“Dammit, hold still.” The creature in black growled the words as Glade struggled in its grip. To her credit, the shifted mare was making serious progress, and had nearly freed herself. With a screeching howl, the lycan slammed a clawed paw into the monster's knee. Grunting in pain, the masked fiend released her, and quickly received a buck in the chest.

The blow barely registered to the lake dweller.

Another bolt of energy flew past the creature's masked face. Twilight had finally gotten her shot off, but had failed when it came to aiming. The acrobatic monster turn its head slightly, the lavender pony could practically feel its hidden eyes bearing down on her. The Element of Magic already had her next blast readied, but a hoof on her shoulder prevented its launch.

“We can't risk hitting Glade.” Luna motioned for the other Elements to run for the ruins, it had to be safer inside the ancient structure. However, the five were hardly able to do so, instinctive fear to the masked creature and the feral Glade halted their retreat. They had seen Reman when he'd gone wild, but the lycan mare could fly, and only Dash had any hope of going faster than her. They would have to stay put, and hope that their friend was enough to drive off the strange assailant.

A loud thud drew their collective attention back to the current violence. The acrobatic monster was content with its dodging and weaving, merely allowing the winged werewolf to wear herself out. A particularly impish pirouette had caused Glade to slam into the ice, completely of her own fault, without the dark-clad biped so much as touching the shifted pony. A light laugh emanated from behind the obscuring mask, the creature finding no small amount of pleasure in her misfortune.

All the while, the shadows cast by the mountains stretched ever closer.

@#@#@#@#@#@#

“... and that brings us to today.” Marcus had remain silent during his grandson's story, but had acquired a new array of questions for the younger Imperial. Reman had certainly been through a lot in his time away from home, but talking, flying, magical horses were almost too much to believe. Of course, the young man had a smirk on his face, like he knew something his grandfather didn't. “Any questions?”

“How do you expect me to believe any of that?” The general wasn't a man to be easily fooled, Imperial nature ensured it. In any event, Marcus felt that his grandson was being completely honest, even about the impossibilities. “Talking horses are a bit farfetched, even if the Daedra were involved.”

“Since when has anything our family has been involved in made sense?” The lycan was acting almost exactly like he had before his infection, if a little bolder and cockier. Such was the attitude of an adventurer, Tullius couldn't be offended if he tried. “And just to clarify, they're ponies, not horses.”

“What's the difference?” The aged man crossed his arms, still trying to absorb all the information presented to him. Marcus could, however, understand the chasm between the equines that he knew, and the alien creatures that his grandson described. That did not mean that he was fully sold on the claims made by the lycan.

“They're smaller, for one, just about the size of one of Skyrim's dogs, perhaps a bit bigger.” Reman didn't feel the need to repeat the portions of his tale that involved flying and magic, it occupied far too much time for that. “And normal horses aren't capable of vampirism or lycanthropy.”

“These ponies can be afflicted by the ailments?” Tullius was more than surprised. These prospect of the small equines contracting the dreaded curses sent a shiver down his spine, especially if they retain magic and flight. While the general knew that they were capable of human intelligence, one thing still had him stumped. “What's the part that you aren't telling me?”

“That's a bit complicated.” Reman hadn't informed his grandfather about how Glade became what she was today, nor any of the more intimate details about his stay in Equestria. In fact, the young man hadn't dropped much more information than what was needed, he'd even left out the part about infecting Glade. “I can't really say anything right now.”

“You're certainly making things difficult for me.” Marcus blinked, he hadn't expected Reman to withhold much, and he could tell that there was a large chunk missing. It would have been foolish to expect total honesty, not even priests expected that from one another, let alone family members. “How can you expect me to guarantee your freedom when you're acting like this?”

“Conscription seems like a fair option.” Tullius' coughed at Reman's suggestion. Conscription hadn't been used since Tiber Septim's days, and the practice had almost faded from the Legion's collective memory. After a few seconds of silence, the old general started to chuckle, much to his grandson's surprise.

“Still set on joining the Legion, even after all these years?” Marcus knew that the lycan and his brothers had been raised to serve the Empire. It was unfortunate that only Uriel had been able to join, a real tragedy. “If I did conscript you, that still wouldn't clear up your fine.”

