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// Chapter 3: Character Development and-Oh COME ON!!! [EDITED] 
// Story: Death's Claw 
// by Hunter Redflame 
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Chapter 3: Character Development and-Oh COME ON!!!


(\PoV: Nightshade/)


Heh, ain't this whole situation been just a peach? First I buck-up an easy fishing job on some corrupt noble that Fox Tail put a hit-on-sight out for, then I get tossed onto a prison cart headed right for Canterlot. To make it better, I somehow didn't notice that the guards were Apples and was a laughingstock for the rest of the trip for trying to use illusions on members of the Apple family! How the hay was I supposed to know that they were Apples?! Bah!

I was so caught up on it that I only noticed the Paladin tied up next to me when we stopped to rest in the Everfree, of all places! After that came the tiberwolves. Why the caravan head was so stupid, I don't know, and honestly don't care. They gave me the opening to scram and little miss Prim and Proper kept pace well enough with me. After a while, we stop and rest. I get her name, she got mine, and we got to talking about why we were there. Celly, (R.G. protocol has them putting cellmates next to each other in the cart to see if they'd keep from killing each other,) didn't say much other than her name, and her paladinship. Oh, and to leave her be whilst meditating. 

After that, we get goin' quick-like. No sense sticking that close to the caravan; even if they'd won we'd just be swooped up and chained right together again... Not to mention that I'd be down even more lockpicks than I already am! 

So we walk for a couple hours with a little bit of not-so-friendly banter before she just gets this look and starts gallopin' deeper in! I ran after her, easily catching up. I tried asking her what the Hay she was doin', but she just kept runnin'! Eventually, she slows down near this cave before stoppin' right in front of it. She was panting slightly, while I hadn't even had to break a sweat! She catches her breath before givin' me some cryptic story about some prophecy including a crystal tree, Tirek, and some 'Demon Hunter' or sommat. Then she gets all high and mighty and orders me to go in first! 

I started to give this whole stink about it, which of course ended in us fighting for the umpteenth time. Finally, I cave and get in the... Cave. I step in and start to get snappy before I noticed the crystal tree... And the wingless dragon. I kinda thought he was a demon and mighta tried to stab him. Turns out, he's the forgiving type, (he's still really bucking scary though.) 

Then the timberwolves came back. One of 'em jumped on in and pounced on Solaria, (as I learned the paladin's name was.) The wooden beast must've put too much power into it though, 'cause he rolled past her and smashed into John, (the dragon.) It didn't hurt him any, but it did make him break the... Thing he had in his claw. Then he got real mad and shouted at the thing as it ran. And THEN he got all whup-plot on the timberwolves! His claws were on fire, literally! Of course, he got that headache that unicorns tend to get when the use their fancy magic too much, but it was AWESOME! ...I really hope he isn't some monster who's just leading us on, I don't think we could even scratch him.

Which leads us to the here and now, with Scales sitting against a cave wall checking on that black thing of his and my would-be Celly checking that fancy, (and apparently holy,) crystal tree out almost like Soft Word does to his, ahh, clients. And me? I'm still keepin' a lookout in case more timberwolves come back. Yawn. "And why're we still here?" I ask to nopony-Ahh, No one in particular. 

Solly turns her head to just give me a 'Shut Up You Infidel' look before snorting and turning to her tree. Scales grunts. "Simple; I need to make certain that this device of mine still works, and we need to wait for Sol to figure out that we need to move before the timberwolves come back." He gives what I think is an annoyed glare, but for all I know of draconic faces it could be an 'I'm Hungry' look. 

Sol, (hey, it's a good nickname, why not?) turns back to him with a 'Be Silent Infidel' look on her face. "Mine name, wyrm, is Solaria Dawnhammer of the Ember Seekers Order of paladins! Kindly call me by mine name!"

Scales rolls his eyes... Or at least I think he does? Solid-colored eyes are kinda hard to read. Anyway, he shuts his thin black box and looks at her square in the face. "And why should I care? The only thing I paid attention to throughout your little outburst was that I am apparently not a demon anymo-" Suddenly, he gets hit in the face with a Holy spell! (Heck if I know which one, I'm an Illusionist not a cleric!) ...That did absolutely nothing. 

He grunts. "Again? That didn't work last time. Although I won't stop you from trying again if you must, I do quite enjoy the warmth that particular spell gives." He opens the box again, this time hitting what seems to be a silent switch on the side to my... Well-trained eyes. A dim light emits from it, causing Scales to frown again. I wonder what that thing is... But do I really want to risk pissing him off? Not really, no... But I still want to know what that thing is damnit!


(\PoV: John/)


Huh, so the thing was turned off? Well, that's the only time I've ever seen the filling battery on this table-puter-thing, so that's what I'm going with. I hit and hold the button this time, still being gentle as so to not pop the glass screen out. Thankfully the crack seems superficial, though like with most touchscreen devices said feature likely won't work. It won't bother me too much, I wasn't going to even remotely think about using that feature until I made sure that I wouldn't just cut right through the screen. 

