New story idea that I got while going back through Warcraft 3 and some cinematics/in-game RP stuff from Icecrown Citadel. Also a big shout-out to Krucial, the Warcraft YouTuber whose video of "Farewell, My Brother" plays a massive part into the idea of this story.
Marek approached the downed man, the Lich King. A man he once he knew as Arthas Menethil, crown prince of Lordaeron, his best friend. He watched as Jaina wept over his fallen body. He felt numb, more so than ever before in his life. He watches as the spirit of the old king, Arthas's father, Terenas, fade away with his warning of "There must always be a Lich King."
'I could've done something, anything, to prevent this.' He thought internally, looking at the dead body of his best friend. The adventurers that had fought Arthas had left already, leaving only a select few there. His eyes widened at an item around Arthas's neck, barely noticeable hidden under the armor.
"Jaina…. Around his neck." Jaina, through tear-stained eyes, looked at Arthas's neck and gasped, covering her mouth. Marek knelt down and grabbed the item, a locket given to Arthas by Jaina. "The locket…. You gave it to him so long ago….."
Jaina sniffled, "He kept it? All this time he kept it!?" Jaina hugged Marek tightly as he wrapped his hands around Jaina's back comfortingly. "I knew it" She said muffled in tears. "I sensed a part of him still alive struggling….. Trapped, Struggling….. Oh Arthas!"
Marek patted her back softly, his own tears threatening to fall down his face. Muradin walked up to the two. "There was a lot we all could'a done differently. Even I, if I hadn't been searching for that damn blade, we would'a left there." Muradin threw his hammer and axe on the ground, growling in self-loathe.
"If only I had been able to prevent him from lifting that accursed blade, none o' this would'a happened!" Marek wiped a tear away before he looked over at Sylvanas, standing near the edge. He walked over to the Banshee Queen, standing beside her.
"So, it's done." She muttered, looking over the horizon. "The Lich King is no more." Marek looked out. "For now, there must be a Lich King or else the Scourge will run rampant. There are still commanders out there, but even they cannot control them all, even Kel'Thuzad could not." Sylvanas stood mutely as Marek continued. "Many of them are like the Forsaken, broken free from his grasp and will need guidance. They will need you Sylvanas."
Sylvanas looked at him out the corner of her eye. "Why not you? You were one of the last commanders of Lordaeron, would they not follow you best? I lead before and I failed. In my pride, I was slain and raised into this….. monstrosity of a form."
Marek shook his head. "They don't need a commander of Lordaeron, they need the Banshee Queen of the Forsaken. Someone who understands them." Sylvanas looked back to the horizon, nodding slightly in silence.
Seven years later
"VARIAN!" Marek shouted from the airship as the king of Stormwind dropped from his grasp, drawing his sword and plunging it into the huge Fel Reaver like machine. The grizzled man was pulled back by Genn. "Don't let his sacrifice be in vain Marek! He needs you to help Anduin!"
"No damn it, I'm not losing another one! I'm not losing another brother!" Marek tried to squirm out of Greymane's arms but held him back. "Get us out of here!" Greymane shouted as the last thing that Marek saw of Varian was Gul'Dan placing a fel orb into the High King's chest and causing the man to disintegrate. "NOOOOO!"
He was later walking to the citadel within Dalaran, hearing the council arguing with Jaina about letting the horde back within its halls. "They are all monsters! Cowards! They left us to die at the Broken Shore." Marek frowned softly as his eyes widened at what she said next. "If there are welcomed back, I will not be one of them welcoming them."
Marek slammed his hammer down on the ground to get the council's attention. "We need everyone here Jaina. Not all of them are like Garrosh, what about Thrall?" Jaina's eyes narrowed. "Even you Marek? They bombed Theramore, a city you helped build!"
"AND WHAT OF IT JAINA?!" He shouted, the ever-calm paladin losing his nerves and shocking the council. "Jaina Proudmoore, do you not realize the stakes here are higher than any hatred one side may have against the other? I understand you're hurting, I might be the only one in this room that is hurting just as much, if not more than you. My order is shattered between religious zealots and what remains now of the Argent Crusade. Tirion, Uther, Mograine, many of my order are dead. My kingdom is lost, I have lost now not one but two brothers, one of which I had to fight and the other I could do nothing to save."
