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Separation, being split apart from who you were is agonizingly painful. This is what Naraku Uzumaki agreed full-heartedly on as he was split from his former self, Naruto Uzumaki. Naraku Uzumaki was a High-Class Hell Dragon, one of two ancient species of dragon that existed when the very world itself was created by the gods of ancient times that was considered extinct. But by the use of science and cloning when mixing three types of DNA together created the ultimate monster of destruction. He was a part of a whole, part of the being known as Naruto Uzumaki, not the shinobi who followed a childish dream and ideal without heeding the consequences and suffered from it, but from a clone of the Prototype Naruto Uzumaki that 'birthed' the original Naruto that was well known in the ninja world. As of now, Naraku was split from his former self, he who served as the negative emotions of Naruto and the destructive nature of his powers.

He was chained, imprisoned by these warped creatures called the Wicked Gods. They hounded him, tortured him, and assaulted his mind as they forced him to absorb every evil ever committed by mankind as it drove him insane. Seeing these evils that humans can commit were horrible, he could not turn away, as he was seeing the very nature of mankind. These Wicked Gods wanted to turn him into a force called Angra Mainyu, a demon of ultimate evil that would punish every human with death, the ultimate killer of humans as their souls will be judged on the Promised Day these foul gods were planning. And now seeing these evils, Naraku's contempt with humanity grew. They were nothing but curs that needed to suffer for their crimes; no one was innocent, save those who were newly born and the very young. Yes, they could be taught how to live pure, and then maybe he would spare them from utter annihilation like the rest he will slaughter. All in good time…

For now, he must accept it like a good little puppet and play their little game for now. He recalled their leader, Deus, was planning to send him to a place called Kalimdor. He would have to use one of the dragon eggs there to be reborn in flesh at last. For Naraku is nothing more than pure dark energy in the shape of a dragon. The thought of gaining flesh and the pleasures of it would be worth doing some of this Wicked God's dirty work…till he gained enough power to overthrow those arrogant fools and regain what was lost. Patience is one thing a dragon has, and once things go as planned, revenge will finally be his. But for now, his rebirth as a living, breathing dragon is at hand, and he will accept anything this world will bring to him once he emerges from his egg.

Neltharion, Earth Warder of the land of Kalimdor and his mate Sintharia watched as their newest clutch of eggs hatched, eager to greet their children into the world as all but one of them hatched. As the dragon whelps screeched to their parents, Neltharion and Sintharia were saddened at the one egg that didn't hatch. "It happens every once in a while my dear." Neltharion comforted his mate as he nuzzled the saddened mother as she nudged the egg with a gentle, loving touch as the egg began to pulsate and glow red. This alerted both Neltharion and Sintharia as the whelps scooted away from the glowing egg as it began to crack, it was hatching. From the shell, a sharp claw tore through, as another one did as the egg fell apart revealing the hatchling within. It looked different from all of its brethren in appearance.

Its scales were obsidian black, stood on its hind legs, had a long slender neck, a tail that was thick and strong, elegant black wings that seem to blend into the shadows, four sharp claws each on the two front forepaws, and the head that had two horned crest of sorts that went back towards the head as a curved, beak like jaw filled with sharp teeth and blazing red eyes looked at them. "What is this?" Sintharia asked as Neltharion stretched his claw out and poked the whelp that looked at him as he nuzzled the claw affectionately. "Despite his appearance, he is just like the others. Maybe he's a new evolution to our flight?" Neltharion guessed as he watched the strange looking whelp play with the others. "Yes…the key to a wondrous future. He must be trained well…" a voice inside of the Earth-Warder's head, he turned to find the source, with the strange whelp looking in the same direction with narrowed eyes.

*Several years later*

Naraku flew through the skies with great joy, enjoying the wonders of living as an actual dragon for once as he and his fellow drakes practiced aerial maneuvers that afternoon as they felt the breeze come in before departing for home below the earth. Naraku enjoyed this family, for it reminded him of his own kind when they ruled the ancient earth of another world aeons ago and were ones who were connected to the earth itself like the black dragonflight are. He was the star of his generation, being a symbol of their evolution as they would be closer to the planet than ever before. He was like their Dragon Aspect Neltharion, as they both understood the planet as if they were one, but Naraku felt it like his father as well, they both felt the weight of the world literally on their shoulders.

