A/N: So... not the most interesting chapter in the world, but hopefully I explained a few things well enough. Heh heh…

I also thought I should put in a disclaimer… I own nothing, but any OC's are mine.

Anyway, Enjoy Chapter 4!

Chapter 4

In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of seventeen million, and a place filled with magic. Found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace, for most, magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For the man with the soul of a dragon, magic is integrated into his very being. Since finding his way into this world, Ysmir may just find out what that could mean for him when the madness begins to creep around.

/

Turning back to Ysmir Nlaea looks him up and down, then looks behind him. Raising an eyebrow at the broken burning building, and the unconscious guild members scattered around the ground. She asks, "Rough morning?"

"You could say that." Says Ysmir with a straight face. While he was on good terms with Sheogorath, he would be a fool to openly trust a servant of his. "Care to explain how you got here... Nlaea was it?"

Eyes widening slightly she reaches behind her and pulls something from her belt. "I can't say how, but I can tell you why. I- I mean, we, have a message for you" Pulling out large scroll from somewhere, she breaks the wax seal and unrolls the white paper. She opens her mouth to speak. Instead of hearing words, Ysmir is blinded by a bright purple light and is deafened by a large boom.

/

Ysmir feels different. Weightless and cold. When the stars faded from his sight, he looked down at himself. Instead of flesh, cloth, and armor he is used to, Ysmir is composed of ethereal blue light. Turning his hands over, he could see the colorful red and gold embroidered rug through his left hand and the drab, rough gray rug through his right hand and fingers. Something not new to Ysmir it's not the first time he's been like this. Hopefully his body is frozen in time or at least protected back in the other world. Looking up, he searches the room he is in. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Ysmir was glad to see someplace familiar.

The room was split in two, right down the middle. Much like the man who owned it. One side being happy, carefree and artistic, while the other was dull, utilitarian, and orderly and both sharing the same maddening vibe. With the scent of several different types of cheese and the metallic smell of blood in the air, Ysmir crosses his arms over his chest, leans back, and gives the god of madness an annoyed look. Shaking his head, Ysmir looks to his left and right.

On his left is a well lit, ornate looking, gold colored wall with carved trimming. Decoratively carved tables with platters of cheese atop them were unevenly spaced along the wall. Above each table is a painting of a man, each having a different style or form, but each depicting the man in nice clothes. One was a portrait of the man sitting in a chair looking off into the distance. Another showed the man dancing. A third showed the man holding a severed head of a Daedra Lord, the man was using his free hand to pull its lips to make the head smile while blood dripped in a puddle on the floor at the man's feet.

To his right, Ysmir saw a drab looking wall of dull gray stone. Dusty swords, wicked maces, large axes and shields were hanging on the wall in an orderly fashion. Scattered evenly throughout the room were sets of armor. Some Ysmir recognized, and some were new to him. Against the wall, flanked by two sets of plate-steel armor, is a large wooden table. Looking at closely at the paper on top of it, Ysmir saw little figurines and flags sitting here and there on different spots of the map. Just like one would do if they were preparing for a battle or war.

Sheogorath, lord of the Shivering Isles and the Daedric Prince of Madness. The Madgod is sitting on his ornate throne dressed in fine clothes with his white hair and goatee perfectly combed, swung his scepter back and forth and smiled back.

"Welcome, Dragonborn! Long time no see! How've you been, ol' pal?" He says standing up from his throne, a goofy smile on his face. Making his way down the steps from his throne he stands in front of Ysmir.

Before Ysmir could reply, the Madgod continued.

"I digress! We only have a short time here boy! No time for chit chat!" Shouts Sheogorath. Raising his scepter he pokes the end into Ysmir's ghostly chest. "So the reason why you're here is because… I won a bet of sorts between the princes. So, until further notice, I am going to be your best friend!"

When the Prince removed his scepter from his chest, Ysmir brought up a hand to his chest. Scratching the phantom itch that the wooden stick left in its wake, Ysmir stays quiet waiting for the Madgod to continue.

Moving his scepter under his arm, Sheogorath claps his hands together. "Okay!" Shouts the Madgod, walking to the bright colorful side of the room, Sheogorath makes his way towards one of the tables and grabs a slice of cheese from a silver platter. Plopping it into his mouth he admires the painting of him holding the Daedra Lord head.

