//------------------------------//
// Chapter 15: The Hunt for Titannus 
// Story: My Little Pony: The Element of Distortion 
// by Thunderwing250 
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	Next morning, the Cabaleron and the Archivist awoke the ponies from their sleep.  Twilight who was the first to wake up, went to all her friends, but unfortunately, Rainbow Dash refused to get up.  Pinkie Pie who was next to her, took out her trumpet and began to play it, making Rainbow Dash jump.  
“Oh goodie.  You’re up!” Pinkie Pie laughed.
“Pinkie!” Rainbow Dash shouted.
“Come on, now Rainbow.  We gotta job to do!” Applejack came over.
Rainbow Dash felt annoyed.  For a Pegasus like her waking up before the dawn is rare for her.  As the six ponies gathered equipment they needed, walked out of the lab and saw Amplitude, Bronze Compass, Spectra, and Daring Do on the street.  Together they walked to the dock and boarded a tramp steamer vessel.  It surprised them at first, only to be surprised further that StoneColt appeared on the dock.
“What are ya ponies waitin’ for?  Come one!” he called out.
Before he boarded, StoneColt bumped into another pony carrying a cage.
"Oh dang it, Chief Brony.  What the hay are you doing with that cage." he said.
"Oh no worries, I'm going shark hunting with three other shipmates." Chief Brony said.	
"Really.  Well you're gonna need a bigger boat catching those bad boys."  StoneColt laughed.
"No worries, StoneColt.  We have plenty of hooks to bring it in." Chief Brony held the cage in the air.
"Good huntin', Chief." StoneColt chuckled.
"Likewise, General!" the Chief said, walking to his ship.  
As the General and the other ponies boarded the vessel, a regiment of Pegasus ponies and sailor ponies set off to Vorago’s Deep.  With two other vessels following from behind as support, Twilight tried to observe the situation however felt something.  After her confrontation with Titannus, she felt three vessels as protection wasn’t enough.  Slowly, she began understanding more and more about what she is dealing with.  On the way, the Archivist, Cabaleron, Discord, and StoneColt discussed the plan on retrieving the Element of Distortion.  While discussing it, Spectra and Daring Do walked up to them.
“We’ll be going with you.  I will monitor the vocal frequencies…” Spectra said.
“…And I’ll be decoding the languages to the best of my ability when we are in the Deep.” Daring Do added.
“Oh Daring Do, is joining us!” Rainbow Dash said in excitement.
“Yeah.” Daring Do replied.
“But wait, how can you?” Twilight asked.
“Didn’t you read my one book, Journey through Atlantios?  I transformed into a seapony, from a necklace that was given to me and luckily, I still have it.” Daring Do smiled.
“Oh yeah…I forgot.” Rainbow Dash said in embarrassment.
“I happen to possess the seapony spell so there is no worries for now.” Spectra replied.
Understanding the situation, they gathered what was needed and prepared the portable frequency scanner.  The weather continued to be a blue sky, until clouds slowly took shape.  Their destination was very near.  The Archivist, put her head down preventing her from losing her confidence.  Discord walked over and put his hand over her shoulders.
“Remember the words I said.  She’ll be alright.” He smiled.
The Archivist’s frown soon turned upside down forming a smile.  One the ledge of the ship, Twilight and her friends along with Daring Do and Spectra turned.  The Archivist, using her magic transformed the ponies into seaponies, and Daring Do with her necklace and Spectra with her own spell.   Now the seven of them as seaponies dove into the water, slowly trying to get accustom to the environment.  
“This is so cool” Rainbow Dash proudly swam around with her tail.
“Well…it is hard, but awesome…whoo…hoo.” Fluttershy whispered.
Suddenly, a school of fish passed by them leaving them in awe.  The beauty and peacefulness of the sea amazed them, especially Fluttershy.
“These creatures look so cute…” Fluttershy said, seeing dolphins pass by her.
“Oh, this is fabulous.” Rarity said.
Daring Do and Spectra chuckled for a moment.
“You six need to seriously hang out with us more.” They both said.
“Right.  Come on, girls.  We gotta find that Element.” Twilight said.
The seven swam to a massive, dark canyon that scared Fluttershy a bit.  Yet, Spectra on the other hoof had to agree.  There are darker places in the sea than there are on the surface.  Spectra feeling that Twilight and her friends were unexperienced, took the lead as she swam down the canyon.  As the hours passed, they went deeper into the dark abyss as the temperature began to drop dramatically, as well as visibility.  Twilight used her unihorn to light up the bottom along with Rarity, but halted as did the others.  Fragments of skeletons from massive creatures laid on the bottom.  Up on the surface, the Archivist sat down as if she were meditating and communicated with Spectra and Twilight telepathically.  
“Thought we lost contact with you.” Spectra said.
“Temporarily.  What have you found?” the Archivist replied. 
“Skeletons of big creatures that I don’t know of.” Twilight replied.
“Could be whales?” Spectra said.
“Then you are near the Temple.  Within the Temple, find the Crystallized Monolith.  Daring Do should be able to translate it.  Be warned though, during this time of day, Titannus sleeps if not, roaming the depths.” The Archivist said.
“Understood.” Both Twilight and Spectra replied.
The Archivist opened her eyes, concluding her mediation.  She turned to Amplitude and Bronze Compass.
“What’s their depth?” she asked.
“Five-thousand feet.” Amplitude said.
“Good.  If Titannus is not there, then they are safe.  If he’s sleeping, we need to keep our eyes peeled.  But I’m forgetting something…” the Archivist said.
“What did you forget?” Cabaleron asked.
“I don’t know.  Spectra did tell me that they found skeletons of something big.” The Archivist continued.
Amplitude’s eyes widened.
“Wait!  Bronze…what was the depth?” he said.
“Five-thousand feet.  Why?” Bronze Compass replied.
Amplitude began to hyperventilate.  He could only think of one thing, and like his brothers he sets up traps.  Soon it came to him that what his sister described weren’t just whales…it was remains of a meal.  As Twilight and the other ponies went deeper, loud cracks sounded off until a low growl was heard.  Hiding in a nearby corner, they only saw a small whale passing through, however that sigh of relief was short lived, when a serpent like creature crashed out of the rocks and chased the ponies further down the trench.  Screaming in horror by the massiveness of this creature, Amplitude and Bronze Compass picked up a recording, only for the creature to change directions.  Instead of chasing the ponies, it went towards the surface.  Everypony on the ships soon noticed the dark shadow as it got bigger and bigger.
“There’s only one creature that could’ve eaten those whales.” Amplitude said.
After he spoke, all three ships felt a bang in their hulls, as water began to flood the ship.  Waves began to grow higher and higher, until the serpent rose out of the water.  StoneColt fell over to the each of the mast and came face to face with its eye.
“HOLY FISH!  IT’S LEVIATHAN!” he shouted.