Chapter 7
Dragonborn and the Mane 6 were in the Sweet Apple Acres farmhouse in the dining area. The Mane 6 were simply sitting on their haunches at the dining table while the Dragonborn was given a stool so he could properly sit at their eye level.
"So, Boethiah found your world and tried to attack you with some Dremora?" Dragonborn asked, "And you believe she might have created those portals connecting your world to mine?"
Twilight nodded, "Do you have any idea what she might be up to?"
"Well, knowing her..." Dragonborn answered, "She most likely wanted to pit the people of Tamriel against your people, but that wouldn't explain why those portals are seen only in Skyrim and not everywhere in Tamriel."
"Well, Boethiah admitted that Princess Celestia is somehow able suppress her power in Equestria," Twilight said.
Before Twilight could go on, however, Dragonborn interrupted, "Whoa, hold up there, who's this Princess Celestia?"
"Oh, sorry, Princess Celestia and her sister Princess Luna are the rulers of Equestria," Twilight answered, "And you could say they're both demi-gods, but there's no formal religion centered around them, but Boethiah only mentioned Celestia for some reason."
"So, if I caught this right, this Princess Celestia is both part of royalty and a deity?" Dragonborn asked, "Sounds abit like the Vivec."
"Vivec?" Twilight asked.
"I don't know much about him," Dragonborn admitted, "Only that he was some god-king that was part of a religion known as the Tribunal, which many Dark Elves used to follow, that was until a Dark Elf hero known only as the Nerevarine killed all the Tribunal gods, including Vivec. That was around 200 years ago during what my people call the Third Era."
"Wait a minute!" Rainbow Dash intervened, "First we learn your world has dragons, then you, a human, come along, now you're telling us you also have ELVES?-!"
"Oh boy! Elves!" Pinkie Pie excitingly said, almost squealing like a schoolgirl, "That sounds exciting! what do they make? toys? cookies? if not, do they advertise for cereal?"
"Uh, no," The Dragonborn answered flatly, "Why? you got a problem with elves I should know about?"
"No, it's nothing like that," Twilight answer, "From what we have learned about your world however, especially from just looking at you, much of it seems like you came from some kind of fantasy adventure novel, and trust me when I say I've read alot of those."
"Really?" Dragonborn asked, "Then no offense, but I think at this point it would be very hypocritical for you to call me strange." He then chuckled as he thought to himself, a novel, ha! as if novels have pause menus.
Applebloom suddenly entered the room with a mug of apple cider and slid the mug onto the Dragonborn's side of the table.
"What's this?" Dragonborn asked as he picked up the mug.
"It's apple cider!" Applebloom cheerfully answered.
"A family specialty," Applejack added with pride, "Ya won't find better cider anywhere outside Sweet Apple Acres."
"Somehow that sounds like something the Bosmer, or Wood Elves, would brew," Dragonborn commented as he took a sip, "Well, it's no Argonian Bloodwine, but I like it! I can think of one way to make it better though."
"Really?" Applejack said, raising an eyebrow in a mix between curiosity and suspicion, "What might that be?"
"I'll show you," Dragonborn said as he raised his mug in front of his face and shouted, "IISS!"
The Mane 6 and Applebloom all ducked as the Dragonborn unleashed his Shout, which ended up encasing most of his mug of apple cider in ice, along with half of the table.
The Mane 6 and Applebloom lifted themselves back up to see what happened, they then looked up at the Dragonborn, who chuckled nervously, as if somewhat embarrassed.
"Hehe, sorry," Dragonborn apologized, "Don't worry, it'll wear off, always does"
"There it is again!" Twilight exclaimed, "you froze a mug and table just by shouting!"
"Yeah," Rainbow dash agreed, "and that dragon back there also was able to shout to turn me into a Pegacicle! how could you do that?"
"They're called Dragon Shouts, or the Thu'um," Dragonborn answered, "It would take me too long to explain everything, so I'll give you the short version; the Thu'um is a very powerful and obscure form of magic in Tamriel that Dragons and mortals can use. Normally mortals have spend years of studying and practice to learn Shouts, but as Dragonborn, I can learn Shouts using the souls of Dragons I absorbed."
"I see," Twilight said, intrigued, "speaking of which, do you at least have any idea what a dragon from your world is doing in Equestria?"
"Well, not exactly, but-" Dragonborn was cut off when he noticed a sudden flash of bright light appeared from behind him. He stood up, pulled out his sword, and turned to the window behind him to see Princess Celestia.
