A/N: 20th chapter! Never thought I would write this much to be honest, but I'm glad I did.
All characters, place settings and other items belong to their respective copyright holders, Bethesda Games Studios/Bethesda Softworks LLC./ZeniMax Media Inc.. Characters that does not appear in the original content of The Elder Scrolls (OC, or original character) that bears, but not limited to, a name similar to other popular story character names and/or character behaviour and attitude are purely coincidental.
Chapter 20: The Ghost Kid
"So, we are going to visit your other soul today?" Derkeethus asked as he sat up on bed, the slightly chilly air making him shiver a little.
"Yes, why do you look like you are eager to go, though?" Janice asked as she got up.
"I am not going, you have dragged me into so many tombs that I am kind of afraid to go now… In any case, I am scheduled to deliver a speech about future developments." Derkeethus reasoned.
"Getting busy, aren't you?" Janice said as she got out of bed.
"If you aren't always going about your own personal business, I could always use your help." Derkeethus answered.
"Well, most of it were for the Empire's sake! If I don't discover myself in time, how am I going to be able to protect the Empire from harm if I get distracted?" Janice rebutted.
"And what does battling in the Arena and employing a chef got to do with that?" Derkeethus shot the question back.
"Well, I need to prove that the Empress is no wimp who can get stepped on. As for employing Jack… Well, good point." Janice admitted as she went into the bathroom.
"Some day this is going to be for the both of you." Derkeethus said as Alduin woke up.
"Yeah, who knew she wants to visit a ghost? She would rather kill ghosts if you had seen her in the dungeons." Alduin commented.
"I had always thought she was nuts to go into those tombs, but I guess if the priests were too scared to venture into those tombs, someone else has to do the work." Derkeethus replied.
"So, what was your reaction to hearing the story her mother told you about?" Alduin asked.
"I was surprised, of course. I never would have thought that Talos of all people would want to leave a secret lineage. Then again, maybe he knew that he has to continue the bloodline through other means. I doubt she marrying me was the last thing he had in mind though, we can't produce heirs." Derkeethus answered. "I would also never thought that Akatosh would want to send his weaker daughter back to life."
"She isn't weak! She was tricked so that me and another dragon could kill her!" Alduin shouted.
"Alright, fine, she isn't. Though why did you want to kill her?" Derkeethus asked.
"She was the favourite of Akatosh and I sort of guess jealousy got the better of me…" Alduin trailed off.
"You are a steaming bag of rage and emotions, how you ever got control was a miracle." Janice said as she came out.
"At least I don't act like a stoic whenever something that requires some form of emotional attachment to be shown." Alduin retorted.
"Like when?" Janice asked directly.
"Like how you handled yourself when you collected me off that mountain. Or when you barely even sympathise with my grieving over the death of so many dragons." Alduin said, on the verge of tears at the memory of the dragon remains.
"What should I be feeling then?" Janice asked.
"Well, you should be feeling rather sorry about now, you hurt her feelings again!" Derkeethus answered as he picked up the sobbing form of Alduin.
"I will see you at the breakfast table. I may be emotionally dead, but I still need food to survive." Janice said as she drank a bottle of blood before heading down the tower.
"How did you even put up with an emotionally dead wife? Actually, was she even happy at the wedding?" Alduin asked.
"Sort of, she just asked me to follow her afterwards, like she was rather uncaring about whether we were just married or not. Honestly, I would have at least expected some show of emotions, like a kiss or something." Derkeethus answered as he stroked the black dragoness' back. "She did smile though. Was she always like that? Like when she was alive in the past?"
"Sadly, yes. Haassotkul was always emotionally detached from anything she does. It is like Paarthurnax found her to be his role model." Alduin said.
"That would explain the rather uninspiring speech he gave when we went up there. And why the Greybeards were so detached from everything too." Derkeethus commented.
"Well, at least you two would have each other 'forever and ever'." Alduin said, referring to their vampirism.
