Twilight Sparkle read through the letter for the fifteenth time as she paced worriedly about Ponyville’s Books and Branches Library. “This must be serious. Why else would the Princess send a squad of - ?”
“Twilight!” a young male voice yelled out from atop a bookshelf. Spike, the purple mare’s green and purple dragon assistant, was busy placing the books on military etiquette back where they belonged. “You need to calm down. We grew up in the castle. The Princess said she would be sending ponies we know.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about,” the mare replied.
“Really?” the dragon asked. If he had proper eyebrows they would have gone so far up they would have threatened to pop off his head.
“Well, kind of,” Twilight conceded. “What I’m more concerned about is that the Princess feels sending some of the guards to be even necessary.”
“She’s just looking out for you, Twilight.” Spike rapidly descended the ladder and landed on the floor with a soft thud.”Besides, you’re going deep into the Everfree Forest. You’ll need them if you run into anything out there.”
“I’ve been through the Everfree alone before, Spike.” Before the dragon could retort a loud knocking came from the door. Twilight jumped and began to mutter under her breath. “Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no....”
Spike rolled his eyes for the sixth time that day and opened the door. “Hello,” he said cheerfully.
At the door stood four golden-armored stallions, a pair of unicorns and a pair of pegasi. The unicorns had coats of grey and manes of white, while the pegasi were a pure white with a two-toned blue mane and tail. Each one was wearing the same half-bored expression that may as well have been regulation when dealing with the public.
“Hello Spike,” one of the pegasi replied. “May we come in?” The dragon stepped aside without a word and closed the door. The guards looked around the library as though to make sure there was nopony else in there before they let out a collective sigh. “Finally,” one of them muttered.
“My jaw,” another moaned, rubbing at it with a hoof.
“Quit your whining,” one of the unicorns joked, nudging his complaining colleague in the ribs.
Twilight and Spike looked at each other, the guards, each other, then the guards again. “What’s going on?”
One of the pegasi cleared his throat. “Miss Sparkle, we are here to escort you to the site of the magical anomaly you reported to Princess Celestia earlier today,” he said in the authoritative monotone the Royal Guard was famous for. “It’s good to see you again, Miss Sparkle,” he added, a warm smile breaking through and his voice softening.
“I-it’s good to see you again too, Lieutenant Storm Surge,” Twilight replied uneasily. She hadn’t remembered any of the guards ever being this warm and friendly. In truth, she was a little scared.
The other pegasus guard seemed to pick up on this and stood next to his partner. “All that expressionless stuff is just an act we have to do. Around the Princesses, we’re pretty relaxed. As you’re Princess Celestia’s personal protege and an Element Bearer, we’ve decided to extend that honour to you.”
Twilight opened and closed her mouth repeatedly for a moment. “T-thank you,” she eventually stammered out. “I’m not sure what to say.”
“Don’t worry about it, ma’am,” one of the unicorns replied. “Just remember that in public you still have to treat us like guards instead of normal ponies.”
That statement raised a chorus of laughter from the Royal Guards, though it was quickly quelled. “Okay, everypony,” Lieutenant Storm Surge said authoritatively, “get in position, Standard Escort Formation. Arcane Light, you’re on left flank. Firebolt, you’re right. Nimbus Strike, you’ll be bringing up the rear.”
Within moments the guard ponies had taken their positions around Twilight, their military discipline and efficiency returning in full force. She looked ahead and cleared her throat. “Lead the way, lieutenant.”
The trek through the forest passed in relative peace. Lieutenant Storm Surge and the other guards passed the time by talking with Twilight Sparkle about how life had been before she had been sent to Ponyville. For the most part that involved gentle ribbing about her dangerously unhealthy study habits and lust for knowledge. In turn, Twilight made fun of the time she had outdone Arcane Light and Firebolt in a challenge when she had been 15.
They were brought to an abrupt halt when Storm Surge brought a hoof up. “Hold up,” he whispered. He sniffed the air. “You smell that?”
Firebolt was the first to answer. “Burning hair.” He turned to the mare they were escorting. “How far are we from the anomaly?”
