Green Elves of Kalimdor
Chapter 2: Royal Decision
Illidan had finally reached the ancient ruins, far to the north. He'd hope he'd live in Darkshore for sometime, before getting some sort of help, any help. Illidan kept his track on time. He knew it had been a half month since his fatal duel with Arthas. Illidan would have flown, using his demon wings, but Frost Wyrms and Gargoyles were in the air and Illidan won't rather risk or want to kill the beasts. He'd seen a few of them on his way from Northrend, but kept away.
He'd rather be free, than try to head back and talk with his arch-druid brother, Malfurion Stormrage, better known as Furion Stormrage. He wondered what had happened with his Naga and the Blood Elves. Had the scourge over-run the two bases of Lady Vashj and Prince Kael? He didn't know. Being a demon, his wound gently sealed itself, but Illidan felt some shard of Frostmourne in his body, from Arthas' slash.
He was about to enter the ruins, but some ancient chill kept him at bay.
"Holt I say! Who are you?" A voice bewailed.
"Illidan Stormrage, Demon Hunter." Illidan replied, thinking that whoever the owner of the voice was couldn't hear him.
"Demon Hunter you say? I'm not in need of any night elf hunter." The voice decided.
"And my I ask who you are?" Illidan inquired.
"Vodalus Twinklespark. I'm the atomist of these ancient ruins." The voice replied.
"Atomist?" Illidan questioned.
"Geez boy! Don't you... Of course not! My people are all still in hiding. If anyone from my people finds me, you shall return with me to my people's land. I must say that I'm not a leader there. You're company is welcome Demon Hunter Stormrage." Vodalus' voice decided.
Illidan sighed and walked into the ancient ruins.
Star Savior Lord Tazosu Tracker intercepted Venera; Srecloud, and Glide. Grimoire had stopped and floated. Venera stopped her galaxy and Glide floated in midair.
"Lord Tracker? I heard that you were sent out to investigate about Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas. Do you bring any word from it?" Glide asked.
"Correction, from Lordaeron; Azeroth, and Quel'Thalas. My report is only to King Frugal. Why! Lord Spenian! How have you been?" Tazosu inquired.
"All too well, thanks to Khalif." Glide nodded.
"Indeed... Praise all be to Khalif." Tazosu added.
"Amen." Glide; Venera, and Grimoire replied.
"Have we all suddenly forgotten our traditional greeting? King Frugal won't be impressed." Venera reminded.
Glide snorted, "Indeed we've forgotten." He admitted.
"Where are you all heading now?" Tazosu asked.
"To Ashenvale." Grimoire replied.
Tazosu smiled, "Enjoy your journey brothers and sister. I'd warn you though; some Dragon Hawk and an undead dark ranger are heading towards Liculf."
"What?" Glide asked, alarmed.
"Nothing to worry about brother. I recognized the dark ranger as Sylvanas Windrunner." Tazosu replied.
"Most dark rangers would look the same. How could you have recognized this dark ranger?" Venera asked.
Tazosu twitched his eye, "She was the only dark ranger to escape the Scourge after Silvermoon fell." He replied.
"Ah... Why would they be heading towards Liculf?" Venera asked.
Tazosu shrugged, "I have no clue." He replied.
"... I have to report back to King Frugal. Remia brothers and sister." Tazosu waved, flying away.
"... At least he remembered our farewell." Venera murmured.
"Let's continue on." Glide decided.
He was about to resume his flight, but noticed the Dragon Hawk Riders. He stopped.
"See any dark ranger ahead?" Glide asked.
"There is one brother." Grimoire replied.
"Sylvanas... I don't have any idea on how they'll react upon seeing Srecloud." Glide mentioned.
"I'll protect him." Venera decided.
Glide nodded and descended towards the water, floating just inches above it.
"Grimoire, be sure to bring Sylvanas and her Dragon Hawk back to Liculf and to Sentiz." Glide whispered.
