//------------------------------// // Tatzlwurm Trouble // Story: Eragon's New Home: Equestria // by MetalBrony823 //------------------------------// The embarrassment of Eragon and Murtagh sleeping together died down, and luckily, they were not really teased about it, except for Rainbow Dash of course, since she can be quite a tease at times. More or less, Eragon would just brush it off and ignore her about it, and the same with Murtagh. Saphira and Thorn decided not to bring it up in front of their comrades for their own sake. Both of the dragons could even imagine how embarrassed Eragon and Murtagh were when they were caught sleeping together the following night. Blodhgarm and his followers weren't with them this time, for they were told to make sure Ponyville will be safe since the criminal minotaur attack before. It was alright though, because their help wouldn't really be needed where they were going for this training day. Perhaps Blodhgarm was spending more time with Fluttershy and these two were becoming really close with one another. Twilight, Applejack, and the other elements were glad of that, and so was Eragon and his comrades. He saw in his eyes that these two share a few things in common, such as their love for animals. Besides the day Eragon and Murtagh had the little incident the following night, Saphira and Thorn thought it was rather nice to see and or hear that two brothers were spending time together such as that event. They were siblings after all, even thought they had different fathers. Nonetheless, they decided to keep it to themselves. As of now, Eragon, Saphira, Murtagh, Thorn, and the other new riders were out training in the fields once more. They all trained hard and were already breaking a swear with the sparring and using their magic. Artvazh, Gridgorn, and Vaodidr also had a good time stretching their wings as they were flying with Saphira and Thorn. "Turn to the right, Vaodidr!" Calraeli instructed his dragon turning in a wide open gorge full of rock spires "This is all too easy." Said the mint-green dragon with great confidence. "You are all doing really well, comrades." Said Eragon. "You all learn quite fast!" "All thanks to you." Dervoc complimented. "And Murtagh, Saphira, and Thorn of course." Artvazh smiled at him as he was avoiding a dozen rock pillars coming his way The other three the urgal rider mentioned smiled in gratefulness from his kind remark. "Behind you!" Skalmo warned. The urgal rider saw a large quaray eel trying to eat him, but Artvazh clawed it's neck with blood dripping to the ground. It hissed in pain, and it attempted to kill Dervoc again, but Artvazh stopped it with his mighty paw and and dug his teeth within the creature, killing it instantly "Nice kill." said the dwarf through the Urgal's mind. "Ooh, you liked that, eh?" he replied back to him. "Might as well look behind you." the dwarf looked behind himself like Dervoc warned, and saw another eel coming out from a different hole in the rock wall. Gridgorn dodge and saw the eels long body passing by him to yet another opening. Skalmo took out Knurl, and was more that prepared for another strike from the almighty beast. Gridgorn bared his sharp teeth and growled at an opening. They both saw a fish-like or reptilian like face getting bigger every second and lunged at them, but it missed again. This time, Gridgorn breathed fire at it, making it screech and hurling back to the hole it came out from. "Maybe we should get the hell out of here." Eragon said "Aye." then they all flew away from this deathtrap gorge and landed on the field above them before more trouble would come to all of them. Skalmo and Dervoc promptly put their swords back in the scabbards and mounted off their dragon companions. "Very excellent work." Said Murtagh "But next time, let us not be near such a treacherous place like Ghastly Gorge, wouldn't you all agree?" Thorn added "Agreed." They all replied making the vow. Saphira cleared her throat "You know Eragon, it is all nice that the dragon riders are being reborn, but I always wonder what it would be like to have another female dragon with us." "Don't worry, Saphira." Said Eragon with a mild sigh. "I know it would be nice of you to bond with another girl dragon, but these things, like everything else, take time." "I wish it wouldn't." "What us wrong with us males?" Thorn asked with little offense. Saphira made a grunt and snorted smoke out of her nose, then replied "oh, I did not mean to offend you all. My sincere apologies." She was trying to find the best possible way to telling the boys that she needs a little girl time to say the least. Before she could say a word however, she was immediately inerrupted "Oh she is just being a lady. Ladies just need a little time with other females is all. Rather typical for a girl of course." Saphira made an unamused look on her face and made a low snarl "yes, thank you for making at statement." She said sarcastically "Now Saphira." "It is alright." Vaodidr looked at Saphira and walked up to her in a blank expression, and was rig on front of her, towering her a little bit since he was bigger. "do not worry, Saphira." He said "more riders will be of the way, and