Kerik sat up in his cot, the full moon shining through his window and directly onto him. He sighed, resigned to wait out the restlessness that filled him as he always had. Sleep never came easy to him, a man who had taken the lives of many, and doubly so now that he was in a world strange and alien to any human. He rubbed his eyes, wiping the sleep that had once weighted them away before swinging his legs over the edge of the cot. "Ysmir be damned…," he said groggily, wishing he could sleep. He let his hands fall; clasping them together and casting a spell of Night Eye. His control over the power allowed him to see in the dark, the room becoming as bright as day. "A walk will do me good," he said to himself, standing and grabbing his pants and tunic. He garbed in them quickly, his subconscious mind telling him they were unfit as he looked himself over in the mirror. He shrugged, disrobing and choosing instead his Steel armor. The pieces came together easily, the clasps causing the sectioned plates to join effortlessly from the constant care he gave them. He shrugged several times, rolling his shoulders and flexing his arms and legs to get the parts to sit right.

He knelt before his arms chest, opening the trunk and withdrawing two glass daggers, tying them to his belt before moving to the weapon rack. From it, he took a Daedric sword, swirling the weapon by his side in his right hand to make sure the leather strips were fitted correctly before sheathing it by his left hip. He lifted a steel shield from the floor, sliding his arm into the leather brace before grasping the handle and hefting the weight. His fourteen-inch biceps tensed as he curled the weight, waking his joints from their half-asleep state before he turned to the door.

Kerik opened the door carefully, moving it quickly to keep the creaking hinges a quiet as possible. He stepped out silently, his leather-soled boots plodding quietly on the stone floor as he looked at Ridge Runner sleeping in his chair. He shut the door silently, turning and sneaking away, following the hall toward the front door. 'Not the stealthiest way, but I guess I can make due,' he thought, listening closely for guard patrols as he navigated the slightly less familiar path. Night made the castle seem to change, the structures Kerik had seen the day before seeming to be completely different. Where there had been a stairwell, there was now a hallway. Where there was a corridor, there was now a sleeping quarters.

After what felt like an hour of searching, Kerik finally reached the exit. There were three black pegasi guarding the double door, Kerik sighing and knowing he was not going to slip out unnoticed. She stood behind a pillar, walking around the ornate piece and presenting himself to the guards. "I seek exit to the city below and the walls beyond," he stated plainly, the three guard nodding before opening one of the oak doors wide enough for him to exit through. Kerik stood fast for a moment, shocked slightly that he had not met with confrontation. He exited at the urging of one of the guards, thanking them each with gold as he did before they closed the doors behind him.

…

Kerik walked out of the city gate, nodding to the guards as he passed them without incident and making his way farther out of the urbanized area. After ten minutes of walking he turned in a random direction, making his way into open fields and rolling hills layered in knee high grass and night flowers. Around him, deer frolicked, having known neither fear of man nor the danger of the creature that had wandered into their home. He slowed his pace, breathing in the cool night air and gazing up into the skies, taking in the beauty the night graced them with. He was slightly put off by the fact that there was only one moon, but it was easy to cope with given it was slightly larger than that of Nirn's moon. "The night is glorious," he whispered, removing his shield and laying it on the ground, following it with his sword before falling backwards onto the rise of a low hill. He wedged his hands behind his head, staring at the stars aimlessly.

An hour almost passed like this, Kerik watching the stars turn and the moon sail across the sky, deer grazing not ten feet from him and the sounds of Nightingales singing until a muffled voice caught his attention. He cast a spell to increase the sound, waiting in silence before letting the magic fade from his concentration. He closed his eyes, listening to the sounds that surrounded him, having not been able to relax in full since he was a child.

Then the voice was back. Kerik sat up quickly, looking around for who or whatever was talking. He cast a spell of Night Eye, observing everything around, spying trees and birds, bugs and deer… even a few wolves in the distance. But unless deer could talk on this world as well, there was no one around he could see. He was about to lay back down when he heard the flapping of wings, large one too. Kerik rolled over his sword and shield, clutching them both and rising to a low crouch to face whatever beast was heading his way.

