AUTHOR'S NOTES: I'm really stretching this story. When I first started writing, I imagined it to be no more than seven or eight chapters, but due to my revised decision to upload shorter chapters, seven or eight will only be a fraction of the whole thing. Hopefully I'll be able to keep you all intrigued throughout, because if you start falling asleep, it really says something about my writing abilities (or lack thereof). Anyway, keep reading and continue to let me hear what you think.
-----------------------------------------------------
Through Azeroth – Chapter 5
Written by daBOSS
With a small tug, the ship set sail from Menethil Harbor and began its long journey west across the Great Sea to the continent of Kalimdor. Ash stood atop the stern, Misty in his arms, and watched as Menethil Harbor drifted into the distance. The sun was not out on this day and the sea breeze provided the young couple with a comfortably cool feeling. Though they were not the only ones aboard the ship, they had the stern to themselves, since most adventurers preferred riding on the main deck instead.
Footsteps broke their moment of solidarity. The young couple turned around and saw the man escorting them, the human rogue who called himself Teknikal, climb up the ladder and step up onto the stern deck.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said. "It'll be about a half hour before we reach Theramore. Feel fortunate you're traveling aboard more modern ships now, because this trip used to take weeks to months."
Still not too certain of his opinions about Teknikal, Ash squeezed his wife's hand tightly and decided to ask some questions.
"Uh, Teknikal…" he began.
"Please, just call me Tek," the rogue said with a smile. "All my friends refer to me as 'The Tek.'"
"Um, okay then, Tek," Ash tried again. "What was that all about earlier in Ironforge? How did you appear out of thin air? And why did you disorient King Magni?"
Teknikal was unable to fight back his laughter upon hearing Ash's questions. "Ah, don't worry too much about it Ash," he tried to say in a reassuring tone. "I'm a rogue. As such, my most important skill is to be able to enter stealth mode and walk around undetected and unseen. Basically, I sneak around, strike quickly with a flurry of attacks, then stealth again."
"Wait, so that means you can just disappear and no one will be able to spot you?" asked Misty.
"That's right," Teknikal beamed proudly. "Without that ability, I'd have nothing."
"What about what you did to Magni?" Ash pushed on, unwilling to let him dodge the topic.
"Ah Magni, I get him good every time," Teknikal chuckled. "That move is called sap. It takes out my enemy for a short while so they can't do anything. It works when I have to fight more than one enemy." He began cracking up again trying to continue. "As for Magni, every time he calls me up for some quest, I sap him as a sign of greeting."
"He didn't look too pleased about it," Ash remarked.
"Yeah, well, he thinks it's gotten old," Teknikal admitted. "I still find it funny though. But that's actually why I'm helping him out with this escort."
"Huh?" pondered Misty aloud.
"Truth to be told, as a rogue, I'd rather wander around the world in stealth mode and pickpocket my enemies for cash," Teknikal admitted. "But currently I'm only honored with the dwarves. I want to have a higher standing with them, so I volunteer to do their quests a lot. My constant sapping of their king certainly doesn't help my reputation, but I make up for it by completing their quests."
Ash thought about those words for a second and elected to give Teknikal the benefit of the doubt instead of interpreting them to mean the absolute negative. He continued his questions.
"How did you become a rogue anyway?"
"Ah, well, truth to be told, I did some not-so-decent things when young," Teknikal answered, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "But I did them for the best. I was born into a very poor family. We barely made enough money to pay the rent, let alone feed ourselves, so I wound up having to steal food from others to feed everyone. I'm still surprised to this day that I was never caught, so I guess you could say I mastered the art of theft."
Ash and Misty looked at each other, discovering that their consciences were both experiencing the same conflicted feeling. There was no denying that Teknikal's actions were crimes, but it was understandable that he'd take extreme measures if his family's survival depended on it.
"My family was killed during the last invasion of the Burning Legion," Teknikal continued, now in a tone more somber than before. "I managed to escape with my life, but it was never the same. With nowhere to turn, I wound up enlisting with Stormwind and thus my life as an adventurer for the Alliance began."