"Uh? What makes you think Sylvanas would want help?" Grimoire asked.
"An instinct." Glide replied.
Grimoire frowned. He knew what Glide meant and it seemed that Glide chose him specially, so that he'd have some quality time with Venera. Grimoire wasn't very sure about it though, yet accepted it. Perhaps some other time he could see Kalimdor.
Sylvanas noticed some kestians waiting ahead for her and her Dragon Hawk Riders. She pressed on though, with no intention of battling, but simply talking. She stopped right in front of Glide and Grimoire, riding on Sarion's Dragon Hawk. Her Dragon Hawk Riders stopped, in front of Venera. Srecloud tried his best to be kept well hidden. Sarion noticed him though and didn't mind the young night elf.
"I'm Queen..." Sylvanas started.
Glide held up his palm, stopping Sylvanas.
"We know who you are ranger. What's your business with us kestians?" Glide asked.
Sylvanas blinked. Was this kestian blind or something? Or was he simply acknowledging her for who she originally was?
"Who you originally are. Again, what's your business?" Glide asked.
"You know, as some secretive specie, you are rude." Sylvanas stated.
Grimoire chuckled, "You haven't seen anything elf." He remarked.
'Unbelievable. These two don't care how I look. I guess they could help me.' Sylvanas thought.
"As I figured. What sort of help?" Glide asked.
'Telepaths? Fine! You can read my mind!' Sylvanas thought. "Do you have any... inventions that could help bring me back to my true form?" She asked.
"You mean from undead dark ranger back to high elf ranger? Sure. Twinkle Flasher Grimoire the Modest here would take you and your Dragon Hawk Riders back to Liculf, to... evolve you." Glide decided.
Sylvanas smiled.
"Follow me." Grimoire requested.
He turned around and started swimming back to Little Moon Island, which had Liculf on it. He was swimming butterfly style. Sylvanas only needed to glance at Sarion and turned her attention back to Grimoire, following him. Sarion noticed Sylvanas' glance and flew past Venera and Srecloud. His two Dragon Hawk Riders with him followed. Once Grimoire and the high elf delegacy were out of sight, Glide flew back up, beside Venera.
"Off to Ashenvale now." Glide decided.
Venera nodded, smiling.
"My king, Star Savior Lord Tracker has returned from Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas." A cloakist announced in the throne room.
"Let him in." King Goloch Frugal allowed.
"Very well my king." The cloakist bowed and opened the doors to let Tazosu enter.
Tazosu entered and bowed, approaching Goloch's throne. Goloch was only there, with his queen and daughter someplace else. The cloakist closed the door behind Tazosu.
"Aimer ge tamuka." Tazosu greeted in native common kestian.
"Aimer Star Savior Tazosu. What do you bring from that far off land?" Goloch asked.
It was natural for Star Savior King Goloch Frugal, in Vailonia royalty, to have a blonde mane around his face, while females had blonde fur. The rest of the kestian royalty's bodies were of green fur, like the rest of its people.
"I've brought news from our brothers and sisters from Kestiano my king. They mentioned that sometime after First Kestian, Fred Spenian, had died that the human campaign back there, with the Laughing Skull clan has taken their home on a peninsula south of Azeroth. As for Azeroth itself, King Wrynn has military power with his leadership." Tazosu announced.
"Interesting news. What about Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas?" Goloch requested.
Tazosu sighed, "Bad my king. Blackrock Orc clans are still scattered around Azeroth and Lordaeron. They still worship the Burning Legion. Their populace is few though. Lordaeron is totally swarmed with the undead Scourge my king. It appears that Ner'Zhul in Northrend still has some control over them. The capital of the high elves land, Silvermoon in Quel'Thalas has fallen from the invading scourge, led once by Ner'Zhul's champion death knight, Prince Arthas.
