Mori Pro Imperio: The Story of Pliton Calleius

When I awoke the next morning, I felt refreshed. I stood, and stretched. It had been too long since I had such a restful sleep. I looked around, and noticed, again, that I was the first one up. I quietly walked towards the door, and walked into the main den.

There, Anaril was tending to a pot cooking over a fire, while Heceril was reading from a book. I closed the door, and Anaril looked up.

“You’re up early.” He remarked.

“Old habits are hard to break.” I responded, “Do you need any help?”

“Would you look at that?” Anaril said, “A houseguest who wants to help. Yes, well, if you could fill up these buckets with water from the well, that would be most helpful.”

He pointed to two wooden buckets, and said, “And please, try not to be noticed. You can never be too safe.”

“But of course.” I replied, walking towards the buckets. “What’s in the pot?”

“Chicken stew.” Anaril said, “We’re going to need a hearty breakfast today.”

Heceril grunted in agreement. I grabbed the buckets, and walked outside. The sun was barely over the horizon, and a few of the citizens were walking out of their homes. I hurried around the house, and found the well. It took a few minutes to lower and raise the buckets, but I hurried inside, managing to not spill any of the water.

I entered the house again, and put the buckets back where they belonged. Anaril turned, and smiled at me. “That was very kind of you. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. Heceril, would you at least try to be accommodating?”

Heceril closed his book, and turned to me. “Right, well, how skilled are your friends? I need to know before I kill them or they kill me.”

“They are skilled warriors.” I said, “But they are a bit rusty. It’s been a few weeks since they’ve clashed blades.”

“Hm,” Heceril stroked his chin, and said, “Are they skilled in magic, by any chance?”

“Only the horned ones.” I answered, “They are the only ones who possess the ability to.”

“That’s, unique.” Heceril said, “I’ve never heard of a species where only some can perform magic. The Nords are usually unskilled, but can manage to at least cast a simple firebolt. And you? Are you well versed in magic?”

“I know a few spells.” I said, “But they are only rudimentary Equestrian spells or Destruction spells.”

“I guess I’ll have to change that, then.” Anaril said, “When I’m done with you, you will be a master in the Conjuration and Illusion schools. My son can teach you more advanced Destruction spells.”

“Right,” Heceril said, “We’ll start after the breakfast. Before then, tell me, what does it feel like killing a Daedra?”

I stopped to think about it. “It feels like killing any other race. It doesn’t feel as though I’m holier or anything like that.”

“That’s interesting.” Heceril looked towards the door, “The Thalmor told us that we were doing the work of Akatosh.”

“Alright then,” Anaril interrupted, “It’s ready. If you would wake your friends, we can begin.”

I stood, and walked towards the bedroom. I opened the door, and said, “Breakfast is ready. Come on now, it’s time to wake.”

They all opened their eyes, and got up at varying speeds. Pinkie of course was the first one upright, and literally bounced her way into the main den. Applejack followed, yawning as she walked through the door. Dash and Twilight then walked through at the relatively same time. Fluttershy then hovered through, leaving Rarity to take up the rear. She walked through very slowly, and yawned very loudly as she passed me.

“Oh, I slept like a filly!” She said, “I wonder what’s for breakfast...”

Anaril lifted his finger, and levitated the pot onto the large dining table close to the fire. He used the same spell to fill the nine bowls he had set out, and passed them down. When all had their bowl in front of them, he ate his first bite.

“That’s a good stew.” He said, looking around, “What are you all waiting for? Eat. You’ll need the energy.”

I grabbed my spoon, and put a spoonful into my mouth. Anaril did not lie when he said it was a good stew. The broth was a little too salty, but it wouldn’t allow the chicken to be tasteless. The assorted vegetables in the stew: carrots, potatoes, and peas, all had their own distinct flavor, and complemented and counteracted the salty broth.

I ate through my first bowl at a reasonable pace, but stopped after one, not wanting to lose after heavy physical activity. Anaril had finished his bowl well before mine, and was playing with a tongue of flame that he had created in the palm of his right hand. The others were still eating still, and the table was very quiet.

