Chapter 12: Martin Septim

On the way, they saw a statue near the castle.

"Is that it?" Shadic asked.

"Maybe."

They walked up to the statue and looked at it. The dragon was standing on four legs, and wings were on its back.

"You think this is it?" Sonic asked.

"Possibly," Shadow said.

Sonic walked forward and touched it, running his fingers along the stone. Suddenly a bright glow came from the statue. Sonic yanked his hand away and stared at the statue, which was still glowing. The stone melted away, revealing golden scales. Soon the entire state had become a living, breathing dragon. It looked at Sonic and dipped its head.

"I thank you for freeing me," it said. "I am Martin Septim, the last Dragonborn."

"The last Dragonborn? What happened to you?" Sonic asked.

The dragon sighed, closing its eyes momentarily. "Akatosh turned me into a dragon in order to defeat Mehrunes Dagon. I killed the demon but transformed into a statue afterwards."

"Why'd you turn into a statue?"

"Akatosh told me that I was to be immortalized through time as an important monument as a reminder of what happened."

"Oh. I guess that makes sense."

The dragon smiled. "What is your name? I can sense that you are a Dragonborn."

"Sonic." Shadow and Shadic wondered if they should introduce themselves as well. Sonic looked at them. "This is Shadow and Shadic."

"Nice...nice to meet you," Shadic told Martin nervously as the dragon stretched his wings, flapping them for a few moments.

"Is there a reason you had a vision about seeing this guy?" Shadow asked.

Sonic shook his head. "I'm not sure."

"Maybe he's supposed to help us somehow?" Shadic suggested.

The blue hedgehog looked at Martin. "Can you help us defeat Alduin?"

"That is the Dragonborn's duty."

"So you will?"

The dragon nodded. "If I can."

Sonic grinned. "Great."

Martin smiled, and Shadic looked at him. He had never seen a dragon like Martin before.

"You don't look like the dragons we're used to," Shadic said.

"What kind of dragons are you used to?" Martin asked.

"Two legs. Wings in the front on their arms."

"Those are wyverns, not dragons. Wyverns are the dragon-like creatures you keep seeing. Dragons have four legs and wings on their back."

"They are? I always heard them being called dragons."

"Really?" The dragon asked. "Strange..."

"What's the difference?" Shadow asked. "Either way, they're monstrous lizards."

Martin growled. "I am not a monster."

"I didn't call you a monster."

"You said that they're monstrous lizards. That meant dragons in general. I'm a dragon."

"That's what they are, aren't they? Overgrown lizards with extra stuff added to them. Ancient creatures that wish to use their powers to take control of the world again and enslave the other races."

"Not all dragons are evil," Martin said. "Take me for example, or Akatosh. Also Frobranir and Paarthurnax."

"I know my history. That doesn't change the fact that most dragons-" Shadow looked away and crossed his arms. "Never mind."

Martin flapped his wings anxiously. "I think I'm going to go for a quick flight. You three can come with me if you want."

"Nah, we're good," Sonic said. "Thanks though."

"Very well. I will be back shortly." The dragon flapped his great wings and flew into the air. Half an hour later, Martin came back. "The world is very different from what I remember," the dragon said.

"It is?"

"Indeed. The Oblivion Crisis was 1000 years ago. So, where are you three headed?"

Sonic looked at the others. Finally he looked back at the dragon. "We're not sure. I'd like to find my brother, Manic. He was kidnapped by werewolves, and he's a vampire."

"That's not good."

"Can you help us find him?"

"I can try. It may be difficult if the werewolves don't want to be found."

"Do you have any suggestions?" Shadic asked the dragon.

"Look in caves. You could try asking vampires. If werewolves are hunting them for something, they'd surely be able to tell you something."

"Where should we go now?" Sonic asked Shadow.

"I'm not sure. We still need to find those walls," Shadow replied.

"All right." Sonic looked at Martin. "Do you know where the other walls are at?"

The dragon shook his head. "I'm afraid not."

"Did the wall tell you the location of another?" Shadow asked Sonic.

"Nope," Sonic said.

"Well, great. How are we going to find out where the next wall is?"

Martin smiled; he knew a way. "The Walls can be found in crypts. Deep underground, and in remote areas people don't often travel to."

"Awesome," Sonic said. "Can you take us?"

The dragon chuckled and lay down, allowing them to get on his back. "I know of one in the snowy mountain regions. A Dragonpriest rests there as well."

He flew into the sky, heading for the mountains. They watched the world go by under them as they flew.

"How long were you a dragon before you became a statue, Martin?" Shadic asked the dragon.

"A few hours. Maybe a day."

"Do you like being a dragon?"

"Of course. Do you have any idea what it's like to have this kind of power at your disposal?"

"Not really, no. What's it like?"

"It's incredible. There's nothing like it."

"Aren't dragons immortal?" Shadow asked, and Martin nodded.

"They are."

"Cool," Sonic said. "So you don't have to worry about dying. What did you think about being a statue?"

"I wasn't happy about it."

"Why's that?"

"Who would want to be a statue?"

"Fair enough. Were you totally inanimate as a statue, or could you tell what was going on around you?"

"I had no idea what was going on around me. It was like I was stuck in a void."

"That must suck."

Martin sighed. "I suppose it was necessary to be one, though, because of the importance of it." A few hours later, Martin brought them to the mountain where the Word Wall was. He let them off and looked at them. "The Dragonpriest is in that sarcophagus."

Sonic walked up to the sarcophagus and opened it. He looked inside.

"Hey! Don't wake him up!"

The Dragonborn gulped and began to closed the lid, but it was too late. A skeletal hand gripped onto his wrist.