Ch.47

[Loredas, 28th Last Seed, 4E: 221]

“You just spontaneously decided to open a store on Yokuda?” I demanded incredulously of Rarity as I helped organize the furniture of the first branch of the Chique Boutique beyond Lilmoth.

“Why, certainly! There’s nothing here yet darling, but it’s going to grow quickly and people need clothes. I’ve already contracted a friend of mine to operate this location, but I want it up and running when she arrives.” Rarity replied as she sorted racks and shelves of clothes. This store was right outside of the Orichalc Bastion, which is where Yokuda would start over properly.

Orichalc was an actual tower as well as a Tower, so it’d be fulfilling the same purpose for Yokuda that White-Gold does for Cyrodiil. Thank goodness that orichalcum, the metal Orichalc was composed of, was oddly non-conductive compared to other metals, which explains why most armor and weapon recipes call for an alloy of iron and orichalcum blend so it can be heat treated and molded easier.

I suddenly remembered my dagger. I paused and retrieved the large blade from my satchel and looked at it wistfully. I didn’t end up needing it at all. I feel like I’ve betrayed Garnag a bit by not using his dagger for more than collecting alchemical ingredients. “Whoa, sis, that is a big knife.” Shade commented in a bit of surprise and Rarity looked at me from where she’d been working.

“It’s the first weapon I owned in this realm. I was just suddenly struck with melancholy. I only used it to gather ingredients when I bought it for self-defense. I feel like I betrayed the smith a bit.” I told my lovers and Rarity approached with her hands held out, so I gave her the dagger for her to examine.

“My. It’s orichalcum, but it isn’t brutish like traditional Orcish smithing would normally dictate. It’s simple, yet elegant. I quite like it. Do you think this Garnag would be offended if I kept this for my own self-defense?” Rarity asked me and I blinked in surprise.

“I don’t know.” I said, unsure if I wanted to part with it. Garnag sold me this specifically because he was concerned for my welfare. He could’ve upsold me or thrown a piece of scrap my way, but he specifically gave me something he worked on and likely undersold it to me. I should pay that good orc in Soulrest a visit. That said. “I think he’d appreciate that more than just leaving it in my satchel.”

“Don’t worry about it going unused dear, I don’t own a close-quarters weapon, so it would be my only option should a ruffian get too close. I’ll even practice with it.” Rarity insisted and I felt a bit bemused. Why was she putting so much effort into getting this simple blade?

“Alright then.” I gestured for her to keep it and Rarity beamed so brightly I thought I might be blinded by her beautiful teeth as she strapped the sheathe to her belt where it hung against her hip. I had to smile, because Rarity obviously appreciated the gift.

“Aw, when are you gonna give me a knife, sis? I thought you loved me.” Shade pouted and I blinked at her. “Oh my gosh, right. You just...Rarity, she has no idea.” What?! What is this?

“Oh, right. Um...sorry dear, but at least in the region around Lilmoth, giving a lover a weapon is the same as extending trust and love to them. Giving a serviceable weapon is the most important and this dagger fills that need.” Rarity said before she pulled me in for a hug. “Thank you dear.” Oh. Well, that makes sense in a rather archaic way. I can dig it.

“Hold on! Shade, I gave you a gun!” I huffed at Shade, who pouted harder.

“We made them together, that’s different. You have to give me a weapon for it to count. Now I need to go shopping to get you something…” Shade muttered and I groaned as I rubbed my hands over my eyes. “It’s bad enough you gave Neethsi two tridents.”

“Hey! That was...okay, fair enough.” They’re both powerful artifacts too. “Well, I’ll make you something then, Shade. Neethsi already gave me several weapons.”

“Oh! I need to get you a weapon too!” Rarity realized and I tried to escape, but the sparkle in her eyes warned me too late! Shade and I were grabbed under the arms, our biceps pressed against the sides of her heaving bosom as she rushed us out the door. “Time for shopping~!”

No~!

📜

The dark blue skies were unusually clear and the harsh, dark landscape was devoid of the usual sounds of the screams of the wretched being flayed by their tormentors.

It was a...bearable day in Coldharbour, but that was the problem.

The sudden solidification of the Firmament, the barrier between Mundus and all planes beyond, had rattled the shifting realm of Coldharbour harder than anything in its history. Not even the backlash of the failed Planemeld had wrought such a disaster upon the realm of Rape, Slavery and Domination.