“Now, Twilight, that’s your name, right?” Anaril asked. Twilight nodded, and he continued, “You and I will teach each other the spells, while Heceril will spar with the others. It’ll be up to him who he fights. We’ll begin when you’re all finished.”

A few minutes passed, and Rarity, the last to finish, placed her spoon in the bowl. Anaril looked up from his flame, and smiled. He told us to get our weapons and armor, and sat at the table while we did as he asked. When we had grabbed our weapons and armor, he stood, and walked towards the door. We all followed. He opened the door, and walked towards the back of the house. He said he didn’t want the villagers to watch, because their xenophobia might get the better of them.

Anaril led us through a patch of wooded area, and came upon a plain with knee-high grass. He guided Twilight towards one portion of the large field, while Heceril led the rest of us towards the center. I noticed he didn’t carry a weapon, or have armor.

“Alright then,” Heceril said, “You noticed I don’t have armor? It would be alarming if you didn’t. Now, watch as I create a weapon and armor out of thin air.”

He raised his hands into the air, and closed his eyes. A dark purple-black aura surrounded him, and slowly, a purple sword and set of armor appeared around him. He lowered his hands, and looked at us with a smirk on his face.

“It’s a spell I usually use.” He said, “It saves me a few pounds of luggage.”

I loaded my crossbow, and placed it on my back as I drew my sword. Dash drew her weapons of choice: a War Axe with a pure crystal blade, and a Short Sword with the same crystal blade. Applejack drew her bow, and loaded an arrow.

“Alright,” Heceril said, “I guess the other two will sit out for now. If you need to switch with them, just say so.”

He stepped back, and gripped his magical sword with both hands. Applejack let her arrow fly, and was shocked when Heceril moved at a breakneck speed to step out of the way of the arrow, and grab the shaft. He snapped it with his hand, and ran at us.

I ran towards him with Dash by my side. We closed our distances, and I slashed at his elbow. He deflected the attack, and I was startled to find his sword was as sturdy as any metal. I had heard of mages being able to conjure weapons and armor, but I had never seen one do so with my own eyes, so I assumed it to be a myth, as there were too many to count with magic.

Dash swung her Short Sword at Heceril, hoping to strike at his side. He moved at the same brisk pace, and swept Dash’s feet out from under her. She fell onto her back, and rolled out of the way of Heceril’s slash, aimed right at her chest.

“You’re good.” Heceril said, “But, will you beat my magic?”

He appeared behind me, and kicked out my knees. I went to my knees, and had to use my hands to keep me from planting my face into the dirt. Applejack used this time to her advantage, and ran right at me. She jumped, and planted one foot on my back. She used that as a platform to jump again, and flip in mid-air, to give her a shot at Heceril.

She fired two arrows at once, and watched as they hit Heceril’s armor. They merely pierced the armor, but not his skin. Heceril, with his left hand, used an ice spell to freeze her feet to the ground, immobilizing her.

He then ran at her, with his sword raised with one hand over his head. I got up, and ran at him. I jumped onto his back, and the force of this move caught him off balance, and he fell to the ground. I rolled him over, and pointed my sword at his neck.

Heceril smirked, and placed his hands on my chest. He let loose a bolt of electricity, which caught me off guard. The electricity ran through my veins, paralyzing me for a few seconds. While this was happening, Heceril took the time to slug me across the face, throwing me off of his chest.

He jumped up, but was hit over the head by Applejack’s bow. He fell to the ground, and rolled onto his back.

“That was very good.” He remarked, “You truly are as gifted as I had heard.”

“Yeah, well, we’ve been warriors all our lives.” Applejack replied, “We’d be dead if we didn’ train.”

“Good point,” Heceril got up, and conjured another set of armor and this time, two swords. “But, now I can go all out without any fear of hurting you.”

