//------------------------------// // A Request and A Reforge // Story: Elder Scrolls V 1/2 : Equestria // by Swordoath //------------------------------// "So you were successful in your mission?" Celestia asked. "Of course. Do we not stand before you now?" Dorian huffed. "I know. It was rhetorical." "I knew that!" He snapped. It was well into the night, and the three stood in the torch-lit throne room alone except for the shadows. The sun had set quite awhile ago, and the torches cast dancing shadows along the walls and columns of the throne room. Dorian had now gone without sleep for quite some time, and was snappish and irritated. Most annoyingly, his stomach continued to embarrass him by growling every so often. "In any case, he's proven he can kill a dragon truly dead." Twilight continued. "I think the least we can do is outfit him with equipment so he can be more helpful to us." "Not that I needed it earlier," He grumbled moodily, crossing his arms. "Hm?" Celestia inquired. "I mean, yes, that would be very kind of you. I'd prefer you gave me materials and a forge, instead- I can create my own armor from some ebony and leather." "'Ebony?'" Twilight asked. "Black metal? Fairly rare and valuable?" "I'm afraid we do not have this 'ebony' metal, but we'd happily supply you with high-quality iron and steel." "Iron? Steel?" he sighed. Such metals were adequate armor for guards, but not quite up to par for dragon slaying. "I... I suppose those will have to do." "I'm sorry we are not up to your standards, but much of our resources are being stolen by bandits and raiders." Celestia explained. "It will be hard enough to gather the resources for armor of a being your size and stature." "I'm sorry I'm such an inconvenience to you." Dorian said, sarcasm hinted in his tone. There was a moment of tension between him and the elder princess. The dragonborn's stomach growled. Celestia and Twilight giggled, much to his displeasure. Irritated, he began, "My apologies, but do you-" "Don't worry, we have a room reserved for you here in the castle. A meal will be brought to you soon after you retire to it. But before you go, we have a request of you." Dorian nodded for her to continue. "Several of the towns of Equestria are constantly under attack by dragons, and you, as the only one know to be able to destroy them forever, we ask to help save them from the threats these dragons present." "On one condition." "What would that be?" "Once I eradicate the majority of the dragons from Equestria, you have to help me end it once and for all by aiding me in a siege on the Crystal Empire." "The Crystal Empire? How will that stop the attacks?" Twilight asked, confused by the request. "The dragons take orders from a single ruling dragon, know as Alduin. If I can learn of his whereabouts from High Priest Sombra, I can defeat him again and end the dragon's reign of tyranny." "'Again?"' Twilight inquired. "The first time I defeated him was back when I was in my own world. Doing so caused him to be reborn here. I came here to kill him again so you'd be safe from him. It's my fault he's here, in a way. But I only did so to save the lands from which I hail, and I will do so again here so I can save your people- or rather, ponies- from him too." Celestia closed here eyes, deep in thought. "I cannot say I am happy you brought him here, but I know your intentions were noble, as they are even now. I cannot give military support until the dragons in Equestria no longer plague my ponies. You help us, we help you... help us." "Of course." Dorian said, relieved he was not in trouble. Something told him it was only because of his unique skills. Of course, it was those same skills that had caused this. "There has been reported at least ten Dragons attacking four settlements, one you have already defeated, four in Ponyville, three in Appleoosa, one in Manehattan, and one more here, in Canterlot. I suggest you defeat them in this order, as they grow decreasingly devastating and dangerous as you go down the list. Killing them in this fashion will allow our normal trade routes to resume and get supplies to where they need to go. You'll find a map in your room for your journey, detailing trails from each town to the dragons' reported lairs, along with some bits for spending on whatever you deem necessary. And when you leave you'll be meeting with someone who can help you with the dragons." "Who?" Dorian inquired. "I think it would be better for you to meet him yourself." Dorian waited a moment. "Are you going to call him in?" "Oh, no. He's not living in the castle. I can tell you he's a former Wonderbolt and an amazing archer. He's requested that I not give you his name, however." Dorian filed away the term 'Wonderbolt' for later questions, rolling his