(Canterlot Castle, One week after meeting, Sheogorath/James P.O.V)
I sat with Celestia in the dining hall eating breakfast. I was eating strawberry pancakes with some hash browns and I was drinking some orange juice. Celestia was eating the same thing, however she was drinking grape juice. “What bothers you, my Prince of Madness?” Celestia sweetly asked after taking a sip from her grape juice. “It’s just so odd that we’re going to a place that just about every one of us dislikes because it houses the souls of the unaffiliated.” I reply with a slight frown.
“Oh come now, not everyone can be apart of your cults, besides, you still have me to cheer you up.” She replies as she pecks me on the cheek. “I guess you’re right, but the Soul Cairn still creeps me out.” I reply with a smile. “No arguments there.” She giggled. “I swear by my beard, that she’ll be the only being to keep me somewhat sane!” I mentally exclaim. “Y’know, after this is all over, what’cha think about bein’ my wife?” I asked with an endearing smile. “I thought you’d never ask.” She replies with a smile as we both lean in for our first kiss. When our lips first touched, I could feel the softness, and warmth of her pristine fur. I tasted the sweet syrup from her pancakes, and I loved it. Then we had to separate for some air. “Wow! That was the best kiss of my life.” She said happily.
“Best kiss of your life so far.” I said with a slight growl. I moved my plate and drink next to Celestia’s and took my place beside her and she began nuzzling into my shoulder. We stayed like this for a little while, then we heard the sound of Luna and Kai coming towards us.
(Kai’s P.O.V, 10 minutes earlier Luna’s Bedroom)
Luna and I were lying in bed cuddling after returning from the portal construction site last night. “I can believe how much progress they made after nearly a week of work.” I said as I yawned and stretched. “When you have different groups of beings working together for a similar goal, like saving the world.” Luna said with a nuzzle. “True, but it’s still amazing.” I replied as I pecked her cheek. “No arguments there my dear.” She replied as she began to stretch and preen her wings. “Need some help?” I asked. “If you could gently pluck the third feather on the second row, the first on the third on my left, I can handle my right.” She instructed. I gently ran my fingers through her soft feathers and the feathers she specified fell to the mattress and I collected them to use as writing quills later.
“I see you like repurposing my feathers.” Luna said with a sly grin on her face. “Yeah, it’s terrible to just pass up on a good opportunity to make use of something that’s commonly discarded.” I defended with a slight blush growing on my cheeks. “Hehe, I’m just messing with you, I don’t mind. In fact I find it rather sweet and inspired seeing as we Equestrians will have to adapt to a new life when this is all over.” Luna said after she gave me the last molted feather she plucked from her wing. “Yup, things will be different, but I think that it’s for the best, now let’s get something to eat I’m starving.” I said as I got up from the bed and opened the door waiting for Luna to go through first. “Ladies first.” I said with a bow as she passed. “Oh my, what a gentleman.” Luna said as she walked out of the room with a smile and brushed her tail across my waist. “Anything for you, my queen of the night.” I mutter softly.
(Castle dining room, Present time, 3rd P.O.V)
As Kai and Luna at their breakfasts in silence, Celestia saw how happy Luna was with her fiance, and if Luna was happy, then things would be fine. After their meals were done, they began discussing their next course of action to recruit the Ideal Masters in the fight against Jyggalag. “So, do you really think that they’ll listen?” Celestia asked. “They’ll have no choice, I mean, Jyggalag has probably made it so nobody enters the Soul Cairn upon death, and that would make them pretty peeved.” Kai stated as the made it back to Luna’s room.
“We’ll continue this after I get my gear together.” He said as he opened the door, went into the room, then closed the door. After about five, or ten minutes of waiting Kai came out of Luna’s room wearing his black Dovah-plate armour, with black Dovah-mail underneath, and he had his signature weapon, Soul Snare, on his right hip, and his amulet. “Alright, now we need to still give the Ideal Masters something in exchange for their help, otherwise they won’t help us at all.” Kai said as if no time had passed from the previous conversation.
