A Spark of Hope.
"My queen, what do we do now?" Sylvanas called as the mountainous border of Crystalsong Forest passed below them. "The fall of the temple will send a clear message of vulnerability to the Alliance."
"That is why we must remain determined in stopping the Lich King and the Legion," Alexstrasza replied, changing their direction slightly. "It may have destroyed the Temple, but there are other, greater Titan strongholds in Northrend, and a force that could eradicate the Nerubians with ease."
"And that floating fortress?" Vereesa asked.
"We will deal with that in time," Kalecgos sighed. "But are you sure that Ulduar is the best place from where we strike back?"
"The Vault of Archavon is completely unsuitable for a military installation, nor a defensible position, and we have no other place in Northrend from which we can make a stand against the Lich." Alexstrasza replied. "I am aware of its purpose, and its dark secret, but its defences are something we cannot pass on in this situation."
"What do we do?" Alleria asked, sounding slightly panicked. "What's Ulduar?"
"We seek out the Watchers of Ulduar, and implore them to help defend Azeroth," Alexstrasza said quickly, as a large spire of rock appeared from the snow clouds ahead. "If we must defeat their charge to acquire it and Ulduar's full capabilities, then so be it."
"What charge?" Vereesa asked, as they drew closer to the spire.
"Ulduar is the prison primarily dedicated to containing the Old God, Yogg-Saron." Kalecgos explained. "The God of Death."
"We'll need more than just us few to defeat an Old God my queen," Sylvanas said quickly, while her sisters were stunned into silence. "And we cannot chance the Lich allying with Yogg-Saron to further cripple our forces."
They landed in the Temple of Storms, immediately coming face to face with one of the Watchers, who seemed not to notice their arrival.
"Greetings great Watcher of Ulduar," Alexstrasza said after transforming into her mortal guise, quickly giving the Watcher a courteous bow. "I, Queen Alexstrasza the Life-Binder, beseech you for your aid in defending this world. The Wyrmrest Temple has fallen, and the Children of the Titan's enemies rise to threaten their noble work, will you permit us to unleash the might of Ulduar upon them."
"Ulduar is lost," the Watcher said plainly, not looking up at her. "My beloved is dead, and darkness encroaches on all sides; what hope is there now?"
"Ulduar has fallen? Tell me what has happened!" Alexstrasza demanded. "Tell me that Yogg-Saron has not escaped!"
"The Old God remains beneath Ulduar, but my fellow Watchers, and my brother, have fallen to its corruption. What was once its prison, is now its palace." The Watcher said, slowly looking up at them.
"How have you not been affected?" Onyxia asked.
"I am beyond its reach it seems, I have not left this temple since Sif was killed." The Watcher said mournfully.
"Then how do you know that Ulduar has fallen?" Vereesa quickly enquired.
"Because I told him," a gruff voice said from behind them, they turned to see a ginger haired dwarf wearing unseasonal clothes standing by one of the pillars. "Brann Bronzebeard at your service."
"How did you know about Ulduar's existence?" Kalecgos asked.
"Titan records uncovered in the Badlands," Brann said proudly. "Plus m'brother wanted to ensure that this place wouldn't fall into enemy hands. Guess I got here a bit late for that."
"Your brother? Do you mean..." Sylvanas began, but Brann interrupted her.
"Brann, Muradin and Magni, the three Bronzebeard brothers" he boasted. "I know who y'all are, no need for introductions."
"Huh, I've met all three Bronzebeards, and you've met all three Windrunner sisters," Sylvanas chuckled.
"Aye, and it's an honour to meet ya all. If I might ask, why are you here?" Brann said quickly; evidentially eager to be brought up to date.
"The Lich has destroyed the Wyrmrest Temple and forced us to flee; we travelled here hoping to find refuge and a place to mount a counter-attack." Alleria explained.
"Branbronzan, have you made peace with the Frost Giants? Is our old, mistaken rivalry at an end?" the Watcher asked, butting into their conversation.
"Aye, they're willing to make nice now," Brann said, moving past the group to address the Watcher. "They've got yer weapon incase you try to betray them, all you have to do is speak with their king."
"What about my brother?" the Watcher asked, rising from his throne.
"Hiding in Ulduar probably," Brann surmised. "He's likely the one churning out armies of Iron constructs."
"Those armies could be useful against the Legion; we just need to take control of the machines creating them!" Kalecgos piped up. "Watcher, if we help you free your fellow Watchers and defeat Yogg-Saron, will you pledge the might of Ulduar to our cause?"
The Watcher looked to Brann, who quickly nodded his agreement with the bargain.
"You have a deal Dragon-Queen, but I must remain here," the Watcher stated. "I dare not draw any closer without falling to the same madness as Watcher Freya, Watcher Hodir and Watcher Mimiron. I trust that my scheming brother will also be silenced for his crimes."
"If he stands in our way, then it is inevitable," Sylvanas boasted. "My queen if I might make a suggestion."
"Of course Lady Sylvanas," Alexstrasza smiled.
