Ch.24

[Loredas, 24th of Sun’s Height, 4E: 221]

I arrived back in the apartment and felt a mixture of confusion and joy at seeing Berserker! “Hey! What are you doing here? What’s wrong with her?” I asked when I noticed Hermais, the chaos entity that helped me out with magic charms back in Blackrose was draped over his shoulders.

“This stupid twat of a step-daughter thought it was a good idea to pick a fight with a Daedric Prince.” Berserker answered with an indigent huff. “My turn, where are Rarity and Shade?”

“They’re still touring the city. Rarity is an absolute dynamo of energy when it comes to being a tourist. The amount of shopping we’ve done today is more than I remember ever doing.” I whined and stretched to relieve the tension all the walking and my smithing had caused me.

“Herma invaded my Library!” The noodly chaos entity growled.

“You should’ve seen that coming. What did you expect would happen? He’s not gonna bother about asking your permission. He sees some newfound knowledge, he’s gonna yank it from you.” Berserker retorted.

“Why don’t you try to supplant him with a lesser deity of knowledge native to here that otherwise has been forgotten?” I suggested, figuring such a thing might work considering I remember Sheogorath was once the Champion of Cyrodiil and he was just a mortal when he took over.

“...That’s fucking brilliant! There are still dozens of Et’Ada who linger despite their spheres being taken on by the more well-known Divines or Princes. Jhunal, wrongly considered to be Julianos, would be perfect! Though I did get one goal complete! The High King of Skyrim is no longer connected to that Herma doofus.” Hermais cackled and then slithered into nothingness.

“Well, in other news, Lilmoth still stands. I literally had to usurp command and manage things because captain Miun-La was being an obstinate ass and tried to just do a standard search when that would’ve accomplished nothing. I had the pegasi sweep the city constantly while I followed known leads on troublemaking groups to the undercity and wiped out all of the crooks, finding the hiding places of the Thalmor saboteurs in the process.” Berserker informed me.

“Well, the captain is clearly just a police-minded person. He probably had rights of privacy or innocence arguments against those, didn’t he?” I asked as I moved to sit at the table and Berserker approached, but remained standing since his armor likely weighed a lot.

“Pretty much. Miun-La is a good cop, but not a good soldier. The Thalmor came for war. I had to quickly dispose of summoners before they could bring in daedra. One managed to get through, but didn’t get further with its skull removed from its shoulders.” Berserker said with a scoff.

“Thanks for saving the city. I already think of it as home even though I haven’t been there long.” I then looked him over to find a few scratches and dents in his armor, so I retrieved my hammer and hit him in the chest without fanfare. His whole body glowed green for a moment before practically shining with how pristine it was. “There, all patched up.”

“Wait a minute, that looks...familiar? Did you have that before?” Berserker questioned as he looked at my hammer.

“Yes, but actually no. This is a replacement for the hammer I was originally Displaced with. I think I can make more than one, but it’d be for the best if I didn’t make more than a spare in case I lose this one. It’s basically material Alteration magic in the form of a smithing hammer. If it physically exists, the wielder can manipulate it with this.” I waved my pride and joy around.

“Yeah, keep it on the down-low, unless you want thieves to pinch it from you.” That made me clutch onto my hammer tightly. “Also, when we get back to Twilight, have her look it over and maybe she’ll place a ward on it where only you get to use it. While in the hands of others, it’s basically just a fancy looking hammer for basic, mundane stuff.” Berserker recommended.

“Hm. Good idea. The handle is unenchanted, so maybe she could do that for me.” I considered aloud before the door opened and Rarity led Shade in-. “Oh no. Rarity!”

“She hit me with those big adorable eyes! I couldn’t say no!” Rarity wailed and my daughter giggled as she danced around, all of the gaudy and tacky layers of necklaces, bracelets and beaded headwear shaking and clacking as she did so.

“I’m an Ashlander, mom! Mister Sadri was really nice!” Shade declared happily before rushing to the kitchen and burrowing into the cupboard.

“We’re having dinner soon, sweetling, don’t spoil your appetite!” I shouted after her while Rarity plopped down in a chair and slumped tiredly onto the table.

“Say, have you two been working out lately?” Berserker asked as he noticed our physical appearances. “Lookin’ mighty fine, ladies~.” I felt my face heat up at the compliment and was thankful my blood-red scales couldn’t reveal any form of skin reddening.