"What trickery is this?" Dragonborn asked, suspiciously wondering if he fell into a trap, "none of you told me anyone else was arriving!"
"Relax, sugarcube," Applejack said as she and the rest of the Mane 6 stood up. Applejack walked up to the Dragonborn, gently held out a front hoof and lowered the his sword arm with it, "That there is Princess Celestia."
"yeah! we just told you abit about her earlier!" Pinkie Pie said cheerfully as she startled the Dragonborn by suddenly appearing right in front of her, "Don't worry, she's not gonna hurt you! in fact, I bet she's here to congratulate you for helping us out!"
"Wait a minute... that's right!" Twilight exclaimed in startled realization, "I had Spike send a letter to the Princess about the Dragon attack, she must've come in response to his letter."
"And she appears just minutes after I killed that Dragon?" Dragonborn asked looking genuinely impressed as he sheathed his sword, "I know couriers in Skyrim can somehow find me faster than a wolf finds dinner, this Spike, whoever he is, must have legs that would make his ancestors jealous if he delivers that quickly."
Twilight, however, was too anxious with wanting to talk to her beloved mentor to respond to the Dragonborn's remark, she and the rest of the Mane 6 started heading outside with their new Nord friend following them.
They went outside only to be surprised to see how Celestia looked as she stood before them. Celestia's mane looked considerably frizzled and she looked somewhat exhausted.
That's the mare that was able to surpress a Daedric Prince's powers? Dragonborn thought to himself She looks as though she just got back from a wrestling match with Malacath.
Celestia looked and the Mane 6 and sighed in relief that her faithful student and her friends were still alive and well, she then turned her attention to the Dragonborn.
"Are you the human that defeated that Dragon that attacked Ponyville?" Celestia asked.
"Yeah, I am called Dragonborn," Dragonborn answered nonchalantly, which Celestia found somewhat surprising, but brushed it off.
""Well, Dragonborn, I thank you on behalf of Ponyville and Equestria for your assistance," Celestia stated, then turned her head away from the Dragonborn, but from the angle she was looking, the Dragonborn could tell Celestia was mainly looking at Twilight with a seemingly parental love in her eyes, "And I thank you on a personal level. when I got the letter warning about a dragon attacking Ponyville, I feared the worst might have happened, I dread to think what would've happened to Twilight and her friends if you hadn't arrived when you did."
Celestia then briefly lowered her head in shame, "And I must apologize for not having been able to arrive sooner, but Canterlot was also attacked."
"Let me guess; by a Dragon?" Dragonborn asked.
Celestia raised her head back up, "Actually, two dragons, both proved to be very powerful and ruthless. I could tell right away they were nothing like the dragons in our world, so I figured they had to have come from your world, am I right?" Dragonborn nodded and Celestia continued, "and even with Luna and the Royal Guards helping me out they proved very difficult to hold back, I suspect things might have been nastier if a certain warrior, who I know also had to have come from your world, stepped in to help out, I got Twilight's letter about Ponyville's dragon attack just minutes after the dragons in Canterlot were defeated and I arrived as quickly as I could-"
Celestia just barely stopped herself from collapsing to the ground, Twilight quickly went to aid her teacher and help her as she stood herself back up, Celestia gave Twilight a warm and appreciative smile before turning her attention back to the Dragonborn, "But as you could probably already guess, the fight has taken a toll on me."
"Wait, warrior?" Dragonborn asked curiously, "who is this warrior?"
"He wouldn't give me his name," Celestia answered, "when asked about his species though, he said he was a Dunmer, or Dark Elf. And while he said this was his first time fighting a dragon, he claimed to have fought far worst foes."
"Did he say why he came here?" Dragonborn asked, "Or did he simply want to investigate the portals just as I was?"
"He more or less said he was here to investigate," Celestia answered with a nod, "But he made clear he knew less about the situation than I did."
"Yeah, those 6 mares here already told me about your encounter with Boethiah," Dragonborn stated.
"Do you know anything about Boethiah?" Celestia asked.
"Just slightly more than the average Nord I'd think," Dragonborn answered, and explained what he knew about Boethiah to Celestia with what he already told the Mane 6.
Celestia's response, however was; "The Dark Elf actually said as much when I asked him about Boethiah, though he said the Dragons from your world and their actions have nothing to do with her."
"Then said Dark Elf has some passing knowledge about them," Dragonborn agreed, "Most of those dragons are far from benevolent, but as far as I know they'd never serve Daedra."
"Do you know why they'd be in our world then?" Celestia asked.
