Raphael landed with a thud against the ground of the Everfree forest as he reaches up and ran a hand through his jet-black hair, The Nord, seeming to get his bearings as he looks around. It wasn’t hard to figure out where he was in the overall sense, rather he had been asked to come by the Nine Divines. Not directly mind you as the barely spoke to mortals, No, asked by sending one of their priests to ask if he would be willing to help a people he had never seen or knew existed until now. When he had agreed, the portal opened before him and he had stepped through him. He was the Dovahkiin after all. He was used to helping everyone he could. He was the Archmage of Winterhold, Listener of the Brotherhood, Thane of every Hold. And now, he was going to help a people he had never met. He had always had a strong sense of justice and this was now his new mission, to help the people he had been asked to help.
He had no idea what he was in for, no idea of the layout of the land, nothing. He had to start from scratch besides what knowledge and magical abilities he had brought with him and whatever equipment and food he had brought with him. On his body was some Ebonmail armor. Unlike traditional Ebony armor, this one was a lot lighter. Only the chest-plate and pauldrons, steel chain-mail underneath the armor. Lightweight boots and gloves covered the rest of the body and adorned his head was a circlet, ebony with a ruby In the middle of it. On his hip dangled Dawnbreaker. Meridias weapon meant to slay the undead, but he had grown fond of it for the symbolism of it more then its effects. He lights the way to a brighter future with sword in hand and a fierce determination.
He dusted himself off as he looks around, seeming to look for a way out of this forest as he pulled the sword from one hand as he prepared a frost spell in the other, while he could have chosen fire magic, in a forest such as this, it would be ill advised to do so. He would rather not light this whole forest a blaze.
Each step further into the forest made a crunch of leaves underneath as he got closer and closer to the forest edge, or at least, he thought so as he came upon what he assumed to be an alchemists hut as he seemed to raise a brow at this as he steps through the brush, he wasn't attacked yet. That was a good sign at the very least.
As he walks up to the door, he gave a light knock on it as there was sounds of rustling before the door opens. He wasn’t sure what to expect truth be told but a pony was not among that he was expecting as she looks up at him, Or rather, it was a Zebra, look in her eyes saying that she wasn’t expecting him either as she seemed to think for a long moment before speaking.
“A being at my door, a stranger to this land, with sword In hand. You do not look like a pony or behemoth, so I know you are not a phony. Come in, warm by the fire for solace, for I shall give some soup you shall find flawless” She says as the zebra walks in as he craned his head and walks in, looking back out for a moment before walking in and closing the door behind him as he sheathed his sword as he looked around, it seemed he was right, this was an alchemist shack. So many ingredients and brews lined the walls as he makes his way over to the fire and had a seat infront of it like she had said as eventually she came back with some soup as she offers it to him. He nodded in grattitude. “A simple carrot stew, with ingredients few. However, you are a mystery, who are thee?” she asks as she had a seat next to him.
He finished a gulp of the stew, he hadn’t eaten In quite some time truth be told and this stew, while simple, tasted much better to him then a five course meal a day from now. Of course he couldn’t be particurlaly picky about the meals he partakes in considering most of it was either fresh cooked meat or harvested vegetables, So anything of this nature was quite nice for him.
“My name is Raphael, Savior of the land of Skyrim, across the dimensions and I was sent to come and help you and your people from some blight, they had not explained any and I came to merely help as best I can, I cannot do it however if I do not know the lay out of the land or what the situation is, as I do not like to go in blindly swinging a sword” he explains to her as she looked at him, almost sadly and nodded as she hums in thought seeming to consider her next words and how to approach it all. She did not want to deceive him.
“The situation is quite dire, as though this world has been within a fire. I shall tell what I recall, but be warned that it might not be all.” She explains to him as he nodded in return as she looks at the raging fire. “It started a few years ago, where they had come from I do not know. All I do is that they call themselves, Behemoths, their power is at their zenith. Canterlot was first, the attack was quite the worst. Ponies escaped in droves, no doubt escaping their homes.” she explained as he continued to eat as he seemed to look at her. “The princess fought with all their might, but the Behemoths defense against magic given them quite a fright. One by one city fell, until the behemoths had the entirety of equestria had been quelled. I have not left this land of the forest, for it gives me protection from their forces.”
“So I need to start with the capital?” he asks her as he continued to eat before he sets it down seeming to finish it as she looks up at him and shakes her head, seeming to indicate to him that was a damned bad idea.
“The capital is protected by a shield, first you must get through the field. Find Twilight Sparkle within Ponyville, for she would be the key to going in to the city on the hill” she explains to her as he seemed to nodded in understanding.
“What makes her special if you do not mind me asking?” he asks her as he shakes off his rucksack that was on his back as it landed with a thud, though it weighed 250 ish pounds, he had enchanted it with infinite storage and weight, should he be strong enough to carry it. It carried everything he considered important, from different weapons, to potions, to regular clothing. He had only brought the one with him so whatever he had is what he had and he would have to make due with it, which worked fine for him, he had been in tougher spots before after all.
“She is the Princesses student, so she would know how to a make a dent. Her friends as well, within ponyville, will bring the Behemoths their end.” she says as she stood from her seat as she made her way over to where her bookshelf was as she seemed to retrieve something from it before trotting back and offering it to him, when he took it, he unfurled the scroll to reveal it was a map of the whole of Equestria, he assessed where he would be at with the X on the map in the middle of the forest and seemed to be getting a general idea of where to head next.
