Miraak sat quietly in a chair with a book in his hands and a large pile of already read books sat next to him on the floor. Across the small room was Twilight, who was also sitting in a chair. But instead of reading she was observing Miraak quietly, sketching something in her notebook from time to time and taking a few moments to look him over before diverting her gaze back towards the small book. “If you are that bored go find something else to do princess. Even studying me must get rather dull.” She closed her book and moved in her seat, letting her legs rest on the it's left arm as she lay back on the other arm.

“You're bored too.” She says, putting the book on her chest. “And besides, you're not that boring of a subject.”

“I'd beg to differ. . . besides your a princess, cant you do what you wish?”

“I may be a princess but I don't do as I wish, we could go on a walk if you want?”

“No.”

“We could discuss your homeland, and your magic?”

“Already have, in great detail. And being's some of my magic is far to dangerous for you I'd suggest ending there.”

“Read then. You seem to like that?” He closed his book and looked back up at her.

“I have been stuck in a world made of literature. What you would find as a. . . dream come true, I found to be my prison for centuries.” He said, drumming his fingers along the wooden arm of the chair. “Now a days I find reading to be a. . . relaxing thing to do in my free time, something I have now to much of.”

“So lets find something then?” She said, tapping her hoof on the ground and crossing her arms. She looked down at the cover of Miraak's book, 'Spells of the Griffon Empire part II, by Arch-Wizard Delmont' . “You've already finished part One?”

“I did, last night before I returned to my chambers. Why?”

“Just wondering, took me a while to finish the first one and your halfway through the second.”

“If you were in Apocrypha as long as I was you'll learn to read faster.” He said. “What were you writing in your book?”

“Oh, just notes. Nothing special.”

“You were looking at me while you wrote. What was it you were righting.” He said, standing up from the chair and looking down on her.

“Oh. . . just notes. On you, plus I've been sorta. . . ” Unable to finish her sentence in time, Miraak simply took it from her and turned to the most recent page. There he saw something he didn't expect, causing him to crook his head to the side and say 'Oh?' quietly with a hint of curiosity behind it.

On the page he saw a quick sketch of himself, sitting in the chair and reading his book. Another sketch was of his mask in rather good detail. “You drew me?” She seem'd to look away in embarrassment, with a small blush.

“I did. . . thought it would be something to do to pass the time. Drew Spike once, also drew Rainbow once.”

He looked at the picture of himself again. “You are rather good. . . ” He stated, causing her to smile.

“Here. . . ” She took the notebook and ripped out the page. “Have it, its yours.” She said, giving him the picture. He looked at it for a brief moment, setting it down on the chair he was sitting on.

“I. . . thank you, I haven't been given something like this for. . . sometime.” He said, “Fine, you win. What is it you'd like to do today?”

“Well, Applejack wondered if I could help her at the apple farm today, I figured you'd want to come with.”

“I suppose a little sunlight wouldn't do anyone harm.” He said, setting the picture down on his book.

“Right, lets be off then.” She said. Setting her notebook down on her chair she walked to him. Grabbing onto his arm she then teleported them out of the castle and close to the apple farm.

“What exactly did she need help with?” He asked, Twilight, quickly walked next to him, adjusting her jacket as the cool autumn breeze hit them.

“Harvesting and storing the crops in the local granary.” She finished fidgeting with her jacket. “Primarily the apples, not the funnest of work but you'll get plenty of exercise from it. Did you do much farming on Nirn?”

“No. I was a dragon priest, one of the highest ranking people in our society, I had servants to fetch my food and so did the others.” He said. “How many pe. . . ponies, usually help the apples?”

“Well, usually it's just AJ and her brother Big Mac. Sometimes the girls and I help out but currently she has family over and they're helping with the harvest.” He stopped.

“Then why bring me?” She stopped and looked back at him.

“Well you wanted something to do didn't you?” In a way she wasn't wrong, he was sick of being cooped up in her castle all day. He simply shrugged and continued to walk with her. They soon saw the Apple farm and its massive orchard. Next to the large barn were several wagons and ponies walking among them, he could hear their laughter and talking all the way from the road.