He studied the metals, collecting them and experimenting on them, much to the confusion of the flight as he began to work with goblins on tempering them and forging numerous crafts of art with them. One time, he and the goblins crafted a statue made of various rocks and minerals to recreate the image of Neltharion with a majestic pose. This had surprised the Earth-Warder himself as Naraku thanked him for being a great father to him and all of his children as Neltharion accepted the gift, humbled by the gratitude that the flight had given him as the statue served as a symbol of what it means to be the Earth-Warder.

*Several days later*

Naraku flew north with his father, heading towards the chilling wastelands of Northrend as the snow began to pester him. It kept getting on his wings and it keeps making it hard to fly as it builds up over time. He still lacked the experience to manipulate the heat in his body so he could channel it into his wings to melt the snow off. Right now, he and Neltharion were heading towards the Nexus, to greet a fellow Aspect that could be considered Neltharion's brother in all but blood. They had finally reached it, and then, met the Dragon Aspect of Magic himself.

"Welcome Neltharion, and to you young Naraku, I hope that you'll find this place quite the fun place!" Malygos greeted as Neltharion chuckled as Naraku was star struck at the sight of many magical objects, tomes, and much more. "Indeed, though it seems that Naraku is a more…curious whelp than I expected." Neltharion mused as the two Aspects watched as Naraku began conversing with fellow blue drakes as they all started laughing. "It seems he's just like you when it comes to being the snark of the family." Malygos joked as Neltharion laughed. "Indeed, being around me has turned him into a mini-me of sorts. Plus he's known for doing good pranks on others. Last time I was his victim, I was stuck looking like an oversized bird eating tree leaves while my tail was used as a drum stick for a gong." He replied as Malygos laughed at that one. He could just see how ridiculous the Earth-Warder looked like if he was there.

But one thing bothered him for a while and Malygos just had to as his longtime friend, "Say Neltharion, why does he look different from the rest of your flight?" the Spell-Weaver asked as Neltharion did a dragon version of a shrug. "I have no idea, he's unique, and we've speculated he's a new evolution of our flight, as he understands the role of Earth-Warder better than anyone else. He's sensed where earthquakes were happening from thousands of miles away and where they were heading. It was actually pretty surprising really." He told his longtime friend whose jaw was agape. Neltharion merely closed the jaw as Malygos shook his head. "Impossible, after all these years, an evolution in our kind is unheard of!" Malygos exclaimed as Neltharion sighed. "Indeed, I'm not sure if this is a blessing, or an ill omen brother." Neltharion replied as he watched his child mixing a few liquids into a vial with other blue dragons watching as they were amazed as a rainbow appeared from the smoke that erupted from the fluid.

"I'd say he's a blessing, and a rare treat to see. I've never seen that trick before." Malygos told his old friend as he was surprised by the mini rainbow and wondered how the young black drake knew how to do that. "Well, he's the most surprising knuckle-headed dragon you'll ever meet in a lifetime brother." Neltharion mused, as he wondered when Naraku will never stop pulling such surprises out of nowhere. "Oh, and keep this to ourselves, I want to surprise the others with little Naraku when he gets older. I want to see the looks on Alex's face when she sees a dragon like him at my side." Neltharion said as he had the dragon equivalent of a grin, "Once he pops out of nowhere with that future intimidating look, I wonder how priceless the look of horror on her face will be?" he asked as he and Malygos shared a laugh. It would be a time that would be the last time they would communicate like this, for a dark new beginning was about to unfold.

