//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 - Quest for the Dragon Claws // Story: The Dragonborn Chronicles: Part 1 - Ponies in Skyrim // by Barix123 //------------------------------// Chapter 12 - Quest for the Dragon Claws         Chaos was around everyone as multiple draugr, skeletons, and atronachs were around the group of adventurers. It was essentially a small war zone in the middle of an ancient crypt where a red X had been placed. Hope had filled the young hearts of all the pony companions, but ever since they found out what was inside the ancient remains of the nord dungeon, they realized it was a trap set up by the new threat in their lives, White Fang.         The number of enemies were drastically decreasing as time went by. One by one they were picked off as the team worked together to clear out the monsters. It came down to Barix, Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack in the same room, while Rainbow Dash and Pinkie held off in earlier rooms protecting Fluttershy and gathering valuables.         Twilight was facing down a skeleton that was about to fire it’s bow. Barix saw this. Even though Twilight had a spell ward up, he knew it wasn’t going to work against an arrow. Rarity was also about to be struck down by an axe swung by a draugr.         Barix rushed past the draug about to strike Rarity, grabbing the axe and knocking the undead enemy off balance with a loud thud. He stops in front of the arrow heading for Twilight blocking it with his armor. Once he was clear for an opening he throws the axe, aiming at the targets exposed skull. It was a direct hit. The headless skeleton fall to the ground it defeat in it’s re-dead state. He turns to the lavender mare with an angry look, she in turn had one of confusion. “Are you trying to get yourself killed!” His voice boomed. “What do you mean? I had it under control.” Twilight rebutted. “You most certainly did NOT have it under control. Do you know nothing of ward spells?” Twilight snorted. “Of course I do, they protect the caster from harm.” “From other spells yes, but not from physical attacks such as, oh say, AN ARROW AIMED AT YOUR HEAD!” The mare was taken aback from her hero’s tone, maybe even slightly frightened. “I don’t care what you do when you get back to your world but you are not dieing on my watch. Got that?” “B-but the books said th-that-” Barix was quick to cut her off. “Some things you can’t learn from books. Get your head out of them and into the real world. It’s only way you’re going to survive.”         Barix walked out to the next room. Applejack and Rarity walked over  to Twilight, obviously having heard what had just transpired. “Ya’ll alright sugercube?” Applejack soothed. “Yeah I…I just don’t know why he snapped like that.”         AJ and Rarity gave a knowing glance to each other. They might have been ready to tell Twilight what they might know about Barix If Rainbow hadn't come barging in on their moment. “Yeah guy’s look at we found in the other room!” She held in her hoof one of the unmistakable dragon claws. “Actually Pinkie found it.” Fluttershy was drowned out by the sound of the others in awe crowding around the ancient artifact. “Hey where’s Barix?” “Be there in a second!” He shouts from the next room over which was followed by a loud explosion, slightly rocking the tomb itself. “Ok! Lets get moving!” “Oh yeah I forgot to mention this but...it’s night time.” Rainbow laid out the bad news, everyone knew what that meant. “Oh no, I don’t think so. You don’t expect me to sleep in a dirty, dank, and decrepit cave. I would rather sleep outside than in a place this uncouth.” Rarity complained. “Rarity, quit yer fussin. Sometimes you jus got ta deal with what life throws at ya.” Applejack refuted. “I don’t care what you say I’m going outside. I’m sure I can-” “If you're really dead set about going outside at night then why don’t the two of us make our way to the next point on the map.” The group of ponies look to Barix as he makes his way over to them. “I thought you said it was dangerous outside at night?” “It still is, but in this part of Skyrim the threat of vampires, forsworn, werewolves, necromancers, and anything else in relatively low. We can make our way to the next X on the map and have very little chance of something jumping out at us.” He looks to Rarity. “That is if you still want to go?” “Hmph, anything beats sleeping here.” She then comes up with a devilish idea, wanting to test it out right away. “And of course I trust you completely. I know you won’t let anything happen to me.”         As she says the last part she nuzzles up to Barix, who in turn finds it a bit odd but realizes they were ponies. It was just their way of showing affection. Rarity looks to Twilight, taking note her lavender friend was blushing ever so slightly and looking down to the ground. In other words, away from somepony that was showing Barix affection. Applejack also sees that. The two new exactly what to do. “Oooo-oooo-oooo! Can I come two!” Pinkie partly shouted. “No! Uh, I mean no. You need to stay with your friends because...there is strength in numbers and...being new to this world you need all the hands...or hooves, you can get. Besides who’s going to make sure Fluttershy is safe while the others are fighting the monster.” “Oh my gosh you’re right!” The pink runs to Fluttershy’s side faster than realistically possible, holding her friend close. “Don’t you worry Fluttershy, Pinkie will be here to help you.” “Um...thank you Pinkie?” “Alright, with that settled we’ll be on our way. Applejack I trust you can keep your friends safe.” “Ya’ll got nothin ta worry about.” “How exactly will I be sleeping on the trip? I do need my beauty sleep.” “I’ve got that covered.”         The pair walk outside as the group of ponies got to making or finding something to sleep on. There was plenty of fur from armor and sleeping bags from past adventurer's laying around. Although most had to be magically cleaned before they could be touched. Dash was suddenly very thankful Twilight studied her flank off on every type of magic known to pony kind, including water kinesis magic. -------------------------------------------------------------------------         Barix and Rarity walk outside to see a cart being pulled by two undead looking horses. “Arvak. Shadowmare. I didn’t expect to see you two here.” They snorted. “You know, it’s time like this were I wish I could speak to other animals too.” “You and me both. Now let’s get moving.”         In a minute they began moving, at a rather slow pace from Rarity’s request. She was in the back laying in a sleeping bag on top of another one. It was the closest to her own bed as she was going to get, according to her. Barix was sitting in the front coach seat. He was oddly wide awake, which was a good thing. Someone had to guide the two undead steeds to the right direction, the general direction anyway. Once it was day and Rarity was awake he would use his spell, Clairvoyance, to pinpoint the location he was looking for.         Another thing got him curious for now. It was that mysterious ring he found when he rescued Rarity and Pinkie Pie before. He took it for his satchel looking at it closely. It was definitely daedric by the looks of it. He morphed into a Khajiit to get a better look at it in the dark but there was no inscription on the ring. He took his gauntlets off and put it on the hand with no ring. Seeing or feeling no immediate change he left it on to see what would change from having it on.         As his trusty steeds lead him and his companion to the possible treasure that awaits, he begins to feel sad. If things keep up at this pace he wouldn’t see his new friends for much longer. That was good because they would be going back home, but at the same time he would miss them. “Your friend here needed to be tested before my master could send him a message and a mission.” “Wait...what is that Khajiit planning? And why does the daedric prince of memories have such an interest in me?”