“Big family.” He says.

“Yeah, grows every year, come on. Lets go introduce ourselves.” They then walked towards the farm.

Applejack walked into the barn with a chair in hand, her cousin Braeburn and Big Mac were setting up a large table in the center of the barn. Her loyal boarder collie Winona happily walked passed her and sat next to another one of the apple families dogs, her cousin Babs Seeds longhair collie.

She set the chair down and noticed Winona's ears perk up. “Smell something girl?” She said. Winona then quickly took off, with the other dog in tow, and three more dogs from the farm, another boarder collie, a golden retriever, and a corgi ran up the road and at a familiar princess and her otherworldly companion. The dogs seemed to be more focused on him rather than Twilight, save Winona beings she knew Twilight and tried to jump up at her and make her throw her ball.

The dogs circled and barked loudly at Miraak. He looked down at them and then towards the apple farm to see Applejack walking to him, clapping her hands and whistling. “Heel yah damned animals, ah said heel!” He looked at the mare. Unlike his first day of meeting her she was wearing long blue pants, a red flannel button up jacket and a white shirt underneath, due to the wind her hat was tied around her neck. Miraak looked at the dogs.

“Raan...MIR TAH!” After he shouted the dogs quieted down, they let off a small whine and then began to lay on their bellies, Winona including.

“What'd you do to'em?” Applejack asked, finally reaching the two.

“Made them stop barking.” He said. “Twilight said you could use some help in the harvest?”

“Well, yeah ah suppose, almost got everything finished up but we still got a few tree's needin' a buckin'” He stared at her, slightly tilting his head to the side.

“Bucking?” He said.

“It's how we get our apples down. We gather a few baskets and once we're ready we turn around, ready our legs and slam our hooves against the tree's as'ard as we can. Then the apples fall, how do your people collect apples?”

“We climb a latter and pick them.” He said, seemingly like the more sensible option.

“Nah, too slow. Can you buck?”

“No. Can I use magic?”

“Ah suppose, we are in a hurry. There are a couple tree's near the end of the pasture that need a buckin', get to it, Twilight a'hm gonna need some help in the barn.”

“Sure, glad to help out. Have fun.” She said, looking at Miraak and walking into the barn with Applejack. He looked down at the basket and picked it up.

Walking among the tree's he noticed the few apple family members out in his direction, mainly due to most of the tree's being cleared. He saw one of the two tree's he was supposed to 'buck'. “Never thought I, a dragon priest of Skyrim would be picking my own apples.” He looked up at the first tree. “Hmm. . . maybe a thu'um. . . ” He looked up at the tree. “FUS!”

A gust of air hit the tree, causing a few of the apples to fall but not all. “Strong tree. . . Fus...ROH!” Again few apples fell but not all. “I don't want to destroy the tree so I wont use the rest of the shout. . . hmm.” He looked down at the apples and back up at the tree, crossing his arms he decided to think of a new solution, slightly tapping his finger against his mask.

He knelt down, gathering the few apples and putting them into the basket. Then he thought of a solution. Standing up he walked towards the tree. Using the alteration spell Dragon flesh, he encased himself with the protective magic armor. “SU. . . GRAH DUN!” His shout, elemental fury, made his swings even faster. With the combination of the spell and the shout, he reeled his fist back and hit the tree with a heavy thunk as the result.

The tree shook, then as expected, the apples fell from it. Under his mask he smiled and picked up the apples. Though his hand was now in sight pain, he'd do the same process with the second. Hit it with unrelenting force, then with his hand. Once the second tree's apples we're gathered he put the baskets under his arms, that were now in pain from hitting it, and walked towards the other tree's.

Miraak's bruised and aching arm cracked loudly as it hit the last tree. As the apples fell from it he began to rub his arm, using a healing spell here and there to numb the pain, but the soreness wouldn't go away. If anyone saw him without his robes they could easily tell he's physically adept for exercise and fighting. But he wasn't built, let alone trained, for punching tree's. No sane person, beast, Elf, or Man would be sane enough to think of it.

