Chapter 1: Vague silence [remastered v2.0]

Vague silence

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!!!" An overly happy purple alicorn squirmed and nearly danced, squeeing the whole way up the road, actually testing the patience of her older brother who looked down at her with an almost disapproving stare.

Grumbling, Shining Armor continued along the road before looking back at his sister. "Twily...you shouldn’t have just strong hooved your way into being able to join this expedition. I don’t mean to come down on you or anything but there are plenty of other ponies who could have done this and are just as excited as you to unearth this discovery."

Twilight's smile flickered. She was so utterly excited about it but still felt a little guilty, her brother was right, even Celestia had cautioned her against just ordering people to let her in on whatever she liked, She already knew that pure authority was wrong and this was the first time she could think of that she was actually tempted to use her royal authority to do anything. Her mind churned with thoughts, why not let her in on it? She had read every book about Starswirl the Bearded as well as two libraries worth of archaeology and excavations. She was more than worthy and qualified to do the job. To her it was not that big of a deal, she didn't replace anypony or kick anypony from the mission. She just used her authority to push herself into the event. It was quickly countered by her brother then overruled by Celestia who -even though disapproved of her actions- let her go through with it. It seemed odd to Twilight, still she allowed her to go with the first team under the condition that Shining Armor went with her.

Normally her mind would be ablaze with trying to figure out the reasons behind her brother's disapproval or Celestia’s actions, it was true that she did overstep a little but the mission could use a pony like her and she really wanted to go. When all was set and done, she really didn’t care that much about what others thought of her actions, she was just off to see the first new discovery of Starswirl the Bearded's magical research sites in 700 years. There was utterly no record of the place and was only found when an earth pony lumberjack fell through it’s old roof . When he finally woke from his dirt nap he saw only the crest of Star swirl the bearded high up on a supporting beam and the skeletons of at least five ponies all surrounding a single object, a mirror about 7 feet tall and 4 feet wide, made of something like obsidian and darkness. The implications from the first report was that it was something that Starswirl the Bearded attempted to seal away or let be forgotten by all of ponykind. It was a massive find of great importance and danger. But Twilight knew she would contribute to it one way or another.

"Ah!! Shiny! We’re here!" Twilight giggled over excitedly, running ahead of Shining armor and the small caravan and even the napping Spike who snorted awake at the sound of Twilight's glee. He just mumbled and rolled back over in the carriage he was riding in. "Come on Shiny it’s right there...oh gosh just like the letters said..."

She came closer to the opening of the cave, her horn glowed, pushing aside the reverse glamour charm that made the area seem unimportant and boring, then the second charm that inspired fear and worry, then the last one that made the small cave look like a dead end. The surrounding area had been cleared of trees and a small base camp had already been set up in anticipation to the royal guards who escorted the official team that would lead the excavation.

"Twily wait...don't go in just yet, at least let everyone set up...The earth pony who discovered the place even said there were still active traps inside. Not to mention Starswirl abandoned and sealed it away on purpose. If there’s a legitimate reason that we cannot handle, Celestia’s orders are to call everything off and leave it as is."

Twilight held back her urge to ignore him and the urge to whine about it. He was right, but that only made her even more eager. Never before had Starswirl the bearded left traps anywhere. Whatever was here was of considerable importance. Not to mention the spells that hid the cave had to have been cast by Starswirl the Bearded himself. It was all downright overwhelming for her, and Shining Armor knew it.

"At least wait until everything is set up and the professionals clear the traps." He offered a small smile to his sister trying to get her to agree and guilt her into agreeing with brotherly love.

"Awww...ok Shiny...but tell them to hurry...this is the greatest discovery in like...forever!"

Shining Armor looked behind him and noticed half the ponies who had come to study the ruins were just as excited and setting up as fast as possible. The only difference between them and Twilight was the guards were not afraid to stop non princesses as per their orders. It was up to Shining Armor to keep his sister from running in ahead of everypony.

She was usually so cautious and reserved, but this was something else. Nopony would ever be likely to get a chance like this again. And there weren’t many other starswirl the bearded fans with that could surpass Twilight’s level of fandom. And none who had her admitted expertise.

One full painstaking hour had passed as everypony got their gear setup. The far side of the camp had three carriages for retrieval of artifacts, and one for general supplies then one large one for the mirror if it was found to be moveable, the other side of the camp held various camping stations for workers to begin in shifts, then finally up near the entrance of the ruin was the makeshift guard house that had originally been upgraded from a small clearing to a small shack and a bunk bed for guards to take shifts. Two royal guards came from the shack finally ready. They made a quick sweep of the inside of the cave, removing three traps and spotting half a dozen more that had failed or simply been activated a hundred or so years prior. The only casualty of the mission so far was one of the guards who came out a little shaken with a singed mane.

The guard who was not wanting to sit down for even a moment, snapped off a salute. "Sir! it’s clear and safe for the excavation to begin.”

Shining armor nodded as Twilight and a dozen other ponies rushed in spike napping on the back of one wall eyed gray pegasus who was hired to help carry general gear. With the utmost glee, everyone who could fit piled into the cave. The charms to keep people away were carefully peeled back as everypony entered happily. But all stood in awe of the object in the center of the room. The mirror looked like it was made by pouring melted obsidian into a cast. An odd and otherworldly glow beamed from it as what almost sounded like whispers echoed lightly. Great spines of black and red seemed to have been raised directly from either side of the mirror. Before the mirror were the skeletons of a few ponies and one badly burned book. Though further down the hall were some collapsed sections of the facility that would take days, if not weeks to clear.

Twilight stepped forward like a doctor before a gravely ill patient ready to work miracles. Her magic flared and the book lifted without shedding even a single spec of ash. Opening before her and the other researchers eagerly crouched in suspense and awe, the book left only disappointed ponies. All the pages were gutted of their words by fire. The pages flipped carefully until it came to one spread page that was burned badly but in blood a single statement was written. *Tread not where mortals are not meant to see*

Twilight's eyes widened. She noticed the hoofwriting from history lessons and the royal canterlot library, this message was written by none other than Starswirl the bearded himself. The book had nothing else in it that was undamaged enough to read, so with all the care in the world the book was excessively carefully placed into a magic suspension box where it would be utterly preserved and finally brought back out to the carriages in the camp in order to be returned to canterlot for further study. All items about the cave were quickly being studied and looked over leaving the most obviously important for last.

A spooky consensus was starting to from among all the researchers and even Twilight herself. All the extensive damage to the cave and everything around it had been done on purpose. Judging by the extent of magical based damage done to the area it was a safe guess that Star swirl the bearded himself had taken part in the destruction. However, there was something else odd about the room. The burn marks were at just above horn level for Twilight yet there was an entirely additional set of magical burns all at a downward angle. Calculating the angle and the distance she figured the source was strangely a good three feet above the others, about the same level as a pegasus would hover. But Pegasus's did not shoot magical fire nor would they have been here in some sort of magical research area where it was clearly dangerous. All the skeletons on the ground before the mirror were unicorns. The only other thing she could think of was an alicorn but she was uncertain about it, both Luna and Celestia could not have been a participating party. it was just a few inches too tall for Celestia and a few inches too short for Luna had she been flying. Unless there was some other Alicorn up and around with Starswirl the Bearded then this was even more of a mystery. The group was becoming a little more wary than they were when they started. Whatever happened here, Starswirl the bearded wanted to to stay forgotten. They were confident in the extensive progress in magical theory and research that they had gone through but this still felt dangerous in a ‘don’t meddle in the affairs of dragons’ sort of way.

Looking about excitedly but not quite sure as to why she was so excited, Derpy looked about in the small area around the mirror. Something about the object made her shiver in fear but never the less she was drawn towards it. A trait that got her in trouble too often. Spike on her back woke up with a yawn and looked down, something very faded on the ground caught his eye. Hopping down from his mobile bed made Derpy stop and sit down next to the dragon curiously.

"Hey...twilight...there's something written here...what's…” He paused as his eyes tried to make out the writing that was plainly not in standard Equestrian, yet he did not seem to be bothered by the fact that he could understand it as he slowly made out the letters. “...Shalidor?"

The mirror behind him lit up with a deathly sanguine glow and slowly Spike began to lift into the air giving everypony near a jump. Shouting and squirming he flailed about drawing everypony's attention as Twilight dashed across the room and lunged forward hugging her hooves around him as slowly he was being drawn towards the mirror.

"SOMEPONY DO SOMETHING!!!" her horn blared a harsh magical twinkle as it lit up brightly. She was desperately panicking and trying to make whatever it was holding spike to let him go. Four dozen counter spells and failsafe hexes shot off win rapid succession from Twilight’s horn as she grunted under the strain, looking back at the ground trying to figure out if whatever Spike had just interacted with triggered something she could reverse but sadly all she saw was small faded runes she couldn't understand. Quite suddenly there was a cold pain in her left hind hoof. She looked down at her hoof and saw that it was merging into the mirror. As others stopped and stared in fear Derpy heroically bit onto Twilight's tail and flapping with all her might tried to pull her away from the mirror. quickly joined by Shining armor and two of the royal guard they struggled in vain to save Twilight as she was pulled further and further into the mirror with Spike.

Her face plastered with fear and pain as the mirror swallowed her up more and more, pain shot through her body like lightning and fire. Derpy's grip on her tail slipped and the last thing she saw was her brother's face before there was total darkness accompanied by grave pain. Suddenly there was light and a lot of heat. She hit the ground hard, her whole body screamed in pain as she weakly stood. Spike was draped over her back out cold still smoldering. She could not imagine what she looked like as she struggled to her hooves and began to make her way about the strange hellish room.

The room she was in looked like the illustrations of Tartarus she had seen in her books, her older books from a far more religious age. "H...hello?....anypony here?..." Her words were choked out by the ash and smell of sulfur and brimstone in the air, not to mention the burning pain throughout her body.

A heavy boom sounded as a door bashed down on the far side of the large room and a figure fell through it with a blade lodged through its neck. Her first guess was some malformed Minotaur. But a second look it was clearly different, its feet lacked hooves and despite thick armor plates about it, it still was not as large as a minotaur and its horns were also much smaller.Overall the creature was frightening and vicious looking, but utterly unworldly to her. A clash sounded and another figure came in. Head to toe clad in significantly less malicious looking dark armor She could not tell if the figure was male or female, but she was sure it was the same as the first creature, at least in general appearance.

Seeing how this creature did not look to be a particularly friendly, judging by how it just outright murdered the creature that it had just thrown through the door, Twilight opted to remain silent and hide. The figure was clearly powerful as it did not seem to slow a single step as it marched up the nearby stairs. Twilight followed at a bit of a distance as quietly as possible flinching and hiding as another body flew back her way. Missing its head the creature the Bipedal being had just killed just flopped about and rag dolled down the stairs twitching and spasming lightly. "oh spike....what did we get ourselves into?" She took a single step forward and suddenly the area pulsed with energy and crackled as a massive light shot out and again everything went painfully dark.

"I got the sidgil stone. That is one more Oblivion gate closed..." The voice sounded feminine but sturdy and powerful. It reminded Twilight of Celestia.

Twilight just barely managed to groan as she ordered her body to move, alas it did not obey her. She was left to listen to the calm voices at work. "Good work...you saved another small town...I'm sure the guild will be ever so happy...but of course you would have to actually show up at the guild in order to be appreciated master wizard..."

"well you can tell the arch mage I am busy I am dealing with like ten other things at the moment I am sure that the king of worms will not destroy the world in the next few hours...and I have no doubt that it's important but ...what is that?..."

Twilight was so badly hurt, bashed and burned she could not even open her eyes. But she could vaguely hear their dulled voices as the two beings approached her..

"I think it's....a horse...no too small...pony maybe?"

"Fool ever heard of a purple horse?....and it's got wings… and...well I am no professional but I think that's a horn...a purple winged unicorn...now THAT… I can bring home to the guild… and hey a matching...purple...um....lizard?... Oh well let's get these suckers back up to the guild... I will deal with it after I deal with Mannimarco."

The next few hours were more of the same half consciousness before Twilight finally joined Spike in a long injured sleep waking only for a moment to see what looked to be a lid closing down on a coffin of some sort, she gasped and struggled to say something, but she could barely even move, she was utterly drained and still in a great deal of pain. A magical circle formed over the lid above her then nothing, complete and utter darkness. Twilight's barely awaken consciousness was very quickly and very sternly being suppressed by powerful magic, The last thing she could feel was Spike at her side which was at least a little reassuring.

Her last fading thoughts were of her friends, her brother , her teacher. "h...help me"

Darkness claimed her.

Chapter 2: General recovery [remastered v2.0]

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General Recovery

A sudden burst of consciousness sparked within Twilight's senses. She was waking up, but it felt like she hadn’t moved in years. her legs were cramped and achy, her bones creaked, and her horn felt like it was literally dusty. Twilight's slowly shifting consciousness was rattled as the magic circles she had seen only once before, as if in slow motion, flared, and then failed. Finally a heavy armored hand burst through the stone in one blast tearing the stone asunder letting the little pony spill out. Air Gushed in rapidly as the container was torn apart, but the smell of fresh blood and burning bodies was unfamiliar to her nose.

"What in oblivion? Ha! Baldir, come here and check this out! I found a present you can give that wee lass grand daughter of yours." A heavy hand gripped her horn tightly and she was thoughtlessly manhandled out of the stone box. Coughing and groaning she was till in a great deal of pain. Her eyes weakly opened to see death all around her. Four men and one woman stood around a small group of dead bipedals with Yellow skin.It took her a few moments to come to the realization that they were dead, she had never seen so much blood before. It quickly made her already pained gut even more nauseous. She could see that they were not armed or armored, these soldiers had simply captured and executed them on the spot. Her box was stuck onto an old cart and from the look of things, the men and women carrying the whole thing were killed on the spot by these raiders. Aside from the horror of all the death around her, she was still profoundly confused as to why there would be so much conflict and willingness to spill blood between two races that were so alike, her mind went back to tales and history lessons from before hearth's warming eve, but at the moment she had some more pressing concerns.

A heavy, gruff voice sounded, it was powerful and felt unguided, unpredictable, but mostly uncomfortably close to her. "A purple horse?... yeah Freya would like that and her birthday is coming up soon, but what is all this crap coming out of its back?" A brutish rude hand grabbed her wing and pulled it out to its full length as another voice chuckled.

"It's a winged purple unicorn… ha!... it's so small...maybe it's just a colt. Oh she will love it."

"Sure, why not. I mean if she doesn't like it we can just eat it."

The others laughed as Twilight struggled a bit more at the last comment, still too weak to just teleport, not that it would do her any good. She was far too weak to fly at the moment and she was confident that spike was still in the box, running would mean leaving him behind. "Hey! look it’s got a matching lizard. You can give that to your grandson." She could see Spike’s limp body being held up by another thick and heavy armored hand.

A blurry figure stood upright and waved a handful of papers around "Whoa! Wait, Baldir! These supplies were going up to Winterhold... if we don’t take them your old lady friend will be rather angry."

There was a sudden shift of wind and she could vaguely make out the biggest of the men punching another the man who just spoke in the face, knocking him out clean. "If you rather enjoy having teeth you will not refer to that woman as my anything. That angry bitch has caused me nothing but trouble, damned mages."

Another voice chimed in, calm and collected, somewhat raspy as thick with an accent as the others but clearly different
"No, Hijmaar put that thing down. According to these papers it came out of oblivion with the hero of Kvach 200 something years ago."

Twilight was promptly dropped and the others stepped back from her as a light set of footsteps came in closer. She could feel the owner of the significantly different voice smoothing its hand over her head. "Poor beast… don't worry, you will be fine. I will take you to winterhold. The arch mage will take good care of you."

The voice was so soothing it, as it spoke Twilight was reminded of Celestia's kindness and calm demeanor. Looking up at this figure it was clearly female and very feline in appearance. A bow was resting firmly on its back. The figure pushed the still warm spike into Twilight's forelegs Twilight weakly looked up and spoke.

"Th..thank you..."

The figure flinched and all the men took a step back as the big one pulled out a thick blade "it's clearly a daedra of some sort… kill it now!"

The female holding her so close reached back and gripped a dagger at her belt. "You are the last one that should be talking like that baldir. The creature is obviously sentient, and in pain."

"Then let me put it out of its misery."

She shook her head and did not give an inch "No...Taara paid to have this creature delivered to her, she knows something we don’t and if you want to continue with this then you will face me as well as her...and you know how well that one went last time."

The man she called Baldir was taken back a little, rubbing a scar on his neck. "You had better know what you're doing Ra'shala. A purple winged talking unicorn… this has Shegorath’s name written all over it."

She nodded "I know exactly what I’m doing... Taara and I both apparently wish for this poor beast to live. That is two of the grand three, you will find that you are quite outnumbered here."

The old muscle bound man Twilight figured was Baldir grunted and nodded waving his hand as if dismissing the whole ordeal. Though weak Twilight sighed in relief as she was carefully picked up by this Feline woman called Ra'shala and set upon a new carriage that was partially loaded with loot from the raid sight. "You had better not be some sort of Daedra there little horse"

A pair of clawed hands carefully pulled the cork on a small bottle and tilted back Twilight's head letting a sour and bitter combination of fluids drain down her throat instantly giving her a warming feel as the pains from her old burns and bruises started to fade.

"D...daedra?...what?..."

"The minons of the the Daedric Gods, according to these papers you were recovered there, which means that you are likely to have at least seen them. It is not very believable that you have not.” She looked away for a moment before looking back deep into Twilight’s eyes. “This may or may not be a shock to you but, that was 237 years ago." Twilight was just barely able to move now, warmth returning to her limbs, but that number sent a cold shock right back into her.

Struggling to keep her mind from exploding she quickly distracted herself with something else that was coincidentally also very important. "Please give some of that medicine to Spike." Ra’Shala paused looking at Twilight with a soft confused look. "Um, the purple dragon."

She pulled in Spike with her hooves and Ra'shala smiled holding out the bottle. Twilight's weakened magic grasped the bottle to Ra'shala's surprise and slowly came to spike's mouth as a bit drained in. Hope returned to Twilight's heart as he groaned in pain, though to her disappointment he did not wake.

"Dragon?" Ra'Shala looked very confused. "why is he so small then?" Her hand pressed firmly against Spike's chest. "Oh my, yes I see. He is a dragon. That is so strange, Taara is going to have a field day. Goodness gracious."

"Um, if I may ask.." Twilight grunted in main shifting into a more comfortable laying position with spike hugged up close to her.

"Who is this, Taara?..." Ra'Shala smiled and almost laughed at the question.

"Well, She is the Arch Mage of Winterhold, no finer wizard in the land, but she's a bit of a recluse, and a little antisocial, but well if you can get along with some stuffy woman who lives out of a library, has OCD, and is obsessed with history and magic then you will be fine.."

The carriage bumped along as it started to head north. Deep down Twilight shivered in a fair amount of despair and pain at the realisation of the time lost. Yet at Ra'Shala's description of Taara she smiled a little as a flicker of hope began to warm at her heart, just enough to bring a smile to her face.

"Good..."

Chapter 3: Hello Everypony...huh? [remastered v2.0]

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Hello Everypony... Huh?

End of day 1

Twilight struggled and strained finally making it to her hooves, even with her excessively shaking and weak legs.

"Ah! you surprise this one, You do not look strong enough to stand on your own."

Twilight looked back with a sarcastic ‘gee thanks’ look as she sat back down. She could not believe that it had been 200 years. She hoped desperately that 200 years had not passed back in Equestria. But if this arch mage Taara was anything like Ra'Shala lead on she would not have any troubles, or at least so forced herself to believe.

Twilight’s belly growled, but more than just some audible sound it felt like it had been so long since she had eaten that her belly was full of dust. The sensation was painful and desperate. "Does anypony have anything to eat around here?"

The big man Baldir laughed loudly and Ra'Shala looked down at her. "Any...pony? This one takes it there are only ponies where you come from?"

Twilight flinched a little in thought. "Ah..um...yes mostly just ponies where I come from. I suppose that's not the norm around here?" She bit her lip trying to roll about a word for it.

"Not lest you are from the Shimmering isles beasty and even then...heh!" The other men called the carriages to a halt and started pitching a few tents. "We make for camp here, someone give the stupid Daedra horse something to eat."

Caught between anger, fear, and sadness Twilight felt a little more inclined to stick with the feline woman Ra'Shala than with all the large human men. "Um...Ra'Shala was it? Do you have anything edible?"

The woman looked over and smiled warmly "Yes little pony, This one has apples, some spare wine, and horker meat." She placed each in front of Twilight as she spoke them aloud.

"Um...th..thank you. I will just go for the apples..." The apple in front of her magically raised and came to her where she eagerly ate it. "Um...hey, thank you very much for all you have done for me. I am very grateful"

The woman smiled warmly and happily "It is no problem. This one knows what it is like to be in a strange land where no one knows much about your kind or even trusts you. Ah! Please forgive this one, she forgets to ask. What is your name little pony?"

Twilight smiled continuing to hope that Ra'shala would be a friend she could keep for a long time. "I am Princess Twilight sparkle.."

All at once every man in the small group burst out laughing. Baldir at their lead. Surprisingly even Ra'Shala was holding back some from snickering, but she shook it off "Two things this one recommends to you while you stay here in Skyrim. I know it may seem a little insulting but try not to refer to yourself as a princess, to the common eye you will appear a beast of burden. And second This one suggests you just call yourself Twilight, or something else. The Nords of this land are not the nicest, and I have witnessed a surprising amount of unneeded deaths sparked from what they deem silly names or even a diminished physique."

Twilight grimaced. Where these people such barbarians as to literally kill someone just because they had a silly name. "Talos save us, aye beastie and just what is your royal linage, oh great and majestic sparkly unicorn beastie?" Baldir gave a gravely exaggerated bow as he spewed his lines with sarcasm so think that the other men nearly choked on it as they were thrown into a laughing fit.

"I am a princess! I am the princess of Friendshiiiii...p..." She only just realized how much more silly that would sound to these meat headed men who right on queue burst into an even heartier laughter.

"Ra'Shala, you were right. It was a good idea to spare this little beast, forget your jester friend this thing is ten times as hilarious." Twilight was understandably very insulted but she figured the culture here was just destined to make her angry. So she just decided to cuddle up in the cold air with the still not yet awakened spike and try to get some sleep.

"This one does not care. Despite how silly it sounds, it is a wonderful idea, friendship." Ra'Shala's smile looked very authentic and her voice rather happy and sing songy, also unlike the men she was not pointing and laughing which she was not too surprised about. Ra’Shala seemed far more kind. "and do not mind the Nords, they are headstrong even if a little bit racist."

