My Little Scrolls: Oblivion

Red sky was lit with ominous flashes of lightning. To the horizon stretched the Deadlands, alternated by lava lakes. Everywhere sticking out of the ground strange protrusions, like claws, covered with blood. All this place was very scary, but the most terrible was a huge black tower rising up to the sky.

“I underestimated these miserable mortals. Who knew that they have the courage and strength to withstand not only pathetic cultists, but the army of Daedra? I lost by betting on their indecision. They had the nerve to call the damned Akatosh! Unfortunately, now the direct way for me to Nirn closed.” - Lightning flashed, snatching from the darkness huge ominous figure of four hands.

“Now I'm sure that I did not see to it all. The water balance is broken, and every minute I start to get clearer signals from the long passage that is overlapped. Is this it? Ancient prophecy of father was true? This must be carefully checked...”

“ZARDASH”!

In the throne room a bright flash lit up the materialization of a Dremora.

“Yes, my Lord?”

“You are to take your squad, go to the depths of the water, find the center of the imbalance. We should not miss this opportunity. Go!!”

When the Dremora disappeared, Mehrunes Dagon said quietly “first, my prey will be the unknown one, and then Nirn. Unless the front door lies closed, then the back shall be my option.”

In the sacred hall of renaissance of Dagon’s castle, five Dremora lined up before the sixth. Tall grey-skinned Daedra, with a pair of twisted horns were one of the best warriors among mortals and immortals.

“Listen to me, kynazes! On our shoulders lies the sacred mission! Only we can restore the name of Daedra in the minds of mortals! We lost one time, we have no chance to even one mistake! Forward! Our challenge is to conduct reconnaissance on the miserable mortals, learn everything you can about this unknown world, and most importantly: to find a way to get into Nirn’s reverse side of the world. We have an important task, and we will fulfill it!

With these words, Zardash jumped into the sacred waters. Dremora followed him a few moments later.

A few days earlier…

“AAAA!!” the now-former Unicorn Twilight Sparkle, shouting, jumped out of bed.

“What is it, Twilight?” her assistant, Spike, ran with excitement.

“N-nothing,” said the slightly stammering now-Alicorn. “Just a nightmare...”

“Hmm, you seem a bit tense, Twilight. You should relax; the last few days were rather heavy” the drake stated. “And this sudden transformation into Alicorn...no wonder that you have such dreams. Have a rest!”

Twilight sighed and went to the window. A few days going she had dreamt strange dreams, suspiciously identical. Mysterious starry sky, with unusual constellations. Fortress, or enclosed city with high walls. And his eyes. Eyes, whose gaze reminds both of Sombra and Discord.

Her opinion expressed it a strange curiosity. An opinion that is not promising anything good.

Twilight sighed again. Maybe her assistant right? Maybe she really should relax, go to a couple of Pinkys parties...

“But anyway, it is necessary to ensure.”

“Spike, I think should write to a princess. Princess Luna, in fact” Twiligh expressed.

“What? But why Luna?”

“She is our patron of the night. If someone can tell me what's going on in my head, she’s the one” the Alicorn explained.

“Okay, Twilight, I think I'll be able to deal with that. Go, take ease, and I'll do all you need” Spike said.

The purple Alicorn nodded and left. In Ponyville flared fine day; through the efforts of the Pegasi the sky was absolutely clean. Twilight looked around, wondering where to go, but at the same time was knocked on the ground by a rainbow-colored comet.

“Hi, Twilight, where are you heading?” asked the "comet.”

“Rainbow Dash, can you even some times watch where you're flying?” Twilight asked worriedly, trying to get out from under the Pegasus.

“Sorry, but I'm not up to examining the area. I was racing to check out my awesome new idea!” Rainbow explained.

“Will you let me know what is it?”

“Well, the last few days in Ponyville were pretty boring; all the books about Daring Doo I re-read, so I was struck by a brilliant idea! I myself would become such an adventurer! So I was hurrying to get the necessary equipment, while I created inspiration! By the way, do you know where the closest secret tomb is?” the brash Pegasus asked.

“What?! Rainbow, you're serious? You have any idea how dangerous that is? Anything can happen! I didn’t  expect this, even from you!” Twilight protested.

“Yeah, come on, Twilight. What bad could possibly happen with such a cool pony like me? Anyway, I have to go, I need to find some more things. By the way, there is one thing... About inventory. Could you persuade Applejack lend me a rope? When I told her what I needed it for she just flatly refused me for some reason.”

With these words the Pegasus took off, leaving a small vortex in her wake.

“And why am I not surprised?” muttered Twilight under her breath. “This pony will not become bored, no matter what. Well, at least someone has kept a sound mind.” Having said this Twilight, deciding that she in fact still needed somewhere to go, went to the Apple farm.

Applejack was pretty easy to find. Outside it was early Autumn; some varieties of apples had ripened, and from the southern part of the garden came the sound of strikes against wood.

Descending from a small hill, Twilight noticed the orange mare, who was just finishing her work.

“Hi, AJ” greeted Twilight.