Due to the Equestrian anatomy and muscle tissues he read about, they seemed suited for this type of work, and they had the ability to deliver a powerful and bone breaking kick if they try hard enough. He noticed earlier how Applejack and her brother were fit from the work they do here, more noticeably in Applejack's legs, thighs, and her toned abdominal region.

After the apples had been gathered in the small baskets he picked them up and walked back towards the barn. The surrounding tree's groaned from the wind pushing them and orange leaves danced across the ground in the cool breeze. The breeze, the tree's, and the leaves reminded him of the southern parts of Skyrim when he was once living there.

Even in his arrogance and strive for power and simple biast towards others, he found the forest of the Rift to be soothing and peaceful, a place he'd frequent from time to time to clear his mind of the ongoing troubles of that era. Solstheim once had a similar forest in the southern region, but due to his fight with Vahlok and subsequently ripping the region of Solstheim from Skyrim, many of it's tree's were lost.

And after the events of the Red Mountain eruption, those forests were now charred ash lands filled with dead tree's and skeletons. Simple shadows of its once former beauty. All that was left on, the now island, that was there prior were the few ruins. His temple and Bloodskal barrow. Even the goblins that were native to that area still remain on the island.

When he reached the barn he saw the several members of the apple family gathered inside. Once he was able to see them all together he noticed that most were Earth Ponies, an alicorn, and one unicorn, then himself. All of them were drinking and eating apple filled food products. He set the basket down and walked towards Applejack, getting the occasional eye from the members of her family. Once he was close enough he tapped on her shoulder. She turned around. “Ah ya finished?”

“I am. The tree's are cleared.” He said, a rather silly task in his own opinion and a painful one to boot.

“That's great to hear, how bout you enjoy yourself and eat some of the food here, SugarBelle really outdid herself today. Hell drink if you want. Just. . . mingle, have fun.” He looked at the large wooden barrel in the corner of the barn. There he saw one of the apple family members pour a substance into a tankard.

A drink wouldn't be to terrible. . .

“What is it?”

“Hard apple cider. Strong stuff too, be careful with it.” He wished she could see his unamused look behind the mask. Like the rest of his people, he could handle alcohol, staring from a young age.

“Thank you.” He said. He walked towards the table and sat down, not minding the others around him. A cup full of the hard cider was placed in front of him along with an apple turnover on a small plate. He looked to the side and saw Twilight take a seat next to him. “Princess.”

“It looked like you needed one.” She had no idea. . . Sliding the cup over to him, Miraak picked it up and looked at the brown cider. A little foam was on the top of it. He took off his mask and set it aside, letting his hair sit on his shoulders. He brought the cup to his lips and took a long sip from it, only putting it down when he was finished. Twilight noticed the braids he had in his hair. “Who taught you that?”

“My mother did, most of my people know how to braid, be it beard or mane.” He said. He wiped the drinks foam from his mouth. She gave him another cup. “Do you know how to braid?”

“Not so well, last time I did it was for my niece.”

“Niece?” Twilight fiddled around in her pocket to pull out a small brown wallet. She then took out a small picture of her and her brother with a small pink foal between them with a wide smile.

“Her name is Flurry Heart, or Flurry. She's the first born Alicorn in a very long time.”

“She looks like her mother.” He said, taking another drink from his cup.

The flavor of the drink was indeed good, but nothing compared to the ale or mead of Skyrim. After he finished it he set it down, wiping his mouth and catching the eyes of Applejack. “You finished that in a heartbeat,” He simply nodded. “well then. . . how bout a little game.” She took a seat in front of him.

“I'm not one for games.” He said, taking one of the small apple turnovers off the plate and eating it.

“This is an adult game.” She said. He only knew a few adult games, drinking and a not so appropriate one he read in a certain book back on Nirn, even the denizens of this world would find it strange, well probably not Spike due to him having scales.