"I have been meaning to ask, I can clearly tell that you and the men here are different species, I have many races in my world, but I am wondering, just how many races are there on this world?...back home we have the three main races and a surplus of sub races and other kingdoms each with its own race." She smiled looking up at her new friend.

"This one does not know all, but she does know much. As you see, these men are Nords. Nords claim to be the first humans, they live her in Skyrim which they took as their own from when they came from Atmora. And then there are the Imperials to the south in Cyrodiil who run the empire, the dark elves to the east in Morrowind but they are scattered from the eruption of red mountain, the Bretons to the west in Daggerfall, below that there is Hammerfell, land of the Redguard, they are just more humans. South of Morrowind is Blackmarsh home to the argonians, they are the lizard people of Tamriel. Oh yes, Tamriel is the continent we are on. On the southernmost part of Tamriel is my homeland, Elsweyr. Either sandy or full of jungle it is as beautiful as it is dangerous. And then there is Valenwood to the west of that and the Summerset isles off the coast even further south west. The other two elf races live there, but there is more and were more races of man and mer to this land...but only the Argonians and the Khajiit are real natives to this land. But you can read all that I don't know in the library at the college. The collection there is massive, just don't abuse the books. Urag may be ancient and feeble for an orc but he has lit my tail on fire twice for dropping his books on the floor."

She chuckled happily as Twilight's hopes soared. This land sounded like it was jam packed to the brim with knowledge and history. Had she not been stranded here and still in great pain she would have been hopping around in joy at the thought of being on the way to such a place as this college of winterhold. Not to mention, it sounded even more vast and well preserved than the royal canterlot library. Which she knew had time spells in it. "Wow. There is so much to your world, I can't wait to get to the library and hear all about it."

"Likewise this one believes that Taara will wish to hear the history of your land. This one believes you two will become good friends." Smiling warmly the Khajiit chuckled a little thinking of the small clashes the two would have and how quickly they would get over it. She knew that Taara had very strong opinions, and even though it was easy to make her angry she would get over it quickly so long as those sort of things were just let go. Twilight was certain to step on her toes at some point.

Fires lit and the two conversed happily for a bit of the night before Twilight fell asleep. The bitter cold was warded off by the fire and by a mage's cloak Ra'Shala happily pulled from the loot chests and draped over twilight and Spike.

Morning of day 2

Twilight yawned and looked up groggy, pained, and sluggish, a grand improvement over the day before. The sun had hardly raised and yet the carriage she had fallen asleep in was bumping around roughly on the stone roads. She had slept right through the cleanup and start of the day.

"Good morning princess beastie..." One of the men laughed as he set a copper and moonstone circlet on her head. Though to her surprise she felt suddenly stronger.

"Wh..what? what is that?" Twilight was unsure whether she should touch the thing or just accept the boost in power, it would help her in this rather rough time.

Ra'Shala stepped in nudging the laughing nord. "The Nord was just playing a joke on you don't worry..."

"No… I feel stronger. This crown, is it giving me power?"

"Keen princess. Yes, this one believes the crown given to you is enchanted. It is one of the magics of this land. A magic to make things better basically as this one has learned it is a simple art that enhances anything you desire in various ways. You will know more of it later I am sure."

Twilight nodded and looked to the north. It was already snowy where they were. She wondered when they would arrive at Winterhold. Twilight was a patient Pony, but she was not quite in a position where she wanted to see how much time she could spend doing anything but trying to get home.

Ra'Shala plopped another apple and a small piece of bread in front of Twilight and in turn she smiled happily eating most of it but turned her attention to spike who had still not waken up. She was growing more and more concerned, but the night previous she had learned of the mages of Winterhold and held hope that one or two of them would know how to help the dragon.

Mid day of day 2

"Hey! wake up you daft beastie!" A sudden and heavy thud on the cart woke Twilight from a nap she had not noticed she had slipped into. The thud shook her and reminded her just how sore she was.

"We are here oh princess of friendship. Now kindly get out of sight. Your arch mage is in that giant building over there, I think .I am not sticking around to find out where she is. You four! make sure that you get the money from all this and see how much that bitch was paying to get a talking purple horse from the damned Thalmor." The others Nodded and quickly darted about taking the cart deeper into the city as Baldir went into one of the first buildings on the right.

Hopping down from the cart and straining to stay on her hooves she continued on with her new Khajiit friend. This world looked so painful and hard. Everyone in it seemed to have to work extra hard to achieve any form of success or happiness and it could be swept away in the blink of an eye.

Despite the world feeling so painful, the city here was amazing. Half of it was old and nearly in ruins, only patched up here and there. It looked as though it had weathered an immense story, the likes of which she personally had never seen. But then the other side of the city looked like it was brand new, more than brand new, about a tenth of the way into the city right about where the main structure which she believed to be the college they all spoke of, the ground stopped being dirt snow and stone, and what looked like a giant dock started. Separated into 8 groupings with drastically different architecture for each area the city expanded over what Twilight only got a small glimpse at and so she guessed was a massive harbor under the immense city.

"This is amazing! Ra'Shala, there is so much variation in each area. Its like ten small cities from all over the world inside one."

"This one has even more reason to believe you will be great friends with the arch mage, Taara has only just recently finished the restoration project here. Winterhold was once barely a town. Two dozen people at most lived here and mostly in the college. But Taara remade the city and now it thrives once again."

There was a sudden flare of power that brought Twilight’s senses back to her and made her flinch. Looking over to see a woman clad in simple robes. It was clear she was important, not form her appearance but by the sheer massive magical energies within her. She was not elderly but old, as old or older than the Nord Baldir. But she was so well composed and it was obvious just by looking at her, she was once a very beautiful woman.

"Ra’Shala? Is that you? Oh finally someone other than a brainless Nord comes to visit." Ra'Shala smiled happily and gestured for Twilight to join her. Quickly plopping the still unconscious spike on her back she trotted up as fast as her body would let her, and the woman's eyes widened.

"Well Taara, the bone headed Nord as you requested this one call him, was running his raiding parties on elven caravans illegally entering Skyrim. The trade manifesto had your name on it, so, um, this is … well... Princess Twilight from Equestria as this one has been lead to understand."

Twilight gave a polite bow as her heart filled with a mixture of emotions both negative and positive. Hope and fear, this woman would either save her or keep her as some sort of study subject or experiment. Or worse. However, she was also a beacon of hope for the young alicorn as what was likely her only way back to Equestria. "You must be the arch mage, my new friend Ra'Shala has told me so much about you. I can't wait to learn more."

Taara looked blankly at the little alicorn before smiling. "Wow they weren't kidding when they said it was something I had never seen before. Well then, hello ...um.. Prince. I am archmage Taara Silvershield, one of the three." The way she said ‘one of the three’ seemed to imply that it meant something very important, even legendary.

Twilight’s heat skipped a beat at Taara’s first comment, she was being sold to the archmage as an oddity. Quickly trying to cast her fears and doubts aside she remembered a rather important detail, Twilight quickly raised Spike up with her magic. "I don’t mean to pressure you or ask for help right away but, can you help my friend? He hasn't woken since I first came into this world. I think something is wrong with him can you please help?"

Twilight held her breath in hope and Taara looked Spike over with intense curiosity.

"Why this is utterly fascinating, a dragon… in its infancy." She picked him up and turned him over in her hands. Twilight's heart filled anew with hope and fear.

"He's a baby dragon yes, but don't you have dragons here? How is he fascinating? and can you help him?"

"It’s fascinating because Dragons are not born. They were created by Akatosh. They are immortal beings that cannot procreate at least not to my knowledge. How have you come across and infant of their species?"

Twilight shrugged. "He hatched from an egg and has been with me ever since."

"Fascinating, as are you as well little princess. I imagine it should not be too strange that I find a baby dragon AND a sentient talking horse." She focused and her fingers lit up with a deep blue glow just before she poked Spike in the belly. Instantly his body lit up in runes, the same exact runes that she saw back when she was sealed away for 200 years. The image of the strange magic haunted her and she resisted the primal urge to back away.

"You see, dragons are incredibly resistant to magic. so it's very unlikely that he took well to whatever it was that sealed you two away. It's like a cheap paint while you were a sponge and he was a rock. You absorbed the magical energies when you were sealed away. He was just coated in it. Sure it still sealed him away but as you could just be rung out by opening the box and breaking the seal you have to magically scrub the seal off of this guy” She chuckled as she flared her power a little more. “Here you go, he should be fine now."

she held spike out in her hand and overturned it letting him plop straight onto the ground with a hearty splat.

"Whaaaaa! Twilight!! Wh...what happened?" Spike weakly looked about struggling to haul himself onto his feet.

"Shhh Spike we are kinda stranded right now, don't panic too much we will find a way home dont worry." She hauled him onto her back and looked back up at Taara.

Twilight held back tears of relief seeing that Spike had been returned to her free of harm. She breathed in deep and stepped out onto the metaphorical ledge of her mind, preparing herself to take a risk. "Thank you so much arch mage.I am very very grateful. But, please allow me to come into your college, I need to find my way home, and I would be overjoyed to learn as much from you of this world as I can, and will in turn share what I can about my own magic and my world. This world is frightening and dangerous. I will be honest, it scares me. But you have helped me a great deal, and I will be ever happy to share the magic of friendship with you."

Taara smiled getting the feeling she would like this small purple horse so long as it did not break into such emotional requests too often. "aye, that can work. Though in the meantime it's been a while and I'm sure you have had a long trip, so! as per tradition in new friendship, let this old Breton show you the wonderful magic of alcohol."

Chapter 4: Oh the magic of alcohol...err friendship [remastered v2.0]

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Oh the magic of alcohol...err friendship

The first ten minutes was spent in front of a bipedal green man with an under bite, he seemed so old he might have just been feeble. Those ten minutes were spent with him telling her all the horrible things he would do to her or spike if they damaged even a single book. However, she was not frightened, quite on the contrary she was enthused. Finally somepony who cared about books as much as her. Only Twilight was not quite as willing to leap to violence over minor damage to books. The following two or so minutes were exploring the small library that was simply a plethora of books and knowledge. Twilight knew she would eventually feel legitimately sad when it finally came time to leave this world to return to Equestria. These books were so detailed and filled with so very much she did not know it nearly drove her mad that she would likely not be able to read them all.

The next few hours however certainly made for a new experience. Taara leaned quickly that Spike ate gemstones and along with a few other mages gave him more than he could possibly eat in a single day and watched him before returning to Twilight to learn all about her, Which is where her love of history proved very useful. She eagerly shared with them her surplus of pony knowledge of history and even biology and Zoology . Every scrap of information she gave, the mages eagerly wrote down. Then came the part she was very new to; alcohol was not something that she had really ever ventured into. She had taken extensive notes on her own. most of which came from observations on Celestia who drank very responsibly. However the consensus of this group was apparently in tune with the theme of the country it was in. When in good company drink well for the enjoyment of drinking. Twilight almost felt like she would be insulting somepony if she didn't partake in the drinking. And so it began and she partook in her first ever drink of alcohol. The first few went down easy, she quite enjoyed the fruity taste of the exotic liquors of Tamriel. But she drank only just enough to put her on the edge, remembering Celestia's expertise in moderation. Of course this included her trying to spew a ten minute long calculation of body weight, youth, alcohol content, general tolerance and any other possible factor. But one of the older Nord mages named Onmund, who told her to just wing it. According to Taara she was the exact same way when she first drank. Trying to figure it all out as if it made any difference.

And hence things proceeded rather smoothly, Spike was full and happily groaning, belly full of gemstones, a passed out dark elf woman with her notes on how amazing it was that a creature of spike's size could simply eat Diamonds. Taara, Ra'shala, and Twilight were the only ones still awake swapping stories and sharing tales. Taara was extremely interested in her adventures and did not at all for some odd reason find it odd that she was the princess of "friendship". It was a little off putting that the old mage showed significantly more interest in magical artifacts like the elements of harmony than the adventures themselves. But again this was a different world, she knew from the start that she could not expect somepony else to live or value things by her standards.

"Arch mage!...wh..*hic* what was...that thing...I keep hearing about...the...wassit?...the three?..." She was not severely drunk but she was just enough to seem to stumble with her words and feel the full on buzz.

"Oh?...the legendary three?...heh.. well princess.." she imphasized the word letting Twilight know she liked being called Arch mage just about as much as Twilight enjoyed being called Princess. "You see...the legendary three are myself...ol Ra'shala here.." she playfully nudged the Khajiit who was surprisingly sober while no one gave her any troubles about not drinking. "And the foul smelling bone head Nord that found you....Baldir....to really understand it...you have to go back a few dozen years...."

Taara cleared her throat as those who had not passed out listened up. Either tradition or that the tale was not told very often. either way Twilight was going to hear it and was eager. "Once upon a time....35 years or so ago...there was a man...named Ulfric Stormcloak. Now he was not a good man nor was he a bad man. He had attributes that made him a little of both. He was nosy, racist, greedy, power hungry, and uncaring about those he saw as neutral to his plans. However, he was also extremely patriotic. He valued the old ways of tradition and had an undying overwhelming love for his countrymen. His country and his brothers in arms were twice as important to him than even his own life. He would have died for his beliefs in a second, without even a moment's hesitation."

Taara grinned looking about until she found a half empty bottle of wine and downed it with a happy smile before she continued.

"Now...I came from Daggerfall into Cyrodiil and was coming into skyrim to start a new life for myself, Ra'shala had come straight from Elsweyr, young and happy to finally go on a trip to see the world, and Baldir....no one quite knows what Baldir was doing or why he was crossing the same border at the same time as us. Only that he smelled just as bad and was just as ugly back then!" Ra'shala laughed and leaned back a little happily.

"Now it was about the time we had all started to head into skyrim that Ulfric Stormcloak was doing something very distasteful. Remember I told you he greatly valued the Nord way of life?...aye...well the empire in Cyrodiil was due to the elves in the Summerset Isles trying to over rule Nordic law with Imperial law. What was against the law there and legal here was slowly becoming illegal here as well. Mainly the Nord's ability to freely worship their God Talos. I would go into detail on that but there is about seven or eight books on that here in the library. But to the point most of Skyrim was very upset with this and all the more traditional nords wanted to rebel against the Empire and separate making Skyrim its own independent country. The first big step to this was competent leadership. At the time a man named High king Torygg ruled over Skyrim." Twilight's eyes were so focused and her smile almost hurt the corners of her mouth. Most of the candles had burned away but that made the story all the better for her.

"Torygg was a good king, but he was content letting the empire rule Skyrim instead of the Nords. Many, including Ulfric took this as a show that to Torygg, the Empire was more important than his own people. So as per old Nord tradition Ulfric challenged Torygg in noble one on one combat for the seat of high king. Now remember, Ulfric's motives may have had some good intentions but most believe the reason he challenged Torygg was simply because he, again...was greedy and power hungry. Torygg was no pushover, he was rightfully high king and accepted the duel in the old way. However, Ulfric... lets just say was a lot more than he could handle. Using his Thu'um it is said that Ulfric destroyed Torygg in a single blast. However unfair the duel was Ulfric had rightfully won the mantle of high king. However!! again the empire did not take too kindly to Skyrim's old king that was very very friendly to them being killed and replaced by someone who didn't like them at all. And so they were the first to declare the duel an assassination..."

"What?....that's not fair!" Twilight was surprised at how childish her own voice rang out and how she so quickly interrupted the story, she guessed it had a little to do with the booze. Though Taara did not seem to mind. "How can they justify overturning their laws like that? I mean yeah Ulfic sounded kinda like a jerk but the laws of Equestria never would apply to Saddle Arabia, nor their laws in Equestria."

Taara chuckled a little at the names but nodded. "Now you see this is the way most of the Nords felt. As if Skyrim had no rights to its own laws or traditions... And so instead of taking the mantle of high king Ulfric was chased out of the capital and hunted like a criminal by the empire. What little of his troops he did bring fought gallantly to prevent his capture. The empire was quick to kill off any of his supporters without mercy, wherever they found them. Now then...a day on the run and Ulfric and his remaining men stumbled into an Imperial ambush, surprise surprise so did three unlucky sods...Myself, Ra'shala who had gotten separated from her caravan, and Baldir. Not bothering to even figure out why we were crossing the border or giving us a chance to explain. The Imperial troops arrested us right along with Ulfric and took us to a small town called Helgen. One at a time the Empire began to execute Ulfric's men. And when the soldier called Ra'shala to the chopping block. I was afraid to see any more death when quite suddenly... for the first time in over an age, dragons returned to skyrim. After being extinct for generations upon generations upon generations. One black dragon tore through the town and by sheer luck and assistance of one of Ulfric's men... Ralof We all made it out alive... well... most of us. A lot of people were killed when the dragon attacked and more as the Empire cut down all of Ulfric's men as they ran for their lives. The following year was an excessively busy one. The three of us stuck together in a small dysfunctional family for a few months. I joined the College of Winterhold, Ra'shala went into Riften for some reason and Baldir joined the famous companions. Though we all had our own little adventures, a thing or two eventually crept up on all of us. We kept in contact the whole time, meeting up once and a while to swap stories...and eventually trouble came knocking. The civil war broke out, Ulfric intended to force out the Empire for its misdeeds to Skyrim and her people. It was actually Baldir who convinced us something had to be done. It was clear what side we had to join... I mean would you join a side that wants to erase all of someone else's laws, culture, and traditions for coin? Especially when your first interaction with them is their attempting to execute you simply because you exist? Surprisingly Ra'shala did not much want any part of the combat, but she helped out anyway just in the spirit of helping your friends out."

"So you guys all fought a war?...did you win?" Twilight's thoughts churned, She did not see any implications that this land was ruled by anyone but the big hearty Nords.

"Yes and no... I am a thinker and not really a fighter, granted no one ever wants to fight me. And so I came up with a plan. going from town to town I gathered and gathered until I had petitions and coin forward a resolution to the war. Baldir rallied every last man woman and child who wanted the war to end and Ra'shala pulled strings at a political level allowing for the peace meetings. Despite the bloodshed and the mysterious death of the emperor the next man in charge was very willing to call for peace. All together the people of Skyrim decided that Cyrodiil specific laws did not apply to Skyrim, nor did the people of Skyrim no matter how angry they were, they did not have any right to break their own laws. Under the condition that Skyrim remain at least a loose ally to the empire Ulfric would take his rightful place as high king and successfully recede Skyrim from the empire. All was well and happy to no end. Ulfric even married and had a child, We three were given very high positions within the high king's court. But then the unthinkable happened..."

Taara paused for effect and it worked, Twilight was on the edge of her seat, eyes wide.

"High king Ulfric was killed by the Thalmor... No challenge, no laws. They came in the day that I was stuck teaching at the college and Ra'shala was out doing her thing. The Thalmor came after FINALLY convincing Ulfric to let them have council, and this was a big thing because there was little if not then nothing that Ulfric hated more than the Thalmor. They came in talked for just a few moments before they outright opened a gate to Oblivion right there in the throne room. Daedra poured out and all the elves attacked along side the dark forces. Baldir and Ulfric alone ended all the threats but Ulfric perished at a single scratch left by an elven dagger poisoned with something that even I could not identify. He died a slow and agonizing death. But with his last breath he let his nation know that the coward elves treachery would not go unpunished. I had only just barely made it to his bedside to see the great king pass. Baldir, Ra'shala and myself all took to the battlefield. Leading all we had at our disposal and all that skyrim could offer. To the Thalmor's great surprise, every nation on Nirn seemed to rise up against them once the legendary three rose up against them. We gave them hope and with the might of every nation that hated the Thalmor we punched through their borders, officials, generals, and royalty alike died in their sleep in a mass wave of assassinations. Nordic soldiers pierced through even the most heavily guarded forts and sacked their precious cities. I lead the college of Winterhold along with the Cynod and the other nation's colleges into magical warefare against the Thalmor's greatest weapons. In just two short years the great war continued and was resolved."

Twilight noticed she was still on the edge of her seat and scooted back as Taara smiled happily. "But...what about the kingdom?...who ..err what happened?"

"Oh many wanted Baldir to become high king. at least until Ulfric's son came of age...But he refused. That was a dark time for us all. We were racked with pain and despair. Baldir blamed himself for failing to protect Ulfric. I myself felt responsible too. Ulfric... my own king was murdered while I was teaching some stuffy noble how to make potions."

The silent Khajiit spoke up with a sad tone to her voice. "This one was very upset as well...I should have been there for him. My words and actions helped him understand some things and he was all too grateful to give those who were seen as lesser for their race, a place to stay and even representatives in his court. He originally was very offensive, but he had a good heart under all that traditional Nord. Good enough to see that a true son or daughter of skyrim did not have to be a Nord."

Taara looked up as if thinking back in memory of all the good times. "well... in the end it was one of Ulfric's long time allies who took the throne and instantly forsake it the very second Ulfric's son became of age.... Goodness...so much happened since then... so so much..."

The door pushed open almost violently. "Yeah your old ass got even uglier stupid mage..." The foul smell of strong booze and even stronger body odor rolled through the room, the crass voice that intruded obviously belonged to Baldir. "You obviously forgot how we dominated the dragons....and how we killed Miraak....and the vampire menace."

"Those are other stories Baldir, we are just covering the question answered...but I am sure we can get to those lat-"

"Hey!..." The Nord was obviously a tad more drunk than Taara, this was made even more clear as he continued ranting. "Why the hell did you tell my men that I would only be paid in person?"

"Because I wanted to ask you why you killed all the people who were delivering my supplies from Cyrodiil" Her voice seemed very authoritative but more than that, very irritated.

"And I was wondering why you were ordering those witch elves to cross our boarders illegally with some stupid purple Daedra horse!" Twilight was about to say something but she did not get a chance.

"Know your place you fool! The war ended decades ago. Trespassing is not a crime worthy of death. Sure they were breaking the law but you did not need to kill them. Had they been Nords you would have ignored them completely!" Taara's figure seemed to glow slightly as her voice strained showing signs of anger.

Baldir mirrored her anger with a tad more aggression making the alicorn stumble off her chair and take shelter next to spike. Those around in the room started to wake hearing the raised voices. However, to her surprise they did not seem too worried. instead they just shuffled lightly behind the stone pieces of the room that offered cover.

"Whats going on? isnt anypony going to stop them?" The booze in her body gave her warmth and a nice fuzzy feeling but it did nothing to help make the aggressive arguing any better.

