Disclaimer: I do not claim any rights pertaining to Warcraft! All of those belong to Blizzard Entertainment and partners! I simply thought of plot and any original characters! This is also AU such was A Change in Strategy!

Prologue

The woman continued to saunter through the barren expanse. Everywhere she looked nothing remained. The ground itself was completely dead. Gray ash extended as long as the eye could see, not a single piece of vegetation or foliage sprouted from the ground except for the annihilated tree trunks that were split in half and burned to a pitch-black. Each step she took caused dust to float and dance around her feet, and sudden bursts of the burning hot air would pick up more and join it causing tiny dust twisters all around.

Though the sun was making itself apparent, the bright star couldn't be seen anymore. Maroon clouds covered every inch of the sky so that only a red hue surrounded what was left of the world. Whether the clouds were caused by all of the dust and devastation, or if that was what they looked like when the end of the world had come, the woman did not know. All she knew was that with the heat, the dust, and the chance any deformed monster, or worse, other survivor would attack was that she needed to get to her destination quickly.

Determined, the girl pushed forward. Once the most recent dust storm stopped, her haven sprung up before her. Towering over her was an enormous steel dome. It protected the city underneath from all types of looters, demons, weather, everything. Inside she heard, that if you look to the skies it's not like looking at metal but just as if the sky was above you with ever-changing weather effects as to not make the people inside feel like prisoners. The sun seemed to gleam off of it and blind her, but it didn't hold her back. She knew that under the dome was the last remaining city of Dalaran, and many survivors had made their way here.

Anguish tore through her as she neared closer. The once vibrant land of Azeroth, it's numerous continents and areas was now down to one. The battle for Azeroth had seemingly brought about the end of the world, much like the orc homeworld of Draenor had been ripped apart. Only Dalaran had remained as it had been flighted during the time. Soon after the Kirin Tor decided to bring it back to the ground and offer it as a safe-haven for the survivors that could make it. They settled it next to the only other remaining place in the world, Teldrassil.

She could barely make out in the distance the lush forests that surrounded the island, and the remaining pieces of the actual World Tree that made up the island itself. Rumors had fluttered that the source of Night Elf civilization had been burnt to the ground due to unknown reasons. While the tree had been decimated and the elves had lost their ability to practice magic, the villages beneath it barely survived, and before everything became apocalyptic the elves had placed a magical protective barrier around it much like the mage city had. In time they rebuilt, but kept the shield up to protect them from anything like it again.

As she neared the entrance, a wooden sign blew back and forth in the wind. She caught it with her hand, and it read: Magical suppression beyond this point. No magic allowed within city limits. The girl laughed out loud. The Kirin Tor didn't want people who made their way here to feel like prisoners, but they were basically doing just that by taking away something that very well could identify them. Dalaran was now quite simply a city of all mortals.

The entrance to the city was made of the same metallic pieces the rest of the dome was. Next to it was a broad red button. She could only assume that was her way into the refuge. As she hit it, a million clicks could be heard from the other side each one grinding louder than the last. From a top the door a bright light appeared and scanned her before the door slid up and granted her entrance.

When she took her first couple steps into the city, she was still in a small archway. From it she heard a familiar voice greeting her. "Welcome to the city of Dalaran the last remaining refuge on Azeroth! You are currently in Krasus' Landing. Please make your way forward and then take a right to come to the Dalaran Visitors Center for new resident orientation! You'll know you've come to the right place when you see The Violet Hold right in front of you. Happy travels and may your stay here be 'common'!" The voice laughed to herself and then quickly became silent.

Shaking her head the girl continued forward out of the archway and right into a downpour. Rain drenched her from the sky that was completely clouded over. So much for having a better atmosphere than outside, she thought to herself. Hastily she took in her surroundings and realized the city had remained almost exactly the same. Numerous violet towers reached for the ceiling of the dome, casting shadows on everything below it. The streets were still the same violet cobble as they had always been, twisting and turning through each business and district acting almost as if a guide.

Realizing the city hadn't changed since she was last here, and dismissing the voice she had heard upon entering, she knew she needed a drink right away. Sprinting down the road she passed numerous people from humans, gnomes, and worgen to even goblins, orcs, and pandaren. All around her people were upon different mounts running to and fro, at one point even a mammoth train passed her just as she reached her stop. It had appeared that the end of the world had been what was needed to finally create peace among all the races.