you know that," Saphira smiled, and realized she was being a little self absorbed. "You are right, Vaodidr." "You should be happy that you have us with you and Eragon. Just imagine how he felt when he.... Came to Equestria from his home." "Yes Saphira. He is absolutely right." Eragon said. "I know." "Well, that is enough training for one day, let us be on our way back home," Murtagh said. They all agreed with him, and they all flew back to Ponyville to relax and enjoy themselves from the usual hard work in training. Saphira still thought that it would be nice to have another girl dragon by their side. She did clung on to what Vaodidr said to her the minute before. He was not wrong, Eragon was still a little sadder that he can never see the rest of his family again because of the prophecy. Firnen of course was still in her thoughts, even though she is happy with Eragon living in Equestria, she could never get Firnen out of her memories. The time she mated with him just a little while before she and Eragon departed here to this mystical land was so sentimental and nostalgic for her. At least her babies are happy to be with their new daddy, and hopefully, Firnen, and her children will come see her and the others so eddy, and maybe Arya will come see Eragon since she is the new elf queen. "Feeling sentimental, Saphira?" Eragon interrupted "Yes." She confessed "Don't worry, everything will be alright." He reassured with a smile. She knew he was not wrong, 'cause she will be with the one thing she cares about just as much as Firnen, Eragon himself. As long as he was with her, she will always be happy. Across the beautiful skies, they all saw many scattered clouds here and there, some of them forming in to bigger ones, and the Equestrian summer breeze was so refreshing pressing against them. They all looked at some houses down below, some farmlands, and finally, they saw Ponyville just below them. All dragons made a steady landing, including Artvazh. Thanks to his giant size, he would most likely cause the ground to shake if he landed even if he was at his most gentle it at. Nonetheless, when they landed, many of the Ponyvilians were more than happy to see them back in town. Twilight and her friends noticed and approached them. "Hey guys ." Said Rainbow "Hello again, Rainbow Dash." Said Eragon "How was training?" Asked Pinkie Pie "Perfect. We fought a couple of quarray eels, but we're alright. We will probably think before setting foot inside ghastly gorge." Said Calraeli. "Ooh, did they give you that much trouble?" "Quite the opposite, Twilight." Thorn replied. "They were like a wild pack of fanghur if you would think about it, but of course, much larger. "I always wondered what it would be like to see one." Said Fluttershy. Normally she woukd be afraid of dragons, but now that she has met Saphira, Thorn and the others, she has grown very much used to them, the Alagaesian ones at least. "Probably not a good idea Fluttershy." Said Spike. "Indeed, you could probably interact with it, but remember what I told you about the attack and Saphira had with Fanghur." "That's true, but Fluttershy has her stare that she could probably use." "Perhaps, but not only that, but they are highly endangered" "Oh right." "But don't worry, perhaps yoy might interact with one or two someday." Saphira. She smiled. "Well I think we should call it a day for all of us." Eragon stretched his muscles while Saphira did the same thing with her wings. "I desperately need the relaxation." "No need to tell me twice." Skalmo made a hearty chuckle woth a small cough afterwards. "I could really use some ram meat. Because I am hungry." "Me too." Said Gridgorn. Then they all separated and continued with their everyday lives. Artvazh, Gridgorn, and Vaodidr went out to look for any food like a large bear or boar or ram or a deer even. Meanwhile, Dervoc was eating a large piece of mutton on a drumstick while cleaning and polishing Ramr. After he had eating his snack, he made a loud belch so loud that half of the town heard it, making the ponies wondered who even made a belch like that. The next thing was he saw a small pack of wolves like up to five or nine, trying to eat one of his leftover boar meat from his last hunt. Dervoc however, didn't kill the majestic beasts, so he tried to talk them with their minds, mostly the larger alpha male's mind. Through their minds, the alpha wolf said that he was looking for food for his pack and family. Dervoc agreed and said that they can have a quarter of the meats so they can be well fed. Happy, the wolves took the pieces they wanted and one little pup came up to him and licked his leg as a token of their appreciation. Dervoc smiled and carefully stroke it with his finger. Then the pup's mother came up and did the same thing with his arm, also telling him thanks for sharing the meat with the pack, then they all went back into the wilds from whence they came out from. He wondered of Artvazh would have liked some, but the large dragon preferred his prey when they were alive to make a hunt more interesting for himself. For Skalmo he was making himself some feldunost soup with a side of carrots and chicken legs. Some of the grease was