Ash and Misty heard the feeling of sorrow in Teknikal's voice as he recalled the memory and chose to not push the subject further. Teknikal, noticing the young couple's change of expression, quickly walked forward to reassure them.
"There's no need to feel for me guys," he said. "I'm very happy as an adventurer. I'm aiding the Alliance, I've made a ton of friends, and I can travel the whole world without being afraid of anything. The class trainers have been more than helpful in teaching me all there is about being a rogue."
Before either Ash or Misty could react, the sound and sight of lightning came from off in the distance. The three looked toward the starboard side of the ship and noticed the storm.
"That's the Maelstrom," Teknikal pointed. "It's a violent, swirling whirlpool almost half the size of a continent and powerful enough to sink entire fleets. It was created when Kalimdor split into two during the Great Sundering ten thousand years ago in the immediate aftermath of the first war against the Burning Legion. The night elves succeeded in defeating the Legion then, but not without consequences."
"We're not going to hit it are we?" Misty asked concerned.
"Nah, we always steer clear of it to the south," Teknikal replied. "The storm might reach us though so it's best to take cover."
Sure enough, rain began to fall. Teknikal quickly led the Pokémon trainers off the stern deck and into the cabin beneath.
"We're halfway across the Great Sea now," informed Teknikal as the three found refuge in a spot along the walls a few meters away from the other adventurers. "We'll be in Theramore in about fifteen minutes."
Misty looked out the window and watched the sea for the remainder of the trip, her hand never leaving her husband's. She heard him discuss other topics with Teknikal, including their recent marriage and a bit about the Pokémon world, and interjected with a few comments of her own once in awhile. For the most part though, her mind relaxed and focused on the movement of water seen through the window.
The Maelstrom quickly faded into the distance and the storm subsided, giving way to clouds and eventually a small hint of sunlight. Soon enough, the ship slowed down and all passengers aboard headed for the main deck. Ash and Misty followed Teknikal to the port side of the deck and peered toward the horizon. Gradually, a large walled city appeared floating atop an island elevated to the level of the ship's deck.
"There it is," Teknikal presented. "There's Theramore Island, headquarters of the main Alliance forces on Kalimdor."
The city became clearer as the ship approached, docking in the colossal harbor. Traders of all forms were scattered along the piers, loading, unloading, and moving cargo everywhere. Seagulls chirped from high above while a few pelicans swam searching for fish in the waters below.
"It's the only bright spot in this region," informed Teknikal as the three stepped off the ship with the other adventurers. "Right outside of Theramore is Dustwallow Marsh, where all sorts of dangers lurk. Alliance forces out on patrol there constantly must be aware of the overly aggressive wildlife and the Horde village of Brackenwall nearby. There's also the Black Dragonflight, Azeroth's first major corrupted group, having set up camp in the southern part of this region. While you're here, make sure you stay within the city and never walk outside its walls."
Ash and Misty nodded obediently. Hand-in-hand, they followed their rogue escort through Theramore's busy streets and into the heart of the city, where a giant keep stood next to a small fortress. Soldiers dressed in plate mail armor shouted battle cries outside the fortress, sharpening their skills by attacking propped up dummies.
Teknikal led the young couple up the winding steps of the keep, where he was greeted with an occasional hello from some of the guards. They finally reached the top of the tower where a tall, blonde woman dressed in purple and white robes stood talking with two others. She noticed the newcomers walking up the stairs and waved in their direction. Teknikal waved back and walked up to her with the Pokémon trainers following behind.
The woman turned toward him. "Good to see you again Teknikal," she greeted. "I understand Magni assigned you to escort the Pokémon trainers to Theramore?"
"Yes Lady Jaina," Teknikal answered. "Here they are. Ash, Misty, this is Lady Jaina Proudmoore, ruler of Theramore and supreme commander of all Alliance forces in Kalimdor."
"Nice to meet you Lady Proudmoore," said Ash, shaking her hand.
"Pleasure's all mine," Jaina replied, switching over to Misty. "I've studied so much about your world, but I'm always eager to learn more."