"I've found some separated pockets of human and high elf resistance. What's really mockery my king, is though the humans closest to Blackrock clan land are still battling the clan. Dalaran has fallen and Archmage Antonidas was killed. In its place is a mighty undead violet citadel. It appears to be the capital of the undead in Lordaeron. High Elf ranger Sylvanas Windrunner is now a dark ranger, leading some surviving high elves from Quel'Thalas.
"I've encountered them on my way and I know of Glide; Venera, and Grimoire encountering them... Sylvanas is now queen of the high elves and most of her people are on an island southwest of Kalimdor. The remaining high elf resistance pockets back in Lordaeron are led by Sylvanas' younger sister, Princess Sarnie Windrunner, in lead of Sylvanas' The Forsaken Undead also. I doubt that they know about Sylvanas and her people surviving. I've witnessed the fall of Silvermoon, but Sylvanas had nothing do to with it." Tazosu reported.
Goloch listen carefully and rubbed his chin's mane gently with his right hand.
"... Um. We'll contact the returning campaign later on. Are the resistance pockets savable?" Goloch asked.
"Yes my king, as is the Blackrock clan." Tazosu replied, nodding.
"Very well, I shall wait for Star Savior Lord Glide Spenian's personal report once he returns to Cunning Wolf. I'll call for you once he has given his report and I have thought of a plan." Goloch decided.
Tazosu bowed and the cloakist opened the door, with Tazosu leaving. The cloakist closed the door behind him.
'I shall send a Twinkle Flasher to Northrend, but I fear for his fate.' Goloch thought, sighing.
Grimoire panted, lying down on his back, on the small sandy beach of Little Moon. Sylvanas went in front of him, with her back turned to him. She looked around her, noticing no way to pass the mountains, except by flight and Sylvanas wasn't capable of flying, either as a dark ranger or elf ranger. Her Dragon Hawk Riders were high above her, not daring to fly over and leave their queen behind, with a dangerous kestian.
Sarion had a feeling that their presence there didn't matter, the Twinkle Flasher could still take them all down. He knew that their lives were in this Twinkle Flasher's hand. Grimoire sensed that from Sarion and grinned, having no intention of harming the high elves. He knew that Khalif was able to bring death to who he wanted, but their death was already planned for. All of them were going to die sooner or later.
Sylvanas hissed in annoyance, giving up the idea of looking for a way through the mountains. Grimoire chuckled from where he was. He slowly got onto his feet and faced Sylvanas' back.
"There is no way through the mountains, on foot or floating. To pass it, we need all to fly or simply fade away, like teleportation. It would be a better idea for you to be on one of the Dragon Hawk Riders." Grimoire explained
Sylvanas didn't turn around, but glanced up. Almost instantly, Sarion soared down and helped Sylvanas mount the dragon hawk. Sarion took to the air again and waited.
"When you see an emerald beam launching into the sky like a light pillar, follow it for I'd be the owner!" Grimoire yelled.
He didn't need to get a reply; he knew they had heard for sure. He simply blurred away.
Grimoire blurred into appearance in the city's circle, he stared skyward and chanted his attack in native common kestian.
"Zomo Flazit." He chanted.
His eyes completely glowed green and he launched double emerald beams into the sky. Sarion noticed them both.
'I thought he said one. Uh well. That's the location.' Sarion thought.
The three Dragon Hawk Riders flew over the mountains, with the double green beams clearer. Without hesitation, Sarion led his two Dragon Hawk Riders towards the beams and hovered beside Grimoire. Sensing their presence, Grimoire simply closed his eyes to cancel the attack and opened them to stare at the four.
"Leave your Dragon Hawks here. They'll be safe. Follow me." Grimoire motioned, walking away.
Sarion didn't like the idea of leaving the Dragon Hawks by themselves, but he and the two other high elves followed Sylvanas and Grimoire. Sarion and the three high elves followed Sylvanas and Grimoire, but also took some time to admire the city structure. Upon descending, Sarion noticed the waterfalls, all in a circle around the small forest. Descending through the canopy wasn't hard as he had done it many times back in Quel'Thalas.