"Aye... first you have got to stop saying that, no one will ever take you serious, second they do this every time they meet up, thirdly, no one here or... well.. anywhere is brave enough to try and stop them." Twilight peaked out seeing that their yelling had only continued and seemed to climax as Taara, the older woman reeled back and headbutted the Nord. This quickly turned into a fist fight. Twilight felt the urge to go out and stop it but the ale in her system dulled her senses making her far more afraid for her own well being than worried about the two.

The fight however came to a quick stop the moment the drunk Nord reached back and grasped the axe on his back. "BALDIR!!!" Ra'shala's voice was easily ten times louder than Luna's royal Canterlot voice, the thought of some sort of sonic magic or sound based amplifications came to Twilight's mind. Ra'shala had literally sounded like thunder with a single word, and with that single word the big Nord hesitated before lowering his hand turning about and leaving as if shamed.

"Alright all of you, Bed time! Sleep it off and umm... Brelyna, show Twilight where she can sleep and give her a bucket., first timers always get a bad hangove." The mages all nodded in agreement and the same dark elf who was taking notes on Spike picked the overstuffed dragon up and lead Twilight deeper into the frozen halls, eventually she seemed rather happily showed Twilight to where she could sleep.

Being honest with herself, Twilight did not feel like sleeping, it was a lot of activity, so much learning, and a fear filled argument between friends that nearly ended in blood. Nothing about this was a sleeping moment. "Good night, and thank you all so much." Despite the problems Twilight could barely keep her eyes open. The conflict that seemed to ruin the evening still rang in her mind like a freshly struck bell. It hurt to see friends so openly violent, even before it got serious, this world and its collective cultures frightened her to no end. She did not want to sleep but at the moment she did not feel like she really had a choice.

"Don't mention it and don't worry about those two. They have been through a lot I am sure that arch mage Taara will give you a full tour and start on your problem bright and early tomorrow. Get some sleep."

Twilight's heart was a little more at ease. From what she could tell even just by looking around at how the building was put together and just what they had laying around, these mages were all extremely talented. She would even go as far as to say Starswirl the bearded's level of talent, but she thought it over. She would have no real way of telling if that were accurate. Either way she had high hopes of her ability to return to what she hoped desperately was her friends, her family, and her home.

Sleep began to crawl into the corners of her eyes and seemed to tug her eyes shut. Pulling the blankets over her to fend off the cold she sniffled trying to think of Ponyville. This place was dangerous and scary, but for the moment, she had no choice. It was her home.

Chapter 5: prerequisites [remastered:v2.0]

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Prerequisites

Twilight awoke in a bed that was a little too big for her. and upon impulse she spotted the bucket and made a mad dash for it hurling her guts out.

"Right on queue... let this one fetch you some, as Taara calls it, hangover juice..." Twilight looked up weakly to see Ra'shala with a wry smile sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Do not worry young one, the first hangover is a bit of a right of passage..."

Twilight hurled again looking up in utter despair. "Ra'shala...I feel like...like...." She let loose again and looked up.

"Do not worry, it goes away after a few hours, well that is, with the help of the potions." She rummaged through a small sack at her side and plopped the bottle down. "Wait until you are done vomiting or you will just spew up the medicine."

Twilight rolled on her side and shuddered as if half alive. "Does this happen every time you drink?"

"Well, yes in a way, until you become accustom to it." Ra'shala's response was kind and calm.

Puking once more, shuttering and groaning Twilight wiped her lips with a hoof and spat a few times before looking up again. "Why does anypony ever drink?"

Rashala just laughed and shrugged as she left the room. To Twilight's surprise there was a small package on the desk just a few feet from her. Waiting until she did not need to vomit she downed the potion and picked up the package. As if it were her birthday she eagerly opened it to find specially tailored mage robes and the same crown refitted. All of it fitted her perfectly, then at the bottom of the small paper wrapped package was something that surprised her. A masterfully crafted schedule. All of it was divided into study of Tamriel's history, study of its magic, rest, spare time, and most importantly researching a way to get her home.

"Oh wow, arch mage Taara... she is a lot more than I thought... this is perfect." Whipping out the cloak she noticed there was a small pin that held a great deal of magical energy. Looking over it she decided to try it out afterwards. Putting on the cloak she almost squee'ed with joy. It was everything she loved about clothing, simple, straight forward, plain, and strangely it seemed to make her just in general feel better. Lastly she lifted the pin and settled it into place. The enchantments attached to her clothes in addition to the potion almost made her feel 100% again. Still a little groggy but she was grateful that she was not painting the walls in vomit.

She gave a curious glance at the pin. "This is a curious little thing...oh well I'm sure that arch mage Taara will let me know what it is." She levitated the schedule to inspect it not at all noticing that spike was not in the room. He wasn't even there when she woke up. Noticing the time she quickly took off back towards the library very surprised the moment she opened the door. In the middle of the snow covered courtyard there was Spike and Taara both sitting and talking to a dragon. A full sized dragon, bright red hues and sword sized fangs. The thing looked absolutely terrifying. But it did not seem to mind her presence, regarding her with the smallest nod before turning back to Spike.

"Ful daar los gein?" The dragon gestured in Twilight's direction with another less subtle nod while looking down at spike who seemed perfectly fine standing in front of such a fierce dragon.

"Yeah, that's Twilight so far she raised me from a hatching to now. Hey! Twilight come on over, this is Odahviing, he's really cool, one of Tara's friends."

Twilight slowly and carefully came closer nervously looking up at Odahviing. "Ah... heh ... h... hello..."

"Twilight you would not believe it, in this world dragons are immortal, and their language gives them powers. Its awesome, just look at this." Spike looked up and shot a massive flame out of his mouth. Far more than the usual green burst but strangely she could hear a voice within his fire breathing as if he were shouting something while he breathed fire.

Taara chuckled and gestured to Twilight. "Come on closer he wont eat you, at least I hope not. We have been having fun all morning. I am very surprised how different dragons are in your world."

"Vrah.. as am I joore" The big dragon's voice was thick and deep. It made Twilight shiver just hearing it.

"Still it's amazing that the little guy still by default knows how to read and speak in dragon."

"Yes,it is but stranger still it is... zurun, strange to see an infant of a people who cannot Verkiir.... ah, procreate. It has been quite entertaining, but Zu'u kent lif... I must take my leave, and you should really choose a new name Zeik."

The great dragon's wings spread and with a blast of wind he took off circling the college once and took off.

"Whats wrong with my name?" Spike sat where he was a little upset at the implication that the big dragon did not approve of his name.

"A proper dragon name has three words in it. Odahviing means Winged snow hunter, just having the name Spike is an insult to a very proud race. You should probably get a name ready for the next time you see a dragon. Don't want to hurt any feelings, or get eaten."

"How about Zeikjendova?"

Tara cocked an eyebrow at him"... Spike the purple dragon? Well if you want to be burned to cinders and eaten, then sure, its a great name." Taara laughed and Spike grumbled a bit before Twilight cleared her throat.

"Um.. Arch mage?"

"What is it princess?" Again she emphasized the princess to let her know how she felt about the title.

"Ah... s..sorry um, I saw the schedule you left me I wanted to thank you..you know fo.."

"Then you had better hurry. Onmund is starting the class... you don't want to be late on your first day...don't worry about the rest just make it to where you need to be on time and oh yes, if you want to avoid the odd looks." Taara chuckled and reached over touching the small magical pin and almost instantly, Twilight and her clothes shifted. Her muzzle shrank her front legs shifted into arms even if her hind legs remained hooves. Her tail remained as did her horns and wings but she looked far more like the bipedal individuals of this land.

"W..wow! this... this is amazing... I mean.. I have seen transformation magic before but this is very amazing."

"It's called alteration....and don't get your hopes up too far it was supposed to turn you into a human. Oh well, I did kinda just eyeball the ritual based on first impressions with your power signature. I shouldn't expect my work to be perfect with so many unknowns, I will tinker with it later I guess. But this form will do well enough for now. You can relax it and amplify it at will just focus your magic on the pin, its easy."

Twilight smiled touching the pin with her new fingertips and with a little bit of focus, she instantly shrank back into her usual form. "Thank you but, I'm not a human. I am an alicorn of Equestria. It might be a little petty, but I have some pride in this form, that and standing on two legs is kinda... weird."

Taara chuckled. "Very well...go ahead and keep the pin it will come in handy while you are here, and despite how you feel, especially outside of this college, no one will take a pony seriously, so despite your feelings, its going to be an important tool for you. In the mean time, go on to your class. We have a LOT of work ahead of us."

Twilight smiled happily. If she had to be stranded anywhere away from her friends this was the best place for it to be. Between herself and the mages of Winterhold she felt like she was practically home already.

Chapter 6: Legacies [remastered: v2.0]

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Legacies

It was dark, The air was stale with the taste of ozone and frost lit by only the ocasional flickering candle or hanging lantern. The draugr, both on the ground and lumbering about were plentiful and always in the way.

Four hooves clacked loudly over the ancient ruined stone floors. Twilight leaped from the point where the draw bridge had been simply burned down. Her wings carried her to the other side but it did nothing to calm her down as she continued bolting down the halls of the ancient ruin. She could hear the commotion outside, ear splitting thunderous blasts, mild explosions, and the warriors cries as the battle continued overhead, each little rumble or loud boom littering the ancient halls with dust and debris.

Screeching to a halt next to the small puzzle door, her body flared with magic. Hooves became hands, feet, fingers and toes, her soft purple fur turned to a fair skinned display wet with sweat as she came to full height rapidly gripping and turning the puzzle pieces.

"Why in the name of Celestia does this thing have to reset every time somepony goes through it?!"

The last piece clicked into place and she forced the small dragon claw key into the center giving it a stern yank in one direction. Instantly, the door rumbled open as she could hear the humming magic quickly approaching. Her body flared once more and she took to her wings ascending quickly past all the puzzle lined and trap lined stairs and hallways. Landing firmly on all four hooves she blasted down the hall again her wind knocking over teetering displays and long empty bottles. She moved quickly, taking a flying leap down a long hallway which twisted and turned to avoid the collapsed ruined blunt stop which featured a single small opening which she aimed for, her horn flaring up again in mid air. Only just barely fitting the thin human frame through what she could not have made it through as an alicorn. Rolling to a stop the latter half of her deceleration was made on grinding hooves as her horn blasted out a high level ice spell building up a massive layer of destruction magic over the small hole. Slapping four ice runes over the hastily laid down obstruction she continued to run slapping fire and lightning runes along the last stretch before she burst from the hall, the light of the sun coming close to blinding her, she only just barely managed to duck as a headless draugr flew past her and smashed to near nothing on the stones just beyond her position.

Baldir swung is great axe through two of the undead and planted the now slightly more dulled blade into the skull of a third. His thick muscled wrists tensed as his hand tightened over the neck of the old weapon, yanking the battleaxe from his latest vanquished foe he shot a death glare at Twilight.

"DOES THIS LOOK LIKE AND I QUOTE! 'A MANAGEABLE NUMBER OF UNDEAD'!?" His voice was booming and could be heard even over the sounds of the battle.

She had not really figured that the reaction to her adventure would be this bad. She knew that there would be quite a few draugr that woke from her poking around in Labyrinthian, but this was an obscene amount. Baldir and four more companions stood in a circle hacking and hewing the undead as the poured in from every nook and cranny of the massive ruin. Far above all of that Ra'shala's bow was singing. High up on her perch the Khajiit was surrounded by empty quivers. A young dark elf was quickly sticking new arrows into the ground before her only just barely keeping up with the impressive speeds that accompanied her keen eyes and quick fingers. Above even Ra'shala Odahviing who had been emergency called upon had only just arrived moments ago and was gutting the narrow passages between constructs with flames creamating the ancient undead by the dozens.

Twilight let off a nervous forced "oops" smile . "Ah...well..um Baldir..before you get too mad...I um....I kinda..." She swallowed and winced under his angered gaze that shot out at her.

Baldir kicked in another draugr's skull and continued to glare angrily at Twilight. "you did NOT do what I know you did....did you?..."

Twilight let off a nervous chuckle. "oh...it...its not that bad...really it isn't..." She thought back at the dozens of runes she placed over the hall.

The ruin behind her exploded and a dragon priest emerged from the wreckage. Excessively powerful wards burned brightly over its body as stones orbited around it as if they were shields. The residual smoldering black spots on the stones told Twilight that he had simply powered through them without hesitation in attempt to catch up to her.

"The one condition... the ONE BLOODY CONDITION.. that I had for this was that you NOT wake Hijamaar the damned...why in oblivion did you turn out to be just like Taara?..."

From just a few yards back a smaller voice shouted. " YOLTOORSHUL!" The lich turned and faced the blast of green and red flames effortlessly brushing the fire aside with its wards but failing to notice the spinning blade inside the flames that firmly impacted the lich's chest.

A small set of claws connected to a purple hand reached back and drew a secondary blade which really was just a large dagger that fit for his size. With utmost pride and confidence Zeikkinzukjoor, or "Spike the impaler of mortals" as the small dragon came to call himself stepped forward in his armor that one of the companions had made him. Smaller than even a child's armor he was still overwhelmed with pride every time he put it on.

"Spike! get to the central structure and tell them to signal the arch mage!"

The 'oh so illustrious' Zeikkinzukjoor snapped off a solid salute before dashing off to tell the mages back at the rendezvous point the plan as Baldir leaped through the air and began brutally clashing with Hijamaar the damned. His axe shattered stone and his heavy legs propelled him forward trying to gain ground on the undead priest who wisely tried to distance himself with the ungodly angry Nord. Twilight however was very busy with turning the tide of the battle. None had fallen yet thankfully, but the small group of companions were exhausted. Landing between them all her horn flared with magic closing all minor wounds and healing the small bruises they had gained from the battle. Though most of all the spell as she intended restored their vigor giving them a hefty second wind.

"Fall back!...we have to get to the rendezvous point...Arch mage Taara surely has the portal open by now..."

With a nod all four of them quickly began to fall back. Nearly that second, the arrows from above stopped and Ra'shala leaped down, her claws dug into the old Nordic walls, sliding just a bit her hand shot out and grabbed the young dark elf who had attempted to do the same but failed do to lack of claws. Ra'shala no matter how strong and able did not stay in one spot as this happened. Her claws popped loose from the wall and she hugged the elf tightly as her lips parted and she shouted. "Feim zii gron!" The pair blurred and seemed to turn a into a ghostly image before smashing into the ground. Getting up unphased the pair darted to the center building just as the effects of the ancient magic wore off.

Twilight and the four companions had just reached the building as well when they heard Baldir's thunderous Thu'um followed quickly by the usual "HA BITCH!" His Thu'um echoed again with a loud crackling "WULD!" and he seemed to snap into place above them. In one hand his dulled battle axe, in the other, the severed head of the ancient dragon priest Hijamaar the damned. Quickly entering the building Baldir was the last of them. Two of the college's finest sealed the door with heavy wards as the last of the companions and the dark elf had just gone through. Twilight trying to avoid the angry Baldir hopped towards the portal almost instantly Baldir's hand shot out. But they both ended up plopping through at the same time.

The hazy vision was a side effect from the portal based travel. Happily years of teleporting before her arrival in Tamriel gave her the upper hoof over Baldir who was stumbling about. A chuckling Taara nudged him with her staff making him fall over as the last of the mages came through and the portal snapped shut.

"If I could see straight...Talos as my witness I would strangle you both. Damned mage...Damned purple horse!...."
Taara laughed snapping her fingers just as Baldir had gotten to his feet, she thrust a bag of coins into his hand as she summoned a portal behind him.

"Thank you so much old friend but you did the job I paid you to do, so bye bye!" An extra push sent him stumbling through the portal and the not so angry yet slightly more dazed companions nodded their thanks and hopped through the portal to follow Baldir.

Taara closed the portal and with a happy grin turned to Twilight. "Please tell me you got it. Oh please oh please..." The older woman's eyes seemed to twinkle with joy at the mere thought of a new discovery, especially one of this significance.

Twilight grinned happily, her horn glowed and a weathered book barely held together by a long rotting leather binding raised from her saddlebags. "Right here! And its just as we thought, back in the first era Shalidor met a foreign mage during a trip into oblivion. A mage called Starswirl the bearded apparently was exploring Oblivion and they found each other in the hellish landscape."

Taara almost let out a squee of joy. She loved uncovering the lost histories just as much as Twilight did. "Congratulations Twilight, after seven years we FINALLY made real progress to getting you home."

Twilight sighed a happy and revealed sigh. The seven years had passed so quickly It was hard to remember everypony's voices back in Equestria. But this book was the starting point. With the knowledge contained within she would be able to find out how to locate the mirror again. Spike too longed for home, he was quite happy with his life in Skyrim but like Twilight he too did not belong on Nirn. Even though Twilight had ascended to master wizard and spike had come to be known as an actual warrior. He had long since graduated from Twilight's assistant and the friendship between them matured into more of a brother sister friendship. Rarely did he ever run to her for help anymore, and likewise rarely did she ever call to him to write letters or clean up messes. She easily saw him as a worthy adult capable of carrying his weight and looking out for himself as well as her when she needed it, likewise he saw her as a precious sister he would die protecting if he had to, seven years with dragons and Nords certainly toughened him up mentally and physically.

Taara turned the pages in the old book reading at an accelerated rate. "Goodness, Shalidor's note are very very detailed. It looks like your Starswirl the Bearded came through as a pony as well, or rather at least not as a humanoid. But seriously, they really hit it off." Her fingers carefully turned the pages on the old book as Twilight hovered over her shoulder reading with her.

"I didn't figure Shalidor to be that much of a drinker, but well what do you know, three whole pages... drinking games more drinking games, guessing what went into Starswirl's special brew. I figured their friendship would have been based on magic and not so much, you know... booze."

"Well I for one know that legendary mages can grow quite tired of writing about their experiments and their epic quests. Sometimes you just want to sit down and knock back a brew with a friend. Speaking of which!" Taara smiled clapping the book shut and pulling up a bottle of spiced wine.

"Alright, but we drink while we read." Twilight smiled and shifted to human form. It was much easier to sit in chairs and to hold a cup in this form. After seven years she had grown quite accustom to both human form and drinking, as well as the magic of this land. In the years spent in the college she had quickly risen into and beyond the expert level spells in every school of magic. With a wave of her horn she could animate a dozen skeletons or heal a dozen soldiers. Or just as easily burn/freeze/electrocute a dozen enemies. At first she was appalled by the violent purpose of destruction magic and the seemingly dark and twisted aims of conjuration. But in time she matured into it seeing it as necessary tools to survive. She had grown emotionally far past her naivety. She was still the princess of friendship, but her mind was honed, her sense of self was fuller. She was wise beyond her years and her power was well beyond the definition of vast. Not that it was easy to go past the point of no return, she was haunted for months the first time she was forced to take a life. But she had good friends who helped her through it. It still wasn't easy, but this world was dangerous and violent, if she had to take a life to save a life, she would without hesitation.

As the two drank and other mages took notes and made calculations, Ra'shala sat in the corner sharpening her knives while speaking to her grand daughter who had come to the college just two years previous. Twilight herself took on the young Khajiit as an apprentice, this however was mainly due to the fact that the little Szrezi was an Alfiq Khajiit. As small as a house cat, Szrezi walked on four paws and when Twilight was in the college the little Khajiit would follow her everywhere. Save for when her grandmother showed up to chat. Something about talking to another quadruped about magic put her mind in a better state of ease.

Taara set the book to one side sipping on the last of her wine as she looked to the ceiling in thought. "Well...from the looks of things we have three options... and right away..one of them is completely out of the question...."

Twilight peeked up looking at Taara who had hastily thrown together the plans in her head. Twilight gestured for her to continue and happily she did. "According to Shalidor's texts... Starswirl the Bearded appeared in Merunes Dagon's plain of Oblivion, the deadlands. Just like you did, its safe to assume he used the same mirror. Which means we have to get into the deadlands. So we either need to break in ourselves or get help. Soooo I propose we either use a Daedric artifact to tear a hole into Oblivion and enter. However, this is both unwise and might be impossible to do."

"What other choices do we have?..." Twilight grimaced as if knowing where Taara was going with it.

"We have to ask permission to enter the deadlands....Or we have to ask for help to enter it..."

Twilight shuttered. She only once had the displeasure of meeting a Daedric prince, and it was far from pleasant. Hermaeous Mora had approached her in her dreams and made such grand offers in exchange for all her knowledge of Equestria. She had not quite known what the Daedric prince was infamous for yet but when a dark and twisted abomination came to her dreams offering what sounded like a deal that was WAY too good to be true she decided it was too good to be true and as such she woke up and asked Taara who shared with her how good of an idea it was not to do anything that the Daedric princes wanted her to do. Over the years she learned from first and second hand accounts that just about every one of the Daedric princes were not to be trusted.

"Who in Oblivion are we going to ask? Merunes would want blood tribute and would probably ask us to kill each other. If we asked Clavicus he would banish us forever to Oblivion and laugh for the next age. No one would really be willing to help us without us paying a price we cannot afford..."

Taara nodded coming to the same conclusion but then grinned. "There is one Daedric prince who just might help us. Though its going to be a little hard."

Twilight looked up at her in confusion, about to speak, but Taara laughed loudly.

"Pack your bags girl, you get to reunite with the first person you met in this world."

Chapter 7: This is familiar [remastered: v2.0]

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This is familiar

Four times, Twilight had left Skyrim four times now. Once she went to Dagger fall, but that was just a quick trip just barely across the border. And again she crossed over just barely managing to make it to Bruma in Cyrodiil. Then finally she had made it all the way over to the Cynod who were all too eager to be able to see a magical flying purple unicorn, once there she gave a long and detailed lecture on Equestrian history and magic. Though all the attention was a bit overwhelming it was very flattering for her to have so many so eager to learn from her. However, the fourth time was planned so suddenly. She was driven all the way down into the Niben bay just outside Bravil. Their small boat made landfall on a small island with a very odd looking structure coming from it. Three conjoined faces, mashed together. The mouth in the middle was open wide but showed only bare stone within.

"Taara?...why exactly are we here?..." Twilight stepped out of the boat hopping up to the same level as the agape mouth. She had been asking that very question off and on for about four days but Taara would just avoid the question. Twilight was unsure if Taara was just being very discreet or if she was just being herself and teasing Twilight with the prospect of hidden knowledge.

"You remember the book I got you on Aedra and Daedra yes?..."

