//------------------------------// // Chapter 04: The Everfree Forest // Story: MY LITTLE DOVAHKIIN: Syllables are Magic // by SubzeroGreymon //------------------------------// The white unicorn’s eye opened lazily, and she sighed. Another day of hard work and good payment. She lifted herself from bed and entered her studio with her eyes half shut, her mind already hard at work coming up with new creations for her magnificent outfit collection. “Well, Rarity,” She spoke to herself, “Looks like another typical day at Carousel Boutique.” It was then that she saw a huge crowd outside… … facing the opposite direction then usual. “Strange,” the white unicorn opened the door. “Dovahkiin! Dovahkiin! Dovahkiin!” The populous chanted. “What’s going on out here?” She asked a nearby stranger. “Haven’t you heard?” The stranger, a grey earth pony, replied, “The Dragonborn killed a dragon!” “A dragon!?” Rarity screamed, “Really?!” “Yeah, attacked the town.” “Our town gets attacked every other week,” Rarity noted, “Must’ve slept through it all.” Rarity then turned her eyes to the stand. On it stood a yellow-feathered pegasus with light pink hair, and wearing the most… UNCOUTH helmet. “Looks like I found my next project,” Rarity smiled, walking up to the stands. Unfortunately, the crowd proved too thick. “Curses!” Rarity muttered. “Everypony, this brave pegasus, the Dragonborn,” The mayor spoke, “saved Ponyville from the wrath of the dragon with the way of the voice! She and her friends shall soon depart to the Throat of the World!” “Throat of the what now?” Rarity heard the pegasus replied. “The Throat of the World,” A purple unicorn answered, “A tall mountain in the Everfree Forest…” MY LITTLE DOVAHKIIN: Syllables are Magic A MLPFIM / SkyRim Crossover Fanfiction Chapter 04: The Everfree Forest Fluttershy stared at the forest ahead of her. The Everfree was well-known for the many beasts that hid in there. Many theorize that the princesses of the Sun and Moon set it up to protect their original castle prior to the founding of Canterlot. And now, she had to go through it in order to reach the Throat of the World in order to learn one of the most powerful shouts of them all. “I’m beginning to think this was a bad idea,” Fluttershy noted, “We really shouldn’t go in.” “Nonsense, Sugahcube!” Applejack replied, “Ah think we need tah go in. No fastah way to tah Throat of the World.” “Well, we don’t have a choice…” Twilight noted, “We’re going in.” “We’re all gonna die,” Spike sighed without the slightest bit of terror in his voice. As they walked into the Everfree Forest, Fluttershy could sense something – or someone – watching from afar. That something was Ponyville Fashionista Rarity, who was determined to make the Dragonborn look presentable. “Soon, Dovahkiin,” Rarity smiled, “Your wardrobe shall be my creation!” As they walked along, the ponies continued to observe the environment. “Strange how this forest’s weather doesn’t rely on pegasi,” Twilight noted. “It ain’t natural, that’s fer sure,” Applejack noted. “Perhaps we may be able to tell the others later,” Twilight noted. “But no pony who has ever entered and left has been in sane mind by the time they come back,” Rainbow Dash noted, “It’s just… strange.” “Well, it’s not too bad…” Fluttershy noted, “I mean, if you look at it right…” RAAAAAAAAAAAAWR!!! “What was that?” Every pony looked around, and saw the source of the strange sound. From a distance, it resembled a lion with sharp fangs. However, the strange, wing-like growths and the scorpion-like tail gave away its true identity. “MANTICORE!” The ponies screamed, even Rarity, who was hiding in nearby bushes. The beast lunged, and took on most of the ponies. Fluttershy held back, her love for animals too great for her to lift a hoof. ‘There has to be a way to diffuse this!’ Fluttershy thought to herself. “YAH!” Rarity, getting into the fight, kicked the beast in the left side of his face. “Take that, you ruffian!” ‘Maybe a shout might scare it off, but I don’t want to hurt it! Do I know any words that calm animals down?’ Fluttershy thought to herself. ‘You do know one,’ A voice answered back. ‘Really?’ Fluttershy asked back. ‘The words given to you by father to calm the animals,’ The voice replied. “KAAN… DREM OV!” Fluttershy shouted. The beast, suddenly, stopped attacking, and sat. Fluttershy walked up to the manticore and noticed a massive black thorn sticking out of its left paw. “Shhh... It's okay. Oh, you poor, poor little baby,” Fluttershy readied the thorn for removal, “Now this might hurt for just a second.” POP! RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!!! “There there,” Fluttershy whispered to the beast, and let it be on its way. “How did you know about the thorn?” Twilight asked. “I didn’t,” Fluttershy replied, “Sometimes, all we need to do is show a little kindness.” So the ponies continued on, Rarity closer behind… and unknown to them, three more ponies on their tail. “So…” Rainbow Dash landed near the new member of the crew, “Who exactly are you?” “I am Rarity, a fashion artist,” The unicorn replied, “I’ve followed your