Kestian muzon noticed them and noticed that Grimoire was taking the lead. They made no form of movement and continued on with their lives. Eventually Grimoire stopped in front of what appeared to be some sort of stable.
"Sentiz Ripplewave!" Grimoire yelled. "The Modest seeks an audience!"
A short kestian on a white unicorn, trotted out of the stable, stopping in front of Grimoire.
"Ah. How my I help you Twinkle Flasher?" Sentiz asked.
Grimoire turned around and stared at Sylvanas. Sentiz followed his stare and noticed the undead dark ranger. Not startled, Sentiz felt that her soul was originally of High elven kind. He nodded his head in acceptance. He sensed her high elf soul, before noticing that she was undead.
"Fine high elf." Sentiz smiled. "Follow me into the stable and I shall turn you back, privacy is strictly advised."
Sylvanas sighed, "Very well." She nodded.
Sentiz's unicorn trotted back into the Galaxy Stable, with Sylvanas following him. She glanced back at Sarion and Sarion nodded in return. The doors shut and windows closed with Sylvanas in the stable. Sarion understood the glance from Sylvanas, asking him and his high elves to wait there. Sarion patiently waited and his high elves, and Grimoire had lowered his head and folded his arms.
Without warning, Sylvanas' shrieking scream of a banshee was heard from the stable. But amazingly, the scream changed into a normal yell, eventually fading down. Sarion smiling, expecting to see Sylvanas as her original high elf form. A few moments later and Sylvanas came out, stunningly in her beautiful high elf form, with her ranger uniform on and her bow and arrows with her. There was no sign or DNA of her ever being of the undead.
Grimoire took the lead in walking the high elves back to their Dragon Hawks. He didn't need to look back to know of them following him; he sensed them following him. The five walked back in total silence, with Sylvanas beaming. Sarion was pleased to see the Dragon Hawks still where they left them. The high elves got onto their Dragon Hawks and Sylvanas mounted onto Sarion's dragon hawk. Sarion nodded his farewell and Grimoire nodded in return.
The three Dragon Hawk Riders took to the sky and flew away from Little Moon, heading back to Elegance, with the rightful form of their queen mounted on one of them.
"What's that?" Venera asked, nodding towards some buildings.
"That's Lotharia, the human's city harbor. We're close to Ashenvale." Glide replied, flying beside her galaxy.
"Is Ashenvale my home?" Srecloud asked.
Glide nodded, "That's correct. All night elves live here." He replied.
They descended carefully into Ashenvale. Glide had his senses concentrated to their limits and eventually was satisfied that only ancient trees were all around them.
"Are we safe here?" Venera asked, helping Srecloud dismount while she was still mounted.
"No night elf or magic around. The coast is clear." Glide replied, nodding.
Venera dismounted her galaxy and tied it around some tree. She walked back towards Glide and Srecloud. Venera was the same height as Glide. Trees surrounded them and Venera trusted Glide that he'd be able to find her galaxy, once they were to return back to Little Moon. The three carefully walked through Ashenvale, with both Glide and Venera on complete alertness.
Vodalus didn't expect to see what he saw when he met Illidan. However, he quickly befriended Illidan. It was soon after Illidan arrived that Vodalus sensed some kestians, with a night elf. He mentioned this to Illidan and they headed off back into Ashenvale. At the moment, Vodalus was in stealth, hiding behind a tree with Illidan behind another, frightened of the kestians finding him.
However, Vodalus noticed that Glide and Venera didn't sense their presence, much to Vodalus' surprise. Vodalus himself knew that they couldn't sense him, but they couldn't sense Illidan? This would have to be resolved later. Vodalus didn't know Glide personally, but Glide was familiar to him as Vodalus was there at the Battle of Mount Hyjal, being stealth. He was thrilled to know he returned, but with another kestian, much less female and a night elf? What was he up to?