eyes. Oh, for Akatosh's sake... "Why?" "He wants to introduce himself when he sees you at the station tomorrow. I'm not sure why, though." Celestia's eyes held concern, but he could not tell who for. Dorian sighed, then regained some semblance of composure. "As for the mission, it's a deal." Dorian held out a hand to shake. Twilight cleared her throat. Blushing slightly, but gaze unwavering, his hand closed into a fist. Celestia bumped her hoof against it. Both his arm and her foreleg were lowered, and Dorian muttered an apology for the awkwardness of the moment in dragon tongue, not thinking about their lack of knowledge of the language. He was used to conversing with Parthunax. "Krosis, Your Highness." "What?" Both princesses asked. "Never mind. Could you point me in the direction of my room?" The ivory toned princess pointed out to the hall and told him to take the eighth door on the left. He wished them both goodnight and departed, gracious for an opportunity to finally rest without worrying about where he'd be when he awoke. "Should we tell him?" Celestia whispered soon after he left. "About the mare?" Twilight whispered back. "Yes, about the mare." "How would we break it to him that she just vanished?" "I'm not sure. Perhaps it would be best not to delve into it. He hasn't mentioned her." "Yes, but what if he only didn't talk about her because he thought we honored our agreement? I feel terrible." "I do too, Twilight. But some times the truth is a bad thing. We cannot loose his alliance now that we know what he's capable of." "I know, but still..." "It'll be fine. I'm sure. She'll turn up soon enough. It hasn't even been a day yet." Celestia said, but there was no conviction in her words. She worried Ice Strider's disappearance would ruin everything. That wasn't a possibility she could ignore. But she didn't know what to do. "You picked up on these techniques pretty quick, ape." The aged smith Ember Stoker noted, mildly impressed with the Imperial. The grey-haired ashen-coated blacksmith, and Dorian stood in the armory of the royal guard. The half-circle forge was built into the far wall, and a grindstone and workbench were set up against the wall opposite. The open air pavilion design of the blacksmith allowed the smoke from the forge to float up and into the sky. The stone floor made clacking sounds as the iron-shod blacksmith walked around the towering Imperial. "I've been at this for a long time." Replied Dorian casually, tying the final strap of his steel chest-plate at the ribs. The armor had been based off Nordic-steel-armor-based design Dorian had chosen. He preferred it to the Imperial armor for no reason other than aesthetics- there was very little difference in it's functionality. "I've forged armor that can shatter arrows. This is child's play." "Oho? Shatter arrows? Made of what, soap?" "Malachite." he said as he lifted the helm and placed it over his head. The helm had been based off of the design of the imperial-style mail coif rather than the horned nordic version because he had no material to use for the horns. "How does it fit?" "Like bark to a tree. I'm glad I haven't changed measurements since I last made armor for myself." "You've done this before?" "Half a dozen times at least." "Right then." Ember stoker said, turning back to the swirling motes of the forge. "You'll need a weapon." "I can summon my own." Dorian decided not to demonstrate. The smith had already expressed his distaste for magic. "I mean a real weapon, for when that fancy magic runs out. You can't match the weight and deadliness of a real weapon." "I suppose your right." Dorian said, humoring the smith. "But if I have to make a weapon, I want to keep one hand free for magic." "Yes, yes, whatever you say. A sword then? A mace?" Said the smith, rifling through a closet. "A battleaxe, I-" Dorian was cut short as his request was hurled at him, which he narrowly avoided by ducking. The white-metal blade of the ax curved in an elongated foot-and-a-half crescent. It was roughly five feet in length, from end to end. The shaft was made from what looked like steel, and the handle was made from toughened leather, and fit rather uncomfortably in his hands as he pulled it off the wall it had embedded itself into with more than one tug. "... Thank you. This is made from moonstone, is it not?" "Don't mention it. And yeah, or so I'm told. It's powered up with some magical mumbo jumbo by Princess Celestia's protege. Or, well, former protege." "What kind?" "Tartarus if I know! You'll find out eventually." Said the old pony. "Now, off with you! Princess Celestia said you got a train to catch and somepony to meet!" "Who-" Dorian began before he was shunted out of the blacksmith by the elderly pony into the busy streets of Canterlot.