After Twilight sang a song that was older than Celestia. she found herself in her human form in a world full of wonders, and dangerous creatures.
Twilight has been sent to a dangerous world of Skyrim, in her human form. Together with her friend, the Dovahkiin, both will try and survive as they find more adventures while looking for a way to defeat Alduin. And return Twilight to her homeworld.
Join them as they meet other people and companions, as they discover legends and stories. Visit wonderful places all over Skyrim.
Follow them as they pick a side in Skyrim's civil war between the Empire and the rebel Stormcloaks.
Twilight art Disclaimer.
I did some editing of some sort, but the Twilight pony is not my work.
Minor gore(no intestines are going to emerge.) and no actual sex scenes. No boom boom babies.
Apologies, this fic has not been edited. Please be nice.
It was late in the evening in Canterlot, ponies were gathered at the castle's Gala room. Twilight Sparkle stood on the stage, together with her friend, Lyra Hearstring, who has her lyre beside her.
Two months ago, Twilight had found a book in the Crystal Archives with a symbol unknowns to her or the princesses. The book only contained a few foreign words arrange in a pattern similar to a poem, and at the end it contains other symbols that seem like letters – or words from another language.
With much work done to decipher its meaning, only the half of it was uncovered and the symbols that occupies the other half, needs more work.
Despite the fact that the 'poem' was only half checked, princess Celestia wanted to commemorate the work of princess Twilight on deciphering the poem, and helping her and everypony to understand the book that was older, even than she.
With a fitting music in mind, Celestia decided for Twilight to sing the poem, in front of her friends and others.
Twilight took a deep breath, and looked around the audience set in front of her. On top of a balcony sat the two pony sisters, princess Celestia and princess Luna. And her BSBFF, princess Cadence and her husband, Shining Armor – Twilight's BBBFF.
And in the crowd, she knew her friends were there, ready to support her. Her parents happy and proud of what she had accomplished.
Twilight turned to look at Lyra, she smiled nervously and Lyra gave a warm smile, and a nod, in return.
The Lavender Alicorn closed her eyes and took a deep, long breath. She nodded at Lyra to start playing her lyre.
It started with a few well place pluck of strings then into a unique rhythm.
"Our hero, our hero Claims a warrior's heart I tell you, I tell you The Dragonborn comes"
"Awesome!" Spike said, with both fist held out. He gave a sheepish smile when a stallion shushes him as Twilight continues.
"With a Voice wielding power of the ancient Nord art Believe, believe, the Dragonborn comes"
Applejack was smiling, a hoof pressed on her chest.
"Twilight has a really good voice." Applejack turned to Applebloom, then hugged the filly beside her. Two other fillies, one with purple and pink mane, other with reddish violet, giggled to their friend's struggles.
"It's an end to the evil of all Skyrim's foes Beware, beware the Dragonborn comes"
"Yeah! Go Twilight!" Rainbow dash shouted, as she made a short roll up in the air. She earned a shush from everypony. She slowly descended chuckling sheepishly.
"For the darkness has passed And the legend yet grows You'll know, you'll know the Dragonborn's come"
With the end of the song, Lyra stopped to appreciate the applauding crowd.
Up the balcony overlooking the event, "The was good sister, better than I expected for something that was only found – neither the less deciphered – in between two months time." Princess Luna said.
Princess Celestia nodded, "True, I could not wish for a better student than Twilight."
In the midst of the gathered crowd of ponies, one particular pony with pink puffy mane and coat, was shaking.
Back to the stage, Lyra stood beside Twilight then bowed, But Twilight didn't. Lyra looked at Twilight, the mare must be awfully nervous. What she saw made her jaw drop.
Twilight's eyes were glowing white, she was muttering words from a language unknown to her.
"Twilight?" She asked, nervously prodding the lavender alicorn with a hoof. But Twilight did not budge, Lyra slowly walked away while eyeing Twilight.
Sensing something was wrong, Celestia jumped from the balcony and hovered towards the stage, followed by Luna and Cadence. All had worried looks on their faces.
"Twilight?" Celestia said, as she took small steps towards her student, she was about to touch Twilight's shoulder when the purple alicorn burst into a magic surge.
Harsh gales made everypony cover their heads with a hoof, some already escaping from the Gala room.
"Twilight!" Celestia shouted over the intense bombardment of strong winds. She tried to get closer, but the strength of magic and harsh winds made each steps heavy and slow.
Twilight floated from the stage, her forelegs reaching out on her sides. Purple magic circled her. As she sang the other half of the poem, that no one has yet deciphered.
"Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin Naal ok zin los vahriin Wah dein vokul mahfaeraak ahst vaal"
"Sister! Something is happening. We must stop it!" Luna shouted.
"Twilight!" Her friends shouted, running towards their friend.
"Ahrk fin norok paal graan Fod nust hon zindro zaan Dovahkiin, fah hin kogaan mu draal"
"Stand Back everypony! This is dangerous."
"But that's our friend!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
Dovahkiin,
Dovahkiin,
"Quickly, sister hold her down!" Luna charged her horn, but it was too late.
Dovahkiin, Kotin Keizaal Zu'u bo.
A blinding spark illuminated Twilight, everypony that was still present covered their eyes, but as they saw what has become of Twilight. They stared with wide eyes at the burnt section of the floor with a small smoke whizzing from its centre. Twilight was gone.
"Twilight!" Everypony cried.
From the depths of the world, a creature whose wings brought darkness, scales as sharpened scythes, eyes bore down the soul of who dare looked into the.
His low chuckle echoes through the void, his time of waiting is almost over. And once more he who was the bringer of end times, and the golden age of his kind, will once more rose to the world and bring men to its knees.
"Eh, tiid lost bo fah zey wah ont ontzos rel joor vonum. Fah joor wo grunz zey lost meyus. Nid strin vis horvutah zey! Fah Zu'u los unahzaal."
With a loud thump, a woman with pointy ears, a light skin tone and a light ginger hair tied into a ponytail, awoke. She tried to move her arms, but found that her hands were restrained by bindings wrapped upon her wrist.
She was on a carriage, led by an imperial soldier wearing his red cloak with the imperial insignia on it. In front of her sat a Nord, with a typical blonde hair and build muscle wearing a Stormcloak armour. Beside the Stormcloak was a much smaller and skinnier Nord with a dark brown hair who wore a ragged tunic. Sitting beside her was a gagged man who's hair was similar to that of the Stormcloak.
The cold wind of Skyrim touched her elven skin, making feel the chill of the harsh Nordic climate. Piles of Snow covers the sides of the road and the branches of tall looking trees.
"Hey, you," Astrid looked to the owner of the voice, it was the Stormcloak sitting in front of her, "You're finally awake.".
"I guess so.". He let out a short chuckle.
"You were trying to cross the border right?" She nodded, "walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us and that thief over there."
"Damn you, Stormcloaks," said the Nord thief, "the Empire was fine until you came along, the Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn't been looking for you, I could've stolen that horse and be halfway to Hammerfell." He pointed at me with his tied hands," You there,"
"Me?"
He nodded, then pointed back and forth from her and him, "You and me, we shouldn't be here! It's these Stormcloaks that the Empire wants."
"We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief." The Stormcloak said.
"Shut up back there!" The Imperial shouted, still keeping his eyes on the road.
Astrid turned her attention to the gagged Nord beside her. "Hey, are you alright?" She whispered.
He gave a quiet sigh, but did not respond. Of course not, he's got his mouth covered. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Astrid decided to not push the conversation.
"What's wrong with him, huh?" The thief asked, looking at the gagged man from head to toe.
"Watch your tongue!" The Stormcloak growled, "You're talking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true high king!"
"Ulfric Stormcloak?" Asked The woman, with a look of befuddlement. she turned to the Stormcloak in front of her.
"Jarl of Windhelm?" The Nord rebel nodded.
"Ulfric Stormcloak," the Thief wondered, " you're the leader of the rebellion! Gods, if they captured you, where are they taking us?" His face fell into worry.
"I don't know, but Sovngarde awaits."
"No! This isn't happening! This isn't happening!" The Thief panicked.
"Hey," Said the Stormcloak, looking at the thief, "Where are you from horse thief?"
"Why do you care?" He glared.
"A Nord's last thoughts... should be home."
"Rorikstead, I'm from Rorikstead." He looked down with a somber face.
The wooden doors of the keep opened, letting the first carriage to move in. Imperial guards, some in red cloaks others not, patrolled the walls and the wooden gate house. Astrid's carriage jerked forward as they continue into the Imperial hold.
"General Tulius, sir!" Said the Imperial driver, "The headsman is waiting."
While the horse thief asked for divine salvation, the Stormcloak looked behind his shoulder, glaring at man with greyish hair riding a horse, talking to a group of High Elves.
"Look at him, general Tulius, the military governor. And it looks like the Thalmor are with him, damn Elves. I bet they have something to do with this."
The Nord rebel looked around the keep, its stone walls as high as five men, towers stood tall and strong, overlooking its keep.
"This is Helgen." He said.
"You know this place?" She asked.
He nodded. "I use to be sweet on a girl from here. I wonder if Vlod still makes that mead with juniper berries mixed in."
He let out a short chuckle.