"It could only be the same reason they've been giving us mortals of Tamriel trouble," Dragonborn answered, "Most dragons like to dominate or destroy all mortals, we can safely assume they're trying to do the same in your world."
"Is there any way to stop them?" Celestia asked.
"Sure," Dragonborn said, "If you got an effective army to hunt them all down with, or just send me after them all, there are only several hundred of them, I think."
"Really? just send you to cut 'em all down? Rainbow Dash asked with tremendous skepticism, she then added sarcastically, "Should we just lure them all together in some huge valley and just throw you at them?"
Dragonborn laughed with boisterous enthusiasm then said, "I like the way you think, lass. I can't believe I didn't think of that, but hey, that's something I gotta try."
"I wasn't being serious," Rainbow Dash stated, somewhat weirded out by the horned-helmet wearing biped.
"I was!" Dragonborn stated back, which both the Mane 6 and Celestia found considerably shocking, which Dragonborn noticed, "What? you want to stop those dragons, don't you? might take me a while but I can pull it off."
"Don't misunderstand, Dragonborn, we appreciate that you're eager to help us further," Celestia said, "But.."
"You're wondering if there's a more peaceful or faster way?" Dragonborn finished, quickly catching on, "Let me sum up Tamriel's history with dragons for you;"
Dragonborn explained to Celestia what he knew about the Dragons and their history, from how the ancient Nords rebelled against them and the Dragon Cult in response to their tyranny, to how the Dragons were hunted down and driven into hiding, to how only recently did they return to strike at Tamriel again.
Celestia responded, "So these creatures only respond to violence?"
"Most of them do, yes," Dragonborn said, "They respect strength and the power of their Voice, or Dragon Shouts, which I can also use."
Celestia nodded, "Those Dragons I fought earlier were able to use powerful magic by 'shouting' words I don't recognize, the Dark Elf already told me about 'Dragon Shouts' mid-fight."
"It's these Shouts are what make even the weakest of Dragons very powerful," Dragonborn stated, "Before I learned Shouts myself, I felt lucky I survived my first fight with a dragon, let alone having managed to kill him. And being Dragonborn, I'm supposed to be the ultimate dragon-slayer."
Celestia thought for a moment, then asked out of curiosity, "Did you see anyone else from your world enter ours?"
"Actually yes," Dragonborn answered, "In fact, I'll boldly say the Dragons might not become your only problem coming from Tamriel, you might also have the Thalmor to deal with."
"The Thalmor?" Celestia asked.
"High-Elven, or Altmeri supremacists," Dragonborn stated, "to give the short version; they seek to conquer all of Tamriel and eradicate the races of Men. They've been plaguing my homeland for years, I've been doing what I could to fight them back and I recently thought I managed to drive them out of Skyrim. But the fact they had to have come to your world from Skyrim has proven me wrong. I encountered a group of them in your world when two of your guards were escorting me to Ponyville. The Thalmor demanded your guards handed me over to them, when they refused, the Thalmor attacked. We managed to drive them to a retreat but the guards were knocked unconscious just before the fight was over."
"Where are those guards nows?" Celestia asked.
"I left them just outside the south side of town with some other guards I encountered here when I saw dragon attacking," Dragonborn answered, "feel free to go to them yourself if you don't believe me, I'm sure they've regained consciousness by now."
"Given what's been going on, I somehow don't find this very far-fetched," Celestia said "But I'll go them, just to see if they're alright and to assess the damage the dragon has done to Ponyville, after that I'm heading back to Canterlot, I have to think all this through," She then turned to the rest of the Mane 6 and added, "Take whatever time you need to collect and prepare yourself and meet me at Canterlot Castle."
"I certianly hope you're not leaving me out," Dragonborn said, "Helping good people and killing bad people is part of my trade as well as my hobby, especially if the Thalmor are involved, and and while I don't know exactly why they're here, I doubt it was just to kill me, if you catch my drift."
Celestia turned to the Dragonborn, "I never said you couldn't help. But I think it would be best if you went to Canterlot with my student, Twilight, and her friends. It's not that I'm suspicious of you, but you're in ways still a stranger here and I'm sure this is a strange place to you. So I think it's best we avoid any... complications, if you know what I mean."
Dragonborn looked somewhat exasperated but said, "Fair enough."
(Author note: sorry for the delay, but I keep failing to get around finishing this chapter, and even then I had a hard time finding a good spot to end it, which is why I stopped right here. The only thing I hate about writing plot movement is that it can sometimes be boring. But I digress, I plan on having more in-depth character interaction in the next chapter, so keep in touch!)