My Thu'um roared with bold gold contrasting black. The tentacles were turned into ash and all of Apocrypha shook with Hermaeus Mora's scream. The Book Demon scream was half his and half my son's, the voices being distorted by the other in an horrific way. He twisted and shook with steam coming off of him until he collapsed with his back into the moat, his face looking towards the sky. My son coughed but Altraius spoke with a smile in his voice, hidden intent permeated from his words, "I suppose I should thank you, but then again, it was all part of the plan."

His Thu'um following was of gold and black as we were blown back. My Dragon Aspect shattered, the Ancient Dragonborn was obliterated, and the shadows from Boethiah's mail dissolved. I tried to shout in return, now on my back, "Joor-Zah-Frul!"

Not a single thing happened. I shouted again, frustration in my voice,

"Joor-Zah-Frul!"

Altraius Morax laughed, Serana and I instinctively cast a ward before he breathed Daedric fire onto us. He flapped his wings, causing pages from the throne of books he was on to blow past us as he took to the air with a gleeful roar.

"Finally! Finally the Prophesy is coming to pass!"

My armor steamed and my skin burned as I tried to get up. Serana rolled over to me, helping me up saying,

"Are you alright? Come on, we can do this! I know we can! We're almost there!"

My eyes widened, and I exclaimed, "Serana-"

"Don't give up Talion!"

"Your eyes are blue."

Those blue orbs rolled at my observation. Had the shout severed the bond from Molag Bal? I contemplated briefly. It wasn't long before the dragon came back around and landed in front of us.

"You know nothing!" Altraius roared before he duplicated like a Seeker and both dragons shouted Daedric flames at us. I threw up a ward and both of my hands and likely the rest of me steamed from the sheer heat of the flames. I was huffing when Altraius came closer. I dived back from the snap of the dragon's jaws but then there was a gust of wind as they both took to the air.

They then disappeared into the clouds surrounding this floating fortress. His voice-no their guttural voices thundered unto us, "Your fate is sealed qahnaarin!"

Using the brief moment of intermission, I glanced at my son and I was relieved to see the rising and falling of his stomach as he breathed. I cast a fast-heal spell and checked my potions. Three average quality healing potions, I mentally cursed. Serana gasped and I swiveled my head to meet her red eyes.

"Talion! Your armor!"

As if on cue the shadows of Boethiah's Mail surrounded me. Predicting that my shouting capability returned, Altraius and his decoy dove in and out of the clouds of Apocrypha like fish. Becoming one with shadow I shouted with a Thu'um that could take them both down.

"Strun-Bah-Qo!"

"Ugh," Serana groaned, "I hate this shout."

The clouds that were once around the floating fortress swirled into the air. Rain began to fall and it wasn't long before ensuing lightning bolts and turbulence forced the beasts closer to us. Frustrated at the world, impatient to hold my son I yelled up at them,

"Just let me leave in peace!"

"You know I, mu, we cannot let you leave here. Not with the knowledge you obtained from faal Vid Kel."

"You knew I would get the knowledge didn't you?!"

The two of them landed with a crash and they said in chilling harmony, "It was prophesied, by none other than Akatosh himself-"

The closest beast to me was interrupted by my Bloodskal blade slashing the side of its head. The reptile roared in pain and I swiped the other side of its face before jamming the blade skillfully through the brain. The clone turned into a large pile of dust.

My dust and beast-blood covered visage looked at Serana's pile of dust in confusion. I muttered a curse, they both were decoys. The remains were caught up in a whirlwind from the return of Altraius to the top of his father's throne where he shouted at us. Shielding my eyes from the dust and Thu'um I cast a ward before the both of us were blown back by a shout. One that only Revered and Legendary Dov have used to affect the very cores of our life forces. Hurrying to my feet I shouted, feeling considerably weaker,

"Rah-Ul-Vo!" When nothing happened I screamed, my voice cracking, "RAH-UL-VO!"