"What's funny?"
He looked at her with a sad grin, "When I was a boy, the Imperial walls and towers makes me feel so safe."
"Papa, where are they going?" A little boy asked, while sitting in one of the nearby houses.
The light ginger-haired woman, stared at them as the wagon moved.
"Go inside little cub." His father said.
The wee boy turned to his father, "but I want to watch the soldiers."
"Inside now!" His father put a bit of a commanding tone this time.
"Yes, papa." The boy obeyed, and walked inside their house, pouting.
"I was never suppose to be here. I should be home in "
"Wha –" the Stormcloak interrupted by a sudden jerk as the wagon stopped.
"Why are we stopping?" The horse thief asked.
The Stormcloak looked down, "What do you think?" He said, he lifted his face to look at The light ginger-haired woman, "End of the line."
They simultaneously hopped off the carriage, while the horse thief protested. They were met by two Imperials, one in a heavy armour and the other in light armour – except the helmet.
"Move forward when we call your name." The Imperial captain said with her harsh female voice.
"The Empire loves their damn list." The Stormcloak hissed.
Her companion, a Nord with a dark-reddish neck long hair, held a quill and a paper. "Ulfric of Windhelm,"
The Jarl walked to join the group from the first carriage, "It's been an honour jarl Ulfric." The Stormcloak said.
"Ralof of Riverwood," The Stormcloak obeyed without question, joining his brethren to the block.
"Lokir of Rorikstead."
The horse thief took cautious steps forward, "Wait! This is a mistake, we're not rebels You can't do this!" He only gained a glare from the Imperial captain. With shock in his eyes, he took a ran for it,
"Halt!" Said the Imperial, but Lokir continued, she pointed at him. "Archers!" Imperial sentries that was posted nearby, took an arrow from their quivers and pulled it across their bows. They let loose of two arrows, both landed on Lokir's back, sending him crashing to the cobblestoned road, bloodied.
"Anyone else feel like running?" The Imperial captain turned to continue glaring at them.
"Wait," said the Imperial holding the list, "you, step forward." She did so. "Who are you?"
"I'am Astrid Alvar of Valenwood, Daughter and Huntress of Sun'li Tribe."
He nodded and scribbled it down, "Not many wood elves would choose to come alone to Skyrim."
The Imperial faced his superior, "Captain, what should we do? She's not on the list."
"Forget the list, Hadvar!" Said the Captain, " She goes to the block!"
"By orders captain." As the Imperial faced Astrid again, his captain muttered to herself, "Damn, Elves."
"I'm sorry. We'll make sure your remains are returned to Valenwood." Hadvar made a few more notes before ordering her to follow his superior.
Astrid stood along with Ralof and other Stormcloaks as general Tulius talked with Ulfric.
"Ulfric StormCloak," said Tulius, "Some here in Helgen call you a hero, but a hero doesn't use the power such as the voice to murder his king and usurp his throne."
Ulfric replied with muffled grunts.
"You started this war! Plunged Skyrim into chaos, now the empire is going to put you down and restore the peace!"
From out of nowhere, a roaring sound boomed through the horizon. Everyone looked into the skies in search of the source.
"What was that?" Hadvar asked.
"It's nothing, carry on."
"Yes, general Tulius!" Said the captain, "Give them their last rites."
A priestess, in a light-brown robe and yellow shawl, raised her arms towards the sky, "as we commend your souls to Atherius, blessings of the eight divines upon you –"
"For the love of Talos, shut up and let's get this over with." A Stormcloak with a red hair grumbled, walking towards the block.
The priestess gave him an annoyed look, "as you wish."
"Hurry, I haven't got all morning." The Stormcloak stood by the block as the captain put him to his knees and placed his head on the block, "My ancestors are smiling at me Imperial, can you say the same?"
The headsman raised his axe and struck at the Stormcloak's nape. His head rolled into the basket.
"You Imperial bastards!" A female Stormcloak with a similar red hair screamed.
"Justice!" A man from the crowd shouted.
"Next!" Said the captain, glaring at Astrid, "The wood elf!"
From the distant mountain near Helgen, the roar came again, much closer this time.
"There it is again, did you hear that?" Hadvar asked.
The captain, grimacing looked at Hadvar, "I said, next prisoner."
Hadvar looked to Astrid as she walked towards the block, "To the block prisoner, nice and easy."
She was pushed to her knees by the captain, her hand placed Astrids head to the bloodied stone. Astrid watched as the headsman heaved his might axe. Another roar came, but this time Astrid saw a black dragon flew pass the mountain tops.
"What in oblivion is that?" general Tulius shouted.
"Sentries what do you see?" The captain asked, as she and everyone else search for the dark thing.
"It's in the clouds!" Replied one of the sentries.
As the headsman readied to drop his axe on Astrid's nape. A dragon flew to the nearest tower. It's landing sent gales of wind, which threw people to stagger off balanced, including the big man before her.
The dragon roared, piercing Astrid's ears. It roared again, and the clouds turned dark, swirling above the dragon, sending fire balls down from heaven. Everyone is in panic, the Imperials were busy fighting the dragon, as the Stormcloaks tried to shelter in one of the guard-post.
"Hey, Wood Elf, get up," said Ralof, as he grabbed Astrid by the arm, his hands unbound, and guided her towards the guard-post, "come on! The Gods won't give us another chance!"
He shut the door behind him, he held Astrid on her shoulders and looked at her straight to her green eyes. "Are you alright?" Astrid nodded.
He then turned to Ulfric, who's mouth was uncovered and his hands unbound. "Jarl Ulfric, what was that thing? Could the legends be true?"
"Legends don't burn down villages..."
Ralof turned to the other two Stormcloaks, one was wounded as the red haired female was tending his wound. "We need to move now! Up the tower!"
"We can't, he's hurt he can't exert himself."
From upstair, they heard a wall being crushed, then a dragons roar, while a man screamed in agony.
Ralof and Astrid ran upstair, just in time as the black dragon flew. A burnt corpse of a man, his face etched in horror.
"Over here," said Ralof, he was leaning out of the hole that the dragon made, "jump to the roof." He pointed at the hole of a two story house, "we'll find another way." He looked at Astrid with a smile, "Gods guide you." He then ran back downstair.
Astrid jumped into the building. With a thump, she tumbled for a while before lifting herself up. The room has two beds in it, and a badly burned bookshelf with a coffee table full of papers and a quill.
Astrid moved down the stairs then outside.
"Haming, you need to get over here, now!" Hadvar said, his sword drawn, waiting for the boy to get to safety. When the child got close to him, he guided him behind an inn's wall. "That a boy, you're doing great."
"Torolf!" He called after a bloodied man, a large wood impaled in his back. The dragon flew down at Torolf and blew flames at his crippled body.
"Gods... Get to cover!" Hadvar immediately guided the boy behind a half burned house, where a man was crouched.
He noticed Astrid, hiding behind with them. "Still alive, prisoner? Stay close to me if you want it to stay that way." He turned his attention to the crouched man, "Gunnar, take care of the boy. I'll have to go to general Tulius and join the defense."
"Gods, guide you Hadvar." gunnar said.
Hadvar and Astrid ran across the open as the dragon flew pass them, "Stay close to the wall!" They jumped to a nearby alley and stick to the wall they did. The dragon perched itself atop the wall and burned an Imperial archer, who still fired his arrows despite his imminent death before him.
Astrid showed sympathy by praying for the man's courage to Y'ffre. The dragon flew one again to cause more destruction.
"By Ysmir, nothing kills it!" An Imperial said, as Hadvar and Astrid got out of the alley and found the remnants of the Imperial soldiers stationed in Helgen.
"Give me your hand... We're getting you out of here." Said another Imperial to a white haired man, sitting on the cobblestone streets, his leg burned.
"Hadvar!" Said general Tulius, "In the keep soldier, we're leaving!" Hadvar nodded.
"It's you and me prisoner, let's go."
They ran pass mages and archers, shooting projectiles at the dragon as it dodge them, some repelled by its hide.
Outside the keep, they ran into Ralof. "Ralof, you damn traitor, out of my way!" Hadvar said.
"We're escaping Hadvar, you're not stopping us this time."
"Fine, I hope that dragon take you all to Sovngarde!"
Ralof ran towards the keep entrance, while Hadvar ran to the barrack's door.
"You, come with me."
"Over here, prisoner, to the barracks."
Astrid was about to dash towards Ralof, but the. She heard a girl call for help. She turned her head towards the source of the plea and found a girl, with blakish-blue hair with two stripes of a different shades of pink.
She was croached behind a wall near a burned down house, her hands above her head, as she cried for help.
"Ralof, help the girl!" Astrid said.
"There's no time! The dragon will soon be upon us!"
Her eyes widened as she glanced between Ralof and the girl. She'd have to choose. Freedom or the girl's life. Astrid closed her eyes for a moment the opened them sgain.
"Go on, Ralof. Save yourself." She said, as she ran toward the girl's help.
Twilight groaned as she came to waking. She rustled in the ground full of leaves under a tree. She opened her eyes, it was dusk. Her legs felt weird, and somethings felt like missing. She tried to sit up, but fell off balance in the process, with little light available, Twilight looked at her supposedly equine body, yet she only found a human body similar to that in Canterlot High – except her skin colour wasn't like before, her eyes wasn't as big either, and her clothes... where are her clothes?