The sound of the creature passing overhead caused him to turn on the balls of his feet, facing the direction it had gone. He waited, crouched and ready to fight. The sounds of the flapping drifted away, as if it had not noticed him. Kerik sheathed his sword, setting off after the creature quickly. He followed his ears, unable to see the beast even with his enhanced sight. He continued against the slight breeze, following downwind of the creature to a copse of trees nearly a mile from where he had started.

He drew his sword, stalking into the trees and light undergrowth until he came upon a clear stream. The stream flowed into and out of a small pond, two large black and white fish, as he had never seen, swimming in the center. He stayed at the perimeter of the clearing the pond had demanded, hiding in the ferns and night-blooming flowers as he searched for the creature. He had heard it land in the trees minutes before, now all he had to do was wait.

Kerik heard the voice again, this time clearer, closer. He listened silently, the voice sounding calm and melodic, as if it was singing. Soon he was able to make out words, and indeed, whatever it was, was singing. He searched the area before him, checking every boulder, every tree and every stand of tall grass and bush. He froze as he saw a pair or slightly glowing and vividly azure eyes. The eyes moved out of the trees on the opposite side of the pond, the figure of Luna revealing herself from the shroud of shadows that had encompassed her, singing a melody that sent a chill through Kerik.

Now let the day, just slip away,
So the dark night may watch over yooou,
Velvet blue, silent true-oooo,
It embraces, your heart and, your so-oh-oh-whoa-l…
Nocturne…

Never cry, never sigh,
You don't have to wonder why,
Always be, always see,
Come and dream the night with meee…
Nocturne…

Luna stalked the glade like a goddess, animals of all sizes and appetites gathering nearby at the sound of her melody, bowing before her as if they understood a mild manner of her power among mortals. Kerik found himself fighting his body, forcing himself to stay hidden in the ferns in the stead of following her, trying to get closer to the heavenly sound of her song.

Have no fear,
When the night draws near,
And fills you with dreams and desire,
Like a foal asleep so warm, so deep,
You will find me, there waiting, for yooou…
Nocturne…

We will fly, claim the sky,
We don't have to wonder why,
Always be, always see,
Come and dream the night with meeee-heeeee-heeEEE!...
Noh-ha-ooctuuuuuurne.

She walked around the pond smoothly, stepping delicately over flat-stones in the shallow stream, nearly gliding over the short grass to the edge of the pond, bowing her head as the two fish swam to face her, seeming to listen to her song from the water.

Though darkness fades, it will give way
When the dark night delivers the daa-eeeh-aaay
No-octuuurne…

Her head rose from the ground slowly, her eyes closed and her ears perked high as she sniffed the air delicately, smirking to herself. "I know you are there Kerik," she said softly, sitting on the grass and closing her wings against her sides. Kerik blinked in surprise, taking a breath before choking on the lung full he had held since he had arrived at the glade. He released his pent up breath slowly, half to seem decent, and half to steady his racing heart and trembling form, standing carefully and taking a step from the shadows. A glance around told him that the animals had fled at his presence, the break in the treetops flooding the area with luminous moonlight. The sound of Luna giggling brought his attention to her, the Alicorn tapping her hoof against the ground next to her. "Sit, please," she said kindly, seeming a different person than he had met just that day.

"What was that," he asked as he walked to her side slowly, taking a seat on the soft mat of grass. "The song… I have never heard anything like it." Luna nodded slowly twice, plucking a bellflower with velvet black petals with her hoof.

"It is a song that I was given by the Gods when I was granted control over the moon and stars," she said quietly, smelling the flower as gently as if it were made of powder, a light blush painting the top of her muzzle as she smiled. "The night can be a lonely place, so they showed me mercy. The song can bring joy to the most basic of minds, and draws any creature near me from five hundred strides away…" She whispered something, breathing on the flower and turning its petals into the deepest sapphires. "It affected you because of your gift, the melody keeping you from sleep and driving you to find the source." She reached the gem flower to Kerik, the nord taking it, catching the smell of Magnolia's from the Summerset Isles and cool blueberry mead. Kerik set the flower aside, giving her a wary look from years of encounters with certain hunting parties.

"You know about my curse?" he asked her, Luna beginning to nod before her eyes widened.

