A.N. I do NOT own Warcraft.
3 months later
A stormy wind blew through the dusty fields of Outland. A land deserted, abandoned, forgotten… and soon to be reawakened. It has been long since piece. After all there were still remains of the Burning Legion, who longed to taste magic once more. They were waiting, waiting for their masters …
Winds blew harder, thunder echoed in the orange clouds, shadowy bolts of lighting filled the skies. For Prince Kael'thas this kind of storms were something with no special meaning. But this was not an ordinary one. Months ago a storm like this send him and his master to a very unpleasant journey. And since their return, something had changed.
Kael was not a coward, but facing a demon lord was not in his priority list. He let out a long held breath. It was passing. Thunder, lightning and wind stopped as fast as they came. Kael;s fear was replased by confusion, then by curiosity. Why would a demon lord come to Outland and not just continue his way without visiting his master. Weren't the remaining leaders of the legion furious at Illidan? Didn't they wish to punish him?
The young prince sat on the wall of his present home. Lately he had a lot of free time on his hands. So as a result of that he spent most of his days just walking on the walls and maybe give a lecture or two to the trainees. As far as he knew nothing had been planned, no plans of attack towards the Lich King or his lackeys. Now that he thought about that…
After his return to the forsaken land Lord Illidan Stormrage was not his old self again. Kael had the unfortunate duty of trying to calm down his master. Trying being the key word. The half-elf was not happy (to say the least) when he heard that almost all his forces were crushed by the Undead Scourge. In spite of his wrath, his minions weren't severely harmed.
"Isss sssomething bothering you, young Kael?" asked a snake-like voice.
The prince turned around to see the face of one Lady Vashj. The naga leader was his savior and led him to his new master. Even now Kael missed something. Dalaran was where he first learned magic and was fascinated by it. But magic was not the only thing that fascinated him…
"Kael'thasss?"
"I was wondering when someone would came. Bah this is most troublesome. And as you put it - it is bothering me. I believe you have noticed a hmm… a change , simply put, in Lord Illidan. In the last few days he has had nightmares of some kind."
The naga's laughter send shivers down the blood elf's spine.
"Asss far asss I know nightmaresss are not sssomthing to be worried about, Kael. But it isss interesssting that you are watching for out massster'ss well being."
Kael frowned.
"I know that! But please enlighten me. What exactly do you call a half-elf half-demon's body levitating 6 feet in the air, and in the meantime all kinds of spells are chaotically flying in the room! Oh and not to mention, Lord Illidan doesn't even remember that!"
"Calm down, Prince. I'm sssure that it will pass. Although there isss something ssstrange going on with him. I've read sssome very interesssting things. Like sssomthing called Demon hunter's ways. Sssems like Lord Illidan wrote down hisss experiencesss. Pity I cannot read all. It isss in some type of magic rune writing. Of courssse he found out what I wasss doing a took the book. I remember him cursing in demonic the second he touched the book."
"Didn't think he was a writer" muttered the prince.
"Thiss isss no laughing matter! According to the book in order to become a demon hunter one mussst capture a demon and bind a part of itsss soul to the hunter and doi…" Kael interrupted her before she could say any more.
"If you are saying there is a demon inside of him, I already know that! Well it's not a demon exactly, more like a demon's creation. The powers inside the skull of Gul'dan are demonic in nature. But I don't see how this explains anything."
"If you let me finisssh you ssshall see!" snapped Lady Vashj." Now asss I wasss sssaying. When the hunter bindsss himssselft to the demonic force he usssesss it and doing ssso hey may become addicted to it…"
"You very well know that my people and I are bonded with the magic, Vashj! Lord Illidan said there is no cure for our hunger!" The young prince's patience was running low. In the last few days he had a lot of pressure and that was not a good thing.