Knowing that nudity wasn't common or even appreciated in the human society, she stood up with a new found ease, and tried to cover her delicate parts with her arms and hands.
She took a step forward, but with the light fading rapidly, she didn't see the fallen branch ahead. She tumbled down the slope, getting bruised and scratches from the vegetation while she screamed.
At the end of her unfortunate start, her tumbling finally stopped. She still laid there, grimacing as a few cuts were deeper than the others.
Twilight heard a sword being pulled out of its sheath. Heavy footsteps were coming closer as she tried to sit up and hide in the bushes.
"Halt! Stay were you are!"
Twilight freezes, the chilling breeze of night sent shivers all over her body. Soon, she found herself surrounded by light.
"You girl! What are you doing here?" The voice has a commanding tone.
Twilight turned around to be met by a woman clad in steel armour. She looked at her with fear. She might be trespassing, and not to mention the lack of clothing. She might get sent to jail.
The woman looked at Twilight with her intimidating face. Her seriousness faded when she noticed the girl's wounds and bruises on her naked body, and the fear inside her darted eyes.
"Gods, girl, what happened to you?" She put her sword back into its sheath, then walked closer to Twilight.
Twilight knew this language, this was the same language as the first half of the poem she sang. Though she understand most of it, she hadn't studied enough to respond in a comprehensible way.
The poem!
She mentally gasped, she was performing in Canterlot, how did she end up here? She haven't seen a portal nor does she remember going through one. What of her friends? Did they end up here with her? Or are they back in Equestria looking for her! How about princess Celestia? Luna? Cadence? Specially Shining Armour... Mom? Dad? Oh Spike...
Tears started to ran down Twilight's cheeks, faint sobs came from her feelings of despair and loneliness.
The woman noticed her crying, she removed her helmet,laying it on the soil, and knelt in front of Twilight. She brushed Twilight's mane with one hand, and held her torch in the other.
She stiffened as Twilight hugged her, sobbing much louder now. The womans face turned to pity.
"It's alright lass, you're safe now." She cooed.
Twilight sat by the side of the bed, a blanket made of fur was wrapped around her. Her eyes still red from crying, she would sometimes sniff her excess tears turned to snot. The woman who took her in was outside looking for clothes from the neighbours that will fit her.
After a while, the woman came back with a few set of clothes in her arms.
"Here, put these on." She said, setting the clothes on the bed beside Twilight.
Twilight nodded, she grabbed one of the dresses and wondered how is she going to put it on.
"You were lucky I was the one who'd found you," she stood by a bench, dissembling her armour, " I don't know what would happen to you if I wasn't patrolling the tree lines. Skyrim is a dangerous place, not like it was ever safe in the first place." She chuckled. "There are Bandits, predators, and the Stormcloak savages."
She turned around to look at Twilight, "You know–" she stopped to see that Twilight was struggling to put the dress on. One of her hands was in where the head should be. She giggled as Twilight continued her fight. She had finished removing her armour and was now in her tunic, she set her sword by the side of the bench where it was easy to be picked up when needed. She walked towards Twilight and held the dress.
"Alright, stop, stop." Twilight did so, "Now let me help you with that." She removed Twilight's arm from the head-hole and guided it to the sleeves.
Twilight felt embarrassed, she should already know how to do it. But it was Pinkie and Rarity who put her into those human clothes.
After successfully putting on the dress, with the help of the woman, Twilight felt a few stings from her wounds. The woman brought something from her pocket and gave it to Twilight.
"Here, drink this, it'll remove the pain and heal your wounds." It was a reddish glass bottle. Twilight inspected it.
"It's a healing potion, there's no harm in trying." Twilight nodded and opened it. She took a small sip; surprisingly, It has a tinge of sweetness. Almost instantly, her body felt nice, the stinging pain vanished, and her cuts closed up.
"Feel better?" Twilight nodded. "My name's Lisa Iron-claw." She reach out a hand.
Twilight shook it, much better than the first one she was offered a handshake.
"So what's yours?" Twilight wanted to answer that, but she doesn't know how to translate her name in her language. She shook her head instead.
"You don't know your name?" Twilight knew that if she either shook her head or nod, The woman will take it that she doesn't, so she kept quiet instead.
The woman's smile faltered for a moment but brightened up again. "Well, you must be tired. We'll save the rest of the introduction next time." She got up and moved to the other bed to sleep.
Twilight sighed. She might have been a bad house guest to the one who had rescued her from the possible horrors from what Lisa had said.
She laid down the comfortable mattress,Lisa's snores were keeping the silent at bay, looking side ways as she surveyed the room. There was the lamp that illuminates the room, hanging from the wall. The bench where Lisa's armour lay. A small coffee table with a few papers and a quill. And... a bookshelf! Oh, this is perfect! Twilight could read and compare the words, and letters to that of Equestria's!
Twilight smiled, and got up from the bed. She touched the leather books, gingerly moving from one book to another until she stopped at a dark-brownish book. She moved to the nearby coffee table then sat on a chair. She opened the tome on it's first page. She wrote the equestrian alphabet on one paper then started decoding words and sentences.
'For thirty-eight years, the Emperor Tiber Septim reigned, bequeathing the throne of Tamriel to his grandson Pelagius on his deathbed. The Septim family, occasionally inclusive of adopted and married members, has ruled ever since.
Twilight breath a sigh of relief as the translation of the words slowly became easier. She continued to scribble down notes but soon find that she was losing paper. She looked around for more. There was some by the bench, weighed down by a gauntlet. Then something struck her mind.
What of her magic? Are they inaccessible like in CHS?
Wanting to try it out, Twilight, stared at the gauntlet and the papers, willing them to levitate and hover towards her. After a few moments nothing happened. Determined, Twilight pursed her lips and deepened her concentration. Still nothing.
Frustrated, Twilight raised her arms in defeat. "Urrrrgh!" She said in a low voice, she pointed at where the gauntlet and papers were, "Why won't you move?"
As she said this, her hands glowed and so did the gauntlet, together with the papers. They slowly moved towards her. To her excitement, she flailed her arms, dropping the gauntlet and scattering the paper around the room. The gauntlet made a loud thump, scurrying to grab the papers and arrange them on the coffee table, Twilight turned to panic.
Lisa woke. "What happened?" She asked, in a rather attentive way.
"I – I'm sorry, I – I was just l – looking through one of your books, a – and I tried to use magic but suddenly lost control! The gauntlet fell and I made a mess." Twilight look down in shame.
"You tried to use magic and you did it?" Lisa asked, sounding more amazed than angry.
"Y – yes, you're not angry?"
"Angry? For what lass? You used magic! For a girl your age carrying such things from halfway across the room is rather difficult and mana draining." Lisa grinned, trying to assure Twilight that everything was alright.
Twilight looked up and gave a weak smile.
"My name is Twilight by the way," said Twilight, fiddling her fingers, "I'm sorry for being quiet awhile ago."
"It's alright you must had have a rough day," Lisa cocked an eyebrow, "what did happened to you?"
"I... I don't know." Twilight looked sad, looking by the side of the floor.
Lisa decided not to push it, Twilight is having a hard time as it is. She took a deep breath the yawned. "Well, it's dead late. We should get some sleep. Put the book back in the shelf and go to bed, alright?"
Twilight nodded and got the book then pushed it back into where she took it. She made her way to the bed, Lisa provided her and went to sleep.
Three days later...
Twilight was reading a book, about a warrior in shining armour saving his damsel in distress. She was at the living room. She had her head rested on one of her hands, as the other one was used to turn the pages.
Lisa Slammed the door open, almost making Twilight jump out of her chair. She turned to look at Lisa, who had an annoyed look on her face.
"What's wrong, Lisa?" Twilight asked.
"The damn Thalmor are here." Lisa walked towards the kitchen and grabbed one of Vilod's mead.
"Thalmor? The high elves of the Aldmeri Dominion?"
"Yes, they're taking over Ulfric's execution, instead of sending him to Cyrodiil, he'll be executed here, in Helgen." She let out a sigh of relief as her armour clanked, when she sat and leaned on a chair.
"Lisa," said Twilight, "Why do you hate the Elves?"
Lisa frowned, "Because they're snobs? Because they almost wiped out the Empire? Sooner or later the Thalmor will break the peace treaty and invade."
"Why do you think that?"
"It's because that's what they are," Lisa took another sip of her mead. "And because I lost my daughter, thanks to those bastards." She turned sorrowful for a moment then sighed.
"The Thalmor will arrive tomorrow to discuss more with General Tulius." She got up from the chair then walked towards the bench to unclad her armour, "I want you stay away from them, more so let them see your magic. I don't want them to take interest in you and take you."
"Alright," was all Twilight said before returning to her book.
"Twilight?" Lisa asked, while unstrapping her gauntlet.
"Hmm?" Twilight replied, not taking her eyes of the book.
"You know, I have already registered you as my niece."
"Yes,"
Lisa placed the gauntlet down then Moved to the other, "and that you're under my care."
"Uhuh,"
"Then why won't you go outside?"
