//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 - What Happens Now // Story: The Dragonborn Chronicles: Part 1 - Ponies in Skyrim // by Barix123 //------------------------------// Chapter 15 - What Happens Now The group of ponies along with the dragonborn sat in the wagon as Shadowmare and Arvak ran their way towards Solitude's shoreline. Their speed was fast but never waning. Barix was telling the ponies what had happened the last time he fought with the ancient vampires. How he took them down with the help of the Dawnguard and his former companion Serana. It was hard for the six ponies to believe there was one reasonable vampire among all the blood sucking monsters. The trip to the north was taking longer than expected. Time wasn't on there side even though they were moving fast. Some of the ponies, including Barix were beginning to become restless especially Rainbow Dash, Barix was seeing a pattern with her. “How much longer until we’re there?” Rainbow Dash, of course, was the first to complain. “About a day, that’s if we don’t come across anything that would slow us down.” “Oh dear. What happens if we don’t make it in time?” Rarity asks with worry in her  voice. “I don’t know. They could be just starting their plans or be ready to perform the ritual. There’s no real way to tell. We can only pray that we get to them before they succeed.” “Until then we should come up with a plan of action. Nothing too detailed, but something to help our mission go smoother.” Twilight inquired. “I think I see what you mean. Nothing close to a plan about going through the castle, but small things for different scenarios. Right?” “Exactly.” “Not gettin bitten is a start. We’ll need somepony on Fluttershy at all times.” Wise words from a country mare. “I agree. Rainbow, you’ll be the one to watch over her, got it?” “Good. I don’t think I could trust anypony else to keep her safe.” After realizing that Fluttershy was the only one that gave her a gentle smile, and the others had nasty frowns she proceeded to continue. “I mean, uh, no offence.” “It’s ok Dashie. I know you meant well.” “Well enough I suppose.” “If that’s settled we’ll need...hang on. Why does Fluttershy need a guard again? Can’t she just fly up? Vampires aren’t known to fly.” Confusion ran through the dragonborn’s mind. “Fluttershy dear, would you care to tell him.” Rarity asks the canary mare who proceeds to shrink into herself. “I-I, uh. Well y-you see... ummm... the thing is-” “Oh for Celestia’s sake. She’s scared of heights.” Rainbow answered for her. “We know it doesn’t make any sense. Just go with it.” “Fine. On to more important matters, We’ll need to split into two teams. Three actually.” “We’re Going to be facing vampires. Splitting up is bad enough but why do we need to split up in to three groups?” Twilight asks. “One with me as the primary attack team, the second as the infiltration team, and lastly as the distraction team.” “There’s no way ah’m passin up an oppertunity to strike those things head on. Count me in for the strike team.” AJ had to get back at them for hurting one of her friends. “I’ll tag along with you too.” “No Twilight. With the variety of spells you know, I need you to be the infiltration team. Wherever the ritual is taking place I you need to stop it how ever you can.” “Ok but who's coming with me?” “Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity.” “But that'll leave Pinkie Pie to herself. Are you sure that’s a good idea?” “Exactly. From what I've seen Pinkie can handle herself. She's perfect for making a scene.” “It's OK Twilight. I'll be fine. Ooo, ooo, I already have some ideas. I could throw a party. No make it two parties! It'll be easy. I'll have one upstairs and one downstairs. This is going to be the most super duper vampirific party ever. I just have to-” “Good to know Pinkie. Is everyone clear?” Getting back on track everyone agreed with the plan. Now it was only a matter of time.         The rest of the day, as well as part of the night, was spent on traveling. Barix wanted to make sure they at least made it to Solitude. The group of vampire hunters settled into the manor for the night wasting little time. The morning was no exception to the rush they were in, all except for Rarity who had to make sure she had all her make-up and was overall ready for the day.         They saddled up and were on the move to the beach. Once there, however the were greeted by the site of any and all boats and ships long gone or destroyed. “Come on! Can’t we ever catch a break?!” RD, again the first to complain. “I don’t understand. No one comes down here. How are the boats destroyed?” “What if it was bandits?” “You don’t understand, by no one I mean no one. With tales of ancient vampires going around even the most hardened pirates stay clear of this area. The only ones who come by here used to be the vampire hunters and myself. They must have returned if this happened. But it still doesn’t explain how. They can’t travel that fast, Even through the night. It’s impossible.” “Unless they recruited other non-vampires to help them like those guys over there.”         A quick and confusing glance confirmed what Pinkie said was true. A group of about twenty or so different races that clearly weren’t vampires stood with weapons in hand. “So you want to fight huh? Bring it on!” “Rainbow, calm yourself. I’m sure Barix is working on a way to get us out of this without fighting.” “No Twilight, We’re taking them down. They have been working with the vampires. I can smell it all other them.” “Um, if you don’t mind darling, I’m going to stay back here with Fluttershy. You can handle it right?” “Mind if I stay back here to watch?” The pink pony asks Rarity. “You don’t want to help them Pinkie?” “Blah. No way pozay. I don’t really like fighting. Why fight when you can throw a party.” “Enough talk!” “FUS!