“You know it will not be easy as to free them and then the princesses and just be done with it, there will be bloodshed” he explains as he rolled the map back up as he tucks it into his armor for easier access then simply tossing it into his bag for when he needed it.
“I am aware blood will be shed, for as long as it is not mine or any other ponies head. This war had been a long time coming, a new day will no doubt be shining. Trials and tribulations are a head, and this era will fall to the wayside dead.” she smiles as he nods. “My bed shall, to you, be forever open, as well as this den and coven. Get some rest, and prepare for the battle ahead that shall fall upon your chest.” she says to him as he nods as he reaches down and picks up his pack as Zecora walks ahead of him and motions for him to follow which he did wordlessly as she showed him to his bed.
“Thank you for the hospitality, I shall get some rest and head out in the morning as I believe the sooner I get started the better” he says as he began to remove his armor as it clatters to the floor, eventually getting until he was only wearing his underwear and undershirt as he lied on the bed to sleep. Zecora of course was staring the entire time, no that shed ever admit it truth be told but she turned and made her way into her own bed as she climbs in and sighs in content as she lied down to sleep, her mind going a hundred miles an hour about what the strange creature had said. It was something she needed to see through, if nothing else then to ease her concious that she had not done anything to help the ponies of equestria. She climbed into bed and closed her eyes to drift off to the realm of morpheus as she eventually slept.
One day at a time.
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Raphael had woken the next morning with a light groan as he shifted a bit, the bed was more comfortable then he was expecting truth be told but he supposed he really shouldn’t complain as he reaches down and picks up his armor and dusts it off, looking it over to make sure it was still in good condition as he nods before flipping it back around and began to place them all onto his body, making sure to keep quiet as he did not want to wake Zekora as he slips his boots back on and slipped Dawnbreaker into the holster on his hip.
He walks over to his bag and opens it before grabbing three large potions and slipping them onto his waist for ease of access as well before closing it up as he slipped on his cape as well, clipping it. It wasnt functional in combat but it would help his heroic look that little bit more as he wanted to make the ponies feel at ease.
“Time to head out.” he says reaching into his pocket and produces three gemstones before setting them down on the table for her, a sort of payment before he walks out the door and back into the forest. It was daybreak. That worked for him as he reached into his armor and produced the map and looked it over, nodding in content, he slipped the map back into his armor and began to walk.
He had heard monsters rustling in the bushes, whether it was because of his draconic heritage or because they are seeing a creature they had no idea was capable of, he did not know. He took that as small graces as he makes his way closer and closer to the edge of the forest as he cut the brushes down with his hatchet, not wanting to be slowed down as he sighs softly, he could see the end now thankfully, he had no idea what would be waiting for him. He wanted to be hopeful, to see that the gods efforts were not in vain.
However, what he saw when he got to the edge made his heart sink to the pit of his stomach as he clenched his fist in anger, gripping dawnbreaker that much more tightly, he was sure if it was his bare fist he would be bleeding.
Ponies chained and in stockades in the center of town for these… behemoths as Zecora called them. Breeding stockades. Mares and stallions were in the stockades, no doubt leaking that sick vile cum onto the floor, a few of them had a distant look in their eye, no doubt having been raped over and over and over again.
Some were doing manual labor. Making food under the watchful eye of those things while others were used as punching bags. It was an occupation, one that forced the ponies to be nothing more then slaves, and If it was one thing he had learned from the dragons of the past of skyrim, was that slavery was never the solution. Never an option.
As such, he felt he had an obligaton to save these poor ponies from their servitude. What is better, to be born good, or overcome your nature through great effort.
With not knowing what Twilight Sparkle looked like, he would have to free the town and then ask around, and no doubt this will get the Behemoths attention.
He didn’t even know if that was their true name. Oh well.
“Sick bastards.” No. He had to set this right, he wasnt going to stand for it as he closed his eyes as he took a few deep breaths, seeming to gather strength of his blood as he heard the words from his mentor, his psuedo father figure, Paarthurnax, and gathered the strength and knowledge needed. He looked up to the heavens and roared.
STRUN BAH QO!
It wasnt long before the effects of the shout began to take hold as the skies darkened and began to rain as thunder rolled in as well, crashing down before them as he switched from frost magic to lightning. He wasnt sure if these things had any special resistances to lightning or magic in general, but thats why he was always much more versatile.
If one thing didn’t work, another thing did. He began to step forward, the clanking of his armor as he got to the edge as he raised his sword at them. He used the training in the Dragon tongue to enhance his voice, shaking the very ground beneath them with the raw power of it.
“I AM RAPHAEL, SON OF PAARTHURNAX, DOVAHKIIN OF SKYRIM, HEAR MY CALL OPRESSORS, YOU SHALL FALL HERE TO MY BLADE, TO RIGHT THESE WRONGS YOU HAVE DONE TO THESE PEOPLE.”
Author's Note
Hope this came out good, The first time writing something like this in a LONG time and i might be a bit rusty, regardless before anyone comments, Yes i left the conquering species vague for a reason, is all i will say, do leave some critques but also let me know if ya love it!