"There's always time to go outside Lisa, but I still have a lot of books to finish here."
Lisa set her hand on the book, leaning closed to Twilight's face. "No buts! Here," she hand Twilight a few septims with her other hand. "That's thirty Septims, go to Vilod and pay the twenty septims I owed him, take the ten and buy all you want."
Twilight looked at the silver coins on her hands, she lifted her head to look at Lisa. "Where's Vilod's house?"
"Second house, by the guard post." She waved a dismissive hand at Twilight.
Twilight placed her hands upon her hips, "I'm not really familiar with this place yet."
Lisa sighed, "Alright, alright." She opened the door, gesturing Twilight to follow. She perched her hands on the porch's railings then called out a boy, who was passing by.
"Haming!"
"Yes, Ms.Iron-Claw?" Haming asked.
"Come here," she waved at Haming, as the boy walked closer.
"Haming, this is Twilight, my niece." She gestured at Twilight, who in turn, waved at Haming.
"She's new to Helgen. And I want someone to give her a tour, could you take her?"
"Yes, Ms.Iron-claw, I can."
Lisa smiled, "Good lad, now be sure to pass by Vilod's inn. I had Twilight to do an errand for me."
Haming turned to Twilight, "So, are you ready to go?" Twilight nodded.
The two started their journey, Twilight taking much of her surroundings. It looks more like Equestria here than that of CHS. It was a tad cold, though. But a book she read said that Skyrim is on the northern hemisphere, which explains the chilling breezes and snowy mountain sides.
"So how long have you been here?" Haming asked.
"Oh, just three days ago." Twilight said, not giving a glance at Haming.
"Really?" Haming cocked an eyebrow, "How come I haven't seen you around yet?"
"I don't go out much, I prefer staying at home and reading books."
"Huh," Haming shrugged, "you're planning to be a scholar then?"
Twilight's eyes wondered for a while. "Probably," she turned to look at Haming, "how about you?"
"I plan to be an Imperial soldier, just like Hadvar," he raised a fist, "I'll serve the Empire and put an end to the rebellion."
"Rebellion?" Twilight raised and eyebrow.
"Here we are, Helgen's keep." Haming pointed at the left of the cylinder building, "and that's the barracks."
They continued they're trek, now headed for Vilod's inn.
"Tell me more about the Rebellion." Twilight enquired.
"You didn't know?"
Twilight scratched the back of her neck, "Uhh... No?"
"You must be from Cyrodiil." The boy shrugged, "The rebellion is fighting against the empire. Their leader, the Jarl of windhelm, killed the high king by shouting at him – as the story saids. Skyrim is torn in half at the moment, the Empire in the west, Stormcloaks on the east."
"Stormcloaks? I thought they were bandits and outlaws?"
"In someway, yes. They're all marked as traitors of the Empire. My father said that they worship an outlawed God."
Twilight furrowed her eyebrows in thought, she would like to know more about this Civil War. And in order to do that, she'll have to go back to Lisa's house and read more books – history and lore books this time.
"Here we are, Mr.Vilod's inn. Father should be looking for me now, it almost time for lunch. See you next time." He waved goodbye with Twilight.
Twilight opened the door. The place has a fair amount of people inside. A woman was cleaning one of the tables with a rag cloth. A few folks in armour, and casuals was chatting with each other as they drunk and ate. There was also alone woman, clad in an awesome looking armour with a great axe on her back, drinking alone by the fire. As a bard sang songs of the Empire.
Twilight proceeded to the counter, where a white-haired man was manning it.
"Umm... Excuse me.?"
"Hello, lass! What can I do for you?" The man said, leaning forward with his arms crossed on the counter.
"Are you Mr.Vilod?"
"Indeed I am, what does good old, Vilod, do for you young lady?"
The man seemed to be friendly, Twilight let out a calming sigh. "Lisa sent me with the Septims she owes you." She took twenty septims from her pocket and handed it to Vilod.
"Fantastic," he took the septims and stored them away. "So can I get you anything?"
Twilight tapped her chin, "what do you have in store?"
The white-haired man, lifted a palm and counted with each finger, "I got vegetables, potions, breads, cheese, and a special kind of mead."
"I've been wondering. What's a mead?"
"Bah," Vilod gave a good laugh. "I expect you to have tasted mead, lass. How old are you? fourteen? Fifteen?" He was sure she was fourteen.
"Sixteen," Twilight deadpanned. "And no, I haven't tasted mead before." He wasn't expecting that. He chuckled sheepishly.
"Well, it's an alcoholic drink lass. I could sell you one suitable for your age." He rummage below the counter, "We start selling low alcohol meads to young folks like you, fifteen is the minimum, set by the Jarl of whiterun. Skyrim is a dangerous place, there's no time to slack. Ah!" He interjected, he rose up from the under bar with a glass bottle in hand.
"Here, only two Septims." He smugly grinned.
Twilight handed him the money. She then opened the cap. She took a few sips first to let the sweet and burning sensation hit her throat. It's like cider but with juniper berries.
Unfortunately, Twilight couldn't handle her drinks.
Lisa...
There was a knock at the door, Lisa stood from reading the reports. She expected Twilight it to be Twilight, but she wasn't half-wrong. Standing at the door was Hadvar, a sobbing Twilight slump upon her shoulder.
"What happened?" Lisa said, with both a worried, and angry tone.
"Vilod sold here a soft mead, but seems like your niece couldn't handle alcohol that much, captain." He chuckled, "Vilod turned frantic with worry when she suddenly started to let out a few quiet sobs, then she sat on the floor with her head buried in her arms and knees."
Lisa tried not to smile but she knew she did for a while. "Give her to me."
Hadvar gently set Twilight down, as she threw an arm across Lisa's neck. Lisa guided Twilight onto the bed.
"They're all gone..." Twilight sobbed.
"Who's gone lass?" Lisa said, rubbing Twilight's back.
"My friends, my family, my teacher... They must be worried sick about me!"
"Do you remember what happened?"
"No, I was performing at Canterlot then poof! I was here." Twilight cried.
"It's alright, las – Twilight, we'll get you back home." Lisa sets Twilight's head on her lap, and gently brushed her mane.
"Thanks, Lisha..." Twilight said as she fell asleep.
Lisa smiled, "You're welcome Twilight. I promise I'll protect you."
It was partly cloudy in Helgen. A few folks were in the streets. Imperial guards and soldiers in their red cloaks and light armour hustled up to tighten the keeps security.
In a house, made out of strong wood and hay, a girl not of this world was washing the dishes. Twilight Sparkle was keen into helping about in Lisa's house. If she's going to be in Lisa's care, she could at least help her in someway, washing the dish and swiping the floor is all she could think of for now; maybe do the laundry tomorrow? With the help of her magic, accomplishing these chores are a piece of cake. But she'd have to be careful, the Thalmor are inside the hold, she doesn't want them to take her because of her ability to do well in magic at this age.
"Twilight, where's my helmet?" Lisa shouted from inside their bedroom.
"It's on the centre table in the living room!" Twilight replied, she levitated the last plate onto the cabinet above the sink. She whip the water off her hands, then brushed them dry on a rag cloth.
"Would you like me to get it for you?"
"No, no, I'm coming."
Lisa came out of the bedroom, clad in her steel Imperial armour – minus the helmet, which lay on the centre table. She grabbed the helmet and placed it over her head. She then turned to look at Twilight.
"How do I look?" She asked, hands reaching out on her sides.
Twilight gave a short laugh. "Looking magnificent as ever." They both laughed heartedly.
"Listen, Twilight, I know you're against the execution but that's how we do things here. That's why I want to tell you to stay away from the square, alright?" She grabbed her sword, then strapped on her waist.
"Yeah, alright." Twilight sighed. "I'm still against it though."
"Yeah, I know you are hon." She walked to the door, twisted the knob, as the door lay open she turned her head to Twilight, "Now, don't go and burn my house with that new Fireball spell tome I got you."
"It's from the guard's mages!" Twilight implied.
"Same thing!" Lisa said as she closed the door behind her.
Twilight sighed, now she's all alone again. She does appreciate Lisa's company and hospitality, yet the people she left behind still haunts her. She can't stop to worry, to feel lonely, sad and depressed whenever she thought about them.
It made her wonder, what could be happening in Equestria right now? After the events with Starlight Glimmer, some of her friends could've been sent elsewhere to spread the magic of friendship. Friendship...
Twilight shook her head and wiped a tear away. And walked to a near by table.
What of princess Celestia? Does she have a new favourite student? She hope not, but given the circumstances, it's better than waiting for her to comeback and yet... she won't.
Same as to her parents, her loving mom, Twilight Velvet, who had supported her and thought her about mare things. Dad, Nightlight, who had consulted her when she was teased by her classmates, he's the one who first called her a princess.
twilight sniffed, 'No, I will go back to Equestria! I will find a way soon enough. I won't leave my friends and family behind.' She wiped her tears off her eyeswith both her hands.
She felt tired, and emotionally exhausted. Maybe a short nap could help her relax. She laid her head on the table, with her arms acting as pillows. As quickly as it came, Twilight sighed to sleep.