“Already being taken care of.” That same smirk played across the young man's face. Tullius didn't know how far ahead Reman had planned, but any amount would be surprising in a plan as complicated as this. “Lynette should be here in the morning to pay it off.”

“And afterwords, I assume you'll be reporting for duty at Castle Dour?” It would be a pleasure to work with family, well, more than was already stationed in Skyrim. But, if Reman ever used his powers, it would reflect poorly on the entire Legion. This wasn't an easy decision for anyone to make. “Once your fine is payed, you're free to go. Why place yourself in the war?”

“Ulfric pulled me in the second he tried to kill one of the few men I respect.” When the Stormcloaks had attacked Whiterun, the lycan had to be stopped from marching to Windhelm and challenging the traitor to a duel. Too bad, Ulfric's Voice would have been an interesting obstacle to go up against.

“There isn't anything I can do to shake your stance, is there?” That was the thing about members of the Tullius family, they were too stubborn for their own good. Marcus just shook his head and sighed, knowing full well that Reman's mind was dead set on his goal.

“Nothing short of winning the war.” The Imperials were at an impasse, neither side was willing to budge an inch, nor advance in the argument. The old man looked at his lycan grandson, trying to find some way to win the stalemate. The young werewolf wouldn't lose something like this, not even the Voice of the Emperor could sway him. Growling in frustration, Tullius conceded his position in the mental battle.

“I'd like some time to think over my options.”

@#@#@#@#@#@#

It had been over an hour, and Glade had yet to transform back into her regular self. The dark-clad acrobat hadn't shown any signs of slowing down, it just kept bobbing and weaving around the lycan's attacks. Luna and Twilight were unable to fire any magical attacks for fear of hitting their lupine comrade, Applejack and Rainbow Dash had to worry about being infected by a stray bite, so they weren't options, either. Until one of the two combatants surrendered or made a mistake, things wouldn't change, not unless somepony took the initiative.

A purple glow enveloped the strange biped's foot, preventing it from evading Glade's next attack. A full-force body slam knocked the evasive agent onto its back, and more than allowed the lycan to get in a few swipes before it slipped through the ice. Losing her target, the werewolf started digging, trying to find her quarry in its hiding hole. A gloved hand reached through the layer of frozen water behind Glade, and grabbed her tail. With speed that had been only hinted at by the dark silhouette, the creature swam around the lake, dragging the shifted mare along with it.

For a few extra bits of annoyance, the lake monster spun the lycan by her tail, dizzying and hurting in equal portions. While she was still trying to gain her balance, another hand grabbed her by her mane, and slammed her face against the ice. Other than eliciting a yelp, it did very little to actually cause damage, and only a fair amount of pain. With a blind, animal fury, Glade roared her frustration to the setting sun, angry that her prey had escaped for the time. The insensate pegasus beat her clawed appendages against the lakes surface, for want of something to attack.

“Um, Glade...” Fluttershy spoke up first, thinking that the black-clad monster was gone, forced into retreat by the lycan. At the mention of her name, the werewolf's ears swiveled towards the other ponies, before her entire head turned. The Element of Kindness recognized the look in the shifted mare's eyes, she'd seen it plenty of times from creatures that lived in the Everfree. “We're your friends, remember?”

“That's not going to work, not if the Ring has failed her.” Luna understood more than the others did, about werewolves, about their habits, and knew the warning signs of a feral beast. Reman had looked the same as Glade when he'd attacked at the Festival, that blind fury burning, eager to seek blood and bone. “As much as it pains me to say, we need to get to the ruins and leave Glade out here.”

“That's the best idea I've heard all day.” Rarity was in full support, she'd even taken a few steps towards the squat building at the lake's center. The fabulous pony stopped as soon as Glade's head snapped in her direction, and a primordial instinct directed the Element of Generosity to return to the herd. “Perhaps we should go as a group.”

The werewolf took a step forward, and the other ponies took one towards the ruins. Another step, one more taken in retreat, progress was made all around, it seemed. The huntress crouched, ready to pounce on her prey, she'd use her wings to cover the distance in less than a second. The moment her hooves left the ground, a fist slammed into her jaw, courtesy of the forgotten creature in the lake.

