The Embarrassing Story of How I Became a Bloodknight

by pooktales

The prequel! How Sunthraze the Sly and his friends became the first Bloodknights and their first, forgotten mission to save the now King Kael'thas from Dalaran (and Jaina of all things). Sylvanas and Arthas also re-live a shocking affair in the final days before Quel'thalas falls. The My Life for My Prince series explores alternate pairings, plotlines and exotic new characters.

13. Dreaming of a Nightmare, Part 1

Dreaming of a Nightmare, Part I: Her Burning Crusade

Note: Sorry for the delay. Real-life stuff got in the way, and then I decided to cheat on real life stuff with this… yus! I left a comment on the previous chapter with a preview of what's coming for the rest of this story, do look forward to it. Hopefully, now we're back on a regular schedule.

This one is for all the super-deep Kael'thas fans out there. (Did you laugh at the title of Part 1 yet?)

Disclaimer: The characters and settings created by Blizzard Entertainment Inc in this story are owned by their creators. I do not claim them as mine in any way, shape or form. I am not receiving monetary profit from this story and no copyright infringement is intended.

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Today, in Pandaria…

Kael'thas came into Sunthraze's room and was so focused on the young general of his army lying there bruised, scarcely breathing, that he almost didn't see Fennore sitting silently by the window.

Kael'thas flinched. Fennore smiled at him, though. Fennore was dressed in full black and red plate armor. The blonde Bloodknight sat on the window ledge with arms crossed, idly swinging one leg. Fennore's latent warlock powers, unheard of in any Paladin or Bloodknight, pervaded every little thing that Fennore did. This unsavory darkness clung to the blonde Blood Elf, even though he seemed to be in a good mood. Well, better than on most days. Sunthraze taking such a terrible blow was certainly hard on all of them.

And there was another thing about all the Knights of the Blood Nexus, Kael'thas noted then-they were so capable and could look downright threatening with little effort. Yet, even in the worst of situations, that hint of mischief always came through. Perhaps that lightheartedness was what really saved him back at Tempest Keep. It was a defiant kind of, well, playfulness that he found refreshing no matter what. At times it was annoying, but Kael'thas also had a theory that it was, simultaneously, a brand of stubborn insistence that there was more to life than bashing skulls in and getting revenge. At least he hoped that was the case, and that it wasn't rampant incompetence among the ranks of their order.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Fennore?"

"Oh, nothing." Fennore grinned, "A good sense of humor is practically a requirement in the Knights of the Blood Nexus, that's all."

Kael'thas got a strange feeling, that his theory was about to be proven. There was a punchline in there, somewhere.

Kael'thas then noticed that he was sort of hunched over Sunthraze's bed, more like he was closing in and going to finish him off. Kael'thas began to say something to explain his strange intensity, but that was just it. The pain, the guilt he was starting to feel… Kael'thas had no idea how to begin…

"It's alright, Kael'thas. I know you can't help coming off looking like a maniac and a villainous murderer on your best days." A laugh escaped from Fennore's throat, though he'd evidently been trying hard to hold it back, till now.

Kael'thas shot Fennore a furious look, but Fennore shrugged good-naturedly, "Burning Crusade and all that? I was there, remember?"

"Fennore…"

"Anway, it's alright."

"Good. It better be. I don't… obviously, I don't mean any harm. It's just that…" Kael'thas swallowed, "Actually, I'm not sure how to tell you this…"

"Oh, it's nothing at all, Kael'thas! Anyway, that perfect hair, that thousand-gold smile… guys like you can get away with a little villainy now and then."

Kael'thas' scowl deepened, but he wasn't truly capable of looking horrifying, the way Fennore suggested. And that was the joke. Kael'thas had a lot of noble features and an almost distracting physique suggested by his mage's robes. Actually, it was somewhat embarrassing for him. Well, when it wasn't doing that, Kael'thas' natural regal bearing enabled so many people to follow him all through his life, even to their deaths in Outland. Kael'thas couldn't have led them so far afield without being so tempting a person. And these days, several people in his closest employ were recruited, particularly because they were just as obsessed with Kael'thas now. They liked his energy or they needed his attention, some mix of that. The Knights of the Blood Nexus were totally devoted to Kael'thas the man, if not always his actions. They could be relied upon, whatever the storm. And so Kael'thas was, however much his enemies might hate him, however time and trials rode roughshod over him, a very attractive man. If unholy attraction ever needed to be defined in the flesh, Kael'thas Sunstrider the once miscreant and later survivor, the Bloodmage, yet king-he would come close. Kael'thas always got away with a hell of a lot because of his looks.

But being teased about that little skill (or problem) of his, and by another vain male Blood Elf of all people, that was a new one. Kael'thas flushed with embarrassment and made a fist.

"Just making a joke, Kael'thas." Fennore then glanced up at the ceiling, smiled and and muttered to himself, "…mostly."

"Fennore, I remembered some more last night—and can you really be watching him while you're way over there looking out the window?" Kael'thas dragged a chair nearby the bed and sat. Kael'thas then swept an anxious hand back over his long hair a few times. When he mussed it, Kael'thas carefully lifted a long, golden tress to rest more neatly over his shoulders.

Then, Kael'thas looked over to notice that Fennore had an 'I told you so' smirk on his face.

But, rapidly getting more serious, "Sunthraze is stable this morning, my King." And Fennore stopped kicking at nothing. He sat like Kael'thas, facing the bed.

"Fennore," Kael'thas tried again, "…last night I remembered something terrible. A few terrible things, actually. When I first met Lady Vashj, it wasn't on the battlefield, after… Grand Marshall Garithos. What happened there. It was back in Dalaran. It was before Arthas, and the Sunwell… before everything."

"Wait, have you told Liadrin?"

"No, I just… want to sit with this, for a bit. Tempest, Pyorin and Blaize were remembering their part of it and I did have a few glimpses here and there, but last night, it felt like I turned a major corner." Kael'thas touched Sunthraze's shoulder, as if he was seeing him for the first time. "Fennore, would you believe that Sunthraze and I used to be friends? The closest of friends? I think… I think for a time, he was my very best friend. That's what I'm starting to see. Even at the beginning, the very beginning, he was there for me. He saved me." Kael'thas swallowed, "I'm sure that he did. Him and his… sass mouth. Writing me a letter and sending it all the way to Dalaran, asking me for money."

