I contemplate as I stand above the crumbling ruins of the Imperial City, observing all that goes in Coldharbour. The torment of the mortals I have left that serve me bring me some amusement, minor as it is. This is most troubling.
Things haven't been going well recently. The souls of the wretched I so crave have been coming in fewer and fewer numbers. My name has been forgotten in most of Tamriel.
The number of corrupted souls still wandering Tamriel has dwindled and most of my followers have either been killed or have left behind their servitude to me.
Normally even daring to leave my service and to be so bold as to desecrate my image would require a punishment most dire. But most of my shrines are vacant and my power dwindles.
If I am to regain a foothold in Tamriel again, I need to have enough power to even influence one of the despicable mortals.
Maybe another mortal plane would do the trick? An untainted world ripe for the picking would provide just the right amount of power necessary to gain influence in Tamriel again.
I bring up my hand and mimic a circle in the air. A glowing red portal materializes in the air in front of me and I begin to browse the infinite amount of mortal planes. None of which have been graced with my power or that of any of the other princes.
I continue swiping through the many foreign vareties of the infinite planes, many of which are soulless and thus useless for my plans.
I stop on one particularly exotic one where there is a mix of different races of mortals. One of which seems to be colorful, miniature version of a horse.
I smile venomously as I notice something intriguing about this batch of pathetic mortals. They are so dreadfully innocent, unknowing to the many varieties of pain and not even knowing any true instance of strife. No corruption even known to them.
This will be a truly delightful show of domination, one good enough to appease me and to move forward the chains of progress.
Time to search for a boon who shall suit my desires. I gather up the little power I have left to contact the wretch, and so shall begin my domination of this virgin world.
This shall be most exquisite for a being such as I.
Blackhoof sulked his way through the streets of Canterlot. He was on his way home after being fired for what seemed to be the fifth time that moment.
He was known around town for being quite angry at everyone and for no particular reason.
He had a coat that shine as white as marble but had long since faded after too long without a bath. A stench of feces and alcohol seemed to stick with him wherever he went.
His mane and tail blended with his coat making him look like a walking pile of dirt.
"Feh, fired again and for what? All I did was give the manager a good jab in the gut. Deserved it for all the yelling he did." he said mumbling while he sulked home.
"Maybe I'll stop by the tavern before going job hunting tomorrow" he mumbled as he walked to motel where he stayed.
The motel was well known for being quite inviting to ponies who haven't settled down yet. Yet Blackhoof has stayed at this motel for nearly a decade.
"Good afternoon sir!" chirped out the secretary
"Shut up! I don't need to be pestered every day with that sickening greeting!" Blackhoof yelled at the mare while he walked to the stairs.
"J-just being polite s-sir" squeaked out the mare.
"Well I was never one for politeness so just shut it!" Blackhoof yelled back.
Blackhoof continued to his apartment and found it broken into. He locked his eyes onto the burglar, a young stallion no older than seventeen, and lunged.
He tackled the burglar and continued to beat him almost to death before stopping as a gravelly voice sounded out across the room.
"Weak.... He is weak.... You..... You are strong.... Crush him...."
He shook his head and glare around the room.
"Who's there? Show yer face and I might not give you what I gave this punk."
Deep laughter resonated through the room.
"Yes... You will be perfect.... Such powerful words coming from a wretch like you."
"Say's who?" I barked out
" I am Molag Bal the Daedric Prince of Domination and you will listen to me."
"And why should I listen to the likes of you?" He yells out
Four black spikes tipped with red rose out of the ground and encased him and the unconscious burglar.
"Hey! Let me outta here, I'm sorry if I offended you, just let me go!" Blackhoof yelled out with panic audible in his voice.
"Oh? So quick to bow down to me? Why, I haven't even threatened you."
"Please! I'll do anything, I-I'll do anything! J-just let me go! Please!" Blackhoof says with a tremble in his voice.
"Pathetic.... but you may yet be of some use. Listen here mortal.... I have plans.... plans so grand that they are beyond your comprehension but if I am to let you free, you must earn my favor and become my agent on the mortal plane. Do this and you shall go free at my discretion."
"D-done!" He blurts out.
"To earn my favor you must kill the wretch at your feet.
His eyes open wide and he stutters out "W-what?"
Blackhoof suddenly starts gasping for air as an unseen force clenches his throat.
"Did I stutter?"
The force holds on Blackhoof for close to a minute before it releases.
Blackhoof sputters before looking down nervously.
