Chapter 9

Orgrimmar

A warm gust of wind swept the dry dust of Orgrimmar into the air, carrying a plume towards the massive gates. Tameriel strode quickly towards the guards, barely holding herself back from breaking out into a run. "Open the gates. Let him in", she said, her tone bearing the importance of haste. The guards followed orders, and the doorway groaned as its hinges turned, allowing entry into the city.

A single human stood alone, perfectly still, as if awaiting instructions. Tameriel stepped forward. "Matt! It's good to see you again. If you'll follow me, the dark lady eagerly awaits your presence."

He looked at her with a smile that she couldn't decrypt, "Of course, Tameriel."

She led the way, eyes from the guards and the residents of the city following them all the while. It wasn't the place for a conversation, but Tameriel felt something different about him. She couldn't quite place it, but it was there. His demeanour and his aura seemed to carry more weight than before. It felt strange. He followed, wordless, which only served to confirm her thoughts.

She led him indoors, bringing him directly to Sylvanas's room. "She's inside." She turned to face him, scrutinizing him. Her eyes crinkled, "Please, don't hurt her." She surprised herself with her open display of such vulnerability, but she meant every word. For a split second, his eyes glowed a soft blue. Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder, "You're a good friend to her Tameriel. I hope she understands that." He turned the handle and disappeared inside the room, closing the door behind him. Tameriel visibly wilted. He was different. Something happened, and she didn't know what it was. She was both happy and sad, a potent mix that caused her to well up. For the first time since her undeath, large, wet tears began to fall onto her cheeks. Her shock and confusion at this sudden turn of events, was only overwritten by the disturbing plethora of rushing emotions. She felt saved and damned at the same time, and she couldn't explain it. She raised her hands to her face, her last attempt to stop her oncoming sobs, and wondered what had happened to him.

Sylvanas

She heard the door opening and closing, and for a moment, found herself rooted to the spot. She couldn't turn around. When had this human gained such control over her emotions. She could feel his presence behind her.

"Sylvanas", he said, uttering only a single word. Hearing him speak her name, her body moved by itself. Facing him now, her Warchief facade instantly crumbled. She threw her arms around his neck, pressing her cold body against his warmth. She squeezed him tightly, as if he would simply disappear again if she were to let go. All of her previous control over her pent up feelings had vanished. "I thought I would never see you again", her voice cracked with emotion once more. She felt his arms surrounding her and pulling her closer still, his hand combing through her long, bleached white hair. "But, you came back to me", she continued, her head nestled between his neck and shoulder. She pulled back a little to look at him, their faces only inches away. "I did", he smiled at her. A smile filled with light, with love, and with pain and suffering. Looking at him closely, she realized that there was something different about him. His eyes were older, wiser, and filled with...trauma. Her own trauma suddenly flashed in front of her eyes. It had been so long since she had allowed herself to really think about her death, and the hell that followed it. Her oblivion. Darkness, claws tearing at her skin, pure agony, unbridled terror. She began to panic. She had lost all control of her restraint now. Her eyes darted away and then back to his, her disturbing memories returning with abandon. She noticed the concern on his face, but seeing the trauma in his eyes mirroring her own, only served to fuel the return of her own traumatic memories. Things she could never forget, but that she had tried her best to bury deep down, came flooding forward. Agony. She tried to move away from him. Horrifying nothingness. She began to struggle now, feeling claustrophobic. Cold, evil things tormenting her. She began to scream, her arms flailing, pushing him away.

She could feel him struggling to hold her and calm her down. "Sylvanas...Sylvanas, look at me", he commanded in a low tone. Her eyes met his and the soft blue glow began to calm her instantly.

Tameriel burst into the room ready to attack, only to see her queen sitting on the floor, hugging Matt tightly and sobbing. Matt nodded to the dark ranger with that same wonderful and sorrowful smile. She backtracked and left the room again, without a word.

"You're okay now. You're okay Sylvanas. Nothing can hurt you here", he consoled her, holding her tightly. All the emotions that she had kept locked up, deep down inside all this time, spilled out of her. The dam had burst, and she coudn't contain it. She raised her head, tears spilling down her face, "It was when I died, I...", she began through bitter sobs.

