The Harmony Scrolls V: Manerim

"So, we're off to Whitetrot. This should be interesting." Alex said, walking ahead of Dash, admiring the scenery. He still couldn't get over how amazing Manerim looked. Skyrim looked good, but this looked so real. When he got home he doubted he would be able to play it the same way again.

"Yep, Whitetrot. Quite a peaceful place. Some people consider it the Celestial City of Manerim, only quieter and smaller. It's smack dab in the middle of Manerim. Trading center, too. Only problem with it is that the Jarl hasn't picked a side in the war. But if he's a true Rim Pony, he'll pick the Lunarians for sure." Dash explained, trotting back up to Alex.

Alex and Rainbow Dash walked side by side for a while admiring the scenery when Alex saw a robed pony standing by the road. The mysterious pony was wearing an orange robe with a stitched on hood. The really strange thing about the pony though, was that it had paws instead of hooves.

"No fuckin' way. Is that M'aiq The Liar?" Alex said, pointing to the strange pony. "I have no idea. I don't know much about Khajiit Ponies. Looks like one of them though." Dash said, sitting on a rock inspecting her sword.

Alex walked up to who he thought was M'aiq, the informative Khajiit of Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim.

"Of course you're here. You had to be here. This Manerim is Skyrim, just filled with pony stuff." Alex said, looking into M'aiq's eyes in wonderment and realization.

"M'aiq knows not of this Skyrim. M'aiq knows Manerim, that is all." M'aiq said, looking past Alex down the road, towards Whitetrot.

Alex looked down the north road too, and saw Whitetrot towering above the empty plains. "Whiter- er, Whitetrot." Alex said, correcting himself.

"Well, M'aiq knows that Whitetrot is closed. Dragons in the sky, they say." The mysterious Khajiit Pony said, looking up in the sky nervously.

"We'll keep that in mind."

"Rainbow, lets go. I'd like to see the Jarl before dark." Alex said, looking over his sword for any imperfections.

"Yeah, hold on." Dash said nervously. Her mind was in a trance, hey eyes fixed on a dragon soaring through the sky with such intensity you'd think she was trying to read it's mind.

"Dash?" Alex said with a hint of concern in his voice. Dash kept her eyes fixed on the dragon, not moving a millimeter. Alex rubbed her wing. She didn't even moan, she just got a wing-boner and kept staring at the dragon. "Jesus..." Alex said in amazement.

Finally the entrancing dragon flew away and Dash snapped back to reality. She rubbed her burning, rose colored eyes. "Damn...How long was I in a daze for?" Dash said wearily, rubbing her eyes some more. "About 5 minutes, Dash. I hope you're alright." Alex said, comforting her.

"Yeah...I'll be fine." Dash said , still in a daze. The pair began walking down the north once again towards Whitetrot.

About 10 minutes later, they stood in front of the huge gates of Whitetrot. The high stone walls guarding surrounding the city were cracked, weak, and covered in moss and vines in some areas. A guard clad in a yellow tunic over chain mail trotted
up to the pair. "Halt, travelers. City's clo-" The guard was cut off. "Yeah, yeah, Closed with the dragons about, official business only. Riverwood calls for the Jarl's aid." Alex finished.

"Alright, but I'll be keeping an eye on you two. Especially you, thing." The guard said, pointing at Alex.

The guard pulled a large key out of his pocket and stuck it into the key-slot in the door. He turned the key and it clicked. The guard pushed the gate open.

The smell of smoke from the nearby forge filled Alex's nostrils. Foals playing in the street. A light brown mare dressed in a worn red dress and apron, soot in her mane, her fore hooves covered in ash, scars, and grime. Clearly she is the blacksmith. She was arguing with a pale white stallion protected by light, white and yellow armor. "We must have more swords for the Celestian soldiers!" The soldier argued.

The smith shook her head. "I just don't know if I'm capable of filling in an order that big. Why not swallow that stubborn pride of yours and ask Eurland Grey-Mane for help?" She suggested.

"Pfft. I'd sooner bend my knee to Princess Luna." The soldier said, then walked off. The smith went back to work at her anvil, shaping a piece of molten metal into a shortsword.

Alex looked around, silently, in awe. "Ever been here before?" Alex asked. "Plenty of times. But that was a while ago. Before the war, I hunted for the family, Gerdur chopped wood, and every week I would take the wood to Whitetrot to trade." Now, I mostly stay with Luna." Dash said, watching the smith shape the sword.