"Yeah, Sunthraze would try to pull something like that."

"No, it was more than that. Sunthraze also gave me some kind words to… to live off of, really. That was how badly I was doing. The truth is, Vashj almost killed me, the first time she and I met. She nearly threw all of Quel'thalas into chaos, right then. I was practically innocent back in those days. I had no idea. I hadn't befriended a… a manipulative Demon Lord yet, I hadn't even seen Outland, yet. Vashj could have easily had me in the palm of her hand. Her little pet."

"…But then? And I thought Vashj's whole game was to recruit you, for Illidan. Why risk you like that, go as far as risking your life?"

"It would have suited her."

"What?"

"I won't explain yet… I don't remember absolutely all of it, I just know. I sense that." Kael'thas felt around his neck, the old scar of fel stitches there.

"Kael'thas, how did Vashj even survive while in Dalaran? Are you telling me that none of their magisters, no one, no Humans at all, knew about a powerful Naga reeking with fel magic and, well, slithering around loose in their city?"

"You see?" Kael'thas nodded at Fennore, "You've been around me too long. You have the benefit of knowing how I think and how I work. How I've grown over the years. I'm far more vigilant with my enemies these days and can anticipate the waves they make, how they cause other pieces to move about on the chess board, before they make their first move. It made me a good villain back at Tempest Keep, and now it makes me a good king of the Blood Elves." Kael'thas made a face at how that sounded, so… unwholesome. "But anyway, it wasn't like that, back then in Dalaran. I could not have dreamed up how thoroughly destructive Vashj was, to have targeted me. Nor how much it implied about Dalaran itself and the Humans working there, how deep the conspiracy actually went. It was… nasty, what was being planned for me."

Fennore waited, ready to hear more. When Kael'thas wouldn't take his worried gaze away from Sunthraze, he said, "I was your confessor once, Kael'thas. I could help you through something dark like this again. I could be that light at the end of the tunnel, I truly don't mind."

"Well, I guess I didn't go fully to the Burning Legion, thanks to you."

"Actually, you did. You went directly to the Burning Legion inspite of my excellent advice."

"Not helping your case, Fennore."

"Sorry."

Kael'thas squeezed Sunthraze's wrist, like he was ready to grab hold and pull him up out of it, whatever the true danger was, at any moment. But Kael'thas knew he simply couldn't.

"My king? Please tell me what is on your mind. You can trust me with what whatever happened. And then, the two of us can go to Liadrin, together."

"Even if the memory deterioriation spell getting loose and affecting all of you is my fault to begin with?"

"It can't be like that. I refuse to believe that is totally your fault, Kael'thas. You didn't invent it. The Humans did that. And you also just made it very clear that you don't have all of your memories back. None of us do."

Kael'thas shook his head, "But now I'm remembering all this, after I already ruined Sunthraze's life? I was so sure that he hated me after the Black Temple, because of what happened to Saturna. I don't know if he ever forgave me for that. And then, at Tempest Keep, I… I had that stupid fling with Tempest, so I managed to crush him again. Twice. Now this? Sunthraze is my own general and he will hate me and want to rip me out of his life, for a third time."

"I see." Fennore was solemn. Then, "I wonder how General Blaize coped back when you crushed his spirit all those other times?"

Kael'thas seemed not to hear that comment, "Sunthraze and I won't be able to survive this—and I even feel it myself, the… disdain for him. It's still there, it's still lingering, I was sure it was mutual, this tight, uncomfortable… 'I semi-hate you, but let's have a working relationship since you're the best man for the job… thing.' But next to that now, in here…" Kael'thas made a fist, placed it on his own chest, "Is this deep admiration, this, well, love. I'm so worried, and hurt. More than ever before. And I am so afraid of what will happen if I never see… him. That light of acceptance, forgiveness in his eyes. Fennore?"

Fennore came from the window and sat in the chair on the other side of Sunthraze's bed, across from Kael'thas.

"Yes, Kael'thas?"

"Deep, deep inside," Kael'thas blinked, then grimaced and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I can't see it all yet. I can't remember it all. But, instinctively, Sunthraze feels like a brother to me. I didn't even know it was there. And I never had a brother before. Once, you know, with I-Illidan… it sort of…"

"But that wasn't real."

"Right, that wasn't real." Kael'thas accepted Fennore coaching him through that dark thought, "I was an addict back then, and it wasn't a healthy… bond that Illidan and I had. But what I'm trying to say is, how horrible would it be… What if Sunthraze was my true and only friend through all this, and then, what happens if I just…" he had to take another breath, "And I lose that?"

"Hrm. You and Tempest seem to have the same worry. And I guess that makes sense, when you all are closest to him, 'What happens if Sunthraze wakes up and everything is changed? What if he throws me out of his life forever?' " Fennore took a breath, "Yes, deep tragedy, horrible betrayal, trauma… it does change a person, so what can the average mortal do?"

Kael'thas leaned in for the answer, a pained and hopeful look on his face.

"…There are no guarantees in this life, Kael'thas."

"Well I know that. Gods, now I remember how this used to go. You do suck as a confessor—"

"But you have me, Mavia, and you always have Saturna. We genuinely care about you. And there are so many others whether you believe it or not, Kael'thas."

"She's not… Well, yes, Saturna is my wife. Obviously. Of course I love her and trust her. But I don't know how many close, well, male friends I have. I went to Dalaran, the Black Temple, Tempest Keep, the Legion and back, and I still don't know what friends I have. I still feel like this giant, well, nerd. Not to mention that you listed all the people in my warlock coven and my banshee queen that I kind of… conjured myself. The way Saturna is now pretty much amounts to that."

"Kael'thas. I wasn't implying, by any means, that you coerced or conjured all of your meaningful relationships at present."

"And now, I'm… I'm so desperate hoping Sunthraze, of all people, will wake up and like me!"

"It's okay, Kael'thas."

