//------------------------------// // Chapter 33: Secrets Long Kept Hidden // Story: The Equine Scrolls: SkyFiM // by FireOfTheNorth //------------------------------// Chapter XXXIII: Secrets Long Kept Hidden “What is better: to be born good, or to overcome your evil nature through great effort?” I was so excited that we were finally getting somewhere in our quest to stop Alduin that we left for the Crest of the World immediately. Guided by the light of the moon, we traveled all the way to Ivarsteed before taking a short rest and departing at first light up the 7000 stairs. With no more than a few windigos to bother us, we soon made it to the Greymane monastery of High Hoofgar. “Greetings Sapphire,” Night-Sparkle’s voice greeted me as the door opened before I could get a chance to knock, “What brings you back to our humble monastery, and with yet another pony in tow?” “I’m looking to learn a Shout,” I told him as I stepped inside, deliberately being vague. The Greymanes were pacifists after all, and I didn’t think they’d take too kindly to me looking for a way to kill Alduin. “Have you searched the ancient earth pony ruins as I suggested?” “Yes, and I’ve learned many new Words, but I don’t think the one I’m looking for would be written in them.” “Be careful what it is you seek,” Night-Sparkle said, tensing up, “For I fear what Words of Power you may be after.” “All right,” I said as I followed him through the monastery and out into the courtyard, “I’m looking for the Shout the ancient Tongues used to defeat Alduin.” “I feared it was so,” Night-Sparkle said, giving a sigh, “No doubt you’ve been possessed by the idea thanks to those wretched Blades.” “You don’t like the Blades?” Steadfast asked. “No, we do not,” Night-Sparkle said firmly, “They seek only death and glory. For them, the killing of dragons is a sport, and the Voice simply a means to do so.” “So, because you dislike the Blades, you refuse to teach me the Shout the Tongues used?” I asked. “It is far more than that,” Night-Sparkle said, looking offended, “We cannot teach you the Shout because we are forbidden to learn it.” “Why?” “In keeping with Master Jurgen Sky-whinny’s teachings, the Voice is only to be used as a form of meditation, a way to understand both the world and yourself through a new lens. But the Shout the Tongues used, it was meant for far less noble purposes. Using their hatred of the dragons, they created their own Thu’um, the only one created by ponies. Whatever it is, the Greymanes are forbidden from contemplating it, for it serves no useful purpose.” “No useful purpose?” I asked, “If it can stop Alduin from destroying the world, I wouldn’t say it’s not useful.” “No!” Night-Sparkle insisted, “It is a weapon forged in hate, and as such there is no way it can be used without the same feeling of hatred flowing through your own soul as you speak the accursed Words. Necromancy, the dark magic of raising the corpses of the dead, is a very useful weapon, but its very use corrupts the user. The Shout the Tongues used is much the same.” “I only wish to use it to defeat Alduin and end the Dragon War once and for all,” I pleaded with Night-Sparkle, “Only defeat him. The Shout obviously didn’t kill Alduin, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to return.” “Even so, there is no way we would teach you the Shout. None of our order has any knowledge to help you anyway, save our master Paarthurnax.” “Can I at least speak to him then?” I asked. “That is something I cannot allow, especially if you are so set on learning the cursed Shout.” “There must be some way I can see him.” “No.” “If I could just speak with Paarthurnax-” “No!” Before I could speak again, a rumble came down the mountain. Through the blast I could pick up words in Draconic, and Night-Sparkle worriedly looked up toward the mountain’s peak. Moving into a solid stance, he Shouted back up the mountain. The reply came swiftly, and he flinched at the words spoken. “Forgive me Sapphire,” Night-Sparkle said to me once the echoes died down, “I have forgotten my place. Paarthurnax has reminded me that it is not my duty to keep you from the knowledge you seek, no matter how self-destructive it may be. He has agreed to speak with you, breaking his silence with all but the Greymanes for the first time in an age.” “I finally get to see Paarthurnax?” I asked, still