"I know. I've seen it...through your eyes. I've seen it all. I know your pain. You never deserved what happened to you, I'm so sorry", he replied.

She gazed into his eyes. "I see the same pain in your eyes, Matt. What happened to you? Even though it felt like a lifetime, it was only a few days. My heart breaks when I look at you. That's what caused me to remember...and...", she tried to choke back her returning sobs.

"I know, I'm sorry", he replied. "You see...In a way, it felt like a lifetime for me."

She looked confused, "What do you mean?"

He paused, his jaw visibly clenching, "Sylvanas, there's more than one reason why I came back here. I need you to fight...with the Alliance. This is no time for differing factions. I need a united Azeroth. We all do. It's the only way that we have a chance against them. You've seen them, right? "

Sylvanas's body stiffened with surprise and anger. She spoke slowly, in a controlled voice, "For you to ask of such a thing from me, from the Horde...Why?...and who are you talking about...wait", her eyebrows knitted together and an involuntary tremble ran through her body. "In the forest, those creatures. You've seen them before? I sensed a tremendous and deeply disturbing power from them. What are they? "

He spoke through gritted teeth. "I've seen them, yes. I've seen enough of them to last ten lifetimes. They're the Nar'zulleem."

She stared at him, confused, "The Nar'zulleem? How do you know their name? How do you know anything about them at all? You were with Alexstrasza", her face turned sour, "That bitch!"

Matt chuckled, "Yeah, if I remember correctly, she said to tell you that she's deeply apologetic for breaking her word, but it was of the utmost importance that she help train me alone."

Sylvanas almost pouted, "That bitch can screw her apology", she placed a hand on his cheek, "She took you away from me. Wait...she was training you. What do you mean? And what do you mean 'If you remember'. It was only days ago."

"Azeroth herself brought me here, I know that now. Alexstrasza knew that I couldn't access my latent powers, so she was training me to control and harness more than I ever had before. So I finally knew who was behind my arrival here. But it was later, on the second day, that both myself and Alexstrazsa were to find out the why. Why Azeroth needed me at all."

Sylvanas noticed that he looked weary now, as if simply the idea of telling the story was draining his energy. And perhaps it was. She was concerned. She almost didn't want to ask him, but she knew that she had to. She needed to find out what was going on. In barely more than a whisper, she asked him, "Matt, what happened?"

He tried to smile again. A smile that would probably have fooled most others, but not her. She knew more than anyone how to plaster a smile over pain and trauma.

She stared long and hard into his eyes, "Tell me."

His smile slowly faded and he began to speak.

Alexstrasza And Matt (2 Days Earlier)

He had been unleashing his burgeoning power for two days straight, and surprisingly, he felt very little fatigue. Alexstrasza had retained her humanoid form during this time, and now she sat down, with her back resting against a tree trunk. The warm rays of the sun beat down on them, causing magical beams of yellow light to illuminate their surroundings, and Matt decided to join her.

She smiled proudly at him, "You have exceeded my expectations. You are indeed the champion that I knew you would become."

"I owe it all to you, thank you Alexstrasza. I haven't done anything of note yet, but at least now, I feel like I a have a modicum of control over this power. Before you, I felt like a blind man running through a forest, just hoping that I was on the right path.

She laughed, a laugh as sweet as honey. The last two days that he had spent with her were a revelation. He felt one with his power now, but it was her presence that had the desired calming effect on him. Sitting beside her now, he felt honored by her presence alone. She was like the mother he had never known. Strong, proud, beautiful, and kind. A kindness that never wavered, that only grew stronger and more pronounced with each passing moment. During their time together, they had had conversations. He had learned things about her and she, in turn, had learned things about him. Finding out about some of the terrible things that had happened to her and her kin, had made him deeply sorrowful. He couldn't understand how anyone on this world could ever hurt such a wonderful and benevolent being. A dragon, a woman, who only ever wanted the best for every living thing on Azeroth. A beauty, and a kindness that he could never hope to replicate.

"I showed you the path. You are the one who has to walk it. But there is still more potential to be harnessed, more that you can wring-", she stopped abruptly.

With Matt's newfound control and awareness, he had also sensed a disturbing presence at the same time. They looked at each other, and with an unspoken understanding, they stood, quietly moving to the source of the disturbance.