“Hi-” Applejack bucked the tree. “-sugarcube. Phew, looks like that’s it for t’day. Yet quite a few more trees matured, so quite a bit left to do. So, how can I be of help?” the orange mare asked.

“Yes, well, I have, in fact, nothing important. I just came to talk. Did you hear about Rainbow’s new venture?” Twilight said.

“This ‘s about ‘looking for adventure?" Well, y’all know this pegasus. A few days later it all blows over. Plus I don’t know about any ancient ruins in the vicinity of Ponyville.”

“Yes, I have to admit, I just was waiting to hear this one from the Cutie Mark Crusaders, rather than from an adult pony” Twilight admitted.

Talking softly, the two mares went towards the farm, not noticing the shadow eyeing them from the trees.

"Looking for adventure? Sounds great. Need to consult with the others” whispered the little yellow pony and ran toward the town proper.

At the same time…

I, Tanais, go in this cave at the fourth hour of dawn. All I could find is a warehouse of weapons and cult equipment. A few more gold pieces. But nothing useful for my job. It was really uncomfortable to look for something with no cross on the map. This was the fifth den of the Mythic Dawn investigated over the last two days, and I'm starting to think that I should not have worried. Maybe I was wrong? Maybe, Nirn really WAS safe from the hordes of Dagon? But the words Tar-Meena spoke haunt me. It seems that the only way to calm down is to rummage through all places somehow related to the Dawn.

I leaned against the wall, when part of it shifted. So apparently this room was some storehouse of religious literature. After spending some time in Tar-Meena’s study, and several hours in this secret room, I had decided that there was nothing interesting here, and was about to leave when I drew an excerpt from one of the documents.

All our actions are carefully planned. Errors should not be. But we should not be overconfident. Therefore, in the event of unforeseen obstacles, all the leaders of the Order should meet in the shelter under the first gate. Dagon be with us.

Dawn is coming. Greet the new day.

One more shelter? So, I should immediately go there. So if these sects did not come up, it does not mean anything good... The first gate, huh? If I'm not mistaken, it was that one that rose before Kvatch’s gate. It's time to go.

The next day.

Dagon and their conquest started here. Kvatch was beautiful city, where we stayed when my father and I went to Anvil. For one night Daedra turned it into burning ruins. Thousands of dead, and my first closed gate. It was a good battle. Fortunately, almost all Daedra entered the city, leaving only a small garrison tower. Fatal error. Then I was young and inexperienced. But then I went through hell. And was successful. Since then, they call me the Hero of Kvatch.

Now, six years after the crisis, some blocks partly restored, but most of the city still lies in ruins. Sad spectacle, but I'm here for a purpose. The document states that shelter was under the gate. This almost certainly meant that I will have to climb back into the sewer. How I hated them during my travels. But nothing can be done about, unless I wanted to dig a hole. Guards at the gate joyfully welcomed their savior, but did not asking too much. I began to search for the descent. Finding the hatch, I took a deep breath and jumped down. I hoped there were no more Daedra, like Scamps. Taking a torch from the wall and consulting the compass I began my quest. Wandering about for twenty minutes, I began to think that I should first check all the doors on the top, but I was lucky. Examining one of the aisles, I noticed a switch, which pressed easily. Taking caution I was surprised that the ceiling had not fallen down, but instead the switch quietly opened a hidden door. When I entered the hallway that led farther in front of me were only two guards, both of which I struck down with a single blow. Something's too easy I thought. Trying not to make a noise I went down the hall. On the second turn I heard voices.

“...almost done.”

“Right, Brother. My people are already finishing the preparations. Passage is almost ready. Fortunately the first gate, on the left, we have a weak spot in the structure of the astral world. Victims brought by us should be enough to be able to break through the wall of the channel, that once connected Nirn and Oblivion. Your task - to get between worlds, and to let the Lord pass. We can not again be disgraced before the Lord. We have summed him once...”

“Do not worry, this time we shall not be interfered with...”

“Khm-Hum.”

“What's that?” one of the Dawn men said, turning at my sound.

“I said, "Ahem”. Did I mention how much I love the theatrics? No? Well, anyway, this was great. Their shocked faces were better than any praise. “I think you allow yourself too much” I said softly. “I will have to stop you again.”

“But... How... No matter. Guardians!!”

At that point out came many cultists. I really did not think that they had so many still... I parried the first, cut the breasts of the second, third cut throat... I didn’t think they had a chance, but then their leader also understood that. I noticed a strange altar in the middle of the room. Now he blazed a pale light.

“Faster, Brother!” one of the head cultists exclaimed.

“You will not leave ANYWHERE!!!” I yelled as I brought down two more guards. I ran for the the portal.

The Priests’lightning smashed my shield to pieces, but I managed to make a breakthrough to the altar. Three surrounded me, but I did not pay attention to them. My goal was that of a saboteur, who was going to go to Oblivion. In my last effort I hit one in the back, but then I pushed and I couldn’t keep my balance and slipped on a puddle of blood, felt down in a closed portal.