Prologue
"Do something you fool!" said Alduin
"I'm trying!" said Xan
Then Argon was completely sucked into the portal where he was erased from existence.
That part kept replaying itself in Nerevar's dream. It went over and over and over and Nerevar tossed and turned in his bed. Then it went even faster and faster and faster until it seemed it was happening five times all at once in his dream. Then he heard a laughing, and a the outline of man's face appeared over the dream. The man was laughing maliciously. The laughing got louder and louder and seemed to be coming at him. The the outline of a hand appeared and stretched forward open-palmed at Nerevar. Right as it was about to grab him, Nerevar shot upright in his bed. Nerevar started breathing heavily as he tried to convince himself it had just been a dream. Whoever that man had been, he was not really there. He put his hand on his heart and found that it was beating rapidly. Nerevar moved his hand away as his heart rate started to slow. He looked next to him to make sure he hadn't awaken Carla, his girlfriend, she was asleep. Somehow, Nerevar wasn't sure how, but she managed to sleep through his nightmares. He got up and went to look out the window. Overnight the city had finished setting up for the celebration. This day marked the one year anniversary of the battle against Xan. After the battle, Nerevar had made sure that each year there would be a special holiday during which they would commemorate Argon's sacrifice.
After he had absorbed the soul's of both Xan and Alduin, they tried to take over his body and use him as a host to carry out their evil plans. Argon would not let that happen, so he threw himself into the portal that had led to Xan's realm, which Xan had turned into a vortex that would erase anything that entered it from existence. Argon never returned from the portal, as expected, rather the portal and the realm has collapsed on itself. Now it was the time to celebrate the sacrifice Argon had made, as a way to honor Tamriel's fallen hero. Nerevar and the rest of the team had traveled to the Imperial City, as the biggest party was to take place there the Divines had even promised the team that they would make an appearance there. The team was staying in separate rooms in the Tiber Septim Hotel in the Talos Plaza. It was the most luxurious hotel in all of Cyrodiil. In fact, the team had to rent the whole place out because there were just that many of them. Nerevar was trying to use these thoughts to keep his mind off of the nightmares. They had begun about two weeks ago, and he has been haunted by them ever since.
"Did you have another nightmare?" asked Carla as she was getting up from the bed
"What are you doing awake? It's only six in the morning." said Nerevar
"I realized you had got up. Did you have another one?" she asked again
Carla was the only person Nerevar had told about the nightmares.
"Yes. This time it was worse. The dream started speeding up, and the man tried to grab me." Nerevar said still gazing out the window
"Maybe you should tell the team. They might know what to do." Carla suggested as she put her arms around Nerevar from his backside.
"I don't know. I'm supposed to be their leader, but I am already falling short of Argon's footsteps. If I tell them I am having nightmares, it will make me sound even weaker." said Nerevar
"No it won't. You are a great leader. Something is wrong, you need to share it with your team. Open up and trust them." said Carla
"But things have been different since Argon died and I became leader. The team just has a different feel to it now. I don't want things getting any different." said Nerevar
"Just tell them about the nightmares. Please Indoril? For me?" asked Carla
"Fine, I'll do it for you." he said
"Thank you." Carla smiled
**********
Later that day the team met up at a tavern in the Temple District.
"I'm just saying, I don't really want to listen to another song by that famous bard Taylora Swiftfoot. All she sings about is her past lovers and how terrible they are." said Garnin
"She's really not that bad." said Fayen
"If she is having that much trouble with guys, maybe she's the problem." said Garnin
"Oh well, she is going to be performing tonight at the party, you guys are going to have to deal with it." said Sheogorath, "Bartender! Can we get some more cheese?"
"Uh uh, right away Mr. Sheogorath!" said the bartender scrambling to find some cheese to keep the Daedric Prince happy
Sheogorath let out a loud hearty laugh
"What is that thing around your neck Sheogorath?" asked Garnin
"I don't know. I accidentally created it the other day. I call it a sloth." said Sheogorath
"Why is it around your neck?" asked Fayen
"Because it's tired of course! I'm going to keep it as a pet." Sheogorath said
"Alright, alright, listen I have an announcement to make." said Nerevar
The team silenced and listened intently to their leader.
"I know this will probably make me sound weak, but I have been having nightmares for the past two weeks." said Nerevar, "I can't sleep. And when I try, they just come back."
"What about, lad?" asked Sheogorath
"Argon. As he jumped into the portal. Then, a face appears, laughing. Last night the dream sped up. And the laughing grew louder and louder. I can still hear it now if I concentrate. Then, last night, a hand appeared and it tried to grab me." explained Nerevar
"That doesn't make you sound weak. In fact, I have been having that same dream." said Fayen
"Me too." said Garnin
"I have been having the very same dream. You know what I do?" said Sheogorath
"What?" asked Nerevar
"Each morning and night I do the fish stick. It's a very delicate state of mind." said Sheogorath
"Umm... How do you do 'the fish stick'?" asked Nerevar
"I'll show you. Watch." said Sheogorath
Nerevar watched. "You aren't doing anything...." he said
"Yes I am. I'm doing the fish stick." said Sheogorath
"Okay...." Nerevar said, sometimes he forgot how mad the madgod could get
Sheogorath laughed again. "Bartender!" he shouted, "Where is my cheese?"
*************
That night at the ceremony, just as Taylora Swiftfoot was getting off the stage, the Divines appeared to kick off the party.