Wheezing out an exhausted curse Altraius laughed and breathed green flames into the air in victory.

"If there are any gods you acknowledge, you better start praying now."

A lightning bolt struck him from the thunderstorm but it just caused him to shake the rain off of his scales. Observing him, something got his attention from the moat. No-

"L-leave my Dad alone!"

Altraius Morax seemed shocked and said in awe, "What meaneth this?"

My son, leaning heavily on Dragonbane didn't give Altraius any further time. For a moment it seemed like he was going to hyperventilate but then we were all shocked still.

My son shouted...

"Rah-Ul-Vo!"

The black and yellow wave of Thu'um pushed through the torrent of rain. I somehow saw shock in Altraius' eyes and my son heaved again,

"Joor-Zah-Frul!"

I could mentally see as blood spat from my son's mouth and blood oozed from the mask as he collapsed. The Thu'um of Dragonrend enveloped Altraius and he fell from his perch on the throne. I ran towards my son, Divines no. No-no-no! Not like this!

I tossed my sword aside mid-run and cast a dual-casted Grand Healing spell. My son coughed, showing signs of life and I took a deep breath, battling the effect of the quick magika use on my mind. Serana shot ice at the giant lizard, in an attempt to blind him before axing Altraius' head.

I unsteadily rose, picked up my sword and went to Serana's aide. Though Altraius was caught off-guard he dodged Serana's attacks and batted her aside with his several hundred pound head. He's faster than his clones, I noticed and did a leaping strike.

Anticipating my approach, with great effort on his face he caught me in his mouth. Had the shout not affected his mouth I would have been dead. I shot flames down his throat with a low magika spell, cussing as I did. I could feel the vibrations of Clavicus' axe hitting Altraius' jaw. It wasn't until Boethiah's Shadow returned and burned his tongue that in a fit of pain he smashed what he could of me against the ground twice and tossed me into the throne.

Divines, I mentally groaned, my arm and legs are broken. While casting a spell I tried to capitalize on the short time that I had. Even though my throat and chest still vibrated from the Storm Call I shouted,

"Joor-Zah-Frul!"

The bright blue magic of Dragonrend did its work and Altraius let out a roar with crocodile tears. Casting the spell after I coughed blood in my headgear, Altraius Morax shouted fire at me in rage and I shielded my face. I shivered and screamed as sheer pain covered my  steaming body, I heard whispers of Meridia's words in my mind before I cast another healing spell, causing my arm and legs to set themselves.

Before Altraius could hit me again with Godrend another Thu'um hit him from my son.

"Rah-Ul-Vo!"

Serana axed the left side of Altraius' face and swung again from the right. However, the lizard adeptly hit the axe from her with his claw and placed the other atop her. I screamed in horror as I witnessed Altraius put part of his weight on top of her with a sick crunch. Paarthurnax yelled, his hands burning green from a Daedric Fireball scroll,

"No!"

Before the blast Altraius maneuvered away in an attempt to flee. Going off the edge of the Vale of Enigmas he glided away while Dragonrend was still in effect. I pushed myself up and hobbled over to Serana and gave her a bottle of the potions I had.

After a groan, she said, "Save them, I'll use the scrolls from earlier. Go to your son."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded.

I didn't need to be told that twice. I saw my son on his knees in the moat, his fingers still holding the scroll he canceled. He still wore the mask and when I approached, he whimpered,

"F-father?"

I enveloped him in my embrace, rocking him back and forth.

"I'm here," I sobbed and huffed, "I'm here."

"T-The mask. It won't come off."

"We'll figure it out, I promise."

"No." He said matter-of-factly, "You've lied to us-"

"Hermaeus Mora could have fed your mind my son." I ended the embrace, held his shoulders, and looked into his masked eyes, "And I will own up to everything that I have done. I swear by all the Divines, and honorable Daedra and Aedra that once we return and are safe I will tell you everything."