“Yes, Neethsi has been using Alteration and Restoration to help us out.” Rarity said from where she was still tiredly slumped against the table.

“Good, he’s doing you a very big favor. You’ll be thankful for it in the end.” He wasn’t wrong about that. “Speaking of which, where is he? Is he still doing politics? Twilight has retired for the day and I don’t see why he’d still be there when she’s gone.” Berserker questioned and I realized that he wasn’t around long enough or at any point where Neethsi’s role was mentioned.

“He’s the Hortator of the Great Houses. He’s the Nerevarine. A legendary Hero who centuries ago saved this nation and possibly the world from being taken over by a false god and his plagues.” I informed my old friend and I didn’t like how his helmet hid his face, because I didn’t know how he was feeling about that.

“Oh...that explains a lot.” Berserker said in stunned revelation, before he finally took off his demonic skull-bearing helmet. Rarity let out a gasp of shock when she saw his face; the battle scars, the silvery-white spiky hair, the blood-red draconic eyes, razor sharp demonic teeth and the tribal tattoos.

“He does that to most women who see him, Rarity, don’t worry.” I patted her hand and flinched away when Shade seemed to teleport to be standing on the table and looking Berserker in the eyes.

“Hey! Those are new!” Shade poked several of the scars and the man snorted with his lips curling in a grimace that was either resisting a smile or a frown as he nudged her prodding finger away. “You’ve been on a lot of adventures, huh?” Shade asked as she rabidly nommed on what looked like a sack of thankfully dead pillbugs. Ew. I’m open to trying things, but ew.

“You don’t know half of it and these aren’t all that new. I’ve always had these scars.” Berserker replied with a sigh.

“I know you fell into nothingness, then you were gone with the rest of the world. Whatever you did between then and now was Hell.” Shade knowingly said and finished munching on the bugs and snarled at the empty bag. “Why am I so hungry?” Shade growled before she jumped down and hurried back to the kitchen. Oh no!

“Please no! You went through a Change just the other day!” I whined and Shade poked her head above the counter to look at me as she chewed on something else.

“Well, I ain’t the one controlling it! I can’t just say ‘Hey! Body! Stop developing for five minutes!’ y’know. Bodies don’t work like that, mom.” Shade snarked and began scarfing down the jelly in a glazed jar.

“She has been snacking all day, dear. Whatever has brought her here from your world clearly has plans for the poor girl.” Rarity mewled and I whimpered in worry for what that could be.

“...When I fell into that nothingness, that thing was waiting for me.” Berserker spoke up, causing us to focus on him in rapt attention. Well, not Shade, she was breaking into another jar of preserves. “Damned thing killed me when its dogs couldn’t, thinking that was the end of it. With my own sword, no less. It was also the very same bastard that tried to possess me back at the university, it was really pissed off to find me still breathing.”

“Well, can you remember what it looked like at least?” Maybe if he saw it, describing it might jog the memories it sealed of what it did to my unborn babies.

“It didn’t look like anything. I can’t describe it, because it didn’t have an appearance. There is one thing I can be certain of; it’s desperate. For everything, including entertainment.” Berserker looked towards Shade and I gulped as I watched her swallow a fish whole. “Some sick fucks, like the special asshole who has altered the two of you, likely would find this funny.”

“This is not funny. The poor dear is practically starving to fuel her next Change. Meen-Rei, feed her.” Rarity insisted with a poke at my C-cups. I sighed before I got up and pulled my dress off and then removed my bra. Once nude, I expanded my bust until they were the size of beach balls with large enough nipples for a good flow of sap to go through. Huh. I’m not being dragged to the floor by my tits this time. Have I gotten that much stronger in a few days?

“Even so, it would seem its plans are starting to crack. It failed to kill me, it failed to try and torment these two for amusement, now it has failed to take the other elements of this world into consideration.” Berserker explained with a small smile.

“Like me finding a total asshat of a jerk expert necromancer to turn into the avatar of Jhunal, then perform a ritual to transport said avatar into Apocrypha. Then, I shoved that hoarding wannabee knowledge thief down Jhunal’s eager gullet! Woo! Daedric Prince dethroned! All hail my buddy Jhunal!” Hermais squealed excitedly from the shoulder of the weathered and battered gray-bearded Nord in dark robes that was suddenly standing in the apartment.

