DISCLAIMER: There is a long list of companies that own Pokémon, and my name is not on that list. There is another list of companies that own Warcraft, and my name isn't on that one either. I am not making any money from this story.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is it, the final "setup" chapter. Yes, I know, I've been delaying the action stuff for way too long, but I promise that it's on its way. Let's see how short I can keep this one; the last one wasn't even 3000 words (huzzah!). As always, your feedback is welcomed.
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Through Azeroth – Chapter 9
Written by daBOSS
"Attention all heroes, the Alliance calls upon you for swift and decisive action! The greatest enemy of Azeroth, the Burning Legion, has returned with a vengeance. A call to arms has been issued for all able bodied individuals to take up arms and join the campaign to rid the world of this threat once and for all. An army will be formed tomorrow morning in Outland and will set out to defeat the Legion in a new world. Any volunteers are to report to Lady Jaina Proudmoore in Theramore immediately for further instructions. Fight with honor for the Alliance!"
Guards had posted the notice over all three Alliance cities, and adventurers of the Alliance were flocking to them. Almost everyone who saw the posters declared their undaunted loyalty and commitment to their faction and rushed to the flight masters without hesitation, bound for Theramore eager to fight.
- - - - - -
"Attention, heroes of the Horde, the call of duty beckons! A new attack from the Burning Legion is imminent, and the opportunity has risen to destroy Azeroth's greatest threat permanently. Able bodied individuals are to report to the Warchief at his fortress in Orgrimmar immediately for the formation of a Horde army tomorrow morning that will travel to a new world to battle the Legion's demonic menaces before they threaten Azeroth. Now is the time for heroes to be made. Fight and bring glory to the Horde!"
Notices quickly shot up around Orgrimmar, Thunder Bluff, and the Forsaken capital of Undercity. Horde adventurers, always dedicated to honor and victory for their faction, rushed to Grommash Hold in Orgrimmar to commit themselves to battle.
- - - - - -
"The leadership doesn't need much to recruit, does it?" asked Ash, well aware of the commotion outside the temple's walls.
"No we don't," answered the night elf high priestess. "We are so fortunate to have adventurers who'll put their lives on the line to serve the Alliance, and I know the Horde does as well. The night elves no longer have a strong military, and the rest of the Alliance's tattered armies have been sent to distant lands, so adventurers are all we can depend on to fight the battles at home."
Ash and Misty sat with High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind on the second floor of the Temple of the Moon in Darnassus. The thick walls did little to divert the drums of war coming from the outside, where adventurers who had seen the call to arms were swarming to Theramore shouting battle cries.
"The Burning Legion has been tormenting Azeroth for far too long, and they all know it," said Tyrande. "They will give life and limb to see it destroyed."
"But how did it all begin?" Ash asked.
Tyrande's glowing eyes looked toward the young Pokémon master as if expecting such a question.
"Ten thousand years ago, the night elves were the first humanoid race to awaken in Azeroth," she began her tale. "And I was there for it all."
Two gasps came from the young couple's mouths, although Tyrande was not surprised at all by their reactions.
"You…you're…" she heard Misty stutter.
"Yes, I'm over fifteen thousand years old," said Tyrande. "For eons, we night elves cherished our immortality. Today, because of the Burning Legion, we've lost our most precious trait. We had to sacrifice it at Mount Hyjal to destroy their leader Archimonde."
"Immortality..." Ash uttered.
Tyrande smiled and continued. "We awoke and cultivated a civilization unlike any other. Our race spread out across Kalimdor, building cities and temples to worship our moon goddess, Elune. We were ruled by a group known as the Highborne under the guidance of Queen Azshara. It seemed as if our society would flourish indefinitely…that is, until we discovered the Well of Eternity."
The priestess stood, turning her back toward the Pokémon trainers, and placing her hands behind her.
"That well was the source of supernatural energies," she continued. "Our curiosity got the best of us and we tapped the well for its energies. Soon, the Queen and her Highborne rulers began studying and practicing primitive magic. It started as harmless acts, but became excessive and obsessive for them, attracting the attention of the Burning Legion from the Great Dark Beyond."
"They abused their powers?' asked Ash.
