"Well, aren't these things original?" Asked Danny, twirling the Elder Scroll in his hand.

He said this because that Scroll looked completely the same as the other one. He was going through the corridor of the castle, accompanied by Serana. Valerica had decided to remain there until Harkon's death, for she was also a Daughter of the Cold Harbor. Meaning that she could fit the prophecy just as well as her child. Staying in the Oblivion would lower the vampire Lord's chances of fulfilling it.

"I think that's been done to not mistake them for something else," the vampire shrugged. She was more worried about other thing. "How are we going to read it, though?"

"In theory, I could," Danny mumbled. "But I'm not eager to face the consequences if there are any."

"What about Dixion?"

"Not sure. He is blind now, remember? Unless this Scroll is written with Braille, he won't be much of assistance."

"He might know other ways of reading them," Serana kept arguing. "You have dropped him at that Aldmeri fort."

"Unless they dumped him out. The guys seemed like a bunch of arrogant assholes."

"That's High elves for you," the vampire said sarcastically. "Hopefully they didn't. After all, just imagine what they would like to know from him."

"Yeah...it might be a problem...oh. Look at this."

They had exited the castle, and saw Durnehviir standing on a piece of ruins in front of them.

"I have a deja vu," Danny mumbled. "Hey, pal. Sorry for...killing you again, maybe we shouldn't take it any further?"

"Worry not, I have not come to fight, Qahnaarin."

"Huh, so you can speak something but your language. That's nice. I thought you died."

"Cursed, not died. Doomed to exist in this form for eternity. Trapped between laas and dinok, between life and death."

"And why are we speaking now?"

"My claws have rendered the flesh of innumerable foes, but I have never once been felled on the field of battle. I therefor honor-name you "Qahnaarin," or Vanquisher in your tongue. Your power is as great as they say."

"I found you quite strong actually. Among dragons that's for sure."

"Your words do me great honor. My desire to speak with you was born from the result of our battle, Qahnaarin. I merely wish to respectfully ask a favor of you."

"What kind of a favor?" Serana asked.

"For countless years I've roamed the Soul Cairn, in unintended service to the Ideal Masters. Before this, I roamed the skies above Tamriel. I desire to return there."

"Eh..." the two undead looked at each other. Dave was not going to like this. He had enough problems with dragons already.

"And what gives?"

"I will place my name with you and grant you the right to call my name from Tamriel. Do for me this simple honor and I will fight at your side as your Grah-Zeymahzin, your Ally, and teach you my Thu'um."

"Uhm...I'm not a Dovahkiin. My friend outside is."

"You speak Dovahzul as if it is your own language. Even if it doesn't work, your friend will be able to say it. I will be ready to assist him, if by extension it helps you."

"What's stopping you from coming by yourself?"

"I'm afraid I've spent too much time in this place to be able to leave the Cairn for long. I'm bound by my oath as well."

"Valerica is released under my authority."

"And for that I am thankful. So, what is your answer?"

Danny looked at Serana, wondering what she thought about all of this. She hummed.

"I think we could use extra...legs and wings," the vampire responded. "If he doesn't get out of hand."

Phantom nodded. "You will only attack those I ask you to. If you can do that, we have a deal."

Durnehviir nodded. "My gratitude knows no bounds. Just speak my name to the heavens once in Tamriel, and I shall hear you."

With that the dragon took off into the sky. Durnehviir disappeared in the clouds, and Danny looked at Serana.

"Do you think I'll be able to call him in my world?"

"I don't know anything at all about it. How am I supposed to answer this?" Asked the vampire.

Phantom grinned. "I guess we've got something to talk about on our long journey. Come now," he said and whistled.

The purple steed immediately ran to them. Danny smiled and stroked under his skeletal chin. They situated on his top and went forward, again through the dark wasteland. The journey took about half an hour, and all this time Phantom dedicated to telling his companion about the world he came from. Serana was truly intrigued by the tale, about the world unknown to anyone from hers. The world where magic did not exist. It was hard for her to imagine life without it, as Tamriel was full of it.

That reminded her of Dwemers. Although they did not neglect arcane arts, the machines they built were astonishing, yet in some parts Phantom's world had surpassed them - traveling off the planet, something Danny seemed fond to tell about. Then the teen remembered something and grinned.

"Hey, I totally forgot about it!" He said, before digging in his pocket. "Looks like it is still intact," Danny looked at his phone.