Above her a large wooden sign with a mug of ale swung back and forth in the wind and rain. It had the words Legerdemain Lounge carved into it, and the newcomer walked through the doorway into the warmth of the inn. As she entered, again it surprised her that the place hadn't changed. To her left was a staircase which she knew led up to the rooms that the place had to offer. Across the back wall there were six ornate bookshelves that were trimmed in oak and shaped almost like a palace. Each one was stuffed with books and scrolls galore. Five wooden tables were then placed right in front of them, each with enough chairs so that you and two others would be able to comfortably sit around them, except for the table in the middle of the inn that had a Victorian style sofa on either side of it. Finally she looked to her right and noticed the bar that stretched from the wall she had entered all the way to the far wall where another entrance was locted.

She noticed a mirror on the wall as well and peered at herself in it. Her snow-white shoulder-length hair had streaks of maroon in it from the dust outside as well as covered her face. To her that wasn't so bad, as it helped to cover up the numerous deep scars that polluted her face and took attention away from her emerald eyes that people had once been jealous of. A black cloak covered her right side and hung to the ground, but it illuminated the silver metal chest piece that covered her left breast. She brushed off the metal with her gloved hands and shook out her hair before examining the patrons of the bar.

Only a few members even populated the bar area. The first was the one she chose to sat on a wooden stool next to at the bar itself. Even seated he towered over her. Where a normal orcs skin would be a vibrant green, this man's was as ashy as the ground outside the walls of Dalaran. His jet-black hair hung down to his waist but was beginning to gray and was missing in places leaving simple bald spots throughout his scalp. Like most orcs he chose to not wear a shirt, just a pair of tan leather-clad pants with metallic knee pads. While she was amazed to see an orc at the bar surrounded by seven giant mugs, it was his left hand that amazed her. Instead of a functional hand, a jagged immensely sharp blade protruded from it. Legends and myths alike had been told, and she knew that this man was none other than Kargath Bladefist.

The bartender was also present. The woman's bright pink skin and pointed ears immediately shouted that she was a Night Elf. Her lustrous pale gray hair that flowed around her face seemed to match the glistening white eyes she had as well as the open-chested blouse she was wearing. She toned the brightness down with the cardinal pants she wore, and the violet tattoos that looked like scars around her eyes. "Maievs! Can I get anofer one?" Kargath slurred. Instantly the bartender was more familiar. She hadn't recognized her without her armor and umbra crescent, but tending bar was none other than the betrayer hunter, Maiev Shadowsong.

Maiev moved about and grasped another mug and pulled the handle of the tap down, filling it up. As she sat it down in front of him she placed her hand on his oversized good hand. "Do you really think you need one? Am I gonna have to call you a mammoth again?" Maiev asked.

Kargath moved his hand away from her and flailed it about the air, almost hitting the onlooker. He spat, "I'm fined! I'll left you know when you've had toos much!"

Maiev laughed at him and turned her attention to the new customer next to the orc. "You seem to having quite the day, and you're drenched! How about a hot spiked mana tea?"

The girl grinned and replied, "That sounds great, thanks."

As Maiev walked away to mix the hot water, tea, and alcohol, the girl eyed the other patron in the room. He sat at the farthest table from the bar, completely engrossed in a scroll placed on the table in front of him. His clothing she could tell was made from dragonscale and appeared to be garb that an Alliance prince would wear; however, she knew who the Alliance prince was, and this was not him. His skin was a dark bronze from what could be seen, and his eyes were a crimson red. On his head he wore a white turban that was encircled in a royal red ribbon. As she inspected the man, Kargath seemed to take notice she was next to him and began to speak to her.

"Hey! Whose is you?" he asked swaying in his seat.

Maiev sat down the tea, and without taking her eyes of the man, she took a sip and responded, "My name is Corette Milton."

"Corette," Kargath pondered taking another sip of ale, "that's a pretty names. Ny mame is Kargath Bladestist. Dal'ran new in you?"

The slurring of his words began to grate on Corette's nerves, but she knew better than to make waves already. She simply smiled, "Thank you, Kargath." Her eyes were still plastered to the mystery man in the corner as he placed the scroll back on the shelf and replaced it with a new one all without looking up at the bar.

"If you're new then you haves to know that Dal'ran is a different place. The city is fulled of secrets, lies, and defeats," the orc began to explain.

Maiev interjected, "Don't you mean 'deceits'?"

Kargath waved her away and growled, "That's what you-I said! By the way that girl there, her name is Maiev. She's the best bar wench in town!"