Twilight was woken up by a loud roar. She could her people making chaos outside. She groggily stood up, cleaning her face with her dress' sleeve. At least her mane wasn't that bad into the state of being a bed-hair.
Twilight walked closer to the door. She could here the townsfolk stomping their feet in hurry. Then the roar came again. She twisted the knob and pushed the door ajar. She peeked outside to see people running away from something, carrying baskets, satchels and livestocks.
Intrigued, Twilight pushed the door open and made her way to the streets. A man who was passing by, his chicken in his arms, stopped in front of her. He was panting with sweat.
"What are you doing lass? There's a dragon attacking! Go pack yourself and move!" He then ran for his life once again.
A dragon? Lisa had told her about dragons but she said they were just legends and myths. Twilight lifted her head up to peek pass the roof. What she saw made her gasp. It was a dragon, a large, adult dragon! Its huge and dark wings thrusted it up into the skies, it's body were filled with jagged features.
She need to get out of here, but she can't leave Lisa. She must go look for Lisa.
'Where did she said she was going? The square.'
Twilight sprinted as fast as she could, she realised that the others were running pass her, the opposite direction of where she was going.
'Oh no, Lisa!'
The dragon pass above her as it rose up to a tower. She was getting closer to the square, it was just around the corner. Twilight grimaced as she bumped into someone fairly larger than her. She lifted her head to see a Thalmor ambassador, looking grim.
"Get out of my way girl!" She said, abruptly pushing Twilight aside. "Come on, let's hurry, before the dragon sets its eyes on us!" She said to her escorts, High Elves in glass like armour.
Unfortunately for Twilight, the rude Elf had pushed her against a wall. Shaking the dizziness it caused, she continued to run towards the square. She doesn't care about those elves, she only care about Lisa right now.
She rounded up a corner towards the square and founded it littered with rubbles, corpse, and the wounded. There were some Imperial soldiers trying to help the injured. Twilight decided to confront one and ask;
"Umm... Mister?" The Imperial soldier looked at her, his injured friend was leaning at him, his arm wrapped around the Imperial's neck. He was young, probably a recruit, his eyes said's he was not prepared for this kind of battle.
"Mister," Twilight continued, "do you know where Lisa is? Lisa Iron-Claw."
"The captain?" His brow furrowed, "I think she's headed for the eastern gate to reinforce general Tulius' defence."
Twilight smiled, "Oh, Thank you." She then continued to run, towards the eastern gate, pass the keep.
"Take care of yourself now!" The Imperial soldier shouted at her.
The streets are mostly empty now, except for the chickens who ran about flapping their wings. The once clouded skies were now clear, making it hot and bright.
Twilight wiped the sweat from her brows with her sleeves. She was getting close, the stone arch is just a few meters away! Just then Twilight heard a loud roar from behind her, the dragon was circling and it's headed for her!
Quickly, Twilight's eyes glanced around, looking for a place to hide into. To her left she saw a cabin with a sheltered porch. She made a ran for it, away from the bright cobblestone street. With her back on the wall, Twilight's chest heaved as she panted in the shaded porch.
From the gale of wind that rustled the roof, that was made out of hay. Twilight could see the large dragon's shadow blocking the suns light from reaching the streets.
The dragon inhaled then it spoke with its deep voice, "Zu'u sahlon lot waarth do lu ni do daar lein." (I smell great amount of magic not of this world)
Twilight covered her mouth with her two hands, keeping herself from crying. She was sweating tremendously, the heat that came from uncontested sky was no help either.
The dragon roared. Twilight decided to move inside the cabin, she hid under a table with only two chairs parked beside it. She could hear the dragons heavy stomps above.
The dragon's throat made a deep rumbling sound. It thrusted itself up, a crooked smile seemed to form from its mouth. Taking a deep breath, it then blew a ravaging wave of fire, burning the building where Twilight was in.
The fire spread quickly, the ceiling was already engulfed in a flaming inferno. A large log fell just mere inches away from where Twilight was. She dashed for the door, but yet another piece of the ceiling fell on a shelf – full of vases and decorative plates – placed by the side of the door, sending it's fragile contents crashing down on the floor.
A stray piece of glass made its mark on Twilight's leg. She cringed in pain as she dropped on the wooden floor outside the burning building. The fire was starting to crawl its way onto the walls and the porch's roof.
Tears flowed on Twilight's greasy cheeks. She leaned on an unburned pillar, gingerly moving her injured leg. She was panting heavily. She's exhausted both physically and mentally. She cried for help in between breaths, hoping for someone to rescue her.
A crack from above suggested that the porch's ceiling could break at any moment. Twilight put her hands above her head as she sobbed. She couldn't use telekinesis, she's exhausted both physically and mentally, the pain throbbing from her leg was preventing her from concentrating. Is she going to die here? No, she can't die here! She'd have to go home!
'This is too much!'
Twilight called for help once more before closing her eyes. "Mom... Dad... I'm scared..." She sobbed.
"Hey there!" She heard someone call. Twilight turned to the source of the voice and found a woman with light skin tone, her hands were bound.
"Are you alright child, can you walk?" The woman asked. With a closer look, Twilight notices that the woman has pointy ears. A Wood Elf.
"N – no," she stammered, "m – my.. L – leg its.. injured." Twilight wiped her tears off, then she sniffled.
The wood elf took a look at Twilight leg, there was a piece of broken glass sticking out of Twilight's bleeding leg.
"This is going to hurt." Said the Wood Elf, "now, I going to pull the glass," she took hold of the broken piece of vase, making Twilight cringe as it stung her. "in one.. two... THREE!" The Wood Elf abruptly pulled the broken glass off Twilight's leg and threw it aside. Twilight clenched her teeth as she screamed in agony. The Wood Elf gave her a sympathetic look.
"I'm sorry, now let's get you –" the Wood Elf was caught off.
"No," said Hadvar, "let me carry her."
"Hadvar?" The Wood Elf asked. Hadvar picked Twilight up in a bridal carry, careful with her leg.
"You hands are bound, you might drop her and things might just worsen." The Elf nodded.
"Hadvar?" Twilight asked in a weak voice.
"Yes, lass, it's me." They started to jog towards the barrack's door.
"Where's Lisa?"
Hadvar stared at her for a moment, then return his eyes ahead. "I don't know."
"Looks like we're the only ones who made it." Hadvar said as he set Twilight on a bed. He turned towards Astrid.
"Come here, let me take those bindings off." Astrid reached out with her arms. Hadvar pulled on it with a dagger, slicing the ropes off her wrist.
"Now, let me see if I can find anything for these burns and a health potion for Twilight." He then walked to a near by chest.
Astrid looked at Twilight, who was breathing heavily. The poor girl was drench in sweat. A few tears still made its way to her eyes as she flinch in pain.
Astrid opened a nearby chest, she found a light Imperial armour set, a key, and a dagger. She set them all accordingly on the bed. There was also a linen cloth hanging from the wall. She took the dagger and cut a piece of the white fabric. She walked to Twilight and sat on the bed beside her.
"Move your leg, we should cover it in the meantime to avoid infection." While tying up the cloth on Twilight's wound, the she-elf turned her attention to Hadvar. "Found anything yet?"
"No," he sighed,"nothing. You should put on that armour and take that sword over there." He pointed at sword in the rack. "That thing is still out there, we'd have to go through the keeps tunnel. Give it a few swings, Damn place must be filled with Stormcloaks." Astrid nodded
"There," Astrid smiled. "all bundled up. You'd have to stick with it for a while until we find you a healing potion." Twilight nodded and hugged her knees.
Astrid turned to the other bed where she had the armour set. She grabbed the top, and turned her head towards Hadvar. She grinned mischievously and raised a eyebrow.
Hadvar cocked an eyebrow as Astrid gave him the 'I'm going to change look' and a twirling gesture with her finger. It took a few moments for him to realise it.
"Oh! Apologies." He turned around and face Twilight. The traumatised girl looked at him with her sad eyes. He tried to cheer her up ,somehow, with a weak smile.
Twilight seemed unaffected and merely looked away.
Hadvar sighed and sat on the side of the bed with Twilight. "Listen... Twilight, I know today has been quite rough for all of us, specially you... Now, you might be worrying about the captain —"
"Lisa..." She mumbled.
Hadvar looked down. "Yes, Lisa... If anyone knows Lisa better than anyone it's me. And I know she's tough, tougher than most Nord women here in Helgen. She's fine Twilight, I can guarantee you that. Now, if you want to see her again you'd have to be tough too."
Hadvar sighed then smiled. "So, stick with us and be brave, alright?"
Twilight looked pass Hadvar towards Astrid. She turned back to Hadvar and nodded.
"Good, lass." He whispered.
"Alright, I'm done." Astrid announced. "So? Let's get going?"
Hadvar looked at her from head to toe. She looked good in her armour, the sword sheathed on her waist.
Hadvar nodded.
"Wait," said Astrid, "we'll need something for Twilight to lean on."
Tapping his chin, Hadvar looked around for an item for the job.
"How about that broom over there?" He pointed at a broom leaning beside the sword rack.
"N – no, I can handle myself." Twilight was sitting by the side of the bed now.
"Are you sure?" Astrid asked.