“See? One of you should have put her to sleep when I asked.” The accented voice from earlier echoed from the mask once more. The creature's tone seemed... bored, like it dealt with this situation on a regular basis. The darkness from the setting sun provided an intimidating backdrop, the monster's posture was neither aggressive nor relaxed, it just seemed to exist. Regardless of its intentions, Luna and Twilight both had magic ready to blast the strange biped into dust. “Now she's got you cornered against a locked door.”

There was silence, none of the ponies said anything as creature pulled out a clear vial of liquid. With a shake, the fluid began to glow, creating a steady, yellow source of light. Waving the bottle around, the creature provided a distraction, a chance for them to make a break for the ruins. It wasn't a difficult choice for the ponies, not even a moment's hesitation for the seven mares to run. A small part of their collective mentality recognized that they'd left behind a friend, but a more powerful instinct glared at them to reach safety.

“The key's under the mat.” Whether the creature was joking or not, they didn't know. Once they reach the bronze doors of the Dwemer ruin, the doormat practically shouted at them that it had spoken true. Casting a single look back, Luna noted that Glade and the lake dweller were about to face off once more, and quietly hoped that the lycan would emerge victorious.

A thud signaled the door sealing shut, separating the seven mares from their comrade.

@#@#@#@#@#@#

Hunger. Protection. Safety. Glade had to find shelter, sate her starving stomach, find her alpha. The prey before her kept those things from her clawed grasp, a foul stench practically permeated the air around the dark figure. Its dirty tricks were nothing compared to the glory of her power, no quarry ever truly escapes the hunter, this would be no different. With a shrieking howl, the mare flew at the biped, ready to find blood, if there was any inside the agile creature. Once again, it spun away from her hungry jaws.

Ever since the sun had vanished behind the mountains, the prey had only given her more trouble. It had only harmed her a few times, barely an annoyance in the mare's bestial state. However, that didn't stop her from trying to kill and consume the strange thing, she needed to eat, and her altered form required a lot of energy. A knee into her neck forced the feral mare back into her head, the prey was taking the offensive.

“Just relax, I don't want to hurt you any more than I have to.” Was it speaking? Trying to reason with the natural order of thing? The strong survive and the weak die, that's how things went, didn't it see that? Two hands around the lycan's neck answered her questions, and the headbutt that followed only cemented the answer. Glade felt a pulse ripple over her body, magic that made her limbs heavy and her heart slow.

“Just relax, Reman said you eight were off limits, nothing bad is going to happen.”

@#@#@#@#@#@#

The ponies were in the first subterranean room of the ruined structure. Brass- and bronze-like lamps burned some form of gas, providing a constant level of dim light. The steady whirring and throbbing within the floor and walls was almost hypnotic, but with the situation above ground, it only served to add to the tension.

“What was that thing?” Dash wasn't one to panic, but that monster was unnerving, even when compared to some of the things the Element had seen during her life.

“Ah don' know, but it don' sit right with me.” Applejack had an idea about how strong that creature was, like Big Mac only using half his strength to pull an overfilled cart. That lake thing in black was toying with them, it could have picked them off if it wanted.

“We need to get Glade away from it.” Twilight was shaking, but the Element of Magic, knew that she needed to help her friend.

“Aw, you're hurting my feelings.” An accented voice called from upstairs. The seven ponies snapped their heads in the direction it came from, they hadn't even heard the door open. Footsteps, almost silent, echoed louder and louder as the strange creature neared. First, its boots appeared, followed by its lags and torso, with only one of its arms at its side. Summer Glade hung limply across the monster's shoulder, soundly asleep and still transformed. “And here I was told you ponies were supposed to be nice.”

“Who are you?” Luna recalled the question that Celestia had asked Reman back in the dungeon, well, her older sister had told her that the query had begun the trials against Hircine. In response to the Princess of Night's curiosity, the monster gently set the snoozing lycan on the floor, taking care not to disturb her rest. After the task had been completed, the acrobat took a step back, before giving a grand, theatrical bow, before giving a proper introduction.

“I am Renoir Belmont, of the Daggerfall Belmonts.”