“What does that mean?” Luna asked with a hint of worry. “It means that they won’t help unless they get a soul that they find satisfactory to seal the deal.” Sheogorath replied with a frown. “Oh.” Luna deadpanned. “Yeah, but it’s either we give them what they want, or we went through all of this for nothing.” Kai said as he placed an armoured hand on Luna’s shoulder with a small smile. “I want to come with you, and you can’t change my mind.” Luna replied. “Well if you come with me then I’ll have to partially Soul Trap you so the Soul Cairn doesn’t consume your soul as payment, are you sure you want that?” Kai asked with his brows furrowed, not in anger, but seriousness.
Luna inhaled deeply, “Yes, I want to follow you and see this place for myself. I don’t care what we have to do, but if you even try to leave without me, then I’ll make you miserable until our wedding day!” Luna said with slight growl as the words came out of her mouth. “She’s got’cha there laddy, the woman can and will make your life a livin’ nightmare.” Sheogorath said as he nuzzled Celestia. “Alright fine, you can come, but before we do this, a warning: After we’re done there we’ll need to retrieve your essence gem just so we can get in and out without any long lasting consequences.” Kai said to Luna as he prepared his spell to partially Soul Trap her. “I know, and I accept what we must do.” Luna said with determination. “Okay, now hold still, this’ll sting a bit.” Kai said as he casted his spell. “Alright let’s go.” Luna said she tried to fly, but she couldn’t for very long. “Remember you have only half of your true power now.” Sheogorath said with his trademark grin. Luna blushed in response. “Alright I’ll send ya to the portal.” Sheogorath said as he snapped his fingers.
(Soul Cairn Portal, Molag Bal’s P.O.V)
“What is taking so long?!” I thought angrily as I waited for Kai to arrive so we could get this disgusting business over with. “Calm down my Lord, he’ll come, this was his idea after all.” My champion Queen Chrysalis, of the Changelings said as she tried to placate my rage. “I know, but I’m bored!” I sighed exasperatedly. “Hehe, I know a way to keep you occupied.” The Changeling, now Vampire said seductively. It amazed me that she was very well versed in utilizing seduction as a weapon. “I knew I made the right choice for my champion.” I say as I pull her close to me and lightly bite her ear. Before we could go any further, a portal appeared and Kai along with his fiance walked out of it. “About time you showed up!” I growled.
“Whatever, at least you don’t have to worry about getting married after this is over, and I had to partially Soul Trap Luna because she wanted to come.” Kai stated matter-of-factly. “Whatever, let’s just get this over with.” I said with an exasperated sigh. “For once I agree with you.” Kai said as he looked at the ingredients we needed to enter the Soul Cairn. “Okay, we have just about everything we need, now all we need is the blood of a Pureblood Vampire, or a Daedric Prince.” He said as he pulled a dagger from his bottomless satchel. After making a cut on his forearm and letting his blood mix with the other ingredients, the ground began to shake and the floor opened a portal that had a purple hue to it. “Well here we go, the Soul Cairn awaits.” Kai said as he began walking down the steps the portal created. “I’ll stay here with Chrysalis to make sure nothing follows you two in, or gets killed by the portal.” I said. Kai nodded in response. “Good luck, brother.” I muttered softly as Luna and Kai disappeared from sight.
(Soul Cairn, 3rd P.O.V)
Once the blinding light from the portal cleared, Kai and Luna gazed upon a blue hued, desolated, wasteland that housed the souls of the dead from centuries past. “It’s oddly beautiful, I wasn’t really expecting that.” Luna said with an awed tone. “Yeah, I’d love to sightsee too, but we have work to do.” Kai said with a slight chuckle. Luna blushed at Kai’s comment, but he was right, after all the fate of the universe depended on it. “Okay we need to head towards those ruins over there.” Kai said as he pointed towards a large building in the distance. “What type of resistance should be expected?” Luna asked curiously. “Boneman, Mistman, Guardians, Wrathman, and Durnehviir.” Kai said as they walked down the steps. “Okay stay on guard, our enemies can creep up on us at any point, let’s hope we can make it without attract a lot of attention.” Kai said as he carefully eyed their surroundings. “Kai, if you climb on my back, I could get us there faster.” Luna offered. “Fine, but only because I don’t want to deal with too many enemies.” Kai said with an intense blush on his face.
