"Well, welcome to Skyrim I guess," the cat-like man said, looking at me, his hands bound behind his back. "It's not the most pleasant way in, but you're here now, probably not for long though."

That sent a shiver down my spine, I had no idea what was going to happen to me, but my hands have been cuffed behind my back. I would assume that I'm going to be either exiled or executed. "Where are they taking us?" I asked the cat man opposite.

"Probably to Helgen, based on my understanding," he said, looking around, "Likely to execute us, me and you though, we're not rebels, right? Not trying to spy or anything? We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Yeah, can't we explain that to them?" I asked.

"Unlikely, they don't like it when we talk, nevermind arguing with them. I've heard tales that they've cut out the tongues of people like us for less."

I quickly shut my mouth, I didn't feel like talking anymore. The cat man person noticed and tried to take my mind off it, "So, who are you, and where are you from?" he asked.

"What's it matter, we're both going to die anyway."

"An Imperial's last thought should be of home," he said, "And if we're dying together we should at least know each other's name."

"Alright, well. I'm Sunset Shimmer, I'm from Cyrodiil, it's a nice enough nation, but I really don't like the current powers there, what with King Sombra getting power and all. What about you, who are you?" I asked, partially out of curiosity: I had never seen anyone who looked much unlike me, naturally, I had seen some other skin colours, some very exotic ones, but no-one who looked as different as this person.

"My name is Valhallen, I'm from Elsweyr originally. I was leaving Skyrim having lived here for a fair while, trying to leave my previous life of crime behind, I was a thief, had to be, needed the money," he said, before looking down at his bound hands, "But now, I wanted to turn over a new leaf you know."

"Well, it looks like that didn't go to plan did it," I said, seeing a city wall appear in sight, I decided I might as well bring up the third person in the cart, she had been silent the whole journey, and I originally thought she might have just wanted to be silent, but thinking about it now, maybe she didn't have a tongue. "So who are you then?" I said, looking over towards her.

"Watch your tongue, you're talking to Queen Dash - Rainbow Dash - a hero to the people. Or at least she should be the queen, she was on this cart before us, so she was caught earlier," Valhallen said, looking over to Dash, who nodded after each comment, "She can't risk opening her mouth because she will lose her tongue within minutes. She was taught by the Greybeards how to use the true power of the voice," Valhallen said, "She's a Nord, a true Nord. She believes in Skyrim's independence, unlike those Imperialist fuckers lead by that want-to-be-Queen Applejack."

"Huh, so you're kinda important then?" I said, looking over to her, she hands were also bound, but unlike us, so were her legs, bound by a chain that would allow small steps. my heart skipped a beat as I realised, if they had her then they were going to kill us. "Oh gods, we are going to die aren't we," I said as we were brought into the city through the large gates.

"Probably," Valhallen said. Great, real fucking reassuring. The carriage we were riding in stopped near a wall, leaving us facing the city. I looked around seeing a mother calling her children indoors and several people standing around a chopping block, next to a large man with a huge well-kept steel looking axe.

"End of the line," A voice said, "Get out and stand in line," she said, her voice both calming and powerful, I felt compelled to get out, but not because of the commanding sound, because her voice sounded sympathetic of us.

We all stepped out of the cart, another one stopping alongside us, the people from that also getting out. "You can't do this!" one of the men from the other cart yelled before running, he looked like he was going to make it away before he was hit in the back of the head with two arrows, both piercing his skull. I hadn't even realised there were archers, that's how observant I am. Looking around I saw them standing atop a tall stone watch tower, towering over the rest of the small city.

"Anyone else wanna run?" the women said, after that impressive show from the two archers, I'll stay. "No? Good."

"Step forward when I call your name," she said, commanding as ever. "Rainbow Dash," she yelled - the girl next to me, barely older than me, maybe even the same age. "Some here call you a hero, but a hero doesn't use a power like the voice to kill the king of a country and take over the crown. Any last words?" she asked.