"Well, I must be going," said Teknikal. "The Cenarion Circle wants rogues for a special assignment, so I need to head to Silithus and see what's up." The rogue walked back toward the stairs and turned to wave at the crowd he was leaving behind. "Ash, Misty, you two take care and good luck! I hope to see you two again soon."
"Thank you for your help Teknikal," Misty replied. "I know we'll meet again. Take care!"
Teknikal leaped from the stairs and vanished into thin air. Ash and Misty diverted their attention back to Jaina.
"This is Archmage Tervosh," Jaina said, presenting a man in yellow robes to the young couple. "He's my right hand man in Theramore."
The three exchanged greetings.
"And I believe you already know this warlock," Jaina continued as the tiny figure stepped in front of her. "Viviane told me she saw you two come through the portal last night."
"Viviane!" exclaimed Ash and Misty simultaneously before Misty continued speaking for both of them. "Wow, we finally meet! If not for you and your quick moves, we both would've been goners."
The gnome warlock, still with her face covered by the horned purple hood, blushed underneath her headgear.
"Aw, I was just doing my job," she said. "Don't make me blush in front of Lady Jaina."
Jaina could only let out a small laugh at the scene in front of her. Then footsteps at the stairs caught her attention.
"Larien!" exclaimed Misty again, seeing their new mage friend from the previous day emerge.
"Hi guys," she greeted wholeheartedly. "Viviane told me you two were scheduled to come here today. I wanted to stop by to see if there's anything I could do to help."
"Well, we're just getting started," Jaina explained. "So make yourself comfortable and let's get down to business."
The six of them took their seats, five situated in a semicircle with Jaina in the middle.
"First thing, before we get to the Burning Legion, I'd like for all of us to hear something about the world in which Ash and Misty came from," Jaina guided, diverting everyone's eyes to the Pokémon trainers.
"Well, our world is full of creatures known as Pokémon," Ash began his explanation. "As humans, we coexist with these Pokémon, but we're of completely different species, unlike the humanoid races in Azeroth." Ash paused for a moment, watching as Jaina and Archmage Tervosh furiously wrote down his words. "Humans capture and train Pokémon all the time. Some catch them and keep them as pets, while others battle with them. Still others have dedicated their entire lives to researching and studying Pokémon, since even though we've coexisted for ages, we don't know everything about them."
Jaina finished her writing and looked up at Ash. "Okay Ash, that much I've been able to decipher from my studies about worlds beyond ours," she said. "Could you tell us more about these Pokémon themselves? What are their basic attributes?"
Ash explained many qualities of Pokémon to the group, including their seventeen types and how each had strengths and weaknesses against others. He described the histories of the creatures, mentioning that many are legendary and perform tasks beyond the capabilities of any human. He acknowledged that when properly trained and raised, they could become extremely powerful. Remembering the Togepi his wife once had, Ash added that treatment of Pokémon from trainers could determine the level of power each Pokémon possessed.
"Interesting, very interesting," Jaina mumbled aloud while writing. "How do you know so much about Pokémon, Ash?"
"Well, I'm currently the top ranked Pokémon master in the world," he replied relatively embarrassed. "And having a wife who is the supreme water Pokémon master and a renowned Pokémon nurse doesn't hurt either."
Jaina's eyes lit up. "Pokémon master?" she beamed. "Doesn't that make you're the most powerful trainer out there?"
"That's correct."
"Wow, I've read quite a bit about the process trainers must endure to achieve the master's ranking," informed Jaina. "It takes years and years. And now sitting across from me is the person who holds the number one rank? I must say I'm more than honored to have you in Theramore."
Ash's hand flung to the back of his head in an awkward manner, his face now turning crimson red. He'd never been able to reply to compliments well unless they came from Misty, since he couldn't reward anyone else with kisses, hugs, and nights out.
"You'll be even more valuable to us than we first imagined," Jaina continued. "Seeing as how your world has never been exposed to the Burning Legion's power, I don't know if your Pokémon are strong enough to handle the Legion's forces, but your knowledge about your world could very well come in handy."