"Yes they did," answered Tyrande. "The Highborne was always closely tied with the rest of our society. When magic got in the way, they became more and more secluded. Because the Well's energies were externally channeled, their practices sent ripples of energy into the Great Dark Beyond and caught the Legion's eye. By the time the Legion prepared to invade Azeroth for the first time, the Queen and the Highborne had completely become slaves to magic and willingly let the demons in."
"So that's how the Legion first became aware of Azeroth," Misty said softly.
Tyrande nodded. "Our recklessness brought them in, and once they were here, there was no stopping them. We fought a catastrophic war to defeat them the first time, far more destructive than our most recent battle alongside the orcs and humans. They succeeded in corrupting and mutating a large portion of the night elf race into vile satyrs and snake-like naga creatures, including the Queen and her Highborne. Their eventual defeat split the single continent of Kalimdor into two with a violent Maelstrom separating them. That Maelstrom is where the Well of Eternity originally stood."
"There's one thing I still don't understand though," said Ash. "What's the whole purpose behind the Burning Legion's destructive behavior?"
"It's the power," Tyrande replied. "They constantly seek to increase their own strength in the universe. They believe that the entire concepts of order and harmony are flawed and those who strive to achieve them, namely our Titan creators, must be undone. They are always after the limitless energies the universe possesses, and their hunger became insatiable upon discovering the Well of Eternity here on Azeroth."
Ash and Misty looked at each other, now realizing the Legion's full ambitions.
"That means this goes beyond simply seeking revenge," said Misty. "They're after our world to wreck the natural order and steal our Pokémon's energies for their own destructive desires."
"That sounds like them through and through," commented Tyrande. "Your Pokémon may not channel as much energy as the Well of Eternity, even as a large group, but those energies add up over a long period of time. As long as even a speckle trickles into the Great Dark Beyond, it can easily draw the Legion's attention."
"That explains why it's taken them until now to find us," Ash added, triggering nods from the two women. "Oh god, we can't get back soon enough. To know that they're already in our world and we can't return until tomorrow at least…"
"I know you're anxious," Tyrande interrupted. "Please try to relax. Jaina Proudmoore is one of the best organizers I've ever met. She will make all necessary preparations so you'll be fully prepared for anything upon entry."
Ash took a deep breath, trying to ease his mind. "Okay, I'll try," he replied.
Misty locked her arm around her husband's, tilting her head to get a good look at his expression. Tyrande walked up to the couple and placed a sympathetic hand on Ash's shoulder.
"I can't guarantee you things will be all right," she said with as much understanding as her voice could muster. "But I can promise you that we are fully committed to helping you save your world. Please try to not let it bother you for tonight."
Ash never looked up and only remotely nodded his head.
"I'll have an escort take you to the inn," Tyrande continued. "Larien has already said she'll be here tomorrow morning. You'll be heading back to Outland, where you originally came in, and the portal will be made so you can go home. Elune will protect you always."
- - - - - -
"Glad to see all of you make it," Jaina spoke up the second she spotted the trio. "You didn't get ambushed along the way, did you?"
"We did, but Viviane took care of it for us," Larien smiled. "She just has too much fun with her demon-enslavement spell."
"That's her in a nutshell," Jaina slightly chuckled. "All right, go ahead and take your positions. Ash, Misty, come on up here."
Ash grabbed Misty's hand and approached the sorceress while Larien walked off. She and Viviane had successfully brought them to where the volunteer troops were assembling. Hundreds of adventurers were lined up in two groups, with the Alliance on one side and the Horde on the other. None were facing each other, only turned to the front where Thrall and Jaina stood side by side.
"What are you two doing here?" asked Misty, a bit shocked to see the top leaders of the two factions directly involved in the battle to come.
"The Burning Legion is the greatest threat to both our factions," Thrall answered. "I swore that if we ever needed to face them again, I would see them destroyed myself."
"I still have fond memories of our battle at Mount Hyjal," Jaina added. "I don't ever want to see another top figure of the Legion in Azeroth again. This task is far too important not to pass up."
"What about Orgrimmar and Theramore?" Ash piqued. "Who's going to govern?"
"Vol'jin and Nazgrel will handle the Horde at home while I command these troops," replied Thrall. "I knew this would happen, so they've been trained. I trust that the Horde will be in solid shape under their guidance."
"And Tervosh will command Theramore," said Jaina. "He'll be fine; we've worked together for a long time."