"Yes," she cleared her throat. "yes, I'm sure." She stood up and let out a blow of air.
"Alright, just don't put to much pressure on it." Astrid turned to Hadvar. "Lead the way."
Princess Luna sat on her hunches in the Canterlot Archives. Towers of books lay beside her as she read on one of the tables with only a candle to accompany her. It has been a week since Twilight disappeared, everyone was really worried. Specially her sister Princess Celestia. She had been working tirelessly to find some sort of way to get to Twilight, as Discord said that day.
Celestia sat on a white comfy couch, in front of her was a transparent glass table with two set of tea cups and a pitcher of fresh cinnamon tea, adjacent to that was another white comfy couch with a draconicus flouting mere inches from its fabric flawless fabric. Celestia took a sip out of her tea then levitated the cup down to its plate.
"Discord, do you know why I called you here?" She asked.
"Yes, I know fairly well, Celestia." He swirled his tea in his tea cup which he had on his talon arm. He narrowed his eyes. "My dearest friend, Twilight, who forgave me for an act of betrayal had gone missing. You and I both know that I am wishing for my comrades safety and well being."
Celestia nodded. "That is why I summoned you here." She levitated a book and placed it on Discord's part of the table. "Twilight had been researching and deciphering this book's contents I believe it has something to do with what had happen to her."
Discord set his tea cup down and flipped through the book's pages. "Our scientist and magic experts had nothing to tell of it. I want to know what you have of it?"
Discord's face became more serious than before. "This book contains one of the ancient languages, Celestia how did this get into you hooves?"
"Twilight found it." She sighed. "She found it in the old Crystal Archives back in the Crystal Empire. She wanted to work on deciphering it and I helped her, but look at what it got her." Celestia clenched her eyes and hanged her head low, her ears folded flat upon the sides of her head.
"Rest assured, Celestia. Twilight's not in any harm or so as I wish." Discord said setting the book down on the table with its page open on what Twilight has chanted.
"What do you mean?" She whispered, wiping a tear off her eye.
"What is inscribe here is a tale. A tale, from a far away world, where the ancient tongue is still spoken." He stood up and started to stretch his arms and wiggled his mismatched body.
Celestia stood as well. "What are you doing?"
"After the tale is a call." He pointed at the last and separated context with his talon. "It's a teleportation spell, an ancient one, used by that world's Gods probably."
"That does not answer the question, Discord." She hissed.
The draconicus grinned. "Twilight is not somewhere far away. She's just in someplace elsewhere. And with the help of this book right here. I can teleport to where she had gone to..." Discord slowly tried to touch the runes," with just a mere touch..." As soon as he touched the runes, a volt of electricity shot through his body. Celestia quickly galloped to his side.
"What happened?"
Discord coughed a couple of black smokes with smile on their faces. "The realm she is on already has a chaos maker. And the guardian and creators of the realm prevented me from throwing harmony off the equation."
"Meaning?"
"She is going to face a lot of trouble in her hooves."
The keep trembled, dust and debris fell from the ceiling. Three humans were crouched behind a wooden gate. Two were wearing light armour as the third was panting, clearly pained by the injury she had on her leg. They sat there listening to the two figures, wearing a blue cuirass, on the other side of the gate.
"We need to keep moving," the male of the two said, "the dragon will turn this place into ruins!"
"Wait a minute," said the woman as she gasp for air. "I'm out of breath."
On the other side of the gate, unseen by the rebels. Hadvar turned his head towards Astrid. "Stormcloaks." He whispered.
"How many?" Astrid asked.
"Only two."
"Should we go and confront them?"
Hadvar thought for a moment. These two might be part of Ulfric's top lieutenants but there's also the possibility that they're just bodyguards. But the fact that they have combat experience, unlike his strange elven companion, will surely be in their disadvantage.
Hadvar turned his gaze towards Twilight. The lass was leaning on the wall with her hands as support. If they battled with the Stormcloaks what would become of Twilight? She might get in danger and possibly gain another injury.
"No," he turn his head back to Astrid, "we would try and reason with them."
Astrid nodded. Hadvar stood up and pulled the chains that levers the gate. The mossed wooden gate moved with a loud mechanical jolt. Making the Stormcloaks aware of their presence.
As Hadvar emerged from the shadows, the Stormcloaks unsheathed their weapons and took a fighting stance. Hadvar, however, raised his hands.
"We came to talk." He said.
Astrid slowly walked by Hadvar's side, gesturing for Twilight to remain hidden.
"Talk? Since when did you corrupt Imperials ever talk?" The male one said. He had the typical blonde Nordic hair, he look like he's just in his early twenties, a long battle-ax was firmly gripped on his hands.
"Listen, there's a dragon out there and we both know that we wouldn't live if we don't work together."
The man didn't answer but still bared his teeth towards Hadvar. The woman, with red hair and a longsword for a weapon, nodded at Astrid. "You, you're one of those prisoners right? Why are you siding with him? We should work together and he'll be dead in a second."
"How'd you know?"
"You were there in the guard tower with us when we were about be be executed. Come on, get your revenge and earn your freedom." The red head grinned.
Astrid was still for a moment and actually pondered the idea. She looked at Hadvar as she placed a hand on the hilt of her sword; which made Hadvar do the same. Her eyes shifted behind the opened gate to Twilight who was hidden in the shadows.
She sighed. "You're wrong, I was never a prisoner. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." She smirked. Drawing her sword from its sheath. She and Hadvar took their fighting stance to oppose the Stormcloaks.
The red head's eyebrows furrowed. "So be it!"
The male first charged with a battlecry. "Death to the empire!"
Hadvar quickly rolled to the side but the Stormcloak was at him once more. "There's no escape, Imperial scum!"
As Hadvar battle with the battle-ax wielding Nord. Astrid was on a face of with the red haired female. The stormcloak slashed vertically. Astrid easily dodged this by moving to the side. The female rebel smirked and tackled Astrid, pushing her off a good distance, leaving her dazed for a while.
When she got back to her stance. She saw the red head rushing towards her preparing for a forward swipe. Astrid dodged this and was able to cut her on her right arm, disarming the female Stormcloak.
The red head grimaced and kicked Astrid on her stomach, then pinning her with a foot on Astrid's chest. She kicked Astrid's sword away then grinned, pulling a dagger from behind her waist. Leaning closer to Astrid's face, the red head said, "Too bad you picked the wrong side, elf."
Just as she was about to send Astrid to oblivion. She stop was stopped by a small 'eep'. She turned her head and saw a girl, her hands covering her mouth as tears threaten to fall down her greasy cheeks.
With the Stormcloak distracted, Astrid took this opportunity. She held the rebel's armed hand then elbowed her temple. She shoved the female Stormcloak off of her then kicked her on the stomach. She grabbed her sword from the ground and took her fighting stance.
Shaking her head, The red haired stormcloak sneered at Astrid and charged. Astrid side stepped to avoid the incoming blade but from past experience she knew that the rebel would tackle her again. She crouched just in time as the rebel dashed towards her. Astrid thrusted herself with one foot towards the charging Stormcloak. The Stormcloak had not unexpected this and was sent sprawling on the floor, carried by her own momentum.
With a hardened punch by Astrid, she sent the rebel to sleep. Astrid breathe in deep then Sighed. She turned her head towards Hadvar, who has the upper hand on his end of the fight. He disarmed the male Stormcloak and struck him with the hilt of his sword. The Stormcloak staggered back. Hadvar punched him before he could recover and the rebel collapsed on the floor like a rag doll.
The two panted as sweat trickled down their necks. The sheathed their swords and stared at each other.
Hadvar nodded. "Let's get going."
Astrid fetched Twilight from the shadows and they descended the stairs below keep.
As they trotted through a cavernous underground tunnel, the keep trembled as the dragon roared. A group of men were caught when parts of the tunnel collapsed from the tremors.
"Through here!" Hadvar pushed open a door with a kick, holding it open for Astrid and Twilight to come in. Twilight tripped and fell on the floor. She yelped in pain. Astrid bent down to help. The cloth wrapped around twilight's wound was crimson red.
"Who goes there?" A deep voice called out.
Hadvar dashed behind a couple a barrels posted near a wooden pose. He took a small peek and darted his back as quickly. Another couple of Stormcloaks.
Hadvar looked at Astrid and Twilight, who were taking cover on a stack of crates and barrels. Twilight had her hands on her mouth as she sobbed from the throbbing pain. Astrid was there brushing her mane. She caught Hadvar's gaze and raised an eyebrow.
'Stormcloaks.' he mouthed.
'How many?'
He raised to fingers. The she-elf sighed and narrowed her eyes. 'We got no time for this.'
Hadvar nodded and placed a hand on the handle of his sword. Astrid whispered to Twilight. "Stay here, this is going to be quick.". She took positioned by the end of a crate, her sword at the ready.
The two waited for the stormcloak to come closer. "Hurry up, Vahl!" He's partner said.
"Alright, alright!" The stormcloak who came to investigate turned around to face his comrade. "Just, grab all you think are necessary and will go." Before he could turn again to continue his search, Hadvar jolt out of his cover and pushed the man off, making a beeline straight for the Stormcloak's comrade.