Kael'thas sneered, "No, Fennore, it isn't. For once, I'd actually feel a lot more comfortable if this was another of Sunthraze's practical jokes, albeit an elaborate one. But no, once again, this train wreck is my real life."

"Are meteors falling down out of the sky? Is Lady Sylvanas going to smash through the window, swinging on a rope, and start kicking our faces in? That's why I was looking outside, by the way, to remind myself that, despite the sheer hell it can feel like in here, or in my mind, it's still a beautiful summer day in Pandaria."

Kael'thas grasped Sunthraze's hand next, focused on the tiny scars on Sunthraze's fingers. They were healing, little by little. They had been much deeper before, from the blast of Light magic. So, whether he liked it or not, Fennore was right.

Kael'thas frowned, "I don't see how a bigger pervert and demon magic abuser than I am always gets to give sage advice."

"Do tell! Is that some clue to how this Lady Vashj story is going to go? Is that why those dirty little things are high on your mind?" Fennore waggled eyebrows.

"Ugh, do I have to?"

"Yes. Sunthraze and I are comfy and ready to hear everything. Well, technically, only I can hear everything since he's out cold. But my one regret now is that we don't have popcorn."

"Alright. However, I want Mavia to watch the door. No one comes in here while I tell this. It's probably one of the worst stories of my life, okay? And I've already told you too many over the years, you know."

"Don't worry, Kael'thas. I can still keep a secret. Oh Mavia, darling!" Fennore almost sang to his succubus, rather than summon her like any normal warlock would.

Mavia appeared in a plume of blood orange smoke. She stood blocking the door, whip at the ready. Mavia also wore black and red Bloodknight armor. The beautiful demonness purred at the two men for a long, awkward moment.

Kael'thas worked his way out of that, "I meant for her to guard the door from the outside."

"Kael'thas, need I remind you that this succubus is also my wife? We share everything…"

Kael'thas let go of Sunthraze's hand. He sank back into the chair and crossed his arms, glaring almost through Fennore's head like he might use some, until now, little-known Bloodmage ability to lazer through this other man's skull with his sheer hatred for him during special, painful moments like these.

Mavia went, "Oh husband-master Fennore, it is just as you claimed many times. He is capable of becoming classic Kael'thas with just a look."

"Classic Kael'thas! What's that supposed to mean?!"

Fennore waved at Kael'thas to keep his voice down and get on with the horribly embrassing story.

"Well… it begins with me… and Lady Vashj. She was in a cage." Kael'thas began to hate how this sounded, "Actually, we were both in this weird Dalaran basement together. So it wasn't like I put her in a cage. It wasn't like that. Or anything kinky. As… far as I know." He shrugged, "She was already in that cage when I found her."

Mavia growled prettily, "Mrrreow… So you say."

Kael'thas flushed red, "Some Human probably did it."

Fennore went, "Oh, but you find the best things in Dalaran basements!"

"Except when that thing is a conniving Naga witch with a queen-of-the-world complex, hell-bent on owning you body and soul, Fennore." Kael'thas' brow knit, "And she was also using one of her, well, seductive dream spells on me, just as a warning… Do I really have to tell you two all of this? Every detail?"

Mazia had got 'cozy' herself, cuddled up in a ball by Sunthraze's feet on the bed like she was the family dog.

Kael'thas rolled eyes at himself and kept going. Well, they were his own henchmen after all. He'd made them so hopelessly loyal.

The way that Vashj had ruthlessly tried to force him to be, so long ago.

Once upon a time, in a weird Dalaran basement…

They were alone together in a yellow boat, in the middle of a jade green sea. It rocked, gently, as the water rose and fell, so alive. The air truly smelled of sea salt, which was a little sweet. Everything was so terrifyingly real, though Kael'thas knew it must be a lie. Her beautiful, beautiful lie.

This creature, calling herself Lady Vashj.

Vashj did not look like a monstress, now. She looked like an Elf. She lounged at the other end of the rowboat like they were lovers already. Already? Vashj had a strong supposition that they would be, and soon.

When he tried to ignore it in his mind, it felt like her hand was there, her hand with long red nails, scarcely pinching his cheek, pushing his gaze back to face her again, directly. But Vashj hadn't touched him at all, had she? Vashj was seated at the other end of their golden vessel, so how could she?

Vashj, reclining on sapphire pillows, had rose-colored skin, an almost amusing abundance of curling, dark ivy hair, and she wore a fly-away white toga. Split up the sides. Kael'thas, enjoyed seeing her thighs, he couldn't help himself. Rather than be modest, she slipped fingers beneath the cloth and flicked it back into the sea wind, such a casual gesture, so that he could see the swell of her hip beginning as well.

Kael'thas cleared his throat self-consciously, and tried to look elsewhere. He noticed that he was sitting on lush bedding, himself. Her scent was all over those elegant pillows and the rolled up blanket, strongly suggesting what they had done together—what Kael'thas knew they had not yet done, together. He wasn't going to… Well, but he and Jaina were…

He hadn't slept with Jaina in a long time, now. Kael'thas flinched at cold glass against his leg. A bottle of chilled champagne was suddenly there, nestled in the pillows beside him. And then, he bounced something in his hand, idly, and saw that he was holding two fluted glasses, his fingers curved easily around the delicate stems.

Kael'thas took the hint, reached around and began to pour for his alluring companion. He balanced his arm well, though the boat was rising and falling with the waves. It was something he'd never managed so perfectly in real life while sailing. The golden liquid fizzed, bubbled up to a creamy head that he had to taste right away. Suntouched Special Reserve, just as he'd suspected. And it was exquisite. Then, Kael'thas leaned across and gave Vashj her glass.

"What are we toasting, my lady?" Kael'thas decided to play along, rather than feel how nervous the vivid dream was making him. It was startlingly new. He'd never known anything like it before. His good mage instinct told him not to show any fear before this strange… dream magic.

Vashj's very womanly smile still had pointed teeth, "…To trouble."

Kael'thas swallowed, looked down at his fingers cramped around his champagne glass instead. He was beginning to feel a bit like… prey?

