Chapter Text
Chapter 68: Guess Who's Back Again?
"How long is this supposed to take?" Erik asked.
"I don't know!" Subaru yelled. "I've never dealt with books that teleport you to another dimension!"
"You could at least make a guess." As soon as Aela said that, Emilia reappeared back into existence in a flash of light, with Erik jumping into the werewolf's arms.
"WHOA, WHO THE —?!?!"
Emilia looked around, realizing she was back in Neloth's laboratory. "Oh good, I'm back."
"And about time, too," the dark elf grumbled.
"How long have I been gone?"
"A little over an hour," Solaire answered.
"What exactly happened?" Seigmeyer asked.
"I gained some new... abilities, and a new Shout."
"Oh! Well, that's good, right?" Erik asked, getting out of Aela's arms.
Emilia grimaced a bit. "Well, even as I am now... we can't defeat Miraak."
Subaru narrowed his eyes. "I'm sensing a "however" coming…"
Emilia took a deep breath, before continuing." ...Hermeaous Mora made me an offer. He said he'll teach me the last of the Forgotten Shouts, in exchange for the Skaal's Secrets."
Everyone just looked confused, to which Aela asked, "Their secrets?"
The half-elf nodded. "Those were his terms."
"They aren't our secrets to give." Solaire said, not liking the idea of forcing secrets out of desperate people
"I don't like it either, but what choice do we have?"
"Alright…" Subaru sighed, rubbing his eyes. "How do we do this?"
"Mora said to talk to Storn. He said the chieftain would know what he wants."
"More walking it is, then," the bucket-helmeted knight deadpanned.
"Or better, teleporting. Neloth, keep those books, but keep them away from each other."
Neloth scoffed in response. "Fine, but not because you told me to."
Subaru opened a portal to the Skaal village…
…and they walked through.
"HUH?!" Frea snapped her head towards the black portal, freaking out. "WHA—?!"
Subaru popped his head out, and cringed. "Sorry, that always freaks people out."
"And for good reason." The werewolf grumbled.
Emilia ignored her team's shenanigans. "Frea, we need to speak to your father."
"Oh, is there a problem?"
Emilia hesitated a bit before speaking. "We... may have a way to defeat Miraak."
Frea's eyes widened in shock. "Truly?!"
"Or, at least a way to match his power."
"Works for me!" the blonde woman said, happy. "Come along now!"
Frea led them to Storn, who was meditating before noticing them.
Storm opened his eye, and saw who it was. "Ah, you have returned."
"That, we have. We need to talk."
"Very well. What have you found?" The Chieftain asked.
"A possible way to solve a bunch of your problems, but… it comes at a price."
"I expected as such," Stron groaned. "What is this price you speak of?"
"Something a certain Daedric Prince wants."
Storn realized whom Subaru was referring to and sighed. "Herma Mora, I presume?"
"Nice nickname," Aela joked.
"It is what we call him. The Demon of Knowledge," Stron said, in the same flat tone as always. "He has long since coveted our secrets, attempting to coerce them from us many times."
Subaru groaned. "Because of course he has."
"I presume he wishes to gain our secrets, in exchange for granting you power to defeat Miraak."
"That's… pretty spot-on, actually," Emilia said.
Storn sighed and closed his eyes. "I see... I am deeply sorry, but I cannot in good conscience agree to such a bargain."
"We might not have an option here."
"The Skaal have spent countless generations guarding our secrets from Herma Mora. To give them up now would be an insult to our ancestors and their ancestors," Frea said.
"I understand that, but if Miraak has his way, then there won't be any descendants for you guys to pass down your secrets to." Subaru's words put the situation into perspective for Storn and Frea, both unsure what to do.
"...What if I could free your people from Miraak's spell first?" Emilia asked.
"What? How?" Frea asked.
"The Bend Will Shout. Mora shared the Words of Power with me," the silver-haired half-elf explained. "It can override the will of any living being, but I might be able to use it on the All-Maker Stones to free them from Miraak's Spell."
"Truly?" Stron looked at her with hope. "You have such power?"
"Only one way to find out." Emilia wasn't sure this would work, but at this point, it was the only thing Emilia could think of. "What's the closest All-Maker Stone?"
"The closest stone is the Wind Stone, just outside the village to the north-west." Frea pointed towards the location of the Wind Stone.
"Roger. Al Shamak!" Subaru opened a portal to the Wind Stone, and the group, plus Frea, went through.
Subaru examined the other side, and nodded. "Alright, we're here."
"Let's hope this works." Aela said.