Rainbow stood in silence, refusing to look the other lady in the eye.

"No? Clever, we're killing you anyway, so you're staying silent until the end," she said, looking down at her list again, "Valhallen of Elsweyr," she said, he stepped forward, "Don't you live here anyway?" she said. Valhallen just smiled, he looked like he had accepted his fate.

I was still coming to terms with mine.

"Whatever, Sunset Shimmer of Cyrodiil," she said. I stepped forward. "I'll make sure your remains are sent back to Cyrodiil," she said.

"Please don't," I said timidly, I hated that place enough, last I'd want is some stupid mage bringing be back with a spell.

"Heh, fine," she said, "To everyone their own, can't say I've heard of you, but your with this bunch, so you must be trouble," part of me wanted to tell her that I wasn't trouble, but I had learned quickly that keeping my mouth shut would be a virtue around here.

"Next, Heated Flare," she said, a girl from the other carriage stepping forwards. She looked a bit like me, but I don't think she's an Imperial. She said something to her like she had me, but I didn't know what, "Finally, Proto Swipe," she said, a girl with metal daggers that looked like they were melted into her hand stepped forward, they looked like they'd hurt her as much as whoever was unlucky enough to be on the other end of it. "One of those new Augment magic test subjects huh?" I heard the person with the list say, "I don't envy you, the person who's developing that is mental."

"Alright, prisoners, to the block," she yelled. "Father, give them their last rites," she said, looking to a man in a large hooded cloak.

"Blessings of the two divines upon you, as we pass your souls..." he began., before being cut off abruptly.

"For the love of Discord, shut up, let's get this over with," Valhallen said, stepping up to the block and standing in front of it.

"As you wish," the hooded man said, stepping back.

The official who had the list stepped forward, pushing against Valhallen's back, pushing him down, as he lowered his head over the block. The large man above him rose his axe.

I wanted to yell this isn't right, but I knew that would just get me killed sooner, and I cherished the last few minutes of my life. The axe came down swiftly, pulled mostly by gravity more than strength, tearing Valhallen's head from his body in an instant, his head rolled about a bit as it landed in the box prepared for us. I wanted to throw up, scream and faint all at the same time, but all of those feelings left as I heard a sound from above, it sounded like the roar of a tiger, but much louder, and deeper.

"What was that?" I heard someone ask.

"Just the wind, carry on," I heard the guard with the list say. I may not know much of this land, but in no land was that 'just the wind'.

"Next. You, the Imperial," she said, pointing to me. How charming, she didn't even care for my name. "To the block, nice and easy."

I stepped forward. This is it then huh, I'm done, didn't even commit a crime. I stood in front of the block, she pushed gently against my back, which was lightly covered by some fair clothes, they're alright for the clothes I'm going to be executed in. I knelt down, putting my head on the block. I could feel the blood of Valhallen against my neck, it was revolting. Another sound like a roar, from this angle I could tell it was from the heavens.

"Sentries, do you see anything?" The guard asked. Getting no response she signalled the executioner to continue. He rose his axe. This is my end. I kept my eyes open, I smiled a little, at least I'm not in that hell hole that is Sombra's new city, Cyrodiil. If anything, dying here is alright.

I waited, it felt like an eternity. I heard another loud roar from the sky's, it was louder than before, and followed by the sound of wings flapping against the air.

"Sentries, report now, what is that sound?" the guard yelled, this time louder, with more commanding sound.

"It's in the clouds," one yelled.

"It's a dragon," another yelled.

I could see up from my position with my head sideways, I saw it, it was big, massive, and black, scaly creature. It seemed to speak, but not a language I had ever heard, "Fus, ro," it yelled, a blueish circle appearing in front of it, flying forward. It staggered even the giant of a man who was the executioner, causing him to have to use the axe to remain standing.