"Watch it, Kargath. What have I told you about the name calling?" Maiev threatened as she wiped down glasses that had just got done washing. "It's nice to meet you, Corette."

Corette nodded, still fixated on the man. Kargath noticed her staring and intruded, "That there is the dragon boy! His name is Wrathion...I-I don't knows if he's last name or not."

Being a dragon, Wrathion heard his name spoke and looked up locking eyes with Corette. For an instant she was frozen in place, she couldn't even take a sip of her tea. Slyly he sneered and mouthed "It's you." Before she could shake her head, the feeling was gone, and he was back to looking through texts. Quickly she swung her legs around and faced the bar again. A shiver ran down her spine. From stories she knew that wherever Wrathion was, destruction seemed to follow.

As she turned around two more people entered the building laughing. They each hung on each other like the world could tear them apart at any moment. They strolled by her, and she examined them as they headed upstairs. The woman had the features of an absolute angel. Her soft skin made her face, even though tattooed, a vibrant light that matched the pointed ears that protruded from the forest-green cloak she wore. Her golden braided hair would have blinded her had there been sunlight, and it blended with the gold outline of the rest of her green and feathered armor.

The man seemed entirely too old to have his arm around someone that vibrant and young. She rarely judged, but she figured in this case she'd make an exception. His entire body was clad in bright-lighted golden armor that glistened as if made by the Light itself, and clanked with each footstep and stair he took. His face was covered in a neatly trimmed beard and his hair meshed right with it, both of them being almost as silver as the metal on a sword.

Kargath introduced, "Those two are Alleria Windrunner and High Exarch Turalyon, although here his tittle means nofing." Corette knew of the two lovers who had fought legions and legions of demons to be together. They had been lost when Ner'zhul destroyed Draenor, but had simply been battling demons for thousands of years in the Twisting Nether, never once their love faltering.

Once he finished introducing them, another member joined them. This one was another Night Elf, but much taller than even Maiev. The pointed ears and skin around his body was all a light lavender, but his chest and arms were embedded with lime-green tattoos that seemed to represent who he was. He had jet-black hair that was styled straight up in the air, with other strands just flailing about his shoulders. Much like the orcs he chose not to wear a shirt, each muscle protruding out of him trying to get noticed. The only thing he wore was a pair of bland black pants that were decorated with fur at the bottom. Corette laughed to herself. The man didn't even bother to wear shoes into a bar.

He walked up to the bar and slightly nodded his head. "Maiev, how are we doing this evening?"

"It's always a good night when you order," Maiev flirted. Nonchalantly she picked up the brown paper bag that had been sitting at the opposite end of the bar and handed it to him.

The man wrapped his hands around the bag and her hands. He flashed her a dazzling smile showing each perfect tooth he had. "If you keep making burgers this good, I may just have to come live here," he told. Maiev's face flushed in an instant, and just as quickly as it had happened he left the building leaving the bartender smitten as could possibly be.

"That's Illidan Stormrage," Kargath revealed. "He lives in the ony other refuge around, Teldrassil. Most of the Night Elves live there. They own the main trade on wumber as all the trees grow there, but he's angry with his brother still as he owns the 'company' so to speak and has the woman Illidan has always wanted. Maiev secretly-" he hiccuped. "Maiev secretly likeshim." Corette watched as Maiev again blushed, but continued to wipe the bar, putting an excessive amount of work into one single spot on it.

The woman turned back to Wrathion just as the dragon looked up from his papers and towards the door. Through the door walked another man. They both quickly greeted each other with hugs and began to talk. The newcomer was the same height as Wrathion and looked like he could have almost been from the same royal family. Their garb was almost identical except the new boy's was a bright azure color. The resemblance ended there as the new patron had dashing blonde hair that was pulled back into a ponytail. His sapphire eyes could have pierced through her soul had they wanted to, and his skin was so pale she hoped that no person was around when the sun hit him just right.

The two of them began a conversation, but the music in the inn was too loud she couldn't make out what they were saying. They both laughed a bit. A look of concern ran over Wrathion's face for a moment, but the new guy seemed to try to comfort him and ran his hand down the dragon's arm. Immediately Wrathion jumped back as if he had been touched with a hot poker, and stormed past the guy and out into the streets. The boy had a somber look pass over him and after thrusting his hands into the pockets of his royal coat, he set out after him.

"Anduin, when are you going to learn," Maiev whispered to herself.