I got up, and stepped back. Heceril ran towards Applejack, and swung at her with one sword. I grabbed my crossbow, and fired a bolt at him. It caught him in the underarm, where the armor was lacking. He slowed, reaching for the bolt. Applejack took advantage, and kicked him in the chest to make him back up a few feet.

Heceril snapped half of the shaft, and threw it on the ground. He turned to me, and started to run at me. I drew my sword, and slashed at his neck as he charged me. He deflected my attack, and attacked me with his other sword. I grabbed his wrist, and threw him aside.

While he was off balance, Rainbow Dash flew at him, and attacked with her Short Sword. He deflected the attack, and Dash did a flip as she landed. She turned, and attacked with her War Axe. Sparks flew as Heceril and Rainbow Dash exchanged blows, only to have the other deflect it, and counterattack.

Heceril, having parried another of Dash’s attacks, went for an overhead slash aimed at her head. Dash made an “X” with her weapons, and stopped the attack, She jerked the weapons to her left, and made Heceril lose his grip on the sword, and it evaporated as it flew into the air.

“No one’s ever made me do that.” Heceril chuckled.

He then pushed Dash back with a spell, and turned towards me. He swung at my shoulder, and I blocked it with my sword. He pulled his sword back, and blocked my own attack aimed at his chest.

“For a Legionnaire, you fight well.” Heceril said.

“Is that supposed to mean something?” I replied, slashing at his abdomen.

“I’ve killed Imperials before,” he said, “And you’re the toughest I’ve fought.”

“One cannot fight Molag Bal and live to tell the tale if he is not skilled in the art of combat.” I said, stepping back. I readied an ice spell, and fired it at him. Heceril set up a Ward of some sorts, only it reflected back at me. I was blasted with cold air, and left helpless as he placed his hand on my chest, and blew me back with another spell.

Heceril turned, and dodged an arrow shot by Applejack, who had freed herself, at the same breakneck speed. By now, I had assumed that it was some sort of Elven magic, because there was no way that a High Elf like Heceril could be that quick.

Heceril ran at Applejack, and slashed at her chest. Applejack deflected the attack, making Heceril’s hands go up. Applejack then delivered a roundhouse kick aimed at his side, and sent him to the ground. Applejack then placed a foot on his throat, and drew an arrow. She pulled the string back, and let the tip of the arrow on Heceril’s left cheek.

“Ah think we’re done here.” Applejack said, blowing a tuft of hair away from her eye.

“I would think so as well.” Heceril grunted. Applejack stepped off of his throat, and he stood. “You’re all better than I thought. Oh, I already said that.” He panted, and continued, “Alright, Pliton, how about we tag-team against the other two? It would be a shame if they didn’t get a turn.”

Pinkie Pie smiled, and said, “Oh, look Rarity, it’s our time to shine!”

“Just wonderful.” Rarity sighed, “I have the psycho as a partner.”

Pinkie laughed at her comment. Heceril conjured the armor and sword again, and I reloaded my crossbow. We both looked at each other, and nodded. For a High Elf, Heceril wasn’t nearly as terrible as everyone made them out to be.

Pinkie Pie was the first to move. She charged Heceril with her Battleaxe, and swung at his side. Heceril jumped over the attack, and pushed Pinkie back with his repulsion spell. It was then that a bolt of lightning flew past my head. I turned, and saw Rarity with lightning streaming from her horn. I ran at her, and fired a crossbow bolt at her. It missed by a fraction of an inch. She fired another bolt of lightning at me, this time hitting me in the chest. I stopped in my tracks, and seized up from the shock.

Rarity ran towards me, and kicked me in the face. I fell to the ground, and she jumped over my body. She landed in front of my head. She then wrapped her legs around my neck, suffocating me. It’s a strange feeling, not being able to breathe. It’s nothing like being underwater and holding your breath, because you have no control when you’re being suffocated.

I placed my hands on Rarity’s thighs, and cast an ice spell. The icy blast caught Rarity off guard, and her grip loosened. I then broke out of her death grip with my hands, and stood up. Rarity flipped backwards, and landed on her feet.