a bit shocked that things had worked out after all. “Yes, if that is what you wish,” Night-Sparkle said unhappily, “The other Greymanes and I shall teach you the way.” “Yes, I do,” I replied. I just couldn’t believe it. I was finally going to get to meet the mysterious master of the Greymanes! If anypony had an idea on how to defeat Alduin, surely it would be Paarthurnax. “Very well, follow me then,” Night-Sparkle said, trotting toward the other Greymanes, who were standing near the stone archway that led up the mountain. “We’ll stay back here,” Steadfast told me, his ears twitching, “I think I’ve heard enough shouting for a while.” “You’ll come up with me to see Paarthurnax though, won’t you?” I asked. I had no idea how long my audience with the master would last, and I didn’t want to be separated from my friends for too long. “Of course,” Mephalda assured me, “Now go learn whatever Shout the Greymanes want to teach you.” As Steadfast and Mephalda headed off toward the far end of the courtyard I happily trotted toward the assembled Greymanes. I wasn’t sure exactly what they were planning on teaching me, but I had an idea. I’d never been over by the gate to the mountain’s peak before, and now that I was I could both see and hear the wind howling by. There was no way I could make it through without being shoved off the mountain by the clouds clinging close to the cliff face. “The last time you were here we taught you to use the elements themselves to assist you,” Night-Sparkle began the lesson, keeping his disapproval at my choice buried deep inside, “Today we will teach you how to reach up to the sky with your Voice and control the weather as the pegasi do. We will begin with Master Yorri, who will teach you the beginning of the secret to clearing the skies, the Draconic word for sky: LOK.” The pale green mare steeped forward, sweeping her hood off before Shouting toward the ground at her hooves. The words carved themselves into the stone of the courtyard, disturbing the light layer of snow around them. They faded away as the knowledge of the sky flowed into my mind, teaching me everything I could learn in a lifetime about the canopy over our heads in a matter of moments. “I will allow you to partake of my knowledge of LOK so that you may attain mastery over the sky,” Night-Sparkle said. I soon found my mind bombarded by the Greymane’s memories. Bits and pieces of Night-Sparkle’s life flitted in front of my eyes as his memories melded seamlessly with my own. Reaching into my mind, I could now remember how to control the sky, clearing it using only my Voice. I let the newly learned Word of Power out before the thoughts tore me apart. I Shouted, and the wind died down for a moment around me. “Excellent,” Night-Sparkle praised, “If you think you’re ready, well move on to the next Word in Clear Skies. Master Midnight-Flame will teach you the Draconic word for spring: VAH.” Midnight-Flame stepped forward, drawing his hood back as had Master Yorri before him. I couldn’t help noticing that, unlike Master Night-Sparkle, the other masters didn’t seem to be disturbed by my choice to pursue the “cursed Shout” and meet with Paarthurnax. In a way this reassured me that I was making the right choice, even though none of the other Greymanes could tell me so. My thoughts were brought back to the moment as Midnight-Flame Shouted at the ground. Staring at the runes carved into the ground, I learned more than I’d ever imagined about the season of spring. Every spring for centuries passed by in a blur, yet I understood it all. How it came about, what minute changes accompanied it, even how to project its fair weather and clear skies around me. Master Yorri allowed me to partake of her knowledge this time, and her thoughts and memories filled my mind until I was fit to burst. My understanding of spring was strengthened a hundredfold by years of practice in bringing it about. Without training, I now knew how to bring about spring myself, using only my Voice. <> I Shouted, calming the air around me and causing a bit of the chill to recede. “Now, onto the last word, KOOR, which is Draconic for summer,” Night-Sparkle said, obviously enjoying this chance to teach a Shout even though he disapproved of what I would be using it for, “Master Summer’s Dawn will demonstrate for you.” the Greymane Shouted, her words carving