Vashj's elegant and hissing, slightly nasal tone penetrated into his ears and inner thoughts again, "A beautiful man like you should always have sssomething beautiful to look at."Vashj slipped one leg down, poked his shin with her toe. She then laughed, so pleased when Kael'thas startled. He was dressed in green slacks and a gold and green shirt. A perfect match to his companion, of course. Well, her hair at least. Kael'thas smirked when he noticed that she'd done that to him.

After a while, Kael'thas realized he should say something romantic in exchange, but he was never so good at talking with women. Flirting. His lack of progress with Jaina Proudmoore until now proved that. And even then, could one call Jaina loathing the enchanted engagement ring he had given her, some kind of progress?

"Tut-tut-tut…" Vashj waggled a slender finger, with red nail, two golden rings, "Not now. You keep doing that."

"Not… what aren't we doing, now?"

"Don't think of the witch."

"Witch…" Kael'thas furrowed his brow when he realized Vashj had meant Jaina.

"Oh, please have mercy on me, Master Kael'thas."

"Master…?"

"She is the love of your life, oh of course she is. She's so cute and talented." Though Vashj's condescending tone, as if Jaina was a puppy, also strongly suggested to Kael'thas what this Naga woman really thought, that his fiancé was yesterday's news, "I should not have said that."

"No, you shouldn't have."

"It's just that you turn me on so much, Prince of Quel'thalas. I'm so very jealous of her, and what she obviously does to you. I wish I could… do so very much to you."

Then, Vashj's champagne glass was gone. She had a golden apple in her hand.

Kael'thas wondered why he imagined she had champagne before? A corked bottle and two clean glasses lay beside him. They clinked gently together as the boat rose and fell. And he wasn't thirsty in the slightest… but he was hungry. Very hungry. Perhaps, for an apple.

"A gold apple?"

And then, Kael'thas blinked and it was yellow. Yellow-red. No, orange… somehow. Like the sunset. Then, as Vashj tapped fingers along its swollen sides, the orange paled to pink.

Vaguely, Kael'thas sensed he had some control over this dream. Or, he was beginning to control it. Vashj had changed the apple, and then he'd changed it back. Then, she made it pink. She was showing him how to do all of this. Vashj smiled at Kael'thas with another shared look of comprehension. And her eyes were so beautiful. It was lovely to watch her just… breathe. Before, when they were in the dark, with the cage, it had been so frightening. But now… Vashj had obviously heard his comments, and Faltheriel's back then. She was making up for it. She did have her womanly pride.

Using the dream magic like this, could he sense her fears? His mind raced with the possibilities. Surely, if dream magic merely gave people pleasant fantasies, it wouldn't be so useful.

"Oh, Kael'thas. You're ssso magnificently irresissstible when you pause. When you think." She laughed at him, "Did you realize that you can be adorable?"

Kael'thas blinked through the lust, rising in him, "Erm, how is any of this even possible? This isn't… arcane magic, or the Light. It's not fel magic, though it does seem, kind of… fel. Dark. But it isn't shadow."

"Blue."

"Blue?"

"You've never even heard of dream magic, have you? It's blue-black. Or, white-blue, depending on how you use it. You know, Kael'thasss, if you don't know how to use dream magic, it usesss you." She leaned nearer, "…Deftly."

Kael'thas was now very thirsty. He looked at his empty hand, then willed the champagne glass to come back. Amazed, almost afraid, he sipped from it. Kael'thas then decided to indulge, drink half of it down.

Vashj told him, "Dream magic was invented by the first Elves, you know. But over millennia, the Naga perfected it. But it's not as if it belongs to us alone. Anyone, with talent, can learn to use it. Lord Illidan himself is a master of dream magic. I'm afraid that I, myself, am not. But imagine, someone with… only moderate powers can do all thisss."

"How did that happen, Illidan becoming a master of it?"

"Well, he kept it up over the yearsss, but then when I came to him, I helped him… polish it off, let's sssay. I remembered certain elements that he did not. And he possessed certain talent with it that I did not possess. Being, well, Illidan Stormrage." Vashj played with the apple in her hand, "When you become allied with Illidan, you know, the rarest magics in the world become yours. Anything that his allies use, thisss becomes a toolbox, an artissst's palette. Any problem you wish to sssolve, you have a thousand answersss, perfected since the beginning of time to aid you. What you do now, even in Dalaran, that's like reinventing the wheel, then, is it? All of you are bashing your clubs againssst the ground, hooting and hollering about like monkeys, ssso excited you've invented fire." She waved her hand dismissively, "But it's all been done before."

Kael'thas consider that revelation very carefully. It was astounding to think of Dalaran University itself as primitive. And a Naga was telling him this. A Naga of all things…

"Naga, Ogre, Orc… Legion… Well, whatever Illidan could sssafely steal from them, all allies to do his work. But all of them have access to the greatessst knowledge and magic. You cannot get it here, on Azeroth. Not without an exceptional amount of help, like mine."

Kael'thas looked up at her. She was almost hammering her point in, by now.

Vashj hurried on, "Can you imagine? Having such a complete arsssenal at your fingertipsss?"

"What is Illidan doing out there… out… where did you say he was?" then, Kael'thas worried he sounded awkward, "Where he's stationed. I admit that I'm not completely versed in what's going on with the wars of the world, only that the Legion's been defeated. Thankfully, that's done. I'm mainly focused on battling the Plague, you see. With everyone else in Dalaran."

Vashj blinked at him, "It'sss not over yet, with the Legion. They've re-emerged in the Outland, they have a presence there. Lord Illidan fights them, there."

Kael'thas swept a hand back over his blonde hair, itched at his neck. "Ah. I should have known."

"You are an innocent. You are ssso precioussss." Vashj smiled warmly. "Who knows if we will ever get any real help from the kingdoms of Azeroth? But, then again, we could only ever take true heroes."

"No, Azeroth won't consider while the undead, zombies and Plague rage across the land." He admitted, then regretted looking so smug about it, "I'm sure we'll help whenever we can. I can't imagine the likes of… Stormwind denying help with saving a planet. Two planets, if the Legion intends to use that… that Outland place as a staging ground before making another attack on Azeroth." He huffed, "Stormwind, most definitely, would not let something like that get past them."