"Curse," she asked, not believing he had said the word. "Kerik to be granted to powers of an animal is a gift I can only dream of having! Any warrior would revel in the chance to be like you. The increase in agility, speed and endurance. The strength to tear a wall apart with you bare hooves… erm… hands…" She sighed at the thought, her war-born personality flooding through her regal front. "It seems like a dream that anypony could have your abilities," Kerik shook his head furiously, objecting from the start.

"You have no comprehension of what I am afflicted with," he said. "While I am Werekin, I cannot help but revel in the destruction and death I wreak upon those I face, but when it is all over, and I am man again, the scene is something I would not wish on anything," He leaned back onto the grass, staring up at the stars again. "The lust for blood can get to unbearable amounts some days, and even the strongest will must give in to the instinctual thirst eventually. And the longer you hold it in, the worse it will be when you finally do lose control." He sighed, tilting his head back to look at her. "You do not want this." Luna barked a laugh, looking down at him with a mischievous expression.

"Think you to assume what I wish," she asked rhetorically. She sighed, hanging her head slightly in resign. "It matters not though. The grace of the gods keeps me in perfect health for all of time, lest blade or poison take me. And even if I could, I doubt they would smile upon a Were being the harbinger of night." They remained silent for what felt like hours, the position of the stars telling them it had only been minutes before she spoke again. "Do you like the night sky?" Kerik looked at her again, rolling onto his stomach and lifting himself into a sit.

"Yes, it's beautiful," He looked back up at the moon, wishing he could find the constellations from Nirn again. "Why do you ask?" Luna shrugged, kicking a pebble into the pond, causing the pair of fish to swim away, returning shortly and continuing their dance.

"Not many ponies do," she said in a rather defeated tone. "I am the giver of night on this world, and it is my responsibility to make it as beautiful and peaceful as possible. Each night I brighten the most distant stars to allow the ponies to admire them as I do, but they choose to sleep through the masterpiece I orchestrate. Some even fear the night, as if they think that the dark sky will harm them; that my night would harm them…" She reached a hoof to her face, wiping a tear from her eye.

'Perhaps she knows how I feel about being like I am…' Kerik thought, watching the once stone solid mare breakdown before him. He laid his shield aside, sliding up beside her and wrapping his arms around her neck in a comforting embrace. "There there… Come now, I'm sure their fear is just of the dark." Luna pushed her face into the fur of his armor, crying onto his shoulder. "It is a fear we all feel from when we were all wild animals. I'm sure they think nothing of the sort." He stroked her mane as she confided in him, shushing quietly as she wet his shoulder with tears.

…

Kerik pushed off from the ground, his body upturned and leaning against the wall. He counted as he pushed off and eased down, exercising his bare arms and chest to keep them in peak condition. "Seventy…four… Argh! Seventy…Five… ugh… Seventy si-ix…" Sweat drenched his hair and body, the brine shining in the sunlight of the open courtyard. He was wearing his greaves and steel boots, the heaviest wearable items he owned, having donned them after his one hundred mark in just his woolen pants. He stopped at the crest of the eighty-mark push, watching a quartet of deep blue legs walk up to and stop before him. He looked down his chest, up into the face of Luna. "War-maiden," he said, pushing eighty-one. "What brings you out on such a bright day?" He smiled in strained amusement, getting a smirk from her.

"Oh I thought I would take a walk," she said, watching him test his limits. "See the… sights…" she added with a blush scan of his detailed and flexing muscles. "Tell me, why are you doing this?" Kerik laughed, falling onto his shoulders and tumbling backwards to rise to kneel. He panted, shaking his arms and wobbling slightly as the blood drained from his head.

"Keeps me strong," he said, sitting on the grass and leaning against a stump. "So if I need to go hand to hand with a dragon I can. So if you need someone to carry you back to the castle at dawn I can lend two arms." Kerik chuckled as Luna blushed, casting him a "don't you dare" expression. Kerik waved a hand, metaphorically banishing the thought. "So what news do you bring me," he asked. "It seems to be the system that when information is received regarding dragons you all send it to me," he picked up a waterskin, quaffing down the liquid quickly as Luna spoke.