The four spikes retract and all goes silent.
A minute passes before the silence is broken.
"Well?"
"B-but I c-ca-" he sputters out before he falls to the ground unable to move.
"You will or I will find someone else more desirable for my goals."
"Then find someone else!"
"Oh who said you would still live?"
He gulps before saying "F-fine, I'll k-kill him"
"Good."
The force acting on him lets up and Blackhoof stumbles to get up. He walks over to the unconscious burglar and stares at him.
"I-I'm s-s-sorry" he whispers before looking away and stomping his hoof onto the burglars head.
A sickening squelch and silence reigns.
"Very good, You will serve as my agent in this mortal plane, I will adjust you however I please so that you may better suit my own goals, I have no need for hesistation."
"But that wasn't the deal" I sputter out out, still grimacing at the blood on my hoof.
"Too bad, you are now under my authority and you will answer to me and me only, my first orders are for you to develop a following dedicated towards me, report to me when that is done and you will be justly rewarded"
"But how am I supposed to contact you?" he asks.
"Do not worry I will always be watching you, remember that. Now, I must announce my presence to this world. Do keep the house clean while I'm gone."
Ominous laughter wafted into the air before all falls silent. Blackhoof looks at the body of the burglar and sighs.
"Well, I suppose I'm a murderer now. It was either him or me though" he mumbles.
Blackhoof stands there for a moment thinking through what had just ocurred.
"I'll have to skip town, maybe I can find bandits somewhere, show off a bit and gain their respect" he mumbled.
He looks at the body of the burglar.
"Can't stay here for long that's for sure." He says
Two sisters are walking through the halls of their palace in a fierce debate.
"Honestly Sister, just when are you going to deal with this troublesome family?"
"I will deal with the Dromerhoof when they actually start showing signs of being a threat, I've already talked to you about this Luna."
"But sister, they have been buying out businesses left and right and are constantly suppressing the lower classes. They're the most feared family in all of Canterlot, there are even rumors of a hired private army protecting them!" Luna shot back hotly.
"All within the Laws of our land." She said calmly.
They stop in the hall and turn towards each other, not even noticing the minor haze ahead and behind them, trapping them.
"Then how do you propose we help those who are suffering because of the Dromerhoof?" Luna yelled back.
"I have not heard of any complaints of the Dromerhoof, so I shall not take action." Celestia said calmly.
"You've probably heard no reports because they bribe and threaten everyone to keep their traps shut!" Luna said furiously.
They stopped talking when a deep laughter washed over them.
"Such furiosity between you both, didn't mother ever teach you to use your inside voice?"
Both alicorns adopt stern faces and look around.
"Show yourself fiend!" Celestia sternly said.
Both sisters yelp when 4 spikes shot out of the ground trapping them both.
"Oh but why should Molag Bal, Daedric prince of Domination listen to the likes of you?"
"What do you want fiend?" Luna said angrily.
"Why should I tell you anything? It would take all the fun out of it.
"Fun out of what?" Celestia said cautiously.
"The complete Domination of your land of course. I only came by to see how worthy you two would be to face me.
"And are we?" Luna said.
"Yes I suppose you two have earned the right to see me in my full glory, after all you two haven't even shown any signs of submission. Prepare yourselves mortals and gaze upon the God of Domination.
A blue fire started between the two princesses which eventually roared up into the ceiling.
Eventually a shadow could made out of the flames and a ghoulish face with horns pointed down emerged out of the fire.
"Gaze upon the form of control, the face of troubles, tremble mortals before the might of Molag Bal.
The two princesses looked at Molag Bal with pure shock on their faces.
"Know that I will soon take over this land and my reign will be long and terrible, I will start with instilling pure panic in the kingdom by bringing you two into my plane of Coldharbour. You will spend an eternity and will be subject to all known mortal terrors and you will break.
Two blue portals appeared beneath the princesses dropping both of them into the infamous Wailing prison.
The face of Molag Bal disappears and his voice echoed around Equestria.
"Pitiful Mortals, know that I have taken your princesses and I will soon gain rule over this land. Tremble before the Daedric prince of Domination, Molag Bal.
A silence spread over Equestria before panic instilled itself.
"Remind me again why we're going Canterlot, Twilight?" said Spike.
"Because Spike, I've heard some terrible rumors that the princesses are missing and we're going to investigate." Said Twilight.
The two of them stepped off the Canterlot train platform and into a crowd of terrified ponies.
"What's going on?" Twilight asks to someone in the crowd.