"Sssurely."Then, Vashj waited. She was guiding him, somehow. Kael'thas wasn't sure what she was doing, exactly. Negotiators or interrogators sometimes left a pause in conversation, to get the other person to confide more and more of what was really on their mind. Kael'thas supposed it might not be more harmful than that.

"Well, what about our memory deterioration spell?"

Vashj hugged and smoothed over the apple. The way she did it was strange, as if it were a pet, so much more than an apple. Kael'thas didn't want to be rude, let his gaze linger over her chest, where she was holding it. But there was obviously some enjoyable… enchantment…

Kael'thas said instead, "Do you think it will help much, with our memory deterioration spell? Your experience with magic, from the beginning of time and beyond—"

Vashj cleared her throat.

Kael'thas anxiously apologized, "I didn't mean to put it like that—"

"You want my opinion on how you and the Humans intend to fix the Plague. You want to know if a ssspell that makes the enemy forget where he—or she—is, will succeed at making you all sssafer."

"Yes. Well, it's more than that. A memory deterioration spell eats into your sense of self after a time. It changes what you know, and therefore who you are. A zombie will forget that it's a zombie. No matter what the Lich King commands it to do, it will behave as if it isn't undead. I admit, it's a kind of shortcut…"

"A very smart shortcut. Was it your idea?"

Kael'thas flushed, smiled very hard. "Ah… no. The archmage, who also happens to be the dean of the school, Sweeney. He did it. A very honorable Human with accolades as long as your arm—or your tail, Vashj. I could never…" then, Kael'thas stopped talking. He looked sad, regretful.

"Oh, you really should ssstop thinking of her!" Vashj snapped. Then, she grinned at him, "Actually, this reminds me of a theory I have. Love… what is it? What is it really, Kael'thas?"

"Destiny? Or, to some… a basic… chemical reaction. A little arousal to get the job done. Make bodies crash into each other. The opposite of kill to survive. Love, in order to thrive, together. Pheramones that make it easier for people to…"

Vashj cut off what was starting to become wistful rambling from Kael'thas, "When the love goes, what's left, Kael'thas? Obsession. I believe, in my great and long-lived Naga wisdom, that the only thing ssstanding between a heartbroken person and their new future, full of love, is the obsession. Rather, the ghossst of love. The memory of love. It's funny we're talking about it now, because I always believed, the faster sssomeone forgets about their old, dead love, the faster they lose that obsession. And that leaves a space, a wide ocean," she gestured gracefully, "…For a new love to come into their lives."

"Well, this is a sea. I can tell."

"Oh, don't be sssalty." She huffed a laugh, "And don't make nautical jokes at a Naga, you'll lose every time, Kael'thasss."

Kael'thas leaned chin in palm. He swished the last of his champagne around. "It's true, you know. Once you start forgetting about someone you've loved, someone who isn't right for you, who never was… you can hardly remember why you wanted them so badly."

"You see?"

"But I know, for a fact, that Jaina is right for me." Kael'thas became lost in thought again, "Though, it can take months, really years, to forget about someone you really care for. Even when you're with someone else. Sometimes, you still look back."

"Oh, how sssad. How true." Vashj pouted.

"It will take Jaina perhaps a whole lifetime to forget about someone like Arthas. I hate to say it, but she does, genuinely, care about him. Whether he deserves it or not." Kael'thas knocked back the last of what he had.

Vashj eyed him, waited.

"I hope she forgets about him, sooner rather than later."

Vashj began to toss the apple, impatient.

Kael'thas looked up.

"What do you think you should do about Jaina, then, Kael'thas?Hmmm?"

Now the apple was white, clean white. A wonderful, sweet white apple.

"Is that a Silvermoon White? I haven't had one of those since I was back at the Sunspire."

"Would you like a bite of my apple?"Vashj held it before her breasts.

Kael'thas tried not to smile too much.

Then, she reached out to him, "Would you like to eat from my hand, Kael'thas?"

It was the wrong thing to do. He was sure of that. But, then again, Kael'thas couldn't stop smiling.

"Go on, have a bite. Tassste, and let me show you what Illidan's allies can really do. They have the power to change even their destiniesss."

Kael'thas played at tickling her hand. Then, he came forward and smoothed down Vashj's arm. He grasped her wrist suddenly and narrowed eyes at that apple.

He spoke, looking the apple over. Perhaps he wondered if it had magical properties. Perhaps he was losing his ability to really read it, as he sank more and more into his amazement with every single detail of this dream.

"…Can they, Vashj? No man can just change his destiny. Not by his own will alone, wave a hand and change his future, just because he wants to."

"Illidan's power, my power, the power of dreams will open your mind. It will always show a way around thingsss, a way out. Mere puzzles cannot contain them! This Plague you worry about? You'd untangle the problem in days, mere weeksss. And then, only sssend your minions to carry out your inviolable reasoning."

"Then would you help us—"

Vashj spoke over Kael'thas' innocent question, "Masters of dream magic can sssee through to the end of thingsss. The blue-black inspires them, it makes them massster strategists, sssuperior mages, or more than mages, more than even a warlock, if you can imagine… No one can out-guess them or maneuver them. How do you think Illidan has sssurvived for so long? Oh, Kael'thasss… a master of dream magic can even make obstacles disappear."

"Disappear?"

"Like a wall, becoming thin air. Only because you want it to be."

"That's impossible."

"Well, almost. You're ssso clever aren't you? But you'd be so glorious with more, only a little more…" she pleaded, her tone hinting at everything simmering between them, "Take a bite, Kael'thasss. For me?"

He shouldn't.

"Have a bite of my pretty apple. Pleassse?"

Vashj tried to pull her arm back. Kael'thas went with her, crawled nearer. And when she cradled the apple in her grasp, against her breast, Kael'thas felt her fingers, felt her. And he sank his teeth into the sweet, round flesh.

With sugar came energy, came heat. The stitch of the apple skin slicing into his gums, slightly. The white fruit flesh filling his mouth, his throat, taking his breath away. Replacing it with white, white consciousness. With stars bursting behind his eyes, and then rescinding. Glimmering with black, with red, with blue. Blue, yet more than blue. Swollen, bruised.

