Uther woke to a frenzy of activity outside his room. Various dragonkin, in numerous forms, were running around. It was clear to him that they were all panicked about something big, as no one stopped to inform him of what was happening. He quickly found Sylvanas sitting on the edge of one of the interior walkways, seemingly in a daydream.
"Have you not noticed that all hell has broken lose?" Uther asked her, she stood up and smiled.
"I was waiting for you, my lord" Sylvanas said softly, holding out a hand for him.
"It has been over a year since Icecrown, you do not need to call me a lord" Uther said sternly, as he helped her to her feet.
"I know, but I like it," Sylvanas smiled coyly at him. "Besides, you are a lord to Alexstrasza."
"Come on, if anyone will know what's going on, it will be the queen" Uther said, before they ran for the stairs.
The two of them ran up the large circular set of stairs that lead to Alexstrasza's throne room. They found the queen standing alone, looking over the glass globe that floated at the centre of the room.
"My queen, are you alright? What is going on?" Uther panted, finding himself out of breath quickly.
"I am fine Uther" Alexstrasza replied, seemingly in a daze.
Uther and Sylvanas cautiously approached the dragon queen. The sound of beating dragon wings signalled the arrival of Onyxia, who swooped in behind them, and transformed in mid-air, landing on Uther's right.
"What is wrong my queen?" Uther asked the queen again, who turned and looked at them, a look of fear on her face.
"Trouble." She said coldly, "in all its colours!"
Uther, Sylvanas, Onyxia and Alexstrasza watched the globe carefully as four areas on the landmasses glowed different colours; green, bronze, blue and black, with a fifth glowing not as fierce, in vivid red.
"I don't understand. What trouble?" Sylvanas asked, looking at the flashing colours with confusion.
"The other aspects." Alexstrasza said simply. "To be more specific, all of the aspects are in trouble, including my own."
"But three of the aspects are friendly, it's just the Azure and Obsidian dragonkin that wish evil upon the world" Onyxia said, pointing to the two corresponding colours.
"For all five aspects to be flashing on this map my dear, means that the broods you call 'friendly' have either turned, or are facing an evil that is overpowering them." Alexstrasza said, though her eyes were fixed on the red dot.
"It is a war between the Aspects, with all other races caught in the crossfire." Uther said grimly, Alexstrasza nodded, and looked out on the darkening horizon.
"The war of the Dragon Aspects has begun!" she said as the sun faded on the horizon, "and the world will never be the same again!"
"What would you have us do my queen?" Uther asked, kneeling to Alexstrasza, who chuckled and signalled for him to rise.
"There is no need for formalities Uther, we are friends now." Alexstrasza giggled, before her tone went serious again. "Please gather your allies, and head to each neutral aspect highlighted on this globe. Find out what threatens them, and defeat it. Then, and only then, can we be prepared for facing my deranged brothers."
"Where should we start?" Onyxia quickly asked.
Alexstrasza tapped the globe with her index finger, and it zoomed in on the Eastern Kingdoms, where the red dot was flashing over the southern tip of Lordaeron.
"It cannot be…" Uther said, stepping back when it dawned on him.
"I am afraid it is Uther. Only one place in the Eastern Kingdoms has ever threatened the Red dragonflight." Alexstrasza said coldly, her fist clenched in anger as the memories returned. "Grim Batol is once again active, and my kin are suffering its wrath."
"We will leave at sunrise" Uther said, bowing and backing away, Sylvanas and Onyxia followed.
"I've heard all the tales about this place, from the Red dragonflight and from you, I understand your fear my lord." Sylvanas said as the two women hurried to keep up with him. "But why aren't we going after the real threats, the Black or the Blue, who have a grudge with the mortal races?"
"If my father is returning, then we need to face him immediately, not waste time fighting with the other flights against their problems." Onyxia said as they stormed into their shared room, Uther and Sylvanas moved to the foot of their respective beds and opened the chests containing their armour and weaponry.
"If your father is returning to Azeroth from the elemental plane, then we will need everything both the mortals and dragonkin can muster to defeat him." Uther said as he pulled out his armour. "That is why we need to face the other kin's troubles first."
"I understand my lord, I'll leave you to get changed. I'll be outside if you need me" Onyxia said slowly, before leaving the room.
"Even she's scared of the war" Sylvanas said, pulling a divider across so they could get changed in private. "She's more timid than I've ever seen."
"Well, if your father was the corrupted former Earth warden, capable of reshaping or destroying the land itself, then even I would be scared at the prospect of his return." Uther said as he put on his undergarments. "That is especially if he is as mad or as powerful as I have heard."
"Plus she's betrayed him, and essentially helped kill her brother, which won't help matters" Sylvanas said as she finished getting changed, unlike Uther, she had far less armour to put on.
"Ragnaros finished him off, that might mean he will not support Neltharion's return, which should give us some respite from him." Uther said slowly, remembering Ragnaros' hand pulling Nefarian beneath the lake of lava. Sylvanas walked around the divider and helped him put the rest of his plate armour on. "But I would not count on it." Uther added, picking up his sword and sheathing it on his back.
"Are we leaving early my lord?" Onyxia asked, poking her head inside the room, Uther smiled and they walked back up to Alexstrasza's throne room.
"Ah my champions, all ready to go?" Alexstrasza said, beaming at them as they approached. "I thought you were leaving at sunrise."
"With all respect, if it is Grim Batol, then I would rather not leave it too long to act" Uther said matter-of-factly, making Alexstrasza smile. "We will head for Ironforge, if any of the mortal races have been monitoring the fallen stronghold, it will be the dwarves."
"A wise decision Lord Uther. My scouts report Twilights Hammer activity in the region and our watchers, that once guarded its inner halls, have all gone silent." Alexstrasza said, pointing at the flashing red light. "And that is not speaking of what now lies inside the fortress city."
"Understood, I will contact you if we need help" Uther said, shaking the queen's hand as Sylvanas flashed the pendant they had used at Icecrown.
"I will send some of my kin to watch the fortress until you arrive; and instruct them to follow your commands." Alexstrasza said cheerfully, "Go, with my blessing, as my champions in this war."
"Thank you my queen" the trio said, before Onyxia dived off the edge and transformed into her dragon form, Uther and Sylvanas followed, landing on her back as she circled around and flew south east.
"And so the War of the Dragon Aspects begins" Alexstrasza breathed as she watched her three heroes flying away into the night sky.