"Now," He says swallowing. "I can't tell you where you are, 'cause no one knows!" He says raising his shoulders in a shrug.

"How did you get two of your servants to find me?" Asked Ysmir, his voice echoing softly through the air.

Turning back to his ghostly guest Sheogorath leaned against the wall next to him and started checking his pristine finger nails. "After you so rudely left, most of the Princes and the Divines sent out search parties to look for you. You may not know it, Ysmir, but you are still a very important person."

Lowering his hand the Madgod stared directly into Ysmir's eyes. Pinning him where he stood, helplessly caught by the fire in the creature's eyes. Searing pain burned like a madness consuming his mind. The sound of soulless laughter bubbled in his mind. Primal urges pushed and pulled at him, tempting him to act. Averting his eyes back to his fingers, Sheogorath continued as if nothing happened. Blinking rapidly, Ysmir took a moment to focus in on the Prince's words. "-Eventually someone found your trail and followed it to where you left Mundus. And of course everyone heard about it right away because everyone has eyes and ears everywhere!"

Hmm. Inside Ysmir's mind he thought back to the moment when he woke up in that new world. The confusion, the shock. The anger. Then he thought about before waking up.

Nothing. Try as he may, he could not find a single memory of a worldly transition or a tear in space. The last memory he could pull is one of him fighting off a group of bandits, a giant with its corresponding horde of mammoths, and a pack of wolves. After that, it all fades to black. Shaking his head Ysmir looks back to Sheogorath.

Frowning, the Madgod huffed and walked back to his throne and took a seat. Leaning his scepter against the armrest, Sheogorath put his elbows on his knees and laced his fingers together. Leaning forward, he continued. "Now, that new world your body is in? Yeah, it is brand new, and not a realm of Oblivion! We have no idea where it is or how you got there."

Frowning Sheogorath fiddles with one of the many rings on his fingers. "Sadly, no Divine or Prince can follow you, due to some interdimensional laws or whatnot, and no one has been able to pull you back, so you're kinda stuck there. Oh well! But a few of 'us' have been able to send servants there with you." Leaning back against his throne, Sheogorath puts on a smug smile on his face and brings a hand up to his chest. "I am proud to say that my servants beat Nocturnal's fair and square!" Looking up to the ceiling, his insane laugh echoing eerily off the walls, Sheogorath shouted. "I win again Nocturnal! Get ready to pay up!"

While the Madgod drifted into a fit of laughter, Ysmir thought about what the Prince said. A brand new world. Not a realm of Oblivion. Full of new adventures and challenges, new people to befriend or fight, and new skills to learn... and the best part? No Daedra and Aedra to pester him. A smile started to form on Ysmir's lips. A loud voice interrupted his thoughts. Looking back at Sheogorath, Ysmir noticed that the Madgod was giving him an annoyed look.

"You know, drifting off to your own thoughts is rude, Dragonborn." said the Prince. Before Ysmir could reply, the Madgod grinned. "But I forgive you!" Smiling Sheogorath leaned forward and looks at his wrist. "Hmmm. Looks like we only have a little bit of time left." Returning his gaze back to Ysmir, he continued talking. "Let's make the best off it, shall we?"

"This isn't meant to be a social call, boy. You're here so I can give you a few messages. One is from Hermaeus Mora, since he likes you. He wanted to tell you that the new world you're in is filled to the brim with magic energy."

Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince of forbidden knowledge, memory, and fate. One of the more of those grotesque looking Princes that always appears as a mass of tentacles and eyes whenever he deals with mortals. Ysmir heaved a sigh of resignation.

"According to him," continued Sheogorath, "it is also much more malleable than the stuff back in Mundus. And because of how you mortals work, your body has already started to absorb it. You'll start to see a difference in you shouting, spells," raising a hand to gesture to Ysmir, Sheogorath continues on with his message. "And even your physical body. Mr. Tentacle-face also said that the mages of that world are few in number, almost…" Counting a few fingers and muttering to himself he looks back to Ysmir. "Almost ten percent of the entire population. And they use their magic energy to boost their bodies physical limits. Increased strength, speed, durability and all that. Which means that they can be very… interesting to kill, and are powerful and destructive each in their own way. Haha! Something to look forward to, eh? You'll have no shortage of challenges, Dragonborn!" Laughing Sheogorath reached into a pocket and pulls out two white, slightly crumpled envelopes.