"Well, what can I say but thank you Lady Jaina," Ash responded, the redness in his face having not completely vanished yet. "We'll do what we can to help."
"Good to hear," Jaina remarked. "And once this ordeal is over, we will be able to get you home. Viviane brought me the dust she collected from the portal last night, so you need not worry about not having a route home."
"Thank you very much Viviane, Lady Jaina," said Misty.
"Don't worry," Jaina smiled. "The Alliance will never treat its guests poorly." She then put away her notes and took out another notebook. "Now let's move on to the next part. Larien and Viviane, what have you found out about the Burning Legion's recent activities in Outland?"
"Unfortunately, there's no new information," Viviane answered. "The only thing we can conclude is that the portal the two dreadlords opened last night was an attempt to bridge Outland with the Pokémon world, but that's a given already. Larien and I snooped around the area early this morning and found some evidence suggesting that they were planning on sending a demonic army through that portal, though it's not too conclusive."
"Let me see what you found then," said Jaina.
Larien reached into her pocket and pulled out a sealed envelope. "This is from Commander Thatchet in Outland," she told Jaina. "He currently has all the artifacts. He said he'll send them to Theramore soon, but he believes they suggest an invasion."
Ash and Misty listened carefully while Jaina and Tervosh continued speaking with the Larien and Viviane. It was confirmed that the two dreadlords were indeed directly linked to Kil'jaeden and not merely two of his pawns five rungs down the leadership ladder. Jaina complimented Viviane on the strength she possessed, having banished and enslaved two of the most powerful demons in Outland, triggering another blush from the gnome. Once all the information was presented to the two Alliance leaders, Tervosh took the floor.
"Here's what Jaina and I do know as of now," said Tervosh. "In the past, the Burning Legion tried to bring other worlds under their control and use them to attack Azeroth. We saw this in the Second War when they corrupted the orcs and forced us into war. Jaina and I are strongly confident in our theory that this is what they're trying to do again." He looked toward Ash and Misty. "These Pokémon you speak of may not possess enough power individually to do much harm, but if they are as strong as you claim they can become and if their powers are fused together into one form, such energy could be devastating."
"You mean the Legion wants to corrupt Pokémon?" asked Misty.
"We believe so," Tervosh replied. "We believe they're trying to unleash corrupted Pokémon upon Azeroth and destroy both our worlds, just as they did with the orcs a generation ago. And if the orcish corruption was any indication, then corrupt creatures will be incredibly strong and very tough to deal with."
Ash's face grew concerned. "Is there a cure for corruption?" he asked immediately.
Jaina looked at him sympathetically. "Unfortunately, we haven't found a way to remove the Legion's taint in Azeroth other than through death," she answered. "Killing the corrupted creatures has been the only way to free the spirits of the corrupted creatures."
A pale, white color of fear flushed to Ash's face, nearly triggering a mental state of panic upon hearing the news. If the Legion got its hands on Pokémon, it could mean the death of all creatures he'd dedicated his life to cherishing. At the same time, a newfound anger swept through his veins, anger that such a force of pure evil existed in the universe, anger that wanted nothing but to destroy the group and prevent them from harming another soul.
It was of course nothing short of a miracle that, faced with a sudden rush of emotions, Ash remained calm in his speech.
"We'll have to do whatever we can to prevent that from happening then," he said, hiding the panic in his voice.
"That's our plan too," Jaina reassured him. "At this point, the Legion is still concentrated in Outland. Our forces there are keeping them contained. We will act as soon as we see any indication of another portal opening."
Tervosh stood up and walked over to Larien and Viviane, handing them a sealed envelope. "Take this back to Commander Thatchet in Outland," he ordered. "We've learned a lot today and we'll be on alert all the way through."
"Yes sir," the mage and warlock responded with honor. Larien took the note from Tervosh and tucked it away in her robes, then bid farewell to the group as she and Viviane headed down the steps and out of the tower.
"Thank you for your help today as always, Tervosh," Jaina stood up and said to her assistant. "I'd like to speak with Ash and Misty privately for a few moments if I may."