"Don't remind me. Honestly, I think she only gave me vampirism so that I can live forever, I don't even know how to use my powers!" Derkeethus admitted.
"You could always ask her, or just be glad that she wants you to be with her forever. Kind of like an overpossive wife, though, don't you think?" Alduin said.
"You should have seen how she hordes weapons and armour in dungeons before she sell it all to the local blacksmith. She got that wild eyes of wanting possess all the gold that she can get her hands on." Derkeethus replied.
"Well, gold was her favourite." Alduin said as she got down from Derkeethus' laps. "I will be going to have breakfast now, see you."
[Breakfast, 8 a.m.]
"Have you ever wondered how we always do things on the clock?" Derkeethus asked Janice.
"I don't have a clue." Janice answered as she dug into her pie.
"I have an important announcement, I will be going back to Skyrim today." Beeht announced. "There are some very important people that I have to attend to."
"I thought you were rather detached from your work, mother?" Derkeethus asked.
"Well, if the King of Black Marsh wants to visit, I wouldn't be a good host by not showing up now, would I?" Beeht replied.
"The King of Black Marsh?!" Janice exclaimed, spitting her drink everywhere, mostly on Beeht.
"Yes… Why, is that important?" Beeht said, wiping her face with a towel.
"Yes it is. If I can convince him that I can help him, maybe Black Marsh will join the Empire again. Having such formidable warriors is a great addition to fighting the Thalmor!" Janice announced.
"I will telling him that you want him to help you fight the Thalmor, then." Beeht said. "I am sure that he will listen, his current likeness of the Thalmor is lessening after he noticed that the Argonians in Black Marsh prefer to work for the Nords than for the Thalmor."
"Probably why you are so rich…" Janice mumbled to herself. "Well, good luck."
"I don't need it, my words can convince anyone over to my side if I want to." Beeht said as she finished her meal. "If you will excuse me, I need to pack my bags."
"Your Highness, do you need any help getting back to Skyrim?" A steward asked Beeht.
"Just get my horse ready, there isn't anything you need to do for me." Beeht said as she left the room.
"Well, it looks like it would just be me for now." Jane said. "Do you want to follow us to Riften, J'Zhar, Derkeethus?"
"I need to do some work today." Derkeethus replied.
"I will wait inside Honeyside, if that is okay." J'Zhar said cowardly.
"No problem, here is the key. I thought you would be brave, after all, she is also your child." Janice said as she handed J'Zhar the key to Honeyside.
"Its not that, the place we are going to have been reported to be quite haunted. It had been sealed off, but we discovered a passage when we were in the Thieves Guild. Needless to say, I ran off after hearing ghostly wailing." J'Zhar explained.
"Is that where I died?" Janice asked.
"No, it was where the Priest of Arkay said he put your soul since you are one of the restless souls that refuses to pass on." Jane replied.
"Good, we are going to Riften to purge my other soul. Great…" Janice complained softly. "And I thought I can talk to her."
"Well, if she decides to have enough, she will either be absorbed into you or get banished." Jane explained.
"We should get a move on while the air is still cool." Janice said as she finished her breakfast.
"Right, pack our things, J'Zhar!" Jane ordered.
"What, am I your mule now?" J'Zhar complained.
"I can make you one." Janice said, stifling a giggle.
"Alright, fine, what do we need?" J'Zhar asked.
"Some water and all the amulets of the Divines, just in case." Jane replied.
"Well, I got my gear all ready, I will meet you at the stables." Janice said as she stood up.
"You aren't going to fly there?" J'Zhar asked.
"No, I don't want to. Carrying you two was tiring enough. Besides, Shade isn't ridden as much as he should be recently." Janice said.
"You mean Shadowmere?" Jane asked.
"If you want to be specific…" Janice mumbled.
"Alright, see you at the stables, just bring along Dawnbreaker, would you?" Jane said.
"If you stop carrying my Dragonbane." Janice said.
