(Griffonstone, Gilda’s P.O.V)
As the morning sun rose over Griffonstone, I felt confident in my ability to lead my fellow Griffons back to glory. “Time to move.” I said to myself as I stretched my wings, hind legs, and talons to help me wake up for a really big day. “Morning Gramps.” I said as I walked past my grandfather with a smile. The old griffon yawned in exhaustion before looking at me with astonishment. “Why Gilda, I’ve never seen you this lively since you got into Flight School in Cloudsdale.” He stretched out his back to hear a few pops coming from the spine. “You’ll see why I’m so happy Gramps, just watch and see.” I said as I flew off into the town of Griffonstone. I found most of the Griffons standing around the town square just going about their daily routines. The real disappointment was that my home was a terrifying shithole. “Things are about to change.” I thought to myself as I took a deep breath and headed for the old castle ruins. “Attention everygriffon, I’ve got something to tell you.” I said with a grin. All the griffons turned to see me and approached to hear what I had to say.
“Well now that I have your complete, undivided attention. I am proud to announce that I Grizelda Behertz will be taking the throne of Griffonstone as Queen as decreed by our new deity, Hircine.” I said with a confident smile. I heard whispers of the crowd asking themselves if I was in my right mind. “Just who is this Hircine and why should we accept you as our queen?” A male griffon asked in a perplexed manner. “Hircine is the Daedric Prince of the Hunt, and has made me his alpha of his new hunting pack, and has made me queen.” I explained. “Prove that he exists, and maybe we’ll believe you.” A Griffoness said as she began to leave. “You will not go anywhere, weakling!” A dark, yet gruff voice echoed that gave the crowd a shivering fear that a god was angry. “Who was that? Come out and show yourself!” The Griffoness said as she looked around for the source of the voice. “Try looking behind you.” Hircine said through my body. The Griffoness looked behind and saw me but with a far more, possessed feature. “W-What?!” The Griffoness asked in pure shock as the rest of the crowd were just as stunned as she was. “Wait, this has to be some sort of joke. C’mon Behertz stop the act and make some damn sense!” She said sounding desperate to rationalize what was going on. “You will not speak to your new ruler this way! I have chosen her for her prowess at stealth, and might. I am Hircine and your people shall kneel to my champion, or suffer my wrath!” Hircine replied with vigor. The crowd of griffons were in complete terror and kneeled towards me, shivering in fright. “I demand you to obey her when I leave her, for she leads my hunting pack now. If you disobey or rebel against her, I will make you suffer!” Hircine said as I felt his presence leave my body. “Any questions, comments, or concerns?” I asked with a smirk. “No, Queen Gilda!” The crowd exclaimed as they kneeled in respect. “First order of business, we need to fix up this shithole we call home.” I said as I pointed out the ruins we called home.
(Dreamscape, Kai’s P.O.V)
It was a calm dream, just relaxing in the snowy foothills of the Throat of the World, and enjoying the beauty of the morning sunrise. All of that soon faded away to the lush, green beauty that was Equestria. I saw my fiance Luna smiling at me and stretching out her arm, inviting me to join her, but then she faded as well as the beautiful green fields and vast cities. They were all replaced by a crystal-like growth in the ground, the skies were gray, and dull, and the air was chilling, but not freezing cold. “What is happening? This is not how Equestria is supposed to be!” I shouted in complete disbelief. “This is the possible future if you should fail to defeat Jyggalag, good Listener.” A dark, yet familiar voice responded. “Sithis, what do you mean this is the future if I fail?” I asked as I saw a shadowy figure. “Exactly as I mean my child, if you should fail the world you now call home shall share the same fate as Nirn, and only pure absolute order shall exist.” Sithis replied as he appeared to my left. “How can I prevent this?” I asked Sithis. “Commune with your former Family for help, but don’t think that I’ll abandon you, I’ll visit you again after you’ve met the new Listener, but until then find solace with the one you love.” Sithis replied as his voice dissipated from the dreamscape.
