I have been a long time lurker here, and read many fan fictions, the good, the bad and the ugly.
This is my attempt at creating one of my own, with an idea that was floating in my mind for a while now.
This story is my attempt at envisioning the world of Azeroth, fresh after the betrayal of Arthas, but with a twist, a hero from another world, picking up the mantle of the Ashbringer.
As in his home universe, humanity is in peril on Azeroth, its former champion, twisted into its greatest enemy.
The valiant paladins of the silver hand, organized resistance where they could, but none of them knew that their order had already been infiltrated by the enemy.
One that has arranged the assassination of its shining beacon – Alexandros Mograine.
But fate, or luck, had intervened.
This will be heavily AU, as the Light will be portrayed differently than in cannon. I never liked the direction Blizzard went with it, from a benevolent force of good, to just another force of nature, indifferent to the races of the world.
Master Chief has his armor from Infinite, with all the augmentations, together with the Weapon.
One elephant in the room with many stories like this, is just why the protagonist from the future, does not uplift the technology of his new domain, and solve all problems with that.
I will try and incorporate this here, but nothing too extreme, don't expect spaceships and mac cannons, but small improvements in the existing cannon technology will occur.
I do not have the whole storyline planned out yet, but we will see where it goes.
MC will not be a passive player in the world, but will actively change major events.
I do not own Warcraft nor Halo, and all the intellectual properties are owned by Activision Blizzard and 343 Industries.
Any tips, commentaries, reviews, suggestions and critics are of course welcome.
And now, enjoy, or endure, the first chapter.
Light of Dawn
Stratholme, Azeroth
How many did he slay, hundreds, thousands? – Alexandros thought to himself, although he knew it was pointless to count.
The masses of undead seemed endless. The Ashbringer, ever shining through the surrounding darkness, like the sun at dawns light, turned his foes to ash. A Dozen at a time.
The only weapon the enemy feared, the only blade with the potential to rival Frostmourne.
He knew it in his heart that one day the Lich King would fall to it, only he sensed that it would not be him who would strike the blow.
His people had suffered much in the last months, the disbelief of Arthas ' betrayal, turned to shock as the undead hordes marched upon Lordaeron, unspeakable horrors let loose upon humanity.
He wondered how it would all end.
There were of course still brave souls who defended the last bastions of human power on the continent, but help was rare and distant.
Arthas had destroyed the surrounding kingdoms, including the ancient elven homeland of Quel Thalas.
The last remnants of the once Grand Alliance of Lordaeron, Stormwind and Ironforge had promised help, but so far it had yet to come.
Help, that was why he was here, it was his calling, his duty as a paladin, to protect the innocent and lend a hand where possible.
Not this time, this time he was here for purely selfish reasons.
His son Darion had gone missing, and had his other son Renault not told him about it... He shuddered at the thought.
Darion was all that was left of his late wife on this world, he had her eyes, a last memento to his late wife.
He could never forgive himself if something happened to him.
At once, he rode for Stratholme, where Darion was seen being captured by the Scourge.
Accompanied only by his friend Fairbanks - one who he already believed lost, as he disappeared soon under the masses of corpses around him.
Another corpse was turned to ash, and Alexandros was exhausted, for hours he battled, slashed and parried, destroyed and healed himself, prayed that the Light give him the strength to prevail and save his son.
At last, he could rest a bit and come to his senses. The way to Stratholme was clear, he would free his son soon enough.
Ashbringer clattered as it hit the soaked ground, and Alexandros breathed a sigh of relief.
His relief turning to shock as he saw the sword burst out his stomach.
The once pure blade, corrupted into dull black and gray.
As he fell to the ground, he turned to face his assassin - one that he knew all too well.
Renault, my son, why?
Try and save your brother, do not let your hatred for me, cost your brother's life. - he barely managed to utter
Of course would your last words be about him, you old fool.
Long have you forsaken me, you have love in your heart only for Darion.
Nothing I did could please you, but I deserve more respect, respect that will be given to me once I am Highlord in your stead.
Goodbye, Father. - Renault said coldbloodedly
Leaving his dying father on the ground, he starts walking, but suddenly halts, turns back and reaches for the Ashbringer.
The moment he touches the hilt, a painful jolt goes up his arm, his fingers burning with searing pain.
That was the last thing Alexandros saw, before his vision went blank.
Unbeknownst to both, someone had seen the whole exchange, Fairbanks ran towards Alexandros once Renault fled away – desperately trying to heal his old friend, but the Light closed the wound only partially, as if the corruption was too deep for it to heal.
To make matters worse, he could hear foot steppes approaching, hundreds of feet, making the ground shake.
What would he do, he could not leave Alexandros here, let him be taken by the scourge. He knew what would happen to his friend.
Cold laughter could be heard behind him, as suddenly a shining light blinded his sight.
Zeta Halo
Silent Auditorium
The Harbinger lay dead before him.
She had started something, the signal went through, the aftermath yet to come.
The words of Cortana still lingered in his mind, but so did his current situation.
The whole complex falling apart, no exit strategy.
His AI companion's mind racing to find a solution.
A portal appears before him, not the usual blue one, but this one seems made of radiant gold.
Was that you? – Master Chief asked the Weapon
Would it help if I said yes? – was her answer
Probably
But we don't know where it's going, or even if it's going anywhere!
Any other suggestions?
No, but this is a really BAD IDEA!
Blinding flash, warmth, inside his armor, not unwelcome nor unpleasant - like the tender touch of a friend.
Where are we, status report!