For that bitch Meridia had the audacity to steal his slaves! Molag roared in fury at the skies of his realm before his cold gaze once more descended upon the Hollow City, Meridia’s blight upon his realm! Ever since the Planemeld it has remained as a taunt, a constant reminder of his failure! Now thanks to this latest disaster, Meridia has liberated a daunting majority of his slaves!

His armies, busy preparing for the Second Planemeld, were too busy and thus when the Towers suddenly returned, Meridia’s invasion was unmet! His pathetic waste of flesh minions were scattered like chattel and the slaves they were overseeing revolted! Not even the vampires were spared that bitch’s so-called mercy!

“Ragh~!” Molag roared as he focused his will, his essence, his very being into destroying the Hollow City, yet once more the fragment of Meridia’s realm of the Colored Rooms casually rejected his onslaught! “Yuria!” Molag bellowed into the air and a deceptively beautiful white husky with a body he’d enjoyed the agony of many times already in her dark dress and metal mask knelt before him.

“Yes Lord Molag? What is thine bidding?” The deathless, truly deathless woman questioned like the loyal slave she was and he only just barely avoided descending upon her for her delightful suffering. He needed her mobile right now.

“Proceed as planned. I need to refill my realm!” Molag snarled and Yuria vanished into the Dark in that way her unique brand of Undead were capable of. “Here me Meridia! I will take Mundus, then I will take you as my bitch for eternity!” Molag declared with nothing but seething hate, well, perhaps a fairly massive hateboner too, but he could satisfy that when he got his hands on her!

📜

Neethsi still wasn’t used to this. She looked forlornly down at her once-more aetheric hand and sighed. When she began working her powers again on such a grand scale, her body once more forced her into a form capable of handling the work of molding reality at her whim. “Are you alright, ma’am?” Questioned one of the pegasi pulling the featherweight chariot that was easy enough to make on-site, at the insistence of the...mortals.

That was another issue. She is a Goddess. She has more than just a cult out in the Ashlands of Vvardenfell worshiping her. All of Tamriel has heard of her now and it seemed to practically define her. It was scary, but she couldn’t dwell on it. “I am fine or I will be. You’re certain Yokuda can mirror High Rock rather than Hammerfell?” She asked as she surveyed the lands below.

“The climate supports it, ma’am. I don’t need a survey crew to tell me that. Comes with being a pegasus.” The stallion on the left assured her and Neethsi nodded before planting her trident back on the floor of the chariot and continued to dance with it. Why were her rituals with the trident so...lewd? She would have to show these dances to the others later~.

📜

“Alright Motierre, what do you want?” Vartine demanded without waiting or any other bullshit when he entered the Elder Council chamber of the royal palace of the Imperial City, otherwise known as the White-Gold Tower. The ‘Regent’ was a slimy piece of shit that made Vartine’s skin crawl just from being in the same room, no matter how large or how much space between.

‘Emperor’ Amaund Motierre had aged a bit too well. Unlike emperors of the past, Motierre had gotten fat and lazy. Even the Medes had more spine to them and they were the ones who let the Empire flounder into its pathetic state after the Oblivion Crisis. “Is that anyway to speak to your Emperor?” The ugly breton scoffed and Vartine felt fury.

“Hah! That would be the case if Skyrim didn’t secede from this pathetic farce of a nation not a month ago! That you weren’t aware is yet more proof of your incompetence!” Vartine declared boldly and Motierre turned an amusing shade of red as his fat face flushed with fury. “Now get on with it! I have come because even though I despise you, restoring White-Gold as a Tower is imperative to ensuring the stability of Mundus.”

“Grr! Yes! It is! As much as it pains me, White-Gold needs a Dragonborn or at least the blood of one, imbued into a Stone. Unfortunately, my Moth Priests inform me that the High King is part of the metaphorical ‘Stone’ of Snow-Throat or Throat of the World for the less informed. So I can’t simply kill you for your blood, be thankful!” Motierre snarled viciously, his corpulent body jiggling a bit after he’d finished gesticulating his displeasure despite the heavy royal robes he wore.