Grabbing one with his free hand, the Daedric Lord sends the envelope spinning through the air towards Ysmir. Acting on reflex Ysmir reaches out and grabs the paper, slightly surprised that he could touch it. Bringing it to eye level, Ysmir could see the mark of Nocturnal in black ink covering the envelope.

"That is from Nocturnal. She asked me to give that to you to help you on your way," said Sheogorath happily. "And this one…" He said waving the second envelope in the air. "This one is from your daddy!"

Sending the second envelope spinning through the air, Sheogorath sits back and waits patiently, smiling at Ysmir's confusion. Catching the envelope as easily as the first, Ysmir looks at this one and is shocked to see the symbol of Akatosh pressed into the wax seal. Before he could ask Sheogorath why, there was a deafening boom and a flash of azure light. The next thing Ysmir knew he was back in his body. With the Charging Bulls guild hall behind him, the sun in the sky, and the Golden-Saint leaning against the carriage and Dark-Seducer standing in front of him.

Nlaea, the gray skinned daedra, still had her scroll unrolled in front of her. "-And with this, I bid you adieu, Dragonborn." She says. Rolling back up the scroll, Nlaea lowers her arms and looks back at Ysmir. "How did the meeting with our Lord go?" She asked curiously.

Not replying at first, Ysmir stares ahead, not looking at anything in particular. A certain memory comes to the forefront of his mind.

It was a gloomy day, clouds covering the sky, a cold wind blowing through the air, and a light snow was covering the ground. Ysmir was in Whiterun, making his way to Jorrvaskr after a day of dealing with bandits attacking a village. The citizens Whiterun were going about their daily tasks. The guards at the gate and on the street greet him with nods or 'my thane' or 'Dragonborn'.

Ysmir was walking past the Breezehome, a building he owned and one he resided in from time to time, when a large shadow blocked his path. He remembers looking into the eyes of a large man covered head to toe in black ebony armor. Ysmir remembers the man asking him to fight him. Saying that he has traveled all around Tamriel, fighting all types of foes and enemies and that he wishes to be sent to Sovngarde by a worthy adversary. Ysmir remembers the sadness in the man's voice as well as the wearied determination in his eyes. The man had done it all and had nothing else to live for. He remembered what the man was like when Ysmir ran his sword through the Ebony Warrior's chest atop that cold snowy mountain.

Ysmir dreaded ending up having the same fate as the man. Traveling the world with nothing left to do or accomplish, searching for a noble way to die.

A light breeze blows through the trees, causing a few leaves to fall between the three outworlders. Watching one tumble through the air and fall to the ground Ysmir wonders, not for the first time, what this world has to offer him. Looking up to his hand, Ysmir sees the two envelopes have followed him from Oblivion. Tightening his grip slightly he looked back up to Nlaea and Eloen.

"Sheogorath gave me a lot to think about." He says, storing them in a pocket Ysmir looks back to the two Daedra. "A lot to think about indeed." He whispers. Crossing his gauntleted arms over his chest he puts on a straight face. "Now is there anything else you have for me or can I go about my business?"

"One more thing," This time it was Eloen, the golden skinned daedra, who spoke, pushing away from the carriage. "Lord Sheogorath gave us this to give you when we found you." Reaching behind her back, she pulls out a small square package. taking a few steps forward she dropped it into Ysmir's waiting hand before leaning back against the wooden carriage.

It is not all that heavy. Curious, Ysmir starts to unwrap the package. Underneath all the paper and cloth is a brick of white cheese. Stuck to the top of the brick of cheese is a small folded piece of paper. Using his free hand, Ysmir pinches it off and unfolds the note.

"To my dearest friend, Ysmir." Ysmir begins to read it aloud. "Here is a gift from me to you. Please enjoy and eat it all up. I put a lot of thought into it and I would hate to see it go to waste. If you don't, I'll rip out your intestines and make a scarf out of them for your little cat friend to wear!" Raising his eyebrow at that, Ysmir shakes his head and continued reading. "Speaking of her, feel free to give some to her, I'm sure she would love some! Til next time! Signed the God of Madness and connoisseur of cheese, Lord Sheogorath." Shaking his head again, Ysmir sighed and puts the little note into his pack.