I saw many other men fall, "You, get up, the goddesses won't give us another chance," someone said to me. I pulled myself off the block, some blood sticking to my neck, it was awful, but for now, I might survive today.

"Follow me," he said, running up one of the nearest towers, I chased him, but my hands were bound in front of me, both bound right at the front of the wrist, probably because my kind are known for magic. I've had some training, but it's not extensive, I barely learned the secondary levels of the three core destructive elements, and only knowing the most basic healing spell. I was still more magically inclined than some.

I followed him up the tower, we reached about halfway before the dragon smashed some of the walls in, killing two soldiers however narrowly missing me and this mysterious man. The impact left rubble on the stairs up so I jumped on the dragon and run along it, hopping into the house opposite and running along the floor, jumping down to the ground floor at the end. The mystery man followed, before running ahead past the dragon again, I don't know who he is, but he's fucking brave, running three feet ahead of a dragon. Still, I followed him, he seemed to know where he was going.

We reached the end of the road and he turned quickly. Dashing to the side, finding a door quickly which he ran into, I followed him and we entered a staircase. As we reached the bottom I saw a large enough sleeping quarters, with a few chests here and there, I took some time to catch my breath, as he did, we had finally escaped that fucking dragon. I still remained silent, seeing the man's armour was very similar to that of the guard who had the list earlier.

He, however, was no as inclined to silence, "Listen. I know you're a criminal, dunno why, and I'm pretty sure our leaders back in Solitude don't and never will either, so, if you're willing to work with me, I'll let you out of those bindings," he said.

I remained silent, I'm going to keep my tongue, although, being out of these bindings would be nice. I walked over to him and held my hands out in front of myself.

"You got a tongue?" he asked, "Or did they take that too?"

"I..." I said, hesitating. "I have a tongue. You won't take it? Right?"

"What? Haha, being in a cart with Rainbow Dash must have scared you," he said, cutting the bindings on my wrists, freeing my hands, "We don't cut tongues out unless they're used for damaging reasons. Very damaging reasons," he said. That was reassuring. "Can't speak for those Dashites though, they're pretty fucked up people."

I stretched a little. He stepped back, seeing my hands glow with light, I lit them both up a dull yellow, I may not know much magic, but I'll use what I do know. He reached for his sword, stepping back from me. Shit! He thinks I'm going for a destruction spell. "Woah, calm down, just basic healing, a simple spell," I said, as reassuringly as I could.

Both my hands lit up and I immediately felt better, the shaken feelings I had from today were gone and the rope burns from being bound all day disappeared, before I turned the light coming from my hands off again.

"Oh, sorry, I have no idea when it comes to magic," he said, "I'm Flash Sentry, by the way, second in command to the leader of the Imperial army."

"I'm Sunset Shimmer," I replied simply.

"Right, hey, so, go check those chests, there's probably some armour for you to change into or something. I'll wait around here, just let me know when you've checked everything and changed."

I stepped around the corner, seeing a chest in the corner. It looked like it would be locked usually, but the latch was open, I quickly opened it and found a few pieces of armour. The armour piece looked like a lower ranking version of the armour Flash Sentry was wearing, and it was leather with some orange on it, and an apple insignia on the centre of the back, the helmet looked to be basic leather and the boots were the same. There were also some simple gloves there, both of them looked worn, but hey, whatever I can get. I also found some lock picks, which I slipped into the pockets of the armour. On the wall behind the chest were a basic longbow, more or less a whittled stick and some string and a quiver with a few arrows. There was also a sword, I left that, not my kind of weapon.

---***---

"Alright, hey, let's go," I said, wearing my new armour.

"Alright, so, that's us done here, we should really get moving then," he said, leading the way over to the door, he pushed it open and led me through, I just followed him silently. Still not really one for talking, and I don't have any questions right now.