The pony in question just kept staring towards the plaza.
Twilight looked and gasped, seeing a strange stone structure that definetely wasn't there. It had strange runes on it that glowed purple. She was about to go forward when purple smoke appeared in front of the stone structure and a strange serpent like creature with what seemed to be four arms materialized out of the smoke.
"Hello dear mortals, you have all been graciously chosen by our Lord Molag Bal to be brought into his terrible realm of Coldharbour. Celebrate now mortals! For this will be your last day of freedom!" she then started cackling before bringing up all four of her arms and the unthinkable happened.
A great circle of some sort of material appeared in the sky accompanied by demonic horns. A purple energy rippled across the center before 3 great chains slammed down out of the portal and into the stone structure. They tightened before going still.
The crowd srood in silence before utter panic broke out. Four balls of blue flame slammed down and horrendous creatures only born out of nightmares emerged. They proceded to attack the panicking crowd.
More blue flames started falling down before Twilight grabbed Spike and started running for the castle.
"What was that thing Twilight?" Spike yelled.
"I don't know but we have to get to the castle!" Twilight yelled back.
She ran before she was stopped by the serpent creature that appeared before.
"Where are you going mortal? Our lord has seen a use in you and he requests your presence." She smiles wickedly before throwing towards a chain wracked in blue flame that ensnared both Twilight and Spike.
The flame on the chain gave Twilight and Spike agonizing pain but gave no wounds. They kept crying out in agony as the demon started pulling the chains. Slow at first but then quickly. The demon headed towards a blue portal that materialized in front of them. The demon dragged them through and Twilight and Spike entered what seemed like Tartarus but worse. The sky seemed to burn with a scorching hot blue flame but ground level was chilling to the bone. The ground seemed to be made out of a purplish spiky crystal.
The demon continued dragging them, she seemed to be enjoying their cry's of pain. She then tossed both Twilight and Spike into seperate cages and slammed the door. She laughed as she slithered away.
The chains were gone and so was the pain. Twilight looked around her and gasped at what she saw, bipedal beings seemed to be stumbling around and mining the crystal. They were a bluish-white and were wearing horribly torn clothing.
She noticed one walking by and tried to get it's attention.
"Hey you! Can I talk to you?" She said to the biped. It looked at her and she gasped, his face was sunken so much that he almost looked like a skeleton and his eyes... they were empty.... it was almost as if he didn't have a soul. He moaned and stumbled away.
Twilight sat in the cage scared beyond belief. She looked over and saw Spike was unconscious. Probably due to the force with which the demon threw them in the cage. She wanted to check on him but couldn't l.
She sniffled before saying "Why did this happen to us? What have we ever done?".
She continued to cry before a moan next to her caught her attention. She looked out of her cage next to her and saw another biped in a cage. He wasn't as malnourished as the others and seemed to be a dark purplish-blue.
He pushed himself up before she got a better look at him. He had red hair around his head but not on top, he also had hair above his mouth and on his chin that was short and also red. He had pointed ears the same color of his skin. He then opened his eyes showing deep crimson pupils.
He looked around before groaning out
"Ugh, by Vivec what happened?".
When he looked at Twilight he widened his eyes and stumbled back sputtering out "And what in the name of the three is that!".
"I could ask the same for you stranger." Twilight said.
"You can talk too! By Vivec, just what is happening to me?" He looked around before saying "Well, that explains that".
"Explains what?" Twilight said.
He looked over and said "Do you happen to know just where we are s'wit?".
He raised an arm and presented our surroundings, "We are in Coldharbour, realm of the Dreadlord Molag Bal, and possibly the worst place you could ever hope to be".
His sophisticated voice was drowned out by the ring of pickaxes pounding away at the crystal.
"Who's Molag Bal?" Twilight asked.
He mumbled under his breath before saying "Molag Bal is the daedric prince of rape and brutality".
"What is a daedric prince?" Twilight asked.
"Better for you not to know, just know that they are beings of incomprehensible power and that it is best to stay away from them if possible" he said ominously.
A silence came up, the metallic ringing of pickaxes ringing away in their ears before Twilight spoke up.
"What's your name?".
"Utherel".
"What are you?" She said.
He looked at her like she had grown a second head. He then sighed out and spoke.
"l am what is known as a Dark elf, hailing from Morrowind" he said.
"Where's that?".
"Haven't you heard of Tamriel before?".
"No".
He buried his head in his hands before saying "What luck that I get such a fetcher as company".
