After Story 4 - Miraak

After Story series is a series of self-contained story taking place after the finale.

Note: This assumes that the Dragonborn is a male Nord, Breton, or Imperial.

It's just like another morning for the couple. Bell wakes up early while John, feeling very tired, were soundly asleep. Just, maybe he will wake up later.

Bell comforts John as she enjoys the usual view of John's sleeping.

As Bell prepared a morning tea for herself and later, for John, a familiar, yet strange person greets her.

Miraak: Hey, pretty lady.

Miraak: Bell Aster, i presume?

Bell is no stranger on summoning people from another world.... but after that, just call it "Harbinger Event", she wouldn't do that anymore.

She didn't summon him. He just present himself to her.

Bell: And you are?

Bell recognizes him as a splitting image of her beloved husband John, but his medieval garb, his unusual scent... more like the scent of a nature instead of perfumes... and his dragon aura makes him "definitely not her beloved John"

Not to mention he exudes a winter-like aura... something that the fiery John Archer wouldn't.

Miraak: Miraak. Nice to see you. Well it's not my actual name. I was known as Lewis, but i took the name Miraak out of a tyrant i vanquished.

Bell recognized the names. And recognized what kind of universe he's from.

Certainly, Miraak isn't just "somebody".

Nevertheless, she generously smiled at him while preparing a tea for him.

 

As the surroundings of a palace bedroom seemed boring, Bell remember on how to switch it into a forest-like surrounding through the holographic lamp.

As somebody who could cook, brew, and made something for himself he has no need of it, but the generosity and smile of a lady? He shouldn't reject it.

Bell: How do you know me?

Miraak: That because you're summoning a "harbinger" made a ripple effect in the universe. Some divines and daedric princes would certainly "know" you. Better watch out.

Miraak: Or not. It would be the harbinger's universe that will be marked, not mine, not yours. But certainly, please don't.

Bell: For the sake of myself and my beloved, i will not do that anymore.

Miraak: Not even summoning the dead! I remember knocking up Potema's cultist. Let's just say they're annoying and Potema was an eyesore. 

Bell: So.... why you're here? Aren't... i assume, you already have a beloved one in Skyrim?

Miraak: As for why i'm here, given that recently, yeah, only recently, that i managed to get the Daedric Princes to borrow their power. Especially Uncle Sheo.

Miraak: Borrow, as in, if the time's come, the artifact would be returned to their rightful owners, waiting for another champion to claim its favor.

Miraak: Also heard that this... Omega Universe... is an attracting point for interdimensional intruders and reincarnated souls... 

Bell: Ufufu...

Miraak: Lady, i found your giggling attractive, but...

Bell: Part of Uncle Sheo reminds me of myself, so... 

Miraak: You know him?

Bell: Long story short, i did. Though not in person.

Bell: Nevermind.

Bell: About your loved one?

Miraak: Nothing special. Just a shopkeeper's sister. The one that kickstarts my journey just because she, and her brother, need to have an ornament, solid-gold, in the shape of dragon's claw, delivered back to them.

Miraak: That quest lead me to the road to my destiny... as it's turns out, i'm the Dragonborn...

Bell knew the whole story, but listens anyway in interest.

And then...

Miraak: So, i heard about a harbinger. How are.... they.

Bell: A he. And i learned best not to interfere another world's affairs except by consent.

Bell: Maybe not at all, especially how it scares me so much.

Bell: That harbinger can kill by will, down to the soul... and i made myself a huge mistake of summoning its party. Without consent. I thought they'll enjoy it

Bell: And i, myself, had the Amelion Bloodstone - it was a Sagestone - clouded my decisions and personality to the point that i am not myself.

Bell: Sorry, it's just to unpleasant to mention it.

Miraak: "kill by will, down to the soul". What a waste... Why i said it's a waste... Even Sithis left souls for us to contain and make good use.

Miraak: (Shows soul gems and Black Star) Want some? Don't worry, i am generous. That thing can be regained over and over, and i don't really need a Black Star anyway.

Bell: No thanks, for my dearest, beloved, one John Archer provide me with magicka everyday.

Miraak: I insist for this two. (drops Black Soul Gem and Black Star anyway)

Miraak: Yeah, i sense you're such a powerful and charming presence. Everybody could fell over their heels toward you in instant.

Miraak: But you seems too old to conceive, to the point that you can only do the deed to gave comfort toward each other and to receive magicka, right?

Bell: (gestures a yes)

Miraak: Oh, one more thing, if i may, i could take you to Tamriel, or i could bring you something in from Tamriel... just.... ask.

Miraak: I love to hear your voice.

Bell: Ummmm... no thanks.... right now.... my only concern is to make him happy, and this universe as well.

Miraak: I see, nice to meet you, and don't be a stranger!

Miraak left... just as soon as John enters the dining room...

John: Must be binging Skyrim too much... i see myself from Skyrim...

Bell: Ufu....ufufufufu....

Bell: My beloved, you're a funny person. No wonder people liked you a lot.

Of course, Bell's soul, or at least the soul of her Sage form, is John's, thanks to the harbinger tearing Bell's soul apart and John gave him his soul as a replacement, so... they knew each other. But they pretended to be surprised.

Bell: And now, i presume you're thinking of a vacation?

John: Well, everyday is a vacation for me and for us!

John: Hey, a soul gem! 

Given how much of an extraordinary world this is... a soul gem is not on the place.

John: Well then, i dig in!

Bell: John!

John grabs the soul gem, cradling it around his chest, and then gently squeezed it. It is smashed, and... a flash happens.

Bell: What's just happened?

John: Ehe......ehehehehehe

Bell: Ufu.... ufufufu.... what? ufufufu.... answer my question!

John: I gave you part of my soul, my alternate universe counterpart has some spare souls, and thus, i can use one!

John: And so... we have our own souls again... well, technically, what's inside yours is mine, and what's inside me is.... whatever. Especially how soul and consciousness are turn out to be different things. Like if i want to tell you, there's a story about a Courier who got shot in the head, and then several adventures later, lost their brain, spine, and heart because a bunch of scientists wants to experiment with their resilience, thus the Courier has to fight back and even have the choice to either reclaim or leave the parts in the pedestal...

And yet no matter the choice, the Courier is still the same Courier as it was in the beginning.

Bell: (in curiosity) ummm... ummm... tell me more later. Tell me more!

John: Matters on hand. We're back to the way it used to be! 

 

 

 

Sasha: What's the ruckus? I love hearing my beloved brother and sister having fun.

John: How's the peacekeeping?

Sasha: Tiring, but well done. 

John: And Kobo?

Sasha: Had some contacts with her and, you know how she dotes on me.

John: Well then, it seems like you've got yourself a girlfriend!

Sasha: Ahahahaha... not now... i still have a lot to take care.

John: Sasha....

Sasha: Eh? 

John: Did you want to return to who you used to be? 

Sasha: Well, it's just an eye, besides the electric eye is helpful. Maybe sometimes later. 

Sasha: Well then, i need a rest. Later.

Sasha goes to his quarters.

John: Bell...

Bell: Now....

John: Ehe....ehehehehe

Bell: Ufu.....ufufufufu

Bell: I love to see your chipper self returning. Now, come to the bed and...

Bell: Do me.

John: Seriously? In this high noon? 

Bell: Set the surroundings into a beach. Just a warm up for the vacation.... Ufufu. 

Unlike other or most couples, John and Bell never found doing the deed every day at least once to three times a day tiring. Especially how their bedroom can be altered with a holographic lamp to resemble the surroundings of nature, beach, night sky, or even sky high and space...

Especially how Bell can still change her forms.