Twilight nodded happily, it was mind blowing the stories of this world's creation. The book lead her to hours and hours of entertainment and a fair amount of worry. Though now was not a time for a book party. "Yes... and judging by this statue up here, I assume your plan has something to do with the Daedric prince...." She hesitated remembering a certain somepony she knew that she was ALWAYS reminded of when she read anything to do with this dark God. "...Sheogorath...the mad God..."

Taara grinned and stood just a little taller. "Yes indeed...are you ready?" Taara chuckled as she pulled out a thickly wrapped item that Twilight could only guess to be a staff.

"Well sure but how is this statue going to get us into Oblivion Sheogorath doesn't even have access to Merunes Dagon's plain of existance....does he?" Twilight's mind bubbled but she resigned to the fact that she would have to just sit back and wait for the answer from Taara who as usual preferred to do things with a flare for the dramatic. Twilight was always patient, and spending time in this world had done many things to her, one of the more notable things was the fact that she learned to be patient with Taara which meant that she would have to wait days, and sometimes even months for an answer of something she was holding just for her own amusement, it was sometimes like dealing with Pinkie pie.

"This is not a statue... its a portal. A portal into Sheogorath's realm of existence, The Shivering Isles. Only..." She ground her teeth as she look over the three merged faces displaying an array of emotions at once. "Its been closed for a couple hundred years..."

Twilight sighed, Taara was a good friend but sometimes any world was too small for two magical introvert savants. But Taara always had her fair share of redeeming qualities, this was generally how Twilight had developed so much patience for the older woman. "Ok....so how are we going to get into Sheogorath's realm and why?"

Taara grinned happily unwrapping, revealing a dull gray color and an array of faces on three sides of the staff almost identical to the dead portal. Clacking the staff against the ground then giving it a twirl she cleared her voice. "With this, and because he has something we really really need..." She thrust the staff towards the open mouth of the three faced construct. "You see Twilight, this... is the Wabajack. It's a staff that Sheograth hands out to certain lucky fools who happen to stumble upon him and come out of the even while still in one piece...not turned inside out or with any extra limbs..."

Twilight cocked an eyebrow and held her gaze steady on Taara."Then how did you get it?..."

"Me?...well its a....short but very odd story...suffice to say I once met Sheogorath...and he said something very peculiar. I did some research when I got back home and now that knowledge is paying off... or at least I hope it will be paying off." The Wabajack slowly began to melt with an intense dark glow. Bleeding its physical form, dripping down and flowing up like vapor for the dead doorway to consume.

"This doorway was shut by Sheogorath's will. And just like all other Daedric artifacts this staff too is constructed of a Daedric prince's blood and their own will. If Sheogorath's will can close the door it can open it too."

The melting staff bubbled and fumed as it began to flare magic. The same three faces the doorway showed were also displayed at the tip of the staff. The staff melted like a candle, tip first and only just barely melted past the eyes before the mouth of the three faced statue lit up with an eerie blue glow.

"Ha!....I told you. This arch mage is on the list!" She grinned a special grin that Twilight knew as the 'probably not a good thing smile'.

"List?" Twilight looked at her a little worried.

"Yes.. the rather short list of people who have successfully broken into Oblivion...and by the time this is done we are doing it again. At least once more." She chuckled and stepped through with a confidence that Twilight was and would always be jealous of.

"Are you certain that's a good list to be on?" Twilight looked back for a moment at the boat. Almost no one knew where they were going or what they were doing for that matter. But even so , Twilight had waited years for this and was not about to chicken out now.

Hopping head first through portal Twilight landed splat on her face. Gently Alteration magic lifted her and set her carefully on all four hooves. "yeah...ALMOST as graceful as me. Now if the notes were accurate...I think this place is called the fringe..."

Taara started forward with Twilight close in tow. Almost no one even seemed to care that there was a small purple alicorn walking through the town following a mage. The few people who dotted the fringe certainly were used to the less than normal events.

"Twilight!...up there..." The old Breton's fingers aimed up a ram on the side of the small town towards the vast wall which seemed to be up to protect the town, or rather one spot at the base of the wall.

"What? Is that wall where we are going to climb over?" She peeked around not seeing any other way out of the village.

"Twilight?" Taara waved a hand slowly.

"Yes?"

Taara lowered the hand to almost exactly Twilight's eye level then raised it, keeping it horizontal until it was level with her own eyes.

Twilight flapped her wings a little hovering in place to see a set of doors on either side of a massive abomination of a creature. "Ohhhhh.... yeah, sorry. I have been a little irritable lately."

"I understand but you know as well as I do, at the foundation of any great mage is patience. Getting impatient wont get you home any faster."

Twilight grimaced landing softly. "I understand, its just been a little rough. Now then, how exactly do we get past that thing? I did in fact notice the giant walls around us. But I mean I do have wings, I can fly and I can probably get you over the walls too, but looking over the construction of this place, something tells me that we are not supposed to do that, and perhaps a certain God of madness would not be too keen on us breaking the hypothetical rules like that..."

"Indeed, we will have to get past the gate keeper, but honestly I doubt that even 100 of those things can stand up to both of us. Not to boast or anything but I am a living legend of magic and you are no chopped liver yourself. So lets go decimate that walking skin graph and enjoy a stroll through the islands."

Twilight nodded and calmly walked up the path coming to a stop before the great abomination. The ground all about was littered with the decaying and decayed bodies of all those who had tried in the past years. There was nothing new on the ground which made sense considering how difficult it was to enter, these bodies either belonged to the village below or more likely, just from a much older time when the gate was still open. But her mind burned with questions on how long ago it was closed vs how long the bodies had remained here with the thought that perhaps doors opened in other locations every now and again.

Twilight stood firmly staring up at the massive creature which paced to and fro with slow lumbering steps. It looked like it was stitched together from two dozen people and animated with Celestia knew what else. Taara came to rest next to her and with a bit of finesse her hand whipped out, a flame sparked up in it, her other hand came to her back and slid her staff off, twirling it gracefully in her fingertips she leveled it carefully at the massive monster. Twilight just smiled with a short bit of focus and the floor rumbled, the weapon of every failed warrior in their presence raised. Rusted, broken or preserved the swords, axes, spears, and bows all raised and aimed at the gate keeper. For those who could feel it, the display was also shown through an overwhelming flare of magica. But, that was when everything stopped going their way. Mere seconds before they instinctively decided to attack in unison, a skeever fell from the sky and splattered to its death four feet from them.

"Oh... damn." Taara's eyes stared at the sight as she grimaced.

Another landed six feet behind the gate keeper, then another and another then a full cow which exploded into cheese when it made contact with the ground. Taara sighed and stepped back ready for literally anything. Twilight however just Grumbled. "It's not chocolate milk, but I am certainly getting a really strange sense of nostalgia..."

"yeah dont get too happy... it seems a certain Mad God has noticed us...."

As if on queue there was a burning blast of light within the raining skeevers and exploding cheese cows and there stood a well dressed old man, his eyes glared with an inhuman frightening power and with a thick accent he grinned wide and spoke

"Why helloooooooooooo mortals!"

Chapter 8: Order within the chaos [remastered v2.0]

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Order within the chaos

They sky seemed to utterly refuse to stop raining live skeevers and cheese exploding cows, the complete defiance against natural order was blatantly being violated by the single figure before them. The mad God teetered his cane on his fingertips while smiling down at Taara and Twilight.

"I am half tempted to just tear out your souls and swap out your teeth for toes because of your breaking into my realm and just look what you did to me staff. LOOK AT IT...you melted my beautiful face...all three of my faces to be exact...I dont just give the Wabajack to anyone you know. However, you did save your hide by one simple fact...ha!...you broke into the Shivering Isles and trespassed on mah fring with a bloody talking purple horse! And that is what is going to save your petty little mortal head, even if its the second time I have seen a talking purple horse... or third my memory is not perfect..."

Taara grit her teeth exhaling with some relief. She was actually sure she would have to fight Sheogorath at some level or pass one of his trials. Both of which would have been exceedingly difficult but not impossible with the level of power and sheer number of fallback plans she had in place.

"Sooooo then mortal...and...purple horse thingy... what reason do ya have for breaking into my home and trespassing on mah fringe?!?"

Twilight's mind reverted back to Discord with every one of the Mad God's words, though Discord seemed to be more aggressive and yet less dangerous as Sheogorath seemed to be, Discord naturally saught out conflict and was very silly, but Sheogorath seemed extremely neutral AND extremely dangerous, willing to teeter lethally in any direction at random. She had to remember that they were not the same no matter how likely it was that they would get along, one was the God of madness and one was sdraconequus who served as the avatar of chaos, similar but not identical.

Breaking Twilight's train of thought Taara spoke sternly not lowering her guard. "I need something, something that you took from Merunes Dagon a long time ago."

Sheogorath's eyes narrowed and a sly grin formed over his lips. "That is quite unfortunate wee mortal, you see that stuff was all locked up with my old self. And that bit of me is locked away deep inside where I don't much enjoy going." His grin changed, almost as if he were deciding upon something not so nice. "So you melt my staff you invade mah fringe and now you want me to go all sane? Have you gone mad... petty... ignorant... little helpless mortal? I certainly hope so that would be a hoot!"

Taara stood firm and looked to Twilight. "No, sorry to tell you but I am still plenty boringly sane. And yes, I do need something specific that YOU collected 200 years ago...back the same day you met Twilight for the first time." She paused and looked the Daedric God in the eyes.

"I need the Sigil stone you pulled from the oblivion gate back when you were the Hero of Kvatch." Taara's steadfast glare into the Mad God's eyes was something Twilight could not quite manage on her own. Even the tone of Taara's voice in the situation was something that shook Twilight. Where She wanted to back up and try to reason with the Daedric prince, Taara was throwing the command and perhaps offering something for it later.

Sheogorath shifted, his smile fading his voice deepened a shade and he spoke clearly."I don't much appreciate you bringing up the past mortal. You are either VERY... determined or just as mad as me, but I'll tell you what lass, restore my staff and Ill let you talk with the old me.. But only for a wee bit,fail and I will have all the golden saints in new sheoth take turns wearing your eyeballs for earnings! Now get going. Good day to you, I say good day to ya!..." His form shivered and blurred before he vanished just the way he had come.

"Um... Taara? That staff was made from Sheogorath's blood and will, how are we going to replace THAT?" sweating and shivering Twilight resisted the urge to bash her head against something or otherwise panic and vent simultaneously. Taara however, did not. Headbutting the solid wood post that served to hang a few signs she groaned.

"Alright... let me think let me think... ah, yes. I think... maybe... I almost have an idea. Yes... YES!" She reached to the skies and focused. Twilight could feel her magic flare up but she could see nothing.

Twilight leaned in trying to passively lean into Taara's vision as to remind her that she was taking part of adventure as well. "Please tell me what you are doing and don't just wait for later to let me know."

Taara grinned, though her face still betrayed her uncertainty. "We need his blood and we need his will...this land was created sheerly upon his own will. So its clear that provided I can pull it off, I can tear some of his will from this land and seal it into the staff. Then we have to go back to Tamriel and find some of his blood, or rather... her blood. Blood the Hero of Kvach spilled before she left to the Shimmering Isle."

Twilight took in the plan and processed the chances. It was a whole hell of a lot better than anything she could come up with other than just trying to fight and force the Daedric prince to release the stone for them and she was well beyond confident they would utterly fail at that even if Taara seemed to have been preparing for that.

"Isn't this a little more than just a long shot?..." Twilight's human form clumsily fiddled with the shovel. They had brought a fair amount of mages and hired on some locals to assist in the project, but Twilight was still more than just a little hesitant to believe this was going to work.

"Shut up and keep digging please, just let me know when you find a vampire's skull." Taara didn't have a shovel, she simply inspected the dirt being shoveled from the surprising large mass grave and inspecting each set of bones presented to her.

"This is ridiculous Taara. There is no proof at all that this vampire fed on the Hero of Kvatch, and even less evidence that the she was even a vampire as you claim to know so certainly."

Taara sighed pushing through the bones and peering deeper with magic. She had to call Ra'shala up and do a whole lot of pretending that nothing was up before she asked the Khajiit to bring them to this mass grave behind the city of Cheydinhal. Ra'shala clearly did not enjoy talking about what she did when no one was watching, especially when it came to the Dark Brotherhood. But Taara assured her that it was of the utmost importance and that she would make it quite worth her while, mainly they just needed to speak to a little jester named Ciciro who put them in contact with the current leader of the Cyrodiilic branch of the Dark Brotherhood, all to dig up some old vampire who MIGHT have bitten the Hero of Kvatch 240 years previous.

Digging for remains was never something Twilight ever thought of herself needing to do. But in all honesty if they did this they were just that much closer to the mirror and she was that much closer to seeing home once again. However, the welcoming thought of home did not quite rid herself of the shaken feeling knowing that Ra'shala was a part of the Dark Brotherhood. There were dozens of bodies hidden here. She now knew why the Khajiit was always so private. It hurt to see that such a friend was a part of something so dark, but she knew Ra'shala well, she was kind and loving. If she was in charge of some sort of assassination death cult, there had to be a good reason for it.

Twilight's train of thought was suddenly interrupted with the next skull pulled from the ground. Quickly turning it over to inspect the teeth. She let out a strained sigh as her magic cleared away the dirt encrusting the teeth. Instantly her hopes skyrocketed and her doubts fell as her eyes panned over elongated canines.

She hefted the skull as she turned about. "Taara!... I think I just found Vicente Valtieri..."

Chapter 9: Almost there [remastered v2.0]

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Almost there

Twilight stared into the abnormal glass tubes and beakers of the specialist alchemy lab. "Are you sure this will work?"

Beside Taara and Twilight there was an aggravated looking argonian, who was carefully working the alchemy to begin the process of boiling down the vampire's skull to retrieve the blood that was attuned to the Wabajack.

"Of course I am sure! I don't care how many talking purple ponies doubt me... I am still the legendary Geel... studier and tinkerer of dwemer and... things ...um... I need a better title."

The overly eccentric argonian was by Taara's account, a savant when it came to all things Dwemer. And as luck would have it, magic and rituals surrounding blood and the such was just one of the great many things that the mysterious Dwemer were amazing at. Taara reluctantly had to call on this argonian because she literally had nothing else she could do to withdraw blood that was drank by a now dead vampire 240 years ago. The only thing notable of the thin sleek tinkerer was that Taara and most of the mages at the college utterly LOATHED the lizard.

"I trust he knows what he is doing Twilight...I just don't trust anything else about him... including his sanity or IQ level."

Geel chuckled scratching a worn patch of scales on his neck. "Oh you are just angry because I know more about the Dwemer than you... and probably that whole thing where I accidentally caught the college on fire... and tore an unstable rift into Aetherius with that Dwemer device... and... um..." He stared off into space as his fingers extended one at a time as if counting all the times he lost trust and credit in general with not just the Winterhold College but likely all mages across the world.

"And the time you activated the centurion in the hall of the elements and the time you tried to open that Dwemmer lock box with a master level fire spell which blew a hole in the ground big enough to fit a mammoth..." Taara's voice was sharp, she clearly wanted him to remember that he was still on thin ice with them.

"Hey now, it worked didn't it?" He chuckled and sprinkled just a little more bone dust into the alchemy table. "You should just worry about your end of things. I mean who in their right minds makes a deal with the Mad God?"

The alchemy equipment bubbled and into a tiny vial a few small drops of blood spilled out. Watching unnaturally closely, one argonian eye magnified by the glass beakers reminded everyone present that Geel was still there. "Oh would you look at that. You were right, the staff's power called out the blood consumed by this vampire all those years ago."

Taara had never been so happy to be right. It was such a long shot that it was literally painful to go for it but it paid off. Twilight on the other hand was nearly in tears. Both on the count that she was just that much closer to getting home and that Taara would go this far, risking herself a dozen times over for her. She had literally pissed off a God and trespassed into his realm just to help her. She could not help but to believe that Taara was doing it partially because she had nothing better to do but it didn't change the fact that she was doing all of this because Twilight needed it to be done.

The blood seeped up and wet the surface of the staff slowly as Taara channeled the power with all her will until finally, smoldering and seething the power emanated from the artifact, the faces took shape and the staff was complete again.

Geel happily peeked back and spoke "Whew! Finally, now how are you two going to get a hold of Sheogor-"

Taara thrusted the staff at the wall and it crackled before it sputtered and spat out liquid cheese, two or three onions and a little more unexpectedly a dead priest of Arkay before finally the air in front of her tore open and out popped the Mad God himself. Geel practically soiled himself before turning and running. Obviously he was not quite the most brave of the group. Of who remained, none ran but those few other mages cowered in fear or wisely stood back as Twilight and Taara faced Sheogorath. Spike too was near but he did not seem to be or really even want to be a part of the action.

"Hellooooo mortal...I see ya fixed mah staff!...and well... I must say I didn't think you had it in ya! But a deals a deal, you get to meet my old self. But be warned shes not quite been herself since the Shimmering Isles." Sheogorath's image grew and grew quickly taking up the whole room. Without having any time to respond Taara and Twilight staggered back quickly being grasped by a giant hand and forced past the Mad God's lips as they were swallowed whole.

Twilight's eyes opened weakly as she righted herself. Magic flowed from the depths of her power enhanced by the augmented clothing and through her horn. Her surroundings lit up brightly from the orb of light floating above her. Just to the side of Twilight, Taara lay grumbling angrily, sitting up she groaned. "Bleh...how long was I out?..."

"I don't know... but... I think..." Twilight's mind churned as she rummaged through ideas and guesses, but more than anything the bigger fear was apparently just a little too obvious on her face.

"We are literally inside Sheogorath...be prepared for ANYTHING..." Taara's exhausted expression instead of a fearful one always made Twilight wonder, but she did guess that she had a lot of experience, after all, Twilight could not remember seeing Celestia fearful very often at all. But still, the way Taara seemed to just go with the flow was a little concerning.

Taara stood up and with a snap of her fingers the world well beyond Twilight's magical reach lit up just as brightly, amplifying Twilight's light orb dozens of times over. It was another reminder of something she loved about this world. Unlike home anyone who wanted to learn the wonders of magic, could. It required no horn, just a long in depth study and the will to learn. By Twilight's judgment, Taara's power was extraordinary, on par with Celestia and perhaps more, but even with that power, her skill to use it was beyond anything she had ever seen in Equestira. All of that power simply gained by studying and learning, sure she was a Breton, but the people of this world didn't need a horn. It made Twilight feel both giddy and a little inadequate. She was born into great magical power AND became an alicorn, yet she was still not as powerful as Taara.

Her thoughts came to a grinding halt as they walked and Taara nudged her and called her attention forward. "Hey... keep focused...look at all of this..."

Flinching and looking about she took notice of the surroundings. It was like a cave of mashed up Tamriel. The towers and buildings of the Imperial city were contorted and jammed in. Whole cities and guild halls. Even people all frozen and fit in as if someone's entire life was vaguely melted down and hammered into the shape of the cave like spot they were in.

Twilight looked around uncomfortably. "Sorry, its kinda hard to stay focused with all this going on. What is this place?"

Taara did not make eye contact. She was still at high alert. "If I had to guess, when the Hero of Kvatch became Sheogorath, she had to shed her mortal form. What we are seeing is just what is left. Her memories. Twisted and malformed. She created this, its her sanctuary. But we still must be careful, NOTHING is safe from Sheogorath's madness. Especially two and a half centuries at the core of it."

As they traversed the old twisted memories, slowly things seemed to to start righting themselves. the twisted dead cities got brighter and more lively colored. This was clearly a good sign, even Taara seemed to a little more relaxed as they continued onward until finally the tunnel opened up and showed the end of their journey. Right there in the center of the opening was a house, surrounded by unmoving people that they could only guess were once important individuals to the hero of Kvatch at some point seeing they were the most clearly defined, still had color to their skin and were fully uncontorted. The house was small and cozy looking, a light in the window burned.

Approaching with caution the duo slowed and reached for the door knob. The moment Taara's hand touched the knob it quickly vanished as did her magical lighting. Quickly whipping about Twilight quickly identified banners from the old guilds during the Oblivion crisis, as well as others. The black hand, the mages guild, the fighters guild, the thieves guild, even the knights of the nine. It was all here, lining a long hall. Accompanied by old weapons and armor over the halls Twilight could not help but think of this being something like the personification of a soul, only this one had experienced much more than most therefore was much larger and more detailed.

Holding up a cautionary hand Taara pointed silently at the end of the hall where a lone figure sat calmly flipping through the pages of a book, Her fingers delicately turned the pages, methodically following flawlessly along lines before turning the page and starting on the next.

With more caution than Twilight figured was needed, they closed in just barely close enough to see the ashy blue skin of a Dunmer. The pages of her book were blank but every page was viewed by her viciously focused red eyes as she flipped through the empty pages again and again.

It was almost a fright when her lips parted, her voice was commanding and powerful. "I assume you seek me out for a reason? Or perhaps... again, you are just my other half, coming to taunt me as usual. I don't care who or what you are, I am constant... I am order... I am truth... I am sanity... and if I am not... then I shall be." Despite the words and actions coming from her, her tone was that of absolute certainty and stability.

Twilight fought the urge to try and talk. She wanted to be done with this as fast as possible but if this woman thought that Taara and herself were illusions of madness then perhaps a talking horse was not the best thing for her to hear from next. Her magic flared and the pin at her collar transformed her into a human again. "You are the Hero of Kvatch right? We desperately need your help. We are not illusions or stray madness... we are j-"

"Prove it!" She still had not moved from her spot, sitting cross legged on a pillow, she turned over the book and again started through the pages and she flipped through the empty worn pages with the same dedication and strict near forceful focus without a hint of expression.

She didn't pause, but her soft breath hissed in past her lips as she spoke once more. "If you are not Sheogorath, if you truly are not my madness then prove it. I have held up these years because I am the original. Madness is not who I am, I am more than madness, I am strength, I am order, I am truth... prove that you are not madness and I will listen to your plight."

Taara seemed a little more worried as she calmly nudged Twilight as if telling her to be ready. "Um... how exactly do you mean?"

There was a flash, not magic nor fire but of movement. The book's pages had not even stopped moving. The book had yet to even touch the ground as the dark elf's grip on a long dark blade that Twilight barely recognized from an old book from Cyrodiil as Umbra. As if time was slowed Twilight watched Umbra in the elf's hand slash downwards in a brutal overhand chop straight into Taara.

They were to prove their innocence in conversation with the oldest universal language. Violence.