Though not that he's complain much, the females of this world are strangely attractive in his own opinion. And the constant exercise she went through did keep her in a very fit condition.

“What kind of game?” He asked. She walked over to one of the barrels of cider and several cups. She waved her brother over and another family member. She set the barrel down on the table and filled up one of the cups. She slid it towards Miraak. She then took off her jacket and set it on her chair. Her brother then filled up another cup and sat down, so did the other Apple.

“No pauses, no spills, and no regurgitation.“ She said. “M'ah cousin Braeburn is a champion back in Appaloosa.”

“So a drinking game then?” Her brother laughed and nodded before drinking the cup.

“Last one standing wins.” Applejack said, drinking from her cup.

“Fine then.” Miraak said, quickly drinking the cider. Twilight sat close to him with Applebloom right next to her.

“Oh this aught'a be good.” The youngest apple said.

Almost four hours had gone by since the game started and already the crowd that was once gathered around them seemed to not care about the event anymore. Her cousin Braeburn had already slumped over onto the table, his hat covering his face. Applejack herself lay face first on the table, her ears and hair lying as flat at her face and her right arm acted as a pillow while her left hand had a full cup of cider in it. He brother Big Mac was the last standing with Miraak, he knocked the cups aside in a small drunken stumble, babbling something incoherently before filling up the small cup.

Miraak slowly filled his cup and brought it to his mouth and slowly sipped. He watched as the big red stallion smacked his lips and brought the cup to his, He then drank it in one powerful go. He slowly tried to move the cup to the table next to the other finished drinks. "Y. . . yer. .*burps*. . next. . smmm. . . ooth skin." Before he could finish his sentence Miraak had already filled himself and Mac another cup, then giving the stallion a cocky little grin.

Mac quickly took the cup and brought it to his face. Before he could drink it he became cross eyed and then fell backwards onto the floor, the cup spilling its contents all over the floor. Miraak smiled and drank his, he then took the unfinished one from Applejack's hand and drank that. He stood up, slightly stumbling only a little. He wasn't drunk, his legs simply fell asleep from sitting to long. He reached over and took his mask in hand and put it back on. He then held his head. “Golly, never seen anypony beat m'ah siblings in cider drinking, specially mac, nice work.” Applejack's young sister said.

“Thank you.” Miraak replied. “I don't think your alcohol effects me or it's rather weak.”

“Best I get AJ to bed, thankfully she's as stiff as a board when she's drunk and asleep.” She poked her sister in the shoulder. Applejack let off a noise that was a combination of a moan and a groan.

“Are all the six like this when intoxicated?”

“Pinkie gets loud, Fluttershy gets bold, my sister sometimes passes out, Rarity gets loud and. . . well I don't want to get into that but it involved m'ah sis.” Miraak understood what she meant, if only he could see his coy smirk behind his mask. “Rainbow brags she can hold it but she really passes out and throws up after the fifth drink. And Twilight. . . well. . . look for yourself.”

“What do you—” Before he could finish he felt someone lean against him.

“Heeeeyyy. . . heeey. . . . heyyy. . . I've. . . I . . I I'fe got somfin to tell ye.” The princess said with an obvious slur and the smell of cider in her breath.

“Hello princess. What is it you have to tell me.”

“Come closer. . . . ” He moved closer. ”Closer. . . . ” He did again. “Clooosssseeerrr.” She whispered. She leaned in close to his ear and whispered. “Wanna see my cutie mark~” She said in a sultry voice that ended in a small drunken giggle. He deadpanned behind his mask and sighed.

“Its time we get you home.” Grabbing Twilight by her legs he lifted her up and had her rest on his shoulder, her arms dangling off his back while he held onto her legs, causing her to laugh. He could hear her cup clatter against the barn floor.

“Yeah we don't need a snookered princess right now, make sure she doesn't do anything bad.” Applebloom said.

“I'll make sure.” He walked towards the barn door.