We approached a metal door, more or less just some metal bars that were linked down the middle, and a lever on the wall to open it. "Wait, Dashites, we don't want to fight them, just, let's try to reason with them," he whispered to me as he pulled the lever, opening the gate.

The two Dashites noticed the door opening and turned to face us, "Imperial scum," one of them yelled, drawing a large battle axe from his back.

"No no, we don't want to fight, we just want to leave safely from this dragon wrecked city," Flash Sentry said.

I sensed that wouldn't work, preparing to reach for my bow if they didn't back down. "Fuck you," the second one yelled, drawing a sword from his side.

"Well alright then, I guess that's that sorted," Flash said, drawing his own sword and holding his shield in front of himself. I quickly drew my bow - my magic would be far too inaccurate while staying at a safe range - and pulled an arrow from the quiver. I nocked it, preparing to fire. My heart was beating quickly and my hand shaking, I had never actually killed another person before. I attempted to line up a shot, but my hand was everywhere.

I watched Flash Sentry block a hit from the battle axe and knock it's holder back, stabbing him through the chest. The sword holding Dashite went to swing at him. I have to do something.

I released the arrow, it hit the Dashite swordsman's sword and knocked it off course, it skimmed past Flash, missing him entirely as he spun around, knocking the second man off his feet with a slash to his centre. He was down and bleeding, part of me even wanted to help him, he shot me a glare before Flash Sentry stood over him, stabbing him in the chest. He wasn't getting back up from that.

Flash turned to me, "Thanks, that would've hurt," he said, "Nice shot, by the way," he complimented, it sounded genuine.

"But I missed him?" I said, my shot had gone wide and it was pure luck it hit his sword.

"You staggered his sword swing, allowing me to swing at him freely. I'd say that was a pretty good shot."

"Pure luck," I said honestly.

"If you say so," he said, "Well, if you want one of their weapons or any of their armour, it's all yours, search them for potions or gold if you want," he continued, "Although, I would say your armour is both lighter and better than theirs."

"Thanks," I said, I considered looting them for some gold, I had none as it was taken when I was captured. "But I don't think I could bring myself to steal from the dead," I said.

"Why not? They aren't using it," Flash Sentry reasoned, he had a good point, but that's not the point. "I've got armour, I've got gold, and I like my sword, plus, potions, alchemy and enchanting aren't my things so there's not much for me to get from it, all yours if you change your mind, but we aren't coming back."

"Maybe I'll just take. Actually, no. I'm alright," I said, I've made up my mind. I won't loot the dead.

"Alright, well. Let's get moving then," he said, walking through the next door and along the next corridor. We approached another door, "I'm going to guess peace is out of the question, but still, let's try it," he said, putting his sword away, "Keep your bow drawn in hand, but leave the arrows for now."

I followed his instructions as he pushed to door open, walking in casually. "Imperial scum," I heard one yell. Well, peace is out of the question, isn't it?

"Was going to say let's be diplomatic here, but alright then," Flash said, reaching for his sword. He drew it quickly and held it in front of him, shield at the side.

One of the men at the back of the Dashite filled room nocked an arrow, I did the same, pointing it at him. I had nearly no hesitation this time. I fired my arrow and it flew wide, missing by a bit, as it bounced off the wall beside him. I changed my game plan, putting my bow behind my back, charging up a fireball in one hand, and a lightning bolt in the other. I fired the fireball at the archer, burning his armour away, scorching his flesh underneath. I cringed as I saw him fall back in pain. I would not be touching fireballs against humans for a long time, that looked horrible. I released my lightning bolt at the much closer battle axe holder, watching as Flash killed another sword wielder. My lightning bolt shocked the battle axe wielder to the point that I think it killed him. I killed two men, but, they would have killed us right? Right? I still have a clear conscience? But, they wouldn't have killed me if I had no armour on, right? If I was just wearing my clothes? Maybe, maybe not.

"Spells huh?" Flash asked, "I should've figured, you Imperials are always good with spells," he said, "You sticking to not wanting to loot these guys?" he asked.