I could feel him! It was like being in Aetherius with Julianos again! “Greetings. I am Jhunal of the Rune. I have usurped Herma Mora and am now set to task bringing order to the abomination that is Apocrypha. As friends of my friend, I extend my boon to you. Should you need guidance or knowledge of any kind, simply open one of my Grey Books.” The god Jhunal stated before bowing and vanishing, leaving Hermais hovering about with maniacal giggles.

“Did that just-oh~! D-don’t bite!” I yelped at my daughter, who had pounced on my left breast and was desperately sucking at my teat for sustenance.

“Now I wish Jhunal stayed a little longer. We could have asked him if Shade’s rapid growth would have any benefits or consequences, just to be safe.” Berserker voiced his concern for my daughter.

“She’ll be fine.” Came the voice of Neethsi when he entered the lavish apartment, looking his real age in exhaustion that I winced at the sight of more than the teeth of my child. “Even if not, once she achieves adulthood, I’m willing to grant her my curse and blessing to ensure she remains stable.”

“Good. How was the meeting?” The only human in the room questioned.

“After you got kicked out due to an assumed Ehlnofey pestering you, it went as expected. Skyrim has joined the Ebonheart Pact. The Pact is once more whole like it was in our hour of need during the Interregnum in the Second Era. However, unlike my own expectations, I am not being sent to the front that will join the flagging Empire in Cyrodiil to ensure the Dominion doesn’t have a foothold on our own borders.” Neethsi ran his hands down his face.

“W-well, what i-is it?” I asked as Shade continued to drink and even started groping me. No baby, don’t do this to your mom. She’s gonna get all confused on how to feel!

“I’ve been ordered to help with logistics due to two factors: that I am the inventor of our flying dwarven ships and that I have been making rudimentary Wayshrines. My first order is to go to my established teleportation anchors and fully flesh them out into proper Wayshrines. So, I’m afraid that I won’t be able to stay in one place.” Neethsi said with an apologetic tone towards me.

“That makes plenty of sense, darling. No need to feel sorry about it.” Rarity said for me since I was biting my lip to prevent my moans from leaving my mouth as Shade played with my free nipple, getting my sap all over her hand and trailing down the underside of my right breast while she sucked and nibbled my left teat. Both engorged golden nips were singing in pleasure.

“Well, as much as I’d like to come with you, I need to stay with Twilight. Those Thalmor have kept trying to kill her ever since they realized her wards, runes and other magic are too powerful to brute-force through. Thankfully this place is so far from their operations that they don’t have anyone here. Yet.” Berserker was clearly enjoying the show I was putting on, but at least he wasn’t commenting on it in favor of giving us this news. “Unless the Council wants me to do more than keep Twilight safe?” He didn’t sound too pleased when he said that. Guess he didn’t like politics getting in the way.

“They don’t feel comfortable with having someone from beyond the planes of Oblivion gallivanting about. Your case is well known. Meen-Rei’s is still fairly secret.” Neethsi gestured to me and then his eyes glued to us. What? Unf! I-I feel her doing something that isn’t drinking!

Why is Shade moaning and pressing her flat chest into my breast? “Oh~, mom. I want to be like you mom. I want to be so big and sexy…” Shade panted before she hissed and I watched as she rapidly shot up in height, her scales changed color to almost match mine, her lips, nips and other orifices became outlined in gold like mine. However, she also sprouted golden hair-like plumage instead of horns and moaned as her chest blossomed just a bit into C-cups.

This also caused her to rip out of her tiny robe. “Holy...wow, argonians go through puberty like being run over by a freight train.” Berserker commented in surprise. “I mean, it’s one thing to see Shade as a little girl one day and a bigger girl the next. Now she’s clearly in her mid teens!”

“What about seeing me as a baby and then a woman in hours?” Hermias chuckled before getting booped on the snoot by Berserker, which caused her to curl up like a party favor before unwrapping around his shoulders.

“You’re a necessary menace, you don’t count. You and your siblings were needed to balance things out, you sexy little chaos noodle minx.” He snorted and started giving her chin-scratches, which she enjoyed thoroughly.

