Across The Pond

Twilight had spent the rest of the day just sitting, watching Vallius break apart the wagon and organize it into a wooden tower. The two horses had ran off as soon as Vallius had cut them loose.

It was sundown by the time Vallius finished making the semi-pyramid like structure. She watched in silence as Vallius put the two corpses on top and lit the whole thing on fire. Both sat there, just watching the fire burn.

"Why did he want to die Vallius?" asked Twilight a little after the sun had set and the fire of the pyre almost out.

"I wish I knew Twilight." Vallius told her. "Orcs are different than the rest of us."

"How so?" asked Twilight.

"They love the name of honor, more than they fear death" Vallius said. "Which I suppose isn't so different than the Nord way of thinking" Vallius continued with a chuckle.

Twilight only stared at Vallius. How could he laugh. How could he make jokes after he had just killed someone, even if she didn't get the joke.

"I don't know why he wanted a good death so bad he had to challenge every person to cross his path, but who know" said Vallius with a heavy sigh.

"Why was Ra'Zahmirr so eager to fight him?" Twilight asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine, you knew him better after all" Vallius told her.

The fire had now gone out, leaving behind smoldering ashes. Twilight sighed then turned to Vallius. "Do you think the people Ra'Zahmirr was taking me to see can really help me?" she asked.

"Well Ra'Zahmirr trusted them, and while me and Ra'Zahmirr didn't exactly see eye to eye I trust him enough" Vallius said in a monotone.

"This place is really dangerous" Twilight said, more to herself than to Vallius. Though Vallius still laughed a bit at what she had said.

"And what are you gonna do about it?" asked Vallius cheerfully. "Will you learn fight, or will you stick close to whomever wields a sword in your defense?"

"Well actually I do have this book" Twilight said sheepishly as she levitate the copy of The Art of War Magic she had yet to open. "I was thinking, after what happened today, I should be prepared" Twilight told Vallius.

"If you think it is for the best then I'll help where I can" Vallius said. "Though i'm afraid I am not exactly the mage type, so I don't know how much I could help."

"Mage?" asked Twilight.

"It is the word we use for those who use magic to fight, which happens to be everyone who can" Vallius said with a smile. He was always smiling, Twilight noticed. "And it is like you said Twilight, this place is dangerous."

"Uhh!" Spike complained.

"Is there an problem?" asked Celestia.

"It's just that I wish I could be there for Twilight." Spike told the Princess.

Celestia, Spike, and Luna all sat in the throne room. They had been playing a game that none of them was really interested

in.

"Believe me Spike, I know" Celestia said.

"We shall have to trust in the Elements of Harmony to guide the six together" said Princess Luna.

"I guess" Spike said. "I just wish I knew what was happening right now."

"Perhaps your desire will be answered by your dreams" Celestia offered. She had tried to remain cheery but the longer her student and her friends were in that terrible place Celestia knew she wouldn't be able to sleep.

As if Luna could read Celestia's mind she said "And perhaps it is time for you to rest your head as well, dear sister."

"Very well then Luna" Celestia said, putting on the best fake smile she could muster. "I will see you at breakfast then."

Luna saw through it but decided to say nothing, she didn't want to worry the young dragon.

A few hours later and Celestia was lying in her bed. The usual silence broken by the steady snoring of the baby dragon in his bed at the corner of her room. She had often wondered what her student was doing, but the feeling was more intense than ever.

Celestia had sent her very finest to find Twilight Sparkle, she knew it would be a few days before she heard any news, and though she had sat through over millennia that seemed to go by in the blink of an eye and yet a few days was killing her.

"Oh, I know." Celestia said to herself, sitting upright on her bed. "I'll send Philomena to find them and relay messages between us" Celestia said. The baby dragon stirred and let our an incoherent mumble. Celestia smiled a genuine smile as she thought, 'you must think it's a good idea too.'

Celestia decided to send Philomena in the morning. Then she laid back down and let herself drift of to some much needed sleep.

The airship was moving through an extremely large cloud that covered the entire airship. It made the already cold air even colder and, on top of it all, wet. Rarity had retreated below deck to save her hair, Fluttershy went to keep her company.

"According to this map we are over a place called Cyrodiil" said Captain Rain Step to nopony in particular.

"Does that mean we're close?" asked Rainbow, mindlessly playing with the cloud that surrounded them.

"Calm down sugar cube, we have been travelling for so long, why ah' reckon we are just about there" said Applejack confidently.

"Applejack is right, just another few hours and we will be in Elsweyr" Captain Rain Step said.

Just then a ball of fire flew past the right side of the ship. All the guards prepared themselves, not knowing what to expect. The Ship rocked back and fourth violently and then it started losing altitude.

"Everypony get to the top deck!" Bellowed Rain Step. It didn't take long. Rarity and Fluttershy had already come out to see what was going on.

"All the pegusi try to slow the ship down enough to soften the landing but for Celestia's sake be careful!" Rain Step yelled out. All the Pegusi guard and Rainbow Dash went around the side to help stop it.

Once every pegusi had gone around to the bottom and started pushing up on the ship. Realizing it wasn't doing any good one of the pegusi guard yelled out "There! There is a lake and a large island! Aim for the Water!" The words were muffled but the pegusi had heard and started shifting the burning airship towards the water.

Everypony had braced for impact on the hard earth but instead found themselves submerged in water.

"And who might you be?" asked an annoyed Nord. He had woken up to two High Elves pointing spears at his face asking for him to follow, so he complied, but it did make him on edge. They lead him to a dimly lit and spacious room. In the center sat Lord Aramoth in his throne-like chair.

"My name is Lord Aramoth, and I know who you are Torrvar. What you do." Aramoth told Torrvar.

"What is your business with me?" Torrvar spat.

"Oh come now Torrvar, surely you can be civil. After all I am trying to set up a contract." Aramoth told Torrvar calmly.

"Then why not preform the ritual?" Torrvar asked, interest far higher than it was a few moments ago.

"Such methods are crude and I don't have the time. Now, down to business." Aramoth said.

"Very well, who do you have your eyes on?" asked Torrvar.

"This will not be your average job Torrvar" Aramoth said. "However, if you complete all parts you will see a reward higher than you can every dream of."

"You have my attention" Torrvar told Aramoth.

"I am, or I was, in possession of a true gem. A small unicorn, no bigger than a common dog." Torrvar stared in disbelief but allowed Aramoth to continue. "And I even had one of my associates bring her to the buyer. Unfortunately my associate has recently fallen and I am in need of someone to guide this equine to the buyer in Riverhold" Aramoth said.

"And that's where I come in." Torrvar said, knowing where this was going.

"Precisely, my dear boy. I need you to find this unicorn and guide it to the buyer. As I mentioned before this is truly a rare find and I need someone with your ... disposition, to make sure no group of bandits kills it for it's horn or any Orsimer decide they wants to try Unicorn meat."

"How much are we talking?" asked Torrvar.

"A small fortune, enough for you to spend the rest of your natural days in great wealth. Interested?" Aramoth asked.

"Of course." replied Torrvar as he began to turn towards the door.

"Oh, and one more thing before you leave Torrvar. Tell your little brotherhood and have them spread out and kill anyone who knows of her existence, we don't want any trouble for our buyer. The Buyer, you will recognize buy their house symbol, the head of a Sabre Cat." Aramoth told Torrvar.

Torrvar nodded, saying "it shall be done, my lord." And with that, Torrvar left.