They had moved stealthily towards a tightly knit gouping of trees, aligning a small stream. The area felt...wrong. The air itself was contaminated by a fetid odor. The surrounding light appeared to bend and flex in ways that defied physics, in a myriad of directions. It felt as if a weight were pulling them down, and yet their bodies felt light, almost free of the bonds of gravity. Their vision began to waver, and the trees warped, twisting and turning, like paint being mixed on an artist's palette. They could smell magic in the putrid air. A dark, dreadful form of magic, that sent a chill through Matt's spine.

A portal opened and a figure veiled in shadow entered Ashenvale forest. The wisps of blackened smoke began to take shape, and a humanoid form began to appear from the darkness. It was a race that neither dragon nor human had seen before. It was tall, with grey skin and large, ink black eyes. Short, winglike bones jutted from its back, but looked like they had no actual function. Strange horns protruding from its skull only added to the nightmarish vision. Another one suddenly appeared beside the first, and they began to speak to one another in an unknown language. It was clear that they were an intelligent species, and by the looks of their magic, a powerful one at that. Matt and Alexstrasza had made certain to keep their presence hidden and remained where they were, watching from afar. Close enough to see, but far enough away to merely observe for now. The strange race had an air of threat about them, but they couldn't jump to conclusions just yet. Appearances could be deceiving after all.

Alexstraszsa's perfectly still body, suddenly twitched and she moved her head to the left of their position. Matt looked at her, his eyes asking the question, rather than his mouth. She nodded towards the trees and he concentrated. The sounds of the forest and the strange race began to diminish and he could hear rustling in the trees. It sounded like they were still at least a hundred metres away, but quickly approaching their direction. He knew it was a person. They were moving stealthily, purposefully, and if it wasn't for Alexstrasza, he wouldn't have had the chance to use his newfound abilities to detect them at all. He nodded his understanding of the situation to the dragonqueen, shrugging his shoulders, as if asking what they should do. As she attempted to whisper a response, the strange creatures suddenly stopped talking. It became clear that they had become alerted to the unknown, oncoming intruder. It also became clear that they had extremely heightened senses, and Matt was relieved that he and Alexstrasza had kept their distance and remained still.

The portal that they had come from remained open, and one of them turned back and reenterd, instantly disappearing. The other, raised one long sinewy arm, and pointed a bony finger towards the incoming intruder. A whisp of black smoke began to travel soundlessly towards the trees, soon disappearing from view. Almost instantly, Matt heard a scream erupt from the trees. A female scream. One that stopped as immediately as it had begun. Matt and Alexstrasza looked at each other, alarmed, and began to move towards the creature, but not before the whisp of smoke returned, dragging a female elf with it. Matt did a double take. For a moment, it seemed as if time itself had stopped. His heart skipped a beat. He would recognize her anywhere. It was...Valeera. It was an unconcious Valeera who was being dragged towards the still open portal. Matt froze, disbelieving. My God, It's Valeera. How did she get here? Why was she here? But none of that mattered right now. He charged at the creature, with only one thought in his mind. He had to save her.

The black smoke flung Valeera into the portal, and she was gone. Matt roared in horror and desperation, as he watched her disappear in front of his eyes. He wasn't going to lose her again. Alexstrasza, now in her dragon form began to attack the remaining creature. She released a stream of fire breath towards it. Nothing could have survived. Without thinking, Matt took the opprtunity to sprint towards the portal. He wasn't going to leave Valeera again. That was his only thought as he reached the portal's edge.

"Matthew, no, don't", Alexstrasza shouted. He had just enough time to turn around and look at her. Just enough time to see the creature, completely unscathed, look towards him and laugh, with a mouth full of needle sharp teeth. Just enough time to feel a chill travel up his spine, as he was sucked into the portal, leaving Alexstrasza and Azeroth behind.

Orgrimmar

Matt had been telling his story for hours now, and Sylvanas sat entranced. Listening to him was a traumatic experience in itself. She had experienced more emotion than she thought she was capable of, and more fear than she had felt since her short time in hell, all in a period of hours. All that he had experienced on the Nar'zulleem homeworld had rocked her to her core, but she knew that it had all been nothing but the truth.