"Plus, our forces may not get along too well, having fought each other numerous times," Thrall informed. "We can't take any chances even with a common enemy as powerful as the Legion. They wouldn't dare defy orders that come directly from us."
Thrall turned and walked a few steps toward the crowd.
"Wait right here with us," Jaina directed the Pokémon trainers. "Thrall is going to give the orders."
The couple nodded, diverting their attention to the Horde Warchief.
"Heroes, heroes, your attention please!" Thrall's voice roared toward the noisy crowd. "Quiet please, everyone! Alliance, Horde, we need your attention now!"
In less than five seconds, the Horde was silent and focused squarely on their leader. The Alliance on the other hand was a different story. Neither Thrall nor Jaina looked surprised, and the latter quickly stood up.
"Heroes of the Alliance, it's time to silence yourselves!" Jaina commanded at the top of her lungs.
This time, the remaining half obeyed without further interruptions.
"Thank you, now listen to the Warchief please," ordered Jaina, receiving a few moans of disapproval. "That is an order, people! The Horde is not our enemy for this ordeal, got it?" Every head nodded. "Good. Thrall, the floor is yours."
"Thank you Jaina," Thrall acknowledged, never taking his eyes off the crowd. "Heroes, although we understand your enmity toward those standing across from you, a greater threat now faces us once again. You have all heard the stories of how all the mortal races banded together at the battle of Mount Hyjal years ago to destroy Archimonde and end the Burning Legion's threat to Azeroth. Although we ultimately won the war, we waited too long to fight back. The Legion is planning on invading once more, but this time, we will strike first!"
The Horde side gave a loud cheer at the words of their Warchief. The Alliance side only mustered a tiny yelp.
"Lady Jaina Proudmoore and I are in charge of this mission," Thrall's voice continued roaring. "As you all know, Jaina and I have battled together on many fields of war, including Mount Hyjal. We have mutual respect and trust for one another. Know this first and foremost heroes: any command from one of us is a command from the other, and any defiance against either one of us will not go unpunished. That means regardless of which faction you belong to, you are to obey us both."
Small whispers could be heard from both factions, but Thrall did not let them interrupt him.
"Jaina will now use the dust collected to reopen the portal to the world we will be entering," Thrall addressed, nodding to Jaina to begin the channeling process. Jaina turned and began her spell. Thrall kept speaking. "Once it is done, we will follow Ash and Misty through as a unit. A number of you have already met our guests during these past few days and are more familiar with their world than the rest. Jaina and I trust you to tutor your comrades when they seek information."
The Warchief looked over at Ash and Misty with a confident and reassuring smile in which they returned, fully understanding his message of complete devotion to their task ahead.
"It is finished," Jaina called out. "The portal is done. Ash, Misty, go on. Once you're safely through, give us the signal and we will follow. And be careful; you may not be returning to the world you remember."
"We will Jaina," said Ash, slowly taking his wife's hand. "Let's go Misty."
The Pokémon trainers stepped into the newly formed gateway, at last able to head home.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Thrall whispered so that only Jaina could hear. "I can sense the spirits of their world through the portal, and they are restless. The Legion is definitely making their presence known."
"I see them, and they've given us the word to follow," Jaina responded. "They look shocked. Their world must have definitely changed from when they departed. Let's go now."
Thrall and Jaina turned to their gigantic volunteer army, estimating that there were a total of around one thousand adventurers. All were focused squarely on their commanders and awaiting orders.
"Heroes, it is time," Thrall bellowed. "None of us know what will happen once we step through the portal, but we will weave out and destroy every agent of the Burning Legion present in the Pokémon world before we return, before they can ever threaten Azeroth again. Remember heroes, from this point on, you are not just fighting for the Alliance or the Horde; you are fighting for the future of order as a whole! FOR AZEROTH!"
"FOR AZEROTH!"
This time, there were no factional divides in the crowd's reaction as every last adventurer cried out in passion and lined up to enter the portal, eager for the war to come.
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AUTHOR'S NOTES: Sweet, less than three thousand words again. First off, my apologies for not getting this chapter uploaded as quickly as the others. I've been getting sidetracked often. I thank you all for sticking with me and continuing to read this story. Let's hope I'm faster next time. And of course, as always, if you have anything to say at all, feel free to provide me any type of feedback. I welcome everything: questions, comments, concerns, fears, threats, insults, suggestions, flames…the whole enchilada.