Chapter 10: Chaos within the Order [remastered v2.0]

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Chaos within the Order

The sickly sound of a blade slicing through living flesh was to be expected, but what was not expected was the blast that interrupted the fluid like attack. Out from the smoke and fire, tumbling end over end out of the fire and smoke, Taara finally seemed to find her feet on flat ground. Ice and telekinetic power gripped her form supporting her and forcing her to remain upright despite the explosive force which threw her back. Finally coming to a stop 10 meters from where the blade made contact she grasped and the badly burned bloody stub that used to be her right arm. The severed limb landed a few feet from Twilight who could only stand and stare in horror. She had seen things this bad before but it was always to people who were far weaker and in general, enemies. This was not just her friend but a living legend who just lost her arm and nearly her life in a fraction of a second. She had to take a moment and remember that this elf before them was the hero of Kvatch, the hero of Cyradiil an immortal who literally became a god, this wasn't going to be like her old adventures where she only needed to get together with her friends and zap the enemy.

Twilight quickly threw her hands out and released a torrent of elements, it was odd to attack or defend with her hands, but she learned quickly and while the form was odd, she had grown quite used to the human form. Hands were useful, and learning to use them was easier than learning magic. As odd as it was for her she still wielded magic in this form like a master. Ice and fire spewed from her finger tips. But the elf's wide eyes and almost vacant stare unfortunately was accompanied by lightning like reflexes. Ducking and weaving effortlessly through Twilight's magical onslaught.

Twilight leaped back in with fright, dodging Umbra by mere inches. back pedaling, she released a mass of telekinetic energy to try and smash the her enemy, not kill, but certainly knock the fight out of her. The dark elf advanced rapidly leaping up above the blast of magical energies and with astounding grace, she landed inches from Twilight bringing Umbra down with a vicious overhand attack. The dark blade closed in rapidly, even as Twilight took in every detail, she was certain that the blow was going to take a little more than a few drops of blood. The blade had only just barely cut the first few purple hairs on Twilight's head when a staff of glowing green lightning smashed the elf in the side of the head sending her back. Umbra had still tasted Twilight's blood leaving a fine bloody line over Twilight's left eye. She remained quite thankful that she still had an eye at this point, but she preferred to focus than to worry about what ifs.

Twilight focused and brought up a powerful conjured blade, but the same glowing staff moved in her field of vision. "Move back... take to the air and stay clear out of her reach... " Taara's bloody stump was half healed already, and in her other hand, the staff of Magnus twirled and gathered green energies. The Hero of Kvatch's fighting style was powerful, quick and acrobatic, but with what Taara had seen so far, if she remained on guard the dark elf was unlikely to land another blow. However, this woman was arch mage of Cyrodiil's mages guild 240 years previous. And that was just one of the great many accomplishments the woman had undertaken. Twilight hoped she was not thinking too high of her friend and mentor. Sure Taara hadn't ascended into godhood or anything, but she was still the legendary dragonborn, and the current arch mage.

Twilight's mind went into a flurry with all the information but she nodded and quickly took her pony form, taking to the air with her wings flapping frantically. She wanted nothing to do with that brutal blade. This elf moved like Ra'shala but hit like Baldir, Twilight didn't want Taara to fight alone against this, but she wasn't going to ignore Taara's orders. Her horn let off a soft glow of her alicorn magic combined with restoration to quickly seal the cut over her eye. The blood was already blotting out her vision, but she knew it was just a flesh wound, by the end of the day it would be a scar, another few weeks and it would be gone. She took time to be thankful that the blade missed the optical organ, but her real concern was Taara. Focusing her magical energies through her horn she looked for any chance to turn the tide of the battle in Taara’s favor.

Green lightning leaped from the tip of the staff and lashed out at the dark elf who ducked low enough to touch her nose to the ground before she leaped high, magic crackling in her hand, her image blurred and faded as her masterful illusion skill hid her from view. Taara however would have none of that.

Dipping low as well, Taara stared hard and her mouth opened almost like a dragon in mid roar. “YOL!!!” Taara’s Thu’um was as strong as ever and with one word fire kicked up in a thick blanket and swashed over the floor quickly outlining an invisible figure that blasted its way through the flames. Waving her hand in the general direction of the void of space within the flames. Instantly, a vast layer of ice shot out to entangle but mostly to block the assault, thick enough to keep the elf from breaking through instantly, but thin enough to convince her it was possible, and easier than going around.

It worked, the wall was quickly tested as Umbra was thrusted into the ice, the action was so fast and so direct it nearly took the arch mage’s eye out. The noticeable dark purple glow of conjuration magic flared after Taara poured more ice into a protective shell to further prevent the elf’s blade and to keep her focused on trying to get in. But she needed time and the shell would only keep from reaching Taara for a few precious seconds.

The conjuration spell worked as a dazed Dremora hobbled on unsteady feet within the shell with Taara. “What… wh…what in …why did you summon me this way wretch!” the heavy set Dremora staggered more in the small space as Taara’s left hand quickly grasped the Daedra by the right arm

Twilight had only met Taara's personal Daedra once before, she didn't like summoning him simply because he never shut up and was always very critical of her choices. “Terribly sorry but I need this…I promise it’s the last thing I will ever need from you…”

She planted a foot firmly against the Dremora’s chest and again her magic flared. With a grunt and a flash she tore off the Dremora’s arm and quickly pressed it against her stump and fused the two body parts together at the same time as banishing the very very angry Daedra who left the material world screaming in anger and pain. The two vastly different bloodlines disagreed right away. Bubbling and swelling the flesh looked to already be rotting away but Daedra flesh was ungodly powerful. Taara flexed the new limb watching the digits spasm and twitch as her power manually connected all the bits. And just like that, she grabbed the staff of Magnus with the new hand. Viciously lashing out, back through the ice. Taara began her onslaught. Magic and staff clashed violently against the legendary blade Umbra and the Hero of Kvatch.

Clanging, clashing and blasting the two roughed each other up in a long series of very close calls and glancing blows. Magica slowly being exhausted Taara lobbed spells at the dark elf who in turn, both getting sapped by the staff of Magnus and blocking the blasts with hefty wards or misguiding their intended path with powerful illusion magic. The result was both combatants quickly running low on magical power. As such Taara resorted to her staff as her main means of combat, though even that was running frightfully low on enchanted power. The Hero of Kvatch was already out of magica and running low on steam for her physical attacks.

As the right raged on, Twilight stared, looking and waiting desperately for a chance to jump in and get a certain blow that would put no one in danger. For Twilight the fight had felt like mere seconds, each blow flowing into the next in a blazing flurry of attacks, though in reality they had been duking it out for a good fifteen minutes, all of it so fast Twilight couldn’t even follow it.

Ducking and weaving the old woman seemed to be on her last legs. Breathing heavily, her new arm was now sluggish, her hair was a mess, and her staff sagged in her hands. The elf on the other hand, though she seemed a shade slower than previous still maintained her steady breathing.

But as it would be, Twilight's steady watch finally payed off. The very second the elf came to a rest and raised her hand for a magical attack with what little magica she could scrounge up, a heavy magical blast shot out from a dull purple alicorn horn. Very unlike the known magics of Nirn this particular piece of Equestrian magic she had come up with from watching Discord.

The elf’s tired and spooky vacant expression betrayed a hint of panic as suddenly she was thrown back, not by the impact of the spell but simply put, gravity was pulling her in that direction. Not even a second later it pulled her to the left and upward at a soft angle. At random points between 0.5 and 3 seconds the gravity that surrounded and affected her person would change to an utterly random direction.

Taara slowed and panted, letting out an explosive sigh of relief. “You could not do that sooner?”

“No, I couldn’t, she was moving too fast. That was literally the ONLY chance I had and didn't you want me to stay out? I could have helped sooner, but I wanted to be absolutely certain that my interference would not get either of us hurt., That, and that spell has to be very accurate or it wont work at all, I literally threw a chaos spell matrix gravity spell at her.”

The Hero of Kvatch tumbled through the air unamused, bouncing off of walls and the floor as she was thrown left and right. But Umbra turned about in the dark elf’s hands and plunged into the wall where the elf landed next, anchoring her there. Holding on tight she tensed, looking at Twilight and Taara, but she appeared to make no further attempts at combat.

“It matters not any longer if you are madness or not, you have proved worthy enough. Speak your request then leave me, I have madness to fend off.” Only now, as the elf woman tensed and refused to go with the flow of the random gravity did Twilight make the realization that the elf was not wearing an emotionless mask. The way she refused to give in to the flow of gravity was nearly identical to the way she spoke, the way she breathed, the way she did everything. Her stoic mask of near empty facial features spelled it out plainly to her. The elf's soul, her very existence had been violated some how, when she became the mad god, she wasn't becoming her own version of it, her physical form was becoming Sheogorath, this woman that remained was the order, the sanity, the control and temperament that was left. She wasn't emotionless, she was simply in utter command and control.

Her 'not actually' vacant glare continued, despite her realization Twilight could not help but feel that the elf had failed to fend off all the madness she was so desperate to escape centuries ago. Reguardless to her mental state the elf was sitting very still and an easy target for her or the now recuperating arch mage to take down in case of a renewed attempt at resistance.

Twilight quickly spouted out the demand. “We need the Sigil stone from the Oblivion gate you took from where you found me.”

The elf looked over the pony and almost seemed to consider the request for a moment before she focused and reached out towards Twilight. Her palm swelled and seemed to spew a thick meaty hunk of flesh off which formed a perfect sphere. Dark red and black the sphere clanged to the floor and rolled gently across towards Twilight.

Quickly Taara picked it up grunting at the painful junction of Daedra and Breton flesh. The junction was clearly at its limit. As such she grimaced and tore it off once again tossing it to the side. Her magic tended to the once again bloody stump. Though this time she seemed more at peace with the missing limb. “Come on…we have what we came for….lets g-“

The ground surged with energy and Twilight’s magic was forcefully shut off before the two were ejected from the odd pocket dimension. The Hero of Kvatch watched with a cold unrelenting controlled gaze before returning to her overturned pillow, righting it and grasping the empty book to once again begin flipping through its pages with intense focus.

Both Twilight and Taara hit the ground at the same time. However unlike Twilight, Taara had firmly decided to not get up. She was in a bit too much pain and decided she would rather just lay where she was pondering the implications of the loss of her right arm.

“Taara! Please tell me you are ok, please.” Twilight’s human form was near instantly at the arch mage’s side along with the other mages in the area. Most dumbstruck to see the legendary warrior so gravely injured.

“I am fine Twilight, I'm just old. I need a moment to rest, the rest of you... go find that idot lizard. Do NOT let him leave."

The mages quickly took off after Geel as Twilight worried over her friend. Spike too sat next to her. “As much as I love seeing you two make progress, can you guys please be careful?" The little dragon looked over Taara and shook his head. "Before now, I wasn't even sure you could bleed, I guess we are all a little more mortal than we like to think.”

Twilight nodded but didn't want to speak on the subject, she simply looked over the healed over stub before looking into Taara’s eyes. “What do we need Geel for? We have the Sigil stone, I can go home now.”

“We aren't getting Geel for you Twilight, its for me. His last book vaguely mentioned the Dwemer being able to make artificial limbs. If he can, then hes going to make one for me... or I will melt his face off.”

“um…isn’t that a little harsh?” Twilight snatched a pillow off one of the seats and scooted it under Taara's head.

Taara smirked and let out a pained chuckle. “No… this situation clearly calls for at LEAST this much. Now do me a favor and get me some wine. I need a moment alone with my drinks.”

Twilight nodded bringing a bottle to her friend who eagerly took to the drink trying to ease the pain of having her arm removed, getting a new one attached and then getting it ripped off again. Twilight simply sat back with spike who looked between the two, eager for details but not yet willing to bug them for just yet. He had not seen anything since Sheogorath had swallowed them both and simply vanished. He wanted to ask and to hear it all but he could read the situation and wisely decided to wait for the story to come out on its own when they were ready. Twilight however was torn between her injured friend and the shock that after so long she would finally be able to go home. As much as she tried, she could not quite stop the tears of fear, joy, and sorrow all at once streaking down her cheeks.

Finally, it was almost time.

Chapter 11: Finally. [remastered v2.0]

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Finally

Geel nervously tinkered away, if the argonian could sweat, he certainly would be at the moment. Twilight was thoroughly impressed with his craft, but almost felt sorry for him every time he flinched at Taara's growls and comments.

"I still want to melt his face off." Taara flinched at the stinging pain of the magical circuits sparking under Geel's careful worksmanship. The limb was powered by soul gems just like the Dwemer automatons. The dull bronze color of the dwarven metal clashed with the arch mage's robes, but she was thankful she would still have an arm after this, even if she did still hate Geel.

"Come on Taara, he's giving you a whole new arm. And he's really good at this, I am sure it will be fine." Twilight's fingers fiddled about as she sat impatiently but still managing to marvel at the ingenuity of the lizard's craft.

"Yeah, but it really doesn't improve what I or any of us really think about him." She flinched a bit in pain at the last piece of Dwemer artifact being lodged into her stub.

There was a series of clicks and clacks as scaled hands fitted the rest of the pieces together, then a flood of healing energies and Geel looked down at them with a frown. "You know... you guys could really have just waited until I was gone to talk bad about me."

Twilight gave a nervous laugh and a reassuring pat on his back. "Well Geel, I for one am very happy and very thankful for your help in all of this. We could not have done it without you."

Geel gave a warm happy smile, which almost made Taara retch. It was one thing Twilight did not much enjoy about her close friend. Taara was a grudge holder and in her age she was happy in her ways. Twilight was literally the princess of friendship, seeing someone so dead set and determined not to make friends with another person was a little hard for her, especially when that person was already a very close friend. But she had moved past this years ago. A part of her own maturity from this world. Not everyone was perfect, and not everyone was willing or able to just change to fit the needs of a peaceful happy world. Taara was a good person but she still had some things about her that would never fit into a perfect world, the more she thought about it this was the same with everyone she had ever met. Everyone had their problems and none of those problems could ever truly exist in a perfect world. As Taara taught her, perfection and peace is just a lie, a beautiful lie but a lie none the less. The only thing she could do is just her best. Just because true peace was impossible didn’t mean she should not try for it. These memories of lessons taught to her by arch mage Taara were ones she would keep forever.

“Ahem! Well your arm is complete arch mage, the sigil stone is awaiting. You two have a wonderful trip, three sorry.” He chuckled lightly looking down at spike. "I will accept my usual payment, granted this was a tad demanding so I will be needed a little extra. And you..." He smiled at Twilight. "Thank you, it's good to see that someone around here has manners."

Taara glared at him making the Argonian shuffle away.

"Interesting guy." Spike laughed as he hopped up gracefully onto Twilight’s back. He almost never sat there anymore, He was far more mature and independent. And if Twilight was to be honest with herself, Spike had really grown into a whole new dragon. He had hardly increased in size but still he was smart, quick, and ready for anything. Spike had actually joined in on some of Baldir’s little quests. Twilight herself was very different from the young pony she had come to this land as but to her surprise, Spike had grown twice as much as her. Just another thing they would have to laugh about when they came back to Equestria.

Immediately, construction began. In Taara's own words, they didn't need anything too fancy, but certainly something that could be upgraded and used thoroughly afterwards. Construction began in an old nord burrow. The collage usually performed the more dangerous experiments deep within this location. Twilight even got a long drawn out explanation that Taara herself when she first joined the collage found some sort of extremely powerful artifact in this location. It took two days to clear out the projects still going on and to start construction, another day and a half to get messages out to the various people of interest from researchers to trade company representatives to reputable sellswords willing to adventure or guard a dangerous portal, and even a few volunteers who were eager to impress one of the legendary dragonborn. Nearly a week passed before Baldir showed up with a small handful of Companions, apparently he was going to lead the assault with two of his soldiers, and the rest were going to guard the portal and keep anything from invading. But by this time, the construction was nearly complete. Twilight even managed to catch sight of Ra'shala moving about in the area. Some of the locals heard of the project stood outside and protested mildly, but it took only Baldir showing up and giving his reassurance that a "Real Nord" was there just in case anything went wrong. But most of the project knew that if anything went wrong, Taara's fallback plan was teleporting out and collapsing the burrow. The whole project took just barely over a week, but it was well funded and completed perfectly on time.

Taara's staff clacked on the ground to gather attention, the sound reverberated over the walls of the large room, every soul destined to make the trip gathered in. She had their attention, attention that fell on her new arm and for those who knew better, on her as the voice of authority. “Aye, gather round. You few and brave who came willingly, and you whom I paid to be here.” There were some chuckles as Baldir strode in with his two companions, and hoping in from a dark corner Ra’shala popped in calmly and happily with a curious glance.

Taara smirked seeing everyone who chose to arrive. She had to pay Baldir, he would never admit that he came upon his own choice to help out in 'stupid mage crap'. “As you all know, today we finally have all the required ingredients to get our friend and master wizard back to her own home.” Taara flexed the fingers on her new arm as she looked down at it somewhat regretfully.

“Ahem… the plan is quite simple. We will open an Oblivion gate in a safe location, then force our way inside, fight to the nearest castle and find the obsidian mirror. When we do so, I will force it open and we will hop through. After we do this we will try and return twilight to her home and establish a magical gateway that does not rely on us invading Oblivion every trip. As to not freak out the inhabitants of Equestria, both myself and Twilight have created a spell that will translate our forms to a not so unusual form for her homeland. It's not permanent so don't panic, and once we are settled and in no danger of causing panic we can revert back and give a proper introduction.”

Twilight chuckled at the thought of what everyone else would look like with this spell, she could imagine Baldir turning into some hulking earth pony, enough to intimidate even Big mac. Her imagination wondered as Taara continued.

“The general goal here is to get Twilight back home, but also to bind the two worlds together. Travel between the two realms will be easy then, happy ending you know.” Taara chuckled, it was impossible to tell for a normal person who did not know her, but she was always a sucker for happy endings in stories. Decades of war and death, she tended to enjoy those missions that ended happily.

The crowd talked amongst each other for a moment before settling their fallback plans and all the such. Twilight had whipped together a few details that would help them right away when they transformed. It was hard for her the first time and much like her first transformation just because they COULD walk on the number of legs they were used to didn’t mean they would be good at it. And much like she expected it, the mages read it thoroughly and Baldir tossed it aside the moment it touched the palms of his hands.

Twilight’s thoughts were interrupted by an old orc yelling at Arch mage Taara as she ruffled through her bags, it was unclear what they were discussing but he was outraged by something and she seemed to as usual with most of her mild problems, was ignoring it.

“Twilight, are we ready?” Taara looked to her and she nodded looking back to quadruple check the makeshift Oblivion gate they constructed. There was a plethora of guards and mages just outside the room and three of the most legendary and powerful beings in all of Tamriel ready to go at a moment’s notice right there. There was little they were not ready for.

“Everything is here, lets go to Equestria. Errr well… um Oblivion then Equestria. I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone.” Her mind bustled with excitement and worry. Breaking into Oblivion was usually a really bad idea, they got away with it the first time because Sheogorath found it amusing, but if anything came out after they went in, it would meet the finest swords and most powerful magic Tameriel had to offer. She just had few other small things to worry about, like the passage of time. But Taara's research showed some promising possibilities so she didn't focus on that just yet.

Taara just smiled warmly and took up a black soul gem, smashing it over the sigil stone caused the magica to flare up and ignite the gateway into Oblivion with a powerful fiery red light.

Baldir pulled out his axe and gave it a calm twirl “Aye! Everyone stick together, leave any Daedra to me and my boys.” He grinned as he and his two companions entered the gate first, quickly followed by Ra’shala already drawing her bow, then came Twilight with an armored Spike on her back, the college mages, and finally Taara who closed the distance and stepped into oblivion with grim determination.

The first step into the hellish fire pitted doomy world reminded her right away of her first moment in the horrible place. It was so hot and so loud.

“Right ahead! There’s a huge castle, that has got to be your place.” Baldir strode forward bravely, not even flinching as out of seemingly nowhere, a scamp lunged up only fly apart. It was unclear if it was cleaved in two by the heavy nord, or literally splattered. “Keep moving forward lads, we will be in there in in two shakes.” His voice was nearly lost in the storm of choking ash and foul scent of sulfur.

Pressing forward the group finally managed to, with much hopping over lava and minor scuffles with minor Daedra, get into the castle where Baldir enjoyed a few clean rounds of combat with the occasional Dremora and finally they found it. Tucked away in the corner of a back room, a large obsidian mirror. Up near the top of the tower where Twilight vaguely remembered popping out.

Twilight nearly teared up for reasons outside of the harsh atmosphere. Spike seemed to be fine, but Twilight and many others were barely managing in the hellish landscape. Looking back at them, then back at the mirror, her fingertips gently caressed the eerily smooth machine ”Finally, Spike... we can go home. Finally..." She nibbled on her lip and looked back at Taara who nodded. And despite his silence, she could feel Spike gripping her hair tightly from his perch on her back.

Taara raised a hand and forcefully began a ritual, dumping her power into the mirror. Twilight quickly joined followed by a few of the other mages. They wanted to finish quickly and avoid an angry Mehrunes Dagon showing up to ask them how and why they were trespassing in his realm.

They all flinched as the portal fired up. Very different from how Twilight remembered it. A bright light with a sharp snap and constant hiss. The first voice she heard amongst those who stood and stared in fear was Taara. “Royalty first princess…” Taara playfully nudged Twilight who stood uncertainly at the edge of the group, it felt just a touch different, but she froze at something she didn't expect, within the fire, rot and death of this entire realm, she smelled something, the soft touch of flowers and Equestrian air upon he nose. She looked back up at Taara then with a bright grin she happily leapt through followed quickly by Taara who had faith in her friend that she wasn't diving head first into just some sort of random instant death, then with some hesitation the others followed into the utter darkness of the obsidian mirror.

Chapter 12: Change of plans [remastered v2.0]

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Change of plans

Twilight awoke, blinking away the lightheadedness face down on cold stone, excitement strummed through her, though that was not what woke her. What had brought her back into the state of consciousness was laughter, very loud laughter. She stood up on all four hooves and looked back towards the source of the laughter.

From the look of everything they had all somewhat just fallen into a pile when they passed through the mirror. Atop the pile was a cream colored Unicorn with a long graceful looking horn, a short light brown mane up in a familiar bun, and one metal leg, hoof and all. However this Mare was not laughing in amusement, she was laughing very directly at what looked like a very old gray furred bipedal wolf. It took her a few seconds but she was convinced she was looking at Taara and Baldir.

Spike was the next to stir from his sleep. “Twilight? What is going on? Did... did we make it?”

Twilight looked all around, they were not in the small outpost she had first entered the obsidian mirror from. But it was still was a place she was unfortunately familiar with. “The Crystal caves! Spike we are below the Crystal empire.”