She placed her hands on his face, gently, caringly. "You have been gone for more than a year...fighting...fighting those things. I still can't believe it, but I can see it in your eyes. I know it to be true. I'm so sorry Matt. All you must have gone through. All you have gone through..." She closed her eyes and opened them again. "The Horde will join the Alliance and anyone else on Azeroth who will fight with us."

For the first time since he had come back, Matt smiled a genuine smile, lighting up his face. "Thank you Sylvanas. We'll need everyone together if we'll survive. I won't forget this, I promise."

They embraced and afterwards Matt stood up and stretched, stifling a yawn. "I have to go to Anduin immediately. He needs to be informed of everything. They're already here and Illidan doesn't know that I survived and made it back to Azeroth. I need to find him too."

"I still find it hard to believe that Illidan Stormrage ended up on their homeworld and fought with you, let alone that you and he became friends. If you hadn't explained everything to me in such fine detail, I don't think I would have ever believed it", replied Sylvanas.

"I'm not sure that we would have survived without each other's help. We both owe each other our lives many times over. Whoever Illidan was, whoever I was...", he said, his words slowly trailing off. His eyes glazed over as if he was staring through her, not at her, "I don't think either of us are the same people. Not quite. What the Nar'zuleem did...what I had to do to survive...I don't think I'll ever be the same, Sylvanas"

"Everything that makes you special, not your power, who you really are, is still there. I sensed it in you when we first met and I sense it in you now more than ever." Her red eyes glowed fiercely, "I cried in front of you. Do you think that I would allow just anyone to see me like that. Anyone else would be dead by dawn."

Matt's eyes crinkled as he chuckled, "Don't worry, I'll make sure the alliance thinks that you're still the cold hearted bitch that they're convinced you are, even though you're joining forces with them."

She pouted dramatically, "Make sure you do! I don't want the lion cub to think that I had gone soft. He'd surely try to convert me to the light."

Matt laughed. "I don't think the alliance will think that you've gone soft. In fact, I think that I'll have my work cut out for me trying to convince them to join forces with the Horde."

"If you managed to convince me, believe me, you'll convince them. After hearing your story, they will have no choice, as I had none."

Matt's face softened. "But you did have a choice. Again, Thank you sylvanas."

"Before you go...", Sylvanas began, trying her utmost to contain her jealousy, "Valeera. What are you going to do?"

Matt closed his eyes, took a deep breath and opened them again. Pain and determination was etched on his face. "It was my fault that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time to begin with. She was looking for me. Losing Valeera to them was my greatest failure. That's what they do. When the Nar'zulleem aren't killing indiscriminantly, they're recruiting...by force. What they did to her was unforgivable. I'll truly never forgive myself for failing her, but I'll never give up on her either. I'm going to fucking destroy every last one of them and get her back, with Azeroth's help. We can do it! I know it's complicated Sylvanas...with us...and with her...I..."

"Right now, we need to prepare", she cut him off, "You should go."

"I'll see you soon. Stay safe", he said.

"You too", she replied.

Matt opened a portal and in a moment, he was gone.

Sylvanas stood by herself, in silence. It was a lot to digest, even for her. Her own personal issues would have to wait. He was back, and that was good enough for her, for now. She would need to assemble the other Horde leaders. Calling for Tameriel, she began to prepare for the coming invasion. For war.

Stormwind

Matt paused part way through his story. Some of the assembled leaders listened on with grim faces, but all eyes were glued to him, and all ears listened intently to his epic tale. They all knew that they would only have been called together for one reason, and surprisingly, for once, it didn't directly involve The Horde. Anduin Wrynn was flanked on either side by Genn Greymane, Jaina Proudmoore, Mathias Shaw, Velen, Turalyon, Alleria Windrunner, Gelbin Mekkatorque, The Council of Three Hammers, Aysa Cloudsinger, and even the night warrior herself, Tyrande Whisperwind. Matt had personally transported Tyrande from Darkshore to Stormwind himself, but only after he had assured her that her army that had been sent to fight the Horde in Ashenvale were indeed safe. He didn't quite know what to make of the night elf leader yet. She made no secret about scrutinizing him, questioning him for longer than he would have liked, considering time was of the essence, and pressing him on information about Sylvanas. Her deep seated hatred of the Warchief was of concern to him, but eventually he managed to convince her to come with him and meet with the rest of the Alliance leaders. Even now, he could feel her black eyes on him, watching his every move, and every facial expression was being dissected.