"It is for self defense!" Jane argued.
"And why would I purposely hurt you?" Janice countered.
"Good point, you win, here." Jane said in defeat as she handed Janice the sword.
"I don't think it is a good idea for me to touch that now that I have fully awakened." Janice said apprehensively.
"So is touching Dawnbreaker." Jane rebutted.
"Alright, see you later." Janice said as she grabbed the sword, immediately ignoring the pain that courses through her arms.
[Stables, 9 a.m.]
"How are you, Shadowmere?" Janice asked the horse.
"Fat." Shadowmere replied.
"You are an undead horse, you don't even need to eat to survive!" Janice said in shock.
"Well, if you have been more willing to ride me, maybe I could have gotten some exercise instead of standing here all day doing nothing." Shadowmere rebutted. "Is flying better than riding a horse now?"
"I have to get to places fast, if I don't, somebody is going to die." Janice explained as Alduin approached.
"So, having fun talking to your horse again, sister?" Alduin asked.
"Hello, Alduin." Shadowmere greeted.
"Well, are we ready to get going?" Alduin asked as she saw Janice's parents came into the stable.
"Let's go," Jane said as she climbed onto her horse.
"Wait, aren't there going to be guards?" Alduin asked as Janice place her on Shadowmere.
"Yes there will be, a small group is waiting for us at the northern gates." Jane said to Janice.
"Alright, let's go!" Janice yelled as she made Shadowmere gallop to the gates from the Royal Stables.
[A day later, Riften, 8 a.m.]
"Well, that was a long journey, flying is so much easier." Janice said as they reach the gates.
"Open the gates for the Empress!" A guard shouted to the guards on duty.
"Never thought that I would be coming here knowing I was born and died here." Janice commented as she dismounted.
"What do you mean?" Shadowmere asked.
"If you want, you can teleport to the cistern under Riften at night. I can explain more then, I may need your help too, anyway." Janice whispered as she collected a sleeping black dragoness from Shadowmere's back.
"Sure, but how may I fit inside the small walkways?" Shadowmere asked.
"I will show you later, just stay here, alright?" Janice replied.
"See you later." Shadowmere said.
"Ah! Your Majesty! It is quite an honour to have you here today!" Maven greeted when Janice entered the gates. "By what reasons does the Empress want to visit this town?"
"Self-discovery, I was born here, but I don't remember any of it." Janice replied.
"Oh, if I can be of help, you know where to find me." Maven bowed. "May interest you in some Black-Briar Mead?"
"Not now, I have to take care of something." Janice answered as she head for Honeyside, the guards following closely behind her. One of the guards had to stop Maven from following.
"Remember this place?" Janice asked her parents.
"Yes, though it was more… run down." J'Zhar replied.
"I put in more money to renovate the house, feel free to do anything inside. We will go at night." Janice said as she opened the door.
"Why?" Jane asked. "Why not now? It is not like the ghosts can't come out since there is no light inside."
"I just feel it is better to go at night. I am going to the keep to see Maven." Janice said as she handed Alduin to Jane. "Guard this place will you?" Janice said to the guards.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The guards saluted.
[Mistveil Keep]
"The Empress has arrived!" A guard called out as Janice stepped into the keep.
"Welcome to Mistveil Keep, Your Majesty." Maven greeted.
"So, I presume Riften is under good management?" Janice asked Maven as she sat down on the throne.
"Definitely, Your Majesty." Maven said cunningly.
"Do you think about anything other than your business?" Janice questioned the owner of the Black-Briar Meadery.
"Well, if the people are in dire need of aid, I will do what I can, but mostly the city runs itself." Maven answered. "But enough of that, you must be thirsty, may I interest you in some of our finest Black-Briar Mead?"
"Alright, but why do I get the feeling you want me to endorse it?" Janice asked.
"Because if you don't, you can forget Honeyside ever existed." Maven threatened.