"Well if you want to know, the advanced forces have sent a message by falcon." Kerik raised an eyebrow, silently inquiring as to the contents of the letter. "They have noticed the dragon forces have upped their armaments on the border. They have added Ballistae, more cannons, have been adding metal armor to their barricades and have doubled the forces they have garrisoned there." Kerik nodded, already working out how to get around those obstacles in his head. "Also, unrelated to dragon activity, the griffins have cast their lot with Discord in hopes to be left out of his wrath as he nears their borders, and the Entians have declared that they cannot aid us due to dragon raids on the supply routes they use, both on sea and land. The tribes have responded to my sister's request for aid by saying they will assist when Discord threatens their land and lives. And still no word from the Shadeskaul." Kerik nodded, the information only registering half way in his head as he worked out strategies for the planned offensive.

"Also," Kerik perked up now, looking at her as he finally emptied the skin. "The recruitment list says that the rally has worked. Apparently, the city-states do not like to be called cowards. They all have increased their training regimen for existing guards and militia, and have had nearly a third of their populations join the army respectively," Kerik froze for a second, baffled that his tirade had worked so well. "You did it," she said with a grin. "We're going to the front lines!" Luna bounced on her hooves, the promise of gore bringing glee to her young mind. Kerik simply nodded, steeling himself for the future to come and preparing to be called for the war meeting.

…

The week dragged by, the feeling of war readiness wearing heavily on Kerik's mind and body, the nord wearing a minimum of leather armor at all times save his self allotted down-time. He assisted in the war preparations wherever he could, cutting shields and forging weapons and barding. As he had helped them, Kerik began to feel more accepted, the stares and sideways glances having all but ceased in Baltimare. Ponies would nod to him, greet him and offer him help or ask for it from him. He learned names, addresses and even the occasional chip of gossip. On the seventh day of the week, something that had never happened to him in his life was presented to him. A couple had been gifted with a child, a colt, and they brought it before him.

"You want me to do what?" he asked, baffled they would even ask him. He was an outsider, nothing special to their lives despite being the savior of Nirn; his far away home world.

"Give him a blessing, sir," the stallion repeated. "His body is weak, and the doctors believe he won't make it through the winter. I know they are just words, but perhaps the thought alone could help." The stallion gave him a sad smile, knowing the child was doomed without constant medical attention. Kerik took the foal the stallion handed him, cradling the infant as he would a child of man. The foal twitched in his sleep, cooing lightly as Kerik tucked a stray corner of his blanket away. He always had a weakness for children, going out of his way several times to save them from dragon breath or other lethal dangers. He could not turn the stallion's plea away, deciding to do as only he could in this world, and bestow the child strength with the power of The Voice.

"I will," he finally said. "I will bless your young, but I must be outside the city, away from those that could be harmed unintentionally." The stallion nodded. "If you would allow it, I would like to take you child," Kerik looked around the horizon, finding a mountain not too far away, an outcrop offering him an airy perch. "There," he pointed to the mountain, the Stallions face flickering with fear quickly. "It is far enough that the townsfolk will not be harmed if I go askew." The stallion hesitated, thinking over the dangers, risks and precautions that should be made, reluctantly agreeing.

Kerik prepared to climb the mountain, having negotiated Luna into carrying the child to the outcrop by air as he climbed. She agreed, with much complaining, but the deed was done, and as Kerik looked down the cliff face, he began to regret his decision. "Why did you decide this was a good idea," he muttered to himself, grunting as he climbed the bluff, grunting as he pulled himself up with hand and foot holds. "Is it some form of entitlement you feel for being the Dovahkiin?" She shook his head, shrugging as he rested on a small ledge.

"No," he said, turning around and looking over the plains before him. "It's because the damned thing was so cute, and you can't resist a child in danger." He resumed his ascent, reaching the outcrop he had in mind within the hour. Pulling himself over the lip he lay on his chest, panting heavily from the challenge overcame before standing and walking to the small spike of rock. The precarious perch gave him an awe-inspiring view, finally seeing that the area around him was much like Whiterun Hold. The plains rolled with hills, pockmarked with small patches of wood and ponds, streaked with streams and filled with life of all predispositions. He sat on his heels, watching a pair of mountain cats stalking a herd of deer, making bets against himself as to which deer would become their meal as he waited for Luna to bring the foal. She arrived as the cats made their choice, Kerik losing his wager to himself as they took their kill.

"Why are you doing this again," Luna asked him, giving him the child swaddled tightly in warming wrappings. Kerik took the bundle of blankets, exposing the foals face and ears so the voice would affect him fully. He had no idea if his experiment would work, but something in his gut dashed his doubts against the ground as they arose.

