//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: What could possibly go wrong? (slightly polished)) // Story: A tale of Dragonborn and colorful ponies // by Branden Hew Troy //------------------------------// -EDIT- I polished this chapter a bit, added a few details and what not. I didn't change any major details so it doesn't have to be re-read if you read this chapter when I first uploaded it. Be sure to tell me if you spot any mistakes, Chapter 2 will be out shortly and will be 3000-4000 words. Feel free to make any suggestions or constructive criticism on the story or writing style. I took in a deep breath as I looked upon the vast mountains and tundra of Skyrim before me, The Mountain I was on was no High Hrothgar, but had a beautiful view. My name is Skoruligr Ulfrsson, but most call me Dragonborn. I am a man of Nordic decent, Tall, Large frame, Very muscular; I have long crimson hair that parts down the middle and goes down to my shoulders, Full beard of matching color, and ever-present sky blue war paint on my face. I am a Dovahkiin, or Dragonborn, this means I was blessed by Akatosh with the blood and soul of a dragon. The main perk to being Dovahkiin is that the draconic language comes naturally to me; within the Dragon Tongue are words of power that can be formed into a powerful “Shout”. However this requires a complete understanding of the true meaning of the words used, But as Dragonborn when I kill a dragon I absorb their soul and their knowledge of the words from said soul. “Are you sure this will work? J’zargo is not confidant this is a good idea” J’zargo said with uncharacteristic lack of confidence. Great. He was the LAST one I expected that from. J’zargo is a khajiit with grey fur and eyes, and wore full ebony armor I smithed except for the shrouded cowl I got when I cleared out the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary. I met him at the college of Winterhold when he was an apprentice, and he agreed to be my follower after I nearly got blown to bits for an experiment of his. He can be arrogant at times, and is constantly making reckless decisions to show off, but is very talented in the arcane, especially the destruction school of magic. Maybe I should fill you in on what exactly we were doing. I learned all the shouts I could, yep, ALL of them. So I thought maybe I could create one of my own. I thought for weeks as to what exactly it was going to be used for, until my thoughts turned to Sovengarde, when my “business” was finished there I remember how Tsun sent me back to Nirn with his Thu’um (Thu’um is draconic for voice, “Shouts” use the Thu’um). Perhaps I could create a Shout that could take me places? Maybe even my companions as well? It’s been a good two months since I started developing that Shout, and I was confidant I had it down this time . “J’zargo! Of course it will work, when have you ever had reason to doubt me? Are you being… chicken?” “J’zargo is in no way chicken, he just thinks that you might not have thought this though all the way!” “Tsk Tsk J’zargo… I always think EVERYTHING all the way!” “For what reason do I have to be here anyways? To be your test subject? To see if two and be transported? I Protest! I refuse to en-” “gut…GOL LEIN!” !” I shouted and my Thu'um whent forth in a azure wave. It hit the ground 10 feet from us, producing a 7 foot tall 5 foot wide black ovule with an azure outline. I smirked at the astonished khajiit as he stared at the blue and black orb-shaped portal that stood before him. “We can go through at the same time if it would make you feel better, and it should only take us to the opposing ledge 500 yards from here.” I said. “No.” J’zargo replied flatly. “C’mon, don’t be a milk-drinker about it” I taunted. “J’zargo is no fool, or a milk-drinker. He refuses to enter the portal, why are we experimenting this on a mountain anyways? If you got the range wrong we could fall to our deaths!” “Because we are already on the mountain and I don’t want to wait to climb down it before trying this.” “Enough of this foolishness, J’zargo is returning to the colla-“ “FUS!” As J’zargo stumbled backwards from the force of my Thu’um, I grabbed him by his hood and pulled him towards the portal, letting go before he and I actually went through. Momentum did it’s job as he stumbled into the blue and black portal. “Well now that that is done…” I said shortly before closing my eyes and diving right though the portal myself and reuniting myself with my feline-humanoid companion. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THUD I opened my eyes to see I landed right on J’zargo, Which couldn’t have been pleasant considering my choice of armour, a full set of heavy steel platemail. I lifted myself off my spell-flinging cat companion and took a look at my surroundings. “See? What do you know! We have arrived safely on the opposing ledge! Oh wait we are in the middle of a forest… huh, guess the new shout didn’t go completely according to plan after all.” At that point J’zargo realized I threw him though a portal in to a strange land neither of us recognized. Have you ever been electrocuted? Don’t try it, it isn’t fun. The surrounding forest was very dense with foliage, and trees with thick trunks and canopies that let very little light in. All of the flora seemed to be dark and saturated in color and you could hear constant noises from whatever fauna was nearby. After recovering from my muscle spasms I was the first to break the silence. “So, wanna explore?” “Yes, let us find where we are and get back to Skyrim. After that J’zargo will burn down your house.” J’zargo then climbed a tree to see if he could see anything, and saw nothing in particular except a distant field. We began walking in the direction of the field J’zargo saw and continued for a couple hours before we started hearing the occasional light rustling of leaves or seeing the shadow of something large dart by in the corner of our eyes. “I smell a predator, We are being stalked.” J’zargo said scanning his surroundings. “No, really?’ I said as I pointed towards a huge orange cat behind us even bigger than the sabertoothes back home. It had a red mane, large paws, bat-like wings and an odd tail covered in an exoskeleton that ended a stinger. The creature roared at us and J’zargo readied the firebolt spell as I unsheathed my Skyforge steel longsword and took my Shield of Ysgramor off my back and took hold of it’s grip. The creature lunged right at me and J’zargo hit it in left ribs while it was in mid-air with a firebolt. When it landed in front of me it faltered because of the second-degree burns on it’s side so I took that chance to slash it across it’s face with my sword leaving a long, deep cut down it’s snout. It recoiled back for a split-second before coming right back at me with it’s stinger which I blocked with my shield. With my shield already raised I was able to retaliate immediately with a shield bash to it’s nose which was followed by another one of J’zargo’s firebolts, this time hitting it in the left eye, It was dazed and roaring in pain so I used it’s moment of venerability to maneuver to it’s right flank and with a swing I put all my weight and strength into I severed it’s right foreleg right under the knee joint. That lowered the beast’s head enough that I was able to grab on to it’s mane and hop unto the back of it’s neck, I then plunged my sword into the base of it’s skull, severing it’s brain stem and killing it instantly as it immediately ceased all movement and fell down into a unmoving lump on the ground. I hopped down and examined the unfamiliar and unidentified beast. “By the Twin Moons! What was that thing, it looks like a failed experiment.” J’zargo said. There was a moment of silence as we both took a minute to sit down and rest . “I don’t know what that thing was, but we should get going though, we need to get out of the forest as quick as possible before nightfall.” I advised. “Yes, hopefully out of this forest and into someplace with warm beds.” J’zargo said before we continued our walk toward the field. After that point it was only an hour long walk that was rather uneventful, before we broke out of the tree line and into an open field. Once we were in the field we could see a village. It was a fair sized village, full of thatched-roofed buildings usually with overhanging second floors. In the middle we saw what appeared to be a tower-like town hall with a large encircling porch. “That architecture, I think we may in in Cyrodiil!” I said with excitement, if we were indeed in Cyrodiil that meant my new shout could instantly travel me and a follower across entire Provinces. “Cyrodiil? Let us hope they have a good tavern.” J’zargo said with both relief of finding civilization, and frustration of being so far from Skyrim. It was about 4pm and we could hear the townsfolk going about their business. It took us half an hour to reach the town. And as we reached the top of a hill at the edge of the town… We got a good look at it’s inhabitants -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a normal day for Twilight Sparkle; The sun was shining, the sky was clear and a beautiful azure. She had been studying all day and decided to walk around town to stretch her legs and get a breath of fresh air, and maybe get a bite to eat. She then passed by Applejack’s stand and decided she could go for a apple pie. “ Hey AJ!” she said as she approached the stand. “ Howdy Twi! Could you go for some apples?” Applejack replied. “Why yes, an apple pie please!” Twilight said as she placed a few bits on the stand counter. “Sure thing partner, commin’ right u-“ Applejack stopped mid-sentence. Her jaw nearly hit the floor and her eyes became wide as saucers. She pointed to something behind Twilight with her. When Twilight turned around she saw two bipedal creatures on top of a hill. They both stood upright with two legs and two arms a little shorter than their legs. One was about 5 feet and 9 inches tall looked like it had the hooded head of a grey cat and wore armor that appeared to have been forged out of the midnight sky, The other one was about 6 feet and 3 inches tall and had much larger frame and heavy steel armour. She couldn’t make out it’s face because it was covered in steel platemail from head-to-toe, however she could make out the large splash of blood splattered on it’s chest from the battle with the manticore… “RUN!” End of Chapter 1. Hey guys this is my first fanfic, I hope you liked it! Be sure to comment if you have any constructive criticism. I worry I might of made things go a little too fast, so if you think so be sure to tell me. Also I’d like to know what you thought of the 1st person POV most of this chapter used, Did you like it? Or would you rather I not use it. -Branden Hew Troy