"Yeah, thought so. The Dark Brotherhood and the Thieves Guild would do no such thing." Janice replied unfazed.
"And why would the Dark Brotherhood listen to you?" Maven asked, curious about what Janice is saying.
"Because I am their leader. And anyway, if you threaten me again, I will make sure YOUR family never existed." Janice replied.
"Please, threatening the Royal Family would only be punishable by a fine and a jail term." Maven rebutted, becoming rather timid now since Janice had taken what she used to enforce her will away from her.
"And how would that stop me from exerting my own form of punishment? I am the LAW." Janice retorted.
"You are right, sorry, Your Majesty." Maven said as she backed down.
[8 p.m., after dinner]
"You ready?" Janice asked the group that was with her as she pressed the button that leads to the cistern.
"Yes, I presume you told Shadowmere to go in already?" Alduin asked from Janice's shoulder.
"He should be in there causing some ruckus by now." Janice said as she walked down the stairs to the trapdoor.
"Well, will you tell them that I am a friend?" Jane asked as Janice got into the trapdoor.
"Of course I will, Dar'Tran." Janice replied.
"So you finally figured it out?" Jane asked.
"It wasn't hard, there isn't a lot of Khajiits in Skyrim." Janice replied as they got down the ladder.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Brynjolf greeted as Delvin wrestle Shadowmere in the shallow waters of the cistern.
"Unhand my horse, Delvin!" Janice called out.
"Why would Shadowmere be here?" Delvin asked, before Shadowmere kicked Delvin in the butt. "You filthy, undead horse!"
"Right, I need him for something." Janice said.
"We aren't good enough for you?" Brynjolf asked. "And what is Dar'Tran doing here? I thought you quit."
"This is a matter of privacy." Janice answered.
"And I am her mother! You may call me Jane, that was just a cover name, Brynjolf." Jane said.
"Okay then, Your Highness." Brynjolf said as he rubbed his head.
"Anyway, I request that you leave us alone. By the way, good job at handling the guild while I was away, not that I was here frequently in the first place." Janice commended the Nightingale.
"Alright, Your Majesty. Come on Delvin, let's go." Brynjolf said as he heaved the thief up from the waters.
"I hope they didn't gave you any troubles." Janice said to Shadowmere.
"Nothing I can't handle." Shadowmere replied.
"Good, come on, get behind my living area and have some clothes I brought for you." Janice said as she place some clothes on Shadowmere's back. "You wait here, mother."
"What are you going to do to me? And aren't these clothes for girls?" Shadowmere asked as he placed the clothes on the bed.
"I am going to turn you into Astrid. The Night Mother told me that you secretly fell in love with Lucien, so I thought it is about time you express those feelings to his ghost." Janice said as she transforms Shadowmere.
"When did you learn to do that? And I can't walk!" Shadowmere exclaimed in surprise as she fell down on the cold, damp stone floor.
"It was part of my powers. Now just stay calm, I am going to teach everything you need to know in less than thirty seconds." Janice replied, before doing what the Greybeards had 'taught' her.
"Woah… Wait… I can talk?!" Shadowmere exclaimed in surprise as she grabbed the clothes to cover herself.
"Well, you are human now." Janice said.
"Don't worry honey, everything will feel new to you, it is normal." Alduin said.
"Now, Lucian! I believe a certain horse wants to say something to you." Janice said as she summoned Lucien.
"Horse? I don't see Shadowmere anywhere, but I do see a lovely naked woman here…" Lucien said as he spots Shadowmere sitting on the bed.
"Lucien! The current Listener turned me into a human so that I can talk to you!" Shadowmere shouted in happiness as she jumped forward and hugged the ghost.
"Dress yourself first!" Alduin yelled.
"Shadowmere? How?" Lucien asked. "And why do you look like you are in love with me?"
"Simple, Lucien, I am related to Alduin here, but that isn't the point. While Shadowmere was in your service, she had fallen for you." Janice explained as Alduin tries to cover the woman by dropping the shirt on her back.
