the dragons live.” Spike explained.
“So we're being asked to settle a problem among dragons?” Karai asked.
“It's quite possible. But I'm sure you'll find the problem when you get there.” Twilight said.
“I'll make sure to send a letter to Dragon Lord Ember and let her know you'll be there. Maybe she can help point you two in the right direction.” Spike offered.
“Thanks, Spike.” April said.
“And I've already packed you girls some things you may need for going there,” Twilight levitated two saddle sacks onto the girls backs, “And also a map in case you get lost.” Twilight levitated a map to them.
“Well, we seem to have what we need.” April said.
“We should get going.” Karai added.
“The both of you be careful out there.” Leo warned them.
“Yeah. Just because Ember's our ally doesn't mean every dragon is.” Sunset put in.
“Don't worry, if any dragon messes with us, we can handle them.” April promised, as Karai nodded in agreement.
Later on April and Karai had arrived at the Dragon Lands and were wandering around the volcanoes, “Wish we knew exactly where to find Ember in all this.” Karai said.
“Yeah. I mean it's not like she lives in a castle.” April added, until two dragons dropped in.
The two ponies were startled and got into defensive positions, “If you two are looking for trouble then you just found it.” Karai warned them.
The two dragons chuckled, “Wow. And they say we dragons are quick to start a fight.” one told the other.
April and Karai were confused, as the second one spoke, “Relax, we're not looking for trouble. Are you April O'Neil and Karai?”
“Um, yeah?” April answered.
“Dragon Lord Ember is expecting you. Follow us.” the first one said, as the dragons led the two kunoichi.
As they followed the dragons, they looked around seeing more dragons doing all the activities Spike told them the dragons are known for. From napping and sleeping on rocks, scarfing down gemstones, tail wrestling, etc.
“They have quite the lifestyle, don't they?” Karai asked April.
“It's like watching the guys.” April noticed the uncanny similarities to the turtles behavior.
The four stopped before a cave, as Ember came out. She looked at the two dragons who spoke, “Dragon Lord, we bring you the ponies April O'Neil and Karai.”
Ember looked at the two and waved, “Hey, girls.”
“Hi.” they greeted back.
Ember turned to the dragon escorts, “That'll be all, you two,” the escorts nodded and flew off, “So Spike and Twilight told me you two are here on a mission?”
“Yeah. A Friendship Mission.” Karai explained.
“Has there been any trouble among the dragons, especially between close friends?” April asked for clues.
“Actually, look around you,” Ember motioned to all the dragons engaging in squabbles for petty reasons, “It's normally like this around here even before I was Dragon Lord. Every dragon eventually tires themselves out and they drop whatever they were arguing about.”
“Well, this makes it difficult.” April sighed.
“Yeah. I mean are we meant to solve all these problems?” Karai asked rhetorically.
“Ember!” came a booming voice from the cave.
The two ponies shook from the force of the loud voice, while Ember remained unfazed. Coming out from the cave was none other than her father Torch; the former Dragon Lord.
“What is it now, dad?” Ember asked with a groan.
“More of our fellow dragons are still squabbling over gemstones. If you don't take care of it soon, they'll drag other dragons into it.” Torch explained.
“I know, dad. I'll get to it.” Ember answered sounding annoyed.
Torch looked down at the two ponies next to her, “What're ponies doing here in our lands?!” he shouted.
“Dad, they're the ponies I was expecting to come here. They're friends of Princess Twilight. Remember? We sent Smolder to attend her School of Friendship?”
Torch thought back before answering, “Oh. That's right.”
Ember rolled her eyes and spoke to the girls, “Girls, meet my father Torch. Dad this is April O'Neil and Karai.”
“Pleasure to meet you, sir.” April greeted with a bow of her head.
“It is an honor to stand before the former Dragon Lord.” Karai added with a bow as well.
Torch seeing the signs of respect smirked, “Yes. You should feel honored to be in the presence of perhaps one of the greatest Dragon Lords in dragon history.”
'Ego much?' the two ponies thought.
“I hope you enjoy your time here in the Dragon Lands,” Torch said, “Now if you'll excuse me, my daughter and I have matters to discuss.”
“What's there to discuss, dad?” Ember asked rhetorically, “I'm handling the situations here well enough.”
“Well enough isn't enough, Ember,” Torch answered, “You may be Dragon Lord, but you still have a lot to learn. You must lead your fellow dragons with a firm claw otherwise they'll only see you as weak.”
“If all I do is lead by a firm claw, then they'll only listen by fear!” Ember argued, “Fear may have worked before in the past, but this is a new age. And I wanna lead my way!”
“The old ways have always worked for us before so why change now?” the father argued back.
“Because that's exactly what we need around here! Why else would we send Smolder to the School of Friendship? To open our doors to other non dragons and show we're not just monsters! But all you care about is old tradition that has no place in Equestria today!” she growled before flying off.
Torch and the ponies watched Ember fly off in a huff. Torch sighed, “Oh, that daughter of mine,” he turned to April and Karai, “Sorry you had to see that. My daughter is in that rebellious phase.”
“We've been there.” April admitted.
“If you two will excuse me.' Torch said, as he went back to his cave.
The two kunoichi ponies stood side by side, and Karai spoke up, “You thinking it too?”
“Yup.” April agreed.
“Good then it's not just me.” Karai replied, as the two discovered what their true mission in the Dragon Lands was.