"And this is..."

"For many things. Wanna listen some music?"

"How can this thing play music?" Serana asked in genuine confusion.

Danny chuckled, pressing the buttons. "Well, before it is played this is a mere combination of zeroes and ones. Kind of hard to explain, I'm not an expert in this part of science. So, what do you say?"

"Alright...let's hear it."

Serana was surprised at first when the phone blared with accords. She didn't get a single word, and the sounds of the instruments were unusual to her ear, as they obviously weren't something she had encountered before. Which didn't make it any less nice. She really liked that loud, noisy composition of Danny's favorite group. They didn't notice how the trip neared its end, as the familiar staircase was in front of them.

"Okay, then, let's go, thanks for the ride."

The horse neighed again as the riders jumped down. Then Phantom stopped.

"Wait, I want to check something. Let's take a picture."

Serana only raised her eyebrow, before yelping when Danny hugged her with one hands.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"A picture," Danny smiled innocently, outstretching the phone. "Look at it, please."

The vampire did as she was told, still embarrassed at the predicament.

"Amazing," Phantom breathed. "Another myth about vampires turned out to be a lie! You are actually seen on this thing. Okay, don't turn away, please."

Serana blinked once the flash hit her hard. Then she looked at the device in Danny's hand. There was indeed a picture of them, and so detailed.

"Why did you do that?" She asked.

"To keep memories, of course," Phantom smiled innocently. "About how I ventured into cursed land with a vampire. Doesn't happen daily, after all. Besides, I tend to remember my friends."

Serana smiled slightly, before they went up the stairs. They went through the portal, exiting in Valerica's study.

"Alright, now let's..."

"Well, well, what do we have here?"

Both young people flinched and looked to the side. There was Harkon himself, accompanied by two other vampires. One was High elf and another was a Human. They stood near the edge of the portal, eyeing them.

"So...have you been sitting here all this time?" Phantom raised his eyebrow.

"Serana," Harkon looked at his daughter. "Who is this?" He asked sternly.

They both sighed mentally. Alright, the ghost form was a nice disguise.

"Daniel Phantom," the ghost grinned. "The one to whose domain this portal leads," he pointed at the purple pit. "Nice thing, by the way. Quite useful."

Harkon narrowed his eyes. "We have no need of Daedra here. At least not those who do not serve our common Master Molag Bal."

"Oh. Molag, huh? Maybe we should have a chat. I think it will happen eventually," Danny rubbed his chin. "Hopefully it doesn't end in a fight."

"Quite a mouth he has," two vampires in the background whispered.

"Hey!"

"Why haven't you told me about this...thing?" Harkon pointed at the portal. "And in your mother's study, no less."

"Because I went inside instantly," Serana responded bluntly. "I was interested."

"And that's why I decided to walk her to the entrance," Danny smirked, coming up with an idea. "Politely for now. Glad she complied, otherwise it wouldn't have been pretty."

"Are you threatening the ones, whose power is given by Daedra prince himself?" Harkon asked.

"Pretentious, I see," Danny grinned. It looked familiar to the vampires, while Serana screamed mentally for him to stop.

The vampire lord glared at the half ghost.

"How dare you," he growled.

"Father, please, calm down."

"You stay silent, Serana. We are going to have a talk after this. And why do I have a feeling that you are not telling me something?"

"Just what exactly are you going to do?" Phantom raised his eyebrow, his expression becoming solid.

Harkon's hand glowed red. Danny immediately understood what he was intending to do. In one swipe of the hand Phantom hurled the vampires backwards.

"We have to destroy the portal," Danny mumbled.

"What?" Serana asked, disbelieving what she had heard. Was he really going to destroy his only way to his home?

"You know what would happen with your mother if Harkon gets there," Phantom reasoned. "I will find a way to get home. Just big explosion will be enough. If you don't have a way to close it."

The vampire looked at him with wide eyes. She was touched by his willingness to help her. But she wasn't going to let him do it that easily.

"I'll look in the journal. Distract father and his goons."

"Will do. Hide somewhere."

Meanwhile the group got up, and now Harkon was pissed.

"Enough! I'll show you, brat!"

His body was covered in shadows. It was revealed that it was going through drastic changes. thIn addition to wings sprouting from the back and height vastly increasing, which by itself was strange, the skin became gray, the eyes changed to an orange-gold hue, and the cheeks narrowed prominently. The ears became pointy, the clothes were reduced to a strange crown and belt wrapping. The arms were ending with razor claws. And he was floating now.