"She has?" Lucien asked as Shadowmere hug the ghost tighter.
"Oh, I can't tell you how much it pained me when you died!" Shadowmere exclaimed.
"Would someone please put on some clothes?!" Jane shouted.
"Oh, sorry." Shadowmere answered as she release her hold and dressed up.
"I really didn't mind…" Lucien whispered softly to himself.
"If you have said everything you want to say, shall we proceed?" Janice asked as Alduin landed on her shoulder.
"Alright," Shadowmere said as she walks out.
"Hey, Shadowmere. I know you have feelings for me, but I am dead now, you need to leave the past behind. Move forward with your, uhh… Life with the new Listener. You can't keep grieving for me." Lucien said as he grabbed Shadowmere by the wrists.
"I guess so, but you will always be in my heart." Shadowmere said as she kissed the ghost.
"You ready to go now?" Janice asked impatiently after explaining to her mother about the woman and ghost.
"Let's go. Where are we going?" Lucien asked.
"To see my other soul. If you don't want to, I guess you can leave." Janice said.
"Other soul? I think I will leave." Lucien said as he disappeared.
"Lucien? Lucien! No…" Shadowmere cried.
"Don't worry, you can have plenty of time to talk to him back in the stables. If you want I can summon him again later." Janice said to the woman.
"Alright, let's go." Shadowmere said as she wiped her tears from her piercing red eyes.
"I thought you would be strong for a horse that serves a guild of assassins." Alduin said to Shadowmere.
"Love is always hard to let go." Jane told Alduin as she looked for the hidden entrance. "Here it is, now, cover your ears." Jane said as she found a rock hatch behind the statue of Nocturnal.
Right after Jane said that, a huge gust of wind blew through the hatch, blowing out all the candles and torches in the cistern, immediately plunging the room into darkness. Then, unholy wailing was heard from the tunnel the hatch leads into.
"I… I can't see!" Shadowmere yelled over the noise.
"Hang on to my tail and don't let go!" Janice yelled as she place her tail into Shadowmere's hands.
"Okay! Let's go!" Shadowmere shouted.
Crawling into the tunnel, Jane took out her sword just in case any ghost wants to attack. Janice fished out her Dawnbreaker, the glowing hilt giving Shadowmere and Alduin some light to see.
"If we follow this tunnel, it should lead us to the area where the lost souls are held." Jane said as they exited the cramped, round, cold and damp sewer pipe.
"How long do we have to go? We had been crawling for hours!" Janice complained over the occasional wails.
"I d-d-d-don't like it here, J-J-J-Janice!" Alduin and Shadowmere stuttered.
"Cowards, we haven't even seen a ghost or zombie! What do they look like anyway?" Janice said, before her question was answered.
A ghost stepped out of the walls and gazed curiously at the group. Its face was distorted beyond recognition, its 'clothes' torn and tattered, the rib cage clearly visible. The belly looks like it was dissolving off the skeleton and its legs were just bones.
"Not today." Janice said before throwing her Dawnbreaker into the ghost, it immediately exploding as the sword stabs the ghost directly in the chest.
"See, nothing to be scared of." Janice said as she used Telekinesis to retrieve the blade.
"Alright, fine I guess, but you and your mother take point." Alduin said as she flew over to Shadowmere.
"You know, normally the one at the back gets attacked first." Janice informed.
"Alright! You take the front and your mother stands behind!" Shadowmere shouted in fright.
"Alright, alright, keep your voice down, you want to wake the ghosts?" Janice said.
"N-n-n-n-n-n n-n-n-n-no…" Alduin stuttered very seriously.
"I sense living beings!" A ghost moaned, followed by more moans in the tunnel.
"Great, see what you have done. Shadowmere, I have placed a candlelight spellbook in the clothes I gave you, learn and cast it. Me and my mother will deal with the ghost, just stay close." Janice instructed as she got into her battle stance.