Alex leaned up against a wall and Rainbow sat down on her haunches. Their eyes met, Alex staring into Dash's bright, rose colored eyes, the pegasus staring into Alex's. They broke the staring, and stayed silent for about a minute or two, when Alex abruptly broke the silence. "Well, I think we should get to the Jarl." Alex stretched his arms, and yawned.

"The Jarl is up in Dragonsreach." Alex said, pointing the towering structure, it's weathered face looked down on the streets of Whitetrot.

"Lets go then." Alex and Rainbow Dash walked up the central road towards the trading circle, where stands were set up with merchants and customers. "Hey, want to have a race?" Dash asked, grinning like a crazy person. Or pony.

"Sure. Meet you in Dragonsreach?" Alex replied. "You bet." Dash said, and flew away like a bullet. He ran up the steps and into the cloud district, shoes making no sound on the smooth stone. He ran up the next set up steps, his heart beating like a war drum, his face hot and red. He made it to the top of the steps, and stepped slowly across the wooded walkway. He eased open the great double doors of Dragonsreach.

High windows and candles let in light, illuminating the huge building. It must have taken ages to build this place.
Rainbow Dash leaned against a beam supporting the high ceiling. "Shh." She held her hoof to her muzzle. The place was quiet, except for the crackling fire before the Jarl. Dash slowly trotted up the steps before the fire, Alex by her side.

"Halt! What is the meaning of this interruption? The Jarl is not taking visitors at this time." Irileth, a Dark Pony, with pointed ears and dark purple fur, the Jarl's protector, stepped in front of the pair, firmly stopping them. She held a sword in her hoof, ready to strike at a moments notice.

"We are messengers, sent by Riverwood. Riverwood calls for the Jarl's aid. They're worried about the Dragons." Alex said, holding his hands up as if he was surrendering to Irileth.

"Calm down Irileth, lets see what they have to say." Saddlegruuf said. Irileth sheathed her sword and stepped back to the Jarl's side.

"So, you have news from Riverwood?" The Jarl asked. "Yes. Helgen was destroyed by a Dragon. My friend and I escaped to Riverwood. Riverwood was worried they would get hit also, so they sent us here to ask for your aid."

Saddlegruuf stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Riverwood will receive a group of soldiers..." He began. Alex and Dash bro-hoofed for a job well done. "But you must complete a task for my court wizard, Zecora. The pair groaned like a couple of foals when given a grueling homework assignment.

"Come, I will take you to Zecora." The Jarl stepped down from his throne and led the pair into a small room, with a roughly drawn map of Manerim, several magical stones, and a few books laying around on a simple wooden table. A zebra stepped out of a closet with another book in it's mouth.

The exotic creature set the book down on the table and began speaking . "Ah, I am Zecora, I am a mage, I've learned many-a-spell from many-a-page. I need you pair to delve into a most dangerous tomb, what you must find, is an ancient dragon heirloom." Zecora rhymed. Alex thought for a minute. "So, we need to go to Bare Hooves Barrow and retrieve the Dragonstone. Seems legit."

"Yes, I shall have a reward for you both when you complete this task. You two should really head to the Bannered Mare to sleep. It's getting late." Saddlegruuf suggested.

"Thank you for having us, Jarl." Alex said. The pair left the room and headed down the steps towards the wide double doors. They pushed the door open and stepped out into the cool Manerim air. "C'mon, Dash. The Bannered Mare is just down in the circle." Alex led her down the steps and into the wide trading circle. He pushed open the door to the Mare and held it for Dash. "Ladies first."

Alex fell in behind her after walking inside casually walked up to the inn keeper. "Excuse me, ma'am, but I'd like a room with 2 beds, for one night."

"Ok, that will be 30 bits." The keeper said. Hmm. I remember picking up some gold in the cave... He thought to himself as he searched his pockets. "Here it is..." He muttered to himself as he found his fingers closing around a sack of coins. He quickly counted out the money and handed it over to the keeper. "Your room is the one upstairs, on the right. Have a nice stay." The keeper said as Alex walked off.

"C'mon Dash. I got us a room." Alex walked up the wooden stairs with Dash behind. He opened the door and the pair stepped inside. Dash wrinkled her nose. "It needs to be about twenty percent cooler." She said, jumping into a bed.

"Man, I wish this was a cloud bed. Much better than a mattress."

Alex began to take his shirt off when he asked Dash a question. "Um...Dash? Do you mind If I sleep naked in my bed?" Alex said, blushing.

"Everyone sleeps naked, silly. I don't know if humans sleep naked but ponies do. It's fine with me if you want."

Alex then took the rest of his clothes off, and jumped into bed. "Night Dash." He said. "Night Alex." Dash said.

And then they slept.