The Stormcloak clenched his arms as he got up from the floor. Her grumbled, narrowing his eyes. Before he could take a step he was caught in a headlock by Astrid. The Stormcloak struggled relentlessly to get his attacker off him. But Astrid endured and kept suffocating the rebel Nord.
Hadvar; on the other hand, had kicked the other Stormcloak, but he was able to recover quickly. Hadvar draw his sword and the Stormcloak did too. Hadvar swung horizontally but the Stormcloak jumped back to dodge it. The Stormcloak thrust forward with his spear but was dodged by Hadvar. The Imperial then closed the distance between he and the rebel. He kicked the Nord rebel between the thighs. When the hands of the rebel was down, Hadvar held the Stormcloak's head and bashed it on a nearby barrel, leaving him unconscious with his head in a barrel of potatoes.
Hadvar looked to check on his elven companion's end. She was just about to punch the already, unconscious rebel. It was a hard punch that made Hadvar flinch when it hit the man's face.
'That's gonna leave a mark.'
Astrid notice him staring and asked. "What?"
Hadvar raised and eyebrow.
Astrid shrugged. "I was just making sure he's not playing unconscious!"
Hadvar shrugged. He looked around the place. It was the keep's storage room. Crates, boxes, barrels and ingredients littered the place. "There should be a few potions around here. Let's hurry and search for it, so we can heal Twilight and get the hell out of here."
Astrid helped Twilight up as Hadvar searched for the potions. Astrid set Twilight on a chair. The lass rested her head on the table, she let out low and heavy breathes of exhaustion. Astrid gave her a sympathetic look.
"Poor girl," the she-elf thought. "Getting caught up in something like that. I wonder how's she doing?"
Unknown to her, Twilight was having the worst time of her life. Everything came like a blur, it was so fast that Twilight could not even keep up. Getting sent off home then arriving to a place like nothing she'd ever seen before! And now dragons, war and chaos? Discord would have had a lot of fun in this world but Twilight isn't having any. This world is like Equestria and Sunset's world combined! Only its more dangerous, brutal, and depressing. Twilight hates this world.
Twilight breathed a sigh of relief as the sweet taste of the healing potion ran down her throat. She felt a tingling sensation on her wound as it closed up, leaving a barely noticeable scar.
"Feeling better?"
Twilight shifted her head, which sat on her arms rested on the table. It was the she-elf. Twilight took a deep breath before replying. "Yes, but I'm still exhausted." She chuckled weakly. "I have never done anything like that before." She sighed and stared at nothing.
Astrid gave Twilight a sympathetic look, she reach out with her hand but stopped. She should let the girl be, it was hard for her, even in Skyrim; younglings do not deserve this. They still have a lot to learn.
Astrid took a green bottle from one of her pockets and placed it near Twilight. "Here, take this before we move, It'll rejuvenate your stamina." She got up to leave.
Twilight stared at the bottle for a while. Was she exhausted? Very. The times she spent in her library and the friendship expeditions did not make her exert so much energy as today's events. Twilight thought back to what happened. Lisa, the dragon, and Equestria. She wondered how will she get back to her home country – or home universe. There will be a lot of trials no doubt, but violence is prone in this place, as far as she knew, will she spill blood when the time comes? She remembered those soldiers laying on the ground dead, wounded... Bloodied.
She took her dagger from her pocket and stared at the rusted iron blade. This world is so different and she knew she had to get back. She will be strong, no more crying. She'll find Lisa and maybe she knows someone who could help her.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a voice calling her. "Twilight," said Astrid, "Let's get going."
Twilight stood up and followed the two. Hadvar opened a door that led to a series of stairs that led deeper into the keep. As the group descended down, they heard a clash of steel and the static sound of electricity. A battle was raging downstairs.
"The Torture room," said Hadvar, "I wish we had no need to go here."
A Torture room? Twilight had heard of those, Griffon warlords used it to gain information against the rival state or to punish criminals and such. It disgusted Twilight, the thought of anyone dealing unnecessary harm to ponies, even if they could just simply talk it out.
They continued to trek down the stairs. When they arrived at the torture chamber, a man wielding a mace was fighting two Stormcloak's: his companion, an old mage, was electrocuting one of the rebels, which was grimacing from the pain but he looks like he can endure it for sometime.
The male Stormcloak kicked the old mage, ceasing the use of his magic. The Stormcloak loomed over the old wizard with a face of disgust. He was about to swing his axe when he noticed Hadvar and Astrid running towards them. He signalled his companion to be able to shift their strategy with the new comers.
He swung his battle-axe horizontally, Hadvar barely dodging it. Astrid charged pass Hadvar and stabbed the rebel deep in his stomach. The man staggered back, a hand pressed upon his wound. Blood, leaked from his mouth. His eyes wide and full of despair. He fell unconscious upon the stone floor.
His companion; on the other hand, was filled with fury from his companion's demise. He frantically swung his great sword while charging at the she-elf who killed his brother-in-arms. Astrid tried to get away but tripped on the slightly elevated floor. Before the nord could swing his axe and bring Astrid to her death. The mace wielding Imperial, tackled the man down. He punched him a couple of times before grabbing his head and breaking it on the hard stone floor. Hadvar offered his hand to Astrid, who keenly took it.
"You folks happened to be just in time," said the old mage, "these Stormcloaks wasn't particularly fond of the way I treat their comrades."
"Of course they won't he tortured them." Twilight murmured, with her arms crossed on her chest as she glared at the mage's boots. only Astrid heard her retort and couldn't help but smile.
"Don't you know what's going on?" Said Hadvar, "A dragon is attacking Helgen!"
"A dragon?" The torturer raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Please, don't make up nonsense."
"It's true," Astrid cut in. "The whole town is in flames." Flames and burning flesh.
The torturer gave Astrid a questioning look. "Really? Come to think of it, I did hear some strange noises coming from over there..."
"Come with us, we need to get out of here." Hadvar closed in.
"You've got no authority over me, boy!" The torturer accused. Jabbing a finger on Hadvar's chest.
"Didn't you hear me? The keep is under attack!" Hadvar retorted with a much commanding tone. Their argues echoed through the small chamber. Twilight even had her hands covering her ears, grimacing on the adults' waste of time.
"Forget the Oldman," said the maced wielding imperial. "I'll come with you." As he walk closer, Twilight got a good look at the man. His had lost some hair but he was very tall and big.
"Wait a second," said Hadvar, pointing at the cage with a skeleton. "Looks like there's something in this cage."
"Don't bother with that. Lost the key ages ago. Poor bastard screamed for weeks."
Astrid moved closer and peered inside. "A mage's equipment."
Hadvar turned to Astrid. "You could use it," said he, "you elves are good with magic, are you not?"
Astrid narrowed her eyes with a frown. "That's quite a racist remark." The old mage chuckled. "No, I don't do magic, High Elves prioritise magic but we Wood Elves do a variety of things. I prefer archery and my accuracy is not to be reckoned with."
The Nord smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Hehe... sorry about that." His eyes casted over Twilight who stared at the cage with interest. "Found anything you fancy Twilight?"
The girl nodded. "Yes, may I have that spell tome?"
"Are you a mage, lass?" Said the old torturer. "That's quite a spell for a gal your age."
"I.. ahh.. Just like reading is all. And how do you know, if it comes in handy in the future?"
The old mage eyed Twilight carefully. "Fair enough."
Hadvar pointed at the bag that lay on a small table. "See if you can get it open with some picks. We'll need everything we can get."
"Sure," said the old torturer, rolling his eyes. "Take all of my things, please."
"If you're gonna stay here, you won't need it old man." His assistant said, grabbing the bag and handing it over to Twilight.
Twilight took it, and hoisted it over her back. It was quite light. It only has a few lock picks and coins.
"Twilight, give me one lock pick."
"There's no need," said Astrid, reaching into the cage and grabbing the spell tome. "The holes are big enough." She opened Twilight's bag and stuffed the spell tome in nicely.
"Alright, have you grabbed what you can?" Everyone nodded.
"Alright let's go."
"There's no way out that way, you know!" The old torturer shouted from behind them.
The group went pass a passageway filled with locked cells. The descended a short stair and deeper into the dungeon. When they arrived in a room with cages hanging from the ceiling, skeletons and dead people trapped inside, Twilight couldn't surpass a gasp.
'how could they do this?'
She had not noticed that she stopped trotting until Astrid called her back.
"Twilight," said the she-elf, "we need to go." Before turning around to join the others. Twilight followed suit.
They met Hadvar and the torturer's assistant standing by a hole in the wall that led deeper into the mountain. Lit fire pits was stationed in some corners, how are they lit, no one knows.
Remember what Twilight said to herself not a few moments ago? Well, she just realised that it was easier said than done. As she now struggled beneath a heavy man, his thick blood splattered across her face, and staining her common dress. Shock filled her lungs making it hard for her to breathe. Her sobs that sounded like hiccups and her face soaked in tears and dirt. She remembered the yellow bearded Stormcloak as his vengeful eyes laid sight upon her. It froze her on her tracks, sent shiver down her spine, and despair in her heart. She had no choice, she had her dagger in both her hands, while her knees trembled. When the man came at her, she lifted her arms and the iron blade pierced the mans heart. His eyes turned to the back of his head, blood gushed out of his mouth. He then fell upon the poor lass, trapping her with all of his weight and armour combined.