“You’re agile.” I said, “Very surprising.”

“I tend to surprise.” Rarity smirked. She ran at me, and tried to roundhouse kick my head, I placed up my forearm, and blocked the kick. I then punched her across the face with my other hand. Blood spewed from her mouth as she staggered back.

I stepped forward, and delivered a punch to her stomach. She gasped, and elbowed the back of my neck, sending me to the ground. Rarity stepped back, and flames appeared around her horn. They flew from her horn, aimed right at me. I rolled out of the way, and stood as quickly as I could.

She cast another flame spell, but I blocked it with a Ward Spell I had learned from Ernand, way back when Twilight and I journeyed through Hammerfell. The Ward deflected the flames, catching Rarity off guard. With my other hand, I sent another blast of ice her way. It hit her, but she sent a fireball at me, breaking through my icy spell. It hit me in the chest, and exploded. It sent me back a few feet, and I landed on my back.

I rolled over, and got up as quickly as I could. While my back was turned, Rarity performed a dropkick on my back, effectively planting my face into the ground, once again. Rarity then jumped off of my back, and flipped in the air. I got up, and cast a bolt of lightning her way. It hit her directly, and she seized up, much like I had.

Blood was leaking from my nose, and dripping onto the dirt as I walked towards her. She looked at me, and smiled. She punched me in the jaw, and kicked at my stomach. I was caught off guard, and blood flew from my mouth. Rarity then lifted her leg up into the sky, and brought it down on my head. I went down on all fours, which was when Rarity, with the same foot, kicked me in the nose, arcing my head back. I got up, and blew her back with a kinetic blast, my favorite Equestrian spell.

It was then that I readied a fireball in one hand, and a lightning bolt in another. I would disorient Rarity with the lightning bolt, and finish her off with the fireball. Rarity stood, and sent a flurry of ice spikes at me. I jumped to the side, narrowly dodging them. I then sent the lightning bolt at her. She jumped to the side, much like I had.

I then sent the fireball at her. She sent the same at me. I watched as they neared, and then collided. I made an “x” with my arms, protecting my face from the explosion that resulted. Rarity did as well, but she cried out as the shockwave knocked her to her feet. It did the same to me.

At this point, I was exhausted, and sweat was dripping from my face. I was pretty sure my nose was broken, but it wasn’t something a potion or a Restoration spell couldn’t fix. I also had intense pain in my stomach, resulting from the many hits it took.

Rarity didn’t look any better, though. Her mane was disheveled, and her robes were stained with blood. She had soot caked in her face and mane, and a stream of blood stemming from her lips. She got up, and walked over towards me.

“Well,” she panted, “That was more intense than I thought it would be.”

“My thoughts exactly.” I said, getting up. “How do you think Pinkie’s doing?”

At that point, we heard a clash of steel. We both looked to see Pinkie mercilessly attacking Heceril with her Battleaxe. She was relentless, barely giving him any time to counter. She was laughing the entire time, which only disoriented Heceril even more. He tripped on a rock as he was stepping backwards, and landed on his back. Pinkie raised her Battleaxe, and we both started running at her.

“Pinkie!” Rarity cried, “We aren’t supposed to kill him!”

Pinkie still brought the axe down. It landed only a few inches left of Heceril’s head. She turned, and laughed, saying, “Silly filly, you think I would kill him? He is like the most awesomest sparring partner ever!”

Heceril could only let out a forced chuckle. Pinkie grabbed her Battleaxe, and placed it on her back. She then grabbed Heceril’s hand, and helped him up.

“Now then,” Heceril said, “I think it’d be wise to take a break.”

Rarity and I both responded with a “yes” at the same time. Rainbow Dash and Applejack walked towards us, awestruck. They had obviously watched.

“You two were going at it!” Dash exclaimed, “It was sick! Rarity, you were all like, a roundhouse kick to the head! But, Pliton, you were all like, ‘This ain’t happening!’ and just kicked her flank!”