"Because I am a protector," he said, walking toward the point of the ledge. "Because this life has not had a chance to live, and I do not wish to see any living thing end so soon." He stood on the precipice of a deadly fall, holding the child out at eye level. "Stay back," he said to Luna. "I have no idea what I am doing." He cast a smile over his shoulder, Luna responding in kind as she landed upon the cliff top.

Kerik returned to the child, concentrating on the Thu'um and all the language lessons he had taken from Paarthunax, weaving the Dragon Tongue into an intricate and powerful spell. He began, the normally quiet voice he possessed becoming a rock-shaking roar. "Zu vulon faas vulon kriff paar, faas fent vulon aan ahrk laas, ahrk faas togaat! Zu hind aan lingrah ahrk laas, volaan faas aak do, ahrk jul munax faas ahrk. Faas ahrk aak." He finished his chant, a stream of energy flowing from him and to the foal, swirling around the newborn infant and causing him to glow with a radiant golden light.

As the light faded and the air grew still once more, Kerik felt the toll the voice had placed upon him, the nord stumbling back from the edge before falling to the ground, the child sheltered in his arms against his chest as he landed on his back. Luna became tense as he fell; rushing to his side to make sure the child was unharmed. Kerik handed the foal up to her, Luna taking the infant in her hooves before gasping in surprise. "K-Kerik… What did you do?" she asked in astonishment. Kerik shook his head to clear the fog that had settled in his mind, standing carefully, if a little unsteadily, his eyes widening slightly as he beheld the effects of his prolonged Thu'um.

The blanket's had been shifted by the force of the shout, but what was different was the foal. The little colt, which had before been an earth pony, now had a horn nestled on his brow, the protrusion matching his coat, which had been white but was now deep red. On the child's sides protruded a pair of premature wings, both fluttering as the foal shifted in his sleep. Upon his flanks, an image of two crossed axes had appeared. "What indeed," he said, touching the image and horn carefully. Luna stared at Kerik, mouth agape. "You have decided this foal's future, and beyond that incredible and impossible feat, you have given him the gift of an Alicorn." She shook her head, unable to believe what he had done. "Kerik, you are nothing short of a god among us…" Kerik took the foal, re-wrapping the colt in the blankets and handing him back to Luna.

…

A crowd of ponies had gathered around the city square, forming a mass of horns, wings and hooves that focused on the tall man carrying a bundle of light blue blankets. The ponies murmured as he walked through them, following the main path to the center of the city. The man reached the square, a pair of ponies, a mare and stallion, walking up to him with hopeful eyes and resigned faces. Kerik looked from the bundle in his arm to the couple, then back to the bundle, smiling as a foal's cry carried from the cloth. The mare burst in to joyous tears, thanking all of the gods and the man before her, taking the child as Kerik offered it to her, kissing him on the cheek and showing her mate the child. The stallion smiled, tears falling from the corners of his eyes as he beheld his son, halting all motion as the mother moved the blankets away. The two stared agape at the wings and horn, glancing between Kerik and the child before bowing to him, lower than they had even their own chancellor. The crown did as well, the seven hundred ponies, pegasus, unicorn and earth pony alike kneeling to the man. The only one who didn't was the midnight blue Alicorn that stood behind him, Luna simply staring in astonishment of the crowd.

Yeah, there it is.

So the song Luna sang is called Nocturne by Celtic Woman, look it up on youtube, because that is exactly how it needs to be heard.

The Dragon language blessing is actually my own work, having found an online dictionary from Bethesda. They included a little of the phrasing process used in the sentences, but here is what it is supposed to mean…

I bestow unto you the strength to fight any foe, the will to survive a cruel and hard life, and the knowledge that it can only improve. I wish you a long and joyous life, filled with the love of family, and many companions by your side through the hardest days and the longest night. May the gods watch over you, and guide you upon your journey.

So! Hit the comment section below.

Alright, i have to tell you all that this is being moved to FIMfiction dot net. you can find me there under the same pen name, AedanRyche. im moving it for a larger audience, that is my reason. it will be there possibly weekly, because so many reviews come in daily.

PEACE!

AedanRyche.