Taara helped up a few of her other mages all bumbling about on four legs, they were very clearly trying to get used to the pony form. Baldir and his two companions had been turned into wolves and for some reason Taara found this incredibly hilarious. Spike found her laughter insulting, mumbling something about how humiliating it was to be turned into a dog. Though as they stirred Baldir and his two friends did not much seem mind the change. Ra’shala however, seemed to have not changed at all. Other than becoming shorter and over all a little fluffier she stayed nearly identical to her original form, even her armor and weapons had stayed the same. Taara's magic was spot on, she had weaved together a complicated spell matrix in order to transform everyone the moment they got through into already existing races, mostly through a universe comparison biology analysis. Simply put, asking the universe what each person would look like if they were born in one dimension instead of their own and slapping on a disguise.

Taara finished her chuckling and checked a few things, surprisingly she took to her form rather well and her grasp of simple Equestrian magic was quite impressive, but then Twilight stopped and figured she probably had some practice.“Aye good news Twilight, it seems as though I was right, our two worlds were dilated to each other in time. Time moved faster, or at the very least varying degrees of different speeds all mostly faster in our world than it did in yours, a LOT faster. Which is what we were hoping for, after all it was like 240 years in our world.”

“Taara, exactly how did you just confirm all of this?” Twilight eyed her friend over with a suspicious stare. She did enjoy Taara's spontaneous knowledge gathering, but sometimes everything would be so much easier if the old mage would just let her in on the details beforehand.

“I brought an anchor from our time just in case a time dilation was actually something we had to deal with, I set it to go if there was any active temporal drift, and low and behold it did. The anchor activated, which means something is pulling on it, like a normal iron anchor going taut against the boat. Time is pulling on it, its also likely the reason we were knocked unconscious. It could not have been gentle, and our physical bodies probably just couldn't keep up with the changing flow of time. Never the less if this is the Crystal empire then lets go and meet that friend of yours up here, and your brother I am eager to proceed.” She grinned and started forward, the rhythmic pattern of her hooves sounded just a little off with the metal hoof.

Taara chuckled trotting relatively easily along the path. The whole four legs bit threw most of her mages off, enough for Twilight to and get a good chuckle out of it. She remembered how awkward it was to learn to walk on two legs the first time. Baldir seemed to be happy with his new form. Taking to it like a fish to water, She always found it somewhat disturbing how such an old and muscularly large person could move about so quietly and now it was twice as bad. He seemed to love to run in the shadows without making so much as a peep of noise, very different from the heavy clanking armor she was used to hearing when he was near, but even then he seemed to know how to be quiet when he wanted to. Spike was a bit chatty with the mages, regaling them with stories and Taara seemed to be mentally cataloging everything they came close to. Ra’shala as usual was in the shadows where she felt the most comfortable, easily twice as stealthy as Baldir. It was all so much, Twilight nearly had to hold back tears. She was finally home, soon she would be back in the presence of those she loved so much, and to top it all off, those who cared enough to make it happen would be here too .

Stepping out from the cave Twilight’s eyes adjusted and she stared, not in awe, but shock. Stepping out next to her, Taara looked at Twilight then back out at the empire before clearing her throat. "I suppose it's not supposed to look like this?"

The land ravaged. The great majestic crystal buildings had old heavy burns over them, large cracks, and a banner Twilight clearly did not recognize flew over the main tower. As damaged as the city was, it was clear that the it was not empty, she could spot the occasional pony moving in the distance, Twilight could tell they were Crystal ponies but she did not get a chance to get close enough. Before them two heavy set Pegasus landed kicking up dust and levying spears.

“Identify yourselves! And why are you in the Crystal caves?” they pointed their spears with a little extra vigor and Taara gave a slow and low laugh, raising a hoof but then correcting herself to use the new magical organ attached to her head. Her horn began to glow when Twilight raised her hoof.

“Wait! They are just guards, please let me try... without killing anything. It's my world, can we please at least try things my way first? just please don’t just rampage, alright?” She tried to smile while addressing her friend.

The glow faded and she smiled with a nod. “Very well… but you know I don't like petty fools pushing weapons in my face. And we do things our way if your plan fails” She smiled and nudged Twilight playfully.

Twilight turned back to the guards who seemed rather impatient. She straightened up and cleared her throat speaking evenly. “We need to see the princess, and we need to see her now.”

The guards scoffed. “By what authority do you intend on making such a demand?”

Pushing aside her cloak Twilight spread her wings wide and regally. “By my own authority, as princess Twilight Sparkle the princess of friendship.” The guards noticeably flinched staggering back in fear, which of course was not quite normal, but neither was her not being recognized. The whole ordeal was burning a hole in her stomach with uncertainty and worry.

Stammering and stuttering they both nodded firmly. “Y…yes your majesty…right away…” Twilight looked back, somewhat surprised to only see Spike and a group of unicorns. Baldir, Ra’shala and the companions were all gone. Twilight just sighed, those were experienced warriors and assassins. They knew what they were doing so she would not question where they went.

The Pegasus guards took them deeper into the city, Twilight could not help but grimace at the damage done to the city. Something was very wrong. Even the Crystal ponies had lost their shine. Twilight’s mind churned wondering why Cadence would allow such a thing to happen, or shining armor for that matter, it would have had to have been something extremely important to draw them away long enough for this madness to start up, but the guards were taking her to the 'princess' so someone was still here. Making their way up the grand tower Twilight worked out a line of questions and concerns after she let her brother and beloved sister in law know that she was back, then they could all work on fixing whatever this madness was. However, all her thoughts were blown away when the doors opened, but the state of the city began to make sense.

There on the Crystal throne was an alicorn that she had never seen before. Very light pink coat with cyan colored mane. She looked familiar but Twilight could not place it. Whoever it was, Twilight still had questions. And despite her desire to keep things civil and to level with the Equestrian way of life, she was tempted to make things a little ugly if this new princess was responsible for the condition of the city and not a victim of it.

“And just who is this?...” The alicorn stared down at Twilight, her commanding and somewhat haughty voice snapping Twilight out of her thoughts. The stranger narrowed her eyes in anger as she saw Twilight’s wings. “So then, a new alicorn comes to take my place? I'm sure you will come to see that will be a little harder than you think.” Her very posture was dismissive and spoke of a person who used overwhelming displays of tyrannical power to remind people why she was in charge.

Taara nudged Twilight and whispered. “Who in Oblivion is that?...”

Twilight shook her head and whispered back. “I don’t know, but we are going to find out.” clearing her throat and putting on her best smile Twilight stepped forward hoping to salvage this and get some answers. “Ahem, well you can relax. I am not here to take anything from you, I am just looking for Princess Cadence.”

The ponies all about shuttered and eyes wide they stepped back, some left the throne room in a hurry as the Alicorn stared down at her. A wry smile spread across her lips. “My mother is indisposed at the moment… and if you come calling her by that name, then you must be…” She giggled looking down at Twilight with narrow angry eyes. “My auntie, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Goodness… you have been gone for quite some time now haven’t you? Everypony thinks you are dead. What say you… I make sure they are not disappointed?” Twilight’s eyes widened, looking up as the alicorn leveled her hoof at Twilight and Taara. In perfect sync the guards all drew their spears.

Quickly taking a step forward Twilight blurted. “No please… wait we can still resolve this”

The new princess scoffed with a sadistically playful grin. “Not that I don’t enjoy hearing ponies beg for their lives but I-“

Taara cut her off with a hearty laughter waving her hoof dismissively at the alicorn princess. “Oh I am sorry you poor dull beast, Twilight here is just a little soft hearted, she’s not begging you for HER life, she’s begging us... for yours”

The slightest shift in air pressure combined with Taara’s comment made the Alicorn leap from her seat taking flight just as a heavy axe cleaved through the Crystal throne like butter as Baldir finished his pounce. “Damn it woman! If you would have shut your damned mouth for just two more seconds, I would have that ugly assed horse’s head in my hands right now.”

Taara chuckled, her horn crackling with energy. "You would just be chewing on it silly, and hey, it's still right there."

Adrenaline shot through Twilight as she waved her hooves about frantically. “No no no no! Please we can still resolve this please.”

Taara shook her head staring up at the flying princess. “No… I am sorry Twilight, things plans have changed. Even you are out of your element here. Whatever happened here has changed this world for the worse, this is not the Equestria you knew, and certainly not the one you told us of. We must act to preserve ourselves." She looked back over Twiligh'ts shoulder and lowered her head a little, "That and do you really think you can stop Baldir?”

Twilight quickly followed her gaze taking note of the wolf pouncing off of walls to try and meet the alicron princess in the air. Frowning and nodding at the scenario. This was another thing she had learned during her time on Nirn. There was a time for peace and friendship, then there was a time to fight, even if she feared for Cadence’s well being, all of that would have to wait until she and her friends were safe.

The guards rushed in only to be met with the far more combat focused Tamrielian destruction magics. A line of unicorns, with Taara at the lead blasted the guards back with ice, fire, and lightning, very little remained of the first line of guards, the unicorns instantly split into pairs taking to looking for more guards and for a chance to establish battlefield supremacy.

“Don’t just stand there… KILL THEM ALL!!!” The flying princess roared in anger before suddenly shrieking in pain as an arrow popped through her wing. Screaming and shrieking all the way to the ground. Ra’shala leaped from her spot in the shadows high up drawing a blade as she descended tip first at the downed princess. However, when the princess’s lips parted, her voice rang out.

“Bronze Armor!!!”

The ground rumbled and there was a streak of magical energies as a light brown glow flashed through the air and scooped up the downed princess, reflecting the descending Ra'shala. Standing tall, a lean powerful alicorn stallion glared down at them with vacant eyes. Heavy shackles bond his legs and around his neck. His vacant eyes were not the only telling sign, he moved like a puppet getting its strings yanked, his every last movement hinted that he was almost void of sentient thought. Whatever it was, he was thoroughly dominated by magic. However, the concerning thing was the seething power that flowed off of him. It was the same dark magic that Twilight had seen before the first time she was in the Crystal Empire. This stallion was possessed by the same magic that Sombra used. Only he had no control, he was just a vessel to the power and the magical shackles about him likely dominated that power through direct control of his mind and if Twilight had to guess, the leash of all that power was connected to the one who called him there. This new princess.

“Now this is a bit of a game changer… but we can still take them methinks.” Taara grinned happily readying another volley of destruction magic. However, she froze as the new alicorn, Bronze armor stared down at her with vacant wide eyes. Baldir even shuttered, his confident near predator like eagerness for the fight vanished. Taara turned to Twilight quickly and her words flowed. “We have to leave, now! Twilight we are leaving! Quick what is the fastest way out?”

Twilight glanced her way a little confused. But she would not object, she did not want to kill any more ponies. At this point, she just wanted to leave. “Back down the way we came, why whats going on?”

Spike too seemed to be in half a trance still on Twilights back but he was definitely afraid of or at the very least, influenced by something. Though it did not take very long for Twilight to get her answer. The ceiling gave way and dragons poured into the throne room.

“Oh… yeah.. um.. through the wall right here is a little faster” She gave a light disturbed smile and Taara blasted through the wall leaping without looking, Baldir and his two companions instantly leapt from high point to high point dashing their way through the upper areas of the room to follow the arch mage in the escape. First the Pegasus guards rushed to meet them, but their blades danced and blood rained as fine steel glided through pony flesh. Then directly afterward as the dragons began swooping down upon the fleeing mages Baldir’s old paws raced down the dragon’s backs like mobile platforms beheading each dragon as he danced from dragon to dragon, occasionally skipping one which fell to extremely precise arrows piercing through eye sockets from somewhere in the shadows. Thankfully, as the dragons saw their comrades fall and the somewhat surprising sight of their soul being ripped from their bodies to be consumed by this wolf creature, a new definition of terror flooded them, only to be erased as the dark green bubbly darkness magic dominated their minds and pushed them forward nearly the moment the fear of death struck them.

Baldir and his companions were last through the hole in the wall. Twilight was quite thankful that the ground was clear below. As the group fell, a spot of worry began brewing at the thought of the sudden stop that would accompany them at the end, but the fall was broken by a gravity spell Twilight quickly whipped up to drastically slow their descent at the last moment. A quick glance showed her that Taara who had made the leap first had done so as well, or at least something similar.

Taking quick note of everyone she had come in with, she took a deep breath and drew in deep on her magical power. “Alright everyone, hold on tight!” Baldir was about to ask what Twilight was talking about when her magic consumed them all and blinked them to the outskirts of the Crystal empire.

Twilight gasped loudly, out of breath and slightly singed. She had never teleported that far before. Or that many people for that matter. Her magical prowess was easily ten times what it was before, but still that spell had been extremely taxing. Nearly taking her off her hooves.

“Wow, Twilight, that was quite impressive. Next time don't be afraid to ask for some help, magical burnout is not something you want to tempt.” Taara smiled as Baldir hauled her back onto her hooves.

“Agreed, but little horse, next time less singing on the fur aye?” Ra’shala grumbled, brushing her fur with an open palm.

Taara looked back at the city, just about two miles off. "I don't want to sound picky or anything, but you could have gotten us a bit further away. If we don't move now, they will catch up soon." Twilight nodded, happy just to be safe she started down the road moving further and further away from the waking nightmare as she tried to think of what could have happened to Equestria.

“South and east yes? According to your map here, all drawn by memory it appears as though you are quite good at this, even if it’s a little sloppy, is still impressive.” Ra’shala’s smaller clawed fingers traced over the details of the map before looking down at Twilight. There were plenty of things on Twilight's mind, but as she fell to her knees and teetered over, answering a friendly question was not one of them. Things got dim but only for a moment, she tasted the bitterness of blisterwart and blue mountain flowers.

She winked, looking up, she could feel her body had been slung over her someone's shoulder, and it didn't take many guesses to find out which massive old nord turned wolf she was being carried by. She could have been thinking of the new princess, and the enslaved male alicorn, she could have been worried about where they would go, or how they would get back to the mirror, or perhaps why this stretch of land was forested instead of snowy like it had always been. But something else rested on her mind. “We should not have left… That princess had Cadence. She’s alive I know it, how could this have happened? I don’t understand, why would princess Celestia allow this to happen.” She drooped her head defeated at the thought of how all that had transpired could have happened.

Baldir flinched, then nodded to Ra’shala who nodded back taking a single step off the path and seeming vanishing into darkness. Taara sighed looking over at Twilight. “Hey, not to add to your burden but it looks like this place is even less friendly than you said.” Twilight summoned the strength to look up at Taara with a “what?” face.

“We are surrounded, an ambush I think. They are in the trees, in the clouds, and in the bushes. Ponies I think, a whole lot of them, we should have stayed off the roads” Taara’s horn began to glow but Twilight shook her head and spoke from Baldir's shoudler. “No, please. Let’s do this peacefully this time, or at least without killing, please”

Taara sighed and nodded. In Tamreil all she had to do was let people know who she was and usually they would give up. But here she had to reestablish herself. As such, she flared her magic and bellowed. “We know you're there, do us a favor and come out or we will just have to assume that you have no intention of peace, at which point we will burn you all to cinders and maybe find out who you are from your smoldering corpses.” The mages lined up with the others leveling horns and weapons waiting for a response. Slowly out came a few ponies, half clad in rusted malformed formed armor, they looked starved and worn down. One however who strode out, old and weathered mare, she looked to be about Taara’s age. The female earth pony brushed off the slightly more uniform armor that neatly fit her soft orange coat. It looked as if she was about to say something when her jaw hit the ground.

“…T…Twilight!?!?!”

The voice was much older but Twilight recognized it instantly and summoned up as much strength as she could to hop off Baldir’s back and weakly stand.

“A…Apple Jack?”

Chapter 13: Reunion [remastered v2.0]

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Reunion

“43 YEARS?!?” Twilight’s eyes were wide and her jaw was slack before she whipped about and desperately questioned her friend. “ Taara!!! You said time passed considerably slower in Equestria than on Nirn!” Twilight, exhaustion kept her from moving much during her very visible distress.

“I did… You were gone for over 240 years and only 43 years passed here. That's pretty extreme time dilation, did you think that it would be mere days?” Taara scoffed. She understood the distress and even sympathized with her friend but Twilight had made a reputation for herself and over worrying even in the college. And while there was very little they could do or even could HAVE done. The vast majority of that time passed when she was sealed away. Even if Taara had gotten to Twilight when thirty years prior, they both would be facing this same situation or something similar to it.

A calming hoof plopped onto Twilight’s shoulder. “Its alright sugar cube, we just thought for so long you were gone forever. A lot of ponies were upset you vanished, but this is not your fault… it's all Princess Melody’s fault. She was the whole reason for this, for everything. But it's dangerous here, lets get everypony back to HQ. There ain’t many of us left, the princesses keep the resistance up and running, we can't risk letting them down.” Apple jack smiled warmly though her face betrayed signs of despair and pain. Taara knew the look well. In the years that Twilight had been gone, Apple Jack had seen years of war and bloodshed, she knew loss and pain, Taara easily saw at least this much. Twilight would be just as lost in her world now as she was in Tamriel.

But Twilight's attention piqued at something Applejack said. “Princesses? Oh thank Celestia at least they are ok, but why did Celestia let this happen?” Apple jack noticeably flinched and shook her head. “…what?”

“Twilight, you might want to sit down.” They peered into each other's eyes and Twilight shivered. “Princess Celestia died 28 years ago… Princess Melody killed her when the day she took command of the nation.”

Twilight’s heart sank and she felt nauseous. “How? How did this happen.. who.. what?”

Apple Jack sat down calmly looking to Twilight and those who came with her from Nirn. “After you vanished, the whole kingdom mourned for months. But time went on, But when Equestria lost one of its princesses nothing was quite the same. Shining armor blamed himself for you being lost into that mirror, for letting you go with him. They quickly had it moved and locked away where no pony could ever use it again... well, that is after he tried his best to get you back from it. Two royal guards volunteered to go in after you but they did not return either, And after Crystal empire mages and wizards working for a few years, they learned nothing and lost much trying to get you back from it. So the mirror was sealed away under the Crystal empire, everything seemed to be getting a little better when Princess Cadence had two children. Twins, They named them Bronze Armor and Melody. The kingdom was overjoyed with them, and even Shining got a little better. After we lost a princess we gained a prince and a princess. But soon… there were signs that things were not all well. At ten years old it was discovered that Bronze armor had an inborn talent for dark magic. Exceedingly powerful dark magic. Well talent is not quite the word. He was attuned to it but had no control. Princes Melody developed a talent for artifice. Even at that young age, she could easily create amazingly complex magical artifacts." Applejack sighed and lifted her sad tired eyes to look Twilight over before wetting her lips and continuing.

"Then the problems started. She had been so kind at first, but we began to notice small things, lust of power, mild cruelties. We expressed our concerns, after all we all pitched in to help, you were our friend and losing you was just as hard on us as it was on them. But when our concerns met their ears, they feared. Shining became angry and Cadence refused to listen. They did not want to believe that such darkness had any place in Melody's heart. They had sheltered their children for too long, they were afraid to push them or make them see the truths of right and wrong. And soon Melody started to show more intense signs of cruelty and spite. She was driven to anger easily and thirsted for power. We were all blinded by her youth and supposed innocence that we did not see what she was planning. When she reached her teen years, under a guise of research he forced her brother to summon forth the great darkness within him telling everypony she could trap it and seal it away leaving him safe and free of the curse. But he fell to it instantly and the darkness utterly possessed him. His kind heart was overwhelmed. As he rampaged, a victim of his own power and his sister’s deceit. Celestia came to put a stop to it. Melody forged shackles that would stop him, the very same that she had planned on using to seal the power away to begin with. Celestia went quickly and succeeded at stopping his mindless rage by affixing the magical restraints upon him. But Celestia had only done for Melody what she could not do for herself. The bindings were not purely restraints but a method of dominating Bronze Armor’s mind, body, and soul. He and all the dark magic that possessed him were instantly brought under her control." Applejack noticeably shivered and looked deep into Twilight's eyes. "The very moment Celestia declared her victory, the orders escaped Melody's lips and Bronze armor drove a spear of darkness through Celestia's heart..."

Twilight stared vacantly and Apple Jack nodded, the tale was not done, even though Twilight didn't want to hear any more. "Shining armor instantly came to her aid but he was destroyed utterly, burned away to ash by the dark fire and flames. on the rapidly vanishing fumes of her immortal life, Princess Celestia barely escaped but the wound was beyond just mortal… She died in Canterlot just minutes after they had arrived. Communtications were a mess as Melody swept across the north with Bronze as her weapon, enslaving the guard and waging war against Equestria, to our knowledge Cadence was captured and locked away in the dungeons. Almost immediately, Luna took Equestria’s armies into the Crystal Empire to stop the madness. They in turn were defeated, the Equestrian army was routed and the invasion spread over Equestria and has slowly been advancing even beyond that by the day. Bronze Armor was wielded as an ultimate weapon, his magic fueled Melody's machine of war none, not even Luna fueled by the spirit of vengeance could subdue him. Luna was wounded in the battle but she is still with us and continues to lead the resistance. Shes been our leader for years trying to divert everypony out of harms way, oginizing raids to rescue civilians and more from the new tyrannical empire… Melody has taken all of Equestria by and more conquest… She rules by an iron hoof, little if anything resists her, and of those who stand up, whether in ignorance or bravery... they all end up the same. Hanging from her walls.”

Twilight sat where she was, shivering and shaking. She felt sick. The news of Celestia alone hit her like a train. But her brother too, not to mention all of Equestria conquered by an evil mare who’s main weapon was yet another innocent bystander, her own kin. All this happened when she was gone, perhaps even because she was gone.

Spike hopped up looking Apple Jack in the eyes. “What about the others? What about Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, Fluttershy?”

Apple Jack looked down and Spike could tell it was bad news. “Rarity... no one has heard from for years. She was imprisoned when she went to the empire as an emissary of peace, trying to settle and talk sense into Melody. Pinkie went back with her family and actually is leading a lot of earth Ponies in rescue missions to get them out of the cities and out of labor camps. The pie family has been hard at work in that for years. Rainbow Dash joined the Wonderbolts a LONG time ago… and ever since Princess Celestia died they have been doing hit and runs on the Crystal Empire, they are basically the only real military force left over from old Equestria. No one has heard from her in over a year but that is not uncommon, and… well.. Fluttershy? You will have to see her to believe it…”

Apple Jack stood and gestured for them to follow. “You will see when we get back. But for now… who are these folks and how did you meet them? Where the hay did you go? And what in Celestia's name do you mean that you were gone for over 200 years?”