Twilight closed her eyes and focused on how it had felt, like tearing fabric and warping metal, her horn illuminated in a muted purple glow. “About half an hour in that direction,” she replied, pointing a little to the left of the lieutenant.
“That’s the same direction the smell’s coming from,” Arcane Light muttered.
“Okay everypony, be on your guard. Miss Sparkle, if things look to be too dangerous, I want you to teleport back to Ponyville and ask the Princess for reinforcements. Ask for Princess Luna’s Night Watch, they have better combat training than the Solar Flare does. Is that clear?”
Twilight nodded nervously, worried by the tone Storm Surge had taken. He obviously expected trouble of some sort. Slowly the group approached the area, the two pegasi hovering to allow them to enter combat quicker if the need arose.
Their reactions upon seeing the corpse of the manticore were a mix of relief and worry. Manticores were notoriously hard to kill, and whatever had killed this one had done so with apparent ease. A quick investigation revealed multiple lacerations and stab wounds, deep gouges and second degree burns all over its face. Arcane Light was able to identify the cause of death: multiple entry wounds to the throat, severing the windpipe and major blood vessels. Its passing had been mercifully quick. “The body’s still warm,” Arcane muttered. “Whatever did this is still close.”
Twilight was not made of the same stuff the guards were. Her stomach rebelled at the sight of the corpse and, despite her best efforts, she couldn’t hold down her meal.
“It’s never easy,” Nimbus Strike said when she returned, wiping her mouth with a hoof.
“I could track whoever did this,” Arcane Light said, horn glowing.
“No,” Storm Surge replied. “We’re here to investigate the anomaly, not track down somepony with a grudge against the local manticores.”
“Sir, I think Arcane has the right idea,” Firebolt interjected. “Look at these.”
All five ponies leaned in to get a closer look. In the mud was a strange animal track, like nothing any of them had seen before. It was just over twice as long as it was wide and deep, indicating that whatever had left it was heavy. A quick investigation revealed another just like it, and a third that was similar but different. This one was pointed at one end making one wonder just what they had encountered.
Twilight looked at the strange print and focused on it, trying to find similarities. To her dismay it was just like the anomaly except on a smaller scale. “Lieutenant, whatever made these came from the anomaly. I think we should follow.”
“Okay then,” Storm Surge said forcefully. What was meant to be a simple walk had managed to turn into something very different and very dangerous very fast. “We’ll track this thing or things down. Nimbus, take to the air and see if you can locate them.”
The other pegasus took to the sky and was back in less than a minute. “I found them, sir,” Nimbus reported, slightly out of breath. “Three figures, all standing on two legs. Two appear to be armored, one in metal, the other in cloth. The third seems defenseless, but considering what was done to the manticore I doubt that. The armored ones appear to be armed, as well.”
“Okay then. We’ll approach them and try to determine why they’re here. Miss Sparkle,” he turned to the mare, “I am ordering you to return and call for reinforcements. If they prove hostile, I want to make sure that we can eliminate them as quickly as possible, lest Ponyville be put at risk.”
“But what if they’re not?” she replied, incredibly uneasy about the situation.
Storm Surge thought for a moment. “Try and see if you can get the Princesses themselves to assist. Tell them everything you must.”
Twilight Sparkle nodded. With a loud pop and a flash of purple light she disappeared.
Storm turned to the remaining ponies. “Arcane, Firebolt, you’re with me. Nimbus, see if you can’t make a cloud or two, try and catch them off guard.”
“Sir,” he replied with a salute as he took off. Storm Surge gulped loudly as he led the two unicorns towards the mysterious creatures, not knowing what he was getting himself into.
Author's Note:
Because you guys are so damn pushy! If it's not much good then I blame you all!
Next chapter, there will be much confusion.
not bad.
Moar! This is awesome!
Bring on MORE of this awesomeness!
A few words BRING IT ON!!!
also kajeet plays with oppleessence make it happen :)
this is actually pretty interesting, can't wait to read more!