(Kai’s Bedroom, 3rd P.O.V)
Waking up from that vision with Sithis, I felt the cold sweat drip from my face since it felt all too real of a nightmare. “I must prevent this, I must speak with my murderous, dysfunctional family, maybe they can help.” I said to myself as I wiped the sweat off my head and got myself ready for the day ahead. “The real question is: ‘Where should I start looking?’.” Kai said as he stretched to help him wake up. “Time to eat some breakfast and set out to find my crazy family.” Kai said as he went downstairs to the temple kitchen to get his breakfast. “Now let’s see here…” Kai said as he grabbed a bowl, some oatmeal, and brown sugar. Mixing the ingredients in his own style, Kai created the most delicious looking oatmeal and sprinkling in a little sugar for extra sweetness. “Perfect!” He said as he took a spoonful and ate it. “Hey, bossman what’s up?” Rainbow asked as she came into the kitchen for her breakfast. “I’m fine, just gettin’ somethin’ to eat, then I’m heading out and before you ask, no you can’t follow me to wherever it is I’m going.” He said as he ate his oatmeal. “Okay then, whatever you say.” Rainbow said as she grabbed some bread to create some crunchy toast with a side of butter. “I’m sorry, but this is just something nobody can ever know, otherwise, take a guess as to what I’ll have to do.” Kai said as he finished cleaning his bowl and left the kitchen and headed back upstairs to his room.
Changing into his Dark Brotherhood attire and grabbing some daggers, a bow, quiver of arrows, and various poisons, and potions. “Time to go.” Kai said as he leaped out of his bedroom window and ran deeper into the forest to find the remainder of the Dark Brotherhood.
(Unexplored region of the Everfree Forest, 3rd P.O.V)
Trekking within the Everfree Forest to get to Ponyville should be a breeze, but when trekking to the unexplored regions of the forest, the dangers and risk could increase dramatically to the point of a suicidal walk, but for these five disciples of darkness, it was nothing to fear. “Agh! My head!” The redguard Nazir said as he clutched his head in pain. “This had never happened in the Woods in Falkreath or did we end up somewhere else?” A small girl asked as they began to suspect something was not right in their midst. “Babbette, Nazir, we don’t have time for this. Sithis gave us a task, I suggest we get to it.” A Dunmer said as she walked toward the little vampire and Redguard companion. “Cicero agrees with the Listener! The Dread Father’s will must be done, or we face his wrath!” The man dressed as a jester said as in a disturbingly cheerful tone. “Yes we must press on, or we wait for the previous Listener to find us.” The dark stallion named Shadowmere said catching everyone’s attention. “How are you able to speak?!” The group of assassins shouted in shock. “I can speak, it’s just that you haven’t been listening.” Shadowmere responded with a snuff as if he was insulted. “Enough dawdling, we must find the former champion of Sithis before it’s too late.” The voice of a Dunmer woman said in the mind of the Listener. “The Night Mother has a point, either we wait for him to come to us, or we can explore this place.” The Listener said as she used her fingers to number their options. “I don’t know about you, but moving the Night Mother would be a pain in the ass, so I say we wait.” Babbette said as she sat on a rock under the shade of a tree. “Opening that coffin was a pain in the ass, but I can’t imagine carrying it. Cicero I have no idea how you do it, but you can do what you want, but I’m staying here.” Nazir said as he sat down in the grass. “We don’t have anything to carry her in so staying here is our only option.” Shadowmere pointed out with a deadpanned expression. “So we’re all staying here? Fine.” The Listener said as she slumped against a tree.
(Unexplored Region of the Everfree, Kai’s P.O.V)
“This is a lot like the time I had to find the Falkreath Sanctuary the first time, only problem is that there’s no door to ask for a passphrase this time.” I said as I kept leaping from tree branch to tree branch to move as quickly as possible without encountering any of the local wildlife below. “Well I’m guessing Babbette is with them, so they’ll be out of the sun, so it would be better for me to be on the ground for the rest of my journey.” I thought as I jumped from a branch and landed on the forest floor flawlessly. “Time to put my skills to good use.” I said as I listened closely for any voices that resembled my ‘Family’. As I went further into the forest, I looked and saw the sun was in a lower position than originally was, meaning it was some time in the afternoon getting into the early evening. Using a little spell I learned called ‘Detect Life’, I was able to pick up on them somewhere in the area, but I cannot detect their exact locations. “If I can’t find them, perhaps I can make them come to me instead.” I said as I pulled out some materials for the Black Sacrament.