"Mm," Subaru grunted, before looking at Emilia. "Do your thing."
Emilia nodded and walked up to the Wind Stone. She took a deep breath and prayed it would work. "GOL HAH DOV!!!"
Emilia unleashed a green and yellow wave from her mouth that passed through the Wind Stone. Nothing happened at first, but a few seconds later, the stone structure around the Wind Stone started glowing yellow cracks which quickly spread to the rest of the structure, and...
BOOM!
The stone structure exploded, freeing the Wind Stone.
"HOLY WHOA!!!" Erik shouted.
"It... it worked... the Wind Stone is free!"
"HELL YEAH!" Erik cheered, before asking, "What does that mean?"
Emilia smiled to herself, realizing she could free everyone from Miraak's spell. "I can free Solstheim of Miraak's spell."
Subaru smiled alongside her. "Then let's get to work."
With Frea's help, Subaru opened portals to each All-Maker Stone, freeing them. They finally reached the last one, the Tree Stone in the temple.
"Almost done…" Siegmeyer grunted.
Emilia took a deep breath as she prepared another Bend Will Shout. "Alright... last one. GOL HAH DOV!!!"
Emilia released one more Bend Will on the Tree Stone, but... nothing happened. There was no stone exploding or yellow glow.
"…That's probably not a good sign," Solaire said.
Frea's expression fell, realizing the last All-Maker Stone was not freed. "No... the Tree Stone has become too ensnared in Miraak's spell…"
The nasty-eyed man smacked his own face. "You've got to be kidding me…"
"No... Frea... I'm sorry," Emilia said.
Frea nodded, knowing it wasn't Emilia's fault. "It's alright."
"Alright, let's head back and tell them the news." Subaru said as he opened one more portal back to the village.
"Hey, we're back," the Chosen Undead called out to the village leader.
"Did you succeed in cleansing the All-Maker Stones?" Stron asked.
The amethyst-eyed half-elf scratched her head. "Umm… mostly."
"We got five out of six, but the Tree Stone is too far gone," Subaru said.
"I see… That is unfortunate."
"I may not be able to cleanse the Tree Stone, but if we can beat Miraak, then that will do the job, but we can't beat Miraak without that Shout." Emilia said, hoping that would be enough to get through to them.
"Which means… Mora," the Japanese man said.
Storn stayed silent for a few seconds before sighing. "Ordinarily, I would not indulge in such a bargain... but I am wise enough to see when there are no other alternatives. Old Herma Mora has driven us into a corner."
"Alright… So what do we call him?" Aela asked.
"I can go get one of the books real quick.
"Godspeed, my friend," the onion knight said.
Subaru opened a portal to grab one of the Black Books, while Storn prepared himself for what he had to do, looking over to the adventurers. "The Skaal tells of a day when we must give up our secrets to Herma Mora. I do not know if it is this day they foretold, but if I am wrong... may our ancestor and the All-Maker forgive me."
"We can worry about that later," the red-haired woman said.
Subaru came back with one of the books. "Aight, let's do this shit."
Subaru handed the book to Storn, as the old man said, "I will ensure Herma Mora keeps his word. I am counting on all of you to defeat Miraak and free Solstheim."
"Mm. We promise we will help you," Emilia said.
Storn nodded and took a deep breath, saying a silent prayer to the All-Maker. Once he opened the book, it actually started floating away from his hands and sprouted tentacles which pierced into Storn's flesh and head. Everyone gasped at the sight, and Hermeaus Mora manifested himself before them, laughing. "Finally! The Secrets of the Skaal... belong to me!"
"NO! FATHER!!!" Frea cried out and tried to save her father, but was held back by Seigmeyer and Aela to not get herself killed.
"As promised, Dragonborn Emilia, the Words of Power of the Dragon Aspect Shout. The pinnacle of a Dragonborn's might." Emilia clutched her head as the words for Dragon Aspect flooded into her head and the knowledge that came with it.
"You… bastard…" Emilia grunted, glaring at Miraak for unnecessarily killing Storn.
Hermeaus Mora chuckled to himself as he ripped the tentacles out of Storn's body, leaving him a lifeless husk. "Now... you are ready to battle Miraak. You will either be a worthy challenger... or his successor. I look forward to the outcome."
"Piss off already!" Subaru growled, giving the god the middle finger.
Hermeaus Mora laughed to himself as he vanished back into Apocrypha.
"Monster…" Frea immediately went to her father's body, trying to stir him or something. Erik also went in, attempting to use his Water Magic to heal him, but...