"Of course Lady Jaina," answered Tervosh, bowing before making his way downstairs. "I'll check up on our forces at the tower to the west."
Jaina watched him leave and checked to see that no one else was around, then turned her attention to the Pokémon trainers.
"I hope Azeroth hasn't been too hard on you two so far," she said. "Viviane told me that you two are on your honeymoon?"
"Yes we are," Misty replied. "And Azeroth has been great so far. Being strangers, it's difficult to believe we've been treated so wonderfully at times."
"Congratulations on your marriage," Jaina smiled. "And there's no need to feel guilty about us. Unless you prove to be enemies of the Alliance, you're our friends."
"Thank you Lady Jaina," said Ash.
"No problem," said Jaina. "Now let me get to what I want to discuss with you two."
Jaina sat back down, reaching over to the table and grabbing a piece of paper and pen. She started writing and speaking simultaneously.
"I'm about to tell you two something that I would like to remain confidential between us," she began, never taking her eyes off what she was writing. "While the Burning Legion's forces have weakened greatly ever since their last defeat half a decade ago, they are nonetheless still stronger than the Alliance."
Ash and Misty looked at each other, puzzled as to why Jaina would admit a position of weakness to them.
"You're probably wondering why I'm saying all this to you," Jaina continued as if reading their minds. "I don't want to get caught up in a face off against the Legion alone. I must show a strong face in front of all my peers because I'm expected to lead our forces, but the reality is that we cannot defeat the Legion alone. They have stronger combat units and more powerful magic, and they are capable of wiping out our entire army with only a few of their top units."
Jaina paused for a moment, placing the paper she had been writing on face down upon the table, then grabbed another one and resumed.
"I'm saying all this to you because you two are technically not official Alliance members," she explained. "This means there are tasks I could ask you to do that a normal Alliance adventurer could not."
"What tasks?" Ash spoke up.
Jaina stopped her writing, placed her second sheet face down, stood from her chair, and walked toward the wall. With her back turned to the young couple, she sighed heavily.
"You two know about the Horde?" she asked.
"Yes we do," answered Misty. "Larien and a few others have told us about them."
"We will need their help to ultimately conquer the Legion," Jaina admitted, closing her eyes. "And I will need you two to help me get them on our side."
Ash gasped, remembering Larien's words from the previous day: "if you two were to ever wander into Horde lands, they will try to kill you on sight."
"But won't the Horde attack us when they see us?" he questioned, now on his feet.
"Not necessarily," said Jaina. "They attack you if you are a member of the Alliance, not if you're human. They will certainly not attack you if you wore my insignia, since they know I only hand those to diplomats who wish to negotiate with them. As you may know, we are not officially at war, and they understand that I've always been trying to preserve as much peace as possible between our two factions."
Jaina walked up to the Pokémon trainers and placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
"You two are the only ones I can send," she continued. "Their guards will kill any other Alliance adventurer without giving them a chance to even reveal their insignias. You are very valuable in our war against the Legion and I realize I may be putting your lives in danger, but the Alliance simply cannot handle this alone."
Ash looked over to Misty and was met with a small but confident smile. He remembered his early traveling days and how he'd brushed with death so often, from the time he leaped into the waters of the Safari Zone trying to recover a Team Rocket bomb to his hypothermia as he lay motionless in the sea just before Misty rescued him and he helped summon Lugia. Walking into Horde territory would be simply another risk, and as his once young and naïve mind said, "the good always wins."
"Count on us Lady Jaina," Ash beamed with poise.
Jaina widened her smile. "I knew I could," she said, turning back to her seat and resuming her writing.
"Now listen up," she said, receiving the Pokémon trainers' undivided attention once more. "The Alliance and Horde may see each other as enemies, but there is one Horde member who has been my dear friend ever since we battled the Legion together all those years ago. He just so happens to be their supreme leader, the great Warchief Thrall."
Jaina placed her second page face down on the table and began a third.