After about ten minutes of traversing the Soul Cairn, Kai and Luna finally made it to their destination. “Wait here, there’s somebody up there.” Kai warned. Luna nodded and stayed put as Kai went up to greet the stranger. “Serana, is that you?” Kai asked as he looked at the young woman in front of him. “Kai?! What are you doing here?!” Serana shouted as she hugged her friend. “I came here to get the help of the Ideal Masters in my fight against Jyggalag.” Kai said as he let the Vampire go. “Oh, well I came here to do that too, but I was too late.” Serana said in a defeated tone. “Hey, I’m here, and I have an offer they’d be stupid to refuse. Also I want you to meet someone. Luna you can come up now.” Kai said as he turned towards where Luna was hiding. “Serana, meet my fiance Luna. Luna, this is Serana, my first Vampiric friend.” Kai said as he introduced the two females to one another. “Nice to meet you.” Serana said with a bow of her head. “Same to you.” Luna said as she repeated the gesture.
“Now that introductions are out of the way, we need to see the Ideal Masters, and there’s only one being who can help us, and that’s Durnehviir.” Kai said as he led them towards the Boneyard. After entering the Boneyard, the unmistakable sound of a dragon roaring could be heard. “Well Durnehviir knows we’re here now.” Serana said in a flat tone. “It would seem that way.” Luna said as she looked to the sky and say a dragon land in front of them. “Drem Yol Lok Durnehviir.” Kai said with a smile. “It is most glorious to see you once more Qahnaarin!” Durnehviir replied happily. “It’s been so long since I’ve called you to aid me, but right now I have a favor to ask of you.” Kai said with a slight frown. “You wish to speak to them don’t you?” Durnehviir asked with a growl when he mentioned ‘them’. “Yeah, see we need their help to defeat Jyggalag.” Kai replied with urgency. Durnehviir nodded in understanding, after all he enjoyed Kai’s company, and he valued him as a friend. “Climb on Fahdon and bring your companions with you, I will only make this flight once.” Durnehviir responded as he turned around to allow Luna and Serana to climb on to his back. “We’re all set, let’s do this.” Kai said. Durnehviir pushed off the ground and began to flap his enormous wings, he stabilized himself after a few seconds due to the weight of two other passengers, and flew towards the Ideal Masters’ Citadel.
(Some time later…)
After a long, silent flight on Durnehviir, the Ideal Masters’ citadel was in sight. “Hopefully thing will go smoothly.” Serana muttered to herself as she, Luna, and Kai dismounted Durnehviir. “I concur with you Vampire, but don’t trust just hope, it’s folly.” Durnehviir said with a snort. “Forgive me for withholding my enthusiasm.” Luna said flatly. “You have the most interesting taste in companions Qahnaarin. I very much enjoy the equine’s sense of humor.” Durnehviir said with a slight chuckle. “Yeah my fiance sure knows how to be a barrel of laughs.” Kai said with a smile as he looked at Luna. “Also Qahnaarin, would it be too much of me to ask you to unbind me from this place? I would like to be by your side rather than here.” Durnehviir requested. “I’ll see what I can do.” Kai said as he walked towards Luna and Serana. The two females looked at their Daedric companion with concerned looks. “It’s best if we leave him be for now.” Luna said as they entered the citadel.
(Ideal Masters’ Citadel Kai’s P.O.V)
As we strode through the Ideal Masters’ citadel, encountering the usual enemies I had Durnehviir’s request to rejoin the living rampaging in my mind. “He deserves it, he’s a prisoner here! He deserves to be free! He’s a great friend to me, so I owe him after everything he’s done for me over the centuries!” I thought to myself as I killed another Guardian. I really owed Durnehviir this favor, especially after all his help over the centuries. “If those bastards tell me ‘no’ I’ll teach them about pain!” I angrily growled as we ascended to the final courtyard where there were six Guardians standing outside the Sanctum. “Let us pass to see your masters, or face our wrath!” I yelled confusing the Guardians. The Guardians must have received a mental command from their masters to stand down and let us pass. I pushed the Sanctum’s doors open and we walked in to see three figures that had white robes with hoods obscuring their faces. “Welcome Lord of Morals, to what do we owe this unexpected visit?” The Master on the right asked with mock curiosity. “You know very damn well why I’m here!” I hissed through gritted teeth. “I told you being a prick would only agitate him.” The Master on the left said with an irritated tone. “Enough! Lord Kai is here to ask our favor, let him speak!” The middle Master shouted angrily. “At least one of you has common sense.” Luna said. “Now that we have that out of the way, I’m sure you three already know about Jyggalag.” I said getting nods from all three of the Ideal Masters.