Anduin was the first to speak. "Matt, so you were sucked into the portal after Valeera. What happened to her? Did she come back with you? Is she okay?"

Genn interrupted, "Who are these Nar'zuleem and what do they want?"

"What form of magic were they using? What you described sounds both familiar and unfamiliar", Jaina added.

"Enough", Tyrande raised her voice, silencing the others. She turned her head back towards Matt, her eyes yet again, firmly fixed on him. "Let him continue and our questions shall be answered. Is that not true, Champion?"

Matt nodded to her. "Thank you, my Lady. That's true."

The corners of her mouth curled with a hint of a smile, "Well then. By all means, continue."

Anduin nodded his approval, and Matt continued his tale.

Narzum - The Nar'zuleem Homeworld (Day One)

He was met by a violet hewed sky, dazzling, both in its powerful light and in it's stunning beauty. The portal had transported him to a fantastical land. One that made even Azeroth look plain and vanilla in comparison. He entered into a valley where gargantuan mountains flanked him on either side. He wasn't sure if it was the effects of this worlds atmosphere in respect to the light, but the land practically glowed in different hues of purple. He looked to the sky, unaware that he was holding his breath, and stared, mesmerized at the three suns hanging like lanterns in the heavens. The shadows cast by the mountains only heightened the visual appeal. It was like a painting brought to life. But it was what lay in front of him, through the gap in between the mountains, that was the pinnacle of this visual masterpiece.

Towering buildings that scraped the sky lay before him. They made Earth's most impressive architectural superstructures look paltry in the presence of these works of art. From his viewpoint, miles away, he couldn't tell whether they were made of a white stone or some sort of material construction, but they were magnificent and numerous. It was a city. Of that, he had no doubt. The sprawling ivory metropolis stood out even more, as it appeared to absorb the violet rays of the planet's atmosphere, instead, almost glowing itself. A bright white beacon in a world of lilac. He almost forgot himself. Almost forgot the reason why he was here. It was the sound of falling shale from the mountainside that snapped him back to reality.

His muscles tensed as he turned towards the noise. The creature that had preceeded him through the portal was about five hundred metres ahead of him, and he had Valeera with him. She was still coiled up in the black, tendril like smoke and still seemingly unconscious. Matt gasped in surprise and relief. He had found them. He wasn't too late, and by the looks of it, he hadn't been noticed either. He couldn't believe his luck. His eyes glowed a fierce blue and he launched himself towards the vile kidnapper, using his newfound powerful magic. Nothing was going to stop him from saving her, and nobody or nothing could stop him now. He was sure of it.

He was able to approach from behind, flying silently, until he was directly above and behind his prey. He took out his dagger from it's sheath and prepared to strike. He could have used his magic, destroying the creature with ease, but this was personal. And he was confident in his own strength. He remembered Alexstrasza's flames seemed to have no effect on the other one, so he would have his magic in reserve if the blade couldn't penetrate its grey skin. He lowered himself until he was just behind the creature's neck and he smiled. He felt cocky, almost gluttonous in his fury and hellbent on vengeance. He wanted this vile, demonic looking wretch to know that he had been bested before he inhaled his last breath. He was inches away now.

"Hey, fuckface!", Matt growled.

The creature quickly turned his head, just in time to see Matt smile.

He plunged the dagger deeply, to the hilt, into the creature's neck. It seemed that a blade worked as well on this creature as on any other humanoid. It's large black eyes opened wide in surprise, as it's needle filled mouth gaped in horror. He took out the blade, thick, violet hued spatter covering both of them, and took no time plunging it into his neck yet again. The creature dropped to it's knees as blood gushed from the ugly wound, flowing down his body and forming a pool below him. Matt ejected the dagger and stuck it directly through the creatures right eye, piercing it's brain, as it began to twitch in a disturbing fashion. Soonafter, it dropped to the ground, unceremoniously, and lay completely still.

