The Dragonborn's icy blue gaze sighted down the shaft of the ethereal arrow. Down the hallway of the steamy Dwemer ruin, charging full throttle at the Imperial invading the past dwellings of it's creators, a Dwarven Sphere rapidly reduced the distance between them. The Dwarven construct, a man-sized automaton comprised of steaming bronze-toned metal and animated using techniques known only to it's creators, had been chasing him for quite some time. Dorian had needed to keep his distance so he could build up the magic for his bound bow, and to set up his little trap.
Moments before the Sphere came in striking distance, Dorian HollowBlade released his grip. The arrow pierced it's shoulder and staggered the construct, but did not prevent it's continued function. The Dragonborn stepped to the side as a fireball roiled past his head. The Sphere shattered into it's individual parts, which scattered across the floor.
The ball of searing heat had been tossed by the Atronarch he'd set in one of the ruin's numerous alcoves. The magical creature floated gently above the ground, waves of heat emanating from it's roughly-female form. This was one of Dorian's favorite summons, primarily due to his poor aim with a bow. He had been aiming for the automaton's 'head'.
Dorian touched the back of his head, and frowned. The fireball had seared through his mask's covering and singed his dark hair. He dispelled his bow and opened the door at the end of the hallway. He climbed up the spiral staircase to the enormous apparatus containing what he sought. The control panel, while simple, required a bit of effort to find the correct sequence of levers and buttons. The enormous metal contraption spun and shifted, eventually settling with the large multi-faceted metal container being held just in front of the platform.
Dorian walked out from behind the control panel, his ebony armor clanking loudly as he ascended the steps to his prize.
This Scroll was considerably easier to obtain, he thought solemnly. Those poor Dawnstar guards... The two of them fought bravely, but that damned Centurion came out of nowhere. Rest peacefully, my comrades.
He lifted the Elder scroll from it's perch, and examined it's exterior. It looked exactly like the Elder scroll of Time. Supposedly this would take him to the place Alduin resided, or rather, intended to conquer. It was fortunate that the artifact map in Mzulft now began to work properly, or he'd have never found this place. Parthenax had warned him that the land he would venture to was very different from Cyrodiil, or even Skyrim. He knew nothing of this place, other that with Alduin's presence, it's inhabitants would be in mortal danger.
He'd taken it upon himself to deliver it from the World Eater's evil. All that he had to do now was open the scroll. The Elder Scroll of Space.
Dorian took a deep breath, and exhaled. He unrolled the scroll and allowed himself to be engulfed in the violet star-field that spilled out. He was pulled in, and the scroll clattered to the stone floor, rolled up once again. Dorian's atronarch floated nearby for another few moments before returning to oblivion, leaving no further evidence of it's master's passing.
Dorian slowly came back to consciousness, the blackness fading from his mind as he began to generate coherent thought. The first thing he noticed was that he was on his back in a shallow crater in the snow. The second was that Hevnoraak had slipped off his face. He struggled for a moment, and finally found the energy to open his eyes. Wherever he was, the sun was just at the horizon. He couldn't tell whether it was setting or rising, though when he'd entered Ftulm for the scroll it had been rising. He looked around on the horizon. Farther to what he surmised was north was a large mountain range, and to the south he could see the tips of snowcapped hills. Then, straight ahead of him, he saw... a figure, on all fours, running in his direction.
He scrambled to his feet, readying, but not casting his atronarch summon and his bound sword. Whoever- or whatever- it was, it was not going to catch him off guard, nor did he want to frighten it off. The figure stopped for a moment, then continued towards him, a bit more slowly. As it drew near, Dorian noted that it walked on all fours, like a horse or an elk, and was shimmering magenta in body color. The hair, or a mane, he supposed, while rather solid and helmet like, was mostly grey with a streak of stark white running through it like a silver ore vein. It's eyes shone like glimmering amethyst crystals. Finally, it drew near enough to touch. At this point it was obviously some kind of diminutive horse.
"He... Hello?" She spoke, the voice unmistakably female.