"Twilight!" Astrid exclaimed, she raised a shield to block an arrow. She then came and rushed into Twilight's aid. The wood elf placed a hand on Twilight's tan cheeks. "Gods, girl. Let's get this bastard off you, shall we?"
She hoisted the nord man off Twilight with a groan. When his lifeless body rolled to the side and fell off the stone floor. The Equestrian quickly hugged Astrid tightly as she sobbed into the light armoured elf's chest. Astrid patted the girl's head softly while reassuring her.
"It's okay, Twilight, you have done wel – Aaaarghh!" Astrid suddenly cried. An arrow was jutting from her right shoulder. "Uuurggh... " she took a few quick breath before looking at Twilight. Who now had her hands over her mouth looking terribly at the arrow in Astrid's shoulder.
"Come now, Twilight. Move into cover, hurry!" The lass vigorously nodded, and scampered her way into the archway where they came.
When Astrid turned towards the Stormcloak's here entire demeanour changed. The once calm, caring, and easy going elf now has an angry, and piercing eyes that felt like a raging dragon gazing upon a mortal soul. Another arrow swooshed through the air as it flew towards Astrid. She lifted her round hide shield to block the arrow. Had at was off the side of the bridge sparring with a red head nord wielding a great sword. The old mage's apprentice, Rigor, fought with a young blond nord who wielded a sword and a steel shield, which effectively blocked Rigor's mace but his scrawny-ish arms were taking a beating from the sheer force of the huge man's swings.
With adrenaline pumping through her veins, and the stinging pain from the arrow that brought hell upon her back. Astrid charged at the Stormcloak with a cry. She raised her sword and her shield up and ready. Seeing the coming elf the female Stormcloak threw her bow and grabbed her sword from its sheath. She swung diagonally from the right. But, Astrid blocked it with her sword, the metal clashed with a long clinking sound. Then, Astrid stepped in with one foot and used her body to strengthen the Shield's force as she used it to bash the female archer. Knocking the black haired woman off, finishing her off with a straight swing. The female Stormcloak held her wound, her mouth agape from disbelief, her eyes wide while blood dripped down the sides of her mouth. When Astrid pulled the sword out of the wound, blood squirted out of it as the woman fell backwards like a rag doll. Astrid fell down in one knee, panting as she tore the arrow from her wound.
"Aaaarghh!" She cried. As the arrow made a grotesque sound before Astrid dropped it with a clang.
Hadvar was finished with his battle as well, sheathing his sword while leaving the dying man kneeling on both knees in front of him. He ran to Astrid, after seeing her in her knee. She was drinking a healing potion when he had gotten a look at her front.
"A simple healing potion will only stop the bleeding. You will need to apply some herbs on it or a greater potion, or else it won't do."
"I know that!"
And then, a groan from the right beneath him took Hadvar's attention. The young Stormcloak had managed to injure Rigor. Hadvar grabbed the bow and the quiver from the dead archer's body. He pulled the string, and aimed for the lad. He let loose... He missed. The Stormcloak went into the offensive while Rigor back stepped from his swings. Hadvar's took an arrow again... and missed.
And then there he lay, Rigor holding fast on the guy's shield. Both not letting the other take advantage of it with time Rigor will win, but the lad had his sword raised and pointed at Rigor's head. He knew he cannot escape, so he stared at the lad's eyes with souvenguard in mind. He would die in battle, and alas he would meet with his forefathers.
thwack
An arrow hit the young Stormcloak's head. The force of the marked hit cocked the lad's body off Rigor. Leaving a lifeless body and a stream of blood into the flowing waters. Astrid stood on the elevated stone bridge, a bow in her hands. She letted out a deep breathe, before slouching from the slight pain and exhaustion she one felted.
Checking at his companions, Hadvar gave a nod at Rigor, and the huge man nodded back. Hadvar turned to Astrid.
"We have to get out of here, quickly. Prisoner, can you move?" He asked.
"I'll be fine." She said in between breathes. "It's Twilight I'm worried about. See to the girl, Hadvar. She had to spill blood today, and it wasn't here time, yet."
Harvar nodded in acknowledgement. "I understand." He trotted to Twilight's side.
While Hadvar ran to check on Twilight, Astrid stood up, took a deep breath and tried to regain her composure. She felt a lump in her throat, she set a hand over her chest as she tried to cough it out. After a few, she gurgled and spat blood onto the stone floor. She then turned her head to see Twilight tugging on Hadvar's collar. She could hear the girl cry, apologising from something that may have costed her life.
"I'm s-sorry, I'm sorry!" She sniffed. "I-I-I don't know what to do! He was looking at me with his sword up, and, a-and I can't move. It almost seemed like I lost my legs!" Twilight pressed her face into Hadvar's chest. "I h-had no choice, I had my arms up with my dagger in hand. He just charged at me and I can't do anything! Waaaah ha!"
Hadvar buried Twilight in his chest. Softly cooing the girl to calm down. "It's alright, lass. It was his fault, those Stormcloaks are savages, just like Lisa told you. To even harm a civilian." He sighed. "Calm down, Twilight. You have to gather yourself in order to meet Lisa again."
It took a few minutes for Twilight's sobs to dwindle down into simple sniffles. She then nodded her head, Hadvar smiling at her quick understanding and determination. He helped Twilight pick herself up to join their two other companions.
"We'd have to continue, let's see where this path leads us." Hadvar said as he gestured at a drawn up bridge, lightened by four torches placed parallel to each other on both walls.
"Go ahead," said Rigor, "I'll wait for the others. There are bound to be some."
Hadvar nodded, he then sets a fist over his heart. "Gods guide you." Rigor returned the gesture.
"Come on, now." Hadvar gestured towards the bridge with his other hand going on a circling motion, encouraging them to cross first.
Astrid was first to cross followed closely by Twilight, whose head was hanging from the feeling of remorse for the injured shoulder she caused her eleven friend. Hadvar was right behind them. A tremor shook the cavern, the unstable rocks above quaked And fell onto the bridge they just passed. Hadvar squinted his eyes and both he, and Astrid, lifted a hand to shield them from the dirty that flew out of the passage's mouth.
"Good thing that didn't collapse on us." He turned his head to his two companions. "There's no going back that way."
"How about the others?" Asked Twilight, "without the bridge the only way out is up to Helgen, and there's a dragon there!"
Seeing the worried look the poor lass has, Hadvar answered with the best case he could think. "This tunnels are leads everywhere, I'm sure they'll find another way out... probably."
"We can stay here, the potion will wear out soon and I'd hate to bleed to death here."
Hadvar nodded. "Right, come on. We'll follow the stream and see where it goes." He said, leading the two down the stairs. "Watch where you step."
And so the three lucky souls who escaped the fall of Helgen, and the Wrath of ancient legend, followed the stream that came from a gushing water in a rift between the limestones above. On the way, Twilight so pocket of purse near skeletons of long the dead. It baffled her though, the mysterious stories of those who met there demise here was now long lost. It also reminded her how dark this world is compared to Equestria.
They stopped at a dead end where the water flowed under a rubble.
"Ah... that doesn't go anywhere." Said Hadvar.
"Let's try this path." Astrid asked, gesturing at the other tunnel.
"I guess, I've never seen this part of the cavern before, better keep your eyes open."
As they went into the passageway, Twilight felt a cold touch that made her shiver.
'Something feels wrong.'
At the end of the passage was another large cavern. A little Ray's of light came from a hole on the upper wall, the ceiling was filled with glistening silken webs. Some were wrapped around creatures Twilight has never seen, others was stuck on the wall on a cocoon like blobs. The group took cautious steps through the creepy place, eyeing their surroundings carefully.
In the howling winds that signified a nearby exit, came a clattering and clicking sounds that echoes through the huge cave. Twilight, looking scared as buck. Her eyes warily looking from right to left, her right hand holding Astrid's while her left was near her mouth, which her lips and her hands trembled in agitation. Her mind was filled with different scenarios on what may come out of the shadows. The only one standing out in her vivid imaginations was one of the stories she had read in her library. Arachniponies, with eight legs and four pair of pitch black eyes, wrapping her around with their sticky white webs.
Then, there was a grumbling sound, like that of an old door opening, above her. Her eyes widened at what she saw. She gasped. She was no further from the truth it seems.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaah!"
Astrid and Hadvar quickly turned around to see Twilight shaking in her place, her head and finger pointing upwards. What they saw made them unsheathe their sword and bows, looking at the source of horror with cautious eyes.
A spider. A pony size spiders. Twilight stared into its dark eyes, and it stares back. It opened its drooling maw, then dropped from its silken web heading for Twilight's face.
"Twilight move!" She heard Astrid shout at her. She gasped out of her shock and was in the nick of time before dodging the incoming creature. With her elbows and knees on the dirt, Twilight whipped her head to where the creature landed, while it traversed its legs to face her. The Equestrian could see pass the spider menace and saw her companions were busy fending other arachnids. She turned her head towards the spider in front of her again as it took steps towards her. Twilight knew what to do, she knows what'll happen next.