[Several hours later]
"We are here!" Jane announced as the group stopped in front of a large metal door.
"Are you sure?" Janice asked as she decapitated a zombie.
"Do you see the tunnel leading anywhere else?" Jane asked.
"No." Janice said as she put away her swords.
"I saw nothing!" Alduin shouted, looking as pale and white as Janice's dragon form as well as shivering like crazy.
"I heard nothing!" Shadowmere shouted, looking as pale as the white clouds in the sky, hugging onto Alduin as hard as possible for comfort.
"They aren't that scary." Janice said dismissively as she helped her mother open the heavy door.
An unholy, ear piercing screech sounded from within the blackness behind the door before a spectral tentacle shot out, attempting to squash Janice.
"Wrong move." Janice said as she sidestepped and slice the tentacle in half with Dawnbreaker.
The other half retreated with another ear piercing screech. The area behind the door sounded with more ghostly wails.
"Great, how do we avoid killing the wrong ghost?" Janice asked.
"Well, lookout for a ghost dragon." Jane answered.
"Easier said than done, this place is huge!" Janice exclaimed as she peered into the area with Night Eye. "There is got to be millions of ghosts here!"
"Well, be prepared for a long fight!" Jane shouted.
"Do you want to go in?" Alduin asked Shadowmere.
"N-n-n-no…" Shadowmere answered.
"Same here…" Alduin replied.
"You aren't going anywhere but in there!" Janice yelled as she grabbed Shadowmere by her collar and shove the two inside.
"Can you give me anything to protect myself?" Shadowmere asked.
"You should look in your other pocket. I have given you some spells to use." Janice replied as she continues her ghost killing rampage.
"Thank Sithis!" Shadowmere exclaimed as she went over the books quickly under the light from the Candlelight spell.
Using her Lightning Storm spell, Alduin managed to carve a tunnel within the hordes of zombies and ghosts that was around the group. "Good, at least you aren't afraid to use that spell." Janice said.
[A few hours and a very long climb later]
"Where in the Nine Holds are we?" Janice complained. "How can there be a very tall tower so near the surface yet not break the surface?"
"We were deep underground, didn't you notice the tunnel leads downwards?" Jane replied.
"Oh, but how is this built then? Some of the architecture looks recent." Janice commented.
"This was a Dwarven ruin once, then it was a Nordic burial tomb, hence the draugrs back there. It also serves as the Dunmer's burial grounds on the outside of the structure. Only recently was it used to inter lost souls, before it was sealed up due to the horrors inside." Jane answered.
"And we killed all of the 'horrors'?" Janice asked as Shadowmere and Alduin follow close behind.
"Technically, yes. But I guess it will be a matter of time before they come back." Jane replied.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go find Janice's soul and get out of here!" Shadowmere exclaimed as she dashed up the remaining slopes.
"You would expect an undead horse under the care of a group of assassins that KILL people to be braver when faced by the dead." Jane commented.
"She might have faced a skeletal dragon before…" Janice said.
"All by herself?" Jane asked.
"Yes, the worse part was I didn't intentionally resurrect the dragon, I was actually aiming for a bandit that has fallen near the word wall." Janice answered.
"Oh…" Jane muttered as the two Khajiits meet up with the horse-turned human and black dragoness in front of a huge golden metal door, easily five times bigger than the one they had entered the huge ruins from.
Pushing the huge doors aside, the group had expected there to be a room behind it, but it was a giant portal instead. Before anyone could react, huge ethereal tentacles shot out of the portal and dragged the three women and a dragon into the portal.
[Somewhere that look like Aetherius]
"Where are we?" Janice asked as she got up.
"Hello, me." A young voice sounded.
"Who's there?" Jane asked.
"Just me, and me. It is very lonely here." A young legendary class spectral dragonling appeared. "Would you like to play a game?"
"Who are you?" Alduin asked.
"Nobody, at least nobody that you know now, but twenty years ago… Well that is a different story." The dragonling said.