Jaina's eyes narrowed. "If that's how it is, I want nothing to do with Your Horde." Marek's eyes widened as she teleported away to who knows whereas he fell to his knees. "Not another one, I can't lose another one so soon…." Khadgar placed a calming hand on his shoulder as Marek broke down, something he hadn't done since he was forced to fight Arthas on top of Icecrown Citadel.
A month later
Marek growled, fighting off wave after wave of demons in Azsuna with the reclaimed Ashbringer. "So, this is where you've been off to, paladin." Marek's eyes narrowed as he turned around. "Balnazzar, Mal'Ganis. One who ruled over the kingdom of my brother, the other the corruptor." He glared fiercely at the two Natherzim, one hued in purple, the other in green. "I'm not as narrow-minded as Arthas, nor am I easily vanquished like Saidan."
The two laughed. "Of course you aren't. We're well aware of what you're capable of, but don't think we don't have plans to deal with the likes of you, paladin. Do try to keep up, it would be a shame if you were to fall before the game's conclusion." They both disappeared before Marek could drive the Ashbringer through them both. "Damn it!"
He growled softly before pounding his fist into the ground. 'There is no end to these creatures, they have to be slain in the Twisting Nether to be fully dead from what Velen told us.' He somberly looked at the battleground as it was a standstill once more. 'Arthas, Saidan, Uther….. I don't know what to do anymore…..'
Marek's eyes closed before widening exponentially. "Garrosh. He used a member of the bronze dragonflight to go back in time to an alternate Draenor." He gave the Ashbringer to one of the paladin adventurers that once were on top of Icecrown Citadel as he called for a Gryphon to take him back to Dalaran.
He was veered off-course by some of the Legion's Fel Bats as he had to escape them. He crash landed on the outskirts of Stratholme, still plagued but no undead wandering around. He dusted himself off before sensing a presence. "Kel'Thuzad." He turned and instead of the lich he was accustomed to, it was the spirit of the lich, in his old human form that he hadn't seen in years.
"You've arrived, good. It took you a bit longer than I expected, but better later than never." Kel'Thuzad said with mirth in his voice. "Why are you here Lich?" Marek questioned with narrowed eyes. "Because this isn't the destiny that was foretold. The Legion will overrun Azeroth in a manner of weeks, Gul'Dan is planning to summon Kil'Jaeden to this plane, and once he is here it is only a matter of time before the Dark Titan himself arrives."
Marek's eyes widened only slightly. "Bolvar has awakened and is rallying the Ebon Blade to fight them, so your King is doing his part." Kel'Thuzad chuckled. "But he isn't as strong or experienced as King Arthas….. or you." "Me?"
Kel'Thuzad nodded. "But of course. If the young prince had failed to take the bait, the Lich King planned to make you his champion. Even when Arthas was the Lich King, he always sought after you for his left-hand man."
Marek stood at the ground, thinking. After a few minutes he spoke up. "But there isn't a way. Arthas is dead, Bolvar is the Lich King, and the Legion is invading." Kel'Thuzad smiled knowingly. "You know there is. The bronze dragons, and the Lich King raised a few into his service. He bestowed upon me the knowledge that they knew, including the magic of time travel."
Marek's head shot up and stared at the spirit. "What do you want Necromancer? You wouldn't tell me this information all willy nilly. What do you stand to gain?" Kel'Thuzad sighed. "Arthas was a good pick, but he wasn't the best. You are. When you were not with him and I was still with the Kirin Tor, you used to listen to me talk about the studies of necromancy. That is how you managed to fight so well against our forces. You remembered the lessons that I taught you, even if you were a young one then."
Marek sighed softly, closing his eyes. "Do you have what you need to do so? Once they feel the input of magic going into this, we'll have the Legion and Azeroth's defenders coming down on us."