No idea, I am getting no telemetry of any kind, it is as if we are nowhere, which should not be possible I might add.
Did the portal malfunction?
[It did exactly what it's supposed to] – said a familiar voice.
As the Chief turned, the Librarian stood before him.
Her soft smile disarming him momentarily, she did not mean any harm in the past, and maybe she could give an answer on the mysterious signal the Harbinger sent out.
[I know you have questions, but the answers to those will have to wait.
There is a force out there in the universe, not bound by physics nor will, as old as creation, and as powerful as time.
It may reveal itself directly, or work in subtle ways, some might even call it luck.]
John arched his brow at that remark.
[I was not the only one to influence your path John, this force – God, Omniscience, Light, call it what you will, had a hand in your destiny, it has intervened at this point, for you are needed again to protect humanity, albeit not the one you know.
The universe is vast, with dimensions beyond counting.
And this one is in dire need of hope.
Be warned that it will not be easy, and sacrifices will have to be made, but to clear out the darkness of the night, dawn must come.
Go forth now, protect your people, and bring the light of dawn.
Good luck!] – The Librarian said as the world turned white once again, and then dark, very dark.
Stratholme, Azeroth
Fairbanks shielded his eyes with his hand from the flash.
A moment passed, and he forced his eyes in its direction.
The light gone, in its place, a green giant, a golem maybe?
No, he sensed power radiating from the figure, not only martial, but power of will as well.
It was a man, in a strange suit of armor, that now stood in front of him.
John came to his senses, the Librarian was gone, in her stead he saw a stone wall, no - a city, burning in front of him.
Ash and dust in the air. Unnatural darkness around him, the trees dying, as if plagued by – no it could not be, not the flood.
Chief! – The Weapon interrupted him.
The armor is picking up an energy signature, the same one as the portal, behind you.
John turned, and saw a man covered in blood laying on the ground, beside him another one kneeling with a bewildered look upon his face.
Is that plate armor that they are wearing?
Yes – he grunted
The signature is coming from the sword chief.
John heard someone calling, it was the man on the ground.
How did he know his name?
Come closer – Alexandros called out to him.
I know who you are, Spartan – the Light has shown me in a dream.
You have come far, and there is much to discuss, but I feel my time is running out.
Chief walked to the man, he was leaning onto a dead tree, his hand on a stomach wound.
He would not live for long.
Death has come to claim the great Ashbringer as its own – a deep voice rang out behind them.
As John turned he saw a mass of corpses in the distance, monstrosities in their midst, as if multiple corpses were sawn together, at their helm a giant skeleton, seemingly floating above ground, with a cold aura surrounding him.
"Kelthuzad" – said the kneeling man
"I will try to hold them off, we do not have much time!" - he yelled as he threw himself into the fray.
What is he doing, he is unarmed!
John looked on as light miraculously appeared out of the hands of the man, burning the advancing undead.
John, you were sent here with a purpose, it will reveal itself to you in time. - Alexandros turned to him again
Protect humanity at all costs, we are besieged and on the verge of extinction.
Take up my sword, the foes you will face will be beyond the weapons you know.
The sword is bound to me, and as such, my soul to it.
I will always be a part of it, and guide you as much as I can.
Go now, take Fairbanks, and flee to safety, he will show you the way.
Justice will be served one day, but it is not today, the foe you are facing is too powerful here.
Take care spartan, looks can be deceiving. Find allies to help you with this threat!
May the light be with you!
As he said those words, his body transformed into light, and dispersed into the heavens.
John was dumbstruck, there was much to take in, this strange world, the grotesque foes around him.
But reality had other plans.
The sword lay in front of him.
A black blade with a skull at his center.
Chief, the power signature of that sword rivals that of your fusion core.
Be careful, we cannot be sure what will happen if you touch it.
John had his doubts too, but something deep inside pushed him on, and his hand grasped the handle of the blade.
In an instant, the black exterior changed to a silvery white, and the once gray skull to a shining ball of light.
Chief, your shields are down!
It has taken out the generators, no wait, it's reconfiguring them. - his companion stated suprisedly
It is interfacing with the suit!
Matching the reactor's frequency, shields are rebooting.
Shields at 400 percent capacity, incredible!
Various microfractures have been sealed, as if they were never there in the first place.
Not only that, John, tell me how do you feel?
He was slightly dizzy, but the same warmth from before seemed to radiate from the sword.
John, the sword, it healed your scars, all of them.
A slight thud, brought John back to reality.
He turned around as a skeleton tried to hit him from the back.
His crude axe bouncing harmlessly off his shield.
The sword, as if by a will of its own, slashed the skeleton through his rib cage, the bones turning instantly to ash.
More were coming.
Lots more, the man still frantically fighting off the undead.
They would soon surround him.
John had to act, and quickly.
He jumped into action, sprinting towards him.
Any undead who opposed him, struck down where they stood.
As he reached the old man, he could see the big skeleton at the helm approaching.
His instincts telling him to flee, he stood his ground.
I take it he's gone – the old man asked
Yes, he entrusted me his sword, and told me to get you to safety.
Damn them, all of them, the traitors, the undead, and especially that coward Arthas! Fairbanks yelled, chief tugging at the man's shoulders.
What is that thing in the front – John asked frankly
That is Kelthuzad, leader of the undead forces here.
Better to not see him closer up.
Quickly, our horses are behind that ridge! Although, I do not know if a horse can carry your weight. Fairbanks said as he started running for the ridge.
I will manage – said John calmly.