When Kael'thas opened his eyes again, the world was no longer a green sea, no. But it was just as ruthlessly purple. And he was suspended high above it.

"Thisss is a place called Netherstorm…"

Kael'thas blinked when amethyst lightning ripped across the sky, right in front of him.

"A place of raw power, the power of the Nether itself rages through here. Imagine if you could control that for yourssself. A Highborne would know how to use it. Now, my handsssome prince, look behind you."

Kael'thas thought he'd be sick if he tried doing anything other than hover in the air.

"Remember, a massster of dream magic can will anything to happen, if he believes it…"

Kael'thas suddenly got very frustrated with the game. He wanted to face the other way, but he couldn't figure out how to do it. And he was starting to hear a hum, a large humming behind himself, as if from a large, breathing creature. A maternal sort of nearness… He so wanted to see, but he just couldn't find a way to…

Then, it faded away.

Kael'thas came to. He was still holding Vashj's hand around the apple. He looked into her eyes.

"Oh, too bad. You were ssso close."

Kael'thas angrily had another bite of the apple.

A golden palace. The humming was coming from what looked like a golden palace, and it was hovering there in the air as he was. Lightning raced by again, white-hot. Pale clouds sifted between him and the living fortress.

"It is a ship, Kael'thasss."

"A… what?"

"It all began, one day, with mortals dreaming of sssailing on a green sea like ours, in a tiny boat like ours. All races begin in this way. But other, powerful beings on theier worlds build dimensional warships like thisss one. The Exodar, The Botanica, The Mechanar… and this, the largest one of all. I don't think the Draenei really need that one, like they think they do. Do they, Kael'thas? Anyway, Illidan needs those creatures sssubdued. He needs a hero…"

"The Draenei?"

"Why not look inssside and see for yourself. See what only you could do with it…"

Kael'thas was losing hold of the dream. This dream within a dream. He had another savage bite of the apple, and another.

Kael'thas was suddenly walking inside of the golden warship. He looked down and beneath his feet was a violet, crystalline platform. The layers of the ship were delicate, beautifully constructed. His footsteps reverberated as if he were inside of a cathedral to the Light. In a cathedral and somehow walking on its very stained glass windows. Yet his mage's instinct told him that massive power raged through the glass, throbbed within the white walls.

Kael'thas also sensed that he was being trailed by someone. Another kind of excitement raced through him, the thrill for battle. So he was about to meet a Draenei, was he?

Kael'thas turned around with wisps of magic conjured at his fingertips, ready to defend himself. But it wasn't an intruder. Highborne Elves, like himself, were walking in tune with his steps. They were wearing plate armor. But no one could do that… could they? Black, red. Large, sparking swords. And they were very, very pretty girls.

They saluted him. Smiled for him. Kael'thas almost wanted to look and see if someone else was standing behind him, more worthy of the praise.

The first woman, the brunette smirked, "Hail to thee, Prince Kael'thas."

"Savior of the Blood Elves," the blonde tossed hair over her shoulder, winked at him.

Kael'thas marveled at their words, "Savior! Blood Elves…?"

These women were dressed for a massacre, but they were still stunning. Kael'thas was all smiles as they slipped in close, and the magic faded from his fingers. They linked arms with him. The alluring knights giggled and tugged him along. He could even feel the warmth of their bodies. Kael'thas inhaled their perfume.

The women brought him down a grand corridor next. Double golden doors were at the end. A double file of more such frightening yet enticing warrior women, all stamped their feet, thrust their chests and saluted him, one by one. Once again, he was their savior, their king. And they called themselves Bloodknights.

And every single one had a naughty smirk that matched his own.

"Oh, yeah… this is totally, totally something I would do! Yes, I can… haha…" he blew out a breath, "ABSOLUTELY see this happening. So where's Netherstorm, Vashj? I am SO there!"

The golden doors at the end of the hall slid apart the moment Kael'thas wanted them to. He hadn't even reached for or touched them yet. Kael'thas had never seen doors do that before, like curtains silently and elegantly parting before a grand performance. The whole place operated with sophisticated magic beyond his dreams, beyond his very imagining.

And Kael'thas kept forgetting that this was Vashj's dream that she was conjuring for him. Yet it so deeply resonated with his own desires. It was like she was… Yes. She was certainly reading him, somehow. She was reading him perfectly. And it was more than reading. Vashj… knew him. She was beginning to know him, intimately. What he wanted, what he craved.

The doors closed behind them. Kael'thas was embarassed, and then delighted to see a large bed inside of what he at first presumed would be an important control room, something like that. The pretty Bloodknights were pulling on him again, to lie down with them.

"Aw, come on, Kael'thas…"

"Please? Come to bed, Kael'thas. We've been waiting for you. Only you."

Kael'thas thought of Jaina again. He knew that he shouldn't.

But then, they were each kissing him, and he was letting them kiss him. Next, Kael'thas heard beautiful laughter. He opened his eyes and found Vashj in his arms, smiling up at him.

They paused and looked at one another. Vashj smoothed up his arms and Kael'thas could have laughed at his shirt suddenly vanishing. Kael'thas then cleared his throat as the overly exotic Vashj, with her elven features and so very much dark green, curled hair looked up at him. Her jewel eyes, looking over his lightly sweating body, possessed the precise depth of emeralds.

He pulled back. She dug her nails in.

"Vashj…" he laughed. Then, he tried to be more serious for her sake. "Well, I'd be an idiot not to be flattered." But Kael'thas found himself whispering it. And he found himself watching her breathe, studying her, in fact. How her whole body reacted to him, how it felt when he smoothed up her back and his fingers passed over the silken straps of her dress.

He said, "This is a dream, right? So then… it doesn't matter."

Vashj's smile spread, sharpened. "There are no consequences."

Kael'thas became very quiet. The throbbing of the amazing magical warship was more apparent then. It was aware of them, wasn't it? It was getting impatient, urging him on. Kael'thas couldn't calm himself back down. He felt like he was laying over a volcano, not a woman.

He traced his finger down along Vashj's collarbone. She was so soft. Her flesh almost hot under his fingertips. How had he missed that before? How well the warmth of life, itself, was an aphrodisiac?

