Shadowmere

Shadowmere continued to walk across the inky black sludge that made up one of the few material parts of the void. As usual, the Void was empty. But it was not the usual sense of emptiness that pervades the Void. Rather than a simple absence of everything except the sludge, it felt like something had stood here. He looked at the horizon, if you can truly call the point where the sludge meets the night sky a horizon.

It felt like he had been walking for days, yet any amount of time in the material world could have passed. The Void was Sithis's plane, and he could manipulate it at will. Even the sense of time.

It was also really boring to look at and you could never tell if you were going in circles. Many who had wished to visit Sithis had been lost to the Void.

He spotted a small pinprick of light. That was unusual. Sithis despised light, and none was allowed in his realm, except for powerful visitors or those who had won Sithis's favour.

None had won Sithis's favor for over two hundred years.

Shadowmere concluded it must be a visitor. But who could it be?

As he neared, he began to make out details. His night vision obliterated the colours a little but Shadowmere would recognise that old man anywhere.

Sitting beneath a half-gold, half-black gazebo on a stone throne, was Sheogorath, formerly Argus, once Shadowmere's rider and currently his friend.

As Shadowmere began to approach the gazebo, Sheogorath called out "Ah, Shadowmere. Take a seat. Or stand. Or levitate, if you want. Whatever you feel like doing."

"Why are you here, Argus? Sithis doesn't just let Daedra walk in to meet old friends. So what's your motive?"

"You wound me, old friend. This time, I just want to help a old friend for saving me from that damned Great Gate when it nearly sliced me in half! I really could do with a Siege Crawler right now..."

"Help." Shadowmere said, his tone flat. "You want to help me. Why couldn't you have given me warning? Or intervened? Many good... Ponies died because of your failure to help earlier."

"You're in Equestria, aren't you? I have to say, Dagon is awfully lucky."

"How could you tell where I came from?"

"There is only one world in the cosmos inhabited by intelligent ponies. I have to say, it's a nice place. If you don't mind law, order, peace and all the other boring crap that goes on there. Otherwise, it's quite possibily the most boring place I've ever seen. And will you take my offer of help or not? I haven't got all day. Or maybe I have. Haskill would know."

"What's the offer?"

"I can't send much- Dagon has taken the Fringe, and it's taking all I've got to hurl him back. Oblivion is at war with itself. Me, Molag Bal, Hircine and Nocturnal are fighting a losing battle against Dagon, Boethiah, Clavicus Vile and Peyrite. We've tried getting the others to intervene but... Mora has internal problems, everyone hates Namira, Meridia sodded off to who-knows-where with Mephala, Malacath is off being a idiot, Sanguine has been having drinking contests non-stop for 69 years and Vaermina has been using something called 'Amnesia' on her latest champion."

"And Azura?" Shadowmere prodded.

"Oh, she's off purifying that stupid Star of hers. Nowhere near as good as my Wabbajack! Or my new, improved version 2.0 of the Wabbajack, the Wabbaspear!"

"The what?"

"The Wabbaspear!" Sheogorath announced proudly as the Wabbajack materalized in his hand, the only difference being a unicorn horn mounted on the end. "It's like the Wabbajack, only it acts as a spear as well! It also lets you cast magic without magicka! It's almost as good as cheese!"

"What about the help?"

"I can't give you any. Simples. Unless you want the Wabbaspear?"

"I'll take your damn Wabbaspear then. And do you mind giving me the Duchy of Mania? I could do with a title where I currently am."

"Why not? Have it. Actually, have them both. I have too much stuff anyway."

A small golden band appeared and clamped itself around Shadowmere's leg while Sheogorath tossed the Wabbaspear at Shadowmere.

Shadowmere caught it deftly with his right hoof before he noticed the Ebony Blade was now in Sheogorath's hands. "Mephala wants it back." He explained.

"As for the help, I'm lying. A few of my old friends still want revenge on Dagon two hundred years after they died. They're fully aware of Equestria's nature and didn't even flinch when I told them they'd have to become ponies. And if you're really lucky, Jyggalag might visit to give you a helping hand. Or hoof. I'm not really sure what to use."

Shadowmere thanked Sheogorath before he added something. "One slight warning- I'm not that accurate at hurling objects like spirits at planets halfway across the void in Mundus . They could end up anywhere from a bottomless pit to Celestia's throne room. Although I will be watching, and generally providing cheese to everypony down there. Say hi to Discord for me, will you?"

"Er... Sure?"

"This may hurt. A lot. Or a little. I don't actually know! But who cares, time for you to be cosmically slingshot back to your little land of ponies. Or whatever in Lorkan's name they are called. Ta!"

Shadowmere began to see red specks floating in front of his eyes as his mind began to shut down. He eventually toppled over, head hitting the Void's floor as his body and soul began to move back towards Equestria. He just hoped everypony was still alive and mentally and physically intact. And that Nightwing had got out of the city alive.