//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The Marsh // Story: The Elder Scrolls: Equestria // by Talvox //------------------------------// Chapter 1: The Marsh Plenty of Equestria’s heroes come from the most unlikely of places. Us Thestrals live in the black Marsh. We live here because nopony else can. Although, several hundred years ago, the Zebras had been using as slaves. The explosion of Red Mountain sure in Oblivion changed that, but, still some of us Thestrals can’t help keeping the bitterness out of our voices when we speak of or speak to Zebras. I may have heard stories of them enslaving us, but I didn’t care much. Whatever the Zebras did in the past didn’t much bother me now. But I didn’t write this to tell you how many bucks I gave to Zebras. * * * * Thestrals had adapted to the marsh; we no longer had coats of fur, but we had scaly skin. Back before Equestria had co-existed in harmony, the Thestrals had coats of fur. But life in the Black Marsh had given us scaly skin, to help fight off wild woodland creatures and also to protect us further from poison and disease that were all too present in the Marsh. We no longer had manes, and our tails had become lizard-like. Our wings too became scaly, resembling those of a dragon’s, albeit a small dragon. Instead of a mane we had horns that all grew up in different patterns. It was all different, there was no two Thestrals that had the same style of horns on their head. But even if we no longer had coats, we still had Cutie Marks. Mine was of a White Wisp. I don’t even know what it means, much less how I got it in the first place. But I can tell you how it appeared. It popped up after I saved this drowning mare from the marsh, and there were a few other Thestrals just standing there, watching her drown. I had been walking through the woods around my village. I remember asking why nopony was going to help her, and when nopony would go save her, I went ahead, and pulled her out of the Marsh’s unforgiving swamp, and saved her life. Everypony gasped when I returned back to the small crowd of Thestrals who watched, letting her die. They all gasped, and one of them pointed to my flanks. I turned to see that I had my Cutie Mark. My Cutie Mark was the White Wisp, the one that starts the Elder Scroll’s damned prophecy. Everypony acted as if I shouldn’t have been able to save that drowning mare. After the mare thanked me, albeit shakily, she returned to her cottage, and the Village council called me in. They told me that when I turned 19, In 11 year’s time, that I would be exiled. I didn’t understand it then, and I barely understand it now. I lived alone, by myself in my cottage. My parents had left me when I had turned 10 years old, just 2 years after I had gotten my Cutie Mark. I eventually accepted the fact that I would be exiled in 9 years, and then began sword training. I became very talented at using swords. I could beat most anypony in a duel, although it didn’t happen much. It became second nature to me, that whenever a new pony was in the village that I challenge them to a sword duel. Most of them declined, but a few had accepted, and I won those duels, although a few were narrow wins. A lot of them had refused to fight a 13 year old colt in a duel, believing they would have a major advantage, because of my age. The ponies who were skeptical that I could even hold a sword and had accepted had been promptly surprised. As a Thestral, I have an advantage in combat. We have wings, which can be used in a variety of ways, and Thestrals have natural armor because of our scales. That makes us a little tougher in a fight, and can sometimes make a difference between life and death. I was almost 19 years old, and would be turning 19 in a few hours time. A fair portion of my 11 years before I turned 19 had been wondering where I would go, and what I would do when I turned 19. Now my time was just spent preparing for my exile. Even if I was a skilled swordspony, I had never killed anypony, and the prospect of taking somepony’s life was daunting. But I was prepared, nonetheless to take a life should anypony try to take mine. The Marsh was a harsh environment to live in, and even sometimes the Thestrals that had called it home didn’t make it through alive completely. My saddlebags were almost fully packed, and they had been for almost a month now. I carried with me in my saddlebags unlit torches, a whetstone to sharpen my sword, some healing potions, a couple stamina potions, and a week’s worth of fruit and meat. I also carried with me several water pouches. Water and food would be essential in the Marsh. Hopefully I’d be able to hunt some rabbits, or gather berries off in the Marsh, but it’s doubtful. Hopefully I’d be able to find food in other towns or something. A hoof knocked softly on the door and I jumped, my ears perking up in alarm. I had been staring into the mirror in front of me, contemplating my appearance. My blue scales reflected the small amount of light in my cottage, my gray eyes glinting slightly. The hoof knocked on my door again, and a voice called, saying “Terra Soul, it is time you leave.” It was the village elder, Candle Light. “I thought I could at least wait to get some sleep. I’ll set off in 8 hours after I’ve slept,” I said. In 8 hours was nightfall. Most Thestrals are nocturnal, and because of it we have excellent night-vision. “I suppose that’s acceptable. I will leave you to your rest then,” Candle Light replied, and then he trotted off. I needed sleep and travelling in the day wouldn’t be too fun. * * * * I awoke suddenly. My ears perked up, and in the no longer silent air, I could hear ponies screaming, and more worryingly, the sound of fire crackling, and collapsing cottages. I jumped out of bed, and onto my hooves. I grabbed my saddlebags and pulled