"The archer has arrows, I'll need them," I said, noting that I was already down to one left, I really didn't have many.

"Alright, go for it," he said, as he watched me walk over to the archer and grab the four arrows from his quiver and put them into my own. "Check that chest," he said, pointing to the corner, "Give lock picking it a shot if you want," he said.

Now that was a skill I could use, I quickly ducked down next to the lock, examining it quickly, I tried it, but if course it was locked, so I grabbed a lock pick from my armour pocket. Wait, did Flash know I had these? Eh, whatever.

I leaned next to the lock and pushed the pick into it, I grabbed a knife from the archer just next to me and used it to help push the lock open, before putting the knife back, it was a shit knife and really wasn't much help at making the lock picking any easier, just needed to turn the lock with something. The chests lock opened with a click, I lifted the chest open and inside was a small silver ring, engraved with what looked to be a ruby, I'd have to have someone look at it, it might fetch a pretty penny, and god knows I could use some gold. Along the side of the chest, there were also a couple of potions and a small bag, I tossed the potions into the bag and lifted it over my head, swinging it alongside my quiver. "Hey Flash, any idea what these do?" I asked him.

"Oh, you've found some lesser healing potions, they're pretty alright for small wounds or cuts," he said, looking at my little bag of them, "You found a few huh? Not bad," he said, walking onwards, "All done here then?" he asked.

"Yep," I said, looking around the room quickly, final check here weren't any more chests. As far as I could see we were done here, so I followed him on.

He walked out of the door at the far end of the door, leaving towards the next staircase, at the bottom of which I could hear a fight already happening. I quickly caught up to Flash and held him back, "There's a fight down there, let's wait it out first, then go in after," I said, he stopped and waited with me.

After about a minute we heard the sounds of spells stop and walked in to see a burned pile of ashes on the floor next to a corpse of a man who's neck had been slashed then frozen. I shuddered at the cruel death methods these two had ensured. "Fucking hell, what did you do to those two," I said.

"They were Dashites, I dealt with them," he said.

Yeah, but did you have to do that to them? I thought to myself, best just agree with him. "Ah, well that's fine then I guess."

"Yeah," the man said, he was wearing robes, not dissimilar to the ones worn by the man who was going to give us our last rites outside, and he looked like he had some magical prowess.

"So, we're leaving then? Well, let me fry anything in our way then, follow me," he said, running on ahead.

We walked behind him, hearing someone screaming I was afraid he'd burned someone else on his way out of here, I hoped he hadn't though, cause that was horrible.

Eventually, we caught up to the room he looked to have carelessly run into, we both stopped just around the corner from it, I looked around the corner, seeing that all the men inside were still standing it seems. "Hey Flash, I hope you didn't like that guy, he ran recklessly into a room with four archers, he's not coming back," I said.

"What an idiot, well, how do you want to clear this room? I'll assume their Dashites and if there are a lot of them, they won't be peaceful long enough to ask, so, ready your bow or spells or whatever."

Having seen what the spells are capable of, I decided to draw my bow, I'm not going to use my spells unless necessary. I leaned around the corner again, "We got a large room, path around the outside with men on it, and then a path through the center, well, more of a garden we could cross, but we'd get shot at, I can probably fire off a couple shots and take down someone if you'll block their shots for me."

"Right," he said, holding his shield, "Draw your bow, let's go."

I did exactly that, drawing my bow out as I stepped out into the room, quickly I readied an arrow, aiming for the first man in the room, a great sword wielding beast of a man, Flash held his shield to the side of me, blocking off any of the other Dashites straight shots.

I released my arrow, for once it flew in line and hit its target, I'm pretty sure it killed him nearly instantly, as he fell back and it went pretty deep into his neck, I felt bad for a few seconds before realising he would have done the same to me, had I given him the chance. To back up my mental point I heard two or three arrows from the side blocked by Flash's shield bounce off the shield. He signalled to a piece of wall we could quickly cover behind, more or less the only one, and I quickly ducked behind it, being followed by him.