"Yesss, yesss young Kael, no need to get angry" Kael could almost feel the naga smile," and unlike you and your people, Illidan Ssstormrage wasss not bonded with the magic of the Well. And if I recall correctly the Well only increased his power, but it did not cause his addiction. Lord Illidan ssssucceeded in keeping hisss mind and sssoul even after the great demon leader corrupted him."
"Where are you heading with this? And how exactly do you know about that? As far as I know Lord Illidan is very touchy on the subject of his past. Now that I think about it I don't really know anything about him, besides the obvious of course."
"Asss interesssting as that sssubject isss, there isss no time for hissstory lessssons. Now you are aware that Lord Illidan was defeated by Arthasss. I wondered how he sssurvived. After I read that book of hisss, I realizzzed there wasss only one way – only demonsss can survive a battle like that. I fear the energiesss insssside of him hasss taken hold of him."
"Gee thatk you, Vashj. Now I can sleep more soundly at night knowing that I maybe serving a demon, who by the way feeds on what? Oh that's right- on magic. 3 guesses what my people need to survive!"
"Don't let your control over your emotionsss ssslip, Kael'thasss. Or you might find yourssself trapped with no ssstrength left to fight. Now if you wisssh to lead your people to a new sssource of magic, you mussst go back. Lord Illidan isss losssing his grip on reality."
"What!" Clearly Kael'thas was not believing his ears. Surely he couldn't leave his master. "Vashj, I think there is too much sand here and you are losing your mind… How can I leave and deprive my people from the thing they need most?"
"Would you rather ssside with the vile dead and the brutish orcsss? Would you willing slaughter your once allies?" the naga paused. "Now isss the time you shut that mouth of yoursss and lisssten good" added Vashj as Kael was begging to say something in his defence.
"You of courssse know the fate of one of your coussssinsss – Sylvanas Windrunner. What you do not know isss that Lord Illidan send a messsssenger lasssst week. A offer of alliance with the newly founded horde."
Kael's eyes widened. A new Horde? Undead, Orcs, Tauren and Trolls?
"Wait. I know of Sylvanas' turning. But wasn't she freed of the influence of the Lich King? This new Horde's aim must be to destroy Arthas. Why should we back away from such an opportunity." After a short pause he added in a lethal whisper "That bastard deserve to burn in a slow flame."
"That wasss before the Lich King and Arthasss fusssed together. I believe he hasss sssseizzzed control of all hissss undead minionsss. I fear we may end up sssserving thossse who we want to dessstroy."
"But what about the nagas? And where would my people go? The Alliance forces may want to lock us up again."
"Better locked up in a safe place, then awaiting orders to kill your own kind."
"You are correct, Vashj. But what about you and your nagas? Surely Lord Illidan would be furious and most probably will blame you."
"I ssshall take care of that. Do not worry. Jussst be sssure you leave within a week."
"Eh? Wha-? How?"
"Leave that to me."
"I cannot leave and be in your dept again, Vashj."
"Have you learned nothing?" Lady Vashj's voice became cold and venomous. "In order to have a future- any future- you mussst leave. I do not believe that the Lich King will be happy to have any kind of elvesss in hisss army. And do not worry about my naga. Like the great Azzzssshara sssaid, we ssshall alwaysss find a way to sssurvive. After 10 000 yearssss I believe I have learned sssomething that you did in a number of weeks, Prince Kael'thasss. Never allow yourssself to be ruled by a power hungry maniac. Asss much asss it pains me to sssay, Lord Illidan hasss changed to what he hated most. But sssomehow I doubt the did thisss alone and that a part of hisss night elf ssself ssstill remainsss hidden. If you inssisst on returning thisss favor, find a way to free him from thisss curse. It is very unpleasant to sssee a fellow elf take the wrong path, when there isss ssso much potential in him. The sssociety, which was once my, now fightsss against me. I do not wisssh the sssame fate to you, young one. Remember you have a week at most to gather you most trusted people and leave this place." She quietly went in the hallway, leading to the central room of the citadel. Kael was too stunned to move or speak. He just stood there. Minutes later a siren came up. She bowed politely and gave Kael a small package along with an envelope.