Matt took no time in rushing over to Valeera. She was still coiled up in the black smoke which was even now, connected to the creatures back. It was clearly magic of some kind, but with the creature dead, surely the magic should have dissipated. He thought it was strange. He slashed his hand forwards, severing one of the tendrils with his light magic, but it reformed instantly. He tried again and again to no avail, and just as his frustration threatened to boil over, he felt a gnarled hand grip his shoulder from behind.

His insticts and improved skills took over and he instantly cast a defense spell in his mind. The spell was one that he had worked on with Alexstrasza and would cause the attacker to be struck with a debilitating shock that would render any living thing paralyzed, close to death, but not quite. Or at least, that's would have happened if his spell had to have activated. It took him a moment to realize that the one suffering from paralysis was himsef. He couldn't move an inch. He was stuck staring forward, right at the unconcious Valeera, and struggle as he might, he couldn't break free of the attackers' spell. He could hear footsteps, and his assailant strolled nonchalently in front of him, impairing his view of Valeera. At first, he assumed that it must have been another of the creatures that he hadn't noticed, but the figure that stood in front of him now, was none other than the same creature that he had just killed. Or the same creature that he thought he had killed, to be more precise. The dagger was still lodged in it's eye but the neck wounds had completely healed. It looked at him as it slowly withdrew the blade from it's eye socket, letting it fall to the ground with a metallic clang. Matt watched as the empty socket instantly regrew the eye and the creature blinked at him and smiled, bearing his needle fangs.

The creature spoke to him in what he could only describe as a distorted, disturbing voice. It's vibrato tone made for an intimidating listen.

"That was very stupid of you, human thing. Very, very, stupid indeed", he said.

Matt tried to respond, but no words could escape his lips. The paralysis held firm.

"You should never have followed me here. Why did you?", he began and as if suddenly understanding, he turned to Valeera and then back to Matt. "Did you come for this elf thing?" He smiled again, and this time Matt couldn't stop a shiver crawling up his spine. His instincts were telling him to flee, that something terrible was about to happen, but he couldn't bat an eylid, let alone grab Valeera and run.

"You did come for her, didn't you?" He began to inhale and exhale, blowing air out of his lungs rapidly, causing a ghastly sound bereft of any humor, to escape his lips. Matt realized that the thing was laughing, and all the blood suddenly drained from his face.

"I am Kar'coran." He looked at Valeera again and slowly turned his head back to Matt. "What is your name human thing?"

Matt found that he could speak. "My name is Matt. Look, It was me. Valeera has nothing to do with-" His speech was suddenly cut off, and again, he was rendered fully paralyzed.

"Matt...and...", he looked at the elf, "Valeera." He smiled again at Matt. "You should never have followed me to Narzum. You would do well to remember my name, human thing Matt. But, I think that you will. I really do think that you will." With that, he strolled over to Valeera, and Matt felt his heart leap inside his chest. He was scared. No, he was terrified, and he still couldn't move a muscle.

Kar'coran waved his hand and Valeera began to open her eyes. She blinked and saw Matt standing in front of her. Her face lit up with a wonderous smile, "Matt...Matt...is it really you. You are alive. I knew it. I just knew it. I could feel it. It's so good to see you again. I'm so sorry for leaving you, I..." As if suddenly noticing where she was and the creature that stood beside her, her tone turned to one of fear and uncertainty, especially when Matt didn't answer her. She realized that there was terror in his eyes. "Where are we? Who is this? Matt? Matt, why won't you answer me? What's going on?

Matt struggled furiously to speak, even just one word, but the strenuous effort was utterly futile.

Valeera's midrift was still being held still by the black coils, but she could move her limbs. "Matt...Matt, speak to me, what's going on?"She reached out her hand to him, pleading for an answer, when Kar'coran, almost lazily, lifted a finger and using his magic, swiped downwards, severing Valeera's right arm above the elbow.