/

"You have a cat?" Asks Nlaea curiously. Looking back at the two women, Ysmir was surprised and alarmed to see that both of the daedra seemed very interested to know about Khasi.

Without replying, Ysmir reached down and opened the pocket where he put Khasi. Seeing that she's still sleeping, he gently nudges her tiny shoulder with his finger. Waking up with a yawn, she pops her head out of the pocket. Sniffing the air, she instantly locks onto the block of cheese still sitting in Ysmir's hand. Hunger in her eyes she squirmed out of her hiding place. Wings appeared and she fluttered around Ysmir to perch on his shoulder. She gazed longingly at the cheese.

"Say hello to the nice ladies, Khasi," says Ysmir with a smile on his face as he looks at his friend, scratching behind her ears with a finger.

Looking away from Ysmir's gift, Khasi directs her gaze at Nlaea and Eloen. Not noticing them before, she hides behind Ysmir's head with fright. After a few seconds she peaked her tiny head out and waved a paw in a shy greeting, then quickly returned to her hiding place behind Ysmir's head.

Looking back at the two women, Ysmir was shocked to see something that he thought he'd never see. The two Daedra were staring at Khasi with adoring eyes, hands clasped together at their chests. In unison they both say, "She's so cute!" in high-pitched voices. Looking at each other with shock and then anger, they quickly turn their backs on one another. Crossing their arms over their chests with a "humph" they continue to look adoringly at Khasi out of the corner of their eyes.

"Huh" Says Ysmir. "Not something you see every day." He mutters under his breath. "Anyway… Khasi! Would you like some?"

Raising his hand that holds his "gift" he breaks off a chunk and tosses it in his mouth. Unsurprisingly the cheese is very good. If there is one thing that the Madgod can stay consistent in, is that he loves his cheese. After swallowing the chunk, Ysmir waits to see if he keels over or not. After waiting a few moments, he determines that it is safe and breaks off another chunk for Khasi. "The Madgod always picks good cheese."

Lifting his arm behind his head, he feels a tiny paw grab the cheese from between his fingers. Hearing the sounds of her nibbling on the morsel, he smiles and looks at the Daedra still standing in front of him. Apparently forgetting their rivalry, they both were trying to get a better look at Khasi, still hidden behind his head, without showing it. Gesturing to the cheese with a nod he offers them some. Both shaking their heads, they go back to trying to catch a glimpse of Khasi by leaning this way and that, but not moving from their spot.

Ripping off another chunk, Ysmir tosses it in his mouth. Seeing that the Daedric women were distracted he asks them a question. "Let me guess," he says after swallowing. "That he sent you two here to spread 'the word of Sheogorath' throughout this new world as well as keep tabs on me right?" He finishes, handing another bite of cheese behind his head for Khasi.

It was Nlaea who answers. "Correct." She says, bringing her right arm up to her brow in a salute. "We have completed our task for the moment and must be going. It was nice meeting you Dragonborn. Our Lord speaks fondly of you."

"Safe travels Dovahkiin." Says Eloen haughtily, arms crossed over her armored chest, nose high in the air. Unfolding one arm, she points a finger threateningly at Ysmir's chest. "Don't die without our lord's permission." With that the two daedra bow at the waist and disappear in a flash of purple light.

Now alone, Ysmir spent a few minutes giving Khasi and himself bits and pieces of the brick of cheese. After a while, Ysmir wipes his hand on his leg and reaches into his pocket and pulls out the two envelopes. Picking the one with the symbol of Akatosh to open first.

Looking at the wax seal again, he sees the symbol of Akatosh staring up at him. Still surprised that a Daedric Prince would be holding a letter from the Dragon God of Time and the Chief of the Aedra he quickly wraps the cheese back up in its cloth, he throws it in his pocket. Ignoring the small sad "No…" from behind him Ysmir slowly broke the seal and opened the letter.

Inside, drawn in the center of the page, was a pink symbol exactly like the one on the back of the girls hand in his dream. Confused on what the symbol is or what it means, with it's flowing lines and color, Ysmir wonders if it and his dream really are connected. Shaking his head he continues searching the page. Beneath the pink symbol Ysmir can see two little words written in gold ink. Not knowing what they are or what they mean, he reads them out loud. Rolling off his tongue so easily, he feels that he should know what they mean, but nothing comes to mind. The two words were…

"...Fairy Tail?"