The first thing Celestia acknowledged as consciousness returned to her prone form was pain. She ached all over, in places she didn't know she even had. The second thing she noticed was her severe magical depletion. never in her long life had she ever been so drained, not against Discord, Sombra, or even her sister. Never before had she been so magically exhausted, as physical exhaustion would always take hold long before magical exhaustion even begun to approach. The last thing she noticed was the fact she was lying on hard stone, though a blanket had been draped over her. Cracking open a lilac eye, she began to take in her surroundings, the light level being low enough not to bring pain to her eye. looking around, she appeared to be within some sort of fortress. The place she was in was extremely spartan, having practically nothing in it. It was also quite large as well, and many symbols and designs of unknown meaning were etched into the walls and pillars of the fortress, giving the place a distinctly spiritual feel. The one thing that unnerved Celestia the greatest however, was the vast silence that literally oozed throughout the place. The howling wind outside was barely audible, like the silence was devouring the sound. her roaming eye then caught something that took her by extreme surprise. She was not alone in this place, for something was before her a little ways away. She had no idea what it was, for its body was concealed by a voluminous grey robe with a hood. by what she could make of it, it vaguely resembled a minotaur, but was much too slender. It appeared to be in some sort of crouch, and was facing away from her. Just then, there was the bang of a heavy door swinging open, startling her into a sitting position. The sound also caught the attention of the being in front of her. Footsteps echoed throughout the chamber, and although they were quiet, the silence pervading the place seemed to make them as loud as a rockslide. Another one of the strange robed beings walked into the chamber, causing the first being to rise and face it. the second being then noticed her.
"Ah, she's awake, good. Master Borri, fetch the Dragonborn, he'll want to know of this." With a bow, Borri left to do as bidden. The remaining being turned to face the nervous alicorn. "Can you speak, Kuhnviid?" Asked the being. Celestia blinked at the name the being had called her, but answered nonetheless.
"Yes, I can. What are you, and where am I?" She asked. the being seemed to frown in confusion at that.
"Surely a Kuhnviid would know what a common man is. As for where you are, you are in High Hrothgar, our monastery built upon the Throat of the World." Just then, the doors to the monastery opened once more, and the two were soon joined by the previous man Borri, and a third one that made Celestia wary. the newcomer was quite tall, standing taller than herself, her horn just reaching its shoulders. It was clad in thick jagged plate armour, with a helm that fully covered it's face, leaving only the eyes exposed. Between the eyes was a piece of metal that created a crest of sorts. strapped to it's back was the most wicked looking axe Celestia had ever laid witness to. It looked like a crudely fashioned mess, yet at the same time held a deadly elegance. Strapped to the newcomers waist were several packs, a small satchel, and two smaller axes. The thing that frightened Celestia the most about this creature was the power she could feel radiating from it. It was powerful enough to take her on at her peak, and have a solid chance of coming out on top.
"So," it- no, he, the voice was undoubtedly male- spoke. "the Kuhnviid is finally awake."
"Why do you keep calling me Kuhnviid?" Celestia asked, catching the newcomer by surprise.
"Because I have no idea what you're called in the common tongue and everyone else here mostly speaks Dovah." Was his reply. "Now, do you have a name?"
"I am princess Celestia, ruler of the sun in the land of Equestria. Though I suppose that means little here, seeing as I'm no longer within my world."
"My name is Tibus," Said the armoured man, who then gestured to the robed man to his left, the one she had been talking to previously. "This is master Arngeir, of the Greybeards. Now then, If you can walk, Celestia, come with me. Parthuurnax wishes to speak to you." Finding that she did have the strength to walk, despite a slight hobble in her steps due to her overall soreness, the group left the monastery and entered the courtyard outside. Once they reached the center, Tibus inhaled, then let loose a thundering bellow.
"Par Thuur Nax!" He roared, a concussive blast of power erupting with his voice. At first their was silence, then a roar tore through the calm. Celestia looked to the source, only to see what was undoubtedly a dragon, but unlike one she had ever seen before. It was much smaller than any other adult dragon she'd seen in Equestria, though that didn't make it any less dangerous as it was much faster than an Equestrian dragon. She also noticed it was structured a bit different than the dragons of her home. The dragon's wings were not separate limbs but were rather the forelimbs. Soon the dragon alighted upon the ground with a thud, facing the group.
"Drem yol lok, Dovahkiin." Greeted Parthuurnax, then turned his gaze to Celestia. "Alokah ahst laat, so you've awakened Kuhnviid.Tell us, how did you come here?" Deciding that withholding the information would not benefit her, Celestia told the group what had happened. Half an hour later, she had told them everything.