Having met cat men, dragons, and talking dogs, this only stunned him for a moment. "Hello."
The small horse took a step back, as if surprised. She recollected herself, and asked him, "I saw you falling from the sky, with a huge flash of lightning or something. Are you alright?"
"Yes, I believe so." Dorian replied, bending down to pick up Hevnoraak again. The pony flinched as he touched it. "Is something the matter?"
"That mask..." She said uneasily. "Where did you get that mask?"
"It's rather too long of a story for me to talk about out here," Dorian said, pushing it into his bag, rather than donning it again. "Perhaps you know of a place where we may rest, and talk?"
"I... Well... Maybe..." She replied, digging at the snow with a forehoof. "I do have a safe house nearby. We can talk there, if you'd like."
"That would be wonderful." He gestured for the her to lead the way.
"So, Ice Strider," the dragonborn began, setting down his tea. "You still wonder about my mask, I presume."
"Well, yes, I do." the 'crystal pony' replied.
"It was an arduous journey, through an ancient Nordic ruin. I was on a mission to cleanse it of a lich, the Dragon Priest Hevnoraak, at the request of the guardian of his tomb. I dueled the priest in his weakened, low-power state, and defeated him. I took his iron mask as my reward. Does this satisfy your curiosity?"
Ice Strider let out a breath of relief. "Oh, thank Celestia. I was just afraid High-Priest Sombra had given it to you, or even worse, one of the dragons."
"High Priest Sombra?"
"I got the feeling you weren't from around here when you started talking about what, Nodric ruins? Anyways, High-Priest Sombra is the current ruler of... well, what was once my home. I barely made it out before the total lockdown. He made some kind of deal with the dragons, and they gave him a powerful crown. Now he's kicked out the prince and princess, and the Dragons are roosting in the castle and..." He shuddered. "Eating ponies."
"That sounds terrible," Dorian consoled. "Similar events took place back where I come from as well. Has anyone tried to oppose this, High-Priest?"
"Yes. But they were banished, and many ponies think them to be dead. He even overpowered the previous rulers, and broke the Crystal Heart. Anypony left in the Crystal empire is either hiding, enslaved, or dragon food."
"What about the neighboring lands? Have they attempted to intervene? Are they struck with a similar dilemma?"
"I haven't heard any news from the Griffon empire, Saddle Arabia, or Equestria. Contact was basically cut off when Sombra took over."
"So you don't know any more about the situation," Dorian surmised, doing his best not to smile at the comedic name of a country. "Why don't you go out and look for help? I've done so for the sake of the people of Riverwood."
"I... I thought I'd just wait it out, wait for the Elements of Harmony to fix things," Ice Strider said, looking at the floor. "They always do. They always have."
Dorian was silent for a moment. "You're jealous of these 'Elements of Harmony,' aren't you? You wish you were the hero."
Ice Strider looked up, face flushing with color. "N-no, no I'm not!"
The Dovahkiin looked at her hard.
"Okay, maybe a little." she admitted sheepishly.
"Come with me. You can alert the neighboring empires, perhaps gain their assistance. You'll be welcomed with open arms in their cities. Who knows, you may even become Thane."
"Thane?"
"Nevermind. Will you join me?"
"I... Well..." Ice Strider stammered, soon regaining her composure.. "I guess... Yes. Just let me get my things, alright?" "I'll be waiting." Dorian said, satisfied with the outcome of his inquiry. Now he had an ally who at least knew they lay of the land, and would mark him as less suspicious of a character.
It was obvious this 'Sombra' was a Dragon Priest. Alduin himself must have granted him power, and by extent, dominion over the Crystal ponies. He'd need to go through him before he could take down the Dragon. And no doubt that he had been seen by others when he fell. It was only a matter of time before the World Eater sent dragons to kill him. Once again, he'd have to take them down, one by one, until all that remained was those who sided with him, and Alduin.
I'm starting over, Dorian thought to himself. Once more, I can start over. Once more, I must save the world from the World Eater's wrath.