Disclaimer: All non-original characters and places belong to Blizzard Entertainment. Original characters will be listed at the end of the chapter and are owned by me, the author : )

Storm of Fates

In this world there are many stories. There are quests, adventures, perils that took the lives of many a fighter, and heroes that overcame those perils to make their way into the stories. This is the world of Azeroth, and this is the story of one elf who brought together a score and five heroes to battle for a memory.

Fate I: Karoru

The sky was a bright, cheerful blue above, unmarked by even a wisp of cloud. The gaudy buildings of the Trade District were tinted a soft gold by the light of the rising sun. It was late morning, and the people of Stormwind were as loud and bustling as any other day. The grand bastion remained solid and unchanging, oblivious to anything that may have gone wrong. Karoru did not share the people's spirit.

The slender Night Elf wandered quietly pass the busy shops and down the crowded streets post in her own thoughts. Glowing silver eyes watched as a pair of Human children ran laughing past, but her mind saw only what her heart willed. Her hair was long and deep blue, almost dark as night, and her smooth skin was a softer shade of the same color with stray purple markings around her eyes that were not unusual in her kind. A pair of intricate, lethal daggers, one glowing a fiery red, the other a dangerous purple, hung sheathed at her hips as she walked, marking her almost at once as a Rogue.

Separate from the elaborate, governmental hierarchy of the city, apart from and sometimes even opposing the honorable Order of Light, was the organization called Stormwind Intelligence, nicknamed SI:7. It was the host of some of the most skilled spies, double agents, thieves, and cutthroats, all working on special operations, assassinations, and stealth tactics. When Karoru settled in the glorious city and joined SI:7, she quickly made herself known as one of the top agents of the fourth finger, or division. However, at the moment she was not feeling very content with the organization.

The young Rogue had been on a mission in distant Ashenvale to gather information on, and perhaps even stop if given the opportunity, a group of Undead alchemists that had been rumored to be experimenting with vile substances amongst the ancient trees of the wood. On her return to Stormwind only three days ago, she received news that her cousin and good friend had died. The memory of that moment was burned into her heart.

"What?!" she said incredulously. "When?! What happened?!"

Sloan McCoy peered at her with a badly hidden smile, showing no trace of grief. "She disobeyed orders. Her partner was killed and another was injured on their mission because of her. It wasn't her first time, so Tailia was disposed of for the good of SI:7."

To the normal inhabitants of Stormwind, Sloan was a simple vendor, selling poison reagents for your average Rogue. To the organization, however, she was the thumb of the fourth finger, Karoru's captain and the one who issued her orders and missions. Karoru was a rogue amongst the Rogues, often acting on her own despite the instructions given to her. Although she had yet to fail an assignment, she never took a life if she could help it, always bringing her targets back alive. She was unique amongst her fellows by maintaining an honor code, and this rebellious streak greatly annoyed Sloan McCoy, who did all she could to get in her line. Now, however, she had gone too far.

"That's not fair!" Karoru stated, outraged. "Tailia was one of our best spies! Saruki was always an idiot of a Rogue! It couldn't have been Tai's fault he was killed!"

"She disobeyed orders," Sloan repeated smoothly, "and I would suggest you get your act together unless you want to end up with the same fate."

Karoru strode briskly out in fury without collecting the gold for her completed assignment.

Tailia had not only been one of her closest relatives but was also a solid friend and her idol. Losing her so suddenly and in such a manner had kept Karoru from returning to headquarters for the past few days. She continued to wander the streets of her beloved city, her heart too heavy to do anything more.

Near high noon, the young Rogue was making her way slowly pass the crowded tables outside the tavern when a familiar face caught her attention. It was a lone Night Elf sitting quietly with a tankard in his hands, and if her memory served her well, his name was Garth and was a good friend of Tailia, frequently accompanying her on her missions even though he did not belong to SI:7. Being a Druid, his cat form allowed him to move through the shadows as easily as a Rogue. Currently, he was looking as bad as she felt inside, so she proceeded over to his table.

Sad silver eyes greeted her as she slipped into the opposite seat. She hailed a waitress and asked for a drink before he bothered to say anything.

"I remember you," he grunted slowly, as if he had not used his voice in a while. "Karoru is it?"

She nodded. "We met a few months ago at Harley's party."

"Ah yes, Tailia introduced you…her cousin," he replied in recognition. "I've seen you walk by a number of times these past few days."

"We're mourning her in our own ways, I guess," Karoru said, eyeing the large tankard in front of them.

Garth nodded in turn. "I was there when it happened. I couldn't save her in time."

"I'm sure you tried your best…" she said in an attempt to cheer him up.

The tall Druid sighed and shook his head. "She was trying to save Saruki while we were retreating from the cave. The fool thought he could take one of the warders."

"Yeah, well, Saruki's--" She stopped suddenly in mid-sentence. "Wait. What do you mean?"

He looked at her inquisitively. "We were investigating black dragon sighting in Dustwallow Marsh. Didn't someone tell you? Turns out the great Onyxia made a really big lair there her home. Things turned bad, and we ran fro it…but Tailia got her side torn by the big bad princess herself before all of us could make it out…" He blinked at her and leaned back in his chair. "What's wrong?"

A look of fury had crossed Karoru's face, akin to the one she wore the last time she spoke with Sloan McCoy. Her hands had balled themselves into fists upon the table, taking Garth by surprise. "She lied to me," she muttered through clenched teeth.

Garth peered worriedly at her. "What was that?"

Karoru gazed back up at him, smoothing her expression, then looked away. "Nothing," she said.

The waitress returned with a small cup steaming with a pale lavender liquid, but she did not touch it. So Tailia had not been killed by SI:7 for disobedience, but by Onyxia in an attempt to save her partner Saruki. That definitely sounded more like the Tailia she knew. Honorable until the end. Sloan McCoy had probably fed her the lie to try to discipline her.

Garth took a long draught from his tankard and gazed sorrowfully up at the sky, content with the silence between them. It was then that she made up her mind.

"Garth, would you be willing to go back?" she asked.

The Druid shook his head and looked down at his drink. "I'm through with that place. I don't ever wanna see it again." He peered suspiciously at her. "Why? You're not thinking of getting revenge, are you? Cuz that would be--"

"I have to," she replied, a look of determined resolution upon her features. "I wouldn't be happy until I do. Tailia at least deserves to see her killer feel justice."

Garth shook his head sadly at her." You won't be able to do it alone."

"I won't be alone," Karoru stated, rising from her chair. She pushed her cup toward him. "Put down your rum and drink that. It's lifebloom tea. It'll make you feel better."

Garth gazed awkwardly at the cup for a moment before setting aside his tankard and taking the tea.

"Thanks for you time," she said, managing a soft smile, the first she had made in three days.

He nodded at her. "I wish you luck, Karoru. May Cenarius watch over you and your fellows."

Karoru bowed slightly in respect for the blessing of the forest demigod, then placed a few coins on the table for the tea, and strode away down the crowded Stormwind street.

List of original characters:

Karoru -- Night Elf Rogue
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Tailia -- Night Elf Rogue
Garth -- Night Elf Druid
Harley
Saruki