Erik stopped using his Magic, realizing there was nothing he could do. "... I'm sorry... he's gone…"
"…I see. Emilia?"
Emilia clenched her fists. "...We're going after Miraak. We have to stop this. For good."
"Good," Frea said, tears still in her eyes. "And when you're done… leave."
"...We understand. "Emilia and the others left the area, leaving the daughter to mourn for her dead father.
They immediately went to the Blacksmith, knowing they needed to pick something up before facing off against Miraak.
"Is it ready?" Emilia's tone made it clear what kind of mood she was in.
"Aye. It's ready." The blacksmith handed the pieces to the half-elf, as she put it all (sans the helmet) on. Emilia put on the new boots, gauntlets, and chest plate, all made of Stalhrim.
"How's it feel?" Subaru asked.
"It feels... right," Emilia said.
"Glad to hear it. I once considered getting myself some armor, or at least something that would make me more at home with this world, but… after what happened…"
Emilia was quiet for a few minutes, wondering if they were ready. "So, do you think... we're ready?"
"Ready as we'll ever be, I suppose."
"Should we call in for reinforcements?" Solaire asked.
Emilia shook her head. "No. I don't want to risk their lives."
Subaru nodded in agreement. "Let's play this out. Worse case scenario, we get our asses kicked and call in backup.
"Very well. Now... how do we confront Miraak if he's in Apocrypha?"
"Not sure about that one…" Subaru admitted to the sun-loving knights.
Emilia spoke up, offering a suggestion. "Well, we could probably use the Black Book, like we did befo-"
BOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!!!
Everyone on Solstheim immediately ducked their heads as a massive explosion occurred... at the temple. Massive fires and smoke were erupting from the smoldering remains of the temple, shaking the earth, and even someone as heavy as Siegmeyer. "What…?!"
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" Erik shouted.
"Don't know!" Subaru yelled. "Come on, we gotta go!"
The group ran towards the temple as fast as they could until they reached the front path.
"Is anyone alive in here?!" Emilia yelled.
To their surprise, someone walked out of the fire, but that surprise quickly turned to dread when Subaru and Emilia saw who it was.
Miraak takes a deep breath and exhales, breathing in fresh air for the first time in centuries. "...At last. I have returned."
"What the hell…?" Subaru hissed.
"Surprised to see me here?" Miraak asked. "In Mundus?"
"But… how…?" Emilia couldn't fathom how Miraak got out of Apocrypha.
"Well, it was rather simple. My master finally got what I promised him."
"Your master?" Aela asked.
"Hermaeus Mora desired the secrets of the Skaal above all else, and in return for its acquisition, I was granted my freedom," Miraak said.
"Motherfucker…" Subaru hissed, realizing what Miraak meant.
Luring them to Solstheim, corrupting the All-Maker Stones, hypnotizing innocents.. It was all a ploy. Miraak was never trying to come back to Nirn via the All-Makers… he just needed them to think that.
"So, thank you for falling for my bait and getting so desperate that you would be forced to secure a deal with him."
"…Go jump into traffic," Subaru growled at the Dragonborn.
"You first. Al Jiwald."
BYOOOM!
Miraak instantly blasted the group with a massive blast of light.
"HUMA!!!" Emilia created an ice barrier just in time, refracting the light beam and causing the fragments to slice until the earth itself as they spread outwards.
"Our turn, asshole! AL MINYA!!!" As Subaru created a massive buildup of Minya energy above Miraak, the Dragonborn merely looked up in nonchalant disappointment.
"Such a foolish move. Feim Zii Gron!" Miraak took on an ethereal form before the spell activated, preventing him from being harmed.
"Well that's a problem…" Subaru cursed, forgetting Miraak also had access to Dragon Shouts.
"This is bad… Miraak probably knows every Shout I do…" Emilia grimaced.
Subaru sighed. "Great…"
Author's Note: Time for the sibling rivalry – I mean, the ancient battle to continue!
(So, the battle against Miraak is here, and things aren't going the same as in the Dragonborn DLC. Instead of Miraak trying to trick Hermeaous Mora to get out of Apocrypha, Miraak manipulated events to have the party be forced to give Herma Mora the secrets of the Skaal, in exchange for Miraak being sent back to Nirn.)
Kifhjoofff: Todos se volverán más fuertes, especialmente Emilia. No solo para esta batalla, sino para lo que sucederá una vez que termine...
Anyways, back to the regular old shilling…
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Thanks for reading, and once again, see you next time!
- Ernalore & Infinite the Celestian