"See? Told you that's all she sings about." said Garnin
Fayen was standing there repeatedly hitting his head against one of the poles in the Temple of the One. In front of the dragon in that little area where the Dragonfires once were, was where the Divines were standing.
"Hello Tamriel." said Akatosh
The whole city got suddenly quiet.
"So it has been a year, since the Shadow King Xan tried to take over Tamriel, and the dragonborn Argon sacrificed himself to save us all." said Akatosh
"Well, that is why we are here right? To celebrate?" said Talos
"We promised your heroes here that we would make an appearance. You know what? Heroes, get up here." said Arkay
The team, rather confused walked up on the stage.
"This is the team that fought for you!" said Dibella
The crowd cheered
"Notice how there is only five now. That is because the fifth, Argon, as we all know sacrificed himself. If not for him, we would be gone." said Mara
"Let us have a moment of silence for our fallen hero, then Nerevar the new leader of the team will give a speech." said Zenithar
"I will?" he asked in a whisper
"Yes you will." came the reply
"Now, the moment starts now." said Julianos
The whole city was silent, thanks to the Divines influence. It felt like an extended silence, but Argon deserved it.
After a while Stendarr said, "Okay moment over."
"Let's hear that speech Nerevar." said Kynareth
Nerevar stepped up, kind of confused, but also trying to think of a speech in his head.
He heard a little boy in the crowd say, "Mommy, I'm bored. Can we please go to the party?"
The mother shushed the boy. "That man is one of the ones responsible for keeping you alive. You will be respectful of him or you will not get to go to any party." she scolded
"Well, so it's been a year huh? I guess time flies. Well, I didn't really know I was gonna be giving a speech. But here goes my attempt." said Nerevar, "It was a very dark day, when Xan tried to take over. Argon, he went around and got this team back together so we could fight Xan. Now, he's gone. He paid the ultimate price for our lives and the lives of our children. If not for him, we would all be ruled by a fake dragonborn. But thankfully, we are not. Argon was a great hero. He defeated many villains and save Tamriel on more than one account. The world have died many many years ago if not for him. But it's still here. So, as we party and celebrate today, let us remember the reason why we are still here. Because of Argon. Thank you, let the party begin."
The crowd roared.
**********
The celebration was amazing. Games had been set up, people were selling food. A giant wooden effigy of Xan and Alduin was being burned in the Arena. People were getting drunk, and you could feel the excitement in the air. The team was thoroughly enjoying themselves, especially Sheogorath who went around scaring mortals. But the festivities were cut short.
All of a sudden out of no where a giant dragon swooped down. It seemed to have a man on its back. The dragon flew around the city breathing fire, while the man fired powerful spells. Buildings were being ruined, people were running and screaming. And a little boy was crying that he couldn't find his mommy.
Nerevar ran to little boy and grabbed him, just as fire from the dragon spewed where the boy had just been standing.
"Don't worry, we will find your mommy." said Nerevar
"Thank you. I'm sorry I didn't want to listen to you talk." cried the boy
"It's okay. It was a boring talk anyways, parties are more fun." Nerevar said
Nerevar saw a woman frantically running around crying, "My baby! Where is he?! Where is my baby?!"
"Is that your mommy?" Nerevar asked
"Yes!" the little boy said, "Mommy!"
"Sam! Oh thank the Divines!" she said
Nerevar brought the boy to his mother, and sent the two down a trapdoor next to a house.
"You'll be safe down here." he said
"Thank you Nerevar! Divines bless your kind heart!" the mother said
"Team! We got a job to do!" Nerevar shouted
The team assembled and they chased after the dragon.
"Alright. We got a man and a dragon to catch. Sheogorath, you lure him towards you and Fayen you shoot the man when you see him. Garnin, I want you to get on a roof and jump and bring your axe on that thing's tail. I'll jump up from behind and stab the dragon. Sheogorath, make sure you get that think low enough though." said Nerevar
"Aye." said the Daedric Prince
Sheogorath ran into the middle of two houses. Fayen and Garnin each climbed up one. Fayen drew his bow, Garnin drew his axe. Nerevar hid with his Elven Sword drawn in the shadows. Which were now safe by the way.
"Hey! Lizard thing! Look over here! I found some cheese!" shouted Sheogorath
The dragon flew above him.
"Come down here Argonian rider! I wants to talk to ya." Sheogorath said
"Who summons me?" asked the man
"You can call me Ann Marie! That is, if you want an angry Daedric Prince jumping rope with your intestines. If not, then you may call me.... LORD SHEOGORATH!" Sheogorath said
"A Daedric Prince, hmm? This should be easy." said the man
Right before the dragon spewed, Garnin jumped on the dragons tail slicing it off with his axe. The dragon yelled in pain and reared back. This gave Fayen the opening he needed. He let the arrow fly, but the man caught it and broke it in his hand. Nerevar jumped and managed to stab the dragon in the under stomach. The dragon yelped in pain and flew away. Its master shouting curses at the heroes. Then before he was out of ear shot, he yelled, "You may have beat me now, but Apocapher will not be defeated!"
The heroes regrouped and the Divines came over to them.
"Who did that man say he was?" asked Talos
"I think he said Apocapher." said Fayen
"Why can't villains ever be named Debby? Wouldn't once you just like to fight a Debby?" said Sheogorath
"No... Not Apocapher. Hurry heroes. Come with me." Akatosh said opening a portal
"Wait what's going on?" Nerevar asked
"There's no time just come here." said Akatosh
"No. Not until you tell us what's happening." said Nerevar stubbornly standing his ground
Akatosh sighed then said, "The world is coming to an end."