getting on his beard a lottle, but he didn't care, because he loved the smell of meat. In his thoughts, he wished he could have taken on Murtagh as revenge for killing Hrothgar in the battle of the Burning Plains. Alas, he could not because Eragon would never allow it, for he knew that he would try to maim him and make him suffer in anguish. Nonetheless. He was a little conflicted whether to trust Murtagh and Thorn or not, even though his hatred was mostly targeted on Murtagh. He decided to just let it slide, for he was more than happy to be a dragon rider than to be furious at Murtagh and have as much odium as he holds about him. "Bah, I suppose I might as well be more compromising to him." He thought out loud to himself. "Half brother to Shadeslayer or not, I can never forgive him for what he did to mine king." He made a breath that caused some hairs from his beard to move like the wind was flowing through it. Then he heard the door knock. Curious, he waddled and answered it, and revealed to be Applejack with a warm expression. "Howdy, Skalmo." She said "Oh, hello Applejack. What brings you to mine new house?" "I wanted to talk to you about something." "Sure sure, do come in." Then the cowgirl promptly trotted inside. "I wanted to talk to you about how you and Murtagh are getting along over the days.' As Skalmo closed the door. He replied while sitting of his chair saying "you and your friends know very well why I can never forgive him for what he did." "I know you are still angry at him, but keeping it in like that is not really healthy for you. Besides, that was all in the past, and sometimes you just need to let go of it and look at the future ahead of you." Skalmo huffed and replied "you don't really understand. King Hrothgar was a great dwarf for all, and mine clan that Kong Orik is apart of. It was like we lost a god to a Demonic entity, or a shade. Hrothgar was our pride and source of dignity. Of course Orik restored it to us, but still." Applejack sighed "I can tell ya that Murtagh is no shade. Besides, he had no choice, 'cause he was bound to Galbatorix, and so was Thorn." "Perhaps, but did he try to fight back at the oath breaker? No. He didn't, he just decided to serve him until the end of time." "He didn't know how to get out of it until Eragon told him about the loophole on true names. That way, Murtagh and Thirn used it to their advantage and helped Eragon and Saphira kill him, and Shruikan." "Aye, perhaps, but we hear precious little about anything they did afterwards after the dark king was finally dethroned." "Well yeah, because he and Thorn needed to let go of their anger and calm down. Not to mention that the both hated eachother for all the things they did while serving Galbatorix." "I know. What are you trying to say, Applejack?" "That you need to give him a chance. You know that Murtagh and Thorn still hate each other a little bit?" "Hmph. Listen I really need to eat. My stomach is growling louder than an urzhad frost bite." "Okay, but please be a little more considerate with Murtagh and Thorn." Applejack begged. "And would you like to go get a smoothie later with Applebloom?" "Smoothie? What the hell is that?" "Oh right, Alagaesia doesn't have some things that Equestria does." "Very well, I suppose I can accompany you." "Perfect, I promise you, you will love a smoothie when you try it. Well see ya around." "May Hrothgar's wisdom be with you, Applejack." Skalmo bid farewell, then she went out the door so he can enjoy his delicious lunch. Th Next Day Blodhgarm and Eragon were practicing some spells together in town while Saphira was still sleeping on this very morning. "You are doing rather well Shadeslayer." Said the wolf-elf. "Concentrate." "And do not let your guard down." Glaedr added. "Use your instincts and trust within them. Never let yourself be distracted." "Got it." Both of the magic users were doing really well casting non-painful and non-lethal spells to and fro like a game of ping long or tennis. Next they decided to use some words on the ancient language to action (that did not try to hurt anyone.) both of them said "Kvistor" or branch and caused a tree's branches to move around slowly like octopus tentacles. "Very good." Said Umaroth. As they both kept practicing, and practicing on and on, they were immediately interrupted by a voice. "Eragon, Saphira!" Said Rarity. Her friends were with her and all had serious looks on their faces. "Oh thank goodness we have found you, Celestia sent you a letter saying that tatzlwurms are attacking the town with no name." "Town of no name? Why has it not been given a name?" "Good question, but that's not important." Twilight noted. "The village is in trouble." "Right, I will go the my fellow comrades and warn them of this news. Come on Saphira, we need to get doing." "Wait! We're coming with you. We can show you that town, and you might need some extra help with those bugs." Said Rainbow Dash. "Believe us." "Very well, but can you all take riding the dragons?" "Of course." Said Spike. "Umm, I don't know, I feel much safer on the ground." Said Fluttershy, ""Don't worry, you'll be fine." "Maybe you should ride with me, I'll make sure you will not fall." Calraeli offered. "Aye, and so will I as well." Vaodidr added. "Oh, okay." Eragon and Saphira went go tell the others about the news and the all got their weapons and needed items ready. Then, the ponies and Spike got on the dragons. Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity got on Artvazh, Spike got on Gridgorn, Fluttershy did the same on Vaodidr Pinkie Pie and Rainbow got on Thorn then Twilight got on Saphira. Then they all flew to their destination. Out on the badlands, they arrived at a small town with two rows of houses and shops with one at the center, in front of the rest. "Here we are." Said Rainbow." They all saw the chaos happening, many Tarzlwurms were coming out of the ground, trying to eat anypony they can try to catch. They looked really different than common earthworms obviously, with a three part mouth and humongous size, sort of like a graboid. "This is madness." Said Blodhgarm. "They will soon meet the end of their vermin lives with Ramr!" Dervoc shouted triumphantly. "Prepare to meet justice, Tarzlwurms!" Calraeli exclaimed Vaodidr, Gridgorn, Artvazh, Saphira, and Thorn roared in a battle cry. And bared their teeth at the gigantic vermin. "Prepare to meet the end of my teeth!" Gridgorn added. The battle commenced. And Artvazh already killed a small number with his humongous paws and claws, and bit on their necks like the way he did with those eels back in a ghastly Gorge. The largest dragon didn't even see them as a threat, and some of the Tatzlewurms went back underground so they wouldn't have to be dragon food. Vaodidr clawed a Tatzlewurms' chest with his sharp claws, leaving some green blood spilled on the floor. "Brisingr!" Shouted Calreali, then a shot of green fire flew at the monster, burning it severely with a loud screech, falling dead to the ground. The elf saw another one coming out of the ground, and lept on it as it ascended to the surface, and stabbed one of it's eyeballs.Rainbow then flew up and kicked it's nose, falling to the ground. When this beast was dead, another was trying to approach the three behind their backs, but then Fluttershy stepped in and gave it the stare, petrifying it instantly like a statue. At this, Gridgorn flew past, and Skalmo decapitated it with Knurl, and it's head, fell on the ground with it's mouth agape. "Thank you, Fluttershy." Said Skalmo. "You're welcome." She replied to him. Meanwhile, Rarity was zapping a beast with her magic and it did little affect, but it was just then Dervoc stabbed it, right through it's body. He gave a loud battle cry while pounding his chest. "Very well done." Said Rarity," "Same with you." The urgal replied, Applejack kicked a Tatzlewurm in the face, making it more than mad now. She lassoed it with a large rope, and pinned it to the ground, but the beast retaliated and lifted her up in the air. Murtagh then leaped and shouted "Jierda!" Then he thrusted Za'roc with a mortal blow on the large insect-like monster. He heard a boy screaming and saw a colt being cornered by a smaller warm, and rushed to his side. Murtagh immediately killed the beast and asked him "are you alright, lad?" "Yeah, thanks." "Come on, we need to get you someplace safe!" "Okay." Then Murtagh led him and some of the other children to a cellar where the worms will not touch them "All of you stay here until this is over." Murtagh instructed." The children nodded their heads in agreement, and he closed the cellar door. Meanwhile, Calraeli swung Welden here and there at any one of those beasts that wanted to eat him and Vaodidr. He fended off so many of the vermin with both Welden, and magic on his side, feeling more than glad to be an elf. They all fought gallantly against these Tatzlewurms and finally, the last one was slain by Eragon and Twilight together, and it was all over. The townsfolk came out cautiously and wondered if it was over, and it turns out, it was safe to come back outside now. Four ponies went up to the mane six. "Guys, you saved us!" Said a white Stallion "Yeah, and the way you whooped their butts!" A dark blue pegasus remarked "Hello, everypony" pinkie greeted. "Is everypony okay?" The whole town smiled and said yes to her in reply. Then they looked at the riders and the dragons, "and what might you guys be? And.... Are you all dragons?" Said a blue stallion, "My name is Eragon, and this is my blue dragon, Saphira." The other riders and dragons introduced themselves one at a time. They were all amazed to a hear that these dragons can talk with other's minds. "Name's Double Diamond." "I'm Night Glider," "Party Favor" "And I am Sugar Belle, one of the best bakers on all of Equestria." They were all touched, "Well, I think we have so much to talk about." "Welcome to our town." Said Double Diamond. "Come on, we'll show you around." The riders were more than pleased to be offered in such courtesy. This town that wasn't named seemed like a nice little quiet spot to be in. The four then walked around with Twilight, her friends, and the riders while the dragons followed behind them. Indeed, it looked like they have so much more to talk about after they were saved from those worms. Thus, another mission was complete for the dragon riders in Equestria.