Corette's ears perked up. She asked, "Anduin? Was that Anduin Wrynn?"

Maiev nodded, "It was. The poor boy is never going to learn. That dragon is only going to break his heart. The whole lot of the black dragonflight are nothing but scum. Anduin deserves better."

Corette raised an eyebrow at the statement, but was brought out of thought by Kargath almost tapping her on her shoulder to get her attention, but with the bladed hand. She swiftly dodged it, and he apologized, "I-I'm so sorry. I just wanted tof know why's you in town?"

When she started to respond, a somber chill filled the entirety of the Legerdemain Lounge. Silently in walked another person. This person was wearing a black and white blouse that matched the same long trailing skirt she had on both leaving her stomach exposed. The woman's glistening white hair trailed about her shoulders and back like it was made of silk, the lone strand of gold stood defiant in front of her face. "Good evening, Maiev. I'm just checking to see how things are going here. I pray you've had time to think about what I've said," the woman said. She smiled at Maiev, but Corette could feel the falseness of it from clear across the bar.

The bartender seemed incredibly terrified at the sight of the woman. She stammered, "I-I have, Jaina. I-I'm s-so sorry I haven't gotten back to you. I'm trying to fill up the rooms I am, b-but it's just so hard. It seems like the remaining survivors are already-"

Jaina held up her hand, as it dropped she responded, "Listen, Maiev, I didn't come her for excuses. I told you to find a way to fill those rooms, or I would shut you down. You're simply not bringing in enough revenue to the city for me to keep putting faith into you. I literally told the same exact thing to Uda and Hamaka over at The Filthy Animal. Now guess what?"

A silence filled the room where no one spoke or moved. Finally Jaina broke the silence. She snapped, "I said guess!"

"T-T-They're s-shut down?" the terrified bartender asked.

A sneer crossed Jaina's face that matched the smug look she had. She answered, "Yes, they're no longer, and if you keep it up I'll make sure you end up just, like, them." She spun around and deliberately used her arm to knock the pitcher of water sitting on the end of the bar straight to the ground. Almost instantly she noticed Corette.

Sassily she strolled over to the new girl, throwing her hips into every step. She smiled and tilted her head at Corette. "I'm sorry. Have we met? You look familiar. I know everyone in Dalaran," she informed.

Corette responded, "No, so sorry, I'm new here."

Once the hint of sass flew from Corette's mouth, the smile from Jaina faded by a look of non-amusement. "Did you take the new resident orientation?" the mage snapped.

"Does it look like I did? I feel like you probably would have been informed," Corette retorted.

Jaina scoffed, "I'm sorry do you just think you're better than the system? It's put in place for a reason. That way complete random people from the outside can't bring in outside disease or monsters in with them."

Corette countered, "Does it look like I'm either of those?"

"No, but do you even have a place to stay here?" Jaina asked.

"I can stay here," Corette answered.

"Sure! Amisi normally handles the innkeeper stuff, but I have the keys right here, and we can get you in right away!" Maiev declared happily dangling a room key above her head.

The sorceress took two steps closer and slammed her one hand down on the bar and leaned forward until she was within inches of Corette's face. "Listen, new girl-"

"It's Corette," Corette corrected.

"I don't care if your damn name is Uther the Lightbringer," Jaina continued. "I am the leader of this city and you will live by my rules if you hope to survive here. Believe me, I can make your life a living Hell without even trying. You do not want me as your enemy, but if you keep it up I will bury you alive. Keep it up and you'll find your ass out back in that barren wasteland again before morning."

The only sound that came was from Kargath gulping, but the two women continued to glare into each other's eyes, threatening to burn a hole into one another's skulls. Finally Jaina stood up and slapped on a new fake smile that she directed at Corette. "Anyway, be sure to hit up the Dalaran Visitor's Center and I hope your stay here is 'common'," Promptly she stormed out, with the same hip swaying walk she had before and as she neared exiting the door she made sure to kick over the plant that was near the door. "Maiev, your plant is broken!"

As quickly as she had come, she was gone, but Corette kept glaring after her. She heard Kargath behind her ask, "Whys you come here again?"

Corette took a deep breath and let it out. Still gazing after the leader of Dalaran she responded, "I have some unfinished business here."

Authors Note: Please R&R I love reading reviews so much no matter they're good or bad. I would love to see what you want to see in future chapters, what you don't want to see, what you like, what you don't like, let me know!