themselves in the ground, melting the snow around and causing a few small blades of grass to spring up. Looking upon the runes once again filled my mind with all knowledge of a season, this time summer. I knew it all, down to how the clouds above the ground affected the summer’s weather as much as the plant life before. As Summer’s Dawn shared her memories with me, I also learned everything about how to use KOOR. I witnessed her training and meditation on summer through the endless cycles of the seasons, each time learning a bit more about how it functioned and how I could use my Voice to emulate it out of season. <<>> I Shouted, and the clouds that surrounded High Hoofgar bent to my will, clearing away at the command of my Voice. “We have taught you all you need to know to reach Paarthurnax safely,” Master Night-Sparkle said when he’d finished admiring my mastery of the Shout, “Follow this path and you shall not go astray. We wish you good fortune on your journey to reach the master of our order.” I waved Steadfast and Mephalda over as the Greymanes began to dissipate. “Ready to head up?” Mephalda asked, looking at the treacherous path to Paarthurnax, “Looks like we have some rough weather ahead of us.” “Just stay near to me and you’ll be fine,” I told my companions, “I’ll use my Shout to clear the way.” All together we trotted up toward the weathered stone archway that led to the Crest of the World. “Here goes nothing,” I said before focusing my thoughts on my Shout. <<>> Ahead of us the wind suddenly died down and the clouds moved off the path without pegasi assistance. Flashing a smile, I trotted ahead, Mephalda and Steadfast close by my side. Every time the clouds grew thick again and the wind began to howl I let loose the Clear Skies Shout. In this method we climbed higher and higher up the Crest of the World until we could see the peak jutting up a short distance above us. As I pointed it out, a windigo suddenly came out of nowhere, coating my mane in frost. Giving an icy whinny, it flew over the edge of the cliff before swinging back toward us. I shot a blast of fire at the creature, but it swiftly dodged, swooping toward Mephalda. It shot over her head as my pegasus companion ducked down low to the ground. I continued to follow the icy wraith with fire until it flew in front of Steadfast and I was forced to cut off the stream to avoid burning my earth pony companion. I kept blasting flames at it, eventually hitting its whipping tail and melting it, but doing no further damage. Suddenly I was disoriented by a strike from a cloud. Looking around, I could see that the unnatural weather atop this mountain was beginning to take control again. Clouds swarmed toward us, jockeying for space, and a frigid wind began to howl over the ridge. I tried to Shout to clear the weather away, but a cloud slammed into my face and I had to stop to cough out tufts of it. The windigo latched onto my back, causing my body temperature to drop rapidly. Swinging my head around, I blasted it with fire, reducing it to nothing but a puddle and a few teeth. “Sapphire!” I heard a call come through the storm faintly. Through the clouds I could see Mephalda a short distance away, struggling to stay near the mountain as the wind threatened to blow her off. As I saw frost begin to form on her wings I knew I needed to stop this weather now. Swinging my forelegs wildly in front of my face I opened up a large enough space that I could open my mouth to Shout. <<>> I Shouted, and the sky immediately obeyed my call. The clouds left us alone, the wind died down, and Mephalda was finally able to flap herself over solid land and break the frost off of her wings. “Um, a little help here?” I heard Steadfast say. Turning around, I saw that he was hanging on tightly to the ledge, dangling out over the bulk of the mountain. Together Mephalda and I pulled him out of mortal peril. Thankfully the rest of our trek up the Crest of the World was uneventful. This time I made sure to Shout well in advance of the weather closing in again, so we wouldn’t be taken off guard. At last we reached the very peak of the mountain, far above the clouds. All of the Northlands stretched out into the distance from this vantage point. After admiring the view for a bit, we turned back to the mountain’s peak itself. There was nothing overly spectacular