"But of course. One must always be prepared, even for their own death. Be warned though Marek, this spell has never been performed. It may erase this timeline from existence." Kel'Thuzad warned.
Marek opened his eyes, a darkness overtaking them as he had thought about how he had failed so much despite successes. Yes, he had managed to fight with the defenders at Hyjal to drive off Archimonde, but the Legion returned. He helped build a city alongside Jaina, but he let many of them fall. He managed to find and save Muradin but failed to saved Arthas and Varian.
"Do what you have to, Kel'Thuzad. I'll make sure you aren't interrupted." Kel'Thuzad let out a dry chuckle. "Ironic. The prince that you failed to save said the same words to me when I summoned the Legion many years ago." One last jab he supposed at his failures….
Thirty minutes later
Marek panted, fighting off wave after wave of demonic invaders. There truly was no end to them. After having enough, he slammed his hammer forcefully onto the ground, causing a holy shockwave to crash forward into the approaching demons, turning them to ash.
"Is it ready yet necromancer!" He yelled, looking back as the portal was nearly opened.
"Stand down Highlord!" A voice said as Marek's eyes narrowed, five mages teleporting in front of him as the last landed on the ground in a raven form, turning into Khadgar.
(Insert I'm So sorry, from Star Wars)
"Khadgar, to what do I owe this visit?" Marek said softly. "We felt the influx of magic coming from this area, as well as the light show you showed off." Marek panted heavily, winded from the overuse of magic and the wounds that had been inflicted.
"Khadgar…. I can't keep doing this. I've lost so much… Varian, Arthas, Theramore, Lordaeron, so much I could've prevented if I hadn't reassured Him that I could watch over the kingdom while he went hunting."
Jaina soon arrived with a teleport, eyes narrowed at seeing all the ashes of dead demons as she gasped softly, seeing Marek's wounds. Marek turned away, closing his eyes as tears threatened to spill out.
"Why? Why are you working with Kel'Thuzad, Marek?! He was one of the reasons for Arthas's downfall! How could you work with a madman like him?!" Marek let out a heavy sigh. "The portal is ready paladin! Walk through it, and you'll be sent back in time!" The mages' eyes all widened in shock before Marek, using the last reserves of magic, through up a holy barrier to prevent their access.
Jaina pounded on the barrier as Khadgar and the other council members tried to bypass it. "Marek! Please! Don't do this! I can't afford to lose another one of my friends, one of my family!" Marek had been advancing towards the portal before Jaina's words had reached him.
"Jaina, I'm sorry. About everything." He turned to face her, tears falling down his face and onto the unholy ground. "If I erase this timeline because of my actions, so be it." He placed a hand on the barrier, on Jaina's from his side. He smiled at her sadly.
"If you somehow remember what's happened, just know that I am, and always will be sorry. I could never compete, or even replace Arthas, we both know that." Her breath hitched as she watched him approach the portal. "Please….. Marek, please don't do this…" Marek looked back at her as the barrier started to waver, him looking paler as it was up longer as he coughed up some blood.
He smiled a soft but sad smile. "I'm sorry sea girl….. but this will be the last time I can help you. Once Stratholme occurs, you'll be glad to have Arthas with you again." The barrier shattered as he walked through the portal, Jaina falling to her knees, sobbing, as Khadgar and the council ran after him before the portal shut.
Khadgar looked at the ghostly spirit of Kel'Thuzad. "Where did you send him?" Kel'Thuzad merely smiled, "To the beginning of course. He will be a much better Lich King than Arthas." Jaina coughed from crying before she stood up, bronze dragons flying overhead to their location.
(End I'm So Sorry)
Many, many years in the past, now the present
A young Marek could be seen tripping as he was playing with a young boy and girl. "Marek, are you alright?" The young girl asked as the other boy helped him up. "Thanks Renault…. I'm fine Sally, just a bit of a stumble." Marek smiled softly.
"I'm just going to get a drink real quick, that's all." Sally nodded as the two children went back to playing as Marek walked to the inn. He gripped his head softly, shaking it softly as he got his water and went out, sitting near the dock.