"Jesus Christ, aren't you ugly," Danny deadpanned.

All three vampires fired some red energy at him. Phantom calmly raised a green shield, while Serana climbed down to the first floor of the room. Danny charged the energy of his own in his palms, giving a fanged grin.

"Let's see if you don't throw shame on your god."

The shield dispersed and the blasts flew forward, creating minor explosions as they missed the targets. His enemies fired their spells, but Phantom sidestepped them easily, shortening the distance between them. He ducked under a swing of the hand, before kicking another undead. Danny charged a blast and pushed Harkon a meter away. Not too far, but enough not to get clawed to death. Phantom then grabbed a dagger held by another vampire, easily overpowering the opponent, mostly because of him being unexpectedly strong. Danny swatted it aside, before disappearing.

"What the..."

Serana was quickly turning the pages of the journal, searching for the way to close that damnable thing. It must have had the way, Valerica somehow did this.

Phantom suddenly emerged behind Harkon's servant and kicked him hard, but then the lord lunged forward maybe too quickly. Danny didn't expect this, and he was being choked by the grey creature.

"What? Scared now?" Harkon asked, tightening his grip.

"First of all...your breath still stinks," Phantom managed to say. "Two," his neon eyes flashed brightly, even letting small sparks of green electricity. "I don't need air."

Double blasts erupted from his eye sockets, and Harkon screamed in pain as the burns were left on his skin. Danny landed on his feet and kicked the vampire in his leg, before his ectoplasm charged punch landed on the man's stomach and was pushed back again. Phantom then became intangible, knowing that the attack was going to come from the side. As expected, the dagger and its wielder went through him. Danny grinned.

"Can't touch me," he said, before knocking out the human vampire. "But I can touch you."

Harkon then came to realization. That voice, although echoing, made him realize something.

"It is you," he growled.

"Give this guy a medal, he understood that me is me," Danny laughed. "Took you long to figure out."

Harkon hurled more crimson blasts with a roar, but Phantom just as easily summoned the shield. He was then attacked by another vampire, who never ceased his attacks. The elf fired the ice spike and hit Danny in the hand. Phantom screamed in pain at the lucky shot. Be it someone else, the ghost would have lost his hand forever. But now it was disabled nevertheless. The elf smirked.

"Not so smug now, huh?" He asked.

"Neither should you be," the vampire heard a whisper behind him. Before he could react a shining dagger pierced through his chest. It was Serana's doing, and the shocked elf could see her face. He fell on the ground, bleeding to his death.

"Thanks," Danny called, holding the shield against the enemy, which was under threat of collapsing. "Got a plan?"

"Yes."

Harkon then came up with an idea. He suddenly turned into a swarm of bats, and they flew right around the shield, materializing near the ghost, grabbing him again. Without saying a word he pinned Phantom to the wall. Hard. Danny hissed in pain as the left part of his face was damaged. The claws went down his head, scratching it severely and making him scream.

The vampire lord was interrupted when he heard a shout. Turning to the side, he saw Serana holding the bowl with the ingredients for the portal.

"Try getting there now," she said, before hurling it in the portal.

Without the source of energy the entrance started to shake. It started returning to its usual position. Danny used the distraction to punch his captor in his jaw. Harkon let him go and floated backwards. Phantom managed to fly back on his legs near Serana, holding his hand.

"Heh. It was that simple," he mumbled.

"You will pay for your treachery, girl," Harkon growled, about to attack.

Danny's eyes flashed with ice blue color. From his working hand erupted an ice beam, which covered the vampire in a layer of ice. It started to crack slowly.

"We should take our leave," he said.

"There is the door!"

They ran in that direction, while Harkon escaped his trap. As the two ran out, they realized that they were outside, on a small bridge leading to the dead end.

"Damn it," Serana cursed as Harkon broke the door. Somehow the sun had already started setting.

"New plan," Danny said. "Jump!"

"Wha..."

Phantom pushed his companion off the railing, earning a loud scream. Saluting the vampire lord, he jumped right after her. Harkon was about to pursue them, but then his skin burned. He hissed and retreated into the shadows. No, the sun was still there. They couldn't be running forever, he decided.