about the sight that greeted us. All Paarthurnax’s dwelling seemed to consist of was a fairly level patch of snow and a few odd pieces of an ancient earth pony ruin. “Dragon!” Steadfast called out as a light grey beast flapped over the mountain’s peak. Paarthurnax was nowhere to be found, but he had to be around somewhere and would surely rush to help us fight the dragon once he saw what was going on. Snow flew up from the ground as the dragon came in for a landing near the ruin stones. I galloped toward the lizard, but slowed to a trot as it made no move to attack me. Steadfast gave me a look of confusion as I did so, but mimicked my movements, as did Mephalda. As I trotted up to right in front of the dragon’s mouth, it still made no move to attack. The pieces begin t fit together in my mind until I came to a realization. But it just couldn’t be possible! “Paarthurnax?” I asked. “THAT IS CORRECT, MY LITTLE PONY!!” the dragon boomed, its warm, moist breath washing over me, “I AM PAARTHURNAX, MASTER OF THE GREYMANES!!” “You’re a dragon,” was all I could think to say, completely dumbfounded for the moment. “YES, THAT IS RIGHT!! IT WAS I WHO TAUGHT THE FIRST TONGUES TO USE THE VOICE AS THE DRAGONS DO!! I HAVE BEEN PASSING DOWN MY KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM TO THE GREYMANES EVER SINCE!!” “So you know how to defeat Alduin!” I said hopefully. “PATIENCE, MY LITTLE PONY!! ALL KNOWLEDGE COMES IN TIME!! FIRST ALLOW ME TO TASTE OF YOUR THU’UM!!” “Um, okay,” I said, trying to think of a Shout I could use on the dragon that would impress him. Eventually I settled on the first one I’d learned, the one the Greymanes had taught me. <<>> I Shouted past Paarthurnax’s head. “VERY GOOD!! NOW LET ME SEE HOW WELL YOU CAN LEARN A NEW THU’UM!! I WILL TEACH YOU YOL, THE DRACONIC WORD FOR FIRE!!” Paarthurnax Shouted, the runes burning through the snow. As I looked upon the runes that this time very literally burned, all the dragons’ knowledge of fire entered my mind. My own knowledge of how to bring fire into being with my unicorn magic suddenly seemed very shallow in comparison to the vast wealth of knowledge I now had on how to kindle fires with my Voice. “I UNDERSTAND THAT THE GREYMANES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TEACH YOU MASTERY OF A THU’UM BY SHARING MEMORIES!! IS THAT CORRECT??” “Yes,” I told the dragon. “PREPARE YOUR MIND SAPPHIRE, FOR I SHALL SHARE WITH YOU THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DRAGONS, FAR DEEPER THAN THE MINDS OF EVEN THE GREYMANES CAN GRASP!!” As I steeled myself, the memories came flooding in. Paarthurnax had been right. The memories I received from him seemed deeper, more powerful, and more meaningful than any I’d experienced before, even from other dragons I’d defeated. In an instant I experienced Paarthurnax’s extremely long life, seeing and feeling every moment he had breathed fire. My understanding of how to breathe fire was so absolute by the time the memories stopped coming that I didn’t think I could learn any more on the subject even if I scoured the whole of the Northlands. “COME, LET US SEE HOW YOU HAVE MASTERED THE THU’UM!!” Paarthurnax demanded. I complied, directing my Shout at a drift of snow that had piled up against one of the ancient standing stones. As I Shouted my breath itself turned to fire, blasting outward with the fury of a dragon’s breath. The snow I’d directed it at turned to steam, and the stone behind was scorched by the sheer power of the flame. Expectantly, I turned back to Paarthurnax. “YOUR CONTROL OF YOUR VOICE IS EXTRAORDINARY, RIVALING MANY OF MY DRACONIC COLLEAGUES!! YOU SHALL LEARN MUCH UNDER MY TUTELAGE, SURPASSING MY OTHER STUDENTS IN NO TIME!!” “I’d love to, really,” I told Paarthurnax, “And some day I will take the time to learn all you have to teach me, but right now I’m in a bit of a hurry to stop Alduin from destroying the world.” “AH YES, IT ALL COMES BACK TO MY BROTHER’S CRAZY SCHEMES, NOW DOESN’T IT??” “Your brother?” Steadfast asked, stepping forward. “YES, AS HE IS BUCKATOSH’S FIRSTBORN, I WAS HIS SECOND!! BUT HIS ELEVATED STATUS HAS MADE HIM ARROGANT!! HE BELIEVES IT IS ONLY DRAGONS WHO SHOULD INHABIT THE NORTHLANDS, AND DESPISES ALL MORTALS, ESPECIALLY THE PONIES!! I, HOWEVER, SAW THE POTENTIAL IN PONYKIND AND TOOK THEM UNDER MY WING, TEACHING THEM THE DRAGON LANGUAGE