Vashj whispered next, "How long has it been for you, my prince?"

Kael'thas felt the tips of his long ears heat next. Was it shame? Was it need?

Vashj breathed against his lips, "That bitch. How dare she make you wait—"

Kael'thas kissed Vashj and wasted no time taking off the rest of his clothes, and hers. He made it very clear, with his body, that he felt equal to her challenge. Also, the full force of his true personality was laid bare. He felt entitled. He also felt cheated and vengeful that no one seemed to appreciate how powerful, how useful he could be, no one. And there was so much hurt. He raged at how none of the women in his life wanted him the way he felt he deserved. Especially his so-called fiancé.

"I'm a damned prince, for fuck's sake!"

Vashj smiled as she benefited from every angry emotion he worked through their bodies.

"The best women should be tearing at me! Do you know that?"

Vashj pushed fingers up through his blonde hair. She tried to give him a grateful kiss, but holding on for dear life mostly prevented that.

"And why does this only happen in my damned dreams? Why?!"

Vashj opened her mouth to say anything comforting, but it was getting impossible to think and his fury was, well… deliciously enticing.

"I'm a damned catch, I always have been. Jaina should be all over me!"

Vashj purred, "The way you're all over me?"

Kael'thas got Vashj by the wrists and shoved her down into the pillows. His eyes sparked with fresh anger.

He sneered, "I want you to shut up."

Vashj came up a little, kissed his cheek softly. "Yesss… massster."

Then they kissed passionately. Vashj expected them to be done, but Kael'thas eagerly started up again soon after.

Vashj turned her head away from his angry kisses, though the rest of her was content where it was, trapped beneath him, "But can't you have everything that you want, Kael'thasss?"

He didn't want to talk anymore, only sate himself. And that was more than easy for her to sense.

But Vashj needed to say it, "Why must this stay in jussst your dreams?"

She had to wait a while before he could answer. And it was a good while.

Kael'thas at last stopped to catch his breath. He lay beside her, "Honestly, after tonight?" He shrugged, "Never thought I'd say this, but yeah, I might do a Naga woman, tail and all."

Vashj looked confused, "I don't have my tail right now."

"Is it bad that I kind of want you to have your tail right now? Guess I'm kind of a freak. Eheheh!" then, thining better of himself, "Err, don't tell anyone, though."

"Wait-not that! I was not talking about that part of it! Think, Kael'thas, of what I taught you." She almost pleaded with him, "Focusss… if you can get Jaina to forget about her obsession, if you can get her past that, sssomehow. Then this is what you two could have together. You could have this love, with her. She held his face, "I didn't really mean to insult her earlier. I just wanted, so desssperately for you to understand. There mussst be… some way…"

Vashj blinked several times, then lay her head back. While Kael'thas watched and worried, spoke her name several times, she fainted.

And then, they were back in the basement beneath the arcane lab. Vashj had her arm outstretched, through the bars. They were both kneeling. Kael'thas couldn't believe what they had really been doing, beyond the dream. He was shocked at so much of her blood, smeared along Vashj's arm, flowing from a wound. Kael'thas could taste the blood on his lips, on his teeth, filling his throat.

When had he…? But he would never have… Then, Kael'thas remembered the white apple Vashj had offered to him. He curled over and spat out the blood, disgusted with himself.

When he'd recovered, "Vashj! Why did you—"

"It needs…" she tried to smile, though she was in pain, "a catalyst. Sssomething, real, from the other person for the dream exchange to happen. Their blood, their flesh… a lock of their hair. But you didn't trussst me, yet. I let you take my blood in the dream. The most potent of offeringsss. I wanted to give you my power, to have." She ached, "Can you feel it, yet? The dream magic is surely within you, now."

"Well next time, just take a lock of my hair. Please!"

Kael'thas crawled near to the cage bars, tried to help. But he had no idea what to do for her.

"I'll be fine." She gave that pained smile again, "I was more than willing to make the sssacrifice to show you… how valuable you are. And you do doubt yourself, don't you?"

Kael'thas flushed. He looked confused, hurt. He had to look away.

"And I felt you. How angry you truly are. How close to the edge you are. Kael'thasss, do you sometimes feel like you are on the brink?"

"Of what?" he dared her. He wondered if she really could still read him so well.

"Of oblivion." Vashj pressed, "Like you are worthless and there is nothing left? Because you are sssuch a beautiful man that no woman truly loves. Because you are a brilliant man that not even the mages, here, desssperate for their cure to the Plague… they won't trussst you. They never will." Her voice dipped, dark, "You must feel like you have no future."

"Vashj, it's not so simple, with the Humans. Perhaps with time-"

She raised her voice, "And you have no friends. That's why you came here from Silvermoon in the firssst place. You aren't really wanted anywhere, Kael'thasss, are you?"

"Silvermoon was… well, it's a long story. My father and I both decided I would be better here. And I did like the Humans here, at first. I wanted to study with them."

"You keep a tattered little letter in your pocket, from a complete ssstranger, asking you for money. But he asked you nicely, so you imagine that kind of person is your friend. You hope he will be. Is something ssso pathetic really your only comfort?"

Kael'thas looked at the floor again. He felt his eyes stinging.

"Oh Kael'thasss… please don't cry."

"I'm not."

"Poor thing. I wanted you to know how wonderful, how wanted you will be if… If you would only just come into your full powersss. Only you can do it, Kael'thas. I believe the crisis, with Lady Jaina Proudmore, it is your first tessst. If you can overcome that, then you can do anything, can't you? You will remove that doubt in yourself, won't you? The doubt within you has been the thing holding you back. But I don't have to tell you that. You've known it all along, haven't you? This is eating and eating away at you, her rejection of you in body, and in sssoul."

Kael'thas was afraid of what to say. To acknowledge it was one thing, to deny it seemed to be a greater admission of weakness.

"Conquer those who oppose you, Kael'thasss. Don't wait for their permission, for them to accept you." Vashj set her teeth, "I've been around for a long time, Kael'thas, and I can tell you, that is not how the world worksss. That is not how Ilidan would do it."

Irritated, upset weighing his voice, "And how would Illidan do it?!"