Taara happily gave a firm nod. It was about as formal as she got. “I am Arch mage of the college of Winterhold. This scruffy foul smelling wolf is Baldir, the harbinger of the companions. And the... I really don’t know how to say it in a way you would understand the…umm.. cat is Ra’shala… Twilight came into our world roughly 240 years ago. But she spent around 230 something years sealed away magically… She was thought to be just a unique type of pony, being delivered to my college as a specimen for study.”

Twilight cleared her throat and continued where Taara left off. “And well the short version is that we all teamed up and spent seven years learning everything we could from eachother before we finally came back. We kinda had to break into the realm of a destruction God, and goodness, dealing with a God of madness, mad... Discord!!! Where is discord?”

Apple Jack sighed again as she started down the path, her small group of rag tag soldiers now added to with Twilight and her friends from Tamriel. “He was called into the fight after Luna failed to strike down Melody. He was pierced through the chest with something. It seals away his magic and as an added side effect, we cannot remove it without killing him. It attacks his body with magic every time anypony gets near it. Best we can figure, it feeds off his power eating every last drop and instantly attacks him if anything with any latent equestrian magic touches it.”

Twilight's heart sparked up just a bit of hope. The artifact reacted to Equestrian magic and almost no one alive knew Equestrian magic better than she did. In addition, Twilight had a grand master of Tamrielian magic with her.

“Though I must say Twilight… I am surprised that you would come back from the other side of that mirror with ponies.” Baldir looked back at her and scoffed, Taara smirked and Ra'shala did not appear to even notice, she simply watched carefully every corner, and every shadow.

Taara trotted along side Apple Jack with a smirk. “There isn't ponies like you over there. We are just disguising ourselves as inhabitants of your world as to not cause conflict or panic. Twilight often did something similar for us back on Nirn. Talking ponies are not very common anywhere but here I would guess.”

They continued to talk as they walked but a mild silence fell over them and after just over two hours they finally found their way to the mouth of a deep cave. Heavily disguised with magical wards and glamours to keep it from being discovered or invaded. Entering as a group, Twilight quickly saw that it was more than just a cave. It housed thousands of ponies. Most of which were active members of the resistance, scared and downtrodden but holding anything from old Equestrian weapons in dire need of repair to makeshift weapons like sharpened sticks or shaped rocks tied to sticks. Trotting along Twilight gasped as she spotted something that was almost painful to see. A one winged Alicorn with a notched horn. Her blue fur sported dozens of small scars, her mane had been cut shorter to keep from being caught up or hindering her in combat.

Luna gave a shocked gasp when she noticed Twilight, tears flowed and shock flooded through the old alicorn. Luna's extensive injuries made her a little harder to identify but Twilight easily spotted her and rushed over. “Twilight! We thought that you were gone forever. This is the best news we have had in years. Maybe, just maybe we can take back our world.” Others began to notice and stare. A noise of hope swept through the small cave as whispers and smiles spread like wildfire fire.

Twilight looked to the scared warming masses, though she was still a little unsure of what to do. For her sure, she had only experienced seven years, but so much time had passed. It felt so unfair. She was livid with rage, not just at Princess Melody, but with fate, she was angry at the world, angry at the portal, but most of all she was angry at herself. If she had not been so eager to go see the dig site. She would never have been sucked into Nirn. She could have stopped all of this if only she had tempered her desires.

Trying hard to keep a smile for the sake of the reunion of them all. "Wait, Apple Jack, you said Princesses, as in plural didn't you? Is there another Alicorn other than Luna?"

The scarred Luna gave a weak smile and looked back. "There is Princess Twilight. Let us reintroduce you to her. Princess Twilight, meet Princess... Fluttershy."

Twilight gave a very confused look before Fluttershy slowly rounded the corner nervously. And there protruding from her forehead was a long and graceful horn.

"Wait....what?...no...what?....but.....what?" Twilight's dumbfounded expression told more than her stumbling words.

Fluttershy's eyes widened when seeing Twilight and she quickly dashed over hugging her tightly. Unlike Apple Jack Fluttershy did not appear to have aged much more than a few years. She even had a very odd regal grace about her.

Returning the hug Twilight stepped back. "Flutteryshy... how in the name of Celestia did you become an alicorn?"

Fluttershy gave the same old shy smile. "Well.. um ...actually it was Celestia."

Apple Jack hopped up beside them. "It's true... with the last of her power she sealed all her magical essence into Fluttershy. I don't even know if she expected it to turn her into an Alicorn, I think that she just wanted to ensure that the power would still be able to be used even after she was gone."

Twilight tilted her head, questioning the judgment of choosing Fluttershy during a time of war. "Um... well really no offense to Fluttershy but... WHY?... why did Celestia choose the most shy and fearful pony in all of Equestria to be a princess to replace herself?"

Apple Jack let out a nervous chuckle and looked off to the side. "Well... to be honest, she had the one qualification that none of us other ponies had. A qualifying factor so great it placed her at the front of the line, nay it placed her as the only one in that line."

"I... um.. I was standing the closest." Twilight applied a generous amount of hoof to her face and Fluttershy smiled nervously.

"Oh.. but she has been a wonderful princess. Without her this resistance would have ended ages ago. Flutteryshy has always had a knack for animals and nature. Its her birds that bring back intel every day and her new magical powers that grow nutritious fruits even here, deep within these cave systems. Her new magic has an extreme importance."

A spark shot up in Twilight's mind and she opened her mouth to blurt out something when an odd feeling flushed through her. It was like a calming embrace, and she quickly identified the origin in Fluttershy. As if she had guessed exactly what Twilight was going to say she mumbled before answering. " The Elements of Harmony cannot be used against Harmony, without you or Rarity, we couldn't get them working and when Melody discovered our attempt to get them functioning again, she mobilized a force and forced us out. Twilight... She cut it down, she cut down the Tree of Harmony. She cut it down and we barely got it back in time. Our research teams were all either killed or captured. Thankfully, she left it dying in the cave instead of trying to destroy it or take it with her. It's here. We are desperately trying to keep it alive, it takes up the majority of my power just to keep it from dying."

Twilight was now more than just physically or magically exhausted. It was so much to take in, so much had been lost and so much had been done. She could hardly take it. But there was a comforting hoof on her shoulder before there was a magical flash and the hoof turned to a hand. All the ponies present either stared in awe or hid behind something, some even stood in defense ready to fight. "What in the sweet name of Celestia is that!?!"

Taara ignored them all as she pulled on Twilight's chin making her look the old arch mage in the eyes. "Twilight, we have been friends for a very long time and I will guarantee you, I swear to you, your people will have us at their backs. Until a long term solution is found and so long as I am the Arch mage, the mages college and ALL of its influence is at your disposal."

"As well as this one's own services. As tedious and illusive as they might be." Lacking the magical prowess Ra'shala did not revert to her original form, not that it was very different from her current form.

Baldir grinned wide and stamped his axe into the ground, also unable to change back, but his wolfy smile put many off, despite the words coming from his mouth. "Me as well ye dumb horse... if there is a war to be had you will find no greater ally than a bunch of angry Nords and if that stuck up bitch thinks shes got an army in that one little pony, she will change her mind when all the forces of Skyrim descend upon her castle." Spike stood beside him still clad in the old armor the companions made for him. It was no doubt that she still had and likely never lost the support of the somewhat kinda legendary Zeikkinzukjoor, and by default all the dragons that Spike had made friend's with.

Twilight's tired face turned to a smile and light welled up in her soul. There was indeed hope, the resistance was struggling to keep going with just Fluttershy and Luna. But with Twilight, three legendary dragonborn and all the forces that came with them. If she had her way, the burning righteous anger in her heart would lead this resistance into a full blown one sided war.

She turned back to her friends, the fires of war in her heart and the kindled wrath of justice in her eyes.

The three Dragon born stood feet from her, and on their fringes, so too stood Luna and Fluttershy. Taara chuckled and narrowed her eyes. "Now then... PRINCESS... whats our first move?"

Chapter 14: Welcome to The War [remastered v2.0]

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Welcome to the war

A long strained groan and yelp of pain sounded, alas he was held firmly and almost violently in place as a cream colored unicorn continued to drain the magical power from the device that pierced his chest into a soul gem. Thankfully the magical seal did not recognize Tamerielian magic and was very capable of being drained and destroyed by conjuration magic.

“Discord!... would you shut up? We are removing it as fast as we can without killing you…” Twilight was tempted to just swat him in the face to get him to shut up. She was almost in awe of how she once feared this old pained creature, but looking about she winced. She had grown a little less patient and much more coarse in her time outside of Equestria.

With 'Princess' Fluttershy by his side Discord seemed a bit more at peace but being wounded and his power sealed away for so long seemed to humble the chaos spirit. He hardly even spoke more than the soft greeting he offered to Twilight when she entered. Twilight could not help but feel that he was broken, even if he was rescued from this device that sealed him, his spirit would continue to be broken and he would never be the same again lest he found himself once more.

“annnnnnd done!” The oddly shaped probe quite suddenly tore out of his chest with relatively little finesse as Taara whipped it about. Discord gave a long pained groan and Fluttershy gave him a soothing pat on his head. The hole in his chest quickly closed and Discord looked down at his talon like hand. It glowed brightly with chaos magic before he dropped it to one side almost as if he was still drained and utterly exhausted.

“….Thank you Twilight… I did not think I would ever be free… I … honestly don’t know if I can just…. Go and wreck vengeance… but… I promise… I will do what I can… we will get our world back…” He offered a weak smile. It was almost painful for Twilight to see. Discord had always been so impossibly powerful and hard to deal with, she could feel his power, but his will was still nearly gone.

“Good on you, you old bastard” Baldir’s heavy hand swatted Discord on the back. “We won’t need you in the fight… but it would be interesting to see you do your thing…” The pat nearly knocked Discord into the floor and he looked back with irritation which was a look that Twilight did indeed need to see on his face. She knew that Baldir wasn't stupid, the harsh treatment was to push him, to get him to react properly and break from his pain, to force him to see himself as the architect of his own fate once again. Like using bullying and peer pressure to yank him out of his depression and self doubt.

Twilight looked back and Taara seemed to ignore them fidgeting with her pony form. She wanted to be in her normal human form but it was making everypony stare and scared the young. She had half a mind to change back anyway, but it was pushed under as the old and young alike stared at her like she was some sort of monster in pony form, just waiting for them to get closer. And Twilight made her swear not to use that fear to prank people.

“Taara?...” The old woman, currently mare looked back curiously at Twilight. “When is Rashala coming back?...”

“Well Twilight… She went back to get our armies. We can mobilize half of Tamriel… and intend to…” She smiled inspecting her hoof as if it were her nails and rubbing it firmly on her robes to give it a shine.

“Can you really?...” Twilight looked concerned. She had known them all for years, but she didn't really get the feeling that they commanded armies, just that they were very well connected.

“Yes… we are the Dragon born… as of right now we are the only ones who have a legitimate claim to the ruby throne. If the world refuses us they know we are very capable of coming back and forcing them to obey…” Twilight shuttered at the thought. She saw Taara and Baldir angry a lot but not so much ‘conquer a nation’ angry.

“I am honored that you would do all this for me… but I just feel it’s not right to risk the lives of YOUR people for my own…” Twilight let out a long and somewhat distressed sigh before a hoof clopped over her head with a firm bump.

“That’s something about me you should have figured out by now. I’m not doing this because I have to or feel I should. You are my friend and I WANT to do this. You know me well enough… I’m a Selfish, bitter, greedy, know it all, old woman and I’m sorry but you are getting our help. I don’t really care what your feelings on the matter are. No petty flying magical horse is going to out magic the Dragon Born arch mage of Skyrim…” She grinned wide with a hearty chuckle. Twilight managed an authentic smile which made her feel better. Taara was selfish and prideful but she was still a good friend that Twilight was ever grateful for.

“Well… I really hope this all goes as smoothly as you planned”

A message was sent out to what little of the resistance they could spare over the entire kingdom and the surrounding kingdoms. Finally a word back from the small wonderbolt squad, they gathered forces in southern Equestria just as requested, military maneuvers and mild skirmishes against Melody's forts int he area. This open display of defiance was instantly met with violence and organized assaults from Princess Melody’s army. Though much unlike all previous skirmishes the wonderbolts did not hit and run. They attacked with a large force and beat back the oncoming army. News soon reached the crystal throne and a heavy force was deployed to snuff out this newfound bravery amongst the rabble. However, in two weeks when the main force finally reached the now no longer hidden headquarters of this ‘petty would be rebellion’ every last living breathing pony for 50 miles had mysteriously vanished. In fact, ALL the outposts all over Melody's Equestria suffered at least slight increases in hostile attacks before receiving reinforcements. When those ponies reached their new stations ready for combat they came to find the entire station utterly void of life of any kind. The soldiers and their commanders however, stood firm anticipating an assault and searched relentlessly for the resistance forces unaware that they were becoming like only so much butter spread over a muffin too large to entirely cover.

“Equestiran magic is interesting yes… but your teleportation abilities only go so far… long distance portals are a rare thing in Tamriel but not impossible…” A cream colored unicorn quickly shifted into a bipedal old woman supporting her weight on the staff of Magnus as she stretched, letting her old bones pop and creak.

“Your majesty!...” The soldier hesitated in the presence of the woman who seemed so utterly alien to him, but continued sternly. “General Rainbow Dash has the special forces in position, General Derpy has the standard troops on standby, General applejack just checked in ready as ordered with the heavy infantry to the south, the foreign mercenaries are all in their places, Princess Fluttershy has the barrier up with all civilians inside of the headquarters…”

The one winged Luna nodded and looked at Taara who looked to Twilight as Ra’Shala seemed to meld into existence between them. “This one has made sure that your instructions were rigorously followed we await only your signal and the tear with the anchor.”

Taara nodded calmly and Luna took in a deep breath. “Are you certain of this Twilight?... if we fail here today, we lose everything, there is no second chance, no way of breaking through again.”

Twilight nodded firmly and her eyes narrowed. “There is a time for harmony… and there is a time for war… That mare desecrated our world and our beliefs, she slew our kin, razed our lands, and reveled in the destruction of everything good… she will be purged and Equestria will fall back into the hooves of its rightful rulers…”

Luna nodded, still full of fright but content enough in her trust in Twilight. She trembled and gnawed at her lip before looking to the purple alicorn. She couldn't help but feel more ease looking at her, how tall Twilight stood, how powerful she felt. "You... look just like her, that face... Celestia would have been proud..." The two princesses looked to each other and shared a pained memory of the fallen. But both steeled themselves and Luna turned to the human woman. “It's your move Arch mage…”

Taara grinned and reached into her bag. Gripping firmly she motioned to them. “Avert your eyes unless you want to go blind…” Flicking her hands up she wrenched open the scroll and her powers blasted forth. “Open… and come forth… by my right as Dragon Born… by the power in my blood hear me Akatosh and call my kin, your children forth…”

The elder scroll strained with power as a rift tore open from the throat of the world to their location and the massive flood of Akatosh’s children blasted forth followed quickly dark portals opening with all manners of strange creatures pouring in from other dimensions lead by a Draconaquus holding the Wabajack easily doubling his no longer crippled power. Legions of ponies from the air and the ground flooded in, Minotaur, Griffins, bat ponies even changelings and more closing in on the crystal empire. Quickly ponies lined the walls that now surrounded the city. However, chaos instantly started to brew up within the great walls as they faced a foe they could not identify. Humans, Elves, Orcs, Argonians, Khajiit and more erupted from under the city effortlessly killing and passing the guards Princess Melody had assigned to watch over the mirror which had been fuming with energy since Twilight had returned.

“Goodness…I never thought I would see this day.” Luna stared at the events unfolding before her as her mechanical wing spread just like her long since gone feathered wing once did. If this was really considered a war and not just a late execution she would have to amend the Equestrian dictionary.

“Remember the plan you dumb horse… you deal with princess bitch… We will try and overpower her brother…” Baldir in his human form was quite a sight to see leaping up the castle walls with inhuman speed and strength as all of Equestria charged in to fight for their freedom.

The only cause for concern was the flood of endless dragons which quickly erupted from the crystal citadel and flooded outwards to meet the oncoming forces. However, Equestrian dragons were no match for the children of Akatosh and his eldest son Paarthurnax. The magic that tainted the minds of the Equestrian dragons could not touch the power of those who were created to dominate all other living beings. But, for every one Thu’um bearing dragon assaulting the great city, three slightly weaker treasure hoarding monsters came crashing into the oncoming forces.

Taara, Twilight, Luna, Baldir, and Ra’shala met close to no resistance before they reached the door. “This is it Princess… you ready?” Taara breathed calm as she stared over at her friend.

Twilight looked about her soaking in all that was being done to repair what she knew she could have prevented had she not been trapped in Tamriel. She grimaced at all the violence but nodded. “I am ready…” They forced open the door and there they were.

Calm and confident, her eyes glanced at the invaders with a face that screamed power. All about her magic enhanced gems and jewelry shined brilliantly. Bronze armor stared emotionless into empty space, his overbearingly massive dark powers flooding out his eyes like they were ablaze with black and green flames. Princess Melody stood up from her throne which had a blatantly obvious new addition of two heavy crystals on either side. One containing a white unicorn. Aged and wrinkled, a purple mane and three diamonds on her flank. The other princess Cadence just as Twilight had remembered her. Both the mares frozen in the crystal like statues. It was unclear whether they were alive or dead but Melody flaunted them all the same as she stepped down from her throne and her lance levitated from its place to just over her shoulder. Bronze Armor’s vacant eyes widened and he let out a pained scream as his power flared in a massive ungodly display of power.

“Don’t keep us waiting…” Taara grinned as her body lit up with magical power like the heart of the sun.

“Mul! Qah DIIV!!!” A mask and armor of energy flooded over Ra’shala’s body as her blades drew.

A long pained yell which quickly turned to a savage and brutal dominated roar sounded as Baldir’s body contorted and shifted into a furry savage bundle of muscle, claws, and fangs.

Twilight looked to Luna and back towards her friends, she drew in a breath and twirled her staff, Luna twirled her twin blades and the silent confirmation was made.

The legendary three dragon born rushed in at the Godlike stallion as the two princesses rushed at the dark and twisted princess of domination.

Chapter 15: Worlds War Battle [remastered v2.0]

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Worlds War Battle

Arrows notched and pulled back as strong muscle bound arms and keen talented eyes took hold of targets, a full Pegasus formation quickly scattered out of the way as the heavy volley launched skewering the dragon they were just harassing. The formation quickly reformed and moved on like fluid lightning

With all her armies out, Princess Melody’s forces could have easily been taken down by Equestria’s armies and her allies, though the scenario would have been impossible without Tarmiel’s magic. Though here and now, they had every able bodied pony in Equestria, half of the Griffin kingdom, scattered forces of the surrounding nations wanting in on the battle, dozens of Tamrielian mercenaries as well as small armies from Skyrim, the Empire, Elswyer, Hammerfel, Daggerfall, Morrowind, and that was just the main body of the army that had been mustered under the dragon born and the old leaders of Equestria. Even had Princess Melody’s forces all been present they would have likely been overrun by these new nations allied with Equestria.

Almost all but her dragons were left, the few infantry ponies who didn't leave to chase the decoy armies were rapidly surrendering or dying. The dragons though, enslaved through Bronze Armor’s magic had no choice but to fight to the death. But lowering the enemies numbers was not truly about making the battle easier, it was strictly to spare the lives of as many ponies as possible, and it worked well. The united forces of Tamriel and Equestria had lost less than a tenth of their forces by the time the walls fell to the overwhelming onslaught.

All was going well above and outside, but within the Crystal throne room, Oblivion and Tartarus had collided.

The great axe plunged into the thick shadows with the sickly squelch as the dark magic defended the flesh of the large Alicorn. Arrows pincushioned the protective shadows around his eyes, he had to cycle the shadows rapidly, flowing the physical shadows in a rapid current just to keep his vision clear. But Ra’Shala would not let him rest so easily, magical seals opened rapidly summoning full quivers of Dragon bone arrows slick with poison for her rapid use.

Fire, ice and lightning burned away rapidly at the dark magical defenses, Bronze Armor hardly had a second's rest from the powerful magic slamming him about. He was left blind and tumbling through a chaotic battlefield, even with his tremendous power he could hardly keep up against the Dargonborn assault. Worst of all was Baldir’s heavy axe blasting into the shadow defenses splattering the magical power like it was the flesh of an overripe fruit. Each blow from the massive gray furred werewolf sent the Alicorn sprawling even more. His whole life, the magically dominated soul was used as a weapon, a blunt instrument to bash the population into obedience, as powerful as he was, he had never been trained for combat and was helpless against the three veterans who's only struggle was peeling back his magical shielding power to actually inflict damage to his body.

A blast of fire knocked Bronze Armor back, his wings whipped out as his magic flared to keep him in place just in time for a savage overhead strike which he barely foresaw, shifting his magic up to catch the massive blow firmly his vacant eyes grew wider as claws punched through the thinned magic and dug through his flesh and under the magical restraining collar that kept his will bound to Melody. His magic burned as the programmed reaction quickly brought magic to fight off the grip which is where he took four arrows in quick succession in his back. Had Bronze Armor been capable of thought, he would be able to see how the three old warriors were systematically leading his every move, guiding him into an easy defeat.

Melody spat angrily as her power flared, her words filled with venomous intent. “Well then Auntie, you certainly know how to make a mare feel important. All my troops scattered, ALL of Equestria and more, gathered up to take me down. And these… THINGS you bring from another world, and a whole other dragon army to match my own. I would say you lived up to your legend but the legends say you were some petty child of a princess that barely even understood her own power.” She sneered as her magic pulsed to life reaching out. A polearm lifted gently into place from the rack behind the young looking princess before spinning rapidly. With a sudden blast of power she rocketed forward blurring her weapon down at twilight just before a deep blue translucent saber blocked the heavy weapon.

“We think not you despicable thing!” Luna’s magic burned dark, her deep emotional pain betrayed her as she faced down the mare who killed her sister. Her usual deep blue magic flared and sparkled with darkness as her livid rage tempted her dark powers to come to the surface. “You are nopony to talk fool, you deceived your way to your throne of cowardice. You struck only when back’s were turned and eyes were blinded, and even now you do not have the power to face us. You leave that to your brother and your petty charms…” Luna’s sabers slashed in a perfect circular design, but the blades sparked off the magical barrier imbued into Melody's armor and trinkets, yet still the power behind the wrathful princes's blows staggered the mare back.