Anyhow, it quickly turns on and shows the standard RCA logo... Which unfortunately has a plain-and bright-white background encompassing the entire screen. I wince, but bear through it. Soon enough, it simply switches to the name of the tablet's model, (Viking Pro, if anyone at home is curious,) and is once again back to a black background as it loads up. I hear the clip-clop of hooves coming closer to me and look over the top of it to see Night coming closer with a curious look on her face. 

Of course, Night notices me noticing her and she stops midstep with what I think is an apprehensive look. "Ah, I..." She glances at the table-puter-thing. I roll my eyes, of course she's curious about it.

"It's more or less a high-tech journal now with the screen cracked." She seems a bit startled at my sudden answer to her unspoken question, but shakes her head.

"R-right. I, ah, was just a bit curious as to what it was, that's all," She says before going to the cave's entrance. Huh. Guess she's still a bit scared of me. Oh well, can't expect such things to just up and go away now, can I? 

The next few minutes after that are pretty boring. Sol's still ingraining the Tree in her memory, Night's stopped watching the entrance and started trying to bend her other sword back into shape, (with shocking success, though earth pony strength probably helps.) I, on the other hand-should I get used to saying claw instead? Bah, it doesn't matter. I've been carefully typing out a journal entry on Word. I figure that I may as well do something, and keeping a log of the adventure sounds like a good idea. What, you lot want to see? Too bad! It's a journal, I'm pretty sure there'll be a dramatic and heartfelt moment where it'll be read sometime in the future, but for now? No journal entry for you!

It's been about twenty minutes since then, and still nothing. I'm pretty sure Sol's looking for a keepsake now, and Night's almost got her sword straight again. I wrapped up the Adventure Log's first entry, that too. I shut the tablet off and simply have it in my left claw for now. I swear, if Sol doesn't hurry up... Actually, I don't think I'd do anything but act threatning at most. I mean, yeah I'm a deathclaw, but I'm still a good-aligned person. Unlike that god-damned Scar Artist from Shadow of Mordor, he and his OP-unless-stealth-killed traits can burn for all I care for him! Wait...

I start to take a good look at the Tree of Harmony. It almost seems to be glowing, but... Oh. Oh SHIT it's getting brighter! I quickly close my eyes and turn my head away from the Tree. Not sure about Sol, but Night let's out a surprised shout so I think she didn't notice in time. After the flash, a shining, ocean blue bicorn is standing just in front of the tree right next to Sol. (In case you didn't know, a bicorn is an alicorn-sized pony with two horns and two pairs of wings.) The bicorn also has a rainbow-colored mane and teal eyes, but that's not really important right now.

"WOO! Main quest time!"

"I wouldn't be too excited, Dreadscale, this isn't a game."

Can it! Either way, I need to pay attention to this! "Greetings. Sadly, our time is short, and I cannot speak long. I am the Aspect of Harmony, and I require your assistance."

Sol, of course, has prostrated herself to the Aspect. "Thy wish is our command, Goddess."

Night, on the other claw, (that's actually fun to say!) has a different reaction. "Wait, she's-but-that-I-Uh..." In case you're wondering, yes, she did do cartoonesque motions. Before bowing herself, that is. "Uh, yeah, what the paladin said, hehe..." 

I, on the other claw, nod my head. "Alright then, what needs doing ma'm?" After all, this is a being of great power, it's usually a good idea to show a level of respect to them. 

The aspect nods."This world is in grave peril, and my original chosen have forsaken their old paths for darkness. I leave it to you three to return this world back to Harmony before the dreaded lords of Entropy take their hold. Travel first to the northwest, you shall find there a village. Take heed, however, as the pestilent lord has plans to darken their hearts." 

She winces, then looks back to each of us. "I must leave, but before I do so I shall give you three gifts."

A rolled-up piece of parchment is first. "This map shall always show the locations of you and those aligned with you, and will also tell you if they have deceased." She gives the map to Nightshade, who somewhat-awestrikenly accepts it and puts it into some hidden pocket in her cloak.

The second gift again appears out of thin air, and is-HEY! THAT'S MY BIBLE! I'D RECOGNIZE THAT CAMO CASE ANYWHERE! "This is the holy book of a true human religion, the wisdom found within should surely aid in your travels... I am most certain that your draconic aquaintence would agree with me." I nod tersely as the aspect gives MY Bible to Solaria, who holds it reverently in her magic before slipping it into a gap in her armor and bowing in thanks, (though not before throwing me a curious glance.)

Finally, the Aspect turns to me. "I apologize that I have no material gift to give you, but I can give you that which many of your kin in this world have; flight!" No,she isn't-Oh COME ON!

Or at least that's all I'm able to think before I'm grabbed in a rainbow light and my world is filled with pain, in particular on my back. Mercifully, I black out...