“By by Applebloo. . *BURP*. . . . oooo. . . skews me.” Twilight said, waving her goodbye. More like a flail then a wave. Applebloom returned with a small wave and a light wry laugh before shutting the barn doors.

“I remember when my brother would carry me around when we were kids, I was always the monkey on his back,” she said, with the occasional hiccup or burp. She reached over his shoulder and took his mask.

“Give it back. it's no toy.” He said, he looked over his shoulder to see that she was playing with it.

“I got your mask, I got your mask, I got your. . . . ooooo, bet I look scary in this.” She said, trying to put it on but was unable to due too her muzzle. “You know, I don't think my brother likes you.”

“A shame,” Miraak said, rolling his eyes. “not many people like me to begin with.”

“Buuuuuuuuut I like you. . .” She said, poking his cheek. “I think you a nice. . . . . pony. Your just quiet and getting used to not having servants. . . . . and. . . stuff.” In a way he did feel somewhat better from her words, though she was drunk and not sure if she was being honest. She then used her tail to tickle his face.

“Stop that.” He said.

“Aww. . . you like it.” He groaned and grabbed her tail, giving it a slight tug to make her stop. Twilight ten let out a small gasp, followed by a coo. “Do that again pwease~” Weather that made his situation worse or better he didn't know. He wasn't going to take advantage of a drunk princess, but in this situation she seemed to have an urge to take advantage of him.

“No.” He said, paying attention the the pink dusk sky.

“Pwease. . . ” She said.

“No.” He responded again, trying to ignore her.

“Did you have fun today?” She asked, trying to look at him.

“My arms are sore, I have a headache, and I have a drunken minx on my shoulder trying to vex me with her sultry and drunken rabble.”

“Sooooooooo. . . . . . . ” He groaned.

“Better than being stuck in a realm of oblivion.” He said, Twilight let of what seemed like a small squeal of glee.

As they continued down the road he used the spell Magelight to conjure a small glowing orb to illuminate his path. Twilight began to pull on his cloak. “What is it now princess.”

”Pu. . . put me down, I think. . . I think I'm gonna. . .” She quickly flapped her wings and wriggled free of Miraak's grasp, dropping his mask on the ground, and running behind a tree. As knelt down to retrieve his mask he stopped halfway when he heard her retching behind the tree. He stood back up and walked over to her, kneeling down beside her and grabbing her hair, not looking down at the small puddle she made. “Thanks. . . . uhh. . ”

“You shouldn't drink so much.” He said, causing Twilight to laugh wryly.

“You sound like Shinning, ugh . . . . my head hurts.”

“Princess.” She looks over at him. Before she could react he flicked her on the head, a small but of magic coming from the impact point.

“Huh, what did yo. . . you do that. . . for.” She mumbled, slowly slumping forward and onto his shoulder. She let off a few small snores. He picked her up once again and using telekinesis to retrieve his mask. The sleep spell he read about earlier seemed to work fine on her.

“Good night princess.” He put his mask back on and walked towards her castle, Twilight quietly snoring and drooling on his back as he walked.

****Nirn****

Teldryn slammed the training sword against Frea's shield, a shield made of bear hide with copper pins holding it together. The shied absorbed most of the impact, Frea then took her sword and swung it towards Teldryn, the elf quickly blocked with his shield. “Hit him harder Frea.” Tyr said, watching them from the stables.

“Is that Falmer ready to go?” Rayya asked.

“Just about, I have to contact Kharjo soon, hopefully he and his caravan are in Whiterun.”

“And if they're not?”

“Then I'll take it to the Vale, and I'll leave the supplies for Gelebor.” He patted his horses side and walked back into the hall. As Frea was about to strike Teldryn's shield she noticed he was staring at something behind her. She heard what sounded like a horse trotting up towards the house and turned around.