"Lady Vassshj asssked me to give thisss to you, my Prince."
"Thank you." Was the only answer.
"Will there be sssomething you wisssh?"
Prince Kael'thas stood up from his spot and looked up to the top of the Black Citadel. A few Dragonhawk riders were patrolling. He frowned.
"Yes. In fact there is. Is the night elf prisoner still alive?"
"Yesss. Lord Illidan wissshed to keep her alive. He believesss ssshe may have some information about the warden'sss location."
"That figures. Do we know where she came from? I mean west, south or east?"
"Oh yesss, milord. It wasss Lady Vassshj who found out. I wasss there. If you give me a second to remember her exact words." The naga's eyes closed. When she opened them they were glowing with a green light. When she opened her mouth her voice had changed. It sounded much more feminine, and with much more pain.
"You vile naga shall soon feel the wrath of Justice. Maiev's forces grow stronger with each passing night. The portal that Betrayer opened was kept by our druids and …"
"Thank you, Ulien. That is enough."
"It wasss a pleasssure, milord. Anything elssse?"
"Just one more thing. Call my lieutenants in my chambers. Oh and please inform Lord Illidan I must tend to my people for a while. Seems they are not in top form and need to relax for a while."
"Asss you wisssh."
Kael turned around to glance at the skies. He prayed this thing would work. Looking at the package in his hands he whispered something. A blue light covered his hands. In a small flash the package was gone. Kael looked up. At least the weather on Azeroth would be better.
Another storm was starting. Elven curses following the thunder. Just as fast as the other one, thunder and lightning began to rip the skies. Well maybe these storms weren't the result of demon lords passing though. They were just influenced by the magic. Still he could shake up the feeling he was being watched.
"I really need to stop thinking about stupid demons for a while." These were the last work before the leader of the blood elves went to his chambers to set Lady Vashj's plan in motion.
Near the first portal from Outland to Azeroth, two colossal creatures were apparently waiting. A large mass of chaotic energy made themlook at a storm passing nearby.
"You are late, Kil'jaden. I do not like my lieutenants to lack punctuality." Said the first one.
"Forgive me, master. It won't happen again."
"It had better not. Now as I was waiting for you, Sargeras told me how exactly to resurrect him."
"SARGERAS? Wasn't he destroyed by one of those foul human Guardians?"
"Oh in the name of the great one you are foolish. You should know that our leader is invisible."
"ENOUGH! Now is not the time for rivalry. The time has come to revive the Burning Legion. But first we must make sure no one suspects this. Second of all, I have been studying this world's history. The so-called Horde was once the Legion's minions, but it seems that someone has failed to control them. That will be taken care of. Kil'jaden your mission will be to make sure to create as mush chaos as you can."
"I have already started this. Soon I will have that puny Lich King and his minions under my command. And Lord Illidan is already convinced about which side he would choose!"
"Yes, I must say it was very intriguing to see such a hybrid. A quite powerful hybrid at that. Perfect lieutenant material if I do say so. I approve of your ways for now. Do not dare to disappoint me."
"Never, milord."
"You may go. Now… Senitar. How did you meeting with the last Guardian go?" a cruel smile came up to the face of the silent demon lord.
"Well it seems like he doesn't like our kind now. Strange, having in mind he once held the amazing essence of Sargeras in him. But it would've been much more fun to battle him."
"That would have ruined all our plans. I have a new mission for you. Make sure the great one's body is returned to the Great Dark Beyond. I cannot keep his essence in me for much longer."
"Yes, yes of course. But my minions are having troubles keeping hidden and digging in the depths of the sea. They need a distraction in order to work faster. A human ship almost spotted one of my succuba. Pity I had to let it pass."
"Patience. Soon they will all be in ashes."
A.N. Hope someone enjoys this. Well if not at least tell me to stop writing.