After explaining the plan to the Ideal Masters, they seemed to be all for it, but I remembered the favor I owed Durnehviir. “Also, I want Durnehviir to be released from his station here. You all know that he would rather serve me than you, so if you don’t grant this request, I will show you what happens to people who refuse my request after putting up with all of this crap!” I said with my anger seeping into my voice. “It’s obvious that you’re adamant about this, so there’s no point in arguing with a Daedric Prince, so tell Durnehviir that he is free, and you have our support in your campaign against Jyggalag.” The middle Master said with a calm tone. “Thank you, I’m sorry if I was acting like a prick, but you have to understand that he’s done a lot for me, it’s the least I can do for him, and if Jyggalag wins, then we’re all doomed.” I said as I felt tears stinging my eyes. “We understand, and we hope that this ends with victory.” The Masters said simultaneously. “Thanks, now we need to leave, and you must prepare your forces, we’ll see you before we start out attack.” I said as the five of us went through the Sanctum’s door. Durnehviir seemed more alive than before. “Ah Qahnaarin, I assume that you’ve succeeded in requesting my freedom?” The dragon asked excitedly. “I have, and the even restored Luna’s soul so she can fly on her own now.” I replied happily. “Excellent! Let us depart to the living world together!” Durnehviir exclaimed as he lowered his head so I could ride him, while Serana mounted Luna and we took off towards the portal. “All I have to do is call your name as I normally would, but you’ll be free to do as you please.” I said as I saw Luna and Serana went through the portal. “I’ll be awaiting your call Fahdon.” Durnehviir said as he flew away.
(Equestria, Soul Cairn Portal, 3rd P.O.V.)
Molag Bal and Chrysalis were patiently waiting for Kai and Luna to return with, hopefully, good news. In the meantime, The Daedric Prince of Domination was trying to come to terms with his feelings for the Changeling Queen. “So is this love that I’m feeling? If it is, then I’m glad it’s with somebody who mirrors my interests.” Molag thought to himself as he saw Luna and another woman emerge from the portal with Kai coming up from behind. When Molag saw the second woman, he couldn’t believe that he was seeing Serana Volkihar standing before him. “Well, look at this unexpected pleasure, it’s so good to see you again Serana.” Molag said with a slightly sinister grin on his face. “Leave her be Molag, I have good news for once.” Kai said as he stepped between Serana and Molag. “What did they say?” Molag asked. “They’ll help us, all we have to do is send one person to inform them of when we’re ready to attack.” Kai said as he was heading towards the entrance of the chamber. “What are you doing?” Molag asked clearly confused. “I’m going to summon Durnehviir, and I can’t do that in here.” Kai stated matter-of-factly as he left them behind. “DURNEHVIIR!”Kai shouted and in an instant Durnehviir appeared and judging from the sparkle in his eye, he was overjoyed to be in the realm of the living again. “Fahdon! I thank you profusely, no words can describe my emotions at this moment!” The formerly cursed dov exclaimed in joy. “You’re welcome my old friend, now if I need you, I’ll call on you, until then farewell.” Kai said with a smile. “Farewell, fahdon.” Durnehviir said as he took to the boundless skies above him, roaring in delight of finally being freed from the Soul Cairn. “I think things are going to be just fine.” Kai said as he watched Durnehviir fly away and walked back towards the Soul Cairn Portal. “Ok we should head back to Canterlot with Serana so we can get ready for the final portion of this campaign.” Kai said as Molag, Serana, Luna, and Chrysalis were just playing an impromptu game of poker. “Finally we have the means to defeat Jyggalag!” Molag shouted triumphantly as he and Chrysalis disappeared in a burst of purple flames. “Shall we be off?” Luna asked with a smile. “Let’s go home.” Kai said as purple flames enveloped Luna, Serana, and himself, sending them to Canterlot to rest for the battle ahead.