"Rise, and put them down. Show them their place!"

"I'm not cruel."

"Only then, Kael'thasss, would you grow in your dream powers. Or succeed at anything that you wanted! Dalaran could become your city then, all yoursss. And then you will be ssso much closer to joining usss in Outland."

"I see. So that's what you really want. Just when I finally thought it might be about me." He gripped the floor. Tears stained the place by his fingers.

"Oh Kael'thas, I do want to help you, too. And Lord Illidan will be so pleased. Yesss, I do admit, my sssacrifice was a little ssselfish. But then again, could it be totally selfless, Kael'thasss? Would that be fair to me?"

She waited. He couldn't begrudge her that. There was no way to counter her way of putting it.

"Excellent. So you understand. Now, you mussst go. Find a way to pass your test. My gift will only last for one night, Kael'thasss. Though I wish I didn't have to rush you."

"But you need my help, right now. Vashj, please. You're bleeding so much-"

"Who will you tell? My captors? They wouldn't like it. Would the priesssts of the Light here in the city like to come down into a ssseedy basement where you were doing gods-know-what and heal a Naga of all things?"

"I don't care about that—" Kael'thas got very upset, "I can't just let you die, because of something I've done! To hell with what people think!" He sputtered for a bit, "E-even about the tail thing! You can't just lay here and die?!"

"I am a priestess, I should have said." Vashj felt weakly up and down her arm. The wounds began to close with green magic. "That's the other reason I was willing to risk it. It hurts ssso much, but I can try."

"A-are you sure? You're going to be okay, Vashj?"

"Go. And do not come back to me until you've found your answer. I feel you are ssso close and… my poor heart, I couldn't take it if you failed tonight." Vashj lay down over her coiled tail, rested the back of her wrist over her eyes.

"Vashj? Vashj?!"

"Just… go. Please." Vashj said once more and it was tinged with annoyance for some reason.

Kael'thas backed off, reluctantly. "I'm glad that you'll be alright. Also," he winced, "I hate to say this, but… If anyone ever found out we, uh… especially Jaina. I-I only did it because we were in a dream. And like you said, it'd been a while. Clearly, it had been too long. I'm actually very embarassed about that-"

"You are an amazing lover, Kael'thas. Never apologize." And she sounded more lucid then, fully annoyed in fact, "I'm almost tempted to manipulate you into staying the whole night."

Kael'thas froze.

Another dramatic groan from Vashj.

"Vashj, don't worry! I'll go. I'll use the gift that you gave me, I'll do it tonight. And I will succeed, I promise will!"

"Yesss… you feel it, don't you? My power should be surging in you now, or it will soon. It will help guide you."

Kael'thas felt his forehead. He squeezed his eyes shut.

"Don't fight it."

He had a breath, calming himself. Then, his shoulders sank as he gave into the pain, indulged the way a warlock would. Kael'thas seemed to cross a threshold then, from pain over to acceptance. Then full comprehension. He looked Vashj in the eye, ready and willing.

"That's right, my prince. Please don't wassste it. I couldn't bear it."

Kael'thas got up and went to the stairs. He placed a hand on the railing as if he was seeing it for the first time. Vashj furrowed her brow, willing him to just go on and take that first step.

Then he did. And Kael'thas took another, and another.

"I know what I am going to do, Vashj. I'll go directly into Violet Hold, myself. I don't care what the Humans think."

"Oh, how clever of you." She winced, "And then? Now, will you tell me your full plan?"

"I will take what is owed to me, at long last. In fact, can't believe I didn't see it before! It's so obvious—I'll tell you once it's done." Kael'thas began to smile, himself, "Oh, will you be impressed! Thank you, Vashj for showing me the way."

Vashj smiled proudly. But then, halfway up the first flight of stairs, Kael'thas gave Vashj a curious look. Something had just occurred to him. It disturbed him.

"How did you know about Sunthraze's letter?"

"I know everything about you, now. Kael'thas, do not be afraid. We will do this together."

Kael'thas really hesitated. It wasn't clear what he would do, or if he believed her. Then, he shook his head of the notion and ran the rest of the way up the stairs. She heard him leave the lab.

Vashj uncoiled herself and raised up immediately after Kael'thas was gone. She conjured stronger magic. In an instant, her arm was healed. Then, she sank back and flipped her tail a few lazy times. Vashj crossed her arms and settled in to sleep.

But the vision of Kael'thas, so wounded, but all hers, and being a ruthless tyrant in her bed, it wouldn't leave her mind.

Because she liked him that way. There was no denying it, now. And so Vashj vowed on that night to make Kael'thas that way forever, reforge him.

It frightened Kael'thas to look back, almost a lifetime later, and know, absolutely, that Vashj had succeeded. Yes, he had been a tyrant since then, an addict, and a sadist. A murderer, a criminal. Because he let her mold him. No, Kael'thas had wanted her and people like her to change him. But he had been wrong all that time. It hadn't started in Outland. It wasn't because of his grief, losing his father and Silvermoon. What if that was always just his excuse? Kael'thas had been so vicious back in Dalaran, as well. He was so much worse than everyone thought.

Because the worst confession was still yet to come.

"My King?" Fennore was standing by the door in Sunthraze's room, at the Pandaren shrine. Fennore put a hand on the doorknob. A hand in gauntlet. Red and black plate.

Kael'thas blinked at it. And there was a demoness standing in the room with them, too. A succubus, also waiting on him. And she was dressed as a Bloodknight as well. In that moment, Mavia seemed like a perversion of what he had once fantasized about in that Dalaran basement, all those years ago. Horns and hooves, in that red and black armor.

Kael'thas held on, waiting for the laughter at his expense, the derision.

Fennore was unusually stoic, "Kael'thas, are you ready to confess to Lady Liadrin? Or… is there more?"

There was so much terrible more. They both knew it. It could never have just ended there. But was Fennore giving him a way out? Should he take it?

Kael'thas swept a hand down over his face. If he lied about it, at all, that could ruin their attempt to revive Sunthraze. And then, Kael'thas really would lose him.

"…Kael'thas?"

"What side of the nightmare am I on now, Fennore?"

More in Part 2…