I quickly drew another arrow, loading another shot, I stood up from my cover, quickly releasing the arrow.

I heard it hit it's target as I ducked back down. Another two arrows flying over my head. I reached for another arrow, quickly loading it as Flash charged over the wall towards the closer of the two archers, I stood up and took the shot at the further of the two, seeing him release his arrow at the same time, I tried to duck back down but the arrow flew too fast and hit my right arm, I landed again, the pain of the arrow hitting me like, well, like an arrow, really, but it fucking hurt, luckily it had only cut the edge of my arm, and not stuck in it. I saw Flash hit the last archer down, cutting him again in the centre with his spin I had recognised as signature to him.

The pain in my right arm was pretty bad, worse by the fact I had never felt anything like it before, but luckily I could just drink a potion and hopefully it would heal back up, I grabbed one from my little bag and downed it quickly, it solving my problems immediately as I felt far better again.

"Oh yeah, Sunset, if an arrow ever does get lodged in you, you can still drink one of those instant healing potions, they'll break the arrow down nearly instantly and it'll just fall out the hole it made as your wound undoes itself," he said with a smile towards me. That was good to know, I can just get hit by arrows. "That being said, don't die, and you can survive off potions alone, I've seen some people suffer nearly instant death injuries while drinking one of those and completely ignore every injury."

"Good to know," I replied, "Can we just keep moving," I said, walking onward while grabbing the archers arrows.

"Sure, let's go," Flash said, walking alongside me as we walked up to the bridge to the next room, I pulled the lever that lowered it and stepped across it, Flash following quickly in my footsteps. Behind him, the bridge quickly shattered as the roof caved in on it, "Well, looks like that dragon is still out there and we aren't going back that way," he said, looking briefly up the hole the rubble came down, "Fucking hell we're lucky that didn't come down on top of us."

"True. Alright, how much further do we have to go?" I asked. I was getting pretty bored of this tunnel of endless useless rooms. I walked across the path and hopped down the small drop at the edge, walking across to the next door.

Flash followed just behind me, "Not far, just maybe, two more rooms," he said, "The first should be right. Here."

I stepped down the stairs and looked out across the next room, the floor was covered in cobwebs and when I looked up I, "Fucking nope," I said, falling backwards, my eyes closed as my mind ceased to comprehend that.

---***---

"Where, where am I?" I said as I came too, seeing a bright light just ahead, and Flash propped up against a wall nearby "Man, what the fuck were those things."

"Good morning. We're at the end of the cave, you blacked out when you saw those Frostbite Spiders," Flash said smiling down at me, "They weren't even that big for Frostbite's, pretty small actually.

Those fucking things were small, they were at least half my height, fuck I don't want to see a large one of them. I pulled myself to my feet, I realised my bow wasn't on my back and panicked a little. I looked up to see Flash pointing to the wall opposite and sure enough, my bow was against the wall, "Thanks," I said, getting to my feet and putting my bow back over my back.

"So, you ready to continue?" Flash said as he stepped out of the cave.

"Sure, as long as there aren't any giant spiders out there," I said.

"Nope, just a dragon that probably has left by now," he replied. Reassuring.

I stepped out of the cave, the light blinding me almost entirely as I exited to feel the sunlight and smell the fresh air once again.

Level up:
Overdraw I: You are practised with a bow, you deal 20% bonus damage for each rank of this perk.

Author's Note

Author note: So this chapter is basically entirely the first quest from Skyrim, however, the rest of the story will not follow anywhere near closely. If you've read some of this and think you might need knowledge of Skyrim then it's probably just because nothing has been explained yet, besides, people who do know Skyrim are probably confused, anyway, everything that'll need explaining will be explained when it comes to it.