Melody caught herself and pushed into the air before she laughed “Nice try, these are wards that protect me from even the strongest of Equestrian magic, I learned them from Starswirl the Bearded’s own library. As for you though, I don’t care what some relic of the past thinks. I am the only princess this world will know, and when I am done with you, I will move to rule all of this other world you foolishly opened to me” She grinned slowly settling back just a small distance away as she looked over the angry Luna. "You and your ilk... worthless over privileged relics, your time has come and gone, the past will die, I will be the one to kill it!"

There was a magical crackle of power and a flap of powerful wings as the pin on Twilight’s robes flared. A human fist smashed Melody square in the face. As the Alicorn recoiled the now human form of Twilight moved just fast enough. Combined with the shock of seeing what Melody could only imagine was a new player on the field and the swat in the face her guard was down just enough to catch Twilight’s staff in the face. Lightning blasted through her body from the staff, digging into her flesh straight past her heavy wards. She painfully grit her teeth and yelped in pain she staggered back onto what looked like a circle with an elaborate design of magical energies. She had only a moment to stare before it exploded with freezing energies, again her wards did nothing to prevent the magic from smashing the wind out of her from beneath and chilling her armor so much that the small touch of blood that trickled out of her flash froze against it.

Twilight glared, her power surging as she advanced. “You forget niece. I've been in another world for over two hundred years. I have far more than Equestrian magic. That and your little charms wont keep me from simply battering the living Tartarus out of you.” She shifted on her feet and smiled.”Now, how about you taste Tamriel’s finest destruction magic you petty little coward.” Before she began her assault anew she gave a firm snap of her fingers a sickly purple glow erupted over Luna’s head and swords summoned forth from Oblivion. Quickly Luna grasped the blades and renewed her assault, these new blades ignoring the Equestrian wards.

Melody’s eyes widened and her confidence faltered. She quickly spun her blade about to counter the new magical threat, spinning rapidly to dissipate magical flames and hold back frosty gales of wind. Her blade shot out quickly at Twilight’s face only to miss as the princess of friendship shrank down into pony form again. Twilight’s staff swung and battered against the polearm Princess Melody threw around. Though with every clash, lightning leaked through and burned its way up her magical streams to touch her body. It did not take long before she was badly out of breath and the glow off her horn was weakened.

“W...what is this?... you cheated!” Her teeth ground together as she stared daggers at Twilight and Luna. Luna’s lips turned to a smile as her notched horn glowed brighter turning the blades over.

“Maybe I should have mentioned my dear niece, Tamriel has lived through countless wars, every ages bringing new magical weapons and wars against their foes. Had Equestria fought as much as them, we would have war magic dozens of millenia more advanced. But, there's this interesting thing with the lightning elements of Tamrielian destruction magic, their lightning magic drains your magical energies. You are being bled dry with every last strike.” Both Twilight and Luna stepped forward turning their weapons to and fro as they crouched, watching carefully for Melody's stance to change in reaction. She had to pause a moment and admire Luna's form, perhaps combat was indeed something Equestrian nobility had learned.

A sudden ear splitting blast and scream broke their focus, Melody’s eyes went from fear stricken to awestruck as words loosely spilled from her agape mouth. “Impossible…”

With a hearty roar Baldir’s powerful clawed hands tore the magic collar straight from Bronze Armor’s neck. He was covered head to tail in cuts and dark bruises but finally his vacant eyes filled with sickly burning hatred as the dark magic halted it's controlled and filtered state. Flowing freely his power flared out even greater than before. He threw Baldir off and roared loud enough to shake the Crystal halls.

“I knew this could get better.” Baldir panted shifting back before downing a large potion and shifting the position of his odd ring. He threw his head back and roared nearly matching Bronze Armor. His flesh contorted once again and he called upon Hircine’s blessing to return him to his hunter’s form. He was not the only one clearly unfinished in his fight, Taara and Ra'Shala too readied up and the direction the day was going was made even more clear.

With eyes focused elsewhere, Melody leaped forward swinging her blade at Twilight. If she was going to lose everything here she would at least take the one who brought her defeat down with her. But as she lunged, only the sound of flesh under the cutting edge of a blade sounded, loudly screams echoed in the crystal hall as a horn was clipped and a wing fell off an Alicorn’s back.

Melody firmly pressed against Twilight who was once again in human form, Conjuration magic flared at her fingertips pushing against the breastplate of Melody’s armor. Luna’s eyes narrowed and a grin spread over her face. The blades coated in Alicorn blood she stared down at the mare. “Hurts doesn't it? I remember when you did it to me…” Luna's seething power punctuated the action as she flicked Melody's blood from her blades with one swift motion.

Melody gasped, the pain rocked through her body but nothing could explain the sickly feeling inside her, there was a loud crackle, like a match igniting on the inside of her ears. She could feel it. The pain from her horn and wing was unbearable but she felt so cold. Twilight’s hand drew back and she could see something gushing from that very spot. Out of her body something flowed right into a dark dimly glowing crystal in Twilight’s left hand.

“Its over Melody… Do you feel it? That is your soul, leaking out. That cold empty hollow feeling?" Twilight's eyes locked with Melody's, the emotion was distant and cold. Her lips parted, almost whispering to the princess. "With this level of magic, you needn't die. After I tear your soul out I will bury it in the deepest depths of Tartarus. You will NEVER feel the light again…”

Just as Twilight seemed to foretell the light was leaving her vision, her body was growing more and more void of magical power. She had never heard of such a spell, to steal a soul. But she knew what she had to do, and she had to do it quickly.

Her horn still notched, her charms flared up to supplement her failing magic and her failing life force. With a blink she zapped herself away, pulling from Twilight's grasp and over to Bronze Armor, embracing her rampaging brother she instantly soaked in the dark sickly magic. Eating it up, it filled her with powerful energies pushing into her to fill the void where her soul had been partially drained. The power was so immense that Twilight’s spell slowly halted. The overwhelming power trickled out of Melody, but still had her mind even if it was quickly being overpowered as she soaked in all the darkness. Bronze Armor’s cutie mark faded and vanished as Melody’s eyes went vacant then narrowed, filled with boiling darkness magic. She smiled baring teeth which sharpened into fangs. Her horn reformed and her missing wing replaced itself with pure shadows.

“How about now Auntie?... you so sure of yourself? Your magic gave me the chance to finally take my brother’s power, what say you now? My control with my brother’s power, we will rival even the darkest of darkness. There is nothing left in this world or your friend’s world that can stand up to my power…”

“Oh REALLLLLY” A booming cheery voice rocked the Crystal Citadel. “Poor sweet petty mortal, I do love your mind in this state, but a new friend tells me you are not quite as much fun as you seem.” A massive human like hand blasted through the crystal walls and grasped Melody with a grip like steel. The ceiling gave way and a massive old man in fancy dress. Half red and half purple, his white beard trimmed neatly he smiled at the pony that was dwarfed in his massive hands. She craned her neck whipping her horn blasting dark magic at him. He laughed as the thick stream of magic turned to nothing but cheese. “Magical ponies… a whole world of magical ponies. This is the most fun I have had in an age!... Or two!”

His booming laughter nearly drowned out the three dragon born, most quickly retreated as Taara stared in disbelief.

“... What in Oblivion? Sheogorath? what are you doing here?”

“Oh dontcha know already? You got my attention with all that damaging my staff, and so I was sittin in new Sheoth when I figured I want to go and talk to the purple talking pony again, but you… youuuuuuuuuuu little purple horse…. you never told me you had a fellow as fine as this one here”

His other hand extended and Discord happily popped into existence dancing happily in Sheogroath’s palm with the Wabajack. “Twilight! you should have told me of this fine gentleman, He is twice as entertaining than anypony I have EVER even laid eyes on…”

Melody screamed angrily, her power flared brightly. “SHUT UP YOU GIBBERING FOOLS I AM A GOD, UNHOOF ME!” Her power burned with a pitch darkness as she screamed, her new immense powers screamed with her until Sheogorath stared deeply into her savage eyes.

“Poor wee beastie, you are a sad petty little mortal thing! don't confuse yourself with real power… heh” He grinned wide and brought her up before biting down and swallowing her whole. There was a magical flash and he appeared between the dragonborn at a normal size happily prancing about in a silly dance with Discord.

“Oh goodness this land is amazing… but you know what it could use?” Sheogorath's happy voice chimed in question.

Discord's wings fluttered as he picked up just barley off the ground. “Chocolate rain? I use that here and there or at least I used to.”

The mad god chuckled at the prospect but shook his head. “I was going to say crumpets, and cheese… FOR EVERYONE!”

“Why not both?” The Draconequus offered.

“Oh you beautiful genius, you have just GOT to come visit new Sheoth.”

“Oh I have just the place to show you, I have not been there in ages but come, I can tidy up later” They both vanished in a flash leaving the princesses and the three dragonborn stunned and confused.

“... Twilight… what just happened?” Luna looked over at Twilight with grave confusion in her eyes.

“I think… Discord accidentally summoned the Daedric God of madness and… befriended him.” Twilight's expression was as blank as she was confused, and that was to say it was very blank.

Taara’s magical power flicked to a low point as she collapsed into a tired gasping heap. Baldir returned to his human form pulling his torn clothes and armor into a knot to keep them from falling below his waist. Ra’Shala calmly sat down next to an exhausted and near dead male Alicorn stripped of all his power, gently petting him.

The realization settled on them and twilight muttered. “We won, Gods above, we won… “ Twilight's power flared as she took to pony form and flew up through the roof screaming as loud as her lungs would allow. “VICTORY! Equestria is FREE!!”

The land erupted into a massive blast of cheer and rejoicing. Celebration already rang out in the streets. Applejack yipped and hollered loudly in celebration as loud as rowdy as her old bones would let her. Spike roared on Paarthurnax’s back as they joined in. Derpy’s Pegasus infantry reveled loudly with the Wonderbolts. Rainbow Dash looking to the sky with tears of relief and joy. Back in the cave, Princess Fluttershy watched through her alicorn magic, everypony watching with her reveling in the glory of the victory over tyranny. Pinkie and Maud stood looking to the sky as Luna rose her sister's sun bathing the land in a new light.

A purple hoof touched the crystal staring in at Cadence sleeping soundly, magically suspended within the Crystal. “A new age dawns here in Equestria. Freedom has returned, Light blots out the darkness and we can finally see. I am home, I am finally, truly home and we are free.”

Chapter 16: Until we meet again old friend. [remastered v2.0]

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A human hand clapped over a trembling human mouth as she doubled over, shaking and unsteady on her feet. It was so painful, she knew it was a possibility but she was not ready for the pain it brought. Tears flowed from her eyes and her hands trembled. A hoof came to her back making her flinch.

“...Sugar cube… I know it hurts but you can't blame her, you were gone for over 40 years.”

This did little to help her. Twilight held tightly onto the wall where she weakly swayed. “Applejack… I came back, I fought so hard to come back. And I did, I came back and I did everything I could. I saved all of Equestria.” Another surge of the emotional pain racked her body and she fell to her knees. "Not a day went by that I didn't think of you all."

“I know Twilight, but not everyone sees it that way. You can’t blame her for it. When you vanished everypony was just destroyed. And when Melody rose to power… many people blamed you for not being there. Rainbow was not the only one who was hurt like that. You know she’s just a little brash.”

Twilight looked back, the pin surged with energy as best as she could manage in her state and she returned to her natural form. “You saw that look in her eyes.” Her mind flashed the painful image of her long time friend’s wrathful eyes, Rainbow Dash’s accusations. Even if she was saying it just because she was so hurt, Twilight too felt it was true. She had no control over it but still, it did not make the words not sting.

‘you abandoned us!’

Celestia was gone, Rainbow refused to speak to her, Rarity’s time in the dungeons had left her so damaged that all they could do was make her comfortable before she faded away. The one and only solace was that Cadence as well as Equestria were alive and free. Still drastically weakened Cadence could only just barely welcome her long time friend back. Despite the overwhelming victory, Equestria had much to mourn.

“You did everything you could, and you are a hero to all of Equestria. I don’t care what naysayers say.” Applejack’s hoof touched Twilight’s face pushing her to look into each other's eyes. “You did what was right. This was NOT your fault. Stop blaming yourself.”

Twilight still could not look her in the eyes. “It doesn't make the pain go away…” She looked away and Applejack bowed her head, leaving the princess to mourn she returned to the celebration.

The obsidian mirror was heavily enlarged as per Taara’s orders. Open trade had already began, Tamriellian coin purchased a bounty of Equestrian goods, Equestrian bits flowed too, to purchase good stone and handy workers. Mages and adventurers registered to come and find work or study in this new foreign land. So too did the ponies of Equestria register to explore Tamriel. Luna’s rule over the sun and moon from new Canterlot was a massive reassurance for all of ponykind. Twilight and Spike would live in the newly furnished castle. Often visitors would come, but she would only see the Princesses, the apple family, the pie family, and the Dragon born. No others were welcome or willing to come.

Spike's armor clacked lightly as he pushed his blades into his sheaths and double checked his gear, sparing a glance or two to Twilight. "It'll be good for you Twilight, me and Odahviing were going to meet with some of the dragons in the far south, I am sure you could stretch your wings… you have been cooped up in here for weeks…”

Twilight hardly even flinched at his words. She just looked up then back down off her balcony seeing a still weak Cadence comforting her equally weak son Bronze armor. His mind had been dominated for so long. despite having grown he was still a child at heart and with all his magic taken from him he needed his mother more than ever.

Twilight lifted her head slowly looking over the packages of cheese tied with neat bow ties mailed to her in various odd manners from what she knew was two very perfect friends who were still off doing completely random things. “Spike, I know you have plans, but can… can you stay here with me?”

He gave her a look that explained his concern but she answered with her usual pained regretful gaze and he nodded. “Ok… but it is not good for you, you have to get out sometime…”

She lay her head back down looking out the window longingly as Spike sat down writing a ‘sorry cant come’ letter to Odahviing. She was happy that Spike took to the victory so well, spending time in Jorrvaskr had made him much more durable. She was happy for him, but she could not shake the dread. From the very first moment she entered the mirror, she struggled desperately to get home. She fought for seven long years to get home. And now, finally here, having saved everything she could, it hurt even more. Saving the world was supposed to help, it was supposed to fix everything. But all she felt was the ache of Rainbow's stinging words. It was true, had she not stepped into the mirror, Equestria would not have fallen. If only she had been able to be there for them all, perhaps she would not have even had appose Melody, her niece would have grown to be loving and kind. It all pivoted on her, and thus the guilt felt like a cold sludge in her belly and she couldn't hide it.

Twilight rested in her bed and continued to stare out at the courtyard just beyond Cadence next to the massive stone carving of the sun that now served as a tombstone for Celestia floating freely on the air. Twilight's pained expression was all Spike could see until he let out a sigh and lay against her. It almost sounded like he was going to say something when a ruckus started just beyond the courtyard where the mirror had been placed. Twilight could hear what sounded like Baldir screaming bloody murder at someone. This was interrupted when Spike’s belly gurgled and he let out a hefty belch dropping a note at Twilight’s hooves. With mild hesitation she opened the note, suspending it magically her eyes panned over the first few words and her eyes shot wide. “Dear… Twilight, I know if I asked you would not, so I am forcing your hand, come to the gate right now, lives quite literally depend on it. PS: bring Spike” She recognized Taara’s handwriting right away and the foriegn feeling buildup of excessive magical power was almost painful to her senses like staring into the sun, whatever was happening at the gate was certainly something she had to see. Her wings popped open with a sudden and vigorous flap. Spike was forcefully placed on her back and she let out a heavy burst of energy as she blasted down to the gate. Luna and Fluttershy were both there along side Ra’Shala and Baldir, whom of course was brutally smashing his axe against an extremely heavily warded door to the point that his precious weapon was dulled and cracked, ready to outright fall apart. The look in his eyes was not anger, it was sorrow. Ra’Shala too had tears in her eyes as she faced a small ball of Tamrielian magic light.

Upon touchdown Twilight skid to a stop and the ball of light sounded out in Taara’s voice. “Ah… good you are here. Please come right in.” Before she could respond her own magic flared as if she was being remotely controlled and she blinked past the wards and landed inside the gate room which appeared to have been forcefully cleared out. No one, pony or otherwise was there other than Twilight, the Obsidian Mirror and what she assumed was Taara.

Baldir’s voice boomed in a mighty roar with a very uncharacteristic touch of sadness. “YOU SELFISH BITCH… You… You can't do this!...get out here NOW!!”

A calm and almost weak voice chuckled as Taara’s old hand touched the smooth stone. “I knew you cared you old dog you…” She turned and stepped out of the shadows towards Twilight. Twilight’s eyes grew wide to see her old friend’s features shriveled and sunken. Taara looked easily 30 years older and her eyes were glazed over with pale milky cataracts as she stared blankly in Twilight’s direction.

All of Twilight's pain fell away as she beheld her friend in her current state. “Taara!!!...w...what...what did you do?”

Taara held up her metal hand commanding silence, before her old weathered lips parted. “257 dragon souls… including my own...” She let out a weak laugh before continuing. “That… that is how much it costs to open the gate in the manner of which I desired. I was going to use that annoying bitch’s soul… but you didn't get it all, and honestly it would not even be a fraction of the power needed. So really her power is just what’s keeping me upright right now.” She coughed and swayed weakly as if she could hardly stand, the half filled soul gem Twilight had used on Melody hung from Taara's neck, swaying softly as the old woman slowly moved.

“W… wait… what did you do? Taara, what did you do?” Even Spike who had been teleported through with them stared in disbelief and worry.

“I promised didn't I? Until a long term solution is found, You have me at your service. This is the long term solution.” She pointed at the mirror which beamed with the odd dragon soul power and its own dark colored magic. “It’s opening, but not to Tamriel, nor to Oblivion. But alas, it just needs that final touch.” She chuckled and dropped a pair of saddlebags over Twilight’s back as well as Spike. Finally she reached into her robes fumbling like a feeble old woman which she now looked like to pull out the item Twilight was still just as shocked to see. The anchor that kept the two worlds connected, the Elder Scroll.

“You know, we once used this to look back in time… and learn a shout that helped us defeat Alduin… That is what gave me the idea. But it took so… so… SO much energy… I almost didn’t make it.” She raised the scroll with a weak grin. “Akatosh, father of my soul, hear me!... I command time itself. I give up my own essence, the power of hundreds of your children. Please grant me my last wish…”

Twilight’s eyes widened and tears streaked down her face as she watched her old friend die slowly.” No!... Taara, no… why… if you do this I may never find you… you are dying just for this… We already won, stop please!”

Taara did not seem to even notice her voice. “Open… from this point… to the past.. please by the power of my own blood… by the power of my soul open to my will.” The gate exploded with fiery energies and just like the downed dragons in a dragonborn's presence her flesh began to burn away. Flaking piece by piece she smiled warmly touching her old friend’s face. “I told them goodbye already, but you…” She weakly reached out with her burning shaking hands to touch her face one last time. “I know you think you don’t deserve it… but remember… I'm a selfish, bitter, greedy, know it all, old woman… I do what I want… now, go on and farewell, until we meet again old friend.”

Twilight’s eyes watered with tears seeing her friend’s body fade away in the burning power of her spent soul. With one last gesture of the legendary dragonborn, she was thrown into the raging vortex of power that was the Obsidian Mirror and her vision went dark.

“TWILY!!!!” Her vision was heavily blurred and everything hurt at once. But she could clearly feel two hooves on either side of her shaking her. “TWILY!!! ARE YOU OK??”

“Sir, no offense but that is probably hurting her”

Her eyes opened slowly to see a blurred wave of white and blue. Focusing just a bit her soul went cold into shock and her eyes instantly burst into tears. It was Shining Armor. She wrapped her hooves around his neck and instantly started bawling her eyes out.

“Whoaaaaaa! Twilight… what happened in there?” She could hardly gain the ability to see again through her tears, but when she did, she noticed that she was in a familiar old ruin, behind her there was a large Obsidian mirror, there were guards everywhere and Derpy sat back holding a still out cold Spike.

“Shiny!...w..what?...wait.. Celestia… is Celestia alive?”

Shining Armor’s eyes squinted as he tilted her head looking for any contusions. “Did you hit your head?... of course she’s alright, What in Equestria did you see inside that Mirror?”

Twilight stared in disbelief. It took every ounce of Taara’s power and life channeled through the elder scroll and the gate but She had sent Twilight through time to mere seconds after she had been thrown into Oblivion. It really was a permanent solution. She stood and her saddlebags slid off. Shining Armor starred in confusion.

“Wait… you didn't go in with Saddlebags. Where did these come from?”

He picked them up and out spilled a small mess which instantly caught her eyes. The sigil stone, a sealed letter, a large carved soul gem, and a bottle of spiced wine. Slowly and cautiously she levitated the letter and opened it.

‘Dear old friend, Enjoy the wine, preferably with your teacher you told me so much about. I am terribly sorry I put you through that, but by now you should know, selfish, bitter, know it all, old women just do things sometimes. Be careful with the soul gem, it contains my memories, the important ones anyways. I am sure you can tell by what I put in your bags what my plan is. I told you, until we meet ‘again’ didn’t I? See you again in 40 years, first round is on you this time’

Tears flowed from her eyes but a warm smile pushed across her lips. “Twilight?... are you ok?”

Spike stirred and mumbled in ancient dragon as he stumbled a bit trying to get on his feet. “Yes Shiny… I literally could not be any better. Come… lets go home, I have quite a story to tell you all.”

~~~~THE END~~~

Equestrian scrolls I : epic pony tales

by Sanguine Eyes

Chapter 1: Vague silence [remastered v2.0]

Chapter 2: General recovery [remastered v2.0]

Chapter 3: Hello Everypony...huh? [remastered v2.0]

Chapter 4: Oh the magic of alcohol...err friendship [remastered v2.0]

Chapter 5: prerequisites [remastered:v2.0]

Chapter 6: Legacies [remastered: v2.0]

Chapter 7: This is familiar [remastered: v2.0]

Chapter 8: Order within the chaos [remastered v2.0]

Chapter 9: Almost there [remastered v2.0]

Chapter 10: Chaos within the Order [remastered v2.0]

Chapter 11: Finally. [remastered v2.0]

Chapter 12: Change of plans [remastered v2.0]

Chapter 13: Reunion [remastered v2.0]

Chapter 14: Welcome to The War [remastered v2.0]

Chapter 15: Worlds War Battle [remastered v2.0]

Chapter 16: Until we meet again old friend. [remastered v2.0]