group since you saved our town from the Dragon’s wrath.” “But what could you possibly offer us?” Dash replied. “Besides useful insights into the fashions of higher towns?” Rarity replied, “Perhaps you are not familiar with the element of gold…” “You get that?” “100 gold a day, 200 a good one,” Rarity replied. “You are now my new ATM,” Rainbow Dash replied. “ATM?” Both paused, realizing they had NO IDEA what an ATM was. “Anyways,” Rarity noted, “I can’t help but notice your friend’s… odd helmet design.” “Hey, Fluttershy is allowed to make her own fashion decisions!” Pinkie Pie popped in, “It makes her individual!” “Well, she has to find a way to make it look presentable,” Rarity replied, “After all, Dragons like a challenge to look good…” “But why subject anypony to that kind of pressure?” Pinkie asked. And for the first time, Rarity began to question herself. The group continued on, as the supposed terrors of the forest seemed to be actively avoiding them. Fluttershy couldn’t help but notice how it seemed to actively point towards the Throat of the World. Whenever some hapless member wandered off the path, something chased them back to the group before turning back. Whatever drove this forest’s behavior obviously knew where they wanted to go, and was willing to help. It was just as they were about to hit the mountain’s base when three ponies intercepted the group. All three were shrouded by cloaks, and has some variety of bladed weaponry on them. “Greetings, travelers,” The head pony, a unicorn if his horn implied anything, spoke first, “You have made it to the Throat of the World.” “Well, thank you kindly for pointing that out,” Rarity spoke, “But who are you three?” “We are but ponies, as you are,” The head continued, “Many have ventured into the Everfree forest, and gained a life of adventure. Our little group has been dubbed the ‘Blades.’” “Why’s that?” Rarity asked. “Well, obviously because they like wearing go-go boots,” Rainbow Dash replied. “Um… excuse me, but do you know the way up? I kinda have to learn something,” Fluttershy spoke to the group. “We know what you seek,” The head replied back, “The shout responsible for defeating the World-Eater Alduin.” “Dragonrend,” The other ponies, a pegasi and an Earth pony, added. “I thought we agreed I was going to say that,” The leader snapped. “Sorry,” The other two noted. “As for how to get up there,” The head pony backed away, “The only way is the climb.” And so the ponies departed, with the head saying one last thing… “Slay Paarthurnax.” “Well, I think we’re at the mountain’s base,” Twilight noted, “We’re going to need to go up.” Everypony agreed, and they proceeded to climb up the mountain. The trek up the mountain proved more treacherous then anticipated. Unlike the forest, the mountain was a lot more willing to set the travelers astray. Everywhere they turned, a new choice presented itself, and if they made a bad choice, something would come after them, mostly a frost troll or a saber-toothed cat. Eventually, one frost troll proved more persistent than others, and chased the group as far as it could. “We have to get this troll off our trail!” Twilight shouted. Everyone else nodded and continued running away from the troll. However, fate yielded salvation. Rapidly approaching the group, a pony in a dark grey robe charged. “Wait, where’s he going?” Applejack asked, “This ain’t a good way t’go.” The pony charged past them and at the troll. “FUS RO DAH!” The pony shouted, and the troll was pushed right off the edge, and flew into the dank, dark abyss below. The pony turned to the group, and lifted her hood with magic, revealing a mint-green unicorn with gold eyes. “Are you the one they call Dovahkiin?” The unicorn asked. Everypony there, including Spike, who had been mostly uninvolved with the proceedings up til now, pointed at Fluttershy, who simply, and subtly, nodded. “Follow me,” The unicorn turned and began trekking up the mountain. “Whoa whoa whoa, wait up,” Rainbow Dash interrupted, “Who the hay are YOU?!” “My name is Lyra Heartstrings,” The unicorn replied without turning back on them, “43rd Greybeard of the Heartstrings Clan.” “…You’re a Greybeard?” Fluttershy asked, “Um… I mean no offense, but-“ “I don’t fit the title?” Lyra replied without the slightest hint of emotion, “I know. The first four Greybeards, including my grandest father – Heartstrings, were relatively old stallions with graying beards. The name just stuck for forty-three generations. As a result, I hold the title despite not having a grey beard to speak of.” “Well, um…” Fluttershy stuttered, “S-sorry…” “There is no need for apologies,” Lyra replied, “It is merely tradition I blame for my misnomer.” She paused when she noticed some mist, sighed, and shouted something. The mist parted, and the group continued on… CHAPTER ENDS… Glossary: Throat of the World: A massive mountain in the Everfree Forest, known as the home base of the mysterious Greybeards. Everfree Forest: A mysterious forest on the edge of Skyrim. KAAN DREM OV: In Dragon’s Language, it means “Kyne’s Peace and Trust.” Calms any beast enraged.