"It would be wise to neutralise his brother and the machines creating the Iron constructs, before we venture into Ulduar to face Yogg-Saron." Sylvanas said quickly, noting the Watcher was looking at her closely. "I think if we divide into two teams, one takes care of the traitorous watcher's brother, whilst the other shuts down or reprograms the machines to create friendly constructs, then we'll have a foothold against any threats."
"Truly you're still a ranger at heart," Alleria laughed.
At that moment Ysera landed in the Temple, looking exhausted from flying as fast as she could.
"The Vrykul are in open civil war. I tried to restore order, but a faction loyal to the Lich tried to capture and kill me." Ysera breathed. "I fear we may lose our hold over them to the Lich. What has happened here?"
"Ulduar has fallen to the Old God's corruption, we are going to undo it and use Ulduar to reclaim Northrend." Alexstrasza said simply.
"What? How? What are we going to do to deal with it?"
"Vereesa, Kalegcos and Brann will move to disable or turn the Iron constructs to our side," Alexstrasza stated. "Myself, Sylvanas, Alleria and Onyxia will end the traitorous brother of Watcher…"
"Thorim," the Watcher said proudly.
"Watcher Thorim here." Alexstrasza finished.
"What about me?" Ysera breathed dejectedly.
"You must travel to Stormwind and Ysondre should go to Orgrimmar, spread the word that we still live, and that we have fallen back to Ulduar!" Alexstrasza said quickly.
"Do you want me to teleport you?" Vereesa said brightly.
"Yes please." The emerald dragons replied, and in the blink of an eye they were gone
"Can we use this temple as a fall-back point until we retake Ulduar, Thorim?" Alexstrasza quickly asked.
"Of course Life-Binder," Thorim bowed again, before sitting back down on his throne. "I shall not abandon my post without your command."
"Thank you," Alexstrasza smiled, quickly turning back to the others. "Once our tasks are complete we will rendezvous back here before assaulting Ulduar itself. But I think that none of us have slept since before Sylvanas' induction, rest is in order."
"It's been a while since I slept on solid ground," Kalecgos laughed, a sentiment shared by his fellow ancient aspects. "Is there a safe structure nearby where we may rest? Three Aspect forms and the Windrunners will not fit in this temple."
"Can you not sleep in mortal form?" Onyxia laughed, quickly curling up on the floor.
"We've never tried," Alexstrasza said honestly, "did you find it difficult adjusting?"
"No," Onyxia said, watching as the other Aspects curled up as they would in dragon-form, quickly finding it impossible. "Mirror my position, it's the most natural and similar to what you're used to."
Sylvanas watched the Aspects adjusting to their mortal form, but as she took off the more restrictive pieces of her armour, her eyes drifted to her sisters. Vereesa had summoned a small fire to keep herself and her sisters warm, but Alleria was looking at the flames with fear in her eyes. Sylvanas knew that whatever her sister had experienced beyond the Dark Portal, it had left a traumatic scar on the once determined ranger.
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From a distant mountain, a lone, hooded figure watched the Temple of Storms, having followed the Aspects into the Storm Peaks. They waited until the figures disappeared from her sight before kicking the Nerubian they had used to get there.
"My liege will be pleased with what I have learnt," they said to themselves as the Nerubian took flight, carrying them in its vice-like grip.
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Sylvanas took first watch, but her eyes were drawn to her armour, which she had placed beside her, with the tabard folded as a pillow. The solid, yet lightweight, silver and gold tinted armour reminded her of Uther's 'Lightbringer' armour, and it dawned on her that she was now in his shoes as the Lich had stated. She was the one leading the defence of Azeroth, even leading the charge in plate armour too. The idea alone was intimidating, the truth that it was all too real, and her hands moved to her old, tattered ranger cloak, which she had refused to part with.
When that failed, she moved to the next thing that reassured her, meditating and finding the Light within her to reassure her.
"I swear Uther; I will make Ner'zhul pay when I bring him to justice." She said to the howling winds. "The Light has not abandoned you."
She caught movement out of the corner of her eye, and she quickly realised that she was not the only one struggling to sleep atop the Temple of Storms. Even through the dim moonlight, she could see Alexstrasza sitting up clutching the dragonscale pendant around her wrist as she drifted off. But again Sylvanas' eyes focused on Alleria, who was clearly suffering more nightmares of terrors beyond measure.
Alleria had been resistant, as she was prone to being, about what had happened beyond the Portal, only repeating that Ner'zhul was an agent of a Legion lord, and that she had escaped to warn them. She knew there was more to her night terrors, but it would take the right moment to dare ask Alleria about what scared her.
But her beloved sister had not died on Draenor, the old ranger-general was still there, and some of her mannerisms hadn't changed. If anything; aside from the trauma that reared its head occasionally, Alleria had been tempered into a greater weapon beyond the Dark Portal, and Sylvanas was proud that her sister was still her sister, a strong ally in the coming crisis. Her mind then darted back to just after the terrible truth had been revealed, and the events that followed with Alleria.