Matt screamed inside his head as Valeera began to scream for real. Her arm fell to the floor in a sickening thump, as he was forced to watch Valeera shriek and cry, in agony and fear. Her eyes rolled in pain and bewilderment, as tears streamed down her face. Matt could barely breathe, as this internal torment tore at him from the inside. Kar'coran flicked his finger again and severed Valeera's other arm from the shoulder. Valeera screamed and screamed and screamed in agony as she dropped to her knees. Her eyes glazed over like a terrified deer, surrounded by lions, awaiting a terrible death. Matt roared and bellowed in his mind, straining his muscles with everything that he had, but again, to no avail. Tears streaming down his face was all that this terrible magic would allow. He felt as if he was dying inside. Watching Valeera's torture was an internal pain that he had never experienced before. Kar'coran stood leering at Matt, delighting in his internal agony, and flicked his finger again, severing the terrified elf's left leg from below the knee. Valeera shrieked in her suffering, falling forwards into the mountainside dust. Her tortured sobs became muffled by the ground, and as she moved her head to the side, Matt could see that her skin was as pale white as the magnificent city. She had lost too much blood. She was going to die, in torment and fear. Brutally, horribly, as her knight in shining armor stood and watched. He felt something break inside him, and he knew that his life as he knew it was over. He wished for his own death, there and then. In his mind, he begged for it. He couldn't take seeing her like this. He was done.

Kar'coran looked at him as if satisfied. As if he knew that he had broken this stupid human. He moved his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, Valeera's limbs had reattached. Or at least that's what it seemed like to Matt. He really didn't know what had happened. One minute she was sobbing on the ground, mutilated. And the next, she began to shakily lift herself off the ground, with all of her limbs where they shoud be.

The creature spoke to him. "Have you learned your lesson, human thing Matt?"

Matt found that he was allowed to speak again, and yet he found it hard to form words, such was the trauma that he had just experienced. He finally managed to utter a couple of words, his voice coarse with emotion, "Y...Yes...I...have."

Kar'coran began to laugh again, the strange and terrible sound reverberating off the rockface. "I like to make sure. I like to make very sure, human thing Matt. And I'm not sure that you have learned your lesson quite yet."

Utter dread began to crawl back up Matt's spine as he saw Kar'coran begin to gesture with his finger. Kar'coran amputated Valeera's right leg this time, as the terrified blood elf screamed in renewed agony. If he could have, Matt would have vomited. He had seen enough. Just imagining what Valeera was going through was enough for him. He prayed and begged and cried for her in his mind, but what good was that to her. He was useless. He caused this. It was all his fault.

Matt didn't know how long he had watched Kar'coran mutilate Valeera in front of him, and reattach her limbs. But it happened again, and again, and again until the vile creature was satisfied that he had learned his lesson. Both Matt and Valeera were utterly broken. Neither could speak, even if it was allowed. They were tortured and tormented until their brains couldn't process the pain anymore. His mind was saturated in a hazy fog, as shock overcame him.

It was only later, when he woke up in a cell, barely lit by a small light in the corner of the room, that everything hit him all at once. The outward grief that he wasn't allowed to express earlier that day, escaped him in a flood. He lay on the ground, and cried, deep, painful sobs. Thinking about what Kar'coran had done to Valeera kept going around and around in his head. He began to scream. Roaring in sorrow, lamenting what was done to her, and eventually the pain turned to anger. An anger that he had never experienced before boiled inside him. Anger at himself, for being utterly useless and cocky, but his most powerful and vengeful anger was directed at Kar'coran. He screamed in fury as he puched the bars of his cell again and again, spraying his own blood everywhere from his mangled hands. He unleashed spell after spelll at the cell walls to no avail. These creatures were more powerful than he was right now. He was stuck, without even knowing what had happened to Valeera. He was alone. Utterly alone.

"Are you finished, human?", a deep voice echoed.

Taken by surprise, Matt tensed, expecting to see one of the creatures approach his cell. He moved towards the bars, straining his eyes to see in the weak light. After a moment, he realized that there was a cell opposite his own, and the sound of...hooves... could be heard stepping closer, until , suddenly, a tall...night elf...no...demon, he wasn't sure which, stepped into the light, behind the opposing cell bars.

"Who are you", Matt asked, his hoarse voice still tense. It seemed to him that the figure opposite was part night elf and part demon. He didn't know what to think or how to react.

"I'm not sure that question is the most relevant one at this moment, human. What is your name?", the figure asked.