'What was that? I don't usually trip like that.' His eyes widened as he gripped his head tighter. Memories of an alternative time soared through his head as he grit his teeth. 'J-Jaina… Arthas…..' After a time the pain had passed before he looked around.
'I'm back…..' He smiled softly before returning the glass to the inn. He walked past the group huddled around the fire, eyes becoming blank as he listened in. 'That crystal… becomes the Ashbringer….. I can't make the same mistakes Arthas did, I must be better.'
At the same time, at the roof of Azeroth in the frozen heart of Northrend
If the spirit in the armor could grin, it would. "It seems that there's a stronger candidate to be my chosen champion….. Marek Pendragon. The plan will continue, just not with Prince Arthas it seems." The spirit of the fallen orc chieftain, Ner'zhul, said to itself. 'Maybe he can be the one to free me and reunite me with my lost Rulkan.'
Back in Southshore with Marek
Marek went back to where Renault and Sally were playing as he saw a tall boy hovering over Renault, having pushed him over. "What are you going to do about it Renny? What if I want Sally as my girlfriend huh?" Marek walked over; his eyes narrowed. "What do you want Herod? Still being a bully huh?"
"Oh if it isn't little Marek?" Herod teased, getting a few chuckles from his buddies. "What are you going to do, read me to boredom?" Marek's eyes narrowed before he walked up to Herod and gave a sharp right to the future champion of the Scarlet Crusade's gut, causing the boy's eyes to widen as he dropped to his knees, gasping for air.
Marek looked down at the boy as he started to cry. "Sometimes you have to know when might makes right, and when it doesn't. You keep being a bully Herod, you'll have no friends, and you'll live a very lonely life."
Marek looked at Sally and Renault. "I'm going up to Tarren Mill, don't wait up for me." Sally gripped his arm. "By yourself?! That's dangerous Marek!" Marek smiled softly as a man was walking by, talking to someone else. "Not by myself, I'm going with those two." Sally reluctantly let go after a while. "Be safe okay?"
Marek smiled and nodded, running after the two men. "Uncle! Uncle!" The older gentleman turned and smiled slightly. "Ahh, young Marek. How have you been?" Marek's eyes had a hint of recollection in them as he smiled. "I've been alright Uncle! Who's this man?" The old man chuckled slightly. "He is Helcular, a friend of mine."
Marek smiled, "Is he interested in that magic that you do uncle?" The uncle chuckled more, "A little bit." Helcular crossed his arms slightly, a look between a smile and a frown on his face. "A curious lad isn't he, Kel'Thuzad?" "He is but like you and me Helcular, curious about the world around him and quite knowledgeable in the stuff he wants to learn about."
Years later at the outskirts of Strahnbrad (start of Warcraft 3)
"Are you sure he's coming?" An older Marek said, sitting at the camp with Uther and a few other footmen. "The longer we have to wait for him, the more citizens are put into danger." Marek sat at 6'1", clad in armor of Lordaeron with a decently sized claymore not too far away.
"Calm yourself lad. The Prince will be here soon." The older man, Uther, told him chidingly. Marek calmed himself. "I'm just worried Lord Uther. Like I said, the longer he takes, more civilians will be put in danger because of the orcs." There were sounds of horses approaching as Marek sighed softly, muttering a quick "about time" as he stood up. Uther shot him an amused smirk before meeting the figures halfway.
"Welcome Prince Arthas. The men and I are honored by your presence." Uther said mirthfully as Arthas got off his horse with a kind smile. "Can the formalities Uther, I'm not king yet. It's good to see you."
Marek chuckled slightly. "About time you got here, I was about to go off and start slaying some orcs myself. It's been a long time Arthas." "Marek? How'd they get you into that suit of armor, thought you hated that stuff." They both laughed at that before hugging each other. "It's good to see you as well old friend."
Marek smiled, "Oh believe me, I tried to get out of it. Damn thing weighs me down too much, but they thought it'd better protect me against the orcs. Soon as we're done here, I'm getting out of this thing."