“Now all I need is an effigy, but where am I gonna get…” I was cut short when a Chimera growled at me. “Perfect.” I said as I pulled out my bow and laced my arrow with a paralysis poison. I shot my arrow and it struck the snake portion of the creature making it fall to the ground in a state of complete paralysis. “I know you were just looking for a meal, but this is what happens when you try to sneak up on a master assassin.” I said as I prepared another arrow and shot the animal in the head, then I repeated the procedure two more times to kill the creature. “Now I have everything I need.” I said as I dragged the corpse of the chimera to my makeshift altar and began the Black Sacrament chant. “Sweet mother, sweet mother send our child unto me, for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear.” I chanted and sure enough I felt a gust of wind as I saw young Dunmer woman standing in front of me. “Greetings Listener.” I said with a smile. “Hello Brother, the rest of the Family, and the Night Mother are here in the next clearing, also my name is Talia, no need to always call me Listener.” Talia said as she smiled underneath her mask. “Good to know, I’m sure the Dread Father has already told the Night Mother about the current state of affairs right?” I asked as Talia nodded slowly. “He has, and as much as we hate to admit it, life is better when you’re screaming in terror at something.” Talia said as we walked towards their makeshift campsite. “Hello Nazir, Babbette, Cicero, Night Mother, and of course my old friend Shadowmere.” I greeted with a smile. “Well well, if it isn’t our old Listener. How have you been since you left us behind?” Nazir asked with a smile of his own. “Fine, I’ll tell you guys later, but for now let’s get out of here and set up a new Sanctuary for you guys to stay.” I said as I teleported us all to the outskirts of the Whitetail Woods.
(Whitetail Woods, 3rd P.O.V)
In the less creepy forest in Equestria that is known as the Whitetail Woods, Kai and the Dark Brotherhood emerged from a flash of light in a clearing. They took a moment to look at their new surroundings and it felt all the more peaceful than the Everfree. “I feel as if a weight had been lifted off us, it feels… relaxing.” Babbette said as she inhaled the more cleaner oxygen. “Yeah, that’s why it’s perfect for you guys to hide from the rest of society.” Kai said as he looked for a location to place a Sanctuary. “Maybe over in that small hillside would be a great place for the Sanctuary.” Nazir said as he pointed to a fallen tree next to a small overhang inside of a hill. “Perfect, just like Falkreath again!” Shadowmere exclaimed with joy. “Our gratitude goes beyond for what you’ve done, you’ve probably saved us.” Nazir said sincerely as the rest of the brotherhood nodded in agreement. “This isn’t the first time. Remember when we took the contract on Emperor Titus Mede II?” Kai said with a slightly cocked eyebrow. “Oh yeah, you definitely save our asses that time!” Babbette said as she remembered the tragedy of Astrid’s betrayal. “Enough about the past, now you guys deserve some answers about what I’ve been up to, but first let’s set you guys up.” Kai said as he rearranged the space inside and outside the hillside and placed the Black Door with the passphrase. “What is life’s greatest illusion?” The door whispered. “Innocence, my Brother.” Kai and the Dark Brotherhood replied. “Welcome home.” The door responded and unlocked.
(Canterlot Castle, Luna’s P.O.V)
I was filled with a slight feeling of uneasiness as the time for the battle of fate of both Nirn and Equestria were looming upon us. I even had trouble sleeping some nights, so much so that I was tempted to just appear next to Kai and cuddle with him until morning. “Everything is going to change, and I’m not sure I like it.” I said to myself as I left my room to go to Night Court and file some paperwork for some stuck up nobles. “Luna, are you alright? You look like you haven’t slept in a month.” Celestia said with concern. “No sister, I’m not alright. I’m worried about the future of our home, what if Kai isn’t able to defeat Jyggalag? What will become of our world?” I asked with a slight frantic expression. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine, just have faith in the man you’ll be calling your husband.” Tia said as she draped her wing around my shoulder. “Ok, now I have to get back to work. See you in the morning.” I said as I saw my sister leave the throne room. After about three hours I drifted off to sleep and entered the dreamscape. I saw that Equestria was untainted by Jyggalag, but I saw many other creatures here too. “What’s going on? Where am I?” I asked frantically. “Calm yourself child of the dark. For what you see is the future of your people and those of Nirn should the previous Listener succeed.” A voice said from every direction. “Who are you?! I demand you to show yourself!” I shouted. “I wish I could, but I have no physical form to show you, but I do have a name. My name is Sithis.” The voice said as I continued to look upon the scene before me and I saw Twilight Sparkle with her friends, but they looked different from what I knew. They had arms with hands and fingers, slender frames, well defined chests, and their feet ended with hooves. “So this what we’re destined to look like if Kai defeats Jyggalag?” I asked. “Yes, now before I depart from your subconscious, I have a message for you. The message is this: Guide my followers in the shadows, make them your Children of the Night.” Sithis said as he made the image of a black handprint appear in the ground in front of me. After I awoke I knew my mission was clear. I must find the followers of Sithis and make them obey me. “Thank you Sithis, now to find my new Children of the Night. I said as I spread my wings and took to the cool night sky.