"My name is Matt Dawson. I'm going to ask again, who are you and what are you doing here? You're clearly not one of them. What are we dealing with in this place and most importantly...how do we get the fuck out of here? I have someone I need to kill", he replied, gritting his teeth.

"Your first act should be to calm down. Take my word for it, Matt. Your energy will be needed. We have much to discuss if we are to get out of here alive. We can help each other", the demon night elf responded calmly. "I am from Azeroth. My name is Illidan. Illidan Stormrage."

Stormwind

Anduin looked shaken, and he wasn't the only one. Matt had relayed his experience about Narzum and the threat to Azeroth for hours, and even though his story ended with his eventual escape, Anduin kept coming back to his friend, Valeera, and her revolting torture. And what happened afterwards with her...he couldn't believe it. He felt numb.

"So we face a threat that we haven't had to face since the burning legion. A threat not just against us, but against every living race in the universe?", Anduin asked Matt, trying to steel his voice.

"Yes", Matt answered. "As I explained, time works differently in Narzum. I've spent over a year listening, learning and fighting, and I tell you all now, It wasn't just Azeroth that survived the burning legion, so did the Nar'zulleem. They didn't just survive. They adapted, they thrived, and they evolved into a war machine like no other. The first were just scouts. They are coming, all of them, whether we like it or not. You have all heard my story, the important parts anyway. You know this to be true."

"I still can't believe...Illidan...what you two did, and he's back. Malfurion will need to be told immediately", Tyrande interjected.

"He's somewhere here, yeah. When we finally made our escape to warn Azeroth, he made it out, thinking that I was dead. I have to find him", Matt replied.

Jaina looked around the room and then focused her gaze on Matt. "We all have so many more questions."

"And I'll answer all of them, but there's a more pressing issue at hand." Matt glanced at Tyrande. "Anduin. Azeroth needs to come together or I'm telling you now, we don't stand a chance. Putting it simply, we're all dead. I'm your most powerful weapon against them, but I need everyone with me. No, I think that it's more fitting to say that Azeroth herself needs everyone with her. The Alliance needs to join forces with The Horde, along with every other able body on this planet. Lady Sylvanas Windrunner, the Warchief of The Horde, has already agreed to join us."

Matt heard a gasp, and looked to see a female elf holding her hand over her mouth in surprise. "Sister...", she whispered. So that's Sylvanas's sister, Matt thought to himself.

Everyone looked surprised, shocked even, but Tyrande slammed her hand down on the table. Here we go, he thought.

"Sylvanas Windrunner can never be forgiven by my people...but...", her voice softened, "These are desperate times. Under the circumstances, I will agree to this, if King Wrynn does, of course."

Anduin, still clearly rocked by the entire event and the news of an impending doom, nodded his head in agreement. "Thank you for your understanding Lady Whisperwind. In these dire times, we have no choice. The Alliance will join forces with The Horde." The room fell into murmurs, some particularly disgruntled, but everyone seemed to agree out of necessity.

"As you wish, the night elves will do what we must against this new threat", Tyrande nodded back. Matt thought that he noticed a sliver of a smile, curling her lip in a sneer. It seemed to him that nobody else had noticed.

Anduin continued, "Everyone, It seems that we are facing a threat like none we have seen before. If Matt's intel is to be believed, and I do believe it, our planet, indeed, our entire universe, is under threat. A threat that has easily defeated the burning legion, and is hell bent on our destruction and servitude. Their methods of torture, both physical and mental are an abomination, and they must be stopped. It's our job to do so. Azeroth has come together before and we will come together as one yet again. Meet with your families, kiss your loved ones, and cherish this time, for tomorrow we prepare...", he clenched his fists, "Tomorrow, we prepare for war!"

*** Author's note

Hi! Just another short note to thank anyone who is still reading or has just discovered this ongoing story. Thank You, and I hope you're enjoying it up to this point. There'll be a bit of back and forth, switching between Matt's story of his time on Narzum and the oncoming war with the Nar'zulleem on Azeroth. I didn't want to tell the entire Narzum story outright, as it would have took several chapters of it's own, so I'll be sharing it in a piecemeal fashion throughout the story. I hope it's not too jarring for the reader, but all the questions will be aswered eventually, I promise. Anyway, thanks again for reading!

****This one's for you, Dani.