Glide and Venera laid down on their stomachs, followed by Srecloud, they peered passed the thick bushes to notice some druids and night elves. Glide sensed both Tyrande's and Furion's presence, the same as on Hyjal Summit. He sensed Night elf ranger Shandris Feathermoon soon after he sensed the first two. Shandris sensed them and turned towards them, staring right at their hidden location.
Before she could do anything, glowing blue runes appeared on the ground, in front of Furion and Tyrande. Shandris was distracted from Glide's and Venera's presence for the moment, with Jaina, two knights and a rifleman teleporting from Terenich. Terenich was the capital for the humans now and Jaina was the head Archmage and Human leader. The humans also had Lotharia, the only human city harbor and Utherio, the human outpost.
The Tauren and Orc cities were built in the Barrens. All the cities were just made in a few months, with help from humans; orcs, and night elves all helping in building the cities; harbors, or outposts. They were all remarkably completed in just four months after Archimonde's defeat. Utherio was located to the south, bordering with the Barrens. Terenich was named after King Terenas, located in a pass between mountains to the north and Ashenvale forest to the south.
Moments later, Thrall appeared, mounted on his black wolf. He joined Jaina; Tyrande, and Furion at the peaceful river's bank. Glide; Venera, and Vodalus all heightened their hearing sense, to be able to hear the four leader's converse with one another.
"My apologies for being late. I was on a hunt for food with some grunts to bring back to Drecharia. Only upon my return did I receive the message. I came right away." Thrall panted.
"How fares your wife?" Tyrande asked.
"Suliyaw Flowbreeze? Well, she fares well." Thrall replied.
"Why have you requested our presence?" Jaina asked.
"Because of what I found out from Lord..." Tyrande started.
"Priestess! Shan'do!" Shandris yelled.
She approached the four.
"What is it Shandris?" Furion asked.
"We're not alone." Shandris whispered.
"What?" Tyrande whispered.
"I don't sense anyone except the eight of us." Thrall stated.
"As do I." Jaina agreed.
Venera and Glide gulped, slowly crawling back.
"Crawl to the trees and hide there. We'll find you." Venera whispered.
"And don't come looking for us." Glide added.
Srecloud nodded and crawled towards the tree. Venera and Glide glanced at each other. They knew what the other thought. Choosing the wise choice, Venera and Glide stood up. With Shandris staring straight at them. Furion's; Tyrande's; Thrall's, and Jaina's eyes were all wide in surprise. The two knights and single rifleman took their position in front of Jaina, posing in defense. For a moment Shandris was speechless.
"... What are you two?" She asked.
Srecloud crawled passing a tree, when Vodalus picked him up on his feet and held the night elf's mouth closed.
"Shh. I won't harm you. I'm one of those two." Vodalus whispered.
Srecloud nodded and Vodalus let go of him. Srecloud stayed close to Vodalus and didn't move away. Illidan scowled at Vodalus protecting the young night elf, but saw his reason behind it.
In return, Glide and Venera didn't know how to reply.
'Protect yourself through your Twinkle Aura and head back for your galaxy. Tell King Frugal what has happened, but assume the best and don't go to war.' Glide thought using telepathy.
'What about you?' Venera asked.
Glide grinned, 'I'll distract them.' He replied.
'Glide... Stay alive and take care of yourself.' Venera requested.
Glide nodded.
'... Maybe Sylvanas would be able to rescue you.' Venera beamed.
'Don't get the high elves involved in this! I won't be harmed, I assure you. I'll return as soon as I can.' Glide decided.
Venera sighed and slowly walked away. Instantly Tyrande; Jaina; Furion; Thrall; Shandris, and the rifleman all took aim at Venera.
"Please stop moving." Furion requested.
Glide stepped into their way and a green light aura engulfed him, as one also engulfed Venera. Once Glide covered her, Venera turned around, activated her aura stronger and rushed towards her galaxy. She mounted the galaxy and it flew into the sky. The rifleman and Shandris aimed at the escaping Venera. Both fired, but with tremendous speed, Glide flew into the air and had Venera; her galaxy, and Glide himself all vanish. The rifle bullets and arrow zoomed through the empty air.