Uther pat them both on the shoulders. "I'm pleased that King Terenas sent you both to aid me here." Arthas smiled teasingly, "Father still hopes your patience and experience might rub off on me." Marek snorted as Uther smiled, "Well it is a father's right to dream isn't it?" The three men laughed together as the footmen and captains all had a smile on their faces.
Uther led them both over to the table with the plans on them. "The orcs are planning an attack on the nearby village of Strahnbrad. I'll be taking my men and Marek to where they are based, we'll try to parlay with the orcs. I want you to heed the defense here lad." Arthas looked surprised, as did Marek. "Me? But of course Uther!"
Marek patted Arthas's shoulder and smiled. "I was expecting me to stay here and defend them while you went with Uther. Up to the challenge old friend?" Arthas nodded. "I can do this; I'll meet you at the forward base once I've driven off the orcs."
Uther smiled. "I'll send a knight or two for escorts, just to be on the safe side. No telling where there'll be an ambush." Marek walked over and grabbed his sword, hefting it over his shoulder.
"Do your best Arthas, we can't save everyone, but we can save most. Don't take too long, or else Uther might send me down to help out." Marek said teasingly as Arthas rolled his eyes in amusement as Uther chuckled. Arthas left with some footmen and Captain Falric as Uther and Marek left for the encampment.
Marek got up on his horse and rode alongside them. "If you don't mind Lord Uther, I'm going to meditate on our way there." Uther nodded, "Didn't take you for one for meditation Marek." Marek smiled slightly, "Just a bit of clearing my head and keeping myself calm. It's been a rough couple of years after all."
Marek closed his eyes, holding onto the reigns of his horse, Galifrax. Inside his mind he came face to face with his future self. "So the orcs have started their attacks. Are there any significant dealings here we should be worried about?" He asked his future self.
F. Marek shook his head. "Not at all, a knight will be sent to Arthas after he mostly saves the town. Kel'Thuzad is starting to spread the plague through the grain as we speak, the cult is starting to assemble and move. We'll have to do everything in our power to ensure Arthas doesn't go to Northrend."
P. Marek just looked at his future self in confusion. "You keep telling me that Arthas cannot go to Northrend. What could possibly be so dangerous up there? We have colonies up there that haven't reported anything out of the ordinary."
F. Marek shook his head. "I cannot say, even me being here in your mind is a bit confusing to me. All I can say is that what is located in Northrend is the reason why Kel'Thuzad was banished from the Kirin Tor. When we meet Kel'Thuzad again, our memories will fuse, and you'll see why Arthas cannot be allowed to head to Northrend."
P. Marek sighed as he sat in the space. "Riddles and unhelpful warnings, it sounds like that madman that was at the King's chambers a few weeks ago."
"I realize that, but unlike that prophet, I can and will show you what happens if Arthas heads there once our memories fuse. The documents you've managed to recover prove that the leadership is incompetent, as well as my previous knowledge."
P. Marek frowned softly. Genn was building a wall and leaving the alliance, Stormwind was recovering from the first invasion of the orcs, Silvermoon was sending limited aid, Stromguarde was a mess, Alterac was in ruins, and Dalaran is too overconfident in their own magics to be of any help, other than the few mages that they send. Kul'Tiras was doing everything they could but Marek couldn't get his hands on anything about their info.
"Couldn't we do anything to save them?" P. Marek asked. F. Marek shook his head with a laugh. "Unfortunately no. Their pride and arrogance are their downfalls. But enough of that for now. It's time to wake up and deal with the orcs, don't want Uther to be too suspicious of us."
He nodded and breathed out, opening his eyes as they had just arrived to where their encampment would be. "Lord Uther, this looks to be a suitable place. There's a gold mine and plenty of trees in the area."
Uther nodded, "Aye lad, I noticed that too. There seems to be a pair of dwarvern blacksmiths nearby as well. They could help us in producing better weapons and armor for the men if necessary to deal with the orcs."