“Mom?” I broke out of my overwhelmed fugue at my daughter’s more mature, but still cracking voice as she cupped her breasts and looked herself over. “I think I may have had a growth spurt.” No duh! “Also...I’m really tired. I don’t think I’ll fit into that little bed over there.” Neethsi waved a hand and the child bed turned into a full sized bed. “Thanks, Neethsi.”

“Why is my baby growing so fast~?” I whined as I shrunk my bosom down to match her’s and pulled her into a hug. She was my height! She could already be considered an adult by a lot of social standards! “Neethsi, can’t you do anything?”

“Not until she reaches adulthood in her next Change. She already looks like an adult, but her scent is still that of an adolescent.” Neethsi said as he approached and took Shade into his arms, carrying my exhausted and afflicted daughter to her bed, where he put her down. “She also smells less like your daughter and more like a sibling. This is obviously not a normal series of Changes by any stretch of the imagination.”

“Oh, the poor dear. At least she has family and friends to support her through this.” Rarity said as she approached Shade and helped tuck her into the bed with gentle strokes of her fingers through her plumage.“My gosh, she really does look like she could be your sister, Meen-Rei.”

“I wish I could stay here even more now, but Twilight is going back to Lilmoth in the morning. Hermais, could you ask your new friend about anything like this?” Berserker asked the foreign equivalent of Jhunal/Julianos who thankfully nodded.

“Sure thing! Especially since we’re having a book exchange. I’m also gonna be helping him bring at least some measure of, ick, order to the absolute violent Chaos that is Apocrypha, so it’s no problem. Just don’t forget you guys have your lifetime library cards to Apocrypha.” Hermais said before vanishing in soap bubbles, bringing attention to the 5 gray leather-bound books sitting on the table.

“Hermaeus Mora and I never really had dealings aside from when Vartine had to deal with the fetcher and I had to watch over his incapacitated body while his spirit was ripped away by that monster’s Black Books. I suggest we use these gifts sparingly. While Jhunal is not a Daedric Prince, he now has the mantle of one.” Neethsi cautioned and handed each of us a book while storing his and Shade’s away in his satchel.

“I better go. Twilight’s probably fussing over something related to Lilmoth and I’ll need to help her with straightening things out.” With a sigh, Berserker placed his helmet back on. “She always stresses herself out all too easily.” He muttered before leaving the room.

“So this is just a thing? My daughter is afflicted with rapid aging until you do something, a Daedric Prince just got dethroned, then there’s the fact we won’t get to stay here?” I asked with panic on the brink, at least until Rarity hugged me and rocked me back and forth.

“You realize that the assistance I offer is my unique strain of Corprus, right?” Neethsi asked me and I nodded. “If I give it to her now, she will be trapped as an adolescent until the day she dies. I will not be party to cursing someone to the fate of being a hormonal and unbalanced teenager forever.”

“Indeed, I do not know how your puberty went, but I can verify that mine was quite horrific. Also, what’s this about Corprus?” Rarity questioned in bemusement and Neethsi winced.

“I didn’t tell you? Oh dear, I always let sexual partners know ahead of time before...Corprus is a unique affliction. It was a curse of the flesh created by Dagoth Ur; the False God who tried to kill the Tribunal and take over Morrowind from his dark throne inside of Red Mountain. The original strain turned it’s victims into mindless, bloated, mutated masses of flesh who endlessly suffered because Corprus also makes the victim unaging and immune to all other diseases.” Neethsi informed her and Rarity’s already white fur turned whiter.

“Don’t worry. He can’t transmit it without someone else drinking his blood.” I assured her before looking at Neethsi, who thankfully nodded.

“Yes, because I am the Nerevarine. I was the first person who received Divayth Fyr’s working Corprus ‘cure’ that actively negated the undesirable effects of the affliction, but kept the positive traits. I am unaging and immune to all disease, save for, Grr, the direct intervention by a Daedric Prince or the like.” Neethsi shucked off his nice robe and then transformed into a hulking white werecrocodile much to Rarity’s horror, since it was all I could manage to keep here in place.

“But-.”

“I’m also Afflicted with a beast curse and so is Shade.” I voiced meekly and Rarity flinched, but held on to me tightly. At least she wasn’t rejecting us.

Next Chapter: Ch.25 Estimated time remaining: 14 Hours, 57 Minutes