"They just... vanished." The dwarf rifleman stated.
"I sense one of them is coming closer, while the other is leaving. Both have tremendous powers." Furion explained.
"One is coming closer?" Thrall asked, alarmed.
"Scatter." Jaina urged.
Hastily, the group scattered. Tyrande and Shandris shadowmelded, holding their position, since it was night after all. Jaina hid behind some large thick bushed with the rifleman. Furion leapt high into a tree, landing on a high branch, well balanced on it. Thrall simply hid his wolf and dismounted it, hiding it behind a tree and him behind another close by his wolf. The knights followed Thrall's example.
Glide appeared and shrugged. He sat down, facing the river, with his legs crossed and his eyes closed. He sensed every being around him, including Tyrande and Shandris. Tyrande and Shandris stared at him, in wonder. Thrall peered out from behind his tree, as did the knights. Furion stared at Glide from his place in the tree and Jaina and the rifleman peered above the bush. They were all waiting for Glide to do a move.
"My king! Princess Calia with urgent news from Lordaeron." A footman announced, rushing into the throne room.
King Wrynn was the leader of the military powered kingdom of Azeroth, in his Capital of Galetornado. Wrynn looked up, only a few years younger than the deceased Terenas.
"Let her enter. I grave for news from King Terenas." Wrynn allowed.
The footman nodded and allowed Princess Calia to enter. Calia had three footmen with her. Wrynn instantly stood onto his feet, proudly standing on his feet, his back straightened.
"Princess Calia! Why! What has brought you south?" Wrynn asked.
Princess Calia looked so saddened and upset. As did the three footmen who were with her.
"The undead." Calia simply replied.
Wrynn blinked, "What?" He asked.
The footman left the throne room, closing the door behind him. The three exhausted footmen behind Calia collapsed onto their knees, sobbing. Wrynn was confused by this all.
"What has happened in Lordaeron?" Wrynn asked, fearing the worse.
"My father, King Terenas is dead, killed by his own son, my own younger brother, Prince Arthas. Dalaran has fallen to the Scourge along with Quel'Thalas and its capital Silvermoon. The Silver Hand was crushed and Uther killed, also by Prince Arthas." Calia explained, tears forming in her eyes.
Wrynn's eyes widened with shock.
"Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas fell? King Terenas, much less Uther, hasn't called upon Azeroth for help." Wrynn gasped.
"Khaz Modan is still like Azeroth, peaceful with the dwarves there." Calia whispered.
"That's good. First we lost Allegiance Peninsula and now this." Wrynn sighed.
"... Sire..." Calia started.
Wrynn held up his palm, silencing her.
"Please, call my Wrynn. You and your following survivors can reside here in Galetornado. Is you and your following survivors all that survived Lordaeron's sudden madness and chaos?" Wrynn asked.
"I'm sure there are more pockets of resistance: human; dwarven, and high elven." Calia replied.
"What about the Orcs?" Wrynn asked.
"Only Blackrock clan is there. The horde moved on, away from Lordaeron." Calia replied.
"Thank god for that. The footmen outside should take you four to your new residence for rest." Wrynn sighed.
Calia nodded. Eight footmen entered their shields with the emblem of Azeroth, other than Lordaeron. Calia and the three footmen with her followed them out of the throne room.
"That poor girl." Wrynn whispered.
Maiden Venera Stentor marched into the throne room of Vailonia's capital of Cunning Wolf. King Frugal; Queen Alicia, and Princess Agita were all there. They stared at Venera slamming the doors open, almost crushing the guarding cloakist. The two cloakists avoided the slam and closed the door behind Venera. Goloch instantly stood up.
"What's happened?" Goloch asked.
"It's terrible news. It's about Star Savior Lord Glide Spenian." Venera replied.