I look forward to reading this further. but you can take your time, and fill it out.
Might be worth it's weight in Daedric.
Loved the way the guards lowered the facade of officialism as well. nice touch.
those guards better think dimploicly(I cant spell:()
Firebolt? Nimbus strike? Do we have some Harry Potter references here? Very good and I look forward to reading more!
FUS RO DAH
Let the awsome continue!
*holds the author at gunpoint.* So, about chapter 3...
Another great chapter Tony! This could take several different directions at this point based on what the guards decide to do in the encounter, and how the three from Tamriel react as well. For throwing this together as fast as you did it is very well written and brings the story much farther along. You've got your MLP-TES meeting set up, now I wonder what you'll do with it? Great job man, keep up the great work, and you really don't need to rush, everyone's just excited to see where you take this!
This story so far is pretty darn awesome to say the least, one thing comes to mind though, PLEASE don't make the main characters punching bags, I HATE that in a story, fills me with a form of rage for some reason :P. So if a fight does arrive, at least have em kick a little ass :D.
Tracking, can't wait to see what happens next!
Seems to be pretty interesting. It doesn't appear that you have the dragonborn here, but time will tell.
"A Khajiit, a Dunmer and a Redguard walk into an Ayleid ruin." When I saw that, I started laughing cause it sounds like the start of a bad joke! Def gonna read this though.
72690
FIFTY FUCKING YEARS BEFORE SKYRIM
ARE YOU FUCKING RETARDED?
READ THE OTHER COMMENTS FAG.
72384
Actually, Firebolt is a reference to a mid-level Destruction spell.
Nimbus Strike is a name I just always use with Pegasus Guards.
72731
If you're gonna insult the other readers who missed a comment I made, then I'll have to ask you to leave.
72194
I am considering the possibility. The only problem there is messing with canon too much.
It seemed too much of a coincidence. But oh well.
72662
They will only be punching bags when its comically viable. Like when Spike fought against that chicken and lost.
I find this interresting,The story is pretty vivd and well worded,and the elder-scrolls part is a funny and quite...well great! Cause I was a fan of elder-scrolls games so its a nice touch I guess. Keep up the good work
*hold a kitten up a gun point*
"i swear if you kill that group of guards the kitten gets it.
also bring in the night guards just cuz they're cool."
-NiteFlaym
GIVE. ME . MORE!
OHH Boy, you turn this story in to shit ill shove it right up yer arse!
You best not fail me, dude.
Cheers
~iraqlobstah
nobody calls them dunmer...
70873 ... im a breton :(
73643
I don't really get the purpose of Bretons, they just look like generic people. And the whole mer and men combined is kind-of weird.
73681
Spike cut her off. There was a dash before the question mark.
If you can't see it, I recommend purchasing a new computer monitor and/or getting glasses.
73647
According to the Elder Scrolls wiki:
Bretons are the human descendants who hail from the province of High Rock. According to the Third Pocket Guide to the Empire, they have descended from the people of Nede and Aldmer. The Aldmer thought of making a superior race with their own "Elder", or "Superior", blood, by mating with other races. The Bretons are sometimes called "Manmeri" because of this.
They also serve the roll of pure mage, skilled in all magic schools, while Altmer are better at muti-classing with actual weapons.
73746 I see your point but shouldn't you be working on the next chapter *bad pokerface* no pressure ... :P
HA.
Cant wait to see if these guys will kick some ass in the third chapter.
Oh, and pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee make the Khajiit play with Opal, it would be soooo coool
FUS! RO! DAH!
MOARR
Thoroughly enjoying this. Please continue.
74137
I am alternating which chapters come out with my HiE fic. And that one has hit a snag. Hopefully one of my collaborators can help...
I liked this chapter, it's pretty interesting stuff. Do your three TES OC's happen to be from your favorite races, or are you just doing that because of the whole Magic/Stealth/Combat trio?
More, I say.
MOAR
71642 FURRIES UNITE!
74570
Khajiit and Dunmer are my two favourites. I don't play a pure warrior, though, so I hardly touch any of the human races.