Ch. 18 Conquer Yourself Part Two

Just a warning, this chapter might be a bit shorter than normal due to wanting to devote enough time to Marius fighting himself. I'll try and make the fight live up to expectations and leave you all wanting for the mating fight between our two unlikely lovers but you have to love lover quarrels.

Most people have asked me to make Marius scorned about what Aldy has done and to be honest it does make sense but you have to remember that they will be mates if he wins because instinct would demand they take each other right then and there and since dragons mate for life it's not like he could find another female. Still I like it so we'll see what happens.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters belong to Bethesda. All OC's belong to their respective creators.

"Breath and focus Dovahkiin." Paarthurnax said as Marius stood apart from his specter. "Concentrate on your Thuum, feel it in your bones and the words in your soul. Allow those to guide your movements and let the Thuum flow through you like a river."

Marius said nothing but the tighter grip on his sword was telling enough. He was attempting to control himself but he was jittery with the upcoming fight, he had a good feeling that he wouldn't lose this time and he quickly charged his opponent with a low strike. His specter blocked it with his sword before spinning and lunging with a mid strike that forced Marius to roll away and growl.

A quick shift in his stance and he was off again but this time he had a small firebolt ready in his hands and he let it fly just before he reached his specter but the specter anticipated this and countered with one of his own as it met Marius's sword with its own almost effortlessly but Marius lunged with his foot and finally connected and pushed the specter back.

'That was not me!' Marius thought as he settled back in a stance. 'What is going on?' His movements weren't completely made by his own mind anymore. He lashed out with his sword arm but when the block came his right immediately came up and delivered a hard punch to the chest of his specter. As expected, the specter went backwards before countering with a loud "Fus Ro Dah" that pushed Marius almost to the edge of the mountain.

A low growl escaped Marius as he felt his blood boil and power surged through him. "Qo Qah Jaaril!" Marius Shouted as his entire body crackled and soon lightning danced around him in a living barrier. The sounds and tingling made him flinch at first but his body adjusted to it rather quickly.

His specter on the other hand seemed confused and a little wary as Marius grinned and shot forward with lightning dancing along his blade. His specter barely got a blade up to block it before Marius had turned for another strike with another successful hit that had his specter double guessing now. Marius's grin got even wider as his dragon half was roaring in triumph as his specter released a torrent of fire from its mouth. As the fire sailed towards Marius, he only laughed as it splashed against his own lightning and in a matter of seconds it died while his lightning crackled and fizzled but it held firm.

"So this is what Paarthurnax meant, and what I was missing." Marius said to himself as he adjusted his stance. His opponent charged again as Marius felt something pulling on his body, as if something wanted to guide his movements but he shrugged it off and met his specter blade for blade as his armor sent small bolts towards his attacker and allowed Marius to push back with a mighty heave.

It went like this for the next 10 minutes; Marius would land a successful blow and his armor would protect him from a counter and he would begin to strike wit increased ferocity. He also felt something guide his actions because every swing by his specter was countered perfectly as Marius often feinted right but something pulled him left and it turned out to be highly successful.

His specter was starting to get angry as Marius felt his armor finally fade away but he was too caught up in the moment to care. He was finally beating his specter by a wide margin and he wasn't about to stop. Giving a loud war cry he charged again with a high swing that was ducked under and his specter countered with a low sweep that made Marius jump back. Upon getting his balance they charged each other again and met blade for blade in the snow.

His specter went for a mid lunge but Marius blocked and parried with a right arc swing that was dodged and followed by a diagonal slash that threatened to cut into Marius's shoulder but he angled the hilt of his sword to block that before using the pommel to try and bash the specter on the head. When he did he was met with a sharp intake of breath followed by another Unrelenting Force shout the slammed him into the word wall.

"You are almost there Dovahkiin." Paarthurnax said as Marius shook his head to clear it. "You have him on the edge now unleash yourself and finish him."

"Unleash myself?" Marius asked hesitantly.

"Allow your Dov free and crush your enemy." Paarthurnax said simply. "Don't limit yourself, use your full power."

"How would I do that?" Marius asked as his specter charged him.

"Feel it in your Suum, your body. Feel it wash over you like a wave of energy and allow it to power your Thuum! Feel it in your bones and give it a voice" Paarthurnax said encouragingly as Marius felt his entire being agree with the elder dragon.

Marius moved to block the sword strike and delivered a powerful kick to the specter's chest as it reached him. While it recovered, Marius started to deep breathe as he allowed himself to immerse in his power, what started as a slow build up of energy quickly became a torrent of power that seemed to flood from the dragon half of his soul. Power began to course through his body as words of power began to form in his mind. Words that would change the entire balance of power if they were known to anyone with the knowledge of the Voice.

"Buld Uzur Dovah!" Marius shouted and then light enveloped him as his own skin started to burn away and new skin started to form as he was driven to his knees in pain as his entire being was being shaped and reformed into something new that would eventually bring fear into any who opposed him. His hair began to recede and scales began to cover every inch of his body as it elongated and twisted with muscles being grown and new parts being added to his form. His back was threatening to bust open completely as wings began to bust from their confines and a large spade-tipped tail formed behind him.

The process was quick but painful for the Dragonborn as it finally started to slow down and light began to fade as Marius opened his now draconic red eyes with a grunt as he saw the world through a dragons eyes.

Gone was the 5"10' frame, black hair and green eyes and in their place was very dark red borderline black scaled dragon with straight horns on his head and a line of spines that reached from his head all the way to the tip of the tail and matching wings with a membrane the color of darkness. His claws and talons were the darkest color of black and his scales had a distinct shape that looked like he could stab anyone that got too close with them.

Marius was a dragon and his specter was the prey now. As he settled on his legs and wings he almost lost his balance but was able to right himself before he tipped. He would have to get use to walking but that would come later, for now he had prey in front of him and this prey began to back away.

With a loud roar, Marius released a torrent of flame from his maw and the entire area in front of him was bathed in searing heat and flames.

And cut and print this and let the fans read it!

Sorry for the wait but my mother went cleaning happy and it ate into my time in doing this but I think I got it to everyone's liking. We finally get to see Marius as he should be and next he will be learning some nice little dragon vs dragon combat and we will check in with our lovable female and see what she has planned for a certain organization.

Also, for the troll who keeps pming me and then deleting his account: Seriously, if you don't like my stuff then don't read it, it's that simple and leaving me idiotic pms about how all my stories suck and how I should be ashamed is pretty stupid. Yes I know Aldy is male and I know that Spyro is male and yes I know the Arbiter is male too but it's fanfiction and people love them so get a life and stop bothering me.

Picture of what Marius looks like as a dragon is the cover image for this story. Just imagine it being like the dragons in Skyrim.

Translations courtesy of Thuum . Org

Qo Qah Jaaril – Lightning Protect Armor (Lightning armor shout – envelopes the shouter in armor made from lightning, boosts defense and offensive capabilities)

Buld Uzur Dovah – Form Convert Dragon (Dragon form shout – allows the shouter to temporarily take the form of a dragon)

Suum – Breathe (Thuum has it as Sum but I could swear Paarthurnax said Suum in the game so idk)