"You were the soul I was suppose to have?" Janice asked carefully.
"Of course, daughter of Akatosh. I was supposed to fulfill the prophecy of the Last Dragonborn, but I guess Father Akatosh deemed it too 'dangerous' for an average dragonsoul to handle." The dragonling answered. "All this talk is no fun! We should play a game."
"How do you know of this? And where exactly are we?" Janice questioned. "Let me know and I can consider playing a game."
"Arkay came to me, said I would be fine in this pocket dimension. He gave me toys to play with, but he didn't visit me as often anymore. It is lonely here, would you play with me?" The dragonling said as a box of toys materialises.
"Hey, I don't think it is a good idea. Who knows what this kid might do? Ghost children are the most scary of them all because of their unpredictability." Alduin whispered to Janice.
"We will play a game." Janice said. "If you want, you can get into this soul gem and I can bring you to see things that you never had the chance to see." Janice continued as she brought out a Black Soul Gem.
"That would be awesome! But let's play a game first." The dragonling bargained.
"What do you want to play?" Janice asked as she transforms.
"You are like what Arkay told me the last time he was here." The dragonling gawked in awe.
"This is going to be a very weird day." Alduin sighed as she got off Shadowmere.
"I want to play dolls! You be the doll and I play with you in this model of the Imperial Palace!" The dragonling exclaimed as a black dragon, a white dragon, a Khajiit and a Nord doll fell to ground where there was one living being and three undead beings before.
"Goody!" The dragonling exclaimed in excitement and happiness.
"This is going to be a long day…" The white dragon doll groaned.
"Quiet! Dolls can't talk!" The dragonling said as she placed the dolls inside the model gingerly with her jaws.
"How are you going to play with us as a dragon?" Jane asked.
Not answering, the dragonling turned into a spectral five year old Khajiit.
"Aww… You look like Janice when she was five!" Jane exclaimed.
"She is me, of course she is going to look like me!" Janice retorted. "I always wondered how I had looked like without my scar though. It just looks like something is missing."
"Your scar was certainly the most defining feature of your face." Shadowmere commented.
"Well, you always looked at my face, of course it is going to be that!" Janice shouted.
"I think she is a little angry that you are still talking." Alduin pointed out.
"Oh, sorry uhh… What do you want to be called?" Janice asked.
"Your name is Janice, and since you are me, I am Janice too." 'Janice' replied.
"How about June?" Janice offered.
"Fine, can we play now?" June asked impatiently.
"Alright, I will shut up now." Janice said.
[A few hours later]
"Are you sure this won't hurt?" June asked after the group was restored to their original sizes, Janice now transformed into her Khajiit form.
"You may feel funny, but it shouldn't hurt. I managed to remove all restrictions that the souls can't do when they are sent inside. So you can come out at any time, use your powers and probably even change the shape of the gem." Janice explained.
"Alright, I am ready." June said as she braced herself.
Without another word, Janice cast a soul trap spell and directed the soul energies into the gem, trying very hard to not absorb the soul into her body.
"There, how are you feeling?" Janice asked the gem in her hands.
"I can see everything outside the gem, wow. You look like a giant!" June's voice sounded from within the gem.
"Good." Janice said.
Suddenly, the pocket dimension starts to groan and rock. "I think this place is collapsing!" Janice yelled. "Quick! Get to the portal!"
"It closed!" Jane yelled as she saw the portal collapsed.
"I can help!" June screamed from within the gem.
Before anyone can reply, the group was instantly teleported into Honeyside.
"Jane?! Jane! Where were you?! All of you were gone for two days! And who is this Nord?" J'Zhar exclaimed in surprise at the group's sudden appearance.
"Where are we…" Shadowmere said dizzily.
"Father, this is my umm… horse, yeah, horse." Janice introduced Shadowmere.
"What have you done this time?" J'Zhar asked, holding his forehead in preparation of what is about to come. "The guards have left to look for you."