"So let me get this straight." Said Tibus. "You come from a different reality altogether? Is that possible Parthuurnax?" Said dragon hummed in thought.
"It is, with the proper Miiraak, portal. From the Kuhnviid's tale, we can assume her foe threw her into a space between worlds, and she managed to enter ours through the Tiid Ahraan, the time wound." The dragon then gazed at Celestia more intensely. "However, why is it that I feel the spark of Mundus within her? Why does the magic of Taazokaan, of Tamriel, resonate with her, faint as it is. Why does she feel like a being of our world, despite coming from another? So many questions, so few answers."
"Could she have been lying?" Tibus asked, causing Celestia to level a glare at him.
"Nok? No, the Kuhnviid speaks truth, which is why this is so confusing."
"Forgive my interruption," Said Celestia, garnering the attention of the two. "but is it possible to send me back?" Parthuurnax thought hard of a way, but none came to mind.
"Unslaad krosis, I cannot think of any way to do it." He replied.
"She came through the time wound, Parthuurnax, could she return through it as well?" Asked Tibus.
"Niin, no she cannot, Dovahkiin. How to explain in your tongue, she would be... cast adrift in the sea of space. Without a way to breach through her world's barrier, she will be unable to return to it. It was only because of her apparent connection to Mundus and the tiid ahraan that she was able to enter our world."
"So, I'm stuck here?" Asked Celestia, her voice trembling from the pain and fear of the information.
"Unslaad Krosis Kuhnviid." Was all Parthuurnax could say, then a thought struck him. "Although, there might be a way. Dangerous, but possible." At this, Celestia perked up.
"What is it? Please, any chance, no matter the danger, I'll take." She pleaded.
"The Kel. With the combined power of a Kel and a Thu'um, it just might be possible."
"Parthuurnax, how could an elder scroll help us with this, am I to read it so as to gain the knowledge of the words required?" Asked Tibus in confusion.
"Niin, Dovahkiin. We will use the power of the Kel itself. The ancient joore did this to cast out Alduin, we will be doing something similar."
"Alright then. Celestia will stay here then while I hunt down that scroll."
"Actually Dragonborn," Interjected Arngeir, who had been silent til then, "Celestia would need to come with you. We don't have the supplies to keep her here, and I have a feeling that she may be of use to you in your adventures."
"Absolutely not." Answered Tibus. "You've lived in this monastery for a long time Arngeir so I'll forgive your ignorance of Skyrim's many dangers, but I can't protect her from all of them and I'm unsure if she can protect herself. I don't have the time to keep a constant watch on her." Celestia snorted at this.
"I'm not a foal. I can take care of myself just fine." She said, annoyance in her tone.
"Oh really. Tell me then Celestia, could you bring down a massive cat as big as yourself that would try to make a meal of you? Could you combat a massive spider who's venom can freeze you like a winter night? Can you fend off a dragon like Parthuurnax, only much less civil? If you can do these things Celestia, and prove you can do them, I'll bring you along." With a snort, Celestia decided to prove herself. Parthuurnax had said she had a connection to Tamriel's magic, so she could use that. Squaring her shoulders, Celestia attempted to channel magic into her horn, and nothing happened. Again and again she tried, but nothing came of it. Upon seeing that Celestia could do nothing, Tibus shook his head. "I thought not. I'm sorry master Arngeir, she can't come with me."
"It still doesn't change the fact that we don't have the resources necessary to keep her here Dragonborn." Answered the greybeard.
"By the nine, fine. But only to Whiterun, she can stay at Breezehome until we can send her back." With that, Tibus headed back into the monastery, and with a final goodbye, Parthuurnax flew back up to the summit of the mountain. With a heavy sigh, Celestia was about to head inside as well, but Arngeir stopped her.
"Celestia, a moment of your time please?" He asked, and Celestia nodded, and Arngeir began. "I understand that you must be going through much, being cast out of your world and such. The Greybeards have devoted ourselves to the study of the Way of the Voice, thus we worship Kynareth, the mother of all Kuhnviid, though I see you would prefer to be called alicorn instead. High Hrothgar is always open to you Celestia, should you ever need it or us. It is our honor to assist a child of Kynareth. Sky guard you." Nodding, Celestia headed back into the monastery. Catching up with Tibus, the two made their way out of High Hrothgar, and to the summit of the seven thousand steps.
"Ready to go?" Asked Tibus, his voice carrying a faint note of irritation.
"Yes." Was all Celestia said, and together, the two began their descent.