Danny was about to pick Serana and save her from smashing, but she repeated her father's trick and turned into a bat swarm, swiftly reappearing on the ground. Phantom landed near her, seeing her hissing from the sun as well and pulling on the hood.

"You goddamn madman," Serana cursed.

"Thank you," Danny grinned, before coughing and wincing. "When did he break my shoulder?" He asked.

The young woman's look changed. "Come on, you idiot. We need to get out of here before the sun sets."

"Not a single note of pity," Phantom complained over dramatically.

They found a boat at the abandoned dock. As they sat there, Serana cast a spell and the oars moved by themselves. Neither said anything on their way to the boat, and on the boat at first. Finally the vampire sighed when she saw Danny trying to move his hand, shining with leaking green liquid.

"How bad is it?" She asked.

"I'll heal. I had it worse," Danny chuckled dryly.

"You should take this," Serana took a small red vial. "A health potion. It should help."

"There isn't any left except for it."

"Just shut up and take it."

"Serana, I told you I'll heal. My metabolism will fix everything by tomorrow."

"We may not have this time. I can make more easily."

Danny chuckled slowly and leaned back on the boat's edge. "You remind me of my friend. She never stops until the bandages are over."

"At least someone has a mind there," Serana deadpanned. "How did you even manage to be damaged so easily?!" She raised her voice.

"What do you mean?"

"You took down a dragon an hour before as if it was nothing. And now you are like...this."

"I was told to hold them back, right?" Danny smiled weakly, wiping the ectoplasm from his temple with his glove.

"It was you who was holding back," Serana narrowed her orange glowing eyes. "Care to tell why?"

"Why do you want to know that much?" Phantom raised his eyebrow. "I am fine, see?"

"Are you kidding me?!" The vampire exclaimed and got up. "You are bleeding and have lost your arm!"

"Which, might I add again, will be fine in a few hours."

"You are trying to change the topic," growled Serana.

"Alright, I didn't use most of my power. Is that what you wanted to hear? I just...well, he is your father."

"Is that it?" She raised her eyebrow. "You were ready to let yourself be beaten just because of that?"

Danny sighed. "I just remembered the way you talked about him. You still love him. And I admit, I didn't know what he is capable of. All of that combined led me to this, basically. And I'm more than unwilling to kill even him."

"Idiot," Serana muttered. "You are such an idiot."

She sat near him. "Look, Danny. I'm thankful that you care, I really am, but that man has nothing to do with the father I once about so much. He is a monster who needs to be destroyed one way or another."

Danny looked at her. "Fine," he sighed. "If you say so."

Serana dug in her pocket and took a piece of cloth. She opened the vial and put a few drops on it.

"I told you..."

"Too late," the woman smirked. "I've already spent it. Now just let me..."

She took his chin and gently moved the cloth at the bleeding parts, causing Danny to hiss slightly. It burned like alcohol. And here he was supposed to drink that stuff. Serana wiped the ectoplasm off his skin and astonishingly stark hair, she could see the wounds slowly closing.

"Here you go. Give me your hand."

Danny realized that she was as stubborn as he was. It was pointless to resist. Phantom moved his working hand and took off the glove and pulled up the black jumpsuit part. Yes, the place was an ectoplasmic mess. Serana moved her hair behind her ear and started rubbing the liquid there. She saw many scars there, and their amount stunned her. These were old, so they had been there before that fight.

"Just how much have you been fighting?" The vampire asked.

"A lot. I wasn't always the king, you know?" Danny winced at the burning sensation again. "The others...did not like me much. I always sided with the living, protecting them from my kind. Because the humans needed it, ghosts were something new to them."

"You know, sometimes it is better to just let things happen," Serana said. "One day it will kill you...actually...you did die, right?" She asked slowly.

"For the note. It was rude," Phantom noted. "It was an accident...but yes, I used to be a human before my death."

"I used to be one too," Serana mumbled. "Before the ritual."

"So it's not that bite thing?"

"No, it's what separates the pure blooded vampires from the rest."

"Wait...does that mean that you can turn into...that...at will too?"

Serana reddened and looked away. "Yes, I can," she mumbled.

Danny chuckled. "I guess we both have sensitive topics, eh?"

Serana chuckled as well, finishing her procedure. She then saw that the sunlight was finally gone, and she was able to take off the hood. The shore was near. They stepped down from the boat and went forward. Danny took the lead to that fortress held by the Altmeri. They soon got to it, and in the meantime Phantom changed his form into a human one. Serana was partially against this...the ghost form looked more attractive. She shook her head at the thought.