"I found my other soul!" Janice exclaimed excitedly. "She is in this gem."
"Hello, father!" June called out.
"Hi, uhh…" J'Zhar stuttered in calling his apparent 'true' daughter. "Janice?"
"We call her June." Janice replied.
"Okay, this is like raising you all over again! Except you can't die…" J'Zhar realized.
"Can you transform into something more portable? A soul gem isn't as handy as a necklace or ring." Janice asked June.
"Sure, and I am technically the same age as you, so don't treat me like a kid." June said as she transforms the gem into a black metal ring with a shining sapphire on it.
"You act like a kid when we met." Jane pointed out as Alduin settled herself on Janice's shoulder.
"Well, I can choose whatever age I want to appear in and I want to be a kid physically, alright?" June retorted.
"Fine," Janice replied.
"Can I get a good look at you?" J'Zhar asked.
"Sure, as a dragon or a Khajiit?" June asked.
"Khajiit." J'Zhar chose.
Without another word, the ring glowed and June stood in front of Janice, now in her twenties, looking exactly like Janice, except without a scar. The jewel on the ring had stopped shining, indicating that their is no soul inside.
"You two look exactly alike… Well, I guess I should be calling you my daughter too." J'Zhar said.
"Does this makes Janice less of a daughter to you?" Alduin asked.
"No, of course not! We are glad to have raised the daughter of Akatosh like she was our own." J'Zhar answered confidently.
"Well, let's go, we have been out of the city for longer than I anticipated." Janice said. "Shadowmere, go outside and I will turn you back."
"Alright." Shadowmere said before going out.
"Oh, let me do it!" June said enthusiastically.
"You don't even know what she look like as a horse!" Janice said as she walked with herself out the back door after the horse-woman.
"I could try…" June said.
"Alright, give it a shot." Janice said.
A soft glow engulfs the waiting Nord woman before glowing brightly. In the woman's place, a weird two wheeled metal vehicle stood in her place.
"What did you do?" Janice asked as she look to see if anyone saw it.
"She is now a Ducati Superbike!" June announced.
"A what? Whatever this is, I am going to turn her back." Janice facepalmed.
"You are no fun." June said as she went back into the ring that is now on Janice's left ring finger.
"Alright, Shadowmere, go and wait at the usual spot, I will be out soon." Janice told the horse.
"That was weird. See you later, I guess" Shadowmere said before trotting off.
[Imperial Palace Empress Chambers 8 p.m.. The next day.]
"So you found your soul inside a pocket dimension that Arkay created?" Derkeethus asked Janice as a spectral Janice look-a-like speaks with Alduin. "And you name her June?"
"Yeah, she seems to have the same powers as I do. Probably because she is a spirit, but who knows?" Janice said.
"So is she considered your sister or your other self?" Derkeethus asked.
"She is me and I am her, what do you think?" Janice asked.
"Your body is hers and you are your own soul… This is incredibly confusing! I am just going to call her your sister." Derkeethus said, rubbing his head in frustration after a few minutes.
"Suit yourself." Janice and June answered together.
"I am just glad that you came back safe, who knew what could have happened?" Derkeethus said in relief.
"Well, I have been out there fighting and riding for days, I am tired. Good night." Janice yawned as she climbed into bed.
"May I join you?" June asked.
"Why? Can't you sleep inside your ring?" Janice asked.
"I want to sleep on a real bed for once." June said.
"Alright, sure." Janice said as she invited June to climb into Derkeethus' side of the bed.
"Where do I sleep then?" Derkeethus questioned.
"You can sleep in her, I mean, it is not like she can't phase through objects at will." Janice answered with her eyes closed.
"I won't harm you." June said.
"Al-Alright then." Derkeethus stuttered, not liking the idea of sleeping inside a ghost.
A/N: If anyone is wondering, yes, June will play a part in the story to come. And why I hadn't went with a Khajiit name was that Janice named her in her own style of terrible names.