CHAPTER 1: DARK ALLIANCE
IN THE COLD, FROZEN WASTES OF NORTHREND, A LONE FIGURE SAT IN HIS THRONE, CONTEMPLATING HIS LATEST DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF THE LOWLY LIFE FORMS KNOWN AS THE HORDE. "THE NERVE OF THOSE WHELPS, HOW DARE THEY SEEK TO DEFY ME, ARTHUS, THE LICH KING!!" HE YELLED TO HIMSELF, ENFURIATED. THOUGH THE PAIN AND WOUNDS OF THE CONFLICT HAD FADED AWAY, THE MEMORIES STILL BURNED WITHIN HIS HEAD. HE WAS LYING, HALF ASLEEP ON HIS THRONE, AS ALWAYS, WHEN THEY STORMED IN. A TAUREN SHAMAN, AN ORC WARRIOR, A TROLL MAGE, AN UNDEAD WARLOCK, AND A BLOOD ELF PALADIN. HE KNEW NONE OF THEIR NAMES, EXCEPT THE ONE WHO HAD THE AUDACITY TO YELL IT, ELARUS, THE PALADIN. HE HATED HIM WITH A PASSION, FOR IT WAS HE WHO DELIVERED THE DECISIVE BLOW. "THEY THINK I HAVE BEEN DEFEATED. HA! THE FOOLS. I SHALL RETURN TO SLAY THEM ALL!!" HE AGAIN YELLED. SUDDENLY, A BRIGHT BLUE LIGHT FLASHED, AND A MYSTERIOUS, RATHER ROUND FIGURE APPROACHED THE FROZEN THRONE. "NOW, NOW, LET'S NOT GET UPSET. YOU SHALL HAVE YOUR CHANCE AT REDEMPTION, BUT YOU MAY REQUIRE ASSISTANCE." THE FIGURE SAID IN A SLY VOICE. "I REQUIRE NO ASSISTANCE FROM ANYONE! WHO ARE YOU THAT DARES TO ENTER MY THRONE ROOM UNINVITED?" ARTHUS QUESTIONED. "I AM SIMPLY SOMEONE WHO WISHES TO OFFER A PROPOSITION. OH, FORGIVE ME; I SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN MY MANNERS. I AM DR. ROBOTNIK, THE GREATEST MIND IN THE WORLD." THE FAT MAN PROCLAIMED AS HE APPROACHED ARTHUS, AND GAVE A LITTLE BOW. "HMM. A PROPOSITION, YOU SAY. VERY WELL, DOCTOR, YOU HAVE MY ATTENTION." ARTHUS SAID, AND CRACKED A SMALL SMILE. "EXELLENT. WELL, YOU SEE, YOU AND I HAVE A LOT IN COMMON. WE BOTH HAVE A DESIRE TO RULE OUR WORLDS, AND WE BOTH HAVE AN ANNOYANCE THAT BLOCKS OUR GOALS. I SUGGEST WE WORK TOGETHER, I HELP YOU TO RULE THIS WORLD, AND IN RETURN YOU RETURN TO MY WORLD TO ASSIST ME." ROBOTNIK PROPOSED. "YOU PRESENT AN INSTRESTING OFFER." ARTHUS SAID. HE PONDERED THE IDEA FOR A MINUTE, AND THEN REPLIED, "I ACCEPT." AND THUS THE DARK ALLIANCE WAS FORMED.