AGAINST ALDUIN’S WISHES!!” “So you will help us to defeat him?” I asked. “BEFORE I DO, I MUST ASK YOU: WHY IS IT THAT YOU ARE SO SET ON DEFEATING HIM??” “He’s going to destroy the world if somepony doesn’t stop him,” I said. “AND THAT IS A BAD THING WHY??” “Well, I live in this world, as do you, and I don’t want it to end.” “A LOGICAL EXPLANATION, BUT WHAT IF THE END OF THIS WORLD BRINGS ABOUT THE BIRTH OF A NEW WORLD, AS A SEED PLANTED IN THE GROUND MUST DIE BEFORE A TREE CAN SPRING UP FROM IT??” “If the world ends, millions of ponies will die. I’m not about to let that happen.” “BUT WHAT OF THE MILLIONS OF LIVES THAT COULD ARISE IN THE NEW WORLD, BUT WOULD NEVER RECEIVE A CHANCE TO LIVE?? CAN YOU DENY THEM THEIR LIVES??” “Listen,” I said irritably, “I don’t have time to argue existential questions with you. Every moment we’re up here debating is another moment Alduin and the dragons who follow him are destroying innocent life. If we can stop Alduin, we can stop that. So are you going to help us or not?” “OF COURSE I SHALL HELP YOU, THOUGH YOU MAY BE RIGHT!! LIKE ALL DOVAH, I TEND TO ENJOY THE SOUND OF MY OWN VOICE MORE THAN I OUGHT!! YOU WISH TO LEARN OF THE SHOUT THE TONGUES USED TO DEFEAT ALDUIN IN THE PAST, IS THAT CORRECT??” “Yes, though the Greymanes don’t think I should.” “THEY ARE PERHAPS THE MOST CAPABLE WIELDERS OF THE VOICE I KNOW, THOUGH THEY ALLOW THEIR TRADITIONS PASSED DOWN FROM JURGEN SKY-WHINNY TO CLOUD THEIR JUDGEMENT OF THE PRESENT!! I SHALL TEACH YOU ALL I KNOW ABOUT THE SHOUT USED TO DEFEAT ALDUIN, AS I BELIEVE IT MAY BE ESSENTIAL YOU KNOW IT IN ORDER TO DEFEAT HIM AGAIN!!” “IT WAS CALLED DRAGONREND BY THOSE WHO CREATED IT, AND IT WAS MADE USING ALL THE HATRED THEY COULD SUMMON TOWARD ALDUIN!! IT DID NOT LIVE UP TO THEIR EXPECTATIONS, ONLY WOUNDING DRAGONS RATHER THAN KILLING THEM!! NEVERTHELESS, IT WAS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR THEIR FINAL BATTLE WITH ALDUIN HERE UPON THE CREST OF THE WORLD!!” “FOR YOU SEE, DRAGONREND LASHES OUT AT A DRAGON’S VERY SOUL, FORCING THEM TO ACCEPT THE CONCEPT OF MORTALITY, SOMETHING OUR MINDS CANNOT GRASP!! AS SUCH, I AM AFRAID THAT I CANNOT TEACH IT, FOR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY MIND TO HOLD THE WORDS FROM WHICH IT WAS CONSTRUCTED!!” “How can I learn it then?” I asked. “THE TONGUES SURVIVED THEIR FINAL BATTLE WITH ALDUIN, IF JUST BARELY!! THOUGH THE DRAGON CULT REFUSED TO RECORD THE METHOD OF ALDUIN’S DEFEAT, THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT SOMEWHERE THE TONGUES DID RECORD THE WORDS TO DRAGONREND!! AND I BELIEVE THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT ALDUIN WOULD RETURN SOMEDAY, AND AS SUCH THEY WOULD HAVE ALSO CREATED SOME WAY THAT ANOTHER WITH THE VOICE COULD LEARN THE WORDS THEY’D CREATED!!” “Where do I start?” I said, feeling overwhelmed, “What should I look for?” “THE TONGUES WERE WELL KNOWN IN THEIR TIME!! SURELY THERE WILL BE RECORD OF THEM WHEREVER YOU MORTALS KEEP SUCH THINGS SAFE!! PERHAPS THE COLLEGE BUILT TO THE NORTH WILL BE A GOOD PLACE TO START!!” “The College of Winterhorn?” I asked. “YES, THAT’S THE ONE!! SURELY A STOREHOUSE OF MAGICAL KNOWLEDGE WILL CONTAIN SOME MENTION OF THE MAGIC USED TO DEFEAT ALDUIN!!” “Thanks, we’ll be back as soon as we find something,” I promised Paarthurnax. “So, college?” Steadfast said as I joined him and Mephalda, “I guess it’s about time I got a higher education.” Level Up Health: 220 Stamina: 200 Magicka: 210 New Perk: It Ain’t Heavy, It’s my Armor [Heavy Armor] -- You have become so adept at using your armor that its weight no longer factors into your carrying capacity when it is worn. Word of Power learned: LOK -- Sky; Clear Skies – Horizon itself yields before the Thu’um, as you clear away fog and inclement weather. Word of Power learned: VAH -- Spring; Clear Skies – Combined with LOK, VAH clears the skies more quickly, and brings about weather one would experience in Horizon’s spring. Word of Power learned: KOOR -- Summer; Clear Skies – Combined with LOK and VAH, KOOR clears the skies for a longer time period and brings about weather one would experience in Horizon’s summer. Word of Power learned: YOL -- Fire; Fire Breath – Inhale air, exhale flame, and behold the Thu’um as an inferno. New Quest: Advanced Studies – Travel to the College of Winterhorn and search for information on Dragonrend.