It was a Stormcloak soldier, a young one mounted on a horse native to Skyrim. On its saddle was an imperial light shield with Ulfrics's bear painted on it. The young soldier wore standard Stormcloak gear, a blue gambeson over chainmail, a scaled helmet, and iron gauntlets. A sword was sheathed on his belt and he had a long iron spear in his hands with a small blue banner near the tip with the bear of Ulfric on it. Also on the horses saddle was a large bag with several scroll containers on it, a hunting bow and quiver, sleeping mat, and small hand axe.

The horse stopped and he looked down on them. He had long brown hair with braids and a darker skin tone than most Nords. “Is the Dragonborn named Tyr present?” He asked, Teldryn and Frea looked at each other and back at him.

“He is, why?” Teldryn asked.

“I have a message for him elf.” The soldier said rather rudely.

“I can take it for him if you wish?” He then asked.

“This message is for the Dragonborn's eye's and hands only, not you.” The soldier dismounted and walked towards the hall, purposefully bumping into him as he walked by.

“There is no need to be rude.” Frea said to him.

“Hmpf, no wonder you Stormcloak fools are in the position you are in now, your pissing off the people that hate the empire just as much as you do.” He took the sealed scroll from the soldiers pocket as he walked by and opened it. “Tyr Twin-shields? Interesting name.” The soldier turned and tried to take the scroll from him.

“Give it back elf! That is for the Dragonborn's eye's not yours!” He tried to grab it, but due to Teldryn beings taller he only lifted it up above his head. The soldier stopped grabbed his sword, Teldryn stopped and looked at it. He then looked back up at the soldier with a not so intimidated look.

“You think that little hunk of iron scares me boy? Put it away, 'fore ya hurt yourself.” Before the soldier could confront Teldryn he was stopped by someone grabbing onto his collar.

“Einar that's enough.” Tyr said, “Put the sword away!” The young soldier looked at Teldryn and grunted, he let go of his sword. Tyr let him go. Teldryn then handed him the scroll.

“Twin-shields?” He asked, Tyr opened the scroll and read it.

“I'll tell you later.” He looked back at the scroll and began to read through it. “I've been summoned to Whiterun.”

“Bit of a coincidence don't you think, what for?”

“The coronation of Balgruuf the Greater, he's becoming Jarl again if he swears loyalty of Ulfric. Who gave you this message Einar?” The young man walked towards Tyr.

“Galmar did, he asked for you personally.” He said, “Will you be going?”

“I suppose, Balgruuf is a friend. If it wasn't for his help I'd never been able to capture Odaviing, and how can I deny this invitation from our one true king.” He said, a bit of disdain in his voice when he mentioned Ulfric.

“Good, I'll wait out here and go to Whiterun with you.” The young man walked and mounted his horse, he looked down at Frea. “M'lady.” She huffed and walked inside with Tyr and Teldryn.

“That child best watch his tongue around me or I'll tear it out.” Teldryn said, walking to a stand and setting his training weapons down. “He's not even a Nord.”

“He knows better than to say those things around me.” Tyr said. “And he's half-Nord.”

“The boy, how do you know his name?” Frea asked, walking over to Teldryn and setting her training gear down next to his.

“He's my nephew. His father, Eric, was my brother, his mother was a Redguard named Saadi.”

“Never knew you had one.” Teldryn said, putting his sword belt on.

“Never asked, but... now you know.” He said. He quickly put on his armor and walked out towards his nephew and his horse, with Teldryn and Frea in tow.

“Are you ready uncle?”

“Yes, come now. Let us go and see out king. . .” He walked over to his horse and mounted it, Frea climbed onto his and held onto his sides while Teldryn mounted his own horse, a black stallion he had named Scorpion, a rather beautiful creature.

Einar's horse nickered and it soon left the house and down the road to Whiterun, with the Dragonborn in tow.

Author's Note

Yay a new Chapter, hope everyone enjoys it. Next few chapters are gonna be longer that this, so more content. In this i picture Skyrim to be a land the size of at least all of Scandinavia so I can add some more content to it.

But the next chapter will be started soon and I estimate at least a month or less to make it. As always, like and comment.