"I haven't spoken with Thrall in years, although I know we've both been trying to preserve peace," Jaina continued. "With threats coming from the Burning Legion, the undead Scourge, the Black Dragonflight, the Silithid and Qiraji, the chaotic Old Gods, and others, we've never stopped trying to convince our factions that war against each other was a fight against the wrong enemy."
"But if you haven't spoken to him in years, how would you know all this?" asked Misty.
"His actions have touched all the Alliance leaders," Jaina explained. "You came from Ironforge and you met King Magni Bronzebeard. Did you happen to see his daughter Moira?"
"Yes we did," replied Misty.
"And did you notice how she looked and behaved?"
"Yes, she was very somber and it seemed she hated herself."
"Moira was kidnapped awhile back by the Dark Iron Dwarves, slaves of the Old God Ragnaros," Jaina continued. "She was put under a foul spell by their former leader, Emperor Dagran Thaurissan, and aided him in wiping out Alliance parties that were sent in to rescue her. He even impregnated her with the purpose of having the Dark Iron Dwarves take over the Ironforge throne."
The Pokémon trainers fell speechless. Misty leaned up against her husband, squeezing his hand tightly, and almost broke into tears upon hearing such a woeful tale. As a woman, she knew she sometimes did have to worry about possibly being kidnapped and raped, but to be placed under the control of another and voluntarily offer herself was not something she wanted to even think about.
"We did not find out about the pregnancy until she was rescued," said Jaina. "By the time she snapped out of the spell, her heart was torn apart when she was forced into the decision of whether or not to abort the child. Although it was for the good of the kingdom, as a chaos and destruction ran through Dark Iron blood and the child was illegitimate in the first place, it was nonetheless her own flesh and blood she was carrying."
"I can imagine how she feels," Misty remarked, receiving a sympathetic nod from Jaina.
"She has not been the same since the abortion," Jaina explained. "She continues to blame herself for digging the entire kingdom into this mess, and the best counselors have been unable to get through to her that none of us see it as her fault."
"But where does the Horde fit into all this?" asked Ash.
"It was Thrall who decided that the Horde would help rescue her," Jaina replied. "Thrall sent one of his commanders to gather information, then dispersed a party into the Dark Iron headquarters of Blackrock Depths that successfully killed Emperor Thaurissan and saved Princess Bronzebeard. He didn't have to, but he did. That's how I know his heart is still determined to strengthen the constantly weakening Alliance-Horde ties."
Jaina finished writing, placed the third page face down atop the first two, folded the three together, and inserted them into an envelope. Sealing it, she walked up to Ash and Misty and handed them the envelope.
"This is a letter to Thrall," she said. "It explains everything he needs to know from me, including where you two are from and how I would like the Horde's aid in our future battle against the Burning Legion. Please head to the Horde capital of Orgrimmar and deliver it to him."
Ash took the letter from Jaina and placed it in his pocket.
"We will Lady Jaina," he assured her. "You can count on us one hundred percent."
"Thank you Ash, thank you Misty," Jaina replied, digging into her pockets and pulling out two medium-sized gold-colored crests donning a unique shaped anchor on each. "This is my insignia. Whenever you approach members of the Horde, show this to them and you will not be harmed." She placed the two crests into the Pokémon trainers' hands.
Ash and Misty put Jaina's insignia into their pockets and the three shook hands once more.
"Head to Gryphon Master Balduc near the docks," Jaina instructed. "He's an orange-bearded dwarf in goggles. Ask for a ride to the neutral goblin town of Ratchet north of here. Once you arrive in Ratchet, talk to the Horde's wind rider master and ask for passage to Orgrimmar. He should put you on one of his wyverns and it'll fly you there. Good luck you two, and god speed."
The young couple bid farewell and left the tower, walking toward the dock. Jaina sighed and returned to her desk.
"Please Thrall," she whispered to no one in particular, "for the future survival of two worlds, please do not turn down my plea."
-----------------------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Man, I'm seriously having too much fun writing this, and I hope you all are having just as much fun reading it. Ash and Misty are basically finished with the Alliance for the time being. Their times with the Horde begin next chapter. As always, I welcome and encourage you to send me your feedback. Thanks again for reading!