So, they went to the main gates, and immediately the undead were stopped by the patrolmen. They were High elves, dressed in moonstone armor and helmets.

"Stop right there, what's your business in here?" The guard asked.

"We came for our friend. You know, old man, in grey robes, blind?"

"He's been taken into custody of Thalmor. It is not your business."

The group's eyes widened. "What?!" Serana asked. "You cannot do that."

"He's been a spy of the stormcloaks."

Danny had mixed emotions. He wanted to burst laughing and punch the guy for his idiocy.

"He is BLIND!" He exclaimed.

"Pretenses."

Phantom sighed and looked at his companion. "Do we break in or sneak?" He asked. Quite loudly.

"Never liked these idiots. But will you be fine?"

The elves looked at each other in confusion. Were they serious?

"My wounds have healed. My dignity, however, demands that I replenish it after that less than good presentation."

"Alright, you two. Get out of..."

The guy didn't finish his sentence, before being blasted to the side, just as his friend. Danny shrugged, his hand smoking with green color.

"Shall we?" Danny grinned, making an inviting gesture.

Serana smirked.

"We are under attack!"

The soldiers inside the fort kept rallying to the doors, they weren't told what was attacking them, but the elves stood near the doors, preparing the shield wall. The mages prepared their spells, assuming that a squad of the fierce Nord warriors was going to break through the doors. After all, they did hold the captives of their kin. They heard screams outside, but the justiciar ordered them not to go there. He planned on setting the trap, it was easier to defend a narrow path.

The noises disappeared. Then the door was ripped of its hinges and flew backwards, smashing some of the soldiers.

"Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me!"

At these words a number of blasts flew at them, taking one elf after another as Phantom jumped in the room.

"I ain't the sharpest tool in the..."

"Please stop," Serana moaned as the soldiers were knocked out.

They didn't have the luck Harkon had had. Danny wanted to do the job quickly, because they didn't need to get Dixion in danger, because the vampires were coming soon. They went through the corridors of the fort, and the soldiers couldn't even do anything, as Phantom was throwing them around like rag dolls with his blasts. And with each Serana was getting more exasperated. The guy just let himself get beaten because he had an intention to. Danny was grinning all the time, but her expression didn't go unnoticed by him.

Phantom did feel guilty for probably making her worry, but it's just how he was. She could have told him what to do. Maybe he was a clueless idiot who didn't get basic things. But there was little to change, so he was simply going to keep doing what he did.

Finally the last justiciar/mage was held in one hand of the half ghost.

"Where did you say the old man was?"

"In the dungeon," he rasped.

"My goodness, what an idea, why didn't I think of that?" Danny raised his eyebrow, before knocking the elf out.

"The whole Thalmor will be after us the following day," Serana deadpanned.

"I should have a diplomatic immunity."

The two went downstairs, Danny ignited the torch he had found. The place was dark, filthy and smelly. As they passed the cells, the prisoners clung to the exits, begging to let them out from their torture. Phantom couldn't help but think that those words were literal. They were badly bloodied, mostly humans.

"They are probably the Stormcloaks," Serana said.

The rebels against the Empire and haters of Thalmor, as Phantom had learned. The latter put limitations on the human state after the elves' victory in the war. That in turn led to the rebellion in Skyrim, mostly because of religious and cultural reasons. Danny looked at the lever nearby.

"Well, if we want our visit to be remembered," he muttered, before pulling it. "Let's get the show on the road."

The cells opened and the prisoners happily ran away, someone actually was smart enough to pick any kind of weapon. Phantom then entered the next room, its purpose obviously was for torture. Instruments, blood, different devices which way of work neither Danny nor Serana wanted to know.

"Who is there?"

They turned to the side and saw a gray haired man shackled to the wall, full of wounds. Near him was shackled Dixion.

"Oh, hello, Dixie!" Danny smirked, looking at the old man.

"What?" The priest looked up, although he couldn't see. "Is...is that...."

"We are getting you out of here," Serana responded.

"Oh, thank the Divines! Please, do it."

Danny moved his palm and the binds broke. Serana picked Dixion, while the other man just fell on his knees.

"Who are you?" He asked.

Phantom decided to be playful. He kneeled near him and his eyes flashed green.

"You are being rescued by Daedra King. Please do not resist."