“Y’all were very entertainin’!” Applejack said, “Y’all really took it seriously.”

“Yes, I think we did.” Rarity said, “I guess competition got the better of us.”

“‘The better of you’?!” Dash said, “You two could’ve killed each other! It was awesome!”

“Finished with the sparring, are we?” Anaril asked, with Twilight in tow. “That was quick.”

“A long spar doesn’t necessarily mean a good one, father.” Heceril said, “Yet a short spar could also be just as bad.”

Anaril nodded, and said, “I see. Well, Pliton, is it? Yes, I believe Twilight would like to share some of the new spells she learned. Wouldn’t you, Twilight?”

“Hm?” Twilight looked at me. It was obvious she had been preoccupied in her thoughts. “Oh, yes. Pliton, come here.”

I walked over, and Twilight looked at Rarity, and said, “Rarity, you might appreciate this spell as well.”

Rarity stood next to me, and Twilight cleared her throat. “Alright, according to Anaril, this spell is from the Illusion School of Magic. Just watch.”

Twilight raised her right hand, and her horn glowed a white aura. Slowly, she faded from our sight. I nodded, realizing what spell she learned, but Rarity was shocked, and was asking where Twilight was. Twilight reappeared behind Rarity, and poked her shoulder.

“Gah!” Rarity squealed. “Twilight, why I never! Don’t ever do that again!”

I chuckled, and Twilight did as well. “Would you like to know how to use this spell?”

“Of course.” Rarity said, “It’s long overdue for me to get even with Pinkie Pie.”

“Are you two still having that little war of yours?” Twilight smiled. “You two never seem to stop. Alright, here’s what you do...”

About an hour passed until Rarity and I had gotten the hang of the spell. We walked back, and found Anaril watching Heceril take on Rainbow Dash one-on-one. The spar seemed to be going on for a while, because both seemed to be fatigued.

Heceril slashed at Dash’s shoulder, but Dash blocked it with her Short Sword, and deflected Heceril’s conjured sword. She then hacked at his exposed side with her War Axe. It punctured the magical armor, and drew blood. Heceril staggered back, and cast a fireball at her.

Dash jumped up into the air to dodge the attack, and unfurled her wings. As she hovered in the air, Heceril cast a stream of flames at her. She flew out of the way, and made sure that Heceril could not hit her with the fire.

Heceril learned of what Dash was doing, and cast a fireball ahead of her, making sure that she would have no choice but to fly straight into its path. Dash did so, and fell to the ground. Heceril walked over, and placed the tip of his sword on Dash’s throat, and smirked.

His weapon and armor disappeared, and he picked Dash up. She looked badly burned, but Heceril healed her with a Restoration spell he knew. Anaril stood, and walked towards Heceril.

“Good, good.” Anaril said, “That was a very good move you did. Come now, I can heat up more of the stew for our midday meal. After that, I think that Twilight, Rarity, Pliton and I will teach each other spells while the rest of you can continue sparring.”

We all walked back towards the house. Twilight walked to my side, and said, “That Heceril seems like a good fighter.”

“That he is.” I replied, “He knows some advanced Conjuration spells. Not everyone can make near impervious armor and a sturdy sword at the same time.”

“And Anaril knows so much magic as well.” Twilight replied, “He taught me that Invisibility spell, and also a spell that paralyzes the target. He said he’ll teach us more after the meal. This is so exciting!”

I grunted my agreement. While I liked Anaril and his son, I did not trust that we had to travel to an isolated field to teach us magic, and just interact with us outside the house. It was unnerving to me, but if Twilight was happy with being here, who was I to object?

Sorry for updating so late! Like I said for my other fic, schoolwork, work on my novel, and general summer stuff kept me from updating earlier. I promise I will update the next chapter sooner! So, what will happen next in Pliton’s journey? Will the Thalmor catch up with him and his friends? Find out in the next chapter of Mori Pro Imperio: The Story of Pliton Calleius!