-”         Before Barix could finish, some of the enemies dressed in mage cloaks stepped forward and blasted fire ball after fire ball at the ground. This action kicked up the sand, concealing the beach by making it a dust covered arena. Barix lets his shout fly off with only the first word but it did little more than kick up more sand. The ponies were blinded but Barix still had his hearing. All that did however was allow him to hear something come from behind followed by a thud. “Girls ‘cough’? Girls ‘cough’! Are you still there?” Sounds of struggle were evident. Twilight put her mind to work trying to come up with a plan. “Everypony retreat!”         Running backwards was all she could do, it was all any of them could do. As the dust cleared around Twilight she was able to make out the situation. Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie were all outside of the sand cloud. Applejack and Rainbow come stumbling out soon after. “Good, everypony's here.” “Everypony,” Applejack emphasized, “but not everyone. Where’d Barix run off to.”         The group of ponies only had a second before the group of thugs charged from the cloud. The pony warriors barely had time to react. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were the first ones to be struck down getting hit multiple times from all sides. Twilight had to do something. “FUS! RO!” All the thugs that were approaching Twilight from the center were hurled back by an invisible force. Landing a far distance off some of them had broken bones from the crash. “That horse. She knows how to use the Thuum'm. Get it, get it and tie it up.”         Twilight is versed in many arcane arts. She has taken on creatures of nightmares, supernatural beings, and even the Lord of Chaos. Throughout all her knowledge, all her teachings and life experiences, the only thing that was going through her mind was ‘My friends.’ She turns around facing Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy. Using all the magic she could muster she teleports them as far as she safely could. With the sound of a magical zap her three friends were gone.         Turning back around all she could register was the sight of fist dropping on her face. The next feeling was one of pain as she took the beating from countless others around her. One sound was audible from the others, it was the sound of her wing snapping. Tears leaked from her face like a waterfall as the fear of death consumed the lavender alicorn. “Stop! Step away from that thing.” Rainbow and AJ saw the supposed leader of the attackers move closer to Twilight. “Leave her alive. The master will want to see it alive. If nothing else any creature that knows the Thu’um is pure of blood. Tie it up and throw all of them in the next ship to arrive.” “What about the ones that got away.” “The might present a hazard. Gather a search party and find them. Be on guard at all times, if one of them knows the Thu’um the others might.”         Time went by slowly as the three ponies waited for something to happen. They were blindfolded now but that didn’t stop them from listening to the attackers. Rainbow could hear them alot better so she tried to remember as much as possible. She was even the one to hear the ship arrive first.         The ponies were loaded onto the ship and put near the bottom of the vessel. The cold metal bars made it clear they were now in a cell. As the last of the escorts left the room Rainbow let the others know. “Ok girls, it’s just us now. But keep it down, I can hear them right outside.” “Twi, are you ok?” “Mmm mm, mmmm m.” Muffled noise was all that came out. “Great well that plans out the window. Hey AJ, can you get loose?” “No way sugarcube, whoever tied these robes knows what they’re doin. ah’ve been tryin’ to get undone since we got in tied up, nothin. What about yer wing’s?” “No good. I’m tied up too. Twilight are you tied up too? Can you flap your wings?” A muffled sound that clearly meant ‘no’ made it very well known she didn’t want to move her wings. “Please Twil, I need to know how bad they are.”         Twilight couldn’t speak and the only way she could let Dash know how bad the wing is, was to flap it. Steeling herself she inhaled deeply, prepared to face any unbearable pain then...she flapped. “MMMMMMMMMM!!!” That one flap sent her over the edge. “Dam it! It’s a full bone snap. The skin is still attached so you should be good if we can find a way to split the wing. We’ll have to soon or else you’ll get poisoned.” Twilight muffled something again that sounded like a worried ‘WHAT’. “How will she get poisoned?” “Bone marrow. If too much of it leaks out into the bloodstream it can poison her. In about a week she’ll die, maybe a month being an alicorn. That’s if we live that long.” This was definitely something to think about. Not for long though as the apple bucking mare came up with a plan. “Do ya still have yer helmet on Dash?” “Yeah. Why?” “Hit the side of the wall with yer head. If we can get them to get in here they can help Twi. Ah heard them say a vampire might want her so that means they won’t want her to get poisoned.” “Why to go with the reason AJ. Heal Twi to feed the enemy.” At that the cyan flyer banged her head against the bars. It took about five or ten minutes for the guards to get sick to of it before the came in. “Hey idiots! Keep it down or we’ll beat you a new asshole.” “Shut the buck up! This pony in here is going to be poisoned if you don’t splint her wing. Why don’t you off your lazy flanks and help her unless you want to spoil the meal for your vampire overlords. What’s it going to be?”         They were stuck. help them is the last thing the thugs wanted to do. But the would indeed be punished for letting something like this slip on by. Without any other option one of them replied- “We’ll be back. Try anything funny and you’ll regret it.” The door shut, again they were alone. “There you go. Anything else?” “Yeah. Twi, can you still use magic?” Another ‘no’ came from the gagged mare. “No magic, no flying, no weapons, no getting untied, nothing. Great.” “Seems we’re really stuck. Well Twi… ...what happens now”