“Ah, yes and who would have killed me?” Vertine asked with a deadpan as he looked expertly to the lurking goons. “The Brotherhood may have killed Titus Mede II for you, but they were quickly dismantled before that by Your Empire. I am certain any remnants of that despicable and foolish organization don't have the numbers or the skill to even be a threat to me.”

“You would think that.” Motierre smiled darkly and the councilors gulped fearfully while Vartine staunchly glared at the wannabe despot. “I’ll leave you to wonder, but I need you to speak to the Arch-Mage and donate your blood so that he might be able to synthesize a suitable Stone for White-Gold.”

“Fine. I’ll be watching my borders, Motierre.” Vartine snarled as he left the palace to head for the Arcane University to search for the Arch-Mage, not mentioning the masked wolf in the rafters. If the so-called Emperor and the Elder Council died today, then all the better for the unified alliance of the Daggerfall Covenant and the Ebonheart Pact to swoop in and turn Cyrodiil into a central form of democratic government rather than an Empire. It was time for the Empires to die.

If in the process that meant his role as High King diminished to merely being another Jarl, then so be it. “Oof! Oh my, sorry ladies!” Vartine apologized and then gaped at the three exotic incredibly buxom beauties he’d bumped into upon angrily leaving the palace. One was a unicorn with fur as white as snow and an ethereal purple mane as gorgeous as the northern lights. The other two, twin argonians, had a blood-red scale coloring with their orifices hued golden.

“It’s quite alright dear, we weren’t expecting anybody to storm out of the palace in a huff.” The beautiful mare replied with a voice that was sexy and with a refined diction and tone that would fit in perfectly at a high-society party.

“Rarity, don’t flirt so fast. You just met.” The argonian with the mane of flowing golden feathers huffed in fond annoyance.

“I don’t know sis. He’s really handsome.” The sibling with the ornamented horns or rather now that he noticed past their natural beauty, both had pierced noses and other ornaments.

“Ah, pardon ladies. I didn’t mean to interrupt your day. Is there any way I could make it up to you?” Vartine offered before he could stop himself. Damn him, damn him and his weakness for comely ladies! He had a beautiful wife and a sexy mistress, but damn these three were exotic!

“Well now~? Not only is he handsome, but he is a gentleman! Would it trouble you to escort us just a short way to the Wayshrine good sir?” The mare named Rarity fluttered her gorgeous ice-blue eyes at him and his couldn’t help the stupid grin on his face as he let her take his right arm and the horned sibling giggled as she took his left, leaving the sister with the plumage to pout.

“So where are you ladies from? I doubt a place as dull as this could be home to such exotic beauties.” Vartine enjoyed the tittering of the ladies, even the one left out of being on an arm.

“I’m from Lilmoth, I suppose Shade and Meen-Rei are too, but they’re new there.” Rarity answered for the trio and Vartine’s mind recognized the names of the sisters, but from where?

“Well, if you’re ever up in Solitude in Skyrim, feel free to come visit the Blue Palace. I’m sure my wife and friend would love to meet you three.” Vartine honestly offered, because while Elisif was mildly annoyed by his dalliances, the fact that he encouraged her to find pleasure while he’s busy so she isn’t left wanting helped, oddly, to strengthen their marriage. He didn’t even mind that his youngest son wasn’t of his get. He loved young Bromald regardless.

“Oh no, not again.” The horned Meen-Rei groaned and Vartine looked at her in confusion while her sister and Rarity giggled at something he didn’t understand. “You’re the Dragonborn, aren’t you?”

“Yes, how did you figure that out so quickly?” Usually they assumed he was a noble or-.

“I’m The Atronach, the current Hero.” Meen-Rei huffed and Vartine winced. “Yeah, you know my pain.” She and him both shuddered in horror.

“The world on your shoulders. No pressure.” Vartine replied in full understanding of her plight.

📜

“So, it’s done.” Twilight said with an odd mixture of relief and sadness as the Elements of Harmony, the ancient relics she and her friends had safeguarded like their parents and grandparents before them, were subsumed by the newly born Tree of Harmony. This was followed by it shooting up in size! “Vacate the courtyard!”

Thankfully, while it was growing at an intense rate, the trunk didn’t get closer than several inches from the concrete walkway ringing the glorious crystal lifeform. The Tree was now towering above Lilmoth, its canopy a rainbow of crystal leaves refracting daylight across the city. Its roots likely penetrated deep into the land below, not simply resting above the foundations of the city. It actually looked like a mangrove, like a Hist.