them over my flanks, and then pulled my sword out of its scabbard (Which was attached to my saddlebags.) and hurried over to my cottage’s door, rust-resistant steel sword in mouth, and tried to push the door open with one of my forehooves. The door didn’t budge. I growled in frustration, and turned around, my dragon-esque wings spread to help me keep my balance while I tried to buck the door open with my hind legs. I bucked once - Thump! I bucked twice - a small splintering noise. I bucked a third time, but still the door held. I retracted my wings and turned to face the door again. I figured since I wouldn’t be here after whatever in Oblivion was going had stopped, so I slashed at the door with my sword. In a flurry of sharp steel, I made an X in the door with my sword. I turned around again and spread my wings again to help balance, and bucked at the door for a fourth time. CRASH! The door flew apart, my sword having weakened it enough. A pony had died against my door, and he was no pixie. He had green scales, had a Cutie Mark of a Hist tree. One of his wings was partially ripped off and had shockingly crimson blood flowing from his wounds. He had been covered in wood splinters when I had bucked the door open. My stomach gave a lurch. I recognized this pony. He tended the Hist trees we had near our village. Luna knows what my stomach might do if I recognized a pony by name. I steeled myself and swallowed back bile. My ears had flattened in fear, and the rest of me agreed with my ears. I had never seen something like this done to anypony in my life. I stepped closer, and upon further examination, the Thestral had one eye cut open and bleeding freely; he had an ear completely severed and his head was soaked in blood. I managed to tell my stomach to obey, and then I spread my wings and flapped, which sent me upward slowly. I hovered about 3 feet above the ground, the well practiced muscles in my back telling my wings to keep me aloft. Even if I could manage not to throw up by looking at the disfigured pony, the same might not hold true if Itouchedthe dead pony. I tilted my wings forwards slightly, and I began to move forward across the ground, my wings holding me aloft and sending me forwards at the same time. * * * * Outside my cottage was a hellish nightmare. The village was swathed in a green light, and my only home was being burned to the ground by some damned monster. I found the thing easily. It had the shape of an Earth pony, but that’s where any similarity to any inhabitants of Equestria stopped. It was about 8 feet tall - easily more tall than any of us or our cottages - and its body was constantly changing. Beneath the shifting mass that was its body, I could see holes into the inside of it, where a green inferno was blazing. Its rocky “skin” was constantly moving around, giving the effect of a walking toxic volcano. My wings had stopped working and an audible scream escaped my scaly muzzle. I dropped to the ground and onto my haunches. When I had screamed, I had dropped my sword. I regained control of my body, and I picked my sword up, filled with a sudden burning desire to take this bucker down. I bent my hind and forelegs, and then sprang up, spreading my wings as I did so. At the apex of my jump I spread my wings and began flapping, and I flew upwards. The inferno rock monster was twice my height, but my wings could help even the odds out. I was also smaller and a lot more agile. Even if this monster was stronger, my agility would hard-press the thing to score a blow. I rose up about 6 feet and sped off towards the inferno monster, my wings tilted as to keep me aloft with each beat, but angled enough to where I could speed forwards. The monster had no eyes, but instead had empty sockets that seemed to be leaking what was green lava, like some sick imitation of crying. I was approaching the monster quickly, my wings covering the distance that would take a land bound pony at least double my time. I dived underneath the thing, my head tilting sideways and sword blade pointed up. I flew on, cutting what must have been a deep gash in the bottom of the monster. I flew out from underneath it and turned around to see what my sword had done. I was right about cutting a deep gash on the monster’s underbelly. The green lava that I had seen leaking from its eyes was now leaking out of the wound I had made. That had certainly gotten its attention. The monster didn’t turn around to face me. Its entire body shifted and had reversed movement so abruptly and quickly that it made me a bit surprised and wary. I flew back towards the monster, figuring it would expect another attack at its underbelly. Instead of attacking its underbelly, I soared upwards, and then dived towards its back, and jabbed my sword into what should’ve been its spinal cord. I pulled the sword along the things “spine,” using my wings to help me cut its back open. I pulled it back out and flew upwards again to avoid its firebreath. It had nearly scorched me when I went to attack its back. I swerved in mid-air, now facing the monster instead of the night sky. I dived towards the ground, pulling my wings in, so as to give me as little wind resistance as possible. Just before I hit the ground, I spread my wings and I shot forward, sword aimed to my right. I slowed down just a moment, then sliced through monster's left foreleg, cutting it off. I pulled up and I was now back flying above the monster. I dived one last time, sword now aimed for the monster’s skull. I tilted my head sideways, my right eye pointed so as to see where I was aiming, and my left eye closed. It wouldn’t do much good here. I drove my sword in its head up to the hilt. The monster shuddered, and collapsed completely, my sword still buried inside it. I had let go of my sword temporarily; the force of