*492 years later*

Those voices…Naraku has heard them again, wondering what voices could constantly torment him for some time; he decided to ask his father and see what he can learn from this. "Father?" he asked, gaining Neltharion's attention as his eyes showed a bit of insomnia in them. "Yes, Naraku, what is it that you need son?" the Earth-Warder asked as Naraku looked at his father sadly. "I'm plagued with recent troubles, ones that I can only trust to share with you." He replied as Neltharion became serious. As a father, he had to be there for his children whenever they have problems that plague them. "What is it that's troubling you?" he asked as Naraku came clean with his problems. "I've been hearing voices, telling me to not trust the other flights, of how the Life-Binder would control me, to have me be used as a breeding machine for other flights, of how Malygos would experiment on me, and how you would use me as a tool and throw me away." He replied solemnly as Neltharion's eyes widened at that.

He knew what his unique child was talking about, whisperings that plague even his own mind. So he wasn't the only one to feel it, his own son, the one who would lead the black dragonflight to greatness was being haunted by the voices as well. But now he knew, something terrible is happening, but the question is when. "Do not believe those voices, we are the protectors of the earth, ones who help nurture it, raise mountains so other races do not wage war, and protect the delicate balance of it." He replied with a dutiful expression on the outside, but inside, he had doubts too, for he wondered why he was given such a burden when he became Earth-Warder. "I see, but father, does our great power, come with great prices?" Naraku asked as Neltharion froze.

That question his son asked had answered this long question he had pondered endlessly for thousands of years finally made sense. As one who is one with the earth, he must feel everything from it, the crushing pressure and weight was the price for wielding the great power he had, but did that mean his fellow Aspects must suffer from the gifts bestowed upon them by the Titans as well? What were these voices that plague him and his son? This was the omen he feared if Naraku's birth had its meaning, while Naraku's mind was strong, Neltharion realized that his own mind is being invaded by the voices much longer. He feared; he feared that these voices will drive him mad and make him commit atrocities that would harm his beloved flight, Sintharia, Naraku, Nefarian, Onyxia, and all of his precious children. No, he must do something, something that would protect the legacy of the charge he had been given by his maker Khaz'goroth.

"Yes son, with great power, always comes with great price. Some so great, that it isn't worth accepting." Neltharion replied solemnly as Naraku looked at his father with understanding. "Therefore, I will name you as leader of a new dragonflight of your own." He announced much to the startling surprise of his son. "I entrust you to lead those willing to follow you to the bright future ahead, I fear something will happen to the rest of our flight and I want you to carry on the legacy I have been entrusted with to you." He said as Naraku understood it and chuckled dryly. "The old saying of how the old man passes the torch to his son." He said as Neltharion nodded, "Indeed, the old man passing the-hey! I'm not that old!" Neltharion barked in realization as Naraku laughed as he was chased by his father for that witty line. Since then, the bond between the father and son hand been sealed forever, the memories of a loving father etched in Naraku's heart forever.

*The next morning*

Naraku was ready, as he stood out with the members of the new flight he will need, Sintharia followed him, to act as a mentor for him as she trusted Neltharion and the other consorts he had that everything will be alright while she was gone…and that she didn't have to worry that Neltharion getting drunk and caused minor earthquakes with his hiccupping, much to his embarrassment. "From this moment forward everyone, we are no longer members of the black dragonflight," Naraku spoke as his followers and mother looked at him. "We are but the shadows of our former flight, our actions will be unknown to those who do not understand the sacrifices we'll make. Of how we'll protect this land if the black dragonflight were to ever fall. We who walk in the darkness, our wings seeking to reach for the light from beyond those who have fallen from grace; as we carry on the legacy as Neltharion's proud flight. We are the Darkwing flight!" Naraku roared as he flexed his wings that radiated a superb amount of power as the newly dubbed flight roared with him.

Neltharion watched on, smiling as Naraku and his new flight took to the skies as Sintharia gave him one last look as she followed Naraku towards their next destination, finding a new home and to guide themselves into finding a place in the world as a new flight that will protect the legacy of the Earth-Warder if anything were to happen. "Be safe everyone…" Neltharion thought sadly, "For the whisperings grow even stronger…"

To be continued…