“Wow...Twilight, this is incredible. I wish Rarity had been here to see it.” Fluttershy said with sadness, but Rarity had Generously given them her Element ahead of time because she wanted to be Selfish for once and decided that she wasn’t Generous enough to give up time with her lovers and the opportunity to expand her business to be here.

Oddly enough, the Element of Generosity had resonated with the notion, further baffling everyone. Either way, the Tree of Harmony was finally done. It was now a Tower holding up reality and doing much more than that too. With this, the six friends had served their purpose in the Prophecy. “Hey girls. I don’t feel any more liberated.” Rainbow admitted.

“Yeah, wasn’t this supposed to do-” Applejack began before her mane started glowing like a rainbow. “Really?!” AJ protested and the others all gasped and pointed out their magical manes and tails to each other, each a rainbow matching one another’s coat colors, including the missing Rarity. “Twi, don’t tell us we’re all about to become alicorns or some other nonsense!”

“I don’t know Applejack! The Scrolls didn’t say anything about this!” Twilight replied before the five of them all began floating. “Hey! Hey~!” Twilight protested before she and her friends turned into beams of light and they, along with a sixth white beam, flew into the Crystal Heart with screams of shock and fear. The Heart pulsed and emitted a feeling of joy, love and excitement.

📜

“Rarity~!” I shouted in dismay when Rarity, who had briefly obtained a magical rainbow mane and tail after we’d returned to her shop in Yokuda, turned into blinding white light and shot through the window to the southeast with a scream of fear. “That’s gotta be from the Tree! Damn it! What is happening?!” I shouted as I ran from the standalone shop for the Wayshrine.

“Maybe since she’s the Bearer of Generosity, she had to be at the Tree’s ascension?” Shade replied in uncertainty and we warped to Lilmoth to rush outside. “Holy crap, it really used all those nutrients we provided for it.”

“Hey! Stupid tree! Where-whoa! Whoa~!” I yelped and Shade joined me as we were suddenly abducted tractor-beam style like how Rarity had been, but in red and gold lights before we suddenly found ourselves standing in a beautiful grassy field. “What is going on?!”

“Mothers~!” I jolted at the excited and joyous squeal before a crystal-scaled argonian with antlers pounced on Shade and I in a hug. “I’m so glad to see you so soon after I finished taking root!” The woman squeezed us tightly with glee.

“Um, if you’re who and what I think, sis is the one who grew the heart in her womb.” Shade said and the antlered crystal blue argonian hiss-snickered.

“No, you both did far more than just that! You nourished me, shared your essence with me. You’re both, by all definitions, my mothers. Twilight was my midwife and-oh! Girls! Girls, moms are over here!” The beautiful argonian, who I just realized matched Shade and I in a figure that filled her cute sundress, shouted over the hill.

“Bring them on over, Harmony!” Twilight shouted back and my...my daughter took mine and Shade’s hands to drag us up the hill where we found Rarity, thank the gods and the rest of the Mane Six all sitting around a picnic blanket with food and drink aplenty available.

“What the fuck is going on here?” I demanded as I hurried to Rarity and got to my knees to embrace her.

“Well...dear. Harmony wanted to thank us and we’re also not just Bearers...we are the personifications of the six Elements of Harmony.” Rarity said with a shy smile. “I’m rather selfish, so I don’t understand how that could be. We’re just here for a visit, however. Harmony just needed us here so she could properly synchronize with the physical Elements.”

“Which will take a good part of the day, so I figured I could conjure up a picnic for everyone.” Harmony perkily chirped as she sat down on the blanket with Shade. “Now, while I’m helping hold up the sky, I need to warn you. The Firmament hasn’t permanently weakened per se, but now it has adapted to daedra being on this plane, so we can’t just shove Oblivion aside and just ignore it anymore.” Harmony warned us as she grabbed a teapot.

“Great, so what’s gonna happen?” Rainbow asked in frustration even as she nommed a pear.

“Well, we’re gonna have to deal with the fact daedra are a part of life even if not as much of a threat. That is, after we deal with Molag Bal. He has anchors hidden across Tamriel.” Harmony warned us and we all sighed. “Don’t worry, I can point to them on a map. Let’s get started!”

Next Chapter: Ch.48 Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 49 Minutes