me driving the sword into the monster’s skull had jarred mine. I floated there, temporarily dumbstruck in what I had done. I dropped to the ground and galloped over to where my sword was stuck in the monster. I grasped it with my teeth, and pulled it out. The fight over, I flipped the sword in my mouth with expertise, and put it back in my scabbard. All around me, the town was in shambles. I had managed to stop the monster fromcompletely destroying the down, but it had still managed to cause some serious damage. The fires were still going, so I grabbed a nearby bucket in my mouth, and flew up, trying to find a nearby source of water to help put the fire out. I spotted a nearby swamp, about 3 minutes trot from my village, and began flying towards it, my wings angled so as to propel me swiftly in the air. Because it wasn’t very far away, I was easily able to fly back and forth with water buckets. Eventually everypony had stopped panicking and began to help put out the fires like I was doing. Luckily, the strange flame seemed to give way to water, and eventually the flames died out. After the fire had been put out, everypony had begun to gather around the monster that I had killed. “Who killed it?” I heard somepony ask. A brave colt escaped his mother’s firm grasp on him and touched the dead monster hesitantly. “I think it died,” he said knowledgeably to the crowd. Then his mother wrapped one of her forelegs around his middle and then dragged him back into the crowd. Candle Light, the village elder stepped forward, and asked, “Does anypony know who killed this Hellspawn?” So thats what they were called. One stallion shakily raised a forehoof and said, “I think Terra Soul killed it.” My ears perked up. “Terra Soul, please step forward,” Candle Light asked, though it was really more of a command. The crowd parted near me, and I nervously trotted forwards. When I had reached him, he said, “Terra Soul, you are endangering this village and its people. I’m sorry, but you are now officially an exile.” My heart sank. Some part of me had hoped that because I killed the monster, that I would be able to stay, at least for a little longer. That hope was dashed when I was called forward. “Alright,” I began, but then somepony said, “He was the only one that managed to actually kill the thing! I saw somepony else try but the damned monster incinerated him!” “Are you forgetting that he started this goddess-dammed Scroll’s prophecy!” Candle Light shooting down his argument with apparent ease. “And if he leaves, we won’t be attacked anymore!” “I’M. LEAVING.” I had resigned to the worst, and expected leaving. I trotted out of the crowd of angry mares and stallions. After I escaped the crowd of angry mares and stallions, I sat down in a secluded corner of the village that hadn’t been completely destroyed yet. I started looking through my saddlebags. My food had escaped harm, but a few of my healing and stamina potions had smashed during the fight. “Dammit,” I muttered. I might be able to brew a few more, but there wasn’t any alchemists that I knew nearby, and the ingredients would be sparse in the Marsh. I trotted out of the town, my hooves clopping softly on the dirt road. * * * * I had been travelling for almost three hours, when I saw campfire. It was nearly midnight, and the moon almost hung over me. I had been travelling without light, because as a Thestral I could see excellently in the dark. The campfire was about 60 yards away. Figuring I would be killed if I just up and walked into the camp, I silently spread my wings. Here is where we Thestrals differ from Pegasi: our wings are silent, like an owl’s. I floated upwards slowly, and quietly flapping my wings so as to not alert the group of ponies by the campfire, I rose slowly, until I was above the Marsh’s abundant trees. I slowly flew over the trees, my wings flapping silently, to near the clearing where the campfire was lit. I floated down slowly, until I was using a branch to support my weight instead of my wings. Now silently perched, I peered over the leaves and branches, onto what looked over a camp of what appeared to be Earth Ponies. I could tell that these particular Earth Ponies were Nordic, by the way their body was built. Muscular, tall and lean. But what were the denizens of Skyrim doing all the down here in the Black Marsh? They were roasting some fruit on a spit, which was a surefire way to attract animals of the Marsh, but none came. There were 3 ponies down in the camp. They were all wearing fur armor, and had Iron swords that would rust rather quickly in the Marsh. “So, Iron Shield, remind me what we’re doing out here in the Marsh again?” one of the ponies asked. I was quite wondering what they were doing out here as well. I listened intently, my ears perked up so as to get as much sound as possible. “I’ve told you this already,” replied the pony who must be Iron Shield. “We’re here to capture some goddess-damned Thestral that has the Cutie Mark of a White Wisp.” My heart skipped a beat. They were here to capture me? “And then we’re going to bring him to Elsweyr and let the Diamond Dogs deal with him,” Iron Shield finished. I wondered why in Oblivion anypony would want to me in Elsweyr. A small part of me wanted to fly ahead and ignore the group of Nordic Ponies, but a larger part of me wanted to stop them in their tracks and keep them from causing further harm to my village, which they would probably visit and torture everypony until they came out with an answer. I chose the latter. I jumped from the tree and dropped right into the middle of the camp. Skills Increased: Bladed Weapons increased from 28 to 31. Flying increased from 25 to 27. Sneak increased from 20 to 21. Level Up: New Perk: Bladed Weapons Expertise Level One: Your attacks with bladed weapons do 15% more damage.