//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 - The All Knowing Mage // Story: The Dragonborn Chronicles: Part 1 - Ponies in Skyrim // by Barix123 //------------------------------// The All Knowing Mage It was the next day that Barix was able to set out for the college. Twilight had gotten up early in anticipation, she had already gotten her things ready as well as putting on her robes. They were expertly fitted around her, attached around her neck and over her back. There was enough to cover her body but not enough to where she could trip on the ends. After Barix had gathered his normal dragon style gear they both set off. Considering the time constraints Barix summons Arvak and Shadowmare, his loyal steeds, and hooks them up to his cart so they can pull it. It wasn't long before Twilight began her questioning. “Sooo…nice weather.” “Just spit it out. What do you want to say?” “Well that's the thing I don't know where to start. There's so much I wanted to ask.” “Start with the biggest then work down.” “Ok, your dragon shout. Why won't you teach me that type of magic?” “Because I can't.” “Then explain why others have learned that magic like the Grey Beards and another person called Stormcloak.” “…Alright, you got me. I don't want to train you.” "What? But why?" “Because it would take too long. The training required for someone who isn't the dragonborn would take a life time to learn. The grey beards have spent their entire lives sheltered just to learn it. And that one guy only studied it long enough to learn one shout. It will take a life time to teach even if you are magically adept. In short I don't want to waste your life learning a skill you might not use.” “I guess it’s only natural that you don't know but I am an alicorn. As such I can live forever. That and I don't mind learning something new, not only that but it's very hard for me to get bored.” “Is that so? Well, whether it is true or not I have no choice but to believe you. If you really want to learn the way of the voice…I will teach you.” Twilight's face lit up like a defeated flame atronach. “But first what else did you have to talk about.” “Oh right,” She quickly calmed herself down, “Going over what my friends have said and the research into this world I've noticed you tend to be involved in, how should I put this…in mixed loyalties to each organization you crossed paths with.” “I see what you mean. But yes, I guess I do. It's not that I have mixed loyalties but I just have mixed views on the world. Take the Legion for example. You say you've talked to your friends so you know about me and the general. I do hold true to the Legion, it is the only thing keeping the Dominion out of Skyrim. That said I will encourage others to keep their own beliefs, as long as they keep it a secret. For the most part, the Legion is right in what they do, the people of Skyrim are just too ignorant and proud to really know or care. That's where I come in. Does that answer your question?” “I believe so. I assume you use the same logic and understanding for every group you've been in, which would make sense for almost everything.” “When you said you talked to your friends...what did Applejack and Rainbow say about me?” “I don't know what you mea-OH. You don't have to worry Barix, they did tell us that things happened between you but nothing else was said. If you want to let us know something you will tell us. We have no reason to suspect you of being a bad human.” “That's good to hear.” Barix felt a weight lift off his shoulders. “He wasn't ready for all of them to find out just yet. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?” “Just one...it's a little scary to think about but...what if I don't find what I'm looking for?” “Then I have one more lead we can try. Just pray I doesn't come to that. For now let's get your mind off that and begin your training.” “I'd like that. Where do we begin?” “What does Thuum'm mean to you...” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was the end of the day when the two travelers ended up in Winterhold. Barix stood at the front entrance to the college with Twilight at his side. “What do you think?” “Eh, the magic school I went to was bigger.” “...Just follow me.” “Wait! It's still impressive.” Twilight yells as Barix walks ahead in angry annoyance. Barix shows Twilight the library and the spare bedrooms for new novice mages in learning. After a quick talk about not staying up too late, Barix heads up to the arch mages quarters. Seems they haven't found a new arch mage yet. As he took off his armor Barix thought how much he would miss the six ponies that saved his life. It was normally hot in the arch mages quarters so Barix does his normal routine of stripping down to nothing and goes to bed. That was the easy part, getting up in the morning was a different story. Twilight comes busting in screaming her head off. “BARIX! BARIX GET UP! WHERE ARE YOU!?! There you are, GET UP! Twilight grabs the sheet in her mouth and rips it off the bed to see a very particular object poke up near her head. Once she realized what it was, her face grew a deep red. Before she could think of what to do next she found herself in a choke hold. “DIE INTRUDER DI-Twilight? What are you doing here?” “Breathing...breathing...,” Her voice got weak as she talked. Barix finally let go, pushing her off the bed and pulling it up so they can't see each other. Twilight was still cough a little from the hold. “Mind telling me what you're doing up here,” he looks towards the nearest window, “and so early at that?” (cough) “First, what is that mark on your flank?” “My what?” “Your rear end.” “Its...we'll talk about it later. What's the real reason you came up here?’ “Oh yeah, I've found out what we need to do to go back home!” “Really?” Barix put the bed down and had cloths on, “How?” “It took several books but I found the ones with the instructions we need. Twilight says as she uses her magic to push a couple books in front of the dragonborn. All we need to do is find 7 different things called Daedric Artifacts and 7 Dragon Claws. Once aligned properly it will allow us to go back home! So how hard do you think it would be to gather these artifacts?” “......Pretty fucking hard considering both types of items are scattered throughout Skyrim. The claws are almost all in underground tombs while we have to go to daedra's for their own specially crafted items! Just on your basic knowledge of my world how long do you think it would take to gather what you need?” “A few weeks?” The lavender mare was hesitant to answer. “TRY A FEW YEARS IF YOU'RE LUCKY!” Barix drops to the floor, already exhausted for what's to come. “How am I going to pull this off?” “However you do it,” Twilight walks close to Barix, “you don't have to do it alone.” She offered him a friendly smile and he replied back with a smile that had some sadness. “But can we start in the morning? I'm tired.” In the morning, or rather mid-day, they met in the local tavern to discuss the plans over some drinks. Barix being the only one that was drinking. “Should you be drinking this early in the day?” “Yes. Just tell me about the spell.” “Ok, it works like this,” Twilight opens the book up to the page with a picture of the spell along with it, "the symbol of the spell is the same as we did it back in Equestria, that's not the problem. It's the magical energies in this world that makes a big difference. All or most of the magical gates seem to be closed. That's where the dragon claws come in, we will need those to open the gate back home. “Makes sense, even here they are used as keys to open doors. What about the artifacts?” “The magical stability here is also questionable. The artifacts will act as a stabilizer so we all make it back home and in one piece.” “Ok, so we have to find seven of the rarest keys known to civilization and seven very powerful Daedric Artifacts in time to get you home as soon as possible. How hard can it be?” “As much as I'd like to get home soon there's no real time limit, we're not going to die or anything. Plus you already have two artifacts.” “Three including two claws.” “WHAT!” “Besides the two staffs I recently acquired I have the Ring of Hircine.” Barix shows her the ring already on his finger. “It allows the bearer to undergo more transformations to a werewolf, if you were one of course. As for the two claws I have the diamond and sapphire claws. I can get a third easily, it's the golden claw in Riverwood, but it's more trouble to pick it up now than let the owner hold on to it for a while longer.” “So now we just need 4 artifacts and 5 claws. If we look hard enough how long do you think we can gather them?” “If the gods are on our side...a year or two. If not...” “I see.” “No use sitting here feeling sorry for ourselves. Let's get moving. I'll meet you at the cart after I check with the local merchant.” Twilight set in the cart with Shadowmare and Arvak already attached to the cart. She was wrapped in some blankets trying to shield herself from the blizzard. Barix was talking a little longer than she thought so thinking of some way to spend time, the cold mare thought of one thing. “So, Shadowmare, is that your real name?” The black horse in question only turns to see the lavender pony and let out a loud exhale of breath then turns back forward. “Is that so?” Dead pan. “Twilight look!” She does so to see Barix holding a new Dragon Claw. “You found one! Where was it?” “The store owner here had one and wanted to get rid of it badly. Now let's get out of here.” They set off. Twilight starts more of her training, or lack of, would be a better term. “What do you mean that's it?” “If all you get from Thu'um is 'shout' then I can't teach you the next step.” “But it doesn't mean anything else. The translation is shout and that's it.” “The translation yes, but you need to think deeper than just simple language change.” “Fine,” Twilight's shivering had reached a new level, “but I don't know how I can think when I'm this cold.” “Why didn't you say so?” The dragon warrior got up and sat next to the mare. “Here sit on my lap.” She was skeptical on what he was going to do. “You want to get warm right?” Twilight slowly steps onto his lap trying to keep the blanket on her. Once on, Barix moves the blanket over the both of them then wraps his arms around her pulling her close to a tight embrace. Before she could ask what he was doing her whole body began to warm up rapidly. She felt as though Celestia's sun was high in the sky, the warm rays reaching her, making her glow. Soon she felt herself slipping into sleep...only to be woken up violently. “Twilight, we got trouble!” No sooner Barix said that then the cart was flipped over on its side. Both warrior and mage were now exposed to the cold. On closer inspection the cart was broken in half, the two summoned horses dead and disappearing, the snow had stopped but was still on the ground, and two giants were behind them. “Are you ok?” Barix asks. “Yeah I'm fine.” Twilight replies. “Run I'll take care of them.” “I'm not leaving you here with them.” The closer one, with its club in the air, swings it straight down on Barix. As his life flashed before his eyes another flash of lavender light appeared before him. When it faded Twilight was standing over him on her hind legs holding the club in place. She looks back with a face of strain, desperation, and pain. “You can help too you know.” He didn't need anything else said to him. Getting his mind in combat mode he stood up, almost in a blur, and shouts at the top of his lungs. “MUL! QAH! DIIV!” Barix was encased in a mystical set of dragon armor on his whole body. The newly armored warrior ran forward, pushing both of the giant's legs, knocking him to the ground. After a small earthquake the second one steps forward attempting to swing it's club at the warrior. Twilight flew straight up and was attacking it with fire balls. It was enough to knock it off balance and stop it from swinging. Barix pulls out his greatsword as he moves to the giants legs. Slicing both fore legs off it fell to the ground landing it's head on a well placed greatsword by Barix. The victorious dragonborn abandons his weapon for now turning to see a half frozen giant still being blasted by Twilight with blizzard spells. “LISS! SLEN! NUS!” The giant was now completely frozen. Twilight looks to her helper. “Would you like to do the honors?” Barix asks. “I would love to.” Twilight dives for the giant and shutters its head into a thousands of ice pieces with a single hoof. They each took a minute to calm down and gather what was still salvageable. After they began to walk on leaving the battlefield behind. “How did you learn those spells? If I remember correctly, through my painful recovery, I believe you said you don't know any combat spells.” “I did have plenty of time to read and you had several books on different spells. Sorry about your cart though.” “I guess its fine. But those things are expensive. Let's just get home in one piece. Oh before I forget did you always possess strength like a dragon?” “No. It's new like my wings.” “Alicorn?” “Yes. But I wasn't sure I could pull it off.” “Wait, you put yourself in harm’s way for me not knowing for sure you could stop that thing?!” “Umm...yes.” “By the nine.” Barix signed and face palmed. “I need you to tell me about each of your species? It would help with planning and strategy later on. Even keeping you six alive.” “Ok but first can you tell me what that mark was on your flank. I mean your-um…” “I get it, and if you must know it’s a mark I’ve had since I can remember. A dragon claw with flames behind it. I think it has something to do with me being a dragonborn but I’ve never told anyone about it.” “Mind if I take a look at it sometime.” Barix his walking and stares daggers at Twilight who was taken aback especially after what her ‘subject’ was thinking about her. “Not like that! Definitely not like that. Pure scientific.” “…I’ll think about it…let’s keep moving.” In a two days, with a rest stop in Whiterun, they made it to the manor and was greeted by the gang. Lydia was the first to talk to Barix while the six pony talked together. “Anything interesting happen this time?” “Not as much as last time. We need a new cart though.” “Don’t tell me it was the giant’s again.” Barix didn’t need to say anything. “I'll send for a new order. Anything else?” “Yes, give word to any mercenary and merchant you see. I am looking for the dragon claw keys and am willing to pay top coin for any of them. We need them for the spell to get them back home.” “My thane are you sure you want to do this?” “They have a chance to go back home,” Barix turns to see the ponies laughing about something, “you know as well as I do I would give anything to know what my true home is.” “As you wish my thane. I'll spread the word as fast as I can.” “Good that will be your mission. Tomorrow, the rest of us set off for the Daedric Artifacts.”